#and instead of having a cool one i have been endlessly hooked the dogs of war

[wutheringmights]

Once again not really an ask but what else should be expected of me by now. So, I was rereading chapter thirteen (totally not to get animatic frame inspiration because I started working on it again after like 2 months of procrastination noooo wdym? I'm not crazy ur crazy) and I... I noticed this paragraph. 'The child, whose reticence was legendary, was suddenly talkative. When Link and the engineer wore gaunt faces around the fire, the child yapped—about the weather, his day, the small things. Now Link found the kid chasing after his heels to give him his cloak before it got too cold or getting a steaming mug of tea shoved into his hands whenever he tried to rest. Some nights, when neither Link or the engineer could sleep, the child stayed up and played his ocarina before he succumbed to slumber, curled up between them like a loyal dog.' And I nearly skimmed over it, but then I looked closer, and... 'curled up between them like a loyal dog.' I have no clue if this was intentional or not but it was certainly a punch to the gut. Frankie, you've done it again.

In 1599 the Globe Theatre performed, possibly for the first time, William Shakespeare's Julius Ceaser. In it, Mark Antony says "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war."

And I have been obsessed with that image since.

Granted, the proverbial "dogs" aren't the animal but actually things like weapons and stuff, but still. I love the idea of soldiers being symbolized as dogs: man's best friends but also fierce hunters, pet and predator, etc etc etc

so obviously, I have been shoving in as many references to it since

[sinsmockingbird]

PUNISHING THE WOLF | Zoya (Wolves Strike Soon)

PAIRING: Zoya x Afab!Reader

WARNINGS: Smut, NSFW, Dom!Reader, Sub!Character, Transfem!Zoya, Rough Fucking, Bondage, Muzzle Use, Degradation

AUTHORS NOTE: In my mind Zoya is 100% a Dom, but... I'm sure there are those rare instances where she'll at least bottom for you.

THE SIGHT before you was addicting.

Having the leader of the Legion on her knees for you was a rare sight, and one you treasured every time you got it. The growls emanating from deep in her chest were beautiful, and her eyes were narrowed, glaring up at you. She looked like a feral wolf like this, and it suited her wonderfully.

"Look at you," You purred, letting your eyes Trail across Zoya's body, taking in the sight of her dressed in leather, while you begin to circle her. "Bound, on your knees, and at my mercy."

Instinctively, Zoya strained her wrists against the rope binding her hands behind her back. She gave you a glare, her head slightly bowed, looking so pretty and obedient for you. Especially when she has that muzzle on that you had bought just for her.

"It suits you," You state, coming to a stop in front of her and crouching down, giving her a sultry smile, your satisfaction at having her like this clear.

Zoya, let's out a growl at your words, her irritation obvious at having been reduced to this state by you. She was honestly shocked of herself having even allowed you to tie her hands behind her back, no less allowing you to muzzle her like she was a fucking dog. Though, in many ways, she really was one.

"You hate this, I know you do, but I promise I won't be too cruel. Not after you allowed me to put you in this state to begin with," You promised, and you meant it. While with many others you'd tease and edge them endlessly, Zoya was a different case.

Maybe it was the fact that your relationship with her was different from others, holding a more emotional side that you rarely had with anyone else. Or maybe it was the fact that Zoya, the leader of the Legion, would bow to you in this way, leaving her at your mercy. You decided it was probably both.

You raised a hand up, hooking a finger into her choker and pulling her a little close, hearing her breathing become more heavy while you whispered, "You just have to be a good dog for me, and I'll untie you and let you fuck me wild."

You were a woman of your word, so after 20 minutes of teasing Zoya, jerking her cock and giving her blowjobs, you untied her hands from behind her back. Except... to still hold some control for what was to come next, you tied her hands onto the headboard of the bed, leaving her unable to use them still.

Zoya's anger about that was obvious, and she was currently taking that out on you in the best she could. Fucking you roughly into the mattress.

Your ass was in the air, head pushed into the pillows with tears in your eyes and moans escaping your mouth. Zoya was hunched over your back, growls and grunts emitting from deep in her chest as she fucked her cock repeatedly into your pussy from behind. She may not have her hands, but she still knew how to fuck you hard without them.

"F-Fuck, Zoya..!" You let out a loud moan, back arching up and off the bed as you felt the head of her cock repeatedly hitting against that special spot inside you that had you seeing stars. "Th-that's it... keep going, right there-!"

You whined as she went harder. Somehow, she was always able to go harder and faster with you. It always left you brainless, and it was an addicting feeling, one of the many reasons why you always looked forward to when the Legion's leader would come visit you.

Zoya leaned her head forward, wanting to mark you and bite your shoulders and back, but then she remembers the muzzle she's wearing. Instead, you only feel the cool metal of it pressing into you, the cold feeling making you jump over the searing heat coursing through your body. You heard her let out a frustrated huff and growl when she remembered the muzzle, preventing her from being able to mark you.

You let out a laugh as you heard the sound of her nails digging into the headboard of the bed, the wood beginning to split a little bit under the pressure. "A-Angry?" You looked back at Zoya as you asked, a smug smirk on your pretty face that only pissed her off more. She growled in response, driving her cock deep into you with a harsh thrust that left you breathless for a few seconds.

"Z-Zoya! S-Shit m' gonna cum!" You whined as she upped her speed. You heard her mutter something under her breath at your words, and you knew she said something about how she was close as well. "I-Inside! Cum inside me!"

Zoya grunted at your request, pressing her forehead against your shoulder and nodding weakly in understanding. Then she gave a few sloppy thrusts before letting out a gutteral groan and burying her cock fully into your pussy. You moaned loudly as you felt her filling you up, making you cream around her cock.

Once you both finished, Zoya's body slack above you, a whine emitting from her at the strain in her wrists, which were still bound to the headboard. With shaky hands, you moved up and undid the bindings before collapsing onto the bed in pure exhaustion. As soon as Zoya was freed, she tore the muzzle off and threw it aside without a care before stuffing her face into your neck while wrapping her arms tightly around you.

"I hate you," Zoya muttered before nipping at your neck and beginning to leave behind the marks she so badly had been wanting to leave for the entire night.

You let out a breathy laugh and moan, running a hand through her hair and cradling her head, allowing her to mark your pretty neck up. "If you hated me, you wouldn't keep coming back."

Zoya only growled in response to you before biting a bit harder on a particular spot that made you whine. It was a lie that she hated you. In reality, she was simply addicted to the fact that you were the only one she'd ever submit to. Because sometimes Alpha's will even submit.

ENDING NOTES: This has been in the drafts for a while now. I just finally finished it up for you all to enjoy.

[pepsi-writes]

chapter 3: the tears of the gang smp are the best candy

"Make sure it won’t happen again.” The boss crossed their arms, maintaining an intimidating posture.

The narrators bobbed their heads, immediately turning around and dashing out of the office. They were lucky to have gotten off the hook so easily after letting that omega robot bastar - nevermind. That’s unimportant.

Hello again, bitc-readers!

I hope you’re glad to see us, which you obviously aren’t, but please say you are 🥺😩

Now. Why focus the story on the narrators, when you’re just here for everybody else’s dumb-assery?

Sleepy took the dog-ear-headband thing off, throwing it in some random direction of the room, as they strolled right through the seventh doorway they’ve made it through after they had escaped from the other cursed room.

Addict followed them closely, though they seemed a bit timid. “Well,” Sleepy broke the awkward silence, “That was annoying.”

Addict glanced down at them. “Ok, but was the bashing really necessary?”

He shrugged. They reached the end of the long hallway (there was a long hallway???), and carelessly opened the door.

It opened to what seemed to be a waiting room, but he couldn’t place his finger on it oh who the fuck am i kidding it’s a waiting room.

“Took you long enough,” Rose mumbled, lounging on one of the chairs. He had searched endlessly for an exit, eventually giving up out of exhaustion.

They both ignored the comment, sitting down in random places in the room. Better to not acknowledge it at all then to make a fuss!

“So, is there, like,” Squid the bird person said, “any exit to this place?”

The room went quiet, so fey took it as a cold, hard, no.

“Hey, Squid,” Addict said, to break the silence, “you, uh, look different!”

Fey laughed in response. “Yeah, I know. The writer finally found out what my design is!” Squid the intellectual alpha was not shocked that the narrators didn’t know of feir design.

Besides, what was their rank in the a/b/o system-

Uhhhh, let’s move on so shush!

Addict let out a chuckle in response, mumbling something about it being cool under their breath.

There was nothing to, kinda talk about, really. Nothing at all. Zero. Nada.

Anyways, they had all been paid to dress themselves in dumb-ass dog costumes and play out an entire script for an episode, skit, whatever the fuck I want to call it.

However, when they actually tried to do the thing, these two bitches- uh - weird things, that called themselves the “narrators” (yeah, that’s us 😎), were keeping the entire performance under check and under control.

The whole thing made no sense whatsoever, but they went along with it anyway, because cash is worth more than their sanity. It would mean that the group would get paid handsomely, so, why not?

But, when they were actually finally fucking finished, they weren’t let out of the room. How fun.

Instead, more people were let into the room, like Sunny the dead racist moth, and Rose the dense mf.

And, they were given an entirely new script, given no time to rehearse or whatever, and told that they’ll be all paid double.

Now? They were in a creepily nostalgic waiting room, with seemingly no exits other than the way they came.

Sunny crossed her arms. “Do we really have to wait in a room with a,” - she glared distastefully at Quartz - “piglin?”

Quartz’s eyes widened at the snarky comment. “I am not a fucking piglin, you short-ass little shit.”

“Well then,” Sunny replied, smiling like the racist bastard she was. “Are you some sort of blaze?”

Quartz simply ignored her useless blabbering. They had no time for her anyway.

Suddenly, the door to the waiting room opened, with a loud slam!

“Hello!” Narrator said, stepping in with an eerie yet pleasant air around them. “Hope you’re all glad to be seeing us again!”

“Oh, great,” Squid snarled, wrinkling up their nose. “We’re going to have to do this dumb dog thing again.”

Yep yep!! Now come on, isn’t this all super fun? 😩👉 👈

“No! This is all fucking terrible, actually,” Rose yelled from the back. He suddenly shut up, with the narrators’ magic writing powers ah fuck let’s get on with it.

Glad to see you’re all excited for Episode 3 of the fun yes times ^﹏^

A door appeared across from where this narrator had entered.

They walked over and opened it.

Now, follow me :)

Everyone followed, because getting threatened by your best friend and crush in order to get a jab at the other person whom you love, is way too boring to actually watch.

Anyways, the narrator led them to another place, shoved everyone in it, shut the door, and locked it. Why? Because yes <3 Anyways they walked over to a room with a big ass window, into the room where they could now safely control the gsmp people bitches, without risk of dumbass robots hitting me and destroying the careers that they both had worked years to get to lmao.

“I hate it here,” Quartz groaned, any spark of happiness or peace seemingly draining from their eyes.

Sleepy whipped their head to the side, a snarky frown on their face. “Well, what fun thing are you making us do now?” A question mark appeared on their screen; obviously it was there to pester the narrators.

The narrator suddenly paused. They didn’t know what to do now. The other narrator didn’t know what was going to happen too (spoiler alert they both know they’re just being bitches lmao)

Irrelevant, nevertheless we have someone new for everyone to have your fun with :D

The narrator pressed a button on the control panel that appeared because fuck logic, and a door appeared on the ceiling, seemingly out of thin… wall.

Guess what it dropped? Uh, fuck it, you’ve all read the original already, it’s our favorite little goat, Scar!!!!!!!!

The door suddenly disappeared, slamming shut as its edges dissipated. Rose, who had climbed on top of Addict to try and reach it, cursed in frustration. Addict, who had absolutely no mercy towards him, wiggled so that he fell out of their grip. Rose cursed again, standing up and massaging his terribly injured arm. “Anyways…” he grumbled, “Welcome to hell.”

Addict sprinted to him, helping them up. “Hey…” they said to Scar.

“Yeah,” he coughed, brushing out his shirt, “I just kinda fell.”

he looked around the colorful room “Uh… where am I-“ Scar was suddenly quieted with the narrators’ awesome powers lmao.

Hey, stop questioning this now anyways put on these!

I pressed another button. The ceiling opened up again, and a dog-ear-headband clambered to Scar’s feet. A look of confusion passed their face, but he didn’t question it.

Now, they get to officially be a part of the a/b/o fic!

“...What?”

Woah. Both of the narrators, ending on a cliffhanger?

Wowsers😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

Haha that was fun right guys :)

[pythosart]

A big ol 2019 end of the year update

I felt somewhat compelled to write my end of the year/decade thoughts, but a warning before you read: This one’s going to be heavy, intensely personal, and long. If you don’t feel up to reading that, it may be best to skip it. I promise I’ll go back to shutting up and posting art afterwards. I’m profoundly incapable of being concise, ever, so apologies for the length of this.

2019 was a nightmare.

Some background: In mid 2016, my mother was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer. She was given a few months to live. She was given weeks or months to live multiple times, for almost three years. In that time my mom was in and out of the hospital, but spent all her good days living life to the fullest, starting and finishing dream projects, and keeping all of us going despite her own situation. Even when she was bedridden, hooked up to tubes and bags and god knows what, she found time to prop up her loved ones and pursue her hobbies. She even managed to develop new hobbies and interests while otherwise imprisoned by her physical state, something I struggle to do at the best of times even in my young and relatively healthy form. If there’s anything I can make of this experience, it’s that I hope to grow into even half the woman my mother was.

I ended 2018 with my final quarter at SCAD. I spent the entire quarter terrified my mom was going to die while I was away from home. It was horrific, I barely scraped by my last few classes (bless my professors’ endless patience), and immediately left Savannah for home as soon as the quarter was up. I never had room to celebrate finishing college. Any other year it would be a huge milestone, but I barely even care.

This past May, my mother passed away, after three years of petrifying suspense. It happened in the dead middle of the night, while my best friend was visiting for a con, and it still feels like a bad dream. It’s also one of the only vivid memories I even have of this year. 

I wish I had more to say on that, but I genuinely think the drawn out suffering and fracturing of my whole world left me unable to fully unpack everything that’s happened. It’s hard to even think about for long, and at times I even half-forget she’s gone. I think of things I want to show her, or tell her, or cook with her. Just the other day I kept thinking I’d tell her how much I liked endive after she showed me how to make it. I found a historical Italian cooking channel that, every time I see it, I just think of how much she’d love it. I knew she’d love Hot Fuzz but never got to show her. Little, stupid things that shouldn’t matter, but they do. They just do.

My mother and I were close, much closer than I am with my dad. Especially towards the end of her life, we had gotten closer, and I felt like I was only just really getting to know her as an equal. I still want to share my life with her, but that chance is gone.

This holiday season has been especially rough in her absence, because not only was my mom the motivational and creative force behind a lot of holiday activities here, it’s the first everything without her. We had Thanksgiving with friends and a catered dinner, instead of spending several days cooking and polishing family silver and setting the table. I won’t be making handmade tortellini with her for Christmas like we did every year. It’s the little things like that.

We’re a tiny family, with over half of us in Italy and lacking much communication due to the language barrier. Family holidays were always small, but there’s just a huge hole how, much greater than the cold numeric value of “one fewer participant.” My mom was always a driving force and a keystone in our support networks, not to mention the main line of contact with the Italian-speaking side of the family, so now the family feels so much more scattered and isolated than ever.

My girlfriend was close to my mother too, and as she’s been living with me for years now and is practically part of the family, I think she took it just as hard as anyone. Cel saw everything I did, and dealt with many of the same uncertainties and traumatic experiences I did.

A month after I lost my mother, I lost my cat too. Galileo was twelve years old, a spry old man who yelled instead of meowed, and just a wonderful cat. I got him when I was in 7th grade, after begging my parents for years to get me a cat. It was my mom who eventually overrode my dad’s hesitations, and from then on Leo was part of the family. He went through a very sudden decline over the course of a week or two, and we learned it was cancer. Feline lymphoma, I think. I had to make the call to put him to sleep, and it ripped what was left of my heart out.

Not that it needs stating, but fuck cancer.

A few too-short months later, I cut ties with a “friend,” which despite how fucking much it hurt, was really for the best. At a certain point one simply can no longer afford to waste energy on a certain kind of person. Unfortunately I’m a persistently optimistic idiot, and it took me too long to cut my losses before deep damage was done. Done to me, my close friends, and even barely involved acquaintances this “friend” dumped on relentlessly and tried to harass into spying on me. Really, if any part of this is unforgivable, it’s that.

All this was, however, a valuable reminder that it’s no good to have any tolerance for habitually dishonest people, even if they think they’re doing it to look “nice.” Chronic liars will gaslight you whether they know it or not, and trying to navigate that in an already damaged mental state is inadvisable. It was an important lesson in picking one’s battles, albeit one learned too late. I’m still holding out hope I can find it in my heart to forgive this person, if only for my own selfish sake so I can move on. I have a lot of experience living on spite, and I don’t want to make a further habit of it.

Naturally all of the above did little to curb my already inflamed pessimism about the state of my country and the world at large, but I need not expand on that, I imagine.

I suppose it would be unfair of me to leave it all at that and only mention the negative, though admittedly positivity is hard to muster these days. A few bright spots of note:

Graduated from SCAD with my BFA in Sequential Art (technically last year, but I did the ceremonial bit this year)

Tabled at Animazement with Woods. We barely broke even, but it was a great time and I plan on doing it again in the new year.

Spent literally an entire month hanging out with my two best friends, which was amazing and exactly the kind of healing experience I needed around that time of year.

Properly did Halloween for the first time in years. I made a costume I’m proud of and we went out on the town… for like an hour, because it promptly started pouring. But fun nevertheless

Started therapy. As of writing this, I’ve only had an introductory session, but it’s a start. Should have started six months ago, but didn’t for reasons to be addressed...in therapy

Started volunteering at the local natural history museum, where I spent like half my childhood. I’ll be doing data entry in collections, but that’s still cool as hell

Got a start on figuring out what I want to do with my life. It’ll involve going back to school for science within the next five-ish years, but it’s nice to have a goal. More of a goal than I’ve ever had, in fact.

Played some extremely good video games (shout out to The Blackout Club and Control)

Made a shitload of unnecessary yet endlessly fun and good AUs with my friends and my one (1) OC

Got an iPad Pro and started learning Procreate, which has gotten me drawing more

Learned a bit of needle felting

2019 was a year of getting much closer to my two best friends, and I genuinely owe them my life at this point. I don’t know where I’d be without them. Nowhere good, certainly.

Woods and Dross kept me talking to people, kept me creating, told me when I was being unreasonable or needed to cool it, heard me out when I needed it but always kept me honest. They helped me keep some creative juices flowing when otherwise I’d have been at a frustrated loss and might have given up for good. If it seems like I’ve kept up my usual art output at all, and if you’ve enjoyed the Lou content (or not, whoops... apologies to everyone who followed me for monster content) you have both of them to thank.

Even moreso, I owe my girlfriend a great deal for being there for me through all of this while she herself was suffering similarly. She and I have had our ups and downs, and been through a lot in the five-ish years we’ve been together. We aren’t the most outspoken couple, but I think our mutual understanding and pain mitigated a lot of the damage this year has done. I don’t think I could have handled it alone.

Furthermore, I really need to thank a lot of other friends and acquaintances I’m not quite as close with, but still talk to. These people especially were willing to call me on my bullshit when necessary, or just talk to me at all, about anything. Even if these acquaintances didn’t know it at the time, there’s a good chance they were dragging me out of one of my frequent existential despair spirals.

I also, weirdly, owe a lot to helping my hen Julia recover from her dog attack. That was around the time that my mom’s health was in its final decline, when I felt the most helpless and despairing. I think having even some tiny something I could do to help was like, the only feeling of control I had in life for a bit there. Julia’s fine, by the way. Still queen of the yard, top chicken boss bitch, etc. Julia was always a kind of kindred spirit with my mom, in a way. Little but not to be underestimated, gray, big personality and commanding presence… Not to mention, she was one of the first in our flock and was always my mom’s favorite. 

It would be too much to say I have high hopes or plans of any kind for the upcoming year, but I do have a list of things I want to try and do. Some of which will involve art, and the posting thereof.

Big if on this one, but I’ve also recently started therapy (only took me half a year to work up to making a phone call after the first failed attempt took all the wind out of my sails) and I have…maybe not high hopes, but hopes, for that doing something to help. I should have started therapy two years ago, but the second best time is now, etc etc.

I have a lot of New Year’s resolutions, beyond the usual “get in shape, drink less coffee, blah blah” that I’ll try and write up a little list of separately. Most of them are art-related, so you all will be there to watch me swing and miss I PROMISED I’D TRY TO BE LESS NEGATIVE. New Year’s resolution #1: Maybe don’t make so many self-deprecating jokes.

Anyway, I don’t know how to end any wall of text, be it an OC worldbuilding screed or something serious like this, so... I guess, love yourself, cherish your friends, know when to put your own needs first and when to put your friends’ needs firster. One of the things my mom taught me in this past year or so is that relationships are what you make of them, and that it’s okay to be selfish sometimes. Be generous, be genuine, don’t be a doormat and don’t lie to people you care about, even if it seems kinder in the moment. Savor the time you have with those close to you, and spend time doing things you love. Cliché, maybe, but cliché can still be true. Happy new year, everyone. I sincerely hope it will treat us all better. 2020 may just be an imaginary change of numbers, but I like to think it really does wipe the slate in a way, and make room for all of us to do what we can to be better. Speaking of which, vote. For the love of all that is good, vote.

--

A little bullet list of New Year’s resolutions, because it’s nicer to look at

Try to get back in shape (of course) - That 30 days of strength thing was good while it lasted, despite my joints hating me

Learn some new recipes, preferably with fewer carbs, you Italian ass

Keep a physical calendar and stick with it for at least a few months

Learn at least one new skill by the middle of the year, whether it’s art-related or something else

Start writing more. Don’t have to share it, but try. Write down ideas somewhere other than Discord where they’re easy to lose

Either reopen Patreon or figure out how ko-fi works. Even if it’s for no money, just to have structure and goals.

Do Animazement again and try out some new product types

Go to SCAD career fair with a decent portfolio

Get better about spending, by whatever method works

Attend some art classes at the local collectives, doesn’t matter what

Play more video games. I swear I only played like three new things this year 

Read more classic literature and nonfiction, at least one book per month. I’ve been really enjoying Agatha Christie’s works and am about to start Guns, Germs, and Steel

Read more comics. Basically just consume more media

Do Halloween again, better this time

See friends in person more

Practice accepting whatever shitty thoughts show up and then letting them go, rather than dwelling on them

[bytemycupcakes]

Can you do some headcanons on what the Hazbin crew does together? For example what activities do they do, what do they do on Friday nights?

Okay this gets lo ng (maybe I did to much detail- oh well its worth it)

So it’s under a cut

~~

-Alotta them clique-up pretty quickly, so a bunch of different stuff will be going on. Baxter will be trying to be his lonely ass self, Angel has wrangled Alastor and Husk to the couch for whatever the hell Angel thinks is fun (If Husk didn’t already run off to the peace and quiet that is Baxter), Mimzy, Niffty, and Crymini are usually doing some kinda “gossip” (Its just Niffty and Crymini listening to Mimzy babble). Sometimes the specific groups shuffle around- it all depends on who Angel and Mimzy call dibs on for the evening.

-Charlie lets this go on for awhile but eventually decides to force everyone to hang together.

-Her way of doing this is, once a week one person will pick an activity, and teach the whole Hotel about it.

–

-They start with Charlie’s activity first- the whole thing was her idea so it’s only fitting that she starts it.

-She chooses karaoke.

-Charlie, Vaggie, and Alastor are the only ones that really have fun, But Charlie makes everyone sing at least once.

-You would think Mimzy would love this, but she sees it as a cheap knock-off of a real performace. And is thus grumpy for the whole night.

- Charlie and Vaggie do some cute duets, Angel does a really sexual song (That Charlie stops him halfway through- the hotel is grateful), Husk just stands on the stage, when the songs over he grumbles “Awe fuck I lost” to pretend like he cares, Niffty chose a rap song for some reason, Alastor pulled her off stage after the first curse word (and she whined endlessly), Crymini refused to sing into the mic and was mumbling the whole time, Baxter couldn’t even stand on the stage, Mimzy’s entire turn is her complaining about it all, and Alastor went last, shutting everyone up cause nobody really expected him to have a good voice, or to take it seriously.

-Though Alastor’s fun really stemmed from everyone’s complaints (”And Husks colourful words about everything :D”)

-After that Charlie’s almost discouraged to continue this little trend but EVERYONE insists that they gotta go long enough to get their turn. They kinda just want to put the other members through the hell that was.

-That isn’t the best reason to continue… But it works-

–

-Vaggie’s next, she chooses campfire stories- The hotel gets a lobby camping trip.

-Angel and Niffty have a blast setting up a blanket fort big enough for everyone. Vaggie’s making notes on it as they work

-Alastor makes it topple at least twice- Vaggie soon kicks him out of the fort until it’s fully built, so he’s left hovering over everyone.

-Charlie and Baxter work on the “Campfire”. It’s just a pile of christmas lights- Charlie asked Baxter for help specifically, assuming he’s the least likely to cause a fire with a pile of old shitty lights.

-She was right

-Crymini teaches Husk and Mimzy how to make roasted marshmallows using a stove.

-Husk “almost catches his fur on fire” (The marshmallow caught and he thought it’d somehow spread to him), Mimzy and Crymini laugh while he panics.

-They get a whole plate of marshmallows, cooked to various degrees

-Alastor will only eat the ones that are pretty much pure char- Oh well, nobody else was going to eat them.

-Vaggie insists that campfire stories only feel right if everyones in pyjamas.

-Charlie sets one rule for this: They gotta be actual clothes (coughcoughAngelcoughcough)

-Vaggie’s actually really giddy about this, she goes off to find a good flashlight while everyone works on sitting around the “fire”.

-Its a bit of a struggle until Crymini starts tellin people exactly where to sit.

-Crymini is kinda like the second in command here, she loves camping.

-When Vaggie gets back, she plops right into Charlie’s lap and its adorable.

-She gives a basic rundown of how this is gonna work, they’re gonna pass the flashlight around to show who’s tellin the story. The story can be anything, they can make it up as they go, can be something from your living years, whatever, Vaggie doesn’t care. She says which way the flashlights gonna be passed, and thus the order. With how Crymini sat everyone, this puts Crymini being last.

-Vaggie doesn’t do an improv story for once, instead opting to one of Charlie’s favorites- Her own twisted telling of Alice in wonderland. (Yeah a twisted aiw is cliche but idc, its a great fairytale)

-It’s a great starting point, Of course with Vaggies storytelling, its really easy to get people hooked.

-Charlie’s story is what she hopes happens to the hotel members, everyone having such a happy life in heaven. She tears up toward the end and Vaggie plants a kiss on her cheek cause Gosh dang Charlie why you gotta be so cute.

-The other members also find it to be really adorable, and make various little comments- Alastor is silent.

-Husk is next, he tells a story from his childhood- first time he got a card trick to work. This is pretty much when the hotel learns he loves magic tricks- Of course Alastor and Niffty have heard this story a hundred times, and tease him a bit about it.

-Mimzys story is made up, its some woman getting turned on by everyone around her- The hotel has suspitions its based in something.. But they never ask her about it

-Angel has one of those “this is horror for me but not for anyone else” stories. it took like 2 seconds to tell, so Vaggie makes him try again. He starts going off about something sexual. Alastor covers Niffty’s ears, Crymini throws a marshmallow at him. He laughs, says he’s joking, then tells an actual eerie story.

-Baxter’s story has to much scientific tangents for the hotel to really understand what it was about. Bax is satisfied though, so they move on.

-Niffty tells the story of how she died, in far to much detail- but also with alot of weird hyper tangents. The hotel just stares, but Alastor’s clapping.

-Alastor takes the flashlight from Niffty, hums in thought, then passes it to Crymini, insisting he really needs to go last.

-Vaggie grumbles, but lets it happen.

-Crymini’s a bit grumpy, she wanted to pull the “really scary story is the last story” thing- She still tells her story of course, she succeds in spooking Charlie, Angel, and Niffty.

-Charlie asks why she’d do that. Vaggie starts to say thats just how campfire stories work- But baxter hops in, going off on why its not even possible- even with the wierdness around Hell. “C’mon Crymini, at least put some effort into scaring us”

-Alastor laughs, takes the flashlight from Crymini, brings out his dial eyes and goes “If you’d like a scary story, I can certainly provide”

-He defintely succeds in his little ploy, after his long story, everyone is mortified except for Husk- Who Al is pretty sure can’t be scared.

-Thanks Al, now nobody can sleep >:/

–

-Baxter is in charge next, allowing everyone in his lab for once. Of course he decided to show everyone a very basic experiment.

-Ha made sure nothing can explode, or burn through tables… The safest fucking thing he can think of.

-Angel somehow looses a patch of fur, Alastor still manages to explode the damn thing, Niffty broke five beakers before Baxter refused to give her another one. Husk drank his.

-Vaggie and Charlie were the only ones to get the reaction to work, so the hotel gathers around their table to watch it

-Baxter bans Alastor and Niffty from his lab- Everyone agrees its probably for the best.

-They do not listen to the ban

-The members do actually go hang in his lab more often, just to watch him do all the cool stuff

–

-Husk choses Poker. of course he does.

-He practically robs the entire Hotel

-Except Charlie wouldn’t let them gamble with actual money…

-She made pretzel dogs to gamble with.

-After he destroys everyone, he gives them tips in cheating….

-Via magic tricks

-Charlie is a bit weary about it- but it’s Husks turn to share his interests- She mumbles something about “please only do these with eachother- and not for money…”

-Niffty and Crymini snag a couple pretzel dogs from Husks fucking moutain of them

-Angel picks up on the tricks really easily, with all his fuckin arms.

-Alastor and Mimzy are terrible at all of them, Alastor being incredibly obvious about what he’s doing, and Mimzy ends up flinging cards everywhere each time.

-Crymini and Baxter can do the tricks, sure, but they figure out other meathods of cheating. Baxter quickly learning to count cards, and Crymini using her theft skills to hide cards.

-After everyone seems to get the tricks down, Husk has them play another game (without him, so they have a chance)

-Niffty wins, Vaggie was really close.

–

-Niffty teaches the Hotel how to sew

-Alastor and Husk use this as an excuse to sew Angels arms to his sides (They sew the sleeves, not his actual arms dw)

-Baxter keeps sewing his gloves to everything. He refuses to take them off.

-Mimzy freakin loves this, she has alotta clothes that have been torn up from old fights that she can finally fix

-Vaggie and Charlie keep pricking themselves. Niffty takes the needles away from them.

-Angel is yelling for everyone to free him.

-Crymini sews up a gag to shut him up

-Charlie sets him free.

-Angel can’t even get revenge- He’ll figure something out one day

–

-Angel decides to do a makover/dress-up kinda thing.

-He wen’t and got a ton of random clothes for everyone.

-Mimzy helps everyone with makeup

-Angel gets his revenge by forcing Al and Husk into the exact kinda clothes they despise

-Meaning Al is forced into something far to revealing for his liking.

-Nobody can pull his jacket away from him, he has an iron grip.

-And Husk is just forced into clothes, he doesn’t like them, they feel to weird on his fur. Angel put him in a semi-formal kinda outfit, he looks super cute

-Baxter gets out of this by just taking off his labcoat, he wears clothes under it of course. But nobodies ever seen him without the labcoat.

-Angel talks him into putting on a little bowtie though

-Niffty and Crymini look like fuckin princesses. Crymini started using a british accent- she kinda hit full roleplay mode with this.

-Charlie and Vaggie swapped their general styles, Charlie’s got a basic dress and Vaggie’s trying to get this vest to actually be fucking comfortable.

-Mimzy pulls Vaggie’s hair into a bun.

-Charlie.exe has stopped working

-Angel gets into his go to drag outfit, and gets everyone to do a runway thing

-Alastor refuses to get off the couch- Sadly Charlie is to broken from Vaggie to actually save this poor man.

–

-Charlie was really worried about Alastor’s turn- Cause.. Well it’s Alastor

-It’s okay he chooses Cooking

-Vaggie is hesitant about it all though

-Niffty and Husk already knew Alastor could cook, of course. But the others are a bit surprised

-Alastor makes a comment sayin he prefers raw meat, but cooking is quite relaxing.

-They all work together to make dinner pretty much. Everyones put in charge of something.

-Alastor watches over what everyones doing, makes little comments, and even reminds the others to check on the food.

-He’s making something completely different from everyone else and won’t say what he’s doing when the others ask

-Niffty and Husk are the obvious helpers here, Niffty making sure nobodies gonna hurt themselves, and Husk taking over things when someone almost (or does) burn something.

-It doesn’t turn out very well, but it’s edible and they all made it together. They’re all proud and eat anyway

-The oven dings while everyones eating and Alastor goes to check on it. Niffty follows after him to help

-While everyone’s casually talking, having a good time, he comes back with cupcakes

-Of course he did a dark twist- they look like he pulled them straight out of a highschool halloween party- covered in fake eyes, other small body parts, ect. But far more realistic.

-Vaggie hops up assuming they’re real parts

-Niffty giggles and says thank you, she made them all herself

-Husk grabs an “eye” off one of them, eating it. He says that Al wouldn’t just give people body parts out of nowhere. He has class.

-Vaggie is still suspicious of the cupcake. Everyone else eats them just fine.

-Al is a really good baker, Everyone keep’s sayin he should really bake more often

–

-Crymini gets the hotel to play baseball- Or at least as close as they can get to baseball

-Everyone’s having alot of fun actually- Baxter doesn’t like the running, but hes still having fun

-They decide to just have everyone take turns hitting/throwing the ball for the most part

-Alastor won’t use the bat, he just uses his mic. It lets out a ton of feedback each time. They beg him to use the bat, he wont.

-Angel has the best pitch

-Mimzy has the best swing

-Baxter and Niffty broke the most windows

-Speakign of windows: Charlie had to cut the activity short before they broke all the hotels windows-

-Charlie gets a softer ball later for them to keep playing, cause it was so much fun.

–

-Mimzy teaches the hotel to dance

-Alastor, Niffty and Charlie already know how- They just get to help teach

-Charlie’s helping Vaggie (obviously)

-Alastor is the only one tall enough to help Angel and Husk

-Mimzy tried to help them, she really did.

-Mimzy and Niffty help Crymini and Baxter, switching around a bit.

-Baxter would much rather Not™

-Mimzy won’t let him sit on the sidelines, every time he tries to sneak off she grabs him, pulling him into some random move

[italicwatches]

Laid-Back Camp - Episode 02

Good. GOD. How did it take me five bloody hours to get back home. I hate when this shit happens. …Anyways. Let’s get it going. It’s Laid-Back Camp, episode 02. Here we GO!

-School. Rin’s gotten herself a camp-grub cookbook so she’s eating something that isn’t in a styrofoam cup. And then she has a flashback to Nadeshiko…

-Speaking of Nadeshiko, she sprints past on the way to her new club, both of them managing to miss each other. That’s just a little too ridiculous.

-Opening! This is a really bouncy and cheerful song.

-Episode 02: Welcome to the Outdoor Activities Club!

-So Nadeshiko’s gotten the camping bug. And that’s when she…Wow.

-Just…Wow. I didn’t have a chance to comment on it last time, but the club space is…

-How do I put this…

-Nadeshiko compares it to a hallway. I’ve been in hallways. This, sir, is no hallway. This is a god damned maintenance tunnel it’s so narrow. And it’s made even more narrow because they’ve had to go with floor bookshelves instead of overheads. It’s actually almost impressive how well they’ve used this tiny amount of space…

-Also, sidenote, do the pinecones talk every time? …Because I can roll with that.

-Hey it’s the bespectacled bluenette. I think she’s the shy one. The girl who…I mean…They tried to give her a cute fang, but it’s just colored as part of her lip, so it just looks like she has some sort of strange hanging hook as part of her mouth, look the point is she shows up too.

-So backstories are exchanged and…She gets turned away. Because the bluenette doesn’t want to be crammed in here with anyone else. Though, flip side, an actual club would mean an actual club room and not a pity-hallway. And that’s how that decision gets turned right around.

-Anyways names. Girl with the lip thing is Inuyama Aoi. Glasses is Ohgaki Chiaki. You already know Nadeshiko. Oh and it turns out they do some day-to-day stuff, mostly turning safely-burnable debris into mini bonfires for cooking on. Which would be great if the field out behind the school wasn’t perfectly clean.

-So plan B and that’s how Nadeshiko gets shown their magazine collection. Specifically, a magazine on tents, so we can teach the audience about the different kinds. First lesson, freestanding versus non-freestanding. Freestanding use a frame structure. Non-freestanding use pegs and ropes to stay up. Nine times out of ten, any tent you buy in a shop is gonna be freestanding, but if it’s not freestanding, you can get it really compact.

-For example, this tent here! …Chiaki bought it in the summer and it didn’t arrive until September. It cost ten dollars. Now I’m not about to judge someone for not spending a fortune on tents. Especially for gentler weather, you can really get away with something pretty basic. But I’m gonna be honest, I’m not entirely sure how much I trust a ten dollar tent.

-Of course, on the other hand, you’ve got the ones in that magazine, which, are…

-Oh.

-Oh dear.

-Well they top out at around 80 thousand yen, or 800-odd dollars.

-So the tent-pitching lesson will be conducted with this 980 yen tent out in the courtyard. And as that goes on, Rin spots it all while her friend helps make her giant bun. …In the shape of a bear. So the jokes are coming quick, I see.

-And outside, Chiaki…Manages to break the pole. God damn those are cheap poles. Now, you could salvage this with a fitting and some tape, and Rin’s friend tries to get her to go offer them one…But Rin is far too much of a loner. …Fine, so her friend will do it! And then soon they have the tent assembled and it actually exists and works. Also Rin’s friend points them to Rin as the source of knowledge because she is a meddler of great prowess and skill. Like, seriously, that’s some damn good meddling.

-So a few quick things we need to lay out since they happened in really quick succession.

-Chiaki calls her “Shimarin” like it’s all one word and she’s some mascot animal. Rin’s friend whose name I didn’t catch properly gives her name. Nadeshiko goes to race over to be all super excited and friendly and thankful aaaaaand hits the window.

-…Ow.

-That’s just…

-Ow.

-Oh god the sound design as she slides down against it!

-But then it’s a new day, with Rin pedaling her way up to another…Damn, that’s a hell of a campground. One that even has some other people here in the winter. But what I can’t help but notice, is that Rin’s need to dutifully stretch before she starts setting up her campsite is adorable.

-There’s just one little problem. Despite all her research, she couldn’t find an actual supermarket on the way up, so it’s convenience store cup-noodle again. And then it’s a text conversation with her dear friend, that ends in them feigning their deaths. These two are great.

-Oh, and this is one of those campgrounds that requires use of a stand for your campfires, you can’t do it on the ground. That’s not something I’m super familiar with; here, our campgrounds all have designated pits at campsites and require you to only do any fire-making in the fire pits. Between having to buy the firewood since there’s no good sources of free stuff in this open field, and the stand, her overnighter trip just got 2500 yen tracked onto it…Or, more than doubled her expenses compared to her initial fee.

-…Or she could just squeeze into her sleeping bag if it gets too cold. Yeah that sounds better. But first, a long walk to take in some gorgeous views and snap some photos. This place is very well set up.

-To the main building, where presumably the owners/workers live. A couple of dogs are tied up, and go to get attention…One coming up short of Rin. And the other slamming into her full force with a headbutt because it has another foot or two of rope to work with. Her world is pain.

-But, yeah, this place is set up almost perfectly as a classic tourist campground. Great views, bit pricey, they even have signs in places where you can get particularly great shots, like one at the foot of the pond that gets you that perfect upside-down-mountain reflection shot.

-And all those photos get sent to her friend, who is lazing in bed despite it being the afternoon, for it is the weekend. Truly I understand you. She’s almost up to take her doggo for a walk…But one opening of the balcony door later, girl and dog are both under those fucking covers.

-And Rin’s back at her tent with her book, all bundling up against the chilly breeze. If I didn’t want to use the bear-bun image so much, I’d have totally used that shot of her bike by the tent. Eventually it is late in the day, Mount Fuji is turned pink by the setting son, and Rin thinks back to school…

-To Nadeshiko trying to get her to join the club, and Rin making that disgusted face again. She likes her quiet alone camping time. But even she knows she did a bad thing. Why, she can hear Nadeshiko’s voice now calling to her mournfully…Again…Again…Wait it’s not echoing anymore.

-Because Nadeshiko’s just here. Rin’s friend Saitou-san meddled again. And Nadeshiko brought ingredients for grub! Specifically, hot pot! Shit that sounds really good, actually. I mean, I just ate a Mexican food platter so I’m not super hungry, but if you put it in front of me, I might do things I’d regret, is all I’m saying.

-Credits play as the night goes on. Nadeshiko’s out cold. Off camping themselves, Chiaki and Aoi are out cold with was that Saitou-san? And Rin is up early enough to catch the golden rays of the sunrise peaking over the horizon…I suspect this is a more future scene than a right now one, when they all come together to take it in…Or possibly even the actual credits animation. I guess we’ll know next time, won’t we.

-Aftercredits, to the Outdoors Activities club! Chiaki has tasty mochi treats that don’t last very long at all, especially because Nadeshiko goes to town on them a bit…intensely.

The magic question you always ask yourself in a show like this, is which archetype do you most connect to? And as much as I’d like to think I’m a strong, cool loner like Rin…I think we all know I’m closer to Saitou-san, endlessly meddling and easily beaten by weather.

But we shall see more of these characters and their plucky adventures next time, in episode THREE of Laid-Back Camp! Wait for it!

[selinaneveahcrystal]

Of All Kisses and Crushes

Prompt: @irenehogan-blog scenarios of what could have happened after their kiss in episode 3. The break apart and get all shy and awkward or they move it inside and get it on. +John teases Lorna about her crush on Marcos.

It's a heady rush of adrenaline and excitement that tingles through Lorna's veins as she breaks apart from Marcos' lips, her hazel eyes slightly glazed and surprised as she clutches his arm to steady herself.

"Okay." She says quietly to herself. "Okay. Wow." A short laugh escapes Marcos' lips opposite her, high pitched and nervous. "That was not what I expected." She glanced at his tense stance slightly before letting her lips gently slide into a wide smile. "Not that it wasn't good." Her cheeks are tinted red---and she can't remember when was the last time she'd actually blushed like that, perhaps in a far distant memory of a more stable life and high school boyfriends.

"Look I, I uhm---"

"Don't you dare apologise." Marcos stops short as she silences him with a glare and a finger to the lips. "I told you I don't mind." Her eyes softened slightly. "And it isn't a crime to kiss someone as pretty as me, you know." He chuckles at her audacity.

"It was a heat in a moment thing, but...it was great." He ended lamely, and Lorna chuckles lightly at his embarrassment.

Their fingers tangled with each other comfortably, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand gently, and Lorna's utterly surprised to find she doesn't detest his touch.

At all.

In fact, she quite enjoys it.

She leans in hesitantly this time, both scared and anticipating, and their noses bump lightly into each other, and she chuckles, embarrassed.

"Sorry." The moment is shattered by their inexperience, and Marcos shakes his head, a crooked smile on his lips.

"Maybe we should go somewhere more private." Lorna glances down at the bright vibrant lights that twined around their hands, and blushes deeply before nodding. She was quite sure John wouldn't be that appreciative of the sudden disturbance to his good night's sleep.

"Or maybe we should take it slow." Her eyebrows raise as he fumbles.

"Hey, you were the one that kissed me."

"Yeah, I did. But I don't want---don't want it to kinda end off as something like a one night stand." She thinks it's adorable that his cheeks flush as he tries to ask her as subtly (but failing miserably) to be his girlfriend, and her hands fists into his shirt as she smiles coyly at him, before pressing a full kiss to his lips and leaving him dazed in the parking lot, flouncing off back towards their headquarters.

She does an internal squeal of excitement as he calls after her not five minutes later.

"Hey! So is that a yes or a no?" She pivots on her foot, her hands behind her back as she smiles cheekily at him.

"I'm free tomorrow evening." She watches as understanding Dawns on his eyes and he smiles sheepishly at her, scratching his head slightly. "I'll kick you if you aren't there at seven sharp!" She calls, feeling on cloud nine as she practically dances into the headquarters.

"So....Flashlight boy and you are hooking up? I guess the googly eyes you were making secretly at him worked." She shrieks as John appears out of nowhere and scares the crap out of her (it's one of his less desirable mutant abilities---to move around like a ninja despite being built like a hulk). He paused for a moment, before a grin spreads across his face. "You're so cute when you are crushing hard on someone and not all imposing and badass, you know."

"Ew, go flatter Sonya instead." She flaps her hands playfully in his face. "But I do not have a crush on Marcos."

"Oh so it's a first name basis now? I guess it's inevitable, since he's meeting you at seven sharp in the evening tomorrow, and you guys just kissed." Lorna had half the mind to actually throw him by the metal buckles on his belt all across the room, but grins as she remembers the leverage she holds over him. John was crushing hard on her best friend himself---Sonya, but the poor man, despite all his muscle and brawn, can't seem to work up the courage to even ask her out for a small date.

"If you're gonna tease me endlessly, I'm telling Sonya about your crush on her!" She sing-songs. What she doesn't tell John is that Sonya likes him too--- because she figures she might as well get the most out of these two secrets (Sonya's been at her Beck and call almost every day because she doesn't want John to know her crush on him, and John's been keeping his line very very well, because he doesn't want Sonya to know he likes her too. All in all, it's complicated. For them, but beneficial for her.)

"You wouldn't."

"Oh believe me, I so would." She cups her hands slightly. "Oh Sonnyyyyaaaa--" John yelps, rushing to clasp a hand over Lorna's mouth.

"Fine! I won't say a word or tease you about your crush with Marcos!" She holds up a finger, raising an eyebrow. "I swear I won't even mention it." His shoulders sag.

"Good boy." She Pats his muscular arms, because it would be awkward for her to stand on her toes and Pat his head when she's only 1.74 metres and he's a good 1.8.

"What am I, a dog?" He calls after her as she prances off gleefully.

"Maybe!" She teases him back, enjoying this new hold over John way too much. Sonya catches up to her halfway through the stairs, eyebrows raised.

"You woke me with that call from my sleep, Lorna." She's Moody from the lack of sleep while Lorna is all hyped from her encounter with Marcos. "Mind telling me why the hell are you blushing?" Lorna shrugs, leaning on the staircase bannister, her face propped in both of her hands as she looked down at her best friend with a wide smile on her face.

"I just got a date with Marcos."

Her best friend's eyes widen.

"You mean that hot scruffy Diaz boy? I thought you didn't like him!" She surrenders as Lorna glares at her when she mentions that Marcos is hot----because Lorna is just damn possessive over the people she likes and Marcos just so happens to be one of them.

"Well---" Lorna drawls, her shoulder shrugging offhandedly. "He kissed me first, and he's quite handsome."

"So because he's handsome that's why you've decided to date him?"

"Noooo, I ain't that shallow." Lorna huffs. "We both can do really cool stuff with our powers."

"Tell me!" Lorna shrinks back slightly, turning her face half away. She wants to keep their Aurora Borealis effect much of a secret rather than share it---it felt like it was something special that they both shared with each other only, and there was no way that Lorna wanted Sonya to know about this, despite them being good friends.

"Oh, it's nothing." She waves her friend off quickly. "I'm gonna go to bed."

"Yeah, keep pretending, Lorna Dane! I'll find out about this thing you're talking about sooner or later!" Dreamer huffs, and smiles shyly as John appears on the steps behind her. "Oh! Hi Johnny." Lorna grins as the two stare at each other awkwardly, a blush on their faces before she retreats to her room, a song on her lips and a skip in her step.

Life was good.

Life was so very good.

~~~~~

I know that a lot of people don't like Thunderbird and Dreamer together and to be honest, I don't either. But at this point Clarisse hasn't appeared and we all know that Well, John and Sonya were old news since they dated for almost a year or so I think.

@eclipsepolarisxauroraborealis

[kurowrites]

Aureola (Part 4)

I have officially given up on my sanity and have no energy left at all, so there you go, the last part (wee!). I could still add so many things, but honestly it just seems like far too much effort at the moment. I just want to sleep now. 

You can find the first three parts here. Also, if you liked it, I’d honestly appreciate a comment so much!

XIX.

Once they arrived at Helios’ house, Helios let Icarus in, pointed out where the bathroom was and proceeded to tell him to make himself comfortable. He hesitated for a moment in the door frame, but then went into the kitchen and picked out the number to order them some take away. Icarus stood there for a moment, listening to Helios’ phone conversation with one ear. But his curiosity quickly got the better of him and he couldn't help but wander around the first floor of the house.

It was a decently sized house, neither overly large nor very small, with enough room so that the layout didn’t feel cramped. The windows were large, so that the rooms would be naturally bright if the sun was up. The furniture was rather sparse, mostly just the necessities such as tables, chairs and a sofa, with some bookshelves and a variety of instruments placed in a way that prevented the rooms from feeling too empty. Some of the bookshelves hadn’t been completely shelved yet, a few boxes full of books still lying around.

Icarus poked at some of the books. Apparently, Helios was a voracious reader and he had a diversified taste, the books ranging from non-fiction over detective novels to science fiction.

Everything was unpretentious, but all the furniture was of good quality, and it looked new. The grey sofa in the living room looked especially inviting, so Icarus sat on it and gave it a little bounce, testing its comfort. It was very comfortable, no doubt. It kind of made him want to lie down and close his eyes for a few moments.

“The food should be here in about 40 minutes,” Helios said, following Icarus into the living room after he had finished the call. The turned the TV on and handed the remote over to Icarus. “Choose whatever you want.”

“What do you watch, usually?” Icarus asked.

“I like documentaries,” Helios answered.

“Really?”

“I don’t really have the patience to watch TV series,” Helios said. “I do like watching films. But when I loaf around, I prefer documentaries. Sometimes, they help me get inspired to write new music.”

Icarus felt surprised at that, but then, it also seemed very much like Helios somehow. He couldn’t really imagine Helios binge-watching TV series on Netflix. But that was the same mistake he’d made before, judging Helios by his appearance. It was hard to get a read on him, Icarus felt, so it was easy to simply assume. Unlike Eliza, who chattered endlessly about the things that she loved and the things that she was currently concerned about, Helios only ever said exactly as much as he felt was needed in any given moment.

What did Icarus actually know about him?

He was very passionate about the music he made, to the point where he chose to concentrate on that instead of getting a formal education.

He liked animals, especially penguins and dogs.

He liked physical exercise such as hiking and running.

He liked to go out into nature when he felt like he needed a break.

He didn’t seem all too sociable and didn’t speak very much.

When he did say something, he meant it.  

He liked good food and spent time researching good restaurants on the internet.

He liked to read.

He liked documentaries.

He apparently liked Icarus. And made time for him to suit his schedule.

Icarus had learned more than he ever thought he would about Helios since they had bumped into each other in that supermarket, but there were so many things that were also still a mystery to him. First and foremost, he had no idea why Helios would go for someone like Icarus when he could have virtually anyone else if he tried. He was good-looking enough that he could probably attract droves of men and women simply with a well-timed smile.

Icarus sighed quietly and went over the different options to watch. He doubted Helios would be into a superhero movie, and Icarus himself certainly wouldn’t subject himself to a romcom. Maybe a documentary wouldn’t be the worst option. He randomly chose the first thing that caught his eye.

Helios settled down next to him on the sofa, and suddenly, Icarus was all too aware of his presence next to him. Helios liked him. Wow. Helios had told him he liked him, and now he was here, on his sofa, on what might be a date.

Icarus felt nervous and on edge until the food arrived. He pretended to be immersed in the program that they were watching, but really, he was stealthily watching Helios get up and go to the door to get their food. Helios liked him, and Icarus had fallen for him hook, line, and sinker.

It was the worst epiphany to have over food, of all things.

They ate in relative silence. Helios was never really chatty when he was eating, Icarus knew that by now, but Icarus still couldn’t help sending nervous glances over to him every so often.

At some point, Helios put his food away and returned Icarus’ look. Then he sighed deeply.

“I’m not actually going to suddenly jump you, you know.”

“I- I know,” Icarus stuttered. “I just… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m just… I don’t know.” He shrugged helplessly.

“We can just continue watching TV,” Helios said calmly. “Nothing more and nothing less. And maybe have a conversation about… us.”

“But…” Icarus insisted, squirming around in his seat. He slowly reached out and touched Helios’ forearm. “I keep noticing you.”

XX.

Helios looked at him with an intense gaze, and Icarus’ heartbeat unwittingly sped up. He wasn’t sure what exactly was happening, but he was sure that something was happening. He couldn’t stop looking at Helios’ eyes of molten gold, so much more beautiful and alive than he could have ever imagined looking from afar.

“You’re strange,” Helios murmured, and then he leaned down to gently grasp Icarus’ chin and lifted it. He softly pressed his thumb into Icarus’ lower lip and then stroked back and forth - once, twice, three times. “Very strange.”

He leaned down further and then, finally, he kissed Icarus.

Icarus sat there, completely frozen. The sensation of Helios’ lips on his was strange, unfamiliar, but not in a bad way. No, it felt really, really good. Icarus found himself wishing that it would never stop; that the tingling in his lips, his fingertips, the fluttering in his stomach would never stop. That Helios would never stop touching him so gently.

After a few moments, Helios drew back and looked at Icarus again, considering.

“Don’t stop,” Icarus found himself pleading.

Helios smiled, the tiniest quirk of his lips.

“I can work with that,” he murmured before he leaned in again, pressing gentle kisses to Icarus’ nose and cheeks.

Icarus’ eyes slipped closed and he simply enjoyed the sensation of Helios’ hands and lips on him. If he had imagined doing this with Helios, he would have imagined Helios being more assertive and maybe a little rough. Well, maybe not rough, but… urgent? Instead, Helios’ attentions were luxurious and unhurried, rather as if he was enjoying a cool drink by the pool side and not intent on debauching Icarus.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been thinking about doing this?” Helios asked quietly between several kisses.

Icarus didn’t know how to reply. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Helios was interested in him, much less that Helios wanted to kiss him. Hell, he would have been happy if Helios had as much as remembered his name.

Icarus had always been at a disadvantage. He’d fallen for Helios all too easily. That Helios could feel the same - the thought had never even crossed his mind.

“You are so pretty,” Helios continued, unaware of Icarus’ rambling thoughts. “I’ve been wanting to touch you so badly.”

Helios hands wandered from Icarus’ face to his neck and then lower. Never before had he felt anything like this, the touch of another person leaving traces on his body like this, and his chest felt as if it would burst from all the conflicting emotions that filled it at the touch of Helios’ hands.

Slowly, the hands wandered along his frame, down to his waist (slightly ticklish) and then lower until they reached his hips where they stopped to move in small circling motions in a way that felt decidedly…

...not good.

“...I think I’m going to be sick,” Icarus rasped, and then he jumped up and ran for the bathroom.

He unceremoniously emptied the contents of his stomach into the toilet bowl. After the heaving had finally stopped, he found the energy to slowly lift his head.

Helios stood leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and lips in a thin line.

Icarus wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole. Leave it to him to completely destroy the most amazing moment in the worst way possible.

Oh god, there was no way that Helios was going to want him now. He had completely and utterly fucked everything up.

“You know, you’re supposed to tell people when you’re feeling uncomfortable with something that they’re doing,” Helios said severely.

“Sorry,” Icarus mumbled.

“Don’t apologise,” Helios growled, waving his hands in frustration. “But next time, tell me to stop before something like this happens.”

“I… I’m not sure what happened, really,” Icarus replied shakily. “I wanted you to touch me.”

There was a moment of silence that caused Icarus to tense, but then Helios kneeled next to him, gently taking hold of his neck and rubbing it lightly.

“There are many different ways in which people can touch each other,” he said quietly.

Icarus closed his eyes in frustration, trying to keep back his tears. He didn’t want this to end in another failure on his part. He finally wanted to do something properly, the way it was supposed to be done. When it came to Helios, he wanted so many things.

Fuck.

“Is it okay like this?” Helios asked, still gently stroking his neck, his fingers not straying any longer.

“Yes,” Icarus hissed, frustrated. “Anything rated G is dandy.”

“Icarus,” Helios said in a warning tone.

“It’s a joke, isn’t it,” Icarus spat angrily. “I wanted you to touch me.”  

“And I want you to not feel sick when I touch you, so you got to tell me what you’re fine with,” Helios shot back. He was frowning and looking supremely angry, but the hand still stroking Icarus’ neck stayed far too gentle.

It was too much, and Icarus broke into tears.

“I don’t know! I don’t know. No one ever touches me like that.”

The tears were streaming freely now, and he gasped for air, dimly realising that he was close to hyperventilation, but not rational enough at the moment to actually care that it was happening.

“I can’t do this. I can’t do this,” he blubbered.

“Icarus,” Helios said. “Icarus. Calm down. It’s not an issue. We just have to figure out what you’re fine with.”

“I should be fine with it,” Icarus insisted hysterically. “I just want to be normal for once.”

“What does that even mean,” Helios said, and there was a strange sense of frustration in his voice as he let his hand drop away from Icarus’ neck. “I didn’t spend time with you because I thought you’d be normal.”

XXI.

“You’re the worst,” Icarus whispered feebly.

“Ugh,” Helios grunted. “Are you even listening? I like you just fine the way you are! Why are you trying to live up to some kind of imaginary standard? There’s no such thing!”

“But everyone tells me there is!” Icarus shouted. “Everyone always lets me know how much I’m not living up to it!”

“Why the fuck are you listening to them?” Helios shouted back. The noise was uncomfortably amplified by the bathroom walls, and Icarus had the sudden urge to cover his ears and stop listening to Helios for good. “You are fine just the way you are! Why are you letting others tell you what to think?”

Icarus remained quiet, because Helios made sense, of course he did, but something inside of Icarus told him that he was wrong, wrong, wrong.

“Seriously, Icarus, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but when I chatted you up, it was because you were cute and kind of quirky, and you kind of went along with the flow and I felt comfortable in your presence. You have absolutely no malicious bone in your body, and you couldn’t practice deceit to save your life.” Icarus watched him card his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I mean it when I say that I like you just as you are. It’s not like I’m exactly a normal, sociable person either. But you don’t seem to have a problem with that.”

“No,” Icarus agreed. “But you are like the sun. People love you anyway.”

“Icarus, if I am the sun, then you are the moon. And I’m pretty sure I’m under your spell.”

Icarus laughed wetly. “That was a little dramatic now.”

“I’m not kidding here.”

“The thing is: I know that you don’t,” Icarus sighed. He tried to stand up and suddenly realised that his legs felt shaky and weak. God, he suddenly was exhausted. “Can you bring me home?”

Helios was quiet for a moment. “Sure. I think it’s better for tonight.”

Icarus looked up into Helios’ eyes. So beautiful still, even though though he looked about as tired as Icarus felt.

“Are you okay to stand?” Helios asked.

“Yes,” Icarus replied, but he still took Helios’ hand when he offered it to him.

Helios gave him towels and a toothbrush to clean himself up, and then, once Icarus was ready, he brought him back to the dorm in his car. They were quiet during the drive, not speaking to each other, and if he was honest, Icarus didn’t have the energy to even apologise anymore. He’d fucked this up so badly, Helios was probably glad once he was finally rid of him.

Oh god, and he’d been so happy just an hour ago.

When they arrived at the dorm, Helios followed Icarus out of the car and to the door wordlessly.  

Icarus stopped in front of the door and turned around to look at Helios for a moment, unsure of what to do next.

“Thank you for bringing me home,” he eventually said, and the words felt leaden in his mouth.

“It was the least I could do,” Helios replied, shrugging almost helplessly. Icarus wondered if he’d ever seen Helios so unsure of himself before. They stared at each other for a long moment, the silence between the two of them becoming oppressive.

“I… will I see you again?” Helios asked.

Icarus sucked in a breath in surprise. Suddenly, Helios seemed to shrink into himself, lowering his gaze to his shoes.

Icarus’ mind whirred, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Did Helios maybe… did he think that he had overstepped his boundaries? Did he think that Icarus was the one who didn’t want to see him again?

As if. As if.

“Soon,” Icarus whispered breathlessly. “We’ll see each other soon. Don’t worry too much, okay?”

“I’ll try,” Helios murmured back, shrugging his shoulders a little.

The hopelessness of the gesture made Icarus take heart. He stepped closer to Helios, raising himself on tiptoes and giving him a soft kiss. Helios stared at him in disbelief, and Icarus kissed him again. Softly, so softly.

When they finally parted and Icarus stepped back, Helios took one of his hands and squeezed it, not meeting Icarus’ eyes for a moment. Then, reluctantly, he lifted Icarus’ hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the knuckles before he slowly let it go.

“Good night, Helios,” Icarus said, wishing he could put all the emotions that were clamouring in his chest into these three words.

“Good night, Icarus,” Helios replied, and he stood there in the dark, staring at Icarus with his beautiful golden eyes as if Icarus was the sun.

With a last look over his shoulder, Icarus opened the door and went inside.

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 Battle 25 Money: Trust Me (Side 2 ) Vs. Frosted: Cold (Side A ) Money: Trust Me (Side 2 ) Well, Money. Some people have it, most don't. That seems to be the same for this record, as I could find virtually nothing on the web about it, the band on it, or the label that put it out. I am guessing (and it is JUST a guess) that it was a local band in the 80's heyday that made enough gig money to put out a legit release. It has matrix number though, like the label released other things... Anyhow, I found it while digging in central Ohio, so I presume them to be from the area, or adjacent. Honestly, the cover is kind of terrible. What attracted me was the price tag, and then the back cover. Looks like 80's biker dudes, so I though, "meh, it's $1". It was only later when I got home that I saw it was signed by the band! Sweet!!! Look for it on ebay later with an inflated price tag. Oh yeah, did I mention that the dudes all have guns and a rotweiler on the inside jacket cover? Need I say more? How can you really go wrong with an album called "Trust Me"? So, I did. "Hollywood Blue" starts out this mystery of an album. Very Blade Runner synth to start out. Dang this is PRODUCED!! Admittedly, I am surprised by this. Very full. Eventually it kicks into full disco-vibes mixed rock. Hmmm... "Without You" is the next track. Sultry and emotional cries for love. i think someone was ignored as a child. Pretty straight up 80's radio if you ask me. "Monopoly" just has some weird robo-shit at the intro. What is even going on? Seriously, it sounds like the lead vocalist and guitar were doing a different song than the rhythm section. All funk and disco crap beats. Amusing, and amazingly horrible all at once. Also, I am pretty sure the Batman theme (you know, na-na-na-na) makes an appearance. "The Game" is a light and airy departure from the above. This reeks of bar rock. I cannot wrap my noodle around this band. They are all over the place. "Use Me" is the only halfway decent track. Very Cars meets A Flock Of Seagulls here. Clearly the best tune on the platter. Contains a cool, repeating riff. I would confidently place a large amount of money that this used to be a band that played the bar/rock club circuit in a college town like Columbus or something. It's the only thing that makes sense. They were probably the hot New Year's Eve act or something. Whatever they did, they must have done it well to afford the production, cost of the LPs and FULL COLOR GATEFOLD jacket. As per the aforementioned inscription, I hope Greg got his project off the ground. Frosted: Cold (Side A ) To be perfectly honest, not much info exists out there on this band either! RRW is freeballin' today!! Winging it! Well, here is what I DO know: Frosted (stylised as FroSTed) was an American pop punk band, founded by ex-Go-Go's guitarist and singer Jane Wiedlin in 1995. The band was so-named because "it sounds sweet". The letters S and T were capitalised in tribute to Star Trek, one of Wiedlin's favourite TV shows. They released one album (this one, duh) in 1996 on Scooch Pooch Records. They existed until March 1998. All the good bands are really short lived, have you noticed that? They burn out bright. Some of the songs were co-written with fellow go-go's guitarist Charlotte Caffey, and Rachel Hayden guests as singing on a song. This is so 90's it hurts, and every minute of it is amazing. Also, it is on icy, translucent blue vinyl. Nice touch. I think they are actually named Frosted because two dudes have frosted hair (#seewhatididthere). The Breeders meets a band called Magnapop. Hole if they were a better band. NOT Garbage (#seewhatididthere). "Dis-Integrated" is the rockin' first cut on this album. Weidlin's vocals are perfect for this type of stuff. 90's alt pop punk. Catchy as hell hooks. A pure manifesto song. Superchunks of feedback. "Call Me Crazy" is also catchy AF. It all circles firmly around one riff and rocks out. Repeat endlessly. "Homeless" is more of a ballad (hey, every band has one) with incredible harmonies. "Amerinoid" seems like it might have been meant for a radio single. Blueprint 90's. Feedback, pauses, distorted vocals, you name it! "Cold" is the title track featuring the return of the beautiful harmonies. Distant and eerie. Kind of like a That dog. pop tune. (That dog. Is a band, not a typo). The last two tunes are "Never" (more three chord bliss) and "Shoulder the Sky" with it's slow crushing shoe-gazer moments. Pretty lo-fi overall...they could use the producer that Money had! Weidlin takes on guitar and vocals this go-go's around (#seewhatididthere) So, it seems like Ohio's (??) Money took their money to the studio to lay down this slick and produced debut (?). They burned 146 Calories over 20 minutes and 5 songs. That is an average of 29.2 calories per song and 7.30 calories per minute. They earned 8 out of 15 possible stars. Jane and her post Go-Go action oriented froSTed burned 189 calories over 7 songs and 24 minutes. That is an average of 27.0 calories per song and 7.88 calories per minute. froSTed earned 16 out of 21 possible stars. It seems that Money is the one left out in the cold today, as froSTed win today's randomrecordworkout! Listen for yourself! Check out the links: Money: "Hollywood Blue". Well, at least that is the track I was hoping to find. You'll just have to track the album down yourself if you want to hear it. I could find nothing on this band ( the second time this season!!!). So instead, please enjoy the Michigan Marching band, doing "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits :) https://youtu.be/DEL0-g_UWRk Frosted: "Amerinoid" https://youtu.be/Zu0PdKmYsHc #RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5 #RANDOMRECORDWORKOUT