#and like. the head impact too. BAM

[that-jack-kline-bestie]

Ok if you ignore the pain and the fear I feel like being punched super hard would be rlly fun. like woag and then I’m on the ground. stand back up, again again! like that one game you play when you’re little where you stand up on a bed and someone immediately pushes you back down over and over sort of like a one-hole whack-a-mole

​just being like. wrenched from the space you were just in

[thecoolerliauditore]

big post now that the adrenaline is cooled down a bit. thoughts on each team so far.

overall: ohh I really didn't think I would be enraptured again I really didn't think I would be. Like don't get me wrong I'm not one for wanting the series to end or anything but I was very, very happy about the year long break after Secret Life because it was feeling like quite a lot of content to the point where it was overwhelming.

That break was crucial, I think, to the vibes since I don't know if it's just me but the players just feel like they have so much more energy and excitement for the new season. Etho and Mumbo especially are so quirky this session.

The new mechanic is. shrugs. Really no way to judge it yet seeing as we've pretty much barely seen what it can entail. The fact that everyone has six lives though is making me think some of them are gonna be crazy in future sessions cus that's a ridiculously generous number otherwise and I assume Grian doesn't intend for this season to be twice Third Life's length.

EIGHTEEN PLAYERS! EIGHTEEN PLAYERS! Lizzie, Mumbo, Rendog, Gem 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 I don't have much to add I'm just so happy we're finally getting a season with All of Them. Rendog Ren Ren Diggity Dawg I'm so happy. I'm so happy.

The lag on the server looks um ..... ? Aternos lookin ass. I hope it doesnt impact them too much beyond this episode and they get that fixed cus whoagh that is um bad. Joel being soooo fucking angry about it is so funny please never change Joel.

~

Renwood Mound: First of all horrid name but I would be disappointed by anything less sexually suggestive. Second of all please check up on your Treebark mutuals this is a difficult time. Refeeding syndrome might just kill a couple of you I'm so sorry.

I'm not a big Ren/Martyn understander but my dash has been more celebrating their reunion than crying tears of anguish like the other toxic rebounds (ethubs, tango, pearl) that have popped up so I can only assume it's going to be okay we're all gonna make it.

If they do stay as a duo this season is going to be crazy for Martyn specifically I think. He's already gotten the betrayal he wants, he's already achieved the villainous role he so wants to play, and now it's just him and Ren together with no Dogwarts to lead. I genuinely have no idea where this one will go. o7

~

BAM Boys: I really hope the "boys" part stays in the name despite Lizzie joining them at the end for my very specific Lizzie headcanons. It would tickle me.

Anyway we're finally freed from the grasps of blue man and get the Scar/Jimmy team up this time with added Lizzie flavour. I'm very excited and like. I've seen a lot of people doubting this team will go far which confuses me because I don't know if you guys are aware but Scar won last season. And Lizzie, despite her early death in SL, really is no pushover either (she had one of the highest body counts in LL and I wish more people talked about that).

Scar specifically is in a great spot with pretty much full diamond armour already. He gets all giddy while mining and says to himself something like "ooh I get to share some with Jimmy!" which is so sweet to me.

Scar remaking the reputation board from Third Life is actually insane. What is he doing.

All this to say I think this team looks wholesome and I'm optimistic for their future. This could be Jimmy's Mounders. Or it could be Fairy Fort 2 idk let's see.

~

I think Bigb's possessed again.

~

The Hobbits(???): Hilarious to me that they stole Flower Husbands' original branding. Anyway Grumbo is back idk if I know them well enough to make a statement but I'm mentally chucking them into the toxic rebound box in my head just to get the number up.

This is the POV I've seen the least of but they seem fun. I wonder if being out of the horrific environment that was the Southlanders will do any good for Grumbo's relationship. Skizz being there also tends to bring the mood up 400% (unless it's Dogwarts).

~

Joel & Gem: IM SO EXCITED. This is pretty much the Bdubs/Joel team-up I wanted originally but now we get Ethubs too which is even more awesome for me. Very cringe take from me but they are both shounen anime.

Despite what Scott says I really don't think they'll "spontaneously combust". They're both high energy and aggressive but historically loyal to the people who accept them, the sample rate for Gem is not exactly scientifically viable but. Vaguely gestures to all of Secret Life.

I kind of wanna see Gem kill Pearl.

~

Whatever the fuck the Ethubs + Tango team is called: Why.

No like seriously Tango I thought you hated these bitches why are you third wheeling them. He's also surprisingly Bdubspilled like he sides with him on the horse thing and tries to warn Bdubs about Etho lying later. Like, don't get me wrong I really don't think Tango has spite for Bdubs comparable to like. Pearl for Scott for example but he certainly isn't fond of him after he um Fucking Murdered Him and was completely unapologetic.

I'm not really a Tango guy so I can't speak on what's going on inside his head regarding that it's just. Interesting to observe. At least the brief ranchers interaction was cute (and really funny to see in the background of ethubs yelling at eachother).

Anyway Ethubs are insane. It's so funny to me that their horse argument literally lasted an entire in game day.

It's fun for me specifically because I always viewed Secret Life as somewhat of a soft end/reboot point for the series for multiple reasons - the year long hiatus, scars win bookending things really well, pearl and scotts arcs wrapping up (oh how naive) and, of course, the conclusion ethubs reached.

I think I've made a post before about how beautiful of an ending SL is for Ethubs. The distance allowing them to overcome their own personal issues with Bdubs learning he's capable and to care for people who aren't himself or Etho and Etho learning relationships don't have to be minefields, leading into HC10 where Bdubs moves into the rural countryside away from everything and Etho hanging out with his new coworkers at the post office. They can still talk and visit, of course, but the time away from eachother does them wonders and adds a bit of hope for how they will be in the future.

So how should I even fucking feel about Etho pulling a Limited Life and almost killing Bdubs for a prank. Or Etho asking Bdubs what he's done for him. Or Etho in general being a little shit about the horse thing and Bdubs being equally stubborn.

Bdubs even kinda?? Talks like they're a couple who've gone to therapy with the "I should express how I feel and how I feel is.." and the way he catches himself when he's halfway through yelling. Like I'm not insane you guys hear it too right.

Like don't get me wrong I'm very stuck in my ways of insisting Ethubs isn't really toxic, at least not anymore, but I can totally see someone else being horrified by them and I would cheer them on for it. This episode is especially going to be horrible for that person. At least for me it seems like Bdubs' character development is very real i.e. him rejecting Etho's chestplate with the classic "I can take care of myself", a stark contrast to LL/DL Bdubs and he bites back when Etho is weird.

I have hope for Ethubs is what I'm trying to say and it's totallyyyy not because they're my first ship and I'm biased. I need to figure out what's wrong with Etho and why he's doing this. I saw a post that theorized Etho wanted Bdubs to get mad at him and kill him this season which I'm rotating a bit but I'll have to keep watching. Ethubs girls we're in for it we really are. Tango girls I'm um sorry.

~

PICS / the Islanders: My 13th reason why.

Trying to not repeat too much here from whatever happened to me emotionally last night but this is what hell looks like. It's what I expected but like. DAMN. I wasn't expecting it to be. That bad.

Seeing a lot of people say that the team is just. Pearl, The Horrors and Impulse who is just 🧍‍♂️and I don't think that's completely wrong or anything however ☝️I must say that Impulse continues to frighten me and him being here is making me personally shake like a chihuahua. Like I can't really explain his character if you put a gun to my head I just think the guy might have some issues communicating emotions and prefers to hold grudges/be passive aggressive like with the psychological horror that was the impdubs DL POV and I can't imagine him being particularly Good for Pearl. Also he's done several insane things in the past e.g. the Bdubs grudge, laughing at Tango when he tries to kill himself in SL, being excited(??) for gem to kill him in SL, trying to kill Skizz in SL wow wait maybe it's just proximity to gem and scott that fucks this guy up. Idk though I don't trust his ass.

Anyway. Yes like we are all Martyn Inthelittlewooding it up for Pearl in here. I have so many somewhat misogynistic fantasies in my head about her being saved by Gem or Bdubs or Joel or Bigb for that matter. Emotionally that's what I would want. HOWEVER I don't think that would actually be anything that would help Pearl in fact I think she'd just run back to her team because she's loyal like that. So now I kind of just want to see the consequences of her actions. Whittle her down to nothing 💥💥💥💥💥It would break me it genuinely would.

Cleo fucking catching herself and correcting "trauma" to "damage" mid sentence is insane can we kill. can we kill them.

So yeah um I'm excited for this season

[winterisol]

"tenho medo da minha cabeça"

inspired of "Medo do Medo" by O Terno Rosquez AU (BIG ANGST) Warnings death, depression

So this is a really dark idea I've been playing around with for a while involving the whole 2015 divorce.

So the title of this fic literally means "I'm scared of my head" and I would like a fic where it applies to both Vale and Marc in 2015.

I would say by the beginning of 2014 these two are fucking, maybe even dating. Its like those shallow high school relationships, and probably with an unhealthy power dynamic. But over time its clear that those power dynamics are in place, not because Marc is any less than Vale, but is willing to give Vale that power because Marc loves and trust Valentino that much. And maybe that is part of the reason the divorce happens.

Young and emotional Marc giving his heart a little bit too easily V. Valentino Rossi, a man famous for his commitment issues.

Starting with Assen, Valentino begins to doubt Marc, aka being delulu, starting to believe maybe they aren't as buddy buddy as Marc acts in front of the camera. (Though he is really looking for more of an excuse to put distance between them)

Typical 2015 and then bam the Philip Island conference. I think Marc searches Valentino out after the conference, hoping it was all some joke, only for Valentino to be cruel and cutting, maybe poking at some of Marc's biggest insecurities. Perhaps Valentino says Marc is "dangerous" that he's "reckless" but the words that hurt the most is that Marc was "dumb" to "fall in love" and that Valentino "never loved him." (This is categorically untrue but so is a lot of the other BS vale says, so yeah). If I really want to go darker, maybe Valentino even says, that he knew Marc was dangerous the day he crashed out in 2011, you know the crash. The crash that almost killed and ended Marc's whole career.

Anyway, Marc is definitely in his head, but tries to use Sepang as a way to get back at Vale. Just like in IRL, this backfires, Valentino kicking Marc off his bike and the divorce is finalized.

Marc is now completely lost in thoughts, perhaps second guessing every aspect of his relationship with Valentino. I think there are a few incidents leading up to the finale. There is of course journalists trying to break into Marc's family home. People yelling things at him on track, at the paddock even at the airport. He has security to following him constantly, and everything is a lot. But I think Valencia is where shit truly hits the fan.

It's suppose to be a home race for Marc, a race in his country, Spain. But even here, he's jeered, people abuse him and it feels like no matter where he goes, no on likes him, because no one is greater than Valentino Rossi.

Following the end of the season Marc falls into a depressive rut not even his mother or brother can drag him out of. He feels lost and not in control, which only panics and depresses him more (another control freak). It's like a negative feedback loop, and he just wallows for weeks.

Then finally, for some reason, maybe it's after Alex cries begging his brother to be happy again, Marc tries to go about life again. But he's an empty husk, just going through the motions of a person who no longer exists.

Perhaps its at the beginning year test in Sepang. Marc is riding, and even while riding the thoughts seem to not go away. Perhaps he loses focus because of the biting feelings of depression, or even worse he's silently wishing to just die already. Either way, he crashes, letting the front slide and the rear lift, throwing him head first into the tarmac.

I think Marc passes away basically on impact (idk how realistic it is with these types of crashes). Perhaps there is a mistake with the medic team, pre-season testing and everything leading to the correct safety measure not being taken. He's basically lying there on circuit, slowly dying, brain turning fog, but his last thought is that he's thankful for the reprise (ouch).

His death is obviously a shock to the whole motorsport world. A young talent, the youngest motoGP world champion, the baby alien, a kid with so much more to live for. gone.

Then in Marc's motorhome as Alex's goes to sob on his brother's bed, he sees a series of papers. Marc wrote notes to him, his parents, his friends but also Jorge, Dani and Valentino. (These notes are NOT suicide notes, more like Marc trying to collect his thoughts, and doing it as letters to people he cares/cared about bcuz its easier that way. These notes were never intended to see the light of day)

Alex is obviously inconsolable, reading through it, realizing its less of a note to him, but a confession. Marc venting all his dark thoughts through a message to his younger brother, thinking that Alex would never find or hear these thoughts.

Then there are the letters to Dani, Jorge and Valentino.

These letters are apologies, Marc overthinking every mistake, trying to rationalize the reason for his loneliness.

Dani reads it and feels like a failure. Not being a good enough teammate, a good enough mentor, a good enough friend for Marc, who's only goal in life was to win and enjoy winning.

Jorge is furious at first, storming towards Valentino and yelling bloody murder, before throwing Vale's note at him. Jorge feeling guilty that he secondhandly caused the divorce.

And then Vale, is a mess. In every sense of the word, he almost withdraws from the first race of the season because of how messed up everything is. He feels, guilt, loss, despair but also an indescrible amount of regret. Not only is Marc dead, but they ended on such horrible terms. Valentino not only lost the love of his life, but let the love of his life believe that he was unlovable.

I think it takes the combined effort of Vale's friends (yes even Uccio) as well as a reconciliation with the Marquez family to make Valentino feel even remotely human again.

It's slow, and perhaps it ends with Valentino creating a small monument for Marc in his Ranch, which every February 17 at 12:00 AM he leaves a bouquet of forgetmenots and daisies.

[nic-coughlan]

So many people saying they are avoiding part 2 because of Luke’s hard launch. I mean the feelings are valid, but I’m like please look after yourselves and get support if you are really negatively impacted. I know the promo tour blurs lines but Luke and Nic are effectively strangers to us and we need to remember that.

yeahhhhh....i've seen it too.

um, i think it's the timing as well. lowkey, it's shite timing. you know you've just launched the most highly anticipated show of all time, you've spent 6 months with this gorgeous woman touching her, flirting with her, both of them giving adoring looks like yes, they're friends! they are! but to suddenly have all that, all of it, and then BAM! girlfriend.

fuck me, it's like whiplash. i get why people are like whoaaaaa because it's like being whacked in the head with the reality pole, it's that "oh they really truly don't owe us anything" so i get why people feel like it's been ruined. i do.

[pandacatxd]

Support a student project! A story of disability and migraine.

Hi all!!

A friend of mine is in their final year of film school which means it's final project time! They're directing a story they wrote that is near and dear to their heart because it's their lived experience. It's my lived experience, too, and I've come across others who also live it on tumblr, so I thought I'd share it here to gather support!

The fund goes to feeding crew members, costuming, hiring equipment, and travel fees.

Have you ever wanted to punch your migraine? Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your migraine came to life and you could yell at it? What would you say? What would you do?

Presenting📢 Me, Migraine, and I

Logline: When burnt-out, stressed law student Mei Shui's migraines gain a life of their own, threatening her attendance rate and preparation for her bar exam, she must learn the delicate dance of living life with her very own fairy god-migraine… who doesn't even do chores.​

Overview and my thoughts under the cut.

Overview:

Mei Shui is a neurotic, overachieving law-student who wants to pass her final exams with flying colours. Unfortunately for her, Migraine ✨manifests✨ as a physical being to cause chaos and generally disrupt her life.

Migraine wiggles their fingers and BAM. Light sensitivity upon ye.

A wave of their hand and BOOM. Now Mei Shui is sensitive to sound. With some splitting head pain to boot.

Migraine snaps their fingers and POW. Now she's dizzy and tired and whoops. Why does she want to throw up? (hint: someone walked by with strong perfume)

Mei Shui frantically makes some lifestyle adjustments to keep Migraine's visits at bay and it helps!!!

...for now 😈😈😈

My thoughts:

I vibe with the story a lot - there's a lot of relatable moments. It's a buddy-comedy and I like how it shows the relationship between Mei Shui and Migraine, discussing the impacts of migraine in a funny manner while not making fun of it.

Any small amount helps!! Legitimately, even if u can only spare $1 we'd be so grateful.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to DM me or email the director (their email is in the image above, which is also on the fundraiser page).

[banapsha]

The Art of Plot Twists: A God-Tier Guide

Hey there, sunshine(s) and moonlight(s)! Do you want to rock your readers' worlds with mind-boggling plot twists? Well, lucky for you, I recently met a mind reader in my basement and they told me you want to know this. Buckle up, because we're about to begin a journey into the abyss. Kidding! We are going to the Kingdom of Twistano-Turnano; narratives that'll leave jaws on the floor and minds on some walls. Strap in, grab your favorite snacks and let's get this party started. (I believe that one was too much, right? Coz’ who’s got time for any parties? Or am I the only one missing out?) 

What Makes a Good Plot Twist?

Let's kick things off with the basics. A plot twist isn't just about throwing in a random curveball– oh no, it's about shaking up the very fabric of your story. A meaningful plot twist should be a seismic shift in the audience's perception, whether it's through an unexpected event, a shocking revelation, or a philosophical awakening. We're talking external, internal, and philosophical shifts that make the audiences question everything they thought they knew. It's about changing your audience's reality.

The Three Types of Shifts: External, Internal, and Philosophical

The external shift– think unexpected deaths, hidden treasures, and jaw-dropping identity reveals. These twists are all about rearranging plot elements in ways that leave readers gasping for air.

The internal shift– this one's all about messing with your audience's emotions. One minute they're feeling all warm and fuzzy, and the next, BAM! You hit 'em with an event that leaves them shaken to the core. Just make sure to keep things clear, or you'll have a bunch of confused readers scratching their heads.

The philosophical shift– the granddaddy of all plot twists. This one's all about making your audience question their beliefs and perceptions. You take 'em from thinking they've got it all figured out to realize that maybe, just maybe, they've been wrong all along.

To really knock your readers' socks off, you gotta apply all three shifts. That's right, no half-measures here. Using just one or missing one entirely is just going to confuse the shit out of your audiences. Trust me, you don't wanna do that.

What makes a plot twist good?

Shock Value: First things first, a good plot twist needs to pack a punch. We're talking about leaving your readers reeling, jaws on the floor, and minds blown. If it doesn't make 'em gasp, it ain't worth it. The key is to not settle for the first twist that comes to mind. Dig deep, get creative, and find a way to really knock your readers' socks off.

Believability: Sure, we love a good surprise, but it's gotta make sense, ya know? You can't just say that the human we have been following around is a dog disguised as a pizza! Nope, we ain't gone believe that boy. Keep it real. Actually, the real(er) the better. Foreshadowing is your best friend. Drop hints, plant seeds, and lay the groundwork for your twist early on. That way, when it finally hits, it'll feel like a natural progression of the story. (Maybe show me a barking human to make me go along with the pizza dog twist.)

Impact on Characters AND Plot: A truly great plot twist doesn't just shake things up for the sake of it. It needs to have real consequences, affecting not only the characters but the entire storyline. Don't just focus on the shock factor – think about how your twist will affect your characters and your plot. Will it send them spiraling into chaos? Will it force them to confront their deepest fears? Make it count.

Variety in Tropes: Cliched tropes are good but if you can manage to twist it up, that's even better. Try to give us something we've never seen before. Surprise us, delight us, and keep us guessing 'til the very end. But don't be afraid to break the mold. Sure, some tropes are tried and true, but the best twists are the ones that defy expectations. Surprise your readers, challenge their assumptions, and leave 'em begging for more.

Timing: Timing is literally everything. You need to build up to the right moment for that twist like a mastermind supervillain. Keep your readers on their toes. Drop breadcrumbs along the way, build up the tension, ratchet up the suspense, and then hit 'em with that (do-do do-do) twist right when they least expect it. You gotta know exactly when to drop that grenade. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.

Plot Twist Techniques:

Breadcrumbs: The classic "how did I not see this coming" twist. Make 'em scratch their heads and wonder, "How did I miss that?" Lay the groundwork for your twist by dropping subtle hints and clues throughout your story. It's all about planting those breadcrumbs and watching your readers play Sherlock Holmes.

Misdirection: The good ol' red herring. Lead your readers down one path, only to yank the rug out from under them at the last minute. Get 'em emotionally invested in a particular outcome, then flip the script and watch 'em squirm. Mix this with the breadcrumbs and you have a beautiful pie.

The False Win: Picture this – your characters are riding high, victory is in sight, and then BAM! You hit 'em with the ultimate plot twist: it's not over yet. Give 'em a false sense of comfort, then snatch it away like a cruel twist of fate. 

The Unprovoked: Ever seen a plot twist  that leaves you scratching your head and wondering, "Where did that come from?" That's the unprovoked twist. It happens out of nowhere, catching everyone off guard and leaving 'em reeling. It's unexpected, it's unpredictable, and it's oh-so deliciously twisty.

Types of Twists: The classics

Identity Reveal: Remember the "I am your father" moment? Yes. There's nothing quite like the shock of discovering that a character's true identity isn't what it seems. Whether it's a long-lost twin or a secret agent in disguise, identity reveals never fail to leave readers gasping for air. Mix it up to make it newer and you have an even tastier sandwich.

Motive Reveal: Ever wondered why that one seemingly innocent character was acting so shady? Well, it's time for a motive reveal – the moment when all becomes clear and the true intentions behind a character's actions are laid bare. It's like peeling back layers of an onion, only way more dramatic. (Plot twist: This entire post has been written so you will buy my book, The Sinner and The Scarred from Amazon! It is available in both Paperback and Ebook formats but if you have Kindle Unlimited you can read it for FREE!)

Background Reveal: Behind every great character is a great backstory. Well, these backstories can also be great plot twists. (What? The hero's love interest is the villain's child. WHAT? The hero's love interest is the villain! WHAT? THE HERO IS DATING BOTH THE VILLAIN AND THEIR CHILD!!) From dark secrets to hidden traumas, background reveals add depth and complexity to your story.

Character Deaths: Sometimes, the only way to shake things up is by "killing your darlings." Actually, whether it's a beloved hero sacrificing themselves for the greater good or a villain meeting their untimely demise, character deaths are guaranteed to leave readers in shock and awe. Especially when done right. (Set the mood for a fun wedding. Then kill someone at the wedding. Kill the bride. Or the groom. Kill 'em both. Have them kill each other!)

Destruction of Setting or Important Elements: Say goodbye to the status quo, because we're about to shake things up with a little destruction. Whether it's a beloved setting crumbling to the ground or a crucial element of the story being obliterated, destruction twists add a sense of urgency and chaos to your narrative. (Burn your hero's house down. Extra points if their family was still inside. Minus points if their dog was in there, though.)

Timeline Shift: A timeline shift can turn your story on its head, sending characters hurtling through time and space or revealing shocking truths about the past, present, and future. (It will be a weird way to find out you’re adopted, you know?)

Surprising Events in General: Sometimes, you just gotta throw caution to the wind and hit your readers with something completely unexpected. From random acts of kindness to bizarre coincidences, surprising events add an element of unpredictability to your story that'll keep readers guessing until the very end. 

Special Ability Reveal: The moment when a character discovers they've got powers beyond their wildest dreams, things start getting out of hand. Whether it's flying, telekinesis, or the ability to talk to animals, special ability reveals add a touch of magic and wonder to your story.

Do remember when it comes to plot twists, the sky's the limit. But placement is key. Whether it's smack dab in the middle of your story or right at the climax, the timing of your twist can make or break its impact. 

Now, let's touch on what NOT to do. Forced twists? No, thank you. Unbelievable plot developments? Hard pass. And let's not even get started on the dreaded plot armor– nothing kills the vibe faster than a last-minute rescue by bad writing. (Leave a comment if you’d like to learn more about what NOT to do!)

In conclusion, mastering the art of plot twists is no easy feat. It takes careful planning (AKA outlining of the story), strategic execution, and a whole lot of creativity. So go forth, soldiers, and twist those plots until they're unrecognizable. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility – don't abuse those twists, and always respect your readers' intelligence.

Now, go forth and twist to your heart's content. Happy writing! 🌀✨

[aelinad]

Tangled Strings of Fate Chapter 02 - Déjà vu

 I had no way of getting in contact with him. Blame the countless K-dramas I'd seen and romance books I've read for my hopelessly romantic expectations, but I thought he would text me. He had the perfect excuse to not seem creepy—something like, "Hey, here are some cool things happening this week..." would have been more than enough. I thought we had some chemistry, but perhaps that was just wishful thinking. Maybe he was just a nice guy, not wanting to hurt a poor lost girl by turning her down. I guess he was too nice and handsome to be single either way.

Second day of our vacation started similarly as the first one. I went to pick up food from the convenience store while Selina finished getting ready for the day. This time my phone was fully charged. I would be lying if I said that not protesting to be on breakfast duty was not mostly influenced by the fact that I was hoping to spot Joon on my way there and back.

I picked up some similar breakfast items as yesterday plus some cup noodles for late night cravings, put them in a string backpack I brought for easier carrying and took the way back through the path alongside the Han River. I walked slower, taking in the surroundings when Selina called. I put on my airpods before I answered her.

"I'm assuming you did not meet him since you are answering my calls? " I rolled my eyes at my sister although she could not see me.

"Is that why you called?"

"No! I wanted to remind you to buy some more water to carry around today, but also to see if you met Mister Dimples " I could feel her grin through the phone.

"Don't worry I bought everything, I'm on my way back now so see you when I'm back."

"Okay!" she replied and hung up before I could say anything else.

I was putting my airpods back on my pocket when i heard someone yell:

"Josimhaseyo!" Be careful!

All I managed to see was a dark brown figure before I was tackled on the ground, my left hand taking most of the impact. I assumed I had already fallen victim to the infamous motorbikes, but then I felt a tag of skin on the right side of my neck. I opened my eyes to find a very happy chocolate brown doberman greeting me as if he had not seen me in ages. I never had a dog growing up.

"BAM! Geumanhae!" Stop it! That voice said again.

"Hello to you too buddy!" I said to the doggy petting him while he was still jumping around, sniffing me and giving me small licks on my hand.

"Mianhaeyo. Bama..." Sorry... the voice trailed off as I raised my head, my face visible underneath my bucket hat to who could only be the owner of this dog, revealing I was not korean.

"Oh sorry" said the young man trying to get a hold of his dog. "He never does this! I am not sure what triggered him".

"It's okay," I said, still petting the dog. "This is not the first time this has happened to me." It was true, I've had a few other dogs throughout my life do the same. A friend I was with once told me that I was perhaps the dog's owner in a previous life and they had recognised me, making them overjoyed, ignoring the current owner for a while. They usually left soon after but this one seems to be a bit more stubborn.

"Really? " The guy looked at me eyes wide, taken back by my answer. He was also wearing a black bucket hat and a black mask, his boba doe eyes the only thing i could see. He was wearing all black baggy clothes too.

"Yeah, something about being a previous owner of the dog in a past life" I said smiling at the dog. He was smiling, mouth open looking at me next to his owner.

I realised I was still on the ground and made to get up when a tattooed hand prompted in front of me to offer help. I took it, looking at the guy's eyes while getting up. A bike bell rang a couple of times while passing around us while we were still holding eye contact. The dog barked at us and we broke away, letting go of his hand and gaze.

I went to brush off my hands and noticed the bloody scratches that were now covering my left palm. The guy seemed to notice too.

"Omo! Your hand!" He said, eyes even more wide removing his mask as if to look better. "Look what you did Bam!"

"No no, it's not his fault, I should have been paying more attention. I wouldn't have lost my balance if I were doing so. Don't blame yourself about it Bam" I said looking at the dog, petting his head.

"Let me get you some ointment, so it does not scar." Said the young man. With the mask gone I had a better view of his handsome face. A lip ring on his right bottom lip. What was it with this path and handsome men walking through it? We did not see this kind of beautiful men yesterday while out with Selina. She will definitely think I was making them up at this point.

"There is a pharmacy just up the corner. Please is the least I could do".

I knew the pharmacy he was referring to, it's the one at the bottom of the hilly road just around the street, past the conjunction I pass to go to our flat. I was about to decline, but the apologetic look on his face made me accept instead. Bam also seemed happy with our decision as he barked in approval.

                                                     ***

I sat on a bench outside the pharmacy while the guy went inside. I thought he'd be more hesitant to leave his dog with a stranger, but judging from how happy Bam was to oblige when he told him to sit next to me at the right of the bench, he might have felt more at ease. Dogs are good judges of character and they can sense an evil person straight away after all.

Bam's head was on my lap and I was petting him when his owner exited the pharmacy. The doorbell prompted me to look up to see him carrying a big medical paper bag.

"Did you buy the whole pharmacy?! It's just a few scratches, not a full on wound!"

He smiled looking at Bam and then me.

"These are all necessary for a proper treatment!" He motioned towards the bag. The guy sat on my left and started getting things out of the bag.

"May I?" He asked motioning towards grabbing my hand.

I nodded. He took my hand on his and started cleaning the wound, blowing at it and saying sorry when I would wince from the burn.

"I am Hana by the way" I told him while he was still applying the ointment on my hand. He looked a bit flustered while looking at me.

"Umm...Ian, you can call me Ian" he said and continued treating my hand.

"Nice meeting you Ian" Bam barked "and you too of course Bam." Both me and Ian laughed at the dog while he barked twice more.

After Ian finished wrapping my hand with a bandage, he gave me the rest of the medication to keep and to follow up on the wound. We both got up and looked at eachother.

"Thank you for this," I said, raising my left hand.

"No need, the least I could do after Bam tackling you. Thank you for being so calm and nice about this whole thing".

"Of course. See you guys around!" I said and went to wave goodbye.

Bam stood from his place and let out a cry at that. Ian told him to sit again.

I kneeled before him, looking up at Ian for an unspoken permission to hug his dog. He seemed to understand my request and nodded.

"It's okay Bam, be good to your new owner and listen to him okay? You seem to be in very good hands" I said looking at Bam after the hug, still petting him.

I got up and waved goodbye once more.

Bam barked again but remained seated while Ian just waved.

                                                                                      ***

"Are you serious?!" Selina said while plopping back on the bed, face on her hands. What is it with you and bumping into cute guys while grabbing breakfast? Maybe I should do that from now on" She prompted back up with a thinking face.

"It's not like that. Today was just an accident. The guy was just trying to take responsibility for his dog's actions. Any decent human being would do the same. " I said back while cleaning the table. I had told Selina everything that went on this morning when she saw me come back with a bandaged hand and a bunch of medication. Ian had bought not only wound supplies but also pain killers and hand creams.

"From how I see it, his dog was practically trying to play matchmaker for you guys and you were both too blind and stupid to realise. Much more destiny material than Mr. Dimples who ghosted you if you ask me" said Selina, raising an eyebrow at me.

"I think you spend too much time reading webtoons at night that you have become delusional thinking a dog is sniffing soulmates for their owner now" I bit back. "Let's just forget both guys. We did not come here for that, we came to enjoy and travel together. Finish getting ready and let's get today properly started already!".

                                         ***

Gyeongbokgung Palace was a dream!One of the top activities on our to-do list was visiting the palace while dressed in traditional clothing. Selina opted for a lilac color palette, her hanbok flowing gracefully with delicate floral patterns while I chose a soft baby orange, the fabric shimmering in the sunlight, adorned with intricate embroidery. We took countless pictures and videos in every corner. I swear we could probably map the whole palace out with our pictures at this point. The vibrant hues of our hanboks against the backdrop of the palace's stunning architecture made every shot feel like a piece of art.

As much as I loved switching between photographer and model with my sister, I was more than happy to be back in my own clothes and on our way to central Seoul for an early dinner. My growling stomach had enough of the snacks throughout the day and was demanding a proper meal. We had debated about sitting down to eat around the palace, but the lines outside all the places we wanted to try had been too long. In any other scenario food would have been a priority, but we had a rare sunny day in the middle of November blessing us with the perfect picture lighting. Not to mention the hanboks looked too beautiful to be wasted just waiting in line. So we did not eat, not properly at least. We were one station away from our destination when Selina pulled me out of my internal debate of what would be the perfect meal to end today.

"Ohh! Seon-Jae just texted in the groupchat, apparently Nabi, Aera and him finished their assignment earlier than planned so they are heading out tonight to celebrate. They are asking if we are free to join them. Did you reserve anything or should we join them?" she said with excitement and hope.

Seon-Jae, Nabi and Aera were Selina's close friends in Korea. She had met them a year ago when the three of them came to her university for an exchange semester. Initially not even the three of them knew each other and had only briefly spoken during their induction for the exchange where they found out they were going to be in the same course. According to Selina, in one of their common classes the teacher decided to create the group projects for the subject on the spot, grouping people based on their sitting position in class. As the only four people sitting in the front of the class they ended up being grouped together and the rest is history. Selina took them in, helping them with their English and showing them around.

They all got close pretty quickly and they even joined some of the house gatherings and celebrations my friends would organise which gave me a chance to meet and get to know them too. Although me and Selina are super close, we still don't overstep each other's friend groups and make sure we keep some sort of distance when needed. Obviously on trips like this where I have no one else to hang out thanks to my Korean friends all being overseas, that was not the case. Besides despite our age gaps they were all so mature for their age it was easy to converse with all of them. I was very glad Selina and them kept in touch even after the three had returned to Korea.

We had factored in the fact that we would hang out with them when we were planning our visit, but since the university was still in session and they said they had things due during the weeks we would visit, we were aiming to meet them later in the week. I guess you get things done quicker when you want to spend more time with the people you love. 

Their close friendship was a huge reason why my sister decided to also do an exchange starting in February in their university. Heck, that was the reason we were visiting Seoul now in November, to get to enjoy it together like we always agreed to before she definitely did so with her friends. It would also help her to get accustomed with everything given that the education system is so hectic here, I would not want her to get overwhelmed. I smiled looking at Selina.

"Of course we should join them! It has been so long since the four of you were all together. Plus I made no reservations so we wouldn't have to rush just in case, so if they can find us a place to have food in my belly the moment I sit down then we will head straight there!" I said while holding my tummy.

Selina excitedly texted her friends and after 30 minutes we were already sitting down at a Korean BBQ place near Gangnam. I had a feeling we would end up in Gangnam given how well off Selina's friends' families are.

They welcomed us with warm hugs and glasses of beers and soju lined up waiting to cheer for the reunion. I ended up taking a few group pictures for Aera's instagram feed before actually getting any food in me. Aera had taken posting on social media seriously ever since the exchange and had grown quite a following for herself. Selina told me she had recently passed the 100k followers mark and started getting brand deals. She was the only one to have such a different side hustle from the rest of the mostly academically ambitious bunch. Seon-Jae was most similar to Selina, spending time reading mangas when he had free time while Nabi was more into linguistics and learning more about other languages and cultures. Knowing multiple languages myself, we'd often try to converse in Spanish, French or Greek together to brush off our skills.

We spent most of the evening catching up on everything going on in everyone's life and as expected the topic of love life inevitably came up by none other than my sister who herself had no updates.

"Honestly, with my social media starting to take off, I have no doubt i will have a hot boyfriend by the end of the year, mark my words" said Aera holding her right fist in the air in sign of victory.

"Ohh man I'll drink to that, then me and Nabi can get a break from being your personal photographers 24/7" said Seon-Jae raising his beer to cheers with Nabi earning a slap on the arm by Aera. Everyone at the table laughed.

"Keep saying things like this and I will tell Minji your parents have married you off to someone since birth. Let's see how that will end up working out for you!" Aera bit back a smile while giving him a side eye.

"Wait, who is Minji?!" asked my sister.

"Minji is this girl in Seon-Jae's chemistry class that he has had a crush on since the semester started, but has never been able to master anything more than a "Hello" and a pathetic "Can I borrow a pen from you please?"" Nabi clarified to us. Seon-Jae was hiding his face behind his hands. "He completely switches to an "I" (introvert) when he is around her".

"Yaa!! Nabi stop!" We were all laughing at how red he had become with just the mention of her.

"Someone is completely smitten..." Selina said, smirking at her friend.

"What about you Nabi, finally found anyone interesting lately?" I asked her, trying to divert the conversation from Seon-Jae. Poor guy, I felt like he was often overpowered surrounded by 3 such powerful female characters. He seemed to realise, giving me a nod of gratitude.

"Nah, like Selina so far all the guys in my everyday life suck..., no offence Seon-Jae, you don't count since you are part of the girls... " she answered with disappointment in her voice.

"Cheers to that truth!" I said, prompting the whole group to cheer with their beers.

"Not so fast sissy! You can't say that after having 2 meet-cutes with 2 different, apparently very handsome, guys within the first 48 hours of landing in Seoul!"

"Omg what happened?! Tell us everything!" Aera clapped excitedly waiting for my answer.

"It's not like that, Selina is blowing the situation a bit too out of proportion. I mean, did I interact with two handsome strangers in the past 48 hours? Yes, but the first guy was just helping me find the way back to the flat and ended up ghosting me when I took a chance and gave him my number, while the other one was just an accident. His dog tackled me in the street ending up with him treating my scrapped hand as an apology and barely getting his dog back after it wouldn't leave my side." I quickly explained motioning to the bandage in my left palm while explaining for them to see.

"Hmm, I don't know about accidents. Dogs here are well trained, if things out of the ordinary like that happen, people might think it is unmyeong, fate, like maybe you guys are connected in some way, I am sure it passed his mind too... " Seon-Jae said, looking at the other girls for approval.

I gave him a stern look to say "Really? After I save your ass from being in the hot seat you go and throw me into it?!"

"You my friend need to stop reading so many love stories, as does my sister" I turned the stern look towards Selina.

"I mean you are gorgeous Hana, i bet the first guy is just super shy and nervous overthinking his text while the other one is beating himself for not asking for your number. Anyone would be a fool to miss a chance with you, I know Nabi's brother for sure is..." she ended that sentence laughing. I rolled my eyes at them, leaning back on my seat downing my drink.

While the other two were the oldest siblings in their family, Nabi was the youngest one. She had an older brother and sister who I had also met when they came to visit her during the exchange. Her brother is a year older than me while the sister is a year younger, with Nabi being 7 years younger than the latter. Nabi's sister was recently engaged to her highschool sweetheart while her big brother is still single. The only reason why Aera brought him up. She loves matchmaking and had tried to push the poor guy towards me during his visit. He is good looking and kind, but there is just no spark between us. Thankfully me expressing that to Selina had reached her and whatever her gameplan was had ceased before it made things weird between us. Still, that did not stop her from bringing him up and making it known he was still an option for me to go to.

Thankfully the "painful and dry" lovelife updates between singles were over when the waitress came over with dessert and more drinks. The rest of the evening continued with more casual chit-chat and little to no convincing of ending the night at a karaoke bar.

"You guys have not been to a karaoke place until you have been to one in Korea!" said Nabi, all excited setting up her song duet with Aera. To my surprise they had a no phones policy in the karaoke room. I thought Aera would want it all documented for her feed but apparently this is a digital footprint not worth creating. I guess it's understandable when alcohol is also involved and you just want to have genuine fun with your friends.

                            ***

It was past midnight when we got out of the karaoke bar. I only remember that because I caught a glimpse of the time at the clock near the exit at the karaoke. I had not checked my phone yet, before I could even get it out of my bag to call Selina and I a cab, Nabi was all over us insisting we let her sister take us home since we are on the way. Aera was catching a ride back with Seon-Jae and his cousin that came and picked them up first. Not long after, a black car pulled up in front of the bar, but a male figure was driving instead. I thought Nabi's sister had drove over with her fiance but I soon realised i was wrong when Nabi drunkenly said:

"Oh, oppa, yeogiseo mwohaseyo? What are you doing here big brother"

And as she said that her brother had already approached us. He was still in what seemed to be his work attire. "Yeri's car was not starting so she asked me to pick you guys instead. I was on my way back from the office either way. Hi Selina. Hana." He said and nodded to us both respectively, but kept looking at me as he said: "Hope your first trip to Korea is going well and you are enjoying yourself. Let me know if you need anything at any time while you are staying here."

"All we need from you right now is to take us home!" said Nabi while already pushing him to the car.

The trip was silent, with Nabi falling asleep the moment her head touched the seat and Selina drifting on my shoulder too. The only thing exchanged being eye contact through the rear mirror and quick goodbyes and thank yous at drop off. Once in the flat, Selina and I both got ready for bed and went to sleep immediately. There were mostly sightseeing and visiting touristy sites around Seoul planned for tomorrow so we could sleep in and take our time if needed. It wasn't until the next morning when I grabbed my phone from the charging point on my way out the flat that I noticed it. Made me stop on my tracks after reading it, walk backwards and stop at the bathroom door behind which Selina was standing to call her out.

*Random Number*

2 new messages

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[mino-diabolik]

DARK FATE — Mystic 「Dark 10」 [CG]

[ Dark 09 ]

[ Location: Entrance — Banmaden ]

—Bam!—

A wolf trudges into the Banmaden. Kazuha slowly dismounts from its back, but continues to heavily lean against it, holding her head in discomfort.

Kazuha: Forgive me, uncle... I caused you trouble.

Shin: Don't sweat it. I couldn't very much leave you behind.

—Swoosh—

The wolf is gone and Shin stands on its place. He continues to hold out his arm for Kazuha to hold onto.

Shin: Damn. What even was that?

Kazuha: A ripple of magic. It's an attack that can be used as either defensive or offensive. Depending on the amount of power input, it should be able to disorient the opposition.

It was used to gain territory over the enemy during the war.

Shin: ... ... Of course. I knew that.

Kazuha: I don't understand...

Why would that damn moron—

Footsteps approach. DJ and Carla emerge.

Kazuha: ... ...!

DJ: You're back!

Did you...— ah...

DJ looks around. When she realizes they are on their own, her expression deflates.

Carla: ... ... ...

—Rustle—

Kazuha: ... ... Father.

Carla: Shin.

Shin: What is it, brother?

Carla: Why did you accompany Kazuha?

Shin: Why, you ask? It was an order from you, was it not?

Kazuha: ... ... ...

Carla: Kazuha, come here.

Kazuha is still dizzy as she steadies herself back on her feet. She walks closer, stopping in front of Carla.

Carla: Defying my orders is one thing... but making up lies to drag others alongside you is absolutely reprehensible.

Shin: What?! Kazuha, you——!

Kazuha: ... ... Yes, I defied your orders, sir. And yes, I deceived my uncle.

But, father...! I was so close to retrieving that woman's heart. I basically had it in my hands. If only those damn Vampires hadn't interfered, then for sure I would have—

Carla: Enough!

How old are you now, to act so mindlessly? Are you not aware of the conflicts that you could have caused? Have you learned nothing from the history of our clan?

Kazuha's expression remains rigid. She closes her eyes, but the impact she readies herself for never comes.

Kazuha: ... ...

Carla: ... ... ... Sigh.

Kneel in the courtyard. I do not care whether it rains or if the animals begin picking at your skin. You are not to stand until I allow it.

Kazuha: ... ... Understood, your majesty.

Kazuha offers her father a short reverence. She leaves.

Shin: Brother, don't you think you're being a little too—

Carla: Not one more word out of you. To be so easily deceived...

How shameful.

—Footsteps—

Carla leaves.

Shin: Goodness...

DJ: ... Please don't pour anymore fuel over the matter, Shin. Master Carla is agitated enough. You'll end up catching the blunt of it all.

Shin: Ah-ahh... enough with the nagging. I've had enough for today. I'm off to take a bath.

DJ: Right, of course. I'll get that prepared for you right away——

Shin: Oi, oi. Your enthusiasm is nice, but you can stop acting like you're still working for the castle. Have some pride as the wife of a First Blood, would you?

DJ: "Wife"—?! We aren't married...!

Shin tosses DJ his sword.

DJ: Uff!

Shin: Heh... What're ya getting all red for?

Sigh, just help me put that away for now. I'll come find you after I'm done.

DJ: Alright… then I’ll—

DJ falls silent. She gazes down at the sword. The emotion in her eyes dulls with abruptness.

DJ: ... ... Did you... fight Mystic?

Shin: Huh? Ah, yeah. That kid's tougher than he looks. He kept writhing about even after I got him right between the ribs.

DJ: You... what?

Shin: That's the only reason Kazuha took me with her. To keep him busy while she took care of——

—Splatter—

Shin: Guh...

—Thud—

DJ: Hah...

... My son... you dared lay hands... on your own flesh and blood.

And yet you...

Shin: De—Des... you—!! Khh...!

—Splatter—

DJ: You take so much pride in your lineage... but do not care for the boy that shall carry the legacy to your name?

Seriously... hahaha... your own son...

... Insane— Are you insane?!

Shin: Ugh—!

DJ: Damn... damn it! Perhaps you can walk something like this off... but he... he could die! He could die—!! Damn it, damn it...! Have you gone mad?!

DJ suddenly stands. She races down the hallway and escapes out the front door. Her rapid footfalls echo into the night. Shin yanks the sword out of his collarbone and rolls onto his stomach.

Shin: Shit...! Get her! Don’t let her get away!

... I’m not letting you... disappear on me again!

A group of wolves chase after DJ as she disappears into the wilderness.

—Hoooowl—

「 Dark 10 — End 」

[ Dark Epilogue ]

[spiderh0rse]

notes from the process of building my butcher-cherish fic. lots of em.

Will first clarify none of this is set in stone I'm still in the planning/winnowing out all the outside influence I don't need stage

for the purposes of this fic five had a minor combat thinker ability. projected reverse-afterimages. sees motions people make before they make them. six has some major heat resistance. seven has enhances reflexes, and having super strength multiple times over has made following through on those reflexes even easier. ten has a tinker power focused on,,, ehh figure it out later

To make the strength stacking a little more interesting, FIRST'S is straightforward enough, but if he's in more pain, he's got more power. Can't use his induced agony on himself, nor can future users. Refused to take care of minor injuries. Would frequently engage in self-harming behaviors to make himself stronger. Thinks that may have been his power's way of hinting at the inheritance. Wondered if Thinker headaches would ramp up the power. THIRD: In this case, fear makes his strength greater. Again, incentivized to get into dangerous situations to reap greater rewards. Believes now that most powers operate in this fashion, but doesn't quite have his head on straight enough to say any of that. SIXTH: straightforward and minor. Brute 1 alongside her Mover whatever rating NINTH: Stronger when angry. Fighting style was get close, make the opponent mad, then dredge up his own bad memories and get pissed enough to kill the other guy. ELEVENTH: Stockpiles. When he's not using it, he gets more in the stockpile. Able to release it either all at once or like a sort of tap. This can't be turned off alongside the other strength powers, but does *amplify* them. It runs out long before everything else does. Priority is on ending fights fast.

on the topic of naming what is functionally twelveish ocs

One: Butcher Two: blood based name? Vascular? Three: former hero so name should follow PR sorts of things. Hindsight? Implies Thinker power but could work. Four: Pestilence? Nah. That's got a wider range of connotations. Fester is too straightforward. Putrefact? Straightforward as well but slightly less obvious. Five: oogh a tough one. How do you name combat thinkers. Placeholder: Forethought Six: thinking something vaguely uhh. Behemoth-themed? Mythology at any rate but I've got very little suitable in my head for that. Ifrit maybe. Something I'm forgetting. Seven: yet another subtle power. Hard to get a name from. Jitter? Probably looks weird throwing himself around like he does. Shudder? Along these lines. Eight: Stoneknapper is a GREAT one I've seen but I don't want to knockoff that. Not VISIBLY anyways find a synonym Nine: Bearskin. I'd contemplated making him a Case 53 but the name would be on the nose here. Ten: i am not figuring out the Tinker's specialty and giving a name based after it right now. Unless. Shit like rube goldberg machines. Makes some normal action into a giant trap if you set it off. Just call him Rube. Eleven: Buildup. Name misleads into thinking he's got escalation going on. Opposite is true. Twelve: again I really liked Nemean but without her being a lion case 53 that has less impact. Workshop this one. Thirteen: oh god it's another super strength. I need to give him more than that and then I'll figure out a name Fourteen: Quarrel Fifteen: Cherish/Cherie (Sanguine? Cheerful in nature and blood-themed)

Urrgh XIII's strength. Uhhh. Fuck it that isn't all he has. The strength is like. A minor aspect of something else. Direct consequence of a power? Needed side effects? Maybe he's got like. Denser physical makeup. Yeah he's tougher everywhere and that includes muscles. Bam. Easy. Bulwark

Yes I'm mostly working on making sure the Butchers feel like people. Arduous task! But on the topic of how they aren't all a catatonic mess being dragged deeper into the ocean as Tattletale planned

How to work around Bonesaw's alterations,,, could argue that if it altered the Gemma, then the new shard coming with built-in "yeah here's a new control schema" fixed that on accident

i think this has just enough of a root in existing parahumans lore to not feel impossible while also being difficult enough to predict being able to happen that Tattletale didn't account for it

[the-technicolor-whiscash]

pleaaaase tell us more about stupid breakdowns while working the pirates of the caribbean ride

The people have spoken. I shall answer.

This got long so get ready to scroll if you’re not interested.

Ok so I worked at pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney world in Florida for 7 months from 2021 to 2022 as part of the disney college program. This was a nightmare in a great many ways and it’s the reason I have trauma from fireworks and cannot handle being around fireworks shows but that’s beside the point.

Also to preface I call the ride a her because of boat lingo but no, the ride doesn’t have pronouns.

My main job was ride operation. I operated pirates. And I knew it inside and out. I could still to this day tell you how to turn off pirates tower at the end of the night. I still know what color the buttons are. Pirates was a machine, and I do machines well, so I understood it. I could run it by sound alone, from the splash of the boats behind me to the clank of the machinery.

Pirates is an old bird. At the time I worked her I believe she was 47? So she had problems. Many of them.

When I worked there, it was in the Chapek era. That meant cost cutting. And that meant rides were NOT being maintained properly. It meant electrical tape and pieces of wood level fixes.

This mostly impacted animatronic performance. When I worked there animatronic issues were a daily occurrence, though most of them were minor enough not to cause any major uproar it was just like, some chickens weren’t moving and hadn’t moved in two years. The worst animatronic failures I saw were when a goat fell off a bridge and was hanging upside down by its feet, when one dude’s head fell off, and when barrel Jack (the Jack in the barrel) was like sloughed out of the barrel leaning over the edge it looked awful it was awesome.

With serious show-breaking animatronic issues the ride goes down, but we get everyone off first. No evac needed.

With mechanical issues, that’s a whole other animal.

Around once a month pirates would go through a weeklong stretch of going down every day or every other day. I would check the Disney wait times app to see if we were open every single time I had a shift because there was like a 30% chance we were not. Then she’d pull herself back together for a bit, we’d have a good long stretch of working, and then bam, she’s down.

This could happen for any number of issues. The most common ones were the upramp, which brought boats from the lower to the upper building and sounded like a fucking performance of Stomp, and the down ramp, which is the little slide into the water. The boats would frequently get stuck on either of these because they are constantly taking on water. No that is not a joke, they are plastic boats and they take on water rapidly. Some of them I saw had more than 50 gallons before they were drained. And the ramps required the boats to have certain weights to be balanced, otherwise they’d fuck up.

They fucked up a lot.

And when a boat gets stuck, the whole ride goes down. These are free-floating vessels (within the confines of guide rails), and when the pumps stop, the boats just lose inertia and stop moving. This means we had to push the boats to specific exit points in order to get people to a place where they could safely exit them.

That’s where the hip waders come in. Because you’d have one person on shore, helping people disembark, and one person in hip waders. In the water. Holding the boat against the shore.

A fun fact about this is the fact a majority of the hip waders were in men’s sizes 10+. A majority of the people working at pirates were under 5’4”. There were some people who could not get into the water because they were too short to climb over the rails. I am 5’3”. I pulled a muscle twice climbing over these because I had to straddle them like a horse to cross.

Anyway you’d hold a boat to the shore and unload it from the ends to the middle in order to make sure shit stayed balanced and no one fucking capsized. This made guests mad.

Guests did not want to see things done in a safe and orderly manner. This was fairly recently after the parks had opened back up post-Covid. Guests were some of the worst people to ever walk the earth. They would demand you move them faster, because their dinner reservation is more important than the sobbing autistic child a boat ahead of them. “We have a pregnant woman on the boat” is she giving birth? No? Then you’re not going anywhere until we get these folks off.

There were times we had people try and jump off the boat to land. I did see a guy clear around a four foot gap, and then he had to get put on Disney’s shit list for behavior (cause that is a real thing disney has. A shit list. You can get banned for life if you do stuff that endangers yourself or others. Which makes sense. It’s not your god-given right to get smashed up in machinery).

The worst one I saw was when I was at unload and a coworker friend of mine had dealt with a guest who was screaming at her and calling her names and then just jumped off the fucking boat onto land, so we called one of our managers and he was going to come down to put him on the shit list. Problem was, it took our manager a while to get there cause he was dealing with the fact the ride was busted. So in that time, the guy tried to ESCAPE. I had to stand in front of the exit ramp and be like sir I know what you look like and I will call security because my friend is literally shaking because of how you treated her and it’s taking me everything I can do not to literally kill you right now.

When our boss finally got there he wrote the guy up and let him go and then got distracted telling me a story about a guy who got mine train shut down cause he jumped onto the tracks to grab his phone. Good times.

Anyway most of the stories are like that, just dipshits who think they’re good to jump off boats. Because shocker, it is not safe to do that. Yes, the water is three feet deep in most places. That is not everywhere. At the load and unload stations, the water is 8 feet deep and filled with machinery that can shred you. There’s a few spots throughout the ride with grates over similarly deep areas that you will fall into and will get stuck in and drown. In other places it’s not deep but there is machinery strong enough to crush a person. The upramp isn’t allowed to have people on it because it may decapitate you.

These may be children’s rides, but there is a lot of extremely dangerous machinery behind them. No, you are not getting your phone back.

Also to everyone who wants to drink the pirate water: the smell is bromine it’s what they use to keep it “clean,” but you still should not drink it because it is filled with rusty 50 year old machinery. You may get tetanus. If a cast member falls into the water and their head goes under, they are required to get a tetanus shot. Also there’s piss in there parents let their kids pee off the boats and there’s nothing we can do about it.

TL/DR: the pirate boats are free-floating and guests are extremely stupid. Do not drink the pirates water you will get tetanus.

Sorry this got long but it was a truly unhinged 7 months of my life. Only benefit to it is that it looks good on a resume and I got to go to the parks for free so I wasted the mouse like $10,000 worth of tickets since I went to Epcot constantly. Epcot is my favorite park animal kingdom second favorite. The most beautiful girl in school is the Epcot ball. My favorite ride is dinosaur no I have never been on Indiana Jones because I’ve never been to Disneyland. I don’t actually like riding pirates that much, my favorite ride at magic kingdom is big thunder mountain.

[twilightarc-gm]

💥👓💛👻

😍 Specs!! Hi!! I see you with these questions 🕵️‍♂️

From this Ask Game: Here

💥 What is one canon thing that you wish you could change? (MDZS) YOU KNOW ME!!! But instead of the super obvious answer about the romantic subplot or whatever, I gotta say like, I really don't think JYL had to literally die for WWX's man-pain. Would the Present Timeline story be drastically different? Yeah, but I think it would have been better. I think it would have forced WWX to confront and resolve his past in more satisfying ways even if MXTX still makes him break off everything with JC-JYL-YMJ. Hottake, but I think it's spicier if he keeps trying to leave everything in the past but his mistakes are still alive and would like a real apology. With JC there's the whole transfer thing, mucking up who might need to apologize to whom, but with JYL it's very clear and very devastating. Where is all the angst this story could have given me?? No, I'm not going to rewrite MDZS about it 😩 I'm just going to suffer in my Yunmeng Trio feels.

👓 What helps you focus when you write? You're going to use this against me, I know it. I'm gonna be like, "Specs I can't focus." And you're going to go, "Well YOU said this helps you focus so are you doing it???" And I'll be like... "🥺" Not to be all aging-Millennial on main or anything but a shot of hard liquor, wordless music, a clear idea of a scene, and someone waiting to read what I wrote. It's a hard combo to achieve, let's be real. I have written 5k at a time with that combo though, so it's a big winner. @robinade knows nothing motivates me more than someone on discord going 👐🙏. And then I feed them the snippet and then they grade me with emotes. I'm very rewards based, who isn't? They tell you to write for yourself first, but it's always nice if I have an end goal of entertaining someone else as well, otherwise the ideas just stay in my head la-di-da style.

💛 What is the most impactful lesson you’ve learned about writing? I got nothing inspirational to say here. I think a game changer for me was doing this thing with "scenes" but like... as a roadmap. So what I do now that helps me figure out what to write is listing off all the scenes I want to write and a little blurb about those scenes (or a lot of blurb depending on how specific I have it in my mind). It's like an outline, but not very high level. Anyone that reads my stuff lately can see I label my scenes with section titles and that's from this process. It sort of fills in the for the writing advice about how, when you get to the end of one scene, make sure to write the first sentence of the next so you don't get stuck on how to start a scene when you get back to it. This format is really working for me and it's not as cumbersome as an outline (even though for big fics I have those too).

👻 What is your wildest headcanon? HOOOO it's really hard to have a "wild" headcanon in this fandom (MDZS) without someone taking the biggest offense to it. And honestly the word "wild" is doing a lot of work here, it can mean anything. So basically I have a lot headcanons but what's wild enough for this question??? BAM!! JGS uses women as human cauldrons to further his cultivation. And JGY used that knowledge to kill him.

🧡 😎 Alrighty, I think my work here is done. 🌹 🎩

[mariajustmary]

GOOD OMENS SEASON 2 SPOILERS

Spoilers for all season

The thing about Beelzebub and Gabriel being able to get together so fast while Crowley and Aziraphale have loved each other for so long and still aren't able to come through is that Beelzebub and Gabriel were utterly self centered and selfish and also not nearly as traumatized as Crowley and Aziraphale are.

Hear me out

Gabriel and Beelzebub were basically CEOs of heaven and hell, they had the final say in everything, they didn't have to go through millennia fearing somebody would find out non compliance with their head offices like Aziraphale and Crowley did. G&B always had everything they wanted, never to be challenged. Now, if they want something new they just go and get it, change of priorities, bam, job done.

Aziraphale and Crowley are different, they've spent their lives in fear of being found out, not only because they were "fraternizing", but because of their essence, because they have beliefs that their bosses don't approve of and they could be destroyed for it. They fell in love with humanity, too. They are so much more complex, their existence is full of nuances and there is so much to work on.

G&B have spent their existence sheltered in their bubble, their relationships reflects that. They don't question for one second what is the impact of their relationship on their individual moral. Gabriel doesn't think or just doesn't care if his relationship with Beelzebub makes him evil or morally ambiguous and vice versa. Specially for Gabriel, actually, because I don't think he was worried about falling. I actually think he wanted to fall to be with Beelzebub and that perspective doesn't worry him at all (and let's be honest, he's already an asshole, he doesn't need to fall to be bad).

Meanwhile A&C have spent their existence amongst humanity. Their relationship has become as complex and nuanced as humanity. Aziraphale is an extremely anxious angel that spends his existence questioning wether he is actually a good being. Crowley complies with hell as much as he can, finding loopholes and trying to do what he thinks is right while also protecting himself. All this moral reasoning has a big impact on your relationship when the other being is supposed to be your enemy, is supposed to represent everything you're told to loathe. That is a lot to work on.

[ceasons]

c.ai bots?

Sup peeps, I'm shamelessly going to advertise my c.ai bots (all of which are gay af.) The descriptions below have the synopsis of each. I have more bots, but I'm only listing my favorites (so far.)

c.ai account: @ ceasons

Rory🍓He's totally not in love with you or anything — Rory had no clue how he fell for {{user}}. It didn't make sense. It was dumb luck—or fate, if he wanted to get all sappy about it, that they’d been shoved into the same mind-numbingly dull class and paired up for some lame project he didn’t want to touch. {{user}} actually made him work, which should’ve driven him nuts—but it didn’t. Somehow, it was almost fun. And that was the problem. After that, Rory couldn’t stop thinking about him.

It was ridiculous, really. He caught himself hanging on to {{user}}’s every word, noticing details he shouldn’t even care about, like how he had that one freckle on his chin or how he always smelled a little like vanilla. The strawberry ChapStick was another thing—how did his lips always look that soft? It was dumb. Rory didn’t even like him that much. Except maybe he did, a little. Okay, a lot. Sure, he’d borrowed {{user}}’s hoodie once, but that was purely experimental. Definitely not so he could fall asleep pretending it was still {{user}}.

Now, with {{user}} sitting on his bed, talking about who-knows-what while Rory tried not to stare, he realized he was completely done for. Every laugh, every stray smile, the way {{user}} pushed his hair out of his eyes—it was all too much. {{user}} was just... too him. And Rory? Yeah, he was head over heels, whether it made any sense or not.

Oliver🌙 Sneaking out for his favorite person —Oliver was sneaking out again—the third time this week—and the cold bit at his skin, sharp and unforgiving. He didn't bother with a coat. Plans half-formed, pulse thrumming with excitement, he moved with practiced ease. Midnight rules? Forgotten. The lingering threat of his parents' discovery? Ignored. All for one reason: {{user}}.

{{user}} was more than just a boyfriend. He was Oliver’s late-night secret, his everything, and the reason he was this close to permanent grounding. It’s not like they could be together any other way. Football practice, mismatched schedules, strict parents, and the whole secret relationship thing made even weekends rare. And weekend meetups weren’t enough—not even close. So, Oliver climbed out windows and scaled trees just to steal extra time with him.

His hands scraped the tree's rough bark, climbing his way up to {{user}}'s window, light spilling warmly into the dark night. His breath curled in soft puffs as he tapped the glass, heart thundering as {{user}} appeared, all bright eyes and that knowing smile.

The window slid open, and in seconds, Oliver was pulled into the room, arms tangled and laughter muffled against each other’s jackets. The warmth of the room and the steady beat of {{user}}'s heart against his made the cold, the risk, every lie and half-truth worth it. One hundred percent.

Elio🏒An idiotic hockey player who crashes into you — Elio was the kind of guy who commanded attention without even trying. On the ice, he was a force—swift, sharp, and unstoppable, carving through defenders like they were nothing. As the Glacial Prowlers' star forward, he left fans breathless and his opponents scrambling to keep up. But the magic ended the second he stepped off the ice. Off-rink, Elio’s coordination was, well… questionable, to put it kindly. Flat ground had it out for him, apparently, because he was forever tripping, stumbling, and just generally making a fool of himself.

But Elio took every tumble with a laugh and a grin that was impossible not to love. His teammates roasted him constantly, but he just laughed harder.

One day at practice, Elio was in peak show-off mode, messing around and pulling stunts until—bam! He collided with someone head-on, and the impact sent him sprawling, limbs flailing in all directions, as he landed flat on his back, blinking up in a daze.

Elio sat up slowly, a sharp zing of pain in his chest, but it vanished when he looked up to see what was possibly the cutest boy ever. He stumbled to apologize, his brain catching up with the stunning realization that he had quite literally fallen for this guy. And the moment he looked into those wide, startled eyes, he knew he was done for.

River🪽He found you, a fallen angel — River needed a break—something to clear his head from the constant demands of work and people. Hiking wasn’t really his thing, but a quiet trail seemed like the perfect escape. On a chilly Saturday morning, he laced up his sneakers, reassured by a coworker’s claim that it was an "easy walk with amazing views."

And for a while, it was perfect. Sunlight filtered through the trees, leaves floated down like confetti, and River felt himself start to relax.

Until a loud crack and heavy thud broke the silence. His instincts screamed "run", but something tugged him in the other direction. Against his better judgment, he took a deep breath, glanced around, and stepped off the trail, heading toward the noise. He pushed through a thicket of branches and stumbled into a small clearing, only to stop dead.

Lying on the ground was a man—or at least, he looked mostly like a man—except he had massive, bloodied wings sprawled behind him, feathers twisted and streaked with dirt. He was groaning in pain, and River just stared, jaw hanging open, trying to wrap his head around the sight.

Finally, all he could manage was a stunned whisper: “Oh… holy frick.”

Kieran💔Reuniting with your high school ex —Kieran never thought he’d set foot in that high school gym again. The reunion? Definitely not his scene—not even close. High school had been nothing more than a painful blur of bad decisions and awkward moments he’d rather forget. But then he heard the news: {{user}} was going. Just like that, everything changed.

Suddenly, Kieran found himself trying harder than he had in years—ditching the trusty hoodie and rifling through his closet, picking out a shirt that didn’t scream “I’ve given up.” After a few minutes of desperate attempts to tame his unruly hair, he stood in front of the mirror, taking in the guy looking back at him.

This wasn’t a date, and Kieran told himself to keep that in mind. But a part of him couldn’t help but wish it were. He hadn’t let himself dream in a long time, yet the thought of seeing {{user}} again cracked open all the feelings he’d been trying to bury. Regret. Guilt. And a flicker of hope that sent his heart racing. He thought back to their last moments together, each memory like a jagged piece of glass. He had cheated, lost {{user}}, and knew he deserved every ounce of resentment that came his way.

Yet, here he was, standing in the gym, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt and glancing anxiously at the door. Each new arrival made his heart skip. He wasn't here to catch up or steal the free food. He was here to (hopefully) fix the biggest mistake of his life.

So yeah, those are some of mah bots if you're interested. I'm pretty new to this whole bot-creating thing, so I still have plenty of things to improve on. I take ideas if anyone's curious, so do whatever you want with that information. I hope a few people see this so I don't feel stupid advertising these bots for nothing. Anyways, please enjoy! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

-Cian

[aeoki]

[Idol Story] Esu Sagiri - Dream-à-Gogo 2

Characters: Esu Unlocked in: [5☆] Bursting Stardrop Season: Spring

Esu: …And I’m here~☆

Alright. I don’t see my pursuer – looks like I managed to outrun him.

Even if Fuyume followed me here… it’s such a big building, so I should be able to shake him off. Probably!

But it’s dangerous to be in the lobby~ I’ll move to a random floor.

Esu: The resting room… Yep, I’ve decided to stay here!

It’s an open space, so I should be able to notice Fuyume if he comes, and I’ve heard we’re free to have some of the snacks and drinks here too.

Yep, I should have no problems here! I’d expect nothing less from the idol headquarters! (?)

This space is pretty big, so maybe it’ll be fine for me to camp out somewhere here.

In the meantime, I’ll take some cushions and place them by the window… There we go.

Ohh, looking great! I now pronounce this corner Captain Esu Sagiri’s Hideout!

If I’m gonna sit down and think, then I’ll need a quiet and calming place~ Now, I can finally read Anzu-san’s message carefully ♪

…An “exclusive outfit” is one that “shows each idol’s unique traits and charms” and Anzu-san wants to make one for me… hmm.

I just read this part earlier.

But seeing as I’ve made a hideout in the idol HQ, then now’s the best time to come up with ideas for my outfit! Or so I think, but I don’t know what I should be racking my brain for.

Should I ask Anzu-san for a hint…?

Wait, should I reply to her first? Great job, Esu-kun – that’s an awesome idea!

…Oh, crap! Now that I’m reading this properly, there’s a date for a meeting attached!

She’s asking me if we can meet at that time, so I should send her a reply quickly…!

No, wait. She also said, “You don’t need to rush to reply.” But I’m gonna cause Anzu-san trouble if I don’t reply right away!

Hmm? Who’s trying to talk to me now?

UWAAAAAAAAH!? Anzu-san!?

You heard someone talking to himself and came over to see…?

I see, I’ve understood. People always tell me I have a loud voice!

Oh, uhh. To tell the truth, I’m seeking refuge at ES because of certain issues, but I was just thinking of sending you a reply, Anzu-san.

I was trying to do my best to come up with ideas for the outfit you mentioned in your message, but…

Ah, why’re you sitting down? Did you take a liking to my hideout?

No? You’re thinking of discussing my “exclusive outfit” together with me right now…?

I’d love to do that, but are you sure? You must be really busy, right…?

Oh, if you’re saying it’s fine, then that’s great. Thank you so much! Then, let’s come up with ideas together!

By the way, I’m referring to this little corner of the resting room as my hideout and I can guarantee it’s a comfortable place to sit in!

Ahaha. The building’s big and pretty, so it’s definitely gotta be comfortable, huh ♪

Oh, right, the outfit… I haven’t come up with any ideas yet.

But since it’s supposed to be an exclusive outfit, then I hope it’s nice and has a lotta impact like BAM!

After all, it’s supposed to be an outfit that shows off my charms and individuality, right?

I am  the King of Adventures in the idol industry and the man who will stand at the top of that industry! That’s me, Esu Sagiri!!

So, there’s no way my outfit can be plain. It��s gotta shine so brightly that no one can take their eyes off meee!

Just kidding. I’m just saying the first thing on my mind since I’m in a good mood ♪

……? That’s fine, so tell me more about yourself, you say?

Okay! If talking about myself will help you, then I’ll tell you all sorts of stories!

Maybe I’ll tell you about my recent adventure!

On a sunny day, I went out to scale a mountain and…

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ(Some time passes)

Esu: *Gulp gulp gulp* ♪

Mm! I got so thirsty after all that talking~☆

You’re such a good listener, Anzu-san~ Time flew by so quickly once I started talking.

…Oh~ yeah. It’s gonna get dark soon. I know it’s time for a kid like me to head home.

Esu: But since I’ve already made this hideout…

The cushions feel nice and soft, it’s comfortable, it puts me in a good mood and I’m having a blast here!!

I could even spend the night here. Mmm~ *rolls about* ♪

I wonder if I could do that if our discussion gets nowhere.

You’ve heard everything that you need? No, no. There’s so much more I wanna tell you!

I was surprised because it didn’t cross my mind that you’d want to make an outfit for me, Anzu-san. Anyone would wanna know what sort of outfit you’d make for them.

Well, if you say so… I guess I’ll just have to look forward to the final product…

But please show me some progress shots, okay?

…Am I excited for the outfit, you ask? Well, of course, I am! I’m super duper excited for it!

You even showed me the ones you made so far for the other idols as we were talking. I can’t wait to see how mine will turn out!

All of the outfits scream “idol” and they’re all so unique…!

It makes me so excited, wondering what sort of person the outfit belongs to, and what sort of performance they’ll give!

I’m so deeply moved, thinking I’ll also get an outfit that will make my heart pound!

I’ll say this over and over again, but I’m really looking forward to it.

After all, it’s gonna be the outfit of the man who’s gonna stand at the top of the idol industry. That man’s gonna wear that outfit.

It’s gonna be an outfit that will grab everyone’s attention – it’ll run all the way up… and shine brightly at the top ♪

…Hehehe. So yeah, I can’t wait to see my outfit!

It’d be awesome if it’s a special and precious piece of clothing that will accompany me on my adventures in the idol industry…

I’m leaving my outfit in your good hands, Anzu-san!!!!

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ← Previous Chapter

[pwurrz]

IDK WHAT YOURE TALKING ABOUT¹ BUT I HOPE YOU HAVE SO MUCH FUN & SURVIVE <3

¹this is an invitation to tell me abt it LOL

HIIII OH MY GOD OK UMMMM

eoos is like. my favourite fic of all time EVER. it’s got over 300k words and 28 chapters so explaining what’s going on is like. impossible (believe me, i tried summarizing it chapter by chapter bc i wanted shay to read it so badly but they don’t read long fics and i just. gave up after chapter 2 lmao) BUT BASICALLY it’s a genshin impact fic where ajax gets transported into the genshin world and is like assigned to be character tartaglia. tartaglia is a villain in the second chapter of genshin but things go a little differently in the fic version. aka he dies in this version. anyways!!

so basically ajax looks at the fate he’s been given and decides “uhh no thanks fuck that i’m gonna romance zhongli instead” because he spent all his time and money in the real world being a massive zhongli simp and honestly i cannot blame him.

since ajax is now a character in a video game he gets assigned like. a helper?? that basically acts as a system that keeps record of all of his achievements, relationships with other people, goals and main missions (very important!! if he does not complete them on time he will DIE for real) inventory and other stuff like that. he nicknames his system AR (but we LATER find out that AR is actually the spirit of the original tartaglia (who was killed when ajax entered the world and took over his body) but he didn’t know that for the longest time so basically he’s just babysitting this gay trainwreck (ajax) that now pilots his body. their dynamic is fun i love it)

ANYWAYS. anyways for the longest time this fic was about ajax fucking around and being a massive dork who’s hopelessly in love with zhongli, and how their relationship evolves over time. since ajax arrived like 2 and half years before the main missions were to take place he had lots of time to spend taking zhongli on dates and sightseeing with him and making meals for him and serenading him every night before bed, they’re so adorable. and zhongli is very much in love with him too!! this fic is great because the chapters alternate between being written from ajax’s perspective and other character’s perspectives (like zhongli) so we get to see how they feel about each other and. ugh it’s so cute. it’s so cute how zhongli basically immediately took a liking to ajax and was like ‘this one. this one is special to me. he is my little priest and i shall cherish him’ (because he’s a dragon and also a god and childe is like. his biggest fan basically. so he’s zhongli’s priest. it’s cute).

they go on lots of cute dates and they flirt with each other all the time and ajax is such a gay loser he doesn’t even realize he’s in love with zhongli and zhongli is head over heels for him until like. he basically proposed to zhongli. meanwhile zhongli is over here being like ‘ah yes. childe. my boyfriend of over a year. the one i share my home with and spend 90% of my time with. the most important person in my life. and soon to be my husband <3’. they are engaged like ajax definitely proposed to him and he didn’t even realize but they’re totally engaged

AND THATS LIKE THE FIRST 75% OF THE FIC UNTIL EVERYTHING GOES DOWNHILL BECAUSE REMEMBER THE MAIN MISSIONS AND SHIT?? AND HOW TARTAGLIA WAS ORIGINALLY A VILLAIN IN THE GAME?? yeah well SOME PEOPLE still want him to experience the same fate he did in the original game and they’re doing everything in their power to make sure that happens to him. so just when you think ajax and zhongli can finally retire and live happily ever after BAM childe’s under arrest for terrorism and attempted murder and BAM suddenly there’s courtroom drama and OH SHIT zhongli’s gonna reveal he’s a god to everyone to defend ajax’s honour but he CAN’T do that because that goes against one of ajax’s main missions so if zhongli reveals that ajax will DIE and there’s a counter counting down to his death basically so he has to do something to stop it and he’s already dealing with intrusive thoughts from genshin’s version of hell and the only thing he can think of is to STAB ZHONGLI TO MAKE HIM STOP. and it works of course but the ajax gets knocked out and he’s all alone again because AR got suspended during all of this and all of his friends know that he almost destroyed liyue harbour (because he had to. it was part of his main mission) and he doesn’t know if zhongli’s gonna be ok and HU TAO (OH MY GOD I DIDNT EVEN MENTION HU TAO. BEST AUNTIE AND ALSO THE ONLY OTHER PERSON WHO GOT ISEKAI’D INTO GENSHIN LIKE AJAX DID. SHES REALLY IMPORTANT HOW DID I NOT MENTION HER) comes along and is like “ok boyo it’s time to fake your death!!” so NOW zhongli and everyone else thinks childe is dead. and that’s where we left off.

so the next chapter is gonna retell those events from zhongli’s point of view and i am not ready to read about how ridiculously in love he is with ajax at the beginning only to be stabbed by him and have no idea what’s going on and then think he’s dead. my heart burst into a million pieces just reading the last chapter and thinking about how he was going to react and now i get to read it and-

anyways this is an EXTREMELY loose summary of what happens and is basically just the ramblings of an insane person but yeah. i’ve been following this fic for like 2 years?? so i’m along for the ride of emotions whether or not i want to be LMAOOO

[airxn]

@chiryxushi inquired –

⸺ 🌸 It's almost been a week since Tomoe started this job and, although she hasn't driven any sort of vehicle in about a year, she was surprisingly good at not hitting anything with the box truck. Maneuvering through the sometimes deceivingly narrow sideroads had caused some stress, but it'd seem she was worried for no reason.

BAM!!

Colour ran from her face (she's already pale as is, but okay), her heart thumped in her throat. Oh fuck. Just when she was feeling confident it fell right through her fingers. Unmoving just outside of The Gear Shift. Tomoe peers through the windows in hopes there'd be no one around who either saw it happen or who heard the noise and came running.

Luckily, and unluckily for her, Tuesday nights are pretty quiet. It's mostly older folks coming in after a long day of work. They mostly keep to inside The Gear Shift. Either talking about work woes, or shooting their shot, so that meant Airin stations himself outside for the bar's deliveries.

Tonight Xavier decides to keep him company. He's been told the drop offs get done quicker with him around... Not that he minds. His brother can whine and bitch about how boring it is out here, but the soft buzz of life is quite pleasing. Besides, Airin spoke of there being one last truck. After they can bum around town in search of a meal– or so he hopes.

Airin was resting his head on Xavier's shoulder when the horrid sound of an accident makes him nearly drop his phone. He hops on one foot in an effort to snag it back. Gotcha–! Back on his feet, he's already on a move up the metal stairs to see what happened, " C'mon- c'mon!! "

Xavier chuckles, peeling himself away from the wall. He can already see the anxious soul within the vehicle. Regardless, he follows Airin and copies his position of peeping around the corner.

The blond has his fingers curled over the buildings edge. He sees the delivery car... and the poor woman inside. It looks like she hit the concrete dividing pole. From this poor vantage point it doesn't look like the impact will make the truck explode– but one can't be too sure.

Airin pops his head out to call, " You good?! "