#and now time to go to work aaaay

[undiamas18]

Home of Makoto Tachibana (Kira's older brother)

Kira 16 years old - Noah 17 years old

Context: Kira had a very bad fight with his father, where his father almost killed him. Makoto saw the scene and stopped him, took his younger brother to the hospital and then gave him lodging at his house.

Makoto: Ki, could you come here for a moment? I need to talk to you.

Kira: Okis.

Makoto: (Smiles) You look much better now, what a relief.

Kira: What are you saying? I look like a beggar asking for alms. Your clothes are huge!

Makoto: or you are too small (Laughs)

Kira: Don't laugh.

Awkward silence.

Kira: (Crashed) Did he really burn all my stuff?

Makoto: Don't worry about it, we'll buy new clothes.

Kira: With what money?

Makoto: We'll save up.

Kira: (Sad) I understand.

Awkward silence.

Makoto: I want to talk to you about something important. (Sighs) I was talking to my in-laws and they gave me permission to build an extra room for you, but it will take a few months to finish it. So, I thought you could live with the Nanases for a while, their house is bigger, you'll be more comfortable with them.

Kira: Forget it! No!

Makoto: Why not? Did something happen with Noah again?

Kira: No, nothing. But I won't tell him what happened. How embarrassing! He thinks I'm at Mom's house.

Makoto: (Surprised) Kira, but everyone knows that...

Kira: What?! I never said anything.

Makoto: (Changes the subject because he doesn't dare tell her that he told everything to the Nanase family) Well, if you don't mind sleeping in the living room for a while, we'll make do.

Kira: I have a better idea! I could really go live with mom. She always insists on that. I have my own room in her apartment and I could ask her for new clothes.

Makoto: It doesn't seem like a good idea to me, you'd be away from everyone and you two don't get along.

Kira: It would be for a while, until you finish my room.

Makoto: And school?

Kira: I only have a year and a half left. I can give the end of the year I have left and I guess I'll be back next year.

Makoto: (Hesitates) I don't know, it doesn't seem like a good idea.

Kira: (Smiles) Trust me, it's a good idea.

Makoto: Do ​​you promise to behave and control your temper?

Kira: (Smiles) Of course.

Makoto: Fine, but every day a message. Without exception.

Kira: (Mocking tone) Aaaay... how annoying. (Laughs)

Makoto: Promise?

Kira: Okay, I promise.

Two weeks later, he is already settled in his mother's house in San Myshuno. His mother had abandoned them when they were little, but she never lost contact with her children. She wanted them to move in with her in the city one day. Makoto rejected her but Kira kept in touch with her.

Kira: (Happy) The marks are finally gone. What a relief, they looked horrible.

*Cell phone vibrating sound*

Noah: (Text message) Hi Ki, how are you? When are you coming back? I miss you so much.

Kira: (Picking up her cell phone from the bed to read the message) Should I delete it?! I'd better call him.

Kira: (Video call) Hi No-chan, how are you? Can you see me okay?

Noah: (Nervous - Hates talking on the phone) Hey Ki, sorry. I sent a message by mistake, it was for my mom, that's why I deleted it.

Kira: (Laughs) Yeah, yeah. You always say the same thing.

Noah: (Embarrassed) That's right!

Kira: Well, nevermind. What were you doing?

Noah: (Head down) Nothing, lying in bed, and you?

Kira: I got dressed up a bit to go out for a walk. It's boring to be alone in the apartment, my mom works most of the day.

Noah: Why did you cut your hair? You always liked to wear it long.

Kira: I needed a change.

Awkward silence.

Noah: Ummm… Ki?

Kira: Tell me.

Noah: Can I ask you a question?

Kira: (Laughs) Sure.

Noah: Aaammm… it's just that… Well, I… I was wondering… When are you going back to Sulani? Liseth asked about you and I didn't know what to say to her.

Kira: (Smiles) That's weird, I talked to her on the phone several times.

*Noah hangs up*

Noah: (Calls back, but no video call) Sorry, it got cut off.

Silence.

Kira: No-chan, I'm staying with my mom until the end of the year.

Silence.

Kira: We're getting along a lot better now and she insisted that I stay longer. I wasn't too sure at first, but I think it's for the best. I'll be back to see your graduation at the end of the year.

Silence.

Noah: (Holds back tears) Did something happen at your house?

Kira: What? No, nothing. I just wanted to spend time with my mom, that's all.

Noah: (Shocked) But you said he was never home.

Kira: I exaggerated.

Silence.

Noah: (Sad) Half a year is a long time.

Kira: Don't worry, I'll text you every day and call you more often. You can do it whenever you want too and you'll see that time goes by really fast.

Noah: (Worried) Nothing really happened? Is it just because you're with your mom?

Kira: Really No-chan, don't worry about this and stay away from your idiot classmates.

Noah: (Crowned) Yeah...

Kira: Anyway, it got a little late. I have to go before it gets dark, then we'll keep talking. Kiss, be good. (Laughs)

Noah: (Sad) See you.

*End of call*

Noah: (Sad - Thought) Ki is right, half a year goes by very quickly. He will return soon, he just needs his mother. Although I don't understand this sudden change, they never got along. I have a feeling he's hiding something.

Noah: (Crying) Maybe while he was there, he met someone and they started dating. Makes sense, that's why he was in a hurry to get out.

Noah: (Crying) I knew this day would come at some point. I guess being apart isn't so bad after all, this way I won't have to see him holding hands with anyone.

Noah: (As he settles down to sleep) I have to stop thinking about these things, my head hurts.

Noah: (Sobs until he falls asleep)

[infinitethree]

Aaaay an update, fuckin' finally, it's only been Forever!

Next fic draws near. The first part of the last chapter is already done, as is the very end, which just means I need to fill in the middle in a way that suitably sets up the next fic.

In my desire to get to said next fic, I decided to cut my losses (and try to keep some of my sanity) by yeeting a section I decided didn't fit. It was what I first tried at the start of this chapter, but I decided it was too much, too fast-- Daz would rather be a BIT more cautious.

Consider it loosely canon. The parts about his past and feelings are true, the actual scene (if it happens) would happen after the end of this fic & with some tweaks.

>But, well, he needs to suck it up. He's decided to take Theo up on a previous offer to join in family dinners. It's a perfect chance to gather more information about the server from sources other than Theo and occasionally Atlas.

And, well– he’s been able to hear them up until now. Not words, but he can more or less guess the general vibe of the meals.

Chaos. Usually that chaos involves screaming and one or more fights, at least according to the death messages that pop up on his shiny, fancy new com.

Still– it's been what feels like an eternity since he really had a chance to have a meal with others.

Sometimes he eats with Theo or Atlas, but they both have lives. Atlas especially seems to be doing pretty damn well for himself– or, at least, is seriously dedicated to his craft.

Fuck only knows if that’s abnormal. It's not really like Daz spent enough time around Techno to have a good grasp on much of anything about him.

At one point, he had been so desperate to be accepted by his so-called brother that he adopted the color of his cloak. It felt wrong, but at the same time– maybe it would have been worth it. 

Maybe, if it had gotten more than a few passing words on the rare occasion he could be bothered to be around him, it would have justified what he now realizes is unthinkably offensive. Forcibly giving yourself some else’s claim is– it’s practically trying to rip open their heart and set up shop there. It’s refusing an admin’s agency so deeply and so profoundly that you deny them even the choice of liking someone or not.

But didn’t matter. Techno never noticed. 

Over the years, being so invisible got under Daz’s skin and left a festering wound. If Techno wouldn't even acknowledge him enough to reject him, then fuck it– Daz would steal his color and make it his own.

And now he can’t even stand the sight of it.

At least making his hoodies– a different pattern than what he had made for Dream, of course, but it felt more natural wearing one than not– gives him plenty to focus on. The construction is easy enough, but the painstaking embroidery gives him something to channel his restlessness into.

But that’s only really going to matter as much as he might need to pretend to be sad if one gets ruined by the anarchy at the meal.

Honestly, Daz can't deny he's curious about the other members of the family. Daedalus only in that single traumatic incident, and ditto for Achilles…but he knows there's two more.

The first is Orpheus, the nightmarish Tubbo-but-he’s-Wilbur he’d heard about a few times. Atlas’ twin, evidently, which cleared up why Atlas looked just like Daz’s ex-elder brother.

And, similarly to Wilbur, Orph likes music. He’s on some sort of server-runner thing, which sounds like a terrible idea. There’s no way he’s not causing someone, somewhere, deep and unending agony.

Daz, having had his hands full with the existing soul-rending stuff, wasn’t terribly eager to add on to it by facing down any version of Wilbur. A rat is a rat is a rat, and that particular rat would fuck with his head, what precious little sleep he’s been able to get, and probably kick him in the nuts for the hell of it.

So, the one time Theo mentioned meeting the bastard, Daz had put on the ‘this is a deeply traumatic topic but I’m too scared to say that’ act he’s gotten so good at using.

Worked like a charm. Daz has yet to get another offer to meet him.

The other brother is another Dream, the second youngest. Perseus, known for feats of cleverness and agility in a long-running sport of some kind. Given even accidental orders were shredding Daz’s soul, he wasn’t terribly keen to push the idea of seeing the recordings.

And, Theo had told him with an air of pride, a huge nerd who mostly competes to fund his expensive hobbies.

There was something about collector's editions and table top books, neither of which Daz had been curious enough about to question further.

But, well, now he gets to meet this fabled final Was-Taken brother for himself. 

Rather than sit and stew in his anxiety about the whole thing, though, he opts to arrive early and help Day.

As much as Daz doesn’t particularly like the man, he's enough of a known variable that he can be tolerated.

No matter how he ends up resolving the fundamental issue of trying to kill people in a world where there's no limit on respawning, being trusted by Day is going to help him out.

He hesitates just before stepping around the corner and in sight of the kitchen. Day doesn't stop what he’s doing, or even look over at him. “Need something?”

Daz flinches a little. “Uhm– I just…” he fidgets with his sleeves, and mumbles, “I– I feel bad, because I shouldn’t make you cook for me.”

That makes Day pause. “...I don't mind cooking, and I usually make enough for leftovers anyway.” “But I'm not your family, and I haven't earned it,” Daz protests.

Much like…pretty much every implication he makes of this nature, he has to fight down the bile that threatens to rise.

Day’s mouth forms a grim line. “You don't need to earn food.” “Good food is for good people,” he argues.

Innit oh-so-helpfully makes a retching noise in the back of his head.

There's a long, tired sigh. “That's– so incredibly fucked up, but I'm not the person who you need to unpack that with. If I had an problem with cooking for other people, I wouldn’t be feeding the dozen or so people outside of Summer Hills that regularly drop in.”

Daz frowns, brows knitting. “But they’re not bad,” he argues. “If they’re welcome, they have to be good. Otherwise they wouldn’t be welcome. And since I’m– since I’m not welcome, I– I know I’m–”

He folds his arms around his waist, eyes trained on the floor. He’s breathing like he’s fighting a panic attack, shoulders hunched and shaking.

And then Day ever so gently, giving him time to pull away, folds his wings around him.

“Whatever you were told,” he says, voice soft but sincere in a way that burns, “if it was true at all, it’s not true here. You’ve been through a lot, Daz. I don’t blame you for being scared, for thinking you’re the one to blame for everything. It’s not true. As much as it absolutely fucking sucks, sometimes other people are just…monsters.”

For a second, it makes him long for a version of reality where his family was whole, loving, and truly welcomed him.

Fuck, that almost makes him feel bad about planning to kill Day.

Daz sniffs, stuffing that guilt down with all the other things he’s repressed. “...You’re nice. You’re not as scary as I thought you’d be.”

A soft snort escapes the winged man. “Thanks.” He pulls back, leaving Daz almost wanting to cling to the pretty lie.

“If you’re willing to help, I’d appreciate some help with cooking,” Day offers. He nods a few times, letting a tiny smile peek through. “Yeah. Yeah, I can do that.”

[alexysdsblog]

Allergy Attacks

If you’re like me you have bad allergies; I’m talking sneezing 24/7, runny nose, red itchy eyes, the works. Have you noticed that your allergies have been getting A LOT worse recently? Well I have, so I made a quick Google search to see what’s going on. According to a Time.com article titled, Why Allergy Seasons Are Getting Worse, we have global warming to thank. When the planet warms, it produces higher carbon dioxide levels and causes plants to produce way more pollen for a longer period of time. Now there is one other theory that has to do with hygiene. An aaaai.org article titled, Increasing Rates of Allergies and Asthma says that the increased severity of allergies is coming from being too clean, likely a results from COVID precautions for so long as well as new antibiotic resistance.

Linked below are the articles I used for research as well as another that shows the science behind these hypothesis ⬇️⬇️⬇️

[ryouverua]

On that note, since I’m finished Kaede’s FTEs I’m going to take a small break before jumping into salmon mode so I can work on some actual fandom stuff! All of those poor prompts gathering dust in my inbox and a few other things... it would be nice to contribute, for once. 8′) I might set some stuff up to be ready for Shuichi’s and my birthday though!

[finleycannotdraw]

Hi there! I noticed you reblogged those ask games for all the tad albums, and I don't remember what question this is but what lyrics would you say just SEND you from each of the albums?

AAAAY HELLO

okay so. this is probably going to be at least one lyric from every song

love run lyrics that send me™️:

“all hell and its fire waits for us” “my entire life it’s running away too fast, watching everyone you’ve ever loved walk past, never really quite getting the knack of knowing that no one will ever come back for you” “for christs sake just say something” “it cannot be a lie if no one hears” “I’m stronger now than you have ever known” “can’t you see that I’m enough for you but you don’t want me to be cause that means you’ll actually have to be content” “it starts off like a pinprick, a trick of the light, oil slick” “I cannot find the words to keep you” “we showed the world that we exist, didn’t really like the pattern that much on the wallpaper so anyway” “if I’m good will you come back” “where is god ma where’s the vodka if my old mum could see me now oh how she’d how she’d hold my hand as you shook in the middle of the night” “let the world come at you love with all its sand and sin a-singing, the song you once knew well’s begun, run until your lungs are numb, let the earth a-tumble love and humble you withal keep running” “let foul men band and heed your hum for that ancient hymn you heard me strumming is naught but fumble falls and tumbleweeds love run it’s not that rum would solve though some would harm you none not one no none would raise to you a hand nor thumb not while by you I stand and hum love run” “it’s not from what we run that drums but what’s to come, love what’s love what’s love what’s to come”

the horror and the wild:

“I pray to god it’s the kindest thing to never leave you alone” “gimme back my heart you wingless thing” “witness me old man I am the wild” “that I might understand as best I can how bold I was could be will be still am by god still am, fret not dear heart let not them hear the mutterings of all your fears the flutterings of all your wings” “flirt (wasn’t flirting) at the back of a bookshop” “hold me lover like you used to so tight I’d bruise you” “I know you’re strong enough to do this on your own” “he’s down he’s dead he’s gone oh he’s lost he’s flown he’s fled now take a good long look at what you’ve all done to me” “I’m old waylaid and feels like I am wading into carpet burns and carousels christ you’ll be the death of me and calm throughout his melodrama she will turn and say dear heart it’s me it’s me you don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not” “you you touch my skin peels off like paint” “as the belt from your buckle is tightening I make shipwrecks out of my dress” “and I get in and for some reason you’ve painted the kitchen lime green and I sink to the floor what’s the point anymore and you you reply with a glint in your eye singing I don’t know but I’m hear oh dear god dear heart don’t cry” “now even though you’re mad and these memories won’t stay that’s okay cause now I get to meet you for the first time every single day” “look at me as you say this (you’re home) don’t look at your phone (for gods sake I’m)” “I feel hunger at last for that person fifteen year old me would be proud to have known” “these lines aren’t wrinkles dear heart they’re just dollops of paint on a new work of art”

ruin (literally every single lyric okay)

“look into those secret worlds you call eyes” “when I think I’m fine you’ll visit and then you happen to me all over again” “the rain kept coming down I’ll watch that woman drown” “I don’t find this easy like you” “gonna go home and show my cat some memes cause he’s awesome like me” “if god made us all in his image then god’s a fucking nerd” “I might not make it tonight” THE ENTIRETY OF CHORDS but specifically “they are my rascals I can’t let them walk away/we built our castles just to watch them wash away” “walk into your dawn you snotrags tell em we never cared go tell them how we fucked you up and oh my god it’s so unfair we were the winter nights so you could be the morning snow cause life begins by leaving and our love is shown in the letting go” “be good be safe be kind know we’ll always love you even though you’re leaving us behind” “you are in the earth of me” “I’m lifting my class to that last good man grace who has left me he’s left me at last” “let’s bury this I’m all yours but you’re all mine let’s dance together you and I cause I’m not trapped with you you see you’re the one who’s trapped with me” “don’t you think I look pretty curled up on this bathroom floor” “we’ll dance together so close we’re sharing breath but now I’m leading doesn’t that just scare you to death” “I will bring you ruin” “nothing quite prepared me for when that piano sang again” “tomorrow I’ll do things different tomorrow I’ll be brave” “if I don’t make it back from where I’ve gone just know I loved you all along”

TL;DR I am in love with literally every single song by this band.

[prismartist]

Haul Away Jay

Fandom: Just Roll With It (Riptide)

Words: 3175

CW: implied/referenced character death

Relationships: Chip & Jay Ferin & Gillion Tidestrider

Summary: Jay is bored. Very, very bored. So, understandably, she tries to find a way to entertain herself.

She wasn't quite expecting the entertainment to come in the form of a song and dance, or that the other two would be roped into it.

None of them are complaining, though.

A/N: @tokencishetchip idk if you remember but you asked to be tagged for this a little while back !! here's the albatrio having fun with a sea shanty :D

Ao3

– – –

If there was anything that Jay Ferin knew as she leaned on the railing of the Albatross one peaceful day, watching the sun slowly set beyond the horizon, it’s that she was unmistakably, undoubtedly, incredibly, and painfully, bored.

Maybe it was the juxtaposition of the current situation to cursed islands, cursed casinos, or crewmates being dumbasses (well, that wasn't really a curse, but it sure felt like one sometimes), but standing on a boat in the middle of an endless calm sea under an endless calm sky wasn’t the most exciting event in the world.

Jay let out a sigh that floated out onto the indifferent blue water. She heard Gillion shout something from atop the crow’s nest, and Chip shouting back in turn as he walked down from the helm and started lighting the lamps. It was nice to see the two working in harmony.

Old man Earl was nowhere to be seen, probably in the kitchen making dinner and more orange juice. Jay was looking forward to that the most right now. She wasn’t sure if that’s a good or bad thing.

Well, she thought as she redirected her attention back to the ocean, if only they could find the adventure they all hoped for.

Her mind drifted in an attempt to entertain herself, going back to her days in the tavern. She had spent hours there working her butt off for loud, gruff soldiers, laying down in bed afterwards and thinking that her aching bones and five hours of sleep weren’t worth it. Over time she had learned to ignore the exhaustion, but compared to the adrenaline-inducing fights and rewarding victories she experienced now, Jay didn’t miss it.

Suddenly, a melody started to creep into her mind, a tune that she didn’t expect to hear in a long while. While tied to the memory of the tavern, the feeling the song settled in her is calm, comforting even. Jay closed her eyes, allowing herself to listen to it.

Apple sang serenely as she sat on the crow’s nest, and her chirps melded into the melody that Jay now recognized.

It was an old sea shanty, one that Jay often heard from the navy soldiers that frequented the tavern. She recalled memories of drunk men singing joyously, unprofessional in their performance, as if they were celebrating being freed from their ruthless job even for a night. Sometimes though, the way they would sing would come out soft and genuine as they sat in relative sobriety after a hard-fought battle, reflecting as the first few hours of the dawn crept up behind them and the orange rays shone on the mournful men. Jay would look on, almost in awe, unable to believe these were the same people who maimed and killed and imprisoned.

Jay hummed the beginning of the tune to the best of her abilities, and did not notice Chip cast a curious glance at her. She faltered as she lost the words, struggling to remember.

How did it go again…?

Oh. Right.

“Oh maiden, oh maiden, the love to I,” Jay sang softly. “I adore the shimmer, the shimmer, the shine in your eyes.”

She smiled and started to continue, but was cut off suddenly by the sound of Chip’s voice. Her eyes flew open and she turned in his direction, having half a mind to snap at him, but stopped upon realizing what exactly he was saying.

Or, rather, singing.

“It enamours, enamours, thy light to my life.” Chip was as surprised as Jay, eyes wide as he continued easily as if by instinct. His voice was surprisingly smooth and not all that bad. “Thy touch, carries, it carries, my soul to the sky.”

They stared at each other for a few moments, processing what had just happened.

Jay tilted her head, and spoke, “How do you-”

“I-it’s a song, I– the Black Rose Pirates used to sing it all the time.” Chip saw a small flash of a memory, of fireflies fluttering around in hanging terrariums, of voices chanting the same song as Chip joined in. He gestured a bit wildly, as if he was trying to swat away the image. “You?”

“I heard it in the tavern a lot.” Jay chuckled, a little in disbelief. “I guess it’s more popular than I thought.”

Chip vaguely remembered being lifted into the air by a laughing Arlind, teasing him for messing up a line, the golden glow overhead. “I guess so-”

“And my love! I swear in the sun and the rain!” The booming voice of Gillion Tidestrider rang down, causing Chip and Jay to look up and see the Triton slide down the pole, landing with a flourish. He straightened and completed the verse in a perfect baritone. “That someday, our hands will intertwine once again.”

Gillion grinned at the other two’s astonished faces. “That's an oversea song, is it not? My sister taught it to me. I much enjoy it as well.”

Chip turned to Jay. “So definitely more popular than you thought,” he said.

“Yeah,” Jay muttered, feeling a grin grow on her face. “A little different in some places, but yeah.”

She found herself tapping her fingers against the boat to the beat of the shanty and humming the post-verse interlude. Gill and Chip noticed as well, and their eyes trained on her, silently assigning her the role of the shantyman.

Jay tensed up upon noticing. She’s not used to performing, especially in front of an audience (could you call two people an audience?). It’s far from one of her strong suits.

But after a moment of contemplation, she eventually decided that, fuck it, it’s time to sing.

They started this ballad, they might as well finish it.

“Oh damsel, oh damsel, my heart belongs to thee.” Her voice cracked a bit on the high note, which Chip snickered at, but Jay merely shot him a dirty look and continued. “If you are troubled, so troubled, you must only call on me.”

“And though it rages, it rages, the condescending sea,” Chip joined in, his smirk slowly morphing into a genuine smile.

“For you I know my journey will succeed,” he finished, noticing Gillion’s voice join in. Chip glanced at him for a second before letting out a soft chuckle.

Jay started stomping on the boat to get the beat going. To her delight, Chip clapped rhythmically and Gillion followed both their suits. Energized, Jay hummed louder.

“And my love, I swear in the waves and whirlpools,” all three sang together, “Soon we will meet and once again become whole.”

With a laugh, Jay skipped closer to the center of the ship. She spun and gestured, mimicking the dances she had observed at Loffinlot, imagining a band accompanying her as she sang as loud as she could.

La, la la la, la la la, la la la.

Gillion was quick to join her, imitating her dance. His heavy boots threatened to break the wood they danced on, but Jay only cared for the lovely bass beat and snare they happened to offer. She grinned at him approvingly, and Gill grinned back.

Off to the side, Chip hung back, providing the main melody.

“Oh lover, oh lover, don’t you dare cry.” Jay reached out a hand to Gillion, who took it. “But laugh and laugh under the pristine blue sky.” She raised it and lead him in a spin. “And never, oh never, would I ever lie. I wish nothing more than for us to reunite!”

Gillion grabbed Jay by the waist, catching her off-guard, but as he lifted her into the air, she loosened up and cheered, feeling the song come to an end.

When she landed, Jay made a show of dusting herself off before bowing to Gillion. Gill, ever the gentleman, bowed back, and Jay giggled.

She looked over to Chip, leaning against the railing and watching with a rather deflated smile. Jay raised an eyebrow. That didn’t look right.

Absent-mindedly tapping his toes, no longer minding the beat, Chip stewed deep in his thoughts. Seeing his friends dance their hearts out was a nice scenario, don’t get him wrong, but despite the undeniable want to join in the festivities, there was a hesitance that Chip couldn’t quite get over. Maybe it’s the weird ache when he remembered voices that he’d never hear again. Maybe it’s because he didn’t want to interrupt the others’ joy. Who knew. Chip sure didn’t.

And Chip definitely didn’t know why the sight of Jay marching towards him made him panic.

“Hey,” Jay said, and Chip immediately heard the over-friendliness in her voice. “What’re you doing, moping in the corner? You said you and the Black Rose Pirates sang this all the time, right?” She leaned forward and locked eyes with Chip, who tensed up. “So, show us what you got.”

She daintily held out a hand, and with it, a challenge. “Dance with us.”

Chip’s eyes grew impossibly wide as his face flushed. “Oh, nah, nahh, that’s okay, I’m really not a dancer,” he stammered. “And you guys are already done with the song, so I really don’t-”

“Gill.” Jay smirked. “Take the beat.”

“Wha-”

“On it!” Gillion grinned with sharp teeth and began to stomp and clap again. He hummed deeply, the tune once again emanating through the ship.

“Jay,” Chip begged, taking a step back. “I don-”

“Nope, round two, coward!”

“Ja-AAAAY!”

Chip yelped as Jay grabbed his arm and dragged him to the newly appointed dance floor, guiding his kicking and screaming form into one of dance. She took one of Chip’s hands and held it up, putting her other hand on his shoulder. “Your free hand on my waist,” she reminded him, ignoring his confused sputtering. “And one, two, three, go.”

She lead the dance in a sort of wild, messy foxtrot, stretching their clasped hands in the direction they move in, side skipping energetically. Chip stumbled at first, caught off-guard, but he quickly adjusted to her same pace, glancing at the ground to make sure he was keeping up. Seeing his face relax and the corners of his mouth quirk up, Jay smiled at him encouragingly.

“Sing, shantyman, it’s your turn,” she said.

Chip’s expression turned into horror once again, gulping as he scrambled to remember the words in time for the melody.

“O-oh maiden, oh maiden, the love to I,” sang Chip.

“I adore the shimmer, the shimmer, the shine in thy eyes,” he and Jay sang together.

“It enamours, enamours, thy light to my li-IIFE, JAY!” Chip screamed as Jay gave him a spin, laughing at his surprised shriek. “Jay, don’t just spin me without warning!”

“You’re being sloppy, shantyman,” Jay teased. “Keep up with the song.”

Chip glared, but continued nonetheless, “And my love, I swear in the sun and the rain.”

Jay gave him another spin, but this time, Chip didn't miss a beat. He gave Jay a smug, triumphant look. Jay raised an eyebrow in turn, admittedly impressed.

“That someday, our hands will intertwine once again!”

“Alright, nice,” Jay complimented, grinning widely.

Chip caught a mischievous glint in her eye, and his face consequently fell.

“One more spin, pretty boy!”

Before he could protest, Jay suddenly spun Chip away with a greater force than before, and the world around him became a blur, the air swirling with the sound of Jay’s devilish voice.

“Gillion,” he heard her yell, “catch!”

And Chip is spun into the arms of Gillion, who beamed at Chip’s very red face.

“Come, Chip.” Gill took both of Chip’s hands. Chip, still trying to recover from the jarring switch of partners, only blinked down at their now clasped fingers. “It is our turn.”

“Oh my god.” Chip laughed nervously.

Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp.

“Oh damsel, oh damsel, my heart belongs to thee,” Jay belted as Chip and Gillion figured out their dance. “If you’re troubled, oh so troubled, you must only call on me.”

The other two started to push and pull in tandem, reminiscent of a cha-cha with a bit more energy and spins thrown in every once in a while. They surprisingly guided each other with more harmony and grace than Jay expected.

“And though it rages, it rages, the condescending sea.” Gillion leapt and circled with Chip, almost lifting the latter off the ground. “Just for thou I know that my journey shall succeed!”

“Gill, calm down!” Chip chuckled, partly in amusement and partly in fear, as he started to lose his footing.

Jay looked on, not ignorant to the warm fuzzy feeling in her chest, the beat pulsing along with the adrenaline in her veins.

“And my love, I swear in the waves and whirlpools, soon we will meet and once again become whole.”

Soon she joined them, whooping as she jogged, and they welcomed her with wide smiles, one pair of hands separating to reach out. Jay took the offer to form an interconnected circle, spinning and bobbing as they shared the melody. They sang, as loud as they could, filling the air with a joyful energy.

“Oh lover, oh lover, don’t you dare cry,” Chip started.

The others joined in. “But laugh and laugh under the pristine blue sky.”

And laugh they did, the pure euphoria of indulging in fond memories emitting from them. They stumbled and laughed through mistakes, put their all into the performance, harmonising wonderfully.

Jay caught Pretzel doing somersaults in her globe and Apple circling the crew, chirping the tune with them. She’s reminded of a joking conversation about starting a band. Perhaps they had a chance after all, she thought amusedly. Gillion and the Tidestriders. Chip and the Bastards. Jay and the Dumbass Bluebirds. Whatever you wanted to call it.

Now, though, they were simply three friends, holding hands and dancing, rattling the wood of the ship without a care, singing a sea shanty that they all happened to know.

The stars slowly flooded the darkening sky and twinkled at them like they were dancing along.

To one, the fresh air, the touch of familiar calloused hands that had fought alongside her, and the spray of the ocean was a welcoming contrast to past memories of stuffy spaces and dispassionate work. To another, though the memory was a bit painful, it still brought him the same comforting feeling from years ago, sharing laughter and celebration in a tight kinship that was expected in that of crewmates, deepening the bond with experiences that were not just in battle, but in recreation. And to another still, it was a reminder of a time when he was desperate to learn the oversea culture, and that he still remained ever so curious now as he learned its differences and similarities to his world, forming relationships with its inhabitants, people who were perhaps not as cruel as the elders had suggested.

Those who share such joyous experiences with others must not be that selfish, after all.

“And never, oh never, would I ever lie. I wish nothing more than for us to re-u-nite!”

Jay grinned up at the sky as they hummed the outro melody, a gust of wind sweeping down on them and carrying their voices away, out onto the shimmering waters.

La, la la la, la la la, la la la…

A tug from Jay led the trio up in one final leap, whooping and cheering with the others as they followed. And once their feet landed simultaneously with a bang, the song ended.

As the rush receded from her mind, the pumping blood in her ears quieting down, Jay took in the sound of the waves crashing up against the ship and her heaving breaths. She looked up at the now star-filled sky, wondering when it got so dark. She allowed her hand to slip from her friends’ grasps, moving to lean on bended knee. Jay heard the other two breathing quite heavily as well, and even a plop as Chip seemed to collapse out of the corner of her eye. She followed suit, sprawling onto the wood and closing her eyes, catching her breath. Jay wasn’t extremely tired, but she needed to recuperate.

“Oh god, you kids just had to make a racket up here, didn’t ya?”

Jay breathed out a chuckle upon hearing the raspy voice. “Hi Earl.”

“We were partying, Old man Earl!” Gillion said preppily, unsurprisingly not as out of breath as the others.

“Earl, you got…” A huff from Chip. “You got orange juice? Perhaps? Please?”

“Hmph, you’re fuckin lucky I do.”

Tired cheers chimed from the pirates.

“But you have to go down to get it with dinner. Chop chop.”

“Ohh, come onnnnn,” Chip whined, joining in with the groans of Jay.

“I’ve seen you work, you’re not that tired,” Earl scoffed. “Maybe you shouldn’t have wasted all your energy on destroying the ship! And your vocal chords.”

“Hey, I don’t think we sounded that bad,” Jay said.

“Whatever, just come down and have dinner, I’m definitely not hefting everything up here.” Earl barked out a laugh and proceeded to go back down, ignoring the cries of Jay and Chip.

Soon Gillion’s face popped into Jay’s view. “Are you alright, Jay?” He glanced over. “Chip?”

“I’m coming around,” Jay assured. She stretched her arms up, making grabby hands. “Pull me up?”

Gillion complied, grabbing her arms and lifting her, though at a faster-than-preferred pace. Jay let out a yelp as she got back on her feet before stretching with a groan.

“Thanks, Gill.”

“Hey Giiiilll? Big man? Can I go next?”

Jay looked to Chip, who also had outstretched arms. Gillion walked to him and helped him up as well.

“Thanks, buddy.” Chip patted Gill on the back.

“No problem. Honestly, I did not think you would tire out so easily.”

“Well we need to gain back our energy, then,” Jay said, starting to follow Old man Earl.

“Hey, uh, Jay, um.” Chip caught her attention, and she turned back to see him with a raised hand. He moved it to scratch the back of his neck sheepishly. “That was… that was fun.”

“I agree,” Gillion said with a nod. “I was reminded of some… rather fond memories, actually. And it was a good exercise. We should do it more.”

“Yeah, yeah actually, same. I agree.” Chip looked up at Jay, his face rather tentative. “So, thanks for that, I guess.”

Jay smiled. “You’re welcome, dweeb,” she jabbed. “You’re being more affectionate than usual, but I appreciate it.”

“Hey, don’t call me a dweeb!” Chip’s expression morphed into one of offense. “I just thanked you, that’s so insensitive of you. That’s actually insensitive.”

“I let you fulfill your showman dreams, you’re the one being insensitive right now.”

“Showman- hey, I actually like the sound of that.”

“Yeah you would, you drama queen.”

“You’re calling me dramatic? Have you seen Gill?”

The sound of bickering paired with Gillion’s oblivious chimes trailed below the deck, leaving a fond memory to the glittering dark waters and the twinkling stars still dancing along.

[where-dreamers-go]

“Game On” Riley Poole x Reader

(A/N: SURPRISE! A prequel to the Riley Poole x Reader Series! It’s a surprise for me too. Welcome to Ben Gates’ circle of friends prior to going to the Arctic Circle to find The Charlotte. This can be read without having read the series that goes through the movie National Treasure. Written for @girl-next-door-writes Bingo challenge! Bingo Card: Mutual Pining Warnings: Poker game. Word Count: 2,472 words)

Strategy. Confidence. Restraint. Three words perfectly fit the poker game on Ben’s dining table. Ever since your best friend had met Ian Howe, a man who believed in the Templar treasure and had pockets of money, the group of you had played poker on weekends. Not every weekend of course. There were only so many rounds of bets you were willing to have. Even if this time you brought cookies for a snack.

Although in truth, you had been playing more for a few months and sitting through more games than otherwise willing. Why? An incredibly intelligent, funny, and handsome man who was officially a part of Ben’s circle of friends.

Riley Poole. Thank the Universe that you helped Ben with his computer, you thought as you stole a glance to your right. Didn’t think I’d be having this much fun.

Sitting in your best friends’ apartment was a greater comfort than Ian’s home. Sure, you’d known the man for more than a year, but Ben had been your friend since you were in school. Around a decade of friendship meant you knew him. You knew him well.

“Ben,” you said calmly.

“Hmm?”

“You’re bluffing again.”

Ben’s eyebrows raised a fraction before speaking. “I fold.”

In only a moment, Ian chuckled.

“You might not be the best player,” Ian told you. “But you can read Ben like a book.” His chuckling doubled as Ben made a face.

“Maybe we should return (Y/N)’s library card.” Ben suggested with a smirk.

You scrunched up your face in disapproval.

“Yeah, but they can still buy books and stay in a library to read them.” Riley piped in.

You sent Riley a smile and pushed a box of crackers closer to him.

“Alright,” Ian spoke up. “Can either of you beat a Four of a Kind? Riley?”

Biting into a cracker, Riley shook his head and laid his cards down. “I fold.”

“(Y/N)?”

“No,” you grumbled. “I fold.” Reluctantly, you set your cards down.

He’s gonna start prancing his way out by the time we’re done.

Shoulders back and a smug grin on his face, Ian revealed his cards. A three, a nine, a queen, and a king.

“What?” Riley exclaimed.

You dropped your forehead to the table.

Not again.

“They’re not even the same suit. You lied.”

“I win again.” Ian stated as the poker chips could be heard being pulled to his side of the table.

“Next time we’re playing Mario Party,” you groaned as you picked your head up off of the table.

“I am not playing that.”

“Afraid you’ll lose?” You countered.

“No. I simply don’t want to play.”

You made a short sound of acknowledgement in your throat.

“You have a Nintendo 64?” Riley asked as everyone tossed their cards to the middle so that Ben could take his turn to shuffle and deal.

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know you had one. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You never asked.”

“How was I suppose to know to ask if you had one?”

“Conversation?”

“Save the bickering for the game, shall we?” Ian interrupted without glancing up.

You gave the man a pointed look.

It was times like those that you weren’t entirely sure if he was playing along or actually annoyed. There were times when you honestly could not tell.

Worse case scenario, he’s always annoyed with me and Riley talking. He’s usually not this way when it’s just me and Ben.

Having finished shuffling the deck, Ben dealt the cards out to each of you.

“As a head’s up, this is my last game.” You said after checking the time.

“You’re not working overtime again, are you?” Ben asked.

“No.”

“(Y/N)…”

“I have to double check an e-mail and double check a few things. Respond to a few more e-mails. Stuff.”

“That’s working.” Riley said.

“I know. I know.”

“At least you’re making sure everything is done properly. Some times that’s hard to find in some people.” Ian added.

“Thank you.” You reached for a cookie and—

Crunch

You peered over to your right and saw Riley’s eyebrows knitted together as he ate another cracker. His eyes were trained just above his cards.

That was a little louder than normal, you thought as you ate the cookie. Mentally shrugging, you checked out your cards. Oh, okay. Not bad so far. Hmm.

“Any chance next time we could play Twenty-One?” You asked.

“Blackjack?” Riley nabbed a cookie.

“Yeah. Though if Ben says ‘no’ he indirectly admits his many defeats.”

“Hey. That’s a game of chance.” Ben pointed a finger at you.

“And strategy.” You added.

“It is older than Poker.” Ian said as he waited for Ben to add more cards to the table.

Ben eyed his own cards. “You know,” he started. “Playing cards were actually invented before 1000AD by the Chinese. The cards didn’t have numbers…”

Turning your head to the right, you caught Riley’s eyes. You gave each other knowing looks as Ben continued giving facts. That could mean two things: Ben was confident or he had a pretty good hand of cards. If Ian had picked up on that through the many games, neither you nor Riley knew. However, you were willing to play more logically to win.

Game on, Ben.

Riley slid the box of crackers closer to you. The box was moved just enough that when you leaned back, Riley subtly tilted his cards.

You had a better cards. You took two crackers and gave one to Riley. He returned his sights back to the center of the table with a nod.

Now to figure out Ian and Ben. Can’t always let one of them win.

“Riley.” Ben said.

“Hm? What?”

“Your turn.”

“Oh, right.”

You reached for more crackers to munch on as the four of you continued playing. Looking up for only a second, you saw Ben smiling and his smile only widened when he caught your eye. You raised an eyebrow in question. He glanced over to Riley then back at you. Acting on immediate reaction, you tossed a cracker at your best friend’s chest. Unfortunately he didn’t drop any of his cards so that you could see them.

Stop it, you thought. Too bad we don’t have telepathy. Then again, that could backfire with comments, but we could team up during poker. Also would save money on the phone bill. Hmph.

With more cards in your hands, your chances of winning were dwindling. It was not a big deal. But you really wanted to win.

Darn it.

“(Y/N), I hope you’re better at bluffing than giving instructions over e-mail.” Riley said, catching you off guard.

“Wha—Hey.” You pulled your cards closer to yourself. “It’s not my fault they don’t know what the icons mean.”

“You should have explained that first.”

“I’m not Internet one oh one.”

Ian rolled his eyes. “Can we get back to the game?”

Hiding your smile as you ducked your head, you muttered, “We already went over this.”

“Bluff.” Riley murmured.

Ben cleared his throat and said, “Your turn, Riley.”

That e-mail was likely not going to be easily forgotten. Then again, it did remind you that a specific e-mail, from the same co-worker, had finally been sent to you earlier in the day.

Could have had it done last week.

A couple of days ago, you had given Riley a personal museum tour and treated him to lunch in exchange for helping you type up an e-mail explaining how to send a document as an attachment to a co-worker. It wasn’t that you didn’t know how to send the e-mail. It was that you didn’t know how to explain it for the third time. Or rather how to explain it in a way that the co-worker would understand the instructions given.

The game went on for another ten minutes until Ian and Riley were at a showdown. Ben and yourself had folded, knowing you were both beaten.

“Alright, show your hand.” Ian said confidently.

Both men turned their cards face up. A Three of a Kind versus a Flush. Riley won the game.

“Aaaay!” You patted Riley’s arm repeatedly for more than a moment.

Riley shuffled a bit in his seat before sitting a little taller.

“Good game.” Ian pushed his cards away.

“Good job, Riley.” Ben congratulated his friend.

Pulling the chips to his side, Riley grinned. Victory was sweet at times.

“Hey, sorry to cut this short, but I have to get going.” You stood from your seat and grabbed your plastic container of cookies to seal them.

Can snack on the cookies later, you thought as you smoothly placed one in front of Riley. He won. Prize given.

You pushed in your chair.

“I-uh better go too,” Riley said. “I don’t know how traffic is going to be. It’s dark.”

“Okay, Riley,” Ben replied. “Don’t forget your jacket.”

“Thanks.”

You walked passed Ian, saying, “Any chance you can teach Ben to bluff?”

“Not something you can teach.” Ian answered as he gathered up the cards.

“I don’t need to bluff to win.” Ben added in as he lead you and Riley to the door. Always the nice host.

“Bye Ian,” you waved.

“I’ll see you two later.” Riley said.

“Drive safely.” Ben patted his friend on the shoulder.

“Don’t stay up too late, Ben,” you teased as you walked out the door.

“Bye, (Y/N).” He laughed. Behind you, Ben had shut the door as Riley followed you out.

Two steps away from the door and Riley walked up beside you.

“I can’t believe how many times Ian bluffed.” Riley said. “He must have taken almost half of the chips.”

“I’d say I’m surprised, but I’m not.”

He nodded. Many thoughts running through his head no doubt.

“You didn’t do so bad today,” you added.

“I could have been better. I just can’t tell when Ian’s lying or confident or confident in his lying.”

“There’s little difference.” You murmured as you two reached your apartment’s door. Stopping for a moment, you considered your next words.

Eh. Do it.

“Remember that e-mail you helped me with?”

“Yeah.”

“Would you like to see what they e-mailed me back?”

“How bad is it?” His shoulders slumped.

“What makes you think it’s bad?”

“Because you’re asking if I want to see it and you’re already laughing.”

Oh, I guess I am. You thought as your grin widened.

“You’re right. It’s pretty bad. In a really weird way.”

“Great,” he said sarcastically. A small smile edged its way onto his face. “Let me see it.”

Turning, you quickly grabbed your key and unlocked the front door. Once you pushed it open, you let Riley inside.

“Just give me a second to grab my computer.” You said.

Front door shut and cookies placed on a flat surface, you fast-walked to another room to grab your laptop.

It was not the first time Riley had been in your apartment. It was not even the only time he had been in your home without Ben present. As it turned out, you had made friends with Riley almost as fast as Ben did. There was something that just clicked. Similar interests, shared knowledge, and good old companionship that was refreshing.

Walking out of your room, you spotted Riley sitting on your couch with his glasses on. Your laptop was already up and loading your e-mails.

“Ready?” You asked.

“They didn’t put any attachments, did they?” Riley watched as you placed the computer on the coffee table.

“You’ll have to see.” You sat beside him.

A couple of clicks and you had opened the message from your inbox.

“Hey. There’s actual attachments,” Riley observed as he scrolled to the bottom of the e-mail. “Uh. Um. Were they only suppose to send you the documents?”

“Yeah.” You nodded and bit back a grin. “Click on that one.”

He clicked on the one that had caught his eye.

A large picture of a large cat lounging on an armchair filled up a part of the screen.

“Holy Lord.” Riley looked to you. “Please tell me not all of these are cats.”

“Just two cats.”

Riley groaned.

“I got the other ones they needed to send. Thankfully. I’ve been needing these possible layouts for the next exhibition for a week now.”

“We’re going to have to teach them how to remove an attachment before sending an e-mail now.”

It was your time to groan.

“You don’t want them sending Lord knows what else next time, do you?”

“No.” You sighed. “But…that means I have to mention the cats.”

The moment Riley made eye contact with you, you both started bursted out laughing.

Out of all things to send you, they sent you pictures of cats. Perhaps you should be thankful it was not anything else. Who knew at that point? The question at hand was how to word your next e-mail? It was suppose to be a follow-up message about which layout of the museum space was better not another how-to.

“I’m getting paid to say, ‘delete your cat photos…from the e-mail’.” You wheezed. Trying to breath between laughing and speaking was challenging.

“Maybe….maybe send two e-mails?” Riley’s grin was still present. “One for work and one for clicking the small ‘x’.”

“Yeah, but at this point you should be charging them for tech support.”

“Put that in your next e-mail.”

You bumped his arm with your own.

“Just saying.”

“If they ask for more help I’ll let them know. How’s that?”

“I’ll get the documents ready.”

You covered your mouth as loud laugh escaped you.

Oh goodness. I hope he’ll do it anyway.

Smile only partially fading, Riley gestured to the laptop. “Let me know if their lack of technology skills makes your instruction skills disappear again. But not on your day off.” He removed his glasses and stood up.

You followed suit and walked him to the door.

“You really shouldn’t put in more hours than they’re paying you.”

“I want the new exhibition to be perfect.” You added as you leaned against the opened door. “But you’re right.”

“Can’t work for nothing. Especially when you’re suddenly working free tech support.” He stood out in the hallway.

“Hey,” you said. “Thanks for hanging out today. It was really fun.”

A smile returned to his lips. “I had fun too.”

“Drive safely, alright?”

“I will. See you later.”

“See yah, Riley.” You waved before finally shutting the door. With a lopsided grin, you locked the door and skipped over towards the cookies. Perhaps your winnings will be more than chips won in a poker game some day. Maybe something a little more meaningful.

~~~

(If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful.

Best wishes and happy reading.)

~~~~~

DreamerDragon Tags: @cubedtriangle

Riley Poole Tags: @darkenwolfy @wesleeporstudy @yearning-warmth

Riley Poole series Tags (Would you like to be added to Riley Poole Tags?): @imacuteprincess @gingerlaserbeam @sledgy14 @thecaptainsgingersnap 

**Let me know if you would like to be tagged in insert readers, either through replies, ask, or message.**

[sullustangin]

Fictober Prompt 9: "There Is No Right Side to This.”

Fandom: SWTOR

Time: Before Chapter 2 of the Smuggler Story

A/N:  I totally took a left turn on this prompt; it was probably meant to be much deeper and serious than I made it.

Also, I just realized I never clarified as to how Eva’s name is pronounced.  It’s not Eve-uh.  It’s Ay-va. 

**

“Then take the right side of the mechanism, and slot the condenser into Part A –”

“There’s no right side to this.”

“…My god, your public education system failed you.”

“Oh, come off it, Risha.” Corso finally snapped, and he put down the tool he was working with before he threw it.

“Either you two stop bickering or go somewhere else to start screwing, because we are going to get busted if you don’t shut up,” Eva hissed.  She leaned around the landing gear of the ship.  She’d drawn the long straw and didn’t have to mess around with the engine they were trying to strip.  Instead, she was on lookout.

“But Aaaay-vaaa she’s bein’ awful for no reason,” whined Corso.

“But Aaaay-vaaa he’s being dense for no reason.  There’s a right side to every object,” Risha mocked Corso.

Eva huffed and then jumped upward into the engine compartment.  She managed to hoist herself up enough to prop her chin on the floor of the engine compartment and try to look at her idiots. “Guys, seriously. Shut the kriff up, the Port Authority patrol is overdue.  Keep a lid on it for 10 karking minutes.”

Eva let herself drop back down and headed back to the lookout point, her earpiece picking up their conversation.   “He needs to learn his left from his right,” Risha hissed.

“Ok, woman.”  Eva heard Corso pick up the device.  “You look at this.  You’re telling me to slot this right here into that right there? Go right on ahead, show me.”

As Eva noticed a light come dancing through the parked ships, the silence was deafening in the engine compartment.  

Then.

“Fuck, who the hell built this thing?”

“You see?  I ain’t dumb – machine was done built by idiot.”

“Doesn’t change the fact we have to get this thing out of here.”

The guard’s electro-lamp came to a stop within a few yards of Eva.  “Hey, who’s there?”

Eva winced.  Out of time.  Well, here went nothing.  “Me, I’m here.”  She sheepishly came out of the shadows hands raised.  “I got stood up.”

She was blinded for a moment as the electro-lamp was held out toward her face.  She shut her eyes, arms bending slightly at the elbow to give her some shade to peer out and see who was beyond the light.  The guard pulled the lamp away just enough to let her see him. “What are you doing here at this time of night?”

“It’s really a question of who I’m not doing.”  Eva kept her distance from him as she walked away from the ship, taking his attention with her.  “Y’see, I met this spacer, at the cantina –”

“I need to see some identification,” he cut her off.

“I need to see some identification,” she insisted.  “How do I know you’re not some guy with a light lurking around the parking lot for cheap thrills?”  Eva started to back away from the ship Risha and Corso were working on.

With an exasperated sigh, the guard turned his lantern onto himself.  He was very clearly in uniform, with the standard issue blaster in his other hand.  “Lady, if you’re hooking, you’re in trouble.  If you’re trying to rob these ships, you’re in trouble.  Unless you can prove this ship is yours, you’re in trouble. Now give me some ID, or I will have to take you in.”

Eva let a hand go to the back of her neck.  “Listen, I’m waiting for a guy who’s been delayed, apparently.  Can you give me a little more time, and he can come and clear things up?”  Her feet kept moving, slowly away from the officer.  

“Halt,” he said firmly. Eva stopped moving.  She kept her eyes on him, but out of the edges of her vision, through the dark, she caught sight of two figures moving away from the ship.

Now it was just a matter of extricating herself.  

“Hey, not trying to cause trouble –”

“You’re not in trouble. Not yet.  Just identify yourself, and unless you have legitimate business here, I have to –”

Suddenly, the electro-lantern hit the ground, and the guard followed closely thereafter, as if a ton of duracrete had been dropped on him.

Eva followed the lamp as it rolled slightly toward the massive form that had thorough boxed the ears of her well-meaning nuisance.  “About time you showed up.”

“You have no idea how rude people can be toward Wookiees, Little Girl.  I even had our food order number, and they took forever to give it to me.” Bowdaar hoisted the takeout bag to Eva’s eye level.  “Are Risha and Corso done?”

“I think they are now. Spent half the night bitching at each other.”  Eva knelt down and checked the guard’s pulse.

“He’s alive. I was careful.”

“He hit the ground pretty hard.  Are the drinks still cold?”  

“No thanks to the restaurant.”

“So we won’t eat there anymore.”

[kirby-the-gorb]

reply roundup!

this week’s highlights:

patreon drawings are up! [heraldinthedark], [lukeperiodsun] and [fleurdelis] :>

new patreon favorites post [here]!

sticker club design for this month has been successfully made [real]!

I’m just really happy with how this [hades] drawing turned out!

there’s a few silly bonus images under the cut too :v

on the last [roundup]:

@littlemousejelly​​ said: oh this is such a cute roundup!!! 😭💕 i'm glad you enjoyed my tags! thank you for the incredible kirby art coming across your blog was a GIFT

aw thank you so much! I love doing these cuz I get to share some of the tags that make me happy with everyone else, and save them so they’re easy for me to reread :>

on [arms]:

@littlemousejelly​​ said: PICK HIM UP!!!!! he'm asking for hug! giv!!

@bubblesthesanddragon​ said: *picks them up and hugs*

@zer0cracy​​ said: ...spirit bomb.

(balognajoan on twitter also replied with an image of frieza charging a spirit bomb so I already had this one ready XD )

@gingersducksandbubbles​​ said: yay! poyo! aaaay! 🤷🏼‍♀️ like that emoji but more cheerful like

@inexplicably-spookified​​ said: put ur nubs in the air wave 'em like you just don't care

on [spider]:

@littlemousejelly​​ said: BEST FRIENDS! JUST TWO ORBS CHILLIN' IN A HOUSE HUGGING A LOT CUZ THEY'RE BOTH GAY! GORB AND SPIDORB 🥺

you know what, that’s a great point! turns out the spider’s gay too! (I had to show this one to my partner)

on [puddle]:

@littlemousejelly​​ said: OH NO SAD KORBO it'll be okay!!! i pat pat your liddol gumdrop blob self. also op i really hope the ring thing works out soon!

@dragonsandmollusks​ said: 1. this image is a mood, and 2. I hope you get the ring situation figured out. sucks to hear that happened

thank you both ;u; I’ve got a fidget ring coming in the mail just so I can have something in the meantime, and my partner had been asking about proposing to me a second time a lot lately anyway so she’s pretty content to just get me a new ring soon and maybe we can remake the old one once she’s a rich doctor.

on [hades]:

@ferdinandv0naegir​​ said: oh my goodness, blood and poyo

hehe :3

on [sip]:

@und3rta13tra5h​​ said: So glad you’re doing better! ❤️

thank you! <3 (I keep overdoing it and giving myself headaches and stuff still, but I’ll figure it out eventually and I’m a lot less limited than I was even still -u- )

@orion-flux​​ said: he looks very happy with his juicy I too wish to be that happy

perhaps if you too obtain a juice you may experience such joy :)

on [knife]:

@kaaabbiiii​​ said: knives are for cutting cake!

that’s why kirby seems to have so many! it’s cuz he eats so much cake and doesn’t want to do dishes every day :)

on [mcdonalds]:

@gingersducksandbubbles​ said: yea this is a mood kirby, been a looooong time but agreed. or a chick fil a and still ordering the same thing you always get. like your hair may be a lil messy and your clothes a lil rumpled from the nap but youre half awake and hungry and dont care and lowkey might fight anyone that looks at you too long. too aggressive? eh oh well still a mood Kirby. also how DARE tumblr to pull a character limit in the tags like twitter used to and then making me retype this. its like when Tumblr had reblog limits way back but now its worse

oh absolutely there is a fight-or-flight instinct associated with being removed from the safety of the car and placed under the harsh fluorescent light of the fast food restaurant. but no one in the restaurant actually cares because 95% of them are doing the exact same thing as you and the other 5% see it all day every day anyway because that’s the nature of a freeway rest stop town but you still somehow feel a little bit like someone’s going to challenge you for being there in such disarray. You Get It.

from the ask box:

anonymous said: Kirby characters are so satisfying to draw. And cats. Those too.

I haven’t figured out cats yet, but they seem like they’d be a lot of fun once you got the hang of them with all those smooth curves. I can say for sure I agree about the kirby characters being satisfying though :>

[taffysannotatedsonichu]

Sonichu 11 Page 78

BANANASAUROS: Pbrrr…

BANANASAUROS {thought}: Aaaay, Punchy. It’s all cool, brah. I was dumped by a few women in my past life. (Granted, it was my fault for playing the field badly) Let’s go play some Call of Duty, dude.

PUNCHY: …Yeah. Give me lots of time to recover, then ask me again, banana-hopper.

CHRIS: I sincerely apologize, but time is short for this episode, with two pages left, so I’m summarizing the remainder.

CHRIS {narration}: So, after Layla leaves, she takes a cab to her temprary care-giving trainer, (like how volunteers temp care for cats and dogs, or like a volunteer big sibling) William Falkner. He lets her stay at his house, then the next day…

Caption: December 23, 3:30 PM, at an M.C.D…

CHRIS {narration}: Layla finds Reginald, recognizes him, and asks to share the table while she eats and searches the web for a job and a place to rent on her phone.

LAYLA: How have you been since the class?

REGINALD: Eh… I could be better right now.

Caption: December 27, 7:30 PM, Layla’s apartment… 

CHRIS {narration}: Reginald had not found a new place yet, so Layla invites him to bunk with her. A few days later, she finds a good place to rent, and a job at the electric company as a secretary in power management. Reginald moves in with her.

REGINALD: I’ll take the couch; you have the bed.

LAYLA: Nonsense, cutie. Come to bed with me.

Chris buts in to announce that the episode is almost over (I don’t know why he feels the need to wrap this up; it’s not like he had a strict time limit or anything. I guess he was just bored of this episode).

Seeing as Ivy is still dead, Layla is without a friend in the world, so she’s briefly taken under the wing of a “[temporary] care-giving trainer”. Her temp trainer shares his name with mid-Twentieth Century American novelist William Faulkner (whose birth name was in fact Falkner without the U), famous for The Sound and the Fury (1929) and As I Lay Dying (1930). Though Faulkner is from and strongly associated with his home state of Mississippi, he was briefly the writer-in-residence at the University of Virginia, where Chris was known to stalk girls at in his youth, so it’s possible Chris became familiar with his work through his time spent there (or it’s possible that he was assigned one of his books during his schooling, but given how well he did on most of his English assignments I doubt he would remember it). It’s also not impossible that this character is named for this Falkner, the Flying-Type gym leader from Johto, seeing that he and the Flaaffy Pokemon debuted in the same games.

After leaving Falkner’s care, she reunites with her old community college buddy Reginald Sneasel, and they meet for food at McDonald’s, possibly the same McDonald’s where Punchy and Layla had their first date. After getting a place of her own and getting a real job (apparently she wasn’t already working, like an unmarried and childless housewife), she invites Reginald not only into her house but into her bed, cementing their new relationship.

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Ending the Wizard...

(Looks like the environment in this place is constantly changing...and...)

*Sora channels energy into her arm and is able to summon a small fire.

(Great...Now we’re cooking with gas...Well, I guess it’s an actual fire, not gas...)

I’m warning you now Mikado...I don’t plan on losing this fight...So if you surrender now, maybe I’ll let you out of this place without any fighting.

This is MY world Sora...I’M the one who makes the rules!

And I’M the one with the power!

*As a demonstration of his words, Mikado channels magic in his arms and slams them on the ground, creating a shockwave of energy. It hurtles towards Sora, who jumps up high in the air to avoid it.

NRGH!

*In response, Sora tries a gambit of her own. She channels the energy, and launches a large disc shaped blast towards Mikado. The wizard merely flies out the way.

HAAAH

HAAAAH!

*Mikado soars towards Sora, and launches a large beam of energy at her. Sora launches a beam of her own, and the two blasts clash.

Ugh...Sheesh...

WRAH!

*Mikado summons a spiral of fire and tries to slam it on top of Sora, but she blocks it and fires another blast. Mikado dodges that blast and gains the high ground by standing on pillar of code.

BUUUURN!

HHEGH!

*He tries to launch a large blast of fire at Sora, but she channels her energy into the environment around her, and creates a large wall to block it.

Yah!

*She then kicks the wall and sends it falling on Mikado. However, the wizard uses a blast to propel himself out of the way.

Ragh! Hugh, nrgh, yah, rgh, RAGH!

*Wasting almost no time in continuing his pursuit, Mikado chases Sora around the coded, constantly changing realm. 

AH! (The one advantage he’s got over me is that he can fly, but I can’t...! I can use the energy to propel myself though...!)

YAAAH!

NRGGGH!

*Mikado fires a large fireball at Sora. Sora spins around quickly and dissipates it. She then takes cover behind another large pillar as Mikado fires an even bigger one.

...! Hup!

Hm?

HIIYAAAAAH!

WAAAAH!

*While taking coverage behind the pillar, Sora leaps off it, bounds off another, and delivers a hefty stomp to the one she was just on, sending the entire stack at Mikado.

Aaaai! Ah! Phew...

HAHAHA! RAAAAGGGH

UH! AAAH! UGH!

*Mikado once again uses a blast to propel himself out of the way, and he flies around the pillar and launches a large fireball directly at Sora. It hits her dead on, and she goes crashing into another pillar...

Hurgh...Huh?

...

YAAH!

AAAH!

*Mikado is relentless. As soon as Sora collides with the pillar, he flies down and reaches ground level with her. At point blank range, he launches even more fire at her, but she deflects it using her own digital magic.

*SHING!*

YEA!

HAH!

*Mikado then summons his dagger, and tries to cut Sora open, but she takes a tremendous leap back and dodges.

RRAAAGH!

HUP!

*Sora launches another beam of energy, that crashes into the pillar, but Mikado leaps out of the way.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING STRIKE!

*True to his call, Mikado launches a lightning bolt at Sora, that branches out in different directions. Despite this, Sora is still able to avoid the blasts, but Mikado just keeps firing them. She tries to put as much distance between the two of them as possible. using both the pillars as a means of escape, and also lifting more of them up as a means of protection.

RAAAAAAGH!

AAAAAAH!!

*However, despite her best efforts, Mikado notices what she’s doing, and uses a fireball to wreck the next pillar Sora heads for. With nothing to stand on, she falls quickly to the ground...

Ah...nrgh, huh, HAH!

*Clumsily, as she falls, Sora channels her energy and blasts the ground underneath her, giving her a softer, but still very rough, landing.

RAAGH!

UUUGHUHGUH!

*It all ends up being in vain though, as no sooner does she land, Mikado flies down at incredible speed and punches her square in the gut.

Ugh...!

...Just as I thought...

AHG!

*He kicks her while she’s down, and continues to do so as he talks.

It matters not whether you share my power in this realm or not...You have no clue how to use it...

Without anyone else around you...you’re powerless...Hinata was only able to defeat me before because he had his friends backing him up, but there’s no one here for you...

Grr...

Don’t worry...You’ll see them soon, I’m sure...After all, it’s been a while since you’ve seen Shinji...and Emma...and Kokoro...and the rest...

...

And don’t worry...When you get there, I’ll be sure to point Yoruko and the rest of your scoundrel friends in the right direction...

...RGH...!

*sigh* Forgive me...I’m rambling...

Anyway, my point is, prepare to join them...

Prepare to DIIIEE!!! AHAHAHAHA!

AH!

*Mikado channels his fire energy and creates what is basically a small meteor, that he prepares to smash directly into the wounded Sora. But just as he takes a swing...

*BANG!*

AH!

Wha-!?

*A bullet comes soaring out of nowhere and pierces straight through the metor blast, causing it to explode and shaking Mikado off balance.

What the hell!?

...!?

...!?

You...

*They both turn in the direction of the shooter.

...

Yoruko...No! What are you-

Sora...Sorry about this!

*Suddenly, Yoruko aims her gun at Sora, and with cautious aim, shoots her.

WHA-!?

*However, she on purposefully misses, and instead hits...

YOU BIIIITCH!

*Mikado turns his attention to Yoruko, and soars straight at her, with a fiery fist.

...!!!??

DDIIIIIIIIIIIEEE!

AH!

!!??

!!!??

...

*Mikado stares in horror as his fist is caught by a strangely silent Sora...He preps another fire blast with his other hand at full power, but then that is deflected with a simple slap.

...

Ugh!

*Sora suddenly lightly shoves the wizard, then makes a gun shape with her hand...She aims at Mikado and...

...bang...

Wah-RRRRRRRRRRAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!

*With no effort from Sora herself, Mikado is sent hurtling back, tumbling through the sky and crash landing into a pillar.

Oh thank god...I thought for a moment that it wouldn’t work...

What are you doing here!? Don’t you know how much danger you’re in!?

I know! Of course I do!

But you’re in danger too and...And I just can’t bare to see you die...

Not after...Not after we’ve only just reunited...

Yoruko...

Rei told me something...She told me that the shackles in your braids kept your power suppressed.

All I had to do was remove it, and you’d be able to win...

But...

Sora...

...?

Go kick his ass...

...

Right...

Nrgh...

*With her part done, Yoruko goes to take cover behind another code pillar. Sora turns back to Mikado, and creates a forcefield around herself.

Hup!

AAAAAAGGH!

*With the forcefield up, Sora charges at blinding speed directly into Mikado, and while ramming into him, drops it and punches him in the face.

AACK! Nrgh! AH!

*Mikado tries to steady himself and launch another fireball, but Sora is already right in front of him and launches one first. She then flies directly upward after launching him.

...!!

WAh! AH huh! YAH!

*Mikado scrambles around the pillar as Sora launches energy blasts down like bullets from a helicopter minigun. Thankfully for the wizard, he’s able to move out of the way.

...

Aaaaah!

*However, even so, Sora continues chasing him. Mikado serpentines the pillars...

Where do you think YOU’RE going!?

AAAH!

*Sora uses her energy in the surroundings, and clamps together two pillars before Mikado can fly through them. He slams head first into the wall, but forces himself to make a hasty recovery.

NRRRRGHH!

*Using a powerful blast, Mikado smashes the wall down, and as Sora approaches him, he turns around and launches a large blast of fire at her.

RRRGH!

YAH!

AAAAGHAHG!

*His blast does diddly-squat though, as Sora uses her power to charge straight through it. Realizing he’s losing, Mikado retreats once again and fires a strong wave of fire at Sora. Sora shapes the environment again and creates a wall of code to block it. He trues to retreat again, but Sora smashes through her own wall and then fires 5 large energy beams at Mikado, that home in on him. Even so, he’s able to outmaneuver them. Backed into a metaphorical corner, Mikado launches a similar attack at Sora. Sora however, easily counters it with her own attacks. When they are shot down, she launches one giant laser at Mikado. The wizard once again uses a blast to propel himself out of the way, and good thing too, as the pillar behind him is completely decimated in his place.

*heavy panicked panting*

...

*The following pursuit is frightful. Mikado serpentines the pillars in hopes of being able to escape Sora or tire her out, but she merely smashes straight through each and every one of them as she chases him. But eventually...his running is all for naught...

HHAAAAAHGH!!!

AAACCK!

*Sora catches up and grabs Mikado by the the foot. She then, with all the strength in her body, slams him straight down to the ground. There is a crash, and a loud crunch, as she then soars down, and knees him straight in the ribs.

...

Belch...BLECH!

*Mikado begins coughing up blood as Sora gets off him...

...

...Are you...are you about done...?

...

What do you think?

Hm?

After all you’ve done...After everything you’ve put us through...

Even now, you still threaten to ruin our lives...! To hurt people!

I...

I WON’T FORGIVE YOU!

UUUGH!

*Sora kicks him round the face, her foot colliding directly with his jaw.

Grhg...P-Please...AGCCK!

*A kick to the already broken ribs...

Now I get why Nikei wanted to hurt you so bad...

P-Please...Have mercy!

Mercy...?

UGCHK!

*She grabs him by the hair and neck, and knees him in the face.

MERCY!?

P-PLEASE!

S-Sora!

*Yoruko comes out of hiding and watches in horror as Sora brutalizes the wizard.

WHERE WAS MERCY WHEN YURI WAS DROPPED FROM THAT HEIGHT!?

UGH!

WHERE WAS MERCY WHEN YOU HAD HAJIME BELIEVE HE WOULD LIVE, BUT HE ENDED UP BEING BEATEN TO DEATH!?

AGCHK!

SORA! SORA WAIT!

KOKORO WHEN SHE WAS FROZEN TO DEATH!?

ugh...!

EMMA WHEN SHE WAS TORN APART BY MONSTERS! SETSUKA WHEN SHE WAS KILLED AND AMPUTATED

nrgh...p-please...

SHINJI, NIKEI, EVEN THE OTONOKOJI TWINS! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM THROUGH ALL THAT SHIT!?

Mikado: ...

SORA! STOP IT!

*Yoruko finally reaches Sora, and grabs her by the arms to stop her.

PLEASE! Just...stop...

Yoruko...don’t you remember what this man has done!? WHY SHOULD I STOP!?

Because...b-because...

You’ve...already killed him...

...

...What...?

*Tensing up at her words, after being blinded by rage, she stares down at the man she was beating up...

...!

...

*Mikado Sannoji...is nothing more than a bloody paste of 1′s and 0′s...

//Mikado NEO...has died...//

[chimeras-and-company]

For the character thing: Byakuya Togami!

Aaaay, thank you very much Anon! I’ve been wanting to ramble about him since Void’s question. 

~~~~~

Favourite thing about them:Where to start? He’s my DR1 fav for a reason; he holds a lot more genuine spine than what you expect from the ‘prissy uptown boy who talks hot shit’ we see in media (especially Western fiction.) He’s shown (especially in DR:AE and DR3 Future) that he is fully capable of fighting and commandment. He’s much more world-weary and strategic than people give him credit for; where while he will not jump into every single fight (like how he was waiting for the ample time to win the Killing Game, before chapter 4) there’s also this manner of genuine courage and power to him when he does attack. He knows it’s all about timing the blows, and the few times in canon it implies those blows hit hard. I find that a lot more interesting than other characters who talk all that only to just baulk and cower if someone had it with them. TL;DR: Byakuya really is a Lavaheart, with actual weight and security of his skills.

Least favourite thing about them: He’s a dramatic egotistical prick who won’t care who he’s talking to in the flesh, let’s be honest here. Thankfully character development has him learn to tune it down as he matures; but that dramatic prickly gene is still there.

Favourite line: “It seems… I must fight alongside you all for a little while longer.”

BrOTP: I said the Mystery Trio already with Makoto SO… I really like Byakuya&Sayaka friendship too. I feel like the two have similar ambitions and worldviews; and maybe can help each other with the similar childhoods they have. It has this sense of gossiping duo going on here that do have a layer of appreciation only the two alone know.

OTP: Togafuka. Longest yeah boi ever. After character development from chapter 2 the two can really learn to improve themselves with the help of one another (canonically even! Who was the one who gave Touko the stun gun in DR:AE again?) As well as both of them learning how to trust and how to heal from such shadowed childhoods, to the point where it can just blossom into romance. Platonic appreciation works too! 

NOTP: Already mentioned Makoto. So another one is ByakuyaxJunko (I have no idea if people even ship that. Sure hope not.) They’re enemies. He wanted to murder her, she wanted to break him into insanity or death through despair, all this through DR1. Makoto couldn’t even finish the word ‘mastermind’ around him before he sees red. Although, I really do enjoy ‘hate-shipping’ them as the blood-soaked enemies to begin with anyway.

Random headcanon: He may be a prick while awake but he’s also the blessed sleeper ever. When falling asleep, his body simply curls up and would even hug or spoon something subconsciously. It can give his significant other an image of a sleeping cat. No snoring, no sudden movements, no pushes; and is even warm to the touch. He is completely unaware of any of this when awake.

Unpopular opinion: My unpopular opinion with the Imposter holds here, and I expand that by basically saying that I despise his tag on Tumblr. Enough with the ‘lol long legs!’ jokes, and definitely enough of the ‘money!!’ jokes. He doesn’t give two shits about money. Along with that, the use of sparkly glittery gold or money in any aesthetic/moodboard/whatever posts is getting really tiresome. Get creative! Use tarnished industrial metal (yes, industrial gold is a thing. It’s in your phone or laptop right now,) whatever! Just quit following after the very tip of the iceberg of his character that’s so rampant in the fandom.

Song I associate with them: Bite to Break Skin by Senses Fail (Legion of Doom remix) 

Favourite picture of them: 

(Commission art drawn by @voidsvessel for an AU blog of mine! I really miss that blog, I should get back to it.)

~~~~~

[thelostmoongazer]

NEW BABIES AAAAY WEll... technically old babies but given new life in the soi story :D

they used to be from another story that i had made almost 2 years ago that you can find here (if you read the links boi and read under the cut you can compare how similar the backstories are lmao)

READ THEIR BACKSTORY UNDER THE CUT VVV

Well... way down south, a group of people figured out an incantation for creating toons that resulted in a high success rate of summoning higher ranking angels (thrones, cherubims, and seraphims) and decided to dedicate their already established business in mass producing angel toons foranyone willing to pay (a “toon mill” if you will) to focusing solely on mass producing higher ranking angels. 

Rune Galen, being a close family member of the mind behind this establishment, was, in a way, guilted into helping with this production as the only facility medic to treat any sort of the injuries the products might get during their time at the mill. Basically maintaining the merchandise. Keeping them nice and pretty for paying customers.

well, Jane, a uh.. substandard seraph (well at the time she was called 415), got particularly banged up during her time at the mill because she was extremely too curious for her own good. Strayed too far from the herd far too often which resulted in harsh punishment, getting to close to an administrator and getting clocked in the face, even getting her wings grabbed way too hard when trying to fly off to follow something she saw. This resulted in a lot of time spent with Rune, which also resulted in 415 getting very attached to the only person that’s ever showed her some sort of kindness. Rune would always complain about how the administrators were way too rough with the angels and put far too much work on her when it could have been controlled, had they “checked their goddamn temper”. Unfortunately, every time she'd have a complaint there'd be a new patient in her ward that same day, just to spite her.

It was the day the Rune had just about enough when 415 was caught outside boundaries trying to socialize with a passerby. Needless to say, this inexcusable act had to be "punished accordingly" Her left arm was bludgeoned beyond repair and had to be amputated by Rune, herself.

Only a few days after that go by when the toon mill gets busted by police. Rune, grabbing as much of the mills funds as she can, makes a run for it to the closest set of train tracks before getting caught. Luckily for 415, Rune had told her multiple time that if anything ever happened to "this place" to run to the train tracks and thats where she followed to find rune waiting for the next freight train to hop

they then settled of setting course for Manhattan to find a better life in the city on their run from the authorities. This led them to the @the-bakersdozen where they now live with Rune finding work in The Dozens bakery ! :)

[whirlybirbs]

"You stopped breathing." + Prowl??

“Yeah, well, I didn’t wanna go either, Prowl --”

“You’re clinging --”

“Yeah, I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

“Because I graduated here -- okay? I’m about to see all my --”

“Oh my goodness! It can’t be!”

Prowl has never, in all the days he’s spent by your side, seen you 180 out of mood so quickly. The SIC blinks, holoform watching carefully as an older woman sweeps you into a tight hug and sways you back and forth. 

The high-school gymnasium is already filling up -- tonight’s presentation of The Music Man has Otis pegged as one of the barbershop quartet and Charlie as a lead. Prowl sees Memo by the ticket booth and shares a curt nod with him before his attention is called.

“And who’s this?”

“Oh! Uh, Prowl, this is Mrs. L. She was my English teacher,” you say, eyes wide with a pleading look that says save me, “Mrs. L, Prowl works down at the station.”

“A police officer! God, I never thought I’d see the day,” she leans, chirping in Prowl’s direction, “Got your hands full with this one. Most Likely to Rob a Bank was her yearbook elective.”

“Okaaaay, well, on that note -- show’s going to start soon,” you blink down at a watch that isn’t there, “We gotta get going, Mrs. L!”

“It was lovely meeting you!” Prowl offers as he’s escorted away, smirk apparent on his stupid, smug face.

Prowl ducks a snort into the program pamphlet he’s handed as you drag him away, b-lining for Memo by the popcorn and ticket sales. Sally and Ron are there, and so are the rest of the Autobots -- each of them making good use of their holoavatars. 

“Most Likely to Rob a Bank, huh? You stopped breathing the second she mentioned that. You were a pain-in-the-aft back in high school, too?” Prowl croons, hands on your shoulders as you weave through the lobby.

“Can it, or I’ll strip you for parts.”

“Hi you two!”

You do it again, swallowing the disdain for being here for the sake of greeting Sally and Ron with hugs and kisses on the cheeks. Prowl gives Ron a sturdy hand-shake and lets Sally peck his cheek. The entire time, he’s got a hand glued to the small of your back. It’s nice -- domestic in this stupid way that makes your heart swim. 

“This is extremely entertaining,” Prowl says once you’re seated in the school’s theater, “You’re so uncomfortable.”

“Ha, ha,” you chirp, letting him sweep your hand into his, “I’m sure if I pressed Jazz, he’d tell me plenty of stories about you back in the academy, wouldn’t you, Jazz?”

Prowl stiffens. Behind him, his SIC in question claps a hand on his shoulder.

“Oh, you know it, sweetheart.”

“You say a word,” Prowl threatens, “I’ll strip you for parts.”

“Now who’s sitting in the hot seat?”

Oh, you are just... the best. 

[trifoliate-undergrowth]

Episode 6.2: Gloves

In which we have a short meeting to level up and get ourselves off of Alderaan. 

As we’re leveling our characters up, we roll to see how much hp we gain, and Grif rolls a 1. 

M: Grif is such a glass cannon. 

DM: Yeah, he’s really just glass. I’m going to go ahead and give you some points anyway so you don’t die instantly. And now... loot. 

Me: Loot? 

M: Loot? 

H: Loot? 

The Party: Loot? Loot?? 

Me: we sound the seagulls in Finding Nemo. 

We each gain 2000 credits, Grif and Taveau get grapple guns, and Grif snitches a paper with some commlink broadcast codes on it from the Blademaster’s body. Taveau gets a very nice, very stabby, +5 vibroblade from the Scout and some average combat gloves from one of the grunts. (Jang has claimed the gloves from the Scout and Blademaster). They’re not particularly flashy, but I wanted them for the aesthetic if nothing else. 

Grif also takes the armor from the Scout, who’s about his size and has good armor. He’s planning on repainting it and keeping it in his room on the ship “so he has something to aspire to.” Mij may have been a little too encouraging of Grif’s interest in Mandalorian culture, and he’s decided to... OH. I JUST HAD A HORRIFYING REALIZATION. GRIF HAS BECOME A MANDO WEEB. He’s become obsessed with learning more about the culture and absorbing it.  He’s... incredibly sincere, and he’s Grif, so it doesn’t really make Taveau uncomfortable, but he’s a little ??? ???

(More on this, later!) 

As we’re searching the bodies, one of the Wookiees rushes in and snarls that the prisoners have died--one of internal bleeding, and the Blademaster apparently popped a poison pill real quick as soon as he came to. 

Grif: Well, shoot! So much for giving them that message! 

Taveau: What? 

Grif: You know, when I told him to go back and tell the others that we fight with honor? 

Taveau (didn’t know until now actually bc he was unconscious but whatever):  Oh, you were serious about that? 

Grif: I mean, yeah... I was really in the moment, might not have been the best thing to say. I’ll do better next time! 

Mij was in deep conversation with Baron Welkonna when he hears the news. He looks up. 

Mij: Ah, shab... that figures. Well, if you’ve got everything you can from them, we’ve no use for these boys. (He looks towards Midkrarr) You can dispose of them however you like--but, hey, real quick. Can you give me the gloves from the Blademaster and Scout? My friend’s a collector. 

Grif: Hm. I have a couple questions about your friend. Were you part of the whole deal when he arrived on Hypori?

Mij: Hypori? Hypori..

Grif: Should’ve been like a week ago.

Mij: Honestly I don’t know, I don’t know what Jang gets up to in his free time. 

Grif relates a brief version of our Hypori encounter with Jang. 

Mij: Huh, sounds like him. I guess you’ll have to ask him when you meet him, if you meet him; not sure if he’s sticking around long enough to chat. 

Grif: He’s here? 

Mij: Oh yeah, he’s my pilot. 

Grif: Oh, I see! Where’s he running off to? Got republic business, or...?

Mij: *chuckles* Oh, now now. As I said, I don’t ask what Jang gets up to when I’m not around.

Medrull gives Mij the gloves. No hands inside, thankfully. Mij appraises them for a moment. 

Mij: That’ll do. *Turns to Grif* Alright, we’ve got real business to discuss. I’ve been talking to your father, and I think the only way this is going to work is if you’re dead.

Grif: Right. I’ll have to get rid of my IDs... 

Rralwarr: You might want to get out of your robes. 

Grif: Good idea. Dad, is it possible to get a change of clothes perhaps?

Medrull, who is ahead of the game, comes in from another room and hands Grif a fairly nondescript set of grey coveralls, rather loose and baggy, with lots of pockets. Grif likes pockets. 

Rralwarr: Well, you didn’t like being in noble robes anyway. 

Grif: You didn’t like me being in robes! I was fine with it! 

Welkonna: Son, it pains me to do this, but I’ll have to announce your death. We’ll have a private funeral, no viewing of the casket. We’ll get your ship to a safe location and you can sneak offworld. I have some friends in Alderaanian air control who won’t ask too many questions... This may be the last time I see you, for a while, maybe ever. 

Grif: Dad don’t say that! I’m sure I’ll come home sometimes. Although, I might be using another name. And I might have to change my appearance. And you might not be able to acknowledge that it’s me. ...I’ll at least give you a code word, if I ever need to come home, you’ll know it’s me. 

Welkonna: Alright, that’s better than nothing. What’s the word? 

(H: don’t do it 

Me: fluffy? 

H: NOOO) 

Grif: Um... gonna harvest some grain! Coming home to harvest some grain, that works. 

Welkonna: Alright. I’ll remember. ...I wish I had some wise words, or a parting gift, or something to give you, son, but I’ll be honest: I’m tired, I’m old, I've seen too much now, more than I hoped to see, more than I ever wanted you to see. But the Force moves in ways we don’t understand, and perhaps eventually this will all work out. But for now... For now I need a rest. 

Grif: Well, If I don’t see you dad, may the Force be with you. 

They hug. Then, Baron Welkonna turns to Rralwarr. 

Welkonna: Whatever you owed to me through your family’s debt has been more than repaid. Nonetheless I ask that you take as good care of my son as you can. 

He shakes his hand, a little awkward about it. Rralwarr roars in approval. 

Then Baron Welkonna looks at Taveau. He just nods and says “thank you.” He’s barely keeping it together. 

Taveau returns the nod. “Thank you.” 

The other bodyguards gather around Rralwarr. One tells him to go out and find himself a nice lady Wookiee. Another one slaps Taveau on the back, nearly knocking him over. They seem to like Taveau. He’s touched. Then they move in on Grif for hugs. Grif appreciates it, though he is Very Squeezed. 

Grif: Well, better go guys! 

Mij: Alright. Let’s head out. *He glances over the assembled party* It’s good to know there are still honorable people even among the aruetiise. Stay alive. 

He salutes Baron Welkonna and heads out. We follow him. It’s nighttime, and the country sky, free of light pollution, is filled with stars. 

Mij’s freighter looks like a fairly standard Corellian YT-series ship, however Taveau just hearing the engine hum can tell it’s a bit deeper and more powerful than standard, and Rralwarr notices a couple proton torpedoes that are definitely not standard. You can see the smoke trailing up from the wreckage of the Death Watch ship in the distance about a mile away. 

As we head up into the ship, Mij goes to the cockpit and prepares to take off. Mij gets distracted by a familiar figure. He’s not wearing clone trooper armor this time, although his face, which is visible as his helmet is set beside him, is a clone’s face. He’s now wearing blue Mandalorian armor. 

Grif: Jang! 

Jang: ....? ....Aaaay! I know you. Hypori, right? Fun times, good to see you’re still alive. 

He looks a little surprised to see that someone knows his name. 

Grif: Yeah! We, uh, decided to join up!

Jang: *sighs, leans back towards the cockpit* Mij! You’re starting to act like my dad!

Mij: Shut up! Don’t forget I outrank you!

Jang: Not anymore, you’re a civilian for this mission, remember?

Mij: Osik!

Grif, concerned: So you gotta take up a new identity when you want to visit a planet, or what? 

Jang makes a dismissive gesture. 

Jang: Nah we’ll get you sorted, I’m one of the best slicers in the galaxy. Fake IDs are easy. You... Hmmm. *he gives Grif an appraising look.* You could be... a Koati accountant with a taste for Rodians.

Rralwarr: what’s that supposed to mean

Grif: I mean?? I’m?? Open to that I guess?

Jang then looks at Taveau, takes stock of the armor, and greets him in Mando’a. He comments that the armor is looking a bit beat up. Taveau just goes “yep.” 

Jang: Don’t worry, I’m sure we can fix you up. *He looks at Rralwarr* ...I don’t think we have any armor that would fit you, though. 

Grif: So Jang, what do we usually do? Like what would our first mission be like?

Jang: Mission? Believe me, mate, you’re not ready for a mission, yet. You got lucky with these guys, but you’re going to need some training before you’re ready for anything else. 

Grif: Ah, training, well I can appreciate that, I’m definitely out of my element when it comes to the blasters. 

Jang: Don’t worry, we’ll find something to do with you. You seem good at dealing with people, we could use someone like that. I’m a bit conspicuous, and some people seem to tire of Mij constantly reminding them that *yelling down the hallway into the cockpit* HE’S A DOCTOR all the time. 

Mij: AND A BATTLEFIELD SURGEON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Hey, can you take over piloting? I need to talk to these guys. *He rejoins us* As far as your death goes, your dad’s going to take care of the administrative stuff. 

Grif: Yeah, that’s the plan. 

Mij, handing him a datacard: Meet me here at Sullust in 3 standard days. At that point we’ll work out what we’re doing.

They land the ship at a fairly unremarkable city spaceport, where your ship is now sitting, and let you off. 

Mij: Alright, Sullust, 3 days, see you then. 

They take off. 

Grif: Well, guys, for once, I feel free! I don’t have anyone telling me what to do but the people I want telling me what to do! ...Huh, that sounds like what I said when I got my first job. ...So where are we going?

Rralwarr: We need medpacs. 

Grif: Do we want to do that here, though? 

Taveau: No! Let’s get off this planet where you’re known and supposed to be dead, first. 

Rralwarr: Yeah, we’ve got three days to kill; it doesn’t take that long to get to Sullust. 

DM pulls up the map (and I play this song) so we can decide where we’re going. Mij has plotted our course for us, it’s a bit out of the way, to avoid us taking the same route as him. We realize that we’ll be taking a turn right at Naboo, and decide to stop there for groceries. And thus the fun of the next session. 

Masterpost of episodes

[garypharma]

Looking For A Solution To Your Allergy Problems? Try These Tips!

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Before you make plans to spend a day outdoors, visit the AAAAI National Allergy Bureau's website and enter your zip code to find up-to-date information on daily mold and pollen counts. This is also a very useful resource for choosing a destination for your next vacation. It's difficult to enjoy yourself when you're battling allergies. You really should not be engaging in yard work if you have allergies. No matter how much it is needed, or you may enjoy it. Mowing, raking and pruning will expose you to a ton of allergens. Trade off those tasks with another family member, roommate, or friend who can help you to avoid working too much in the yard. Derma Franchise.

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If you experience allergies and simply cannot work out and exercise outdoors during your peak allergy season, you should consider going to a gym or joining a gym so you can have an alternative to working out outdoors. There are some gyms that do not require you to sign a contract. Get an allergy test. Knowing exactly what you are allergic to, can be the single greatest advantage you can have in dealing with allergies. Not all pollen is the same. Some people are triggered by tree pollen, others by grass or weeds. What you thought was an allergy to pet dander, may actually be an allergy caused by undiagnosed dust mite or mold problems in your home. Only an allergy test can provide you with definitive evidence of your triggers so you can create an appropriate plan to deal with them.

Clean your home thoroughly and regularly. Vacuum at least two times a week and dust just as often. Be sure to wear a mask and gloves to avoid getting any irritation from dust or from the cleaning chemicals that you use. Use specific cleaning tools for allergy sufferers, like a vacuum with a HEPA filter. If you are someone who suffers from constant allergy attacks, you may be feeling helpless. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to talk to a professional. They will be able to test you on for a variety of allergies and let you know which ones you suffer from any allergies then you should consider Gary pharmaceutical  they are one of the best derma pcd Franchise companies in India.

Avoid using throw rugs in your home. These can collect dust and mold and can make allergies worse. If you must have rugs in your home, choose ones that can be washed. You should wash them at least once every few weeks to minimize the build up of dust and mold. To keep allergies at bay, try adding a bit of horseradish, or hot mustard to your foods. These act as a natural decongestant. They offer a good alternative to allergy medications, that may cause drowsiness, and morning fatigue. Of course, this is not a good idea for children, as spicy substances can cause them a lot of misery!

Try scheduling regular exterminator visits if you have insects and pests. Droppings from pests can greatly worsen allergies. You may want to consider hiring an exterminator to get rid of these rodents.  Do not allow your seasonal allergies keep you from the joys and health benefits of a good run outdoors. The best time to engage in physical activities outdoors is immediately after a rainshower. Rain tames clouds of pollens, spores and mold and makes you less likely to encounter high allergen levels.

Now that you've come to the end of this article, you are aware of some of the methods that you can use to treat your allergic symptoms. As busy as you are, and as much as you have to deal with, can you afford to be dragged down by allergies? Take control of your allergy treatment and start living again!