#and probably a bunch of others but at some point i have to stop crawling through my own blog

[hedgehog-moss]

(There is blood pictured at the end of this post) (well, 1 drop) (don't worry it's mine, not some innocent creature's)

I found a dormouse in my kitchen today, just chilling on the ceiling above my head, watching me cook. Maybe even judging my cooking technique like Ratatouille. I only noticed its presence because there's a bunch of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling above the stove and at one point I heard a rustling, then a crunching noise.

It was eating my herbs.

As if they were a little snack I'd placed here for my dormouse friends. None of my other animals can walk on the ceiling, therefore any food that's near the ceiling must be an offering to the dormice. (I admit, that's sound logic.)

A dormouse family has been living in my walls since before I moved here—I should probably call it a dormouse dynasty, by now. Here's the first post I wrote about them, in 2019 ! The cats eat a lot of them (especially Morille, she loves dormice) but apparently not enough to make the key decision makers in this dormouse community decide that living in my house is more trouble than it's worth.

Every year when they hibernate and go quiet for eight months I have the renewed hope that this time the cats got rid of all of them, but the next spring they wake up and start scratching inside my walls in the middle of the night again. (Not only that's creepy, but it's so loud.)

Anyway, this dormouse, let's call him Alfred. I saw immediately which hole between two stones he'd crawled out of and the first thing I did was to stuff a salt shaker in there to block his escape route. Step 2 was to call for backup—I summoned Morille, and she came down from the living-room 2 seconds later (the cats know it's always good news when I call them to the kitchen while cooking.)

Alfred was panicking.

I grabbed a broom and started threatening him with it like an angry old woman in a cartoon. He tried to flee towards the ladder, but Morille was there. He tried to flee towards the door, but Morille was also there. He tried to hide on top of the fridge, and Morille happily lay siege to it, like my fridge was a Gallic oppidum on top of a hill and Morille was Caesar and his entire army.

Morille was having the time of her life.

But my kitchen door was ajar, and Alfred managed a heroic jump from the top of the fridge to the lintel, like a flying squirrel. He scurried out then grabbed hold of the climbing rose right above the door. When I got out and took this photo, he looked fairly stressed and pessimistic.

I didn't want him to climb the wall all the way to the eaves and go right back into my house, so I went back in to get my broom again, either to make him lose his grip and fall straight into Morille's gaping maw (sorry), or make him run away into the woods (inferior solution; they always find their way back, unless you take them very far away.)

(I used to trap dormice humanely then drive them 3km away to release them near the barn of a neighbour I disliked, but this neighbour has since moved. (Not because of my dormouse warfare, I swear.) There's also an abandoned house in the woods where I used to exile my prisoners, but after a while I started feeling silly driving around the countryside with dormice in the backseat, so I stopped trapping them (it really was a hassle) and just let the cats eat them.)

But Alfred is a combative and resourceful rodent. In the half-minute it took me to go back in and grab my broom, he laid a trap for me.

He ran along the stem of my climbing rose in such a way that his weight made it droop jussst enough to be now hanging at face level rather than above the door. So when I ran outside again with my broom, I was slapped in the face by a thorny rose plant. (For a minute I thought I was crying tears of blood, which seemed worrying, but it was just a scratch above my eye.) (I wish it could leave a tiny scar, so people will ask how I got it, and I will tell them about the mighty dormouse wielding a rose sword.)

I sent these pics to my brother hoping to get some sympathy, and he cropped & desaturated the one with the blood teardrop then sent it back with the comment "you look like an Evanescence song"

By this point I decided Alfred had won this battle. (Not the war, because it's almost autumn aka hibernation time so he probably found another gap between two stones and went right back inside. The war continues.) But this humble dormouse set a Saw trap to poke my eyes out the second I stepped outside my house and I respect that. I admire the way he used his environment to his advantage, and teamed up with my climbing rose to level the playing field (since I had teamed up with my cat first.) He has won the right to spend another winter inside my walls, curled up in my cosy wool insulation, dreaming of dried herbs, thwarted cats, and heroic skydiving from fridgetops.

Well played.

[fastcardotmp3]

Eddie Munson does do the whole rock star thing, but it doesn't quite go the way it did in the daydreams of a sixteen-year-old kid trying to stay awake in school.

He leaves Hawkins after the world doesn't end, gets himself out there, takes all the hurt and fear and fucked up shit and puts it into a handful of good enough songs to get himself signed.

It's not quite the genre he grew up with, not quite something any of his idols might have played, but only because it is so entirely Eddie, so influenced by where he's been and what he's seen that it kind of doesn't fit one specific influence.

It's new and it's good, is the point. Really good. And he skyrockets fast enough to give himself the spins.

He's recognizable and then he's famous and then he's too famous and too young to know what to do with it and too far from home and everyone he loves to really cope with it and it's just.

Eddie isn't built for it. Eddie hasn't even processed the fact that he was maybe supposed to die in that place, or the fact that he did watch people better than him actually die, but he's out here shooting to the top of the charts and being called the next big thing and it's too much.

It's just enough, at the end of it all, for him to self-sabotage his way out of being more than a one-hit wonder.

One big hit, a contract broken by the guys at the top with the fancy lawyers because Eddie has become the too much thing, just like always, and it's over as quick as it started.

He disappears, becomes one of those whatever happened to him? he was supposed to be the next big thing? stories that travel by word of mouth and then fade with the shift in conversation.

So what does happen to Eddie Munson?

He falls hard, he hits rock bottom, he crawls his way home to an uncle who deserved for Eddie to really make it, make him proud, have him financially set for life and get him into a real house with two stories and a garage to park the truck in, maybe even a yard for a dog.

He spirals and isolates and falls apart and stops letting himself make music at all and makes some personal choices that will probably have lasting effects on him for the rest of his life and then somewhere along the line a girl with hair like tangerines and terrible aim manages to smack him with her cane and says if I learned to walk again, so can you, asshole.

There are people in his life again after that, a reason to get out of bed and realize that he can make Wayne proud in more ways than the one he'd already fucked straight to hell.

Eddie watches a bunch of kids graduate high school and then he packs up and chases down some people who pulled him out of hell once before up in Chicago, crashes on Steve and Robin's couch until he gets himself a job painting houses and they can afford three bedrooms instead of just the two.

He cuts his hair, not short but shorter, and he gets more tattoos and itches for the guitar that sits in a case under his bed, ignores it. Itches for the pen in his hand, ignores that too.

He's still barely past his mid-20s and he still has some fucking around left to get out of his system, some finding out to accomplish doubly so, but he learns as he goes no matter whether it's forwards or backwards.

He falls in love and falls out of it, gets fired from jobs and tracks down new ones, gets into fights with his friends because they're all a little fucked up and codependent and weird but makes up with them for the same reasons.

The thing with Steve happens slowly, going from tolerating each other for the sake of knowing they'll always be on the same team to genuinely liking each other to discovering a care between the two of them that's a bit too strong to be normal about even if it still takes them a half-dozen so-called turning points to really name it and take it and keep it.

Eddie's 33 when they buy a condo together on the outskirts of Chicago two weeks after they fall into bed with each other for the first time, and he's over a decade on from being a kid who rose to the top too fast but it doesn't feel dissimilar, that sensation of a too-good thing that's bound to go wrong.

Only this time he doesn't try to sabotage it, tries the opposite, tries to hold it tightly in ways that would probably be too tight for anyone other than Steve Harrington with all his deeply intense feelings and inability to love at anything other than an eleven.

It's in the move that Steve finds a box of notebooks, snoops because it's who he is, and finds years worth of words that never made it past the tip of a pen but did, eventually, make it that far.

And it's not an easy thing, convincing Eddie that they're words worth sharing, because Eddie doesn't want it to be an easy thing. He can't let kind words shoved into his orbit by a beautiful man be enough to make it feel worth it, can't see a world where sharing his art doesn't end in another great big self-induced mess that he can't let happen when he's finally found something good.

He doesn't want to go on tour and get screamed at on stage and, besides, he's pretty sure the rest of the world doesn't want to scream for him anymore either, but then Steve has to go and remind him--

"You don't have to be the face of it. You can just be the words; you are so fucking good at being the words, Ed."

Which still isn't quite enough to be convincing, but it's a start in a solid six months of the words coming easier now that he has someone to share them with, someone to listen as Eddie plucks away at a guitar that sits out in the open now, free of dust.

It stops feeling like something shameful to hide, his music, and the thing is? It doesn't feel how it did back then either.

It's not an escape or a purge of violent energy or a distraction from everything he didn't know how to think about. Sure, it takes all of that into consideration because it takes the whole of Eddie into consideration, but more than anything it's just fun.

Like he's thirteen and still learning how to play the guitar, like it's just a hobby that never has to go anywhere, like it's just art that maybe deserves to be heard.

Everyone pitches in on ideas when they find out he's trying to come up with a pseudonym, and it's goofy and supportive and kind of the final straw in reaching out to old, burned bridges to see about any new artists looking for equally new tunes.

The first time Eddie and Steve catch familiar lyrics being sung by a new hotshot band on the radio, Eddie cries not because he's jealous or disappointed, but because it feels right.

He doesn't like being up in front of the crowds, had only ever walked across tables and made himself big and scary and loud out of self preservation, would always rather his biggest performances be for the people he knows really care.. Besides, after everything he's survived he's learned, albeit slowly, that he really likes the freedom of the quiet.

This way he still gets to say what he has to say, gets to throw his hat into the ring of an artform that he loves without selling his soul to a machine that tried to eat him alive (trust him. he knows what that feels like.)

Of course, someone is going to put 2 and 2 together eventually, the industry isn't as big as it looks and pseudonyms only pull so much weight when you went out in such a spectacularly messy and memorable fashion, but Eddie's got his condo in Chicago.

He's got the guy he shares it with in his bed.

He's got two cats and a windowsill full of plants he's going to keep alive this time, Steve, just you watch.

He's got his uncle settled in Indy these days, a small place with a small yard.

He's got music, too. Turns out even his own tendency to self-destruct couldn't take that away, huh?

It's what got him out of hell alive, after all.

[tgmsunmontue]

Caring, Keeping and Collecting Transformers - A Guide 10/?

Maverick is unknowingly surrounded by Transformers. He knows something is up though. Just not quite what it is exactly.

Bradley and Jake, having never met, are embarking on their own journeys and will have to learn to deal with the fact that they've both been adopted by Transformers.

Despite having years more experience, Maverick is no help at all.

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE

TEN

                Jake is so glad that he’s not in any of this alone. Sure it was all exciting and new, but it has suddenly become very fucking real and he doesn’t like the looks that some of the brass are giving him, it makes his skin crawl and he edges closer to Bradley and Maverick just slightly, knowing that there is strength in numbers. The fact that he has somehow stumbled into this weird family and all these other Transformers gives him hope that he’s not going to suddenly mysteriously go missing, or die in action; leaving his parents left to wonder exactly what happened. Actually, thinking about his parents he should probably touch base with them, because sending messages aren’t going to cut it three days in a row, not when he’s on leave.

                He focusses back in on the conversation and realizes that Admiral Cain is spitting mad about something, his face almost purple, and he can’t even tell if it’s something Maverick or Admiral Kazansky said, because Captain Mitchell is smirking and Admiral Kazansky is looking cooly impassive. Fuck Jake wants to be like them, either of them.

                “We’re the same rank,” Cain spits out.

                “And yet you’re not the one with a house or hangar filled with Transformers, so I think that gives us the edge regardless of rank, hmm?” Admiral Kazansky states calmly, and god the man must have balls of titanium. Jake had already admired the theoretical idea of Admiral Kazansky, his rise through the ranks and dedication to remaining an active pilot for as long as possible. Now though? Knowing he’s done it while also hiding his relationship with none other than Maverick Mitchell, and is clearly unafraid of standing up to the brass or his own peers. Jake will trust him and his leadership, and not only because he also suspects that his fatherly love of Bradley means that protection reaches and envelopes Jake by default. The wave of relief he’d had moments ago returns ten-fold.

                “Stop being difficult Cain, or you can step back. Kazansky has a valid point. Now, let us go and meet these Transformers.”

                They walk to the hangar where Bronco and Hound are, and he glances around at the other vehicles. None of them seem to also be Transformers, although he wouldn’t bet any money on the fact either way. Bronco and Hound are in their robot states, chatting what he assumes is meant to be quietly, although Hound doesn’t seem to have much of a volume control. He reminds Jake of his grandpa, with the hearing aids he forgets to turn on. There’s a general conversation about how everyone is travelling, until once again Cain looks horrified at the idea of travelling inside a Transformer. Bradley is clearly trying not to laugh outright, his face schooled, but Captain Mitchell clearly looks like he wishes he had Ninja to just jump on.

…            …            …

                “No! I don’t want to travel inside it!”

                “What’s wrong with going with me?” Hound asks, his weird moustache trembling and jangling, and he sounds insulted.

                “I’ll go with Hound. You can drive Ice’s car. I mean Admiral Kazansky’s,” Mav amends and Bradley can tell he’s trying not to laugh outright.

                “It’s definitely a car right?”

                “As far as we can figure out. We can simply pop into existence though,” Bronco states, head tilted to one side and Bradley knows that’s a bunch of bullshit, at least he thinks it is. He has no idea about the procreative habits of Transformers. However Dustdrift had just confirmed that Ice’s car was a simply mundane vehicle j that morning, so he knows Bronco is just being a bit of a shit-stirrer. He can appreciate that, especially with regards to Admiral Cain so he simply nods and looks considering, like he knows exactly what Bronco is referring to.

                Bronco and Hound both transform to the vehicle states and he doesn’t think he will ever get sick of seeing that. Because there are so many humans now they have to take some of the other staff vehicles, as well as Ice’s car. The Secretary of State with his own car and driver, has invited Ice and Mav to go with him, which leaves him with Bronco and a couple of admirals he doesn’t really know.

                “I’ll drive lieutenant,” one of them says, holding his hand out for the keys and Bradley nods, sucks his lips into his mouth and knows this isn’t going to end well.

                “Uh. That… Bronco can be a little… selective, sir,” Bradley states, trying to find a word that suits but also won’t insult Bronco. Because Bradley’s yelled a few choice words at him over the years. Then again, Bronco has thrown a fair few back, but usually through the music.

                “What do you mean?”

                “He doesn’t usually drive anywhere unless it’s me in the driver seat sir.”

                “What? That’s ridiculous!”

                “That may be the case sir, but it’s often just how it is. Bronco won’t even start for Mav, uh, Captain Mitchell. Sir.”

                The man’s eyes narrow and Bradley shrugs helplessly, completely unsurprised when Bronco refuses to start. He’s not going to apologize, just gives a tight smile and accepts the keys back when they’re slapped into his hand with more force than necessary. He slides into the driver’s seat, doesn’t bother with the keys and just pats the dash a couple of times.

                “Take us back to the hangar I guess buddy…”

                “Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong…” Bronco plays through his radio and Bradley lets out a sigh.

                He guesses it is home once again.

…            …            …

                He’s not quite prepared for the push out of the car, but he’s not as shocked or surprised as the Admiral who chose to rise with him in Hound. Hound had been grumbling almost the entire way, and something sets him off enough to start transforming as they hit the edge of the runway near the hangar and while he staggers a little the admiral with him falls into the rocks and dust and Jake reaches a hand to help him up.

                “You okay sir?”

                “Of course. Is that… standard?”

                “Uh. No. I expect something has set him off…” Jake starts, and he glances around before raising his eyes to the sky. “Oh for… goodness sake.”

                “What?”

                “That’s Starscream sir…” Jake says, pointing up, because he’s familiar enough with the size and shape or the flying and robot forms to be able to recognize him easily now. And the fact he’s up there flying around is probably what has Hound all annoyed.

                “Your one.”

                “No. He doesn’t belong to anyone. None of them do sir. They might agree to assist with us with some jobs, but they’re not… subservient.”

                “I don’t need to ask my microwave its permission before I reheat my dinner.”

                “Your microwave isn’t part of an alien race sir. That you know of, anyway.”

                He looks a little taken aback at that thought and Jake’s glad, because he’s certain that one of the Transformers in Captain Mitchell’s collection is indeed a microwave, and he’d love to see it burn everything to a crisp if it was misused or disrespected in any way. They start the long walk down the runway toward the hangar and Jake wonders if he needs to make polite conversation, can’t help but feel a sense of relief when he sees Starscream get lower and closer and then he’s landing and transforming in one smooth movement and Jake doesn’t know his expressions well, but he thinks Starscream looks pleased to see him.

                “Jake! You’re back!”

                “Yeah. You enjoy the flying?”

                “Sally said I wasn’t allowed to go far. Something about humans getting scared… I don’t understand why. There are plenty of planes in the sky.”

                “Uh, it’s more about the other planes,” Jake starts to explain, wondering just how much detail he needs to go into. Admiral Courtney is clearly listening and watching the interaction with a keen eye and Jake wonders if he should introduce them first.

                “Uh, Starscream, this is Admiral Courtney. Admiral Courtney, this is my friend Starscream,” Jake supplies, settling on friend for lack of any other word or term that might fit the situation, and Starscream definitely looks pleased now.

                “So uh, it’s not about the planes seeing you, or the humans seeing you, it’s more about the fact they’re not expecting you to be there…”

                “No one sees me!”

                “What about the other planes?”

                “They don’t have eyes!”

                “The people in the planes…”

                “They can’t tell there is no one flying me!”

                Jake bites back a grin.

                “Starscream, it’s not about them seeing you. Human pilots talk to a series of towers that manage air traffic. You’d have been an aircraft on no one’s radar and it would freaked the pilots out when you were just suddenly there. They didn’t know you weren’t going to crash into them.”

                “Oh. Well. That’s stupid.”

                “Yeah well, welcome to Earth I guess? There’s lots of rules humans have to make the technology they have work for them. I’m sure we’ll figure out some better flying space for you.”

                “Good. I got bored,” Starscream grumbles and Jake has to bite back a laugh this time.

…            …            …

                Bradley watches as Jake, Starscream and Admiral Courtney get closer. Hound is having a good old rant at Sally, who simply looks like she is entertaining him. The rest of the brass along with Maverick and Ice are standing around, and a couple of the Admirals who Bradley doesn’t like are agreeing with Hound, about how Sally should have stopped Starscream from making himself known.

                “We are at an airstrip, planes taking off have been known to use them now and again,” Sally says dryly and Maverick doesn’t even bother to hold back his bark of laughter, but he keeps an impassive face himself, sees it mirrored by Ice. Jake and Starscream are close enough now that he walks out to meet them, jogging a little to get away from the building tension.

                “It’s fine man, what are they going to do to you? Dismantle you?”

                “I’d like to see them try…” Starscream snarls and Jake holds his hands up immediately, shooting Bradley a grin and he grins back, glad to have someone else his age in this with him.

                “No one is fucking touching you. Except maybe me or Maverick and that’ll only be so you can teach us stuff so we can build Jetfire back together.”

                “I do not need your help to rebuild my friend…”

                “Bet it would go much faster with help though. And friends help friends right?”

                The expression on Starcream’s face is a little horrified and Bradley’s not sure what’s causing it, but Jake is snorting in amusement so he guesses they already have in-jokes.

[no1frogfan]

Picking Bokuto up from the airport

Bokuto Koutarou x gn reader

Tags & warnings: very mildly sexually suggestive

Word count: ~1.2k

Notes: Oops this started as a 500 word drabble and then I blinked. Attempt FOUR to post this, thank u tags

Your eyes drift from the sea of red tail lights ahead of you to the clock on the dash.

Ugh.

It was risky to take a nap right before you had to leave for the airport. You knew that. You knew you’d probably sleep through your alarm (like always), but who could blame you? You were so tired, and in your stupor, you convinced yourself that it would be fine. But of course it wasn’t.

When your eyes shot open long after your alarm sounded, you’d rocketed out of bed, scrambled to pull some clothes on, and sprinted out of the house 20 minutes later than planned. And in your rush, you’d left your fucking phone on the bedside table.

The cars inch forward a foot or two before coming to a stop.

You tap the steering wheel with an anxious frown, craning your neck to see around the car in front, as if that would help you figure out why traffic is moving at such a glacial pace.

Bokuto’s flight landed half an hour ago. He probably didn’t check any bags, so provided nothing weird happened, he should’ve deplaned and made it to your usual pickup spot by now, which means, as long as traffic thins, he’ll only have to wait an extra — your eyes flit to the clock — 15 minutes.

You can only hope he knows to stay there and wait, even though he’s probably worried about why you’re not answering your phone.

And what’s with all the airport traffic right now? Wednesday morning is hardly prime time for flights, or so you thought. What’s worse, with heavy traffic comes impatient drivers. You’d been almost side-swiped no less than three times already because god forfuckinbid anyone actually check their blind spot before merging instead of just gunning it and hoping for the best.

“-abe!”

The cars crawl forward again and you follow closely. Another couple hundred feet and you’ll be at your usual pickup spot.

“Babe!”

Thankfully, it seems like the congestion is finally clearing up. You keep up with the flow of traffic, one eye on the car in front, and the other scanning the sidewalk for your boyfriend’s distinctive silver-and-black spiked hair. Coupled with his height, he’s usually very conspicuous.

“BABE!!!!!”

Your head snaps toward the familiar voice.

Two lanes away on the sidewalk, jogging apace with your car, is your boyfriend. He waves at you energetically and you point forward, indicating you’ll pull over up ahead as soon as you’re able.

You observe him in the rear view mirror as you unbuckle your seatbelt, watching him dodge suitcases, luggage carts, and other passengers as he makes his way to you.

You’re already bursting out of the car as he runs up. He has just enough time to toss his duffel into the back seat before whirling around to catch you launching yourself at him.

“KOU!! I’m-” Before you can get an apology out, Bokuto’s arms wrapping around you squeezes the air right out of your lungs.

“Babe! I’m so happy to see you! Kariya and Osaka were amazing!” He blurts out, bursting to tell you about his trip, “We got to play a bunch of practice matches against the Stings and the Sunbirds! The Stings have this incredible setter Kawahigashi, his sets remind me a lot of Akaashi’s actually, but his personality is completely different, and the Sunbirds have some super strong outside hitters, Fujinaka especially — Do you remember meeting him when we were on the national team together? — and they also have this super young outside now, De Armas, and wow he’s…”

Cheek pressed into his chest, huffing a lungful of his body wash mixed with the slight tang of sweat, enveloped in the warmth that creeps through the thin, long-sleeve compression shirt he likes to wear for flights (if you didn’t know better, you’d think he was purposefully making himself look extra delectable), a dopey smile crosses your face while you listen to his excited rambling.

Taking one more deep breath, you cut him off with a kiss. “Missed you Kou.”

He flashes you a brilliant smile. “I missed you too, baby!”

“We should probably go. We’re holding up the line.”

“Ok but,” Bokuto proudly whips out a black gift bag from who knows where, “open this first!”

“How about I open it when we get home?”

Evidently, that’s not good enough because he reaches inside the bag himself, pushing aside glittery silver tissue paper to pull out some folded black material. You stare at it perplexed as he delicately unfurls the fabric, absolutely vibrating while he reveals the most exquisite piece of lingerie you have ever seen.

Bokuto holds it up for display. Only in the light can you truly appreciate the stunning combination of blacks — textured matte leather, smooth shiny silk, fine mesh panels.

He’s all giddy excitement when he urges, “Try it on when we get home?”

Before you can respond or even nod, your attention is attracted by some yelling nearby.

Instinctively, you turn, only to see an audience of people staring back at you, some laughing, some holding up their phones, some hooping and hollering. Slowly, slowly, your brain is spurred into motion, looking around, deciphering the shouts, the staring, the growing crowd, but it all seems like a normal day at the airport, so—

Oh god — you’re at the airport.

You snatch the lingerie out of Bokuto’s hands, “Oh my- KOUTAROU!” and hastily stuff it back in the bag.

“You don’t like it?” He shrinks, crestfallen.

“No! Yes! Oh my god, KOU it’s not- you can’t just- you can’t just pull lingerie out at the airport!”

“Why not?”

“Because!” You sputter, trying your best now to push him into the car.

About halfway in, his movements come to an abrupt halt and you see his eyes widen in sudden understanding. “Ohhhh.”

“Yes, oh.” You grumble. At least he finally gets it.

“I’m sorry babe. But don’t worry, I understand. Akaashi explained this to me before.”

Now you’re the one confused about how Akaashi could possibly know your boyfriend would do something like this. That is, until he continues solemnly, “He said that lots of people are self-conscious about their bodies, so I have to make sure to compliment you and let you know that I think you’re attractive.”

And with that, he takes a deep breath and cries out, “I THINK YOU’RE SEXY!”

The thing with airports is that they’re built with a lot of glass and steel and cement. A lot of hard surfaces. Hard surfaces that reflect sound very well, you discover, when his declaration continues to echo an almost comically long time after he’s finished shouting, after he squeezes your hand reassuringly, after he puffs out his chest, clearly proud of himself.

“Oh my god Kou, that’s not why- just- get in the car!”

You beat a hasty retreat to the driver’s side as cheers and applause break out.

When you eventually get on the highway, and your face stops feeling so flush, and your heart stops beating so erratically, you finally answer him.

“I’d love to try it on when we get home.”

Electricity courses through you when he reaches over, eagerly kneading the fat of your inner thigh in anticipation.

[kidlit-queen-competition]

Train fact: the longest* train ever

like all things to do with railways, you can get pretty granular and pedantic with this one, so this is likely to also be the longest post ever. Sorry, but actual facts (and pretty pictures) under the cut!

The longest passenger train in regular service is Australia's 'Ghan, a luxury tourist train that runs between Adelaide and Darwin, and averages 774 m/2,539ft in length. that's twice as long as the Empire State building is tall.

(id in alt)

The reason I say "in regular service" is because the longest passenger train EVER was run by the Rhaetian Railway in Switzerland, to celebrate 175 years of Swiss railways, and that was more than twice that long at 1,910m/6266.4ft. Almost an entire Kentucky Derby worth of train! It had to go incredibly slowly, maxing out at 35km/h, to avoid overloading the electric systems of the railway and local power grids.

[Video desc: a youtube video from CBS news of the recordbreaking passenger train. The train is made up of several red electric trains coupled together, and moves through alpine landscapes of mountainds and coniferous forest. It is so long that it is visible only in coils, like a snake. Some shots show the train leaving one tunnel while entering another, or driving under a viaduct while the tail end crosses it, and several shots show people watching and taking photographs.]

But, the thing with passenger trains is that they have a lot of rules and regulations applied to them that freight doesn't have to follow. So freight trains get HYUGE.

The average American freight train (I consider the USA to be freight trains' natural habitat because there is a whole bunch of wide open space for for them to crawl around) is 5400 feet long, and the standard in Europe is around 3000ft. That's a 10-20 minute walk at average adult walking speed, just to go from end to end. You know when you stop at a level crossing, and a train goes by, and it seems like it's going by forever? That was probably one of these.

But the average frieght train is peanuts to mining trains. Trains came from the mines, and they still dominate there. The biggest trains in the world are consists of ore and coal, run by tiny crews from extraction point to export. This has always been true.

For example, the Datong–Qinhuangdao railway in China runs coal trains daily that are 2.614 km/8576 ft long. That's more than 1.5 miles, or three times as long as the burj khalifa is tall. And that's the standard for that line.

(id in alt)

But that doesn't break any records.

The longest production train, running regularly, is the Sishen–Saldanha railway line's maganese/iron ore train. These trains are four kilometers long. 4,000 meters, almost half the height of the highest peak on earth, in wagons full of metals. Too long to be seen in a single photograph- the one below was stitched together from four separate pictures, taken from the air:

(id in alt)

and that's still not the record!

The record for longest frieght train is held by BHP, an Australian mining company. It was made for the record, but the capacity is still there. This train ran on june 21st 2011, and was 682 wagons long, over seven kilometers. Almost twice the length of the Sishen–Saldanha's, and a quarter the height of Olympus mons. If you stood this train on its end, it would be taller than Mt Denali. If you started at the front of the lead locomotive, and ran as fast as you physically could, you wouldn't reach the last wagon for an hour.

There are entire branch lines shorter than this train.

Unfortunately, there are no good photos, because nobody in space had time for railfanning that day, but there are plenty of pictures of other BHP trains!

(id in alt)

[carcarcraziiv2]

The Woman with the Pink Hair (Parts 10, 11, 12, and 13 (final))

HERE ARE THE LAST PARTS FOR THE WOMAN WITH THE PINK HAIR! I Sincerely hope you enjoyed <3. I have already started the next story in the series (oooo). Lmk if you wanna see it! <3

This is a Vi x Fem! Reader fanfiction.

Please note that this is the first piece I wrote after a HEFTY (I mean years long) hiatus from writing.

P.S. Lowkey I KNOW there's a bunch of shit I could fix in here to make it better due to my practice over the past year or so, but I just… I'm so lazy rn LOL. Anyhoooooo….

ALSO- here are the TW for you lovelies! (This is for the WHOLE SERIES)-

Violence, mental illness, oral sex, dominant tendencies, torture, kidnapping, plotting?… lowkey there's probably more but you should get the gist here, AS ALWAYS ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK ILY<3

READ PART ONE, TWO, AND THREE HERE->

https://www.tumblr.com/carcarcraziiv2/737189248110821376/the-woman-with-the-pink-hair-p-1-2-3?source=share

READ PART FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX HERE->

https://www.tumblr.com/carcarcraziiv2/738139002294747136/the-woman-with-the-pink-hair-p-4-5-6?source=share

READ PART SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE HERE-> https://www.tumblr.com/carcarcraziiv2/739738198020964352/the-woman-with-the-pink-hair-part-7-8-9?source=share

~~

PART TEN - Vi

 "What the hell...?", Vi said lightly, scanning the top deck of the ship she just boarded after returning from her confrontation with Kench. She was not in the mood for anything but a drink and to cuddle up with (y/n). Her stomach plummeted when she saw the small pool of blood a few feet away.

    Blind panic fills her soul, and she bolts for the stairs. Please don't be gone. Please don't be gone. She thinks to herself, silently pleading to the Gods she wasn't even sure exists. Basically jumping down the small flight of stairs into the cabin of the ship, she notices it is in disarray. The dark wooden table was flipped, and glass was shattered all over the floor. There was a trail of water from the top deck, down the stairs, leading directly to a dead stop in front of the room the two lovers were occupying.

   "Fuck, no no no!" Vi yelled, running down the hallway, and bursting into the room. The armoire was open, but there was no (y/n). "Fuck!" Her hands reached up to her hair, pulling as she fell to her knees. Her shoulders slumped, and she lowered her head and began to cry.

    After a few minutes of sobbing, Vi slowly crept up onto her feet again. No emotion on her face, her eyes glazed and icy cold. She walked over to the chest at the end of the bed and pulled it open. Inside were two large fighting gauntlets. She hadn't used them since all of the bullshit with Jayce. 

    There is no better time than the present, and she was prepared to destroy anyone in her path to finding (y/n). 

--- 🖤🖤🖤 ---

    "Please! Please! I'll do anything, just don-" Crack.

    The sickening crunch that resounded through the dark rocky cavern made you shiver. Prior to what you assumed to have been the untimely death of some other prisoner down here, the voice had sounded like a young woman, much like yourself. 

    You did not move as you waited to hear anymore sounds, shuffling, or wet slapping footsteps. Waiting nearly 20 minutes, you finally let out a gasp of breath, and crawled back to your corner where a useless excuse for a bed lay on the floor. It was nothing but a long, dirty piece of fabric. At one point, you were sure, it had been padded. 

   The cell was entirely uncomfortable, and you were sure you had been there for at least a week at this point. You prayed, which you never ever did, for someone to rescue you. The things that you and Vi shared for some reason did not fully convince you that she would want to go through the trouble of rescuing you. Hell, you didn't hardly know anything about her.

   Over the days that you had spent here, they had been sending in plates of slop, you weren't entirely certain of its origin, that smelled like absolute ass. The first few days you refused to eat, and Tahm personally came to inform you that if you didn't eat, he would either kill you or let you starve to death. You were sure no matter what you did, you had a death sentence over your head, but due to fear and your hunger you decided after the third day to finally just eat it. After today's food was delivered, a few hours after the confrontation down the hall, you heard those wet sloppy footsteps approaching the iron gate of your cell. 

    As the steps approached, you quickly scurried to the very most corner of the room, drawing your knees to your chin as you awaited and prayed that the beat would continue past. To your dismay, the large shadow enunciated by the faint candlelight in the hall stopped right before your door. 

    "(Y/N), I have some questions for you. Do you wish to comply, or are you going to make me force them from you?" The long-winded question reverberated through your body, making you tense up and tingles run down your spine. 

   You stayed silent. If there was anything you would do, talking would not be one of them.

   The creature let out a defeated sigh, and you held still, not wanting to react. Even as a tear began to fall down your face and the creature wabbled inside, and engulfed you in the rancid large mouth, you still did not struggle. 

    Mind blank, the only thought in your head was how easy it would be to break you. You had the pain tolerance of a baby and were terrified of what he might do. 

   As Tahm Kench walked, you sloshed around in the small space you were in. You could feel his long tongue wrapped around you like a rope holding you tight. Although slick and slimy, it did not budge when you dared to fidget ever so slightly. You simply squeezed your eyes shut, and forced the rising bile back down your throat as the journey quickly came to a stop. 

   He spit you out, and again you landed on a hard floor. Before you had the opportunity to take in your surroundings, two gruff pairs of hands were dragging you off the ground and sitting you onto a lone chair. Looking around, your eyes straining from the brightness, you realized that the sun was shining through a broken window to the left. In fact, it appeared that you were being kept underneath a large, abandoned boating house. 

  You were quickly snapped out of your realization when the monster began to speak..

   "Tell me, (y/n), how do you know Vi?"

   Silence.

   He let out a soft chuckle, and leaned closer to you, the motion looking hard due to the bulkiness of his body.

   "I will give you one more chance, child. How do you know Vi?" 

    Remaining silent once more, you conjured the spit in your mouth and spewed it directly into the monster's face. He took a moment to wipe the spit off of his face. Turning around, his chubby arms resting at his side, he looked over at one of his minions and nodded slightly before continuing his venture to the other side of the room. 

    Panic blossomed as you noticed what one of them was holding. In its green, wet hand you saw the sheen of a blade. You leaned as far away as you could as the creature approached you slowly, as if it was enjoying your fear. It leaned in, its face mere inches from your own, it raised the knife and pressed it to your cheek, snickering. It began to slowly press in, when you let out a sharp hiss.

    "She's my girlfriend," You said quickly, silently cursing yourself for breaking so quickly. As you realized the shit you were in, you prayed that he would not ask any in depth questions that you didn't know the answer to. You knew they wouldn't believe you. 

   Tahm turned back towards you, a long smile spreading on it's face.

   "Good," He said, and you felt he wasn't simply talking about your answer, but more so the ability to break you. 

PART ELEVEN- Unleashed

 Getting thrown back into your cell, you were wholly torn apart. The evil menace that had captured you picked you up, crumpled you in his palms, and threw you onto the ground. Entirely spent, you could not sleep, not while you knew that those demons were wandering the halls and rooms above you thinking you are hiding some important information from them. 

    You aren't.

    You hadn't a speck of knowledge aside from the things that you and Vi had shared. Kisses, long gazes, conversations about both of your childhoods. You realized, in that moment, that you didn't even know what her favorite color was. What kind of food she liked to eat or where she liked to go to get away from it all. 

    You decided that when - if - you got out of this hell hole, you were going to make a point of learning all of those things.

    Sighing, you wince as you roll over on the decrepit pad on the floor. Your ribs were bruised, at the least, if not having a few broken. Every breath you took caused a sharp lingering pain to blossom in your torso. There were small lashes on your arms, your face, and you were sticky from the sweat and blood covering your skin. As you laid there, tears falling at their own will down your cheek and onto the mattress, you prayed once more for your savior to find you.

--- 🖤🖤🖤---

---         VI         ---   

    "Tell me where the hell she is, I don't want this to be harder than it needs to be, Illaoi. Please, please just tell me," Vi seethed, her fists where clenched inside the large foreboding gauntlets.  Her heart was racing and breaking beneath her white tank top, her thick arms straining with the stress coursing through her veins. 

    Before her, Illaoi sat in an old brown leather chair, her legs spread and her forearms resting on her knees. Her fists were held together, acting as a podium in which she rest her sodden and tired face. 

    "Vi, I don't know where he keeps them. I only know where his base is. I am telling you this because I have been bound to that monster for far too long, and I, too, want to get my revenge. But please, you must call down. He has cronies all over the town, some who may be lingering these very halls. Their hearing is keen and sharp, and they will do anything in their power to protect their boss."

    "Do you think I give a single shit about that? Take me to his base," Vi spat, her body unflinching as she gave Illaoi the option, no, the order to take her where she needed to go. She would break through every god damn house in Bilgewater if it meant finding (y/n).

    "Vi, I ca-,"

    Vi slammed her fist against the wall, making the house shake. Dust fluttered off of the shelves and ceiling, littering Vi's shoulders and arms like sad rain.

    "Take. Me. There. Now." She said calmly, but her calm demeanor only hid the wrath behind her eyes so much. Illaoi sighed, standing. She was a tall, muscular woman, and her admitting defeat was anything but that. She was willing to fight for what she believed in, even if that meant risking her life. Vi was proud of her for that and vowed silently to forever be in her favor.

     After the woman collected her items and put on a few scraps of leather and gold armor on her arms and chest, they left the small apartment that Illaoi must have called home. Vi had located it after cornering Captain Fortune in a pub a few streets down.

    It had been 5 days since Vi last saw (y/n), and she didn't dare think about the possibilities of torture, of death, that have been plaguing her little love. She seethed, gritting her teeth and choking down the lump in her throat. She would not cry, not here, not now. Not while she needs to be strong.

    Illaoi led her down a few wary streets, venturing down a few blocks from where they started. They ended up at some old rotting docks, the boards broken and falling into the stinking sea beneath them.  

    "That boat house, down at the end. That is where Kench and his men do their biddings. I will not proceed, but I will be here, waiting. Yell if you need me, and I will come to you. I will help you, for the sake of defeating Kench."

    Vi merely nodded, her fists clenching within her gauntlets as she strode towards the decrepit building. The place smelled this shit, like him, and she was not happy about the concept that (y/n) may be here somewhere. 

    The thought rattled her, that she could be a mere few feet away and Vi wouldn't even know. She silently begged the gods that she was here, simply so that she could rescue her as soon as possible.

    Approaching the large rusted doors, Vi didn't care about silently entering. She slammed through them with her gauntlets, making the whole building shake as the door shattered in front of her. She stomped in, over the broken wooden splinters littering the floor. Across the warn concrete floor, there was a table of cronies playing cards and shooting shit with each other. They all looked up in unison, gaping at Vi before everything broke into chaos. 

    Two of them approached her, unsheathing sharp twisting blades and stalking in her direction. Vi cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders, and snarled as she began stalking towards her. 

    The one on the right lashed out, and she quickly parried it by bringing her massive metal fists up and smashing it against its body, making it fly to the wall beside them. It slunk to the ground, grunting with no appearance that it was going to stand. The second one ran at her, and she turned 45 degrees to her right, launching her fist into the creature's face. A sick crunching sound reverberated through the building, and it fell to the ground before her. 

    It held its nose and whimpered slightly as Vi lent down to grasp its dirty hole ridden shirt. She lifted it, her face a mere inches from her own.

    "Where is she?" She snarled.

    "I don't know who you're talking about," the creature snickered back. She could tell it was lying and that made her even more feral.

    "I will cut out your tongues and feed them to your cowering brothers," she threatened, pointing at the two others who were running towards a door in the back of the building. 

    A door she hadn't noticed before. A door she was sure led to the very captor she was looking for. 

    She shoved the monster to the ground, and it grunted on impact as she raised her fist again and punched his face into the ground. When she stood, the creature did not stir. She wasn't sure if it was dead or not, but she didn't care. The other that she had fought was still on the other side of the huge room, its body slouched against the base of the wall.

   Quiet, almost silent screams echoed below Vi's feet.

   She's here. She's here. She's here.

    Vi stormed towards the back of the room, slamming into the door. Those fuckers locked it, she thought. She didn't hesitate for a second as she brought back her fist and slammed it into the iron door. It didn't move but a smidge, and so she hit it again, and again. Finally, the bolts broke from their spots and the door shot open, not falling off of its hinges. A musty, sodden smell drifted up the stone stairs that Vi stood atop of. 

    Another scream echoed through the chambers below, this time much louder than before. She could hear shuffling, and the sounds of grunting as she assumed whoever was screaming was being dragged away.

    She cascaded down the steps, now more alert to her senses as the darkness encompassed her being. She wanted to be quiet enough so that they didn't know exactly where she was. They already knew she was here.

    She listened for more sounds, more grunting, more anything. Silence ensued, so she began walking down the dimly lit hallway. She noticed immediately the small iron gated rooms surrounding her. Each had a small sad bed on the floor. Some, there were bones and blood, others were empty. She reached the end of the stretch where another hallway collided with this one, making a T shape. The very last room she peered into before veering down to the left caused her to stop in her tracks.

    There, in the middle of the room, as if left as a sign for her and her alone was her jacket. Her dark red jacket she took from one of the first people she encountered in Zaun after getting out of prison.

     She was here. Vi could hardly hold back the vomit that threatened to rise in her throat, as she scanned the little stone room. From top to bottom, she could sense that she had been kept in here. Various plates were strewn across the room, rotting food sat on a few of the plates and she grimaced at the thought of (y/n) being forced to eat that trash. Gods know what it was.

    Right before she went to continue on her hunt, she heard another blood curdling scream, before a familiar voice yelled-

    "Vi? Vi! Please, anyo-," a grunt sounded from that voice, as if being punched in the stomach to quiet her pleas. White hot rage flooded Vi at the thought of someone touching and hurting her girl. Hers. 

    She zig zagged through a few more halls, before descending a small staircase and bursting through a door that she could hear a ruckus coming out of. The sounds; crying, cursing, and heavy breathing. Vi had to momentarily shield her eyes as brightness flooded her vision. As they adjusted, she took in her surroundings quickly. 

    There, in the middle of the room, bound to a chair and gagged, was a beaten and bloody (y/n). Her eyes widened at the sight of Vi, and she whimpered, pulling lightly at her restraints. Vi started towards her, her only inclination to free her immediately. At her first step, she heard (y/n) yelling through the gag, her eyes widening and her head shaking vigorously. Vi took another step, and (y/n) closed her eyes and screamed into the gag. Only then did Vi realize there was a crony behind her, using her as a meat shield with a knife to her back. 

    "Well, well, well," a familiar voice boomed. Vi didn't flinch as Tahm Kench emerged from a shadowed room to the far right that she hadn't noticed before. "It's a pleasure, as always, Vi."

    "Free her, Kench. Now." Vi ordered. It merely offered a chuckle in response.

    "For a price, child. Everything comes with a price."

     "What do you want?" Vi pleaded. She did not plan to go through with anything, other than to get (y/n) as far away from here as possible.

     "Your girlfriend here told me a lot about you. About your connections to the one they call Jinx?" Panic flooded her momentarily, and she glanced at (y/n) who only sobbed, her head sagged to her chest. She knew (y/n) was strong and must have endured a lot to say anything. "Although, she wouldn't tell us anything else. About your dealings in Piltover. Pity, if she had cooperated, I would have offered her a clean, easy death. But they never do, do they Vi?"

     She shuttered at the thought and burst out of her stance towards kench. She stopped dead in her tracks when 10 other creatures came out of the shadows. Fuck, she thought. She knew Kench could, and would fight too, but she didn't know his moves, what to expect. Thinking for a moment, she knew what she had to do.

    She leaned back her head, and as loud as humanly possible she yelled, "ILLAOI!"

    A quiet tense aura shifted the place, each of the creatures looking back and forth at one another. A minute passed before Vi cursed again, and a few of them laughed. 

    "Illaoi? That is how you found us, huh?" Tahm smirked, a hint of distaste lingering in his tone. "She wouldn't dare come down here and face me, not for the like of you."

     Just as he finished his sentence, Vi felt the heavy presence of Illaoi's spiritual bonds to the Kraken. The air shifted into a heavy, haunting, foreboding feeling. She turned around, just in time to see the massive woman breach the threshold of the room. She glowed slightly, Vi realized then, and her power was emanating through her and rippling through her room. 

    Illaoi did not hesitate as she approached Kench. All of his cronies seemed to cower in her powerful presence. 

    "Release the girl, Kench," She stated plainly. 

    "You do not understand what you are doing, woman," Tahm said, sounding slightly afraid. Even the great demon cowered in her presence. Vi made note not to fuck with Illaoi. 

     "I suppose you are going to do this the hard way," She mocked. She must have been closer than I thought. Suddenly, all around the room, large green spirit like tentacles rose from the floor, flapping mindlessly left and right. Illaoi glanced back at Vi, "Take her, and come help me kill these scum." 

    Vi did not hesitate as roaring combat erupted around her. Her primary focus was (y/n). She stormed over to her, immediately ripping the binds of the gag off of her face. She threw it to the floor and leaned down, making quick work of the bindings around her arms and legs. (y/n) quietly sobbed and looked up through her wet, blood-matted hair at Vi.

--- 🖤🖤🖤---

(Y/N)

    You couldn't stop crying. Not now, not here. Not while Vi knelt in front of you looking entirely panicked and you couldn't move an inch. Every part of your body ached, and you felt weak from blood loss. You didn't flinch, though, as Vi delicately looped one arm under your legs and the other around your back and carried you towards the stairs. She set you down, on the steps, far enough away to keep you safe, but close enough to be able to monitor you. 

   "I've got you, baby. I've got you," She brushed a hand lightly over your bruised face, and you winced from her touch. The color drained from her face, and she looked utterly defeated as she stood. "I have to help Illaoi, don't move." You almost, almost, laughed at that. As if you could move if you wanted to. You were so weak, so frail. 

    Maybe she would teach you how to fight, when this was all over with. You watched her as she turned her back to you, descending the few steps she had gone up. You could see through the doorway the hell that had broken lose. Illaoi had made quick work of the monsters that worked for Kench, the tentacles becoming solid and slamming into them, crushing the majority under their weight. Blood splattered the walls, screeches echoed until all was silent. The only remaining contender was Kench. 

    Before you, Illaoi shot out what appeared to be a tentacle, much smaller than all the others, towards kench. Before it could reach him, a giant hole summoned below the monster, and he jumped into it. You gasped, then grimaced from that pain it caused your body. Suddenly, you heard a wet thud from above you. 

    You didn't dare look behind you, you knew who it was already.

    "You have caused me quite a bit of trouble, child," he said, his stubby arms wrapping around you. You let out a scream, guttural and otherworldly, as you grabbed the knife that was still attached to your thigh. It had gone unnoticed, or more likely, they hadn't bothered to care simply because you were a weak little human. 

    Slashing backwards, pure adrenaline made the pain subside slightly as your blade coursed through the thick skin of Tahms face. He let out a disgusting screech, dropping you. Your body rolled aimlessly down the stairs, and you could feel a snap as your arm landed beneath you. You let out a scream and saw Vi and Illaoi running towards you. Through your tears, and the encroaching darkness that was shrouding your vision, you noticed that Tahm was no longer at the top of the stairs.

    Before you lost consciousness, you saw the woman fall to her knees beside you, carefully adjusting your body and arm. Relentless pain tugged at your sanity.

    "(Y/N), baby, I've got you. I've got you. Let's go home." you heard her voice say faintly. Her tear ridden and bloody face was the last thing you saw before you lost consciousness. 

PART TWELVE- Encouragement

  Your eyes flutter open, and for a moment you are flustered. You do not recognize your surroundings, and you scramble up against the headboard of the large bed you realize you rest upon. Panting, you clutch the covers to your chest, your clean chest. After a moment, you also notice the pain.

    You yell out in pain, and quickly clamp a hand over your mouth.  Before the panic could set in, the door at the furthest left-hand corner of the room swings open. 

    At the threshold, Vi stares at you with wide eyes, panting as if she had sprinted to the room. For a brief moment, you were in shock. Vi let out a soft sigh of relief as she began walking over to you.

    You did not mean to, but you shrank from her. The experiences of the last week were still haunting your very being. She stopped in her tracks.

    "Baby, you're at my house. You're safe now," Vi said in a cool tone. Her hand was put up out in front of her as if to further reassure your safety with her gesture. It didn't take more than a second for tears to begin falling down your cheeks, cascading down your neck and onto your chest under the shirt you wore. 

    As Vi walked to the bed and sat on the edge, she placed a hand on your knee. You did not flinch away from her touch as you did when she was walking toward you. Instead, you let your head fall back against the headboard and let out a pitiful sigh through your sobs.

    "It hurts, Vi," was all you could muster. You hated sounding so pathetic, but the state your body was in was not one to argue. Vi nodded, and reached her hand up to your face, caressing it far more gently than she ever had before. In that moment, the only thing you could think of to say was, "What is your favorite color?"

    She looked slightly taken aback, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. "It's red."

    You smiled slightly.

    "What is your favorite food?"

    "Um... don't make fun of me, but bar food?" she laughed, lowering her head in embarrassment. 

     "Where do you...escape to?" you said lightly, your gaze landing on her own piercing one. You twiddled your thumbs as she looked at you as if studying what she was seeing. She looked away, out the square window that, to your surprise, had sunlight seeping through. 

     "I used to leave for stretches of time after getting out of prison. Usually for odd jobs here and there." She looked back at you before she continued. "There is this place here in Piltover, where the trees surround a small lake close to the border of the undercity." She swallowed. "When I got out, I had... a relationship with an officer of one of the Council leader's daughters. They hated me, thought I was scum of the earth.

    I would leave Cait's house and wander the streets as if I knew where I was going. No matter where I went, people gave me dirty looks. They knew who I was. What I was. But when I found that place where the grass was green and the only noise was birds chirping and leaves rustling in the trees, I knew I had found my safe space.

    That was, of course, until I met you."

     You could feel your chest tightening, your heart aching for the harsh treatment she had received from people that didn't know her just because of where she came from. Where you both came from. 

    "When I met you, it felt like something clicked inside of me. Like a missing puzzle piece had gone into place. Even when I was throwing a fit in that alley way unsure of who you were. When I looked into your eyes in that moment, it felt like we were meant to be there. I was supposed to meet you. Every time thereafter that I saw you and you laughed, I felt that same feeling as I had at the lake. I felt safe."

     Tears that had dried on your face became wet again as new ones began tumbling down your cheeks. "Vi..." you whimpered; your mouth downturned in a far too dramatic that's so sweet type of look. "I feel the same way about you, too." You tried pushing off the headboard but hissed in a breath as a shooting pain traveled through your torso. Your arm, luckily, had been put back into place as you were unconscious. It no longer hurt aside from minor aching.

    Vi stood, and leaned over you so that her shadow covered your famished frame. Bending her neck, she raised her hand and lifted your chin ever so slightly with a single finger. Her lips pressed against yours so gently. It was as if she was ensuring that she would not break you. 

    "I am going to go downstairs and grab you something for the pain. You have two options, a remedy from a medic or booze."

    You let out a slight chuckle, and replied, "I think it would be smart to take a remedy this time."

    After a few minutes of observing the room you were in while she fetched the pain reliever, you came to the conclusion that this was her space. Her familiar (now quite destroyed) red jacket was thrown over the back of a black chair in the corner of the room. You could see spools of white wrapping on a desk that rested in front of a large rounded window, looking over what you presumed to be the city.

    "Here you go," Vi said, startling you slightly as she re-entered the room with food and a small bottle of red liquid. "This does not taste or smell great, please don't smell it like you smelt the shit on the ship." She sat beside you once again, popping open the small vile and handing it over to you. You hesitated, almost smelling it before reaching your other hand up and plugging your nose. Throwing your head back as you drank, you sank it back like a shot of whiskey. "Good girl." was all she said in response. You melted at her praise, feeling heat rise to your cheeks. She snickered, no doubt noticing your reaction.

    "Patience, baby. Once your better I am never letting you leave my room."

    "Promises, promises," was all you said in reply as a sly smile spread across your face.

PART THIRTEEN (FINAL)- Peace

- Spicy -    

It has been a few weeks since your expenditure with Tahm Kench. Vi had not lied for the most part, she had not let you leave her side even once after having rescued you. No matter where you went or what you did, she was with you.

    "(Y/N)," Vi said, lying next to you on her large bed. She lay on her side, resting her head on a hand and twirling absentmindedly fiddling with a piece of your hair with the other. "You feelin' okay today?"

     You nodded in response, turning your head away from your book to peer down at her. "Yeah of course babe, why?"

      "After everything, I just want to make sure you're okay. Like... mentally?" She gazed at you with concern lingering on her face, but as if she was trying to hide it. 

      Contemplating for a moment, you weren't entirely sure. You were certainly glad to be here, but it felt so sudden. Like all of these things had happened so out of the blue. The momentum of your life had been completely overturned, and the experiences of the last few months had certainly changed the way you think about things.

    "Honestly... I don't know. I am not scared, but I am not at peace. Do you know what I mean?" You looked at Vi as you talked with your hands. She nodded knowingly in response. "I am just glad I am out of that place, and we don't have anything to worry about. Plus, I feel a lot better physically which definitely helps."

    "Good. Do you want to go to that place I told you about? By the lake?" 

     You recalled the place that Vi had told you about being her hide-away location. Her peace. 

    "I would love that." You replied with a smile.

--- 🖤🖤🖤 ---

     Vi had given you a light sweater to wear, as spring had just arrived and although it was warmer than during the winter the wind was still crisp as it ran across your skin. 

    Walking through the streets of Piltover, you didn't care to look back at the gawkers and whisperers. You held Vi's hand in yours and felt like the most powerful woman in the world standing next to her. She did not look anywhere aside from ahead, and occasionally over at you to give a faint smile. 

    Approaching the end of a neighborhood road, the sidewalk curved around with a tall fence guarding from what lay beyond- the forest. You looked over at Vi and raised a brow.

    "Am I supposed to climb that?"

    She laughed, "My love, there are some obstacles you must overcome before you get to where you want to be."

    Although she was right, you still let out a prominent sigh and rolled your eyes to the heavens. She laughed again, bright and vibrant sounds radiating through your skin and bones. You approached the fence, using your fingers and boots to push you up, up, up and over the top. You took a moment at the top, looking over the small road you had come from. No one was watching, and you were thankful that no one was going to see you struggle with such a simple physical activity.

     "You ever going to come down?" Vi urged, shocking you from your revery. 

     "If I fall, will you catch me?" You said in response, nervous flutters racing through your chest. It was ridiculous, as it was only a few feet off of the ground. It felt like a hundred.

     "Always." She responded, looking you dead in the eyes. You sighed again, slowly turning your body and descending the opposing side of the fence. Once you nearly reached the bottom, you jumped off the last ten inches and turned to face Vi.

    "You have got to help me get into shape, honestly," You smiled, huffing out breaths. 

     After a tad bit of banter, the two of you continued walking. A thick line of trees sat ahead of you, a sweet whisper of pine lingering in the air. Vi released your hand and began walking forward, beckoning you to follow. You stepped in line behind her as she pushed branches aside and followed a path only known to her.

     "Here it is," Vi said, holding back another branch and stepping back as if revealing the area to you. You stepped forward, gawking at your surroundings as Vi stepped up behind you. 

     "Oh my Gods, its..." You started. You couldn't even find the words. A small meadow filled with Lavender, Honeysuckle, Tulips, and various other flowers rest in front of you. The breeze made gorgeous floral scents waft over to you, instantly relaxing your mind and muscles. A few feet ahead, you could see a round pond littered with lily pads. Across from the pond, the trees finished the circle encompassing the area. It really was a secluded paradise.

    "I know, right?" Vi smiled, looking longingly at what lay ahead. She grabbed your hand gently and pulled you with her as she began walking. "Over here there is a perfect place to lay down and look at the stars at night, if you want to stay long enough to do that."

    You nodded sheepishly, feeling honored to be taken to her sacred place. As you reached the flat plane of grass that looked almost manicured compared to the rest of the space, she sat down. Gently she tugged your hand to follow suit.

   Sitting in silence, you rested your head on her shoulder and looked across the water. It was crazy that all of these things had happened in the span of a few months. Meeting Vi, meeting her sister Jinx, getting kidnapped and tortured... All to lead to this place, next to this woman, who you could not deny you were falling undeniably in love with.

   "What are you thinking about, sweet stuff?" Vi murmurs, looking over at you with her head tilted as she lifts your chin with a finger. Your gaze meets hers and you take in her beauty. The small scar that sits on her pink lips, the jewelry in her nose. Her hardened eyes softening only for you. 

    "I think..." You start, pausing to suck in a shaky breath, "I think I'm in love with you, Vi."

     She looks taken aback, her eyebrows raising, and she blinks a few times. You feel heat rise to your cheeks before she smiles sweetly at you. Relief floods you when she responds.

     "I think, sweet stuff, that I may just love you, too." Her hand moves to your cheek, cupping your face. You lean into it, closing your eyes for a moment and inhaling deeply. When you open them, you meet her gaze. Her eyes have heated, lids lowering. As she gazes and you through her lashes, she runs her teeth over her bottom lip. "You know... I think you feel better enough that we can consummate our love... the good ol' fashioned way." She sniggers, raising a brow and tilting her head the other way. 

     "I suppose there is," You reply, trying to sound sultry even though you have no idea what you're doing.

    She giggles at your attempt, leaning in close. Your foreheads touch, and for a moment the two of you just sit there basking in each other's presence. You can feel her eyes on your lips, and instinctively you lick them. She lets out a small growl, moving her hand to the base of your neck and pulling you in. Her lips brush yours slightly, and a sigh escapes you. As your lips part, she enters you with her tongue. The two of you kissing passionately, she slowly lays you backward on the grass you sat upon. 

    Vi wants to cater to you, to love you. She wants you to feel special, but you can tell that there is something else urging her to go faster. She is ravenous to taste you, it seems, as she quickly trails down your body and pulls the pants down that you are wearing. You nearly reach down to cover yourself, but she snaps her gaze up to your own with an intensity so fierce you can't help but feel obliged to let her move forward. 

    Leaning your head back on the grass, your breathing intensifies as you feel her breath brush against your bare skin. The feeling of being out in the open, in the wild, is exhilarating. You had never experienced anything like this, and you are more than happy to be doing it with her. 

    Deep in thought, you intake a sharp breath of air as you feel her flat tongue lick you from your opening up to your clit. The world slows, but she speeds up. Your eyes roll back into your head as you reach out a hand a clasp her hair. She lets out a satisfied groan.

    "Fuck, baby. You look so fucking hot when I am pleasing you," Vi says quickly, returning to what she was doing. You feel one of her hands travel down your side, past your thigh and to your center. She pauses briefly as she adjusts herself and inserts a finger into you. Vi curves it up, flicking that spot perfectly, making little breathy moans escape your lips as she continues licking and worshipping your clit. 

    "Vi... Vi I'm gonna...", you start to say, and she looks up at you, breathing against your pussy only to pause for a moment.

     "Look at me while you cum, Princess," She urges, returning to that spot. You look down at her, and as she consumes you, you see her eyes meet your own, and you explode into a million pieces. You can't help it, falling back and bucking your hips against her face. She doesn't stop savoring the moment, until you use the hand that was once clenched in her hair to gently stop her.

    She smiles, a feline smile as she retreats from your throbbing pussy. You're panting heavily, and she crawls up your body. You think she is going to kiss you, but she brings the hand that she was fingerbanging you with to your mouth. You reach out your tongue and suck your juices off of her finger, and watch as she inhales and closes her eyes. 

    Using all of the strength you can muster, you grab her wrist and pull her to the side. As she falls over, you giggle maniacally and crawl on top of her. She laughs out loud as if shocked you got the upper hand for even just a moment. 

     "Now, Vi, let me return the favor? This love... it isn't one sided." Before she can open her mouth to protest, you lean down and kiss her long and hard, letting your right-hand trail down her neck, her breasts, until it brushes over a nipple. She gasps, and you can't help but marvel in the fact that she is sitting here beneath you. Vi looks so stunning, a blush creeping into her cheeks. Her blue eyes are hooded, never leaving your own.

     You lean down, unzipping her jacket as you go. You let it fall to the sides of her torso, and slowly caress her bare stomach underneath her white tank top. You pull it up and up until her chest is exposed to you. You had often wondered what she would look like here, as you hadn't gotten the opportunity to see yet. But she was perfect. Her breasts were not big but not small, cute little pink buds were hard as the breeze and most certainly her arousal enticed them. You bit your lip, before leaning down and taking one into your mouth. Swirling around it, sucking, and releasing it with a pop. You turned your attention to the other and did the same thing. 

    After you were satisfied that she was feeling positively enchanted, you trailed soft kisses down her stomach, stopping at the hem of her pants. You hooked a finger in one of the belt loops and looked up at her expectant gaze. In this moment, you recalled the first time she did this to you.

    "Is this okay?" You smiled, and she smiled back. She must have also remembered what she said to you that night on the ship.

     "More than okay, Sweet stuff," she said, no louder than a whisper. 

    You took no time in removing her bottoms, her panties, and marveling at her beautiful pussy. She was so wet, glistening. The thought that you were what caused her intense arousal made you proud. You had no mercy in your fucking her. The love flowed through you and your tongue against her clit until she was crying out your name. You had never heard her sound like that before, so sensual, so free.

    After you were finished, you both got your clothes back on. Vi rested her head on an arm as her back pressed against the grass, and you climbed up and onto her chest. Mainly, the two of you were looking at the stars.

    "I guess we get to look at the stars, after all," She smiled, and you glanced at her in awe.

    "If it's with you, I will do anything." You shifted onto your stomach, resting your chin on her chest so your face was directed at her. "Because after everything we have been through, I have come to realize that you're my escape, too. You're my home."

     Vi stretched down, tears threatening to leak from her eyes. You rose up slightly, to accommodate the space between the two of you and shared a pleasant, soft and loving kiss.

    You realized, in that moment under the stars, that there was nothing you would ever change about the past. And that the future, no matter what it could bring, would always be better than it could of been before if you were with her.

    Your home. 

------  🖤🖤🖤 ------      THE END      ------ 🖤🖤🖤 ------

[corn-fanfiction]

SAVIOUR COMPLEX (Marx Hoffman x F!Reader Pt. 8)

(Pt. 7)

Rating: M

TAGS: language/past abuse/Mark Hoffman being a c*p/reader's life is maybe becoming less normal/Mark is protective bc it's his job but he's also problematic/because he's a c*p/Detective Gibson is his own tw/no Mark Hoffman this chapter :(/ busy being jigsaw a badass

Gibson shows up on your doorstep at 7:45 sharp.

He’s in the full getup now, suit jacket and pressed shirt with his side piece on display. You roll your eyes and push past him, your restaurant uniform on and your feet taking you there.

“What? No hello?”

“Hello,” you mutter through gritted teeth. Before you can walk past his cruiser, he’s got a hand on your bicep. You freeze.

It doesn’t help that he has a similar build to Ted, that their hair is the same color. You know it’s not him. But it jolts you anyhow and you manage to unfreeze and yank your arm away.

“Just because you’ve been assigned my case doesn’t mean you can put hands on me.”

“You didn’t seem to mind when it was Mark.”

“Right. And you’re not him. Seems pretty clear cut to me.”

He takes a moment before gesturing to the cruiser.

“Get in.”

You bunch your brow in confusion.

“Um…no?”

“Resisting an officer?”

You roll your eyes. “Did they stick you with me because you were too busy being an asshole to do your actual job?”

“Damn, you’re quick.”

“Thanks. Helps me get away from asshole cops with a power complex.”

“You can keep digging yourself that hole; either way, you’re getting in the car. Don’t wanna be late for work, do you? Can you make it in 10?”

You glance at your watch and groan. He’s kept you here for five minutes and no, you can’t walk it in 10.

“Fine. Do I have to get in the back, too?”

“Keep it up and you just might.”

You don’t put up anymore of a fight and crawl into the passenger seat. Gibson starts the drive and you watch the neighborhood pass by the window.

“Why do you hate Hoffman so much?”

Mark’s last name feels strange coming out of your mouth after you’ve kissed him so much. Gibson chuckles.

“It’s not that black and white. I don’t hate him. I hate when people get unfocused and irresponsible.”

“Don’t kid yourself,” you mutter to the glass.

“What was that?”

You want his job.

“Nothing.”

Neither of you engage with the other for the rest of the trip and Gibson leaves as soon as he drops you off. You come in through the back, grinding your teeth, irreversibly on edge for the rest of the day. You slam your locked door a little too hard and Gerri looks up from the soda fountain in the alley.

“Woah there. Locker not tip you well?”

“Sorry,” you mumble. “Fuckin’… long ass story. You keep up with the news?”

Gerri shrugs. “Not really. Figure if it’s important enough I’ll hear about it. Why?”

“Well, guess you’ll hear it from me.”

You and Gerri both do your best to not neglect your tables but every time you’re at the running window or the server’s alley you’re butting heads together and whispering.

“So he’s kicked off the case? Just like that?”

“This smug little bastard- and Mark’s smug too but he wears it well at least, but this weasel has decided to make it his mission to make me miserable. Which, like, what’s the point?”

“Maybe to get back at Hoffman? What’s their beef anyway?”

The answer is delayed when a busser pushes through with a rack of dirty dishes.

“Gibson says there is no beef. Like I’m supposed to believe that.”

“Have you talked to Mark about it yet?”

“Not since last night. I don’t know what to even say. I told him we probably needed time to cool off.”

“What, like a break?”

“If you wanna call it that.”

“Sounds to me like that’s what it is.”

The busser stops in front of you two and sighs loudly.

“Can you please clear the alley!” He says unnecessarily loudly. Gerri gives him the bird.

“Fuck off, hourly wage.”

Despite the snark you both move and get the drinks you came back here for.

“I don’t know, I think you should talk to him. And what’s up with the Jigsaw guy? Do you think Ted was some sort of…message?”

Your stomach coils. “Message?”

Gerri shrugs. “I don’t know. This is the second time you’ve been involved. First time, you’re a witness and get his operation shut down. Second time it’s your ex in a trap. Not to mention…” they trail off. You raise your eyebrows.

“What?”

“I-“ they hesitate.

“Gerri, what?” You begin to grow agitated, like maybe you know the theory they’re reaching towards.

“I’m just saying, who else has been there the first time, and a second time?”

You roll your eyes.

“Gerri-“

“Am I wrong?”

“No, of course you’re not-“

“Listen, I’m not saying one way or the other, but maybe that’s why Gibson is being such a hard ass, right?”

You stutter, nearly dropping a salad onto your table. You apologize, run your routine, then catch up with them.

“Okay, so what? You think he’s in trouble? Like, prison trouble?”

“I’m Cochran all of a sudden? I don’t know. But that’s what it sounds like to me.”

Your head swims. You grab Gerri by the arm and pull them back by a serving station.

“Do you think…” you chew on your lip where a cut is beginning to form. “I mean…”

“Oh hon. I don’t know. I mean, you know him, I don’t.”

“But…I don’t know him. Not really.”

“Hey, why the change of heart?”

You don’t even realize you’ve started crying until Gerri’s handing you a napkin.

“Fuck. God, I hate crying at work.”

“Wanna go to the walk-in?”

You snort through the snot and turn away from the tables.

“Fuck you for making me laugh.”

“It’s my job, isn’t it? Don’t worry about it. So you let it cool off. Don’t call him. If he calls you, sure. If he wants to meet, do it here. I’m sure it’s all fine. Now I wish I hadn’t said a word.”

You wave your hand and use a yet-to-be-bussed cup’s condensation to wet the napkin and dab at your ruined makeup.

“No, I needed to hear it. I’ve been thinking it but I'm too scared to say it out loud. Feels like a betrayal.”

“Hey, you don’t owe the guy anything.”

“I mean, he took care of me, Ger. Patient with me, kind, slept next to me all night and didn’t do so much as touch me.”

“The bare minimum,” Gerri mutters.

“Hey, that’s not fair.”

Gerri shrugs. “Maybe. I don’t know. Just consider what I said, alright? I hope we’re both wrong. I hope this all gets straightened out, the Jigsaw killer fries and we both get big glamorous jobs and you get to fuck a hotshot detective every night of the week.”

You throw your head back in laughter and the two of you return to run food. Your heart feels a little lighter.

[final-girl96]

Firefly Chapter Fifty-Nine

We made quick work of the guys near the record shop. Ellie ended up taking the bow and arrows that the one guy had. It was a lot better than shooting and making a bunch of noise. We walked through the store and out the otherside. All the other stores were closed up tight. “Where are they?!” Ellie and I looked at each other with wide eyes and ran. When we passed a hallway, I grabbed her arm and pulled her down it. “Now what?” She whispered.

I was looking around in a panic until my eyes landed on an air duct shaft that was open. It was a huge risk to go through there. We didn't know what would be lurking inside. “Through there. Hurry.” I pointed, and she looked at me like I was crazy, which I probably am. “We have no other choice, Ellie. We're trapped.” She huffed out, ducked down, and began crawling inside the duct. I took one more look at the end of the hall before following after her.

Luckily, we only came across a skeleton of a soldier. No infected or spores. When we got to the other end, we came out onto a balcony that was above a store. It was dark, but I could see several infected down below. Me and Ellie exchanged looks. We only had three arrows, and there were five or six infected. We ducked down, sitting with our backs to a piece of plywood that had been pressed against the railing. It hid us from the view of people and the infected. Ellie leaned closer to me and whispered into my ear. “I peeked around the plywood to see two men standing in the store on the other side. I looked around for something to throw. Finding a brick, I picked it up and threw it behind me. It hit a shelf, making a loud bang as the merchandise fell off and to the ground. Clickers and a couple runners screeched from below, and the curses of the men filled the air. Two more men showed up to help them…well, and they tried to help them. They weren't fast enough, though.

They did, however, take all but two of the infected. Only one of the men was able to get away, and once he was gone, Ellie took the last remaining infected out before we jumped down. From there, we were able to make our way through another store that came out close to the store Joel was in. There were even more men standing around near the escalators and by the door leading into the frozen yogurt store. It would be tricky, but we had no other choice but to take them out. Ellie let the first arrow go, and that set off the fight. Going back and forth; the two of us against at least six men.

It took a while to finally take them out, but once we did, we were able to get to Joel and stitch him up. “This isn't looking too good. We're going to have to try and find antibiotics.” Ellie looked at me worried. “We have to get out of here and find somewhere else to stay. Maybe we can find a neighborhood.”

When daylight came, we made sure Joel was bundled up before tying the sleeping bag to the horses. I opened the doors, and we headed out into the cold winter air. The snow had slowed down for now. “Do we head back to Tommy?” Ellie asked. “No, we keep heading towards Salt Lake City. That's where the doctors are. But right now, we need to find somewhere we can hold up until Joel is better.” I hoped we could find some antibiotics along the way somewhere.

We walked all day, taking breaks to check and make sure Joel was doing okay. I had to sit him up and give him small sips of water. We didn't have much left, and we only had a few pieces of jerky left. We had stopped at a few stores trying to find more bandages along with medication, but we're unlucky. We eventually came to a neighborhood and picked the closest house that wasn't all boarded up. We led the horses into the garage and closed the door. Ellie stayed with Joel while I checked to make sure everything was clear.

While I was in the house I grabbed a few couch cushions and took them down to the basement, laid them on the floor, and ran back upstairs to get Ellie. When I went into the garage she had found a couple of buckets and filled them with snow for the horses. “Joel, can you stand for me?” I asked, kneeling down beside him. He groaned as he sat up. Ellie came over and helped me get him to his feet. Then we helped him down into the basement. While I got him settled Ellie went back up and got all our stuff. She handed me the blanket and I covered Joel up, zipping his coat before I did so he was warm.

After Joel was settled in Ellie and I sat down on either side of him. “Are you warm enough?” I asked Ellie. She pulled her jacket closer around her neck and nodded. “I can go upstairs and look around for more blankets. I'm sure there are some in a closet somewhere. They might be musty though.” She shook her head. “I'm okay. Should we look through the rest of the houses for supplies?” She asked. I took a deep breath, nodding my head slightly. “Yeah. Yeah, we will. We can do it tomorrow. For now we should get some rest.”

She moved down to lay on the floor, facing towards Joel and laying her head on his shoulder. I stayed sitting up until she was asleep and then went upstairs in search of blankets. I was able to find three of them. They were musty like I figured they would be and a little moth eaten but they weren't all that bad. And besides, you can't be too picky in a world like this. I went back down stairs and covered Ellie up with one of the blankets.

I then laid down on the other side of Joel, laying as close as I could, putting my head on his shoulder, and covered myself up with a blanket. Then I took the third one and threw it over the three of us as best as I could. It should be enough to keep the three of us warm. I was hoping it would keep us all warm. It was getting colder the later it got. I leaned up, kissed Joel's cheek, and then slowly fell asleep.

[goldiipond]

YOU WERE RECOMMENDED TO ME 🗣️‼️‼️

DON HEADCANONS PLS? THANK YOU SM 💫

OHH HELL YEAH I LOVE THAT I AM SEEN AS A GOOD SOURCE FOR DON HCS. i love him soo much no youdont even UNDERSTAAAAND how many thoughts i have. about don <3

these might be a bit all over the place bc im just typing them as they come to me but thats okay <3 also this got long. to no ones surprise

autism+adhd KING. he can pick a topic he's passionate about and just ramble on for hours. he can't sit still to save his life and is always tapping his feet or fidgeting with his hands in some way. basically he's 'if i stop moving at any point i die' and he's everything. to me

he's got poor volume control too, and often talks really loud without realizing it (projection <3)

definitely has some anxiety, and gets startled pretty easily. this is mostly based off the light novel chapter where he does this, but ray has gotten used to don instinctively clinging to him like a lost puppy

the most physically affectionate person you will ever meet. the gracefield kids unanimously agree that he gives the best hugs

BISEXUAL TBOY SWAG !!!!!!!!!!!!!

emma had the honor of giving don his first haircut after coming out, which was re-cut by isabella very shortly after

post-timeskip he wears a little bunny patch that the younger kids made for him with gillian's help. he always wears it right over his heart <3

speaking of which, he absolutely adores bunnies because they remind him of conny. probably owns several articles of clothing with bunnies on them and an army of bunny plushies. he wears bunny slippers at night <3

before coming out, him and conny both wore their hair in pigtails

i like to think olivia was like a big sister figure to him much like susan was to the trio, the very few bits of olivia characterization we get in light novels just make me think they'd get along <3 ithink michelle had a similar relationship with gilda and maybe anna as well

him and emma are BEST FRIENDS their dynamic is so fun to think about. they spend their time doing wild and sometimes dangerous shit just for fun and also coming up with new creative ways to mess with ray

norman+don friendly rivalry is soo real to me even if don is probably more into it than norman. post-canon he WILL finally beat norman in tag if its the last thing he does

has had a crush on ray for basically forever. him and conny picked a bunch of flowers in the forest for him one time but don was too nervous to ever actually give them to him

his and conny's beds at gracefield were right next to each other and sometimes conny would get up and crawl into his bed when she got scared at night <3

WOLFPACK TRIO BESTEST TRIO EVER ithink they have sleepovers a lot. ayshe's dogs love him more than anyone besides ayshe herself, and they tend to just sort of. dogpile on him. he's completely okay with it

tbh i think he would just really love animals in general. bunnies are of course his favorite but he will befriend any creature he can get close enough to

at like 18/19 him, gilda, ray, norman, and emma all get matching little bunny tattoos. may or may not have stolen this idea from the main kids' flapjack tattoos in toh <3

[mydarllinglover]

SafeHouse || Forth-Year - Ten

Previous

September 1st 1994

It Was the first of September, and I, among the other Hogwarts students was riding the Hogwarts Express back to school.

I was sat in a compartment, Theo beside me, Blaise and Draco sitting opposite.

They were currently catching me up on the week I had missed whilst I stayed at home. Mum was in no way happy when we had got home and babied us all a little extra.

"So how interesting was your week without us then?" Draco asked, kicking my shin to pull my attention from the window

"Well getting shot at and questioned by a much of Ministry wizards on account of a dark mark, Is very hard to beat, The house was loud, by all ten of us being back in the house, Fred & George kept trying to get me to be their test subject for Wesley's Wizard Wheezes, Charlie told me a whole bunch of interesting stuff about Dragons and life in Romania" I shrugged "Ron decided to tell everyone about Adrian, because some prick" I pointed at Draco before kicking him hard "Decided to tell because he was being an idiot, Do you know how annoying it is to have six brothers? I had to sneak out just to see him because they wanted to "meet" him, well Percy... not so much"

"Do you ever stop to breathe?" Blaise asked me, my cheeks blushing red at the realisation of how fast and long I was talking.

There was a knock at the door before it was slid open, Ron was stood there with a face of thunder.

"Weasley, what the hell do you think you're doing here?" Draco asked him

"I'm here for my sister" He said

"What is it, Ron?" I asked

"I think Mum's packed this by mistake, Its either yours or Ginny's" He held out a Maroon fabric with a mold covered lace frill, It was horrible looking.

"That's not mine, get it away from me before something crawls out of it"

"Well its not mine"

"Are you that thick Weasley" Blaise asked my brother "Its dress robes, do you even look at the list? their permitted for this year"

"What?" He blinked at my friend

"ugh come on lets leave I gotta go see someone anyway" I stood up

"What your "older boyfriend? He seems like a dick, Keira" He glared at me as we walked out the compartment.

"Please, Honestly Ronald, you've never met him" I huffed, pushing him out of the door "and he's only in the year above"

"He's a Slytherin, what else is there to know"

"I'm a Slytherin!" I glared at him "Look, Mum gave them to you for dress robes, I guess somethings going on at Hogwarts this year just like Bill, Charlie and Mum were hinting at, now go back to Harry and Hermione and stop being annoying"

"Whatever." and with that he left.

I started my search for Adrian, looking through the compartments without actually looking through them so people wouldn't notice, It was only the fact that I walked into him that I eventually found him.

"Keira, Hey!" He grabbed me by the shoulders to steady me "I missed you, I heard what had happened at the game, crazy"

"Yeah, It was frightful, but everything's cool now" I shrugged

"Yeah, d'you wanna go somewhere more privately?" He asked, taking my hand and leading me down the hallway to find an empty compartment, we had walked past my one and I quickly adverted eye contact, don't ask why, I don't really know why.

I hadn't noticed that Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the compartment next to us until just now when we walked past them, I waved at Hermione as Adrian pulled me along.

Then we were in an empty compartment

"I missed you" He told me, wrapping his arms around my waist

"I missed you too" I grinned from ear to ear before he covered it with his lips on mine.

I felt really grown up when I was with him, and I really liked him, which was good considering he was my boyfriend.

I don't know why everyone seems to have a problem with me being happy.

After a while he eventually pulled away "We should probably get back to our compartments now" He told me "I'll see you at school?"

"Yeah, of course" He pecked my lips one more time before leaving the compartment.

I touched my lips where he had kissed me, grinning at the heat on my cheeks before leaving the compartment and making my way back to my friends.

I found Draco in the door way of my brothers compartment

"Going to enter, Weasley? Going-

"Enter what?" I asked, stood behind him, making him jump a foot in the air

"Weasley! Don't do that" He snapped at me

"No, no, please Draco, continue saying whatever it was you were going to say to my brother" I cocked an eyebrow at him

"I was just asking if him and Potter were going to enter"

"Enter what, exactly?" Ron asked

"Either explain what you're on about or go away, Malfoy" Hermione said, over the top of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4.

"Don't tell me you don't know? You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about it ages ago ... heard it from Cornelius Fudge-"

"We don't care, Draco, just out with it, or lets go" I rolled my eyes at him

He let out another laugh before pulling my arm into our compartment

"Must you torment them?" I asked with a roll of my eyes

"What did he do now?" Theo asked as I sat down next to him

"Going on about some stupid thing thats happening, first Mum, and my brothers, now you, what the bloody hell is going on?"

"Never you mind, Weasley, guess you'll just find out when we get to Hogwarts"

"So, How's your boyfriend, noticed how you pretended to not see us when you walked past" Theo said.

I froze for the tiniest second "I have no idea what you're on about"

"Yeah, when you walked past you du-"

"Oh, looks like we will be at Hogwarts soon, best go get ready" I rushed to grab my robes and ran out of the compartment before they could interrogate me, to get dressed in the bathrooms.

I tried stalling the best I could before going back to the compartment, but I had left my wand in my seat, and I was missing it plus I was bored.

"There you are" I said when I picked it up after returning to my seat

"Took you long enough, why do you talk to your wand like its going to talk back?" Blaise asked

"Because it listens, we have a special connection" I shrugged my shoulders.

Then used my wand to put my red hair up and out of my face.

•

"I am so excited for the feast" Theo gasped as we walked up to the castle "I could cry"

"Careful, you sound like her brother" Draco laughed, nudging his shoulder

"Don't compare me to Weasel, No offence K" Theo said

"You're lucky its your birthday, or I would hex you" I glared at him "We should throw a party"

"You want to throw a party? when we have first day of classes tomorrow?" Draco said flatly

"Hey, Its not everyday our friend turns fifteen, Is it?"

"Still doesn't change we have classes, i cant come second to Granger, Forth year in a row"

"Fine then, what about a slumber party" I shrugged

"The three of us share a dorm, we kinda do that everyday" Theo stared at me

"For Merlins sake, you're so ungrateful, just forget it" I rolled my eyes

"ARGH" I looked over to my left where Peeves, the schools poltergeist, had just dropped a red balloon on Ron's already soaked head, seconds later another one was dropped just a few feet from Hermione.

The already wet Students dived out of the way as he continued to drop them, I had opted to hide behind my three tall friends.

I guess being short and your friends being giant comes in handy sometimes.

"PEEVES" the voice of Professor McGonagall yelled, I watched as she grabbed Hermione by the neck to stop herself from falling over "Ouch- sorry, Miss Granger"

"is- is that aloud?" I asked Theo "like, she could get in trouble for that right"

"Who knows, or cares" he shrugged

"Peeves, get down here NOW!"

"Not doing Nothing!" the poltergeist cackled, chucking more water bombs at us students.

I couldn't help but stifle my laughs, Theo laughing into my shoulder as we watched the other students ducking and screaming as they got hit.

"already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeeeeee!" he threw more bombs at second years

"I shall call the Headmaster!" shouted the head of Gryffindor house "I'm warning you, Peeves-" Peeves blew a raspberry before chucking the rest of his bombs in the air, I got hit by a few before he zoomed up the stairs

"not so funny now, is it?" Draco sneered as I wiped water out my eyes

"Well, move along, then" Professor McGonagall told us "Into the Great Hall, come on!"

It was a struggle trying to get into the Great Hall, Blaise had caught me at least three times before My face could meet the floor.

"Wow, Keira, I've just realised, you've been at Hogwarts for a whole year now" Theo told me as we took our seats at Slytherin table

"Yeah, maybe this time I can actually enjoy the feast" I said

"I remember the day you walked in, your face was so red, the way the Gryffindors cheered" Draco laughed

"yeah, the embarrassment of being the only Weasley not in red and gold, so hilarious" I fake laughed

"Hey, Keira!" I turned and stood up to see Adrian walking up to me

"Hey Adri- I was cut off as he kissed me, in front of everyone, after a few moments he stepped back "I'll see you after the feast" He grinned before going to join his friends in Fifth year.

I blinked a few times before looking around, catching all three of my brothers staring at me, and Ginny laughing.

She should be lucky I'm getting them used to dating for her sake.

I could feel my cheeks getting hotter and quickly sank to my seat, but I couldn't stop the grin on my face.

"that was disgusting" Draco drawled

"seriously, on my birthday? just before the feast" Theo said frustratedly

"shut up guys, shes in love" Blaise dragged the O, nudging my shoulder

"Am not! well...maybe a little" I giggled

"For Salazar's sake! Where are these bloody first years! I'm Starving" Theo hit the table.

I looked over to the Gryffindor table, Fred & George had gone back to their conversation

"What was that?" Ron mouthed to me

"what? I didn't know he was going to do that" I mouthed back, shrugging my shoulders

"You almost spoiled my appetite"

"like anything could spoil your appetite" I rolled my eyes

"you know, you both look weirder than usual when you do that" Draco said, his head was leaning on his knuckles as he looked at me from my other side

"hey at least you see both sides, I only see her, half the time I think shes talking to me" Theo said, sat opposite us.

The Doors of The Great Hall had opened and all conversations stopped.

Professor McGonagall was leading the first years into the Hall.

"Oh my God, look how tiny they are" I pouted at my friends, looking at the drenched shivering first years

"They are literally three years younger than us" Draco said

"But they're so small, we should keep one, and like mentor it or something"

"They're not pets, yknow" Blaise told me

"Merlin, look at that one" I repeatedly slapped Draco's arm as I looked at the Mouesy haired boy wrapped in what looked like Hagrids overcoat, he was drowning in it.

"Ow- stop- ow stop it, Weasley, my arm" Draco said, grabbing my wrist "Whats wrong with you?"

"I just love how cute and innocent young kids are" I beamed "I guess its a Prewett thing, motherly intuition, I dont know, Mum said something about it once" I shrugged

"Well stop, Its freaking me out"

"Shut up, Malfoy" I rolled my eyes

We all stared as Professor McGonagall placed the old Sorting hat on a stall

"What are we waiting for?" I whispered to Blaise

"For the Sorting Hats song" He whispered back

"Wait, it has a so-"

"A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly sewn, There lived four wizards of renown, Whose names are still well known: Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw, from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from  valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin, from fen. They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan To educate young sorcerers Thus Hogwarts School began. Now each of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value different virtues In the ones they had to teach. By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest; For Ravenclaw, the cleverest would always be the best; For Hufflepuff, hard workers were mostly worthy of admission; And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition. While still alive they did divide Their favourites from the throng, Yet how to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone? 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, He whipped me off his head The founders put some brains in me So I could choose Instead! Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I'll have a look inside your mind And tell where you belong!"

The Great Hall broke into applause after the song, I was more lost than ever.

"Of course it was Gryffindors hat" I said to the boys, rolling my eyes

"When I call your name, you will put on the Hat and sit on the stall, When the Hat announces your house, you will go and sit at the appropriate table." McGonagall told the first years

"Oooh, who do you think we'll get" I whisper squealed to my friends

"Bet you a sickle we'll get that one" Theo pointed to a small dark haired boy near the front

"Your on, Nott"

"Ackerley, Stewart!"

"Ravenclaw!" The Hat shouted

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"Moment on truth" Blaise said

"Slytherin!"

"Ha Ha, Weasley, Pay up, Or you could always pay with a kiss, remember last year?" He teased, wiggling his eyebrows

"Nice try, Nott, I have a boyfriend" I slapped a sickle into his hand as the Boy sat a few spaces down from Theo.

The  Ghosts were watching intently and interacting with the students, I squirmed every time the bloody baron came near my direction, nothing against ghosts, they just freak me out, dont like looking at them, especially around food.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked me as I leaned into Blaise, cringing at the Bloody Baron coming closer once again

"The ghosts creep her out" Blaise shrugged

"Pritchard, Graham!"

"Slytherin!"

"And finally, with Whitby, Kevin!"

"Hufflepuff!" And with that, the sorting ceremony was over and it was now time for the feast.

Professor Dumbledore rose from his chair "I have only two words to say to you, Tuck In" He smiled at us all before sitting down as the empty dishes filled magically.

"Hear, Hear" I could hear Ron and Harry cheer

The food looked and smelled glorious, I as well as everyone else piled our plates high and dug in

"s' goo" I moaned, my mouth full

"Now, now Keira, If dear old Cissa saw you she'd have a fit, all her hard work down the drain" Theo tutted

"Shut up Theo, she'll never know, Draco, If you tell your mother, I'll hex you for a week" I threatened

"Wasn't thinking about it until now, thanks for the idea" He smirked

Pudding replaced Dinner almost instantly, I saw Ron keep picking up dishes to put near Hermiones nose and waft the smell over to her, but she just stuck her nose up and looked in the other way, wonder what thats all about.

Eventually Professor Dumbledore stood once again and the Hall fell silent.

"So" He said, smiling at all of us "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices.

Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees and Ever-Bashing boomerangs.

The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it. As ever, I would like to remind you all that the Forrest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not take place this year"

I looked towards Draco and Blaise, Draco's face looked as if he already knew this but Blaises eyebrows were furrowed. my eyes adverted to Adrian, who was a chaser of the Slytherin team, he looked annoyed about the news, but it was Gryffindor who showed their emotions the most.

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy- but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-

Thunder rumbled loudly as someone barged through the Great Hall doors.

A man stood in the doorway.

He was supporting himself on a long wooden staff, he was sporting a black travelling cloak. I among everyone else swivelled to stare at him.

Lighting continued to flash across the ceiling.

The man tugged down his hood, imitating a dog caught in the rain, he shook a long nest of grizzled, dark grey hair.

The stranger walked up to the teacher's table.

A clunk was heard by every other step he made.

Another flash of lighting as he made his way up to Dumbledore.

This gave us a chance to look at his scarred face, it was as if he was carved out of wood, he barely looked human. He was missing a lot of his nose. His eyes were what made me shiver though.

They were different sizes and colours. One was small dark and beady, the other huge compared to the other, and a deep bright blue, it moved and spun, as if he was examining and identifying the whole room, without blinking.   

"Who the bloody hell is that?" I whispered to the guys , them shrugging with similar faces of shock etched on their faces.

The man then took a seat on the right side of Dumbledore.

"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher" Dumbledore said "Professor Moody"

Moody?

"Wait, Moody, my dad had to go and help some guy called Mad-Eye Moody, that might be him" I whispered

"Well he definitely has a Mad Eye" Theo whispered back

"As I was saying" Dumbledore started once again "we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event which has not been held for over a century. It is my very pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING" Fred shouted. I ducked my head and blushed at my older brothers outburst as the Hall broke into laughter.

"I am not joking, Mr Weasley" Dumbledore said "though, now you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar-"

McGonagall cleared her throat loudly, cutting off Dumbledore.

"Awe, I wanted to hear the rest of it" Theo pouted.

"Er- but maybe this is not the time- ...no ...Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament...well, some of you will know what this Tournament involves, So I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago, as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry - Hogwarts, Beauxbatons-

After mentioning Beauxbatons, I froze, If Hogwarts were hosting that meant that they would be coming here, this is a nightmare. what if they came here?!

I felt a nudge on my left side, Draco, I turned to look at him, I could see in his eyes, concern, but the rest of his face was blank

"Whats wrong?" He whispered

"N-nothing, I'm fine." I chewed on my lip as I tuned in to what Dumbledore was saying, something about the death toll.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament, none of which have been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Co-operation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that, this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger"

"Dont jinx it" I mumbled

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Hallowe'en. An Impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

"This is what you were going on about on the train, wasn't it?" I nudged Draco

"Wow, you catch on fast" He smirked.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts, the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age - that is to say, seventeen years or older- who will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This-"

But he was cut off by a number of students who disagreed with this, mainly my twin brothers.

"Is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the Tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." Everyone saw as he made it obvious he was looking at Fred and George, who by the looks of it, were already scheming.

"I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen. The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October, and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"

"Come on, lets go" I told the guys as we stood to join the crowd out the doors. As we joined Theo reaching the end of the table he slapped his hands on both my shoulders, rubbing them, making our way down to the dungeons.

"Your brothers didn't look too happy" Blaise said

"Yeah well, their seventeenth is a month after mine and Ron's fifteenth. so their too young, but that wont stop them" I rolled my eyes.

"What'd you reckon the tasks are, Drac, did your Father tell you anything?" Theo asked Draco who was still on my left, Blaise on my right.

D'you guys know what my name means in Latin?" He winked

"Wait- Dragon right? My brother Charlie said that he might see us at Hogwarts this year, Merlin, they can't" I gasped

"Shh, Weasley" Blaise nudged my arm.

Arriving at the Common room, we went our separate ways to the dorms

"See ya Tomorrow K" Theo waved

"Bye guys".  I said before slipping into the girls dorm.

Next

[crybaby-magic]

When Stars Align

chapter 4

The loud crash from the celestial realm to the human real was huge.Almost all that was in a distance could see it.The sphere that came from it slowly diminished away like nothing had happened.

"eh? The hell was that"a foreign figure mumbled to themself.A second figure popped up behind them pouncing on them breaking their thoughts.

"Hey bud! Did you see the big light?Did you huh huh?"the other one says while shaking the first figure.

"Will you stop shaking me!Of course I saw it i'm pretty sure everything in that thing's radius saw it."they grumbled swatting the other away.

The second figure rolled their eyes and stopped bothering the other on.They start to look in the direction of where the explosion happened sniffing the air proceeding to point out something "I can sense a lot of magic energy from the blast.Hey let's go check it out!"They turned into a bright gold color transforming into a bright colored bird.Flying towards the explosion spot.

"Hey you can't jus-ugh nvm!"The other one protested before giving up.They changed into a darker version of the other one following soon after.

“Why does my body feel so numb…my head hurts too…wh-what happened…?”I question to myself.Opening my eyes and moving my head side to side.My surroundings seem unfamiliar.Slowly sitting up so I can assess my situation easier.A shiver goes down my spine.It probably doesn’t help that i’m in my night gown.

I started to get up of the floor but while trying to find my balance.Once up I grab my tail impulsively trying to soothe my sporadic brian.Looking around I seem to be on a beach side of some kind.Atleast that’ll what I think it is.I only seen beaches like this in the books about the human realm.

Looking at the sky deducting that I feel from the celestial realm.A sense of astonishment crossed my face as I realized I feel a long way and didn’t die.Turing around to face the other way I see a wooded area.It must be a jungle just like the ones in the books I used to read.I slowly grew nervous remembering that i’m in the human realm all alone and anything could happen to me.

A sudden feeling of my body tugging me towards the jungle.In walked into the wooded area trying to be careful of my step.”Huh?”I mumbled out after feeling water drop.The water fell slow at first but got progressing faster.Sighing out in frustration with the thought of “I really should have listened to mother.”My clothes,hair,tail are all soak the more I walk around in this weather.

My ears perked up at a cracking noise.Trying to chalk it up to a small animal or my head.That was until I heard growling.Side eyeing where the noise was coming from.The sounds was getting close so on impulse I ran the other way.The father I got closer it got.The rain certainly wasn’t help seeing as it’s weighing my body done.To make matters worse I wasn’t looking where I was going,so I ended up tripping on a rock.I fell hard injuring myself in the process.

The growling got closer.I tried to get up so I could limp away,but my legs gave out.The creature came out it’s eyes glowing a golden color.It’s to hard to full figure out what it was but the eye could tell me it thought I was it’s prey.I tried to crawl back,but I hit a tree.I was physically and mentally exhausted from all the running plus the blood seeping out of my legs.

The creature made eye contact with me then pounced towards me.I put up my hands out of fear,only for a huge burst of winds blow the creature away.The creature flew back several feet breaking a bunch of trees on impact.My hands still out I panted out heavily.My eyes slowly started to fade to back despite my protest.My last thought was i’m going to be eaten by the creature.

A dark bird that witnessed the whole situation flew down to the girl looking at her.The creature came back before it transformed into a monkey the bird followed.The darker monkey glared at the lighter one before growling out”Seriously Wukong you could have got hurt or worse the girl.It’s bad enough she’s bleeding out her legs”He looked at the girl before looking backs at Wukong.

Wukong had just shrugged of the complaints made by his companion.He walk up to the girl before touching her face to get a better look.”Macaque she hurt me way more than what I did.My back hurts”He complain out.Macaque just rolled his eyes in disapproval.Looking at the girl you can tell she’s not human.

Macaque shook his head and sighed out”Well we can’t leave her here incase something that really wish to cause harm.Even if we’re on Flower fruit mountain.”Wukong nodded his head in approval before carefully picking up the girl bridal style.

Wukong summons nimbus and hopped on.”You coming?”He questioned his friend.Macaque shook his head before mumbling about he’ll follow after in a minute.Wukong just shrugged before flying to the top of Flower fruit mountain.Macaque just looked and teleported away.

Wukong jump of a nimbus as he crossed the water curtain into the cave.He walked down a path to a room.The room was filled with random things like treasure,fabric,fruit.In the center of the room was a pit filled with blankets,pillow,and just thing in general that made it comfortable.

White mini monkeys observed their king as he came in with the girl.He set the girl in the pit before covering her then leaving the room to go find Macaque. White monkeys crawled around you studying you some then laid down next to you falling asleep quickly.

masterlist

[lucienballard]

Shane MacGowan remembered by Nick Cave ............

Ifirst met Shane in 1989 when the music paper NME thought it would be a good idea to bring us two together alongside Mark E Smith from the Fall for a so-called “summit meeting”. I was excited because I was a fan, completely in awe of Shane’s songwriting. Unfortunately, it was my first day out of rehab, and it probably wasn’t the greatest idea to spend the day with two people who were not known for their moderation. It was pure mayhem from the outset. Not the most auspicious start to a friendship, but Shane and I did become close friends soon afterwards. When we initially started to hang out, we often went out to bars and clubs. It was a little difficult, because I’d temporarily stopped taking drugs and drinking, but we liked each other’s company. I don’t think he was used to being around someone who didn’t drink. He essentially didn’t trust anyone who wasn’t completely shit-faced. At some point, when I eventually started drinking again, we met in a bar and he asked me what I wanted. I ordered a double vodka and his eyes just lit up. It was like he was a little kid and it was Christmas Day. And that was that. We spent the next years going out, fucking around, getting wasted. Sometimes I’d call round his flat in King’s Cross and he’d be watching Scarface or one of those violent Kitano cop thrillers. I remember being concerned that he wasn’t writing songs. Once, when I asked him about it, he crawled across the floor and started rooting in the pile of rubbish until he found a scrap of paper. It was the lyrics to a song called St John of Gods. A beautiful title. Beautiful words. To me, his songs were such precious things, deep works of art, really, but he didn’t treat them like that. While I laboured away at my desk, day after day, to produce what I could, Shane’s words were delivered to him on a beer tray with a whiskey chaser.

Shane saw it as a solemn duty to be permanently fucked up and, for most of his life, he was happy to be the way he was

What I really envied about Shane’s lyric writing was that he was doing something extraordinary with the classic songwriting form. His way of writing was steeped in the tradition of Irish balladry. It was in no way modern, whereas my songs, back then, were more of their time: darker and fractured and experimental. There was little compassion in them. No true understanding of the “ordinary”. I don’t think I could have written a lyric like “The wind goes right through you/ It’s no place for the old” [from Fairytale of New York]. It speaks volumes. You can feel the wind and the ice in the air but also the sense of learned empathy and deep compassion Shane had for people.

I loved his voice, too. It was the perfect vehicle for his chaotic, poetic soul. And I loved the way he comported himself when he was singing live. There was a nonchalance about it. I remember watching the Pogues do a soundcheck somewhere at a festival in France. He just walked up to the mic and sang A Pair of Brown Eyes with his hands shoved in his pockets, this gorgeous, racked voice coming out of him like he was a cypher for the angels. It was a rare privilege to witness something like that.

At the end of the day, though, it is his genius we should remember rather than all the other stuff. He wrote a bunch of songs that are truly great. That’s a hell of a lot more than most songwriters manage. His best lyrics have a truly lived-in nature to them. His beautiful soul is baked in to every word, every phrase of A Rainy Night in Soho or The Old Main Drag. They are rooted in earned experience. Those profoundly beautiful words coming out of such a broken soul. He had something that we lesser writers have to work hard to even get close to. An effortless, God-given talent.

When my friendship with him began, it was based on a deep admiration for his songwriting. I was a fan, pure and simple, and I will always be that. But the enduring nature of our relationship grew out of a great love for the man himself. Shane was not like other people. Regardless of what condition he was in, he had a goodness about him and a depth of feeling about the poetic nature of our human condition that was immeasurable. There was a truth to him, a clarity of soul that was of the purest kind. You can’t hide something like that. The whole world could see it, which is why he was so deeply loved by so many.

source

[deusvervemakesgames]

Project RBH Devlog 0038

As you might recall, last week, I stated that I needed to think about the balance and encounter design of Project RBH. Well, I didn’t use those exact words, but that is what I said I needed to work on.

Project RBH is a dungeon-crawling Roguelike twin-stick shooter, based around the idea that the player will spend much of their time Running And Gunning. This one-sentence pitch is an invaluable tool for refocusing myself on what’s most important about the game and the gameplay.

For example, in dungeon crawlers like the older Legend of Zelda games, there were only a few enemies in any given room, and there was a chance of healing when defeated enemies dropped collectible hearts that would restore the player’s health. You could also break pots for hearts and other items. I feel as if this approach would work best for Project RBH.

Something I’ve noticed about the project is that, paradoxically, the more enemies there are the more likely I am to stand still. This is because the enemy AI is so simple that they all bunch together so it’s easy to just point at them and shoot.

If you’ve played any of the public builds of the project, or even just watched some of the GIFs, you can probably tell how the AI works. It moves in a straight line towards the player, completely ignoring any obstacles or distance between the enemy and the player. When the AI is close enough, it will occasionally stop in place and perform its attack—or, in the case of the Bambs, will simply approach the player until it gets close enough to start its detonation sequence.

This AI is way too stupid for what I want. For one thing, enemies will come in from other rooms if they can allowing them to swarm the player. For another, as mentioned, because they’re simply moving towards the player constantly, they tend to bunch together, and that’s no good either.

There’s also a problem with how the enemies are spawned in. Namely, that they aren’t. They were manually placed in the level and then randomized between two lists of ‘attackers’ and ‘support’ depending on where in the level they are. This is bad because you can start up the game already surrounded by enemies.

So that’s the next two big items on the to-do list: fixing the enemy spawn system and the enemy AI so that the game will feel better to play. After that, I can make the enemies have a small chance to drop health. I don’t know what the chances will be yet, but probably about 5% to 10%.

Once that’s done, the next thing on the list will be my Upgrade system. You might remember that I got some help so now I can quickly turn an excel spreadsheet into workable code, right? Well, I need to familiarize myself with the program that lets me do that, as well as finalize the list of variables that I want to manipulate so that the assisting program won’t need any further tweaking. That’ll come last, though.

Until next Devlog!

-DeusVerve

Special thanks to my $7 Patron(s), Haelerin!

Support me on Patreon to get Early Access to builds!

[hqmillioncorn]

FFXIVWrite Day thirty: Amity

“My name is            .  I’m a little different from other people. I can pass through walls and talk with other people. I’m alive but at the same time I’m not? I think that makes me different. I have a little sibling! I take care of them and make sure they’re safe! I haven’t seen them in a long time but I still have to make sure they’re okay. I remember what they look like! So I will find them! If I just keep looking. I heard that they were a little sad before we last talked. I want to make sure they’re okay!  …My name is           .”

Tilika could still remember how excited Babycorn was when she had agreed to come with her on a trip to the library. Apparently Babycorn had put it together that because Tilika was so smart she must really like to read books a lot. It also helped that Tilika tended to read books while at home, sometimes even walking while reading at the same time. 

Babycorn would have to yell at her whenever she was about to crash into a wall or furniture. 

All that being said, when the day of the library visit finally came, Tilika was a little suspicious when Babycorn reminded her not to forget to take her sword and shield. 

Tilika found that a little strange but it wasn’t too terribly odd for Babycorn herself to be sidetracked on days where she went out by herself and asked to do things for other people. Most of those things she was asked to do involved having to fight so it made sense.

It was totally normal for Babycorn to bring her scythe and staff with her.

It was at the point when Tilika and Babycorn found themselves walking in Idyllshire that she began to have some bigger suspicions. Tilika had heard some things about this place, a city that the Sharlayans developed then subsequently decided to flee it altogether. 

Babycorn explained to her that a lot of other people had tried to salvage any treasures from there and eventually decided to move in since it was empty. “I see. Well it’s nice that people could find a home here!” Tilika looked around. Taking note of a drawing on a wall that had two people on there that looked very familiar.

Before she had the chance to think more about it, Babycorn led her by the hand towards the outside of the settlement.  “Let’s go! Let’s go!!”

At one point Babycorn had told Tilika they would be flying the rest of the way to the library. Tilika decided that this still made sense, maybe Babycorn had just gotten tired of walking and just wanted to take it easy for the rest of the trip. 

After grabbing onto a bunch of balloons and seeing the area below them it was pretty clear now why Babycorn had wanted to fly the rest of the way. There was an entire section of a bridge missing right behind where Babycorn had landed them. Along with a lot of stairs that led to the ground below them. That also explained a lot. 

“Ta-da!! The Great Gubal Library!!” Babycorn proudly spread her arms and gestured towards the building still a ways in front of them. 

“The Great Gubal Library?!” 

“Yeah!”

“The same one that the Sharlayan’s made?! The same one filled with countless upon countless of tomes that could hold priceless amounts of knowledge?!” Tilika had heard of it and knew it was still standing but she never in a million eons would have imagined Babycorn knew about it. Let alone could get in it.

“I think that’s what Y'shtola said! So yeah!”

“The same Great Gubal Library that’s been abandoned for years and is probably crawling with animals that moved in because there was nothing stopping them?!”

“And a bunch of voidsent!!” Babycorn paused, “I think that’s what they are! I’m not sure!” 

Tilika gulped, taking her sword in one hand shield in the other. 

In the end, Tilika didn’t have much to worry about, when it came to her and Babycorn’s safety at least. Both of them were freely able to wander the library at their leisure despite the clear signs that they were not alone in here. Tilika was even able to sit down and skim a book or two while not having to worry about anything ambushing her.

Instead Tilika’s worries were placed on just how easy it was for Babycorn to cut down anything that stood in front of her way. 

Most of the time all it would take was one or two swings from her scythe to defeat whatever weird animal or living object decided to try and attack them. 

Was Babycorn really that strong? At some point it looked like the creatures living here even realized that there was no point in trying to fight them, so most just started to avoid them altogether. 

‘Of course she’s that strong idiot! She’s the Warrior of Light! She’s fought primals, you saw her!’ Is what Tilika kept telling herself. But it was hard for her to believe that the same Babycorn who she had seen accidentally sticking herself up on the roof when mixing pancake batter was the same Babycorn who was known and feared across the world as the warrior of light.

Then again, at the same time, it made perfect sense.

Somehow.

“Tili-Tili!” Babycorn came running up, “Did you find a cool book?” Babycorn was carrying a bunch of other books in her arms. Tilika noticed that she had dropped a lot more other books on her way running here. “I found a lot of them with a lot of complicated words! You know about those right?”

Tilika smiled, “You could say that.” Right now she was just skimming through one that was pretty much just a cookbook. But Tilika was the type of person who just loved learning anything about everything. 

“Did you know that the garleans have a different name for each level of hierarchy?” Tilika said, referencing one of the other books she had picked up.

“Wow! Cool!” Babycorn had no idea what Tilika was talking about but she still wanted to support her. “I think this one is about dragons!” Babycorn waved a book in the air, “Cause it’s got a dragon on the cover!” 

Just as Tilika was going to ask her what else she noticed about it, she saw Babycorn drop the book to the ground. “Babycorn?” She noticed that her cousin was staring far off into the distance, right past her. Tilika looked behind her just in time to notice a shadow turning around the corner and running away. 

Babycorn ran right after it. “Babycorn wait!” Tilika cried out, but Babycorn had already turned the corner after the mysterious shadow. “Babycorn!” She grabbed her sword and shield hanging at her side and brought them out. 

Tilika had a bad feeling about this. It was good to be prepared.

It didn’t take a lot of running for her to catch up to Babycorn. “Babycorn?” She found her cousin knelt down in front of a pile of books. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Tilika kept a tight grip on her sword, just in case. 

“I’m fine!” Babycorn pointed at the pile of books in front of her, “I think there’s someone in there!”

“Is it someone dangerous?” 

Babycorn shook her head, “I don’t think so. Look!”

Tilika looked at where Babycorn was pointing but she still couldn’t quite see what she was looking at. 

That was until a small backpack peeked out at her from under the pile of books. 

“Oh!” Tilika was almost surprised at what she was seeing. Though considering that she had seen both living tomes and inkwells inside this library, the shock of seeing what looked like a living backpack wore off pretty fast. 

“Hi!” Babycorn stepped forward, “My name's Babycorn! Who are you?” 

The backpack wiggled their arms around. At least, Tilika thought those were arms. It had a mouth with big sharp teeth but no matter how much their mouth moved she couldn’t hear any words coming from it. From the way Babycorn was also staring blankly at them, it was safe to say she couldn’t hear anything either.

“I think their name is Hungstla!” Babycorn picked the backpack up and didn’t even jump when the backpack wrapped its straps around her. “Ha ha! That tickles!!” 

Or maybe she had heard something?! That was odd but not the weirdest thing about Babycorn.

“I guess it's friendly…” Tilika put her weapons away and walked closer to look at the weird friend that Babycorn had made. “Hello there! My name is Tilika!” Having known Babycorn for nearly two years now, Tilika had found herself more accepting to talking to supposedly inanimate objects. Because most of the time, they were not inanimate.

Tilika held out her hand and the backpack gladly shook it. 

“And it’s polite wowie!” 

“Can we take them with us?!” Babycorn pleaded, holding her hands together and looking up at Tilika. The backpack also looked at Tilika, with huge pleading eyes. Somehow.

‘Wow she’s wasting no time.’ Tilika saw this coming. Normally Tilika would be a little apprehensive about letting something like a magical sharp-toothed backpack live in her home but it couldn’t possibly be any less dangerous than the other things that lived with her and Babycorn. 

“Well I mean, if you want to! It’s up to you!” It’s not like she was her mom or anything.

Hungstla seemed to understand that she would be able to come along and happily wiggled around. “Aw, look at them go!” Tilika laughed, “It's kinda cute isn’t it?” 

“Really cute!” Babycorn hugged Hungstla tighter. Then Hungstla used their arms to reach down into its own mouth. To everyone’s surprise it pulled out what looked like a freshly baked chocolate cake. 

“Woah!!” Babycorn was drooling, “That looks delicious!!”  

“What.” 

Tilika tried to wrap her head around how something like that could even be possible. Unless there was a bakery in here that they missed (which would be impossible to do if Babycorn was here) there was no way a backpack that had been in here for who knows how long would have food inside it that looked that good.

It defied all explanation.

That settled it, somehow this weird backpack and Babycorn were meant to meet each other.

[creatuesfromthedeep]

Apparently Sector 42's narrative* is up to 72,988 words long, so if you want to read a book's worth of dragon fanfiction, check it out.

*not including supplementary worldbuilding lore lol

Some author's highlights below the cut!

"This is my beach, could you please just leave?" The pink maned gaoler's tone was long-suffering, which made the Unseer stop his music and laugh. They'd been doing this song and dance for little less than a week, he hadn't realized he was that annoying.

"Can't do that,"

"Why not?"

"Most other beaches don't have good company like this one,"

"By Shadowbinder you're irritating,"

— Two Boys

I'm still really fond of this piece, especially Sirel and Celozon's childish arguments. I like looking back and thinking "wow, you two have no idea how important you'll be to each other!"

-----

He did not question it, and started digging into the soft mud near the bank of the stream. He kept digging, even as the hole grew much too deep and it was starting to become something of a hazard; Abran stood at the edge, and she hadn't told him to stop yet.

Soon, the hole was big enough that Salenor could stand in it and it came up to his shoulders. He'd likely have to crawl out through the mud, even if Abran helped pull him out. At that point he stopped, exhausted and barely able to see under the moonless night.

"M-Mayor, perhaps we should come back to this tomorrow," Salenor tried to reason, but he couldn't see Abran's expression to gauge her emotions as she let the words hang in the air for an uncomfortably long time.

"No, it's quite alright, Reeve. This is deep enough, you can climb out now,"

Mayor Abran didn't help him scramble out of the pit, and his claws were coated with mud by the time he stood at her side. Now he was starting to have doubts about the purpose of this whole situation, and the hole looked ominously grave-sized.

— Report #000001

Probably one of my favorite scenes within my lore, I revisit it frequently when I think about Sal and Abran's relationship. Someday I'm gonna save up a bunch of gems or just do a USD commission centered around the image of Sal clawing his way out of the grave while Abran stands above him.

-----

"Holm, I've got a surprise for you!"

Inddrin slammed the door open, her booming voice like nails scratching a chalkboard. Holm fumbled the papers he'd been organizing and they scattered, and he swore to the Icewarden as he tried to gather them back up.

"What do you want, Warden?" Holm snapped as he fumbled the reports from Arorangi into a disorganized pile. There was no hope for stapling these papers until Inddrin was done with him, so he finally turned his attention to the Warden.

He started, when he noticed a young, unfamiliar Gaoler pressed against Inddrin's side who observed him with big, Lightning-blue eyes.

"Head Sentinel Holm, meet Apprentice Vorrutyer," Inddrin spoke with a wide grin, like she was in on a joke and Holm was the subject. He didn't like it, and grimaced in turn.

— Acclimation

Holm and Vorrutyer have one of my favorite mentor-apprentice relationships in my lore, plus Third Age Inddrin gets to be a menace towards her poor Head Sentinel.

-----

"Reeve, have you introduced yourself yet?" Labyrinth questioned, and the Wildclaw stuttered out something incomprehensible but clearly defensive. "Of course not. Herald Xyrlove, meet Reeve Salenor; he keeps this place running, for better or worse. If you're still having housing trouble, he's your best resource,"

Xyrlove turned her attention to Salenor, and tilted her head in a way she'd told was cute and non-threatening. "I am still having housing trouble. Would you mind helping me work that out, one of these days?" She batted her eyelashes and smiled.

By the choking sound coming from Salenor's direction, and the barely controlled laughter coming from Labyrinth, Xyrlove was certain Salenor was blushing and was about to become putty in her claws.

"Yes, if you'd-- if you'd stop doing that," Salenor snapped, his claws clicking against the floor in a tell-tale anxious shuffle. "I've got work to do. Councilwoman, am I still needed?"

"No-- no you're fine Sal," Labyrinth sounded like she was still gagging on laughter. "I've got this, go make sure the Mayor's eaten lunch or something," At that cue, the shuffling turned into a not-quite sprint as Salenor exited the conversation with the eagerness of a racehorse.

— New Year, New Problems

I just really love giving Sal a hard time. The workplace antics of the Third Age are so underutilized, and I should really go back and write more during that time period.