#and tbf I never know anyone's name

[core-dotfelling]

My favorite thing to do is let my sister infdump shit about her game on me

[gothicrepetitions]

It’s so funny to learn that other people also did not know Dean had a brother before watching Supernatural, I thought I was stupid

[saph-yells-into-the-void]

i know n*gisagi has its fans and while for the longest time I've considered myself neutral towards it, I think I'm realizing that this is the only ship in bllk that truly gives me the ick

which is weird bc platonically, I actually fw it pretty hard. romantically though....

[spiritsncrystals]

[Even if i fall, I can't find myself to care.]

Revamped Tatsuya's stage persona Jester

Should hopefully redesign his off-stage look at some point, too

[gaogaigoatgrrl]

i hope that in the wake of predstrogen/predesterone's back-to-back deletion we don't forget about the ongoing building wave of seemingly organic transmisogyny from the userbase leading up to it, some of which may or may not have been the result of terf psyops but all of which certainly wouldn't have been possible without the eager participation of a significant proportion of users, including but probably not limited to:

the entire concept of transandrophobia (if this offends you, think long and hard about why you want so badly for it to be real)

the ongoing backlash against the terms tme and tma (if they offend you, think long and hard about why they might have practical value to trans women and people with similar social positionality)

the ongoing trend of trans women's blogs getting flagged on the flimsiest of pretenses and generally receiving far more scrutiny for "adult content" than anyone else's

the seeming unironic revival of "baeddel" as a slur for outspoken trans women, on the basis of a long-dead clique that, ironically enough, self-applied the long-dead (and tbf, etymologically questionable) slur from the middle ages to reclaim it

the entire "trans women should be fucking trans men instead of complaining about transmisogyny" genre of post

the backlash when tgirls finally started calling out the aforementioned bullshit

the copypasted anons sent to several trans women (many of whom were lesbians) sexually harassing them and threatening corrective rape for calling out the aforementioned bullshit

the backlash when tgirls called the aforementioned bullshit sexual harassment

the expansion of flexible queer label use (which to be clear, i am generally all for) to include "afab trans women", muddying the waters and making transmisogyny harder to articulate

the backlash when tgirls started calling out the aforementioned bullshit

the aita incident in which a trans woman described a cis woman claiming to be a trans woman in a group chat and giving other trans women terrible medical advice based on no actual qualifications or experience, and got a huge backlash for warning them about the aforementioned bullshit despite the stakes of, you know, following terrible medical advice

everything from the sixth point onward happened within the past... week? two weeks? my sense of time is a bit fuzzy. who knows what the rest of this week has in store?

people on this website are so incredibly hostile to trans women even being able to name our own oppression, let alone resist it in any concrete way. and i know it's not just this website. don't you get tired of the crab bucket bullshit? holy fucking shit.

like, i've been lucky, i've overwhelmingly managed to dodge it (probably on account of frankly being a pretty boring and inconsistent poster). this time last year, i was actually bored that i didn't have anons in my inbox to argue with. but i've seen it happen to so many other women now, it's absurd. even if it never hits you personally, you can never shake the awareness that it's happening to so many of the cool girls on here, people you like and whose posts you laugh at and who you look up to. they just kinda seem to drop like flies over time. don't you get tired?

[astonmartinii]

day three: mistletoe and whine | george russell social media au

pairing: george russell x albon fem reader

it's a christmas classic - a bah humbug girl and a christmas obsessed king

christmas song: mistletoe and wine - cliff richard

MASTERLIST | TIP JAR

yourusername

liked by alexalbon, landonorris and 209,504 others

tagged: georgerussell63

yourusername: it's hard being a bah humbug girl dating all three wise men in a trench coat

view all comments

user1: the way he's literally wearing a trench coat as well

yourusername: i wasn't lying in the caption - how do you think he's so tall?

user2: now you mention it 🤔

georgerussell63: can you stop telling this joke? my niece just asked me where my two friends are under my coat? in public! people thought i was a predator :(

yourusername: lol

georgerussell63: i knew i was dumb when i thought albons would stop being mean to me when we started dating

user3: i love how opposites attract work - holiday edition

user4: y/n is like an old blue collar man who grunts at christmas lights and george is essex girl winter wonderland final boss

user5: i actually NEED to see george at winter wonderland @yourusername please take one for the team

yourusername: i will never go somewhere that will charge me over £7 for a hot chocolate

user6: your bf is a millionaire?

yourusername: it's the PRINCIPLE

georgerussell63: i don't know how you don't lOVE christmas :(

yourusername: i like it but just not as much as other people !

georgerussell63: you slammed the door in the face of carollers and pulled the curtains after flipping them off?

yourusername: i mean carollers are the worst

yourusername: AND IT WAS NOVEMBER 29TH???

georgerussell63: they were trying to spread cheer ??

yourusername: well they can spread it elsewhere - not while i'm watching i'm a celeb

georgerussell63: heartless

user7: tbf carolling before december even starts is harrowing

yourusername: THANK YOU

alexalbon: george, y/n will never change, you're lucky you even got her to wear that ugly ass christmas jumper last year

yourusername: literally, i am so generous

georgerussell63: you two are as bad as each other

alexalbon: 👯‍♀️

alexalbon

liked by maxverstappen1, lilymunhe and 402,307 others

tagged: yourusername & georgerussell63

alexalbon: is it really december if you don't receive five mayday texts from y/n after george reveals his christmas chart

view all comments

user9: he has a christmas chart ???

user10: why are yall shocked it's GEORGE RUSSELL

user11: i'd honestly be worried if george wasn't making a christmas chart

yourusername: it's a struggle bus

alexalbon: yeah i couldn't tell from the 13 999 messages i got from you

yourusername: he has me on peeling duty ....

alexalbon: YOU WITH KNIVES ???

yourusername: exactly !!!!

yourusername: it's a punishment for not wanting to watch nativity

user12: well he kinda has a point there tho

yourusername: but i wanted to save it - it's like one of the only christmas films i like i didn't want to waste it on december 2nd

alexalbon: okay george i think you're being a little tyrannical with the christmas chart

georgerussell63: we're a two man team !!! someone is always going to get something they don't like

yourusername: YOU KNEW I WANTED WRITING THE CHRISTMAS CARDS THIS WAS PURE PETTINESS

maxverstappen1: not to say i told yall so...

alexalbon: erm max this is albon business

georgerussell63: and russell business ?

alexalbon: no it's albon business - you're an albon

yourusername: babe if anyone is dropping their name it's YOU

alexalbon: albons 4 ever

user13: can george drop the christmas chart template please

georgerussell63: at least some people appreciate my chart

yourusername: i appreciate it a lot when it's not being wielded like a weapon babe

georgerussell63: fine... i'll take you off peeling duty

yourusername: thank you xxx 😘

georgerussell63: you're lucky i love you

yourusername: eh i guess so (i love you too)

georgerussell63

liked by alexalbon, danielricciardo and 583,428 others

tagged: yourusername

georgerussell63: she loves it really

view all comments

user14: i think she loves something else ...

user15: somehow i think we might be getting a sneak peek into the reward y/n gets after doing anything remotely christmassy

user16: i mean i too would also decorate a christmas tree to get george like that

yourusername: but you'll never get the chance :P

alexalbon: GEORGE WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS NO WEIRD PHOTOS WITH MY SISTER TO BE POSTED WHERE I CAN SEE THEM

georgerussell63: but i gotta show the people how i'm winning

alexalbon: well you'll never win on track again if i have anything to do with it

georgerussell63: with all due respect alex, what are you doing from back there

yourusername: george... remember who my loyalties will lie with

alexalbon: i'm sure i have buddies at the front who won't mind doing some community service

georgerussell63: you wouldn't ...

maxverstappen1: I WOULD

user17: max verstappen beef does not stop for christmas

user18: he just pops up in george's business now

user19: qatar gonna haunt george forever

yourusername: i don't love it, i love you

georgerussell63: i love you too

yourusername: you love me so much you post soft core porn of us to get your ass beat by my brother?

georgerussell63: yes i love you that much

yourusername: then i love you so much i'll only let alex get one lick in

georgerussell63: huh? defend me?

yourusername: rules are rules babe and if i have to follow the christmas chart... well alex is allowed to set any punishment he sees fit

georgerussell63: i guess so

user20: this couple cracks me up

user21: how did we go from declaring their love for each other to letting people beating them up

user22: i wouldn't expect anything less from y/n albon

yourusername

liked by alexalbon, landonorris and 278,304 others

tagged: georgerussell63

yourusername: mistletoe is the only good thing about christmas

view all comments

user24: i mean... if my bf was george russell mistletoe would be a permanent fixture in my house

user25: i'd climb that man like a beanstalk

user26: so real like give me one chance

yourusername: i will not hesitate to block you all and then block yall on george's account as well

user27: people might say this is cringey but like i'd crash out if i saw how f1twt spoke about my boyfriend

alexalbon: all you do is mistletoe and WHINE

yourusername: you think you're a real comedian don't you

alexalbon: yes i like to think i'm a funny guy

georgerussell63: OMG LIKE THE CLIFF RICHARD SONG

alexalbon: ... yes

yourusername: oh baby ...

georgerussell63: just because you guys have that weird sibling connection that means you get every joke

user28: am i the only one who also got it immediately

user29: no babe it's pretty obvious

georgerussell63: right. i can deal with the bullying from alex and y/n because they're my bestfriends

yourusername: you also like when i bully you

georgerussell63: yes too much

alexalbon: ????

georgerussell63: ANYWAY, that does not mean every random guy and his dog can get in on the joke :(

user30: i have learnt... a little too much about george russell today

alexalbon: you and me both

maxverstappen1: i'm going to stop going at this guy in the media if he's getting off on it FREAK

georgerussell63: no it's just y/n you're safe

yourusername: you're not pretty enough sorry not sorry mr verstappen

maxverstappen1: excuse me?

charles_leclerc: don't listen to them max

alexalbon: how did we get to this point?

user31: tbf i would also whine about mistletoe if my bf was that freakishly tall

yourusername: exactlyyyy

georgerussell63

liked by lewishamilton, landonorris and 629,044 others

tagged: yourusername, lilymunhe & alexalbon

georgerussell63: merry christmas from our family to yours

view all comments

user32: wait the way 2/3rds of the 2019 rookies are literally family now

landonorris: my invite was clearly lost in the mail

alexalbon: the way you told us you 'didn't want to be around you lovesick fools i have a family that will let me actually be the centre of attention'

landonorris: eh that doesn't really sound like me...

yourusername: you also put it in writing in the group chat

landonorris: YOU'RE NOT EVEN IN THAT GROUP CHAT

georgerussell63: oh i show y/n everything !

landonorris: WHAT?

yourusername: and he means everything ... stop putting mistletoe in your pants i did not need to see that rash

landonorris: Y/N NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

user33: once again these fools need to stop oversharing on the internet

yourusername: lando needs to stop oversharing on my wifi bill

landonorris: george !!! y/n just called you broke

yourusername: best christmas ever, i love you all xxx

georgerussell63: no one i'd rather spend my christmas with

yourusername: and i'll hold my hands up, the christmas chart was worth it :(

georgerussell63: any house with george russell in it will have an efficient and effective christmas

yourusername: it was very efficient but almost too much because why were you yelling at alex to 'hurry up with unwrapping his gift'

georgerussell63: ummmm because i wanted you to open the ones from me :(

yourusername: you're so fucking cute

user34: the end of the 2024 christmas chart saga ... you will forever be remembered

user35: and when george turns up in brackley in february with a season chart...

kimiantonelli: i'll kill myself

georgerussell63: EXCUSE ME? ON MY CHRISTMAS?

alexalbon: what a lovely couple of days... i need to detox from being in such close proximity to you two

yourusername: we're literally not that bad

alexalbon: HE SHOUTED AT ME TO HURRY UP SO YOU COULD UNWRAP THE CHRISTMAS THEMED LINGERIE HE GOT YOU

yourusername: well he knows how to make me like the holiday 🤷‍♀️

georgerussell63: just because i thought of it first ...

yourusername: you snooze you lose, i love you baby

georgerussell63: always the best for you my love

fin.

note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME and happy day three of astonmartini-mas to you all. this is a PSA that i shall be going on holiday so this is likely not to be updated until next week! enjoy the previous days and my masterlist as you wait! much love xxx (also my tip jar is at the top of the post if you wanna send me a birthday coffee xx)

[yzzyhee]

heartbreak girl - sjy

PAIRING: best friend!sim jaeyun x yn (fem bodied)

WARNING: pet name (angel, baby) lmk if i missed anything, slight angst..? a lot of feelings involved, kinda mean heeseung??

WC: ~5k more or less

SYNOPSIS: jake has always been there for you through thick and thin — he was always there to take away your hurt, but when were you going to realise?

PLAYLIST: 5sos - heartbreak girl

A.N: hi everyone i just wanted to say quickly that it’s my first written fic, i have no idea what im doing tbf but i just really really liked the idea for a while and decided to give it a shot .. i truly accept any constructive criticism you might have idm this will probably be the first and last time i post something but ! do let me know what you guys think, it would mean a lot !!

ps. this one is dedicated to my wife @ja3yun seriously couldn’t have done it without ur advices so seriously tysm bb!!

I. “YOU CALL ME UP // IT’S LIKE A BROKEN RECORD // SAYING THAT YOUR HEART HURTS”

Jake sighs as his phone buzzes. Picking it up he sees your caller ID and for a split of a second he doesn’t want to pick up the call. As he glances at the phone he lets himself wonder what a different life would be like; if somehow in another life he could stop caring and ignore you.

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath — that could never be a possibility. He’s sure that if that another life actually exists, the universe would somehow bring him together with you and all of this would eventually happen.

“Y/N?” he answers, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Jake…” you manag to say even though your friend can barely hear your voice. “He broke up with me.” you said as a sob escaped from you.

Jake feels like his own heart is shattering. Not for your and Heeseung’s relationship that was over for now but mostly for himself. He’d seen you go through this too many times, always falling for the wrong boys and always ending up heartbroken.

“It just hurts so bad, Jake..” you cry, your voice breaking.

As you continued crying and uttering words that made Jake’s heart drop at how you seem to hate yourself now, he feels like he could punch Heeseung if he were to see him now. Even though he has been there for you through many of your previous heartbreaks and also fights with Heeseung he never heard you cry so bad.

“Hey, Y/N.. Listen to me. Take deep breaths, stop crying, angel, please.” Jake says softly and it makes you stop crying over the phone for a bit.

“You’re more than just a pretty face, okay? Don’t listen to him. You’re smart, you’re kind and you’re wicked funny.. And I guarantee there’s a guy out there who will see what I see, okay?”

You take a sharp breath and nodd but quickly mutter a “Yes” as you realize he can’t see you through the phone.

“I just.. Why does this keep happening, Jake? Why are all the guys I end up with always such assholes?”

“It’s not you, angel. You’re really amazing, you know? Sometimes people like him… just don’t realize what they have right in front of them until it’s too late. He will definitely come crawling back to you in no time.” Jake says in a playful tone but his words held some truth — even through your fights Heeseung always came back.

You chuckle and it makes Jake smile. He hates seeing or hearing you cry, especially when it’s about your relationships and how you always deem yourself unworthy of love from anyone when it’s your boyfriends who just can’t appreciate you.

“Thank you, Jake. Thank you for being a friend. It’s so late right now..I’m sorry for bothering you.”

Jake chuckles as well. “You never bother me, angel.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow at 10.”

Then the phone call abruptly comes to an end and Jake sighs for the second time that night. He knows you won’t call, especially if Heeseung puts his ego aside and comes back to you tonight.

He takes the pillow from under his head and places it on top, muffling a scream as his own mind and especially you liked to play him in circles again and again.

II. HE TREATS YOU SO BAD AND I’M SO GOOD TO YOU, IT’S NOT FAIR

“Okay, enough.” Jake says as he looks away from you and Heeseung’s display of affection. “I’m seriously happy you got back together but I am still third-wheeling here…” he lies gritting his teeth.

To you it looks like he is actually happy for you and just annoyed by your public display of love with Heeseung but in reality? No, in reality he simply can’t stand seeing you act so in love with the boy when just three days ago he insulted you, called you mean words and broke it off. Just for him to come back to you, act all sad, say sorry and you forgive him just like that.

You push Heeseung slightly off you and lean closer to Jake to take his hand in yours, giving it a small squeeze. “I’m sorry, Heeseung just really wanted to come to the drive-in movie and I couldn’t say no..”

Heeseung drags you back into him and puts a hand over your shoulder while the other is sneaking between your thighs. You giggle and slap his hand away while muttering that “Jake is right here”. Jake quickly adverts his eyes, finding the movie on the playing suddenly interesting.

“Oh, it’s getting rather chilly…” you say after a few minutes and look longingly at your boyfriend, hoping for him to get the message and give you his jacket.

“I told you to bring a jacket, dummy.” Heeseung says, rolling his eyes but making no move of giving his jacket to his girlfriend. “How about you go get us some drinks, baby? Maybe if you move a bit you can get warm.”

Jake shakes his head at his words and scoffs. He takes off his jacket and puts it on your shoulders. “Here, Y/N.”

You smile gratefully at Jake, your eyes softening. “ Thank you, Jake. You’re the best.”

“Anytime,” Jake replies, his voice gentle. He glances at Heeseung, his expression hardening. “You should take better care of her, man.”

Heeseung shrugged, not even bothering to spare Jake a look. “She’s fine. She can handle herself.”

Jake clenches his jaw, resisting the urge to say something more. He hates how Heeseung keeps treating you, how he takes you for granted and never caring. He treats you so bad and he’s so good to you — it just wasn’t fair.

During the movie that Jake paid no attention to , he couldn’t help but compare himself to Heeseung. What does Heeseung have that he doesn’t? Is it the hair, the stupid leather jacket he always wears, the bambi eyes, the way he carries himself with such confidence or the way he seems to effortlessly attract attention wherever he goes?

Or maybe you just happen to like the way Heeseung makes you feel after all. The excitement of the chase, the push and pull, the high and low that came with every fight and every word in it, making it hurt but also giving you a rush feeling.

But he knows you. In the long run you don’t actually want all of that. As he steals a glance at the two of you, he feels like he could scream out right now that you could be with him now. He could offer you love, stability. He decides to push off that idea out of his mind as fast as it came. You are happy with Heeseung for now and that’s all that matters.

He feels a hand on his shoulder, a gentle touch that brings him back to the present. He looks up to see you, seeing your soft smile but when he looks into your eyes he sees sadness lingering behind them.

“Hey, we’re going to head out… Heeseung needs to meet up with some friends.” you say quietly to Jake, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jake frowns, feeling frustrated. “You can stay, can’t you? You love this movie!” he exclaims, his voice louder than he intends, hoping that Heeseung can hear the disappointment in his voice.

You purse your lips and shake your head. With a low voice you mutter an apology and start to take his jacket off to return it to him but he stops you.

“Keep it.” Jake tells you offering a smile that doesn’t quite reaches his eyes.

You nod, getting up quickly and follow Heeseung to leave the drive-in movie location. You take one look back to wave goodbye at Jake, seeing him standing there, his eyes locked on you.

Jake watches you leave, the weight of unspoken words heavy on his heart. He waves back, his smile fading as soon as you turn away.

He closes his eyes and looks up at the sky, the cool night air brushing against his skin. The stars twinkle above, indifferent to his inner turmoil. He takes a deep breath, the chilly air filling his lungs, and lets it out slowly, his breath visible in the night air.

In the silence of the drive-in, the sound of distant car engines and the murmur of people leaving fill the background, but Jake is lost in his thoughts. He thinks about all the moments he’s shared with you, the laughter, the tears, and the quiet times where just being near you was enough. He thinks about the way Heeseung treats you, and it makes his chest tighten with frustration and longing.

Jake opens his eyes, the stars still sparkling above, offering no answers, no solace. He knows he can’t keep this to himself much longer. The longer he waits, the more he sees you getting hurt, the more it eats away at him. But he can’t do it. He knows you need to know that someone out there loves you deeply but what if it his feelings would ruin everything for good? For now, all he can do is be there for you, as he always has been. He turns away from the screen, walking slowly to his car. As he gets in and starts the engine, he glances back at the empty space where you had been sitting, the memory of your sad smile etched in his mind.

III. SOMETIMES I’M SO CLOSE TO CONFESSION

Jake sits in his room, the soft glow of his desk lamp casting long shadows across the walls. His mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, his heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words. For weeks now, he’s been wrestling with the idea of confessing his feelings to you, his best friend and the person he cares about most in the world. But every time he tries to gather the courage to tell you how he feels, his fears and insecurities hold him back, trapping him in a cycle of doubt and self-pity.

“Hey, Jake, are you listening?” your voice takes him out of his thoughts. You get up from the bed and go sit on the desk chair next to him.

“No, sorry.” Jake smile sheepishly. “You were saying?” he attempts to play it off.

You roll your eyes. “I was talking about this new book coming up…” you trail off, talking about the upcoming release of your favourite author.

Jake can’t help but let himself watch you. He thinks about the way you smile, the way your soft giggle fills the room and makes his heart skip a beat and the way your eyes light up when you talk about something you’re passionate about just like now.

And as he listens to you talk, he can’t help but feel a sense of longing wash over him, a longing to tell you how he feels, to lay his heart bare and risk it all for the chance at something more.

“Y/N I-“ Jake suddenly interrupts you but his bravery doesn’t last long.

As the moment passes, the words stick in his throat, suffocating him with their weight. He wants to tell you, he really does, but the fear of rejection holds him back, paralyzing him with its grip.

“Yes? Did you want to say something?” you ask him and look up to him just to see him shake his head and motioning for you to continue talking about the book.

And so he sits there, silent and still, watching you with a mixture of adoration and regret, wishing he could find the courage to take the leap and tell you how he feels.

As you continue to talk, oblivious to the turmoil raging within him, Jake can’t help but wonder what it would feel like to hold you in his arms, to kiss you under the stars, to whisper words of love into your ear. But for now, all he can do is watch and wait, hoping that one day, he’ll find the strength to confess his feelings and take a chance on love.

“You will come with me, right?” you say to him suddenly. “To the book release? Heeseung doesn’t want to come, he thinks it’s silly..”

Jake's heart skips a beat at your words, his mind racing with a mixture of excitement and nervousness but also anger towards Heeseung — how could he think your passion, your hobby is something silly and telling you that to your face nonetheless? Jake keeps those thoughts of your boyfriend to himself. However the thought of spending time alone with you again, of being by your side as you indulge in something you love and hanging out just like old times, fills him with a sense of warmth and anticipation.

“Of course, Y/N,” he says, his voice soft.“I’d love to come with you.”

A smile spreads across your face, and Jake feels his heart swell with happiness at the sight. For a moment, everything else fades away, leaving just the two of you, lost in the moment together.

And as you talk excitedly about the upcoming event, Jake can't help but feel a sense of hope stir within him. Maybe this is his chance, his opportunity to finally confess his feelings and take a chance on love. And as he looks into your eyes, he knows that no matter what happens, he'll always be there for you, ready to support you and cherish every moment you share together.

IV. I’M RIGHT HERE, WHEN YOU GONNA REALISE // THAT I’M YOUR CURE?

“Heeseung, what’s gotten into you?” you ask, frustration clear in your tone as you watch him pace around your living room.

Heeseung stops and scoffs. “Are you serious?”

You fight the urge to roll your eyes. Ever since he tagged along to the the drive-in movie hang out between you and Jake and then found out you went with Jake to your book release event he started to act out. He rejects your ideas to go out on a date, he rejects initiating any kind of intimacy to you — even refusing to hold your hand, something he’s never done in your 6 months relationship.

You can’t help but feel confused and hurt by his sudden change in behaviour. He used to be so affectionate even if you had a fight and was always eager to show you off on dates and such but now he seems like a completely different person.

“Seriously, Heeseung. Talk to me, what’s going on?” you press, your voice tinged with worry.

Heeseung looks at you and steps closer. “You’re in love, baby.” he says while putting a strand of your hair behind your ear, smiling softly. “But not with me.”

“What?” you say, your mind racing as you try to process what he just said.

“I think you should give Jake a call.” Heeseung continues, his expression earnest though you can’t help but feel puzzled by his sudden insight. Heeseung chuckles. “C’mon, baby. Did you think I wouldn’t notice? How your eyes always light up when he’s around or how you always talk about him when he’s not and bring him up whenever there’s an opportunity? Or how you always compare what I do with what he does?”

You part your lips slightly, caught off guard by his observations. His words hit you like a bolt of lightning, sparking a flurry of emotions within you.

“But… I…” you stammer, struggling to find the words to express the tumultuous thoughts swirling in your mind.

Heeseung reaches out, gently cupping your face in his hands. “It’s okay, Y/N,” he says softly. “I understand. Hell, I’d fall in love with the guy too if he were to always drop everything and be at my beck and call. How did you not realise everything sooner? I swear, he has been so obvious the past weeks.” he chuckles. “Actually, did you know he had a presentation on the day you went with him to the book release? He talked with his professor to present it earlier so he could come with you.”

Heeseung’s words hit you like a sudden gust of winter wind, cutting through the air with their sharpness and leaving you feeling exposed and vulnerable. His observations about Jake’s actions leave you reeling, the realization sinking in like a heavy weight on your chest.

“I… I didn’t know,” you whisper, your voice barely above a whisper as you struggle to process the information. “I didn’t realize he was going out of his way for me…”

Heeseung’s hands drop from your face, his expression softening with understanding. “It’s okay, Y/N,” he says gently, his voice a comforting presence in the midst of the storm raging inside you. “Sometimes, it’s hard to see things clearly when you’re too close to them.”

You nod slowly, feeling a sense of guilt wash over you at the thought of all the times you may have overlooked Jake’s gestures of affection. How could you have been so blind to his feelings, so oblivious to the depth of his love for you?

Heeseung leans in closer and kisses your forehead. It’s a tender, lingering kiss, filled with a mixture of sadness and acceptance. He pulls back, looking into your eyes one last time with a strained smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. The weight of the moment hangs heavy between you, and you can feel the finality in his actions. He turns and walks towards the door.

You watch him leave, your heart aching as he steps out of your apartment. The door closes behind him with a soft click, and you stand there, feeling a profound sense of loss. Part of you wants to run after him, to call him back and somehow make everything right. But you know that some things can’t be fixed with a few words.

You move to the window and peer out, hoping to catch a glimpse of Heeseung, hoping he would turn back and give you one last look. But the street below is empty, and the cold night air feels like a reflection of the unresting feeling inside you.

For the first time after a break-up, you don’t call Jake. You take the night to yourself, the silence of your apartment enveloping you like a cold winter's night. Your mind is a whirlwind of confusion and heartache, the echoes of Heeseung's words lingering like a biting chill.

As you sit alone, wrapped in a blanket on the couch, your thoughts turn to Jake. The realisation that he might have deeper feelings for you sends a shiver down your spine. You’ve always seen him as your rock, your dependable best friend, but now, faced with the possibility that his feelings might run deeper, you feel an icy grip of uncertainty and fear tighten around your heart.

You think about all the moments you’ve shared with Jake, the late-night conversations, the inside jokes, the way he’s always been there for you. How could you have been so blind to his feelings? The thought of potentially hurting him, of disrupting the comfortable dynamic you’ve always shared, fills you with a sense of dread. It’s like stepping out into the harsh winter wind, unsure if you’ll be able to find your way back to the warmth and safety you’ve known.

You wrap the blanket tighter around yourself, seeking comfort in its embrace, but your mind continues to spiral. What if you don’t feel the same way? What if your feelings for Jake are merely a reflection of your gratitude and dependence on his unwavering support? The thought of leading him on, of giving him false hope, sends a pang of guilt through you. The guilt eats at you for not noticing sooner, for being so wrapped up in your own relationships and dramas that you missed the quiet, steady love that Jake might have been offering all along. It’s a chilling thought, realizing how much you might have overlooked in your pursuit of fleeting romances with others.

Your heart and mind feel like a frozen landscape, barren and cold, with no clear path forward. You can’t deny the flutter of something more when you think of Jake, but it’s buried under layers of confusion and fear. You’ve been through so much heartache, and the idea of risking your most cherished friendship for a chance at something more feels like walking on thin ice, fragile and treacherous.

The night wears on, and the cold, empty silence of your apartment presses down on you. You long for the warmth of Jake’s presence, his soothing voice and reassuring words, but you know you can’t run to him this time. You need to sort through your feelings, to understand what’s real and what’s born out of loneliness and a desire for comfort.

As the hours pass, you come to a bittersweet realization. You need to protect Jake from potential heartbreak, to shield him from the uncertainty that’s freezing your heart. You care for him too much to risk his happiness on your unresolved feelings. And so, for the first time, you decide to face this winter storm on your own, hoping that in the process, you’ll find clarity and the strength to either embrace or gently let go of what could be.

Tomorrow, you’ll see him, and maybe the warmth of his smile will melt some of the ice around your heart. But tonight, you wrap yourself tighter in your blanket and let the winter winds of your emotions rage on, knowing that some answers can only be found in the stillness of the cold.

You don’t see him tomorrow. Instead, you chose to run from him, from his feelings and your own. The weight of your confusion and fear makes you retreat further into yourself, wrapping the cold, comforting solitude around you like a protective cloak. You bury yourself in college work, books and anything that can keep your mind occupied. Yet, in the quiet moments — those still, silent spaces between the busyness — your thoughts inevitably drift back to Jake.

The look in Jake’s eyes when he’s with you haunts you. It’s a look filled with warmth and unspoken words. A look that now seems so painfully clear in hindsight. It’s as if he’s always been there, offering you a love as constant and reassuring as the summer sun, yet you were too caught up in the fleeting, cold winter winds of other relationships to notice.

Jake’s feelings for you feel like a warm summer day. They’re gentle and persistent, bringing light and comfort into your life without demanding anything in return. His love is the kind that warms you from the inside out, melting away the icy barriers you’ve built around your heart. But now, the fear of stepping into that warmth, of risking the friendship you hold so dear, keeps you trapped in a winter of your own making.

Meanwhile, Jake is left adrift, confused and hurt by your sudden withdrawal. He tries to seek you out, to understand why you’re avoiding him, but every attempt is met with distance. He feels like he’s chasing shadows, reaching out for something that slips further away with each passing day. He even tried to talk with Heeseung, hoping that the man knows something of why you’re acting this way towards him but much like you, Heeseung avoided him.

As the days turn into a week, the winter storm within you begins to show signs of weakening. The relentless busyness that you’ve thrown yourself into can’t keep the feelings at bay forever. In those quiet moments, when you’re alone with your thoughts, you start to feel the warmth of Jake’s love seeping through the cracks in your icy defenses.

You remember the way he looked at you, the gentle, unspoken promises in his eyes. The realization that you’ve been running from something so genuine, so pure, starts to thaw the fear and confusion that have held you captive. The warmth of Jake’s love begins to melt the ice around your heart, and you start to see things more clearly.

You know you can’t avoid him forever. The thought of hurting Jake, of causing him pain with your indecision, is unbearable. You decide that it’s time to face your feelings, to confront the truth that you’ve been so afraid of. You owe it to Jake, and to yourself, to be honest about what’s in your heart.

With a deep breath, you pick up your phone and send him a message, asking to meet. The anticipation of seeing him again fills you with a mix of dread and hope. You know the conversation ahead will be difficult, but it’s the only way to move forward.

As you wait for his response, you feel a sense of clarity. The journey ahead might be uncertain, but you’re ready to step into the light, to embrace the summer warmth that Jake’s love promises. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll find that the path you’re most afraid of is the one that leads you to the happiness you’ve been searching for.

“Ofcourse. When and where?”

His response is immediate, no hesitation, no hint of the confusion and hurt you know he must be feeling. The simplicity of his words, the readiness to meet despite everything, brings a small, bittersweet smile to your face. You suggest a quiet café near campus, a place you both know well, and set a time for the next afternoon.

The next day, as you make your way to the café, your mind is a whirlwind of emotions. The warmth of the spring sun on your face feels like a promise, a gentle reassurance that everything might just be okay. You take a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves, and step inside.

Jake is already there, sitting at a corner table. The sight of him sends a rush of emotions through you — relief, nervousness and a profound sense of familiarity. He looks up as you approach, and his puppy like smile is like a beacon of warmth cutting through your lingering uncertainty.

“Hey,” he says softly, standing up to greet you.

“Hey,” you reply, your voice a little shaky. You both sit down, and for a moment, there’s an awkward silence. Jake’s eyes search your face, and you can see the questions and concern in them.

“I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you,” you start, your voice barely above a whisper. “I just needed some time to think.”

Jake nods, his expression understanding but guarded. “I’ve been worried about you,” he admits. “I didn’t know what was going on, and I… I missed you.”

His words hit you like a gentle breeze, warm and reassuring, but also filled with a depth of emotion that makes your heart ache. “I missed you too,” you confess. “I needed to figure out some things… about us, about my feelings.”

Jake’s eyes widen slightly, a flicker of hope and fear crossing his face. “Us?Your feelings?” he echoes, his voice tense with anticipation.

You take a deep breath, gathering your courage. “Jake, you’ve always been there for me. You’ve been my rock, my best friend, and… I’ve realized that maybe, I’ve been blind to something that’s been right in front of me all along.”

His eyes are locked onto yours, and you can see the hope growing, the warmth in his gaze like the sun breaking through the clouds after a cold cold winter day. “What do you mean?” he asks softly.

“I mean…” you struggle to find the right words, the right way to express the tumult of emotions inside you. “I think I’ve been so caught up in my own fears and insecurities that I didn’t see what was right in front of me. You’ve always been there, and I’ve come to realize that… that I care about you, Jake. More than just as a friend.”

There, it’s out. You think as you let the words out of your mouth. The words hang in the air between you, a confession that feels both terrifying and liberating. Jake’s expression softens, a mixture of relief and overwhelming emotion flooding his face.

“I’ve cared about you for a long time.. I’m surprised you didn’t notice sooner,” he admits, his voice shaking slightly. “I didn’t know how to tell you without risking what we have. But hearing you say that… it means everything to me.”

You reach across the table, taking his hand in yours. The simple touch feels like a lifeline, grounding you in this moment of vulnerability and honesty. “I’m scared, Jake,” you confess. “I’m scared of losing what we have, but I’m more scared of never knowing what we could be.”

Jake squeezes your hand, his grip warm and reassuring. “We’ll figure it out together,” he promises. “We’ve always been there for each other, and that won’t change. I want to be with you, Y/N. Not just as your friend, but as someone who loves you.”

His words are like the first true warmth of summer, melting away the last of your fears. You smile, a genuine, hopeful smile, and nod. “I want that too, Jake. I want to see where this goes, with you.”

As you sit there, hand in hand, you feel the ice around your heart finally melt away, replaced by the warmth and promise of a new beginning. The journey ahead might be uncertain, but with Jake by your side, you know you’ll face it together, one step at a time.

[mollymijh]

Tadaai and Stobotnik are the same ship and I can prove it!

(Ok maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but unfortunately the brainrot has taken over and this is all I can currently think about)

Ok so firstly we have Dr Ivo Robotnik and Ainosuke Shindo; both antagonists within their stories, both incredible in their own rights being the best in their fields, and both are mad geniuses. They are both primarily referred to by their nicknames by the other characters (Eggman for Robotnik and Adam for Ainosuke), both are primarily associated with the colour red, they both unique hairstyles, and both share a love for dance.

They also both have an obsession with a blue haired teen (ok very different types of obsession tbf but it’s funny to me).

Next we have Agent Stone and Tadashi Kikuchi, who are both also very similar; they are both employed under the previously mentioned characters, they are loyal to a fault to those characters even if they don't always treat them best, both of them almost exclusively wear suits throughout their entire screen times, and, if I share my own opinion, they both also have extremely pretty eyes.

Now onto the similarities of them as couples.

Both Robotnik and Ainosuke are shown to manhandle Stone and Tadashi at various points, leading to accusations from their respective fandoms of physical abuse.

However, in both cases, most fans recognise that Stone and Tadashi don’t just put up with the ‘abuse’ but seem to actively enjoy it, leading to kink-shaming towards Stone and Tadashi for their unconventional relationships with their bosses, but it's generally accepted as they match each other's freaks to a dangerous degree.

Stone and Tadashi also both only seem to smile when around Robotnik and Ainosuke, taking on more neutral or even annoyed expressions when around anyone else.

With both ships it’s also apparent that they have years of history together. With Tadaai they have known each other since childhood and had a falling out in their teens which is the catalyst for the entire plot of sk8 and what led to Ainosuke becoming unhinged.

While it's clear Stobotnik don’t have the same kind of messy history with each other, it still seems true that the two have worked with each other for some time considering how comfortable they are with one another, with Stone being the only human being Robotnik actually tolerates and allows close to him.

Robotnik and Ainosuke also both have very difficult relationships with their families, with Robotnik having grown up as an orphan, never knowing family until his grandfather entered into his life in sonic 3, and Ainosuke having a family but being physically and emotionally abused by them from a young age.

In both cases their family also cause a break in their relationships with Tadashi and Stone. Robotnik fires and turns his back on Stone in the 3rd movie, choosing to believe his grandfather over Stone after Stone urges Robotnik not to trust his grandfather after discovering he had been deceiving them the whole time.

Ainosuke and Tadashi’s relationship also breaks down due to Ainosuke's family, as Ainosuke’s father burning his skateboard results in Tadashi refusing to speak up for him in his defence, causing a split between them that’s lasts for nearly a decade.

Another similarity is the use of pet names and insults within their relationships as both Robotnik and Ainosuke use previously derogatory terms towards their other halves as a term of endearment during the emotional climax of their stories.

Ainosuke often refers to Tadashi as ‘dog’ using it throughout the whole show almost entirely as an insult, seemingly to remind him of his place within their relationship, until the end of the final episode where it takes on an affectionate meaning as he uses it in what comes pretty close to what fans consider to be a marriage proposal.

With Robotnik he had previously referred to Stone as a ‘sycophant’ (a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage) in the 2nd movie, however in the climax of the 3rd film he instead refers to him as a ‘syco-friend’ shortly before he sacrifices himself to save the world, changing a previous insult to acknowledge his own softer feelings towards Stone . In both cases this use of previously derogatory terms are used to signal a change in their relationships and the mending of them.

Robotnik similarly uses unconventional words of affection when talking to Stone, taking his compliment of Stone's latte's from the 1st movie and turning it into as close to a love confession as we could possibly get from these two.

To make my final point I'd also like to point out that with both ships the climax of their stories is reached when one realises what the other means to them. Robotnik saves the entire world and sacrifices himself simply because he knows that Stone is there on earth and that he’s the only person that ever truly cared about him, sacrificing himself for Stone.

With Ainosuke his story reaches a climax when he remembers what it’s like to have fun when skating again and the realisation that the whole reason he used to enjoy it so much was because he had Tadashi by his side and that he had always been there by his side the whole time.

Basically I really love both of these ships and they're all I could think about these last few days.

In conclusion

[lexisecretaccx]

High School Sweethearts pt.1 - Chris Sturniolo

PT2, PT3, PT4, PT5, PT6, PT7, PT8, PT9, PT10, ( rest of the parts on my Masterlist)

A/n: This is gonna be a series but PLSPLS bear with me bc I am struggling in school right now! This series reminds me of the K-12 Album tbf lol🤍🎀

(Chris sturniolo x Fem reader, skater Chris, nothing much atm, maybe a bit suggestive in a dream but not much else tbh.)

The bell rings, causing me to lift my head swiftly. I look around at the class and the other students are packing up so I copy, but just as I lean down to place my pencil case into my bag, a book slams on my desk making me jump out of my skin.

“You aren’t going anywhere y/n. Sleeping in class again?” My teacher Mr Rockwell looks down at me, his face cold and stern. “I’m sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night and..” he picks the book up off the desk, “no excuses. Good thing this is the last period because you can stay behind for detention. An hour and a half.” I sigh as he walks away before picking up a sheet of paper and placing it on my desk.

I place my face into my hands out of embarrassment, I’ve never had detention with this teacher before, I’m usually alert in his classes. “No more sleeping!” Mr Rockwell slightly yells from across the classroom and I pick up my pen before sighing and studying the page. Algebra. Math has never been my strong suit.

Mine and the teachers heads both shoot to the door as it opens with a squeak, a brunette boy walks into the room and up to the teachers desk, “You’re late again. Once more and there will be serious issues.” I hear Mr Rockwell say, before the boy replies “yeah sorry, see my brother had to..” “Excuses again! What’s the matter with the students in my class.” He mutters, leaning past the brunette to look at me.

My face flushes with embarrassment as the boy turns to look at me, he mustn’t have noticed there was anyone else in the class, I am seated right at the back to be fair. He smiles at me softly, before turning back to the teacher. I swear I recognised him, I think he was one of the triplets in our grade.

“Sit down.” Mr Rockwell mutters, handing the boy the same piece of paper he gave me. To my surprise the boy sat right next to me, probably to try copy me. “If you’re trying to copy me, you’re out of luck because I haven’t got a clue either.” I whisper and I look over to the boy, his eyes studying my face. “Do I know you?” He whispers back.

“I don’t know.. do you?” I ask in confusion because I haven’t ever spoken to him or his brothers, “yeah you’re the girl who sits at the front in science.” He chuckles and looks at the teacher at the front of the class and then back at me.I’m surprised he knows who I am, I didn’t know he was in my class.

“Oh yeah..” I laughed lightly. I look back down at my paper to try and make some sense of it, and I fail at that.

The teacher stands up and his chair squeaks against the floor, causing me and the boy to jump as we look up. “I need to go.. grab something from one of the other classrooms I’ll be 10 minutes minimum.” He spoke monotonously and walked out the class. I immediately look to the boy and he has the same confused expression on his face as I do.

“What was that about?” He looks to me for an answer, “I dont know but at least I don’t have him staring me down anymore,” I laugh, “what’s your name? Sorry I dont remember it.” I feel guilty, due to the fact that he knows who I am, I mean I know who he is but not enough to know his name, does he even know mine?

“Oh uh im Chris, and don’t stress it y/n u won’t be forgetting my name soon enough.” He smirks to me before his eyes focus on the equations in front of him. He knows my name. “What do you mean by that?” I laugh softly and he shrugs.

“Maybe you’ll remember me as the boy who stole the answers for this algae-bra shit.” He stands up whilst looking at me, “it’s Algebra, Chris, and you aren’t stealing answers, what if he comes back?”

“Chill, I’ll take the blame for it anyway.” He opens the drawer in the teachers desk and ruffles through some paper until he smiles and grabs a piece of paper, closes the drawer and walks back over to me. “You thief.” I joke with him as he sits back down and scoots his desk closer to me so we can share the paper.

We finish up with the paper and the teacher still hasn’t returned, Chris puts the paper back into his desk and we try to wait it out for the 25 minutes we have left. “Can we just leave now?” He rolls his eyes and taps his pen on the desk. “I wish but no. What if he comes back and we’re gone?” I watch him as he stops tapping his pen and leans down to his bag.

“Live a little y/n. He’s been gone for most this detention, it’s his fault if you leave early.” He packs his things into his backpack. “Plus I’ll write a note on his board and let him know we left ‘at the right time’” he does finger quotations and smirks, “fine.” I sigh.

He hops out his seat and grabs both our papers and places them on the desk, as I pack my things away. He writes on the board ‘sorry for being in detention or whatever but we did the work (it’s on ur desk) and left, love u teach xx - Chris’ “there.” He smiles proudly and I roll my eyes “you’re not funny.” I stand up.

We both sneak out the classroom and Chris leads me the way. We hear voices coming from a storage cupboard and he looks back at me before we go to move forward again but before we can start moving, the door swings open and a girl walks out, she looked about late 20s or something, she went down the hallway in the direction we were headed.

Chris turns to me and raises one of his eyebrows as if to say ‘what the fuck was she doing in there’ . About a minute later someone else stumbles out of the cupboard, my mouth drops when I realise it’s Mr Rockwell. He walks down the corridor towards his class which means he was gonna pass me and Chris. Chris pulls me behind a locker and my back is pressed right up against him.

Mr Rockwell passes us, and thankfully doesn’t see us. I let out a sigh of relief and Chris grabs my arm before we are running down the corridors and out the double doors. Chris leans against the brick wall, breathing heavily.

“I’m never doing that again.” I breath as I smile at him, “You know we will,” he smirks at me before checking his phone. “Shit I was supposed to be home like half hour ago I should go.” “But detention doesn’t end for what.. another like 10/15 minutes? Why would you need to be home before it ends?” I ask tilting my head slightly as he smiles and looks at his feet.

“Your detention doesn’t end for another 10/15 minutes, mine ended like 45 mins ago.” He looked at me, “what, why didn’t you leave when you should’ve then?” I am really confused now. “Didn’t want to leave you on your own.” He shrugged before grabbing a skateboard off of a rack. “Oh thanks.” I smile “You skate?” I try to hide my blush from his comment and bring my focus to his board.

“Uh yeah, do you?” He smiles down at me due to our height difference, “no but I tried once and I got scared.” I laugh, he laughs too before dropping his board onto the ground, “I’ll teach you sometime.” He starts to skate away, “see ya y/n!”.

I get home and throw my notebook down onto my desk, one of my pages is folded over, I hate when that happens. I turn to the page to unfold the corner and there’s writing on the page ‘know you would want this - Chris’ below that was his phone number. I smile to myself at his slightly messy handwriting and pick up my phone.

I add his number to my contacts and open up imessage. ‘How did you write that in my book without me noticing😂’ I press send. He replies with ‘gotta keep an eye on your stuff y/n😉’ we text back and forth for a bit before I go to sleep.

“You’re so pretty y/n.” I smile as he leans over me and smirks, “can I?” His hand plays with the seam on my panties. “Yes.. please.” He starts to kiss my neck, “fuck Chris…”

I sit up quickly, breathing fast. “What the fuck.” I mumble to myself before wiping my eyes and laying back down. Come on y/n you barely knew the boy before today and now you’re dreaming of him? I sigh heavily.

I’m never telling anyone about that.. ever..

A/n: omds I kinda like this.. I’m gonna try to make it a series but I won’t be able to update frequently! I love this storyline tho and I know where I’m going with this so bear with me!

Taglist: @blahbel668 @mattsleftnipple03 @rac00ns-are-c00l4 @hysteria-things @sturniologurl4l2008 @jakevwebber @braindead4l @mattybearnard

—💋——📷——‼️——💌———❤️———💌——‼️——📷——💋—

[daemon-in-my-head]

One thing about Gortash that keeps bugging me is his desire to share power.

Because obviously, that's a great deal right? That's something special right? A tyrannical fascist geniunely wanting to share power with an old companion? Of all people? An old companion who fell from grace, yet Gort's still devoted to them? Isn't this, moral depravity aside, a great testament to their kinship and all that?

I mean that's certainly one way to read it right? But there's something else about that proposition, somethings leaving a bit of a sour aftertaste here, namely the near impossible level of power imbalance going on.

Gortash knows Durge intimately well. He flaunts that fact immediately and does not care about the repercussions his old companion may face due to the dirty laundry being aired publicly (if he's not looking forward to them outright, that may be their own version of flirting though tbf). Anyway, he knows their name, skills, past, and presumed motivations; they were incredibly close before the incident, and yet he hardly talks about that, brushes it off by saying "I missed you—anyway heres the issues I'm facing rn". He teases that he knows them enough to draw intrigue, but he never follows up, holding that knowledge and the answers Durge wants above their head. He uses their oath as an excuse, that they promised each other not to get involved into each other's messes, that he couldn't do shit, and then immediately asks them to get involved in his mess and sort it out for him cuz all of a sudden the oath not to get involved apparently doesn't apply anymore.

Like, yes, it seems like a "good deal" and something positive at first glance, and yes, he's not lying through his teeth but he's still withholding a shit ton of information on purpose and twisting the narrative to suit him more than anyone else. Instead of truly welcoming back someone who's been missing for months and helping them out a bit, that mf dispatches them to do his dirty work for him and promises shared reign alongside something as mundane as the chance to gain knowledge about themselves as a reward, yk the thing Durge really would like rn. AND considering Durge's notes and depending on what choices you make, sharing power would be more so Durge being merciful than smth Gortash can actually decide or propose (the balls he has for still trying though—sees a murderous demigod that can't remember they liked him once and decides to be a cocky bitch anyway).

Eitherway, he wants to share power. He might even mean it, but he's not willing to actually divulge information concerning anything 'Durge' and instead dangles the fact that he knows them above their head. He wants to share power, but only if Durge is blindly loyal to him and does not question his approach. After all sending the amnesiac gore baby to find their sister in a city and temple they can't remember whatsoever all by themselves isn't particularly efficient or smart but a damn suicide mission. And then he doesn't even provide any aid. He's willing to share power only if he gets to keep his control over the situation and Durge, and one way to confirm that is by sending the Bhaalspawn after their own family with no help nor information (either they come back and he'll be sure they still do as demanded or they'll die down there and thats that, Gortash probably). And only then is he actually willing to share power. Handily also without revealing any further information whatsoever, he's just using platitudes and buttering up to the bloody Bhaalspawn, never actually sharing any information regarding their shared past or what Durge was up to.

In conclusion, Gortash wants to share power the same way a king let's a dagger dangle from his belt while he sits on his throne. He doesn't actually want an equal right now. If he did he would not be doing everything to tip the scales in his favour and blatantly change the topic and refuse to disclose more information than necessary, information regarding the person he "missed so dearly". What he says sounds nice but what he's actually doing is trying to control Durge. This ain't rly about a shared reign or the likes, this is more so getting Durge to blindly tag along while concealing their past for reasons one can only speculate (did they fight, did someone betray the other, why is Gortash so unwilling to share any solid information?).

This escalated but you get my gist.

[abbyymerry]

Sakamoto Days chapter 203 spoilers

.

.

.

.

.

Ok I love this chapter so much. Sakamoto is such a great father/brother figure to shin. They have such good chemistry as a family. Though I wonder if Sakamoto couldn't make it in time to stop Shin, what would happen? What happens if Shin breaks the family rule to protect the family? I doubt anyone would immediately chase and shun him away like he thought.

At this point, Sakamoto (and others) cares for him too much to let him go. Not saying they resolve this inner conflict too fast, but I hope we see more of Shin struggling with his dark feelings and learning to deal with it like Sakamoto. Shin's come so far, but he's still pretty naive tbf. He will soon face so many more hardships for him to get stronger. I hope he can still be that kind-hearted person that he is despite everything.

I'm really curious to know how far they'll go without killing (which I root for but I'd be lying to say that I'm not interested seeing any of the sakamoto kill anyone to protect/revenge at all).

Also lowkey sad we didn't get to see Torres vs Heisuke. A bit of Tenkyu listening to Sakamoto and Shin talk is interesting, the seer girl (sorry I forgot her name😭) was saying he could never get back to Uzuki so maybe either dead or join the Sakamoto?

EDIT: GUYS SAKAMOTO REALLY SAID HE LOVE SHIN HERE I CANT MY HEART😭😭😭

[rewritingcanon]

Do you have any thoughts on scorbus kids king (beyond Albus insisting that they’re all named after stars and constellations and the likes) because in the same way that they’d get married at like 18-19 a la ‘traditional’ wizards i think they’d be the couple to turn up to christmas one year with a baby without telling anyone (nobody knows how they got the baby and theyre not saying shit) and boom. The first wotter-malfoy grandchild

oooooh! hmm! i actually go back and forth on scorbus children a lot. like i dont have set ocs or anything for them. i can see them with or without kids. i can see them with many or just one. i can see them as boy dads and girl dads. i can see them as all adopted or as donor-conceived. likeeeee i can see everything tbh. but i can tell you what i’m usually set towards:

i reckon one of their babies (i’m thinking the second one if they ever get so far) is sooooo weasley-coded. they don’t act like scorpius or albus but as their fucking grandma ginny. like they may not have the token red hair at all but they certainly act like one. and they’re a stereotypical gryffindor. (first gryffindor malfoy perchance)

i’m also thinking they need to have a diva daughter. like a mini narcissa/lucius just minus the moral abhorrence (they may or may not have a consumerism problem though)

one of the babies has to have the blond malfoy hair. preferably the eldest. idc if that makes me a stickler for tradition.

also i think they would pull the “my grandad is harry potter” “did you know i’m the chosen one’s grandkid?” “oh yeah just going to my pop’s place tonight… did i mention he’s harry potter?” ALL THE TIME 💀 like they would nottttt understand albus’ angst about it (at first) because they won’t experience the same type of pressure as being harry potter’s child.

i think it would be sooo funny if they had kids who are really popular in school and are super charming and good-looking and athletic and just very cool and easily liked. and meanwhile they’re dads are the biggest fucking socially inept losers.

if i was nice i’d give scorpius a bookworm kid. but i don’t think that would happen 😭 he’s fr cursed to be the only nerd there.

now here are some parent!scorbus hcs:

the whole misunderstanding angst between them is scorpius wants to rant to his child about the ottoman empire’s invention of major medical instruments and the child just wants to go play footy with da boys 💔

you best believe albus suffers the potter curse of just never understanding his child 😭 he would totally argue with them all the time. not to the point where they run away though.

i think albus would feel the desire to be a father more than scorpius would initially, but albus would be the strict parent. probably because he did shit like running away and deleting his family from the timeline so he doesn’t want that to happen again yk. how can you blame him

scorpius is the dad that spoils his kids rotten. like he’s NEVER mad. he’s always telling them how proud he is of them and how lovely and cool they are and he’s just constantly inflating their heads to the sizes of large balloons. he’s the dad they go to when they want to ask for something because he’ll normally give it to them. he’d rather they be brats then be unconfident and hate themselves.

also scorpius would get crazy separation anxiety. like it doesnt matter if his kid is 25 that’s his baby and they need to be in arms reach at all times

albus can be the type to freak out at his kids ngl 😭 tbf i dont think he’d do it without reason but he will definitely make them cryyyy and run to their rooms. yk when one of ur parents yells at you when ur a kid and u cry angry tears and can’t verbalise your feelings because you’re tiny and dont know the right words yet. and then you look to your other parent for help and they’re just standing at the side like “🧍‍♂️” yeah the one just standing there is scorpius 💀 no way he’s risking getting clocked too.

scorpius might not voice it in the moment but he’s very good at damage control and managing his family who probably runs quite high on emotions. also he’ll sneak his kids sweets to cheer them up even if they deserved to get yelled at lol

albus is the dad that cleans and washes and styles his daughters’ hair 😭 and he will do it aggressively too like he ties the cleanest but tightest braids and plaits and ponytails you best believe. also he doesn’t play around when his kids come home from primary school with a head lice notification slip. best believe he’s going to scrape through everything.

the kids definitely think scorbus are way too lovey-dovey with each other. cringiest parents ever.

albus is definitely the “how dare you talk to your father like that” kind of guy about scorpius.

albus would pack the most delectable lunch boxes ever and scorpius would write the sweetest daily notes for their kids and put them in the lunchboxes to cheer them

they do not play about bullying whatsoever. someone is getting right hooked if anyone dares with their kid. not hexed, right hooked

albus sobbed when he had to say goodbye to his first child for hogwarts. like he ugly cried right in the middle of the platform. almost collapsed.

scorpius is bombarding their kid with letters. like he’s writing them four times a day to ask how things are and how theyre finding classes and if their classmates are good to them?? and has to be asked to stop 😭

yk how harry was gassing tf out of hogwarts to albus only for it to be shit? just know albus is telling the biggest horror stories about the school to their kid only for them to go there and for it to be fine. this is the visual vibe btw:

albus’ favourite kid is definitely the one who is most like scorpius in some way. but he will deny it

scorpius still tucks them in every night no matter if they’re adults

albus is the type to bitch out alllll of his kids’ friends. “i don’t like [insert friend]” “why” “they seem very…. fake.” “dad you literally have zero friends besides papa why are you speaking rn”

scorpius loves hosting his kids’ birthday parties (bonus if he can make it extravagant) and albus hates it (he dislikes every other child except his own)

albus the type of dad to get the malfoy white streak and a beer belly and blame it on the stress of being a father (he loves his kid(s) heaps, just to be clear).

scorpius would tell his kids when they fell down and scraped themselves that his kiss could make it better. and when he kissed their bruise or cut he’d do a tiny healing spell and fix it so for yearssss these scorbus kids thought their dad was had super magical kisses (yk damn well albus took advantage of that excuse 😭)

if they adopted a kid of another race to them, scorpius is going leaps and bounds to understand his baby’s culture and raise him accordingly so they don’t feel too disconnected (albus will do so too but scorpius would be such an expert at it because he’s a research freak).

i think scorbus would generally follow traditional wizard norms but their kids wouldn’t. the kids are living in the house until they are 35 or something. reason is because their standard of living at home is amazing. albus cooks the best food. they get spoilt rotten by scorpius. they have the combined fortune of two of the richest wizard families… yeah life is good

i shall stop it there but lmk if you want me to yap more because i havent even started on aunt lily and uncle james or their crazy grandparents 😭

[absolutehooligans]

My ikemen vamp rant

Saw a post talking about an issue with ikevamp and decided I wanted to rant. Ikevamp was the first of the series I got into and it was fun for a little but. I only played through 2 and half character routes tbh. It got boring real quick. What really irritates me is that I feel like they wanted to go for something darker, like ikevil, but never pulled the trigger so we ended up with a bunch of “vampires” who have the strength of regular humans and can also die from one gun shot. If im getting vampires I want VAMPIRES. It feels lack luster compared to the other games and I genuinely feel that its the weakest game of the series. Even the events are a little boring but tbf I havnt been on there in so long that maybe its gotten better. Now Im not saying the others dont have problems but I think their stories are more interesting.

Joan of arc if my least favorite character of the entire series. They could have gone with alot of male historical figures but picked a strong female one and made her into a male and made him boring. I also want to say that out of all the ike games, ike vampire kinda makes the least amount of sense. Like joan found a baby black tiger cub working at a weapon shop and just has it as a pet and it hasnt grown at all? Just pulled it out the crate one day? The other animals are fine of course but thats because they are realistic pets. Honestly his character irritates me to no end. Something more interesting would have been to keep joan a woman and have her working at a church despite secretly being a vampire and we see her struggle with being something that she sees as going against god while also trying to continue fighting in his name. Im not the best story writer but you get my point.

This is just my opinion and it is ok if you diagree with me. If you enjoy the game and any of the characters mentioned, that is totally fine. Im not dissing anyone for liking there characters. Feel free to let me know your opinion.

[swiftsaltsweet]

The Hunt for Kyoshi: Chapter 14: Kyoshi- The Cave of Two Lovers Pt. 1

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (plus whoever appears in Rok)

Pairing: Rangshi

Summary:  

“What are we going to do?” She asked steely, still not looking up from the ground. She was ready to uphold her duty, or at least, what remained of it. “We need you to capture Kyoshi,” Jianzhu instructed. “Capture?” “Yes, we need to set an example of an Avatar murderer,” Jianzhu responded, oh so matter of factly again.

(Canon Divergent AU- “What if Rangi wasn’t there when Kyoshi ran away, and Rangi had to hunt her down?)

Other Sites: AO3 

A/N: Me: I fear there will be not a lot of comedy for awhile Also me: *opens up this chapter with SOME humor at Kyoshi’s expense*

I fear I am a filthy liar. uwu (listennnnnnn characters are going to character, I’m merely an instrument to their tomfoolery!) But at this point we should know this jfaskfja TT0TT

Ok ok ok, tbf I wrote the beginning well before I even finished the Kirima scene in the last chapter, let alone the fight and ending scene. But I did come back to somber it up just a tad (at least with Kyoshi), keep in mind that the FoC have NO IDEA the depth of real drama that’s going on between Rangshi hence I feel justified in allowing them to be funny uwu

And yes, I’m a shippy bitch we’re doing this. No one can stop me! Not when I have the power of anime and gay ladies at my side! uwu

Anyway, anyone watch the Netflix ATLA show? No? Oh...there's a reference to in here, IYKYK, if not I'll explain at the end. 8U

Notes: -Haori: I think the first layer of Kyoshi’s iconic green robes is called a “haori” -thinking emoji- Not sure if that’s how you’re supposed to wear them but it’s better than me just saying “robes” multiple times (esp when they have layers) TT0TT So haori it is! (Note: lol I know I just posted this chapter but....upon further inspection.....I think Kyoshi's top robe might be more of a kataginu rather than a Haori... so I will try to make that change at some point, sorry for any confusion u_u kataginu has shorter sleeves than a haori and yeah....)

-Kataginu: So that thing about a Haori? Ignore it~! uwu Both are a robe that goes over a Kimono. Haori has longer sleeves, while Kataginu (something samurais wore iirc) lack the sleeves. Which I think fits Kyoshi's outfit more!

Kimono: If you look at the Generation’s art for Hei-Ran (both her casual and battle attire) and Rangi. Hei-Ran is wearing robes in her casual, but when she puts the battle armor on she still has the same robe but the armor is over it (and sleeve tucked into the gauntlets). I’ve deduced that Rangi has the same getup but we just never see the robes by themselves. It looks closer to a Kimono than a Hanbok because of the sleeves (I try to stay consistent and give Rangi/Hei-Ran Korean assigned things but we’re going with Japanese here since that’s what it looks like)

____

Kyoshi clutched Rangi’s hairpin and held it flat to her chest, just above her heart, and continued sobbing as Kirima used her waterbending to heal her thigh. It was the worst wound Kyoshi had on her physically at the moment, though it looked a lot better since they took off hours earlier. However, the pain still paled in comparison to what her heart was experiencing.

Now that she was away from the fighting, the adrenaline, she could finally process it all. Rangi wanted her gone. The last person Kyoshi cared about in this accursed world, didn’t want her to exist. 

And the worst part? Rangi didn’t even want to continue living onward once Kyoshi was dead. In her mind, Kyoshi’s existence had ruined her life beyond repair and it was better to not continue on at all.

This was all Jianzhu’s fault. Forget killing him. She was going to something far worse. She didn’t know what it would be, but he wasn’t getting off easy with a swift death…

Kyoshi curled in on herself more as she cursed Jianzhu’s name, as her mind relived her previous moments with Rangi. She let out a choking sob of a scream as a new wave of pain hit her heart.

“The hell is your problem?!” Lek called from the reins. “I get it hurts, but you’re being way too dramatic!”

“Can it, Lek!” Kirima shouted back. “I’m trying to concentrate!”

“Have some humanity, Lek! She was just stabbed by her girlfriend!” Wong added to the conversation. 

“Ex-girlfriend!” Lek countered. “What’s so different from the past few times she tried to getcha? She’s already headbutted you before!”

“No shit! Anyone would be an ‘ex’ after an attempted stabbing,” Wong rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe she used her hairpin to do it, though. No Fire National would treat their hair, or their ornaments like that. It must’ve been really personal…”

“I–I gave her this pin,” Kyoshi explained through sobs, having to hear the words ‘girlfriend’ and ‘Rangi’ in the same sentence felt like a stake was driving into her heart over and over again.

Oh, it was personal alright, she’d been stabbed with her very own present. What a hell of a way to return a gift. That reality just cemented the finality of it all the more to her. There was no going back, her friendship was damaged beyond all repair.

“WHAT?!” Kirima yelled in shock, her arm movements ceasing as a result, and causing the water she was bending to drench Kyoshi.

Kyoshi would’ve complained, if it wasn’t for the metaphorical hole in her chest distracting her from the pain in her leg. Well, the pain all over her body, really.

“What?” Kyoshi sniffed.

“What do you mean you ‘gave her this pin’?!”

Kyoshi blinked and finally looked at Kirima. “For her birthday. I got it for her for her birthday.”

“And she accepted it?!” Kirima looked at her incredulously. “You–you–! You’ve completely undersold how serious your relationship was!”

Undersold? No, no… I think I oversold it. We aren’t even dating… 

“Y–yeah, she’s worn it since then. For like, almost the past year?,” Kyoshi could only look at Kirima dumbly. Why was the waterbender getting so riled up? “Is there an issue?”

Kirima closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You do know what that means, right? What that present means? To a Fire National? What you did?”

Kyoshi just stared back. Afraid to confirm or deny. 

“You had that kind of relationship and then just up and left!” Kirima scoffed. “Spirits, no wonder she stabbed you. I’d stab you!”

Well now she was just being rude. Kyoshi was suffering the worst heartbreak imaginable, and here was Kirima being the worst big sister anyone could ask for. 

“Why?! And what do you mean ‘that kind’ you knew we were dating!” Again, they weren’t despite Kyoshi wishing it was true but, again, that’s what the Flying Opera Company had convinced themselves of. Still, it didn’t make her heart hurt any less when she had to keep the lie up like this…

“Oh spirits help us all! You proposed, you daft idiot! That’s way more serious than just dating!”

There was a beat of silence as Kirima’s words sunk in.

“Proposed what?” Kyoshi asked, still lost. However, this time it was on purpose. She really hoped it wasn’t what she thought Kirima meant. Kyoshi didn’t know how much more she could take today. 

Kirima grabbed at her head and pulled at her own hair as she yelled towards the heavens. “Are you KIDDING ME?! Girl! C’mon! You got your Fire Nation girlfriend a hairpin without realizing what that meant in her country?!”

“I–I asked the other servants at the estate if it was a good idea, though!” Kyoshi tried to defend.

“Were they Fire Nationals?” Kirima asked, calmly.

There was another long beat of silence. “...no,” Kyoshi finally muttered.

Kirima responded by taking a nearby rucksack and throwing it at Kyoshi’s head. Kyoshi let the hard object hit her. She deserved it. 

“Why the hell are you so pissed,” Lek yelled at Kirima.

“Someone’s gotta be!”

“I think Topknot’s got plenty of pissed off working for her as is,” Wong grumbled.

“Y’all really don’t get it just– Oh Tui and La and all of the water on this damned planet!” Kirima whirled back to Kyoshi. “And she accepted it?!” 

“Y–yeah?”

“And she wasn’t even mad you gave it to her?”

“S–she said it was the best present anyone had ever given her,” Kyoshi mumbled. “And that she’d treasure it always…”

Obviously not anymore… Another wave of pain rolled through Kyoshi. For her. For Rangi. Had this present, this constant reminder weighed her down the entire time? Was that why she returned it the way she did?  

Kirima’s mouth unhinged itself to such a severe angle, Kyoshi wondered if it was at risk of falling off. Then the woman somehow rehinged her jaw, and put a hand to her eyes. Like she was trying to protect herself from all the bull pigshit that was happening around her.

“Onyourknees,” Kirima said way too quickly.

Kyoshi blinked at Kirima, surely she heard Kirima wrong. “I’m sorry, what?” Kyoshi wasn’t exactly in the condition to get into a seiza pose.

“On. Your. Knees,” she repeated.

“R–right now–?”

“GET ON YOUR DAMN KNEES!” Kirima shouted.

Kyoshi jumped and scrambled to her knees, ignoring the flaring pain in her thigh.

“NOT TO ME! TO THE PSYCHO!” Kirima yelled hysterically as she removed her hand. “I shouldn’t even call her that! No wonder she’s going crazy! I’d be going crazy too!”

“I’m just saying, I’m not turning this bison around,” Lek quipped. 

Kirima pointed at Kyoshi. “You get on your knees and deliver your best apology ever and then tell her how much you love her. Maybe then she’ll stop trying to stab you!”

Kyoshi’s eyes were spinning. She was still reeling from her encounter with Rangi, and now the revelation that she had basically committed a big faux pas and proposed to her best friend almost a year earlier. She hadn’t the energy or ability to connect the dots Kirima was giving her just yet. 

“S–suuuure,” Kyoshi agreed. “Can I ask… why? What makes you so sure that’ll work?”

She’d already tried convincing Rangi that Jianzhu was the killer, and that blew up horribly in her face. Even tried to appeal to their past friendship and that still didn’t work! While she wasn’t against what Kirima was suggesting (she’d take anything at this point!), she also wasn’t exactly confident a sudden love confession could convince her friend of anything. She’d probably end up getting stabbed again…

“Hey Rangi! Listen, I know you didn’t listen to any of the other times I’ve been talking, but I totally think you’ll hear me out this time! I’m in love with you! And also, sorry about accidentally proposing all those months ago. Didn’t know what I was doing. Anyway, you want the hairpin back?” Oh yeah, that’ll really go over well. Kyoshi mentally eye rolled to herself. 

Kirima gave her a deadpan stare. “You're shitting me, right? How the hell did you two even date if you’re this thick in the head?”

Well we weren’t dating but you guys didn’t believe me when I–Oh never mind… Neutral jing. Neutral jing. If there was one positive about being with the Flying Opera Company, they knew how to take one’s mind off of things.

“Only family members and spouses give each other hair accessories in the Fire Nation! It’s even used as a means of proposal!”

Yes we’ve established that, it was a real guff on my end…

“It’s not some light faux pas you can trespass on, it’s a very serious thing! She should’ve set you on fire for what you gave her back then!” Kirima was waving her arms around. “But she didn’t, she accepted your hairpin! She didn’t even get mad! She–she– that girl is obviously and hopelessly in love with you, Kyoshi!”

A beat of silence followed Kirima’s tirade.

“Rangi’s… in love…with me?” Kyoshi repeated. The words hit her like honey and molasses, and tasted just as sweet too.

“Yes! How are you this blind and dense?! This isn’t some cute-puppy-love-teen-dating-thing, this is serious!” Kirima yelled back at her, and she continued on her tirade but Kyoshi couldn’t hear her. Her mind was full throttle, absolutely preoccupied with this new revelation.

Rangi’s in love with me? Kyoshi repeated the words in her mind. They slowly seeped in like honey filling in cracks in her being. Rangi’s in love with me… Rangi’s in love with me! 

This was the best thing she’d hear in a while–no, ever! She was fluttering with euphoria. Hell, she would’ve been thrilled with just puppy love, but the idea Rangi truly loved her? She felt like she could jump over the moon itself! This entire time, Kyoshi’s feelings were reciprocated, and she never realized! She really was dense. She really did have rocks-for-brains like Rangi had once said. 

If Kirima’s right, then maybe what she said earlier could work! Kyoshi grinned to herself. 

Then, in the midst of her high, the last look Rangi gave her as Kyoshi was pulled away flashed in her mind. The anger, the desperation, the sadness…

And a part of her being came crashing back down to Earth. The duet of joy and despair that sung in her heart created the saddest choir known to man. 

“Using words I want to hear to manipulate me into doing what you want!” Rangi’s words echoed in her mind. It didn’t make any sense to Kyoshi when she first heard it, and if she was being honest, a part of it still confused her. But she did understand one thing now… She knew what Rangi meant, what words she wanted to hear…

Care… Love… That was what Kyoshi had said to Rangi earlier. And if Kirima was right then…

Kyoshi closed her eyes and curled in on herself again. “I’m such an idiot,” she whispered.

She must’ve sounded really pathetic, because Kirima stopped her tirade and drew the water she splashed on Kyoshi out of her clothes and back into the air. 

“Yeah, you are, kid,” she sighed and began healing Kyoshi again.

_________________________________

“Are we sure we should be stopping?” Kyoshi asked, helping set up camp. 

“Pengpeng seems a little worn down,” Lek said sullenly, stroking the bison’s nose. 

Pengpeng growled appreciatively, and Kyoshi couldn’t help but feel bad. She’d been working the poor thing to the bone, but she was happy Lek was there to treat her right. He had been there to defend Pengpeng from the shirshu attack as well. 

Apparently the second shirshu had gone after Pengpeng. Luckily, Lek had been on duty and valiantly defended her. It didn’t take long for Lao Ge and Wong to come to his defense and help fend off not only the shirshu, but the group of researchers that had followed the beast. The resulting battle ended with all the researchers unconscious, and a dead shirshu. Courtesy of Lek’s bullet.

Once they secured their safety, they made their way to the village. They ran into Kirima who was fighting the other shirshu, unfortunately it appeared to have gotten away before they could finish it off. After that, they hunted Kyoshi down and the rest was history. 

Kyoshi was grateful for their save, and expressed her gratitude once her leg was more or less healed up (Kirima needed a break before she could heal the rest of Kyoshi). 

Still, she wasn’t entirely sure about the place they’d touched down on. It was far away, but with how fast Rangi was…Kyoshi couldn’t help but think it wasn’t far enough. 

“But are we sure this place is safe?” she asked. 

They had touched down in a small gorge, nestled between two mountains. It looked like stairs and alters had been set up, leading to a cave that was up ahead. Something about the place felt special somehow. A memorial? A place of worship? 

“Yeah, it’ll be fine,” Kirima waved at her. “If anyone comes running, we’ll run into the cave and lose them in the tunnel.”

Kyoshi put her hand on her hip and quirked an eyebrow. “And how would that work exactly?”

Did they have a map or something?

“There’s an ancient and vast tunnel system in that there cave. More of a labyrinth than just a normal tunnel to be honest,” Lao Ge grinned as he pointed at the entrance. Kyoshi followed his finger and squinted. It was dark out, but looking at the cave once again, it looked like there was writing on the top entrance of the cave. “Easy to get lost in.”

“But doesn’t that mean we could easily get lost?” Kyoshi asked, exasperated. How were they all just fine and dandy with that sort of plan?

“Maybe,” Wong grunted. “But I don’t think we’ll get attacked. We’ll be fine.”

Kyoshi sighed, that didn’t exactly answer her question, but was too tired to push it. Instead she wandered up to the cave to get a better look at the writing. The inscription on top read ‘The Lovers’ Cave.’

“The hell is ‘The Lovers’ Cave?’” she asked, walking back. The word ‘lover’ wasn’t exactly what she wanted to think about at the moment. 

“You don’t know about ‘The Lovers’ Cave’?!” Wong said aghast. 

Lek shook his head mournfully. “Can you even call yourself an Earth Kingdom Citizen if you don’t know it?”

Kyoshi looked over at Lao Ge, hoping he’d give her some insight. 

“It’s a popular children’s bedtime story,” he clarified. The knowing look he gave Kyoshi made it apparent that he didn’t need to explain any further, and that he knew a bomb was about to go off.

“Oh, well, no, I don’t,” Kyoshi didn’t bother to keep the bitterness out of her voice. She didn’t have the strength, and if she could channel her anger of the day at her dead parents then so be it. “I was abandoned at five years old and was treated as an outcast by the villagers. So, no. I was a little lacking in the bedtime story department!”

The Flying Opera Company rode her heated fury out like it was nothing. Well, except for Lek. He always made it apparent he didn’t like her talking ill of her parents. But to his credit, he held his tongue.

“Did that monk who raised you not tell you any stories growing up?” Kirima asked lazily. Her devil-may-care attitude had a way of defusing a situation. 

“He did when he was around, but he only told me ones with happy endings,” Kyoshi wilted, remembering Kelsang. “I’m guessing this one doesn’t have a happy ending?”

“Spoiler: One of the lovers dies,” Lek said. 

“Well there you have it,” Kyoshi sighed. That story was definitely not on Kelsang’s ‘pre-approved bedtime stories for Kyoshi’ list.

Lek shot to his feet. “Tell me you at least know the song!” 

“If I wasn’t told a story because it had a sad ending, what makes you think I learnt the song?!”

Lek screamed like a possum rat just crawled near him. “No way! We need to change that! The dramyin! Where’s the dramyin?!”

Kirima pulled him back down to sit on the ground. “Don’t you dare touch that! You broke the strings last time!”

“Plus, your voice is horrible,” Wong sighed.

“How about we tell the story first? Then we can indulge ourselves with a song,” Lao Ge smiled at the group.

Kirima sighed and got up. “I can do it, but let’s rearrange some things. I want to get in the mood.”

The group rearranged themselves around a fire they started. Kirima sat up straight, ready to project her voice the way a professional storyteller would.

“Long ago there were two lovers from rival villages. A woman named Oma, and another woman named Shu–”

“It’s not two women!” Lek protested. 

Kirima frowned. “They were in the stories I was told…”

“Well it’s wrong! Oma’s the lady, and Shu’s the guy!”

“No, they’re both women!”

Wong leaned towards Kirima and whispered, “Kirima, what other differences are in your version?”

“Well for starters, Oma–” the rest of their conversation was too hushed to make out.

Kyoshi leaned over to Lao Ge. “So…who’s right?”

Lao Ge just smirked at her. “Who’s to say?” 

Kyoshi frowned, she wanted answers not more questions. “If this story is connected to the cave and there’s a memorial here, that means there might be truth to it, right?”

“You’d be correct, girl.”

“So, shouldn’t you know? Aren’t you super old? Were you around during that time?”

Lao Ge grinned at her. “Yes, but I’m not going to tell you~”

Kyoshi wanted to punch her sifu, but she refrained when she heard Kirima clear her throat. Apparently she and Wong were done discussing the discrepancies in the story. She straightened up to give the women her full attention.

“I decided to tell the story how the Earth Kingdom Citizens are told… Instead of how the Fire Nation and Water Tribe are told.” She rolled her eyes. “Even though they’re wrong.”

“How are we wrong?! It’s our founding earthbending story! You’re the ones appropriating our lore! Where the hell did you think the phrase ‘Oma’s bastard children’ came from?!” Wong smacked the ground passionately. 

Kirima waved her hand unperturbed. “Misogyny, I would know. I’m Water Tribe.”

“Wait, people from other Nations know this but I don’t?!” Kyoshi threw her hands up in the air. She figured it was because Kirima just spent time in the Earth Kingdom, that’s why she knew the story. This wasn’t fair. Kyoshi had heard so many things on the piers of Yokoya, but never this! She felt cheated somehow. 

Kirima clapped her hands. “Anyway, let’s continue!”

Kirima cleared her throat and got in the zone again. 

“Long ago there were two lovers from rival villages. A woman named Oma, and a man named Shu.” She gave a pointed look to Lek and Wong. “They’d meet on top of the mountain that divided their two villages. Their villages were enemies at war, which kept them from being together, but their love was strong and they found a way.”

Kirima motioned to the cave’s entrance. “The two lovers learned earthbending from the badgermoles, and became the first earthbenders. They built tunnels in the mountain so they could meet secretly without being followed, and anyone that did would be lost forever in the labyrinth.”

Kirima’s face grew grave in the firelight. “But one day, the man didn’t come. He died in the war between the two villages. Devastated, the woman unleashed a terrible display of her earthbending power. She split the warzone and raised new mountains from the earth’s depths.”

Kyoshi couldn’t help but feel a sense of deja vu, like how she raised the seafloor back at the iceberg many weeks ago. And that was just because Yun was in danger… And then she remembered how she cratered a mountain when Kelsang and Yun had died… She didn’t want to think of what kind of power she’d unleashed if Rangi met a similar fate. 

“She could have destroyed them all,” Kirima continued, pulling Kyoshi from her thoughts. “But instead she declared the war over. Both villages helped her build a new city, where they would live in peace together.”

She turned to Kyoshi. “They named the city after them, can you tell me which one?”

“Omashu?” Kyoshi answered after a brief moment. It was pretty obvious. 

Kirima snapped her finger at Kyoshi in appreciation. “Correct~! The great city was named Omashu as a monument to their love. And that’s about it.”

Kyoshi gave a clap, followed by the rest of the Flying Opera Company, Kirima even got up and gave a small bow. 

“So what else differed? Between the two stories, I mean.” She wanted to think about something else at the moment, beside dead lovers. 

Kirima shrugged. “Oma’s the one that dies in my version. I’ll be honest, narratively, I prefer her living. Her name is derived from ‘mother,’ which is fitting for an origin story about the ‘mother of earthbending.’ Meanwhile Shu–”

“Shu’s name just stands for being a stinky old smelly shoe!” Lek interjected, laughing.

Kirima gave him a deadpanned look. “I don’t think that’s it, but I don’t care enough to oppose nor correct you.”

“It’s because I’m right!”

Kirima waved him away. “That being said, I don’t see why they can’t be two women. Ups the stakes, and makes even more sense they’d want to keep it hidden. Earth Kingdom and all.”

Wong shrugged. “Can’t be helped. Anyway, scooch over. It’s my turn.” He pulled out the dramyin and started strumming it. Guess it was time for the song portion of the night.

Two lovers,  forbidden from one another  A war divides their people,  and a mountain divides them apart,  Built a path to be together With love as their guide (love as their guide) Beware all who may enter For the labyrinth will devour All of those who want scour Their secret hiding place Be sure to use love as your guide (as your guide) Or you may get lost And die Secret Tunnel Secret Tunnel Through the mountain!  Secret Tunnel~

Kyoshi and the group clapped, enraptured by Wong’s deep beautiful voice. It would take a while before the meaning of the lyrics hit Kyoshi.

“It’s a little longer than that, but most of the verses repeat, and I thought to just keep it short,” he coughed. 

“What did you mean by ‘Love as their guide?’” Kyoshi asked. It felt important somehow, it did come up twice in the song.

Wong shrugged. “Who knows? Exactly what it says?”

“It’s part of the legend, that’s how the Lovers made their way through the cave. Their love guided them,” Kirima added.

Kyoshi couldn’t help but grimace. All this love talk was really making her feel even worse. “So…is that how you all intend to get through the cave if we have to run into it?”

The entire Flying Opera Company burst out into laughter. 

“Kyoshi, we have four earthbenders here, I think we’ll be fine,” Kirima said through jovial tears.

“Oh please! More like three and a wannabe baby earthbender,” Lek heckled. 

Kyohsi puffed her cheeks out in embarrassment but didn’t retort. She wouldn’t know what to do in the damn cave, so it must’ve been a higher level skill of earthbending he was hinting at.

“Ok ok, I think it’s time for bed. We all need to rest up,” Wong announced.

“Before everyone goes to bed, take a pack. I made it just in case we have to go into the mountains and we get separated,” Lao Ge said. He handed Kyoshi a pack while the others grabbed their own packs from his little pile. Kyoshi wondered how he got these all together so fast. Was it during the story? Or maybe he had these made back in Hongcun? 

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow at him, he must be planning something. He was never this helpful. She took a peek inside her sack. It had a handful of spare torches that could be lit by friction, a spare blanket, a waterskin and some dried fruit. She frowned. 

“Are you going to throw me into the cave for training or something?”

Lao Ge chuckled. “Well it’s never a bad thing to be prepared. Let’s just say that.”

Well that’s not ominous. She rolled her eyes.

“Before you go to bed, I do want to talk with you about something. You could think of it as training,” Lao Ge said as they walked away from the group and sat down.

Kyoshi eyed him suspiciously. “So what did you want to talk about?”

Lao Ge gave her a knowing smile. “I think I remembered something important about firebending. It may help you.”

Kyoshi instantly became enamoured with this conversation, she leaned forward enthusiastically. “That’s fantastic! What is it?”

“Remember what I said before? When I first told you to study that firebending scroll?”

Kyoshi remembered. 

“As you've probably heard before, firebending is the one element that’s influenced the most by one’s emotions. Partially because it comes from within.” Lao Ge’s voice from not so long ago continued in her mind. “Sometimes, those emotions cause problems. Inner turmoil or stressful events can harm them. It’s all spiritual and mental, but it can cause their flame to not produce, which in extreme cases, can put their life at risk.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Good, good,” Lao Ge nodded, satisfied. “Tell me, have you thought about what could be causing that for you?”

Kyoshi felt herself deflate. “Not…really…” In all fairness, there had been a lot on her mind, and a lot of things she’d been trying to absorb.

Lao Ge looked disappointed. “Well, I suppose I can’t be too surprised.”

“Is this all?” She was hoping for new information…

“No no, I have more to say,” he said, returning to his cheery demeanor. He grabbed a stick on the ground and started drawing the earth and fire element into the ground. ”’Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring.’ In other words: stubborn!” He looked up at Kyoshi and grinned. “And I dare say, you are one stubborn girl! Hard to move, even when you need to heal.”

Kyoshi frowned down at him. This wasn’t making her feel better, but, then again, maybe she was a fool to think that’s what she’d get out of this conversation?

“So, because I’m so unyielding and stubborn, that’s what’s keeping me from accessing the other elements?”

“Possibly?” he grinned.

“Possibly?! Can’t you give me a straight answer?”

“I can’t give you any answers Kyoshi, I can only guide you,” he said, then pointed at the fire symbol. “Now let me continue. ‘Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want.’”

“Well I have plenty of that! Power, desire, drive…all to take Jianzhu down!” Kyoshi scowled, clenching her fists. This felt like he was spitting in her face, as if telling her she had none of that!

Lao Ge didn’t let her temper tantrum phase him. “I know you do, child. But…that’s not the only thing that fire represents.” He took the stick in his hand and poked her chest with it, right in the middle, where her heart would be. “It’s life.”

At the word, Kyoshi felt something resonate within her. Longing, sadness, and pain rippled through her.

Lao Ge pulled the stick away from her, a sad but knowing expression on his face. “Your life has been full of hardships. And now what you had left of it has been uprooted. Your inner fire is going through intense inner turmoil. Perhaps these two factors are what’s keeping you from moving forward?”

Kyoshi felt tears prickling at the sides of her eyes, then she wiped away from them. “I thought you said you weren’t going to give me answers?”

The old man shrugged. “Maybe I’m softening in my old age? Or maybe that’s just a step towards the greater answer you’ve yet to uncover.”

Kyoshi rolled her eyes and groaned goodnaturedly.

“Now run along to bed, girl. You need your rest. I’ll take the first watch,” Lao Ge said, a small twinkle in his eye.

Kyoshi could only nod, too tired to even offer to stay up with him. She bowed gratefully, and made her way back to the ground she claimed as her own.

Before going to bed, Kyoshi decided to take stock of herself. She had the rucksack that Lao Ge had given her, filled with all the supplies he said it would have. She put it down where she’d be laying her head, to use as a pillow.

She turned her attention to her attire. She was missing one of her fans (Wong nearly shat a brick when he found out), and the outfit Jianzhu had given her was damaged. The skirt was cut down in a four inch jagged line, that would be relatively easy to mend, the real issue were her pants and obviously body parts.

The side where she was stabbed was darkened with blood (a pain to clean but doable). Understandable, when you’re stabbed fairly deep and then the same object is dragged four inches across, it would be weirder if blood didn’t spill. She was pretty sure her leg was dripping with blood within seconds of the horrific incident.

As for her pants, they didn’t have a similar hole as her skirt, instead, when Rangi had stabbed her and hung off of Kyoshi for the brief moment she could, she’d end up tearing and taking a piece of Kyoshi’s pant leg with her. 

Kyoshi’s free hand went to the wound, now a pink raised scar accompanied by a giant bruise on her thigh. Kirima may not have been the best healer, but she did a pretty amazing job for someone that’s not talented in the art. At the very least, Kyoshi wasn’t left bleeding out on the bison floor…

Once satisfied with her inspection, Kyoshi laid down to go to bed, rolling onto her good side. She held Rangi’s hairpin in both hands, pressed up to her mouth. Almost like an Air Nomad would do with prayer beads. Or, perhaps, it looked more like she was holding a stake, one to ward off an evil spirit?

_____

When Kyoshi opened her eyes, she was back in Yokoya. Standing on the nearby beach, letting the water lap at her toes. Though panic thrummed through her, her body moved very calmly. She looked down at herself.

She wore the familiar sun damaged blue robes that most Yokoyans wore, patched up and all. Something Kyoshi used to don before she became a maid. But what also stood out to her was that she was skinny. So very skinny. Like before her employment at the mansion, when hunger used to ravage her every day. But what was odd was…she was as tall as she was now at the fresh age of sixteen, not thirteen or fourteen… The math did not add up… 

Strange… All of this was so strange. Why would she still be a homeless orphan at this age? Wait, is the mansion not–

She looked away from the sea, towards the big hill and– Yes, it was there. Still there. So why…

Wait… where is everyone? Kyoshi realized there were no boats, no fishermen. Even in the immediate distance she couldn’t even see the farmers. 

Her eyes drifted towards the mansion, as if it was calling to her. Despite her panic, her feet started to move towards the building. She didn’t want to face Jianzhu yet, she wasn’t ready, but it didn’t stop her body from heading towards certain doom. 

As she approached the end of the main path to the estate, she saw it. The Yokoyans were gathered outside the mansion gates, farming tools in hand raised above their heads. Obviously they didn’t seem pleased. Grumbles and shouts seemed to be calling for Jianzhu to take responsibility for…something, or that they had some complaints they wanted to share with him.

Get in line… Kyoshi thought sarcastically as she made her way through the crowd. 

She was about to push past the guards when they stopped her.

“Halt! Where do you think you’re going?”

Kyoshi looked at them like they were daft. “Um, I work here?” Well I got fired, but I am the Avatar… Oh, does it really matter?

The man snorted. “You? Please. Why would we have trash like you work here?”

Well he didn’t need to be so rude about it.

It probably would’ve stung, but Kyoshi had heard worse. Instead of fighting with the man, she decided her energy was worth someplace else. Like sneaking in! Or…something.

She quickly got away from the crowd and made her way around the back of the mansion. 

If I remember correctly, a secret servant’s entrance should be–

She stopped in her tracks, stopped looking for the secret compartment, and turned away from the wall. As she looked out she saw a mountain, and had the intense urge to climb it. 

She tried to shake the urge away, turned back to the wall… Only to see it the wall growing smaller. Her feet had yet again decided things for her. 

Ok, ok. You want me to go this way. Fine, I will. But after this I’m breaking in!

If any place was going to have answers, it’d be the mansion! And if not answers! Then Rangi! She would surely be there!

It surprisingly didn’t take that long to climb the mountain, nor did Kyoshi find herself very winded…at all in fact! Which didn’t add up, like everything so far, if she was as skinny as before she got the job at the estate she wouldn’t be able to make this hike…

As she approached the crest of the hill, she heard something. Crying… Familiar crying. Sharp inhalations she’d only heard a few times, but there could be no mistaking it. Kyoshi quickly sprinted up the rest of the hill and saw a familiar figure sitting on a nearby boulder. Hunched over with their head in their hands. 

“Rangi!” Kyoshi yelled. She hadn’t expected her friend to be here, nevermind seeing her so distressed. 

Rangi’s head shot up and whipped around towards Kyoshi’s voice. “Kyoshi!”

The firebender got up and ran at her in a full sprint, for the briefest second Kyoshi remembered their fight and a voice deep down told her to run. But her feet kept moving forward regardless of her thoughts. The two girls collided in a tight embrace, gripping ferociously at each other. Kyoshi almost erupted into pure joy, not expecting this kind of welcome after their previous trials. 

When they pulled away, it was only just enough so they could see each other’s faces. Rangi’s face was woefully tearstained, like she’d been crying for hours. 

Kyoshi cupped her cheek, and wiped at the tears with her thumb. “Rangi, what’s the matter? Are you ok? What’s going on–”

Rangi grabbed both sides of Kyoshi’s face and pulled her down into a fierce kiss. Kyoshi’s eyes widened and body still for only a moment, surprised by the action, then quickly melted into the kiss. She felt Rangi’s warm tongue graze her bottom lip, and Kyoshi eagerly let her in. Rangi was as warm and as soft as she had fantasized about. 

They kissed for spirits know how long, but all Kyoshi knew was that it wasn’t enough. She could stay in that moment forever in fact.

Rangi was the first to speak, “Thank the spirits, you’re alive! I–I thought…” Her voice cracked as she nestled her face into Kyoshi’s chest.

Kyoshi hugged her back fiercely. “Rangi, what’s going on around here? I–”

The entire experience since she’d woken up had been strange. Nothing in Yokoya was adding up, Jianzhu wasn’t after her (in fact his estate turned her away!), the Flying Opera Company was nowhere to be seen… And Rangi was acting like the past few weeks hadn’t happened.

Oh. Kyoshi realized, slightly disheartened. This is a dream.

That would explain the anomalies, the fuzziness, the inability to control her body. But after the realization hit her, she couldn’t help but wish she could take it back. She wanted to live in this bliss for just a little longer. 

She felt Rangi grip her arms and shake her. “Kyoshi! You need to get out of here, it’s not safe!”

Kyoshi blinked at her. Of course it was safe, it was just a dream after all. “What do you mean?”

“Have you forgotten? A war is about to break out!”

War?! There was no wa– No, that didn’t matter. This was a dream, Kyoshi needed to remember that. Especially if she was going to be aware she was in a dream, no need to add more stress to her life. Even the unconscious one. 

“What war? With who?” Kyoshi asked. 

“Between the Avatar’s estate and the Yokoyans,” Rangi looked at her disheartened. 

Despite it not being real, it set Kyoshi’s teeth on edge. She wanted to question why it was happening, but remembered. Dream. It was happening because her brain wanted it to happen. 

Fine, if her mind wanted there to be a war, Kyoshi would rebel against this. She clasped Rangi’s hand between her own, and told her the words she wished she could’ve spoken when she ran from the mansion all those weeks ago.

“Run away with me.”

“What?!” Rangi looked at her, shocked.

“Let’s get out of here! Let’s run away together, just you and me. We don’t need to be a part of this damn war!”

Conflicted warred on Rangi’s face, Kyoshi could tell she desperately wanted to but something was holding her back. Then Rangi’s head turned back, to look at the mansion off in the distance.

“But… My mother…”

“She can come too! We’ll sneak her out,” Kyoshi said without missing a beat. She wouldn’t make the same mistake here like she did in the real world. It also did not elude Kyoshi that Rangi was on the estate side of the conflict while she was on the Yokoyan’s side.

Why does this sound so familiar? She tried racking her brain to recall the familiar memory, but the dreamy daze kept it at bay. 

She took Rangi’s face into her hands and kissed her one more time. “I’m not leaving you behind again, I’ll do whatever it takes to get you both out. So, please, run away with me.”

Rangi looked up at her, eyes shining and smiled. “Ok, we’ll meet you here tonight, when the moon is high.”

“Ok, I’ll see you then–” Kyoshi cut herself off as Rangi disappeared from her arms like dust in the wind. The scene quickly changed into night. “What–”

There was a loud bang followed by yells and clanging. She quickly turned around and saw the mansion and all of Yokoya on fire. The battle must’ve started, but Rangi and Hei-Ran were nowhere to be seen!

Kyoshi found herself sprinting down the mountain, ready to jump into the heat of battle. Fearing that Rangi got caught up in the fight. When she got down to the beach, it was a bloodbath. Spears, swords, shovels and rakes were scattered about with bodies from both sides. On top of that, the entire battlefield had been completely terraformed with earthbending. 

Kyoshi felt herself being pulled to the middle of the chaos, like an invisible cord was leading her to where she needed to go. 

Uphead, she could see a battle, Jianzhu was fighting hordes of Yokoyans, slaughtering them with ease. But what stole her attention was the figure that laid much closer to her. In the middle of all the chaos, framed by the moon’s spotlight, as if in some sick play, lay Rangi suspended just slightly into the air. Drenched in blood, and a stone spike piercing her chest from behind. 

“NO!” Kyoshi screamed, sprinting towards where Rangi was, waving her arms to earthbend the spike away.

Kyoshi caught Rangi’s body as it fell back to the ground, her head lulling to the side. She was ice cold. Kyoshi stared down into Rangi’s glassy eyes. Dulled bronze, the fire snuffed out. Lifeless.

Kyoshi held Rangi’s body close to her, and let the white light take over her vision. 

____

“Wake up! We have to move!” Wong screamed, jostling Kyoshi awake. Kyoshi jolted upright, from the nightmare, and from the loud noises around her. The earth was shaking. “To the cave! Quickly! Just run! Go!”

Kyoshi didn’t bother to ask, she grabbed the rucksack beneath her and started booking it to the cave entrance. She stumbled, feeling the earth shake beneath her, but was steadied by Lek who helped pull her along.

“C’mon, slowpoke! That demon is back!” he yelled. 

There was a cry and Kyoshi chanced to turn back and saw the black mass of the remaining shirshu charging at them. Kyoshi realized the ground was rumbling because of its burrowing, Wong and Lao Ge’s earthbending, and Pengpeng’s own stumbling feet as they barreled into the cave. 

Wong threw a few large boulders and pushed the beast back before sealing the cave off. Kyoshi quickly reached into her bag and struck a torch off the ground, lighting it.

“What the hell is going on?!” she panted, looking around.

“That damn monster followed us! That’s what!” Lek yelled over his shoulder, his hands were busy at Pengpeng’s leg.

“What’s going on? Is Pengpeng alright?” Kyoshi asked, fear for her furry friend welling up inside  her.

“I–I dunno, that thing hit two of her legs with its tongue– She tried getting up in the air, but I think those legs are numb and–” 

“No offense, but we need to keep moving!” Kirima interrupted them. Kyoshi and Lek turned on their elders, offended that they wanted to make Pengpeng move in this condition. But Kirima continued before they had a chance to retaliate. “She can still move a bit, right? That’s good, because that damn thing can burrow, remember?”

That lit a fire under their ass. Kyoshi helped Lek push Pengpeng further into the cave, Kyoshi on Pengpeng’s right and Lek on her left. The poor creature seemed to hate being underground, and Kyoshi couldn’t blame her. Despite being an earthbender, despite being the Earth Avatar, she couldn’t help but find this whole place suffocating.

She fought to keep the lyrics of the Cave’s song out of her head, fearing she really would be devoured. 

As they approached a diverting path, they heard a loud crashing sound. It must’ve been the shirshu! It dug itself through the cave entrance’s blockade! Then, the whole cave started to rumble, like they were in the middle of an earthquake!

“Which way do we take?!” Kyoshi yelled at the boys, unsure of which of the two paths would help lead them out. 

“To the left,” Lao Ge indicated after tapping his foot on the ground. 

Kyoshi and Lek started pushing Pengpeng to the left when a high pitch screeching could be heard. Something slammed into Kyoshi’s back and knocked her over. She kept her hand glued to her torch, not wanting to lose the little light she had. As she tried to scramble back up to her feet, she felt something sink its claws into her robes, claws hooking over her rucksack and into the armor beneath them, and yanked her up.

“Wolf bats!” She heard Kirima yell.

The next few things happened in a blur, she could hear sounds of fighting happening on the other side of Pengpeng. People screaming out each other’s names including her own. She felt something fluffy and strong slam into her and the wolfbat, sending her flying to the other side of the cave. The cave and Kyoshi groaned on impact. The impact smacked the wolfbat off of her, but it also put a lot of difference between her and her team…and put a lot of wolfbat obstacles between them as well. The animals seemed to be spawning by the dozens.

Kyoshi took out her lone fan and earthbent a boulder at a few wolfbats that looked like they were about to sneak up on Lek. Worried more about his safety, she threw the boulders at them with all her might.

The boulders slammed the four wolfbats into the side of the cave, causing the cave to groan again. In that instant, Kyoshi found herself slammed back into the cavern floor, the earth rumbling beneath her and how its quake assaulted her ears. She looked up to see Lek’s shocked face.

“Kyoshi!” he cried. And then he was gone.

Everyone was gone.

Kyoshi stared in horror as she comprehended what just happened. She caused the cave to cave in. Did her actions accidentally kill her allies?!

“Kyoshi!” She heard muffled voices through both the ringing in her ears and through the rocks that separated her. 

“I–I’m here I’m–” 

A screeching around her cut her off short. A new form of terror thrummed through her as she realized she was alone with the wolfbats. She turned around wide eyes and saw their glowing eyes gleaming at her through the torchlight. They were beginning to surround her.

“Wolfbats! I have to– I’ll see you outside!” she screamed before booking it down the pathway.

____

When Kyoshi was younger, she didn’t have a lot of access to food. She spent more time eating garbage, roots and tree bark, and other foliage she could get her hands on.

One day when she was six, while skulking around the fishing docks, she overheard and watched fishermen teach each other survival skills the other didn’t know. One of the fishermen showed how to make snares to catch animals on land. Kyoshi absorbed the lesson like a sponge, and went about collecting sticks and whatever she needed to twist a small rope. Driven by the desire to eat meat once again.

She set a few snares in the forest, imagining the feast she was sure to have. She just had to be patient.

It took three days for one of her snares to entrap an animal. A small lop-eared rabbit, its leg was caught in the trap, squealing hoping for something to come and save it.

Kyoshi watched the thing struggle, she realized in horror that the snare didn’t kill the animal while she was away. She’d have to kill it herself. 

Driven by hunger, she grabbed a rock nearby and raised it above her head. Her mental image of herself resembled Aoma, and how she liked to hit Kyoshi with rocks for fun. But just then the animal looked her dead in the eyes, its glassy eyes gleaming in terror. A will of fire still burning strong within its being.

Kyoshi dropped the rock in yet another realization (six year olds weren’t known for thoroughly thinking out their plans after all). 

“I don’t know how to make a fire,” she whispered to the rabbit sadly. She wouldn’t know how to make a fire for a good while, but she knew if she wanted to safely eat this rabbit, she’d need a fire. And perhaps a knife. Tears started to fall as she realized she caused the animal harm for no reason. “I’m sorry.”

I wish I was a firebender.

____

Kyoshi felt horrible. From the lack of sleep. From her weird dream. From her memory of her first almost kill, possibly her first assisted kill. She’d let the rabbit go, but she was pretty sure another animal ate it later due to the limp in its leg.

But what made her stomach churn was the splotches of wolfbat blood she was still wiping off her face. She’d outrun most of the animals, but a few caught up to her. They were not deterred by the torch in her hand, so she had to use her fan to…take care of them so to speak. Some of the creatures' remains happened to splatter on parts of her. Well her clothes were already soaked in her own blood, what’s some more?

She fought the urge to throw up.

No! Think of this as your training! She chided herself. If you can’t handle killing animals attacking you, what makes you think you’ll be able to kill Jianzhu?! Suck it up!

The threat of puking washed over her, but it didn’t stop how horrible she felt. 

I need to get back to the other’s but how? She’d been wondering for hours, but hadn’t seen a soul in sight. She’d gone through most of her stock of strike torches. She was now only down to three. That’s only three hours, and then she’ll be wandering lost and in the dark.

I’ll die at this rate. Might as well. My legacy is already in the gutter. Might be better for people to have remembered what Yun had done than to know about my own shortcomings. 

“Look out Kuruk, I’m coming to beat your record,” she joked dryly. Maybe if she died here, Rangi wouldn’t be able to find her body? So she’d keep up the game of chase for another sixteen years until the next Fire Avatar was announced. Maybe then Rangi may rethink her ideas of dying? 

Kyoshi sighed and banished the thought from her head. No, she needed to get out of here. Someone needed to stop Jianzhu. And it would be easier for her to keep tabs on Rangi and keep her alive if Kyoshi was also alive. 

She smacked her cheeks trying to hype herself up. “Ok Kyoshi, you got this. You’re an earthbender! You’re surrounded by your element! You just gotta bust your way out of here!”

She walked over to a nearby wall, with her fan hand she brought her arm down and watched as the wall of the cave sunk down into the earth. Kyoshi grinned and started walking through the opening, when her face suddenly slammed into a solid wall. 

She let out a string of curses as she grabbed at her nose. It was only bruised, thankfully. After the pain subsided she looked up and saw the cave wall had returned to its original position!

Now I know I’m not that shitty of an earthbender. Kyoshi grumbled, throwing her arms down again. The wall disappeared again and she took a step to walk through it. But as soon as her foot hit the ground the wall shot back up! Kyoshi's eye twitched as she threw her arms and the wall down again, only to shoot right back up yet again. She did this about five more times until she yelled in frustration. 

“Fine! I won’t go that way!” she yelled. She must’ve been going insane, she was talking as if someone was there. Maybe the cave itself was alive? Whatever, she’d find a different wall.

Kyoshi walked for a few minutes until she decided to try again. She got close to the wall, ready to dive through in case it decided to shoot back up on its own accord. She brought her arm down, and the wall came with it. When she picked up her head, her face was met with a fleshy pink mass snorting at her. Kyoshi raised her torch up higher and paled as she realized she came face to face with the missing shirshu.

Kyoshi’s arms shot up instantly, pulling the earthen wall back up between her and the beast! Then she turned around, took stock of where she was, and sprinted down the path she’d yet to take, screaming the whole way.

______

An hour later, Kyoshi finally calmed down as she struck another torch off the ground, only two more hours remaining. The shirshu hadn’t followed her, but it still didn’t set her at ease; she was trapped in this damn place with the thing. 

“Oh it’ll be fine! We’ll use earthbending to find our way through the labyrinth! You worry too much Kyoshi, we'll lead the way no problem! Just trust in love!” Kyoshi said to herself, imitating each of the Flying Opera Company’s voices. “Damn assholes, I’m gonna make them pay if we all get out of here alive!”

Kyoshi stopped her long walk to face another wall of earth. She stared at it hard. “Ok, I’m going to try this again. There better not be a damn shirshu behind it!”

She threw her arms down and brought the earth with it. It wasn't a shirshu. A shirshu wouldn't be able to hold a torch or fire. For the briefest second, she thought she had reunited with her team. But when her eyes finally refocused from the new light, it wasn't the Flying Opera Company Kyoshi had reunited with.

It was Rangi.

The two stared at each other with widened eyes, then Kyoshi raised her arms up to put the earth between them. The wall did not return. Kyoshi tried it a few times, but she might as well have been trying to lift a house sized stone slab with her bare hands.

Why! Won't! You! Cooperate?! She yelled in her mind as the earth failed to yield to her demands. 

She swore, and turned her attention back to Rangi (should’ve never taken it off of her to begin with). “Let’s not do anything hasty–”

She barely dodged the fireball that Rangi threw, Kyoshi’s hands flew up to her face, dropping her torch as she caught Rangi’s flying knee kick. She saw through Rangi’s feint, and now Rangi was going to pay for it. 

While she was still airborne, Kyoshi kept one hand on Rangi’s knee, and used the other to grab her by the collar. Then, using Rangi’s momentum, twisted her body downwards. Slamming Rangi into the ground onto her back. 

Rangi slapped her arms out and down to the side and small jets of fire poured out beneath her, weakening the momentum and thus softening the blow. Her foot jutted up and out at Kyoshi’s face, and Kyoshi rolled to the side just in time to avoid a small stream of fire. 

Kyoshi remembered she was an earthbender, and attempted to…do something. Either bring a part of a wall or ceiling down on Rangi, or encase her in earth. But the earth didn’t yield yet again.

Oh, come on! 

Now was not the time for what little bending she had to completely go haywire! But apparently it was, and she’d have to brute force her way through this fight.

Rangi charged at her with a flurry of punches and kicks, Kyoshi fell back, trying to keep enough distance between them as she blocked what hits came her way. She was doing a fine job, almost too fine. Each blow that did manage to collide didn’t feel nearly as powerful as previous matchups.

Is she pulling her punches? Kyoshi thought, as she fell for a feign, and Rangi slammed kick into Kyoshi’s injured thigh. The impact caused a ripple of pain to shoot up through her as she yelped. She was distracted enough that she couldn’t even block Rangi’s next kick to her solar plexus, causing Kyoshi to slam into the wall behind her. 

Rangi grabbed her by her kataginu and had a fist raised, probably to slam a fire fist or an explosion fist through her skull. Kyoshi gasped, she was having a hard time breathing thanks to the two hits. She wasn’t sure if she could dodge this next attack. Kyoshi looked deep into Rangi’s eyes, they were unfocused. She looked even worse for wear than before. Sicker somehow. But it could’ve been a trick of the torch light. 

“I got…you…” Rangi panted. “It’s over… Nowhere…left…to…ru–”

Rangi’s fist dropped and hold slacked as her eyes rolled to the back of her head, then she fell to the side. 

“R–Rangi!” Kyoshi overcame her pain and grabbed Rangi as they fell to the ground, protecting her from hitting her head. 

After Kyoshi recovered from the pain, she sat up, cradling Rangi's body in her hands, shaking her. “Rangi? Rangi! Hey!” Kyoshi continued to shake her, her voice becoming louder and more frantic as time went on, trying to suppress the memory rising inside her. “Come on, wake up! This isn’t funny! Rangi!”

 Rangi’s head bobbled side to side, breathing shallow, eyes closed with dark shadows under them. She was ice cold.

Terror ran through Kyoshi faster than a tsunami taking out a town. Crashing into her being and drowning all other thoughts and emotions in its wake. The memory of her dream, of Rangi’s lifeless body in her arms. The ending to the Lover’s story… It was becoming a living nightmare.

Was Rangi dying? Why? 

She bit back the threat of the light in her eyes coming full force. No, Rangi was breathing, she was still alive. Kyoshi had to figure something out while she had time. Not lose it.

She took a shaky hand and felt for a pulse on Rangi’s neck. It was there, but it was weak. 

“Why? Why is this happening?!” 

This was the worst possible scenario. Kyoshi wasn’t a healer! She hadn't learnt any other element besides earth, how was she going to help Rangi?

And that’s not even working right, right now. She grimaced. Her bending was a mess, they were trapped in this cave, nay, tomb. Only able to cradle the girl she loved in her arms as she took her last breaths.

Damn it! Damn it all! What do you want me to do?! Kyoshi cried in her head. Damning all the Avatars and sages and spirits and everyone that put them into this position. At this rate Rangi was going to…

Rangi let out a weak cough, and it snapped Kyoshi out of her spiral. “Rangi? Rangi are you awake?” 

Rangi didn’t respond, and Kyoshi caressed the back of her hand against Rangi’s sickly pale skin. Ice cold, more fitting for a waterbender than a firebender.

If only I could bend fire… She thought. Her brow wrinkled, confused why she thought that. The earlier memory was about food not about… Rangi being cold. She shook her head, trying To find reason in her jumbled thoughts.

Because I could keep her warm? She tried offered to herself.

Because if I could light a fire, I could keep her warm. I could…light… Ignite? Kyoshi’s eyes widened, her training, her lessons flooding back to her. I could reignite her inner fire!

Kyoshi didn't waste any time. Even if she couldn't firebend now, she would make the damn flames appear! Rangi’s life depended on it.

She took the rucksack off of Rangi’s shoulders and deftly untied the armor, then opened the top half of Rangi’s kimono so there was only one layer between Kyoshi and the chi pathways. With almost all barriers out of her way, she started on her task at hand. 

“The first step was to follow the pathways…” Kyoshi mumbled to herself, rubbing her hands together to warm them up. She couldn’t get her hands to glow like in the scroll, but it wasn’t going to stop her. Kyoshi ran her hands an inch over Rangi’s body, following the pathways starting at her stomach. “I do this and then– I’m supposed to exhale fire into her mouth I think? But I don’t feel any flame…”

Kyoshi bit her lip, and decided to avoid the last step for now, her instincts told her it wasn’t the right time yet. Her fingers moved in the same pattern. Once, twice. A dozen times. But still…nothing. No spark. No warmth.

Kyoshi was taking short shallow breaths as her panic continued. “Please,” she whispered, pleading to any spirit who would take pity on her. “I don’t care what happens to me. I don’t care if I lock myself from firebending forever. I don’t care if I have to give up my own inner fire and life, just– If she dies, I don’t see any point in–”

Kyoshi choked on another sob as tears fell from her eyes. A few droplets landed on Rangi’s face, she twitched and murmured something incomprehensible but didn’t wake. Kyoshi gently wiped the tears from Rangi’s face, and felt a new wave of determination flow through her.  

As she started at Rangi’s stomach again, she felt it. Like spring to ice, she felt a thaw start to take place. Kyoshi’s hands did not glow, there was no fire, but she could feel a heat. And she clung to it so it wouldn’t escape. 

Her fingers traced the pathways yet again, feeling them warm under her movements, until one hand led up to Rangi’s throat, tilting it back. Kyoshi knew now was the time. As Kyoshi let one hand trail back down the pathways to Rangi’s stomach, where the inner fire was stored, she dipped her head down and captured Rangi’s lips with her own. And breathed out pure heat. 

A pulse. What felt like a little heartbeat fluttered under the palm of Kyoshi’s hand where it hovered over Rangi. Kyoshi only pulled away when she ran out of air, and noticed Rangi’s ice cold lips felt a little warmer. 

I did it! But she didn’t let herself celebrate too soon, she repeated the process a few more times. Rangi got a little warmer each time. Kyoshi kept at it until she exhausted herself, it felt as if she just overused a muscle she never knew she had. 

After the last breath, Kyoshi caressed Rangi’s cheek and put her ear up to her lips. Rangi’s breathing was even, growing stronger by the second. Remnants of familiar heat coming back to her skin, pinking instead of green like before. Kyoshi let out a shuddering breath of relief and pressed her forehead to Rangi’s, weeping happily. She was ok! Rangi was going to be ok!

She quickly folded Rangi’s kimono closed, she needed to keep the new heat insulated. Kyoshi wondered if she could carry Rangi through the cave, but decided to have them rest and try to keep Rangi warm instead. Looking around the cave, she saw the torch just a yard or two away and got up to grab it. It still had an hour or so left on it. She didn’t think there was a way to douse it then reignite it later, nor did she want to tempt fate. It was best to just leave it burning. Maybe she or Rangi could make a hand torch later?

She gathered their things and placed them up against the wall. Kyoshi made a move to start putting Rangi’s spiked armor back on when a memory tugged at her.

“You can’t sleep in that getup. Especially not the armor,” Rangi’s voice echoed in her mind. Back when they spent a night under the same sheets, floating on an iceberg in the middle of nowhere. Rangi had been so warm then, like a little glowing coal in the hearth. But it was Kyoshi’s turn to keep her warm now. 

Kyoshi quickly placed Rangi’s armor and rucksack next to the wall. Then she readjusted her clothes, removing her hidden layer of armor and keeping her long kataginu tucked out of her belt. They didn’t have any blankets so she’d have to make due with this.

Kyoshi sat herself next to Rangi, leaning against the wall. She moved Rangi’s body so she was sitting in her lap, cradled in her arms, making sure to place her inside her kataginu. The right side of her head resting against Kyoshi’s left shoulder. Once settled, she wrapped the robe around them, making sure Rangi was secure and the heat was trapped between them. Almost instantly, Kyoshi could feel it working, and breathed a sigh of relief. 

Kyoshi looked around the cave, the events of the day and her being rudely woken up were finally hitting her. She made a good call choosing to take a moment to rest. 

Just a few minutes, I just need to close my eyes for a few minutes…

She stole one more glance down at Rangi. She was sleeping soundly, her top knot-less hair cascading down her face, unrestrained for once. Kyoshi could feel her heart clenching, happy that Rangi was only sleeping and not worse. 

Then a storm cloud washed over her, the memory of her dream hitting her full force. The danger Jianzhu had put her and Rangi in…

Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. Kyoshi held Rangi even tighter as she made her declaration, then she kissed the sleeping girl’s temple. 

Spirits help anyone who would take Rangi from her.

___

Map (source/explanation):

___

A/N: Ahem. I told you it was time for their N-A-P! uwu

Actually, as of this chapter right now, I can safely assure everyone that the girls are going to have a better sleep sched. uwu Unless something happens in the future, then I’m a big fat liar. (but fr fr I don’t really have any intent on any more sleep deprivation, we’re past that now. uwu but if something like that happens later despite what I just said… well…then characters and plot will just….character and plot 8U)

Also, if you couldn’t tell, I was trying to expand on what happened with Zuko during his “metamorphosis.” I mean I was putting Rangi through a similar dilemma that messed with her sense of self so. 8U Weee~! (him and Azula's breakdowns are the big inspos for Rangi's so yeah)

“Man you sure do like your dream sequences” I want them to kiss god damnit TT0TT Sue me! It’s hard slow burning sometimes, lemme indulge. u_u *cough* Anyway….

*inhales* SECRET TUNNEL! I’m not a lyricist, I apologize if I’ve offended anyone trying to expand the songs lyrics and did a poor job of it u_u I know Chong says “and die” is "the rest of the song" but he legit can’t remember anything so I’mma pretend there was more between those two lyric lines~! (and ones that incorporate the tale into it more) Anyway, I like to think this song originated eons ago and has been passed down throughout the years and has expanded to other nations. Tbf a Fire nation soldier in ATLA mentions knowing the song, but it doesn’t HAVE to mean they only heard it cause they’re colonizing the EK…they could’ve just heard it because it’s a well known song/story~!…. I’d say there’s some wiggle room~! :3c

Oh right… the Netflix thing. Anyway, if you watched it you’d see they changed aspects of The Cave of Two Lovers episode between the Cartoon and LA. BESIDES it not being in the right season, and it focusing on Katara/Sokka sibling stuff instead of the ship tease of Kataang (well that’s a choice!). They changed the tale of Oma and Shu. In the LA ver, Shu is now a woman and so they are a wlw couple. Also, OMA is the one who dies and SHU is the one who stops the war. Completely opposite of the cartoon. Not sure why they changed who lived and died but… ok. O_o

Anyway, because of this discrepancy… I thought it would be cool to play with it. Hence the inconsistent tale of the lovers. :’D (something I also noticed was that, in both versions, Oma is usually red, and Shu is blue. Which means… in the wlw/NATLA version it’d mean Rangi was Oma/red and Kyoshi is Shu/blue. >:3c Interesting~! nyehehehe~)

Fun fact: If you’re a Persona fan and have played Persona 5 Scramble, then I’ll have you know. Kirima’s “On your knees” bit was inspired by Ryuji saying “Send the effin’ thing back!” scene. She says it in the same tone of voice. (not sure how many fans here overlap with Persona but.... yeah 8U)

[isa-ghost]

cranboo and phil hcs maybe..........

God where do I start with this. /pos

qPhil headcanons masterlist

I know exactly where. *Slams my fist on the desk.* ENDER KING POSSESSION AND ENDER WALK. Being manipulated by a [perceived?] higher being without their consent and to some degree without their knowledge. Doing things they'd never do in their right minds, hurting people they'd never hurt. Becoming cold and self-centered while controlled. Being terrified of how they can barely if at all control themselves.

Phil misses that kid a lot, actually. He was trying his best, and he can relate to just wanting to settle and belong somewhere while trying to put personal demons to rest or at least escape them. He's glad he could pass on some wisdom and give him a sanctuary while he tried to heal and move on.

He wishes he could've taught Ranboo how to not feel so guilty about things. And to have less shame. He started, but feels like he didn't make a lot of progress.

He hopes he'll cross paths with Ranboo again some day. He'd love to see how his Ender abilities have developed, how he's changed and matured, and same with Michael if he has the kid with him. Sometimes it makes him too aware of his immortality, but he does enjoy seeing how people he knew years ago have grown.

He had mixed feelings about Michael_Beloved. He certainly wasn't gonna hurt him whatsoever though, that's for sure. He enjoyed watching Techno's reactions to the kid.

He can't lie to himself, he was honestly kinda looking for some of the same weird quirks popping up while Ender King was possessing him as the ones he knew Ranboo was developing. He's SO grateful he didn't develop the weakness to water (*laughs in amfmn*)

To this day he wonders what Ranboo was doing with those water bottles he asked him to get. He's a bit concerned, but it's none of his business. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I'm not sure what they would've bonded over, if anything, pre-Syndicate, but they Were neighbors in New L'Manberg for a while. Phil really did enjoy it, he just had no interest in the government part. Living in NL was temporary while he got his bearings in this new realm (and recovered from the fresh trauma).

Consider it because he's a people pleaser if you want, but Ranboo was always really good at helping tend to Phil's fucked up wings. And as rich as he was, he always seemed to have health potions or a gapple or something on hand for Phil to have if he was having a bad pain day. That kindness has never left Phil's mind, and sometimes Quesadilla Island residents reminded him of it.

CURSE THOSE DAMN 2X1 RANBOO MINES THAT WENT ON FOREVER, HE STILL DREADS SEEING TUNNELS LIKE THAT TO THIS DAY.

He would've fucking loved to watch Ranboo fruit it up on Quesadilla Island. Sometimes he imagines how he'd react to seeing Phil fruiting it up and it makes him laugh. Tbf on Ranboo's part, to him Phil would've gone from "I have a wife who's a goddess and I don't need anyone else" to "This is my wife, my husband, my fuckbuddy, his boyfriend, my other fuckbuddy–"

Consider: Because Ranboo ended up in the Nether with Michael, Blaze Empress eventually tells Phil she's located them. It may not be HER Nether, but after QI, her and Rose are kinda like "fuck it, we ball" now. Especially because they wanna make sure Ender King isn't being a bitch in some other realm. They'll beat his ass together in every universe. Anyway: Phil hears she's found Ran and they become pen pals via Blaze.

I think Phil being possessed by Ender King with Ranboo's filthy rich ass in walking distance of his house would've been really fucking funny.

The two of them were so shit at referring to themselves as their Syndicate code names. And because of the way things played out, they never had the time to get used to using them at all. To this day they hear those names and just start laughing like idiots.

Tbh if they were to cross paths again now, Phil would be way more likely to be a "bad" influence on Ranboo. Fuck it we Bolas. (I am eating the concept of Ranboo picking up on Phil seeming,, wilder than the last time they met).

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #3

Oh, I was right- Wanda called Cosmo out for his crown still showing. That's a good way to signal to the audience that they're mystical.

Purple toe sandals! The artists were havin' FUN with colored shoes.

I'm a little surprised they went the direction of making Cosmo's design rounder and Wanda's thinner since, y'know... she's always been implied to be bigger than him, but hey! They both look great and I'm excited to see them with new body types.

I am obsessed with the fact that even in the new 3D style, the characters still default to holding their hands in that little bird-wing position. That is A+. Someone put a lot of thought into this.

Hazel, your hallway has a way cool rug.

It's a very snappy, jolty art-style. I think that works. I hope it doesn't make me motion sick, but I think it'll be fine.

SLKDFJ I'm on the floor, we're getting Hazel's parents' names straight out of the gate (Angela and Markus Wells).

AND A ROOM NUMBER? I am getting SPOILED. It's like this was made for me!

Friendship ended with Dimmsdale; my new best friend is city where we have more house numbers than 4158.

Cosmo, you are playing a dangerous game using magic in front of them. What did you need to change that you didn't know before?

Wanda too? Oh baby, we are SO back! Take me back to the days of Wanda cheering for Timmy to pour way too much liquid into his science experiment.

The welcome basket has a portrait of Cosmo and Wanda and they're gushing over it and saying "You're welcome! :)" and Angela is just like "... okay. I'mma head out."

Cosmo was about to floor me by saying Fairies have to be invited indoors, so I'm glad Wanda corrected him immediately.

Tbf, in Fairy World, "Doors are for chumps."

I'm glad Cosmo and Wanda both forgot how to sit on couches, seeing as most of the seating in Fairy World floats.

Mom's a therapist? That's never gone poorly for anyone in my fanfics before! ... Also, that's immediately gonna set up some plot tension when Hazel starts keeping secrets.

HER PICTURE ON THE BOOK IS 2D, I'm cracking up. Seriously, I think the running gag here is that all photos look like this. That is HILARIOUS.

Actually I'm on the floor; there is something so very funny about her giving Cosmo a book and him being excited about it, citing it as a "smart person present," when he's canonically a guy whose deepest, darkest secret is that he writes about astrophysics in a culture where Fairies think stars are also Fairies (alongside his children's books and blatantly 4th-wall-breaking books), so he doesn't let anyone know he writes. Ever.

I know that's not going to come up in this show because that detail is from "77 Secrets of the Fairly OddParents Revealed" (though he's confirmed the author of Astrophysics For Morons which Timmy found in the library once), so... chances are minuscule the writers for this show know he's also an author who likes "smart people books," but... I know. And I love him. Oh, there are places we can go with this!

Them...

sdl;fjk, Wanda swooping in to stop Hazel from poking Cosmo when she suspects something's up.

Oh my gosh, Angela is unpacking an entire box of her books and putting them all on a shelf. This is the best "show, don't tell" I've seen in a while.

Snack break for homemade bread.