#banana culture boys

[redz0nez9]

Nick Sturniolo pt 24.. The banana. SORRY and NOT PPL TRYNA CANCEL HIM

[cod-dump]

The Shadows had their own culture, Price had accepted that by this point. His boys had theirs so he wasn’t really surprised. Just… they are a bit much.

“What… is that?”

One of the Shadows had walked right into Graves’ office when they were trying to form some vague impression of a plan to present to Laswell. And in that Shadows arms was-

“That’ll be the US of A’s majestic possum. With an ‘O’, might I add. Opossum.”

Price stared at the grey creature that had the darkest eyes he could only compare to Ghost’s. Graves wasn’t fazed, just reached behind him to the fruit bowl that Price kept wondering about and grabbed a banana. The Shadow, without a word, accepted the banana and left with possum in hand.

Price silently looked to Graves who just shrugged, “Boys found the thing when it was a baby and what they do with their paychecks ain’t my concern.”

Price blinks, “Ah… so how many-?”

“How many unusual ‘pets’ do the Shadows have? The weirdest I saw was Bobby. An alligator. But he’s wild. Though he likes to come over for pets.”

Honestly, what was he to say to that?

“You have it worse than me.”

Graves grinned, “Oh, this is an ‘us’ problem now.”

Shit.

[hallowpen]

This series continues to be a love letter to Thai tradition. It makes me sooo happy to get to share these cultural insights with you guys through watching Girl's Love media. We've come so far 😭😭😭

So... This episode didn't really highlight any traditional Thai dishes, but in keeping with last week's edition, I want to at least mention two that stood out:

ช่อม่วง (pronounced 'chor muang') are flower dumplings that were to be considered part of royal Thai cuisine. The dumplings are filled with a sweet and salty pork mixed with roasted peanuts. They are wrapped in a purple dough that gets its coloring from being dyed by butterfly pea flowers steeped in water with lime juice. (Any fellow UWMAers will recognize this dish, as the process of how to make them were included in that series)

สละลอยแก้ว (pronounced 'sala loy kaew') is another version of the dessert we discussed last week. It is made by having Salak fruit 'floating' in iced sugared syrup. Salak is a fruit native to Southeast Asia (specifically Indonesia). The Thai variety have more flesh with a uniquely sweet and slightly sour taste.

ยิงปืนกันกล้วย (pronounced 'ying peun gahn gluay') is a traditional children's game typically played amongst young boys. It is a game where children "shoot" at each other with an imaginary rifle that is made from banana stalks. They swipe one hand quickly along the banana stalk, and the following impact causes the upright parts of the stem ("the ammo") to loudly "snap"... a sound similar to that of a gunshot. The banana rifles are called ปืนของกล้วย (pronounced 'peun gahn gluay') hence the name of the game... and the "horses", which are also made from banana stalks, are called ม้าของกล้วย (pronounced 'ma gahn gluay').

ลอยกระทง - Thailand's Loy Krathong Festival is probably something viewers are already familiar with if they've watched other Thai dramas. It is a Thai tradition that takes place on the night of the full moon during the 12th lunar month. "Krathongs", which can be translated as 'ritual lantern vessels', are made from natural materials including banana leaves and flowers. They are often formed in the shape of a lotus to symbolize rebirth, strength, and resilience. For Anil and Pin it is a gesture to make merit, while simultaneously wishing for each other’s happiness and good fortune. It is representative of their hope for only good blessings to come into their lives while they are apart.

In more modern tradition, there are also certain romantic undertones revolving around the Loy Krathong Festival. It is said that any couple who float a Krathong together, will be bound together for life.

Aside from these cultural aspects, there are a few other instances I want to note.

I loved seeing the juxtaposition of Anil knowing and actively wanting to pursue a romantic relationship with Pin... and Pin only just coming to the realization that, maybe, her fond affection for Anil actually runs a lot deeper. I also want to point out, that Prik's participation in facilitating their romantic relationship is incredibly risky. As a low-ranking servant of the palace, she stands to receive the harshest punishment for 'breaking convention'. Which brings me to this scene:

There are so many social class dynamics happening in just this one scene alone. Pin cannot afford to be rude to a higher ranking official by saying, upfront, she does not wish for him to pursue her. Prik is being used as a shield to protect Pin from Kuea's advances. And Kuea, as a friend of Prince Anon AND who holds title himself, is blissfully unaware that his presence is completely unwelcome... because who, in their right mind, could ever want to turn away a person of his fortune and stature? Aaahhh, it's just such a brilliant scene!!!

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

Which One Piece Characters Are Coming to the Cookout?

tags: headcanons, black!reader, gn!reader

notes. i'm not accepting critiques because i'm not wrong in any of my assessments. we all know these people would be there. i was up late for no reason thinking about this and decided to make it tumblr's problem. keeping it light for my first one piece hc post but i'll be making more

usopp

this nigga's one of us, this is a no question. this is his birthright

you don't see us questioning piccolo and the namekians at the black history month dinner, we don't question shit with usopp

bro belongs here

is most popular with all the younger cousins because of all of his stories

your older cousins are asking sniper king what his wash day routine is because his hair is amazing and we all know it

ace, sabo, luffy

ace and luffy were raised by dadan so these niggas are culturally black. sabo may have been raised by her to a lesser extent than his brothers, but he still was in that house so he gets to come too

the only problem luffy's ass would encounter is that he eat too damn much and he'll steal off someone's plate, so keep an eye on your man and he'll be fine

luffy also knows how to party. it's a challenge when one of the uncles go "you don't know nothin' bout this right here, young buck"

it's the same for ace. he grew up hearing dadan play mary j blige and roberta flack when she cleaned sunday morning so he's getting up the moment he hears someone playing word up

sabo and his top hat would get some eyebrow raises when he shows up but when he shows he knows something about some turkey necks and collard greens, they will be revoking their sneaky ass comments

ace and sabo would be particularly popular with your relatives who want you to hurry up and tie the knot. they help with your wash days, are polite and are very handsome. you will be a hearing a "if it don't work between y'all please give me a call" or two

all three of them will probably keep you at the function longer than you expected for various reasons from 'saying goodbye' and staying an additional 40 minutes to 'okay we gotta stay for cameo, they're playing get down on it!'

sanji

this white boy can cook much to the surprise of your extended family, so hell yeah he gets to come

your family gave you the side eye when you told them sanji would be bringing a dish thinking it was going to be potato salad with raisins and a dash of paprika but bro came with a huge ass bowl of banana pudding and the pudding was made from scratch

he's solidified his place in ensuring he is always invited to a function your family throws

your aunts love that he helps during your wash days, something you bragged about endlessly before you brought him to meet everyone

sadly sanji, like the asl brothers, will continuously fall victim to the "alright we leavin' y'all" but then you end up staying an extra hour because he's too busy yapping it up with all your aunties

you practically have to drag him back to the car

law

you already know your cousins are going to be all over this man based on the energy he exudes alone

"oh he a doctor? so he got money" someone's gonna say it at least once

he mostly sits to himself, more content to watch your family have a good time than interact exceedingly with everyone which may make him come off as standoffish but he really is just happy seeing everyone around him be happy

losing his family at a young age, he's happy to be pulled into yours even if his rbf may make others think otherwise

but all the mysterious aura goes out the window when someone jokes he probably can't play ball and suddenly your family is seeing a different side of him that is childish, competitive and amusing

jinbe/any fishman

automatic invitations by virtue of birthright. it's the same shit with the namekians, they're one of us so they get to come. they are with us on juneteenth

if anything, jinbe IS the uncle going "you don't know nothin' 'bout this right here" the moment the spinners, carl carlton or george duke comes on

[vecnuthy]

Slingin' 🍦⚓️

second entry for @steddiemicrofic pool | wc: 442 | rated: G | cw: a little suggestive at the end

It was the hottest day of the year yet. Mall culture drew the masses, and the masses had flooded Scoops, which was currently manned by only Robin Buckley and Steve Harrington.

The space? Packed.

The line? Through the door.

The sticky ice cream residue smeared across their uniforms caught on their forearms, snagging at their skin as they worked up a sweat in the ice cream shop. They didn't have time to clear tables, clean up spills, or take out the trash, let alone deal with the typical bullshit banter that customers threw at them.

"We're out of peppermint stick."

"How? That's literally your least popular flavor."

It took everything in Robin to just smile flatly. Steve, however, couldn't hold back his exasperation as he threw his head back with an eye roll, pushed through the door to the back, then re-emerged with a challengingly deadpanned, "We're out."

He's pretty sure their ordering a USS Butterscotch was petty revenge. Whatever. It was only the seventh banana split he'd had to assemble in the last hour. His eye didn't twitch or anything.

After that, he and Robin swapped out. Figured it was time, since Steve had been scooping ice cream for so long. No other reason.

"Captain," the next customer greeted with a smirk.

Steve couldn't help but smile.

"What can I get you, sailor?"

"Oh, 'sailor' today," the customer said. Steve shot an amused look of warning. "I see."

Steve took in their appearance — deeply sleeveless band tee, flushed skin, sparkling brown eyes, curly hair in a low bun — as they mulled over options.

"Scoop of chocolate in a cup with a waffle sail, please," they smirked, placing a bill in Steve's open hand.

"You could've just gotten a cone," Steve replied, gathering change.

"Not the same, big boy."

Steve's lips curled up into a smile as he grabbed a spoon, stuck it in the scoop next to the artfully-placed wedge (nice, Robin), and handed the cup to Eddie.

"Aww, no baby spoon?"

"We're out." Steve glanced at his lips.

Eddie's eyes shifted to peer over Steve's shoulder to the well-stocked container.

"I'll eat it too fast."

"Aww," Steve gave a faux sympathetic pout. "Guess you'll have to get another scoop."

Eddie hummed then raised the cup in thanks with, "Birdie."

Robin saluted, and Eddie settled into a seat with a full view of Steve at the counter.

Through the hustle, Steve couldn't help but look over and take in Eddie slowly eating a big spoonful of ice cream. How his lips contoured the lump of chocolate. With full eye contact.

Steve overshot a cup, making strawberry milkshake pool onto his shoes.

[thebreakfastgenie]

you are insane if you think a child reading bigoted works by a bigoted author is better than a child who has a different interest than you would like. go fuck yourself

I'm in the minority of people who actually thought something was off about the Gringotts Goblins when I was eleven, because I'm Like That, and even I think calling the series "bigoted works" is inaccurate. They're the standard level of problematic for a 90s/early 2000s children's series. Singling them out as bigoted obscures what the cultural landscape was like at the time and it's just dishonest!

I read books by the infamously bigoted Roald Dahl as a kid, and honestly I think his bigotry is a lot more evident in some of his works than Rowling's is in Harry Potter (I understand some of her later books for adults are cuckoo bananas). Reading them was still good for me! Certainly better for me than the amount of time I spent playing games on everythinggirl.com. Even better than the time I spent playing actual computer games!

This is not about what interests I would like this is about one parent trying to foster a love of reading and literacy in a child and the other parent giving him screens. If a kid only likes gaming and not books that is bad, I'm sorry! Video games are a morally neutral form of entertainment but it's very important to have a healthy balance, especially for a kid (although a lot of adults spend way too much time gaming; it's basically like the people who used to watch TV all day only slightly more interactive). And tbqh I would be very, very careful about an eleven-year-old boy having access to gamer subculture. He's way more likely to learn bigotry from gamers on YouTube and twitch than he is from Harry Potter.

Would I actively introduce my hypothetical children to Harry Potter? No. But if they wanted to borrow it from the public library I wouldn't stop them. If I knew someone who wanted to read the series with their kids I would advise the against buying new copies to avoid giving Rowling money while she's still alive and doing evil stuff with it, but that's as far as I would go because, like, who cares.

Reading is good. Encouraging children to read is good. Bonding with your kids over your favorite books is good. This should not be controversial. Kids are not better off as iPad kids than reading books you don't like.

[londonfoginacup]

not the same anon and i’ve already asked this to someone else without an answer. i’ve never been to a show in the usa but it feels to me like there’s a different atmosphere in general over there so this comes from genuine curiosity: why do you feel like you have to bring a rainbow flag to a concert? let’s forget about louis for a second, just think of a random concert. you said you’ve gotten bad looks for bringing one but also you (and others) claim that flags in concerts are meant to feel people safe. do you not feel safe if you don’t bring a flag? do you not enjoy a concert if you don’t bring one/see one? what’s the need to bring flags? i promise this comes from curiosity because in all the years i’ve attended music shows and festivals, i’ve never felt like bringing the flags i own, but again, i’m not from the usa and i’m not well versed into tumblr queer culture.

Hi anon. I will take this as a good faith question, although your phrase “I’ve asked this to someone else without an answer” is something I suggest you do not include when asking things in future, because it implies you’re upset or blaming that other person for not responding. People have many reasons to not respond, some of which are simply time or time of day or spoons! We are all simply trying our best out here.

Now onto your question— I think that what’s missing here is fandom history. You said “forget about Louis for a second”, but actually what we need to do is look back at One Direction’s history.

I’ve written this out and tried to shorten it a number of times now, but the long and the short of it is that while the band was active, especially 2013-2014, the way that One Direction the Brand and Management handled rumors about Louis and Harry was to create a rift between “respectful fans” and “everyone else”. And the “everyone else” was people who thought Louis and Harry were in a relationship, yes, but it was also simply queer fans. Because those circles often overlap, OR because other fans would see that they were queer and put them in the same category.

Rainbow Direction was a movement made by fans in order to feel safe at One Direction shows specifically, because it was one direction shows specifically that people did not feel comfortable at, but desperately WANTED to feel comfortable at, because this band and these boys brought them comfort, spoke words in their songs that connected to their queer experience, etc.

I would not say that it’s USA specific so much that it’s 1D specific. I don’t… believe (I could be wrong) that I’ve brought a flag to a non-1D (or 1D adjacent) show, although I HAVE seen flags at those shows, like Declan McKenna I feel like I saw a flag or two there, for instance.

But honestly anon, when I bring a flag, it is not to make myself feel safe. It’s so that someone else who is queer can see that flag and know that I am a safe person. Likewise, when I see someone else with a flag, I know that I feel safe with them. It’s a way of saying you’re not alone.

Now, it might be helpful to know that I have attended EVERY 1D/Harry/Louis/Niall concert (but one) with @lululawrence . It’s her flags that I wear. She is the best sort of person you could ever hope to attend a concert with, but that’s beside the point. My point is that the one show that I remember the most dirty looks and feeling the most uncomfortable was the one Harry show we attended in… 2021? The end of the 2021. Harry’s fan base grew EXPONENTIALLY over the pandemic. That night, we saw maybe two flags in the pit and none anywhere else. There were more people dressed as bananas than people with flags. Sus and I had the bi and ace flags, and honestly anon, I started to want to hide it. The people around us gave us looks, I heard them talking about us although I tried not to listen. I wasnt afraid for our safety, but I was viscerally aware that the people around us didn’t understand the flags and didn’t want us there.

And I had been there in Nashville at the Ryman, when every flag had been confiscated and the security had been terribly mean and Harry had had to pull out his own and set it on stage at one point when the lights went down. That had been upsetting but we had all been on the same page, the fans and Harry, that the flags were important. Post-2020, that show was different. I felt like a creature on display for people to gawk at.

So when you talk about tumblr queer culture, I don’t actually know how much this extends past 1D/Louis/Harry. But in the beginning of 2023, when Sus and I went to the first concert we had booked (we had… four or five that year), and noticed how few flags there were, the two of us were specifically worried about concerts feeling the way that one in 2021 did. That’s why we did spent the next few months sending flags to every North America Louis show (and don’t get me wrong, I’d have done his other legs if I had the money to get them flags too. But all those flags in the NorthAmerica shows? A few friends whom I ADORE helped but mostly that was almost entirely out of my own personal budget). Because we wanted to make sure that everyone felt the safety of being able to spot a flag in the crowd and know that whoever was holding it was not someone who would reject them for their gender/sexuality.

Sure, another option is that no one brings flags and we all just sit and enjoy the music. That’s really fine. But I think for our fandom in particular it’s a bit of history, of being loudly rejected during the 1D days and then surging our support for one another for the solo tours.

And tbh yeah. Okay. America is scary and people are mean and i know so so SO many people who are ONLY out online or at shows like these. I want them to know im there with them.

So, I don’t know if I answered your question well. @takemehomefromnarnia or @lululawrence or any number of other people could probably answer it better.

[bonefall]

Better Bones AU Masterpost

Last Update: 8/23/23, Version 1.0

"What is the Better Bones AU?"

I'm so glad you asked, convenient question-speaker!

Better Bones (BB) is a full-series rewrite project that seeks to have a more conclusive stance on anti-authoritarianism, revamp the bonds and beliefs of individual characters to make more interesting drama and politics, and overhaul the progression of morality and history throughout the timeline to make the society of the Clans into a living, changing culture.

To do that, we've got 5 goals;

Fix the tangled family tree and give it clearer rules, expanding on kinship between cats while not neglecting friendships

Make the environment accurate to northwestern England, including education on how different biomes are managed and lists of local flora and fauna, to understand how environment has impacted Clan culture.

Build out technology by giving the Clans tool use and food preparation, additional traditions and customs, their own language, and medicinal treatment guides from sniffles up to HRT.

Change the themes of canon by addressing its problematic elements, giving the cats consistent politics and making the narrative conclusively anti-authoritarian.

Be cool as fuck, with wilder deaths, more clanborn villains, bloodier battles, and even MORE complicated innerClan drama

BB is told in notes and outlines, with the "end point" being a full skeleton for the entire series complete with chapter-by-chapter notes, which anyone would be able to write out fully, just as if they were a ghostwriter being handed a draft.

This project is open-source. I encourage you to take any inspiration from this AU that you'd like, or use the Clan culture expansions for your own projects. They don't HAVE to be warriors-related, we have a few folks who like to apply parts of this project to Rainworld! Go bananas.

I only ask that you don't steal any drawn art (as seen in the fanart, character summaries, and culture expansions) to pass it off as your own. Please respect the contributions of these artists.

"Boy howdy! Where do I start?"

WOWZERS another perfectly timed question I'm proud of you

HISTORY LESSON. This is a "brief" summary of the ENTIRE history of BB, breaking down each block of history into Periods, divided into Eras. It sprawls from the founding to the most recently completed arc. NOTE: BB does not cover arcs until they are complete. ASC has not been completed at the time of this post.

Character Summaries Every character gets a redesign and a summary, covering who they are, their role in the story, and their connections to everyone around them. NOTE: You are encouraged to put your own spin on the designs if you'd like! I do not design with genetic accuracy or MAP-friendliness in mind, so you have my blessing to alter them or request a modification for an animation.

Clan Culture Expansions Crafts, Herb Guides, the flora and fauna they encounter on a regular basis, and the Clanmew conlanguage is all in here.

Family Tree Overhauls This is almost done i swear

Fragment Bin This is where I'm going to eventually be putting everything still "WIP" material. I call these "fragments" because the full story isn't planned yet, but I talk about the little 'pieces' that I want to shuffle around. If you're new around here, basically I just sorta babble about a wishlist and then work through it with ask/reply suggestions.

FAQ I'll need this too at some point im sure

[idlenight]

humbly asking you for more info on leo ortiz (if you want to ofc!) because everything i hear about him makes me fall more in love

Humbly (but elaborately) answering!!! I love my son - the fact that i advertised for his death to my GM non-withstanding, ignore that.

Leo Ortiz aka Starbright was my character in a game of Masks: A New Generation that is run by my dear friend @vin-ill. (he doesn't post all that much on here but he's a creative genius and I stand by that as his friend, dm, and player).

For those unfamiliar, Masks is a ttrpg based on the 'Powered by the Apocalypse System' (pbta for short). The main draw is that you play a teenage superhero. You are figuring out who you are, who you want to be, and what others (adults especially) want you to be - and whether you want that too.

the TL;DR about Leo is that he's a hypocrite, he never wanted to be a hero, is deeply self-sacrificing, kind of aloof and a dick but cares so much. And that he loves his brother despite everything.

If you want to long version on Leo's history, then take a peek below.

Leonardo Nathaniel Osborn aka Bryce Brilliant started out as the 'Star' playbook. Playbooks aren't like dnd classes, the idea is that you play an archetype. In this case the concept of the Star was being a Hero Influencer, who has an adoring fanbase.... but also obligations that come with that.

(above is the first page of the star playbook I had customised with my own art of Leo :D)

Before being a hero, Leo was a child-actor. When he came out of a car accident with light based powers, his mother created the hero persona 'Bryce Brilliant'. She was his manager and being a hero was just another role he played. His half-brother Logan (older) had been jealous and spiteful of this, he wanted powers, he wanted to be a hero.

When teaming up with a couple of other kids to save the day, his mother insisted they become a superhero team (aka the other players). Their team name was the Bryce Brilliants. They even had a Shoe brand sponsorship.

(first drawing of the entire squad, from left to right: Sam aka Saber, Leo aka Bryce Brilliant, Carey aka Carry, Sky Lee aka Justice)

In the team Leo first learned how to have proper friends teammates, and see being a hero as more than another role to play. Eventually he met Johanna Ortiz, the women he got his powers from.... What you thought they awakened naturally? No his mother bought these powers, she owns the Brilliant name, she owns the right to these powers. Powers that were grafted onto her son.

This is the moment Leo changed playbooks from the Star to the Protege.

The Protege playbook gives the player an NPC who is their mentor, they have a label they embody, and that they deny. (labels are like stats, but they are constantly shifting and are about how you see yourself vs how others see you). If you wanted to play a Robin type character you would probably pick the Protege. This is when he took on the superhero name Starbright.

(above is a screenshot of the Protege mentor labels, to give you an idea)

Leo moved out of his mother's home mansion, and moved into Johanna's trailer. It was quite the culture shock for the boy who would've unironically have said; "I mean it's one banana michael, what could it cost? ten dollars?".

He didn't get to stay a protege for long, as only a few session after he got uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Posessed.

Long story.

TL;DR: power dampening crystal was ground up and put into the water supply. Mixed with an entity that my GM called a 'Hydra-nt' (hydra creature made of water). So it became somewhat sentient and started serious shit all across the city. I failed a roll so fucking bad my guy got possessed by said goo and booked it into the direction of the Gotham to our Metropolis.

The team finished saving the city before going to the Worst City Imagineable(tm) to stage a Leo themed rescue. I played a character named Dr Lovelace (phd) aka Deckard Lovelace at this time, he was a child genius and earned his PHD when he was like, 12 or smth. He had mechanical limbs. i luv him. He never quite got into a hero persona but i had the name Dr Gizmo ready for him. He was the Brain playbook.

(some out of context memes from said rescue mission i found looking for smth else. David is me btw, hi.)

The team found Leo, he got exorcised with the power of friendship and this gun i found. (yk i dont remember exactly what happened, i think Carry did smth fucky with some uhhh power dust she had recently accidentally snorted which was absolutely not Deckard's fault. don't look at me)

the TL;DR of all that is that Leo was possessed by something that was aligned to one of the Five Powers That Be in this universe. Specifically he was possessed by the embodiment of the Abyss, emptiness. We ruled that going from Nothing to once again Everything that Leo was before changed his powers (and him) fundamentally. From then on Leo was the Nova, playbook. (also I made a tiktok about Leo not actually being dead at the time - wow did that not age well. not because it sucks, i still think its funny, but because he is kinda dead now)

The Nova playbook is build around the concept of having amazing godly powers, but little control. You could do everything and anything, but at what cost? Leo's powers become more cosmic than simply light based as a result. (smth smth becoming the sun itself, instead of the light it sheds)

(also HI obligatory new superhero outfit after life changing events 💛💛💛. The jacket used to belong to Johanna 💛💛💛)

A bunch of stuff happened after they got back. Leo changed his name from 'Leonardo Nathaniel Osborn' to 'Leo Ortiz', to officially move away from his birth-mom and align himself with his adoptive one. He broke into prison a little bit to talk and start the healing process with his brother Logan (oh yeah forgot to mention Logan was briefly a villain and Leo got him send to prison). Met a new teammate (an old player returning with a new character). Somehow kept collecting and aligning himself with the OTHER 5 powers that be, which I wasn't even actively trying for yknow. And yknow, fought a religious organisation for a bit.

One that Deckard is totally not responsible for gaining power, nooooo.... Don't look at me. (he just gave their leader a back of magical power dust in exchange for getting information on Leo during the rescue mission ok. it's fine, literally....)

At the climax of that arc, said leader tried to achieve godhood. And using the Nova's 'Moment of Truth', Leo took all of said power inside himself. Completing the 'powers that be' collection in the process, and shooting up far into space where he's become this kind of... shining star.

The moment of truth is an un-lockable playbook feature, where the player takes brief control of the narrative using the guidance of a written out blurb on the playbook. The above image is the MoT for the Nova playbook.

In his death he has created a new power in the universe - the power of friendship. No im not fucking kidding. The list is now: Potential, Tempest, Abyss, Sublime, Architects, and Leo with the power of friendship (and this gun i found).

Figuring he was too volatile to survive very long, he wrote letters to important people in his life. Letters I actually wrote out and printed, and were handed out during play to Players and NPC alike. They were read aloud and it was all very emotional, tears were shed.

A small excerpt from my favorite letter, written for Leo's brother:

Hi Logan, I love you. We stopped saying that to each other at some point. I can’t recall exactly when, I just knew you stopped saying it back so I did too. You know my friend Fleur? Her mother was pretty fucking bad too, and her older brother took her and ran one day. Sometimes I wish either of us had the courage to do the same when we were kids. I’m glad we kind of got there in the end. I’m sorry we lost so much time. I'm sorry we won’t have any more. (the letter continues here but its too long for this already long post)

Leo holds a very very special place in my heart. And he's like, super fucking dead now, and I wanted that to happen. Biting myself for that, evil bastard who does that to a character ಥ_ಥ.

If you got this far, thank you for reading! I love you 💛💛

[daisychains111]

incorrect chb camper quotes but it's actually just my sister's quotebook from Twitter

Disclaimer: This post is gonna be LONG AF

Percy: "Ahh, die quieter"

Clarisse to Silena: "Do I look majestic?"

Will: "I live in America. Cultures?... casserole"

Nico: "At-home lobotomy"

Baby Nico to Clarisse: "You look like Harry Potter, You just need a scar black hair, different clothes, and to be a boy. "

Annabeth:"I don't know if I have enough sanity for 2 Holy books"

Leo: "I've seen titties before....not really in person, but yk"

Annabeth: "Do you have ears?"

Jason: "I kinda wanna work at Taco Bell"

Piper: "I've never been passive-aggressive in my life"

Will to Apollo: "There's no batteries in my butt Dad I'm not a robot"

Clarisse: "I'm not upset I don't hold grudges"

Ares to Clarisse: "I don't like your clothes it forces me to look at you"

Frank to Leo: "It's not 'drip' it's stupid"

Travis to the whole Hermes Cabin: "I'm the Rizzington bear... like Paddington bear but Rizz" (after his 1st date with Katie)

Nico: "I love Olive Garden, I wish Italians were real"

Rachel: "Come on, you guys stop trying to cockblock the view"

Katie: "If people can smoke weed in the middle of the day, then I can drink chamomile tea"

Rachel: "You don't want to piss me off I'm witewally a werewolf"

Piper about Jason: "All my friends are boys, and one just died... he would have made a great bridesmaid"

Frank: "I was doing a silly but the funny didn’t land"

Jason: "Why am I white"

Rachel: "I am not a whore, I am a celibate queen!"

Drew: "It's not the fashion statement that you think it is"

Nico about the Ares Cabin: "They're gonna call you a slur, but they're gonna be really nice about it"

Piper to Annabeth: "If we both think it, it's not bitchy"

Grover: "I'm just gonna write a paragraph or two about global warming"

Annabeth"I have like a 7th-grade reading level!!! (this is impressive when you're dyslexic)

Jason: "Dude I love yoga"

Will: "They say that Utah is the promise land"

Kayla: *explains what a text-fic is to grandparents (Apollo)*

Clarisse: "Put that on your Twitter!" *points knife at me*

Travis: "Do you eat?"

Katie: "...um yes?"

Travis: "Oh, I mean do you want to eat." (when he asked Katie out the first time)

Hazel: "That's not gonna change my heart. That's just gonna make me cry!"

Alabaster: "I wanna find someone somewhere to impregnate and then steal the baby......Where's your Twitter, that was kinda funny"

Percy about Leo: "I would spoon that man so hard"

Frank: "The closer I get to nature, the closer I get to being a werewolf"

Apollo: "I feel like Jaba the Hut"

Rachel: "It's because you ate girl dinner"

Apollo (same convo^)"I fell asleep, and I woke up, and I ate a girl dinner, and I didn't feel that good"

Percy: Don't mind me just cleaning the ocean" *hand angrily on hip*

Will to the Stolls: "Although my bellybutton was once my mouth I don't want soda in it!!"

Connor: "Look at how majestic I am"

Clarisse: *gasps* *throws uno cards* "This is communism at its finest, and I hate your life." *Is losing* "All I'm doing is humoring you now. There is no reason for me to play anymore." *throws cards* *again*

Nico: *passes out*

Will: "We need to take you to the doctor like right now."

Nico: "No fireworks are more important than my health"

Leo about Percy: "That's a pretty boy right there... if we were in prison, it's over."

Kayla when Will came out to her: "Slay motherfucker"

Annabeth: "I hope to not run over any old ladies...old men are fair game tho."

Percy: "Main characters get bullied, Jesus....yep!"

Leo: "What if I was an astronaut!!!!"

Travis: "Banana, Banana, Meatball"

Clarisse: "I am going to break your toe shut the hell up"

Katie to Connor: "I hope you get bullied in high school."

Clarisse about Leo: "This guy's a fuckin goober"

Clarisse: "What did you do to your sweatshirt? Did you get hungry?"-Grover: *sighs*

Nyssa (Hephaestus kid) to Leo: "Dont hurt me. I'm Batman!.... You better not tweet that"

Kayla to Apollo: "It's called multi-tasking Apollo! "

Apollo: "It's mother to you"

Clarisse: "I could fight God and win"

Percy: "So you wanna fight rn"

Clarisse: "No, I'm good"

Jason; "You look gang"

Leo: "What? I look gay!?!?!"

Jason: "You look straight, but nice"

Leo: "Oh... thanks!"

Apollo to Rachel"Lie, deny, cry, and for good measure be a raging slut."

Silena: "There's all kinds of nature out here"

Katie: "Live, laugh, love, low iron"

Annabeth to Piper: "Keep backing up...Cuz you have a fear of commitment

Lou Ellen to Katie: "Does your knee affect your shoe size... or are your feet just that small??"

Travis: "The amount of testosterone in me, peanuts are allergic to me!"

Leo: "I'm cracked up on feeling sexy"

Connor to the whole Hermes Cabin: "The "10" of us? our parents sp*rm pets"

Apollo about Athena: "OH gods, a single mom"

Apollo about Kayla's dad: "I cheated on myself with a man"

Malcolm about Athena: "She's a mom boogie woogie woogie"

Nico: "I cried at Chick-fil-A the other day"

Nico: "Live, laugh, lobotomy."

Drew about Thalia: "She has no friends and a dead brother."

Katie: "I wrote fanfiction on my i-pod touch"

Lacy to Leo: "Was it a tech? or was it a human?"

Will: "Live, laugh, love, tampons"

Kayla: "Die, cry, hate, condoms"

Aphrodite to Clarisse: "Do you like being a girl? You just always wear pants"

Percy: "Chill I know how to make conversations I have Rizz"

Will: "What! no! cow!"

Frank: "Fvcking knock it off seriously you guys are acting like children!!"

Travis to Lou Ellen: "Yesss pussy-pop you slayed"

Ashlyn (Hermes kid): "Chick-fil-A is mid, Taco bell is where it's at"

Percy during tlt: "You couldn't even buy a gumball with that shit (drachmas)"

Percy (same convo ^): "A quarter? You could buy a gumball with that shit"

Nico: "Your soul and your money!"

Tyson: "You've seen fishes, fishes move fast"

Leo to Frank: "What the fvck is a kilometer"

Leo making fun of Frank: "Mua ha ha ha I'm Canadian"

Percy: "Jesus didn't give up his life he gave up his weekend"

*as seen at 2am in the Apollo Cabin*

Gracie: "You're discriminating against me"

April (the token straight): "It's cuz she's gay"

Will: "We're all gay."

Nico: You don't have any slurs about you."

Leo: "No because I'm perfect"

this was fun to make lol....there will probably be a part 2 but like far in the future. if you made it this far I love you....also if you don't recognize names it's bc I deep-dived Wiki to find canon names for each cabin.

If y'all want one-shots based on these TELL ME I NEED STUFF TO WRITE ABOUT

[hawaiifiveohana]

H50 Birthday Fic Challenge!!

*inspired by Navy and Roos Sunday Challenge

🧁🧁🧁Danny's b-day is August 23rd. Scott's is also August 23rd and Alex's is August 24th. Which means we are having a bake off!🧁🧁🧁

Thats right, we're making cakes for the boy's birthdays!!!🎂🎂🎂 (there will also be two other b-day challenges: bingo and prompt fills). Pick a cake, add some frosting--and maybe a topping or two-- then share the results! and yes, art or vid can also be used to make a cake🍰!

🍰Dark chocolate: A character's secret is revealed.

🍰Strawberry: The sweetness of a childhood friends AU.

🍰Lemon: A tangy mermen/were AU.

🍰Red velvet: Store/shop AU. Coffee shop, bakery, tattoo parlor, etc.

🍰German chocolate: Stranded/locked in together!

🍰Vanilla: There's only one bed.

🍰Coconut: Rare pair.

🍰Carrot: Pining or unrequited love.

🍰Apple: School/University teacher AU.

🍰Old-Fashion Cream: Historical AU.

*frosting and toppings are optional, you do not need to use one.

Frosting:

🧁French Buttercream: Fake dating/undercover marriage

🧁Swiss Meringue: Found Family.

🧁Chocolate Ganache: Misunderstanding.

🧁Cream Cheese: Sexy times.

🧁 Vanilla: Domestic Fluff/daily routines.

🧁 Whipped Cream: Whump/hurt and comfort.

Toppings:

🥄Cherries: Meet-cute.

🥄Sprinkles: Day at the beach/ocean.

🥄Rasberries: Kisses.

🥄Cookie Crumbles: Flashback.

🥄Pineapple: Hawai'an culture.

🥄Toasted Almonds: Angst.

🥄 Cake Crumbles: Lingerie/underwear.

🥄Caramel: Drunk/delirious/not in their right mind.

🥄Bananas and nuts: Crack fic.

[dvrcos]

Ive been bothering everyone I possibly can by dropping asks abt Aaron in their inbox soo it's ur turn now

Any Aaron hcs? Your opinion on skater boy Aaron?

And because I love Kevin too, any Kevin hcs? I feel like people tend to forget that Kevin likes photography too canonically besides exy and history

OMG I JUST SAW THIS THANK YOU FOR ASKING HEHEHEHE

Skater boy Aaron is real and true and canon (to me at least)

He is the poster boy for the early 2000s skater aesthetic

Part of the reason he continues skating in college is because he enjoys the heart attack it gives Kevin

Kevin doesn’t want him getting hurt and jeopardizing the team and his wellbeing

So Aaron makes sure he finds time to skate everyday

Aaron is a lover of pop culture and is just a fucking nerd dude

He loves Lord of the Rings and read Harry Potter as it came out (and also very actively hates JKR in the modern day)

Aaron Minyard is a chronic migraine girly

He’s a med student and athlete who gets very little sleep so his head constantly hurts

And yaknow what he’s a little bitch about it too

He is constantly complaining to Katelyn and using it as an excuse to be an asshole

(I love him so dearly)

I also think he is constantly cold and has terrible blood circulation

His hands and feet are always freezing

Years of drug use and constantly needing to take Advil for his headaches has just shot his cardiovascular system

So he’s constantly cold and doesn’t run a lot because his stamina is shit

He has a raging addiction to caffeine and his vice is RedBulls

His sleep schedule is absolutely wrecked from both Exy and school so he’s rarely ever without a RedBull in hand

I don’t think he cares a lot about his diet but he does try to keep it pretty nutrient packed bc he knows the benefits of it

But he also has a sweet tooth (not as strong as Andrew’s but still strong) and he favors baked goods like cake and banana bread and pastries

His vision is bad and it just keeps getting worse over the years but he doesn’t wear his glasses often

He usually resorts to contacts but has to switch to his glasses late at night or when his head is hurting extra bad

OKAY KEVIN FUCKING DAY

He loves tea

Like has an extensive tea collection and will spend the money to buy teas from around the world

He also has a mug collection (the Foxes start gifting him mugs every holiday when they find out about it)

His favorite mugs are his vintage Trojans mug, a “history is not boring” mug the Foxes gave him when he graduated, and a Hogwarts mug Aaron gave him

(they read the series together :P)

Kevin’s favorite areas of history to study are Ancient Rome and the history of Ireland

He’s fascinated by the Roman Empire and studying Ireland makes him feel more connected to his mother

I think he continues school on the side and eventually gets a doctorate degree and teaches a bit after he retires from Exy

He always tries to sign with teams in or near the cities the other OG Foxes are in because he doesn’t really know how to function without the familiarity of his people

Kevin works a lot on undoing his Raven dietary habits and since he’s surrounded by people who can’t cook he grows a love for frozen food as well as caffeine

I think he takes a few art classes and really enjoys it even though he doesn’t think he’s that great at it

He’s actually not bad at all and makes a lot of really cool pieces

Kevin exclusively wears 5 inch inseam shorts

Anything longer is blasphemous

He has basically zero sense of style and just kind of mimics what the others are wearing

Until Allison forces him to go to the mall with her and they spend hours building him a real wardrobe that is him

Most of his closest still consists of PSU and USC merch though

And truly would this even be me if I didn’t put kevaaron headcanons? No

Kevin is basically a human radiator, especially after practice

And that is a blessing directly from God in Aaron’s eyes

Kevin comes back from night practice and Aaron just clings to him, absorbing all of his heat as they fall asleep

Aaron is a chronic clothes stealer like he just has sticky fingers when it comes to Kevin’s wardrobe

They spend a lot of time together in the library

They’re both in quite intensive and workload heavy majors so they study together a lot

It happened more as an accident tbh like Aaron was heading to the library to study for a midterm

And basically all of PSU’s student body had the same idea so there was no open tables

But low and behold there was Kevin, alone at a table tucked in the back corner, typing away at his laptop

Aaron joins him without asking and it kinda just becomes their thing

Kevin joins Aaron at the library between regular and night practices

They spend most of their weekends there and bring each other caffeinated drinks and snacks

Eventually they’re not even studying half the time, they’re just talking and spending time with each other outside of Exy and the other Foxes curious glances and prying comments

Aaron takes a history class with Kevin but Kevin refuses to take any science class outside of his required credits

He’s not a science person so Aaron doesn’t take it personally

Kevin can never properly wrap his head around how strong Aaron actually is

It just doesn’t compute for him, like how can so much strength be packed into such a small body

But he is most definitely not complaining, especially not when that strength is so clearly but on display or used against him

Kevin is practically drooling anytime he watches Aaron body check a striker twice his size and send them sprawling onto the floor

They become each others partners/marks during practices and it is simultaneously the best and worst thing to ever happen

They’re just excessively flirting while tripping each other and fighting with their racquets

The other Foxes comment on their “weird and disturbing foreplay” every chance they get

[the-scarecrow-of-aus]

Dp x dc writing prompt

no. [Banana|cherries|pineapple]

("dammit baldrick you forgot to write the numbers on again!")

I would 'love' to write this but I'm probably never going to have the time, if someone wants to please go ahead and use it, just tag me so I get to read it!

Snow-woman and the damphir?

Vlad and Danny are fighting again, the battle has crossed multiple land masses, they end up in a populated section of Japan where vlad gets the upper hand and pulls out a new invention: the 'maximus convertus' (classy right?) Danny stumbles into a few people trying to dodge but it hits... him and a young woman named cassandra cain!

The weapon is designed to powerswap the person firing and the target but its still a prototype and was meant for just the two people...

Danny's ice core powers get transferred to cassandra, vlads vampire(energy?) Core powers get transferred into danny, vlads obsession towards having Danny gets transferred into cassandra... vlad falls into a coma due to the loss of his core and the shock of being mortal again, danny collapses in the shock as his body shifts from strictly his hero form into something like vlads form (i just googled it, why is most damphir character art a combo of monk robes and a trenchcoat!-or 'bedroom wear'🤣) cassandra basically gets knocked out from the halfa core fusing into her soul and gets colder as her body decides how to develope...

Cassandra is in shock, she was in Japan doing some investigating for the Japan branch W.E. and was almost finished. today was her day off she had gone to a few tourist spots and learnt a little about Japanese culture and folk tales, one which caught her eye was the many stories about yuki-onna, the 'snow-women' after that she was travelling back to her hotel when she got caught up in a fight between supers, the boy with white hair was doing his best to stop harm coming to the civilians even at the expense to himself when the one with the red eyes and Cape pulled out a device that was wired up to him. She saw the boy try to get away from everyone but bounced off two civilians trying to get out of the way he bumped into her as the device fired.

*pain...cold...lonely...pain*

it felt like her body was freezing and unfreezing as she lay on the sidewalk unable to control her actions, the boy with the white hair now altering itself to be longer. She grunted in pain as her body froze and thawed and the boys eyes snapped open looking at her in concern. Another jolt of pain and he was scrabbling over to her to hold her hand "you're going to be all right, I will protect you" he murmured, his eyes seemed to have a hypnotic quality to them but his body language was genuine. The pain spiked again and her conciousness faded to the sound of ambulance sirens approaching. 'Why was her last conscious thoughts turning to the yuki-onna?...'

(Mizore is best snow-girl, will not be taking any Sass about it!)

Also don't @ me about cassandra's heritage, Google's broke, vlads not exactly transalvanian and cass's mother's mixed.

[trivial-writing]

Being a dark skinned person does not mean you can’t be racist. Being dark skinned does not mean you can’t be racist! I was the only Asian girl up until high school. I grew up in the same school for all my life. I had to live with the same people making the same racist comments all my life! The same people saying my dead name wasn’t “Asian” enough. Imagine when Covid came. Imagine it!

“It’s all Sarah’s fault we’re stuck in our homes!”

Guess who said that. Guess! It was the mixed dark skinned girl that was the daughter of the literal principal of the school.

In Middle school, I had a crush on this boy. Guess what he said when the very light-skinned Latino girl told him.

“Oh, look the Ching Chong girl likes me.” Then laughed in my face.

I was told I wasn’t Asian enough. I wasn’t as knowledgeable of my blood culture. This was something I had against me. I was told my eyes were too small. I was called a banana. The whole entire chinese japanese dirty knees has been ingrained in my mind for years.

That’s not the last of it. When an influx of students, international students, came in, there was a lot of Asians in the school. As the ONLY Asian GIRL, I defended other Asian classmates. There was a Japanese kid there. In fact, he was in the Elementary School but moved to Japan. The same dark-skinned guy told him about the Hiroshima Nagasaki bombings. The next day, an announcement came out. He took his life. The pastor prayed over his family. I was there for his funeral. I learned his little sister had seen his death. A little girl at the age of nine saw her brother die in front of her!

The next two years, I was left as the only Asian girl. That’s when I met Rai. I had KNOWN of him, but I never MET him.

I remember a time when another boy, Chinese, was adopted into a white family. He too was like me. He switched schools. The last time heard from him, he was going to the military. Never met him again. He came home, but we lost touch.

These have been my experiences.

I’m tagging my mutuals to spread the message: @spacecowboy-01 @ashippingpotato @rubinaitoart

Edit: fuck it I’m tagging other blogs too:

@headspacedad @future-mr-red-lion @potahun @cheemken @kagooleo

These are some I highly recommend following. They’re all great people.

[zerolune]

Orientation : Fridays After Seven?

Warnings : nothing yet but female reader, mentions of religious households and drugs.

Masterlist

You were raised in an extremely religious family where practically everything was a sin. Your parents were extremely strict too, not just about the religion but also your studies.

The only thing they ever let you do happily was study: so that's all you did. You spent your entire childhood studying and finally here you were, a Literature student in one of the best universities in the world.

College was however, difficult. Parties, drugs, alcohol, sex. Stuff you only heard about, heck all you knew of sex was the biological part-what happens after the banana goes into the bagel- not how or why.

Shit was difficult, and you felt left out, often being called a "prude" and it did not help that most of your friends were the opposite of you.

However, you did have one friend to rely on, who didn't judge you for not liking the culture in the college- Kim Jiwoong.

Jiwoong, was your friend, sadly he was also the most sought after guy on campus, he too was a follower of the college couture, but you too shared a love for literature and writing-a discussion (a debate really) was what made you friends in the first place.

"So he rejected you? The first boy you ever asked out rejected you? That's fun as hell!" Jiwoong choked a laugh as you told him your failed proposal. While he was snickering your face serious.

"He said I was too uptight. He said he'd date me if I wasn't a prude! What the hell is love all about lovemaking only? What about coffee dates, or deep talks? Or I don't know...real not sinful love??" I sigh out, leaning back into the couch.

"What's sinful about sex? You know that's how children are made right?" Jiwoong stopped laughing.

"Shh!! Don't say that out loud, are you crazy?"

"I'm not but you sure are," he sighs, putting down his phone.

"Jiwoong...can I ask something real quick?"

"Yea sure, whatever you wanna say," for some reason, Jiwoong's gaze seems to be fixed on you- not in a normal way but in a different manner. His eyes seem a little darker than before and his sharp jawline tightens as he picks his lip.

"How do you...God I don't know how to say this!"

"Hey, relax just tell me whatever, it's fine," he chuckles, still looking at you.

"Fine...I wanna learn."

"Learn what?" Jiwoong raised a brow, as if he knew what you wanted to say but wanted you to say it.

"You know..."

"No, I don't know, tell me,"

"Fine." You take a pause, taking a deep breath in as you finally spit it out. "Sex. I wanna learn all about it."

His eyes widen. His lips curve up as his vocal box produces a chuckle. "That's a good girl," he sighs, "Alright, you wanna know when the lesson starts?"

"Wait you're...you're okay with that?"

"Please y/n, for the love of god, you know damn well that any man would want to jump at the chance of getting to be close to such a pretty girl like you."

This time your eyes widen but you don't smile or chuckle, you gulp. Perhaps it was the fear, or perhaps it was your own reluctance to admit it, but you were a hundred percent flattered when a guy like Jiwoong said you were pretty.

"Fridays, after 7, your place-sound good?" Jiwoong asked, standing up from the couch, fixing his leather jacket.

"So...we start this week?"

[crusty-chronicles]

The Moon and Sun (Big Sib Reader x Gon/Killua)

Ch 9: The Woes of Traveling

Synopsis: While waiting for the airship that would take you to the NGL, you spend some very much needed time with the boys. Showing them a little more about your ability, until you get into a slight disagreement with a certain silver haired hunter. But he has a knack for calming you down and regaining your favor.

-------------------

While the boys continued to hound you with questions, Spin used the observations you gave to help narrow down the search. She concluded that the most likely location of the Chimera Ant would be somewhere along the Balsa Islands. (Of which you were not familiar with)

"Unfortunately that includes the Mitene Union," Kite had added.

Unfortunately?

"Oh! Where the NGL Autonomous Region is," Banana clarified.

"Yes, and that's not to mention East Gorteau. No chance of getting information out of those two countries."

You frowned at that. And before you could question Kite about it, Killua decided to ask one of his own.

"What's the NGL?"

"NGL's an acronym that stands for Neo-Green Life." Banana started to explain.

"It's a country founded by people who reject modern technology. Choosing instead to live in nature." Stick finished.

Bingo

"Then we should check there first. No technology means it's the most vulnerable. News of a giant ant wouldn't spread as fast and it'd take a while for them to get help," You speculated.

Plus, it was better to get a place like that out of the way if the ant wasn't there.

The only issue was, places like that tended to be sticklers to their own rules. No exceptions.

"You've got a point, let me pull it up real quick," Spin said as she typed away. A few moments later, a map of the country was pulled up. All of you crowded around the computer to see.

"They primarily communicate by mail, and primary travel is by horseback Anyone who brings technology into the country could be executed."

And there it was.

Spin explained how there had been a situation with a small television crew. They were caught with equipment, and one was executed. The rest are still in jail to this day.

If you were being honest, you didn't really like the primitive societies. Having grown up in one yourself. You could understand them being upset from the disregard to their culture, but death? You found it hard to believe such a small offense would call for such a brutal punishment.

"Let's agree and assume for now the Chimera Ant washed ashore there. How would the NGL's citizenry react?" Kite's question hung in the air for a second.

If they rejected modern technology, then they'd probably reject modern help. It also depended on how primitive they were. They could've believed the ant was sent by god or something. Or that it was fate/destiny whatever may happen.

Then there was that aspect of government, if they even had one. Big Wigs tended not to give a damn about the people under them as long as it didn't affect them directly. So the off chance that the ant was already there and eating people....

"They probably wouldn't do anything, and it's not like they could anyways. No tech, no weapons," you answered.

Kite nodded.

"True. When a deadly epidemic spread through the area, they refused international medical aid. Because they preferred to let nature run its grisly course instead."

You wanted to be respectful, but it was getting harder the more you learned about this place. Why would you let yourself die, your family die just to enforce a belief that didn't matter.

It was selfish. But you figured that had more to do with the makeshift government than the people.

"Your point about communication is also correct," Kite continued.

"Even if they tried to contact the outside world, it would be too late by the time word arrived. So if the arm that was discovered did belong to the Chimera Ant queen, then it's entirely possible that she's already begun constructing her nest."

Goddamnit

----------------------------

You weren't too thrilled to be going on this trip. After purchasing tickets that would get you there, you found out a little more about the NGL than you would have liked.

Mainly, the rumors about drugs being manufactured there.

The last thing you needed to deal with was coked up ants. Especially if the boys were the ones fighting them. But there really wasn't anything you could do about it. You'd already given your word that you'd help find the Chimera Ant queen.

So here you are, wandering around the airport in the hopes to pass time. At least you had some decent company.

"Hey, Y/n?" Gon called. You stopped walking and looked down at him.

"Hmm?"

The other boy backtracked towards you when he realized you weren't behind him anymore.

"What made you decide to make your ability tracking?"

You tensed up slightly at the question. You should've guessed it would have been brought up so soon. You momentarily debated another half-truth but decided against it. You let out a tired sigh before answering.

He was too curious for his own good.

"Circumstances called for it, in a sense. It wasn't really my choice if I'm being honest. Just something I had to do."

To be fair, you could have developed a fighting ability as well, but it wasn't something you had been focused on at the time.

"What circumstances?"

"That's a story for another time, kay?" You lightly elbowed him. He pouted but dropped it.

"How young were you when you developed it?" This time it was Killua who asked. He seemed a little hesitant to, probably due to your reaction the last time he pried for information.

You were such an ass for that.

"Let's see," you thought back on it for a sec.

"Around four. It was fully developed by five."

"What!?!?"

You wanted to laugh at the bugged-out expression they both wore.

"There's no way! That's like how Killua was dropped off at Heaven's Arena as a baby!"

"Yeah but I didn't even know about nen until now! How did you figure it out at four!?!?"

Heaven's Arena? Like the place where people fought for money? God they were so reckless. First Chrollo, now this? You didn't think they'd ever run out of ways to surprise you. (For the worst that is)

You put your hands up before they could start shaking you again.

"Hey, hold on. I didn't just wake up one day and decide to use nen. It's thanks to the people I was with that pushed me there. And no, I will not be answering anymore questions today. Please and thank you."

You could feel the disappointment from both auras. See the grumpy frowns on their faces. And instantly your resolve broke.

God what was wrong with you. You were becoming too damn soft.

"How 'bout I show you two something cool instead. Fair?" You offered. They both beamed up at you.

Fakers.

"Let's find somewhere to sit first, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Fine, but it better be cool."

You spotted a bench a little ways away. You were grateful it was empty. You didn't think you could tolerate being squished together like sardines again.

It was also right next to-

You couldn't stop the gasp that left your mouth. Nor the way your eyes immediately lit up with stars. The boys sent you questioning stares and followed your line of vision.

A small snack shack with cookies on the display.

And as quickly as your delighted expression came, it also left. You shook your head and continued to your destination.

Killua looked over to Gon. They nodded to each other in agreement.

"I'll be right back. Go ahead and show Gon first," Killua called as he dashed past you.

You tilted your head in confusion. They were plotting something, weren't they? Goblins, the both of them. But you decided to let it go.

So long as it didn't lead to any trouble.

You sat down on the rickety old bench and patted the spot next to you. Gon complied, anticipation radiating off of him.

"You wanna know how I see the world?" Well, how you saw people more like it. But you thought the way you asked was a little cheesier. It fit with the vibe you were going for.

The softness

"Yeah! I wanna be able to see people's auras like you! It sounds fun!" You laughed at his enthusiasm.

"Wait! Are you gonna train me!?!?" He beamed up brighter at you.

"No, that'll be a while from now. I said I was gonna show you something cool, and training you to see them would take months." You clarified with a genuine smile.

The boy deflated slightly, but was all smiles again as he saw you make circle shapes with your hands and coat them with nen.

Like glasses.

Oh

He understood now.

You moved your hands to his eyes and waited for his reaction.

What he could see was everything. Little outlines of aura trailing every person. Sparks of emotion that seemed clearer to read. And the field of vision went further than he was used to seeing.

It was pretty cool. And useful. No wonder you had been able to find him so easily on Greed Island.

Your hands moved away at the feeling of Killua's presence.

"Took you long enough, gremlin."

He scooched on the other side of you.

"Yeah, well the line was long okay."

Before you could question him about it, a small bag was placed in your lap. You picked it up to inspect and let out another gasp.

The choked sound earning a laugh from the duo on either side of you.

Your eyes closed and you cupped your face to stop the warmth from spreading. Little delighted squeaks as you realized what it was.

A little baggie of chocolate chip cookies.

They had never seen you beam at something before. Never seen a smile so pure and bright from you. Like whatever had been weighing you down before was temporarily gone.

Not even when you had been talking with Kite were you this happy.

You snapped from your delighted daze after a few seconds.

"Oh right, let me show you the thing," you said as you clutched the bag close to you. Like it was made of the most precious material in the world.

Killua's face scrunched in confusion at your words. Then turned into shock as you once again made glasses with your hands and lifted them to his eyes.

Like Gon, he could see everything. The auras, the emotions, and much to his delight-the strength of everyone. So this was how you detected Binolt. Pretty handy. Maybe he could bribe you with candy to teach them how to see like you.

Which begs the question...

"Can we see your aura?"

You thought about it for a minute and inevitably gave in. Mourning the loss of setting your cookies down to do so.

"Sure, just don't get all scared." It was meant to lighten the mood, but a small part of you really meant it. You weren't trained to read yourself, so you didn't have any clue what they would see. You just hoped it wasn't bad.

You kneeled in front of them, one hand for each eye. You coated the space with your nen and waited.

The first thing they noticed was how faint your aura was. Like you were suppressing it. The next thing was your emotions. Nervousness, exhaustion, and that spark of uncontainable joy from before. Which made sense considering the events that just transpired.

But it was the ones buried under them that were concerning.

Guilt, fear, and regret.

A silent agreement was made not to mention those. Not to press you on them. Whatever caused you to feel that way, you'd tell them when you were ready.

You moved your hands away all too soon.

"Soooo, was that or wasn't that the coolest thing you've ever seen?" You stood up with mock confidence, unnerved by the worry now radiating off of them.

"It was okay, not as cool as the visualization thingy." Killua's quip had the mood lightening slightly.

"Well beggars can't be choosers, gremlin." The worry was gone.

"I can still return these," he said lifting up the small bag.

Your eyes widened in dispair.

"Nononono!!!! Please, my precious little Moon Star don't do it!!!! I'll die! I won't be able to go on without them!"

Killua ignored your light attempts to get the bag back, instead smiling smugly at Gon.

"I've got a cooler nickname than you now," he mouthed.

The boy in green puffed out his cheeks.

"No you don't!"

"Yeah I do!" The small assassin verbalized.

"Don't!"

"Do!"

"Don't!"

And while Killua was distracted, you made a fast grab, successfully taking the bag away. He didn't notice as he continued to argue with his best friend.

That was until both of them heard a crunch followed by another excited squeak. They peaked over the bench to see you happily munching away on a cookie.

"Stealer," Killua huffed out.

Gon nudged his shoulder.

"Leave them." He scolded.

It was quite comical to see someone with such a rough exterior go so soft over a few sweets. And the fact that you would growl if they tried to reach for one just to tease you.

It was almost enough to make the three of you forget about the situation at hand.

Almost.

You'd felt Kite's aura approach, then stop. A feeling of hesitance replacing the calm.

And in truth he was a little hesitant. The three of you looked so peaceful. So happy.

Like a little family.

It'd be a damn shame if something happened to it.

All the more reason he should confirm you all knew what you were getting yourselves into. This job would be dangerous. And it just might ruin the peace you had created with each other.

So he'd let the three of you have your moment. Hopefully not the last one if things went according to plan.

With that he continued on to your small group.

-------------------

Your head snapped up at the sound of footsteps approaching. Realizing it was Kite, you relaxed. Seems he was gonna talk to the three of you after all.

"It may be too late to ask this, but are you all sure you want to come along?" His voice immediately catching the boys' attention.

The question was genuine, but a little redundant to ask.

You all were still here, weren't you?

And these boys were the furthest thing from cowards.

But you supposed from an outsider looking in, things would look different. An emotionally and physically drained adult chasing around two hyperactive kids. You probably would have been concerned too.

Their answer was immediate and you wouldn't have expected anything else.

"Of course."

"You weren't kidding about the 'late' part, huh?"

There was momentary shock from Kite's aura. Then eyes fell on you expectantly.

"What? I thought I was in this by default. Can't exactly track an ant without a tracker, you know?"

Unwavering determination from the three of you. Safe to assume where one went, the other two would follow. Still, Kite needed to make sure you all knew of the potential risks entering the NGL. That the three of you would be prepared for it.

"As you know, we have no idea what the situation is inside the NGL. There may very well be a swarm of giant Chimera Ants already hunting humans down. And if that does indeed turn out to be the case, then my priority will be saving them."

Kite's gaze lingered on his team. A surge of protectiveness radiating off him. You could respect that. You could relate to that.

"Be aware that I may not be able to help you three. If you're going to join us, you must be able to protect yourselves."

And again your boys had answered without hesitation.

"Right, I got it!"

"We'll be okay."

Surprisingly, you weren't pushed for an answer. And it may or may not have to do with the fact that he had seen your strength the day he met you. Your speed that rivaled his and was probably even faster. Your strong will to protect those boys.

You'd already proven enough of your capabilities.

Too bad he was unaware it was purely for defense.

"...And if it happens to be me who finds himself in danger, then leave me there. You got it?"

An uncomfortable tension filled the air. Unease in Gon and Killua's auras. And yours too.

"DON'T LEAVE ME HERE! PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME!"

"Shut the hell up, would you?" Your tone was harsh and all the previous joy gone. Instead replaced by agitation. The change in mood was very much unexpected.

Not good. You were scary when you were angry. Especially since you seemed to be getting along well with Kite before.

"You don't leave your friends to die if you know you can save them. Whether you want the help or not, I don't give a damn. If that upsets you then you can shove it. But I will not have you instilling bad morals onto my brothers. End of discussion." Your eyes were colder than they had been. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what it was in them.

But it wasn't hate, wasn't exactly anger. The closest to it was disappointment. Like you were scolding him over something that seemed like common knowledge. Before he could properly explain to you what he meant, you had already gotten up and left for the airship. The two boys trailing behind you, casting an apologetic glance his way as they passed him.

A bear and its cubs.

Kite had to remember to pick his words better addressing those boys. He supposed it was sweet in a way, how serious you took raising them. It let him know they would be safe with you.

It was just dealing with your troublesome temper that would be a pain. (Good thing he was very experienced in that area.)

If you and Ging ever did meet, the two of you would probably kill each other.

-----------------

You'd never been on an airship before. Usually when you had to get somewhere, you'd walk. There was the occasional hitchhike, but you never had the proper money to afford decent travel.

And this was nice. Very nice.

The city lights below you and the sunset unobscured. It was calming. Something you really needed right now.

You hadn't meant to snap, but there were just some things that would inevitably set you off. It was nobody's fault but your own for not conveying them. Still, you weren't too fond of somebody telling your boys to leave their friends when things got rough. No matter how much you liked him.

It wasn't because you thought it would make them cowards. God no, you always reminded them not to pick stupid fights. You just didn't want them to regret running away.

Survivor's guilt was a bitch.

It was not something two twelve-year-old little boys should have to deal with.

You glanced over at them. They were looking out of the window, expressions somber. You could feel nervousness, but you'd give anything to know what they were actually thinking about.

Should you say something?

You were never good at comforting people.

But you didn't like the quiet. Not anymore.

"You two okay?" Were you being awkward right now? Yes, yes you were. But you were trying, that had to count for something, right?"

A moment of silence that seemed to stretch on for eternity.

"You called us your brothers." There was a twinkle in Gon's eye as he said it. It was hopeful.

Then it disappeared as Killua thwacked the back of his head.

"Idiot! Was that the only thing you've been thinking about!?!?"

"Well no, but it's still pretty important!!! They've never called us that before!!!"

"Yeah but we can focus on that later!"

Before you knew it, you were laughing at their shenanigans. You'd been worried over nothing. They were fine. Stupid, but fine.

"Hey! Just whaddya' think you're laughing about!" Killua pointed an accusatory finger at you, face red from embarrassment. You did your best to stifle your giggles before answering.

"Nothing. You two are just goobers is all."

"Ew, what're you fifty? You sound like a senior citizen. You look like one too with those bags under your eyes."

You let out a fake noise of offense.

"Yeah? And what, does that make you Ben Franklin, you little eel."

His embarrassment worsened as Gon laughed at your comment.

"I forgot about that! He is an eel!"

Killua huffed and crossed his arms.

"Can't believe you turned my own best friend against me. Not very big sibling behavior."

You shook your head in amusement. What a day you were having. At least it would end on a high note.

"Oh, Y/n," Gon called.

You turned your head to give him your attention.

"Thank you for earlier."

Your face scrunched in confusion.

"For what?"

"You remember what Kite said before we left? That we should escape without him if he's in danger?"

"Yes?" What did you do that deserved thanks? If anything, you were just being a snippy bitch.

"I wanted to thank you for what you said. That friends don't leave each other behind. I don't think me and Killua would have been able to put that into words. Well, more like say it directly. So thank you."

"Yeah, he didn't make it sound like it was a choice. So I guess I appreciate that you gave us one," Killua added.

You didn't know what to do with this. The gratitude for something you thought was common sense. It wasn't like you'd made some heroic speech on the power of friendship. You just talked from experience.

So you did the only thing you could think of and flicked their foreheads.

"You goblins. Don't thank me for something small like that. I'm the Big Sib, remember? I can't just let someone be teaching you bad habits. What kind of example would I be setting if I agreed to let you run away with your tail between your legs?"

The resounding laughter from both of them had your face going warm.

"Hey! I don't recall saying anything funny! So quit it!"

"It's just-" Gon started before getting cut off by a wheeze.

"You're being so serious over a 'thank you'. You know, you're acting more like a parent right now!" Killua hung off of Gon to steady himself.

Your face went a darker shade.

"I'm nobody's parent! I barely agreed to be your sibling!" You turned to leave, trying not to fluster yourself further.

"Waitwaitwait!" A small grab on your wrist.

"You never let me finish talking." It was Gon who seemed to have collected himself at last.

"You said thank you, sounds like you finished to me."

He shook his head.

"I didn't. That was only part of it. Please sit down and listen." And there were the puppy dog eyes. You hated yourself for how easily you gave in every time.

"Fine. Not like I wanted to nap or anything." You gave his hair a ruffle before sitting on yet another rickety bench, Killua next to you.

"Okay, there's something that I've been thinking about. I want your honest opinion. Do you really think Kite, a guy Ging respects, can ever actually be in that much danger? He said to leave if things got bad, but how bad could they really get if he's so strong?"

Technically, the one friend of Ging's you'd met was a titan. So the odds of Kite being in trouble seemed slim. Then again, you still didn't know how strong these ants would be.

"People slip up. They get tired. Reckless when protecting something important. No matter how strong or respected someone is, there will always be a weakness. And because this is an enemy we've never faced, it's hard to predict what will happen. We can just hope for the best."

So many damn factors could determine a fight. No matter how skilled someone was, one small mistake was all it took.

You wished you didn't know why he had asked that, but you did. And it was because he was considering Kite's words in full. Mulling over what would be the right decision to do. Honor his wishes, or agree with you.

Then there was that familiar spark of determination. And you knew the words that would accompany it would be said with so much certainty, there would be no room to argue.

"I don't know the reason Ging brought me and Kite together, and maybe I never will...But I won't just give up. It doesn't matter what's going on here, I just don't wanna disappoint him, you know?"

You decided then and there that Ging Freecs was the worst person in the world. Gon, who had never even met him, was worried about his approval. The man who had dropped him off at his cousin's and told one of his best buddies to fight him full force. That was the one he didn't want to disappoint.

This kid, who had always felt like he failed when he couldn't accomplish something, didn't deserve that. Didn't deserve to have his self-worth be determined by a man who wasn't there.

So yes, you decided you officially hated Ging. And if you ever met him, you'd be sure to knock him down a peg or two.

"Or me. I couldn't forgive myself either. I won't run away. That's what I've decided. I won't leave my friend to die, not if I can save him." Gon's voice snapped you from your thoughts.

And after processing what he said, you felt a surge of pride. Such a good kid who was cursed with an ass of a father.

"Atta boy." At your praise, he ducked his head down, a feeling of bashfulness overtaking his aura.

"And you? What've you decided, gremlin?" You nudged the boy next to you.

"Don't know. I guess I'd just think about it when the time comes," Killua answered.

"Really? What if it was one of us?" You were being a little mean, pressing him like that. But no matter his answer, it wouldn't change a thing. You'd die to keep these boys alive. And you probably would.

"Well, if it's you two, I'll try my best. But anyone else, it just depends. I don't do these hypotheticals, okay!?!?"

You patted his head, much to his dismay.

"Then let's all agree on something. We look out for each other there, okay? Do what we can, so the rest can do what we can't. And don't be scared to ask for help. I know you two are stubborn, but please be careful."

Were you making another promise?

They nodded, hands reaching towards yours to shake on it.

You were about to make yourself comfortable to start napping when your eyes caught a flash of silver. A familiar calming aura approaching, then it stopped.

You stood up to get a better vantage point and sure enough, there he was. Perhaps he had caught the last part of your conversation with the boys and stopped himself from interrupting.

He noticed you a few seconds later. You were still very much agitated by his previous statement, but you weren't about to be an even bigger ass over that.

He did buy the three of you tickets to come along. And he did double check with the three of you before boarding.

Goddamnit, you couldn't even properly hold a grudge now.

So with the boys distracted with each other, you started up another silent conversation.

'You wanna talk or something? Away from the boys though. You've gotta earn that privilege again.'

Was that relief you were sensing?

'I was hoping to talk to you in private, if that's ok with you?'

You looked back over to the two boys who were currently arguing over dibs for training with you first. Dummies.

You turned back towards Kite and nodded.

"I'll be back, don't do anything that gets me in trouble."

A protest of 'hey's' as you left to follow the taller male. Which wasn't far. The airship was spacious but not big. You two stopped a little ways around the bend.

Your arms were crossed and your stare was expectant. He really did prefer it when you weren't mad. The way you looked a few moments ago. But even though you were upset, you were not an unreasonable person. He'd seen that firsthand himself.

The uncomfortable tension was back. But you'd disrupted it soon after. For better or worse, neither of you could tell.

"This the part where you apologize for traumatizing my boys by asking them to leave you to die?" You may have been exaggerating. But damnit, they shouldn't have to think about things like that.

Your dramatics were expected and like before, Kite would bite back.

"Is this the part where you tell me to screw my explanation?" It was slightly teasing, but completely dispelled your previous agitation.

Your eyes widened, not expecting his response. However, you rebounded quickly.

"If it sucks, then yes. But if you've got a good one I'd love to hear it."

The air became thicker as his expression turned serious.

"You care about those boys, don't you?" You both knew the answer to that very well. Nevertheless, you nodded to confirm.

"Then it's your duty to keep them safe. If I'm in a fight I can't win, what hope to they have?"

And before you could protest on their behalf, he continued.

"They would be putting themselves in a danger they can't beat. Letting emotions get in the way and making mistakes they shouldn't. Good intentions or not, they'd only end up getting in the way. It's your responsibility to take them out of that situation. To protect them."

The same song and dance as before. He was right and you'd jumped the gun a little too soon. The rational part of your brain listening to his words and knowing he was right. But....

"That's not the issue. Trust me, I'm gonna make sure nothing happens to them, even if it kills me. But you don't know what you're talking about asking them to run away. It's not just about doing what's morally right. It's the affect it's going to have."

Affect? Now he was the one a little at loss for words.

"What do you mean?"

You hesitated for a second. Dread and guilt bubbling to the surface.

"As someone who has had to make that choice...I made the wrong one. I don't want them making the wrong one too. It's not something that goes away, the guilt. It festers and grows and it just..." You shook your head, trying to rid away everything negative.

"You don't know what you're asking of them. If there's a chance, even a small one that everybody comes out okay, then we'll make it happen."

Oh

So that was why you were mad.

It made sense now. All of it actually. And when you put it like that, it was hard to argue with. But there was still that image of the happy family broken because one of you had gone back.

You needed to know that. You needed to see past those feelings to understand that. Maybe it was asking too much of you, but this was an important job. One he and his team could not mess up.

"What if you can't? What if it's too late to save someone and you know it? Would you still foolishly try?" It was cruel, but there wasn't a nicer way to put it.

You looked down then. Like you felt defeated. And for a brief moment he thought he knew what your answer would be. He was wrong.

"No...I wouldn't have." He thought the conversation would have ended there, but it didn't. And why it didn't made him respect you all the more.

"But things have changed for me. They've changed me. And even though I know it's a fool's game," Your hands had clenched.

"I would do it in a heartbeat. But if you're so adamant about this, then I want you to make me a promise in exchange."

You didn't agree with him, but you had agreed to follow through in his wishes. It was only fair he do the same.

"Promise that if I have to fight to give them time, you'll get them out of there. You'll keep them safe for me. If I need to die, then make sure they live." Your eyes met Kite's. He would never tire seeing your resolve, but now there was something softer mixed in. Vulnerable.

"I know they can be a handful, but they'll grow on you." He didn't need you to try and convince him to agree. He'd already decided the second you proposed it. Still, you loved your little family and wanted to ensure they would be safe.

A breath of fresh air compared to some of the other hunters he had met. (Even if you weren't exactly one.)

You extended your hand towards his. He took it, noticing a small amount of aura coating it.

"I swear on my nen, that if I know you can't be saved, we'll run."

It was a curse. No a condition. He had never met someone who bet their nen on their word. But your resolve was absolute, not worried about the potential ramifications of your actions. You were serious about keeping your promise.

A spark of something akin to admiration was felt. You stood strong and unmoving and it was having an affect on him.

It wasn't hard to see why both boys looked up to you so much.

You'd place a condition on your nen to keep your promise. So he would too. As a show of good faith. A show of trust.

"I swear on my nen, as well. If something should happen to you, I'll take care of Gon and Killua in your place." His own aura coated his palm.

You looked up at him in shock. Did he have any idea what he was about to do? That this was permanent until the conditions had been met or null?

"You know what happens if you break it, right? This isn't something to take lightly. It's binding." You warned. But Kite looked unfazed by your words, aura a familiar calm.

"I know. Does it make you uncomfortable that I'm willing to meet your stakes?" It was a genuine question. He assumed you would have been happy. Maybe a snarky comment here and there, but not surprised. Was this another boundary he was unaware of?

"No. I just wanted to make sure." You finally shook on it, a feeling of your nen exchanging with his before it was over.

Why had he done that? Why had he put a condition on himself? Just because you did it??? You didn't get it. Promises were important to you, and now a promise like this? Where both parties had agreed to give something up in case it was broken... Where stakes were mutual...

No

You knew why

And it had your slowed heart beating in overdrive inside your chest.

"You're.... You're a good person. For meeting me halfway on this. Thank you, Kite." Your tone was the softest it had been with him. There was gratitude yes, but there was something else. It was almost intimate.

And when you said his name like that, with such fondness, it made him want to keep you around. Just to hear it said in the same way again.

A tongue for a dagger with a heart of gold. That's what you were. A smart ass with a big heart, especially with those two boys.

Maybe he would invite you to stay when this was all over.

----------------

Unbeknownst to the two of you, pairs of eyes watched the exchange from afar. Both of them trying to wrap their heads around what you just did.

You shook hands coated in nen and that was it. But why? They couldn't figure it out. From where they were, they couldn't really hear you all that well.

But one of them could read lips, and what he deciphered shocked him in a way that was terrifying.

Because what Killua had just witnessed was you willing to give up your nen, what made you you, for their safety. That you would give up your life to make sure he and Gon got out safe.

What the hell was wrong with you!?!? Doing something so stupid over something that wouldn't happen!!!! You'd made a big deal about not running away a few minutes ago, so what was the-

Your wording.

There was an 'if'. If you know you can save them.

'But if you couldn't' was what you bet your nen on.

And it brought the earlier conversation to full light. What he would do if you and Gon were just in danger. Without knowing if saving either of you was an option.

Would you hate him if he decided to run?

He knew Gon wouldn't leave you, that he wouldn't have even entertained the thought. But it wasn't as cut and dry for Killua.

It had been instilled in him to flee from battles he could not win. To run and save his own life.

And what if that actually happened? Would the two of you stay?

Would either of you forgive him?

Would you still think of him as your little brother? A killer turned coward?

You never stayed mad or upset with him. And Gon always believed the best in him.

"One day you'll betray your friends and then you'll kill them." He froze at the sound of Illumi's voice. His words were still engraved in his mind.

"You don't leave your friends to die if you can save them." But so were yours.

"You're no good."

"Okay, I'll admit it. That was pretty unexpected. And cool."

"You're weak."

"Just try a little harder and you'll have it down."

"Foolish little brother."

"He's cautious and knows how to pick his battles. And despite the shit his family's put him through, he's still a good kid."

His brother had taught him everything he's ever known, and a part of him was grateful for that.

But you and Gon had shown him a different way. A way built on trust rather to than fear. And out of the voices battling in his head, yours was the one he would rather listen to. The better one.

The one that made him feel safe.

He would try for you.

Try to be a good person for you and Gon.

Try to save the two of you if anything happened.

-----------------------------------

Not so Fun Fact #10: Y/n's Hemophobia stems from being exposed to too much at a young age.

Not so Fun Fact #11: Y/n became homeless at the age of 8

MASTERLIST

Tags: @fandomhoe101

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An: Me??? Making a small filler chapter 😱😱😱 Yes, now let me stall for Kite's life. Kite my beloved, I apologize for what I'm about to do to you next chapter.😞😞😞 Gon and Killua my scrunkies, I also apologize for what I'm about to do to you the following chapter after that😞😞😞 (Or maybe through the power of procrastination I can stall the angst for one more chapter.)