#both logo-wise and content wise

[simplydnp]

they really said 'happily phoreverafter' and fucked off... good for them

[saintobio]

⊹★⋆ two wheels and a hot guy.

pairings. gojo satoru, fem!reader tags. 1k wc, biker boy x biker girl au, non-sorcerer au, crack, fluff, dirty jokes (?), satoru rides an s1k, biker!sukuna mentions, same au as my other fic. sparked by a random idea bcos why haven't we thought abt biker!gojo honestly? he would be so funny on tiktok if he was a biker boy lmao

You’ve all heard about Biker!Sukuna. That famous biker boy on biketok who has tattoos and rides a blacked out Yamaha R1. 

But have you heard about Biker!Gojou? 

Well… For starters, Satoru Gojou wasn’t a seasoned biker. 

In fact, he was more of a poser than anything, but you’d never catch him admitting that. His prized BMW S1000RR, the crown jewel of superbikes, was more about image than skill. The sleek, aggressive lines of the machine, combined with the prestige of the BMW logo, were all he needed to keep up appearances on TikTok. And he learned that appearances were everything, especially when Sukuna, with his obnoxious face tattoos and natural charisma, hogged the limelight (especially from all the girls!) with every post, even with a girlfriend already in tow. The sheer audacity of that scum was enough to drive Satoru up the wall. Fine, he had to admit. He was jealous of Sukuna’s popularity and the fact that he snatched a cute booktok girlfriend as his backpack. 

Suguru, his best friend and fellow biker, didn’t let him forget it either. As they stood by their bikes outside Barnes & Noble to spot booktok girls, Suguru glanced at Satoru’s liter bike and smirked. 

“Pretentious motherfucker,” he muttered, slinging a leg over his Yamaha MT-10, the less flashy but undeniably badass naked bike. Unlike Gojou, Suguru didn’t care about clout. The MT-10 was all about raw power and agility, the kind of bike a real rider appreciated. “You only got that thing because it’s a BMW. You gonna actually ride it for real one of these days?”

“Shut up.” Satoru rolled his eyes, adjusting his white Alpinestars riding gloves while holding his phone up to go live on TikTok. Starting with a 1000cc as a beginner bike wasn’t a very wise choice, but still... “People love the S1K, you know that.”

And let me tell you about Satoru’s favorite time of the day (or night). It was whenever he would go live, and the comments would pour in as soon as his stream started. That was when he could lavish in his social media presence the most.

user19463: Bro, when are you gonna show us some actual riding content?

anon875biker: All that thirst trapping. Bet you don’t even take that thing out of the garage. 

harleysRbetter: U punks R ruining the riding community! 

Gojou grinned at the screen, winking at both his followers and haters. “Alright, boomers, calm down. I’ll post some riding content soon. Don’t cry too much before then, yeah?”

r1.skn: Sir, can you do wheelies? 

Suguru found that comment hilarious, recognizing the username and knowing exactly who it belonged to—Sukuna. But Satoru’s competitive nature kicked in instantly while he continued to scroll through the comments. “Yeah, I can do wheelies. Ignore Sukuna, guys. Focus on me!”

msbikerluvr: Still looking for a backpack, Gojou? Lmao.

“About the backpack… you know, I’m just waiting for the right one. Applications are still open—” He was about to launch into another witty retort when a sound cut through the chatter of his stream—it was a deep, throaty rev that sent a shiver of excitement down his spine. Satoru’s head immediately whipped to the direction of the sound, just in time to see a flash of race blue zipping down the street.

There you were, riding a Yamaha R7, your black Dainese jacket hugging your curves as you leaned into the wind. The way you handled the bike, so smooth and confident, it was as if the motorcycle was an extension of you. 

“Damn, she’s hot.” Without a second thought, Satoru ended the live stream abruptly, “Gotta go, guys. Someone just stole my heart,” and pocketed his phone.

“Did you seriously just—” Suguru started, but Satoru was already mounting his S1000RR.

“Catch you later, Suguru!” he called, gunning the engine without even looking at his best friend. Soon enough, the 1000cc bike roared to life when he shifted into first gear, and he sped off in pursuit of the blue R7.

He caught sight of you at the next red light, the signal holding you in place just long enough for him to catch up. Thank God there was no sign of a biker boyfriend around when he pulled up alongside you, visor down, adrenaline still kicking him alive. He tried to get your attention by revving his S1K, and you turned your head slightly, barely acknowledging him as you pulled your visor up and revealed the prettiest eyes Gojou had ever seen. 

Satoru flipped up his visor too, then flashed his most charming grin. “Hey there,” he said, trying to keep his voice smooth and casual. Like it was a normal encounter. “You’re fast. I like that.”

You may have rolled your eyes, but he could tell you were smirking underneath the balaclava as you talked through the Cardo intercom linked to your AGV K1s. “And you’re obnoxious. I don’t like that.”

Oooh, she’s spicy. He laughed at the silly thought in his head, unbothered by your dismissal. “Come on, don’t be like that. I’m just trying to get to know the girl who stole my heart in the middle of a live stream.”

“Your heart, huh?” you teased, revving her engine just slightly. “Sounds like you’re more interested in what’s under my jacket.”

“Now that’s a baseless accusation,” he retorted, leaning in slightly. “I don’t do anything on the first night, you know. I usually wait until the second, after a nice dinner. I’m a gentleman like that.”

His remark made you snort, shaking your head at his boldness. “You’re a ridiculous guy.”

“But I’m also serious,” he added, his voice sincere despite the playful glint in his eyes. “Let me take you out, just dinner. No strings, no funny business—unless you’re into that kind of thing. I don’t mind that, either.”

Your laughter sounded like a sweet melody to his ears. “You’ve got guts, mister. I’ll give you that.” Has anyone told you how hot you looked while leaning into your bike? Damn. Satoru was distracted, checking you out for a moment until you spoke again, “Fine. One dinner. But don’t think you’re getting into my pants just because you ride a fancy bike.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he promised, grinning from ear to ear.

The light turned green, and without another word, you revved your engine and took off with Satoru right on your tail. The chase was on, but this time, it wasn’t just about the thrill of the ride. 

For Satoru Gojou, it was about something far more exhilarating—winning the attention of the most intriguing biker girl he’d ever met. 

And perhaps, the biker boyfriend and backpack girlfriend content he’d been hoping to post on Tiktok may slightly change into a different direction than he expected. 

[djdjdjmk]

Character reference sheet thing for Red Fist Stan AU

Stanford Filbrick Pines

When Stan was taken away he and his mom were at the other island, visiting Shermie at marine headquarters. When they came back Filbrick lied, telling them that Stan was taken by pirates. Caryn later finds the money Fillbrick got for their son, collects all her and Ford's stuff and moves away, closer to Shermie, as far away from Filbrick as possible. Later they move to Grandline with Shermie and his family, where Fords meets Fiddleford and together they eventually start to work to Vegapunk. 

Personality-wise he is stubborn, very hard working, pretty independent, since Stan wasn't around to help him. Misses his brother and has attachment issues. Lots of them. He calls Shermie and mom every two weeks cause he's getting anxious if he doesn't.

Tall, not as broad in shoulders as Stan, but still in a pretty good form. His hair is cut short, wears glasses. Wears yellow moon rocket boots, burgundy pants, a lab coat, and a yellow jacket

Tries to find the pirates that took his brother away, but, due to some insane case of unluck, keeps going in the wrong direction. Doesn't know about Stan's whereabouts.

"Red Fist" Stanley Pines

Becomes a part of Strawhat crew as a boatswain: he's responsible for keeping all the cargo safe and in place and for kicking Luffy out of pantry when he tries to get in for a snack.

Personality-wise he is boisterous and loud, gets excited easily, generally more airheaded than the original, as straightforward as he could be, loves his found family and loves to brag about them all the time.

He is tall and pretty broad in shoulders, generally looks healthier, since he never stopped boxing and spent a big part of his life surrounded by people who give a damn about him being healthy. He has lots of neatly faded scars from scuffles with marines and pirates alike. His hair reaches his shoulders and sometimes he ties it into a short ponytail. He wears yellow glasses, a white shirt with bright red crimin logo, dark red west with fluffy collar, black sporty sweatpants and sandals decorated with little red and blue beads. He also has a gold chain that dangles on his neck. He has two sets of knuckle dusters, one with seastone coating and the other without. Both sets are red, the one with seastone slightly darker.

His current bounty is 369 million berries (third lowest bounty on the crew, all his previous bounties were multiples of trees because the world hates him). Shermie works as marine, and Stan only knows that Ford is working with Vegapunk.

More content here

[stellar-constellations]

An Alliance (Part 9)

        

        Fem! Spy! (Y/N) x Yuri Briar

        Parts: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, current part, ten (to be continued when Spy x Family has more Yuri content!)

        (Y/N) is given her own backstory that is important for the story!

        The setting for this story is based off West and East Germany's (because Spy x Family is heavily based off Germany in the 1940-1950) laws (or at least replicated to the best of my abilities since it's unknown what time period Spy x Family is exactly in, we'll go with 1950 for the sake of this story). 

        Historically-accurate women misogyny and mistreatment! Only small comments and historically-accurate laws (replicated to the best of my ability). 

        The story, plot, and settings might not match up to the Spy x Family manga as it's not completed and the manga is still being crafted.

        This series contains spoilers for the manga and anime!

        A couple weeks passed by and Yuri decided he wanted to visit Yor. Yuri's wound had healed up a little so I allowed it (by allowed, I mean I tried to restrain him and gave up since he was too strong and determined to see Yor).

        During those months I gathered some intel from the National Unity Party that I didn't know about until talking with Twilight about little details of his current mission (or doing a little bit of hacking into Eden Academy's files). I learned that WISE's top suspect is Donovan Desmond has two children I wasn't aware of, Damien and Demetrius Desmond, along with a wife, Melinda Desmond. A little trip to City Hall and snooping through some files and database there, I found out what they look like along with their private information such as their birthday and where they work.

        I wrote down everything I saw (even stuff I figured didn't matter) and placed it into a big white envelope with a false train logo imprinted on it, handing it to Franky when I saw him at the train station on the way back. How I did this without Yuri knowing? I got him drunk and made sure he was sleeping when I left. 

        But Vixen—the West Spy—doesn't matter right now. (Y/N)—Yuri Briar's wife and secret SSS agent—does.

        Yuri happily skipped to the Forger's apartment, barging in quite rudely as I trailed behind him, used to this routine by now.

        "Yay, my sweet sister! I came by for an early morning visit!" Yuri shouted.

        "I'm not satisfied with our life together!" Yor shouted at Twilight.

        Yuri's face morphed to horror (as did mine and Twilight's).

        Twilight and Yor are having relationship problems?! I thought to myself. This is really bad! Twilight's goal is to maintain a family to get closer to Donovan Desmond. If this is ruined, WISE will have to start all over again, and who knows how long it'd be until Donovan does something drastic that breaks this very thin ice Westalis and Ostania is on! We'll have another physical war!

        "LOID FORGER, YOU BASTARD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY SISTER?!" Yuri screamed, pointing an accusatory finger at Twilight. 

        "Let's not get hasty! We haven't heard both sides of the story!" I smiled nervously, grabbing his shoulder.

        "Yuri? Didn't you get hit by a truck and hurt your shoulder not a little while ago? You should be resting!" Yor spoke, concerned.

        "That healed up right when I talked to you on the phone! More importantly..." Yuri spoke dully, then his tone changed as he got serious. "I warned you, Loid Forger, that if you ever made my sister cry, I would have you exe– er... I would be extremely upset." 

        "Yuri, no! It isn't like that!" Yor claimed.

        It's not?

        "So then what is it like, Yor?" Yuri questioned.

        "Um..." Yor stumbled, thinking.

        "Tell me so I can properly chastise this ne-er-do-well!" Yuri spoke, then looked as if an idea struck him. "If I can keep her angry at him, she'll finally dump him like I've wanted all along." Yuri muttered.

        "Um... you're thinking out loud." Me and Twilight spoke.

        "All right, Yor. Let's get you out of this marriage. We'll go file the divorce papers right now!" Yuri exclaimed.

        "Wait a second, Yuri! I'm sure this can be justified! Let's not get into something so big like that!" I spoke, worried for the future of Ostania and Westalis.

        "We're not getting divorced!" Yor claimed.

        "Yor, have you been holding on to this grievance all along...?" Twilight questioned, a million thoughts going through his calm blue eyes.

        "No, just since yesterday." Yor smiled ditzyily, causing Twilight to go wide-eyed.

        "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER YESTERDAY?!" Yuri shouting, pointing his finger at Twilight again.

        "He didn't do anything!" Yor exclaimed.

        THEN WHAT ARE YOU MAD AT HIM FOR?! I thought to myself, yet held my inner peace as I watched the scene play out.

        "Apologize. I don't know what you did, but you're going to apologize to my sister." Yuri spoke, his tone intimidating me despite me not being at the end of his words.

        "I am so deeply sorry, Yor. I never–" Twilight started, but was cut off by Yor.

        "Loid, no! An apology from you is the last thing I want!" Yor claimed, causing Twilight to have a mortified expression on his face as I saw the Ostanian military clean their guns, ready for their command to infiltrate and kill.

        "HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO APOLOGIZE YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS, YOU FLIPPANT LOUSE!" Yuri screamed, still pointing his finger at Twilight.

        "I understand, Yor. You want me to show contriction through my actions. And I will! I swear to you, I won't ever make you suffer this way again!" Twilight spoke.

        "TH-THAT'S EXACTLY THE PROBLEM!" Yor shouted.

        "HUH?!" Twilight and I exclaimed.

        I can hear the marching of Ostania's army. I can smell ashes from fire and gunpowder. 

        "Yuri, please, could you just stay out of this? This is a martial issue between me and my husband!" Yor scolded, directing her anger towards Yuri.

        "M-martial?!" Yuri exclaimed, a shocked and dejected expression on his face.

        Yuri depressingly made his way to the couch and flopped down, deflating like a ballon as he laid on the couch.

        Yor said this is a martial issue between her and Twilight, so I shouldn't get in the way too, I thought as I sat down next to the sulking Yuri. 

        The phone starting to ring and Yor quickly ran to go answer it.

        "Oh. I'll get it." Yor spoke. "Hello, this is Mrs. Forger." She answered, then redirected her attention to Twilight. "Loid, it's for you. It's from the hospital." 

        "Yes, hello?" Twilight spoke, answering the phone.

        Hospital? Oh, right! Twilight's cover job is a physiatrist for this mission!

        "I'm sorry. I've been called in for an emergency." Twilight stated, hanging up the phone.        

        "Oh dear, that sounds serious." Yor spoke, before it was like a switch was flipped in her as she started to shout. "EVEN ON YOUR DAYS OFF, YOU ABANDON YOUR FAMILY FOR WORK! HOW COULD YOU?! HOW COULD I EVER BE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY YOU ALWAYS PUT YOUR PATIENT'S FIRST?!" 

        "I'm sorry, Yor. We'll talk about this when I get back." Twilight stated calmly, sparing me a glance before walking out. "I really am sorry!" he exclaimed before walking out and shutting the door.

        Yor had a prideful smirk on her face as she looked at me and Yuri (Yuri seemed like he had a skeptical look on his face as he looked at the door Twilight just left).

        "Yor, I really don't mean to pry into your martial problems, but I really believe you need to think about this." I sighed.

        "Huh? But having gripes is a normal thing for marriages, right?" Yor questioned.

        "Of course, but you should understand his side too. You're claiming he spends too much time at work, correct?" I questioned, making sure I got the facts straight.

        "Yes, that is a normal gripe wives have against their husbands, right?" Yor spoke, genuinely seeming like she needed a gripe to appear normal.

        What's she need a gripe to appear normal for anyways? I thought to myself.

        "I hate to give unsolicited advice, but Loid works to provide for your family. I understand that you grieve the lack of time he spends with you and your daughter, but he's a physiatrist. He helps aid people's mental health to prevent something drastic happening. Life and death doesn't wait, that's just apart of this job. However, I do understand you. I believe it's a good idea to have a family outing soon, that way you're able to spend time with Loid and Anya!" I suggested. "That's just my idea though." 

        "I suppose, I could bring it up with Loid..." Yor mumbled.

        "I think it'd be fun for everyone! And don't worry, it's perfectly normal for couples to fight; I mean, me and Yuri fight quite regularly." I reassured. 

        "Yuri? You have gripes with (Y/N)?" Yor questioned, surprised.

        "Huh, yeah. Whatever you say, sis." Yuri spoke, his eyes not moving from the door.

        "Yes! Like this one right now." I smiled. "Yuri! You need to stop adding fuel to the fire! Yor was right! When a couple is arguing with each other, keep out of it! You could've actually did some serious damage to their relationship by bringing up divorce! We didn't even know what started the fight!" I shouted, grabbing Yuri by his shirt and forcing him to look me in the eyes and away from the door.

        "O-okay..." Yuri mumbled. "But something's fishy!" he spoke, redirecting his gaze to the door.

        "What?!" Yor exclaimed, seemingly worried.

        "The way he ran off in such a hurry just now... He's cheating on you, Yor." Yuri accused.

        "WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST TELL YOU ABOUT ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE?!" I screamed, resisting the urge to uppercut him.         

        "What?!" Yor gasped.

        "Let's go follow him." Yuri spoke.

        "W-we can't do that!" Yor tried to reason.

        "I agree! We can't do that, Yuri! Have you no shame?!" I exclaimed.

        He's acting like he's following one of the people suspected of espionage at our job (or my SSS gig)!      

        "You aren't worried at all, Yor? About your so-called husband cheating?" Yuri questioned, turning to look at Yor.        

         "Well... maybe just a little..." Yor muttered.

        I was about to interject, say some wistful words about "how relationships should have trust" before remembering when I bickered with Yuri about if he'd fall in love with someone else and cheat before we agreed to get officially married.

        I felt like I was about to throw up, I don't want to be a hypocrite! But I also don't want there to be another physical war between Ostania and Westalis! But if Yuri finds out that Twilight is a spy and he gets caught, then Twilight's mission to keep peace between Ostania and Westalis will be screwed!

        "You need to be careful that he doesn't notice you, Yor." Yuri instructed. "Stay close, but not too close. You need room in case the target suddenly stops. You can't stop yourself, or you'll get spotted."

        "You sure know a lot about this, Yuri." Yor commented.

        "Uh... they just said that on some cartoon I watched with chihuahua girl the other day..." Yuri claimed.

        Dummy, we weren't even here! You were healing up from your wound, remember? I thought to myself.          

         I heard some noise from an alley and peaked over, seeing our lieutenant!

        What does he want? I thought to myself as Yuri noticed.

        "I-I-I-I-I'm sorry, Yor! I just remembered I had some paperwork that I forgot to file yesterday!" Yuri exclaimed. "Stay with Yor." Yuri whispered into my ear.

        "Huh?" Yor gasped.

        "I have to run back to the ministry! You go expose Loi-Loi's infidelity by yourself, okay?!" Yuri spoke. "I'm really sorry!" he shouted as he ran from us.

        "Hey, wait a minute! Yuri!" Yor shouted.

        Shouting? Thanks for giving us away... I thought to myself, then redirected my thoughts to the serious matters. Two emergency summons today? There's something going on between WISE and the SSS today. I can't go to the SSS since Yuri ordered me not to, but I should be able to go to WISE? I'll follow Twilight.

        Me and Yor kept following him as he walked into the hospital, allowing Yor to see for herself that she's actually going to "work." 

        "See, Yor? You have nothing to worry about. When has Loid ever given you a reason to doubt him?" I smiled. 

        "You're right. This was childish..." Yor sighed. "We can go home and make some tea." Yor suggested, smiling at me.

        "I would love to, but I'm on the lookout for an anniversary present for Yuri." I smiled sheepishly. "This is the only time that he's not with me, so I need to hurry before I have to get to work myself later!"

        "Ah, I understand! Do you need any help?" Yor questioned.

        "No thanks, I want to give him something straight from my heart." I spoke. "Have a good day, Yor! Tell Anya I said hi!" I spoke, jogging off to the streets away from the hospital.

        I ducked into an alleyway and waited for Yor to leave the hospital, making sure her back was turned from me before running back to the hospital. I ran into the lobby and walked through the halls, finding a nurse. 

        "Excuse me, I have an appointment for Dr. Forger, but I got lost and I don't know where his office his." I smiled.

        "Ah, no problem! This hospital is pretty big. I'll guide you, follow me." The nurse spoke.

        I followed the nurse to an office as she knocked on the door.

        "Come in." I heard Twilight's voice as we opened the door.

        "(Y-) Mrs. Briar?" Twilight spoke, looking at me as a white-haired woman stood next to him.

        I recognized her as Nightfall. She's very pretty, but she's very scary to me, so I stay clear from her. 

        "Mrs. Briar has an appointment with you, Dr." The nurse stated.

        "Thank you. Come on in, Mrs. Briar." Twilight spoke. 

        I nodded, walking in and closing the door behind him.

        Bugged? I morsed through my blinks.

        Safe space. Twilight morsed with his own eyes.

        "You're Nightfall, correct?" I spoke in a soft voice just in case the walls were thin as I held out a hand.

        "You know her?" Nightfall questioned, eyeing my hand like it was gum on her shoe.

        "Yes, this is Vixen. She's infiltrated the SSS and is up to date with information from them. I heard from the Handler you're back on the force." Twilight informed. "What brings you here?"

        "The SSS." I spoke. "An emergency summon happened today with the SSS. I was informed from my husband to not attend, so I'm here." 

        "You came here without orders from the Handler?" Twilight questioned, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

        "I need information from WISE and the SSS so I can determine accurate and inaccurate information to feed the Handler." I explained.

        "You're married to an SSS agent?" Nightfall spoke, a glare on her face.

        "Just for this mission." I smiled.

        "There's no time to send the Handler a message. We'd bring you, but your husband will identify you immediately." Twilight spoke.

        "There must be something I can do. I'm still apart of WISE, after all." I huffed.

        "Fine. Let's make haste, the SSS may already be on the scene." Twilight sighed. "Nightfall, the details." 

        Nightfall gave me a glare before reluctantly speaking up.        

        "We have an extreme level 3 situation. WISE HQ in Ostania has been trying to ferret out a mole. Yesterday, they finally uncovered the culprit. However, by the time they were identified, the mole had gone underground. And right around the same time, numerous top secret documents were taken from agency files. Among them was a coded map indicating areas of operational activity by WISE agents in Ostania. And some of the information contained within that document pertains of Operation STRIX. If that were to fall into Eastern hands and be decoded... our lives would be in danger." Nightfall explained in a mouthful.

        I'm unaware of the SSS receiving new files, so it hasn't been delivered yet. I thought to myself. I haven't seen anyone at the SSS that is a spy at WISE, could it be a new recruit? I'm aware of the new woman that came aboard, she's a total rookie, but the Director really wanted her onboard. But I doubt she's the mole, it's just a gut feeling. I don't know of any new rookies other than her, so it must be someone whose been at the SSS for longer than me, but if that's the case. I might not be able to help... unless.

        "Hey, I got an idea. I'm heading to the library, take this. It's a tracker so I know where you guys are, I'll meet up with you both later." I spoke, handing Twilight a small chip that he attached to his collar without second thought. 

        "You better hurry with whatever you have to do. Nightfall, you and I will make our way to the scene." Twilight spoke.

        "Be careful!" I exclaimed, quickly opening and shutting the door as I ran down the hall.

        I followed the way the nurse guided me to the office and made it out of the hospital, running into town and to the HQ of SSS. I checked the clock and knew it was time. I clocked in and ran to find a guy who owes me a favor (by that, I mean making someone do my work).

        "Hey, Donnie! I need a favor, buddy." I spoke, patting his shoulder.

        "Oh, what's up?" he smiled.

        "Today's your anniversary, right?" I questioned.

        "Huh? Today's my anni- OH! TODAY'S MY ANNIVERSARY! NO WONDER CARMEN WAS ANGRY AT ME THIS MORNING- but that never seems to be new..." He spoke, going through many stages of shock. 

        "Listen, today's my anniversary with Yuri! I can pick you up an anniversary present too for Carmen if you put my name in your document with yours." I spoke, referring to the document he was writing as he listened to a bugged room on one of our potential suspects. "This is the only time I can go out and get the present, but I need to be at work too! Please?" I spoke.

        I need to make sure that the SSS don't know I'm working with WISE in this part of the mission. If I mess with the information they gain, the SSS will kill me! I thought to myself. 

        "Yeah. I got you. Barely doing any work anyways with this! Thanks, (Y/N)!" he beamed. 

        "No worries, man! I'll see ya soon!" I spoke, rushing out of the room.

        I carefully checked the room with our schedule, making sure that there wasn't anybody there, before I ran out of the room. I ran to a nearby shop I knew that WISE was in control of, where you make anonymous purchases for wigs, outfits, and contacts to change your appearance for missions (or, their public front, for costume parties or parades). 

        I purchased a (different hair color) wig and a different shade of (eye color) for my contacts (making sure they were appropriate for my eyesight since I decided I wouldn't wear my glasses [if you wear glasses]). I grabbed a pink t-shirt, a white ribbon, black shorts, and a pair of brown boots. I made the purchase and ran into an alley, changing clothes and hiding my old outfit behind a dumpster in the dark alley. I threw a cereal box from the dumpster onto the ground near the alley entrance so I'd find my clothes as I raced out and to the library near city hall.

        I made inside and snagged a computer, taking a seat and quickly logging into the public computer with the library's username and password written on a yellow sticky-note on the desk. I wrote a fake name on the computer's public name log, then disabled the browser from any third-party trying to watch my internet activity. 

        I hacked into the SSS database, the screen going black with green letters.

        Woah, cliche hacking. I thought to myself, before quickly pushing away that thought. 

        It took longer than I'd like to admit it, but I finally found the information the Director receives from his little mole (perhaps my hacking skills are getting rusty). Sometimes there were emails but as I long as I thought really hard enough, I would crack the words they made up and proceed with the next file. This scum has been actively giving information on WISE for at least two years now, in fact, he was originally from Ostanian Intelligence before he got in WISE solely for Ostania's purpose! Worst of all, there's no name! All of his emails and files are signed off with W.W. Who had the initials W.W. that I'm aware of?        

        Nobody, that I can think of that the top of my head, that is. But the good thing about our day and age is that the library has public files for use, so marriage certificates and criminal records are available to me. 

        I need to get to the backroom and get those files so nobody knows I retrieved them, but I need those librarians to get away from that back door.

        I noticed a group of kids nearby and walked over to them, fishing in my pocket for some money. 

        "Wanna make some money?" I questioned, changing the pitch of my voice to a high but monotone tone, that way if there's any cameras or microphones here being watched by the SSS, they wouldn't recognize me. 

        The three kids nodded excitedly.

        "I need you guys to distract that librarian, but don't tell them that! Tell them you're looking for a book that's about a zebra becoming a tooth fairy and convince them to go look for it with you, okay?" I instructed.

        "Okay!" they all agreed, rushing towards the librarian's desk and distracting the librarian as I watched from behind a bookshelf.

        The librarian seemed a little stingy to leave, but they eventually agreed after some pestering from the kids. While they were distracted with that, I ran into the backroom and looked through metal cabinet files. I made it to a large drawer with the letter W written on a piece of tape. I scanned through the folders and papers rather impatiently since I'm on a timer. 

        I found the files of civilians and searched through, looking at the faces in case they'd be familiar. It's going to be a man since me and Chloe, our new recruit, are the only females in the SSS and we're both new. The only think I'm running off on is they're a man and their initials are W.W. I found a file that made me pause, observing the face more closely.

        He had a long face with white skin and blue, droopy eyes. His hair was blond and he has thick eyebrows with a fair and tall build. I checked the name, making sure that initials matched up (they did). I checked his birthdate and figured it was reasonable since he's a double-agent. The file said he works at the Ostanian Foreign Ministry (a cover-up in case WISE agents come snooping around here, like me). I swear I've seen those eyes before, whether at WISE HQ or Ostanian Intelligence. 

        I know I have a bad memory, but I really think I just found my guy! I thought to myself, smiling.

        I know that WISE had identified the mole, but looking at these files tells me how much Ostania really knows about WISE, and I know if that coded map from Westalian Intelligence gets out, it'll definitely end up in the National Unity Party somehow, then we're all screwed!

        I placed the file back where I found it, now having information on the target myself.

        Now I can hunt this mole down myself, I thought to myself, smiling at the irony itself.

        I looked around to make sure the librarian wasn't around as I exited the backroom, getting away from the librarian's desk and waiting for the librarian to give up on their search of the zebra tooth fairy book. It didn't take too long before the librarian complained about this being a waste of time, and going back to their desk.

        "Here. Thanks for your help, and ya didn't see me." I spoke with my undercover voice, handing the kids their well-earned money and running out of the library.

        I checked the watch on my hand, turning a tiny button twice, and seeing the clock's face get swapped to a black screen with a bunch of white lines, and green and red dot. The white lines are the streets of Ostania being displayed from the satellites, the red dot is my location, and the green dot is where Twilight is. 

        I won't be able to run that far on foot, and the train would take too long (not to mention I'd have to hop multiple trains too).

        My only option is to steal a car. Well, it's for the greater good. I'll return it! I convinced myself, before finding a motorcycle on the street left unattended.

        Or... we'll be dramatic! I smiled, running up and hopping on it. 

        I grabbed the wires and retraced the steps I remember one of my WISE trainers telling me a while ago. I burnt my hand a couple times and lost the feeling in them, but I finally got it working as I heard the beautiful cat purr of the engine. 

        I checked my watch once more, looking at the location of Twilight once more and memorizing it as I fixed the white ribbon in my wig, making sure my wig was secured very tightly to my head by tying the ribbon on. I turned the gas and rode away. Judging by how far it looks on my digital map, they must be either in or nearby Shellbury, in Northwest Ostania. It'll probably take a good thirty minutes to get there—that is if I abide by traffic laws, but again, I'm on a timer and the small "peace treaty" Westalis and Ostania is in danger, so we're going fast enough that it'll make lightning look slow.

        I got there in ten minutes, internally glad of saving time as I parked the motorcycle on the side of the road, checking my watch to see Twilight wasn't too far. I made it to a fountain in some park, seeing one of SSS' captains meeting with Winston. 

        I sat down on a bench, eavesdropping into their conversation for any leverage.

        "How about you hand over those files, Wheeler. WISE seems to have gotten wind of the meet, so I don't want to drag this out." The captain spoke.

        Yes, yes. WISE agents like me, I internally thought, yet shut myself up so I can focus. 

        "Before I do... I want to verify that you're really with the State Security Service." Winston responded.

        The briefcase he's holding must be the files, I could shoot him with the gun on my waist under my shirt, but that's extremely risky. 

        "What, you think I'm really Twilight, Master of Disguise? Ha ha. Good one." The captain laughed. "Can you prove to me that you're the real Wheeler?" 

        "My green tie and yellow gemstone tiepin already have." Winston informed. 

        "Mm... hey, it's yellow." The captain spoke, looking at one of his men.

        "Got it." The lackey spoke, walking away to make a call.

        What is going on? Is that a code the SSS made I'm unaware of? Well, with my low-rank position it is possible. I'll have to find information on their secret codes later.

        "As for... Our fake Wheeler here... Is that you, Twilight?" the captain spoke.

        Twilight? I thought to myself, checking my watch. He is! No wonder why Twilight's location showed up here! I can't believe I forgot about that!

        "That really is an incredible impersonation of Wheeler. You're every bit as good as they say you are." The captain spoke, reaching into his jacket's pocket and pulling out a gun. "So, what's next now? You gonna peel off that disguise for me?" 

        I reached for my own gun, ready for combat in case Twilight needs some help as I watched Twilight wiggle his foot. Suddenly, the big water fountain next to them blew up. Someone fired at Twilight as he ran, clicking a button on his briefcase that turned the bottom of the briefcase into a gun!

        Woah! I didn't know HQ had those! A whole shoot-out took place and I decided this wasn't the place for me. If I get shot and Yuri notices, he'll know I didn't follow his instructions, and that I was possibly working with WISE!

        I ran away and ducked behind some bushes surrounded by a fence, hiding in them as I checked Twilight's location on my watch.

        He's running straight for me? 

        I peeked my head out slightly, seeing a figure running to my spot. I ducked back into the bushes so I wouldn't get caught, hearing more footsteps running towards me.

        "Yuri!" a pair of guys shouted.

        Yuri?! Yuri's here?! Crap! 

        I felt my heartbeat raise out of fear for myself and Yuri's sake. This place really seems to be dangerous, he shouldn't be here! Twilight and I are here!

        "You still with us, man?!" one shouted.

        "Yeah, where did he go?!" the other shouted.

        "Ngh..." Yuri groaned.

        Is he injured? How?! Who ran into him and hurt him?!

        "The East gate..." Yuri mumbled.

        Huh, that's weird. He sounds like Yuri, but not at the same time? Is this... Twilight? I checked my watch to see his location, it proving my correct.

        "East! Got it!" they shouted as they ran away to find Twilight (who was right in front of them). 

        I very carefully peeked my head out and saw "Yuri" standing up, adjusting his jacket.

        "Oi!" I exclaimed, standing up from the bushes 

        I don't have to be careful, I'm in a disguise! I remembered.

        "Yuri" turned around quickly, looking at me with a surprised expression.

        "Um... hey...?" he paused.

        "No worries, Twilight. It's me, Vixen." I smiled as his composure relaxed.

        "Thank God, it's you. That's a decent disguise—amateurish, but it works well enough."

        "Sure as hell worked on the Master of Disguise." I smirked pridefully. "Now, what's next?" 

        "Let's make our getaway." Twilight spoke, looking around before his eyes landed on a sewer gate.

        "Ah, shit..." I mumbled, knowing what we'd have to do.

        Gross...

        "Let's go." Twilight ordered.

        "Yes, boss!" I joked, trying to make light out of this situation as we walked through some mud.

        I lifted the heavy cover and jumped in, Twilight following after as he closed the lid.

        "Stay quiet, light on your feet, and look out for all exits and entrances." Twilight muttered.

        "I'm a spy too, remember?" I huffed quietly.

        Even after all these years, he still has the audacity to treat me like I don't know anything. 

        We started running and heard some footsteps up ahead around the corner. Twilight efficiently kicked up a metal pipe for me as he ran. I caught it and gripped it tightly as he pulled out his gun, getting ready to fight.

        I felt a warm sense of admiration that he gave me the metal pipe since he's aware I don't like using guns, not after what I've used them for in the war. 

        We past the corner as Twilight shot, but instead we saw, Yuri, the real Yuri!

        Twilight's shot missed him, hitting his hat instead, as Twilight paused, making me pause too. Twilight's gun was aimed directly at Yuri's face, I was going to shout and tell him no, but he held his hand, behind me and only for me to see.

        He's telling me to stand down and stay behind him—like always...

        "Gah!" they both exclaimed.

        Yuri hasn't spotted me... he's too focused on Twilight that he hasn't seen me! This is good!

        Two gunshots rang simultaneously, one hitting the gun out of Yuri's hand and into the sewer water and the other piercing Twilight's shoulder. 

        "Guh!" Twilight voiced his pain as Yuri kicked Twilight's gun out of his hand then stepping back to make room as the gun hit the sewer wall before going into the sewer water too.

        Twilight clutched his shoulder tightly, a serious and frustrated expression on his face as they both stood still, looking at each other. They both look similar to each other, it's really scary. The only difference is that Loid is 6'1" and Yuri is 5'10". I wondered briefly on how good Yuri is at hand-to-hand combat, before seeing it myself.

        "Give up..." Yuri started, raising his fists. "And come quietly!" 

        He punched at Twilight, but Twilight dodged it and kicked him in the gut, giving Yuri a punch to his face as he fell down. While Yuri was distracted, I threw Twilight a white cloth from my pocket for emergencies just as this.

        I have to make sure I'm prepared in case me or someone else gets shot or is bleeding intensely. I've learned from my past mistakes.

        Yuri stood up, his fists raised once more, having a mark on his face as Twilight wrapped the cloth around his bleeding wound. 

        "Stop resisting and surrender. We've got the sewer surrounded." Yuri claimed.

        There's no way! They didn't figure it out this quickly that we were down here, did they?

        "If you don't want to die here, run back to the surface. Now." Twilight commanded, mimicking Yuri's voice pretty well.

        I understand why Twilight sounds different from Yuri. Twilight speaks in a calm and collected tone, always serious. Yuri, he speaks with his tone, he's very open about his feelings. 

        "DON'T TALK TO ME IN MY OWN VOICE!" Yuri screamed, rushing at Twilight. 

        Twilight quickly undid his belt and whipped Yuri in the jaw, hard, with it as he drew blood and possibly even broke his jaw! Yuri fell hard onto the ground as Twilight looked down at him.

        "You may not be eating any decent meals for a while, but you'll live." Twilight spoke.

        He's showing Yuri mercy. Could it be for operation STRIX? So Yor wouldn't be devastated and the family falls apart? Could it be he's aware of my feelings for Yuri and doesn't wish to kill him out of respect (or pity) towards me? Or, could it be he's genuinely grown attached to his "in-law"?

        That should be enough, I thought, worried for Yuri's safety and health. I'll make him some southern stew tonight, he really likes that since it came from his childhood. 

        Twilight turned around, giving me a nod as he started to walk away. I almost turned to follow, but I heard the sound of metal and raised my metal pipe. I turned the corner to face Yuri, our metal pipes clashing together. I pulled his leg from under him with my own leg, then used my metal pipe to shove him backwards, kicking the metal pipe that fell out of his hands into the sewer water.

        "You're wrong, Twilight! It's you who won't be eating any decent meals... in your prison cell!" Yuri spoke, spitting out blood.

         Wow, even though I'm right in front of his face and entered the fight, he's still caring about Twilight.

        "And who the hell are you?!" Yuri shouted.

        I ignored his comment, afraid if I talked he's recognize my voice as I stared him down.

        I really, really, don't want to fight him.

        Twilight noticed my hesitancy and was about to speak up, but Yuri charged at me. I hit him upside the head with my metal pipe with some heavy force, hoping to at least knock him out or disorient him so we can run and avoid further harm to him.         

        Yuri staggered to his side but quickly punched and hit my jaw.

        Man, he packs a punch! I thought, hearing a clack! 

        I grabbed him by his jacket and pinned him against the sewer wall as he grabbed my wig and pulled it. The wig fell as he looked at me, confused as my natural hair came down.

         "Wh-" I used his confusion to my advantage, grabbed his own hair and quickly turned him around so he was facing the sewer wall, slamming his head three times in the concrete wall before pulling back.

        Twilight quickly threw himself into the mix and karate-chopped Yuri's throat, coming up behind Yuri and elbowing him into the ground, (even giving a good kick to in-between Yuri's legs).

        I wanted to scold Twilight for being too harsh and mean (like I wasn't slamming his head against concrete a few seconds ago), but I understood Yuri's looking to kill (or at least capture) us both and watched on. 

        Yuri stood his ground and Twilight punched his face as I knelt to the ground and slammed my metal pipe into the back of his knee with full force. I ran back to Twilight's side as Yuri fell down, but he just got back up!

        Jesus Christ! Yuri Briar is seriously a force to be dealt with, how is he standing?!

        "Don't hold back this time." Twilight spat out harshly, his eyes kept on Yuri.

        "YOU BASTARD! I AIN'T!" Yuri shouted, holding his fist up and rushing towards Twilight as I took a deep breath and hid behind Twilight, clutching my metal pipe tightly and raised it.

        He said not to hold back. Sorry, love. I thought to myself. Consider this payback for my jaw.

        Yuri got closer and Twilight quickly side-stepped, leaving me vulnerable. Yuri didn't even stagger as he changed his target to me, but his eyes widened. 

        He ran too fast, so he can't stop now. His only option is to move forward and attack, even hesitate his attack now and he's screwed (which, he really can't stop now anyways).

        "He was talking to me." I huffed, making my pitch and tone high and monochrome as I did earlier in the library. 

        I swung my metal pipe down hard onto his head, the force even hurting my own arms as he fell cold onto the ground. 

        We watched closely as Yuri was on the ground, making sure he'd stay there. To my surprise, Yuri stood up, causing me and Twilight to let out a scream of shock. I swung my metal pipe upwards, hitting his jaw as he fell back to the ground. Me and Twilight watched on to make sure he was fully down as I held my metal pipe up high.

        Twilight huffed heavily as breathed in, finally glad it's over and that he's still alive.

        "Yor... I'm so... sorry..." he mumbled before passing out (for real this time).

        "Ready?" Twilight huffed out.

        I nodded, staring at Yuri before leaning down and checking his pulse.

        "He's fine." Twilight confirmed. 

        "I just have to make sure..." I mumbled, checking Yuri's pockets. 

        I found a walkie-talkie and looked at Twilight. 

        "Do his voice. Tell him to come find him; that he's injured." I ordered, shoving the walkie-talkie in his hand.

        "Are you serious right now?!" he hissed. "We gotta get outta here!" 

        "He's hurt!" I huffed. 

        "Fine..." Twilight groaned, grabbing the walkie-talkie. "Yuri Briar. Injured. Help, over." He spoke, talking in his tone.

        "Thank you." I smiled.

        "Let's move." Twilight spoke, grabbing my hand.

        Twilight started to run while clutching his shoulder as I followed, running ahead of him in case of any danger. I have to be able to protect him since he's injured. We ran a while until we heard different footsteps, causing Twilight to grab my arm and stop the both of us. The footsteps stopped as Twilight carefully led us to a corner. He peeked out of the corner as I watched his expression to see if it changes, indicating he saw something. I turned to look at my right just in case anybody was there, looking just in time to see a tall man holding up a brick and aiming it right at my head.

        "Oi!" I shouted, alerting Twilight of the man's prescence as I quickly ducked, bringing my metal pipe up and wacking his jaw. 

        The brick was crushed in the man's hand as it collided with the concrete wall.

        He was going to hit me with that! That would've killed me!

        Twilight grabbed my pink shirt's collar as he jumped backwards, forcing me away from the man. 

        "Winston Wheeler!" I shouted.

       "You're him!" Twilight exclaimed, quickly tapping a finger on my lower back as he let go of my collar.

        Don't, he's telling me. 

        "You're Winston Wheeler, right? Relax! I'm with the SSS! I was pursuing a wise agent down in the sewers! I don't know what you're doing here, but I sure am glad to see you! Captain Gascoigne and the others are waiting for you back that way! Let's join up with them!" Twilight spoke, grabbing a SSS badge out of his pocket. 

        I, too, grabbed a badge out of my own SSS pocket out of my pocket. 

        "How about you show me your I.D. to be sure." Winston spoke, outstretching his hand.

        "Okay." Twilight obliged, giving him his badge as I did the same with mine.

        "I don't match up with my badge at the moment, I'm in disguise." I explained.

        "What about the guy you were pursuing?" Winston questioned.

        "Securing you is our priority." Twilight spoke as I nodded.

        "WISE is here and infiltrated, we can worry about the agent later." I added as I crossed my arms.

        "Lieutenant Yuri Briar and Lieutenant (Y/N) Briar. You're married?" Winston spoke as Twilight crept behind him.

        Twilight came behind him and suddenly Winston turned his back, kicking Twilight in his stomach.

        "Or is that just the face you're wearing?" Winston commented.

        I immediately raised and slammed my metal pipe on his knee, causing him to huff and hop back a few steps. 

        "Nice try. Before you silenced them, your footsteps were those of someone being chased. You should know better than to lie like that." Winston spoke, the leg I hit raised from the ground as I yanked Twilight by his collar and pulled him up from the ground.

        "I don't understand you, woman. I've seen that hair before, facial structure too, and your badge just proves it. You're apart of the SSS too; are you aware of this?" Winston spat, his last question directed towards Twilight.

        "Course I am, you really didn't think you were the only double-agent, huh?" I smirked, my metal pipe raised. 

        "Huh. So you're both WISE. Those are really good disguises. Could you actually be him? Could you be Twilight?" Winston questioned. "We did an OP together once, remember? But I never got to see your face. So... let's take a look at that illustrious face of yours. Couldn't hurt to have one more gift for the SSS..." 

        "You gotta get through me first, pal." I spat out.

        I don't need to hold back at all. I can just kill him and have it over with; his life holds no more worth, not after he traded mankind for some extra pocket change. At least with me, I'm doing this to keep peace, not destroy it.

        "If I were you, I'd run. A weak woman like you is no match for me." Winston spoke, clutching his knuckles.

        So what he's taller and stronger than me? I'll whoop his ass! I thought to myself, grinding my teeth. 

        I clutched my metal pipe tightly, then threw it at him. He caught it with no thought.

        "That was stup-" I reached into my shirt and grabbed my gun around my waist, firing straight at his head.

        He dodged it effortlessly, then ran towards me with my metal pipe. I ducked and shot his kneecap, using the floor and rocketing my elbow into his stomach. His grip loosened on the pipe as I grabbed it and slammed the pipe down on his back, knocking him to the ground.

        He grabbed my leg and pulled it under, making me fall onto the ground and hit my head on the concrete floor.

        Shit, I thought as my head rang and felt a painful sensation, followed by something wet in my hair. That better be sewer water and not blood... I thought as he quickly got on top of me and balled up his fists.

        He hit me straight in my face, hearing a crack in my nose as I reached for my gun and aimed at his face. He dodged to his right as I pulled the trigger, his weight shifting, giving me the opening to roll my body right and make him fall. I stood up and stomped on his hand, kicking the metal pipe away from his hands as I took a few steps back. 

        Twilight grabbed the pipe as we both stood next to each other, I huffed as we kept our gaze on him.

        "His fists... are made of pure steel." I panted, blood flooding out of my nose, but I didn't dare care to raise my hand and cover it, I need both hands for this fight. 

        I kept my gun trained on his head, pulling the trigger. He ducked and rushed towards us, running to Twilight and throwing a punch. Twilight blocked it with his uninjured shoulder, but Winston was too quick and used his injured leg to hit Twilight on the side of his head, knocking him out. 

        I took the opportunity to fire while his back was facing me, but it was as if he knew this as he ducked low, quickly grabbing the metal pipe and blocking the bullet, creating a dent in the pipe before he struck it at me. I stepped back to avoid his swing, but he quickly grabbed my gun and fired it at the wall six times, wasting all of my rounds. 

        "Heckler and Koch P7. Eight rounds in a magazine. Not much for a shootout, but luckily you're not in one." Winston spoke, throwing the empty gun to his side. "You won't ever be in one after I'm finished with you." He threatened, raising his fists.

        "I don't think that was necessary." I huffed, lowering my stance and widening my footing so I could prepare just about an action I need that's necessary in the moment. 

        "Just evening th-" I quickly righthooked him while he was too busy yapping, then kicked him, hard, in his nether regions. 

        "Ammo cost money, bastard." I huffed. "To pay for the money you've wasted, I'll take your life." I brought my elbow into his back, aiming for his spinal cord and hitting it. 

        It should paralyze him for a few seconds. I thought, rushing to grab the metal pipe out of his large hands. 

        I would run, but I'm not going to leave Twilight here; he'll kill him. I thought, angry at this situation. I need to buy time, WISE must be aware that Twilight hasn't returned, WISE has trackers on everyone, so they'll find him.

        I turned around to see Winston already on his feet, in fact, behind me! He tried to elbow the back of my neck but I dodged, backflipping onto his back and wrapping my thighs around his neck tightly. He tried to pry me off him, but I refused. I've always been stronger in my legs, now that I'm here, he's a fly that's right in my trap now.

        I wrapped my arms around my thighs too so I can direct more pressure to him. He's a strong and tall man, who knows how long he can hold his breath. I need him to pass out, then I'll kill him right here and now. 

        He coughed, scratching my legs but to no avail. He backed up to the sewer wall, slamming his back and the back of my head into the concrete wall. He backed into it multiple times before I felt my vision stagger, a terrible headache forming as I felt my grip loosen. He noticed and grabbed my shirt's collar, throwing me down to where Twilight was knocked out. 

        I can't do this. He's so strong... I thought to myself. If only I had the endurance Yuri has, maybe then I can take him on.

        I huffed, sitting up, only for him to place his black boot onto my cheek and roughly hit my head back onto the floor. 

        "Such a shame, I've always been a fan of cold-hearted woman." Winston spoke. "I told you, should've ran when you had the chance." He spoke, applying more pressure under his foot. 

        He's going to crush my skull... I thought, my head pounding terribly.

        "While you die, I might as well see what Twilight's face really is." Winston spoke, reaching down next to me where Twilight was and grabbing his face mask. 

        "I hope... you fall onto that metal pipe... and tear your ass open." I huffed, the left side of my face smushed onto the ground as my right cheek was under his foot. 

        My vision was fading a black and white, a color I remembered from the war in Westalis when I was younger and lost my vision, or when I'd faint many times during my training in the army and in WISE. If only I was taller, stronger, worked out more or even took some extra missions, maybe then I could've fended him off. Maybe then I could've kept peace between Ostania and Westalis.

        I hate this feeling, I was always left behind. Even as a kid, my growth was stunted after I turned ten, promptly after joining the military. The work they put me through had negative effects on my body, my eyes, my ears, my memory, and my health. I couldn't grow like the other kids after that, but I guess I truly lost my childhood innocence when I forced my way into the Westalis Army like that. How childish I was.

        I heard footsteps and trailed my eyes to where I heard them, seeing a woman with black hair. 

        Is she apart of the SSS? I thought, then recognized her pretty eyes. Nightfall! I've never been more glad to see her! I felt a smile crawl onto my face. Twilight should be in good hands now, so I don't have to fight anymore. 

        I allowed my guard to go down as I closed my eyes, taking a quick power nap.

        .

        .

        The ringing in my ears was loud, along with the pain I heard screaming in my body. I heard muffled talking, recognizing Twilight's voice, but it was younger.

        "You're going to have to do more than that to take me down." Twilight spoke.

        "Shut up! I'm going to kick your ass!" I screamed, forcing myself out of the mud I was in and charging at him

        Twilight quickly sidestepped and righthooked me, throwing me right back into the ground.

        "I hate you..." I huffed.

        "I've heard." Twilight smirked. 

        "This isn't fair. You're stronger and taller and older than me! I need like, a gun or something!" I exclaimed. 

        "Do you think the enemy cares about that? If you're armed or not?" Twilight questioned. "The only thing they care about is if your head is still attached." 

        I looked down, adverting eye-contact as I felt tears welt up in my eyes. 

        "Hey, you're still a kid. You'll grow up to be strong." Twilight spoke, sitting down next to me in the ground as he ruffled my hair.

        "But you're a teenager and you're strong!" I shouted. 

        "I worked hard for it. You just need to train a little more, even during your free time." Twilight spoke, slightly scolding me in that last part. 

        "So much work..." I sighed. 

        "You wanna be big and strong, right? Surpass me?" Twilight questioned.

        "Yeah." I confirmed.

        "Then get up and let's do this again." Twilight ordered, standing up from the ground. 

        I stood up and looked at the sun, looking for how long it'll be until dark, but I just saw my vision fading instead.

        .

        .

        I opened my eyes to find myself on someone's shoulders. I looked to my left and found a roughed-up Winston. I turned around and saw I was being carried by one of the SSS captains!

        Aw, crap, the SSS found me here! I thought to myself.        

        "She's awake!" the captain spoke, in a voice I did not recognize as his.

        "Are you okay, (Y/N)?" I heard Twilight's voice and smiled in relief, seeing him not to far in front of us, carrying Nightfall on his uninjured shoulder.

        "Are you good?" I questioned. 

        "Always deflecting." He mumbled. "I'm okay."

        "I'm fine too. I just... really need a nap. And medical attention." I sighed, the headache I have almost felt like my head was splitting open.

        "Don't worry, we're almost out of here." Twilight spoke.

        I hopped off the imposter Captain's shoulder and followed them as we made our way out of the sewers, ending up in a van. 

        "We sure are lucky they stopped short of a full-scale mobilization with checkpoints and such. They refused to get the police involved from the start. Gotta be some reason they couldn't move overtly on this." Our driver spoke.

        "If our luck holds, we might actually make it all the way back to Berlint." The guy that was imposing as one of the SSS captains spoke (now out of his disguise).

        "At any rate, by catching Wheeler, we've succeeded in protecting the West's Intelligence assets in the East." Twilight spoke. 

        "Yeah, but we heard from Blue team that our mole in the SSS's comms team got taken out." The fake SSS captain said.

        "Even after catching Wheeler, we still can't get a clean win. It's hardly worth the effort." The driver spoke.

        "I tell you, I've had enough for today." The fake SSS captain said. "Hey, Twi-guy, you're getting a drink with me when we're back." 

        "HUH?!" Twilight exclaimed. "That's out of the question! I came here under the pretext of a work emergency! If I don't get home soon, it's going to look awfully suspicious."

        "Tch! Always the family man when you wanna get outta something." Fake captain said.

        "Being a family man is literally my mission." Twilight counterclaimed. "And especially today out of all days..." 

        "Oh? Are you and the wife fighting?" fake captain spoke.

        "Don't worry, Twilight. I feel you, man." I groaned, really hoping that Yuri wasn't at home right now.

        I still need to get an anniversary present for Donnie's wife, and for Yuri too. I owe him after all me and Twilight did to him today... I thought, sighing as my work wasn't done just yet. 

        "I don't know if I'd call it a fight, exactly..." Twilight sighed. "Let's just say I'm having trouble reading her feelings."                

        "So that even happens to the lofty Twilight, huh?" Fake captain spoke. 

        "It sounds like Operation STRIX is still in danger. I'll accompany Twilight home to investigate the source of friction." Nightfall spoke.

        "What's wrong with you? Get to a hospital already!" Twilight scolded, then looked at me. "You too!" 

        "Yeah, I probably got brain damage or something." I huffed, touching my head as I still felt it ache. 

        "Yeah, he's right. Only way to help a martial squabble is to stay the hell out of it." Fake captain spoke.

        We finally got to Berlint and I finally remembered the motorcycle I left back at Shellbury. 

        Ah, damn it. Well, the police will find it sooner or later. I'll just walk around. I thought to myself. 

        I looked at the stores open at this time, not finding many, but I did find a makeup store. 

        I remember from Yor that there was this new makeup kit every girl was after, but it's so expensive, so I should just buy that (I have the money with the two jobs I'm holding).

        Right! I still have to send in a report of today's events to WISE, along with the information the SSS has received, I thought, letting out a groan as I walk into the makeup store and quickly bought the makeup kit. 

        I headed to a flower shop and got some red carnations for Carmen too, thinking about what I'll get Yuri. A first-aid kit seems like a good investment at the moment for him (and me).

        I decided to grab some flowers for Yuri too. I heard guys never receive flowers, and I could believe that with the era we live in. I did a quick trip to the store and got a big stuffed bear for him too, that way he knows it was from the heart. 

        I also made a quick trip to the doctors, having them patch up my nose and the back of my head (apparently I got hit so much the back of my head broke open, so I'll have to return to remove these staples). I also washed the blood off my face and hands there, finding the alley I left my clothes in thanks to my little cereal box. I changed clothes and got rid of my eye contacts, wearing my glasses (if you have them) once more. I made it back to the SSS headquarters seeing a very worried Donnie.

        "You're so late! I thought that you had to leave for an hour or two, not the whole day!" Donnie exclaimed.

        "The line for this damn product, I swear!" I huffed, lying to Donnie as I gave him the makeup kit and one of the bouquets. "It was expensive as hell so consider that an apology for how long it took. The demand is high for it."

        "Thanks! This means a lot! I clocked out for you too." Donnie smiled. "You need me to walk you home? It's very late." 

        "No thanks. Yuri's a jealous man." I laughed. 

        "You're right. Be safe! If you feel anyone's following you, just call me!" Donnie spoke.

        "You're a good man. Later!" I spoke, waving as I walked away with my bouquet and my teddy bear. 

        I finally made it back to my apartment, just about ready to burst into tears since I was so happy to be home. 

        Home? Can I call it that after all that's happened? I basically just committed domestic abuse today at work without Yuri even knowing of this! 

        I climbed up the apartment stairs and made it to mine and Yuri's apartment, knocking on the door since Yuri has the only key (it's a work in progress for Yuri to get me a key). Yuri opened the door with an angry expression before it faded once seeing me.

        "Hey, what happened to your nose and face?" Yuri questioned. "And why are you so late?"

        "I worked with Donnie today on listening to bugged rooms, then did this extremely long interrogation and the bastard landed a few punches!" I huffed, gritting my teeth.

        "Are you okay? You should really lay down." Yuri spoke. "And what's with the bear and flowers?"

        "For you." I mumbled, adverting my eyes. "Donnie told me about how today was his anniversary with his wife, and it made me realize we never had a honeymoon or anything, for our real or fake relationship... so... I wanted to give you something so...you know...I care..." I muttered. 

        Yuri smiled, walking towards me as he took my gifts and set it down. I looked up at him, confused on what he was doing. 

        "I don't need you to spend money on me for me to know you care. Just you being by my side is enough for me." Yuri spoke, raising his arm and patting my head. 

        I smiled, ignoring the tears welling up in my eyes as I gave him a hug, completely forgetting about his wounds.

        "Ow! Ow!" he exclaimed.

        "Oh! Sorry!" I spoke, about to let go before he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in further. 

        "No! The pain is worth it!" he spoke through tears as I laughed. "What are you crying for anyways?" he smiled.

        "Listen, been a long time since I've had genuine love directed towards me." I huffed. 

        "I'll make it my life-long mission to make sure you're always loved!" Yuri declared confidently. 

        "By the way, I won't be cooking tonight. Today's been so long with how that damn brat broke my nose and fractured my jaw." I huffed.

        "So your jaw is injured too?" Yuri sighed. "I picked up some store soup for me since it'll be a while for me to see solid foods; you can have some."

        "What happened?" I questioned.

        "It's a long story..." Yuri huffed, resting his head on top of mine.

        Earlier, he said that just me being by his side was enough, but, I'm not truly by his side in this case... am I?

        Yuri Briar, I'm terribly sorry, but I don't think I could ever be the perfect Mrs. Briar for you. I'm Vixen, the West Spy after all. I've never failed a mission yet and I doubt I'd fail this one too just because of some measly feelings I harbor.

        Parts: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, current part, ten (to be continued when Spy x Family has more Yuri content!)

        Want more Yuri content? Yuri has his own masterlist now! Check it out!

        Have any requests? Check my masterlist to see the characters I write for: Masterlist (Please request, I have too much free time and too little fics).

        Hey! I need your help, my star! What do you wanna read for chapter 10? Help me decide on some new character’s personalities! Poll

[tekbox]

i made some smp flags for @mc395686 :3

lifesteal :

i dont know much abt lifesteal ill be honest buttt i tried my best

sdmp:

each symbol in the corner represents a member of sdp ( star - aztrosist, dollar - schlatt, knife - apandah, bar - mikasacus )

the fish are a reference to the sheer amount of fishing that happened on that server, as well as to tie the whole thing together visually. the ZZZ in the middle being the SDP logo sometimes seen on their merch. i also wanted it to be visually similar to nautical flags to add to the fishing theme

hermitcraft:

i tried my best here, i personally dont like it much but each symbol represents an aspect of the players within hermitcraft. the amount of redstoners, the terraformers, the more pvp-excelling players, and the more adventurous types.

i made the older/more fandom-historically impactful flags include the dirt block

dsmp:

mellohi and cat. the start of the disc war. the purple background representing the usage of netherite and having it kind of as leverage. which while not a major point of the server; i felt that while watching there was a higher level of threat and status from those who had it. it also brings a memory of the prison and such.

the triple x's are incorporated from the l'fuckberg flag (also a more accurate addition from the Amsterdam flag from which it derived from) . i just kinda liked them. i wouldve included a las nevadas reference as its the only arc from dsmp i personally care about anymore lmao. but like, i couldnt really find anywhere to put it.

smplive:

the camera referring to the live aspect as well as the border around it and [REC] in the corner being another reference to the live aspect. and also a reference to how a lot of thumbnails were like at the time. the dirtblock was explained before, smplive had a lot of influence on the MCYT community in the past 6 years, sort of acting as a benchmark for it. conarcoin has a million posts about it go to there for more info lmao. the grey background can be seen as a very simple color sort of similar to the simple set ups of streams as a lot of people got there start there and didnt exactly have the skill (both playing and content wise) that they have today

qsmp:

i dont like flags with text butttttttt it felt needed here. i borrowed a lot of the imagery from the federation aspect of the server, the sun is meant to both be a callback to las nevadas visually but also to the horizon across the ocean from the island. the sun behind the building acting as a representation of freedom being locked behind federation walls. i also wanted it to seem very sanitized and cold. which is why theres only really three colors. the black and white disrupted by the yellow adding to the freedom theme.

SCUMSMP FLAG ON THE WAY THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE CONTENT TO GET REFERENCE FROM!!!!!!!!!!

[greenhorn-art]

Castles in the Sky by Shadaras @shadaras

Fandom: 全职高手 | The King's Avatar

Rating: General Audiences

Category: Gen

Relationships: Chu Yunxiu/Ye Xiu

Words: 36 613

Here are two truths and a lie: Chu Yunxiu is Misty Rain’s captain. Chu Yunxiu is dating Ye Qiu. Chu Yunxiu is happy to have the Shu twins on her team. Of course, a lie can become true if you believe in it enough… (A Chu Yunxiu character study.)

About the book:

FONTS: Alegreya [Google Fonts], Raleway [Google Fonts], Catchy Mager [purchased from MyFonts], Segoe UI Emoji

IMAGES: Clouds from Rawpixel (ID: 9581058); Misty Rain logo from The King's Avatar Wiki (stretched slightly horizontally and traced)

MATERIALS: Domtar Earthchoice multipurpose copy paper, cream, 11"x17" cut in half to form short-grained letter size paper; Recollections' Gilded Ink paper pad; Cialux bookcloth, black; heat transfer foil, gold; 2mm binder board; waxed linen thread, 30/3 size; wheat paste (this time I used 1:4 flour to water ratio, and heated until conditioner-like consistency. An improvement over last attempt.)

PROGRAMS USED: typeset in LibreOffice Writer; title page mocked-up in Procreate then designed in GIMP; imposed with Renegade's Community Imposer.

I spied this fic towards the top of the kudos and kept it in the back of my mind while trawling for more HanYe fics. Thought, well it's gotta be there for a reason so should be good! ooh look aroace queerplatonic relationship 👀👀 Definitely bumping up to top of Read Next!

The amazing thing I've found about The King's Avatar is that the CP possibilities are endless! The characters are both friends and rivals, there's respect and history and it all mixes and clashes creating more possibilities and chemistries than I've ever seen in a fandom before. The fact that AllYe is so popular (and not just in an NSFW way) is testament to it, and also, in part, what drew me to this fic. Asexual representation is scant, aromantic even more so — especially in fandom (in my experience of it at least).

If I were to add a tag to describe Castles in the Sky it would be 'heartwarming'. Shadaras' writing and characterization is wonderful, and I really enjoyed the both the story and the aroace representation. They took a character with relatively little content (in comparison to others in fandom. I have not read the source material) and gave her a voice, dreams, and made me really care about her. I was touched, and after finishing it I jumped to my laptop and set about turning it into a physical book.

So, onto the details.

The thing that stuck out and stayed with me the most about the story was the aroace aspect (Shadaras fed my smol aroace heart so well), so that's what I focused on design-wise.

The title page features a large black ring, referencing the black ring worn usually on the middle finger of the right hand as a symbol of asexuality. The colours of the asexual pride flag are also represented: the text is purple; the clouds colour the page in shades of white and grey; and the ring is black. For the endpapers/cover backing I chose paper that mixes green, purple, and blue: green for the aromantic pride flag; purple for the ace. I also found the green-blue mix of colours to be rather fitting, inspired by the description of Misty Rain's HQ with the "cool blues and greens of Misty Rain's walls" (chapter 5: Transformations). While I personally find CYX's relationship with YX significant, her relationship with her team is just as important.

When choosing which cover each endpaper goes on, I thought about how the story begins with CYX and YX's relationship, and about how after it's established we see her team and it's future at the forefront of her mind. Following that line of thought I put the paper with more purple on the front cover (purple for aroace CYX), and the more green-blue paper on the back (Misty Rain's colours).

The process of foiling the cover took me 3 hours (the length of the movie RRR — good movie actually, would recommend. Which is surprising because I usually find Oscar movies rather boring). The foiling was done with a heat pen. Three hours is not the norm: first, I had the foil backwards and foiled my template instead of the cover; then, my power banks kept dying, so I had to take charging breaks, and I also went over everything again just to make sure that I didn't miss a spot; and of course I was also watching a movie while working, so that ate up some time too.

I had initially planned to bind it as a casebound book, but I didn't have enough time to do it (I was about to go on vacation and wanted to read the book in my downtime). Instead, I did a Coptic binding. The covers were pulled from the press and foiled leaving me 5 hours of sleep to spare.

I went simple on the outer covers to contrast the fun paper on the inside of the covers. I used black Cialux bookcloth instead of my green-blue 'petrol' Iris bookcloth for the contrast, and because it picks up the black from the title page. The text foiled onto the cover is a simple sans serif (Raleway, the same as used inside), and the image is Misty Rain's logo from the donghua. (Image came from The King's Avatar Wiki. It was stretched slightly horizontally because it seemed a bit squished compared to other versions seen on Google, and then traced). Using the colourful paper inside was a practical choice: I couldn't get two covers out of one sheet of paper, but one sheet would do the inner covers with some material leftover.

The sewing and construction of the book was done while camping — I'd packed up what I needed and brought it with me: the signatures (folded and punched); the finished covers; thread; a needle; and an awl. As for the actual sewing, it's supposed to be Coptic but don't look too closely. This was the second time I've tried Coptic stitching and I didn't have any instructions with me. (My first Coptic binding was a thin 2-signature notebook I did a few weeks ago. It was for taking notes at the event I was at, Pennsic War 50).

Book is primarily set in Alegreya. It's currently my favourite body font, and has a matching sans serif family. The fonts used in the title page are Raleway and Catchy Mager. Raleway is also used for titles, headings, etc. Segoe UI Emoji was used for any emojis that cropped up throughout the text (Pretty sure they're the same emojis as seen while reading on my phone and laptop). Catchy Mager was purchased from MyFont. (The first and only font I have ever bought, but I saw it used in a fic's title art and fell in love.)

Lastly, onto The Comedy of Errors, or: When-You-Finally-See-All-the-Typos-and-Mistakes-Once-You're-Done-and-Can-Only-Laugh-While-You-Cry-Inside.

Appendix's footer says 'Epilogue', so I must have missed something with the paragraph style for the Appendix heading.

Forgot about using Segoe UI Emoji font and did not include it in the About the Book.

Missed fixing the archive info for gnomen in the Author's Notes — the copy/paste of metadata into Notebook to remove formatting also removed the commas and spaces between tags.

Because I hadn't planned cover materials/design before printing, there isn't a section for that in the About the Book. Also the reason why the artwork on the cover is not credited in it, as I had not planned to use it.

[coda-blue]

(This is a crosspost from my Patreon. To see the rest of the free, accompanying art dump, click here.)

**********************************************************

Yes, this is technically my second End of Year Review post, as my first was back in 2022! If my posting records have anything to show for it, it's clear that in 2023 I ended up engulfed in research and pushing for yet a few more collaborative projects until daylight hours grew shorter. At that point, mustering the energy for EOYR2023 was not in the cards for me, but there is nothing stopping me from returning to that time and speaking on last year as well.

This post aims to summarize both 2023 & 2024 in review, where I again address my progress in various aspects of both project development and personal development.

Massive dump incoming:

Project Summary

Art 2023

The focus was art concepts and game assets for a handful of collaborative visual novel projects, but not nearly as many as the year prior. Just as in 2022, I did not feel the desire to draw for myself when compared to the sense of obligation I had to deliver in other projects... until the middle of the year, when it returned! Arguably! But it seems the desire did not convert into much action until the year after.

In 2023, I made...

Dynamic character sprites and reference sheets for Hello, Counsel by Miseri

Promotional art and logo designs for The Beauty Which Only Beast Knows demo by PumpkinSpike and Akua Kourain

Cover art for The Plaza: A Horror Anthology by Allie Vera

A few commissions for private clients

Fan sketches of Dr. Serizawa from Godzilla, tee hee

Art 2024

Reinvigorated and renewed in the new year, I was running out the gate with new style studies to challenge me. I had set a goal to draw one full-color illustrated piece a month, with a bingo card of personal art trials by my side. Alas, by late April, I had been hired to a new project as a writer. The time-consuming role had my art challenge fall by the wayside. A few art commissions sprinkled in here and there, but ultimately, 2024 was top-heavy art-wise.

In 2024, I made...

A style study illustration of my and Elm's character Bellarmino from our WIP project Primrose Path

A commission of a genderbent MC from Love and Deepspace for a private client

Character pose sketches for a private client

Fan art of Seamus and Hugo from Of Sense and Soul by Forsythia Productions

A Hamtaro OC fan art "attack" on Artfight

Secret Ending CGs for Wake Up Magical Girl! by Miseri

Facial character concepts for Drop Dead Daters

Some experimental, traditional pieces at my library's monthly art night

Writing 2023

Mostly preproduction material for personal visual novels. Most impactful were my notes for The Corpse Lieutenant, spending months looking into—frankly—emotionally exhausting topics in order to better contextualize the thinking behind my main character, and shared some of those insights here on Patreon. Much of the reading pulled from real historical events during World War II. After these notes though, it did take some time for me to reengage with the project. I likely did not realize how the intensity of the content would impact me until much later.

My 2022 concern that I had no drive to produce more short, personal works, and that hopefully it would turn around in 2023 did not materialize. But far more importantly, this year, I did not feel so pressed about such output. It is what it is!

In 2023, I wrote...

More plot outlining for my unnamed sprite and spider adventure visual novel

Notes on war crimes, related criminal testimony, and psychology research for The Corpse Lieutenant

Writing 2024

The overwhelming majority of 2024 was dedicated to a dating sim visual novel project for which I was hired. I ended up being offered a promotion to a greater and additionally more managerial role among the freelance writing department. I found the shared creativity of the freelancers very uplifting and inspiring. Equally, production had proven challenging for many reasons.

Because I had to prioritize this large commercial project, I had not made much time to return to my own visual novel, The Corpse Lieutenant. That said, I did plot out and bullet story beats for considerable changes to the script that I believe are for the better. I also ended up creating a separate guilty pleasure, just-for-fun fiction project with my best friend in order to break up the writing monotony, as well as the beginnings of a different project with a different friend's studio.

In 2024, I wrote...

Expanded scenes and narrative changes for the second draft of The Corpse Lieutenant

A narrative design document, writing style guide, event script template, demo outline draft, interview transcripts, and character route outlines with other co-writers as a lead freelance writer for a studio client

Some story concepts for an upcoming project with Studio Ephua

Edits for a friend's WIP novel

Several chapters of a gay supernatural sports story under an alias with my best friend that you will have to find yourself if you're curious lol

Audio 2023

Compared to 2022, I really slowed down on voice acting and audio engineering. Much of that work came from volunteering on game jams. But after the fun work of lending my voice to a poison-dealing romance during one such jam, that was really it for the year.

A project or two afterwards where I was brought on for my voice work did not materialize. That may have influenced my setting it aside into the next year, as I've written before that I don't have the time and energy as an independent, non-union, and agentless talent to really hustle for roles in a paid capacity. At least, not when I put more weight into art and writing at the moment.

In 2023, I have...

Voiced Marie Chaligault in the Belladonna's Flight demo by Night Asobu

Audio 2024

I did not do any voice acting or audio engineering this year. I did not plan for any, I did not seek it out, nor was I approached for any.

That said, I had been invited to a couple of just-for-fun gaming and anime commentary streams with anime enthusiast, anime journalist, and content creator Wolfborg, so huge shoutout to him for knowing I'd bring the funk! Probably. I mean I brought something, lol.

In 2024, I have...

A few goofball special guest appearances on anime review & co-op gaming streams by Wolfborg

Business 2023

My primary focus was streamlining some processes for requests of my services, drafting up new and comprehensive ToS and forms for my commission and consultation services, and detailing processes of how I usually go through an accepted request or session for new client transparency.

In 2023, I have...

Set up my art commissions page and request form

Set up my narrative consultation page, request form, and booking site

Updated my art and writing portfolios and resumes

Killed my Twitter/X and moved to Bluesky

Joined some online art commission request communities

Business 2024

I did not do much this year in the way of business preparation, organization, or expansion. Much of my time was taken up by the actual work I was performing. I don't foresee doing much business building in 2025 either, probably just maintaining the websites and resources I do have, but once I get the ball rolling on certain projects, I will want to more aggressively market my services online to my target audience of independent creative clients.

Personal Review

Career 2023

The year before, I mentioned wanting to move into an associate or assistant producer, product management, project management, or art director role for a "steady day job". This year, I made strides towards applications for at least 2D character artist roles at AA studios, and learning specifically about project management in independent study so that I could be ready when it came time to purchase an exam to pass for certification.

Unfortunately, I've not been picked up for any such positions yet. Regarding character artist roles, 2D appears to be a shrinking demand. 3D is the vogue, as is working knowledge of 3D game engines like Unreal. Tragically, I do not have any 3D skills or knowledge, though I want to at least pursue 3D sculpting once I can afford a better workstation.

As for PM certification, I want to hold off until I can really spare the cost for an exam.

I want to continue my efforts into 2024, but there is a small part of me that wonders if I would fare better in a completely unrelated day job with much lower barriers of entry, just so I don't end up burning out on my passions. Because at the end of the day, affording to do my projects is not just a money issue. It is also a time and energy balance as well.

Career 2024

Looking back in 2023, the classic artist's plight of the suitable "day job" did force me to pivot in my plans, as I did not find much immediate success in applying for my ideal roles in a difficult industry. I decided to compromise for now and take on a smaller "stepping stone" role, just so steadier income could come in that I could reinvest into my tools, services, and projects. But the biggest thing was that balance of time and energy as well. I began to focus on finding flexible, local jobs to keep my chin above water, with a growing emphasis on arts-adjacent or community-related roles.

Two big things happened this year: I applied for and was awarded a $2.5k independent artists grant from my state arts council, and I got a much more flexible day job. The grant was validation that the work I do online is worthy of monetary support in the eyes of my state, and opened up a new way of support for me and my art. And the new day job—where under the county government, I work to keep school children safe—has opened my eyes up to roles that specifically give back to my town, as I do want my day job to be uplifting and enriching for those around me. But perhaps best of all, these two things give me time and money for my personal projects, and to hone new art and business skills.

Moving into 2025, I think at the end of the day, I will be more focused on being self-made, and making career moves that allow me to be so, rather than the prestige I seem to attach to more traditional industry employment.

Hobbies 2023

My concern in 2022 was that I would continue having a dearth in desire to do creative personal work for study or fun. I mentioned that I'd like to try something unrelated to the writing and drawing that I do for work, introducing a new passion into my life. I even thought about whittling, or learning bass guitar.

Sadly, I did not pick up either of these things. I do still want to try whittling though, lol, but I think in 2023, I just didn't set time aside. The good thing though is that my concern became acceptance: sometimes, as I do art and writing for work, I may not want to do more in my spare time beyond engaging friends and consuming media. And that's more than acceptable.

Hobbies 2024

I allowed myself to explore a different part of my creativity that wasn't as reliant on personal, laborious output: I joined a choir. Before the beginning of the year, it had been a decade since I sang in a choir. I've had at least decade of formal training as a youth, and even ten years later, I auditioned and was accepted into a chorus focused on bringing together queer members of the community, from high schoolers to senior citizens. Though I was only with them for a semester (their practice location was unfortunately very far out), the feeling of singing in beautiful harmony a set of songs that touch the soul is something I've deeply missed and truly cherished. And the challenge of learning those complex pieces with the help of others was, in the end, so rewarding!

I also joined a book club! I was reading various literature with friends as a way to get back into reading for fun and inspiration, and engaging in analytical conversation with others. I don't get enough of that anymore as I'm not into fandom these days, so this was a cool and insightful way to go about it. I think I'll even continue with book clubs into 2025, branching out into more casual reads like comics and manga.

Health 2023

I had a difficult start to my 2023, with a fatigue from winter that hung over me even into spring—an unusual length of time from recent memory. And underneath that fatigue was a general anxiety from 2022 due to the public response to the resurgent pandemic. But, with time, exposure, preparation, and medication, I was able to overcome the anxiety and better cope with fatigue, returning to being out and about in public safely.

For the first few months, I had put a challenge on myself to visit one new event in person, and I was able to keep it up. I also took time to take walks with friends and loved ones, and visit my family more outside of holidays and birthdays. And though I wasn't able to do all of these things on a strict schedule throughout the year, it was enough to bring me back to a point mentally and socially before the pandemic hit. I'm glad I took the strides I did to come out of a shell I had unwittingly and only recently formed.

Health 2024

I was on a roll until mid autumn, where I was again hit with SAD. Or so I thought. In trying to get ahead of it, I ordered my usual prescription. But I had noticed that the antidepressant was not working effectively at all this time, regardless of dose, and symptoms of fatigue, resistance, and forgetfulness still persisted. In confiding in friends, family, and my care team, I was able to put some pieces together and went for a certain psychiatric test.

Well, at 29 years old, I received an ADHD diagnosis. It honestly rocked my world. But I'm glad I got it, as it explains the persistence of some of the symptoms I was experiencing when my seasonal depression was, well, out of season. And, it's a treatable condition. I was able to try ADHD medication for the first time in December, and while I'm still looking for the right type, the intended positive effect on me was immediate. I'm looking forward to seeing how my health improves in 2025 with this brand new information.

Final Words

A lot can happen in two years' time, as you can see. If you made it this far, thank you for reading. I'm so grateful for those of you who support me, who encourage me, who understand me, and who keep me company. I give what I get, and the arts is how I do.

[jeanie-g]

nicojack 12 or 31 🥺🥺🥺

sorry for the delay! but i didn't forget about you 🫶 kinda took liberties w the prompt BUT i had a lot of fun w it. also it kinda evolved past the bullet format lol. hope you like it!!

#12. "You can't tell anyone. Seriously. Even them."

Nico always loved summer camp. It's a place away from his parents (whom he loves, sure, but could be just a bit stifling), where he can make friends with other boys his age, and do manly things like camping and kayaking and peeing outdoors (the counselors always yelled at them for doing that last one, but a dare's a dare).

And this year, Nico's finally 12, which means he's finally graduated from the Mighty Mooseheads to the Daring Devils cabin. He knows it's just a title, that both cabins are pretty much the same size-wise and everything, but it's the principle: he's basically a man now. Hear him roar, or whatever devils do.

What nobody told Nico, though, is that among the four usual suspects of his bunk mates��Jonas, Akira, Timo, and Jesper—there's a new kid—one who's two years younger than the rest of them. Something about the camp overbooking and maxing out the Moosehead cabin, and the Devils one being the only building with an extra bed, but Nico doesn't care about logistics.

Whoever this kid is, he can't just up the ranks without paying his dues. Nico played by the rules; he served his nickel as a Moosehead—it's not fair that this kid gets to waltz in and just skip all that. He's 10, for Pete's sake! He's basically a toddler.

So, Nico doesn't hide his distaste when he walks through the door and spots a short boy with cropped brown hair arranging his stuff all over one of the beds by the windows. Nico smirks, an idea popping into his head.

"Hey," Nico says, and the boy nearly jumps right out of his skin.

He turns around, big, blue eyes bugging out in surprise. "Oh, hi."

"That's my bed," Nico states plainly, and it isn't—they can only claim beds when they get there, but the boy doesn't know that.

"Oh," he sputters, eyes bugging out further. "I'm sorry, I didn't see a name."

The boy starts to gather his things—a small knapsack bulging with contents, his pillow, and a blanket with some sports team logo splayed all over it—and in his haste, drops them all on the floor. He bends over to pick them up, muttering under his breath, and suddenly Nico feels a pang of guilt.

Memories pop up from several years ago, when the Devils at the time used to make fun of Nico and his friends—the time they stole a postcard mailed from his sister in Switzerland and tossed it right into the campfire, and Nico had to hold back his tears.

"Wait," Nico says before he can stop himself. "It's okay. You can have it."

"Really? Are you sure?" The boy asks. He sounds like he's begging for pennies in front of a rich man, and that makes Nico feel queasy. He doesn't have to like the kid, but he doesn't have to be cruel.

"Yeah. 'Course. Consider it a housewarming gift."

The boy flushes. "Thanks."

Nico picks the bed diagonal from the window, flopping onto it. The springs creak with age, and it fills Nico with nostalgia.

"I'm Nico," he announces, looking up at the ceiling. When he hears no reply, he sits up, leaning on his elbows. "This is the part where you say your name."

"Oh, right." The boy flushes deeper, if that's even possible. Nico distantly wonders how easily he sunburns.

"I'm Jack," he says. "I'm, uh, new. Obviously."

"Obviously," Nico parrots, but he offers a small smile.

Jack's shoulders relax ever so slightly as he smiles back. It's a nice smile, Nico notes. Friendly, and maybe he's not so bad after all.

⋆｡°✩

It's hard not to observe Jack over the first few days of camp. They're bunkmates, after all. Jack's an early riser, which is immediately at odds with the rest of the cabin, who are all night owls to their cores. Still, he's quiet as he moves about, always careful not to wake anyone up, which is smart.

But aside from their first conversation, Jack rarely talks. He's not trying too hard to make any friends, that's for sure, which Nico finds sort of counterproductive. They're at camp—it's the whole point to make friends. He sits alone in the mess hall, keeps to himself before bed or at group activities, and when they have downtime—instead of horsing around by the lake or sneaking into the kitchen to find the counselor's reserve of cookies—he's always reading.

And it's not anything cool like Ripley's Believe it or Not or Goosebumps. They're all these hockey books. Nico swears that's what took up that knapsack—all those books. Hockey's not even a cool sport, like baseball or soccer. One, they do it in the winter (and Nico hates the cold), and two, they do it on skates. There's nothing girlier than skating—well, maybe gymnastics.

But whatever. Jack's not bothering him, so he won't bother Jack, even if he does read girl books.

But there's only so long he can ignore him.

⋆｡°✩

It's a normal afternoon, two weeks into camp. Timo's doing that thing with the orange slice in his mouth that never gets old, when suddenly a voice rises up a few tables away.

"And what do you think you're doing, pipsqueak?"

And Nico'd recognize that voice from anywhere. He's one of the former Devils (now Brave Bears) who went after him and his friends. It's Taylor Hall, who was Nico's idol in his first year at camp. Too bad he's a prick.

Nico turns his head towards his voice, and his eyes grow when he sees Taylor crowding around Jack, who's holding out his meal tray in front of him, looking absolutely terrified.

"I'm—I'm sorry," Jack stutters, and it's then that Nico sees the turned over milk carton and the small stain on Taylor's shirt. They must have collided.

"This was my favorite shirt!" Taylor cries incredulously, obviously playing on Jack's fear and hamming it up for his audience.

And it works, as more and more heads turn towards the scene, and the chatter minimizes around them.

"I—I can get you a new one!" Jack tries, and a few tables laugh. Nico's eyebrows pinch, something unpleasant roiling in his stomach.

"I have a better idea," Taylor says, plucking the bowl of rice pudding off of Jack's tray, that sludge that the mess hall workers always put on their trays even though it tastes like sweaty socks. No one even eats it—everyone usually just puts it on their hands and waves them around to gross out the little kids—and Nico's eyes go wide.

He knows exactly what Taylor's going to do. He did the same thing to Akira years ago when he accidentally closed a door in Taylor's face. He was picking rice from his hair for days afterward.

Nico doesn't quite know where it comes from, but suddenly he's standing and shouting "Hey!" All the heads turn to him now. "Leave him alone!"

Taylor and Jack's heads turn last, and Nico feels their eyes on him like a spotlight.

Taylor's grin widens. "Oh, isn't it little Nico Hischier? Come to save your boyfriend, are you?"

Half the room snickers, and Nico flushes scarlet. He plows on.

"No, actually I wanted to join you."

Jack's face screws up in confusion and hurt, but Nico's got a plan.

Taylor laughs. "Really?"

Nico nods. "Yeah. We're bunkmates, and he's always waking us up for stupid stuff like Colors. It's time he got a little payback."

Jack quirks an eyebrow; they both know that's not true. Nico flashes him a quick look, and realization blooms on his face.

Taylor considers him for a moment, and then smirks. "Huh. Maybe you're less of a fairy than I thought you were." He holds up the bowl of pudding. "Care to do the honors?"

"Nico, what are you doing?!" Jesper whispers beside him, but Nico ignores him.

"I'd love to."

Nico slowly approaches and accepts the bowl of pudding. He holds it above Jack's head, but then he looks at Taylor.

"You know, it never felt like an insult when you called me a fairy or a nitwit, because you're the biggest airhead of all."

And in a flash, he throws the contents of the bowl in Taylor's face, and the mess hall lights up with raucous clamoring and laughter.

Taylor's face heats up like a tomato even under all the muck. Nico hears Jack let out a surprised laugh, and he realizes it's the first time he's ever heard him laugh. Nico turns to him and winks, and Jack smiles, confused but relieved and a little bit impressed.

"HISCHIER, YOU LITTLE—" Taylor roars, and Nico knows it's time to split. He grabs Jack's tray and drops it on a nearby table. Then he takes his hand and rushes him out of the mess hall, the cheering of half the tables acting like an orchestra as they push open the doors and run into the sunlight.

⋆｡°✩

Things change after that. And maybe it's because after the altercation in the mess hall, Nico sees a tiny bit of himself in Jack, or maybe he has a good streak he's not even aware of.

Anyways, Nico starts to go out of his way to talk to him or pair up for sports with him or eat meals with him, and Jack starts to open up in a way Nico didn't allow him before. And as they talk, Nico sees a whole new side to him. He's hilarious, first off, and wicked smart—probably because of all the books he reads. He's also obsessed with hockey, which Nico learns is a lot less girlish than he presumed. He had no idea, for one, that fighting wasn't just allowed, but encouraged! You can't do that in baseball.

Jack is easy to talk to, not like anyone Nico's ever been friends with. And he loves the boys, but they're just not like Jack. He pays attention; he observes, and though he's smart, he can still be pretty stupid—like the time he thought that if it was cloudy outside, you can still get sunburnt. He's also insanely competitive, if their intense games of Uno are anything to go by. The kid can be downright harsh if you cross him the wrong way.

Jack's also kind. He lets Nico go on and on with stories from home—how much he misses Switzerland ever since he moved to the States—smiling as Nico recounts the food and landscape. Jack's a great listener, and he remembers the things Nico tells him—even little things like his favorite color or ice cream flavor (purple and strawberry). He's a morning person, as aforementioned, which means he's basically useless once the clock hits 8pm. His favorite meal is pasta bolognese and his favorite movie is Air Bud, and he has two siblings, just like Nico does, except Jack's the middle child and Nico's the youngest.

The bottom line is, Nico loves being with Jack. Talking to him, listening to his stories, pranking the other boys in the cabin with him. They're very different, certainly—but on some basic level, they're the same. Curious young boys determined to find their place in this big, confusing world that seems to have had it out for them from the get-go.

⋆｡°✩

As the days and weeks go by, they find themselves staying up into the late hours of the night, giggling and being hushed by the other boys when they get too loud. (Nico's now conditioned him to stay up past ten.)

It's one of these nights where Nico realizes something.

"You know, I've never had a best friend before," he confides.

The both of them are eating Nutty Buddies under the covers of Jack's bed, flashlight sitting between them to illuminate their faces. They're alone in the cabin—the other boys out making s'mores with the counselors still—but there's something still nice in pitching a private little cave.

"Really?" Jack asks.

Nico shakes his head. "Nope. I have friends, of course, but I don't think I've ever had a best one."

Jack looks down, suddenly shy. "I don't have many friends back home. I mean, I try to make friends with the boys on my team, but they all pick on me because I'm too small to play hockey."

Something ugly settles in Nico's stomach at that. How many Taylors has Jack had to deal with?

Jack wipes his hand under his nose. "But I love playing. I just hope one day I get to prove them all wrong."

"How?"

Jack smiles, eyes lighting up. "Going 1st overall at the NHL Draft."

Nico frowns. "I...don't know what that means."

He's afraid he's going to hurt Jack's feelings, but then he does something unexpected: he laughs. He holds his stomach as he falls backwards on the bed, pulling the sheet with him.

"Hey!" Nico cries, but just as he's about to yank the sheet back over his head, his eye catches on something tucked under Jack's pillow.

"What's this?" He asks, already reaching for it.

"Huh?" Jack sounds from under the covers. And then, "Wait!"

But Nico's already tugging on the mystery object and dropping it in his lap, and it's—

"A stuffed penguin?" Nico lets out a joyous laugh as Jack untangles himself from the covers. "You still sleep with a stuffed animal? That's so—"

Nico smile drops the second he sees Jack's face. Even in the low light of the cabin, he can see the embarrassment on it, the shame. That ugly feeling in his stomach rears up again, except now it's aimed at himself.

"Cool," he quickly amends, turning the penguin around in his hands. "Penguins are cool."

Jack doesn't buy it, face screwing up in pestilence. "You can quit it, Nico. I know it's a baby thing."

"No it's not!" he cries, even though it very much is. "I have a stuffed dog at home; his name is Barkley."

Jack crosses his arms. "Yeah? And you still sleep with him?"

Nico smacks his lips. "Well, no. My mom actually sold him in a garage sale. But that's not the point!"

"Then what is the point?" Jack huffs.

"Just because you like kid things doesn't mean you're all kid."

"What does that even mean?"

Nico sighs. "It means... I don't care about all that when it's you."

And when Nico says it, he finds it's really true. If it was any other kid, he'd probably be running for the hills to go tattle on him, but there's something about Jack that makes him want to stay right here. Maybe that's what that feeling in the mess hall was. He wants to protect him.

"Really?" Jack asks, expression filled with hope.

"Yeah," Nico says, offering a smile.

A twig breaks outside, disrupting the moment.

"I've gotta hide him before the others come back," Jack says.

"The guys?"

"Yeah. I'll never hear the end of it." He looks at Nico with a spooky kind of seriousness. "You can't tell anyone," He warns. "Seriously. Even them. No—especially them."

Jack visibly shivers at the thought, and yeah, Nico can't argue with him there. He's never been the best at keeping things close to his chest—intentionally or not—but with Jack, he'll try his darnedest.

Nico holds up his pinky. "Your secret's safe with me."

Jack lets out a relieved breath, and twists his pinky around Nico's.

When they pull away, Nico picks the penguin back up and turns it over in his hands. "So, what's his name?"

Jack goes pink. "Sidney Crosby."

"Who's that?"

"He's...my favorite hockey player," he starts out nervously. "He's the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins." As he continues, though, his excitement ramps up. "Me and my brothers—we met him once actually, after a game. I got a signed stick and everything—the one he used to score his hat trick! It was totally awesome."

Nico understood maybe 40% of any of what that meant, but he nods along like he does. Jack might as well be speaking Greek, but Nico can't hold back his smile at seeing the way Jack lights up like a Christmas tree talking about pucks and goals and stuff.

Jack eventually tires himself out, and he glances down at his digital watch. "We should probably go to sleep soon, huh?"

"Probably."

Nico hands Sidney Crosby over to Jack and climbs out of his bed.

"I'll see you in the morning then?" Jack asks, and Nico nods.

Except when he stands, Nico doesn't move to get back in his bed. He's suddenly so nervous, which is just crazy. Talk about the shoe on the other foot, or whatever.

"Are you okay?" Jack asks, and Nico says it before he can psych himself out.

"Do you wanna be my best friend?"

Surprise flickers across Jack's features for a couple of seconds before settling into a smile—one that reaches his whole face.

"Yeah. Do you wanna be mine?"

"Yeah," Nico replies. "I do."

"It's settled then."

Nico meets his smile, feeling that uncomfortable twinge in his stomach finally settle. He thinks back to when he first met Jack, timid and wide-eyed. He looks at him now, warm and smiley, swaddled in his blankets, penguin in his arms.

His best friend.

And yeah, whatever that backend error was that plopped Jack into the Devils cabin...

Nico's grateful for it.

[bluepoodle7]

#MoshiMonsters#SetOfTwoMoshiMonstersLuvliTheFlyingCherryAnd DiavloNoHangTagPlushies#MonsterPlushies#ComputerGamePlushies#WingedCherryPlush#DevilPlush #Plushies #PlushPals

These are a set of two Moshi Monsters Luvli the Flying Cherry and Diavlo No Hang Tag Plushies.

These are a very cute while interesting set of monster plushies.

I remember seeing ads for these monsters but never really got into Moshi Monsters since young me was more into Neopets.

I know my favorites design wise is Fifi the poodle one, Katsuma, and Zommer the zombie one.

The Moshi Monster's plushies had wear, lint, wear on the eyes, both plushies both still has their clear plastic hang tag danglers on the right wing of the cherry plush and on the right side of the Diavlo plush, and strings loose.

IThe Moshi Monsters Luvli the Flying Cherry and Diavlo No Hang Tag Plushies does have a tush tags but not hang tags.

I didn't have the original packing that came with these plushies.

 The Moshi Monsters Luvli the Flying Cherry plush is 7 inches from the top of the head to the foot and 11 inches from the top of the stem to the foot.

The Diavlo plush is 6 inches from the top of the head to the foot and 8 inches from the top of the head to the tail tip when stretched.

The front of the tush tag on the  Moshi Monster Luvil the Flying Cherry Plush says 6+ Years. Moshi monstersTM. SPIN MASTER LTD. Spin Master logo&©2011Spin Master Ltd. All rights reserved. Distributed under license from Vivid Imaginations Ltd. Moshi MonstersTM&©Mind Candy Ltd. ViViD © 2011 VTG Ltd. SPIN MASTER. 

The back of the tush tag on the Moshi Monster Luvil the Flying Cherry Plush says ALL NEW MATERIALS. Contents: Polyester Fiber. Hand wash and line dry. MADE IN CHINA. LuvliTM. 

The front of the tush tag on the  Moshi Monster Diavlo Plush says 6+ Years. Moshi monstersTM. SPIN MASTER LTD. Spin Master logo&©2011Spin Master Ltd. All rights reserved. Distributed under license from Vivid Imaginations Ltd. Moshi MonstersTM&©Mind Candy Ltd. ViViD © 2010 VTG Ltd. SPIN MASTER. 

The back of the tush tag on the Moshi Monster Diavlo Plush says This article contains. NEW MATERIAL ONLY. Contents: Polyester Fiber. Surface wipe only. MADE IN CHINA. DiavloTM. 

The  Luvli the Flying Cherry and the Diavlo plushies both have their tush tags but not the hang tags.

The Luvli the Flying Cherry plush has stuffing in the body area where the face is, the cherry stem, and the feet.

This Luvli the Flying Cherry plush doesn't have stuffing in the wings and the legs area.

The Diavlo plush has stuffing in the body area where the face is, the arms with the hands, the horns, the tail, and the feet.

This Diavlo plush plush doesn't have stuffing in the top of the head spikes on head, the wings, and the leg area that is connected to the foot that has stuffing in it foot area.

There isn't any beans or pellets in both of these plushies and are soft but also firm in texture without and beans or pellets.

Set of two Moshi Monsters Luvli the flying cherry and Diavlo plushies can wear the Build A Bear toy glasses but can't wear the Hobby Lobby toy glasses due to them being too small for the plushies faces.

The Luvli the flying cherry plush with the Build A Bear toy glasses needs to be put in a certain way so the toy glasses won't fall off the plush's face due to the lack of ears on this plush while the Diavlo plush can easily wear the Build A Bear toy glasses even without ears.

I sold these plushies.

[39oa]

Talk Hockey To Me

tagged by beloved @txstars T__T <3 thank uuu as always

1. The thing that got you hooked on hockey

it's hard to pinpoint one moment because i honestly genuinely believe that it's the best sport in the world just in terms of pure mechanics and objective viewing enjoyment and live crowd atmosphere so it's easy to get hooked once you actually watch it... i've been on and off with hockey fandom itself and took a few years away from tumblr until recently but i'd say it was a mix of just watching games + discovering fandom spaces on tumblr/reading fic on ao3 + having a decent home team at the time + canadian tax etc.

2. Your first ever fandom friend

ngl i think most of the people i first met in hockey fandom eventually moved onto bts (or k-pop in general) lmfaooo but i met @regularseason when i was in 11th grade making connor mcdavid gifsets and now i am somehow 25 years old. we have seen so much on this vast internet together ❤️ 

3. The jersey you would most like to own

MOOTERUS BROS RISE UP ☝️🐮  absolutely my favorite jersey of all time i genuinely don't think any other design comes close. i also really love the stars rr 2.0 but i finally bit the bullet and bought it so that's out... another top contender would be sabres goathead 🐐 and maybe mighty ducks era pkariya, also i think the sharks rr 2.0 with the spin on the seals logo is sooo cute and i love the og sharks logo designed by terry smith as well... specifically the classic late 90s teal jersey. and my fav regular home jersey of current teams is the kraken :')

i have way too many opinions on jerseys honestly. if i could pick some from my warmup jersey database then i lovelovelove the habs 2023 bhm and pride designs (i have apparel for both of these...), the leafs indigenous celebration design, and the kraken women in hockey design. gorgeous girls!!!!!

4. YOUR player (you only get ONE so choose wisely)

:saluting_face: there is only one guy for me... jr21! (real talk like a big part of why i got into the stars and came back to sports tumblr was because of him despite having 0 geographical ties to texas LOL. admittedly there was some superficiality involved at first in seeing an asian guy achieve top-line star status against the restrictive pains of bones hockey but then i was like oh your game is actually efficient and understated as hell? and it kind of spiraled out from there. my favorite deceptively abnormal "boring" guy!!!)

5. A pairing that deserves more fic

i will echo 2124 💚 but i am part of the problem for having 4 partial aus in one doc and not actually writing anything of substance for them... otherwise there are a ton of rarepairs i could argue in favor of but i feel like i'd sound insane. where is the otter/woll boston goaliefic... where is mitch/nrob with robo being vaguely horrified but trying to be supportive of his brother's poor decision making skills. where is my sabresfic and kidsline shenanigans in general......... also if we're going back to the stars then 2141 honestly have so much untapped potential wrt Why Are You Both So Weird Can You Please [Redacted] About It. but you get the gist i'm sure!!!

6. Your favourite on-ice moment

my memory does NOT go that far back. whatever is the most embarrassing thing to have ever happened to some guy i hate is good enough for me

THEN

link someone else's art/fic/etc that you love & think everyone should check out

immediately the first thing that came to mind is that i still think zoe's 2129 primer is one of the most fantastic and comprehensive labors of love this fandom has ever seen... truly one of the major backbones of starsblr. honestly despite hockey fandom not being quite what it used to be on here i think there are sooo so many great creators making stars content and i am immensely grateful to all the gifmakers + artists + writers who constantly feed me no matter what time of year it is!!! i'm kind of shy but you know who you are... TT__TT

AND

link something you made & are proud of & want people to see

\o/ i desperately do not like any of the things i make and i am already grateful to the people who have looked at my measly creations before so thank you!

tagging @regularseason @iamidentical @pupuhintz @slagkovsky @supersoftsports... apologies if you've already been tagged and no pressure as always but pls feel free to if you'd like ❤️

[xploreintellects]

Top Mistakes to Prevent When Hiring a Web Development Company

Are you ready to get your website developed but unsure which web development company to go with? You are not alone! Hundreds of different companies exist and it can be easy to make a mistake that you will later regret. It doesn’t matter if you are a small business, a startup, or just getting into online business, choosing a website development company is a big step in your growth path.

Before you shake on an agreement with a web development agency, let’s look at the common mistakes people commonly make in real-time, so you can learn to avoid these mistakes wisely.

1. Blindly Going with the Cheapest Quote

Everyone loves saving money, however, sometimes the cheapest quote can wind up the most expensive in the long run. There are some companies out there that provide very low pricing just to win the deal. And then they will charge you later in poor design, buggy code, no support, or delays.

Pro Tip: Always look in the package for what is included- such as the design, development, SEO basics, and support. Don't just go with the lowest quote, go with what provides you the best value.

2. Not Reviewing Portfolios Adequately

This is one of the most common issues with hiring web developers. Plenty of people hire web developers without checking their previous work. If they offer you a portfolio that is either outdated or basic, consider that a red flag.

What to do: Ask if they have any live links to previous websites they have built, and compare. Check out how clean the site looks, how fast it loads, and whether it's mobile and desktop responsive. If what you see doesn't meet your expectations, move on.

3. Unclear Requirements 

Sometimes it's not them, it may just be us. A lot of businesses never clearly define what they want out of their website. If you don't have a plan, even the best developer won't be able to build what you envisioned.

Solution: Create a simple document to outline your goals - for example:

What type of website (static/dynamic/eCommerce)

How many pages do you need (Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.) Any design examples? Your brand colours, logo, etc. The clearer your plan is for your web developer the better the results.

4. Ignoring SEO Fundamentals

What does it matter if you have a beautiful site if nobody can find it? Many development companies don’t focus on basic SEO optimization until you ask. It could be that your site looks amazing but won’t appear anywhere on Google. 

Fix it: Ask your developer if they implement SEO-friendly practices such as:

Clean code

Mobile-first design

Fast loading speed

Meta tags & schema support

Image compression & alt texts

If they say “No idea” — that is a huge red flag.

5. Not Discussing Post-Launch Support

Most people usually do not ask: What happens after we launch the site?

What if your form stops working?

 Or your site is hacked?

 Or you want to update your content?

Remember this: Always ask about maintenance and support. Will they give a monthly maintenance package? Is it paid or free for the first few months?  Good support is like a insurance coverage to plan to have when things go wrong.

6. No Contract or Timeline

Please don’t go with a company that says “we’ll do it soon “ but give you no timeline. Also if your not signing a agreement, things can fall apart quickly.

Tip:  Get everything in writing —

Timeline with stages (design, development, testing) Payment milestones Deliverables Support

This protects both sides and avoids any confusion.

7. Hiring a Team That Doesn’t Understand Your Industry

All industries have different customer behaviour and expectations for their websites. A team that builds fashion websites may not fully understand what a real estate company needs.

Smart move: Hire a web development firm that has experience in your industry — or at least seriously tries to understand your business objectives.

8. Ignoring Communication Style

Trust me, this is super important. If a team is late to respond, ignores your input, and communicates only in language that you cannot understand the project will be annoying to manage. 

What to understand: A good team will explain things in plain words, be open to ideas, and make sure you're involved. Look for a team that understands your business as a partnership, not just a project you commission.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a web development company is not just about getting a website done — it’s about building your digital foundation. If you avoid the mistakes listed above, you’ll save money, time, and a lot of stress.

Take your time, ask the right questions, and go with a team that understands your business, values your time, and delivers real results. Suppose you’re looking for a reliable team that delivers what it promises, with the right mix of design, performance, SEO, and support. In that case, we are the best website development company in Coimbatore Xplore Intellects is here to help.

[douglasdsouzawhatisonyourmind]

How Music Concerts are used as Powerful Marketing Tools

Music is not just about sound anymore. It is a full experience. In today’s world, concerts are more than just shows. They are platforms. Brands use concerts to connect with people. It is marketing in real time, with real emotions.

Fans gather in thousands. They scream, sing, and post about the event. That moment becomes content for both the artist and the sponsor. It is marketing that people enjoy.

What Brands Gain from Live Music

Brands love to be seen. A concert gives them that. Logos are placed on banners, tickets, cups, and wristbands. It is not just visual branding. Some brands offer contests, freebies, or backstage passes.

Think of Coca-Cola’s presence at major music festivals. It becomes part of the memory, not just an ad. Like in the film The Greatest Showman, the show becomes the story—and the brand becomes part of that story.

Big Names That Make a Big Impact

When artists like BTS, Coldplay, or Taylor Swift perform, millions watch. Not just in person, but through videos, reels, and streams. Sponsors get visibility on a global level. A brand supporting a tour connects emotionally with the fans.

In India, IPL teams have invited singers like Arijit Singh to perform live. These events combine music, sport, and marketing. It helps brands become part of a bigger vibe.

Product Launches Through Concerts

Some companies plan launches during concerts. A new phone or perfume is introduced on stage. Influencers at the concert get early access. They post about it instantly.

This tactic is similar to the book Hit Makers by Derek Thompson, which explains how people remember things better when they feel something. Music triggers that emotion. The product sticks.

Concerts as a Social Media Storm

One live concert equals hundreds of online stories. People tag locations, sponsors, and artists. Hashtags start trending. Brands get free reach through fan content.

YouTube videos and TikToks from one event keep the buzz alive for weeks. Concerts become content factories.

This is like the plot of the movie Yesterday, where music spreads quickly and widely—only this time, it’s a mix of music and marketing working together.

Small Events with Big Influence

Not all concerts are stadium shows. Brands also support smaller gigs at colleges, pubs, or cultural events. These smaller spaces offer more direct interaction. It builds trust and loyalty.

A local coffee brand sponsoring a college band can reach a loyal customer base. The return on trust is often more than the return on sales.

Concert Experiences as Brand Values

Concerts let brands show what they stand for. A brand that supports indie artists may seem more authentic. A brand promoting a charity concert reflects its values.

In books like This Is Marketing by Seth Godin, the idea is clear—sell through meaning, not just message. Concerts help brands create meaning.

Not Just About Money

Some artists host free concerts supported by sponsors. The goal is not only ticket sales. It’s about creating a long-term impression. When done right, people remember the event and the brands involved.

Experiences create stronger brand recall than any traditional ad. It becomes a memory, not a message.

Conclusion

Music concerts are now business stages. They are loud, emotional, and unforgettable. Brands know this and use it wisely. Whether it’s through banners, hashtags, or giveaways, the message gets across.

The connection between music and marketing keeps growing. It is one of the few spaces where people want to be sold to, and they enjoy every minute of it.

[krackerz1]

Top Strategies from the Best Social Media Marketing Agency in Bangalore

Introduction

In today’s world, social media marketing is vital for any business aiming to grow. Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, having a strong social media presence can boost visibility and sales. Bangalore, known as India’s tech hub, is a crowded marketplace with fierce competition. That’s where Krackerz shines—recognized as one of the top social media agency in Bangalore. They stand out because of their innovative strategies that deliver real, measurable results. This article uncovers the top tactics Krackerz uses to help brands succeed online.

Understanding the Role of a Top Social Media Marketing Agency in Bangalore

Bangalore’s digital scene is fast-changing and competitive. Businesses in this city need creative ways to stand out in a crowded space. Local knowledge is crucial—understanding what Bangaloreans like helps craft relevant content. Pairing this with global trends ensures campaigns stay fresh and effective. Krackerz mixes both worlds expertly. They use local insights along with worldwide best practices to design campaigns that work. Whether it’s Bangalore’s tech crowd or young students, Krackerz targets audiences precisely.

Strategy 1: Data-Driven Content Creation

Importance of Targeted Content for Bangalore's Audience

Knowing who your audience is makes all the difference. Segmenting users by age, location, and interests helps create content that clicks. In Bangalore, users love trending topics like tech, startups, and local culture. Using behavioral data shows what engages them most.

Using Analytics and Insights

Krackerz relies on tools like Google Analytics and social media insights to understand user behavior. They track who visits your page, what they like, and when they are most active. This data shapes content themes and decides the best times to post.

Actionable Tips

Review your analytics weekly to adjust your content.

Include local references or cultural moments to connect better with Bangalore audiences.

Strategy 2: Platform-Specific Optimization

Customizing Content For Each Platform

Every social media platform has a unique vibe. Facebook users prefer community updates, while Instagram fans love visual stories. LinkedIn is usually for professional content, and TikTok appeals to younger viewers. Tailoring your message for each ensures better engagement.

Making the Most of Platform Features

Use Instagram Reels and Stories to show behind-the-scenes or quick tips. For shopping brands, Instagram Shopping can drive sales directly. LinkedIn posts should highlight expertise and business benefits. Krackerz helps brands use these features wisely.

Real-World Example

A Bangalore-based fashion brand increased sales by 30% after Krackerz guided them to make Instagram Reels with local models. They also used TikTok challenges to grab attention. Their tailored approach brought bigger reach and engagement.

Strategy 3: Consistent and Creative Branding

Building a Clear Brand Identity

Strong branding means keeping visuals, tone, and messages uniform. This helps your followers recognize and trust your brand. Use the same logo, colors, and style across all platforms.

Maintaining Style Across Channels

Krackerz ensures every post, story, and ad matches the brand’s personality. They tell stories that connect emotionally and foster loyalty among followers.

Expert Quote

Brand expert Jane Smith says, “Consistency builds trust. When your audience sees the same message everywhere, they remember you.”

Strategy 4: Community Management & Engagement

Creating Real Connections

Responding quickly to comments, messages, and reviews shows you care. Use polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions to involve your followers. This builds a loyal community that feels heard.

Monitoring Brand Sentiment

Tools like Hootsuite or Brandwatch help track what people say about your brand. If negative feedback appears, address it fast before it spreads.

Actionable Tips

Set aside time daily for community interaction.

Use feedback to improve your services and content.

Strategy 5: Creative Campaigns and Influencer Collabs

Running Memorable Campaigns

Contests, giveaways, and viral challenges can boost your reach fast. Use trending hashtags and carefully craft viral content that fits your brand.

Partnering with Local Influencers

Local influencers in Bangalore can introduce your brand to a wider audience. Choose influencers whose followers match your target customers. Measure the ROI to see what works best.

Real-World Example

Krackerz helped a Bangalore startup run a contest on Instagram. They partnered with local micro-influencers, which tripled their followers and sales within a month.

Strategy 6: Continuous Learning and Adaptation

Stay Ahead of Trends

Social media changes constantly. Follow industry blogs, trending topics, and platform updates. Be ready to test new features or formats.

Measure, Learn, Repeat

Review your results regularly. Use A/B testing to find what type of content works best. Adjust your strategy based on data, not guesswork.

Actionable Tips

Dedicate time weekly to learn about new platform features.

Keep a dashboard of your analytics for real-time insights.

Conclusion

Krackerz’s success in social media marketing boils down to combining smart strategies with local expertise. They focus on data-backed content, platform-specific tactics, consistent branding, active community engagement, creative campaigns, and ongoing learning. These tactics work because they’re tailored to Bangalore’s unique scene and audiences. If you want to grow your brand online, adopting these strategies can make a real difference. Partner with a top agency like Krackerz and watch your social media presence thrive. Your next big leap is just a strategy away.

[cro-media-shopify-audit-blog]

Financial Website Design: Merging User Experience and Conversion Optimization

Learn how design elements enhance user experience and improve conversion rates for financial websites.

Source: https://cro.media/insights/ux-ui/financial-website-design-merging-user-experience-conversion-optimization/

At CRO.media, we understand the pivotal role website design plays in Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), especially in the financial sector. A well-designed financial website not only builds trust and engages users but also directly impacts conversion rates. This article explores how design elements from leading financial websites enhance both user experience (UX) and conversion rates, with a focus on essential features such as clear CTAs, personalized content, and trust signals.

Key Design Principles for Financial Websites

The best financial websites have several things in common: they are clean, intuitive, and focused on user goals. By understanding the core features that drive conversions, financial websites can streamline the user journey and provide a seamless experience. Here are the design principles that directly influence CRO:

1. Personalized User Experience

A tailored experience can significantly enhance the user's connection to a site, increasing engagement and conversions. Websites like Wise use location-based customization, offering region-specific messages and services. This personalized approach makes the site feel relevant, building trust and encouraging action, such as completing a transaction or signing up for a service.

For CRO, personalized messaging should be consistent across landing pages and product pages, helping users feel understood and offering them exactly what they need at the right moment.

2. Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

CTAs are the backbone of conversion strategies, especially in the financial sector where user decisions need to be carefully guided. Websites like PayPal use floating CTAs, subtly nudging users toward app downloads, reducing friction in the conversion process. Similarly, Papara’s use of soft, calming colors and intuitive navigation reduces anxiety and makes it easy for users to act on CTAs.

For CRO, CTAs should be prominent, yet non-intrusive. Design your CTAs to provide clear next steps, reducing cognitive load and enabling quick action. Avoid overwhelming users with too many options on a single page.

3. Building Trust with Transparency

Trust is critical in the financial sector, and well-designed websites should prioritize transparency. Remitly includes trust-building elements like logos of receiving banks to reassure users that their transactions are safe. Websites like Stripe use industry leader logos to build instant credibility.

For conversion optimization, trust signals—such as security badges, customer reviews, and client logos—play a crucial role in easing user concerns, especially when financial transactions are involved.

4. Minimalist and Intuitive Navigation

A simple and intuitive layout minimizes frustration and encourages users to explore more. Websites like Stripe and Revolut are prime examples of how to balance simplicity with complexity. They allow users to easily find what they need without feeling overwhelmed by too many options or clutter.

For CRO, site architecture should be designed to minimize friction. Clear and concise navigation, with well-structured categories and intuitive menus, makes it easier for visitors to move through the site, increasing the chances of conversion.

5. Effective Use of Social Proof

In financial services, social proof is essential for building trust and influencing decisions. SwissBorg displays live user data and social links to show active engagement, while Fidelity uses imagery and testimonials to connect emotionally with users.

For CRO, integrating customer testimonials, case studies, or trust-building metrics can reduce skepticism and nudge users closer to taking action. Social proof reassures visitors that others have had positive experiences, which can lead to higher conversion rates.

6. Mobile Optimization

With mobile traffic accounting for a large portion of web visits, especially in finance, mobile optimization is essential for conversion success. PayPal and M-Pesa prioritize mobile-friendly design, ensuring that users have a smooth experience on any device. By optimizing for mobile, financial websites can cater to on-the-go users and improve their chances of conversion.

For CRO, ensure that your site is responsive, loads quickly, and provides a seamless experience across all devices. Mobile users should be able to complete transactions or sign up with minimal friction.

7. Educational and Informational Content

Financial services often require users to understand complex concepts before taking action. Websites like Paytient and Flowcarbon excel at using educational content to guide users, making complex financial products accessible. By offering valuable, easy-to-understand content, these websites create a deeper connection with visitors.

For CRO, consider integrating educational resources like blogs, guides, or FAQs that address common questions and provide value to users. This helps build trust and can push users closer to conversion by addressing potential barriers or uncertainties.

Conversion Optimization Through Design

At CRO.media, we believe that design is a key factor in conversion rate optimization. A website that is well-designed, user-centric, and transparent is far more likely to drive conversions than one that is cluttered or difficult to navigate. By focusing on personalization, clear CTAs, trust-building features, and mobile optimization, financial websites can significantly improve both user experience and conversion rates.

By adopting these principles, businesses can create financial websites that not only engage users but also increase conversion opportunities, driving growth and success in the competitive financial services market.

[thedigitallycrowd]

Profile Creation Sites List: Boost Your SEO & Online Presence

In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, off-page SEO continues to be a cornerstone strategy for improving a website’s visibility and ranking in search engine results. Among the various off-page techniques, profile creation is a powerful and simple method that helps establish backlinks, drive traffic, and increase brand authority.

If you want Best SEO Services Click Here

This article provides a comprehensive guide on profile creation, its benefits, and a curated list of high-quality profile creation sites to help boost your online presence.

What is Profile Creation in SEO?

Profile creation involves creating accounts or profiles for your business or personal brand on various high-authority websites. These platforms allow you to showcase your business name, contact details, website URL, social media links, and a short description.

By doing so, you earn backlinks to your website and expand your digital footprint, both of which are vital for SEO.

Grow Your ROI Click Here

Benefits of Profile Creation

Here are the key benefits of profile creation in digital marketing:

1. High-Quality Backlinks

Most profile creation websites are authoritative, and linking back to your website from them provides quality backlinks, improving your domain authority.

2. Improved Search Engine Rankings

As search engines discover multiple backlinks pointing to your site, your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) increase.

3. Enhanced Online Visibility

Creating profiles on various platforms increases your brand's exposure across the internet, helping potential customers discover you easily.

4. Referral Traffic

Many users visit these profiles and click on your website link, leading to increased traffic and possible conversions.

5. Trust and Credibility

A consistent presence across multiple platforms enhances your brand's trustworthiness and authenticity.

How to Do Profile Creation Effectively

To get the most out of profile creation, follow these tips:

Use consistent business details (Name, Address, Phone Number – NAP).

Write a compelling bio with your main keywords.

Include a professional logo or profile picture.

Use your official email address for signups.

Add links to your website and social profiles.

Stay active and update your profiles periodically.

High-Quality Profile Creation Sites List (2024-2025)

Here is a curated list of profile creation websites where you can create free profiles to build backlinks and boost your SEO:

Get 500+ Profile Submission Site List

(Note: Domain Authority values are approximate and can change over time.)

Best Practices for Using Profile Creation Sites

To make the most out of your profile creation efforts, here are a few best practices:

➤ Avoid Duplicate Content

Write unique content for each profile. Avoid copy-pasting the same bio everywhere.

➤ Focus on Niche Sites

Apart from general sites, also look for niche-specific platforms that align with your industry.

➤ Stay Professional

Keep all information accurate and professional. A poorly written or inconsistent profile can damage your credibility.

➤ Monitor and Update Regularly

Regularly log in to update information, check engagement, and respond to messages if the platform allows.

Things to Avoid in Profile Creation

❌ Creating fake or spammy profiles.

❌ Posting misleading or exaggerated information.

❌ Using the same keywords repeatedly (keyword stuffing).

❌ Ignoring no-follow and do-follow distinctions (mix them wisely).

How Profile Creation Helps Local SEO

If you're targeting local customers, profile creation plays a key role in local SEO. By mentioning your city, region, or locality in your bio and using consistent NAP details across platforms, you help search engines associate your business with a specific geographical area.

Also, platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and Justdial should be a top priority for local profile creation.

Profile Creation for Freelancers and Startups

Not just businesses, but also freelancers, bloggers, and startups can benefit from profile creation. For freelancers, platforms like Behance, Dribbble, and VisualCV serve as digital portfolios. For startups, Crunchbase and AngelList help in networking and visibility.

Final Thoughts

Profile creation is a cost-effective, long-term SEO technique that can significantly enhance your digital presence. While it may not give instant results, consistent efforts in building and maintaining high-quality profiles across platforms can pay off in terms of traffic, trust, and search engine rankings.

If you're just starting out or looking for quick wins in your SEO strategy, this method is a great place to begin.

Need Help with Profile Creation?

If you're short on time or unsure where to start, you can hire an SEO agency like Digitally Crowd to handle your complete off-page SEO and profile creation strategy. From account setup to link optimization, we ensure your brand makes the right impression everywhere online.

[cleverpostbarbarian]

Instagram Follower Growth: Proven Strategies to Expand Your Audience

Growing your Instagram follower growth is essential for building a strong online presence, whether you're an influencer, business, or content creator. With over a billion active users, Instagram offers immense opportunities to connect with a wider audience. However, increasing your follower count requires a strategic approach.

In this guide, we’ll explore effective methods to boost your Instagram follower growth organically, ensuring long-term engagement and visibility.

1. Optimize Your Instagram Profile for Maximum Visibility

Your profile is the first thing potential followers see. To attract more users, ensure it’s fully optimized:

Username & Name: Use a recognizable handle and include relevant keywords.

Bio: Clearly describe who you are and what you offer. Add a call-to-action (e.g., "Follow for daily tips!").

Profile Picture: Use a high-quality logo or professional headshot.

Link: Utilize the link in bio wisely—consider a link-in-bio tool like Linktree for multiple links.

A well-structured profile increases discoverability and encourages Instagram follower growth.

2. Post High-Quality, Engaging Content Consistently

Content is king on Instagram. To keep your audience engaged and attract new followers:

Visual Appeal: Use high-resolution images and videos.

Captions: Write compelling captions that encourage interaction.

Posting Schedule: Maintain consistency (3-5 posts per week) to stay relevant.

Content Mix: Share a variety of posts—carousels, reels, stories, and IGTV.

Consistent, high-quality content keeps followers engaged and helps in Instagram follower growth.

3. Leverage Instagram Reels for Viral Growth

Reels are one of the best tools for Instagram follower growth due to their high reach. Tips for effective Reels:

Trending Audio: Use popular sounds to increase visibility.

Engaging Hooks: Capture attention in the first 3 seconds.

Short & Snappy: Keep Reels between 15-30 seconds for higher retention.

Hashtags & Captions: Include relevant hashtags and clear captions.

Reels can appear on the Explore page, exposing your profile to thousands of potential followers.

4. Use Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags categorize your content and make it discoverable. Best practices:

Mix Popular & Niche Hashtags: Use a combination (e.g., #InstagramMarketing + #SocialMediaTips).

Avoid Banned Hashtags: Some hashtags are flagged—research before using.

Limit to 5-10 Per Post: Overusing hashtags can look spammy.

Proper hashtag usage significantly boosts Instagram follower growth by increasing post reach.

5. Engage Actively with Your Audience

Engagement builds relationships, leading to more followers. Key tactics:

Reply to Comments: Show appreciation and encourage discussions.

DM Interactions: Respond to messages and engage with followers personally.

Engage with Others: Like, comment, and share posts from similar accounts.

Polls & Q&A: Use Instagram Stories features to interact with followers.

Active engagement fosters loyalty and attracts new followers.

6. Collaborate with Influencers & Brands

Partnerships expand your reach. Ways to collaborate:

Shoutouts: Partner with influencers for mutual promotions.

Takeovers: Let another account manage your Stories for a day.

Giveaways: Host joint contests requiring participants to follow both accounts.

Collaborations introduce your profile to new audiences, accelerating Instagram follower growth.

7. Analyze Performance with Instagram Insights

Tracking metrics helps refine your strategy. Key metrics to monitor:

Follower Growth Rate: Measures how quickly your audience is expanding.

Engagement Rate: Tracks likes, comments, and shares per post.

Top Posts: Identifies which content performs best.

Adjust your strategy based on data to maximize Instagram follower growth.

8. Cross-Promote on Other Platforms

Drive traffic from other social networks:

YouTube: Mention your Instagram in videos.

Twitter/X: Share Instagram posts with a link.

Facebook & LinkedIn: Post Instagram content snippets.

Cross-promotion helps attract followers from different platforms.

Final Thoughts

Growing your Instagram follower growth requires consistency, engagement, and smart strategies. By optimizing your profile, posting high-quality content, leveraging Reels, using hashtags effectively, and collaborating with others, you can steadily increase your follower count.

Remember, authenticity and engagement matter more than quick fixes. Implement these strategies, track your progress, and watch your Instagram audience expand organically.

Would you like more tips on Instagram follower growth? Let us know in the comments!