#but I worked on it in chunks so it was fine :)

[captastrophe]

Ichigo's response came slow, deliberate—not because he was unsure, but because he needed a second to temper the sheer weight of what Grimmjow had just laid bare. As his own bowl was placed in front of him, the steam rose in waves, thick with the scent of garlic, chili oil, and the earthy depth of miso. It curled around him, grounding him in the present while his thoughts wove tightly around the Arrancar’s words.

Everything Grimmjow had laid on the table—his past, the pain, the offer to train, the self-doubt, even the crack about being a pain in the ass—Ichigo took it in all at once and sat with it. Then he picked up his chopsticks and started eating, because it was easier to say what needed saying with something real in front of him. And food, especially this food—hot, rich, bold—was real.

The first mouthful hit like a jab to the senses—spice licked across his tongue, sharp and immediate, followed by the deep, umami punch of the broth that clung to the noodles like it didn’t want to let go. Ichigo didn’t bother hiding the low hum of satisfaction that escaped him. The noodles had just the right pull to them, and the sliced pork melted like butter against the heat. He took another bite before speaking, letting the comfort of it soak into him.

“You’re not a lost cause,” he said finally, voice low but even. “You’re just someone who’s been through hell and didn’t fold. That’s not broken. That’s survived.”

He glanced up, eyes steady, not trying to force anything but not backing down either. “You made people work for you. That’s not the problem. That’s the point. You didn’t hand yourself over for scraps—you waited for someone who’d see the worth in what they earned.” He took another bite, lips twitching as the burn of the chili deepened, settled in his chest like a spark waiting to catch.

“And you’re wrong about one thing,” Ichigo added, setting his chopsticks down for just a second. “You think maybe you’re too much, or too far gone, or too... fucked up, like you said. But you’re not. You’re honest. You’re here. And you’re still trying. That’s more than most people ever do.”

He picked his chopsticks back up, nudging at a chunk of soft-boiled egg before glancing over with something close to amusement. “As for the ‘too much work’ thing? Please. I’ve got Urahara, my dad, and you in my life. At this point, I think I might have a type.” The tease was light, but not careless. He smirked, blowing on a spoonful of broth before slurping it down. The heat bit the back of his throat and bloomed in his chest—pain and comfort at once, and he welcomed it.

The offer to help train? He didn’t brush it off. In fact, he took it seriously, nodding once as if filing the thought away under things that mattered. “I’d take you up on that. You’re strong, but more than that— You’d help without holding back. That’s rare.” His tone stayed casual, but the gratitude underneath it was impossible to miss. Another bite. The heat was building now, leaving his lips tingling, the broth’s flavor growing richer with each taste. He liked that—the burn, the depth, the layers. It reminded him a little of the man across from him.

“So yeah,” Ichigo said, licking a bit of broth from his lower lip, gaze steady and warm, “we’ll see. You think you’re too much, too hard to get to—but maybe that’s exactly what makes this real. And maybe I’m too stubborn to walk away.” He paused, looking at Grimmjow fully now. “But I’m not walking away. You’re not too far gone. And if we’ve got to figure it out one fight, one meal, one weird-ass family moment at a time, then fine. I’m in.”

Then he slurped another mouthful of noodles, the spice stinging his lips in the best way possible, like fire and comfort sharing space. “Spicy salmon sushi’s on you next time,” he added casually, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’ll judge if it’s killer or not.”

He took a few fairly deep breaths after he admitted what he had. Grimmjow wasn't used to opening up to anyone about anything regarding his past. Shit that happened years ago that still ate away at him. Things that destroyed what self-worth he'd had. Time and again he was used and tossed away only to see the one who had been with him with another after a short time. Much shorter than it took for them to get to him. Maybe that was the problem he was 'too hard to get to' for what they wanted.

They'd wanted easy and that wasn't how he was. He made them earn it. Earn him. Only for them to turn around and cast him aside as if he'd never mattered in the first place.

"Tch." The scoff had no true heat behind it as he let it loose, a sigh erupting shortly after as he listened to the redhead speak more. If nothing, the conversation wasn't making him feel worse, so there was that. "Every single one of 'em died sometime after Nnoitra attacked me." Perhaps it was a good thing he'd been completely unbound at the time. Had he had someone he'd been bound to and they died he'd have gone insane and killed his way through ally and enemy alike until he was either brought back to himself, or he was killed.

"I ain't what ya humans call 'easy' an' I think that was what those assholes all wanted. Which was why they worked ta get ta me, took what they wanted, an' fucked off." He'd never really thought about the 'why' before, but talking to Ichigo about it, as odd as it was, wasn't making him feel like shit. Like he didn't matter. Or that there was something inherently wrong with him that made him undesirable. "I mean, I can be a pain in the ass, depends on which way yer meanin' though." It was a joke, mostly. And his tone would reflect that as would the grin upon his face.

"I always liked crossin' blades with ya too. Durin' our last match I used a bit more power than before, obviously, since I used my Resurrección, but other than that? I was tryin' ta push ya ta go faster, hit harder, ya know. Somethin' told me ya were gonna need it. It was instinctual." It might have been Zangetsu 'speaking' to the Arrancar through the blade. Hollows could do that even without actually saying anything. Instincts were what drove those like the jaguar. He'd lean back, his posture relaxing just a bit, Ichigo would easily be able to recognize some of the tension leaving him even if he wasn't aware of it himself. "I wouldn't mind helpin' ya train or somethin' if ya want. Obviously it wouldn't be ta th' death or anythin' like that, but it'd help ya." Ichigo likely knew that the Arrancar spent a bit of time patrolling around Karakura, typically near the Kurosaki Residence to ease the pressure on the Substitute. He'd never admit to doing so.

He'd cant his head to the side and loft a brow at the same time at the comment regarding Ichigo's father. "That where ya got yer Shinigami powers from then? Eh, what's he gonna do, try ta stab me if I come visit ya or somethin'?" If he wasn't a threat he couldn't see someone trying to stab him or kill him, but he didn't know Ichigo's dad. He'd never met him. "Loud an' annoyin' but they're yer family, who knows, maybe they'd behave differently fer a bit before they got used ta me if I was over a lot." Something told him after this night things were going to change a bit. Not severely and not in a bad way but he wasn't quite sure what to expect.

"Yer too stubborn ta abandon a lost cause, huh?" He really did think he was a lost cause. Not worth any real effort expended. As his food was placed in front of him, he'd pick up his chopsticks. He'd spin them through his fingers a few times before placing them atop the bowl. He was going to wait for Ichigo's order to arrive before he ate. "I dunno, I suppose we'll see if I wind up bein' too fucked up fer ya ta wanna put forth effort fer." He knew Ichigo was stubborn and the redhead wasn't someone to give up on another. As odd as it was he wondered if he was worth any true amount of effort being expended. "I've always liked spicy food, dunno why, there's a sushi place here in yer town that has some killer spicy salmon sushi." Maybe he'd have to treat the redhead to that sometime. "Yeah, I suppose we will find out. It'll be an interestin' trip fer sure."

[mangobeast]

i started getting some questions about the next update for OTI again and i have unfortunately had to put all writing on pause for a bit. once i complete all my art obligations (commissions + fandom events) i hope to get back to working on the next chapter, i just haven't been in the right head space or really had that much time to commit to it

[lokigodofaces]

🌻

(I say this entirely jokingly obviously)

Germany is known for its high quality cars, and multiple German car companies started during the Nazi regime. Henry Ford was basically a Nazi and Ford makes decent cars. The disastrous cybertruck is about the only evidence Elon Musk has to claim he isn't a Nazi because he seems to be the only one that doesn't know how to make cars.

[creatingnonsense]

Imma unpack this piece by piece lol

-Elesa was adopted as like the ‘bestie of the twins who hangs out enough that she’s practically family’ + ‘best friends (the twins) had kids so now I’m an aunt’ + ‘rich queer model trainer has parental issues and Drayden stepped in’. The two are very close and the only time they ever really ‘argue’ is when Elesa pulls the ‘I’m gonna spoil the crap out of my nieces and nephews’ and Drayden feels like she does too much.

-Sybil died young compared to Drayden, dying at around 30 when the kids were barely 1/2 or so. She passed away by a disease she had predicted with her Dragonair’s help. Sybil had long purple hair she kept in some large braids and wore some pretty elegant draping clothing, her gray eyes were passed down to the twins.

Sybil was very spiritual and a peacekeeper, often being the peace to Drayden’s young aggression and anger issues. He carried her advice and love with him, and it’s why he’s more gruff and fatherly than snappy as he used to be. Sybil means prophetess or oracle in Greek, used because of her families long line of being prophets under the Unovan reign.

A bit of sadness for ya, Iris’ hair looks a lot like Sybil’s hair when it’s braided. Often times when Drayden would braid Iris’ hair he’d have to spend a decent chunk of time after dinner or once everyone was in bed just sitting outside and staring at the stars to reminisce.

-Amara is Drayden’s only biological daughter. She got his temper and it sparked a lot of troubles because Amara couldn’t heal after Sybil passed. Arguments mixed with teenage rebellion and feeling the need to protect pushed the two of them further and further until Amara finally snapped and blamed Sybil’s death on Drayden even though everyone knew no one was at fault. Drayden isolated for a while and Amara couldn’t bear the guilt, taking Sybil’s Dragonair and running off with her partners.

Amara has very light skin and pastel purple hair with long white bangs slicked back. They got Drayden’s yellow eyes. She now lives in Johto, hoping to never see her family again even if she misses them. The twins and Drayden have learned to forget that she was there, but the pain is just buried deep in. Drayden often takes a lot of the blame for Amara running off.

Amara means a few things, but in Latin it means ‘everlasting’ and ‘bitter’, just like the feelings left behind in the family split.

-Sylas was in fact named after Sybil! The first two letters, then three extra including a vowel. When Emmet told Drayden the name he sobbed for quite a while and wouldn’t let Sylas go, especially cause Sylas has her eyes.

-I love the Colress x Ingo one night stand thing so much, thanks for convincing me on that.

-So I really don’t know how I feel mostly about the Crispin headcanon. For the Crispin headcanon, if I added it in, Crispin would be Drayton’s nephew. I do think it’d be interesting and I’m not opposed to it, but it’s not something I actively am pushed towards too if that makes sense. However, if you choose to interpret it that way that’s all well and fine. You just likely won’t see me using it often.

-I think Amarys being a secret step-sibling to Drayton works really well and I would’ve added it but I was losing space and it was getting complicated lol. It’s canon on this just not shown.

-I’ll be dead honest I don’t think I know enough other characters to make claims about the rest of the family but I do believe that Kieran and Carmine’s parents are dead. Crispin’s parents are always busy, Amarys deals with a decent amount of stubborn fights at home and often doesn’t like to visit. Lacey is a daddy’s girl more than she is close with her mom cause her mom works so much. Lacey has a younger sister on the way, named Velva. (Cause Lacey is like Lace and Velva is a name for Velvet and those two are similar). Velva grows up to specialize in fighting types. Lacey likes pink, Velva likes purple. Lacey is adamant and Velva is shy.

Man I’m great at making up stuff on the spot (thought of Velva, Amara and Sybil’s details all while writing this).

Well it took two hours but.. here’s a detailed family tree (created it all by myself) of Drayton’s family tree that I headcanon!

Honestly I detailed it well enough but questions are welcome!

Sorry bout the poor handwriting- not only do I typically write in cursive but I barely write digitally.

[tomatoluvr69]

What’s up tumblr hope you had a super fun leap day. sparkle on. big news my first seed start sprouted while I was at work ✨

[aureutr]

I love it when I fire up my Star Wars randomizer and it opens immediately because that means that someone else is using it and I'm happy it's useful ^^

[penguinloki]

I think I just got queerbaited by a fanfic. Weird feeling.

[amtrak12]

Man, turning a 31 day prompt fest into a single fic with 31 short scenes is such an interesting way to write a story. Because the prompts are not designed to be told in a single story and do not revolve around proper story beats. And the limitations of the prompts and only allowing myself one scene for each of them kind of causes the story to be speed-run. Like it's very fast paced and sort of surface-level overview, and I lean into that by using present tense instead of my usual past tense. And yet the story is also much longer than it appears to be when you're writing such short individual scenes, because 31 scenes of ~500 words is still over 15,000 words! It's also difficult to judge if the scenes flow together alright or if the story is enjoyable when read in its entirety -- but that might be because I'm still in the middle of writing it rather than because of the story format.

IDK, all in all though, it's a really interesting way to tell a story.

[cursedxartist]

Woah tumblr completely changed the order that my following / followers lists were in on mobile. They’re completely jumbled.

[voidimp]

bought a very stupid and expensive tuoy but it is charging so i just get to stare at it for three hours

[himbo-robot]

My brain half a month ago: why don't you anxiously put off doing all the paperwork and shit for your new car?

My brain now: you have to do all the stuff right now even though you don't have an appointment until Friday. *Also* you should look into renewing your passport. Right now

[ichorblossoms]

being consumed by the madness [has been figuring out plot shit for like three hours now]

[sharkieboi]

found the stupidest hack to finally wash my dishes and it’s literally just don’t change out of my work uniform when I get home

[lesbianovak]

just saw the stupidest fucking post about how the trials 'should've been done better' that 1. did not understand that cas wasn't actually closing the gates of heaven and was instead tricked into gathering ingredients for a spell to oust all the angels from heaven and 2. fundamentally does not understand the show as a whole and how it functions. it seems like they wrote it to 'fix' the show and lead it back to a simple low stakes motw show again, but getting there via this idea would literally take at least one entire season of insanely high concept bureaucratic christianity that would fully change the tone (and potentially the genre) of the show

[bean-pronounced-bawn]

I don't know why I keep expecting people to be able to do their jobs but I am always proven wrong and I'm mildly having a full meltdown rn because I need documents sent very far away literally by the end of the month and based on when they said 1) the documents would be shipped (1-5 business days) and 2) the documents would be notarized (7-10 business days) it should have been done at least a full week ago but it's not and the document hasn't even been shipped to the notarization place and because I have nothing else to do at work right now and nothing to keep me distracted like I've been trying to hard to do for the past week I'm having a panic attack about this and I know I've called and emailed a combined five times already about this but I'm gonna have to call again to see where they're at because I don't think I'll last the weekend without some kind of update if I'm already having a panic attack today

[roboticutie]

Your breakfast sounds so good :) I love leftovers

It is so good!!! I had leftover pizza this morning :D