#but it WILL test your mettle

[waterwindow]

Soldier players are admirable to me and you doing some guiding to the anons is really cool, might try rocket jumping again we'll see

-a demo player that can sometimes mid air sticky jump and can glide across the ground on upward from blu spawn till the mine exit(and is bad at rockets)

hey airpogo is legit, most demojumping is hella hardcore :D one of my best friends is a cracked demo jumper AND soldier jumper (because I love having an excuse to gush about my friends here's some of his stuff)

You can absolutely have both. But I'll warn you, Rocket and Sticky jumping both are very difficult and they legitimately take many years to get really good at. Just remember to keep working hard and don't give up on yourself and have faith that you will improve. I believe in you!

[uncanny-tranny]

There's this pull in recovery to feel behind in comparison to your peer group, and that's, of course, a valid feeling. It's understandable, but I think a lot of what we don't remember is that... they often aren't starting out in the same place you are.

I think part of the reason so many feel terrible about "being behind" is that it feels like we have to blame ourselves for being behind. If you just weren't affected by it, you'd be right where your peers are, right? It's a way to blame yourself in severe cases.

Recovery isn't about "catching up," I think. It's about pressing the play button and letting yourself live. You might never "catch up," you might never be at the "same level," but that fundamentally doesn't change that your life is worth living how you want it to.

[aspiringnexu]

Saw a post a while ago that mentioned a debate among Star Wars fans and Star Trek fans about the typical who-would-win between a Borg Cube and the Death Star.

I'll leave them to that debate because who-would-win is highly dependent on the plot anyway and that kind of debate only leads to arguments (plus I find it incredibly boring, I'd much rather debate things like the similarities and disparities between human cultures in the two universes, one with and one without Earth, that would be interesting). But what did catch my eye was a mini-debate later on with people discussing whether or not said Cube would detect the Death Star approaching, the argument being that the modes of travel in the two different universes (namely warp and hyperspace) are so different that the Cube wouldn't be able to detect the Death Star until it reverted to real space.

Which reminded me how much I love that the two travel systems are so similar and yet so different.

I won't be able to get too technical, I'm sure some fans know the exact ins and outs of both kinds of space traversal, but the fundamental difference is how the ships attain FTL, or Faster Than Light. Because otherwise space travel takes FOREVER.

In Star Trek they use impulse engines to putter about for more precision maneuvering but use warp engines to achieve FTL, the warp engines 'warping' space by making a subspace bubble around the ship and therefore insulating it from the extreme pressures of breaking normal physics. As you do.

In Star Wars they use sublight engines for the usual puttering and maneuvering but instead they rely on the hyperdrive to achieve FTL which punts the ship into hyperspace, basically a parallel dimension where ships can achieve FTL without undue stress to the ship itself.

In both cases ships can be pulled out of their warp bubbles or their hyperspace streams due to factors in normal space. In Star Wars, for example, there exist Interdictor class ships which produce massive gravity wells, similar to those of moons or any other significant cosmic body which forces ships to drop out of hyperspace in order to avoid crashing into said body. (This also makes jumping into hyperspace too close to a planetary body incredibly risky. Not impossible, mind, but there is a reason planetary governments have a minimum distance allocated for incoming and outgoing ships.) Star Wars also makes a big deal out of Hyperspace Lanes (there was an entire war fought over them at one point) which are routes that have been confirmed to be empty of any cosmic phenomena discounting the occasional asteroid that wanders in. They're used as major shipping lanes and commercial passenger transports as a result. You can, of course, elect not to use the routes but you run the risk of encountering surprises even with a navicomputer.

In Star Trek the same rules seem to apply with various cosmic phenomena able to disrupt the warp drive and pull the ship out of warp, whether it be extreme gravimetric distortions that require precision piloting to avoid or nebula too thick for the engines to filter or, really, the list goes on. Could be anything from a nebula to the glowing green hand of a supposed Greek god stopping you from going to warp.

But regardless of the actual metrics of the two kinds of space travel, I find the idea that neither ship would be expecting the other to just appear incredibly amusing.

Neither universe would have any experience with a ship that travels in a space bubble or a ship that just casually drops in from another dimension and really why focus on inter-fandom discourse when you can focus on the incidental comedy?

[gigginox]

monster hunter is funny cuz theyll be like "elder dragons are extremely rare and dangerous .. we havent seen this one in centuries we need to take utmost caution with this" and then theyll have a quest thats like "ok we put 4 elder dragons in the arena go nuts have fun"

[legionofpotatoes]

man post-andor star wars feels so embarrassing

[shotmrmiller]

who is taking full offense that you're not wincing as you take a seat after spending all night split open and why is it ghoap? because it's ghoap.

it's johnny choking on his eggs while you plop onto the chair, legs creaking under the weight. he'd remembered having to warm compress for days after his first ghost lay. hissing through his teeth every time he had to sit on any flat surface. even now, as a seasoned veteran, he still wakes to a lingering ache. it'd be impressive if he didn't feel a bit slighted. (you took them both last night and the only thing average about him is his height.)

it's simon, thinking about how johnny made him take it easier on you. dinnae wanna scare 'er off, he'd said, yer too intense, and here you are, prettier now that your neck and chest is peppered in their love bites, wearing his shirt and johnny's boxers, with an appetite to rival that of price's. clearly you can handle him. handle them. he'll test your mettle soon enough. (that he wants to see you look up at him with discomfort pooling in your eyes after the fact is something he'll keep to himself.)

(it's you, limping to the bathroom in the middle of the night and almost sobbing when you spot the bottle of tylenol on the counter, swallowing it with a cupped hand full of sink water. as you sit in front of them now, foot coming to rest on simon's thigh, there's a lingering ache that no doubt would've left you curled up in bed for most of the morning. thank god for medicine.)

[blackjackkent]

We're going to use Meems's sneaky tunnel route, but Springy mentioned there was some funny dialogue if you choose the bash-in-the-door strategy, so let's check that out quickly first:

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lol

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[eternitynews]

Tuesday, Tacos and Tequeil

Tuesdays are an adventure at Gozamba with Tacos, Tequila, and Mechanical Bull Thrills! Dive into delicious tacos, savor tequila delights, and test your mettle on the mechanical bull. Join us for a thrilling Tuesday experience!

For reservations and details:

🌐 Website: gozambaorlando.com

Address:

8100 Crystal Clear Ln, Orlando, FL 32809

[amjustagirl]

Chapter 1

pairing: hoshina soshiro x f! reader

genre: romance, angst

wc: 4k

summary: you've loved soshiro since you were seven. he will always place his duty above you.

chapt 1 / chapt 2 / chapt 3 / chapt 4 / chapt 5

Once a month, Hoshina Soshiro drops by your apartment for tea with you. 

It isn’t often that you both get the same day off. Him, with his vice captain duties that never end because Kaijus don’t deign to give him a break, as he often complains. You, spending hours if not days buried in the blade forgery at Izumo tech so much so your parents remark dryly that they’ve forgotten your face. But every so often, the universe smiles upon you and you get to spend an afternoon sitting on your narrow balcony with your oldest friend. 

It always begins like this.

He drops a plastic bag full of fizzy drinks on the table that only he drinks, whilst you brew a pot of tea. There’s dessert in the fridge that you get to feed his sweet tooth, and he’ll consume both because you’ll claim you have no appetite. After a few perfunctory questions about your wellbeing - the same as always, nothing’s changed, he’ll turn his mind to the sole focus in his life. 

“You gave the latest tech to my brother?!” he yells, outraged. “His main weapon isn’t even a blade.” 

“Orders are orders”, you respond. “Besides, didn’t I just tweak your katanas last month?” 

“About that”, he grins at you, somewhat sheepishly. “I’ve got more ideas -” 

“Not again”, you groan. 

He’ll rattle off a long list of things he wants you to work on next month. Blades made out of some kaiju bone, just to test its mettle. A blade to be worked into his boots - an idea he cheekily admits stems from some stupid shounen manga he reads in his spare time. So many of his ideas belong in the trash bin, but you entertain him anyway, studiously jotting down each of his requests. 

“You’re lucky I put up with you”, you tell him. 

Lazily, he flops onto the floor, rolling to lie his head in your lap. “As if you wouldn’t”, he laughs, poking up at your cheek. 

You don’t get the chance to answer him. His phone goes off, as it always does, and he has to go. 

“Seeya next time”, he waves, without leaving you another glance. The sliver of sky between the buildings surrounding yours is dark when you get up from your seat to clear the cups. 

Your cheek still stings. 

Your family always had close ties to the Hoshina clan. The clan of swordsmiths sworn to the Hoshina clan of swordsmen. A tie that can be traced centuries back to the Edo period to today. Your father crafted his father’s blades in the fires of your family’s forge, yet another in your family’s lineage who were born to serve the generations of Hoshina swordsmen. 

Even though you were born a girl, you never accepted that it should be different for you.

You were only seven when you accompanied your father on a delivery to the Hoshina estate. Your stockinged feet echo in the wooden corridors that stretch out before you, seemingly without end. There are portraits of imposing swordsmen in every other room, blades displayed, their former owners’ eventual fate captioned beneath. You are too ashamed to admit that you’re afraid of one such painting with kaiju-like yellow eyes that seems to glare at you that you bolt when your father leaves you aside to talk business with the Hoshina patriarch.

Foolishly, you forget that the Hoshina estate dwarfs your family home. After the fifth rock garden you come across (which admittedly to your seven year old self, seems to blend into each other), you are well and truly lost, so you sit on the porch of some courtyard and wait to be found for a stern reprimand by your father. 

Clang. 

But you’re drawn by the sound of steel clashing, so you follow your ears, and your eyes thank you as you watch two boys spar with dull blades. 

The older, with silver hair, has a clear edge. He’s taller and stronger, so he bullies his younger opponent into a corner. The younger, with dark hair, doesn’t seem daunted, standing his ground with precise swings and savage slashes that his older opponent only manages to parry with difficulty. 

Though you hide yourself behind a pillar, the older boy spots you anyway, breaking off the fight to grab you by the front of your top. 

“Intruder”, he shouts, waving his blade at you.  

“I’m - I’m sorry!” you squeak. You panic, fearful that he’ll throw you out of the estate, because if you can’t even figure your way out around the compound, there’s no way you’re going to find your way back home across half of Osaka, so you hiccup and cry and beg to be let go - 

“Hey! You’re just looking for an excuse to get out of a losing fight.”

Courage has never been your strong suit. It’s easier for you to hide behind your father or older brother’s legs, so you’re taken aback by how quickly the younger boy jumps into the fray on your behalf, defiant even in the face of a larger opponent.  

Your captor’s nostrils flare. “What did you say?!” he demands, but he lets you go with a sneer. 

“Another round then”, the younger boy says, as he tugs you to your feet, brushing the dust off the pretty kimono your mother took the effort to dress you up in. “Maybe this time you’ll actually be serious -” 

His brother brandishes the blade at him. “I’ll beat you to a pulp, you insolent brat.” 

You spend the afternoon watching them from a safe distance until your father finds you, apologising to Hoshina-sama for his wayward daughter. 

You’re formally introduced then to the brothers - Sochiro the elder, who doesn’t even acknowledge you with a nod, and Soshiro the younger, who smiles like the sun when you tell him that he’s amazing in a fight. 

“I’ll show you more next time!!”, Soshiro says. His eyes remind you of violets blooming in spring. 

Your mother hears of your adventures in the Hoshina estate. 

She comes to brush your hair after your bath. “The Hoshina family sees ours as a vassal clan”, she states baldly, as the comb sticks on a particularly tricky tangle. At your noise of confusion (and pain, because she’s none-too-gentle at getting the snags out of your mane), she explains. “That means our family is bound to them by our usefulness in making katanas, the instruments of their success.”  

She clucks her tongue at your obtuseness, as you stare at her, uncomprehending. “We supply swords, not brides to them. There are no engagements between their sons and our daughters. If you wish to associate with the Hoshina boys, you must be of use to them.” 

Perhaps, in her ungentle way, your mother was trying to do you a kindness. 

But you took her warning as instruction instead. So, though you’ve always been afraid of the loud forge your father and older brother work in, you badgered your father for enough lessons in sword making, hovering over him every minute you have out of school so you can learn everything you can.  

It’s worth it, when Soshiro comments on the shiny scars on your forearms the next time you visit. 

“I’ve been learning how to make katanas”, you explain, suddenly shy. 

“Wow!” you catch another glimpse of violets through wide eyes. “You must’ve worked really hard!”  

You peek at the blooms of bruises on his shins, the angry red scratch across his face. “So have you”, you reply. 

He beams, dragging you off to play.  

More often than not, that devolves into him showing off his latest moves, and you applauding his every action. He revels in the attention, which you find strange because surely everyone with eyes should be able to discern that Hoshina Soshiro is wildly talented, even at the tender age of eight, but then whenever his brother surfaces with taunt regarding Soshiro’s swordsmanship, you can see the chip of his shoulder grow, an invisible burden that drags him into the ground.

As an outsider, it’s not your place to comment on the unfairness of being knocked around by a boy five years his senior, so you try your clumsy best to bandage Soshiro’s wounds and slip in an encouraging word or two. You never want to see the violets in his eyes wither and die. 

“I’ll make you the best blade in the world when we grow up”, you bump your elbow against his. “So you can beat him.” 

“Promise?” 

You loop your little finger around his. Half moons brighten into stars. 

// how abt a blade that can separate into 2 // 

// or or or // 

// maybe three?! // 

// would your ancestors roll in their grave //

You wake up to a text. Or three. 

<Gremlin>. You text back. <Soshiro-kun, go to sleep.> 

// you wound me // 

// seeya later // 

// visiting Izumo tech for my new suit!!! // 

// make sure you lend me your lunch discount at the cafeteria // 

You snort.

<Cheapskate>. The rhythm of your conversation thrums. <are you asking me to have lunch with you> 

// someone needs to keep me safe from my fangirls // 

// don’t leave me in their clutches // 

An eye roll. 

< Die >. You turn your phone facedown, resolutely refusing to respond. 

Despite your complaints, you end up eating lunch with him anyway. 

It’s difficult to concentrate on your meal when your childhood friend turned the most eligible bachelor in the Japan Defense Force sits across from you in a skintight uniform, your giggly co-workers sitting two rows down watching his every move. So you push your tray away and just watch him as he chatters away through a mouth full of food (something he’d never do back home because he’s been raised with manners befitting the second son of the esteemed Hoshina clan, but around you he seems to turn into a demented manchild), but you’ve always found it endearing how he’s his chaotic true self around you - 

“New recruits are coming in next month so I don’t know when we’ll have time to catch up -” 

“There’s nothing to catch up on when you keep text me in the middle of the night with your train of thoughts - “

“That’s all work related”, he says. “I want to know how you are doing.” 

You’re not about to tell him that your parents have informed you that they’re tired of you mooning after a man who’ll never love you back, and have started haranguing you via text to get your ass back to Osaka so you can meet suitable men your age who’d be willing to accept an unladylike wife with burn scars trailing up her forearms.  

“As if you really want to know”, you grumble. “You’re only interested in talking to me when it’s about your weapons and tech.” 

“You wound me”, he dramatically claps his hand to his chest, miming hurt. “You don’t believe that I care about my oldest friend?” 

“Nope.”

“Rude”, he sing-songs. “C’mon.”

“The only reason we’re even lunching is because you wanted more upgrades - plus, now you want a shield against your fan-girls, who, by the way, are going to mob me in the bathroom and make me recount for the thousandth time, why and how I know you, the - I quote - cutest guy in the Japanese Defense Force, though they really should get their eyesight checked out in my opinion -” 

“Oohhhh - people think I’m good-looking?” He runs his fingers through his hair like he’s in some 80’s shampoo commercial, throwing an exaggerated wink over his shoulder to the nearest fangirl. You hear a thump on the floor. You hope she didn’t hit her head too hard (but perhaps it might make her sole brain cell work a little better if she did). 

You tap his knuckles with the back of your chopsticks. “Get that ego on a leash.”

His grin is cheeky. “I can’t help it if people think I’m good-looking.” Your heavy sigh makes him pout. “You don’t think I’m good looking?” 

The lunch bell comes to your rescue. 

“I have to get back to work”, you tell him, all too ready to make your escape. 

“So do I”, he gobbles down the rest of his lunch. “Seeya around.”

“Stay safe”, you add. “Don’t let a Kaiju eat you up.” 

“Eat me up?!” he squawks with mock outrage. “Don’t you know I eat Kaijus for breakfast?” 

As if you don’t. In Tokyo, the third division is exceedingly popular. Captain Mina Ashiro of course, takes up most of the attention with her long, dark hair and prowess as the nation’s foremost sniper, but once in a while, the newspapers and magazines run features of Vice Captain Hoshina Soshiro, and you dutifully keep cuttings in a scrapbook that you hide under your bed. 

In every interview, he talks about how it’s patently untrue that there’s no space in the Japan Defense Force for those who prefer to wield a blade rather than a modern gun. “Captain Ashiro believes in me”, he says, so seriously that it’s hard to recognise your usual jovial friend. “For that, I’ll be thankful for every day.” 

He said the same thing to you the day of his promotion. 

“She believes in me when no one else did”, he tells you in disbelief. 

That’s a lie, you want to shout. You reminded him that there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that he’d fail the entrance exam into the Japan Defense Force, and he’d indeed pass with flying colours. You calculated his unleashed combat potential from your lab in Izumo Tech, saw him exceed and excel so much so that an exception was made for him to carry katanas which you spent sleepless nights crafting for him. He won his first promotion as platoon leader nary a year in after a stunning victory decapitating yonju across Tokyo, and your congratulatory text to him was ‘See, I knew you’d do it.’ 

So no, Mina Ashiro was not the first person who believed in Hoshina Soshiro. You are. 

Unless, in his eyes, you don’t count. 

<okaa-san>

<Yes, I’ll be glad to meet your friend’s son>

< No promises on anything more>

The date your parents arranged for you is a man with a pleasing smile who has as much romantic interest in you as you in him - which is to say, very little at all. “I’m too busy with my job, but my mother insisted”, he confesses.

You like him all the better for his honesty. “So did mine”, you respond with a wry chuckle. 

Yamamoto-san is good company, nonetheless, even if his only interest in life other than his demanding job as a corporate slave is tending to his houseplants, so since you both share an interest in getting your overbearing mothers off your backs, you agree to have lunch once a month just so you can say to your parents without lying that you’re seeing someone. 

A part of you that you tuck deep into your chest hopes that word gets around to Soshiro, who’ll come beat your front door down, demanding that you, instead, turn your eyes to him (as if you’ve ever looked elsewhere for as long as you’ve known him). And when Hoshina Sochiro, Captain of the Sixth Division, pops into your office for his own tweaks to his tech and rounds upon you with a wicked twinkle in his eye, you’re sure that whatever you share will be conveyed as salaciously as possible to his younger brother. 

“Soooo”, he drags each word out obnoxiously. “Your older brother mentioned that you’re seeing someone now who isn’t my younger brother.” 

You smile blandly. “Soshiro-kun and I have always been just friends.” 

“Just friends my arse”, he retorts. “You’ve had a planet sized crush on him since you were seven. It just can’t be helped that my brother’s got a katana up his arse.” 

You try your best not to wince. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Captain Hoshina?” you gesture at the door. “As you can see, the mountain of work that’s been piling up ever since you stopped by my office needs to be done, and I really don’t have time to sit around and gossip like old women.” 

“So grumpy”, he hops off your desk. “So, should I tell him that he’s missed the boat?”

“Tell him whatever you want.” You begin to type furiously on your laptop. “As if he’ll care.” 

Five minutes later. 

// u have a bf?! // 

// and i had to find out fr Sochiro?! // 

// AND u said there’s nothing to catch up on? // 

You lock your phone in the drawer beneath your desk. 

// are u ignoring me???? // 

“You ignored my texts!” 

This is a first. Hoshina Soshiro, cranky even when a stack of golden brown pancakes soaked in maple syrup wobbles enticingly in front of him. “I was busy at work”, you say. A flimsy excuse, one that fails to placate him as he continues to pout, childlike at you.

“So?” he demands, slicing right through the pancakes with his butter knife. “Is it true?” 

“Is what true?” 

His eyes narrow as he waves his knife accusingly at you. “You decided to tell Sochiro that you got a boyfriend before me?” 

You take a sip of coffee to steady your nerves. “You know I don’t talk to your brother unless he decides to invade my lab. But I guess he and my brother still text from time to time.” 

“Hrm.” he puffs out his cheeks, blows out a breath heavy enough to flutter his bangs. You restrain the urge to reach over and straighten his hair. “Fine.”

“I’m just seeing a guy that my parents set me up with.” You rehearsed exactly what you wanted to say, but your insides churn, the coffee you drank not doing you any favours. “I guess they’re just worried that no one will ever want me as I grow old and unmarriageable.” 

His chuckle is blithe, uncaring. “Parents are all the same, aren’t they? Just last week, my mother called me to ask if I’m interested in being set up on a date with someone - as if I’d ever be interested, I barely have time to sleep, let alone date, and besides, she probably just called because my older brother’s a master at dodging such calls -” 

You let him ramble on as you gather the remnants of your courage deep within your guts for a final advance. 

“Soshiro.”

“Hm?” he looks up, mid-chew. “Sup.”

“If I really did get a boyfriend, you wouldn’t mind, would you?” 

“Why would I mind?” He laughs, reaching over to prod at your cheek. “I mean, I guess as long as you don’t stop making me awesome katanas, and as long as he doesn’t mind that I text you my brilliant ideas on improvements -” 

Unknowingly, he cuts right through your heart. But in fairness to him, you offered your heart on a silver fucking platter, even handed him the blade to stab it with.

“I was just worried you’d be unhappy”, you mumble, blinking back tears furiously. 

Thankfully, he’s too focused on clearing his plate. “I thought you were going to ask me something serious”, he laughs. “What a silly question.” 

“Yeah”, you manage to croak. “What a silly question.” 

He goes on to fill the rest of the afternoon with chatter about his new recruits. You sit numbly and listen to his tales of a Shinomiya slip of a girl who blows all recorded numbers for a recruit out of the window, an old man who confounds his techs by registering a big fat zilch on their combat scales, but he entertains his candidacy because he’s a great source of entertainment. 

“You okay there?” he frowns, stopping mid-story. “You kinda look down.” 

“Indigestion”, you lie through gritted teeth. “Never you mind.” 

“You shouldn’t take milk in your coffee if you’re lactose intolerant, silly”, he teases, confiscating your iced latte. 

“I’m just an idiot”, you try your best to smile. Fortunately, he accepts a pained grimace. 

Your mother was both right and wrong. You know that Soshiro cares for you as a friend, because he could never be callous enough to reduce you to your usefulness to him, but it’s true that he has no space in his heart for you. 

A year or two ago, you piled yourself in a car with both Hoshina brothers to brave the Obon traffic to get back to Osaka for the holidays. You hadn’t been able to afford the jacked up prices for the shinkansen, and Soshiro only found out yesterday that Captain Ashiro took pity on him for missing consecutive New Year holidays that she gave him Obon off as a consolation price, so their parents nagged Sochiro into ferrying you both home. 

“Shouldn’t you have your own car?” Sochiro groused. 

“Why would I need a car if I’m on base 24/7”, Soshiro replied. “Why do you need a car? Unless the sixth division is slacking off -”

The car screeched to a halt. Sochiro kicked open the door, yanked Soshiro by his collar and shoved him into the driver’s seat. “To keep your smart mouth occupied, you can drive us the rest of the way to Osaka.” 

“Aren’t you scared I’ll crash?” 

“If you do, I’ll skin you alive.” 

Your forehead nearly split open from all the bickering. “Guys, I can drive -” 

“No!” Both brothers yelled at you in unison. It’s the first time they’ve probably agreed on anything in their life.

The bickering finally ended when Sochiro fell asleep in the back, head pillowed against the window glass on one side in a way that he’s bound to wake up with a neckache. Still, you’re forced in close proximity to Soshiro, the puffs of warm air from the overworking air-conditioner blending with the scent of steel and citrus, from the shampoo he probably uses, you mused half dizzy, head heavy - 

“If you puke in the car, Sochiro’ll make you lick it up.” 

You squeezed your eyes shut. “Talk to me so I don’t focus on your terrible driving.” 

By the time Soshiro’s done with his recounting of the last four fights he’s been involved in, the massive disappointment of this year’s recruitment exercise and his admiration for Captain Mina Ashiro (which made you want to scream, kick your foot through the windshield, perhaps), the afternoon sun is low to the ground, streetlights along the expressway flickering on. 

You couldn’t help but ask. “Do you ever think about anything other than your job?” 

“Nah.” he chuckled. “I don’t have time for anything else. I gotta spend time to train y’know, otherwise I’ll really die on the job.” 

“Soshiro!” 

“That’s why I got good life insurance”, he deadpanned. 

“I guess that was a silly question”, you slump back in your seat. 

“It really is”, he teased. “So, what else d’you wanna hear about my all consuming job?” 

The memory stings your eyes. 

You make up an excuse to return to your apartment without haste, waiting until he disappears around the corner before you give in to the tears that you’ve been keeping at bay all afternoon. Strangers on the train ride home give you a wide berth, because they certainly don’t want to catch whatever malady you’re clearly suffering from with your swollen eyes and hiccuped sniffles. You stumble into your shoebox apartment, kick your shoes off at the genkan.  

Tonight you’ll give yourself the grace to mourn the death of a dream.  

You crack open the beers he previously brought, one after another. Drunk, you sit on the balcony, the half-moon reminding you too much of a certain vice captain. You let your mother’s words flood your mind. You are meant to offer him blades, not a bride. In another lifetime, in every lifetime, perhaps, the noble born son of a samurai clan would never open his heart to the lowly daughter of a swordsmith. He would be raised to always put duty before love. 

You don’t know why you hoped for anything different. 

So when you roll off your sofa in the morning, you glare at yourself in the toilet mirror, eyes rimmed red, a hangover in full effect. 

“You are an idiot.” you slap your cheeks so hard it turns pink. 

You will not allow this to continue. Hoshina Soshiro is not yours, has never been yours, and will never be yours. You are pathetic for hoping otherwise, stupid for living in hopes that he’ll look at you some day, an utter idiot for letting every choice you’ve ever made in your life be guided by your infatuation with a boy who doesn’t have space in his heart for you.

You could’ve been like your older brother, been content with sticking to the family business of sword making instead spending every spare minute on your engineering studies so you’re well positioned to be snapped up by Izumo Tech as a weapons specialist. You had the leeway to be based in Osaka near your family, but accepted a position in Tokyo just to be closer to where Soshiro’s based. You could’ve had a social life, perhaps even friends outside of work, if you’ve not dedicated your life to your job, working after hours tirelessly, just so you secure promotion after promotion, cementing yourself as Izumo Tech (and by extension, the Defense Force) go-to for anything blade related, just so you fulfil the promise you made to Soshiro all those years ago. 

You cannot live the rest of your life this way.   

a/n: so...i know i've only ever written for the hq boys but the way hoshina soshiro grabbed my throat in a chokehold in that gym training scene just forced my gremlin brain to start typing and get to work on this story for him.

hope you guys like it <3

[bioware]

As Halloween is looming, the Veil is thinning, and Thedas faces dire threats.

Prepare for a journey that will test your mettle - Dragon Age: The Veilguard is out TOMORROW. Watch the launch trailer now.

[shittysawtraps]

fantasy saw where jonathan kramer is dying of the wasting sickness and sets up a dungeon to test adventurers’ mettle. most of his traps are various monsters he sics on you but occasionally you fall into an analog device that rips your limbs off. also wizard amanda and fighter hoffman are waiting at the end to kick your ass.

[svsssbigbang]

Cang Qiong Mountain Sect has opened its gates! Join our lofty peaks, learn to cultivate, and test your mettle at the Immortal Alliance Conference!

2024-2025 SVSSS BIG BANG SIGN-UPS OPEN!!!

Link to sign-ups

From May 1st to June 17th (for writers) and June 24th (artists and betas)

For more info, including rules and schedule, check out our carrd.

[revivedredeemermareu]

So, I was looking back at one of @brittle-doughie 's posts, which was this:

https://www.tumblr.com/brittle-doughie/770259726211727360/all-i-can-imagine-is-green-tea-mousse-dressed-as?source=share

This gave me an idea since I've had this full on horror mix with RE7's DLC 21, Buckshot Roulette, & Cookie Run x Reader.

Spooky Cookie Tales: A Sadistic Date

Warnings: Kidnapping, Torture, Yandere (Except for P.A.L.M Cookie because she would be a platonic)

[Part 1/2]

Y/N Cookie eventually gets knocked out during mid-match of the Grand Cookie Games and after the match, they woke up in some sort of sinister place with one of their hand locked in some contraption (much like Clancy & Hoffman were on but minus the finger gulliotines). When they looked around, they're no longer around the arena but rather...some sinister (& spooky) place.

They panic as they struggle to get off, but to no avail.

Thus suddenly, an electricution device appeared out of nowhere is on the hand of Y/N Cookie about to give them dangerous shock.

Frightened & desperate to get out, they tried to quickly get out, but still...nothing.

Until, the lights went off...and Y/N Cookie heard footsteps approaching to them...

Then, the lights went back on and reveals to be...

The Grand Cookie Games trio themselves.

With Green Tea Mousse sitting in front of them, while Choco Drizzle & Pudding Á la Mode beside her.

They were shocked to see why the GCG trio did this to them.

Green Tea Mousse: "Oh me, oh my~...don't be scared Y/N Cookie...think of this of our...little...date, don't you think..?"

Then you said: "Wh-why are you doing this to me..?! Let me go!"

P.A.L.M Cookie: "Shush! You aren't allowed to leave!"

Choco Drizzle: "If you try to resist longer, we have no choice but to force a bit of punishment to you."

Then, the electricutioner powers in a dreadful way and stops.

Green Tea Mousse: clears throat "Now, where were we? Oh, of course~! Our little date!"

Green Tea Mousse: "We were very...interested to you."

Both of the sisters nodded.

PALM Cookie then said: "You even give me sweets like a sweet cookie would!"

Choco Drizzle: "You were fascinating to me as well, and when I had to get to know more of you, I just had to watch you...and then strike to test your mettles."

You looked at Choco Drizzle and said: "Aren't you doing that for the 15th time no-"

Green Tea Mousse cutted you off by saying: "Ah-ah-ah! That's very rude! Now, I'll give you an example..."

Then the electricution device powers up and its current rised up to 4.

"...what happens if you don't follow us~!"

And then...it shocked you, screaming in electrical pain.

[tervaneula]

If it's alright for me to suggest: how about Leo & usagi begin the hier of their clans?

Some AU where people outside the clan (for example: hidden city folks) talk about how scary, intimidating and horrific the hamatos are because they have a Japanese style of mansion/house and they spin lies about Leo saying he's this and that... But in reality? He's a sweet, sensitive man who doesn't hurt people for the joy of it.

Imagine his surprise when the same lies goes about Usagi a samurai rabbit that makes him look like an antagonistic character while in reality? He's so gentle and sweet man just like Leo.

The plot am thinking of is kinda like: oh this guy is somewhat awful because of the rumors talking 'bout how of an awful man he is but i fall in love the moment i know all these rumors are lies and he's so sweet!!

Like imagine how cute it is if people said "he hates sweet" but see him drinking a smoothie or milkshake. Another says "he has muscles and well fit" but in reality he has those cute chubs on him 🥺

I'MMMM AJSHGASDJFGHJSDFKGG

YOUR BRAINNN OH MY GOD. I WANT TO WRITE THIS??!!?

Holy shit that's so good. Amazing. Wonderful and brilliant and sweet and everything I could ever want from an AU like this. And let's put them like a few centuries in the past so word-of-mouth is the primary way people share information :D

And shdgfhsd here's my take on an edgelord Usagi, but wait. Can it be. Is he actually a sweetheart under all that edge??? AAAAAAAAAA THIS IS MAKING ME [incomprehensible]

A somewhat reclusive clan with an heir who everyone thinks is a crime lord or something equally unsavoury?

A wandering ronin with an ill reputation and looks to match?

Will they meet and test their mettle in a battle TO THE DEATH?! Uh, wait what do you mean they just went out for tea and mochi cakes–

[traumxrei-archive]

【 prologue: rumor has it 】

summary: the heir to night raven duchy was to have their debutante soon, and their father, dire crowley, has a conversation with them.

word count: 556

author’s note: a little prologue to the series ! we have some dad!crowley in action and a bit of world building with yuu’s backstory ^^

[ the perfect debutante series | or read on ao3 (coming soon) ]

“Your debutante is soon, is it not?” The young heir looked up from their reading, watching as their adoptive father ambled closer.

“Yes it is, your grace,” The youth shut their book, a skeptical look crossing their face. Their father was known for his...eccentricities, to put it lightly. And they knew the signs of him about to drop another surprise on them if it wasn’t obvious from the grin on his face.

“Now don’t be like that, Yuu. You only call me ‘your grace’ when… Never mind,” The masked man coughed, before straightening his posture, “How about you plan your own debutante?”

And that was how all the rumors started. A maid heard from a servant who heard from a stable boy, and so on. Planning one's own debutante wasn't something that was common in the kingdom or even in the lands of Twisted Wonderland.

"It was a test," They whispered behind closed doors. "A test from the old duke to his heir, to test their mettle."

The heir to the Dukedom was, after all, adopted. Another thing that didn't happen often in the Kingdom. Duke Crowley was always the strange one, as he never married nor took any lovers in his time as Duke. All he focused on was the School he had built. “Night Raven College” named fondly after his Duchy.

Duke Crowley had adopted his heir around a decade ago. A child named Yuu, from an orphanage in the slums. It had caused ripples in society. How could it not? The mysterious masked Duke— one of the most eligible bachelors in the Kingdom— had adopted a child out of the blue.

Some people lost interest in Duke Crowley, while others found that a suitable mother figure was needed to help raise the child. But Duke Crowley never brought in such a person. After a while, the child's existence faded into the background, with other scandals drawing public interest.

Until it got out that the child started attending school at Night Raven College. It caused quite a stir. Every parent started telling their kid to befriend the heir. Who knew who could become the next right-hand to the future Night Raven Duke? And many people tried but failed in ultimately befriending the child. But well, these were stories for another time. 

In reality, the Duke's motivations were not a test. It was simply a father's wish to make his child happy.

"Plan a ball and invite the people you'd like to invite," He had said simply. "I'd like to do it the way you'd like to." But no one needed to know of the tender words exchanged between family.

However, everyone's eyes would inevitably be drawn to the ball. Everyone in the Duchy knew, including the heir themself. And that also included the retinue of maids who were allied to the young heir. The maids that, rumor had it, were really the companions of the young heir's pickings. It had to be no coincidence that each and every maid hailed from Night Raven College.

The maids knew what other people were expecting. They were expecting that their Master would fail. And nothing short of perfection would do. Therefore they had devised a plan, a way to help their master reach perfection one way or another. Hence the start of “Operation: The Perfect Debutante.”

thank you for reading ^^ if you’d like to read more, check out my masterlist !

[ series post | next chapter ]

[farseeryirith]

Full disclosure - english is not my first language, I have never written reader insert before, I have also never written anything for 40k before either, nor have I ever posted any of the things I've written for other fandoms... But I have spent the last 5 days reading primarch fics and I have caught that bug, so I decided what the hell, whats the worst that could happen?

Anyway, canon lore? What's that?

Sanguinius x fem!Custodes reader Warning: blood (not much, but still) Mostly fluff, I suppose. Is it bad to have a little bit of a crush on your father's freshly baked bodyguard? WHO KNOWS! Angel boy likes the tall lady with the pretty smile that smells... nice

You weren’t sure what to think of this turn of events. Of course, you could never question His decisions, and yet when The Emperor informed you that you were to accompany the Ninth legion into battle against the Orks, you couldn't help but feel some vestigial nervousness - something that would surely go away with time. You were still young, one of the newest members of the Legio Custodes, recently inducted to replace a fallen brother. You had never left the Imperial Palace before, you were yet to see battle, and He had deemed it necessary for your mettle to be tested in combat.

The Emperor had chosen to issue the task of taking you to battle to the Great Angel himself, a show of insurmountable trust - normally you were not to take orders from anyone but the Emperor Himself, follow no other commander. This went against everything you had been taught, but you would never question His judgement. The Emperor had decreed you follow his son into battle, and thus it shall be.

Lord Sanguinius had come to greet you himself at the docking bay and welcome you aboard his flagship, flanked by a cadre of his sons. You could feel your hearts' pace quicken as you talked further into the ship, your serfs following behind. Curse these lingering feelings, you could only hope the Primarch and the Astartes would not sense your anxiety. Leaving Terra for the first time felt strange. Leaving Terra alone without your brothers and sisters felt stranger. You silently thanked everything your helmet concealed your face, lest the warriors before you see you chewing your lips raw from the nerves.

Approaching closer, The Angel walked ahead of his sons and extended a hand with a warm smile towards you.

“Welcome aboard the Red Tear, Lady Custodes.” he says as you tentatively shake his hand. Were you supposed to do that? “It is an honour to host one of the Ten Thousand.”

“It is an honour to be hosted by a son of The Emperor, Lord Sanguinius.” you reply and turn to the Astartes behind him, giving a polite nod. “And to accompany your legion into battle, of course.”

“A lot of honour to be had, indeed.” one of the Astartes speaks up. A jest, perhaps? You turn your eyes back to the Primarch, to gouge a reaction. He gives a small chuckle. Yes, a lighthearted jest, you deduce, and match with your own quick subdued laugh. There was a pause, your slightly delayed reaction seemingly unnerving the Astartes, who look away. Thankfully Sanguinius breaks the tension as he speaks up again.

“Allow me to show you to the quarters we have prepared for, Lady Custodes. We shall be departing soon.”

You are led through the Red Tear to a large room where your serf begins setting up. You find yourself drawn to the window at the far end, and you walk to it mesmerized. You can see Terra growing smaller in the distance and your heart rate picks up again. You reach out to place a hand on the glass, almost as if to reach for the throne world, your home.. You hear Sanguinius clear his throat behind you, and you feel your cheeks flush. Once again you thank the throne for the helmet hiding the embarrassment on your face at being caught in such a childish act.

“I hope the room is to your satisfaction.” the Angel speaks up.

“It is, thank you.” you reply, walking away from the window, flexing your fingers, as if to shake off the nerves.

“Wonderful. I will leave you to get settled it, in that case.” he smiled and turned to walk away before stopping at the door. “It.. would be my pleasure if you were to join me for the evening meal later if you would like?”

“Of course.” you agree, and you note the smile the Angel gives you.

“Very well, I will send for you.” he says as he leaves the room. “ Lady Custodes.” he gives you a nod before turning.

“Lord Sanguinius.” you bow in return, and with that the door closes and you are alone in the room with your serfs.

You are helped out of your armour, which is carefully, ritualistically stored away. You are given your rest attire robe, and your hair is combed through again and re-braided. You notice your bleeding lower lip in your reflection in the window. Damned nerves. One of the serfs makes a remark that you should quit chewing your lips raw and let them heal, but they get silenced with a quick look. This bout of anxiety would pass, you would make it pass.

Sanguinius was not sure what he expected when he was given the task of hosting a newly inducted Adeptus Custodes. It was an honour to know his father trusted him so, yet there was an inkling of doubt in him. Was this to be a test? Were you there to assess him?

These doubts, however, dissipated when he met you. You radiated unease, anxiety even. He did not know Custodes could be nervous, though he supposed he had only met veterans before. You were young, father had told him, newly christened and untested yet, and it was on him now to see to it that you fight your first battle.

There was another thing that made him curious about you. As you walked through the halls of the Red Tear, he could smell the sweet scent of blood on you. It was slight, barely a drop, but it was almost intoxicating, alluring..

His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming towards his quarters. He had sent for you to be brought to dine with him, and as the door opened for you to come in, he found himself at a loss for words.

Yet again you defied his expectations. Even outside of your armour, you were tall and of a strong build, but your face bore gentler features, bright eyes, and soft red lips. Perhaps it was foolish of him to assume all your cadre came out grizzled war-hardened veterans like the shield captains and blade champions he had met. He had never considered what a young Custodes would look like. You were beautiful..

“My lord.” you speak up and he becomes acutely aware he had been staring for just long enough to be slightly uncomfortable.

“Lady Custodes.” he shakes off his stupor and stands up to greet you, whilst his serfs hurry around, continuing their preparations of the dining table.

“Your ship is beautiful.” you mention as he comes near. Ah, he sees it now - the thin red line across your lower lip, that you keep biting and not letting heal. The source of the enticing coppery scent of blood that he could smell on you. A nervous habit, perhaps?

“Thank you.” he smiles, as his eyes lock onto your lips. He swears he has more self-restraint than this, but your blood calls to him so sweetly, and your lips look so soft. “Pales in comparison to the Imperial Palace, though, does it not?” he chuckles, trying to distract himself.

“Few things don’t,” you say. “I... I would assume,” you add. He gives you a questioning look and you look away, your cheeks flushing. “I.. this is the first time I have left the palace.”

“Oh..” Sanguinius stares for a moment. He knew you had not left the throne world before, but he did not expect you to have never even left the palace grounds. There was so much of the Imperium and you had seen none of it. Not even the rest of Terra.

“I officially became one of the Ten Thousand six Terrans months ago.” you clarify. “I thought The Emperor had informed you.”

“He did, yes. I just was not awa..” he begins, but a slightly devious thought comes to mind. “I am sure Father would not mind if we are to take a few.. detours on our way back to Terra.”

“My Lord?”

“There could be more Orks hiding anywhere.” he grins. “It would be a shame to not check for ourselves. See the sights.

You seemed to catch on then and hesitantly matched his smile. He would make sure you see at least some of the Imperium to whose ruler you have been sworn to defend. It would be worth it, he thinks, if he gets to see you smile again.