#but kids are smart and wired to learn

[mademoisellesarcasme]

#unfortunately it is not just the parents#the screens are everywhere even if you personally don’t let them play#on the bus other kids#the dentist office even had a personal screen for the kids to watch while getting their teeth cleaned tags via @parapraxisaxis

The only people to blame for children under the age of 10 having “addictions” to smart phones, tablets, and technology in general is the parents. I don’t want to hear people complain about their 4 year old knowing how to play with the settings on their ipad. You put the iPad in your kid’s life. You gave a 4 year old their own ipad. They learned to use it. You did that. It’s your fault. Don’t blame kid’s for poor parenting, incompetence, and laziness when it comes to raising children.

[noiriarti]

The Winner Takes it All: Anakin Skywalker x Reader (Enemies-to-Lovers Modern AU)

NSFW! Minors DNI!!! Summary: The moment the thesis competition was announced, you knew your biggest threat. Anakin Skywalker, golden boy of the engineering department. He's the only other person smart enough to beat you, and the only other person insane enough to stay in the lab until midnight every night. He's also an asshole, but you're starting to think maybe he's not as bad as you thought he was... Pairing: Anakin Skywalker x Fem!Reader CW: mentions of masturbation WC: 3.4k AN: hello darlings!! another anakin x reader longer fic coming your way!! lmk what you think, and asks/requests are always open!

[Ch. 1], Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6

Chapter 1: Soldering

The moment the competition was announced, you knew your biggest threat. Anakin Skywalker, golden boy of the department. As soon as he heard about it at the thesis info session of your senior year, his eyes found you in the crowd, because he knew you're his biggest rival, and you're coming for him. He was surprised to find you were looking at him, based on the way his eyes widened, and you found a shocking amount of satisfaction in it. The top prize was 10k and a job at Boeing, after all. The more you surprised him, the more likely you were to catch him off-guard. Not that you would sabotage his work, that was just unseemly conduct for a senior at Coruscant U, but you'd encourage his sloppiness.

The instant after the presentation finished, you rushed to the lab. The thesis lab adjoined the regular makerspace in a continuation of the glass walls and sleek design of the rest of the engineering building. You'd spent the end of your junior year there, when you'd had to submit your thesis proposal (A Novel Method for Glaucoma Detection Utilizing Machine Learning and Mass-Producible Hardware). Anakin was always there too, which made the space just a little more annoying, with the loud music blasting out of his headphones and the hair-raising racket of the band saw.

Last year, you'd decided to admit to yourself, despite your best efforts since you had met him, that okay, Anakin Skywalker was hot. Like, horrendously hot. He was a looker no matter what he did, with those blue puppy dog eyes, full lips, and his gorgeous chestnut hair, which looked so soft that you had wondered on multiple occasions what it would be like to touch it. And, being captain of the university taekwondo team, he was muscular as all get-out. You'd catch a peek at his calves and ass on hot days when he wore shorts, and his biceps and shoulders were almost always flexed in the lab when he was sawing something or bent over the soldering station. One time, he wore grey sweatpants, and you had to literally tear your eyes away. But it wasn't just those features that made him hot. It was, unfortunately, him as a person. The confidence with which he sauntered through the building. His mischievous smile that he'd cast you in group projects, or the clench of his jaw as he wired something finicky. Your roommate, Ahsoka, a junior and also his vice-captain, told you that, oh yeah, he was also really good with younger team members. That he taught kids in the nearby school once a week, too, even though he had such a busy schedule. Wasn't that just sweet.

He wasn't that kind to you. Another thing that made him hot, unfortunately, was his brain, and his wit. He was kind of smart, okay, very smart, and that might make him the one thing standing in your way this year. Anakin also never shied away from a biting comment at you, usually about how if you had done it correctly, you wouldn't have an issue with some wiring. Unfortunately, he was usually right, but you wouldn't give him the satisfaction of telling him that.

Your rivalry started in freshman year, when your physics professor would choose the best student's homework and post it to the class as an example. You were sure you'd be chosen--your first homework was perfect--but then you saw his name. Anakin Skywalker. The next week, you beat him, but then he came out on top immediately after. And so it went. Always fighting for the top spot, to see who could outdo the other. Now, the department was just paying you to do it.

You were in the lab right after the "Senior Thesis Information Session" presentation, using the few minutes you had before your thermodynamics class to tinker with the 3D print that had just finished. Then, the door slid open with the beep of an ID card. You didn't have to turn around to know it was Anakin. Only he would be insane enough to work on day 1 of the semester. Him, and you.

"So you're seriously competing for this, huh?" He asked, watching you sand off some rough edges off the plastic. His tone was playful, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness. He was sizing up the competition.

"Yup. And I'm gonna blow you out of the water," you said self-assuredly. Your project was too good not to win. Anakin barked out a laugh.

"Sure. Right. We'll see about that," he remarked. His voice was dripping with smugness, just like usual with you. You just rolled your eyes. It wasn't worth it to waste time verbally sparring with him, you had better things to do. Like thermo. So you pushed out of your chair, leaving the print on the shelf that had your name laser cut into wood (a gift you had made yourself after your junior thesis proposal got an A), and heading to Lecture Hall 3.56B. Anakin was, of course, heading there too. You were in lockstep, as always. However, he refused to walk there with you, so he waited precisely enough for you to close the door before he left too.

And so, the first three months of the semester passed in relative peace between the two of you. There was only a handful of people who used the thesis room, and you were the only ones there consistently. It helped because safety regulations meant you had to have a buddy in the room to use any of the really useful machines, so you sometimes found yourself pleased to see him. It meant you could get work done. At night, the engineering building was fifteen minutes away from the dorms where you both lived--in the same building, which vexed you to no end when you saw him in the dining hall--so you both had to make the walk home late at night through the city. Oftentimes, you ended up walking home at the same time. It would be wrong to call it walking together, because that would imply you were near each other, or in each other's company, which would be plain wrong. You were always as far as possible on the sidewalk, and oftentimes you two would end up speedwalking home, not allowing the other person to be faster. Was it childish? Maybe. Did you feel a rush of joy every single time you hit the door to your building before him? Definitely.

In November, as the biting cold chilled the air, you found yourself done before him. All your current tasks were done, and you had to wait for a print to finish before you could keep going, plus he wasn't using any machines that needed a buddy, according to lab rules. It had been a long day, and you'd barely dragged your bones into the lab, let alone through all that work.

"Hang on," his voice called from across the space. He was at the soldering station in his safety glasses, bent over some chip.

"What?" Why couldn't you just go home? To your beautiful bed?

"I don't feel good about you walking home alone, so can you just wait for, like, three more seconds?" He wasn't even looking at you as he said it, instead he was pressing the soldering iron to some metal. You scoffed. Like you were so frail you couldn't walk fifteen minutes on your own.

"Are you serious? Do you think I'm vulnerable because, what, I have a vagina? I've taken self-defense classes, thank you very much." Your tone was poisonous, and you tried to infuse every drop of venom you had in you at his stupid idea. Anakin finally looked up from the bench, turning the iron off and cleaning it in the steel wool, catching your eyes with an angry glare.

"No, dumbass. You're just less likely to get robbed in this part of town if you're not alone. But do what you want, I guess. Have fun getting all your valuables taken!" He shrugged sardonically and turned off the vent fan above him. Anakin was right, it killed you to admit. You didn't exactly feel safe walking home at 3am through this part of town. There were enough reports of students getting hurt. So you planted yourself in your chair and waited. When he saw you, a smug smile grew on his face. Asshole.

"C'mon, let's go home," he said nonchalantly once he'd shut down and locked the woodworking room and the laser cutters. As you walked home, this time at a comfortable pace and with his headphones off, you realized it was almost nice, peaceful to be with him like this. The night was still, not a single thing moving in the dark of the night. You passed the corner store, its graffiti-covered grate down at night, then the Vietnamese restaurant you loved, dark and empty. There was no one on the planet but the two of you at that moment. Much to your chagrin, you didn't mind it at that moment. Anakin looked even more ethereal in the moonlight, lighting up the light parts of his hair a silvery white and casting shadows all over his face. He really was handsome, you admitted reluctantly. When you got home, he wished you a good night, which he had never gone. You found the word escaping your lips out of habit. After that, your walking home at the same time turned into walking home together. On November the 8th, he asked you how you were doing. You told him you were good, your tone clipped. He echoed good into the quiet street, then you lapsed into silence. On the 10th, he asked if Ahsoka was feeling better. She had sprained her ankle at practice the previous day. You told him she was, and he said good again. On the 11th, he asked how your project was going, and, in a fit of weakness, you told him it wasn't great. That you were nervous about your first real test of the finished product, the one that would tell you if the past three months had been wasted or not. He told you that if anyone could do it, it would be you, and you spend the rest of the walk wondering where the insult buried inside the statement was hiding. Later that night, once you had tucked into bed, you realized there wasn't any insult at all, just genuine encouragement. For the next week, your walks were filled with slightly guarded conversation, sometimes about upcoming homework assignments, but sometimes about how the taekwondo team was doing, or if you thought Professor Yoda's ear hairs were a countable or uncountable infinity. But he was still an asshole.

About a week later, you were alone with Anakin in the lab around midnight, working on a piece of the lens, trying to get the refraction just right before the test run, when your phone buzzed. Midterm Grade Posted for PHYS 485: Thermodynamics. Your heart stopped. You had been hoping and praying that the number of hours you'd poured into your thesis wouldn't come back to bite you in terms of classwork, but now was the moment of truth. You opened the notification, then to the Canvas page, where you saw your grade. 38/100. Everything in the world stopped. How could you have fucked up that badly? Your eyes scanned over instructor comments. Average class grade: 40/100. Maximum grade: 49/100. Okay, okay. It would be curved up, and you'd probably get a B, but you were below average for the first time in your life. Fuck. Fuck. How could this happen? You glared at Anakin, who was screwing in a bolt to the metal scaffolding of his project. That motherfucker was probably the one who got 49. The thought made you so angry you bolted out of your chair and went to go grab the materials for your test. That motherfucker got everything. It wasn't fair.

You lined up the small device you made, plugged it into the port of your phone, and opened the corresponding software. Through the external lens, you scanned the two printed-out pictures of eyes, one with glaucoma and one without. You held your breath throughout the loading screen. Please, just let one thing go right. Please. Please. The little loading circle stopped. Both eyes were cleared of glaucoma. A false negative. Motherfucker. Three months of work, and for what? You'd never get the prize at this rate. You'd have to start from scratch. You slammed your fist onto the table in anger.

"Hey, there's hammers for that," Anakin called, teasing from the other side of the room. He looked up at you, mouth open to snark something else out, when he saw your eyes welling with tears.

"Woah, are you okay? What's wrong? Did you hurt yourself?" His voice was soft, warm. Anakin dropped the wrench he was holding on the table and half-jogged over to you, putting his hand on your shoulder. You jumped at the contact, but it wasn't entirely unwelcome. It was kind of comforting, actually, but you were too upset to notice that.

"It's just, it's not working, and I've spent so much time and--" you trailed off.

"Don't cry, it's okay, we can fix it," he said with a shrug and a smile. Why was he smiling? God, was he actually pleased right now? Suddenly, your tears turned to anger, not at yourself or the system or the difficulty of your project, but at him.

"Like you're not happy about this. I bet you sabotaged it yourself," you spat out and shrugged his hand off your shoulder. He balked.

"Sabotage? Are you serious? I'd never do that." You stood up, incensed, and pointed a finger into his chest.

"Really? It sounds exactly like something you would do--remember in sophomore year when Barriss's robot mysteriously stopped working?" He half laughed, half scoffed, mouth dropping open, then snapped back with his voice raised.

"You've got to be kidding! Maybe if you paid two seconds of attention to your classmates or anyone around you, you'd know it was her wiring! The connections were bad!"

"Sure," your voice dripped with sarcasm as you scoffed at his insult, "And when you told her it served her right? You were so smug!" Your voice was rising. He ran a hand through his hair and bit out another laugh as he retorted.

"And if I was? Like you're not the queen of being smug in this department. 'Oh, my robot's better, Anakin. I got an A, Anakin.'" He raised his voice high, mocking you. His eyes were wild, furious.

"Me? Smug? Look in the mirror, asshole! Pretend all you want, but I know who you are. You can pretend to be oh-so-nice to everyone else, but I see you for what you really are. Just. A. Fucking. Asshole." You emphasized each word with a jab of your finger, getting closer to him each time. The tension between you was turning somehow--were you losing the argument? You couldn't tell.

"Oh yeah? You don't know a single thing about me," he gritted out, right up in your face, jaw flexing. His intense eyes bored into yours, flicking back and forth, and then they dropped down to glance at your lips.

You weren't sure which one of you moved first, but all you felt was his lips against yours and your hands fisting in his hair, which it turned out was as perfectly soft as you had imagined. Bastard. Anakin's kisses were hot, insistent against your mouth as you sloppily made out in the middle of the lab. His arms, warm and firm, circled your waist and pulled you to him while you tilted your heads this way and that to get closer. Your tongue swiped his lower lip, and he treated you to a surprised, low moan that you wanted to hear again and again until your ears bled. He got your hint, though, and started teasing your lips with his tongue until you opened your mouth just enough to touch your tongue to his. His arms tightened and pulled you against him so that you could feel his warmth from chest to thigh. The two of you were frantic, like if you got close enough, deep enough in each others' mouths, you'd figure out why you were doing this and why it felt so goddamn good. Your heart was pounding when his hands slipped lower and grabbed you under your ass.

"Jump," he whispered huskily after he reluctantly separated his mouth from yours. You hopped, and he used the hands under your thighs to lift you up and sit you on the lab table. Dutifully, you wrapped your legs around his hips, interlocking your ankles around his unfairly attractive ass, and kept your hands buried in his hair. Anakin was back on your lips immediately. He was sloppy and excited until you shifted your hips against him, and then he became electric against you, even hungrier than before. You were definitely feeling something underneath your hips, a lump. It hit you that he was hard, and that sent a bolt of lightning between your legs. You'd stared a little bit more than you cared to admit that time he'd worn gray sweatpants, and what you'd seen was now pressed against you. You drew in a shaky breath at that idea, and you realized that God, he smelled like metal from his soldering earlier and, underneath that, sandalwood and vanilla.

Sometime around the time his hips tilted forward into yours, a beep echoed through the empty lab. You both jumped apart, leaving you sitting on the table, and the noise continued. Beep beep beep. The insistent noise came from one of the 3D printers in the corner. Anakin's print was done.

The silence of the lab felt deafening as you both panted. What had you done? Making out with your enemy was completely against lab safety guidelines, for one, and your morals, for another. Your heart was still pounding in your chest, despite your misgivings, but you willed those wisps of excitement deep down into some mental box. This couldn't happen. If there was a single person on this campus you couldn't fuck, it was Anakin. Not only was he rude, but if you got too close, how would you navigate it when only one of you won? Most importantly, though, you had hated him for four years. And for good reason. (Though you couldn't remember exactly what it was, or think critically at all, in that moment.)

"We shouldn't do that again, Anakin." Your voice was small in the empty space. For a second, his face fell, but he pressed his lips into a thin line to disguise it.

"Definitely not. I--Sorry." And that was that.

You walked home in complete silence, stealing glances at one another in the dark night. When you got to the door of your dorm, you opened your mouth to say something, but then closed it. Better not. So why, once you separated, did you feel so sad? Why did you want to see him again, to feel that silky hair under your fingers in your bed? You laid awake until the early hours of the night, and told yourself that your fingers slipping inside the waistband of your pajamas wasn't about Anakin, you just hadn't gotten some in way too long. It wasn't about Anakin. Even though it was his mouth and chest and arms you thought about when you came on your fingers, it wasn't about him.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

please let me know if you'd like to be added to the tag list!

[rogueddie]

Helpless T | 497 words Prompt for steddielovemonth: Love is watching them do the stupidest things and falling harder for them every time

Steve Harrington is smart.

It's a fact, something that Eddie is entirely unwilling to move an inch on. He knows Steve is smart, far smarter than he realizes himself, and especially smarter than any of the kids give him credit for.

But, quickly, he learns not to defend Steve on his intelligence. He quickly notices how often Steve uses their assumptions.

Sometimes he'll use their assumptions to get away with shit.

Usually he uses it to play the fool, playing a little into slapstick to make the group laugh. It's so easy for him to lighten the mood, knowing exactly what each person finds especially funny.

For some reason, when it's just him and Eddie, he doesn't play into the idiot role. He's calmer, relaxed... comfortable.

"One time I got Dustin to snort," Steve says, brushing past Eddie questions. "I've been trying to get him to do it again ever since. You shoulda seen his face. Priceless."

That was a day that Eddie tries his hardest to forget though.

He'd been so distracted when Steve lifted his shirt by the hem to wipe at his face that he'd walked straight into the sliding glass doors that lead to his backyard.

Steve had rushed over, panicked, and fussed over him, despite Eddie's mumbles assurance that he was fine.

"I've done it before," Steve says, patting him on the shoulder. "It's an easy mistake to make. But there's a trick, look, here, watch. This bit, here, is only visible when the door is open."

Other than filing the fact away, Eddie didn't think anything about that specific detail.

It wasn't until, two weeks later, when the kids were arguing over something small and starting to get heated that-

Steve walks straight into the glass door, bouncing off with a comical 'thump'.

The kids are immediately distracted from their argument, Max loudly cackling, Dustin yelling his teasing comments over the burst of noise.

"Hey, come on, how was I supposed to know?" Steve complains, rubbing at his head. "It's glass, man, you can't see it!"

"Oh my god," Mike groans, rolling his eyes. "It's so obvious!"

"Alright, genius, just because you've apparently got it all figured out-" Steve taunts, hands on hips.

"You don't have to be a genius, you just need eyes!"

"Not even," Max adds. "I can get through it fine."

Eddies attention is locked on Steve, who's defences only get progressively worse.

But, when he catches Eddie's eye, he shifts a little. Like he knows he's been caught, like he knows the gig is up.

He holds a finger to his lips for a moment, winking, before turning back to the kids.

"Colored glass doesn't really count as glass though, right? That's visible. Glass isn't."

Eddie shakes his head, biting back a laugh at how much louder the kids get.

He sends Steve a subtle thumbs up when he glances over again, resolutely ignoring the butterflies wiring around his stomach when Steve grins back, wide, eyes crinkling.

[ladykailitha]

Icarus Part 22

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a good week. We're really getting down to the wire on this one.

I finally finished Secret Tunnel (game show) and am going through the game show parts and neatening things up a bit, but they'll be ready to go by the time it needs to be posted.

In this we have Steve learning to lean on his friends and kicks out an asshole at a press junket.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21

~

Steve and Eddie were careful but they were also friends. So every time Steve and Eddie were seen (with or without other people there) the media blew it up.

“Rocker seen with long-time friend, Steve Harrington, an EMT for the band The Fallen…”

“Steve Harrington punching above his weight class with Eddie Munson, frontman of Corroded Coffin?”

“Steve Harrington, former rich boy, now EMT seen with frontman, Eddie Munson; could a scandal be brewing for the heavy metal rock god?”

And all of them were insinuating that it was Steve who was only in it for Eddie’s fame and fortune. Even though they had had pictures taken before the tour as friends. Especially since they had gone to school together. But no. Now they were seen together on tour, it was tawdry and lewd.

Which shouldn’t have dug at Steve as much as it did. Because in a perfect world it wouldn’t be tawdry. It would be two famous people having a lunch together romantically. They could be seen kissing each other, holding hands, and just staring at each other with heart eyes.

But the world was not perfect. And Steve was not out as bisexual, even if Abbadon was. Shane had come out to his family when Astraeus did, but Steve had chickened out. He couldn’t look Dustin or Max or Will in the eye and tell them he liked men too… especially Will.

He couldn’t imagine telling his kids that all that posturing he did in high school was all for show. That he wasn’t the token straight friend with Robin and Eddie. They were the only ones who knew he liked men at all. Outside of his band anyway.

Steve let out a long shuddering breath and then did the smart thing for once in his god damned life. He called Vickie.

“Hey, Abbadon,” she greeted warmly. “What’s up?”

He told her what was going on with the most recent rash of media bullshit. “Is there anyway we can just put out a statement or something that Eddie and I are just friends?”

“That would actually do the opposite of what you looking to do,” she said kindly. “People are going to think whatever they want to. There’s no changing it, but instead play up into it. Whenever you see someone taking pictures. Grab Eddie’s hand. Swing it like you’re school children. Wrap your arms around each other and giggle. Stay clear of obvious PDA, like kissing and whatever. But make them uncomfortable with it. Make it their problem.”

Steve stopped for a moment to think about it. Really think about it. “Oh. I like that. Because then Eddie and I can get goofy with it without feeling like we’re hiding something special. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Vickie said with an obvious smile, even though he couldn’t see her.

He paused for a moment and then asked, “What made you think of that? I mean, it’s brilliant and you deserve all the credit for it, but I’ve got to ask.”

“It’s actually a common trick,” she said with a laugh. “A famous child star would come out of the play he was starring in wearing the same jeans and jacket every night so the pictures would be useless. Or another pair of child stars walking down the street holding hands, being goofy because the one has anxiety and holding hands helped. Sometimes it a zero sum game where nobody wins, but that’s way you’ve got to play it.”

Steve let out a deep sigh. It was a horrible thing to have to play by someone else’s rules, but it came with fame, like it or not. “Yeah, I can see that. Thanks again, Vickie.”

After he hung up the phone he felt a lot better. It wasn’t the fix he was looking for but then again nothing in life had a permanent solution. Fame least of all. He bit his thumb, eyeing his phone. He had heard about phone hacking in the UK and was worried someone might get a hold of his text messages.

He was in the safety of his own hotel room, but Eddie might not be. After chewing it over for a moment or two, Steve shot Eddie a text message:

-Call me when you’re alone

Immediately his phone rang. “Hey, babe.” And all of Steve’s worries and fears melted with the warm tone of his boyfriend’s voice.

“Eddie,” Steve murmured and just let everything out instead of bottling it up inside.

Eddie listened through it all. Just humming and agreeing where needed. Finally Steve told him what Vickie had said to do and how grateful he was to have someone who knew this kind of thing. It was still all new to him.

“That is a really good idea, sweetheart,” he agreed once Steve had finished. “I’m known for being goofy and affectionate with all of my friends, so this will just be seen as an extension to that.”

“Yeah,” Steve said. “So how about we go out to lunch today to celebrate our new master plan?”

Eddie laughed. “Could do, sure.” He paused for a moment. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Steve paused for a moment to really think about it. The truth was that he probably wouldn’t be all right for a while. He was trying to adjust to the meteoric raise to fame and it wasn’t going well if he was honest.

“I think this whole fame racket is getting to my head,” he muttered. “I just feel like I’m slightly out of step so I just keep bumping up against things I thought I would move past, clear sailing. I’m feeling a bit bruised and battered.”

“I wish I could tell you gets better, but it really doesn’t, it’s just your edges get rounded off.”

Steve let out a long, hard sigh. “I suppose so. It still sucks, though.”

“It does that,” Eddie agreed. “I’m glad you called Vickie and me. I’m glad you’re reaching out for help when you need it. Because you really worried us, no one could get through to you. I don’t know what Shane said to you and I’m not going to ask. But I’m so grateful he knew what to say.”

“He told me I looked hot.”

Eddie burst out laughing. He just started and could not stop. Steve grinned into the phone. “If I knew that’s all it took I would have told you that, sweetheart.”

“It was a bit more than that,” Steve conceded. “But that was the gist of it. He just got me out of my head. He didn’t want me focusing on the fact people made it more than it was and instead focus on how hot it was from any angle.”

“I like that,” Eddie said softly. “I’ll meet you in an hour for lunch.”

“I’ll see you then,” Steve said.

Once he was off the phone, he flopped on his bed for a moment. He sat up and looked around. It was a nice hotel room. Not as nice as Corroded Coffin’s rooms. Mainly because it would be weird that a couple of EMTs, a couple of PAs and a roadie had such lavish rooms. But also because Steve liked it this way.

The home away from home of a sort. None of his Abbadon wardrobe was kept in his hotel rooms but he did sneak out a couple of pieces that he liked that didn’t really blow his cover, just a couple graphic t-shrts, a pair or two of white sneakers, and a white denim jacket.

He threw on the sneakers and denim jacket over a pair of fade blue jeans and Corroded Coffin t-shirt. Just to give the paparazzi the middle finger or two.

He gathered up all the things he needed and paused briefly in the hallway mirror. He grinned at the image.

If the media wanted something to talk about, Steve was going to give it to them, both barrels straight to the face.

~

They were getting ready for a press conference the way always do these days: Spence on the phone with Nadia, Simon panicking in the corner and Shane and Steve trying to get him to breathe and calm down. He has done this a dozen times before. He wasn’t Simon, the shy nerd who hid behind his guitar, he was Asmodeus. Super confident sex god.

Simon nodded shakily. They helped him get to his feet. He slowly got dressed into his persona and pulled the red mask over his features. Steve looked over at Spence and gave him the thumbs up.

Spence nodded and said goodbye to Nadia. Then he too got ready. The jet black clothes covering the built body of a former EMT. He put on the mask and pulled up his hood.

Then it was Shane’s turn. He moved quickly and easily. His persona an easier fit than Simon’s or Spence��s. He was all over the place in his day to day life, but as Astraeus, he was grounded, more centered.

Then they all turned to Steve. Their leader and best friend. Their older brother, even though they were all super close in age. The man with the vision. The reason they were all here, living their dream.

Steve loved to play with blurring the gender lines with Abbadon. He painted his nails, wore bodices and corsets, high heels and even skirts. Like today. He was wearing a short pleated tennis skirt with knee high boots and a sheer long-sleeved crop top. He wore a short leather jacket reminiscent of Asmodeus’s stage jacket. He pulled on the mask and then carefully applied pink lipstick.

Then as if on cue, Hopper knocked on the door. Steve nodded to Spence, who walked over and knocked back.

They were ready.

~

“What do you make of Corroded Coffin leading the charge in changing the culture surrounding what a metal band should look like?” one journalist asked.

Abbadon and Asmodeus shared a smirk.

Asmodeus leaned forward to the mic. “We think it’s a healthy thing. I think country should do the same. You shouldn’t have to wear denim with tassels on it and cowboy boots to sing country and you shouldn’t have to wear leather and chains to perform metal.”

“You’ve spoken about how you were booed off stage early in your career for not looking metal enough,” another reporter asked, “what were you like before the getup?” He waved his hands over his face.

Abbadon decided he hated this guy. “Not this. Our past is our past and we’re going to leave it there. We’re here to talk about the future of the band not its past.”

The questions turned to their music and the tour then the smart ass asked another question.

“Is there a reason Abaddon is spelled incorrectly?” the guy asked with a smirk.

Abbadon stared at him blankly.

“You spell it with two Bs when its correct spelling is with two Ds,” the asshole explained like Abbadon was stupid.

“No, no,” Abbadon said flippantly. “I got that. I’m just wondering why you thought it was a question you should ask.”

The asshole’s smirk grew like he knew he had won. “I was just curious and I’m sure other people are as well.”

Abbadon drew his tongue over his lips slowly, his eyes narrowing at the man through the mask, as he thought about how to answer that.

“An error in the printing of the first fliers we ever made for the band,” he said coldly, “and no one noticed it until our second album and by then it was already set in stone.”

The guy squirmed in his seat as Abbadon continued to glare at him. He stopped taking other questions with a finger upraised.

“I want him out of here.”

And before the guy could protest, he was being hauled out by security where he was greeted by Vickie.

The rest of the press conference went off without a hitch.

The headlines the following day made a mockery of the guy. Apparently he was a shock jock radio star who had a podcast where he talked about conspiracies and aliens and was a general ass about everyone who he didn’t agree with.

No one was even sure how he got in in the first place. But Vickie swore that he wouldn’t again. She made sure that his comments were pushed into obscurity and the fringe side of the internet where he belonged.

~

Part 23 Part 24 Part 25

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence

3- @goodolefashionedloverboi @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @irregular-child @blondie1006

4- @yikes-a-bee @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten

5- @genderless-spoon @y4r3luv @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt

6- @disrespectedgoatman @eyehartart @dawners @thespaceantwhowrites @tinyplanet95

7- @iamthehybrid @croatoan-like-its-hot @papergrenade @cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars

8- @ravenfrog @w1ll0wtr33 @child-of-cthulhu @kultiras @dreamercec

9- @machete-inventory-manager @useless-nb-bisexual @stripey82 @dotdot-wierdlife @kal-ology

10- @sadisticaltarts @urkadop @chameleonhair @clockworkballerina @garden-of-gay

[vlassk]

KEEPER

P2

After learning of Stanleys past with Ford y/n decided she wouldn't be getting close to the twin. But I find it difficult as Ford is just so damn cute

Warning: age gap, angst, sorta 18+ MDNI Swearing. Pervy Ford(lmk if i missed any) not proof read as i no no wanna

You only ever have a few days off. This day was slow and calm as you sat in the shop with the Pines family. You were reading a book when the door slammed open. Ford stood in the doorway with an octopus looking creature around his arm

"Why bring it in here?" You get up as the kids do as well. Ford punches it, and it escapes scurrying around the floor.

"KILL IT KILL IT!!" Stan stands screams, hitting it with his newspaper. Ford runs through jumping across tables. The kids run over in excitement. You watch as hr corners yhe creature. Stunning it and capturing it.

Dipper runs up to him excited and asks if he could help. Ford happily turns him down, yelling him to call for dinner

"Have Y/n help!" Mable exclaims happily, pushing you towards the man.

"What, why me? I dont want to work with this grump. " You cross your arms, the child still trying to push you in. You look down as she smiles up at you.

"Hmm...that wouldnt be too bad, i heard from Stan that you are quite smart. It would be nice having a helping hand who might be able to handle everything. " Ford puts his hand to his chin, thinking on the proposition

"W-what? She doesn't even want to help cmon Please, i already know what the creature is!"

"It's far too dangerous for you, Dipper..y/n i know you dont like me, but what do you say?" Ford smiles excited at the thought of working with you.

Looking to stan you see him give a small nod. He stands up, walking towards you. Leaning in to wisper in your ear

"Dont get too close, okay kid..he's dangerous." You smile and pat his shoulder. You look at Ford and frown.

"Ok, fine, I'll help... but really, you BETTER call me for dinner, okay dip! Stan said he's going to make us a special dinner for Fords return..."

"Haha, Stanley Cooks?"

"Uh duh? He's a great cook. Well, when he does make food, he's great. " You laugh as you both go back into the basement. You close the door behind you, the smell of that creature filling the air

"Gosh, you couldn't have done a better job keeping that contained?" You plug your nose disgusted

"Why do you like it?" Ford chuckles at his own low joke. You make a gaging noise as you both reach the bottom of the stairs. Ford putting it away.

"So Stan told you about me, huh?" You sigh as you lean against a table

"Hmm? Oh yes, he seems very protective over you"

"Yeah. He's great. " You smile at yourself. Appreciating everything Stans done for you

You look around the small controll room. Not really knowing what you should do at all.

"...soo what got you into the paranormal and weird..." Ford tries making awkward conversation. Something you weren't here for.

"That's none of your concern." You continue to stare at the wall. Again, I do not know why you agreed to go here.

" What do you need my help with?" You sigh, sitting up again.

Ford looks around, looking for something for you to do. Then he stops.

"Well, i know you're smart, but i don't know how smart or what you can do..." he smirks and watches as you roll your eyes.

"You know that moving sas-quach?"

"Yeah"

"I made it. At first, it was just a costume with some fluff. But i made the code and the structure to make the animotronic. I also made the warmer and the vibrations in Stans favorite chair. I've made a lot of the improvements here. i do love puzzles and decoding things.." You talk more on your degree

"Improvements, huh..." Ford looks around the dusty old basement. Things broken and wires poking out

"So... could you fix those for me? While i work"

"I guess..." You sigh as you just dumped your whole college career, and he only focuses on how you fix things. Bending down to look for all the broken wires and technology, you dont see that Ford is staring at you. His eyes roam over your bent over the body. He feels his face heat up, so he turns away. Continuing to work.

After an hour of working, you sigh and lean back against one of the machines. Watching as the old man works. You sigh, hot from the work. You watch as Ford pushes his hair back. A frustrated look on his face as he continues to write. Standing up and walking towards the man, you lean forward, your chest touching his back. You feel him jump under you. A small laugh escapes your lips.

"You're doing that wrong.." You point to the top of the page "see thats supposed to be this number here.. gosh, you're supposed to be this smart guy, but mess up on something so simple"

"I-i never even noticed... and im still the Smart guy. One mistake doesn't disqualify me. " he fixes his mistake and smiles at the equation that now makes sense.

"You distracted or something, or are you just getting old?"

Ford scoffs. You stand up straight again, beginning to walk away. He turns to look at you. Annoyed at your attitude

"Why- Gosh, why can't we just get along?" He looks up at you

"You know why" You begin yo walk away. Not wanting to talk.

"No, i really dont. I've explained my whole backstory to you, and stan did as well, yet im the bad guy?"

"Yes, you are"

"You know wha-"

"What?"

"Gah! You're such a brat you think you know the whole story, but you dont. You dont know me!" Ford stands up, walking towards you angerly.

"I don't have to know you to know that Stan would cry at the thought of you. The fact that it eats him that he caused you to fly into that protal and it ate him every day after! Do you think i didn't know the whole story before you came along Stanford? All that changed was the names for me. " You push the man," he stumbles back.

" And you trusted that ass hole Bill?! Let him use you. Gosh, men really are something he was always out to get you. You refused to explain to stan got kicked into a multi dimensional portal, and when He brings you back, you punch him!" You push him more a bit harder.

Ford stumbles back more, having enough he grabs onto you and turns you around, pinning your arms behind your back like he did to stan

" He ruined my life, okay? MY life, he ruined my project. Costed me my whole life, you wouldn't know because you got into that damn school!" Ford shakes you slightly, not realizing his violence or the position he put you in.

" You still got everything you wanted, no? You still got all your PHDs and to study in this stupid town!" You struggle beneath him, trying to have him let go. You accidentally grind against him without thinking or realizing it. Ford lets you go, stumbling back to lean on another machine. You turn around, getting ready to punch the man when he catches your fist, his face getting darker shades of red by the second

"I'm...im sorry..."he tries to think of anything to change subject."You're right. i-i got everything i ever dreamed... i couldn't even let you correct my work"

Your arm goes limp. You drop your hand and watch as Ford coveres his face

"I'm sorry for well, putting you in that position... for everything. " Ford drops his head, his face still hiden. His attempt to hide his red face, praying you don't look down.

You sigh, turning around. You shake your head, not knowing what to say. You turn back to see Ford, his face still covered. Your eyes move down, his red sweater covered him. Your eyes moved lower. Your body is still turned around, and you see his pants, a small tent was forming. You look away quickly, your own face red

" Stanford, i-...Hahahaaa listen, it's okay, i can't promise we will be besties after all this, but i definitely feel better about ya." You remember the position you were in. It was fine when you were angry he just apprehended you, but now you're thinking about how it would be if it wasn't angry... you laugh hysterically.

"Really..? Just like that. "

"Yup! But you should apologize to stan" you try changing the subject.

"Absolutely not.."

"Ford!" You finally turn around seeing him finally

"No listen, I'll admit it to you, but not him okay, leave it at that kid," he uncoveres his face. Now recovered. He sighs in relief that you didn't see his problem.

" Kid? Im not a kid. You're just old. " You poke his chest. Turning to look at his work table

" You litt-" Before he could finish, Dipper fell through the ceiling. Knocking over the octopus looking creature.

You look as the kid crawls by the creature and to his book

"Dipper, stop!"

" Great, Uncle Ford!"

"Did you just fall through the cieling..." You look up at the hole

"What did i say about coming down here"

"My work is far too dangerous for a single living soul to spend even one second-"

"Am i dead now or..." You sigh being ignored still. You see how stern Ford got. You feel slight attraction to him.

"Wait, is that a 38-sided die from dungeons dungeons and more dungeons?!"

"Yeah! Y-you know that game?!"

" with pen and paper shield and sword... " Ford starts

"Our quest shall be our sweet reward!" The two shout in unison. They laugh softly together. You laugh at their repeat of the quote, finding it cute. You think back at the potition you were in before. You felt your face blush.

"This is my favorite game in the whole multi-verse. I can't believe they still make it"

"They do, and I've been looking all day for someone to play with me"

You watch the Two talk as the octopus slowly slithers away. You rise a leg in disgust as you avoid its path. You see Ford bend down. Holding the book excitedly. The creature jumps onto his face, and Ford pulls it off, still happy as ever.

"Y/n, do you want to play with us!" Dipper turns to you. His excited face warms your heart

"I haven't played since college... so i might be rusty, but sure, I'll play"

"Awesome!!" Dipper runs upstairs.

Ford turns around to look at you. A confused look on his face

"You play Dd&Md?"

"Yeah, duh, it's been a while, but i liked it. I just got busy. " You toy with your hair looking away

"I know how that is, i used to have a campaign of my own in college," Father puts away the octopus, placing it on top of a shelf.

"Ya know, Ford, it was kinda hot seeing you all stern." You laugh as you start walking upstairs. Ford is left a stuttering mess, trying to compose himself before he walks upstairs.

You go to your room to grab your old things. A small box contains a small bag with your die. The rest of the items is a small journal with your notes on your character. You head downstairs telling Stan about the game you three are about to play. He gets a bit angry. You go to the basement and see Dipper and Ford already sitting down. As the game starts, Ford gets into character, fluttering his eyelashes, and the dipper gets the first roll, as you both tell Ford about the change in art styles during the 90s.

"Great-uncle Ford, I've been meaning to ask you: where were you before you came out of that machine, and what have you been doing down here? Are you working on something behind that curtain?" Dipper points to the curtain behind Ford.

"Dipper, it's best if you and the family stay away from that subject. Honestly, I'm not sure any of you could handle the real answer." Ford says, setting up straight.

"But, but I can handle it"

"Dipper, just respect it, okay? i dont know either. " You pat the boys back.

"Ah-ah! But I can show you a little something I brought back with me, an infinity-sided die"

"Woah... that's so cool. And... impossible!" Dipper gets excited again.

"What even..." You lean back against the machines

You both listen to Fords explanation. A worry washes over your face. As Ford plays like nothing was talked about. Hours later, the session ends. Mable gets you for dinner, and you all head up. Finding stan cooking.

"How was the nerd game, ya nerds hahaha"

"It was fine, grunkle stan." dipper sits down

"No, really, it was. You would never play with me, so im glad Ford and Dipper invited me"

"Ya know, im starting to remember you asking me to play with you some years ago..." stan pushes you out of the kitchen, getting plates for you and the kids

"Thank you stan"

"Anything for you, chump." stan sits down, patting mable and dipper on the head as he passes you.

Ford inspects the food and takes a bite. I was surprised at how good it tastes.

Stan watches him eat the food. Pleased by the reaction.

"So how was working in the basement with my brother y/n"

"It was fine. He made me fix some of the old wiring. Some of the machines should be running better now, ford, " you say in-between bites

"Good, see chump, i told ya. Working here wouldn't ignore your talents!" Stan laughed. You just smiled and looked at your food.

"Ya know if you'd like, i could probably need more help. Im sure you have lots more to offer besides mechanical help. Why dont you work with me? still helping stan out, though."

"What, you can't steal, my girl!"

"Well, look at it this way. She's still staying here, and you said to yourself that working here would be a great opportunity. Well, now that opportunity is expanding, and she will get to show off her skills"

"But it's dangerous. Geez Ford, i told you to stay away"

"Listen, im all for taking cautions with the kids, but Y/n is grown and could actually be very helpful to me and my research." Ford places his hands on the table.

"I could help too! I've read all of your journals!" Dipper yaps about mable just laughs at his needyness

"Absolutely not." they both day in unison.

"Actually Stan i wouldn't mind so much. I still dont really like him, but i might get to do something with my degrees. " You finish up your good, watching as stan scratches the back of his head. You stand up and take everyones plates. Washing them when you see stan walk in with Ford.

"Let me help, kid," stan lends you, a hand putting away the dishes as you wash and rinse. He huffs and complains, like he didn't offer to help

"I'm no kid, Old Stan..." You smile scrubbing off any sauce.

"I know...its just, ive known you for a bit now and you've treated me so well, last thing i eant to do is have you get hurt from me not protecting you. Especially from him.." he looks behind him, seeing Ford look through all the spices.

"Yeah, i do appreciate you, but you aren't my dad, and that's okay!" You see the sadness when you say it. Regretting the words

"Stanley. You're my best friend! I'm glad you aren't my dad because you dont have to deal with the hard daughter responsibilities. Ya know, if i ever get married, it'll be SUPER expensive, and you dont want this bill. " You nudge him, making the old man laugh.

"Yeah, i guess that's true," Stan laughs.

"Sooo true. And! If you were my dad there would be awful expections, like Y/n why dont you go back to doing your original plan, y/n dont poke that gnome, y/n stop stealing snacks from the shop. Ya know?"

"You what!?" Stan looks over to you

"Haha, seeeee," you throw some bubbles at him. He sighs. Cleaning off his glasses.

"Do you want to work with him?"

"Yeah, why not? Maybe I'll learn more about you guys as kids?"

"Haha, i hope not, i know im not your dad, and it's hard not to make the connection after so long. But fine, we are best friends, and I'd never do anything to stop that. Now get ready for bed you've got work tomorrow!" You both finish up, you rushing upstairs to get ready for bed.

Stanley turns around, looking at his brother, who's toying with different items.

"Let's sleep, you nerd," stan pats his shoulder as he walks away.

You walk past the kids' room. Hearing them talk. Smiling as you go off to bed.

The next day you get up and gey ready. Seeing that your new boss is setting up DD&MD with dipper in the living room

"Hey y/n wanna play again?"

"What about work"

"This ... this is work?" Ford looks up at you

"Sure," you roll your eyes. Seeing Ford smile with excitement.

You run upstairs to grab your stuff, hurrying back down, and you start the campaign. Stan walking in annoyed at Ford, you see Mables disappointment about her movie. Stan walks over, trying to take pages off the Tv. Ford grabs his hand

"Move that and pay the price" ford tightens his grip

"Oh, what 50 magical dwaf dollars?" Stan snatches his arm, moving them around

"Dont mock our fantastical monetary system!"Ford yells, letting go of stan

"I'll mock all i want. it's my tv room"

"It's my house you- listen Stanley, did it ever accur to you that if you join us, you might actually have fun?" He holds up his dice bag.

Stan gets angry, throwing the dice bag on the floor. Opening the case for the infinity-sided die. Granting the characters to come to life. Ford tries to fight them off, but they grab you three and leave. It feels like the adventure took all day. Maybe it was because you were so small for so long.

Ford takes dipper to the basement to talk. You wait upstairs to be called on. After a couple minutes, you see dipper leave saying goodnight and going to his room. You head downstairs, seeing stan leaning against his desk.

"I didn't know you were going to work tonight"

"Work is work at any time." You laugh going towards Ford to look at his work. He blushes at your closness. Still embarrassed about the day before.

"Hey...so i have a question"

"What is it?"

"When Bill took over your body. Did others not know it, wasn't you?"

"No one really knew but my journal..."Ford laughs a bit

" He's gotten sloppy..." You press your finger to your chin.

"What do you mean"

"Well, when Dipper was possessed, i knew right away. Bill ran off, though, had to go on stage, and the kids wouldn't let me on. I was late, though, if only i had talked to Dipper sooner that day"

"Y-you could spot him?!"

"Well, duh, it's so obvious he's such a weirdo, i mean no offense, i read yall had a thing going on, but he was noooot it. Such a creep. " You squint your eyes,looking at the drawing of Bill.

"You read my journal?!" He covered his mouth quickly shutting his journal.

"Yeah, Dipper showed me..."

He takes the book and walks away towards his room. Shutting the door.

You run to the door, knocking on it

"Ford...what the hell we gatta work!"

"No work tonight im tired"

"What? No Ford!" You knock on the door again a bit harder. He opens the door. You accidentally knocked on his chest. You look up at him, his face is red, and his eyes dart anywhere but you.

"Ford, are you embarrassed of your lifes work"

He looks at you. Pushing you away from the door. He shuts the door, but you put your foot in the way before he can. A small ow escapes your lips as he opens the door again

"Y/n im so sorry!!" He watches as he holds your foot

"Why are you embarrassed..." you lean against the door frame, slowly putting your foot down.

"I-i dont know, but i am. Listen, im... im sorry for walking out, i dont know, " he rubs the back of his neck. You see the red on his face still. You lean against the door, putting your feet on the other side, locking him in his small room. That was just a small couch with some blankets.

"So, no work tonight?" You look over at Ford, who now moved, sit on hid bed. He leans back his arm, resting on the couch. You look away at the rest of the lab. All the glowing machines and the cloth cover the window. You focus on every detail.

Ford focuses on you. Taking in your form, your hair, the way you relax against the door. He knew he shouldn't feel the way he did about you. But it's been 30 years since he had any connection. 30 years of being by himself. He gets lost in his thoughts.

"Ford?...ford!" He snaps back, noticing you're gone. He turns to look around seeing you next to him.

"No... no work tonight. im tired.." Ford leans back again, closing his eyes, trying to block out the thoughts.

"Okay, Ford...and im sorry about calling you out on Bill. i know you did your best. That monster won't get to us anymore. " You get up to leave. He looks to you

"Goodnight...y/n"

"Goodnight Ford," you wave your hand and leave the basement.

[ohraicodoll]

i see a prompt request 👀 what about “stop trying to help me it’s just hurting you” with feral reader… maybe joel is the one helping her with the adjustment to settlement life in wyoming? or they’re out on a run and she gets hurt? anything tbh you decide

Yesssss I am all for this one. I had some downtime and managed to write this so fast. So have some angst and maybe some lore and both of them fighting lol

Left Behind Joel Miller x f!Reader/OFC The Last of Us 2.5k Words (3rd POV) (Lots of callbacks to Monsters but not necessary to read first. Feral Reader's name is used sparingly so yes, she's technically more an OFC as you get lore in this one) Summary: Settling into life in Jackson wasn't going so easily and Joel is hit with the possibility she may not be welcomed to stay.

“Joel, she’s trouble, man,” Tommy ran a hand through his hand exasperatedly, pacing the hard packed ground in front of both their homes, “I know shit was rough out there. Hell, the three of you were practically hissing at everyone when you came through that first time, but it’s been a couple months. She’s scaring half the town and you’re scaring the other half acting like her goddamn guard dog.”

The older Miller brother clenched his jaw, hands on his hips and trying not to show how much his split open knuckles smarted, “I wouldn’t have to if those assholes would stop treating her like a fucking pariah or giving her shit every time she tries to stand up for herself.” “You have got to admit it’s not exactly like she’s giving them much reason not to act that way,” Tommy sighed and spread his hands pleadingly, “She threatened to stab Johnny at the lumberyard through his hand for looking at her weird, not to mention I’ve already had to take her off patrol duty with anyone but you after she beat Grant-” “That boy learned the hard way to keep his hands to himself,” Joel cut him off.

Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head, before glancing back at his house where his very pregnant wife currently was, “Brother, I can’t have her acting this way. I get it’s not perfect here, but we can’t have trouble like this. Maria…she’s already considering that if Red doesn't get her shit together she may not be welcome to stay.” Silence fell between the two, boiling and tense. He didn’t have to even look up to know the look on his older brother’s face at his words, could feel it as if flames were on his skin. It was like lighting a match around gasoline, waiting for the whole thing to ignite. He knew that as much as his brother cared about the young girl in his charge, he also cared about the woman that came along with them. And when Joel Miller cared about something, he’d go through hell for them. “That’s not gonna happen,” Joel bit out harshly, snarling. His irises had darkened to almost black, the hints of hazel swallowed almost entirely. His body was tight, a wire begging to snap. But the younger of the two could only shake his head, feeling lost and unable to comprehend what to do. Torn between the home he had helped create and protect, his wife who had the weight of the community on her shoulders while preparing to give birth to his first kid, and his brother’s protectiveness over the rough woman currently inside the house. “Just get it sorted. Talk to her. My hands are tied, I can only do so much,” Tommy sighed, turning and heading back across the lot to his own home and life. Joel didn’t watch him leave. His eyes were trained on the ground, blood roaring in his ears as he replayed the words over and over again. They were considering kicking Red out. He’d dragged her all over the country, to Wyoming then Colorado and Salt Lake and back to Jackson, forcing her to settle down only for her to get kicked out. He knew she was having a hard time. She’d never stayed in a QZ, had stayed out in the world too long alone or with the wrong people and didn’t know how to deal with a community like this. Normal people who didn’t have to tear each other apart for scraps. While he and Ellie didn’t have the smoothest transition and were still rough around the edges, they’d managed while the woman had hit wall after wall. She was defensive, quick to react and bare her teeth. It was fine out beyond the gates but inside Jackson where everyone was trying to find a new normal it had caused issues. One of the steel workers was Grant’s brother and hadn’t taken kindly to her beating the shit out of him. He had refused to give her some parts they needed for the house and then called her a bitch when she’d slapped his payment down and went to snatch the items. But he hadn’t registered Joel around the corner listening and before they all knew it his fist was flying into the man’s face. He’d have done more if Tommy hadn’t broken them up. But his brother was right and she did have a reputation, had scared a lot more than half the town. He’d seen the way mothers had pulled their kids away or the looks some of the guardsmen gave her. Ellie had told off more than a few, shouting across the plaza when she’d catch it, defensive. He’d watched Red shrink in the settlement, only fully confident like she usually was outside of Jackson. He’d figure it out. He had to. 

With a deep sigh, he turned and went inside. Ellie had been sent to take care of the errands and get the groceries they both knew Red wouldn’t be able to get. The teenager was understanding and was doing the best she could to help, keeping any complaints to herself or to him when they were alone to not burden the woman. She was as protective of her as he was of both of them. The house was quiet. It was all something he was still getting used to. Having a house again, a home where he didn’t have to worry about getting attacked or FEDRA raids, no more furniture salvaged from garbage dumps and pipes that rattled without a drop of hot water. Jackson made it easy to get comfortable, to feel like it was before the world was ravaged. Easy for him at least. He paused and waited a moment, hearing the almost imperceptible sound of breathing on his good side before he rounded the kitchen counter and looked down. Red sat on the tiled floor, knees pulled up to her chest, head resting back against the cabinet doors. Her face was blank but he’d learned to read the small hints of thoughts on her face. Lips pressed tight, eyes focusing on her nails even as he hovered. She’d heard. He knew she had. “Should I start packing my bag now or wait for Maria to give me the word?” she chewed on her lip, feigning nonchalance. “Neither. You ain’t going nowhere,” Joel bit out with a furrowed brow. She laughed humorlessly, mouth turning into a grimace, “That’s not up to you, Tex.” Those eyes looked up finally, met his, and he could see the resignation there. This wasn’t something she was going to fight if they made her leave. She’d do it and he knew why, knew it was for them, but refused to accept it. “Like hell it ain’t.” “Stop,” abruptly getting to her feet, she hissed at him, “Just stop it. Stop trying to help me. It’s only hurting you and Ellie. You have actual family here, Joel. Flesh and blood family. You could murder someone and they’d still keep you here and Ellie as well, but I’m a liability. To you, to her, to all of them. I get it.” “I don’t give a fuck if you get it, Red,” Joel was angry, getting into her face, “They’re not kicking you out. End of conversation.” “Not end of fucking conversation,” she growled, “I’m not risking yours and Ellie’s only chance at a safe, stable life. If that means I go back out there then so be it.”

“God, you’re so fuckin’ stubborn sometimes,” he all but yelled through his teeth. A laugh tore from her, sharp and loud, her brow raised, “Oh that’s hilarious coming from you.” He wanted to beat his fist through the fucking wall, pick up a glass and shatter it if only to release some of the frustration dealing with her gave him. That damn martyrdom that he hadn’t ever been able to get rid of, scream out of her no matter how many times he told her to stop it. She was so willing to throw herself away for his or Ellie’s sake as if what happened to her didn’t matter and it drove him insane every single time. “You better quit that shit,” Joel ground out between clenched teeth, “That stupid fucking selfless bullshit. For what? As punishment because you lost some people? That…fucking Harry you were with?” He hadn’t ever brought up the name she had mentioned once because he knew what it was like for someone to bring up the past. She hadn’t offered much of her background and he never asked, but there had been small moments. That name had stuck in his brain though, like the little stars tattooed on her collarbone and the “love ya” on her skin in someone else’s handwriting. 

The silence following his words were deafening, all emotion wiped off her face. It was as if someone had scrubbed away anything that made her a person, human, in seconds. 

Then something darker took over and twisted and she smiled, a showing of teeth, and eyes so hollow they seemed like caverns, “Is that what you think? That I’m punishing myself over some boyfriend that died when the world fell apart as if most of the fucking population didn’t also die too? That I’m what? A sad little heartbroken girl pining over some lost love?” A laugh left her lips and it felt like poison, dripping venom. He clenched his fist, anger burning hot, but he knew better than to say anything or approach her when she was like this. Dangerous. Sometimes she was so dangerous he wondered how he had ever thought it was safe to turn his back on her. “That’s real sweet, Tex…I shot him, you know?” she laughed again, not a bit of humor on her face, “Not because he was infected. No. He wasn’t even bit, didn’t have a scratch on him. He was fully alive and healthy before I blew his face right off.” She’d mentioned the man’s name long ago on the road when they’d gotten drunk out. It had slipped out of her covered in pain and regret, Harry and her younger sister, how she'd been barely starting her life when the apocalypse hit. A singer. Ellie had mentioned she had been trying to be a singer and he’d always pictured a bright eyed girl unprepared for what was to come. He had wondered if that death had been what had broken her, guttered her and tore out her soul to the point she lived on instinct only, how that girl had become the hissing creature before him. Now he wasn’t so sure.

Stepping closer to him, he resisted the urge to back away, to show that he was like the rest of them and scared of her too. She almost smiled wider and he knew she was expecting him to, a test almost, “You see we were on a run. Harry, me, and Annie. Spooked some runners so we booked it out of the building because back then I wasn’t much of a fighter, hadn’t learned yet. So I trusted him to keep us safe. Yet, lo and behold, when we get through the front door and I turn around, I see him.” Her words were made of broken glass that cut her apart and made her mouth bleed, devastation and rage coating each one but he didn’t move or try to comfort her lest he got cut too, “Harry had shoved my sister behind so he could get through first then shut the door in her face. I watched them through the glass tear her apart, screaming my name, because I had trusted him to have her back. Instead he got her killed. So I killed him.”

There was no smile then.  He remembers how they met. Ellie had fallen behind while running from scavengers because he hadn’t put her in front of him. It had been Red who had saved her and like a missing puzzle piece, he could see the picture come together. Knowing her now and how it wasn’t normal for her to go out of her way to help strangers, but she’d helped them.

Because Annie had fallen behind once before and she couldn’t save her. Blamed herself for her death.

“It was my fault and I’ll be damned if I ruin both of your chances at staying here where you are safer. Not because of me,” the snarl had left her face, hackles dropping until just the woman was left. Exhausted and a little sad and lost. It’d broken her, he knew that. In the same way Sarah’s death had left him a shell. But he’d kept going for Tommy, Tess, and eventually Ellie.

She hadn’t had anyone until them and now she thought she was putting them at risk.

Joel frowned and stepped forward, their chests almost pressed together, before cupping her face between his hands. His knuckles were bruised and bloody still, but neither of them cared, had never cared about getting blood on the other, “I hate to break it to you, darlin’, but if you think after that I’d still let you go then you’re wrong. I learned my lesson last time we were in Jackson. We stick together. No one’s getting left behind.”

Her eyes squeezed shut, a broken sigh leaving her lips. Her hands came up and gripped his waist, fingers wrapping around his belt tightly like he was a lifeline. Resignation wrapped her entirely in its embrace and he knew the fight had gone out of her, “I…I don’t know how to be around these people. There’s too many of them and they all stare…I’m going to mess up.”

The admission brought a slight smile to his lips, a crack in the defense she had attempted to put between them and a sign that she was giving in, “Well I think as long as you don’t try to maul or kill anyone and maybe limit to punching one or two people a month, that’ll be good enough.”

She huffed exasperatedly, head falling forward and leaning against his chest. His thumb traced her cheek, the other combing through the tangled mess that was her hair. For all she used to gripe at Ellie for taking care of her own, she wasn’t much better. But the strands were still soft and he took advantage of it when he could, feeling her relax against him.

“I’ll talk to Tommy and Maria. You just give yourself time to adjust and try,” Joel murmured, “We’ll figure it out, but you’re not going anywhere.” She nodded against him and at last wrapped her arms fully around his body, sinking into him while he held her tightly back. They both stayed there for a while, arms tight, standing in the middle of the kitchen.

Joel would pull every string, get every ounce of leverage he could get to ensure she stayed. No one was going to take her away from them.

[wolfjackle-creates]

Behind the Fortress Walls Chapter 4

We've finally got chapter 4 of my bang fic out! Only one more to go, holy shit.

Fic Summary:

Jazz is in love with Dick. He’s kind, considerate, and caring. Far and away the nicest person she’s ever dated. But she’s lying to him. About so, so much. And he’ll hate her once he learns the truth. Assuming he doesn't get tired of her canceling all their dates first. When Danny and Ellie go missing, the latest in a series of ghostly disappearances, she's forced to cancel another date. Going to Elmerton to meet up with Tucker and Sam, she will get Danny and Ellie back from the GIW no matter what it takes. Only...they aren't the only ones breaking in.

Chapter word count: 8.1k

There's an entire comic included with this chapter. Or you can find it on tumblr here.

The scene from the comic:

-----

The hallway ended in a thick metal door that had both electric and manual locks. Before Dick could even offer to take care of it, Tucker shrugged off his own backpack and pulled out a tool kit. Within moments, he had the casing off the keypad and was plugging his own PDA into the system.

Starfire hovered over his shoulder, looking down. “What is the purpose of the device you are using?”

Jazz could hear the smile in Tucker’s voice as he caressed his PDA. “Bethany here is my pride and joy, my child. She’s capable of anything.”

Sam snorted. “It’s a PDA. Not our kid, T— Pharaoh.”

Tucker made hushing noises and clutched Bethany to his chest. “Shhh, you didn’t hear that. Mommy loves you.”

“Just get the door open,” sighed Sam.

“Not until you apologize to our daughter!”

Sam took a deep breath to respond, but Danny interrupted before she could. “Just do it, Regrowth. Pharaoh and I put a lot of work into Bethany.”

Sam’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Bethany. I love you very much.”

Starfire grinned. “The machine is alive? It is nice to meet you, Bethany!”

Next to her, Jazz felt Dick shake with barely suppressed laughter. When she looked out of the corner of her eyes, she could tell he was biting back a smile.

Sam sighed. “She’s not alive. But Pharaoh and Phantom have been developing and upgrading her over the last several years. They’ve custom built half her parts and replaced the other half.”

Dick hummed in interest. “It looks like an old PDA case. Why didn’t you go for something more modern?”

For the first time that night, Danny grinned at Dick and Jazz felt something inside her relax. “PDAs were what we could afford as teenagers without real jobs. Plus they have bigger casings than modern smart phones; more room to fit more hardware. Beth’s battery lasts weeks.”

Starfire laughed. “Cyborg wishes to know if you would agree to the sharing of specs.”

Tucker practically squeaked at the question and Jazz bit back her own laugh. “Uh, yeah. Sure. Absolutely. He really wants to see?”

“Pharaoh,” said Dick, “if you allow it, he wants to spend at least a week with you figuring out how the tech these guys use works.”

Tucker looked down at Bethany and began typing. “I mean, sure. I’d love to. But if that’s what he wants, D would really be better. He’s the hardware guy, I’m the software guy.”

A moment later, the keypad beeped and they heard a click.

“All right, electronic locks are open. Nightwing, mind getting the rest of them?”

Dick grinned as he sauntered up to the door and pulled out his lock picks again. This door took longer than the first, but even so, it was open in just a minute or two. Dick bowed as he pulled the door open and gestured them through.

He revealed a fairly small room, in the center of which sat what looked like a large boiler with a monitor affixed to it. The glowing green wires spread out of the machine and disappeared into the walls, ceiling, and floor.

-----

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

[xjulixred45x]

heyyyyyyy!! so i saw that your reqs were open and thought id throw one in since YK- LOVE UR WORK!

and ik ive been requesting this kind of thing only (if u dont wanna do it for this reason, i understand!!) but- Could I please have a Yanplatonic Mephisto/Lucifer/Amaimon x Reader?

This time could you maybe do it with Reader being human, An exwire and completely unrelated to them at all. They hate demons with a passion, But somehow these mfs suddenly decide "yep, new sibling" and surprise adopt kidnap her?

Thanks for considering!! Love your work, Make sure to take breaks if tired!

-TML

YES!!!working on this kind of this is what make Requests so fun!Amaimon will be kind of funny to write🤣 thanks for the Request ❤️

PD: for some reason i imagine this Reader has some Shinobu personality? It's hinch.

Platonic Yandere Mephisto Pheles,Lucifer and Amaimon x Ex-wire! Reader

Genre: Headcanons

Reader: female

Warnings: YANDERE BEHAVIOR, PLATONIC YANDERE, OBSESIVE BEHAVIOR, MENTIONS OF BREAKING READER, FORCED FAMILITY, the three of them TOGHETHER on the title is NOT enough warning?? Illuminati, Amaimon is Mean sometimes--

SPOILERS FROM THE MANGA!!!

As said above, (reader) has a very complicated past with demons, to the point of hating them.

It can honestly be anything, whether your family has been affected by the blue night, by District 13 or simply that your parents have been exorcists who have died in the line of duty.

In any case, (reader) ended up developing a great hatred towards these creatures and decided that she would become an exorcist, in order to get out all that pent-up rage.

In general, I imagine this (reader) as a quite aggressive person and has trouble opening up, so she gets her emotions out through outbursts of anger.

but at the same time he is very intelligent, he uses his environment to his advantage and knows how to take advantage of his resources.

He has what we call "street smarts"

I have no idea who would be the one to take care of (reader) during her training before being Ex-wire, although with her personality, she would run away from any caregiver she had.

(I think the only exception would be Angel because 1- he is strong like that and 2- they share a similar hatred towards demons).

(reader) manages to enter the Ex-wire class, and stands out both for better... and for worse.

First of all, her classmates have a difficult time trying to talk to her (even Shiemi) precisely because of her closed attitude, in addition to the fact that she has constant friction with Izumo and even with Bon.

and most importantly she feels something strange with Rin...

(reader) doesn't know what it is, but she already hates it.

The only one safe from his outbursts is practically Konekomaru (and the weird kid with the puppets, whatever his name is).

It is because of this very fuss that it causes that it ends up attracting the wrong attention.

Mephisto is the first to have interest in (reader)

Not from the beginning as such, no no, although Mephisto had noticed her completely wild attitude compared to her companions (which he found hilarious to say the least) I think it would not be the trigger for him to become interested in (female reader).

I think it's only until (the reader) gets to share her experience, her horrible past with demons, the pure, burning HATE she has for them, that Mephisto finds her very interesting.

Oh humans, so diverse and with many facets~

but Mephisto definitely liked how open she (reader) was in her hatred, that she wasn't looking for moral supremacy or anything like that, she just wanted blood and she loves that!

so he tries to approach in a very unsubtle way and see more of that side knowing how much she hates demons.

appearing out of nowhere in the hallways to scare her and make her curse him, appearing in his dog form in her room to parasite (and then being kicked out) and a long etc.

In this way he not only became involved in the life of (the reader) but also learned more about her in the process, giving emphasis to the growing obsession.

Mephisto wants to know more about this "problematic" student who has caught his interest, whether it is having her academic record or all the information he has and whatever he has, he is not satisfied until he has it all.

It's almost as if I had replaced reading manga with the history of (reader)😅🤣

In this way, now every time he ran into (the reader), Mephisto made jokes and pranks that were increasingly more personal, more intimate.

and that is very scary.

apart from the fact that he behaves in a more... sticky way with (reader).

and that is VERY obvious.

He greets you with a HUG or a pat on the head (no, he doesn't care if you bite him or try to hit him).

and he is even the first to ask (reader) to call him "Oni-chan"

(how fucking disgusting--)

Mephisto is like the older brother who constantly bothers you.

and it is very difficult to get out of its grip.

Do you try to go outside the bedrooms? appears in the form of a dog.

Do you try to go for a walk around campus? appears randomly. It is impossible to surprise him.

But he does have something like an agent that helps him keep (the reader) in line.

That's when Amaimon comes in.

Honestly, he wouldn't be interested in (reader) at first, even though his older brother seemed to have an interest in her.

So, when he told him to keep an eye on her, he didn't think much of it other than it was a nuisance.

While Amaimon finds the task of "taking care of (reader)" annoying, he can't really do much against his brother. Although I think that to have fun from time to time he would make some things happen to (reader) just to make her angry. Like trowing insects at her or even leaving Creepy ass things in her locker.

It's boring for him, better than being a hamster, but extremely boring, so he starts picking on her.

She clearly sees him and curses him every time she sees him about to do something "mischievous" to her or when she hears him commenting on how "weak she is" in training. He thinks it's funny to see her all grumbling.

although eventually it becomes more than that.

Amaimon seems quite carefree, but as time goes by, he takes his "task" of "protecting" (reader) more seriously.

After all, being so weak, who else could take care of her?

He is one of the first to kill for the "well-being" of (reader).

I mean, he can do it as long as it's not one of the Okumura brothers, let him have some fun.

at the same time that he begins to want to have more interaction with (reader) beyond making her angry.

fight, for example.

After all, there must be something about her that caught her older brother's attention. Maybe she has something that he doesn't realize?

although without knowing it he is only falling into the same obsessive trap as his brother.

Once Amaimon becomes a student, rest assured that he will be glued to (reader) and insist that they fight, but she either tells him to fuck off every time or tries to escape from his grasp, without success.

It's like the meme of "fight me You nerd ass punk"🤣

Although don't get me wrong, I think he would be the most manageable of the three, even the "best" brother as far as possible.

(Bonus if you are a distant relative of Shiemihaza, maybe it would explain why Mephisto likes to mess with you so much, to screw with the Vatican)

He already understood that he can't make (the reader) fight with him by bothering her, so now he's simply trying to "figure out" what the hell he does to get there.

although at the same time, being as carefree as he is, he doesn't have so much problem giving (the reader) some time alone and can even distract Mephisto for a while so that she is less irritable.

Amaimon discovers that he actually likes it when (reader) talks and doesn't just grunt.

He's like that awkward brother but if you do him a favor he'll have your back, more or less.

Because he wants you to spend time with him.

It makes (the reader) at least watch him fight if she's not going to fight him.

I think Lowkey wants to show her how strong he is because well, Ego. but it is also a way to measure the strength of (reader) by her reactions. And intimation

although I doubt this (reader) will be intimidated.

He is definitely the first to suggest eliminating (reader's) entire family if she has one left :)

He's not really a fan of (reader) calling him a brother like Mephisto, but he demands the respect of an older brother and at some point he won't let (reader) walk all over him.

Mephisto and him argue about whether it's a good idea to let him (reader) fight him or not, precisely because Mephisto doesn't want him to get hurt.

and Amaimon WANTS to understand what made him become so attached to her. Maybe by fighting he will understand.

NOW, THE MAIN COURSE.

LUCIFER

(reader) at first would only know him from certain mentions of Amaimon that came to nothing, but when the Illuminati's declaration of war occurs or in any case something related to section 13, she understands everything...

There's a small chance that Shima told the Illuminati about (reader) seeing how "close" she was to Mephisto, which would make Lucifer interested.

Why are his brothers so interested in a completely human student who isn't even related to them?

(reader: same man, same)

So naturally he makes them investigate (reader) to understand why out of nowhere his brothers seem so attached to a simple human.

Who knows, maybe it will serve the Illuminati in some way.

(ignoring the hypothetical case of being a descendant of ShiemiHaza) when Lucifer does not find anything really relevant in his search, he is more doubtful than before, but he reasons, perhaps the human has some kind of ritual that only Mephisto knows about.

There HAS to be something that makes his brother like this.

For the same reason, if Lucifer tries to ask Mephisto directly, he becomes very defensive, telling him to stay away from the students and especially from (the reader).

which only gives him more motivation to want to know more about her.

so 1- seeing that she really doesn't want to be with Mephisto and Amaimon orders Shima to recruit her or 2- (more likely) he directly kidnaps her during the declaration of war on the true cross :)

Be that as it may, (reader) ends up on the Illuminati ship more deranged than ever, and well, it makes sense, now they not only harass her, chase her and pull her from one place to another, but they kidnap her!

Even if Lucifer maintains manners and courtesy, as soon as (the reader) realizes that he is a demon, he becomes wild and tries to get out by all possible means, including jumping off the ship!

Fortunately, Homare constantly watches her and, to his relief, she is not very talkative.

But Lucifer is still quite confused. If this human has absolutely nothing special then why is he important?

although he understands a little better when Mephisto demands that he return his "sister"

Ah, so that was it. family ties.

He is the quickest to accept that (reader) is something like a new brother, so as soon as he finds out this new information, he goes to (reader) and demands to know EVERYTHING about her.

likes, dislikes, what her life was like, her abilities, her weaknesses, whatever, his most obsessive side comes to light.

and (reader) is so confused that she barely answers 1/4 of the questions.

Now, Lucifer is like combining Mephisto and Amaimon.

He is very protective, but he is not on top of (reader) all day (at least not the same one, Homare is usually the one who watches the reader)

He wants (reader) to treat him like an older brother and be referred to as such, but he doesn't force her.

uses a similar approach as with Yukio. He slowly attracts her so that she gets used to HIM.

but it doesn't mean it's not bad.

If (reader) still has a family, he will use them as a constant threat against (reader) to improve her attitude and behavior, he is not above killing them if he feels particularly jealous.

Although I think he would kill (reader)'s sibilings if she had them. After all, she already has him and his brothers, humans could never be equal.

He doesn't spend as much time with (reader) as the other two, but he makes up for it with PRETTY expensive gifts and things he knows she likes (from stalking her).

I think he would only return (reader) if a kind of agreement is reached with Mephisto, in which they both share (reader) and Amaimon goes with her when she is with both of them, that way Mephisto can ensure that Lucifer returns (reader) (reader) and vice versa.

I know this was about their relationship as brothers with (reader) but it reminds me a lot of divorced parents who share custody of their children... although of course, these parents are crazy.

going straight all together, it's not as bad as one would think.

Mephisto is the biggest pain in the ass, that's for sure. He is VERY POSSESSIVE of (reader) to an almost ridiculous point.

He likes to put clothes similar to him, it's a way of "showing dominance" and he likes to think that this way they seem more like a family.

Being with him prepare yourself for a lot of unwanted physical contact and to spend HOURS watching your former classmates suffer from his tricks and be left on the sidelines because you can no longer even carry a weapon...

INFANTILIZATION AT MAXIMUM POWER, he loves to pamper (the reader) and act as if she were a little girl, either because it amuses him to see her angry or because for someone who is thousands of years old like him, she IS indeed a baby.

he reacts VERY badly to rules being broken, if (reader) wants to save herself from punishment (most likely having broken bones, even if he speeds up time so it's not THAT bad, it's horrible) she should go to Amaimon.

He's the best, I already said it.

more than anything because he "understands" better the situation of stress under the thumb of his older brother and now he can understand affection a little better, even if it is still toxic.

but don't be fooled.

If he sees the slightest possibility that (reader) is going to leave him, then he will tell Mephisto or Lucifer to ruin any plan, that's how he is.

apart from the fact that he follows (reader) s everywhere to "inform" Mephisto and Lucifer of his well-being. and it is impossible to lose him, he has a connection with the entire earth and a great ability to find what he wants. Do not even try.

although as long as you give him some affection and treats, he's actually quite manageable, not clingy or overly jealous, just very aggressive and protective.

(another who would want to kill the reader's brothers when seeing them as a threat to their relationship).

and Lucifer...he's a mix.

he's not AS possessive as Mephisto, but he definitely wants everyone to know that (reader) is HIS sister.

He has great respect for the rules and he wants them to be followed, but when it is (the reader) who breaks them, he is much more lenient.

Be careful, I don't want to say that he is exempt from horrible punishments, if (reader) exceeds a limit of errors, then he will not be saved from one.

but Lucifer goes more for the Psychological side of things.

It makes (reader) believe that she is in control of the situation, a situation where she has no real advantage.

In this way he gains her favor but causes him to fall into his trap.

because HE is the one who is in control of everything. If (reader) goes far, it is because he allows it.

very protective, more than Mephisto, if it were up to him she wouldn't leave the Illuminati base, but at the same time he gives (reader) much more autonomy than Pheles.

It's very difficult to come to terms with him, but at least you can use his own sense of the rules against him :D

I think that the one most likely to break (reader) would be Mephisto, followed by Lucifer, these two would undoubtedly do it on purpose so that (reader) would stop trying to escape. Amaimon would only do it by accident due to his lack of knowledge of the human mind.

If (reader) develops Stockholm syndrome, Mephisto is throwing a fucking party! even LUCIFER would be happy (reader) has returned to her senses! and Amaimon would be happy but he would definitely miss the anger.

In short, it's chaos, but it balances out in certain curious ways so you get a little bit of each world.

Overall, it's a VERY fucked up yandere trio to be with, but look on the bright side! you will never be alone...

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!

thanks for the request ❤️

ahhhh I loved writing this but I feel like some parts are messy?😭 or maybe because it's my longest fic so far?? I hope you like it and I'm sorry if it's too loaded!

[your-soup-overlord]

Snippet of Rockabye

I cannot focus on just one story at a time rip, but this is from the first chapter of a fic that i've been planning since before it's my party. Enjoy!

Danny Fenton was a normal kid. He loves the stars, mapping them out while he dreamed of rockets and ships that could take him up there. He was smart, able to keep up with his parents as they showed him how to build and create.

Danny Fenton had dreams, he had a family. An older sister, Jazz, who swore she would protect him from anything and everything the moment she first saw him in the hospital, their mother cradling Danny close as their father lifted her up and onto his hip.

Danny Fenton had a mother and father, both loving in their own way. Maddie Fenton, who taught her kids self defense, took them on adventures showed them how beautiful the words was. Jack Fenton taught his kids how to make his famous fudge, and tended to their wounds with gentle words and light touches.

Danny Fenton had it all, until he didn’t. A portal, his parent’s greatest project. Soon, nice family dinners turned into Jazz ordering takeout almost every day, and then to Danny learning how to kill reanimated foods. Family camping trips slowly stopped, and soon Danny had to be the one to take care of his parents. To make sure they ate, that they slept or even took breaks. Their work consumed them.

And then the portal failed. It failed and Danny hated it. The portal that took his parents away couldn’t even work, but the worst part was how defeated his parents looked. Danny hated the portal. Sam and Tucker, his best friends, wanted to see it.

The portal worked. Danny tripped on the exposed wire and hit the on button his parents put inside, and it opened on him. It was green, and Danny hurt as the electricity and ectoplasm killed him and then brought him back over and over again.

Danny Fenton became Danny Phantom.

Danny Fenton struggled, failing school and missing classes. Danny Phantom anguished, fighting ghosts and protecting them as he was thrown into a new world. Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom were one.

A true halfa, the balance between life and death. Danny didn’t want to be dead. But he learned. Danny learned about haunts, politics and ancients, and about cores. Danny learned all that the others knew, because unlike them he was not formed with the knowledge already.

Danny fought and he talked, he laughed and he cried. He told his friends of how ghosts fought to bond, or to test each other. He told Sam and Tucker, and then eventually Jazz, all he could. And he gained a Fraid. It started off with Sam and Tucker who were with him for his death, and then it moved to Jazz. They helped him with being human, like how Clockwork helped him with his cryptic sayings and ghost etiquette classes, and how Pandora mentored him in battle and strategies. His Fraid kept him safe from his parents  and the Ghost investigation ward who shot at him, who wanted to rip him apart and study him.

He remembers how his Fraid was there for him when he learnt of the trial by combat and how he was now the Ghost Prince. They were there for every fight and enemy, for when Dani was given to them and when Vlad took her away from them. Of how they hugged him as he shared the story of Dan.

Danny remembers learning about obsessions and the different types of cores. He remembers how excited he was when he told his Fraid of his dual obsessions, one space, the other protection, and of his ice core.

Danny lived and died. He was a ghost and human, dead and alive simultaneously. He may have loved and he may have hurt but Danny knows one thing for certain. Danny could feel. He was sentient, he felt pain, he had emotions and feelings.

Phantom is told it does not.

[stupid-flanders]

Unsolicited Headcanons (A Diary of How Much My Brain Won’t Shut Up About Big City Greens)

⚠️TW: Abusive parents, mentions of drug use and alcoholism, mentions of military service/war⚠️

💜Gwendolyn Zapp (she/her):

- ✨AuDHD✨

- Thinks she’s aro/ace for most of her life, but then in her 50s realizes she’s lesbian

- Really, really, really likes fruits and vegetables

- Flawless You was invented so she could delete her own emotions and further BigTech’s progress as a company without the restraint of her feelings (this was a bad move)

- Invents things because she understands robotics better than she understands people

- Her father left when she was little, and her mom struggled with drug abuse and ended up in prison, so she lived with her Uncle Andre and Uncle Kev for most of her life (we stan Andre and Kev in this household)

- A cat person — dogs are too loud for her, and she can vibe with cats way better

💕Colleen Voyd (she/her):

- Very Type A personality

- SUPER good at math, and an insanely hard worker

- Wears wire-rimmed glasses and has a full set of earrings that look like the planets in the solar system (she likes to mix and match, but Saturn and Mars are her favorite combo)

- Pansexual with a preference for women

- Her father passed away in a car crash, and her mother (Valentina) did her best to raise four kids (Colleen and her younger sisters — Margie, Destiny, and Sarah) on her own in one of the lower-income parts of Big City

- She’s Dominican, but she doesn’t have a super strong connection with her culture (she learned quickly that women of color in STEM face a lot of prejudice, so she disconnected herself from her heritage to fit in better — in her later years, she chooses to reconnect and be proud of her roots despite the backlash from others in her field)

- Always wanted to be an astronaut, and is OBSESSED with outer space

❤️Nancy Green (she/her):

- Enjoys rom-coms (the terrible ones on Netflix are her guilty pleasure)

- Vegan

- Dropped out of high school to take over her dad’s business — even so, she’s pretty smart, and she’s very good at common sense situations

- When she moved to Big City to get away from her dad, she wanted to start up her own repair shop, but she got stuck in a rut and ended up struggling to pay bills — this is how she met Skids and the Stingers

- Bill was in Big City for FarmCon when Nancy reconnected with him, and after hanging out together a few times, he convinced her to come back to Smalton, which is why she left the Stingers and moved away

- Lesbian af, but she can appreciate a hard-working guy (that’s how she got tight enough with Bill to start a family, even though she always kind of knew it wasn’t quite where she wanted to be)

💛Skids (she/they):

- Her given name is Emma Shelhammer

- Grew up in the suburbs with an inattentive father, an abusive mother, and two little sisters

- Her mother forced them to dye their hair blonde to attend prep school, and Skids is the only AFAB person in the family with naturally pink hair (they got it from her grandma on her dad’s side)

- Skids shaved her head and ran away from home the second she turned 18, where they met Leadfoot in Big City and started the Stingers

- They vowed to come back and save her sisters, but she wanted them to have a better life than she did, so they sent them to live with one of her friends from prep school

- She and Dan are childhood friends, both from the same region of the Big City suburbs, and they were each other’s only comfort in school, since they were both misfits

- Their eye patch is the result of something her mother did (my more specific thoughts on this are too sad and I don’t want to speak them into reality 😭 poor Skids)

- Lesbian (a little in love with Nancy)

- Has dealt with depression most of her life

💟Leadfoot (she/her):

- Her given name is Mary Donovan

- She was born in one of the poorest parts of Big City, and by the time she was 12, she was unhoused and living on the street

- She learned to fend for herself pretty quickly, but the government came in and told all of the unhoused people in her area that they were no longer allowed to stay on the street

- That put her on the run, where she met Skids, and they found a place to stay in the old Splish factory

- She has a great sense of humor, and she loves befriending the stray animals she finds (rats, cats, injured pigeons, etc — very Tilly-esque in that sense)

- She bounces between jobs as a cook in chain restaurants, and she brings the Stingers whatever food and money she can spare from the day

- Bisexual and genderqueer

💚Lord Chrome (he/they):

- His given name is Barry Friedman

- He’s like the dad of the Stingers

- Their father was an alcoholic and abusive toward him and his mom, so he makes it his mission to save kids in abusive households

- With their experience combined with Skids’, the Stingers are a very vindictive group against adults who have wronged children in any sense, and the gang seeks justice in their own way as vigilantes

- They enjoy carving art pieces out of metal, especially using the bottle caps in the Splish factory

- Bisexual with a preference for men, but he and Leadfoot dated for a little bit

💙Dan (he/him):

- As mentioned, he grew up in the suburbs with Skids

- He joined the Army when he was 18, and after serving for 6 years after West Point, he was honorably discharged following a traumatic experience at war that resulted in the scar on his cheek

- He moved to Big City and reconnected with Skids, and he joined the Stingers after that since he was struggling with income and his mental health after the military

- He’s one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, but if you make him mad, he will show no mercy

- Gay and nonbinary (uses he/him)

- Very into punk music

- Works at a Wholesome Foods, and he smuggles food out of their inventory like Leadfoot

- Again, because he and Leadfoot have similar experiences being wronged by the government, they both have a vendetta against unjust legislation and greed, which is another major motivation that the Stingers combat

- Deals with PTSD because of his military service, and the rest of the Stingers do their best to help him in times of need

💗Rashida Remington (she/her):

- Born into a wealthy family, and she does her best to use her wealth for good causes

- Breast cancer survivor

- She met Russell at Big City University, where she was going into pre-law and he was going into marketing (with a football scholarship)

- She loves history, especially learning about East Asian dynasties

- Straight, but a vocal ally

🧡Maria Media (she/her):

- Loves the beach

- Feral about libraries (she checks out soooo many books at once and reads none of them)

- Always wanted to be a journalist, and she’s living out her dream in Big City

- Bisexual, in a straight relationship with her childhood best friend (don’t ask me about him because I have no clue lmao)

🔵Gloria Sato (she/her):

- Anime fan

- Enjoys watching sports, but doesn’t really understand them

- A little in love with Nancy, but it’s just a crush that doesn’t really go anywhere (because obviously. they are decades apart in age)

- Bicurious

- Undiagnosed autism (European history is her special interest)

🗣️🗣️Thank you for coming to my TedTalk! THAT IS ALL

[moocha-muses]

This one is for @eulaliasims, who wanted to torment me personally by demanding I say something terrifying about libraries.

No one had needed- -they didn't want us- no one had needed a real paper book for decades. Who needed to worry about - about - about - papercuts, and, and storage space, and broken spines- -so many broken spines- when you could just use an iPad, or look something up on your phone, or plug a wire directly into the USB port at the back of your neck and just download whatever you wanted to know? And, yeah, a few brick and mortar librarians made noise about something weird going on in brick and mortar libraries, it's not like anyone could even hear them over the -constant pabulum- the stream of media spewed directly into our brain stems- Maybe they should have spoken up a little. Announced it over the feed. None of this was Rhonda7's fault. She'd been born in what was left of a barely functioning crèche in a bad neighborhood, three years into the collapse, when you could still get a jack and pick up sound over the wires, and she hadn't even really learned to read until she was fourteen, and only then because sometimes you really need to know whether can had peaches or, like, dog food in it before you opened it and some of those labels were really misleading- and then someone- Fridge, probably it was Fridge- Fridge had the smart idea- -the smart idea, 'smart' with heavy sarcasm, heavy like a lead safe- that maybe a library would have some books on mushrooms and shit, and then they could dig some up out of the park and eat them without throwing up their own stomachs and spleens or whatever happened to the kids from the old factory- -you don't even know what a spleen is- Mushrooms were supposed to be food, right? She'd heard about that once, but there hadn't been pictures. So they broke into the library- -invaded the tomb- They broke into the musty old library through a window around the back, and, uh, maybe it was kind of like one of the tombs they made for everyone who died in the plague- kind of quiet and musty. It had been pretty dark but there had been books all over the place, and Brenda7 had leaned in to read a spine- and then the book had exploded into her face, pages spewing up out of it, folding into all these big horrible sharp shapes- -origami, the art of folding paper, as practiced in Japan- and, like, these paper hand-wings had grabbed Brenda7's friends and, like- like they were flies in a spiderweb, with their faces all covered up, she was in like, this shell of paper, and every time she opened her mouth to scream there was more paper- because she had wanted to just learn a little, -too late- and now,

-now she was going to learn if it killed her.

[ryan-the-dark]

Claire McCallister knows Becky Botsford is WordGirl.

I know! I know! Give me a second to explain and break this down.

In the very first episode of the series "Tobey or Consequences", Claire is shown to be intelligent enough to craft together devices to counter her son's robots.

This shows she's just as if not more intelligent than Tobey! There's the argument that could be made that Tobey made those devices but why would she make him? He would be able to program ways to short-wire them.

In the same episode, it was referenced that WordGirl calls Mrs. McCallister whenever Tobey commits crimes. Now I know this isn't much evidence, but let's say for this theory, she met Becky by now. This could be when she was suspicious because of how similar "Becky" and "WordGirl's" voice was.

If that ain't enough to convince you, maybe this will. In "By Jove You've Wrecked My Robot", Tobey tells Becky and I quote:

"And if you try to run off and turn into WordGirl, I'll use all the robots to destroy the city."

Now, if Claire's as smart as Tobey and we're using that for this theory, I'm pretty sure when she sees Becky, she'll put the pieces together in similar reasons. "The same hair color, the same skin tone, the same lips" as Tobey points out: "You and WordGirl are the same height, the same hair style and color... The same sparkingly smile. The same ruby lips..."

Now if Tobey put these pieces together, I think Claire, through enough time, could do so as well. I think the reason why she doesn't say anything is because one she has to make sure her son is punished for his crimes. And two, she respects WordGirl enough to not risk anyone who would use that information incorrectly to find out. The only reason she doesn't say anything to Sally who is her friend is because she either found out she doesn't know, think she knows and just playing an act and so acts none the wiser, or just don't want to ruin the current dynamic with the possibility that the Botsfords doesn't know. Another reason, she knows Tobey's happier around WordGirl and doesn't want him to be bothering Becky in her private life.

This is "Robo Camp", a fairly early episode, being season 2 episode 11. At this point, she was trying to push him to cease doing robot activities:

Claire: This is going to be an important trip for you, Tobey, because you’re going to learn to appreciate nature. And hopefully grow out of this silly robot phase.

Tobey: Yes, Mother. That would make sense, except that nature is a thing of the past! Technology and robots are--

Claire: TOBEY! No robots! I don’t want a repeat of what happened last summer at basketball camp... Or two summers ago at baseball camp!.. Or last, last, LAST summer at drama camp!... I mean it, Tobey! No giant robots, end of story! You need to be more independent, and learn to do things on your own!

Btw, I think the reason why they're not very close is because they don't understand each other not that she doesn't care about him or vice versa, but I won't get into that into this blog.

I can see Claire having a moment where she realizes: "Wait a minute Tobey's not happy around other kids. He's more lively around WordGirl and enjoys her company..." That type of thing. So she doesn't do much to try to stop him, not that she approves, but because she genuinely loves Tobey and values his feelings, even though she wishes he would stop with the robot attacks.

It would also explain the reason why she doesn't remove his robot privileges permanently. For people who follow abusive Claire, there's so many things to debunk this. Like in the "Talent Show Tobey" episode where she was cheering Tobey on and was genuinely proud of him until his robot destroyed the building. Given Tobey entrapped WordGirl into reading poems in this episode, you would think she wouldn't care about WordGirl. Well, do remember that it's not like Claire knows. She just thought WordGirl agreed, and was happy that Tobey was doing something she'd viewed as productive and WordGirl was kind enough to help him out.

(More happy Claire please! 💯💯💯)

In the "Guess Who's Coming To Thanksgiving Dinner" episode, she was trying to enjoy the holiday, and when he left, she was searching literally everywhere for him. When he came back, she was happy to see him.

(WE NEEDED MORE SCENES WITH THEM JUST BEING 😁)

In "New Year of Doom!" Tobey and Claire smiled at each other on top of a robot throughout the New Year count-probably the most touching moment between the two and shows she supports whenever he builds his robots just in a constructive way.

I think if she wanted to, she would scrap all of his robots. She literally could, but she knows she would end up breaking his heart. He would be broken because he'll be forced to quit similar to when Miss Power threatened to never allow Dr. Two Brains to have cheese again. She always gave me reluctant disciplinarian type of vibes and would never do anything that would break his little heart. Off topic for a bit, that's why I wish there were more fics about Claire redeeming Tobey instead of Becky because, while I'm all for Tobecky, I feel like that makes more sense considering Tobey pressed so many buttons and disrespects her, and Becky's still a child at the end of the day while Claire is an adult so her mind is wiser, he's her son, and has more reasons to redeem him. Most of all, WordGirl's one of the superheroes of the city and don't have any obligation to redeem any of the villains besides maybe Dr. Two Brains with the whole mouse brain dilemma. She could guide them, but I feel like she would be suspicious about Tobey's change at least for a while. One last thing, while I do like redemption stories, the characters themselves have to change. Guidance is different from forcing them to switch sides. Claire redeeming Tobey stories would allow more ground to be given if that makes sense.

That aside, now, let's say Tobecky happens, and they sort out their issues especially with Tobey's (there's plenty of them as Go Gadget Go shows) I can imagine something like this occurring when a teenager or adult Becky inevitably has to tell Claire she's WordGirl because let's be honest it would avoid a lot of awkwardness. I even see her telling her family eventually, but this is how I actually see it going:

"Mrs. McCallister, I'm WordGirl..."

"...I am not blind, Becky. Though I have tried to be, for Tobey's sake. And for yours. I have suspected things about WordGirl a long time ago. I have put the pieces together as he had, though we do not speak of it. I... pretend that I don't know. And I was happy to, because it made him happy. WordGirl made him happy, when nothing else ever truly could."

If a teenage or adult WordGirl series or some other thing that continues the show ever happened where this theory was true, how do you think Becky would react to Claire knowing that she was WordGirl?

This blog was inspired by:

[whityoungangstblog]

AHHHH I WAS JUST SEARCHING FOR MORE WHIT ANGST foirejwqkwofiguyhjqkiweufygfhjk1oqiweufyg hes my favorite character and im addicted to the angst

anywayss, heres this headcanon/background i may or may not make a fic about later!

his mom died of an illness but whit isn't sure what it was (he was too young and the stupid doctors wouldnt tell him anything even though it was his mom) all he knows is that it hurt her a lot she would cry a lot... thats how whit knew she was dying, his mom was always happy and smiling even when his dad left again and the neighbors would say mean stuff about his dad

speaking of his dad, he stayed for a whole month when his mom fell sick but he acted as if whit was a boring toddler or something. whit was ten! whit hates being treated like a little kid. he was mature enough to know what the hell happened to his mom and why she wasn't at home anymore

it only got worse once she died. all the doctors that had been mean to him for being too loud or asking too many questions were being too nice. they looked at him with pity and treated him as if he would break at any second.

he couldn't give him that. he just wanted answers! he wanted to know what was wrong, he wanted to try and help but that meant he had to swallow all the bitterness down and pretend like he was okay.

he was okay! everything was okay! perfectly... okay his mom would come back. she always did. she'd disappear for a few weeks or even a few months because they heard there was a good doctor there but then something wouldn't work out and she'd come back home

a week after his mom dissapeared , he had to do a lot of tests. they put bunch of wires and different stickers on his body and they even stuff him in this really loud metal tube that they said would show pictures of his brain he didn't really like the hospital much but he had to stay and finish the tests. if he cried and threw a fuss, they'd call him a little kid and they'd never tell him what they were doing to him or where his mom was or when she was coming back

he didnt cry, not even once! not even at the 'funeral' but no one would give him answers. he learned to read people instead. when he asked the nurse when his mom would be coming back, shed play with her necklace and look to the side. he heard someone say she was new. maybe she didnt know? he asked his doctor that too and she just looked at him with that annoying smile grownups give when they try to dumb things down he didnt need things dumbed down and he didnt need some stupid lady saying that she was somewhere far away on a magical island. she always thought she was so smart, whit could see it in her eyes. she sat up straight towering over him, always with her chest puffed. whit didn't like her much either.

eventually, he didn't have to go to the hospital anymore. his dad left too, going back to china. the nanny came 4 days a week to check up on him and make some meals for the week. he never saw the nurses or icky machines or doctors again. he never saw his mommy again either...

idk if this makes sense but i blabbed bout my favorite baby so enjoy!

!!

[twocubez]

Something I find really interesting about Berdly is that the dude sees himself as a fraud as someone who only fakes being smart. But as far as we know, he’s not actually cheating on tests or lying about his grades, he just gets help with studying from Noelle.

Noelle is the “real” smart kid, implying that his own achievements that accomplished with her guidance don’t matter. he talks about doing well in school like he’s the wizard of Oz admitting he’s just a normal guy from Kansas, but he really does put in quite a bit of work to learn. Seems like from his perspective, though, none of that effort matters because he didn’t do it alone. I think that Berdly is afraid to ask for help. Sort of like how Susie used to be afraid to show fear, vulnerability, and how much she cares, I think Berdly is afraid of looking incompetent, or incapable, especially in front of certain people, like Susie. Here’s a couple of examples where he tries to hide his “weakness”:

Another example would be at the end of his roller coaster battle when he tries to deny how damaged his cart is, but the Deltarune Text Project doesn’t have screenshots for in-battle dialogue yet so I don’t have a pic for it. Susie telling him that it’s okay for him to make mistakes isn’t just important ‘cause it makes him ease off on being such a prick, it makes him learn that it’s not wrong for him to get things wrong! He can stop spending so much energy acting like the perfect, always-capable boy genius he pressures himself to be in front of pretty much everyone except for Noelle. And judging from how he either proudly declares that his friends got him out of the wire if you end the battle through mercy or later thanks Noelle in the library for helping him so much when she carries his books for him if he paralyzes his wing, he really seems to have internalized that lesson. The big question I’m left with is where exactly he got this “you either do it all alone with no help, or you’re a fraud” mentality from. My gut instinct is to blame his parents, whoever and wherever they are, but the answer could also be a lot more complicated. Either way, the effect it’s had on him is pretty huge. I hope he keeps relieving that pressure in future chapters, and I also hope we get a little more insight into where his fear of reaching out for support came from.

[sirenologyyy]

ATWOW MODERN AU!

( a.k.a my hot take on all the teens if they were humans)

part 1 part 2

neteyam

- I cannot stress this enough this man listens to Frank Ocean LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS, if given the chance to inject his lyrics into his veins Neteyam would be the one to stick the needle in himself

- plays sports, (soccer for 6 years and swim team for 3) people think his dad encouraged him and his brother but they joined willingly, it was their mother who wanted them to join afterschool activities because she does not know what to do with that much energy when she already has Tuk bouncing from wall to wall

- wore those thick Harry Potter glasses to school before he learned about contacts

- wants to take up filmmaking when he's older, already has a YouTube channel where he posts the most innane vlogs with the messiest layouts and time cuts but his subscribers eat it up everytime

- wants to produce music too, all of his siblings are all musically trained (as in took voice lessons and music lessons as children as afterschool activities because again, Neytiri deserves a break plus they inherited her singing voice and she did not want it to go to waste as she should) everyone of them knows how to play at least 2 instruments. Neteyam plays the piano, the drums, and acoustic guitar. He's also one of those people who makes music from zippers and glass clinking and the finished product is annoyingly good

- extremely early or 5 minutes late to things there is no in between.

- is left handed

- used to like lego as a child, his dad got mad at him because the pieces would stick to the wheels of his wheelchair and would threaten to melt them down into coasters

- loves everything mango flavoured

- wired earbuds >>> headphones

- this man studies his ASS OFF and it PAYS OFF, with being on two varsity teams, the oldest brother, trying to get into an Ivy League school, and trying to maintain his hobbies he always has free time. It's so weird because his schedule is so packed and you see him chilling on his bed all the time like how does he do it

- was the password child (emphasis on was)

- has a huge ass sweet tooth I SWEAR (you'd never even expect it)

- his jersey number is 12

- THIS. MAN. PULLS. He doesn't even try to but he's a gentleman, good with kids, smart, active in school, good in sports, well-spoken, what more could you want? Plus he's got his Dad's charm and his Mom's charisma, everybody's hallway crush, you can see a throng of girls crowding the bleachers everytime the soccer team or the swim team have practice. (Most of them were there for Neteyam, and he says hello to everyone of them like the clueless son of a bitch he is)

- definitely does skin care (he has a 5 step regimen he does religiously)

- introverted extrovert

- learned how to drink at home (like the good boy he is) but can take 6 straight shots without making a face

- is always on his little sister's YouTube channel as a guest, always starts the video by addressing her brother by his yt handle instead of Neteyam. (they make slime and do unboxing videos and he dosent always say it but he enjoys them)

- his dad would bring him to boy's night with his Marine friends so Neteyam could get used to how rowdy his dad's friends were (my dad did the same thing with me that's literally the best I could explain it) Neytiri gets mad at him for it because she dosent want Neteyam to be around those kind of people

- has had 1 serious girlfriend before but she broke things off with him because she felt too trapped and started getting feelings for another guy (she never told him the last part but it was implied) since then he's only entertained a few people but he never got into another serious relationship :((

- almost barely recites in class but he is ALWAYS that one guy that saves the class when the teacher asks the hard questions

- he wasn't the type to go out of his way and make new friends when he was little plus they never matterred to him, Neytiri would often worry about him but Jake said he'd be fine

- has the neatest room and the messiest at the same time BCS HE HAS AN ASSLOAD OF POSTERS AND STICKERS ON HIS WALL, hangs up lightsabers, world maps, banners of his preferred college, used to hang awards but took them down so Lo'ak wouldn't have to feel bad

- has strong alcohol tolerance (Sully genes fr fr)

- taught himself how to fix his own hair, it takes him hours so that's why if he wants to try out a new hairstyle he wakes up at 3 just to devote 3 more hours into fixing his hair (he'd be doing his hair in front of the mirror at like 4:15 and he stumbles upon Lo'ak looking groggy af so Neteyam asks him if he'd been dragged awake by a tractor and Lo'ak goes I haven't slept yet and left)

- hates math but gets the questions on the take home sheets correct EVERYTIME, would complain on the workload but would get it done in like 2 hours. He loves Biology and History, still hates math, reads classic books even though he dosent understand shit, has a love hate relationship with social studies after this one time when he was 10 and had a nosebleed WHILE presenting in class.

- oh also did I mention this man is a photographer?? BECAUSE HE IS A PHOTOGRAPHER. Has an arsenal of janky film cameras to professional dlsr cameras on a shelf in his room. His pride and joy.

- always has to be doing something with his hands

- saves money and dosent like to ask for allowance but everytime they get a ride from their dad he slips them all 50 bucks like they're doing a drug deal

- his dad's a stickler abt posture (because of his spinal injury) he hated it when he was younger but now he's older he finds himself reminding his siblings (kiri surprisingly) unconsciously

- you can bring him to his mom's native country and leave him there and he'd be fine because EVERYONE WOULD THINK HE'S A LOCAL WITH HOW GOOD HIS SPANISH IS

lo'ak

- is more focused on music than Neteyam is because if you'd be handing around an electric guitar Neteyam would start playing the solo to Beer by Itchyworms, Kiri would start playing Moon Song by Phoebe Bridgers, and Lo'ak would decline BUT if forced he would shred the hell out of that guitar by playing Layla by Derek and the Dominoes

- draws a lot more too, Jake couldn't see how good Lo'ak really was until he won an award at school. (Jake found himself looking at that award on the Sully display case in their living room often)

- does graffiti art, skateboards, drinks monster on a daily basis, the stereotypical sk8r boy we all know and love (avril lavigne is typing) although he does not like monster he liked red bull more and everyone knows this

- wore a crop top to school once (no one noticed because he always wears baggy clothes)

- could be a straight A student if he cared (his parents remind him that everyday) likes biology too because his sister likes plants and his mom was a biology major, hates calculus and trigonometry. (Was the child that would cry on the dining table while his dad is this 🤏🏼 close to popping a nerve from repeating the problem to him over and over until he gets it)

- shaved off one side of his head after an argument with his dad and did not regret it

- if there's a new soccer line in Nike he's clearing the shelves out in no time

- has dyscalculia and gets Neteyam to help him (he never asks Neteyam just knows) He'd never get mad at his baby bro for taking hours upon hours on 1 single equation, but Lo'ak would get mad at himself that's why he's a visual learner

- put him in a room with boys his age and his littlest sister and he'd still go to his sister

- on the soccer team just like Neteyam, also on the swim team once they moved closer to their school because swim practice takes longer than soccer and they'd have to wait extra long for the bus

- when they'd visit their mother's province he'd teach the little kids in the neighborhood how to play soccer :,)

- hates that he's always Tuk's practice dummy for make up but lets her do it anyway *cue Lo'ak running away from a 7 year old in a tutu clutching her makeup brushes and eyeshadow palettes*

- is a night owl... enough said

- listened to Kanye West bcs of his dad's marine friends but heard about the issue at the VMAs and has been a swiftie since then (don't tell tsireya that also his favorite album is definitely reputation)

- is always late to things HE REALLY TRIES TO BE EARLY but Eywa says no

- would always be in that group of boys that play ice ice water during recess and lunch (they never get him because bros faster than speedy gonzales)

- I feel like aside from Jake seeing Lo'ak as the younger version of himself (brash, immature, impulsive) he was always in and out of the hospital because of injuries and medical conditions. Pretty much the second foundation as to why Lo'ak and Jake have such a sensitive relationship

- loves rice meals more than his siblings do, he will not function properly without rice in his system (he got that from Neytiri)

- makes ur mom jokes CONSTANTLY he does it so often that his other siblings are spiritually, mentally, and physically incapable of making that joke to others

- the pickiest eater (pickier than tuk but he was the 10+ allergy kid growing up so his parents constantly get him to try foods he was allergic to before but he'd just throw a fit)

- knows how to patch up wounds better than most nurses because of how many times he fell off his skateboard tryna show off to girls in the skatepark (or just in general)

- EVERYONE WAS SHOCKED THAT HE COPPED TSIREYA. As in Hina Tsireya Maihoa, student body vice president, it girl, must I go on? Anyways she is WAY out of his league not even Lo'ak could comprehend he got the finest girl in the school to fall for him

- always referred to as Neteyam's younger brother :((

- would literally dislocate his knee to ensure a win for their soccer team

- the type to carry around lighters to play with them

- if he's angry he resorts to drawing or taking a jog for several hours (both involving very loud music)

- was scared that he couldn't grow taller than Kiri or Neteyam when he was 12 but now he's taller than Kiri and 2 inches away from towering over Neteyam

- always carries around pads (shh) and hair ties in his bag

- listens to The Weeknd the same way Neteyam listens to Frank Ocean. Endlessly.

- hates loud places unless he's the one making all the noise

- used to want to become a pilot when he was younger like his Aunt Trudy before she died

- loves sour candy I mean LOVES sour candy (he and neytiri could go through those jumbo value sour patch kids and would not need water)

- developed a habit of scratching himself when he's nervous or on the verge of a panic attack (he's getting better now that he's been open about it to his siblings and now that he's got tsireya)

- has a blue takis obsession

- collects stickers for his skateboard and his room (he got that habit from neteyam)

- dosent fold and prefers to hanger, he'd be caught DEAD before he ever folded a shirt

- hates bell peppers (they just couldn't get him to eat them, the reason? Unknown)

kiri

- GAY. SO. SO. SO GAY.

- would have crystals in her room because let's be fucking fr they work like a CHARM she could get anyone she wanted (she really could though she pretty af) but chooses not to (because then the entire highschool would be on their knees)

- forced herself to have crushes on guys in elementary just so the other girls wouldn't find them weird for not liking anyone

- when she reached middle school she came out as bisexual and everyone made fun of her for it, would always go home crying with neteyam and lo'ak who had split open knuckles (half the time)

- terrified as fuck that jake and neytiri wouldn't accept her but then they did??? And she was like holy shit??? Because Neytiri was raised in a very very religious household and that gave little Kiri heart palpitations every time they went to the mall and a gay couple would pass them by and Neytiri gives them weird looks...

- her room is full of plants but we all know that (she may or may not have named all of them)

- always fighting over the aux with Lo'ak and Tuk (either it's gunna be another round of Kyoto, Reminder, or Girl in the Mirror)

- always layers her jewelry, they could be getting McDonald's drive thru and she'd be wearing 7 bracelets on each hand 4 necklaces on her neck

- would fucking OBLITERATE you in scrabble, they're literally just that comprehensively literate

- is ambidextrous

- joined theatre for shits and giggles but ended up loving it so much that she's the president now

- is the last one to die in a horror movie (final girl shit)

- always volunteered to bring home the class pet

- would always get bullied for her skin colour too, growing up with their dark skinned siblings, UNTIL JAKE WHEELS INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHLOL BUILDING ONE DAY MAKING THOSE 9 YEAR OLDS QUIVER IN THEIR LIL BOOTIES

- she was the 'English teacher' gay

- once she reached highschool she started becoming more open with her sexuality and also came out of her shell a little more, she volunteered in animal shelters and that's where she met Tsireya and they've been besties ever since 🤞🏼

- makes cooking videos on tiktok, did that salt prank on both Jake and Neytiri (they have been reluctant to try anything Kiri has made since then)

- would give you 20 bucks if you needed it no exceptions (just pay her back most of it you'll be fine)

- if you wake up at 4 in the morning to use the bathroom and pass by her room and see them trimming their hair you didn't...

- also never initiated fights as a kid except this one time where they were told to make a diorama of their family (ya'll know where I'm going with this) some kids caught on that she wasn't exactly related to Jake and Neytiri, only that they took them under their wing when her biological mother Grace died, anywho they said that Grace 'took one good look at Kiri and decided to pass away because who wanted someone as deformed as her as a daughter' she had been sharpening a pencil at the time and let's just say she found a better use with the graphite than solving another math equation

- lit incense once and Jake thought she was smoking a joint

- on that note she always smells earthy and floraly

- she comes prepared or not prepared at all. Either their sage green cross bottle bag has 3 different kinds of gum, an extra charging cord, and alcohol wipes, or her tote bag has receipts, spare change, and tissue from this fancy Italian place they went to 2 nights prior

- has dry lips and peels them

- makes their own jewelry

- is a morning person through and through but she sleeps at ungodly hours of the night and still look more well-rested than their brothers who get like 8 hours of sleep AT BEST, meanwhile Kiri be out here making whole ass breakfast quiches and onion and potato foccacia

- has tried writing plays before (they never end up finishing them but the planning is what excites them the most) the only person she ever allows to read it is lo'ak, not that she dosent trust neteyam it's that him and her just click in a different way

- bi, lesbian, bi, unlabeled, bi, lesbian until she met Rotxo (starts giggling like a maniac) when he was trying to grab a 4lb weight on top of the shelf and got startled by a projectile being pelted at him and drops the weight on Kiri's head. He rushes them into the infirmary and stayed there with her until lunch time (he missed 3 classes which he's never EVER done before), they ate lunch together in the clinic just the two of them, laughing so hard that peas started shooting out of Kiri's nose, making them laugh harder, but Kiri got sent home right after and lemme just say that Rotxo looked like a wounded puppy the rest of the day

- identifies as queer and are a demi girl

- tsireya and her would go for sunset drives all the fucking time, they'd order take out, park by the one larkspur tree by the lake and start dishing out on the school tea AND LEMME TELL YOU! TSIREYA. DOES. NOT. MISS. She's literally friends with everyone who was anyone in pandora high and the tea is ENDLESS

- whenever Neytiri takes Neteyam and Lo'ak out for grocery shopping (she likes having them around because they'd be obligated to bring the groceries with them while she goes to Sephora to buy some skin care and if they don't complain she'll buy them ice cream) that leaves Jake alone with the girls at home and they'd blast 2000's songs through their big ass speakers while they dance around the (still very dirty) living room in pajamas and they often forget to cook the rice because of it, they would always ALWAYS pull up Rihanna's superbowl performance and vibe to that while they hurry and clean the house because the 10 minute mark has started and Neytiri would be home ANY FUCKING MINUTE

- her and tsireya bond over lo'ak's quirks

I had too much fun with this... anyways that's it for the Sully siblings! I'm gunna be doing part 2 which covers our beloved Metkayina Triad <3 will probably make this into a hs series but who tf knows... stay tuned if you are!

[kaittalkstoomuch]

Hi guys! I hope you all had an amazing week! How are ya? ♥️ enjoy this new chapter, which is reminiscent of the prologue!

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Freak and The Babe (Part Two)

The Morning of March 24, 1986

“Follow me.” Eddie says quietly as we follow him closely. Eddie is masked by Max’s Michael Myers mask and while it totally looks ridiculous, I just want to rip the thing off and kiss him all over. As if we were alone. However, we’re on a mission, get to The War Zone.

We get to the RV, with its occupants outside on the other side. We gotta be sneaky. Eddie kneels down and holds his hands out, giving me a boost. “Babe, you first.” I nod as I step on his foot and jump into the RV in one swift motion. I make sure I have my bag with me. Gotta photograph and write about the memories. Besides, Dustin apparently packed a bag when Eddie and I went “missing” for a moment.

I look into the bag as I get off the couch. My Hellfire Club shirt, a black cardigan, and a bohemian skirt. Stevie Nicks mixed with me. I look at my boots. This will be my war outfit. Great job, brother. “Okay, I’m in!” I whisper in the window as I look around the mobile home. Eddie jumps in quickly, and rips that horrid mask off. I snap a picture of the moment. “Dustin packed a bag when you and I were… running away from Carver…. And….”

I stand on my tippy toes and he wraps his arms around me as we share a fast, heated kiss. “Smart kid.” He chuckles. “Let’s go to the front.” Eddie says as Steve jumps in, then Robin, then Nancy. Eddie sits in the driver’s seat and I sit on the floor beside him watching him work his magic.

Truth was, I’ve heard stories about him hot-wiring cars. That his dad taught him. I’ve always wanted to witness it. Steve comes up and watches Eddie too. Slow down Harrington. The others come in the background. Dustin closes the window. I act as a look out while watching him too, watching his fingers work.

“When did you learn how to do that?” Steve asks. “Well, when the other dads were teaching their kids how to fish or play ball, my old man was teaching me how to hot-wire.” He told me about his father. How he went to prison, and also his mother passing away too. So young. I appreciate Uncle Wayne more and more daily. He raised such an amazing man.

“… But now, I’m wanted for murder, and soon, grand theft auto.” He takes a breath as I rest my hand on his knee. “So yeah, I’m really living up to that Munson name.” That statement feels like a gut punch.

“Uh, Eddie, I’m not sure if I love the idea of you driving.” Robin says as she rests her hand on the top of the chair. Eddie and I smirk at each other and I try not to laugh at his goofy grin. “Oh, I’m starting this sucker. Harrington’s got her.” He leans into Steve to his and Robin’s confusion, and my laughter. “Don’tcha big boy.”

It becomes a big blur after that. The engine started. We heard someone scream “what the hell?” Dustin yelling “Steve, Drive!” “Everyone hang onto something!” Steve yells as we get settled and hang on for dear life. Dustin and Max are in the back. Erica, Eddie, Lucas, Robin and I are in the middle. Nancy is in the passenger seat next to Steve.

Erica and I hang on to each other while Robin hangs on to the wall. Lucas and Eddie are enjoying being tossed around head banging. Steve takes sharp turns as we scream. “Hang on to me, okay?” I tell Erica as she hugs my waist tightly. The Sinclair’s I know would kick my ass. Finally, it all seems over when Steve takes a seemingly lethal left turn.

********

Things are finally smooth and calm. It kind of reminds me of when Eddie, myself and the boys would hang out in Eddie’s van. Eddie and I would be sitting up front driving around, usually an area looking over Lover’s Lake and we’d all hang out. It was all good times. We wouldn’t worry about the Upside Down, or Vecna. Just living. The boys would play music and we’d relax, smoke a bit of weed. Eddie and I would be alone, too, sometimes. I miss those times.

I snuggle against Eddie’s arm and smile against it. “This is one hell of a way to celebrate a year.” I joke as we both laugh. “It truly has, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” “Really?” “Well, I didn’t picture the Upside Down or Vecna in it but I’m with you and that’s all that matters.” I laugh as we share a kiss.

“So, I’ve been wondering. How did you two end up together?” Erica asks while Robin cracks up. I think of a way to tell her, the not-so-little-girl-anymore I used to babysit. “Well.” I start looking at Eddie and he raises his eyebrows. “Last year while in the cafeteria, I was being harassed by some prick.” I start as Lucas and Dustin sing-song, “Jason Carver.”

We all laugh as Erica states “That Ken wannabe was harassing you? Ew.” “Yeah. That prick had a crush on me. I don't like him for obvious reasons. Everyday he would find a way to ask me out. That day, was the big game. He wanted me to cheer him on. I was actually planning on sitting with Robin and our friends, but Jason would not leave me the hell alone. Then, Eddie stepped in.”

I gleam up at him and he shares the emotion back. I can hear Steve and Nancy talking up front. Something about a dream Steve would always have. Good job, Harrington.

“I swooped in to save the day. I would watch Jason harass her daily and her disdain. I’ve always had a crush on Roxie.” “Why were you scared to go up to her in the first place?” Erica asks. We all couldn’t help but laugh. “I was very intimidated by Roxie. That Stevie Nicks vibe. There was just something about her that just drew me in… it wasn’t until Gareth The Great told me to grow a pair.” “And thank god he did. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I love you.” “I love you too.”

He holds my cheek and Erica chuckles. “Good. I approve of this. At first, I wasn’t sure until I saw you two at the campaign. Lucas would talk about how different you seemed and always canoodling.” I chuckle at Lucas. “Well, we appreciate being Erica Sinclair approved.” I say grinning at her. Eddie chuckles, oh god. “Just want until you hear how Dustin found out.”

“NO!” All of us except for Erica says. I laugh at the ridiculousness, but I mean would you want to tell the girl you used to babysit how one night Eddie tried to sneak out after we hooked up and got caught by Dustin? No way.

“We're here!” Steve shouts as we look up front. “Thank god. I was scared we’d explain the birds and the bees to Erica.” Robin whispers in my ear while side eyeing Eddie. “Oh calm down.” I say laughing. Nancy and Steve come to the back and we plan. “Who’s all coming?” Nancy asks. Steve and Robin raise their hands, as well as Max. “Me!” I say enthusiastically, which Dustin disagrees with.

“No! That’s dangerous Roxie!” Dustin says. “I agree. If Jason ran his mo-“ Lucas starts being Eddie interrupts him. “No, guys. Roxie should go in. I trust Roxie going in there. She can handle anything. I’ve seen her handle Jason before and it’s worked. If he’s in there, I just know he wouldn’t do anything.” “I’ll go in too, I wanna see Roxie end Carver.” Erica says.

“And I’ll go. We need all the weapons we can get.” Nancy says. I smile at Nancy and then Eddie. “I’ll be right back, okay sweetheart?” I kiss his lips and he kisses me back. “See you soon, sweetheart.” He says back. I get up and walk out with everyone. “If you want. I’ll stay with you. It could be like when we were younger. ‘Hawkins Angels’.” Nancy says holding out her hand as we walk. “Hawkins Angels vs Vecna!!” We both laugh as we walk inside.