#but sure. turn in other fans and max to make yourselves feel better

[reigningm4x]

I need the Daniel fans who a) latched onto hating Max because he *checks notes* said nice things about his teammate, and b) and send hate messages to other blogs for having a different opinion and not follow shit blindly and c) pretend to know shit they really don’t, to fuck right off and get a life lmao

[princessofmerc]

With each passing race I become more and more bitter.

I love Lewis for what he has achieved in the sport, but my goodness his fans put me off. Why do they always have to hate on George for no reason? It’s disturbing and cult like, people can beat your driver.

When he first joined the team I was so excited to see how the move benefited his career, but it’s come to the point where I want him out of it. Time and time again his teammate, team principle and members of the team throw him under the bus time and time again. I hate seeing people who rated him in Williams turn against him.

Mercedes won’t win championships any time soon and I want George to have the opportunity to do so. I can’t remember the last time I watched a race live. You know RB are gonna win the rest. Maybe next year will be better.

Lewis is a great driver. But he needs to realise that he's not going to lose by losing out against George. George was better all weekend the result may not show this in points but anyone who really watches knows. He may even be a great person. I'm personally getting the ick from the people he surrounds himselves with but let's be honest. They're all privileged and rich. Even Lewis as the only black driver. As the most succesful driver.

His fans are an abusive bunch of shit. And I mean that. With Max I didn't say a lot because I personally didn't see a lot of abuse that wasn't a direct reply to racism. And both sides were wrong. With Nicky it was unwarranted. The FIA and Red Bull are so much more to blame and for Nicky to hire security to protect his girlfriend (because he was scared of something happening to Sandy more than himself). They're visibly sending out "kill yourselves" to people. To minors. And no their excuses mean nothing. Not if we're already back to part two of the vicious cycle of dealing with team Lh. Tomorrow they'll pretend nothing ever happened.

Honestly Lewis, as long as he continues glorifying his fans the way he does and giving people the reason to believe they are right and they have nothing to fear. I'm through with him. I'm not claiming there aren't assholes along the George Russell fans. Even Alex Albon fans can get it wrong sometimes. Being a Lewis fan doesn't make you an asshole. As much as being a George fan doesn't make you a racist or fatphobic and stuff. And I'm aware that just because there are black sheep in every section of driver fans and it's generalising to claim there'S an issue with Lewis fans that I amd oing what I'm condoning.

Maybe it's being friends with someone who claimed "yeah okay that's bad but I got one hate anon by a George fan so both sides are bad". But I'm bitter. In 2021 y'all wanted him what are you so afraid of?

George showed a lot more this weekend than any driver did the whole year. He can drive on the same level as the world champions on the grid. He is the driver to look out for. He makes these mistakes and never makes them again. He takes responsibility (other than others who blame their team, the wind, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, the sun, the moon and the stars). The pace he's been showing. He's going to be a problem to so many drivers in the future. And I guess that's the issue

As for the team. I feel like something shifted today. It's small. It's maybe just a different twitter admin. Who knows. (But for Shov to not even mention Lewis). Maybe I'm delulu. But at the end of the day I don't think George should go elsewhere. Not because he couldn't outdrive any driver in their current team, which I believe firmly he could. But because I'm not sure if the teams that could help him succeed would let him. Other than maybe Williams, who after the European stretch is over are probably going to go back to the back of the midfield because that's what happened 2020,2021 and 2022. No other team would let him grow as much as Mercedes. What use is a Red Bull seat if you aren't allowed to beat Max Verstappen?

So yeah. I feel like a lot of the leading engineering voices in the team are more neutral than, say Toto. Which makes sense. Lewis had a massive impact on the success of Mercedes. But let's not forget that without a team like Mercedes Lewis wouldn't have had the success he had as well. Mercedes is one of the best teams on the grid as much as we sometimes hate it. They can win championships in the future and I feel like the people who matter know they can do it with both Lewis and George. And that George is their future.

Mercedes can be a shit place but unless Williams turns it around for the 2024 season it is the best place for George to be.

[dessarious]

Guilt and Consequences Pt9

AO3   Beginning   Previous   Next

“Hey! We told you to leave Lila alone.” Lila groaned internally when she saw Kim, Alix, and Max walking towards them. This day was going to be one giant headache. She stepped between them and Marinette pinning each one with a glare.

“And none of you had any right to make that decision for me. Not to mention that if Marinette weren’t such a nice person all of you could be brought up on assault charges just for being there and watching Alya do what she did.” The boys looked worried but Alix just scoffed.

“That’s ridiculous, she can’t blame us for that. It’s not like we knew what she was going to do.” Lila could only roll her eyes. They were all idiots.

“You did know, and given that both Alya and Markov record everything, there’s evidence of you all talking about it as you were going to meet Marinette.” She’d found both videos when she’d hacked into Alya’s computer and now had copies. All three paled at that so she knew she had at least one weapon to keep them in line.

“You wanted to hurt me?” Marinette’s voice was small and the expression on her face was so shocked and hurt. The others just looked dumbfounded as if they couldn’t process the question. It’s amazing how quickly excuses die when you have to face the person.

“We just wanted you to know what it was like to be bullied so you’d stop.” Kim’s mumbled insanity actually made her eye twitch. Before she could lay into him for it, Marinette snapped.

“Are you kidding me? You stood by and watched Chloe bully me for years while you all did nothing and you think I don’t know what it’s like? You actually think I would do that to someone else? What possible reason would I have to do that?”

“We’ve all seen the crazy stuff you’ve pulled to get Adrien’s attention and it’s obvious he likes Lila more than you.” Lila could only shudder at the thought. Alix’s declaration actually caused Marinette to tear up.

“I’d never hurt someone over that. I even helped him when he wanted to go out with Kagami, but none of you seem to think about that. Just all the plans and situations you all goaded me into because you thought I needed to tell him. Maybe I did do some crazy things but you were all there cheering me on so why am I suddenly the bad person?” None of them seemed to know how to respond to that and Max actually looked like his brain had melted.

“And I’ll tell you exactly what I told Alya. Marinette has never bullied me. You all need a reality check before you do something so monumentally stupid it ruins your lives.” Kim actually puffed up at the insult.

“She’s been calling you a liar since you started here. What do you call that if not bullying?���

“She called me a liar because I was lying.” Lila said the words slowly and deliberately. She knew it wasn’t likely to make any more of an impact on them than it had on Alya, but she had to try.

“That’s ridiculous, you don’t have any reason to lie.” She blinked at Max, trying to follow his reasoning. He was supposed to be the logical one so she should have been able to.

“I’m going to regret asking this, but how exactly did you come to that conclusion?” Max looked like she’d just slapped him. The supposed smart one didn’t even bother to think this through. There was absolutely no hope for these people.

“Lying to us would be counterproductive.”

“You have no idea what my goals and motivations are. How can you possibly deem an action counterproductive when you don’t know the reasons behind them?” He frowned at her condescending tone.

“You want to fit in and make friends, just like everyone. Lying would only hamper that when the truth came out.” There it was. The underlying assumption that they all must be harboring. She supposed that people projected onto others to make them more understandable but, as this proved, it was dangerous to do so without cause.

“Wrong. I have no wish to make friends, certainly not with people who have proven they’ll turn on someone with no evidence. Fitting in was the last thing on my mind given that I was trying to be obnoxious enough to get expelled. Granted after watching Chloe, I suppose I should have upped my game a bit to stand out.” Now they were all staring at her like she was an alien species. That was more like it. “Now if you’ll excuse us, I’d like to get to class before I have to stop any more of you from teaching Marinette a lesson you should be learning yourselves.” She tugged on Marinette’s arm to get her moving because she seemed lost in her own thoughts. As they walked through the halls in silence Lila tried to calm herself.

“Maybe I should switch schools.” Marinette spoke just before they entered the classroom. The quiet, defeated tone was heartbreaking.

“I’m sorry.” Marinette just gave her a confused look. “If not for me, none of this would have happened.” She frowned in thought.

“Maybe. Or maybe it just would have happened some other time. I can’t say I’m glad that I know that the people I thought were my friends can think so badly of me, but maybe it’s for the best. Maybe there’s a reason things happened this way.” Fate was not something Lila believed in. Random chance and chaos, sure. Those could be mathematically quantified and explained to an extent. But fate? That was something people used to make themselves feel better about things they couldn’t explain. She was sensitive enough not to say that out loud as they made their way to the back to sit. Marinette gave her a surprised look when Lila slid on to the bench next to her but she ignored it. There was no reason to pretend to be friendly with anyone else anymore and she wasn't about to risk not being close enough to intercept any problems.

AO3   Beginning   Previous     Next

Ko-Fi

Tag List

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[kittae]

Busan Beefcake

Pairing: Kim Taehyung x reader

Side characters: Min Yoongi

Summary: A drabble series where Taehyung is a successful artistic erotica actor but has to expand his areas of expertise in the rapidly evolving world of adult film. Lost and inexperienced in everything that doesn’t involve classy settings, flattering lighting and romantic scripts, he basically has to start from scratch to make it in the online porn community. As a highly demanded A-lister in that community, you take him under your wings (or better yet, between your legs).

Genre: Smut, fluff, a bit of comedy here and there. Maybe some angst, who knows.

words: 1335

A/N: A new rival enters the game!

« previous     —      next »

At nine thirty in the morning, the sun already gives you a heartfelt greeting by shining its rays down on you. You don’t greet it back, instead opting to hide behind your double sunglasses as you stumble out of your car with a disgruntled noise. If someone would ask you why you decided to drink so much the day before your first class, you wouldn’t have an answer for them. That ‘someone’ being Jey this morning, she’d made sure to make your life a living hell by making you a hangover smoothie –with the blender on the highest and loudest setting– at the ass crack of dawn. Just her way of paying you back for making her drag you home and up three flights of stairs while you clinged onto her like an outgrown koala.

To your surprise, you’re not the first one at the building this morning. A tall figure sporting blue hair and sunglasses,much like yours, awkwardly shuffles back and forth in front of the glass door, trying to peep in to see if there’s anyone inside. His colorful and richly patterned shirt could be considered cool and artsy if your head wasn’t feeling like it’s being split open by an axe. At the moment, his shirt offended you. Still, you’re strangely happy to see him– despite having to swallow down the bile rising up your throat every now and then. This is going to be such a long day.

“There’s usually no one inside this early, I got the key.” You rattle the bunch of keys hanging from your fluffy ball keychain to draw his attention. You instantly regret it, the metallic sound piercing through your eardrums and into your already pounding head.

“Oh,” Taehyung murmurs, caught slightly off guard by your voice but stepping aside to let you open the door, “ ‘morning, ____.”

You watch him adjust his sunglasses, yet miss the small smile you’ve seemed to have gotten used to in the short period of time you’d seen him. During the shoot yesterday, he was almost always smiling one way or another. Cocky, flirty, shy, sheepish,... He just seems really uncomfortable right now.

“Celebrated a little too hard yesterday?” You tease, trying to lighten up the mood and hopefully make him feel a bit more at ease.

“Ah, not really,” he softly chuckles, “I only hung out with Yoongi last night, I just really can’t drink… What about you?” He nods at your own sunglasses.

You snort as you push the door open and go to turn off the alarm, “Let’s just say I drank a little too well.”

Taehyung snickers at that, following you inside, “Is it selfish to be glad I’m not the only one feeling like a pile of shit today?”

“Not at all,” a smile finds its way back on your own lips as well, “better than suffering alone, for sure. You’re really early, by the way.”

Hesitating for a moment, he does that darned cute neck rubbing thing again as he mulls over his words. “Yoongi didn’t want to get up early this morning, so...I had to take the bus. I would’ve been late if I took the next one…”

You frown at that new piece of information. “Does Yoongi usually drive you?”

The red tips of his ears betray his embarrassment. “Yeah, except when it’s too early for him. I don’t have a driver’s license.”

“I see…”

A few moments pass in silence as you wait for the elevator to arrive.

“Are there going to be many other cursists today?” Taehyung decides to break the silence.

You purse your lips as you try to recall how many people applied for the seminar, “Not that many. It’s usually a group of around five to eight people, max. Why?”

“That’s still plenty,” he shrugs, “I just thought I was the only one struggling with the, uh, transition.”

That made you giggle, “No, not at all! Trust me, you’d be surprised if you knew how many actors have difficulties adjusting to the darker genres.”

Taehyung nods, face visibly more relaxed at your reassuring words.

“We’re here.” You announce when the elevator doors open on the fifth floor. He follows you into the hallway until you stop to open the reserved classroom with one of the keys on your bundle.

“Why did you do it? Make the change to this genre, I mean.” Taehyung asks after a few moments of thinking it over.

You smile as you let yourselves in, “You’re about to find out.”

Yoongi yawns while he shuffles his way towards the coffee machine, not even bothering to properly lift his feet and letting his slippers drag over the floor. With his robe left untied and a serious case of bed hair, it’s obvious he’s had a rough night taking care of his lightweight friend. Blinking the sleep from his heavy eyes, he adds an extra couple scoups of coffee in the machine. This morning calls for extra bitter bean juice.

He fishes his phone out of the deep pocket of his robe, meaning to send Taehyung a text, asking if he found the seminar building easily. Before he gets a chance to, though, he gets notified of a new article from an adult magazine he has a subscription with. As an adult movie actor’s manager, it’s always a good idea to keep up with the trends and monitor what’s happening in the industry. Upon seeing the headline, Yoongi all but breaks into a sweat.

★★★ Adult Life ★★★

Jeon ‘Busan Beefcake’ Jungkook: From Camboy Next Door To Your Next A-List Superstar.

He fervently taps the screen to open the notification as quickly as possible, teeth already nervously digging into his bottom lip when the article takes a few seconds to load.

‘You’ve heard it from us first: this fresh face will be all over the online platforms in no time. With his 22 years, eight inches, a body that’s been thoroughly looked after and an astounding amount of unbridled talent, he’s rapidly taking the adult film community by storm. Jeon Jungkook is bound to change the game, having decided to trade his modest background as a home amateur for a professional career as an adult film actor, producer and director. In just a week time, his first two projects ‘Pool Boy Pleasure’ (where a rich cougar wants him to do more than just clean her pool) and ‘Naughtitorium’ (where things get heated underneath the desks of a college auditorium) have gone viral and his name has been trending on twitter. Is it his youthful appearance, or just the raw but captivating style he wields? This extremely good-looking guy seems to be good at everything, many female viewers already nicknaming him their ‘Golden Boy’ as they subscribe to his channels and eagerly spend money to vote on what they’d like to see him do next. This is no flash in the pan, Jeon Jungkook is here to dominate the industry! Expect to see him all over your favorite platforms. We’re a fan!’

Yoongi swallows hard, remembering his own words. “We have to increase your online presence and we have to do it fast before some rookie with a good face and a 7 inch dick takes your place.”

This guy even has an 8 inch dick. It’s a fucking nightmare.

Yoongi squints his eyes at the photo attached to the article, a young and glowing stud with dark, long hair, showing off his juicy muscles and six-pack as he lies shirtless on a couch while smiling at the camera. His eyes look like they’re fucking sparkling or something. He has something irresistible over him. Cute, but powerful. And he knows how to direct and produce on top of acting? It’s a triple threat. ‘Golden Boy’ huh? Yoongi sighs and swipes the article away, going to the messaging app to text Taehyung like he initially meant to do.

‘Text me when the seminar is done, I’ll pick you up. I need to show you something.’

Heliotrope masterlist

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 247: Todoroki Angst

Previously on BnHA: Ujiko started some kind of procedure on Tomura to make him even more powerful, because that’s what we were all asking for at the end of the last arc, isn’t it? “Horikoshi can you go ahead and make the homicidal nihilist even stronger please and thank you.” Well not to worry, because he’s got our backs! Meanwhile Hawks poked around the villain HQ trying to find out more details about That End Of The World Thing That’s Happening In 4 Months, and came up with squat. But he did successfully pass on his secret message to Endeavor about how “THE CHILDREN ARE OUR ONLY HOPE,” so Endeavor shrugged and was like “fine, HEY CHILDREN, LET’S GO FIGHT CRIME.” Anyways, so I was thinking, do you suppose they all just figured out they’re actually in a shounen manga? Because that would explain a lot.

Today on BnHA: Endeavor gathers the kids together and is all “so tell me about yourselves.” Deku is all “I have two quirks shut up it’s not weird” and says he wants to get better at harnessing his power so that he can use it without it being destructive. Kacchan is all “I’m already strong but I want to become better as a person” and I appreciate how the other characters are able to hold themselves back from exclaiming, “THIS KID’S REDEMPTION ARC... IT’S TOO POWERFUL...!” because I sure the fuck would have if I was there. And then Shouto is all “hey dad, friendly reminder that I’m here because I want to get stronger to reach my own goals, but you’re still a shitty dad and I hate your guts.” Endeavor, to his credit, reacts very appropriately to all three kids (including a resigned “got it” to Shouto, which was in fact the only appropriate response, so props to him for that), and dives right on in to mentoring the shit out of them. He then delivers a challenge -- defeat at least one villain without him beating them to the punch. So that should be fun, and I mean that with complete sincerity. Bring it!

(All comments are my unspoiled reactions from my initial readthrough of the chapter. I did a quick edit for grammar and clarity afterward, and added a few ETAs in the process, but aside from that there are no changes.)

oooooh shit we’re starting right on a continuation of the Fuyumi panel from last week. TODOROKI DRAMA ARC INCOMING. THIS IS IT BOYS. THE BIG ONE

omg omg omg

friendly reminder that chapter 242, in which this internship was first announced, came out on September 6. that is six whole weeks that we’ve been waiting for this internship to actually get started for real. I WAS PROMISED CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND UNUSUAL INTERACTIONS AND UNLIKELY BONDS BEING FORMED. and I have been patient, because In Horikoshi We Trust, but is it finally that time now? I just need them to stop hinting at it and finally get to it before I lose my mind okay

so Endeavor is asking Baku and Deku for their character profiles

Deku: “I used to break bones on demand, now I shoot wind from my fists along with the occasional Venom Symbiote”

Bakugou: “I blow shit up and I also have your character development arc, but fast-tracked so that it kicked in before I could fully become a massive prick like you”

meanwhile Shouto just sits there pouting because as we know from the Babysitter’s Club arc (and also from the Sports Festival arc, during which he dragged Deku into a hallway and was all “time to tell you about my tragic past” completely unprompted), he actually has his own character profile on standby ready to go at a moment’s notice, but everyone just keeps it benched all the time. poor Shouto

(ETA: he will not be silenced!!)

so Endeavor is phrasing this in the weirdest way possible, asking them to state “their current ‘assignments’” lol what. at least the second part of this is clearer, with him asking what they want to gain from this internship

okay so Deku says he wants to control his power so that he can “move at max performance.” yes that’s a very good goal for you, World’s Last Hope

lmaoooo

“weren’t you the kid who broke every bone in his arms several times in succession while attempting to KO my youngest child.” way to make an impression Deku

so Deku patiently explains that, yes, but we’re WELL BEYOND the whole bone-breaking stage now and currently at the “trying to master my new SECRET POWER which is still under wraps” stage. get with the times, Endeavor

hahaha here we go. this is so painfully awkward

“yeah so I kind of have a second quirk now. you know. as one does. please ignore how the only other known person to ever have multiple quirks just so happens to be the greatest villain of all time who is currently incarcerated in Tartarus following his last stand during which the number one hero lost all his power. that’s not relevant. anyways so yeah, two quirks, it’s totally normal and not a big deal at all”

what the actual fuck is he going to do once quirks # 3, 4, 5, etc. come along? this is such a disaster it’s not even funny. and by the way, this whole time I’ve been ignoring the elephant in the room that is Katsuki’s face while Deku nearly spills the beans about his so-called secret. but let’s all just acknowledge that it’s amazing and it belongs in a museum

thankfully Endeavor has had more than enough of exercising his brain today after all of that codebreaking, and isn’t even bothering to ask any questions. instead he’s just like, “show me.” probably the right call; easier to just see wth he’s going on about rather than keep listening to this strange and incredibly suspicious explanation

here we go guys time for some BLOOP

that’s because you’re still scared of it! boy if you’re not going to listen to Katsuki then I hope Endeavor can knock some sense into you at least!

you know, Endeav may be scowling so hard his face is gonna get stuck that way, but so far he’s not half bad at this mentoring/coaching thing

really appreciate how he jumps straight into asking pertinent questions about what Deku wants to do with this new quirk, rather than being all “how the fuck do you go from breaking all of your bones to THAT”

so now Deku’s explaining how it works and says he’s been applying the same principles that he uses with Air Force

LMAOOOOO

this right here is the most accurate introduction to Deku that Endeavor could ever have possibly received. THAT’S IT, THAT’S THE CHARACTER

and it also neatly sums up his whole problem with Blackwhip as well, which is just that he’s way overthinking it. no fucking wonder he can’t do anything with it yet! he’s trying to run NASA-level calculations in his head in real time while using it, like wtf. just let loose boi

also can we stop and appreciate how both Bakugou and Shouto are just fucking done. like, Bakugou is one thing, but just look at Todoroki fucking Shouto, Deku’s #1 fan and admirer, being all “wtf I hate Deku now”

LMAO AGAIN

Burnin’ is quickly rising through my favorite character ranks. meanwhile Shouto has gleaned, quite correctly, that those were in fact words coming from Deku’s mouth. what kind of words is a mystery, but at least it’s something

omfg Endeavor can speak Deku

(ETA: one of the things I’m noticing on a reread is how Endeavor is approximately twice the size of the kids. and it’s not like they’re small or anything. but they look like toddlers next to him. he’s only 6′4″ how is he towering over them to this degree.)

I feel like Endeavor’s intelligence levels fluctuate from week to week. or even from panel to panel. enigma

so blah blah blah he’s thinking to himself “his raw power rivals All Might’s” and then -- ! LOOK AT THIS SHIT

SOFT ENDEAVOR ADOPTING DEKU WTAF. holy shit. if anyone says they saw this coming, I’m calling you out as a fucking liar. BUT I’M HERE FOR IT OMG

AND NOW THIS ONE’S TURN!

(ETA: Kacchan is 5′7″. pretty sure Endeavor is actually 8 feet tall.)

lmao Deku’s face. trying to work out what this means and whether it’s good or bad

meanwhile, after the multiple pages of extensive rambling from Deku, Endeavor is about to get an introduction from Bakugou which will likely just consist of “I WANT TO BECOME THE NUMBER ONE” with absolutely no introspection whatsoever. basically the polar opposite of Deku. gotta love it

HERE WE GO

ooh, unexpected! though still brusque. but to be fair, he’s gifted when it comes to saying a lot in few words

(ETA: out of the three, Kacchan definitely took up the least amount of time with his introspection. not bad for a kid who used to think the entire fucking world revolved around him. growth!)

now he’s bitching at Burnin’ for not having anything better to do than stand around heckling them lmao

SHE’S HERE TO PROVIDE COMMENTARY KATSUKI SHHH. in other news, today I learned that Burnin’ is actually me. huh

OH MY GOD KATSUKI IS METAING -- !! [ELBOWS MY WAY INTO THE FRONT ROW] EVERYONE FUCKING SHUT YOUR MOUTHS AND LISTEN!!!!

OH MY GOD

y’all Katsuki really just fessed up and admitted to needing to work on his growth as a person rather than his physical ability. along with a NEW ADORABLE CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK, EXCUSE ME WHILE I ORDER PRINTS OF THIS TO PUT IN MY WALLET

AND HERE WE GO NOW, THE WHOLE “I WANT TO SURPASS THE NUMBER ONE” PART. BUT IT WAS SO MUCH DEEPER THAN I EXPECTED, KATSUKI YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE ME PROUD! LOOK HOW DETERMINED HE IS TO BE A BETTER PERSON

PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, IF YOU’RE NOT ROOTING FOR BAKUGOU KATSUKI THEN WHY ARE YOU EVEN READING THIS MANGA HONESTLY

OMG ENDEAVOR

“this kid...” REMINDS YOU OF SOMEONE, DOESN’T HE! OH MY GOD I NEED TO SIT AND CALM DOWN AND DRINK SOME WATER

anyway so do you love him. YOU BETTER SAY YES!!

LMAO SHOUTO COULDN’T HOLD IT IN ANY LONGER

LET’S HEAR IT THEN, FIVE PEEPEE MAN!!

Endeavor is whipping back around on him all “I THOUGHT YOU CAME HERE TO MASTER YOUR NEW TECHNIQUE” with this look of borderline panic on his face that implies to me that it’s one thing to take on two new kids with no familiar baggage, and quite another to have to deal with his own son’s personal angst which is directly related to his own worst personal shortcomings and sins! but that’s just too bad, Endeavor! also, fuck you!

OH MY GOD TODOROKI SHOUTO HAS THE SOFTEST SADDEST EXPRESSION AND THIS SPEECH IS GOING TO MAKE ME CRY WHAT THE HELL

even Kacchan has gone soft. meanwhile, is somebody cutting onions in here or

(ETA: also, Kacchan really has been promoted to best friend status, hasn’t he? or co-best friend at least. Shouto really does value their time training together, huh. “spending time with these guys.” anyways so this officially is the TodoBakuDeku arc, sorry everyone I don’t make the rules.

also! I really love how Shouto’s character development has been all about him finally figuring out what it is that he wants. one way or the other, Endeavor has been the focus of his life since childhood. everything he did was centered around him, even when it was centered around defying him. it was still always him, and never Shouto. because he’d been raised as his father’s tool, he struggled with feeling like anything he achieved was just giving his father exactly what he wanted. so he never really had the freedom to strive toward his own goals until Deku finally broke him free of that mindset. it wasn’t until he was surrounded by others who shared the same dream he’d once had that he was able to move past the toxic part of that resentment. not to say that it wasn’t justified, because it was! and is, still. but all the same, it was hurting him at least as much as it ever hurt Endeavor, if not much more so. 

so I really like the message his arc sends here, which is that forgiveness is not so much for the benefit of the one who hurt you as it is for yourself. and that’s obviously not the right word for it, by the way -- “forgiveness” -- but it’s just a placeholder for lack of a better one. because obviously as we can see, he hasn’t forgiven him, but what he has done is put that part of his past behind him. for his own sake, for his own peace, which he deserves. anyways guys Shouto is so fucking strong and I love him so damn much. shit.)

“y’all didn’t think I was gonna put the Terrible Trio together with Endeavor and not follow through on it with piles and piles of Todoroki angst,” Horikoshi says, casually filing his nails with one eyebrow raised. “c’mon”

here it comes y’all

ain’t no force on this earth more dramatic than a Todoroki. did he somehow get a wind blowing in from somewhere. aren’t they indoors

loool Endeavor getting DRAGGED LIKE AN UNTIED SHOELACE in front of these kids he just met two seconds ago, oof. “don’t forget dad, just because I’ve mellowed out a bit and accepted that I need to learn how to use my fire side doesn’t mean I don’t still hate your guts because BOY DO I.” oh damn

so your kid is justifiably pissed at you for your decade and a half of abuse, not to mention annoyed that you’re just putting it all behind you now and acting like it never happened. but it’s not like it’d make things any better if he just went back to acting like a jerk with these new kids! so here we all are, with no easy answers for this situation. what’s a 45-year-old man trying to make up for his past sins to do

(ETA: boy I just took a stroll around the ol’ fandom and a lot of people have really strong feelings about this huh. the most common sentiment seems to be “YAASSSS SHOUTO”, which I can 100% get behind. but it seems like a lot of people are also angry that Shouto is in this situation to begin with. specifically, we have the usual faction of people who are upset that Endeavor is getting any kind of redemption arc at all, and would prefer if he remained eminently hatable and shunned and detested for the rest of his days.

and look, I get it. humans are hardwired to want things to be fair. we want karma. kindness should beget kindness, and cruelty should net you the same treatment in return. reap what you sow. and while some crimes occasionally fall into a grey area, it hardly gets more black and white than Endeavor’s case. not only is there the child and spousal abuse, there’s also the incredibly dubious consent issues that arise in the case of an arranged marriage. like, there’s really no question that what he’s done is bad. so to see behavior like that “rewarded” by his becoming the number one hero, and to see people actually admiring him, and to watch him taking steps to turn his life around even as his wife and children struggle to gather the shattered pieces of their own lives -- yeah, that’s gonna trigger something in a lot of people. because it’s not fair. he hurt good people who didn’t deserve it, and all of this makes it seem like he’s getting away with it.

but here’s the thing -- there are different types of penance. there’s punishment, but there is also atonement. and Endeavor is getting his just desserts in some ways -- by being forever denied the chance to reach the goal that he worked his whole life toward, and by finally developing a conscience, the better to fully experience the remorse of knowing the pain he brought about to his family. but what’s arguably more important than that is that he also has the opportunity to try and atone for some of the terrible things he’s done, by doing good in the world now. he is a hero. his job is to help people. every day he is making the world a little better by doing that. and that, to me, is such a fascinating idea: a terrible person doing good things. and it’s something that feels almost counterintuitive, and that’s part of why a lot of people have so much trouble accepting it, I think. but it’s a fact of life, isn’t it? if good people can do bad things, then it stands to reason that the reverse is true as well. 

and I’ll just come right out and say it -- for me, if it comes down to a choice of having someone be punished, or having them be forced to do good things to atone, I’m gonna go with the latter just about every time. because while it may not feel quite as viscerally satisfying, it’s the option that produces the greatest net benefit for the world. without Endeavor, the world would have one less person out there battling evil. and as I suspect we’re going to continue to see in this arc, there are other, subtler ways that he can still do good as well.

so yeah. it’s a tricky thing. but to be honest, the ability to explore this type of complexity is one of the things I respect the most about Horikoshi’s storytelling. he’s not taking the easy way out here. he’s not giving us easy answers one way or the other. no matter what kind of resolution we get to this character arc, it’s not going to be something that will satisfy everyone. but that’s just how it is. anyways, apologies for the rant.)

hmmm Endeavor

yeah you really read that one wrong. anyway I guess it’s your turn to make a speech now

...

classic Endeavor

(ETA: actually truth be told, that was quite eloquent, and pretty much the only thing he could have said in response to all that. it’s not like he can even begin to justify all of his actions, and pretty much anything else that came out of his mouth would have come off like an attempt to dismiss his son’s feelings, or him trying to weasel out of taking responsibility. there is pretty much nothing else he can say here except for “I understand. that’s valid, and I fucked up.” which this is pretty much acknowledging. anyways this whole chapter is basically the sequel/continuation to 192 and I’m loving it omg.)

so he says he’ll watch over the three of them as a hero, and lead them in hero stuff

oh, I wasn’t going to post this panel, but now Endeavor’s saying “those are the three fundamental skills sought after from a hero” so I guess I should, huh

ooh he says that generally heroes will choose to specialize in either rescue or battle, but his policy is to kick ass at all three. well that’s one similarity between him and All Might, at least. if you’re not here to both win and rescue then what are you even doing with your life am I right

damn there really is a reason why this guy is the number one huh

okay, like. not to knock like 99% of the other heroes out there, but is anyone else sitting there thinking “wow, finally someone competent” or is it just me. like, I really do get a sense of “he’s got it all under control” from him which is lacking with pretty much all of the other heroes. no wonder society is on the verge of being in shambles. what we really need is for all heroes to be this capable, and not just All Might or Endeavor or whoever happens to be the current number one

okay, Endeavor is really out here being a genuinely good mentor, I’m speechless

holy shit

-- WHAT, NO! ARE WE ALREADY DONE?? WHY

okay but I do love that, though. it’s a perfect goal for them. difficult, but not impossible at the rate they’re growing. and it also just so happens to be something that they need to be able to do if they really are going to be the shoulders that society is resting all of its hopes upon. and last but not least, it’s something that all three of them will be able to set their minds too gladly. kick this old man’s ass, kids

anyways. ladies and gentlepeople this chapter was only thirteen pages. shortest chapter we’ve had in a minute. but at least it was densely packed! even if Shouto took up like half of it with his Daddy Issues Speech. that’s okay Shouto we always welcome your daddy angst

all in all I am satisfied. character development, and finally a clear goal for the arc. though part of me would also love it if they manage to achieve this in like the very next chapter. you never know with these wunderkinds lol

[day-writingdaydreams]

You Will Be Found - Chapter 2 Waving Through a Window

🎵“When you’re falling in a forest, and there’s nobody around, do you ever really crash or even make a sound?”🎵

Can also be read on AO3

Once again thanks to @khanofallorcs​ for being an awesome beta reader

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As he climbed the stairs to the entrance of his classroom, Adrien's ears picked up the sound of a sweet voice singing softly.

"Step out, step out of the sun because you learned, because you learned."

'Whoever it is that's singing has a fantastic voice,' the blond mused as he quietly approached the classroom, not wanting to disturb the mysterious, obviously female vocalist. He peered through the window, his eyebrows raising to his hairline as he recognized his classmate.

"On the outside always looking in, will I ever be more than I've always been? 'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass. Waving through a window."

Inside the room was one Marinette Dupain-Cheng, singing along to a song coming through her headphones as she sketched out a new design, the music providing a cathartic beat.

"I tried to speak but nobody would hear, so I wait around for an answer to appear," she continued softly, adding more lines to the design. “While I’m watch, watch, watching people pass, waving through a window…”

She was so engrossed in both the song and the dress she was designing that she never took notice of the model walking in and putting his bag down.

The dark-haired girl sighed, focused on sketching the line of the collar just right. “Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?” She sang lowly.

"Wow, Marinette, I never knew you had such a pretty singing voice," Adrien complimented, really impressed with how talented his friend was.

Designer, seamstress, baker, artist, singer. Was there anything that Marinette couldn't do?

Apparently having a conversation was one.

"Gah!" Marinette yelped as she finally noticed that she was no longer alone. Clutching at her chest as she pulled her headphones from her ears, Marinette looked up wide-eyed at her intruder.

"A-Adrien," the dark-haired girl gasped out, trying to catch her breath from her scare. "You s-startled me!"

"I'm sorry, Marinette," the young man gave a low, friendly chuckle as he apologized. "I was complimenting you on your singing. You have a beautiful voice."

She gaped at him for a moment, sapphire eyes blown wide

"She sure does!" an energetic Alya piped in as she walked through the classroom door with Nino. She climbed the steps to her seat, pausing to give a parting kiss on the cheek to her boyfriend. "You should hear her when we're all rockin' out to Clara Nightingale's songs, Sunshine."

"Alya-a-a-a," the designer whined before planting her head face-first on her sketchbook, deciding to hide her embarrassment in her crossed arms on top of her desk, covering her sketchbook.

“So,” began the blogger, totally pretending to ignore her best friend’s embarrassment. “Are you guys excited about the big project?”

“Yeah, dudes, it's gonna be awesome!” Nino said in his chill way.

“I just hope that I get paired with a good partner,” Adrien said with a grin.

“Me too,” came a muffled answer from Marinette, still hiding in her nest of arms.

Alya tapped her fingers to her chin in thought. “Wouldn’t it be interesting if the two of you wound up as partners?” She asked thoughtfully, pointing to the pair of friends, and causing the dark-haired girl to sit upright abruptly with a glare in her direction.

“Why would it be interesting?” The oblivious blond model questioned. “I think Marinette and I would be great partners!”

“Oh?” The auburn-haired girl inquired with a smirk, mischief gleaming in her eyes. She adjusted her glasses in speculation and once again pretended to ignore the beet-red face of the girl sitting next to her. ”How so?”

“Well...” Adrien trailed off in thought before coming to an obvious conclusion. “She’s a designer, and I’m a model. It’s a perfect match, don’t you think?”

A squeak that came from Marinette’s direction went ignored once more.

As was a hidden murderous glare from a pair of olive eyes who climbed the stairs to go to her seat behind them.

At that moment, the rest of the class had filed in, and Ms. Bustier walked in, signaling the beginning of the lesson.

"Good morning, everyone," she began. "Today, we're going to pair up for an art project. The topics cannot be repeated, however, you may be able to pair up with a group that will compliment your group's project. The pairs will be assigned and they will be final."

She began to read off the pairs. Alya was with Nino, Max was with Kim, etc. "And finally, Adrien and Marinette." She turned her full attention back to her students. "You will have two weeks to complete your projects."

"Ms. Bustier! "called a voice from the back row.

"Yes, Lila?" the red-haired woman sighed.

The vixen's olive eyes gleamed with mischief and malice. "My partner and I are going to do our project on fashion," she declared.

"WHAT!?" exclaimed the class, loudest of all Marinette, Adrien, and Nathaniel, Lila's partner.

"I did not agree to this!" the normally quiet red-haired boy seethed in agitation.

"We'll be fine," the smarmy Italian soothed. "You’re a wonderful artist, and I am a model, remember?"

The rest of their conversation got lost in the cacophony, as it seemed obvious to everyone who should’ve been able to choose fashion as their topic.

They also all had an opinion on that matter.

“Alright everyone, settle down!” Ms. Bustier called out, trying to regain the attention of her students. “Now please, we need to finish this up so that we can continue to our next lesson. Juleka, what topic did you and Rose decide on?”

Adrien scowled at the fake fox, watching as she glared back at him in triumph in her attempt to screw him and Marinette over. He turned away from her, feeling nauseous at the thought of that pathological liar, and tuned out the rest of his classmates, deciding instead to place his focus on his partner. Spying the earbuds still lying on her desk, the model’s eyes went wide as a wild idea came to him,

"Hey, Marinette," he began tentatively "would you be okay with singing in public?"

The blue-eyed girl shook herself from her thoughts of maybe giving her red-haired classmate some designing advice before she glanced at her partner with equally wide eyes. "Maybe," she said quietly, biting her lip in a way that drew the blond’s eye unintentionally. "What do you have in mind?"

Pulling his gaze away from her swollen lip took much more effort than he thought possible, but Adrien shook his head to clear his mind and gather his thoughts. "How about we do our project on music. I could play the piano, maybe a little guitar. You could sing? Maybe include any other instruments that you know how to play?"

He could see the gears turning in her head, taking his idea and looking at it from every angle. "Well, I know some notes on the flute.." she started, then wrinkled her nose in distaste, "but I'm not very good with it. I'm actually better with a violin, but it's been ages since I picked one up."

“You play the violin? I never knew that!” Adrien said, amazed at the talented girl before him. “If we could group up with the group who decides to do videography, maybe we could put together a music video?" He asked thoughtfully.

"That is an amazing idea!" she exclaimed. “Let’s do it!”

With a smile beaming on his face, the model raised his hand to get the teacher’s attention. “Ms. Bustier?”

“Yes, Adrien?”

“May my partner and I work with whoever chooses Videography? We’d like to do our project on music, and had some ideas.”

“I’m okay with it if that group is,” she answered with a smile. “Why don’t you ask them yourselves? Alya? Nino?”

With surprised wide eyes, the pair of them turned to look at their best friends. Clearing his throat, Adrien tried to broach the subject. “So….”

“Dude, you don’t even have to ask!” Nino smirked with a fist bump to his best bro. “We’ve overheard your plan and we’re totally in! This project sounds off the hook!”

“So… what song are you guys planning to cover?” The junior journalist inquired with a mischievous look.

Green eyes met blue, as the two of them shrugged.

“We...haven’t really discussed that yet,” Marinette answered, eyes lowered and fingers fidgeting with the edges of her sketchbook.

“We hope to have an answer soon,” Adrien filled in.

“Maybe we should meet after school?” Alya suggested.

The designer’s face fell further at that comment. “I have to help out at the bakery after school today,” she grumbled, lifting her eyes to the rest of the group. “A big order came in, and…”

“Hey, it’s okay, Marinette,” Adrien said, placing a hand on one of hers to comfort her. “I just remembered that I do have a fencing lesson after school. Maybe we could meet up at the bakery after I get done, then head over to my house? I… can’t exactly move a piano too easily,” he chuckled as he lifted his right hand to rub at the back of his neck.

Gratitude glittered in her cerulean eyes as Marinette faced the blond. “Thank you,” she said. “That sounds perfect.”

“That does sound perfect! When do we meet up?” a voice that didn’t belong to the group chimed in, startling the four of them.

The group turned to face one Lila Rossi sporting a sickeningly sweet look on her face.

“Excuse me?” Alya asked with genuine confusion. “Why would you be coming with us, Lila?”

Batting her eyes, the Italian answered, “Why, Adrien and I have a study date later, don't we, Adrien?”

“Uh, no. We don’t,” the model said with a deadpan voice and an expression to match, making the bespeckled pair raise an eyebrow at their sunshine friend. “Also, this would be a closed practice, Lila. Wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”

“Besides,” Marinette chimed in with a barely contained sneer that really took her friends off guard, “don’t you have your own project to work on? You know… with your partner?”

Seeing as there was no way around it, Lila lifted her chin with a sniff, turned on her heel, and walked off.

“Man, what is with her?” Nino asked quietly.

“Really,” Alya agreed. “Who just invites themselves to someone else’s group project like that?”

“Lila,” both Adrien and Marinette simultaneously answered together, causing their friends to blink at them.

“I also really don't want her in my room again,” Adrien emphasized. “The last time that she was there really skeeved me out.”

“Why, dude? If you don’t mind me asking, that is”. Nino asked politely.

“Well… she lied to get into my house. Lied to me, to Gorilla, and to Nathalie. She also lied to my father to get Gorilla and Nathalie into trouble,” the model listed, ticking off his fingers as he went. “She also shamelessly searched my room once we got in there, and forced me to take a picture with her, which she then sent to all of my female contacts, causing Kagami to get akumatized.”

That was what the sunshine child wanted to say.

But he was supposed to be taking the high road, so he just pushed down his feelings about it.

It wasn’t as if anyone other than Marinette would believe him anyway. They were all wrapped around Lila’s fingers.

Even his father, though he wasn’t sure how that happened.

What he wound up saying instead with a shudder was: “I don't know, man. It just did, that’s all.”

He then heard something coming out of Marinette’s earbuds, making him realize that when he surprised her earlier that she had never actually shut off her music.

“Did I even make a sound?

Did I even make a sound?

It's like I never made a sound

Will I ever make a sound?”

“Dude…” Nino breathed out just as the bell rang to switch classes.  ”That was so not cool.”

“Yeah, man,” Adrien said, packing up his books with a grimace. “I know.”

[jancys-blue-bayou]

Yeah so Stranger Things 3 was painfully bad

Yeah yeah big negative post about ST3 coming up. Just... holy shit, my expectations weren’t exactly high but jesus I didn’t think it’d be this bad. Wow. Mindboggling to think it was made by the same dudes who made season 1, it feels like a different show. Some of the worst writing I’ve seen in a long while, parts of season 3. This got very long because it was very bad so it’s under the cut. Starting with the few positives and then away we go...

Of course there were bright spots, I thought what we got of Jancy was generally good (just wish there had been more of it. Just like... more lines between them, a few moments could’ve gone on longer...like after the awesome hospital fight scene jesus just let them fucking desperately embrace and profess their love for each other, it was awesome how they relentlessly kept going at the monster to save the other but can we please just have a few more seconds for a comfort moment after?) I liked how they handled the fight btw, apart from the Oliver Twist comment yeah yeah heat of the moment but still felt OOC with that loa a blow. Nancy and Karen scene was nice and um... well Max and El bonding was nice. And um... Mr Clarke! And I kind of dig Murray.

My main issues with it:

- The product placement. Jesus Christ. Okay, ST has always been a show with noticeable product placement. But it’s gone from things like a Coke can prominently on display on a table in s1 (El crushing it with her mind) to literally having a straight up ad for Coca Cola in the middle of a tense scene. That’s the big offender that made me go wow you’re really doing this to yourselves huh, there are many others ofc (everything at the mall ofc, Slurpees being in hyperfocus for a bit, and a lengthy talk about Burger King. These smaller things one by one wasn’t the worst but all combined jesus it was too much, all added together and then bam the Coke commercial was wow... Congrats on the like 80 sponsorship deals and esp the new ST themed arcade hall by Coca Cola hope it was worth completely selling out for.

- Relatedly, the original fucking song. Holy christ talk about jumping the shark. That was the oddest, cringiest, weirdest shit I’ve seen in a long time. Gaten’s a great singer don’t get me wrong, but there’s a time and place for it and an original song stuffed into the middle of the tense climax of the season is not it Duffers. Just a blatant cash cow, hoping to bring in more money via the song.

- Robin. Sorry but holy cow what a Mary Sue. Hey here’s this super cool girl who’s cool™ and funny™ and super smart™ and NOT Nancy (like they seriously for real said in a scene, they actually for real had to pit Robin and Nancy against each other for no reason). And she conveniently has these specific skills needed for the plot (which she gets involved with for no real motivation other than having nothing better to do, lazy writing). Said skills were so over the top unrealistic it completely sucked me out of it. To start with, this random girl in small town Indiana in 1985 speaking French, Spanish and Italian um... does Hawkins High have the most amazing language department or what? Very un-american in that case... and okay then, her knowing those languages wouldn’t help jackshit with understanding Russian. Russian is a notoriously difficult language to learn and it is not related to the Romance languages at all, Robin knowing those languages and oh, having “a good ear” bc she’s in band (?!??! what?!) wouldn’t help her at all. Having the alphabets on the wall and listening to strange words in a foreign language she has no understanding of would never work. No way for her to understand what is she’s hearing, what letters are in the words just, nothing. It’s completely ridiculous. The good thing is she’s a lesbian, crushing Stobin that made me LOL. Btw, I don’t get what age they were writing her as? She’s still in school but later says she and Steve was in the same class, and she knows who Nancy is but Nancy, who is still in school, doesn’t know her even though presumably they’d be in the same year at little Hawkins High? Was it just sloppy writing or what?

- Too. Much. Plotting. What happened to “this season is about the characters” um there was just so much plot stuff and action sequences and barely any character driven moments at all. Those intimate moments that made s1 amazing. Generally regarding plots felt the Russian plot was messy and not well-written also what happened to the US government as the big bad? Unless they’re setting up a big Cold War thing for s4. And felt the zombie thing was wasted, could’ve been used differently like I’d have thought it’d be used like the MF spreading it’s influence over vaster areas and being harder to keep track of etc.

- Too little Will. Will’s whole thing with feeling left out etc was just dropped halfway through it felt very undercooked. His arc was just dropped wtf.

- NO BYERS FAMILY INTERACTIONS WTF. The sequence in the first episode when Jancy has overslept and Joyce wipes the lipstick off Jonathan was cute (but could’ve been even cuter I’d have preferred a short fluffy Jancy moment here just as they wake up before they realize they overslept, bc we didn’t get much pure fluff, and then it’d been awesome if Joyce would’ve just called Nancy into the house to mess with them). But like... that’s kind of it. For the Byers family. Talking to each other in the whole season. When they partnered Jancy with the kids many thought awesome we’ll get Byers bros talking and teaming up (and Nancy and Mike) but there was just nothing. Not even a family hug after the battle at the mall, just Joyce hugging Will, with all this tightknit little family has been through you telling me Jonathan wouldn’t join in?

- No Will and El bonding wtf? SUCH a wasted opportunity. They’ve built this unique awesome connection over s1 and s2 and now in s3 would finally be able to bond normally for real and... nothing.

- Turning Hopper back into an even bigger jerk than he was at the start of the show, neglecting all his character development. What was the point of the whole El and Hopper thing they devoted so much time to in s2 if Hopper’s back at it with the yelling and all now? And jeez his constant whining to Joyce about every man she interacts with holy christ that got annoying. Generally Hopper was such an annoying asshole this season I was so tired of him by the time he “died”.

- TOO MANY CHARACTERS. Jeez, I know I’m on about it all the time but jesus christ there is way way too many characters in this for 8 episodes which hurts the narrative and screentime for interesting characters is just... yeah.

- Speaking of screentime, did we really need that many identical generic fight scenes between Hopper and the Russian guy? Jesus Christ it’s so boring watching fight scenes like that, so repetitive (compare to the hospital fight scene which was dynamic and awesome). Also regarding screentime did we really need to devote so incredibly much of it to Steve and Robin being comedic relief while drugged? Yeah yeah mix light and dark and all that but jesus christ at that point in the narrative shit has hit the fan lean into the dark.

- Totally expected of course but still, the furthering of Steve Memeington. My god they actually had him literally call himself daddy... christ.

- The Billy and Karen/all the other middle age women remains gross and bad in a billion ways. Also completely pointless for the plot, they could’ve come up with any other way to get Billy to the factory. And what did it give Karen in development? Just the realization that yeah I’m tired of my husband but I’m not leaving my family and I’ll stick with him just ‘cause? Okay but did we need her almost sleeping with a kid a year older than her daughter for that? Icky. Also the editing of the scene where Billy hits her was so weird. Also that was weird as fuck.

- The ending. Okay christ my main gripe with this is because of a point above: No Byers family interaction at all! Joyce and Hopper talk briefly about her thinking about moving once or twice but she never talks about it with her kids... obviously she did in the timegap but we need to see that to build to the thing. Having no Byers interactions the whole season and then just oop we’re moving is so weird. I’m also not sure if Joyce’s motivation for moving (her bad memories of Hawkins) would be enough. For sure an argument for it, but an argument against is the one Hopper presents to her (and though he’s not around still there’s still a support system around them there, especially for her kids which she loves above all). Speaking of her loving her kids above all, she knows they love their friends/girlfriend/boyfriend to bits, have walked through fire with them and are each others support system as mentioned, would Joyce really just uproot them from that? There’s also some purely practical things that stuck out to me immediately: the timeskip for the epilogue makes it so they move when the schoolyear is already well under way and Jonathan has started senior year, feel bad for Jonathan there in a number of ways. Also, how the hell did Joyce manage to sell her house and what did it fetch? Her rundown house on the outskirts of a now infamous town with an incredibly bad rep? Even if the buyer bought it for the land the land doesn’t look special, just find it hard to believe she could get much for it. And where did they move? Where did she find a place? And work? Did she have something lined up or? I guess we’ll see.

- Oh and speaking of work, that was another thing that was just dropped, the mall killing downtown and the protests just fell out of the story. But, with what happened to the mall wouldn’t business come back to downtown (possibly reason for Joyce to want to stay if Melvald’s going out of business was another reason to move).

- Sorry but Mileven took way too much space.

- Again, no Jonathan and Will actual brothers bonding. But a whole lot of Steve and Dustin meme fanservice wank.

- Erica is just the sassy black girl trope non stop the whole season and nothing else and it’s so grating and... I was gonna say disappointing but I had no faith in the Duffers regarding this. Just because a bit character becomes a meme doesn’t mean they need to become a main. *cough* Steve *cough cough* Sorry.

- Last but not least, the woobiefication of Billy. Uggggghhhh. Disgusting. And having Max cry over him WTF?!?!?!?!?! staaaaaaahp.

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

Bad Moon Rising (Part 1)

Summary: Jensen and the reader are doing some filming out in the Canadian wilderness when they decide to take a short hike during a break. The only problem is they don’t show up for their scene later that day...

Masterlist

Pairing: Jensen x reader

Word Count: 3,000ish

Warnings: language, mild injury

A/N: Enjoy!...

“Alright, that’s lunch,” said the director after you’d finished filming for the morning. You weren’t scheduled for another scene for a few hours and were glad for the break after having to argue with Dean Winchester for the past four.

“Hey, Y/N,” you heard Jensen say when you grabbed your bag to go get some food. “That was really good, don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” you said. “Still not the biggest fan of yelling at you, even if it’s pretend.”

“Remember the beginning of the season? You’ve gotten a lot better at letting it go,” he said, walking with you over to the food trailer. You’d spent all day filming out in the woods, fighting rain showers and that classic Canadian drizzle that never seemed to disappear. “You don’t bring it home with you anymore.”

“True but I’ll still be all blah. Turn on something mindless and pass out on the couch probably,” you said. Jensen shrugged and bumped his shoulder into yours.

“Want to come over after work? Be blah together?” he asked. You smiled and bumped him back. It was always pretty easy hanging out with him after work, especially since you were on the same floor of your complex. Not to mention he had a habit of dropping by most nights to see how you were.

“You got it. I hope they got something warm to eat today. It’s all..ugh out,” you said, feeling the hood on your rain coat be thrown up before you could do it yourself. “Jay.”

“What? We got to stand in line. It might rain,” he said. You threw it down, knowing it was supposed to start clearing up the later half of the day but soon felt a hand ruffling the top your head.

“Jensen! Hair is going to kill you if you keep doing that,” you said, trying to skip away from him, the smile on your face giving away that you really didn’t mind.

“Nah, they don’t stand a chance against you,” he said. “You’d defend me wouldn’t you?”

“Maybe,” you said, spotting the back of the line as you headed over. 

“Maybe? I got to find a new best friend if that’s how it’s gonna be,” he said, resting his elbow on top of your head. You glanced up and he was biting back a laugh. 

“Shut up loser,” you said, reaching under his exposed arm to tickle him. He squirmed away from you but you kept it up until he was laughing and holding up his hands in surrender.

“Oh my God would you two just get together already!” you heard Jared shout from farther up the line. You stopped and knew there was a slight blush on your face, a light one on Jensen’s as well as you contained yourselves. The entire cast and crew teased the two of you about it all the time. You fell into a fast friendship and spent most of your time together over the course of the season. Your character and Dean’s were supposed to finally get together in the season finale when you started filming it in the next few days. They wondered, and a few like Jared hoped, that you’d actually become a real life thing.

“Y/N? You can move up,” said Jensen, putting his hand on the small of your back as you saw the gap in the line, your thoughts distracting you. You grabbed lunch and joined Jensen in his trailer to eat it, neither one of you having to go back for a while. “Hey, since the rain moved through and everything, want to go for a quick hike? We got the time to kill and there’s no reception out here to do anything else.”

“Uh,” you said glancing down at your feet. It wasn’t like your character was a Winchester and was always in a pair of boots. You were pretty much barefoot if it was the bunker, sneakers or heels on occasion, boots the rest. “I should grab my hiking boots.”

“You got sneakers on. We won’t go that far, promise,” said Jensen, itching to go already it seemed like. 

“Alright, let’s go then,” you said, hopping up and heading out of his trailer. 

“Hey, Y/N, Gen said she left her sweatshirt in your trailer. Mind if I pop in and grab it?” asked Jared, catching you as you and Jensen started heading off towards a short trail.

“Go ahead. We’ll be back soon,” you said, waving him off. 

“Going to go make out like a couple of teenagers?” teased Jared, looking between the two of you with a smirk.

“Hiking doofus. We’d invite you but some of us don’t have scenes right now,” said Jensen. Jared couldn’t even retort before someone was calling for him.

“Don’t get lost,” said Jared, walking away and dashing over to your trailer fast. 

Jensen took the lead, walking the two of you away from set until it was quiet and you could really hear the forest. It was nice and you knew where you were actually, remembering they mentioned there was a trail nearby in case someone wandered off. 

“You ever...get annoyed with all of them? The teasing,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets.

“A little. It’s like, we’re really good friends and everyone assumes-”

“That we want to bang or make out or shit like that. It’s gotta be because of the characters and everyone knew that’s why you came on this year,” he said.

“I thought I came on to be some sort of badass, not Dean Winchester’s girlfriend,” you said. “Which I won’t even be until next season.”

“Sorry that came out kind of bad. I mean, I really like what you’ve done with the character. Fans love her more than Dean,” he said. You couldn’t help but laugh. Sure you knew you had a positive reaction which was an amazing feeling. But you knew perfectly well that Sam and Dean would always be on top.

“Let’s just hope so after the two of them...” you said. “It’s going to be different. Doing kissing scenes, sex scenes, stuff like that next year.”

“It’s sure to be wonderfully awkward all around. We’ll get through it. I mean, you get forehead kisses all the time from me,” he said. You rolled your eyes. Yeah, those were nice and made you feel good but there was a big difference between a friend kiss and actual lips touching. “You’re not...worried or-”

“No, no. Just it’s different than what we’ve done the past year. It’ll be fun to play that,” you said. You were quiet as you walked, knowing you were getting farther away from other people now.

“You going to come visit me on summer break?” he asked after a few minutes. 

“Of course. Now that’s really going to be weird, not seeing your face everyday,” you said. You’d gone some time without being around him or Jared during the holidays but even then, it was only two weeks before you went down to spend New Years with them.

“I know I’ve only offered like a gajillion times but if you want to come stay with me for the summer, you’re more than welcome. My house is kind of lonely,” he said. He wasn’t as good at the puppy dog thing as Jared but that didn’t mean it wasn’t effective.

“I’m not going to crash at your house for three months dude. What if you bring a girl home?” you said. “I’m not ruining your game.”

“You really want to stay up here all by yourself while Jared and Gen and me are hanging out and having all kinds of fun?” he said, tilting his head.

“Ah, don’t put it like that,” you said. He smiled, finally landing a chip in your armor. 

“Please? I’ve got a pool. You can go swimming. We can have barbeques and campfires and do all the stuff we do up here with no work in the way. You know you want to,” he said, slowing down his pace to throw his arms over your shoulders.

“Jensen...” you groaned, his arms squeezing around you tightly and twisting you around.

“Don’t make me beg,” he said, resting his head on top of yours. You sighed and he chuckled. “Is that a yes?”

“If there are any bugs in my room, you’re killing them. You better keep your hands off my ice cream too,” you said, feeling his hug get a little tighter for a second before he released you. He was happy, really happy and you were too in a way. You’d love to spend the summer with your friends but you were always afraid of overstepping your bounds. Jensen was always good at helping you get out of your comfort zone.

“Awesome,” he said. “Maybe you can come down with me this weekend and setup some stuff, figure out what you need.”

“Yeah, we can try to get me on the same flight tonight,” you said. 

“Perfect.”

Three Hours Later

“Anyone seen oblivious and more oblivious? They’re late and those two are never late,” said the director. Jared looked up from his phone from where he was waiting for them to set up for the next scene. 

“They said they were going on a short hike. Looked like they were on that trail around here,” said Jared, slightly concerned at the sight of the empty chairs beside him.

“That’s a twenty minute hike max. How long ago was that?” someone asked.

“Three, three and half hours ago maybe,” said Jared. “I’m sure they’re just in their trailers or-”

“We’ve looked fucking everywhere for them. Trailers included. Their bags were in Jensen’s. You’re sure they were on the trail?” the director asked again.

“Yes I’m sure. It’s...maybe they skipped work or had to leave and didn’t tell anyone-”

“Jared. Both of them have been sicker than dogs and showed up to film. There’s no way out of here without one of the driver’s knowing about it. You’re saying we don’t have any clue where two of our actors are?” the director asked. Jared nodded, wishing he had a better answer. “Someone go check that trail. Now.”

A few different people did, going in both directions, meeting back up at set fifteen minutes later.

“Well?” asked Jared, seeing worried looks on their faces.

“We found...we found this,” said one of the PA’s, fishing a piece of navy raincoat out of her pocket. “It was on a branch near the edge of the trail, like it got torn.”

“That’s Y/N’s. She must have gone off the path for some reason,” said Jared, knowing that a certain tall, blonde friend would be the only reason she would go out somewhere she didn’t know. “There was nothing else?”

“Well where we found it, it was near a hill, like a big slope down. Down to the river. You can’t really tell from all the leaves and crap but...” she said, Jared shutting his eyes.

“If one of them fell, the other would have gone after them,” said Jared.

“Somebody call for search and rescue. We’ve got two people who don’t have a clue how to survive in the wilderness that just vanished into a river with class five rapids. They both know how to swim right?” asked the director, someone already pulling out a radio.

“Yeah. You don’t think...” said Jared, unable to say the rest of his thought.

“They’re both strong and smart. Let’s just think on the positive side, alright?”

If you ever caught sight of that stupid fucking wolf you were going to murder it. It’d appeared on the trail off to the side, making both you and Jensen jump. Only Jensen jumped a little farther than you, pushing the both of you straight off the trail and down the steep incline, rocks and branches bruising everything they could find. You tried to stop but you were going too fast and you hit the cold water hard, knocking the wind out of you. 

You were vaguely aware of another shift in the water, Jensen pulling you up and above the water. The river was too fast and two violent for the two of you to stay together, the current ripping you apart. You kicked and managed to just barely avoid a boulder, ramming back into him. For what seemed like forever you both did your best to avoid slamming into things, getting caught in powerful pools, anything to just keep your heads above water.

Finally, finally it slowed, almost all of your energy gone when the river dropped out, a small waterfall appearing and making you hit your back on something hard. When you were throughly frozen, the water calmed for a short stretch, Jensen grabbing you and pulling you with him over to the side with everything he had left, getting the two of you out just before the next batch of awfulness occurred. 

He got the two of you to just inside the tree line where it’d be warmer, shivering and breathing hard. You’d never been more exhausted in your life but you were aware of the hands on you trying to take your shirt off.

“W-What the f-fuck are you d-d-doing?” you asked, a shaking hand resting over his.

“W-We’re going to freeze t-to death if-f-f we don’t warm up. T-Take off your w-wet clothes,” he said. You pushed his hand back, trying to get him to take care of himself first before you. You’d done plenty of scenes with him, even one in a bathing suit but for some reason you felt self-conscious stripping down to your bra and underwear, even if you absolutely had to. When you glanced up his back was to you. “I w-won’t look.”

“T-Thanks,” you said, feeling a little better without the damp items on. He was shivering as he sat there in nothing more than his boxers, his arms wrapping around himself. Screw it, this was serious and you didn’t have time for thinking you weren’t skinny enough today. “T-turn around.”

He spun around so fast, unwrapping his arms as you slid over his lap, pressing yourself up against him, feeling him do the same. That felt better, a sliver of actual warmth penetrating the cold now. 

“N-not how I imagined seeing you in your underwear,” joked Jensen. You laughed until your mind started working. He’d imagined seeing you in your underwear. 

“Me either,” you said, hoping he’d interpret that in a work type of way and not the way you’d sometimes found yourself thinking about him like that and knew you really shouldn’t. He was your best friend. A best friend who happened to look ridiculously hot.

“You’re hurt,” he said, moving his hand away, pulling back a bloody palm. You winced and groaned at the loss of his heat when he moved away. Quickly he came back and you sighed into him. “Looks like a cut on your lower back-k.”

“I’ll s-survive,” you said, moving your arms up and down his own, trying to warm him up. You felt something wet and pulled your hand away. Quickly you sat up and peered over his shoulder. “I think that same rock got you too.”

“Great. Who needs friendship bracelets when you got matching scars?” he joked again. As the heat and warmth returned to your body, you slowly felt the warm trickle down your back stop, your wound finally clotting. But now you were exhausted and wanted to fall asleep more than anything.

“Jensen,” you said, resting your head on his shoulder. “We’re...”

“We’re on the wrong side of the river. I know,” he said, resting his cheek against your head. “God knows where we even are.”

“Supposed to stay near a river when you find one,” you said. “Follow them.”

“Well we certainly can’t go the way we came,” he said, shifting you off his lap so you could turn and see. It was a sheer cliff as far as you could see. That little waterfall hadn’t been so little after all.

“That way sucks too,” you said, pointing farther down the river where it went to a valley and some kind of underwater system. “Can’t go across if we don’t want to drown.”

“We stay right here then,” he said, both of you glancing the only way you could go and the one way you definitely didn’t want to. The complete opposite one. You nodded in agreement, but looked across the river. It was a small spot, a really small spot that could easily be overlooked by someone looking for you.

Jensen sighed and you knew he saw the same exact thing. You’d stay there until you were forced to go.

When it was dark and you were back in damp clothes, sitting silently against a tree, no one saying a word in hours and too nervous to sleep, you heard it. Not the sound of people or a helicopter.

A snarl. Then another one before something cried out and you heard the water being kicked around, way too close for comfort. Jensen was pulling you to your feet and walking the two of you quietly back and away from the river, a roar breaking the night air that made you both freeze. 

Oh great, there was a bear in addition to whatever was attacking each other out there. You realized how stupid you were to stay there. It was the one easy water source for any animals around, a perfect hunting ground. You stayed close by Jensen’s side until he pulled a little harder, telling you to start jogging. You moved for what seemed like forever, until the sound of critters faded away and you thought you were somewhere safe again. 

Only now you really had no clue where you were, or even how to get back to the river. When you finally stopped, you made out a tree in the darkness, tucking yourself into the crook of it, dragging him down next to you. You both caught your breath back, still too nervous to actually speak.

If you weren’t lost before, you definitely were now.

A/N: Read Part 2 here!

@charliebradbury1104 @everyday-supernatural-af @squirels-angels-and-moose @youwerelikeadream @drugpug @darkx143 @kristaparadowski @tom-is-in-my-tardis  @tanithlowisabamf @smoothdogsgirl @dancingalone21 @ktrivia @demonic-meatball @feelmyroarrrr @cojootromuelle @gallifreyansass @fangirl1802 @itstheprincess @casgetoutofmydiddlydarnass @mogaruke @secretlyfurrydragon @ria132love @heycassbutt-67 @aingealcethlenn @docharleythegeekqueen  @missmotherhen@smacklesandstretch67 @tumblinwith-me @awkwardcupcake95 @heaven-is-aplaceonearthwithyou @hey-um-misha @imissyoualittlemoreeveryday @lovelife-tothefullest @under-general-asthetics @tardis-full-of-fallen-angels @missdestiel67 @evyiione @jensenackesl @xxxdevine-demonsxxx @ayeeitsemry @mac5323 @bellastellaluna  @atc74 @captainemwinchester @lemonadegazeelle  @nanie5  @idalinette@quiddy-writes  @sassyspn67 @arryn-nyxx @pureawesomeness001  @poukothenerd  @mickey-m399 @perpetualabsurdity @af112992​

[andimpink]

Junkyard Jam

A/N: Prepare yourselves for this wonderful Racing AU I came up with for the beloved Junkers. I can just see them being a kick-butt racing team and had to write a fan fiction with them doing just that. Hope someone else besides me enjoys this -.- 

Screams and shouts filled the air, muffling the speedway's advertisements and boisterous music. The stands were packed to the max and people were still filing in from the admission booths. It was the hottest day of the summer but that hadn't stopped people from coming down to see the races. Who would want to miss the biggest race of the year, the 15th Annual Junkyard Jam? While that may be one reason, there was another one that was more likely. Team Junker was in town for the race and I could tell by the number of attendees wearing their merchandise that they were the reason for people braving the unforgiving sun.

Team Junker was a two-man team that had won so many races people who weren't hardcore fans had stopped counting. They were a fearless duo who didn't let anyone get the jump on them. In their sidecar motorcycle, they took the competition to a completely new level. When Mako Rutledge and Jamison Fawkes were in town to race, everyone showed up to compete. No racer in history had gotten the amount of fame they had earned themselves, which is why racers were so eager to beat them. The driver that beat them would forever be known as the racer that beat Team Junker.

Pulling my hat down over my face, I made my way down to the gate to the garage where the races waited. Flashing my badge at the guards posted outside, I entered the crowded room. It was air conditioned in here and I breathed in the cool air that smelled of gasoline, oil, and rubber. It was just as loud in here as it was outside. Drivers and their teams looked over their cars one last time before the first race began. Some had already finished and were blasting music from their home cooked rides. Every driver's anticipation to get out on the course was palpable. It was ten minutes until it was time to leave the garage and line up at the start line.

I walked past everyone to where my baby waited for me. The electric green Hoverscooter was where I had left it. I had come across the hunk of junk in my grandpa's scrap shop. He had stolen a couple parts from it and left the rest of it to rust in a corner. I was shocked when I realized it was a Model 1, the very first of its kind. They were a rare thing and I couldn't let my grandpa use the rest of it for his projects, so I asked him if I could have it. He gave it to me and I started to fix it up. Finding all the parts I needed took about a year and a half. Most of my credits went into buying those parts and I was thankful my grandpa gave me the use of his workshop. 

"Oi! That is one sweet ride you got!" Looking up from the gravity modules, I found one-half of the Junker team standing there. Jamison Fawkes walked over with his authentic peg-leg swagger and squatted down next to me. "Mind if I take a look?" Before I could answer, the man was poking his nose into the gravity module compartment. 

"Hey!" I barked. "I didn't say..."

"You got this piece of scrap fixed up good." Shutting the panel, he turned to me with an ear-to-ear grin. "Not every day that you see a Model 1 Hoverscooter in better than tip-top condition, sheila. Where's your hot-shot boyfriend driving it?" Clenching my fists, I glared at the Aussie. "I don't have a boyfriend. I'm..."

"Where's the driver then?" he interrupted and glanced around the room. Pointing at some rugged-looking racer with his bionic hand, he looked to me. "Is it him?"

Grabbing his hand, feeling the cold metal on my palm, I pulled it until he was pointing at me. "I am the driver. Now, if you'd kindly leave me alone.”

"Wait just a second, sheila." he said, letting out a short chuckle. "They're letting a pretty little thing like you race?" 

"Yep." I said, putting my hands on my hips. "And I am going to win."

Jamison laughed the longest and most obnoxious laugh I had ever heard in my life. He sounded crazy and looked just as much. "You... hahaha... racing..." Clutching at his stomach, he keeled over and kept laughing. Anger boiled up inside me and I clenched my fists at my side. I wanted to pick up the nearest tool and knock him over the head with it, but didn't get the chance. His teammate showed up at just the right time and pushed his counterpart to the side with ease.

Mako Rutledge was not a person you wanted to mess with. He was the most intimidating driver in the room despite being the quietest. Very few had heard him speak, but he was capable of speaking his mind when he wished to. Those who had heard the man's voice said they had walked away with at least two broken bones, not to mention countless bruises and missing teeth. His silence wasn't even the most unnerving thing about him. The guy's appearance was the most intimidating thing about him. His large size combined with his iconic gas mask and rugged fashion made him the scariest person in the room.

"Hog, this sheila..." Jamison giggled, leaning against his partner. "She thinks she's got a chance to beat us." The beanpole of a man continued to lose it while Mako looked down at me, or so I thought. I tried not to look at him, but did just that when he motioned to my scooter then pointed at me.

"Uh, yeah. It's mine." I said, hoping that I had guessed what his non-verbal question was. Mako grunted in acknowledgement, but I hadn't the faintest idea what he meant by it. I noticed that the other racers were starting to be directed to leave the garage to go to the starting line. "Well, I better get going. It was nice... uh, talking to the two of you."

"Thanks, haha, for the laugh." Jamison wheezed, finally ending his bout of laughter. He returned to his upright, yet hunched, position and wiped an invisible tear from his eye. Mako had already started for their ride and Jamison followed, tossing a few last words over his shoulder. "Hope to see you at the end of the race after we've won, sheila. Maybe I will buy your Mod. 1 off of you with my winnings."

Anger boiled in my veins. I’d show that good for nothing Aussie that I meant business. He would learn quite quickly that he underestimated my abilities. The many months I spent preparing for this race would not be all for naught. When I had decided to race, I promised myself I would do everything in my ability to win. I was not going to let these big time racers be the reason for losing. I would win or my name wasn't Daisy Dawson. I grabbed my helmet and put it on, pulling the visor down. After I hopped onto my Mod 1., I made my way out to the track with the other racers.

The crowd was as rowdy as ever at the sight of the racers lining up. Not to mention the wickedness of the racecourse. This wasn't called the Junkyard Jam for no reason. The course was covered with obstacles, from mud pits to flaming oil puddles. Rusted vehicles that had been crushed lined the course. Any one of these hazards could mean the end of the race for its victim. If the course wasn't ruthless enough, then the rules sure were. There were no rules. The only real rule was that the first racer to complete all 150 laps or be the last one standing was the winner. The race's motto was 'Anything Goes' because that's how it was. Anything was allowed, no matter how devious or illegal. I could tell just by looking at some of the other contestant's vehicles that it would be a brutal race.

Everyone was finishing lining up and I looked around, feeling the anticipation build. My heart hammered in my chest and I was so much aware of everything around me. Exhaust filled the air with its acrid scent, a scent that only fueled my heightened senses. I wanted nothing more than for the race to start so I would really get a good dose of adrenaline. Team Junker was lined up not very far from where I was and I eyed the two of them. Jamison 'Junkrat' Fawkes eyed the other racers around them, that somewhat insane grin on his face. While his partner, Mako 'Roadhog' Rutledge, remained stoic and focused. The two were polar opposites and I wondered how it was they had become partners. 

It wasn't too much later that the announcer's voice echoed out over the sound system. "Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 15th Annual Junkyard Jam!" The crowd roared with excitement. "We are so glad you could make it out here for the biggest event of the summer. The racers have lined up and here in a moment, they'll be starting. We have a great variety of racers, from experts to newbies. I hope you all enjoy the excitement we've got for you this year." The announcer continued to speak, but the blood rushing in my ears drowned out the sound. My eyes focused on the starting lights and I revved my scooter, feeling it rumble harder beneath me. Any moment now, I told myself. Before I knew it, the first light came on and I could feel the energy of every other racer and vehicle roar to life. Here we go. The lights lit up one by one and seemed to take forever. When they all turned bright green, I smirked under my helmet and turned the throttle. Shooting forward, the race had begun and I was determined to do my best to win.

I was passed by an Omnic on a wicked fast dirt bike before the first mud pit hazard, but managed to pass two racers who had gotten stuck in the mud. I briefly heard the announcer say that someone other than Team Junker was in the lead, but not for long. A sharp turn in the course was coming up and I prepared myself for it. Just before reaching it, I turned and drifted right around the inside of it and drifted. I laughed as I passed another opponent that was caught off guard by me and almost ran off the course. This was only the first lap, but I could easily see myself making it to the head of the pack by the last lap.

"We have newbie Daisy Dawson creeping up on the top 10 slowly but surely." the announcer commented. "That Mod. One Hoverscooter is something we have never seen before. It will be interesting to see how she handles what the competition throws her way."

As I came around another corner, an explosion a ways ahead of me startled me. Startled by the commotion, I slowed and allowed two people to pass me. I knew that there were no rules in this race, but using explosives? Was killing the contestants something racers were actually willing to do? I gulped nervously and sped back up, hoping to get back to where I was. The announcer provided explanation for the explosion. "It was just confirmed that the explosion on the course was caused by Team Junker. It seems their clever trick has knocked two racers out, dropping the number of racers to eighteen."

Of course, those two caused the explosion. I knew I had to buckle down and push forwards. Lap by lap, I made ground and lost it. About halfway through the race, I had to make a pit stop to change the battery in the Hoverscooter. It was something I had practiced so many times that I could do it in less than thirty seconds. It was blistering hot and sweat drenched my body. I took a quick drink of water from one of the bottles provided to all the racers. With the battery changed and some water in my body, I made my way quickly back onto the course. I was only a few places behind where I had been and knew I could get back with ease. 

The Omnic on the zippy dirt bike had taken my place, but I caught up to him after two more laps. Just as I started to pass him, he veered towards me, forcing me close to a burning puddle of oil. I slowed down to avoid it and growled under my breath. Speeding up, I moved closer so that I could try to pass again. This time I was ready for the move he pulled. I sped up suddenly and he went off the course, missing a burning puddle of oil but hitting the edge of the course. He flew off his bike and landed a little ways in front of a stand of spectators. It wasn't like me to play a dirty move like that, but at least he was out of my way now. "Daisy Dawson, ladies and gentlemen! She has just run Zion Prince right out of the race, putting her at the number ten spot." the announcer called out.

Before I knew it, there were only ten laps left. I had made it all the way to the third spot and was catching up to the racer in second and the Junkers. The two-man team had set off about a dozen other explosions. Last I had heard, there were only 14 racers left. Being this close to those two made me a little nervous, but I could only hope that they were out of their explosives. The end was coming up and I wanted to finish this race regardless of whether I came in first or not. An explosion ahead of the Junkers went off and the crowd roared.

 "What's this? Team Junker seems to have set of an explosion in front of themselves and stopped completely." Boos could be heard from a great number of the spectators. "No. It seems Cal Maverick had some explosives as well. He very well may have been responsible for some of the other explosions. His hidden trick has placed him in the top position."

This was my chance to pass Team Junker. I sped my way towards them as they struggled to catch back up to Cal Maverick. Jamison looked back over his shoulder at me, his wild looking eyes widening. He turned back and said something inaudible to Mako. More and more, I gained ground on them until I was going to make a pass. I turned the throttle and sped up, coming up next to them. We were neck and neck when something unexpected happened. I was grabbed by Mako and pulled off my Hoverscooter. A scream pushed itself past my lips and I was surprised to hear the cackling laughter of Jamison. Mako had set me in the sidecar onto of his partner, focusing once again on the course ahead. “What the heck?!" I shouted. "What is going on?!"

"We need your help, sheila". Jamison answered, letting out a short giggle. "Can't win otherwise."

"You just ruined my chance of winning, you stupid man!" I seethed, wanting nothing more than to punch his lights out. "Not to mention what may have happened to my Mod. 1!"

"She'll be right." Mako said, catching me off guard. His voice was gruff and was a definite reflection of his character. "We'll pay for any damages."

"Exactly! We'll... Oi!" Jamison smacked his partner. "What do you mean 'We'll pay for damages' mate? Are you saying we're going to give a share of our winnings to her?" Mako shrugged and Jamison groaned in annoyance. "Whatever. Thing is, we're needing your help.”

“Why should I help you?” I snapped. “You’ve done nothing to convince me I should. Any chance I had at winning is shot thanks to the two of you.” Jamison was moving around beneath me and it made me want to turn around and hit him. I opened my mouth to tell him to stop moving around and something pressed against my back at the exact moment. "Stop... What is pressing into my back, rat?"

"Just some C4." Jamison said with such nonchalance that you would think it wasn't dangerous. I was relieved that it wasn't something else, but still found it just as frightening. Maybe even more frightened. The stupid man chuckled, probably noticing how tense I had become. "You're going to need to drive for Roadie when we get close enough to this guy. We gotta blow this guy right out of the race."

"Uh... Okay." I said, not really sure I could do as he asked. "What exactly are you two going to do?"

"I'm glad you asked!" Jamison responded. He patted the nasty looking hook at Mako's hip. "Roadie here is going to hook this Maverick guy and I'm going to leave a little present once he's behind us. You're going to drive until Hog here can take back over. Got it?"

"I think so." 

"Good." Jamison chuckled. "It looks like we're catching up. Soon, Roadie?"

"Soon." he grunted back. He seemed to glance down at me and I gulped nervously. Was I really willing to help them with this plan? It wouldn't matter in the end. I wasn't going to accomplish what I had come here for. They had promised me part of their winnings, but I hadn't wanted the money in the first place. I suppose I would have had a hard time making it past this Maverick guy with his explosives. Not to mention these two.

BOOM!

I yelped as dirt flew into the air and I was flung to one side of the sidecar violently as Mako swerved to dodge the blast. Jamison cackled then shouted excitedly. "This guy knows his stuff!" I wasn't sure that was something to laugh about. "He doesn't know what we've got in store for him though."

We made another lap before we were close enough to pull off the plan. There was about fifteen to twenty feet between us when Jamison nodded to his partner. "Here we go, sheila. Let's do this!" Mako picked me up once again and plopped me down in front of him, allowing me to replace his hands on the bike's handles where his once were. Focusing on driving now, I allowed the announcer to tell me all that was going on.

"Daisy Dawson has taken over driving for Team Junker while the two-man team seems to be doing something else." I gained some more ground on Maverick and hoped it would help these two with their plan. I heard the clanking of metal as well as the whoosh as something went around over the top of all three of us. "What is this? Mako 'Roadhog' Rutledge is wielding a hook. It looks like he's going to try and..." Before the announcer could say what was happening, the hook shot over the top of me and flew towards Cal Maverick. It curled around the guy and was pulled taught, yanking him clean off his bulky quad. The hulk slipped away from him and he tumbled on the ground. "They've pulled Cal Maverick right off his quad, folks!"

"Get as close to his ride, sheila!" Jamison yelled. "We're going to make sure he can't recover."

I dodged out of the way of the vehicle-less Maverick and turned the throttle to catch up with his runaway quad. It had crashed into the siding at the one sharp turn in the course. The bike was different from my scooter, but I was going to try my best to get Jamison as close to Maverick's ride as I could. We were approaching the turn fast and I readied myself to turn. 

"They're going pretty fast, ladies and gentlemen." the announcer commented. "Let's see if Daisy Dawson can make this turn like she did on her own ride."

"Here we go!" I shouted as we came up on the turn. My hands directed the vehicle into a drift, swinging us around towards Maverick's vehicle and into the turn. The world seemed to slow around us and I glanced back for the few seconds it took for Jamison to toss the C4 at the quad. As it flew through the air towards its target, I pushed the Junkers' bike to the limits and sped away from where the blast would go off. A sudden wave of intense heat hit my back and my ears rang from the loud explosion.

"They've blown Maverick's quad to bits!" the announcer shouted, his voice almost inaudible because of the audiences reaction. Jamison was also celebrating the victory by hollering at the top of his lungs. "He is out of the race!"

Mako settled back into place behind me and I moved my hands so he could take over. "Good job." he said, with a hint of cockiness in his voice. Maybe he is more alike to Jamison than I thought he was.

"Thanks." I responded, smiling unbeknownst to the other two. I would not admit it to them, but I had thoroughly enjoyed being a part of their plan. It made me understand why they were a team instead of going solo. The way they worked so well together and enjoyed what they did made me wish I could have a partner of my own. "Not so bad yourselves. Not bad at all."

Finishing first was a given after knocking Cal Maverick out of the race. The crowd went crazy as we crossed the finish line and the announcer blasted off about our victory. Jamison cheered for both him and his racing partner. As they pulled into the winner's circle and parked, I hopped off the bike and started for where my scooter had been abandoned. Before I knew what was happening, I was picked up off the ground and hoisted onto the broad shoulder of Mako. On his other sat Jamison, beaming over at me. "Thought you could sneak away, eh Sheila?" Jamison laughed. "We weren't going to take all the glory, ya know."

"But..." I started, only to be cut off. 

"Pish-posh!" Jamison flicked his hand back and forth. "We wouldn't have been able to win without you. Besides, Roadie here thought you'd make a great addition to the team."

"Really?" I asked, glancing down at the masked man. He nodded and I smiled down at him. "Thank you?"

Jamison chuckled and punched my shoulder. "Welcome to the team, sheila." 

A/N: And that’s that! Hope you enjoyed it!

[cyjprojectarchive]

caught | youngjae

prompt: “got ya.”  group: GOT7 pairing: choi youngjae, you genre: fluff words: 3064 note:  lol omg i made this longer than necessary but forgive me i love my bias sm ;~;

“I’m here,” you whisper through your iPhone’s microphone. “Nobody’s seen me yet so we’re good, for now,” you add in a hurried tone, glancing both directions in subtle motions as to not act anymore suspicious than you already are.

The man on the other end chuckles breathlessly and you fight off a grin. You didn’t even say anything funny this time, but Choi Youngjae almost always finds you adorable whatever it is that you do, and you might not admit it to his face, but you crave that feeling of being cared for all the time- especially by him.

“Relax, jagi, we’ve been out for a few months now. The dating ban is over, and people know we’re together,” he reassures you, footsteps echoing through the call. You nod in agreement, but you realize he can’t see you so you respond, “I know, I know. Force of habit?”

Youngjae laughs again. “You don’t have to worry anymore.” A lock clicks and the door in front of you opens with a quick swing, revealing a sweater-clad and sweatpants-wearing Youngjae. His hair was still slightly damp and his face clean and fresh. He just got out of the shower minutes before you called him stating your arrival.

“Morning, sunshine,” you tease as both of you tackle each other in a warm and tight embrace. You smell a faint yet familiar scent of vanilla exuding off your boyfriend and you can’t help but inhale it all in. It’s been too long since you guys were this close, let alone see each other in person. The skinship is truly justified.

“Ha-ha,” he mocks, knowing full well it’s one in the afternoon. He gives you a shy peck on the cheek which you respond with a blush, and he leads you to the dorm with one hand intertwining with your free one. He takes a peek at the paper bag you’re holding and his face immediately lights up in excitement. “Food!”

“Yes, dear, I have food,” you answer. “Since you and the guys have been up all night, I assumed no one was going to wake up earlier than 12 so I decided to bring GOT7’s lunch as well.” Placing the paper bag on top of the counter, you turn back to Youngjae to cross your arms and give him an expectant look. “So, how many drinks did you have again?”

Youngjae’s eyes widen in surprise as he shakes his head in disagreement, “Hey! I had like two, max. Didn’t I text you last night?” You narrow your eyes, pretending to be suspicious, and mutter under your breath, “How am I supposed to know you were telling the truth, huh?”

“Honest!” He whines, eyes showing desperation. You feel so bad teasing him this way, but at the same time it was such an endearing sight to see him act so flustered and embarrassed in front of you, wholly knowing he truly is innocent in all his words. “You are the only one awake right now out of all of them…” you ponder to yourself. He bobs his head up and down to support your observation, “Yeah, yeah! And I didn’t want to miss this chance to spend the day with you. I wouldn’t ruin that for a hangover, I’ve missed you so much,” you hear a crack in his voice and quickly you apologize and say you were kidding, hugging the pure otter just trying to do his best to be with you and make you happy.

“I’m sorry, dear,” you say in between giggles.

“Don’t scare me like that! I thought you were actually mad at me,” he pouts once you release him from your bear hug. He takes both of your hands in his and swings it forward and back. Now it was your turn to kiss him calmly- but this time on his pouting lips. He gets surprised for a second but quickly forms a shy grin, probably remembering that you are his significant other and couples usually do that thing- kissing.

“Anyway,” you break the comfortable silence to pull him closer with your hands around his neck. You’re both blushing from cheeks to ears as you two are still new to all this skinship- and also it has been a hot minute since you’ve held him this close. Promotions for their new comeback have been hectic and took up most of his days. But now that it’s over, and they’re just preparing for their tours, they’ve been graciously rewarded for a whole day of free time. And you feel honored that Youngjae chose to spend it with you.

You knew about these challenges once you started dating him, and after today who knows when you guys would be able to have a whole day to yourselves again. But knowing the fact that you’re here with him right now, skin touching skin, it was all worth it to continue with the daily texts, one-hour phone calls, and late night Skype sessions. As long as he comes back to you, you know it’s all worth it.

“Let’s begin me beating you at Mario Kart, yes?” Wiggling your eyebrows, you race him to the living room as you know that statement is going to get him fired up. “Take that back!” He shouts behind you. You were right. Already out of breath, he grabs you by the waist and you both fall back into the couch-thankfully. You keep laughing as he attacks you with light tickles. You swat his hands away as you tell him to stop and he only continues roughing you up with all the energy he could muster.

You find his hands and trap them in your shaking ones. Your body is only starting to recover from the adrenaline rush and you see the utter beauty in front of you reciprocating your actions. His eyes disappear and his smile only grows. This moment seems too perfect for you to end, and he looks at you the same, so you stare at each other with a love so tender. You feel yourself automatically moving in, closing your eyes to feel the intense heat emanating from your body. Nervousness washes over you as doubt tells you Youngjae was not getting the hint.

But gentle lips meet your trembling ones and you slowly match the desire he was expressing through the kiss. Lying back down the couch, Youngjae encloses you in his form, making sure you were as comfortable as possible. You urge him to move forward, you want his chest heaving against yours. You want his face almost melted into yours. You want him, all of him, into you.

You missed him so much.

He places sweet kisses on each side of your lips, traveling down to your jaw and then to the crook of your neck, earning a tiny moan from your already plump lips. You feel his smile digging softly into your skin and you just want to feel his touch on there, all day.

“Well, isn’t this better than Mario Kart, don’t you think?” He asks, still focused on giving your exposed skin peppered kisses. You giggle which caused your throat to vibrate. He nuzzles his nose against it and you slap his back playfully. “I didn’t know you had this in you, Youngjae!” You admit, the nerves you possessed already non-existent. He swiftly looks up at you and his eyes show that of worry. “Wait, did you not like it?” He asks, unsure. He begins to detach himself from you and you panic.

“No, baby, I did. I absolutely did. Youngjae, please. Look at me,” you return to your sitting position while gently placing your hand on his knee. “It’s just that you know we have only been dating for a few months, and I haven’t seen you in so long so being… you know, that intimate caught me off guard but Youngjae, I loved every bit of it,” you explain in the best way you could, carefully choosing your words as to not create any more misunderstanding. He looks at you and your heart melts. You could almost detect the fear he seemed to accumulate in his senses, anxious that he forced you to come into that close of a contact with him.

“Did you like it, Youngjae? Being that close?” You ask sheepishly. He squeezes your hand on his knee and nods his head your way. “Of course. It just felt right to me. It felt comfortable.”

“I’m the same way,” you tell him, glad that it has all been cleared up. You both share the same reassuring silence just snuggled into each other’s arms. Eventually, you begin to set up the game controllers and spend an hour or so playing Mario Kart and beating him every time.

“Unfair! It’s just because I haven’t played in a while, so I’m a bit rusty,” he excuses himself, sweating from all the losses he’s already taken.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night,” you shoot back with a wink.

After countless wins, booming laughs, and a few sneaky kisses here and there, you finally pause the game and return to the calming state of leaning towards Youngjae’s back while his arms capsulated your waist, head snug against your neck. You guys share stories of mundane activities that have happened recently from the test you had last Friday which you totally aced because the night before Youngjae sang you to sleep and gave you encouraging words to the recent performances he and the guys have had which he felt proud of the most. Seeing him talk about the boys and their hard work for themselves and the fans really inspires you to do better yourself. And the way his eyes twinkle in honest enjoyment from relaying to you events that transpired with the group makes you happy for him that he’s found six other friends who share the same passions he has.

It truly is a dream being with Youngjae.

You hear doors opening and footsteps approaching the living room. You share a nervous look with Youngjae and before you guys can release each other’s embrace, one fellow only in his boxers has already greeted you in his sleepy state.

“Oh hey, noona, didn’t know you were coming,” Bambam says to you as he rubs the sleep in his eyes. You hide your face into Youngjae’s neck as he only laughs at your discretion, his hands squeezing your shoulder.

“Wha-? Did I do something?” Bambam immediately asks. Youngjae points at his bare chest and Bambam responds with a shy laugh. “Oh, oh! So sorry, noona! I’ll go and dress myself up real quick,” he exclaims after dashing through the door which Yugyeom just got out of.

“Is he gone?” You whisper through the fabric of your boyfriend’s sweater. “Yes, you can come back to Earth now,” he teases. You slowly peek through one eye, looking at Youngjae’s smiling expression and soon open both but rapidly finding yourself closing them shut again, squealing in the process.

“Jackson, put on some clothes! Noona’s here,” Yugyeom states in a flurry. Jackson only chuckles and walks near you, patting the top of your head as a greeting. “I don’t think she minds, right?” Youngjae punches Jackson’s arm and he retreats. “Aigo, your boyfriend is hitting me again! So early in the morning,” he complains to you.

“You deserve it,” you reprimand him, opening your eyes but faltering your gaze away from the shirtless Jackson Wang in front of you. You were not used to seeing them this less clothed, so it was a challenge to keep a straight face. “And mind you, Jacks, it’s already four in the afternoon.”

“I bet you don’t mind Youngjae if he didn’t have any clothes on, though,” your ears perk up at the sound of a certain leader’s teasing remarks. Youngjae whines at Jaebum’s comment while Jackson points at the two of you in a laughing manner. You stand up, realizing everyone seems to be getting up from their hangover state. “Okay, I see GOT7 is all awake and ready to seize the day now, but you can’t be doing that without food.”

“Noona brought food? You’re the best!” Yugyeom declares out loud, bowing to show you respect. Mark comes into the scene and spots you, waving his hand to say hello. You smile back- at least some of them are decent the moment they wake up.

“I’m going to prepare the food now,” you announce while walking to the kitchen. It was only a few feet away from the living room so you could still faintly hear their conversations, but it was slightly covered with a divider for privacy purposes. Grabbing the box full of food out of the paper bag, you begin to set the plates and utensils up.

“You were getting it on there, weren’t you, Youngjae?” You hear Jackson’s voice booming with pride for his friend. You shake your head in amusement, only imagining how helpless Youngjae could be at the moment.

“Jackson-hyung, no! We were just cuddling, and I was perfectly okay with that,” he defends himself.

“But you guys were so close to one another, and you were smiling so widely,” Yugyeom inserts. You didn’t hear Youngjae say anything to that, but you do pick up Jinyoung’s tone and you guess he has awaken and got out of his bed as well.

“Oh, you girlfriend is here?” “Yeah, and she’s preparing food for us,” Jaebum adds. “She’s really wife material, isn’t she, Youngjae-hyung?” Bambam asks with a squeal. Everyone else joins in the teasing, and you wanted to laugh with them but you keep your composure as to not disturb their current banter.

“She really is something, though. Someone, I mean. Someone different, someone special.” The noise finally dies down and you can only hear Youngjae’s sincere voice in the room. You listen in intently, your heart beginning to race.

“Isn’t she your first girlfriend?” Jackson inquires. Youngjae might have nodded in response because it was Jinyoung who you hear next. “How do you know she’s special?”

“It’s just… something about her, hyung. The way she made me feel the day we first met. Even though I know for sure it wasn’t love at first sight, more like infatuation, but every time we talked, saw each other, indulged in each other’s presence, it was as if I didn’t want her to leave my side, and I always want to be with her too.”

You know how much Youngjae feels for you. He has admitted that you are his first, and that he promises to cherish your being as well as make you feel loved every day of your life. He may not be your first relationship, but surely he is the most unexpected and loving one out of all of them.

“I know she’s my first, but I’ve just been waiting to find someone who captures my heart and my mind the way she has, and continues to do so,” Youngjae explains. “I told myself that the first time I’ll ever be in a relationship, I don’t want it to be just a fling. I want it to be serious that we’re on the same page wherein we can see each other still being together in the long run.”

“And you see that in her?” Jaebum asks.

“Definitely,” Youngjae answers, and you just hear the content in his voice.

A tap of the finger came into contact with your shoulder and you jump, putting your mouth behind your hand to muffle the sudden scream. You turn your head to face a smirking Mark.

“Got ya,” he utters, a winning grin spreading across his face. You keep your lips sealed behind your hand as you tilt your head in confusion, playing dumb.

“Oh, please, I saw you in the corner of my eye eavesdropping. It’s okay, though, it’s not like you don’t already know how whipped Youngjae is,” he states, shrugging his shoulders.

You bring your hands to your sides, gaining composure. “I do… but not to this extent,” you admit, feeling the heat creeping in your cheeks for the nth time today. Mark’s eyes show that of surprise but he passes it with a chuckle. 

“Well, then let me be the first to tell you that Youngjae never shuts up about you. And now you know why.” He winks before getting himself a plate of food with utensils. 

“Thanks for lunch, eomma,” he bickers, making his way back to the living room and letting the others now that food is ready to be consumed. You scoff at the term he used but your mind is still swirling with thoughts of Youngjae truly in love with you. 

Of course you know this, even you yourself has confessed your love to him one cozy night before, but being informed that he talks about it to some of the closest friends he has, it’s a feeling you’ve never felt before.

Everyone breezes over you with a thanks as they get their share of food and walk back to the living room. You only nod and shoo them away to eat at their own pace. They probably didn’t think you were aware of the conversation that has transpired, but once it was only you and Youngjae left in the kitchen, you couldn’t contain your happiness.

“I see it in you too, you know?” You blurt out loud while Youngjae reaches for two plates for the two of you. He stops in his tracks and widens his eyes. Looking at you in bewilderment, he blushes. “Y-you heard that?”

“The kitchen isn’t very far, and your voice isn’t exactly the quietest, dear,” you comment, laughing to ease the nervousness away. He laughs with you and brings his hand at the back of his head.

“I love you,” you whisper so only his ears could pick it up. “And I’m so glad I’m here with you right now.” You step closer to his form while wrapping your arms around his waist, looking up at his cheerful smile. He hugs you back tightly, the warmth he radiated flowing through you as well.

“I love you, and I’m glad that didn’t scare you away,” he jokes with a nervous laugh. You kiss him on the lips and bury your head into his chest, feeling yourself ease into him.

“It only made me stay even more, Youngjae.”

[jenandchris2014]

NomaMexico

F*CKIN UNBELIEVEABLE NIGHT!!!  I'm not a big cusser but there's simply no other way to articulate what transpired a few days ago at #NomaMexico. The meal itself was extraordinary but that was expected.  What was NOT expected was how the evening ended for Chris and me. We somehow ended up spending more than half an hour in the kitchen with two additional impromptu courses that the chef asked his staff to prepare for us. We devoured them while observing the busiest and most elaborate kitchen symphony. WHAT?!!!!  While I wouldn't be naive to say for certain that he never did this for anyone else during his 7 week run of the #popup,  possibly, it could have been?!!!  If he did, it certainly wouldn't have been for any other "regular" folk like us who weren't family/friends/celebrities or any other influential person.  All I can make of everything that happened is that when you speak in the moment and from the heart, the message may also be received wholeheartedly.  I think he just really appreciated our GENUINE admiration/understanding of his dishes AND entire philosophy.

I won't delve too much into the food and experience of #NomaMexico since you can find that online but it was a beautiful 3 hour 14 course love story to MEXICO.  I’m sure I would enjoy any of Chef’s Rene’s creations but growing up in LA where one gets acquainted with Mexican food early on, whether through chalupas served in school lunches or lengua tacos at the stationary street taco truck (not to be confused w/the ubiquitous food trucks of the last decade), I especially cherished it.  Still, it was not as if Chef Rene came to Tulum to create the best "Mexican" food he could. Every dish was new to me (w/the exception of a taco) but at the same time, all cloaked in flavors quite familiar. Specifically, I could taste either chile and/or citrus in almost every course, and the latter particularly worked well to provide a flavorful yet refreshing morsel in a warm jungle setting. Additionally, I noticed the absence of cheese which I thought to be a Mexican staple but only one plate had a tiny sprinkling of it.  I thoroughly appreciated the bright acidity, umami, and heat achieved without heaviness given how long the meal was, not to mention being outside.  That being said, while there were some "wow" ingredients like escamoles (ant larva), the majority of the other ingredients were fairly familiar ones like avocado, chili, lime, pumpkin, etc.. Actually, one of the most memorable courses was also one of the simplest, basically a fruit salad w/a hint of chili oil.  Seriously, it was genius in its simplicity, but somehow out-of-this-world as every single item was just the best MF mango, banana, or whatever we’d ever tasted in life. It was surreal, something so ordinary but SO extraordinary! CRAZY! 

Anyways, now onto the exciting part!   Like with most of our special meals if appropriate, we requested a kitchen tour.  I love seeing the logistics of the stations, the mise en place in action, the layout of the kitchen, and obviously the chef in his/her element.  So after 2.5hours devouring some of the most thought provoking deliciousness perfectly paired with a local wine/mezcal/beer,  Dave, a staff member from Toronto (which obviously wasn’t a coincidence #AttentionToDetail), directed us into the kitchen.  It was absolutely incredible! I couldn't believe they built one like this just to use for seven weeks, but witnessing the symphony in action, it was clear to see how it allowed the flow to be so efficient.   When we commented on this, Dave actually told us that as amazing as NomaJapan was, working in the already existing kitchen of the Mandarin Hotel was a total nightmare.  He added that the Chef will probably never not create his own kitchen for a popup again.  

We continued to ask Dave all sorts of questions, and maybe it was the Canadian in him, but he answered them happily without seeming annoyed. In fact, I feel like he may have perhaps found us refreshing as the staff probably sees hundreds, maybe thousands, of patrons come back just wanting to get their selfie w/the chef. While there's nothing wrong w/that,  I feel like he rewarded our curiosity by taking us on a more thorough tour through the various stations, ranging from the careful placement of each escamole to ladling the perfect amount of the world’s best mole (seriously, I could put this on EVERYTHING. Think something as powerful/addicting/versatile as PioPio’s green sauce)!  He even took us outside and into their extended kitchen outdoors in the jungle where my absolute favorite course was being prepared over an open fire, an octopus wrapped in corn husk cooked in maiz paste (which was served on a bed of the aforementioned mole)!  Afterwards, we passed the dishwashing station (which are all handwashed btw), the staff kitchen, and bbq grills before being led back into the main kitchen.  

When we reentered, Dave made his way toward Chef Rene and he greeted us with a soft smile.  Our entire interaction with him was probably less than a minute, and it’s not like we said anything profound, especially in my daze of complete starstruckness.  Chris told him what he appreciated in one of his favorite courses of the night, and I told him how long I’d been a huge fan of his (pre social media, pre documentaries, pre current food culture btw), but with my tears held back, just barely.  

Then he smiled and said "thank you, excuse me".  We said “of course” and was quite appreciative of even our short time with him since he was super busy.  He walked across the room and had his back toward us which I preferred because my eyes were on him like a stalker.  I recall telling myself to stop staring when the staff member that the chef was talking to caught me doing so.  However, in retrospect, I realize that that staff member was actually looking at us intentionally in reaction to what Chef Rene was telling him.  I’m not sure what words were muttered but it resulted in what ensued in the next 15 minutes or so.   

Dave escorted us to a corner of the kitchen and told us to sit down.  Even at this point, we just thought he was letting us enjoy observing the kitchen for just a tad longer before escorting us out.  We took full advantage of those minutes, and actually, one thing we did notice for the first time were the other patrons, and how much shorter their tours were, a few minutes max before they were escorted out.  Chris and I talked about how lucky we were of Dave’s generosity and also that timing worked out where we were able to catch Chef Rene even for a second.  Then soon afterwards, they set cutlery in front of us and I was a little confused.  Then it hit us... OMFG!!!

They brought out what reminded me of a fried perilla leaf accompanied w/what else,  a bowl of ROSIE’S MOLE!!!   When staff came by catching us in ecstasy to see how we were doing a few minutes later, we commented that we wanted to lick the entire plate of the leftover mole.  Their response, “would you like a tortilla to do that with”?    What?!!!!!  Obvi “YES, yes, YES!”  Shortly after, Dave came by with a plate of tortillas made seconds ago by the women behind him, and said “sorry these tortillas couldn’t be any fresher” ;)

(Our View While Grubbing)

And then when we thought things couldn’t get better, they cleared our plates and brought us another dish!  Softshell crab tacos!!! (yes, it looks like dung, but it was heaven)!  What?!!!  I kept pinching myself, and seriously, I saw Chef Rene across the room checking up on how much we were enjoying ourselves from time to time!  What?!!!!  Even amongst the crazy but genius chaos in his kitchen, he was still monitoring the pulse of his “nobody” guests!  That is serious multitasking and thoughtfulness!

After thoroughly licking off every smear of sauce on our plates, it was finally time to leave the kitchen.  On our way out though, I ambushed the Chef and gave him a hug. We both thanked him again sincerely for this unforgettable experience, took a quick photo, and when he turned around, because one inappropriate forceful surprise hug is just not enough, I gave him another one. His last words were “please go enjoy yourselves and have a few drinks at the bar”, perhaps code for “get away from me now, stalker”! ;)

And so we did!  Chris and I spent half an hour debriefing on what had just happened while taking sips of mezcal, but we couldn’t stay too much longer as we had to get back to our little one.  It’s probably evident though through my overuse of “!!!” that the adrenaline still hasn’t totally worn down even now.  

And as if things couldn’t get any better, fast forward a few days, and I saw Chef Rene post a picture of the soft shell crab that he made tacos for us with on Instagram.  I had never commented on any famous person’s photo before but I felt compelled to knowing full well that a response was unlikely as thousands of people comment on these things.  I was wrong!  Seriously, was this week even real?!!!

Needless to say, an experience truly for the books!  

The End! (You can disregard the rest of this post)