#cannonball sports

[fourteenfifteen]

WINDOWS

T // 2.2k // blaseball - core mechanics

Even with her eyes closed Cannonball is aware of the light and birdsong streaming in the window. This, really, should be the first indication that something is wrong.

read now on ao3

[sheerfreesia007]

Pool Games

Pairing: Changbin x Reader

Word count: 2,096

Content warnings: Fluff

Summary: It’s all fun and games at the pool with the boys and you but when there’s betting involved Changbin is such a sucker for you. What happens when you come to collect your reward?

The sun is streaming down from the bright clear sky heating the tiled pool deck as Changbin and the rest of the guys all gather around the lounge chairs while talking animatedly and excitedly. Chan had organized a pool day for the group of them to try and cool down in this sweltering heat that they were dealing with. Changbin grinned as he watched Hyunjin ruffle Jeongin’s hair harshly as the younger boy cried out exasperatedly before shoving Hyunjin away from him. Growing impatient with the boys not getting in the pool, Changbin leans down and grabs the football from the large tote bag that Chan had packed for all of them. He stands up straight and looks over at Seungmin who eagerly watches him waiting for him to throw the ball, Changbin nods his head towards the pool and Seungmin takes off doing a cannonball into the pool with Jeongin and Felix following him quickly as they cheer loudly. Just as Changbin was winding back his arm to throw the football to the waiting boys he heard the locker room door open and he frowned softly as his head turned to Chan with slight irritation coursing through him.

“Yah! I thought you said it was a closed pool?” Changbin asked Chan with an annoyed frown on his face. Chan grinned as he looked over to the locker rooms and nodded his head at Changbin.

“It is but I invited someone to join us.” Chan explained and Changbin frowned some more before whipping his head to the person who had entered the pool deck. He watched as you walked out along the tiles while excitedly shedding your extra large baggy t-shirt that looked like one of his old ones that he had been missing for a few months now, when his eyes darted down to your bright neon pink bikini he instantly felt light headed and as if he couldn’t catch his breath.

Your body was beautiful to him as he slowly grazed his eyes up and down it as he watched you move quickly towards them all. Your face was lit up with happiness and excitement to see them all as your shoulders and upper chest were bare to them as your pretty bikini had straps criss crossing across your skin. The top looked almost like one of those sports bras he had seen you wear at the gym when you would join him and it fit your sporty style easily which made him grin. But the bikini bottoms are what caught and held his attention, they molded to your body like a second skin and while they covered everything from his wandering eyes but they made your ass look perkier than your workout pants he’s seen you in. That fact alone made his breath stutter out of his chest in pants as you moved closer to them.

“Changbin Hyung! Ball!” shouted Seungmin momentarily distracting him as he launched the ball into the water without looking at him.

“C’mon Seungminnie, you know you can’t overwhelm Changbin Hyung when he’s focused on something. He malfunctions when he’s given too many things to focus on.” Han teased loudly, causing the boys to laugh.

“More like focused on someone.” Chan agreed with Han and Changbin snapped his eyes to his Hyung who smirked at him before nodding his head at you. Changbin knew that the boys all knew about his crush on you and would often tease him about it but you were always so clueless thankfully and he’d managed to keep his crush under wraps from you. But now with you joining them for their pool day he had a feeling that he’d be fielding more teasing remarks from the guys, he’d be fighting for his life.

“Binnie!” you called out in your sweet happy voice effectively dragging Changbin’s sole focus to you as you waved at him. Growing nervous and desperate to keep you away from the boys, Changbin moved without thought as he watched you drop your t-shirt or rather his stolen shirt onto the closest lounge chair. He dropped his shoulder and effortlessly wrapped his arms around your torso as he tackled you into the open pool as you squealed and cried out in surprise at his move.

Changbin kept his arms around you and your body close to his as you both fell into the water with a large splash. You break through the surface a few moments before Changbin does and you’re waiting for him when he finally does as you splash him aggressively and he laughs loudly at your attempts before he wraps his arms around from behind and pins your arms to your sides.

“Give up Yeobo, I’m too strong for you to fight me.” he teases you as you struggle in his arms.

“What gives Changbin?” you cry out exasperatedly as you turn to look at him over your shoulder. He grins widely at you before the football flies through the air and lands in the water splashing the both of you with water.

“Noona! Be on our team!” calls Han as he, Chan, Hyunjin and Lee Know get into the pool while the younger guys are all swimming quickly over to you and Changbin.

“No way, she’s on my team.” Changbin calls out before slowly releasing his hold on you. You move away from him and Seungmin quickly grabs your hand and drags you over to his side as Han and Chan easily crowded you with smirks on their faces as they stared at Changbin.

“She’s on our team. She’s our only defense against you.” Chan says proudly and you chuckle at his words before giving Seungmin a high five as he laughs at Changbin’s disgruntled look.

“Fine, fine. But I’m coming straight for her.” Changbin says menacingly as he points at you. You grin at him before widening your eyes and raising your hand to your mouth in mock horror while Chan laughs and Changbin rolls his eyes at you.

The game is quickly underway after that and soon Changbin is focusing all of his attention on you as you move through the water to get into a good spot to catch the football from Han. Changbin moves effortlessly through the water while you struggle slightly from being shorter in height, when Han throws the football Changbin easily swats it out of the air away from you causing you to splash him water as you pout at him. His answering smirk earns him another splash making him laugh at your antics.

The next game you’re able to get past Changbin and manage to catch the football from Chan but Changbin grabs you around your middle when you move to swim into his team’s endzone. He lifts you high above his head as you squeal loudly while still holding onto the football. Changbin then begins to lower your body back down into the water but you’re flush against him and as he feels your body slide down his own he can feel his face beginning to heat with desire and embarrassment of having you so close to him. You smirk up at him seeing how flustered he’s become before you toss the football to Han who scores a point for your team. YOur happy cheer at your team’s victory pulls Changbin from his dazed headspace and he smiles softly as he watches you and Han do a wild victory dance.

Another round comes up and Changbin figures out too late in the game that you’re the one designated to score this time as Chan and Han block him from getting to you as you dodge and weave around a confused Hyunjin and an unenthused Lee Know to score a point. You whooped loudly with pride as you jumped in place while Seungmin wrapped his arms around your shoulders in a hug at your score. Changbin frowned as he watched Seungmin hug you tightly before he heard Chan chuckle softly.

“Yah! You wouldn’t have scored that point if Chan and Han hadn’t stopped me from tackling you!” he shouted at you and you grinned at him wickedly as your eyes still sparkled with your win. Changbin feels a prickling in the back of his head at your knowing look as you make your way over to him, Chan and Han, he feels as if he’s suddenly prey to your predatory look and he can’t help but internally shrink away from you.

“Alright Binnie, let’s make a bet.” you challenge him and he scoffs at your bravado. “If I can score another point then you owe a reward.”

“You’ll never score another point on me Yeobo.” he taunts you and you smirk wickedly at him before holding your hand out to him.

“Any reward that I want if I score another point on you.” you challenge and Changbin feels as if he’ll be making a deal with the devil if he shakes your hand but he does so anyway. Your answering grin is blinding to him as you look up at him with eager excited eyes. You then gather your team over to you and begin talking strategy with them and Changbin quickly turns to his team who all stare at him with varying degrees of enthusiasm causing him to sigh softly.

As the last game starts Changbin is slightly nervous, your whole team has looks of determination written across their faces and he knows he’s only half a shot of winning this game since half of his team are interested in playing. He holds himself back and watches as Chan keeps the ball as you, Seungmin and Han all rush Changbin’s team. Jeongin matches up with Seungmin trying to keep him back but Seungmin manages to push Jeongin back just barely while Han faces off with Felix who tries to grab onto Han like a clingy koala to keep him tied up which causes Han to begin laughing manically at Felix’s attempt. And then that leaves you who tries rushing through the water on your legs but when Changbin smirks and tries to grab onto you you dodge him and dip under the water to begin swimming away from him towards the end zone.

When you come up for air he’s waiting for you but you manage to be just a few feet ahead of him and Chan launches the ball into the air. Changbin lunges for you but you’re already jumping into the air catching the ball squarely in your arms before cradling the ball to your chest with a loud war cry that makes Chan, Seungmin and Han all cry out loudly. Changbin grumbles as he watches you do another victory dance but then begins laughing as you horribly try to mimic their dance choreography for Thunderous before you spike the ball into the water and throw your hands up.

You suddenly whirl in your spot and Changbin feels the air in his lungs punch out at the wild happy look in your eyes when you spot him. Swimming up to him you slowly stand to your full height and slide your arms up and around his neck causing him to wrap his hands around your waist to hold you up.

”So you owe me a reward.” You say softly to him and he watches as your eyes crinkle slightly at the edges with delight.

”What reward do you want Yeobo?” He asks just as softly. His mouth drops open in shock as you pucker your lips and point to them, he can feel his whole face flush with desire before he begins to giggle loudly at your action. Leaning forward he moves to peck a quick kiss to your lips but when he goes to pull back your hands are threaded through his hair and hold the sides of his head to keep him still as you tilt your head and deepen the kiss. He grunts surprised but eagerly kisses you back while sliding his arms tightly around your back and holding you close to him. When he feels your legs wrap around his hips he feels as if he’s ten feet tall and as if he could lift a bus right now. You pull away slightly and smile dreamily at him when his mouth moves to chase yours before he speaks up. “That’s a good reward. I think you deserve more of those.” 

Suddenly there’s loud cheers and cooing heard all around you as Seungmin gags loudly causing you to laugh at all of their reactions before Changbin moves in for another long deep kiss.

[witherstorm0101]

crossover with roblox Pressure cuz my sci-fi loving ass is in love with it

(tsk.. unfortunately, I was lucky to get THESE idiots as my partners.) (jesus. jesus. I'm in one team with the scariest serial killer. god help me.) -daaamn look at this fancy fuckin` shark, sport! -yeah, sure, dave... wait, WHAT?!

-this way. -w-what?.. into the water?!!

-kennedy, are you stupid? -cannonball! ^_^ -william, there are metal pins down there.

[ohnococo]

Helping Hand | Bartender!Geto x Server!Reader

Geto is always so helpful when you’re stressed…

❥ WC: 1.2k // SFW

❥ Notes: a request for Geto with a bit of an oral fixation. This one is set in this restaurant au.

❥ Warnings: SFW, light flirting, asshole customers mentioned, ice chewing (I know some ppl hate it lol), finger sucking, gn!reader

minors / ageless blogs blocked on sight

Margarita, Mai Tai, Long Island Iced Tea - seeing Suguru this often during your work day thanks to the new Happy Hour deal would normally make your life a lot easier. He’s kind, flirty, even takes your drinks out to your tables himself, knowing his personal touch usually increases your tips (which he insists on you never splitting with him, pointing out how quickly his jar at the bar fills up night after night). With the amount of assholes that had come in today, even his smiling face - and Yuki’s not-so-subtle attempts to play wing-woman as she helps him with the 2-for-1 onslaught behind the bar - had been unable to lift your spirits.

There was a tipping point between alcohol making customers more pliant (and open to putting a little extra money on the table at the end of their meal) and alcohol making them irritable and impatient. So far today your section seemed to almost exclusively be diving right into the latter end of drinking.

This particular table had more or less cannonballed right into being assholes. Mad that a special from last year isn’t still on, annoyed that they couldn’t get a specific booth during the busiest time of the week, changing their order once it’s already been sent back to the kitchen, eating most of it before complaining it was incorrect. Now they were parked at the table, ordering more drinks, racking up a bill you already knew you were lucky to get the change in the bottom of their purses as a tip on top of.

Suguru has a keen eye, even when he’s swamped and pouring drink after drink, so he’d been extra careful with every order you’d sent back from them. Filling drinks to the brim, low ice, a little extra on the garnishes, and he’d reminded you every time you came over to grab them that he’d have brought them over personally if only he could get a second to step away from the bar.

Alas, even with Yuki there alongside him, you were just that busy tonight. The offer still gave you butterflies, something you suspected that Suguru knew all too well as he seemed to always manage to break away from whatever he was doing if only for a second to send a smile your way as you pick up drinks.

This visit to the bar rewards you with his smile as usual when you rush over to grab the latest batch of drinks, but this time he lingers a little longer than he had earlier in the night.

“Hey.” It’s said softly, barely audible over the chatter of the packed restaurant and the dissonance of the TVs playing various sports games, but it earns your full attention nonetheless. “Take a breather if you need to, they can wait.”

He nods towards your table, and you follow his gaze, wanting to take his suggestion but not wanting to make your work any harder than it already is. “They’ll complain…”

You look back to him just as he shrugs. “They’re going to complain anyway. I think that’s their main hobby.”

You laugh, happy to let a little of the tension building in your shoulders release, and Suguru notices right away, “There you go, just relax a little. Here, I’ll join you.”

He dips beneath the bar for a second, bringing up his own water he had stashed away beneath, and taking a drink as he leans against the bar. He tilts it back far enough to pour a little ice into his mouth, before an idea hits him for while he’s got you captive for a minute. “Want me to pour you a drink?”

“Suguru…”

“Non-alcoholic, obviously.” He smiles, in a way that tells you the non-alcoholic part may just be in quotes. The flash of his teeth and his lowered lids actually has you considering it for a moment, then considering other ways to relieve your stress as his mouth distracts you.

His jaw tenses as he bites down on the ice, and his eyes stay on yours as he hollows his cheeks and moves the cold fragments around in his mouth. He pushes it to one side with his tongue, brows lifting in a way that exposes just how obvious you are when he draws your attention to his mouth like this. Not that you were ever able to be subtle when he was always chewing on ice, or moving a toothpick around in his mouth, or any of the other things that he surely must know highlight his perfect jaw and soft lips…

“Don’t worry, you’re allowed to say yes.” His voice pulls you from your train of thought, something you’re grateful for as you know you can’t let yourself get too distracted tonight.

“Sorry Suguru, I’m only half way through my shift. Gotta stay sharp.”

He nods, look of disappointment and acceptance battling for prominence on his handsome face, before chewing the last of the ice that hadn’t melted from the heat of his mouth as he slides the drinks closer to you across the bar. “Fair enough, maybe later.”

“Yeah, later sounds nice.”

You take a breath as you pick up the drinks, preparing yourself for whatever complaint your table will come up with next, and turn to face them.

Suddenly, Gojo goes whizzing by, plates counterbalanced perfectly on his tray, though you aren’t quite so lucky with your balance as you jolt back and out of the path he’d already corrected, spilling one of the drinks down your hand as he throws a quick apology over his shoulder on his way over to his own section.

“Shit…” You turn back to the bar to set the drinks down on cocktail napkins, only to find Suguru already reaching over to top up what had spilled, saving you potential hassle from your table.

You take a few extra napkins from the pile and lift your arm to dab at the drops running down it, happy you at least weren’t going to be stuck with the deadly sticky combination of grenadine and orange juice splashed on your top, and shoot Suguru a relieved smile as he wipes the outside of the glass before resettling it’s straw and sliding it back over to you.

“There you go, good as new.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

You reach for the drink, only to be stopped by a gentle hand on your wrist, with a breathy sigh of, “Wait.” coming from Suguru’s perfect mouth.

You expect an extra garnish, another napkin to clean your fingers further, or one of the other million gestures Geto has in his arsenal to make your job a little easier. You expect anything but what he actually does as he pulls your hand to his mouth, eyes still on yours, and quickly sucks any remaining stickiness off of each of your fingers one by one. It’s quick, an action done with a casualness as if it were entirely normal, though the glint in his eyes as he carefully observes you for any signs of discomfort betrays the reality of it all.

He releases your hand and pulls his bottom lip into his mouth, sucking at it as if it would provide any lingering taste of your fingertips. “All clean.”

Then he sends you on your way, because the assholes at table 6 are waiting after all. Though they’re the last thing on your mind as you leave the bar with your head spinning.

Dividers by @//cafekitsune

[totromanticfool]

It's you and me this summer

Hcs for the nxx boys going on holiday with you (order: Luk - Marius - Vyn - Artem) maybe a bit ooc? (its been a while) Enjoy!

Luke

If you travel by plane, he will offer his shoulder for you to sleep on. He will wake you for snack time though!

If you travel by car, you will switch with driving, and he will have a full playlist with music to keep you both in vacation spirits.

Cannonballs in the pool every single time, then shakes out his hair like a really cute dog. (a golden retriever prob)

Probably burns easily, you will have to remind him about sunblock.

Makes you join karaoke with him out of the blue.

Will take you to little local places to eat, might get a food poisoning from it, but it will be worth it, to see his beautiful genuine smile.

Marius.

First class travel everywhere. Marius is used to it, so you should, too.

By car, he hires someone to drive, so you can both relax closely together in the back seat

Splashes you with water when you try to ease into the pool.

If you are both in a good mood, he will pick you up and throw you in the pool. Has you piggyback ride him in the pool as well, to keep you close.

Probably has staff around him (and you!) For all your needs. Miss wants a drink? It's there within a second. Some shade? Parasol building on the spot.

But the one thing Marius will do himself is apply your sunblock.

He might write something like ♡Marius on your back, so it will be visible agianst te rest of the colored skin.

Vyn

Traveling by plane? He picked out a few books you both can read, while you can choose the music.

By car? He drives. He wants you to relax as much as possible.

He's it the pool on a big floaty with a cup holder. Has a cocktail in it and maybe paid off a waiter to refill it every time he puts the empty glass in the air. (Fight me for this one! I see him as a diva on vacation, canon in chibi lounge 'member?)

Offers to help put on sunblock just to be able to touch your skin.

If there is a wine trip, you will take it. Vyn will have all the knowledge on it and tells you about it with that sparkle in his eyes.

Artem

Traveling by plane, first class. It is expensive but he wants you to relax to the fullest. Even he will close his eyes for a nap.

By car? He drives. He doesn't want you to worry and relax.

Does laps in the pool early in the morning.

Reminds you every few hours to apply sunblock. If you ask him to help, he will turn red, but do it, with a very serious face.

He will do his research before the trip. Knows all the food spots and cultural trips are already planned (only if you want to)

Will act like your personal butler. He will not relax until you are.

You will have to remind him to sit down and enjoy the view every once in a while. (You're his view, obviously)

If you ask him what he really wants to do, he will tell you he wants to visit that super romantic couples spot. (All the while sporting his signature red ears and cheeks)

This has been sitting in my drafts for a while, but i never had the feeling it was 'done' now i know i cant put more in it for now, it was time for me to post it.

until the next drabble!

Love, Hann ❤

[nerdierholler]

Olympics question for my darling Ethan ! What summer sports does he enjoy watching? If he competed, which event would be compete in? 💕 hope kitty is healing well, too! (~agentnatesewell)

Thank you for the ask! Skeeter is doing good. So far she doesn’t mind the extended cone time and my vet is working on a dermatologist referral for us as a next step.

I imagine Ethan as being fairly sporty. He played at least one sport in school, but wasn’t the star player or anything. Running was part of training when he was younger and now it’s just an easy way to stay in shape, plus he likes the alone time.

I think he’s interested in watching sports he doesn’t know much about or would never get to try like water polo, fencing, diving, and gymnastics. In theory, never at the olympic level, he could play soccer, go for a long bike ride, freestyle swim in a pool or play basketball but he’s never going to a do anything but a cannonball off a diving board lol

If he competed I think it would be a longer distance run of some sort but not marathon, something on the track. If trail running/cross country was an olympic sport I could see that too but he isn’t a steeplechase person.

This was such a fun ask! Thank you!

[justjensenanddean]

Jensen Ackles Solo Panel | JIBCon 2023 (February 25, 2023)

(loriladeakali)

‘Yes I do make my kids listen to radio company… they haven’t called CPS on me yet!’ (x)

Jensen: “I do force my children to listen to my music” They really like Cannonball. They haven’t heard all the new album yet - which just dropped & is doing really well! Steve keeps texting him w updates about it being like #3 on the country charts (!) (x)

Ok. JJ has her own playlist that she makes Jensen play on the way to school. It has Taylor Swift, Harry Styles (which led to some woooooooo and a Calm Down!! From Jensen) and some song about a sunroof. (x)

Jensen: arrow can hear a song and then play it on the piano. #jib11  (x)

Jensen: his 6yo daughter Arrow has taken to the piano. She hears a song & goes & picks it out by ear! For now they’re just letting her have fun with it. Thought about having her take lessons but they don’t want it to become un-fun for her when she’s just 6 (x)

Jensen talking about his daughter JJ: she’ll grab his phone & have it for “seconds - seconds!! And everything’s changed! I don’t know how to get it back! & I ask her to change it back & she’s like, No.”  She’s been making her own playlists on spotify & apple music on his phone (x)

Jensen never thought he would get to do music, so he is very grateful to all of us for the support shown to Radio Company (x)

Jensen: they're hoping to see where the Radio Company shows are going but they "don't know yet. We'll see" (x)

Q about JA now seeing more of the production process. JA: turns out getting a show on the air is a monumental feat. So many pitches, the odds are so stacked against it. Safest thing a studio exec can say is no.  (x)  JA: “It is a hard business to be in. It is a business of rejection.” Been in the development process now for half a dozen different shows, & Winchesters is the only one that launched. (cryptic description of one other that had “big players”, but “timing wasn’t right”) (x)  (very thoughtful response on this whole issue btw - I failed to capture it all - clearly he’s been thinking about it a lot, about how to launch new shows) (x)

JA can’t find his phone  He wants to look something up to answer a fan q  (x)

Q about fight scenes: did you have any experience w fighting technique? JA: No, never trained in any of the fighting disciplines. But has done a lot of sports, thinks of himself as “fairly athletic”, so what he does is ask an expert what they’d do, then try to mimic them  (x)

opening fighting scene in Atomic Monsters ep (15x04) is favorite fighting scene of Jensen, and it wasn't even scripted! He just wanted to do something fun, so they added it into the ep  (x)

Jensen's stunt double, who he worked with since Dark Angel, went on to become Jason Momoa's stunt double when he [the stunt double] "got too famous"  (x)

The stunt coordinator on #TheBoys was so impressed by Jensen's great input that he started calling him "fight coordinator"  (x)

JA on stunts/fights: On The Boys, there are way bigger fights than SPN. On the Boys he rehearsed 2 wks for 1 fight scene (on SPN set it was like 20 min). Got to come up w different moves, even had some creative input. Stunt guy used so many of JA’s (x)  suggestions that he started calling JA the “fight coordinator!” Then when he landed the Big Sky role, The Boys’ stunt coordinator guy called up Big Sky’s and said “you’re getting one of my best fight coordinators”. & Big Sky then made him a hat that says “Fight Coordinator” (x)

Jensen about thinking his son threw up in his mouth: just swallow it, swallow it and you can have some water (x)

( Sue_Bcn )

[ishouldbedoinghw]

You Can't Erase Me

One Piece fanfic, part 9: Tavern Wench

Previous parts are in my pinned masterlist.

A woman enslaved by the celestial dragons is found by a man with red hair. Angst and comedy ensues.

A/N: Y'all know the drill. This and some future chapters of this story have been inspired by music I love listening to while writing or planning out scenes in my head. I highly recommend the Derina Harvey Band for some rock-inspired sea shanties, and I also really like Karilene's album inspired by the story of Anne Bonney.

TW: Some self deprecating language, alcohol consumption, Shanks

I might make a playlist of the specific songs that inspired this chapter, and I'll also link the songs used for specific moments because they really helped shape this chapter and the sort of energy I want to portray.

As we neared the town once again, the sun had sunk low in the sky, throwing its last rays over the sea in hues of orange and a slight pink. I held onto Shanks's arm, as he had insisted he had to be the one escorting "the lady" inside since he was the captain. Despite evidently wanting to look "manly", he still sported a hideous pair of shorts and dirty sandals.

How in the hell is he expecting to go dancing in those anyway?

Our party consisted of the wretched ginger, Yasopp, Benn, Roux, and myself, the former two having burst into some out-of-tune melody about their son John and how he'd lost his limbs to cannonballs or something. I had to admit the song was pretty funny, but I refused to give Shanks the satisfaction of a laugh, so I bit my tongue to keep a straight face.

The "tavern" as Benn had described it, was huge, and nothing like the little bars I had pictured. A massive name of lights almost covered one side of the building, and hoards of people were crowded around double doors, yelling and laughing at each other.

DELILAH'S JOINT

In truth, the place wasn't all that fancy, just a large, almost circular building that looked like it may have been a barn in a former life. The lights looked like the newest installment, as the white paint covering the walls was peeling in many places. I tried to focus my hearing to catch any music leaking through the doors, but all I could make out was the chattering of the crowd.

"Move, you're stepping on my foot!"

"Why couldn't I just stay home, there's too many people here."

"It's too bad Loreley left this place, I loved being able to hear her sing."

"What's your favorite on her new album, mine has to be the one about Delilah."

"That's everyone's favorite, mine is Merry, the one about the Straw Hats."

"That's because you're a freak for the cyborg."

"Franky is hot and you know it, and at least I don't keep Roronoa's wanted poster in my room."

"Shut up-"

"Oh my God, is that Hawkeyes?"

The warlord? I tried to peek over the heads of the crowd, but even my new glasses couldn't help see through people.

"Oi, Mihawk's here!" Shanks piped up cheerfully, also scanning the crowd, "We've gotta get him to join us for drinks-"

A sweet, almost sultry voice silenced everyone. I couldn't even hear the hum of bugs or twittering of the birds.

"It's Emily-"

A thunderous roar swept through the crowd, cheering and chanting Emily's name.

"-and you know what time it is."

No, I did not know what time it was, and I certainly didn't appreciate the way people started pushing and shoving each other to get through the doors. It took one look from the crew to get people to skirt around us, but the feeling of so many strangers looking at us was still overwhelming.

Shanks' arm moved to curl around my shoulders as he herded me and the crew inside and to a large table near the back wall. The inside of the tavern was smaller than I assumed it would be, but it was densely packed with people adorned with jewels and heavily perfumed. The sweet smells mixing in the air all but stung my nose, my eyes burning as I fought to adjust. The light was dimmed, but glowing blues and purples illuminated the floor and walls.

"Emily" as I'd heard before, was a tall, lithe woman with waist length white hair and breezy, iridescent blue silk draped around her. She was the spitting image of a siren in folk tales, with bright beckoning eyes and a slight quirk at the corner of her mouth. It only took one glance around the screaming crowd to understand that she knew the effect she had on people. I didn't even know I was capable of blushing until she glanced in the direction of the crew.

Although, I had a hunch her gaze was directed at Shanks.

I sat there for a minute, watching the lights ebb and flow, and as my attention became focused on the way the patterns of the lights hitched over the uneven floor, the roar of the the crowd became a dull buzz. It was Benn that had to nudge me, his eyes shining with delight, after the show started.

The sound of the first note seemed to explode from the stage,' jolting me in my seat. Yasopp seemed to find that funny, slapping Roux on the arm as he cackled.

The actual song, however, was light and eerie, like some haunted lullaby. Emily's hips swayed with the rhythm, and long strings of beads hung around her waist, following just behind her movements.

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth-

Back and forth

Back and

forth

Back

and

forth.

Where had I heard that song before?

I was swaying back

and

forth.

I was singing slowly, I couldn't wake the baby.

Why won't the cage stop swinging? Who is making all the noise? Didn't they know the baby was sleeping? Didn't they know the father would be angry? I wanted to eat, I wanted to live-

I was scared. Why was I back here? I'm not supposed to be here.

One

two

three-

A hand. On my arm. I was supposed to be alone up here.

A murmur. A squeeze. A shake.

A loud, crisp slap. I came to life, chest heaving, with a burning left cheek.

"What- What the hell?" I spluttered, grabbing my face.

"Welcome back, Pipsqueak."

Pipsqueak? No one on the crew calls me that-

"Oi, up here," the voice said again, this time with fingers snapping in my face.

"Stop that-"

"You're in no place to be givin' demands, 'Squeak."

The voice belonged to a large-statured woman who was currently looming over me with a scowl. Her hair was gray and a little coarse, and her right eye was covered with a black patch. As old as she looked, the woman was all lean and tough, with weathered skin that reminded me of Benn's. A pirate, perhaps? She left the impression she'd spent a lot of time in sun and salt water.

"Did you- slap me?" I blurted, unable to think of anything else that sounded more intelligent.

She barked out a laugh, deep and throaty.

"Real funny joke, girl. What I'd like to know, Loreley, is why you're starved-looking and shacking up with Red-Hair." She leaned in closer, squinting at me. "And also why your eyes are fuckin' yellow."

Loreley? I'd heard someone mention the name Loreley outside, it had sounded like a musician or something.

"My name isn't Loreley, what the hell are you talking about."

She snarled and pushed me back over. "Bull-fuckin'-" She stopped, gazing at my face. "Shit."

She backed off of me then, tilting her head as she continued to stare. Then she just shrugged and turned away, saying, "My bad, kid, thought you were someone else."

What the hell? "Wait-" But she'd already disappeared, leaving me alone.

Shakily standing up, I did my best to gather my surroundings. The walls around me were significantly more weathered than the hall I had just been in, and were covered in brightly-lit mirrors. Everywhere I turned was my own reflection surrounded in light bulbs. The place was also a mess, with chairs, fabric, and- makeup?

I was in some kind of dressing room.

Where the hell am I, and where is my crew? Panic seized my chest, and I struggled to breathe. Stumbling a bit, I tried to find a door, a window, sunlight, sound, or anything that could lead me out.

The woman hadn't seemed interested in me after I had turned out not to be Loreley, but would she be angry if I escaped? Was I a prisoner?

A door to my right burst open, and a hoard of blue-clad girls chattering excitedly scurried in, each claiming a mirror. I quickly turned away, face burning, after some of them started to undress.

I could see the last two girls coming through the door in my peripheral, and before I could look away, they made a beeline for me.

"I told you it wasn't her, dumbass." The shorter girl said. She resembled Emily a bit with her long blonde hair thin frame, or perhaps it was just the gauzy blue fabric she was dressed in. It seemed she was playing on the siren aspect of the singer as well, with fake pearls and seashells scattered on her hair and around her neck.

"Shut up, at least I didn't miss an entire line because I forgot the most popular song in this fucking hemisphere." The other girl shot back in a bit of a deep voice. She was nearly twice the height of the blonde, with pastel pink hair tied loosely behind her neck.

"Oh that's rich coming from you," She put on a dramatic forlorn expression, holding her head in her hands. "Quickly! is this the blue dress song or the white dress one!"

She earned a light shove for that, the pink-haired girl's face a bright red at her comment.

"Where am I?" I blurted, gaining back their full attention.

"Um- backstage? The dressing room?" The pink-haired girl looked confused. "Aren't you here to replace Bernadette during the shanties?"

"What?"

The blonde shrugged, starting to pull shells out of her hair. "Listen, maybe the newbie's still out in the hall-"

"Wait a damn minute-" And the pink haired girl pulled her friend closer and whispered hurriedly, glancing at me every so often. The only thing I could make out was a "fucking Delilah" and a few light snickers. My heart was pounding too loudly in my chest to really eavesdrop.

After finishing their private discussion, the taller one turned and clasped her hands together. "Okay, girlie, our boss you met earlier? The old grouchy one?"

I nodded, unsure where this was going.

"Well, she seems to be convinced you can dance after meeting you exactly once, so we are gonna dress your ass up and test that theory."

"What the fuck-"

"Yeah, I'm not sure what's happening either, but I don't get paid to ask those questions."

"You bitch and moan plenty on the clock, so-" The blonde started before being muffled by her friend's hand over her mouth.

"I'm not on for another hour, so I'm the one who gets to watch this shit fail."

I wasn't sure whether I should be offended or not.

----

In the next few minutes, I had been stripped of my clothing, and laced up in some off-white, ruffled dress and a pearlescent corset.

'Tavern wench' was what the pink-haired girl, whose name I learned was Maria, called it.

While I wasn't a fan of how my shoulders and scarred neck were exposed, I couldn't deny I looked damn good in that corset. The laughter I'd received at the market today was almost forgotten as I studied how my figure looked.

It was amazing how much feeling pretty could matter to a person.

I studied Maria as she bustled around me, picking up various bottles or brushes. Her face was brightly colored in dramatic stage makeup, her lips and cheeks shades of pink similar to her hair. It looked lovely on her, and I couldn't help myself from saying-

"I like your hair, it's really pretty."

I should've known something was up when she got a devious glint in her eye as she politely thanked me. After a beat, she reached up and ripped the hair straight from her scalp, making me jump back in horror. I wanted to scream when the wad of hair landed in my lap-

It was a wig.

Maria was cackling her ass off, holding her stomach and slapping the table, knocking a couple of bottles over.

"I will never get tired of pulling that shit." She said, trying to gather herself. Her real hair was cropped close to the scalp, similar to mine, and a deep brown.

I shakily set the wig down on the table in front of me, not loving the idea of the residue of someone's scalp resting in my hands.

What I did love was how at ease I felt around Maria. I hadn't interacted with anyone but the crew or a doctor since I washed up. After making sure I knew the crew was fine and that they knew where I was, Maria had been very considerate of my personal space without coddling me. I felt like a woman getting ready with another woman, not a little girl acting as a doll. It was nice not being treated like glass.

"Here." She was in front of me now, holding a brush dipped in red. "For your cheeks and lips. Rouge is old-fashioned, but I think it'll flatter you," she said, dabbing at my face. "It's more historically accurate too."

After painting my face, she stood back and studied me, heavy brows pinched. Turning and rummaging through a cabinet above me, she said, "So, how'd you end up on a crew with the Red-Hair Pirates, if you don't mind me asking."

I chewed on my lip, unsure of what to say. Both Benn and Hongo had warned me plenty of how the mark on my back couldn't be discussed with people, although they wouldn't tell me why.

I decided on "They found me at sea." followed up with, "I don't have any family around."

She hummed, pulling a couple of wigs out. One was a red shade close to the color of my own hair, and the other was long, black and curly. She held the red one up close to me, then let out a tsk and laid it next to her pink one.

"You know who Loreley is, Jett?" She asks, running her fingers through the black wig.

I was happy to have a question I could answer truthfully. "I've heard her name; she's a musician, right?"

"Yep, she's more of a local legend at the moment, but everyone I know that listens to her stuff is hardcore into it." She squints, and adjusts one of the straps on my dress. "Honestly, you look a lot like her. A little taller maybe, and the eyes are a different color, but I'm surprised more people here haven't trampled over each other trying to get your autograph or something."

"It seems like you know her personally."

"I do," Maria said, holding the black wig up to me now. "She got her big start right here in this building, we all know her. It's why the boss made such a big deal about thinking you were her, she's practically her daughter."

I had wondered about that, why Delilah has seemed so insistent on interrogating me. I still wasn't sure why she'd insisted on me dancing tonight, but at least she wasn't still standing over me.

"Loreley is the whole reason the rest of us are even here. She's the one who got Delilah to open up her place to let other performers get in front of a big crowd." She was pulling the wig over my head now.

"There," she said, securing it. "Your hair color is sick, but it looks too much like hers, you might confuse people and get some unwanted attention."

"Plus," she added, pulling her own wig back on, "Now no one can tell you're Red-Hair's girl, makes it a little safer."

"Oh- I'm not-" I stammered, shaking my head.

"Oh? No? Just your captain, got it." She paused, thinking. "Is he, you know, with anyone?"

"Not that I'm aware of? What-"

"I always thought Beckmann was more handsome, but he's old enough for it to be a little weird-"

"Please stop talking about the guys I live with that way," I groan, "I'm sorry, it's just weird for me."

"Understandable," she quips, leaning into the mirror and adjusting her hair. "You have no clue how many people come here begging to see Emily, or ask us what her favorite food is or some shit."

I giggled a little, remembering how many people had gone feral watching the white-haired girl.

"Emily's the next one to go big, I think. Delilah's picky about who opens for her most nights, so she shows a lot of faith in her."

I hum, nodding my head.

A voice calls through the door in the corner. "Delilah's first set is starting, the newbie better her head into what she's doing here."

"Don't be rude, Goldfish, she didn't faint of thirst over your girlfriend or something."

The voice spluttered, and the door slammed. I could still hear muttering as they stomped away.

"Alright girlie, time to figure out how high the boss is," Maria says, ushering me to the door. "Even if you don't know what you're doing, you'll look great, so no one will really care-"

"Maria!" A different voice this time, it sounded like the girl Maria had been with. "Hey, Maria!" She sounded more panicked this time. "Bernadette was supposed to do Calico Jack, and Delilah won't let either of us do it."

Supposed to do what?

Maria groaned, looking extremely agitated. "Well, shit."

She turned and jogged away, returning with a rum bottle, a similar kind to the ones all over the Red Force. After taking a large swig, and grimacing as she swallowed, she handed it to me. "Drink up, and good fucking luck, babe."

[blaseballshipbracket]

BLASEBALL SHIP BRACKET ROUND 1

64 ships enter, one ship leaves! who will reign supreme? how will your faves fare? it's a tlournament for the ages!

this is a seeded bracket generated from ships suggested in a google form. round 1 begins thursday, 03/30/23 and will run for one week. propaganda is encouraged - tag this blog and i'll share it!

ROUND 1 MATCHUPS:

Megan Ito/Parker MacMillan VS Leon Duncan/Andrew Trebek

Finn James/Kennedy Loser VS Hewitt Best/Yeong-Ho Garcia

Flattery McKinley/Niq Nyong'o VS Jessica Telephone/Betsy Trombone

Tillman Henderson/Declan Suzanne VS Don Mitchell/Percival Wheeler

Baldwin Breadwinner/Alyssa Harrell VS Axel Cardenas/Miguel Wheeler

Dominic Marijuana/Andrew Solis VS Eduardo Ingram/Leach Ingram

Pedro Davids/Valentine Games VS Anathema Elemefayo/Patty Fox/Hatfield Suzuki

Stevenson Heat/James Mora VS Baby Triumphant/Castillo Turner

Yosh Carpenter/Sebastian Woodman VS Cannonball Sports/Bees Taswell

Igneus Delacruz/Howell Franklin VS Mcdowell Mason/Sexton Wheerer

Allison Abbott/Kichiro Guerra VS Eugenia Garbage/Ziwa Mueller

Caleb Alvarado/Isaac Johnson VS Conner Haley/Sebastian Telephone

Brock Forbes/Adalberto Tosser VS Domino Bootleg/Theodore Honeywell

Lenny Marijuana/Chorby Short VS Moody Cookbook/Landry Violence

Margarito Nava/Nic Winkler VS Riley Firewall/Geraldine Frost

Inez Owens/Bees Taswell VS Paula Turnip/Hiroto Wilcox

Tyreek Olive/Landry Violence VS Fitzgerald Blackburn/Math Velazquez

Val Hitherto/Nerd Pacheco VS Ortiz Lopez/Pitching Machine

Luis Acevedo/Tot Clark VS Derrick Krueger/Sebastian Telephone

The San Francisco Lovers VS Gita Sparrow/Jayden Wright

Tillman Henderson/Mike Townsend VS Famous Owens/Mclaughlin Scorpler

Alaynabella Hollywood/Magi Ruiz VS Nerd Pacheco/Lars Taylor

Nagomi Mcdaniel/York Silk's Mom VS Qais Dogwalker/Grollis Zephyr

Jacob Haynes/Alaynabella Hollywood/Moses Mason VS Burke Gonzalez/Brock Watson/Joshua Watson

Jaylen Hotdogfingers/Jessica Telephone VS Juice Collins/Sutton Dreamy

Sandford Garner/Don Mitchell VS Famous Owens/Nerd Pacheco

Rivers Rosa/Lou Roseheart VS Jode Crutch/Rush Ito

Declan Suzanne/Edric Tosser/Baby Triumphant VS Lady Matsuyama/Bottles Šuljak

Cornelius Games/Richardson Games VS Mags Banananana/Eugenia Bickle

Workman Gloom & PolkaDot Patterson VS Shannon Chamberlain/Kennedy Loser

Caligula Lotus/Beck Whitney VS Steals Mondegreen/Silvaire Semiquaver

Summers Preston/Stephanie Winters VS Haruta Byrd/Bright Zimmerman

[spiderh0rse]

freeman's mind noted part 5, e21-25

e21

images just come to him like a prophet for an angry god

a lil scared of big blue lobster out in Power Up

could solve all his problems by exploding things with his mind

wants marshmallows....

FUNNY NOISES. "HERE'S JOHNNY". MANNNN

thinks headcrabs would make cool lawn ornaments

"rubble rumble rubble rumble rubble rumble" he just likes saying words real quick together

he thinks he's a good liar

doesn't want green slime on his suit :(

not amazed at the orange HEV suit but admits it's good otherwise

THE SUIT DENTS WHEN YOU SHOOT IT SO STOP SHOOTING IT

(not sure why the formatting is doing this.)

e22

"pyew!"

has seen The Terminator

"what's the point of being an honest citizen if I'm just gonna get shot at anyways" FUCK THE TROOPS

has seen Rambo

concerned about accessibility!! :D

"lasers!" Said in the samw done in laser/caution

urgh the electron measurement nonsense. I hate that. Particle and wave. Depends on what you know about it

new sport? Houndeye killing?

Gordon I don't think the soldiers care about fixing the generator

had an old apartment where the basement got flooded because he did a cannonball so sick his bathtub sunk into the floor

"bbbrrrrrrp!"

"NYYYAAA"

hey if you survive the electricity you'd have a sick scar

high five Death!

e23

yes the military is incompetent we all know this

doesn't know how to play guitar

is very polite asking people to not kill him

thinks the radio chatter is dissing him

stresses to the soldiers that he graduated from MIT

seems less bothered by having killed a bunch of people now. Interesting difference from earlier

beepbeepbeepbeepbeep

"I don't like to beep too much" YOU HAVE BEEN BEEPING. ALL SERIES

thinks radios are how The Man finds you

grey map? Haunting.

smushing more words together without proper words to put them apart,, man after my own heart

smuggling an elephant almost wouldn't surprise him

would love rubber on the HEV.

cheery about leaving behind the dying guard

he is not happy right now

e24

may believe cavemen had to deal with gargantuars and HECU. May be ironic

wants to go up

he's a CAT. (meows multiple times) (hisses)

says out loud that he's scared

straining noises,,,

karma strikes him often

thats why the dinosaurs went extinct! Him!

expert in atomic level electricity

has frequently had to sit through family members shitty photo albums

one of the perks of killing everyone: no one can yell at you

he's in great shape! and has been exercising all day! please give this man some food!

likely not forklift certified

would like henchmen throwing switches for him

would sacrifice minions for good parking

threatens someone and then says he won't actually do it because it's be gross

wants to hit the clubs after a good shower

slur count four.

e25

could climb over the concrete but wants a nice ride

thinks a train derailment (shakes violently bnsf derailment-) would look cool

talks about some story about one teacher of his asking if crashing a motorcycle into a haybale or concrete divider is more dangerous at 60mph. My bet is on the haybale. Lots of little things that'll run you through. Nasty stuff. Straw impales telephone poles sometimes. Wear a helmet.

if he were a conductor killing his passengers would be his idea retirement

since no one can see him confused he's still a genius

barnacles now dubbed "string things"

he's covered in BLOOD again

cant emulate turtles and hide in his bright orange shell

expects to find a cult in On A Rail. string theory crowd......

ongoing commentary about if the aliens are demons or not

percussive maintenance does do wonders

pro slavery. not racist somehow. Gambling instead?? I have no idea where he gets these ideas from.

there are just. Unholy screams btw. in the background.

doesn't have a bandolier :'(

hey a switch!

poor guy is Not getting paid for this. Community service.

continues to be grossed out by the barnacles. Reminds him of the summer he worked fast food

"QUIT BEING METAL"

If he were a wizard he says

[soldier-requests]

playlist based off sharks :]. i got a new favorite animal guys /half-joke.

songs go like "song" + "artist"

"Jaws" + "Lemon Demon"

"Pizza Heroes" (bonus track) + "Lemon Demon"

"Brodyquest" + "Lemon Demon"

"Jaws" (main theme) + "M.S. Art"

"Stranger" + "Spence Bare"

"Ghost Party" + "Messer Chups"

"Magneto" + "Messer Chups"

"Below the Surface" + "Tatu" and "PeKeÑo ReD"

"In The Room Where You Sleep" + "Dead Man's Bones"

"Sunny" + "Boney M."

"Troubadour" + "Vundabar"

"Paraphernalia" + "Temples"

"Twelfth Street Rag" + "Roy Clark"

"Jetpack Joyride Main Theme" + "Halfbrick"

"Scary Flying Shark" + "Kids TV - Baby Shark Songs" (https://youtu.be/79aIfFdNkuo)

"Numbers (I Can Only Count to Four)" + "Psychostick"

"ミッドナイト・ランデブー" (in english: "Midnight Rendezvous") + "CASIOPEA"

"Down Under" + "Men At Work"

"Tequila" + "The Champs"

"Good Vibrations" (remastered 2001) + "The Beach Boys"

"Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind" (opening theme) + "Joe Hisaishi"

"Stampede of the Ohmu" + "Joe Hisaishi"

"Intergalatic" (remastered 2009) + "Beastie Boys"

"Sports" + "Viagra Boys"

"Cannonball" + "The Breeders"

"Nothing Man" + "Sodikken"

"Sky Mall" + "Vulfpeck" and "Vulf"

"Stickbug" + "Buoyant Records"

"Portal muzsika" + "Portal"

"20221127" + "Mac DeMarco"

"Rambunctious Beet" + "DaDood"

"Snow Elves" + "galen tipton"

"最後の楽園" (in english: "The Last Paradise") + "Haruomi Hosono"

"This Is My Beloved" + "Mort Garson"

"A Devil's Touch in the Midwest" + "Macabre Plaza"

"Silhouette" + "Pastel Ghost"

"lain" + "C4FF31N3"

"GOT UR NUMB3R" (v2) + "bugcried"

"Always Forever" + "Cults"

"Summerlove" (Scorccio Edit) + "S-Connection"

"Palmtree Panic" ('P' mix) + "SEGA SOUND TEAM"

"Gelato Beach" + "Arcade Player"

"Rhinestone Eyes" + "Gorillaz"

dividers by @/mordzine and @/waterinyourears

[yiga-hellhole]

TFTK Extended Cut: CHAPTER 3: SYNCYTIUM SANCTUM

HIIII EVERYONE I'M BACK! i couldn't help myself but make Yuganon real. i've been teasing the ship in-fic but it's time to stop beating around the bush and give those old men their own chapter.

this time, it's another bathhouse chapter, but yuga meets a little someone else than his other bathmates... old feelings from a previous life come bubbling back to the surface, and Lorule's diva has no choice but to shoot his shot. 6k words under the cut!

ao3 mirror

masterpost

It was a late night. Yuga was taking the evening off… What was left of it, at least. As usual, his co-lieutenant, Ghirahim, seemed eager to burn nearly all his candles in posing before his canvas. The young man was so ethereally beautiful, he hadn’t even minded all the time he was taking up in his schedule. On the contrary; he’d grown so obsessed with the demon’s finely polished features, he simply couldn’t get enough of him. This premature severing of their arrangement was only in concern for his health, really. His back and shoulders were killing him, bringing about the kind of ache that only being dunked in hot water could relieve.

Moonlight nearly bounced off his pearly skin as he passed through the corridors. He had his satchel of various grooming implements slung over his shoulder and a towel wrapped around his body. He was expecting privacy, as the baths were usually empty at this hour. At least, he hadn’t encountered anyone when rinsing the paint stains off. He didn’t mind the occasional witness. His form was immaculate, after all! But the attendants remained flustered around his appearance. Somewhere, they must have recognized him as another male Gerudo and never were two at once supposed to occur. He preferred they thought him an odd, flat-chested lady, instead.

Humming a cheerful tune, the sounds of his approach bounced off the stone walls. In his time here, he’d already put together a routine of all his little favorite spots, and he was finally heading towards the pinnacle of it.

He passed under blue mosaic lanterns, making the already cool light ever colder. Sheer drapes covering the windows to the courtyard brushed his skin as he walked by. Finally, he turned the last corner he needed to get to the baths.

Only to find, after stumbling upon nobody at all the entire evening, that the pool was thoroughly occupied. Seated inside, with massive arms resting upon the edge of the bath, was none other than Ganondorf. From the way he looked up at him from behind fuzzy eyebrows and heavy lids, he’d long heard him coming.

“I do beg your pardon, Milord,” Yuga stammered, adjusting the towel wrapped around his chest in a fluster. “I wasn’t aware this bath was occupied. I will be taking my leave-“

In an instant, he was silenced by the Demon King’s hand, as it rose from the water as he spoke. “The palatial bathhouse accommodates far more than one man at a time, Lord Yuga. I don’t demand otherwise,” he rumbled. “Your presence does not displease me. Come, sit.”

Yuga hesitated for but a moment, eyes wide and hands clasped before his chest. In that split second of nerves, his painter’s eye drew in far more detail than he would normally allow himself. Ganondorf’s hand, now free of its gauntlet, sported sandstone-hued skin on the palm that bled into bronze. Richly calloused was its surface, patterned with grooves and padded muscle. His gaze wandered from his hand to his arm, with muscles like cannonballs under his skin even when relaxed. Straying ever further, he spotted little water droplets caught in the coarse, red hair that adorned his skin, like dew upon the morning grass. A hulking chest nearly the size of a wine barrel protruded from the water, each breath sending soft ripples out into the rest of the bath. 

But what drew him far quicker were the Gerudo’s eyes. Their piercing gold snagged his attention. His gaze could no longer stray further than the skin around those eyes, wrinkled by age, sun, and decades of turmoil. He was truly a King of all kings, the paragon of all that had ever sat upon a throne. Yuga was powerless to move, much less look away.

At least, not until Ganondorf turned his hand, and beckoned him gently. As if tugged by the collar, he stumbled slightly forward and made his way to the edge of the bath. The slapping of his slippers echoed across the water. He came to a halt next to the King, whose massive arms were now leaning casually on the edge of the bath. 

Dared he sit next to him?

Never was he one to be in any measure insecure about his figure, but in the presence of a man whose arm alone could rival his entire torso in size, he found himself a bit hesitant to get into his usual routine. Ganondorf was his counterpart, in a way, yet he felt awfully outmatched in his presence.

Hesitation faded quickly. The mass of vibrant orange hair at his feet shifted. Ganondorf tipped his head back, one of his furrowed-shut eyes cracking open to look up at him. He didn’t need to speak to get his words across; Yuga understood perfectly. It was about time he stopped dilly-dallying restlessly behind him, and joined at his side. 

And so, he sat beside him, just a hand’s breadth or two between his thigh and the Gerudo’s elbow that rested nearby. Yuga’s decision to only as much as dip his feet in the water seemed to puzzle him, but he paid it no mind. He was just a touch too apprehensive about joining him in the water still, finding the prospect of bathing together too bold to suggest. Finally, he undid the tie of his towel around his chest, and let it drop on the tiles below him.

The towel on his head was next. Still damp from his earlier bath, his hair dropped heavily on his now bare shoulders, long enough to drape past his chest and cover him in nymph-like fashion. He peeked past the crack of his eyelids, only to find Ganondorf paying him no heed. In some ways, it irked him, but overwhelmingly, it relieved him of the pressure to put up appearances. So instead, he began to hum softly and retrieved a ceramic jar from his satchel. Fingers bundled together, he retrieved a thick scoop from its insides. The sharp, yet milky scent of the globby cream tingled his nostrils once he rubbed it between his hands. Those same greased, slippery fingers now dragged their way through his hair, squeezing the wet strands between them. By the time he opened his second container, Ganondorf perked up.

“More coconut?” he asked, a brow raised but his eyes remaining closed in leisure.

Yuga laughed, rinsing his hands in the water before massaging the next cosmetics onto his cheeks. “Indeed. The other stuff is far too greasy on my skin.”

Ganondorf grunted, now turning his head to look at him. “I was under the assumption you’d already washed up before you came here. Your hair was wet when you arrived.”

“Oh, I did,” he proclaimed, deftly rubbing the lotion into the negligible bags under his eyes. “My routine is just a little on the intensive side. I’m getting on in age, after all, and I’d much prefer to do so in good health and appearance.”

Ganondorf’s curiosity warmed up into amusement. The corners of his mouth tugged into a grin, baring his magnificently white teeth just a touch. “You sound just like the governesses. Why you choose to visit the bathhouse in their absence is beyond me. They would make for fine company for you.”

He snickered a little, unable to think of a retort, but quickly latched on to the opportunity to learn more about his companion. “Not for you, then, Milord? I assume you, too, came tonight looking for peace.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t mind the company. My Sisters are too shy about bathing with me, and I find myself reluctant to join my other lieutenants. They are far too rambunctious for this place of calm.”

Yuga cackled in response. “Oh, I do so know what you mean. I join them on occasion, but… The spirit of youth, it makes them too wild.”

A hum rumbled out from Ganondorf, followed by a somewhat exasperated nod. He looked out over the water again, allowing a silence to fall. The sound of running water had barely settled in his ears before he spoke again, regaining that dominant tone he always carried. “How do you fare with your fellow commanders?”

“I fare with them swimmingly, Sire. They are beautiful and strong. I’ve grown quite fond of them, over time,” he said, smiling fondly. “In the future, I do hope you will station me with them.”

He nodded again, thoughtfully this time, fiddling with his fingers dipped in the water. “I see. I will have to consider it.”

As he sat lathering himself in scented oils, Ganondorf simply lounged beside him, resting against the edge of the bath and lavishing in the hot water. Soon, he would come to find that calm infectious. He leaned back, propping himself up with his hands behind him, and swished his legs idly in the water. Steam rose from the turquoise water in a haze. Droplets from the moisture coursed down the brightly tiled walls around them, and Yuga found some sticking to his oiled skin, too. A single sigh loosened them, letting them run down his chest and pool down into his lap. His eyes wandered back to the man who sat next to him, as they were bound to do in the presence of such splendor. 

Something stirred in him. He wasn’t sure if it was the dampness of the air that tightened his chest, or something else that clouded his judgment, as he was once again overcome with the need to fuss over him. That beautiful, fiery mane was washed, certainly, but its tips hung carelessly behind him and dipped into the water. Just the thought of split tips on such a well-groomed, noble man was enough to make his skin crawl. He couldn’t stand for it. Not after all that time he spent admiring it, hoping to comb his fingers through!

He cleared his throat softly. “… Milord, if I may be so bold…”

Ganondorf didn’t turn to look at him. “Speak.”

There truly was no subtle way to put this, so he chose the other pathway that always led him right to the King’s favor. Flattery. “Your magnificent locks have drawn my eye for months now, and now that we’re already washing up together… Might I take it upon myself to care for it?”

Ganondorf laughed softly, a mere whisper compared to his usual booming voice, but even this resounded enough for Yuga to feel it deep in his chest. “Care for it?”

He nodded. “Indeed, Milord. I would be honored if you let me braid it.”

For a moment, Ganondorf hummed, weighing his words. “An intriguing offer. Very well, do what you will,” he decided, but not without turning his head ever so slightly to look at him from a side-eye. “But do not let this get out of hand, Yuga. I am aware of your penchant for getting lost in your craft, and I cannot linger too long.”

Yuga deigned to comment with a bit of a giggle and scooted over to sit behind him. A sea of vibrant red hair puffed out before him, ever so slightly relaxed by dampness. Truly, the world was at his fingertips here, and he didn’t waste another second. He ran his fingers through his hair, testing it for knots, but was pleasantly surprised to find that Ganondorf had already taken care of the worst of it when washing it. Fortunately so, as he wasn’t exactly keen on the thought of annoying his King by getting caught in his hair. 

The dreaded Demon King uncharacteristically relaxed under his touch as he kneaded into his hair with a towel, trying to get most of the moisture out from his waving locks. The last thing he wanted was to end up damaging that which he sought to cherish, he thought to himself, parting the mass into sections, comb in hand. His Master didn’t speak, but Yuga didn’t mind it. The room was quiet, save for the sound of running water, or the gentle scrape of sand being whisked across the courtyard tiles outside by the desert winds. But above it all, tantalizingly subtle, and only heard through his will to listen to it, was the soughing of Ganondorf’s breath. Slow, deep, and rhythmic. If Yuga didn’t know any better, he would almost think he felt comfortable around him. 

Thick strands, soft and slippery as silk weaved into twists between his fingers, leaving his hands damp and smelling faintly of orange blossom and sandalwood. The realization almost made him shiver — this Ganon was a refined man. He was strong, merciless, and relished in carnage, but wasted no time after his return to groom himself back to perfection. The blood of the Hyruleans stained his hands, certainly, but never would it besmirch his armor. 

And here sat Yuga, tending to that very being of glory. The mere inches between Ganondorf’s back and his own bare torso were by far not enough to diminish the heat radiating off of the massive man. His skin felt warm, and they needn’t even touch. It mattered not; he preferred it like this. He preferred the opportunity to watch his handiwork, thick hair flowing through his fingers like liquid fire. Bit by bit, the braiding of his hair parted the curtain on the dark bronze skin of the Demon King’s back, and he had to stifle a gasp. So finely sculpted! Such beautiful musculature, packed with shining, nourished skin! Were he not warm, moving, and breathing right before him, he would have mistaken his back for a statue. Further down that back, he was elegantly furred by wispy red, the same shade of vermillion as his hair. 

How long he must have paused to gawk at him, he didn’t know. He similarly didn’t notice when one of his hands left its braiding duty and reached out to him with quivering fingers. Oh, how indeed, he longed to trace his fingers along the contours of his back! But the subject of his fancies turned his head ever so slightly, likely puzzled by the sudden freezing of his attendant. 

“Is there a problem?” he inquired, his tone impossible to discern beyond its strength.

Yuga chuckled a little nervously, quickly busying himself again with the central braid. “On the contrary, Milord,” he tittered, hoping his touch of playfulness would grant him mercy.

And grant him, it did, indeed. Ganondorf exhaled an amused hum, before looking out in front of him again. Shoulders braced against the edge of the bath, he sighed a satisfied breath, before sinking further down into the bath. Yuga could see the top of his head now, with the hints of his bushy eyebrows and his angular, aquiline nose peeking into view. It made him a little flustered. He’d spent so long committing that face to memory, that to be this close to it now made him childishly giddy. 

He quickly cast his excitement aside. His King was letting his guard down around him, trusting him not to disturb their peace. He ought not to ruin it with his eagerness to ogle. So comfortably, he lounged with him. Certainly, he couldn’t pose a threat to Ganondorf if he wanted to, and that knowledge was mutual. Still, to be allowed to groom him in this way, and to find the man’s eyes gently shut with his back turned to him… It was terribly familiar. Did he trust the other lieutenants like this? Or did perhaps, somewhere inside him, a chime of recognition ring out..?

He didn’t dare be so bold as to ask, though. For the time being, he was privileged enough to be able to touch him and weave his soft, wild locks into the most beautiful braids. with the right and central braids now finished, he moved to the last one on his left. “I’m almost finished,” he hummed, hoping to catch his attention.

Ganondorf breathed steadily, tilting his head obediently at his mechanisms. Long he dawdled, leaving Yuga in the agonizing, awaiting silence of dwelling in his thoughts. He wanted to confer with him.

The first steps to his wish being fulfilled were taken. A heat spread to the Demon King’s ears. “Something about you is familiar, Yuga.”

Yuga let out an inquisitive ‘oh’, prompting him to continue. Was this it? The moment he finally recognized him, and everything their bond entailed?

“This must not be the first time you’ve tended to me like this.”

Twisting the final strands into place, Yuga smiled, his chest puffing at the churning of his heart. “No, Milord, it certainly is not.”

His breath left him in a wistful sigh. He seized this moment, and all his self-control melted before him like snow in the early spring sun. “Is my touch familiar? I do hope I’ve left an impression. Though, for you, it must have been centuries, and many lives in-between. For me… It has been mere months.”

He took all three braids into his hands now, beholding them fondly. With the delicacy of handling embroidered silks, he felt himself getting a little lost in his admiration as he rolled the thick braids into a bun at the back of Ganondorf’s head. Though he’d brought them with the intent of using them in his own hair, he retrieved a handful of shining brass pins and stuck them into the heavy mass to hold it together. It couldn’t be anything less than perfection. 

“You look and act much different, but it changes nothing in the ways I care for you. Perhaps I can jog your memory…”

Fingers tickled past his hairline and ‘round his neck, delicately gliding past smooth tendon and muscle. The contact finally shook Ganondorf out of his statuesque poise, and he craned his head back. Eyes wide, brows raised incredulously, and ears and nose flushed dark, the Gerudo’s composure had been shattered. 

Yuga’s thumbs strayed, stroking through his King’s beard. The drops of water that caught there now rolled down his hands, following his trajectory down to rest his palms on his shoulders. "Do you remember our time together, my King? How we lingered conjoined, much like this?"

Ganondorf could only blink in response, his lips stiffening as he held back a swallow.

Never could Yuga think that he’d exert such control over him, to be the one capturing his fancy. He had to dig deeper, starting with tenderly squeezing the skin at the nape of his neck. “My voice, my hands, my eyes? How our bodies pressed together before we became one?”

That stare was intoxicating, addictive. It made the air around him thick enough to carve through. All timidness, all apprehension he once had, left him at once. Yuga spread his fingers, eager to touch as much of him as he could, as his hands slipped forward. Coarse, wet hair that sprawled over Ganondorf’s torso caught between his fingers and he sucked a gasp in with a shudder. The Gerudo did not break eye contact, but there was tension in him that only increased the further Yuga’s hands wandered. They crossed the threshold of his collarbone, until finally, he could lean over him, his palms rested on his chest. The muscles of his pectorals were firm, bulky, and softly wrapped around what may as well have been solid stone. No matter how his wet skin glistened in the candlelight, or how the red hair on his chest curled pleasingly around his fingers, or how charming piercings looked on him, nothing could rip his eyes away from the Demon King’s face. Nothing could match the red that crept up on his cheeks, how his fluster widened his eyes to show more pale white sclera than he’d ever seen on them. His blush darkened his skin, but showed most notably on his ears and the skin stretched taut over his curved nose. Yuga’s chest caved as his breath caught in his throat, and he couldn’t help himself but lean closer. Greed of the eyes overtook him. He wanted to see more of it, to watch that hue deepen the richness of his skin, to watch as his red lashes fluttered shut and —

Suddenly, a palm lay over one of his hands, its heat distracting him from his spiral of admiration. Ganondorf was scrambling to regain his composure. “Your hands are frigid. Join me in the water.”

“Milord, I-“

A soft cry escaped him as Ganondorf’s gargantuan hand wrapped around his arm and dragged him to the edge of the bath. Another hand hooked its way around his armpit, and with the ease as one would handle a burlap doll, he was seated next to him in the bath.

He sat there, somewhat flabbergasted by how he’d just been manhandled. Water lapped at his chin; the seating was more accommodating to the much taller Gerudo, and not built for petite wizards such as himself. Hands curled sheepishly in his lap, he rose somewhat to instead sit on his knees, hoping to raise himself at a bit more dignified height above the water.

Yuga cleared his throat, eyes darting at his reflection. Curses! His facial cream only made his fluster that much more shiny and obvious. "... Forgive me, I must have crossed a boundary."

Ganondorf cleaned his throat, seemingly pointedly leaving his arm to brush past his’ underwater. "Nonsense. If it is intimacy you desire, then I only ask you to engage it with hands that aren't so frightfully cold."

He paused, lingering on the implications of his words. Admittedly, he got a bit carried away, and to find his admiration not only appreciated, but reciprocated… Ganondorf may not have answered the questions that burned so brightly in his mind, but his actions spoke volumes. Where the man’s mind failed him, his body and soul filled in. Had Yuga been any other person, he did not doubt that he would have been brutally dismissed for his advances. The tether that connected them had gained another string, and he found himself playfully plucking at it. 

Still, he ought to exercise some care. The last thing he wanted was for this new connection to be forged with nerves, and he’d already pushed his buttons a bit too much.

“Of course, how inconsiderate of me,” he muttered, eyes continuously downcast. Uncertain of how to proceed, he momentarily excused himself. He arrived at these baths for a reason, after all, and so he stood up, a final bottle of soap in hand, and waded his way to the center of the bath.

Mid-thigh height to most of the bath’s attendees, the water level offered Yuga significantly more concealment. It rose to his upper abdomen, right at the tender skin below his sternum, and hid the rest of him in the green-tinted water. He was thankful for it, really. It kept the eyes from wandering.

He dipped his head down once, dipping his locks in the water. He ran his fingers through the well-oiled strands until they flared back out, floating gently on the surface like tendrils. A sigh escaped him as he rose, water rushing down from his hair and across his torso. Brushing the long, darkened mass away from his face, he got a bit of an inkling that he was being watched. 

Indeed, Ganondorf appeared to have been mulling over the events of just earlier. He needn’t even look to confirm it. He could hear it from the way he breathed, but most of all, he felt it in the tension that tended to swallow the room whole when the King was the slightest bit troubled. An amused smirk stretched across his lips, thankfully hidden behind the curtain of his hair. He resigned to simply waiting out the moment Ganondorf wished to confide in him.

That time came sooner than he could get the soap to fizz.

Ganondorf cut through the silence with such striking boldness, it caused Yuga to freeze up. “Were we wed?”

Oh, only the Demon King himself could stomach such a topic with such nonchalance! A spot of admiration overtook him again, as he found himself marveling at the simultaneous flaw and virtue of his practicality. 

“Wed? Ahah, I would argue we were something far more,” he teased, but not without finding himself once again flabbergasted. Even as he stood there, his kayfabe left far behind in the dressing room and his lithe form bared to him, Ganondorf seemingly found the idea of being his spouse perfectly feasible. He wasn’t sure what to think of it.

His counterpart, on the other hand, directed his confusion someplace else. “I ask you not to speak in riddles.”

“We… Became the same being, Milord. As physically as we did symbolically. We had the entirety of Lorule under our clawed thumb. Our thoughts, desires, sensations… All shared, to the point of it feeling strange to be but one man again.” 

Yuga stroked his fingers through his curls, massaging the scent of lotus and vanilla blossom into them with soapy bubbles. Head tipped back, he relished in its luxury, but above all, the joy of being admired. The fog of hot water obscured him, embraced him in its warmth, but not enough to break the line of sight between him and his Lord. He ought not to keep him waiting. Soap now settled, he dipped down to rinse himself off, casting the suds away.

Ganondorf crossed his arms, thoughtfully staring into the rippling of the water and the soapy clouds that drifted toward him. “I see.”

“Of course, such a strategy will not hold when I am needed elsewhere in the war. I’ve long given up on sharing that bond with you again, but,” he paused, hesitating for just a moment. Was he being too forward? Oh, out with it. He stood back up. “It brings me joy to see you again, and talk intimately.”

Ganondorf’s expression turned back to his usual scowl, though something contemplative, or possibly even nervous, tugged at his laugh lines. “… If you wish to rekindle this romance, you must allow me time to consider.”

Yuga gasped, whipping his head around quickly enough to send water flying off the ends of his curls in a spiral. “A romance? Oh, no! Nothing ever so drastic,” he assured, his hands clasped at his chest. “If that is what you worry about, you needn’t fret over it. I’ve no desire for such commitment.”

He looked at him a touch puzzled. To Yuga’s relief, the crease on his forehead softened some. The man shifted in his seat, sending ripples through the water. “Then what is it that you want?”

Yuga shivered as the gentle waves in the water lapped at the edge of his ribcage. What did he want? He looked at the man in front of him, as if he’d been doing anything but gaze at him ever since he first entered this room. Ganondorf was a stranger, yet he was not. Somewhere within him, the beast he’d known still lurked, but instead of a hulking boar, with tusks like scythes and skin like steel, there sat by all means a Human. One that had lived a life much like his own, a mortal being before his sealing, whose years of glory and turmoil were chronicled on his aging yet sculpted body. When he last saw him in that previous life, it had been through their combined eyes, and now, they were apart. Agonizingly so, almost, but not irreversibly. The water around him was a conduit, a tether for him to hold onto that bound him to his King. 

He turned to face him, carefully combing the last soap from his hair, before wading towards him. The closer he got to him, with his frail form, the more miniscule he felt before the towering Demon King. “… I wish to be close to you, enough to admire you, to understand you, as I once did.”

And yet, despite that immense size, and the power that surged through his veins, it was his humanity that brought them peerdom. Ganondorf gazed at him wordlessly, too prideful to avert his gaze but too flustered to sit unchallenged. “You are quite forward in your answers, Yuga,” he rumbled, scratching at the edge of his beard.

“When you ask me questions, King Dragmire, I feel compelled to answer them in truth,” he smiled, folding his arms. “Of course, if it displeases you, I could be more reserved.”

Ganondorf raised his hand in response. “There is no need. It is quite becoming on you,” he laughed in admittance. To Yuga’s joy, something playful crossed his expression. “I suppose I have simply become accustomed to court officials dancing around what they actually wish to convey.”

What Ganondorf didn’t know was that he, too, was one such competitively vague court advisor by trade. He simply could never lie to him if he tried. Bashfully, he brought a hand to his face, yet he felt not as small as he once did, standing so close before him. “Your praise humbles me.”

Ganondorf cocked his head with a wry smile and propped himself against the edge of the tub. “Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”

Oh, how that grin emboldened him. So quickly they understood each other again and dropped them back into familiar comfort. Had he truly known this iteration for mere months? Thinking about it, he’d moved far quicker with his last incarnation. Just the thought of it made him itch to glue himself to him again.

“… Milord, may I?” he asked, his hand gingerly reaching out to the Gerudo’s arm. 

Ganondorf looked somewhat skeptically at where he was pointing and furrowed his brows in thought. Still, he seemed to think it was harmless enough. “By all means.”

Yuga smiled in return, immediately wading his way over to take his seat next to him. Ganondorf looked on in perturbed fascination as frail arms hooked their way around his elbow. He was already being much too bold, but the Lorian found he didn’t quite care. His manicured fingers found their way up his arm either way and squeezed adoringly at the bicep. 

“Your past self never let me do this,” he laughed, playfully scooting in. “He would scold me.”

Ganondorf blinked down at him, before turning away with a subtle smirk, his ears tinging just the slightest red. “I wonder why.”

Yuga paid his teasing no mind. As fondly as studiously, his fingers traced along the grooves of his muscles, catching on every little detail to carefully rub the pad of his fingers on it. He could see it now — this arm, no, his entire physique, would come to haunt the pages of his sketchbook for weeks. But he had to do so accurately, he couldn’t settle for anything less than perfection for his Master. He would have to commit everything to memory, from his tattoos, to his scars, to his veins to his birthmarks, everything, everything —

A soft hoot rang from across the hall, snapping Yuga out of his trance. The two men turned simultaneously to the source of the sound. Stood frozen at the entrance of the room was Zant, wide-eyed and caught off guard. Upon being spotted, his lips unpursed themselves, and he turned right back around to slip away. 

“What’s gotten into you,” scolded a pompous voice from beyond the wall soon after, the owner of which would himself round the corner. Ghirahim gasped as soon as he saw the scene before him, but unlike his companion, he immediately bowed apologetically. “I do beg your pardon for intruding on your private affairs, My Master!” he stammered, surprisingly red-faced. It was quite a flattering color on him, but from the way he dressed, Yuga was certain he knew that.

The Blade, too, quickly made his leave, though not without bursting into a fit of hushed bickering and giggling with his bath-mate.

Lovely creatures.

Still taken aback by the shenanigans that unfurled before them, the pair remained silent for a moment. At least, until a scoffing laugh escaped past Ganondorf’s lips behind him.

“That… Is going to have consequences, I think,” Yuga murmured, covering his mouth with his hand in embarrassment.

“It will not, if they know what’s good for them,” Ganondorf growled, eyes still fixed on the entryway.

Silence fell on the pair again, though the awkwardness of having been discovered soon faded. Instead, it turned to fondness. He found himself struck by how quickly the two of them took comfort in each others’ company, and how naturally they slotted into one another. The warmth of Ganondorf’s shoulder practically melted him as he laid his cheek against him. He wasn’t certain if the other man was simply humoring him in his advances, or if he, too, sought intimacy in the approximation of a peer. 

Quickly, he decided he would rather chew up every last soap bottle in his satchel than ask him and find out. 

Another question ate at him, though, and he found this one was far more pressing to hunt for answers for. “Milord, if I may ask…”

“You may.”

He dawdled, picking at the skin at the edge of his nails. “Are these… Nightly baths, perhaps, a habit of yours?”

In an instant, he got Ganondorf to smile. His laugh shook his shoulders, lightly shaking Yuga along with him. “Bold thing. You wish to join me in the baths again?”

Yuga laughed with him heartily, but he still felt himself blush in embarrassment. “Oh! I thought to be a touch more subtle.”

Ganondorf’s nose crinkled with his teasing grin. “Your attempt was unsuccessful. Now answer,” he asserted.

Yuga paused, his fluster making him shrink just a bit. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would be delighted to spend time with you outside of the war room,” he smiled, hugging his arm just a little tighter to his bony chest.

Ganondorf smiled. “Very well, then,” he rumbled. His hand reached out to him, and a thick, calloused thumb stroked across his cheekbone. A wet streak from a stray strand of hair snaked past his skin, finally reaching the edge of his face, before his King tucked it ever so gently behind his ear. He couldn’t keep his eyes off that smile.

The man continued. “I will send for a summoning, next time I wish for your company. You’ve made me curious about you, Yuga. Consider it a compliment.”

Ganondorf rose, water cascading from his form like a waterfall. Yuga’s gaze stayed locked with his as he stood up, but he couldn’t help but steal glances at what was decidedly more at his eye level. His stomach, his thighs, equally riddled with hair and battle scars, and so lovely in their soft, rounded musculature. 

Well, he shouldn’t displease him with his ogling. He loomed forward a little, leaning into the touch of the hand that lingered on his face. So warm, yet so firm… That hand now retracted ever so slowly, though the ardency in the Lorian’s hooded eyes never left as he kept his sights hooked on those vibrant gold irises. 

Pleased with such devotion, such eagerness for his attention, Ganondorf smiled. “I am turning in for the night. Do not linger too long, Lord of Lorule. You are expected in my office at sunrise.”

Yuga could only manage a nod, his mouth feeling too dry and stuffy to manage any words. That touch had been the nail in the coffin, the scissors to the last drawstring of his composure. The Demon King was far too much of a treat to the senses, he thought to himself as he watched him leave. He drank in every little detail he could spy while he still could, leaning against the edge of the tub as if those few inches of closeness made any difference at all to his perception. When the Gerudo’s towering form finally rounded the corner and went out of sight, it felt like a spell had been lifted. 

Oh, certainly, the crushing desire to behold him had lifted, but the connection he’d now forged with this incarnation sparked something else. Now more than ever, he felt incomplete being just one man and longed for the company of someone else in his body and soul. 

He sank back into the water, bubbles leaving his lips in a sigh. Oh, Yuga. Once again, you’ve gotten yourself caught in something truly beautiful…

[brainyxbat]

Chapter 25: Find the Cannon! Marines Come to the Rescue

(episode 122)

As Luffy managed to send Crocodile face-down on the floor, the rest of the crew were brought up to speed. "What?!" Usopp exclaimed. "A cannonball will be shot into the Square in ten minutes?!"

"That's right," Vivi replied, "The attack is scheduled at 4:30."

"4:30?!" Nami repeated in shock.

"What?" Chopper breathed.

"Anyone got a watch?" Venus asked around meekly.

"Once it's a shot, no one within a 5km diameter will survive. That's what Crocodile said!"

"Within a 5km diameter; then..."

"Both the Royal Army, and the Rebel Army will be completely destroyed!" Chopper finished for Nami.

"That damn gator," Sanji grumbled after a moment of stunned silence.

"W-what the hell do we do?" Usopp stammered.

"Find the cannoneer."

"What?"

They all turned to Zoro at his proposal. "We'll stop the attack!"

"Find the cannoneer?" Chopper repeated with surprise.

"So how do we find him?!" Usopp asked frantically.

"In ten minutes?!" Nami added.

"We don't have time to think, right?!" Zoro exclaimed.

"But a 5km diameter means this guy's aiming at least 2.5 km from here, right?!"

"No, that's not true!" Vivi replied to Usopp. "The cannoneer is probably near this Square!"

"What?! Why?! If that's the case, the cannoneer will also be blown up," He pointed out.

"So that's the kind of man Crocodile is," Nami glared upward.

"He doesn't care of his own men die?!" Chopper gawked.

"What a crafty bastard," Sanji frowned.

"Let's go already!" Zoro urged.

Pell was on alert when a large figure began approaching the princess. "Vivi!" Venus shouted, but Zoro and Sanji took him out before he could even touch her.

"Yipe!" Usopp yelped; there was more of them!

They all sported smiles full of evil, with their weapons ready. "We found you, Princess Vivi! I wonder how far I'll be promoted if I kill you."

"Billions!" She exclaimed.

"Ten minutes, minus how many seconds?!" Sanji asked frantically.

"Hey, we're wasting our time by talking," Zoro retorted.

"Two seconds!" They said together.

"I'll go on ahead!" Nami ran off, disappearing into the dust cloud.

"I'll go on ahead!" Usopp followed suit, along with Chopper.

Sanji spun-kicked many agents at once. "1.5 seconds!"

"Don't slow down, idiot!" Zoro glared.

"Same to you!" Sanji retorted.

"Palla!" Venus blew more agents away with an energy ball. "There's no time to argue, guys!"

"Let's split up!" Usopp proposed. "At any rate, we gotta get out of this dust devil first!" At that, Pell turned back into his falcon form, and flew above the dust.

'Ten more minutes!' Vivi counted through her sprint.

"Okay, hurry up! Let's go!" Zoro began running off, with Sanji and Venus following.

"Yeah!" He agreed.

'This is really... the last chance!' Vivi thought worriedly. 'The next ten minutes... will decide... this country's fate!'

-

"Where is he?!" Nami exclaimed, now with Chopper. "Where's the cannoneer?!"

"We've only got eight minutes!" Chopper recalled.

"If we have eight minutes, we can find him! We'll stop the attack, no matter what happens! Or the lives of a million people will be destroyed!"

Elsewhere, Sanji and Venus were searching in a different area. "A cannonball that can blow up a 5km diameter... it has to be a big cannon!"

"Hey, what if it's inside somewhere?!" Venus suggested.

"Good thinking, Venus-chan~!" He swooned.

Staying at opposite sides of the street, the two searched every building for the cannon, but had no such luck. "No!" Venus frowned after consistent failures.

"Dammit!" Sanji cursed, as they continued running.

"But wait!" Usopp said while running with Zoro. "If Alubarna is completely destroyed in eight minutes... does that mean that we're all gonna die in eight minutes as well?"

"We don't have time to be scared!" Zoro retorted.

Usopp happened to look upward, when something caught his eye, and made him skid to a stop. "Look! That's it!" A cannon! "C-can we go up there, in eight minutes?" He was surprised when Zoro began to hop on agents' backs, like they were stepping stones. "H-hey!" He quickly disappeared into the dust, so Usopp frantically followed. "Ahh, dammit!"

Zoro leaped and bounded on buildings, until he reached their destination... only for a bloodied royal soldier to pop up. "You! Are you from the Rebel Army?!"

"I don't have time to waste on you," Zoro glared, "Go to sleep."

Just as Usopp managed to climb up, the soldier was taken down. "That's it! That's it!"

Zoro eyed the weapon, before kicking it in half. "This isn't it! It's got moss on it!"

All the while, Pell was searching from the sky, but saw nothing. 'I don't see him, anywhere! There's no sign of a cannoneer! Why, why?!'

Elsewhere, Vivi was on her own, looking desperately. 'Seven minutes left.' She suddenly tripped on her own feet, but was undeterred. "I'll stop it... I'll..." She pushed herself back up, and continued her sprint.

-

Meanwhile, Ms. All Sunday was escorting Cobra away from Luffy and Crocodile's battle, after releasing him from his painful shackles. Although in some way, she was keeping his arms restrained behind his back. "Nico Robin... is that your real name?"

"What if it is? It has nothing to do with you."

"A girl whose name was known throughout the world 20 years ago. Why are you here now?"

"All you have to do is show me the way to the Poneglyph." Ms. All Sunday- er, Nico Robin, stopped when Marines were blocking her way, led by a certain someone. "What incredible timing you have showing up now, Navy. Clear the way; we're in a hurry."

"We can't!" Tashigi glared. "I heard everything that's going on here in Alubarna from a soldier on the ground." She pointed to Cobra. "Who do you think that person is?!"

"Well, I don't care who it is," Robin retorted, "I hate people in the Government. If you don't get out of my way-"

"We don't have the slightest intention of giving way to you!" Tashigi cut her off.

Robin frowned at that. "Then I might have to kill you."

"Wait, Navy!" Cobra frantically spoke up. "Don't worry about me! We've been warned that at 4:30 PM, a cannonball will be shot into the Palace Square, where the rebellion is going on right now!" Tashigi gasped in shock. "Please stop it somehow!"

"What?!" She looked at her pocket watch. "Seven more minutes!"

"A million citizens' lives are at stake!"

"But..." She hesitated, "Then we'll save you, and stop the explosion!"

"Wait! This woman is-!"

"Ready!" The Marines braced themselves before Cobra could finish.

"Don't get in my way!" Robin glared. "Treinta Fleurs!" To Tashigi's shock, arms sprouted out of all the mens' backs with a tight grip. "Strangle!" They were all forced into painful backbends.

"Devil Fruit powers," Tashigi glared in her direction.

"I said I was in a hurry, didn't I? Don't make me upset!" The soldiers collapsed to the ground.

"Sergeant Major! This woman... is Nico Robin! There's no mistake! As Captain Smoker asked, I looked for her wanted poster; she got a bounty and was talked about worldwide 20 years ago! I remember the articles appearing in newspapers around that time. There was an incident where six Navy warships were sunk. They said that a girl who was only eight years old was responsible for it. The Government declared er a first-degree risk factor, and the bounty put on her head was... believe it or not, 79 million berries! However, she suddenly disappeared after that."

"Stop your rambling!" A frustrated Robin cut in. "Are you gonna clear the way? Or do you wanna die? Which is it?!"

'It seems there's no point in having many soldiers against this woman,' Tashigi thought, and held one arm up. "Sergeant! Take everyone to the Square, and stop the explosion!"

"But Sergeant Major-!"

"Hurry up! There's only six minutes left!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

As the soldiers complied, and ran off, she stayed behind, drawing her sword. "Now, let that man go!"

Robin crossed her hands. "I said you're in my way!" Sprouting more arms, she muffled her yells with two hands, and threateningly held her sword to her neck.

[dantran]

BEACH DAY HEADCANNONS!

but like a lake beach because..... freshwater turtles (not that they HATE the ocean or anything the lake is just way better)

based mostly on the Rise! boys :D

Leo

BIG fan of the sun tannin'

floating in the water soaking in the sun is his absolute favorite

probably convinces raph to borrow someones lake boat

a menace if you get him to go tubing, an absolute fiend

challenges everyone to meaningless contests all day

hey raph!!! i bet i can hold my breath underwater WAAAAAAYY longer than you

hey mikey!!! betchya cant skip this rock as far as me

criticizes mikeys rock-skipping form, probably

HEY DONNIE....WANNA RACE??

eats all the extra food :)

Raph

really wants to make sure his brothers dont kill each other

(its a tough gig)

when Leo convinces him to borrow a strangers boat he's hesitant at first but then realizes its an incredible opportunity to fuck with his brothers

absolute crazy person driving

mostly bc this is his first time driving a boat

BUT ANYWHOOOO,

throwin the old pig skin around <3

probably has a really fun time swimming around looking at native wildlife

wins Mikeys best cannonball contest every time

Mikey

WATER!!! SPORTS!!

tubing, water skiing, knee boarding

he doin the flips and tricks

also beach volleyball, catch with raph, and convincing his brothers they should try and see who can do the best cannonball

also probably convinces Leo to do more idiotic things, like belly flopping off a building

makes it known that he NEEDS to have ice cream at some point because you just can have fun in the sun without ice cream!!!!

he also makes special snacks the day before but forgets them at home <3

"hello, birds!"

"hello, fish!"

"hello......OH GOD THATS A GATOR-"

Donnie

overpacks but refuses to share

snacks, towels, extra clothes, band-aids, brushes up on his CPR,

all for HIM AND IF YOU DIDNT BRING ANY FOR YOURSELF THATS TOO BAD!

loves rocks

he'll tell you about every shell, fossil, and rock on the beach (cause he knows about all of them in length and how they got there)

he DOES participate in tubing/wake boarding when roped into it by Mikey, but prefers to hang in the shade

when he IS roped into it though.....competitive

the lengths he will go to to stay on a tube longer than mikey are definitely not legal (as far as the rules of tubing go)

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future: The Animated Series, s02ep07 “The Money Tree"

Previous episodes linked here.

In this episode: Everybody is mean to Jules + a "money doesn't buy happiness" plotline.

They really got their money's worth out of the green screen this season, huh? This time, Doc is deep in an unnamed rainforest, researching the deforestation happening (and also eating bananas).

After mentioning how valuable the trees in the rainforest are, he recalls the time his son, Jules, had a tree with a "very different type of value."

We begin with Jules walking home from school. Two kids on bikes come racing by, sending the papers in his briefcase flying. He is quite upset.

Turns out, one of the biking troublemakers is none other than Verne. Jules yells at his younger brother for both his recklessness and the damage he's caused. Verne's reply is awful.

"Good thing you don't got any friends, or we might've hit somebody and done some major damage."

Jail for Verne Brown.

On the other side of the fence, one of Verne's classmates invites him to come swimming, and Verne quickly jumps at the chance. Jules pokes his head into the yard, asking if he can "join in on the frivolity." He's promptly told that he's not allowed, then splashed by a cannonball.

I CRY. Look at him. He is so sad and ostracized. Jail for Verne's classmate.

So far, this episode is no fun at all.

We cut scene to later that afternoon, where Marty is playing some basketball outside the garage while Jules works on his latest project: a genetically modified tree that grows colorful leaves with all different patterns on them. Two thoughts here.

1. This series really pushes the "Marty is a cool, sporty guy" thing. He's played baseball in past episodes, collects baseball cards, helps to coach Verne's soccer team, and is now shooting hoops while excitedly narrating his every move like a sports commentator. And, I mean, I don't really mind it as a whole. It's possible our Trilogy Marty is into sports (though I don't see him as being the sporty type). It just feels kind of forced in the cartoon. As if Marty being his own sweet, goofy self wasn't appealing enough, and they needed to make him into some sort of jock because that's what's expected of a college-aged guy? I don't know. I guess it helps that he isn't particularly good at any of the sports, which feels true to Marty.

2. All of the kids who look down on Jules are wrong. Jules is SO cool. Look at this tree he's created!

When Marty asks Jules why he doesn't have any friends, Jules tells him sadly, "Martin, intelligent children are always outcasts." Marty replies that he's never had that problem, lol.

Verne soon comes running into the yard, upset that Doc won't give him an advance on his allowance. He ends up inadvertently giving Jules the idea to create a money tree.

Some time later, at school, Jules is about to take his turn for show and tell. He's tripped on his way to the front of the class, taunted, and laughed at by all the other children. He remains unfazed and proudly displays his tree, covered in various bills. Naturally, this gains him a sudden influx of new "friends." Unable to see that none of the kind words and attention is sincere, Jules allows himself to be swept up in his newfound popularity.

All the attention soon goes to his head, and Jules soon has Marty and Verne doing all the heavy lifting in an attempt to find the perfect spot for the money tree.

Even though the bills on the tree aren't ready to be picked, Jules decides it's a good idea to start buying things left and right on credit. He gets toys for all his new friends and even has a swimming pool installed in the yard. Though Clara and Doc initially protest all the spending and the attitude change in their son, a trip with him to the mall has them changing their tune when he lavishes expensive gifts upon them.

Doc gets a brand new, giant TV and seven VCRs (one for each day of the week), and Clara gets a diamond necklace.

Jules soon lands himself an interview on the local news, bringing his money tree to the attention of Biff and his son, who catch the broadcast at home. Uh oh...

Meanwhile, Jules hires Marty to guard the money tree, offering him "ten leaves an hour." And since Marty is very rarely at his college attending his classes or ever at home with his family (who may not even exist in this cartoon), it's a good job for him.

I should also mention that the news of the money tree catches the attention of the FBI, who assume Jules is the leader of a counterfeit money ring.

Anyway, Marty is terrible at his tree-guarding job. He stays fast asleep on his lawn chair while Biff sneaks by in the middle of the night to steal it, then continues to sleep through the loud argument Jules has with Verne—accusing his brother of stealing the tree. By the way, this is where things are at in the Brown household...

There's not a single level-headed person in this family anymore.

Desperate to recover the tree, they all pile into the car and take off into town, where a police officer quickly pursues them. This happens.

Doc engages the car's flying mode, and they lose the cop and take off after Biff's tow truck, which has the tree strapped to it. Jules hangs out of the car to try to get it, but his seatbelt rips, and Verne grabs hold of him just in time. Clara then has to catch Verne, who almost falls out of the car, and Doc changes the car's path just before Biff tries to send them crashing into a tunnel.

Relieved that the boys are safe, Clara comes to her senses and realizes that they were all blinded by greed. Doc promptly drives the car to the police station to TURN HIMSELF IN for going over the speed limit and resisting arrest.

Biff takes the tree to a car dealership and buys himself a fancy Winnebago RV. He's immediately surrounded by a group of federal agents, who tackle him and send all the money he's recently picked fluttering around the lot. One by one, the bills all shrivel up and turn brown. So, no money for anyone. Jules's project was doomed from the start.

Things quickly go back to normal around Hill Valley, and Jules returns to being a social outcast. Without the promise of money, almost all of his new friends drop him like a hot potato. Except for Franny—a classmate who reveals to Jules that she likes him for who he is (and has a crush on him!).

The two walk off hand in hand, and we return to Real Doc, who is still hanging out in the rainforest. He shows us the new money tree he had Jules cultivate, explaining that his plan is to allow it to mature and eventually use it so that he and Clara can make their "golden years" comfortable.

And that statement makes me laugh because Doc is already well into his golden years. Sixty-five at the start of the trilogy, then the ten years to build the time train, plus the additional however many years have passed since he and the family moved. (It's 1992 in the series, but I don't think the Browns settled straight into 1985 because Jules and Verne's ages don't line up properly with how old they were at the end of Part III) But anyway! Doc has to be somewhere close to eighty years old. Though, with the medical overhaul he went through in 2015, it did give him an additional thirty or so years, so...I guess it all evens out.

Here he is, sneezing away all the newly-grown money because he discovers he's allergic to the pollen it produces.

Add money-tree pollen to the list of Doc's allergies.

The episode ends with him slipping on the banana peel he had tossed in the beginning of the episode. Silly guy.

Join me next time to see Marty and Verne travel back in time to meet Jules Verne.

[noaasanctuaries]

Wanting to get out this weekend, but don’t want to get wet?

You don’t have to be a diver to enjoy a national marine sanctuary! Landlubbers visiting Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary can hike along beachside cliffs, enjoy marine life from the shore, and spot nearshore islands like Cannonball Island.

📸: Robert Steelquist/NOAA