#dunno how i got to complaining about the catch up game but eh

[storm-cellar]

sometimes i really think i should just be specific about where i'm from cause I wanna share! hype up my country yknow! and then once again i remember that Everyone Knows Everyone because we are Tiny and id rather perish than be recognized on here

[pfhwrittes]

the aftermath.

rating: mature audiences.

pairing: john "soap" mactavish x simon "ghost" riley.

word count: 1.8k

notable tags / warnings: transgender john "soap" mactavish, fluff, humour, very light angst, references to offscreen sex, egregious use of scots, banter, swearing.

A/N: i wrote this instead of sleeping, it was meant to be the set up for another part of my trans!soap drabbles but it took a wild left turn into feelsville and so no actual smut occurs in this fic. however, it is funny and fluffy (in my opinion). as always this can be considered to be very lightly edited so typos and weird grammatical goofs are likely to remain so for that i apologise.

–––

unsurprisingly, it’s kyle that catches on and confronts him the following afternoon as johnny pushes some truly god awful looking peas around his tray in the mess. 

“so, who’d you fuck last night then mate?” 

kyle plunks himself into the seat opposite johnny, dropping his tray with a clatter. the shepherd’s pie on his tray sags slightly and johnny feels a disarming bolt of empathy for the oozing mince and potato blob. sue him, he’s still feeling a little tender in places, alright? not that he’ll be admitting that to garrick of all people. 

“dunno what you’re oan about pal.” johnny sniffs and pokes a particularly dehydrated pea with his fork. there we go, nice and breezy. no need to give the game away son. 

kyle scoffs and aims a kick at johnny’s shin under the table. 

“oi! ya fuckin’ roaster, the fuck wis that for!” 

“i know you fucked someone last night. price was complaining about the stink in his office this morning.” kyle points his fork at johnny’s chest accusingly.

well, shit. johnny knew he should’ve got simon to crack the window before he got fucked seven ways from sunday. again, not that garrick needed to know that particular practical tid-bit of organising a secret rendez-vouz with your superior officer. 

johnny clears his throat nonchalantly and picks the spot over kyle’s left ear to address. 

“who’s to say it wasnae the captain gettin’ some last night?” 

the look kyle directs at johnny could probably be used to store clean cut finnish ice directly from fucking lapland with how freezing it is. 

“because he was with me, you tosspot.” 

johnny can’t help the way his face slips from carefully blank neutrality into something a wee bit more salacious. 

“oh aye, is that right?” johnny abandons looking at kyle’s ear to shoot him the dirtiest smirk he can muster. 

“fuck off mactavish.” kyle scowls, “you know what i meant. he was watching the bloody footie with me.”

“is that what you kids are callin’ it these days, eh?” johnny waggles his eyebrows knowingly just to watch kyle glare even harder as he leans forwards to stab johnny in the chest with his fork. 

“hey! mind the nipples, they’re fuckin’ custom! i spent money on these things!” johnny pouts and rubs gingerly at his top, pulling a face as he smears mashed potato into the fabric. gross garrick. 

“shut up, you got ‘em on the NHS like everyone else, you dickhead.” kyle shoots back.

what was sure to be a brilliantly witty retort gets silenced as price appears from nowhere, glowering down at his two sergeants like he’s just found two of his wayward puppies rolling in something long dead and incredibly pungent. 

“mactavish. a word.” 

johnny gulps and shoots kyle a betrayed look as soon as price’s back is turned. 

“oh sorry mate. must’ve slipped my mind. captain’s looking for you.” kyle grins, looking for all the world like butter wouldn’t melt in that clever wee mouth of his. 

bastard. 

––

johnny does not fidget. not even once. he’s cool, he’s calm, he’s co-

“it was reported that you were seen leaving this office - my office - at 0300 hours this morning, sergeant.” price rumbles from behind the - his - desk. 

-mpletely and utterly fucked. 

and not in the way he was only twelve hours previous. in this very room. over that very same desk. steamin’ jesus. 

johnny pointedly does not meet price’s gaze, instead he continues staring at the cinderblock behind his captain’s shoulder like it contains the secrets of the universe. or perhaps a false brick that when nudged just right would open a portal to hell under his feet. 

the chair under price’s bulk creaks as he settles back, watching for any sign of guilt or admission. the cigar propped on the edge of the cut glass ashtray sends a smoky tendril into the air as it drifts lazily to the window that johnny can see is cracked open a fraction in his peripheral vision. 

“nothing to say, sergeant?” price’s voice is deceptively soft and a shudder runs up johnny’s spine unbidden. fuuuuuuck. the way he sees it, he’s either fucked once if he admits to being somewhere he very much shouldn’t have been with company he definitely shouldn’t have been fraternising with, or fucked twice if he tries to deny it without knowing all the facts. he is, as the big bastard himself would say, in a spot tighter than a nun’s cunt. 

johnny swallows drily, preparing to take possibly the stupidest risk of his career and possibly his life so far, when a solid knock on the closed door saves him. thank christ. his heart soars - 

“enter.” price commands. 

almost immediately the hulking figure and current cause of johnny’s predicament steps through the door near silently to stand shoulder to shoulder with johnny. just a hair too close to be considered professional.

“lieutenant riley, good of you to join us.” 

- and promptly falls out his arse. 

good to know that there was a third and far worse option available to him. 

––

centuries or possibly even aeons later, a knock rouses johnny from the light doze he’d slipped into immediately after clambering into the tiny twin bed provided in his room. sent away from price’s office in disgrace, the sounds of his shouting still ringing in his ears. but even worse, the way that simon - ghost - simon had refused to even look at johnny before he turned on his heel and stalked down the corridor. away from him.

“nngh.” johnny grunts intelligently and swipes a slightly tacky palm over his face before letting it drop to brush against the worn carpet tiles. fuck getting up to let price in here to yell at him some more, or to deal with gaz’s kicked puppy look. he’ll stay exactly where he is ta very much, despite the way a spring in the lumpy mattress is poking into his right kidney something fierce. and the fact that now he’s awake he could do with a drink to rinse away the gummy feeling in his mouth. eurgh. 

the knock sounds again. 

“fer fucks sake, come in then ya -” johnny calls out grumpily, lifting his head from the pillow and his eyes flying open so he can glare at the door from his supine position.

and once again, simon “here to make shit worse for him specifically” riley steps through the door.

“- prick.” johnny finishes weakly. oh. well this is awkward. 

simon hums quietly in agreement and quietly shuts the door with his foot. johnny blinks, not entirely sure if he’s agreeing with being called a prick or if the situation is awkward. 

“bit o’ both really.” simon rumbles. ah, right yeah. johnny’s always had a habit of saying the first few thoughts that pop into his head immediately after being woken up. always makes one night stands a bit awkward in the mornings. 

“hm. is that the reason you’ve never let me stay the night then?” simon asks as he drops heavily into the tactically acquired chair in the corner of the room paying no mind to the fact he’s sitting on johnny’s freshly laundered skivvies. 

“somethin’ like that, aye.” johnny swallows awkwardly, christ he needs a drink of water, “that an’ i thought we’d get -” 

“caught.” simon finishes tiredly. 

johnny huffs out a sound that if he was being charitable could be considered a laugh under the right circumstances. this isn’t the right circumstances. obviously.  

“aye. yeah. that an’ all.” 

a silence stretches between the two of them then. it’s uncomfortable to say the least, aching in a similar way to johnny’s neck as he continues to peer at simon, who is sagging like a half-empty rucksack. johnny lets his head drop back onto the flat pillow underneath him so he can gaze sightlessly up at the water stained ceiling tile. what a fuckin’ mess. 

“‘m sorry.” 

it’s said so quietly johnny could half believe he imagined it. 

“‘s not yer fault, don’t worry about it.” johnny says flatly to the water mark on the ceiling. he closes one eye and squints, hm. looks a bit like a pair of knickers like that. johnny hears simon take a steadying breath from across the space. oh. johnny opens both eyes and lifts his head, his expression carefully blank. 

simon is hunched over now, his elbows resting on his thick thighs and he’s staring fixedly at the carpet just in front of his boots, purposefully avoiding johnny’s eyes. 

“simon?” it’s a gentle nudge but johnny watches as simon’s broad shoulders tense up, his biceps flexing as he fidgets with his clasped hands. oh. that’s more of an admission of guilt or responsibility than anything simon could say. johnny knows this man, inside and out at this point. he’s economical with movement in a way that can only ever be learned through being completely aware of your size and surroundings. never a fidgeter. always still. always controlled. 

“‘m sorry.” simon repeats quietly, allowing his head to hang down and exposing the soft nape of his neck where his balaclava gapes away from his shirt. in better circumstances johnny would get up and chance a kiss on his exposed skin just to hear him make a soft pleased noise that always reminds johnny of a cat purring out a raspy mrrr of contentment.

“did ye go to price an’ tell him then?” johnny asks levelly despite the way his heart has suddenly decided to reside in his large intestine again for the second time today.

simon’s head jerks up and he frowns. 

“no - i - no.” simon states firmly and johnny takes a shuddering breath. good. 

“good.” he says out loud. “i didnae think ye would.” johnny tacks on just to watch some of the tension in simon’s shoulders leak away. the urge to comfort simon wells up behind johnny’s ribs, it’s a tender thing and it makes johnny’s breath hitch a little unsteadily. he sighs dramatically to cover it and flops his head back onto the pillow again. 

“c’mon then, get over here ya big bastard.” johnny orders faux-peevishly. 

“what.” 

johnny groans and rolls his eyes. simon can be unbelievably dense when it comes to intimacy that doesn’t involve being bent over the nearest suitable surface sometimes. 

“‘mon then, i want a cuddle before price decides to split us up for the rest of our careers.” johnny raises his arms and makes a grabbing motion much like a wee toddler would to demand being picked up. johnny tries not to be insulted when that seems to be the reason that simon hefts himself to his feet to stand awkwardly at the side of the bed. 

“‘m not gonna fit.” he states and johnny rolls his eyes again. 

“sure ye will, just don’t squash my tits, alright?”

there’s a pause before simon states in his usual blunt manner - 

“how th’ fuck am i meant to do that, you ‘ad ‘em chopped off at eighteen.” 

and for some reason that makes johnny burst into relieved laughter. 

aye, they’ll be alright.

[hopeheartfilia]

the pain of the only thing youre reading actually being a book youre listening to

on one hand - i dont want to consume anything not aouv because i want this to consume my mind. this is my attempt at tricking myself into writhing an all of us villains fic. i want to write two so the fic count gets to 21

anyway. i may listen to podcats but its very slow going and usually im reading several fics at the same time. but rn? i dont have anything for when my earphones which are bluetooth because i only hve a type c adapter run out of power. im just sitting there. no game no nothing. me and the depression. downloaded a stim app. genuenly like it, still need something to give me that subway surfers vibe. or ill end up playing breath of the wild for 9 hours straight again this week

so. alistair lowe has my entire heart, ehich is fine because hes just given it to hendry. no new analysis just

Gavin hey hi , i think youll grow too emotionally attached to hendry to use him for dangerous experiments. why? Its Hendry Lowe and youre a traumatised teenage boy in a murder tournament, his speciality really

i dunno i wanna know more about their little cousin she seems... like a little cousin that lives with you. alistair should engage in a pillow fight and petty eating of last leftovers. obviously mostly suffering via there is a small sibling involved way. the instinct to punt little children even if you can recognise this is the sort of person youd talk to

then he should actually be totally on her side if gavin is complaining about something. oh she ate your desert? was your name written on it? as if he didnt have a row with her about drinking the last of the milk the day before

do i think this will happen like this? no not really. am i thinking about it? yes its the nature of me seeing annoying little kids in media. little sibling spotted. proceed to mix stories of friends with personal experience

so this is once more an aouv post. eh.

i feel like reed is going to become a way more interesting charather (its all the calling him pathethic. if he was treatening id be like yeaaah okay. but like hes pathethic, now ee gotta know more. would you have made out with gavin in an alley if that part stretched out more? the people need their answers mctavish) (idk my personal opinion of reid was mostly "whore" also "goth boy" reasons why him an alistair dont get along well - all moody brooding boys know each other factoid incorrect, they are different subtypes and while alistair goes with emo boy and dresses more for a dark academia moodboard reid may be inclined to look at him like hes a poser as bitch with an aestetic lifted from pinterest. which is totally the real reason for how they dont interact much and not the other perfectly reasonable mentioned things)

i have. gone off on a rant, naturally, but alistair being like okay. gavin will.... sleep in the cupboard! and hes trying so hard to catch what hes missing and be like haha gotcha your actual motive is this! but instead hes thinking of how flirting worked for isobel like, if push comes to shove... totally the first course of action

I dunno love how someone does soemthing and treatens his life and then he just copies them like yess shattering the glass is stuck in my head

boy mirrors actions so much, love that for him, never got socialised properly

[starshineskyandthepowerofrock]

Stuff You Wouldn't Think To Find

Part 23 of Starshine, Sky, and the Power of Rock

The portal kinda feels like how sparkling water tastes, if that makes sense. I meet Sky on the other side to find her shaking magical shimmers out of her hair.

"They really like sparkles over here, don't they?" she says.

I wiggle and watch the glittery particles fall from my pajamas. There's Sky's pencil next to my slippers! I pick it up. "Hey, look!"

Sky smiles and puts the pencil behind her ear for safe keeping. She looks around. "Any idea where we are?"

I shrug. It's super dark in here. The portal glows pink next to us and Sky's eyes glow blue so I can see just around me. But everything else? I haven't got a clue. "Do you know a light spell?"

"I know a 'make lights brighter' spell. It's a duet."

I don't see any lights to make bright in here except... hm... I put my hand through the portal again and swoosh it around a little. I pull back out with a handful of magical sparkles. Sky sings each part once for me, then I sing the melody while she sings the harmony. The sparkles glow brighter until we can see everything within two feet of us.

"Oooooh!" I say.

The walls and ceiling are a whole lot closer to us than I'd expected. We're in a super tight hallway, it looks like. No windows, no doors, nothing but what looks like an endless corridor. My heart's going again. I wonder what's down there! I've never explored a palace before, especially not an enchanted one!

Sky and I creep down the hall, our footsteps muted by our slippers. "Do you think that portal's always been there?" I ask.

"No clue," she says. "I feel like we would've noticed. Can't imagine why they'd put a secret passageway in a common room. Must be some kinda... magical glitch."

"Do you think your piano playing opened it? Like, on accident?"

Sky chuckles. "C'mon, you think I could do that? With a normal piano?"

I shrug. "I dunno. I've seen you do other cool stuff."

"Like what?"

"Like when you beat that guy in a guitar battle? That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!"

Sky doesn't look amused anymore. "Thanks," she says.

"Oh, um, sorry, i-is that a sore poi-"

"It's okay," she says a little too loud. She softens up a bit. "Thanks -- uh -- really, I'd forgotten I'd done that."

"See? So, you are cool!"

"You're pretty cool yourself," she says. "I wouldn't think you'd be up for something like this."

"Like what?"

"Ya'know. Sneaking around. Doesn't seem your speed."

I giggle. "I snuck around all the time back on the moon!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, really! My friends and I used to sneak each other out of our bedroom windows and go hang out after curfew," I giggle. "They'd love you."

"Huh, maybe I'd love them too, then. You'll have to introduce us if that can happen."

"I sure hope so," I say, only to notice that feeling in my chest come back. Hmm. Time to change the subject. "Where do you think this leads?"

Sky scrunches her eyebrows a bit. She's quiet for longer than I'd expect. "I've got a theory but I'm not sure it's a good one."

"At least you've got one, right? Lemme hear, lemme hear!"

She takes a glance at me but turns back. "Let's see first before I say anything."

She keeps answering in ways I'm not ready for, huh. "Oh... Okay, then?"

The floor has been slowly inclining as we go. It was only a bit at first but it's getting so steep I wonder if we'll slip. I'm very thankful for the little sticky things on the bottom of my slippers-

"Ah!" Sky yelps. I catch her by the arm right before she hits the ground. "Thanks," she says. Then she furrows her brow. "Wait." She kneels back down again, more careful now, and puts her ear to the floor. "You hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"It's... It's like... Uh. A hum? No, not a- Huh." She stands back up. "But you hear it, right?"

I shake my head. "What are you talking about?"

"It's, uh. A sound? Or..." She tries clearing her ears, rubs her temples. "No, not a sound. It's, it's not in my ears, it's..." She's starting to breathe, oh no!

"Are you okay? Maybe we should turn back-"

She hits the side of her head. "What the hell is happening? You don't feel it?" She grits her teeth, squeezes her eyes shut. Then she puts her hands over her head and ducks as if shielding herself from... I don't even know what. She reminds me of...

"Do you have anxiety, Sky?"

She doesn't seem to hear me, she just keeps whispering "What the hell, what the hell, what the hell?"

Ohhhh gosh, what did my mom do? Would it work with her? I've gotta try!

"Sky? Sky, look at me, okay? Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things-"

She says a word I don't feel comfy repeating. Okay then, what else do I do to ground myself? Uhhhh. I start flapping my hands. I've gotta be the calm one now. Okay, okay. I take a big breath and let it out. "Can you try doing that, Sky?"

Her eyes land on me. I do it again. She tries a shaky breath of her own. I take another deep breath. Then she does. We breathe together few more times until she takes her trembling hands away from her head. She looks away, gulps, and says, "Uh, thanks. You're right. Maybe we should turn back."

🌙🌙🌙

We both sleep in the next day. It's 12:30 when we've just started rubbing the clouds out of our eyes over a game of cards, only for Star to come into our dorm saying, "You two are still in your PJs? Was there a no-sleep slumber party that I missed?

Sky swirls the coffee in her mug and says, "Eh, I guess we're just both night owls, right, Crescent?"

I smile, realizing Star probably isn't the best person to tell about sneaking around secret palace corridors past curfew. "Yep!"

"Well, while you guys slept in, Citrus and I checked out the local marketplace. Sugarsweet has some great shops I think you two would like! Oh, and I asked around, Sky, and the music store wouldn't mind you coming in! We could go CD shopping!"

Sky's eyes light up. "Woah, really? That's great! Wanna go, Crescent?"

"Sure! Maybe we can skate, too! I hear the ice rinks here are made of frozen rock candy!"

🌙🌙🌙

Wow, Sugarsweet really lives up to its name! Star says it's the capital of Dulcet Falls, a province I still can't believe exists! Oh my gosh, I'm so so happy we're here for the week! We stick out our tongues and let blue sour-sweet snowflakes land in our mouths.

"The precipitation is a different flavor in each city. Here, it's blue raspberry!" Star tells us.

"How'd that even happen?" I ask.

"Oh, I haven't a clue. Scientists have been studying the phenomena of this province for years and still aren't sure why."

"Well, I'm not complaining!" Sky says. "Hey, your tongues are blue!" She smiles, revealing her fangs are stained blue, too.

We giggle together and head towards the music shop. Just as Star promised, Sky steps right through the doorway without a problem. The aisles of CDs each end with a touch screen with attached earbuds so you can listen to a sample from any album on sale in the store.

We of course make a beeline for the rock section and browse CD after CD. Sky and I still don't really know a lot of the artists in the Land of Light, so we listen to tons of samples. Star is so excited to show us band after band, singer after singer. She's also got a lottt of allowance money that she has no trouble spending on us.

Sky is drawn to the secondhand section, maybe because she doesn't wanna have Star spend more on brand new CDs, or maybe because she's interested in that retro sound. The older stuff sounds cool, too! But there isn't a ton of hip hop over in this section, probably because the Land of Light's history with that is only as recent as moon rabbits coming down here and sharing our music with them. The Land of Light's hip hop has an interesting pop bent to it, one I don't hate at all and actually find kinda fun! But it does make me wish I could hear some beats that sound closer to the kind you hear back home...

Hm.

I ask Star and Sky if they can catch up with me at the skate rink. I can pay for my stuff, I assure Star.

🌙🌙🌙

I'm no better at skating then I was yesterday, but if it gets my mind off things then I'll take it. After a few more very wobbly tries at not letting gravity get the better of me, I finally decide to sit on a bench until Star and Sky catch up.

Okay. What are 5 things I can see? I see the pale blue skate rink. I see shop buildings with peppermint pillars supporting gingerbread walls and roofs covered in frosting. I see fairies and unicorns and elves and cat people who all skate way better than I do- uh uh, stop that! They're all doing their best, just like me! What's the point of a grounding technique if I'm gonna put myself down during it? Now, let's see. I see I girl who's... what is she doing? She's touching the edge of a chocolate road sign. Is she... She's broken off a piece!

I do my best to unlace my skates and get back in my boots as fast as I can and try to go get a better look. "Excuse me!" I say.

The girl's head snaps in my direction. Her eyes widen -- Her red eyes! She runs off.

"H-hey!" I say a whole lot of "excuse me"s and stumble a few times going at this speed but I've gotta catch up! "Wait up!"

The girl only stops to scoop up handful of snow and lob it in my direction. It whizzes past me. "That's not very nice!" I shout, still after her. "People have gotta use that sign, you can't just-"

"Buzz off, loser!" she shouts past the scarf covering her mouth. She's scrambling into the woods now.

I gasp. "No!" I pounce on her back and we both tumble into the flavored snow.

She shoves me off of her and coughs up a mouthful of snow, revealing a set of fangs I'm not much surprised to see. She looks up, eyes wide with worry. "What are you gonna do, report me? It'll be the last thing you-"

"You can't go running into the woods like that, silly! The Band of Darkness could snatch you up like that!" I try to snap to make my point but it's a little hard to make a sound with this wooly mitten on.

She blinks. "What?"

"When I first came to the Land of Light, I had to learn a lot about safety since the Band of Darkness likes to lurk around a lot. And the biggest rule was don't go in the woods! One of my friends is a vampire, too, so I know they won't go easy on you! Be careful, okay!"

She stares at me, not sure what to say. "I'll, um. I'll take that into account." She takes a bite out of the chocolate chunk in her hand.

Wow. I'm not sure what else to even say. I've got so many questions but none of them are coming out!

"Well then," she says, standing and brushing the snow off herself. "I have to go. You didn't see me, okay?"

"Huh? Yes I did!"

"I mean if anyone asks, you didn't meet me, okay? We didn't meet. Got it?"

"Uh. Um..."

"Got it?" she asks, more intense this time.

I nod. "I-I've got it!"

"Good. Now, aren't your friends wondering where you are?"

[haikyuuscreaming]

hello!! can you write something fluff with kenma, please? some friends to lovers if possible. loving your blog 💕💕

OH SHIT SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG SDFSDFJKD this is. 3.5k words roughly and im so sorry idk why my fics always come out longer than 1k words :(((

The first time you meet Kozume Kenma, he’s hiding behind the wall that is Kuroo Tetsurou and you’re both in your first year.

“Oh?” The Nekoma volleyball captain stares you down in the Chem class you share with him. “You’re [Surname]-san, right?”

“Yeah,” You say, never breaking eye contact with him but secretly eyeing the quiet boy behind him. He’s your classmate in a few other of your periods, but not this one. This class is an advanced Chemistry class, placing you conveniently with the second-years and a handful of equally smart first-years. “I need help with the homework and you’re my best bet. Could you help out?”

Kuroo narrows his eyes at you, which you don’t exactly appreciate but you don’t say anything. “You sure you don’t want me to just give answers?”

“I kinda need to understand this to pass the class, so no thanks.”

He hums in approval, like you’ve passed some test, and nods. “Sure thing. I wanted to teach Kenma this anyway.”

Oh, that’s his name… you think to yourself, and you noticed the mentioned Kenma doesn’t look up from his Nintendo Switch, even at the mention of his name. You watch Kuroo turn around to his companion, coercing him, “Kenma, get up, we’re learning Chem.”

“Can’t we do it later?” Kenma’s voice doesn’t hold anything akin to bitterness or complaint- it’s kind of devoid, actually, in a soft and cute way- and you try to tune out the sound of Kuroo scolding him but he’s so loud when he’s right next to you.

“C’mon, we’re about to go home now, we can stay after school a little longer. Plus, we get to teach this lovely lady about nuclei.”

“I’m right here, you know,” you roll your eyes lightly but before you know it, you’re defending Kozume-san. “We can always work it out, um… I dunno, maybe over lunch on Sunday? I mean, it is Friday and this thing’s due Monday and… we can have more fun studying this if we have food.”

Stupid fucking Kuroo only grins. “Oh, so you’re asking me on a date? Kinda bold, if I don’t say so myself, kouhai-chan.”

“Kuro, stop.” Kenma speaks up and his quiet voice somehow speaks volumes. “We can meet with her on Sunday to do it.” And just like that, he retreats to his Switch without another word.

Kuroo turns to you and shrugs indifferently, contrasting his previously provocative and shitfaced attitude. “The man’s laid down the law. How’s boba on Sunday sound?”

The second time you meet Kenma is on that promised study session.

He has inconspicuous earbuds in, his face illuminated by the glowing light of his DS. He has a DS, too? He still looks cute.

And there’s Kuroo of course, but he’s irrelevant to your case unless it has to do with your god forsaken chem homework.

“You want me to go order some drinks next door?” Kuroo quirks an eyebrow. “My treat.”

“Just a brown sugar milk tea, thanks,” You tell him gratefully. Thank god for men and their dead sense of chivalry.

“No boba? You’re crazy.” Kuroo scrunches his nose at you and you wish Kenma would start talking so you could avoid this big, annoying cat. “What about you, Kenma? Your usual?”

“Yeah,” is all Kenma says.

“Alright, see you nerds later,” Kuroo practically sings out, patting both of your heads like an old man, and takes something from Kenma that you don’t quite catch, but it makes Kenma glare at him.

As soon as Kuroo’s out of sight, you find it a little awkward to keep conversation with Kenma especially with his whole gamer complex, but-

Oh.

Kuroo took Kenna's DS.

“Kuroo-san’s pretty bothersome, huh,” you sigh out in an attempt to stir conversation. Lucky for you, Kenma goes along with the conversation without fight, his eyes peering over you like reflective pools of honey.

(They’re really pretty, you think.)

“Yeah,” Kenma slouches down a little bit more in his chair at the mention of his taller friend. “He’s kind of like my second mom… but not really. Always nagging me to do things.”

You laugh at his solemn, depressed answer. “It’s fun to have him around, though, right? He’s kind of funny sometimes-- the rest he’s annoying-- and he’s decently smart even though I’m pretty sure he’s got, what, three braincells.”

To your unprompted delight, Kenma laughs softly at you poking fun of Kuroo, and the conversation between you and him starts piling up into more, and more, and it all feels so short. You don’t even notice Kuroo coming back and hovering over the table.

“Eh? You and Kenma getting along without me? What a shame, you know. I really do get third-wheeled.” Kuroo lets out a wistful sigh akin to an old man and sits down, drinks in hand. “So, who’s ready to study?”

The third time you meet Kozume Kenma, it’s at your mall’s arcade.

You and your friends are playing one of those claw machines, trying to get that really cute Miku figurine and those adorable plushies, wasting all your coins on these sucker games like the dumb teenagers you are. But a glimpse of familiar, two-toned hair catches your eye.

“Hold on,” you tell your friends who’re still busy trying to get that stupidly gorgeous Sakura Miku figure. “I’m gonna be right back.”

You wander your way to the familiar head of hair, and gratefully, your instinct was right. “Kozume-san? What’re you doing here?”

Kenma practically jumps at the sound of your voice, turning around, eyes wide. “Oh. I just got lost from the team. You’re here too?”

“Mhm,” You smile, pointing at your screaming group of friends. “My friends and I are here just to chill out and have fun. You can hang with us if you want!”

He shakes his head, his hair gracefully framing his face. “Nah, I’m fine, thanks.. I’ll just hold out until Kuro sniffs me out or something.”

You furrow your brow- geez, this kid’s gonna get lost so fast-- and you gently clasp the phone he’s holding in his hand. “Can I give you my number? I’ll pick up immediately if you ever call, just give a ring.”

You fail to notice the surprise that flits over Kenma’s face, but he reluctantly hands you his phone and you tap in your number quickly. “See you around, Kozume-san. Don’t get into trouble.”

And Kenma smiles on his own accord, his face lighting up softly like a lamp under moonlight. “You too.”

The fourth time you meet Kozume Kenma, he’s at your house working on an Japanese Lit assignment.

“Oh? Kozume-kun!” You’re pleasantly surprised when your teacher pairs the two of you up. “Nice to talk with you again.”

“Yeah, “ Kenma blinks a little awkwardly and he shyly grins, which you find even more stunning than it already is because he’s usually held up such a calm, unaffected facade. “Uh. So do you want to meet up at… your house for this? So we can do the project.”

“Oh, yeah,” You wave dismissively, beaming at him because this is your chance to get closer with him. “My little brother’s a nuisance, though, so he might bother us. I hope you don’t mind?”

“No problem.. you can text me the address, because… yeah.” You find it cute how Kenma doesn’t want to mention that the two of you have been texting a lot more lately, and the slightest blush tints his cheeks.

“Of course!”

Flash to your house, the two of you are on the floor, slaving over a giant posterboard with paint and art supplies scattered about.

“I hate making movie posters, it’s so tiring…” You groan out, trying to paint Yukio Mishima’s face with the utmost care. “And this book’s so creepy… why would we wanna make a poster of it? He commits seppuku!”

Kenma grins a little bit and he looks really cute, with his hair tied up in the back and his gaze focused on the painting at hand. “You’re so easily grossed out.”

“But he made it so detailed! You're immune ‘cause you play all those gross horror games.”

He laughs quietly, and you think you're going to heaven. “You couldn't even handle Ao Oni, stop.”

You scowl at the mention of Kenma’s dumb horror games. “He’s this weird deformed grape, okay?? It was kinda scary!”

The two of you end up nowhere near finishing your poster, and you collectively decide to put it off for maybe another day. The rest of your day is spent-- c-cuddling? (no hetero, you reassured Kenma, although you were thinking otherwise)-- and playing more horror games, much to your chagrin.

(But it gave you a reason to hug Kenma tighter.)

You can’t even count the amount of times you’ve met up with Kenma now. You’re in your second-year of high school now and your bond with him as only strengthened.

He invited you eventually to walk to school with him, along with Kuroo, and you find out that it was Kuroo’s coaxing to do so. But you’re still delighted that Kenma agreed on, what, the second time Kuroo nagged him about it?

You and Kenma have gotten fairly close. You’ve vented to him, cried to him, he’s shown his emotional side, too. You’ve even gotten a little closer to Nekoma’s god, Kuroo Tetsurou (to which your friends always complain about- “you can’t take all the cute guys for yourself”). But, in your opinion, the most important part is that you’ve been getting closer to Kozume Kenma, who you once thought would always just be the quiet classmate to you. Who would always be your unattainable, close-guarded crush.

"Kenma!” You yell out, rushing over to him with your backpack practically bouncing off of you with each step. “Wait up, would you?! How do you get out of class so quick??”

 "I was waiting for you either way,” Kenma mumbles and hunches his shoulders together. “Do you wanna go to my house? I have new games and Kuroo won't be bothering us.”

“Can’t we get snacks first?” You know you sound a little bit whiny, but you’re hungry as fuck, and Kenma’s smiling either way.

“I guess.. you’re paying, though.”

“That isn’t fair at all!”

Eventually the two of you walk to your nearest 7/11 and get chips and snacks before leaving promptly, with you holding your chocolate milk and Kenma sipping apple juice. The walk to his house is full of conversation, Kenma equally engaged as you are. But as soon as you arrive at his front doorstep, the hollow noise of an empty apple juice box makes its appearance.

“You drink your juice too fast!” You tease Kenma lightly as he frowns, unlocking the door.

“You just drink too slow,” he replies and shoulders the door open. The two of you make your way inside and flop onto the couch, Kenma crouching near the TV to boot up his newest game. “Damn. I’m still thirsty, too.”

“Language, Kenma,” You chide him, throwing a pillow at him as soon as he sits down next to you on the couch. “And-” it takes every ounce of your willpower not to turn bright red. “-do you want some of my chocolate milk?”

The silence that follows is very short (probably only, what, a second or two?), but it feels like hours of painful quiet. Kenma blinks at you and the pink that dusts his ears becomes more and more prominent each second.

“Yeah… sure,” Kenma finally says and you beam so wide that you’re sure not even the sun could battle the brightness of your happiness right now. You hand him your nearly untouched chocolate milk and his fingers brush against yours as he takes it, sipping at it cautiously like he was afraid something would happen.

(Oh my god he’s so cute.. he looks so cute… he’s drinking my chocolate milk!! He’s so-)

“Oi, Kenma! My mom told me to pick up some tomatoes from y-” The door bursts open to reveal Kuroo Tetsurou.

You freeze, since Kuroo just witnessed you passing a chocolate milk box to Kenma and the latter sipping at the straw. Kenma kind of flushes, his mouth still wrapped around the plastic straw with chocolate milk halfway up.

“Eh? Sharing drinks now?” Kuroo tsks and shakes his head, a smirk gracing his stupidly arrogant face. “You know, you two could get mono. Or any other communicable diseases. Kinda risky, you know?”

“Kuroo, stop!” You’re wildly embarrassed to be caught in this not-so-platonic situation (in your opinion, at least), before Kuroo lets out a hearty laugh.

“You know, that’s an indirect kiss!”

“Didn’t I say stop?!”

“Ah, youth. Indirect kisses! You put your mouth on the straw, then he did. Romance at its finest!”

You know, deep inside, Kuroo just likes to rile you up, but you still bite the bait. “Kuroo, shut up, please??”

And Kenma speaks up for the first time during the whole banter. “Kuro, the tomatoes are on the kitchen table. Go.”

The Nekoma captain quirks an eyebrow before shrugging and heading towards the kitchen. “Thanks. Don’t do anything risky.”

“Kuroo!”

You and Kenma awkwardly glance at each other-- you note he’s still sipping your chocolate milk-- and eventually he stands off to ward Kuroo off (who keeps chuckling for no goddamn reason).

You two are alone again, and his burnt-gold eyes stare into yours.

“Did Kuro bother you?” His ears are still pinkish, but you notice that he’s still comfortable, although you can see a sheen of sweat starting to form on his face.

“Nah... “ You force your voice to stay level. “Why does he keep doing this?? God, he’s so annyoing sometimes… it isn’t like- it isn’t like we’re dating or anything.” God fucking damn stuttering.

Kenma’s eyes widen for a fraction of a millisecond, and you almost miss it, before he clears his throat. “Yeah. Not like that at all.. let’s just go back to playing.”

The atmosphere morphs into the usual, playful one that is held between the two of you, and you’re becoming proud of how much better Kenma is at redefining conversations and shifting the mood whereas in the beginning he would struggle in topic changes.

You’re so proud of him.

(And you’re kind of in love with him.)

You have a group chat with Kuroo and Kenma, unsurprisingly.

It’s, what, midnight on a school day, and the three of you are texting. Kuroo offers a game of ‘truth or dare’, and you accept out of sheer boredom. Plus, dares are so much easier to do online because you can fake nearly anything.

kuroo >:/: kenma truth or dare

kenma :): i’m not playing

YOU: yea you are !! ur not getting out of this

kenma :): fine

  don’t say anything stupid though

kuroo >:/: so whats it gonna b???

Kenma takes a good ten seconds to respond.

kenma :): truth.

kuroo >:/: you got a crush on anyone?

YOU: oooh spicy

kenma :): kuro why

Your heart races a little bit at the comment.

YOU: oh? kenma i thought we were besties :(( why wouldnt u tell me

kenma :): it isn’t that….

  kuro you already know why are you asking me that here

kuroo >:/: for my favorite kouhai [name]-chan

YOU: fuck off kuroo we all know im ur fav bc i pay for ur boba

kuroo >:/: fair

You get impatient with Kuroo’s mindless banter, so you end up texting Kenma privately.

YOU: so who is ur crush????

kenma :): why do you assume i have one

YOU: i mean….u wouldve denied it if u didnt have one?

He leaves you on seen for two minutes and you’re about to text him and complain but his reply shoots back.

kenma :): it’s you

And your heart doesn’t skip a beat. No, it just beats even faster.

The blood is rushing to your face, you can feel it, and a smile tugs at your face subconsciously. Your brain’s running a mile a minute, and you’re so outrageously shocked and unprepared that the aftermath of it all hits you just about a minute later.

(What if he’s lying? What if someone made him say that? What if-)

YOU: fr?

YOU: kenma dont mess w me

kenma :): i’m not

kenma :): you wanted to know so yeah. it’s you

kenma :): i like you and idk kuro says it’s “more than just like” and maybe he’s right

kenma :): see u at school tmr

YOU: WAIT KENMA COME BACK ???

You cute little rat, you seeth internally, happiness still radiating off of you. Is this a dream? Oh my god. Kozume Kenma likes me.

… Kozume Kenma feels the same way I feel about him.

The next day, you anxiously wait for Kenma at your doorstep. You even woke up early and had gotten ready as soon as you could, just so you could catch Kenma ASAP.

You slept surprisingly well, despite your anxiety from Kenma, and your body was filled with energy. You check your phone every two minutes, glancing at his ‘good morning text’ and praying for another one.

kenma :))): gm i’m still walking to school with u if you want… i’ll pass by your house just in case

YOU: oh!!!! yea id love to walk to school w u :))

Silence fills your ears as you anxiously pace back and forth from your doorstep to the curb of your neighborhood. You can’t help but worry as your gaze flits across every house, begging for a sign of Kenma.

(What if you’re too late, you realize in panic. What if your efforts weren’t enough?)

But then the sound of quiet-paced footsteps snaps you out, and you look up to see Kenma, standing in front of your house, an adorably shy expression painted across his face.

“Kenma!” You hate how your voice comes out kind of squeaky and high-pitched but you don’t care right now. You practically launch off of your doorstep and bound toward him, settling by his side.

He gives you a shy, adoring look but you can see the anxiety in his eyes as he points forward in the direction of Nekoma. “We can talk while walking, right?”

You smile breathlessly and your fingers brush against his. He smiles at you, and you notice the same pink dusting his ears like when he was sharing chocolate milk with you.

Two hands intertwine and the conversation begins.

You’re in your third year of college now, out on a “boys (and girl) night out”, as Kuroo deemed it.

Kenma’s got it well-made for him, striking good on his company to which you supported him through the entire time, and Kuroo’s on his way to be the scientist he’s always dreamed of being even as a nerdy-jock kid. He claims he’s practically a professional volleyball player, too, just on the side, but both you and Kenma know better.

You and Kenma have been dating ever since your second-year in high school. Which makes it just about… four-ish years now that you’ve been dating.

(Kuroo claims that in your first-year, you and Kenma were basically dating each other spiritually, but you pay him no mind.)

The three of you are out on the beach on an autumn day. It’s pretty empty, despite the warm evening sun that casts a golden shine on the sand and ocean, so you’re all making epic sandcastles in peace.

“We should make a moat,” Kuroo says, already digging out a ring around the lopsided sandcastle.

“We haven’t even finished the castle itself!” You protest, pushing him lightly as you use your other hand to pat down the base of the castle.

Kenma packs sand into a small bucket and delicately places it on top of the half-finished sand “castle” to make a tower. You find it cute how he’s the only one putting in decent effort, so you help him out by packing in another bucket of sand. “Kuro would be a terrible architect,” Kenma comments.

“You right, you right,” You sigh out while Kuroo squawks in protest. Kenma leans on you, out of instinct you think, and you kiss the top of his head gently. Kuroo covers his eyes and complains about his youth and young love before Kenma haphazardly bumps into you. Which leads to the sand castle collapsing.

“Ah- Kenma!” you cry out in panic, sweeping the sand together in a half-hearted attempt to piece it back into a cohesive castle. “Be careful!”

“No, look,” he says quietly, a small smile gracing his face.

“You worked so hard on the base too, to make it big and flat- oh?” You sit up a little bit when you see a small velvet box in the middle of the sand pile.

Kuroo gasps very loudly and you stare at Kenma in shock.

Oh my god. What’s happening, what’s happening, oh my god-

You slowly reach out for the box in the middle of the mess and take it delicately, brushing off the sand clinging to it. Your fingers pry it open with shaking fingers and you feel Kenma place his hand on your arm gently, his gorgeous honey eyes staring at you. The same honey eyes you fell in love with.

You're also in love with the gorgeous, sparkling amber ring that sits in the middle of the cushioned box.

“[Name]. I want to be married. To you. Will you marry me?” Kenma’s voice is soft and sweet but you know with the convincing sureness in his voice that he’s been practicing this line for at least a month and he’s become confident in it.

You start crying immediately (god damn it, you think to yourself) your heart blooming with joy and your entire body feels like it’s about to explode of pure happiness.

You kiss him, full on the lips with tears streaming down your face and he kisses back, his arms wrapping around you and you realize he’s crying too. With the possibly happiest voice you’ve ever used in your life, you cry out, “Of course I will!” on the beach with Kuroo clapping in the background.

Two years later on that beach, you two become the happiest couple on Earth.

[ryqoshay]

Tri-Arame: Betting For Play

Primary Pairing Trio: YuuAyuSetsu Words: ~3.1k Rating: T Time Frame: First year of college? Maybe second? Dunno yet Story Arc: Stand Alone

----------

Author’s Note: Welp, this ended up a heck of a lot longer than originally intended. Not complaining mind, but there were only two original bits I wanted to include and it just kept growing from there.

----------

Ayumu startled as an anguished cry sounded from within as she opened the door to her dormroom.

“Y-Yuu-chan?” She inquired, quickly trying to assess the situation. “Are you alr…” Oh.

“Ayumu!” Yuu tossed the controller she was holding into the air as she bounced up to her feet.

“Ayumu-san!” Setsuna greeted as well, deftly deflecting the discarded device to land softly on the bed as she also jumped up.

The two raced across the room toward Ayumu who couldn’t hold back a smile at their antics even if she had wanted to. In the short few weeks the trio had been dating, Yuu and Setsuna had begun a friendly, though no less serious competition to be the first to greet her when she was the last to arrive home. It was one of many ways the two challenged each other but it was probably the one that amused Ayumu the most.

And even if she did feel a little strange being the subject of such a contest, she’d be lying if she said she disliked it. After all, just the way the two lit up merely upon seeing her was enough to warm her heart and drive away any dreariness of the day. As such, she almost preferred coming home last because of this new routine.

“Welcome home!” Setsuna launched herself the last meter or so into a tackling hug.

“I’m back.” Ayumu giggled, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend, and tilting her head down for a kiss.

A sigh sounded from her other girlfriend. “You’re too fast, Setsuna-chan…” Yuu lamented.

Both Ayumu and Setsuna laughed as they parted.

“Well, I do maintain a regular exercise routine, which includes running outside or spending some time on the elliptical.” Setsuna explained as Yuu took her turn to greet Ayumu. “And you know you’re always welcome to join me for my morning routine, Yuu-san.”

“But I do, though… sometimes…” Yuu reminded as she stepped away to allow Ayumu to remove her shoes. “And don’t you also do a bunch of more stuff at the studio?”

“Well, yes,” Setsuna conceded, “but that is more focused on dancing and singing. What I do on my own here is more general fitness.”

“Hrm…” Yuu seemed to consider the idea for a moment before her expression changed. “Anyway, you’re only one win up.” She jutted her chin back toward where they had been playing a moment ago. “You gotta win by two.”

“Right.” Setsuna nodded before turning.

“Eh?” Ayumu uttered as Yuu suddenly slid in close to peck a kiss on her cheek.

Setsuna either caught the movement with her peripheral vision or responded to Ayumu’s voice, or both, as she spun around and strode back. With a sly glance toward Yuu, she mimicked the gesture from Ayumu’s other side. Yuu responded by sticking out her tongue, at which they both giggled.

For her part, Ayumu couldn’t help joining in with the laughter. “Are you two going to carry over your little contest through making dinner tonight as well?” Though the concept was amusing, part of her feared how such a competition might affect Setsuna’s already adventurous attitude in the kitchen.

“Don’t need to.” Yuu said with a grin as she pulled something out of her pocket before presenting it proudly. “I won this at the store on the way home today.”

“Yuu-san and I already picked out what we want and have a pending order up on your laptop.” Setsuna explained.

“Alright, I’ll add my order in a moment.” Ayumu said with a smile.

Though neither girl said as such aloud, Ayumu couldn’t help wondering if the two had made their own side contest with the convenience store promotion. The fact that Yuu had emphasized that she had been the one to win the gift certificate felt like a strong indicator, along with a notable increase in competitiveness between them recently. At least they were having fun.

“Ne, Setsuna-chan,” Yuu spoke up as the two made their way back to the kotatsu “wanna add a little extra incentive to the game tonight?”

“What do you have in mind?” Setsuna tilted her head with curiosity as they retrieved their controllers and took their places.

“Something like the winner gets to make a request of the loser?”

“What kind of request?”

Yuu shrugged. “I dunno, maybe like drawing on their face like when we play Hanetsuki during the New Year celebration?”

“I don’t believe we have any ink…”

“Then maybe make them do pushups, get the winner a snack, clean their ears or something? I’m sure we can figure out something.”

Setsuna considered the suggestion for a moment before smiling strangely. “Alright.”

Ayumu wondered what kind of request Setsuna had chosen that would cause such an expression. Unlike their friend Kasumi, Setsuna was not typically the scheming type, and was not particularly good at it when she did. Rather, she was usually far too earnest and straightforward, to the point that Ayumu occasionally wondered how she had managed to hide her anime obsession from her parents and her dual identity from her fellow high school students.

“Hehe, now I’m getting fired up!” Yuu proclaimed. “I’m so going to win the next three rounds.”

“You seem pretty confident.” Setsuna observed.

“Well yeah, now that I get to make a request of Setsuna-chan, there’s no way I’m passing that up.”

“Hrm, we’ll see about that.”

With her meal chosen and their order submitted, Ayumu moved to sit on her bed. This gave her a good vantage point to observe her girlfriends’ match.

“Ha! Ring out!” Yuu pumped a fist in the air a moment later. “That’s one! Two more to go.”

“Two for me as well.” Setsuna reminded.

“Yeah, but that’s up from one.”

“…” Setsuna pursed her lips into an adorable pout, earning a cheeky grin from Yuu. “Alright, next round.”

The next two rounds were intense. Ayumu watched with bated breath while the two girls participating leaned forward and gripped their controllers harder.

“Victory!” Yuu cried, tossing her controller in the air.

Ayumu reached out to catch the falling device so it didn’t land on either girl in front of her.

Setsuna’s shoulder slumped in defeat.

“Alright, go braid your hair.” Yuu pointed to her rival. “You’re gonna be Nana tonight.”

“Eh?” Setsuna tilted her head with curiosity. “You want me as your prize?”

“Why not?” Yuu grinned. “It’s either you or Ayumu and I didn’t make a wager with her. Besides, I think this prize is one she will enjoy as well.”

Ayumu couldn’t deny that last point.

“While I’m happy to oblige, you really just want me to change my hairstyle to one you see all the time?”

“But we don’t see it all the time.” Yuu insisted. “At least not since we started college. You only wear it to class, and we don’t have any together.”

“You’re…” Setsuna blinked in realization. “You’re right. I hadn’t realized that you two might miss seeing me like that…” She hung her head apologetically. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize, Setsuna-chan!” Yuu laughed, placing a reassuring hand on the other girl’s shoulder. “If you go too long again, I’ll just be sure to win against you again at something.”

“Or try to win.” Setsuna smirked.

“Well, yeah, of course.” Yuu chuckled. “It wouldn’t be as much fun if you just let me win. Anyway, for the record, when I said you’ll be Nana tonight, I meant all night.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“All night?”

“I suppose you can take out your braids before you fall asleep, but for sure during certain activities.” Yuu emphasized the last two words.

“Yeah, I got that part.” Setsuna rolled her eyes at the less-than-subtle hinting. “But I don’t usually like sleeping with them, so you can’t go overboard and exhaust me again.”

Yuu held her hands up in mock defense. “Hey, I can’t help it if Ayumu gives in too much to her lust.”

“Yuu-chan…” Ayumu interjected, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. She wasn’t wrong, per se, but as was far too often the case, Yuu knew exactly how to embarrass her. Sure, she was looking forward to seeing Setsuna in braids but… wait… What if…? “Ne, Yuu-chan…”

“Mmm?”

“Would you mind if I played a round?”

“Challenger Ayumu wishes to enter the ring?” Yuu dropped her tone to mimic an announcer. “I thought you preferred more RPG or collection style games?”

“There’s some fighting in them.”

“Turn-based, sure, but…” Yuu shrugged and held out her controller.

“Uhm, I was hoping to challenge you, Yuu-chan.” Ayumu clarified.

“I know. I just wanted to be Player 1.” She reached over for the controller in Setsuna’s hand. “Alright, let’s pick our fighters.” She began scrolling through the selection on the screen.

“You can probably see better from here, Ayumu-san.” Setsuna spoke up as she scooted over a bit before patting the area between her and Yuu.

“Mm.” Ayumu nodded and slipped down off the bed before moving the joystick a couple times to search the roster.

“Oh ho, interesting choice.” Yuu commented as final selections were made and the countdown to start the match began. “But no matter, victory will be mine.”

Yuu proved her skill immediately by landing a devastating first blow before Ayumu could react.

“Nice.” Setsuna complimented. “But remember, Yuu-san, first blood isn’t nearly as important as last.”

“Mmh… huh? Wha?” Yuu reacted as her character was tossed into the air. “Wait…”

Ayumu tapped more buttons on her controller, scoring additional hits.

“Ayumu… when…” Yuu sputtered.

Setsuna snickered as the round ended. “That’s one for Ayumu-san.”

“Eh, uhm, beginner’s luck?” Yuu questioned. “Anyway, Round 2.”

The second round went almost exactly the same as the first. Yuu struck the first blow, but eventually succumbed to a flurry of hits from Ayumu.

“Ayumu!” Yuu cried as she was defeated for a second time. “That was amazing! Where did you learn to play like that?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Do I get the play the winner now?” Setsuna added her energy to the mix.

“Yeah, we should totally get round robin tournament going.” Yuu agreed, handing her controller over to Setsuna. “But really, Ayumu, when did you get so good at fighting games?”

“I, uhm… asked Ai-chan and Rina-chan for a suggestion on which character to try…” Ayumu admitted.

“Oh?”

“You two have been having a lot of fun with this game for the last few nights, so I thought I could maybe join you…”

“You’re always welcome to play with us, Ayumu-san.” Setsuna pointed out.

“I know, I just, thought I might have a fighting chance if I did a little research first, you know, for combos and such.”

“Yeah, that sounds like something you would do.” Yuu laughed. “Well, now that I know you’re secret, I’ll be better prepared for our next match.”

“Speaking of, you get to make a request of Yuu-san, since you won.” Setsuna reminded.

That’s right, that was also part of why Ayumu had wanted to play against Yuu, to maybe get an unexpected victory and get back at her a little for the teasing.

“Right.” Ayumu cleared her throat and turned to the green-tipped girl beside her. “Well, since Yuu-chan likes braids so much, I think she would look quite cute wearing a matching style to Nana-chan.”

“Eh?” Yuu blinked.

Now there was a reaction Ayumu hadn’t anticipated. Yuu wasn’t the type to fluster easily, but there was no hiding the pink blossoming across her cheeks. And it was adorable.

From the other side of her, Ayumu could hear Setsuna’s sharp intake of breath. “I’ve… I don’t think I’ve ever seen Yuu-san with braids before…”

“A… are you sure that’s what you want as your prize?” Yuu seemed at a loss for words.

How had she put it earlier? “Why not?” Ayumu returned. “It’s either you or Setsuna-chan, and you already made the request of her, and I think she’ll like it as well.”

“A-alright…”

“So, if I win against Ayumu-san,” Setsuna pondered “does that mean I can make her wear twin braids as well?”

Still riding the wave of confidence from her victory as well as successful teasing of Yuu, Ayumu couldn’t help smirking a little. “Maybe, if you win.” She winked at the raven-haired girl. “But if I win, I get to be the one to braid your hair.”

“That was what I was about to request when I won our rematch…” Yuu admitted.

“Hmm…” Ayumu thought for a moment. “How about as a consolation prize for both of you, I do both of your braids.”

Yuu chuckled. “Is that really a consolation prize or just an excuse to play with our hair?” Was she trying to turn back the teasing tables?

“Can’t it be both?” Ayumu asked. “I mean both of the other prizes requested so far were ones that will be enjoyed by the others and not just the winner, right?”

“Fair point.” Yuu nodded. “Alright, it’s a deal for me. Setsuna-chan?”

“Deal.” Setsuna agreed as well. “But, who’s going to do Ayumu’s braids when I win?”

Yuu and Ayumu laughed for a moment before the next round of the tournament began.

----------

“Nana-chan?”

“…”

“Setsuna-chan?”

“…”

“I think we wore her out…” Yuu observed the girl between them.

“Again…” Ayumu added before sighing.

Yuu giggled quietly.

“Mm?”

“I won…” Yuu murmured.

“Won what?”

“I outlasted her.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake, they competed over that as well? Although, Ayumu had to admit the idea was a bit amusing. However…

“Is it really fair when you had me to help?”

Yuu seemed to ponder the question for a moment before grinning. “We really do team up on her a lot, don’t we?”

“Yeah… but it’s hard not to…”

“I know, right? She’s so cute when she makes that expression.” Yuu did a decidedly poor, though likely purposefully so, impression.

“Well, perhaps to keep things fair, maybe next time she and I can team up against you.”

“Now that I’d like to see.”

“You don’t think we can?”

“I didn’t say that. I think Ayumu is certainly up to the task, but…”

Though left unspoken, Yuu’s implication was clear. And if Ayumu was being honest, she had to agree. Setsuna was definitely a passionate participant, but, perhaps as a reflection of other aspects of her personality, she seemed reluctant to, for lack of better words, take the lead. Part of Ayumu wondered if things were fine that way of if it was something they should address and work on at some point.

The sound of Yuu’s yawn pulled Ayumu’s thoughts back to reality.

“Ne, Yuu-chan, do you know if Setsuna-chan took out her contacts?”

“Yeah, before she put on her glasses.”

Oh, right. That made sense. “Also, you promised you’d let her take out her braids before she fell asleep.”

“I think I can take care of that.”

“How?”

“Scoot up a little.”

“Huh?”

“And slide your arm under her.”

“Like this?”

“Perfect.” Yuu lifted Setsuna’s shoulder gently.

Setsuna murmured something before turning with Yuu’s guidance. Once on her side, she wrapped her arms around Ayumu’s waist and buried her face in her chest.

“There we go.” Yuu hummed her approval and started undoing the braids that were now much easier for her to reach.

“Where did you lear…?” Ayumu realized the answer before she finished the question.

“From you of course.” Yuu responded anyway.

Which meant… “You’ve been awake?”

“Not every time.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I couldn’t help being caught up in the cuteness of the gesture.” Yuu admitted. “Ayumu’s thoughtfulness is one of her most adorable traits, and one of my favorites.”

Ayumu felt her cheeks puff in a pout as she reached across Setsuna to gently punch Yuu’s arm who only grinned more in response.

“Anyway, perhaps I’ll challenge you two again and get Setsuna-chan to team up with me that way.” Ayumu pondered.

“Challenger Ayumu wants to enter the ring again?” Yuu did a quieter version of her announcer voice from before. “Winning against us felt pretty good, huh?”

“A little…”

“Though to be honest, I’d’ve brought you in on our little contests earlier, but I’ve just never really seen you as the competitive type.”

“I went up against my rival school idols a lot back in high school.” Ayumu pointed out.

“True,” Yuu conceded “but even then, you weren’t really all that competitive. You worked hard, that’s for sure, and you were incredibly supportive of your fellow school idols, but… hrm…”

“What is it?”

“Oh, hey, idea.” Yuu grinned. “You should totally surprise Setsuna-chan in the morning. Something like seeing who can get the most steps in on the elliptical or whatever.”

“Setsuna-chan would probably win something like that.”

“Possibly. But it really isn’t really about winning or losing, you know.”

“Hmm?”

“I mean yeah, sure, it’s feels good to win, but it’s also fun to see Setsuna-chan’s smile when she wins.”

“Ah.”

“But you already know that, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

“That was why you were so supportive of your rival school idols, or at least part of it, right? Because watching them do well was also fun.”

Ah, so that’s what it was all about. It all made sense now. Ayumu had fun surprising her girlfriends with a couple early wins, but even as they adjusted and started winning matches again, it hadn’t diminished Ayumu’s enjoyment at all.

And the silly little requests had really just been a fun bonus. She hadn’t minded at all that the request made of her after her first loss was that she would join in on the twin braids brigade, in fact, she had expected it.

Sure, Ayumu wasn’t nearly as competitive as either Yuu or Setsuna. And sure, she was quite content watching her girlfriends compete over the most random things. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t join in on the fun every so often, right?

“Ayumu?”

“Mm, sorry, I was just thinking.”

“About?”

“What hairstyles I’ll have you try next time I win against you.”

“Tha… I… if I let you win…”

For the second time that night, Ayumu got to witness Yuu’s flustered expression and she couldn’t help smiling.

“Good night, Yuu-chan.” She said quietly before closing her eyes.

“Good night, Ayumu.” Yuu replied, shifting just enough to plant a kiss on Ayumu’s forehead without waking the sleeping girl between them. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“…ve… y… wo…” Setsuna murmured into Ayumu’s chest before nuzzling in more.

Did Yuu-chan actually wake her up or is she just sleep talking, again? Ayumu wondered. Either way, she tilted her chin down just enough to press her lips atop the other girl’s head before whispering a similar sentiment to her. Finally, Yuu’s affirmations to Setsuna were the last sounds Ayumu heard before sleep took over.

----------

Author’s Note Coninued in Followup Post

[punkscowardschampions]

Ali & Tommy

Ali: [Let us assume he has gone back to school now and this was a weekend affair] Ali: You forgot your 🕯 Ali: expect it in the post, minus the disappointed note from Ro I've taken out Ali: ✈️ trips not guilt trips, welcome Tommy: leave it in, LOVE to hear what she's gotta say about why I'M the one being a holy show Ali: You aren't respecting the sanctity of her offering, is very much the point and gist Ali: she put more letters to it, as standard Tommy: 'course she did Ali: It does mean a lot to her Ali: but yeah, nice to have my 📅 to myself again, can't lie Tommy: meant so much she fucked off soon as the 🎂 candles were out Ali: You know she isn't the party 'til dawn sort Ali: anyway, they'd be coming in for morning service 😅 Tommy: I know it's her party & she can 😭 if she wants to Ali: If I'd known that was the theme, could've made party bags with 🧅 & 🧻 Ali: well, at least you were in your element 🕺 and you kept Meena and Carly entertained Ali: the hostess not being overly concerned herself, like Tommy: this family's hostess with the mostest has & always will be me, honey Tommy: what else do they teach me at this school, like? Ali: I had no idea you were at finishing school, my apologies Ali: how's things with keeping a man then, Holly Housewife? Tommy: Why stop at strutting with 📚 on our heads when we could do it in 🩰 perfectly en pointe, carrying a sulky ballerina all the while? Basically a Latin motto Tommy: & yet I still can't keep a man, cheers for the reminder Ali: Maybe now you're of age they introduce the final string to your bow Ali: quadruple threat = 🎤🕺🎭🍆 Tommy: 😂🤞🙏 Tommy: stole your girl regardless, tell her to call me when she's slept off the festivities Ali: No doubt she will when she's between the next couple of parties 😜 Ali: your girl is here actually, helping Ro 'organise' her presents Ali: dunno where she parked her 🎃 Tommy: I'll join Fraze in the red corner 😍💋💔���🎯👿🥤🤡🥵🛑💘 Tommy: those dolls do go walk abouts if you don't keep a 👀 but obviously she was 🤞🙏 I was still there Ali: He might misconstrue that and come to fight for her honour Ali: 🤞🙏 she's in LDN too, naturally Ali: lots of them are haunted, but that last part of your sentence there is the MOST 😱 ever Ali: it's weird when you approach anything fuck boy like Tommy: miscommunication is his thing™ no hard feels or feelings full stop, 'course 💪🚫😭🚫😍 Tommy: what can I say? being back DOES things to me Tommy: it's all the positive masculine role models this family has Ali: Guess it beats a total lack of @Joseph Ali: though he sent her some book about musical theory so he still manages to be the favourite somehow 🤷 Ali: and hey, dad is the best Tommy: v catty & then cuddly of you, Kit Tommy: he doesn't respond to MY efforts at being a daddy's girl exactly the same way somehow 🤷 Ali: we're both living up to what's expected then 😼 Ali: could just be I'm better at it than you though Ali: if your ego will allow it Tommy: can't let our sister fly that flag alone, like Tommy: as for who's better at kissing the arse of authority figures, don't need to dignify that with an answer 'cause my school report will Tommy: you ain't never been a pleasure to have in class Ali: I might genuinely have to shoot myself if anyone ever said anything so asinine about me so you're right Ali: that would be such a waste of potential, not until I've lead a more scandal-filled existence Tommy: you could respect the hustle Tommy: it's getting me 🩰 perks Tommy: disciplined is the head that wears the 👑 hoe Ali: I know all about discipline, trust me Tommy: we've all read 50 shades, you can't take it as gospel Tommy: Ro could write a better bdsm bibe when she's done at church Tommy: bible* Ali: It's all fun and games 'til I walk in on her flagellating herself Ali: how are we explaining that to the shrinks Tommy: that she misunderstood a more sexy f word? Ali: we don't want to look like we're trying to lock her up for that Ali: way too retro, bro Tommy: She wants to be catholic Tommy: I didn't make the rules Ali: No, then da really would hate you Ali: she's got worse Tommy: Yeah Tommy: I know, no amount of drama from the golden couple could detract Ali: not that I haven't heard enough about that though Ali: guess there's too much to put in a passive-aggressive note Tommy: 🙄🥱😴 Tommy: She wasn't even THAT late & tbh I wouldn't have blamed her for doing a Joe no show Ali: I would've understood if she was upset when she wasn't coming Ali: I am when Joe doesn't, whatever Ali: but I think she was actually MORE upset that she did come in the end, and not just because she was messy, but because Ro thought she wouldn't Ali: I don't get it, they're complicated, always have been but ??? Tommy: she can't hold being a good sister over her, like you can't me being the most fabulous brother in existence 🏆 Tommy: the fuck ups are more fun to bring to a 🥊 Ali: I guess that's more likely than them being all 💕💞 Ali: but fucking hell, does it hurt to hope Tommy: it's hurting you 😿 Tommy: she'll be too hangry to hope Ali: I have no hope or agenda for your 🏆 or 👑 dear brother Ali: but seriously Ali: what does she want Tommy: like you said ???? Tommy: there's every chance I'm bringing too much McKenna magic to the motives & she don't wanna bear a grudge til the end of her days Ali: because it doesn't sound like her at all Ali: if you can't be honest in the DMs where can you, eh, to quote that romcom Ali: fucked if I know what to do about it right now though Ali: maybe I need to sleep off the festivities, or get something to eat Tommy: long as you're not so hysterical you run into the path of an oncoming car, to recall another faithful role of hers Ali: have you adapted that for the stage? Ali: get 5 of you to be the 🚗 Tommy: dibs 'cause I can't do the accent Tommy: not that loads of 'em posh kids can either Ali: they'll have spent enough time gentrifying the east end to have it down, offensively so but all adds to the hysterics Tommy: I'll pitch it then 💡 Tommy: go down better than her 🎤🎵 Ali: better than her when she got hit by the car, like Ali: give me credit or I'll turn up and make a SCENE Tommy: like I wouldn't be LIVING for that Tommy: if we are being honest in the DMS Ali: I'll work on my RICKKAAAAAAAAAAAY Ali: maybe can convince Ro to be Sharon Tommy: hang around your ma in law & you'll ace it in no time Ali: Ha Ali: she'd accept Peggy, not Pat Tommy: fair, Laoise's ma's the one more likely to express herself with big earrings & animal prints Tommy: but I don't know if Sam Mitchell is a favourable role for Carls, what did she ever even do? Ali: Are you trying to tell me it's NOT a look? 🤔 Ali: or that you rate Laoise's mum? Ali: The character, nothing, the OG actress lost her nose so we're all agreed that's a no Tommy: I'd rate seeing her da on the doorstep in nothing but a bow tie for how mortified she'd be when I uploaded it Tommy: Grant's also no, he knocked Martine on her arse way before that car Tommy: but if she's Phil, you're Sharon so that's a yeah from me, like Ali: Don't, her dad always gave me those vibes Ali: and you ain't actually on the street still to have to witness that 🤮 Ali: I don't know how she'll feel about going bald, I'll float it gently before getting out the clippers Tommy: Do Rock's while you're there, he looks feral Tommy: even that nonce wouldn't have him Ali: You know his ears would get chapped Ali: hair is essential or he'll fly away on the breeze Ali: and we'd all be devastated, obvs Tommy: don't start me thinking about that scene in Dumbo, cheers very much Tommy: 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Ali: Such a depressing film Ali: disney gives me bad vibes Tommy: the park is creepy & you won't catch me there Tommy: whether or not Walt was a Nazi it's still a nah from me Ali: Wee bit concerning that emotional manipulation and forced fun trumps facism/literal Nazis for you but we'll 🤐 Ali: ma is in enough of a mood and she'll only direct it at me so nah Tommy: well his racism is disputed depending whether you're in camp 😇 saint him 🙏 or camp cast him into the hellfire 👿 Tommy: the forced fun & emotional manipulation is just facts Ali: 👿 advocate Tommy: I'm gonna go to hell 🤞 he's an ally Ali: 😬 Ali: it's a punishment, not a holiday Tommy: it'll be a grand hol for my pores Tommy: love a sauna sesh Ali: that London smog is not it Ali: how black is your snot? Tommy: as Ro's soul 💀 Ali: Thomas Tommy: Alison Ali: 🛑 it Tommy: she'd 🖤 to hear it but FINE Ali: you're an enabler, it is known Ali: not the kind of encouragement I'm after tah Tommy: enabling you & your lady love to have a good time, yeah 🕺💃 Tommy: & I fully expected her to turn up with a pet raven is all I'm saying Ali: the best was made of it by all, despite it all Ali: even her, in her way Tommy: despite Kayne appearing 🤵🥀 & all in her case Ali: yeah Ali: ugh Ali: he's harmless enough, bless him Tommy: she'd beg to differ right now Tommy: you're gonna wanna hide the 🍄🍄💀 til she calms down Ali: You don't need to tell me Ali: I think he's just really oblivious Ali: like all lads Ali: it wasn't you know...assaulty Tommy: It's not his fault she's team true love's kiss & he AIN'T it Tommy: who could EVER measure up to the 💭💞 Ali: standards, cool Ali: unrealistic expectations, less so Ali: but I can't really advocate for reality at this point in the game Tommy: You don't need to tell me, sis Ali: you're team turn-a-stage-kiss-real, yeah Ali: it's more realistic than fairytales, anyway, look at strictly Tommy: I'm team when's my life been a shitty made for netflix flick never mind a 🐸🤴📖 Tommy: crushing realism ftw Ali: 💔 Ali: If you didn't have a tragic love-life to complain about, you'd be too insufferable 🤴💩 Tommy: comforting Tommy: I'd HATE to morph into Fraze of a few years back Ali: I'll let you know if you start getting freckles Tommy: I'd know if I woke up with those brows Tommy: nowhere to hide, like Ali: 👺 Tommy: 😂 Ali: What are you getting ma for her bday/have you got already (suckup) Tommy: I left it there if you wanna find & shake the 🎁 Ali: Wow, you really didn't wanna pay postage that bad huh Ali: I'll see if I can 🔮 Tommy: with what? I'm skint after buying hers & Ro's Tommy: & it'll be 🎅🎄🎁 before too long Ali: that's what people really mean when they say dance don't pay Ali: gifting an interpretive dance is nothing but pretentious and unwelcome Ali: I can bodge together however many crafts I need and save my dolla Tommy: been there, tried that one Tommy: so much for your so called genius Tommy: ain't even thought of earning any by busting out the 🎅🎄🎵 classics for a busking sesh, works with 🩰 too I'll have you know Ali: 'til you knock over an old lady and have to leg it, like Ali: and if you hadn't noticed, I've been a little busy making a replica Ro, tah Ali: my creative juices are juiced right now Tommy: I'll make it look like part of the show & have the punters eating out of my palm when I catch & twirl any 👵 before they touch ground Tommy: yeah well you've got time from now, fair game on all things yule from Nov 1st Ali: 👌👌 clearly the LDN ones are more receptive because they're vicious 'round here with their 👜s and I'm only trying to give them the tea they ordered Ali: if ANYONE should advocate for Christmas not dragging, like Tommy: it's Irish dancing or fuck all back there, 365 🌧 or ⛅ Tommy: little girls scam every bit of that trade Ali: ironic when it's catch these hands in every other aspect Ali: so you'll fit right in, eh Ali: feel traumatised yet? Tommy: I'll do my best, as ever Ali: 🤴 Ali: meanwhile ma will have to make do with whatever IOU present I can knock up Ali: maybe I'll babysit, that's never not gonna work Tommy: she was on about going out 🍽 wasn't she? Tommy: Carls will never not be down either Ali: get him to make her a cake Ali: sorted Ali: providing he washes his hands...a full hose down may be necessary actually Tommy: she's survived the 🧁 he brings back from school & we've all seen the state of him at day's end Ali: yeah, cheers for the immunity boost little 🦠 Ali: fair, I'm pretty sure we put some weird and wonderful things into our bakes at his age and no one died Ali: Laoise nearly but you know Tommy: close but no 🚬 Tommy: typical of that bitch Ali: sure a 🙏 was said to finish the job at mass Tommy: if you see her ma mascara running in an lbd, I demand to be the first to know Ali: I'll pap her in her time of distress, it's fine Ali: I can hide up trees for HOURS if needs must Tommy: I'm not above piggybacking on the 'tragedy' to get better grades or a hol Tommy: do your part, like Ali: she won't fall for 🍄 again Ali: her brother might if Ro puts 'em in her gob Tommy: 💞 Ali: more of a mood than without Ali: add a little danger Tommy: she'd appreciate the drama more than anything he could ever do Ali: 💔 Tommy: nah, we're not shipping that Tommy: not today Ali: You gotta make some bad decisions before you make the right ones Tommy: a bad decision was the colour of her 👗 Tommy: the last thing that girl needs is a boy right now Ali: Okay you can't come for anyone vis a vis colour, boy Ali: even if I still see it when I close my eyes after however many weeks sewing Ali: but you may have a point re. a boy Ali: just, some socialisation wouldn't hurt Ali: and as far as they go, he's harmless Tommy: 'Course I do, she can barely exist in front of us Tommy: if they went on a date, what's she gonna do, order a glass of water? Ali: like you haven't seen her fake eat a plate of food Ali: it's only noticeable to all us that she's not actually putting any in her mouth Tommy: 🔮✨ Tommy: if he's TRULY harmless he don't deserve to be harmed by her attitude Tommy: which anyone else not bound by family love & loyalty would call something loads harsher Ali: Don't Ali: I feel bad enough for Meena sometimes Tommy: @ Carly too & we all know it Ali: Yeah, Carly can handle it though, she's mostly unphased even if it is a total thing 🙄 Tommy: She's a 👸😇 I doubt Kayne is that pure of ���️ or intentions tbh Tommy: & Meena can handle anything so Ali: he's deffo a virgin though Ali: which yes, makes for more desperation, but he can't be that forceful if he dunno what he wants, you know Ali: yeah but God knows why she wants to come 'round here and get more of it at times Tommy: No shit, Kit but everyone's seen a porno, it's not the 70s Tommy: dress for it all you like Tommy: maybe she wants to get out of her own 🏡 Ali: everyone also knows it's bullshit Ali: whatever else she's got that much about her Tommy: does he though? Tommy: all I'm saying Ali: either way, it isn't like she's going to have a miraculous change of heart Ali: we all saw how well it went Tommy: Yeah but what if it makes her heart set on finding someone else to play 🤴 Tommy: you'd know better than me what goes on in her head Ali: She's 15, I don't see how any of us can say or do anything to stop her if that's what she does want Tommy: 15 technically Tommy: 🤷 Ali: If we can't make her eat, you know Ali: what hope do we have for anything beyond that Tommy: 0 Tommy: & it's fucked Ali: Yep Ali: but it's not as if that bombshell has only just been dropped, I guess Ali: we'll carry on doing what we can Tommy: 🔮✨ Ali: ✌💚

[lvminae]

SwSh Opinions

Actually fuck it I'll make an in depth post on swsh since I'm sick and it is 2:30 am and I can't sleep.

Keep in mind that these are my opinions and I’m not out here to argue with anyone, I just want to share what I think. And there is a lot. Since I wrote this in the middle of the night and edited the next day, I probably forgot some things, but it is long enough as is.

I don’t think I actually went into anything spoiler like.

Things I like

- Characters: I adore the variety in the characters and a lot of them are loveable. Some stick out as ones I don't particularly like, and some are silly, but that variety is good and it isn't so common that it becomes irritating.

And I have reasons to care about characters I initially disliked (like Bede; his development is JUST enough for me to not hate him). Some I still don't care about, and some characters deserve more development, but it isn't bad to the point where I am not happy with it (and I will address this more later).

- Pokemon (Variety): I'll talk about pokemon later on the neutral list, but I do really appreciate just how varied and even wild the pokemon are. Design wise, anyways - I don't know jack about competitive stats and don't care.

- Wild Area: The wild area has the silly mechanic of sudden weather changes depending on the areas, and the pokemon who pop up can be repetitive when you are dex filling. But other than that, I LOVE it. It is huge, and immersive, and I much prefer running around there than on routes.

And the pokemon popping up and approaching? Amazing. Can be annoying sometimes when pokemon you don't care about chase you (looking at Tyrouge and Electrike seriously Leave Me Alone), and hunting water types that hop around is frustrating (but makes sense), but it's still a wonderful addition.

- Exp. Share: I know a lot of people are pissed off it can't be turned off, but as someone who cannot get into old games because of not having it/how long it takes to get it, I appreciate it.

Some people think it makes it too easy, but now that you can box pokemon at p much anytime, you can (mostly) avoid the effect by boxing pokemon. I say mostly cause not all situations work with it, but I don't think it is common enough to say it is bad.

- Improvements of life: To add to my point above, I enjoy things that makes the games easier. I'm not a hardcore gamer. I want to have fun and actually be able to reasonably beat a game. Difficult games aren't bad, but these are for all ages. And it is easier to make things difficult than it is to make them easier if they were made difficult, yknow?

Things like showing the effectiveness of moves is one of those things- which I am glad they kept from SuMo- because I have memory problems. Lots of fans do, or are young, or just can't remember Every Single Type Matchup. I prefer having that than having to google type advantages constantly so I don't get a 1 hit ko on either my pokemon or a pokemon I want to catch.

It isn't quite as hand holdy as SuMo was (love ya rotomdex, but pls give me a break), but it is accessible to a range of players. That is how it feels to me, anyways.

- Side quests: Having little quests that give incentive to explore the region and just give a little spice of life to the region. And they aren't super confusing to do.

- General aesthetic: I love how the region looks. It hits so many aesthetic points for me. It is a pretty game with pretty locations, and the graphics are far better than anything I would have expected for pokemon.

Seriously, I've seen people comparing it to BotW and.... That is not the style Pokemon i or ever has been going for. It's an unfair comparison. Also BotW graphics are :/ in my opinion. Beautiful locations, but I don't like how people look. Pokemon? It looks nice, all fit together well. Feels like POKEMON. Not like other games that people compare it to.

There are some graphics that need fixing, like the berry trees and the whole mess they are when you shake them. But it isn't nearly as bad as people pre release were saying. And the battle locations are fine too. Seriously pre release thoughts were a mess.

- Performance: It runs well. I haven't had issues. Frame rate is fine, very rare drops, graphics work fine. I've only had a crash once, and that's because I was chaining max raids and the vibration was too intense for my machine. I took a break, turned vibration off, and everything was fine.

Note: I know that there have been some issues with glitches and stuff, and those are an issue. I haven't experienced any myself so I can't complain. And I'm not any sort of expert.

- Regional variants: I love regional variants in general. It is just So Good. And there are more than just gen 1 variants in these games! Thank god! Obviously many are still gen 1 but they aren't Exclusively gen 1.

I'll talk about that pandering later.

- Gyms: I love how the gyms works. I love the entry trials. I love the feel of the gyms and the competition, and the cheering and the music!!! It is just a great time!

- Character customization: Not quite as extensive as I was anticipating, but still super expansive and I love it.

Things I am neutral on

- Post game: It isn't that bad, but it isn't super interesting either. And I hate the sword based dude. His hair looks like a dick. Yes this is a genuine complaint. Both his and his brother's designs are... silly, and kinda uncreative, and I don't like it.

But they do pose a challenge, and it gives an interesting look at lore and the concept of people believing their assumed ancestry gives them certain rights and just how far these people will go.

- Pokemon: I think we have a good amount of new pokemon, but overall I am... eh on the designs of some. In my experience, regions have either a good amount of good looking pokemon, or a good amount of bad looking/boring pokemon. Obviously this is purely subjective, but this region has me drawn down the middle. I have pokemon I adore and are new favorites, but also quite a few where I just.... Don't like them at all. I've never been this split on them, so while I appreciate their variety like I noted above, I don't necessarily like all of them (especially the fossils. Their story makes sense, yes, but I can't fucking stand them.)

- Dynamax/Gigantamax: I get it's ties into the story, and I love that tie. And it is the gimmick of this region, which I absolutely am ok with. But in use... yeah, having a large pokemon is fun! But I don't really... Care about it? And I only use it in gym battles where I know the leader is gonna Gigantamax (even though generally I didn't need to), or max raids.

I like it more than Z moves, but it does make me miss Mega Evolution. At least it gives people something fun to design. And some of the gifantamax designs are great (and some are.... Basically dynamax. Pikachu and Eevee especially.) The raid make for good leveling though so I do like that.

- Story: I like pokemon for the stories. I actually don't like the style of the games gameplay wise. Pokemon I can handle and enjoy because it is simple compared to other games in the genre, at least enough so where I can be pretty clueless but still have fun and drive to play/grind somewhat. Bur ultimately for me, I enjoy pokemon for the story and characters.

Story... is lacking in this game. I love what we get! It is super interesting! But it is so much on the back burner compared to other games in order to focus on the gyms that it feels... I dunno. I miss a larger, more involved story. The focus on specific characters like Hop do still give me something to focus on, at least.

But the story could have been improved overall had it not been shoved to the side so much. A different, less involved story could have worked better, or something that involved the league and gym leaders more since the gyms were the focus.

Or find a way to involve the player more! It really comes down to the goal of the game, which was the improvements for competitive play. As a non competitive player, this isn't anything I care about or want. But some do, and with that being the focus, I understand the story being a bit lackluster compared to previous games.

Doesn't mean I have to like it, though :P

- Dexit: I don't... care about dexit. Having to play only with the pokemon from the gen isn't bad, and you can still use some. Yeah, a lot of pokemon I like are missing, but that gave me incentive to use pokemon from this gen. I think people making a huge fit over it also made me just Not Care. I'll miss my old pokemon, but maybe I cam actually complete the dex for this gen.

Things I dislike

- The trading system/y link: The fact you have to have nintendo online for this is awful. It is alienating to all those players who can't afford the subscription. All you should need is an internet connection just like the other games. It's a cash grab and I hate it.

The trading system is also irritating to use in general. I know the gts was not the best, but being able to search was nice. And one on one trading was so much easier. Using these codes is problematic because people you don't know can use the same code and you might not know! It fucks up trades! It sucks. It just sucks.

- Gen 1 pandering: Leon's key pokemon is a Charizard. Charizard got a gigantamax pokemon. Most gigantamax not from Galar are gen 1. Most regional variants are gen 1. I Do Not Fucking Care About Gen 1. Meowth has both an alolan AND galarian form AND gigantamax! It's annoying! Give the other regions some light. Please. I am so, so fucking tired of pandering to gen 1. The pandering makes me hate the gen, not want to go back to it.

- Version exclusive gym leaders: This one doesn't irritate me like the other things, I just think it is dumb. Especially since they didn't change the towns to make sense for the exclusive leaders.

- Cost: I am not made of money and I really do believe it should have been the normal $40. But it is a main series game with a lot and switch games seem to generally run at that $60 mark - main ones anyways - so I'm not surprised. Just disappointed.

[punkbirdwitch]

Sweet Mother Sappho

A longer poem about learning through history, self-discovery, etc. It’s a rough draft-- I’m not 100% satisfied with the storyline-- but, eh, here ya go.

---

Oh, Mother Sappho, though I’m not sure who you are,

I just found you in the trunk of my dad’s old beat-up car,

In a pile full of other stuff he used to want but doesn’t,

So I figured now would be the time to give myself a present.

I must admit that I’m not well-versed with verses,

Haven’t seen stanzas since Kwanzaa, and my rhymes could use work-- but!

Your face is on the cover and you look like you’re nice, so

I think I’ll come and read you-- only once or twice, I swear!--

And only when I’m curious about Aphrodite’s weaving,

Or carpenters and roofbeams or Gods who like deceiving!

I’d hate to be a bother with all of my incessant reading,

There’s just something ‘bout your passages I can’t help but find intriguing--

But maybe it’s just that my curiosity took

When I noticed finely scrawled within the tiny nook

Between the front cover and the page--

Faded some with age--

In graphite on the page, it reads, “Steph…

...

I hope you like the book.”

… My name’s Chris, by the way.

-

Oh, Mother Sappho, I know it’s only been one day,

But after our first meeting I can’t tear myself away!

And on top of that I realized that I’ve been a little flippant.

Dad always says that when I talk, my brain gets sorta distant.

My name is Chris, as I surely said before,

I’m 15 years old, born in the year Two Thousand and Four,

Which to you must seem like, I dunno, a billion years away--

If only you could see all of the stuff we have today!

My dad’s a docent-- uh, which means he works in a museum,

And I remind him he’s a nerd just about every time I see ‘im.

He takes folks ‘round to see the history, the time when you lived--

And money can be tight, so sometimes he works the graveyard shift.

I guess they save some headache by keeping the same guy

To glide across the floors by day and scrub ‘em by night.

But hey! I’m not complaining, and neither is he,

‘Cuz Empty Halls + Father/Son = Happy Memories.

I spent a lot of nights playing next to history,

Though how I (almost) never broke stuff still remains a mystery.

I played tag with the Huns, roshambo with Tommie Smith,

(A game I always won since he would always raise his fist).

My father told me tales from ancient times-- (Never quite PG)--

Then quizzed me on Mythology ‘til my mind was at its apogee!--

I’d hunt with Davy Crockett and paint with Vince van Gogh--

Might explain why a dead poet makes the second-best friend that I know. Ha!

But my favorite-- yes, the best-and-kindest figures of all

Were the warriors whispered about in the Women’s History Hall.

This was before they spread the female figures throughout the exhibits,

But in that hallway you could sense there was rebellious spirit.

Wollstonecraft and Curie, Shelley, Earhart and d’Arc,

I danced with Josie Baker, had some chats with Rosa Parks--

I fought entire wars with them as a tactician of sorts,

Then settled it with kindness, like you read about in books--

And it’s true that my childhood would have been less sleep-deprived

If I stayed at home while daddy made the money to survive,

But I’m a night owl through and through, a real child of Nyx-- (Still got it!)--

Which is why I’m sitting here with you at, like… 3:06.

… A.M. Yikes-- Mother Sappho! I’ve got to get to bed,

But thank you oh-so-kindly for the poetry I’ve read.

I hope that you don’t mind if this becomes a regular thing,

Like when I used to read soliloquies to Dr. Martin Luther King (‘s statue)--

God, with all that museum time, it’s weird I never met you.

But without further ado,

I’ll say good night to you.

… But Mother Sappho-- one thing keeps me awake,

A little shred of curiosity that I have yet to slake.

It pulls me in like the aroma from the master dish of a chef,

Oh, Mother Sappho…

… Who’s Steph?

-

-

Oh, Mother Sappho! Julie’s coming by tonight,

And whenever she comes over she just has to steal the spotlight!

Not that I mind-- I’m cool with being quiet at the table

While my childhood friend fills my open head with fables.

Our Hellish Elementary formed our crucible as friends,

And though it sucked, we only came out stronger in the end.

A nerdy girl, a “cissy” guy, playing sci-fi with dolls--

Didn’t really resonate within those tiny halls.

And of course I’d be remiss to not show her my new find--

I always try to have a new conversation topic each time

That she comes over-- Which she’s done quite regularly

Since she became my friend when no one else

Would hang out with me.

… But anyway-- She says she loves you, which is not a surprise,

It’s always been dead-dramatic ladies for whom she’s had eyes--

Not saying you’re dramatic, Sappho, I’m just trying to say,

That I’ve recently been wondering if you might’ve been gay?

I’m just saying! that’s the conclusion that I came to next

When the subtextual did floweth over into the text.

(O it makes my panicked heart go fluttering in my chest,

for the moment I catch sight of you there is no speech left

in me--) You see? You can’t blame me for thinking

That it was rainbow-colored nectar you and your friends were drinking.

 And while Julie’s father has a chat with my dad,

I tell my lifelong friend about the conversations we’ve had--

And I can’t help but hear our fathers talking in the afternoon air,

Two strong voices rising through wood and laughing as a pair…

Though what they talk about’s a mystery-- dad says it’s “Nothing much--”

It’s rare for friends to have their dads like each other this much,

Aaaand I just rhymed “much” with “much”-- I told you I’m rusty!

But I think I’m getting better, you’ll-- just have to… Trust me?

Ugh.

 -

-

-

 Oh, Mother Sappho, I’m addling my brain--

If I don’t find out who this “Steph” is, I might just go insane--

Short for Stephanie, I’m sure, but why is it in my father’s hands?

And why would he discard in the back of our sedan?

Is there some pain within my father’s past he’d rather I not know?

...

You know-- I never had a mother, Mother Sappho.

 -

-

-

-

 Oh, Mother Sappho.

Oh, Mother Sappho.

 I spoke with Julie today, Oh, Mother Sappho.

Sweet Mother Sappho.

I had something to say, “Oh--

“You know,” I said, “I think that I would like to be a girl,

Even if not for forever, I’d still give it a whirl.

I’m unversed in verses-- It’s hard

To explain in the wrong key

But I get the feeling that not everything

Is quite all right with me.”

And she turned to me and smiled and said “Silly-- you can be.”

 .

 Oh, Mother, Sappho.

Oh, Mother, Sappho.

I’m addling my brain.

There’s something here inside my heart that I just cannot contain.

It doesn’t feel right--

And yet

It doesn’t feel wrong.

It just feels like I’ve

Never quite

Belonged.

And now I’m not sure where I’m at or what to do.

Mother Sappho, I don’t know what to do.

Oh, Mother Sappho…

…

Sweet Mother Sappho…

 -

-

-

-

-

-

 (Oh, darling daughter, I hope you know that you are strong

And that as you sat there rambling, I was listening all along.

Please pardon my language-- I’m afraid I’ve not rehearsed.

In this meter, I’m afraid that I’m the one unversed.

 (You’re green and dainty, child-- what better thing to be?

And though your heart is violet, you’re as sturdy as the tree.

I hope you know I love you, no matter who you are,

For your soul is far more radiant than all the highest stars--

Now show them who you are--

My child, show them you are.

...

(And know

That you have nothing to fear.

You’ll know

When you understand how near you were

And are

To people just like you.

To people who love you.)

 -

 Oh, Mother Sappho, I hope you know you haven’t been misread,

And I think I found the meaning in that thing that you last said.

I realized what before I would not have believed in, ‘cuz--

“Steph” is short for Stephanie-- but is also short for “Stephen.”

 I think my dad and I might need to have a talk--

In the morning. It’s 2:04, and I’m still sort of in shock.

Maybe once I tell ‘im, I can help him get a date.

Ha! Maybe…

It’s late.

 Thank you, Mother Sappho, and just to set things straight-- (Which I guess I’m not, now, huh, Ms. Sapphic?)

You can still call me Chris-- it’s gender-neutral, yeah? It almost feels like fate.

Oh, Mother Sappho, I think that this feels right.

Thanks, and-- good night, Mother Sappho.

 -

(Good night.)

[echoes-of-realities]

76. please (some Brittanacedes friendship would be an awesome bonus) :)

76. “I bet it’s a boy.” // “I bet it’s a turtle.”

Santana sometimes likes to complain about things she’s excited for because, sometimes, her tough façade makes her feel a little bit safer. Most times, especially over this last decade, when she’s sure of herself and not scared anymore, it’s become this amusing thing to bug her wife about it. It’s something Brittany learned about her wife when they were five years old and just playing at house, and it’s something she still knows now, after twenty-five years of being best friends and nine years of being wives.

Now, it’s more of a game they’ve played for years than any actual attempts at a tough façade, to see whether Santana will break and give in to her wife first, or whether Brittany will give up on making her break first (Brittany is the undisputed champion of the game, which might annoy Santana if Brittany wasn’t so adorable when she breaks into her victory dance, or if Brittany didn’t kiss away Santana’s losing pout after).

Today, they barely make it onto the subway before Brittany is doing that wiggling victory shimmy and listening to Santana admit that, yes, she is excited to go to Mercedes place for supper, even as she fondly rolls her eyes. Brittany’s victory shimmy is restricted by the crowd on the train, so she contents herself with warmly and gently kissing Santana’s pout away. The train lurches a little as it takes off, and Brittany quickly steadies Santana before pulling her against her body, curling herself into an unoccupied corner of the train across from the sliding doors, wrapping secure arms around her wife. Santana melts into Brittany, slipping her hands under the open lapels of Brittany’s light jacket and seeking out the small of her wife’s back; the weather has unseasonably warm this past week and Brittany loves the moment she gets to put away her winter jacket for the spring weather, even if it’s not quite spring yet. Santana sighs against Brittany’s neck and nuzzles closer, soaking up the warmth that radiates from her even through her sweater.

“Do you think Mercedes will make those garlic mashed potatoes of hers tonight?” Brittany asks suddenly.

“I dunno,” Santana says, her breath tickling the sensitive skin where Brittany’s neck stretches into her collarbones and making Brittany squirm a little, “They said it was a special supper, and if Chris is barbecuing those steaks like he promised weeks ago you know Mercedes will make her potatoes.”

“Good,” Brittany says into Santana’s dark hair, widening her stance a little to brace herself against the slowing momentum of the train as it reaches it’s next stop. “Because I’ve been craving those for like a week.”

Santana laughs, her body shifting against Brittany’s in such a familiar way that light blooms in Brittany’s chest. “Babe, you’re always craving her garlic potatoes,” Santana teases, tightening her hold around Brittany’s torso as the train lurches back into motion.

Brittany just shrugs as Santana kisses her collarbone, soft and quick. “Guilty.”

There’s two more stops before they get off, and they spend the ride in comfortable silence, cuddled up against the corner to escape the pushing, crowd of people entering and exiting the sliding doors. As the train slows to their stop, they untangle from each other, Brittany reaching out to put a steadying hand on the small of Santana’s back as the train lurches to another stop, before following her wife out onto the platform. Santana reaches her hand back, fingers flexing and grabbing at air until they find the slippery material of Brittany’s jacket and catch, sliding down until she finds Brittany’s fingers as they head up to the street.

They make it to Mercedes’s house ten minutes before they need to be there, and Brittany suggestively offers to make the most of those ten minutes, delighting in the blush can still cause, even after all these years, just as the door swings open to reveal Chris in that ugly apron Brittany and Santana got him last Christmas, the one he absolutely adores and wears at every possible opportunity, much to their delighted pride. He hugs them both in welcome and takes their coats, carefully hanging them on the coatrack so they don’t wrinkle and so Mercedes doesn’t get on his case about it later. Brittany chats with Chris about his newest project while she digs through her bag for whatever little knickknack Chris left at their place two weeks ago; Santana follows her nose and wanders into the kitchen to find Mercedes at the counter, aggressively mashing up some potatoes.

“Those better be garlic potatoes,” Santana says in lieu of greeting, “or my wife will be sad and I’ll be vengeful.”

Mercedes laughs as she leans the masher against the side of the bowl and wipes her hands on a tea-towel before rounding the kitchen island to hug Santana. “Everyone knows you’re the sappy one, Satan,” Mercedes teases into Santana’s shoulder, “Britt is far more likely to be doing the vengeance.”

“Eh,” Santana concedes noncommittally as Mercedes pulls back. Her hair is pulled back in a slightly messy ponytail and a bright smile stretches her face until her eyes are practically glowing with it. “So, how’s married life treating you?”

Mercedes rolls her eyes as she rounds the kitchen island again. She picks up her masher and gestures at the cupboard with all their plates and bowls behind her, but Santana is already halfway to it. “I’ve been married for almost two years now,” Mercedes reminds her.

“I’ve been married for a nine years now, I’m practically an expert.”

“You really don’t have to ask me about being married every single time as if you’re some kind of marriage Yoda.”

“‘Marriage Yoda’,” Santana snorts.

Mercedes rolls her eyes again, but this time it’s at Chris as he enters the kitchen. “I blame him and all his nerdy movies.”

“Star Wars is a classic!” Chris protests.

“A classic nerdy movie,” Mercedes agrees. The two continue to bicker fondly and Brittany slides up beside Santana, running a hand briefly down her bicep before grabbing napkins off the counter and cutlery out of the drawers with an adoring smile.

“They’re both nerds,” Santana mumbles, and Brittany’s face lights up in an agreeing grin as she grabs pot holders out of the drawer and they both head to the dining room to set the table.

An hour later, everyone is stuffed and Mercedes and Chris are jittery and nervous; Santana and Brittany can tell by the way they trail off when they speak, they way they glance at each other and then away, the way neither one of them won’t meet Santana and Brittany’s eyes. Santana and Brittany exchange a quick look before Santana pushes her plate forwards and leans her elbows on the edge of the table. “Okay, spill you two,” Santana demands, “You’re acting weirder than usual.”

Mercedes and Chris exchange another nervous glance, but this one is bright and glowing, before Mercedes turns back to her two best friends. “We’re pregnant,” she blurts.

Santana blinks in shock before an excited smile starts to spread across her face, a mirror the one spreading across her wife’s face. That bright, lifting feeling blooms in Santana’s chest and she laughs. “Seriously?” At Mercedes’ and Chris’ overjoyed smiles, Santana laughs again. “Oh my god,” she manages to laugh.

Brittany claps her hands together and rocks forward on her chair, glancing between Mercedes and Chris with glowing blue eyes. “How far along are you? When are you due?”

“Fourteen weeks,” Mercedes answers shyly. “We wanted to wait until the first trimester was over, and I really wanted to tell you two in person.” Brittany and Santana exchange sappy glances before turning back to Mercedes and Chris.

Chris is practically vibrating in his seat, his smile so wide it’s almost blinding. “The baby’s due in September,” he says, just a hair above too loud but nobody notices over their smiles, “We have an ultrasound in two weeks to find out the baby’s sex, but considering I have five sisters and Mercedes’ is fifty-fifty in her family, I’m thinking it’s a girl.” His smile is so bright and happy that his face can barely contain it, and Mercedes reaches over to take his hand in hers.

“I bet it’s a boy,” Santana says with a little bit of unfounded certainty and overjoyed wonder, and she can already see a little baby with Chris’s eyes and Mercedes’ smile, Chris’s chin and Mercedes’ curls, Chris’s humour and Mercedes’ heart.

“I bet it’s a turtle,” Brittany offers blankly, and there’s a full three beats of complete silence before all three girls burst into laughter so loud it echoes around the kitchen, bouncing back around them until they’re surrounded by their giggles and happiness, Chris smiling at all three girls, confused but adoring.

After they all calm down, Chris and Mercedes sober as they glance at each other, Chris nodding at Mercedes and then across the table. Mercedes turns to her two oldest and best friends and gives them a small smile. “So Chris and I have been talking about it, and we were wondering if you two would be our baby’s godparents.”

Brittany sucks in a breath as her heart thuds and expands in her chest at the request. She glances at her wife, and finds her already teary and lost for word.

“Wheezy,” Santana breathes, her voice high and watery.

“No crying in front of the baby yet, Satan,” Mercedes teases, but the waver to her voice and the brightness to her eyes gives her away.

Brittany’s hand finds Santana’s and tangles their fingers together on Santana’s thigh only a heartbeat before her eyes find Santana’s. There’s a split second of question that passes between them, a conversation so fast that Mercedes and Chris both miss it, an lightning arc of understanding that trembles along the string tying their hearts together.

“We would be honoured,” Brittany answers for the both of them. Her voice is the strongest and most sure of the three, but she scratches quickly at the skin under her eye and gives the softest smile she has, the one that only Santana usually ever sees in the half-light of the moon from the window above their bed, the one that means Brittany is stripped down to her rawest form and knows someone will be there to hold her together afterwards.“I bet that kid will be the luckiest person in the world,” Santana manages, glancing between Mercedes and Chris. Mercedes and Chris exchange adoring glances before looking shyly away, flustered and grateful all at once.

Brittany’s fingers tighten around Santana’s and, as she glances at her wife, bright and teary and overjoyed, she knows without question that their family just got a little bit bigger.

[hancocksspouse]

Chapter 7

“So, who was the blonde this morning?” Fahrenheit asked, moving a piece across the chessboard without even looking. Hancock chuckled as he rubbed his chin, trying to think of a way to counter her.

“Just another ‘tourist’”, he said, moving a pawn slowly. “Same old, same old. Gave her the ‘tour’ and sent her off with her ‘souvenirs’”, he said. Fahrenheit let out a snort like laugh and made another move across the board, snatching up one of Hancock’s pawns. A small ‘dammit’ left his mouth.

“And your new friend? It’s been a couple of months now. Have you given her the ‘tour’ yet?”

Hancock quickly shook his head, contemplating his next move.

“Nah. I can’t do that to her. Sure, I’ve had some thoughts, but this one? No way”, he said. She raised a brow.

“Oh? Why? Does she bat for my team? If so, be my wingman here”, she smirked. He laughed a bit but shook his head.

“It’s not that. She just...I respect her too much, ya feel me? I mean I ain’t one to judge anyone’s fun but she ain’t somethin’ to just be a fling, ya know? She doesn’t deserve that”, he said, his mind recalling the image of her crying alone in front of the Rexford. “She deserves...Hell, I dunno. Nice shit. Like flowers and sweet nothings and a hand to hold her up when she’s down. Not just a ‘wham, bam, thank ya, ma’am’.”

The redhead’s eyebrows shot up a bit at his response as he finally moved another piece on the chessboard and for a second, Fahrenheit wasn’t too sure if she wanted to point out what he just said or go with it.

“Fair enough. And where is she?” She asked, deciding to gather more info before making an assumption.

“The Rexford. I was gonna offer for her to stay here for the night til the blonde bombshell stepped in. I was actually reconsidering having her over but Doll assured me it was all good and even wingmanned me so I went for it”, he responded. Fahrenheit nodded.

“Did you have fun, then?” She inquired, scooting a pawn over to draw out the game rather than win it. Hancock shrugged.

“Eh, while it lasted. Which wasn’t that long really but it was okay. She snored a lot, though so I just crashed out on the couch”, he said, eyes fixed on the board. Fahrenheit laughed.

“Heh, it was ‘okay’? Sounds like you weren’t even really into it.”

“Honestly, not that much. She was hot, but that was all there was to her. More vanilla than normal, but hey, I ain’t gonna say no if someone wants to throw themselves on top of or under me”, he chuckled, lighting up a cigarette as he set his hat beside him, running a hand over his head.

“I don’t know, Hancock. It almost sounds like you’re low key regretting it”, she said, slowly beginning to draw more out of him. “I’ve never heard you talk about a ‘tour’ like this before.”

-

She was right and he knew it. Any tours he had before he never complained about and would sometimes even give her the dirty details, but Hayleigh...

Well, he just wasn’t really feeling it. Last night, during, or this morning, actually.

There was no denying Hayleigh was a hottie with a slamming body (haaaaa rhymes), but he just couldn’t bring himself to be that into her (metaphorically, not physically). Normally, he would’ve been all for it and then some. Making flirty jokes, pinching and grabbing here and there, innuendos whispered into ears along the way.

But it wasn’t really like that on his end. Hayleigh grabbed and whispered and even left lipstick from the neck down on him (that he luckily was able to clean off before Fahrenheit saw him) and it worked for a little while but there was no real want behind it. Just physical reaction.

Maybe he was just getting older.

Maybe.

A loud rumble of thunder jerked him out of his thoughts and back to the chessboard in front of him.

“Ain’t sayin’ I regret it. Just sayin’ it wasn’t one of the better ones”, he shrugged, moving another piece.

-

His distracted demeanor gave Fahrenheit a clue as to what was going on in his head and she internally cackled. She was gonna enjoy this.

“Well, I mean if you weren’t really into getting the cookie, what would you rather have been doing?” She asked, countering his piece without ending the game.

“Honestly, I was pretty content just sitting with Doll at the bar. She’s been...I dunno...quiet lately. I’m kinda worried about her. It ain’t her normal quiet. Something’s buggin’ her but she doesn’t wanna tell me and I’m not gonna force her to. I just wanna help her out a bit, ya know?” He said, frowning. “I’ve seen those looks she gets before on my own face. I know what head space she’s in. I just don’t know how to approach it, ya know?”

Fahrenheit sighed and shook her head lightly.

This poor, clueless ghoul.

-

Doll had been awake since 4. She wanted to catch a few more hours of sleep since it was raining so hard outside, but she was too afraid of seeing her spouse doused in blood again.

The pouring rain outside had kicked off a migraine, keeping her shut in her motel room. Luckily, she had already paid for an extra night when she woke up and could feel it start up (and the alcohol from last night didn’t help at all).

She took a sip from her can of water and pulled her knees up to her chest, letting out a sigh. Doll had a million and one things she needed to do and she currently couldn’t do any of them without running the risk of vomiting everywhere or being blinded by light and sound and for the first time in over 200 years, she had to deal with it without Nate and that just made her feel worse.

The fact that Hancock wasn’t there to maybe distract her from the pain for a little while didn’t make her feel any better.

She ground her teeth slightly.

‘Way to go, jackass. Thinking about your dead spouse and then bringing up the man you’re crushing on. Real nice. Fucking dipshit’, she thought.

At least being in her motel room gave her an excuse to low key avoid him.

For a little while.

-

“Checkmate”, Fahrenheit said, smirking at Hancock.

“Ah, Hell. I thought I had ya this time”, he sighed, leaning back into the couch.

“So, you guys heading back out today?” She asked, lighting a cigarette. Hancock shook his head as he approached the window, leaning his arm on the frame.

“Doubt it. Doll can’t handle weather like this. Causes her migraines and I don’t think the slight radiation in the water makes it any better. She’s a vaultie so she’s still a bit sensitive to the rads”, he said, looking at the Rexford.

His response almost made Fahrenheit let out an ‘awwww’ at how cute it was he remembered all of this about her when sometimes, he couldn’t even find his own pants. It was evident he thought nothing of it, but from an outside looking in view, she found it to be precious and surprising all in one.

“I see. So, she’s gonna stay in the Rexford til you guys leave?” She asked, trying to see how much she could poke. He shrugged.

“Actually, I was gonna bring her over here so I could keep an eye on her til we headed back out. She’s tryin’ to prep her power armor so we can head into the glowing sea”, he said, turning from the window to Fahrenheit, who simply smirked up at him with a cocked eyebrow.

“What?” He said, lighting a cigarette.

“Nothing, nothing. It’s just kinda cute how you know all these little things about her and keep up with her schedule yet when you’re here, you can’t even find your left shoe without help”, she said. He rolled his eyes.

“I’m kinda supposed to. That’s what she’s got me travelin’ with her for. I got her back-“

“And she’s got yours”, she said, finishing his sentence. “I get that, believe me. I just didn’t think you’d take to babying someone like this.”

He chuckled at her pokes.

“Yea, yea, bite me. I ain’t ‘babying’ her or nothin’ like that. Just helpin’ her keep her head on her shoulders.”

“Yea, okay ‘Mama Hancock’. You gonna wrap her up in a blanket and carry her like a princess, too?” She laughed, baiting him. He cocked a brow.

“What? You think I won’t?”

“20 caps says you won’t”, she smirked.

“Oh, you’re so on”, he said, already heading out the door. “Might as well throw those caps on the fuckin’ table, Fahr.”

Hook.

Line.

Sinker.

He was gonna owe her caps one day, but for now, she tossed them onto the table and propped her feet up.

-

Doll tried desperately to at least put on her more armored clothes. She really did. But the pain in her head was just making every muscle in her body so tense, she wanted to crawl out of her skin. The only thing she was able to put on was her leather jacket and shirt and the leather immediately felt like the most uncomfortable material she’d ever let grace her skin before.

“Fucking bullshit”, she growled, her teeth clenched as she tore off the jacket and threw it across the room, followed by the bloodstained and torn up shirt.

‘I need to find Shaun. How the fuck am I supposed to find him if I can’t even handle light, sound, or wearing real fucking clothes?!’ She thought, her hands covering her face as she stood in the room clad in just her bra and a pair of cotton sleep pants she found back in Sanctuary, shoulders slumped.

For the longest time, she just stood frozen in place, so frustrated her mind simply went blank, only leaving her with the recurring throb of pain in her head and in that moment, she almost felt calm.

A gentle knock thumped at the door.

“Hey, Doll. It’s me. Can I come in?” It was Hancock. Doll didn’t even bother taking her hands from her face and simply sighed.

“Yea”, she croaked.

“Neat. Wanted to che-oh, damn. Sorry. Didn’t know you were changing”, he said, startled at seeing her half clothed. He shut the door and kept his back turned to her.

“I uhhh wanted to see how you were feelin’ since it’s rainin’ so hard outside and we were drinkin’ last night. Hangover?” He asked, keeping his voice a bit lower for her.

“Not really. It’s not alcohol nausea, it’s pain nausea”, she said, gently rubbing her eyes. “Give me a second to pull my head together and we can head out.” Hancock chuckled.

“Doll. Who do you think you’re foolin’?” He said, humor in his tone. “We’ve been travelin’ together for months now. I already know you ain’t gonna be able to get through the commonwealth like this. You look ready to hit the floor.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong. Just standing right now was taking far too much effort, but she frowned.

“I can’t just not do anything because of some pain. I have to head out. I need to find Shaun and-“ but the sound of Hancock sighing stopped her and she could hear his footsteps approaching her before his frock found its way on her shoulders and he turned her around to face him.

“Before you work yourself up into a tizzy, lemme talk to ya for a minute. Don’t interrupt, just listen to me, alright?” He asked. Her brow furrowed but she nodded and pulled his jacket closed around herself.

“I know you’re doing this to find your boy. I know and I support you 100% all the way. I’ll stand by you and watch your back til you tell me to piss off or I’m finally taken down. But you gotta take somethin’ into account. There’s a big ass difference between us trudgin’ through the wastes on a normal day gettin’ shit done and you tryin’ to drag yourself through the dirt and havin’ to stop every hour to keep from passing out or puking from pain. You can’t do shit to help anyone, especially your boy, if you’re puttin’ yourself in harms way when you can’t even see two feet ahead of you and the bang from your own gun puts you on your knees. You’re just puttin’ yourself in a position to be killed and as long as I’m by your side, I ain’t gonna let you do stupid shit like that.”

His tone remained low but still stern and it kinda threw her off. He was normally the one taking a full hit of jet and holding it in his lungs while tearing through a group of raiders just to see if he could kill them all before letting it out. But here he was, trying to tell her as nicely as possible that she wasn’t any good to anyone, herself and Shaun included, if she were to put herself in harms way during a time that she quite obviously couldn’t handle it.

Getting self care tips from the man that did chems on a daily was kinda weird, really.

-

She was an intimidating figure when she wanted to be, despite being an entire head shorter than him. She normally had a brow cocked in a sassy ass manner and was prone to constantly rolling her eyes at the sound of bullshit.

This, however, was not one of those times.

She was not the sole survivor of vault 111 that was righting the wrongs of the commonwealth today.

She was an exhausted and pained mother that was pushing her body as far as she could to find her baby boy and at this point, Doll might as well have been running on autopilot.

She was a small woman in a big wasteland wrapped up in his jacket and baggy pants because for some reason, her shirt and jacket seemed to be haphazardly thrown in the corner of the room and he honestly wasn’t gonna question it. He simply shook his head.

“Taking a day to pull yourself together is what you need right now. I promise you we’re gonna find your boy. I swear it. But not today. Alright?”

-

Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor, but she nodded anyway. It killed her to admit when someone else was right but dammit. He was right. If she were to step outside those gates and a bullet caught her, she’d be at fault for going out, knowing she wasn’t in a condition to.

He gently pat her shoulder.

“It’s gonna be okay, Doll. Just take it one day at a time. Now, put a shirt on and gimme your bag”, he said, causing her to look at him with a questioning glance.

“Look, with you like this right now, it’d be better for both of us if you just let me look after you til we head out, so you’re staying with me”, he said, lighting his cigarette he pulled from his pocket. He jerked his head towards her stuff. “I’ll be in the hall when you’re ready.”

-

She nodded and he left the room, gently shutting the door behind him before strolling over to the banister overlooking the bottom floor and letting a cloud of smoke leave his lungs, rubbing a hand over his face.

She was topless.

He saw Doll topless.

Now, of course, he was a shameless flirt and knew it. Owned it even. But he was also a gentleman. He was polite and respectful when it called for it.

Didn’t mean he was blind, though.

-

So like. Leave me comments and stuff so i know what I’m doing. Please.

[northernscruffycat]

Tagged by @ishidoshuuji! Thank you for tagging me, because I so rarely get an excuse to talk about Inazuma, even though I love it a lot. Original meme/quiz/whatever they call these now by @revivedandabandonedkids

Also, please forgive me if I slip into the dub names, as I've only actually played the English games and seen the English dub of the anime, not the Japanese original. I'm lame, I know.

- Heya what’s your name :

I'm Sam, with usernames that are variations of three words because apparently that's my thing.

- Favorite character :

Natsumi is my favourite from IE and Kirino is my favourite from GO.

- Favorite arc :

The first games of each IE and GO have a special place in my heart, though as more time goes on the more I appreciate IE2 a lot as well.

- OTP :

Endou/Natsumi, Fubuki/Someoka and Kirino/Shindou are my main three ships. There are others that I like as well, but those are the ones I spend the most time thinking about. Oh yeah, and I secretly ship Kageyama/Hibiki a lot too, but don't tell people. 8D

- BroTP :

Everyone who Endou has ever made friends with x Endou is the best BroTP. Also, any combination of the managers is where I'm at.

- Any ships that everyone ships but you surprisingly don’t (please remember the little // in the ship names so it won’t show up in the tags) :

Gouenji//Fubuki (omg Heather, I thought I was the only person who didn't care for that ship!), Endou//Aki and for some reason I can't seem to get into Endou//Kazemaru as a romantic ship either.

- Favorite hissatsu :

Utter Gutsiness Catch, because I am a five year old apparently. But for real, any special move that Fubuki does will probably be my favourite because they're so pretty.

- What about combination hissatsu :

Wyvern Blizzard, because it's my OTP's special move together! But also Dead Future is weirdly pretty.

- Favorite Keishin:

I have a soft spot for Sousha Maestro, but I don't think I actually have a favourite yet.

- Favorite Mixi-max (I bet you were expecting this) :

A tie between Kirino & Joan and Kinako & Master Dragon

- Favorite Soul (you’re right I don’t have any excuses for this ) :

Since Galaxy was never realised in the UK and I haven't gotten that far in the anime yet I haven't seen any of the souls, so I can't answer this one. ;_;

- Favorite forward (LOL THERE’S MORE) :

There's so many good ones! But I guess if I had to pick just one it'd probably be Tsurugi. Though of course I love Gouenji and Shindou as well.

- Favorite mid-fielder (I know this is getting old okay) :

Kidou and Tenma.

- Favorite defender (Almost done…):

Kirino, Fubuki, Touko and Kabeyama.

- Favorite goalkeeper (Not my fault there are so many positions) :

Well, Endou is a given of course, but I grew to like Tachimukai a lot when I watched the anime as well.

- Favorite manager/girl player (actually, all girls in general) :

Natsumi is my all time favourite, but I basically love all of the girls. If I had to pick out just a few of them then I'd also say Rika, Touko, Akane and, oh yeah, Kazeaki Yone is an unsung hero.

- Favorite team :

All of the main teams are my precious babies, especially when Someoka is there.

- Favorite team uniform :

The one where they're basically just dressed as school girls. You can be damn sure that whenever I unlock that uniform in any of the games I switch them into it as soon as possible.

- Which movie is the best :

I haven't seen any of the movies yet. But I do mean to! Right now I'm rewatching Digimon Adventure 01 & 02 (maybe Tamers as well), but I hope to eventually get back to where I left off with watching Inazuma.

- Prettiest character :

They are all too pretty, it wouldn't be fair for me to- ...okay, Kageyama, because no one can compete with him. 8D

- Most handsome :

Someoka~!

- Best hairstyle:

Natsumi and Kirino. I'm sorry, but I'm biased towards my faves.

- Do you think it takes more hairgel to style Tenma’s, Alpha’s, or Tobitaka’s hair :

Tobitaka, because he's obviously using so many products all the time, given how much he cares about his hair. Also, I believe that Tenma just wakes up in the morning with his hair looking like that and I don't know how he does it.

- Whose hair takes the most time to manage :

I've never put any thought into it, but given how much we see Tobitaka actually managing his hair I'll go for him again.

- Who would you most want to see with their hair down (sorry for all the hair-relatedness) :

Anyone, because I like seeing characters with their hair down.

- That OP/ED that keeps replaying over and over again in your mind :

I've only seen the dub. You understand my pain.

- That character song that is way too catchy for its own good :

Oh cool, I should listen to some of these one day.

- Raimon or Teikoku :

Raimon, because it's Endou's base of operations where he adopts preferred members of other teams into his friendship harem.

- Ultimate Shining or Ancient Dark :

Ancient Dark as a team, but I prefer Shine as a game because it has EnNatsu and also I'm slightly more interested in Hiroto than Kazemaru.

- IE or IE GO:

Honestly, I like both a lot.

- Taiyou or Taiyou (hint: The answer is Taiyou):

Taiyou is amazing! I love his Irish accent in the English games and he's completely the reason why I played Wildfire first out of those two versions.

- Fubuki post-personality-disorder or merged:

Post, because he's happier and at peace with himself. Though I do admit that I found the whole situation leading up to it interesting.

- Hang out with Rika or Touko :

I assume that if you hang out with one then you'll probably end up hanging out with the other anyway, but if I had to pick just one then I'd probably go with Touko. I love Rika, but she seems like a lot of work to hang out with.

- Yank Tsurugi’s ponytail or Fei’s :

Tsurugi’s because he deserves to suffer more.

- Kageyama Tobio Reiji or Kuroiwa Ryuusei :

MY SON IS PERFECT IN ALL HIS FORMS.

- Quick! Kiss Cliff Marry. Shindou, Kariya, Kinako :

I would rather just protect all three of them forever. They are my precious children.

- Which is more amazing, the fact that the ball doesn’t pop or the goal doesn’t get torn through :

The goal not getting torn through! In fact, I always feel a little disappointed that when I do a super powerful move that it doesn't show the goal just getting destroyed.

- Why don’t they ever get yellow/red cards????? :

Either because everyone is actually afraid of them or because no one really understands how the game works in this universe anyway.

- Eat a soda popsicle with Suzuno or plant a tulip with Nagumo :

Either? I'm not that fussed out these two if I'm honest.

- Be a forward with a defense technique or a defender with a shooting technique :

Defender with a long shot technique - stealing this answer, because yes.

- Who do you think Endou should really end up with :

I was totally shipping Endou with Natsumi ever since I finished the first game, because I thought they balanced each other out nicely. So when I found out he does get married to Natsumi in one universe I was pleasantly surprised, usually my OTPs never gets to be canon! But I do also support his marriage to Fuyuka in the other universe too. Other characters I'd be happy for Endou to end up with include Kidou, Gouenji and Touko.

- Yes or No, Afuro Terumi :

Sure?

- Sacca yarouze? :

I'm filthy English dub scum so I dunno what that means.

- Anything you wanna praise the series for :

The English dub of the games bringing in so many different UK regional accents that I rarely see in media is what makes me smile to my soul. But I'm also going to steal the answer that it made me care a lot for a series about a sport I have no interest in and also showed me that I can call many, many fictional characters my children in the same series.

- Anything you wanna complain about the series (don’t worry we all know it’s not real hate here) :

Eh, it has similar problems to a lot of kids' shonen series, but I love it anyway.

- Got any IE merch (yes I’m offering you bragging rights) :

I have a few of the small figure sets that included characters I like, but I did want to get more of them. Maybe I'll get more some day.

- What do you think about Ares no Tenbin :

Cautiously optimistic? On one hand I am a little sad that all the developments I liked are being erased, though I guess they'll still exist in the other universes. But on the other hand I am curious enough to pick up the game anyway, if it actually gets a UK release... I would have also rather that they went with an entirely new cast, but I am hopeful that maybe we might get some more SomeFubu interaction this way. Please let me have that much.  

- 3 things you love about the IE fandom :

Sadly, I've not experienced much of the fandom, but from what I have seen I love how creative the fans are, how good their sense of humour is about nothing in this series making sense and how they've held on after so many years - as a Layton fan I understand how difficult that can be!

- 1 thing you would like to say to the IE community (fandom,producers,etc.) :

Please don't bash Natsumi, she is my precious daughter and I love her. ;_;

- What do you think about the creator of this whole post (I know. I’m lame. I’m sorry.) :

You made a super fun ask meme that got me thinking about this series so much that I want to get back to watching the anime again as soon as I can!

[drkelexo]

@melvanainchains tagged me in some top 10 favorite music thing. i tried to find a good variety of favorites but lets be fair everything i listen to is the same. i'll post them in alphabetical order cuz i dont really know how i'd sort them otherwise.

1. Find Your Way - Authority Zero A nice and cheesy way to start off this list. Basically, despite AZ being a punk rock band with some Spanish influence, they've got a surprising amount of upbeat and uplifting music, and to be honest, it does really help cheer me up when things are turning shit.

2. The Lucky One - Celldweller Something electronic had to end up on this list, even if it wasn't from a video game. Celldweller and sometimes-partner Blue Stahli often make me wish I had more electronic bands to dig into, because I love the shit outta those two. Narrowing down to one pick for this list was pretty difficult as well.

3. Generate - Collective Soul I sometimes goes through "guilty pleasure" bands, where I'm not exactly sure why I love them so much, and then at some point I stop listening to them for pretty much that reason. It's amazing how many Collective Soul songs I once had on my playlist, only now to have like 3 left. Eh. Generate will always be one of my favorites, despite it being just really weird. I dunno. It's catchy.

4. Flight Response - Days of the New Meeks jams hard with acoustic guitars, I dunno what to tell ya.

5. Supercrush! - Devin Townsend Project I love Devin Townsend. I don't always love his music, but I'll never really complain about trying to keep variety up. I’m just too damn picky. Addicted is just an absolutely amazing album, with the titular song probably being my favorite, but Supercrush here is just a good example of how unique it’s sound can be.

6. Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac Just felt like throwing this in here. Occasionally some of that 70s/80s classic rock crap still catches my attention. I remember long, long ago I heard this song on the radio, and I couldn't get those opening notes out of my head. Something about the way the guitar sounds in this one just clicks with me. Flash forward several years and I was listening to Rumours for reasons I honestly don't remember, and to run into this song after so long of not hearing it was a pretty pleasant surprise. Turns out I liked the rest of the song a lot, too! Funnily enough I can put a date to when this happened, because I remember the exact next day seeing this trailer during E3 and hearing the weird, jangling cover of the song in it.

7. Rainy Day - Oleander Man, this song. It's one of my all-time favorites despite, honestly, not having the best chorus. The more low-key verses are absolutely perfect for listening to while driving in the rain, which is always just a really relaxing ambient moment for me. Oleander is a really solid band, too.

8. Dragonfly - Shaman's Harvest Not the best example of the band, but certainly a top song of mine. Shaman's Harvest has some usual alt rock that I induldge far too much in, but with a little southern flare. (I mean this album featured a song called Country As Fuck, so) The original version of this song is... okay. But, I'm a huge sucker for acoustic versions, and this is probably the best example of one in my playlist.

9. Black Tangled Heart - Silverchair I wanted to throw in something directly between Silverchair's older alt rock sound and their newer orchestral experiments. Freak Show and Diorama are both amazing albums for their own reasons, but I feel like Black Tangled Heart perfectly fits right in the middle.

10. Kitchenware & Candybars - Stone Temple Pilots Anyone who knows me saw this coming, although what my favorite STP song is changes depending on what day of the week you ask me. Although, there's a good chance whatever I'll say will end up being something from Purple, which is just out and out my favorite album ever, from my favorite band ever, with not a wasted track on it.

11. What a Day That Was - Talking Heads I actually spent a lot of time trying to debate what song to knock off the list before I eventually decided, fuck it, it's my list, it's my blog, I have no obligations!!! There was a period of time where I really didn't know what genre of music I liked, and just collected a grabbag of random songs whenever I heard something that caught my attention in anything. Which reminds me, the entire reason I got into Authority Zero was because I used to have Everyday as one of those just random tracks after hearing in a Tony Hawk's game, and one day my last.fm radio decided to play a live acoustic version, which was so radically different that I thought to myself, "hey, I should see what else they've done!" Anyway, during that time, some good ol' friends of mine were really into, among other things, Talking Heads and They Might Be Giants, and with nothing to really listen for myself, that started to rub off on me. I used to have a LOT of TMBG on my playlist, man. Talking Heads weren't quite as popular with me, but I was given a link to their live album, Stop Making Sense, and I fell pretty hard for it. A lot of their music I feel is a little weak or lethargic, but SMS completely changed all that. Every version of their music in that performance is amazing, and the whole thing ranks as one of my top albums of all time. I'm not quite into them as I once was, but I'll occasionally dip back into this album and play the whole thing through. This song in particular was a pretty huge improvement, honestly. After hearing the original, I don't honestly have a lot of good things to say about it, but this version stands as my favorite track on the album. Let that say about me whatever it will.

Welp, I certainly rambled. I think I'm supposed to tag people now but I'm not entire sure who is even reading this. And that Yoshi fucker won't do it, cuz he's LAZY.