#encore request excepted

[arrowheadedbitch]

Fr? You want more???

Okay, I guess I'll pull the stuff I said about some of the other songs

Black Box Warning is PERFECT for Shawn trying to explain to someone why they shouldn't love him >:}

Anyone up for some Shassie?

I went Shules with Tourniquet, so it's only fair I share the Shassie one, even if it's shorter and also no one is gonna read it lmao

Imagine, Shawn and Lassie have a bit of a thing going on but Las doesn't want to admit that he has feelings for Shawn so he does the whole "we can't be together blah blah I can't love you blah blah" you know? And then...Shawn agrees with him

And he starts going in to the reasons that Lassie should absolutely under no circumstances love him but instead of proving a point like Shawn meant it to...it just breaks lassie's heart

"The more of me you'll see, the less of me you'll like

The older I get, the more my teenage self-hatred is justified

I think I've tricked everybody that loves me

I wish I could come with a black box warning"

And Shawn isn't saying this venomously, he's not being mean to lassie bc he said he can't love him, he's saying it all matter of factly, like he thinks it's true

And the longer it goes on, the more emotional Shawn gets as he's just telling Lassie all the things "wrong" with him ~~the things that make him unlovable~~

" I'd give our kid less than they deserve [everyone knows lassie wants kids...]

A gеnerational curse, the way my mom gavе me and her mom gave her

I can't love anyone more than I hate myself

And I can't do anything if it only serves somebody else [blatantly untrue but Shawn is sadly blinded by his own lack of self worth]"

"I'm the star that never aligned

The thing you know you have, but can't seem to find

And I'm the call you've been dreading all week

The chore you always end up procrastinating

I'm the bite you can't stomach, so you spit it out

The girl you're kinda embarrassed to tell your friends about

The potential that you can't apply

And the faith you lost in God and your parents

Beware, I'm a dead end, keep out

Don't be a hero, turn back now

I'm a boa constrictor, a bitch, and I'm bitter

I'm quicksand

And /I'm a quitter/"

It really is so perfect for Shawn letting out all the self worth issues he's been hiding all at once

And the longer Shawn lists the reasons lassie shouldn't want to be with him, the more heartbroken lassie gets, and the more lassie realises he really *does* want to be with him

So lassie kisses him, how sweet, and Shawn is super confused because he was honestly trying to be helpful, listing all the reasons lassie was right to not love him, but it... may have gotten a little out of hand on his part as he notices the tears in the corner of his eyes

He may have let himself spiral a little more than he meant to....

And Lassie ends up comforting Shawn because Jesus christ that was a lot

And then they end up together!

The end!

The *and I'm a quitter* line is really so very Shawn

He's been put down for not staying with stuff his whole life

Moving on!

"So if losing me wasn't rock bottom, then what *is* it?

Do you think you'll die before you hit it?

Do you know that I missed you

Every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day?

I knrw I'd never get the letter

But I hoped you'd say you're sorry

'Cause I missed you more than anybody's

Ever missed anybody

I know I didn't cause

I can't control and I can't cure it

I know it's hard

I know it's lonely

I know you're hurting

But I'm mourning somebody that hasn't even died

And I'm fighting an addiction that isn't even mine

It's exhausting to be this angry all of the time

All of the time" -ESOEMOEHOED

I want shawn to loose his cool and yell this at Henry in the middle of the station.

"you were supposed to protect me, but you didn't

And I know I'm grown now

But I'm still your kid

And I miss you every second

Of every minute, of every hour, of every day"

This too

Maybe he even gets so upset by the second one that he's switched languages >:}

This song always make me cry, y'all, I just want him to yell at Henry 😭

Shawn really has earned a yell at that man, give it to him, he earned it, he deserves it, let him yell at his dad

Now the happier songs!

Let's start with some more Shules

"I've spent too many years thinking that love had passed me by

I spent *most of my life* cryin' and asking myself 'why?'

'What about me can I change?

What about me *won't they* like?

What about me isn't enough?

What about me isn't right?

Just to meet the *girl* who swallowed the sun in real life

Just to be at exactly the right place, at exactly the right time" -Right Person, Right Time, Shawnified

"I can't imagine getting old

But I hope I get to be with you

They're right, you really do know when you know

And if he wanted to, he would

I used to think that I knew what it was

How it felt, how it smelt, what it looked like

Now I know that I've never been in love before you" -Right Person, Right Time

Uaghhhh like??? Isn't it so them?!?!?!?

They're so in love it makes me sick

"I'm not one for domesticity

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I don't wanna get married

But if you told me you did

You wanted a life with a *husband* and a kid

I'll paint the picket fence white, put it up myself

Say I can do it alone, you'll tell me you know but you'll still help

And that's exactly why

You'll make the perfect *wife*

And I'll say I love you

In front of God and the government" -God and the Government

"I take you to be my lawfully wedded *wife* for tax purposes and/or true love

'Til death does us part OR we break up

I'm in!

Happy wife, happy life, I could be happy with you

So if your thinking marriage might be something you wanna do

Let's go, right now

I'll meet you at the courthouse

And if you're hearing this,

Here's my vows...

I'll paint the picket fence." -God and The Government

Like?????? AUUUAGGHHHHH

I love them so much omg

And finally, some Shus/shawngus

"And I see the whole galaxy in your eyes

And I long to tell you

But I think it’ll only make you shy" -Suneater

AUGUDJJDKFKK this song is literally so perfect for them Aiskdjwk

"The day that we first met

Heaven and earth collided

You eclipsed me completely

And I became blinded

Because the light from within you

Suddenly surrounded me too

And I have never felt so bright"

LIKE???!?!?!??

"But I am just the one who swallowed the moon

The only light that I have’s just a reflection of you

You’re the sea of tranquility

You’re all of my stars

You’re Neptune and Saturn

You’re Venus and Mars"

My only note? No Pluto :/

Though there is a Hades mention, does that count?

Ufhjghhghhhh and they both think the other is the one who swallowed the sun AUGHHHH

I love them

This show has so many good ships istg omg

Welp, that's it for now ig

Okay, I just spent, like over two hours talking about how a Leanna Firestone song (Tourniquet) is perfect for Shawn and I'll be damned if I don't make a post out of it so here we go, buckle up

Okay first of all, here's the song

Enjoy, it is VERY good

So let's get into this, yeah?

This includes my suicide attempt hc that I mentioned in a previous post in it

I have been listening to this song on loop and it's making me go just a touch feral

"You can get a new car, but you can't forget the way it sounds or feels to crash

High speed impact

Normally the first person I'd call was my dad"

But im imagining that hc/story we were talking about yesterday, so change the words tooooo.....🥁🥁🥁

"You can get a new car, but you can't forget the way it sounds or feels to crash

High speed impact

ALL BECAUSE THE FIRST PERSON I callED was my dad" AUDHDBJEHEJSJDJEJ

But, later on, I realised that the song ACTUALLY says "NO POLICE, the first person I called was my dad" NOT normally, which hits different in this context but doesn't actually change much

And like, him yelling it in front of everyoneeeee

Henry is THERE

They're all like....what do you mean by that...

He will not elaborate but now they know that apparently something bad happened to him because he called his dad?

"Shawn, what are you talking about"

Shawn does the dramatic "I said something I shouldn't have" hand over mouth clasp

He freezes, he stumbles over his words, then he makes a run for it

Everyone is just standing there confused as hell

It's such a not shawn thing to yell out and do tho that even Henry is slightly concerned

Or maybe just confused

Or offended at the implication that he somehow hurt shawn so bad with some random phonecall

And now there are a bunch of people needling him to tell them about wtf he was talking about

Pressuring him to tell them about this traumatic event

ESPECIALLY Gus, who would normally be in the loop about something like this so he's extremely concerned and maybe even a little hurt that Shawn won't tell him

Even Henry, who usually doesn't give a shit about this kind of thing, is trying to get it out of him

He mostly just wants to know what the hell shawn is blaming him for this time lol

But he doesn't get how serious this is

None of them do, that's why they keep trying to get it out of him

They just assume it's another one of those silly things he always has going on, not, yknow....SUICIDE

Not even his mom knows, maybe they'd try to call his mom bc he tells her pretty much everything and find out she ALSO doesn't know

Then they're like....Gus doesn't know......his mom doesn't know.....holy shit maybe this is serious

"Some people die before they're dead!

Building collapse, pressure outweighs the pain

I don't feel sad

I don't feel ANYTHING

Only will when the blood returns

But I'd rather be numb then know how bad I'm hurt"

Someone save my boy

He is emotionally constipated

His mom also might fly down to figure out what's happening after she gets that call

So now literally EVERYONE is bugging him about this

Poor Shawn, there's even a THERAPIST needling him about this traumatic event now 😭😭😭

And everybody wants to know

At this pace he's gonna become a hermit so he doesn't have to tell anyone 😭😭😭😭

"So, I'll keep the tourniquet on

I'll block it out and off

Cuz I don't need anyone

I don't need anyone

I don't need anyone at all

If I keep the tourniquet on"

I think all of this would lead to Shawn blowing up on then, maybe he'd say something that accidentally gives away more of what happened but I don't think he'll be able to bring himself to actually say out loud what happened, at least not to them

Because, well, emotional constipation, anyone?

He wouldn't talk about his feelings at gun point

"Maybe we always start

Back where we end

Don't know if I'm God

Or if I'm sisyphus"

But maybe change to

"I try to act like God

But I'm just sisyphus"

Or something similar

Now, to get into a SECOND POINT ABOUT THE SAME SONG HAHA!

So, this first part has been about Shawn saying the stuff in the song or just really good lines that he would relate to

But this next part is more of an....application for all of this

Imagine with me, if you will

Shawn does a few artsy stuff like....drawing that he doesn't really like to show off a lot, so imagine this,

/Shawn would totally be a good songwriter/

Imagine he wrote a few songs as more of like journal/vent things and he never wants them to see the light of day

This is while him and Jules are together btw

So, Juliet finds out about the songs, he tries to brush them off bc he doesn't like to think about them and he doesn't want her to see them, that kind of thing, but she reads it as insecurity

This is the same woman who went around Lassies back to plan him a birthday party and accidentally invited a bunch of criminals, so, I don't think it's that big a stretch that she would try to do something to make him feel better about his music and go behind his back a little to do it so she can *surprise* him

She grabs the first complete song she can get her hands on, maybe glances through it but makes the mistake of not reading it thoroughly and submits it to a song writing competition, if it loses, Shawn will never know, if it wins, boom! Boost in his self esteem about his songs!

A win-win plan, really

And the song she grabbed was the Shawn version of Tourniquet we've been talking about, obviously

Yeah, it's *her* turn to do something for *him* with good intentions that ends up being awful, she's not gonna be in the doghouse for this one...she's going straight to the pound

The prize for winning the contest? Well, a celebrity sings it of course!

And...well Juliet may have overlooked that it's sung.....on live television...

All classic song writing prizes, maybe you can win a record deal and a bunch of money too or whatever

Not that Shawn would care about any of that

Anyways, her and Shawn go to the place where they're announcing the winners, you know? Big party. Shawn doesn't know what it's about but he's having fun, probably solving a case here too!

But then he wins....

It's the big finale, announce the winner and sing the song on stage and on camera

"And, this song will be our grand finale! The winning song of the song writing contest will be revealed and sung!" So the singer gets on stage and Shawn is all smiles until he hears "And this song is...🥁🥁🥁 Tourniquet by Shawn Spencer!"

And Shawn is going through all the stages of grief, he turns to Jules all "What the fuck did you do" (Perhaps first time she hears him legit cuss??) [Ty Luka]

And suddenly Juliet realises that she should have read the lyrics a bit closer before submitting it

It's the first time she's seen him ANGRY because he is about to get angry

They get in an argument, Shawn storms off, she feels bad

But, the song was on LIVE TELEVISION

Everyone saw it! Everyone HEARD them attribute it to him!

And they don't know he wasn't in on it! They have no reason to believe he's upset about winning!

So, when he shows up at the station, everyone is trying to talk to him about it!

It's AWFUL

Gus is asking about it, but he stopped pretty quick when he noticed how pissed Shawn seemed about it

Henry's been calling him

He's been not answering, obviously

Juliet tries to talk it out with shawn but he's not having it right now, "Shawn, I-"

"You, shut up, you are in the /pound/!"

"*gasp* the pound?"🥺😢

"THE POUND"

And Lassie was gonna give him a hard time and ask questions but he saw that interaction and realised that he shouldn't touch this with a five foot fucking pole

The precinct feels oddly tense today because well....no one's ever seen SHAWN SPENCER so ANGRY

Or really angry at all

He really powers through solving this case and is actually pretty scary the whole time and he won't talk to Jules, they are not in speaking terms right now

Anything that he would normally go to Jules about, he goes to Carlton and acts like she's not even there while he gets Lassiter to do whatever it is he needs

No fun nicknames either, but what really hits? When he HAS to address jules.....he calls her Detective O'hara

So she REALLY knows she's in trouble

Obviously she's gonna do anything she can to make it better, we know Jules

So she asks around for advice on what she should do

Talks to anyone who will listen really, Lassie, Gus, she even goes to Henry

[Side note, I've been imagining she heard the song, like it was playing all throughout so they could hear it a little muffled from the spot they were arguing at, but she probably missed a good chunk because of the arguing and talking, though her not having heard it would be a really interesting turn to take! She doesn't know what was wrong with the song, only the aftermath, that could be interesting]

Anyway, she gets mostly the same advice, let Shawn cool down and then work it out

But, since she talked to Henry, he now knows that not only did Shawn not submit that song, he's pissed that it played at all

Which will affect the way he treats Shawn when they inevitably talk later

Instead of thinking Shawn did this to get back at him, he knows these were private thoughts that were shared against his will, so he'll be a little less defensive and accusatory

Gus doesn't know what exactly the song was about, but he gets to be the most in the know since he's the only person Shawn is really actually talking to right now

A lot of ranting to Gus about this, of course

Lassie has the least know of the situation because an angry shawn is a startlingly untalkative shawn

Shawn takes a week or two to stop being so completely pissed

He talks to Henry at some point, they probably have a moment or something, but he won't tell anyone what the song was meant to be about

Eventually he calms down enough to let Jules talk to him again and she gets to apologize profusely and work her way off the shit list

And now everyone knows about the depth to shawns character that he didn't want them to know about so he'll just have to slowly chip away at that by going back to being the town idiot as usual

Maybe he agrees to sell his songs as long as his name doesn't go on any of them, I dunno

Everything goes back to normal...eventually, but it takes...a while

So shawn ends it just as emotionally constipated as before but now everyone KNOWS he's emotionally constipated

Everyone gets to go "holy shit, this kid actually has emotional depth?!?!??"

And Henry gets to sit and wonder what he did to Shawn that was a "crash", what phone call? What did he do?

And Yeah, most of them forget probably

But also, there's that inkling of.......is he really okay?

Always in the back of his friends minds

Because

They /heard/ the song

Juliet goes over board trying to make up for it in a way that's so endearing shawn can't help but smile

And forgive her, but only after the third pineapple/hj

Gus is a little concerned but he knows Shawn doesn't want to talk about it so he let's it go

Lassie tries not to pry but he's still feeling kind of awkward about it (what is he supposed to do in this situation? Anything? Should he even care? Should be be on O'Hara's side because they're friends? Shawn's side because he was the one wronged? Anyone's side at all? Should he say something? Welp, he just won't do anything, maybe)

Buzz has no idea what's going on but did try to comfort Shawn a few times and it was sweet

Buzz never knows what's going on with the main four but we love him anyway

Henry has the song on loop trying to figure out what he did and if there's something he should do or say about it

And someone should definitely get Shawn a therapist but they don't

And the whole song is soooooo about his dad

So about his dad it hurts

Tho Gus is a little offended at the "I don't need anyone" part and he makes sure his thoughts on that are known

"I spend every night

With the TV on

I can't bear to be

Alone with my own thoughts"

And now you guys won't be able to stop thinking about this either, MUAHAHAHAHA

To the people who talked to me on discord, thank you!

@mores0 @storm-cloud-lightning

And also @j-snapdragon who joined right at the end

[b1rds3ye]

Can you make a fic / short headcanon of how the COD men reacts to reader riding those bull mechanical? Their usual bar/pub has installed a new attraction which is that bull mechanical. Either they dared reader or reader wanted to try to ride, depends on the character. You know how those bulls move makes the rider look like they’re grinding?? Yeah I wanna know how the guys reacts to that 👀

OHOHOHOHO GOT IT thank you for sending in the request!! This is the first one this blog has gotten 🥳🥳 I hope you enjoy~

Ride On

The local bar has installed a mechanical bull for an extra activity among the drunk and whimsical. One day off duty, you decide to give it a go and have some fun, and it seems the boys are enjoying it just as much as you.

Characters: Captain John Price, Simon “Ghost” Riley, Johnny “Soap” MacTavish, Kyle “Gaz” Garrick, König

GN!Reader w/ no physical descriptions (except you're shorter than König)

Word Count: 2.5k (~500 each)

Genre: Fluff, Spice, established relationship

Warning: Spicy (but no smut), 18+/MDNI,  awkward dialogue (it’s the cutest thing during flirty time fight me)

A/N: I don’t even write stuff that’s mildly spicy so I hope I did a decent job - also apparently mechanical bulls can do some real damage oh my god???

Captain John Price

On duty Price may be your direct superior but off duty you were more than free to do as you please even in his presence, he had always been clear about that. So he knew you were up to something when you sauntered up to him asking him for permission to go on the mechanical bull in the middle of the bar

He could only stare at your deceptively innocent smile for a moment before repeating the mantra that you could do what you want, his free hand automatically reaching into his pocket for a smoke as you strutted to the mechanical bull. You were going to be the death of him

He’s sure this is what emperors felt like in the days of old. Food, drinks, some very enticing entertainment and Price feels like he’s on cloud nine. Sitting by a table, he lounges back, thighs spread as he takes up the entire space of his seat and then some, feeling like a king as he watches you on the mechanical bull. He does not move, save for the occasional shift as his pants tighten

When you’re done riling him up, Price stays put as you approach him again. He can’t hide the incredible smugness he feels when the hungry eyes of strangers trail you, only to look at him in envy when they realise you’re already taken. He isn’t bothered by any of their stares, he can easily give any of them a piece of his mind

“You’ve got guts, love,” Price huffed out a puff of smoke. He remained seated by his table while you stood beside him, his face directly in line with your torso. His gaze travelled along every line and curve of your body that was so tantalisingly close, he could feel the body heat emanating from you. He stifled the urge to lick his drying lips.

“I did a good job though, right?” You beamed. He quirked an eyebrow at your sickeningly sweet voice. So you were going to keep up this charade, as if your face was only flushed from the physical exhaustion of remaining upright on the automaton and not from being so close but so painfully far away from him. Even in the darkness, he could see how your pupils swallowed your irises but he chose not to comment on it - he wasn’t faring any better.

“Passable. You’ve got two choices, sergeant.”

You swallowed, a shiver travelling down your spine as Price tilted his head down, idly extinguishing his cigar against the ashtray.

“Either you go back on the bull for some further training, give everyone here a sight for their sore, miserable eyes…”

Price regards you again, head up so that you could finally see his full face. Like a man lost for days in the desert, he gazed at you as if you were an oasis. Eyes lit up in awe, full of reverence, yet glazed over in carnal hunger.

“Or we leave this pub and you give me a private encore.”

Simon “Ghost” Riley

The instant he saw the new attraction he instinctively groaned under his breath. He already knew that you, Soap and Gaz will be provoking each other for some sort of competition. He’ll interfere if anyone seems uncomfortable but if it’s all smiles and laughs he’ll just quietly watch on with a mirth in his eyes reserved only for you and the task force (he will make a quip about you lot behaving like muppets though)

That being said, he already knows how suggestive a mechanical bull can look. When it’s decided that you’ll give it a go, Simon can only exhale slowly out of his mask, mentally preparing for an unexpected trial of restraint

He slinks back into the darkness of the bar, one with the shadows. His eyes shine like jewels as they reflect the treasure that is you. He drinks in the sight, committing it to memory. If from the bull you manage to see him in the gloom, his gaze is so intense it can single-handedly throw you off the automaton

Even off duty, he’s good at keeping his composure. When you return to him, you almost mistook him for being completely unfazed by your little stunt on the bull. But his voice is a little gruffer, the muscles in his throat straining with every syllable. He shows his neediness through his presence, you won’t be alone for the rest of the night as he accompanies you for even the smallest of errands

Rubbing your shoulder that was bruised from falling off of the bull, you beelined for the rest of the task force, only to get unexpectedly pulled towards the corners of the bar where the lights could not reach.

“Simon?” Your voice is barely above a whisper as you feel his hand splayed across your spine. He was never big on public displays of affection, he was possessive in that all of his love will be seen by you only. Daring a move like this has you turning to him in concern, but he didn’t seem uncomfortable in the slightest.

“We’ve got a problem.”

“And that is?”

Simon doesn’t reply, not verbally. He takes your hips in his hands, you can tell he’s trying his best to be gentle but his fingertips dig ever so slightly into your skin. Guiding you back to stand just in front of him, you grunted as you felt a hefty weight against your backside. Now that is a big problem indeed.

“Need you,” he rasps, voice so thick with air they were barely discernible words. You allowed him to pull you further against him, a guttural groan escaping him. “Fuck, didn’t know you could ride like that.”

“I’m a soldier of many talents,” you replied. He huffs against his face mask, digging his face into the crook of your neck. “I suppose I could go again. Just, not on the bull.”

Simon’s lips curved into a smile that warped the mask against your skin. His hands on your hips tighten, you won’t be escaping him anytime soon.

Johnny "Soap" MacTavish

When Johnny’s eyes settled on the mechanical bull, he then took a brief glance at you and his mind went places. This absolute menace is conjuring up a million and one ways to get you on that bull ASAP (with your wholehearted consent, of course)

He’ll do anything, making a dare, teasing you, trying to make a bet, just so he can see you mount that thing. He’s a dedicated man, once he has a goal he’s seeing it through, no matter how many playful slaps and lighthearted glares you give him. He’ll even set an example and go first - he’ll be flattered as hell if he can get you out of all people riled up

Johnny thinks he can handle it, but he’s always overestimating himself when it comes to you. He can’t play off how you’re bothering him as your hips slide forward and back against the saddle. He can only clear his throat uncomfortably and choke out a fake laugh when the rest of the 141 comment on how quiet he’s become

He bit off more than he can chew, he thought he was the smooth one for being blessed with such a sight but he’s finding himself more bewitched by you by the second. When you get off the bull he gives you a feeble punch on the shoulder, trying to act like he’s alright but really he’s completely at your mercy, hovering around you near begging you to give him attention

You didn’t even have time to greet him as Johnny pulled you away from the rest of the task force, down into a quiet corridor of the pub. His silence was unnerving, you asked him if something was wrong but his only response was his lips against yours. When you reciprocated, the Johnny you knew was back with you, smiling into the kiss with an exhale of eagerness into your mouth as he traps you against the wall with his body. His weight against you, it was already hard to get a breath in as he claimed your lips again and again and again. But what truly made you gasp was the hardness that brushed against your thigh. It was initially so brief, you could credit it as a phantom of your own lust, but as Johnny got bolder, it rested permanently against your upper leg.

Now that he made his predicament clear, he reluctantly pulled away from you, just enough for him to speak. His heaving breaths burned against your skin, no more than his azure eyes that bored into yours.

“I got another thing you can ride, aye?”

You burst into laughter as you gave him a playful shove on the chest. It did nothing push him off of you, his smile widening at your countenance.

“Johnny, that was awful.”

“I ain’t lyin’. My li'l MacTavish needs some help.”

“I swear to god I’m leaving you.”

“You know you love me. Now are you gonna help me or no?”

Kyle “Gaz” Garrick

Kyle has a playful streak, when he sees you eyeing the new attraction he’ll approach you with a mischievous glint in his eyes as he slides some cash to you. “This twenty says you won’t last five seconds on that.”

And with that, a light-hearted competition started. Kyle’s intentions were genuinely innocent, he just wanted to have some fun beyond drinking the night away. After you gave the bull a go he was wholly planning to try after you to show you how it’s done - and possibly impress you with superior balancing powers

It started off fun as you laughed at the odd movements of the bull under you and Kyle smiled with you. He’s willing to give up that twenty as you were clearly having fun

What he did not expect was how as the mechanical bull became more erratic, bucking indiscriminately in all directions that the sight seemed more… suggestive. A yelp of surprise from you has him situating himself behind a table, ensuring no one can see the growing issue below his hips

He dares a look at the rest of the task force who are taking in the sight innocently. Soap is shouting encouragements like a battle cry, Price pulls a face that’s a mix of amused and impressed, Ghost offers a single dip of the head in respect and now Kyle feels dirty, guilt mixing with arousal into a sinful concoction that drips down his tightening pants

As you returned back to the task force, Kyle immediately came up behind you. His arms wrapped around your waist, he sat his head on your shoulder, cheek against yours. With his entire body smothering yours, his whole being moved with every inhale and exhale of yours as you tried to recollect yourself after that exhausting ordeal of the mechanical bull.

“Getting touchy’s not going to make me forget about that twenty, Kyle,” you chided with a smile. You hear a little hmph as one of his hands dip into your pocket, resting over your hip bone. He slips the note in but his hand stays there, his thumb tracing over the wrinkles in your pants.

“You looked real nice up there, you know,” he mumbled into your ear before giving it a peck, arms tightening around you possessively.

“Feels like you enjoyed it,” you whispered, voice disappearing as you noticed something firm pressing against your ass. Your laugh came out far too weak. “Is that a pistol or are you happy to see me?”

He chuckled, husky and restrained, too distracted to reply. His hand in your pocket was becoming more animated, rubbing at your skin. Even through the fabric, you can feel how hot he is, only getting warmer as he gets more antsy, his free hand now tugging and teasing at your shirt.

Kyle spares a look at the rest of the task force, clearly distracted with their own drinking and antics.

“Do you think they’ll notice if we leave?”

“... No, let’s go.”

König

König will never ask you to go on the mechanical bull because he’d never go on it himself. Putting on a show for a whole lot of strangers in a pub? Potentially embarrassing himself in front of said strangers, his allies and you? The thought already fills him with dread and he is empathetic to never ask for such a thing from you. That being said, when it’s established you’re more than happy to give the bull a go, he’s not going to stop you

He knew how suggestive a mechanical bull can look but he figured he could handle it; he did not reach the rank of colonel by giving in to every temptation. But he should have known better when it came to you, your mere existence making him feel like he lost all composure and combat experience

Upon noticing the lustful stares of others, König doubles as a bodyguard. He slowly stalks around the bar, using his hulking figure to strategically block the view of you for others. He also takes note of anyone who seems a little too fixated on you, not hesitating to send a glare their way

Once you lose to the bull, he waits by the edge of the ring, taking your hand to escort you back to your friends. He does it both to be a caring partner for you, but also he’s preening as onlookers visibly deflate upon realising that if they want to get to you, they have to go through him

König’s hand was tight around yours, you could feel it occasionally twitch, aware of his own strength and trying to loosen his hold on you.

“Entschuldigung, mein Schatz,” he grumbled. “You wanted the night here, but I must leave.”

“Why?”

König turned his head away in embarrassment, but you noticed his eyes dipped lower for a split second. When you followed his gaze, you took a moment to pride yourself for getting your partner so riled up. It was only broken when he gently took your chin with his free hand, tilting it up - or just anywhere away from his growing predicament.

“It is embarrassing,” he muttered. “You were just having fun, but I am here… needing.”

“Not at all,” you smirked. “I wanted you to notice me.”

“I am always watching you, Schatz,” König whispered. He was getting bolder - or perhaps more desperate - with every word, the hand on your chin moving down to settle on one of your hips. You tilted your hips into his grip and the consequent breath he emitted was forceful and ragged. “I did not think such a machine could be so… crude.”

“But you liked the sight, right?” Your voice was smug as you pulled his face down to be in line with yours. You now had a perfect view of his eyes that were alight with lust, pupils blown so wide you could not distinguish if it was the gaze of a predator or prey.

“Zu viel.”

Call of Duty Masterlist

[hannieehaee]

can you write something about sub joshua.. it’s been on my mind ever since seeing him in the skirt during the follow encore 😭

18+ / mdi

content: sub!joshua, afab reader, smut, mentions of oral (m receiving), penetrative sex, etc.

wc: 1285

a/n: u and me both anon

masterlist

this wasn't a good image for you.

i mean, you were never one to be overtly horny or act up in public, but to be fair, you had not been warned about this beforehand.

no, you had to find out at the same time as every other carat as your boyfriend stepped out on stage in yet another outfit change, except this time his stylist had decided to have him don a skirt – a skirt!

and so you watched from the sidelines. you watched, with thirst in your eyes and a mouth fully agape as your boyfriend danced to his heart's contentment on stage, all while wearing a pretty and flowy skirt that had you salivating at the sight.

his pretty thighs were on display, with every single move of his hips teasing a new inch of skin for everyone to see.

everything was fine at first. you contained your thirst for the boy well enough, knowing that acting up in between sets would be slightly problematic. the real issue arose at the end of the concert, when joshua went to find you backstage, already changed into a pair of jeans and completely nonchalant, acting as if he hadnt just been provoking you on stage.

that's when you did something you'd later be embarrassed about.

grabbing onto his hand, you dragged him back to the dressing room. fortunately for you, the dressing room was now empty, only containing the apparel the staff would have to put on the boys the following day.

locking the door, you pushed him up against it, attacking him with a deep kiss.

joshua, being just a man, reciprocated the kiss with no question, too exhausted to try and take control and simply appreciating the pretty girl loving on him.

the kiss grew nastier by the second, with you licking and sucking at his tongue all while pulling at his hair. the kiss was followed by a trail of even more kisses, leading down his neck and to his ears.

"joshie?" you breathed against his ear.

"yeah?", he gasped out, hands digging into your hips as a silent way of pleading at you to not stop.

"put on the skirt for me?"

"w-what? the skirt?", the request woke him up a bit, not understanding the sudden nature of it.

"need to see you in the skirt, joshie. looked so fucking pretty ... so fucking good for me, joshie," you went back to licking into his mouth, hands restless as they undressed him.

"you liked it? i-"

"i loved it, baby. you looked so pretty. need to ride you with it on, fuck ...", you shuddered at the thought, "wanna see it up close, baby. be a good boy and put it on for me?", you gave him eyes you knew he couldn't resist, now withholding your kisses from him as he pathetically tried to chase your lips.

"ride me? here? fuck, okay. i'll put it on. c'mon."

it only took a few minutes for joshua to find it among the pile of clothes hanging on the rack, having frantically searched for it while you sat back on the couch and slowly undressed yourself, giving him a taste of what he'd get if he followed direction.

finally finding it, joshua took off his current clothes at the speed of light, even tripping during the process. the thought of your obvious thirst for him in a pretty skirt had him feeling lightheaded. and the idea of you riding him here, while anyone could walk in, made him reel.

"oh, joshie ... so fucking pretty, shit ... c'm'ere, pretty," you gestured for him to come to you, immediately switching positions with him and sitting him down as you straddled him.

your lips went to his own just as he sat down, hands feeling him up all over. shirtless and with only a frilly little skirt on, you felt him up in a way that could only de described as disrespectful.

but he loved it, moving his body as close to where your hands were touching to feel more and more of your touch. he moaned pathetically throughout, whining extra loudly when you began grinding your bare cunt against his cock through the thin fabric of the skirt.

pulling up the skirt a bit, you pulled out his dick from underneath, caressing the tip with your thumb to make him cry out a little more.

he still had his cute little face stickers on his face, with his brown hair contrasting the skirt perfectly and making him look like the prettiest little thing you'd ever seen. he was making you lose your mind. sadly, you were in public, so the most you could do to him was ride him, not having the chance to do all you wanted to him.

in an ideal world, you wouldve been able to get on your knees and worship him, kissing up every inch of pretty skin of his thighs as you made your way up to his weeping cock. then, you would've slowly licked up every vein and spent a good while licking and sucking at his tip, up until he cried for more. only when he was crying at you to please give him more would you have engulfed his entire member in your mouth, making him cum all over his pretty skirt.

you voiced all these desires into his ear as you finally lowered yourself down on him, making him groan louder at every single detail of your fantasy. with a cry, he promised to bring the skirt home with him if it meant you'd make good on your promise.

in the meantime, you bounced on him like a crazed woman, groaning any time your eyes opened enough to see the pretty prince under you. he was the prettiest you'd ever seen him, so delicate and needy, completely unlike the confident and cocky boy you saw on stage.

"so pretty, joshie ... you're the cutest thing i've ever seen," you moaned, softly tweaking at his nipples.

crying out at the stimulation, joshua cursed out, letting out nonsensical babbles as he threw his head back against the couch, back arching and hands tightening around your hips.

"baby, i'm gonna- gonna fucking cum, please!," he begged for nothing in particular.

he didn't need to beg, you were going to give him whatever he wanted no matter what.

"cum for me, okay, baby? wanna feel you cum in me. fuck ... fill me up, pretty ..." you cried, doing everything in your power to speed up your orgasm so that you could cum with your pretty boyfriend. your hand went down to your cunt, circling your clit in desperation as you tightened even more around joshua.

at some point he must've gotten desperate, humping his hips upwards as his orgasm blinded him from all senses. his noises got so loud you had to hold your hand up to his mouth, muffling him as he screamed behind it.

biting your lip, you attempted to quiet yourself down too, finding your own high at the way in which joshua cried under you. the tears gathering at the corners of his eyes had you losing your mind, making you simultaneously coo and moan at the sight.

when you finally rode out your high, even continuing to ride your boyfriend after his own orgasm had ended, you finally let yourself fall against him, heavy breath as you felt his warm skin.

"will you really steal the skirt for me?", were your first works against his chest.

"will you fuck me like this again?", he managed to let out through his lack of breath.

"is that even a question?"

"then hell yeah," he chuckled breathlessly, clammy hands still on your hips.

a/n: this was rushed and not proofread but i had to get this out of my mind my bad</3

[dark-romance-yan]

Can I please have Yandere Aalto x reade headcanon?

Yandere Aalto Headcanons

A/N; Hiya, I'm super glad you asked for Aalto HCs because I love this character so much. The duo of him and Encore is just chefs kiss. But sidenote, apologies for taking like over a week to upload this. Thanks for your request! Also I may add to this later.

Warnings: Blackmail, manipulation, non-consensual relationship, NSFW HCs (There will be a warning before), Praise, degradation, possessiveness, isolation. UNEDDITED

Let me know if I missed any warnings :)

Aalto knows everything about you, of course, he is the best information broker around so it'd be shameful for him to not know every detail of your life when you're all he cares about (except for Encore).

He gets to know your family before you even realize. Building a strong connection to your family saying how Aalto is so sweet and considerate for giving them all sorts of information ranging from how best to take care of a plant to the best pharmaceutical advice when it comes to their health issues. And all he would ask for in return from them is some details about you, like your favorite flower or meal. Once he got closer with your loved ones, he'd start asking for a meal to share with him and Encore which leads into him being invited fairly often to family dinners and get togethers.

Your family would also bring up how adorable his relationship with Encore is, he'd make a great father one day wouldn't he? Make such a great spouse. He could take care of you because have you heard how much money he makes from some of his deals? Aalto this, Aalto that, Aalto would be on your mind and he would never leave it. Just like he wanted.

But if your family trying to get the two of you together doesn't work then he'll use his backup plan, blackmail you. Any information about you that's dark and humiliating enough to ruin your career and connection with your loved ones is ready for him to use against you. He didn't want to resort to this, but you just wouldn't listen to your family about how perfect he is. But he does find the look of pure embarrassment and fear on your face as he reveals what he knows, oh you're so cute. The way tears brim the corners of your eyes, pupils dilate and cheeks flush, its so adorable that he pulls you right into his arms, petting your hair and whispering how it's better this way. Besides it's not like you can pull away, that would be violating your agreement and Aalto doesn't take kindly to that.

The overall agreement he makes with you is that you become his loving, loyal and affectionate partner. But never tell anyone about this deal, otherwise all of your secrets will be revealed. And of course, you agreed to this because being his partner can't be bad right?

The relationship would start off sweet and cute, one that many other couples would adore and envy. He'd be such a gentleman, get along well with your family, take you on the most memorable of dates with gorgeous views and delicious food. He knows all the best spots. Whenever he'd return home from a job, he'd bring you flowers or another gift he'd get as payment from one of his clients. He wouldn't push you into being physically affectionate with him until you were ready, only asking for kisses after dates and handholding. He wanted you to be affectionate with him on your own terms, to kiss him or let him hold you because you wanted to. Because you felt the desire for him. However, he'd pull you into a hug and pepper kisses on your face and hand whenever he couldn't help himself. He'd wait for you to give him affection but he can hardly restrain himself when he could finally call you his. And bonus, Encore is always fun to have around and he'd adore how well you two would get along although he'd get a little jealous if Encore is stealing all your attention. Frequently, the two would get into playful fights over who gets to spend time with you. And more often than not, Encore would win to Aalto's demise.

But as time passes, Aalto would start to isolate you. He'd cancel plans with your family, acting like its your fault and he has to take care of you so he seems like the kindest significant other. That family dinner you were supposed to go to on Friday? Oh sorry, you can't make it because you're feeling ill, but in reality you were perfectly healthy. He'd do this so much that your family stops inviting the two of you to meetings and meals so it's just the two of you more often. He'd even do this with your friends.

If anyone got suspicious of this new behavior of yours then Aalto would either flash his charming smile and send them right on their way or blackmail them too. Afterall, you can get people to do whatever you want with the right information.

You stay inside almost all of the time because Aalto fears the thought of you getting hurt by a TD or some bandit, and he wants to be the only one to see you. To be with you. (of course with exception of Encore.) It's just better this way. You're safe and have everything within your home, at least to everything you could reach. Oh, you didn't think he would simply just trust you wouldn't leave the house when he's gone, did you? He's not stupid. Which is why you have a chain on your ankle attached to the floor. The chain is long enough so you can access every place you need in the house such as the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and another room you use for your hobbies. If Encore asks about the chain then Aalto would be honest, it's for your safety. You can't protect yourself from the big scary world and you're just so naive that you'd wonder out by yourself.

While Aalto would prefer for you to stay home where it's safe, he'd still take you out on dates or even just to play outside with Encore. But you would never leave his sight.

----NSFW HC----

Poor man can hardly find time to be alone with you. It's either he has too many demanding clients or Encore is home. So he has to wait until the perfect opportunity arises when he has cleared out his schedule and Encore is gone on a safe mission or hanging out with friends. And this often does come often but not enough for his liking.

He loves to spoil you with expensive and sexy lingerie, bringing home multiple shopping bags just full of different sets. He would spend most of his money on spoiling you but then make up for it by taking extra jobs. He'd even buy several of the same set but in different colors. He would be adoring you and praising you for putting on a little fashion show for him as you try on each set he bought you. You wouldn't even finish the show for him because he'd have you go back and put back on lingerie you've already shown him over and over again. "The blue brings out your eyes but try on the red one again, I think that really brings out your...assets." Then when you wear one he claims as his favorite (mans has like fifty favorites), fashion show is cut off early because he throws you onto the bed and sees how you look in different positions with it.

Aalto has a breeding kink in the sense he has a primal and possessive urge to fill you and possess you by filling you to the brim with his seed. He loves the thought of seeing your belly swell up with his kid. But he doesn't want kids yet.

He loves the thought of it but he doesn't want it to actually happen. At least not yet. He already has a responsibility for Encore and she steals so much of your attention that if another kid were added to the mix then he would never have time alone for you. Note, he classifies as spending one whole day alone with you as hardly any time with you. Maybe in future when Encore is older or he has so much money that he doesn't have to focus on his job anymore.

He loves to mark you up with love bites and hickies. He mostly does this right before the two of you go on a date, making them in the most visible places possible. He'd make it a point to mark your neck down to your collarbone and even add one or two to your chest/breasts if you wore an outfit that showed off that area. If you wore a skirt he'd mark up your thighs too, fighting with his urges to go down on you while doing so. He'd smirk at whatever passerby noticed the marks on your body, absolutely reveling as it was so obvious you're his despite your possible grievances with this.

He can not make up his mind on whether or not he wants to praise or degrade you. He'd go from calling you his good girl to his naughty slut within a span of thirty seconds.

[lesbiankimdahyun]

CONTRACT LOVER

746 words

CW: A/B/O dynamics 

A!MiSaMo x F!O!Reader (SFW)

You adjusted your mask and pulled your ball cap down a little further as you followed a staff member down a lengthy hallway inside JYPE’s headquarters. The practice rooms you passed were faintly familiar from the last time you’d been here to meet Jihyo, but familiarity did nothing to calm your nerves. Your heartbeat quickened when the staffer stopped in front of a room toward the end of the hall and knocked softly. You shifted your weight from one foot to the other to give yourself something to do as the two of you waited in awkward silence. Finally, the door opened from the other side, but only the staff member entered, leaving you and your racing heart alone outside. 

It had been well over a year since you last had worked for the TWICE Alphas and traveled overseas with them for a full leg of their world tour. Now, with a MISAMO comeback in the works and encore tour dates expected, JYPE had wasted no time in inviting you to a negotiation meeting with the three Alphas of the popular subunit.

Except, you realized, the ‘meeting’ was just you crashing one of the group’s dance rehearsals. It was a bit humiliating, but you were used to it in your line of work. Nothing was official, you knew, until you received verbal and written approval from all Alpha co-signers. Although the Alphas were already personally familiar with you from last year, they’d each been given updated photos of you to review. They’d approved, which is why you were here now at their request. 

The practice room door opened just then, and you took a breath before stepping inside. The three of them had wanted to look at you in person, you realized, before signing off on the drafted contract. The staff quickly cleared everyone else out of the room except the choreographer, another Alpha who pretended to busy herself with choreography notes and video footage as Momo, Sana and Mina took a break from rehearsal and eyed you from the other side of the room. As if on cue, you watched as their noses turned up ever so slightly while taking in your scent. You locked eyes with Sana first, who was fixing her hair while looking at you through the floor-to-ceiling length mirrors that made up one full wall of the room. 

“Oh I remember you,” she said, offering you a polite smile. She gestured for you to remove your mask and hat, and you did quickly. Momo yawned as she watched you shake out your hair. She sat on the floor, her back resting against the mirror. She gave you a quick once-over, then looked over at Mina. 

“Mina-chan, what do you think? Does she look as good as you remember?” Momo’s teasing comment made Sana giggle. Your face went pink, but then Mina approached you shyly, offering a small wave and bow in your direction. 

“Y/N,” she said with a smile. “It’s good to see you again.” 

You bowed your head toward her and then to the others. “You too,” you said meekly. You opened your mouth as if to say more but then closed it, unsure of yourself suddenly. It was intimidating to be in front of them again after so much time had passed. You smiled at the three of them nervously.

Momo got up and stretched. Her white tank top rose up along her abdomen as she moved, giving you a glimpse of her picture-perfect abs. While you did your best to hide your staring, Sana came over and stood beside Mina. Your eyes broke away from Momo when the middle Alpha twirled some of your dark hair around her fingers. 

“Have you grown out your hair, Y/N?” she asked. You nodded a little. She released your dark locks. “It looks good,” she said approvingly. 

Momo was up on her feet now. She walked in a slow circle around you while Mina and Sana continued to make polite small talk with you for another minute or so. 

Finally, Momo nodded and signaled for the practice studio door to open again. The three of them left your side to scribble their initials on a piece of paper that was then stuffed into an envelope and pressed into your hands. 

“Your schedule will be emailed to you later,” a staff member told you, gesturing for you to follow her out. 

“See you soon,” Sana called after you as you left. 

[sacr3d-joeyxx]

Overcoming Demons

Joey x Fem!Reader

Request from: iminlovewithmycarrrr

*Could you do a Joey jordison x reader where the reader is a vocalist and guitarist for a black metal band (she can scream and sing very well) and her band keeps playing the same gigs as slipknot and he just gets obsessed with the way she performs. The guys all tell Joey to ask her out*

Quinn’s POV

The crowd went wild as we performed our last song.. I said thank you and that it was a joy playing for Des Moines, Iowa. We as Ritualistic Suicide was done for the night. I was in love with the sound of encores and some occasional ‘I love you’.

It wasn’t hard to perform but it did come with its massive drawbacks, well just for me of course..Having to scream but also having to balance it with singing was hard. I got into black metal at the ripe age of 19 and I was sold when I heard the screams it was a form of art to me. Screaming is what I wanted to do nothing else but when we had to kick out the guitarist for getting arrested because of drugs but let’s get this straight there’s nothing wrong with doing drugs in this band but when we started to actually get gigs and record deals we all went cold turkey; well except him and he started to get involved with the law and then we all knew that the dude just simply had to go. I then took his spot after that. It sucked mostly because he named the band but it was whatever. So my job was now vocals and guitar…not impossible but it was in the beginning. I just had to learn differently, it took a lot of practice but it worked!

This time the black blood came out at the right time, it actually came out! It goes with our new single called ‘Homicide’ which ends with us covered in fake blood by it coming out near our eyes, mouths, ears and hands while playing. It’s kinda hard to explain how it works but anywhere you have tubing on your face you cover it with black face paint to balance it out; the tubes are a solid black color and it’s mechanically released with a push button that someone pushes backstage for us. It makes us look like we’re performing a sacrifice..I guess.. but a couple of drawbacks is it stains your skin like no other.. the other is getting it off your equipment..you see I have a pure white guitar, our bassist has a blood red one…you leave it on too long..well it’s fucking over..

Honestly I’d say the best part of this whole thing is a couple of things actually, first one is seeing the crowd; the way they listen to the music and move with the rhythm is a fish out of water experience. The second one is hearing our music on the radio or it getting mentioned in any form of media. Lastly getting all our cosmetics on, no black metal band is allowed to preform without it; well you can it’s just frowned upon in this profession. It’s funny seeing your closet friend’s faces in basically all white. You think you’re in a dream or something when you first start to put it on.

The best part about doing the makeup is the designs, most of the white face paint ends up in my hair by the end of the show, I look 50+ years older when I step off the stage. It comes out..kinda but it’s still going to be there for a couple of weeks..You’ll find white spots on your skin where you thought it was gone. It hides our face I guess but not really.. the band that almost always plays after us, especially when it’s a gig that could be a mix of all sorts of bands. They wear masks and red jumpsuits..crazy how much they look like a band in them. They are called Slipknot but I don’t know much about them really except for the band having nine people. I mean we have five people but nine is way too much yet they make it work.

Honestly they really intimidating, like they could all definitely be serial killers.. but they are the way they are for reasons. I’m taller than their drummer..he’s gotta be 5’3 or something. I’m 5’10..but there’s nothing wrong with short kings. I do think he’s kinda funny though, he’s just a mass of passion and speed. You could obviously tell when he plays that he enjoys what he does.

Any second now our drummer is gonna need my help to get the kick drum get in the case. The stage was already set and what not when we got there but literally 2 hours before opening Cam did something to it and just didn’t sound right anymore. Lucky for us I told him to pack an extra..of course he did but it’s fucking funny how the kick drum couldn’t survive a practice session.. nonetheless we fixed it just in time.

“Quinn! I need help..the kick drum..I can’t get it in the case!”

Bingo, like fucking clock work. I chuckled to myself as I walked over there and looked how it was placed in the case.

“Well, no shit..if you haven’t noticed.. you forgot to fold in the foam in the corner on the right..just tuck it back in”

He looked at me then itched his head, and went to go fix it before closing it and giving me a thumbs up..I rolled my eyes and turned to walk offstage..Now I had to find three others, it won’t be hard because they are in one of three places. The green-room, signings, or loading things on the bus. Normally we’d do signings but last time we did that someone brought a human skull..nothing wrong with that but none of us wanted to deface someone’s mom. So they’re not doing that…honestly I’m going go to go with the green-room; Declan, Mex, and Juz are all fat..not really but they have a tendency to stuff their faces with food after a performance like that.

I hope I’m not scarring any ‘normal person’ in my adventure to find the three stooges, but I probably will..It appears to always happen.

*Whatever the fucking sound is called when two people bump into each other when neither is paying attention.*

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Joey’s POV

She looked like a god..an immortal god…I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain what she does to me. The makeup, her clothes, her hair.. she looked perfect..to me at least..I don’t think she’ll look my way..she’d have to look down as well..

I can’t remember how many times I’ve been doing the same gigs as them but it’s obvious that it’s on purpose. All of my band mates keep telling me to talk to her..I wish it was easy as that but I’m intimidated by her..she’s gotta be 6’1 and on top of that she’s in platforms..I have balls with certain things but women scare me..fucking weird how that works..your attracted to them but scared shitless of them.

Maybe I should go talk to her..fuck it…she had a great show and I should tell her..fuck it!

*Whatever the fucking sound is called when two people bump into each other when neither is paying attention.*

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Quinn’s POV

I brushed my hair out of my face and now knew why I didn’t see him..it’s cause he’s were fucking short.. but what’s funnier about this is that he’s wearing a bright red jumpsuit.

“Woah! Sorry man!”

“You’re good..I kinda was looking for you”

“Really? What do you need from me?”

“Just wanted to talk about how you preformed out there..”

“Oh..thank you! It was definitely up there with one of our first shows..mainly because it all went according to schedule…”

“You’re welcome..-“

“So sorry for cutting you off but I’ve gotta get going to find my mates, you can come along if you want..your set isn’t until 8:00pm and it’s 6:21pm now..”

“Uhhh-sure I’ve got time..”

“Cool..uhh just try and keep up, I’ve got long legs.. y’know..”

I walk fast, mean I don’t have a choice really I’ve given such long legs.. but they get longer in platforms..I turned the corner and looked at the wall with the little sign pointing left saying the green-room was that way…I looked back and the guy was still keeping up with me. Honestly he was probably sweating bullets under everything he was wearing, I would be too. I stopped before looking at the doors..bingo, found it. I looked back at him and he gave me a thumbs up..

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Joey’s POV

God..I honestly think she knows that I’m crazy about her..fuck..the things I would do to her..the bright white stage makeup with the black blood was still wet..her hands were covered in it. It looked like tree roots as it patterned up her wrists and eventually her arms. The messy jet black hair..covered in white makeup..I’m fucking obsessed with this woman..and she has to know..

“So.. you single…?”

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Quinn’s POV

I whipped my head around to him, I go wide-eyed while looking at him..I don’t know if he’s being serious or he’s just trying to be funny.

“Huh? Why are you asking..you interested?”

“……”

“Hello..I asked you a question?”

“..yeah..I am….”

“Huh..sorry I couldn’t hear you..”

“…..”

“Yeah, I am”

“You’re not like fucking with me are you?”

“….no?”

Oh so he’s actually being real..uh I don’t know what to do here I barely know him..should I give him my number.. shit I don’t know. This could be a set up from his band or mine..but I know mine wouldn’t fuck with me like this…they don’t have big enough balls to do so. He honestly doesn’t seem bad from what I can tell but he looks like he’s about to pass out from the stress of this situation..fidgety little guy..picking at his fingernails while waiting for my response.

“You’re one hundred percent positive?”

“Yes, I’m one hundred fucking percent positive..it’s a serious question..that I would like to know the answer to”

I could give him my number, I don’t have a piece of paper though.. but I happen to have a sharpie..

“Come here real quick..”

I reached into my back pocket and pulled at a sharpie as he made his way over here, I looked at him and smiled softly.

“Takes some balls to say that, y’know?”

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Joey’s POV

Okay..she took it well..maybe she’ll give me her number..oh wait she telling me to go to her..the hell is she doing digging in her back pocket..oh wait it’s a sharpie..fuck I don’t have any paper she can use..

“So..has this ever worked before?”

“Not really..I don’t don’t talk to them if I’m interested in them..they are scary..”

“Give me your hand real quick..hopefully it doesn’t rub off during your gig..”

I gave her my hand and she held it was she wrote her name and number on my hand..her hand was cold like a corpse..but who cares? I could see her looking at my chipped black fingernail polish..I looked up at her and we locked eyes for a moment.. the world went quiet and it felt like it stopped spinning..

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Quinn’s POV

I wrote my name and number on his hand and then looked at his nail polish that was black and in the process of chipping. I looked up at him and we locked eyes for a moment.. I felt the world stop I knew he did too.

“Thanks….Quinn..”

“You’re quite welcome”

“I’m going to head back now..”

“Okay..after your set come find me if we’re still here..if not then use my number.. answer it eventually”

I sighed softly as he began to walked away, I knew his gig was going to be a lot longer than ours was..they had a bigger fan base than we did but it’s whatever. I either had the choice to stay here another night or wait for him to text me.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Joey’s POV

Fucking hell..wow I actually have her number and seems like she didn’t just give a fake one either. Okay..okay!! I guess that’s a win for me..

[jungkookslipring]

can i request lee!leeknow and ler!hyunlix?

Absolutely!

Pairings: Lee! Lee Know Ler: Hyunjin

Genre: t-word/comfort

Relationship: platonic

I Like Your Bunny Laugh

Lee Know was well known as one of the main lers in SKZ, but no one except for Bang Chan and maybe Han have been brave enough to turn the tables on the second oldest, until now. Lee Know was at the company building in one of the practice rooms, dancing his heart out. He was preparing for their encore stages and wanted to perfect a few moves, so he stayed after vocal practice to work on some of the choreography. If he were to mess up even a smidge, he would restart the song and start from the beginning. The music was so loud he didn't hear the door open, barely noticing his oldest 00 liner staring at him. He only turned around when his music came to an abrupt stop.

"Hyung, what are you still doing here?" asked a concerned Hyunjin. Lee Know waved it off.

"I haven't been in here that long," he said wiping his sweaty forehead. They just got done with vocal practice.

"Hyung, everyones home wondering where you are, even Bang Chan's home," Hyunjin said, bummed that Lee Know was working himself harder than he needed to. Lee Know looked at the clock and saw Hyunjin was right. It was almost two am.

"We don't need any injuries before or during this tour, Hyungie..." Hyunjin said with caution. He didn't want to scold Lee Know, he just wanted him to come home. Lee Know looked at his sweaty figure in the mirror before trudging over to the couch, plopping down and grabbing his water, swigging it. He wiped his mouth before chuckling.

"i'm such a hypocrite," he said looking at his feet. Hyunjin walked over and sat next to him on the couch.

"Not necessarily, you just want to do your best, which I get, but you can't push yourself more than what your body will allow. We already danced for six hours straight today, you need to rest, Hyung," Hyunjin said patting his knee. Lee Know played with the water bottle in his hands.

"I'm sorry if I made you worry, Jinnie," he said with a small pout. Hyunjin sighed dramatically.

"Don't. Apologize. Lee. Know. Hyung," Hyunjin said, poking his Hyung with every word. Lee Know tried to hold in his giggles but he was too sensitive. His wide bunny smile brightened up the whole room when Hyunjin started poking quickly and effectively, the older of the two trying to grab his wrists but failing every time.

"Okahahahay Ihihi I'm sorryhehehehe waihahahahait!" Lee Know realized what he said when Hyunjin started squeezing his sides. Lee Know was too tired to fight as he fell back on the couch, giving Hyunjin full access to his midsection.

"Hehehehehehe" Lee Know's bunny laugh echoed in the practice room while Hyunjin's fingers danced from his sides to his tummy.

"Will you come home now?" Hyunjin asked as his fingers went under Lee Know's shirt, scratching at his belly button. Lee Know arched his back and screeched.

"HYUNJINAHAHHAHAHAHAHA" he squealed, trying to protect his poor tummy.

"What was that?" Hyunjin asked as he swiftly lifted up his shirt and blew a raspberry on a random part of Lee Know's tummy.

"BAAAHAAHAHA OKAHAHAHAHAHA OKAY I'LL COME HOHOHOME HAHAHA PLEASE HYUNJINAHAHAHAHA" Lee Know screamed as Hyunjin blew raspberry after raspberry until the leader of dance racha fell into silent laughter. When Hyunjin looked at him, Lee Know had tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry if I went too far, Hyung," Lee Know said quietly as he wiped the fallen tear. Lee Know giggled.

"Don't be, I kind of needed that..." Lee Know said shyly. Hyunjin smiled and hugged him.

"Lets go home?" Hyunjin asked. Lee Know patted his back.

"Lets go home," he said smiling. Hyunjin helped him up and they walked out the door. Lee Know was looking forward to his bed, his bed that he later would fine half occupied by a sleeping maknae.

[anonymousboxcar]

Troublesome Truck Headcanons: Music

I’m very intrigued by the glimpses that we get at the troublesome trucks on Sodor. Here are some of my silly thoughts on their musical habits!

-> They have a rotating roster of songs. New ones emerge after embarrassing incidents, and older ones phase out of the roster once they no longer bother the engine in question (or make the other engines laugh).

-> With all the singing they do, I like to think they practice. In sidings, yards, and sheds across Sodor, one or two trucks lead their groups in a kind of evening choir rehearsal.

-> If you ask any of them about musical notation, rhythm, etc., you’ll get a baffled stare nine times out of ten. But if you watch and listen to them, you’ll see they have a basic understanding of these concepts and use them. They don’t have the technical vocabulary of music, but they have decades of experience and practice.

-> A group rehearsing in a siding has only passing night trains as an audience, who can’t stick around long enough to get annoyed. A group rehearsing in a yard or shed often earns someone roaring at them to shut up, for the love of [insert applicable deity or figurehead here].

-> Such requests receive the appropriate response: an even louder encore.

-> The only exceptions to this rule are

engines who got in their good books,

a manager with the authority to slate them to haul sewage, or

Bill and Ben, who say they amaze the trucks into speechlessness with their “auditions for the band.”

-> There are no rehearsals near sheds known to accommodate Douglas nor Oliver anymore.

-> Composing the songs is a collaborative effort among those appointed “the writers.” The railway shuffles them around too much for them to work with the same writers as before, but word of mouth makes it easy to pass on any recent developments.

-> They have enough years of musical tradition among themselves to provide inspiration for new songs. If a writer feels bolder than usual, though, they might listen in to the working songs of the railway crews.

-> Each song has a testing period. If all the trucks sing along with their leaders over the course of a day, the song gets locked into the roster.

-> Every truck has to sing along for it to count. They all agreed on unanimous votes awhile back; nobody wants to listen to a song they hate for hours on end. That breeds resentment and subsequent malice they’d like to reserve for the engines, thank you very much.

-> As much as they practice, the trucks reassure each other that it doesn’t matter if they sing very well. All that matters is that they make music with their companions.

-> If you can’t form words, you can hum. If you can’t hum, you can sway along to the beat or mouth the words. You can lean on your fellow singers, telling them you’re there, feeling and sharing the vibrations. They all know music goes deeper than the rails beneath them. They all know there’s more than one way to sing.

-> A new truck becomes part of the community when they join in a sing-along for the first time. “Singing with us makes you one of us,” one of them explained to a brake van once. “Simple as that.”

-> Some wish the engines would join their sing-alongs, would become one of them. (Well, engines that aren’t Bill or Ben. That would be too powerful of an alliance, the leaders agree with a shiver. Best to leave Sodor in one piece.)

[empiredesimparte]

Henri: Louis! What's happened to you? You've been transformed. Napoléon V: The joys of marriage and vacations. Henri: Did you have a good time?

Charlotte: Louis and I had a wonderful time. Napoléon V: Absolutely, a last breath of fresh air before returning to Paris for several months.

Henri: Everything went well in your absence. Napoléon V (laughs): It makes you wonder if Francesim needs its Emperor! Henri: Believe me, Francesim does.

Henri: The Duke of Rothsey went to the Tuileries Palace to speak with your mother. Napoléon V: Really? About Hortense?

Henri: Yes, they discussed the engagement. I think Marie-Joséphine… Well. Their discussions were fruitful, which promises good diplomatic relations for the Francesim. Napoléon V: Yes, it wouldn't have hurt the feelings of Pierreland's allies any more than it already had.

Henri: Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior have announced the latest policing measures requested by your father, which apply as of today. In the light of events, the French seem to be in favor of tighter security. Napoléon V: The Chief of the Defence Staff thinks it's still too weak.

Half an hour later, the imperial couple are on their way back to the palace...

Charlotte: Are you going to have an interview with the Chief of Staff? Napoléon V: We'll have to. But we disagree Charlotte: Why? Napoléon V: We haven't respected the protective measures associated with the state of emergency, nor declared the execution of the Emperor's exceptional powers. These are procedures that should have been followed since my father's death.

Charlotte: Perhaps you should listen to the Chief of Staff's advice, as many French people are concerned about our family's safety. Napoléon V: I didn't want to take power as a dictator. If I had listened to him, we wouldn't have been able to celebrate our wedding or go on our honeymoon. Charlotte: Darling, the French wouldn't have seen you as a dictator. Napoléon V: Don't worry, I don't intend to ignore this country's highest military officer any longer.

⚜ Le Cabinet Noir | Paris, 16 Messidor An 230

Beginning ▬ Previous ▬ Next

Louis and Charlotte are back on French soil. His uncle and heir, Imperial Prince Henri, welcomed them. Louis acknowledges that he has overstepped the constitutional laws and that he will have to answer to several authorities, including the army chief of staff.

⚜ Traduction française

Louis et Charlotte sont de retour sur le sol français. Son oncle et héritier, le prince impérial Henri, les accueille. Louis reconnaît qu'il a outre-passé les lois constitutionnelles et qu'il va devoir y répondre devant plusieurs instances, dont le chef d'état major des armées.

Henri : Alors Louis ! Que t'est-il arrivé ? Tu es transformé Napoléon V : Les joies du mariage et des vacances Henri : Avez-vous passé un bon moment ?

Charlotte : Louis et moi nous nous sommes régalés Napoléon V : Absolument, un dernier grand bol d'air avant de revivre à Paris pour plusieurs mois

Henri : Tout s'est bien passé en votre absence Napoléon V (rigole) : C'est à se demander si la France a besoin de son Empereur ! Henri : Crois moi, elle en a besoin

Henri : Le duc de Rothsey s'est rendu au palais des Tuileries pour s'entretenir avec ta mère Napoléon V : Vraiment ? Charlotte : Je suppose que c'est à propos d'Hortense

Henri : Oui, ils ont discuté des fiançailles. Je pense que Marie-Joséphine ... Enfin. Leurs discussions ont été fructueuses, ce qui promet de bonnes relations diplomatiques pour la Francesim Napoléon V : Oui, il n'aurait pas fallu froisser davantage des alliés de Pierreland

Henri : Le premier ministre et le ministre de l'intérieur ont annoncé les dernières mesures de police souhaitées par ton père, qui s'appliquent dès aujourd'hui. Au regard des événements, les Français semblent favorables au renforcement de la sécurité Napoléon V : Le chef d'état major trouve cela encore trop faible

Une demi-heure plus tard, le couple impérial rejoint le palais.

Charlotte : Tu vas avoir une entrevue avec le chef d'état-major ? Napoléon V : Il le faudra. Mais nous sommes en désaccord Charlotte : Pourquoi ? Napoléon V : Nous n'avons pas respecté les mesures de protection liées à l'état d'urgence, ni déclaré l'exécution des pouvoirs exceptionnels de l'Empereur. Ce sont des procédures qu'il aurait fallu suivre depuis la mort de mon père

Charlotte : Peut-être devrais-tu écouter l'avis du chef d'état major, beaucoup de Français se soucient de la sécurité de notre famille Napoléon V : Je ne souhaitais pas prendre le pouvoir en dictateur. Si je l'avais écouté, nous n'aurions pas pu célébrer nos noces ou aller en lune de miel Charlotte : Chéri, les Français ne t'auraient pas vu comme un dictateur, voyons Napoléon V : Ne t'en fais pas, je ne compte pas ignorer le plus haut gradé militaire de ce pays plus longtemps

[maopll]

rules and requests !

hello maples ! ask away all the requests you have for me :) I'll try my best !

masterlist !

below are the following rules you need to consider when dropping requests ~

who i'll write for :

GENSHIN IMPACT : all characters. platonic can only be written for kids [klee,qiqi,etc]

OBEY ME : all characters. platonic only for luke

OBEY ME ! NIGHTBRINGER : platonic only for luke.

TWISTED WONDERLAND : all characters. platonic only for ortho & obviously no grimm except platonic.

JUJUTSU KAISEN : all characters. I won't write anything for panda

HONKAI STAR RAIL : all characters. platonic only for Clara, bailu, huo huo, hook and pela.

WUTHERING WAVES : all characters. platonic only for encore, and verina

what i'll accept :

fluff [ all characters !]

angst

any other criteria you want me to write for !

crossover

if there is anything including self harm or depression or angst to comfort I might accept those !

no character limit ! request as many characters as you want

poly relations but I might cancel one if I think I don't like writing it !

brainrots, drabbles and stuff like that

what i'll not accept :

student x teacher or professor x student

no consent nsfw

age gap fic unless i might consider it

no panda please (jjk)

nsfw

male reader / trans reader (I don't hate them! I just don't think I'll be able to write satisfactorily)

no oc x oc or character x oc cause I can't write this...

that's pretty much all and please send requests as much as you like !

thank you for reading ♡

[elshells]

🍕 ❤️ 💚 🧠 let’s dooooo Jade and Cece

AHHH love these two!! I'm always excited to see you in my inbox :D

🍕 - What is their favorite food?

For Jade, it's her grandmother's Caribbean guava tarts. It was one of the first things she learned how to bake and she requests it for every birthday dessert.

For Cece, I don't think I'll always have the same answer, but right now I have a feeling she has a real soft spot for crappy bar food. Fried chicken, onion rings, nachos, mozzarella sticks, etc. You can't deny that she's living life glamorously XD

❤️ - What is one of your OC’s best memories?

Jade's is going to high school prom with Harley and Max—or technically, when they didn't go. After about an hour when they realized that prom was lame, they left early to get milkshakes at a burger shack, then drove to the bay to dance and laugh in the rain. I'd like to say this was based on my personal experience, except I went to prom alone before meeting a group of friends at Denny's, and that didn't feel nearly fun or exciting enough to replicate 😅

Cece's is probably meeting her best friend Isaac. It's no spoiler to say that Cece had it rough her whole life, and by her late teens/early twenties she struggled with mental health and substance abuse. She once called an Uber while high to take her home (though she no longer remembers where she had been and is too embarrassed to ask) and in a weed-induced bout of brilliance, invited the driver to stay over at her apartment and keep her company. Isaac, who was at the end of his shift but surprisingly invested in this cute girl and her wild stories, agreed, and the two actually hit it off extremely well and decided to keep in touch. Over the years, Isaac helped Cece by supporting her as she cut back on drugs and alcohol and by offering her a place to stay at his apartment when she got evicted. By Encore's beginning, the two have grown close, but haven't taken their friendship into any further yet.

💚 - What is your OC’s gender identity and sexuality?

Jade uses she/her pronouns and is a lesbian.

Cece (also she/her) never confirms her sexuality at any point in Encore, but it's heavily implied that she's attracted to both men and women at the very least, so I'd say she's probably pan.

🧠 - What do you like most about the OC?

I wrote Jade to basically a quilt of the best qualities of some of my favorite people, so there's not much to dislike about her in my eyes. Of course, she has her flaws like everyone else (occasionally naive and absolutely fucking stubborn like no one's business, for one thing), but her loyalty towards her friends and her determination to find the good in every misfortune are both traits in her that I really admire.

Cece has little in common with Jade, but I still think she's awesome! After everything she's been through, she's understandably jaded, but she refuses to be a passive participant in her own life. No matter what other people perceive of her, she's the driving force; if she wants something, she will achieve it. Even if it kills her, at least she was always in charge.

[starslung]

”I don’t mind sharing, as long as I’m with you.”

the bed's still warm from johnny, an afterimage of heat that manifests flashes of the night before -- limbs and kisses and teeth scraping necks and salt and relief. if finn didn't have to get up in a few minutes to start getting ready to TA, he'd think about requesting an encore. sure, it'd just be the two of them, but britt's more than capable of putting on a good show...

it's only after she speaks, her voice partially muffled by the blanket finn has draped over his head to block out the rising sun, that it occurs to finn he's not jealous. maybe it should have been evident earlier -- why set out to date two people if you weren't confident you could handle the split attention? but that worry had never even been there, an anxiety he never felt and therefore never had to name.

he shuffles closer on the bed toward her, nothing about it graceful as his feet get tangled in the sheets, the blanket over his head blocking out his eyes so britt can't get the full effect of his achingly open expression. perhaps it's for the better. finn isn't used to being so wholly cherished. he's not sure what to do with himself except to blindly find britt's lips, kiss her long and slow. "you mean it?" he knows she does, but finn is greedy for the affirmation, for the words, for her.

[galaxysharks]

Ej was such a big brother to Maddox. Just the pure joy when he saw her having fun, he humors her so much and it means everything.

Imagine Ej's earlier years at the camp:

Jock!Baby!Elton gets sent to Shallow Lake cause camp 'builds character' and Cash can't be bothered to raise his one and only son.

Ej figures he will coast by in the ensemble/security/person who can lift things.

Realizes quickly that all the fun tools and props are locked up to keep unsupervised children away from them, as instructed by the director.

Trys unsuccessfully to charm director because the old man can tell when a kid is helping, and when one just wants access to things that can make fire.

That's when he notices that the weird little tween that only speaks to the director and tinkers with the tech equipment has the only other set of keys.

Que: Operation: get keys to fireworks part 2.

Report: Mission failed because Maddox doesn't understand metaphors for stealing minor explosives and won't break rules anyway. Also never leaves them anywhere, so he can't just take them.

Ej decides to pretend to befriend this girl until she trusts him to have keys, and because he is at this point a proto-Cash, he does this by suggesting she do stereotypical 'camp' behaviors like playing reveille at 7 am, or asking for secrets in the cabins, or any other amount of behaviors that would get her socially eviscerated. He figures most of the camp would follow his lead, so he just needs to play nice for a few days, then they can do whatever while he gets to explode things. Starts calling her Gadget, cause he can't remember her name.

Except Maddox Loves Camp. To her, Ej is rapidly becoming her best friend because he actually wants to be around her, and do the things she loves. Sure Val listens to her, but Maddox's too awkward around pretty girls to have any real conversations, and Ej is even giving her suggestions to make this summer even more like the old movies.

Val pulls Ej aside like: Don't you fucking dare make fun of this child, she's going through things right now..

Ej get 0.001% into this plan and realizes, oh shit she's adorable, I can't let people ruin this for her.

Cue Mr. Elton Jock wholeheartedly throwing himself into every one of these stupid challenges and traditions. Taunting and egging on everyone and generally becoming the helpful kind of menace to society that makes the weird parts of a summer camp seem fun.

The first night the camp serves tacos, and that's awesome, but Maddox tells him it's not usually a great idea to eat twelve of them at once.

Spoiler: she's right. Ej spends a morning dedicated to vomit and pain in the medical cabin. Maddox sits with him and helps him read lines for his different ensemble characters in between laughing at him and dodging Val bringing him more water and crackers.

They are assigned to the same tent in the wooded camp out night, because the director has noticed, and she usually takes a solo tent, which is not a good look for their safety rating.

She's jumping at shadows and hiding as soon as the tale of Susan Fine is over. She knows it's not real, but she's still freaked out by it.

Ej tells her that they're going to make it real, and she won't be scared cause she'll know what 'susan fine' will be doing all night. Maddox is going to be the woman in the woods, he'll be a shrub monster and they can scare people together.

He buys a large pack of twizzlers, some geodes, and candles from the local shop, and they set up the first ever Susan Fine shrine.

They collect a record 11 full screams and 1 full tackle from some kid named Johnny that breaks things alot.

After they've had their fun, Ej and Maddox spend the night making up a dumb camp song. With references to the taco disaster and the scary stories.

They perform at a mid-week talent show, and get a request for an encore at camp prom.

During color wars, Ej notices Maddox was missing, and Val tells him she helps the director set up the fireworks every year, but she'll be back in time for the sing-off.

At this point Ej is having more fun doing the color wars than he would have had stealing the fireworks to begin with.

She saves him a bottle rocket. They launch it later and Ej catches his shorts on fire. once he is put out and in his boxers, Maddox and Val try to find something between them for him to wear. When cleaning Val notices a patch on the inside lining of the burnt shorts 'Elton John Caswell'. Maddox laughs at him and calls him Rocketman.

Most of camp thinks it is because of the bottle rocket, but Val and Maddox know.

Uses his call from winning color wars to tell Cash that he'll take some business courses in school if he gets to come back to camp every year.

[echantedtoon]

Love Doesn't Do Encores Ch5 Sponsorship

(Hey everyone I apologize for the late chapter. Also I should mention this story will contain my own headcannons about the backstories of some of the characters and info on the league cards and that the next chapter might be a lil late cuz of irl stuff.)

The trainers had arrived. 

Professor Magnolia hummed in the middle of her trip to the kitchen as you and Leon watched from the couch. You both had a pretty good idea of who it was as the excited knocking continued when an answer didn't come from anyone instead. Eventually the professor answered.

"The door's open!," she shouted towards the door and you were impressed when she didn't flinch with how fast it flew open and in came the two children you both were waiting for. Hop and Gloria with excited smiles on their faces.

"PROFESSOR!," Hop greeted as he came right in and you blinked when Leon stood up from the couch and walked on over to stand next to the professor.

"Why, Hop dear," Ms. Magnolia greeted as he came up to her, "So these must be the new trainers Leon requested the starters for." She then turned to Gloria. "And this must be your friend, Gloria."

"And rival!" Gloria stood proudly which made the Professor chuckle.

"I see." Her eyes looked over to the bag on Hop's back, a few Pokeballs visible in a pocket on the side. "Oh? I see Wooloo has made some new friends. I trust you two received the pokedex from Sonia. I'm sure you'll have it complete in no time."

"Hey, Professor, do us a favor, would you?," Hop asked with a nervous face and the older woman turned back to him with a hum. OH BOY! You knew exactly where this would go. The professor would convince Leon into sponsoring the two for the Gym Challenge but not before he had them give a battle to convince him otherwise. "Help me convince Lee he should endorse us for the Gym Challenge!"

By now Leon had stood next to the professor as she hummed and turned her head to the Champion. "Oh Leon, why wouldn't you endorse them?" 

Here it comes.

"Ehh." he sighed. Reaching a hand up to take off his hat and running his other through his long purple locks. "Hop and Gloria only just started out as pokemon trainers..." Both teens smiles dropped and they looked at one another. "There's still loads they don't know yet! Plus after today's little incident...Maybe they're not ready to take on something like this."

"BUT LEE!," Gloria interjected catching his attention. "You were younger than us when you first started out on your journey!"

"Yeah! And Sonia had to help you how many times?," Hop gestured to him like it was obvious.

Leon hummed with a frown. "Yeah, but I'm always hopeless with directions. I never went into Slumbering Weild at all, except to get you two out, but that's totally different then walking in intentionally."

"Now Lee," Ms. Magnolia looked at him. "It's in every young child's nature to make mistakes. It's all a part of growing up and becoming stronger. Dearie, I thought your dream was to have everyone in the Galar Region become strong trainers. Isn't that right?"

He hummed returning the hat back to his head. "Well...yeah. You're not wrong. That goal's precisely the reason I gave them both pokemon, in fact."

"Well then why don't you give them a chance to make mistakes and grow," she suggested as he still had that Skeptical frown. Leon hummed and looked back to the two. "You made plenty of mistakes too, Lee. Don't forget. You said so yourself."

"I know, I know." A hand came up to rub his chin. "And it does look like they caught a few pokemon by themselves." A small silence passed over them as you watched with a smile knowingly, and the two teens looked almost scared of his anwer....Before he sighed again. "Right then...In that case, how about this?" He held up a finger pointing. "Let's see if the two of you can show me such a brilliant battle that I'm left no choice but to endorse you. If I think you two have a good enough fighting chance then the endorsement's all yours."

"YES!!," both teens cheered with Hop doing an arm pump but it was enough for Leon to smile at them.

"And don't worry. I'll make sure both your teams are in good shape before the battle starts." He paused and looked out the window for a moment. "....It's been almost the entire day...We better go outside and get started if you two are going to be back home before dark too."

"RIGHT! I'll be waiting outside, Glory!" And again Hop dashed away

"HEY WAIT!! NO FAIR!!" She frowned and ran after him with Leon chuckling.

"Hurry it up, Glor! You've gotta battle me so I can get myself that endorsement!," his voice echoed back outside.

"Ah those two. I don't think I had that much energy even when I was their age." You got up Sobble chittering as the professor chuckled and started towards the door, cane thumping against the floor. As you two followed her out.

Leon sighed. "Yeah. Well I better get out there. If something goes wrong they'll need some help and someone needs to watch the battle they put on."

The three of you piled outside, you two slowly going out after the professor and finding the two teens already at the battle court a lil ways from the purple house pokemon already out and ready to go and you blinked. Oh. Looks like they did get some new pokemon. 

"ALRIGHT!," Leon called side stepping past the professor fast and quickly walking towards the two, catching their attention. "Listen you two! The reason I'm unbeatable is because I learn from every battle I see or take part in. That's how I've gotten to where I am today. So show me something good in this battle!" He finally made it to the middle of the court and looked between the two for a moment. "Ok! The same rules of your first battle will apply to here as well. The first one to become unconcious or knocked out of bounds loses!"

"I'm interested in seeing how you two young trainers battle, too." Leon looked over as the you and the Professor stepped beside him and she finally made it to watch with a smile. "Now remember to give it everything you got. That's the best thing you can do for your pokemon and for yourselves, too."

"Good luck you two!," you added with a wave Sobble chirping in agreement.

"I'm going to become the greatest pokemon trainer there is!," Hop declared, Wooloo baaing in total agreement with him on the field, "And to do that I need that endorsement to take part in the Gym Challenge!" He pointed straight to Gloria. "Come at me with everything you have so we can prove to Lee that we've got what it takes!"

Gloria huffed hands on her hips. You figured by now that would probably be her default pose like Hop's was that couched fist pumped one. Not that you judged. "HA! If you want a show you've come to the right person then!" She pointed back. "Guess you'll be tasting my victory again!"

"We'll see about that, Glory! IT'S TIME FOR MY LEGEND TO BEGIN!," he shouted pointed out to the field challenging, "LET'S GO, WOOLOO!!" The sheep pokemon baaed out challenging to Gloria's...bird pokemon?? You didn't recognize it. "Have you gotten a bit stronger?"

Gloria hummed. "I'd say so. I wouldn't have this new pal here if I hadn't! What do you think?!"

"I think me and my test will put you to the test and see!"

"OH YEAH! WELL IN THAT CASE! ROOKIDEE USE HONE CLAWS!!," Gloria barked an order to the small bird pokemon and you guessed that the pokemon was a Rookidee. The small pokemon gave a tweeting noise and jumped in air, and you had to blinked when all of a sudden there was a dazzle of bright white light in the shape of slash marks. You blinked and....nothing happened. The wooloo was still in the standing position. What was all that about?

"You're confused?" You snapped to the professor as she smiled seeing your confused expression. "Hone Claws is a move that allows Rookidee's accuracy and attack to rise for their next attack. A smart or dumb move depends on what Hop does."

"WOOLOO USE TACKLE!!" The wooloo followed it's master's orders and quickly rolled into a ball and headed straight for them. You were surprised when Gloria made no move to stop it as her Rookidee remained standing as the wooloo was about to hit- The Rookidee was knocked back a few feet from the Wooloos tackle with a chirp and Gloria still did nothing.

"USE HONE CLAWS AGAIN!!," she ordered and this time you turned your head from the bright white attack reflecting the sun's light. 

"HA! Didn't you see the first time that Hone Claws didn't work, Glory? USE TACKLE AGAIN!!" Hop taunted before ordering another assault. Again the same thing repeated with Gloria doing absolutely nothing and letting the rookidee be hit away a few more feet. Two or three more hits and Gloria would be ove-

Your eyes widened, Hop's question replaying in your mind. Head snapping to Gloria who remained unmoved. 'Didn't you see the first time that Hone Claws didn't work, Glory?'....Hop had no idea what Hone Claws really did did he!? You looked at Gloria who still did nothing as her pokemon shook it's head. That sneaky gal! She knew exactly what she was doing and so did you! Gloria was buying time for Rookidee's power to rise enough before delivering a powerful attack raised from the two hone claws attacks! Hop had no idea what was about to come his way!

"USE TACKLE TO YOUR MAX STRENGTH!! KNOCK'EM OUT!!," Hop ordered and the wooloo obeyed. Rolling fiercely towards Gloria's Rookidee as she did nothing to stop the upcoming hit-

"PECK!" It all happened so fast you could barely register it, didn't help it happened at such close range too. As soon as the wooloo was just barely a foot away from it, Gloria quickly ordered a ..Peck, and a direct power hit was delivered right to the wooloo's front in a grey cone shaped blur. Which resulted in a loud baa from the wooloo and it was knocked backwards. Rolling head over heels over and over again until it landed on it's side and slide the rest of the way before Hop's feet.

"WOOLOO!!" He cried almost horrified and dropped to his knees before the pokemon and reaching his hands out towards the spiraled eyed pokemon.

"Wooloo's unable to battle!," Leon shouted pointing to Gloria, "Gloria wins the first round!"

You felt sorry for Hop as he looked really down as he stood back up and took out a pokeball to you assume to put his wooloo in, but you had to wonder...Wasn't wooloo already still tired from their first battle earlier that day?? And from running around to try and catch some wild pokemon before they got here? Gloria probably would've beaten Hop anyways if he had no idea about Hone Claws but this world was a bit different from your game play or any game you could remember. This was a live battle you were witnessing, so of course it'd be more intense. Hop eventually did return the wooloo and pulled out another ball soon after.

"Alright then! Time to shine!," he shouted throwing out the next pokeball. What you weren't expecting was his Grookey to pop out in a flash of bright light. ...Wouldn't grookey be tired as well? Since Hop only had two pokemon he used, it made since he could only use the two he had for the previous battle and pokemon catching, so both might've been more exhausted.

"Are you going to switch your Rookidee, Gloria?," Leon asked looking to her but she shook her head.

"Nah! I'll stick with the one I got, Lee."

He nodded. "Alright! ROUND TWO GO!!"

"YOU WON'T GET THE BEST OF ME THIS TIME!! NOW THAT I KNOW YOUR TRICK!!," Hop shouted at Gloria frowning and pointing towards the rookidee, "GROOKEY USE SCRATCH-"

"PECK!!", Gloria ordered back quickly and..Well you guessed your suspicions were right dead on...because the Grookey wasn't fast enough to dodge the upcoming fast flying attack. You weren't sure if it was a factor of Hop's pokemon being tired or Gloria's rookidee being still hyped up from Hone Claws (or maybe a lil bit of both who knows?), but the grookey was struck in mid air midscratch and tumbled to the ground in a one hit K.O., Hop letting out a startled cry as his grookey was taken down.

The tention was cut by a flutter of Leon's cape and his hand pointing out to Gloria. "MATCH! Grookey's unable to battle! Victory goes to Gloria again!" 

You knew it was probably in the gameplay for Gloria to win, so technically you shouldn't intervene or really feel bad about this, because if everything went according to the game, that meant you could go home or wake up from this weird dream you having but-...Hop returned his grookey back into the pokeball with a frown and disappointed look and you frowned too. You couldn't help but feel bad for him losing like this. Dream or not Hop seemed to show real emotion and you felt bad for knowing what was going to happen.

Hop looked glumly to the pokeball in his hand for a moment, before closing his eyes and you supposed, took a breath. Before snapping back up with a smile. "Well, Look at you! Seems you've really learned your type matchups!" He suddenly held up a pokeball. "How's about best two outta three rounds?"

"Sure! Why not!? After all I already won two outta 'em!"

"Yeah? Well I bet you weren't expecting THIS!" He tossed out another pokeball, or you assumed another, they all looked the same to you, and out with a flash of light came a ...Rookidee. Just like Gloria's. "It'll be a close one, but that's exactly my sort of match!"

Your eyes widened a bit. Oh wow. You weren't expecting that for sure. Leon also seemed to be interested as he looked back to Gloria. "Do you want to switch out your pokemon before the final match, Glory?"

After a moment of staring she shook her head. "Nah. I think I'll stick with rookidee and battle it out."

Leon nodded. "Alright! Final match! Ready you two!? BEGIN!!"

"ALRIGHT! TIME TO START THIS OFF WITH HONE CLAWS SINCE THAT WORKED SO GOOD FOR YOU GLOR!!" Hop pointed and in another flash of bright white light that made you blink as the rookidee flew up and gave the same slice attack to the air Gloria's rookidee did from earlier.

"ALRIGHT THEN! LET'S DO THE SAME SHALL WE?! ROOKIDEE HONE CLAWS!," Gloria ordered smiling and the bird pokemon did the same attack from before.

"USE PECK!!" And you all watched as Hop's rookidee honed it's peck ability and with a flap through the air they dove right towards the other rookidee before them.

"DODGE IT!!" You guessed Hop wasn't expecting Gloria to actually dodge the attack and instead use another move based off the Hone Claws attack she ordered from earlier. But with a quick blur, Gloria's Rookidee barely dodged out of the way, but somehow completely missing the attack and then it happened. You had guessed that Hop's rookidee was going too fast to pull up in time as it flew down at gloria's at a downwards strike. Because with a crash and sound that made you and your sobble cringe, the poor rookidee smashed into the pavement battle field as Gloria's rookidee flapped it's wings and fell over, from there the lot of you watched as the poor pokemon continued to roll head over heels unable to stop itself as it rolled towards Gloria who quickly lifted up her leg as to avoid the pokemon who rolled off the field and onto the grassy area behind her. Everyone stood there in silence watching the now still pokemon as it laid there for a moment before it let out a small chirp and managed to lift it's head up just a bit. Not knocked out but probably not able to battle.

"ROOKIDEE!!," Hop shouted in worry leaving his place and running over from his spot startling Gloria's pokemon and as soon as he got close enough, dropped to his knees in front of the tweeting pokemon. Hands hovering over the pokemon. "IM SO SORRY! ARE YOU OK?!" He jumped and looked up as Gloria grabbed his shoulder and gave an apologetic look.

"Match over!," Leon called jogging his way over to them, humming at the sight of the rookidee, "Well...Wasn't certainly expecting that of all things. Hop, put your pokemon back in it's ball. We'll have Nurse Joy at the center take a look at your pokemon on the way home."

Hop immediatly did as Leon suggested and quickly returned the rookidee back into it's pokeball before standing up as you and Professor Magnolia slowly walked towards them. Hop sighed and reached a hand up to rub his head letting his other arm flop to his side. "Man, oof. Gutted that I lost..." He turned to Gloria with a sad smile. "But I'd expect nothing less from my rival! And I even got my pokeball throw perfect, too."

"I'm sorry, Hop," Gloria apologized gently grabbing his arm as he blinked, "I didn't think that'd happen to your poor rookidee. I promise next time I'll try not to let that happen."

Hop quickly looked away clearing his throat and shrugging. "I-It's fine. That's how it is in the real world. The sting of defeat and joy of victory. I guess going through both is the key to the two of us getting stronger, r-right?"

"Gloria. Hop." Both looked back up as Leon smiled down proud at them. "I'm really glad you see it that way. I'm proud you learnt a good lesson from all this. And that being said...Well." He crossed his arms proudly. "After seeing you learn, and after seeing a match like that I suppose I've little choice but to give you both an endorsement as Champion!"

By the way their faces went from smiling to shocked, with their mouths literally dropped open, you would've thought they'd seen a ghost or something, and you couldn't help but giggle at that. Especially when they gasped upon seeing Leon reach behind him and pull out two small envelopes from behind his cape, each one having a small red wax seal on them. Leon proudly held them out to the children and you could see Gloria do her best as to not freak out.

"SHUT. UP. REALLY!? OMG!!" She yelled starry eyed and grabbing the letter from him like it was a teenage girl's first phone. "BEST! DAY! EVER!!"

"YES!" Hop jumped holding the letter up. "Thanks, Lee! I swear I'm going to win my way through the Gym Challenge to reach you!," Hop promised.

Leon laughed happily in return looking proud, and it was a smile which was contagious as you smiled. "You may both still be young, and plenty rough around the edges, but it was a proper battle. Charizard and I were both feeling the excitement in every last cell in our bodies!"...His smile wavered just a bit as he hummed. "But if I can offer some advice after seeing you two duke it out there." He turned to Hop. "You seem to panic a little bit there and your pokemon were tired. My suggestion would be to find the good and bad line between the phrase 'pushing your limits'." Hop paused for a moment..before frow- "Hop, you've always tended to get caught up in things like how you throw your poke ball out..Things that have nothing to do with real strength." He explained softly, "Honestly, I'd been worried about you still obsessing over that sort of nonsense, but it seems you really have grown a bit, Little Brother!" His smile came back and Hop blinked wide eyed before Leon turned to Gloria who froze under Leon's stare. "And I'd like to see more thrilling pokemon battles out of you too, Gloria...But a word of caution. It's obvious where Hop lacks in battle strategics you have impressive moves, but don't get too over confident. There's a fine line between confident and cocky. You two will be going head to head with other FAR MORE EXPERIENCED pokemon trainers and Gym Leaders who's going to have more tricks, more know how, and more success. But always remember practice makes perfect. You two practice and work on your weaknesses and soon you'll be heading towards battling me in no time!"

The smiles came back to both teens once again and you sighed. Well that could've gone much worse, but you were glad that at least things were starting to go as it was supposed to of course, but you had to wrack your brain and try to remember as much of this game as you could! If not for your sake, then the two kids here. The last thing you wanted was something like Gloria sneaking into Slumbering Weild again.

"Alright, Glory!" Hop flashed his friend a confident smile thrusting the letter at her. "You and me are going to train up against one another to aim for that Champion title!! It's like Lee said! The more we keep battling against one another the more our pokemon will grow!"

"You're on, Hoppity! Can't wait for our rematch then!"

Both kids laughed and you smiled even mor- You winced when your sobble suddenly chirped in your ear and turned around on your shoulder suddenly. "Ow! Hey! What's wrong?" You asked as you turned to the pokemon on your shoulder but it's body was half blocking your view as it looked up towards the sky. So you could only see his blue body, but it caught the attention of every  other person there as they looked up and saw the shining light with a red trail leading behind it. 

"Huh?! HEY! Look there!," Hop shouted pointing a hand towards the sky at it, "What's that!?"

"I don't know but it's coming right for us!"  

Everyone watched and you eventually got Sobble's tail off your face just in time to see two sparkles land on the ground a little ways from the Professor's lake. The two teens already making a dash for the shiny objects and of course you fo-...You paused....Wait. Something was coming back to you now...OF COURSE!! THE WISHING STONES!...THINGS! In the game the player used those stones to make their pokemon gigantic! Or dynamax as everyone in this world called it. Looks like you were starting to remember a bit more about all this. In the meantime, Hop had picked up the shiny stones into his hands and gave them a wide eyed look upon realizing what it was.

"Gloria! Would you look at this!?" He smiled widely and turned with excitement plastered all over his face. Gemstones shining brightly in the sunlight. "They're wishing stars!"

"NO WAY!!" Her blue eyes widened looking at them like she had never seen something more beautiful in her life. "THAT'S SO COOL!!"

"Since there's two of them, you should take one yourself!" Hop held one hand out to her and she squealed in ecitement instantly.

"Wishing stones?," you repeated under your breath and apparently the professor heard you because you jumped as she spoke.

"A Wishing Stone is a stone found in the Galar Region with a mysterious power to dynamax a trainer's pokemon. It's said that your dreams will come true if you find one." She smiled at the two exited teens. "And it looks like you two are about to have a lot of luck indeed."

"With one of these, my pokemon can dynamax! They're gonna be massive!" He thrusted the stone into the air as Gloria was still cooing over the shiny stone in her hands, turning it this way and that, inspecting it as carefully as a detective would a case. "YES!!

Which made Leon give a good natured laugh and put his hands to his hips as his little brother looked to him excitedly. "It's a lucky day for everyone here then! Trust you to pull something like this." He nodded towards the stone in his hand. "They say wishing stars fall down for those who have a true wish in their heart, you know." Which made Hop's eyes widen even more.

"REALLY!? Well if that's the case!" He thrusted the gem towards the three adults(you being one of them), "I will be the greatest trainer ever! I will be the greatest trainer EVER!! I WILL BE THE GREATEST TRAINER EVER!!" He shouted out and it made you giggle along with Leon and the sobble on your shoulder giving Hop a scowl from the loud volume. "There! I've said it three times, so surely my wish will come true now, right?" He asked glancing to Leon for confirmation.

"Hop! The three wish thing are genies with the lamps. Not wishing on stars," Gloria said raising a brow at him.

Beside you the professor chuckled, sighed, and shook her head in that order. "Don't be silly, Hop." The boy looked to her as she explained and pointed to the stones in their hands. "Those Wishing Stars are composed of a curious sort of soft containing unknown power. They are one of the most precious resources we have here in the Galar Region." She hummed. "But they won't do a thing for you in that state. Give them to me now, and I'll have you sorted." She gently held out her hand to the kids and Gloria didn't hesitate to give the professor her shiny stone-

"Ah, right. You've done heaps of research on the Dynamax Phenomenon, haven't you, Professor?," Hop asked excitedly but continued before she could even answer. "Then please! Give Gloria and me the power to dynamax our pokemon!"

Gloria held up a hand. "Hop. You didn't even give-"

"First we got to battle the mad pokemon in the Slumering Weild, and now this!" No on noticed the bright orange haired woman walking over from up the dirt pathway. "It really feels like we're getting caught up in the adventure of a lifetime-

"HOP!!" Gloria shouted at him with a scowl startling the boy with a jump as he blinked to her. "You can't dynamax anything if you don't give the Professor the Wishing Star."

.......He blinked. "O-OH! RIGHT! SORRY!"

The professor still smiled kindly as Hop dropped his own stone into her hand beside Gloria's and she pulled her hand back having them. "I do understand your excitement, young man, but don't get carried away. You want to save your energy for the day after tomorrow's journey."

"Seems I came back home in time for all the excitement!," a lady's voice cut through the air and everyone turned to see Sonia just a little ways from the battle court smiling at them. Yapper at her heels panting and barking in agreement to whatever she said. Before she shook her head and started to walk over towards you lot.

"HEY! Sonia! You just missed all the fun!" Leon smiled and jabbed a finger behind him towards the children. "I just got the honors of not only being the Champion Referee, but being the sponsor for two amazing young Gym Challenge Trainers!" He then gestured towards the Professor. "And then even got some Wishing Stars the Professor's gonna make into Dynamax Bands."

"Wishing Stars? You don't say," She smiled glancing to her Grandmother for a moment and shook her head before crossing her arms, "Well I'm sorry if I missed all the action, but if you forget someone had to resecure the gate leading to the Slumbering Wield."

 Both children instantly froze...before Hop cleared his throat and looked away with a hand rubbing his neck, and Gloria whistled while also looking away. Riiiight. Totally not suspicious looking in the slightest. And it made you chuckle again at the childish behavior before shaking your head and looking up towards the sky. This world's sun was setting and you had to reach a hand up to block out the harsh light to your eyes. The sky was starting to fade a pinkish purple color and you knew for a fact it would soon give away to the dark black of night. Leon seemed to have noticed you looking to the horizon and so turned his head to to look at the slowly setting sun. You glanced at him from the corner of your eye. The taller man smiling, and the light reflecting in his eyes enhancing the gold coloring and for a lil bit making it look like he had cold coins for eyes. And you couldn't help but watch-

"Hm..Getting kinda late...Hey, you lot, why not have some dinner?," Sonia suggested pointing a finger, "You must be hungry, right? I've been totally obsessed with making the latest trendy curries."

At the promise of food your stomach grumbled a bit and you were thankful for the hopeful gasping of the teens at the promise of Sonia's famous food Leon always talked about..but the Champion shook his head before turning back to Sonia. "Sorry, Sonia. As much as I would ADORE to have your curry, I promised Ma and Mrs. G I'd get the kids back home safely. And it's getting pretty late. If we want to get back by dark we'll have to leave now."

Sonia frowned a bit but nodded in understanding. "I can understand that. Want me to walk back with you guys." She smirked playfully. "Wouldn't want you somehow ending on top of a barn again."

"OH COME ON! It was one time!"

Sonia giggled and you decided to speak up. "It's alright. I can make sure he doesn't wonder off anywhere."

"Oh come on, Y/N! Not you too!"

Everyone shared a chuckle and it was decided you lot would head home for the night, bidding good bye to the Professor and starting on your way as the sun had set for the night. But not before the Professor told Hop and Gloria to come back tomorrow morning and get their new dynamax bands for them to use on their journies very soon. The walk back to their homes was pretty uneventful, the sky got slowly darker and the two children were excitedly pointing out pokemon you could make out in the darkness with their glowing eyes. It was when you four were passing by the town's Pokemon Center is when he and Hop turned to go towards it, but not before Leon turned towards you. 

"This is where I'll leave you two for the night," he explained while gesturing towards the center and Hop waiting for him, "I promised Hop we'd fix his team up before we got home."

"Are you sure you won't get lost going home? No offense," you asked him raising a brow and he nodded,

"Yeah. Hop can make sure I get there good enough, and if not I can always have Charizard fly us back home. What about you? Do you and Gloria wanna wait so I can walk you guys back?"

You thought for a moment tempted by the offer but seeing Gloria yawn and how dark it was, you held up a hand. "I think we'll be fine the rest of the way. I don't think I'd want Gloria's Mum to worry about her when it's gettin' dark. And I think I'm pretty tired too."

"I can understand that. You two have a safe trip back."

You nodded Gloria and you bidding the two brothers fair well, before walking the rest of the way home in setting light, Gloria excitedly telling you her captures of a wild Rookidee and Yamper earlier. By the time you both got to her house and inside it was dark, and Gloria's mother was already waiting for you two with dinner. Salads but you weren't surprised with her being a farmer and all in a farming community like Postwick, and you were hungry anyways so you gladly accepted the food offered to you and let Gloria ramble on about her day to her mother fishing out and flashing the official letter to her mother and on and on. She was real excited wasn't she? It was like a blur as you did the nightly routine of taking another shower and later curling back up on the couch with your Sobble curled up against you like a cat would, and you wondered briefly is Sobble was cold blooded and that's why it did it before dozing off for the night.....You know. You think you'd wake up from whatever dream this world was by now and just be on your way to college late in the morning....But no. Again you woke up but this time it was because of the smell of food in the air and your stomach grumbled for you to get up and eat. The sobble groggily chirping in surprise from you accidentally knocking him off the bed as you rose up rubbing at your eyes and your f/c hair all a mess in a bedhead. It smelt like more eggs. You were just blinking around tiredly, sighing at the sight of Gloria's living room when the smell became stronger. Whelp. Looks like you were still stuck here for the time being.

"Good Morning. I was wondering when you were going to wake up." You blinked your sluggish body over and standing there was Gloria's Mum, a plate with an omelet on it. Oh. Well that explained the egg smell at least. She put it down on the coffee table in front of you as you began to fully wake up. "I trust you had a good sleep last night."

"Y-Yeah. *YYAAAWWWNN* Thanks," you mumbled reaching for the food. "What time is it?"

"It's about ten in the morning. Gloria left with Hop a while ago. They said they wanted to try and catch some more pokemon and battle some of the neighborhood kids before they leave tomorrow for the Opening Ceremony, but after all you did yesterday for them I told her to let you rest further."

....OH! That's right! In the game your journey truely begins when the player and Hop leave for the opening ceremony in ..Motostoke you think?? To officially register into the Gym Challenge. So you nodded. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks."

You sat there and ate the omlet for a bit, your Sobble climbing back up onto the couch with a small frown from being tossed over and gave you a chirp to let you know about it. Oops. You should probably remember to not knock him off again. After eating you did what you usually did around here and grabbed your things to go change in the bathroom. During the time you were in there, you didn't here the doorbell ring or see Gloria's Mum happily let in the man on the other side, so it was a surprise when you opened the door all dressed and found Leon sitting on the couch who smiled and stood upon seeing you slinging the backpack holding your pjs in it on your shoulder. 

You blinked surprised at the Champion waiting for you. "Leon. What are you doing here?"

"Hey, Y/n!" He greeted giving a smile. "I decided to swing by before I head back."

"Back? You mean you're leaving now?"

To confirm your question he nodded again. " Yeah! But I didn't catch the morning train, got lost in the dark hours of the sun rise and somehow ended up circling my way back in front of my own house." He gave a sheepish chuckle and one hand came up to rub his head. "Not sure if I should consider myself lucky or not, but now I have to wait for the afternoon train at Twelve."

You rolled your eyes but smiled. Yep! That was definately something Leon would totally do, game canon or not. You shook your head before looking back to him, not minding the Sobble who jumped onto your overalls and started climbing up you like a cat would. "Are you looking for Gloria? Her Mom said she left I think."

"Actually I was looking for you!"

That certainly caught you offguard as you blinked and your Sobble finally managed to flop itself over your shoulder as you blinked and pointed to yourself, "Me? Why?"

He looked over for a moment still rubbing his head nervously before closing his eyes and sighing. "Y/n...Never in a million years did I think Hop or Gloria would think taking off into Slumbering Weild would be a great idea, and honestly..That place is so unexplored and full of dangers I wouldn't be even caught lost in there." He looked back up to you. "Those two could've gotten seriously lost or...well I don't want to think about what could've been worse. I don't know how you figured out how they were in there, but that was some quick thinking on your part. As Champion I should thank you for your efforts, but as a big brother I could never thank you enough. But I'd like to try." He smiled real widely at you with that goofy grin you always saw.

You stood there for a moment brain processing what he said, before asking, "Huh?"

He chuckled at your reaction to him. "You lost all your stuff being chased by those wild corvinight right?" He gestured towards the door. "There's a local market and clothes store just across from the Pokemon Center in town. If you're going to be traveling all over the place with Gloria then you're going to need your own seperate stash of clothes and food to sustain yourself. I can help in that department."

You stared......Was...W-Was Leon offering to BUY you new clothes?? Your brain finally clicked back to normal and you instantly shook your head holding up your hands. "N-No! I couldn't ask you to do that!"

"And have you travel around Galar with no supplies at all?"

That made you pause. You didn't really have any suppiles did you?.....Literally nothing but the clothes on your back, a back pack, and one pokeball for the sobble on your shoulder. And now that he mentioned traveling with barely anything-.....You were REALLY under prepared and hadn't even thought of that! No food, barely any clothes, and overall no money at all to buy things  with. So in much easier terms, you were absolutely hopelessly broke. BUT Leon was offering to pay for anything you needed- NO! You shook your head. You only helped out because you knew someone would be in danger and you knew the things had to progress in game if you wanted to get home. It'd be wrong to accept money just because you helped him out....But then again you still had nothing, and it'd be better not just for you but for Gloria too if you guys needed supplies for two people traveling around a giant region for who knows how long. Plus Leon is THE Galar Region Champion! He's the most popular person in all of Galar with millions of fans. Logically he'd probably have cash to spare for the supplies and not put a dent in any of his paychecks and you DID need the supplies. So technically he'd be helping out Gloria as well as endorsing her too if she insisted on having you come along.

"I mean-.." You started raising a brow. "Are you sure? I really don't mind and you don't have too!"

"If I didn't I wouldn't have offered, Y/n!" He gave a smile and again gestured towards the door. "Plus..I could use someone to help make sure I didn't get lost on the way there again. I wouldn't want to loop in front of my house again."

Well....Considering all the factors and that he was totally willing- "I mean....Sure! Ok!" You nodded and smiled. "I'm gonna need some supplies if I'm going to be traveling I guess. And since you're offering I guess I can't say no. Oof!"

That earned you a friendly pat to the shoulder from Leon as he smiled. "That's the spirit! Mrs. G won't mind if we leave now. She's already busy anyways."

You nodded in understanding and when he gestured for the two of you to leave again, you walked your way over to the door, Leon being the polite gentleman he was opening the door for you as you stepped out back into the world and the two of you were off. Walking down the road and passing all the normal things you all had done previously on your way towards the Center, which was pretty easy to spot as it was bright pink. And again people awed and waved at Leon as he smiled and waved back. At one point stopping and agreeing to take a picture with a young boy who couldn't have been much older than five or six as his presumed mother took his picture, before thanking Leon and allowing the two of you to continue on they're way. The smells of flowers and veggitation was in the air. You didn't see Hop or Gloria on your way there though despite being out catching more pokemon. You just hoped they didn't decide on going back into Slumbering Weild again. Once you two got to about the center, Leon turned to you and gestured for you to follow him to the left past as a couple od eldery ladies walked past the both of you, both giving Leon a 'WOW!' kinda look. The building he led you too was a brick building with a green and white striped onning over the doorway and a sign above it reading 'Postwick General Store'. In front of the store was a couple crates of you assumed crops the local farmers produced. 

"There it is!," Leon explained to you walking towards it as you two got close to it. "Should have everything one needs if they're going on a journey. It's where I got my supplies for my journey long ago, so it should have everything you two need." He assured as you two finally got near it. Once again reaching out and opening the door for you, a small bell going off above you, to which you thanked him and walked in. The inside was cool, and it ...looked exactly like a regular convenience store with a bunch of shelves with things labeled with prices and a few freezers stuffed with more foods. "See? What'd I tell ya?!"

Before you could say anything a different voice caught your attention. "Well, Well. As I live in breath." Both of you looked over to a counter and a middle aged man with dark brown hair and mustache smiled from behind the register. "If it isn't little Leon the champion, eh? Last time I saw you, you weren't much bigger than a beanpole. Now what pleasure does this old soul have to have you walking in here?"

The purple haired man happily waved to him. "Hey, Mr. Frederick! Long time no see!" He happily patted your shoulder. "My friend here needs some supplies, and being the best store in Galar, I thought you would have just the things we needed!"

The old man laughed and nodded smiling. "Well you ain't wrong! Look 'round and see if there's anything to your liking."

That was enough signal for Leon to grab onto one of those convenience store baskets and nod towards the food on the shelves. "C'mon. We'll want to find non perishable foods that'll last longer for long trips! So they should be in-..." He gaze the aisles a look..and rose a brow. "Uh.."

"In the last aisle to the left," the older man corrected him.

Leon pointed to the left. "What he said! I remember now!" You chuckled at him, but he seemed to ignore them as he walked over and you followed. Taking a look at the aisles they seemed to stacked with the regular food you'd find in stores like back where you came from, and the aisle you guys went too could have what could only describe as camping foods. All packed away in plastic wrap and such so well they looked like a hiker's paradise. Especially when Leon hummed at what was available. "I guess a couple trainers already been here. Usually there's a whole lot of this available. But y'know what, that's perfectly fine." You watched curious as he just started grabbing a ...lot more than what you were expecting as he started just grabbing handfulls of packages from the shelves before you. "You can never go wrong with lots of rice and sausages."

"Uh..." You raised a hand. 

''There's also plenty of pasta and salad mixes too," he mumbled to himself grabbing more handfulls of plastic wrapped packages of instant foods, "I think you'll like the moomoo cheese here. I used to use these a lot as cheese usually lasted a long time, like these bean tins here. Although steer clear of the pungent root. It's edible but has a strange smell too it. Coconut milk is also good to have on hand, canned moomoo milk is always good-"

"Leon," you intrrupted his rambling as he hummed and looked to you. And you pointed to the now almost overflowing basket, "Isn't that u....a lil much for two people?"

He looked confused for a moment, before looking to the basket and seeming to get it. "OH! Nonono. I was grabbing some for Hop as well. ....I...probably should've mentioned that before we got here I guess, but it slipped my mind." He gave an embarrassed smile. "Sorry about that."

"It's alright." You assured him as he turned. "I think that's really nice of you to help us like this anyways."

"Well, a journey is never easy and if I can make it easier for him I will." Well you couldn't argue with that. By the time you two had walked out of there, Leon was holding two bags and you were holding one after helping to seperate them between the three of you (three of you meaning You, Hop, and Gloria of course) after paying the man with what must've been this world's version of a credit card, and you once again started following him after he turned to you once out of the store and said, "Follow me!" He nodded ahead of you and there was something you recognized. It was the clothing shop you'd encounter in the beginning of the game. It looked fancy compared to other buildings in town, with manniquens wearing clothes in the window, Sign above reading 'Cothes Mart'. "We can grab you two or three outfits in there and that should be that." He paused...before grunting and turning back over his shoulder. "Oh no."

you stopped and looked at him, before glancing at your sobble, then back to Leon again. "What?"

He stared at the pokemon center. "I forgot to stop by the center for something." He turned back to you. "And I have limited time...Here! How's this? Go inside there-" he nodded to the store. "And ask for Martha, she's the lady that owns the store. She knows my mom since she shops here all the time. Tell her that I sent you and to put it on my mom's tab, I'll digit my mum the money to pay for yours!"

You gave him a deadpanned look. "Leon, no offense, but wouldn't that just look like I'm trying to bum off you? If anyone could do that, then it probably would've happened a lot more with you in a lot of identity theft."

"Oh yeah! Tell her 'I got lost on a barn's roof!' That's the code I set up with her after one of my getting lost sprees. Hehe," he gave a nervous chuckle and you couldn't help but roll your eyes. How could anyone get lost and end up on top of a barn? Only Leon you supposed.

You nodded. "Alright. Won't you get lost? No offense."

"None taken. Ill wait for you outside the Center, just be sure to make it quick. I don't think I'd want to miss my second train of the day."

You nodded before the two of you parted ways, you going towards the building, semi heavy bag of foods in your  hands towards the double glass doors. Once you reached the door open, a small bell went off and you stood in aw at the fancier looking store than the previous general store. There was....a LOT more included in here than you remembered in game. Much more clothes racks. Much more shoes on shelves. Much more bags. And MUCH more shelves of clothing.

"Good Afternoon, Young Lady." The lady's voice spooked you enough to make you jump, nearly knocking the chirping sobble off your shoulders as you turned to a middle aged dark brow haired lady who looked about the same age as Gloria's Mom as she smiled at you cheerfully. "Welcome to Clothes Mart. Feel free to ask for help if you need anything."

"Uh...." You blinked before clearing your throat. "Y-Yeah?....Martha?" You asked hesitating before pointing at her and she nodded.

"That's me! How can I provide you excellent service today?"

....You looked around a little bit before walking up to her, a few other ladies and young girls were looking at the clothing, this Martha raising a brow as you approuched. Eyeing the others around you before clearing your throat and looking back to the slightly confused lady with uncertainty. "Uh...I got lost on a barn's roof?"

She still looked confused for a moment before her face instantly went from confused to overjoyed like a person had waved a full stack of a million dollars in front of her face. "OH! Of course. Would make sense since the Champion is in town." You sighed relieved as she stood from her place behind the counter with a smile. "Although I wasn't expecting Leon's cute country gal coming in.~ And just in time by the looks of it." She gave a critisising eye over the overalls and green gum boots you wore. 

It took a moment for you to register what she had said, and your Sobble gave this Martha lady a scowl as she looked you over. ...And you instantly held up your hands, red faced. "WHA- OH NO!! DEFINATELY NOT! I'M NOT-..HE'S...W-Were just..Friends." Well...You couldn't say exactly that you guys were friends since you've only know him a total of what...two or three days at most outside of a video game. But it was the only thing you could think of to call this. 

She paused to look at you for a moment but shrugged. "Small mistake. Any friend of Leon's is a customer of mine." You lightly scowled at her as she smiled and sat back down. "Do let me know when you're finished, Ma'am. And don't be afraid to ask for assistance!"

"R-Right. Ok." You quickly shuffled away shaking your head from the encounter and looking at the Sobble. "Can you believe that?" The Sobble chirped and nodded in agreement with your statement and you couldnt agree more. "My thoughts exactly."

It didn't take long for you to pick out just a few shirts,two black with a pink pikachu and green eevee, and a blue one with an arcanine, and some plain black sweats to go with them. A pair of really good sneakers, a plain blue dress you thought was nice, and a jacket. Before you realized that it'd be impossible to carry it all with your small old backpack. Probably why Victor didn't want to take it in the first place you thought, but managed to find a rather large grey plaid rucksack, it was perfect with it's multiple pockets and size. You were quick to try and check them all out as this Martha lady wanted to chat but you didn't feel so talkative after the way she seemed to judge you with her eyes and quickly just left as fast as you could after she had apparently finished punching everything into someone's online tab she kept and wishing you a "Champion Time, with your 'Friend'!" and to "Stop by anytime!". Man you couldn't walk out faster and get outside holding the heavy bags of clothes and food you had gotten. Thank goodness because you surely just wanted to get back to Leon and help him back to the train station. Just your luck too as you walked past the Postwick's general store and towards the center, you managed to catch sight of Leon. He was leaning down and signing a small girl's book while her assumed mother watched. 

"LEON!!," you called out and he looked up smiling at you waving a hand, one of the bags hanging from your wrist.

He waved a hand back, finished signing whatever the excited young girl was holding out to him before nodding to her and her mom before picking up his two large bags and walking towards you as you continued to walk towards him. "Hey!" He greeted once he was close enough smiling. Glancing at the new backpack on your back and the new bag in your hands. "I see you got some new kicks! Good! Sorry I took so long, but I got a lil caught up as you could see."

You smiled rolling your eyes, "I know. And it's fine....Are you sure about all this stuff tho? It's really no big deal-"

"Exactly!" He stated with a wink. "It's no big deal to me either, and I'm not bothered in the least." He gave that wide champion grin. "I make it a habit to use my position for as much good as possible, especially now with the power crisis." He turned to walk back down the road towards the train station and you followed. 

"Power...crisis??" Oh yeah! Wasn't there a plot in the game involving that kind of thing? You tucked away that information just in case.

He nodded as you two walked. "Yeah. Been having it ever since I was about sixteen. The Chairman's been trying his best to help and look into the problem, I think?? But so far there hasn't been much progress unfortunately."

"Oh. I see..." You glanced down to the bags he held. They looked a wee bit fully than you last seen. "What did you get at the Center anyways?"

He seemed to perk back up at the mention. "OH!" He held up the bags. "Some more things that two trainers would need for the long trip! Potions, antidotes, one or two revives and awakenings, and a few healers. Trust me. They're going to need them for their pokemon in case there's no pokemon center nearby to help them."

You nodded as the two of you continued to walk all the way to the train station, still no signs of the two children. You remembered someone saying that there was a lot of wild pokemon on Route 2 so maybe that's where they went?? The two of you walked the rest of the way to the train station and he was nice enough to hold the door to the station open for you to walk in, you thanking him. The inside wasn't anything special. A bunch of waiting seats, a man in a small stall like area who seemed to not pay attention to you, what must've been this world's version of an ATM next to a vending machine along side the far right wall, a clock above them, and a pay-to-enter entrance to a grey and yellow train. Well, at least Leon won't miss his evening train. Speaking of Leon he seemed estatic.

"Phew! Made it just in time! And not a minute too soon it looks like." He glanced at the clock on the far wall and frowned again. "Ten fifty eight! It's going to leave in two minutes!" He quickly turned back to you and you blinked as he held out the two bags. "Shoot! I'd sworn we had more time! I have to get on before I miss the second train in one day! Could you give these to the kids for me!?"

You took the bags from him as he nudged them towards you Sobble chirping in curiousity at them as you blinked again. "W-W-Wait! You're not saying good bye to them first?"

"Well I kinda don't have a lot of time," he said gesturing between the clock and train, "I can't be late for this one!''

"Oh right!" Your eyes widened at the clock. There was now one more minute before noon, when the train leaves. So you pushed Leon who blinked. "You should get going then! You only have one minute!"

"OH RIGHT!!" He quickly turned and made a run for the pay-to-enter entrance, once again taking out what must've been a pokemon world's credit card and either letting the machine scan it or pushing it into a small slot in the side, you couldn't tell past his cape tha swished around with his movements. He managed to get past the bars and stopped at the other side to give you one last smile. "Thanks for helping! Maybe we'll get to see each other again-"

HONK!!

Both of you jumped at the loud train horn going off and you pointed. "LEON!!"

"I KNOW I KNOW!! BYE!!" Grabbing his hat he ran to the double doors that opened and closed behind him with a whoosh noise. 

You sighed in relief and the train chose that exact moment to start pulling away with a metal groan. Followed by the click-clacking noises you knew only trains could make and you sighed. You did end up just sitting down in one of the waiting seats arms and feet sore from carrying all the things with yo-

"LEON!!" You and your Sobble jumped, the small pokemon tumbling into your lap as you turned your head and a familiar purple haired boy came running in and you whipped your head around to the blur of Hop rushing in. Slidding to a stop in front of the entrance to the train watching as it continued to go past. "AH MAN!" He deflated with a sigh. "...I'm too late."

"Hop?"

It was his turn to jump and snap to you as you sat there with a brow rose staring at him. And he relaxed. "Y/N! What are you doing here? WAIT! Did Lee come through here already!?"

Your Sobble chirped in annoyance righting itself up at Hop, and you nodded as the last car of the train flew by. "You just missed him actually...Hey. Where's Gloria?"

He groaned and reached a hand up to rub his head. "Ah man. I really wanted to say good bye...Oh. Glory's battling one of the local Elementry School kids down the road." He pointed his other hand out the door. "I was kinda hoping I'd get a chance to see him go, y'know..." He looked at you again and seemed surprised at the bags around you...and pointed. "Hey. What's all that you got there?"

You blinked for a moment before looking to the bags, and smiling. Holding out one to the younger boy. "Leon left you guys a fair well present."

[zachsgamejournal]

PLAYING: Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee

It's taken me some time to start the game. I'm enjoying it without being super impressed.

I love Oddworld Abe's Oddysee on PlayStation 1. Its' perfect in every possible way. Even load times. How? because the load screen tells the player to get over it. Anyway, knowing that the series was intended to be a Star Wars-esque universe of unique stories and characters, playing Abe's Oddysee really pumps one up for that vision (New 'n' Tasty, not so much). Munch's Oddysee, so far, fails to carry us forward on that promise.

The original Abe's Oddysee made a claim that each game would feature a unique protagonist. But the success of the game led to a request for a direct sequel with a short turn around time. Enter Abe's Exodus. The game expands on the familiar formula with good feature updates but also breaks the promise of a unique story/experience. I kinda enjoyed it, from what I remembered, but in the same ways the themes, characters, and gameplay was reused--so was the humor. Instead of being a succinctly perfect experience, it was an overlong encore. It's been decades since I've played it, so my memory could be way off.

Anyway, Munch's Oddysee seemed like an opportunity to put us on track. Originally the game was advertised for PS2. I have recently learned that PS2 "tech demo" was a pre-rendered visualization of what the game could be. It presented itself as a tech demo showing off features, when it was actually a publicity stunt to secure funding. Either way, I was excited by the visualizations promise: a fully 3D game with new ways to play. I was less excited by the return of Mudokons. Don't get me wrong, I love Abe and his people--but I had hoped we were moving beyond that, as promised.

The game half-way delivers on that promise in that you switch between Abe and Munch. This potentially allows us to explore new ways to use familiar Mudokon gameplay mechanics in a 3D space while also trying to branch out. We'll see how well that succeeds.

I'm also going into this game with some baggage. Oddworld Inhabitants betrayed their PS2 fan base to make their game an Xbox exclusive. The assumption at the time was they got paid-off:

Given the original vision of Oddworld, I could see where you'd want the extra cash to provide exceptional storytelling and production value. But it also means that this game deserves extra scrutiny. Personally, I think abandoning the most successful home game console in history (and the established fan base) set Oddworld on a path of ambiguity and failure that has seen the franchise struggle to meet its promise and potential. And as I play it now, I'll be considering:

Could this have been possible on PS2?

Does the Xbox provide anything the PS2 couldn't?

Did Microsoft's cash lead to a well produced product?

My hypothesis is 1) Yes, 2) not really, 3) No.

The opening scenes are very reminiscent of Abe's Oddysee. That's good wink to the fans, but once again chains this game to a more original experience. Familiarity is comfortable, but it's also a little unexciting. Kind of like how many of the new Star Wars films/shows try to maintain that 80's aesthetic. It's instantly familiar and recognizable, but also boring. Episode 1 did a great job changing the design to feel different based on the new species and planets featured, but also recognizing that this was a different decade and era--things are not going to look the same. It's really sad that no other branch of Star Wars has been able to outgrow this narrow view of Star Wars design.

Anyway, same for Munch's Oddysee. It looks like 3D Abe's Oddysee. The fact that it features Abe and Mudokons means that's probably how it needs to be, but fails to deliver on the promise of fresh experiences.

Now the opening story (yeah, we're still at the beginning), the story follows the environmental themes of the original: good. But the pacing is horrible. I'm not sure what happened because Abe's Oddysee was near perfect. The little cut scenes were well timed, the visuals were engaging, and Abe told a good story...that rhymed. Every shot in Munch's Oddysee overstays its welcome. Once Munch gets trapped, screen direction tells us that he's looking at an approaching light overhead--but the edit shows that this light is actually far away. Someone didn't take film courses before being in charge of editing.

Next, we cut to Abe hearing about Munch's plight. the creature telling the story is a great, new thing, weird and wonderful in an Oddworld-way. But the fact that we switch to Abe here once again removes us from this being Munch's story. It's once again the Abe-show and failure to deliver on the original's promise. Next, the creature falls asleep and many Mudokons moan as they walk off. Once again the shot overstays its welcome and there's no significant story beats or clever humor that makes the stay worth it. It likes comedic punch. It's like All That during the final seasons--no ideas and just wearing silly clothes as though that "counts" for comedy. I think the problem is the game is trying to make you laugh while Abe's Oddysee was trying to tell a story. AO could have lacked all humor and been a great story still. It wasn't the humor that made that experience. Instead, it was the great story and production value that made the humor work. It reminds me of Edgar Wright films. Those movie's best comedic moments come from telling a story, and not bending over backwards to create ridiculous situations.

So now we start playing as Abe. First of all--fuck the movement. Abe moves at a brisk pace. There's also a run button. But if you're moving down hill, Abe picks up a LOT of speed. This could kinda make sense from a physics perspective, but 99.99999% of all 3D platforms do not change your character speed while moving downhill (or not significantly). So there was a real struggle to get used to the sudden speed changes. Next--the jumping is awkward. Abe leaps pretty high into the air, but gravity is such that he doesn't get much hang-time. Most 3D platforms are a tiny bit more floaty--which allows the player land their jumps more accurately. It gives you time to think about your next move after you land. So far, it's not been a huge issue, but I don't love it.

The game also introduces collectibles: Spooceshrubs. They're green fungus looking things that grow on the surface. Except they don't look natural at all They look like designer put them in very specific places. This is disruptive for a couple of reasons: 1.) it looks totally unnatural and so reminds us that this is a game with rules and currencies. 2.) it adds a tedious layer to the experience not present in the previous game. Truly, why is this time of currency necessary? I sit because you couldn't think of interesting things to give the player to do, so you forced a basic, decades old collection mechanic on them? Collection like this (Mario's coins, Banjo's Notes, Crash's Wumpa Fruit, and Spyro's gems) are all about moving the player around the environment: to challenge you to explore. Abe didn't collect coins, though, he collected Mudokons. A mechanic that's very much at play already. So there's no need for this.

A matter of fact, the better collection mechanic is shown in the game. Abe has to enlist the help of Mudokons to open barriers. He needs three mudokons to chant a gate open, Mudokons to fight off enemies, and Mudokon to activate electrical currents. Exploring the environment to find Mudokons is sufficient to challenge the player to explore, and collecting "enough" mudokons to open gates is enough currency. If a mudokon dies, you can resurrect them by paying spooceshrubs--but why put the player through that? It's a waste.

Now let's touch on graphics and level design...

The graphics and level design appeared to be tied together in mutual self-destruction. Like Jack and Rose both trying to bet on the piece of wood after the Titanic sank, but because neither will sacrifice themselves for the other, they both struggle to get out of the water and die. See, this is where the BS around focusing on Xbox starts to infuriate me...

Being that this Oddworld Inhabitants first fully 3D game, I'm not surprised that they didn't knock it out of the park--but I am very disappointed. Firstly, there's fog. FOG!!!

The purpose of fog is to hide pop-in. PlayStation 1 fans are very familiar. It was also present on N64, but less so. And even games without fog would still have character/object pop-in (Banjo Kazooie). The move to PS2 was meant to be a move beyond the limitations for PS1. Not every game could achieve that (Dynasty Warriors), but there was a concerted effort from the best studios at the time. The reason I hold MO accountable to the fog issue is because so many great 3D adventure games on PS2 avoided fog. Grand Theft Auto 3 for example. Here was a giant open world with three islands. You could stand on one island and look all they way across to the other. This islands are pretty big too! While there was vehicle and character pop-in, there wasn't much in the way of environmental pop-in--which helped the world feel large. Also, Jak & Daxter featured a semi-open world--and they were able to show off environments that were very far away. They did it through some clever placement of walls and mountains and reduced detail, but they avoided fog for levels as big as or bigger than MO. So I'm having a hard time accepting that fog was necessary. It just shows a lack of technical and graphical fine tuning that takes a major hit on the production value of the game and makes me question what going to Xbox exclusive actually provided on a technical level.

Maybe it wasn't the performance of the P2, but performance of the development.

That's kinda harsh--but also kinda true. I'm sure the team was doing their best, but this was simply new territory and they were not prepared. In a sense, they set themselves up for failure. Look at Naughty Dog's Crash Bandicoot. For the time, that was a great looking game (and the design still holds up). But the programmers had to pull out every trick in the book, and invent some of their own, to get this very simple game to look as good as it did. That's production value. That's saying, "Our game looking, playing, and feeling good on the surface is key to making it great". Crash Bandicoot is also fun. All the prettiness would have been meaningless if it wasn't fun. But there's a balance, and they walked it perfectly. And you saw through the franchise how they grew in both gameplay and graphics--always balancing fun and production value.

Munch's Oddysee is more focused on fun (I think). The team just couldn't deliver on graphics (whether it was time, money, or talent--I don't know). So to be the next step in the Oddworld franchise and basically presenting a weak tech demo as a finished project--it's quite disappointing. This is almost like going from Starship Troopers 1 to Starship Troopers. Now that's kinda not fair, because jumping from 2D to 3D brought unlimited challenges--but not being prepared to mitigate those challenges and present one of the best looking games of that console era meant letting down the spirit of the franchise.

And I feel confident the team could have done better. I watched some raw-ps2 playthroughs of Jak & Daxter and Just Cause 1. JC1 is a huge, open world game. It doesn't look beautiful, but the draw distance on the environments is massive. You can see for miles. I think the game opens with a sky-dive and you can faintly see all the islands of this huge world from hundreds of feet up. That means fog shouldn't have been necessary. While Jak & Daxter may not attempt the gameplay depth of MO, it does have great animations and design. The cliff walls are not flat surfaces, but bumpy blocks that take up dozens of polygons per squar meter. Whlie Oddworld features very rough, unnatural walls acting as obviously constraints to guide the player. There was an attempt to make the ground walls not so flat by stretching a few vertices into odd angles. But unfortunately it also stretched the pixels, which once again hurts the production value.

Really, the team just needed to redesign areas to hide the draw distance and other limitations. Naughty Dog is great about using the environment to hide draw distance limitations and it makes the game feel more impressive--even if it's a little more claustrophobic. Another issue while playing as Abe, we seemed to be up in some mountains. And instead of showing us a distant valley, kind of like Halo, they put ugly clouds/mist just below the cliffs. It's not only obviously hiding limitations, but it's ugly.

Gameplay wise--this area was ok. It's a training area, so hardly challenging. You collect enough Mudokons to chant barriers out of your way. Basically finding a key to unlock a door--if the key were broken into 8 pieces and each was able to talk.

After the Abe Training I did the Munch training. This started with a really bad video explaining how Munch was equipped with sonar so he could fetch captured critters for the badguys. The seen was irreverent way over stayed its welcome. Once again, the developers were trying to be funny instead of just telling a story. So it was cringy and a waste of time.

But once I started playing as Munch, I felt the graphic designs had improved. The team is better at making rusty, industrial interiors than organic outdoors. This is unfortunate. I think taking lessons from Jak & Daxter would have helped. Like the wooden structures in Jak feel like they're made up of individual logs of various size and shape. It's simple detail that took a lot of time to do, but makes the game more engaging and immersive. While Munch's Oddysee has a flat rectangle with log-texture painted onto it. So when you look at it, you think: "That want me to see this as a wooden ramp". But you don't buy it as a ramp--you just accept it. The Jak games do a much better job here.

Alright--that was a lot. I probably only played an hour or two, but I've spent more time writing this. There was some things I wanted to say that I don't hope to repeat. So far, I just don't think Oddworld Inhabitants were up to the task they set for themselves. They likely either needed more money/support, or to focus on a smaller experience. Fully breaking from Abe and Mudokons might have helped--since the designs wouldn't be compared, even subconsciously, to the great work in Abe's Oddysee.

[les-degustations-ugo]

🍷🇺🇸 And 🇫🇷

📌Description of the pinned domain in the comments📌

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🇺🇸Hello corkscrew lovers. And you, what is your favorite white grape variety?

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🍷IGP Méditerranée Viognier white 2022 from Domaine La Ligiere

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🍇Viognier

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🧆Tasted on grilled Andouillette with fries

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🇫🇷Hello les amoureux du tire-bouchon. Et vous, quel est votre cépage préféré en blanc?

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🍷IGP Méditerranée Viognier blanc 2022 du Domaine La Ligiere

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🍇Viognier

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👁️Une robe de couleur or brillant

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👃Un nez sur des notes de fruits à chair blanche, fleurs blanches

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👄Une bouche qui éveille les sens, généreuse et parfumée. Une complexité magnifique, avec une subtile note minérale et une légère touche de beurre. Des arômes délicieux de pêche, d'abricot et de poires. Une persistance en bouche qui ravit les papilles, avec une finale à la fois acidulée et florale. Un véritable enchantement pour les amateurs de saveurs.

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🧆Dégusté sur des Andouillette grillée avec des frites

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Dégustation non rémunéré

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🇬🇧Domain Description 🇬🇧

The Bernard family's farm has existed since the end of the 1800s and has been passed down from generation to generation. After several decades of mixed farming, it was in the 1950s that Maurice BERNARD, the grandfather, favored the cultivation of vines. But it was not until 2008 that the first vintage of Domaine La Ligière came to life. When grandson Philippe and his wife, Elizabeth, created their own wine cellar, continuing the work undertaken by the parents by requesting certification in Organic Agriculture.

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🇫🇷Description du Domaine 🇫🇷

L'exploitation de la famille Bernard existe depuis la fin des années 1800 et se transmet de génération en génération.Après plusieurs décennies de polyculture, c'est dans les années 50 que Maurice BERNARD, le grand père, a privilégié la culture de la vigne. Mais ce n’est qu’en 2008 que la première cuvée du Domaine La Ligière prendra vie. Lorsque le petit fils Philippe et sa femme, Elizabeth créent leur propre chai de vinification poursuivant ainsi le travail entrepris par les parents en demandant la certification en Agriculture Biologique.

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