#even though this town is probably too small and i don't have any presentable pictures i could use for a profile at all

[museofnightmare]

i'm in a really weird headspace lately. maybe part of is just seasonal depression and it will get better once you can sit outside in the sun again, but the self-imposed deadline of staying in this godforsaken town for at least three years is running out this year, i'm turning thirty next year with nothing to show for it except my job and i'm lonely as hell

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Yeah, that I'm never going to get to be honest," She admitted with a small shrug. "Not that I can't appreciate your whole pack solidarity mentality or anything. I can and do. I think groups like the pack can offer a lot, but I also think the bond of certain species doesn't really change all that much to be honest? I mean witches are bonded too. But, at the end of the day, witch or not, wolf or not, we're all people. Some will like each other and go out of their way to scour every inch of the woods for someone else's behalf and others' won't. I don't think a pack or a witch bond really changes whether they'll inherently get along or chose not to leave each other behind, but what do I know," She gave him a small shrug as they continued to walk in strides.

"Funny," The corner of her lips tilted up ever so slightly in amusement as she watched his nostrils flare in annoyance. "So, let them. Last I checked, tinfoil hats aren't hurting anybody and if it makes them feel safer, then why not?" She pointed softly out. "It's okay, you know? To not be okay and to not try so hard to be the glue that holds everything together? I, uh, I get it though and I know you're the advisor so it's different. But, I, um," She tilted her back. Her eyes squinting as she let the rays of the sun kiss her cheeks rather than meet the other's gaze. "I never really let myself feel like I was completely apart something? Of a family? I think growing up knowing that someone you loved was going to die if you dared to get close to anyone, made it easy to shut yourself off. But, um, then the Delaney-Lopez's came in the picture and then Nico and the Reeds and I started to think maybe having a family wouldn't be so bad. That's the pack for you right? Your family? And so you invest everything into it and try to keep everyone together, only to realize that while you've been bending yourself over backwards, they don't even see the point in hanging out. So... I don't know. Family seems kinda bullshit these days, I guess. Just love the people you love, regardless of who they are and if they don't care about each other and would rather vote their friends siblings to live or where tinfoil hats, so be it. It's their lives and we can all do whatever the fuck we want, I guess..." She trailed off. Her shoulders lifting and slumping into a defeated shrug, knowing full well that she had probably disclosed more than she typically would like, but then again, if anyone knew how she was feeling at the present, she imagined it was probably JC.

"It could. Well, any word in the dictionary that starts with M," She gave him a small nod. "I know. I just meant that it's nice knowing for sure." At least for right now, because while she knew better than to say it out loud, they both knew fairly well that whatever who ever took them wanted to get out of taking them likely had an expiration date and, sooner or later, Meena and Dhruv might not be anymore use to them. "It could, though judging from how he was at the Pendulum, before well, you know, I'd take it if he came back from the dead, there wouldn't have been any taking. Just revenge," She pointed quietly out, though it was just as much of a theory as anything else. "Okay, so we make a list and divide and conquer, right? Though hey," She hesitantly reached out to rest her hand upon his shoulder. "We're going to do everything we can to find them, okay? You're not alone and, honestly, if it makes you feel any better, you're handling all of this a lot better than I would. Not to give you more witch ammo, but if it was Nico, I'd probably would have tried to tear the whole town down by now searching for him and then you'd all would have had to sedate me. Though oh yeah? Why's that? Or is that one of those whole confidential wolf things?"

"You'd think, but there was a lot of politics that went into the whole thing. Every journalist at the Times wanted to be on the Catalyst story and I guess I also didn't exactly agree with how things were being run? A lot of the people involved wouldn't be notified about a story that was about to be dropped until after the fact. I mean they did it to me even with, um, Silas, right after I chose to take a more freelance position so I could pursue other interests on top of writing.So, anyways, I guess, I'd rather be more my boss then have to placate to people who don't seem to give a damn about me," She shrugged once more. "It would, especially without a ring. Though, yeah, you may be right. You know her better than I do. I guess maybe I'm just pessimistic, but even if I know I wouldn't skip town without a word, it's sometimes hard to know if other people would see the best in you, especially if you're not sure you fully have given them reason to."

"Probably not, but she could have had a contingency plan? I don't know and I know you are. Just in a better way than a lot of us would which is something to be admire, JC. You're a good guy, even if you don't always let other people see it and mhm, yup. After you?"

JC rolled his shoulders in a distant shrug. "We're a bonded species looking for one of our own. It's expected. Wolves don't leave wolves behind." He too had been out and about with the Alpha, and Júlio César had the sense Jasmine had been referring to Nico specifically. Still, pushing onward, he gave a shake of his head. "No, I guess it doesn't. Between you and me, though...there's details, and then there's conspiracies. Some of the pack have gotten friendly with that one human with the bleached hair. And now? I've got them using all the communal tinfoil to make hats for keeping out the Martians. I don't know." His nostrils flared. Part of him knew certain wolves did things just to grate on him, but in truth, his already waning sense of humor was being stretched now to its very limits. So very few things were funny anymore. It was not that he did not want to have a good time, but piercing the helplessness clinging to him like a cloak was feeling more and more unlikely.

Watching her, JC gave an uneasy sigh. "An 'M' sound. Which could be any word in the entire dictionary, mind you." His nostrils flared momentarily. "And of course she's still alive." He had to say this, if only to avoid speaking the converse into existence. "Why even bother taking them someplace if the goal was just to kill them outright? That'd be stupid and reckless." He grit his teeth. "Why not Theo? Wasn't in the Catalyst's posse. People come back from the dead around here all the time." JC did not seriously believe this suggestion, but he allowed frustration to compel him. He shook his head. "I don't know. I think I'd try to tell people where I was. But an 'M?' That's so...vague. Motel. Movie theater. Mortuary. Hell, the morgue at the hospital." He knit his brow, pressing a finger to his temple. "That would be the right place to get surgical supplies, wouldn't it? For our phantom Frankenstein?" He sniffed. "Maybe they're not even blocked. Maybe they're just out cold. Anesthesia." JC grunted, his fist clenching and unclenching.

"Maybe they just threw it and it landed where it landed? Who knows? I'm finding it hard to figure out what is and isn't important here. There's so much...conjecture," he murmured, cocking his neck from one side to another now that a terrible, irritable ache had settled in the muscles there. He sighed again. "Well, I don't know if Nico and me are either." They weren't on bad terms, of course. They had been working together. But that goddamn meeting had soured JC even more so than usual. He disliked finding himself on a limb on his own, but he was also not the type of person to back off a limb worth standing on. Júlio César hummed. "Really? I'd think out of all the small towns in the world, this might be the one to make an investigative journalism career in, to be honest." He clicked his tongue.

"Well, I'm not sure you're supposed to ask a person's age. Even a vampire's, but what do I know? She's certainly skilled enough to know what she's doing, yeah." JC pursed up his lips. "Could they be keeping her someplace with...windows? Or outdoors? I know some of us are envisioning dark basements, but...threat of sunlight sans ring would do a good job of keeping you in line, yeah?" He shrugged. "I guess. But I don't know how I feel accepting she'd believe people would just...think she'd made a run for it." He would hope he would not be deliberately ghosted.

"Lori and her crew talk in riddles. I don't take anything any of them say at face value. But Meena and Dhruv disappeared before her last gambit. She wouldn't have gone into that night knowing she was going to fall, right?" He bit his lip, rolling his eyes. "Meena and I are dating. I'm not keeping it a secret, but we're also not buying a billboard or anything. In any case, I'm a leader. Not the Alpha. Still a leader. If I panic, other wolves panic. My job is to keep composure." He closed his eyes. "And I am tearing the town apart. The town. The woods. But we've already had so much destruction. I'm not going to make it worse barging into every crevice. No, there needs to be a method here." He nodded. "Right. This way's faster."

[swimmingleo]

Changes: or to take the higher ground before it's too late

I'm going to be real here folks, I cry ugly tears to this song. Bad.

Changes is a song on Cam's album "The Otherside". It's country, it's folk and it's an album a bit influenced by changes in Cam's life (a change of label, personal life). She collaborated with Harry on the song Changes, as she opened for him on a venue and was already working with Tyler Johnson.

From what I gathered: Harry sent her the demo of the song, implying he made most of the writing on this one. What I'm basing this claim on is her interview for Rolling Stones (read it here):

I heard [the demo] and was just like, “Oh, this ache to outgrow something that you don’t want to outgrow!” It felt so good. I normally don’t take outside songs [...]

‼️DISCLAIMER‼️when analysing this song, I'm gonna go from the idea of it being written with a queer mindset (how surprising of me). Cam rendered the song beautifully and it is very much her own, but I believe Harry's input is consequential. After all that's his lil whistle and cute fishsona in the MV.

Sad queer analysis ahead.

Let's analyse the lyrics first:

There is a town

Somewhere down a country road

The speaker describes the town to us, from memory, from experience. "There it is, down the road, can you picture it ?"

I see it now

I take it everywhere I go

The speaker doesn't currently live in the town, they're on the move (nice throwback to the coutry road). But despite all the travelling, they realize the sedentary smalltown never leaves them. It's part of them. It left a mark on them.

The river sways, I can almost hear it now

As if to say, "You're not the only one who wants a way out"

The town is so real to the speaker they can sense it, eyes and ears. But it gets a bit dark: the river sways like it's trying to leave its bed. The river is envious of the speaker who managed to leave. The town is so toxic even nature wants to get away from it. Or the speaker resents the town so bad that they project their own resentment on the river.

So, I go

'Cause I don't wanna feel like I don't know you anymore

I memorize those roads

This is the call for the speaker to leave for good. Their motive doesn't seem to be ambitious or anything grand. They leave because they apprehend a feeling. Apprehending a feeling, something that may not even happen, is the way of an anxious person. Anxiety is the motive of their departure. However, they still memorize the roads leading to the town, just in case. Perhaps one day they'll come back.

Somewhere out in the big wild country

Someone's fallin' in love in a backseat

Givin' it away

Like their hearts won't ever break

Suddenly it's about love ! Young love, one that is lived in the small compartment of a car, somewhere hidden and safe in the big wild country. As if the countryside was unexplored and threatening.

God bless the young hearts sippin' cheap wine

Gettin' drunk with their friends for the first time

Thinkin' nothing's gonna change

'Til everything changes

The speaker looks at the youth with tenderness, wishing them the best. But once again, they're not in the town in the present time, they don't see the youngsters fooling around, they can only guess from first-hand experience. And it's very specific: falling in love, getting drunk with friends and thinking everything's gonna be easy like that forever until it's not and heartbreak ensues.

From there I hop in with the raw queer theme of those lyrics. It started by falling in love and it ended up in a heartbreak. In between, the speaker got drunk for the first time with their friends, people they trusted enough to let go a little, but in the end everything changed. Why ? Alcohol makes you forget about code of conduct, how you're supposed to behave. It makes you say or do things you might not have done sober.

We can interprete this chorus as the beginning of the end for the speaker. It's the only part of the song evocating the past, and it's fun and easy, but it's also where things started to get bad the way they are in the present. Something might have happened that first time the speaker got drunk and it marked the end of innocence and careless childhood, and it probably has to do with love as no other factor is provided apart from falling in love and heartbreak.

They never leave

They're all havin' babies now

Watchin' daytime TV

Livin' off the gossip of a cruel small town

They. With Harry, it's always You, Me, and They. They are having babies, all of them, like it's not a very difficult thing to do, it's just natural. They have the leisure of the day, not a thing to worry about, if not gossip. It's not implied anymore, the small town is downright cruel. Gossip fuels it, but on behalf of someone else, and that someone is most definitely the speaker who left and who describes its inhabitants in the most mundane way, perhaps with a hint of contempt. The speaker seems bitter.

So, I go

'Cause I don't wanna feel like you don't know me anymore

Don't recognize my face

Reprise of the pre-chorus except now, the speaker provides another reason for their departure. Not only they feared they wouldn't know the town anymore, they also feared being seen as a stranger. It's not like the speaker actually changed physically: but it might as well feel like it. Again, apprehension, anguish. As implied in the chorus, things changed to the point where the speaker feels they would seem like a whole another person to the rest of the town, a stranger, a threat to the integrity of the conservatives. So they leave before this shift in perception can happen.

There ain't nothing here for me anymore

They say they don't hear from me anymore

And I don't wanna hear it anymore

The town is not outwardly hostile. It's still the town that saw the speaker as a kid. The town doesn't understand why the speaker left, but the speaker won't give in and get in touch. They want to be as far away as possible, until they don't hear the questions, the river, everything. It's almost like the speaker doesn't carry the town in their heart at all. They want to forget it all, and it hurts everytime the town tries to lure them back in. The way Cam sings it is painful to me man

Somewhere out in the big wild country

I was fallin' in love in a backseat

Givin' it away

Like my heart won't ever break

Had such a young heart sippin' cheap wine

Gettin' drunk with my friends for the first time

Thinkin' nothing's gonna change

'Til everything changes

Yeah, just the confirmation of the chorus being the speaker's experience. I went ahead and assumed it was already lol but it's like a plot twist effect. It's dramatic. It's a personal song to someone.

TO MAKE IT SHORT to me this song is intense and very in touch with the queer experience. Though it describes a specific situation, it is surprisingly not that detailed or full of metaphors the way Harry often writes: this town could be literally any smalltown in the countryside. The backseat could be the one of any car, cheap wine is something any teen can afford. I like to think Harry wrote it for himself but is also aware so many people went through the same thing, and still will. I have to admit I'm heavily biased writing this, as the experience of a queer kid struggling to find their place in a well settled smalltown is familiar.

GETTING DRUNK AND QUEER IDENTITY is an analogy Harry already used in Fine Line when he sang "We'll get the drinks in so I'll get to thinking of her". To drink is to let go, to unveil the most subconscious aspects of yourself you might not want to deal with otherwise. You don't care about judgement and you get to explore those parts freely. In Changes, this is the last memory they recall before stating the changes and their departure. Perhaps getting drunk for the first time would be when they realized they're queer. Or acted upon it, causing their little world to shake. They chose to leave before it eventually wouldn't feel like a choice anymore. There is no life for people like them in a cruel smalltown.

SMALLTOWN BOY

This song reminds me an awful lot of Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat. The song is about a queer boy having to leave the smalltown where he grew up because of persecutions and no future prospects.

Mother will never understand why you had to leave, Smalltown Boy

They say they don't hear from me anymore, Changes

But the answers you seek will never be found at home, the love that you need will never be found at home

There is nothing here for me anymore

Other people not understanding why they leave. People who can't truly empathize even when they mean no harm. They would never understand the speaker's departure, because those people get to find love and have babies and live a peaceful life in the countryside.

You were the one that they'd talk about around town as they put you down

Livin' off the gossip of a cruel small town

Yeah yeah. I really struggle with just seeing this song as nostalgia when such harsh words are being used. I do believe there is a part of fondness for that town, that countryside setting and the early days. But it's not all tender memories.

CHANGES AND ERODA

Of couuuurse we all noticed the adorable purple fish with the pearl necklace. It represents Harry, no question, as it whistles Harry's part. And of couuuuurse we all made the link with the erodian fish, and some even noticed they formed the bluegreener pair when their colors are inverted.

It makes sense for those fishes to be connected with this interpretation of Changes. Both works are about a small town, lost in the nature, where the people are watching, aware of everything that isn't normal, that is peculiar. The early life of the peculiar boy is similar in every way to the early life of the speaker in Changes. The fish in Adore You grows too big for the island and has to leave, and though Eroda makes amends with the peculiar boy, he leaves as well because his future, his fulfilment, is somewhere else. So does the speaker in Changes.

IN CONCLUSION

The more I write posts like this, the more endeared I am by Harry's world. How Harry writes for himself, but also for other people with songs like this. How nature finds its way in all that he does. How grounded he is, how he doesn't seem to forget where he came from. It really is such a rare thing to see in a mainstream popstar's writing and art. How can someone say he sold his soul to LA is beyond me

[eveenstar]

I wondering if I could request for a Pre-Entity Danny Johnson/Jed Olsen spending Christmas with his s/o (Gender-neutral or female is fine!). Like, how would he spend it, would he get them any gifts, would s/o get him anything?. If you don't celebrate Christmas or don't like this request, you don't have write this! (＾▽＾) Thank u!

Hello! Sorry for the delay on this one, hope you still like it!! Hope you had great holidays too ♡

Danny Johnson/Ghostface

Danny is the most romantic boyfriend you'll ever find. He wants to do every christmas tradition with you, and nobody can stop him.

You two probably spend christmas in his apartment. You even helped him decorate! (He didn't want to ask because he's too stubborn) Danny ended up wearing a cute christmas sweater you bought him.

Johnson takes you out on a expensive restaurant and shopping. You're quite worried where he got so much money to pay for everything but he assured you: "Don't worry, pumpkin, everything's under control." and then winked at you. You decided not to ask more questions.

During the shopping, you visited this beautiful christmas town. Danny insisted on taking pictures of you in front of the way too big and shiny tree in the middle of the town.

Many old ladies will praise you both and say how cute you and Danny look together. Even though you're embarrassed the entire time, Danny is merely smiling proudly and making small talk with them.

On Christmas day, you are met with a delicious breakfast and plenty of presents underneath the tree. You can't believe your eyes at the sight: you got him three gifts and he got you seven!

i hope you don't find out whose money danny "asked" for

Anyways,

Danny begged you to open your presents first. From the seven gifts, you saw everything you wanted since the beginning of the year but sadly couldn't afford it. The question is; how did he find out you wanted those things?

Including those pairs of shoes. You never mentioned them to Danny since he'll buy anything you mention.

Perhaps that's the magic of christmas, so for now you won't ask. Meanwhile, Danny unwraps his gifts with you excitedly waiting to see his reaction. You got him a new photography camera, a new coat and a laptop (because you swore his old one was from 2010).

You've been saving money for the gifts for the past months (including the camera and the laptop) so thankfully, you got the right ones. Indeed it's true that you and Danny LOVE spending more than you can afford.

For last, Danny had one more gift for you. But now I'll leave that up to your imagination ;)

[giorno-plays-piano]

The Spider's Bride Part 3

Pairing: spider!Bucky x Reader

Warnings: yandere, obsession, stalking, forced marriage.

Words: 2422.

Summary: Whoever your stepmother sold you to, he wasn’t as honorable as she claimed.

Part 1

Part 2

P.S. I just remembered I haven't explain arachnids' family ties yet - even though Bucky says he has "sisters", they are actually his cousins, daughters of his aunt. Since the ones of his kind had always lived in a very big families, cousins were considered "sisters" and "brothers" because of their closeness to each other.

_________________

You spent the next two weeks in your chamber again - apparently, Bucky's spells were truly very poweful as you slept the whole day after returning home from the nursery. He even had to have a check on you, but the healer assured him you'd be alright soon. Bucky had to be more careful from now on.

However, he was rather surprised you didn't cry after your awakening and said nothing to him about your visit to the town. Judging by the way you behaved, maybe you were not as shocked as Bucky expected you to be. He was so relieved.

Arabella was visiting often. She didn't enter your rooms as a precaution - she said it was too early for that - but stayed right behind the doors, either singing or talking to you. Despite being reluctant at first, as the days passed, you talked more and more about everything you wanted to know. A part of him was jealous. In the end, he could tell you of all the things you were curious about as well, but you refused to talk to him much. Arabella asked Bucky to be patient. In the end, it was him you considered her captor, not her.

The more time you spent with her, the calmer you seemed. You started eating better, sometimes even complimenting him for the food he brought you directly from the surface; the man heard less and less of your crying. Eventually, you even started to move within the house to borrow new books from the extensive library Bucky made exclusively for you. Of course, he still kept his human form whenever you were with him.

"Bucky, we discussed a few things this morning with Arabella." You said to him when you brought back empty dishes from your room and started washing them despite Bucky protesting it. "That potion I asked you to give me the first day when you brought me."

He stiffened at your words since he knew perfectly what potion you were talking about. What on Earth Arabella was thinking?

"She told me how your spells work and how humans can get addicted to that. I understand why you don't want to cast more charms on me." You rinsed the large silver dish and put it to the side to let it dry before storing them in the cardboard. "But she said that if you added a three drops of love potion to my drink in the morning, it may ease my worries."

"Dear Lord." He grunted, taking away your cup and clenching his teeth. Maybe his sister was an expert in potions she had been preparing for decades, yet he couldn't believe she offered you something like that right after telling him to not use magic.

"Please, Bucky. She said it's safe."

"Oh, and how would she know this? I don't remember her treating any human females for long."

Controling himself was rather complicated at this point, but he knew he was overreacting. Undoubtedly, his sister would do nothing to harm you in any way. He just didn't trust the methods he knew nothing about, and risking your health was out of question.

You sighed, taking the apron you stole from your betrothed off and folding it neatly. The more you stayed here, the more acceptable your life seemed to you, and sometimes you hated it with all your heart. Your bed was nice and warm; your food was always ready for you when you became hungry; your room was reserved purely for you, and no one could enter it without your permission; you had many gorgeous dresses your stepmother could never even dream about. Although the thought of Bucky in his true form still made you feel disgusted, you couldn't wish him to die anymore. More and more you thought someone like him didn't deserve it just because he was ugly. Regardless what your instincts were telling you, he treated you better than any human did, didn't he?

You had a better life down here since the times your mother left, and thinking of that hurt.

However, you did want to wipe off the memory of Bucky chasing you the day your stepmother brought you to the cave. Sometimes you saw his eight long dark legs in your nightmares. This was what you talked to Arabella today, voicing your concerns to help you do something with it. Maybe if you could erase this, your feelings towards the man you couldn't escape would change faster.

Arabella didn't agree to wiping off that picture out of your mind as the spell that she would need to cast was unpredictable at best and could take half of your memories. As you knew little about magic, she spent some time explaining to you how the charms worked and how they affected both arachnids and humans. Indulging yourself into taking too many soothing spells sounded like a bad idea now, and you understood Bucky's reluctance to cast them.

Nonetheless, she offered you a better way to ease your worries. Love potion didn't bring the ones of your kind any particular harm, though it wasn't powerful enough to keep you in love for a long time. However, a small dose of it could keep your worries away, the woman said. If you and Bucky agreed, she would ensure the potion to be made perfectly.

But he just had to be so goddamn stubborn! You learned that despite his scary appearance and the fact that he'd been through the war from its beginning to the very end Bucky was a hopeless romantic. He probably hoped the issue would be solved somehow purely by itself. As much as you would like it to be true, your mind refused believing that marrying an arachnid wasn't frightening.

"Listen, I know you care." You rubbed your eyes with the back of your hand, turning to him. "But I need help. I know soothing spells aren't safe, so we need something else. Please, let's try this out. If you see I don't react as I should, we'll stop right away. What harm could 3 drops of potion bring, anyway?

He groaned at your persistance, but you weren't giving up just yet. You spend half an hour talking to him purely about the potion and the possibilities it could bring you until the arachnid gave up, surprised you stayed with him for so long by our own will. More than that, Bucky was content with your desire to get rid of your fears and even change the way you thought of him. Maybe it was for the better. Maybe trying giving you a few drops of a potion would help.

When he let you drink water mixed with potion, he was afraid to see the immediate changes, but nothing happened. You stayed in your room, reading the new book Arabella brought you. Your cheeks weren't heated; you gaze was focused on the text; your relaxed body wasn't shaking. It seemed perfectly okay.

Tomorrow morning he gave you three more drops as his older sister had prescribed, and nothing had happened after that, too. Bucky wasn't even sure it made sense to keep giving you the potion, but you said you were feeling a little better, so he believed you. However, the third day you spent solely in the library, not even locking yourself in your room as usual. Apparently, Arabella's advice had been way more useful he had anticipated at first.

The forth day you suddenly asked him to show you his true form. You wanted to give it a try, you said. If you got scared, he could cast a soothing or sleeping speel anyway. Since you were persistent, Bucky eventually gave in, but it didn't end well - you vomited on your own shoes at the sight of his horrifying spider form.

The morning of the fifth day Bucky had fought his desire to pour the whole bottle of potion into your drink and finally see you smiling at him.

The seventh day was better since his sisters visited, taking human form. They brought you gifts - ivory hair comb and hand mirror, pearls and laces. Although you tried refusing their presents because you felt ashamed you could give them nothing in return, they laughed it off: while human traditions required the family of a bride to pay the dowry, arachnids' custom was quite the opposite. You thought the reason was the lack of females in their society, but Bucky's sisters assured you it had nothing to do with it. Actually, they had adopted this tradition from the dark elves who had been their mates from the ancient times. Arabella also told you while the kingdom you belonged to was patriarchal, theirs wasn't much so. She said that despite having seven children - quite a normal thing for a female arachnid - she wasn't the one who would always take care of them as her husband was equally resposible for the brood. He fed them, bathed them, taught them, and brought them to bed just like she did. It sounded almost insane to you.

Then you returned to talk about their marriage traditions, and sisters were excited to tell you how their husbands courted them before they gave their woves. Apparently, all of them except Bucky had been already married.

"You know, the good thing is the courtship period isn't restricted by any laws." Dahlia, the youngest one, said. "While it lasts, a suitor and his family should pamper future bride. When my daughter will grow up, her betrothed will bring her gifts, too."

You tried your best to think of them as humans. Then the talk of their families was much less scary to you as you imagined them wearing beautiful laced silver dresses on the day of their weddings just like women of your kind did. Did arachnids wear dresses at all, despite when they took human form? You doubted it. Their large spider bodies could only be covered with two dozen meters of fabric, and moving with those on top would be too complicated.

You sighed when the doors to your chamber were finally closed as Bucky's sisters left. The deep sense of guilt had long settled in your chest. All of them were kind to you. No one had ever forced you to scrub floors or cook before the sun rises to have the breakfast ready when everyone gonna wake up. You had forgotten how the broom felt in your work-weary hands. Even though you did nothing at all, you were fed, clothed and given whatever you asked for.

Why did it have to be like this? If Bucky had been cruel to you, it would be so much easier to hate him and wish him to die. But now you couldn't. He didn't deserve to be detested only because of his form.

Wiping your tears away, you returned to bed and wrapped your warm blanket under yourself.

____________

"You shouldn't creep on her all the time, brother." Dahlia shook her head disapprovingly. "You don't give her privacy."

"She doesn't know I'm watching her while she's alone." When he protested, Arabella shot him a serious glance.

"Your obsession with her will do neither of you any good. Remember, though humans are not as conscious as us, they can still feel the emotions of others. She'll get scared."

"She's already scared!" He barked at the woman, furious, his hands clenched. "I don't change my form even when I go to sleep. I've stayed like that for the whole week! And she's still frightened. She still doesn't let me touch her. Maybe she never will. The only time I get to see her happy is when she's reading in her chamber all by herself, and you're telling me I can't do even that?"

"Do you know uncle had always been watching your mother, Bucky?" His second oldest sister intervened with her quiet and calm voice, her gentle hand brushing against his tensed shoulder.

The man stilled, his angry expression turning terrified in a matter of seconds. No, he didn't know, or rather didn't think of it much. Although his mother died shortly after giving birth to him, the dark obsession of his father with her was... dreadful. Bucky had never thought his feelings towards you could remind him of that. How could it be? Wasn't he much more gentle? Kind? Human?

"Bucky, you're a good man." He heard Arabella whispering to him softly. "You're better than him, you had always been. But if it continues like that, it will get worse. I told you, give her time. Have patience. She has suffered no less than you did, and she can't help you heal if she hadn't recover herself."

"I want nothing but love her." He said in desperation, covering his face with his huge palms.

"Then trust her. Look, she got so much better she didn't even cry when we came. I know you want her to jump into your arms, but it just doesn't happen that way."

Miria patted his head gently and nodded, agreeing to her older sister. They had slowly regained their huge and shiny spider-like forms right in front of the house Bucky lived in, strangers walking the street nearby paying them no attention as it had been a common magic ritual.

"I have to remind you my husband had spent half a year courting me." The youngest sister said, trying to cheer him up. "And he belongs to the same kind as us. Didn't stop me from believing he would be a terrible husband, though."

Bucky forced a faint smile. It was true, and he remembered how desperate the guy had been when Dahlia refused walking with him in the forests again and again. But she wasn't scared of him; she didn't hate him because he had eight nasty long legs making a terrifying sound when he walked. It was different.

He felt tears gathering in his eyes and blinked, quickly gathering himself. Bucky wasn't pathetic to the point he could goddamn cry in front of his own sisters.

"Thank you for your advice. I will do whatever I can." His voice sounded tired when Arabella dropped a kiss on his cheek and motioned others to follow her to the street.

Soon he was standing outside all by himself, watching the lamppost's flickering light. The nights were growing colder, and he shivered, turning his back to the black gates and marching straight home. He didn't know by the time he entered the hallway you had already consumed one third of the bottle with a love potion Bucky stored in the kitchen.

__________

Tags: @finleyjayne @alexakeyloveloki   ​@helenaeisenhower @villanellevi @hurricanerin ​@void-hoechlin @abyssaint @navegandoaciegas @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @ladyacrasia @iheartsebastianstan @rosalynshields

[repo-net]

It's been over a century since I last shared an OC of mine properly here, so here's another one of em, lmfao. This little fella has slowly become one of my more favorite ones mainly because he's kind of a representation of what I was like (well, aside from his backstory) before I grew into the more social and outgoing person that I turned into mid high school, so I have a special place in my heart for him. Anyways.

• Name: Aoyama Nakazke

• Gender: Male

• Height: 161cm (5'3")

• Weight: 53kg (118lbs)

• Likes: Having his hair stroked, bottles of cola, cats

• Dislikes: The smell of garbage, belts, and being ignored

• Talent: Street Baller

• Birthday: May 28

Link to the picrew used to make the above picture:

Full body images: (left is his regular outfit, right is his gym/jersey outfit, but it's more or less just him without the jacket, lol)

Personality: Aoyama is a humble and caring boy, one that shows a lot of will to prove that he's harmless and won't pull anything suspicious. He has a genuinely kind heart, one willing to reach out to others when he has a chance to do so. Despite this though, Aoyama isn't all that he seems.

He has his own insecurities due to a lack of social interaction growing up and a lack of attention and affection ever being given to him, and thus isn't exactly the best when talking to people. His thoughts and his words, while self-deprecating at times, may contrast with occasionally selfish actions to try and survive, and thus leads to Aoyama's fear of being seen as self-centered by others.

Despite this though, Aoyama truly does try to make himself look as trustable as possible and tends to act on the good side, but his desire to survive can overcome this, and while getting close to him isn't a particularly hard task, it takes a while for him to actually open up to his problems, being rather timid. Gaining his full trust can make him very attached to you though, as he values someone who he thinks won't just abandon and hurt him as incredibly saintlike, and goes out of their way to defend them, even if said person truly is in the wrong. That can be a good or bad thing depending on who he ends up giving his full devotion to.

(Backstory coming up is kind of long and has some content warning for abuse, so I'll just point that out. It's nothing too complicated, you can summarize it in 2-4 sentences if you wanted to, but I thought I'd make his backstory more detailed.)

Backstory: Aoyama lived in an abusive and poor household growing up, his parents taking out their frustration over their situation on him, claiming that their lives wouldn't be as miserable if he weren't born.

They would constantly shelter him and refuse to ever let him out of the house despite constantly seeing other kids enjoying and living their life, and being someone who got the bare minimum in education via homeschool, he was incredibly inexperienced with talking to people, and to some extent, stil is. As a matter of fact, to this day, Aoyama hasn't even graduated middle school.

His parents would berate and get on his case whenever he made even the slightest mistake; and when he makes a larger scale one, his parents would beat him with a belt to discipline him, and this only grew his hate, for them and his want to go out even further.

One night, Aoyama simply couldn't take it any more and snuck a bag with clothes, what little money he had along with a generous amount of what his parents' wallet had and a basketball along with himself outside of the house at night and never returned ever again.

Once he left the house and had no one but himself to look out for himself, he had to turn to playing basketball on the streets to keep himself entertained and sane. But it was clear to him that he wasn't going to survive since he'd just run out of money sooner than later. So, he decided that the only way to really live is to play with other people at basketball, and gamble his money to get paid.

However, due to his small size and dirty clothes/look, he'd get picked on by bigger kids and he'd get pushed around and hurt a lot, his life became a constant competition where he had to constantly come out on top in the harsher, more physical street basketball environment he had to grow up in to pay for the food and drinks he needed just to live. But his talent for basketball from his speed, stamina, and technique would always help him defy odds and come out of matches richer.

Every day was a battle with other kids and every day he had to spend his money wisely and make sure no one would try to steal it from him; he was constantly paranoid of people staring at him like an outcast and he'd only trusted those he played with on the courts. His life for more than half a decade was just physical and bruising streetball that had him have to put his body on the line just to sustain himself in the streets. His only company during those times were stray cats, and the occasional teammates after ball games that he'd share a cola with.

One day while he was looking for a new street to stay in though, Aoyama participated in a larger scale street ball tournament outside of his home town, and he came out of nowhere as an underdog to win, defeating a mountain of larger names in the street ball genre and gaining recognition around the area. He was recruited into a major street ball team and after they learned that Aoyama literally had no place to stay in, he was allowed to sleep in the team bus + the team's dugouts/dorms.

Ever since then, his life has significantly improved, at least by his standards, he's travelled across the country with his teammates, he's gotten just the tiniest bit better at talking to people, though he's still a rather introverted and timid mess when outside of the playing court. His current goal is to win a bigger tournament with his team and use the winnings to come back to his parents and apologize for stealing the money he took from them when he left the house, despite all the abuse that he took from them, he wants to hope that they've changed when he comes back. That's what his wish and hope is.

Extra/s: His preferred position on the court is shooting guard, although due to his height, he ends up getting pushed into the point guard position more than he likes to admit.

He bought his jacket after he got recruited by his current team. Before that, all he wore were white shirts and shorts that he'd buy from low quality stores and toss out after a week because they got dirty.

His body is actually pretty muscly since he had to work on it to not get pushed around and hurt as much when playing street ball, but there are still some present scars on his torso, some caused by his parents' abuse.

Quote/s: "I don't really get how it all works, if I'm being honest. But if this sorta thing makes you happy, then I'll do it. Even if it's gonna embarrass me..."

"Hey, you leave them alone! You're just trying to twist the narrative on them with your made up story, aren't you? A person like them... they'd never do wrong! If you wanna come at them, then you'll be coming at me too!"

"S-Stop that! I don't know what the hell you see in me, but I don't agree with it if you're acting this way around me! I don't understand feelings like this, and trying to think about stuff I don't understand just hurts..."

Anddd that's more or less Aoyama Nakazke. Sorry that this was long as hell, it's probably not anything special but I like how he came out. Please give feedback if you have any, it'd be really appreciated! Thanks for reading!

[darkballsofsight]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Feferi 02/16/2019

You're name is Feferi Piexes and as usual, once your lusus heard someone new had moved in she took it upon herself and you to make him a super special gift basket. You consult who ever is in charge of keeping track of who is where in the hotel and then little winged whale beside you as you carry the basket, you head to Darkleer's room and knock on the door.

Darkleer 02/16/2019

Your most preferred name is just Darkleer and after the stress of the move and all new encounters you feel like you need at least a year to recover. But no such luck. Soon after getting about as comfy in your new quarters as you will get, there's knocks on the door. Hnn. The downside of living in close proximity to other people now. You mentally prepare yourself for any encounter you might get and then go to answer the door. Hopefully Redglare. Maybe someone new? You have yet to meet your other superiors. But no, it's her, the small Fuchsia. Not sure if that is better or worse than a new face. "Peixes. ...Ms. .. Peixes.. Officer. Hello."

Feferi 02/16/2019

You smile a friendly smile as you say, "Hi! sorry to bother you Mr. Zahhak but my lusus and I," you gesture to the white winged whale beside you and she trills a greeting and waves her flukes to him before you continue, "We made you a welcome gift!" You hold out the basket which is filled with many tasty baked goods both sweet and savory along with some pretty blue towels you thought he might like and would be useful.

Darkleer 02/16/2019

You'd love to say she's not a bother, but uh. That wouldn't be quite true. You're incredibly bothered. Not her fault. She only wants to be nice. Hn. You glance up at the whale lusus and give her a greeting nod. Despite your age, you're not too familiar with the etiquette of dealing with another's lusus. They were... private companions for a troll's wigglerhood and life, to prepare them and make up for the massive lack of positive social interactions a troll experiences on Alternia. Any lusus outside of a troll's hive would most likely end up dead (LOOKING AT YOU, ORPHANER). Apparently here on Derse it is normal that a lusus will visit other trolls and take care of them. "You didn't need to- Hn. Thanks. Thank you, uh. Both of you." You accept the basket, of course. How useful they will be is yet to be seen. You don't have much need for anything, but you recognize that it's an incredibly friendly gesture, even if the thought of a Fuchsia making something and bringing it to you is... still wild to you. Now you stand there in the doorframe, awkwardly holding a basket of presents. Should you ask her in? You don't really want to.... but you also don't want to be rude. If she'd like to come in, who are you to deny it..

Feferi 02/16/2019

"Whale if you're busy we'll leave you to enjoy your peace and quiet," you say sweetly then offer, "If you want a tour of town and good shops in the area I'd be happy to be your guide. I was hatched and raised here so i know my way about pretty whale." Your lusus nods and makes that long whale song sound in agreement.

Darkleer 02/17/2019

Right, that's... probably a thing you should do. Getting familiar with your surroundings. You had hoped to do it on your own time and terms at some point. But then again, you're dying at the mere thought of having to ask anyone about the location of a certain thing. And she's already offering... "Do you mean... now?" You're about to ask her to do it later, maybe some other day, but you realize you got very little to keep busy, especially now after you just set up, and you'd just spend the hours sitting around and growing more anxious about it. Hn. "Give me a moment... to get ready. Please."

Feferi 02/17/2019

He wants to go now? Oh well if he wants to you have time. "Sure! No problem!" you say cheerfully and step back to wait.

Darkleer 02/17/2019

Oh, that wasn't the wrong thing to say, was it? Well, too late either way. And she seems honestly excited so... okay. "Okay." You linger awkwardly in the doorway for a moment, then turn around and head back inside. And uh. What now? Right, put down the basket somewhere convenient. Besides that you don't have much to get ready besides... yourself. Which means mostly mentally preparing yourself for it. You find your jacket because, while you're mostly impervious to temperature, it is fairly cold outside. Then you check in a mirror (or whatever the next sufficiently reflective surface) if you look presentable enough (which is hard to tell after so many years of voluntary isolation). The only thing left is to remind yourself that she is not a superior by blood caste alone here, but merely a fellow officer and this is just a polite and casual (barely a word you know) excursion. No royalty, no expectations, no  p r e s s u r e. You return to her, fully intent on returning her friendly smile, but at this point your face is probably so hardened it's not physically capable of it anymore. So that's not happening. But you give her a nod. "So. After you. If you please.."

Feferi 02/17/2019

"Shore fin!" you say. You lead him to the exit and your lusus waves you off as she does not like the winter one bit. "So what sorts of places do you like to go?" you ask as you look up... and up some more at him. Wow he was tall. Maybe as tall as Dualscar?

Darkleer 02/17/2019

Not quite as tall as the old fish, though your horns surely are. You definitely keep having to duck down on every doorway you come across, lest you want to risk property damage and a headache. "I will probably need.. some supplies and materials soon. And make some shelves for everything." Mostly to keep the room presentable for anyone else. You don't care much anymore, but you're very conscious of the fact that other people can and will see your living quarters now. Now, a tool shop may not be all that exciting, but you honestly can't think of another place you would need, let alone want to go. Maybe a grocery store?

Feferi 02/17/2019

"Gotcha! There's plenty of hardware stores that should be able to help with that!" you tell him as you walk. "So what brought you to Derse?" you ask with a curious smile.

Darkleer 02/17/2019

You follow along, carefully measuring your steps to keep her pace. "The Neophyte- Uh. Chief. Redglare. She asked me to come..." She literally brought you here.

Feferi 02/17/2019

Oh? That was the only reason? "You are the chief are close?" You can't deny you are as curious about the chief as you are about him.

Darkleer 02/18/2019

Your personal relationship with people and how they rank is frankly not a thing you spend a lot of time on. Especially since it would only make you realize how little there is. "I... suppose. I have known her for a long time. One of the.. STRONGEST bonds I had in the time I served.. Altenia. As close as one could be without engaging in a quadrant. But compared to.. what may be common around here, I premuse it's not very remarkable." Are you oversharing? You're definitely oversharing. "Hng. Sorry."

Feferi 02/18/2019

"I gotcha! You're friends," you smile. Served Alternia? You are unable to stop the question before it jumps from your lips. "You were in the Alternian military?"

Darkleer 02/18/2019

She hasn't heard anything about you yet, has she? That should give you some relief, but it's also very disconcerting, especially with her follow-up question. "Yes.." She's probably just curious and wants to do some friendly small-talk, so you don't want to be rude, but that is not a topic you're very enthusiastic about.

Feferi 02/18/2019

Huh well you wonder if he'll have issues with Mr. Kai. Hopefully not! "I see! Oh! That store right there is one of my favorite grocery stores, Marley's. They have a pretty good selection," you tell him as you point the place out. "I've got a friend there who lets me know when they get fresh fish!" "Got any hobbies, Mr. Zahhak?" you ask him, not wanting to press the other subject since he seems extra uncomfortable.

Darkleer 02/18/2019

You quietly acknowledge the store and memorize its location, as well as the nearby shops and businesses. "I, uh... build and repair things. Machines, mostly. All kinds." You wouldn't call that a hobby as much as just.. the one thing you're good at (that doesn't directly kill people.)

Feferi 02/18/2019

"That's cool!" you chirp. "My hobby isn't reely useful at all. I've been thinking maybe I should get into something that has more working with my hands. When I was younger I tried arts and crafts with shell art but I was super bad at it," you say, laughing a little. "I spent too much money I shouldn't have on those damn shells."

Darkleer 02/18/2019

"Ah. ? What hobby is that?" you ask. Arts aren't really your wheelhouse, but from what you've seen, even a lot of highly acclaimed art seemed just... bad. "A hobby... doesn't need to be useful, right? As long as it makes you feel better.." Look at you, what a MASSIVE hypocrite. To be fair, hobbies and leasure time weren't really concepts you had back on Alternia. Just things you were good at and things you could do for the Empire.

Feferi 02/18/2019

You tap your chin. "I suppose not... Arts and crafts can arts and crafts can be reely fun even if the outcome is a little ugly and not useful," you giggle. "I took some pictures of a few that I had to let go of during the move to the hotel if you'd liked to see them."

Darkleer 02/18/2019

"Uh. Sure.." Despite the hesitant tone, you actually manage something akin to a smile. Conversations actually aren't so bad when the focus isn't on you.

Feferi 02/18/2019

You pull out your phone and scroll through many photos of Eridan expressions which are your prized collection before finally reaching your goal. "Ah! Here we are!" you say chipperly and hand your phone to him.

Darkleer 02/19/2019

You take the phone, carefully cupping it in your large hand to not drop it or squeeze it too much, and take a close look at the photo. "You call that bad? It has a STRONG resemblance to the earthen hootbeasts despite the medium's limits on detail and the evenness of the pattern on the chest shows great dexterity and patience." You hope she doesn't think you're only saying that because she is a highblood. That is.. only part of your motivation. You really do appreciate the skill that must have gone into that (since that is the only thing you know how to measure art by). Ah.. you shouldn't hog her phone any longer than necessary, you realize, and hold it back out to her. "Thank you for sharing your work.."

Feferi 02/19/2019

You take your phone back blushing. "Oh wow. Heh, no one's ever said such nice things about them. Of course I don't show them much since I guess I'm not confident in them," you admit, really surprised by his words. You do have the niggling worry that he's being nice cause of your blood color, but if you constantly worry about that with no evidence that it's even true in every case. You can't let that insecurity eat you and your relationships.

Darkleer 02/19/2019

If anything, you're nice to her despite her blood color, and... apparent ancestry. You wonder if she knows... or if you should tell her. Hn. Things to worry about later. Maybe. "I'm.. I'm sure someone else would find better words."

Feferi 02/19/2019

"Whale I think your words are very nice, Mr. Zahhak. Thank you," you say then point out a hardware store  for him. "So, what kind of things do you like to eat?" you ask, thinking you might treat him to something.

Darkleer 02/19/2019

You just not in response to both her answer and the store. Speaking of thanks, you ought to thank her for taking her time and show you around, right? Which means you need to think about what would be appropriate. How tedious. Oh uh, eating. "I don't eat much.. " You're socially aware enough to know that 'plant oil' would probably be a very odd statement. "Salad is good."

Feferi 02/19/2019

Salad! Not your favorite but you now a place that's pretty good and start leading that way. "Nice! Fresh produce can be a lil pricey here but with the Prospitian population veggies and the like are guaranteed to be in demand. If you like pumpkins you'll probably find there's a lot of pumpkin dishes to try," you chatter away.

Darkleer 02/19/2019

So much information... You appreciate it, really. It's good to get as many details about the planet you newly moved to as possible, but you don't really know how to keep up with small talk stuff. "Derse doesn't have many farms, does it..?" How inconvenient for creatures that rely on it.

Feferi 02/19/2019

"Oh well there are farms. It's just not easy, ya know? Especially this time of year," you tell him. You see the place and grin. "Hmm. I could go for some lunch. Hey, are you hungry?" you ask him. You are trying to be clever and be the first to say you want food so he won't feel weird if he is hungry.

Darkleer Last Wednesday at 9:48 AM

"Ah yes. I can see that." Despite her previous question, you didn't quite catch on to her ploy yet. Probably for the better. You're feeling awkward enough already. "Not really. But.. Do not let me keep you from getting a meal. I can find my way back."

Feferi Last Wednesday at 11:42 AM

Well it was a nice thought. "It's not far back," you tell him, "I took us on a lil bit of a loop so we'd see the general area." You point out a few more shops of note and resume chatting hoping to eventually put him at relative ease. "Winter around here can be really harsh so I like to value days like this where it's cold but still nice."

Darkleer Last Wednesday at 6:38 PM

"I am used to harsh winters... but it is a nice day indeed. I, uh. Appreciate you showing me around." Look at you trying. You're almost managing a real conversation. She points out more places and you listen closely. But as she continues...  you really hope you didn't keep her from getting food.

Feferi Last Wednesday at 6:51 PM

"When I was younger I used to try to build a huge fish out of snow. Every year it would get a little and some years I got a friend of mine to help me so it was even bigger," you chatter on happily thinking of when you and Eridan were young. "We'd get into snowball fights with other kids. We usually won. Hee hee!" "I kinda miss snowball fights," you say quietly with a smile.

Darkleer Last Thursday at 1:01 AM

"Snowball fights... I never tried that.." You've certainly seen them on Earth tv so you get the idea (and you assume you'd be excellent at it since aiming with absolute precision is one of your core strengths). But on Alternia you never had enough snow to engage in such practices, and during your time on earth, well, your situation didn't really allow for it either for so many reasons. It sounds intriguing though...

Feferi Last Thursday at 1:05 AM

You grin excitedly, "Hey maybe we should see if folks want to have one sometime we're off! It's a lot of fun! We could build forts and stuff. Hey we could even call it an excise in tactics!" Fun mixed with something that would sharpen everyone's skills sounds like a great idea in your mind!

Darkleer Last Thursday at 9:17 AM

"An interesting idea.. Do you partake in playful exercises like this often?" What a strange place. Strange but nice. On Alternia, any tactical exercise would actually have your life on the line, motivation and all that.

Feferi Last Thursday at 4:44 PM

"I don't know about everyone else in the department, but I figure if I find joy and fun in my work it'll help me be better for everyone," you smile your optimistic smile to him.

February 22, 2019

Darkleer Last Friday at 9:26 AM

"That is. An admirable attitude to have." Finding joy in your work? What a wild concept.

Feferi Last Friday at 5:16 PM

You beam happily. "thanks!" you chirp. You look ahead and it seems you're not too far from where you began. "Whale we can head back now if you like or walk around a bit more and enjoy the good weather, waterever you'd like!" you tell him, leaving options so he won't feel like he has too one way or another.

Darkleer Last Friday at 5:30 PM

Oh, you're almost back, huh? Well that wasn't nearly as awful as you expected. It was still a lot to take in, and the thought of continuing is overwhelming. "Heading back sounds agreeable. We could. Continue the walk some other day."

Feferi Last Friday at 5:41 PM

You nod in agreement, "Shore fin! We definitely should!" You turn the way to head back and look up at him, "If you need anyfin you can always ask me. I'm happy to help how I can, Mr. Zahhak."

Darkleer Last Friday at 5:46 PM

"Ah. Hmm. Thank you. I will." Such a polite and friendly young lady. So different from... her. That is honestly refreshing, as surreal as the situation may feel.

Feferi Last Friday at 6:01 PM

Another beaming smile and a little more idea chatter and you reach the doors of the hotel. You then realize if he's going to be able to ask you for help, he'll probably need your contact info. "Do you have your own phone?" you ask him as pull the door open.

Darkleer Last Friday at 6:26 PM

"Ah. Yes. Red.. The Chief. Told me to get one." You carefully pull out your phone and an even smaller stylus. This technology was not made with giant metallic troll guys in mind. "Go ahead. Please."

Feferi Last Friday at 6:30 PM

You give in your number. "Feel free to call or text whenever, whatever is most comfortable for you," you  say. "Also, if my lusus stops by with more food for you, feel free to only eat what you want. She's got a bad habit of loading people, myself included, with lots of food and baked goods ehehe. She'll try to figure out what you like best at least, though."

Darkleer Last Friday at 6:42 PM

"Ah.. I see. Thank you for the, uh. Warning. And help." You type in her number, then weight the necessity of being polite and offering yours in return against your need for not having your personal space disturbed. Hn. It would probably helpful for her to have your contact info for emergencies, solely on the base of being co-workers. So you end up pulling up your own number on your phone and hold it out to her. "If you.. need to add mine as well.."

Feferi Last Friday at 6:45 PM

Taking the phone with a smile, you quickly enter the number into your own. "Thanks! If you want I can text you lusus incoming warnings when I know she's on the move," you say with a playful wink.

Darkleer Last Friday at 8:59 PM

"Yes, that.. would be preferable. Thank you." You're still trying to figure out how to parse her demeanor. A little intense, but she seemed genuinely friendly and helpful.

Feferi Last Friday at 9:05 PM

He seems like a quiet sort, you think of how he mentioned having been with the military s you are unable to help adding, "Hey, can I ask, are you combat trained? Like close combat and the like?"

Darkleer Last Saturday at 12:28 AM

Well, that is a change of topic. Huh. "I, uh. Am mare specialized in ranged combat. But I know how to handle myself in meelee." Being able to overpower most enemies with sheer size and strength definitely helps though.

Feferi Last Saturday at 12:36 AM

You smile, "That's great! I've been wanting to learn more about how to deal with hand to hand combat myself and whale, if you have any suggestions on how I should start or tips I'd appreciate them a lot!" It would also be great to not rely on people who are probably gang associated for you education.

Darkleer Last Saturday at 12:43 AM

"That is.. a topic hardly suited for words alone. It depends a lot on physical fitness and practicing techniques so your muscle memory is STRONG enough to react when it is required. A good suggestion would be to find a good trainer or.. at least a reliable partner for training."

Feferi Last Saturday at 12:45 AM

Aw drat. A training partner... Where would you get one? You nod with quiet thoughtfulness. "Okay... I'll look into that. I work out at the gym but I mostly got training on a handgun," you admit.

Darkleer Last Saturday at 1:07 AM

"I wish you the best of luck with that." You find her efforts to be more prepared and suitable for the job admirable. Seadwellers are strong by nature, you're very well aware, but to be able to use that thoughtfully is a skill to be learned.

Feferi Last Saturday at 1:09 AM

"Thanks!" you say brightly.  "Whale I won't keep you any longer. Take care and I'll see you later some time!"

Darkleer Last Sunday at 8:13 PM

You nod. "Uh. Thank you again. For your help. I'm certain working with you will be a pleasure.."

Feferi Last Sunday at 8:19 PM

Aw he's so nice! You beam one more smile before waving and heading off. You think you'll enjoy working with the newest Zahhak quite well. As soon as you're off desk duty that is.

February 25, 2019

Darkleer Yesterday at 9:56 PM

There she goes. You linger where you are for a little bit, undecided about what to do next. You could shop around but.. you didn't even prepare for what you may need. Including the proper finances. But a giant troll standing around in the middle of nowhere for too long seems highly in appropriate, so you decide to head back too, although a couple minutes later and with moderate pace to not risk having an awkard run-in with the little Peixes on the way back.