#guy who's gonna abandon this project by next week

[skunkes]

i havent even finished planning the little zine i want to do + i also know that as soon as i DO finish planning, my brain is gonna be like "ok i have now received the same amount of dopamine i would have gotten if i actually made the completed piece" and im not gonna touch it further, but despite this im still already getting ahead of myself with the potential like what if i ink it traditionally what if i color it with actual watercolors what if i paint the title page in gouache what if i add screentones at some point then scan it and cobble it all together etc etc etc

[iwillneverforgiveyousunghanbin]

doctor! doctor! ♡ seok matthew, lpn ♡ the nurseـــــــــﮩ٨ـ

⋆˙⟡ zb1 doctor smut series masterlist! all parts also linked here: nurse!matthew, doctor!jiwoong/med student!gunwook, allergist!taerae, radiology tech!gyuvin/cardiologist!ricky, anesthesiologist!hao/surgeon!hanbin

⋆˙⟡ wc: 1.5k (gonna try to keep these short, but we know me...)

⋆˙⟡ reader: gn afab (no pronouns used to refer to reader)

⋆˙⟡ series summary: eight medical professionals. a sudden illness that gets progressively worse. can reader survive the l-o-v-emergency?

⋆˙⟡ the nurse summary: the male nurse at your new doctor's office is a total asshole. but he's really hot. and so are you, after what was supposed to be a routine physical takes a couple unexpected turns.

⋆˙⟡ warnings: explicit smut. 18+. minors do not interact. please read specific warnings under the cut! angst. lighttt dub-con. matt is a total meanie. little less by the end. explicit mean comments about reader's weight but it's only because he's literally an asshole. smut is fairly light-ish, but we're just getting started so let's let it simmer for now.

⋆˙⟡ l-o-v-emergency scale: ★☆☆☆☆ (1)

GUYS HEY! I'M ALIVE! who's glad? not me. anyway, i've been working in a medical setting for over 2 months now and this series was birthed bc i couldn't stop thinking about how matthew would look in a good set of athletic (specifically magenta) scrubs. okay, hopefully i don't abandon this project!! ily. always. don't forget. <3

⋆˙⟡ iwnfyshb full masterlist

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

EXPLICIT SMUT 18+ WARNINGS: fingering/heavy petting (reader receiving), dub-con kind of sort of idk better safe than sorry, matt is very mean, inappropriate use of medical equipment (?), yeah i think that's good for now.

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

it’s a regular monday morning. nothing out of the ordinary at all. though it’s a bit chilly outside, the sun is shining on this lovely february day.

you’re at the doctor’s office, sitting in the waiting room for your annual physical. your primary care physician had retired at the end of last year, so you’d scheduled your first appointment with a doctor at a completely new practice. they were so new, in fact, that they didn’t really have any google reviews yet except for one that just said: went above and beyond.

and they also accept your insurance, so there’s that.

though it’s late in the year for it, you’re also hoping to get a flu shot after about eight different strains of influenza ravaged your workplace this week. but you feel very healthy. you actually feel great.

usually you’re called in a bit faster for an appointment, but today it takes about ten minutes before the door to the medical entrance finally bursts open. it slams against the wall, startling both you and the elderly woman sitting a few seats away from you.

“ah, shit, sorry,” a voice mumbles and your eyes follow to put a face to it. standing in front of you is an incredibly attractive male nurse who squints at his clipboard. “uh… (y/n)?”

you stand up quickly, putting your phone in your coat pocket and walking up to the nurse. up close, you can see his name tag says: matthew.

“sick,” matthew says quietly, pointing down the hall to a scale. “we’re gonna head over there.”

you walk with him to the scale, jumping again when the door to the waiting room slams loudly.

“ah, shit. sorry,” he says again. you step on the scale, only to hear snickering next to you a moment later.

“uh… is something funny?” you ask with a frown.

“maybe take the coat off,” matthew suggests with a smirk. “we’re wanting a weight good for humans, not for whales.”

your eyes widen in shock. not really sure how to respond, you simply take your coat off and place it on the chair next to you. matthew leans over your shoulder, encroaching a little too liberally on your personal space bubble, and huffs confusedly.

“huh. i really thought that’d help more,” he says, jotting your (extremely normal) weight down onto his clipboard and shrugging. “anyway, we’re gonna be in room 3, on your left here.”

was he being purposefully rude or was he just painfully oblivious? a little more irritated than you had expected to be during this visit, you follow your nurse into the exam room and take a seat on the exam table.

“whoah, there,” he says with a laugh as he sits down on a stool beside the medical counter. “careful not to break the table after that weigh-in.”

you’re about to ask him what his problem is when matthew suddenly rolls up the already short sleeves on his magenta scrub top, revealing big, toned biceps underneath. goddamn, he was gorgeous.

but it didn’t give him a right to make comments about your body.

“wh—… why do you keep—…” you nervously start to confront him before he interrupts.

“just gonna get a reading on the pulse oximeter,” matthew announces, grabbing your hand from your lap and sticking the device on the tip of your index finger. “cool nails.”

“thanks,” you find yourself replying quietly. you don’t think you’ve ever met a nurse who lacked bedside manner this badly.

“i’ve been giving you a hard time, but you’re sorta hot actually,” he says, matter-of-factly as he snatches your hand again suddenly to check the oximeter. his bluntness and close proximity causes your heart to involuntarily race, and he bites his lip in a conceited grin as he reads the numbers on the device. “100 bpm… something getting you excited?”

you should stand up and walk out the door right now. report him to the reception desk. you figured there had to be some setbacks to a completely new, unreviewed practice, but this was beyond acceptable. no one should be allowed to behave so unprofessionally in a medical setting.

you look him directly in the eyes. about to rip him a new one.

but holy fuck, this absolute dickhead is hot. your brain starts to feel a bit foggy just looking at him.

“are you sure you’re feeling okay today?” matthew asks, removing the oximeter and placing it on the counter. he takes a thermometer out of the pocket of his scrub top and walks over to you— casually situating himself in the gap you’d left between your legs. “i’m gonna take your temperature just in case.”

he holds the thermometer in front of your forehead for a moment, the device buzzing when it has a reading. “hm. all good here. i’m just gonna check one more spot to make sure.”

before you can ask what that means, he moves the thermometer between your legs— pressing it over your clothed core. it buzzes against your clit and you’re unable to suppress a whimper in your shock.

matthew licks his top lip as he drinks in the sound, removing the thermometer and reading the temperature. he clicks his tongue sadly. “just what i thought. you’re burning up, baby.”

“this—… this is—….” you make one last (very weak) attempt to protest this nonsense. “i mean, you really shouldn’t be—…”

“shouldn’t be what?” he asks, fingers now taking the place of the thermometer on your clothed heat. as he massages you gently, you inhale sharply at how nice his touch feels. “doing my job? i’m just getting you ready for the doctor, baby. that’s all.”

you don’t have a clue as to what that’s supposed to mean. and you’re starting to forget why you care as he hooks his fingers around your waistband. reflexively, you lift your hips for him and he pulls down your pants— discarding them on the chair next to the exam table and leaving you in just your panties on the medical paper lining.

matthew pushes them aside with his thumb before prodding at your entrance with his middle finger. “just a small pinch,” he warns as he slips it inside.

you inhale sharply as the full length of his digit fills you. he smirks again, making use of his thumb against your clit as he starts to fuck you with his finger. you begin to whine as a steady pressure forms below your stomach.

“how’s that, hm? feel good?” you nod, growing more desperate for your release. matthew laughs as he pushes another finger inside of you. you can’t help but moan, hand finding its way to grip at the neck of his scrub top. “listen to that. doc’s gonna love you. you could still stand to lose a few pounds though, not gonna lie.”

you hate this guy. you must’ve had a psychotic break at some point between the waiting room and this exam table. but something’s come over you— something almost feverish— and the desire to complain just keeps getting smaller.

“please,” you beg emphatically, fingers of your free hand wrapping around the edge of the exam table as your climax threatens to spill over. “just shut the fuck up and make me cum.”

“fuck,” he breathes, the tips of his fingers curling up into the spongey spot in your upper wall with even more vigor. “okay. okay, yeah. just don’t tell the doctor i let you cum. got it?”

“y-yeah,” you agree half-heartedly— still unsure as to what the doctor has to do with this mean, hot nurse committing a crazy hr violation on you. but you just need release. so you humor him. “whatever.”

matthew presses his thumb hard against your clit and that’s all it takes— your orgasm washing over you as you feel your juices slip down your inner thighs. “fuck, that’s hot. makes me wish i got to finish ‘em off more often.”

more often? a post-climax clarity begins to set in as you wonder what on earth this guy is talking about. but that clarity only lasts a few moments before you start to shake with a chill you swear is bone-deep.

“get up, i’m gonna clean things up quick,” matthew orders casually, changing the paper liner on the table and throwing you some moist towelettes as you stagger off your perch. “clean yourself off good, ‘kay? i really don’t wanna get in trouble for—… hey, are you okay?”

your hands are shaking as you wipe your thighs and core clean of any traces, shivering beyond your control. matthew takes the towelettes from you, chucking them in the garbage. he tilts his head at you, concern suddenly palpable in his eyes.

"you—… you don’t look so good,” he says, placing the back of his hand against your forehead. when he pulls it away, you see the skin glisten. are you sweating? but it’s so cold. matthew pulls out his thermometer again, holding it between your eyes until it pulses. he pulls it back, eyes widening as he reads the temperature. “oh shit.”

"what?” you ask, rubbing your hands against your arms to try and generate some warmth. “what’s it say?”

"um. i—… i don’t know what’s going on,” he stammers, suddenly doe-eyed and nervous. it’s the most endearing he’s been thus far. something must be terribly wrong with you. “i think it’s probably just a fluke. maybe the thermometer’s broken. right? there’s no way it could be that high. you’d be dead. i’m—… i’m just gonna go get the doctor. he’ll know what to do! probably.”

“okay,” you reply. not much more you can say, especially with your teeth chattering.

"just, uh, sit back down and… um… rest, i guess. yeah, rest should help,” matthew says, quite clearly panicking. “and i’ll send the doctor in. and just, um, remember not to tell him what i let you do. please. i’d really appreciate that. if it comes up, ya know, just…”

“lie?” you suggest, plopping down onto the exam table as you continue to shiver furiously.

“yeah! exactly. you’ve got it,” he replies, rushing toward the door. “oh and the doctor has a med student interning with him today. is it okay to have him shadow your appointment?”

“sure,” you agree without hesitation. education is one of your core values, after all. even if you suddenly have a life-threatening fever to rival a volcano.

“awesome,” matthew says, throwing open the door. he glances back at you one last time, uneasiness written all over his pretty face. “hang in there.”

the door slams shut. really loudly.

“ah, shit. sorry.”

[phagodyke]

my god. new contender for most shite day at work this year so far

another morning another free bus journey..

[thewiz9062]

Smiling Critters: Together, We Resonate (No.6) - Catnap

NOTE: THIS IS NOT RELATED TO CANON IN THE SLIGHTEST. An accurate description of this au is that I took every playtime.co poster art and promotional material from the game and lit up the rest of canon in a bonfire. This means that EVERY character is part of one big cartoon. That's it. No bigger bodies project, no child souls, no experiments, just a depiction of a cartoon. PLEASE do not ask me to do anything suggestive with anyone.

Let's start:

Catnap had a fairly normal childhood up until four, where his parents died in front of him (cause of death is still pending)

After that, he was put in the system, and he quickly learned that it wasn't exactly the safest place, so he ran.

He ended up wandering for a while, sleeping in alleyway to alleyway until he found a random abandoned house (shack? Its one room and fairly small) in a secluded part of a neighborhood, and set up 'home' there. But is it really home without them?

Anyways, he made himself as comfortable as possible in his living conditions. If the residents heard crying near that secluded part of the neighborhood, they didn't say......well, except for Boxy Boo.

Boxy was the only one who dared to go check out the slight commotion and was attacked on sight. Well, pounced on, as boxy is about 3 times bigger than catnap at the moment. Even once he got him to calm down, he still didn't say a word to him, just glared at him until he left. What if it was my fault? What if i was the reason theyleftwhatifpeoplediebecauseofmeleavedontcomeclose But boxy made a vow to check on him at least once a week.

(Time skip- present day? Technically)

Bobby bearhug and picky piggy were picking apples in the forest next to the former neighborhood when they started hearing noises. Picky demanded that whoever was "messing" with them show themselves. And out came catnap. Picky dug into him about being creepy, but bobby was more worried about the state he was in. He looked way skinnier than he should be, assuming that he was their age (he is dw) so before picky sent him off Bobby offered some of the cookies she made. He was a little distrustful at first, but practically lit up for a second before quickly changing back to his blank face. But she noticed, and told him she could meet him back here tomorrow with some other food she wants him to try. He waved his hands and shook his head in a 'no' motion, but they were already off before they could register his response.

For the next few days, bobby brought him food to try, and he gave his best input for someone who doesn't talk. But she never really got to know anything about him, because any questions would be met with a blank stare. She pondered...maybe she should bring Dogday next time? He's great at making friends!

Guys look I traumatized him :D

This is supposed to be the whump but I feel like I overhyped it ngl

Additional notes:

-Insomniac (duh. I tried to give him eyebags in the little drawing I made but idk if they actually look like that)

-Situationally mute

-the whole red gas thing doesn't exist. I know it appeared in the little cartoon introducing chapter 3 but it feels extremely out of place here sooo

-instead, he hums or sings a little lullaby or melody to try and help him (others eventually ;) sleep. It usually has an opposite effect for him though, as the only ones he knows are his mothers, which reminds him of.....yeah.

-he really likes music because of this, even if he doesnt get to listen to it often. its sorta the one thing that he sorta still hangs on to.

I really enjoyed this one!! Next is gonna be our resident friend making machine, with a built-in recap to go with. Anyways BYEEE

[return-of-a-space-cowboy]

🧚‍♀️ Anon

Tales from the Darkside Movie (Gargoyle Story with Johnathan or Risotto?)

Johnathan/Risotto falls madly in love with Darling (While he’s a statue, as he could only see Darling from where he was sculpted and placed)

However he comes to life and kills a man harassing her, telling Darling that she must swear to never tell anyone that she saw him (Darling swears she won’t tell anybody)

Darling encounters a huge man named Johnathan/Risotto who proceeds to help raise her Artistic Career and become successful (She’s very grateful to him as they even start dating and even got married)

Or maybe Diavolo and Doppio? (It would be interesting with since Darling marries Doppio, keeping Diavolo from taking over since he’s content *At the moment as he comes out when Darling’s asleep to touch her*)

However after 10 Years of Marriage on their anniversary, Darling finally reveals the truth to Love, only to be horrified seeing him turn into the monstrous Gargoyle that has been haunting her dreams for all these years (She was startled when she found out their child/ren also transformed into smaller gargoyles)

He doesn’t kill Darling, instead he snatches her up to take her away (Along with their child/ren) to somewhere abandoned to live their for all eternity

Or maybe he turned Darling into a Statue while their Child/ren turns into Gargoyles with him? That way he could preserve her for all eternity so she could never die and leave him

Ooh, you know this premise reminds me of a story about the Yuki Onna (which funny enough has a side quest associated about it in pokemon legends arceus)

This is hard to choose so I'm gonna go over both Jonathan and Risotto.

Jonathan longed for darling. From were he stood atop the campus he could watch her for hours as she'd worked on her sketches. There was one time when she continued to glance up at him, if he'd had a heart it would have pounded tremendously each time their eyes connected with his.

If he hadn't been bound to the rock which he was carved from he would have... well he wasn't quite sure. Brush his fingers through her hair, lovingly embraced her, smothered her in kisses. How he daydreamed about it.

One night darling leave the campus late after using one of the studios for a project and is jumped, the guy demands she hand over her belongings while brandishing a knife. Jonathan witnesses this. He wished he could move, fly down and save her and he hadn't quite realized that he'd done just that until he heard a gasp from behind. Even he was shocked by what had just happened. He turned around to see darling on the ground with her hands supporting her.

She was shaking as she looked up at him with a horrified expression. He promises he won't hurt her as he offers his hand to help her up. She reluctantly takes it and pulls her up. He's awe struck by how warm her hand is, like a ray of sunlight.

"You won't tell anyone, promise?" He asks, unsure of what could happen if people found about him.

"I... promise" darling mutters shakily.

After he began fall for her even more. Yet he also felt ashamed of himself. You always averted your gaze from him(she's had constant nightmares of him). Was she so afraid of him. he was a freak of nature, a monster even.

What if he'd been human, would she have reacted differently. Human just like her...

After about a week or so word spread about one of the gargoyles on campus had disappeared, even the staff had no idea. She tried to not pay it much mind. Little did anyone know that the gargoyles longing had changed his appearance to that of a human and has been trying to learn human customs as best as he can (mainly through reading at the nearby library).

During a break at a Cafe darling is approached by a tall, built man in a button up shirt and knitted vest. He asks if she'd mind him sitting next to her and allows him.

He's quick to compliment her work and they have an engrossing conversation before she asks his name. For a few seconds he doesn't respond, he never had a name.

"Sir?" Darling asks. He finally responds.

"Sorry, My name is Jonathan Joestar" he introduces himself as.

She then asks for his phone number, he doesn't have one and makes up the excuse that his one was stolen. So she writes down her number and tells him to let her know when he gets a new one.

He manages to aquire one and gets in contact with darling. He practically becomes her biggest supporter, making it to every public viewing and helping her get her hands of pricey materials and supplies. Darling is always pointing out how cold Jonathan feels and insists that he wear warmer clothes in the colder months.

Eventually darling graduates and manages to get into her dream career. For awhile daring is busy but promises to see Jonathan at some stage.

Eventually they meet up and he quick to confess his feelings, darling accepts as she feels he's always supported her.

Fast forward to around 10 or so years later. Him and darling are married with kids. However their eldest George has developed two lumps on his forehead and is soon going in for surgery to get them removed. Which has both of them stressed (darling is worried they might be tumors while Jonathan fears they maybe horns).

After their anniversary darling has another nightmare about the gargoyle and confesses to Jonathan that she's had the nightmares because her encounter with a gargoyle. Unfortunately due to this Jonathan's form returns to that and begs darling to not look at him but it's too late. She sees the very gargoyle that has haunted her for years and immediately runs to grab their kids but is soon horrified that they too have become gargoyles. Jonathan tries to defuse the situation but the kids are frightened by him too. Darling is practically having a breakdown while their kids are trying to desperately get their mothers attention, convinced that this is all some horrible nightmare. How could her wonderful family become this.

Jonathan prepares tea for everyone and tries to explain (at least to the kids as darling is really going through the motions). Eventually Jonathan has the children on his side and he takes them all to a secluded cabin in the woods. Promising that they'll all be a happy family again, it'll just take time.

Risotto has seen millions of people throughout his lifetime but for some reason he had an interest in darling. He wasn't quite sure as to why, he hadn't felt until that moment.

And when he saw her defenseless as a man held a knife to her in the dead of night he felt something boil inside him. The assailants head had been caved in he looked down at darling who was on the verge of tears. He could feel his chest tighten up.

"Never tell a soul about this" he told her, she could only respond with a head shake in acknowledgement before running away as fast as possible.

As as far as he knew you kept that promise, he'd catch you cautiously looking up at him whenever you walked in and out of campus. Until he suddenly disappeared.

"Hey you're going to Ayden's party, right?" A girl asked her.

"Yeah, it should a lot of fun" she responded. Unbeknownst to a white haired easedropper, he'd seen many pamphlets around for the event. It wouldn't have been worth his time, but she'd be there.

God those collage movies made sorority parties look like so much fun in comparison to actually being there. She was squished into a corner with a cup of cheep booze as she watched everyone around her slowly deteriorate into drunken messes. She had at least hoped she could find some like minded people to befriend but that didn't seem like a chance, until an unusual looking man stood next to her. Tall and built with platinum blonde hair and red irises against black sclera. He wore torn up clothes that screamed punk.

"Music major?" She asked him.

"No, I don't do college" he spoke in a monotone voice.

"Oh sorry, I've kinda made a game of guessing people's classes since this party been boring" you told him.

"No I get that, what's your name if you don't mind me asking" he asked her, after that the two had a long conversation until the sound of police sirens blared.

"Shit, we've gotta leave" she told him, apparently a big fight had broken out at the opposite end of the house. So the two of them ran out and eventually they headed out to a nearby fast food joint.

"I guess there was one good thing about going to that party" darling chuckled.

"And that is?" Risotto asked.

"Meeting you" she replied before taking a sip of her drink while opening her phone with the other.

"Here's my number" she continued as she slides her phone to him. Luckily he'd already acquired one.

So after that they kept in touch, little did darling know he was stalking her. Despite his rough and tough exterior he always offered an eye or an ear whenever darling had a problem.

After long enough darling gets her degree and begins freelance work and it's during an gallery open with their work that she finally tells him how she feels and his more than happy to hear darling pour her heart out to him.

A little over 10 years later, everything is perfect and they've recently had baby number 3. They celebrate their anniversary and enjoy the night but then darling wakes up from a nightmare of the gargoyle. Asks Risotto if she can tell anything and he'd believe her. He assures her he will. She confesses to what happened that night and he feels horrible, betrayed even that after all these years you'd break your promise but also how you described his monstrous form.

But he hadn't quite anticipated that his form would revert. Darling is horrorfied and tries to defend herself and something in him snaps. He grabs darling and without even realizing he turns her to stone. He's shocked and tries to find any sign that she's alive, hearing a faint heartbeat inside. He hadn't even realised how loud he'd been until one of the kids came in, they we're just like him now. They try to run but he scoops them up and tries to calm them.

He knows they can't stay like this, they have to leave and find somewhere safe.

[ilexdiapason]

Twenty years ago, an attack on the royal palace in Gilded Helianthia left its rulers dead and the country in turmoil. Little Princesa Perla was never seen again, feared to have been lost to the fire like her parents. Today, her former ward Lieutenant M.J. Sausage is the only person left who believes she must still be alive out there somewhere, posting a reward to the tune of fifty thousand gold for the one who can bring her home to him. Oli Sound is a conman and a crook - he's always looking for the next windfall to keep him fed and sheltered just a few weeks longer, and he doesn't care who he has to lie to to do it. Pearl Moon, orphan and cleaning lady, feels a similar desperation. When their paths cross in the ruins of the abandoned palace, together they hatch a plan that might just get them out of poverty for good. All Pearl has to do is convince the old guard, without believing it herself, that she's the lost princess he's looking for. It's gonna be a difficult journey, and a hell of a lie - but Oli reckons he'll take the bait for long enough that they can split the money and run. After all, she happens to look just like her!

In other words: my @mcytblraufest Summer 2023 project is complete!

Thank you so much to @baddishbeans for your help as beta reader, and look out for @adrawingghost and @yawningawning's art for the fic when those come out with the relevant chapters later in the week! I hope you guys enjoy :D

[fortunately-pancakes]

he was a sk8er boi, he said annoy you l8r boi

(a teen soukoku fic, y2k style)

Chapter 14: Always

Chapter summary:

It takes less than a week of dating for their friends and family to catch on.

Snippet:

“Did something happen between you two?” Piano Man asks, black eyebrows rising into his dyed white hair.

“Hah?” Chuuya flushes. “Whaddya mean?”

“Chuuya.” Iceman levels a Look at him. Don’t bullshit us, it says.

Chuuya looks away, towards the brightly colored food court restaurants, caught halfway between embarrassment and a grin that refuses to settle down.

“That obvious, huh?” he asks.

“Let’s see, you abandon us for a week to hang out exclusively with him, then you two show up on Monday at lunch, heh,” Doc says. “And bring him to Piano Man’s only to flirt in front of us the whole time.”

“You guys keep giving each other looks,” Lippman says, meaningfully.

“We do not!” Chuuya says. What kind of “looks”? he wonders.

“You seem happier,” Iceman says.

“Happier? With that idiot? No way.” Chuuya leans back, crossing his arms.

Albatross laughs way too hard at that. “Just give it up, Chuuya! What happened? Did you guys confess your undying love to each other? Kiss each other silly? Or maybe you just up and eloped?”

Chuuya groans. “We did not elope. He’s just…” He looks toward the bathrooms to see Dazai coming back, who gives a cheerful little wave and then sticks out his tongue. Chuuya flips him off. “My, uh, boyfriend, now.” He mumbles the rest of it, but that doesn’t stop his friends from hearing him.

They erupt in a cacophony of I knew its and hell yeahs just as Dazai sits down next to Chuuya.

”What’d I miss?” he asks, eyes wide.

”They figured us out,” Chuuya mutters, shrugging.

“Oh!” Now his burgundy eyes are sparkling and, well, Chuuya likes that. But then those eyes turn towards his friends and—“You should have seen how Chuuya begged me to give him a chance.”

”I did not!” Chuuya jerks up, glaring at Dazai. He takes back every nice thought he just had about this dumbass.

“Yup!” Dazai hugs him from the side, squishing their cheeks together. “He said he couldn’t live without me and that he’s been in love with me ever since the day we met! Isn’t that nice?”

Chuuya does not appreciate how everyone is laughing at him right now, no matter how much they try to hide it.

”That’s not how it went at all,” he says, grumpily. “I lost a bet, so I had to go on a date with this bastard. Then, when I was gonna let him down easy, he just looked like a lost puppy and somehow we ended up here.”

It devolves from there into a mess of made up stories about how they got together— “Chuuya stole someone’s wedding ring and proposed!” and “Dazai put on a fuckin’ dog costume and pretended to be a stray in a box, just to get my attention. It was not cute.”—before their friends start pitching in with their own dating stories.

As they leave the food court, Dazai grabs Chuuya’s hand and gives him a little, private smile before going back to spouting bullshit.

Chuuya thought he would feel weird about them knowing, but now he’s just happy he can hold his boyfriend’s hand at the mall with his friends.

[oh-no-its-bird]

Ok so updated list of my WIPS;

Actually in progress;

- Offal and All (Kakashi's relationship with food throughout the years, mostly told through the eyes of others) I'm activley focusing on this one rn and hoping to post it like, this week actually. It's a mash up of a lot of different tiny Kakashi hc's I've posted about and should be very fun (and depressing, but that's kind of my brand, so.)

- One Step Three Steps chapter 10, it's going well so far actually I just keep writing it at work then being forced to stop bc like. Work. Might go up this week, hopefully

- Chasing Shadows chapter 4, it's like 20% done? Ish? I just need to find the head space to get back to writing it, will go up within the next 2 weeks for sure but idk when exactly. It'll be great tho ur gonna get Hikaku, Fugaku, Shisui, Mikoto, just all the cool Uchiha. Lots of politics, lots of drama, the works

- Itama and the secret senju weed empire fic,,,, it will be long and it will be beautiful which means it'll take me forever to do, sorry

- Magical Girl Izuna AU (my beloved) I got distracted by other projects midway through writing chapter 1 but I'll get there eventually

- Little lab mystery where kid edo-tensei reincarnations of Madara and Tobirama wake up with no memories and immediately stage a jail break

- Nin burger!!!!! Yes this is a real thing yes I meant to post it like the same week I started making it but then I got distracted and didn't. But I swear to fucking GOD I will see it complete. Nin Burger is my favorite real naruto restaurant that is real

- That one oneshot where Madara and Tobirama spend a festival night in the capital together as children, and Madara develops his very first crush on the fox masked boy, but seems to be doomed never to meet him again— till Konoha's first festival is held and he sees a man wearing the very same mask, waiting for him in the crowds. Might not actually finish this one tbh but also maybe I'll save it for tbmd week?? Idk

Considering / Planning;

- Hikaku as the Uchiha clan head after Madara's betrayal comic,,, not an actual fic but I wanna make this so bad. I've written notes for it I just need to get along to drawing it

- Izuna in Wonderland comic, honestly I'll probably end up doing the entire thing in one go one night when I get hit in the face w a brick w motivation. So it'll be a surprise for both u guys and me when I post that! I always do my comics in one go bc I physically can't bring myself to return to art projects if interrupted, which means I tend to do longer ones on my days off where I have literally nothing else to do or distract me, but I haven't had one of those in like. 2 months now. So. But I will soon!! Umm. Maybe.

- Here Before and After Me chapter 2, I'll probably make one eventually but who tf knows when. I have a very specific vision of Kakashi following Tobirama onto the battlefield and scaring the shit out of a very alarmed and confused Izuna

- Tobirama and Izuna's field trip through time and space, I don't think I want to commit to a full fic bc it'd be seriously long and I'm already commiting to Chasing Shadows and One Step Three Steps as my regular update long fics, then the MG Izuna au and Itama fic as my "write it all behind the scenes then post" long fics. One shots only for me, sorry. But I do wanna write a silly one shot of the boys crash landing face first into a konoha council meeting during their field trip

Dropped / Abandoned;

- That one mdtb space mermaid au, rip. Maybe I'll come back to u one day but for now I have a lot to focus on, sorry

- mdtb fish in a pond fic where Tobirama is half spirit and turns into a koifish that Tajima then brings home and tosses into the families koi pond

I think that's everything? I have a shit memory and do everything on my notes app then forget to categorize the notes half the time so I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I'd lost smthn else in my like billion different notes.

Those are the important ones tho, so, good enough!

[ohwell-itsme-but-danganronpa]

Co-parenting Found Family

[Miu (has a baby), Rantaro, Tsumugi & Kokichi friend group, Saiouma]

Me: you ever read a crackfic one-shot and realize you'd want to read a serious longfic with the same premise? cause now I am thinking of this stupid.. pregnant Miu shows up to saiou's apartament, asking Kokichi for help but instead of going with the crap about her not realizing she's pregnant for this long, I would like it to be angst inspired by her lhs

Clown: Yessss!!! I read that one!!! Absolutely loved it, mostly because I'm a sucker for them navigating something like this so ridiculously

Me: I liked it too, the joke about her not being able to tell rubbed me the wrong way, but it was actually nice after that, I would read more of it if they write a continuation

Me: basically, Miu ghosts everyone for a few months, not that unusual, she can disappear in her projects, she pops back up to brag about the prize she got for it when she's done, but not this time, this time she shows up to saiou's apartment, severely pregnant and devastated turns out she jumped headfirst into a relationship with some guy, tried to go through with her baby-trapping idea from LHS, because, hello abandonment issues, and for a bit it looks like she's exactly where she wants to be, but then, only weeks before she's due the guy ditches, leaves some note about realizing he's too young to be a father, and he's gone also, I'd add https://archiveofourown.org/series/976308 friend group to the mix, so while Ouma is the first person she comes to, the whole gang unites to help her

Clown: The friend group coming together instead of another potential partner is clenches fist so good. Miu is someone who is pretty fixated on relationships, it's almost as though in her mind she won't really be completely until someone loves her that way. So to give her a chance to move past that in this situation is just so interesting AND ITS JUST SO GOOD! In my mind for her to come to ouma of all people. Because he provided some familiarity to her, some safe space where she can in her own way step back into her usual. And Ouma would low-key go "shit. I'd jump shit too" and shuichi sends him a look but doesn't dare say anything because he kinda agrees. And it's a complete wreck but it's good

Me: yeah, if it's platonic relationships being as important as romantic ones, if not put first (actually, love Kokichi kicking Shu out so he can focus on comforting Miu), I am an insane person unapologetically I just think. found family coming together to raise a child. like if you agree I've done it before with DICE adopting a kid and I'll do it again

Me: Kokichi would agree with being the father, he's going to use it to gaslit their other ex-classmates (I imagine this is a few years post-HPA) into thinking he's the one who ended up with a kid their friend group + Shuichi know the truth of the arrangement, but that's it she might have been in a state of shock when she suggested it to him, but he's embraced it he Will be "the ultimate dad", (she regrets coming to him instead of Rantaro or Tsumugi when she sees all the custom print tees he got) he's telling Kaito about His pregnancy and childbirth experience the next time he comes over, he's preparing stories when it's aliens that got him pregnant, but no it was actually one of those dinosaur foam pills he swallowed, unless… Kaito, who just wanted to eat lunch with Shuichi: Shuichi, who is a simp: [relieved emoji] he won't help you, Kaito

Aalliyah: He swallowed a watermelon seed

Clown: He's taking this so seriously jagdjdhs He laid an egg [pensive emoji] I love shuichi just going along with it. Everyone expects some sort of something from him and he's just "We planted him in our garden from a toe nail and-"

Ves: this is gonna be the most spoilt baby

Me: on some bigger (as in just about the whole class is there) reunion, (probably a regular event organized by Kaede, like a movie or boardgame night) they look to Rantaro, who's always been the most reasonable of their group, and he's just mentally in the hehe hoho I'm an uncle and doesn't have more to add, he's zeroed-in on the baby, will get back to you later, maybe. [replying to Ves] oh, absolutely Tsumugi is part of the problem, always making something but. there is always somebody who wants to carry the baby never left out of sight

Clown: How do the squad [sunglasses emoji] , eventually find out??

Me: I think after Miu cries herself to sleep Kokichi texts their group chat using their emergency code (sacred, extempt from lies) to get Rantaro & Mugi to come over the next morning so they can tackle it together because in reality, he's a little overwhelmed too, and in the moment doesn't know yet if Shuichi will adjust to this with him so they all eat breakfast together, reassure Miu that they'll be there for her no matter what, start making a plan, a shopping list, beginning of a schedule, then Kokichi has to take the first scary step of the plan - talk to Shuichi about it; but Shuichi is like: yeah, of course because how could he expect his boyfriend not to help out? this is literally why he loves him, of course he will go a little overboard when it's for his found family he knew he had to prepare himself for Something when he saw Miu crying on his couch, at least it doesn't involve committing crimes against whoever hurt her, for now.

Clown: It's a big step!! (And very sudden) Even if it'll be a shared responsibility It's an entire new person! One that ouma is already in his mind accepted he'll be there for. He wouldn't immeadiately expect Shuichi to agree to something like that on a whim, but to know Shuichi is willing to look for solutions, to stay and work through it with him without question because of course. Sobs. Yeah. They've GROWN!!! Planning would be hellish though. Oumas filling the table with hundreds of scribbled papers and everything. Yes absolutely we need to sign this bitch up for maternity classes. Fuck it, Rantaro you go too, check in with us later. Tsumugi!! Need 3 months of baby clothes STAT! SHUICHI!! you just sit there and look pretty…SIKE ERRAND BOY GET THIS FOR ME

Me: let's be real, he's the first to sign up for those parenting classes and buying books about it but yeah, he does make Miu go too, for sure

Clown: Yeah he would!! He wants to be prepared

Me: also not to take from egg's family au directly but https://eggs-can-draw.tumblr.com/post/711383943783579648/omg-i-just-thought-so-byakuya-would-be-like Togami's motherhenning = Kokichi here and, while this is all sweet, I think Miu also needs to get mental health help, get that girl some therapy, she needs to work out the flaw with her logic, because, while it was already proven wrong when the guy left her, she needs to be given alternatives and you know, I think she would struggle with her feelings about the kid, it was supposed to be her ticket to being loved, and the kid is certainly getting a lot of love, but… maybe she would want more attention for herself? how is she meant to score a relationship now? she's going to need help understanding that those people are her family and that she's already loved

Ves: yeah!!! i think kokichi would b pretty blunt abt it too he tells her to shape tf up

Clown: YEEEAHHH. Honestly having a lot of people helping her out, some who give out reassurance easier than others, is a good start. But she is in that place where she's looking for something else to latch on. Usually that's the kid. I feel like had she gone through this alone she'd be one of those mothers constantly flipping through "You ruined my life" and "your the only thing in my life that loves me unconditionally" towards her kid. Ouma definitely helps in the way that he doesn't sugarcoat a thing.

Ves: local cluster b morons try to make a child well-adjusted baby'll be ok tho i think

Clown: Yeah baby will be ok! Everyone gets therapy [gun emoji] by law

Ves: praying that includes whatever poor man miu fucked up RIP king the kid is gonna be FUNNY when it grows up tho

Clown: [2 sob emojis] they'll be the ultimate comedian

Ves: saihara please pretend to be normal they need a balancing influence

Apollo: That kid is gonna commit crimes and use the skills Shuichi teaches them to get away with it

Clown: Somehow they pick up only on saiharas ingrained need to find the answer to questions The question is what would happen if a fork goes into an outlet

Apollo: They manage to somehow get the baby proof thing off the outlet and Kokichi fucking dives to stop them

Clown: Miu is just "let it happen. This is how I learned!"

Apollo: Kokichi just looks at her, blood dripping from the cut in his forehead and mumbles about how 'That explains a lot' Kokichi acts like kids will be kids and thus they get injured so there's no need to panic but the kid trips and he freaks the fuck out Like the kid doesn't even fall over. They stumble slightly and Kokichi is instantly there

Clown: He's the doting one. He's sobbing going, "my god. Your going to hate me one day. I'll be cool!! You can do a drug!"

Apollo: Poor Shuichi wakes up to Kokichi sitting up in the middle of the night because he's stressing over if he's cool or not and Shuichi has to remind him that the kid isn't even a year old yet and thus, has no idea what cool even means

Beez: smh shuichi just lie to him and say he is

Clown: Shuichi for real he needs to know, is he the lamest guy at the daycare?

Apollo: He's too tired to lie right now. Kokichi bursts into tears because is this his way of saying he isn't cool?

Clown: The pure betrayal!! From the one he trusted most!!!

Apollo: It's 2 in the morning [sob emoji] Kokichi has to have his devices taken away because he's staying up searching up how to be the cool guardian Ves: miu and him fight over who's the cool one when the kid is older (it;s neither of them)

Me: I can see Miu and Kokichi arguing about which one of them is cooler, but it's definitely Miu who lets the kid get away with things (like not brushing teeth) to be cool, and would likely mean the letting them do drugs thing, Kokichi would scold her for that and then his version of cool is teaching them lockpicking and making the scary faces, which in turn, she tells him off for

Apollo: Kid says it's Rantaro and both of them decide that he must go /silly Rantaro is riding the high while running away from Miu and Kokichi

springbug: it [rising the baby] surprisingly goes well too sure the kid might pick up on swearing at the age of 5 BUT THAT'S OKAY

Apollo: I mean, kid's gotta learn at some point Okay but father's day at daycare and just Shuichi, Rantaro, Kiibo and Kokichi all show up [idek why Apollo added Kiibo to the mix, he wasn't mentioned before, I didn't skip anything like that]

springbug: "i'm the father" "no i am" "what are you guys talking about? i look just like them" "sorry ma'am, im actually the father"

Me: nah, daycare, kindergarten etc. people think Miu and Kokichi are divorced or something if they come together they probably have some of their barely censored banter; sometimes Kokichi comes in with Shuichi, or it's Shuichi who drops the kid off on his own while he's on the way to work, kid refers to him by his name and calls him "dad's boyfriend"; sometimes uncle Rantaro or aunt Tsumugi come to pick them up; both Miu and Kokichi love to act like they're a single mom, works three jobs when other kids' parents try to ask them about life, and sometimes complain about each other

springbug: imagine gonta taking them to the park and showing him all the cool bugs [smiling face with tear emoji]

Me: once the kid is a bit older they let Rantaro and Gonta organize a camping trip for them and their friends, Kokichi is crying when letting them go because he's a motherhen and his baby is growing up and not scared to sleep away from home and him because the bugs will kill them

Clown: Miu and Kokichi giving their all to be divorcecore so true Everyone has ideas of the outrageous affair that ended their marriage that never happened

Beez: u just know the tea is PIPING among the staff

Clown: They're picking sides for sure

Me: imagine someone on the staff is homophobic so one of those days when it's Shuichi's turn, he gets told that his gay agenda is the reason the kid has to live in a broken family he's so confused the asshole is dealt with, but the anecdote lives forever also, I think Kokichi is the parent that always takes the chance to help out at school when they ask for a volunteer to join the trip or some event at school idk, if it's an universal thing, but here it's common practice that when little kiddos go on trips around town one or two of the class moms are asked to join after the first time the teacher is like "does anyone other than mr. Ouma wants to join? [sweat smile emoji]" but he persists he's just a little to prepared for anything to happen and kids feed into that energy and it becomes entirely beyond the teacher's control

Clown: OUMA BECOMES A PTA MOM AKSHJDHD The children are the next in line to be a part of his criminal organization so he needs to see them regularly, duh

[zanyzendraws]

APRIL 2025 ZSA - It's Been So Long!

Soooo it's been a while since I've made these posts, so hihi everyone! Zen Service Announcement time!

Admittedly, I've been dead regarding literally any upload that wasn't just a random art dump on this blog or ANYWHERE TBH

That in mind, here's your monthly dose of ZanyZenDraws updates! (Monthly updates seem a lot more feasible than the weekly updates that I have previously attempted eons ago)

That in mind, let's get started! A bulletpoint list of things I'm going over:

Zen's Zaniness Hiatus

21st Birthday (Late Video, absolutely)

Hanashima's Advanced Class Progress Report

Life of Zen (MISC IRL UPDATES)

Final Thoughts

For those bulletpoints, look for their associated colored text under the cut!

Zen's Zaniness Hiatus

You may have noticed the absence of Zen's Zaniness since...

(flips through papers) Literally November. Jeez.

I'm aware some people may be confused about why I haven't been uploading anything regarding that. Honestly, what happened was a hurting wrist that screwed me over around that time period.

It definitely has healed (it was literally last year), but I decided to wait a bit before uploading. Make a backlog to last weeks. And think up more ideas so I don't run out of content next time.

So no, take this as an official statement.

Zen's Zaniness is not being abandoned. It is simply on an indefinite hiatus.

I have a couple of comics finished, and I've even designed some new characters so I can later take Zen's Zaniness in a different direction. A direction that feels a lot more fun to me!

Oh, those new characters in mind...

21ST BIRTHDAY (Late Video, Absolutely)

Those Zen's Zaniness characters were going to be in a fun video that introduced them, while also celebrating my upcoming birthday with a somewhat ridiculous (but fun) topic!

... It was gonna be fully in animatic form as well.

... If you know me well, you can most likely assume what happened.

(for those who don't know me well, I had overestimated my abilities again)

I had recorded the audio in March and yet -

... Oops.

On another note, I'm turning 21. Trippy.

But hey, on the channel, expect a late video celebration... whenever I release the damn thing. Could be weeks, could be months. I have a friend joining me for that video and he's iconic as fuck, so I hope you'll be able to see us be chaotic together!

Hanashima's Advanced Class Progress Report

So, multiple things to discuss regarding the project.

I don't know if I've previously mentioned this, but I have a few consultant friends that assist me with my webtoon project! Y'know, to ensure quality! (For now unless they explicitly state otherwise or allow me to tag them, I'll simply refer to them as Connor, Pestilence, and Cubed).

Upon discussing the progress I've had so far, we've noticed multiple glaring issues and plotholes. Nothing too big of a problem that would require me to scrap lots of things, but I was tempted to anyways (perfectionism, amiright?)

Thankfully, I had multiple consultants that highly advised against me scrapping large portions of episodes. Below is a visual representation of them holding me back from clicking "CTRL + ALT + DELETE:"

Thanks, guys!

The issues included the following:

Multiple characters seemingly not having a direction or feeling aimless with writing

Character tensions that should be included either being completely nonexistent or should be further emphasized

Same body syndrome within art pieces

Inconsistencies with character writing or behavioral issues that ruin immersion and written interactions

The current timeline of the story not making sense from realistic lenses

So we've discussed remedies for those issues alongside potential character fixes, so multiple characters have been revamped both writing and aesthetic-wise since me posting heavily on Tumblr.

In addition to that, for the sake of making progress, I've since switched over from a novel-style format of writing to something more similar to a script, so it should be less time consuming to write things. Admittedly, this should have been common sense, but oh well. "Live and Learn," as that one Sonic the Hedgehog track sings throughout its melody.

Things I'm currently focusing on writing wise are attempting to finish Season 1 still, but I'm definitely having a more solid outline than I used to, and I know the direction I want to take with each character thanks to consultant input. In addition, I've been trying to work on worldbuilding for Hanashima Island itself (main story location).

In regards to art, a height chart of my OCs and "promotional" materials (if you can call them that) are currently in the works, and I'm brainstorming ideas for the school's layout and their dorms.

Be on the lookout for those! Perhaps a speedpaint will bless (or curse) your eyes in the future!

Life of Zen

Not much on my end aside from experimenting more with art, and obsessing over things such as Sonic the Hedgehog. I've also tried playing Genshin Impact for the first time not too long ago, since my brother and I play together :3

I hope to get one man... since he reminds me of another beloved...

It's literally the same actor! Leavemealone!!!! RAHHHH

I also watched Arcane recently. That was really cool.

Honestly, aside from working on personal endeavors (which will not be disclosed since internet privacy lmao), I've been just been working on projects and trying to chillax (brainrot) a bit before I start up school again in about a month. Expect less activity in May onward.

I mean I'm already dead, but who knows?

FINAL THOUGHTS

As my birthday approaches, I've been awfully reflective recently. Not just about my art, but my life and the person I've become.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm at the point that I need to be at in my life or if I fall behind.

I mean, on social media, all you see are people living their best lives and their successes? Where would I end up? If not amongst those people who are constantly having wins and on that 'grindset' or whatever, would I even be successful? Would I remain insignificant? Stagnant? Am I complacent?

Nah. I work too hard on projects to be the latter, at least.

It's at a certain moment that I then remembered that the internet allows you, the user, to filter out everything. The good and bad.

This is something I attempt to try and remember every time I doubt my own capabilities and goals. People will fail, and that's part of being human. But most people online don't wish to showcase humanity, but rather they wish to embody an ideal. Of themselves or whatever expectation they supposedly meet and fulfill.

Social media is meant to share life, but it's not life itself. A sentiment I tend to forget, but this upcoming birthday allows me to remind myself of that.

As I turn 21, I hope I can continue growing as an artist and sharing the pieces I make with everyone. I hope the content I crank out will one day make people comforted the same way that online comics and fanart have comforted me in the past.

... Sappy stuff aside, I can try wine.

Stay sweet, and stay zany everyone!

Remember cringe culture is dead. Ship people with your OCs/self inserts if it brings you serotonin. I'll be drooling over Kinger.

-ZanyZenDraws

[fortunesfavours]

time travel in ten - sequential narrative collage piece done for my class, Artifact.

ramblings below the cut for those interested in the process/life update for friends who have noticed i've been gone

right lmao. i had two weeks to do this project and had a completely different idea that i just could not get myself to be excited about. emailed my prof in desperation, but it being like 10 pm meant that she was not about to respond. within 30 minutes, as it goes, i got struck with divine inspiration by whatever force of nature governs procrastination-induced genius, and i promptly spent the next 12 waking hours non-stop working on this.

my class, artifact, is a requirement for the foundation year at the college i attend. it centers around time-based media, ranging from the sequential illustration here to video later in the semester, and a bunch of other projects designed to get us thinking in 4d. artifact is the theme of the class - my peers are doing the same projects under a variety of different themes (tragically, haunting filled up too quickly and i missed out on enrollment in that one).

our first project was designing an artifact and doing a write-up of the story behind it. the girl to my left made beaded spiders members of a fictional cult carried. the guy across from me made an amulet of a long-dead god. you get the vibes. mine, which I still need to take professional photos of, is a pocketwatch that lets you time travel. cause, yknow. i'm me. it was gonna be about time travel.

i had originally intended to do a bunch of drawings of the watch's owner, building out her backstory and the world she lives in, and explaining why the watch exists,,,, then i couldn't bring myself to pick up the stylus. I just can't seem to find the energy for my usual digital art (sorry friends i miss yall i'm still here i swear).

here's the bit about my life so feel free to stop reading if you just care about the art 👍

I haven't drawn fanart or my ocs in months now, since last semester, and I miss it a whole bunch but right now that creative energy just. is not happening. i don't plan on abandoning it forever by any means, but p much everything i have is going towards school right now. sad as that is, i'm having so much fun, and i'm so proud of the technical improvements i've made. I've got so many things i want to create, mostly for my ocs. i still love crit role, but i've fallen of campaign three. i don't have the time, and the story hasn't been engaging me for a bit.

i've been really into dr who lately, and am eagerly waiting for the spare time to sit and watch all of candela obscura. i'm in a new dnd game. i've got friends! real life friends! irl friends who called me the wizard friend within a few hours of knowing me before i even opened my mouth about dnd lmao. i've discovered a new love of collage, and i've just declared my major in something unique to my school, a program called Studio for Interrelated Media. i'll be learning about illustration still through the extra electives i'll have room for, but i also get to explore printmaking in more depth, as well as event planning, installation, curation, and theatre work as well.

i miss being on here a whole bunch and want to be more active when i get more time. don't plan on abandoning this blog by any means. boston has been kind to me, and though i have had some Real Low Points, i've also been living the life i've hoped for since i was a kid. i'm good, really really good.

to my friends, ily, i miss you, and i hope you're well. can't wait to catch up on all yalls art and fic. sending all my love. <3

[reevezs]

//closed starter for @pleinsdemuses

He couldn't tell how it all started and whose idea it was, he didn't remember how they had managed to put this group together. After a few weeks and thousands of messages in a constantly growing group chat, they were finally ready. The group of eight people who would be responsible for different aspects of the game met not so far from their destination. The hospital's building was still hidden behind the trees and they wouldn't see it almost until the last moment before they reached the fence with a big sign that read Do Not Enter. A sign they would obviously ignore. The next thing they would notice had to be the building's beautiful Tudor Gothic architecture, breathtaking but eerie, and a forgotten maze of roses and boxwoods that once looked impeccable to greet the patients. But that's obviously not what they all crossed the country for.

"It's gonna be fun, can't fail at making a game you have lived, right?" One of the guys mused as they started their little hike to the hospital. "Go to a haunted place, spend a night there... I mean, what better way to get the inspo?"

That guy was responsible for the sound effects and music and was more excited than anyone else; the fifth person to join the original trio along with a certain someone who made the blue-haired programmer opt out. In the proggramer's defense, working with someone who happened to be his ex sounded like a survival game in itself. He left the group as soon as his ex became their character designer... But then returned when a friend of a friend recommended a beautiful brunette as the main character's voice actress and she accepted the invitation.

He shouldn't have been trusted with her picture and the seemingly tiny detail that helped him figure out where she worked - he broke a few rules the group was so obsessed with by visiting her workplace and chatting with the girl on her break. Of course, he didn't tell her who he was when she began rambling about a crazy indie game project that starts with the whole team going to an allegedly haunted place. When? In two weeks, as long as they find someone to fill in for the guy who unexpectedly left the group. He knew damn well he was the guy who abandoned the ship and, hearing the voice so sweet he might have instantly fallen in love with, thought he would gladly return just to spend more time with her.

Half an hour before the sunset, fashionably and much on purpose late, he joined them with two others just when the group was about to turn a blind eye to the huge red sign that's supposed to keep the people off the property. The three missing pieces of the whole greeted the group, but one of them focused his gaze on the brunette, aware that his blue hair stood out enough for her to recognize her customer from two weeks prior.

Someone waved him over, audibly relieved to see their programmer back. "Rio, get your ass here! I thought you fucking abandoned the project again! Let's check if we've got everything we need and regroup. We wanna get inside the building before the sunset."

[roosterbox]

Fic Rec Friday 12/8/23

Title: Little Birds

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category: M/M

Fandom: X-Men: First Class (2011) - Fandom

Relationship: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier

Characters: Erik Lehnsherr, Charles Xavier, Raven Darkholme, Hank McCoy, Alex Summers, Sean Cassidy, Angel Salvadore, Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost, Azazel (X-Men), Armando Muñoz, Blackbird

Additional Tags: AU, Birds, Angst, Fluff, Romance, Pigeons

Summary: Bird AU. Erik is a lone kestrel on a mission to destroy the great golden eagle who killed his mother. Charles is an abandoned pet dove with no fear and a dream of making a place where the little birds can fly free. They don’t quite want the same thing, but together they’ll change the world.

———

Oh man. Oh maaaaaaan. I am so happy to be recommending this fic to y’all. I know a lot of my Cherik followers have probably been in this fandom at least as long as me, and as such have probably read this one at least once. Multiple times, in my case. But any of you recent converts might have missed it, on account of it being *checks publishing date* 12 YEARS OLD next January. Damn. Also, if you’re a real OG like me, you remember reading it In its original form… on the kinkmeme. Boy, the ‘gee Rooster, you’re getting old’ hits just keep building, don’t they? BACK TO THE FIC.

The fact that all these characters we know and love can be transposed into literal birds, and still retain just about everything we love about them? Amazing. And the plot, though obviously way different than the source, also retains enough of itself to still be believably based on the X-Men movies (First Class specifically, this was still 2011/2012), but with a fresh flair befitting this particular AU. The relationship between Charles and Erik is gradual, every new step feels earned and special, and sometimes - dare I say - you can almost find yourself forgetting that they’re, y’know, BIRDS.

All of the characters are so good. Weirdly enough, I’m especially kind of fond of Charles’ old owner. Such a sweet, kindly guy, who definitely immediately knows what’s up between his dove and the weird kestrel hanging around him, lol. Also, never thought I’d read a fic with bird sex in it, but here we are. The kinkmemes were very strange places; I miss them.

All in all, this one is always gonna be one of my favorite Cherik fics of all time. If it’s your first time hearing about it or reading it, awesome! Enjoy! And if you’ve read it before, remember: it’s always a good time to reread a great fic!

Important Note: This fic is locked, unfortunately, so you have to be logged in on AO3 to read it. No shade to the author, of course - do what you feel you must - but just FYI.

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Next Week: Steddie time again! Shout out to all y’all who followed me for those Steddie thoughts/minifics, lol.

This one is really great. I initially wanted to drop it in the discord for recs on my birthday, but forgot. Also it’ll be 11 days after my cake day when this next rec will go up, but just go with it.

To summarize: Steve has a terrible birthday… until the Munsons get involved.

See you next Friday!

[rosethornewrites]

A few weeks ago I posted about the squatter next door, and I learned today he didn’t even know he was squatting.

The home owner, who has let it fall into uninhabitability over the course of 16 or so years of abandoning the place knowing it’s going to be bulldozed, decided she wanted a quick buck.

So she found a man she could scam, someone desperate for a stable roof over his head and yeah it’s in disrepair (black mold, human waste, etc) but he can help her fix it for a “break” in the rent and sometimes she’d even buy materials and it doesn’t have electric or water yet but I’m working on it promise.

And she charged him $700 for the first month of “rent” and he was arrested for unlawful inhabitation after a week. Which she knew full well would be the result.

The thing is, $700 is obscenely low for rent in my area. Literally, at least twice as much for something of that size. So he was being, to his knowledge, offered a helping hand. A big one. And he probably didn’t have any better options.

Neighbors who’d talked to the guy before the arrest said he was just so happy to be renting and have a project. We were friendly and let him charge his phone and gave him water, because hey, he was down on his luck enough to squat there and we’re not gonna fuck it up for him.

But he really thought he was a renter and he was legitimately our neighbor. So he was being friendly and chatty and just openly living there. He was down on his luck and took what seemed to be a helping hand.

It’s infuriating that he was scammed. Odious.

We knew that place wasn’t inhabitable because the village wouldn’t ever grant it an occupancy permit. So the only possibility was he was squatting. And he was, but he had no idea, even while we were all polite about it by just not addressing it.

Just, I know in that sort of situation, I would be mortified on top of everything else that my “neighbors” had known all the time that you weren’t supposed to be there and for some reason didn’t clue you in on that? I’d feel so stupid over it, when in reality I trusted the wrong person in a vulnerable moment.

That someone would put another human being through all of that just to make a quick buck.

Human beings are really capable of such cruelty.

[twilightpony4]

Backwoods: 8. Double Back

“I want to go back to the projects.” Mikey muttered as he first gazed upon the farmhouse. It wasn’t bad but by an inner city new yorker’s eyes, it was old, run down, not at all flashy, and old if I didn’t mention it. The home was visibly white but that’s only if you can see it past the overgrown flora that dried up and stained the walls. Donnie hobbled past him. The end of his staff met the back of his younger brother’s head.

“Be grateful we have a safe place to go.”

“New rule, since I’m helping take care of you guys, we refrain from hurting me.” Mikey declared.

“We’ll see who hurts who.” Raph threatened as he pulled some of their bagged up items out of the truck. Casey had successfully driven the six large mutants and their luggage through the city and into the deep woods for them to recover in. Despite Raphael wanting to do it all on his own to show he was fine, he still assisted by setting some bags near the edge for the red clad turtle to retrieve it or throwing it on the ground himself. Venus was at the door using the key April had given them before their departure from the city. The door creaked eerily and revealed a very underwhelming atmosphere. Most people refer to farmhouses as cute and quaint luxury. Here, it looked plain with dreadful earth tones and simple decor. Nothing in there reflected luxury. If anything, it looked just how it sounded. Abandoned and not regularly used.

Mona in good strength allowed both Donnie and Leo to use her to get up the steps on the porch so that they could enter. Donnie was far more observant than Leo. As the purple clad terrapin hobbled and looked around their new home, Leonardo gave the place one good glance before keeping his eyes glued to the floor. He hobbled over to the couch, custom boot in tow, and sat down. A light cloud of dust dispersed around him, signaling how long it truly has been since the last time it was in use. Donatello and the female reptiles equally cringed. Mona bared her teeth and took off presumably to find cleaning supplies such as a vacuum. Raphael entered and looked more in amazement.

“Holy shit we’re on the Little House on the Prairie.” he commented. Venus shook her head.

“You city boys are something else. It’s just a bit dusty is all.”

“It’s a bit ugly too.”

With some of their bags, Casey entered the home. He was actively trying to take out his cell phone as he stood in the middle of the living room.

“Listen up kids, April said this place has limited space but you should be able to share since it’s four rooms. There’s a gas station store about 6 miles away on that main road we crossed. If the lights don’t turn on, there’s a backup generator in the back of the house. She’ll be over within the next few days to bring you guys more groceries and the doctors will return to recheck you all in a week unless requested sooner.” 

“The real question is, who’s gonna room with Mikey?” The orange masked terrapin clutched his cowrie shells from his biggest brother’s remarks.

“What makes you think I want to room with you?” He pursed his lips, eyeing him up and down.

“The same reason nobody else wants to room with you.” Typical of Raphael to say and typical of him to already start checking out the cabinets for something to eat. With a jolt of optimism, Michelangelo tried to take control of the situation.

“Donnie wants to-.” Donatello interrupted with short and low spurts of him clearing his throat and indefinitely looking away in outer space. Mikey paused, then continued when he saw his other brother.  “I mean Leo-.”

“No…” He turned the end of his statement into a whistle. Venus pushed on him in disgust. 

“And I’m rooming with Mona.” Raphael chimed in. Peanuts don’t go bad right? Raphael believed so when he couldn’t find the expiration date on a jar of Planter’s Peanuts. They didn’t taste too bad.

“No, you’re not.” The lady reptile returned from one of the small rooms with a tiny handheld vacuum in her hand. Raphael furrowed his brow. “I am staying with my little sister.” She placed her hand on the shoulder of her sister who glowed from her warmth. Raphael wanted to protest but he can’t compete with that. He came over to Donnie who was still looking away to show his disinterest in engaging in the conversation until the Mikey problem was resolved. Raph gave him a little smack on the cheek to wake him up.

“You’re with me.” He declared. Although Raphael wasn’t his first choice, at least he was out of the running for the problem child.

“You mean Leo and I get separate rooms? To ourselves?? Bet!” Before anyone could say anything, the younger turtle took off in the house to possibly scope out his new room.

“We should’ve thought that through.” Donnie commented. Turning away rapidly, Raph’s shell accidentally bumped into the injured dork.

“We gotta get the better room!” He yelled as his big frame shook the house with each step he took. The remaining reptiles and human became somewhat worried about the merit of the floor as it took a beating from two insanely large and solid mutants running on top of it and were probably fighting at some points to get the room that they wanted. Venus and Donnie began sentences on top of eachother then stopped as soon as they heard the other. Both exchanged looks with intelligegible but obviously worried gibberish before getting up and running off in the direction of the bulkier mutants. They truly tried to deescalate the problem and counteract their actions on the house’s foundation. With that thought Casey turned his phone off and returned it to his pocket.

“I’ll be back later with April, call if you need us.” He instructed and he backed out of the room. The mutants collectively thanked Casey Jones and said their goodbyes as he closed the door behind him. Mona walked over to the couch. She crouched down some while extending her hand to the leader. Leonardo waited a second before attempting to get up. Thankfully he was strong enough to lift himself up by one leg so that the injured ankle did not have to bear his massive weight. Mona held tight as he got up and adjusted himself.

“Might as well find a room we like.” He said. The two other mutants nodded knowingly. Before he and his sister could take a step, he halted her and came from under her arm. The terrapin winced but he stood up straight and proceeded to walk over through the hallway on his own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Go ask him! Ask him!” a member of the Purple Dragon’s egged on his associate. There were three of them in the immediate space. Another handful were stationed in surrounding areas as extra security, although this was more of the gang’s choice rather than the one’s of whom they were hired by. The Foot clan steps on every New York gang’s neck but as they began to cut recruitment numbers for care in the quality of their soldiers, rival gangs would be “hired” for various gigs. In this instance, Johnny smiled smugly over at their prisoner. Sitting on the cold ground with cuffs around his rat feet kept him from being able to stand. His hands were also handcuffed behind his back, leaning him against a pole. The bandana around his eyes kept him from seeing his surroundings. The rat was immobile and did not know where he was or what was to become of him. As time went on, all he can tell was that he was in the presence of idiots. Johnny stepped in front of him and bent over with his hands on his knees to ask Splinter to his face.

“Do you know a Charles Entertainment Cheese?” Immediately as he spoke he began to laugh. He did not care that his spit splattered onto the face of the rat as he laughed directly in his face. His other buddies found it just as entertaining as he did. As they should as they wanted him to ask. He kept whooping and hollering. It kept occurring so close that it hurt his sensitive ears. He couldn’t escape it, but he kept his cool. This was nothing to him. He’s gone through far worse. He’s a single father of four boys.

“We got -” The initial alarm of the walkie talkie being used pierced Splinter’s ear but not as much as the shock of feeling the building shake. All three gangsters came together and stood at the ready. Immediately after, the walkie sounded off again.

“Explosives set off at the entrance!” someone warned in distress. Johnny took a breath.

“They’re here!”

“What’s the plan?” Two-ton asked. SPlinter could hear him get closer as the large man was not shy about hiding his steps. He was proud of allowing people to see him coming to get after them.

“We move. Our flank’s covered.” That’s right. The Foot wanted to handle the mutants themselves. In all honesty, the Purple Dragons don’t have the best track record with defeating these mutants. Instead, they could just maintain an already captured enemy. Splinter does not remember his captors, but Johnny did when they traded the rat in for their care. Those women were bad. He himself felt like his life could end at any moment in their presence. They met with a full machine gun in his hands and he still felt unsafe. Wherever those women came from, he knew they were not the ones to play with.

The memory of it made Johnny shudder. He then snapped and pointed back at Splinter. “Sorry about this old man. Two-ton, hit him!” Instantly, Splinter was hit by an electric prod by the larger gangster. It didn’t take long for him to go limp from loss of consciousness. “Wrap him up, let's get him out the back.”

Splinter’s arms were uncuffed from the pole and immediately re-cuffed behind his back. With such a job this big and higher ups so scary, the Purple Dragons wanted this to be their best job. Two-Ton transported the rat out the back. Their walkie talkies went off narrating what was going on. There was a fire by the entrance. All of the mutants showed up. Their vehicle was under cover, hiding behind a hill of trash, next to a path that leads to a backroad exit. He ran with the rat bumping harshly on top of his back. The man couldn’t care how smooth the ride was for his prisoner. The group finally got to their getaway van. 

Splinter was thrown in the back seat. They did not know if they should or should not buckle him in his seatbelt, so the job of the third member was to figure that out as Johnny and Two-Ton got in the front seat. Johnny got them out of there as the van sped off out of eyesight. Two-Ton and Johnny both constantly looked behind themselves to make sure they weren’t being followed by anyone. Once they got onto the freeway, they knew they were in the clear. By then, the third member had Splinter lying on his side with his head hanging off on the door side of the back seat. His choice of seatbelt placement was to use the middle and outside belts to straddle his body down while he got the whole other third seat to himself. Just cuz he a thug don’t mean he don’t wanna be safe himself. Johnny saw it in the rearview mirror while checking behind himself and cracked a smile of relief. Two-Ton had his whole body turned around to look at the job. He sighed.

“Why do we even have this guy?”

“The Foot want the turtles. This poor guy is just a pawn.”

“‘Wonder what it is to them?” The third member asked. He was both creeped out and fascinated by the creature sleeping next to him. “Food?” Two-Ton turned his body all the way to look at him again as if it was a stupid thing to say. In his defense, he just wanted to think outside the box. Obviously this thing means something quite important to those giant turtles. But what could a giant rat mean to some giant turtles?

“I don’t know dude, but I’m down to get some.” Johnny added as it was both the truth and a smooth way to redirect Two-ton’s attention to something less conflicting.

“Del Taco.” He pointed to a large sign off the exit. The van turned on its right turn signal.