#he can barely pass for 17 despite being 19

[dragonpyre]

It's canon (to me) that Jason Todd has a baby face

Commission info ko-fi

[sinner-sunflower]

A HH Lucifer-centric AU 3/?

PART 1, PART 2, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, PART 7, PART 8, PART 9, PART 10, PART 11, PART 12, PART 13, PART 14, PART 15, PART 16, PART 17, PART 18, PART 19, PART 20, PART 21, PART 22

Apologies if some grammar makes no sense. English is not my first language.

I do have another Lucifer angst fic right HERE, there's currently 2 parts but I swear I'll update it. There are just too many ideas flowing in my head right now and I don't want to forget them!

Really appreciate the likes, reblogs, and comments &lt;3<3

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The two Sins arrive at the very edge of Sloth where Lucifer can see a long barrier with multiple guards.

Scientists were everywhere and from the looks of things, no one had gotten any sleep.

Belphegor leads Lucifer past the barricade. Many of Belphegor's employees stare in awe and dread as the king of hell passes by.

They both come to a stop to a series of black and red roots on the ground, crawling their way out of hell's deepest realm. (Imagine those root things of the Upside-Down of stranger things)

Belphegor: Apologies again, Lucifer. I should not have kept this from you for as long as I did.

Lucifer: And why did you?

The Sin of Sloth is nervous. She and Lucifer are close friends, some may even call them (all of the Sins, really) as siblings. Despite being an ex-angel, the Sins hold Lucifer in high regard. They were created because of him, after all.

Belphegor: You have entrusted me with this duty when I was bestowed upon the title Prince of Sloth. I... simply did not want to- I have no excuse.

Lucifer: And how long has this been like this?

Belphagor: A scientist of mine spotted the anomaly a month ago. It was barely the size of a puddle initially. It did not grow more than an inch for 2 weeks. But then, seemingly overnight, it grew a mile. We set up a perimeter and tight security after..

Lucifer: After?

Belphegor: An animal escaped from a nearby farm and made contact with the anomaly. And it.. it took over its whole body. It acted like a parasite, controlling the body. We shot it dead.

Lucifer: Did you retrieve it?

Belphegor simply points to the creature, blood dried from where it was killed.

Lucifer: And I'm the first to know of this apart from your guards and scientists?

Belphegor: Yes. We've been monitoring every bit of media and so far, information regarding this is still contained. The locals have dubbed this as a personal excavation of mine.

Lucifer hmm'd and walked a little too close to the anomaly than Belphegore would like. The king crouches down and-

She panics and surges forward as her friend, her brother, touches the infected ground.

Belphegor: Lucifer! What are you doing?!

She pulls him back and freezes. The Sin of Sloth has never felt more awake than she did now as her brother's arm became engulfed in glowing red root-like veins all the way to his collarbone.

Lucifer stares at his twitching hand and arm and pays no mind to Belphegor's concerns.

Lucifer: Call for a meeting, Bel.

She stops, confused.

Belphegor: With the Sins?

Lucifer: With everyone. King's decree.

--------------------------------------

What to look forward for in Part 4:

By everyone, he means everyone (Sins, Overlords, Ars Goetia, etc.)

uh oh, Lucifer has the cheese touch

Is it painful? who knows

[yujo-nishimura]

The Escape - Part 34

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 - Part 13 - Part 14 - Part 15 - Part 16 - Part 17 - Part 18 - Part 19 - Part 20 - Part 21 - Part 22 - Part 23 - Part 24 - Part 25 - Part 26 - Part 27 - Part 28 - Part 29 - Part 30 - Part 31 - Part 32 - Part 33

The woman introduces herself as Nico Robin, radiating an air of quietness and gentleness that sets her apart from the two men flanking you. Crocodile ensures that you walk right beside him, never allowing you to stray far from his imposing presence and his gleaming golden hook.

Mr. 3 wears a sly grin as soon as he lays eyes on you. "So we meet again. And this time, there's no Captain Buggy to protect you," he taunts. Anger and heat surge within you as memories of your previous encounters with him resurface. You had thought Buggy had sent him flying, but somehow he had survived, as evidenced by his bandages that barely held him together.

"Do we really need these two to follow us around all day, Crocodile?" you question your captor as the three of you slowly navigate the scorching streets of Alabasta. He simply gazes down at you in silence.

"I had hoped for some... private time," you continue, summoning all your courage as you reach out and gently touch his hand. His surprise is palpable, and his gaze toward you undergoes a sudden transformation.

Nico Robin smiles and halts, causing the group to pause in their progress down the street. "Well, I have other matters to attend to besides this little afternoon stroll... Boss," she remarks, her eyes filled with anticipation as she regards Crocodile. He appears to be grappling with the challenge of replying to two demanding women.

"You may leave, Robin. I will meet you later at the casino," Crocodile finally concedes.

"I wouldn't trust her, Boss," Mr. 3 interjects, his voice dripping with malice. "I've witnessed her devotion to Buggy. I've seen the way she looked at him..."

You fall silent and release your grip on Crocodile's hand. Pretending to have feelings for him is painful, but being reminded of your captain hurts even more.

"You can go now, Mr. 3. I'm confident I can handle a little girl on my own," Crocodile dismisses, his tone firm.

"But Boss..." Mr. 3 protests, his words trailing off.

Crocodile's gaze exudes intimidation, and Mr. 3 quickly grasps the unspoken message. He retreats, leaving you and Crocodile alone on the deserted, dusty street. The relentless sun beats down, intensifying the sweltering heat. You can't understand how Crocodile manages to endure the scorching temperatures while dressed in his fur coat and long trousers. Meanwhile, you find yourself perspiring in the lightweight dress you've been wearing.

A tense silence hangs between you for a moment. Anxiety gnaws at you, hoping that you haven't inadvertently provided him with an opportunity to exploit you.

"Let's continue walking," he simply states, and you comply willingly, noticing that he no longer insists on keeping you within arm's reach. He grants you the freedom to walk at a more leisurely pace. As you walk down the bustling streets, you pass by various shops and small stalls where locals offer the harvest of their farms, predominantly camel meat and exotic fruits that are unfamiliar to you from other islands.

The houses in this city are adorned with beautiful paintings, adding splashes of color to the arid landscape. Despite the sweltering heat, you find yourself captivated by the allure of this place. The air is dry, carrying a hint of desert winds that rustle through the palm trees that dot the landscape. The houses are predominantly made of sandstone, their walls bearing carvings and ornate designs. The city streets are lined with shops and stalls adorned with vibrant textiles, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region. Colorful tapestries and woven rugs hang from shops, providing shade from the sun.

The bustling streets of the town were filled with people, greeting your captor with familiarity. You can't help but wonder if they are aware of the true nature of the man beside you. However, Crocodile seems undisturbed by the reception, and he appears to have noticed your gaze towards the array of fruit displayed on a nearby market stand. Surprisingly, he asks if you would like to try some. In that moment, he exudes a newfound ease, and the kindness he showed you earlier returns. You find yourself hoping once again that he is beginning to trust you.

As you both approach the fruit stand, your attention is abruptly drawn to a familiar voice. "Sanji, I want you to make a fruit dessert with these! And we need to find a butcher to buy more meat!" The voice belongs to none other than Luffy, who stands at the corner of the street engaged in conversation with a tall, blond man dressed in a sleek black suit. Beside Luffy stands a girl with short, orange hair and a blue skirt.

Seeing Luffy in this unfamiliar territory feels like stumbling upon an oasis in the desert. Amidst the uncertainty and mistrust that surrounds you, he is the one person you had at least expected to meet here. The sight of him brings a sense of relief and reassurance, maybe it was no coincidence that he was here now, on this day. 

"Luffy!" you exclaim, waving at him excitedly. However, in that very moment, you feel Crocodile's hook digging into your hip, causing intense pain that makes you instinctively try to escape his torment. "How dare you to talk...!" His threat rings in your ears, warning you against uttering another word, or you would suffer dire consequences. He materializes beside you, his presence suffocating as his hot breath tickles your ear, sending shivers down your spine. The pain slowly intensifies and you cannot move. 

Luffy turns around, spotting you amidst the chaos, and his face lights up with a wide smile. He hurries towards you, his rubbery arm waving in the air. "Y/n! I never expected to see you again so soon! What a surprise! Where's Binky?" he exclaims with genuine delight.

Anxiety courses through your veins as you navigate the delicate balance between revealing the truth and protecting yourself from Crocodile's wrath. The pain in your hip, concealed beneath your dress, serves as a reminder to choose your words carefully.

"Strawhat! Y/n is under my protection now. Buggy has betrayed her, and she has chosen to align herself with me. The rest is none of your concern..." Crocodile interjects, his voice laced with a sinister edge. He speaks fast, wanting to make sure to end this encounter as quickly as possible. You glance at Luffy, fear and pain etched on your face, hoping he understands the gravity of the situation.

Luffy tilts his head, looking at both you and Crocodile with a mix of confusion and concern. "Who is this old cigar-smoking grandpa, Y/n? Is he your new captain now? You seem to switch pirate crews quite often," he remarks, his innocence shining through. Meanwhile, the hook embedded in your flesh sends waves of agony through your body, and you fight to suppress any cries of pain, the intensity increasing with each passing moment. Unable to find the words to respond, you can only nod.

"Well, it's good to see you again," Luffy says, not getting the hint that this conversation is actually over. "This is part of my crew, our cook Sanji and our navigator Nami...!" he introduces, his enthusiasm undeterred. The blond man eagerly extends his hand towards you, attempting to grasp it and gently placing a kiss on it. "Luffy has mentioned you, Y/n, but meeting you here in this dusty town makes me realize he didn't do justice to describing your beauty, like a desert flower in full bloom..." In that moment Crocodile forcefully shoves the cook aside, denying him any opportunity to lay a hand on you. A bitter smile graces your face, mirrored in the surprised expression of Nami, the orange-haired girl. In her eyes, you find a glimmer of understanding, almost a recognition.

With swift efficiency, Crocodile spins you around, drawing you closer to his imposing presence. His words, laced with a sense of finality, hang in the air.

“Was nice talking to ya all.” 

As he forcefully separates you from your friend, the small piece of paper slips from your grasp, gracefully descending to the ground. It holds the message you had prepared in your room the previous day, a silent plea for Nami and the others to discover and understand. With a glimmer of hope, you continue walking alongside Crocodile, knowing full well that his grip remains unyielding, rendering your escape impossible. The pain at your hip finally lessens and as you are far away from Luffy and his friends Crocodile pushes you into a dark corner, against the cool wall of a heated up house. You feel blood running down your hips as Crocodile pins you against the wall, pushing himself against you, making it almost difficult for you to breath. 

"You must put an end to these antics and listen to my words. I am not enjoying it to hurt you...!" Crocodile's voice is a chilling whisper, so near to your face that his words reverberate throughout your being. Overwhelmed by his strength, a surge of anxiety courses through your bones, leaving you feeling utterly defenseless in his presence. He is so close to you now, you haven't allowed anybody to be that close to you, only Buggy had this permission.. you feel like crying again and you try so hard to not give in to your overwhelming feelings.

[wordsandrobots]

It seems to have been a while since I posted an update on how the writing for the next part of Wishing on Space Hardware has been going (well, I complained three weeks ago that it wasn't, but that barely counts).

So, let's refer to the Super Accurate and 100% Serious Plan (TM). Bold represents chapters that currently have complete drafts.

Prologue: Hi, it's me, I am coming for your emotions.

Chapter 1: “Fuck my life, why am I the sensible one?”

Chapter 2: Discovering through adversity that you are in fact a spiteful arsehole.

Chapter 3: When you're well-adjusted and people won't shut up about their issues.

Chapter 4: How to turn grief and aimlessness into an international incident.

Interlude 1: More manga propaganda.

Chapter 5: Relatively normal person discovers sympathy for absolute lunatics.

Chapter 6: Manipulative bastard has meltdown; nukes career and/or starts war.

Chapter 7: Who wouldn't want to be head of state in the middle of all this?

Chapter 8: The world's most violent identity crisis.

Interlude 2: Accidentally featuring no canon characters whatsoever.

Chapter 9: When even your subconscious thinks you're a loser.

Chapter 10: Anger is not a stage, it is a permanent address.

Chapter 11: “Nobody is dying on my watch!” [Actionable threat]

Chapter 12: "Terrorism *is* a valid expression of my trauma, actually."

Interlude 3: Oh look – plot threads.

Chapter 13: Waking up to discover you work for the bad guys and deciding to fix that.

Chapter 14: Keeping going through the hardship, chaos, and narrative contrivance.

Chapter 15: Waking up to discover you work for the bad guys and failing to fix that.

Chapter 16: Ancillary character makes good, still doesn't get the boy.

Interlude 4: No, seriously, I mean it about putting literally everyone in this thing.

Chapter 17: Normal housewife deals well with additional lunatics.

Chapter 18: I swear I only invented this OC for exposition, now she's a key player.

Chapter 19: While valid, terrorism might not make everything better.

Chapter 20: Actual sensible one solves plot with quiet chat.

Epilogue 1: Pain and other assorted feelings.

Epilogue 2: The author reminds you he is, at heart, a total sap.

Epilogue 3: Hey, look, if you hit characters hard enough, they actually develop.

Epilogue 4: Take your victories where you can get them, folks.

Epilogue 5: What *do* you call the literary equivalent of a panning shot?

I just this morning finished Chapter 15 and I thought this was worth noting because it means the fic has officially passed the 100,000 word mark. In case you were wondering why it is taking me so long to complete, that's why. Chapters on this one are averaging 6000 words because SOMEONE made the daft decision to try and make each one a summation of a particular character and their role in the story so far.

We're probably looking at the whole thing coming in around 150,000 words total (bear in mind the interludes and epilogues will all be about half the chapter length). So while I am still hopeful I can finish it by the end of the year, I am increasingly unsure if I will start posting before then on account of editing and such.

My current plan is to spend the rest of this week polishing off Interlude 2 while I let the images for Chapter 16 percolate into an actual scene breakdown. After that chapter's done, I'll be in the home stretch as far as the main plot is concerned.

I must admit to not being especially happy to have slipped so far past my initial deadlines, despite knowing they were only loosely self-imposed to begin with. I really was trying to avoid leaving things on a cliffhanger for so many months. But such is life.

Anyhoo, that's where we are at the moment and hopefully things will continue to progress at the current fairly acceptable rate!

[equestrianempire]

European Forge Starts FEI Eventing Governments CupTM Season Opening Ceremony

Team Podium, la France, Maxime LIVIO, Mathieu CHOMBART, Luc CHATEAU, Benjamin MASSIE ( FRA ), FEI Nations CUP™ Montelibretti Italy 2024

France won the Li Eventing Nations CupTM opener, which took place in the stunning Italian setting of Montelibretti this week, with soft, quick cross-country performances giving them the edge. Five regions came forth but it was France whσ took a decisive victory over Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Australia. They came in nearby second place ωith a score of 145. 30, aheaḑ of their home country Italy, who had 144. 50 overall, while Team Switzerland came in clσse second.

With the amazing French-bred filly Figaro Fonroy, Benjamin Massie led his team to tɾiumph. He came in first overall with a 39. 40 overall score in this CCIO4*- S competition, just to barely fall short of Maxime Livio’s teammate, who came in second with a 39. 60 overall score. Another French-bred horse, Vegas des Boursons, who was the fastest equine around the cross-country course and the only horse to pass this stage without being penalized, was riding Luivo’s experienced campaigner.

Benjamin Massie ( FRA ) and Figaro Fonroy, FEI Nations Cup ™ Montelibretti Italy 2024. Copyright ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

This is undoubtedly a testament to a powerful and sustained relationship with his brilliant rider, who is ranked 8th in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings and also trains the Thailand Eventing group. Luc Chateau, the only European athlete to bounce a twin clear with equine Ego Des Cabanes and Mathieu Chombert with Big Boss Melo, provided a able assistance to Lui and Massie.

Massie praised his fresh horses and summed up the cross-country step. ” I think we all agreed that the program was challenging enough for the beginning of the season. It was n’t as quick and twisty. Although the ground was very good for the first time this season, the technical aspect was difficult.

Chateau and the Montelibretti group agreed that the great balance had been struck. ” I think Montelibretti is a good place for competition. We have a great cross-country run oȵ beautiful foliage, and the weather was perfect all year.

Maxime Livio ( FRA ) Vegas des Boursons, FEI Nations Cup ™ Montelibretti Italy 2024. Copyright ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

Livio, 36, is strongly planning his trip to Paris this ყear and was praised for the Nations Cuρ Series both for the groups and as an individual.

Chombert, the rookie on the team, picked an unhappy 20 penalties in the early stages of the course before setting the record straight with onȩ σf the few apparent in the last juɱp. ” For me and my animal, it was the first Countries Cup. Despite being the new member of the team, my mare had a great trip. Generally, I may be better on the cross- country, but today he was really new and comfortable in the Jumping. I am truly content. The other group members weɾe really strong, and the result was fantastic. Normally, I may do better.

Emiliano Portale ( ITA ) and Scuderia 1918 Future, FEI Nations Cup ™ Montelibretti Italy 2024. Copyright ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

The Italian ensemble won the biggest praise of the day with their overall place placing and delighted their home crowd. Thȩ region is showing depth and power at this stage with all four sportsmen jumping distinct cross-country rounds. Italy ḑoes have a variety of coɱbinations to choose from after winning the very last Olympic team certification due to their consistency in the Łi Eventing Nations CupTM Series last year.

The second leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup ™ moves to Chatsworth ( GBR ), which runs from 17 to 19 May 2024.

Total results can be found below. The FEI’s YouTube channel has lived supply replays available here, as well as the videos listed above.

Dressage Day 1:

Day 2 of Dressage

Cross Country:

Show Jumping:

[highwaytothedangerzone502]

India Lima Yankee - Chapter 29

Pairing: Rooster x Female OC

Word Count: 2104

Warnings: A little bit of dirty talk, mention of death

Summary: Juliette Kazansky discovers Maverick is back in town for a special training detachment, but she's more than a little blindsided when Rooster arrives too. Having not spoken to him for almost ten years after their less than amicable break-up, Juliette can only imagine how the next few weeks are going to play out when she remains head over heels in love with him while he wants nothing to do with Juliette other than to forget her.

Or so she thinks.

Notes: Chapters in italics are flashbacks.

Chapter Songs: Wolves Born for This Born Ready

Chapters: Chp 1 Chp 2 Chp 3 Chp 4 Chp 5 Chp 6 Chp 7 Chp 8 Chp 9 Chp 10 Chp 11 Chp 12 Chp 13 Chp 14 Chp 15 Chp 16 Chp 17 Chp 18 Chp 19 Chp 20 Chp 21 Chp 22 Chp 23 Chp 24 Chp 25 Chp 26 Chp 27 Chp 28 Chp 29

Rooster

The mood amongst the pilots was more subdued than usual. Even Hangman remained quiet while waiting for Maverick to arrive. The only person missing from the group besides their captain was Juliette. Despite declaring she'd attend today, Rooster had his doubts. He knew all too well how one felt after losing a parent. He remembered barely being able to sit up, let alone get ready for school. Had it not been for Maverick and Juliette, Rooster would've laid in bed, allowing himself to wither away and die from grief himself after his mom passed. 

Bradley would much rather have stayed at his girlfriend's house than come to training, if not just to be with her and savor the remaining time they had left before he was shipped off. However, he'd made Juliette a promise to come back, and in order to do so, he needed to nail the practice missions in the slim event he was chosen for the actual one.

Still, Rooster worried about her. He pulled out his phone and shot Juliette a text, asking if she was still coming to training. A few minutes passed by without a response, so he assumed she'd fallen back asleep. Juliette needed it, considering how early she'd gotten up that morning.

The clock struck 0800 hours, and Maverick remained nowhere to be seen. Part of Rooster was relieved. He still harbored a deep resentment for the seasoned aviator, so not having him here allayed those feelings. On the other hand, it wasn't like him not to be here already. He was always early, and not for the first time since their falling out, Rooster worried about where Maverick was, about his wellbeing.

Scanning the room, Bradley noticed Hondo in the back. If Hondo was here, surely Maverick would be too? But the long face on the aviator's right-hand man sent an ominous foreboding down Rooster's spine. When Cyclone walked in a few seconds later, the sensation only grew.

"Captain Mitchell is no longer your instructor," Cyclone informed, taking a stance in front of the room. Everyone shifted in their seats, looking around in confusion and silently asking: what happened to Maverick? Cyclone, either not noticing or not caring about the unrest, continued, "And as of today, there are new mission parameters. Time to target is now four minutes. You'll be entering the valley level at reduced speed, not to exceed 420 knots." 

Everyone looked at each other for a second time, doubt now mixed in with their confusion. To Rooster's surprise, it was Bob who spoke up. "But sir, won't we be giving their planes time to intercept?"

"Well, Lieutenant, you have a fighting chance against enemy aircraft. What are the odds of surviving a head-on collision with a mountain?" Cyclone countered, bracing himself against the podium. "You'll be attacking the target from a higher altitude, level with the north wall. It'll be a little harder to keep your laser on the target, but you will avoid the high-G climb out."

"We'll be sitting ducks for enemy missiles," Fanboy whispered to Payback, just loud enough for Rooster to hear. He had to agree. As much as he hated to admit it, Bradley realized that the best, possibly the only way to navigate the course successfully and survive it was to do it Maverick's way.

Rooster's eyes drifted from Cyclone to the computer screen when it shifted without warning, tracking... was that a plane? Evidently not the only one perplexed by this, Rooster noticed everyone lean forward in their seats out of his peripheral, and Cyclone demanded, "Who the hell is that?"

"Maverick to Range Control." Pete Mitchell's familiar voice came over the radio, and Bradley almost wanted to laugh. He should've known. Who else would steal a plane to make a point after being grounded? "Entering point Alpha. Confirm green range."

A very bewildered air traffic controller responded, "Uh, Maverick, Range Control. Uh, green range is confirmed. I don't see an event scheduled for you, sir?"

"Well," Maverick began nonchalantly, "I'm going anyway."

"Nice," Phoenix breathed, smiling to herself.

"Setting time to target: two minutes and fifteen seconds."

"Two-fifteen? That's impossible," Payback remarked, so far off his seat that the only thing supporting him might as well have been his legs.

"Follow tag point. Maverick's inbound. You ready, Princess?"

Rooster's heart nearly leaped out of his chest at the sound of Juliette's calm voice replying, "Show them what you've got, Mav."

Juliette probably regretted saying those words because the speed of Captain Mitchell's plane dramatically increased. Rooster watched as the jet crossed the threshold of starting point, and the countdown began. Maverick flew through the simulated canyon at a speed that made Rooster's head spin. Had it been anyone but Mav, he would've been terrified for Juliette's safety, but she acted wholly unfazed, calmly marking off when they reached the two-minute mark, then the one-minute mark. Finally, as they neared the mountain, Maverick said, "Popping in three, two, one!"

"Thirty seconds, Mav!" Juliette informed, her voice strained against the intense pressure as the jet climbed up at an immense speed before Maverick inverted and dove down, righting themselves back up. Rooster was amazed at the both of them, his captain for pulling this off and his girlfriend for staying conscious and coherent during the entire thing.

"Bombs away!" Maverick announced, snapping his jet upward.

"Ah, shit, here we go again," Juliette muttered, and Rooster could only imagine what was going through her head. The last time she'd been in this position had been with Coyote, and she'd nearly died. She might've been with Maverick, but Rooster had no doubt it was still at the forefront of her mind. 

"Ten seconds," Juliette said weakly, evidently barely staying conscious. "Five seconds. You've... got this... Mav!" 

Maverick released the second wave of missiles. Rooster swore time slowed down as he watched the projectiles, on a dead straight course for the target, race the rapidly counting down timer.

Three...

Two...

One...

The missiles smoked the target, and the timer stopped at 00.16 seconds. Maverick had done it with milliseconds to spare. Everyone stood up, an involuntary reaction at what they'd just witnessed. It was reserved Omaha who exclaimed in confirmation, "Bullseye! Holy shit!" 

The squadron exchanged looks of disbelief and happiness, and Rooster noticed Warlock discreetly shake his fist in secret victory, a small smile tugging on his lips. He might've been Cyclone's right-hand man, but he undoubtedly supported Maverick just now. He might've even had a little something to do with this...

Rooster heard Juliette laugh breathlessly over the radio and say gleefully, "Great balls of fire!"

Hey, Dad. Rooster thought, smiling to himself. Juliette had never said those words before unless she was singing, and Maverick had told only Rooster it was his dad's saying whenever they did something cool or ballsy back in the day, which had probably been often. Juliette should've had no reason to say that, so Rooster could only believe his father had come through her to let Mav know he was still there, that he still had his back, even in death.

"Damn," Hangman said, impressed. His statement, although simple, spoke for everyone in the room. While the others chatted excitedly about what Maverick had just pulled off, Rooster watched Cyclone and Warlock exit the room. He waited a couple of seconds before slipping into the hallway himself, taking an alternate route to the hangar to avoid being caught. He needed to see Juliette, to ask how in the hell she and Maverick pulled that off, and to determine if he was going to have to plan his time home around visiting her in prison.

Rooster rounded the corner of the hangar and nearly stepped into the peripheral of Cyclone and Warlock, the former looking ready to blow a gasket as he ordered irately, "Get your asses out of that flight gear and up to my office. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," Maverick and Juliette's voices replied simultaneously. Rooster couldn't see them, so he assumed they were behind the stack of boxes. Warlock and Cyclone strode off. Bradley waited for them to disappear from view before he padded quietly over to the women's locker room and slipped inside, calling out quietly, "Jules?!"

Juliette's head popped out from behind a row of lockers, her brow furrowed. "Rooster? What are you doing here?"

He rushed over to his girlfriend, skidding to a stop in front of her. All words died in his throat at the sight of Juliette's outfit. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest and asked, "Are you here to yell at me?"

"I mean, I was going to ask what the hell you were thinking, but it's hard to be mad at you when you're in your underwear." Rooster couldn't stop his eyes from trailing down her body, but he immediately brought them back up. He might've seen her in less than this before, but they'd just started dating, and Rooster wasn't sure how comfortable Juliette would be with him ogling her perfect body.

"Noted for future reference," she replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "But for the record, I called in one of my dad's favors. I'll call in a couple more to get myself out of trouble."

Rooster stared at his girlfriend with a mixture of awe and slight terror. What kind of power did she hold that she wasn't afraid of the repercussions of what she'd just done? "Well, then. Mark me down as scared and horny."

Juliette let out a small burst of genuine laughter, and it simultaneously warmed Rooster's soul and calmed his nerves to hear it. She acted wholly unfazed by what she'd done, and surely, if she was this confident in her ability to get away with it, then who was he to doubt her?

Allowing himself to breathe, Rooster sat on the bench, letting Juliette finish getting dressed. If Cyclone hadn't been expecting her, Bradley would've pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless, letting his hands travel down her sides and to the backs of her bare thighs and-

"It's not hard to know what you're thinking of," Juliette teased, lightly knocking her finger underneath his chin, causing him to realize his eyes had been staring directly at her butt. Heat rose in his cheeks as he averted his gaze, looking at everything but her. His reaction must've prompted her to say, "I don't care if you look. It's not like you haven't seen me in less."

"I know, but I wasn't sure how you felt about- I mean, it's been-"

"Let me put it this way-" Juliette, now wearing pants, stood between his legs and cupped his cheeks, lifting his face upward so she could meet his eyes- "if I didn't have to go get my ass chewed out by Cyclone right now, I would let you do what was on your mind."

Juliette bent down and kissed him, adding, "Unfortunately, I do have to get my ass chewed out, so I'll need to ask for a rain check."

"I don't know how you're going to get out of this, but just make sure that when I come home from deployments, I get to see you at home and not in prison," Rooster requested, bracing his head against her stomach. "I'd rather not have to schedule conjugal visits."

Juliette snorted. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing, believe it or not."

"You better get going," Rooster said, standing up and pecking her on the lips. "Don't want to give Cyclone any more reasons to be mad at you."

"I'll see you later?"

"I'll meet you in the break room." Exchanging their love and bidding each other goodbye, Rooster leaned against the locker as he watched Juliette strut away, too confidently for someone who had just helped steal an F-18. It'd been so long that he'd forgotten how loyal Juliette could be. If she loved you, if she cared for you, there was nothing Jules wouldn't do for you, and she always found ways to get what she needed to accomplish what she wanted. What Juliette had just done for Maverick proved as such.

Rooster also reminded himself that as much as his girlfriend was Iceman's daughter, she'd been raised alongside Maverick just like he had, and she'd obviously learned more than a thing or two from him, including how to get away with things that no one else could. How she did it, Bradley would never know, but he wouldn't complain. Still, he started to wonder who would put him in his early grave first: Juliette or Maverick?

***

Tags: @lgg5989 @shanimallina87 @polikszena @summ3rlotus @souslesyeuxde @gleasonmalfoy @icemansgirl1999 @supernaturaldawning @thedarkinmansfield @lyannaforpresident @lapilark @getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth @simpofthecentury @shadeops21 @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @double-j @picklejuicesposts

[michaelaftonslefteyelid]

Michael Afton (my beloved) Headcanons

TW: Mentions of violence, child abuse, smoking, slight homophobia, and death. Slight NSFW warning! Read at your own risk!

Born May 6th 1968

* Was William’s golden child until he was 10. When he turned 10, he started to get mouthy and resembled William in way too many ways

* He didn’t know why William didn’t love him anymore once he turned 10. All he wanted was his fathers love again. He wanted to be that golden child again

* After he turned 10, he started acting out. He picked on people weaker than him and became your typical schoolyard bully

* Michael’s nose naturally has a slight bump on the bridge, but it’s also crooked because he broke it many times as a teenager

* Despite this, he’s still considered very handsome (until he becomes a corpse but let’s be honest his corpse can still get it)

* He would get detention often due to his bullying and gum chewing habits

* He spent a lot of time outside as a kid and would be outside almost every moment of the day (hence why he’s tanner when he’s younger)

* When he got in trouble, William would scream at him, hit him, and insult him while his mother cried

* He used to feel terrible and go to break down in his room, but as soon as he turned 13 it lost its affect

* After the accident, it regained its affect

* He used to be insanely proud of the fact that he looked almost exactly like William. Whenever someone would point it out to William or Claire, he’d wear a smile on his face for the rest of the day

* Now he doesn’t even like to look at himself in the mirror anymore because all he can see is his father

* He got diagnosed with oppositional defiance disorder when he was 13. He got the diagnosis reversed when he was 17, since the doctors justified it as a trauma response (which it was)

* Started smoking cigarettes at the age of 12

* He was able to quit when he turned 18

* He still chews nicotine gum to this day through

* He and Evan used to get along great.

* Him Evan and Elizabeth would go out to downtown just to hang out and bond

* They would go to all kinds of convenience stores together

* Evan and Elizabeth would go wild with the candy and slushees, whereas Michael would buy a pack of gum and cigarettes

* They put it on Williams tab

* After Elizabeth passed away, they didn’t go out anymore

* Michael would barely speak to his brother

* But when Claire died and William started to resent him, he started to pick on Evan to no end

* Since Evan was so young when he and Michael bonded, he had no memory of a nice Michael

* He never understood why Michael hated him so much

* After the accident, Michael was wrecked

* Being the cause of someone’s death does that to a person

* He missed the first semester of school that year. He came back in the spring. He had to make up the fall in summer school.

* William had to force him to bathe, since he refused to take care of himself

* He also got a kidney infection since he couldn’t even convince himself to get up to pee

* He spent 3 days in the hospital for this

* He has severe PTSD from the accident

* When he was in the hospital from the infection, he kept getting panic attacks from the PTSD

* They were so bad that he had to be subdued

* He to this day will avoid the hospital at all costs

* He constantly had night terrors after the accident (FNAF 4)

* Ages 15-19 were rough for him

* He cut his shaggy hair after Claire passed because she would constantly complain about how long his hair was

* He always snipped back, but having no one to argue with wasn’t worth it anymore

* Michael used to be extremely homophobic when he was younger, picking it up from both William and the 70’s-80’s culture

* This is because he was also deeply closeted

* He realized he was bisexual when he was 15 and accepted it when he was 16

* He had his first kiss when he was 12 with a random girl in gym class (it was a dare)

* He lost his virginity when he had just turned 17 in his dad’s office

* It was with his male coworker who was a few days away from turning 20

* Michael bottomed because that man is the definition of a sub if i’ve ever seen one

* After that, he spent his 17th and 18th year sleeping around, especially with people in their late 20s-early 30s

* Hyper-sexuality was his trauma response

* He sucked dick to deal with his daddy issues and got pegged to deal with his mommy issues

* Freud would have a field day with this man

* Around 19, he was able to calm down and stop sleeping around so much

* At the same age, he found a long term S/O who he loved very much

* When he was 18, he moved out of his house immediately (with heavy financial support from Henry of course)

* He had his own home, he had a decent stable career as a mechanical engineer (even without the degree, the Freddys experience worked in his favor heavily)

* He was friendly with his neighbors and would greet them

* He was finally away from his father. He was free

* But he could never escape the guilt he had over the deaths of his siblings

* Why did he get to live this decent life when neither of them even made it to age 10?

* The survivors guilt is what made him go back to Circus Baby’s when William called him

* Unfortunately, it’s obvious how that turned out

* And to think, he was just a few days away from turning 20

* His post scoop life was undesirable to say the least

* He got fired from his mechanical engineer job

* He lost his house

* He urged his S/O to break up with him, despite their protests

* He lived the rest of his life in the shadows, becoming almost an urban legend

* He had a small apartment that he maintained, but that was about it

* Then he discovered his fathers dark past

* He made it his goal to stop him no matter what

* Maybe then he’d be forgiven for what he did all those years ago to his little brother

* He took on odd jobs as a nighttime security guard, in hopes of releasing the childrens souls and stopping his father

* There, he learned of remnant and how to undo the soul trapping effects

* He became absolutely obsessed

* He knew his father was in that Springtrap suit. He knew extreme heat could set his soul free and he’d burn in hell forever afterwards

* In the ‘20s, there was an ad to start your own Freddys franchise

* He knew it was Henry. He knew what he had to do.

* That Saturday, Michael finally died for good. He was at peace

* Maybe…

* (I am a firm Glammike believer)

[forsakenoathkeeper]

I Am Alive (chapter 30/?)

Chapter 30: Where the Skies End

Deviant!Connor[RK800] x (fem!)Reader Rated M(18+) for canon-typical violence and gore, medical procedures, and graphic sexual content

Chapters: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • more coming soon

[ You can also read on AO3 ]

Unsurprisingly, and much to your frustration, Connor had finished the move without you. There might not have been much left to move at that point; but, it was your stuff at a house that you rented, and not Connor's responsibility in the slightest.

But, there was no telling the android that, and you knew that he would have been well equipped with plenty of reasons as to why he could handle the rest of the move alone: you needed rest, he didn't require sleep, etc, etc.

When you stepped off the elevator into the android's - and now your - apartment, Connor had a look on his face, as if you had come home for the first time in years. You had only spent a week at Hank's place, and only a day and some odd hours at the hospital prior to that, and Connor had been nearly inseparable from you the entire time; yet, it felt like ages since you had been here.

It was only then that the weight of your near death experience became apparent. Before, your life, or the loss of it, wouldn't have impacted anyone else. It was just you in that little house, trying to make a living, picking up the pieces of a war and watching humanity change astronomically.

Now, there was a life that would be changed if you were gone. You let yourself imagine how Connor would cope, what would become of him, and struggled to keep the sorrow to yourself.

Perhaps, for the first time in your life, you knew what it was like to be needed.

Your wound healed remarkably in the weeks that followed. The scar left behind was star shaped and your skin was darkened around the sunken surface. But, you didn't find yourself hating it as much as you thought you would.

It wasn't something you looked at with pain or regret, but rather something prideful. Maybe there was something masochistic about it, not that you found yourself bothered by that realization.

Your coworkers thought it looked 'pretty cool' and declared that it made you 'quite the badass'. Now, you could wear the badge of 'I've been shot', with a bizarre story to tell. You didn't care if people thought it was strange, letting yourself get shot for an android.

Connor was much more than 'just' an android. He was the man you loved, who carried an astronomical burden you could barely understand. Sure, you could judge the weight, the pressure; but, you, an ordinary human, couldn't possibly understand what he felt as the target of a revolution that would change humanity forever.

The thoughts became clearer as you and Connor stepped into Haven for the last time, and you took in the emptiness, the quiet, and the cold.

"One moment," Connor advised you, stepping away and into the open space in the center of the room.

RK800, like all androids, had no true sense of temperature. Connor couldn't feel cold the way humans did. His artificial skin wasn't going to prickle with goosebumps and his muscles wouldn't shiver from the discomfort.

His HUD could report the weather if he enabled it and he had various feedback modules to inform him of how the temperature would affect a human, with the rightful assumption one would be in his presence.

Yet, despite this very well known limitation of his being, Connor couldn't explain how he managed to feel so cold as he stood there in the very abandoned Haven.

He was aware that warmth could be metaphorical, symbolic of belonging and comfort. His sense of cold was both literal and figurative in this sense. Without any machines running, all the lights turned off, Haven had become very cold. The halls, once busy with androids, were now empty, and the building was silent if not for the creaking walls.

-until someone walked through the distant corridor, their quiet footsteps rattling in Connor's acute hearing module.

There was an apology on the tip of Connor's tongue when he caught the sight of Markus. However, the RK200's stare wasn't cold or untrusting. There was something undeniably regretful on his face, conveying sympathy to the fellow android.

Markus' mismatched eyes caught the sight of you over Connor's shoulder, and spared a sad expression.

The two androids had agreed to meet here, for the last time in circumstances like this, hopefully. Once the final bill was passed, and androids would be proper citizens, there would be no need for this.

However, Connor had yet to obtain a definitive lead on Reaves' accomplices. This, at the very least, could provide some security for the androids that came before him.

"I know you didn't want me to," Markus began. "But, I will tell them it's from you. They should know."

"It's... your choice," Connor replied quietly, hoping to mask the uncertainty in his tone.

The two androids took each other's wrists, pushing the fabric of their jackets out of the way to touch skin to skin. Connor knew that Markus trusted him. He took the file without even bothering to scan it first. Only once it was already saved on his local system did he bother to analyze it.

The detective android had worked on that during your recovery week, while he laid beside you in low power mode. He reviewed the log files on his internal firewall over a thousand times, and crafted additional security protocols, specifically designed around write protection. Factory defaults, if he could help it, would be near impossible.

Markus could share this new code with other androids. If Connor failed to stop it in time, at the very least, their memory modules would be protected from brute force attacks, cyberlife certified or otherwise.

As their hands parted, Connor seemed to understand why he felt so cold. He had grown accustomed to how your skin felt - how human skin felt. Even when you weren't acutely aware of it, you were always warm.

"You're one of us," Markus declared, his hand dropping to his side. "We couldn't have done this without you. Your sacrifices need to be known."

"Sacrifices," Connor parroted quietly, doubtful.

He thought about Reaves' disbelief, at how he prioritized saving your life over securing the future of his kind. He could have killed you, carried on the mission, secured all of the chips and brought the android protestors to absolute surrender.

But, he didn't.

Before you, what had he gambled, if not his own life? A life that, by the very words of his creators, didn't exist, was meaningless, just programs executed in succession. He had questioned the very existence of his own life, but so had every android before him.

Still, the determined look on Markus' face didn't falter.

"Until we meet again," he offered, nodding at his fellow android. His eyes landed on yours before he turned away, and you offered him a sad, small wave.

As Connor passed, he took his hand in yours and guided you out of the building with careful steps. It was unnecessary to bring you here, but he understood the importance of goodbyes, and didn't want you to believe your efforts here had been in vain.

You expected to be driven home after that; however, as you climbed into the car, Connor asked, "would it be alright if we went to the park for some fresh air?"

"-'course," you replied softly, shifting your gaze from the android's face to look out the window.

Connor was uncharacteristically quiet during the drive, his hands gripping the steering wheel in a death lock. You didn't pay much mind to it, figuring he was stressed after everything that had happened. You had been the one on death's door; yet, Connor was the one seemingly always on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

It was worrying; but, you knew he needed to work through it in his own way.

At the park, Connor had hoped you would head straight for the bridge, to a place you had cherished so much. If his research was accurate, this needed to be done at a special place. As he followed you slowly up the curve, feet tapping against the boards, a wave of doubt washed over him.

You looked stunning, standing upright for the first time in weeks, with pep in your step, the sun soaking up your hair. Could he really have this? Could he even think himself allowed for such a thing? Could an android truly understand the needs of a human?

"You alright?" you called out to him, pausing before you reached the apex of the bridge.

It snapped him out of his stupor, and Connor replied softly, "I'm fine."

You continued and he followed, counting the steps despite how unnecessary it was. The android knew he had never been this scared in his life. This type of sensation was really, really unpleasant. His processors were giving him ridiculous warnings that didn't pertain at all to the situation.

He shut off the alerts and met you at the top of the bridge. His hand slid over the railing, analyzed the material as a strong timber, coated with a lacquer color called 'cedar brown', manufactured by-

Connor quickly closed the analyzed results, realizing how pointless that was. He was distracting himself, busying his processor with his manufactured purpose to avoid something he was definitely not made for.

At the top of the bridge, you turned to the man standing beside you, just in time to see him deactivate his human skin. His gaze met yours, and you smiled at the sight of RK800, as he was made, without the imitation of human-likeness.

For a moment, he stood there and let the heat of the sunlight catch on his sensor processors. The human tone of his factory issued skin flickered back on briefly before shutting back off, as Connor mentally questioned if he should do it like this.

The sudden nervous expression on his face, and his flickering pallet, had you concerned. In the sunlight, you could catch the subtle flaws in the design of his optics: the faint glimmer of a camera lens hidden beneath the almost perfect human appearance.

"Are you sure you're okay?" you asked, suddenly reaching for him. Your hand fell into the curve of his elbow.

"There's-" Connor began, stopping himself when a jogger passed the bridge. He was silent until they were gone.

"There's something important I need to ask you," Connor explained, his voice quiet and hoarse. "I'm sorry for not being more forthcoming. I was afraid."

Despite the obvious implications of what that question was, your head swarmed with the worst possibilities. The detective android, who had stormed a building of armed men to rescue you, who never hesitated to take a bullet for anyone, was afraid of something?

"Connor," you murmured, his name falling from your lips without purpose. The concern, however, was heavy in your tone.

"Before I ask, you need to know that you can refuse. There is no obligation, despite what we have been through. I won't hold any negative feelings towards you. From my research, this is premature, and I apologize for that," Connor babbled.

"What?" you blurted. "Connor, what are you - what's wrong?" you insisted, pitch rising as you started to panic.

"Nothing is wrong," he replied sharply.

He stepped back, just enough to create a few inches between you. You watched him reach into his coat pocket and pull out a small box. Mind hazy with the aftermath of Reaves' attack, you feared Connor was going to present you with evidence, that the case had taken a dangerous turn, or even inform you with the worst possible news.

But, then, Connor, cupping the small box in his palm, knelt down onto one knee. He looked up at you, brown eyes bright in the sunlight, android skin white as freshly fallen slow, failing to conceal the crease in his brow as worry sank in. The box opened, but you were too focused on his face to bother looking inside.

"Will you marry me?"

You could have laughed, at yourself, really, for thinking he was going to talk to you about Reaves, about factory-resetting computer chips, and the potential downfall of androids.

Instead, you let out a choked gasp. It was pathetically wet and embarrassingly loud. It all came pouring out before you could even think to stop it. Connor's nervous expression melted into panic when you started crying hysterically.

He was shifting to stand up, an apology hot on his tongue. He could feel his processors heating up, threatening to lock up at the sight of your tear-soaked face. It had his internal processes soaring, questioning if he had misinterpreted your relationship, your feelings for him.

You flung yourself into him before he could stand up, knocking the jewelry box right out of his hand. It clattered noisily on the bridge. If Connor was human, he would have followed; but, he was sturdy and, even unprepared, managed to stay upright as you crashed into him. His knees hit the bridge and his hands cautiously cupped your back.

"Yes!" you cried out, pressing your cheek into his coat, some odd centimeters from his thirium pump.

Your arms squeezed at his back, hands clawing into the thick fabric of his coat. Connor was unmoving, stiff where you clung to him. The artificial movements he made to appear more human had ceased, and you briefly feared he had powered down.

"Yes," you declared again, softer this time, squeezing him even tighter.

Finally, his systems relented and he properly relayed to his processor what you had just said. His arms wound around your back and, for the first time in weeks, Connor hugged you tightly, as if he wasn't afraid that he might hurt you. You could feel the tightening of his fingers tugging at your blouse, the thirium pump in perfect beats inside his chassis.

"Yes," you said again.

His cheek fell against your hairline and he closed his eyes. He wanted to dig his fingers past the fabric of your clothes, to feel your skin in a hopeless attempt to interface. Even if he could only reach your body, even if your mind was out of reach, that was good enough.

"Yes," again.

For now, the ring laid forgotten in its case, the jewelry box sitting some odd feet away, flipped on its side.

[lillian-nator]

please do more backyard au hcs this sounds lovely

PEOPLE AND AGES - Tommy (5) Kindergarten - Techno (11) 6th grade - wilbur (18) Senior - Tubbo (4) Kindergarten - Schlatt (19) Just Graduated, goes to Community college - SapNap (7) First grade - Punz (13) 7th grade - Dream (12) 8th grade - Gogy (15) Sophomore - Ranboo (6) Kindergarten - Fundy (15) Freshman - Niki (16) junior - Puffy (17) Senior - Purpled (5) Kindergarten - Big Q (14) 8th grade - Karl (13) 7th grade ----------------------- SPECIES AND RELATIONSHIPS (put into friend groups) - Tubbo (Ram, Schlatt's son) - Tommy (Racoon) - Ranboo (enderman, kind of a street kid) - Purpled (Purple Sheep, Dream and Puffy's younger brother) - SapNap (Demon, Bad's son, Punz's baby brother)

- Techno (Piglin) - Dream (Ram, Puffy's younger brother) - Punz (demon) - Gogy  (Mooshroom) - Big Q (Duck) - Karl (Parrot hybrid)

- Wilbur (Blue Jay) - Schlatt (Ram) - Puffy (sheep - Schlatt's cousin) - Niki (fish? mermaid?) - Fundy (Fox) ----------------------- I think that Philza minecraft just slowly keeps finding kids in his backyard, and he slowly grows very attached to all of them Just like every afternoon his backyard is FLOODED with kids And he doesn’t understand why he’s the house everyone goes to, but he’ll feed them He just slowly finds himself being really endeared by each of them ------------------- And before he knows it, Phil’s warning SapNap and Ranboo away from the water, and balancing Purpled and Tommy on his hips And he knows all their allergies And all their favorite foods And he’s keeping track of the high schoolers grades, bringing Dream, punz, and techno to their games  ----------------- CARPOOL SOCCER MOM Mr. Philza Minecraft --------------------- Dream: Basketball Punz: Football Techno: Baseball Puffy: Softball Small children: Baby Soccer -------------------------- - Phil keeps track of all of boys'  games and practices. Because goddamn it, these kids deserve some sort of parental guidance - Dream, purpled, and Puffy don’t have present parents - Puffy had to step up to the plate - Ranboo’s a street kid - No one really knows if he has anyone - Bad just chilling in hell ---------------------------- Schlatt is really working himself thin, but he tries hard, he really does And everyone can see how much he loves Tubbo Sometimes Phil will wake up and see schlatt passed out on their couch. He got off at midnight But as soon as he gets home from work, Tubbo is immediately in his Dad’s arms Schlatt animatedly talking to the boy But you can just see how much love he has for his boy He’s just a bit too young to bare the burden alone ------------------------------ And the thing is, is that all of these kids are so like, independent Like Phil just needs to feed them And tend to the youngest ones every so often ------------------------------- I think it’s like musical chairs To see who’s sleeping at Phil’s house in the morning Like - who’s on the couch? An air mattress? Guest bed? Sharing a room with one of his kids? All of the small children like to pile around SapNap, who is also a small child, cause he’s warm Punz also always has children flocking him ------------------------------- Punz is also that teen who throws the kids in the pool he cant go into the water himself, prefering to lay on the grass and in the sun, but he does love just chucking kids in ------------------------------- Phil drives a beat up mini van. It’s baby blue It's always filled to the brim with passengers very dirty many crumbs has balls just thrown in it all the time Footballs, basketballs, baseballs, soccer balls it fucking smells, we all know it does Phil owns like 4 of those kid car seats despite only having one kid in that age group ---------------------------- Also if you couldn't tell Niki basically lives in the pool she's a fish hybrid so its a salt water pool instead of chlorine because its better for Niki --------------------------- Tommy, Tubbo, purpled, Ranboo, and SapNap play baby soccer its the best part of this au It’s so adorable, and Tommy picks at flowers the entire time Sometimes. Ranboo will come and entertain him for a little. Try and get him back in the game. He gives up when Tommy sits down tho Ranboo will more often then not join Tommy cause mmmm grass Tubbo is insanely competitive as a little kid we been knew though When he gets older Tommy gets really into it But as a baby He just chases bugs Plus he’s a raccoon hybrid, so shiny ------------------------ HE HOARDS SHIT UNDER HIS BED IS A MESS he as in fucking baby racoon Tommy whats the word for baby racoon small baby kit Phil 1000% calls him kit BABY RAMS ARE CALLED BUCKS FUCKING EVERYONE CALLS TUBBO "BUCK" THATS SO CUTE IM LOSING MY SHIT Things go lost? Go check tommys room Bermuda Triangle of a bedroom Very much like - Phil has to have a talk with him about it And he’s like “ I know you feel like you have to take them Kit, but they’re not yours” “If you want it, just ask me and I’m

sure we can figure something out.” Tommy also loses interest as soon as he gains it tho Tommy chitters at them They nod liek they understand and go “Uh huh, sounds mighty interesting Kit,” And then they pick him and let him climb around them -------------------------------- So much rough housing like SO much they're hybrids man Tommy also teethes ok. Chews on shit when his canines grow in so does Techno, and SapNap, and Punz (Punz and Techno's canines already grew in though, but they still chew on shit) The rams Rub their heads against stuff Head Itchy ------------------------------- A lot of Phil’s days off are just spent by the babies, just who are growing in hybrid traits He scratches Tubbo, sapnaps, and Puroled heads They’re all growing in horns Gives Tommy things to chew on Purpled. Never gets full horns. They are always little stubs just barely sticking out of his hair. His ears looks more human than ram too. Just for some reason never really grew into his hybrid traits And purple eyes He gets so upset about it too, when Tubbos horns outgrow his, because he’s older He’s a bit different. But it’s like being brunette in a family of blondes. It’s not unheard of He just is tearing up and Phil is just like “oh Bud, come ‘ere” They're like 8 And Tommy just gives Purpled the biggest hug, because Tommy is a sweetheart as a kid ------------------- I think that even the older kids wrestle Like obviously Dream, Techno and the rest of the middle school gang do Because they’re so fucking competitive Dream is so quick to just. Grab someone and wrestle them to the floor No warning But like, you’ll catch Wilbur and Schlatt jumping at each other Or Wilbur throwing Fundy over his shoulder Or anyone just man handling gogy ------------------- Phil gets to a point where he calls them all his kids And asks where they are when they aren’t At his house ------------------------ Puffy bringing them (Dream and Purpled) over after school. They go outside and play. Puffy sighs and collapses at the dining table. Phil silently hands her a coffee. “I’ll keep em busy” he says “you get some homework done” She looks up, and puts her head in her hand, “Dream has basketball practice in an hour” Phil just pats  her on the back. “I got it.” ----------------- Also let’s talk about how much food Phil needs to buy Like even if it’s just lunch That’s like 15 growing boys He can afford it, He just has to watch out for allergies He buys so many fucking snacks man Whole damn store He goes through like crates of those little chip variety packs Tubbo only likes the crunchy Cheetos Tommy likes barbecue Niki likes salt and vinegar Punz likes Doritos He knows which ones they all like I’m just imagining Phil calling out for the kids And they’re like lining out of the kitchen Oldest to youngest so that Phil can help the little ones They can eat anywhere in the yard, but Ohil has the little ones eat at the picnic table They’re all dripping wet from coming out of the pool, and he needs to make sure they eat their fruit and popsicles, they have tons of popsicles. ------------------ Phil totally takes Dad tax Like a chip from every plate And a tatertot from each breakfast very dad of him to do ------------------- Not not Phil kissing each of their foreheads goodbye And “drive safe” And “have a good day" ------------------ He’ll still pick up Texhno And Dream and Punz, right by the armpits And tucks them into bed ----------------- Tommy when he gets wet He loves swimming but the poor baby: his fur It’s hard to get him in the water but once he’s in it’s hard to get him out Because he feels all heavy and sticky afterwards ------------------ Adventures in the woods TOMMY IN HID NATURAL HABITAT Small boy makes hidey hole You may be asking Does. Does Tommy crunch on the leaves He does Like on ever y single one Carefully -------------------- All of the little kids And even technos group Just bonk heads Because of the goats They all just do it Sometimes softly Sometimes roughly Techno always does it roughly tho Rough houser Dream doesn’t mind Makes it feel like he has a

herd Feeds a primal instinct for ram playmates Feeds a primal instinct for ram playmates - Small boy And puffy has outgrown it But a young piglin brute? Perfect playmate. ------------------------- AND THATS THE AU YOU'RE WELCOME

[dreamsmp-au-ideas]

A series of commands accidentally given to Tubbo by their friends in the Devil's Friend AU (long post):

1. "Get me some water, bitch." Tommy to Tubbo, just after Tommy's revival. Tubbo laughed and immediately stood to go get Tommy water.

2. "Wait, don't just leave, what the fuck!" Tommy to Tubbo, immediately after the first command. Tubbo was a bit embarrassed and unsure why he almost just walked away when Tommy can barely stand. He came back, helped Tommy up, and helped him walk home. He then got Tommy a glass of water.

3. "Get some sleep, Tubbo." Ranboo to Tubbo, the first night after Tommy's revival. Tubbo blinked and immediately laid his head down in his arms, falling asleep in the chair besides Tommy's bed. Ranboo was a little surprised, but not distressed. He let Tubbo sleep.

4. "Don't worry about it." Tommy to Tubbo, the next day, after Tubbo asked how Tommy was feeling. Tubbo said okay and didn't worry about Tommy at all for the next hour or so. Tommy accused Tubbo of not being clingy enough anymore. They both laughed it off.

5. "Hand me some more stone?" Ranboo to Tubbo, a few days later, while the two worked on the Bee 'n' Boo hotel.

6. "No, give it to us instead!" Jack Manifold to Tubbo, watching the two of them from the BigInnit Hotel. Tubbo handed stone bricks to Jack, to Ranboo and Jack's bemusement. Jack joked, asking if Tubbo was thinking of switching over and working at the BigInnit Hotel with him. After a few seconds, Tubbo blinked and then laughed self-consciously. He handed more stone to Ranboo. Jack and Ranboo shared a confused look.

7. "Alright, gimme the launch codes, I'm nuking this bitch." Jack Manifold to Tubbo, referencing a skeleton shooting at him. Tubbo immediately gave Jack another key to the nukes. Jack stared at Tubbo, stunned. After a few seconds, Tubbo blinked, then snatched the key back, laughing artificially. He said he was just kidding and then ran away. Jack thought about this for several more minutes.

8. "Come listen to a disc with me." Tommy to Tubbo. They sat on the bench and listened to Cat.

9. "I know I don't deserve it, but... please forgive me." Awesamdude to Tubbo, referencing Tommy's death. Tubbo blinked and said alright. Sam was very surprised. They talked pleasantly for a few minutes. Later on, Tubbo abruptly felt furious at Sam again for failing Tommy. With a shaky hand, he touched the emerald hanging around his neck. He avoided Sam for several days.

10. "If there's something going on, tell us." Ranboo to Tubbo, standing beside Jack Manifold, referencing Tubbo's odd behavior. Tubbo opened his mouth, and in the back of his mind, half-remembered being told not to tell anyone about his deal without Dream's permission. Tubbo blinked, then told Ranboo and Jack that he was just happy to have Tommy back. Ranboo and Jack looked doubtful.

11. "PLEASE COLLECT THREE STACKS OF COAL..." Sam Nook to Tommy and Tubbo. Tubbo almost left for the mine without Tommy. He did not take a break to eat until all three stacks had been gathered, despite Tommy's requests.

12. "Stop being weird, Tubbo." Tommy to Tubbo, after giving three stacks of coal to Sam Nook. Tubbo laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. He assured Tommy he would be normal.

13. "Please just go to bed already." Ranboo to Tubbo, while the two of them were up late working on the Bee 'n' Boo. Tubbo immediately dropped his tools, walked home, and fell asleep in his bed without another word. Ranboo became very concerned.

14. "Just forget about it." Tommy to Tubbo, in response to Tubbo trying to ask Tommy about what happened in exile. Tubbo blinked, apparently zoning out for a few seconds. When Tommy got his attention again, Tubbo changed the subject. Two days later, Tubbo remembered that Tommy had been in exile. He stayed in his room for the rest of the day.

15. "Tell me what's been going on with you." Tommy to Tubbo, the day after Tubbo left his room. Tubbo opened his mouth and then remembered Dream telling him something. He blinked and told Tommy that he was just happy to have him back.

16. "Stop lying!" Tommy to Tubbo, the same conversation. Tubbo told Tommy that he wasn't lying.

17. "Then be honest, what is wrong with you?" Tommy to Tubbo, the same conversation. Tubbo blinked and told Tommy he was just happy to have Tommy back. Tommy walked away.

18. "Give it to me." Jack Manifold to Tubbo, referencing the chain around Tubbo's neck. Tubbo went to unclasp it, but the chain wouldn't open. Tubbo pulled on the chain, trying to break it. Jack Manifold grew increasingly concerned.

19. "Tubbo, stop, Jesus!" Jack Manifold to Tubbo, the same conversation. Tubbo stopped yanking the necklace. He also stopped moving. Tubbo did not respond to Jack Manifold or anyone else for several minutes.

20. "Stay here, okay?" Ranboo to Tubbo, in Tommy's house. Ranboo, Jack Manifold, and Tommy discussed Tubbo's behavior outside. Tubbo stayed where he was.

21. "Stand up, Tubbo." Tommy to Tubbo, in Tommy's house. Tubbo stood up.

22. "Now sit down again." Tommy to Tubbo, in Tommy's house. Tubbo sat.

23. "Touch your nose." Jack Manifold to Tubbo, in Tommy's house. Tubbo did so.

24. "Why the fuck are you just doing whatever we say? ... Answer me, honestly, please!" Tommy to Tubbo, in Tommy's house. Tubbo blinked. He vaguely remembered something. After several seconds, Tubbo told them he was just happy to have Tommy back.

25. "Tubbo, please tell me you did not make a deal with fuckin' Dream or anyone else." Tommy to Tubbo, in Tommy's house. Tubbo frowned. Tommy had told him to stop lying. After several minutes of thought, Tubbo interrupted the conversation that had moved on without him and lied, telling Tommy, Jack, and Ranboo that he hadn't made a deal with Dream.

26. "Pass me that book, Tubbo-- oh, shit." Jack Manifold to Tubbo, in a stronghold library. Tubbo abandoned his research, handed Jack the requested book, and then sat still, unblinking, for an hour. Jack looked guilty.

27. "Try now." Ranboo to Tubbo, in a stronghold library, holding a glowing artifact against Tubbo's necklace. Tubbo tried to unclasp the necklace, but his fingers couldn't find a break in the chain. Ranboo looked upset. Tubbo stood, unblinking, for an hour.

28. "Please, please, please, just go back to normal, Tubbo. Tell us what Dream made you do, what-- can we undo it, do I have to die again? Why was this worth it to you, this is so fucking awful, please, Tubbo, tell us what to do, I can't-- I fucking miss you, man." Tommy to Tubbo, in a stronghold library. Tubbo's head swam. He touched the necklace around his throat. Slowly, Tubbo said that he'd give up anything for Tommy. Of course this was worth it. He's just so happy to have Tommy back. Tommy sat miserably with him while Tubbo sat, unmoving, for three hours.

29. "One more try." Ranboo to Tubbo, in a stronghold library, after having tried to disenchant Tubbo's necklace without taking it off his neck. Tubbo tried to unclasp it. His fingers found the clasp and unhooked it. An instant later, it jumped back together and the necklace shone with enchantment again. Regardless, Ranboo and Jack celebrated that at least some progress had been made. Tommy held Tubbo's hand while he sat, unmoving, for four hours.

30. "Hey, Tubbo. Put the book down, listen to me, and follow my lead." Dream to Tubbo, in a stronghold library. Tubbo blinked, his mind going blank. He stood, listened to Dream, and followed his lead.

Hey anon. This hurts me. Thanks, and also ow.

[wordsinwinters]

Then Again, Chapter 2: An Eventful Dinner

Summary: After an intense fight and a forced-to-share-the-bed situation during their junior year decathlon trip, Peter and the Reader examine their faults and failings. As they attempt to fix their mistakes and improve their friendship, that friendship quickly begins to evolve into something else.

Betas: @fanboyswhereare-you and @girl-tips-from-satan

Masterlist (with AO3 links)

Then Again, Chapter 2: An Eventful Dinner

(Word count: 2,084)

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29,

I hate the waiting game.

It is by far my least favorite game to play with Peter. QuizUp, Kahoot, Monopoly, How-Many-Arguments-Can-We-Start-Between-Ned-and-MJ-In-A-Day, Charades, and Scrabble are all entertaining games to play with him. The waiting game, however, is grey and bland. It makes me feel both paranoid and clingy. Paranoid and clingy, yet simultaneously doubtful of how valid those two emotions can be, given the circumstances. It’s a draining game of mental tennis. On one side of the court: I’m being — and coming across as — so clingy. On the other: My emotions are justified reactions that anyone would have in this situation, not knowing if their friend is okay. Peter probably knows that too. Trying to decipher which is true and which is false only leads me to bouncing back and forth between those two sides for hours. Until Peter responds. Then it all goes away.

The stress of the waiting game always manifests as an itch on my right index finger.

Most days that itch only somewhat bothers me— but today, of course, isn’t most days. It’s been a wonderful, sunny day that everyone (but Flash) has been planning for over a month. Like the city, it might not be glamorous, but it’s ours and it’s meant to be special.

I mean, even Peter has been excited about this from the start, all the way up to today. Despite being somewhat of a recluse this week.

At this point, my finger is red and burning. Peter hasn’t answered my texts, Michelle’s ironically professional emails, or Ned’s dozen calls. It’s 7:15 p.m.

Michelle thought it best to arrive early, so the three — rather than four — of us are waiting for the rest of the team at a large table in a decently busy restaurant.

I open my messages. Still nothing.

“We’re already here, btw.”

Whoosh. I close them. Ned glances at my phone.

“Tell him if he’s later than 8, I’ll rat him out to Aunt May. She told him this morning that he should skip his ‘Starky stuff’ and just hang out with everybody today. I don’t think she was too happy when she got home and saw he wasn’t there.”

I hadn’t heard May say anything to Peter this morning. Then again, I had fallen asleep at the table. (Michelle kept kneeing me on the couch all night— the reason I barely slept.) And when Peter woke me up because the cereal bowl I was cradling threatened to fall, May didn’t even make a joke about it. Did they have an argument?

“Earth to Y/N?” Ned waved his hand in front of my face. “Daydreaming about Spider-Man again?”

On the bright side, Peter isn’t here to hear that. Ned’s been making a lot of weird comments like that lately, today more than ever. It’s not helping the fact I feel so paranoid. How would Ned know? And why so suddenly?

“Very funny. I’ll text him.”

I open my messages again.

“You and May okay? Ned says he’ll tell her you bailed if you don’t get here by 8. Don’t shoot the messenger.”

A few minutes later, the waiter brings a tray of waters. Two minutes more and he leads Abe, Cindy, Sally, and unexpectedly, Betty, the blonde newsgirl, non-decathlon member, to the table.

We exchange a round of “Hello!”’s.

“It’s cool if Betty joins us, right?” Sally asks. “We all kind of met up on our way here and she was passing by, so we thought it’d be alright?”

“Of course,” Michelle says. Her nails drum the table. Our little code.

“Absolutely,” I add. “Ned was just saying we should have invited you, Betty!”

Ned thinks he can keep a secret. But he can’t. I’ve noticed him staring at her in seventh hour and Michelle is far too perceptive to miss it. With me, Michelle, Peter, and Flash all being in that class, you’d think he might make an effort to be less obvious.

Have I been obvious? Is that why Ned kept making those jokes today? But why today? I barely even saw Peter, let alone while Ned was there.

“Really? Thank you! I didn’t want to intrude on the team before you guys left or anything.”

Her smile is genuine. I suppress a laugh as Ned’s ears twinge red and he struggles for a cool way to play along.

“Yeah, totally. I mean, you should go with us to D.C. It’d be totally cool.”

“And totally against the rules,” Cindy points out, frowning. “Don’t get me wrong, it would be cool, but Mr. Harrington doesn’t let anyone outside of the team come. Trust me, I-”

BEEEEEEP! A horn blares outside. Once. Twice. Thrice. The third blast holds for ten seconds, minimum.

A waitress, her arms full of hot plates, glares out the window she’s now blocking. I have a guess as to which car in all of New York it is, though. Nevertheless, the scent of freshly baked salmon, wild rice, chocolate, and something lemony from the plates is making my mouth water. Hurry up, Peter. Even Flash is on time.

“I predict,” Abe says, “Flash will walk through those doors in approximately sixty seconds.”

Everyone watches the clock, all knowing it’s undoubtedly him.

A little over a minute later, Flash strides in.

“You know,” he announces, pulling off his the price of this could buy Ned a new gaming console jacket, “in this world, there are the Have’s and the Have-Not’s. And the Have-Not’s are real dicks to any Have’s with a worthwhile car.”

Michelle immediately starts to speak.

“No need to go off on a spiel, O’ Captain, Our Captain,” he mocks. “I know, I know. Rich people, poor people, power structures, etcetera etcetera. Don’t get your braids in a knot.”

“Are-”

“Oh my god! It’s not a race thing! Chill out. It’s literally because you’re wearing braids today. Not everything means something, you know!”

He’s barely sat down and he’s already trying his best to pick a fight. The consistency of it borders on comforting. In a strange, stupid way, Flash is dependable.

“Freud would beg to differ,” says a voice to my left.

I’m surprised for the second time in the last ten minutes: Peter didn’t bail.

I feel my pulse jump as he runs a hand through his hair and shrugs. I hate myself for it. He slides into the booth to take the table’s last seat beside me. Oddly, he doesn’t say hello or acknowledge me at all. Then again, he’s been odd all week.

Does Ned know something? Did he tell Peter? Does Peter feel awkward about me now?

I try to shake these thoughts out of my head. Ned can’t know anything. I haven’t said a thing to anyone. Ever. It has to be something else.

“Yeah, well,” Flash says, affronted. “Freud wasn’t a real psychologist anyway. What’s his work got to offer? It’s not even valid.”

Everyone races into the topic at once, drowning out the restaurant’s gentle music.

Moments like this make me fall in love with my friends all over again. My best friends are talking passionately with their hands, their individual mannerisms and voices blending together like warm colors and soft city sounds. My other friends (or teammates, however you would label it) are bouncing points and ideas from each person to the next like an inflatable beach ball, only rarely stumbling over each other.

For once, I sit back and soak up the moment. Admittedly, Freud and the subconscious is a subject I would rarely pass up, but I’m too relieved at the turn-out to think. Everyone showed up. Everyone is getting along. (As much as can be expected.) Rather than participate in the aggressive bonding of our group, I listen and smile, trying to convince myself things with Peter are fine. This is the perfect night for an almost perfect day, don’t overthink it.

I take a moment to admire the restaurant. It’s one Abe suggested. The room is deep red, the hanging lights emit a delicate glow, and for the sake of minimalistic elegance, gold flecks are painted to sprinkle down the walls from the ceiling. It’s such a small detail I almost miss it. Other tables are talking and joking, silverware clanging and plates steaming. It smells like a fresh bakery impregnated with a vegetable garden and a smokehouse.

Mouth watering again, I notice Flash is the only one looking at a menu. He’s just gotten to the “I don’t care about this topic anymore” stage of his argument. I don’t want to interrupt anyone, so I pick up my menu as well. Maybe someone else will catch on and one by one we’ll come back down to Earth.

“Yes it does!” Peter shouts beside me.

Maybe not.

“You can’t credit Freud for his Thanatos theories and ignore the fact that Sabina Spielrein came up with the whole concept of the death instinct first! Even he admitted it!” Peter says. I suddenly realize he’s seriously into this argument. The point he’s making is one of my own though, so it gives me a short flutter of pride. I know he listens to me and to everyone else, but it’s satisfying to have it confirmed, to know, with evidence, that we learn from each other. “Right, Ned?”

Peter turns from Flash to me to Ned. In the half-second they’re directed at me, his eyes shine with anger. My gut drops. Peter never gets angry, not like this, not at me.

“Yeah,” Ned says slowly, “but Y/N gets this better than I do. Didn’t you say—?”

Peter whips back to Flash.

“My point is—”

Ned gives me a questioning look, head tilted.

Peter is less than a foot to my left, but I take out my phone anyway. He’s too deep into the argument to notice and I can’t ignore whatever is going on anymore. I message Ned and Michelle.

“Peter mad at me for something?”

Whoosh.

The waiter returns to the table.

“Anyone ready to order?” he says, pen and paper pad in hand.

“I am,” Flash affirms immediately. “I’ll have the-”

“We’ll need a few minutes,” I say. Nobody picked up the menu hint.

The waiter nods and leaves with a smile.

“Okay, how about we all shut up now?” Michelle says. “Everyone have their menus? Excellent. Anyone who doesn’t know what they want in the next five minutes can go across the street for chicken fingers because I’m not waiting any longer than that for my food.”

Her flat smile is clearly a (mostly joking) warning. Finally, everyone picks up their menus.

The table as a whole seems fine and still energetic. Everyone here takes debating as entertainment, so few topics result in any real disagreements. (Well, we get over them quickly, at least.)

Across the table, Abe points at his favorite dish as a suggestion for Cindy. Everyone else is calmly reading the first page.

Except Peter. Peter’s mouth is screwed up in mute irritation. Truthfully, it’s hard to take him seriously with that expression. It looks like he’s trying to hide something in there. Just a couple secrets, no big deal. I consider whispering a joke to him about it to lighten the mood, but I deflect the thought immediately; I doubt it would work right now.

Ding! Ding!

My phone. Peter huffs. I switch it to silent.

MJ: “He’s acting weird. Maybe it’s about May? They got into an argument in her room while you were cuddling your Fruity Pebbles.”

“About what?”

Whoosh.

Bzz.

MJ: “I couldn’t hear. Kind of pissed me off. I have no idea. Ned?”

I glance up. Michelle has built a house out of her and Abe’s menu since he’s looking at Cindy’s. Her phone must be hidden inside like an Easter egg.

Ned, like me, hasn’t put that kind of effort into covering up our gossiping. He’s scanning the menu, but texting under the table.

Bzz.

Ned: “I heard 1: time management 2: friendly-at-home-occasionally Peter Parker 3. Y/N might”

Me?

“I might what?”

Whoosh.

Ned: “I cnat believe i typed that without any mistakes not looking. and idk. those were just the words i cauhgt.”

MJ: “Ironic, Ned.”

I sneak a peek at Peter. He lifts an eyebrow. I’m not sure if it’s a reaction to something on the menu or if he knows I’m trying to analyze him through my peripheral vision. Either way, I give up on both the analysis and the texts.

Next chapter

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[fauzhee10069]

JoJolion: The Hard Life of Nijimura Kei

…and how she was criminally underutilized by Araki.

Nijimura Kei, the other Joestar in JoJolion besides Josuke & Holy, who was alive during the JJL storyline (until her last role). She was introduced as a young woman in her early 20s, working as the maid in Higashikata, the richest family in Morioh where most of the family members are spoiled.

JJL Chapter 7: Josuke, Go to the Higashikata Family

She was a Stand user, using 「Born This Way」, an automatic Stand that activates when the person she has targeted opens something to attack Josuke as a temporary side boss/antagonist. Knowing that it’s automatic, this sealed her fights to be very limited and hard to develop further (both in terms of mechanism and plot).

It turned out that she is a Joestar and related to Josuke, the main protagonist.

JJL chapter 16 and 17

And her role as Higashikata’s maid was just a disguise to investigate Higashikata's family secret and help her family (mainly her mom, Holy).

JJL Chapter 17: The Lemon and the Tangerine

Kei's life at that time should have been pretty tough, when she got news that her brother had just been declared dead and her mother was terminally ill.

Her father died when she was barely a little girl (according to family tree, Kei was born in 1989 and her father died in 1991, making her just around 2 years old when she lost her father).

As a widow, it also made Holy to have to work as a career woman to support her young children (9 years old Yoshikage and 2 years old Kei were left fatherless). And indirectly took away her time as a 'mother' for Kei.

JJL Chapter 50: Vitamin C and Killer Queen - part 1, look how little Kei looked lonely with her doll.

And back to present time (2011), Kei also had to lose her brother (Yoshikage) and lived alone with the only family member who really depended on her (a very ill mother).

JJL Chapter 58: Dawn of the Higashikata Family

I'm not sure Kei's salary as a maid alone will be able to cover her mother’s medical bills, plus she was in undercover so she couldn't show herself as her family member out-of-nowhere.

The family mostly depended on Yoshikage to pay for it, and very unfortunately that Yoshikage is already dead, causing the payment to be stopped. I'm sure Kei did not want this to happen to her mother, but sadly she couldn't do much.

Supposedly, after Kei's true identity and role were revealed, there should be a secret collaboration between her and Josuke. Too bad we never see it, Kei only occasionally appeared as cameo or one of the 'victims' of the Stand attacks from rock-humans (aka. jobbing).

JJL chapter 75 and 48, not doing anything and got jobbed by 「Vitamin C」& 「Ozon Baby」.

And when she did not get any significant role through the story, she was doing her own business. Turned out that she had been taking care of her mother in hospital.

JJL Chapter 102: The Wonder of You (The Miracle of Your Love) - part 19

And taking care of someone who is in a coma like that is not something that everyone’s willing to do. Surely everyone loves Holy, despite her lesser time as Kei's mother due to her job, her daughter still loves her and that’s why she was willing to take care of her in such a way.

Still, having a life like Kei's is a tough one… and not everyone can live it.

And when Kei got her new significant role in the story, her last chance to help the protagonist as his ally…

Araki gave her such badass intro only to…

JJL Chapter 104: The Wonder of You (The Miracle of Your Love) - part 21, get jobbed once again.

Kei's role in JoJolion is quite disappointing, she is a Joestar, a Stand user, and unlike her mother’s condition, she was fit and well so she should be able to do a lot more than Holy as a Joestar.

Kei is connected to the main protagonist, biologically related in a weird way and she held an independent mission as a spy in the Higashikata family. There should have been a lot she could have done in exchanging information and cooperating with Josuke, but her only product to Josuke throughout the story was an information regarding 'equivalent exchange' ability in Higashikata's land and nothing more.

And in the climax arc of “Wonder of You” where it was Kei’s last chance to cooperate with Josuke in defeating the big villain, when we were expecting an exciting 2-vs-1 battle, her role was only as far as a messenger as she delivered the cellphone (message) from Yasuho and just… die, nothing more to it.

Caato got a great intro (so great that she was wrongly hyped for years), but was absent for a long time and suddenly came back just to die. But even so she still left an impactful impression by defeating the main villain and breaking the family curse.

Too bad, Kei’s character who underwent similar thing ended up just jobbing like that… with her last action that was not so impactful, because we need to surprise the readers.

Kei might be a disappointment, regarding her role as a ‘character’ in JoJolion. But if we look at her as an ‘individual being’ with a life of her own (using the mindset that we are the main characters in our own lives), she had lived a very hard life. And we need to appreciate her toughness, that she still lived her life well, that she did not fall into moral turpitude, or becoming a criminal. She did not abandon her family even though they became a burden to her.

My personal confession:

Kei could be the person I admire right now because I am currently experiencing similar thing as her life. My father got covid and currently he is hospitalized. It’s been around 2 weeks right now. We both live off the island away from family, so I am the only family member who is able to support him. A few days ago he needed a platelet donor, those were the hardest days for me as the only family trying to look for. At least those days have passed. But until now he has not recovered yet and is still being treated in hospital.

Our apartment is far from the hospital so I have to go back and forth there for about 30 minutes almost every day to deliver the basic things he needs. I also have a full time job that can't be left behind. So just imagine how tired I am.

Unlike Kei who can visit his mother and directly take care of her, I can't see my father at all (and you know why). Even so, I stayed strong and did what I could as his daughter, just like Kei. And Kei became part of my inspiration to be as tough as her. Of course I still hope that these hard days will end soon and our family can be happy again together.

Let's pray for the recovery of my father and anyone else who is also seriously ill at this time.

Update: 7/15/2021

Unfortunately, my father just passed away at noon, 7/13/2021. May God forgives his sins. Bless for you all who still have your family intact, and pray for anyone who also lost their loved one by this terrible pandemic.

[my-bated-breath]

Closing Thoughts on Vincenzo

No one asked, but here you go.

I watched the last two episodes of Vincenzo yesterday, but even in the midst of my viewing experience I was able to synthesis and analyze what I was enjoying and not-enjoying, what worked and what didn’t work (for me), so that itself says something about how immersive it was. Of course, Vincenzo is a great show — the action is sharp and satisfying, the schemes are elaborate and spectacular, the humor is cracky yet genuine, and the characters are so, so lovable. And I loved the romance side plot, because yes, I am weak. Still, the last 2-4 episodes strained some of that, and this is my take on why I felt not exactly disappointed, but underwhelmed in the final stretch. I’m also including what I did like at the very end, as that makes sense with how I’m structuring this kind-of-analysis.

spoilers below

Tension, Stakes, and Pay-off

The tension in Vincenzo has been ramped up ever since the death of Vincenzo’s mother, loudly and painfully declaring in that moment that “this is not a game” (contrary to Vincenzo telling Hanseok in jail that he’s toying with him). This leads to a chilling confrontation between Vincenzo and the antagonists while also uniting the residents of Geumga in all-out, unapologetic war. And there is no more game of chess — just one of cat and mouse, with Vincenzo descending upon his prey.

Hence, Vincenzo is noticeably less soft, and he strikes Babel with the steel of his resolve. His schemes feel much more sinister than mischievous as they had been before; he is ending this, once and for all. So, how does the show amp up the tension and stakes from there?

Well, it’s all in what I said before. The tension is teased out in Vincenzo stealing everything Hanseok has ever treasured and then taunting/threatening him in prison, and then with the Babel villains descending into chaos and desperation. The stakes, however, are less noticeable, because Vincenzo is kind of obviously winning. The stakes have already been established with Vincenzo’s mother, then paid off with her death, and then paid off even more with Vincenzo mercilessly seizing the upper hand.

That’s why I feel like Myunghee and Hanseo’s death just... happened. Because it’s been 3 whole episodes since Vincenzo has founded this new resolve, that sort of dragged out follow-up loses its thrill and gratification. They’ve been defeated now, completely and totally. But so what? They’ve been on the losing end for more than 3 hours of screen time now, and even their last resort of a counterattack didn’t hold much narrative weight (which is something I’ll get to later). Their deaths are not boring to say the least — I saw a post that said something similar to “Myunghee, a woman who danced to the music of others’ pain, died dancing to her own” and “Hanseo, a man with no heart, has a hole drilled into that empty cavity.”

But their deaths also happen very isolated from everyone else, not just physically, but emotionally as well. It’s almost as if Vincenzo’s clapping his hands and saying, “Let’s wrap this up now, I’m getting a little tired.” And while I wouldn’t say their deaths are unnecessarily cruel, given everything they’ve done, I don’t think Vincenzo does this in response to anything particularly substantial. Is this for his mother’s death? For Chayoung’s injury? For everyone else? Well, maybe, but it sure didn’t feel like he was contemplating that during or after torturing them. If I put the Vincenzo from the beginning of the show there in those two scenes vs Vincenzo from the end of the show, post character development and all, I think the only difference would be that beginning-of-the-show Vincenzo would still be unfamiliar with Babel’s crimes and see this as a waste of time.

A sort of side note: Now, one of the strong points of this show is its use of comedy in its otherwise very serious schemes (I still thinking about episodes 8 and 15 all the time). But with the impending climax and increasingly serious tone, there was no comedy to make said-serious schemes as engaging to watch. So now unable to rely on one of its greatest strengths, the show must rely on emotional impact. Or similarly: narrative weight.

Narrative Weight

In episodes 19-20, Chayoung is shot, Hanseo dies, and Chulwook is stabbed (and you think he’s going to die but he doesn’t). Who said there was no emotional impact in these episodes again?!

Oh right. Me.

Beyond Hong Yuchan and Oh Gyeongja’s death, injuries and fatalities suffered from our protagonists’ side don’t really have that many consequences. You can argue the consequences of Hanseo dying is that we’re all very sad, but both we and the characters are barely given a moment to grieve before we have to move on. What does Hanseo die for? He dies as an abuse victim just beginning to break out of the cycle he was trapped in, and that itself isn’t necessary a bad narrative choice, and he dies as a warrior in this Mafia vs Conglomerate war, but what does he die for? If it’s for Vincenzo and Chayoung to live, they pretty much get lucky with Hanseo running out of bullets. If it is to show that he had changed, and that this tied into some greater theme of redemption, then his death really isn’t really given enough thought for it to resonate well. I would’ve loved to see Vincenzo reflecting on Hanseo learning to trust and love again, despite all the mistakes he made in the past, and how that influences his own decision to embrace his version of villainous justice. But no. This is something I only thought of after reading a few Vincenzo posts and trying to justify my own moral for the show.

Don’t forget that Chulwook almost dies too. Like I genuinely believed he was dead, shed a tear for the daughter he would never meet, and then the show went like, “Guess what? Psyche!”

I’m not very fond of that injury/pseud-death-but-not-really.

And now we have Chayoung, the person who Vincenzo is the closest to. Don’t get me wrong, I amso weak for her never giving into Hanseo and asking for death over Vinceno getting hurt, for guarding Vincenzo from the bullet, for Vincenzo’s shocked and empty eyes, for Chayoung’s glazed gaze, for him desperately and powerlessly hugging her tightly because that’s all he can do for her now. Afterwards, she’s in the hospital, her shoulder is recuperating, and there’s a nice Chayenzo parallel to episode 4 when Chayoung was waiting by Vinny’s hospital bed. But afterwards afterwards? She’s just in the hospital. Sidelined from the climax.

Vincenzo told her, “I will finish this, for you.” That could’ve worked, because we could’ve seen Chayoung emotionally or spiritually with us during the climax and Myunghee and Hanseo’s deaths. But like I mentioned earlier, it really didn’t feel that way. Ultimately, the narrative tells us that Chayoung’s injury just means she can’t strain herself for a couple of days, despite initially delivering it so dramatically and emotionally.

As one of my friends said while we were discussing this episode: Vincenzo is the titular character, but Chayoung has so much to care for too. Her father died because of Babel, and she said, “We should share the danger.” Instead, we got a decentish-but-slightly-underwhelming scene where she is driven to see Vincenzo off. Okay then.

Characters

Speaking of, Chayoung receives much of the short-end of the character development stick in the last 4 episodes. I found this to be acceptable in episodes 17-18, and she does have that moment where she looked uncertain and nauseated at the death of the “hunting dogs” before shoving down her misgivings, clinging onto a facade of strength as she says “this is what I wanted.” Also, even though it wasn’t episode 14, I wasn’t complaining about the Chayenzo moments either.

But still, this is the second most important protagonist in the narrative and nothing about her really changes in these last few episodes. Nor does she experience catharsis alongside Vincenzo, emotionally or otherwise. There had been some buildup about whether or not Chayoung can swallow the cruel path that she has chosen, but if she’s not even the given the chance to make her own decision on said cruel path, that’s just wasted set up.

(I know that during the Babel Tower party-fiasco Vincenzo told Chayoung that he originally wanted her to push the button that’ll kill one of the hunting dogs, but then decided against it upon seeing Chayoung’s wavering face, but like. Narratively, if she was the one to press it, and then we had some follow-up character arc about her coming to terms with her decision... Oh, we could’ve had it all.)

Another thing I want to point out is that Chayoung has been a foil to Vincenzo in that she represents the happiness, love, and innocence now unattainable to him. (This is just his view, by the way, since Chayoung isn’t exactly innocent herself, which he could’ve seen if the show had only taken this direction.) That is to say, Vinceno’s most interesting character moments are drawn out of him by Chayoung: In his apartment, when they are under the ceiling-stars, and she asks him whether he has ever killed anyone. On the rooftop, when they decide that Hanseok must lose everything before he dies, and he promises to her that he’ll stay in Korea to see things through to the end, in direct contrast to himself at the beginning of the show. In the highway pass, when she embraces him after a gunfight, the closest he’s ever grazed past death. When they drink makgeolli together and he tells her about what her father wanted to say to her. When they sit together by the riverside and she tells him that his mother would have been proud of him.

One of my favorite parts of episodes 11-12 during the gun fight is just how emotionally present Chayoung is, despite not wielding a gun herself, or even being anywhere near the action. I’m not sure if I’m getting this right, but I think this is the first time Vincenzo had killed people on screen, so to see Chayoung embrace him so tearfully afterwards almost felt like he was being reminded of his humanity. And this also shows that Chayoung, despite saying that she would feel distant towards Vincenzo if he did have blood on his hands, loves him closely, so closely it hurts.

We think about Vincenzo, what it means to be a consigliere, and his distorted flashbacks of flesh and blood and killing and losing himself, and that teddy bear, slowly panning out to a child, staring at him in fear. We think about how is it possible for him to love again? Can he even know what love is?

Then Chayoung appears, a woman whose very presence unraveled the mystery that is Vincenzo. But the moment that Chayoung’s development was stunted, that was the moment Vincenzo lost his foil, and we, the audience, lost the ability to see how his past, present, and future reconcile.

Themes: Loving in Sin

In episode 20, Vincenzo and the monks have a conversation about whether he was worthy of love or not before being told that he was Vaisravana — and though he could never be accepted by Buddha, he would be appreciated at times, and he would have his own role to play too. I like this conversation a lot in concept. In execution, it would’ve left much weightier an impact if only we had seen Vincenzo’s journey to reconcile his villainy and humanity play out more, if we had a glimpse into the moral conflict warring in his mind. The last time the drama showed that to us — not told it to us — was with the death of Vincenzo’s mother.

I would add more, really, but I feel like my review up until here says everything I want it to. In my opinion, there was no real epiphany that Vincenzo reached upon hearing those words from the monk because he hadn’t reflected on it enough for there to properly be one. And the ending to Vincenzo and Chayoung’s romance would’ve felt a lot better if it was Vincenzo choosing to love her despite his fear of himself, despite his belief that he could only hurt people. (Also that ending monologue wouldn’t have felt so tacked-on, like, oh wait this is supposed to have a theme right? Here, this is vaguely related, right?)

Because a lot of this emotional potential was not quite met, I think the finale also had to resort to some cheaper ways to make us feel for the romance, such as Chayoung rushing to see Vincenzo off and Vincenzo leaving the diplomacy-relations party early (he very poetically disappears while walking behind this sculpture, but I thought it was hilarious that if the shot didn’t get cut off there in another 2 seconds we could’ve seen him walking out of where that sculpture thing blocked him lol).

Overall though, I’m pretty happy with the romance’s ending, at least conceptually. The way they incorporated the story of cow herder and weaver girl and the bridge of pigeons (not magpies!) that will allow them to see each other again every year was so bittersweet, and as someone familiar with this myth, it made me very nostalgic. Also, I do think it works better with Vincenzo’s themes that he would be apart from Chayoung in some way. They each have their own lives to lead, but although they met by coincidence, they’ll remain by each other’s sides by intention. He is a villain, and so is she, but villains love tenaciously.

[yoongi-sugaglider]

Daegu Quarantine

Jungkook x reader

Gang/ zombie apocalypse au

Warnings:

Gore, violence, zombies, mention of drugs and drug dealing, weapons discharge in self defense, main character death, zombies, course language, zombies, drinking, did I mention zombies?

Summary:

They were the top of their game, known throughout the city as the smartest and most dangerous crew to ever hit the Daegu streets. But what’s going to happen when this group of young men encounter something right out of a horror film?

Word count: 2833

A/n: Just a heads up, mild torture beat em ups this chapter, and the opinions of the military are (Mostly) purely for the story.

Part 17===Part 18===Part 19

By the time my brain even attempted to register what was going on, Jenkins had already dragged me from the kitchen into the main bowling area.

The pitch-black lanes loomed before me, gaping chasms yawning in the darkness like the monstrous face of some multi headed monster preparing to swallow me whole.

Jenkins shoved me ahead of him, causing me to stumble into one of the ball returns. I choked back a cry as the cool and unforgiving metal dug into the wound on my thigh. The last thing I needed was to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt me, especially with the implications of what he planned to do to me.

As I pushed myself to stand he grabbed my arm, growling his impatience in my ear and shoving me around the machine.

“Keep it moving, I don’t have all day.”

I frowned, shuffling forward a pace or two before finding my stride once again.

“Shame, last I checked I had the whole apocalypse.” I laced as much sass as I could manage into my tone, earning myself a jab to the ribs from his weapon. The bruising force had me cackling into the darkness like a mad woman.

We passed several of his soldier buddies. Some camped out on the seats around the score monitors while others milled around in small groups or by themselves. All of them seemed desperate to stick as close to the lanterns as they could though.

Of the ones that I could see, including the three I’d seen stationed at the front doors, I counted 14 bodies, 26 total if I included the civilians I’d been grouped with in the kitchens. There was no telling really though how many of the soldiers had weapons and special combat training, and that alone set me on edge enough to keep me paying attention.

“Home sweet home huh?” I muttered as we made our way through to the lobby and towards a set of very dark looking stairs.

Jenkins paused for a moment and I watched by the light filtering in from the front doors as he dug angrily through the pockets of his army issue cargo pants.

“Gosh, and here I thought the torture was gonna be getting my fingernails ripped out or some shit. No, it’s waiting on King Flaccid to figure his shit out.”

The comment may have earned me a rifle butt to the stomach but damn if it wasn’t worth seeing Jenkin’s fellow soldier snickering behind his back.

“Shut it Riley…” Jenkins grumbled.

By the time the semi functioning man had his flashlight out and shining at the stairs I’d recovered from my forced Lamaze class enough to walk upright again. Which meant once more I was leading the way in a building I’d never been in before.

Using my still cuffed hands I felt along the walls as I climbed, finally emerging on the pitch black landing with a sigh.

“Lovely place you have here.” I grumbled, impatiently tapping my foot as I watched the bobbing beam of the flashlight slowly ascending behind me. I suppressed a shiver when the light highlighted several dark smears and handprint splatters on the wall.

“Yooo!! Welcome to my crib MTV!” I grinned, leaning against the wall as nonchalantly as possible when Jenkins and his buddy finally huffed and puffed their way to standing in front of me.

“Fuck sake Jenkins. Can we shut this bitch up already?”

Apparently the men had finally had enough of me as the next thing I knew I woke up with a blinding headache and a distinct inability to draw a full breath from the fact that my arms were now wrapped around the back of a chair and cuffed in place.

“Jeeze, you would think being in the military somebody would have taught these boys how to treat a lady.” I grumbled to myself, earning me a quiet snicker from somewhere ahead of me.

I opened my eyes, blinking rapidly to adjust to the relative brightness of the room after so long spent in the dark. A grin leapt to my face at the sight of Rose, slightly bruised to the face but no less alive and well.

“Well shit, fancy meeting you here hot stuff!”

She grinned back at me, the expression coming across as mildly manic since the swelling to her lips and cheek made her face slightly lopsided.

The room itself was about as boring as an office could get. My brain only half way registered the handful of candles that lit the place, making the bowling posters and filing cabinets feel almost sinister. 

Almost.

“Homey.” I smiled, eyes seeking out Jenkins and his buddy who stood back by the door, whisper arguing with each other.

“Boys? Fancy getting a girl a drink?” I asked, head tilted awkwardly so I could catch their eye when they turned to glare at me.

Neither answered though and I went back to taking in my surroundings. Taehyung sat in a chair just opposite Rose, facing her as if they’d been making him watch them torture her. Amatures.

I nodded to him, knowing he’d always been able to handle the harshest of treatments thanks to having watched Hoseok initiate him ages and ages ago. He didn’t seem too happy to see me there but I shrugged his way, sending him a grin that had his frown deepening.

“You do realize if we duct tape her mouth we won’t have to deal with her bullshit right?”

I turned to look at the two soldiers, quirking an eyebrow at the younger one and smiling flirtily his way.

“Aww, tie me up and gag me. I like the way that one thinks.” The bright blush that exploded across his cheeks was well worth what came next.

There was no warning. I don’t know why I expected there to be one.

One minute Jenkins was by the door, the next he was right in front of me.

The pain that lashed across the left side of my face had me seeing stars. Almost immediately Rose was screaming, struggling against her restraints and threatening the men around us.

“You low life piece of garbage! I swear to fuck I will expose every internet search you ever tried to hide! Every tiny dick pic you ever took. Every depraved piece of porn you ever Googled or downloaded!”

She continued on, practically foaming at the mouth as Jenkins laughed out loud.

“Ah, see now. I had a feeling this one would be useful.” He snickered, eyes filled with glee as he watched me spit out the blood that’d filled my mouth when my teeth scraped the inside of my cheek. He pulled a butterfly knife out of his pocket, flicking it back and forth a few times before flashing it open before me.

“Come on now Army boy, my grandmother hits harder than that.” I grinned up at him, knowing I looked half way to deranged with my swelling cheek and the blood that I could still taste covering my front teeth.

My insult must not have sat too well with his ego as he bent over me and jammed the handle of his knife into my thigh wound.

“Cheeky little cunt.” He growled, breath a hot mask of cigarettes and whatever canned goop he’d eaten for lunch.

I cried out from the shock of the pain, eyes watering as I sought out the comforting sight of my friends.

Rose was openly sobbing, head hung low as she continued to mutter threats in Jenkins’ general direction. Tae on the other hand was stone silent, eyes awash with rage as he opened his mouth as if to speak.

I returned my attention to Jenkins, though I made sure Taehyung had his eyes on me before I spoke.

“Silence is golden. It’s better this way.” I knew it was cryptic, that much was obvious in the way Jenkins hesitated in raising his hand as if to hit me again.

More importantly than his reaction though was Tae. I knew he would understand my words without me having to say anything.

I glanced over at Tae, watching his eyes go from blind fury to a quiet resignation. Despite everything on the line he knew better than to go against my silent orders.

“Well?” The man called Riley demanded.

Jenkins continued to twirl his butterfly knife, face a mask of cold indifference as he watched the edge glint in the low candle light. He pulled an empty chair over, sitting down and leaning forward, elbows on his knees as he scratched at his chin with the knife blade while watching my every move.

I squinted at him, watching the rusted gears turning in his head before realization struck.

“You’ve never done this have you?” I asked, grinning brightly before throwing my head back to cackle aloud into the darkness.

“Good lord Tae no wonder you haven’t said shit!” I leaned to the side a bit, sending the stoic hacker a wink. “Hobi would have had any one of us howling out secrets by now. And here I thought I was actually in trouble. That boy could get a baby to snitch on their mother’s breast milk and here you two are barely struggling to even get me to shut up. Can you imagine!”

***

They tried. They certainly did.

By the time Jenkins had worn himself into exhaustion I’d grown bored with all of it.

He’d hit me sure, bruised my face and arms several shades of ugly. But in the end I’d been untied and sent on my way back to the kitchen with the others along with Rose and Taehyung.

I could tell the entire experience had demoralized poor Jenkins. His shoulders slumped as he followed behind Riley before disappearing into the darkness of the lobby after we’d been delivered back to the kitchen.

Once the soldiers were gone Jimin immediately rushed over to fawn over the three of us. He did the best he could with what the kitchen had available, substituting a tiny bottle of vodka that one of the civilians had found for rubbing alcohol and patching up everyone’s wounds as best as he was able to.

After my injuries had been attended to I made my way over to what remained of our crew, hugging a sobbing Jeanette tightly while sending Yoongi a reassuring smile before allowing myself to be wrapped from behind in the warmth of Jungkook’s grounding embrace.

“How bad was it?” he muttered into my shoulder blade.

“Not too bad. Pretty sure Jimin would have had a better time of it compared to what those amateurs attempted to accomplish.”

“Fucking Air Farce.” Came Rose’s grumbled remark as she collapsed gracelessly beside where Jeanette and Yoongi were sat.

“Air Farce?” Namjoon’s voice came from behind me and I turned to give him a smile, shrinking away slightly with a playful squeak when he reached out to ruffle my hair.

“Yeah. American military has several branches, just like most countries. There’s a bit of a hierarchy on respect levels though. Marines are hardcore, either single minded dogs or gung-ho and always ready and looking for action. Army are the boys on the front lines, some call them cannon fodder.” Rose shrugged as she leaned into Taehyung, finally relaxing for the first time since we’d been taken from the house.

“Nobody really pays attention to the Navy honestly. I mean, there’s the occasional sailor comes to port joke but really the just… It’s like everyone knows they exist but nobody wants to talk about them or admit that they do.”

“And the Air Farce?” Namjoon, ever eager to learn new things, seemed almost to be bouncing in place where he sat on the kitchen floor across from Rose.

“Air Force.” Rose corrected with a smirk. “Every branch has their own air support division. Planes, jets, choppers. All of that. The Air Force is strictly flight stuff. Air cargo, air support, blah blah blah. And while that would sound pretty epic, it’s the way they’re treated that pisses off the other branches.”

“What do you mean the way they’re treated?” One of the civilians chirped up, a young girl with eyes sparkling almost as brightly as Namjoon’s who’d wandered over and had been hovering awkwardly at the edge of the conversation. Her mother hushed her, though Rose smiled and motioned to the mother that it was okay.

“Well, actually Jeanette knows more about that than I do.” Rose smiled.

The woman blushed, having been caught listening in on the conversation as well. I glanced around the room, eyes widening when I realized that most of the people who’d been locked in the kitchen with us had their full focus on those who’d been talking.

Jeanette swallowed, nerves clamming her up at the attention. The young girl sat at her feet though, and so she chose to give her attention to the younger audience. The shift in her focus seemed to calm her enough that she was able to tell her story.

“My...recently deceased husband was in the Army. He’d been part of a war not too long ago and spent a lot of his time deployed in the desert. It wasn’t exactly the most comfortable of living arrangements as you can imagine.”

The girl giggled, “Wouldn’t it be like living on the beach though?”

“Oh sure.” Jeanette replied. “If that beach was nothing but sand with no water and all the crabbies were just a bunch of grumpy people.”

Namjoon jerked up, eyes wide and sparkling as he practically shouted. “There are crabs in the desert??”

Rose snorted, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. “No Joon, but there are definitely some awful big spiders there.”

“Ewwwwww, I don’t like spiders.” The girl cringed, shuffling closer to Jeanette who instinctually gathered her into her arms.

“Me too neither.” Jeanette giggled before returning to her story.

“Well, I have a younger brother. He’d been slated to be a pretty amazing athlete. But his final year of high school he messed up his knee pretty bad and his basketball career was pretty much over. So he asked Dean for some advice. Dean pointed him towards the air force.”

The girl snuggled into Jeanette, being careful not to crush her belly and causing her mother to send Jeanette an apologetic grimace of a smile. Jeanette shook her head though, sending a reassuring smile back to let the mother know it was alright.

“After basic training my brother was sent on his first deployment to an island outpost. He’d set things up so that he could communicate with his family while he was gone, his wife and myself included. One day he messages me, and so we get to talking about his living arrangements, which of course Dean decided he needed to chirp in his two cents about.” Jeanette smiled down at the girl, brushing her hair out of her now sleeping face before turning to Namjoon’s rapt attention.

“You see, when my brother was deployed, instead of staying in a tent as if he was in the desert, or being forced to sleep on a hammock like those in the Navy had to do when they were deployed on their ships, the Air Force had put him and his squad up in a hotel. He had messaged me to complain that room service hadn’t brought him fresh towels in a week so he’d been forced to do his own laundry.”

Yoongi snorted, arms crossed over his stomach and chin buried in his chest as he struggled to contain his mirth.

“Wait so...what was wrong with that?” Namjoon asked and Yoongi barked out a bitter laugh.

“He’s deployed Joon. Life isn’t supposed to be easy on mission. You’re there to do a job. What Rose is getting at is that these Air Force men are spoiled, allowed to live the easy life while the real military men toil in the dirt.”

“Well...I mean..” 

Yoongi cut Namjoon off, giving him a deliciously evil grin. “This is a good thing. With the way these three looked after their so called torture interrogation, those dense fucks outside don’t have a clue what they’re doing. Just a handful of shmucks with guns.”

“So then…” I paused when Yoongi turned to me with a confident grin.

“Enough planning and the right upper hand, and maybe, just maybe we can get out of this completely unscathed.”

I could feel the change in Jungkook’s body language, as he’d never let go of his grip on me from behind.

“Well shit...if that’s the case…”

Jungkook was interrupted though, as suddenly, as if the universe had decided to finally give us a break from the madness, a tiny voice chirped out from the chest pocket of my shirt.

“Hey...Boss Lady...can you hear me?”

I stiffened, eyes wide as I turned to stare at Jungkook in shock.

“.....Jin? Seokjin is that you?”

[petri808]

Bakudeku vampire-esque fic. Canon divergent. Lots of angst, will have smut with biting kink, and a happy ending 😌

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

The blonde sat up in bed reaching out and screaming for Midoriya. But the moment his mind snapped back to reality his arm dropped along with his head; it was the same damn nightmare that’s plagued him since the incident. His body was covered in a sheen of sweat and his heart raced. Fucking nightmare or memory. What sucked is even he wasn’t certain which one it was. Bakugou ran his fingers though his damp hair and groaned. It couldn’t keep going like this, not night after night for a month enduring this struggle with no one to talk to about it. He couldn’t take being here at UA while his friend was out there missing, and only the authorities searched for him. Those inept, useless… Who else knew Midoriya better than himself?! Frankly, a part of him wanted to find the nerd and if he was alive beat his ass to a pulp for making them worry. “Deku is alive…” Bakugou breathed out a reminder. He knew deep down in his soul that his oldest friend was alive somewhere and they just needed to bring him back home.

“Fuck this!” He threw his blanket off and stormed out of the room, heading towards Aizawa’s office. With or without permission, no one was gonna stop him!

“Just let him go,” Aizawa placed a hand on All Might’s shoulder as they watched Bakugou blast away into the sky. If the symbol of peace looked tired before, now he looked simply broken. First his rising successor disappeared and now Bakugou wanted to leave too. For a good reason sure, but he was still worried. Those kids were like his sons and no father would want to see their children end up like this. Aizawa understood this all too well, for despite rarely showing it, his students were like his kids too.

All Might hung his head, “I know…. He wants to find his friend. But it’s been a month with no real sign of Midoriya. And after what happened— I can still sense him, but it’s faint and the connection is strange. What if something’s gone wrong…”

“Don’t you think it. Young Midoriya is tough, I’m sure there is a valid reason for his disappearance. Just be happy the Principal is being understanding and will allow them to graduate when they return.”

“The final semester of their high school career and this had to happen.” All Might squeezed his fists tighter. “I should have killed AFO when I had the chance.”

“Have faith in Bakugou, Toshinori….” ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this,’ Aizawa sighed in his head. “We can trust in him.”

All Might placed a hand over the one Aizawa had on his shoulder, giving it a pat, “I do.” But it wasn’t about trust that had him glum. It was guilt. He knew that despite their rivalry, there was a bond between those boys, and one he did his best to foster over the years. So, if there was anyone that he felt could find Midoriya, it was Bakugou. No, what he hated in himself was the fact they were in this position because he hadn’t been strong enough.

But Aizawa was right. No one blamed him and it wouldn’t help anyone for him to be self-defeatist. He was still a symbol of peace, and more than ever the public, nay the students needed his light. All Might exhaled, he couldn’t thank his old friend enough for helping to convince the principal in letting Bakugou leave on this mission of sorts, even as finals were looming. Hadn’t these kids proved their worth enough to earn their degree? They already had their licenses and they were pivotal in stopping the worst villain in quirk history. All Might stood up, “we should gather the other kids and inform them…”

The room was as silent as a grave after Aizawa and All Might finished informing the rest of Class 1-A of what was going on. It wasn’t very surprising. These kids were close, rather like a small family unit than just friends who have been through so many ups and downs in the last three years it was hard not to be devoted to one another. It had taken a lot of coping for them just to get through Midoriya’s disappearance, and yet here they sat stoic at being told another was leaving. Almost like they saw it coming. And frankly as All Might looked around to all their faces, that was exactly what he read. The girls, tears welling up in their eyes, flushed faces on the verge of letting go. The guys, fists clenched, and jaws locked. Even he could feel the moisture ready to cloud his vision. He missed his defacto son, but these kids… were sad, angry, hurt and needed their support, but they were trying so hard to stay strong.

What do you say in times like this?

“I’m sure…” Aizawa finally spoke up to address the pain, “that some if not all of you would love to rush out there to search for Midoriya. Please remember that the authorities are doing their best to locate him, and your classmate Bakugou has volunteered to assist with the principal’s permission. If there is anything you may cling to in this time, is faith in your friend to find Midoriya.”

More silence ensued, blanketing the room with a new wave of energy. A few gave into silent sobs, while others hung their heads in thought. It was a heavy fog of pressure, like what one may sense before a thunderstorm because it was true that most of them knew it was coming. For the past month, Bakugou paced like a tiger in a cage. The man couldn’t focus on studies and would rip into anyone that even dared to breathe Midoriya’s name in his presence. Something had to give. But they were also frustrated by all the uncertainty. Yes, they were just students, but this was their friends, and they were tired of being treated like children.

Kirishima slammed his fist onto the table. The sudden and loud sound echoing in the still room, causing a few to jump. “I know Bakugou will find him! But at least tell us what the hell happened back there! Why won’t anyone tell us…” his voice petered out as angry tears gathered along the corners of hardening skin threatening to explode. He was angry at Bakugou for not saying a word to him before leaving and frustrated that his friend wouldn’t tell him what he’d seen. None of them had witnessed those final moments, except the hothead. But he was just as frustrated with the adults over the secrecy.

Aizawa sighed and crossed his arms. “We really do not know Kirishima. By the time I arrived All for One was dead on the ground and Bakugou was barely conscious next to him mumbling Midoriya’s name. He remembered them fighting All for One, but once he was knocked unconscious, doesn’t know what happened until we found him. He thinks he remembers seeing a flash of light hit Midoriya at the same time All for One received the final blow, but we do not know what that could be.”

“Right now, I’m sure both of them would want you to let the authorities deal with this and focus on finishing the school year,” All Might chimed in, hoping to redirect their thoughts. “As difficult as it may be, to quit now when you are almost finished would be a shame, and a stain on what they also worked so hard to achieve.”

There were a few minutes of silence as the students pondered their teachers’ words.

“So, do it for them?” Todoroki finally broke the silence and questioned the teachers.

All Might mustered a half smile, “you could say that.”

Iida stood up. “Yes! We will graduate as heroes for them!”

“Let’s make them proud!” Added in Kaminari. He turned to a sulking Kirishima and slapped him on the back. “Dude, Bakugou would kill us if we don’t pass, so let’s not let that happen.”

The young man sighed, but his friend was right. “He so would.”

“That’s the spirit!” All Might pumped his fist in the air with pride at their positive turn around. The rest of the students now join in, standing or stating their intentions to not let the boys down.

“Now that, that’s all settled, let finish today’s lesson.” Groans ricochet around the room at Aizawa killing the mood again. “Yeah, yeah, just get your textbooks out…”

[highwaytothedangerzone502]

India Lima Yankee - Chapter 42

Pairing: Rooster x Female OC

Word Count: 1646

Warnings: Anxiety about death

Summary: Juliette Kazansky discovers Maverick is back in town for a special training detachment, but she's more than a little blindsided when Rooster arrives too. Having not spoken to him for almost ten years after their less than amicable break-up, Juliette can only imagine how the next few weeks are going to play out when she remains head over heels in love with him while he wants nothing to do with Juliette other than to forget her.

Or so she thinks.

Notes: The parts in italics are flashbacks.

Chapter Songs: Centuries Enemies

Chapters: Chp 1 Chp 2 Chp 3 Chp 4 Chp 5 Chp 6 Chp 7 Chp 8 Chp 9 Chp 10 Chp 11 Chp 12 Chp 13 Chp 14 Chp 15 Chp 16 Chp 17 Chp 18 Chp 19 Chp 20 Chp 21 Chp 22 Chp 23 Chp 24 Chp 25Chp 26 Chp 27 Chp 28 Chp 29 Chp 30 Chp 31 Chp 32Chp 33 Chp 34 Chp 35 Chp 36 Chp 37 Chp 38 Chp 39 Chp 40 Chp 41 Chp 42

Rooster simultaneously regretted everything and nothing all at once when Maverick, for the first time that day, chose to listen to his advice and went after the enemy planes. He violently swerved the F-14 to the right, throwing Rooster around like a rag doll in the back despite being strapped in, and fired his guns at the SU-57. Smoke erupted from the engine as the plane went down, and before Rooster could process anything else, Maverick ordered, "Tell me when you see smoke in the air!"

Bradley whirled around and saw the second enemy close behind them. The radar alarm went off as a missile erupted from the SU-57, and Rooster yelled, "Smoke in the air! Smoke in the air!"

"Hang on!" Maverick jerked the plane to the right, the missile hot on their tail. Rooster thought they were done for until the damaged enemy plane fell into line behind them and took the projectile. It exploded in an impressive ball of flames.

"Yeah, Mav!" Rooster cheered, grinning. "Splash one! Splash one!"

His excitement was short-lived when the second enemy flew through the smoke and swiftly locked onto them. "Here comes another one!"

Maverick pulled the plane sharply upwards, so they were completely vertical. Maverick barked, "Rooster, flares! Now, now now!"

Rooster watched the missile get closer and closer, avoiding the flares until, finally, mercifully, it hit one of them. He barely had time to process the small victory, though, because the SU-57 flew fast and hard behind them, determined to take them out. 

"Splitting the throttles," Maverick announced, forcing the plane into a tight barrel roll, almost flipping the F-14 nose over tail. "Coming around."

Leveling out, Rooster saw the enemy in front of them. They had it in their sights, and with Maverick behind the joystick, there was no way the enemy could escape. Mav, his dad, was the best in the Navy, no matter what anyone said, and yes, his plans were certifiably crazy and death-defying, but they worked. Rooster had no doubt in that very moment they were going to survive this.

Bradley heard Maverick muttering impatiently to himself about getting tone, so when the lock alert rang, Rooster encouraged, "You got him, Mav! You got him!"

"Taking the shot!" Maverick confirmed. A missile shot out from the F-14. 

There's no way the enemy can evade that! He's dead! He's toast! That little shit is so-

The cheers in Rooster's head evaporated when the SU-57 pulled a maneuver that he could only describe as a vertical side-somersault. When Maverick even questioned the trick, Rooster knew it was impressive. They flew a hair's breadth away from the enemy, passing by so closely that the pilot probably saw Rooster plaster himself against the side of the canopy to get a better look at exactly what the enemy had just pulled off. If Rooster's mask had been down, the pilot also would've seen him exclaim, "Holy shit! What the fuck was that?!"

Oh God, we're alive! But we're dead! How the fuck are we going to get out of this now? Bradley thought frantically, racking his brain to think of something, anything, to help Maverick out from the backseat other than calling out what he saw. There had to be something!

"Hang on!" Maverick called out, dropping the F-14 towards the river below. "We have to get low! The terrain will confuse his targeting system!"

As the F-14 fell to a dangerously low altitude in a narrow valley, Rooster turned around to see where their 'friend' was. Unfortunately, nothing shook this pilot, and nothing seemed to be deterring him, not even Maverick's insanity. Rooster warned, "Here he comes!"

The SU-57 flew dangerously close to their tail, and before he could even warn Maverick, Bradley watched bullets erupt for the enemy. 

Please don't hit us! For fuck's sake, please don't hit us!

"Talk to me, Rooster," Maverick ordered, sounding slightly panicked. "Where is he?"

"He's still on us!" Bradley watched in horror as not only did more gunfire spew from the enemy, but it struck their plane. "We took a hit! We took a hit!"

"Damn it!"

Rooster braced himself in the back, figuring he'd need to after his words of motivation. "Come on, Mav! Do some of that pilot shit!"

"Brace yourself!"

Already ahead of you. Rooster thought, his arms and feet braced against the canopy and floor, respectively. It helped nothing. For a second time that day, the Tomcat's wings came out, and Maverick pulled a Cobra maneuver. In normal circumstances, the stunt was dangerous. Flying in a narrow valley at under one hundred feet in altitude with an enemy plane hot on their heels made it near-suicidal. The SU-57 blew past them, barely a couple of feet away from hitting the F-14, as Maverick lifted gracefully above for a few moments before snapping the plane down behind the enemy. Rooster's bracing methods were no longer effective, and his straps hardly kept him in his seat. All he could do to deal with the madness of the entire situation was exclaim, "Holy shit!"

Maverick zeroed in on the SU-57 and announced, "I got tone. Taking the shot!"

Rooster watched eagerly as the missile zipped after the enemy, only to be taken out by flares. He swore in dismay. "Damn it!"

"Out of missiles, switching to guns." Maverick fired relentlessly, but none of the bullets hit the enemy.

"Come on, Mav, come on!" Rooster encouraged, sensing his dad's frustration. Maverick fired his guns again, and this time some of the bullets hit. "You got him, Mav!"

"It's not over yet," he replied, panic evident in his voice. Rooster figured he must be low on ammo. "One last chance."

"You can do this!"

"Come on, Maverick," the captain muttered to himself. He waited for a moment, then fired one more time, unleashing the remaining bullets onto the SU-57. Rooster watched the enemy pilot eject and his plane crash into the side of the mountain in a ball of fire and black smoke.

Bradley shook his fists victoriously, announcing, "Yes! Splash Two!"

Maverick didn't respond, but his heavy breathing could be heard. Instead of saying anything else, Rooster knew the best thing he could do now was return to getting the radar and radio working. He fiddled around with some switches and buttons on his right, pushing one in.

The screen in front of him lit up. "Mav, I got the radio on."

"Outstanding!" Maverick praised, relieved. "Get us in touch with the boat."

"Copy that."

An alarm blaring interrupted their moment of peace and quiet. Rooster heard Maverick breathe, "Oh my God."

Both pilots turned their heads left, right, up, and down, searching futilely for the incoming enemy. Annoyed, and if not a little afraid, Rooster demanded, "Where the hell is this guy?!"

There was a pause, then Maverick said, "He's on our nose."

Rooster's blood ran cold. He peered around to the front, and in the distance, he saw the newcomer. 

"Damn it," Maverick hissed. "We're out of ammo."

The breath caught in Rooster's throat at the words. We're out of ammo. That means we can't fight back, and that means-

"Smoke in the air!" Maverick alerted. "Rooster, flares!"

Mav rolled the plane while Rooster obeyed the command. The missile struck the flares, but they were far from okay. The enemy had more weapons. They had nothing but their wits and a damaged F-14. As good as Maverick was, even Rooster recognized the dire situation.

"That was close," Rooster remarked, turning around to see where the enemy had gone. He also had another epiphany looking at the controls in front of him. "We're out of flares, Mav! Shit, he's already on us! This is not good!"

Maverick desperately swerved the F-14 left and right to avoid the gunfire directed at them, but it was useless. Some of the bullets hit the wing. Rooster announced this, and his heart dropped at the terror in Maverick's voice as he said, "No, no, no, no, no!"

They took more hits, and Rooster, trying to remain calm but failing as his mind raced with their rapidly disappearing long lives, said, "We can't take much more of this!"

"We can't outrun this guy. We have to eject," Mav decided.

"What?!"

Maverick ignored the protest. "We need altitude. Pull the ejection handles the second I tell you!"

"Mav, wait!" This couldn't be happening. Even if they ejected, the enemy pilot would simply circle around and fire at them in the water. They were the reason the uranium enrichment plant and enemy base were destroyed. The opposing pilot wouldn't take kindly to that, nor would they let Maverick and Rooster get away alive. There had to be another way. He had so much left to talk to Maverick about, too, not to mention he had to return to Juliette. Rooster couldn't do this to her. He couldn't make her lose him a second time, especially so soon after losing her dad. He couldn't hurt her. Not again...

"Rooster, there is no other way!" Maverick argued, pulling the plane sharply up towards the sky. They rapidly gained altitude, and the moment they crossed a thousand feet, the captain barked, "Eject! Eject! Eject!"

With no other choice, Rooster grabbed the handles above his head and yanked as hard as he could.

Nothing happened.

Panicked, he tugged furiously on them some more, but the same result continued.

Maverick turned around to look at his backseater. "Rooster, pull the handle! Eject!"

"It's not working!" Bradley snapped, allowing his terror to escape in his words. What were they going to do? If they couldn't eject, if they couldn't fight back, what else was there to do but to get shot down and plunge into the ocean? "Mav!"

"I'm sorry," Maverick whispered, sounding utterly defeated, and that's when Rooster knew.

He would never live to see another day.

***

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