#hes saving her from carpal tunnel

[16eggsforxio]

better than yourself

Joshua Rosfield x writer!Reader

1005 words, fluff

Short fluffy fic for Valentine’s. Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s the same reader as anecdotal inspiration, but you don’t have to read it to read this one (but I would be very happy if you did :))

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You sighed, leaning forward and bumping your head against the book in your hands.

Opposite you, Joshua gave you a curious look. “Is something the matter?”

This had been going on for a while: you often spent your free time scrawling down children’s stories in blank notebooks, and when you had finished, put them up in a quaint corner in the library for the children to peruse. There weren’t many books suitable for the young ones at the Hideaway. You would never have dared to initiate something like this yourself, but with Harpocrates’ kind, homely encouragement that you would almost accuse as manipulative, your hobby had found meaning in one of the lowest shelves that any child could reach.

Then you had an unexpected patron—the younger of the Rosfield brothers, no less—and he was somewhat of a busybody, and he’d become particularly sticky to you after finding out you were the author of those stories in the tattered notebooks. But if anybody asked you if you minded it, you wouldn’t say you did.

You turned the closed book over in your hands. It was a random book on the history of Valisthea that you’d picked off the shelf in hopes of finding an answer. “I’m looking for a word, but I can’t remember it…”

“Have you consulted the dictionary?”

“I don’t remember what letter it starts with, so that’s not helpful.” …You hadn’t come across as rude, had you? “Um, but thanks.”

Joshua didn’t look ruffled in the slightest. He slid his own book shut and propped his elbows up on the table. “Then, would you like to describe it to me? I might know what word it is.”

He most definitely did. Although you’d done your own fair share of reading, it was hard to deny that Joshua was much more well-read than you, or anyone else at the Hideaway. Sometimes he’d dive into a monologue patterned with flowery sentences, but maybe you’d given him one too many confused looks, because he had pretty much stopped doing that with you. But those alone were enough to prove to you he had picked up far more books than you—although that was to be expected, considering he had been raised in royalty.

You let the book in your hands slide down onto the table, chewing on your bottom lip. “Well… it’s part of a castle.”

Joshua nodded attentively. “I grew up in one.”

Oh, you’d forgotten that. “It’s something like a tower..? I think? They’re usually along the walls—at least I think they are.”

“Are you thinking of a turret?”

Right—that was the word. “That’s—That’s the word. Thanks.”

“Delighted to be of help.” He leaned forward. “What did you need it for?”

“Are you asking for spoilers?”

He puffed his cheeks indignantly, almost like a child. “It’s been a fair while since you’ve published anything, so you will have to pardon me for being curious.”

Published was far too fancy of a term for you.

You glanced down, turning your wrist over experimentally. “Tarja said my wrist hasn’t been good, so I haven’t written much for a while.”

“Oh?” Faint alarm was tinged in his voice, despite him usually trying to keep a composed facade, something you had picked up on yourself. “What happened?”

Apparently, you’d been writing too much. It had prompted a cramp in your hand and after paying a visit to Tarja, who had suggested the most probable cause was your extended periods of time jotting away at your desk. Which you had initially found weird, since it had never happened before. Then after some reflection, you had realised in the past few weeks, particularly after a specific someone discovering your secret of writing those books, you had been feeling too motivated to settle down; sometimes you’d even forego a good night’s worth of rest to spend the time whittling away at words.

Not that you would ever say any of that out loud, so the long and short of it was: “I wrote too much—so my hand hurts.”

Joshua frowned. “Is it an injury?”

“Something like that… I think.” You hoped you weren’t wrong.

“I could heal you, if you’d like?” he offered.

Injured hand darting in front of your chest reflexively, you shook your head. “I couldn’t—you should save your powers for other… stuff.”

He didn’t seem to agree. “What better stuff would prevail over this?”

“People who are actually being useful on the field?” you tried.

This time he frowned at you. “Perhaps you don’t think your contributions are befitting of any reward?”

That wasn’t… “I don’t mean that, but…”

You weren’t sure what you were trying to say, either, so you trailed off. For a long moment, there was a stuffy silence between the two of you. Although you were terrible at conversing with others, Joshua always seemed to know what to say at every moment, so stretches of quiet didn’t happen with him often. Now that there was one, it felt gut wrenchingly nauseating and you contemplated excusing yourself to the toilet so you could retreat back to your bunk and shut the door and wither and die in a corner.

When he finally spoke again, it was soft. “I won’t do anything that you aren’t comfortable with. But as for your implications that your writing and your work aren’t important, those I can’t agree with. Reading your stories holds more importance than just a moment of respite for the children, and myself, as well—and if you allowed the others to peruse them, I’m sure they’d come to the same conclusion.”

Joshua held out his hand across the table.

“So, please don’t think any less of yourself.”

You stared at his outreached hand.

Slowly, from in front of your chest, to over the table, to the palm of his hand, you reached back out to him.

It was funny. You had never even said it out loud, and maybe you hadn’t even realised it yourself, so how, you wondered, did Joshua seem to know you better than yourself?

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

what if the animorphs got the death note?

Cassie: Would burn the thing. Doesn't care if she dies in the process. It's worth it, to get it out of the world's hands.

Marco: Would go on a fact-finding spree to figure out the names of as many yeerks as he possibly can. Would figure out that some stems (e.g. Iniss) are followed by multiple sets of numbers, and would give himself carpal tunnel writing Iniss 0000 - Iniss 9999 in the notebook. Would claim to his friends that he also doesn't know why a mysterious disease has killed so many yeerks lately.

Jake: Would ask the group what they should do with it. Whether Rachel and Marco would succeed in arguing for it before Cassie and Ax succeeded in arguing against it is anyone's guess.

Ax: Would never use it. Would probably also give it back to the group. Controversial opinion, I know, but he cares deeply about fighting fair and with honor. If he could figure out a way to use it to save his friends he might, but he'd probably vote to bury it in the woods if forced to cast a vote.

Rachel: Would use it. And then stop using it. She fights those who are stronger than her, and spares those who are weaker. Any time she can use it against a yeerk with an involuntary host she will... but those names are hard to find, and she's not going to stop mid-battle to pull out a pen. She'd conclude it's no good as a weapon, but if Marco asked she'd announce she got rid of it because it takes all the excitement out of the war.

Tobias: Even more controversial take, but. If anyone would go full Light Yagami, I think it's him. He's the one pushing to use the Time Matrix to "fix" history in MM3. He's the one who kills Hitler after learning this is just a jeep driver, because he's Hitler. He argues with the Ellimist, and thinks he could do better. He sees the world as injust, and he's angry about it. He would argue it's immoral not to use the Death Note. I could see Tobias writing down every Visser's name... and then Pol Pot's... and then Charles Manson's... and then Taylor's... and going from there.

[aloesarchives]

JJK Drabble #2

Tw/Warnings: Fem!Reader, Fluff, Fluff Brainrot, Domesticity, Family Man Toji, Usage of Wife and Mom, JJK Oc added

Pairing: Toji Fushiguro x Fem!Reader

Reader: Female, Usage of Wife and Mom

AU: Modern/"Toji Lives" Au

(A/N): I'm back! Well, kinda of. Long story short, dealt w/college stuff and had a health scare that kept me away from writing. Also had a mini burnout too. More is explained here!

Thinking about Toji taking up crocheting and knitting because he saw how expensive yet cheaply made certain items like blankets are made. So he buys a simple set to try it out, following Youtube tutorials and watching videos for ideas. Once he masters the basics, Toji is LOCKED IN once again. Making full on hand-made blankets, scarves, hats, mittens/gloves, stuffed animals, covers/cases, bags, scrunchies, even damn rugs. Anything you ask him for, he’ll make it. This ends up being very practical to Toji because he saves so much money by just making them at home himself. It has to be the premium, natural, good quality type. Organic cotton, wool, cashmere, alpaca/llamas, silk, linen, mohair, bamboo, hemp, all of that. Tell him about polyester or something and he tells you to put that shit back. He buys the premium yarn nearby, locally, or gets them imported internationally. Gets every and any colors because he never wants to be limited when making his projects.

There was a throw blanket you wanted for the couch but it was expensive and the size was a lot smaller than you hoped. The next day, you come home to see Toji making it for you. The same color but better quality and inexpensive, and it was the size you wanted too. You were happy and amazed that he made it within a day. Living off your praise and approval, Toji just makes everything. Since he can’t get carpal tunnel or arthritis, his hands and wrists never get tired from working. Though, his posture does get bad and his back aches from being hunched over. The blanket in your bedroom with Toji? He made that shit with fucking love and care. He actually made multiple ones depending on the weather and season. 

Man has even made throw pillows, regular pillows, water bottle cases, table cloths, coasters, bags, cushions, and made your own curtains. I mentioned before that everything in your home was either made, customized, or renovated by Toji. This stays TRUE because almost all the pillows and blankets in the house are his creation. The blankets and pillows that cover Megumi and Tsumiki’s beds? All Toji. Both pillows and blankets match each other and are in respective colors for the two. Megumi has one at his dorm because it gets cold over there and he hates sleeping in the cold. 

If you are a stuffed animal fiend, like me, you ask Toji to make you any stuffed animal you want. Definitely make squishmallow dupes for you if you asked him. In your personal room/office, there’s a pile of stuffed animals in the corner from Toji that you pluck one from the pile and hold it while relaxing or walking around the house. The ones he loves to make are bees, dragons, whales, dolphins and dogs. And they’re so soft and huggable, you squeeze them all the time. Toji just grins to himself knowing the things he makes brings you and the kids happiness.

Toji “Anything my wife wants, my wife gets. No questions asked” Fushiguro

It’s normal for you to come home to see Toji crocheting/knitting away at something. You either find him in three places at home: the engawa in front of the courtyard and garden, the family room with the shoji doors open, or in his personal room/office. Mostly, he sits outside sitting on the engawa working away at something. It makes him work better, or so he says. Makes his own needles and hooks because of his big hands. Megumi still has his crocheted stuffed puppy when he was younger, still going strong even though it’s been worn down from love. Tsumiki has all the Sanrio characters knitted/crocheted as gifts from Toji.

Tsumiki always wears her hair up in a ponytail, Toji makes her scrunchies in her favorite designs and colors. Her favorite cardigans and pullover sweaters that keep her warm during fall and winter were made by Toji because he wanted to try making outerwear. Luckily it worked in his favor. Tsumiki asked Toji if he could make her a tote bag because she needed a bag for outings. She comes home from school one day to see three of them in different sizes. She has those cute little flower keychains on her school bag and outing bags too because she asked Papa Toji for them. The massive white and blue circle rug in her room is from Toji.

Megumi’s winter scarf, earmuffs, and hat are made by Toji too. Megumi will never admit it out loud but he appreciates that Toji made it for him. They keep him and he doesn’t feel the wind chills nipping at his face. Megumi also appreciates his dad for making his stuffed animals. I’m projecting here but Toji made a set of plush stuffed animals after his shadows. His divine dogs, all of them. Megumi keeps them on his stuffed animal net in the top corner above his bed. Megumi wears a jacket and hoodie made by Toji all year round because of how versatile they are. In general, they’re Megumi’s favorite clothes to wear too.

Thinking about asking Toji to make a present for Nobara and Yuuji on their birthdays. You asked Nobara what her favorite color and style was while Yuuji said he wanted a new hoodie. Toji makes them pretty fast and the two are in love with their gifts. Nobara is wearing her bag EVERYWHERE, and I mean, EVERYWHERE she goes. Yuuji, like Megumi, ends up loving his hoodie that you always see him wear when he’s in casual clothes. Since Nanako and Mimiko grew up with Megumi and Tsumiki, one of Nanako’s cardigans and a pair of her socks are made by Toji while Mimiko only has a random plushie Toji made for her when she was younger because Suguru had to clean the other one.

Not me thinking about how Tsumiki, Megumi, and Mayumi(JJK OC) baby blankets are handmade by Toji himself with their own individual design and patterns. Megumi and Tsumiki’s are still in good condition even though they were lovingly used by the two throughout their whole life. Their baby hats, socks, and certain outfits were all made by him. He keeps them all in individual boxes to not lose them. Gets sentimental and nostalgic that you catch him staring as he holds the small clothes in his big hands. Reminiscing about Megumi and Tsumiki being babies and small children, now realizing that they are growing up before his eyes.

God, all of it is thoroughly well knitted and crocheted that people thought you bought it from a store. “No, actually my husband made it for me. Isn’t he skillful and amazing?” Your friends and co-workers lowkey ask you if Toji is willing to take commissions for them. They’ll pay for it obviously but they want good quality home-made items Toji makes which gives you an idea. You asked Toji if he considered making orders for other people besides his family. He did think about it but he said he would get overwhelmed when receiving orders and packing them up. You asked him if dealing with the orders and packaging them would help him change his mind. So you unintentionally set up a small business with Toji. His shop consists of blankets, bags and baskets of any kind, pot holders, rugs, coverings, and pillows. It runs where one week is for receiving orders, one month is for making them, and another month to send them out. Making a spreadsheet/list for Toji to show what he needs to make. Probably gets finished with all the orders in two weeks or something.

For some reason, Toji wears eye-glasses when he knits and crochets. You don’t know why but it makes him more handsome that your brain rots/short circuits every time you see him working away. He got you all flustered and down bad it’s insane(but absolutely valid). But you don’t understand why he would need them since he already has better vision and eye-sight than 99% of the population.

“Honey, since when do you need glasses?”

“I need it so I don’t strain my eyes when working on them?”

“Can you, like, squint? You already have 20/10 vision. You don’t need glasses when you have superhuman vision, Baby.”

“Doll, just because I have good eye-sight doesn’t mean my eyes aren’t as sensitive. My eyes are still bugged by light, shit hurts and gives me headaches. Anyway, can you pass me the blue yarn in front of ya?”

Megumi and Tsumiki always see you with their Toji. You’re chilling and minding your own business with their baby sister napping away while Toji is working away at a rug because he is bored. Even though he’s been doing this since they were young, the two still can’t get over how their dad can make a king-sized blanket(start to finish) in four hours. Or when they come home from school and see Toji finishing up on a big and long green dragon, turning to Megumi and Tsumiki asking them, “Do you two think your mom would like this?” Or they could be chilling then Toji asks them to try on the projects he finished to see how they look. Tsumiki and Megumi are his main critics, you are too but you aren’t bothered by certain details to criticize Toji’s projects so he leaves it to the kids.

Mayumi(JJK OC) is chilling by Toji as he’s working away, either sleeping away or playing with her stuffed animals close within sight. Being the three year old she is, she sometimes hides underneath the unfinished blankets and pops up from under to surprise Toji. Papa Toji gives his iconic DILF chuckle that has you  GEEKING and GIGGLING like a damn school girl when you get the chance to hear it every time. He just pats her head, calling her a little rascal or princess, then resumes.

I’m projecting once again but you know those cute crochet dolls? Like the ones with the big black eyes, big head, small body, and no mouth? Toji made those of the entire family. There’s one of himself in his iconic black compression shirt, white sweatpants, and kung fu slippers. He added a little scar too where his mouth would be. Then there is your’s, all pretty and pristine with your iconic outfit. Toji getting your colors and features down to the bone. Next is Megumi and Tsumiki, literal carbon copies of their real versions. Toji said Megumi’s hair was the hardest part to make lol. Then Mayumi’s doll is later added once she’s born. The mini Fushiguro Doll set sits on the top shelf of a pristine black display case, next to the tv, in the family room. 

He’s the type of guy you wouldn’t expect to be good at a skill like this then later found out he’s an absolute master and god among men. Toji doesn’t parade around craftsmanship because he knows how some guys have fragile egos. But he won’t shy away when people ask him about his work. Pulls out his phone to show people the things he made with two needles, one crochet hook, and a shit load of yarn.

Satoru, being the shitter he is, tries to tease and bully Toji about it. To which you reprimand and scold him for it. But Toji doesn’t care about dealing with his antics because it’s a practical skill and keeps him out of trouble. Then you remind Satoru that his winter scarf he always wears was made, the one you gifted him for his 18th birthday, was made by Toji at your request. Satoru never wore any scarf because he thought you made it for him. But for you to tell him Toji actually made it for him, Satoru shuts himself up and doesn’t shit on Toji anymore.

Toji loves it when his family uses/wears the things that he made. Usually wears a goofy smile or grin on his face to conceal his prideful yet satisfied self, knowing his creations are appreciated and loved by his family.

Tag List:

@luqueam @ploylulla @tqd4455 @wolywolymoley @captainbabybear @ravenswife

Tag List(@ w/ no links):

@szillx @g0th1xac1d @SleppyAnn @kneelarhmstrung

[a-dumb-sarcastic-bisexual]

These Nimona headcanons are a day late cause yesterday was my first day at the new job and I got carpal tunnel

Bal can’t stand the sounds of knuckles cracking or joints popping 

Which is funny because like I said in this post I know that man sounds like pop rocks when he stands up 

What’s funnier is both Nimona and Ambrosius crack their knuckles any chance they get 

Ambrosius tries to do it away from Bal but Nimona does it in his ear on purpose 

One time Bal punched someone and he freaked out not because he knocked the dude out cold 

But because his knuckles cracked when he did it and he claims it felt disgusting 

I feel like you can really tell a lot about someone when it comes to their phone and the same can be said for the trio 

Bal’s phone is weirdly high-tech even by their societies standards 

When he was recovering after the wall fell he had a lot of time on his hands and just started to mess with his phone 

He doesn’t have a lot of apps on it you can tell he doesn’t really touch it unless he needs it 

He does however have an app that plays audio books because he likes listening to them on long car rides 

Ambrosius phone is the most bare-bones phone you can possibly buy 

It doesn’t have any bells and whistles at most it can call text and maybe has a couple of games on it but that’s it 

He has little to no storage and he asked Bal for help 

Bal was shocked to find out that most of his storage was being used on photos 

And that's how he found out Ambrosius has a million photos of him and Nimona just sitting on his phone

Sometimes it’s the same photo from different angles  

He doesn’t know if he should be crying or terrified cause he doesn’t remember half of these being taken

Nimona’s phone like Ambrosius is very bare bones 

He only really uses it to call and text and sometimes listen to the music he illegally downloaded 

His phone has 15 viruses because of this and Bal has given up trying to save it 

The phone is also cracked to high heaven and no one is sure how it’s still functioning 

I’ve had this idea for a while but I feel like sometimes Nimona will make incredibly outdated references 

Sometimes it’s like 20 years and sometimes it’s 500 

And she’ll have to sit the person down and explain the entire reference to them

Which is hard because sometimes the reference is deeply involved with the history that’s been purposefully covered up

So then she’ll have to give a full-on history lesson 

And you’d think she would get annoyed by this but no

She actually gets really excited explaining the history that’s been lost and why that history has been covered up 

It’s one of her special interests that she can go on about forever 

What’s even funnier is when someone references something from a long time ago and they’ll just look at them and go “How the fuck do you know that”

I find the idea of Nimona not being able to handle spicy food but loving it at the same time hilarious 

Especially considering the fact that they’re living with two Asian men and Asians don’t play about spice (I swear to this day my Mama burned both her and my tastebuds off) 

They try really hard to look tough and eat all the food they’re given 

But snot is running down their face and there are tears in their eyes and they need to take constant breaks 

Poor baby coughs when you add sriracha to their food 

Whereas Bal and Ambrosius are out here guzzling hot sauce like it’s water 

Nimona prays on their downfall while also begging the boys to teach them their ways

[akajustmerry]

hi merry! what is your favorite jane/rafael moment in JTV?

OOFT. I have TWO. the first one is when Jane falls in the kiddie pool in season 1 and raf dives into save her and he's like, "I didn't think you could swim!!" and she's like, "but I can stand!" and they're both giggling standing fully clothed in the pool smakakaksjsksk true love innit!! aaand I love the episode where Jane takes raf with her to the black friday sales. it's not particularly jafaely but I just adore that sequence it's so funny. so is the scene where Jane asks raf for advice on dating someone who's abstinent and he's like, "well, speaking from experience, get ready for carpal tunnel syndrome 😁" amskskks they were insane in the most disgustingly sweetest way possible god bless.

[sailorspica]

reijean hitchannie college band AU headcanons that may not lead to fic form but i feel strongly about because i did undergrad at a huge university with a prestigious music school where everyone was depressed + i've been giffing kids on the slope (2012) w reiner's seiyuu + the given akihiko/haruki reijean agenda:

all the warriors grew up playing classical music w/ varying degrees of parental pressure, for example mr leonhart is a violinist and annie's first and forever teacher so maybe she maims him here too (he's like jk simmons in whiplash); karina is into classical music as a status symbol

by contrast hitch and jean know how to have fun. hitch learned everything from youtube, jean's mom let him quit piano lessons as a kid so he came back to it on his own when he realized it was cool/thought it could get him girls (it doesn't) (inspo: nick cave)

annie (lead/rhythm guitar), hitch (vocals/rhythm guitar/octave pedal "bass"), jean (vocals/keys/bass), reiner (drums). reiner would do bass if he had sukuna arms

reijean meet in intro to audio engineering which counts as a science class for some reason, form the band after roping annie into their final recording project; annie's an undeclared part-time student who mostly works

first they try marco as rhythm guitarist but he is too jazzy and cannot wrap his mind around rock tone, annie is furious (low stakes version of trost; sounds derogatory but marco just looks like a jazz guy)

hitch is a business major who thinks music is a hobby, kinda yasu from nana energy. annie recruits her after overhearing her teaching/berating marlowe before he absolutely bombs an open mic night

hitch is an acoustic girlie (dark ukulele past) but annie and jean take her shopping and she picks a danelectro stock '59

annie plays a jaguar bc of her short fingers, she's some combo of lindsey jordan / luna li but also j mascis

reiner's favorite drummer is karen carpenter, deadass

hitch is the least disciplined which equal turns teaches them to relax but incites rage, annie and jean lock her in a room w reiner bc this bitch cannot count

everyone sings but especially hitch and jean, the vibe is michelle zauner and craig hendrix; i think they hype up the other two who are very self conscious

main songwriters are annie and jean, jean finds jazzy chords that hitch hates

annie was concertmaster of her arts magnet high school orchestra until mikasa showed up and the worst part is violin is mikasa's like, tertiary instrument; now they are ex-gf roommates

opera singer mikasa ruins lives, she is kissing kissing mezzo historia in boy drag (inverse girl armin) in uhhh idk la clemenza di tito

ymir is probably a drummer in a nu riot grrrl band, root of her frenemyship with reiner, also i think she's trying to steal annie and/or hitch

reiner is a cello performance major who became interested in rock percussion after hooking up w eren; eren's taste is incredibly lame, he likes like, dave grohl

eren and mikasa both did piano lessons as kids and she forces him to be her accompanist most of the time, but he and jean tag in and out ever since eren gave himself gamer's carpal tunnel before mikasa's first jury freshman year

jean is Not a music major but he makes money as music majors' accompanist; he could be studio art? or something "reasonable" (a la the MPs, business school hitch), like cybersecurity

annie and marcel = violin, pieck and bertie = viola, reiner and porco = cello

bertolt is living studio ghibli whisper of the heart in italy

for the first half of undergrad reiner lived with marcel in place of porco bc that little shit felt smothered by the galliards bUyINg a whole apartment for their boys, but when marcel graduated pocco moved in and uhhhhh evicted reiner, who thought he had saved enough to make it on his own by living rent free but uhhhhh karina stole it

uhhh pieck looks like my first gay crush (a violist opera singer) so let's say she's studying abroad

point is, reiner is isolated through no one's direct fault, really, besides pock; annie is his closest friend in town and she's such a tsundere about it. he lived on her and mikasa's couch for a week but will never return because it was too awkward even for his broke ass

[writinglittlebeasts]

Hi, please show us the carpal tunnel 👀

🩹 A scene involving an injury.

Writing Share Askbox Meme

of course of course. you get The Sail Scene, which is a scene where i pretend to know more about how boats work than i do, and do not attempt to learn about this specific type of boat either lol.

from this fic [link] cause ive given up on keeping these accounts separate. you all know what im doing here

carpal tunnel be upon ye (zoro)

It's easier for Zoro to hide his pain and the mounting weakness in his hands when he's able to throw the weight of his entire body behind a task. Raising the mainsail is a simple matter, if harder for the way that the wind is never keen to release it. The boom needs to rise against that force, and the inclement storm is building to a squall. It's no use to wrap the rope around his hand to keep his grip, because the task calls for a hand-over-hand approach, and so as Zoro yanks the rope he leans his body back and grits his teeth like the angle might relieve some of the tension. Sanji's attention is divided with his legs wrapped around the spar, arms full of stubborn canvas, but as closely as he's watching he both sees and feels it when Zoro's hand slips. 

The boom falls quickly without the rope to leaven its descent and the wind howls in the sail as the storm now fights to carry it, its voice deep and horrible. Sanji maintains his grip by the strength of his thighs alone, and on the other side of the spar Usopp drops the mainsail to keep his balance. 

“Zoro!” Nami cries.

The swordsman shouts, a bleat of frustration before he’s recaptured the rope, and he tugs all the harder for the ground he’s lost. Thanks to his extra effort, the sail is tied in no time at all. Zoro hitches the rope to the cleat with force, gritting his teeth; holding on perhaps longer than he needs to, to steady himself as much as the mainsail.

Usopp wriggles down the mast while Sanji is still deep in thought, watching the hunched set of Zoro’s shoulders from where he still sits on the spar. Over the howl of the wind, Sanji can’t hear whatever admonishment the sniper has for the swordsman, but he watches Zoro offer the briefest argument and then stomp away across the deck towards the stern. 

“What’s up with him?” Usopp asks when Sanji finally slides down the mast. “He seems distracted. I didn’t mean to upset him, if he’s feeling sore about something, but I could have fallen into the sea just now.” 

“It isn’t anything that you did, Usopp,” Sanji assures him plainly, fishing into his pocket for a cigarette. Usopp really could have fallen off of the mast, and in a storm like this it could have taken more time than they could afford to save him. “The rope was caught by the wind; it snapped across his knuckles and he wasn’t expecting it, so he dropped the rope. I saw it happen. He knows you could've fallen, and he's probably ashamed.”

“Oh, man!” Usopp scratches his scalp just below the edge of his bandana where the sweat is the least bearable and the most accessible. Gross. “Still, he’s held strong through worse. It’s still weird, right?”

Sanji shrugs. The smoke passes his lips and is quickly carried away on the squall, and to some degree his frustration leaves with it. It’s hard to believe that after all of this time Zoro is going to be what finally drives him into the sweet embrace of lung cancer.

“He got it back under control, right? We secured the sail in record time. I didn’t even have to climb down from the rigging to kick his ass first.” 

“I guess,” Usopp trails off, sounding less than convinced. And it isn’t Sanji’s job to cover for Zoro, and he's still pissed off, so he doesn’t try to sound more convincing. 

“Stranger than that,” Robin makes her presence known, “is that this might be the first time I’ve heard you defend the swordsman, Cook.” She’s sitting on the bottom stair of the stern deck, her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. With her hair billowing around her face as it is, it’s almost difficult to recognize that she isn’t wearing her typical enigmatic smile. 

Sanji blinks, torn between the small thrill at the notion that Robin cares to know his behaviors and the concern that that lack of a smile raises instead. 

“Hah! You might be right, Robin!” Usopp says, Zoro’s blunder forgotten. 

“Which way did he go?” Nami pushes past the group of them with her hair similarly askew, though the lightning in her eyes is plainly visible. “I need to charge him for scaring me like that! No, I need to hit him!” 

“Cook,” Robin calls back Sanji’s attention. “Can I speak to you?”

Sanji hums a question, but agrees.

That thoughtful frown still on her face, Robin leads Sanji across the deck to the landing below the bow. The protection from the wind here beside the staircase is slight, but appreciated, as the rain finally starts to fall.

“I think you’ve noticed the same thing that I have;” Robin begins without preamble. She folds her arms across her chest and Sanji spares the movement the barest glance. “That the swordsman is struggling with his hands.”

He feels the strangest urge to deny it, like he might defend Zoro’s honor somehow. Instead, he shakes his head and replies, “I figured it out a while ago, yeah.”

“Have you brought it up with him?”

Sanji scoffs. “So he can deny it? He doesn’t want to hear it from me.”

“So it’s safe to assume that you haven’t mentioned it to the doctor, either?” Robin asks. 

“I’m feeling a little accused here, Robin, dear.”

“It’s because I’m accusing you, Cook.” 

He grimaces in affront, but can’t bring himself to argue with her. This isn't just about a spoon anymore, or some groceries. Instead of looking her in the eye, because her words alone are sharp as steel and her serious gaze is even worse, Sanji tips his head back to squint into the storm clouds roiling above the Merry. He sighs heavily, and the smoke whips away before the rain can tamp it out. 

“I was hoping he would get a clue and bring it to Chopper, himself,” Sanji admits. Saying it aloud, he wonders how he was ever so stupid. 

Robin sighs, as well, and when he looks sidelong down at her her eyes have fallen shut. 

“I was hoping for the same. I had thought that maybe, if you knew, the doctor already would. I haven’t been here for very long, after all; everybody else might already have known.”

“As far as I can tell, he hasn’t told anyone. I’m not confident he even knows what he’s dealing with.” 

And isn’t that funny to think about: whatever training Zoro had had, hadn’t they warned him? There must be some old fuck running around on that island of his with the same symptoms, right? Sure, the idea that Sanji could lose the use of his hands if he chopped onions too vigorously or for too long scares him to death, but because he’d been warned he’s careful with the damned things. 

Robin raises her head and pins Sanji with her eyes again. This time the look is inescapable. Decidedly she tells him, “you need to talk some sense into him.”

“Did you forget?” Sanji finds himself taking a short tone with her and forces his shoulders to relax. Runs a hand through his damp hair. Once he’s taken his moment to breathe, he says, “he argues if I so much as tell him he’s facing the wrong direction. If you want him to listen, get Luffy in on this, or something. Or tell him yourself.”

“He doesn't trust me, and he obviously doesn’t want the captain to know.”

“He doesn’t want me to know, either.”

“He knows that you know, Cook.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Sanji’s shoulders creep up again. “... Sorry.”

Robin adjusts her stance from one leg to the other; her nearest analog to rolling her eyes. “You’ve been too gentle with him to be subtle, Cook. It’s like I said: you’ve been defending him to the others.” 

Sanji deflates further. “You think he noticed that?”

“I’d say so; he’s been touchier with the rest of the crew, but he's been avoiding speaking to you entirely.”

A particularly large wave rocks the Merry, and while they both manage to catch themselves before they can fall to the deck, Sanji isn’t keen on staying out in this weather for any longer.

“We should head inside,” he says. 

“Think about what I said, Cook. If the swordsman doesn’t change his behavior, I’ll have no choice but to go to the doctor myself.”

[crazy56u]

Well, it's been three weeks, and apparently it's now a straight shot to the season finale with no breaks in sight, let's go.

Last time on Quantum Leap, Ian caused the plot. Meanwhile, in Hell's Kitchen...

I never had Indian food, I've always wanted to try it.

"You've gotta stop eating the merchandise." Out of context, that's a drug dealer line.

Okay, so that memorial Ben passed was the dad, I had a hunch.

I choose to believe Ian was staring at that drawing for all three weeks.

"Did you leap?" Well, not yet, Magic, catch the fuck up.

Also, I'm pretty fucking sure Ian leaping occurs in the season finale.

"Not you you, just future you." Distinction without a difference.

Meanwhile, Ben's back in the same fucking alley from the 1980s.

OH fuck, why is Ben in 2009...

The editor is having epilepsy.

I love the implication that Addison just knew that off the top of her head, and she didn't need Ziggy for it.

"HEY RANDOM PERSON TALKING TO THEMSELVES, IT'S MUGGING TIME!"

Ah. A landlord. Starting to piece together why the building burned down.

"Look, you want your money, I don't wanna be choked, life's shit for everyone."

Addison, he's clearly fucking lying, keep up.

"This is your last chance. We both know there's a good chance I'm the one who causes the building to catch fire. I ain't fucking around."

...okay, is that foreshadowing that Ben's about to cause this mom's heart attack as well?

"What's all this?" A giant iPad, obviously.

Look, Ian, I get it, you're stressed out about causing the show to happen in the future, but take a breath.

"No one here believes you're a risk. Janis is more of a threat than you, and we still have her locked in the broom closet!"

"We owe $30,000, just get an extension, you're acting like she tried to murder you in the alley!"

"Web-sheb". Not entirely convinced that wasn't supposed to be "web shit".

Oh God, that beast of a computer...

Why is this turning into the plot of Ratatouille?

"They were going to see the pyramids this year." Calling it now, that was supposed to be the episode, but budget cuts happened.

Ben Song: Can handle space, but not family trauma.

Corpse or Sleep?

Sleep.

Bro wants to ditch work to grab sick kicks, right as the mom is experiencing carpal tunnel.

Okay, this really is Hell's Kitchen if all of these conflicts are snowballing into one clump...

I hope "Dimpy" is actually a nickname, but chances are it's not.

Okay, so, let's total it up: Massive debt, stuck on the past, lingering presence of dead father, baby mama drama, skipping work for new shoes, nerve damage, and pride above all else. And a fire as the bow on top.

200 people in 2009, that's basically the end of days.

Someone's about to get slapped.

"See, this is how you react, being upset that I said your dreams are bullshit!"

[This is the most fucking ominous commercial for Airbnb...]

I was so distracted by Ian's sick tattoos, I failed to realize Ian got a subplot this week.

[As a sidenote, my stance is that people are only complaining about the Project subplots because the show is stuck to 42 minutes a pop; not nearly as many people would be complaining if the episodes were a few minutes longer. The Project subplots aren't bad, the episodes are just compact.]

"Didn't you just call me useless?" "Stop focusing on the past!" "Kinda difficult for that!"

"What else you can do to save a restaurant other than bring in new customers?" ...burn it down the the insurance money is my immediate answer, but I don't think that applies this time...

[I was busy blowing my nose, I missed all of Ben's phone call.]

The mom's impatience going to fucking be the death of her.

"Only in America" will wear itself out pretty fucking quick, ma'am. Trust me...

Annnnnnd the heart attack.

...why am I not surprised Ian was a "Pretty Little Liars" fan?

Is it just me, or does she look like Mila Kunis?

And the mom is still on the floor...

And Ben now has PTSD...

"Your mom had an aneurysm. She didn't. Get the fucking first aid kit."

Okay, I have to side with the mom on this one about the world being harsh, but only because she's in 2009, and I'm in 2023, and I know how bad it gets.

Okay, so now it's 300 people, now it's the end times.

Meanwhile in Oregon, I guess...

They're having out at a pizza place, this episode is clearly inspired by Pizza Tower.

The American Dream = Greasy cheese pizza.

Look, to be fair, spicy food has caused lawsuits. Google "Doritos Roulette".

...okay, calling it now, the landlord got impatient.

Can't tell if CGI or actual explosion...

"2% is low, but not zero." Quantum Leap is an educational show.

AND I'm pretty sure I was right about the landlord.

"Just because we don't have a restaurant doesn't mean we don't have a restaurant!"

Ben's about to invent the pop up restaurant.

[Firefox is lagging the fuck out right now.]

I wonder how much money they spent renting out this location, because 100% not a set...

"Everything you do, you do for a good reason." There, you see, Ian's justified in causing the show to happen.

This looks like a wedding reception.

"I tracked down a few weddings-" CALLED IT

All it took for her to let people in was the landlord being a bitch.

"And so a child will lead them", quite literally.

[Seriously, Firefox is taking a minute to finish adding the sentence I typed in 20 seconds.]

All of this sick ass food is making me regret having pasta alfredo for dinner.

"We'll be serving family style." Mic drop.

I swear to God if the landlord is holding up the investor...

"Ironically, he has food poisoning..." That doesn't negate my guess...

Did they just invent Patreon in 2009?

And the landlord is SEETHING off in the distance.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, FUCK YOU KATHY! GO DOWN IN FLAMES LIKE AL CAPONE!

"You two don't need me." Okay, is it bad that I thought she'd immediately have a heart attack then and there?

[It's down to the wire, Firefox is on its last legs...]

And Ben's reward for saying "I love you, Mom"? Playing Battleship with Brandon Routh.

Holy shit, that boat CGI was bad...

[Also, why do I get the suspicion the plot of next week's episode involves preventing World War III?]

Well, I managed to finish the liveblog, in spite of Firefox slowly dying!

Burn in Hell, Kathy.

[bogusboxed]

Boxtober - Day 8: “Wish Upon A Star”

Day 8: - Nina The Killer (2021) X GN!Reader "Shooting Stars" X “Do you remember?”

-I do not own "Nina The Killer" and do not take credit for her.

-Rating: Teens & Up.

-

PROLOGUE 

You had various maps and trackers in your hand as you still tried to support your weight. It was so heavy on your frame as you struggled to keep up with Nina. It was late in the night, and you had school tomorrow. But, here you were with Nina again. In the middle of nowhere what could possibly go wrong? "Hurry up, Reader!’ ‘I know Jeff is right around the corner!" she was updating her MySpace while she dragged you along. You could barely see the area in front of you as you just blindly followed Nina.

You two were in the middle of a desolate field with a forest in the distance. "I can’t carry all of this shit!" you complained, feeling the weight of her fangirling dragging you down. You knew you shouldn’t support her love for a literal serial killer, but you couldn’t turn her down. She saved you in middle school way too many times to complain to her now.  There wasn't any turning back from this and both of you knew it. "C'mon, bestie!" she smiled wildly as her Kandi bracelets shook in the air, sounding like a maraca.

 You didn’t know how she didn’t develop carpal tunnel or even lose complete blood flow in her arms. And along with that, she had mismatched colored gloves and wild-colored hair. From her jet-black hair to the pink raccoon stripes occasionally peeking through. Over the time you two had been friends, you figured out she was a scene kid. It was pretty obvious from just taking a look at her, but even to add onto that she also had the stereotypical personality down to a T.

The wind blew hard on you two, as the night sky was the only thing illuminating your way. As you walked through the open field, you could see everything. As the pine smell prominently came your way as the relentless breeze hit both of you. But, neither of you cared enough to point it out. "I know he’s here!" her eyes reflected the stars as she cheered, looking toward you. "We’ll know when he’s here because we’ll either see him dump a body into the field or hear screaming." you took her out of her fantasies once more. The way she thought of him was crazy. When you two got back from this, you swore you were going to have her look up maladaptive daydreaming. "Okay pls stop being such a party pooper." she tended to use online lingo as actual words. She was chronically online, but there were worse things. One was her being attracted to a murderer. 

But, thinking of it now, with this dramatic sky and the natural surroundings. You thought about you and Nina. Even with all of the constant pacing and running you did all night. You had fun. You always have had fun with her. But, sometimes you’d worry you would lose her in a crowd or that she’d leave you. But, that day never came and it never would. Her neon-colored strands of hair mixed in with her black hair made it easy to tell where she was. And even when you thought you lost her, she would always find you and drag you back on the right track. You enjoyed being her friend. You didn't mind sticking with her even with all her flaws.

"Okay, he’s deff around here!" she chirped happily as she jumped over the tall grass trying to scope him out. "I can tell 'I can smell him and he smells like absolute ass," you muttered as she heard you complain about him. She pretended to be shocked and hurt, but she knew. You already communicated that you didn’t like Jeff and even had a distaste for him. That news made her confused but pretty happy. She was happy that you could never love him the way she did, but a little sad that you hated him. Normally she’d beat the shit out of anyone who dared to say that, but you were her closest friend. And you hadn’t tried to stop her, and in fact, you helped her try to find him. So you're allowed to criticize him to some extent in her eyes.

"No cool Reader!" she frowned jokingly as she dug into her pocket. She then pulled out her phone and took something from the stuff you were holding. "Hm," she muttered to herself. She was figuring out something and you hadn’t a clue what it could be. "What is it now?" you tilted your head toward her as she pitifully typed away. She made a pouty face as she grudgingly typed. 

After some quiet silence, she made a noise that could’ve been guessed as a laugh as she smiled. You always felt her smile was off. Too large. Unnatural even, but you never told her. She soon went back to looking as she put her hand above her forehead. It looked like a salute, but she was leaning into it. She was exaggerating even while looking around. But, yet again, she has always been a drama queen. And even changed her bio to it. It made you cringe, but, even so, you didn’t say anything.

"Holy fuck!" her eyes lit up as she pointed at something in the horizon desperately. You felt a gut feeling to run. You felt something in your soul get ripped apart. You turned your head slowly. Your face was pale. It was Jeff The Killer in the far distance. But, he was still there. He was sitting on a log depressingly whilst sharpening his knife against something that looked like a bone. like a human skull. You felt your mouth go agape. "We need to run." you looked at her. Then, she turned to you, feeling insulted. "No!’ ‘I’ve spent my entire life looking for him!" Nina fought back as she stood up. "Reader, it's fine if you're too much of a pussy and a terrible friend not to allow me to talk to my crush, but you're not stopping me!" you could feel the disappointment and hurt in her tone. 

You froze as she took off slowly. She was waiting for you. She wanted you to go with her. She needed you with her even with those words she spoke. You looked up at the sky and saw a shooting star blaze through the air. Its bright white glare zoomed across the ocean's blue night sky. You wished to the star that you two wouldn’t die. You picked up your feet as you followed her nervously. She picked up her speed realizing you were there. That night, you two encountered Jeff The Killer willingly. That night, he tried to kill you, but Nina was just too persistent, so she accidentally saved your life while achieving her own goals. Everything changed after that night. And now you’re left longing that you wished for something else on that star.

END OF PROLOGUE

Many years later, you were sitting in that same field with the same person. She has changed over the years. It took a while, but she changed. From her looks to her entire personality. That fateful night under the shooting star changed both of you. That night, you never came home. You never submitted that homework that was due, and you never would. Because on that night, you choose your fate. You then gazed at the terrain around the both of you. "It looks the same," you said, as you examined the tall trees and knee-high grass. The breeze also felt nostalgic as you gazed into the clear blue sky. "Yeah," Nina grumbled, moving her body away from yours respectfully. You kept the conversation going while marveling at the beauty and irony of the situation. Nina glanced up, looking at the far trees, then at you, then back to the floor. You could tell something was wrong. Maybe you two shouldn't have come back after all these years. Was it triggering something in her? I mean, it hurt you as well, but it was just too beautiful to not indulge in.

"Do you remember when you dressed scene?" you smiled at Nina, and from the corner of your eye, you saw her return it. "Don't," she jokingly told you off as her black hair flowed in the wind. You brought up anything you could in hopes of cheering her up. "How damaged was your hair back then?" you asked, glancing at her. You've always wanted to know this but never had the time or courage to ask. You just had to know how much hair spray had been infused into her hair. "Burnt," her eyes widened as she remembered her old haircut. 

Even with all of her flaws, it was a pretty iconic look. "I wonder if those trackers are still scattered in the forest," you thought. The night you chased Nina and dropped everything to run faster. "Ben probably took 'em," she muttered, looking at you now. She had her head resting on her knees as she watched you carefully. She had a warm, calming gaze locked on you. You felt warm, even if the night was unforgivingly cold. The moonlight lit up your shared surroundings as you both just sat there taking it in. "Did you still update your MySpace after that night?" you asked her as she froze for a moment. "Yeah, whenever I could," she exhaled. You chuckled, thinking it was pretty funny. Even after almost dying, she kept up with her page.

"Do you think you would’ve done anything differently?" you spoke without thinking. You already knew the answer, but you said it nonetheless. "About the night?’ ``Yeah, I would've," Nina thought slowly as she took a moment. "I wouldn’t have been obsessed with Jeff and then I’d have listened to you instead of being a bitch." her words quickened with regret. You could just tell how she was feeling from her face and the way she was holding herself. "It’s not your fault", you tried to comfort her.

 "Yes, it is.’ ‘Don’t lie ‘It’s all my fault."  she hugged herself, pulling her knees to her chest. Trying to be as compact as possible. You could hear her exhale heavily. You could see the way her hands shook.  "Don’t even try ‘If I hadn’t pressured you so much’ ‘You wouldn’t have done any of this.’ ‘And maybe you could've had a normal life if it wasn’t for me." her words slowly softened, making them sound like a whisper. Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. Having a tear unwillingly shed.

 "I wouldn't have had a normal life.' 'I would have gone after you when you went missing and ended up here." you assured her it wasn't just her, but she just wouldn't take it in. She inhaled. She didn't speak, but you could tell her voice was shaky. "I’m so sorry, Reader." She looked at you, making eye contact. Her beautiful eyes competed with the sky itself. "It’s fine-" you tried to reach her, but she’d already made up her mind. "It’s not." Nina has and will hold that above her head for the rest of her life. You knew you couldn't say anything to change her mind. It was already set in stone.

You scooted toward her fragile figure before, leaning your head against hers. You shared your warmth with her. She sat there as you took her hand into yours. Her hands were cold and clammy as you gently rubbed them whilst having to support their complete weight.  "I love you," you said something more empowering, even if it had slipped out. You knew she would listen to that. She looked at you frantically with widened eyes. "What would I do without you?" she cried into your shoulder as she held your hand. 

She just broke down completely, allowing you to mend her back. You brushed her hair back with your hand as you exhaled. You wished she would just accept that you forgave her and that it wasn't just her. You could see, out of the corner of your eye, a light blaring from the sky. A shooting star flew through the sky once again, just like it did before. As you gazed at it, time seemed to slow down. You had a second chance. You thought about it, still able to hear her muffled crying. You whispered to the star under your breath, "I forgive you." before, you went back to taking care of your girlfriend, hoping she'd learn to forgive herself.

-

[elegistnox]

Book Lovers - A One Shot

Charlie Lastra looked up, startled, his amber  eyes shifting towards the source like lightening. The whip of a laugh emanated from an ice blonde shark loitering beside their fridge with a half finished book she meant to set down an hour ago. 

A rough hand worried at his too full bottom lip, a wedding ring resting comfortably atop it - gold because apparently it was the only non regrettable metal to wear daily. 

It was the singular splash of colour to a man pulled straight from a black and white Tom Ford ad. And it was like everything else about him; crackling with energy. 

Another laugh ricocheted between the worn walls of their apartment. The sound contesting valiantly with the sirens outside, only one of them ever made his heart thud in his chest. 

“Stephens,” he breathed, his voice low to the ground. His knees spread wide, forearms resting atop thighs. “I’m trying to work.” 

“Lastra,” his wife cackled, still midway through a page. A glass of wine held precariously in one hand. “Who said I’m not also working?”

There were times that Nora laughed and he wasn’t entirely certain why, or how her brain even got where it had landed. That never mattered though, not so long as she never stopped pointing that warmth towards him. 

“That book is already published.“ He pointed out.

“To know thy competition is the beginning of conquering.” She responded serenely, not even looking up at him. 

“Did you just quote Socrates,” Charlie rolled his wrists, letting the carpal tunnel sort itself out before tucking his hands behind his head. “Poorly?” 

“Not intentionally.” Nora followed the motion, pausing on the sliver of skin that peered through the bottom of his sweater.

A slight smirk had begun to pull his lips from their pout, Nora hadn’t blinked. 

“Nora, that book was my publish.” January Andrews had been his client for as long as he’d been at Wharton. They were not a traditional pairing of author and editor, often her painful love of happily ever afters made his stomach roll, but it was offset by her fucking flawless ability to tell a story.

“Looks like you’ve still got it then.” His wife pulled herself out of whatever wine induced trance she’d been in, raising an eyebrow and tipping her glass in his direction.

“Oh no Stephens,” he raised his glass in solidarity, at some point she may or may not have changed her last name. He wasn’t particular either way. “That’s you who has it all.”

If he wanted to say her returning grin saved some endangered species in a country they’d never been, well, he worked in books. Realism had always and never been his thing. 

“You’ve got all of me.” 

The Ice Queen and her King.

[benis-chillin]

Backlog Reviews 2024: Fallout New Vegas

Platform: PC

April 27th, 2024-June 23rd, 2024(didn't finish)

Been a minute, hasn't it?

As I noted at the end of my Metroid Dread review, I took a break from my backlog to let my carpal tunnel settle for a bit, and it did, even as I played Resident Evil: Deadly Silence on an old DS Lite whenever I had to wait 15 or so minutes while my mom tanned on the way to my plasma donations. After that, I decided to try out Fallout: New Vegas since it was a small game in terms of space, and it was a Christmas gift from a friend.

My first impressions were a little rough, as I got used to the sometimes awkward controls, and I got vilified within my first little bit of being in Goodsprings because I decided to shoot what I THOUGHT was a wild animal…That ended up being owned livestock, so I had to kill the owner in self-defense.

Then I had to kill a guy who saw me kill THAT guy, again in self defense.

Maybe it was my face? Idk.

Anyway, I finally got my vibe going when I discovered the console commands, and activated God Mode, thus allowing me to settle into a dream of being an invulnerable cyborg cowboy who's sort of a lawful neutral, with no restraint about killing bad people, and helping out where he can. This path led me to doing things like slaughtering the Powder Gangers after they killed an entire town, save the Ghouls from the Nightkin and achieve their goal of rocketing towards a new land, and I ultimately helped Boone kill the person who killed his wife, leading to him joining me and becoming my heterosexual life partner.

Wandering around was also a big part of the fun, finding new shit to do while classic songs on the radio fuel the atmosphere. I got Johnny Guitar stuck in my head a few times, but the immersion was worth it.

All of this is well and good, and I was enjoying this feeling of forging my own path…Until I avenged myself and got the people who had mugged me. Then the game just kinda lost all momentum. So I figured, "Okay, time to wrap it up." and looked up the quickest ending, which was the House ending.

And I couldn't bring myself to finish it because it was not only kinda long in its own right, but also went entirely against what I'd been doing this whole time. It felt wrong and gross for the character I had created, and I was only doing it so I could finally be DONE with all of this nonsense.

It reminded me of my first time playing Shadow the Hedgehog, and just doing a regular story playthrough. I wanted to do a more heroic playthrough, but often got stuck due to various factors. I wanted to destroy all of the Black Arms in Westopolis, but I had to just get the goal ring because I can't find them to this day. I wanted to save Cream in Cryptic Castle, but I couldn't find her. I got tricked into thinking the switches in Glyphic Canyon were a necessity, but that was just for the dark path. I got an evil ending, but I didn't WANT that. The game advertised itself as letting me choose the ending, but rarely have I ever gotten one that was satisfying in that scenario…Or even the ending I was TRYING to work for.

And that's how I felt about New Vegas. I lost the immersion once my character's goal was completed. And maybe someday, I'll come back, load up an older save, and do what I want to do. But for now, I'm gonna leave it alone.

6/10

Next time, my air conditioner is out, so I need to do some games I can sit in front of my window unit to play until the weather cools down a bit or we get it fixed. Thus, inspired by the recent trailer trailer for Metroid Prime 4, I'm doing Metroid Prime Hunters! See ya then!

[copingintheghetto]

Google voice typing trial run

I haven't written anything for a while. I am trying to form good habits and be consistent in just about everything in my life because that's a big problem for me. And I don't think my therapist can help me with this as my psychiatrist NP suggested.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is this the name I have and coping in the ghetto is- I don't know what these words mean as of February 28th 2024.

I need to change the word ghetto because I do not live in the ghetto anymore. I know where that is in this medium sized city, which is the capital of the state.

It's a place that is depressing to me because it reminds me of where I was and I worry that things will go badly and I'll lose my little home that I love and be walking the streets looking for anything and everything. I worry about losing my sources of income because I'm not good enough at my job according to my coaches. Even so, I think I'm a good employee that works my ass off. My homework assignment is to ask a coach for a minute of their time and read from a piece of paper that I will have written ahead of time addressing all of the things that I need to communicate. Then we'll be on the same page and a weight will be lifted off my shoulders. I will try to do this today. I have already talked to HR and she was really nice. She said she would be a mediator between me and the coaches and the leads nothing has ever come of that. Sometimes I wonder if they are treating me differently because of what she told them. Because I'm not expected to do as much as the other people. I mean new people are doing what I don't do. I've told them that I can do things if they're written down and I can see. But they don't seem to have time to let me write things down. So the solution will be to find a lesson on their learning platform while I'm clocked in before I start working and take notes. Then go up to them and say, "hey I got this written down here and I can do it now if you want me to."

What angers me is that I have carpal tunnel syndrome now because of my hard work there and my knee is messed up now as well. I'll see you doctor next week.

Then there's the anxiety about having to pay social security back around $5,000 since I went over the SGA amount beginning in November. I thought things that were incorrect, and now I know that I should have called them and asked about working full-time before I did so. It was awful for my mental and physical health by the way. The good thing is I gave them my wage information and now I'm just waiting for a caseworker to call me back.

If I do owe all of my savings, then that is just what will happen. The next step would be to save money again. And that's all there is to that.

The other thing is my psychiatrist NP who is now telling me to taper off of pregabalin and just take gabapentin, which is what I'm taking for my nerve pain in my wrist. I told her Gabapentin does not work for anxiety- that I've tried it. She ignored me and continued with her expert thoughts. I think the pregabalin shows promise. I just haven't figured out the right dose. But I am scared of talking to her about that.

The hand surgeon told me that he doesn't put people on Gabapentin long term. That if the pain gets bad, then surgery is an option. By the way, he gave me a steroid injection and I think it's helped but I'm not sure. He said it could help for months .

Back to NP. ... then the solution- if she's not willing to respect my wishes (my bodily autonomy?)- will be to find a different psychiatrist.

Unfortunately, they're pretty much all the same though. Perhaps 1 in 30 might prove helpful. But there's no law that says you have to stay with your provider. You can always seek another one.

Besides being consistent with things and writing things down before I tap on someone's shoulder to communicate, I have to figure out how to stop this compulsive talking I do all day at home.

A lot of it is just because I'm lonely and have no one to talk to. I crave human connection. Not with just anyone, of course. My own company is better than Bad Company. I wonder what the band Bad Company were thinking when they came up with that name.

I am not making an effort in this department though, so I can change that when I'm ready.

But how do I stop the talking? It wastes hours of my day every day. I apologize to my cat for not playing with her. I feel horrible. So, in order to decrease the chances of my ending up in a scary place with scary people trying to take advantage of me and succeeding, I have got to use my powerful amazing brain to make use of my precious time when I'm not at work.

Okay this should be the end of this Google Voice typing test. I think it works rather well so I'll continue to use it. This would be the beginning of another one.

Taking action. Cognitive behavioral therapy for me and you. No, the following is not something I came up with. Do I have to mention the source? I'll throw caution to the wind. This is from stuff I bought way over 10 years ago. It was expensive for me by the way, lol.

Lesson 1.

Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes, and Common Fears.

1. Notice personality traits that encourage anxiety.

2. Begin to appreciate the positive side of your personality.

3. You can change the way you think.

4. Begin making behavior changes.

5. Begin journaling.

6. Slow down in all ways.

7. Begin an exercise routine and reduce caffeine.

8. Recovery is a gradual process.

9. Use relaxation audio session three times daily.

10. Listen to your inner dialogue. Respectful? Kind?

"Your history does not have to be your future."

To be continued.

[sarah-dipitous]

Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 226

Book of the Damned

“Book of the Damned”

Plot Description: When Charlie calls to say she’s found the Book of the Damned, the brier he’s race to meet her. But someone else is not on her trail too

Would I Survive the First Five Minutes??: Charlie might have the training and skills to get out of this alive, but u don’t think I would

Pfffft, Castiel not allowing Metatron ANY form of pleasure, not even songs he might like

Cas complaining to Sam over the phone that he just wants to kill Metatron right now. I love him. Man, when he said that Metatron was his new punching bag, he MEANT it

The way Sam is now finding out that the Mark is a curse and Rowena is Crowley’s mom in one conversation like Dean just forgot to tell him

The actual look of hope in Dean’s eyes when Charlie says she’s got a book that can cure any form of damnation.

*noises of discomfort* Dean’s TOO happy about this. Things are going TOO well. “The Boys Are Back In Town” is playing in the impala. Sam is SMILING. I don’t think I wanna know how poorly this is going to turn

WARNING: DEAN WANTS TO GO ON A BEACH VACATION WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE. I can’t handle how this might turn out

I’m trying to piece together why Dean touching the book is a bad thing. I mean, obviously because the completely dissociated and was hearing strange whispers, but why did that happen?

I’m also curious as to who the undercover angel in the diner (at least I’m guessing they’re an angel) is going to be going after, Cas or Metatron or both

Both, I guess. Holy shit… what if that was the Cupid from way back? Welp, guess it doesn’t matter, Metatron just killed him saving Cas’s life

The book is weird and gross and is having a bad effect on everyone in the cabin. I’d love to be done with it

Poor Dean…oh they’re finally having this out. The what happens when Dean can’t fight the Mark anymore fight

“We’ll do what we need to and deal with the consequences later” the Winchester way

Sam, you say you didn’t mean what you said to Dean about him saving you from the Trials, but…it was really convincing when you said it and then left

Oh…oh, Cas…no one deserves to have their entire raison d’etre questioned like that but Metatron’s not completely wrong. What IS your mission now? Is it purely still atonement for what you’ve been involved in doing to heaven (purposely or unwittingly)?

Goddammit. No. Nonononono, Metatron should have never been trusted without the handcuffs. Fuck Metatron

Sam’s an interesting study (or the writers are inconsistent). He’s somehow come to realize how much he loves hunting with Dean (would have been nice to see that progression), and when faced with having to say out loud what he’d do if he couldn’t do that anymore because Dean was gone, he can’t finish the sentence (though last time that happened for a YEAR, he settled down really quickly)

Cas’s wings have seen better days but he’s got his grace back 🎉🎉🎉 at the cost of losing Metatron and the Demon tablet…oh yes, the Demon tablet is back

So now we’ve got confirmation from the family who’ve guarded and used the book for their own nefarious purposes that it CAN cure the Mark but OF COURSE at a super high price, and we gotta get Charlie outta there

$20 says Sam doesn’t actually burn it…that he actually just burned his notes on it…

All this time, and I didn’t realize Cas and Charlie have never met??

CHARLIE. You need to not be wearing so many layers…is that a Lumberjanes shirt?!?! Like the Nate Stevenson created comic??? IS IT?! (After a google search, inconclusive. But to me it is…)

Cas healed Charlie’s carpal tunnel and bullet wound and Charlie asks him if they just became best friends. I wish they would be.

Fuck…I KNEW IT. I knew he didn’t burn the real book. Before the reveal of who’s on the other side of the table from Sam, I’m gonna take….I’m gonna take one guess, actually. I think it might be Crowley (based on the fact that they have his contact info FOR SURE), but runners up are Metatron and Rowena.

ROWENA!!!!!!!!! Oh, amazing move. Sam, you are an absolute moron, but I’m so excited to see that it’s her. She’s who I WANTED it to be but I couldn’t figure out how Sam would have gotten in contact with her

[kaerenebrainrot]

hi!! not sure if ur still taking requests but if u are,,, could i request kevin & elysia taking care of an s/o who gets sick really easily?? i've been feeling under the weather for the past week TT-TT hope things are going well for u!!

Hi hi, anon! I’m always taking requests, I’m just v. v. slow on them due to college, carpal tunnel, and etc.--But I do hope you feel better soon! And thank you, things are going pretty decently on my side!

Kevin constantly makes sure that Jackal and Gray Serpent are watching you like a hawk if he can’t be beside you. For as shady as they are, they’re also fiercely loyal to him and wouldn’t ever dare to disobey an actual explicitly direct order.  

As much as he loves you, his work comes first, and he needs to create a world for you to be able to live in once you inevitably must be treated and given a Stigma. However, you must first be stable before he attempts it, else you might not survive the process. Naturally, you agreed to it first--There were many who didn’t have a choice in the Previous Era, he wants you to have one.

He’d never force something on you, much less anyone else.

Maybe you apologized to him a lot for it, for your weak body, for the fact you constantly get in his way. To soothe your fever, he gently rests a gloved hand on your head, but also to comfort you.

“You are my strength. Never think of yourself as an obstacle.”

He really struggled to get time to spend with you to care for you, even if he knows that you want him to accomplish the wish and duty he must fulfill. Kev is ready to sacrifice what he must and get his hands dirty, but he’d rather not have to lose you if he can.

Part of Jackal’s research involves finding a way to permanently bolster your immune system, or at the very least synthesize a medication you can take so you won’t have to feel this way as often.

He wants to hold you. Really, he does--But he’s cold, and that will only aggravate whatever it is that plagues you, and it hurts.

It makes him think about his nightmares that tell him that only the fittest survive.

You’re strong, you’ve stayed beside him. But your body? It isn’t. 

He isn’t a hero. This is why. He’s working to save humanity, but he can’t even help you right now.

But that you tell him that his presence, that he made time for you, makes you feel a little better--He can stomach that feeling of helplessness.

“Oh dear, oh dear, again? I told you not to push yourself.”

Elysia’s voice isn’t quite as teasing as it usually is, it’s a little bit softer as she gently dabs at your forehead with a cloth to wipe the sweat before placing a cooling patch there to help the fever break.

Yes, you have lap pillow privileges. She’ll even let you play with her ears or rest your head against her chest if you want, you get to be spoiled sweet by her--And it’s a fact that very few know. She’s affectionate at heart, but you get the more sincere side of it from her.

She’ll hum while playing with your hair, all while scolding you playfully with her usual lilt to it--But she means it, she was worried.

She can’t always be beside you, and she knows that now more than ever as a MANTIS. Someday, something or someone may take her away from you--And she worries.

So she asks Mobius or Klein to watch you whenever she has to head out for a few days. Mostly Klein, since Mobius might try to talk you into doing something she herself would never ever want you to do.

When/if that fails, she asks Dr. MEI.

Once she returns, she quietly enters your room to check on your sleeping form, but sure enough--

“Elysia....Did everything go okay...?” “Oh my, I was doing my best to be so quiet too. Still, you should worry more about yourself, don’t you think? I’m a lot stronger than I look.” “I know, but....” “Shhhhh. I wasn’t scolding you, I just want you to take better care of yourself.”

Her smile’s a little softer, but her eyes are just a little sad.

[ectonurites]

about the cissie post: funniest answer is that yes, green arrow is her bio dad simply because her dad is (was? idk if he's alive) infertile. nobody bothered to bring it up because nobody bothered to make a big deal out of it at the time, her mom just asked a dude at like a college archery comp "hey, my husband can't have kids, will you knock me up because I want a bio kid?" and Ollie went "okay, sounds fun" and had a threesome with a hot blonde and her husband. she's declared part of the arrowfam but GA's not her dad and they all just go on with life drama-free

SFHDGFGD (the other post for context)

While that is very funny, I wanna bring up some... stuff from canon related to this topic.

So, to start off, Cissie's dad is dead (at least pre-new 52 which ya know thats where all this is centered considering Cissie has only shown up in 5 issues total post-new 52) and that's actually a part of her hero origin story. Bonnie used the insurance money from his death (he died of... some bad shellfish when Cissie was 5) to fund Cissie's becoming Arrowette (also fun fact! Hal Jordan was the insurance guy to deliver the check LMAO)

(Secret Origins 80-Page Giant)

But a piece of things I feel like you may not know based on how you phrased this is that... Bonnie was the first Arrowette. She had been an award winning archer (varies between just a competition or the olympics) and after not living up to her mom's expectations started to idolize Green Arrow & Speedy and wanted to be a hero herself! Now, we have different versions of these events told, what Bonnie told Bart and what Cissie told her guidance councilor, and there's a few differences that definitely just come from perspective of who the narrator is.

When Bonnie tells things she says she'd helped Green Arrow and Speedy,

(Impulse #28)

vs. in Cissie's retelling it's more that they just saved her at some point because she was getting herself in over her head

(Secret Origins 80-Page Giant)

So like it's a 'your mileage may vary' type thing. But she interacted with them at some point.

Now the fun thing is that this isn't just retroactively adding in a character- Bonnie actually existed all the way back in the 60's!

(World's Finest Comics Vol. 1 #113)

Now, this was pre-crisis, so the events from back then aren't necessarily canon the exact same way post-crisis, but this does give us some indication that Bonnie really had interacted with Ollie & Roy at some points, possibly more than Cissie actually believes. The majority of her old stories (there's a grand total of 4 unique ones, the dc wiki will initially make you think there's 6 but two are reprints) are her trying to help them and messing things up because 'whoops! she's just a girl' because ya know this was the early 60's, but usually she'd save them in the end and Ollie would be like 'well thank you for that today but Please Stop Doing This Bonnie'

But in one that's overall a JLA story... she shows up at the very end on a date with Ollie in his civilian identity (while all the JLA members are there with love interests)

(Justice League of America Vol. 1 #7)

We already knew Ollie knew her identity as Bonnie/Miss Arrowette but it's unclear if Bonnie knew Ollie was Green Arrow, regardless this means they interacted as civilians as well as heroes.

But then Bonnie just stopped showing up mid-60s, and never really got mentioned again until Cissie came into the picture in Impulse in the 90's now post-crisis.

In Impulse & The Secret Origins issue, it's explained that at some point after being undermined by Green Arrow & Speedy not taking her seriously, she met Bernell 'Bowstring' Jones and they worked together for a bit until Bonnie got carpal-tunnel syndrome from her day job and it forced her to stop acting as Miss Arrowette altogether

(Secret Origins 80-Page Giant)

And it was at this point when she had to give it up that she got married & had Cissie (the first panel I posted in this ask). Seems straightforward enough!

But then we throw this exchange into things...

(Young Justice (1998) #34)

And it just makes you wonder!

Like, Bonnie idolized Green Arrow and if we think about those pre-crisis appearances she possibly did also know him as Oliver... a situation where Bonnie slept with Ollie at some point is definitely plausible. Based on the 'they got married and a year later had me' thing, for him to be Cissie's bio dad it would mean she'd have either cheated on Bernell or theoretically it could have been a situation vaguely like what you said where it was something all parties knew about. The reason I brought all this up in the first place though is that there's very unlikely a situation where Ollie wouldn't have known who Bonnie was going into things vs how what you said implies more of a random chance occurrence.

But yeah we're most likely never gonna get an actual answer on this but I think it'd be a fascinating thread to pull on to build a story out of!

[hellotvshowtrash]

Emo Writing Challenge

Hi friends!! I have a prompt challenge for you. To celebrate Scorpio szn (arguably to most emo of signs) as well as this bitch’s birthday, I wanted to create a writing challenge using classic emo songs!! These are a collection of songs that all mean something to me - I can recall at least one memory involving each of these songs.

You and I might have different definitions of emo songs, so don’t be mad if you feel like some of these aren’t ‘emo’. Thank you to @firefly-graphics for the dividers!

Here’s some rules!

Write for whoever you want. MCU, TVDU, whatever fandom you want.

Write whatever you want, just make sure it’s tagged correctly (and you MUST be 18+ to read/write smut. If you are writing smut, do NOT use a character who is a minor.) these ARE emo songs, absolutely PERFECT for angst, js……

Pick your song and character and send me an ask to let me know so I can keep track! I’m excited about some specific songs so I can’t wait to see what y’all might do :)

PROMPTS HAVE UNLIMITED USES! Just because someone’s name is next to a prompt doesn’t mean it’s unavailable :) I’m just keeping track for my own interest!

No specific due date, I’m keeping this up indefinitely!

No word limit, but if you write 500+ words, please utilize the read more tool.

Use tag “ashlee’s emo song challenge” when you post it!

Go crazy and have fun!!!

Below the cut will be a list of songs and some lyrics for inspiration! Gimme what vibe you get from the song, incorporate lyrics, use the song as narration; whatever you want. I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!! ((Check out the Spotify playlist of these songs + more!!))

» “take a breath, don’t it sound so easy? / never had a doubt now I’m going crazy / watching from the floor” Dear Maria, Count Me In - All Time Low

» “well, in fact / well, I’ll look at it this way / I mean technically our marriage is saved / well, this calls for a toast / so pour the champagne” I Write Sins, Not Tragedies - Panic! At The Disco (@mrs-maximoff-kenner for Sam Wilson)

» “I told him I couldn’t lie, he was the only one for me / two weeks and we caught on fire / she’s got it out for me but I wear the biggest smile” Misery Business - Paramore

» “this is not what I intended / I always swore to you I’d never fall apart / you always thought that I was stronger / I may have failed but I have loved you from the start” Fall For You - Secondhand Serenade (@firefly-in-darkness for Bucky Barnes)

» “we all have teeth that can bite underneath / to where the reality grows / that’s where mine go” Curse of Curves - Cute Is What We Aim For

» “and she could make hell feel just like home / so I’m never leaving her alone / but if your lightning lips aren’t mine / then I don’t know the awkward stranger to my right” Yeah Boy and Doll Face - Pierce The Veil

» “try, trust and believe in me / I can show you that there’s still so much more, there’s still hope for you / let me show you I can save you” In Case Of Emergency, Dial 411 - Sleeping With Sirens

» “hoping for the best, just hoping nothing happens / a dozen clever lines unread on clever napkins / I will never ask if you don’t ever tell me / I know you well enough to know you’ll never love me” MakeDamnSure - Taking Back Sunday

» “we are the has-beens of husbands / sharpening the knives of young wives / take two years and call me when you’re better / take teardrops of mine, find yourself wetter” The Carpal Tunnel Of Love - Fall Out Boy

» “came a time when every star fall brought you to tears again / we are the very hurt you sold” Helena - My Chemical Romance (@nekoannie-chan for Steve Rogers)

» “you said it hurts and you know that I believe you / searching every little thing to find a way / to tell your heart just to wait a little longer / I swear we’ll make it” Take This To Heart - Mayday Parade

» “I said I’d never let you go and I never did / I said I’d never let you fall and I always meant it / if you didn’t have a chance then I never did / you’ll always find me right there, again” Have Faith In Me - A Day To Remember

» “clever alibis, lord of the flies / hit ‘em right between the eyes, hit ‘em right between the eyes / when you walk away, nothing more to say / see the lightning in your eyes, see ‘em running for their lives” You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid - The Offspring

» “and now, all I can see are the planets in a row / suggesting that it’s best that I slow down / this night’s a perfect shade of / dark blue” Dark Blue - Jack’s Mannequin

» “I’ll watch the night turn light blue / but it’s not the same without you / cause it takes two to whisper quietly” Vanilla Twilight - Owl City

» “it’s not a crime to see the light / it doesn’t mean you sleep better at night / it’s not a crime to wear a smile” What Are You So Scared Of? - Tonight Alive (@fitzs-undead-monkey for Kol Mikaelson)

» “with tears in my eyes, I begged you to say / you said “hey man, I love you, but no fucking way.” Twin Size Mattress - The Front Bottoms

» “fate fell short this time / your smile fades in the summer / place your hand in mine / I’ll leave when I wanna” Feeling This - Blink-182

» “I can’t escape myself / so many times I’ve lied / but there’s still rage inside / somebody get me through this nightmare / I can’t control myself” The Animal I Have Become - Three Days Grace

» “miles away, I can still feel you lay / your head down on my embrace / be not afraid to love me” When You Can’t Sleep At Night - Of Mice and Men (@nalledimessi for Elijah Mikaelson)

» “if it gets hold of me / please be the saint to save me / so please watch over me / be the light to carry me” Demon Limbs - PVRIS

Tagging some mutuals who might be interested! (No pressure to participate!)

@elijahs-wife @imaginearyparties @brown-eyed-babes @auroracalisto @svnkissedskies @sc0ttish-wildfl0wer @dumble-daddy @kneel-bitches @babycap @divine-mistake @dizzydancingdreamer @thatweirdoleigh @imgoingtofreakoutnow @xxwritemeastoryxx @nalledimessi @mrs-maximoff-kenner @nikmikaelsonswife @sapphireplums @captainsophiestarkwriting