#i had to redo these and speed them up much faster

[lovesicklobotomy]

Colin Morgan in Dead & Buried

[ggomos-maribat]

8 | in which Bruce is not the only aspiring Marinette-adopter

Part 8 of No Mr. Wayne You Can't Adopt Me! | Masterlist

"A visit to the Kent family farm?" Marinette echoed, "This sounds like a family event only. Are you sure I should be going?"

"I know it sounds like I'm pre-adopting you—"

"Yes, it absolutely sounds like that—"

"But Dick suggested for you to come instead of him since he won't be able to come," Bruce explained. "Besides, Lois specifically asked for you."

Lois, huh. Marinette felt an incoming headache already. On one hand, a part of her knew she should be declining it firmly but it would be terribly impolite to turn down the invitation as well. It was a problem indeed.

But if I go, I can just stick to the Kents and avoid the Waynes, right? She wondered. It's free food too and I won't need to work on a Friday.

One work week later, she ended up squeezed inside a van with Bruce behind the wheel, driving to Smallville. She had a basket of pastries at her feet, window to her left and Damian on her right. Everything seemed to be going fine when—

Screech!

The car suddenly halted and before Marinette knew it, Damian's arm was in front of her to keep her from face-planting on the back of the car seat.

"Sorry! There was a dog!" Bruce apologized from the front seat.

"If you were gonna drive this bad, you should've let me drive instead," Jason groaned from the passenger seat, rubbing his head.

"Yeah, Bruce, you should've told us if you were gonna send us to an early grave," Stephanie piped up from the back. "Damn it Cass, we have to redo the cracker tower."

When Marinette took a peek, she saw that the girls were trying to pile up some Ritz crackers on top of a sleeping Tim's forehead. Tim (lucky for him) was just snoring away the whole time.

Bruce threw his second son a look. "We both know you're going above the speed limit if you drive."

"I only speed when I'm on my bike!" Jason denied. "I can definitely drive better than you, old man."

Marinette figured these were the effects of not having Alfred around. The butler had to go to the farm ahead of them in the promise of helping the elder Kents prepare. But Marinette knew Alfred just secretly wanted to escape the family's chaos.

"Are you okay?" Damian whispered beside her. She nodded and smiled in reply.

In fact, Marinette was about to open her mouth to offer to drive but then she remembered her agreement with Bruce: on the trip, she wasn't supposed to act as an assistant but rather a family friend. She sighed inwardly in defeat.

"Father, if you're already too old to drive, I can take over the wheel as well," Damian said.

"I'm not too old to drive." Bruce rolled his eyes. "It's fine, I can handle this."

"Famous last words," Jason scoffed. "If Dickie were here he'd arrest you for reckless driving."

"I'm not recklessly driving!"

Marinette withheld a chuckle. Seeing someone causing trouble for Bruce other than herself was amusing. She stretched as much as the small space allowed her and whispered to Damian, "Can I rest my head on you?"

He stared at her for a moment. "Of course."

Grinning, Marinette leaned her head against his shoulder. Their arms were only slightly touching but she could feel his warmth. From her position, she could see Bruce squinting at them through the rearview mirror.

"Bruce, eyes on the road please," Duke warned.

Bruce huffed through his nose but focused on driving.

"Why can't Clark take us there instead?" Stephanie complained, "It'll be much faster."

An image was painted in Marinette's head: Superman carrying the van over the skies while Bruce sulked on the front seat.

"He's busy," Bruce replied, glancing towards Marinette (probably checking if she found the statement odd). "Don't you think I'm perfectly capable of taking us there safely?"

"Nope," Stephanie responded.

"Ditto," Cass said.

Stephanie snorted out a laugh. "I only agreed to go anyway 'cause Kara and Lois are there."

"Ditto."

"Hey if he gets any worse at driving, I'll call Alfred and tell him we got kidnapped," Jason suggested.

"No, you're not," Bruce sighed in exasperation.

"Twenty-one crackers!" Stephanie cheered suddenly. "Agghh, hold it there Cass, I'm taking a picture!"

Marinette's gaze strayed downwards. Our hands are really, really close. Their knuckles are just barely brushing. Sucking in a breath, she moved her fingers to touch the back of Damian's hand. To her surprise, his hand wrapped around hers with his thumb rubbing her knuckles.

The car swerved again.

"BRUCE!"

"That's it, I'm calling Alfred."

"Fuck! The crackers!"

". . . Wha . . . huh? What's happening?"

***

"Where is she?! Where's Marinette?"

One of the things Marinette dreaded. Seeing Lois Lane-Kent again. The woman practically squeezed past the other Kent boys to lock her in a suffocating hug the moment she stepped out of the van.

"Marinette!" Lois said, pulling away and squishing her cheeks together. "Jeez, recommend an assistant job to a girl and she never reaches out anymore!"

"I answer your calls sometimes," Marinette weakly protested.

"But no visits." Lois turned to Bruce with an accusatory glare. "Are you overworking the poor girl?!"

"No, no, I'm fine." Marinette gently pulled away from her hold while Bruce escaped to help the others prepare the picnic table. "It's a great job, honestly. The pay is very generous."

"You know Marinette, Lois?" Duke asked as he helped unload another box from the van.

"You haven't told them?" Lois looked at her, and Marinette responded with a sheepish look.

Lois smiled proudly, wrapping an affectionate arm around Marinette. "I had the absolute honor of interviewing this girl about the Paris akuma attacks. She was the civilian aide for the heroes!"

"Lois," Marinette groaned.

"We kept in touch, and I was the one who suggested she get a PA job at WE when she moved to Gotham." Lois patted the top of her head. "Hmph, on second thought I should've kept you as an assistant for myself."

"I told you, journalism isn't my expertise," said Marinette.

"You're a brilliant girl, you can learn! If you stay in Metropolis, you can even live with us!"

Marinette's eyes widened in horror. "No please, I've had enough of serial adopters."

"What? Oh, is Bruce trying to . . ." She scowled at the girl's boss again. "I knew it! I knew this would happen, agh I shouldn't have sent you to him!"

"Lois . . . no, you can't legally adopt me . . ."

The woman's eyes gleamed. "But illegally?"

"You were a civilian aide?" Damian asked, staring at Marinette.

"No big deal. I just worked behind the scenes to help defeat Hawkmoth." She kept a wary eye on Bruce. If he were to find out, he will combust for sure . . . and become more adamant on adopting her.

"Read my article, you'll see how amazing she is!" Lois boasted.

"Lois, please," Marinette sighed. "I'll go set these up at the table."

Fortunately, a savior by the name of Ma Kent called Lois back to the house so Marinette was able to shake her off. She was grateful for the journalist, really—recounting what happened to Paris was no easy feat and often other reporters liked to focus on the heroes and villain only, not the trauma or lasting damage on the city. Lois even helped her settle in, lecturing her on the dangers of Gotham despite not being its resident.

But Lois was . . . the second one who expressed the desire of adopting her before Bruce.

"Didn't know the Waynes had a new one," a new voice said.

"Kon!" Marinette put down the basket and reached up to hug the boy. "I didn't know you're here!"

"When I heard you were coming, I knew I couldn't miss this." Kon raised an eyebrow. "You're such a traitor, Mars, you're one of them now?"

"Of course not!" She huffed. "I wanted to skip out on work and, er, Lois wanted me to come."

Another familiar face approached the two. "Full offense, but you look like you're part of the Wayne family now."

Marinette lowered her tone to a whisper, leaning to give Jon a side hug. "Mr. Wayne wishes." She rolled her eyes. "But he can't, obviously."

A few feet away from them, Clark fell into a coughing fit. Oops, he heard that didn't he? Marinette's cheeks reddened.

She had been visiting Metropolis during her third meet up with Lois. At that time, she had the two boys join them for lunch, and that was when Marinette got to meet them. Both seemed just as energetic as the Wayne boys, by her observation, but in a different way.

Jon threw an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, is it just me or Damian looks extra broody?"

"Probably . . . jealous?" Kon looked at the boy.

"Jealous of what?" asked Jon. Slowly, his head turned towards Marinette, seemingly coming to a realization little by little. "What? No way."

"Maybe . . . yes way." Marinette brushed a hand over her bangs. "There was this, um, thing on our way here you see."

"What is it? What is it?"

Marinette rubbed her heated cheek. "I'll tell you later!"

Just then, Clark came to the table to set down some glasses and utensils. "It's nice seeing you again, Marinette. You haven't run into another Batman-related trouble I hope?"

"Batman-related trouble?" Jon repeated, directing a curious look towards her.

"Nope, not at all," Marinette chuckled. "In fact, he stalked me one night in an empty street just to apologize."

Clark's eyebrows raised. "He did?"

"You never told us that!" Kon chimed in.

"I know, it's a long story." Marinette grinned evilly. "But I think it's best told over lunch with everyone."

***

"Tea or coffee?" Marinette asked her guest, who was sitting at her humble dining table, hands folded together.

"Tea please, my dear. I do miss your personal brew—it's one of a kind."

Marinette rolled her eyes as she grabbed a teacup from the upper cabinets. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

The guest tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "It's not flattery. It's only a comment."

Marinette prepared the tea diligently, and even brought out leftover banana bread she made for herself and her neighbors. From her periphery, she could see the woman looking over the photographs she had framed on the pastel walls. "There's too much of you who want to adopt me, you know," she said.

"Oh?"

"My boss and . . . Lois just the other day. I don't know if she was joking or not." Marinette scrunched her nose. "Seriously, legally none of you can adopt me."

"Who said I was going to do it by legal means?"

"Kwamis, don't say that, Talia. I think Bruce is an inch away from doing it under the table too."

With the tea and snacks prepared, Marinette put everything on a wooden tray she put together herself and brought it over to the table. If she anticipated Talia's visit, she would've cooked an entire meal. Alas, the woman popped up during the most unexpected hours.

"Your honey jar is very cute." Talia chuckled.

"Hmpf. It was a gift." A house-warming (or apartment-warming?) gift from Adrien: a custom transparent jar with a cat design painted on it. The top of the dipper's handle was carved out into a paw.

"How is Damian, by the way?"

"I thought you came here as a friend." Marinette crossed her arms. "It's not my job to keep tabs on your son."

"I know that, my dear, but he doesn't like seeing me . . ."

"Just talk to him." Marinette took a bite of her bread. "You know, the key to being emotionally constipated is to actually let it all out."

Marinette had met Talia al Ghul way before she met Bruce or any of the Waynes. She found out the woman's connection to them much later, however. After becoming guardian and losing Fu to amnesia, Talia had become somewhat of a mentor to her. Someone who taught her more about eccentric skills than magical knowledge and responsibility (the woman was crazy skilled in the most random things, it used to drive Marinette crazy). Since they'd parted aways after she graduated, Marinette saw her more like a troublesome aunt than a teacher.

"He has taken an interest in you, no?" The way her emerald eyes glittered spoke of her slyness. 

"Taliaaa," Marinette groaned.

"What? It is very funny how fate brought you two together." She sighed wistfully. "I never saw it coming."

"Do you seriously want me to be with your son just so you can make me your daughter?"

"What's the problem? You like him too, right?"

"Talia!"

She shrugged. "'I'm just saying I'm not opposed to the relationship."

Marinette rubbed her face, hoping to ease off the heat on her cheeks. "I thought you're here to see how I'm doing, not badger me about my love life. You're starting to sound like my mom."

Talia's grin grew wide. "Your mom?"

"Wait, no—"

Talia set her chin on top of her locked hands. "Would you like a League-themed wedding, my dear? Have a little blood pact mixed in?"

"Damian and I aren't even marrying!"

"Yet," the woman added. "I can't wait to have you in the family. I've got the perfect heirlooms to pass on to you. A sword, if you'd like or even a kunai."

"Oh, come on—"

"You have my complete blessing Marinette," she cooed. "In fact, I'd rather have Damian be with no one else but you."

Marinette stood up so quickly, red in the face, and her chair scraped the floor. "I'm going to bed."

Talia reached over to grab her hand. "Leaving your guest all alone! Where are the manners I taught you?"

"I'd actually love to chat if you have something else to talk about," Marinette huffed.

"Alright, alright, sit down. I'll behave myself, I promise." The former mentor smiled. Marinette narrowed her eyes. She should've closed her window that night.

***

After a debate with herself, Marinette decided to voice out her request to Bruce at the time she served coffee and snacks in his office. She was setting down his mug on a coaster when she popped the question: "Mr. Wayne, can I have next Thursday off? I can work on Saturday to make up for it."

Bruce looked up from his screen. "Hm? What for?"

"I've finally decided to let Lois adopt me."

"What?" Marinette had never seen Bruce so panicked. She didn't know if she should laugh or feel sorry for it.

"I'm kidding." She transferred the snacks next from the rolling cart. "Some of my friends are visiting Gotham, but their only free day is on Thursday. I haven't seen them in a while so I really want to catch up."

Bruce slowly regained his composure, clearing his throat. "Right. Of course you can go, Marinette. No need for the extra hours."

". . . Are you sure you'll be fine without me?"

"Yes, we have no meetings scheduled that day, do we?" Bruce waved the thought off. "Enjoy the day off. You deserve it."

***

It was Chloe who got them the reservations for their dinner: an open air chabudai-style restaurant that served Japanese cuisine. The tables were low, comfy enough for them to sit cross-legged on cushions while still keeping elegance.

Marinette sipped on her drink and nudged Luka with her shoulder. "You never told us what you were in Gotham for."

The now world-renowned musician ran a hand through his hair. "Dad's having a tour around the U.S. He wanted to check the venue here since this is the last stop. Our band's opening."

Marinette sucked in a breath. "Congrats, Luka! I didn't know about that, Jagged hasn't put out a commission yet!"

"Planning's still in the works." Luka smiled. "I'm sure Penny will reach out soon."

Adrien groaned and stretched his arms. "I'm so fuullll." He fell on his back, positioning his head on Marinette's lap.

"I told you to lay off on the maki roll," Chloe tsked to which Adrien stuck out a tongue in reply.

Marinette ignored the bickering pair and turned to Kagami. "What about you, Kags? Have you met up with your new student yet?"

"What new student?" asked Adrien.

"You're not reading the group chat, are you?" Chloe scolded.

"It's alright, I only mentioned it in passing." Kagami poured more cups of beer for Luka and Chloe. "A former coach told me about a rising fencing prodigy in Gotham. I wanted to take a look for myself if I can mentor them. Unfortunately there was an emergency at the airport earlier so I'm meeting them tomorrow instead."

Marinette grimaced, distinctly remembering that some Rogues had broken into the airport in the morning.

"Prodigy or not, the kid's gonna be an international level pro if you're the coach, Gami," Adrien pointed out.

"Hm. You have too much faith in me."

"What about you, Maribug? How's work?" Chloe directed her inquisitive gaze at the girl.

"Just the same old." With a little bit of something going on with my boss' son. "My boss still wants to adopt me, everyday's busy, sometimes I get caught up in robberies and hostage situations for a little spice."

"M'lady?" Adrien suddenly said in a soft voice.

Marinette reached down to stroke his hair. "What's up?"

"I think I saw something move behind the trees over there."

Marinette squinted into the dark, past the lantern lights. Familiar . . . shadows moved around, cloaked by the darkness.

"Oh hell no," she whispered. "What the fuck? Those are the Gotham vigilantes."

Adrien's lips shaped into an 'o'. "Ohhh, I think . . . I think they're here because of me."

"What?"

"Well, the small business I asked to do the landscaping for our runway event is Pam and Harley’s," Adrien explained. "I talked to them earlier and they got worried since it's my first time here in Gotham. They offered a security detail even when I said I didn't need any!"

"And that . . . security detail are the vigilantes?" Chloe stared.

"Guess so. Hey, do you think we should offer them some food?" Adrien sat up and waved at the shadows. "Do you think they'll join us?"

"Adrien," Marinette groaned. "Anyone but them."

"What, why?"

***

Meanwhile . . .

"Rob, you've been staring at Marinette and that guy for a long time."

"I am not."

"Are you jealous? She said they're her friends right? They must be really close."

"Tt."

Taglist: @hammalammadamdam @animegirlweeb @fairlyfatale @agentxx92

[comicaurora]

If this is rude to ask please please ignore, this is from the perspective of someone in pre-planning stages of my own comic:

How long did it take you to shrink from the 30(?) page buffer I think you said you started with to 10 pages? I assume starting with that big buffer meant that this is less impactful to the comic and thus less stressful, but do you have breaks planned for yourself so you can re-up that backlog or do you intend to try to do it in-time with the comic? You're a powerhouse who I only ascribe to half the output of, but I'd love to know a little more about your backlog ethos. (When you have time of course!)

Heh, oh boy. The biggest bite got taken out of the buffer during Falst's intro arc. I had boarded something like a dozen pages when I decided I didn't like the direction they'd taken and I scrapped them back to blanks. I don't do this as a rule, but I could tell this one was a problem - I can't even remember why now, but there was something there that just wasn't working. I thus had a time-loss redoing those pages that made up the better part of a chapter, and my storyboard buffer shrank pretty significantly, though it's since recovered in a big way.

More of the buffer got worn down during the back half of the Zuurith arc and the Tynan fight, since every page was so complicated. Alongside the environmental fog and rain effects and the eight different kinds of glow, it was also a lot of characters on every page, and that increased the lineart and coloring time significantly. If I recall correctly, the buffer shrank to the low single digits a few times during that arc.

At some point I might take a break, but I kind of don't want to. I've kept up a solid pace this long and I don't wanna break my streak. I've been able to build the buffer back up to 20 pages before, but the problem is I tend to then take the following week or two off on the comic progress front because in my head I've made a good chunk of progress and thus should take a break. I'm getting better at incremental scene-by-scene progress, and I think chapter 20 is going to be good for rebuilding the buffer, because - spoiler alert - a lot of these scenes are one or two characters only, and most of them have fairly dark featureless backgrounds. I suspect I'll be able to get a healthy headstart just working through this chapter. This was my reward to myself for constantly making the Tynan fight increasingly complicated and ridiculous, and it's honestly a breath of fresh air to make these pages so much simpler.

My rule for comic-making is set a pace you can keep up. If you need to take a break, that's fine - my own unwillingness to do so is a me thing I'm working through. not a policy to emulate. I've been able to keep this up for three years with minimal buffer-loss, and as the story progresses my own art gets better and faster, making it easier for me to maintain this pace. That's why I made sure to start with such a hefty buffer - to give myself time to pick up speed and get better, time to have the occasional crash-and-burn week or even month where nothing gets done, and time to rewrite things that were being problems. Basically, the buffer is 100% working as intended so far, because all of those things have happened at least once.

The math is pretty favorable. With a three-page-a-week upload schedule, if I can finish three pages in under a week I'm guaranteed to keep the buffer going. At peak performance I can do five or six pages in one day, though that's dependent on complexity and that pace isn't sustainable for long - but of course it doesn't have to be, because that buys me two weeks to recover and do all the other stuff I couldn't do during the hellride. The block of pages I'm going to color tonight is five pages, which will buy me nearly two weeks. I lined and shaded those five pages on Friday, and I'd blocked out the backgrounds for this whole scene and the following one in one afternoon the previous week. It's not hellride-pace because it doesn't have to be, but if I needed to push it I could buy myself a week in under a day. Because of this, rebuilding the buffer back up to 20+ is a lower priority than keeping a steady pace that won't hurt my drawing hand or my writing brain.

But if I take too big of a hit I'll announce a two-week break or something. I have things arranged so hopefully I never have to, but ya never know, and it's important to be okay with taking the occasional unexpected hit!

[gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan]

Darkness Looks Like Haven

Author’s note: Third part in the series with Claude. Past - Next

Summary: Claude is dealing with Captain Asshole, who’s nice to everyone else. What the fuck?

Warnings: Bullying, swearing, abuse of power? Ish? Tell me if I need to add warnings in the notes.

Tagged: @sleepyfan-blog, @whorety-k, @egrets-not-regrets

He had been trained, as all Primaris marines in many things, how to endure, how to fight, plans and orders go to die in Actual Battle. How to listen and heed the orders of those above him, to put aside his personal feelings and emotions. How to control himself and use his mind and body For The Good Of The God Emperor and The Imperium.

For the Lord Regent, for his brothers, First born and Primaris alike. One of the First Born Captains of the Storm Hawks, for reasons that he can’t ascertain has noticed Claude. And at first he’d been honored by the attention of the Elder brother, First Born Marine and Captain. But, no matter what Claude did, the Captain always found him wanting that he was failing in some way. This stirred up anxiety within him. He was doing his best to obey, to heed orders, to train, and be a good team player.

To move on swift, silent foot steps as he fights for the God Emperor. He’s trying to figure out what flaw in his being, or failing in his practice at combat, stealth, and other things he’s doing. He does all the tasks required of him to the best of his abilities. And yet the Captain can find the faults and flaws in everything that he does. Demanding he redoes it again. He’s asked his squad, wanting to know what it is that he’s done so wrong.

None of them have any ideas, and they have been, understandably, even if it hurts, distanced themselves from him. Not wanting to gain the Ire of the Captain. The whispers giggle and croon and rage in his ear. Murmuring madly of what he should do. Could do. How they’d help him make that Captain suffer and be the one who’s humiliated publicly.

 He closes his eyes briefly and silences the voices that cackle and forces the voices back down into silence. Well, not actually quiet, but more manageable levels as he goes over his forms again. Hours after the rest of his squad, and the other Primaris marines are off to bed, the Captain glowering down at him as he continues to practice, at quarter, half, and full speed repeatedly until the Captain tells him to stop.

“You Primaris are not only Taller, but faster,” The Captain spits out, almost like a curse as he scowls at Claude.

Claude remains quiet, there is The Correct and Only Answer, as well as Traps in the forms of verbal conversations. He’s not going to be lured into making himself suffer more than he has to by Saying The Wrong Thing. Even though no matter how Correct the Answer (supposed to be) is, it’s the Wrong One, at least if he says it. His brothers would give the answer that at the tip of his head and would get a scoff or a grumble, but allowed on. But if he says the words, he will get Punished for it.

Part of him wonders what would happen if he asks, why the Captain has singled him out specifically for this treatment out of all of his fellow Primaris brothers. Just what was it about Claude that upset the Captain so much. Why he had fixated on Claude. His mind snaps to Potential and the Captain rears back as if he’s been slapped due to the question and he snarls and gets into his face.

Drags Claude down to eye level, the First Born are shorter than Primaris and gets scolded for several hours and the Captain shoves him away and orders him to his bunk. Also, as punishment for his audacity he’s not to have rations for the next three days and to submit to correctional flogging. He blinks and snaps back to Now and keeps the words strangled in his throat and he shrugs.

“I was made this way, Captain.” He says quietly.

“Tch, to showers and bunk, you Stink, boy,” The Captain growls at him after a few minutes.

He snaps a salute and heads off to the showers and then to bunk. The rest of his squad are already asleep, and have been for a few hours. He closes his eyes to rest and wakes up to the sound of the morning alarm. Astartes don’t need much sleep, but even he hasn’t had enough. But he gets up and into armor and follows his squad to morning chow. Quietly listening to his squad mates and older brothers as he keeps his eyes almost shut.

He's not supposed to where his helmet in the refractory and the lights on the ship are really fracking bright. His brother’s don’t seem to have a problem with the light levels, so he keeps his mouth shut. Head bowed a little as he speaks a little to his squad when spoken to and eats the nutri-mash and drinks the electrolyte-infused water.

“It’s an honor that the Captain is training you personally,” One of the other Primaris marines, not of his squad tells him.

Claude blinks at him. “What?”

“The Captain,” Jono says impatiently, “He’s not seemed to notice any of the rest of us Primaris, you’re lucky enough to be getting personal training time with the Captain.”

Claude just stares at him. That is not true, the Captain isn’t training him to help he’s seeking to punish him. For some perceived sins that Claude doesn’t know what it was that he’d done to piss off the Captain. But to articulate that, or to complain would seem as if he’s ungrateful. Apparently, to most of the rest of the Prmaris, and from what he hears of his elder First-born Astartes, the Captain is a wonderful, stern man. Good Officer who, while distant with his underlings, isn’t a complete shit head.

[mytwitterisdogtoast1]

Dead Island 2 and the thousand year wait.

I love Zombies. I love Dead Island (One of my favorite games and my favorite shooter) and Riptide was a great follow up. I’ve had a hard past involving Dead Island and how I’ve finished it over 4 times and beaten it getting every character up to the max levels in both 1 and Riptide because of various reasons (Xbox got stolen, ps3 my mom bought got stolen, beat it on ps3 and then got a ps4 which eventually died and had to redo all the data on it). You could say I’m an avid fan of the series 2 main games so I have been waiting for this game for a long time and even patiently waited sitting, waiting, hoping it would get out of hell. My patience has not been rewarded. Dead Island 2 is a tough pill to swallow. The game’s not bad but it lacks something to make it great. The game is a solid experience besides a few things I dislike about it (taking out the entire fact that it is Dead Island and just focusing on the game play aspect). So what do I dislike about Dead Island 2? Let’s start with the gameplay stuff first. Firstly the games got one thing going for it that is fantastic. The gore and damage to zombies in this is great and all the effort put into it shows. The combat is a little bit jankier as they upped the speed of combat a little and it’s not a smooth event when it happens. Hit boxes are a little off too. This can be forgiven if they didn’t bring back the 2 most egregious parts of the first games combat. Firstly guns are just awful in this game. They were bad in the first but had a really important part of the game tied to it. See guns were bad then but they helped kill a specific enemy. Humans. Humans seem to be lacking in this game from what I have played and all we have is the undead. Some of you probably think that I’m gonna say there are not enough zombies in the game but that is the worst take I’ve seen on this game. The zombies fucking spawn often and replace the ones you killed too quickly but that isn’t the issue. Special zombies in this game are just like the last one. Fucking tedious to deal with. The worst part is because everything is faster paced now they just get even more annoying to deal with. It’s not fun having a fatty fat fat vom-zom come at you while 2 big bois try and pound you like you’re the ground. That shit is annoying especially since they are not only all sponges compared to the regular zombies but because they also have attacks that are just annoying to deal with. They also deal tons of damage as well. Sure health is easy to replenish when you can make a ton of health kits but it gets super tedious when you eventually get screamers who call in tons of dead from the surrounding areas who are also big bois and fatsos and runners, and special runners, and walkers, and so on. That brings me to the other point on special zombies. Variants are also annoying. See certain zombies are there that are undamaged by certain effects such as fire, or electric, or damage in general and that shit adds to the tedium of the other zombies who are special. Especially when you have less weapons you can carry in general and they get broken easily because you have zombies who respawn quickly in an area. I had killed 3 screamers and all the people in an area and figured id go into a house since it’d been hours since I looted it, got a few items, came back out and everything had respawned in a matter of moments. All my weapons had become half health and since money is slightly harder to get since picking up weapons is now limited compared to the first game and I can only hold so much I just had to beat them and basically have never looted in the first place since it didn’t amount to much anyway. That also becomes the issue. Dead island 1 is technically bigger in scope in its areas. They are much larger and have more to loot and places to go and not everything that is cool is locked behind 1500 dollars of in game pay wall called fuses. Loot becomes annoying and tedious to deal with when you can’t do much besides break it down. Now I will say this. The game does allow you to remove the additional effects you have on weapons and store them for later use if need be. Giving you back parts to remake stuff later and have it so you can sell weapons and parts when needed. That however is removed with the tedium of going back and forth between each weapon instead of a quick 1 button press to cycle between weapons on a menu. This game is filled with those small details to cause slight annoyance. Hell, as much as the puzzles are low and so on I don’t expect much since the game is a zombie fps. Puzzles aren’t a big deal but the whole dying quickly from things such as electricity and poison and so on based on your character model gets kind of annoying. Which brings me to my actual gripes with the game. Dead Island 1 has a solid - great cast of characters. Not really anyone I disliked out of the main cast. I also love Sam B but who doesn’t right? The thing is this new cast of characters all kind of doesn’t hit the same. Also none of them feel unique. It is difficult to really get behind these characters based on the simple fact that not only are there 6 characters to choose from who all feel kind of samey with their back stories but they also kind of play the same based on your style of play. It means you find one dude who you like and then just build them in a specific style while not really getting rewarded based on that style. Here’s what I mean. In 1/Riptide (I will now basically refer to them both as 1) you have 5 different playable characters. Each one a unique style of play offensively and defensively. You have Logan who is a jack of all trades allowing you to not only use any weapon you come across but also later on in the next game he’s in actually get throwing weapons. His defensive ability is alcohol acts as another easier to find med kit. You have Purna who deals more damage with guns and also pumps up all your stat boosts. Meaning when playing with other people you can pump their healing and damage abilities making it safer for you and even if you’re alone you still get boosts to your boosts because yo dawg insert Xzibit meme here. You get Xian mei who is great with swords and pumping out shit tons of damage and heals better with the rarer harder to find med kits. You have John who is a strange mix of offense and being tanky while doing it and having heals in his offensive abilities which are based on hand to hand weapons and lastly, you have Sam B who is a tank who heals over time as well as has blunt weapons. When I look at these new people there are 6 people who are all a mish mash at the end of the game. Honestly they don’t feel like they do anything because as much as some cards in your skill cards are for 2 people tops they can interchange play styles easily. Which kind of removes the point of having styles  be on a specific person to begin with. Stats kind of don’t matter after a while when one is walking speed. Especially since running no longer costs stamina. In fact stamina feels kinda useless cause sure I can do power attacks which are stamina costing but I can also instead spec my character into fast attacks, slap on corrosive damage, kill everything quick, and also heal when attacked by dodging which can go on like every character.  I’ve been telling my friends for years Dead Island is basically just Borderlands but with zombies and it’s mostly true besides a few small details. The reason why was the skill tree. You can invest in how you want to play a character by either taking fury, or just having no fury skills. I don’t enjoy fury so I never took it until riptide when I ran out of other stuff to take. One of my largest gripes though is kind of how I have 0 interest in the caste of characters. DI2 sure has some characters doesn’t it? You have the dude who does dangerous stuff. Then you have the girl who likes to do dangerous stuff. There is the stripper. There’s the girl who does dangerous stuff. There’s the girl who does dangerous stuff. Lastly there is the guy who is an assassin. Does that sound vague? Here let me try that with the caste of 1. You got the rapper, The girl who is a body guard, the athlete, the hotel girl who is undercover, and the military guy. Maybe that is a little unfair. Let’s try 2 again. You have the stunt person, the stunt person, the person who runs, the stripper, the person who does skate fighting, and the guy who hustles. They sound interesting now but when you have 2 stunt people and then everyone seems like they’re capable compared to the one guy who was a rap artist who just so happens to be here it kind of falls a little flat. Especially since we lost out on “Jack Black”. The loss of the Jack Black character AKA Max. See it’s only under recent events that I had learned that he originally was not going to be a playable character but even then Jack Black impersonators are always cool to have around. They in 10 years could have changed him to be in the game. It’s honestly strange they just didn’t make a better Dead Island. That’s because they just made Dead Island with some changes. We got a game that was in development for 10 years and it did not do enough. It changed tons of things and didn’t do enough to make those changes better the game. Honestly a tighter smaller caste with skill trees (like the first) would have been nice. Shit a proper ending that probably doesn’t hinge on the dlc we are getting would have also been nice. Lastly having characters like Sam B not return would have been nice. I think that’s honestly a misstep since I personally would have rather played him than anyone else. (He also doesn’t feel like Sam B and is just there kinda for like nostalgia pop) I’ve for years envisioned myself playing Jack Black and killing zombies. That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. The game being kind of mid is their fault. Next time you let a game be worked on for a decade maybe do better than ok. I just hope you guys can come back and actually make Dead Island 3 a decent game because if you don’t you are going to lose out on a franchise who could have decent staying power.

[atriumeverythingmustgo]

Changing up completely, I made a longer zine as I had a lot of photos and creating a zine by just placing photos is much faster. Sticking with the start and end pages of the custom signs and the end sign being mirrored (small decision to show its the rear of the zine) I used my photos in smaller scale and had multiple on a spread in some occasions to mix things up. As the photos themselves are entertaining and comedic in some I now see why editing them wasn't a great thing to do. 

This version is much better however, there’s something telling me there’s a lot  of work that needs to be done in order for me to be happy in the business idea. Despite that, for a quick one day task, planning photographing and  making with redo's and tweaks was a great exercise to get me up to speed with work.    

[infernalrevenge]

Hello Hello 👋🏻

I would like to request (NSFW) the Dimitrescu Daughters getting dominated by Reader with a strap.

Just for Fun

Bela = Bed

Cassandra = Wall

Daniela = Sink

(But of course only if you‘re comfortable with it 🙈)

HELL YEAH ANON, I am more than happy to do this!

I'm guessing you want drabbles? I did all the sisters (hehehe) in this post, under the cut. (Also I'm sorry this took a while, I actually misunderstood the prompt and had to redo it though I had already finished the first two HAHAHA)

Reader shall be gender neutral, though they make use of a strap.

(NSFT text under the cut, 18+)

----------

Bela Dimitrescu

You pulled and pressed down on the last of the velcro for adjustment, looking down at the new toy attached between your legs. A pleased smile curled over your lips as you looked on at your girlfriend, who seemed... a little less enthusiastic.

"Is something wrong, love?" you asked in concern.

She looked down at the crumpled sheets, a sign of your earlier activities to prepare. "Just a little... nervous, I suppose."

You frowned slightly, not wanting her to worry. This was supposed to be fun for the two of you, after all. First times did tend to bring nerves though, no matter who you would do it with.

"I'll go slow, I promise. And if you want to stop, you can tell me," you assured her, cupping her cheek. Bela let out a shaky breath, but she nodded, seeming more sure this time.

She laid back down on the bed, her golden hair splayed around her like a halo as you spread her legs apart. Watching the way you licked your lips, that hunger in your eyes when your gaze locked onto hers -- it helped ease her worries somewhat. You only looked away for a moment to see where you were aiming, and once you started to move, you flicked back to her.

It felt much thicker than when she only had your fingers inside her, but it filled her so wonderfully at the same time. Her head pressed against the pillow, eyes closed as she savored the feeling of having you deep inside. She turned slightly to press a kiss to your palm, still on her cheek, and you took it as a good sign.

"You're doing wonderful, Bela. Such a good girl," you whispered. Every move drew a gasp from her lips, breath hitching slightly when she felt you speed up. All the while, you sung praises of how good she felt, how beautiful she looked laid out like this.

Your hands roamed over her bare chest, to her waist, then her hips, pulling her in to meet every thrust. She gripped the sheets underneath, nearly overwhelmed by the sensations before deciding it wasn't enough. She reached up for you without thinking, pulling you down just to feel your flushed body against hers. You responded in kind with kisses and suckles onto her neck, keeping a steady pace.

When she wrapped her legs around your waist, you couldn't help but smile. "Faster?" you asked. She could only nod to reply, words lost in a haze.

Her groans echoed in the chamber, mixing with the slapping of skin as she started to gush around you. All she could moan out was your name, and it was a hell of a drug to keep you going.

Everything making her tingle was building up in her core, toes curling and muscles tensing with her mind filled with want for you and only you. Until finally, finally -- her thighs pressed against your sides to keep you still as she was rocked with pleasure, shaking from the waves of an orgasm. She seemed almost dazed when you pulled back and saw her face, prompting a kiss to her forehead.

"I'll take it this means we can do this again some time?" you teased, just about to slip out before she crossed her legs over your waist once more.

"Again," was all she said, looking up at you pleadingly.

You weren't about to say no.

----------

Cassandra Dimitrescu

"You always carry that with you then?" the brunette said with a laugh, running her hand over the length of the strap on.

"Just in case. Knowing you, you could hardly wait 'til we get to a bed," you replied, leading her against a wall. She had essentially seduced you away from your work to a secluded room in the castle, where hopefully no one would disturb you.

Cassandra planted her hands in front of her, looking over her shoulder to see you rubbing the length of the toy between her ass. She bit down on her bottom lip, pushing her hips back impatiently.

"Ah-ah-ah, what's the magic word?" you chided, a mischievous smirk curling on your lips.

She only growled in response, but you stood firm as the hand on her hip kept her still. You traced its tip along her wet folds, making her stiffen and shiver in anticipation. You weren't going to just let her have this, not after the trouble you might wind up in for letting her whisk you away in the first place. She was going to earn it.

"Well?"

A soft hum passed as if she thought it over, glaring up at you.

"Put it inside me now... please." She had whispered the last word, but you supposed that should do for now. You couldn't wait too long either.

You eagerly pushed into her, watching her mouth drop open at the sudden intrusion -- one that was entirely welcome. She clawed onto the wallpaper, digging her nails with every thrust that resulted in that beautiful friction. Your hips rolled into hers, searching for that spot that would have her seeing stars, and you knew you found it from the way she arched her back and moaned out your name. By Mother Miranda, you wanted to hear it again.

Cassandra could feel her legs cramping from under her, but the pain only melded with the pleasure of being pounded into. You pulled her face toward you and sealed her lips with yours, swallowing the sounds spilling out of her as you kept up a punishing pace. The heat inside her was ready to burst, chasing the feeling with every rock of her hips to meet yours. When you broke off to catch a breath and locked eyes with her, your gaze dark with lust -- it was enough to push her over the edge.

She gushed around you, resting her cheek on the cold wall and shaking as you rode her through her orgasm. But you wouldn't slow down, catching her by surprise when you reached down between her legs.

"Might as well... make the most of this... right?" you panted, seeing her golden eyes roll back and jaw go slack, getting lost in the overload of sensation. Your other arm wrapped around her torso, chest pressed against her back as you leaned into every thrust.

She was still so sensitive from her first orgasm that a second one wasn't too far behind. Her clit throbbed under your fingers as you rubbed circles and she was unable to help herself from grinding into it, ragged shocks of pleasure running through her. Goosebumps littered her skin before she burst once again and cried out your name, head lolling back onto your shoulder as you pressed deep inside her.

You gently caressed her legs as she started to come down from the high, hearing her whimper as you slipped out. Your fingers traced along her quivering inner thigh, collecting some of her slick before bringing them up to your lips for a taste. She barely managed to catch the erotic sight as she turned her body towards yours.

"Want me to help you clean up?" you whispered, resting your forehead on hers.

She responded with a soft kiss, and an even softer "Please" before you got down on your knees.

----------

Daniela Dimitrescu

The redhead's giggles bounced off the bathroom walls, her legs wrapped around your waist as you set her down on the edge of the sink.

"You really couldn't wait until I finished showering?" you teased, watching her dangle the toy by its strap.

"You were gonna get dirty again anyway, you can finish later," she replied with a playful pout. As much of a brat your lover could be, it's not like you could deny her, especially when it came to such desires. It didn't take long for you to get ready, adjusting as quickly as you could while keeping your focus on the hungry look on Daniela's face.

You pushed her dress up to her waist, smirking as you felt up her bare legs and ass, noting her lack of underwear. "Naughty girl."

She wrapped her arms around your neck, pulling you closer. "I just like to come prepared."

Lining yourself up to her entrance, you heard a small gasp as you slid inside. Her fingers curled around you, looking up with half-lidded eyes as you rested your forehead on hers, moving ever so slowly. She should've known you'd be a tease, as she deserved for interrupting you. "Please," she whimpered when you paused, seated within her.

"Please what, baby?"

She groaned in frustration, "Please-- please fuck me already."

With pleasure. "Good girl."

You pulled back and thrust harder, her moans ringing in your ears. She pushed her hips forward to meet yours to push in deeper, the creak of the sink under her going ignored as the two of you got lost in the act. Her nails clawed at your back, muscles tensing as she left red marks which only encouraged you to go faster.

You reached down to press your thumb onto her clit and rubbed quick circles, groans of pleasure spilling from her lips as she desperately held onto you. "Fuck, Y/N!" Her legs tightened around your waist as she could feel her climax building.

Suddenly, you heard a loud crack, and Daniela dropped from her position. Luckily, your hands under her thighs managed to keep her from landing on the floor. What wasn't quite so lucky was the crooked sink that broke off its pipe, the two of you quickly getting soaked with water. Even when you moved away, stray lines still splattered onto you both, and it left you laughing at the irony. Maybe you were meant to finish your shower after all.

"When I wanted to get wet today, this was not what I had in mind," she remarked, shielding herself from the spray but to no avail.

"You were kind of due for a shower too anyway," you joked, earning you a slap on the shoulder.

She pursed her lips, holding onto you tight with the hard length still inside her. From the way she was shivering, you knew she was still recovering from earlier. One thrust forward got her to yelp, nails digging into your shoulder.

"Fuck!" She covered her mouth, looking down at you pleadingly, "Please let me finish, Y/N."

You raised an eyebrow at her, "Someone definitely heard that crash and is gonna come in any--"

"I don't care! Please, just let me come. I was so close already!" she whined, bouncing in your hold and biting her lip as she clenched around the toy. Not even a broken sink could kill the mood, you supposed. Besides, who else could make her feel this good?

[feral-dumbass]

Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin

James “Bucky” Barnes/ Steve Rogers / Female Reader

Summary: Bucky is on the phone with Steve when he decides he has to have you now. 

Includes: Exhibitionism (???), Polyamorous relationship, Masturbation, Unprotected Sex, Overstimulation, Dom/ Sub undertones, Talk of oral, The stealth suit

Words: 2,008 

A/N: Hi! The only thing I love more than super soldiers is women in rock, so let’s pretend to be surprised that this my second fic with title credit to The Runaways. As always tagging the homies @babybluestan​ @gagmebucky​ @heresyoursnackdumbass​

LMK if you guys still want a tag list!

Masterlist

“Mhmm… Pfft, everyone knows to ambush at night. Where did these rookies come from?” Bucky speaks to Steve on the phone as he looks over reports. Steve was currently ranting about how quickly the mission with new recruits went south. Bucky wanted to be a good boyfriend and help Steve out as the reports started piling up. Man, is Bucky happy he’s helping Steve. Steve is making the recruits sound like dumbasses. It’s a shame Bucky will have to put them through the wringer come Monday. 

Bucky has had to reread Clint’s shitty sentence twice while Steve rants. He can feel his brain cells deteriorating as he tries to read the report. He’s passed multiple stick figure drawings and that was just the first page. 

Commotion from you allows Bucky to move his eyes away from the eyesore. You take a break from typing away on your computer to scratch your bare thigh. Even after you hand leaves the spot where the hem of Bucky’s t-shirt is touching your thigh, his eyes are boring holes into it. You’re sitting sideways in Steve’s reading chair, bare legs thrown over the armrest. Your soft, smooth legs shine under the light and Bucky’s hand twitches. He can practically feel your thighs underneath his hands as he spreads your legs. Not like he wasn’t just between them like an hour ago. 

Memories of you coming on his cock fill his brain as blood rushes south. He moves up to your face. You’re biting your lip in concentration as you type out a scientific article. They’re still slightly swollen from Bucky. It’s not Bucky’s fault you’re a really good kisser and he just wants to kiss you 24/7.

With the sight of the wide collar of his shirt displaying previous hickeys and little bit of your cleavage, Bucky’s ripping out a page of Clint’s report. It was shitty. Steve was gonna make him redo it anyways. He balls up the piece of paper and throws it at you as Steve continues his star spangled rant in his ear.

Everyone knows Bucky’s aim is good. He hits you right on your forehead with it. You turn to glare at him. As you blink slowly at him, he points down to his crotch. You scoff and laugh at him. Bucky moves and cups the phone away from his mouth. 

“Come hop on this dick.” Maybe Bucky said something wrong because you go back to your computer. “Please.” He tries giving his best puppy dog look, wide eyes and mouth turned into a pout. If it works on Steve, it should work on you.

“Oh my god,” Bucky‘s heart flutters as you laugh when you speak. ”I’m saving my work. Give me a minute.” 

“What was that, Buck?” Steve has stopped his rant to ask Bucky a question.

“Oh, she was just checking on the spelling of adamantium.” Bucky doesn’t take his eyes off you as you shut your laptop and stand up, putting the computer in your seat. You stretch out your arms and your underwear is on full display for him. 

“Oh,” is all Steve says before going back to his rant. You walk over to Bucky, hips swaying side to side. Bucky is hastily putting Steve on speaker and setting his phone on the mahogany desk. He takes your hand and pulls you on his lap. You throw your arms over Bucky’s shoulders and give him a sweet kiss as he rubs your back. His hand is slowly pushing up the shirt up your back so he can make more skin contact. 

“He’s really going on a rant, isn’t he?” You speak lowly and glance back at Bucky’s phone. Bucky takes your chin between his fingers and turns you to face him. 

“Ignore him.” Bucky kisses you senselessly. It doesn’t take him long to deepen the kiss, tongue swiping out to invade your mouth. You moan as his other hand moves to play with the hem of your panties. 

“You guys know I can hear you, right? You’re making out as I tell Bucky about the worst few days of my life. Unbelievable.” Bucky breaks away from you to reply and you trail after his lips. He smirks as he talks.

“ ‘M sorry, Stevie. You should see our sweet girl right now. Been walking around in my t-shirt with no pants for the past hour. All her hickeys are on display. She looks extra kissable too. Bet she’s even already wet, again, too. Are you wet for me, sweetheart?” Your eyes are stuck on Bucky’s lips, watching the way they move as he speaks. You nod. “Gotta speak up, babe. Stevie’s gotta hear too.”

“Y-yes. I’m wet. I think Bucky should feel for himself, though.” You grab his metal hand and slide it into the front of your underwear. Bucky reaches further down to where you ache for him.

At the feel of your sopping folds as he slides his fingers through the mess between your thighs, Bucky groans out. “She definitely wasn’t lying.” Bucky kneads your sex harder and your breath hitches. 

Steve inhales and exhales loudly through the phone. “I hate you. I hate you both. You’re killing me.” 

“What do you say doll? Want to kill him even more and let him hear me wreck that sweet pussy even more?” Butterflies rumble in your stomach. Even if Bucky wasn’t going to fuck yoou, you were going to ride his thigh. You find yourself nodding your head adamantly through the pleasure as Steve speaks. 

“I can’t believe I’m asking, but even more? What do you mean?” Steve’s brain is definitely fried from dealing with everyone’s bullshit.

“It was rare for me to be out of this tight, little cunt. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” As Bucky talks, he’s sliding his two of his fingers inside of you and finding those sensitive spots inside of you. 

“B-Bucky, please.” You whimper as he pumps his fingers expertly. Bucky isn’t lying. He’s fucked you until you’re overworked and sensitive. It doesn’t take much to start to feel the rise of your orgasm.  

“What’s wrong, babygirl?” His metal thumb circles your clit. “You gonna be a good slut and cum for me and Steve? You know what? Why don’t you ask Steve if you can cum?” 

“Steve, please. P-please, can I come?” No hesitation as you start to beg. 

“Let her cum, Buck.” Bucky doubles his effort, pumping his fingers at faster speed. You hold onto his bicep for dear life, nails digging crescent shapes as your muscles tense. You reach your peak.

“FUCK!” You curse in between breathy moans. Bucky lets you ride out your orgasm before he slips his fingers out of you and into his mouth. He takes his fingers out with a pop, loud enough for Steve to hear. 

“How does she taste?”

“Like fucking candy.” Steve is groaning and a door slamming in the background breaks the trance between you and Bucky. 

“I hope you guys are happy. I’m gonna jerk it out in a supply closet like some kind of creep because you two couldn’t wait twenty fucking minutes to stop fucking like bunnies.” 

“Well, you head the Captain. Let’s give him something good to listen to. C’mon and fuck me.” You look at Bucky expectantingly. 

“Fuck.” Bucky’s groaning as he sets you on your feet. Before you can blink, he’s yanking his shirt off you and standing up to his full height. You only have a few seconds to look up at him before he’s turning you around and picking you up by the waist to roughly place on Steve’s desk. Your feet barely graze the ground with your breasts against the cool wood. Bucky doesn’t make you wait for long. Before you can process it, Bucky is moving your underwear to the side and  sliding his cock into you.  You’ve had his cock enough this weekend. He doesn’t let you adjust just starts off at a brutal pace that’s already making you see stars. The smacking of your  skin echoes through the room. You have no doubt it carries through the phone.

“S-steve.” 

He moans at how wrecked you sound already. “Yeah, baby? Bucky making you feel good?”

“So good.” You whimper. Your back arches as you scramble to get a hold of the smooth surface of the desk. Bucky notices and takes your hand down to reach his thigh. Your fingers dig into his skin. You can feel his muscles contract underneath your fingertips as he thrusts into you. “So fucking good, Bucky.” Even with your ears ringing, you’re able to hear the tell tale signs of skin slapping skin on Steve’s line. Bucky is too focused on your praise to make fun of him for it, thrusting into you with vigor. He tugs on your hips so you’re hanging more off the table. You whimper out as Bucky reaches around you for your clit, rubbing in fast circles.

“Jesus Christ, you sound so pretty. I wish I was there.” 

“What would you do, Stevie?” Bucky pants as he speaks. “It sure would be great if you were here to take her mouth. The wet heat of her mouth is almost as good as her pussy. She can barely deepthroat your massive cock. It’d be a great show.” Bucky’s palm smacks down on your ass cheek. It’s almost as if he knows your mouth is watering at the thought. 

“Bucky!” Your hips buck at the stinging feeling  of metal.

“You’re the biggest fucking tease, Bucky. I should put your mouth to good use.” Bucky’s thrusts falter for a few seconds before his pace picks back up. Well, Bucky definitely wants his mouth used like a whore and you can’t really blame him. There’s something special in letting Captain America facefuck you, firm grip on the back of your head as he makes you take as much of his length as you can. 

The thought has your orgasm approaching quicker than you thought as drool starts to pool on the desk. The sight of your muscles tensing and the feel of your nails digging harder into his thigh has Bucky doubling his efforts, angling to hit your sensitive depths with every thrust and rubbing your clit even faster. 

“Cum for us. Remind Steve how pretty you sound when you cum.”  

“Cum for us, angel. Be a good girl.” 

With the sound of both of your boyfriends begging in low, deep voices for release, your orgasm overcomes you rather quickly. Your breathy moans fill the room as you pant. Your legs are so shaking so hard, Bucky has to make sure you don’t fall off the desk as he fucks you through your orgasm. You can barely make out Steve groaning into the phone as you moan out his name. 

When you manage to catch your breath over the oversensitivity Bucky is putting you through, a mischievous grin spreads across your face as he thrusts get sloppy. “You close, Bucky? I think you should ask Stevie if you can cum.”

“You heard the woman.” 

“Steve, I swear to fucking God if you don’t let me cum-”

“Nicer.” 

“Please, can I cum?”

“I think you know what I’m looking for, Bucky.”

“Please, can I cum, sir?” 

“See that wasn’t so hard. Go ahead.” With his permission, you can feel Bucky spill his warmth as you whimper. His groaning sends shivers down your spine as he roughly yanks your hips to meet cock in the last few thrusts. 

Everyone takes a few minutes to catch their breath before Steve is speaking out again. “The weirdest fucking part about this is that I haven’t had time to switch out of my stealth suit.” A moan slips out of your mouth on accident as you clench down on Bucky. 

“Jesus Christ.” 

“Did she just-”

“Yep.” 

“I want you both naked waiting for me on our bed. 15 minutes. Try not to fuck each others brains by then.” Steve abruptly hangs up after that leaving you and Bucky to scramble to the bedroom. 

[sailordiamondkitty]

So... I've been on "PAW Patrol Movie" in cinema recently. And as much as I don't like the animated series (too childish for my tastes), I simply ADORED this movie. The soundtrack, the animation, the story... All PERFECT 🥰 Well, except of the fact that some scenes were less than perfect and needed some redo... So I grabbed the pen (keyboard) and wrote my version 🙃 It's a bit more angsty than original and I definitely wouldn't put it in kid's show. But it was fun to write nevertheless 🙂

The scene I'm talking about is 'Chase rescues Ryder' scene. So I started with that and went my way a few minutes after 😉 Enjoy

Oh and for the ones not familiar with the movie, here's the original scene:

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

Ryder waited impatiently for the elevator to reach the top of the ridiculously high tower. He huffed irritated, as the idea of building something such high was as crazy, as it was dangerous. The soft ping indicated that he finally arrived at the destination and the door slid open.

‘Mayor Humdinger?’ He called out, stumbling out of the elevator, the storm outside easily swaying the already unstable tower, his eyes searching the office.

‘Yes, how can I help you?’ The man suddenly appeared behind the desk at the far end of the room, laying his hand casually on the flat surface of the table. The demeanour changed drastically when he noticed a person by the door. ‘Ryder? What are you doing here?’ He snarled furiously, his pack of cats hissing, sharing the despise for the boy with their owner.

‘This tower isn’t safe!’ Ryder called, trying to stabilize his movements. ‘We’ve got to get you out of here.’

The moment he finished speaking, the lights blinked and went down, darkness enveloping the room in an instant.

‘Oh no, the power’s out. That means the elevator’s dead. We have to go now!’ The boy tried convincing the man again, turning on the flashlight on his suit, the small light giving him at least a bit of comfort.

‘Nice try!’ Humdinger answered, crossing his arms. ‘I’m not going anywhere with you!’

Suddenly the room swayed again, this time harder and the sound of metal breaking sounded from outside. They were running out of time. Humdinger seemed to finally understand that, quickly lifting himself from the chair.

‘Okay, fine! I’ll go with you’ he decided, trying not to sound scared. He made his way toward the elevator, his cats attaching themselves to his legs, restricting man’s movements. ‘But I want to make it very clear, this is not a rescue! It’s… uh... an assisted exit!’ Humdinger exclaimed imperiously.

‘You can call in whatever you want, as long as you get in the elevator now’ Ryder replied, resisting the urge to roll his eye at the man’s antics. ‘I’ll release the cables manually from above’ he explained, using Mayor Humdinger’s body to lift himself up to the elevator’s hatch. ‘Once I’ve lowered you down safely, I’ll repel down the elevator shaft.’

‘Hmph, show-off’ Mayor murmured to himself, correcting the cylinder on his head.

Ryder bit down the reply as he looked down on the man in the elevator.

‘Even though we’ve had our personal differences over the years, I take no pleasure in doing this’ he said instead, his hand on a lever.

’Doing what?’ Humdinger asked warily. Ryder didn’t answer, instead pulling the lever, releasing the elevator as it started falling down at a rapid speed, Humdinger’s screams feeling the air.

‘Heh, actually that’s pretty satisfying’ he laughed to himself, eying the disappearing shape of an elevator and counting. ‘Three one thousand, four one thousand, five one thousand’ when counted to five, Ryder quickly pushed the lever back, stopping the elevator before it could crash at the bottom of the shaft.

While attaching grabbling hook to the metal bar, Ryder opened the communication channel.

‘Hey pups’ he called out ‘Humdinger’s out, I’m coming down.’

‘Nice job Ryder, see you on the ground’ came a reply, as he started descending.

Suddenly a gush of wind broke a part of the shaft, metal panel smashing on the other side.

‘Whoa, that’s not good’ boy commented, worry on his face. The next two panels above broke, nearly hitting him, as they fell. ‘Oh, that’s very not good!’

He continued descending, this time at a much faster pace, trying to leave the attached tower before it would, inevitably and definitely sooner than later, break completely. Wind howling through the shaft shook the rope, throwing Ryder over the shaft walls as he descended. He stopped the movement, trying to stabilize himself and that’s when another panel was torn out, this time right next to him. He stared at it for a few seconds, scared, trying to quickly decide how to best omit it. Suddenly the tower screeched, the metal holders finally loosing the battle with hazardous weather. Ryder’s terrified scream broke through the howling wind, as the tower fell, burying itself into the next building.

Ryder coughed, looking over the surrounding. Falling with the tower was not a pleasant experience and he made a mental note to try and avoid it for the future. He absentmindedly pushed the emergency beacon on his suit, red light flashing steadily. He eyed the debris that blocked his leg, stopping him from moving away from the site. He tried pushing it away, although with no avail. Ryder huffed, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

‘Looks like I’ll have to wait for the rescue’ he told himself, the pain in his crushed leg indicating it was most probably broken.

At least the storm wasn’t bothering him here, the remains of fallen tower successfully blocking the wind. Some small parts of debris and dust fell from the ceiling and he coughed again.

‘Ryder?’ he heard a concerned voice from the side, a familiar one. He looked that way to see Chase descending the debris, running towards him.

‘Chase!’ he called, happiness in his voice. ‘I can’t believe you’ve found me.’

‘You can always count on me, Ryder’ German Shepherd puppy exclaimed with confidence as Ryder turned off his emergency beacon, switching it back to flashlight.

The broken wires shot a spark of electricity and Chase looked at them, worried.

‘Come on’ puppy said, turning his gaze back to Ryder. ‘We gotta get out of here’

‘I can’t , I’m stuck’ the boy replied, trying to push the large debris off his leg.

‘On three, pull as hard as you can’ Chase decided quickly, jumping over the broken rubble and positioning himself behind Ryder. ‘One.. Two.. Three!’

Ryder pulled the leg as Chase grabbed his shirt in his teeth, trying to help. After few seconds puppy fell backwards, as his teeth slid off the cloth.

‘It won’t budge’ the boy exclaimed, looking back at his friend, feeling hopeless. So even their strength combined weren’t enough.

‘One more try!’ Chase decided and Ryder obeyed, pushing the rubble again. At the same time, German Shepherd pup circled around, sliding under the fallen part, pushing it from underneath. They struggled for a while but finally managed to free boy’s leg. As he stumbled backwards, Chase quickly run from under the debris, managing not to get crushed by it. They breathed heavily, catching breath after the struggle.

‘We made it! Ryder, we made it!’ Chase jumped in the air happily, running over to his friend. He stopped abruptly though, seeing the pained expression on boy’s face. ‘Ryder..?’

‘I think it’s broken’ his friend answered, pointing at his leg. ‘It won’t be easy for me to get out of here in this state’ he added.

Chase immediately positioned himself at Ryder’s hurt side.

‘Lean on me, I’ll help you downstairs’ he exclaimed. Ryder didn’t hesitate, as he put his hand on puppy’s back, stabilizing himself.

‘You’re a good friend, Chase’ he smiled, as they took a few small steps toward the exit.

‘You are always there for me. It’s my turn to help you this time’ German Shepherd replied with honesty.

They were halfway through, when the nearby lighting shook the building. Some dust have fallen from the ceiling and Ryder looked up. He noticed the cracks all over the ceiling, small debris falling already.

Another shake and it was too late.

‘Watch out!’ Ryder shouted, pushing Chase away mere seconds before the rubble collapsed on the boy.

The weather finally stabilized when Skye crushed her helicopter into the machine, successfully ending the abnormal storm. She used her jetpack to fly down to the street, joining the cheering, as other PAW Patrol members surrounded her.

‘Do you see Chase or Ryder anywhere?’ Zuma asked, looking around to find the missing friends.

‘No, maybe they’re somewhere else’ Liberty wondered.

Suddenly there was a buzz on the comms and Chase’s worried voice came through.

‘Puppies, we need help!’ he almost shouted ‘We’re on the other building. Ryder’s crushed under the debris! I… I can’t get him out! And he’s not answering me either!’

‘We’ll be right there!’ Marshall replied. ‘Liberty, get some men to help us out, I’m not sure our strength would be enough to free Ryder. And call an ambulance too, it might be needed. Rest of you, follow me!’

The puppies rushed to the entrance of a building, as Liberty carried on her part of a mission. They didn’t have much time, as Ryder needed medical attention. Luckily the power in the city was back on as soon, as the storm ended, so they hastily made their way toward the elevator.

‘Chase, which floor are you on?’ Zuma asked, as the door opened.

‘15th, please hurry’ came a quick answer.

‘Don’t worry, we’re on our way’ Skye reassured him, as the door slid close and the elevator moved upwards.

‘Liberty, when you’re finished, join us on 15th floor’ Rocky called the Adventure City’s pup who became the newest member of PAW Patrol just recently.

‘I’m on it, see you at the top!’ she answered, the sound in the background indicating she’s already on her way with a backup. ‘The ambulance will be here shortly too, just finished the call.’

‘Good, we’ve arrived already, looking for Chase and Ryder’ Marshall said as the elevator stopped and opened.

‘Chase, where are you?’ Rubble called. The place was filled with fallen debris and parts of what used to be Mayor Humdinger’s tower.

‘Over here’ German Shepherd emerged from behind one of the biggest piles of rubble. ‘Quick, help me get him out!’

Another ping indicated that Liberty just arrived at the scene. They joined other puppies and together hastily made their way toward Chase.

The debris was huge and all they could see of Ryder, was his head and one arm, the rest buried underneath fallen parts of walls and ceiling. He was unconscious and bruised all over, from what was visible.

‘I tried to pull him out but I’m not strong enough’ German Shepherd pup explained.

‘And it’s a good thing you didn’t’ replied a tall, brown-haired man, one of the few accompanying Liberty. He crouched next to the puppy, eyeing the debris. ‘We need to carefully remove all of the rubble’ he instructed his companions. ‘Make sure not to move the boy, we don’t know how bad are the injuries.’

The work went swiftly, although not as fast, as the puppies would have wanted. About halfway through the work, the paramedics came and helped remove rest of the debris. Ryder was then moved carefully on the stretcher, the medics quickly looking for any visible injuries.

‘Well, his left leg is definitely broken, no doubt about it’ paramedic exclaimed, motioning the men to pick up the stretcher. ‘And probably right arm too. I don’t like the bruise on his forehead but it doesn’t seem to be very serious, hopefully. He’ll be fine, no grave injuries” he added, seeing the worried looks on puppies’ snouts, especially Chase’s. He leaned to pet pup’s head.

‘You did great, we’ll take it from here’ said the other medic, as they made their way towards the elevator.

The party exited the building, an ambulance parked not far from the entrance. People crowded the street, watching Ryder being put inside.

‘Poor boy…’ some lady gasped, while other nodded, agreeing with her.

‘He’s still just a child’ another added. ‘It should not have happen.’

‘It’s Mayor Humdinger’s fault!’ a man from within the crowd shouted, and people suddenly parted, showing the purple-dressed men in a middle of escaping.

‘What? How is this my fault?’ he argued angrily, the cats hissing by his side. ‘I didn’t ask to be rescued in the first place! Why should I be responsible?’

But nobody listened. Angry shouting escalated, people closing in on Humdinger. He screamed, scared, as he was enveloped by the crowd.

Chase didn’t look at the commotion, his attention solely on a unmoving frame of Ryder in an ambulance. As the paramedics began closing the door, he rushed forward and jumped inside.

‘I’m going with Ryder’ he exclaimed, laying next to the boy.

If the medic was surprised by a sudden movement, he didn’t show it. He closed the door and made his way toward the front of the car, as the other started the engine.

‘Come on, let’s follow them in our vehicles’ Liberty decided. ‘Skye, you take Chase’s police car, since your helicopter is broken.’

‘Yeah, will have to ask Ryder for a new one’ Skye answered sheepishly. ‘I really hope he got an insurance for it.’

‘Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll figure something out’ Rocky cheered her up, putting his paw on her. ‘For now let’s focus on getting to the hospital.’

Other puppies barked with an agreement and split to get into their vehicles. Then they followed an ambulance, not noticing the frantic escape of Mayor Humdinger, as he managed to get free from the crowd. Not that it mattered. All it mattered now was Ryder.

First thing that Ryder felt was pain in his left leg. Broken, he remembered. He tried opening his eyes, but a bright light from a lamp caused him to close them again. He grunted, as he prepared himself for another try. This time slower, he let his eyes accustom to the lighting. He was in a room, hospital, judging by the look of it. There was something on his right, warm and fluffy, pressed to his side. Ryder moved his head carefully and saw Chase sleeping next to him on a bed. Boy’s moving must have woken him up, as he shifted and yawned, stretching his paws. Eyes locked with Ryder and puppy jumped up.

‘Ryder!’ He shouted happily. ‘You’re okay!’

‘I guess I am’ the boy answered, laughing softly. ’What happened?’

‘I freed you from the debris, we were trying to leave the building’ Chase answered. ‘You… there was a lighting nearby. It caused the ceiling to collapse. You pushed me aside but…’ German Shephard’s eyes filled with sadness and regret. ‘Liberty got some citizens to help us remove the rubble, then they moved you to an ambulance.’

‘Oh, Chase…’ Ryder moved slowly, embracing the pup. ‘It’s alright, we’re alright.’ He reassured him.

‘But you were hurt! I couldn’t do anything to help you!’ Chase argued. ‘I failed you…’

‘No, Chase, you didn’t fail me!’ answered the boy with a shock on his face. ‘You are the bravest pup I’ve ever met. I mean do you know any other who would jump over to the next building to reach me? I sure don’t. If it wasn’t for you, I would be still stuck there.’

The door suddenly opened, and a doctor entered a room with rest of the PAW Patrol behind him. He looked up from his notebook, noticing Ryder and Chase. A warm smile appeared on his lips.

‘Ah, Ryder, I see you’re awake now’ he said, moving to stand near the bed.

‘RYDER!!’ cried the puppies in unison, jumping on a bed to cuddle with their friend, licking his face happily.

‘Alright, alright, if you want him to get healed properly, I advise to give him a room to breathe’ the doctor laughed. ‘How are you feeling, my boy?’

‘Well, my leg and arm hurt and I’m a bit sore’ Ryder answered after a while, when puppies finally decided to stop licking him. ‘Other than that, I’m good.’

‘You’ve had an amazing luck. Except broken leg and arm, as you noticed, you’re uninjured. I advise lot of relax and you should be back to normal in about few months.’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll take care of him, doc!’ Liberty barked happily, swinging her tail. ‘Hear that, Ryder? No missions for you!’

Ryder laughed at that, along with doctor. Everything was fine.

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

So there it is, hope you liked it 🙂 I noticed a few things I could change here and there, as I posted, but I decided to not rewrite the whole thing again 😅

[thoughtfullyyoungduck]

Birthday

Summary: could you do a hs losers x reader where the readers new to town and hates her bday bc each year her past friends and family had always forgotten or did nothing so when richie finds out her bdays coming up he tells the losers and they all plan a special surprise party and richie saves up and gets her something super special and the losers r all like wow he’s never gotten anyone anything like this b4 so she finds out that he likes her or something so it’s like the best bday she’s ever had

Richie bikes swiftly passed you, faster than he usually does, which can only mean he’s trying to surpass you. You barely refrain from flipping him the bird in public, as you too throw your weight into peddling. It’s no use, Richie is more athletic than you by a long shot, and he’s been practicing with Eddie for track. You’ll never be able to catch up with him with no viable effort.

‘You asshole,’ you yell out to him, noticing an elder woman pledging through her yard too late to stop your exclamation. She regards the both of you with malcontent, stabbing her hark too brutally in the soil of her allotment for it to be a coincidence.

‘Not my fault your short legs can’t reach the peddles.’

You growl, lifting up from your saddle to race faster, but Richie sees you do it and does nothing but laugh.

Any other time you might give him hell for it, but today, you are in no mood to indulge in Richie’s escapades.

It’s your birthday, and while for most that equalizes a fun day stacked with presents and cake, to you it stands for a day full of misery.

Your birthday is cursed. And no, that is not you being dramatic. At your ninth birthday, your cake got slammed into floor, therefor ruing the gift your parents had been working on for weeks, and which was their only present.

At age ten, you fell off your brand new bike into a ravine and had to go to the hospital to get eleven stitches. On your fourteenth birthday, you and your parents got into such a huge fight they send you up to your room and forbad you from sneaking down at any point in the day.

There are more examples to back up your claim for the terrible birthdays, but you have tried to desperately block them all out, so you won’t rehash them.

That’s why your so peeved that Richie is forcing you to the quarry.

‘If you could tell me where I’m supposed to be going to bet u could find a short cut and be there faster than you.’

‘Nice try Dora, I’m not telling you anything. It’s a surprise.’

‘Alright, I get two attempts. If I can’t guess where we’re going, I’ll do your homework for a week.’

‘And if you do guess it?’

‘Then you owe me a favor and no matter for what reason I cash it in, you don’t get to complain.’

‘Fine, bring it miss know it all.’ Richie slows down to slide next to you, the wind picking up as the two of you descend down the mountain. His smile is mischievous and cheeky, probably too confident to think you’ll be able to reckon the spot he has in mind.

If only he knew that you had limited the possibilities to two places, the exact amount of guess you were granted.

‘Hm, are we going to the arcade?’ Your first theory is. Richie doesn’t have anything on him right now, except pennies that have been rinkeling inside his pockets the entire bike ride, the only thing he needs to go to the arcade.

Richie smirks, and shakes his head. ‘Try one my dear, may I say that the odds aren’t in your favor right now?’

His impressive ego in the way he taunts you with the right answer fuels your desire to be right. ‘Are we going to the Barrens?’ You sing, smiling wide as Richie’s shrinks.

‘Eh, no?’ He says, but he sounds petulant. ‘Fuck this shit, what gave it away?’

‘A girl never reveals her secrets’, you say covertly, forgetting momentarily about the agitating day. You suspect that might have been Richie’s intention.

It’s not like the Barrens is such a stretch in the first place, the losers and you have made that place your own, but you do hypothesize that he may have planned something special for you.

Your theory turns out to be true, as you can spot a long table at the end of the dirt path you and Richie are currently riding on to get to the clubhouse. The table is stacked with a variety of candies, your favorite, drinks that are sweet enough to rot your teeth, something Richie should be more aware off - having a dad who is a dentist-, and a giant cake with eight candles on. Each one representing a loser.

You say nothing as you approach, in a sneaky way torturing Richie a bit more before revealing that you’re at the verge of tears of this nice gesture. Richie slows down his speed by dragging his shoes along the dirt, glances darting nervously towards your face.

‘I know you said no parties, but how else was I supposed to show off my rocking dance moves?’

‘Do you mean the moves you make that look like you’re dying?’ Stan chides, him and the rest of the losers rolling up behind you two. They’re all walking next to their bikes, and Bill’s hands are smudges with cake residue he somehow missed while cleaning up. They didn’t want to be here before you and ruin the ‘surprise’, but it’s clear everyone has worked hard to organize this for you.

‘Fuck you Stan the man, the color green doesn’t fit you.’

‘Happy’, Bev grounds out, leveling Richie with one look, the way only Bev can, and then address you. ‘Birthday.’ She hugs you despite you still holding your bike, and you let it clatter to the ground with a loud bang.

‘Thanks Bev.’

‘Happy Birthday’, the other losers also call out, because there’s just too many of them for each to wait their turn.

‘We hope you don’t mind we don’t have any presents, we spend basically all of it getting ingredients for the cake, which we had to redo- twice.’

They don’t offer any other explanation about why the cake had to be remade two times, but by Eddie’s scowl you can fill in the blanks.

‘No, honestly, this is already too much.’ It is too much, but their efforts are so kind and heartwarming that you have to bit back a happy squall. No one has ever bothered to organize anything for your birthday, whether it be purchasing a two dollar present or even ordering a cake, but these people that you had met less then a year ago were willing to scramble together all the money they could, just so they could turn your day special. Thank god for moving to Derry.

For the first time in years, your birthday has brought smiles and laughter, and no tears and weeping moods.

‘Nonsense my dearest young lady, this is but a blip on our radar, a speck of dust on the tv, nothing compared too-‘

‘Can we please cut the cake now? Before something else goes wrong with it?’ Eddie glowers, refuting to wait for an affirmative.

‘Don’t forget the candles,’ Ben says as he follows Eddie to the table. You’re about to join them, when a hand on your wrists stops you.

‘Hey, Y/N? You really don’t mind this right? I know you said you didn’t want anything but I know how nice it is be caught off guard with something like this.’ Richie rubs the back of his head as if that makes him see any less anxious. It’s incredible how smart someone can be while simultaneously also being so dense.

‘Richie’, you say as you smile, unable to hide it any longer. ‘It’s amazing, thank you so much. If there is any way I can repay you I’ll do that. I’m really happy with this.’

‘That’s good, not that I was worried about it, who isn’t a fan of everything I do?’

Rolling your eyes only spurs Richie on, but it’s become an automatic response now, you can’t help but do it.

‘Oh, I almost forgot. I did get you another gift. Two actually, if you count my huge dong as one.’

‘Gross Richie, why do you always have to add something sexual to everything?’

‘It’s my game babe, love it or leave it. Anyway, here is the gift if you want it. If you don’t that’s fine too.’

‘Don’t get all shy on me now Rich’, you tease as your bump your arm into his while grabbing the package. ‘I’ve just gotten used to your antics.’

The package isn’t heavy, but it also isn’t light. It’s wrapped in enough layer that you can’t feel what’s inside of it just by holding it, but that was probably Richie’s intention. That or he is simply horrible at wrapping up.

While you carefully peel off each layer, you begin to speculate on what it could be. It could be a gag gift, but Richie looked sincere, and his eyes behind his glasses are magnified in true anticipation, a gag gift wouldn’t illicit that response.

As soon as the final layer is detached, you gasp, armored by the actual gift. It’s a blue bracelet, covered in butterfly pattering. You once mentioned having a similar one as a kid that you loved but lost one day while playing outside and had been sad about for weeks.

You can’t believe Richie had kept it in his mind, and had gone out to look for it.

‘Richie… I don’t even know what to say right now.’ You exclaim, squeezing the bracelet in your hand tightly, a blush covering your face. Richie’s mimics yours. ‘Thank you’, you say while reaching out to him and kissing him on the cheek. Richie face burns a brighter red.

‘Yeah… glad to be of service.’ His mind is ball parks away, and he is left dazed.

‘Come on Y/N, it’s time for you to blow out the candles.’

You go easily, letting your hand linger around Richie’s, deciding mentally that you’ll do it tonight before you go home. Your birthday has already been better than anything you could have imagined, and maybe it has one more miracle left to give. If Richie says yes to your question about going on a date, then this will truly have been the best birthday you have every had. By the love struck expression Richie is walking around with, you have an inkling as to what his response might be.

You blow out your candles, but you don’t need to make a wish. You already have everything you could possibly want.

----

‘Off course that asshole buys her a gift, but never returns the money I loaned him so long ago. I’m not a fucking bank.’

‘I think it’s cute.’

‘No, Eddie is right, I’m also waiting on my refund.’

‘It’s adorable he bought her something, he really can’t hide his crush anymore.’

[faunawoodsart]

Scorched Earth (R6 Oc Fanfic)

Pt 4. The Map

Location: 1 mile outside Macarthy, Alaska

Time: 12:00

Date: Nov 20, 20XX

“ Right here is fine.” 

Nav said to Tachanka, who was holding a very large and very heavy case. Nav was a very strong individual herself, but even that case was too heavy for her to carry. Tachanka set down the case gently, then putting both of his hands on his lower back and stretched. Letting out a soft grunt. Fuze stood by, looking down at the large case. Using a key, that was given to him by Ash, to unlock it.Nav opened the heavy case, setting the hinged top down softly. All three of the operators looked at what was inside. The drone. Fuze helped Nav pick up the ridiculously large UAPS (Unmanned Aircraft Photographing System) out of the case and pulled out the landing feet it had. Fuze inserted a large hardrive into the back of it, closing the hatch when he was done and gave Nav a thumbs up. A small tablet lay on her lap. With a press of a button, the drone was on. She then proceeded to turn on the tablet. Fuze set down his bag and took out the operation folder. 

“There are specific coordinates in here you are supposed to use.”

He said, flipping through the pages. Nav could hear the sound of paper rusting and then suddenly stop. Fuze’s eyes scanned the page he had landed on. 

“ 61°28'40.8" North, 142°53'34.2" West and 61°29'28.6" North 142°52'45.5" West.”

Nav looked back at Fuze, asking him to repeat what he said. Fuze did so. Nav got the coordinates into the tablet. 

“Is there a specific height I need to set it at or is it up to me?”

Fuze scanned the paper.

“That is up to you, I do not see anything about height in here.”

Nav nodded and set the height to 400 feet, pressing confirm. She stood back as the drone’s blades bagan to turn slowly. All three of the operators watched as the drone’s blades slowly started to gain speed. Lifting off of the ground and going up to exactly 400 feet, it hovered there for a minute. Soon it flew off to the direction of where the coordinates told it to look. 

“Either of you have any idea how long that is going to take?”

Tachanka asked, crossing his arms.

“Not at all…” Nav admitted. “I’m used to it taking almost a week, but Ash said this is new and improved so it might be faster?. It all depends on how it comes out in the end anyway. Everything has to be just right. If it gets too dark out while it’s taking pictures, just consider the whole map to be ruined a that point. That goes for weather as well, if it starts snowing its also ruined. Also-” 

Nav got cut off by Fuze putting a hand on her shoulder and gently pulling her towards the truck. 

“It will be fine, now come on.” 

“But-”

“No.”

Fuze had lost the amount of times he had heard Nav spout the same worries over and over again. There was a reason when, before the Archaean issue, Nav would be sent out to certain areas they needed data on because of one thing. She was a prefectionist. If one picture was off, she had to redo that entire sequence of images. It was something that Fuze couldn’t stand. He adored her as a friend and admired how committed she was to her job, she easily did much more than she was supposed to do as an operator. During training missions, she would only map the interior of buildings and specific floors, but during the real deal she did so much more. But it was this perfectionism of her work that just irked him. 

Once they got back to their campsite near the McCarthy Airport 15Z. Nav put in the tablet where the drone, once done with taking pictures, would come back to. Tachanka was sitting at one of the tables in the Cabins, at the Blackburn Cabins, they were staying at. Looking extremely bored as he typed on the laptop he brought with him, doing some of the work that he had to do being a part of the Operation and Logistics team. Fuze sat on the other side of the table with his laptop, typing up multiple ideas of strategies and talking to Tachanka about them. Meanwhile, Nav sat in a separate room. Blackout curtains covered the windows. She had two monitors infront of her. She was setting up the program that she used to comprise the images she gets from the drones. Once it was set up, she sat back in the seat. Letting out a sigh. She turned around in the chair, and looked at the door. She thought about going out in the kitchen to sit with them but then turned her chair back around. She pulled up another tab, pulling it over to the other monitor. She pulled up her emails and started to go through them.

After 3-4 hours, a heavy knock was heard at her door. Nav took out an earbud and turned around. The door opened and Nav squinted because of the light. Tachanka pushed the door open some more and looked around. 

“My god! How do you work like this. You need to let some light in. “

He walked over to the blackout curtains and flung them open. Nav covered her eyes and let out a whine.  

“There better!”

Tachanka was proud of himself. Nav took her hand away from her face and squinted her eyes, trying to get them used to the sudden influx of light. 

“Do you need something Alexandr?”

She whined out. Tachanka turned twords her and smiled. 

“Oh yea! Your drone came back. I already put it away but Fuze took out the hard drive thing, so here!”

He handed her the hardrive. Nav smiled and happily took it. 

“Thank you…”

Tachanka patted her head and began to head out of the room. 

“Don’t forget to come out to eat, we are eating in two hours.”

Nav turned around and put the hardrive in the slot in the computer.

“I will.”

Tachanka held onto the door nob.

“If you don’t, i’ll have Shurhat pull you out of the fox hole you have made yourself.”

Nav laughed at Tachanka’s comment and he closed the door behind him. Nav, despite what Tachanka went out of his way to do, got up and closed the blinds back up. She sat back down in her seat and closed the tab that had her emails. She put the other earbud back into her ear. She dragged the folder that had all the new pictures that the drone took and she uploaded them to the program. They uploaded to the program almost immediately. Nav was surprised, it usually took forever to upload the photos. She shrugged and began to do that manual work. It took her an unusually short amount of time to complete it. She looked at the clock. 19:00 (7pm). Nav sat back and looked at the completed map. It was perfect. She saved the file it was on and emailed it to Ash, Mira, and Thermite. She could start to smell food coming from the kitchen. As she took out her earbuds and stood up, something caught her eye that was on the map… She took her mouse and zoomed in on the area that looked strange. It was Kennecott mine. Something looked off about it from the aerial pictures taken of it. But before she could do anything, Fuze opened the door. 

“Dinner is almost ready Eli.” 

Nav turned around and nodded. 

“Ah, thanks Shurhat.I’ll be out.”

Fuze nodded and left, leaving the door open. Nav took one last look at the map, a small hum left her lips. She turned away and went out to join the other two.

[shooting-starry]

Times when the hq boys wanted to turn back time

a/n: Depending on how I feel, I may write these as full fics later... but we shall see

Please reblog if you enjoy!

Warning: Angst, a lil’ bit of death (reader), miscarriage, fluff??, abuses (well not really but kinda)

Karasuno version

Daichi Sawamura:

He should have gone home last night instead of working overtime in the office. He should have walked  you home, and spent the night with you in his arms, but he didn’t. Now he is at the crime scene of a brutal murder. You weren’t at home watching the news, or making pancakes, you were dead here on the ground. There were ligature marks on both your wrists, and strangulation marks on your neck. How could he let this happen. He promised that he would always protect  you, yet your cold body still lies before him with a look of fear forever plastered on your face and in his heart. If only he could go back in time and fulfill his promise to you.

Koshi Sugawara:

He was doing parent teacher interviews with his first graders. The next student was his favourite, but he would never admit it out loud. She looked just like the girl who still held his heart. She even had the same look when she was focused on her school work as you do when you were concentrated. She was one of his best students, so he was excited to talk to the parents of this sweet little girl. That was until he saw his favorite pupil holding your hand while you were in the arms of another man. He wished it was him instead. He wished he could turn back time and be with you and your children for the rest of your lives. It only hurt more when you called him “Sugawara”. Not “Koshi” or “babe”. Just Sugawara.

Asahi Azumane:

You were the ever-so-famous model. He was a new designer. He never should have fallen for you. And you never should have fallen for him. But it happened, and the relationship was far from perfect. In the beginning, you were just innocently modeling his designs, but as you grew more infatuated with him, the more he just had to have you. Beginnings are always blissful. Now, you never model any of his designs. Now you hold no love for him. Now it was just pain as he watched your live stream wedding. You didn’t love him anymore, but he could never stop loving you.It caused him so much pain as he watched you happily say “I do.” to the man in front of you. The man who you loved. If he could turn back time, he would never meet you. Maybe then he wouldn’t be in pain. 

Nishinoya Yuu:

You were wrapped around him like a small koala bear as he cuddled you. You were securely placed in his arms. Your warmth made Nishinoya smile, but as he reached his arm towards you, he was met with nothing. No one was there. You weren’t there. It was all a dream because he couldn’t turn back time and bring you back, because you didn't love him. 

Tanaka Ryuunosuke:

It had been a good day at work, he saw a few of his favorite clients, and none of them create unnecessary drama. And on top of that, he got to go home early to see his pregnant wife. Today was good. Was good. As he ignorantly strolled through the door, he wasn’t greeted with your usual “Hey babe!” or “How was work today?”. He was met with eerie silence. He raced into action to find you. He ran through the kitchen and living room yelling your name, looking in every corner to find you. He couldn’t justify why you were out of the house. You were supposed to stay home and rest. So why couldn’t he find you? He race up and down the stairs, and flew through the hallways, until he heard your crying. He walked towards the sound of the weeping and found you in the bathroom, blood on the floor and all along your legs. You were crying on the floor, letting the tears stream down your face and hit the floor. He walked towards you, and picked you up. Holding you like a life line. He didn’t care if blood got on his cloths. All he cared about was you. He listened intently to your rapid breathing and your string of apologies as the whispered that none of it was your fault and reassuring you with sweet nothings. 

When you finally calmed down and were able to breathe steadily again, your eyes where red and puffy, and your skin was blotchy. The sadness that the two of you felt was incomprehensible. You avoided looking at him. You were scared of how he was looking at you. You were scared that if you looked at him all you would see was hate and anger. 

“I’m sorry Ryu.” you said softly, avoiding his gaze. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our baby.”

“No dear, none of this is your fault. I don’t blame you at all.” he replied while tenderly grabbing your chin so you would look at him. “We can have another baby together.”

“Together?”

“Together.” he agreed. This moment was painful. If he could redo the months leading up to this day, he would. If it meant that you wouldn’t have felt all of the pain, then he wouldn’t even need to think twice about it.

Kageyama Tobio

How did they lose? Karasuno were supposed to go to nationals this year. So what went wrong? His serves were perfect, his sets were extremely precise. so how could they have lost.

“Kageyama, I think we should do a new type of attack.” stated the shorter orange haired boy. The team had arrived back to the school, you were in the gym watching the boys talk with the coach and doing their own practiving. You knew how hard they worked, especially Tobio. You had to drag him out of the gym during his many late night practices. Kageyama still had not replied to Hinata. “Kageyama?” he asked, trying to get his attention.

“WE DON’T NEED A NEW ATTACK! WE NEED YOU TO BE FASTER AND JUMP HIGHER!” he screamed angrily, holding Hinata up by the collar. Hinata had a look of pure fear and panic as he realized that his feet were no longer on the ground. The rest of the team was yelling at him to put Hinata down, and that it wasn’t his fault. You instinctively run towards him and place a careful hand on his shoulder, only to be pushed back with such speed and power that you were pushed to the ground. The entire gym was quiet in shock. Kageyama had never done anything to hurt you. He was always soft around you, making you were ok and were happy. This action made him realize what he had done. He dropped Hinata to the ground who was coughing, trying to get air into his lungs. He quickly walked towards you, only for you to move away from him. Were you scared of him? Tears had began to pool in your eyes.

“Who are you?” you ask him and you slowly get up and walk away. Out of the gym. 

You didn’t go to school for the rest of the week. When you did, you avoided him like the plague. It wasn’t until two weeks later that he finally got you to listen. He apologized and begged for you to forgive him. But you just looked at him. The look that told him that he wasn’t getting a second chance. You couldn’t look at him as you walk away. You couldn’t let yourself turn around and comfort him. So you just walked away. If the genius setter of Karasuno could redo anything in his life, it would be to get you back.

Hinata Shoyo

When he let you go, he had no idea how stupid he was. You were the light of his life, but he put volleyball before you. That day when you said that you were done in this relationship. You said that you loved him. You told him that he needed to love you as well for the relationship to work. But he was the one who said “I think I can love you.”. Those words which shattered your heart and tears began to pool in your eyes. He didn’t realize how stupid he was until he saw you years later, latched on to another man’s arm. You looked happy. But all he felt was the pain of letting you go. Maybe he could figure out how to go back in time and put in more effort and look into your eyes and say “I love you and I always will.”.

Tsukishima Kei:

Yamaguchi was about to become the happiest man on the planet. It was his wedding day after all. And he was his best man. Tsukishima should be happy for his best friend. Right? But no, he felt jealous. He had loved you since before time, but you loved his best friend, and you were happy loving him. To you Tsukishima was just a friend. But why should he be mad at Yamaguchi? He was the one to tell him to just ask you out. He help him plan at least 100 dates for you. All he wanted was to turn back the clock and ask you out before Yamaguchi did. Maybe then, he would be the groom, and you would be his beautiful bride who would walk down the aisle. But he was supposed to be happy for his best friend. Right?

Yamaguchi Tadashi

Your first kiss with him was magical. You knew it as soon as your lips touched that he was the one. When your lips first touched his, he knew that he just had to keep you.The first kiss was sweet and innocent, and he wouldn’t have it any other was.He could see every freckle and line on your face, and you were mesmerized by the little freckles that dotted his face. It was in that moment, that he fell in love with your littler imperfections with only added to your beauty.  If he could relive a moment of his live, it would be when the universe told him that you were the one.

[arinbelle]

A Court of Witches and Warriors

Hello lovelies!

I finally updated this fic and gave a new chapter. Fun fact- I have the following chapter also posting right after this one. I fell behind in the updates because I went a little, not sure how to describe it, but full on writing angsty one-shots nonstop. That’s calmed down a little bit. I really wanted to get both the chapters out so I have not proofread. I don’t think there are many typos, but if so, please excuse me;) I decided to speed things up in this chapter and the next as you’ll see, just for the sake of time and plot. I hope it doesn’t mess with you too much.

Enjoy!

Tagging: @bookstantrash @greerlunna @queenestarcheron @queenofbloodshed @cassianscool @sjm-things @perseusannabeth @allilal @courtofjurdan @vasudharaghavan @sayosdreams @moe8 @duskandstarlight @arielle-reads @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter @nahthanks @oversizedbats @swankii-art-teacher

Warning: None that I can think of, slight violence with sparring?

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Chapter 12: Cassian

Cassian and Nesta didn’t talk about what happened in her bedroom ever again.

 After he had come home to her drenched, exhausted after cleaning her room that still reeked of ash and smoke, he hadn’t asked any questions. Not about the completely charred wall and a half, not about the scent of rainwater on the shiny, slippery floor and every available surface. Not one word about her soaked bedsheets or frankly, soaked Nesta who looked downright miserable in her sodden gown, cleaning away traces of the mess.

No, he just took off his uniform and helped her finish up. Asked her to take his bed for the night and few days it would take for repairs to finish up. Naturally she refused and took to the couch in the living room instead.

Which he hated. It wasn’t that he wanted her to sleep in his bed...which he did. He wanted her comfortable after what had clearly been a draining day, what with the training he had put her through and the backfire her spell had done as well.

But Nesta was nothing if not obstinate, and she didn’t budge once for those five days that Cassian had hired a home repair worker to redo the wooden panels in her room and remove the charred ones. She didn’t complain once during those five days on the hell the couch had to be giving her back. And each night, without fail, he would ask her to take the bed, and she would refuse. If he had the time, he could have done it much faster in the house, repaired her room and even added in some bookshelves for her. 

But the training for the Blood Rite would truly take off now. There were a month away from Solstice, and everything was perpetually cold. 

Not that Nesta seemed to mind it, to his surprise. He made sure Cilla and her visited Emerie’s clothier for a good couple of hours to get the proper attire she’d need for winter. Fur lined leggings, sweaters, and thicker coats than even the ones she had. At first, she had made a fuss to buy so much, especially because he knew it bothered her to use his money. But after him telling her that if she didn’t go herself, he’d buy all her clothes for her, she’d stopped her bickering and walked out with Cilla.

That was another thing Cassian hadn’t seen coming.

Cillarika.

He hadn’t expected the bond between them to form so quickly or so easily. Cilla of course made everyone like her if they weren’t pricks, but still. Nesta hadn’t been in her best state when she had arrived to Illyria. And yet, Cassian saw the pair often talk after she trained with the other females and Devlon. Saw Cilla in passing as she walked Nesta back to her house to see Delani after Cassian’s training with her. And he was glad the couple had taken to her so well, practically folding her under their wings each time they saw her. Once, he swore he heard a small huff of laughter from Nesta when Cilla told her a particularly vulgar joke. One he knew she’d have hissed at him for telling her. Or at least, she would have scoffed rather than laughed, and laced her tone in irritation perhaps just to spite him. He felt left out, that he could not also enjoy Nesta’s laughter, and more so, that he could not cause it to come forth. But it was progress, and for that, he was grateful.

While they didn’t talk about the incident in her room, they did talk about her powers. Cassian began to work with her on harnessing those elusive powers of hers.

The first few weeks gave rise to...nothing.

She couldn’t summon the fire or water she had brought forth in her bedroom, or any other thing like he’d seen on that battlefield in Hybern. He was sure she had multiple facets of her magic. The fire and water- that was what most witches could do anyways. It made sense considering they were the most in tune with nature. But he had seen that white power of hers, wipe out an entire platoon of Hybern’s soldiers, all in one go.

And then he never saw it again, both to his confusion and Nesta’s irritation.

The fire, the water, and eventually even some wind all came to her with more ease. The first time she nearly knocked him over with a gust of wind, he’d seen the barest hint of a satisfied smile, and then he’d blinked and it was gone. Leaving him wanting for more.

Today he wanted her to work on the sword. The past month that they had worked with her powers, worked with hand-to-hand combat, which she was getting dangerously good at, had been great. When she let him train her, she became someone wholly unlike the Nesta that he lived with. Quiet, yes, that was always true of her. But also, a different type of focused. She did not get that faraway look in her eyes that he caught sometimes when she was reading in the living room. Her gaze straying from the pages as she no doubt remembered something from her past that was still haunting her. That look of hollowness, for a few hours when she trained, went away, and Cassian was grateful for any reprieve she was getting.

“This isn’t wooden.” Nesta held up the sword he’d borrowed from the mason which they used to teach the adolescent warriors. Lighter than a blade a full-grown warrior would have, but not as small as a child’s. She was still too small for him to risk her injury with a sword too heavy for her to use.

Cassian smirked at her observation. “Very good Nesta. And your hair is braided today. I love these observations we’re making, wasting time you should be using to train.”

Oh that hit the mark. Usually they didn’t talk much when they trained, and because it kept Nesta focused and learning at an alarmingly quick rate, he kept his mouth shut too. The only time he spoke was to explain a new maneuver, correct her stance, or have her begin sets.

She snarled and he let out a boisterous laugh. He hadn’t had any fun with teasing her in a while, and he had forgotten how alive it made him feel.

“I’m just saying that because I thought that’s what you’d use. You pitched a fit at Devlon for using even a wooden sword with me the second time I trained with him.”

He had.

Cassian had marched up to Devlon the same day Nesta had had her mishap with her powers in her room, and he had demanded an explanation for Nesta’s injuries. Of course the camp lord wasn’t fazed in the slightest, almost expecting the outburst from Cassian. He told Devlon to watch how he treated his female recruits and had made sure Taliq watched the couple few trainings after that. From what little Nesta bothered to tell him, the lessons, though not as great as they could be, were certainly experiencing an improvement.

“That’s different,” Cassian explained, flexing his fingers to avoid fisting them in irritation. “He got you hurt and he wasn’t even using a real weapon. I’m not here to hurt you, I’m here to teach you. So, you can use a real blade with me.” He could never hurt her intentionally. Just the thought of it made him nauseous. When he had trained Feyre, he had needed to be gentler than he was with his soldiers. But when she wanted to be pushed, he could go for it. When she asked to be trained so that she would limp out of practice, Cassian had no qualms about it.

But Nesta…

He didn’t like the idea of hurting her, even unintentionally. Even though the entire point of these training sessions was to make her stronger, capable, and never able to be hurt again. It felt counterintuitive sometimes when she took ice baths for an hour after he brought her back to the house, limping faintly as she came down to eat whatever meal he gave her. It was a part of the process and while he was proud of how well she was doing, he hated it too.

She was surprisingly apt with the sword. Not amazing...not yet. But there was potential there just as there had been the first day he’d trained her.

"Bend your elbow like this," he told her, moving her by the arm to help her grip stabilize.

Nesta never talked back when he corrected her during training. It was a change of pace from the easy bickering they could fall into back at the house. More from his side than hers, but he was getting through a little more. Sometimes her lips would twitch and she would need to leave the room muttering about how he was wasting her time. He could swear he heard a huff of laughter each time she left, trying not to let him know she'd found him funny. He lived for those moments. 

They soon fell into an easy rhythm as he moved her slowly through easy jabs and spars with the sword. Twists and hacks that she could easily incapacitate a stronger, larger opponent with. He taught her how to disarm an opponent with a sword, something rarely done in the chaos of a battlefield, but still, useful to know. She took it all in with ease, and he knew with constant practice just like her hand-to-hand combat, she’d be rivaling his own abilities someday.

“Take a break.” He uttered the command halfheartedly, noting her weary stance and the fact that the sun was now high in the sky compared to when they’d begun at early dawn. He didn’t want to stop, didn’t want to miss even a minute of time he could spend close to her. But she needed the reprieve for a while before going back to work, especially because now he was moving onto training her powers.

Cassian reorganized the weapons he’d brought out to the field and had laid out on a cloth. And then again. And again. He made sure that wherever he did look, Nesta drinking her water and catching her breath was not where his gaze landed. He was sure he’d combust or say something inappropriate if he saw how flushed she no doubt was. How her lips would look even more plush and rosy after she drank from her flask, tantalizing him to close the distance between them and just sink his mouth down to hers once. Just a taste...

“Cassian,” Nesta’s voice snapped at him. 

“What?” He’d lost his focus, too caught up in how her lips would feel against his own after all this time. Cassian turned around to where she was standing, hands on her hips, brows furrowed in irritation at him no doubt.

“Weren’t you listening? I asked you a question.”

No, sorry. I was too busy thinking about how much I’d like to kiss you sometimes.

Sometimes, Cassian thought she may feel the same way. Might desire him as he was sure she once had before everything had happened between them. Desire him as much as he was lost in her. 

A few weeks ago he had been showing her a defense tactic to get her opponent onto the ground, and with enough force that they would stay there and she could run away. It hadn’t taken much. The lack of sunlight from practicing so early, a tree root that he hadn’t seen, and the sharp look in Nesta’s eyes had been the deadly combination that had caused him to trip mid demonstration. She’d confused it for an attack and the training he’d given her had kicked in without hesitation, giving him a swell of pride at her progress. But that emotion was short-lived as they tangled and went down, hitting the ground hard as Cassian lunged to make sure he didn’t crush her under him.

Which had left Nesta straddling his hips and her hands grappled into the leathers on his chest for purchase. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit that the image of her riding him, hands splayed over his markings and nails almost digging in as pleasure overtook her, wasn’t a recurrent fantasy in his dreams. A complete liar if he didn’t admit that it was the best things he had to look forward to when sleeping when nightmares thankfully left him alone. 

The look on her face hadn’t been a blend of contempt and irritation as he expected it to be. He didn’t dare dream it, but he could have sworn there was a linger of lust and longing in her expression before a mask of cool indifference slipped on instead. And then she was hauling herself off of him and proclaiming they move onto practicing her powers then. Smart of her. No more physical contact between them then.

But the slumbering desire was nowhere in her face since that day, and especially not now.

“I asked you about my powers.”

“What about them, sweetheart?” A lick of fire rolled around in his chest as her face took on a familiar scowl at the pet nickname. He’d somehow recalled the question he’d missed the first while she’d glowered at him. She wanted to know about that power. The one Cassian was curious about as well. The brilliant white surge that had exploded from her fingertips and smote half a field of soldiers without a single thought.

Brash. That was what Hybern had called Nesta when he had beheld her power. Brash, and untrained, and so much potential. It took his breath away sometimes when he thought about all she could be capable of if he could just get her to that point where she could release her powers.

Cassian only knew one way to make it come out. Two actually. 

Fear and anger. He wouldn’t dare use the first option. Not because he couldn’t, no, he could easily scare her into letting her powers out. He was already aware of a few things Nesta couldn’t tolerate since the war. Things that still haunted her if the fact that she still couldn’t listen to the sound of crackling flames.

Thankfully on that front, Cassian had been able to figure out a way to direct the heat from the fireplace of the living room to other parts of the house. After the builders had fixed Nesta’s bedroom he’d brought them the idea and they had taken a few more days to install a tubing system into the walls, magicked to somehow carry the heat safely up. Nesta needed only to open the flap when the fire was lit, which he was careful to keep going as long as she wasn’t near it as the colder weather wore on.

But he would not be scaring her into control. He couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her with her trauma anymore than she could handle it. 

So anger it was.

The nickname was the first step in riling her up. He hadn’t used it in a while on her and he knew the more abruptly he brought it back to attention, the more irritated she’d become.

“Don’t call me that,” she hissed, returning back to her position on their makeshift ring with stunning speed. He’d love to see her in a ring with another sparring partner, just to gauge her better. He knew she would eventually need to fight others besides him. He may push her hard, push her to the brink sometimes, but he never hurt her. 

Never bruised where he could. Never punched back ever, even though he should have been doing that first to teach her. One of the things he’d grudgingly accepted was that the fastest way to not get hit in the rings, was to learn how much it hurt when you did, and then work to never let it happen again. But Cassian didn’t want to hurt Nesta, and he didn’t want to see her hurt either. Even though he knew, eventually, he would need to let her go against other warriors who would not be as easy on her. 

Not that Cassian was easy on her. She was already nearing her exertion limit for the day- he knew that. But if he could just push slightly harder today, more than she was expecting, and then perhaps anger her, maybe, just maybe, he would get a rise out of her enough to help her along with her powers.

“You’re my sweetheart. What else could I call you?,” Cassian mocked. And then, just to see how far he could test his luck. “If you don’t like sweetheart, tell me something else you’d prefer. Darling?”

Nesta’s lip curled back menacingly and Cassian took an involuntary step back. He didn’t like darling much either. And it was too strange to call Nesta the same thing his brother called Feyre.

Cassian grabbed a ball from the assortment of weapons and walked a few yards away from where Nesta was watching him. Once he got to a level area on the meadow, where the grass wasn’t too overgrown, he set it down and faced her.

“Hit it,” he told her simply as he walked back to join her.

Nesta gaped at him then, and he took a silent pride in how when she’d first come here, that sort of expression of irritation, even if it was annoyed, would never be as pronounced as it was now. 

“You cannot be serious. How?,” she demanded, almost regal in her reproach.

Cassian shrugged, casually crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against a tree trunk. Nesta took him in even more irate that before.

Good. That was the start.

“I would say try your best,” Cassian drawled, “but we both know that even subpar, you aren’t going to get anywhere with your powers. Don’t ask me how to do it Nesta. You don’t want it enough.”

The snarl that burst from her clenched teeth was more animal than Fae. It called to the instincts that he kept under the surface of his skin. The ones that wanted to make her scream those same sounds over and over in the form of his name as he took her pleasure from her again and again and...

“You’re a pig,” she snapped. And then, as if he were nothing, Nesta turned away and dismissed him. Faced her target with precision as she raised her hands lightly, fingers slowly stretching out as if testing the air they may release their magic into. Even though he could only see her back, Cassian could make out the faint rise and fall of her breathing that was more pronounced.

She was trying to calm her breathing. Trying to calm herself down. 

No. That’s not going to work.

And it would simply not do for all of Cassian’s carefully planned jabs and retorts, aimed to push her just enough to unleash her power, if she just calmed herself away from it. She needed to get to that edge she was so desperately avoiding. Go all the way to the brink of the cliff that Cassian knew would likely be like his own reserve of power, deep within them, and fall over face first without thinking. That would be the first way she would be able to call it forward.

From there, they could work on control.

Cassian moved slowly behind her until his chest was almost flush with her back. He made sure to make his impending presence known before reached her to avoid any unfortunate recollections of how she’d been attacked. At least, that was how he assumed it happened with how she always stiffened up when someone came up behind her. Even with him. 

“Do not pull back. That’s where you’re going wrong. You’re moving like a feather when you should be moving like a sword. I’ve seen your power, your Cauldron power, and I know what it can do. And going about summoning it lightly will not cut it.” He tried his best to keep his voice low and reassuring, but Nesta had whipped her head back to face him, barely inches of distance between their faces as she peered up at him.

“I thought you’re supposed to be teaching me. This,” she gestured to his chest, “isn’t teaching me. And you know nothing about the power you saw, so do not act as if you can explain anything about it.” She threatened him with a softer tone than he expected given the weight of her words. Cassian used all of his restraint not to bark back. It was working. He just needed to work a little harder without pushing it so far that he would damage her.

Cassian tipped his neck down a touch more to meet her icy blue irises, mentally preparing himself to not lose focus of his goal when he looked into them.

“I know a lot more than you give me credit for sweetheart. I know that you are afraid of it. I know that you act untouchable when that is furthest from the truth. Your power,” he trailed off. There wasn’t a word enough to describe how awe-inspiring it had been to witness firsthand. “It was nothing like I’d ever seen before. But you are not acting like that female I saw stand on that battlefield anymore.”

The wrong thing to say. And utterly perfect.

The fury that contorted her features went beyond anything he’d ever witnessed before. He’d never pushed her to discuss the events that had bound them together on that battlefield. Not this long, and certainly not with the kind of temper he could see was slowly taking over Nesta’s supposed calm.

“You know nothing about me. Nothing. Do not-”

“Don’t what? Question you? Ask you the things everyone else is too afraid to? Why are you here Nesta?,” he demanded harshly. “What are you doing here besides wasting my time if you won’t listen to what I’m telling you?” 

Warning bells went off in Cassian’s head as a small voice told him to back off. That he was going too far now. Cassian ignored it wholly.

One more time. “You could have been great by now. You could have had your powers not just manifested, but mastered if you had come to me sooner. Even now, you refuse to listen to my instructions. Let me say it again. Let go, Nesta.”

Nesta went shock still at the command, the power in his voice that he seldom used on her. Eyes widened at perhaps his audacity, or her own flared temper. He didn’t know which it was. “Do not give me orders again,” she growled back finally.

Cassian snorted, mocking her own behavior back to her. “I’ll do what I damn well please in my camp sweetheart. I’m not the one struggling to deal with my powers like a youngling. Which could have been over and done with by now if you weren’t so afraid of yourself.”

“I am not afraid,” she asserted vehemently.

“Yes, you are. Where is she Nesta? Where is that female I saw who fought beside me on that battlefield not at all afraid of her powers?” 

Horror struck her features for a second before it was gone. He’d gone too far. He had, and he’d hate himself for it later. But unbeknownst to Nesta, he was beginning to see the curl of white around her fingers slowly taking form. She hadn’t seen it yet, but Cassian had, and he knew she was so close. She would do it today he decided resolutely.

“Where is she?,” he demanded again.

“Stop.”

No. No mercy from him anymore. Not as the faint, fog white solidified more and more around her palms. So close, she was so close. “Where is she Nesta?” he snarled viciously at her.

“Stop,” she screamed.

“No! Where is she Nesta?,” he yelled back louder

“I-”

“Where?,” he roared, loud enough to shake the ground beneath them.

A cry of outrage, of anguish and spite so unlike anything he’d seen unleashed from her before cut forth from her lips. She lunged at him, rightfully so, and Cassian fully expecting it, caught her. Grasped the torso with ease and turned her away to face her target just in time as her palms shot forward and brilliant white light burst from them. It demolished the small ball he had placed in its path, and still kept on going.

Cassian did not drop the arm wound around Nesta’s waist even after the power from her fingertips stopped. They were both heaving after the wreck that had just happened. Her back was flush so tight against his chest, but even when her arms dropped limply to her sides, she did not pull away from him.

It was carefully thought out on his part, before he moved his free hand tentatively up to push the hair back from her face. The unraveling strands that were in her eyes from the expulsion of power she had just wrought felt like silk as he moved them aside.

Nesta sagged backwards suddenly, her head hitting his shoulder as she lost consciousness.

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

Nesta came to almost three hours after her display of her powers. He had hurriedly gathered her in his arms and flew them back, stopping only to yell at a healer from midair to see her. The healer’s barracks had been mostly empty, safe from prying eyes who would no doubt spread gossip about Nesta’s current state. The healer had assured him nothing was wrong and that she would wake once her strength returned. Which it did, to his relief.

He had softly told her through the closed bathroom door to come down to eat when she was ready. No reply, but no snarled retort either, so perhaps he was lucky.

She had emerged almost an hour later, looking slightly more awake and definitely better than when he’d laid her down on the couch and prayed for her to awaken soon.

“I made your favorite,” he attempted weakly as she pattered into the kitchen, a modest robe covering her from neck to mid-calf. So she was on edge. He hoped the Illyrian dish with chicken and rice that he learned she loved would earn him some forgiveness.

Cool, indifferent eyes rose up to meet him from the counter they had been pointedly preoccupied with. “Why?”

Cassian was taken aback for only a moment. “Why...because you like it.”

“Why bother? It’s been a tiring day for us both. I could have eaten anything else.” A practical question and perhaps not aimed at pointing out all the things he’d said to her earlier.

Cassian couldn’t help his answer back. Couldn’t control the truth that spilled out of him. “Isn’t that what friends do for each other? Do something nice because they know the other will like it?”

Nesta cocked her head to the side as she took him in, a purse in her lips beginning to take form. “Friends.”

She didn’t put any venom behind the word but Cassian felt the red, hot flood of embarrassment heat his cheeks and have him wanting to crawl into a hole. Perhaps they were not as mended as he thought them to be. Still, the desperate desire to redeem himself did not vanish, and it had him asking her, “Can I not be your friend?”

Nesta did not respond. She simply took her plate and went to sit in the living room to finish her meal.

Cassian ate silently at the island in the middle of the kitchen, too overcome with guilt at how he had pushed her at training to even enjoy his food. As his thoughts on an apology swirled around in his head, Nesta returned with her plate empty.

“Do you want more?”

“No. Are you done?”

Cassian gave a wordless nod and Nesta took it as a signal to take his now empty dish as well. She didn’t say a word as she began washing their plates and utensils.

“You don’t have to Nesta.” In fact, after the way she’d been drained earlier, she really shouldn’t. “Let me,” he told her as he came to stand beside her at the sink.

But Nesta did not budge, nor did she give any indication that she had heard him. 

“Nesta, just-”

“Is this not what friends do? Help each other?,” she parroted almost his exact words back to him as she rinsed the sink and her hands, finishing up the task.

A small flicker of hope took root in him at her words as he nodded slightly. She hadn’t dismissed him completely. And after all that he had done today...

“Nesta,” he began, unsure of how to approach. “About earlier today, I’m sorry about everything I said. I shouldn’t have-”

Nesta cut him off, “You were trying to anger me into bringing out my powers.” A statement, not a question. So she knew what his aim had been.

“Yes,” he admitted guiltily.

She nodded, more to herself than him. “Well it worked. So thank you for that. I...” her eyes flickered back and forth as she gathered her thoughts. He let her take her time, not prompting anything from her.

“I don’t know how to control it, but I’m willing to learn. Today was...helpful. I feel, I can’t explain it, but I feel lighter,” she conceded to him. She looked at him expectantly and Cassian didn’t know what else to tell her to convey how proud he was of her. That she had not only summoned her powers back after almost a year of dormancy, or that she was willing to master them, with him of all things.

“I’m happy,” he chuckled. A beat of silence as they both contemplated this strange occurrence of concession between them. An allowance to no longer just be half-thought out threats and not at all thought out insults meant to shatter and wound beyond repair. “I’m happy for you sweetheart. We’ll work on your powers together.”

And then it happened.

Not quite the laugh he wanted to witness firsthand that she had shared with Cilla and Delani. Not quite the smile he had heard Taliq tell him of once- how it had almost blinded him with its radiance. 

But Nesta’s lips curved up slightly, and there was no malice behind it. No anger at something he had said, no taunt to something she was about to say back. And she let out a tiny huff of laughter and the small smile on her face did not fade away. And it was not boisterous or loud in its presence. But it was there, and she had given him this small piece of her he never thought he’d be granted. 

Joy had never tasted as sweet as happiness when Nesta Archeron had smiled at him.

“Alright. Good night Cassian.” 

Cassian did not lose the smile on his own face until he was long gone into the world of dreams and piercing blue-grey eyes.

[george5259999]

Week 8 - Digital Iteration

This week's tutorial was really interesting and entertaining. One of my personal hobbies is digital rendering (mainly in Blender), but it was really nice to go out of my comfort zone to a program I have only ever used once before. When I opened 3ds Max for the first time, I noticed how similar the interface looked to Maya. Being Autodesk programs natively, it made sense, but it was nice to have some element of familiarity.

During my year 10 and 11 high school holidays I completed a Cert IV in digital design for games and film. That coursed used Maya and Unreal Engine 4, so I had a bit of experience with the interface and principles of polygon modelling. However, 3ds max was probably one of the popular programs which I had the least experience with; so it was still a hugely informative and insightful process trying to adapt my knowledge between programs.

I started with the primitives menu, and imported a sphere into the workspace. I initially found myself struggling with the interface. There are a lot of options and features which are not necessary when learning the basics of a program. When starting to learn any 3d program, I often find myself spoiled for choice, and perhaps even too overwhelmed. I was very glad when the tutorial suggested hiding some superfluous menus from view, as I felt that it really cleared up the screen. After aligning the views (Image 1), I experimented with the modifiers tab.

The modifiers in 3ds max were really interesting to play around with. Working with meshes can sometimes be a tedious and particular process, but it was really enjoyable creating something with no end goal in mind. I liked how using a squeeze modifier (Image 2) could generate an egg shape with the sphere primitive, and how the melt, twist and wave modifiers (Images 3, 4 and 5) could be pushed to the mesh extremes. When working with a mesh, the topology is important to the quality of the final form. As the entire object is constructed of tris and quads, the way they are situated on the model, and their resolution play an important role in what you see. For example, the more I increased the twist modifier, the more I could see the vertices sticking out of the shape. It goes to show that unless the resolution is increased, there are limitations to the modifiers usage, as they can 'break' your model.

The modifiers in 3ds Max are very different to the ones in blender, I definitely feel like in any 3D program, anything you can create in one is attainable in the other; however 3ds max has a lot of mesh deformation modifiers out of the box. Although I thought these created really interesting and abstract shapes which I certainly enjoyed, I realised that I couldn't think of many instances where I would use some of the modifiers on a real project, but I think they are really valuable for niche tasks.

My favourite part about the exercise was learning poly modelling in 3ds Max. Poly modelling is a core part of most 3d modelling programs; and the skills are usually transferrable between. There are some really fantastic modelling tools in 3ds max which make the process of modelling enjoyable. I had a look around my desk for some quick and interesting forms I could make, and started with a really simple apple using the sphere I had in the viewport. I utilised the 'soft select' (Image 6) feature to move many verts at once, to create the top and bottom crease in the apple where the stem travels. To create the stem, I used the cylinder primitive and used the taper/bend modifier to create a curved and natural form (Image 7).

Next, I used the cylinder primitive and used the scale and extrusion feature to get the barrel of a pen. To create the tip of the pen I target welded the vertices together to get the point. I created a new cube primitive to create the clip on the pen, and extruded it (Image 8); also creating a bevelled edge to round it out slightly. Using the same techniques, I also made a stool from my room (Image 9). I really wanted to experiment with as many features as I could in these exercises, so with each 'sketch' I tried to focus on a tool I hadn't used before - as it felt like the best way to improve (Image 10). Still getting comfortable with the Poly Modelling in 3ds max, I also made a cupcake (Image 11) from the basic cylinder primitive to try and improve my modelling quality and speed; making simple extrusions, scaling the rings in, rotating them to get the icing layers. I played around with NURMS subdivision on the mesh to smooth it out, and was really happy with the results.

Finally, I wanted to use all the skills in conjunction, as well as using a tool which really sped up the workflow. I knew from Blender and Maya that loop cuts sped up the process, but I could not find them in 3ds max. After researching the issue on different forums, I found that it went under a different name; Swift loop Though it was very basic problem solving, it goes to show that these skills and programs have transferrable knowledge; and doing a simple search of your problem can lead to new ways of solving them. Swift loop was really useful in creating a loop cut between two parallel edges; adding more geometry for manipulation. When creating the tape dispenser, I noticed that the subdivision was rounding the model out too much, to the point where it no longer registered as a tape dispenser. So I used the swift loop feature to create loop cuts close to the bordering edges to reduce the interpolation between the curve (Images 12 and 13). This taught me that the subdivision modifiers aren't just something that can be added to a model to instantly make it look better; they require some manipulation and editing to get the desired effect.

I found 3ds max challenging but really interesting and insightful. As I am familiar with other programs of similar nature, it took me a while to get out of my own head; using shortcuts and hotkeys from the other programs and wondering why it wouldn't work. Overall, I think that its really rewarding to pick up another program, as it expands my skills and approach to modelling. If I were to redo this activity, I think I would try and make some more complex forms now that I have gotten more comfortable with 3ds Max; perhaps moving onto a product or more complex object. I am really looking forward to creating the bottle concepts in 3ds max next week, as I believe it will be another chance to improve my skills.

Thoughts on the Pre-Class activity - Andrew Simpson case Study

I believe that digital modelling and physical models have a closer relationship than people think. Form and Materials are an important part of perception, but there are qualities of both physical and digital modelling provide when compared to one another. Digital models allow for material iteration, simulation and rendering. Physical models allow for the physical contact, and interaction with the end user. When Andrew discusses the importance of materiality, it drives home the necessity of experimentation and versatility in design. The idea of new materials informed new processes in his decision making process, and it lead to different material types being explored.

I found Andrew's discussion on model fidelity really insightful. I perceive high and low fidelity models to represent how close the model is to a refined product. Whilst a high fidelity model would be fantastic to show clients or to use in renders, low fidelity models are required to quickly iterate on concepts and ideas to test the boundaries of the product e.g. material, form, colour. High fidelity models are more refined, and have more time put into them, to explore how the end product will feel for the user. High fidelity and low fidelity models are both important, and when Andrew talks about the non-uniform relationship of the two in his process, it shows that design is not a linear process; rather a circular one driven by prototyping and feedback. If a high fidelity model still doesn't feel right, faster, low fidelity models can be made testing a range of new ideas; to be taken through the process of design once again.

[delicourse]

Hi, I've got a few questions for you if you don't mind answering them

1. How long does it take you to draw a drawing digitally? Do you have any tips on drawing digitally faster?

2. How do you shade? It looks SO good and I'm in love with your artstyle and shading 🥺

3. Are you ever gonna make a webtoon?

Sorry for bothering you, hope you're healthy, and have a nice day/night 🥰💜

sorry for taking so long to answer these!! i really had to think abt the answer so it took a while! sorry if the first one ended up being an essay

1. it tends to vary depending on how well i have the artwork planned out! the thing that tends to take the longest for me is the decision-making parts (sketch and composition, base colors, and colors again once im almost done but going “ok but...what if..”) and the rest(lineart, shading, details) is basically stuff that i can go on autopilot for. so if i already know what im gonna do and somehow stick to that, an artwork can take 3-6 hours depending on size! but most of the time it can take several days of having multiple artworks up at the same time, and making small changes in each at a time until im happy enough to move on lol. so its really hard to measure the time on those since i don’t really know if going back and forth between “lime green” and “turquoise green” for 2 days counts as me actually drawing. i also have a habit of always letting the artwork “rest” for a day inbetween steps where i dont look at it to make sure im not missing any obvious mistakes. (especially at the sketch and linework stage, if they look off the entire artwork will) looking at your art with a fresh eye is really important!

when it comes to speeding up the process i think simply drawing things often enough really is the way to go. its boring but to me the fast parts are only that bc ive done it so many times i dont have to think too much when doing it! (unless im trying something new, which i have been doing lately and oh wow we sure are Thinking in this house) also i see all my artworks as a very “step by step” routine, so i try to never go back once ive completed a step. it makes just moving forward easier. since i also have several artworks up at a time; theyre almost always at different steps in the process, so if i get stuck at or bored with say, lineart, i just go to another artwork where im doing final details and just have fun with that! it makes me feel like im always making progress somwhere. also dont be afraid to just redo something entirely if it looks off. save ur canvas and open a new one and start over, its usually way faster the second time and u keep ur previous mistakes in mind so overall? its faster than to keep adjusting the same parts of the artwork over and over and never really being happy with it, at least thats how it is for me! also also also; make your own brushes for things u already know how to draw but dont wanna do by hand 50 times over. like say, the diamonds in some of my works? theyre just a confetti esque brush with a bunch of diamonds i drew the outline of. then i color them in manually and do shinies and shades but i wont have to do linework for that at least, and its still in my “style” bc i drew them! (it also lessens the feeling of “cheating” that, i at least, tend to have at not doing everything manually) ....also get over the feeling that ur cheating when ur taking shortcuts. in this house we are Professionals who know what we are doing and there should be NO shame for achieving the same results more efficiently

2. ill post some images of my coloring process soon, i dont know if it explains things too well but it is an attempt hdhsbs

3. i cant write to save my life!! all i do is pretty drawings, which i love doing, but it would rule to someday work with others to create some form of comic or webtoon or just general story that i can illustrate!

[satoshi-mochida]

Some thoughts on my last Gamefly rental, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

*Though most people are familiar with DBZ, especially the three main Sagas in this game, given how often they’re played out in games, I’ll put a spoiler warning here just in case. Also, I didn’t try out the DLC stories, yet, so this will just be about the base PS4 game with it’s current updates. I may buy the game and try those out in the future. I also say a lot about the game.

The game spans from the Saiyan Saga to the end of the Buu Saga(not counting DLC). Pretty much every important scene is played through, though a few parts are skimmed over or skipped, like:

Goku traveling Snake Way, his brief fall into Hell, and training with King Kai(shown a bit and mentioned but not playable) 

Piccolo using Hellzone Grenade against Android 17(you can have him learn the move and do it yourself, though).

Future Trunks’ battle with Cell where he found out the speed-loss disadvantages of Super Saiyan Third Grade(that moment isn’t shown or mentioned, though he does still fight Cell in that form)

Vegito still attacking Super Buu after being turned into candy(which means we don’t get to see him beating Super Buu up as a high-speed jawbreaker). Also, Goku and Vegeta freeing everyone trapped inside Super Buu happens offscreen.

And possibly a few smaller moments. They aren’t too important in the long run, though, plus some were probably for better pacing or something.

There was some added stuff, too:

Several times, you’ll be able to meet, and occasionally do sidequests for, several older Dragon Ball characters, like Nam, Eighter and Launch.

A new fight for Goku against Kid Buu to end the main story before he launches the Super Spirit Bomb at him.

There's a fairly small amount of playable characters(who can also be put in a party as Support Members): 

Goku

Gohan

Vegeta

Piccolo

Future Trunks(Android/Cell Saga and Epilogue, only)

Gotenks(only in two battles against Super Buu)

Vegito(in one battle against Super Buu, which, considering how powerful Vegito is, is more of an epic beatdown than a fight)

And a few characters that are support only:

Krillin

Tien

Yamcha

Chiaotzu

Goten

Kid Trunks

Android 18

All characters, Main and Support Only, have a ‘Super Attack Skill Tree’ that you can use Z Orbs that you find/earn to give them new skills and attacks. What you can get increases based on the character’s level and story progress(example, you can’t get Super Saiyan 2 for Gohan until he unlocks it during the fight with Perfect Cell).

Throughout the game, you’ll collect ‘Soul Emblems’ to place onto several ‘Community Boards’ to increase various ingame bonuses, like more EXP or cooking benefits. You get Soul Emblems both from the main story and side quests. They can be leveled up with Gifts to increase the Community Level, giving more bonuses. This seems to be the best setup for all of the emblems that I found.

At campfires and at Goku’s House, you can make food from items/materials you have to give yourself a stat boost. And Chi-Chi can be asked to make the party Full Course Meals at her home, which also increase the Base Stats of whoever eats them.

A certain filler episode from the original series where Goku and Piccolo are forced to get a Driver's License also happens in this game(though unfortunately without the outfits they wore in said episode). After doing so, you unlock the ability to make cars and battle walkers from Bulma, as well as Time Attacks for both types of vehicles(which I didn’t do much of).

Like the first Budokai game, this one has story’s events shown in cutscenes, which the later ones just had them happen in dialogue to speed things along, probably. And they did a really good job of animated said scenes, matching the look and feel of the series VERY closely.

The flying also feels well done, and true to the series. Aside from flying normally, which is fairly slow, you can hit L3 to start flying faster, at the cost of your Ki slowly going down and not being able to sense Ki with R1. This is the best way to travel the the large maps. Goku and Gohan can also use the Flying Nimbus, though you can’t pick up items that you need to hit Circle while doing so. Also, ramming into weaker enemies while flying will defeat them instantly and give you EXP. It’s a bit hard to aim yourself at enemies correctly, sometimes, though. 

Going underwater functions the same as flying, except with an air meter to keep an eye on. If it runs out, you get kicked back above where you entered the water as the only penalty. Take a peek down under whatever bodies of water you find; there’s always stuff to see and collect, depending on the map, especially on maps with oceans.

You can also dash on the ground by hitting L3, and unlike when flying, you can still sense Ki while doing so. 

I feel like this game’s flying controls are about what it should feel like for a Superman game. Probably might need a few tweaks to fit more with that series, but this feels like a good base for that kind of game.

The game’s many maps are pretty large, with lots to see and explore, including towns, caves that you need to be a certain level to enter, materials to gather, fishing spots, and more. They include plenty of well known DBZ locations, insulting Kame House(and the ocean around it), West City and Capsule Corp., Korin’s Tower and Kami’s Lookout, and so on.

Floating around these maps are enemies you can fight. They grow in strength as you do/the story progresses. If you’re strong enough and are fast-flying when running into an enemy, you’ll defeat it and gain EXP right away.

Speaking of Korin’s Tower, you can eventually unlock the ability to grow Senzu Beans there, which fully heal you. Once they’re unlocked, they will gradually grow and can be collected from Korin, with a Senzu Bean icon appearing next to it on the World Map if there’s any available. He will hold up to 9 at once, so check back once in a while.

Fishing is pretty easy to do; just hit one of the face buttons(X, Triangle, Square and Circle) when the marker is in a marked area, then hot one again when the closing circle is within another marked circle(this might make more sense when you see it yourself). You’ll get items for cooking from fishing, and some sidequests need them, or just certain types of fish, to clear. An amusing detail when fishing is that Goku and Gohan, even when he’s a teenager, use a fake tail as a lure while Vegeta and Piccolo fish like normal people(I forgot to check and see what Future Trunks does, but probably the latter).

After clearing the Frieza Saga, you can collect the Dragon Balls on Earth during Intermissions. They give off a small orange slow when sensing for Ki, and you’ll hear a low humming sound when you’re close to one. You can get several different wishes from them, with three of them always being for Z Orbs, Zeni or Rare Material Items. Other wishes are reviving certain dead characters to fight them again, and can only be done once, unlike the three listed above. At first, you can only make 1 wish at a time, but as the game goes on, it gets upgraded to 2 then 3 wishes at once. After making a wish(s), you ‘ll need to wait 20 ingame minutes before the Dragon Balls can be found and used again. They seems to have a couple set locations on whatever map they end up on(two locations are west of Orange/Satan City, for example).

Speaking of Mr. Satan...I know that his actually Japanese stage name, but I always end up calling him Hercule due to hearing that for so many years(and just liking how that sounds better). Also, ‘Satan City’ just sounds really funny. XD

You probably won’t need to really grind in the base game; you should get enough experience from doing sidequests and story events to get by. Gohan especially; he ended up quite a few more levels than everyone else just from the story EXP alone, and his Unleashed Potential ‘form’ from Elder Kai makes him do quite a lot more damage. Also, gained experience is shared among all party members, even those not currently set to fight.

One of the sidequests you can do throughout the game is defeating ‘Villainous Enemies’, who are fairly strong, and are covered in a red aura. You should at least be at or around their level before fighting them, since you can’t run from fights in this game. It may be best to do them during Intermissions when you can select your party members, and bringing someone who can stun with Solar Flare(like Krillin), can be really helpful. 

In the epilogue/postgame, in addition to being able to play as Future Trunks(talk to him outside of Capsule Corp.), you can also use his time machine to redo Boss fights, and do any sidequests you may have missed.

The game’s opening has the old opening for the show, ‘Cha-La-Head-Cha-La”, and this is the first time I really listened to it. It’s really good, and kind of reminds me of the opening to Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, too, for some reason.

There’s a few parts where there’s some nice attention to the series’ details:

At several story points when Saiyan characters are healed, like with Senzu Beans or the healing pod on Namek, they gain experience, while others, like Krillin, don’t get that bonus, which does make them, admittedly accurately, start lagging behind in strength.

If you use Ki Sense on Androids, and a certain researcher in Capsule Corp., you won’t see anything emitting from them.

If you have Piccolo and/or Android 18 in your party while eating a Full Course Meal from Chi-Chi, they won’t eat any of it. Saiyan characters(again, forgot to check Future Trunks) eat it ravenously(even Vegeta), while human party members eat normally.

Only Goku and Gohan can use the Flying Numbus.

These aren’t really important observations, but some events in the game made me think:

Did Piccolo destroying the Moon to stop Gohan’s Great Ape form have any effects on Earth? Or did nothing really happen?

How in the world did Supreme Kai and Babidi survive being so close to Majin Vegeta when he used Final Explosion while Piccolo and Krillin hightailed it out of there with Goten and Kid Trunks? 

I noticed a possible(intentional) goof at the end. In the cutscene after beating Kid Buu and going back to Kami’s Lookout to reunite with everyone, Dende is a kid again for some reason. Apparently, both the original anime and manga made this goof too, so maybe it’s a nod to that? It is kind of jarring, though. XD

A couple technical issues I found were that sometimes when loading a map, and in some battles later on, the game would hang for a couple seconds, and one time it crashed while it was loading into an area after traveling to another. Thank goodness for autosave. Also, be careful using the stronger version of Goku’s Spirit Bomb attacks; it caused major lag for me a couple times.

This ended up being one of my favorite DBZ games that I’ve played, close runners up including 

Budokai 3

Budokai Tenkaichi 2(mainly for just how many characters that one has, including most of the movies from around that time, outmatched by Budokai Tenkaichi 3, which I didn’t play)

Legacy of Goku 2(I didn’t get the chance to play Buu’s Fury back then)

Next game being sent is: Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel