#i have a lotta opinions and you gotta hear em

[dramaqueer-commie]

one thing that really fucks with me about customer service jobs is the amount of shit i do that just. doesn't matter. like ill have several interactions a day that doesn't give me anything, barely gives the person anything, its not a story to tell its just something i did and remember doing and it. doesn't. matter.

like an older lady will stand there with a pair of tiny pants in her hands and ill tell her that apparently courderoy is in rn (no clue why, i hate courderoy) and shell ask me about something insanely specific, like so specific you dont even know how she thought of it. and ill give her something kinda like what she asked for, im pretty proud of how quickly i got it and knew where it was but she complains about who the fuck knows what like *I'm* the one who decided to sell it even though i HATE courderoy. and ill just stand there and nod and shell go "i dont think ill buy this" and ill go "i knew that. i knew you werent gonna buy anything" and shell go "bye" and ill go and have that conversation 10 more times and WHAT DO I DO WITH THE BOX IN MY BRAIN MARKED "CUSTOMER CONVERSATIONS AND PREFERENCES"???

[dramaqueer-commie]

listen, as a person who will #die on any hill,

what the fuck is your life if you wanna spend it denying ppl joy for the sake of being a pretentious asshole?

[toasts-httyd-hyperfixation]

Alright i can't decide so y'all are fixin to do it for me

I have several things i wanna work on but i cant pick one to do so ive been doin none of em

Options are

Redoing the Httyd Timeline and Ages post i made a while ago. Its all mostly accurate and the things not explicitly stated in canon i still stand by, but i found a couple other things to add in, and overall its a lil messy cause its from when first started making longer posts, so it could just do with an overhaul to clear it up a bit

Im trying to go through and make a Full AU list, with Name and a summary of what its about, so i can actually talk about em here, as well as sorting all other AUs out properly. These were all talked mostly via the Discord Server, so its literally sorting through whats gotta be hundreds of thousands of messages from over the course of >1 year. Which its great because ive deeply enjoyed talking to everyone ( Shout out to the Discord Buddies, Love yall, you're the Best🫶🫶) but my god, i should have kept on top of it lol.

This one i don't know if anyone else even really is interested in, but y'all are getting it eventually regardless, because ya know you can't stop me from making posts here, no matter how much yall may want to sometimes (Toothfull my beloved <3). Anyway the gist of this one is, idk if its just me, but a lotta times when i hear ages in a book, i understand it, but it doesn't really connect. So i like to go and find other characters and people that are the same age, especially in like movie or shows, where i can look at people that are the same age and go "Holy Shit, they're just babies" or such as the like as that if they're older (Mostly in Alvins case, that man is not as old as a lot of yall probably think he is, or maybe you don't, who am i to say what you do or do not think)

Number 4 is essentially the same thing as number 3 but height related instead. I just like making visual comparisons for a lot of these things, cause it helps put things into perspective, as well as its nice for like drawing and stuff.

This ones just Goofy. I have several sillier ships that ive had over the years, some that just fall into crack ship territory. Some of them i do actually think would be cute/sweet, others are just for the sake of going "Could you fuckin imagine". So im making a poll, much like this one, with a brief explanation, and then yall get to vote on em. I dont know if itll be for the Worst, The best, Which One is y'all's favorite, i dunno, but its gonna be something.

And then the last one i can think of is, i really don't know how to explain it, but it's talking about how, in my opinion, the Vikings view of hiccup is being accurately portrayed? Like, that's a really bad summary, but i can't think of how to explain it better so, this is kind of a vague, mystery option

Anyways, those are the options i got for now

Im probably forgetting something but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Everything'll eventually got done

So with that said

[officialvoiceofgenerationx]

Nirvana And Me

In '90 or so, somebody gave me a mix tape. I immediately lost the J-card with all the bands' names on it. These things happened. Most of it was fairly mediocre late '80s bar bands with distortion pedals, but there was one section that fucking ripped - a half-dozen songs, obviously by the same band. I blasted that part over and over.

In '91, people started talking about some band called Nirvana. Some co-workers were sure that I would love them. By that point, I hadn't been interested in anything that was one the radio for five years or so, and the idea that I would want to hear a band that was on the charts was absurd. I wanted nothing to do with the latest corporate-radio whores.

One day, I was riding with somebody and a song came on the radio that caught me by surprise. I asked the driver what it was and they told me it was Weird Al's parody of Nirvana's hit single. Man, did I have to take a step back and eat a bit of crow. If Weird Al's version was that good, the original had to be fuckin' rad. Next thing ya know, I was a Nirvana fan.

I discovered a lot of bands in the '80s when they started getting a lot of attention - there was no internet and I lived in a tiny town in the rural south. You just couldn't find out about bands until they showed up in Spin magazine or the college kid who you convinced to buy beer for you told you about 'em. So, the first albums I heard by bands were frequently their first big ones. I would then go buy their back catalog and I pretty much always liked the early stuff better - Husker Du, the Replacements, Soul Asylum, Sonic Youth, R.E.M. All those and more that I can't remember off the top of my head taught me that the worst thing that could happen to a band was that they get huge and sign to a major label. Usually, a band's major label debut was still good - and some bands were able to put off sucking a little longer - but it was inevitable that making it big meant turning to shit.

So, I went out and got Nirvana's first album and discovered that I'd been listening to them for a year or so. The songs I loved on that mix tape were one side of Bleach. Kinda funny.

Nevermind was a great album, and some of the B-sides and out-takes that were on Incesticide were good. I expected In Utero to be a disapointing release by a formerly great band and that's what it was - in my humble fuckin' opinion. By that point though, I didn't care - the whole grunge explosion had thrown a lot of bands into the public eye and there were a lot who I liked better than Nirvana. Babes In Toyland, 7 Year Bitch, Team Dresch, Bikini Kill - bands of women, some more horribly noisey than others, but all of them much more interesting to me than some whiny white boys. I didn't care about Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or any of those dudes.

I heard Hole before I heard Nirvana. A friend of mine had their first couple singles - "Dicknail" and "Retard Girl". Those were smashing. I got Pretty On The Inside and I liked it, but Courtney Love was such a blatantly shitty person that I couldn't get too into them.

Anyway, Cobain killed himself, which should've surprised absolutely no one - the guy telegraphed it all over the fuckin' globe. It was a bummer, but I had moved on from Nirvana by then. I'm writing about them here because they were among the biggest cultural touchstones of Gen X - for what I'm doing, I gotta mention them. And they expressed the nihilism, depression and utter hopelessness that was Gen X.

Today, I'd enjoy "Teen Spirit" if it came out of a speaker, but I will never go out of my way to hear it. There were bands I liked better in the '90s, and a lotta great bands have blown the doors off with distorted guitars and bad attitudes since. The ones I like best have tits out front. Check out the Petrol Girls - bitches rock.

[quinintheclouds]

Thoughts on Putting Others First: SvS Redux as they come to me

AN HOUR LONG?!?!?! Y E S THANK YOU

I am LOVING this opening art style. The way it shows all the things Thomas could say and shuts them each down, the silliness tying in perfectly to the video game setting, the way we could SO STRONGLY empathize with Thomas despite him not saying anything. Well done!

“Eff friends, Patton!” Patton and I made the exact same gasp and noise at the same time in reaction to that dsjfhljdhg

Lookit Thomas’ lil vest awww <3

ROMAN WITH THE PUNS I LOVE IT APPRECIATE HIM

rhymes

rhymes

they’re rhyming is this gonna be

A SONG!!!

(Logan off somewhere watching all of this: “You guys are doing a RAP? Without ME? .....Unacceptable”)

Seriously poor Logan being left out BOTH TIMES despite clearly having excellent points on the matter

But I’m loving this Patton/Roman dynamic being explored in this way. They have a lotta similarities but the differences are really standing OUT so far and I like it! Also it looks like Roman isn’t gonna just shut up and do whatever Patton says out of fear that he’s a bad person/bad for Thomas this time. I’m glad they’re both getting a chance to talk cause they aren’t exactly taken seriously a lot of the time.

RETURN OF THE BLINDFOLD METAPHOR followed by Roman saying “in Patton’s defense...” so they like, KNOW what Deceit meant about the blindfold? Were they playing dumb? Or do they just suddenly get it now that it’s coming from Thomas?

Ok this Feral Cat Story of Roman’s is too specific for me to dismiss and now I’m convinced either Remus brought a shitton of cats home one day and they just flooded their house/rooms, or Patton brought home a bunch of cats out of love and didn’t realize he couldn’t take care of em...either way that’s an adorable anecdote

The car jump line that Patton took literally is just making me miss Logan even more :(

I’m glad they’re giving context to the relationship between Thomas and Mary Lee & Lee! A lot of fander questions and opinions circled back to “well it depends how close they were” so it was smart of them to fill us in.

“those baby-makin’ catholics”

6:45 Patton has clearly thought through a lot of possible outcomes to talking to Lee and Mary Lee before going to the wedding... he never brought them up, even when Roman did and then Deceit did. But he’s bringing up points no one had addressed, and I think that’s a great way to put more intensity to Patton’s apology to Thomas for lying back in SvS pt 1. He hid a lot more than he let on. Man, how much guilt is this poor man feeling right now? :(

“Talking about it could have been harmful” I’m very intrigued by the parallels between Patton wanting to keep things from Thomas’ friends to protect their feelings in this episode and SvS, and Deceit disguised as Patton in CLBG trying to get Thomas to... keep things from his friend to protect their feelings...

WOAH “But was it worth it? I don’t--” “No.” Thomas cutting Roman off with that much certainty DAMN Thomas REGRETS going to the wedding HARD and also is agreeing with Roman finally??

Patton: “sometimes you can make all the good choices, and still not get the good ending.” Thomas: “I’m not even sure there was a good ending to get.” Roman: “Mmmm, I’m pretty sure there was.” There is so much to unpack here oh my gosh.

WOAH WOAH WOAH WHAT??? DAMN THOMAS CAME FOR PATTON WHAT ON EARTH??? Patton: “I think we can all agree that you are a good fellow.” Thomas: Can we? ALL? Agree on that?” Patton: *sputtering noises*

Poor Patton... I mean they’re right but gosh I feel for him. He wants so badly for Thomas to be a good person and he realizes now how strict and unyielding he’s been, and wants to not do that but doesn’t know how to be more lenient without sacrificing integrity cause that’s his JOB and he doesn’t know how to do it better aaaa this is such a mood

MUSIC IS THERE ANOTHER SONG COMING?

Return of the bagel. Except this time it’s Roman guessing/wanting the bagel and Patton being like “what? no?”

ok not a song but video game style is back!!

“ugh you’re such a dad” I love it

Patton just made more puns and Roman omg “Like, you’re SUCH a dad that like it’s too much to handle sometimes”

I am loving this whole scene jdfhjadshg Patton ily and I relate

Thomas and Roman teaching Patton how to come up with imaginary scenarios skjfklsjdfh

Sondheim wrecking Leslie Odom Jr is such a hilarious visual

Ok all three of them are peak dumbass and I’m so here for it (like they’re smart and all but they’re peak dumbass)

Daaaamn Patton is letting out so much this episode. Like he’s been holding back but wowie. R: “Just like how you didn’t HAVE to give him a hotdog” P: *sucks air through his teeth* “I feel like you kinda do though?” YES PLEASE let’s discuss the concept of obligation in morality again!!! Where’s Logan when you need him? Or Deceit even? (I feel like D’s gonna show up later but I wanna hear Logan’s thoughts this time too)

Patton: You can disagree! But... it’d kinda be wrong?

LOGAN POPUP! Ok fine if he isn’t in the ep at least he pops up in a lil dialogue box on screen. Also he popped up to support Patton... neat!

“It’s just me, Logan. I’ve taken this form because I didn’t want to be too...invasive.” POOR LOGAN NO YOU’RE NOT INVADING ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE HERE! Also Roman getting scared by the popup while Patton just waves happily like he always does upon seeing Logan aww

Okay I am getting serious DOPAMINE from Logan talking. Like, he’s spittin’ FACTS. Something about the way he talks is so interesting and soothing and makes me so excited to LEARN. Roman mockingly mouthing ‘behoove’ had me snort though XD

LOGAN AND I WERE IN UNISON HELL YEAH! Patton was all like ooh you’re sharing your lil factoids! And Logan and I at the same time corrected, “Facts,” and proceeded to state the definition of factoids (we worded it differently but yeah as usual Logan is on my wavelength)

Logan’s sprite getting so disappointed at Thomas’ interruption joke jgdkjghks he looks so DONE

OML I LOVE LOGAN’S DIALOGUE BOX TALKING TOO FAST FOR THEM TO READ THIS IS SO ACCURATE

Oof Thomas finally feeling like he GETS it and Patton being like yeah but not if you’re doing it bc you want to feel  good tho... (also that’s the same argument Deceit made in SvS pt1??? I’m confused by Patton/Deceit’s functions lately and I’m very invested)

Oh ok Thomas just brought up that very point haha

“we all agreed the right thing to do was go to the wedding” um are u sure about that

“I was wrong” PATTON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?? I know Logan has the reputation of not being able to admit when he’s wrong (which isn’t true -- he doesn’t like to but he has done so countless times...well not literally countless but you understand my meaning), but Patton rarely is in a situation where he has to, so this is jarring in a hopefully good way. Istg if this is Deceit disguised as Patton again I’ll be so disappointed... I feel like the writers wouldn’t do that though

Patton: says smth deceit said. Roman: and you...agree? Patton: Definitely! I mean uh maybe? (WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE PATTON’S HEAD RN SO MUCH TURMOIL)

Roman: “I’m not an expert in the... moral medium” Thomas:  “Go ahead Roman, we wanna hear what you have to say.”  Patton: *halfhearted gestures and noises for roman to go ahead* jashfjdh he’s trying so hard

AWWWW they’re validating Roman so much I love it

“whomstsoever” ok I take it back roman’s not valid

I adore Logan’s popup fun facts, and him giving definitions for Roman’s vocabulary reminds me how much the two of them love writing and poetry and language aaaa

Patton trying not to be harsh is somehow 10x harsher than he normally is

oh wow that got real.

I know I’ve said this but I love logan’s insertions... but I do wish he got to say them out loud like earlier :/ Pausing to read them is less fun than hearing him talk.

oh wow that got real part 2

I want. So badly. To jump into this video and debate Patton on the nature of morality and what “the right thing is.” Roman you’re not being dumb, you’re bringing up excellent points and you’re valid again.

Oh no Patton... empathy is not morality... please please address that there are people who can’t experience empathy and choose to be moral and good

THE  TROLLEY PROBLEM HERE! WE! GO!

Logan’s popups bc he doesn’t want to “be too invasive” and making them optional to read hurts my heart :( He knows Patton, Roman, and Thomas aren’t reading any of it but he doesn’t want to be too much so he stays silent. Why?? Logan it’s okay! Why is this a thing now but not in the last 2 episodes? What happened to Logan :(

OOOOOOH Patton didn’t flip the switch :o Interesting! Daaaamn he’s arguing to let 5 people die rather than flip the switch so only one dies

LOGAN’S TEXTBOX WAS SO BIG AND FAST IT KNOCKED PATTON OVER I CANNOT BREATHE hang on I gotta read it

HE’S TALKING ABOUT DEONTOLOGY YES LOGAN THANK YOU FOR TELLING PATTON WHAT I PHYSICALLY CANNOT please tell me you’ll talk about utilitarianism and moral particularism next

Okay he used consequentialism but it’s close enough to utilitarianism that the outcome is the same. (Do you get it? Do you like my joke about how the outcome is most important? When we’re talking about-- oh you got it already? Good, moving on.)

DID ROMAN JUST FJCKING KILL LOGAN

“I’m okay, figment of your imagination, so.” Okay so CAN the Sides get hurt or can’t they?? Cause Patton clearly got bonked, roman got hit in the eye with paper and said ow, but logan got hit in the head with a throwing star and had his teeth ripped out and he was totally fine?

 Thomas is being so HONEST with himself so early in the episode, wow this is refreshing and I’m hype

AW YAY Patton called textbox Logan in to help with philosophy yay :’)

Logan: “Pity seems to be at the center of your idea of ‘putting good into the world’” first, Logan doing a voice impression of Nietzsche is GOLD, and second.... I wish they’d let him finish cause I was waiting for a “but” cause Logan siding with Nietzsche on this one feels... wrong? Like I could see Dee bringing it up or Logan using it in an argument only to continue with a contradicting philosophy but Logan equating empathy to pity... idk I thought he’d grown more than to think that :/ Actually I don’t think he ever saw it that way. It feels out of character but I’m guessing he had more to say to debunk that.

HOLY SHIT PATTON SKIPPED ALL THE REST OF LOGAN’S DIALOGUE AND YEETED HIM OFF THE SCREEN bruh he may have been right and he should’ve gotten to say it >:(

ROMAN ISTG DO NOT TRY AND MAKE THIS YOUR FAULT

I SAID DON’T

GODDAMMIT

sjfkdjgjsh okay aww Thomas good job, Patton too. Thank god they’re being nice to him

Patton is having a breakdown holy heckity about time

damn Patton is freaking HARSH

“I have a difference in opinion on this one, Patton” Thomas: *relieved sigh whisper* “ohhh thank you, Logan” YES APPRECIATE THE BOY YES YES I LOVE HIM why are they looking around like he isn’t making sense?

LOGAN YES! CALL HIM OUT! LET THOMAS VALUE HIMSELF AND PUT HIMSELF FIRST SOMETIMES! “Every point you’ve made in today’s discussion has contradicted that sentiment.” I love you but also you sound a lil like deceit... very lawyer-y and feels calculated like he’s been keeping notes for this purpose... I want deceit and logan to debate already damn it. Maybe it’s just that Logan’s inflections feel reminiscent of Deceit to show...something?

Ok can I just say that Logan gets so much rep for his strictness or high standards but he’s been SO GOOD about that lately and him teaching about the importance of leisure and self-care and freedom in your life and self-esteem and valuing yourself like you do with others... not even just this  video -- he’s been like this in the last few as well and these recent episodes remind me of early Logan (esp My Negative Emotions)  and that makes my heart so so happy.

Continuation of the above, compare this to how Logan acted in Why Bed? with regards to Roman. Roman advocated for leisure time and following dreams, while Logan had a schedule that optimized productivity and health. Now he’s taking a similar stance to Roman and asserting the importance of these things... WHY is so much of Logan’s character development OFFSCREEN?? I wanna know what made him switch on this! Maybe just cause he’s listening to roman from why bed?

Why is Logan being so abrasive? He sounds like his intent is more to disprove Patton rather than state what he actually thinks... not a fan of that but he’s not wrong

WOAH WOAH TOTAL PATTON BREAKDOWN WHAT HAPPENED WHAT THE FCK HE’S A LITERAL MONSTER IN THIS VIDEO GAME?

OH, MY GOD. If Logan didn’t step in and save them here this would have been catastrophic. I can feel my relief. I mean, he screamed, but it was a relief. WAIT IT WAS DECEIT THE WHOLE TIME??? Daaaamn good job on this one Deceit and I definitely like him more now but also WHERE IS LOGAN. Was it the whole time? That makes sense in hindsight and makes me feel better about some things he’s brought up but I feel like it really was Logan at the start, it wasn’t until he started calling out patton that his voice and inflection and stuff changed

Patton trying to attack Deceit   and hitting Thomas instead was  an EXCELLENT way to  showcase the effect SvS 1 and 2 are having

Deceit’s lil “A DUH DUH DUH DOY” looked and sounded just like Logan’s lmao don’t tell me it’s another switcheroo (I doubt it greatly lol)

REAL LOGAN REAL LOGAN REAL LOGAN

So wait what was the point that Deceit switched with Logan? Cause Logan’s saying “one more fact” so he was himself earlier right?

“Not that any of you care, but  I am unharmed.” Nooooo they care </3 “I will do you all a favor and spare you my company” okay OUCH

EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM YES aw he’s talking about him and patton working together yes thank you

Damn, Deceit is LOVING everything Logan says haha same

Logan and Deceit teaming up to teach Patton that it’s okay to care about yourself

DECEIT WHAT he’s being so supportive of Roman holy heck this is so genuine OH Roman’s arguing with it  this is a lot of stuff I didn’t expect roman to say out loud wow

THOMAS JUST SAID DECEIT THE CHARACTER ISN’T INHERENTLY UNETHICAL WOW this episode really said let’s make Deceit--

WAIT WOAH SORRY HIS NAME REVEAL!!! He’s Janice?? Is that true?

WAIT WOAH PART 2 BUT DECEIT JUST SAID IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE MUSTACHE HE WOULDN’T KNOW WHO THE EVIL TWIN IS BETWEEN ROMAN AND REMUS HOLY SHIT HE ACTUALLY LOOKED VULNERABLE AND THEN HURT AND THEN RIGHT BACK TO SNAKE

ROMAN’S GONE

fuck.... patton...roman....deceit....thomas....logan....I’m gonna go cry about all of them now

LESLIE ODOM JR IS HERE??????? oh there he goes

patton oh my god I love you  this ANGST are you trying to kill me?

Patton telling thomas he’s worthy of love I actually teared up

dfjdakjhfa deceit don’t push it

Wowie that was an EPISODE

[dramaqueer-commie]

LITERALLY SAME! that presentation might have been one of the best things ive ever seen. so glad the cats out of the bag now.

vegetables 👏are👏fake👏

(or👏at👏least👏its👏a👏 culinary 👏term👏and👏not👏based👉on👏science👏which👏is👏the👏same👏thing👏ofc👏)

Feeling extremely vindicated by vic's smarty pants presentation. I've been talking about vegetable being a culinary definition for years. Kicking my feet and pumping my fists at everything that comes out of their mouth.

[flightofaqrow]

twin spies, twin blades

qrow + Raven ( @boundariestcbreak​ )

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

qrow can’t remember the last time it was just him and his sister and the mistral woods. years had changed them but the energy between them felt the same. they changed, but changed together. different than their over eager youth and yet having learned much of the same things that allowed them to read each other with the same ease as always.

alright so, the whole wings and feathers thing was definitely new. but also something both of them gained at the same time.

it was kinda fun, and freeing, really.

maybe he got distracted.

maybe the last few sips of gin didn’t help. still, he figured if he saw something important, it would draw him in well enough.

long legs stretch out towards the campfire, and an arm hangs idly over his knee. he stares into the flames while giving report. “Whole lotta nothin’ to the east. unless you count the usual grimm herds in waiting. almost forgot what we were even looking for. how ‘bout you, Raven? anything interesting?”

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It had been far too long since herself and Qrow had had any time to just sit, relax, and catch up-although she’d hardly call this ‘relaxing’. After all, it’s an update more than anything else, about information acquired thanks to their new abilities of being able to turn into birds. She frowns slightly to hear that he hadn’t found anything interesting to the easternmost parts of Anima but quickly makes her face a mask. Her gaze follows his, to the fire, and she stares into it, soothed by its familiarity, by the colors of it.

In truth, she hadn’t entirely been comfortable with the idea of being Ozpin’s spy. But she’d refused to leave Qrow to do it on on his own, so now here they both are.

With the same ability, but entirely different views on it.

Not that she’ll ever tell him how she truly feels about it.

“No, nothing.” She tells him honestly with a headshake. “If Ozpin had been less cryptic, maybe we’d have some idea what to look for.”

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a red gaze peers through orange wisps to try and read Raven’s face for clues, just as he had the landscape, and comes up equally as blank. her attacks, her movements, he knew as well as his own, yet her emotions often escaped him. well, maybe they both had their way of hiding things.

he takes another swig. drinking around a campfire simply felt too natural. the embers’ burn against his skin and liquid burning his throat both become comforting afterthoughts, barely conscious sensations when his mind is preoccupied with sorting out of a whole world full of information.

“cryptic sounds about right. if anything he’s been less clear on the ‘why’ of things than the ‘what’ for our missions. i find it hard to believe this is meant to be just a patrol, though. well,” a gruff sigh huffs, “there’s still more ground to cover.”

and if that failed, shaking people down for information was always an option.

“once it’s light again, though.”

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Raven watched him take another swig from his flask, the briefest flicker of concern in her eyes. Ever since they’d been picked to be Ozpin’s spies, she’d felt very isolated from Summer and Tai…and even Qrow to an extent, simply because she didn’t follow Ozpin as closely as the rest of her teammates seemed to. Again, though, she’d never tell Qrow that. Or Tai, or Summer.

Some things were better simply kept to herself, in her opinion. “With Oz, I’ve found that nothing is exactly what it seems to be. There’s always something lurking just beyond the surface.” She offered simply.

What she didn’t say, again, was that was what she was scared of, and what she had been scared of from the beginning. The uncertainty.

“We have quite some time before daylight, little brother.” She said with a raised brow. “What should we do until then? Try to sleep?” Yeah, right. Like that would happen for her any time soon. She sipped the tea she had made.

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“nah, not yet,” qrow stretched and shifted his weight around, similarly still too energetic for sleep, “daylight’s gone, but the night’s still young. a few people short for bonfire songs, though.”

he chuckled at himself. if Tai and Summer were here it might be a legitimate suggestion to pass the time.

they weren’t, though, and pursed lips pushed away any brief joviality as quickly as it came, “…you’re not wrong about Oz. but you make it sound like you suddenly don’t even trust the guy, sis. you know something i don’t?” her assessment might be accurate, but the disdain woven between the words caught him slightly by surprise.

sometimes their job meant seeking out the answers the man didn’t have for them yet. slowly grasping at all that underground knowledge was what they signed up for. Oz would tell them things when the time was right, and when the meaning was relevant, wouldn’t he?

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Raven laughed softly at his quip about them having too few people for bonfire songs. “Not necessarily.” She returned. “I think between the two of us, we could manage at least one.” And for a brief moment, everything felt calm and happy. Like they had before she’d learned everything that she had-the things that Ozpin had shared willingly, and the information that she had discovered on her own. But she knew how highly her brother and the rest of their team thought of Ozpin.

Would they even believe her if she shared what she had learned with them?

“I’ve seen and learned a lot since we last spoke, Qrow.” She said by way of explanation to his question. “There’s a lot he’s keeping from us.”

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“now who’s being cryptic?” qrow all but rolled his eyes. yet the pleasant buzzing in his head minimized any concern for whether Raven would elaborate or not. if a soft jab didn’t get her to spill, then she probably wouldn’t. or maybe she was just waiting to add this mission’s intel to her collection before filling him in.

he trusted her, too, to tell him the most important things when necessary.

it’s nice to see her smile.

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Raven laughed again, still softly though, at Qrow’s quip accompanied by his eye-roll. “Well, I know how much you and Tai and Summer look up to Ozpin. I wouldn’t want to ruin your image of him.” She tried to keep her tone light as she said this, but she could tell as soon as the words left her mouth that she didn’t succeed, given her tone. “He’s kept a lot from us, Qrow. The things he’s shared with us…they’re only about a fraction of what he actually knows.

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”“this has you pretty shaken, sis.” yeah, that smile dropped pretty quickly; that much he could see, even through the blur. even that much, the pain on her face, crumples the edges of that image just a little already - at the idea something oz could do would threaten his family like that. his gaze hardens as well. he was ready to let it go, but the more she dwells, the more curious he becomes.

“we know he’s lived a buncha lifetimes. that’s gotta be a lot to tell. i think he’s earned a few secrets if he feels like he needs ‘em. if there’s something all that big, why don’t you cut the drama and just come out with it?”

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Raven wrapped her arms around herself when he commented how shaken she was by all of this. Though she wanted to tell him that he was wrong, she couldn’t. Because he was right. She was shaken by all of this. She’d learned a bit too much in her digging, and now she was trying to process all of that without involving the rest of her team. Just because she was suffering with what she now knew, didn’t mean she wanted them to bear the burdens of it, too.

“The creatures of Grimm have a master named Salem.” Raven said as she looked at him. “She can’t be reasoned with, she can’t be stopped, and she’s immortal.” And that wasn’t even getting into all the shit she knew about the maidens.

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maybe watching one of the strongest women qrow knew nearly quake in fear primed him for terrible feelings. maybe what she said actually struck him, but to be honest, the full implications might take awhile to process.

yet even now, in the midst of questioning the man’s motives, he could hear Oz’s voice soothing in his head: don’t panic.

he takes a deep breath, and then another drink.

“oh-kay. okay. …yeah, that’s big alright. but having some sort of leader makes sense. but you really think she’s that powerful? have you seen her yourself?”

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Raven knew that she had to get her emotions in check. If she didn’t, they could draw the Grimm here, and that wasn’t what either of them needed right now. So she took a breath in, held it and the exhaled-and then she did it again, trying to slow her heart rate, the rising tide of panic that threatened to choke her if she let it.

She couldn’t let it.

Raven clasped her hands in her lap when he asked if she had seen Salem herself. “Briefly. I didn’t stick around for very long because I have no doubts that if she’d seen me, she would’ve killed me.”

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“if she’s anything like the monsters she commands and how you describe, i don’t doubt it. i’m glad you made it out safe,” qrow scooted a bit closer, just enough to reach and refill Raven’s cup of tea - warm, soothing. he knew the feeling of wanting something to do with idle hands. even pouring it gave his something other than a flask to keep busy too. distraction from the pain and fear is one of the handful of things he’s actually good at.

“did you tell Oz about it? or am i the first one to hear this?” Ozpin likely already knew anyway, but does he know that Raven knows is the real question. well, he had a lot of questions, …but one thing at a time.

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Raven was glad about that herself, but she figured saying such would simply be redundant at this point. She gave him a small, grateful smile when he refilled her cup of tea without her asking him to do so, and curled her hands around the cup. She relished the comfort and warmth that came from it. “I haven’t told Oz that I know yet.” She admitted. Though Raven didn’t say this, she wasn’t even planning to tell him she knew until she learned the full extent of what he was keeping from all of them.

“I just think that, if he expects us to put our necks on the line for him, he should tell us everything, you know?” She sipped on her tea. “So we’re as prepared as he is.”

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“everything is a lot to ask of someone, especially someone with multiple lives. and we’re already working to be more prepared. that’s the point, right?” he sits back and thinks about his own words right after he says them.

he’s not sure why his first reactions are to jump to someone’s defense. maybe that’s what trust means. what being a huntsman means. maybe it’s because he likes the guy, or even because he’s too attached to this lifestyle now, that holding onto something concrete is easier than giving it up for an indiscriminate scare. maybe just because working together and having faith in each other is what he believes is the right thing to do.

“you should talk to him when we get back, Raven. set that expectation, then, and not waste any more energy having to do your own digging. i’ll even go with you.”

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“I hate it when the things you say actually make sense.” Raven says, but there’s no actual malice in her tone. It makes her feel like she’s overly paranoid, or overreacting. Ozpin has done a lot for them, and with how long he’s been around, she knows he’s entitled to some secrets.

“It’s not just her, though. Qrow…the maidens, from the story of the seasons…they’re real, Qrow. They actually exist. Their powers are passed down from young woman to young woman-the last young woman in their thoughts. I’ve seen…I’ve seen a machine that I believe is meant to be used to speed up the process of power transference.”

She relaxes a little at the thought of her brother being there with her to confront him about it. “Okay. If you promise to be there with me, I’ll talk to him.” She promises.

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he breathes a little easier when Raven does. enough not to take her bait and jab back or defend himself for once. it’s tempting, if only to lighten the mood, but if he loses having Raven in a malleable state of mind, he’ll regret it.

“the maidens… yeah,” elbows rest on his thighs as he lets a rough sigh out into the flames, “i know about them too. …the machine’s new, though. sounds like a game changer if it works right. …and stays in the right hands.”

qrow doesn’t sit upright, but turns his shoulders to face her better, “’course i promise. the way i see it, if we’re gonna keep doin’ this, all three of us better get on the same page anyway. …you still gonna be okay finishing this current assignment first?”

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“From what I could tell about it, it’s also extremely painful to use and will almost certainly kill the previous maiden in order to transfer her powers to the new maiden.” She murmurs, gripping the mug a little tighter as she brings it to her lips for another sip of tea. She needs that relaxation right now, even though it doesn’t really relax her all that much.

Not talking about this, anyway.

His question catches her off guard a little but she nods. “Of course. I know how to stay on task, regardless of what else is going on.” She looks at him. “And Qrow? Thanks.” She says softly. “For being so supportive about all of this.”

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“kill?” he breathes, a gut reaction. then he thinks about it further. “well, sure… that makes sense. that’s usually when it would transfer anyway. not much difference there except where it goes.” even if it sort of sounds like pulling the plug a little early, and that part doesn’t sit exactly right.

tch. more questions.

her voice - warm; warmer than the fire even, compared to how she usually speaks to him - pulls him from from his own mental tangents. “good to hear. … and of course. that’s what family does, Rae. who’s gonna support us if we don’t even support each other, huh?”

alright, now he might be getting ready for some sleep. pleasant buzz or no, all this thinking is getting to be exhausting.

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Raven wants to ask Qrow if it gets exhausting following everything Ozpin says to the letter, or working so hard to explain everything away-but she doesn’t want to risk fracturing their relationship because of how much he means to her. She wants to believe that Oz is only using it as a last resort thing, but there’s always the part of her that doubts this to be the case and believes the worst not just in Ozpin, but in people in general.

One of the downsides of growing up in a Tribe that focuses heavily on doing whatever it takes to survive, she supposes.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself.” She says with a slightly beaming grin at him. He’s her other half, pretty much. Who knows each other better than they do?

“You falling asleep on me, little brother?” She teases.

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not everything in life needs an explanation. not everything in life is a chess game meant to be won. that’s all part of it sure - learning, winning, becoming stronger. the twins have done a lot of that in their life. qrow’s also done a shitton of losing, of fucking up, of having regrets for things out his control. he is too used to loss to be afraid of being wrong, and perhaps more forgiving than he should be.

Oz has showed him the better side of things, he believes. stuff worth fighting for that’s bigger than himself and even survival. he doesn’t follow things to the letter at all, he follows them by heart and to the nature of their spirit.

hence being here, with his sister, trying to do what he can not to risk her splintering off in doubt and fear. even if on the surface he only understands it as making her happy, and enjoying - as he always has - having her around.

“heh, can’t hide anything from you, sis.” he admits, in perfect summary of this whole conversation, really. he leans back and stretches, letting every sensation and the forest breeze drift over him. when he sits forward again he finally gives in to his original suggestion, if only by half.

he starts humming the first folk song he can pull from memory. it sounds not unlike sandpaper scratching in his throat, but it’s not as if bonfire tunes were meant to be elegant.

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Raven smiles a little at his next words. “Nope, you definitely can’t.” She says simply, and she can’t help thinking about how ironic that statement is. The reason she’s so on edge is because of everything she now knows, everything she likely isn’t supposed to know to begin with. She thinks that’s probably a large part of the reason why Ozpin chose the two of them in the first place-because he knows how determined she is to get all the relevant information so that not only herself but the rest of her teammates are prepared for whatever comes next as well.

Her eyes start to close as well, but they snap back open when she hears him start to hum. Sitting up, smile smiles and joins in with his humming. Neither of their voices are amazing by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s fun and familiar, and that’s what matters.

Looking at him, she’s so grateful to have him there with her-that she isn’t on her own dealing with all of this. He’s here with her, they’re together. And together they can do anything.

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the sound of music carries over the crackle of the fire. nothing too elegant nor too rowdy, but nearly a type of magic with two honest voices in harmony. the normal tightness in qrow’s throat and heaviness in his chest drifts away with the dancing of smoke, needing nothing more from a still half-full flask. he sways, even getting so close as to bump Raven’s shoulder in play.

it’s them and their team and Oz against the world, and they’ll figure it out together. it will all be fine. ��but as a low rustle breaks the melody of song and forest, and it doesn’t strike him as just the logs settling. qrow considers that maybe there are more prominent things to deal with first. he wakes up again all too quickly and tilts his head towards the wood.

“…did you hear that?”

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For a moment, it feels like they’re back in the encampment with their tribe-back somewhere safe and familiar and not just out in the woods on their own, without their teammates. She closes her eyes, remembering the way they’d all gather around a fire and play instruments and sing. Wine flowing, even though they weren’t technically old enough to drink at that time. They are now, technically, but they don’t have any with them.

That’s probably for the best, though-they need their heads to be clear for this mission.

Her eyes open as he bumps her shoulder and a soft laugh escapes her before she goes right back to humming. For a moment, things feel normal and she’s relaxed and content.

And then that moment ends as she hears a noise, head snapping in the direction, a hand going to Omen’s hilt. “Yes.” She murmurs.

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it’s just like those times. as much as he has no intention of going back to the tribe, qrow tries to take the good about it with him, and recreate it when he can. his head may not be perfectly clear from working on his flask throughout the evening, but sometimes just a little of the liquid helps him flow more in a fight - which it feels like one must be coming on.

strange, for grimm to be around a good mood, but he’ll worry about that later.

he stands, tuning in to his senses for any other hints of what’s nearby, “…wanna take ‘em head on, or scout out the aerial view first?”

whatever it was must not have been big enough to break the canopy on their first pass, at least.

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She’s a little annoyed that their calm moment has been shattered, but she also knows that they need to deal with this as soon as possible, so she gets to her feet as Qrow speaks.

Raven considers his question seriously for a few moments before making her decision. “Aerial view first.” There’s always a chance that it isn’t a Grimm opponent but in fact a human one-judging from the noise its making, she’s assuming that it is in fact Grimm, but you never know for sure, and therefore charging in head on before you know exactly what you’re dealing with is a nearly suicidally bad idea. And they’re a lot of things, but reckless to the point of putting their lives at risk usually isn’t one of those things.

“We can decide what to do after that once we know a bit more about what we’re dealing with.”

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“right.” one quick nod shows qrow’s agreement. he had been thinking the same, hence the suggestion, but always feels better when Raven is on the same page. hands move away from his weapon, so that his arms can be free. he runs toward a tree a few feet off, leaps at it, and changes in a burst of black feathers.

wings flap to the top before he perches on a penultimate branch and waits for Raven, whistling a request. cover blind spot. observe.

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Raven gets the feeling that he’s been thinking the same thing as her-they have a tendency to do that (whether it was because they were twins or just because they’re so close, she doesn’t know, but frankly the ‘why’ doesn’t matter that much to her). Raven quickly changes to her corvid form as well, taking off into the skies.

She hears his whistled request and returns it with one of her own. Will do. Stay out of sight. She perches nearby, covering the blind spot.

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for being close enough to hear, the source remains difficult to see. and flying to top of the canopy muffles the sound to fold in with white noise of the forest. qrow tilts his head this way and that, trying to pick up anything he can with whatever senses are available. he feels it, more of a disruption in the flow of air over his feathers than anything else. a quick scuttle and hop takes him to a branch pointed in a different direction. a click - north.

his surveying of the land restarts.

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Raven still isn’t sure why Ozpin chose the two of them to take up the mantle of being his eyes around Remnant, and she wonders if that’s another thing she needs to ask him when they get back-on top of the maiden thing, of course. But now is not the time or the place to be thinking about those things. She needs to remain absolutely focused, so that’s what she intends to do.

She hears the click from him and gives a caw of confirmation to show that she’s heard him and takes off from the branch into the skies again herself.

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It doesn’t take her long to find the trail of something. Grimm, boarbatusks by the look of their prints, and she flies closer to get a slightly better look. When she confirms it for herself, she makes a clicking noise. Boarbatusks, not far from where we set up camp. Be careful.

qrow doesn’t question the decision or their choice at all. once he learned how to function in this form - the freedom, the exploration - it all felt like a natural extension of everything he’d ever been meant to do. it gave him something meaningful to do, something he could be good at. he has no questions cloding his mind, only gratitude.

he answers her call with a whistle of confirmation, careful. got it.

he hops off the branch and takes to the air, high and away from danger, until he sees the pack of grimm. he circles, taking count and assessment of their formation. when he spots Raven on the return path. he dips down to join her and caws. seven and a big one. bigger than i’ve ever seen in meaningless wilds. odd. older? …leader?

he waits to see if she has a different count, noticed anything else, and listens for a plan as they close in together.  

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Raven isn’t sure if it’s because they’re twins or what, but even before they gained the ability to turn into birds, they’d always been on the same wavelength with one another, especially in terms of missions. She can’t help the relief she feels when she hears his whistle of confirmation to her warning.

She looks over as he joins her and listens to his cawing, taking in his information. Then she nods and takes to the sky again, circling to recount and make sure that there are in fact eight Boarbatusks. He’s right about one of them being bigger than the others.

Could be the leader. She cawed back, softer. Just to be safe. It was even more reason for them to proceed with caution, in her opinion.

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the air is a safe place to confirm what they both see on the ground, and qrow breathes a little easier even with bird lungs to know they see the same thing, think the same thing about the situation.

a high whistle, biggest threat. the largest one would be, whether leader or not. and between school and experience several times over, they both already know how to handle that. pick off the little ones, flank the final one.

he splits off once more, diving lower, preparing to change back amid the trees once he eyes what direction Raven heads.

caution, pfft. they got this.

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She chirps back to let him know she hears his whistle. He’s right. The large one is obviously the biggest threat-whether it’s the leader or not. It’s also the largest boarbatusk she’s ever seen, by far. It’d be fascinating if she wasn’t so concerned about them both making it out alive.

Raven knows her twin too well. She knows that he likely won’t be cautious. But, it isn’t the smaller boarbatusks that she’s worried about-taking them out should be easy enough. It’s if the big one decides to get involved when they’re taking out the smaller ones.

She flies off in the opposite direction to change back to her human form as well.

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his landing and change happens quietly and at just enough distance not to disturb the herd. that’s good. he scans around, well aware by now of all the possibilities of twigs snapping and leaves slipping and bush branches jumping out of nowhere that his semblance brings to ruin a stealthy approach. that’s always bad.

he extends Harbinger as a longsword and thinks to strike, but in consideration of all of the above, in sticking to Raven wishing him to actually be cautious, he chooses to wait.

he waits, quietly crouched in place behind tree cover, for Raven to make the first move - with less of a chance for things to get in the way of an element of surprise. then, if the whole group of grimm moves towards her commotion, he’ll have an easier shot at a double surprise to pick off his targets from behind while they’re distracted. another bird whistle sounds, just the same as they always had even from a human mouth, to let her know of his decision - on standby.

if it does go south and the leader does something like an immediate charge, then she can still portal to the safety of his spot.

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Raven is also quite adept at making it so her transformation is as inconspicuous as possible, so that’s what she does. Thanks to her semblance, she can easily portal to him if things get sour when she’s trying to take the herd of boarbatusks down. Hearing his whistle, she returns it with one of her own: Gotcha. People who don’t know they’re capable of making those sounds are always unsettled by it, but frankly she likes that it gives them an edge in the field. She unsheathes Omen quietly, and then lashes it out with it almost immediately at the boarbatusk that’s closest to her. As she expects, the boarbatusks immediately turn to come after her, at which point she whistles again to let him know that he’s good to go in helping her attack them.

She quickly dodges out of the way of one, jumping into the air and onto the nearest tree branch, brandishing Omen outwards again in case she needs to use it.

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their charge is just as much a signal as Raven’s whistles. qrow readies his lunge and when his side of the pack is fully turned, he dashes forward, calculating. he can spear one outright or…

he keeps Harbinger as a sword, and swings low and wide enough to take out two pairs of back legs. the boars wail in pain and anger as their haunches collapse, and they can’t even turn around. now every one of them knows there’s two attackers, but as qrow pulls at a latch and flips his weapon into scythe mode to run between his targets and spin in deadly circles, their numbers already dwindle.

he too, rushes back towards tree cover to see how the enemy responds. the only thing certain is that the big one roars out a furious response to the little one’s cries. it definitely isn’t happy.

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As is expected, the big one reacts badly to the little ones being hurt by Omen and Harbinger. She jumps down to slash at another of the smaller ones. Qrow is doing a lot of the work, because of his versatile weapon, but she’s managing to take out more than a couple as well.

She keeps her eyes on Qrow, wanting to make sure that he isn’t in too much danger. If the need arises, she will help him without any questions of complaints whatsoever, but hopefully they get deal with the little ones separately and then take out the big one.

Raven stays on her branch, examining the situation. She clicks at Qrow. What do we do now?

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qrow squints as he thinks. two down from him, and three from her. two little ones left.

two little ones which come running at him, seemingly in response to the bellowing command. he must be deemed a lesser threat on the ground. meanwhile, the larger boarbatusk has decided it has a better chance to knock Raven from the tree, charging with its head down.

he pulls Harbinger back in with a quick whir of gears, then clicks the blade down to aim his shotgun barrels. he whistles, asking for a great deal of trust. keep its attention. followed by a far more unique trill from his throat. then portal here.

a few blast shots take out one of the remaining two tiny boars, and qrow jumps from his hiding place with a snap of his sword back in place to take on the other. a pincer move might be out, but once he clears this, hopefully Raven can quickly join him and they can both take the big one on from it’s flank.

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It’ll be easy for her to keep its attention, given the fact that it seems completely determined to knock her out of the tree she’s currently in. She jumps up off the branch she’s perched on, to a different branch. She’d be lying if she says that she isn’t a little nervous about the idea of keeping the big one’s attention on her, not that she’ll ever say that out loud, not even to Qrow. But, as they are twins, she won’t be surprised if he somehow knows her true feelings on this matter without her having to say anything.

That’s a thought for a different time, though, when they’re not fighting for their lives. She watches him carefully, slashing at the big one as it tries again. Finally, she uses her semblance to portal through it to Qrow’s side.

Most useful semblance ever, in her opinion. “Let’s do this.”

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she does the job; she always does. qrow’s eyes flicker once, making sure she’s safe, and in that split second the last little ghoul of a boar rushes him even faster. long legs curl beneath him to drop his weight in a roll out of the way, and a graceful spin flips him around for a one-two slash that leaves the last target of the first round in quickly dissolving pieces.

hopefully the bigger beast goes down just as easily, but he doubts it.

he watches in the moonlight as its head shakes to rattle its hypothetical brain back in place from his sister’s assault; he feels the signature ripped open air of Raven’s portal and hears her take her place next to him, and his ready stance mirrors with a nod; he summons forth his own semblance, the burn and scratch of everything wrong at his palms. Worst semblance ever, in his opinion, but useful enough if focused into a fight.

the next slash of Harbinger fires off an aura arc laced with Misfortune, busting a branch as big as the twins put together from a tree’s trunk to land on the big boarbatusk’s neck, keep it facing away from them. as his arm follows through behind him, he fires off a shot to fling himself at the grimm���s flank, fully expecting Raven to read his moves enough and still be at his side for their return charge.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The two of them have always been exceedingly skilled in the field, especially when it comes to fighting alongside one another. Raven truly hopes that never changes, no matter what happens to them down the line. She can’t imagine not having him in her life. It’s completely unfathomable, in her eyes-if she were a more emotional and sentimental person, if she were better with that sort of thing, she might ask him outright if he felt the same. As it stands, however, she won’t do that-and not just because they have bigger fish to fry, at the moment.

She braces herself for his semblance, almost able to see what he’s going to do before he does it. Just in case it affects her, too.

When he sends an arc at the creature, she watches it causer a large branch to land on the creature’s neck. And when Qrow launches himself off the branch they’re on at the creature, she’s right behind him, slashing at the creature with Omen.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

qrow has always been a man of action more than sentimental speech; that he trusts Raven to watch his back right now, doesn’t even question it changing now or ever, says it all. that he trusts her to handle any backlash of his semblance activation adds even more. she’s the only one who’s rolled with every punch from birth until now.

it’s on him now after that stunt. he blocks a swipe of those tusks with his arm and the broad side of Harbinger, with a grunt, he takes the brunt of attack, allowing Raven land her strikes, and waiting for an opening once it turned to defend against her instead.

looks like this’ll shape up to be a slice and dice kinda deal until they can meet each other at the center after shredding this thing to pieces.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Raven’s always been extremely grateful for just how in sync that they are. How in sync they’ve been since birth. And it’s clear that he feels the same way, just from his movements and his body language alone. His semblance had caught her off guard, but it hadn’t scared her off. He was her twin brother, he was her other half-so to speak-nothing was going to chase her away from him.

She watches him block a swipe of its terrifying tusks with a bit of concern in her body language, but relaxes quickly and gets back into a fighting stance without being indicated to do so. When it turns back to face her, she takes some time to lash out at it, and give him an opening to strike again.

She doesn’t want to be so cocky to assume this’ll be a piece of cake, but she’s pretty confident in that fact.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

his semblance catches himself off guard, but at least he can put it to use in a fight. maybe one of the few things that convinces himself he’s meant to ever have to. that he has something at all to offer.

but for as much as it can trip him up, it never makes the twins lose step with each other. Raven, the first person to ever put up with him. to fight by his side, just like now, on either side of this damn alpha grimm.

Raven slashes, qrow feints, then strikes again. Raven takes the next opening until qrow’s turn again.

They dart and weave, kick up dirt and breathe until they can taste it, tear up leaves and crack sticks, and turn their weapons into a graceful dance of blades; in time, the beast can’t tell what side it’s ever supposed to be attacking or guarding. but it’s stubborn, it’s tough, it’s not going down even as they carve away at it.

qrow whistles out regroup.

it’s going to take both of them at once, isn’t it? she must know too.

he moves next to her, where he fits perfectly. blade at the ready and a mirrored confident smirk in Raven’s direction; raised brow seeks guidance, asks a silent question of which finisher they’ll use tonight.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Raven is more than used to his semblance by now, and how it works. How it can trip you up badly if you’re not paying attention, or aren’t used to it. Or aren’t the twin of someone with misfortune as a semblance. Thankfully, none of those things apply to Raven. Sure, it’s affected her in small ways before, but it’s never enough to chase her away from him completely. And she’s pretty sure that won’t ever be the case.

This is probably the largest Grimm they’ve faced outside of a school setting before (at least, it’s the biggest she’s faced outside of training at Beacon). but between the two of them it doesn’t seem to know where to turn or who to attack, and Raven smirks.

She takes note of his whistle and nods, returning it with an affirmative whistle of her own, jumping back away from the big one to his side and smirking back at him.

They have a couple different maneuvers they can utilize in order to take this thing down. Eventually, she makes the decision to do a circular spinning motion with her blade and her body language, knowing Qrow will follow suit.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

the beast’s not down, but it’s tired. tired of chasing two bounding birds about. tired of fighting for its life in futility. a frustrated, wet snort blows from its snout, and hooves stamp in preparation for its own final charge; an angry gaze hones in on double targets, glowing red in want of nothing but destruction.

its not fast enough.

no matter how big, or how advanced compared to what they’ve seen, still nowhere near a match for the skill of qrow and Raven Branwen working together. mirrored smiles say it all. unstoppable.

Raven lunges, and little brother reads every position of legs, torso, arms, hands, and knows instantly what she intends to do. focuses in on his part just as she locks down on hers, and the fraction of a reaction second lost is already made up for by the time she’s in motion, and he pushes off right with her.

they dance a dodge around the thrust of tusks, and then she spins to the boar’s right. qrow lets his foot swing around the next step and sets off his own deadly scythe spiral to the left, sharp metal singing in the air before Harbinger and Omen slice straight though black into red witha  squelch, and meet at the meat in the middle; opponent left to collapse in on itself as dorsal and ventral pieces; courtesy of Ozpin’s twin blades.

pointed arc tip punctures the ground to stick the landing as qrow swings around Harbinger’s handle and boots touch ground again. catches his breath as pale red eyes watch dark dust disintegrate like ashy smoke up into the sky.

“well,” a huff, elbow resting on weapon hilt still vertical in the ground; qrow leans into it, crosses one leg over the other, “this certainly makes for somethin’ to report. …they’re gettin’ bigger. stronger. in more places.”

he frowns, “it can’t be good, Sis.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Between the two of them, the Boarbatusk’s size matters very little. Their synchronicity makes it so that they can take it out with very little issue once they decided on their plan. His movements to the left, her movements to the right, slicing the Grimm in half, and it’s over in seconds. She lands relatively gracefully despite being in the air, and looks over at him briefly as the Grimm disintegrates into nothing.

He’s right, though. It’s definitely something to report. “You’re right, it can’t be good.” She agrees. Ozpin is definitely going to want to know about this, and she can’t say she’ll blame him for it, either.

“There’s definitely something going on.” Raven says. It would certainly explain why she has such a terrible feeling as of late. She isn’t tired, especially after fighting a bunch of Grimm, but she figures that they should at least settle down for the night all the same. She clasps her hand on his shoulder. “Well done, little brother.” She said. “I think we’ve earned some rest for the night, wouldn’t you agree?”

Without waiting for his response, she does one last cursory sweep for any stray Grimm and heads back in the direction of their campsite.

It’s moments like these that remind her why she’s so happy to be part of a team.

[thebuttsmcgee]

Do you got any gripes with Super? Imo it's better than GT and OG but not as good as Z.

Yo! Thanks for the ask anon! As for the question, well yea I'd say I gotta couple gripes with Super, tho I'll be talkin bout the anime only since the manga is a whole nother thing itself. P much everythin before the U6vsU7 arc wasn't all that great. A popular statement you'll hear a lot is "BOG/ROF were better in the movies" which I gotta agree with. Super had some pretty good moments in those arcs like Gotenks and Ginyu/Tagoma in ROF, Goku having more God form time, kid Vegeta with actual bangs and the first 5 minutes of ep1 but overall they weren't as enjoyable as the movies. Everythin beyond that is way better. Not perfect tho. But to be fair I wouldn't say any of DB is perfect, even if it is my most favorite series of all. A lotta people complain about Goku's character in Super is way too childish or naive and I can see why they say that, at points he does act a bit too dumb. Like never havin kissed or how he was in the BOG arc but other than that and some other moments, I don't think he's too far off. Admittedly tho, it is kinda hard to compare Super Goku to OG-Z Goku since those were written by Mr. Toriyama himself instead of multiple writers given a draft of what Mr. Toriyama gave for Super. Wow this is gunna be long aint it. Anyway Super had p bad pacing in the beginning too, the U6vsU7 arc was okay, GB was good in the beginnin but slowly began to pace too quick while the other main arcs had not too bad ones. The animation was horrendous in BOG an ROF, U6vsU7 was okay but the GB arc and forward was when the animation really started to get good. I saw a translated tweet by someone tho who said the studio at Toei wasn't in really good condition and weren't treated too well besides the occasional "do your best!" by a higher up employee. Which was why Broly looks so great, cuz they had a good and healthier workplace than regular Super did. Super also had some okay music, but not as good as Z. There's shinin moments where the music really pops out but for the most part it's not too memorable. I would talk about power-scalin but that's a can of worms I do NOT wanna open lmao. All I will say is that at this point, both Goku can definitely beat Beerus on a 1 on 1. Jiren isn't bad exactly, but he's very bland. Zamasu was good but I wish they coulda expanded upon his descent to madness. The Lesbiyains are great but I think we need more time with them to say they have great characters. The U6 warriors besides Cabba, Hit, and The Lesbiyains need way more uniqueness bout em (even tho I love Magetta). What was THAT in the ending to the GB arc. Most of the other univeres could have had good characters but they weren't too interestin besides a couple, but I'll let this nitpick slide since it's hard to make over 100 completely unique chars in sucha short time. The writin was mostly good imo in the U6vsU7 arc, the GB arc (for the most part), the TOP arc and the arc where Goku dies cuz of Hit arc but eveythin other than that was p lackluster. Thankfully those are the only arcs that really matter, besides the Hit arc. And lastly the lack of a serious threat did cause some lack of any real tension in the show. And that's pretty much all of my problems with Super, which is way too fuckin long. Yea it's gotta lotta probs but I'd still watch all of it over a LOT of things lol. I can't say for sure if I like it over Z/OG/GT. It's not exactly like I prefer any of them over each other, besides maybe over GT (which isn't as bad as everyone says to be tbh!). However! A very very VERY minor yet kinda big gripe I have with Super beyond the U6vsU7 arc, is that Goku and Vegeta didn't keep their new outfits!!! Like c'mon! Yall gave up cool new outfits for the sake of nostalgia!

They look great in these! These coulda been the standards for Super but Toei and possibly Toriyama himself chose to go back to Z's outfits. I love the old ones I do but why not use the super cool new ones?? I'd've love to see SSG Goku in this gī. Or Royal Blue Vegeta in this armor. Ah well. Anyways yup, Super isn't the best but neither is Z, OG or GT yet I still love em all the same. All of this is my own opinion of course!!! I dont wanna start discourse about DB cuz that always ends up bein a headache lmao. Thanks again for the ask anon! And I'm incredibly sorry that this was so long holy shit Im sorry lol.

[aghostpost]

Hiiiii could ya be a doll and do a frank + reader where the reader wears heels to work everyday and it turns frank on to the point where he makes a move? Thx darling 😏

A/N: IT HS BEEN FOREVER AND I KNOW I AM TWO DAYS LATE BUT I HAD NO WIFI AND I DIDN’T WORK ON THIS HOE FOR NOTHIN’ SO BETTER LATE THAN NEVER heh heh ♥

“Ya know, if someone told me there’d come a time where I wouldn’t need to use a pad for a customer, I woulda laughed at ‘em. I know there’s regulars and all, but you my friend are somethin’ else entirely.”

I set down the freshly brewed pot of coffee along with the same plate of breakfast I brought to the same table every day for the past five, almost six months: 3 eggs over easy, a stack of bacon and two toasted slices of sourdough bread.

He glanced at me before pouring himself a mug. “Figure I’d make it easier for ya, not switchin’ things up too much.”

“You don’t switch things up at all. Imagine the day you come in here and there isn’t a drop of that coffee; what would you do?”

He huffed a small laugh. “I’d probably lose my mind, hm? Lucky for me coffee ain’t the only reason I show up here everyday,” he said suggestively, drinking from his mug as he looked up at me.

I felt my face tingle a bit but remained cool. “Yeah?”

He nodded and scrunched his nose as he placed the mug back on the table. “Mm. You guys got a real good lemon cake.”

Now that was a bold face lie. After working here for just a single month I knew the infamous reputation our lemon cake had, and after being here for a couple more months that reputation hasn’t changed for the better. “Well I think you might be the only one sayin’ that, so more for you.” I tapped his table with my pen as I began backing away to get back to work. “You enjoy that, Frank.”

“Ya know,” he said just as I turned away, “I always wanted to ask you somethin’.”

I raised a brow. “What’s that?”

“What kinda person wears high heels to work at a diner?”

“Is there a dress code I’m unaware of?”

“I mean, your feet gotta be killin’ you, yeah? Up on your feet a whole shift in those?” he asked, pointedly looking at my feet for longer than necessary, in my opinion…

“You see me here nearly every single day; this is the only exercise I can get. How else do you think my legs got this nice?”

“Haven’t noticed.”

I shrugged, noticing his eyes were lingering on mine as he ate his food. His stare was so intense it ignited my skin. “Your loss. Good thing the ones leavin’ good tips notice.” I smirked and turned to get back to work.

That day he left a generous tip, and continued to do so from that moment on.

“I need two more stacks of Lover’s Flapjacks and an order of Cupid’s Bowtie Pasta, thank youuu!”

I liked holidays at the diner. Dressing up and having some festive options on the menu, it was all good fun. It was also a different crowd from my usual early morning shifts that I took, which normally consisted of a buncha seniors checking for early bird specials. The entrance door wouldn’t stop ringing and I felt like a chicken with its head cut off the way I was running around the place. We were jam packed and unlike some of the other waitstaff, I didn’t have plans for the evening, so I didn’t mind switching my morning shift to work tonight.

The moment I found a second to park my ass in a booth I reclined against the window, kicking my legs up on the bench with a sigh. I took down my ponytail to avoid the tension headache I felt coming, ruffling my hair loose when someone helped themselves to the other side of my booth.

“Feet finally tired then?”

I chuckled and rested against the window. “Have you noticed how toned my calves are? These heels ain’t goin’ nowhere, guy. What are you doin’ here anyway?”

“Oh, was I not invited to the party?”

“I didn’t peg you for the partying type. Besides it’s a little late for toast and eggs, isn’t it?”

“Ain’t that the gift of a diner? Breakfast ‘round the clock?”

I nodded. “Touche. I guess what I mean is I’m only used to you being here in the mornings.”

“That’s cuz you’re only here in the mornin’. I come whenever I could use a refill,” he said before placing a large thermos on the table.

“Thought you came for the lemon cake,” I said with a smirk as I moved to climb outta the booth.

“No no no,” he said. “Don’t let me interrupt your break.”

“Technically I’m not on break, just bustin’ my ass around here; so don’t worry about that.” I scooted off the bench and went behind the counter to grab a pot of coffee, returning to fill the thermos up for him. I sat and unscrewed the cap cup hybrid and poured. “I don’t know how people drink black coffee. May as well just eat the damn beans.”

“I’m not too crazy ‘bout sweets.”

“Explains why you like our lemon cake.” I twisted the lid back on and slid the thermos back to him, and as he reached for it a small shock of electricity went through me as his hand left a ghostly touch when he grabbed the thermos. Our eyes met for the smallest shred of a second before I cleared my throat. “That should last you all of what, four minutes, I’m guessing?”

“That all depends… ” he said as he stared at me, his thumb tapping nervously at on the now warm thermos.

“Oh yeah?” I stared right back, sitting and folding my arms across my chest and rested my back against the booth.

“Why don’t you, uhh… tell me what time you’re gettin’ off, hm?”

My brows shot up in shock and I paused, failing to find words. Apart from when he asked me about my heels, Frank’s never said more than repeated his order day after day. So this came as a surprise if it were leading to where I was pretty damn sure it was.

“You askin’ me out or somethin’, Frank?”

“Well I guess I’m finally tired of seein’ those heels walk away, ain’t I?”

“You been watching me closely, I see… Do you even know my name?” I questioned. He did the obvious: redirected his eyes to my nametag then back to my face, suppressing a grin. I rolled my eyes. “Did you know before that? It’s not like you ever call me Y/N.”

“Ever since you asked me my name I made sure I knew yours. ‘Member that?”

“I do. I wanted to know the guy that visited for about four pots of coffee every week.”

“So you tellin’ me when you gettin’ outta here or not?”

“Well I don’t know. Not a lotta waitstaff here tonight. Everyone actually had plans for Valentine’s Day; I hear that’s somethin’ people like to do,” I said with a shrug.

“You seem dressed like ya had plans….”

“I like to get into the holiday spirit. Just because I’m workin’ doesn’t mean I can’t celebrate, right?” Beneath my apron I wore a simple and plain red pencil skirt, it was Valentine’s Day after all, and a short sleeved button up shirt. It was by zero means me being what I would call dressed up, but for a diner I could see how this looked as such.

“Don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair down either…” he commented. It was weird being under his scope, realizing now that he had been paying more attention to me than I thought.

“It’s either a ponytail or a hairnet, and I don’t think the net looks nice with heels.” I smiled as he bent to peek under the table at my shoes. “Oh my goodness- Stop!”

“Now if I have to sit here and wait all night, this thermos ain’t gonna last nobody.”

“Okay okay, uhh… I can try to get outta here in an hour, hour thirty max.”

“An hour thirty, hm?”

“Is that alright with you, Frank?”

“I’ve waited longer for a whole lot less…”

I ignored the burn in my cheeks. This guy was smoother than I thought. All the times he’s come here I’ve never seen him interact with anyone more than asking things of a nearby waiter, or when he leaves and compliments the cook. “Can I ask what we’re supposed to be doing when I get off?”

“I figured you’re dressed a lil’ too nice to just be workin’ tonight. Maybe we go let the city get a better look at those toned calves? Go grab a slice?”

I chuckled. “A pizza date? That’s very romantic of you.”

“S’gonna be half past nine on Valentine’s Day night. If we’re lucky enough for anything to still even be open,  we can go somewhere nice and try to wait for seats, but I’ma need about six more o’ these,” he said, holding up his thermos full of black coffee.

“Good point. But I want pepperoni. And a whole pizza, not a slice! I’ve been here all day, I’m starved.”

He nodded as I rose from my seat. “Yes, ma’am. Anything else?”

I hesitated a little but spit it out. “You know my name; start using it.”

He laughed to himself. “Yes, Y/N,” he corrected. The way he said my name with emphasis made my stomach flip. “I’ll see you in a hour an’ a half.”

“What, are you gonna wait here??”

He shrugged. “S’at a problem?”

“I mean, what are you gonna do, just sit and watch me?” He looked at me as if to repeat his question, his thumb lightly tapping the side of his thermos before he opened it to pour himself a cup. I rolled my eyes. “Just sounds a bit boring is all, but suit yourself.” Before leaving him to head to the restroom to freshen up a bit and get back to work he grabbed my hand. I froze in place and looked at him as he pulled out a twenty dollar bill.

“For the coffee,” he said coolly. He tapped twice with his thumb on the back of my hand before letting go and turning back to the coffee in front of him, a smug grin hidden on his face.

I walked to the bathroom with a little pep in my step as I put my ponytail back into place. I washed my hands and looked in the mirror, annoyed at the goofy smile on my face. “Get a grip, dummy,” I told myself. I went back to the floor to grab change from the register when I looked up and noticed Frank had left, again leaving me with a fat tip he knew I’d otherwise turn down if he were still here.

But I’d get the last laugh: I planned on using that change to buy the pizza, so technically it would still be him paying for the meal.

Just as a gentleman should.

[punkscowardschampions]

Tommy & Ali

Chatting ‘bout Christmas, boy troubles, pregnancy AND THE FACT THE BABY IS TOTALLY NOT DREW’S LOLLOLLOL

Tommy: Oi! 😼 What you gettin da cos like even I feel cheeky considering socks for 2 years running Ali joined the chat 3 hours ago Tommy: I was gonna go full rivers of whiskey cept I'd probs drown myself in it before the bottle was in the bag 😂 Ali: So you should, elf on the shelf! Socks should only ever be an add-on prezzie, even if they're DEAD comical, like. Ali: Speaking of elf on the shelf, would you be willing to come round mine every day at the crack of dawn (aka JUST before the kiddos will arise like horrible demon krakkens from the depths) so I can arrange you in comical positions and situations? Ali: They love that shit. I on the other hand want to murder the CEO of whatever company/the high-key mum mafia that made this shit popular again. Ali: I've got me thinking cap on for the old man for ye...Hmm Ali: (and how rude to get cuffed for the season and not even get to the part where you get a bomb-ass present/someone to tout around the family functions...rude. You not actually at the bottom of a bottle quite yet though, yeah? Doing the obligatory welfare checkup here) Tommy: Excuse you miss money bags! 💰 just 'cause you're one of the rare artists who ain't starving like! some of us don't have boyfriends who cook or paying audiences Tommy: so yeah obvs! Gotta keep in shape just in case don't I? catch me pirouetting across your patio bitch Tommy: Green's my colour these days and red's always been signature Tommy: I'm alright (love you for asking!) how's you? Tommy: Genuinely Ali: Oh yeah, 'cos father will flip his shit if the price tag ain't AT LEAST three figs... 😏 Silly billy, and oi, oi! My student loan ain't kicked in yet ...I'm on a gap yaaaaaah though, darling, I've simply GOTTA act like a frivilous rich bitch. Deal with it, you're still the shady bitch of the fam, okay? 😘 Ali: Yaaasss, you're gonna have to drop a couple of pounds to fit in that teeny costume but a day in the life of a TRUE star init, babe? I believe in you Ali: Bet you didn't come here to be called fat, did you? How fucking cheeky is that forreal Ali: Colour of luck boy 🍀🍀🍀 Ali: Hmm, ngl I'm in a bit of a...situation, and I ain't talking I've forgot to order a turkey Tommy: Imagine...jog on old man just 'cause went for the quantity with the sprogs doesn't mean you'll get quality back soz Tommy: try it but good luck trying to get your little uns to deal with you being the spoilt one 😂 Tommy: well since I got the 🍀 its 🤞 Tommy: feckin hell has caleb forgotten kids are for life not just chrimbo again? Tommy: I'll deck his halls if he's being a prick Ali: That'll show him! That's what you get for bringing me into this world, whole lotta backchat and not an ounce of grattitude, take that! Ali: Join me 'cos I'm sure that's what mum feels I've got her Ali: We did Rio's first Xmas morning, and 2nd, at home! It really is Caleb's fams turn Ali: I can't help that its Junie's first, evidently I ain't planning this shit woman! Ali: #contraceptionwhomst? #pulloutnhopeforthebest #itswhatgodwouldwant Ali: And it ain't like we're not coming over for a second dinner, we fat as hell, get wid it and pass the gravy Ali: Catch me in the tesco throwing tantrums with Rio on the reg tbh #twocanplayatthatgamehoney #childrenraisingchildren Ali: Nah, although loving all the macho threats of violence when my honour is at stake as of late...Is my drama letting you live up to your full brotherly potential? Welcome... Ali: TMI, give a shit, but I'm late on and I've thrown up a few times, not from the mother's ruin, like Ali: hahahahahama'sgonnakillmeisn'tshe Ali: whatthefucklike Tommy: Who you kidding you're the blatant fave & lbr if the lord's got his specs on should be even more so for following her shining example like Tommy: honor thy father and mother and all that Tommy: who doesn't love a mini me Tommy: especially one who can sing every sperm is sacred with perf pitch Tommy: Amen! this aint 1850 pass the roasties gdi! Tommy: all we want for christmas is carbs Tommy: OH MY CHRIST NOT AGAIN Tommy: 😧 Tommy: I know you're on your gap year but no need to be so literal Ali: Ha, please! Not Tess Vickers' fave. Da's, obviously, as he is mine, (babe). You and Joe are the momma's boys, always have been, you needy little babbas. Ali: A woman who doesn't love herself...damn, too deep, reverse, reverse! Ali: You'd be surprised how annoying an all-singing-all-dancing constant reminder of all your best and worst bits is Ali: Usually the best, which is happy-making magic, but when its the worst...GOOD LORDT. Plus its a reminder of the same in your other half, and we all like to overlook that shit now, don't we? *sips tea* Ali: God I am gonna go HAM with my 'cravings' this Chrimbo...what timing! Maybe I did plan this after-all Ali: but no, I did not Ali: But yeah...this is a thing I'm processing, thought I'd drag you down with me 🤷 Tommy: I was gonna be all like not with him probs dead in a ditch and me one audition away from getting cosy in a cardboard box but I better swerve too dont wanna spend the season with the samaritans on speed dial Tommy: you and fraze are the success stories savor it Tommy: honey I've got a mirror Tommy: and near constant feedback from them in the know Tommy: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Tommy: that's calebs chrimbo gift sorted then yeah? Ali: Lordy, I know we're Irish but there's no need to be that fuckin' maudlin, Tommo Ali: Oh, you wanted an idea for Da but that is SO Fraze's prezzie Ali: Just tell him that, all day. Money can't buy that kinda happiness Ali: The spirit of the Holidays Ali: Them in the know don't know shit Ali: I mean...gift or curse? Ali: We've only just got back on track, this is probably going to derail the whole damn caboose Tommy: everyone's a critic and there's only one shane macgowan I hear ya Tommy: I reckoned you meant a mirror for a sec I was like uh huh he's got that one covered love 😏 Tommy: Hey! That's mine covered 🙋 just repeat that back to me Tommy: those clueless cunts Tommy: Nah he'll be buzzing esp if he gets another girl Tommy: there's only one Rio but he's shameless ha Tommy: leave the cursing for ma she'll be doing plenty once she's done stuffing your stocking with contraceptives Ali: Mhmm, save it for the improptu karaoke when we're all feeling merry on the day, like Ali: Lmao, he'd live in a 360 degree view changing room if he could Ali: How millenial of us! Lets just gift each other with positive affirmations Ali: Maybe...Gah Ali: Whatever, whether he deals or doesn't, doesn't change the fact I am with child again and yeah, Caleb's reaction is the least of my worries Ali: I'm going to be going to Uni abroad with 3 kids...damn Ali: If I don't get locked away for my own good, of course Tommy: 😇 Will do Tommy: I reckon that's the goal when he 'makes it' Tommy: scrawl it on my personalised starbies cup and have done babe Tommy: You're grand it'll just be one hell of a plane ride Tommy: 🍀 & 🤞 Tommy: OH SHIT WAIT Tommy: the whole Caleb reaction thing has me thinking...not to be rude but Tommy: it is his yeah? Ali: It better be Ali: Aside from the Drew incident I didn't shag anyone else Ali: and we used a condom Ali: I mighta been several sheets to the wind but I hadn't lost my whole goddamn mind Tommy: thank christ for that Tommy: imagine trying to play happy families with that twat Ali: Amen Ali: Yeah that isn't the life I've signed up for Ali: Bitches forget I already got a ring on my finger, like Ali: Legal or otherwise Tommy: Beyonce is here for your union Tommy: good enough for me Tommy: low key proud of ya not to be an enabler but like Tommy: I'll happily hooray you getting Drew to put something on it too god knows where that fuckboy's been Ali: Thank you! I will take that hooray because I literally had to mum Ro's arse and tell her to do the same every time Ali: AND had to do it in such a way it didn't sound like I was saying as much, like, your boyf is a cheater and we all know it sweetie Tommy: ugh 😷 glad you did though I hear your next door nemesis had to get herself to the clinic sharpish & i don't reckon she'd spread gossip that'd make her out to be riddled Tommy: 🦀🐛 Ali: 🤢�� Unsurprised on both their behalf there but low-key furious Ali: he knows how that bitch treats Ro, and always has done Ali: there's being a cheat with any random hoe and then there's that...is it me or is that next-level careless? Ali: To the point it looks like he's doing it to hurt her, I'm sure he's just ignorant but, like, what the fuck?!!? Tommy: RIGHT? Tommy: like I don't doubt she ain't telling him all the ins and outs of her childhood drama but still Tommy: even with more brains than biceps he's gotta have a clue or two Tommy: OOOPS ACCIDENTAL COMPLIMENT Tommy: I'm offended on my own behalf Tommy: almost as cringe as once thinking he was hot 🤓😳 kms Ali: Yeah but it ain't like he's not been here...and she's still a cunt to Ro now, so Ali: Tries to be to me but who's listening, Bitch I'm deaf all of a sudden??? Ali: Hahahahaha Ali: He's attractive, to the point its kinda fact more than opinion so I don't think you're alone on that score Ali: If the notches on his bedpost are anything to go by...and I fucked him so can't be judging, consider your sins absolved, no hail mary's needed, maybe a few bloodys when I next pin u down for an IRL debrief? Ali: Oh wait, a bitch can't...I'll make it a Virgin Mary...WHEY! Tommy: True and I know he ain't got a bitch muted 'cause I aint rn either 👀 & my specs are on when I'm scrolling Tommy: I see what I see Tommy: 😞 Tommy: Fuck it lets go dancing Tommy: bounce that bump while you still can Ali: 'Course not, gotta 'low the bitch to slide into dem dms on the reg, if for nothing else than the ego boost Ali: 😒 Ali: I need that, lets go lets go lets go, its been TIME since I got to go out and not take the bubs Ali: I'll have to see who can have 'em though... Ali: Can't be mum, really selling how responsible a parent I'm gonna be to 3 by throwing 2 at her and fucking off to partay Tommy: SAMSIES...not that I'm going out with 2 kids on the reg but y'know Tommy: we on it 💃 Tommy: Dial up their daddy Tommy: he'll step up while we step out I'm sure Ali: Sure, just the one, like #oosh! toosoonforbants? Ali: Can but try, I'll get back to you when he replies Ali: Ooh, what are we gonna wear Tommy: I've got my elf cossie if I can only squeeze in Tommy: you could pin a red letter on if you've got something that won't clash 🤔 own that guilt like a good catholic 📿 Ali: Ooh, festive AND appropriate for my situ, I like it. Tommy: A for advent sweeties 😘 Tommy: can you cut my hair though I looking like the grinch if he was a blonde blue eyed dreamboat Ali: And Awesome! And Ali! And Ass! 😎 Ali: Obvi, you never could rock the long hair look, remember that dark period in time 😂 Ali: Can I try something slightly new tho? 🤔 Tommy: why the feck not gotta at least look ready to mingle like Tommy: 💔😂 Ali: Dubo not gonna know what's hit it and ya mans gonna know what he missing when I'm done with you! Promise Tommy: I'll hold you to it Tommy: no pressure Tommy: oooh maybe we could go shopping 😀 Ali: You know I'm winning boys back like its my business Ali: well, boy singular but that's enough, right? #greedybisexual Ali: I am always down for killing time snapping up killer #lewks, lets do it man Tommy: yaaaaaaaaaaas Tommy: careful I might hold you to that too #tipsfrommybabysiskms Ali: baby be wise tho 💞 where u at i'll come get u Tommy: about a lot of things yeah 👍 nws I'll come at you I need the exercise #aintforgotyoucalledmeafattylike Ali: alright well, RUN FORREST RUN Tommy: 🏃

[bwprowl]

We’ve got new remolded robots to look at tonight, almost entirely catering to my particular tastes. But don’t worry, because after that there’s pre-orders for generically cute parts-holding penguins, and fun stuff from some of the most popular parts of the otakusphere. Plus a figma and a robo-girl too, and if those don’t catch your eye, at least stick with me for an in-hand look at a transformational try-again. Tuesday Night Toys are here, come check ‘em out with me!

New Stuff: The Lost World

Even with all the cool junk they showed off at Toy Fair, Hasbro was apparently still holding back some stuff on us, as evidenced by them trotting out new Titans Return versions of Misfire and Slugslinger to reveal at the Australia show. Both of these are remolds of the (I hear) excellent Triggerhappy mold, getting a whole lotta Targetmasters out of one base design (even Scourge was based on this one too!). Both look very nice, Misfire in particular, given his lovely shade of pink and distinctively-designed cockpit nose. The fact that he’s a popular character in a popular comic right now will probably do good things for his sales as well.

So I posted bits about it outside this column earlier, but Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger is getting a sequel series in South Korea, and this is just such a *weird thing* that I gotta talk about it a bit more. It’s ostensibly due to how well the toyline (sold there as ‘Power Rangers Dino Force’) performed in that region, and this new show is thus getting a bunch of new toys to promote. 

These are all updates of the previous transformation devices and mecha, and while the gear all appears to be just repainted, the mecha have all actually been remolded (as well as swapped around from which Rangers they were assigned to previously). Gabutyra noticeably becomes Cannontyra, with a big goofy gatling gun stuck on its nose, and the others have been similarly recolored and had bonus weapons grafted onto them. I do like the more unified white/highlight-color schemes these have now, it makes the combined mecha look a bit cooler in my opinion, even if extra goofy stuff like the CHAINSAW SWORD it has now might seem to be a bit much. It’ll be really interesting to see how this series turns out (and if anybody subs it).

Wishlist: Stage Select

The next of Good Smile’s Nendoroid parts cases are up for pre-order, it’s that penguin I was super-excited to see last year! I’ve gotten a couple of these already, and they’re a super-adorable storage solution for Nendo faces and other little bits. I’ll have to get this one as well, and it’ll only make me resentful that no actual AzuManga Daioh Nendoroids have been made.

GSC also opened up pre-orders for the figma version of Gwyndolyn from Odin Sphere, in what’s becoming standard-for-video-game characters regular and DX versions (although in this case the DX version just includes the full versions of her wings). Gwyndolyn wasn’t the most interesting playable character in Odin Sphere (that’d be Cornelius or Velvet) but she’s still the ‘face’ of the game, and thus that means she gets made before anyone else. The toy still looks dang pretty though.

Rounding out the Good Smile plugs, they’ve also got pre-orders up for Threezero's sixth-scale figure of Genos from One-Punch Man! This sexy cyborg’ll set you back a penny almost as pretty as he is, but it looks like it’d be worth it for an articulated figure this nice of a design that deserves it. He’ll be out towards the end of the year, and it’d be interesting and amusing to see if they do a Saitama to go with him.

Here’s a cute little display piece, an acrylic stage set of Touhou characters. It’s a simple background of Reimu’s shrine with a base you can plug a selection of character pieces into, and they can all even double as keychains if you want! And the art style used here is simply *adorable*, I love it. Be cool if they made sets of additional characters to plug in later.

And up just today are pre-orders for the next Polynian figure: Vania. She’s a fiery schoolgirl-bot with a scarf and mecha-knuckle weapons and she is just *so* up my alley. These things just keep looking cooler and cooler with each new character they put out. Heck, I’ve already pre-ordered her; Yume needs a friend.

On Desk: Tax Evasion

The Transformers Age of Exctinction toyline wasn’t the best TF line in the world, nor was it in service of the best movie in the world. Most of the DInobots tickled my fancy, true, but a lot of the rest of the figures were victims of cost-cutting of some sort and representing characters I pretty much hated. One outlier was the Optimus Prime ‘Evasion Mode’ mold, which was an adorable concept figure of Movie Optimus Prime transforming into a G1-style flat-nose truck cab, which the movie dressed up as him turning into the rusted-up junker as a deep-cover disguise. Unfortunately, the paint job on Hasbro’s original release of that mold was pretty abysmal, going the ill-advised route of mapping G1 Prime’s colors directly onto the robot mode with little regard for how they worked with the actual details. The glossy colors and thick application washed out a lot of detail generally looked not-good on the design, which was a pity because the actual mold itself was really good! I had that first version and enjoyed it, but always resolved to pick up any better-painted version when I could.

So TakaraTomy’s 10th Anniversary ‘Movie the Best’ line did me a favor by coming out with a terrific new version of that toy! Sporting a much more subdued, balanced blue/red scheme, with an intricate ‘rusty’ pattern all over it in vehicle mode, and properly-applied flames in robot mode, they’ve really brought this design to life. They also used the alternate face-plated head mold for the figure, because they love me.

So the mold absolutely sings in these colors, but that’s because as said, it’s a really good mold. Details have always been a strong point of the Movie toys, and this is no exception, with all sorts of fine bits sculpted in, in both robot and vehicle modes. I particularly like the way the upper arms look (especially now that the shoulder-pads have their flames on them) and the little real-world details sculpted all over the truck mode (really brought out by that rust pattern now). Articulation all over the robot mode makes it really fun to pose and play with (I dig the extra neck joint), and the plastic and joints all *feel* very quality.

Pulling off the transformation really makes clear how well-designed this figure is. For ages we were told that getting Movie Optimus’s design and proportions fit down into a flat-nosed cab just couldn’t be done, but the Masterpiece-designer who handled this thing managed to pull it off. 

The big trick is how the entire cab folds inside out, building itself up into a robot torso, then collapsing down and tucking everything inside of it for vehicle mode. It’s a tight fit, and there’s a certain amount of finesse involved in getting it all together for truck mode, but it’s satisfying to do and impressive enough in its execution that you don’t want to throw it against a wall or anything. And at the end of the day, I still can’t deny how tickled I am by the idea of Movie Optimus Prime squashing down to cosplay as his 80’s counterpart.

On a sheer design level, this is one of the best Transformers molds released in the past few years, and I’m really glad TakaraTomy saw fit to give it another release in a really good paint job this time. Everyone deserves a second chance.

Good to see you everyone, I hope you’ve had fun!

[stardust2003]

Madferit: The Novel - Chapter 11

"Morning." Maggie said as I sat down across from her at the table on the bus.

           "Morning." I replied.

           "What's up?"

           "Not much. I kinda wish there was though."

           She looked up at me from the papers she was reading over. "What do you mean?" She asked.

           "Not that I don't appreciate everyone's hospitality for letting me come along on the tour," I began, "but I don't wanna get in people's way."

           Noel gave a sarcastic snort from behind me where he sat on the couch with his acoustic guitar.

           Maggie glanced at him then turned back to me. "You don't get in people's way." She assured. "Trust me."

           "Like hell she doesn't." He muttered.

           I rolled my eyes.

           "I'm just used to working I guess." I continued. "And now I feel kinda useless."

           "That's because you fuckin'-"

           "I have an idea!" Maggie cut him off. "You can help me keep an eye on the boys when they go out. You pretty much already do."

           "You what?!" Noel practically yelled. "I don't need a fuckin' baby-sitter and I sure as hell don't need her!"

           But for once, someone overruled him. Maggie assigned me the task of watching over the band when they partied and stuff. It was like being a chaperone on a school field trip. Sometimes they'd get so out of control we (Maggie and I) worried at least one of them might wander off and get lost. We took to doing a head count every time the bus was boarded because of it. You can't make this shit up.

           To our great relief, nothing happened though. And before I knew it the bus was back in Cleveland pulling up to let us off at the Odeon.

           I talked Maggie into arranging a ticket to the gig for Kelly. Noel objected to the idea of course but I explained how big of a fan she was and if it weren't for her, I would've never even heard of the band. Everyone else thought that was really cool and welcomed her backstage with open arms just like they'd done with me. No one aside from Liam remembered her from the last time but she quickly got reintroduced.

           "I'm so glad you and Liam are finally together!" Kelly exclaimed as we sat on the couch together watching the boys' antics before the show.

           "We're not together." I argued. "We just...I don't know, screw I guess."

           "He took you as his date to an awards show. I'm sure he wouldn't have done that if you're just a piece of ass."

           "True."

           She was right although I still didn't want to bank on it. Liam and I hadn't discussed the status of our relationship since before we left Manchester. And there were always girls at every show so I didn't want to get my hopes up. Still, it seemed like there was more to our situation than just sex. Liam held my hand when we'd be out places and always insisted we cuddle in bed. Surely that had to count for something.

           The house was packed as Oasis fans from all over Northeast Ohio crowded in to see the band. I heard a couple people say they came all the way from Cincinnati. Talk about devotion. The band played a similar set to the one they'd done the last time they were in town with the exception of a couple songs. They added in "(It's Good) To Be Free" which had become one of my favorites. It was a B-side and for some reason, Oasis' B-sides were sometimes even better than their A-sides.

           "Well I don't write shit songs!" I heard Noel say at some point on the tour. I think it was during an interview with some newspaper or something.

           He played the song during one of his late night solo sessions on the bus. I lay awake listening and fell in love...with the song at least. He played it on his acoustic and his voice sounded so perfect. I really didn't understand why Liam was the only one who sang vocals on the album. I couldn't imagine that was how it would be forever.

           After hearing the acoustic version with Noel's vocals, I realized I preferred it to the electric one with Liam's. I didn't dare tell Noel even if it would be meant as a compliment. He probably wouldn't have wanted to hear my opinion anyway.

           The electric version with the younger Gallagher singing it was what the folks at the Odeon got that night. And by the sounds of their hooting and hollering, I don't think they minded. The show was, like all the others, fuckin' mega. Fuckin' killer. Fuckin' [insert another adjective for "excellent" here].

           After the show was followed by drinks at the bar where Kelly and I finally got another chance to talk now that things had quieted down a bit.

           "So have they all got girlfriends?" She asked as we sat there watching the party go on around us. "Liam's obviously spoken for but what about the others?"

           "Well." I began. "Bonehead's got a girlfriend named Kate. She's back home in Manchester and everyone thinks they'll get married or something in the pretty near future. Guigsy's got some chick he met on a flight to Japan. Tony's been talking to some girl from Cuba but I don't think it's serious. And Noel I think might have something going on with a girl in London but nobody really knows for sure."

           She sighed. "So they're all taken."

           "No not really. Bonehead and Guigsy, yes but I don't know about Tony and Noel."

           "Tony's kinda cute." She mused. "Noel is too but my God, those eyebrows! I don't know how you put up with Liam's."

           I smiled. "Eh, they don't bother me." I replied. "They're a part of his livelihood."

           "Right. Well if I had the choice, I'd probably go with Tony. From what you've said, Noel sounds like a dick and who wants that?"

           "No one with any sense." I reasoned. I smiled at her. "I could put in a good word for you with Tony if you'd like."

           "Really?" She beamed.

           We were best friends after all so it was only right I did her the favor. And it worked.

           The band was scheduled to be in Detroit the following day. Since it wasn't that far from Cleveland, the management went ahead and booked a hotel for the night so the boys could get a good night's sleep before traveling in the morning. Kelly, Tony, Liam, and I decided to stay at me and Kelly's apartment for the evening so we'd have more space and even more privacy.

           "I've missed your bed." Liam said as we got ready to get in it. "You'll have to send for it when we get to London. One less piece of furniture to get sorted when we move."

           I grinned a little. "I'll do that." I assured him.

           He took his t-shirt off and then his boxers before crawling in under the blankets. I did the same (although I kept my clothes on) and we cuddled up close. Before too long we were both out like a light.

           It didn't last too long though.

           "What the fuck was that?" Liam exclaimed as we both sat up.

           "It sounds like someone knocking on the door." I replied.

           "At three o'clock in the fuckin' mornin'? Who the fuck-"

           "I don't know. I'll go see."

           "No!" He said as he grabbed my hand to keep me from getting out of bed. "Could be some weirdo or summat. Just let 'em go. They'll fuck off eventually."

           "I know." I told him. "So that's why I'll just look through the door thing and see."

           "Fine. But don't take too long, alright? We gotta be up early tomorrow so we don't got a lotta time to arse about."

           "I know."

           The knocking continued as I headed up the hall to the main area of the apartment. Kelly and Tony must've been really tired as her bedroom door was still shut with neither of them coming out to see what the heck was going on.

           I looked through the door viewer and couldn't believe who I saw.

           "Noel?" I said after I opened the door. "What are you-"

           "Th-, they were gonna kill me!" He exclaimed panic stricken.

           I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. "Who was?"

           "The fuckin' guitars! Turnin' into anacondas and shit. Tellin' me I couldn't fuckin' play and to pack it all in."

           I shook my head trying to wrap it around what he was saying as I stared at him.

           His upper lip was all red under his nose. His eyes were wide and filled with fear. He sniffed a little and his hands were shaking.

           "Ya've gotta let me stay here!" He cried. "I can't go back now, I'll be fuckin' slaughtered! The taxi brought me here 'cuz I told 'im it'd be safe. 'Cuz you're our baby-sitter, right? Our Tix."

           "No. I'm Liam's Tix." I said firmly. Liam was the only one who called me that and I kind of liked it. Hearing the others call me Tix would've just been weird. "And I think you're having a bad trip."

           "No I'm not! The guitars were fuckin' talkin' to me! I'm not lyin'. Ya can't lie about summat like that!"

           "Alright." I sighed. I knew arguing with him would be pointless until morning. "Come on! You can sleep on the couch."

           "I can't fuckin' sleep!" He said. "They'll come after me if I do."

           "I can assure you there are no guitars here that'll do that." I replied. "But there's four people who might if you don't shut the fuck up."

           "Four? Who the fuck else is here besides me and you? This is your flat, innit?"

           "Yeah and I have a roommate. As well as Liam and Tony."

           "Tony?" He echoed with a tone of confusion. "Why the fuck-"

           "Kelly invited him." I interrupted. "Come on!"

           I got some pillows and blankets and made him a bed on the couch.

           "But I don't wanna fuckin' sit down!" He whined as he tried to get up. "I can't fuckin'-"

           "Yes you can!" I barked as I held onto his hand to keep him from jumping up off the couch. "And you will or I'll call Marcus and tell him you wanna get back to all your guitars."

           "No! Please don't! They'll fuckin' kill me if I-"

           "Then sit down. Shut up. And go the fuck to sleep!"

           He stared at me and started to giggle.

           I rolled my eyes as I went to get up. "Good night, Noel-"

           "No wait!" He grabbed my hand to stop me.

           I looked at him and sat back down.

           He stared at me for a couple seconds before he spoke...or sang really...and not that great either. "If only she'd believe me. Bellona! Bella-"

           "Be quiet!" I said as I put my hand over his mouth.

           "I thought you liked my singin'?" He asked. "Fuckin' begged to hear it on the bus."

           "Well we're not on the bus, are we?" I got up off the couch. "Get some sleep. We've gotta be up in like four hours."

           "But I'm not tired!"

           "I don't care! Don't sleep if you're not tired. But don't keep everyone else up either."

           I headed off to the hallway.

           "Addie!" He said stopping me. "Addie!"

           I turned around to face him. "What?" I asked.

           "You didn't say good night." He sounded so innocent. And his eyes looked so innocent as well.

           I sighed. "Good night, Noel."

           "Good night." He said with a small smile...but a smile nonetheless.

           I smiled back. I knew it was just the drugs though – the comedown and all that. It had to have been. What else could it be?

           I went back to my room and got in bed beside Liam.

           "Who the fuck was singin' just now?" He asked groggily. "It sounded like a fuckin' cat dyin'. A fuckin' disgrace to the Roses."

           "That was the Roses?" I asked. I thought it sounded familiar but Noel's drug fueled, off key rendition made it hard to tell.

           "No. That was some cunt tryin' to rip off the Roses. If ya can't fuckin' sing, then quit fuckin' tryin'. Was that your neighbor or summat?"

           "No. It wasn't."

           "Who was it then?"

           "A cat." I sighed. I thought for a second then spoke again. "You said it was the Roses, right?"

           "Yeah. I know every one of their songs, me." He said.

           "Right. Which one was it?"

           He told me and after he'd gone back to sleep, I pulled out my portable CD player and listened to the track.

A girl consumed by fire

We all know her desire

From the plans that she has made

I had her on a promise

Immerse me in your splendor

All the plans that I have made

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

She's waited for

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

Oh this is the one

This is the one

She's waited for

I'd like to leave the country

For a month of Sundays

Burn the town where I was born

If only she'd believe me

Bellona Belladonna

Burn me out or bring me home

And this is the one

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

She's waited for

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

Oh this is the one

I've waited for

Oh this is the one

Oh this is the one

This is the one

I've waited for

This is the one

Oh this is the one

Oh this is the one

This is the one

I've waited for

This is the one

This is the one

This is the one

Oh this is the one

This is the one

I've waited for

It may go right

It may go wrong

This is the one

This is the one

She's waited for

And this is the one

This is the one

This is the one

She's waited for

And this is the one

Oh this is the one

Ah this is the one

This is the one

I've waited for

           'Probably just the drugs talking.' I thought as I shut the CD player off and put it on my nightstand. That had to be the reason Noel would start singing it.

           I would've been stupid to think it was anything else.

           Liam was still asleep when I woke up a few hours later. I left him as he was and went to the kitchen.

           I found Noel still asleep on the couch as I went in and looked through the cupboards to see what there was to feed everyone if they were hungry.

           "What you doin' up already?" Liam asked as he came into the kitchen wiping sleep from his eyes. "C'mon! It's not time to leave yet. Let's go back to bed."

           "You go on ahead." I replied. "I'm not tired and I wanna get a few things done before we leave."

           He sighed. "Well I may as well help ya then. If you're up then I'm up too. I don't sleep good when you're not next to me." He came over behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

           I giggled as he kissed the side of my neck.

           "What's for breakfast?" He asked. "Have you lot got any Ready Brek here?"

           "No. Sorry." I told him.

           "That's alright. How 'bout Weetabix?"

           "No we don't have that either. The closest thing we've got is Mini Wheats."

           He nodded and then we heard Noel stir on the couch.

           "Who's that?" Liam asked as he looked over in the direction of the living room.

           "You remember the dying cat from last night?" I said before we walked over to get a better look.

           "The fuck's he doin' here? Thought he stayed back at the hotel with everyone else."

           I shrugged not knowing what else to say.

           Liam's eyes filled with just a bit of annoyance. He glanced down at the counter that functioned as our dining table and saw the baseball that was sitting on it. It was the fly ball Kelly had caught when she and I went with some of our other friends to an Indians' game the previous summer. We didn't know what to do with it as far as decorating so we just left it sit on the counter.

           He grabbed the ball and chucked it at Noel.

           "Ow! Jesus!" Noel cried as he rubbed his eyes where it landed before it rolled off onto the floor.

           "The fuck you doin' in our fuckin' gaff?" Liam said to him. "Thought you were stayin' at the hotel you fuckin'-"

           "That's enough!" I stopped him.

           "I fuckin' should've!" Noel said as he sat up. "At least then I wouldn't have shit thrown at me."

           "Nah, mate! They'd find summat. Plastic chairs. Tambourines-"

           Noel's eyes flickered with anger. "You fuckin'!"

           "I said that's enough!" I barked as I held Liam back from lunging at him. "Don't forget you two still have a bus to ride on together."

           "The fuck we do!" Liam said. "I'd rather walk than ride with him."

           "Well fuckin' walk then ya sorry cunt!" Noel argued. "And take your bird with ya!"

           I looked away at the realization his kindness from the previous night had obviously been a wash.

           The Noel I knew was back.

           And I had a pretty good feeling he wasn't going to leave anytime soon.