#i just use 'mimi' everywhere else

[ookikufurikabutte]

secret for you all: i don't go by zack anymore. haven't for a long time. but i'm too lazy to change my art tag so idgaf.....

[gardenschedule]

just insane mclennon things

John playing his and Yoko's sex tape in a band meeting

As the meeting was drawing to a weary close, John, not this day with Yoko, who hadn’t seemed particularly connected with what was going on, said he wanted to play us a tape he and Yoko had made. He got up and put the cassette into the tape machine and stood beside it as we listened. The soft murmuring voices did not at first signal their purpose. It was a man and a woman but hard to hear, the microphone having been at a distance. I wondered if the lack of clarity was the point. Were we even meant to understand what was going on, was it a kind of artwork where we would not be able to put the voices into a context, and was context important? I felt perhaps this was something John and Yoko were examining. But then, after a few minutes, it became clear. John and Yoko were making love, with endearments, giggles, heavy breathing, both real and satirical, and the occasional more direct sounds of pleasure reaching for climax, all recorded by the faraway microphone. But there was something innocent about it too, as though they were engaged in a sweet serious game. John clicked the off button and turned again to look toward the table, his eyebrows quizzical above his round glasses, seemingly genuinely curious about what reaction his little tape would elicit. However often they’d shared small rooms in Hamburg, whatever they knew of each other’s love and sex lives, this tape seemed to have stopped the other three cold. Perhaps it touched a reserve of residual Northern reticence. After a palpable silence, Paul said, “Well, that’s an interesting one.” The others muttered something and the meeting was over. It occured to me as I was walking down the stairs that what we’d heard could have been an expression of 1960s freedom and openness but was it more likely that it was as if a gauntlet had been thrown down? “You need to understand that this is where she and I are now. I don’t want to hold your hand anymore.”

Paul putting beetles fucking on his album artwork

John hiring a pig and posing with it solely to mock Ram even though he was scared of it

At the end of the day a farmer delivered a huge hog to the mansion [Tittenhurst Park]. It was John’s notion to parody the album jacket photograph of Paul McCartney’s Ram, which showed Paul wrestling with a ram; John would wrestle with a pig. We all went outside and stared at the large surly animal. It was much bigger than any of us had expected. John circled the animal warily. He liked the idea, but he didn’t like the hog. Dan stood poised to snap the picture. “Climb on its back, John, and grab its ears,” he said. John looked doubtful. He stepped closer to the animal. It let out a shrill, strange, sound. John stepped back, but we all urged him on. “You can do it, John,” I said. John approached the animal once again. “I can’t hold the friggin’ pig for too long. You get one shot and one shot alone,” he told Dan.

Loving John: The Untold Story, May Pang

John & Yoko attempting to get revenge married in Paris 2 days after Paul & Linda

“On March 12, Paul married Linda Eastman at Marylebone Register Office in London, amid scenes of hysterical grief from his female fans. None of the other Beatles was present. The news reached John as he and Yoko were driving down to visit Aunt Mimi in Poole. Yoko’s divorce decree had become final a few weeks earlier, and, in a resurgence of Beatle copycat, John told her they, too, must get married as soon as possible”

Philip Norman, John Lennon: The life

We chose Gibraltar because it is quiet, British and friendly. We tried everywhere else first. I set out to get married on the car ferry and we would have arrived in France married, but they wouldn’t do it. We were no more successful with cruise ships. We tried embassies, but three weeks’ residence in Germany or two weeks’ in France were required.

John Lennon

SALEWICZ: Well, I always found it interesting the fact that he got – I mean, it seemed too much like coincidence to me, the fact that he got married a week or month after you. You know what I mean? PAUL: Yeah. I think we spurred each other into marriage. I mean, you know. They were very strong together, which left me out of the picture. So I got together with Linda and then we got strong with our own kind of thing. And I used to listen to a lot of what they said. I remember him saying to me, “You’ve got to work at marriage,” which is something I still remember as a bit of advice. I still remember that. Um… And then yeah, I think they were a little bit peeved that we got married first. Probably. In a little way, you know, just minor jealousies. And so they got married. I don’t know if that’s – I mean, who knows… [inaudible] making it up, anyway.

September, 1986 (MPL Communications, London): journalist Chris Salewicz

Their belief in telepathy & shared dreams

NEIL: I’d just rather not say anything. It’s one of those situations. PAUL: Yeah. [pause] Well, that’s – that’s the trouble you see, there, ‘cause that’s it. It’s like, with our – heightened awareness, the answer is not to say anything, you know. But it isn’t. ‘Cause I mean, we screw each other up totally if we don’t do that. ‘Cause we’re not ready for your heightened… vows of silence. [laughs; hapless] We’re really not! Like, we don’t know what the fuck each other’s talking about, when that – we all just sort of get— NEIL: I think it’s just between the four of you, that get it. That’s what I’d pretend. PAUL: Oh yeah, right, yeah. But you see, that’s it, that’s why John doesn’t say anything. ‘Cause he, you know, he just… There was something the other day, when I said, “Well, what do you think?” And he just stood there and didn’t say anything. And then – and I know exactly why, you know. I mean, I wouldn’t, if… [long pause] Somehow. You know, there’s nothing really much to be said about it. You just – we all just have to do it, and all that, instead of like talking about it. But – but if one of us is talking about it, it’s a drag if the other three aren’t. Because then it sort of throws you off. [inaudible; voice marking tape slate] I mean, we’ve just been talking about it now for a few years, you know. Like this…

From the Get Back sessions (13 January 1969).

HINDLE: What do you think about language? JOHN: I think it’s a bit crummy, you know? It is a drag form of communication, really. We’ll get – we’ll get telepathy. I believe that. HINDLE: You believe that? JOHN: Yeah, sure. Sure. Sure as anything I believe. It’s too… Because now we need it so much. [...] There are – there’s people everywhere of the same mind and it’s just… even amongst ourselves we can’t communicate. Which is the hard bit, you know. HINDLE: Yeah. JOHN: Amongst the people that sort of really agree. HINDLE: Just ’cause of words? JOHN: Just ’cause of words, and upbringing, and attitude, and how you express your… Well, it’s just some – you’ve got to find a mutual sort of language to express yourself, you know? And my language is that— HINDLE: Unless you fall in love it’s impossible to communicate like that. JOHN: I mean, I wasn’t in love last year, but I was communicating quite well with people. Not as well, or maybe not as powerfully. ’Cause now there’s two of us, doing that, brrmmm, whatever it is. Sending out a vibration or whatever. But before it was me and… or me and George, alright, or whatever it was; we weren’t in love, but. You know. There’s enough in you to shove it out. It is just that bit. If you – if somebody comes in a room and he’s uptight and that, he can make the whole room uptight.

John Lennon, interviewed by Maurice Hindle (December 1968).

PAUL: I remember when John and I were first hanging out together, I had a dream about digging in the garden with my hands. I’d dreamt that before but I’d never found anything other than an old tin can. But in this dream I found a gold coin. I kept digging and I found another. And another. The next day I told John about this amazing dream I’d had and he said, ‘That’s funny, I had the same dream’. So both of us had this dream of finding this treasure. And I suppose you could say it came true. I remember years later talking about it – ‘Remember that dream we had?’; ‘Yeah, that was far out’. So the message of that dream was: keep digging lads.

PAUL MCCARTNEY TO THE BIG ISSUE. FEBRUARY 2012.

John climbing the wall to Paul's house because Paul skipped a session for his & Linda's anniversary

(Not confirmed but supposedly)

Paul being utterly convinced that John can't be gay because he didn't try it on when they slept in the same bed

I mean, if John was–the trouble is, see, is he’s not here to fend for himself, and we can’t ask him, “‘Scuse me, John, are you–have you ever been gay?” I mean, he’s the kind— I remember people used to ask that. There were lots of people asking cheeky questions, and they were always saying, “Well, why–have you ever tried homosexuality, John?” You know, they always used to ask all that kind of stuff. I remember John saying to them, “No, I’ve never met a fella I fancy enough.” And that was his kind of opinion. You know, “I may go–I may be gay one day, if some fella really turns me on.” He was–he was that open about it. But as far as I was concerned, I slept in a million hotel rooms–as we all did–slept in a million places with John, and there was never any hint of it.

December 24th, 1983: interview with DJ Roger Scott

“And I say, if he’s homosexual, I thought he’d have made a pass at me in 20 years, darling.”

Paul McCartney talking about John Lennon.

“Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager, was a known homosexual. Epstein was always polite and charming. It has been insinuated that John was drawn to Epstein. I believe there was no such relationship between them. John was macho. But if John was a homosexual, it would have made no difference to me. I’ve asked Paul McCartney, who laughed and said: ‘Why not me? I’m handsome.’ Then he said: ‘I was holed up with John in hotel rooms everywhere. There was never a suggestion of anything like that.’ I believe him.”

Julia Baird, in Boston Globe: Lennon’s half-sister remembers… (2 October 1988).

“All I can ever say about it is that I slept with John a lot because you had to, you didn’t have more than one bed - and to my knowledge John was never gay.”

Paul McCartney, The Brian Epstein Story

And maybe he's right to be offended?

Did Lennon have sex with other men? “I think he had a desire to, but I think he was too inhibited,” says Ono. “No, not inhibited. He said, ‘I don’t mind if there’s an incredibly attractive guy.’ It’s very difficult: They would have to be not just physically attractive, but mentally very advanced too. And you can’t find people like that.” So did Lennon ever have sex with men? “No, I don’t think so,” says Ono. “The beginning of the year he was killed, he said to me, ‘I could have done it, but I can’t because I just never found somebody that was that attractive.’ Both John and I were into attractiveness—you know—beauty.”

Yoko Ono: I Still Fear John’s Killer by Tim Teeman for the Daily Beast (13 October 2015).

There was even some discussion, albeit not very serious, of whether he should stick to his own gender. “John said ‘It would hurt you like crazy if I made it with a girl. With a guy, maybe you wouldn’t be hurt, because that’s not competition. But I can’t make it with a guy because I love women too much, and I’d have to fall in love with the guy and I don’t think I can.’”

Yoko on her and John discussing the terms of an open marriage in 1973 (John Lennon: The Life)

On that note, Paul's obsession with sleeping in the same bed as John

Paul McCartney answers questions for Q magazine, 1998

John and I used to hitch-hike places together, it was something that we did together quite a lot; cementing our friendship, getting to know our feelings, our dreams, our ambitions together. It was a very wonderful period. I look back on it with great fondness. I particularly remember John and I would be squeezed in our little single bed, and Mike Robbins, who was a real nice guy, would come in late at night to say good night to us, switching off the lights as we were all going to bed.

Many Years From Now

John and I always liked wordplay. So, the phrase ‘She’s got a ticket to ride’ of course referred to riding on a bus or train, but – if you really want to know – it also referred to Ryde on the Isle of Wight, where my cousin Betty and her husband Mike were running a pub. That’s what they did; they ran pubs. He ended up as an entertainment manager at a Butlin’s holiday resort. Betty and Mike were very showbiz. It was great fun to visit them, so John and I hitchhiked down to Ryde, and when we wrote the song we were referring to the memory of this trip. It’s very cute now to think of me and John in a little single bed, top and tail, and Betty and Mike coming to tuck us in.

Paul McCartney, on ‘Ticket To Ride’. In The Lyrics (2021).

“John and I grew up like twins although he was a year and a half older than me. We grew up literally in the same bed because when we were on holiday, hitchhiking or whatever, we would share a bed. Or when we were writing songs as kids he’d be in my bedroom or I’d be in his. Or he’d be in my front parlour or I’d be in his, although his Aunt Mimi sometimes kicked us out into the vestibule!”

New Statesman, “Paul McCartney - Meet The Beatle,” September 26, 1997

“I wrote all those songs with him so…. what can I say to people?? We were kids! I mean… we slept together, topped and tailed in beds and hitch-hiking and stuff, so,…. I mean, we were just totally you know,….. mates.”

Paul McCartney

John taking matters into his own hand to start rumours about him and Paul

The consensus among John, Paul and Yoko that if J&P could have been together, they would have

“. . . I mean, I think really what it was, really all that happened was that John fell in love. With Yoko. And so, with such a powerful alliance like that, it was difficult for him to still be seeing me. It was as if I was another girlfriend, almost. Our relationship was a strong relationship. And if he was to start a new relationship, he had to put this other one away. And I understood that. I mean, I couldn’t stand in the way of someone who’d fallen in love. You can’t say, “Who’s this?” You can’t really do that. If I was a girl, maybe I could go out and… But you know I mean in this case I just sort of said, right – I mean, I didn’t say anything, but I could see that was the way it was going to go, and that Yoko would be very sort of powerful for him. So um, we all had to get out the way.”

Paul McCartney, interview with German tv program Exclusiv, April 1985.

JOHN: It’s a plus, it’s not a minus. The plus is that your best friend, also, can hold you without… I mean, I’m not a homosexual, or we could have had a homosexual relationship and maybe that would have satisfied it, with working with other male artists. [faltering] An artist – it’s more – it’s much better to be working with another artist of the same energy, and that’s why there’s always been Beatles or Marx Brothers or men, together. Because it’s alright for them to work together or whatever it is. It’s the same except that we sleep together, you know? I mean, not counting love and all the things on the side, just as a working relationship with her, it has all the benefits of working with another male artist and all the joint inspiration, and then we can hold hands too, right?

John Lennon, interview w/ Sandra Shevey. (Mid-June?, 1972)

Y: After the initial embarrassment, that how Paul is being very nice to me, he’s nice and a very, str- on the level, straight, sense, like wherever there’s something like happening at the Apple, he explains to me, as if I should know. And also whenever there’s something like they need a light man, or something like that he asks me if I know of anybody, things like that. And like I can see that he’s just now suddenly changing his attitude, like his being, he’s treating me with respect, not because it’s me, but because I belong to John. I hope that’s what it is because that would be nice. And I feel like he’s my younger brother or something like that. I’m sure that if he had been a woman or something, he would have been a great threat, because there’s something definitely very strong with me, John, and Paul.

Yoko Ono, Revolution Tape, June 4th 1968

"We thought we'd do a number of an old estranged fiancé of mine called Paul.""

As a second choice from the Lennon- McCartney songbook, Elton suggested 'I Saw Her Standing There'. This appealed to John for its antiquity, and because its lead vocal always was sung by Paul. (...) There was a whisper of Royal Variety Show mischief when he announced "a number by an old estranged fiancé of mine called Paul" - no one yet knowing the estranged fiancés were long reconciled.

John Lennon: The Life, Philip Norman

You know, John loved Paul. No doubt about it. I remember once he said to me, “I’m the only person who’s allowed to say things like that about Paul. I don’t like it when other people do.” He didn’t like if other people said nasty things about Paul. And he always referred to Paul as his estranged fiancé and things like that, like he did on that [live] record ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ with Elton in Madison Square Garden.

1990: Former Beatles publicist Tony King

Married couple signatures

(and the reverse of that postcard...)

John publicly predicting Paul & Linda's divorce

You were right about New York! I do love it; it's the ONLY PLACE TO BE. (Apart from anything else, they leave you alone too!) I see you prefer Scotland! (MM) -- I'll bet you your piece of Apple you'll be living in New York by 1974 (two years is the usual time it takes you right?)

John's letter to Paul in Melody Maker, 1971 Finally, about not telling anyone that I left the Beatles—PAUL and Klein both spent the day persuading me it was better not to say anything—asking me not to say anything because it would 'hurt the Beatles'—and 'let's just let it petre out'—remember? So get that into your petty little perversion of a mind, Mrs. McCartney—the cunts asked me to keep quiet about it. Of course, the money angle is important—to all of us—especially after all the petty shit that came from your insane family/in laws—and GOD HELP YOU OUT, PAUL—see you in two years—I reckon you'll be out then—inspite of it all, love to you both, from us two.

John's personal letter to Linda & Paul, 1971

JOHN: Oh, [Klein]’d love it if Paul would come back. I think he was hoping he would for years and years. He thought that if he did something, to show Paul that he could do it, Paul would come around. But no chance. I mean, I want him to come out of it, too, you know. He will one day. I give him five years, I’ve said that. In five years he’ll wake up. YOKO: And people don’t understand, you know. There’s so many groups that constantly announce they’re going to split, they’re going to split, and they can announce it every year, and it doesn’t mean they’re going to split. But people don’t understand what an extraordinary position the Beatles are in, you know. In every way. They’re in such an extraordinary position that they’re more insecure than other people. And so Klein thinks he’ll give Paul two years Linda-wise, you know. And John said, “No, Paul treasures things like children, things like that. It will be longer.” And of course, John was right.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, interview w/ Peter McCabe and Robert Schonfeld. (September, 1971)

[dollfaced-erin]

imagine if jing yuan eventually got jealous of mimi getting more attention than him

honestly ! THIS IS SO CUTE HELP HEHEHE

i couldnt help but wonder if this could be part of a one shot if someone wants to read it…i mean, i could make a spin off series of one shots and scenarios that stray off the main line story, using the current Vidyadhara reader !

In this scenario, we will be following the current timeline of the story, but i can put a little extra that strays from the original as a treat ! (so dont go telling Blade i made scenarios behind his back hehe !

REMINDER ! THIS IS BASED ON MY FANFICTION SERIES, DRAGON'S CRADLE !

TW : SLIGHTLY SUGGESTIVE THEMES !

Taglist ! : -

@rebeccawinters , @nayukiyukihira , @pix-stuff , @fluffy-koalala , @swivy123 , @starxao , @kaoyamamegami , @kimura-uzuri , @rsvye , @seikouryuu , @just-here-reading , @matsulovesyou, @sincerely-aaronette , @prettyliliy , @chibiduck , @hermosacolibri , @la-diablas-thingz

Though Yanqing was quite the rambunctious kid, during the night when he was left to his own devices, there was nothing else but him, and his papers, the moon, the sound of crickets, and more papers. Yeah…not to mention more papers of endless trivial reports spilled here and there on and under the small table in his room which he would read whenever he couldn't sleep.

Why ? To get sleepy by looking at something completely disinteresting.

Jing Yuan really couldn't help it. Almost everywhere his eyes landed, he would be reminded of his long lost companions. Though people say that wounds heal with time, how can 500 years not be sufficient enough to patch up all the pain he endured…?

Looking at his weapon he had stored in his room, he was reminded of Yingxing. Looking at Yanqing training, he was reminded of his own days with Jingliu. Looking at the Starskiffs in the sky, he was reminded of Baiheng who loved the galaxy, and once a member of the Nameless. Looking at the Alchemy Commission and the Scalegorge Waterscape, he was reminded of Dan Feng.

And at night when he was alone, looking up at the moon, he was reminded of Dan Jia.

But for the following days that (Y/n) resided in his abode for the time being, he felt like that void was slowly being patched up, like he wasn't the only one suffering in all this mess. Sure, he did want her to remember her past, but if it only will bring her suffering…

He would rather see her smile as she leaned against the wooden guardrail, gazing up at the moon. Like she was now, as they stood in silence, the only sound between them being the water splashing and the rushing in the manmade river in his personal gardens.

Jing Yuan relished in the sight of her smiling so peacefully, so carefree, like Dan Jia once did. He was about to call out to her when…

Sounds of heavy feet pressing against the dirt and pushing down the grass blades entered their ears, the sound of purring being the sole trait to the one that had interrupted them.

"Ah, Mimi !" (Y/n) called out, pushing herself off of the railings as she skipped off to the feline. She smiled brightly, a smile that she seldom showed any being, save for the large cat.

She ran her slender fingers through Mimi's mane, chuckling as she rubbed her face against Mimi's. Jing Yuan smiled and sighed, crossing over his arms, leaning against the wood, as he watched his companion put a smile on his dear friend's face.

Jing Yuan knew (Y/n) just needed a little love to give and receive without fear. He didn't regretted introducing Mimi to (Y/n), and he never would.

He takes it back. Oh how he wished he could take it back and say it again, this time with a grain of salt.

Another day he returns, another day full of useless complaints and meaningless reports. And another day of looking at (Y/n) and spending time with her as she ventured through the archives…and another day of…

"Mimi~!! Did you miss me~?" (Y/n) would coo out each time they returned from the Seat of Divine Foresight, after Jing Yuan had finished his work.

(Y/n) would let the feline approach her, as she bent down to embrace and kiss the snow lion. Jing Yuan would smile at her affectionate gesture to his companion…that is with an irk mark on his forehead.

Not to mention the snickering from Yanqing in the side.

"Looks like Lady (Y/n) here cares more for a lion than you, General." the young boy would tease.

"As long as she's happy, Yanqing. Have you not seen how much she smiles nowadays ? Perhaps I should treat Mimi to a little more…rewarding dinner soon." Jing Yuan would say, but he was obviously feeling different on the inside.

Yanqing would whistle, putting his hands behind his head as he looked at one of the seven arbitral generals in amusement. He raised one eyebrow, not even sparing a glance to the general to know what he was thinking. "Jealous, General ?"

"Me ? Jealous ? How amusing, Yanqing." Jing Yuan said with a deep chuckle. He raised a large hand and placed it on the boy's head, ruffling his blonde locks. "I wonder where did you get that idea, hm ?"

He wasn't jealous. Just the sound of it was ridiculous.

He couldn't be jealous. Right ?

Right....?

Wrong.

After Yanqing made that little comment about jealousy, Jing Yuan couldn't help but notice the little things that (Y/n) did around him.

He noticed that the dragon lady really wouldn't pay attention much to him. She would be in her own bubble at times. But whenever it was about Mimi, he had never see someone turn their head any faster than (Y/n) did.

(Y/n) was a quiet person for most of the part, barely talking much or showing too much expression, but she was always so happy to see the lion. She would run her hands through the feline's white mane, placing soft butterfly kisses all over, and praising the lion before hanging out with Mimi.

The worse part of it is that Mimi seems to understand the extra attention (Y/n) was giving her, and Jing Yuan's despair of not receiving any at all. Jing Yuan swears he could see that sly gleam in the lion's eyes. And he bet that if she could smirk, she definitely would be smirking at his despair.

He swears that the lion herself was plotting against him, rubbing her head against (Y/n)'s leg whenever she was home, walking around with a book in her hands. (Y/n) would look over, and pet the lion, that would lean into her hand, and purr loudly, making (Y/n) smile.

She would always be kissing and hugging the lion in front of him with a sweet smile on her lips. Those lips...that were never void with that waxy shine of her balm, those pink muscles pulling to reveal her pearly whites.

And it was beginning to get on his nerves.

Currently they were in his bedroom, since (Y/n) still had nightmares from time to time. His bedroom was literally her room now, where she would sleep. She even had her little mattress on the floor he had prepared for her.

(Y/n) was leaning against Mimi, the feline purring loudly, resting her head on her paws as her eyes were shut as the two sat on the matted floor of his room. (Y/n) had a book in her hand, reading something she was given to entertain herself. Jing Yuan too was on the floor with them, a few feet away, by his small floor table, reading away at some scrolls.

"Hey, (Y/n)..." Jing Yuan would call out, only to be interrupted by loud yawn from Mimi. (Y/n) chuckled and ran her slender fingers through Mimi's mane, scratching her gently which the lion loved.

"You're so cute, Mimi. The cutest in the estate. My absolute favorite." (Y/n) would praise, as she pampered the animal.

And after hearing that too many times, he had grown irritated of hearing that. He didn't want (Y/n) to be telling that to her. He wanted it for HIM. And it was so TEMPTING, with the way she would softly giggle and smile.

He bit his lip, watching (Y/n) talk to Mimi softly, like the lion was some baby. But he loved the view before him, smiling softly.

(Y/n) sat on the ground, with Mimi close to the window. Though she was basked with the warm glow of the golden light in the room, the moonlight bathed her best. The way the pure light would bounce off her (s/c) skin, her cheeks, accentuating the shape of her nose and the slant of her eyes, the shadows of her hair on her face, her beautiful silk robes that shone under the light.

Moonlight really suited her best, with the way it casted the most beautiful shadows under the purest lighting. She just looked so graceful, with the way her hair fell, the shine in her precious (e/c) eyes, the shape of her horns on her head, the gleam on her lovely plump lips accompanied with her soft voice that was lulling him to sleep.

He wondered what it was like to be in Mimi's place, to be smothered in kisses...

"Princess..." Jing Yuan would call out again, only to be hushed by (Y/n) who was still baby-talking to Mimi.

He felt so annoyed. He had never been irked up to this point. Was a lion being prioritized over him now ?! She couldn't be serious, right ?!

He felt something deep inside him burning. Anger. Not really. He couldn't be angry at (Y/n) who was pampering Mimi. And he wasn't angry that Mimi was getting affection. Was he upset ? No.

Was this the jealousy Yanqing was talking about ?

Whatever it was, Jing Yuan had enough. If he was jealous, so be it. He was going to confront this matter head on. So he moved, putting down the scroll in his hands. And with a swift moment, got up and approached (Y/n).

Jing Yuan planted his right hand firmly on the ground next to (Y/n), his knee firmly on the ground next to her thigh. His left foot landed on her other side, as he pulled the book out of (Y/n)'s hands, leaning forward as he trapped her between his muscular figure and Mimi's sleeping figure.

"Jing Yuan--" "Pay attention to me too, (Y/n)."

"H-huh...?" (Y/n) gasped, lips slightly parted, quite confused as her cheeks began to heat up from the close confrontation. (E/c) eyes met hungry and impatient honey gold eyes, as it seems Jing Yuan had enough of this behavior of (Y/n)'s.

"I said pay attention to me, (Y/n). I've had enough of you babying Mimi but you don't listen to a word I say." he sternly said, almost glaring at her from behind his messy white bangs. He snapped her book shut after taking note of the page she was on earlier, setting it aside carefully.

"Jing..." "Yuan. Call me Yuan." Jing Yuan insisted, wanting her to use his first name instead of his last. They were close enough for her to do that, right ?

"Go on, say it." he said, his possessive side taking over him. He waited, waited for her to say his name with those pretty lips of hers.

"Y-Yuan..." (Y/n) said shyly, not used to his sudden dominance. Her cheeks were burning red, even under the dim lighting, her eyes cast down as she cutely said his name.

Oh God...

"Again." he commanded, using his large hand to hold her chin tenderly, tilting her head up so that her eyes would meet his.

The sound of her calling him by his first name was making him feel things...

"Yuan..." she shyly said, again, her eyes meeting his own. Her pink lips moved to say his name, the way they pursed and parted...

He couldn't handle himself anymore.

Jing Yuan closed his eyes smashed his lips against (Y/n)'s own, feeling his lips molding against her soft own. His heart was beating in his ears, as his instincts kicked in, wanting more and more from her.

Her lips were so sweet...so soft. It was even better than what he had ever imagined them to be.

They pulled back for a moment, to catch their breath. Their eyes were still in contact, swirling with emotions full of need and want. (Y/n)'s cheeks were flushed as was his own, their chests close to touching as they heaved, rising and falling rapidly to take in oxygen they lost.

But he was still breathless.

She...was so breathtaking...

Mimi sensed the heat between the two individuals as she woke up and moved. As (Y/n) was about to fall, Jing Yuan caught her with his hand, and slowly laid her down onto the matted floor. He looked at the lion, and as Mimi laid down, to sleep again, he swore he could see her wink at him.

He took that as a sign as he looked back at (Y/n).

"Y-Yuan...?" (Y/n) called out and he felt something inside him snap.

Her hair was disheveled in an enticing way, her eyes quite shocked and...needy, her lips were separated and the way her robe was falling off her shoulder...

(Y/n)'s slender hands went around his neck, as her face got closer to his. Oh...how he wanted this moment to happen...and it was finally taking its course...

Her lips were so close to his. So he shut his eyes to relish in the feeling of pleasure...the distance was less than a single millimeter before their lips would meet again when she whispered,

"Wake up."

Jing Yuan's eyes opened in a flash, as his chest heaved. He sat up, trying to understand his surroundings, when he noticed he was on the bed. He must've fallen asleep after he took a bath, overthinking about Yanqing saying he was jealous earlier when they returned.

He sighed as he laid back down on the bed, putting his forearm over his eyes. It was just a dream. But it was so...real.

Her lips...felt so soft.

Wait, speaking of lips, where was (Y/n) ?

He quickly sat up, eyes scouring around before he saw the woman he was seeking for on the floor, the lion curled up to keep her comfortable. Jing Yuan sighed as he got up from the bed, picking up the sleeping dragon lady in his arms.

(Y/n) stirred in her sleep, (e/c) eyes opening to look at him in a daze. "Jing...?" she sleepily called out.

Jing Yuan smiled as he placed her on the bed, putting a pillow between them as a simple barrier. "You look uncomfortable on the floor, princess. Here, sleep here for the night, okay ?"

"Mhm..." she sleepily nodded. Jing Yuan chuckled as he laid on the bed next to her, reaching a hand over to stroke her hair.

(Y/n) took his hand, clasped softly between her smaller own. Then she closed her eyes, bringing his hand close to her face as she began to doze of again.

Jing Yuan's eyes widened a little, before he smiled, his heart melting at the sight of the pretty woman before him. Sure that she was asleep, he placed a soft kiss on her temple, satisfied with just that after getting quite the scare from his dream.

"Sweet dreams, my princess..."

[babyniigo]

Stress regressed Ena with Caregiver Mizu? If it’s not too much trouble

Little! Ena and CG! Mizu on stressful days ໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

Ena always has trouble managing her emotions, especially when stress piles up ૮ ෆ ´ ˕ ` ෆ ა

When she stress regresses, Mizuki always is the one who helps her with this! ૮ ྀི◞ ⸝⸝ ◟ ྀིა

At first, Ena refuses to regress, and it takes a lot of gentle coaxing and cuddling from Mizuki until she regresses ૮꒰ྀི◜༝◝ ꒱ྀིა

And even then, she is regressed, she tends to act out at bit, becoming a very fussy and grumpy toddler. ૮ ⸝⸝o̴̶̷᷄ ·̭ o̴̶̷̥᷅⸝⸝ ྀིა

If Ena’s given a toy, she pushes it away. And if she’s given food, she refuses to eat.

But then Mizuki takes her into her lap, and takes her hands into hers gently and starts talking to her ૮ ◞ ﻌ ◟ ა

“Did you have a hard day, princess? It’s okay… your big emotions are being mean to you now aren’t they?”

“But it’s okay, Mimi’s got you. If you need to cry, I got you baby, it’ll be okay.”

I think this is all it takes for Ena before she starts crying it all out, letting the stress from her hard day out

Mizuki gently shushes her, and coos at her, rocking her gentle from side to side while playing with her hair. ૮꒰◞ ⸝⸝ ◟꒱ა

She gives her baby sooo many kisses on the crown of her head, humming to her until she’s soothed ૮꒰ྀི⊃´ ꒳ `⊂ྀི꒱ა

Due to stressing out and crying, Ena regresses even smaller and becomes non verbal

Mizuki softly wipes away her tears and picks her up to the kitchen to make her a nice sippy cup of Ena’s favourite juice ૮꒰ྀི ᵔ ๑ ᵔ ꒱ა

Also! She uses tiny utensils and spoon feeds ena cheesecake to cheer her up! Doing little airplane sounds, and trying to tickle her to cheer her up!

Ena becomes sooo clingy when stress regressed, so Mizu has to pick her up and take her everywhere! She can’t put the baby down, or else the baby cries ς꒰ ´‌ ତ ˋ‌ς ꒱ა

When it’s sleep time, Ena loves it when Mizuki cradles her to her chest and plays with her hair.

Just a warm cuddle, her pacifier and her cgs soothing voice is all it takes to soothe baby to a warm and nice sleep ૮꒰ ྀི◜๑◝ ꒱ა

It’s not too much to ask for at all! I hope you enjoyed this ₊˚⊹ ૮₍ ´ ꒳ `₎ა ♡₊ ⊹

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x30 - The Digimon's Great Traversal of Tokyo / Almost Home Free

Previously on Digimon Adventure: The Chosen Children searched for the Eighth Child in Hikarigaoka's local library, where they were able to look up a copy of the OVA and remember the plot. Mammon tried to cause a ruckus when they got to the Parrotmon part but it's okay 'cause Garudamon stepped out and took care of it.

The Chosen Children and Tailmon's mercenaries have all failed to find the Eighth Child in Hikarigaoka. But the Children have learned much about how they were Chosen.

This episode comes with a trigger warning: Human adults being child predators.

We open on PicoDevimon reporting back to Vamdemon about what happened.

Vamdemon: What? Garudamon has been sighted? PicoDevimon: Yes, sir. It's been reported that the Chosen Children have arrived in this world. Vamdemon: Have you located the Eighth Child yet? PicoDevimon: We're currently raising our efforts and expanding our search perimeter.

As he speaks, we see glimpses of Tailmon and a few mercs no longer in silhouette.

Tailmon is roaming around the city, continuing her manual search from last episode.

Wizarmon is street performing at the amusement park to lure in children so he check the counterfeit Crest against a crowd.

SkullMeramon is skulking about in a trenchcoat watching children like a creep.

Gesomon is patrolling the waterways. I... guess he's looking for water children?

(Wizarmon is the stand-out smart guy of the bunch. He's letting the children come to him in an innocuous fashion. SkullMeramon, meanwhile, is likely to be reported to police by concerned onlookers. As he should; He has hostile intentions towards children.)

Vamdemon: The children must also be looking for the Eighth Child. Hurry! We cannot let the children gain the upper hand! PicoDevimon: Yes, sir!

Almost no change in the dub, with the exception of silence-breaking dialogue added to the shots of the searching Digimon.

DemiDevimon: We're looking everywhere! Air, land, and sea! We've got it covered, no problem!

I'm as confused by why the Eighth Child would be in the air as I am by why she'd be in the sea.

Then again... frame of reference. Aerial children and aquatic children are completely normal where Tailmon and PicoDevimon come from.

Meanwhile, the children make plans to leave Hikarigaoka.

Taichi: If the Eighth Child's not here in Hikarigaoka, we should hurry up and look in other places. We can't waste time here or Vamdemon will get ahead of us. Mimi: But couldn't they just be goofing off somewhere? Koushiro: No, I don't think so. The other connection between all of us is.... Sora: We all moved away from Hikarigaoka? Koushiro: Yes. Unless that is a coincidence, we should assume that the Eighth Child also moved. Taichi: So they could be in Odaiba like us? Koushiro: That is our most likely possibility. Mimi: (excited) I want to go home! Taichi: Yeah... Alright, let's head for Odaiba first!

Irony: We didn't actually need to come to Hikarigaoka and spent all that time manipulating Fujiyama for nothing. And now we have to find a way to reach Odaiba 27 miles away, because we got off our transport to Odaiba so we could come to Hikarigaoka.

The dub skips the discussion of why we're going to Odaiba. Tai is convinced right from the get-go that the Eighth Child is in Odaiba, for reasons unexplained.

Mimi: Can we get a snack before we go looking? Tai: There's no time. We've got to get to Odaiba and find that Eighth Kid before somebody else does! Mimi: How will we get there? Do you think there's any fast food places along the way? Tai: Would you knock it off about the food? Anyway, we've only got enough money for our subway tickets. Joe: Subway? Oh, wow. My parents won't let me ride the subway by myself. Tai: You're not by yourself. Now come on! Mimi: Are subways like regular trains? I mean, do they have snack cars? Tai: JUST DROP IT!!! And stick together, everybody. It can get kind of confusing down here.

They also tweak Mimi's dialogue so that Tai can yell at her. This one's a bit odd, in that it actually fits Mimi's established characterization from the original pretty well. As we know from the Kentarumon episode, Mimi's stubborn when she's hangry. So, unlike the Valley Girl bits, this bit is rooted in her original persona pretty well.

But I'm still miffed that Mimi gets three lines in this scene and they're all prompts for Tai to tell her to shut the fuck up.

Also, Joe gets one too. Pretty much the entire scene has been replaced with Tai dunking on Joe and Mimi to show how much of a boss he is. Izzy, the actual main character of this scene, doesn't even get a word in.

The Chosen Children descend into the incredibly complex Tokyo rail network.

Jou: Let's see... The fastest way to reach Odaiba is.... Mimi: (shrug) I can't tell because there's so many routes available. Koushiro: (laptop) Please wait just a minute. The fastest way to get there is... If we take the Toei #12 Line from here to Nakano-sakaue, transfer to the Marunouchi and Ginza Lines and leave from Shimbashi, the Yurikamome route will take us to Odaiba. Taichi: Okay then! (approaching ticket machine) Let's head to Nakano-sakaue first.

Glad we have Koushiro here to Computers our way through the incredibly intimidating Tokyo rail network because Jou probably would have been here all day and Mimi, I'm sorry but you are no help here.

In the dub, Joe starts us off with a quip and Mimi's still on about the food.

Joe: I just hope Myotismon has as much trouble reading this map as I do. Mimi: Okay, what do we do now!? Besides starve to death! Izzy: I'm just figuring it out. ...okay, that'll work. Now, the fastest route to Odaiba is to take the #12 train to Nagano and transfer to the Marunouchi Line. Then transfer to the Ginza and get off at Shimbashi. Mimi: ...huh? Tai: Sounds simple enough. (approaching ticket machine) Now we just have to figure out the right fare.

Surprisingly, Izzy relays Koushiro's directions for navigating the Tokyo subway system almost word for word.

He cuts Nakano-sakaue down to "Nagano". Point off for mispronouncing it, but dropping the "-sakaue" isn't necessarily wrong. Nakano-sakaue is the name of the subway station for Nakano Ward, so both ways of saying it work.

In a refreshing change of pace, this scene is completely unafraid to be in Japan. They even show us the subway map unedited, with all of its Japanese text marking the different stations intact.

While Taichi's buying tickets, the Digimon chime in.

Koromon: (hops up on the counter) Hey Taichi, what's that? Taichi: A ticket. This is what we use to ride the subway. Palmon: Subway? Patamon: What's that? Jou: Shhh! Don't talk so much in front of other people. This place isn't like your world. If anyone sees you talking, they'll cause a fuss. Sora: Listen, while you're here, you need to pretend to be stuffed animals. You can't move around, okay? I know it's going to be tough, but please bear with it. Pyokomon: Okay, I understand! I won't talk or move. It's much easier to be carried around by Sora anyway. (wiggles and sings) Hehe ~Sora~-- Sora: I just said not to move!

It's not easy being Digimon in the human world. I feel for them. I'd hate to have to pretend to be a plushie all day too.

(Oh, so that's why Mimi's so hungry. Off-model Chonky Patamon ate all the food. Now he can see through time.)

The dub follows the script until it gets to Sora and Yokomon. Pyokomon's bit is a callback to her and Sora's first episode on File Island, but the dub cut the clingy ~Sora ~Sora ~Sora conflict from the episode so the callback doesn't work here. Instead, Yokomon has an idea.

Sora: Yeah, while we're here, you've got to pretend to be toys or stuffed animals. But remember to keep still and no fidgeting. Yokomon: Here's an idea! I'll be one of those dolls you told me about. The kind where you squeeze them and they go... (wiggles and sings) ...WAHH! WAHH! WAHH! Sora: Be a doll that doesn't talk!

Once the tickets are purchased, IT'S FIGHTING TIME!!!

...wait, what?

While the Chosen Children wait for the train, Tsunomon and Koromon start chatting despite what Jou said a moment ago.

Koromon: Is this a cave? Tsunomon: It's a weird cave. Yamato: (hisses) Hey! Be quiet. Announcer: The train is arriving on time. Please remain behind the white line.

Hearing the rumbling of the approaching train, the two Baby Digimon grow concerned.

Koromon: W-What's that sound? Tsunomon: Is that a Digimon's voice!? Koromon: LOOK!!! THERE'S SOMETHING GLOWING IN THE CAVE!!! Tsunomon: That's it! It must be one of Vamdemon's minions!

Before Taichi and Yamato realize what's happening, Koromon and Tsunomon leap onto the goddamn train tracks to fight the oncoming train.

Taichi: HUH!?!? Yamato: TSUNOMON!!!

They realize their mistake once they see the train approach. It's not super clear how Koromon and Tsunomon survive this, but they're intact after it passes and seem to have pressed themselves against the back wall to avoid being hit.

Fortunately, this train is apparently not stopping here and speeds right on past. I guess that one isn't not ours.

In the dub:

Koromon: It's some kind of cave. Tsunomon: I don't like being underground. Yamato: Hey! Put a lid on it. Announcer: Attention, attention. #12 train now arriving at platform 7. Koromon: What? Where'd that voice come from. Tsunomon: You heard it!? Then it's not just inside my head! Koromon: SOMETHING'S COMING!!! Tsunomon: LOOK AT THOSE GLOWING EYES!!! IT'S ONE OF MYOTISMON'S GOONS!!! (Koromon and Tsunomon leap onto the tracks) Tai: HEY!!! Matt: Watch out!

The dub puts a commercial break right here, moments before the train threatens to splatter Koromon and Tsunomon. Which is honestly a great place for it. A+ commercial placement. Solid cliffhanger to keep the kids from changing the channel.

It also claims that this is the train we're waiting for. Which makes it odd that the train doesn't stop at our platform. Excuse you, we would like to get on, please.

The kids board the subway with their "stuffed animals".

It does not go well.

The seven Chosen Children have a row of seats to themselves on the crowded train, with their Digimon in their laps.

Taichi: (angrily) Making me worry....

Taichi punches Koromon in the head for that stunt.

In the dub, it's:

Tai: We can't take you guys anywhere!

Suddenly, they overhear a baby crying. A woman, forced to stand for lack of available seating, is trying to soothe her crying baby. Sora stands up, offering her seat to the woman.

Mother: There, there. Stop crying and be a good boy. Sora: (stands) Um, here you go. Mother: Oh! Thank you so much. (sits, patting her baby) Good boy... Good boy... Don't cry.

Suddenly, the baby stops crying. He sees Pyokomon in Sora's arms. Without warning, he reaches out and grabs her pistil.

(RUDE. In case you are not familiar with the anatomy of a flower, that orange stem sticking up from Pyokomon is her pistil. It's the female sex organ, containing her seed pod. The yellow ones are her stamens, which are male sex organs that produce pollen for germinating the pistil. Flowers have both.

This child is basically yanking Pyokomon's ovaries. Her pistil and stamen may be strictly aesthetic but it's still rude!)

The child's mother is oblivious to the yanking, having shut her eyes to enjoy a blissful moment of rest once her child stopped crying.

Sora: E-Excuse me. Mother: Huh? ...oh, I'm so sorry. Come on....

She tries to pull her child's hand off of Pyokomon's pistil, but that infuriates the boy. He starts yelling and tugging harder, as if trying to rip the pistil out.

Mochimon: ...that has to hurt....

Finally, Pyokomon reaches her breaking point and screams.

Pyokomon: THAT HURTS!!! STOP PULLING ON ME!!!

The entire train goes deathly quiet.

In the dub:

Mother: Aww, there now. Hush. Come on. Sora: (stands) Here, take my seat. Mother: Huh? Oh! Thank you! (sits) Wasn't that nice of that girl? We've been on our feet all day, haven't we? (The mom shuts her eyes and the baby starts yanking on Yokomon) Sora: Uhh! Excuse me! Mother: Huh? Oh! What are you doing now!? No... (The mother tires to pull the baby's hand away; The baby yanks harder) Mother: No no, honey! Let go now! That's the girl's toy. Come on! Honey! Motimon: Ouch, that's gotta hurt. Mother: Oh come on, honey. Let go of the girl's toy before you break it! HONEY.... Yokomon: HEY!!! WILL YOU LET GO OF ME!?!?

The mother gets some silence-breaking dialogue during the hard yanking, which comes through pretty well here. We don't really see much of the mom after that initial attempt, so the implied continued effort to control her child is good for the scene, I think.

Also, "We've been on our feet all day, haven't we?" is a lovely addition to the scene. I really like the dub's take on the mom here.

I do think the original version of Pyokomon's outburst hits harder than Yokomon's. Pyokomon breaks protocol because her pain tolerance has hit its limit and she can't take any more of this torture. Motimon tries to sell it and we do see Yokomon grimacing in pain, but Yokomon's line just sounds like she's mad that her personal space is being violated.

For a good ten seconds after Pyokomon's outburst, you can hear a pin drop. Then a kid points and shouts.

Kid: IT TALKED!!! THE DOLL TALKED!!! Sora: (lightbulb) That must have hurt! You poor thing! There, there....

Sora gently pets Pyokomon and whispers the plan to her. From here, when Pyokomon speaks, Sora covers Pyokomon's mouth with her hand and subtly moves her own lips to make it look like she's throwing her voice.

Sora: (whisper) Play along with whatever I say. Pyokomon: U-Uh-huh. Sora: (loudly) But you know, the baby only did that because he really likes you, Pyokomon! Pyokomon: Really? Sora: It's true! So forgive him for what he did, okay? Pyokomon: I'm sorry for yelling at you.

The plan works. The baby starts laughing and having a good time.

The dub starts this scene with another Good Actually silence-destroying line, with a bewildered Sora attempting to explain. Meanwhile, the pointing kid is noticeably played by Izzy's actor trying and failing to differentiate his voice by putting on a Rough Kid tone.

Sora: ...I guess my toy didn't like when you pulled on it.... Kid: Did you hear that!? That stuffed animal talked! Sora: ...AH! It worked! All that practice is paying off! Fooled 'em, didn't we? (pets Yokomon and whispers) Hush, just keep quiet and play along.

In the original, Pyokomon speaks while Sora subtly but visibly moves her lips to disguise the source of her voice. Sora holds her hand over Pyokomon's mouth to disguise the movement of Pyokomon's own mouth, so it looks like the one speaking is really Sora.

In the dub, Sora tells Yokomon to keep quiet, then she badly attempts to imitate Yokomon's voice with her subtle lip flaps.

Sora: Come on! The baby pulled your hair because he likes you, that's all! Sora-Yokomon: Oh, really? Sora: There's no reason to bite the poor thing's head off! Sora-Yokomon: Oh! I'm very sorry I shouted!

Since Sora has no experience with ventriloquism and obviously can't be throwing her voice correctly, I'm not sure why the dub ploy works. There's also no reason for her to be covering Yokomon's mouth, since Yokomon isn't saying anything.

The plan works well and the crowd buys it. In fact, the plan works too well.

Kid's Father: Oh, she's doing ventriloquism. It's really the young lady who's speaking for the doll. Isn't that amazing? Bystander 1: It's just ventriloquism. Bystander 2: I really thought it talked! Bystander 3: Obviously, it couldn't have!

The other Chosen Children, watching Sora's near-disaster with bated breath, finally exhale. Everything looks to be ov--

Kid: I want one! Dad, I want that doll! Buy it! Buy it! Buy it, Dad! Come on, buy it! Father: (gets up and approaches Sora) Excuse me, miss. Sorry to bother you, but where did you get that? Sora: W-Where...?

The other kids watch Sora with fear and horror on their faces once more. How the hell is she supposed to answer this question? Ten seconds of silence pass as Sora struggles to think of something to say.

Announcement: (bing bong) Nerima. This is Nerima. Please exit to your right. Sora: ...the... NERIMA DAIKON DEPARTMENT STORE!!! Father: Aha! Thank you!

Father, son, and every other passenger all rush out the door at once, leaving the Chosen Children alone on the train. Except the mother and baby, who wait for the rush before departing much more calmly.

Mother: (to Sora) Thank you very much. (disembarks) Pyokomon: Farewell!

At long last, we are out of the danger zone.

Over in the dub, the pointing kid manages to be even more obnoxious, and the father fills those ten seconds of silence with dialogue.

Kid: I want one! Daddy, give me that toy! I want that doll! If I don't get one RIGHT NOW I'LL START SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS!!! Father: Shhh. (gets up and approaches Sora) Excuse me, young lady. Can I ask where you bought that doll? I need one right away. Sora: Uh... Where I bought it? Father: It's not that hard a question, is it? Come on. You'll be doing me a big favor. Where did you find it? Announcement: This stop is Nerima. Please watch your step. Again, this stop is Nerima. Sora: Ohh... THE NERIMA DEPARTMENT STORE!!! Father: What? Nerima! Thanks a lot! Come on, son! (Crowd races out; Mother stands up to leave last) Mother: (to Sora) Thanks again. (disembarks) Pyokomon: Goodbye!

Nobody does pushy, entitled brats like Americans. We are the MVP of spoiled rotten children. And spoiled rotten adults, too. That the Japanese father patiently waits for Sora to come up with her answer while the American father jumps down her throat and won't let her think seems very fitting of both cultures.

Though he's actually supposed to be Japanese in both versions so... IDK.

Now that we're finally alone in the car and we've managed that crisis, the kids start to relax. Sora returns to her seat and everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Sora: That was a close one. Taichi: I thought we were goners for a second there. Jou: What is the Nerima Daikon Department Store? Sora: No idea. Takeru: I'm tired.... Mimi: Now that my tension's drained, I'm starting to feel sleepy.... Yamato: Yeah, me too.... Takeru: Hey, where are we supposed to get off again? Koushiro: At Nakano-sakaue.... Takeru: Nakano... sakaue....

Coming down off the adrenaline surge and already tired from a long day, the children drift off to sleep.

In the dub:

Sora: Wow, that was a close one. Tai: Pretty weird how nuts that kid went over Yokomon. Joe: If we don't find the Eighth Child, we could go into the-- Sora: --toy business? T.K.: How much longer? Mimi: Who knows? Someone wake me when we get there. Matt: Yeah, me too. T.K.: What's the name of the stop where we're getting off again? Izzy: We get off in Nagano. T.K.: Okay... Nagano....

We lose Sora's admission that she made up the department store she just sent those people to, which is a funny punchline replaced by an awkward quip about selling toys if Myotismon kills Kari.

We also lose Mimi's exposition that coming down off the adrenaline high is why the kids are suddenly taking inappropriate naptime.

By the time the train pulls into Nakano-sakaue, the children are fast asleep.

Patamon wakes up to the announcement they've arrived.

Announcer: Nakano-sakaue. Nakano-sakaue. Please exit to your right. Patamon: Nakano...saka... Huh? Why aren't we getting off here? Palmon: Shh. Don't talk.

Patamon claps his front paws over his mouth and hushes up. The train doors close and the train continues on its way.

In the dub, an interesting thing occurs with the announcement. The sign over the door in the original has the kanji for "Nakano-sakaue" in orange lettering, with red English lettering under it that says the same.

Despite all the uncensored Japanese lettering we've seen up to this point, apparently that sign is a bridge too far. Odd place to draw the line in the sand, given that this one comes with built-in English next to it, but okay.

The dub edits it for the "Nagano" station, so that it just has large, orange English lettering. The new orange lettering spells out "Nakano-sakaue".

Announcer: This stop is Nagano. Please watch your step. Again, this stop is Nagano. Patamon: Ohh! Huh? Hey! Here's our stop! Loo-- Palmon: We're supposed to be quiet.

So chalk this up to yet another example of the people editing the animation not communicating with the scripting team, I guess. The voice saying "This stop is Nagano" plays while the Nakano-sakaue sign is front and center onscreen.

At least it's not as bad as Shogunmon.

Eventually, the children wake up to find themselves at the wrong stop.

Sora: Huh? Jou: This is... (Cut to the sign) Jou: SHINJUKU!?!? GACKKKKK!!! Taichi: WE SLEPT THROUGH OUR STOP!!! Takeru: Patamon, you were awake!? Patamon: Yes. Takeru: Why didn't you wake us up!? Patamon: Because you told us not to talk. Children: (collective heavy sigh) Jou: Should we go back to Nakano-sakaue? Koushiro: No. I think we can still transfer to the Marunouchi Line from here.

In the dub, it's Mimi that notices where they are. Tragically, she does not make angry throat noises.

Sora: Ugh... huh? Tai: Huh? Joe: Whuh? (Cut to the sign) Mimi: HOW'D WE MISS OUR STOP!?!? Patamon: All of you slept right through it. T.K.: Patamon, you were awake!? Patamon: Sure! T.K.: What's wrong with you!? Why didn't you wake us up!? Patamon: How could I? You told us not to make a sound! Children: (collective groan) Joe: What now? Go back to our stop? Izzy: No. It's out of our way, but I think we can change trains here and be okay.

With the exception of Jou's angry throat noises, this is otherwise mostly the same. The other main difference is that they give Patamon a line for T.K. to react to. In the original, Takeru just sort of... somehow knows Patamon was awake, without explanation.

So this one goes down as a rare improvement over the original.

As the kids make their way through the station, appetites begin to flare up.

Koromon: Hey, Taichi, I'm hungry.... Tsunomon: Me too.... Palmon: So am I. Taichi: Deal with it. I'm hungry too, y'know. Mimi: I want to eat a hamburger.

Yes, Mimi is actually craving a hamburger in the original. "Watashi hamburger tabetai." That is not a dub line change. The thought of a hamburger, in fact, brings the group to a halt.

Sora: A hamburger? Yamato: I haven't had that in a long time.

Then they just stop. Looking to one another with glum expressions; The weight of this simple pleasure they've been deprived for so long hanging over everybody's heads. Seven seconds of silence pass as everyone processes what they've been missing. Finally broken when Mimi offers everyone a pleasant smile to try and raise the mood.

The dub plays this straight from the start, but then breaks script at Mimi's line and extends conversation to break the silence that follows.

Koromon: How much longer? I'm getting awful hungry, Tai! Tsunomon: Yeah, I'm starving! Palmon: Famished! Tai: It can wait. Hey, I'm hungry too, y'know! Mimi: I keep visualizing cheeseburgers. And I don't even eat cheeseburgers! (Group stops, beat) Matt: It has been a long time since any of us have eaten. And our Digimon get weak when they're hungry. (beat) Tai: ...okay.... Mimi: (pleasant smile)

Tonal shift. The English scene uses the burgers to point out that the kids haven't eaten since arriving in the human world, rather than that they've been away at war for several months. This is a tactical conversation, rather than a lingering realization of mutual hardship.

Additionally, it's Tai that cheers Mimi up by agreeing to get food rather than Mimi attempting to cheer everyone else up by putting on a brave face.

Two members of our nakama, however, are suspiciously absent from this conversation.

Jou and Koushiro navigate a crowd of people, trying to find their way.

Koushiro: The Marunouchi Line.... There are a lot of stations here. Jou: (calling over the noise) LISTEN UP, EVERYONE!!! BE SURE TO STAY CLOSE BEHIND US AND.... Uh.... (beat) Jou: (meekly) Hey, Koushiro? Koushiro: What is it, Jou-san? Jou: (meekly) Everybody's gone. Koushiro: Eh!? Jou: Honestly, where did they all go!? Koushiro: Oh, right. (pulls out Digivice) If we use this, we can find where everyone is right away! (looks at it) Wait. Why isn't it reacting? It worked fine when we were in the Digimon's world. Jou: Maybe it broke when we got here. Koushiro: (shakes the Digivice) That can't be right.

Koushiro tries shaking his Digivice to rattle it into working. I see he's finally beginning to side with Taichi on the topic of percussive maintenance.

As they walk, a woman in cosplay offers Jou a free sample of something.

Woman: Here you go.

Gomamon opens his mouth and happily bites it out of her hand.

Woman: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! (beat) Jou: AHHHHHHHHHH!!! THIS IS A TOY!!! A TOY!!!

Jou very unsuspiciously runs like hell while screaming "It's a toy" over and over at the top of his lungs. We are doing such a good job of keeping a low profile. :D

In the dub, Izzy and Joe seem to have psychically predicted that we'd be going for food because they are not looking for the Marunouchi line.

Joe: This place is a zoo! And not a restaurant in sight. The first one to see someplace to eat, give a shout, okay? ...huh? (beat) Joe: Oh, uh, hey, Izzy? Izzy: What is it? You see something? Joe: The other guys. They're gone. Izzy: WHAT!?!? Joe: I can't believe this! They ditched us! (groan) Izzy: Okay, okay. Don't panic. (pulls out Digivice) As long as we have this, we can always find them. (looks at it) Huh? That's funny. Why isn't it working? You think something might have happened to it when we came back to the real world? Joe: All I know is that this is one of those days where everything goes wrong. Izzy: (shakes the Digivice) Come on!

He also has a different terrible excuse for the sample incident.

Woman: Free samples! Gomamon: (chomp) Woman: AHHHHHHHHH!!! (beat) Joe: Uh... BAD DOG BAD DOG!!! (runs like hell)

So it seems like, in the dub version, Koushiro and Jou were just offscreen during the last scene and then this one takes place chronologically after. Tai and the others ditched them once they'd all decided to go look for food.

This is particularly weird, given how Jou will react to them finding food later in the episode.

In the original, they weren't in the scene because they'd already gotten separated. Koushiro and Jou were not privy to the hamburger depression spiral.

Jou and Koushiro leave the subway to look for the rest of the group. We're treated to an ominous and tense sequence of Jou and Koushiro hurrying down the sidewalk one way while SkullMeramon in his trenchcoat comes around the other side of the building.

As they approach collision, suddenly Jou spots the other kids. Taichi and the others are eating hamburgers in an upper floor of a building across the street, visible through a window.

Jou: AAAAAAAUGH!!! There they are! Koushiro: EHHHHHH!?!?

Against all odds and reason, despite the Digivice trackers not functioning, Jou manages to find the other kids with nothing but the notion that they're probably somewhere in Shinjuku to go off of.

(This would make way more sense if the trackers still worked. Why turn them off, show? Is it because you left a Digivice at Hikari's house during Taichi's visit and then realized that her having that would completely destroy this entire Search for the Eighth Child plotline?)

I guess his Senpai Sense told him where to go. His wards are kinda misbehaving....

In the dub, Joe and Izzy's exclusion continues to be extremely rude for reasons unknown.

Joe: Huh!? LOOK!!! THEY'RE EATING WITHOUT US!!!

Fucking jerks. They'd better have a good explanation for this.

Suddenly, Jou and Koushiro get the green light to go. Miraculously, a pair of workers carrying a large painting walk by, with the painting obscuring them from SkullMeramon as they pass in front of him. Jou and Koushiro continue on their way and SkullMeramon on his, neither aware of the other's presence.

Inside the restaurant, five of seven Chosen Children enjoy the first taste of greasy Western fast food they've had in years.

Taichi: Ahhh! Delicious! Mimi: So good! Sora: I almost forgot what this tasted like! Tsunomon: This isn't fair, Yamato! You get to eat tasty stuff like this every day! Yamato: Be a little quieter while you're eating. What if the other customers see you? Mimi: No one is paying attention to us, though.

Jou and Koushiro enter and approach their table.

Mimi: Huh? Takeru: It's Jou-san and Koushiro-san! Taichi: Hey! You guys should get something to eat too! The food's amazing! Jou: (quietly fuming) You... You guys didn't use your fare money for this, did you? Mimi: (cheerful) Yeah! We used all of it!

Jou fucking drops Gomamon on the floor and hangs his head, despondently groaning and shaking.

Sora: Sorry. We just couldn't resist the temptation of hamburgers. Jou: A-All of you... (eruption) WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU ALL THINKING!?!?

Suddenly, Jou's stomach rumbles, undermining his outburst. He slowly turns beet red, then storms off to go order food.

Jou: (furiously) I'll eat. I'll eat using ALL OF THE MONEY THAT I HAVE!!!

Guys, I think we broke Senpai.

Fujiyama was right when he tried not to let us go to Hikarigaoka. Now we're stranded in Shinjuku burning our fare money on McDonalds.

In the dub:

Mimi: I feel like a new woman! Tai: Man! Tastes great! Mimi: Yum-ilicious! Sora: Boy, I sure needed this! Tsunomon: You people are lucky! Yum yum! You get to eat this stuff every day! Matt: A little louder, why don't you? There's a couple of people that aren't staring yet. Mimi: Actually, nobody noticed yet but Matt's right, you should-- (gasps, seeing Joe and Izzy enter) Ohhh! Patamon: Uh-oh. T.K.: Joe! Izzy! Well, it's about time. Tai: Hey, what are you guys waiting for? Order something! Joe: How? When you guys have got all the money? Huh? Mimi: Whoops! We went and spent it all! Joe: (drops Gomamon, hangs head, and starts shaking) Sora: See, we were all so hungry, we ordered the super duper combos. Joe: Great. You spent it all? (eruption) THAT WAS ALL THE MONEY WE HAD IN THE WORLD!!! (Joe suddenly stops for no clear reason. He slowly turns beet red, then storms off) Joe: (muttering) Of all the dumb, greedy, selfish little things. It's unbelievable. These guys are supposed to be my friends! My friends! My friends!

Completing the dub-exclusive saga of Joe and Izzy being on Team Restaurant, it turns out he's upset in this version because they spent all the money on food for themselves and didn't get him anything. After ditching him and Izzy in the subway.

This scene is super ambiguous with regard to how malicious the other kids are being. On the "This is unapologetic bullying", we have the fact that they ditched Joe and Izzy in the subway to begin with. Why did they ditch them?

Patamon even gives out a little "Uh-oh" when Joe enters, like he's realizing they're about to be caught red-handed betraying Joe and Izzy. That "Uh-oh" is peculiar if they aren't doing anything wrong.

They just. Stole away with all the money, then burned it all on themselves and let Joe and Izzy starve. Fucking assholes. Joe's usually a target for the American group's bullying but what did Izzy do to deserve this? He's been trying to help them navigate the subway! Pricks! All of them pricks!

...part of me appreciates that Mimi gets to be on this side of the bullying for once.

But on the other hand, Tai's just like, "Hey, order food!" when he sees Joe. So. Like. It's possible they just got separated, like in the original. And also Tai somehow doesn't know they inexplicably pooled their money in this version, even though one of them has the entire money pool? I guess?

Who did we trust to carry the money pool? Because that person is still a complete fucking asshole. That kid knew they were screwing Joe and Izzy, even if the others forgot somehow. That kid should have said something when they were all ordering "super duper combos".

Probably goes without saying that I like the Senpai Meltdown version better, right? Because if they really did maliciously ditch Joe and Izzy, steal all the money, and go splurge on themselves, that is unacceptable character assassination of every single kid at this table. They would not fucking do that.

They made questionable choices in the original too, but they aren't actively hurting other members of their nakama in the process. Jou and Koushiro can still eat. This slap in the face to Joe actually made me angry.

Anyways. Moving along.

While Jou is furiously ordering his own food, Koushiro checks his Digivice to find that it's showing radar blips for everyone now.

Koushiro: The Digivice is reacting. Sora: It's because everyone's here, right? Koushiro: No. I mean, when I looked at it earlier, it wasn't reacting at all. Sora: That's strange. Koushiro: Maybe it only works at short distances in this world.

You were also in the subway when you checked it, Koushiro. We should consider the possibility that you had bad phone reception.

This is the human world. We have signal limitations. You can't coast on the fabric of reality itself being made of wifi anymore.

(This makes it even weirder that the writers turned off Digivice Tracking for the Shinjuku search then turned it back on right after they miraculously found everyone.)

Mimi: Hey, more importantly, where do we go from here? Takeru: Yeah, we don't have any money so we can't ride the trains anymore. Yamato: How do we get to Odaiba for free? Taichi: Hehehehe... Leave that to me! I have a fool-proof plan. Yamato: (curiously) Do you, now?

In the dub, Izzy's chat with Sora has no changes. T.K. brings up an idea for how to get home.

Mimi: That's great but, meanwhile, what are we going to do now? T.K.: We start walking. They won't let us back on the train without any money. Matt: I'm sure not looking forward to walking all that way. Tai: Ha! I know a way that won't cost us a penny! Just leave everything to me! Matt: (sarcastic) Oh, great. You're a genius.

I like that they discuss walking in the dub, because it is a viable option. It would suck but Shinjuku is close enough to Odaiba that we can walk if we must.

The kids are about 9 miles from home right now. It would take them probably 3-4 hours to get there, but they're now well-fed and they're all at least somewhat athletic after several months of exploring the Digimon World on foot. It would be nice if an alternative means of transit could be employed, but we should at least consider walking.

It can't be worse than Etemon's desert.

The kids head outside to put Taichi's master plan into action.

Taichi holds out his thumb to hitchhike, but the cars speed right on by.

Taichi: HEY!!! SOMEONE GIVE ME A RIDE!!!

Then he tries jumping, screaming at the top of his lungs, and flailing his limbs like a wildman for attention.

Taichi: HEY HEY HEY HEY!!! COME ON!!! LET ME IN!!! Yamato: Oh, come on. Hitchhiking in this modern day and age? Koushiro: It's not as easy as it looks on TV.

A car almost hits Taichi because he's out too far in the road. They honk angrily at him while he screams back at them.

Car: HONK HONK!!! Taichi: THAT'S DANGEROUS, YOU MORON!!! Yamato: Speak for yourself. Jou: It will take three days for Taichi to get us a ride. Koushiro: Agreed. Taichi: I'd like to see you try it, then! Jou: YEEP!!! U-Us!?

The dub cuts the shots of Taichi holding out his thumb to hitchhike. We go straight to Tai jumping and flailing his limbs.

Tai: HELP!!! POLICE!!! MY CAT IS STUCK IN A TREE IN ODAIBA AND I'VE GOT TO GET THERE RIGHT AWAY SO I CAN GET HER DOWN!!! HEY!!! Matt: The police!? That's his brilliant idea!? Izzy: If the police do stop, they'll lock him up for disturbing the peace. Car: (nearly hits Tai) HONK HONK Tai: HEY!!! I've got the right of way! Matt: (sarcastic) Looking good, Tai. Joe: Good grief. At this rate, we could be sitting here all day. Izzy: And night. Tai: THEN YOU TRY AND GET US A RIDE!!! Joe: Me!? No way! Tai: How about you, Matt!? You think you're so smart!

I'm going to guess this was edited because they didn't want children to see their heroes hitchhiking and try to copy it, or something like that. The 90's were really nervous about imitable acts on children's television.

It's the reason Spider-Man could grab a crate with his webs and smash it on a bad guy's head but was forbidden from throwing a punch. Children can't grab crates with webbing but they can throw punches, and parents thought if they saw Spider-Man punch someone, they might start punching people.

So now Tai's plan to get to Odaiba is to scream at random passing cars that he wants the police. You know, they probably had a phone back in the diner. You could call the police. On the phone.

Taichi makes Jou and Koushiro try next, in retaliation for their mockery. They both awkwardly stick out their thumbs.

Jou & Koushiro: ...y...yay?

Multiple cars speed by and honk at them. Realizing this isn't working, they both exchange uncomfortable glances, then take a deep breath.

Jou & Koushiro: Ready. Set.

And then they begin screaming at the top of their lungs and flailing their limbs like wildmen.

Jou & Koushiro: YAY-AY-AY-AY-AY-AY-AY-YIIIIII!!!

And it fucking works. A car pulls up to the restaurant to let them in.

It's. Uh. It's a taxi. The taxi closes its doors a moment after, presumably after being informed they do not have money, and drives away. Jou and Koushiro hang their heads in failure while the other kids laugh.

(Still better than Taichi managed.)

Yamato takes the third attempt.

It does not go well.

Yamato takes a deep breath and slowly, reluctantly, puts out his thumb. The instant his thumb is raised, a pedophile pulls up to the curb.

Yamato: (blush) Woman: (sultry) Hi~! Come in, little boy. Yamato: (blush intensifies)

Yes, she is doing graspy fingers with that hand up there. It's incredibly uncomfortable. Cut immediately to Yamato reporting to the others, still blushing and bowing his head in embarrassment.

Taichi: WHY DID YOU SAY NO!?!? Yamato: WE COULDN'T ALL FIT IN THAT CAR!!!

Taichi and Mimi both grin and giggle at Yamato, implicitly teasing him for what they all know just happened.

Asshole behavior from the both of them but in their defense, children don't know better. They don't have the perspective to understand how fucked up that was. That's why it's the responsibility of adults to protect them from shit like this. Yamato was just accosted by a legitimate Stranger Danger.

No surprise: The dub heavily edits this scene to remove the pedophile. Matt stands there for a moment, but can't even bring himself to... do whatever he would do since we aren't hitchhiking. He just turns right around to the others in failure, with a blush of embarrassment.

Tai: I'm waiting! Matt: (turns around in surrender) Tai: NOT SO EASY, IS IT, MATT!?!? Matt: WELL, AT LEAST MY CAT'S NOT STUCK IN A TREE!!

Then Tai and Mimi grin and giggle at him, presumably entertained by his snappy comeback.

The dub then puts Izzy and Joe's attempt here, moving it to third place after Matt's. Like Tai, their initial thumb-out try is cut so their attempt at hitchhiking can be disguised as something else: They're intentionally trying to hail a taxi despite being broke.

Joe & Izzy: (deep breaths, then flailing) HEY HEY TAXI TAXI OVER HERE TAXI HEY TAXI TAXI Taxi: (pulls up) You kids want a cab? Joe & Izzy: YEAH!!! Taxi: You got any money? Joe & Izzy: ...no.

This was almost as bad an idea as hailing the police. I don't know why they thought they could take a taxi for free.

Finally, Sora and Mimi take their turn.

Sora & Mimi: Take us to Odaiba! Jou: It will definitely work this time. Koushiro: Girls are better at this. Mochimon: That's right. The men will be all over them! Koromon: Is that how it works, Taichi? Taichi: Yep!

Sure enough, a blue minivan pulls over pretty quickly. We don't hear the conversation between Sora and Mimi and the occupant of the car.

Takeru: Someone stopped! (Sora and Mimi turn towards the others and give them okay signs) Jou: Yes! It's okay! Taichi: Hehe! Piece of cake! Koromon: (awestruck) So that's how it works....

Teaching Koromon very dangerous behaviors here. We have learned nothing from Yamato's attempt.

Dub Sora and Mimi don't even get to make an attempt. The driver of the minivan is reimagined completely. The car just pulls up all of a sudden, unprompted by anything. They even edited the footage to erase Sora and Mimi with their signs from the scene of him pulling up.

Driver: Sora!? Sora: It's my cousin! Hi, Duane! Duane: Need a lift? (Sora and Mimi turn towards the others and give them okay signs) Mimi: YAAAAAY!!! Sora: Alright! Mimi: GIRL POWER!!!

Mimi, how is Sora having a cousin a triumphant moment of girl power? Why are you even over at the car?

The dub then moves the scene of the boys grossly commenting on the girls' ability to lure in vehicles to after "Duane" shows up.

T.K.: Her cousin!? Joe: What are the odds of that happening? Izzy: One in 4.2 million. Motimon: Whatever! I'm just glad we have a ride! Koromon: Excuse me, but what's a cousin? Tai: Skip it.

Just like that, the hitchhiking sequence is complete and the censors can go cry themselves to sleep in a closet somewhere for how much work that was. (Wait 'til we get to Pinocchimon.)

As the minivan makes its way, the visibly unhappy driver calls out:

Driver: Those of you in the back! Everyone in the back: Yes?

Small note: He's trying to address the boys, but Japan's frequently gender-neutral language causes a small miscommunication and Sora answers with them.

Driver: You're extras that Sora-chan and Mimi-chan brought with them. Understood? Boys: (resigned) Yes, sir. We're extras. Driver: Extras better keep quiet. Otherwise, I'll dump you on the side of the highway or something. Boys: (resigned) Yes, sir. We'll be quiet.

The car pulls up to a red light.

Driver: Would you like some candy, Mimi-chan? Mimi: Yes! Driver: (gives a candy to Mimi) You too, Sora-chan. Sora: Thank you.

As the driver passes the candy back, Pyokomon's eyes follow it. She opens her mouth, wanting, but behaves herself and doesn't say anything. Sora, seeing what Pyokomon wants, quickly feeds the candy to Pyokomon rather than eating it herself.

Taichi whispers to Sora from the back.

Taichi: (whispers) What's the deal with this guy? He pisses me off. Sora: (whispers) It can't be helped. After all, he is taking us to Odaiba. Jou: (whispers) Actually, are we sure that he's taking us to Odaiba?

Senpai coming in with the real questions now that it's too late to back out. He really shouldn't have let us do this to begin with. What would Fujiyama say, Jou? He trusted you.

In another brief near-encounter with one of Tailmon's mercenaries, Wizarmon, carrying balloons, leads a group of children over the crosswalk in front of this creep's car.

Mimi, too, feeds her candy to Palmon rather than eating it herself.

In the dub, Duane lays down the same obnoxious rules. Kinda weird that Mimi's riding shotgun in Sora's cousin's vehicle, gotta say.

Duane: Okay, here's the rules. I'm gonna say this once, so listen! Everyone in the back: Yeah? Duane: You're only here 'cause Sora's my cousin. You're like her luggage. Boys: (resigned) Yeah. We're like her luggage. Duane: And luggage doesn't make a sound. You got me? Or else it's liable to get itself thrown out of the car, right? Boys: (resigned) Right. Luggage doesn't make a sound. Duane: (to Mimi) You want some gum? Sugarless. Mimi: Sure. Duane: (gives one to Mimi) How about you, Sora? Sora: Thanks, Duane. (takes the gum and feeds it to Yokomon) Tai: (whispers) Hey, Sora, I think your cousin's a major lame-o. Sora: (whispers) He's sorta the black sheep of the family. But he's giving us a lift, so be nice. Tai: (whispers) I will! But just make sure he takes us to Odaiba.

Jou's concern about Stranger Danger running off with us is a valid thing to worry about. Not sure where Tai thinks Duane is going to take us, though.

Also, the weirdness of Mimi being up front continues. Why isn't she luggage? Is it for creepy reasons? I bet it's for creepy reasons.

While Tailmon's mercenaries continue expanding their search of Tokyo, PicoDevimon rides the ferry and complains.

PicoDevimon: Vamdemon-sama's always beating and shouting at me. It won't get better unless I can achieve something soon. Where could that kid be?

Over in the dub, he's having a crisis.

DemiDevimon: How did I ever get into this!? Knocking myself out searching for some pipsqueak kid! I've got half a mind to chuck this whole lousy job! But... The master might not like that....

I feel DemiDevimon. This job sucks. Aimlessly wandering around the city hoping to stumble onto a person is the worst way to find someone. The Eighth Child is a needle in a haystack. A haystack that is hostile to discovery of your true identity.

So. Like. A haystack full of bees. And fourteen wasps.

In the car, the nameless driver blasts deafening music. Mimi tries to get his attention.

Mimi: E-Excuse me, Onii-san! Driver: (head banging to the music) Mimi: ONII-SAN!!! Driver: Eh? Did you say something? Mimi: COULD YOU PLEASE TURN DOWN THE VOLUME!!! Driver: Eh? What did you say? Mimi: VOLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUME!!! Driver: Bathroom? You need to go? Mimi: THAT IS NOT WHAT I SAAAAAAAAAAAID!!!

In Japan, it's common to use respectful familial terms like onii-san to address older people. By addressing the driver as Onii-san, Mimi is respectfully addressing him as an older man, but not so much older that otosan (father) or ojisan (grandfather) would be more appropriate.

Before this argument can continue, the driver's music is interrupted by a news broadcast.

Reporter: We interrupt this broadcast for important news. A few hours ago in the Nerima district, a bombing occurred near the housing complexes of Hikarigaoka. This may have been responsible for putting telephones, wires, and optical cables in Hikarigaoka into temporary disservice. Investigations are underway in the local area. We will bring you a news update if anything is uncovered. In other news, unconfirmed sources have insisted that an elephant and a huge bird were witnessed at the scene of the crime. Investigation into these claims is also currently underway. Driver: Whoa! An elephant! Freaky. It must have escaped the zoo! Hehe! Reporter: There is some speculation that this incident may be related to the terrorist bombing that occurred four years ago in Hikarigaoka. To those just tuning in, a few hours ago in the Nerima district, a bombing occurred near the housing complexes of Hikarigaoka....

Haha. Hahaha. Hahahahaha we are wanted fugitives that's great.

In the dub, Duane calls Mimi "babe", confirming that she's up front for creepy reasons.

Mimi: Excuse me! Do you mind? Duane: (head banging to the music) Mimi: EXCUSE ME!!! Duane: Oh, what's up, babe? Mimi: THE RADIO'S KIND OF LOUD!!! Duane: The tunes are kinda what!? Mimi: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUD!!! Duane: The radio? It's too loud? Mimi: MAYBE JUST A LITTLE!!! (news report interrupts) Reporter: And now for a news update. Officials have yet to find a clear explanation for the devastating explosion that rocked the Highton View Terrace apartments in the Nerima district earlier today. Power in the area is still out and the injured are still being counted after the bizarre incident. While official sources have offered no further information, there are reports of several eyewitness accounts. However, these accounts have only served to further mystify investigators. The details of their accounts differ but several of these eyewitnesses agree that an elephant and something described as a giant firebird were seen in the vicinity. Duane: (laughing) A giant WHAT!?!? Firebird!? Hehe, you gotta love the crazies in this town, HAHAHA!!! Reporter: When asked about the accounts, officials would give no comment. A similar incident took place at the Highton View Terrace Apartments four years ago. It's unknown if there is any connection between the two.

Mostly the same, but of note: This is actually darker in the dub. The dub blames the electrical chaos in Hikarigaoka on Mammon which isn't entirely wrong. The original instead talks about a power outage and "still counting the injured", meaning there were a lot of human casualties from the fighting between Mammon and Birdramon/Garudamon.

According to the dub, while we were drifting in and out of OVA flashbacks, people were exploding and being crushed by debris offscreen.

You know, it's funny the driver mentions going to the bathroom because Koromon suddenly has an emergency right there in the car. Taichi manages to dodge aside just before Koromon would have shit on his lap, causing it to hit the seats instead.

Driver pulls over and everyone evacuates immediately to escape the smell.

Jou: GAAAH IT STINKS!!! Driver: (furious) ...you bastards... WHO THE HELL JUST TOOK A DUMP INSIDE MY BELOVED CAR!?!? Taichi: ...sorry, I-- Sora: ME!!! IT WAS ME!!!

Sora takes the fall for Koromon, likely realizing that the guy isn't going to treat her the way he would one of the "extras".

Her lie is terrible, of course. She was in the passenger side of the second row, while Koromon pooped in the center seat of the back row. It's actually quite impressive, given that Taichi was in the back row passenger side and jerked away towards the center, which would push Koromon towards the door. But Jou was sitting in the center seat there.

In order to make this happen, Koromon would have had to leap for it, hurdling Taichi to dive-bomb projectile-shit at Jou, who clearly scrambled out of the way as Koromon deposited right between his legs. I take it back, this is way worse than ditching Joe at lunch.

I guess he panicked and was hoping Senpai would take care of it.

In any case, Driver takes a moment to process the claim that a girl like Sora would do something so vulgar.

Sora: I'm so sorry. I'll be sure to clean up all of it! Driver: ...LIAR!!! I know you'd never do something like that, Sora-chan! The one sitting in the back was... you, right!?

The driver correctly identifies Jou as the occupant of that seat.

Jou: Eep!? Driver: Don't try and fool me with that nice guy face of yours!

The driver grabs Jou angrily by the his collar. Koushiro tries to pull him off.

Koushiro: Please stop! Driver: SHUT UP!!!

The driver backhands Koushiro away, sending him stumbling back into the barricade. Both barricade and Koushiro go over the edge, plunging off the bridge.

In a subtle moment of characterization, despite being in the clutches of this (rightfully angry but still) asshole, Jou-senpai is more concerned with Koushiro's wellbeing than his own. His eyes are on Koushiro after the backhand, and he screams when Koushiro goes over the edge.

The dub, for once, lets a poop be a poop. They don't even edit out the onscreen shot of it. I guess there was no way they were going to be able to claim it was hair gel or whatever.

Duane: WHOA!!! WHAT IS THAT!?!? Tai: Koromon, you couldn't wait!? Duane: Okay, who did it!? HUH!?!? WHICH ONE OF YOU MADE A MESS ON MY NEW SEAT COVERS!?!? Tai: ...I'm sorry, I-- Sora: RIGHT HERE!!! I'm the one! Duane: Huh? Sora: I'll clean it up. I'll even detail it for ya! Duane: ...RARGH!!! Don't try covering up for these losers! Which one of 'em was it!? (Driver looks around, then spots Joe) Duane: YOU!!! Mr. Peepers! IT WAS YOU, WASN'T IT!?!? Izzy: Hey, let him go! He didn't d-- Duane: Back off! (backhand)

Sora trying to take the fall works just as well for Cousin Duane as it does with the creep who wanted to be alone with minor girls. The sentiment is pretty similar: She knows he won't lash out at her the way he would the others, so she steps up to try and de-escalate.

They did cut out the driver's reasoning for blaming Jou, though. Duane just seems to select him arbitrarily.

They also put another well-timed commercial break in right as Izzy goes over. Once again, good spot for a cliffhanger..

As Koushiro goes over the edge, Motimon suddenly evolves into Tentomon to catch him by the ankle. Trying with all his might to lift Koushiro. Unfortunately, something else is lurking in the river, which notices the Chosen Child suspended in the air.

Tentomon: (catch) Koushiro: Tentomon! (They drop a foot sharply) Tentomon: Ack! Heavy.... (Gesomon explodes from the water) Tentomon: IT'S GESOMON!!! Koushiro: Gesomon!?

Gesomon is an Adult-stage Virus-type Mollusk Digimon. Their name comes from the Japanese word gesou, which are the tentacles of a squid.

Gesomon is not a Nightmare Soldier. They're from the Deep Savers line; One of the few non-Nightmare Soldier's we'll be facing in the Tokyo sub-arc.

Narrator: Gesomon. A Mollusk-type Virus Digimon. Their special attack, Deadly Shade, paralyzes their enemies! Driver: AHHHH!!! A SQUID BAKEMONO!!! (runs away) Gomamon: I can handle ocean Digimon!

Remember bakemono, shapeshifting yokai who impersonate people, animals, and objects? The driver accuses Gesomon of being a bakemono in the guise of a squid. Which. Isn't that far off, really.

In the dub, Tentomon quips about Izzy's weight.

Tentomon: I've got you, Izzy! (catch) Izzy: WAAAAAUGH!!! Thanks, Tento! (They drop a foot sharply) Tentomon: Eugh, you had to have that extra side of chili fries, didn't you? Izzy: Hey, what's that!? (Gesomon explodes from the water) Tentomon: Yow, it's Gesomon! Izzy: It's what!? Tentomon: (rundown) Gesomon. Take a bit of everything nasty that lives underwater, stick them together, and that's him. Duane: YOU KIDS ARE ON YOUR OWN!!! (runs away) Gomamon: Good riddance! You were a lousy driver anyway!

Izzy didn't get to eat chili fries. He and Joe went hungry. I have no idea what Tentomon is talking about. Unless they were lying to Joe about spending all the money and then bought Izzy a meal after Joe left? I guess that's what happened.

Man, this dub plot point just gets worse and worse.

Gomamon hits the water and evolves into Ikkakumon.

Driver: AHHHHHHHHHH THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!!!

While creepy driver offscreen becomes the next person to shit himself, Ikkakumon attacks, bashing Gesomon back with a headbutt. Gesomon tries to slap one of their tentacles down from above. Ikkakumon sidesteps, then fires a Harpoon Vulcan point-blank through another of Gesomon's tentacles. The missile penetrates Gesomon's claw and detonates, blowing the limb to shreds.

In the dub, Duane bailed much more concretely than Driver so he doesn't get to scream and cry about Ikkakumon's arrival. What we get is a line from Tentomon while he and Izzy flutter offscreen.

Tentomon: I think we'll just get out of the way!

Like Mammon, Gesomon is one of those bestial Digimon that doesn't speak, but the dub lets him nonetheless call attacks in English. When he tries to slam his tentacle down on Ikkakumon, he calls it "Coral Crusher".

This extremely public kaiju brawl draws spectators.

A crowd gathers around the Chosen Children on the bridge.

Bystander 1: Senpai, look at that! Bystander 2: Are those kaiju!? No way! Bystander 3: Dad, get the camcorder! HURRY!!! Bystander 4: They're pretty well made. Bystander 5: Do you think they're real? Bystander 4: That's impossible. This must be some kind of event.

Meanwhile, in a nearby cafe on an upper floor of a building, three girls have a bird's-eye vantage of the kaiju brawling in the river.

Girl 1: It's so annoyi-- Girl 2: EH!?!? WHAT IS THAT!?!? Girl 3: Awww, they're so cute!

At a rest stop, one salaryman gets a drink from a vending machine while another reclines on a bench; The fight raging behind him. The first salaryman suddenly sees the fighting and stops in his tracks.

Salaryman 2: What's wrong? Salaryman 1: (sigh) I can't even. (drink)

I guess this is happening now.

XD That salaryman is the entire vibe of my generation.

In the dub, it's ads.

Bystander 1: HOLY COW!!! WHAT'S GOING ON!?!? Bystander 2: They must be advertising something! Bystander 3: Advertising something!? Get out of here! Bystander 4: Maybe they're shooting a movie! Bystander 3: I don't see any cameras! Bystander 4: Oh well. Maybe they're just rehearsing.

Bystander 3, get out of here with your naysaying. Also, Bystander 2 was ahead of his time. Modern-day Digimon would stop what they're doing every five minutes to tell you about Surfshark.

Girl 1: And so then do you know what he said? Girl 2: OH! WHAT'S THAT!?!? Girl 3: What's going on over there!?

And Zero Fucks Salaryman remains a legend.

Salaryman 1: Rough day at work, huh? Salaryman 2: Eh, you know. Same old, same old. (drink)

Finally, Ikkakumon strikes the killing blow: Stabbing Gesomon straight through the head with his horn and driving him down into the water. We're spared any shots of impalement, as Gesomon implicitly dissolves into pixel dust offscreen after being submerged.

Since Gesomon dies underwater, the bystanders are also spared from having to see that. The only confirmation of Gesomon's death is that the fight music dies down and Gesomon's counterfeit Crest is seen floating down the river.

(Another Digimerc isn't going home.)

Bystander: (disappointed) What the hell? It's already over!? Driver: ...oh, right! The kids!

Too late for him, the kids are already gone. I guess he'll have to clean Koromon's poop out of his car by himself.

(Honestly, probably for the best. I'm not saying it's good that we pooped in his car, but Mr. "You're all just Sora-chan and Mimi-chan's luggage!" did not have good intentions and was probably going to pull some dudebro shit when we got to Odaiba. So bailing on him in the chaos is a good idea.)

The dub adds a silence-breaker when Ikkakumon stabs Gesomon.

Bystander 1: My money's on the big hairy one!

Then, after Gesomon's implied disintegration:

Bystander 1: (same as the previous comment) Aww, they're gone. Too bad! Bystander 2: Man, did you guys see that? Duane: Sora? HEY, SORA!!! Where'd all those kids go!?

Dub Sora is not so lucky as original Sora, as she will most certainly get an earful from furious relatives over the poop we left in Duane's car.

With new transportation options opened up, the children tie logs to Ikkakumon and swim to Odaiba. It's Jou's Digimon so he gets the seat of honor. Sora and Mimi get to ride on Ikkakumon's back while the boys take the logs.

Sexist, but they were the ones who got us this far by putting up with being leered at by a pervert. If we'd gone with the convertible lady then maybe Yamato could be on Ikkakumon's back.

Yamato: We drew a big crowd back there.... Taichi: Couldn't be helped. Oh, well! It'll all work out. Jou: Set course to Odaiba. LAUNCH!!! Narrator: And so the Children made their way safely to Odaiba. However....

PicoDevimon: I've found you. I must inform Vamdemon-sama right away! (flies off) Narrator: Where could the Eighth Chosen Child be? Vamdemon's night draws closer.

Yeah, those skies are looking pretty sunset-y. We close on the ominous reminder that Vamdemon will be loosed upon Tokyo soon.

In the dub:

Matt: Well, so much for keeping a low profile. Tai: At least we got away from Lame Duane and we're all in one piece! Joe: Nice work, Ikkakumon. You NAAAAAAILED him! Ikkakumon: RAAARHAHAAAA!!! Tai: Anyway, wouldn't you rather travel in the fresh air than under the ground in that subway? Sora: Oh, yeah! This is great! Tai: And best of all, it's free!

Since Tai and Sora are filling space where the Narrator should be talking, they have to play a really noticeable game of "Only speak when the camera isn't on you". The camera is on Sora and Mimi for Tai's subway line. Then Sora speaks when it shifts to Tai, Matt, and T.K. And then Tai starts talking again as soon as it moves to Izzy.

DemiDevimon: Here's good news! Now that they've shown themselves, we can finally take care of them! (flies off) Tai: Next stop: HOME!!! Kids: YEAH!! WOOHOO!! WE'RE GOING HOME!!! Mimi: Does anybody have something to eat? Tai: Ugh, Mimi, not that again! Mimi: I was just asking!

The episode closes on one last Mimi gag for good measure.

Assessment: The hitchhiking portion of this episode made me feel my age. Watching these children get sexually harassed by people old enough to drive is deeply uncomfortable. But creeps like the ones these kids ran into are a genuine peril of attempting this.

The dub censored that sequence heavily because, I guess, they don't want kids to try doing what the Chosen Children were doing. But the original sequence goes to great lengths to examine the perils of what the Chosen Children were doing. Yeah, we don't want children hitchhiking, here's why.

In fact, points from me for pointing out that boys can be victimized by predatory adults too. It's not just something that happens to girls. Both Yamato and Sora/Mimi get preyed on by exactly the kind of people who would eagerly pick up isolated 11/10-year-olds off the side of the road, though Yamato gets it much more directly.

This was a terrible idea that Taichi had.

The dub, meanwhile, was very polarized. This episode's dub has high highs and low lows. Some fantastic dubbing and even a scene that's improved on the original one minute, and then total dipshittery the next.

This is the meanest episode to Joe and Mimi that the show's been yet. Mimi got it in quantity but Joe got the fucking "Ditch Joe and go eat" bit. A bit which wound up becoming a plot hole later on when Tentomon clearly mentions Izzy eating.

...wait a second, why can Dub Gomamon evolve? Shouldn't he also be starv-- Holy shit, did they feed Gomamon too? Joe did drop him in the diner before storming out. It really was just Joe that they screwed?

[strawberryfloofs]

Caregiver Ibuki Mioda headcanons!

Ibuki plays you songs on her guitar and even makes up her own to keep you entertained while you're small! If you're not too little, she'll even let you fiddle around with her instruments! If you're a bigger kiddo, she'll teach you simple songs or some cool chords! She loves playing childish songs like "Mary had a little lamb" but with her own metallish shred!! :))

She is ALL about you having fun in your littlespace! If she knows your little age, she DEFINITELY researches age-appropriate activites for you and sets up stuff and games according to that! Anything from arts and crafts to competitive video games, she's got you! You'll be having a blast with her!

Ibuki isn't really a strict caregiver, she doesn't wanna seem like a pushover, but she actually thinks punishments are pretty boring and lame! That's why she only has the essential rules like eating enough, drinking water, etc. Whenever you're in a fussy mood or upset, she tries to talk to you or distract you by being silly, it usually works!

When you're little, she calls you her little rockstar or superstar! She also likes kiddo, rascal, muffin, munchkin, and other silly names like that! She absolutely loves being called Mama as a caregiver name, but Mimi also melts her heart!

Definitely the type of caregiver to give you piggy back rides and ruffle your hair! You think you're safe from tickles? NOPE, tickle monster Ibuki is on your back! WILL also smother you in kisses, hugs, and affection in general!

I think she'd be really good with kiddos aged 4 and older, because she can do a huge range of things! You wanna do pretend play? She's the goofiest actress around! Play outside? She's already packed your bag! Video games? She's got the snacks and everything!

She absolutely adores younger regressors though! Ibuki would give a ton of noise-making toys like rattles, button ones, and more! (She might end up using them more than you...I mean how else will she show you how awesome music is?!) She'd be happy to make your stuffies talk and build blocks with you! And yes, she'd even let you pull on her cool looking hair!

LOVES to dress up her little one in colorful looking ways! If you'd let her, she'd dress you just like she is!

If you're upset or something is wrong, it might take it a little to notice, but once she does, you'll be attacked with ALL the comfort! Snacks? Cuddles? Words of affirmation? Whatever you need, she'll be there and won't leave your side!

Ibuki's pretty possessive over you, getting a little jealous if you're happy with a babysitter, but she tries not to show it!

Definitely prepares little snacks for you in character themed plates or containers. (Yes she does take notes of your favorites!)

Bath time is SOOO much fun because she's got bubbles and toys everywhere! Rubber duckies, floaties, turtles, boats, you name it!

While you're playing with your toys, she air guitars to get some giggles and smiles out of you!

Ibuki puts so much effort into making your regression as comforting and enjoying as possible because she really cares about you! She wants you to have the treatment you deserve and it makes her happy whenever you're happy. The warmth she feels from your smiles and giggles melts her heart in a way she didn't know was possible

"Okay, rockstar! Bathtime's over....BUT how about we get your favorite cartoon playing! That's my baby!"

[get-back-homeward]

Paul’s Trying To Get To You

The thread of this song weaving in and out of Paul’s most formative music experiences

Oct 1956: Elvis’s debut album is released in the UK as Rock ‘n’ Roll and the B-side includes Trying to Get to You

I just had to reach you, baby / In spite of all that I've been through / I kept traveling night and day / I kept running all the way / Baby, trying to get to you.

Well if I had to do it over / That's exactly what I'd do / I would travel night and day / And I'd still run all the way / Baby, trying to get to you

[full lyrics]

Jan-June 1957: Ian James gets the Elvis record and a guitar

“It was in this time frame that Paul formed a closer friendship with Ian James, an Institute boy (in his year) he’d known since 1954. Ian was also into rock and skiffle and he’d recently been bought an acoustic guitar by his grandparents, at whose house he lived in the Dingle. (Every guitar had a maker’s name: his was a Rex.) The two boys became good pals on the strength of it. While they tended not to see each other in the evenings, because they lived some distance apart, Paul often went to Ian’s house for an hour or two after school—they walked there together down the hill from the Institute—and Ian sometimes went to Forthlin Road at weekends, taking his guitar with him. Ian James held a triple attraction for Paul: he was an intelligent, decent and affable lad, he had some rock records, and he had a guitar—an unbeatable combination.

In the front room at home I had a table-top portable record player, three speed. I remember playing “Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino over and over, just the first line and then I’d pick up the needle and put it back at the start. I also had Elvis Presley’s first album, which we played time after time after time, with “That’s All Right Mama,” “Trying to Get to You,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You),” “Mystery Train” … Elvis was the one to copy, he was the hero. He had everything: the charisma, the looks, the voice. Frank Sinatra had only one style but Elvis could do anything—gospel, blues, rock and roll, romantic ballads. There was nobody else like him. Paul and I talked about Elvis all the time.15

The Rex guitar was ever at hand. Ian showed and reinforced to Paul those three chord fundamentals that would get him started, C, F and G or G7, the basis for pretty much every song they loved.”

—Tune In (Ch. 5, Jan-June 1957)

July 1957: Paul is invited to join the Quarrymen and trades his trumpet for his first guitar

At some point in July 1957, Paul finally got his first guitar. It had been a long time coming and he was desperate. As he couldn’t afford to buy one he had the bright idea of swapping his trumpet for it, the one his dad had bought him two years earlier. Jim didn’t mind—it was clear where Paul’s interest was. “I traded in the trumpet for a £15 Zenith guitar from Frank Hessy’s. There was a feller there called Jim Gretty and he showed us (me and George) a great chord. I never knew its name—we called it ‘a jazz chord’…”

Mike McCartney has said of Paul and his first guitar, “He would get lost in another world. It was useless talking to him—I had better conversations with brick walls.” Paul played the guitar everywhere, even on the bus. At home he played it in the bath and sitting on the toilet. “The fine acoustic of the toilet area was always very appealing to me. And it was also very private, about the only private place in the house. I used to sit there for hours—there and the bathroom. Dad would shout, ‘Paul, get off that toilet!’ [And I’d reply] ‘I’m practicing!’ ”4

…Rod Davis has a recollection of Paul dropping in to see a group rehearsal at (of all places) Mimi’s house, and Eric Griffiths says the group all went to Paul’s house one afternoon for a rehearsal together—something Paul has never mentioned. (Like almost everything to do with the Quarry Men, solid information is lacking.)

…Ian James says he and Paul struck up an informal musical duo: “We used to take our guitars around to parties and play a few numbers. Have guitar will travel—wherever we went our guitars went too. We played songs from that first Elvis LP: ‘Trying to Get to You,’ ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy,’ ‘Mystery Train’…

—Tune In (Ch. 7, July-Aug 1957)

Aug 1957: Paul’s away at summer camp and then on holiday but glued to his guitar

[O]n August 7, the Quarry Men played the Cavern again…This Cavern booking would have been Paul’s Quarry Men debut but for him being away with the Boy Scouts at summer camp—another ten days of wet feet, wind and Woodbines. The 19th City troop’s destination this year was the Peak District—Callow Farm, Hathersage, Derbyshire—and both McCartney brothers went. Paul (inevitably) carted his Zenith along with his sleeping bag and tin mug. Almost as soon as they’d pitched tents, Mike had an altercation with an oak tree, badly breaking his arm; he was taken to the hospital in Sheffield while Paul remained at the camp and entertained around the fire with Elvis’s “Trying to Get to You.”13

Mike was in the hospital four weeks, his plastered arm in a sling, and on the day of his release—the last full week of the school holidays—Jim arrived in Sheffield with Paul and revealed they were all heading straight off to Butlin’s. Bett and Mike Robbins had fixed them seven days at Filey, on Yorkshire’s east coast…

Ever the keen photographer, Mike operated the camera single-handedly to take a fascinating photo of Paul on Filey beach with Bett Robbins and her infant son Ted. Paul is perched on Ted’s pushchair and playing the much-traveled Zenith. The photo could be the closest taken to the date he met John Lennon, showing a 15-year-old who’s come through his chubby period and is looking good.

—Tune In (Ch. 7, July-Dec 1957)

Oct-Nov 1957: Paul plays his first gigs with the band as John’s equal

In images of the Quarry Men before Paul joined they’re all wearing different clothes. In the first photo of the group with Paul they have a uniform look, and a sharp one at that: white shirts with black bootlace ties and black trousers, and John and Paul (only) are also wearing jackets on top, white or cream—it’s Paul’s “white sports coat” and something similar John has managed to acquire. This was undoubtedly Paul’s doing, reaching back to his experience at Butlin’s in 1954 when he saw how a singing group in matching gear claimed everyone’s attention. He’d brought the thinking early to John, and John had bought it. And something else is compelling about this Quarry Men photo: although it’s John’s group, new boy Paul is not at the back with Colin or Len, or to the side like Eric, he’s up front with John. Lennon and McCartney are clearly the front line of the Quarry Men, strumming crummy Gallotone and upside-down Zenith, and they’re the only ones with vocal microphones. The group is the two of them and three others. When one sings lead the other provides harmony; often they sing the lead in unison—and their voices go together.

One can only surmise what they sang into those microphones. Nigel Walley remembers plenty of rock in the repertoire in this period and not so much skiffle, including several Elvis numbers—“All Shook Up,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “That’s All Right Mama” and “Trying to Get to You”—as well as “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” “Blue Suede Shoes” (Carl or Elvis), “Come Go with Me” and “Twenty Flight Rock.”

—Tune In (Ch. 7, July-Dec 1957)

Jan-May 1958: Paul writes In Spite of All the Danger and John wants to record it

As George knew several more guitar chords than John or Paul, every time he showed them a new one they tried to write a song around it36—and it was in this period, possibly at Upton Green, that Paul wrote one he called “In Spite of All the Danger,” a chugging and melodic country-flavored number with a couple of extended lead guitar solos created by George. For this reason, the song was a unique deviation from the Lennon-McCartney credit: it went down as McCartney-Harrison.

The tune of “In Spite of All the Danger” was entirely Paul’s, but it leaned heavily on the melody of Elvis’s “Trying to Get to You,” a song that includes the lyric “[in] spite of all that I’ve been through.” Using an existing song as inspiration for the writing of another is standard practice, but the rock and roll era was already littered with outrageous examples of plagiarism seemingly free of legal action—possibly because the song being copied was not entirely original to that composer either.

…John decided the Quarry Men should make a record, and the others needed no persuading—just 3s 6d each. This time the answer to “Where we going, Johnny?” was 38 Kensington, where one Percy F. Phillips ran probably Liverpool’s only recording studio and record press.

Seventeen years later, without the advantage of hearing it in between times, John recalled what he could of the session: “The first thing we ever recorded was ‘That’ll Be the Day,’ the Buddy Holly song, and one of Paul’s called ‘In Spite of All the Danger.’ It cost us fifteen shillings and we made it in the front room of some guy’s house that he called a recording studio.”

…John again sings lead on “In Spite of All the Danger,” Paul provides more fine harmonies throughout, and George adds an “ah” backing. It’s said Colin and Duff hadn’t heard the song before, and so were feeling their way through it, but it’s not solely for this reason that it plods somewhat. Though the debt to “Trying to Get to You” is clear, it’s still an original number and an interesting, attractive one at that, written by a boy of 15—a fantastic achievement.

—Tune In (Ch. 8, Jan-May 1958)

[silent-raven13]

A Spider-woman named Billie! 4

(Part 3)

The Hobies glares at Miguel 928 seeing how the bloke caught their ideas or fantasy. "You boys better relax. Having kids is a big responsibility." Miles 2020 stated, "Oh my goodness, they act like Alphas without a second gender."

"It's baby fever!" Miles 43 looks worried as he stand behind Miles 2020 holding Gonzalo 1015 in his arms. "Ain't no way we agree about kids!"

"Oh no, I have Billie to think of!" Miles 1610 said at his boyfriend.

Billie 1610 smiles happily at his brother being carried by Miles 42. "Ah-HA!"

"Me too but it's Gonzalo!" Mimi 1015 said. The Miles had their focus on their boyfriends while Gabriel turns to Billie.

"Where were you? I was looking for you everywhere! I thought we were supposed to stick to the plan. I take you here and meet up with Mari." He said with one hand out as he express himself about their plans before.

"Hey asshole! She's a grown woman and doesn't have to listen to you!" Miles 1019 scowls at Gabriel. The tall Spider-man ignores him.

"I'm sorry, Gabe. I wanted to try to do things on my own. You seemed super busy with your world and time travel." Billie looks up at him with her big honey-brown eyes pleading to be forgiven, her hand fidgeting almost being nervous.

Gabriel's mask to reveal his face with a worried expression, the whole gang gawks at his face. "Waahhh, no way!" Pavtri got close to look at his face.

Gwen and Miles 1610 couldn't stop looking at him. He look nothing like Miguel 928 and Miguel 970, in fact he had more of white features on his face. He had black hair with red eyes and creamy white skin, his nose straight and had more of a Prince Eric look. His hair looks like one of those pretty boys from the 90s. The wholes gang couldn't stop looking at him, looks like his Irish genes won this round!

"That's not a GAH-Bree-ell that's Gay-bree-uhl!" Miles 43 jokes using the Spanish pronunciation of Gabriel and the American version. This cause most of the gang to laugh at the joke.

Miguel 928 try to hold his laugher when he saw Gabriella looking so confused. "That's not a boy me! That's a white boy!" More laughter came out from the groups.

Jess said, "Um... your dad is Miguel 660?"

"Yeah, he's the white guy with red hair..." Gabriel pouts with one hand on his neck feeling a bit embarrassed. "Not my fault that one fourth gene won!"

"Gabriel, this is a variant of you of some form. He was born different..." Miguel said to his daughter.

"Really? Mmm, I guess so." She looked rather disappointed, she thought her boy version would look like her with brown skinned and brown hair and maybe close to her dad.

Gabriel said, "Hey, why I'm getting these kinds of looks!" He puts his mask back on, "Fine! Then no one can ever see my face, again!"

"No, Gabe. You're so handsome. It's just they aren't use to you or your dad being white." Billie 1613 said to him trying to lighten up his mood. "Trust me, I was surprised when I met Miguel 928! I didn't think there was such variety!"

"I wonder how Miguel 660 looks like then." Gwen rubs her chin.

"Very white." Marina 1022 hums to them, "Like really really white. You wouldn't even say he's Mexican until you hear him speak. He got a bit of that Latino American accent."

"How white?" Miles 1610 asked.

"Miles 43 called him, Leche."

That made all the Spanish speakers choked up with laughter trying to hold their snickering. Miles 43 giggles, "Mari, you're not supposed to tell them that! I only said that because he was so damn white!"

"Bruhh, like that makes me feel any better." Gabriel 660 scowls.

"Hey be happy you don't got redhead or else I would've called you, Ariel." Miles 43 added.

Miles 42 couldn't stop laughing, "Miles, stop! That's so funny. Ain't no way a Miguel is a redhead."

"He is... Idk where he get that Mexican pride coming from because he's gringo format." Miles 43 tries to explain, "And I know that sound bad, but I was just so confused."

"How are you confuse when we come in all forms of color?" Miles 1019 asked, "You called him, Leche!"

"Yeah because I'm Café!" Miles 43 explains, "Café con Leche would be..." She looks around, "Okay we barely have any light skins here... But you get me!"

"All this talk about coffee is making me crave for a pan dulce." Mimi 1015's stomach growling.

"Can we go now for lunch, mommy? I'm so hungry!" Gerald asked.

"Sure. Okay, guys. Kids are getting super hungry. How about we go to the cafeteria to each lunch?"

"Oh yeah. I wanna get to know my little sister, Billie." Gabriel holds Billie 1613's hands, "Right!"

"Right." Billie smiles at her.

"Oh me too!" Mayday said.

"Daddy, I want chicken nuggets!" Mariana 2020 spoke up being carried by Hobie 138b. "Me and-and- and mi hermanos discuss, umm-" She looks up at Hobie, "da-da, what's that word again?"

Hobie 138b whispers in her ear while Hobie 138c holds Aaron and Hobie 138e holds Karl. Hobie 138d holds a sign that saids, "Three cookies each!"

"Oh, chicken nuggets com-boo and three cookies each! Because we a-ew super super hung-wy or we will st-wike!" The toddler looks up at Hobie again to make sure they got all their needs met.

Miles 2020 giggles at the sight, "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! Down with the system! W-epa-wations." Mariana 2020 holds her first out.

"YUS!" Aaron and Karl hold their fist out cheering on for their demands.

"Demands must be met for our kiddos!" Hobie 138d hold his sign.

Miguel 928 pinched the bridge of his nose, "Why did I have a feeling that them meeting those kids would cause problems?"

"Because they would fallen in love to their variants' children?" Petie giggles, "Peter was happy to meet May."

"Oh yeah, I was." Peter 616 chuckles. "Come on, she's cute." May giggles being proud of her adorableness.

"And do we have to remind a specific someone loving his own variant's daughter?" Jess hums at Miguel 928.

"You got me there." Miguel 928 said.

Miles 2020 smirks at the group, "Okay, because when they sugar high I'll let my mate handle them."

"Yay! We won!" Mariana said happily to Hobie 138b, "Tank-coo, da-da!"

"Da-da!" The boys also said to the other Hobies.

"When did they taught them to say da-da?" Miles 1610 asked his variants being so confused.

"That's a secret, Sunflower." Hobie 138b winks at him while holding Mariana 2020 in his arms then gave his variant's daughter a kiss on the cheek, "Right, lass."

"Right!" Mariana giggles as the two smirks at Miles 1610.

Miles 1610's face turns bashful almost as if he got baby fever. "Oh no, baby fever! Miles snap out of it! You're still so young!" Gwen said out loud with panic. "I'm not ready to be an Aunt!"

"Aunt? Miles is a man! He can't possibly have a kid unless some weird invention Lyla creates to-" Miles 42 hushes Pavtri, "Hush! Just say it's basic biology! The male anatomy doesn't work like that."

"Hehehe," Billie 1613 giggles, "Awe, nothing wrong about dreaming about being with someone you love and fantasize about their kids."

Gabriel lovingly gaze on Billie, "Yeah..."

Miguel 970 glanced over at Mariana still standing next to her even when she moves around. "Mmhhmm."

"Awe man, the O'Haras just got bad game... it's so painful to watch." Jess said to Peter and Petie.

Peter sighs, "Looks like I gotta teach them a few skills."

"You got skills?" Petie arched his eyebrows.

The massive group slowly walks to the cafeteria having to continue their multiple conversation. Miles 2020 watches the Hobies carrying his pups, "You guys are so good with children. I'm impressed."

"Aye, Jack Harlow, have people ever ask for your ID?" Miles 43 asked at Gabriel giving him a new nickname.

"Who's Jack Harlow?" Gabriel asked being so confused as he walks in the middle of all the Miles. They were suspicious of him still.

"You know, that song Lovin' on Me. Your vanilla, baby or you want me to call you, Logic?" Miles 43 hums. The Miles around Gabriel were snickering at the joke.

Billie 1613 carries Billie 1610 admiring her hairstyle, "Wow, you have such pretty hair, but... the outfit is weird..."

"I told Miles to make her cute." Miles 42 pouts. "And she looks so cute with that hairstyle."

"Hehehe, I like my tutu!" Billie 1610 touches her tutu even though she got on her weird outfit of sweats and shirt.

"I tried! We skipped laundry day!" Miles 1610 added with a slight whine.

Jess said, "Oh nonono, this won't do. Not with my baby. Right, honey? You want a cute outfit to match with your tutu." She went over to carry Billie, she expected her outfit seeing how terrible it looks. It was giving lazy dad on a couch, little Billie is a classy girl and deserves to dress cute. "Petie, you got any extra clothes for Billie."

"Hmm, I think I do, but May is pretty small." Petie went into his baby bag to find a cute plaided dress, "This one."

"No way, Billie needs something more cute." Miles 42 said out loud.

"I think this is cute." Petie pouts.

Miguel 928 look into Miles 2020's baby bag to find a two strap red gingham dress with one big bow into the middle. "What about this one?"

Miles 1610 said, "You guys don't need to find her an outfit, I can-" Miles 2020 said, "It's fine. Besides, those sweat pants aren't it."

"I know." Miles 1610 sighs giving up. The three adults were able to put a cute outfit plus with Miles 42 being the one to critique the outfits. It went from preppy, to princess, to girly.

In the end, Jess was able to give Billie a cute outfit, a pink top with white puff sleeves, and with a plain pink skirt underneath her tutu. The little girl wave her hand being happy, "Yea!"

"Awe, she's so cute!" Mariana 1022 cooed at the three year old.

Little Billie giggles being bashful. Gabriella happily poke her cheek, "Wow, tia Jess, you did a wonderful job!"

"You can say I'm a pro." Jess proudly grins widely.

All the Miles were admiring Little Billie's cute outfit, then Miles 42 carried her. "Awe, Boo-Boo! You're so cute. Finally someone gave you a cute outfit." She responded with laughter.

Miles 1610 rolled his eyes at Miles 42 being dramatic. Then he noticed Gabriel looking at Billie 1613, who cover her mouth having to giggle. "So, Gabriel... how close are you are with Billie?" He asked being curious.

"Oh um... we are-" Billie happily said, "He's one of my best friends." She hugs one of his large arms. They look like a couple when she gets close to him. Gabriel nodded, "Yeah, she's a very close friend."

Mariana giggles, "Awe, such a shame. You two look so good together, too." She held her holo-camera from her watch to take a photo of them. "Hehe, aren't they cute together?" She looks at Miles 1610.

"Yeah, I can see them together." He nodded.

Billie giggles, "You guys are so funny. We're just friends! Gabriel doesn't like me like that and I just got out a relationship!"

"What?" Miles 1610 and the other Miles became alarmed by that too.

Gabriel blinks under his mask, "Wait, since when?"

Mariana grins widely, "Oh yeahhh, you were busy with your time travel missions. Billie Boo was dating Peter Parker 1613."

"Whoa, everything is coming together huh?" Peter 616 blinks in surprise.

"It's bound to happen with all these multi-verses." Jess commented.

"Before you guys start freaking out. He was a year older than me, and his name was Peter Osborn... Technically Mary and Norman Osborn got together and had twins. Harry and Peter Osborn. Let's just say it was a messy family. I didn't know Peter Parker was so common as Spider-man, until Gabriel told me about it and I came here." Billie nervously rub her hand, "Haha, we weren't a thing, well he wanted to but got pretty abusive... I think he's taking that drug from his dad."

"Yikes." Gonzalo 1022 commented.

"Huh uh!" Billie 1610 nodded.

"Oh my goodness." Gonzalo 1015 added.

Peter 616 blinks in shock, "Man, these multi-verses!"

"Wait, did he touch you?" Gabriel asked with a panic.

Miles 42 got his claws out, "Where is that asshole? I'll kill him."

"Well..." Billie 1613 wanted to speak but she saw the Miles and Gabriel looking menacing like they're going to murder someone.

"Come on, guys. Relax. Let her speak." Mariana said, "She will give us an answer."

"Wow, a green goblin Peter Parker... today is getting better and better!" Pavtri types into his blog about a new Peter Parker variant for his readers.

The Hobies went over to listen while holding the triplets. They peak over at Pavtri's long blog. This guy writes so fast, they wonder how he does it.

Gwen said, "Wait, is there a Gwen Stacy in your world."

"Yeah! His name is Grayson and we're friends. I'm friends with him, Harry and Ga-Yeon. I met Peter through Harry. The issue was they are known to be the popular rich boys in school, so it was hard to hang out with the two of them. There was a lot of fan girls, and Harry always seems to be the nerdy one."

"Funny, I always thought Harry liked you, too."

"Maybe. I only dated Peter because he asked me out then something happen with him that got him tweaking. It was on our fifth date he took me to the movies, but his eyes were green and bloodshot. He took me to an empty freeway driving faster and faster, I got so scared until I snap him out of it. When I told him, I'll take the bus home, he threatens to hurt me. Luckily, I'm Spider-woman, because he grabbed my wrist leaving a bruised." She softly said rubbing the wrist where the teenager hurt her, "I got home safe by taking an Uber! I swear, he never touched me, again."

Gabriel's claws came out, Miles 1610 could tell he's pissed off. The way he hunched over almost like a primal vicious animal, looks like an O'Hara is showing.

"I'ma kill him." Miles 42's face darkens.

"Not until I get him first." Miles 43 scowls.

Miles 2020 grins widely showing off his own canines, "I do like hunting..."

Miguel 928 spoke up, "No, you guys stay! Your Spider-men! Well, except for you, but don't do it!" He points at Miles 42.

"I don't care. How can he hurt my baby sister? It's like saying if Gabriel got abused by a boyfriend. You're gonna avoid that?" Miles 42 said to the older Spider-man.

For the moment, just for the moment Miguel 928 had thought about it. His whole face darkens with cruel almost menacing expression on his sculpted face, this made Gabriella stare a bit afraid. "You're right. As you were." He finally said trying to calm down. No, he will never let his Mariposa be tainted by cruel abusive men when she reaches her teens. He will commit murder and knows how to hide a body.

Miles 2020 gave him a side hug, "Awe, papa bear."

"Why do you hug him like if he was your man." One of the Hobies felt a bit jealous seeing Omega Miles being very touchy with Miguel. They saw him hugging him, playing his hair and calling him, 'Papa Bear', it made them very jealous.

Miles 1610 said to his boyfriend, "Calm down, bae."

"But luv... if I see you touching the bloke like that I will go insane! I will- I think I will blow this place to the ground!" Hobie 138b said.

Gwen laughs, "He would like Hobie Pine blow up a sector because Meows was hugging one Kaine Barker."

"Oh my god, you met Kaine Barker! He's a dog, right?" Miles 1610 asked.

"Yup, a cute Golden Retriever." Gwen added.

"Awe, so cute. I wanna meet him," Then he noticed his Hobie frowning almost hurt being ignored and mentioning another Kaine. "Sorry, bae. It's just so many variants to meet!"

"Easy boys. I'm always flirty with Peter, Ben, Miguelito, Jess, anyone. It's who I am." Miles 2020 chuckles.

"That is true. Always flirting but respectfully." Peter nodded.

Miles 42 put down Billie 1610 so she can walk with Gerald and Mayday. Gabriella watches them, "Wanna hold my hand, Billie?"

"Yea!" Billie looks over at May being carried by Petie, "Fren?"

"Daddy, I wanna walk!" May finally wiggle her legs.

"Okay, honey. Stay close my me!" Petie set her down so she can walk with her friend. Then, the Gonzalos got down to walk with them. They were talking having their own conversation.

As the group have so many conversations with each other, one specific one was focused. Gabriel said to Billie 1613, "Why didn't you tell me about this? What if he hurt you? He's an Osborn. They're all tweaking on that drug." He places his hands on her narrow shoulders being so gentle with her.

"You seem so busy. I thought it would be stupid to tell you... besides I talk to Mariana and my friends about it. I'm not delicate, Gabe." She pouts.

He let out a sigh with his head lowered, "I thought you could tell me anything."

"I'm so sorry, Gabe. I didn't mean to..." She felt awful now, "I thought it wasn't important to share."

"You dating a jerk?" He asked being offended.

"Somebody is jealous." Miles 43 whispers at Gwen and Pavtri.

"Mmmhhmm." They nodded.

"I'm not jealous! Coño!" Gabriel shouted at them being annoyed.

Billie 1613 said, "Then, there's no problems. Are there rules about Spider-heroes dating? Did I hurt my canon for dating a Peter?" Her being so naive and unaware of Gabriel's crush on her made it worse.

"No..." Gabriel answered.

"Because Mariana was dating a cute guy too!"

"QUÈ?" Miguel 970 asked Mariana.

Mariana burst out snickering, "Oh, it was this guy... I think he was the male version of Black Cat. It was all flirts. We went out a couple of times then he left me on read."

"Gurl, you didn't fight him!" Mimi 1015 said to her, "I would be so offended."

"Meh, we were flirty before but I was never serious about it. Then I dated this guy who happens to be Lizard Man." Mariana shrugs, "Nothing serious."

Miguel 970 frowns, "When was this?"

"Recently. Black Cat comes and go whenever he feels like it. Lizard Man and I stopped dating once he became all evil."

"Recently? Why you didn't tell me?"

"Geez, these two O'Haras are hopeless." Gwen said to Miles 43 and Mimi 1015.

"Yup." Miles 43 nodded.

Petie saw Miguel 970 looking gloomy, "Miguel, maybe you should talk to him about how the young kids "rizz"." Jess burst out laughing.

"What?" Miguel 928 asked.

Peter nodded, "Oh I heard a lot of the kids rizz each other. I dunno what that is but it's like flirting?"

"It's a slang for charming someone." Miles 2020 added.

Miguel 928 rub his neck, "What do i say?" He saw Gabriel and Miguel looking so upset about their crushes. "Ugh, I guess I can give them a talk... or-" Gabriella went over to Mariana, "Big sis, why not hold Miguel like this! Please? I got a magic trick to show you."

"OKay!" Mariana being a nice person hold Punk Miguel's hand. "Like this?"

"Yeah! Okay," She claps her hands once and said, "You two, will be together! Now, promise me together forever!" She smiles at them.

Miguel 970 blushing so hard while Mariana thinking this is a harmless magic trick. "Okay. Together forever." She smiles.

"Pshh! Abracadabra!" She puff her chest out when she somehow release glitter on the two's hands holding showing a red ribbon pop around their wrists.

"Wow, where the sparkles came out?" Mayday asked.

"Ohh, ahhh." The three year olds gawk.

"Wait, where did the ribbon came from?" Gerald tilted his head being so amazed.

"Hehe, a trick I learn!" She grins widely.

Mariana giggles, "Looks like we're stuck together, Miguelito!"

"Ye-yea..." He blushes.

"Awe, so cute. Gabriella, do it to Gabriel and Billie!" Pavtri said, "I need this on my blog."

"Hehe, you got it!" She happily went to the two with the other kids to look at the trick, again. Gabriel being shy holding Billie 1613's hand.

"I think Gabriella already did your job." Jess commented at her friend.

"Hah, yeah." Miguel 928 smiles happily at his daughter being adorable.

"Freedom!" Mariana 2020 spoke to the Hobies, "We fight for freedom! For Ana-wchy!" Along her brothers chanted.

"Anarchy!" The Hobies cheers on.

"Jesus, this is a cult..." Peter 616 said to Miles 1610.

"That's what I'm afraid of..." Miles groans, "He always love his little anarchist, so I'm not too surprised."

"Especially when it's your kids." Peter hums. Miles couldn't help but feel his face red and warm at the idea of children existing between him and Hobie. Well, he is happy to find out there is a possibility and to meet them.

(Part 5)

[dappledpaintbrush]

♥ for Dimentio of course. uvu

♥️ - family headcanons

you’ve unleashed something Catastrophic

Okay so. I do yap a lot here and I mean a LOT (audience rolls their eyes and sighs) because I have two versions of his family. Hey, tumblr user Dappledpaintbrush, can you answer a Dimentio ask normally for once? No ♥️ Anyways

Dimentio’s father: I personally believe he is the Pixl Creator, and he is in both versions. 1) Lament AU: He was Lord Aldus, and ran away with Merlova (Dimentio’s mother) in order to marry her because in this AU, human and ancient marriage was forbidden everywhere, not just in the Tribe of Darkness. He created the mask Dimentio wears in the game in order to hide his human identity, and became a member of his town’s Council due to his ability to decipher the Dark Prognosticus. He was genuinely a great father and loves his kids, would’ve done anything for them, etc.. However, after the death of Dimentio and Merlova, it was discovered that Aldus was human, and so were his children. His daughter soon fell ill and passed away, and in his grief, he made a horrific decision to resurrect her as a Pixl, to which he discovered she had amnesia and decided not to tell her or anyone else about her origins. Aldus was exiled, but was ordered by town’s Shaman to train apprentices to create more Pixls. Under the order to create more Pixls himself, Aldus created Mimi by accident, and he took her under his wing since the Ancients rejected her. Eventually, he discovered his daughter fell ill and died due to his Shaman cursing her for being half-human. He tried to avenge his daughter and kill the Shaman, but the two both died in this battle. Aldus casted a spell moments before death to remain in the mortal realm as a ghost in order to remain with his Pixl daughter (unbeknownst to her). He spends his afterlife “taking care” of his dead/alive kids (plural, because he eventually discovers Dimentio is alive), and by “taking care” I mean LITERALLY being there in spirit. One day, he’ll do what Merlumina did and sleep forever, but that day is. Not anytime soon. 2) This is the second version of Dimentio’s childhood I’m currently experimenting with and I’m gonna call it uhhhh the Prophecy AU: Since the Pixl Creator had access to the Dark Prognosticus in some capacity (canon bc he used the book to transform his daughter into a Pixl), he knew the evil person his son was prophesied to be. Despite being terrified of his son, he tried to raise him as carefully and gently as he could in order to “fight the prophecy.” However, Dimentio would eventually cause THAT accident that was also prophesied in the Dark Prognosticus (think of it as part of like a checklist that leads to the current Dimentio we see in the game that his father was trying to prevent). With this prophecy being fulfilled and his wife and multiple others dead, Pixl Creator would believe nothing he could do could stop Dimentio from becoming who he was prophesied to be. But couldn’t bring himself to directly kill his son, even to prevent the destruction of all worlds. Instead, he cursed Dimentio to wander dimensions like Blumiere’s father did with Timpani, and this is how the rumor that the son of the Pixl Creator is still alive began (this is also how Tippi vaguely recognizes Dimentio- because in this AU he found her, pitied her, and teleported her to Flipside). I talk about more what the Pixl Creator did after this in the Dimentio’s sister section so I’ll shut up here.

Dimentio’s mother: 1) Lament AU: She is Lady Merlova, an ancestor of Merlumina, and is a fortune teller and a soldier. As stated in Aldus’s blurb, she fell in love with him and ran away with him to another dimension so they could be together. She is a very kind but no-nonsense person and adores her children who are the light of her life. However, her life was cut short when a group of thieves ambushed her, murdered her, and attempted to murder her son, but a weak safety spell casted at the last minute spared his life. In the AU, unlike Aldus, we don’t ever see her again after her death in the Overthere or something, but this version of Dimentio’s mother would. Uh. Not be too happy with her son. She wouldn’t hate him but Yeah. Still, she’d probably cry for both her children every day. She has also declared a Legal Heavenly Divorce on Aldus but he doesn’t know that. I also headcanon her to have fallen in the battle between Nimbi’s and Skellobits so. Double rip. 2) Prophecy AU: Here, she is also aware of what the Dark Prognosticus prophesies of her son. She was unable to be fully consoled by her husband that raising Dimentio right would thwart the prophecy, and she changed from a sweet and gentle to an extremely paranoid and frantic person. Her fear and shame of her son was very hard to hide, and she often avoided him. This lack of love from his mother was what ultimately led Dimentio to cause that accident that lead to her death (I’m still developing what exactly it was, but I do know he was trying to finally get her attention). This version of her. Uh. Does NOT go to the Overthere. Her ass gets the eternal neutrality treatment in the Underwhere as a Shaydee

Dimentio’s sister: 1) Lament AU: Her name is Eirian, and she is Dimentio’s younger sister. Since her father was human, she carried the possibility of being born without magic, and that is unfortunately what happened. She felt overshadowed by her magically-gifted older brother her whole life, and while she attempted to mask her anger, she wasn’t immune to lashing out at her family and herself, both verbally and physically. In this AU, marriage between a human and member of the Ancient race was forbidden everywhere, not just the Tribe of Darkness, so when it was discovered she was half-human, the Shaman cursed her with an illness that quickly caused her death. She suffered amnesia as a Pixl, and thus had no ill feelings towards her father. However, she was captured and imprisoned after her death, and somewhere along the way figured out the truth of her former life. That combined with the mistreatment of the Pixls by the Ancients led to her starting the Pixl War, where she was eventually defeated by the founder of the Tribe of Darkness. Her soul transformed into Shadoo, where Dimentio (resurrected) mercy-kills her, and her soul fades into oblivion. 2) Prophecy AU: She was also born with no magic, but here, she was Dimentio’s twin sister so he basically. Stole the magic from her before they were born so that’s why he’s so powerful LMAO. But even though she did envy her brother’s magic, she was less angry than she was in the Lament AU because her parents, especially her mother, CLEARLYYY favored her (that plan to be the best parents ever to Dimentio kinda failed because they were so scared and ashamed of him). The trauma of her mother and brother’s death made her a bit crazy as a teen/adult, almost mirroring game-Dimentio in a way. To compensate for magic, she developed a BUNCCHH of technology, including what I like to imagine was similar to AOT’s veritical maneuvering equipment to make up for not being able to fly/teleport. Against her father’s wishes, she joined a brigade that protected the Dark Prognosticus from raiders, and she became a very violent warrior and was feared among many despite her lack of magic. However, the incident with Dimentio changed her father and made him extremely distant, and she was also willing to do anything to get his love/attention back. So against his direct orders, she fought in a very dangerous siege on their town from outsiders attempting to steal the Dark Prognosticus. The raiders retreated, but they returned to release a biological weapon that caused many to fall ill, Dimentio’s sister included. Most recovered (against the raider’s hopes), but she was one of the few that didn’t due to her extensive wounds from the prior battle. The guilt of failing as a father yet again made the Pixl Creator transform her soul into a Pixl, and when she arose, she tried to attack him for what he had done to her. He magically-imprisoned her, and kept her that way for a thousand years after his death until his lingering magic was weak enough for her to escape. She started the Pixl War, and I have yet to decide if Dimentio defeats her or if the founder of the Tribe of Darkness does but oh well. My ass will definitely make another five mile long post eventually. The rest of her fate plays out as it does in the game- she becomes Shadoo, heroes defeat her, her soul vanishes, etc. Secret Third Thing: I have a little headcanon that after she is defeated as Shadoo, she goes to the same place as Blumiere and Timpani did and becomes their adopted daughter and all that corny shit (they have all ceased to exist so it Works. But dappledpaintbrush what about the pure hearts LAALAALALA I CANT HEAR YOU I WANT THE PIXL QUEEN TO HAVE A HAPPY ENDING SHE DIDNT DESERVE ANY OF THE SHIT SHE WENT THROUGH). And if you believe in the Rosalina is Blumiere and Timpani’s daughter theory then she can also be Rosalina which is cool :]

[yichens]

omg ik I'm very late but first of all CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MILESTONE VISHI 🌹🎉😍✨🥺❤️🥳💕🥰💖😘 and i hope the prompts are still open lol.

i'm not sure if you're watching My School President, but i feel it's OST song Come Closer by Ford Arun would fit perfectly on PatPran.

I long for your words, whispering those sweet words

If you only knew when I first saw you

You’re all I dreamed of, my heart skips a beat when you’re near

When you’re by my side, when you look into my eyes

A little closer, please come a bit closer

To hear my love

do what you will with this 💌

feels fitting that the way you were "late" (never my dear, never), i am horribly late with responding to this prompt too. i am so very sorry. i hope this was worth the long wait ♥

here's what became of this one

it so happens that back when i received your prompt, i hadn't watched my school president yet. i wasn't planning on watching it but i finally did before the last episode aired. it was... god that show was wonderful. it was so good and sweet and warm in so many ways. the songs were amazing. and it was a joy to use the most stunning one for this edit ♥

(my only grievance is that i didn't get t capture the prom night-glimmer everywhere-stars in the sky and in your eyes-everything is magic -feeling this would've deserved. but maybe next time?)

i did struggle with the edit tho :'D mimi @dimpledpran can tell you how much i whined about making this (it was BAD). between working and studying, i already had only slim moments to work on this one and then hit a huge editing block for some reason. i didn't feel... inspired. which was horrible for me bc i am always inspired! it's like my curse. but anyway.

(i don't mean my lack of inspiration was bc of this prompt btw. or bc of the show choice or bc of patpran. it just... happened. ugh.)

i struggled with the layout the most and the typo and its placement. everything felt like i had already done it or someone else had done it better. but i got over it, eventually. it was a journey with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. especially tears. at least i didn't throw my laptop out the window or anything.

but! am still going to end this by saying that i thank you for this edit and allowing me to do this! i still had fun. i feel better now while looking at this.

love you, vi ♥ have a wonderful rest of your week!

[dirtyglitterr]

ꜰᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ

Neymar Jr x Original Character Summary: ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛꜱ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ᴡᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ʙʏ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏʀ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ? ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ᴘᴏꜱꜱɪʙʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴘᴀᴛʜꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄʀᴏꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.

Warnings: Mature Language

ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ

ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇᴛɪᴛɪᴏɴ

It was game day, and the Le Parc des Princes stadium was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Anto and I were sitting in the VIP box, waiting for the game to begin. I was so nervous, and I wasn't the one kicking the ball around down there on the field. I was nervous because this would be the first game where I was cheering on more than just Lio. I was here watching my husband—my best friend live in action. I needed to distract myself before I became a nervous wreck, so I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. That's when I saw a text from my assistant:

From: Gilly H.

Now I see why you haven't been back boss.

I clicked on the link that she sent me, and it led me to an Instagram post of Neymar and me. I knew that fucker never deleted that photo, and I smiled to myself knowingly. However, the description of the post was something that I wasn't expecting to read. "So not only has Neymar moved on from Bruna, he's moved on to yet another brunette. Who the fuck is this?" I said to myself,

"What's wrong?" Anto asked,

"We'll see how long this lasts before Bruna sends out a PSA," I continued, showing Anto the Instagram post.

Anto shook her head and said, "What's The Goss is worse than the damn plague." Anto rolled her eyes. "You can't pay too much to it or else it'll drive you crazy, Mimi." I nodded in agreement, knowing that Antonella was right. I decided to take a break from scrolling through Instagram and put my phone away.

"I guess hiding isn't an option anymore." I said, I guess if Neymar and I ever became a thing—I mean, we are married, but our feelings towards each other are completely platonic, but if we were actually a thing, blogs, and strangers following us around with cameras almost everywhere that we went would be something that I had to seriously consider.

"It was only a matter of time before everyone found out about you two." Anto grinned mischievously as she nudged me. I rolled my eyes, knowing that she was just teasing me, but deep down, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety at the thought of our relationship—or our shotgun wedding becoming public knowledge. The thought of constantly being in the spotlight and having our every move scrutinized by the media was daunting, to say the least. "You look so cute in his jersey, by the way." She added, changing the subject.

I blushed and looked down at the Neymar jersey I was wearing. It was a gift from him, and I loved wearing it. It was super comfortable, but now that we were married, it felt like a statement. A statement that I'm sure once the internet gets a hold of the photos from today, they will all run wild with, I'm sure. Then again, I wasn't sure I was ready to make such a statement to the world. A statement that not even I was sure of. "Thanks," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "But let's focus on the hiding part. Do you think we could actually keep our relationship a secret?" Anto shrugged.

"It's not impossible, but it won't be easy. We'll have to be careful about it, but it seems you two are past being careful." Fuck, she was right. "How's that been going anyway?" She then asked.

"What part? Getting to know my childhood best friend all over again, or us being married?" I mumbled my response, feeling embarrassed about the whole situation.

Taking a sip of her beer, she listened to my response and raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess that answers that," she said with a slight chuckle. She took another sip and leaned back in her chair, studying me carefully. "But seriously, Mimi, how's everything been going between you two?"

I couldn't help but think about the moment between Neymar and me yesterday. He was there for me when I needed him the most, even though my stupid ass thought it would've been best to distance myself from him. But what I really couldn't stop replaying over and over in my head was his thumb rubbing against my lips. It was a moment that I couldn't forget, even if I tried. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to. It was like time had stopped and all that existed were the two of us in that cafe. "Well, he's still a madman in the best of ways." His touch gave me goosebumps all over. I knew then that what we had was something special, something worth fighting for. "The marriage, however, is something that should've never happened. Speaking of, did you hear back about the annulment?" But then again, I stomped those feelings down as quickly as they came up. I mean, according to this What's the Goss bitch, he had a type for brunettes.

"Uh...yeah."

"And?" I asked with a raised brow. As I sat there, waiting for news of the annulment, my nerves began to get the best of me. The thought of being legally tied to him forever was overwhelming, yet at the same time, a part of me still longed for his affection.

"My lawyers have been looking into it and said that it might take eight months—"

"Eight months!" " I exclaimed, cutting him off mid-sentence. "¿Estás bromeando, Antonella? I can't wait that long. I need to move on with my life."

"You two went to some janky place and got married by John fucking Snow; it was worse than Vegas." Antonella sighed and looked at me sympathetically. "I know it's not ideal, but we have to go through the legal process to get your marriage annulled. From what my lawyer is saying, it's the only way to make sure it's done properly and won't cause any issues down the line." I nodded, feeling defeated. But was I really sad about never hearing him call me his wife every chance he got?

"But what about my job? I can't just take eight months off. And I can't just up and move my mama to France in the middle of her treatments." Antonella nodded understandingly. "My lawyer is doing his best to expedite the process, but unfortunately, there are no guarantees. In the meantime, he's advising that you should look into getting a work visa so you can stay in the country legally."

Despite the bad news, I couldn't help but think about how he took it. "Did you tell him?"

"I'll let you break the news to him. You have to admit that being Mrs. da Silva Santos is not a bad way to get over that abusive ass." She grinned,

"That's the thing; adding a husband to the mix is just a recipe for disaster."

"Neymar doesn't seem to think so." As I listened to my best friend's words, I couldn't help but feel confused by what she was insinuating. Was she suggesting that Neymar actually wanted to stay married to me? The thought made my heart race with excitement and fear all at once. "Oh, come on, Mimi, don't pretend that you haven't noticed."

"I'm not thinking too much about anything he does. He's a player and has a thing for brunettes." To think that he might actually have feelings for me was almost too much to handle. But then again, I had heard stories about his reputation with women. Could I really trust him? Would he just use me and then move on to someone else? These were the questions that set my mind on overdrive.

Despite my reservations, though, I couldn't help but think about what it would be like to be Neymar's girlfriend—hell, his wife since we skipped several relationship milestones. We would travel the world together; he'd force me to attend glamorous events, and, of course, I'd watch him play soccer from the best seats in the house. It all seemed too good to be true, but for now, all I could do was wait and see if he would make a move. Did I even want that?

"Yes, he has a place in the fuckboy hall of fame, but you don't see how he looks at you." Anto gushed as I looked at her. "Or how you look at him. It's like you both hang the moon in each other's eyes. I've never seen him or you like this before."

"And what that?" I asked,

"Happy. Truly happy." She smiled sweetly, and I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through my chest. "It's like there's an unspoken understanding between the two of you—a connection that runs deeper than just physical attraction. Maybe it's the way he listens to you when you speak, or how he always seems to know exactly what you need without you having to say a word. Whatever it is, it's clear that there's something special between you two. And while some might even call him a fuckboy, you see something different in him—a vulnerability and a tenderness that he only shows to those he truly cares about. As for you, it's obvious that he holds a special place in your heart. You can't help but smile when he's around, and your eyes light up whenever someone mentions his name. It's like the two of you are meant to be together, even if the rest of the world doesn't quite understand it yet."

Fuck, I needed this game to start already, I thought to myself as I looked away from her, wiping at the tear that unknowingly fell from my eyes. I knew for a fact that when I was alone again, Anto's words were going to drown me. But then again, maybe that's what I need right now. Maybe I need to feel this ache in my chest because it reminds me that I'm alive and that I'm capable of feeling something so intense.

ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ

ɴᴇxᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ

🇹​​🇭​​🇦​​🇳​​🇰​​🇸​ ​🇫​​🇴​​🇷​ ​🇷​​🇪​​🇦​​🇩​​🇮​​🇳​​🇬

[josefavomjaaga]

Napoleonic daily soap, episode 6: 14 Vendémiaire [Yes, I’m leaving out 13 Vendémiaire. That’s in every series about Napoleon already. At length.]

Scene: Josephine’s salon, exquisitely furnished, quite unlike her shabby bedroom. Josephine sits on a sofa, studying some magazine, with Barras pacing across the room.

Josephine:

„I really cannot see what you would still need me for. I thought your insurrection yesterday had gone splendid?“

Barras:

„It did, it did. Say what you want about soldiers - they are good when it comes to getting someone out of the way. It was as if the royalists had run into a wall.“

Josephine [makes a face]:

„Those poor people. And what a mess! Mimi has told me there’s blood everywhere, even in front of a church. Very inappropriate. Really, this is all so ugly, Barras. Can we not finally get over that kind of stuff?“

Barras:

„We would love to, petal. Maybe this time. We’ll try something new. We have abolished the Convention; so many people can never be kept under control. From now on, we’ll have a Directory of only five.“

Josephine [sighs]:

„Yet another new type of government? I barely can keep track. Explain me some time later how it works and who’s in it. For now, why do you still want me to talk to those generals? If the insurrection is over, what do you need them for still?“

Barras:

„It’s more about what I need to do for them. They have helped me out, now they expect payment. I’m already in discussions with Carnot for all kind of promotions. But the most greedy of them all is that Corsican. I have already arranged for him to become général de division but he’s insatiable. Now he wants to become général en chef of the Army of the Interior on top of that.“

Josephine:

„That’s the army here in Paris, right?“

Barras:

„Precisely. General in chief of the army in the capital. A position we can only give to somebody who will support us without any doubt. [musing] Which Bonaparte probably would, I guess. Surely even. He knows very well what side his bread is buttered on. It may not even be abad idea. But still. It would not hurt if there was something else he had an interest in, or he will soon try to elbow his way into the Directory.“

Josephine:

„My dear, you know how I love to help you out, at any time. But how do you imagine this to work? I am not even acquainted with this general Bonaparte.“

Barras:

„I’m sure you must have met him at some point. At one of my parties maybe?“

Josephine:

„If I did, I can’t remember. No, no, Barras. A lady cannot simply walk into the army barracks looking for some general. Nor can she just call at the house of a bachelor.“

Barras:

„But you are so resourceful, Rose. I’m sure you will find a way. Promise me you’ll think about it.“

Josephine [good-natured]:

„Of course I will, dummy. But this might be a hard nut to crack.“

A door opens, Eugène enters the room and bows to Barras.

Josephine [with a bright smile, reaches out her hands]

„Eugène! Come here, my baby!“

Eugène [embarrassed]:

„Mum, please. I’m fourteen.“

Josephine:

„Oh, you know that for a mother her children will always remain babies. You’ve just grown a bit, but technically you’re still my baby.“

Barras [appreciative]:

„Well, I dare say he has indeed grown since we last met. Those days in Hoche’s army have done him good. He’s turning into a fine young lad, truly… [Josephine and Eugène both give him a look, he raises his hands in a defensive gesture.] Well, I’m just saying. Nothing wrong with some completely dispassionate recognition of masculine physical appeal.“

Josephine [brows furrowed]:

„Please don’t be creepy around my son, Barras. - Eugène, Monsieur Barras has just told me that his little insurrection has been dealt with. You and your sister will soon be allowed to go back to school.“

Eugène [sighs]:

„O joy.“

Josephine:

„Don’t give me that look. Getting an education is very important, young man. At least that’s what I am told.“

Eugène [defiant]:

„But I want to become a soldier, mum! Why do I have to learn Latin and English for that? Hoche doesn’t speak English and he’s a general.“

Josephine [frosty]:

„Your father would be very disappointed if he could hear you. He was very well-learned.“

Eugène [hangs his head]

„He was indeed. I’m sorry, mum. I promise I’ll do my best. I’ll better get back to my homework then.“ [turns and leaves the room]

Josephine [sighs]:

„I can tell you, Barras, being a single mother is not easy. I have to send the children back to their schools as soon as possible, so their teachers can take care of them. They are much better at this than me. The insurrection is truly over and dealt with, you said. Right?“

Barras:

„Well, pretty much. There is of course the aftermath. We’ll have to disarm the city, for example. [rolls his eyes] Again. I do not know where people get all these weapons from. After every other unrest or rebellion, we search the houses and seize all guns and swords we can find. And a couple of weeks later, for the next uprising, they are all armed again. It’s like they grow these weapons in their basements, like mushrooms.“

Josephine:

„So you will seize people’s weapons?“

Barras:

„The army will, yes. Not here, in the district you live in, of course, only in the insurrectionist quarters. [laughs] I doubt your son, aspiring soldier that he is, would appreciate if somebody came to take his sword away…“

Josephine [rises from the sofa]

„O Barras, you’re a genius!“

CUT to new scene: Office of the general in chief of the Army of the Interior. A small, barely furnished room. Napoleon writing furiously behind his desk.

Napoleon [lays the plume aside]

„Lemarois!“

Lemarois enters. Napoleon hands him the paper

„Take this. Make sure all these orders are immediately executed!“

Lemarois [stares at the paper, then stares at Napoleon, eyes wide]

Napoleon [embarrassed]

„Ask Junot. I think he’s the one who can read my handwriting best.“

Lemarois:

„I shall, mon général. If you allow me a remark: Your written instructions greatly strengthen the team spirit among your ADCs. Deciphering them always turns into a group effort.“

Napoleon [distracted, already reading the next document]

„That’s nice.“ [notices Lemarois has not left] „Anything else?“

Lemarois:

„Your eight o’clock appointment has just arrived, sir.“

Napoleon:

„Appointment? O, right, that citizen Beauharnais who wanted to talk to me. Tell him to wait.“

Lemarois:

„I don’t think that would be appropriate, sir.“

Napoleon:

„Why not?“

Lemarois:

„Because he likely must leave for school soon. It’s a child.“

CUT to anteroom. Eugène sitting on a wooden bench, looking agitated. Lemarois and Napoleon enter, he jumps up and gives a military salute.

Napoleon:

„Citizen Beauharnais?“

Eugène [standing at attention]:

„Yes, sir!“

Napoleon:

„Alright. Uhm. You can stand at ease, citizen. Or even better, come into my office. We can talk there. (gives Eugène another look] At ease.“

CUT to Napoleon’s office. Napoleon sits down behind his desk, notices Eugène is still standing and points to a chair.

„Please, take a seat. I understand you want something from me.“

Eugène [sitting down]:

„I do have a request to make, sir. Or rather, I would like to file a protest. Against the seizure of weapons by your army of the Interior. [gets agitated] There is no way I will let go of my father’s weapons, they are almost the only thing that I have left of him!“

Napoleon [confused]:

„Are you saying that your father is dead then?“

Eugène [sadly]:

„He is, sir. He was decapitated during the last days of the Terreur. Only four days before Robespierre was taken out. [mumbles] Only four days…“

Napoleon [after a second]:

„I’m sorry to hear that. [starts realizing something] Wait. Beauharnais … that’s de Beauharnais, right? General Alexandre de Beauharnais?“

Eugène [raises head, proud but with tears in his eyes]:

„That is my father, sir. He had fully embraced the cause of the Revolution, he even had been president of the Constitutional Assembly once. He never was an enemy to the Revolution, he never used his sword but for the honour and the glory of France, and now that I have inherited them, I plan on doing the same.“

Napoleon:

„That’s the spirit! So you plan on becoming a soldier?“

Eugène:

„I already had the honour of serving as an orderly to general Hoche, sir.“

Napoleon:

„Hoche, uh? Well, I guess he did have his moments in the past, and I know everybody is raving about him but personally, I’m not much of a fa…“

Eugène [sternly]

„Ey. Not a word against Hoche! He’s been like a father to me!“

Napoleon:

„… fan of people who badmouth somebody who takes care of an orphan in such an admirable way. I myself have lost my father at a pretty young age, so I can relate.“

Eugène [sympathetic]:

„Also in a revolution, sir?“

Napoleon:

„No. Stomach cancer. Less dramatic but also pretty messy. So, what precisely do you want from me?“  

Eugène:

„I hoped you could give me a written authorisation to keep my father’s weapons. As a souvenir of my father, and in order for me to use them for the cause of the republic. My mother has told me that without such a permit I might be obliged to part with them, and that [sadly] that I could not bear.“

Napoleon [getting interested]:

„Your mother told you that? So your mother is still alive?“

Eugène:

„Yes, sir. She was briefly incarcerated herself but released after the Terror had ended.“

Napoleon:

„Has she remarried?“

Eugène [astonished]:

„No, sir.“

Napoleon:

„How old are you? Do you have any siblings?“

Eugène:

„I have just turned fourteen, and I have one younger sister, aged twelve.“

Napoleon [enthusiastic]

„Perfect! Absolutely perfect. The widow of a former general and politician, an aristocrat in favour of the Revolution, with a tragic background story and two adolescent children. Tell me, young man, does your mother move in society a lot?“

Eugène [sighs]:

„She does indeed, sometimes more than her children would like. She is good friends with Monsieur and Madame Tallien, with Monsieur Barras…“

Napoleon:

„With Barras? I love her already! Where do you live, my lad?“

Eugène:

„Rue Chantereine 6, sir. But why are you asking?“

Napoleon:

„So I know where to bring the written permit, of course. [smiles] I could write one for you now but if you want to make use of it, I absolutely need to dictate it to one of my secretaries. You see, nobody can read my handwriting.“

Eugène:

„My teachers keep complaining about mine, too.“

Napoleon:

„Then that’s another thing we have in common. I’ll have somebody bring the permit to your house as soon as possible. [rolls out a map of Paris on his desk] Rue Chantereine … wait, that’s not even in one of the sections that are supposed to be disarmed.“

Eugène [confused]:

„It is not? Then my mother must have misunderstood something. I am very sorry, sir, if I have taken up your precious time because of a mistake…“

Napoleon:

„But to the contrary! I am very glad to have made your acquaintance. What a happy mistake indeed!“

[rise-my-angel]

Hi Mimi. Would it be okay if I could ask you for some advice? I recently started posting my writing on my blog and I feel like a lot of people don't really care. I mean- people don't have to care, of course. But do you have any tips on how to get over this feeling of anxiety and feeling like there's no space for you? I remember that you were having struggles of your own. I'm sorry for bothering you. I really look up to you. Thank you.

I do totally get it, when I started posting properly again I was in a fandom with a very prolific fanfic community, and they all had a ton of followers with a lot of mutual support towards eachother. So I would post my work and get no attention, only to see my mutuals get in the hundreds everytime.

I hit big with a one shot for The Last of Us by pure coincidence, and it sent me on that very path of getting anxiety when something did "poorly". But it taught me all the wrong lessons, that numbers count and mutual support and validation are what matters. Because everyone else had tons of support everywhere but not for me. I was just posting into the void and occasionally something got big. Then I left that fandom, and started posting for Game of Thrones and suddenly I had a very small audience to even post to then before, and I basically started back at zero. Totally new space with new people hoping eventually someone would read it and care.

What I've realized now, is that you will have invisible readers. People who don't interact with it at all, but do in fact read and care a lot, and eventually you'll get readers who start interacting with it more and more. I had to realize that Heart of the Great Wolf doesn't have a very visible audience to me. My masterlist and first few chapters have tons of notes, but my average chapter now is about 30 notes. I had to teach myself that people do care, but it can take a long time for them to feel comfortable interacting with it.

My main focus is, do I have fun writing? Am I enjoying it? If I'm only writing with that anxiety that no one cares, then it's not fun and it'll make me want to stop. I had to realize that I write what I write because I just want to write it, and when I put it out there I can only pray that it lands with someone.

But it takes time, getting used to thinking no one cares but people do. Some won't say it, some will be quiet about saying it, but they do care. As long as you remind yourself that you're enjoying what you're doing eventually your readers will start to interact. It feels awful and sometimes I still feel that, just remind yourself that people see it and they do care.

As long as you write because you want too, and you're having fun, people will read, they will come, it just takes time. I promise.

[draconicfool]

👫[[ go ahead and do it for all of em im curious to hear what ur feelings are about sampo, boothill, svarog, AND the future jing yuan >:3 ]]

THIS IS GONNA BE SO LONG GET FUCKING READY BUN

Sampo

Eros likes to go find Sampo in the wild and try to not scare him, but catch him off guard. He thinks it's really cute seeing how he'll try and cover up and divert attention from the situation.

When Sampo comes to the clinic there is a lot more going on than just him being healed and half the time he'll come out with new bruises and scratches that weren't there beforehand and will not get healed because they're able to be hidden

He'll always pretend to fall for a scam if Sampo even tries because he thinks it's really funny to see how quickly he switches up when Eros gives in easily. Never once has he reported anything to anyone but the fact that his head goes there is the only kind of joke that he personally enjoys

They have absolutely gotten caught mid make out session on the cot and the vidyadhara has had to like fix himself up and try and go about looking over a patient as if there is not currently a very large man sitting there waiting for him.

Boothill

There's a comfort that Eros finds in Boothill as somebody who's also lost his family and what he used to believe was his home. While neither has ever gone into detail, there's an understanding and that's enough

Just because he's metal does not mean that he's free from bite attempts. You'll have to pry the cyborg man from between his jaws he thinks it's very fun considering they have the same shark-like teeth. Though he's very prepared at all times to be bitten back

You ever just steal a man's earring while he's sleeping because he's gonna be leaving soon and it gives him a reason to come back to see you? Yeah, he does that all the time and wears it because it reminds him of Boothill thank you.

Unlike anyone else in this list I'm making for you, Bun, Boothill does not get any ounce of brat from the vidyadhara. Maybe it's the accent or the fact that a gun could be pulled at any time, but he's extremely willing to submit at the ranger's hands.

Svarog

The very definition of would you smooch a robot because yes he would. He doesn't care that Svarog is metal he's getting so many kisses. His face if you can call it that, his way too big hands. His fingers tips that are much large than Eros? His shoulders? His chest? Everywhere. He loves him.

Eros can't cook for Svarog because of obvious reasons but he'll try and find little bits and bobs to bring him. Mostly things like flowers from his trips to other planets because he thinks it'd be nice considering those can't be found on Jarilo-VI.

I like thinking of Eros falling asleep against him after a particularly long day and the robot just kind of draping him in his coat because his readings indicate that a certain vidyadhara is susceptible to the cold, and despite him having a portable heater you can't be too careful.

He already saw Clara as his daughter before the two were even remotely close but now he feels like they have their own little family because they're two dads and their very smart, very cute little girl

Jing Yuan

Eros exists almost constantly under Jing Yuan's desk because he never learns that teasing the general and being a terrible brat comes with consequences and punishments from a man who is more than prepared to deal with his ass

That being said he's also got a sweeter streak and likes to pull the general away from duties for cuddles

Eros and very bitey and very possessive. This mixed with the other's status means that he tries very hard to leave marks all over him but always ends up healing them when pressed to because he can't really tell that man 'no'

He has absolutely purposefully gotten Mimi to get on the bed and the two have taken up the entirety of it while he lays there on top of her just looking at this man like the knife cat meme.

relationship headcanons || accepting

[lifewiththelulus]

This is how I imagine that conversation starts XD

Kindlin stopping by the flower shop to ask plume a bunch of questions randomly XD She gonna do her research "What do you like to eat? Do you need constant heat like fire? What can make you sick?" She hopes what she's doing isn't super obvious but she doesn't know who else to ask questions lol

He's more than happy to help if not slightly exasperated with her attempts to seem casual. He's more than aware of how unlikely it was he even exists so he wants the best for them too. He likes drawing with charcoal but it doubles as a snack. A new meaning to chewing on your pencil. There's some questions he has to brave hearing his parents embarrassing stories to answer. It's not that they weren't friends before but she knows significantly less about him than Hazel and Mimi so all of a sudden her trying to get his help is like "well if it isn't my favorite element who is always so helpful to his friends what's up bro"

Lmao yeah XD Shes like "heyyyyy what's up buddy, one of my favorite florists! How ya dooiiin?"

i can imagine how elated flint and misty are to see another pair like them flourishing

Lol I can only imagine her face when she realizes they know what she's up to

Misty gives kindlin a personal line on one of their business cards. "Please call us if you need anything" wink

She's just bows her head in embarrassment and nods, though she's happy to have someone with some sort of guidance in this area. How'd they meet tho Did plume tell them about the fire girl bothering him with weird questions? Lol

Well once plume started going to them about the questions he couldn't answer they were more than a little curious why

Cirrus would go to Flint to ask for advice on how to be ready once her wife is pregnant.

"heh there's never really a playbook for elements like us who are crazy enough to break the barrier. Much as we've tried. For us we'd ended up believing it would never happen so when it did I can tell you I nearly had a flare up. Feels like a rollercoaster but what I can tell you is to trust your instincts and never doubt each other. Oh and get plastic covers for literally everything you own you'll have soot everywhere in no time flat ha".

Cirrus: Oh… well thank you, sir, I'm happy that you could share that with me but when I said "If she does get pregnant what should I do." I meant more in the sense of how to make Kindlin comfortable, like should I expect cravings, will she need help getting up? ^^; She feels so bad for ruining that moment after he shared something so personal XD

He might put on a lot of bravado but he's very easy to fluster. " ah well you'll have to forgive this old man and his waxing poetic. I'm not quite sure how it'll translate after all I didn't actually have the baby thank the blue flame" practically slaps his knee at his own jokes. "But Misty I recall could hardly eat anything she used too. She started wanting the stuff I had imported from home. Maybe plume just wanted something more fire, who knows. She never felt cold enough nearly blew away one day when she put on a dozen fans in the office."

"my own mom used to tell me it was like have a lump of coal weighing you down all day so I'd imagine your wife will need some extra attention towards the end. And not to gross you out young lady but well, you must be sure you know exactly when the babies coming because a water break aint so bad but a lava one, now that could cost ya in repairs. "

Cirrus: That last one will definitely be a big help, I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the food situation though, Kindlin can't eat our food, It evaporates as soon as it gets close to her mouth.

"when you get to be as old as I am you realize you can eat just about anything if you throw it in a blender first hehe. Whenever A few times Misty wanted me to try something I tried mixing it with my lava java. Not perfect but hey"

Cirrus: Huh. Blending… I think that might just work. Um… I do have one more question though. It's silly to think about but I can't help but worry… what if they don't like me?

His face softens with the kind of knowing only a parent can have "you know with plume, I was sure I would end up like my parents, that Id push him away and he'd know it somehow even as a little puff of smoke. But I tell you once you actually lay eyes on em, it won't matter, even if they hated you you know youd do anything for em. But if it means anything to you the fact that you even worry about it tells me there's no way they won't love you. I think they have a way of knowing"

[melodyplucked]

he shakes his head at her soft words. he doesn't want to make her feel badly for asking, no, that's not right.   ❝    it's not that, my love... i don't mind telling you. not at all. i always want you to be able to ask me anything, okay? i care about you- about your thoughts... everything. people just... they like to talk, here. though i'm guessing that's probably the case everywhere? rumors, that sort of thing. i just don't enjoy people making up stories about me all the time. though i know mimi just doesn't know better- that's not her fault.   ❞    he hums, explaining his reaction to her in that gentle tone as she rubs her thumb against his skin. he really enjoys this sweet, gentle touch from her. at her words he nods, smiling at her gently, though he's not quite thinking she can see his face now, she can hear it in his voice he would believe.   ❝    you’re so sweet. i know this is a very different world to your own. and i know that's complicated at times... but it is normal here. that i've been with more than one person. i don't think about anyone else but nini now. whether that be you or my skating partner. that's what's important to me.   ❞    she means the world to him, so completely. and this princess has been nothing less than wonderful. her words make him smile so much more and he tilts his head down to look at her as she lifts her chin to look up at him better.   ❝    well i am very thankful to be here with you too, my wonderful princess. i'm happy that i can make you so happy. i love this- us... i love you so much, thank you, for being so good to me. i know this new life is nothing like your own. you were raised a princess- every possible luxury... and yet you seem to be happy with me... i'm so lucky   ❞    he caresses her upper arm, wanting her to feel his touch, though this isn't exactly a good angle to be able to kiss her.

nini     is     used     to     being     pampered.     even     before     she     was     the     princess     to     ricky's     prince,     she     was     a     princess     in     her     own     right     —     a     princess     by     birth.     she     didn't     have     to     marry     to     secure     her     crown     and     so     she     had     always     been     used     to     the     best     of     everything.     nothing     she'd     been     raised     with     could     have     prepared     her     for     the     way     ricky     would     pamper     her     like     it     was     his     only     duty     in     life.     that     didn't     seem     to     change     when     she     slipped     into     this     new     world.     it     was     lovely     to     see     the     proof     that     her     sweet     prince     was     just     as     wonderful     in     every     iteration     of     himself.     she     loved     him     in     every     universe.     ❝     i     do     love     being     taken     care     of     by     you.     ❞     she     tells     him,     smiling     softly.     it     was     nice     to     feel     so     loved,     and     she     could     tell     it     meant     a     lot     to     him     to     be     able     to     get     to     express     his     love     like     this,     too.     

she     sighs     as     she     settles     against     him,     getting     a     bit     more     comfortable,     happy     to     be     in     his     arms.     she     frowns,     though,     at     the     little     sound     he     makes.     maybe     she     shouldn't     have     asked     that     question.     it     was     too     invasive.     even     if     they     were,     technically,     somewhere,     married,     it     was     still     his     personal     business.     ❝     it's     alright     if     you'd     rather     not     answer.     ❞     she     says     softly,     her     hand     resting     on     his     thigh,     thumb     rubbing     back     and     forth     over     his     skin.     she's     nodding,     though,     as     she     listens     to     him     explain.     ❝     well,     it's     a     bit     more     than     i     can     say     for     myself,     but     we     live     in     vastly     different     worlds.     if     this     is     something     normal     here...     what's     the     issue?     ❞     she     asks,     and     though     he     can't     see     her     face     well     from     the     angle     she's     at,     she     lifts     an     eyebrow.     he's     so     sweet,     his     fingers     working     diligently     to     make     her     feel     so     nice     and     relaxed.     ❝     you     have     brought     me     such     joy,     my     sweet     skater.     i     am     a     very     lucky     girl     that     you're     who     i've     ended     up     with     here.     i'm     thankful     it's     you.     ❞     she     tells     him,     head     tilting     up     just     slightly     to     look     at     him,     smile     on     her     face.