#i tend to do that a lot actually. though it makes me laugh regardless so maybe its fine.

[skeletalheartattack]

Stumbles down your chimney

ahhhhhh hello, you must be that Santa Claus i hear so much about. welcome to my home. here we have my two christmas trees so i can max out on presents. you understand. i'm on the good list, don't even double check. if you know what's good for you Santa.

[strangerstilinski]

𝙞𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨

𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

word count: 2.5k warnings: none really, fluffy ending, steve is kind of a dick, mention of alcohol, gender neutral reader (pls let me know if i missed anything) based on that scene in tasm where peter spins gwen around to kiss her — with just a dash of enemies to lovers

It should go without saying that Steve Harrington is the bane of your goddamned existence. If the two of you aren't at each other's throats, it typically just means that you're both doing your best to pretend the other doesn't even exist.

And, sure, maybe it drives you a little bit insane that he seems to get along just fine with every person in your friend group except for you. It was like you pushed buttons that Steve wasn't even aware he had.

Nancy finds the whole thing amusing, says that Steve's clearly so in love with you that he doesn't know how to handle it. Eddie swears that Steve looks at you with hearts in his eyes, though any time you've caught his stare those ‘hearts’ tended to look a whole lot more like daggers. Argyle and Robin both insist that love and hate tread a very thin line, and eventually, a little push will have the two of you stumbling head over heels into each other's waiting arms. Johnathan tends to stay out of it, but then, he doesn't really need to say anything, because you've seen that look he gives you when he catches you looking a little too long at the moles dotted along the length of Steve's throat, or that stubborn lock of hair that tumbles over his brow bone, or the way his tongue pokes out and his eyes narrow cutely when he's concentrating-

You hate it. You hate Steve. Even now, you swear you hate him, regardless of the way you shamelessly ogle the curve of his bicep when he reaches across the back of the sofa to drape his arm loosely behind Robin's shoulders. You've accepted it. At this point, allowing yourself to admire his stupidly handsome physique was merely reparations for being forced to put up with him on a near-daily basis. Compensation for the never-ending bad attitude that he seemed to direct solely at you.

“Does anyone hear that?” Steve's voice speaks louder than your own suddenly, effectively cutting you off even though you'd been in the middle of a sentence. His eyes meet yours for just a brief second before his gaze is moving elsewhere, “It's like, this annoying buzzing sound?” He's sitting up a little straighter following his interruption, brows drawing together like he's listening intently for something.

His sudden line of questioning has thoroughly derailed your train of thought. The longwinded story you'd been regaling to the group about a customer at work is cut short, the words dissolving on your tongue as your try to work out what on earth Steve is referring to. Until his interruption, you hadn't heard anything.

“What are you even talking abou-”

“There!” He cuts you off once more, “There it is again! Did you hear that, Robs?” The fingers he nudges into his best friend's ribs makes her squirm away with a deep laugh.

You huff, “Are you seriously implying that I'm the-”

“God, you guys 're hearing that, right?” Steve interrupts with an irritatingly pleased grin on his face, “Like nails on a chalkboard-”

Though Robin's laughter isn't actually directed at you, your face burns hotly anyway. A pity-filled smile graces her lips when she meets your gaze after escaping the wrath of Steve's tickling, and his chuckles of amusement only serve to make you grind your teeth together in irritation.

“Real mature, dickhead.” You snap, snatching up the beer you'd set down on the coffee table when Eddie had actually asked you about your day a few minutes before. “I was in the middle of a story.”

“Yeah, no offense, honey, but I'm not sure any of us were that invested hearing you drone on about the ‘big tip’ some douchebag with a hand tattoo left you.” Steve grumbled with a roll of his eyes, “If your stories weren't so boring, maybe we wouldn't all be sitting here hoping for a hole in the earth to open up under us just so we don't have to keep listening to-”

“Steve. C'mon man-” Eddie tries, though his voice is drowned out by your own.

“Jesus, do you have to be such an asshole all the time?” You snap in Steve's direction.

“I'm just saying,” Steve shrugs, “Probably the only reason he left such a big tip was because pulled the wrong bill out of his wallet, alright? It sure as hell wasn't 'cause of your shining personality.”

“What, and just because you're a jackass, that means no man could ever possibly find me appealing?” You bite back.

“Yeah, well, your pretty face doesn't quite make up for your constant need for attention.”

“My need for attention?” You scoff incredilously, beer slamming back down onto the tabletop in front of you. The rest of your friends seem to fade even further into the background, the rest mist of your rage yet again blinding you to anything that isn't Steve fucking Harrington. “You're the one who can't stand when the focus is on me for ten fucking seconds.”

“So what, if I don't care that some prick hit on you at work-” Steve argues, “Sue me. If that makes me an asshole-”

“It does, as a matter of fact,” You interrupt easily, “Because I'm constantly listening to you whine about your conquest of the week, except I'm able to do so without acting like such a fucking-”

“Careful,” Steve hums, cocky little smirk reemerging on his lips, “You're sounding a little jealous, there, honey.”

“Oh, fuck off.”

“'S my house,” He returns just as quickly, “How 'bout you fuck off.”

The blood in your veins is full of fire. Your face is burning with rage and your eyes prickle traitorously with frustrated tears, because that customer from your story? He'd been the highlight of your god-awful day. The rest of it had been a fucking disaster.

You'd slipped on freshly mopped floors and dropped an entire table's drink orders. Subsequently, you'd been forced to finish your shift with sticky, soda pop-soaked socks that squelched wetly in your shoes with every step. Your boss had given you shit for the whole mess, even though it was one of your coworkers who had failed to put out the wet floor sign in the first place. You'd proceeded to burn yourself on a hotplate, twice. And then, after all that, you'd had little choice but to take an ice-cold shower before heading over to Steve's house, because the hot water heater in your decrepit apartment building was apparently broken. Again.

“Y'know what?” You grumble in defeat, “Fine.”

You're already rising to your feet, wiping the palms of your hands down your jeans to dry the lingering condensation from your half-finished beer. You blink furiously to push back the tears that had been pooling at your waterline, shaking your head at the ridiculousness of your own emotional state.

“Wha-” Steve is watching you with something like concern in his eyes now, “Wh-Where're you goin'?”

“I'm leaving,” You announce, gaze steadfastly avoiding where Steve has removed his arm from around Robin's shoulders so he can sit at the edge of the couch, as if he's planning to rise to his own feet at any moment. “I, um. I'll talk to you guys later.”

There are scattered protests from everyone, but you don't bear them any mind. You're already turning on your heel and moving toward the entryway with hurried steps. The front door slams shut behind you before you've even gotten your jacket all the way on. You've still got one arm struggling to find the hole of your sleeve when you hear the door swing back open behind you.

“Hey! Wait up.”

You're not sure why, but Steve's voice makes you slow where you've begun to move down the driveway, though you don't turn around to face him. He calls out to you again as he finally catches up with you. He all but throws himself into your path and at the risk of running straight into him, your steps finally come to a stop.

“C'mon, honey. Wait, wait, wait-”

You blow out a frustrated breath, your arms crossing over your chest like that might somehow put up a physical barrier between the two of you.

“I really don't want to do this with you, Harrington. Alright?” An air of defeat laces your words, one hand coming up to rub at the headache that's begun to pulse between your brows, “Just.. Not tonight.”

You move to step around him and the heel of your boots click against the pavement once, twice. But then something hooks into the belt loop on your jeans and you're tugged back. You nearly lose your footing at the unexpected shift in momentum, knees wobbling unsteadily for just a moment before you're twirled back around to face him and then your palms are meeting a firm chest.

The adrenaline has your brain whiting out for just a moment, any and all thoughts screeching to a halt. Warmth seeps into your palms from beneath the thin cotton of Steve's tshirt. The racing of your own heart in your ears drowns out the distant sound of laughter and the opening trailers of a movie rental coming from back inside the house. Your eyes are level with Steve's chin, your wide gaze locked on his lips as they quirk up at one corner with his gentle smirk. You're still standing pigeon-toed between his own larger feet, a little off balance but held firmly in place by the wide hand splayed across your waist.

“I'm sorry.” Steve says quietly — unexpectedly earnest.

It's only been a second or two since he dragged you back into his space, and to your surprise, his head dips, just a fraction. Steve brushes his nose against your own, a gentle stroke that sends butterflies in your stomach fluttering wildly. The cool mint clinging to his breath fans out over your face, smelling of the gum he's always chewing and smacking obnoxiously, but the scent this close is intoxicating. The hand he brings up to cradle your jaw is intoxicating. The loose flap of leather on his watch that tickles at the side of your throat. The way he's leaning in-

The passion he kisses you with, from the moment your lips touch, is intoxicating. It's all-encompassing. You can't think, and you're not entirely sure you're even breathing, but Steve's lips are moving in unhurried synchronization with your own. Your knees are weak. You're gripping the material of his shirt in your fists just for something to hold onto, but Steve' arm is curled tight around the curve in your spine now to hold you steady.

His tongue brushes warmly against your lips, licking softly at the seam of your mouth like he's asking for permission. The desperate sound that crawls up your throat at just that quick brush of his tongue nestles in the depths of Steve's brain where he files it away for later. He hitches his arm even tighter at your waist, pulling your stomachs flush until your chest heaves against his own.

Your head is a little fuzzy when you separate long enough for you to take a breath, and you're gasping almost comically in an effort to fill your lungs. Steve's quiet chuckle meets your ears, his hand sliding back from your jaw to cup the nape of your neck.

“You kissed me.”

The words fall from your lips in a whisper of disbelief. Your eyes are still closed, lashes fluttering against the tops of your cheeks. You’re terrified if you open them even a crack, the entire scene will suddenly fade away around you like some kind of dream. The airy cadence of your voice is partially due to your surprise, but also thanks to the far-too-easy grace with which you've been spun and manhandled and swept entirely off your feet.

“I did,” Steve agrees just as quietly, “I did do that.”

His forehead meets your own as your eyes flutter open and he simply holds you there for a moment, nose dragging across your cheek before he presses another quick kiss to your lips. His head tilts, thumb stroking soft over the side of your throat before his mouth finds yours again, and again. These kisses are different — Casual and tender, sweet and unhurried. Like he's kissing you just because he can.

“You-” Is all you manage to get out before your words are silenced by his lips slotting between your own, but you carry on with barely a pause as you click apart once again, “Y'r still doing it.”

“Mhm.” He hums easily, the sound rumbling beneath your hands on his chest.

“Why-”

Kiss.

“Are you-”

Kiss.

“Kissing me?”

Steve's breath mingles hotly with your own in the narrow breadth of space between your parted lips, “D'you want me to stop?”

“No, no, I- Hell no.”

And there's that perfect smile of his. Straight teeth make an appearance as his lips quirk up at the corner, a breathy spearmint scented laugh that sounds a little too relieved for the casual coolness that he's clearly trying to give off. His mouth opens like he's going to say something, but no words seem to come. Lips parted, throat bobbing as he swallows around the heavy silence weighing down his tongue.

He looks so pretty like this, you think. The streetlight light at the end of his driveway catches in his brown eyes, caramel sparking with flecks of gold and green that you've never noticed before, but you're sure you'll never be able to forget the sight of it now. You're still sharing breaths, faces so close that you can't avoid watching the way his full lashes blink at you dumbly. As if he isn't the one who spun you around and pulled you close and effortlessly gave you the best kiss of your entire life. As if, maybe, he didn't quite expect to make it this far, and now he's at a loss for how to proceed.

You release his shirt from your fist, the fabric crinkled and stretched with how tight you'd been gripping it, only to slide your hand up the back of his neck. The tip of his nose catches the bottom of your own, lips brushing faintly while your hand finds a new home in his hair. The soft strands tangle between your fingers when you give it a gentle tug and push up on your toes to draw yourself impossibly closer.

“If I'd known kissing you was all it took to get you to shut up, Harrington, I would've done it ages ago.” Your quip lacks its usual bite, but it breaks the silence between you, and it also seems to break Steve out of whatever spell he'd fallen under.

His tongue pokes out to wet his lips as he searches for an appropriate response, “Maybe we'll just have to keep kissing then.”

You find yourself swaying just a little on your feet at the way his eyes flick slow back and forth between your own, “Yeah.. Yeah, Maybe we will.”

When his lips descend on your own again, it's ages before he lets you back up for a decent breath of air, and even then he parts from you with obvious reluctance. You're both breathing heavy, lips a little swollen and shining wetly. Steve's expression has a warmth that you realize you've never actually seen directed at you before. Steve smiles at you, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and suddenly all you can think about is what Eddie has said a hundred times over.

It's like there are hearts in his eyes.

[s-u-g-a-r-rush1997]

I told you I'd get revenge on Felix, for, uh...

Being taller than I assumed, I guess? Honestly, I'm not even sure. But I had a crush on this guy as a kid, and he's honestly adorable as hell.

I don't tend to ship Felix and Turbo, but I do like the dynamic. I feel like, if anything, they were at least familiar with each other. Felix was the first to recognize Turbo, after all.

And They Were Neighbors

Pairing: Felix x Turbo

Rating: Slightly suggestive

Warnings: None

It likely started out of courtesy. Polite small talk and a pie as a welcome to the arcade. It's something Felix might not have gotten when he was first plugged in.

My personal headcanon is that Fix-it Felix the arcade game was made in 1981, as it reminds me quite a lot of Donkey Kong, a game released in that year. Arcades were at their peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Felix might have been among the first to be plugged in, and as such, would have never gotten that warm welcome.

So it's significant to him. Especially if Turbo Time is either his first neighbor on that side, or possibly even a replacement for a game that had to get unplugged.

The Turbo Twins adore him. He's sweet, overall pleasant to talk to, and he brought them pie. They're just as loud and competitive as Turbo, just not nearly as aggressive about it, so I think they'd get along just fine.

Turbo, on the other hand, doesn't get along with Felix initially, at all.

Everything's a competition to him. It's baked into his code. So with Fix-it Felix Jr. being a particularly popular game, he can't help but see Felix as a rival.

Felix is a pretty passive man, though. I don't think he'd just sit there idly if Turbo decided to outright insult him, but he'd be the last person to pick a fight.

It pisses Turbo off. From his perspective, Felix isn't taking the whole rivalry thing seriously. In fact, he's actively brushing him aside.

The first time he curses in front of Felix, which likely wouldn't be too long into their first conversation, Felix scolds him for it. Tells him to watch his language.

Absolutely curses in front of Felix just to try and make him mad.

That's not to say Felix doesn't curse. I think he probably tries his hardest not too, but some of the Nicelanders - and Turbo of course - have some pretty foul mouths, and phrases and words tend to rub off on people if you hang around them long enough.

Turbo loses his shit laughing the first time Felix curses.

Teases Felix, of course. How could he not? Felix has likely censored and scolded him multiple times at this point for cursing.

This is likely the only time Turbo has actually managed to fluster the man so thoroughly.

Oh boy, once he learns Felix is susceptible to teasing, it's over.

Teasing turns to flirting real darn quick. Flirting turns to little touches. Red is very much Turbo's color, but he enjoys seeing it on Felix.

Felix will flirt back, once he gets a good enough hold on himself. It's probably something cheesy and sappy, but it's enough to take Turbo off guard.

The two of them kiss. Felix initiates, much to Turbo's - and his own - surprise.

Turbo absolutely bites during and/or after the kiss. He's absolutely a biter and I stand by that.

Regardless, this whirlwind romance - if you can even call it romance - likely doesn't last too long. It's 1982 when the two first meet, and 1987 at the time of the Roadblasters incident. It's only really five years that they have to get to know each other.

For video game characters who are essentially immortal barring any surprise power outages and unpluggings, who can spend years without any change in personality, doing the same thing every single day and still find joy in it, five years is pretty short.

Still, it hurts. He was starting to like Turbo.

To see him again after witnessing first hand what Turbo had done, to have believed him dead, would hurt like hell.

I think he'd be okay, though. He has Calhoun. She knows what its like to lose someone you love, and she knows how badly it hurts to have old wounds reopened.

[captainuranium543]

My thoughts on gruvia

So I wanted to make this post because I've been rewatching gmg recently and I wanna talk about it a bit.

Before I begin I know gruvia is a very polarizing ship so I'll make my own opinion clear, I don't hate gruvia but I also don't think it was very well executed in cannon. If you love gruvia this isn't against you at all, my intention with this isn't a hate post just to look at a weird decision made in gmg for gruvia from a writing standpoint and talk a little about it.

The biggest issue most people have with gruvia is that juvias obsession with gray is taken WAY to far sometimes and ends up feeling more creepy then funny or romantic. I agree with that point but also I do try to keep in mind that gags aren't really meant to be taken seriously. There is a limit to what I can write off as a gag but for the most part early on juvia fell within that limit, from my perspective I tend to take things as seriously as the characters around do meaning if their reaction is mild annoyance, I won't take it to seriously. While their reaction is genuine discomfort, I will. Early on, all of juvias romantic advances/creepy moments had been gags that where within the reasonable range that I could laugh off. This changed though in gmg.

Ok so starting off mid gmg gray has a very serious talk with erza. I disagree with a lot of people on this conversation because a lot of people seem to think this is her tell gray to love juvia. Gruvia lovers and haters alike seem to think this but I really don't see it that way. I think she's quite literally just telling gray to be direct with her about how he feels.

Up until this point because everything has been gags we've never really taken juvia seriously, gray has never had a moment where he has actually acknowledged and confronted her feelings for him and told her how he feels in return. Erza is basically telling him to stop just brushing off or avoiding her advances and just be direct with her, whether you like someone back or just want them to leave you alone being direct is good advice.

It's advice that gray takes to heart as we see here in the final episode of gmg

I really don't understand where people get the idea that erza was saying he needs to accept juvias love because this scene is literally him taking her advice and his answer is "no I don't like this leave me alone please". This would be fine but what happens next is just downright confusing

She just, doesn't care?? I genuinely don't understand why this scene was added in at all if it wasn't gonna matter. Like I said I can write off most gags but this was NOT a gag. Gray had a very serious talk with a close friend where he got the advice to be direct, he had a very serious moment where he very seriously took that advice and told juvia exactly how he feels, why does she just ignore it??? It's such a weird decision to make because it makes all of juvias future advances come off WAY creepier then they did before even when they are just gags because gray has already very seriously told her to stop.

I've heard some argue that gray actually does like juvia he's just afraid to admit it and he's forcing himself to say he doesn't like her in this scene, but regardless of whether he secretly feels something for her a no is a no and it's reaaalllyyy creepy to just not accept that. Hear me out here, what if right after gray did this juvia listened.

She did back off of him and gave him his space, then if you still wanted them to have a relationship maybe gray starts to miss her? Give him some autonomy and room for us to actually see him develop genuine feelings for her rather then having her force them onto him because without seeing Gray's side it just feels one sidedly obsessive. I know people argue he's just afraid to confront his feelings but you need to actually show us that, give him a scene where he's thinking about her or actually missing her in some way when she's not around if you want to show us that gray isn't just being forced into things he doesnt want. If juvia had backed off here I would have probably liked the ship a lot more A) because it would give gray room to develop on his own and B) it would show that juvia has restraint and genuine respect for Gray's feelings even if he doesn't like her the way she likes him.

Rant over, again no hate to gruvia fans. It's fiction I don't actually take it to seriously if you love gruvia live your truth🙏🙏. I like gruvia in theory it's just poorly executed sometimes and I could fix it fr fr

[readbyred]

I've read that some characters from the moomins like Snufkin, little my and their mother and their sisters are not really humans. So how would Snufkin, Moonin and the other characters react when they meet s/o who is a girl human that one day appeared in moonmin Valley?

You added other characters and I will absolutely use it to push more Sniff content on you! Also yeah. Considering moomins are canonically REALLY damn tiny, the humanoid looking characters would be like fairies or sth. But I will make them human sized bc I think it's easier to write (if you want more accuracy, sent me a message and I'll do one more)

Snufkin is pretty unfazed compared to others. He’s been travelling enough to have come across humans at some point. Pretty surprised to find out that his upbringing is something so strange (I mean, im pretty sure he was allowed to wander around before he would be considered old enough to do so by human standards). Sometimes, when he’s feeling a bit silly he makes stuff up about his kind to trick you. Says it in the most chill voice too so the only way to fact check him is to ask his half-sister. Little My calls him out every time just to be a menace, in true older sister fashion

And when it comes to Little My, she treats you like one of the group regardless. But that doesn't mean she’s not going to complain about your long human legs and so on. Will absolutely use you to get the things she wants off of high shelves. And will laugh if you bang your head on something. I mean, the creatures you come across come in different sizes so it’s not uncommon to find homes and structured built for them. But it's sweet sometimes too (as sweet as she can be) when she calls you her human. And maybe, sometimes (since having humans around isn't something most residents are used to) she’ll drag you around to some events with the neighbors to see their reaction (and maybe to brag about her gf, but she won't tell you that-)

On the other hand Snorkmaiden is so curious! Asks you about human culture and fashion. Sometimes the others joke that she’s turning into her brother. Begs you to take her to a human village, though that would either require crazy high stealth or some magic. Since you just showed up in the Moominvalley, she’s very open to show you all the kinds of wonders that were ordinary to her before. Being with you made her see them as more special, she loves that part of your relationship a lot. Plus, if you compliment her ability to change colour (not sure if that's a part of the show, but she can do that in the books) she’ll flush and turn all colours of the rainbow

Okay, Sniff is a funny one because this guy’s afraid of so much but also wants to seem so brave and cool in front of you. Of course, he insists that he was totally not terrified when you two first met. And he thinks being human makes you kind of special (I mean, in Moominvalley it actually does) so he’ll always emphasize that he’s your favourite. Yeah, that's right guys, he has a human girlfriend and she likes him best. Right? You do like him best, yes? Overall, he’s pretty silly and will exaggerate everyday things just to see the shine of wonder in your eyes (and because he feels like he has to give you something special so you stay with him). Still terrified that you just found your way into the valley though, what if bad humans come too 😰😰

Moomin is a lot more carefree about the idea. He’s so happy to be with you and show you around though he tends to forget that the things that might be ordinary to him are totally new to you. Obsessed with any type of human trinket you have on you. And if he could he’d stay up all night just to hear you talk about your life before coming to live with them. Honestly, he asks a lot of questions and some of them might be a little intrusive, but he doesn't get upset if you don't want to answer them. Oh, and he might have forgotten to mention the hibernation thing to you. Oops

As expected, Snork would ask a ton of questions. Ready to answer any you might have too, but be prepared for a lengthy rant every time you ask. Though to be fair, if he’s your significant other, then you might not find that too dreadful. He’s more of a theory guy though, so half the time when you all go on your adventures, you’re not much more prepared than when you first joined the group. Still, he truly does find your world interesting and will listen, no matter what you choose to tell him

And for the bonus character that nobody asked for - Stinky! To be fair, I think it would be funny for a normal human girl to appear in that magical world and just go like, yeah, I like this mean creature the best. I don't think he would be nice about you being a human, but that's kind of on brand. He would be interested in your human possessions and stories. Even if it's hard to tell that he’s genuinely interested. Later he would add to the stories you told him and scare other creatures with them. You’re free to join at any time if you wish to contribute to the chaos

[tyk-tyk-tyk]

How about, for the meme: good ol’ lodger, and Maxwell if you want to do another!! :3

Sorry this took so long to answer! Going to start with The Lodger, and I’ll put Maxwell from Don’t Starve under the cut!

First impression

I remember the most striking thing was the art style, his eyes were absolutely haunted and I loved them. His design alone is what got me looking at the game.

Impression now

He’s such a little gremlin. I mean, come on, look at him! He’s such a little shit being an unreliable narrator, and I think that’s my favorite character flaw I’ve ever had the pleasure of observing and writing.

Favorite moment

Which leads into the next point, I think the most haunting part of the game was The Lodger constantly contradicting himself and abruptly saying “Help me.” with no other explanation. I know the gameplay is clunky, grindy, and completely unfair—But I will ride and die for the atmosphere at least.

Idea for a story (Mentions of disease/rotting/minor horror elements! Skip to the next one if you don’t want to read this!)

I’ve had this draft called ‘doppelgänger’ in my WIPs for ages, but it was meant to be The Lodger finding a wounded stranger out in the woods and nursing them back to health. There’s a funeral custom about draping things over mirrors, so The Lodger hasn’t seen his own reflection in years. Prattles on and on about how this poor stranger should have taken better care of themselves, they look uncanny! Their eyes look hollowed in and their skin is a deathly pale and their red hair looks like it’s falling out—

By the time he realizes it’s a living and breathing copy of himself, he’s already invited it into his home, and he has to decide what to do from here on out.

Unpopular opinion

Is this fandom even big enough for popular opinions I think the lodger would be an antivaxxer in modern times, you know bro would PANIC about conspiracy theories

Favorite relationship

Him and his bed (and if you’re not with the government, I’ll ship him with basically any other man even if it’s toxic just to try and experiment with what he would do in a relationship. Please for the love of god keep him away from the girl in the woods though her Steam card is LITTLE GIRL not grown woman, that’s his daughter not his date)

Favorite headcanon

I always struggle to decide which is more heartbreaking and plausible, if The Lodger is some guy that a nearby town/city sees every now and then and never sees him again for months on end, or if no one even knows he exists and his house is just a stop in the middle of nowhere.

Though while we’re on that note, I think regardless he is insanely lonely and LOVES company of any kind. To the point where it can be kind of overbearing. But he’s trying his best.

Now, about that Maxwell guy

First impression

I haaated him, but only because I always imagined him smugly laughing every time I died to something stupid in Don’t Starve. Everything felt like concentrated spite towards my journey to the throne (that never even got past King of Winter)

Impression now

I like him so much as a character. I remembered unlocking Maxwell with cheats just to run through his dialogue in game (even though I could have just looked at the wiki, I wasn’t smart okay) and watching someone else get to his throne. It was such whiplash for me to realize that someone who (allegedly) was taunting me was actually just in an insane amount of endless misery.

Favorite moment

“Even the king is bound to the board.” Such an iconic line for me.

Also any time he whines about physical labor or his clothes getting dirty always makes me laugh

Idea for a story

It’s hard to say, I don’t tend to do a lot of writing for Maxwell since my amazing and most best friend in the world often writes him. Though I’ve always found the concept of Wilson interacting with William funny. I think once upon a time an ancient moon ago, I wanted to draw a mini comic where Wilson and William were spying on Maxwell using bush hats. Wilson goes ‘Alright, go talk to him.’ and William replies ‘No way, I scare me!’

Sigh, simpler times.

Unpopular opinion

I haven’t interacted with the fandom in LITERALLY YEARS so this could have changed, but I think people like to try and pull like… Internet cancel culture on this old man. Saying that just because he was evil once, he’s evil forever. And while I don’t think he’s entirely sunshine and rainbows, the man was poor and I get why he literally made a deal with the devil. You can tell that he never wanted at least Charlie to get involved, and he quite literally was gaslit back into the dark side, so. I dunno, be kind to your elders or something.

Favorite relationship

Initially I was so off-put by Maxwil, but as I’ve gotten older I think it’s one of my favorite opposites attract tropes.

I love Maxlie more than anything though. 10/10 friends to lovers to enemies to lovers, no notes.

Favorite headcanon

I think he likes to do magic tricks for the kids. Or anyone who will watch and won’t make fun of him. He may put on a refined gentlemanly front but I think he’ll always be a nerd.

[spitdrunken]

i loved this line you wrote in the recent yan alphabet post about rollo wanting to have a domestic routine like he’s just your husband coming back from a long day at work… i would love to know your thoughts on what married life with him would be like. he sounds like he’d adore the traditional side of things the most

I know you sent this ask in reference to one of my yandere posts, but I assumed you wanted regular marriage headcanons here rather than yandere ones! If I misinterpreted please let me know! I actually have a ton of headcanons about what Rollo might do once he leaves NBC, but I’ve mostly left them out of here otherwise I’d go on a tangent haha

Rollo would be an incredibly dedicated husband. In general, he’s not the type to crush easily, much less fall in love. If he proposes to you or accepts your proposal, he truly sees this as a lifelong commitment. You two are the subject of plenty of laughs amongst the townsfolk of the City of Flowers, mostly because that Rollo is so obviously smitten with you that it’s almost sickening. He often brings you up in conversation, always comes to your defense, and visibly brightens up whenever you’re near. If you’re out together in public, he vastly prefers to be holding your hand. Some may be jealous, others can only hope that one day they will meet someone who looks at them the same way, but all have to admit you have something special.

He would indeed appreciate a more ‘traditional’ and domestic life, though he has a more nuanced idea of it. He simply wants to do simple things together with you, to live a life of calm in which he can truly be at peace. Some of his favourite moments would be spending time together in the same room, each just doing your own thing. To him, it’s not about getting home to a clean house and a dinner ready on the table, regardless of who fills what ‘role’, it’s about togetherness. He wants to clean, cook, bake, garden, or whatever else, together with you. After years of herding teenagers into keeping Noble Bell College tidy (no matter the shape of their soul, and no matter their inclination towards or appreciation for purity, no teenager truly likes to clean, and most adults don’t either), he is an incredibly skilled housekeeper. Despite his usual work ethic, he doesn’t care if it would be quicker to do all on his own, he’d rather do it with you.

With Rollo as your spouse, you should not come to expect spontaneity. If you yearn for someone who keeps you on your toes and brings excitement to your life, Rollo would not be the partner for you. He keeps the same pace, and tends to show his appreciation for you through the little things. When you’re busier than usual, he’ll make sure there’s less for you to do around the house. He’s a very attentive listener, and always returns to earlier things you’ve mentioned, like asking how an appointment went or a friend of yours is doing. The birthday gifts he gets you are always things you actually want, and he never has to ask you what that is. Rollo simply just cares a lot. He’ll end up getting a modern (as he calls it) phone to send you texts and, among the driest texts you’ll ever see in your life, you’ll get him sending things that remind him of you frequently.

Rollo likes to keep himself busy, and frequently volunteers to assist with events in and around the city. Rollo may be not found on the dancefloor, but he ends up playing a leading role in the organization of the Topsy Turvy festival, among other things. (And makes some what he calls ‘historically accurate’ changes, such as more focus on what believes to be the origins of the festival: the appreciation of the magicless.) He always makes sure to have at least one day a week entirely free though, and he’s put in a horrible mood if anyone tries to bother him then. If you want him at home more often, he’s very easily swayed if you just tell him.

The flip side of his ‘devotion’ to you is that he can have a bit of a jealous streak. Rollo is a rather private person overall, someone who keeps the people he’s actually close with rather limited, so he can start feeling left behind easily. He wouldn’t attempt to try and limit who you interact with, but he’ll get noticeably snappy as time passes. It’s something he’s trying to work on, though he’s struggling with it.

…At least he’s trying to work on that aspect of himself. There are other things, layers of himself he’s only allowed you glimpses of, no matter how much you try and convince him to get professional help. He’s hated and wished and yearned for so long that it’s become a part of himself, that he cannot imagine himself without it, and even the prospect of change is terrifying. (Giving up would be forgetting him.) Though his grand plans have all failed to bloom to fruition, he cannot let any of them go. For a day or two, he may get so lost in his work that it’s not at the forefront of his mind, but then you’ll catch him staring into nothing again, muttering a string of how it’s all disgustingdisgustingdisgusting. As much as Rollo loves you, he fails at loving himself, and cannot let go.

[loosesodamarble]

As Time Moves On Part 2: A Rose Blooming in Darkness

Summary: Yami reaches out to Charlotte with a question and she replies with a confession. And in turn, Yami voices a pledge. Genre: general, slight romance Word count: ~3200 A/N: Thank you to @lyranova and @thoughtfullyrainynightmare for beta reading this fic and Vanished Kira.

..........

Yami stared at the cloudy, noon-time sky. Faint wisps of smoke drifted past his vision every few seconds as he puffed a cigarette.

While winding down from the events in Spade, Yami had begun to recall vague memories from when he had nearly died by Lucifero’s hand. He remembered gathering his quickly fading strength to protect Asta for the kid to unleash his final attack on a severed torso of a devil. He remembered pain and his vision going dark, not from his or Nacht’s magic though. From death looming over him.

Then there was a voice. Charlotte’s voice. It was so loud and sounded desperate.

And the next thing Yami knew, he was alive again.

Yami couldn’t recall the words spoken to him though. He’d spent well over a month trying to piece together what she had said. He tried and tried before he determined that he had been too out of it to hear a thing.

Yami had once considered that maybe Charlotte had just been scolding him for dying. That sounded like something Charlotte would do. Then again, it didn’t explain her recent skittishness at captains’ meetings. If Charlotte had scolded a dying man, Yami suspected some temporary shame before an apology but not the levels of embarrassment that she’d been showing around him. So with his one guess ruled out, he changed his tactics.

To learn the truth, Yami needed to hear it straight from Charlotte.

Yami had invited Charlotte over to the base for tea earlier that week. He wanted to go to a restaurant, same as they did when discussing Charlotte’s curse. But Vanessa and Josele insisted that he pick somewhere more private. Their pestering made him ask if they knew what Charlotte had said but Vanessa promptly walked away from the conversation, laughing, while Josele smiled ever so calmly and told Yami, “It’s not my place to say.” And so the pair of captains would meet in the casual privacy of the Black Bull’s hideout.

That brought Yami to where he was in the present, waiting for Charlotte’s arrival. Something about expecting her was nerve-wracking. He couldn’t place why though.

Was it the fact that they were meeting outside of work-related reasons? Was it her taking time out of her busy day and prioritizing him, if for a short time? Did it have to do with him not knowing what Charlotte had said at all and he was actually worried about what her words were?

Yami sat up and shook his head. His brain was going to weird places.

And that’s when he heard her.

“Hello? Yami? I’m here as you requested!” Charlotte called out, prompting Yami to shelve his thoughts.

Yami leaned over the edge of the roof and grinned down at Charlotte.

“Afternoon, Prickly Princess!” he responded. “And I’d like to point out, I only asked you to be here.”

Charlotte bowed her head and shook it before looking up at Yami. “Regardless of how you beckoned me here, I’ve arrived. Shall we have tea or not?”

“Right right! I’ll be down in a moment!”

…..

Charlotte took a sip of the amber-colored liquid in her teacup. While it looked like an ale from a tavern, the drink didn’t have the hit that alcohol did. It was a gentle, toasted flavor instead.

“What kind of tea is this?” she asked in genuine curiosity.

“Barely tea. It’s from my homeland,” Yami explained. “Or well, the closest I can make. I only just recently got the tea to tasting this good through a lot of trial and error.”

Charlotte raised her eyebrows at this. She never suspected Yami to have a side project like this. Or one at all. Then again, she tended to her manor’s garden in her sparse free time so it made sense for Yami to take up a hobby that made him feel more at home as well.

“I applaud your effort, Yami. It’s not a flavor I’d expect from tea, but it’s quite refreshing,” Charlotte said with a smile. Her relaxed expression quickly fell away though. “But enough of basic pleasantries. You said you had something to ask of me.” She set down her cup and rested her chin on the back of her interlocked hands. “So, what is it?”

“Don’t look so worked up,” chuckled Yami. “‘S nothing serious if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Considering all four kingdoms are still rebuilding from Spade’s— From the Zogratis’ misdeeds…” Charlotte’s voice trailed off, realizing her mistake.

The everyday citizens of the Spade Kingdom had been victims themselves under the rule of the Zoagratis family. To blame the country as a whole would be in poor taste.

“…it’s hard for me not to still be on edge.”

Yami mutely nodded in agreement.

“As I was saying…” Charlotte raised her head and put a hand on her cup again. “What is it you wished to discuss?”

Yami stared into Charlotte’s eyes for a moment, seeming to consider something. He took a deep breath. Then,

“When I was about to die, you yelled something at me. What did you say?”

The question made Charlotte’s heart skip a beat and her face heat up in an instant.

Of course she knew that Yami hadn’t heard her confession. She remembered him asking more than a month ago, right on the just-calmed-down battlefield. But she also blacked out then, preventing her from answering.

Charlotte had debated reaching out to Yami and re-admitting her love. But between the labor of regular Magic Knight duties, aiding in reconstruction after the Zogratis’ attacks, and simply worrying about confessing again, she never managed to go through with the idea.

And now… Yami had approached her about it.

Charlotte bowed her head and stared into her half-empty cup, hoping to hide her flushed cheeks.

I did it once before. Surely I can do it again! Charlotte told herself. And this time he’ll… What if he misunderstands and thinks I only see him as a friend? Or he could take it as a joke and laugh me off. Charlotte’s grip on her drink tightened. What if he outright rejects me because of how rude I’ve been to him in the past? For as lowbrow and casual as Yami came off, Charlotte knew he still had his pride as a Captain and a regular man. Or maybe he’s already in a relationship with that witch in his squad?

“Is it really that bad?” Yami’s voice broke Charlotte out of her head.

“Huh?” Mind still racing. Heart racing even faster. And face positively burning. Charlotte still dared to look at Yami.

The man’s face was neutral. But not in a way that was lost in thought, but rather as though he was in deep contemplation. It was a different look for him.

“I don’t know what you said to me back then but if you really don’t wanna say, it must be bad…” Yami paused to take a sip of his drink. “Didn’t mean to bother you. I’ll forget if y—”

“No!” Charlotte exclaimed without thinking. She took a deep breath. She needed her composure for this. “Yami, the truth is…” Charlotte heard her heartbeat in her ears but she pressed on. “The truth of the matter is that I love you Yami Sukehiro!”

Yami blinked a couple of times.

“Charlotte…”

Her name on his lips was so different from his usual nickname. Soft and sweet. But Charlotte couldn’t let herself swoon over that. Not in that moment.

“I understand that it must sound strange, considering how I tend to treat you, but it’s the truth. I became infatuated with you years ago and that feeling has become love.”

“Charlotte…” Again her name sounded so different in Yami’s voice. The look on his face was something she couldn’t place. She knew, though, that she didn’t feel anxious with Yami’s eye on her. “Are you sure?”

The question made Charlotte pause. Of all the possible responses, she never considered the one that turned out to be reality.

“What do you mean?” Charlotte asked, as if it was the only thing she could answer with. “I may not have much experience with romance”—Charlotte put hand to her heart. A feeble show of conviction due to her own confusion at the inquiry—“but I’m fairly certain of my feelings!”

“No.” Yami shook his head. “I mean, are you sure that you like me?”

“Huh?”

The significance in the change of the question wasn’t lost on Charlotte. Her feelings, her understanding of her own heart, were not the thing being questioned. It would’ve been unlike Yami, the captain of a squad that did whatever their hearts pleased, to make a big deal of what a person felt, anyways.

“I’m not exactly…” Yami tapped a finger on the table. “What’s the word? Passable? Pleasant? Something with a ‘p’…” He closed his eyes for a moment before faintly nodding. “Palatable.”

Charlotte said nothing, as it looked like Yami was going to keep talking.

“I’m Yami Sukehiro. I’ve got no manners. I’ve got this eerie Dark Magic. I’ve got all the worst habits, drinking and smoking and gambling. I’m the coarse and rude foreigner captain of the Black Bulls, the worst squad in the kingdom!” Yami laughed.

It sounded hollow and Charlotte knew. She’d heard genuine laughs from him. Ones that were lazy. Ones that were teasing and wanting to provide levity. She’d memorized and learned to appreciate all of Yami’s laughs and chortles. And his present chuckle was insincere, self-deprecating.

“I’m not the kind of guy most people would want to be with. I’m not the guy that a lady like you would go for.”

That was where Charlotte decided to stop him.

“Enough. While I can’t dispute most of what you’ve said,” she stated outright, no hesitation. “Your manners do leave much to be desired. Your magic and your origins are indeed peculiar, making you the target of judgment and derision. You’re not an ideal man by most people’s standards. But you’re not as bad as you think you are.” Charlotte watched Yami’s down-on-himself expression change to one of curiosity. She paused to hum and smile. “For one, you’re not the captain of the worst squad, not after the Bulls placed second at the Star Festival.”

“Heh, I guess that is something,” Yami muttered. He picked up his cup and swirled the drink inside for a moment. “But I mean…”

“And while you may not be ‘proper,’ that’s what I like about you,” Charlotte said plainly.

Yami let out a gasp and his eyes went wide.

“The men I’ve met who’ve been deemed ‘proper’ are… not pleasant in their own ways.” Charlotte closed her eyes and thought. “They act in ways that serve their egos, behaving not as gentlemen but as lesser beings. Akin to swine or toads.”

The thought alone made Charlotte frown the slightest bit.

Still, her remark caused Yami to let out a snort. She giggled, happy that she could get that reaction from him.

And she found that the words continued to flow out from her.

“Some men are more obvious in their unpleasantness, treating me as some object and acting as though they were entitled to my company. Others are less… offensive but no less bothersome.”

Yami hummed as he took a sip from his cup, prompting Charlotte to continue.

“There’s no end to the men who only praise me for my looks or throw themselves at my feet as though I wanted a sycophant for a lover,” Charlotte said with a sigh. “After so many men like that, you were a breath of fresh air in my life, Yami. Admittedly, I was first attracted to you because of your looks and how you saved me from my curse. But my infatuation grew beyond those shallow things over the years. You see me for my strengths but also acknowledge my weaknesses. You’re casual and friendly with me, even if I don’t always appreciate your approach. I’m drawn to how freely you express yourself and how you’re proud to stand out.”

As Charlotte went on, she watched as Yami’s eyes never left her. And the look of amusement he had when she’d talked about other men changed. It became a grin that was soft and… admiring. Charlotte felt a smile come to her own face.

The hammering feeling in her chest registered in her mind again. She felt the heat in her face all over again. There was a bit of dizziness in her head. Yet this time, those sensations weren’t from nervousness.

They were inviting. Compelling her heart to open further.

Charlotte held her head a little higher. She would let him see her, all of her with a burning red face and eyes full of determination, hoping that her words reached him.

“There’s much I have yet to learn about you. But I feel like I can say that I love you as you are, for who I know you to be.”

Once she was done talking, Charlotte took a deep breath.

I said it. I finally confessed, she thought to herself as she kept looking at Yami. Her hands, which were on the table and intertwined together, clenched in anticipation. All I can do now is hear his answer.

Yami tapped a finger against his cup a couple of times. Then, he let out a loud exhale.

“Man, Prickly Princess…” muttered Yami. “I told you before that I’ve got a sensitive heart and now you’ve gone and worked it up like crazy.”

Charlotte let out a small “Huh?”

“You were goin’ on about how you like me and I can’t give you a decent reply.” Yami sucked in a breath between his teeth and rubbed the back of his neck. “Truth is… I ain’t sure how I feel about you. I like to think we’re friends but… Sorry I just never considered you romantically.”

“Ahh… I… No, it makes sense,” was Charlotte’s quiet reply. It would’ve been a lie to say that her heart didn’t drop a little. Getting her hopes up that he’d reciprocate right out the gate had been foolish from the beginning. But still she… “It’s okay. I don’t need—”

“That said, it’s not hard to like someone like you.”

Those words made Charlotte jolt and her blush intensify by tenfold.

“Wh-wha-wha—? What?!”

There was a hum of amusement from Yami before he spoke again, “Aw c’mon. I’m oblivious but I’m not blind. You’re someone real amazing. Capable in battle and admired by your whole squad. Not to mention pretty fun to talk with.”

Charlotte involuntarily laughed at the thought of the banter that she and Yami had exchanged over the years. Was that really his idea of fun? Or maybe it was his reassurance that he was willing to look past her harsher words against him in the past. Whatever the truth was, it helped Charlotte loosen up. And her laughter brought out a bit of Yami’s own.

The space between them, that which was between their hearts, was closing the slightest bit.

“Guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m not just gonna tell you ‘no’ here and now.” Yami leaned forward on his arms. The expression on his face was relaxed yet contemplative. “I ain’t gonna ignore you, not after everything you’ve said.” His eyes were clear and focused on Charlotte, not wavering at all. “I know this doesn’t sound romantic but I need you to give me time to fall in love with you too. It’s not fair otherwise?”

Blue eyes went wide.

Yami’s words were not a promise to love her back. Not directly at least. Rather, they were something between a pledge and a plea. He would not accept Charlotte’s heart, which she had offered in shaking hands, until he could give his own heart in return.

Charlotte nodded her head then said, “It’s certainly not the most elegant proposition. But thank you for hearing me out and if you need time, then I’ll wait.” She took a sip of the barely tea and the roasted flavor tasted even better now that she wasn’t so strung up. “Though if you don’t mind me saying, I will be putting my best foot forward to make you fall.”

When she said that, Yami clapped a hand over his mouth and stifled a snicker. Charlotte raised a brow at his amusement.

“You’re making it sound like you’re trying to trip me,” he explained, his voice muffled by his hand still covering his mouth.

“Ack! That wasn’t—!”

“I know, I know.” Yami waved his hand in the air, like he was shooing away an insect. “Don’t sweat it. You’re a lady who's hard on the lads, but you’re not the type to kick a man when he’s down. Or, I guess trip him over.”

Charlotte let out an exasperated sigh. As much as she admired Yami and found his casualness part of his charm, his teasing threw her way off sometimes.

“Right…” Another sip of tea was taken. Charlotte was close to needing a refill. “So… I suppose now that I’ve said my piece and you’ve said yours…” Charlotte started to rise from her seat. However, Yami’s hand reaching across the table and grasping her wrist stopped her. “Y-Yami?!” Didn’t he say he needed time? Why is he being so forward all of a sudden?!

“C’mon Princess.” Yami uttered the nickname without the usual preceding adverb but rather with a softness that she wasn’t sure she’d known before. “Don’t just pour out your heart and run. Can’t you chat a bit more?” Yami let go of Charlotte’s wrist and pulled back. Then, he rested his chin in his palm. “I know I’d like your company for a bit longer. But, if you really gotta go…”

Charlotte looked down and touched the wrist which Yami had held. When she looked back to Yami and the inviting smile on his face.

“Alright then. But.” Charlotte swallowed hard then took a chance. “But only because you’re such a lonely man desperate for my attention.”

“Bwahahaaa! Hey, I’d like to think I’m just a little needy!”

Charlotte grinned with a bit more confidence as she sat back down. Yami refilled both their cups which she was thankful for. They’d need the refills since they would be at the table for a while longer.

…..

It wasn’t until hours later that Charlotte had to leave, called to return to base by her squad.

While Yami cleared the table they used, he was finally left alone with his thoughts.

And his thoughts were a repeat of Charlotte’s confession. And her face when she’d spoken it.

Her eyes…

Lighter than her roses but darker than the day sky. And looking at him, only him. She gazed at him with gentleness rather than cruelty. With sweetness rather than disgust.

Charlotte saw Yami as worthwhile, loveable. The fact that anyone, let alone a woman like her who was considered the picture of beauty, intelligence, and strength, wanted him for who he was left him feeling warm all over.

Yami set down the cups they’d used by the sink. He touched a hand to his chest.

My heart is still racing over it? Yami smiled to himself. Her words are stronger than she knows. And, again, the image of Charlotte flashed in his mind. Maybe I’m already falling in love…

[ninjakk]

I don’t know your opinion on bottom lwj (maybe you like it or have no problem with it) I personally hate it with a burning passion, not even from fetishized point of view. But because it literally goes against how the character is in canon. Regardless, I usually just block that tag in ao3, but now i come back to tumblr after not logging in like almost a year and one of the first things i see is a freaking fan art of JC supposedly doing LWJ (is not shown explicitly) and WWX looking and being supportive and i just wanted to throw up. Literally felt like someone hit me with a pokemon psychic attack, i of course blocked the account and the bottom lwj tag here (something I didn’t even think i had to do) but i still can’t erase that image out of my brain so i had to rant to someone. Since you seem like someone really nice and you’re always amazing when answering asks here i am. If this ask makes you uncomfortable please feel completely free to delete it and forget it.

Hello Anon!

Aww, well thank you 😙 that's very sweet of you to say.

So firstly, before I tell you my opinion - I actually know the image you are referring to and I did the exact same thing when the post assaulted my eyes. I mean, everyone has their ships but come on! WX and JC?! No thanks.

As for your question, I have no majorly strong opinion on bottomji. I have read a few fanfics that have worked out alright. Mostly YLLZ era WWX meets extremely horny and willing 'self-sacrificing' virgin LWJ 'taking one for the team' - which were quite funny. But overall I do find it a little strange, because by making LWJ 'bottomji' people tend to make WX somewhat out of character one way or the other.

The reason I do not have a particularly strong opinion on LWJ being the bottom, is because it's kind of implied in the extras that they may well have done such things during their very active and passionate sex life already.

Seeing that he’d nearly hit his limit, Wei Wuxian laughed heartily and kissed his lips. “Er-gege, what haven’t we done? Why are you still so shy?”

7S translations - From Dawn Till Dusk extra

To me, the above certainly implies they've done a lot more than we have witnessed and switching would certainly come into that.

Also, I actually think LWJ would do anything for WWX, if he should ask. Including switching things up every now and then if his dear husband wished.

Overall, I don't think LWJ switching positions on occasion is necessarily out of character, if done properly and the fanfic authors stay true to how the characters actually are and would react during such acts. For example, LWJ still being the more dominant one out of the pair. Just because he's bottoming doesn't mean he's suddenly going to be submissive.

That being said, the image you and I saw is of course just completely out of character! JC is homophobic for a start! It just wouldn't happen. Ever. Even if JC was interested in some strange alternative universe. WX just wouldn't! I'm also convinced that WX would not want to, nor be willing to engage in sex with anyone else, even a threesome or some voyeuristic partner swap - or whatever the hell that image was?!

Wangxian are too wrapped up in each other, too completely obsessed with each other for anything else. Not to mention LWJ would drink so much vinegar he would pickle! And I don't think WWX would fare much better, LWJ is his and I don't think he'd be willing to share either!

I can understand why you might find it a bit odd seeing the roles switched around, but I do think it's something that could possibly be an occasional occurrence in canon because of the lines I mentioned above. Though I do love their dynamic in the novel and that is definitely what I prefer. Overall, we all have different preferences and opinions I guess ☺️

Finally, my dear anon...please go and read your favourite fanfic or browse through some gorgeous Wangxian art to cleanse yourself of the image which assaulted your senses. It's what I did and I feel much better now lol!

Hope you have a lovely day 🥰

[kachikirby]

GranEssex Chronicles: Chapter 18 - The Turnabout

The day after the tournament concluded, Meta and Fettuccine were ready to head out on their journey to prove the innocence of the kind doctor Erhard. Currently he was being seen off by Kurabe, who was simultaneously sad and proud about him leaving.

"Meta, not that I don't trust you to, but please be safe on your trip. And please call me twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, ok?"

"Sensei, I'll be fine. Besides Mercury's coming with us, isn't she? You don't need to worry about me."

"I may not need to, but I still will. I worry about everyone under my command."

"I know, but still. I'll be fine."

"You still need to call me regardless. I can't help with the case if you don't keep me updated."

"But Mercury can do that, can't she?"

His mentor gave a huff. "Well, I'm sorry I'm that replaceable to you!"

"Sensei, that's not what I meant." He replied, only to see her laugh.

"I know, I'm just teasing you. I know that you'll never stop caring for me, just as I'll never stop caring for you. Seriously though Meta, there is a reason I want you to be the one to call me."

He tilted his head in questioning. "What is it?"

"Training. You don't have much experience giving progress reports. While admittedly boring, it's still an important thing to be good at."

He let out a groan. "I know, I know. Trust me, Meta, I wouldn't have you bother with it if it wasn't important."

"I understand, sensei."

"Good. I don't need to worry about you, at least in terms of combat. But you will encounter some people who like... to play mind games. I haven't fully prepared you for that, so be careful."

For some reason, that made Meta grow concerned. "What do you mean?"

"The legal division, they tend to talk a lot. They also tend to find weaknesses in a person. They will try to mess with you, get you to say what they want to hear without you even realizing it. My advice, stay close to Fettuccine, let her deal with them. Don't let yourself get in a situation where you are alone."

"But shouldn't I worry about her as well?"

"No, she's prepared to deal with those people. It's practically apart of her job."

"Ok..." Meta slightly frowned. Hearing that gave him a feeling of helplessness and he disliked that.

"But. Don't think you'll be useless. I know you, Meta, you're very sharp, good at reading people. Besides, there's some situations that need a bit of...muscle to solve."

"Like what? Won't this just be speaking? You know I'm not good with speaking!" By his tone, his mentor could tell he was upset by this.

"Meta, some people refuse to talk and when that happens." The air around suddenly became cold and her eyes hardened. "You need to make them feel fear, then they will talk."

"But I'm not good as you with that!"

"Oh, my sweet Meta, you don't give yourself enough credit. And don't compare yourself to me, that's really not fair to you. You have the talent, or are you forgetting the time you made someone faint from fear just by glaring at them?"

"...did that happen? Or was that because you were with me?"

"Stop that, you're doubting yourself again. And no, I wasn't with you when that happened. I walked in after you caused him to faint. That was all you."

"Could you blame me after I was told I would be mostly useless?"

"Meta, when did I say you would be useless? Like did I actually say that or are you just giving up before you even get started?"

"You didn't say it, but you implied it!"

"No, I implied that it would be difficult on you, but not impossible. I have faith in you, don't think for a second that I don't." She then flicked him on the forehead. "I even specifically said that you wouldn't be useless. If a fight arises, you will be the only one who can protect Fettuccine. You have decent detective skills. And most importantly, you are a pillar."

"...A what?"

"A pillar. Meta, Fettuccine needs you. She'll need your support, otherwise she'll crack under the pressure. Unfortunately, maybe even shatter if it gets that's stressful for her. She has complete trust in you, so it's up to you to keep her calm. You're the only one who can."

Meta was silent as if he was skeptical.

"Why are you so skeptical? You have arguably the most important job because of that."

"But what about Mercury?"

"Fettuccine doesn't know Mercury. Her trust for her is only that of associates, nothing more. You, however, are close friends. She trusts you enough to tell you about her goal, something very few people knew about. Hell, all the progress she's made recently is because of your assistance. Your presence. Not Mercury, not me, but you." Kurabe gave another sigh. "I hope that you understand how important your role is on this mission now."

"...So even if I'm not as smart as her, I'm still just as useful to her regardless? Is that what you mean?"

"Of course. Again, your job is protecting her and giving her support!"

Meta nodded, feeling more confident, but also scared. Not for himself, however... "...Will she really shatter without my encouragement?" He then paused before continuing. "...as in her core?"

Kurabe gave him a sad look. "Yes. It's rare and unlikely to happen, but a Limet's core can shatter from stress. That's why you are so important. You need to protect her, both in mind and in body."

"...I can imagine this would be a situation where that could happen..."

"Exactly. That's why you have arguably the most important job. You are a guardian and I know you can keep her safe. I have complete faith in you. She has complete faith in you."

"...thank you, sensei."

"No need to thank me, Meta. Just do your best, that's all I ask of you."

He nodded in understanding.

"Do you have any more questions?"

"No, I think I'll be fine now, sensei."

Kurabe gave a smile. "Good." She then gently patted his back. "Now you better get going."

"Ok!" He nodded happily. "I'll make you proud, sensei."

"You always do."

The youth only smiled at those words.

"Now go, Meta, be the guardian I know you are."

"I will, sensei!"

Kurabe smiled. "Now, go!"

Meta nodded and ran off.

"...He's growing up at an impressive rate, isn't he Mercury?" She asked, seeing the silvery woman step out from behind a corner.

"Yeah, he is. I assume that's why you didn't hug him?"

"Somewhat. Besides, I'll just hug him when he gets back. I have a feeling he will want one."

"And what makes you think that?"

"All the political bull crap. I'd be surprised if he didn't have a splitting migraine by the end of it."

"Yeah, good point. He already hates that stuff, so it'll probably get even worse..."

"Exactly. So, I'm sure by then he'll need a hug."

Mercury chuckled. "Yeah. Besides, I'm sure Fettuccine will make up for whatever hugs he'll be missing before then."

"Right. I sincerely doubt the two will get into much trouble, but keep a good eye on them, sis."

"Oh, Meta's completely oblivious to that stuff, so it won't be a problem. But I will anyway." The silver woman replied with a smile.

"Oh, he's not... yeah, he is that oblivious, isn't he."

"Yes."

Kurabe chuckled at the blunt response. "Regardless, keep an eye on them. Not for anything dirty, but just in case they, or rather, Meta needs your support."

"I will. You can count on me."

"I know. Now you better get moving as well. Don't want to keep them waiting."

Mercury gave a nod and walked off with her baggage in hand.

---------

Meanwhile, Fettuccine was waiting at the star jet they would be taking, her baggage already on board.

"Hiya, Metty! You ready to get going?" She exclaimed as she saw him approaching her.

"As ready as I can be, Fetty."

"You got any luggage?"

"Yeah." He said, pulling a suitcase from out of his cape.

"Alright, let's add that in."

Meta nodded and walked past her, stopping in his tracks right before he fully went in. "I'll protect you."

Fettuccine blinked for a moment, but then began to blush. "I... thank you, Metty..."

"You're welcome." He replied, not knowing why she was blushing.

Seeing this, Fettuccine quickly tried to go back to normal. "S-so, anyway... where's Mercury?"

Meta silently pointed behind her, seeing said woman smirking at them.

"Ah, let me take your luggage!" Fettuccine quickly said as she grabbed Mercury's bag and put it in the ship, quickly entering it.

"Meta, what did you say that made her so flustered?"

"I don't know. All did that said I would protect her."

Mercury laughed. "Young people are so entertaining sometimes."

"...I don't get it."

"Well to put it this way. You know how people can be embarrassed by things they like sometimes?"

"Um... yeah?" He tilted his head.

"She loved that you said you will protect her, but how you said it caught her off guard. Just like how Kurabe praises you and you act embarrassed about it because you weren't expecting it."

"So, it's because of how nice I said it?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

He only scratched his head, somewhat confused by that. "But I wasn't trying to be nice. I was trying to be serious."

"And you were being seriously nice. Don't you think telling someone you will protect them is a nice gesture?" Her face then became serious for a moment. "Trust me, Meta, your words got through to her. She knows how serious you are about promises."

"Ok."

"Good. Now let's get inside. We have a long trip ahead of us."

The puff nodded as he walked inside the ship.

"Alright everyone, let's go over our plan again. First, we go to the legal division to get the case open again. That's honestly going to be the hardest part." Fettuccine said.

"So, what are we doing?" Meta asked.

"Heading to the main base of the legal division to open up the case."

"Let's focus on doing that first."

The puff nodded, understanding that if they didn't get the case opened up, then that would basically be game over. "Well, let's get going to their base then."

Without another word, Mercury took the controls and blasted off.

---------

In about an hour, they arrived at the planet where the legal division was stationed. Meta was about to step out, but then he saw Fettuccine with the most nervous expression he'd ever seen come from her.

"...I'd ask what's wrong, but I think I already know." He said, taking her hand.

"...Yeah. It's funny, I was so confident before, but now that I'm actually here, I can't help but think about what will happen if I fail."

"I'm nervous, too, but I think everything will be fine. You and Mercury are with me, after all." She smiled and clenched his hand. "Would you mind holding my hand until we get inside?"

"Of course. It makes you feel better, doesn't it?"

"Thank you."

"Well, let's get going, shall we?"

"Let's." She replied with a nod.

The two walked off the ship and caught up with Mercury. "You two good to go now?"

"Yeah, now let's go do this!"

"Good to see your confidence back." Mercury commented with a smile.

"Yeah, thankfully." Fettucine smiled back.

"Sensei was right. I'm the only one who can support her. Don't worry Fetty, I'll keep you from shattering, no matter what." Meta thought to himself. He noticed the woman looking at him, and she squeezed his hand harder upon seeing the determination in his eyes, as if it encouraged her.

"Well, moment of truth. Are you ready, Fetty?"

His friend gave him a smile in reply. "Yeah, I'm ready because you're with me."

Meta nodded and the group entered the building.

---------

The inside was fairly plain, set up like a typical law office. Honestly Meta was surprised by how normal it all seemed.

"...I honestly thought it would be a bit more decorative..." he thought.

"For the sticks in the mud that run this place, this is decorative." Mercury said.

"I assume you've met them before, Mercury?"

"Yeah, with Reedy. They're technically under the Intelligence division's jurisdiction, actually."

"Really? Then why not have Reedy command them to open the case?"

"While I wish it was that easy, that would be an abuse of authority. And you know how much Reedy values following the rules."

"Not even if his younger sister asks him?"

"Again, abuse of authority. If I could easily get Reedy to do it, I would. However, if Reedy did abuse his authority, there's a chance he could get demoted. I'm not going to risk ruining my brother's career. So, we have just had to do this the legal way."

Meta only sighed.

"I prefer it this way, actually." Fettuccine said.

"Why's that?" The youth tilted his head in questioning.

"That's simple, really. I want to make a real difference; I want to expose how corrupt and unfair certain aspects of the legal division are. I can't exactly achieve that if I just have Reedy do it for me."

Meta nodded in understanding. "I see. That makes sense."

"And even if it's harder that way, it will be worth it once Erhard is finally set free."

"Yeah. I agree." The youth smiled. "So, is there anything I can do at the moment, Fetty?"

"Just stay by my side."

The soldier nodded, understanding just how important he really was right now.

"I'll be waiting outside, just to make sure no one bothers you two while you get to work." Mercury said as she walked out.

The two nodded and walked up to the desk of the division's leader, Wolfreid.

"Fettuccine, what business do you have here?" He asked in deep yet polite voice.

The woman briefly gazed at Meta before answering. "I'm here to ask for you to reopen the Erhard case."

"What for?"

"Because I have some information pertaining to the case that proves that there's still mysteries needing to be solved."

He seemed to stare for a moment. "I see. And what is that information?"

Meta noticed Fettuccine was starting to shake and silently grabbed her hand. "Relax, Fetty, you can do this."

She breathed out deeply to clear her thoughts. "To begin with, there are a few individuals connected to the incident that have gone unaccounted for. Not dead, not in lockdown. Just gone. These individuals were also directly connected to Erhard."

"And do you have the names of these individuals and their relation to Mr. Quinter?"

"Wade and Rebecca Forde, the children of Dr. Dru Forde. The doctor Erhard worked for."

"I see. And do you have any other evidence that they might somehow be connected?"

"Yes. Erhard begun to regain a few memories about them. How one of them always argued with the doctor. Then there's one other important detail. Veno, the one in charge of the case as I'm sure you're aware of, is the Stepbrother of Dru. And don't you find it strange that he was quick to blame Erhard despite there being no incriminating evidence against him outside of him being there?"

"I can see why that was unusual. That is why Veno submitted a report about his findings."

"I believe I can uncover the truth. Please, just give me a chance. You can even put me on a strict time limit if needed."

The man stared for a moment. "...very well. I've heard about you from the intelligence division head and I'm interested to see your abilities. I'll give you... say... 5 days."

Meta looked shocked and quickly looked at Fettuccine, who was sweating. "Fetty...I believe you can do it."

However, she still seemed frozen.

"Fetty, calm down. You have what it takes. You are the only one who can save Erhard."

"That will be fine." She managed to say, making Wolfreid raise an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

The woman breathed deeply before replying with her answer. "Yes, it will."

"Very well then. The case will now be officially open once again. Good luck to you, Fettuccine and you... what is your name?" He asked Meta.

"My name is Meta."

The man gave a chuckle. "I see, the unkillable's student. I assume you are assisting Fettuccine?"

"Yes, I am."

"Relax. A good assistant needs to be less stiff. Take it from me. Now you two, good luck with your investigation."

"Thank you very much, sir." Fettuccine said. "Let's go Meta."

The youth nodded and followed after his friend.

"He was a lot more reasonable than I expected." Meta commented, seeing Fettuccine visibly relax. She only silently nodded in response. "...are you ok?"

"Metty, do you really think we can solve a case like this in five days?"

"If we work together, I think so. Everyone talks about how smart you are, Fetty."

"Yeah, but-"

"No "buts" about it. You are going to do it and that's final."

She smiled quietly. "...thank you, Metty."

"You're welcome. Now let's get back to Mercury so we can tell her the good news."

"Ok." She nodded as they began to head back to the ship.

"You'll also need to call Kurabe, Meta, let her know she can legally read Erhard's mind now."

"I will when I get back to the ship."

"I know that, silly." She giggled, which Meta was glad to hear.

"She seems to be better already." He thought as he smiled, and they continued their return to the starship.

---------

Once more, Meta spoke up on their trip back. "So, where do we even begin searching? The school it happened at?"

"That would probably be the best location to start with." The woman replied, with her friend nodding and then gaining a quizzical expression.

"Fetty, do you know who owns the school?"

"I believe it's the king of Brightfall. While he doesn't rule Currumpaw, he donated a lot to help build and fund the school..."

Meta blinked for a moment as if that sounded familiar. "...Wait, Brightfall. That sounds familiar. Oh, the loud penguin!"

"Oh, you've met King Bebebe before?" She asked.

"You could say that. He was a guest at that party. He was incredibly cooperative, if a bit noisy."

"Yeah, that does sound like him. I guess it also makes sense that you'd know about him since he's one of Kurabe's closest friends."

"Yeah, if anything this is a lucky coincidence. He should be willing to help us."

"Especially if I'm with you, probably."

"Right. How far away is Brightfall anyway?"

"About an hour from here."

Meta nodded as waved at Mercury who was waiting for them.

"Hey, you two, good news I hope?"

"Yeah, he's reopening it and we've gotta solve it in 5 days."

"Well, the reopening part is good at least."

"Yup. Now we've gotta head to Brightfall to talk to the owner of the university where the incident occurred."

"And you need to call Kurabe, Metty."

"I know, I know..." He grumbled as he walked onto the starship.

"It's important to the mission. We need her to read his mind ASAP."

"I know..." Meta dialed Kurabe's number on his phone and waited.

Almost immediately, she picked up. "Hello?"

"Hello, sensei. We got the case open, so you can dive into Erhard's head now."

"I see. That's good. How are you holding up?"

"I'm doing fine. And... you were right. I am important to this mission."

His mentor giggled. "See? You were all worried for nothing."

"I suppose I was."

She continued to giggle, which made Meta feel even more embarrassed.

"Anyway, we're going to Brightfall next. I'll update you about how that goes later."

"I look forward to hearing about it. Good luck, my little knight."

"Thank you, sensei." Meta said as he hung up. "...That wasn't nearly as embarrassing as I'd thought it be."

"Despite what you may think, Kurabe's good at knowing when is and isn't a good time for jokes."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right Mercury."

"I'm always right!" She said with fake pride.

"Really? Then why do you almost always lose bets to sensei?" He said with a knowing smirk.

"That's a different matter altogether!"

"Of course. So, Mercury, are you friends with Bebebe like sensei is?"

"I'm friends with him, but not to the level of him and Kurabe."

"I see. Well, he at least trusts you right? That should make talking to him easy. Well, easier. He seems fairly approachable to begin with."

"Yeah, he is. If a bit loud..."

"I'd rather deal with a loud noble over a despicable one." Meta commented.

"Yeah, Bebebe's probably the friendliest nobleman you'll ever meet. Unlike most royals, he doesn't have a greedy heart."

"Well, he's sensei's friend. I trust him to be like that..."

"Yeah, we're lucky it's him we're meeting. He might not be the smartest, but he makes it up by being so cooperative."

The youth nodded in agreement.

"I've never communicated with him directly." Fettuccine admitted. "But I've been in the same room with him before while watching him talk to Reedy. So, I know this part of the job will be simple."

"Well, let's head off to Brightfall then."

---------

About an hour later, the group landed on the Planet Brightfall in the Crescent Kingdom. The kingdom itself seemed to be very peaceful. It also seemed to be an interesting mix of summer and winter, with a hot sun and cool snow somehow coexisting.

"...This is an interesting planet." Meta commented.

"I know, right? It makes me want to study it..." Mercury uttered.

"As tempting as that sounds, we have a job to do. Mercury, could you lead the way? I assume you've been to the castle before." Fettuccine asked.

"Of course, I've been here with Kurabe multiple times. Follow me." She waved them on as they headed to the front door of the castle.

"I'm surprised the guards are just letting us move by without any fuss. I guess they really trust us Organization soldiers." Meta commented.

"Of course. Bebebe is an avid supporter of ours."

"I know that. Guess I'm just not used to such a... friendly army."

"I can see why you're so confused."

"Yeah, yeah. Oh look, I think that's the captain of the army approaching us."

Ahead was a small creature wielding a spear. This was Izumi Dee, a Waddle Dee. "Hello visitors. What business do you have here?"

"We're here to visit King Bebebe." Mercury replied.

"Again, what business? I need an actual reason."

"We're here to speak with him about a school he owns. It's important for an investigation we're holding." Fettuccine responded.

"...oh. About that school again. Yeah, let's get this over with, I guess..." He sighed as he began to lead them.

"Why are you complaining, Izumi? It's not like you have literally anything to do with this." Mercury asked.

"We've gotten hounded by people about it a lot. It's why I drink."

"That implies you're over a hundred years old." She deadpanned.

"Who knows? Maybe I am!"

"Darling, quit making up excuses as to why you drink. It's unbecoming of a captain." A secretary Waddle Dee that was approaching them said.

"So, you just saying I can just drink whenever I feel like it?"

"No, I'm telling you that your behavior is unbecoming. That includes the drinking while on duty."

"Look, can you two talk about that later? We'd like to talk to the king." Mercury quickly said.

"Right of course, just walk through this door."

"Thank you." She said before nodding to her allies and stepping into the throne room.

Sitting in the middle of the room was King Bebebe, diligently signing some paperwork.

"Huh? Who is it?" He asked as he looked, eyes widening when he saw who it was. "Ah, Mercury and Kurabe's kid, it's good to see two in good health."

Meta only looked at him in confusion, causing Mercury to giggle. "Good to see you too, Bebebe."

"How's Kura-chi doin'?"

"She's doing fine, but that's not what we're here for." She looked towards Fettuccine, who stepped forward.

Bebebe stared at her for a moment before speaking once more. "You... you're an intelligence member, right? Guess this is for something important."

"Yes, my name is Fettuccine. I'm a member of the intelligence division and I'm here to ask you about the incident at Seton University."

"Oh! I guess that case finally got opened back up. Alright, what do you need?"

She took a quick look at Meta before looking back at the king. "Simply put, would it be possible to get access to records and video footage from that point in time?"

"Sure. I assume Kura-chi's helping ya?"

"Uh... yes she is." She replied, surprised by how cooperative he actually was. "Well, seeing is believing, I guess..."

The king then laughed. "Oh, don't be too surprised. You're the girlfriend of Kura-chi's kid, ain't ya?"

Fettuccine reacted as one would expect and turned pink. "N-no. We're just good friends."

Meta only tilted his head in confusion. "...of course you're a friend of mine, Fetty."

The king just laughed. "Alright, that's enough fun for now I suppose. Morimura! Bring her what she wants!"

The Waddle Dee entered the room as she pushed up her glasses. "Yes, your highness."

"Now while I don't mind assisting ya, would you care to explain why you reopened the case?"

"Because it's unfair to punish a man like Erhard for a crime he probably didn't even commit."

The king hummed. "Yup. Ya gots a point there. I myself thought it was a bit weird."

"Yeah. Wait that was a long time ago, how old are-"

Before she could ask that, Morimura came back in with the requested documents.

"These were the documents you requested, correct? Take your time to look them over." She said while handing the thick folder to them.

"You have a library we can sit in?"

"Yes, allow me to take you there."

"Thank you, Mrs. Morimura."

"You're welcome." She said as she began to guide the group to the library.

---------

Once fully settled in, Fettuccine immediately got to work reading over everything. As for Meta, he decided to look around the library with Mercury, believing it would be best to just let Fettuccine concentrate. He started by looking at some of the books that were on display.

"There's a lot of books I've never seen before here."

"Of course. Some are written in the native language of Brightfall and the others are simply rare books you won't find anywhere else. Like this book, Pilgrim's Travel Log!"

"Who is Pilgrim?" Meta asked, causing Mercury to giggle.

"Oh, pilgrim isn't the character's name. It's what the main character is. The protagonist is named Christopher and he's taking a long and difficult journey to a promised land. Even if it's clearly come kind of spiritual allegory, I think it's more interesting to read as an actual story."

"Must be an ancient story based on how it sounds."

"Yup, I think it's actually older than me and Kurabe. If you take a look at one of the copies of the book on the shelf you can tell it's falling apart a bit."

"Shouldn't something like that be in a museum then?"

Mercury shrugged in reply. "Probably have too many copies of it."

"I suppose that makes sense." "Yup. So, you see anything else that sticks out to you?"

"Not really. Mercury, have you been here often? The castle as a whole, not just the library."

"Somewhat. Not as often as Kurabe."

"Why is that? Does sensei just happen to take a lot of jobs from here?"

"Yup. Her and Bebebe are old friends."

"How old exactly?" Meta asked, curious about the past of his mentor.

"Since Bebebe was a prince."

"So, old then. Were they close?"

"Yup! Really close!"

"Could you go into more detail?"

"I would, but Kurabe would probably be very angry if I did." She giggled.

Meta just tilted his in confusion. "Why's that?"

"Let's just say there's one part of it she doesn't like anyone knowing about..."

"Is it bad? But she and him seem to be on good terms."

"It's not bad at all, just something she's embarrassed to talk about."

"Well, then just tell me about the not embarrassing stuff."

"The two of them often worked together on missions that she took on Brightfall, so you can say that they're allies in battle."

"Really? Him? He doesn't look much like a fighter. Not in the physical sense, but mentally. He doesn't give off warrior vibes like the soldiers do."

"Oh, that's because he doesn't fight anymore due to tearing a ligament in his arm and trying to hide it."

"That would explain it then. It looked like one arm was weaker than the other."

"Yup. He's been learning magic to make up for hit from what I've heard."

"Really? How...weird for a noble to actually take action like that."

"Yeah, but Bebebe's different."

"I know and that's why it's weird. But in a good way."

"Yup. I think so, too."

"...Mercury, do you think Erhard is guilty or innocent?"

"Honestly... I'm not sure. But I came along with you to find the answer myself."

"I see. I think he is, but we'll never know if we don't find anything. I wish I could help more with the actual investigation."

"I understand, Meta."

"But I'm sure I'll get my chance to be useful eventually."

"Yes, you will." "...You think I might have to do any fighting during this mission?"

"Yup."

"Why do you think that?"

"...if Erhard is innocent, do you really think that Veno will just sit on the side and wait for Fettuccine to solve the case?"

"You think he might send people after her?"

"If he has something to hide, yep."

"Then in that case, i should get back to Fetty, just in case."

"I'll go with you then."

The youth nodded as his friend followed him.

---------

Meanwhile with Fettuccine, she was getting a headache. Not out of annoyance, but due to the large amount of information she was getting. Rubbing her head, she took a moment to stand up and stretch.

"At least this stuff should help. At least a little."

Her head still throbbed a bit in pain due to all the information that she read through.

"Fetty, are you ok?" She heard someone ask.

"Oh, I'm fine! I'm just a bit tired!"

"You sure? You seem pretty exhausted."

"No, no, I'm fine!"

"...Alright. Did you find anything useful."

"Oh, a lot of things!"

Meta smiled, glad that the time spent here was indeed useful.

"Well, you should probably take a break then." Mercury said.

"I'll take a break when I... need... one." She said, falling asleep near the end.

"Which is right now." The woman sighed.

"Will she be fine?" Meta asked, worried for his friend.

"As long as she rests, yeah." The youth nodded.

"I'll take her back to the ship. Mercury, would you mind thanking the king for us?"

"Of course!"

"Thank you." Meta told her, picking Fettuccine up and walking out.

---------

In a couple of minutes, Meta returned to the ship and laid Fettuccine down in the sleeping quarters. He then walked outside and punch in front of him, causing an invisible figure to grunt in pain.

"Reveal yourself, assassin."

However, he was immediately slashed by the attacker.

"The hard way it is." Meta said calmly, slashing the assassin twenty times in one second.

Almost immediately, the assassin's invisibly cut off and they fainted right in front of the puff.

"Let that be a lesson for you. Don't mess with those under my protection."

Of course, there was no response.

"Well, that confirms Mercury's suspicions I suppose." He commented, dragging the unconscious assailant into the ship, tying him up.

"Guess I'll wait for him to wake up so Fetty can interrogate him when she wakes up." Meta sighed. Depending on how one viewed it, this whole case just became simpler or more complicated. More than likely, though... it had just become more difficult.

"Did I miss something?" Mercury said as she arrived to see the tied-up assailant.

"More or less that you're right about assassins coming for Fettuccine."

"Well, isn't that just wonderful?" She replied sarcastically.

"It seems like I really will be able to help in this case after all..."

"Duh. Everyone member of a team has a role to play. Even if that role isn't obvious at first."

The youth seemed to blush in embarrassment. "...I've been silly lately, haven't I?"

"Yes, you have been." The woman giggled.

"Well, I just hope she wakes up soon."

"I hope so, too. She needs to tell us all that information she found."

"Right. Let's just hope things don't get too hard for us."

The youth nodded in agreement.

---------

After an hour of waiting, the sleeping beauty finally woke up.

"Hmm...? What happened...?" Fettuccine uttered as she stretched her arms.

"You fried your brain." Mercury bluntly stated.

It was as if everything that happened came back to her, because Fettuccine's entire body turned pink.

"Right, that did happen. Um... anything happen while I was unconscious?"

"We were attacked by an assassin, but I easily took them out and tied them up if you want to interrogate them." Meta explained.

"An assassin!? Great, just what we needed. Bring the punk to me."

The puff nodded and brought the person into the room.

"You ain't getting nothing out of me!" The would-be assassin yelled.

"I assume we just need to leave this to you, Fetty?" The youth asked.

"Yeah, this won't take long at all. Gimme five minutes."

Both Meta and Mercury nodded in response before leaving the room.

"Alright, talk already. Who sent you?"

The assassin was silent.

"You know, I could just have Meta come back in and kill you."

"I am prepared to die for my mission."

"Are you now? What about your wife and daughter?"

"What about them?"

"Well, firstly, thanks for confirming that you have a family." She said with a smirk. "Secondly, do they even know that you're an assassin?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, is that so? So, I could kill you right now and they'd never even know they just lost a husband and father. Wouldn't that be terrible, leaving them behind without any answers?"

The man only remained silent.

"But we can easily avoid that messy nonsense if you just tell me who hired you."

"No one did."

"How old is your daughter? Four? Five?"

"None of your business."

"Oh, I disagree. You were hired to kill me, meaning I am your business. Now just tell me what I want, and your daughter won't have to be without a father."

The assassin seemed to grin before beginning to cough up blood.

"Oh, trying to kill yourself. Sorry, not happening-" Fettuccine started.

"...are you stupid? This is poison!" He then immediately fainted, no longer breathing.

Fettuccine blinked for a moment in shock before letting out a sigh. "Well, so much for that."

Almost immediately, Meta entered. "Fetty, what happened?"

"Moron killed himself."

"Oh..." He then looked at his friend. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Check his body, he might have an ID on him."

The youth nodded, slightly surprised by how unshaken his friend was.

"Oh, this isn't the first time this has happened. It's incredibly disturbing don't get me wrong, but you learn to deal with it."

"...I know, but I thought you would be a bit shaken by it..."

"Oh, trust me I am, I'm just good at hiding it. Go ahead and read my emotions, Metty, I don't mind."

The youth nodded and closed his eyes, focusing only on Fettuccine. "...I feel sadness. I guess you are taking it hard."

"I am. I hate death of any kinds besides natural causes. It's just you learn to deal with it until the mission is over. That's when you, or I guess I, can cry."

Meta knew that feeling all too well.

"Besides, now's not the time to let our nerves get the best of us. We have a case to solve!" She said with a smile, but Meta knew it was slightly forced.

He stared for a moment before walking over to Fettuccine and hugging her.

"...Thank you, Metty."

"No problem, Fetty."

"Now, did you find any sort of ID on him?"

"Here." He said, handing her a card.

"Kno Wan. Kno Wan. His name is literally no one. Darn assassins and their annoying aliases."

"So, I guess we don't know who he is then."

"No one knows. Well, whatever, at least we have proof of an assassin trying to kill me. That means someone doesn't want me investigating. Which means we're on the right track."

"So, what planet are we heading to next then?"

"Anywhere that doesn't have anything to do with the case and has a hotel. Less likely to deal with assassins that way."

"Alright, leave it to me." They heard Mercury from the door.

"A hotel, already?"

"Yup. We need a good place to rest and go over the information we got."

"It's that late already?" Meta asked in confusion.

"No, but we know assassins are after us. It would be better to lay low. And if my hunch is correct, they'll be waiting for us in certain locations. Which is why we need to go out of our way."

He nodded in understanding. "Well, I'm sure Mercury will take us to a planet that none of them will expect us to be on."

"Plus, now I'm more confident with our five-day time limit." Fettuccine smirked.

"I'm happy to hear that, Fetty."

"I'll tell you why I am when we get to a hotel room." She said while sitting down.

He nodded in response and sat next to her. "So, what now? Besides going to a hotel, I mean."

"Simple. Knowing your sensei, she should be getting ready to read Erhard's mind. We just have to wait."

---------

True to Fettuccine's predictions, Kurabe was indeed getting ready.

"Alright, Erhard, you might feel a bit of discomfort from this. Are you fine with that?"

"If this is going to help me in the end, I'm ready for it."

Kurabe nodded. "Lay down and close your eyes, clear your mind. Searching for specific memories requires that you don't have many stray thoughts running around."

"That will be easy. I've done that quite a lot in solitary confinement."

"Good. There's nothing more annoying than searching through a storm of incoherence. Now on the count of three I'll enter your mind. You ready?"

The doctor took a deep breath before letting it out and answering. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"Then, three, two, one." Kurabe placed her hand on his head. Next, she knew she was in what appeared to be a doctor's office.

"This must be the form his mind takes. It's well organized at least." She then let out a breath. "Well, time to look around."

Her first thought was to open a file cabinet, but it was locked much to her annoyance.

"I could just force my way in, but that could damage his already fractured memories. I'll just have to find the key for it."

She then began to look through the nearby desk, trying to find anything that looks like a key. That's when she noticed something on nearby desk. A large pile of torn apart paper. Or to be more specific, a torn-up picture.

"Ah, I've dealt with this before. It's like a jigsaw puzzle, just need to put the pieces together and you'll form a picture." She giggled, enjoying jigsaw puzzles, and began to put it back together.

"And done. Oh, it's a family picture, that's him as a kid, those must be his parents." She smiled.

Suddenly a new part of the office that was previously blocked off was now open to her.

"Repair his memories and more memories reveal themselves. Simple enough."

She then moved forward, hoping to find the key soon. She had a feeling the most important memories were locked in that cabinet.

"Well, this will take longer than I thought. But don't worry Erhard, I'll get your memories back. One step at a time."

---------

Back with the investigation trio, they had finally landed on a faraway planet.

"So what planet is this, Mercury?" Meta asked.

"I don't know. I just picked one at random. I think the map said Tabni, or something like that."

Fettuccine shrugged. "As long as it's not connected to the case, it'll work."

"Alright then. So why a hotel? Why not just tell us here in the ship what you found?"

"Safety mostly. You never know, they might have put microphones or something on the ship to spy on us."

"Well, that makes sense. So, what kind of hotel are we staying at then?"

"Whatever this town we landed in has to offer. We don't have the luxury of picking one beforehand." Mercury told him.

"Should be easy. I believe this is a planet known for its nightlife, so there are a lot of hotels here."

"That description fits a lot of planets, Fettuccine. Come on, let's get moving."

"Okaaayy..." She grumbled as she dragged Meta along.

"Why are you grumbling? This is your idea. Besides I'm the one paying for it."

Meta didn't say anything, but he got the feeling that it was because of how dismissive Mercury was of Fettuccine's expression of knowledge.

"Well, whatever, we got better things to worry about." The woman shrugged as she followed them to a hotel.

---------

Once fully settled in a nearby cheap, but well-kept hotel, Fettuccine got ready to explain what she learned. She was then given a plate of food.

"I hope you don't mind, but I ordered room service for dinner for all of us." Mercury said.

"It's fine. I guess I'll explain after I eat."

"Of course. You're hungry, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"Then enjoy your food!"

"I will. So, who is sleeping where? There's only two beds and one couch."

"I'll sleep on the couch, you two sleep on the beds." Mercury said.

"You sure?"

"Oh yeah! I can sleep just about anywhere!"

"I mean, me and Meta can share one bed and-"

"I'll take the couch."

Fettuccine pouted. "Metty, what do you think?"

"I don't see the big deal. If she wants the couch, she can have it."

She continued to pout.

"What?"

Her pout became bigger.

"Quit pouting and eat, your food is getting cold."

She did so in silence.

---------

After a half hour of eating in silence, now it was time for Fettuccine to reveal what she learned.

"So, what did you learn, Fetty?" Meta asked.

"First. A very interesting fact. Veno was actually a huge donor to the school. Donating large amounts of cash each year, more than enough to sustain it. That until a certain year. 15 years before the incident, his donations became smaller and smaller. Thanks to Bebebe, the school was still able to function, but nowhere near as much as it used to."

"I see. Do you have an idea of why they decreased?"

"Yeah. As you know Veno is the half-brother of the doctor. According to these records, 15 years before the event was when the doctor and his son reportedly started getting into those arguments Erhard remembered. The most likely reason as to why Veno lessened his donations was that he was on his nephew's side and most likely wanted to sabotage his half-brother."

"What were those arguments about?"

"Apparently according to these records, his son wanted them to get into developing weapons. Poison weapons."

"I see."

"Like what happened during the incident." Mercury said.

"Obviously the good doctor was against this and shut down any proposal made about it."

"So, now what? Does that mean the son was the culprit?"

"Not necessarily Metty, but it does make him a suspect."

"What else have you found?"

"Something very interesting from the parking records. You see every visiting vehicle needs to be registered upon entering the school grounds, for secure purposes. One of the registered visiting vehicles on the day of the incident, belonged to Veno."

"So, I assume he's another suspect?" Meta asked.

"He already was, but now he's even more suspicious."

"So arguably he might be the biggest suspect, is that right?"

"Precisely."

"I see..."

"As for anything else. Something very interesting. I found the schedule for all employees. Erhard, was not supposed to be there but was apparently asked to come in by the doctor's son."

"Why?" Meta asked.

Mercury hummed. "Might just be me, but I get the feeling it was to lay the blame for what happened there on him."

"But why him? Sure, he was close to the doctor, but why not frame one of the employees that were already there?"

"It's because Erhard was against his idea for poison weapons."

"So, they wanted to take out two birds with one poisonous stone."

"Exactly." Fettuccine nodded.

"Why not just kill him then instead of leaving him alive? Why set up a scapegoat at all?"

"Hmm... that's a good question..." Mercury uttered.

"Simple. If there was no culprit to be found, the investigation would still be on. With a scapegoat however, the case is closed, and the true culprit gets away with no effort." Fettuccine said.

"I see... that makes sense." Meta nodded.

"Now for the hard part. Finding the good doctor's missing children." Fettuccine said, putting air quotes around missing.

"Do you have an idea where they might be?"

"Nope." She sighed.

"Well, I guess that's what we investigate next." Mercury said.

"But where do we start?" Meta asked.

"...We'll have to wait until we get the info from Kurabe."

"So, I guess we're just hanging out here until then, huh?"

"We don't have much of a choice."

"Well, it'll be a nice breather, won't it?"

"I guess so." Meta then smiled.

"Don't worry, Fetty. I'm sure sensei will get back to us as soon as she finds more information."

"You're right, we still have four days after this one. It won't do any good to stay agitated." Mercury clapped her hands.

"Yup. So, let's take this time to relax a bit until Kurabe calls us."

"I hope it's going well." Meta said.

---------

"...I'm getting so tired of these puzzles." Kurabe groaned.

While she had been having fun with the various jigsaw puzzles, they had quickly begun to all other kinds of puzzles. Logic, cryptic, mechanical, sudoku, mathematical, all of them were present throughout these areas.

"Well, at least I'm getting close, just need to find that key."

She let out a stretch and sighed, being particularly stuck on this logic puzzle for quite a time. It was a seemingly simple puzzle, she just needed to input a password and the puzzle would be finished. Unfortunately, she had no idea what the password was or what it could be.

"Maybe I should look around this room a bit more..." She thought.

"Do you require assistance?" A voice said from behind her. Turning around she saw a little boy that looked a lot like Erhard.

"If you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate it."

"Ok. What's the question?"

"The question is, why did you become a doctor."

The child tilted his head. "Isn't wanting to help people enough of a reason?"

"A one word answer please. The password can only be one word."

"Then "people"?"

Kurabe nodded and wrote in "people".

"Is that it?"

Suddenly a key fell onto Kurabe's head.

"I'll take that as a yes..." she grumbled as she rubbed her head. "Well, thank you..." She started to say, but then noticed that the kid was gone. She then shrugged and then continued through the next door that she had opened with the key.

"Well, time to open up that file cabinet already. About time, speaking of, I wonder how much time has passed in the real world." She then shook her head. "I'll see when I get out. Hopefully not too much time."

She reached the cabinet and inserted the key.

"Alright, moment of truth."

After turning it and jiggling the handle, she began to feel the cabinet open up. Suddenly a flood of memories rushed out of it. Kurabe smiled at this and quickly left Erhard's mind. Back in reality Kurabe looked at Erhard.

"What do you remember?"

"...Everything."

"Would you like to discuss it then?"

"Once my headache passes."

She chuckled. "Very well. I will wait however long I need to."

---------

After thirty minutes of rest, Erhard was ready to speak.

"So, are you ready to talk?" Kurabe asked.

"I am, yes."

"Well let's get this out of the way then. Do you remember who the true culprit is?"

"I... think I have an idea..."

"Who is it then?"

"Veno."

"Of course it's him..." Kurabe sighed heavily.

"He wasn't alone. The doctor's son was his accomplice." Erhard continued, exhibiting an emotion he hadn't had in decades. Anger.

"...I see." The warrior replied with a sympathetic gaze. "Do you have any idea where the son might have gone?"

"An idea yes. In the Merbuda system, the doctor had a vacation home."

"Merbuda, you mean the system with constant active black holes?"

"Yes, that one."

"Why have a vacation home in some place so dangerous?"

"Exactly. You wouldn't think to go there, would you?"

"Of course not. I rather have mine in a more peaceful part of the galaxy."

"Which makes it a perfect place to lay low."

"Indeed. Well, I should probably notify my student about this development."

"Before you do, there's something else you need to know."

"What is it?"

"Veno like you, is psychic. However, while you can read and bring out memories, he manipulates them. That's how I lost mine in the first place. It only works on those with weak wills, which is why he couldn't use it on the doctor or head of the law division."

"A psychic, huh? He'll be a difficult opponent then."

"Yes and no. He can only use his powers by physically touching people. Also, he's not exactly physically strong."

"Oh. Then that will be easy." She chuckled darkly.

"And it only works on those with weak wills. I've only known those kids for a short time, but I'm sure they aren't weak in the slightest."

"Of course not. Meta's my student!" She huffed. "But wait, what about you? You don't seem weak."

Erhard smiled sadly. "Veno did something that weakened my will."

"What's that?"

"He killed the doctor." He said bluntly.

Kurabe blinked in shock. "But... why...?"

"You know the old saying. You're either with me or against me. The good doctor refused to submit to Veno's horrific plans. You can imagine the rest."

"I see... I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's fine. I can grieve after Veno gets caught."

For a moment, Kurabe became silent before she hugged Erhard, who had a surprised expression at the sudden action.

"I understand. But please, just let it all out..."

"Uh... thank you."

Kurabe giggled at the slightly shy reply. "Well now, I better tell them what l learned."

"...can you let me go?" Erhard uttered, now feeling a bit crushed by her.

"Oh, right." She then let go. "I'll come back to you later." She said as she dialed in Meta's number.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Meta. How's your investigation coming along?"

"Fine, but we hit a roadblock. We suspect we need to find the doctors children, but we don't know where to start."

She giggled. "Well, lucky for you, someone happens to have an idea of where they are."

"Really? Did you get his memories back?"

"Yup. We also know who the culprit is now."

"Who is it?"

"Veno, with Dr. Dru's son, Wade, being an accomplice."

"...Of course." Meta gave heavy sigh.

"I think you already know where to find Veno, but for the doctor's son, the doctor has a vacation home in the Merbuda system. Go look there."

"Alright, thank you sensei."

"One more thing to note, Meta. Be careful of Veno. He has the ability to manipulate the memories of the weak minded. So, keep your mind strong."

"Really!?"

"Yes, oh and only through physical contact."

"Is that all you have to tell me?"

"One more thing. Veno killed the doctor."

There was a moment of silence, as if her student was processing that.

"...I see..."

"Yes, now good luck Meta. I'll stay here with Erhard just in case Veno tries something."

"Ok. Thank you, sensei."

"You're welcome, my student." Kurabe said as she hung up. She then turned to Erhard. "Now... where were we...?"

"You were hugging me."

"Oh, that's right!" She exclaimed as she resumed her hugging.

"...So why are you hugging me again?"

"Just let it all out, Erhard..."

"Let what out? Oh, you mean my tears."

"Yes, that's what I mean."

"Oh, that's quite a problem then. I can't physically cry, it was a medical condition I was born with." Despite this though, his voice sounded like he was crying even if he wasn't.

"Perhaps, but you sound like you are."

"I am, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are." After a moment of silence, Kurabe spoke up. "Erhard, I have a proposition."

"...what is it?"

"After you get set free, how would you feel about working for my ship?"

"But why though?"

"You want to keep being a doctor, correct?"

"I would love to."

Kurabe held out her hand. "Then welcomed aboard."

"But... doesn't a battleship as important as yours already have a doctor?"

"The Bukisets, but they aren't dedicated doctors."

"But-"

"But nothing. You can never have enough doctors." She then began to pat his cheek, being too short to pat his head. "Especially since you will be specifically dedicated to being a doctor."

"Well, if you really want me aboard, I don't see a reason to refuse."

"Oh please, I know you would ask anyway." She pouted.

"Why are you pouting?" Erhard asked, not understanding anything about social cues. She then stopped hugging him and reached out her hand.

"Then shake my hand."

"Oh right. Of course." He took her hand and shook it.

---------

"So, what exactly is Merbuda and why do you two look so worried?" Meta asked his compatriots.

Noticeably, both Fettuccine and Mercury were sweating profusely upon hearing that name.

"It's... it's an area that's full of black holes." Mercury uttered.

"...Damn."

"Yeah, it's one of the hardest places to navigate."

"Not to mention a death trap." Mercury added.

"Yes, but that's the most likely place where the doctor's son is."

"Well, we'll just have to be extra careful."

"Leave the piloting to me then." Mercury said.

"Alright. Well Fetty, we're making even more progress."

"Yeah, and I'm glad for that." She smiled.

"Well, we should get going then."

"Hold your horses, Metty. It's late and we need to sleep."

"And I already paid for our room." Mercury added.

"Oh... I guess so. Well, I'm going to head to bed now." He said as he headed to one of the beds.

"You too Fettuccine." Mercury ordered.

"I know, I know."

"Good night you two."

"Good night, Mercury." Meta said with a yawn as he fell asleep.

---------

The next morning, Fettuccine was adamant on getting out of the hotel as fast as possible, only taking time to eat breakfast.

"Fetty, why the rush? Today's only just day two."

"Because the Merbuda system is a long way from here. The sooner we leave, the sooner we get there."

"Ah... I understand." He then tilted his head.

"How long will it take for us to get there?"

"At our top speed, twelve hours. Not to mention dealing with those black holes."

"Oh. So, it'll take all our daylight."

"Yes and no. The Merbuda system is...strange to put it lightly. Combined with the constant black holes, there's at least ten suns there."

"Ten? How is that possible?"

"No one knows. The Merbuda system is incredibly mysterious and incredibly dangerous."

"I see."

"Also, Metty, I have a question."

"What is it?" "What were you eating at two in the morning?"

"Nothing."

"A parfait." Mercury said.

"I assume he does that often, Mercury?"

"Almost every day."

"And he always eats an affogato every day when he wakes up?"

"No, I don't. Now can we get going already?"

"We're already on our way to the ship, Metty."

"...and yes, you do." Mercury uttered.

"No, I don't. Now drop it."

She only giggled, seeing his pouting face. "Fine, fine. I need to focus on driving anyway."

As Mercury turned back to her task at hand, Meta saw Fettuccine looking at him.

"Metty, do you like sweets?"

"Yeah, I do, why?"

She then looked a bit nervous. "When this is all over... would you like to go to one of my favorite ice cream places?"

Meta tilted his head, not sure why she would be nervous about asking that. "Sure."

She let out a relieved sigh. "I'm glad..."

"Well, I'm glad that you're glad then."

She gave a smile towards him.

"Do you still feel nervous about solving this case?" Meta then asked, thinking of a possible reason why she could be acting like this.

"A bit, but I feel better when I remember that you'll be with me all the way..." she uttered shyly.

"Well of course. You sure you're feeling alright? You should probably get back to sleep if you need it."

"Yeah, I'm alright. Don't worry about me, Metty. You being here with me is enough."

"Well, alright then."

"What about you? Are you nervous?"

"Not really. Not about the case anyway." She tilted her head in questioning.

"Then what are you worried about?"

"The black holes. I'm not scared of anything I can cut, but I can't exactly cut a black hole in half... yet."

"Mercury will take care of it. Don't worry."

Meta nodded. "Yeah. Well, I'm going to train."

"Right now?"

"Of course. I have to train whenever I can."

"...do you mind if I come watch you?"

Meta shrugged. "You can do whatever you want. Not sure why you'd want to though, I'm just going to be doing weightlifting."

For some reason unknown to the youth, Fettuccine's entire body turned pink as she looked at the floor upon hearing that. Meta, confusing her reaction as confusion decided to elaborate.

"Well, I can't exactly do my usual training routine without destroying the ship."

She silently nodded. "Can... I help...?"

"With weightlifting? Sure, I guess."

She smiled happily while following him out of the room.

---------

After a few hours, Fettuccine slightly regretted that choice.

"My arms are so soreee."

"You offered to help me, Fetty. You brought it on yourself." Meta replied while drinking an entire bottle of water in one gulp.

"But did they have to be so heavy?"

"Heavy? Those were the lightest I had."

"A hundred tons is not light!" She said, shocked that he considered those weights to be light.

"...you might need to build up a bit of arm muscle, Fetty."

"Limets don't have muscles Metty, we're slime."

"Then couldn't you make yourself have more muscles?"

"What do you think I was doing!? My strength is not the issue, it's that you are way stronger than I am."

"You should get stronger then."

"Nah, I'm good. I'm not a fighter, I don't need to be freakishly strong. That's your job."

"Then why did you ask to help me?"

"To spend time with you, silly." She said with a blush.

"Oh, well thank you then." He replied, clueless as to why she would seem so embarrassed to spend time with a friend. "But next time, I don't mind if you just want to watch me."

The woman nodded in response.

"Alright you two, it's time to get serious. We've made it to the system." Mercury said.

Quickly and curious, Meta looked out the window. To his utter shock, he saw three black holes in the distance.

"How is that possible?"

"Merbuda is a star system that cannot be understood. That's all there is to it." Mercury simply replied.

"I don't think we should stay here for long. Wait, do people even live here?"

"Besides the people we're looking for, probably not."

"Or people who don't want to be found in general." Fettuccine added.

"Why would anyone willingly do that?" Meta asked, not understanding why anyone would live in a death trap.

"Simply because no one would come to a death trap willingly."

"Besides us anyway."

"Yes, but our business here is different."

"We're still willingly coming to a death trap, our reasons don't really matter."

"A deathtrap..." Meta uttered.

"Meta, I know what you're thinking, and I get it, but it's time to be serious. I need both of you to search for anything that could be a vacation home."

The youth stared at her in questioning, wondering why she said that, but then looked out the window.

"What are you so on edge for, Mercury? You're an expert pilot, right?"

"My piloting skills mean nothing if a black hole magically appears in front of us. Neither of us can afford to dwell on thoughts not related to our mission. Now get to looking."

"Ok..."

"Hey Mercury, do asteroids usually have palm trees on them?" Meta asked.

"They shouldn't. Why?"

"Look to your left."

The woman did so. True to Meta's words, there was a large asteroid, almost the size of a small moon, with what looked like palm trees on it.

"Guess that's it."

"Well, only one way to find out for sure." Mercury said as she flew towards it.

---------

In a few minutes, the group landed on the asteroid.

"Well let's get searching you two."

The two nodded and they began to search around. The asteroid, upon further investigation, appeared to be man-made instead of being something natural.

"...this must be it." Mercury said.

"That explains all the random palm trees."

"Yup."

After walking for what felt like an hour, they came across what appeared to be a modest sized house.

"This must be it. I'm surprised it's not better guarded." Meta said.

"Well, it's not like anyone else knows this place even exists."

"Even so, you would think that..."

"No, putting guards here would just alert us. In some cases, having no defense is the best defense."

"What about traps?"

"Realistically there won't be any. They've been hiding out here for centuries. They probably don't see a need for any."

Meta nodded, but kept a hand on his sword just in case.

The group advanced towards the house.

"So, do we just knock on the door?"

"I guess we can try it. Just keep your guard up."

Meta nodded and knocked on the door, ready to attack if needed. Nobody answered. Meta decided to go with plan B. Which was kicking the door down with full force. He instantly did so, causing his two allies to jump a bit.

"It had to be done. HEY! QUIT HIDING AND COME OUT!"

There was no response. However, he could sense that there was definitely someone here.

"I said come out. I can do a whole lot worse than kicking down a door."

Nothing.

"You might have to do worse, Metty." Fettuccine said.

Suddenly, she froze before falling to the floor face first.

"FETTY?!" He then saw a man standing in the hallway. Immediately, Meta cut off the man's arm, causing the man to suddenly regret showing up. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?"

"What did you think I do, you brat!?"

"A STRAIGHT ANSWER, UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO CUT OFF YOUR OTHER ARM!"

"I stabbed her damn core, that's what I did!"

"Then I guess you want to die!"

"Metty, that's enough. I'm fine." Fettuccine said as she stood up.

"What the?!"

"Oh please, that wasn't the first time I've been stabbed. That little stab doesn't even make it to the top ten stabbings I've been through."

"...I'll give you a few seconds."

"Yeah, I know I'm poisoned. I'll probably die if I don't get treated soon."

Meta only stared in shock before slashing at the man again.

"Metty, I said stop." Fettuccine said, stopping him from killing their target. "He's Wade Forde, the doctor's son, we need him alive."

The youth glared at her with an emotion she'd never seen before from him: wrath.

"Metty, calm down. If you kill him, then our mission will be a failure, Erhard will stay imprisoned, Veno will walk away Scot-free, and I would have died for nothing. You need to calm down. We have a job to do, an innocent man's life to save. If I die, I want to die successful. Now calm down." She let out a cough.

Meta looked at her, the anger in his eyes disappeared, now replaced with worry. "Alright Fetty."

"Damn Veno... how could he mess up something so simple...?!" Wade uttered.

"You've been a free man while an innocent one was blamed for a mass murder you were a part of. You don't get to complain." Fettuccine spat out, coughing violently.

"I can complain if I want, bitch!" He said, smacking her across the face.

"Do you really want to push your luck when my friend has his sword pointed at your throat?"

Before Wade could respond, Meta stabbed out one of his eyes. "You are at my mercy, scum."

He only continued to grin. "...tell me, do you know what CIP is?"

"Yes, I know what it is, but I don't care. You might not be able to feel pain, but I will make you feel fear!" Meta yelled, making Wade piss himself in fear. "Now tell me where the cure is!"

"There is no cure!"

"Bullshit!"

Before Meta could say anything else, a woman's voice he didn't recognize called out. "Yes, there is, don't listen to my idiot brother."

-

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Continued HERE

[hughiecampbelle]

hii!! i'd like to be shipped with someone from The Boys specifically, here's some info about me for you to go on:

i'm a pansexual girl, 5'2 (aka pretty short), i have blonde hair but i dyed the ends black, i have blue eyes and freckles on my cheeks, i love going to thrift shops/second hand stores, my clothing style varies from baggy jeans and lacy tops to sundresses to shorts with fishnets and converse. i enjoy reading a lot but most of the time don't actually get the time/ take the time to read, unless its for like 2 hours straight. i used to be in a choir in school, and i enjoy singing a lot (though usually i end up being too shy to actually sing for someone). a random fact about me is that i often remember and see smaller details, for example, i'll hangout with a friend and they'll mention how they're really enjoying specific pens for writing, but they're in need of a new one, but can't find it anywhere, and i'll remember it for a birthday gift a month later, stuff like that. im also usually pretty good at finding details, such as if someone is looking for a specific book in a bookstore, i'd find it pretty fast, in 5-10 minutes. i love plushies but dislike dolls. i love animals and i don't actually mind spiders as long as they aren't physically on me. my personality is sorta like sunshine-y, though i do have bad days and when its a bad day i tend to shut down, i tend to be pretty straight forward, and i prefer it when people are honest and blunt rather than trying to sugarcoat something. my love language is physical touch, and i'd love to receive it back as receiving words of affirmation. im usually quiet untill i have friends around me, and if im close enough friends with someone i love just yapping on and on, making conversations that go from topic to topic!

is this enough info? thank you so much!! <3 and if its not too much to ask, could you also mention a character that'd be bestfriends with me? ty!!

Hi my love! I ship you with: M.M.!!! He loves your height. Marvin makes so many short jokes, you think he's run out. You think he Googles them just to have more. And he's the only one who finds them funny, laughing hysterically, finally calming down only after his stomach hurts and tears are running down his face. He also loves your dyed hair. When you need to refresh the color, he's the first to offer his skills. He knows what he's doing to a degree. He helped Janine with her hair growing up. Hair dye doesn't seem all that intimidating. He watches tutorials and is actually very neat about not getting the dye anywhere else but on your head. You use that time to talk, really talk, and it's just another way to get closer to one another. You love his dedication to his family, both The Boys and to his ex-wife and daughter. When he cares about someone, regardless of how many times they mess up and hurt him, he will still be there for them. He can't help but care about them. He has an incredibly big heart. It's one of the first things you noticed about him and you continue to fall in love with it over and over again. Your relationship is protective. Marvin makes sure you're protected at all times. He doesn't play around with your safety. Sometimes it can lead to disagreements and he knows he can go a little overboard, but he can't help it. He couldn't forgive himself if anything happened to you. You understand, of course. You have a dangerous job, a dangerous life. You're both protective of one another. You don't like the changes he goes through when he's put in charge of The Boys. He isn't eating or sleeping, he's having panic attacks. You try to tell him that you're scared for him, that this isn't healthy or safe, but he doesn't want to let anyone down. The team needs someone and he's that guy. Your first date is kinda a non-date at first, but quickly turns into a date. You and Marvin are alone together doing surveillance. You prepared for these long hours with music and your favorite snacks. You don't really think that much of it, but he's touched that you remembered his favorites, too. He loves The Boys, but, for the most part, they're not detail oriented people. The fact that you remembered this small thing about him, this niche little snack, and went out of your way to get it for him strikes a chord in him. You spend hours together talking and listening to music. This night just reinforces the feelings he's had for you and gives him the confidence to ask you out on a real, official date. Relationship Headcanon: You're the one in the relationship who disposes of the spiders. Marvin will run into the room, color drained from his face. The first time it happened you feared the worst. It wasn't until he talked about a huge spider in the bathroom do you calm down, laughing instead of crying. This "monster" he describes is actually pretty small and very harmless. You grab a piece of paper and a container, letting it go outside. He can't help but freak out. Something about it having so many legs and eyes, the way it scurries out of nowhere. He's a lot better about containing his fears, but every so often he'll panic.

Hope you like it my love!!! Xoxoxo💜💜💜

[nothing0fnothing]

I noticed the comments you sometimes get from people with NPD… as I have. It makes me laugh because the way they approach it… the way they try to get their point across is by using the very techniques that they’re saying we can’t call abuse. Gaslighting… feeling as though they deserve special treatment and feel they have a right to dictate our feelings and using a term that is widely accepted and used in mental health, emotional black mail, insults etc.

Do they not realize this?

Hi there thanks for your support <3

NPD is one of those disorders, lots of people love to talk about it but very few want to actually educate themselves on what it really means to have it. I think because "narcissistic abuse" and "narcissistic personality disorder" sound the same they like to get discussed in the same circles, regardless of how little they have to do with one another. I do try to ensure when it comes up on my blog I deal with it in a way people with the disorder find respectful so I really appreciate you coming to this page being open about your diagnosis and your support. It means a lot to me.

I tend to get abuse on this page in two distinct categories. The first is really aggressive violent abuse. Usually from people who are self diagnosed with NPD or ASPD, usually they self identify as narcissists and usually their blog is full of edgy posts about how cool it is to be a narcissist or to have a cluster B disorder. The second are mostly younger people in with leftist ideals who have all the right politics but don't really have any real world experience in left leaning or social justice spaces.

The former tend to be the group coming in with the vile abuse. "I hope you die", "your parents should have beat you harder", saying "you deserved it" in my post replies and flooding my anons with cruelty. Usually this group don't stop till they are blocked and I have had some come after me on multiple accounts just to continue the abuse.

I had one who wouldn't stop even after I'd blocked 4 or 5 associated accounts, so I screenshot his blog with his vile comments and shared it to a cringe subredit. Very quickly he went from powerful abuser to wounded puppy, posing as his own partner in the comments begging I remove the post as people with his disorder can't help it and people who are not narcissists should know better than to hold him accountable. My post stayed up and he's left me alone since then, but it does open a door to explore the mindset.

Usually, untherapised and undiagnosed people who suspect they have NPD have an understanding of what it means to have the disorder that isn't consistent with reality. They tend to think that NPD is "abuser disorder" and therefore claiming they have it gives them the undisputed right to abuse and bully whoever they like, however they like, and anybody who calls out their abuse are being ableists for expecting them to behave in a way that is generally expected in polite society. To them calling narcissistic abuse what it is feels personal, they know it describes who they are and they feel that it is an unfair criticism of their selves, after all, its the mental illnesses fault they're a cunt, right?

Generally I don't like to reply to this type on my page. It only furthers the misrepresentation of NPD, promotes their own delusion that this is normal behaviour for NPD, opens the doors for their fan boys to flood my asks and falsely represents people with the disorder as obligate abusers. It really isn't useful to my blog at all.

They know they're being abusive, they think I am being abusive too, they think it's okay for them and not for me because they "have NPD" and I don't. They know its illogical, they do know better and they're aware of the optics of abusing someone for discussing abuse. This is why they hide behind side blogs and anon asks. To me they're a great example that personality disorders shouldn't be self diagnosed and as they have nothing of any importance to say, they get blocked immediately.

The latter tend to abuse via gaslighting and stonewalling. "I hope you die" is a common one in this group too but its also comments like "you have no right to use the term narcissist", "just call it regular abuse" and accusations that I am armchair diagnosing my abusers with a mental health disorder I routinely explain on my page has nothing to do with the way they behaved.

Usually these people feel rightous in their abuse because they are convinced that they are protectors and hero's for people with NPD who (for some unspoken reason) can't speak up for themselves. Usually they too are misinformed about what NPD actually is and will parrot weird ableist notions such as that people with NPD "can't help it." (Yikes) or will assume that my abusers had NPD based on the descriptions of abuse that I share on my page (I have never disclosed the mental health diagnoses of any of my abusers.) They beleive that narcissism and NPD are one in the same and that accurately describing narcissistic abuse is ableism against people with NPD for that reason.

Generally they come in hard with the accusations of ableism and insistence that every abuse specialist and victim advocacy group who acknowledge narcissistic abuse are ableists, but will quickly stop replying when I gently ask them why they think the solution to this problem is to harass strangers running abuse recovery blogs and victim support resources.

This type of person is absolutely blind to the contradiction in their "support." They genuinely don't understand how making statements publicly like "you just want your abuse to be special" and "I don't care what experts say this type of abuse isnt real" is super bad optics for the group of people they're claiming to be protecting. Every person new to this discourse seeing that won't assume that the person with the long heartbreaking posts about getting yeeted down the stairs as a 4 year old and is openly disabled and neurodivergent is secretly a hideous ableist out to destroy people with trauma induced personality disorders, they're going to think that to support people with cluster B disorders you need to be pro abuse and anti victim support.

What's important to me is that when people come to this blog they're not coming to a place that unfairly pins their awful experiences to a mental illness that nobody who has it asks for. Whenever I get comments, no matter how well meaning, that present NPD as a disorder that causes abuse, I have to break it down and explain how it isn't, not for people who think coming to my blog to gaslight and harass me to jump on my side, but for the people coming here for support who deserve to be educated on what happened to them.

[sunjakes]

pancakes for dinner ; park sunghoon

pairing: classmate!sunghoon x gn!reader genre: fluff, semi slow burn, strangers to friends to lovers warnings: intended lowercase, best friend sunsun and loser hoon agenda, a teeny bit of profanity from reader n a lot from sunghoon LOL, two v short mentions of food word count: 4.5k a/n: HAPPY VERY BELATED HOON DAY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS !!! part 4/7 of my song drabble series !! this one took me a lot longer to write than i'd like to admit ... regardless of my struggle picking a song and then getting out of writers block multiple times, i really like this one and i hope yall do too !! also go listen to lizzy mcalpine her music is seriously so good :>

sunghoon had never been the best with words, and you knew that all too well. after meeting him for the first time, you entirely believed that he could've been a mute until you saw him talking to his friend - and your fellow classmate, sunoo. most people tended to be taken aback by sunghoon’s timidness, but you honestly saw it as a challenge.

something about park sunghoon intrigued you.

maybe it was how he stuttered and stumbled over his words for the first few meetings you two had, but you wanted nothing more than to make him crack. and sunghoon didn’t want to admit it to himself, but he fell for you at first glance. you made him even more nervous than he usually is in front of people.

once you and sunghoon got seated next to each other in class, you took it as your chance to put your ideas into action. you wanted to break sunghoon out of whatever shell he was in, and after a couple of weeks, you can safely say it was working. even sunoo was shocked to see the side his friend was letting out when he was around you.

you made sunghoon laugh and smile more than anyone had ever seen. watching his fang-like teeth poke out from between his lips when you made him laugh extra hard filled your chest with pride. his reputation of being someone cold and shut out was shedding more and more with each passing day. despite how the both of you were always seen as class pets, you started getting reprimanded by your professors for talking too much during lectures.

even though you and sunghoon got super close as friends in class, you didn't spend time with him much outside of it, much to sunghoon's dismay. his feelings for you started to grow exponentially, as did yours for him, but he couldn't seem to gather the confidence to actually ask you about making plans.

"sunghoon hyung, you're never gonna advance with y/n if you never try to say anything, you know.. what if they actually like you back?"

sunghoon groans at sunoo's comment, a loud thump sounding in his bedroom as his head lands against his desk. he knows that sunoo's right, but it doesn't make anything feel any easier. that 'what if' when it comes to you is exactly what's holding him back. if being friends with you is the closest sunghoon will ever be to you, he'd take it in a heartbeat.

"i know, i know... but maybe they just want to be friends. i don't want y/n to pursue me because they see me as some charity case.."

hearing a quiet scoff come from sunoo, sunghoon sits up to look at him, finding a pair of sympathetic yet intense eyes gazing at him.

"hyung, i'm not 100% sure what to say outside of this: i wish you could see them from an outsider's perspective. i don't think they took a random initiative to talk to you because they see you as some pathetic guy like you seem to think."

the response catches sunghoon off guard, and he looks at sunoo with a quizzical expression. the younger boy just sighs softly and shakes his head, standing up from his seat on sunghoon's bed. gently patting sunghoon's shoulder, sunoo begins to make his way over to the door.

"this may sound cliché and cringy, but i think you should try writing how you feel down... maybe that way, if you ever get the balls to confess to y/n, you won't trip over your words and turn into an actual charity case."

before sunghoon could even get out a syllable of a response, sunoo was out the door, and he was left alone to fester in his own thoughts. a deep sigh leaves his lips, and he has to stop himself from slamming his head against his desk again. looking to his right, he sees an empty notebook he had purchased for a class that he never ended up using.

you should try writing how you feel down…

the suggestion rings throughout sunghoon’s head, and he reaches for the book without a second thought, opening the cover as he feels his nerves flood with anxiety. picking up a pen, every single thought sunghoon has seemingly ever had about you completely flees from his mind. he stares at the empty page as if a love letter would just materialize out of nowhere and write itself. he sighs for what feels like the millionth time, his pen hovering over the paper.

"...how the fuck am i supposed to do this...?"

fighting the urge to text sunoo for advice, sunghoon starts to write the first things that pop into his head:

y/n, here's hoping you never have to read this, because i have no clue what i'm doing.. you make me crazy in the most amazing way i don't know how to describe. honestly, i never thought that you would come up and talk to me in class, but seeing you approach me for the first time made me so excited for the future. i'm so unbelievably glad you started talking to me. even though we officially met not that long ago, i feel like i can be my true self with you. i'm not scared of being mocked or judged like i am around virtually everyone else, and it just feels right. you make me feel right. just by being in class with you, everything makes sense. you barely have to move a finger to make me the happiest guy in the world, and i'm hoping that one day i'll get the opportunity to return that happiness to you. i swear your smile shines brighter than the north star, and i want to witness it for as long as i have the chance to. stay just as you are, y/n. your personality is by far the most beautiful and captivating thing about you, and it's what made me fall so hard. - park sunghoon

setting down his pen, sunghoon stares at the page he just filled, not even rereading what he wrote down. he instantly picks up his phone and sends a photo of his writing to sunoo, closing the notebook's cover so he can't look at the letter long enough to regret his decisions. he watches his message to his friend go from delivered to read, and the hesitation in sunoo's response starts to fill sunghoon with dread.

a minute or so later, sunghoon hears his phone ping, and he instantly picks it up to read sunoo's response:

"hyung, you are so down bad..."

with a loud groan. sunghoon's head drops down against his desk again, his phone falling into his lap as his arms dangle helplessly at his sides. not even bothering to actually respond to sunoo's text, sunghoon sarcastically mutters a comeback, getting up from his seat and leaving his notebook abandoned at his desk.

"you say that as if this wasn't your suggestion anyways, you dick.."

sunghoon feels ashamed to walk onto campus the next day, paranoid that you would somehow manage to find out about his impromptu love letter. his rational brain knows that sunoo is the only person who knows—and you and sunoo have barely spared a conversation with each other—but school being school, he knows how easy it is for word to spread about anything. walking into the lecture hall, a quiet sigh of relief leaves his lips when he sees that you haven't arrived yet. he makes his way over to sunoo, rolling his eyes as the younger boy playfully nudges him with his elbow.

"soooo loverboy, when are you planning to confess to them?~"

sunghoon scoffs and makes his way over to his seat, muttering a nearly inaudible "fuck off..." sunoo just chuckles at his friend’s response, setting his book bag on the floor as he sits next to sunghoon. he gently pats the older’s shoulder, noticing how he’s trying to look everywhere besides the door to the classroom.

“look, i can tell you’re worried about y/n finding out. i will swear to you now that i won’t say a single word if you don’t want me to. i would never be the type of person to snitch, anyways; you of all people should know that.”

sunghoon’s shoulders slump as he nods in understanding. a stressed sigh wracks his chest and he threads his fingers through his hair, trying to keep his composure. as if on cue, his posture shoots up pin-straight as he hears your voice approaching the room. sunoo fights back another laugh, smiling knowingly as you make your way through the door.

sunghoon tries to ignore the butterflies in his stomach when you give him that bright smile that he fell in love with so quickly. whispering a soft "i'll take that as my cue to leave..", sunoo gets up from his spot and moves to another seat in the lecture hall, and sunghoon thanks whatever higher power may exist as you take the empty seat beside him without a second thought.

"hey hoon! since it's still pretty nice out, would you wanna go to a café and get some coffee after class? we could maybe study together, and even though it may still be school-related, i wanna see you outside of this setting for once.."

you motion to your surroundings with one hand and a pout on your lips. the endearing nickname you suddenly gave to sunghoon leaves him a little love struck to the point where he almost misses your question. he prays you don't notice the red flush to his cheeks or how his gaze instantly dropped to your lips as he responds—which you absolutely did and made sure to take note of—and he nods as he tries to collect himself to answer.

“oh-uh, yeah, totally! what classes do you need to study for?”

sunghoon instantly running with the study idea left somewhat of a sour taste in both of your mouths, and you have to hide the frown that fights its way to your lips as you ramble off some random class that you know you don’t genuinely need to study for. nodding nervously, he makes eye contact with sunoo behind you—who grins, giving sunghoon a thumbs up—and starts to turn his attention to the front of the room as he sees the professor walk in.

despite the awkward tension between the two of you, your lecture passes by uneventfully. you keep trying to steal glances at sunghoon, and he must have been attempting the same thing, because your gazes met on more than one occasion. you hide a smile as you watch his ears get progressively more pink everytime your eyes meet. you stand up simultaneously as your professor dismisses you, and as you look up at sunghoon, you swear a knife could cut through the nerves you could hear thick in his voice.

"so uh, y/n... i'll meet you at the café, right?"

you look at him confused, and you watch sunghoon's face blush bright red at your reaction. without even thinking, you reach to grab his hand, and both of you feel electricity shoot up through your arms at the point of contact. sunghoon catches himself staring at the way your hands fit together, and his mind runs with want to never let go of your hand. he noticed how perfectly your hand felt in his and fought the urge to intertwine your fingers, wondering if you were feeling the same things he was.

"what you mean 'meet me,' hoon? why don't we just go together right now?"

he wordlessly nods, and you two make your way out of the lecture hall, neither of you letting go of each others hands. sunoo watches in shock, and not long after leaving the room, sunghoon's phone buzzes. he checks it with his free hand, flushing an even darker red when he sees a text from his friend reading: "im sorry .. WHAT DID I JUST WITNESS?!"

by the time you both walk into the café, you were no longer holding hands after sunghoon had gotten embarrassed by sunoo’s text. after choosing a table and setting down your bags, you move to head up to the counter but are stopped as sunghoon puts his hand on your shoulder.

“what do you want to drink? it’s on me.”

you look up to see sunghoon smiling at you, his cheeks dusted with a light shade of pink, and you’re awestruck to see the shy and timid boy you met just weeks ago slowly disappearing in front of you. he seems to notice you spacing out and says your name to get your attention again, snapping you out of your daze.

“o-oh, shit, sorry.. can you get me an iced oat latte? thank you so much, hoon.”

his smile just grows as he nods, motioning for you to sit down as he heads up to the counter to order for the both of you. you watch him in shock, trying to figure out what happened to the nervous sunghoon that practically tripped over his own words just an hour ago when you brought up the idea of coming to the café in the first place. after a few minutes, you watch sunghoon walk back over to the table with both of your drinks and some pastries, and you start to blush as he sets them down onto the table.

"i also got us some things to snack on in case you get hungry!"

you look at him and smile gratefully as he sits down, shyly mumbling a thank you as you take your drink from his hand. starting to get supplies out of his bag, sunghoon looks up at you confused when he notices you not move to do the same.

"y/n, weren't we gonna study? did you not bring anything?"

sunghoon looks at you shocked when your mood suddenly changes, sighing as you look at him with a scowl and a slight glare. setting down your drink, your frown drops and you look at him, seemingly annoyed out of nowhere, at least in sunghoon's opinion.

"park sunghoon, are you being serious right now?"

sunghoon just blinks at your question, growing more confused by the second at your sudden mood switch.

"d-did i say something wrong? what happened?"

you sigh again at his cluelessness, slightly rolling your eyes. looking at sunghoon dead in the eyes, you bluntly tell him of your intentions.

"i didn't actually mean to turn this into a study date, sunghoon. i just used that as an excuse so that i could spend time with you outside of class.. i only ever see you under those god awful flourescent lights in that stupid lecture hall, and it was actually starting to drive me insane."

sunghoon gasps softly as he hears the word date leave your lips, his mouth gaped like a fish out of water. you maintain eye contact with him while holding the same, slightly frustrated expression, and sunghoon blushes darker than you've ever seen before. you can practically hear the gears turning in his mind as he tries to take in what you said and come up with a response.

"a.. a date..?"

you can't help but laugh at his question, resting your head on the palms of your hands as you look at him.

"you really are clueless, aren't you hoon?"

successful in flustering sunghoon with your response, he breaks eye contact with you and drops his gaze to the table, awkwardly coughing and scratching the back of his neck.

"i... i was so excited at the prospect of hanging out with you in the first place that i didn't even realize you didn't actually want to study together, to be honest.."

you mimic his previous shocked expression at his sudden confession, and now it's sunghoon's turn to chuckle. he catches your attention by suddenly outstretching his hand to you across the table, and you look at him confused.

"give me your phone, i want another chance to redo this 'date' and give you the experience you actually deserve."

you blush at his statement and nod, pulling your phone out of your pocket and passing it to him. sunghoon sets his own phone down on the table and motions for you to take it, so you do, putting your number into his phone. he smiles and passes back your phone before getting up from the table, grabbing his coffee and his bag.

"text me when you get to your dorm, yeah? we can replan a better date before class tomorrow."

failing to come up with a verbal response, you nod, and sunghoon grins as he bids you goodbye, turning to make his way out of the café. you continue to sit there for a few moments, processing everything that just took place between the multitude of attitude changes and confessions from both you and sunghoon.

you open your phone to see sunghoon's contact staring back at you, and you smile widely when you see he inputted his display name as "hoon" with a penguin and heart emoji next to it. stuffing your phone into your pocket, you decide to start collecting your belongings to head back to your dorm. right as you go to head out of the café, you notice that sunghoon left the notebook he brought with him sitting on the table. you pick it up and start making your way back to your dorm room, making the mental note to text him about it and return it during tomorrow's lecture.

you had noticed that the cover of the notebook had slightly opened as you grabbed it off of the table, and seeing sunghoon's name printed on the bottom of the first page caught your attention. it looked like a sign-off to some sort of note or letter, and your curiosity got the best of you as you open the notebook's cover to read what it said in full.

y/n, here's hoping you never have to read this, because i have no clue what i'm doing..

after reading that first sentence, you had to force yourself to wait until you got back to your dorm to read the rest of it. you instantly head to your bedroom once you return, and you rushedly pull out sunghoon's notebook again, your curiousity only growing as you were desperate to find out what sunghoon had written to—or about—you in this case. opening the cover to the notebook again, you sit down on your bed and start to read.

i feel like i can be my true self with you. i'm not scared of being mocked or judged like i am around virtually everyone else, and it just feels right. you make me feel right.

you start to smile at his wording, feeling various emotions flood in your chest. holding back your tears, you gasp at the next few lines he wrote.

just by being in class with you, everything makes sense. you barely have to move a finger to make me the happiest guy in the world, and i’m hoping that one day i’ll get the opportunity to return that happiness to you. i swear your smile shines brighter than the north star, and i want to witness it for as long as i have the chance to.

you feel your cheeks heat up as you blush deeply, and the last sentence causes you to tear up, suddenly getting emotional.

your personality is by far the most beautiful and captivating thing about you, and it’s what made me fall so hard. - park sunghoon

gently tossing his notebook in front of you after closing the cover again, you fail to fight back the tears as you begin to comprehend everything you've just read. grabbing your phone, you shoot sunghoon a brief text regarding his notebook, refusing to mention its contents as you wipe the tears covering your cheeks.

“oh shit…”

hanging out with sunghoon again, sunoo's head whips to look at him at his sudden exclamation. sunghoon's face fills with dread and nervousness as he responds to your text, and sunoo looks at him confused.

"what's wrong, hyung? did something happen?"

"y/n has my notebook."

sunoo's eyebrows furrow in confusion, not understanding where the issue lies as sunghoon cards his fingers through his hair, a stressed sigh leaving his lips.

"sun.. y/n has the notebook."

as soon as sunoo makes the connection as to what sunghoon was referring to, his eyes widen, covering his mouth with his hand as if to muffle his response—to no avail.

"OH MY GOD."

sunghoon groans, his head falling back against his pillow as he covers his face with his hands. worried about how he's handling it, sunoo moves to sit on the end of sunghoon's bed, gently resting his hand on the older's leg.

"god, what if they read it..? what if they hate me now? i'm gonna have no chance now.. fuck, man, i'm seriously screwed."

"woah, woah, woah.. pause. you're running to conclusions way too fast, dude."

sunghoon lifts his head up, looking at sunoo with an expression that exudes 'are you joking right now'. sunoo rolls his eyes, nudging sunghoon's legs to the side so he can fully sit on top of the bed. looking at sunghoon with that same intense and sympathetic look from the day before, he starts to speak.

"this is exactly what i meant when i said i wish you could see y/n from a third person point of view. they way they practically beam at you? they don't do that for anyone else i've ever seen. they even basically gave you a pet name. people don't just do that for someone unless they're genuinely interested in them. if anything, you've definitely still got a shot, if not a better shot now, at actually being with them."

sunghoon just blankly stares at sunoo for a moment, not sure sunoo's telling him the truth or just saying this to make him feel better. slowly, he nods, praying that the younger boy is onto something. he sighs quietly as he sits up, running his fingers through his hair again.

"let's hope you're right.. if i just royally fucked up, i'm done for.."

it's safe to say that when you and sunghoon saw each other in class the next day, you both were extremely tense, your reasonings being on the opposite sides of the same spectrum. sunghoon was stiff as a board as you handed him his notebook back, still petrified at the mental image of you reading the equivalent of his whole heart on a sheet of paper. you, on the other hand, were still processing the answers that said paper gave to you. his mannerisms and reactions when it came to you finally made sense.

the awkward "thanks.." sunghoon muttered out left you both cringing internally, hating the sudden atmosphere change between you. there was still some time before the lecture actually started, so the two of you decided to try and talk things out and settle the tenseness. sitting down, you and sunghoon turn your chairs to face each other, and you fight the urge to reach out and touch him.

"so.. the notebook..."

sunghoon was shocked to hear you mention it first, his worst fears beginning to manifest themselves inside his head. it feels like his heart leaps into his throat, and he looks at you with wide eyes.

"look, hoon, i read what you wrote."

oh no.

even though you called him by the nickname you gave him, the one that normally makes his heart race and his face flush, he can feel the beginnings of his heart starting to shatter. he dropped his gaze to his lap, holding back his emotions from rushing to the surface. you can sense sunghoon's distress, and you decide to gently rest your hand on top of his knee. you frown slightly when he flinches, looking up at you with glassy eyes. you slightly panic seeing his current state, gently squeezing his knee.

"wait, oh my god, sunghoon, hold on. please listen to me. i read what you wrote, and i can't even start to describe how happy it made me."

sunghoon isn’t fully sure how to respond. he was constantly dreading, waiting for the “i know about it” statement to stumble its way from your lips. however, the positive acknowledgement of his unintentional confession was the last thing he ever could have expected. looking caught like a deer in headlights, sunghoon responded with the only word his mouth seemed to remember how to say.

“what?”

you sigh softly and reach for one of his hands, which he’s fiddling with in his lap. as you intertwine your fingers, you can feel your heart practically beat out of your chest, but you try your hardest to ignore your emotions for just a moment. his eyes manage to widen even further until you gently squeeze his hand, letting him relax a bit.

"i know you didn't want me to see it, and i'm sorry i did. but please, don't be embarrassed or upset at yourself, okay?"

sunghoon was still seemingly confused at what you were trying to get at. he was so set on the idea that you were going to reject him to even possibly consider you reciprocating his feelings.

"what.. what do you mean?"

sunghoon watches you smile softly and starts to feel his worry start to completely fade away. there's something to your expression that looks different to how he's ever seen you. he notices an underlying look of love in your eyes, and sunghoon can feel the beginnings of his heart racing.

"i've liked you for a while, sunghoon. genuinely. i had wanted to talk to you for a while before i finally decided to do it, and god—i'm so glad i did. you're so incredibly kind, and just being in this class with you has given me a reason to look forward to tomorrows.

the way you're looking deep into sunghoon's eyes lets him confirm that you're telling him the truth, and the smile on your face begins to grow as you watch him start to smile back. sunghoon squeezes your hand lightly, and you have to hold yourself back from pulling him out of his chair and into a tight hug. with his thoughts starting to clear, sunghoon finaly gets to ask you the question that's been replaying in his head for the past few days.

"so, how about we redo that café date after class today? i'll get you your iced oat latte again, and we won't have to do any 'studying' this time."

sunghoon smiles as you nod, and your attention turns to the front of the room as the professor walks in. you both decide to keep holding hands under the table, and you respond in a hushed whisper right before the lecture begins.

"i'd love that, hoon~"

[kittymanya]

Stupid little idiot toontown bastards. do not mind the fact that the toons do not have the typical tan mouths im sorry i cannot draw them it never looks correct in my art anyway back to the topic at hand. my gay little freaks. i love them. Actual info under the cut

Sam (he/him) lives in Ye Olde but similarly to 'hysterical harry' he is just a Normal Fucking Guy. He doesn't like living there but also at the same time he refuses to move anywhere else because he grew up in Ye Olde and he's too used to it to leave now. Meeting new people is a hassle he is not willing to confront. He isn't really very 'toony' and tends to act a bit more cog-like, which gets weird reactions from some people even outside of Ye Olde but most ignore it besides a comment or two. Very good friends with Pink but in that sort of 'this is the insane extrovert that just decided to adopt me' way. He loves phones and technology in general and will give you a 30 minute ramble on why smartphones are awesome and how he's customized his own tech if you even slightly give him the chance to, it's the only time he's talkative. 100% gets in creddit moderator fights with Brian/The Prethinker online

Pink (he/they) lives in Daffodil Gardens, he loves art of all sorts and is generally a 'jack of all trades master of none' sort of artist, he just does whatever the hell comes to mind regardless of whether it actually turns out any good or not, he just loves the process of creating. Sort of one of those 'live laugh love' type people, they're very optimistic about everything, even for toon standards, and also likes to be a little flirty every now and then. Very neutral on cogs, they still dislike all the antics they've been up to but otherwise is..generally pretty willing to just chat with them if given an opportunity. Their being a huge social butterfly outweighs their dislike of cogs. Friends with Sam because they met through another friend and he just decided that Sam's his buddy now. Levy (any pronouns but uses he/him most often) lives in Mezzo Melodyland. Loves trying to do magic tricks (both practical effects and attempting 'actual magic') but he is, alas, super fucking unlucky. Nearly all of his tricks backfire in some way, but he continues doing it anyway because he still enjoys it and sees no downside. Either he succeeds and people are impressed, or he fails and he gets other toons to have a laugh. Both outcomes make him happy. (Though it's still frustrating sometimes for him). His bad luck does not apply just to his magic shows, his legs are also invisible because of a mishap with vanishing cream, where, despite applying it to his whole body, the bottle was partly defective and only the portion he put onto his legs actually worked. He was too embarrassed to ask anyone for help about it, and continued to just pass it off as intentional because it themed well with his name. After awhile he just started reapplying it that way willingly, since it also made him more recognizable to others.

Nyte (she/her) is a boardbot cog that was... not meant to exist in the form she does. She was a prototype model and wasn't supposed to be able to think, but she did anyway, and so now just, exists. Since she was supposed to be a test run, a lot of 'typical cog features' are missing or absent with her. Her health indicator is only visible if a compartment in her chest is opened up, her sentences get mixed up often (usually resulting in either repeating whole sentences twice, or using awful grammar/sentence structure). She's basically permanently level 1, nearly any toon off the street could win a fight against her, so she usually tries to avoid situations where a battle could happen. She works two jobs, one at the Mezzo cashbot hq for 3 days of the week (she just comes over and assists with whatever little things people request of her) and the other at Alton/The LAA's office in the boatyard for the other 4 days. She admires Alton very much and wants to be a manager herself one day, even though she knows it's very unlikely to ever happen, so she usually just follows him around like a lost puppy and offers help constantly. The color of her lights changes based on emotion the most often, but she can manually control it too, and usually sticks to light blue. She's very excitable, and acts a bit more toony than most cogs, especially in comparison to other boardbots, but she's also extremely loyal to COGS Inc and will often be overly performative about her 'distaste' for toons, sometimes to the point of making herself crash temporarily. She's based on a silly little cat nightlight i have in my room irl :)

[lovelymindescape]

Hi, this is for our LOTR matchup trade!

I’m Tori, a 20 year old autistic girl (pronouns she/her) who would prefer a ship with a man. Also, I tend to prefer the humans in middle earth (so like Aragorn, Faramir, Boromir and Eomer) so if you could kindly ship me with one of them specifically I’d be very grateful.

I’m really short, only like 4’ 10” (142 cm) with wild, long and wavy auburn hair and really light blue eyes. I’m slender but very toned, and I also wear glasses. I'm pretty neutral about both my appearance and myself in general and I don't think I genuinely hate anything about myself. I'm generally neutral about most things actually. I have chronic joint pain all over, scoliosis and some other illnesses but I stay very active regardless. I’m really polite and try my hardest to be nice to everyone, but if you cross me or give me a bad vibe I can be a little cold and aloof. I’m a tad awkward, but I’ve been told I can be charming and I’m really good at making others laugh with witty comments. I tell amazing stories because I've had a lot of experience with different things during my life. I’m very generous and don’t mind helping others or doing nice things for them. I’m also extremely energetic and always have to be doing something, to the point where I’m honestly not sure I really know how to rest. My friends say I give really good advice and am very wise, and also that I have warm, inviting energy. I could lowkey befriend anyone if I really tried. Though I'm also very sensitive and don't enjoy being teased too much, so I don't tease people much either. I hate seeing people, or really anything, upset.

Where I really shine is with my large number of hobbies and interests. Because I always like to keep busy, I have a lot of different activities and side gigs to keep me occupied. In Middle Earth, I’d probably be some sort of ranger who picks up a bunch of odd jobs here and there. I currently work as a librarian but my other hobbies include:

🦉 Falconry & befriending crows

🦉 Caring for horses (I've always been a horse girl lol)

🦉 Cheesemaking, Cooking and Baking

🦉 Gardening and Plant Identification

🦉 Writing, Journaling and Drawing

🦉 Sewing

And a couple other things. I’m generally a very skilled, knowledgeable person and I’m very proud of it. I love being outside and can’t stand being cooped up indoors for too long. However, I do enjoy having somewhere nice to return to when I get tired from being outside all day.

Alright, I think that’s about it! Thank you so so much, take care of yourself and drink lots of water!

Hey , i'm so so so so sorry it took so long , but i had stress the last days and forgot about it <3 anymore i hope you like this

I ship you with

ARAGORN

your both rangers so that works

you probably met while you both were roaming around middelearth

you had the same route for awhile so you stayed together

you parted the work you had like , you would cook while he looked out for possible danger , then you would eat and you both switch

he soon was considerate to your illnesses and would have respect for what you do even with this

he would love that you are neutral about most things cause he kinda don't likes people who are

before you'd go to bed you would tell eachother stories

he would make you rest even if you don't want to

when decisions would get make he would ask you before anyone else

the confession was very blunt but calm while you to were heading to the next stop to sleep

it's basically the same afterwards but with more romance <3

he would be impressed by how much hobbies you had and always ask if he could help somehow

if your being to nice to someone , who doesn't is very nice , he would step in

he throw compliements and i love you's at the most random times

all in all it's a loving, protecting and supportive relationship

It's a bit short i know , i hope you liked it

[roobylavender]

what are your thoughts on the naruhina dynamic? I adore hinata, we don't often get characters like her

i LOOOOVE naruhina omfg they were my day ones when i first got into naruto.. i used to enjoy fluffier ships at the time so they perfectly fit my modus operandi lol. i think it's a shame how underwritten their relationship is in main canon (in the sense that they don't get as much page time) because the set up is so good and the few moments they do share with each other are incredibly potent. the pain arc was utterly life changing for me and while i loathe the way the anime generally tends to portray most of the female cast this was one occasion where its expansion on the manga was actually so well executed and remains seared in my mind to this day (please watch from 2:06 of this amv it makes me feel CRAZY). unfortunately the ball was totally dropped with neji's death and instead of adapting hinata's full THREE page monologue to naruto the anime reduced it down to one line that she's consistently been mocked for even though her intentions in the aftermath of that event were so sincere.. i'm always baffled by people's hatred of her because they seem to act like she's timid or quiet on purpose as if she wasn't abused by her father for half of her life. and then they act like she's stupid and can only think about her feelings for naruto at the expense of everything else. but if it was anyone out there on the battlefield watching someone they love get absolutely pulverized would they not do something about it too regardless of their own ability in comparison? i don't think that moment ever came down to logic and i don't think it even had to. comparatively when she made a remarkable display of composure and emotional strength in response to her cousin's death everyone laughed at her for subsequently accepting the smallest bit of comfort (and don't even get me started on how neji fans feel about her generally.. they direct more hatred to that poor girl than they do her father lmao it's insane). it's simply bizarre the expectations she's held to and the consistency with which she's underestimated because she's capable of a lot emotionally and the development is there! and a lot of people act like if naruto really loved her he would have reciprocated during the main narrative but i always argue it was unrealistic for any relationship between the teen characters to be actualized during the main narrative because they were literally at war.. i'm an avid hater of the last admittedly but that's because i think it squanders the potential the main narrative immediately set up with naruto and hinata theoretically bonding over their grief and desire to take action to ensure nothing like what they went through ever happened again. i've always dreamed of post-war naruto commencing his education in leadership and diplomacy under tsunade's tutelage and that occasionally entailing long days in the library reading over historical scrolls and the like that happen to sometimes be on the same shelf as a scroll on the history of cursed seals, which of course hinata begins to look into after the war because she wants this branch clan business over and done with for good and if there's a way to remove those seals forever she'll find it. the idea of the two of them on awkward library non-dates that eventually segue into something more and develop a rapport and friendship between them that can bloom into love is simply so special to me like urgh they make me Weepy. i truly love them so so much and most of my naruto fanfiction is actually about them lol i do think a lot of it is cringe and over the years i tried to rewrite some of it but if you're interested in reading all of it is here