#i think in future if you wanna go home you can but others shouldn’t have to too | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

eternal-evergreens · 2 months ago

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｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*⁠.⁠✧"Into the looking glass - III"｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+*⁠.⁠✧

Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII

Post format: Multipart series

Pairing: Yandere!Male!DoL x Fem!Isekai!Reader

Word count: 5.1k

Synopsis: You gain the chance to wake up in the world of one of your favorite games. Unfortunately, the 'favorite game' happens to be one about rape, violence, and stalking. Not only that, but the game seems to be rigged against you. All you want is to find a way home and put this all behind you, but is that even possible...?

Warnings: Sexual Assault, Attempted Non/Con, Drugging, Attempted Kidnapping, Stalking

Excellent Good Decent Okay Poor Bad Terrible

No, no. Not happening. Never.

You need money. But you won’t get it through unscrupulous means. You still have your morals, and you’ll abide by them. That’s why you saved Kylar. That’s why you’d save him again, should it happen in the future.

You push the thought out of your mind and exit the temple. As you pass by Danube Street, a thought hits you.

The spa. Why haven’t you been working at the spa?

It’s not really an early-game option due to the stat checks required, but those shouldn’t be a problem for you. With your hand skill at C by default and your beauty over the max, working as a masseur is as simple as walking up and asking for work.

You head over and ask for work, and the lady at the front desk takes one look at your hands and gasps. Her bored demeanor quickly melts away into an excited one as she quickly shows you the ropes. You get the basics down pretty quickly and soon take your first client, a trim woman who looks to be in her early 30s.

“Hello, I’ve not done this before. Do I just lie down?” That makes two of us, you think to yourself.

“That’s right! Just lie down, and I’ll take care of the rest,” you say, smiling. The trim woman seems reassured and quickly lies down on the table. You get to work on her shoulders and neck first, cautiously looking for knots and tension as you knead her muscles. The woman relaxes under your touch and begins to make small talk. She tells you about her family, how her kids are both bright young boys, and her husband brings her flowers every month. She seems really happy. -Trauma -Stress

She leaves you a tip. You make £75.

Your next client is less friendly, but you manage to massage her without incident. She leaves you a tip. You make £80 and decide to take a break, feeling a little worn out from standing on your feet for nearly two hours straight. After fifteen minutes, you get up and head back into the spa, where you take on another two clients. They both leave tips, and you make £120. The spa closes after that, and you head outside.

Someone throws a water balloon at you from a nearby car, soaking your shirt and leaving it near-invisible. You hear cheers as they speed away, leaving you soaked out in the open. +Stress

You look around, but luckily, no one is around to see your predicament. You cover yourself with your arms as best as you can and head home. You take the alleys to avoid passersby seeing you, walking quickly in hopes of getting home sooner. You don’t watch where you’re going and end up walking right into someone.

“Watch where you’re going, you—!” You look up, about to apologize, when you see icy blue eyes staring back at you. It’s Whitney, his face, only inches from yours, changes from anger to a smug smile.”Well, what do we have here? A slut all out on her own?” Whitney’s friends giggle.

“Why is she walking around so exposed?” One delinquent asks. “Is she a pervert?” They giggle, crowding around you.

“I wanna get a picture!” Soon, all the delinquents are pulling out their phones. Suddenly torn between the desire to cover your face and your chest, you end up hiding behind the thing closest to you, which ends up being Whitney. He seems taken aback but soon wraps an arm around you protectively. +Love

“Fuck off,” he says, arm still around your waist. “Get your own slut.” The others seem disappointed but comply regardless. When everyone’s phone has been put away, Whitney releases you and shrugs off his jacket.

“Can’t fuck a sick person,” he says, throwing his jacket over you. “Make sure to give it back. Now fuck off.” He shoves you out of the alleyway, leaving you stunned. Did that really just happen?

You check your phone.

Whitney The Bully Whitney wants to own you. Fascination: 50% Love: 5% Devotion: 0% Dominance: 40% Jealousy: 0% Lust: 100%

You walk home with his jacket wrapped around your shoulders. It smells like smoke.

—————————

It is Thursday, the 8th of September, 2022. -It has been 4 days since the game started. -The game started in autumn. -It is autumn. -School term Finishes on Friday the 2nd of December. Current Funds: £729 Pain: You feel okay Arousal: You feel cold Fatigue: You are alert Stress: You are calm Trauma: You are uneasy Control: You are insecure Allure: You look like you need to be ravaged

After waking up and finishing your morning routine, you go to Robin’s room and play video games with him for an hour. Some of the games remind you of those you used to play back home. +Love -Trauma +Stress

“It’s almost time for school,” he says. “Do you want to come with me?” You smile and nod. Robin stands up from the bed and puts his controller away. He holds the door open for you as you leave, and you notice a faint blush on his cheeks as you pass. You swear you saw him glance down. +Lust

You’re suddenly reminded that you’re in a yandere game and that Robin is a target character. ++Stress

You grimace as you round a corner and resist the urge to cover your butt as Robin walks behind you. Your skirt is so short he can probably see your underwear as you walk. +++Stress

You see Bailey holding a mousy girl by the arms, a bundle of rope in his other hand.

“You owe me £200 this week,” he says. The girl is holding back tears but still manages to keep a strong look about her. Robin looks away. The other orphans do the same. They all look…resigned. You step forward.

“I’ll pay,” you say. “Let her go.” Bailey raises an eyebrow but releases the girl. You hand over the £200 without fuss. It’s only after parting with the money that you remember you could have just pepper-sprayed him and gained some catharsis. You don’t really need to be stingy with it, after all. Bailey counts the money and leaves, leaving the mousy girl to dust herself off.

“Thank you,” the mousy girl says. “I was really scared.”

“Will you be okay?” You ask her. She nods. She seems genuinely okay.

“Yes, thanks to you. I promise I’ll pay you back for this,” she says, running off.

“You don’t have to!” You call out after her, but she’s already gone.

You did a good thing today. -Trauma -Stress

“That was really impressive,” Robin says. “It’s not often people stand up to Bailey.” You shrug, and Robin cracks a smile. +Love

You and Robin chat on the way to school, mostly about the games you played earlier. There’s a certain glint in his eyes when he looks at you that wasn’t there before. You have to suppress a shiver every time you accidentally meet his gaze. +Stress

“I just don’t understand why they’d make a tutorial so difficult,” Robin says, shaking his head. “Maybe-” He’s cut off by something, eyes widening. You follow his gaze and see two hooded figures approaching rapidly from the alleyway you just passed. You reach for your pepper spray as the figures get closer, unhooking it from its keychain and holding it at the ready.

“It’s her,” one says. You waste no time and spray them both, then grab Robin’s arm and sprint to safety with him. ++Crime (Assault) ++Crime (Assault) +Stress +Fatigue

You don’t stop running until you reach the school gates and are safely behind them. You and Robin pant heavily as you struggle to come down from the adrenaline.

“Where did you get that?!” Robin whisper-yells.

“A kid in my English class makes them,” you say at a normal volume. Robin’s look of concern only grows, and he spends a few minutes lecturing you on the dangers and illegalities of pepper spray. You mostly tune him out.

The bell rings, finally putting an end to Robin’s monologue, and you head to class. You focus on the lesson, and Sirris calls you up to the front of the class. A student uses a ruler to flash your panties to everyone. To make matters worse, Sirris wanted you to undress for the demonstration. You comply, feeling humiliated as the class leers at your body. +++Stress

The bell rings, and you rush out of the classroom. You feel your heart pounding in your chest as you walk. Your ears are ringing, your heartbeat is too loud, the world is spinning, and—

It’s all too much for you. You pass out.

—————————

It is Thursday, the 8th of September, 2022. -It has been 4 days since the game started. -The game started in autumn. -It is autumn. -School term Finishes on Friday the 2nd of December. Current Funds: £529 Pain: You feel okay Arousal: You feel cold Fatigue: You are wearied Stress: You are distressed Trauma: You are uneasy Control: You are insecure Allure: You look like you need to be ravaged

You wake up with something soft yet firm under your head and Sydney right above you.

“You’re awake!” He says. “I was worried. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I brought you back to the library.”

“Not the nurse?” You say, getting up. You realize that you’ve been lying on Sydney’s lap. Sydney looks sheepish.

“I didn’t think of that,” he says, not meeting your gaze. He looks genuine, but you get the feeling he’s not being honest. +Awareness

Sydney insists you stay with him for another ten minutes so he can monitor your condition. When you ask about going to the nurse again he makes an excuse of not knowing if you’re good to walk. You decide not to push it any further and spend the next ten minutes chatting with Sydney. When the ten minutes are up, he looks hesitant to let you go but relents regardless. +Love +Lust -Sydney’s purity

By the time you leave, it’s already lunch. You missed two classes. ++Deliquency

Feeling stressed from everything, you decide to sit alone in hopes of relaxing. You should have known better, however, as a group of students soon come by to make your day harder. The second they start jeering at you, you unhook your pepper spray and blast them all in the face. ++Crime (Assault) ++Delinquency +Status

The students are screaming and hurling insults, but the ringing in your ears makes it impossible to hear them. You finish your lunch in silence.

You spend the rest of school zoning out, hoping your stress will subside. It works, kind of.

You have detention, but you don’t feel like going. Considering all the shit you pulled today, Leighton is probably going to take off your clothes and smack you or something. You don’t have good enough grades to know where the tunnel from school is, so you walk out the front. Leighton tries to stop you, but you pepper spray him. ++Crime (Assault) ++Delinquency +Status

A group of students say they’re going to the lake. You could use a change of scenery.

You join them. +Status

Hanging out at the lake is fun enough. No one tries to grope you after what happened at lunch, so you end up having a somewhat enjoyable time.

Then they start bullying another student, who thankfully isn’t here to listen to them shit-talking them, and what little fun you were having quickly melts away. You stand up and walk away, deciding to go for a swim instead. You think about retrieving the lichen for your science project but push the thought out of your mind.

You swim for about an hour, and when you exit the water, the sun is already beginning to set. Your fellow classmates are still hanging out, but you don’t really feel like joining them, so you put on your clothes and go for a walk, planning to head back after you’re done.

You hear a bullet firing from afar. Something is hunting you.

Fuck. You whip around, trying to locate the source of the bullet. You heard it shoot from behind you, but you don’t see anyone. Going back the way you came might mean running straight into their arms. You glance around one last time, but a second gunshot has you running on your feet in no time.

You dash through the woods, not bothering to look behind you as the gun fires off in the near distance. You don’t think they’re shooting at you, and running zig-zag like you were taught as a kid just means slowing down. So, you run straight ahead with no clear plan in mind. You unhook your pepper spray again (you should probably thank Kylar), just in case, but you don’t know how much good it will do in a gunfight. Still, something is better than nothing, so you hold onto it, keeping it close to your chest as you run, run, run.

Your foot hits something strange and loses balance. You don’t even have time to process it until you’re lifted upside-down by your heel, face to inverted face with a plant person.

“I caught one!” The plant girl exclaims. “This one’s wearing lacey panties!” You spray her, and she falls, her vines releasing you instantly. It’s only when you see sap pouring out from a hole on the side of her head that you hear the gunshot and realize it wasn’t you that took her down.

“Got you,” Eden says, a hand on your shoulder. You try to turn around, but the second you move, you’re on the ground, nose pressed into the soil, and arms pinned behind you in a painful grip. You feel your pepper spray being torn from your hand and thrown next to a bush.

Shit. Shit!

He’s got you in a submission hold. There’s nothing you can do but go along with it and wait for an opportunity. It takes everything in you not to thrash and scream against his hold, but you know that would only make things worse.

Eden runs his hand down your back, stopping when he gets to the hem of your skirt. He flips it up, taking a moment to admire it before giving it a light slap. You jump when he hits you, though it’s more about the surprise than the pain.

“You’re hurting me!” You cry, trying your best to sound helpless. “Please let go!” You weakly struggle against his grip for good measure.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he says, voice gruff. “Can’t do that. You’ll run away.”

“I’ll be good! I’ll be good! Please, please, let me go!” You wiggle around, pretending this is as much strength as you can muster up. Eden leans down and studies your expression for a moment. You can feel the outline of his cock on your back as he leans down to look at you. The scrutiny in such a position is near-unbearable, but he releases you without a word.

You force yourself to be still for a moment, not to do anything that would alert him. Then, slowly, you turn around and, mustering up every bit of courage you have, lean up and kiss him. He seems taken aback but soon reciprocates the gesture. You press into him, stroking and massaging his skin as you cautiously lean him back into a more desirable position.

Though it costs you your dignity, you’re eventually able to get on top of him, grinding against him through his pants as you lower him to the ground. When you’ve got him completely below you, and you’re straddling his hips, you break the kiss and pull yourself up.

“I think it's time we get rid of these,” you say, grabbing your panties and lifting your hips, then swaying them suggestively. You shift your weight to one knee and lift your other leg up, then, in a sudden, adrenaline-charged burst of speed, you throw yourself off of him and stagger to your feet. You kick him in the crotch and run towards the bush where your pepper spray landed.

Eden catches your foot, and you nosedive towards the ground. You fall, but pepper spray is just within reach. You grab it and go limp. Eden drags your body closer to his, and you use it as an opportunity to spray him. He grabs his eyes and recoils, and you quickly gather yourself and run back the way you came.

Your clothes snag on bushes and branches as you run, but you pay it no mind as you force yourself to run. You can’t hear anything but the wind in your ears, so you have no idea if Eden is chasing you or not.

Silly you, it shouldn’t have been Eden you were worrying about.

You feel yourself hit the ground before you even register being knocked down. There’s a growling above you and two hands on either side of your body. You twist around, barely even registering the wolf ears and sharp teeth of the man on top of you. You spray him, and he staggers back. You rush to your feet and keep running until you’re safely out of the forest. Your clothes are practically in scraps by the time you’re out, and at this point, you think it’ll be cheaper to just buy new clothes instead of fixing them.

Then, it hits you. The pain and exhaustion.

You drop to your knees, suddenly aware of every scratch, scrape, and bruise you acquired while running through the forest, suddenly aware of the strain on your muscles from the fatigue. You stay sitting for a few minutes, waiting for your muscles to stop hurting or for you to stop caring. When you notice the sun is starting to set, you pull yourself up and drag yourself back home, where you run a bath and then go straight to bed.

—————————

It is Friday, the 9th of September, 2022. -It has been 5 days since the game started. -The game started in autumn. -It is autumn. -School term Finishes on Friday the 2nd of December. Current Funds: £529 Pain: You are upset Arousal: You feel cold Fatigue: You are wearied Stress: You are distressed Trauma: You are nervous Control: You are anxious Allure: You look like you need to be ravaged

You get up and check your socials on your phone.

Excellent Good Decent Okay Poor Bad Terrible Primary relationships: Robin The Orphan Robin wants to be your best friend. Fascination: 100% Love: 5% Devotion: 30% Lust: 40% Confidence: 0% Trauma: 0% Jealousy: 5% Whitney The Bully Whitney wants to own you. Fascination: 50% Love: 10% Devotion: 0% Dominance: 40% Jealousy: 0% Lust: 100% Kylar The Loner Kylar is obsessed with you. Fascination: 100% Love: 9% Devotion: 55% Jealousy: 55% Lust: 90% Sydney The Faithful ? Sydney is conflicted. Fascination: 70% Love: 8% Devotion: 25% Purity: 20% Jealousy: 0% Lust: 70% Avery The Businessman Avery thinks you’re cute. Fascination: 55% Love: 1% Devotion: 0% Jealousy: 0% Dominance: 0% Lust: 30% Rage: 0% Eden The Hunter Eden wants you back. Fascination: 80% Love: 0% Devotion: 0% Jealousy: 0% Dominance: 0% Lust: 100% Black Wolf The Alpha Black Wolf wants to see you again. Reputation: The police consider you a person of interest, and have enough evidence for an arrest. The atmosphere in the orphanage is calm. You are considered a normal student by teachers. Your fellow students desire you. Lust: 100% Status: 60% Sex: Unknown. Prostitution: Unknown. Rape: Obscure. Beastiality: Unknown. Exhibitionism: Obscure. Pregnancy: Unknown. Combat: Low-key. Kindness: Obscure. Business: Unknown. Socialite: Unknown. Overall: Notorious. The townsfolk call you Darling. Those in the criminal underworld call you Darling.

Your eyes hover over your police reputation. You sigh. You’ll have to visit Landry after school. You throw your covers off of you and climb out of bed, groggily going to your wardrobe.

Right. Your clothes got torn. You pick up an undamaged skirt and shirt, tossing the tattered garments into the trash. You put on your clothes and pick up your bag, not bothering to stop by Robin’s room this morning.

You take a bus to the shopping center, where you do what you should have done on day one: buy clothes that actually cover you. You browse for a few minutes, looking for something as pervert-proof as possible. You settle on a school blouse, shorts, a sports bra, suspenders, and a pair of work boots.

The shorts provide you protection against people lifting your skirt, the suspenders (which you’ll have to sew on) keep you from being pantsed, the sports bra can’t be unclipped and provides support in case you need to run, and the work boots will help you keep your footing when you need to go to the moor or the woods.

You buy what you’re wearing as well as a few backups of the shorts and shirt, totaling £215. You pay and leave, arriving at school just in time for your science class. Today’s Friday, so you have a chance to improve your grades if you do well on the tests.

The lesson pace is a little different from usual. It’s just a review of everything you’ve learned this week. Nothing new is being covered, so you don’t bother to take notes. Not that you’ve had any time to study your notes since coming here.

The test is easy enough, despite your terrible study habits, and you manage to improve your grade to a D. -Stress

The rest of the day continues similarly, and soon you have D’s all across the board. --Stress

You go to the pub after school, looking around for a thin man or woman with black hair and a grey sweater. You feel a hand on your shoulder and turn your head. It’s a tall man you’ve never seen before. He’s covered in tattoos.

“You’ve been busy,” he says, booze on his breath. “Don’t think I don’t recognize you. You’re the talk of the town. Bit surprising not seeing you being fucked raw, though.” His grip on your shoulder tightens. “I reckon it’s time I got my slice of the pie. You like it rough, right? That’s what I’ve heard. Come ‘ere, sweetheart.”

“Am I interrupting?” You hear a man’s voice, and the tall man’s hand on your shoulder loses it’s grip. You look over to see the face of your savior and realize it’s the very person you were looking for. Your face shifts to one of relief. -Stress

“Yeah,” he says. “Piss off.”

“I recognize you.”

“You should, I come here more often than I-”

“March 3rd, 2009. Nightingale Street.” The tall man pales. “So you know what I’m talking about. I wasn’t there myself, but I’ve heard the stories. You were the talk of the town.”

The tall man stutters. “Y-you’re not with the fuzz. You won’t turn me in.”

“You don’t know that. And either way, we both know you’re not hiding from the police. So how about you let her go, and I won’t tip off the Elk about your latest haunt.” The tall man looks at you, then Landry, then you again. Landry smiles. He throws his hands off of you.

“Fine. Shit, fine. You her lover? You picked a damn slutty one.” Landry waits until the man is out of earshot before turning to you.

“Come with me,” he says. “I want to talk to you in private.”

“Reputation isn’t always a good thing,” Landry says as you sit down. “Word’s spread about you. You’re notorious. That’s why that drunkard went for you. You remember what he said, right?”

“I haven’t even done anything,” you say.

“No, but you’re pretty while doing it,” Landry retorts. “Not hitting on you,” he says.

“Thanks?”

“It’s not a good thing. You attract attention wherever you go. Where a normal person might have to fuck a hundred people to start getting known as a slut around town, you’d only have to fuck one.”

“Oh,” you say, slinking in your seat. “So, what can I do?”

“I think I can help you,” he pauses. “Well, not me. But I think I know someone. This orphan at the home on Domus Street. A computer whiz. Mickey, or McKay, something like that. Best hope is to find this orphan. If you can get them to come work with me, they’ll be able to hook you up. There’ll be some money in it for you, too. Just don’t step on Bailey’s toes.” You nod.

“Thank you,” you say. Landry smiles.

“There’s another thing, too,” he says. “I’ll be frank. I know you need money. Don’t ask me how I know, word gets around. I think I can help you. If you come across any jewelry or other items you don’t know what to do with, I can take them off your hands. I’ll pay well.” He looks over your shoulder. “As well as can be expected, anyway.”

“Can you help me get the police off my trail?”

“I can help you,” he says, reclining. “But I need you to do something for me. And no, it’s not about money. I was expecting a package, but it never arrived. Good thing I know where to find it, it had a GPS tracker. It got lost somewhere deep in the moor. Get it for me, and I’ll prevent any of your past misdemeanors being pinned on you. It’s a small black box.” You nod and stand.

“Oh, and do be careful,” Landry says. “I don’t believe the tales of monsters, but there’s a sensible reason behind some superstitions.”

You’re already wearing work boots, but you want to wear something that you can afford to tear, too. Preferably something resistant that can protect you. But you don’t have the money for that, so you head back to the orphanage and wear the only other outfit you have, a sundress. You put your pepper spray keychain on your bookbag and take it with you, hoping you won’t run out during this trip.

After double checking everything is in order, you leave the orphanage and begin to make the long trek to the moor.

Several people attempt to pick you up along the way. By which you mean literally every person who passes by you has slowed down to talk and ask where you’re headed. Not willing to risk anything, you turn them all down, running when they get too persistent. By the time you finally make it to the farmlands, you’re exhausted. So you sit down near the entrance to rest, knowing you’ll need your energy for the moor.

“You alright there?” Someone asks. You look up to see a suntanned boy under a straw hat, looking concerned. He looks around your age, with red hair and a boyish appearance. He must be Alex, you realize.

“It was just a really long walk to get here,” you admit sheepishly.

“You walked all the way from town?” You nod. “Well, Jesus! No wonder you’re so tired. Come in and get some water, my place isn’t far.”

“Do you own the farm?”

“Yeah, I do! It’s a work in progress, but it’s home.” You smile.

Alex is right, and it doesn’t take long to reach the cottage, where he offers you a glass of water. You thank him and gulp it down. +++Drugged

…Huh?

You stare at your phone. The screen seems to shift.

Pain: You feel okay Arousal: You feel cold Fatigue: You are wearied Stress: You are calm Trauma: You are nervous Control: You are anxious Allure: You look like you need to be ravaged A lewd warmth fills you Your perception is altered

You look back up to Alex, who’s staring at you with a grin. You stand up but nearly fall. Alex stands with you, his hands on your shoulders.

“Easy, there,” he says as if you’re a horse that needs to calm down. You shove him off of you and run, reaching for your pepper spray, but in your altered state, you can’t figure out how to unhook it.

>Try again (Skullduggery: Impossible) >Rip it off (Athletics: Challenging) >Spray without unhooking (Dance: Very Difficult)

You rip it off, but the fabric holds firm. Alex is close behind you.

>Try again (Athletics: Challenging) >Spray without unhooking (Dance: Very Difficult)

You try again and the fabric doesn’t yield. Alex is right behind you.

>Try again (Athletics: Challenging) >Spray without unhooking (Dance: Very Difficult)

This is taking too long. You spray without unhooking, managing to get Alex, but in your flailing, also manage to spray yourself. +++Pain ++Willpower

You run, you don’t even know where you’re going you just run.

You can’t open your eyes, but you know they wouldn’t be of much help in this state, anyway. You run until you hit what feels like tall grass, then slow. You’re in the moor now.

You try to quiet your breathing as you listen for anything that may be chasing you or lying in wait. You hear nothing. You go a little further in, just enough to be hidden among the grass and wait.

Eventually, the pain subsides, and you open your bleary eyes. You still feel unsteady, though, so you wait longer. It takes another forty minutes for you to regain full balance and control of your body. When you do, you trudge deeper into the moor, relying on the map on your phone to guide you to the box. After what feels like two hours of searching, you finally find the box across from some water.

You grimace as you step in, your shoes and socks instantly soaking with dirty water. The water is about knee-high, so not enough to touch your sundress but just enough to make movement heavily uncomfortable. You hobble over the box, just about to reach it, when you feel something suck you in.

You look behind you and recognize the thing as a lurker. You waste no time and spray it, freeing yourself and grabbing the box before leaving.

Of course, nothing is ever that simple, and just as you leave the water, you see a terrible shadow overhead. You look up and notice a harpy in the sky. You are being hunted.

You start to run. Your pursuer approaches rapidly. ++Stress

You run faster, pushing yourself to your limits as you sprint across the moor. But luck is never on your side, and your foot sinks into something as you land. You look down, and it’s a fucking foxhole. Not big enough for you to run through or hide in. You pull yourself out, but it’s too late.

“Found wife,” he says. You spray him and keep running. That should keep him out of commission for a while.

Eventually, you feel safe enough to walk the rest of the way out of the moor. You sneak around the farmlands and begin to walk the rest of the way home. You’re too tired to make it very far, however, and soon pass out on the road. You feel yourself being lifted onto a stretcher before passing out again.

You’ve unlocked a fragment.

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399 notes · View notes

baldudiable · 3 months ago

Text

pick a card : where you need to take action

choose the image you feel most drawn to.

pile 1

six of swords, nine of cups, the star, ten of wands

this pile is about leaving something behind feeling disappointed. this has costed you and taken a lot from you, but it has also taught you a lot. i feel like this refers to a job or a certain lifestyle. whatever this is, you have decided to leave it behind because it didn't align with your values. even if you feel like time was wasted, this experience has allowed you to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for your next step. if you're still thinking about leaving something behind but are feeling fearful about it, you should trust your instinct and take action. if you do, the outcome will be extremely rewarding.

the nine of cups indicates that the situation you were in took a lot of mental space and made you forget about the things that actually make you happy. the card represents a man sitting in front of nine cups with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. you are soon going to reconnect with a practice or motto that you have abandoned. you are going to spend more time nurturing this activity, and that will make you happier because it’s something that you actually enjoy doing.

then we have the star. the star is about taking energy from a source and pouring it to another. it’s associated with Aquarius, the humanitarian. in this context, it means that there is something that you can offer to the collective. maybe you have always wanted to be a creative, or have always wanted to help others in some way, but have been advised against that by your parents or by society in general. the star says that your gifts are not meant to be hidden. you are meant to share them with the world. someone, somewhere, needs to hear the message that you want to spread.

this card is also an encouragement to trust both yourself and the universe. if there's something that you wanna do because it makes you happy, you shouldn’t wait to do it. you shouldn’t postpone happiness, as the future isn’t certain. there’s nothing else more important than feeling good in the present. when you are feeling good, the universe will deliver more experiences that makes you feel good. like attracts like. wealth, health, connection… all of these things will be given to you when you feel happy and fulfilled. if you don’t know about the law of attraction yet, you should learn about it. it will help you to feel more grateful about what you have and also more relaxed about your decisions.

the last arcana suggests that this change of course won’t be easy, though. you will have to give it your all. some people see the ten of wands as a burden that's too heavy to bear. but as the last card of the wand suite, it signifies accomplishment and satisfaction. you will have to put more energy and intention into what you're doing, but the more that you do, the more rewards you will get. the man on the picture carries ten wands home, which represent the trophies he’s earned along the way. he is bringing them home so he can finally rest and enjoy the success he has fought so hard to achieve.

pile 2

seven of cups, queen of swords, nine of cups, temperance

i feel like you are confused about where to focus on energy on. i feel like there are opportunities and options in front of you, and that you don't know which one to choose. so you are asking yourself what it is that you want. is it status, meaning, or connection that you seek ? is it wealth ? some of these paths are dangerous and deadly, as indicated by the snake and weird creature appearing out of the cups. be careful what you wish for, because it might well come true. does any of these paths resonate with the person you're trying to become? will they actually make you grow, or are they just shortcuts to success?

the queen of swords suggests that you can be very decisive and determined. you might be a fixed sign, or have a lot of fixed energy in your chart. once you are sure what the goal is, there is no going back. you give it your all, until you reach your destination. but i feel like you have been influenced by your peers or by society in general to pursue things that aren't really you. you have been walking toward a dead end. the queen is looking straight ahead, with her sword held high. she's ready to cut through the bullshit. the clouds behind her are lifting, meaning that state of confusion is disappearing. you know what you're supposed to do. and you know that you've got what it takes to succeed. all you have to do is to take the step.

once you do, you will be highly satisfied. we can relate the nine of cups to the act of doing what one knows and enjoys doing. you will decide to do something that actually makes you happy, and not another person's idea of happiness. once you do, you will be highly proud of yourself and proud of the thing that you are creating. the joy you will feel will attract even more opportunities for you to be happy.

temperance indicates an equilibrium between water and earth; between the spiritual and the physical. whatever enterprise you are planning to take on, you should know that it is your calling. the angel on the card is enlightened, while the Sun behind him is rising. balance will be restored. you will finally be doing something that you are supposed to do. once you are walking this path, everything will align. you'll feel better and more hopeful about the future.

pile 3

the tower, two of pentacles, nine of wands, ace of wands

i see the destruction of one's fondation, of one's support system. you may have lost a friend, a lover, or a job. maybe they left you. this thing or person meant a lot to you, and you don't know how to go on without them. you might be depressed. you don't feel like you have enough energy or drive to do anything. so you let chances pass by in front of you, feeling stagnant and regretful.

the two of pentacles represent the contemplation of a ressource or opportunity. the character on the image plays with the pentacles, instead of using them. the movement of the pentacles draw a figure 8. you are living in your head and juggling with this idea instead of working actively to make it come true. you have wasted time but it's not too late to start moving. you have a lot of ressources at your disposal, as indicated by the nine of wands, the penultimate arcana of the suite. you have almost arrived at your desired destination. success is near. but you are still looking backward, focusing on the past instead of making the most of your present situation.

the last card of the reading is the ace of pentacles. which is funny as it's the first card of the wand suite. it's about starting another journey, and the infinite potential that comes with it. wands are associated with the fire element, which isn't fearful about new experiences. on the contrary, fire gets excited when new opportunities present themselves because they allow it to spread and expand. whatever opportunity presents itself to you, you should take it because once you do, you could accomplish things you didn't think you didn't think you were capable of. all you have to do is to decide to get moving and things will stat moving. whatever happened is in the past. you might not be able to get it back, but i don't think that you need it to keep going on your way. you still have the most important weapon in your arsenal, and that arsenal is you.

#tarot reading #pac reading #pick a pile #pick a card #pac #tarotblr #pick a picture

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pressplay-if · 3 months ago

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This new chapter is so real. It made me remember many things i’ve forgotten from my hospital/treatment days. Not in a bad way but hitting quite close to home. One thing I remembered was how our doctors and counselors viewed friendships/relationships between patients. Communicating outside was pretty frowned upon and being in a relationship with another patient would get out kicked out at the very least. Anyway, the part that really hit was the phone call. The effect that continuing these relationships can have when both parties are in different places in their journey. It’s tough because you bond over something heavy something you might hide from others in your life. Something that is a big part of you, something that you struggle with. In a way it’s like you can be your true self. Without having to put up the facade to keep those around from being uncomfortable. It gives the friendship a sort of depth. But we all progress and heal at different rates. It’s not a one size fits all situation when in comes to treatment. I have been in both positions. Being the person stuck while others come and go. Then later having to move on needing to do what is best for me. It’s difficult for both. But hearing about relapses or certain thoughts from a friend. When you have finally found some stability or are close to falling back into old habits. It can be so triggering. Which makes you have to decide. Do I stick with this person who I connected with at my lowest point? When I am so easily reminded of things i’ve barely just moved on from. Or do I let go and focus on the future? It sucks either way. But it does explain why the doctors say what they say about patient relationships. Though I know it’s not like that for every situation. Anyway, sorry for so many words! I probably have more to say but imma chill out. Just wanna say WOW! Loving the story, it’s relatable(maybe I shouldn’t be too proud of that idk) and thought-provoking. Really got me thinking about things which I don’t normally do. And it ain’t actually that bad. Hope my words made sense. Great work👍🌈😃

So this was the first ask about the second chapter that I got and can I just say thank you?? 🙏

I was so nervous and reading this so soon after it came out was so immensely relieving to me. Back where I was, patient relationships didn't get you kicked out, but we did have a couple and everyone kinda knew they were together but refrained from addressing it bc we all just agreed it'd make things way too messy if we did. Even though, literally, everyone knew. Very much an Anthony/Abigail situation haha.

And yes, your words made a lot of sense to me and they're really appreciated. I, too, have been in both positions--- I think it might be a natural part of a lot of people in that "recovering from mental illness" cycle, even if it's a really unpleasant one. You create this bond over sth so horrible, and you understand each other, for as long as you're both suffering. Then when you start to move away from that, life gets easier but the friendship gets complicated. That's my experience, at any rate. I'm really glad to have hit close to home with this bc that's really what I was intending.

#pressplay if #interactive fiction #if wip

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cheezritsu · 1 month ago

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The story of how you and Reo Mikage became friends isn’t overly exciting, but it’s a necessary tangent. A precursor, really.

Reo is a collector of impossible things. Call it a byproduct of being rich. His favorite things of all are the things he can’t have. He plays soccer as a dream; a sport he has no business being in as it brings no value to his future fortune. His best friend is a reclusive giant who seems to barely tolerate him. Which, eh. Nagi is his treasure—he’s the person that never bullshits him, the person who says what he’s thinking no matter what. Nagi feels like a compass the same way you do: if Nagi truly hates it, it’s probably worth letting go.

You and Nagi are alike in so many ways: you’re something he took the time to dig in the dirt for, only to polish it and realize it’s precious. A friend he shouldn’t have because your social status deems it so. A treasure born from nothing but whim. Something to chase. Something he can love.

Reo Mikage loves you both, which is why when Reo meets Nagi for the first time, he makes you go to karaoke together.

He’s an actual idiot for making the quietest people he knows go to karaoke, but he lets you bring your friends to be comfortable and invites his entire soccer team for Nagi. “For” being the operative word here. None of this is for either of you. It’s all for Reo.

You don’t mind. Not really. You love Reo too. Reo escapes to you and Aiura’s dorm when he doesn’t wanna go home. Which, with the ongoing soccer drama, has been more frequent. You’re in the same class again, this time sitting next to each other. Reo really is a prince that way, protecting you from gossip and bullies, brandishing his smile the way one uses a rapier. Efficiently and lethally. Aiura also sits next to you, but it’s been the Reo show since school started.

Aiura twirls the boba straw in her drink as you stare absently at Reo. Your karaoke room is—shocker—the biggest one they have. It’s decked out in all signature silly decorations. Reo is literally standing atop the huge long table with the rest of his team, the boys loudly singing Fighting Dreamers. They’re moshing and having fun, save for the white haired boy being jostled under Reo’s hooked arm.

“Who’s Snow White?” Aiura jokes, but it’s a good nickname for him. He’s sleepy looking, with low lidded dark eyes and a neutral expression one might only get when they hit the pillow. He blinks slowly and slumps out of Reo’s grip, falling back on the bench and staying there.

“You ever met him before?”

“Nope.”

Hina and Aiura shake their drinks in the same circular motion. The syncronity feels condescending. “Reo seems chummy with him. You for real don’t know him?”

There it is. You roll your eyes. “I don’t know everyone he knows. You know how it is,” you shift your gaze back to the karaoke stage, seeing Reo bleat out the first verse of MCR’s Helena. A personal favorite of his for no reason. His soccer team is cheering relentlessly, like he’s Gerard Way reincarnated.

Reo’s lifestyle is a revolving door of people. You needn’t learn names because in several weeks time, like a micro trend, they’ll be gone.

Aiura hums. Behind her lime green manicured hand she whispers something to Hina, who whispers back.

“Streets is sayin’ that’s Nagi Seishiro.”

The name isn’t familiar. You two just shrug.

“So, another boy?”

“Another boy,” you sigh. Reo didn’t have many girl friends that weren’t girlfriends. You usually liked them, until the feeling was unrequited. They hated your presence and Reo, who was sharper than most gave him credit for, broke up with them when he found out.

“You mean more to me than they do.”

You never let the charming words coil around your heart. Reo was a smooth talker, but at his core he’s just another rich boy. And you haven’t any interest in that.

“I fucking better,” is your reply, with a hardy punch.

These days Reo usually has the company of a soccer team member, some underclass man who thinks the real resume grabber is knowing Reo Mikage. Not a bad thought, but it still makes you frown.

Seishiro Nagi may be another one of those boys. He drinks from his soda cup with a bendy straw, barely moving his neck forward to meet it. The pitch of the room skyrockets as another anime opening scrolls across the screen, and Nagi’s face creases in discomfort. With his eyes pinched closed and a scrunched nose, he looks just like a disgruntled cat. You try to swallow your involuntary giggle, but Aiura and Hina catch it.

Hina stretches her neck. “What’re you giggling about?”

“Nothing,” you garble around a mouth full of boba.

“Don’t try to distract me by grossing me out.”

Aiura narrows her eyes. If a thousand yard stare could be pointed, that’s what she does. “It’s the boy.”

“Reo?” Hina asks, and you snort.

“Since when is Reo “the boy”?”

Hina rolls her eyes. “Since you had a public meet cute in the quad?”

Phlegm probably escapes you from how hard you scoff. “We had a Mexican standoff??”

“Y’all argued at best,” Aiura defends.

“You weren’t evened there!” Aiura bats away your accusatory finger with a quick roll of her eyes. “The point still stands. Reo was never “the boy.” “

“The boy is Nagi Seishiro,” Aiura nods in the direction. Nagi’s fluffy white hair reflects all the lights beautifully, like a neon halo.

“Didn’t Reo throw this party for yall to meet?”

That premise has fully eluded you. “Damn, you’re right.”

“Well he sucks as a host. You should introduce yourself.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because he’s leaving.”

The room is a chaotic wonderland of yelling, singing and courting. A few of the players on the team try to flirt with your friends, mostly to no avail. Reo, being the common denominator in some way, fractions his attention to everyone except the guests of honor, who have slipped out under his nose.

It wasn’t your intention to follow Nagi. You really were not going to introduce yourself. You just needed air.

You sit down on the bench just outside the room. The pulsing beat of the next song reverbs out into the empty hallway. It’s kind of soothing to be on the outside again; you’re back in the peripheral, a comfortable spot. Flipping through your phone, you found the otome game currently ruining your wallet; an American based game called The Arcana. You had daily spins to replenish, hopefully a way to get more keys for your story.

You criss cross your legs, settling in. You play the slots first, getting a few coins but no keys. The second game was always a gamble; you had four lives total, meaning four keys to potentially win. You’re good mini games. They’re fun to hone in on and lose yourself in the task. The absolutely gorgeous characters aren’t bad to look at either. You hunch forward to giggle at the little romance scenarios that play out, shutting out the world around you. Shutting out Nagi Seishiro, who stands before you.

Nagi stares at the barely visible sliver of your screen. He thought maybe you were on Instagram or Snapchat, but as it turns out you’re playing something. Something he doesn’t know.

He tilts his head trying to get a better look. Your curly hair blocks his vision of the phone. Nagi has never seen hair like yours in person. It really does look like springs; small, shiny little spirals radiating out from the top of your head. Is it soft? How could it be?

Nagi is so lost in the uzumaki like spirals of your hair that he brings the back of his hand to the top your head and skims his knuckles over it and oh-

It’s fairy soft and defying gravity. The little coil bounces, and Nagi’s about to wrap it around his finger when he looks down.

“Wh-“ your startled gasp reminds him of why he’s here. You’re looking up, and past your chin is your unlocked phone. He’s never seen those characters before; they’re beautifully drawn, and decidedly not Japanese.

“Hey, what game is that?” The same finger that was inches from your head points into your lap. Your brows scrunch.

“What?”

“The game? On your phone?” Nagi gets tired of standing and sits beside you. His thigh brushes against your bare knee and the friction feels like lava. “Is it fun? The graphics are pretty.”

Nagi finally looks at your face. He decides that if you were drawn in that art style it would suit you. Unreal, gravity defying hair, pretty eyes framed with crazy long lashes, and lovely lips with an almost two-toned saturation that draws attention, even though you’re fighting for your next words.

“It’s called The Arcana,” you say, but it’s drawn out like you’re going to say more. Nagi waits, and then hears “Did you just touch my hair?”

“Oh?” Nagi’s lips purse, like a pout but more sheepish. He didn’t think you’d noticed. Well, that was a lie, but he didn’t think you’d care. Don’t girls think stuff like that is cute?

“I’m sure some girls do, but this ain’t a petting zoo.” Shit, he said that out loud. And you’re upset. Fuck. He’s like 100% sure that you’re Reo’s friend. His best friend, the one he’s always talking about. The one he borrows books from that have those colored tabs. The one he’s always buying trinkets for. Like the little phone strap you’ve got with—who is that, is it Itadori Yuji?

“Hey!” There you go again, making Nagi feel bad for not listening. The pout reappears on his face, before he slumps back.

This feels weird. Nagi’s having…emotions now and it sucks. It’s bothersome. But, he doesn’t feel inconvenienced by you, he feels inconvenienced by himself. He’s making himself feel stupid and that’s far worse than sitting next to you.

Nagi’s head hits the wall. “M’sorry,” he slurs lazily, turning his head to properly meet your eyes. “I didn’t mean that. Your hair’s pretty, that’s all.”

Oh. The words are blunt force trauma, the head of a baseball bat butted into your sternum. The perpetual drowsiness in his voice makes it feel more like the truth; someone that tired wouldn’t have it in them to lie, right?

You swallow down the damage done to your heart. “Still doesn’t mean you can touch it without permission.”

“Hmm.” Is all he says, staring vacantly for a second. And then “well, can I?”

You’re either dumb or whipped for saying yes. One is far worse than the other. But Nagi Seishiro is gentle when he plucks out a particular curl and runs it between his fingers. Deftly, sweetly, his finger hooks onto the end of the curl and it twirls around the digit. His hands are much bigger than you initially thought. You’re going cross eyed looking at them.

“That’s cool,” Nagi says, and a small smile graces his features. His eyes are actually grey up close. Smokey, endless, and all at once those sleepy, feline like crescents. “Thanks.”

No one’s ever thanked you for touching your hair. No one’s ever been that reverent about it either. Nagi pulls his hand away like he’s finally been sated, drawing his knees up to mimick your criss crossed legs.

“M’ Nagi, by the way.” His belated introduction is funnier in hindsight. It’s very Nagi; satisfy the curiosity first, then do the regular stuff. “Reo dragged me here.”

“Me too. I’m y/n.”

“Are you going to be around more?”

Nagi’s pulling out his phone. You aren’t sure how to answer his question. You’re pretty much always around, whatever Nagi meant by that. Unless he meant more around him.

There’s a spiking heat under your cheeks, something you don’t wanna bring attention to. He seems to have forgotten your existence, looking down at the loading screen off his App Store. But he doesn’t type anything for a minute. He’s waiting.

Nagi shrugs. “You’re less of a hassle than he is.” His thumb presses up to the search icon. “How do you spell Arcana?”

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gh0stsp1d3r · 9 months ago

Text

ℳ𝒶𝓎𝒷𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝓈𝒾𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓇

Part 2, chapter 6- eviction notice

Series masterlist

Warnings- This one’s a lot more jj centered, but some rafe and reader moments (: two exes still pining for each other Is my favorite

Summary: you’re finally back home, the pogues missed you and Rafe can’t get over you

A knock on the door interrupted your nightly routine, you sighed, standing up and opening the door.

“Hi.” You said, a little shocked at Rafe’s appearance this late.

“Okay, so…” he pushed past you, sitting down on the bed, next to you. “we’re leaving tomorrow.”

“You mean… back to Kildare?” You asked him.

He nodded. “I- I already asked if you could use a phone, but, my dad doesn’t really trust you right now. But… I can…” he sighed. “I can see if I can try and email one of them or something.“

You nodded at him. He stood up, going to the door before you called his name.

“Rafe.”

“Yeah?” He turned to look at you.

“Thank you.”

A million thoughts ran through his mind as he walked back home. When he got there, he saw yellow tape on the door, along with an eviction notice. Going up with furrowed eyebrows, he held back tears.

“What?” He mumbled, confused. You told him that you were paying for it, that you were just staying at Ricky’s because you couldn’t bear to be at the house. Not because you lost it.

He looked on the back when he saw some marker bleed through, you had written on it.

“I’m sorry, JJ.” You scrawled out on it, he saw some tear stains on the paper as well. With a small sigh, tears threatening to spill, he entered through the window, grabbing the pills from the counter, sitting on the couch, and throwing them.

He ran his hands over his face, beginning to cry into them while taking a sip of the beer his dad had left.

He was outside, fixing his bike with Kiara came up behind.

“Eviction notice. For like, non payment or whatever. My sister didn’t even tell me.” He stood up, facing her now. He sighed, looking back at the house.

“Doesn’t matter. This place sucks anyway. Great to be back in the outer banks, right?”

“So get this. I uh, had an email waiting for me when I got home. John B actually found Big John. He’s alive..”

JJ paused, turning his head to Kiara now.

“Seriously?”

Kiara nodded. “Yeah. He’s at the Chateau.”

JJ smiled, standing up again. “Damn.”

“Yeah, he thinks we’re close to the same treasure Singh was talking about.”

JJ nodded, sniffling as he grabbed a towel.

“Hey, look. My parents didn’t even wanna let me out of the house. But I told them I had to come check on you.”

“Well, it’s not me you have to worry about.” He exhaled.

“JayJ, what’s up? Is it something Pope said? I know he’s not all obsessed about what happened between me and him. We’re both past that, but something’s bugging you. And it’s not just your sister.”

“It was just weird, what almost happened on the boat with us. It was just weird.” He said, inhaling.

“Yeah, Yeah, I mean it was… it was weird for me too, but… not bad weird.”

“No. Not bad weird.” He came closer to her, the both of them staring at each other.

“What are we doing?” He asked, heart picking up. “What are we doing? We shouldn’t be doing this, nah.” He repeated, moving his face away from hers, walking away. “We shouldn’t do that.”

“Yeah..”

“We shouldn’t!”

“If you say so.”

“I mean, it would like all blow up anyway. You know? Like…” he panted. “Look at you. You got your new threads on, look at me what do I got? This?” He pointed to the house. “This piece of shit?!” He picked up a rock, throwing it at the house.

“Getting kicked out of this place in like a week anyways. Shit, I don’t got parents right now, or my sister. Why would you care? Why would you care? I’m just some loser that- that-“ he stuttered.

“jj…”

“You don’t do care.”

“I do-“

“No, you don’t!”

“I do care!” She argued.

“No, you got parents that live in figure 8, you know? You know… you…”

“That’s not my fault.”

“That’s your future. You got that.” He walked away again, his hands on the back of his head.

“Look if you need us, we’re gonna help you. I’m… I’ll help.”

“It’s that right there! Okay? Like- it’s so easy for you to say that. You know why? Because you’re a kook. You’re a kook, Kiara!”

She nodded, looking down. “Yeah, I’m a kook. I was such a kook when I was living in a cave with you for a month. Soaking in the kook life.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. God!” He threw on his hat, getting on his bike, and starting the engine.

“JayJ, don’t leave.”

He didn’t listen, just ran away. The only thing he knew how to do.

On the dock, he paced, staring out, even breaking it and throwing things down, kicking and throwing shit.

He paused, looking over you sleeping for a moment. You looked peaceful. He missed this. He would do anything if it meant he could have you so peaceful like that with him again.

It would take time, though. Even Rafe knew that.

“Rise and shine,” Rafe spoke, hitting your shoulder to wake you up.

You mumbled something incoherently, rubbing the sleep from your eyes and sitting up with a yawn.

When you opened your eyes, you had a small smile at the sight of the island. Finally.

His eyes were set on you, while you looked out at the island.

When you got to Tannyhill, you helped Rafe with the boat and went up the dock.

Rafe lead you to to the front, both of you standing in front of each other now.

“Thanks, again.” You told him, staring into his baby blue eyes.

“Yeah, yeah.” He waved it off.

“You know, Rafe, you could be a really good man when you try.” You told him when you began to walk away.

He rolled his eyes, a small smile gracing his features when you turned. “Whatever.”

But when you left, you spotted Sarah leaving as well.

“Sarah?” You questioned, making her turn to you.

She said your name, her tone confused and shocked.

“Holy shit, y/n?!” Kiara practically shouted when you came up on the boat with Sarah. You smiled at her, and she came up and embraced you.

“Hey, Kie.” You said with a laugh,

“I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to push you off-“

“It’s fine. I know.” You shrugged.

“I went to go grab some clothes and a phone, and I found her, but…”

“Rafe is back.” You finished her sentence.”And the cross is coming back. To Wilmington tomorrow night. I heard him on the phone yesterday.”

“And I heard him not that long ago.”

“What?” She looked at Sarah and back at you.

“I was gonna tell Pope at the Chateau.”

“He can’t. He’s on lockdown.”

“Okay, um… then.. I’ll hit up Pope, and then maybe you go to the Chateau and tell John B. And JJ?”

Kiara swallowed at that.

“Wait, is he.. at the chateau?” You asked them.

Kiara shrugged. “I don’t know. He blew up on me earlier. He… uh.. was at the house.”

“Shit..” you murmured.

JJ pulled up to the Chateau, whistling for John B. You stood up, Kiara was inside, not wanting to intrude on you two.

“JJ.” You spoke quietly.

He turned around at the sound of your voice. He whispered your name, repeating it louder now as he came up to you.

He wrapped his arms around you, tears falling down his face.

“Holy shit. You’re- you’re-“

“Yeah.” You laughed, tears falling down your own face now.

“You didn’t tell me we got evicted. I would- I would have helped..” he told you, looking at your face now.

“I didn’t want you to. That’s why I didn’t tell you.” You shook your head feverishly. “I’m saving up for a better house, now.”

He smiled and shook his head again.

“I missed you so much, dude.” He said, pulling you in for another hug.

Kiara came out, waiting. He turned to Kiara now, clearing his throat and wiping his tears.

“Is uh… John B not here?” He asked with a sigh.

“Nope.”

Kiara cleared her throat, cutting through the awkward silence.

“What’s up?”

“Uh, Rafes what’s up.” Kiara spoke.

“He’s back on the island, JJ.” You continued her sentence. “He said he’s staying for a little, for business or some shit.”

“Spectacular.” He said sarcastically.

“It’s not just that. I overheard him saying the cross is coming into Wilmington tomorrow. Wards trying to sell it.” You said.

“Great. Does Pope know?”

“Yeah. Sarah went to tell him. He’s locked down.” Kiara told him. “And I guess John B and his dad went and got the Twinkie. They’re off to God knows where.” Kiara handed him the envelope.

“Yeah, of course. Just when we need them.” He threw his hands up, staring out into the water.

“Wait, hold on though.” He stopped, turning to you both now. “We know where the cross is gonna be. That means it’s still on the field. Okay, alright. So we can come in and swoop, we’re still in this. We gotta get everybody together, then we’ll come up with a plan. Get our asses to Wilmington.”

Kiara looked at you. You urged her as he walked away.

“Hey, hey, JJ, before we can formulate some crazy plan, can we talk?” Kiara spoke, catching up to him.

JJ took a deep breath, talking was never really his thing.

“Yeah. Yeah, we can talk.”

“Something almost happened. Between us on the boat.”

“Mmm-hmm..”

“And I know that’s got to freak you out. It caught me off guard too. And I know, your whole life, I know you freak when people get close, and I get it. I don’t blame you.”

He looked away, because he knew she was right.

“Just please don’t ever say that I don’t care about you. And you called me a kook…”

“Okay, well, hold on-“ he started.

“Which is lame.”

“I know. That was lame..”

“It was uncalled for. Yeah, it’s a low blow.”

“All right, Kie. Look, Kie,” he put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re right. I flipped. You know how I be. Just uh.. just… look. We should just… just call it a truce. Just.. etch a sketch it. Clean slate. Truce?”

“Truce.” She held her hand out.

“So, how we gonna jack this cross?” You came up to them suddenly, both of them jumping at you.

“Jesus! You just got back and you’re already trying to give me a heart attack?”

don’t like this chapter too much ugh

Tag list:

@cassie0sstuff @rafesgiirl @fals3-g0d @tiaamberxx @callsignwidow @saintnourah

#rafe cameron x reader #rafe outer banks #rafe cameron #rafe fluff #rafe x you #rafe fanfiction #obx series #jj obx #obx rafe cameron #rafe obx #obx x reader #obx fanfiction #rafe cameron x you #rafe cameron x female reader #rafe cameron x y/n #rafe cameron series #rafe x reader #drew starkey x reader #dre

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becomingmina · 1 year ago

Text

JUST HOLD ME. w/ SEUNGMIN.

pairing: seungmin x female reader genre + warnings: established relationship, fluff, reader is called princess. wc: 740+ mina's note: because I’m having a bad day I think seungmin is just so boyfriend i love him sm 💖

other works here ; any comments and thoughts you can drop them here ; ty for reading.

You’re exhausted, you have just finish up with work now, an hour and a bit later than your usually time. An hour spend on tidying up your colleagues' work that you’re not even suppose to be doing. It’s that you allow them to use you like that but every time you voice your opinion, you get shut down.

“Don’t you want to be a team player Y/N?”

“Helping them will allow you to excel in the field.”

“One task should be okay to help him with? You’re already done with your job.”

“I’m sure Dylan will be happy to help you out in the future if needed, don’t you think?”

No actually I don’t think so.

All you can do is keep it in, beat yourself up and go about with your day. You don’t mean anything to these people and they shouldn’t mean anything to you too. Work is just work and you should forget about it once you walk out of the office building. But you don’t. Your day replays in your head the whole train ride home. Why do you even try so hard with people who don’t even care about you Y/N? Why do they only come to you when they need help Y/N? Why do you have no back bone Y/N?! JUST SAY NO Y/N?! You’re tired because it’s your fault Y/N!

You finally reached home, your cozy, dim light, relaxing, small, quiet home that you shared with your amazing boyfriend. Normally all the stress would go away the second you land in your apartment, but today it still doesn’t. There was still so so so much tension in your shoulders, your chest, your head, everywhere.

“Princess!! How was work?!” Seungmin yelled from your shared bedroom after hearing the front door open. You find yourself smiling a little bit at his voice, but you don’t answer. “Princess?” He speaks again, now a little cautious if it’s even his princess who entered the apartment. You hear rush of footsteps get louder as you make your way into the house.

“Why didn’t you answer me, Y/N?” Seungmin asked after confirming it was you, smiling seeing his lovely girlfriend in front of him. Even though she didn’t feel and look lovely, her shoulders were rounded, hair messy from her pulling it, lips pale as she forgets to swipe her pink lipstick across like she usually does.

“Hold me,” you spoke quietly, taking off your bag tossing it to the dining table. Seungmin stands in front of you, with his arms wide open. You fall into them, hugging his body so tight as you try to clam yourself down. He wraps his arms around you, letting you take out a couple of deep breaths, taking in his sweet smell. He just straight up smells like boyfriend material, you don’t know how to explain it. The heavy feeling from your body’s starts to leave as you fall further and further into his touch, into his warmth. Seungmin always knew how to take care of you even if it’s just sanding there with his arms open, and you appreciate him so much for times like this.

“You okay baby?” Oh, he was so sweet.

“Just hold me,” you reply gently, and he continues to, not even trying to get it out of you but knowing how tired you are. One arm drags up and down your back, just showering you with affection. Your mind starts to go blank now, nothing matters to you. Only your boyfriend.

“You wanna go lie down?” He asks before placing a kiss to your head. You nod but don’t make any effort to move away from his grasp. He chuckles at you, then lifts you into him with the help of his his hands on back of your knees. He walks you to the bedroom, letting you rest ontop of him as he lies down on his back. His hands go back to their position on your back, tracing up and down.

Moments go by and you’re both still the same place. It was so peaceful, you feel yourself start to grow numb.

“You’re going to doze off on me Y/N.” He notices your sleepy state.

“No I’m not, I just want you to hold me,” you quietly laugh back well aware you were dozing off him his arms. “Can I?” You ask, wanting to fall sleep as you feel so comfortable, so relax, so safe.

“Of course princess.”

#becomingmina #seungmin #seungmin fluff #kim seungmin #kim seungmin fluff #skz fluff #stray kids fluff

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alicerosejensen · 1 year ago

Note

I just finished your piece of Leon saving reader from kidnapper. So good, definitely one of my favorites for my boy Leon.

I was wondering if I could kindly request a sequel piece of dealing with the dissociative amnesia. I have that and a huge part of it and is forgetting memories that aren’t associated with the traumatic event. You can slowly start to forget everything and you can also sometimes get snippets of a memory back from triggers.

As a Leon lover, I’d love to see Leon comforting and helping the reader with that as well as the PTSD in general.

Of course no pressure or worry if you don’t wanna do this! You’re an amazing writer and I hope you keep writing in the future!! ❤️❤️☺️

Slowly I think that I will start writing again. My mood is still crap, but at least I have the desire to write something. So I'll probably continue to answer requests.

Let this be a small addition to that post about the kidnapping of the reader.

- First of all, Leon will be afraid to leave you alone. He will walk with you everywhere and hold your hand.

- Of course, having experienced such stress, he understands that this will not pass without consequences, so he tries as much as possible to smooth out all the corners and make sure that nothing reminds you of the kidnapping.

- Dissociative amnesia is a shitty thing, you remember that you were afraid, but the memories of those days and the kidnapper himself seemed to be erased from your memory. Leon is only happy about this. He really thinks that you shouldn’t bring this up and constantly tries to distract you from this activity, believing that these memories should be forgotten.

- You instinctively cling to him like a little puppy of a beloved owner. Leon calmly accepts your desire for intimacy with him (not intimacy), so he tries to provide any attention you need.

- Takes you to sessions with psychotherapists and makes sure that you take medications to quickly recover.

- Leon asks to refrain from studying for now. Knowing that the kidnapping took place after classes at college, he is afraid that you will remember the events themselves and you will feel worse, so he suggests that you rest or study at home.

- He cooks food for you (probably simple dishes since I’m sure he doesn’t know how to cook), reads books with you and watches movies and TV shows in the evening, but Leon carefully checks the material before watching.

- Leon will learn different types of therapy thanks to which you can safely express your feelings. Of course he will consult a doctor.

- He really provides incredible support coupled with adequate treatment, thanks to which he sees that you are slowly but surely getting better.

- Leon rejoices at your small achievements in therapy.

- You talk to each other a lot, but subconsciously or not, you don't want to go anywhere or sleep without him. Leon always falls asleep later so he becomes a big spoon in your bed, shielding you from your fears.

- Do you have a fear of the dark? Leon will have no problem turning on the night light just to make you feel safe.

- He will never blame you for your slow recovery. Yes, he's been through a lot of crap and Raccoon City has mostly broken him, but he takes your traumatic experiences very seriously. Leon is not the kind of person who can one day say that he has been through more crap than you.

- If you have a panic attack or react to some trigger that scares you terribly, Leon will immediately rush to calm you down and create a safe zone.

- Of course, he's still a government agent. He can easily be called on a mission at any time, so he will ask someone to look after you. If it's not Claire, he'll just find someone like a nurse.

- However, he will be with you at all critical stages to get through together. You can always lean on his shoulder, especially for you.

#leon kennedy #leon scott kennedy #leon s kennedy #resident evil #leon kennedy x reader #leon x reader #leon s kennedy x reader #resident evil x reader #leon kennedy x you #reader #leon resident evil #leon kennedy headcanons #leon kennedy resident evil #leon s kennedy x fem!reader #leon s kennedy x you #leon scott kennedy x reader #leon x you #resident evil leon #resident evil headcanons

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phillippadgettwrites · 11 months ago

Note

Dropped Call is SO HOT! We need four though, you have to let him eat her out irl now. Right? Right?!?

Dropped Call, Chapter 4

Rated X / Posted on AO3 / Tagging @today-in-fic

Mulder’s cell phone is already pressed to his ear when he emerges into a parking lot through clattering double doors. He tips his face up towards the hazy midafternoon sun as he listens to the phone ring, waiting to be sure she answers.

“Hello?”

He smiles and steps off the curb.

“Hey, stranger. It’s good to hear your voice.”

“Hi,” she says brightly. “I’m surprised to hear from you.”

Mulder moves the phone to his other ear while he digs around his pocket for his car keys.

“I know,” he says. “I probably shouldn’t be calling you.”

“Then why are you?” she asks.

He slumps into the driver's seat, legs still hanging out the open door, and heaves a sigh.

“To be frank, I find you irresistible,” he says, and is rewarded with a surprised laugh.

“You’re going to get yourself in trouble,” she warns him.

“Probably,” he says, folding his legs into the car and pulling the door closed. “But that sounds like future me’s problem.”

She laughs again, which makes him smile.

“So what have you been up to?” she asks.

He starts the engine and buckles his seatbelt, then quickly turns the stereo down when Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing starts blasting from the speakers.

“Attending the conference from hell, regrettably. Willing time to pass. Fantasizing.”

There’s a brief pause.

“About what?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he teases.

“I asked the question, so yes, I would,” she retorts, just a little bit tartly.

He’s grinning like an idiot. His cheeks actually ache from all the smiling he’s been doing as of late, which is something he hasn’t experienced since he was a teenager.

“Do you remember the fantasy I told you about that takes place in my office? There’s a desk involved,” he says, shifting in his seat when his cock stirs.

There’s a pause that is decidedly not brief.

“The one involving your partner?” she clarifies.

“They all involve my partner,” he says, his voice growing husky as his arousal heightens.

“Hm,” she says, another pause. “Remind me of the details?”

Mulder flicks on his turn signal and exits the freeway.

“I don’t want to be too graphic…” he says, his heart pounding in his cock.

“Why?”

“I don’t want to offend you.”

“It didn’t offend me before, I don’t see why it would now,” she says breathily.

He swallows.

“This fantasy in particular is the one where I, uh, I go down on her on top of my desk.”

“Ah,” she says. “Sounds familiar.”

He pulls up in front of Scully’s apartment building and cuts the engine. He sees her car a little ways down the block, but he already knows she’s at home today, despite the fact that it’s the middle of the week. He walks slowly down the sidewalk with his free hand in his pocket, in no rush to get to her front door.

“I’ve been thinking about that one a lot the last few days,” he admits.

“Have you?”

“I have. I’ve been thinking about making it a reality,” he says nervously. “What are your thoughts?”

“What are my thoughts?” she repeats.

“Yeah, I mean…do you think she’d like that?”

She doesn’t answer for so long that he stops walking.

“Does she seem like the kind of person who would like that?” she finally asks in a tone he finds difficult to interpret.

“I guess I don’t know,” he admits, slightly deflated.

He starts walking again, slowly meandering up the stairs to the second floor rather than taking them two at a time like he normally would.

“That’s just—” she starts, then pauses to gather her thoughts. “I mean it’s a pretty big leap, Mulder. I don’t want to dismiss it outright, but at work? That’s pretty brazen, even for you.”

He laughs and leaps over the last few steps, then walks four paces to her door.

“Oh, are you Scully now?” he teases, and he can practically hear her roll her eyes.

“You’re outside my door again, aren’t you?” she asks dryly, and he lifts his arm to knock.

She appears before him dressed in a white silk robe, her hair tied half up in a messy bun right on top of her head, and while she’s trying to look annoyed, he can tell that she’s happy to see him.

“I missed you,” he says, flipping his cell phone closed and scooping her up by the waist.

She lets out a little girlish squeal and wraps her arms around his neck, then kisses him too many times to count.

“I’ve been gone four days, Mulder,” she says quietly against his lips, then kisses him again.

“Worst four days of my life,” he tells her, walking them slowly towards the table.

He sets her down on top of it and takes her face in his hands, peppering her with kisses and humming with satisfaction. When he finally brings himself to pull away, he immediately hooks one finger behind the tie of her robe and wags his eyebrows at her.

“In the office? Really?” she says, though she’s already unbuckling his belt.

“Allow me to clarify,” he says as he tugs the tie loose and pushes the robe off her shoulders.

At the sight of her breasts and her puckered raspberry nipples, he momentarily forgets what he was going to say.

“Was there more to that?” she asks coyly, slipping one hand under his boxers and running her palm over his erection.

“Um,” he stutters, his hips involuntarily canting towards her. “Oh, um, yeah…”

She’s managed to get her fingers around his shaft and she’s slowly pumping her hand up and down, much to his distraction.

“Must not be important,” she says, pulling her robe the rest of the way open with her free hand.

She parts her legs that much wider, and when he sees the pink slash of her cunt between them, he remembers. He pulls her hand free of his pants and she gives him a mildly offended look, but when he gets down on his knees her eyes widen.

“The venue is impertinent,” he explains as he runs his palms over the insides of her thighs, pushing them open wider. “I just want to eat your pussy.”

She makes a little surprised sound, but gives absolutely no indication that she objects. When he leans forward and covers her slick lips with his mouth, she leans back and braces her arms against the table top.

She’s completely quiet, beyond her heavy breathing, but when he gently sucks on her clit he feels her pulse against his tongue. He concludes that she’d been preparing to take a bath, because she doesn’t taste like soap, thankfully. She tastes remarkably like her, like the inside of her mouth and the smell of her skin, like Scully in her purest form. He slips his tongue inside her and buries his nose in her cunt, breathing her in deep.

“Oh,” she breathes out, hardly a word, and he glances up at her face.

Her eyes are squeezed shut tight, her lip pinned between her teeth, and if not for the fact that he has high hopes of fucking her after this, he might get his cock out right now and fulfill that detail of his fantasy.

Instead he grips the outsides of her thighs, pulling her even more firmly against his face, and her hips lift off the table.

“Oh god,” she says, this time more audibly.

She’s ungodly wet, smeared all over his cheeks and chin. He wonders if she’d be willing to sit on his face next time. He runs the flat of his tongue up and down from her clit to her opening and back over and over, and he feels her muscles tense under his hands.

He looks up again and sees that she’s watching him with a completely agonized look on her face, like she’s about to cry. Mulder groans and applies himself fully, slipping two fingers inside her and lapping rhythmically at her clit. He senses her rising higher and higher, feels it in her body, hears it in her voice, tastes it in the syrupy slick of her. Her entire cunt seizes and he hears her breath catch, and he repeats the motion over and over, not changing a single thing.

“I’m coming,” she whines, and he feels her fingernails dig into the back of his head as she grabs ahold of him.

She comes beautifully right on his tongue, squeezing his fingers desperately and whimpering in a rising and falling crescendo in time with each hearty pulse. He slows as she does, but doesn’t stop until she sighs and removes her hand from his head.

He stands up and wipes one hand over the bottom of his face, and she averts her eyes bashfully, though her legs are still spread wide.

“I hope that lived up to your expectations,” she says shyly, reaching for him.

He watches her face while she pushes his slacks off his hips and smiles at the sight of his stiff cock swinging free.

“Allow me to clarify something else, then,” he says tightly as she strokes him. “Every single bit of this has wildly exceeded my expectations.”

She gently tugs on his cock to encourage him closer, simultaneously scooting to the very edge of the table. She brushes the head of him over her clit and they both groan. It takes a bit of maneuvering to get the angle right, but when he slides into her it’s like coming home.

She takes his face in her hands, kissing him as he draws his hips back.

“I missed you, too.”

#x files fanfic #the x files #xf fic #xf fanfic

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lousycapy · 3 months ago

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Who has the best driver lineup for 2025?

I saw James Vowles’ statement from the Beyond the Grid podcast that Williams had the best pairing coming into 2025 and thought he was crazy, so I’d be interested to read everyone’s opinion about it 😅

However, as much as I think people’s opinion are interesting, I got curious on what argument he could use to justify his claim and went down a spiral of what would consist of the best pairing so if you wanna go down the rabbit hole with me here is what I came up with :

Just for reference, the 2025 lineups are as follow:

Ferrari - Lewis Hamilton & Charles Leclerc

McLaren - Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri

RedBull - Max Verstappen & Sergio Perez (Checo has a contract so we will consider it has sound even though there have been echoes of a replacement)

Mercedes - George Russell & Kimi Antonelli

Aston Martin - Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll

Alpine - Pierre Gasly & Jack Doohan

Haas - Esteban Ocon & Oliver Bearman

Williams - Carlos Sainz & Alex Albon

VCARB - Yuki Tsunoda & ?

Sauber Kick wtv - Nico Hulkenberg & ?

Before starting analyzing I just want to exclude some pairings so I don’t have to go through everyone for every argument because it’d take wayyyy too long.

Thus, Sauber and VCARB are obvious contenders to be excluded since we don’t know what their lineup will be. I also want to exclude the pairings containing rookies, since we have no measure of how good they will be. We’ve seen promising rookies end up being terrible and not so promising rookies absolutely kill it, so due to their absolute unknown value they shouldn’t be considered for the best lineup on the grid. That means Mercedes, Alpine and Haas are out of contention for 2025.

I also want to exclude RedBull and Aston Martin, since they are pretty much one-man shows. Are they capable of great results? Yes, but the point is to find the best DUO, not the best RESULT, and as much as in a dominant car they can win it all, we’ve seen it this year you need two competitive drivers to bring home the WCC and I do not believe it to be the case for RedBull and Aston Martin. There are other aspects to a lineup than the performance, but at its core it is the most important argument when it comes to determining the best of the best. A number 1/2 lineup is great to win a WDC, not so much to win a WCC.

This leaves us with Ferrari, McLaren and Williams.

Alright, now that this is out of the way here are the main arguments I think could be used to find the best lineup:

Performance; so how well the drivers by themselves can drive, their raw pace, tire management, wheel-to-wheel abilities, strategical thinking, febrility, basically what they can achieve on their own on track

Public image; what they bring to the team in terms of sponsors, money, their popularity when it comes to the fans… let’s not forget teams are in F1 to advertise and make money at the end of the day

Compatibility; how the drivers work together, do they get on? can they bring a positive atmosphere to the team or are they at each other’s throat? How well do they work with the team, are they screaming at the engineers that something’s wrong?

Development; how good the drivers are at developing the car, at guiding their people in the right direction. Do they give similar feedback or is the team obligated to choose in which driver’s direction they should develop?

Other factors could come into play, such as the longevity of the lineup, but when we are talking about 2025 specifically, how the drivers evolve in the future is irrelevant.

Let’s start with performance. In theory, Ferrari has the best duo in terms of performance. Lewis is statistically the best driver to ever grace this sport and Charles is very solid as well. McLaren would come second, because Lando is also very solid and Oscar can absolutely hold his own. That would leave Williams in third, since Carlos would probably be around Oscar’s level right now and Alex would end up further down, performing greatly against poor teammates but a bit disappointingly against the likes of Franco.

I’m saying in theory because two of those drivers are unknown values in the car they will be driving next year, we don’t know how well Lewis will adapt to the Ferrari nor how well Carlos will adapt to the Williams. Doesn’t matter how theoretically they should perform, we’ve seen with Daniel in the McLaren that if you don’t gel with the car, despite how well you were performing with another car, the performance you can extract can plummet dramatically. However, we know Carlos is pretty adaptable since he’s changed teams a few times already, so I’m not too nervous about how he’ll do in Williams. Lewis is more of an unknown, having changed teams only once a decade ago and never to a Ferrari engine.

All in all, I don’t think there is an argument to be made for Williams to be the best lineup performance wise. Even if we assume that Lewis in Ferrari will absolutely stink (which to me is an absurd assumption to make and has, like, close to no chance of actually happening) and that Carlos will be absolutely stellar in the Williams, the McLaren lineup blocks it from being the best, because Lando ranks above Carlos and Oscar above Alex.

Then if we take into account their public image, assuming no one does something crazy such as dropping a slur and getting themselves cancelled until 2025, Ferrari comes out on top pretty evidently. Lewis is the biggest brand on the grid, everyone knows his name, and we’re talking about one of the biggest transfer of driver in F1’s history. Charles also has a very large audience as shown by his social media following, and he brings with him many sponsors.

I’d say McLaren is second, with Lando pretty similarly to Charles having a vast audience and many sponsors. Oscar doesn’t bring a lot of sponsors himself, but I feel like fans have really fallen in love with him this year and he’s become pretty popular in the F1 sphere, but not really outside of it.

That would leave Williams third again, with Carlos doing the heavy lifting. He brings some good sponsors, and has a great following, kinda somewhere in between Lando and Oscar. However, Alex doesn’t have much sponsors and having spent a year out of F1 and then being stuck in a backmarker, his popularity with the fans isn’t as great as the other drivers being discussed. This is not an argument for Williams being the best pairing in 2025.

Compatibility is more difficult to assess, since two of the lineups haven’t been tested yet. For this reason, I’d put McLaren first here. We know Lando and Oscar have a perfectly fine working relationship, they might not be bestfriends but they keep it civil, have a laugh and chat together, and take the time to acknowledge each other’s and the team’s accomplishments. We often see them discuss with their mechanics in the garage and fist-bump everyone before the sessions begin, as well as reference to their hard work in their round-ups at the end of weekends. Moral seems high at McLaren and I don’t see anything that indicates incompatibility between the drivers and the team.

Ferrari and Williams are more difficult to evaluate. We’ve seen Lewis and Charles chat a lot recently, but we all know that two drivers’ relationship can change dramatically when they become teammates. Both Charles and Alex have a pretty strong relationship with their team, although Charles seems to gel more with Ferrari, to bleed rosso corsa himself where the partnership between Alex and Williams sprouts more from a marriage of convenience. Which is also the case of Carlos with Williams, since he didn’t want to leave Ferrari and had to choose the least terrible option offered to him. Lewis chose to go to Ferrari.

However, we can expect more tensions between Charles and Lewis than between Alex and Carlos, because they’ll have to fight for more significant points, for podiums, for wins, Lewis to end his career with a bang and Charles to proves he is absolutely ready to win a championship, maybe they’ll even fight FOR a championship. The stakes are way higher than at Williams, where fighting for an 11th or 12th place doesn’t matter as much. Alex will be fighting to prove himself, but Carlos doesn’t really have much to fight for. Williams is sort of his waiting room, until a better seat becomes available to him. I wonder how motivated Carlos will be to perform at Williams. If it is better to have low motivation and low fighting or high motivation and high fighting in terms of compatibility in between drivers and a team, for me it is a mystery. I guess Vowles could value the former more. Personally I believe the latter is better, because it pushes the drivers to bring the best out of each other, as long as the fighting is dealt with correctly.

All in all, it’s difficult to argue that a partnership that hasn’t been tested will be better than a partnership which HAS been tested already and has proven to work well. I don’t think this is a great argument to justify Williams being the best lineup for 2025.

Finally, development. It’s all nice to be an incredible driver, but without great feedback development of the car becomes difficult for the team. We’ve seen this kind of thing with Fernando; no matter how good he is on track, the teams he joins always seem to be led astray.

Similarly to the previous point, two of the teams are unknowns, so the assessment is once again difficult to be made. Which means I’d be tempted to put McLaren in first here as well. Ever since Lando and Oscar have been teammates, the car has gone from the worst on the grid to leading the constructor’s championship. Of course other factors such as team personnel and equipment come into play, but one thing’s for sure, they’ve been able to lead their engineers in the right direction. Stella has said before that they have very similar feedback, and I’d be inclined to believe him seeing how good they both are at driving the MCL38. We’ve seen with Lando and Daniel that two drivers giving different feedback make for a difficult job to build a good car, so they’ve definitely found something solid in their current lineup. Maybe they’re not the most experienced and knowledgeable of how different cars and teams work, but their feedback is without a doubt good enough for what McLaren needs it to be. They’re also both very clean on track, which means instead of spending money from the limited budget cap on repair damage the team can put it in development.

As long as we haven’t seen Alex and Carlos drive the same car or Charles and Lewis, determining how compatible each pairing’s feedback is won’t be doable. We know Carlos has great feedback, he’s done a good job in the past and knows how multiple teams work, he’s received compliments on that before. As for Alex, he didn’t really have much time in RedBull and his Williams stint hasn’t been convincing much. However, this could also simply be due to the Williams philosophy of throwing every year until 26 in the bin so, difficult to evaluate. Important to note that Carlos and Alex have been a little messy this year on track, each costing a pretty penny for their reparation work, which is not what Williams needs.

I’d say Charles and Lewis are okay-ish in terms of feedback? They haven’t been part of many teams so that makes it difficult to determine. Ever since Charles joined Ferrari the team has been pretty stable, good but not great. Although his teammates have been Seb and Carlos, which are both great when it comes to development. He’s difficult to judge, but I’d say he seems reasonably solid. Lewis was in a dominant car, which he helped develop so he seems solid as well. However, a big part of that dominance was due to the engine which his feedback has no impact on, and ever since 21 Mercedes has been in a similar position to Ferrari. Although he has been saying that the team isn’t listening to his demands, so that could make him seem not as good as he actually is. I don’t think his McLaren stint is relevant because it was greatly affected by the scandal. Charles seems a bit more crash happy than Lando and Oscar, but Lewis is in their league so they’re not too bad in terms of money spent on reparation instead of development.

Basically, this argument as well doesn’t seem to verify the claim that Williams has the best duo in 2025.

To conclude, none of these arguments are viable to place Williams as the best lineup in 2025. Even if we try to argue they could be the best in general, they finished 3rd in the first two arguments and 2/3 in the two others, which leaves them at the bottom when compared to Ferrari and McLaren. Putting out this kind of statement seems silly from Vowles, and I get that hyping up his team is a great way to motivate his people and fans, but in being so outlandish he only apppears to be delusional and disconnected. If you have any conclusive idea of how Vowles’ statement could be justified I’d love to read it, because I sincerely cannot see a way to make it right!

#f1 #mclaren #ferrari #williams #lando norris #oscar piastri #charles leclerc #lewis hamilton #carlos sainz #alex albon #james vowles #Personally I’d say McLaren has the best lineup #but only because it is a proven value #In theory Ferrari should be better #I’ve got issues with taking risks #what can I say… always play it safe 🙂‍↕️#What about you? Who do you think has the best duo?

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chuuyaspinkmotorcycle · 3 months ago

Text

Day 9: Gakuen of @/Black00Cat’s (twt) SKKtober

7 years.

They’ve known each other for seven long years.

Chuuya honestly can’t believe they haven’t killed each other yet.

But here they are, walking home from school once again, bickering as usual for one of the last times.

It’s… comforting, in a way.

Something that’s become so routine that the thought of losing it unnerves him.

This is their last year before college, after all, but to lose this relationship with Dazai?

He doesn’t think he can—

“Chuuya?”

He blinks to at the call of his name. “What, shitty Dazai?”

“Chibi wasn’t listening to me.” Dazai pouts, eyebrows downturning as he juts his bottom lip out.

The same pout and lips that made Chuuya realize he liked boys all the way back in their last year of elementary school.

“Was too.” Chuuya says, strutting pass Dazai to leave his thoughts behind.

“Then what did I say?” Dazai asks, tone sly.

But Chuuya knows him well enough by now. “You didn’t ‘say’ anything, you asked it. And ‘it’ was whether this river or the next one would be better to dive into. Which is neither, by the way.”

“Boo, Chibi’s no fun.”

“Chibi is fun, you ass. He just has a lot on his mind right now.” Chuuya scowls.

“Oh, like what?” Dazai sounds genuinely interested so what’s the harm in spilling a little?

“Stuff. End of school, going to uni, things like that.” Chuuya mumbles.

He’s usually not the sentimental type when it comes to things like this but ever since he found out that Dazai’s going to a different university, it was like reality set in and is forcing him to think about it.

“What’s so bad with thinking about the future?” Dazai tilts his head as he steps further into Chuuya’s peripheral, long legs catching him up easily with the distance Chuuya had made earlier.

“Isn’t it kinda weird? We’re expected to go on and know what we wanna do with life, just like that? Maybe I like where I’m at right now.”

Dazai’s quiet for a moment, eyes studying Chuuya. They’ve stopped on the sidewalk now, one set of blue eyes seeking answers from a pair of brown ones.

“Why is Chuuya worried? There’s plenty of time for him to learn and grow.”

“Yeah, but—“ Chuuya bites his tongue. /But you’re not gonna there./

And isn’t it sad of him? To be scared of losing what he’s come to love because time stops for no one?

“Chuuya shouldn’t be sad or scared. A master always takes care of his dog, you know.” Dazai reaches a hand around his shoulders, squeezing him into a light deadlock.

“Not if you’re at another uni.”

“Nonsense! Chuuya should know by now that I have my ways~” Dazai wiggles his eyebrows, causing a snort to escape Chuuya.

“Idiot,” he huffs, shoving the teen away and continuing their walk home.

“Besides, we could always get an apartment together between our universities.”

Chuuya stops in his tracks. “Hah?”

Dazai knows better than to wishfully think. Chuuya can’t afford an apartment like that, let alone half of its rent.

“I know Chuuya heard me. We could always split it with Ranpo and Kunikida too.”

He does make a fair point. The other two teens are going to be attending their unis as well.

“I don’t think Kunikida would agree to that…” Chuuya frowns. Dazai already gets on his nerves enough, the man could honestly use a break.

“That’s where you’re wrong, my dear.” Dazai smiles, and Chuuya can’t help the way his heart beats faster at the endearment. “Kunikida-kun’s already agreed. Ranpo-san as well. The only one left is you~”

“Dazai, are you actually serious?” Chuuya can’t even start believing it. An apartment together? Granted, they’ll be sharing but he’ll still be able to have moments like this?

To enjoy walks and dinners and study sessions?

Dazai rummages in his bag a second, sliding out papers with an ‘aha!’ as he dives back in for a pen.

“Here!” Dazai hands the papers to him, an almost-excited air bouncing off him. “Chuuya just has to sign.”

This can’t be.

Chuuya stares at the contracts — the real one and one with both Ranpo’s and Kunikida’s handwriting marking out the important information.

If those two and Dazai agreed to sign this, then it’s a good deal. He skims it fast, heart racing, before he turns Dazai around to sign it on the back of him.

“Is Chuuya happy now?” Dazai asks as he turns back around.

“Well yeah, of course, but what do you mean ‘now’?”

“Chuuya’s been down recently.” is all Chuuya gets. Had his thoughts really been that pronounced? “But now he’s happy!”

And soon gangly, octopus arms are thrown around him, an embrace so tight it knocks the air from his lungs as Dazai nuzzles against his head.

He can’t help but laugh, shoulders light for the first time in a while as the future starts to look brighter.

Dazai roped their friends into getting an apartment, all so Chuuya would feel better.

He can’t believe it.

Maybe, just maybe, somewhere down the road he’ll have the guts to confess to Dazai.

And maybe, just maybe, they’ll move forward towards their dreams together.

#soukoku #dazai x chuuya #skktober #skk #day 9 #malaikawrites

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infinitethree · 9 months ago

Note

Hi San! Simple question here, but can you tell where people are if they're invisible? Like, can you feel where they walk, or you sense them?

As always, being addressed makes San burst into a flurry of attempts to convey their response to Lucid.

Sunlight on his skin; candy fizzing on his tongue; and a wet dog nose on his arm and the smell of yellow.

In simpler terms: happiness, delight, and curiosity.

It takes him a few more minutes to decipher their answer. He relays, “Uh, kind of? The subtler signs of someone being invisible are hard to notice if they’re not focused on that exact area and looking for them. San just has the benefit of being able to go back and look for clues, y’know?”

Not that it’s impossible to evade their gaze. Hell, it’s one of the key pieces of information given during orientation; blackstone and obsidian block the sight of the perpetual security camera that otherwise sees everything.

Yeah, he’s not terribly surprised there have been more than a few people who couldn’t cope with the idea of that. He’s glad they could help them relocate to less…upsetting homes.

Given that San can still be iffy on respecting boundaries– like not randomly showing Lucid things they really shouldn’t be showing him– he can’t even be upset that pretty much everyone has a secret room or even bunker they can relax in.

Rather, he’s relieved that he doesn’t have to keep the truths of being an admin hidden…but that he can still offer them privacy when they decide they want it.

Though he does feel a bit guilty that because blackstone and obsidian are literally dangerous for him to be around for extended periods of time, Zephyr and Iatros had to build their hidden areas a bit further out.

He does know that the meeting room for the Syndicate had been retrofitted into one such place. And…it’s one that Iatros sometimes uses to have his appointments with Day in.

…Also, another one is in what used to be the wither vault, for some unholy reason.

‘Tros has a weird sense of humor sometimes.

He makes a confused face at that statement.

Not a lot of people consider him their favorite. Hell, even Aver– for as much as he loves to pester Lucid and drop by to spend time with him– has stated that, sorry, his favorite Dream is actually Lee.

That statement had been followed up with a rambling, “He’s the second poggest kid on the server! N’ I’m not just saying that ‘cause his fuckin’ family n’ dedicated army would murder me otherwise. Or ‘cause he’s apparently gonna get deep in the fuckin’ weeds about poison, n’ frankly with how scary the people around him are I really don’t wanna get on his bad side–”

At which point Lucid had told him that he wasn’t going to be mad that he liked the kid.

Hell– Lee has wormed his way into pretty much everyone’s heart. To…perhaps a concerning degree, given the aforementioned Swords & Shields.

Yeah, if it were for anyone else, he’d be worried. He’d also be worried if it were helmed by anyone other than Aster.

The guy is basically a zealot vis-a-vis his dedication towards the absurdly overpowered kid. From the glimpses he’s gotten or been unwillingly shown, Aster does not fuck around when it comes to Lee.

Which is nice. He’s glad that his probable future co-admin has a dogmatically loyal person at his side.

More importantly, though– at least for the moment– he can smell lemongrass and pine. The tell-tale sign of his server getting indignant at him.

Right, he hasn’t answered or conveyed their response.

Dutifully, he says, “Sorry, got lost in thought. Uh, we’re good? And San likes cats owned by players. They kind of made do when not many people had cats, but now that there’s a ton owned by various people…they’re having the time of their life.”

His head tilts to the side. The person– Observer, he thinks they’re called?-- just spoke, and yet is talking like they left and came back.

Hmm. Are…the messages not being given immediately?

Definitely something he should bring up with the T3. Nobody is really positive whose authority all this weirdness falls under, but the three of them are definitely the most affected.

He parses the rest of the message and blinks several times.

“...Instincts? That sounds wrong. I’m not a hybrid, and neither is Day��?”

Upon directing his mental attention to San, his world gives him the equivalent of a shrug.

Great. That’s…comforting.

The rest of the message is even less welcome to hear. He really hopes whatever the hell the Observer is talking about, it’s not something that’s going to bother him any time soon.

A sudden knock at the door distracts him from his thoughts. He’s not expecting anyone, but few people bother making appointments with him anyway. If he’s needed, he gets called or they just show up.

He’s more than a little surprised to see Daz at his doorstep. The guy smiles at him, but it’s not as bright as it usually is. “Hey, Lucy,” the head of the Welcome Wagon says.

By now the nickname doesn’t bother him. It’s a sign of friendliness, and given how messed up Daz had been when he first got to Sanctuary…

Well, the fact that Lucid got such a cutesy nickname so quickly is pretty much a miracle.

Since it looks like Daz has a lot he wants to say, he opens the door for him. “Thanks,” the guy says, smile growing just a little. He politely wipes his shoes off and then flops onto one of the overstuffed armchairs.

Daz seems to steel himself and takes a deep breath, and declaring, “I– I want to be trained as an admin. Not instead of Lee, but alongside him.”

That’s…a surprise. Lucid slowly sits down in his usual spot, and Hope immediately climbs into his lap.

“What brought this on?”

Daz is quiet for several long moments, anxiously messing with the many gold earrings crammed into his left ear.

Eventually, he says, “I think…I think that’s– that’s why everything happened to me. The– the stuff that brought me here. I think it was– I think he needed another admin.”

That had been something Lucid had thought might be the case, but he still winces. “I don’t know how rare admins were where you are, but…” “I didn’t even know I was one. I, uh– I also didn’t get out much. I see more people at the average Welcome Wagon picnic than I did in my entire life up until Sanctuary.”

There’s a slight shake of his head, and Daz sits up straighter. “But, I can help. And I want to do it! Even if I might not become a full admin– I still haven’t really wrapped my head around that…I can still help. And I’m good at explaining things! Maybe if I figure stuff out with code and it’s not clicking for Lee, I can help him.”

If this had been before Daz had proven himself over and over again with the Welcome Wagon, Lucid might have hesitated more. But…for all his bubbly, somewhat ditziness, Daz is also full-throatedly dedicated to helping others.

In every action that Lucid has seen him take, Daz has been determined to make the server a better, happier place.

A lot of other people, he might suspect of making some kind of weird power play. But…Daz?

There’s no way in hell that the guy has a malicious bone in his body.

“I mean– it’s not really up to just me. But…I’ll talk to Day about it.” He glances out the window, and stands up again. “It’s getting a little late, though. I don’t want you to get stuck outside at night. Respawns still kinda suck.”

Daz stands up and hugs him tightly. “Thanks, Lucy! I knew I could count on you. Uhm, I can make my case to Day if you want? Since it’s kinda…”

He huffs and awkwardly pats the guy’s back. “Nah, it’s probably better if I do it myself. Nothing’s decided yet, though, so don’t get your hopes up too much.”

There’s a bubbly laugh, and Daz grins at him. “You underestimate my capacity for hope,” he teases, before breaking away. “I’ll go, then. Thanks again! Have a good night– and you too, San!”

Just as quickly as he had showed up, the abnormally upbeat Tommy leaves. In fact, he does so so quickly that Lucid isn’t able to convey the flurry of delight from his server at the prospect of having one of their favorites as another admin.

“I guess things are gonna get even more interesting,” Lucid sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.

#asked&answered #chronotag #long post #luciddreamer #sanctuarytheworld #dazzlingvoid #there's the other thing I teased earlier!#and what the Council was discussing #or at least...part of it.#:)

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1moreff-creator · 3 months ago

Note

... since I sent in the ask I watched the video again lol

listen listen listen long form drdt videos that I enjoy are hard to find for me specifically so I latched onto the one I like best :] (also 15 hours, that's nothing compared to the hours of other fandom video essays I've rewatched :3 )

And actually one of the reasons I really like the LGI video is because I think it's very funny to drop the comment of 'oh yeah, I was rewatching an almost 3 hour long video about a less then 4 minute long music video' and if anyone asks questions it's just 'well we're not actually sure if one girl exists or not and the music video fuels so many theories :3'. I love being an enigma to my irl friends :p

(also yes it's the word count lol. I'm out here barely about to write more then a couple hundred words and then the Mai post is right there staring at me (which I've also read like. 3 times? idk something about the mysteries of this series are VERY fun (god i need to find more hobbies /lh)))

alright well here we have my biggest fan apparently. y’all can go home now /j

Yeah, I actually get rewatching videos that much. There’s definitely a few of comparable length that I’ve had play on the background a couple of times. Just… wow. Kinda crazy to think that I made a video that at least one person rewatches like that.

And you’re right, Vivisection is, conceptually, a really funny video. It’s the kind of idea that sounds like satire of needlessly long video essays, like “look at this dude stretching four minutes into two and a half hours.” Except, it’s genuinely pretty information dense (imo), LGI just… needs that much time. Hell, technically it needs more time because we still don’t know what the hell the deal with Diana is, what the hell the tetraphobia thing is meant to mean, etc. It’s certainly a way to confuse irl friends!

Well everyone writes at their own pace, in their own time, you shouldn’t worry about comparing yourself to me or anyone else for that matter. The Mai post is… yeah that’s there. I sorta wonder if any post I make in the future will reach that word count…

Also I almost wanna comment on the rereading but I can’t because I’ve also reread that post once when I got back into DRDT after the hiatus and I’ve also reread several of my mutuals’ posts on occasion so yeah.

Thanks for the ask!

#ask #rambling

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coffee-n-bagels-comic-universe · 9 months ago

Text

[Ghostbusters] Brainwaves: Quotes

Dr / Professor May Keaton

"It's okay to wonder what happens next."

“If we’re all gonna die anyway, shouldn’t we be enjoying ourselves now?”

“Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are all noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

“Who allowed you to take my breath away?”

“She pushes people away before they get a chance to leave her, and for twenty years she’s been alone because of it.”

“You can never replace anyone…because everyone is made of such beautiful, specific details.”

“For the wound to heal, you need to stop touching it.”

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

Dr / Professor Allison Wada

"The body is a temple, treat it like one."

"What a dangerous combination."

"Maturity begins when you understand that dignity is more important than falling in love."

"Women, they have minds and they have souls as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent as well as just beauty, and I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for. I’m so sick of it! But, I am so lonely.”

“Let’s leave the Jews out of this for a moment. Let’s think of another minority. One that… One that can go unnoticed if it needs to. There are all sorts of minorities, blondes for example… Or people with freckles. But a minority is only thought of as one when it constitutes some kind of threat to the majority. A real threat or an imagined one. And therein lies the fear. If the minority is somehow invisible, then the fear is much greater. That fear is why the minority is persecuted. So, you see there always is a cause. The cause is fear. Minorities are just people. People like us.”

Dr / Professor Heather Nieto-Jorge

"Look for truth, not for fantastical lies."

"I'm surrounded by idiots."

“If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is the ability to play along. and z is keeping your mouth shut.”

“The most important thing in life is life itself.”

“Pursue excellence and success will come chasing you.”

"Each one of us has a story of how we got to where we are, which most likely involves study drugs, getting blackout drunk, and having one night stands. We’ll tell these stories at dinner parties and to our future children. Well, maybe not the one night stand part. Or the blackout drunk part. Or the study drugs for that matter. But maybe our stories don’t have to be for anyone but ourselves.“

Dr / Professor Nova Teufel

"And that is how the world ends."

“When I’m with you, I feel so safe. Like I’m home”

“My problem is that I think too much and I feel too deeply.”

“Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.”

“Nothing that lives, lives forever.”

“Nobody ever does anything to be nice. They always wanna get something out of it.”

“I’m just a screwed-up girl who’s looking for my own peace of mind.”

“In many ways, I prefer my own company. It gives me time to think.”

“Those that see me for me, don’t think that my face is the most attractive part.”

“People should be able to say how they feel. How they really feel. Not some words strangers put in their mouths.”

“You talk way too fast, and you are way too nice to everyone … you’re not hard to get at all. You’re hard to earn.”

“My house. My rules. My coffee.”

“If I had a normal family and a good upbringing…then I would have been a well-adjusted person. I mean, I feel like I’m…I feel like I’m ya know well-adjusted. We’re good friends, and it’s good to be, ya know, good friends. I mean, I’d like to really talking with you.”

“There are some people that go to the party and dance, and there are some people that sit in the corner. I’m the corner guy.”

“I am so lost in my life. eleven cups of coffee a day in bed, reading irrelevant things, eating junk all day, lazy, unhealthy and non-productive.”

Others

"You stay well away rom my sister, or this drill is going… somewhere." - Mars Teufel

"Put the drill down, Mars… please? Put the drill down." - Dr / Professor Ira Freud

"Milo. Stop. Let me do that for you." - Anselm Teufel

"I thInk you'll Ind, I knOw what I'm doIng." - Milo Teufel

"Our whole family is mad, Devils to some, Angels to others." - Dr Amalia Teufel

"I'll hit you again if you try that again." - Dr / Professor Gilbert Teufel

"Like any of you men have brains." - Medusa Teufel

"How do they survive without a brain?" - Electra Teufel

"I don't know, but I seem to be doing well for someone with an empty skull." - Norman Teufel

"She's being, what's the word… facetious, is that it?" - Thomas Teufel

"The ghosts are coming! The ghosts are coming! Run." - Professor Otmar Teufel

"I've read all the Holy books, none tell of people like yourselves." - Dr / Professor Remus Teufel

"I swear we did nothing wrong!" - Romulus Teufel-Mann

"I swear I should never had involved myself with this family." - Tamar Mann

"I figured you were a prude, but I must've guessed wrong." - Jacob Blumenthal

"I do not trust all these professors." - Cecilia Hedlund

"Listen to me, or I won't offer you further help, Mr Blumenthal. Do you understand me?" - Dr / Professor Kipling Mutton

"Answer the question correctly because I won't ask it again." - Dr / Professor Vidar Ljunggren

"Why don't I take you ladies out for a nice meal, I'll pay for it all." - Ephraim Aue

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schrijverr · 1 year ago

Text

I Dig You 8

Chapter 8 out of 8

Robin is tentatively excited for her first internship: an archaeological dig in the Netherlands, where she has been studying. However, when she gets there, Steve is there too. The dick of their uni that she now has to work with. Great. But being stuck digging for six weeks makes people bond and maybe he isn’t too bad. Maybe he can be her friend.

AKA an archaeology interns, modern, enemies-to-friends stobin au

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: none

~~~~

Chapter 8: Plans

The two have made their way back to the vacation home, deciding that while it gets dark late, they shouldn’t risk getting lost. They are trying to maintain a semblance of a normal sleeping schedule to survive the last week that’s coming.

However, once there, they decide that it’s not yet time for sleeping, so they’re sitting on the table – on not at, because sitting on tables is superior – and are chatting about everything and nothing, content with each other’s presence.

After a lull in the conversation, Steve breaks the silence by asking: “What about you, by the way? What do you want to do with your future?”

“I mean, I wanna finish my Bachelor’s with high enough grades to get into the Research Master, then specialize in materials, bones specifically, before doing my PhD, preferably with a minimal student loan debt. Then do research for the rest of my life, probably work at a uni and teach,” Robin says. She has had this dream for forever, so it’s an easy answer.

“You’re going to stay at the faculty here?” Steve asks.

“That’s the plan for now. I like the uni and I know the professors. So, I’m not planning on leaving just yet,” Robin says.

“So, you’re not missing your parents? People back home?” Steve asks. “You said you’re working, you don’t wanna go visit after this?”

“Can’t really afford the plane ticket,” Robin shrugs ruefully, for once not embarrassed to admit that out loud. “Besides, my parents are the only cool people there, I don’t really have a connection with most of my extended family, except my conservative grandma, so don’t really miss her. I do miss my parents of course, but there isn’t a uni with a good archaeology program nearby, so it wouldn’t really matter, because I couldn’t go see them regularly anyway, so why go there, you know?”

“That fucking sucks, dude,” Steve says. “When does it become socially acceptable for me to offer to buy you a plane ticket? I mean, you have cool parents, you should be able to go see them. This is so unfair.”

“Welcome to the world, buddy,” Robin rolls her eyes, though also touched by his reply. “And I already used up most of my vacation days, so I have to go back to work when I’m done here. If we’re still friends by christmas you can come over to mine to celebrate and I will turn a blind eye if you pay for the plane tickets and forget to send me a Tikkie.”

“Didn’t we just decide to be friends forever? I’m holding you to that,” Steve grins. “I wanna meet these mystical parents of yours.”

“Daisy and Thomas Buckley are the most boring people alive, but whatever floats you boat,” Robin informs him, though she’s fond. She loves her parents and she can’t help but get happy whenever their friendship is confirmed. It might sound a little sad, but she needs that validation or her brain convinces her it’s all a trick.

“I like boring,” Steve replies.

“Yeah, that tracks,” Robin ribs him, quite literally.

“Ouch!” Steve pouts, clutching his side. “You’re mean.”

“And you like me anyway,” Robin grins brightly, because it’s true. Steve knows what a judgmental bitch she is and he still wants to be best friends.

“Sadly,” Steve jokes.

“Who’s being mean now?” Robin says, putting on a huge pout.

“Oh no, it is me. However, shall I repay you for this horrendous slight against you?” Steve asks dramatically, draping himself over her, which almost makes her topple.

Robin shoves him off, while being carefully so he doesn’t actually fall off the table as she huff: “You’re such a dork, I don’t know why people think you’re cool.”

“It’s called being confused 90% of the time so people think you’re aloof,” Steve says as he sits back up again.

“That’s stupid,” Robin says.

“I know,” Steve shrugs.

They’re quiet again. Between the trees the sun is setting and Robin knows they should be going to bed if they don’t want to fuck up their schedules, but that would mean ending this moment and she is too attached, so she stays quiet.

Steve is the one that breaks the quiet again. His voice is more serious again as he asks: “Do you want to stay here or move back to the States when you’re done?”

“Haven’t really thought about it,” Robin says honestly. “I mean, I’ll be twenty-two when I’m done with my Bachelors, twenty-five with my Master and then a PhD is between four to ten years. I’ll be twenty-nine at the youngest. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. Why?”

“I mean, I’d be sad if you moved away,” Steve admits softly.

Robin tends to forget she is a person in other people’s lives, so she’s taken aback for a second, before a happy feeling floods through her. She says: “I’d miss you too.”

“That’s- that’s good. Is that weird to say?”

“Probably, but I don’t think so,” Robin replies. “I’m bad at being friends with people, but it’s easy with you. This is nice.”

“Can you believe you hated me five weeks ago?” Steve randomly comments.

“I didn’t hate you,” Robin lies.

“You totally did,” Steve laughs, poking her.

“I thought you were annoying and a stupid frat bro, I didn’t hate you, because that would mean I was more invested in you than I was,” Robin retorts to save face.

“You were bitter about Tammy,” Steve singsongs.

“Ugh, are you ever letting that go?” Robin groans.

“Never,” Steve tells her smugly.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“… Fuck. No, I don’t,” Robin sighs, though she’s unable to help the smile. She can’t believe how fast her opinion of Steve changed, but she’s glad for it. Idly she says: “It’s going to be weird to not be in your space 24/7 after this.”

“Yeah, it is. You can always come over to mine, you know? Hell, you could move in and that would be cool,” Steve agrees.

“What?” Robin chokes, surprised by the offer, but not for the reason you’d think. “You haven’t offered anyone that. Carol and Tommy both complained – loudly, I might add – how much of a dick move that was of you.”

“Tsk, of course they did. I don’t want them to live with me because they throw parties every weekend in their own house and I actually like my personal space, and not living with people, who don’t clean and make fun of the way I eat,” Steve scoffs.

“Wow, yeah, okay, they sound horrible,” Robin says, unable to fathom living like that. She likes her own space too.

“Tell me about it, I don’t know why it took me this long to drop them. They can be the worst,” Steve says. “I guess it was just what I thought friendships were supposed to be like. Befriending people at the archaeology faculty, like Argyle – he’s super cool, by the way – made me realize that was actually not normal, lol.”

Robin fights the urge to make fun of Steve for saying lol out loud, since she can recognize when someone is trying to make something sound less serious. Instead she nods: “Yeah, I can get that,” before smirking: “Sooo, I am worthy of living in the Harrington residence?”

“Yeah, you’re cool,” Steve responds more easily than Robin would have thought. “And we’ve kind of proven we can live together just fine. I’d help you move and everything.”

“Wait, you’re for real?” she asks, looking at Steve with wide eyes. She kind of thought he was joking, but he sounds pretty serious.

Steve looks back like she is weird for not getting that yet. “Of course, why would I joke about that?”

“I don’t know, that sounds like something you should think about before offering, right?” Robin shoots back.

“Why? We’re students, people move in impulsively all the time,” Steve answers. “It would actually be a pretty normal thing to do.”

“Except that your parents would be my landlords,” Robin points out, not even daring to ask what the rent situation would be like.

“No, the house is in my name, remember? I’d be your landlord,” Steve says.

“That doesn’t really make it better,” Robin informs him.

Steve shakes his head, suddenly looking excited as he says: “No, it does make it better. Think about it. I can charge you nothing and if my parents ask, I can just say you’re my girlfriend and they’d understandably let you stay for free, because they are terrified of me being anything but straight and then I can get as much money out of them as I can, before they cut me off. I’d be perfect.”

“You- you want to beard in the year 2023 to scam your homophobic parents out of money?” Robin asks incredulously, unsure if she understood correctly.

Steve nods.

“Well, that does sound pretty punk to do,” Robin admits, because when she thinks about it, that is hilarious and she’d get a house with no rent out of it in the actual city the uni is in, so she won’t have to take the train every day.

“Is this you agreeing?” Steve asks her, excitement not having left.

“Yeah, sure, let’s become roomies,” Robin laughs, a little disbelieving at how she ended up here, but delighted nonetheless.

“Yay,” Steve cheers, doing a dorky little dance that Robin joins in with, because why the hell not?

With that decided, they lay down on the table side by side, looking up at the slowly appearing stars as they continue to plan how to move in together, arguing if they can move furniture by public transport or if they need to find a person with a car they can borrow, since neither of them are qualified to lease one.

“We can’t carry my bed frame with just the two of us!” Robin exclaims. “How are we even fitting it in the tram or train for that matter.”

“You see people with crazy shit in the train all the time,” Steve argues back. “I’ve seen people with a fridge, like a hundred suitcases, people with a floor length mirror and people with a big ass chair. We can totally take your bed with us on the tram.”

“Okay, fine, even if it’s allowed, have you seen my noodle arms? I can’t carry it and even if I could, I am not coordinated enough to pull that off,” Robin says.

“I can do it by myself.”

“You cannot carry a bed frame by yourself. We need a car.”

“Who do you know with a car?” Steve shoot back.

“No one, you’re the one with friends.”

Steve is quiet for a second, then says: “… Argyle has this beat up van. He’ll probably help us move if we buy him pizza at the end of the day.”

“See, problem solved,” Robin says self-satisfied.

“I still think I can do it,” Steve pouts.

“Well, you’ll just have to find that out in your own time,” Robin informs him. “So, what about chores? Are we making a schedule or like splitting it on preferred tasks?”

And on they go, deciding how to organize chores and cooking, what to tell people that ask and what they prefer when it comes to studying and noises, making a list of rules. By the time they’re done, it’s already late and Robin knows they fucked up their sleeping schedule just a little bit, but neither of them care.

The next day, they both sleep in for a change, doing a familiar dance through their small kitchen as they make their breakfast and get ready for the day of lounging around, before they have to start up again for their last week on the dig.

If Robin had expected Steve to change his mind overnight, she doesn’t get a chance to ask if he had, because Steve excitedly tells her they can have Dutch Days where they try to only speak Dutch, because he looked it up and if she wants to teach here at the uni she needs a minimum level of Dutch, so they both have to practice.

After that time seems to fly by with the last week of the excavation seeming to not last longer than a blink. Before they know it, they’re standing around on their last day, waiting for Jeroen to fill in their evaluation, so they can add it to their final report, before leaving to spend the last day in the vacation home that has been their shared home for weeks now.

They’re both a little melancholic as they write their final daily report together and make dinner (pasta for the dozenth time), before going to sleep.

The follow morning, Robin is also awake early and they clean the vacation home together, so they’re not leaving it a complete sandy mess, before Steve goes to give back the key, while Robin watches the bikes.

With their bikes packed, they make their way to the local train station, traveling together until they’re at Utrecht, where they have to split up.

It’s a little weird to say goodbye, so Robin says: “So, uhm, we’ll meet up soon?”

“Yeah, sure, I’ll text you,” Steve agrees.

Suddenly Robin is struck with a thought and she says: “Do I even have your number?”

“I don’t know, do I have yours?” Steve replies, pulling out his phone.

“Can you imagine if we don’t?” Robin giggles.

“It would be very on theme,” Steve giggles too, weird tension broken again. He asks: “Are you in that big group chat with everyone from first year?”

“Yeah, I am, you too?” Robin says.

“Yeah,” Steve confirms.

“At least we have each other’s number,” Robin laughs, amused at the situation. “I’m going to save you in my phone as Airhead Himbo.”

“Rude, I’m saving you as Pretentious Dick,” Steve says.

“That’s rude,” Robin protests, though she’s grinning.

“You started it.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll change it to Schmuck,” Robin concedes.

“Is Bone Lady better?” Steve asks with an equally amused look on his face.

“Totally, that is epic. I will wear it with pride.”

“I somehow feel I got the short end of this,” Steve says, though it’s clear he thinks the whole thing to be hilarious.

“Live with it,” Robin winks (naturally failing at the action, but Steve is a good friend, who doesn’t mention that). Then she sees the time and curses: “Fuck, I have to run if I wanna catch my train. Don’t forget to text me,” she calls out already running.

“I won’t! Bye!” Steve yells at her as she sprints to the right platform, barely catching her train with the struggle it is to get her bike in with her.

Once she is finally seated she checks her phone, seeing a few texts from Steve that read:

You run funny

Oh my god that’s rude

Sorry

I love you

Pls, still move in with me

Robin snorts out loud and texts back: omg ur a fucking loser lmao, oc ill move in with u, dingus

Then she takes a second, before she adds: love u too, have a safe trip <3

Steve sends back a string of emojis that is more suited for a granddad, who should not be allowed near technology. Most of them are heart-shaped or heart-adjacent, so Robin decides it must be a positive thing as she smiles and shakes her head.

They continue texting for the entire time and Steve comes to visit the next day, pointing at all her furniture as he continues the argument of whether or not he could lift it by himself and if it would fit into the tram and train, while Robin is packing all her little trinkets.

Argyle is luckily down to help them out, so Robin never has to actually stop Steve from attempting to lift her desk and it turns out the dude is very cool. Robin hasn’t worked with him, but she has seen him around, but never talked to him.

As the new year starts, the two of them learn that Argyle is the only person at the faculty, who is seemingly not weirded out by their sudden attachment, because they get a lot of weird looks and curious questions when they show up together for the one little thesis talk at the starts, Steve giving Robin a piggyback ride.

However, the two of them shake it off easily. By then they’ve been living together for three months already and are very comfortable together. They just click, it just works for them.

Robin sometimes can’t believe how lucky she is with Steve (and she is thrilled that Steve thinks the same, a fact he informs her off multiple times a day, especially at the end when they’re chilling on the couch and she is running her hands through his hair, because it’s so so so soft).

When she got to that excavation and seethed that she could never be rid of ‘that fucking guy’ she couldn’t have imagined how true that statement was and how happy she’d be with that outcome, but here she is and the future has never looked brighter.

A/N:

I feel like maybe they’re speed running the whole best friends thing, but they’re also stobin, so you know xp

(Also they totally still live together rn with ten cats and shit)

#rr writing #stranger things #steve harrington #robin buckley #platonic stobin #stobin #stobin au #archaeologists stobin au #argyle stranger things

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