#in general wanting a formidable opponent

[dan-crimes]

Watching a voice work compilation for Roger as Sonic and I will say he's on the lower end for my pick of Sonic voices but I will admit he's got some good lines in there and ALSO seeing these Sonic cutscenes without any context is kinda bizarre like how the fuck did Sonic IMPROVE after being in prison for 6 months? The fuck? It would have made more sense if Infinite said smth like "It seems you've become weak since our last fight. You aren't worth my time. Come back to me once you're worthy of a fight." THAT would make more sense for why he'd just leave Sonic alive after beating him again lmao I'm no writer btw dialogue is like my weakness I'm not good at dialogue so I'm sure this could be improved upon but yeah something of that nature would make more sense instead of Sonic getting BETTER somehow after being in prison

[dredgesnails]

i genuinely think the people who insist the life series is scripted just don’t understand the difference between something scripted and something that’s been given a basic premise and directives that everyone involved in agrees to play along with for the bit. like, no, specific moments aren’t scripted, but there’s a reason the series isn’t just “best pvper wins” and it’s because they deliberately prioritise entertainment over pure skill because the same person winning every time just wouldn’t be fun.

like, for the most part they’re a bunch of drama kids who have been given the perfect playground to act out the shakespearian tragedy of their dreams (some more so than others) (hello rendog) and they’re given the tools and situation to do so but everything else is just improv. and they’re also just having fun like i think we should all remember they’re doing this to have fun with their friends and play on a server where anything goes and they can grief all they want and sometimes they’ll just make stupid mistakes like walking off the side of a diving board and dying because they were so miffed about losing to a best tower competition they forgot where the stairs were, or blowing themselves up with their own tnt trap because they placed one block in the wrong place.

also i think people forget just how generally predictable people are in general, like after five seasons you can definitely start to guess how people will behave because they’re just like that. joel is reckless and he likes to poke the bear, martyn is good at staying alive but not good at keeping hearts (the difference between winning limlife and going out early in secret life), scott is good at the social game and a formidable opponent but also terribly self sacrificial, bdubs will betray anyone he’s allied with if offered something good, etc etc etc

[n0tamused]

HSR/Genshin characters as dragons

A/n: I feel like this is a bit shorter than my usual dragon posts, I apologize for that. But I also have to say (for my sake at least) that these images of dragons aren't what my finished art looks like. At best I'd call them colored sketches, so please - if you're interested in my finished works, check out my instagram as I have way more concrete examples of my art! <3 Thank you. And if anyone is interested in a c0mission, you can feel free to check the carrd link in bio! They are still open!

Contents: Jing Yuan, Capitano and Aventurine as dragons, x reader, gn reader, tinge of angst, headcanons

Jing Yuan:

-Jing Yuan, although looking really fluffy and soft as he does, is a formidable warrior. He didn’t get to be a General for nothing at all

-His fur does hide a lot away and it does give him a rather gentle appearance, making him a bit easier to approach than your regular dragon. His species specifically wasn’t made for war but rather for more endurance and some more milder things, but Jing Yuan excels in all aspects of his kind and has proven himself worthy of his station during the wars and during more diplomatic events.

-It goes without saying, but this guy is cunning, he has his brains about himself and knows how to play an opponent where necessary, although he does prefer more honorable approaches and would never do anything purely “evil”

-Some wonder how he hasn’t turned brown from how much he loves to bask in the sun in his dragon form. And oftentimes it has happened when someone went to check on him and he was just knocked out in a nap coma, not laying in any shade, just all sun. If he was in his human form he would have been burnt to a crisp

-But there’s something about Jing Yuan’s dragon form that is rather comforting, to both you and honestly anyone else. Everyone knows stories of old kings and leaders of planets and countries that are described as these powerful and frightening individuals that hid their softness for special people in their hearts. Jing Yuan, although powerful, does not evoke fear in his people like those kings from the stories do. His presence does command respect, yes, but people can approach him and talk to him just fine, without any unwarranted fear that he’d reprimand them or punish them for saying anything he may dislike.

-He has a lot of patience with people in general, and all diplomatic meetings he attends go by smoothly

-Jing Yuan doesn’t shy from his dragon form at all, and at times he prefers it when the sun is not as strong, so he can soak up every single ray of sun he possibly can. He has quite the bit yard so he doesn’t lack space either

-Loves to see you cuddle him. Since he is quite big, he does tend to not move much if you decide to hop onto him while he’s sleeping and cuddle him, just in case you find yourself under his claws by some chance. He doesn’t want to crush you. Other times he is rather playful, gentle all throughout, as he picks you up or nudges you with his head. Once he smacked you with that big tail of his, and although it looks mad fluffy that thing does have weight to it alright.. you were knocked into the grass bro

-Older age has turned some of his coat a darker shade and some of those spots also came in later in his life. It is something he doesn’t mind, he is quite fond of his spots

-He lets you do his hair or help him with his armor in dragon form. There are always those small and annoying clasps that are bothersome to put on so he entrusts them to you

-Some of the armor does hide scars from his past battles, but so does his big thick mane. That’s also some of the reasons why people think he doesn’t do much fighting since he always looks so well put together and “clean”(no visible scars) both in human form and in dragon form

-He is also very clean btw, smells fresh. Chef kiss

Capitano:

-His name has only existed in rumors and legends for centuries, and he has long since become some sort of  ghost tale. Some believe this dragon exists, some don’t, some use the stories to scare their children with, others laugh about it..etc

-No one doubts Capitano, the strongest man alive, the first of the Fatui exists, but the question of his dragon form is another matter. Many don’t even believe those are one and the  same, due to the lack of all the proof that the two are correlated 

-Capitano has never admitted to anything either to anyone outside of this Fatui fold, and he never truly had the need to take the form of the ice beast. He is the strongest man in Teyvat, he can do everything in this form without causing too much of a ruckus, he doesn’t need a dragon to wreck more havoc and cause more of a scene yk

-Although in his battle against Mavuika… maybe they both let out their beastly forms yk and they just duked it out a bit until both sustained damage and that fog curtain was blown over them and they retreated

-In his dragon form he is quite cold to the touch, it’s almost like he doesn’t produce much heat at all, and although his breath sometimes smokes and fogs from his nostrils, his scales are never warm. 

-His scales are dense and thick, made for protection and endurance, but they do hinder some of his ability to be flexible

-Don’t be fooled though, although he isn’t the most flexible or speedy dragon around, he is a killer tank, a machine. His claws and teeth can pierce anything and everything, and that tail of his is also something to be wary off. Even if he has his back turned to you that tail seems to possess a mind of its own and lashes about to protect him if someone tries an attack from behind (side note: inspired by an iguanodon, specifically that big claw on his front legs)

-Ice powers of course, he can freeze the ground underneath him and summon ice projectiles, as if he wasn’t a battle beast already 

-This form is quite rare to see, and for a long, long time his darling didn’t even know about it until that battle with Mavuika that brought it out of him

-It was nothing to scoff at or turn your head from. You were worried for him when you heard he was injured, and to know he had pushed himself into his dragon form also speaks great volumes of the intensity of the battle itself

-He doesn’t see it as important even after you expressed your concerns and bafflement after having found out. He just sort of shrugs it off. No big deal 

-His wings look quite heavy, and they are, so he does require quite the run up to take to the skies

-In human form he does have some scales on him, so if you’re cuddled up to him at night you can feel them under your fingertips. Capitano is quite open to your touches, rather relaxed after being with you for so long and these days, your touches often lull him to sleep. He sleeps on his back and sleeps like a log. He usually has an arm around you and the scales on his chest and arms are free to be examined by you

-He is quite scarred, and Capitano is not opposed to telling you how he got which scar. His way of storytelling isn’t exactly rich, it’s straight to the point but not boring

-Sometimes he leaves his tail around when he goes back to his human form, but only if he knows no one will see him, except you. 

Aventurine:

-Although the smallest in the list today, and a smaller stature for his species in general, Aventurine’s strength lies in his head. Due to the rough past he preserved through with luck and cunning, he knows what the world is like and how it operates

-Most people base their judgment on visuals and vocal tones, so Aventurine has gained quite the rep for being flamboyant and extra. Just like he wears so many fancy layers and clothes in his human form, he adorns his dragon form in pretty pearls, gold, rings, scarves, fluff..etc. Everything to show this image of confidence and maybe a bit of cockiness and arrogance

-As the money goat of the IPC, he has to look the part too, no?

-As mentioned before, he knows what a lot of people look at and what they look for, and due to the smaller size of his dragon he is able to walk through most places in that form too, bringing more attention to himself and more opportunities too.

-Of course he has had his fair share of insults directed at him, both in human and dragon form, but he tries not to let it ever show. The dragon form does tend to ward off any truly malicious individuals though, and his status as a Stoneheart has granted him a fair share of protection as well. Not many would dare to strike a Stoneheart.

-By nature he is quite colorful, additionally Aventurine also takes great care and hygiene of his looks. I mean dude probably has his own perfume brand along some others, he smells good and does leave a lasting impression overall

-The only thing he wishes he could get rid of is that branding on his neck. It is there no matter what shape he takes and it is glaringly obvious to anyone that looks at him. He can hide his eyes, but he can’t hide the red letters on his neck that the feathers or his collar fail to cover up. Even after so many years after it happened, the feathers in that spot of his neck never grew back, the tissue being far too scarred to allow any new growth.

-It is the only thing he  could visibly react to when in the presence of someone else. He may huff and puff, try and jest about it before switching topics

-No matter how much he takes care of himself though, he’ll never be able to wash off the blood of his skin and feathers, the blood of his people that died while he survived, then the blood of the master that abused him and kept him chained up.

-His feathers may look glossy, clean, pristine, but if it were up to him, he’d pluck them all out

-In private, if you catch him before he reverts back to his human form, he tends to not let you touch him

-He makes some excuses, that his feathers are too oily, or that they don’t smell good, or that they’re too rough and this and that, and he just goes back to his human form before you can protest against it

-If you really insist he will agree on gifting you a couple of his feathers for keepsake, your pick too. You can use it as an accessory, or maybe house decor - sell it if you want to, he doesn’t mind what you do with it

Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

Tags: @moonlitreveri3 @lexidraws @drowning-in-cabbages @creationsabyss @grimulf-of-the-wilderness @st4rrl1ghtwastaken @the-inquisitive-constellation @voiddance @the-bilkush @fictionally-attached @cheese-enjoyer9471

[blackynsupremacy]

TOUCHDOWN

CHAPTER 1

pairing: nicholas a. chavez x black!fem!reader

summary: your loathing for the sport of college football changes when unexpected sparks fly between you and the star quarterback.

contains: college au, fluff, quarterback!nicholas, strangers to friends (for now), slow burn, opposites attract, mention of partying, swearing, meet cute.

also starring: drew starkey as himself, justine skye as herself.

a/n: based on this request. this is my first request ever, so i hope you guys enjoy it! this will be a series because the idea of quarterback!nicholas has hella potential and i didn’t want to do lazy headcanons. dear taglist, my apologies if my tags are inconsistent! i be writing these sleepy as hell and sometimes i forget. please charge it to the head and not the heart. thank you all for the continued support!

tags: @oscarisaackissmykitty @greengoblinswifey @jkr820 @simply-lovley44 @elitesanjisimp @gxuxhdjdu @hnch33rios @niteskysx @xoxoglittergossip @titsout4nicholas @hoffmansgirl @hopefully-saturn @austeenbootler @supaprettyg @sabrinasopposite @thabiddie23 @sheydnni @venic-bxtch

the sun rays illuminate the orange, black, and white fan appearal as the roaring cheers of the crowd of the ecstatic student body vibrated and pierced through your ears as you were being dragged by your best friend, justine.

���come on, girl! it’s almost the start of the second quarter.” justine urged, trying to make her way through the crowd with you in tow. her brown eyes focus on the path leading you to the seats printed on your complimentary tickets.

“i don’t know what the hell you’re rushing me for, j! you spent all that time trying to find something to wear.” you retort with a scoff before taking your wrist from her palm in order to search for your seats. once you get a glimpse in the distance, you point.

“they’re over here!” you exclaim to your friend loud enough to hear over the cheering fans. begrudgingly, it was your turn to lead because you’ve barely stepped foot in this stadium.

all week, she had pleaded for you to go to this saturday’s game to support her boyfriend and wide receiver, drew starkey. you kept refusing her plea until she bribed you with the promise of paying for anything you desired from the concession stand. that had to be serious coming from justine because the prices weren’t very reasonable, so you gave in. you’ve met drew on a couple occasions and he was cool towards you for a football player, but you don’t really mingle with the crowd of student athletes at your college. you especially don’t like football or sports in general. it’s pretty ironic considering you’re the head football coach’s daughter, a fact that you keep under wraps from the student population and you wanted to keep it that way. it’s not like you didn’t hate the man. it’s just you and your father had never really seen eye to eye, he was all about athletics, strategy, competition, and winning. meanwhile, you wanted to express yourself in a way that didn’t have to do with his values. you’d rather be reading, writing, creating, vibing to your vinyls, or catching up on your favorite true crime documentaries. you wanted to be left alone to grow into your own identity, but your dad was just too pushy, so that pushed you away from his world of sports.

you were glad that drew had gotten tickets on the sidelines for you both because you didn’t want to call your dad about being here. as you took your seats, you could already hear the buzzer go off to signify the start of the second quarter. you gaze down across from the metal bars to see the line of players spectating from the benches along with your dad pacing across the turfed sideline with his arms crossed and a furrowed expression. you look to see the score, your college scored thirty-five while the opponent is gaining traction with a score of thirty-two. that was a first, this other team seemed to be a formidable force to be reckoned with. you can already tell that your father was going to pop off like that vein protruding out of his bald head. your eyes drifted towards the game, you saw the jersey number fourteen, who you recognized as your best friend’s beau and none other than number one, the quarterback, nicholas alexander chavez. he was basically the top man on campus as he was on the field from what you’ve heard. he had the full ride, the skill, the physique, and possibly the arrogance that came with such a package. you can’t say that know him, but you know of him because your dad had mentioned him numerous times in the past as if he were the son he never had— or, always wanted.

as you observed each play, you saw that drew and nicholas were putting in the best efforts they could to get the team to victory, but today didn’t seem to be their day as they were now tied up. nicholas’ frustration with how these guys were aggressively knocking down his boys was starting to show. he’s even fumbled the ball not once, but twice. he was really off his game. your father talks to the referee to call for a brief timeout. all of the players that were on the field retreat to where their respective teams reside. after huddling them into a circle, you knew it was anything, but a kumbaya. even through the amplified sound of the field, you can still hear your father viciously bark in each of his players’ faces, especially towards nicholas. nicholas stood there frozen as your dad’s finger aggressively prodded in his chest with every single word. the elder huffed out a breath and directed nicholas towards the bench to which he complies with a firm nod and proceeds to do what he’s told. your father tapped another player to take over before it was time for the game to resume. he obviously didn’t notice that his place on the bench was right in front of your seat, but just a few feet away.

“mmcht. that’s a damn shame. nick doesn’t usually get sidelined like that!” you heard justine say, you could see from the corner of your eye that she was shaking her head.

“you’re not wrong. i thought he was putting in work from what i’ve seen, but y’know how my dad be tripping—enough is never enough.” you nonchalantly respond, rolling your eyes. justine shifted the conversation and asked if you needed anything from the concession stand. delighted that she kept her promise, you put in your order and offered to watch the seats. now, that you were alone, you pondered when you gaze at the quarterback.

you’d never say it out loud, but now you were feeling—pity.

a heaviness resided in your chest as you watch who you thought would be this confident, egotistical person with the world as his oyster, carry himself in such a downcast, vulnerable manner. sure, you weren’t fond of the athletic scene nor students, but at the end of the day, they were human. no matter how many plays they ran, practiced, and drilled, there’s always a chance to mess up under this amount of pressure. as soon as nicholas plopped down on the bench, he exasperatingly removed his white helmet and shook the dripping perspiration off his chocolate tresses. with legs spread, he leaned forward as his elbows rested on his thighs. you couldn’t see his facial expression because he shamefully hung his head towards to the ground, his spine raised and lowered with every breath.

this was weighing on you with such intensity. a part of you wants you to mind your business and get this game over with, but another part is urging you to do something that you couldn’t even fathom. after making sure your father was preoccupied, you stand up from your seat and begin to walk towards the benches to the spot where nicholas was. it was strange, really—this was an event that you were indifferent to, but here you are, showing empathy towards someone you barely knew. that’s only because he’s been in the same spot you have. you chide your conscience to shut the hell up for a minute. with each step, you glance around to see if anyone else noticed nicholas’ dejection, but there was still a winning streak to hold up at this college, so the crowd was too loudly absorbed in the game to even care about the quiet turmoil on the sidelines.

this was way out of your comfort zone.

you thought you were going to suffer from a heart attack with the way your chest was pounding. the closer you got to him, the more you could see the tension in his shoulders as his fists and jaw simultaneously clenched. you take a second to read the scoreboard, your school had gained some points, but the opponent was still one point behind with clock of second quarter nearing its end. you’re right behind him and your hand looms over his shoulder as you’re in internal conflict with yourself. oh, what the hell? what have you got to lose? your palm tapped on his shoulder, you stop yourself from shrinking when he slowly turns to see it’s you. nicholas curiously quirked a brow at your presence, you were cute. he silently admired your earth toned skin, full glossed lips, and warm, but strangely familiar brown eyes. your face heated as you felt awkward under his gaze the longer he kept staring. besides football, you could see why he gets play on and off the field, but you had a task you needed to complete. for nicholas, it’s not like he didn’t mind the female attention, but he was in the middle of an athletic crisis, so if you were there to either chat him up or gripe about him not calling back or whatever, all of that could wait, but that sincere look in your eyes made him want to hear you out.

“hey…” you greet awkwardly, but raised your voice loud and steady for him to hear, “if i were you, i wouldn’t beat myself up over this. it’s only one game.” he ran a hand through his hair to keep it from sticking to his face,

“you think so? what makes you say that?”

his brows furrowed, pondering awaiting what you’re about to say next.

“one, you won’t die if you lose and two, aren’t you the one that got us most of these points in the first place?” you quiz by sarcastically counting on your fingers, your eyes flicker to the scoreboard. nicholas takes a moment to think on it and silently confirms your statement with a nod.

“okay, then. don’t let my—i mean, your coach get into your head, he’s just being—a dick, not that i would know.” you quip, still trying to keep your identity a secret, there’s a tension lifted when you hear him chuckle. the sound alone causes a small smile to form on your face before you continue to speak,

“i’m just saying at the end of the day, it’s one game, so don’t trip. besides, you may not know it. but you got value to this team, which is more than i can say for your teammates—except for drew.” intrigued, nicholas was astonished by this. here you were, this random, but cute, girl he didn’t know from a can paint approached to give him a—pep talk? now, there were all types of questions racing in his brain and he was certain that you had the majority of the answers. too bad that time wasn’t on his side.

“hey, i appreciate—” he started, but was instantly cut off by the assistant coach who called out from a distance,

“yo, chavez! you’re back in.”

that was your cue to go. a part of you wished that you got to hear what nicholas had to say, but another part knew that wasn’t possible given that he probably won’t even remember you. this was a huge school with many faces and your crowds just don’t happen to mix, so how could it ever be possible for you both to cross paths again? you send a dejected grin towards him,

“i gotta go. i’ll see you when i see you!” you quickly bade him farewell before he even got the chance to respond, which sucks because you couldn’t be seen by your dad talking to one of his precious players. you make it back in time to sit in your seat and justine happened to sit a few minutes after, carrying your concession orders in her arms. after she hands you your food, she begins to indulge in some popcorn as she observes the game.

“damn, that line was a hot mess! did i miss anything, n/n?” she questioned, her gaze turned to your direction. you didn’t want to tell her about the talk you had with the quarterback, so you played it cool.

“nah, but it looks like dad decided to put nicholas back in.” you respond, pointing to the field where the team are preparing to run another play. as you observe, you notice there’s a change in nicholas. he’s now playing harder than before, the speed in his legs could leave a trail of fire as he continues to dodge tackles and score touchdown after touchdown. the crowd in the stands gets hyped up each time when the home score gets higher with every second ticking by. you and justine were thoroughly impressed by nicholas’ new air confidence as you watched him jump with drew to bump their chests in pure excitement. you found it quite endearing. it was like time was flying as the game progressed up until half-time. while the spirit team runs to the field to prepare for their dance routine, you spectate as your father calls the boys over for a huddle, approvingly talks to them, and relieves them to recuperate on the benches. justine taps your shoulder to get your attention before she directs her thumb to the other side of the benches,

“hey, i’m gonna go talk to drew for a little bit. you wanna come with or…?” she inquires and you shake your head to decline.

“nah, i’ll just wait or go to the bathroom until you get back. say hey to drew for me!”

with a nod in response, justine stands from her seat to journey her way through the crowd to catch up with her boyfriend that sat on the far end. once she was out of view, you took the opportunity to leave your seat and see about nicholas. this time, you didn’t feel as worried as you did when you first managed to talk to him. this wasn’t very much like you, making an effort to talk to someone, let alone a guy for the second time within a span of several minutes. once you’re in the spot from earlier, you lean over the railing to tap his shoulder.

“yo!” you casually greet to him, raising your voice among the noise. nicholas turned instantly to find that it’s you again. with a piqued expression, he still never forgot the previous conversation, nor the questions he had for you.

“oh, hey.” he responds, turning his body fully to you as he chugged on the green gatorade water bottle, “it’s good to see you again—y’know i meant to say that i appreciate what you said earlier. are you like the school’s motivational speaker or something?” he playfully questions, a smile raises on his lips when you both chuckle.

“nah, i just call things as i see it—i see that you got your mojo again.” you shrug, glancing towards field then back to the quarterback.

“damn right! we’re so close to winning, then it’s off to the championship before we know it.”

believe it or not, you found his enthusiasm for the sport to be charming.

“i bet it feels good.”

“what does?”

“to win—like, all the time.”

“honestly, it’s not all what it’s cracked up to be.”

“after witnessing the verbal ass whooping you got from your coach, i’ll take your word for it.” you both laugh again, nicholas sends you a curious stare.

“don’t you think it’s strange that we’re carrying on a conversation and we haven’t even asked for each other’s names?” he questioned, using the towel around his neck to wipe the sweat from his face. “i’d like to at least know the name of the motivational speaker and give her a proper thank you.” there he goes with that charming smile again, but he had a point. you guys were just talking and the thought never crossed your mind. you playfully rolled your eyes,

“since you’re dying to know, it’s y/n.” you went straight to the point of not revealing your last name, you doubt you’ll see each other again, so why bother?

“cute name. it’s nice to meet you. i’m—” he starts to introduce himself, but you cut him off.

“nicholas chavez. you’re quite popular here.” you matter-of-factly state, almost chuckling to play it cool. there’s no way in hell this dude just complimented your name so effortlessly like that. his face is painted with surprise followed by a soft laugh of his own,

“so you knew my name the entire time, huh?” he asked, quirking a brow.

“yeah, just didn’t want to give you that satisfaction. don’t you believe in mystery?” you joke, a smirk rose on your full lips before glancing at the scoreboard for the time—it was about five minutes until half time was over. shit, you kind of wanted to stay longer, but you had to bounce back to your seat before justine or worse, your father found out where you were.

“it was good talking to you, nicholas, but i gotta go!” you say as you hastily back up from the railing. a pang of dread pinched at your chest when you saw his face deflate to one of—disappointment? did he not want you to go? you brush those thoughts out of your head, you had to be hallucinating.

“hey, y/n! wait i—” nicholas was cut off by the buzzer and he watched as you were already on your way back to your seat. damnit, there was one more burning question he had, but now, he had to focus on securing this win.

the third quarter progressed still with the two teams neck and neck. it was now two minutes til’ the last quarter, your school’s team only needed to make it through one field goal to seal the deal. you, your dad, and the crowd sat in anticipation when the ball had been set on the field. it was now on nicholas to determine the team’s victory or failure with just one kick. you don’t know why you were so invested in this game, but you wanted him to make the goal. these last few seconds seemed to go in slow motion as nicholas’ foot drew back then swung forward with a force to connect to the ball, bringing it several feet in the air to send it to its desired destination between the slingshot shaped structure. at only three seconds, everyone, including you and justine were hyped all the way up once was the ball was deemed as going through the goal successfully.

you felt relief wash over you, not only for your college winning the game, nor that it was finally over, but that nicholas could go on about his day without the pressure from your father. as you and justine make your way out of the stadium, you can see her typing away on her phone. she seemed preoccupied as a mischievous smile rose on her face when you entered the parking lot. the sound of her giggles fill the air when you both enter the car. now, you had to see what’s up because it was genuinely freaking you out,

“justine, what the hell is going on?” you inquire. your best friend looks at you from the corner of her eye as she swiftly pulls out of the parking lot.

“drew’s having a party tonight with the team at his frat house to celebrate.” she replied, keeping her eyes on the road. you cross your arms and shrug. you didn’t really care for the college party scene because there’s always some bullshit, so you kept your distance.

“so? he’s always having one, what’s so special about it?”

justine playfully rolls her eyes, but she just couldn’t contain her smile.

“he told me to bring you along because there’s someone who wants to see you there! he didn’t tell me who, but it’s definitely someone from the team. aah, oh, my god! we gotta get you ready right now, girl.”

you sat there quietly, trying to piece this puzzle together. who’d want to meet the most lowkey person of this college at a party? then, you realized after retracing to the first conversation you had with him, you mentioned your association with drew.

it all became clear: it was none other than your school’s quarterback, nicholas chavez, who was requesting for you to be there. just when you thought there wouldn’t be a chance in crossing paths again, now it was your chance to step into something unexpected.

[wood-white-writer]

“Didn’t mean to make your heart Blue” || [1/…]

- OPLA!Buggy x F!Reader

“So, I don’t blame you if you want to bury me in your memories,”

— Mitski, "Goodbye, My Danish Sweetheart"

Pairing: Buggy the Clown (Live Action) x F!Reader

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Summary: You were an apprentice of Gol D. Roger’s crew in your youth, long before his eventual demise. Along with the Red-Haired Shanks and Buggy, you were a formidable trio; the embodiment of a new generation of pirates yet to come. But times changed, and so did you and your friends. Years have passed since you last saw Buggy following the dispute that you thought ended your friendship. When you finally reunite with the blue-haired menace you once considered your closest friend, it’s under less than “friendly” circumstances.

Warnings: Fem!Reader, Canon Typical Violence, Slight Canon Divergence, Buggy is an asshole, The reader used to go by "Cross-Hairs" in the past.

A/N: I’m basing this primarily on the LA! version of “One Piece”, as I’ve just recently begun to watch the Anime.

Luffy, for his unyielding devotion towards his dreams of becoming the King of Pirates, evidently lacks the sense of foresight required of a pirate to successfully navigate the seven seas. Then again, it's nothing new.

You’ve always known. The kid's been a hazard to society even in his youth; no filter between his brain and his mouth despite the ungodly amount of food he pushes between his jaws. You used to watch him make his proclamations in front of Shanks' merry band with little more than vaguely piqued interest, indifferent to the youthful albeit naive optimism he exhibited.

Shanks, meanwhile, always used to find his demeanor endearing - “He’s a good kid. Let him dream,”

And so you let him. You watched him dream for the next ten years, making sure that his dreams didn't catch the wrong kind of attention until he was old enough to hold his own weight.

However, back then, Luffy's actions seldom warranted any real consequences. Save for the incident with the Bandit and the Sea King, he's rarely been in any real danger prior to his debut as a pirate.

An unruly child spouting declarations of desiring to become the next “King of Pirates” hardly would’ve caused more of a ripple effect than to make other people shake their heads and laugh. And if it did, you were there to make sure it didn’t.

Now, not only has his actions earned you the ire of the Marines by stealing the Map of the Grand Line, but it has also garnered the attention of other opponents. Far more dangerous ones than the likes of Alvida or even that Axe-Hand Moron.

It was only a matter of time.

So when you find yourself waking up in a wooden cage with the rest of your reluctant crew mates, accompanied by a head-throbbing headache at that, your first instinct is to heave an exasperated sigh.

"Goddamn it."

"Oh, you're up." It's Luffy. He looks unharmed, albeit disoriented, not too unlike yourself. "How're you feeling?"

"Like I just snorted a bottle of rum through my nostrils." You get up into a crouching position, eying your surroundings, which doesn't leave much up for inspection considering your cage consists of broad wide planks. "What the fuck happened?"

The last thing you recall before being knocked out was a Jolly Roger in the distance, too far away for you to make out properly. So, not Marines, but pirates.

You can't tell if that's a good or a bad thing.

"Think we wouldn't have told you if we knew?" The swordsman - Zoro - replies with a deadpan look of boredom on his face as he attempts to peek through the cracks in your confinement. You have half a mind to tell him where to shove it but opt for a more quiet approach.

It's during moments like these when you realize you actually miss that scrawny pink-haired kid with the glasses - Koby. He never spoke to you like this. Granted, he was probably intimidated by the way you were always hovering behind Luffy like a silent guardian, but he didn't provide unnecessary comments like Bounty Hunter over there does.

Small blessings and all that. Very small.

You provide a solid kick to the plank on Zoro's right side without warning, catching him off-guard and earning you a short-lived glare. The planks loosen considerably, probably not meant to contain you for long.

Meanwhile, you listen half-heartedly to Luffy and Nami as they discuss the potential identities of your captors.

"They're not marines," Luffy assures her. "Before I got knocked out, I saw a Jolly Roger. We've been captured by pirates."

You glance at him from over your shoulder. "What'd it look like?"

"I don't know, it looked ... like ..." he pauses in thought. "A skull with crossbones, and a red ... dot? It almost looked like a nose, if bones could have noses, but they don't."

The blood in your veins freezes up, as does the rest of your body until their voices blur into nothing.

You've been keeping occasional track of him in the years that's passed since you parted ways, and when he amounted to a considerable bounty on his head, his signature Jolly Roger was hard not to miss on his wanted posters.

-------

"I didn't know there were so many pirates."

You tilt your head at the wall decorated with various wanted posters of different pirates, some more torn and discoloured than others, some more dead than others. You can't find your own amongst them in Shells Town, but then again, it has been some time since last you were on the Marines' radar. More likely than not, your poster is hidden somewhere underneath the several layers of—

"Hey, there's yours!" Luffy damn-near exclaims in wonder and points at— Oh yeah, there it is, right above Foxy's poster, a little yellow around the edges but still holding strong.

WANTED Dead or Alive "Cross-Hairs" 25,000,000

"Oh, wow, a 25-million bounty. That's a lot of berries."

The image is well over a decade old, taken back in your early twenties, and you were much more easy to identify back then. You were sharper in some angles, softer in others, compared to the present.

You look different now. Less robust, a little older, but no less dangerous in the grand scheme of things. Your sharp eyes remain the same, a trait Gol D. used to remark upon with a mischievous glimmer in his own eyes.

"You have eyes sharp enough to cut through steele," he'd say and ruffle your hair. A sense of loss perforating your being at the memory.

Despite being in your thirties, age tends to alter the appearance of most people, and you consider that a pretty good advantage right about now as you're standing surrounded by an army of Marine officers. Given the fact that you've spent the last couple of years away from the sea without a trace or clue, the World Government probably assumes you've died or gone into hiding.

Be that as it may, they didn't even bother to decrease the bounty since last time. How odd.

While Luffy spends a few moments admiring your old picture like a child that just learned their relative is some kind of famous celebrity, Koby is less than enthralled by this revelation.

"T-That's one of the highest bounties in the East-Blue." He is hesitant to look up at you. "What did ... What did you do to earn it?"

"A little here, a little there. Kicked a few asses, stole a bit of treasure along the way. Nothing too bad." You admit with a half-assed shrug as you continue to inspect the various posters.

For the boy's peace of mind, you won't go into the less ... child-friendly details regarding your reputation. About the way you used to fight to the blood with most of your opponents, Marines and pirates in equal measure. How you'd stand victorious atop a pile of broken limbs and pleading sounds from the defeated crowd.

"Yeah, yeah ..." Koby agrees with a feeble nod. "There are way worse pirates on the Grand Line."

Your gaze happens upon a particular wanted poster, and your demeanor stiffens. Not enough to notice from an ordinary point of view, but it does nonetheless.

His sharp cerulean eyes and bright red nose seem to mock you from his picture, and a heavy feeling settles in your heart. A feeling of hurt and betrayal you've long since thought abandoned in the corners of your heart. Not even the loss of your old captain could hope to compare to it

You snap back to Luffy, your voice a little strained as you speak though you desperately try to cover it up. "Are we done here, Luffy?"

------

It's your fucking luck it had to be him of all people to come after Luffy first.

Why him?

Fuuuuuu—

"We don't need to fight." Luffy's voice snaps you back to the present. "I can talk to them, pirate to pirate."

"Not with this one," you whisper more to yourself than anyone else. The only one who seems to catch onto this is Zoro, but the moment he opens his mouth to ask, Nami beats him to it.

A discussion regarding the duality of piracy quickly causes you to lose all interest in the following sequence.

You don't trust either the thief or the bounty hunter as far as you can throw them, and the feeling is mutual in both parts. Sure, they proved useful in getting rid of the Axe-Hand, and have had thus far been tolerable enough for you not to throw them overboard.

Still, Zoro recognized you on the spot where the Marines failed to, and though Nami doesn't, your status as a pirate is enough reason for her to distrust you.

As mentioned, you don't trust them, but Luffy does, and his lead is the only one you'll follow. This is his voyage, and you’re not here to keep him from making mistakes unless you consider them particularly vital. If this bites him in the end, then you'll be there to keep him afloat.

After all, you made a promise to your old red-haired friend.

"Look after the lad for me, will you? Help him achieve his dream."

With no patience left to wait to get the fuck out of here as quickly as possible, you prepare to kick through the planks. Just then, the top piece of your confinements unfold, and what you're greeted with is the pinpoint definiton of a fever dream on acid.

Tightrope walkers swinging in the air, acrobatics performing acts of impressive feats, someone fire-breathing, and-- was that a guy juggling on a unicycle passing you just now?

A circus troupe. You've been captured by a fucking circus troupe.

"Oh, what the actual fuck?" Is all you can manage to mutter, a sentiment Zoro surprisingly agrees with if the nod he adds serves as any indication.

The troupe has an audience, you come to observe in the distance. They're clapping and cheering on cue with the sign being held in the air, yet they look ... wrong. Forced. Puppets with strings embedded in their limbs, so to speak.

You narrow your eyes in distaste at the view. The hell has he been up to as of late?

In the midst of the enforced round of applause, a voice gradually makes itself more and more prominent through the masses. Deeper and huskier since last you heard it, but yet painfully known to your ears.

"No, no, no, NO! Stop clapping!"

And then he appears. The ringleader himself, exasperated as he throws his arms out to each side and effectively silencing the crowd.

"No, stop! This is all wrong!"

You momentarily forget to breathe as you watch him come into view from behind the audience. He's taller than the last you saw him, that's for damn certain. Must've hit a second growth spurt in your absence because, while you were relatively on equal foot in your youth, he now seems to have grown a head or so taller than yourself.

And like yourself, he's changed, and not inherently for the better. It's a relative statement considering that the life of a pirate is oftentimes a hard one, but it's a fact nonetheless. The years have not been any kinder to him than they've been for yourself. He still has the same hair, the same general appearance, but he's changed.

Out of the three of you, Shanks seems to have had it the easiest in recent years, appearance-wise. He never lost his smile or affinity for the brighter things in life, even when he had his damn arm chewed off.

Meanwhile, you lost your dreams, and he seems to have lost everything you recognized about him in your youth. His smile, his laughter, and even his stance had been replaced by some replica that fails to hold a candle to the original one.

This is a show master, not your friend. Then again, you haven't been friends for a long time now.

Still, changed as he may be from an outward point of view, Buggy's eyes have not. They're clear like the seas, just as they were long ago. (And his nose, of course. How could you forget?).

You can't tell if that's a relief yet.

You're not a fearful person by nature, having lost the distinct ability years ago. Now, however, you feel the tremors vibrating through your ribcage at the sight of him. That's why you decide to turn your face slightly to the side for now, hoping to prolong the inevitable.

Fortunately, your presence evades Buggy's notice for just a while longer as he berates his crew. "The spotlight was late! You completely missed my entrance!"

The sound of said spotlight changing its focus can be heard.

"And where, oh where, was the dancing lion?"

Good! While he's occupied, maybe you can find the right moment to grab Luffy and get the hell--

"Hey! I know you! I saw your wanted poster in Shells Town!"

... You want to dig a hole in the sand and bury yourself right about now.

"You're the clown guy! Uhm ... Binky, right?"

Buggy, you scream inside as you suppress the urge to yank Luffy by the shoulders and shake him until all of his limbs drop down on the ground. Fuck Shanks and fuck the promise. He's Buggy the fucking Clown, and you did not have to go out of your way to pinpoint that fact!

In your internal state of dismay, you settle with trying to locate potential escape routes. Maybe a hole in the walls of the tent, or an absent-minded guard by the entrance. You're stronger than most, with years of experience behind you, but you're not capable of fighting your way through a crowd with three tagalongs so seamlessly.

"Buggy," the man of the hour states as he approaches, still having failed to notice you. "Buggy the Clown."

No one says anything, which he takes as a sign to continue on with - what you personally regard - as a moronic long line of titles.

"Buggy, the Flashy Fool." Still nothing. He raises his arms, like a lost puppy begging for scraps of recognition. "Buggy, the Genius Jester."

Seriously, what's with him and all the names? He’s always been … overdramatic, but this cuts the cake even for him.

"Wow," Luffy seems genuinely impressed, a stark contrast to his companions, who would rather be anywhere than here. "You have a lot of names. I bet everyone in the East Blue knows who you are."

A range of gasps echo from the unwilling audience, and you finally snap your head to the front in alarm. Fuck, he couldn't have used a better word than that. Granted, Luffy didn't mean it in that context, or even that word, but it doesn't matter.

Another thing that hasn't changed about Buggy... And that very same thing might as well be what snaps him out of his theatric act.

You thought Buggy finally would've noticed you by now, seeing it as you're finally willing to face him, but his eyes remain eerily glued to the kid.

"What did you just say?" Buggy asks, calmly.

Way too calmly for your liking.

Oh, no.

Luffy blinks in confusion. "Just that everyone knows who you are?"

You notice the clown lunging before Luffy does.

In the span of a second, you plant yourself between them, the only barrier between him and the clown's rage. You don't move an inch even as Buggy closes in with his gloved hand outstretched towards the boy, having not yet registered your sudden appearance until his fingers are inches from your face.

Your eyes finally lock, the blue in his eyes more prominent now than ever. Almost two decades since the last time you saw each other, and Buggy ceases his attempted assault as though time itself freezes.

At first, there is nothing in his eyes but surprise. Anger. Maybe even a trace of admiration towards the one who dared stand against him. Hot and burning beneath his irises, like glowing embers left behind in a dying pyre.

Finally, there is recognition, and the fire reignites warmer and scorching more than ever before.

He doesn't say anything at first, and neither do you, but the glare in your eyes conveys the message loudly enough that even the performers and troupe members alike know not to interfere.

"Leave him be."

You think of what to say, what you can say, after years of being silent. A simple “Hi” will not suffice, and considering the way of which you parted, there is little room for confessions.

Then, Buggy begins to laugh.

It starts out as a whisper of a chuckle, then gradually develops until he's full-out holding his stomach in wheezes, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes and smudging his make-up.

He points his arm up as he tries to contain himself, and the guy holding the APPLAUSE-sign picks up on the subliminal message. Everyone in the place begins to laugh, both the captives and the captors, so loudly this time that it makes you feel small in a way you haven’t felt since you were a child.

You glance cautiously around yourself, sharing brief looks with your companions before the noises abruptly stop, having most likely been forced to do so.

When you look back at Buggy again, he's smiling wider than ever, but his eyes hold no genuine humor. No, there's an unidentifiable emotion swirling in the depths of his blue eyes that you fail to decipher before he speaks.

"Well, well, well! Isn't this an unexpected surprise?" He raises his arm to gesture to you, as if you're an exotic exhibition behind a display case for everyone to behold. The spotlight is now aimed at you, momentarily blinding your vision.

"Ladies and gentlemen! It is my honor to present to you, the one and only, the myth, the legendary 'Cross-Hairs'! The Beast of the East!"

Applause rings again in the air as Buggy continues.

"She was famous throughout all of East Blue for her many endeavors, with a bounty greater than even yours flashy truly." Admitting that fact looks like it physically hurt him, but he prevails. "And then, almost ten years ago, after her biggest heist yet, she just POOFS!" He snaps his fingers and lets them slowly decline for dramatic effect. "Vanishes out of the blue. Leaving the seas for an unforeseen amount of time."

It would seem like you were keeping track of each other all along.

The next words Buggy utters are so hushed that only you hear them, and his smile is gone.

"Then again, you do have a track-record of leaving things behind, haven’t you?"

Oh, the fucking nerve of this guy. You take a step forward, clenching and unclenching you jaw so much your teeth feel on the bring of cracking. How dare he? How fucking dare he?

You’re about to shout back at him, argue, throwing every caution to the wind just to correct him and scream:

("You're the one who left me, remember?")

Before you can, something taps your right shoulder. Thinking it's Luffy, you turn around, and the last thing you recall before it all fades to black is an air of red dust clouding your vision.

[forsaken-headcanons]

Hi.. im the anon who made the shedlersky.split himself to 3 (shed, tel, 1x&) but udhhss whatever right..

So basically!! This headcannon, BUT I have another idea for it and wanted to give it another spin.

What if Shedletsky DID come from the 4D dimension? I'm basing this off of 1x4's actual roblox lore and a few other things, like Telamon being a literal godlike being in roblox lore, but Shedletsky had descended onto Roblox as a 'robloxian' in disguise with slightly malicious intentions, but not quite as well, think of it as also learning Roblox's culture, and since he was considered a higher being, he'd descended as 'Telamon' and praised as such, but distinctly robloxian.

Now, as Telamon had gotten acclimated to the whole admin schmeal, he's slowly learnt that hey! Being a robloxian is actually a LOT better than he expected, meeting some really great people despite his rather.. off deeds, soon enough in later times he had tried out tons of different outfits, both odd, weird and actually looking good.

Character development! Now doesn't want to kill them, destroy them, but being a 4D being, he has a primal urge to kill them, destroy and torment the 3D Realm, he used to please these urges when he's started out as Telamon, but after a serious discussion with Builderman, he had forced these feelings down, and even has had some really conflicting thoughts about robloxians, which comes from his innate, and primal hatred of them, pushing them down as well.

He was, honestly scared and sought to get rid of these feelings, even if it made him lose a great portion of his power(telamon) or his hatred and inherent connection to the 4d realm(1x4)

So, in turn.. yadayadayada, one day he did it, splitting away his forms, it wasn't exactly meant to be physical, but a 4D being IS a 4D being, Shedletsky severed his ties with the higher plane and 'Telamon' had come purely into being, due to the sheer power of it— Telamon is 3D being with too much power in his hands, his motives are purely unknown, and tends to be considered 'The Lord of Chaos', as said with the telemonster description, maybe shed recognized the inherent dangerousness and personally sealed bro away after the others infamy, but the 4D piece of him went to 1x4 as he severed his general hatred(an unpleasent emotion to him) into a semiphysical being (1x4), not as powerful, barely even scratching the surface with telamons power, but still an extremely formidable opponent.

Shed?? Dudes just a normal, maybe a bit too cartoony guy now, came to a point that if you LOOKED at him long enough, like really really long and focused on his features, there'll be a strange, uncanny feeling about him.

ANYWAYS SORRY FOR YAPPING I NEEDED TO GET THIS OFF OF ME💔

This is actually peak. I love this a lot.

[marsupialmuseum]

Meet Chester! 30 years/360 moons old, Chester is a daylight warrior turned elder in RuinClan, the only clan of the 4 that happily accepts kittypets, even if they still want to spend time with their twolegs. He's neutered, fully vaccinated, has his teeth cleaned regularly, and goes to the vet for checkups every few months. Subsisting on a diet of dry food, human food, vegetables, eggs, and forest prey has made Chester strong and virile for his advanced age, and he still hunts and patrols on occasion, though he does get confused sometimes and adventures into the territories of the other clans'. He's generally forgiven with ease and guided straight back to RuinClan, as most everyone in the clans knows Chester. Plus, despite the tom's skinny frame, it's clear that he was once a formidable opponent who had won or helped win many battles, as muscles still ripple beneath his dull coat and numerous scars cut through his fur. He's clearly not going down without a fight!

Chester loves country music (his twolegs play it in their home) and he changes the story about how he got the deep scars on his rear every time he tells it (he's forgotten how he actually got them).

[bumblebeeswrite]

FLUFF PROMPT

Board game nights where their competitive sides come out

WITH JASON PLS like late night after campers are all asleep board game session???? (If you so choose🥹)

Ok bye for now

FRIENDLY FIRE | JASON HOCHBERG

summary: you and Jason go head to head

The cabin was quiet, the only sounds the soft rustle of the pines outside and the rhythmic click, click, click of dice against wood. The rest of the camp was asleep, or at least, they were supposed to be. You and Jason, however, were wide awake, locked in a battle of wits and strategy. The game of choice tonight? Settlers of Catan.

Jason, usually the picture of slightly awkward, endearing camp counselor, was transformed. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his eyes narrowed with a competitive fire you hadn't quite seen before. He wasn't the Jason who struggled to connect with the teenage counselors; he was a cunning strategist, a ruthless negotiator, a force to be reckoned with.

"Okay, okay," he said, his voice low, a conspiratorial whisper in the stillness of the cabin. "I'll trade you two wheat for one ore."

You raised an eyebrow, leaning back in your chair. The single, dim lantern cast long shadows across the game board, highlighting the colorful resource cards in your hand. "Two wheat? Jason, you know I'm swimming in wheat. I need ore, badly, but not that badly."

He sighed dramatically, running a hand through his already slightly disheveled hair. "Fine, fine. One wheat for one ore. But that's my final offer."

You considered it for a moment, tapping a finger against your chin. The offer was tempting, but you knew you could squeeze a little more out of him. "Throw in a sheep, and you've got a deal."

Jason's eyes widened slightly. "A sheep? That's highway robbery!"

"It's called negotiation, Hochberg," you said with a smirk, a playful glint in your eyes. "And you know you want this settlement."

He groaned, but a small smile played on his lips. "Fine. One wheat, one ore, and one very valuable sheep. But if you beat me, I'm blaming this trade."

"Deal," you said, reaching across the table to shake his hand. His hand was warm, calloused slightly from camp work, and a strange thrill shot through you at the contact. You quickly pulled your hand back, focusing on the game.

The game continued, the tension building with each roll of the dice. Jason was a surprisingly formidable opponent, blocking your settlements, stealing your resources, and generally making your life difficult. But you were determined to win. You'd spent countless summer nights at Camp Pineway, honing your board game skills against generations of counselors. You weren't about to lose to Jason Hochberg.

Hours passed, marked only by the shifting shadows in the cabin and the dwindling pile of resource cards. The game was close, neck-and-neck. You could feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins, your heart pounding in your chest. This wasn't just a game; it was a battle of wills.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you were one point away from victory. You needed just one more settlement, one more strategic placement of your little wooden house, and the game would be yours.

Jason watched you intently, his expression unreadable. He knew you were close, and you could feel his competitive energy radiating across the table. It was almost…palpable.

You carefully surveyed the board, your eyes scanning the hexagonal tiles, searching for the perfect spot. You found it: a prime piece of real estate, bordering a wheat field, a forest, and a hill. It was perfect.

With a triumphant grin, you placed your final settlement on the board. "Victory is mine!" you declared, throwing your hands up in the air.

Jason slumped back in his chair, feigning defeat. "No! How could this happen? I was so close!"

"Beginner's luck," you teased, gathering up your victory points.

He chuckled, the sound warm and genuine in the quiet cabin. "Beginner's luck, my foot. You're a shark. A Catan-playing shark."

"And you're a good sport," you said, smiling at him. "Despite your…questionable trading strategies."

He grinned. "Hey, a guy's gotta try, right?" He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. "Well, that was fun. We should do this again sometime."

"Definitely," you agreed, already looking forward to your next late-night game session. There was something about the quiet intimacy of those late-night hours, the shared laughter and friendly competition, that you found…strangely appealing.

As you started to pack up the game, Jason reached across the table, his fingers brushing against yours. A spark of electricity shot through you, and you quickly pulled your hand away, your cheeks flushing slightly.

"Thanks for the game," he said, his voice soft. "It was…nice."

"Yeah, you too," you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. You couldn't meet his gaze, your heart was beating too fast.

There was a moment of silence, a charged, unspoken connection hanging in the air between you. The only sound was the gentle ticking of the lantern, counting down the seconds until dawn.

Finally, Jason stood up, breaking the spell. "Well, I should probably…get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."

"Right, yeah, me too," you said, standing up as well. You gathered the last of the game pieces, your hands trembling slightly.

You walked to the door of the cabin, the cool night air hitting your face. You turned to say goodnight, and Jason was standing there, his eyes fixed on you.

"Goodnight, (Y/N)," he said, his voice low and sincere.

"Goodnight, Jason," you replied, your voice barely a whisper.

You stepped out of the cabin, the image of Jason's face burned into your memory. You couldn't deny it any longer: you were starting to feel something for the slightly awkward, surprisingly competitive camp counselor. And you had a feeling he felt it too.

The next day, camp life resumed its usual chaotic rhythm. The campers woke up, ready for another day of activities, and the counselors sprang into action, leading hikes, teaching crafts, and refereeing endless games of capture the flag. You and Jason were both caught up in the whirlwind of camp duties, but you couldn't shake the memory of your late-night game.

Every time you caught Jason's eye, a shy smile would play on his lips, and your heart would skip a beat. You found yourself looking for excuses to be near him, to talk to him, to simply be in his presence.

That evening, after the campers were tucked into bed and the campfire stories had ended, you found yourself drawn back to the cabin where you and Jason had played Catan. You weren't sure why, but you felt a strange pull, a sense of unfinished business.

As you approached the cabin, you saw a light flickering inside. Your heart leaped with anticipation. Was Jason still up?

You hesitated for a moment, your hand hovering over the doorknob. What if he wasn't there? What if you were just imagining things?

Taking a deep breath, you pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Jason was sitting at the table, the same lantern casting the same warm glow on his face. He looked up as you entered, his eyes widening slightly.

"(Y/N)? What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a mixture of surprise and…something else. Hope?

"I…I don't know," you stammered, feeling suddenly shy. "I just…I couldn't sleep. I guess I just wanted to…come back here."

Jason smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made your heart melt. "Me too," he said. "I couldn't stop thinking about last night. About…you."

He stood up and walked towards you, his steps slow and deliberate. You stood frozen, your heart pounding in your chest, your breath catching in your throat.

He stopped just a few feet away from you, his eyes searching yours. "I know this is probably crazy," he said, his voice low and earnest. "But I feel like…like we have something special. Something…real."

You couldn't speak, your emotions were overwhelming you. You had never felt this way about anyone before. It was a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and a deep, undeniable connection.

Jason reached out and gently took your hand in his. His touch sent a shiver down your spine.

"Can I…can I kiss you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

You nodded, your eyes filling with tears.

Jason leaned in, his lips soft and tentative against yours. It was a gentle kiss, a sweet and tender moment that felt like coming home.

As you kissed, all the doubts and uncertainties melted away. You knew, in that moment, that you and Jason were meant to be. The late-night game, the shared laughter, the competitive spirit…it had all led to this.

The kiss deepened, becoming more passionate, more urgent. You wrapped your arms around Jason's neck, pulling him closer, never wanting this moment to end.

Finally, you broke apart, gasping for breath, your foreheads resting against each other.

"Wow," Jason whispered, his voice hoarse.

"Wow is right," you said, your voice trembling.

You looked at Jason, really looked at him, and saw a depth of emotion in his eyes that mirrored your own. You knew that this was just the beginning of something amazing, something that would change your life forever.

And it all started with a simple board game, a late-night battle of wits, and a shared love for the quiet magic of Camp Pineway.

[ophanum]

u say u write for charaters that dont get as much recognition, could you please write general and nsfw headcanons for adged up karma akabane? i think hed have so many piercings espescially a tongue piercing and an eyebrow one and he would be such a freak fs fs

LIKE YOU MEAN IT ! - Karma Akabane

ft. Aged up! Karma Akabane x OC

TW: nsfw

note: You can read it the way you want it, its possible. Like probably x reader. The headcanons are genderneutral.

"Fuck me like you mean it, make me believe it. Walk the wire, it's alright." - Epic the Musical

Karma's multiple piercings serve as a significant part of his identity. He has a prominent tongue piercing, a stylish eyebrow piercing, and several ear piercings, including hoops and studs. Each piece of jewelry reflects his bold personality and love for self-expression. He often switches out his piercings based on his mood or outfit, enjoying the playful aspect of accessorizing.

Karma has cultivated a unique style that blends streetwear with punk influences. He favors fitted graphic tees with edgy designs, distressed denim, and oversized jackets. Layering is key to his look; he might throw on a long flannel shirt over a tank top or add a studded leather jacket for an extra edge. Accessories like chokers, layered chains, and chunky bracelets complete his outfits, showcasing his individuality.

His playful personality makes him a magnet for attention. Karma loves to joke around, often finding ways to lighten the mood, even in tense situations. He’s not above pulling pranks on friends or using his charm to deflect serious conversations. His charisma is infectious, and people are drawn to his energy, making him a natural leader among his peers.

After years of honing his skills, Karma has become a formidable fighter, known for his agility and speed. He approaches combat with a strategic mindset, often analyzing his opponents and using their strengths against them. His background in the school’s rigorous environment has sharpened his instincts, allowing him to adapt quickly in any situation. He also enjoys sharing his knowledge, teaching others self-defense in a playful yet effective manner.

Beneath his teasing exterior, Karma is fiercely loyal to his friends. He has a strong sense of justice and will not hesitate to step in when someone he cares about is in trouble. Whether it’s defending a friend from bullies or helping someone in need, he often finds himself in situations where he’s protecting those he loves. His friends appreciate this side of him, knowing they can rely on him when it counts.

Karma thrives on adventure, whether it’s exploring new places, trying out extreme sports, or engaging in thrilling activities. He has a strong sense of curiosity that drives him to seek out new experiences, and he often drags his friends along for the ride. This adventurous spirit makes him exciting to be around, as he always has something fun planned.

With his confidence and charm, Karma is an expert flirter. He enjoys teasing his crushes and has a knack for making people feel special. He’ll drop subtle compliments and playful jabs, often leading to light-hearted banter. His playful nature keeps interactions fun and exciting, making it hard for anyone to resist his allure.

Karma brings his adventurous nature into the bedroom, where he’s always eager to explore new kinks and fantasies. He enjoys discussing boundaries and preferences with his partner, ensuring that both of them feel comfortable while pushing limits together. His playful approach keeps things exciting, as he loves surprising his partner with new experiences.

With his tongue piercing, Karma knows how to use it to his advantage. He takes pride in his oral skills, knowing exactly how to drive his partner wild. The added sensation of the piercing only enhances the experience, making him more confident in his abilities to please. He enjoys experimenting with different techniques, always eager to learn what his partner enjoys most.

In the bedroom, Karma has a dominant streak, but he balances it with a keen awareness of his partner's needs. He thrives on being in control, enjoying the thrill of taking charge during intimate moments. However, he always checks in with his partner, ensuring they’re comfortable and enjoying themselves. His attentiveness makes the experience more fulfilling for both.

Karma loves to build anticipation, often teasing his partner before things heat up. He might drop suggestive comments during casual conversations or lightly brush against them in public, creating an electrifying tension. His playful nature allows him to turn even the most mundane moments into something charged with flirtation.

He appreciates aesthetics, including his partner’s body, and takes time to explore and admire every inch of them. Karma enjoys giving compliments and expressing his admiration, making his partner feel desired and cherished. He believes that taking the time to appreciate each other enhances intimacy and connection.

After intense sessions, Karma knows the importance of aftercare. He’ll be affectionate and attentive, ensuring his partner feels cherished and comfortable. Cuddling, gentle caresses, and sweet whispers are his go-to aftercare methods. He often asks how his partner feels and what they enjoyed most, wanting to deepen their connection.

Feeling adventurous, Karma sometimes suggests a little public play, whether it’s light teasing in crowded places or more daring encounters in secluded areas. He loves the thrill of being caught or the risk of being discovered, adding an exhilarating layer to intimacy. This spontaneity keeps things exciting, as he thrives on the adrenaline rush that comes with such escapades.

-

Karma Akabane leaned against the kitchen counter, the soft glow of the overhead lights illuminating the myriad of piercings on his face. The eyebrow piercing glinted with mischief, and his tongue piercing added a playful flair to his smirk as he watched his partner, Ami, busy preparing dinner.

“Need any help in there?” he called out, his voice dripping with casual charm. The fitted graphic tee he wore clung to his toned frame, accentuating the way he carried himself—confident, yet effortlessly relaxed.

“Just slicing some veggies!” she replied, glancing over her shoulder with a smile. “You could set the table, though.”

“Setting the table? How boring!” he teased, winking. “I’m much more useful in the bedroom, you know.”

Ami laughed, shaking her head. “I’m sure you are, but dinner comes first. And don’t think I’m letting you distract me.”

“Challenge accepted.” Karma stepped closer, leaning his hands on the counter, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Just remember, I’m the master of distractions.”

As he watched her work, he couldn’t help but admire the way she moved—graceful and focused. The warmth of the moment filled the room, but a familiar thrill of mischief coursed through him. He leaned in, brushing his lips against her ear, his breath warm and playful. “I could think of a few ways to make dinner much more... exciting.”

Ami turned to face him, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. “Karma, not now. We can have fun later.”

“Why wait?” he pressed, stepping closer, his fingers brushing against her waist. “The night is young, and I’m feeling adventurous.”

Just then, the phone buzzed on the counter, breaking the tension. Karma sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. “Fine, but you owe me after this.”

“Deal,” she said, reaching for the phone. As she glanced at the screen, a playful smile danced on her lips. “It’s Yukari. She wants to know if we’re coming to the party tonight.”

“Party?” Karma’s interest piqued. “Count me in! You know I can’t resist a good gathering.”

With dinner quickly forgotten, they decided to get ready for the night. Karma slipped into a distressed denim jacket, the fabric torn in all the right places, enhancing his edgy look. He adorned his ears with hoops and studs, opting for a choker that accentuated his sharp features.

“Ready to steal the show?” he asked, checking himself out in the mirror.

“More like ready to keep you in check,” Ami quipped, rolling her eyes but smiling all the same.

The atmosphere at the party was electric, pulsating with music and laughter. Karma thrived in the chaos, his playful spirit lighting up the room. He slid through the crowd, a natural flirt with everyone, but his eyes were always drawn back to Ami.

“Having fun?” he shouted over the music as he approached her, his hands slipping into his pockets, the cool metal of his piercings catching the light.

“More than you know!” she replied, her voice bright. “You’re the one making everyone laugh.”

“Just doing my thing,” he winked, his confidence radiating. “You ready for a little adventure?”

Ami raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you have in mind?”

“Let’s find a quieter spot. I want to show you something.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Something I’ve been thinking about.”

Curiosity piqued, she followed him through the bustling party until they found a small balcony overlooking the city skyline, a quiet escape from the lively chaos below.

Karma leaned against the railing, gazing out at the twinkling lights, a moment of calm before the storm. “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about us,” he said, turning to face her, his playful demeanor softening into something more sincere.

“Yeah? What about us?” she asked, crossing her arms, a smile playing on her lips.

Karma took a step closer, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. “About how much I enjoy having you in my life. And how much I want to explore... everything with you.”

Ami felt her heart race as he leaned in, his breath warm against her lips. She could feel the heat radiating off him, the tension crackling in the air between them. “Karma...”

“Just trust me,” he whispered, brushing his thumb along her jawline. “Let go for a moment.”

In a swift motion, he closed the distance, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was electric—playful yet deep, a blend of teasing and raw passion that sent shivers down her spine. The world around them faded, leaving only the two of them wrapped in a bubble of warmth and desire.

Karma deepened the kiss, his hands finding their way to her waist, pulling her closer. He could feel the weight of the world lift off his shoulders, lost in the moment, the thrill of being with her igniting every nerve ending in his body.

Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers, breathless. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“I think I have an idea,” she replied, her cheeks flushed. “But we should probably head back before someone realizes we’re gone.”

“Who cares?” Karma shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. “Let them wonder. I’m enjoying this too much to care.”

With a playful smirk, he leaned in again, capturing her lips for another quick kiss before pulling away and guiding her back inside. The party awaited them, but for Karma, the night had already exceeded his expectations.

As they re-entered the vibrant chaos, he felt a rush of exhilaration. They were tangled in a web of newfound intimacy and shared laughter, ready to face whatever the night had in store—together.

[ales-art]

The witch is followed by the inquisitor. For me, real magic is something ancient, forest-like, with an atmosphere of Arthurian legends and fairy tales. And the inquisition is an institution that is too modern, generally dubious, so I wanted to show this pretentiousness through the appearance of the inquisitor. Everything here is alien to the English Middle Ages: the mask of the beast that does not live here, and the weapons, and the decorations from somewhere in neo-Gothic xd

But I hope you will still feel creepy when you look at this judge and executioner. He is a formidable opponent.

[evilbihan]

Bi-Han is an honorable man

I can't believe that I'm making yet another post pointing out the obvious but every time I go into a Youtube comment section I'm starting to question whether me and the rest of the Mortal Kombat fandom have even played the same game.

1. He shows opponents mercy

Sub-Zero: You want peace? Let us be. Liu Kang: The Lin Kuei's sins aren't easily forgiven.

Sub-Zero: Surrender and Shao will show mercy. Mileena: If you believe that, you're a fool.

Sub-Zero: Walk away while you can. Raiden: I'll never give up, never surrender.

Sub-Zero: I won't hold back, Brother. Scorpion: Do your worst.

Sub-Zero: We have no cause for dispute. Kitana: You aided Shao's attempt to steal the throne!

These dialogues honestly speak for themselves already, they don't even need explaining. Compare that to actual villains like General Shao who sends Reiko after Bi-Han to kill him simply because he "doesn't like loose ends" even after Bi-Han saved him or Shang Tsung who killed Reptile's family out of nothing but sheer cruelty.

The fact that Bi-Han is willing to let people walk away from a fight, that he gives them a chance to walk away alive, speaks volumes about his personality. He warns his opponents in his intros and even during his end of round taunts ("Flee now and live."), he tries to solve things peacefully and without violence if possible. He's not bloodthirsty, malicious or eager to kill anyone, but will do so if given no other choice.

Despite Bi-Han's flaws, a man willing to show an opponent mercy is an honorable man. SPOILERS AHEAD: May I again remind you that Kuai Liang is not willing to show a defeated and dying Bi-Han mercy when he gets turned into Noob against his will? Not only that, but Kuai Liang wouldn't have hesitated to kill Frost who is probably around Hanzo's age at his own wedding if Harumi hadn't stepped in to save her. Harumi had to beg Kuai Liang to show someone mercy, while Bi-Han grants it without a second thought. Like it or not, at least in that one aspect, Bi-Han is the better man.

I don't know why some people think of him as this aggressive guy going around trying to pick fights with everyone when all he wants is to be left alone? It's wild to me how people think he's the problem here.

2. He respects/admires their fighting skills

Sub-Zero: You will surely test my might. Ashrah: I will overwhelm it, Sub-Zero.

Sub-Zero: This fight I will long remember. General Shao: Who says you will survive it?

Sub-Zero: I'm pleased to fight Outworld's foremost mage. Rain: Will it also please you to lose?

Sub-Zero: I hear your skills are formidable. Li Mei: As are those of all who have been Umgadi.

Can we also talk about how respectful Bi-Han is towards his opponents? He compliments them on their skills as opposed to Kuai Liang who even talks down to his own allies. Yes, Bi-Han is arrogant, but he can still acknowledge other people's strengths and respect them, even if they are his foes.

3. He admits when he's wrong

Sub-Zero: I was wrong to trust you. General Shao: Yes, Earthrealmer. You were.

Sub-Zero: I wasn't aware of Shang Tsung's experiments. Liu Kang: Had you known, would your choice have been different?

Sub-Zero: Your mother's death is regrettable. Kitana: I consider you complicit, Bi-Han.

You can say what you want about him, but he certainly takes responsibility for his actions and even shows regret over some of them. Bi-Han might not be the most compassionate character, but he does express some sympathy towards others. Compare that to Kuai Liang who tells Havik it's his own fault that his face was burned off as if he had nothing to do with it. Yes, Bi-Han doesn't show much sympathy towards Baraka for his condition, but neither does Kuai Liang. Why Kuai Liang is still considered the more honorable brother regardless of that and his very obvious ableism, is beyond me.

Bi-Han's good traits are all too often overlooked. I don't know if it's because people don't pay attention to intros, but it's so easy to see he's not a bad person deep down. It's just the media comprehension skills of most MK fans that are seriously lacking.

[gritsandbrits]

Hi Grits! I've literally never watched Xiaolin Showdown in my life, but because I'm bored and curious, could you pls explain how Chase was ruined in Chronicles?

Where do I even start?

Okay, anyone who's been on my blog recently have seen me talk shit about Xiaolin Chronicles. Well tonight Im going to talk even more shit! 😁 this time about a character that ive had developed a fictoromantic interest in: Chase young. But this isnt about my selfship, this is about how this pathetic excuse of a reboot wrecked him!

So sit back and crack a cold one as I tear Lizard Breath a new one!

Chase was one of the most complicated characters in the show. He was evil, unashamedly so, but he also had a sense of honor. He was calm and calculating. You never really knew what his next move was. From his first appearance in the s2 episods "Master Monk Guan" you could tell he was going to be a formidable threat in future episodes. And formidable he was, he did NOT step off their necks after that first meeting!

Perhaps his most intriguing aspect of his character is his relationship with omi, a sort of palpatine and anakin dynamic that wasn't as creepy and pedophilic as his relationship with Shadow/Willow/whatever the fuck her name is. He saw potential in Omi and wanted to train him and even after the whole "brainwashing omi to get him on the side of evil" plan didnt go as planned they still kept an amicable relationship.

Chase is by no means a saint but he keeps his word and treats his opponents with respect. Even when training Jermaine, he had no hard feelings towards him after he quit because it was simply another part of a larger scheme. While he wasnt as bombastic as jack and wuya, he had a couple of quirks like reading Evil Housekeeping during dinner and his reactions to Jack's antics! He was essentially the Comically Serious of the show.

Then Chronicles had to screw everything up!!

In showdown, he became evil after hannibal bean exploited his desire to be the best by tricking him into drinking the Lao Mang Lone Soup. Chronicles retconned this to be Chase acting like a jealous incel because a mary sue dragon lady dumped him for his never before seen brother Eon. Seriously Eon? Where was Master Monk Guan? He was in Chase's eyes a rival and a big reason why he went bad, not because he got rejected by a girl!

Character designs in Showdown have simple and distinct silhouttes so they'll be easier to remember. Chase resembled a tough yet elegant warrior. The new design loses a lot of its elements making it too complex and boring at the same time

See how strong Showdown silhoutte is compared to Chronic Pain?

His lizard form was a total mess too! He rarely used his form but when he did you KNOW shit was about to hit the fan. He even managed to give Giant!Dojo a hard time! He looked like a dragon because he eats them and a lot of thought was put into making him look as badass as possible.

CHRONIC HEADACHE turned him into an overgrown iguana! He and Lute must be goin' to the same salon because what the hell is that haircut?? 😂

Dont even get me started on his CGI model that bitch is HIDEOUS. Even Beast Wars looks better and that show came out in the 90s! Also why are his spikes green shouldn't they be gold?

His personality also took a nosedive, from a Machiavellian schemer with larger designs to a generic villain who does bad things as the plot demands.

Chase rarely used shen gong wu because he had no need for then, even calling them magical toys. The only time he did use them was if he needed them for a larger goal. Chronic chase is obsessed with collecting them for no reason other than EEEEEVIL!

In Chronic's timeline Chase was always evil from the very beginning instead of having been a genuinely good person whose insecurities were preyed on by a shitstirrer vegetable. Even his voice doesnt do it for me. Usually I love David Kaye, but Chase is supposed to sound like he's in his early 20s because his entire function is around preserving his youth. By making him sound old it completely misses the whole point.

At one point, he interrupts a showdown to wager his good looks, and somehow doesnt lose them. First of all since when the did chase ever give a shit about his looks and number 2, he would never wager something so petty? He lost the showdown and didnt even lose his face? Well I guess you cant lose something you never had in the first place! 😂

Now we get to the really gross part.

SWEEEEET HOME ALABAMAH!

Now the idea of a regular sidekick and evil apprentice sounds good on paper. In the show he gets an ugly Mary Sue called Shadow that he created using his own rib in a hamfisted attempt to shove a parallel with Adam and Eve. But whereas the First Parents of The Bible were explicitly designed to be spouses by a higher power, he created shadow to be little more than a servant (and she had a baby form) which makes their power dynamic completely imbalanced! The scenes where they hit on each other and hiss flirtatiously is so out of place, like dude THAT'S YOUR KID???HELLO??? ARE YOU EVIL OR ALABAMAN?

Shadow lacks none of the entertaining qualities that the other bad girls like wuya and katnappe had. She went to the same barber her husband-father and Lute goes to. The most frustrating part about it is she acts more like the original chase than the actual chase! Ugh! No wonder he acts more goofy in Chronic Pain, she stole his personality!

He also abuses her. Like, she was nothing but loyal to him yet he attacks her for making one snarky comment - the og chase did threatened people but never outwardly attacked them over something so petty - and with all this im mind they come off less as student and mentor and more like a domestic abuser and his victim. The Real chase ain't no saint but he wasnt a creepy old man either! Eeeeeeeeeew!

The worse moment had to be the one episode where he lays an egg and he CRIES OVER it!

Un-freaking-BELIEVABLE!!!

At the end comes the most nonsense revelation - he and omi are related! And its never revisited again. I guess even the wrirers knew the convoluted this twist is since nowhere in showdown suggested chase and omi were family. If they were then they would be distantly related at best.

Can you just imagine making a show that is so boring, so atrocious, and so mind numbingly stupid, the only thing people remember it for is one episode and only because of how BAD it is?

The worst part is I can't recall a single significant thing Chase had done in Chronic Headache. In the original he had awesome moments like his duel with Master guan, the soccer match against the monks for omi's freedom, the three way battle between kimiko-disgused-as-jack hannibal bean, his partnership with wuya, getting between jermaine and omi's friendship, TAKING OKVER THE WORLD. What did he even do in Chronic Headache besides being a bigger dork than Doofenshmirtz and being the type of guy the latter would vaporize?

NOTHING! HE DID JACK SPICER SHIT IN CHRONICLES DESPITE HAVING MORE APPEARANCES THAN IN THE ORIGINAL!!

Hufff...huff....

Alright I think I got most of it out of my system. They say its better to vent now than holding it all in for it to explode later. I dont know why this show went the direction it did with Chase but as far as I am concerned he is not real, he is not a good version of a character and even on his own he is a terrible villain. He's an absolute insult to the chad Heylin Prince of Darkness and a reason why cartoon reboots get the unfortunate reputation they have.

And the sad part is since this is the only major Showdown media this may be the last time I'll ever see Chase in animated form, so until Christy Hui makes more content, we're pretty much stuck with this guy.

Hoo-friggin-yay! -_-

[beezhives]

currently thinking about ;;

sensei Midoriya Izuku who has kept up his muscle mass over the years. sure, he's not as strong as he was at 16 when he had One For All, but he's not some weak adult either. (this man dragged fridges through sand at fifteen, mind you!)

so, yeah, he's still a muscular guy at the good age of twenty-five. he's strong and a formidable opponent for his students to train with. it's very common, once they get past that awkward stage, for students to approach Midoriya and ask to spar. he agrees, obviously, with his sole condition of no quirks.

it's not that Midoriya worries about getting hurt (he's broken almost every bone in his body, what is pain?) or that he worries he can't stop an out of control quirk (he's like batman, there's always a plan). no, Midoriya wants his students to know proper hand-to-hand. he wants his students, the next generation of heroes, to know how to disarm a criminal without having to use their quirks.

this isn't just a one-off thing, either. Midoriya invites pro-hero Uravity and retired pro-hero Gun Head to give professional martial arts lessons. whole days are made out of learning good hand-to-hand, learning that you can be an effective hero without a quirk.

the fun thing, the best part: his students love it. they get to learn how to be a hero from the kid-turned-adult that saved the world at sixteen? of course they love it. sure, there are a few firecracker types that (honestly, remind him of Bakugou) are against not training their quirks all the time. but, even they get into it too.

one of the best things Midoriya gives the next generation of heroes, is options. he will give them in depth analytics on all of their quirks, notebooks full of stats and tips and this that and the other. but he will also sit down and tell them that they are so much more than their quirk, that being a "good" hero means they have to use their quirks.

you don't have to use a quirk to be a hero. all you need is a heart.

♡ any likes or shares would be appreciated. thank you for reading, see you later. ☁︎

[zenithangelic]

Holiday headcanons for the Silent Hill protags?

Silent Hill protags Holiday Headcanons:

Harry Mason

Harry is the type to spend hours agonising over the perfect gifts for his loved ones. He puts deep thought into what Cheryl (or anyone he cares about) would truly appreciate, often opting for heartfelt, practical items that also carry a hint of sentimentality.

He enjoys brisk winter walks, especially in the quiet, snow-covered woods, reflecting on life's mysteries while trying to keep his mind at peace.

Harry’s holiday evenings are incomplete without a steaming mug of hot cocoa, preferably shared with someone. He probably makes it with extra marshmallows, even if he’s drinking it alone.

He watches classic holiday movies (like It’s a Wonderful Life) and inevitably gets emotional, though he’d never admit it.

James Sunderland

James has a tendency to dwell on the past during the holidays. Old photo albums and bittersweet memories dominate his thoughts. He might even write letters to Mary, just to process his emotions.

While not enthusiastic about decorating, James will hang up a string of lights or a small wreath if encouraged. It’s a half-hearted effort, but it helps him feel a little less alone.

James finds solace in sitting by a fire or a cozy heater, listening to soft music. He might even nurse a glass of wine or eggnog to help him unwind.

James will drop money into donation buckets or give to toy drives if he stumbles across them. He doesn’t want to admit it, but he feels better afterward.

Heather Mason

Heather’s holiday spirit leans toward snarky. She loves ugly Christmas sweaters and cheeky ornaments, but she also secretly enjoys traditional activities like baking cookies or wrapping gifts.

Heather thrives on the chaos of shopping on Christmas Eve, navigating crowded malls with the precision of a battlefield general. She somehow always ends up with gifts that everyone loves.

Her sense of humour comes through in her holiday cards, which are a mix of crude doodles and heartfelt messages. It’s her way of saying she cares without being overly sappy.

Heather loves winter shenanigans, especially snowball fights. She’s quick, precise, and ruthless in her aim, making her a formidable opponent for anyone brave enough to challenge her.

Henry Townshend

Henry prefers to keep things simple, spending his holidays in solitude or with a small circle of trusted friends. A good book, some quiet music, and warm lighting are all he needs to feel content.

He has a habit of staring out his apartment window, watching snowflakes drift down and imagining the lives of the people he sees below.

Henry often spends the holidays painting or sketching scenes inspired by the season—snow-covered streets, twinkling lights, or cozy interiors. It’s therapeutic for him.

He’ll cook something special, even if it’s just for himself. Henry’s meals are simple but hearty, like a warm stew or a freshly baked pie. Cooking helps him feel grounded.

A/N: I'm so sorry that I took so long with these, I've had an extremely busy month. I know that the holiday season is coming to an end, but I wanted to get these published anyway!

♡If you liked this fic, please consider buying me a coffee! Ko-fi ♡

[wood-white-writer]

"Didn't mean to make your heart Blue" || [3/...]

- OPLA!Buggy x F!Reader

"And I am the idiot with the painted face, in the corner taking up space. But when he walks in, I am loved."

— Mitski, "Me and My Husband"

Pairing: Buggy the Clown (Live action) x F!Reader

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Summary: You were an apprentice of Gol D. Roger’s crew in your youth, long before his eventual demise. Along with the Red-Haired Shanks and Buggy, you were a formidable trio; the embodiment of a new generation of pirates yet to come. But times changed, and so did you and your friends. Years have passed since you last saw Buggy following the dispute that you thought ended your friendship. When you finally reunite with the blue-haired menace you once considered your closest friend, it’s under less than “friendly” circumstances.

Warnings: Canon typical violence, LA!Verse, Buggy is a lonely asshole, flashbacks, semi-canon divergence, Reader is strong AF,

A/N: I forgot to mention this before, but I guess this technically does hold some spoilers from the manga/anime. Keep in mind, I've not seen/read either piece, so it's merely used to give their stories some background.

Taglist: @kurinhimenezu, @carpinchootaku (If you want to be tagged for this story, just send me a message or comment :))

Fuck, fuck, fuck, where the fuck are you?

After some time of searching, Buggy finds you sitting by the docks, your feet gently swaying with the waves, almost free of any earthbound weight. He’d join you if he could, but he’s not brave enough to get too close to the waters yet.

However, he’s content enough to just watch you from a safe distance. The sky is free of clouds and the moon is full, which illuminates your shape like a bright lantern in the night.

Beautiful, that's what he thinks you are. In fact, that's what he's been thinking for a while now, not that he's ever told you that to your face. He wonders when he stopped looking at you like something more than a friend. 

Maybe it was when he caught you smiling at him after you'd successfully managed to steal a bottle of fine rum from the local bar, and you both ended up getting blackout drunk on the ship deck?

Maybe it was when he saw you win a round of arm-wrestling against one of your other crewmates, despite being significantly younger than the opponent.

Maybe it was when you beat a guy black and blue for making fun of his nose in public, with both him and Shanks cheering you on from a safe distance? 

It doesn’t matter when it was. What matters is that, for a while, he has found it difficult to take his eyes off you. Even if it’s just a peek, it usually takes him a while to force his attention on something else.

The rest of the crew are on the Oro Jackson, celebrating their recent endeavors, yet here you are, celebrating on your own. He finds it odd; you’re usually happy to participate in any celebrations with the crew, but you’ve decided to be here instead. It was your absence on deck that prompted Buggy to go looking for you.

The wind picks up and he can feel goosebumps spread across his skin like wildfire. He shivers and tugs his jacket tighter around himself, and that’s when he notices that you’re not wearing any additional clothing to stave off the cold in the night.

He finally calls out to you, a little throaty for reasons he refuses to disclose aloud. “You’re gonna get a cold like that, dumbass! You wanna get pneumonia and die or something?”

You subsequently turn around to face him, and his breath gets caught in his throat. Your sharp eyes, when caught in the moonlight, sparkle like a thousand treasures — compiled of gold, diamonds, and millions and millions of berries — holed up in two caves.

Smiling in the way that makes his pulse quicken, you proceed to wave your feet in the water. A few drops land on your arms, sparkling in the air before landing on the skin of your arms. “I don’t think so? If we get to the South Pole, maybe there’s a higher risk?”

He frowns and crosses his arms over his chest. “The North Pole is colder!”

“Ah, well,” you snicker. “In that case, then I’m not likely to get pneumonia unless we’re there.”

“You can still get cold! What are you, a moron?” 

For someone who can’t keep his eyes off you for extended periods, that doesn’t keep him from being rather crass in terms of vocabulary with you. That’s alright. You’ve never been one to appreciate honeyed words if your frequent bickering with both him and Shanks says something.

With another swing of your legs, you reestablish contact with with wooden platform and make your way over to him. That’s when he finally realises that you haven’t brought your shoes with you, but you don’t seem bothered by it. “By the way, what’re you doing here, Buggy?“

He considers telling you a simple lie that won’t clash with what he knows to be the truth. He was coincidentally going for a walk, he needed some air, he was purposefully looking for you…

“Noticed you weren’t on the ship,” he finally settles on with a hmph. “Had to make sure you hadn’t accidentally up and drowned or something. You’re a shitty swimmer,”

“Not as shitty as you,” you counter and blow him a raspberry. 

He’s about to tell you to fuck off or something when, again, he finds himself pausing. 

You’re smiling at him, so softly, and it feels so warm that the wind no longer has any effect on him. He can feel his cheeks scorch up and his heart is pounding so hard that it feels on the verge of breaking his ribs.

He hastily looks away and coughs a couple of times, trying to maintain what little dignity he has left.

“Are you alright?” You ask with faux concern. “Did you just catch pneumonia or something?”

“S-Screw you!”

You laugh, and it’s like music to his ears. Your laughs are usually raspy and hardly appropriate, but he finds that it’s the prettiest sound in the world. Your smile, your laugh, they are so warm that he hopes that you’ll never stop making them.

Out of the blue, you wrap an arm around his shoulder and begin tugging him on the path to the ship. “Come on, before they leave us behind.”

“Y-Yeah, let’s.” He doesn’t move to tug your arm away, and no power on this earth will make him.

------

Now that he's closer to the kid, Buggy realizes the stupidity of asking if he was yours. The two of you are nothing alike, but the truly defining factor lies in your eyes. Rubber Boy's eyes are too bright, too round. Whereas yours are knives ready to strike, his' are simple spoons.

He begrudgingly has to hand it to the kid; he's a fearless one. Even stretching his limbs beyond human capabilities does not diminish his spirit. Buggy doesn't know whether to applaud or reject the determination the boy has.

"I want you to think of this, like an artistic exercise," he explains. "Because pain leads to art, and art reveals truth."

He can't hear any commotion from the backrooms where he keeps you contained. Truth be told, he never expected it to keep you for long, only detain you for a limited amount of time. If he wants to both get the map and keep his life in one go, he is going to have to try and get it without necessarily ruining the kid too much.

Still, it doesn't keep him from testing the lines. He tries to pry the answers out with a needle, but no matter what he does, the kid remains infuriatingly mute. 

So, he decides to dig a little deeper.

"Now, what makes a boy want to grow up to be King of the Pirates? Who are you trying to impress?" He tilts his head with inquisitiveness. "A lost love?"

On cue, he can vaguely make out a gnarling sound coming from the back rooms. The sound of chains rattling, which he perceives as you probably moving in the enclosure. He thinks about sending someone to check on you and find out what you're up to, but he does not want the number of supporting casts to reduce.

"An absent parent?" He continues, ignoring the noises as he closes in on the boy. "Or was it someone that you worshipped? A false idol."

Try as he might, the boy fails to feign any indifference to him. A master of performance himself, Buggy knows when he's hit his target "That's it."

He yanks the dumb straw hat off his head, and the boy's protests against it further dig a nail into the coffin. "Give me back my hat!"

"I used to know a pirate that wore a hat just like this." Buggy's grip on the feeble thing drastically tightens as memories of the past resurface. "Red-Haired Shanks."

"You knew Shanks?"

"Ginger? Three scars, left eye?" Of course, how could he not know of the bastard? "We served together on a pirate crew when we were about your age. In fact," he glances at the boy from over his shoulder. "Your friend, Cross-Hairs over there, was with us at the time."

The kid blinks in confusion, clearly not aware of this little piece of information. "I knew she served with Shanks, but she never mentioned you."

In all honesty, it doesn't surprise him, yet he still perceives this as a slight against him from your side. The underlying hypocriticism in that doesn't evade his notice, but he elects not to address it. 

Buggy can feel the straws under his digits lightly crack beneath the pressure of his grip. "She did, but before then, it was the three of us. For a time, I even thought we were friends." His nail pierces a hole through the inside of the hat. "Until they betrayed me, like all the others. He wanted to keep me out of the spotlight! He wanted to keep my star from shining too brightly!"

"They wouldn't do that," Rubber Boy is quick to protest, rather vehemently too as if Buggy just insulted his entire lineage. "You don't know her, and you don't know Shanks. Don't talk about them that way."

"I bet I know her far better than you do, Rubber Boy." He smirks and raises a knowing eyebrow at the kid. "Does she still snatch specifically red apples off vendors when you're in town? Does she still tend to store her knives in her boots when she thinks no one's looking?"

The kid doesn't have to answer. His silence is all the confirmation he needs, and it makes him feel victorious in some sense. 

"Let me ask you something else, then. How'd the famous Captain of the Cross-Haired Pirates get stuck with a simple-minded nobody like you? What did you do that was so special that she decided to stick around until now?" 

The damn brat doesn't answer.

He presses on. "Apparently, she made a promise to someone, and though I have a sneaking suspicion as to whom, I don't want to jump the gun." He grasps harshly at the kid's face, no longer smiling. "You know, and if you tell me, I might be convinced to lessen the restraints."

The damn brat still doesn't fucking answer, and it vexes him greatly. Even so, if there's one thing he's learned, it's that the kid's silence can be substituted for an answer.

So, he finally asks the billion-berry question: 

"Was it Shanks?"

Rubber Boy does not answer. He doesn't fucking answer, and Buggy's patience snaps like a twig.

You would be willing to go through all of this trouble, to keep the kid safe and help him achieve his dream, just because you made a silly promise to what was once your mutual friend. You would give up your career as one of the most successful pirates in the modern age, just for that?

Just for him?

Deep down, he feels something carve at him. Carve at the boyish version of him he left behind the same day he left you. Would you have been just as loyal to him as you were to Shanks, if only he stayed?

He does not voice these thoughts aloud. Instead, he can't help but beam, because everything he's theorized up until this point has just been verified. It aches, and it hurts, and it cuts, but even so, he can only smile down at the boy.

"Stretch him until he breaks." 

------

Although you hear a commotion coming from the stage room, and despite the urge you have to just break out and be done with this all, you deliberately remain in your cage. One leg pulled up to your chin whereas the other one rests uncomfortably on the stale ground boards, you do nothing more than let your temper simmer down.

Honestly, what a mess.

You made one thing perfectly clear to Shanks the day you agreed to disband your crew and keep watch on the boy. It had not even been a week after he returned to the docks of Fooshia Village, one arm short and the boy by his side.

------

"I am not his parent. I will not be held responsible for the mistakes he makes when he decided to leave land. I will only keep him alive until I decide he can do that himself; after he's earned his first bounty. After that, I'm off."

"And what will you do after?" he had asked, genuinely curious.

You didn't answer, because you didn't know.

"Look after the lad for me, will you? Help him achieve his dream." He had taken your shoulder under his warm remaining hand and said:

"Maybe one day, you'll find your own."

------

If you'd known that Luffy's dream would one day lead you back to him, you would've been more reluctant to make that promise. At the time, you had little interest in picking up the shattered pieces of your childhood dream, yet it seems that now it has decided to search you out instead.

Or rather, he has.

Your head hurts.

This is not the time for heartfelt reunions if there ever was one. Buggy has only one goal in mind, and that is to get his hands on that damn map. Harming Luffy will serve as a means to an end in achieving that, which happens to clash with your goal. You're not Luffy's parent, you tell yourself, but you're willing to extend the promise to Shanks just this once.

And so, after some careful deliberation, you make your escape. 

You hit the metal once, and it bends significantly. Then twice, and on the third strikes, they bend and crack, finally granting you access to direct contact with the ground. It's never felt so relieving to be earthbound, and you even go as far as to tap your feet a few times to enrich that feeling.

Having most likely heard the noise, two troupe members march through the curtains to see what's going on. The first one barely has the time to register your escape before you lunge. 

You're quick to subdue them, knocking the first one out with an easy choke-hold whereas the other mysteriously ends up with half his body stuck in what remains of your previous confinement. His ass hangs out in a rather humiliating position, but the point is, he's out of the way. 

The adrenaline is the one part of piracy you've missed. The surge of energy that flows through your veins, feeling the air brush your face as you make your move, the warmth in your heart that substitutes any pain or hurt you've ever felt if only for a moment.

You relish it.

You happen to find your weapons in the room, hidden in some crates. Your knives and your pistol, are both unscathed and fully functional, but you know that you'll end up relying on your hands for this. After all, it's personal, and personal matters are handled in a personal way. 

When you're certain the two troupe members are of no concern to you, you exit the back rooms and find yourself in the opening between the audience rows shortly after. The lights have been killed and there's an ominous silence stretching in the atmosphere.

You look up at the terrified audience, and though you're almost in clear view of them, none dares stray away from the view up ahead. 

Said view in question being of Luffy halfway submerged by seawater in a tank, already struggling to keep himself afloat. 

Fuck this. Fuck him.

You don't even stop to coordinate your next move as, as you would've done under ordinary circumstances. No, the moment you spot Buggy standing there, trying to reason with the kid with the promise of belonging and having a place on his crew, you lunge for the kill.

------

All Buggy sees just as you make your move is a flash of sharp eyes that seem to glow in the dim room. There's no word upon your entrance, no sound, not a single warning at all. A shriek resonates through the air, shattering the silence that had unknowingly settled over them, and it's his own. 

The air gets knocked out of his lungs as you shove your fist straight into his stomach. Ordinarily, that specific portion of his would've just straight up dislodged itself from his body, but it doesn't this time. He remains intact, a contradiction to what you had threatened to do, and he falls back several good feet on his back like a kicked dog.

A raspy groan is all the noise he manages to get out, heaving his chest in search of the air that was stolen from him. He throws one arm to the ground and gets his upper body up. 

When he finally manages to somewhat stabilize his line of sight, all he sees as the world remains blurred around him is you standing over him with a dangerous glimmer in your eyes. One he's already familiar with.

This is not his old friend or his old flame crew member. This is Cross-Hairs, the feared captain of the vicious Cross-Haired Pirates. The Beast of the East. The one whose aim never misses, and if it does, she'll hunt her target down to the ends of the earth.

And now, he's officially become your target. No longer a passive one at that, but the only one your eyes are set on. He doesn't know if he's content or unnerved by this.

There are no palpable emotions on your face, but he can read your eyes well enough to know that you're angry. No, angry doesn't even begin to cover it; you're absolutely, positively, completely pissed. 

"What?" He forces out, still aching from the punch to his abdomen. "Going to make good on your promise? Going to finally kill me after all this time? If so, then just get on with it!"

You don't answer, and he hates it even more than he would've had you responded. A part of him wants you to kill him; wants you to show that you care enough about him to just fucking do it.

No, instead, all you give him is a glare. That same glare that's never left your face since he first laid his eyes on you. You turn your full attention to the tank and, with one simple hit, you break the glass to try and free Rubber Boy. You free him, without even a moment to hesitate, and it feels so much more painful than if you’d just ended him on the spot.

He wants to scream. Buggy wants to scream until his lungs give in. Scream at your inability to fully look at him. Scream at your apparent concern for a boy who is no more a pirate than he is a banker. 

Scream, because even after all this time, you still refuse to choose him.

Never him.

[strawberryj0y]

more tabiori analysis !!

I wanna discuss how much Karasu roots for Hiori (i've talked a little about this in a prior post, regarding karasu's sincerity towards hiori here) and how deep his perception of Hiori is; a testament to just how closely he's been watching the guy to gain this level of understanding. Hence why he has a clear vision of how Hiori can get stronger, shed the weight of the world's expectations, and burst out his cacooon into the player he can tell Hiori is capable of being. Karasu loves stuff like this, after all, he's moved by these ordinary things. [continued below]

During his first appearance during U20 (ch. 129), Hiori's role was introduced as being an anchor for the Blue Lock team - 'a technician of stillness', slightly similarly to how Sae acted as an anchor for the U20 team with his incredible calm and levelheaded execution of passes. I mean just in the chapter before this one, his passes helped faciliate Shidou's vision leading to that incredible dragon drive goal that equalised the game.

But compared to Sae, Hiori's passes had different expectations, both from him and his teammates.

This style of play avoids direct confrontations, with no expectations of Hiori being able to best someone in a one-on-one. His job is to pass to someone else who can. He's accepted it and acts accordingly, passing it to Karasu.

It's a brilliant pass too, even the U20 guys are impressed. Karasu is too but he then immediately starts playfully provoking Hiori; 'You're only good when sending the ball away!' baiting him into a response, 'I can do more than that...'

To which Karasu then directly and with such intensity stares into his soul and says: 'Come on and show me...what makes you special' and passes it right back; a challenge. Hiori quips back with 'Yeah, yeah. Caw on, you crow,' rising to the challenge thrown his way.

Karasu then passes to him without even looking, to a spot Hiori's not even at yet, because he knows Hiori will be there. He's acutely aware of Hiori's potential, and that it exceeds the current scope of his role as an anchor; he's provoking him to go beyond the current expectations placed on him. It's almost like he's going head-to-head with Hiori despite being on the same side LMAO (we see a lot of that during this match e.g. Rin and Isagi, and Barou and Isagi, and this is basically Blue Lock's/Ego's entire philosophy). Despite it being explicitly stated that no one expecting a head-to-head with Hiori, Karasu is over here poking an prodding for one lol

And this is when we see Hiori's ego burning, the first time we've seen it show up and Isagi also notices it in the following panel! Hiori maintains the calm and precision of an anchor but something's changed, there's passion in his following play that culminates in a beautiful pass. Passion is also fiery, the opposite of 'still' and 'calm' but if combined all together in a player, makes for a formidable opponent. This wasn't present prior to Karasu's intervention and inspiration.

His first pass to Karasu was brilliantly precise, but this one was elevated to a new level where Sendou even compares its quality to Sae, who is the ultimate standard in this match (and generally).

Having read the two latest chapters (ch. 291 and 292), this interaction really mirrors their NEL face-off, and as a result you can see how much Hiori has grown in that time and it's so wonderful!!! (i discussed these two chapters in more detail here)

This idea of providing inspiration for plays is something that's mirrored in RyuSae's dynamic during this match too; how Sae guides Shidou's inspiration to lead him in the direction of the most explosive play possible. This is exactly what Karasu did for Hiori!

Also, I want to go back to that comment: 'In this moment, the anchor has found itself free...'

The 'free' here may refer to not being marked by any U20 players in that moment, but they're also right there, in the frame and we know how strong the U20's defense and marking ability was during the match, so I'm not really leaning towards this interpretation.

Rather, I think it's more so the narrative referring to Hiori being momentarily free from expectations, allowing him to embrace his ego and craft a skillfull pass that would've otherwise been difficult for him to pull off had to kept playing as he was expected to.

When it comes to Hiori's lifelong struggle with expectations, Karasu was the first person he confessed this to. Not even completely voluntarily at that; his heart was so moved, all his barrier dropped and he couldn't help but spill his inner turmoil to another person for the first time in his life.

For the first time in his entire life, Hiori was told that he doesn't have to live for anyone else but himself. That he should find what he likes, what excites him, believe in himself, expect from himself, and that that's the only way to move forward. Hiori, who was standing in one place, stagnating, rotting away in the intersection between his parents, video games, and football for so long, was finally given the key to move forward. Permission to break the cycle. Not for anyone else. Only for his own sake. This became the foundation upon which his future awakening during the NEL was built. The seeds from which he'd finally bloom into the player and person Karasu saw and was drawn to long before.

Which is why Karasu was so excited to face the new Hiori in the latest chapters, and even before that, earlier in the BM/PXG match, told him he'd been waiting for him to burst out of his chrysalis this whole time :')

I wanna delve into one last thing: Hiori's left leg

Okay, we know how Karasu feels about it, since he outright called it erotic to Hiori's face within mere moments of meeting the the guy which confused the hell out of poor Hiori (and us as the readers, too...) LMAOO

Aside from the fact that he was shamelessly flirting, Karasu has been closely watching Hiori for some time before he decided to make this comment, and prior to this he was genuinely praising his abilities as a player, so he was also being dead serious about how much he appreicates Hiori's left leg LMAO

And to be honest, he's right! In terms of soccer skills, Hiori's dominant leg is his left one and the narrative even draws attention to it during that shot in the U20 match when we see his ego glowing for the first time!

I guess what I'm trying to point out is the fact that Karasu's analysis lead him to recognising all this wonderful potential in Hiori even in his dormant state. He saw Hiori for who he was deep down and he really liked it. In fact, he was so drawn to it to the point where he even began thinking the leg that would be making it all happen was erotic dhjsfgjhsgfj it's like he could envision it, y'know??? like he'd probably think about what an awakened and strong Hiori would look like - how he'd play, how he'd use his left leg to shoot and make those incredible passes we now have seen Hiori curate during the NEL.

Granted, it's still an odd choice of adjective but Karasu is an just odd guy (affectionate). When i started probing for why he'd be so enticed by Hiori's leg to the point of labelling it as erotic, it really started making sense lol

To add onto this, Karasu is a self-admitted hyperaware analyst - he can read people down to the bone. He's aware of how others are perceived, how they may perceive themselves, and in turn how he himself is perceived by others. So he's also careful about what he puts out into the world, and therefore how he interacts with people. This includes the words and phrases he chooses to use in conversation. So what I'm getting at is this: he knows exactly how using the word 'erotic' to describe something about Hiori would come across. He knows, based on his long periods of observing the guy, how Hiori is probably not used to this type of banter and therefore would perceive such a comment, i.e. getting flustered and particularly hung up on it. Yet, he very intentionally used it anyway. So it's clear that he wanted to fluster Hiori. If you pay any attention to their interactions even on a surface-level, this type of teasing is something Karasu really enjoys and indulges in. An example being, as discussed earlier, in the U20 game when he calls Hiori's pass erotic again and all back-and-forth quipping he engaes in with Hiori during that play. He just loves teasing the guy, because Hiori's particular sensitivity and awareness of Karasu generates the best responses.

I know we consider Hiori as being the obsessed one (he absolutely is), but the fondness is truly mutual and reciprocal.

anyway, idk if i could totally communicate my vision with this left leg stuff, but i felt compelled to get this out there so i'll just leave it here for anyone else who might be on the same wavelength as me

and just for fun, here have some cool panels of Hiori and his (erotic) left leg so you can see Karasu's wonderful vision 😭