#in order to successfully get it put on the market again

[rowanthestrange]

yo look at her that’s an actual house

[justwinginglife]

hi!! may I request something again?^^

may I request soshiro found out that you can turn into a Kaiju or see you transforming into your Kaiju form. a little Angst but with happy ending please:›

You may always request something again! Also story note- for this fic, Imma just ignore that Kikoru Shinomiya exists, sorry yall, you're taking her spot now.

Half Human

Your whole life was one big irony in that your life's mission was to kill kaiju and yet you owed the very breath in your lungs to them. Your father, the Director General, Isao Shinomiya, had already lost his wife and he'd be damned if he was going to lose you too. He secretly brought a kaiju back to base alive and had several talented doctors and scientists exchange its core in place of your failing heart. The doctors weren't even sure it could be done, but when the abomination that was you was finally finished, they were all sworn to secrecy. You were to be the first and the only kaiju transplant survivor.

After all, if word got out that it was possible to enhance the human body directly with kaiju organs, without use of a suit, there would be chaos. For one, the suit industry would take an immense hit and the black market would reign supreme. Not to mention how much ungodly human experimentation could come about from failed attempts to successfully recreate the transplant. It might even make the Defense Force's job more difficult- trying to take Kaiju in alive was significantly more dangerous and strenuous than just killing them.

With all these things in mind, your father kept the tightest lid on the situation. No one but you, your father, and the team that had worked on you knew this secret. But today, one more would find out.

Your father always carefully monitored your vitals in case you ever rejected the organ, and you were always reminded to keep your emotions in check so as to not set off the kaiju side of you. You thought that you'd learned to keep most of your emotions at bay, but apparently that control you had did not apply to anything even remotely related to the Vice Captain.

One time you'd heard someone shit talking him and you accidentally stabbed through your own tongue because your anger had called your fangs to emerge. And it didn't help that the Vice Captain glimpsed the blood dripping from your lips and tried to help you. You always wondered if you'd be able to feel human emotions anymore since you no longer had a human heart, but he quickly put that fear to rest because every time he reached for you, touched you, cared for you, you felt like you could feel your nonexistent heart beating rapidly. It felt like he was the only thing grounding you in your humanity.

Your father must have caught onto this at some point because he'd frequently make excuses to call you to headquarters when he felt like you might be getting too close to Hoshina. Today was one of those days.

You had gotten the summon early this morning and you were annoyed but you knew you that as much as you wanted to rebel against your father as his daughter, as a soldier in his Defense Force you couldn't very well disobey a direct order from the Director General. Especially when no one knew the reason you were called to headquarters so regularly. So you went to him.

By the time you finally concluded your business with your father it was late (you refused to stay the night in his division and let him have anymore hold over your life as it was) and you were waiting for the next train back to the Third Division when you felt your comms buzzing in your pocket. You thought it was strange as everyone should be either asleep or going to sleep soon, but you popped the comms in anyway, eager to hear what was going on so late at night. The base was under attack. It was a Daikaiju. The Vice Captain was fighting him. And losing.

You start to get dizzy. Sweat trickles down your forehead. The world seemed to be blinking in and out. You shake your head trying to get ahold of yourself but you know it's no use. You still haven't learned to get your kaiju side under control and on the rare occasion when you slipped and went berserk only your father could bring you back from that place of darkness. You clench your fists, straining, and gripping onto what was left of your humanity but your lower half had already started to turn.

"No- don't. He needs me. I can't be rampaging in another division right now." You beg the beast inside you.

It doesn't listen.

You feel the transformation reach your neck, a growl already starting to rise up your throat.

"I said stop! Damnit, st-"

Your voice is no longer your own. All that's left of you is one half of your face now, and the beast is slowly closing in on it. It's hungry. It hasn't been let out in awhile.

You look up at the moon, blinking back tears, thinking it might be awhile before you see it again, before you're yourself again. You wonder how long it will take your dad to find you and you wonder if he will even be able to change you back this time. He was getting older, getting weaker. What if you killed him this time?

And what if when you woke up, if you ever woke up again, the Vice Captain was dead? What would you do with your life if you weren't listening for his footsteps in the hallways or listening for his laugh in the air? If he wasn't telling you a joke or complimenting your stance, would you make it through the day? If you went through life not ever having told him how you felt, would it still feel like you were living?

You start to spiral in your own dark thoughts as the transformation spreads across your face, but right before it hits your ear you here the comms crackling.

"Vice Captain! Come in, Vice Captain! Sir, please respond!" Okonogi. She's yelling for the Vice Captain. Something must've happened.

Your vision starts to go red. You punch the lamppost beside you, but you're surprised to find that it's your fist that hits the metal. Not the beast's. You look down. Only your legs are still transformed.

You actually laugh out loud. "That's more like it. Time to go." You jump once, and it propels you into the sky. You use the momentum to launch yourself towards the Third Division. Somehow your legs are faster than a moving train, bringing you bounding towards the training grounds in what seems like no time at all.

Before you can even think about the consequences of being half transformed on base where the officers are literally trained to kill kaiju like you, before you can even think about how your father will probably kill you himself for revealing the secret he's worked so hard to protect, you're already jumping in front of Hoshina as you transform your arms and block a blow that could've been deadly.

He doesn't even have time to be stunned, you're injured.

He jumps to his feet, concern on his face, as you spit blood. You've not fought anything in your kaiju form before (the most you've done is scare the shit out of some pigeons before your father found you and changed you back) and it takes some getting used to.

"Well fuck. That actually hurt, damnit!" You yell at the kaiju. It laughs at you. You raise an eyebrow. It seems to understand you. You're astounded but you don't care to think too much about it before you launch a punch at its abdomen.

It groans but then it chuckles. "Is that the best you've got?"

"Ah so you do talk. That's fucking creepy, not gonna lie." You punch its chest this time.

It staggers backwards and Hoshina takes advantage of the opening, slashing at its legs. It lands on its back.

You hurl yourself high into the air and then crash down hard on its head with a deafening blow that splits its skull. But it starts to slowly regenerate and it shakes you off of it. You land at the ground by Hoshina.

"So are we ever going to talk about the whole 'you being a half kaiju hybrid' thing?" He asks you, eyes still trained on the shuddering beast in front of him.

"Really? Now? We're a little busy Hoshina."

He laughs- he actually fucking laughs. "Oh really, because here I thought we were having a nice little tea party."

You roll your eyes but you can't help but smile at his poor comedic timing. "I'll treat you to some tea if you tell me where the damn core is."

He points to its back. "Lil fucker is hiding it in there."

You nod. "Got it."

The kaiju rises to its feet, ready for another round.

"Do me a favor and be bait, yeah?" You tell Hoshina and then before he can protest, you charge its back.

The kaiju swings at you but you duck.

"Oh I'm the fucking bait? Real classy." Hoshina grumbles but he complies, charging at its front, slashing at it and keeping it busy while you circle behind it.

You run up the stairs of a nearby building and when you reach the top, you launch yourself from the roof.

"This one is for making Hoshina bleed." You mutter under your breath before sending its organs flying as you rip through its flesh and pummel its core to bits. The aftershock sends you flying and you don't have time to land properly. You smack the floor on your side, tumbling in circles until you finally slow.

Your ribs feel like they're caving in but at least the kaiju is down for good. You lie in the dirt, coughing painfully and looking up at the night sky. You're fully human again, like the beast inside you curled up and went to bed, letting you feel the full force of the pain alone.

Hoshina rushes over to you. "Oh my god, are you okay?!"

You cough again. "Not sure if I'm up for that tea party anymore. Might've fucked up a lung or two."

He rolls his eyes. "You would make a joke at a time like this."

"And who was the one asking me stupid questions mid fucking fight?" You tease.

He laughs.

"So... are we going to talk about it now?" You swallow, wondering how he'll react to this new side of you.

He thinks for a moment. "Talk about what? As far as I know, a human saved me from the kaiju. And it looks like," He chucks a rock at the nearby drone, "The rubble badly damaged any footage that might've been captured."

You sigh, relieved, and relax against the ground.

"But... if there's anything you want to tell me later... when you're ready, I'll listen."

There were so many things you wanted to tell him and you being half kaiju was the least important of them. But you'd save that for another day, maybe when less of your limbs hurt.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"By the way, did you really brutally murder the kaiju just because it made me bleed? Your comms were on."

"Shut up, Hoshina."

[425599167]

I've been holding back a while on publishing this post, but I finally feel like sharing my thoughts about Barriss in Tales of the Empire.

It was fine. It was the okayest way to continue Barriss’s story. It’s not bad at all, it’s just basic and misses out on opportunities.

Part of what started my fascination with Barriss was her courtroom tirade. Not just her motives, but seeing her, a young woman of relatively low rank now put in handcuffs, speak up and tear into the most powerful people in the galaxy. My impression of her was, from that point on, she is uncontrollable. This part of her is out in the open, there’s no going back to the demure padawan. She can be angry and scared and self-hating, but even if she uses the dark side, she is a wild card. She can be intimidated into feigning loyalty, but she’s plotting against whoever dares think they can manipulate her. People like Barriss are why the Rule of Two was necessary. In TotE, she was not that. She seriously worked as an inquisitor and intended to follow Vader’s orders, albeit briefly. It isn’t a definitively wrong direction for her character, but I was underwhelmed.

The first warning sign that got under my skin is the scene from the trailer where Barriss is depicted being the first person to bow to Vader. The knee-jerk takeaway was she’s evil now, nothing more to it. I predicted she was planning to escape the inquisitors, pretending to be loyal, and laying it on thick. Then in the episode it turned out that scene was shown in reverse for the trailer, she was actually the last person to rise, and the villains are all too stupid to notice her hesitation. Because, y’know, why write the protagonist showing some cunning when you can just deceptively edit the trailer? Good work, marketing team, you successfully tricked me into thinking you were making something interesting.

Then the scene with Vader. Let’s assume it wasn’t just a cheap move made to stick him in the trailer. Vader will kill people for annoying him, and he mutilated several inquisitors as part of their training. It didn’t take much for him to kill Trilla, Iskat, and Tualon. He has personal reasons to hate Barriss, but expresses nothing. His goal could be to make her suffer as his servant, but again, he frequently brutalizes subordinates yet does nothing to her. Even if he really doesn’t care about the events of the Sabotage Arc, shaky loyalty would not be tolerated. He could put Barriss in a torture chamber to take his frustrations out on rather than give her any opportunity to escape. There’s hardly even a meaningful look, like he’s got anything in mind for her. This being shortly post-RotS, maybe he’s so burned out over recent events he doesn’t really care about Barriss, but him being too tired to pay attention undercuts the menace. Maybe Palpatine ordered him to leave Barriss be, but nothing implies that, and at this point I’m doing the writers’ job for them. Vader’s involvement doesn’t work, and Inquisitor Barriss doesn’t work by extension. IIRC Pablo Hidalgo pointed out this problem years ago, and he was right. Vader is just an evil cardboard cutout for Barriss to kneel to, and that could be a good moment showing how out of her depth she feels, except it doesn’t make use of his character and their history. This is little better than other pointless Glup Shitto cameos.

My personal fix would be giving Vader a single line implying he’s leaving Barriss alone because he wants her to try escaping so he gets the satisfaction of hunting her down. He could maim Marrok and that nameless inquisitor to make a point, but he wants Barriss in top shape for a good chase. Perhaps Barriss could infer his identity based on his wording, a suggestion he already chased her down once before and she won’t survive the second time. Ratchet up the terror Barriss feels, the danger she’s in, the enmity between them, the challenge of how to escape knowing Vader is watching and waiting. Barriss isn’t only under the same pressure as the other inquisitors, Vader is looking for an excuse to kill her and is savoring her misery. Lyn is a fine antagonist, but Vader is the one Barriss is forced to kneel to. Vader is the obstacle she needs to overcome to free herself. Seeing the Empire’s infamous top enforcer getting outsmarted by the girl he thought he’d trapped and broken would’ve hit so much harder. Getting Lyn to leave Vader’s service is a solid victory, but it’s not the same magnitude and it's possible to combine both events anyway. Using his character could’ve made Barriss’s struggle and triumph even greater.

Another option is to forego Vader entirely and focus on the Grand Inquisitor, because Barriss’s interaction with Quizzy didn’t amount to much. There’s no mention of Luminara and whether Quizzy captured and/or killed her yet, nor does he reveal that he was present for and motivated by Barriss’s confession. Like, maybe that green lightsaber Barriss used could’ve been Luminara’s. Let her grapple with the implications. Fans who know about Quizzy’s past can dig under the surface, such as how he encourages Barriss as sincerely as his smug personality permits, but to this day we only know he was one of those four temple guards because of BTS or supplementary info. There’s been nothing on-screen about it, most viewers don’t know, this was the opportunity to explore that connection, but it doesn’t happen. The training scene was fine. Everything was just fine.

A sticking point for me is her helmet, because that could’ve meant something much juicier. Barriss’s inquisitor helmet strongly resembles the one she stole from Ventress and wore while attacking Ahsoka. I’m not sure if this is purely a choice by the animators, or if it’s supposed to imply one of the villains (most likely Lyn) intentionally made the helmet look like that. If the inquisitors designed the helmet to remind Barriss of her crimes, it reinforces how they don’t understand her at all. They present her the helmet to make her one of them, but it’s a glaring reminder she isn’t. Service to imperialism isn’t what the original helmet represented. Barriss’s disguise was that of a dangerous renegade aware of the Republic’s impending fall, and the inquisitors don’t get that about her. That helmet doesn’t just remind Barriss of her attack on the Jedi and how she hurt Ahsoka, it reminds her that she knew the Empire was coming, wants to kill it, and can fight back independently. Giving her the helmet could’ve backfired on the inquisitors spectacularly.

What I found interesting about Barriss is she’s highly intelligent and recognized the unwinnable situation of the Clone Wars, then her reaction was inventive and volatile. She’s right about everything and handles it terribly. TotE Barriss is kinda dumb, especially in her second episode. She went with Lyn on a mission to kill a Jedi, witnessed her partner commit a massacre, then tried to convince the target Jedi to come with her back to the inquisitors despite what she knows about the organization, and only took down Lyn at the last moment. I watched her throughout the episode hoping her comments to Lyn were probing for information, waiting for an opening, but they weren’t. There is no defection plan, she’s genuinely operating as an inquisitor and wants to take a Jedi back alive to people whom she knows murdered at least one of her peers and forced her into a deathmatch with another.

At this point, Barriss is mentally unwell in many ways due to child soldier war trauma and probably serious brain damage, plus the year in solitary confinement couldn’t have helped, but I always thought her issues manifested as doubt and contempt for any authority. Her behavior can’t all be written off as “she’s crazy and irrational”, there are patterns there. After the bombing, she was dismissed by the Jedi Council as a “Separatist terrorist”, and that shows how little people understand her. Jedi, Sith, Republic, Separatists, Empire, rightly or not, Barriss resents them all for ruining her life. Trust is overrated. Eventually deserting fits with her previously putting on an appearance of loyalty until her doubts break through, but it would’ve been interesting to see her evolve further after that side of her already emerged during the Sabotage Arc. Sincerely giving the Inquisitorius a chance makes her look like an idiot compared with her previous appearance. It’s not the worst direction to write her, but it’s so much less than she’s capable of. Maybe Barriss just wasn’t as cunning of a character as I imagined her to be.

The broader problem with TotE is that, despite focusing on Barriss, it killed the remaining interest in her, and there wasn’t much left. After TCW Season 5, the one big question about Barriss was what happened to her after RotS, and many people vilified her enough to not care at all, or assumed she was executed before or during Order 66. After eleven years of fading relevance broken up by occasional theory clickbait, TotE answered the question adequately and left little room to explore her further. Her time between deserting imperial service and being found by Lyn is implied to be uneventful. Barriss says, “I saw amazing things, traveled the stars with my master. But that was long ago,” the corollary being she hasn’t been traveling and hasn’t seen amazing things since being a Jedi, nothing worth showing in a future story. She spent at least a decade in hiding without being seen by the inquisitors, including a long period in that tundra working as a healer.

This was the best opportunity to show Barriss and Ahsoka finding each other. It was skipped over. The small hint of what happened off-screen doesn’t tease intrigue, and apparently the writers consider Ahsoka and Barriss reconciling to be less interesting than what happened in the third episode. Instead she gets to interact with such fascinating characters as Unnamed Jedi, Unnamed Attendant #1, and Unnamed Attendant #2. Then Barriss gets stabbed through the chest and could easily be presumed dead by fans and future writers even though being impaled in Star Wars has become inconsequential. The resolution was so basic, yet filled in so much of the timeline, people aren’t clamoring for more stories and space wasn’t left to fit more in. I’ve thought of ways, but TotE put in unnecessary restrictions which make it tougher.

It was eleven years since Barriss’s story progressed. All of TCW’s other dangling plot threads got dealt with during that time, Barriss is the bottom of the barrel. There is currently no reason to believe she will appear again. I’d like to think Barriss could reappear in Ahsoka Season 2, which probably won’t be until 2026, and I’ve seen a couple people suggest TotE was providing background for that purpose. The problem is that Barriss wasn’t even hinted at in Ahsoka S1 to build up awareness, even when it would make contextual sense for Ahsoka to mention her. If she does show up, it’s an obnoxious writing choice to foreshadow a character in a completely different series and medium with a much, much smaller audience. You might be wondering, “How much smaller?”

That much smaller. Before anyone says anything, I did try variations like including Ahsoka and Barriss's last names, that made it worse. TotE couldn’t even keep Barriss at half of Ahsoka’s baseline popularity for a week before she fell back down to nothing. Google Trends isn’t a perfect measurement tool, but it’s useful for seeing how TotE is mostly forgotten and continues declining. Then keep in mind Barriss was only half the TotE story. What little interest remained after the first few weeks was drowned out by The Acolyte, which maintained >100x more attention even after the usual post-premiere drop, and even that wasn't enough to save it from cancellation. It probably won’t make anyone at Lucasfilm think Barriss is worth revisiting. I remember people saw the TotE trailer and said stuff like, “We are so back!” First of all, I never left, and second, no we fucking aren’t. I wish we were, but we aren't.

TotE is irrelevant now. In my experience, tumblr is the most Barriss-friendly social media site, and almost nobody here is still enthusiastic about TotE. There was an uptick in Barriss posts when it premiered, but that died quickly, TotE posts showed mixed reactions, and few of the recent Barriss posts are about TotE. Nobody new got invested, 80% of her tag is the same dozen-or-so diehard Barriss fans who've been here for years, myself included. Reddit has next to nothing and one time I checked, the first post to show up specifically questioned why nobody was talking about TotE, followed by several critical posts. The subreddit r/talesoftheempire was created on the same day the trailer dropped, when interest was highest. It has 16 members. There might be stuff happening over on Twitter but I’m not making an account to check because why would I make myself suffer like that? Even on my favorite totally legal website for watching shows, the Barriss episodes have no ratings because nobody watched them, and my second-favorite site doesn’t have the show at all.

Fanart is a troubling indicator. Very little recent fanart shows Barriss as she was in TotE, people stick with her Jedi look. I didn’t keep a tally, but I think people drew more TotE fanart between the trailer and the premiere than they have since the show debuted. Barriss’s final outfit, which depicts her at what should be the climax of her character arc, has been drawn by only two people. For a little perspective, I write a Barriss-centric fanfiction series with a couple hundred subscribers, and five people have made art of my Barriss. Even factoring in how long I’ve been writing, that ain’t good. On @barrissday, a niche fan event specifically about celebrating Barriss, there was almost nothing TotE-related. Lately, there’s been more artwork of her decades-old Legends appearances than a recent animated series starring her.

Sure, I was proven mostly correct in my reading of Barriss’s character and I’m still writing stories about her, but I didn’t want to be doing that for a diminishing audience. Being proven right doesn’t matter to me if other people don’t become invested in Barriss’s character or even find her worth talking about. I wanted her to become popular and loved and interesting. The show was so unimpactful it took months for me to build up enough motivation to explain how unimpactful it was.

Star Wars would be so good if it was good.

[punchdrunkdoc]

Part 3, Chapter 5

Summary: After the events of S3, Matt Murdock is trying to once again balance life as a lawyer and a vigilante. But he’s been scarred by loss and betrayal - will a mysterious new neighbour help him heal? Or will her secrets drag him back into the darkness?

Notes: This is a slow burn romance with an original female character, told in 3 (maybe 4??) parts. There is mystery, intrigue, action/violence and angst - all the good stuff!

Also available on AO3 and Wattpad

Masterlist

Reference pics

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PART 3

Chapter 5

Calina's next opportunity to see Matt came a few days later.

She was in Manhattan picking up a few extra firearms with Katya. The other Widow had a contact that had sourced the unregistered weapons from the black market. He charged a fortune, but it was worth the additional cost to keep their purchases under the radar.

After stashing the bag of guns in the trunk of their car, Calina handed Katya the keys. “You go on ahead. I have an errand to run.”

Katya rolled her eyes. “I wonder what ‘errand’ you could possibly need to run in this part of the city?”

Calina shrugged and smiled. “I have a delivery to make.”

It was the truth. One of Matt’s favourite Chinese restaurants was around the corner, so she planned to grab him lunch and deliver it to his office.

She was taking a gamble that he would a) be in his office, and b) not be with a client, but she couldn’t pass up the chance to see him again.

Twenty minutes later, arms laden with enough kung pao chicken and Szechuan Beef to feed an army, she skipped up the stairs leading to Nelson, Murdock & Page.

----------

Matt leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms out in front of him. He laced his fingers together, twisted his forearms and felt the satisfying crack of his knuckles. The tenant dispute case that Foggy had ‘assigned’ to him had turned into a class action lawsuit against one of the most despicable slumlords in the city, and he’d spent the last three hours reading through pages and pages of evidence.

‘Nightmare’ didn’t even cover it.

The three of them were now spending all their time and efforts trying to win the suit. Time and effort that could have been used to follow up on Calina’s lead and track down the mysterious pheromone manufacturer…

But this cause was just as worthy. Dozens of families had been taken advantage of, and were now trapped in tenancy contracts for mould-invested apartments. They were losing money, and their kids were getting sick. It was exactly the kind of case Nelson, Murdock & Page was created for - getting justice for the most deprived and powerless in the city.

And if they failed the legal way, Matt had a backup plan. Daredevil had been out at night gathering dirt on the landlord and his company, and he wouldn’t hesitate to hand it over to the cops and get the guy put away for decades. But for the families to see some compensation, they needed to win in the courts first. So Matt shook out his tired hands and went back to reading.

But just ten minutes later, his concentration started to wane. He’d been successfully ignoring his hunger pangs all morning - it was his own fault for skipping breakfast and only having a light meal before patrolling last night - but the faint scent of Chinese food filtering in from the street outside was making that task almost impossible.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the delicious aroma of chilli, garlic and ginger, and his stomach let out a loud rumble in response.

He breathed again, and the smell became stronger - it was in the building now, no longer on the street. Matt lifted his head, tracking the scent as it travelled up the stairs, figuring one of the other offices must have ordered takeout.

Which was a very good idea.

Matt took out his phone and started punching in the number to his favourite restaurant, having memorised the contact information years ago. He could blame that on being blind - it was easier to memorise numbers than to search for them - but, really, he just ordered too much takeout.

He’d lived off the stuff for years. Sure, he could cook, and he liked being able to cook for others. But when it was just him, it was easier to order in. He’d only really had consistent home-cooked meals when Calina had lived with him. She used to enjoy finding recipes and trying them out - with him as her willing taste-tester.

“I don’t know why I was so wary of cooking for myself when I came to New York,” she’d told him one night as she diced a carrot and added it to the stew she was preparing. “Its just a lot of knife skills, and the application of physics and chemistry. And I know about all of those things.”

Matt grabbed a left over slice of carrot from the chopping board and popped it in his mouth. “I think a lot of chefs would disagree with you there. They regard it as more of an art than a science.”

“I don’t see the distinction,” she’d argued. “Art and science are too entwined to be separated like that. They’re just two sides to the same coin.”

“How so?” Matt asked, leaning back against the counter top, settling in to enjoy the conversation. He loved to hear Calina’s thoughts on the world, and the surprising way she often viewed it. He wondered whether it was because she’d been so alienated from it for so long, or whether it was just her. Her unique and fascinating brain that gave her these insights.

“People tend to separate art into the creative realm, and science is relegated to the rational,” she explained. “But an artist needs an element of rationality. They can really only succeed if they know the science underpinning their creations - how colours mix together, how perspective informs composition, how language can convey an idea. And scientists use imagination and creativity to explore nature. The greatest discoveries in physics came from someone imagining the world beyond what they could see and feel.”

Matt smiled remembering that conversation. They’d spent all of dinner debating the topic and all the tangential topics that had branched from it. And they’d spent night after night like that, learning about each other over dinner, finding out about their differing opinions and the similar ways they thought, until he became just as infatuated with her mind as he was with her smell and the softness of her skin.

God, he missed talking to her.

The two brief encounters they’d had since Christmas has been just that - brief. Too quick to do more than say hello and goodbye, and assure themselves that the other was whole and unharmed. Too quick to really say anything of substance. 

Matt shook off those thoughts. If he went down that path - of wondering what she was doing, of remembering that kiss on the rooftop last weekend, of imagining a future where they were free to be together and talk for hours on end - he would never get any work done. He’d learned over the past few months that to be effective at anything in his life - being a lawyer, or a vigilante, or even a decent friend - he needed to stash thoughts of Calina to the back of his mind.

He resumed typing in the number for the Chinese restaurant, then called out to Foggy and Karen before pressing the dial button. “Do you guys want Chinese for lunch? I’m gonna order something.”

“Um, I thought you already had,” Foggy responded, sounding confused.

Matt listened to what was happening beyond his desk and realised that while he’d been distracted thinking of Calina, someone had come to the office door - with the Chinese food he’d been smelling.

He got to his feet and ambled out to the main reception area. Foggy was rummaging in his wallet for cash, while Karen was taking bags of food off the delivery person. “Are you sure its for this address?” Foggy asked.

“Yep. Nelson, Murdock and Page. The most prestigious law firm on West 49th street.”

Foggy paused, and Matt could sense his friend frowning. “Right,” he said slowly.

But Matt just smiled and strode forward. Because he recognised that voice. Despite the drop in pitch and the strange accent she was putting on, he recognised Calina’s beautiful voice.

He would know it anywhere.   

He slipped between Karen and Foggy, took Calina’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Hey, sweetheart.”

“Calina?” Foggy spluttered.

“Hi, Foggy. Nice to see you again.”

“I- I didn’t recognise you. Sorry. Hi.”

“That’s kind of the point of a disguise.” She smiled up at Matt. “Although I knew I’d never fool this guy.”

“Disguise?” Matt asked. He’d noticed straightaway the ball-cap pulled low over her face, but there must be more to her get-up if Foggy hadn’t recognised her. He plucked the hat from her head and ran his hand through the loose waves of her hair. It felt shorter. And styled differently. “New haircut?” he guessed.

“Yes…”

He rubbed a strand between his fingers, feeling the strange new texture. “And dyed?”

“Very good, Counsellor. Now that I’m spending time in the city again, I thought I should try to be more incognito.

“What colo-” He caught himself before he could finish, remembering the conversation they’d had months ago. The one in which she spoke of her looks and how she liked the fact that he didn’t know anything about the superficial aspects of her beauty.

So as much as he was curious about her new hair colour, he dropped the question. “Nevermind.”

He sensed her smile widening, and she squeezed his hand in gratitude - as if she knew what he wanted to ask, and why he changed his mind.

She probably did. It was proof of the connection they shared - this ability to silently communicate, to be on the same page, thinking the same thoughts…it was proof of how right they were together.

Matt kissed the back of her hand again then stepped back, allowing the real world to intrude on their little bubble.

“Sorry, Foggy, what did you say?” he asked, knowing his friend had asked something while he’d been concentrating on Calina.

“I asked if you guys wanted to be alone. Karen and I can head out for lunch and give you some privacy.”

Calina shook her head before Matt could answer. “No, I brought enough for everyone.”

She took the bags back from Karen and headed for the conference table, where she started unpacking the cartons.

“Any occasion in particular?” Foggy asked, helping her spread out the food. “You got another thumb drive full of revelations to drop off?”

Calina smiled. “Not this time. I just wanted to hang out with you guys for a while. The last time we tried…it didn’t really go to plan.”

Matt winced at the reminder of that night - the night Calina had tried to kiss him, and his stupid fears had ruined it. In a way, it had been the catalyst for everything that had changed between them. But he still hated the way he’d behaved that night.

Matt squeezed Calina’s knee as she sat beside him, a silent apology.

She bumped her shoulder against his, telling him they were all good.

More silent communication.

More connection.

Matt smiled as he reached for the carton of wontons, then paused as he realised his friends were watching him - with matching big, goofy smiles on their faces. “What?”

Karen shrugged. “You two are cute together.”

“All we’ve gotten for months is angst and drama,” Foggy explained. “‘Oh no, she left and won’t pick up her phone’ and ‘Oh no, we have to be apart, how can I possibly survive?’. It’s just refreshing to see the lighter side of the Matt and Calina story.”

Matt rolled his eyes and chucked a spare pair of chopsticks at his friend. “Very funny.”

“Ignore him,” Karen advised Calina. “Tell us what’s been going on with you? Matt said you’re close to bringing down this Volkov guy.”

Calina nodded. “Close, but we’re not there yet. We’re kind of in a holding pattern, just waiting for our moment. So we’ve been spending our time prepping and training.”

Matt brushed his thumb gently over a bruise he could sense across Calina’s upper arm. “Is that how you got this?”

She rolled her shoulder, as if it was stiff. “Yeah. You remember Inessa?”

Matt nodded and held a hand out at shoulder level. “The petite one.”

“She may be petite, but she kicks like a mule.”

Matt laughed. “I learned pretty quickly not to underestimate her.”

Calina laughed. “That’s right - she took you down.”

“Wait, what?” Foggy chimed in. “When did this happen?”

“It was when Yelena kidnapped me to take me to the cabin Calina was staying at. And in my defence, it was Inessa and Katya together, and they had a tranquilliser gun.”

“Excuses, excuses,” Foggy teased.

“Speaking of excuses,” Calina said, resting her fingers against the black eye only partially hidden by his glasses. “What’s yours for this?”

“Just an over-enthusiastic car-jacker who got lucky.”

“Nothing to do with the pheromone case?” she asked. “How’s that going, by the way?”

A collective groan sounded out in the room.

“That good, huh?” 

Karen wiped off her fingers and got to her feet. Then she spun the whiteboard in the corner of the room around to show a complicated collage of documents, photographs and notes. “We’ve been looking into the buyers of Arsonium bromide - who they are, how much they’re purchasing and their stated reasons. Unfortunately, there are a lot of buyers.”

“Its been slow-going and tedious,” Matt growled.

Foggy sighed, used to hearing Matt’s complaints about their chosen methodology. “It’s slow-going and thorough. And for good reason. We’ve had experience investigating rich, powerful and well-connected people before. We need to do this carefully.”

Matt nodded, reluctantly. He understood the reasons for caution - their firm didn’t need to be on the radar of another Wilson Fisk-type character - but it had been months since the explosion in the lab, and weeks since Calina had gifted them with this lead and they were still nowhere.

Calina stroked her thumb against his cheek. “You’re getting frustrated.”

He nodded, cupping her hand against his skin. “Understatement.”

“You’ll figure it out. I know you will.”

“Thanks.” He turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. “And thanks for lunch.”

He sensed her frown. “I’ll have to do it more often. You look a little thin.”

He shrugged. “It’s just been busy around here.”

“But you’re taking care of yourself?”

He nodded, warming at the concern and caring in her voice. “I miss your cooking though. I miss our evenings together.”

“Me too.”

“And our nights. And the mornings.”

She laughed softly, and tipped forward to rest her forehead against his. “Me too.”

A text alert from her phone broke the quiet intimacy of the moment. Calina sighed as she read the message.

“Time to go?” he guessed.

“Yeah.” She lifted her head to look around the room, and seemed to notice for the first time that they were alone.

“They slipped out to give us some privacy,” Matt explained.

She smiled. “You have good friends.”

“They’re your friends too.”

“I hope so.”

She gathered her stuff then leaned over to kiss him. He held her against him, his hand locked on the back of her head as he tried to prolong the moment.

Then she left.

Again.

He toyed with the fortune cookie in front of him as he listened to her say goodbye to Foggy and Karen. As he heard her jog down the stairs. As she stepped onto the street and started walking away. He crumbled the wafer, crushing the pieces into dust between his fingers as her footsteps receded into the distance, taking her further and further away from him.

“You okay, man?” Foggy asked.

Matt shrugged, getting used to the bittersweet nature of Calina’s brief visits. “I’ll be fine.”

Foggy patted him on the shoulder, then leaned over to pluck the slip of paper out of the destroyed cookie. He read the ‘fortune’ then huffed out a laugh.

“What does it say?” Matt asked.

Foggy didn’t answer, just handed the note to Karen.

She laughed as well.

“Guys?”

“Sorry, Matt. It’s just too on the nose. ‘The love of your life will appear in front of you unexpectedly.’”

Matt joined in the laughter.

------------

The love of his life appeared unexpectedly several more times over the next couple of weeks.

She was in a darkened corner at the back of Josie’s one night. Alerted by her scent, he tracked her through the Happy Hour crowd, then pulled her further into the shadows where they spent several hot, sweaty minutes pressed against each other. She slipped out the back door and he returned to Foggy and Karen with his hair rumpled and his smiling lips stained with her lipstick.

A few days later, she was in the public gallery of the courtroom, watching as he entered a plea for one of his clients. Her gaze was a warm caress on his back as he stood before the judge, and her calm, soothing heartbeat filled his senses. But when he turned to leave at the end of the session she was gone.

There was another sky-high kiss after she summoned him to the roof of a dimly lit multi-storey car lot.  He raced across the city, following the sound of the clanging dashes and dots of his now-familiar code, lured like a sailor by a siren.

And just as he was starting to grow frustrated by those brief encounters - those stolen moments in which they could do little more than kiss - she crept into his bedroom one early morning and they made love for hours. He arrived to work that day bleary-eyed, but languidly sated.

Her unpredictable appearances turned their separation into a game. A secret pastime, where she tried to surprise him, and where he tracked her through crowds and down winding alleyways. Where there were no losers, only winners, and their shared victory was celebrated with passion-filled kisses and tender embraces.

It broke their time apart into days instead of weeks. Manageable fragments of time, spent in anticipation, not loneliness and despair.

It brought much-needed moments of levity to both of their lives…

Until everything went horribly, horribly wrong.

————–

Uh oh...What could this mean?!

Find out in Chapter 6...

Tag list: @hollandorks @chezagnes @stilldreaming666 @yanna-banana @tearoseart-blog @acharliecoxedfan @freckledbabyyy

If you’d like to be added - let me know!

[poiseandprogress]

Poise & Progress: The Game Plan

So in my last blog post (which was also my first might I add) I mentioned that I adore anything relating to leveling up and becoming a femme fatale. And so today I’m choosing to become a part of what I adore. 

Here, I’m laying out my goals and plans on how I will achieve these goals. I’ve decided to categorize them based on the areas of my life that I would like to elevate. I will add that this is neither an original idea or layout. I was inspired by a blog here on tumblr that I’ve been following for a while. (@boujeeceo - they haven’t been active for a while though but you can look through their page of course! I don’t gatekeep.)

Okay, let’s get started with my goals shall we?

One Time Goals:

Save 5k 

Finish my modeling website 

Buy a vlogging camera

Create 3 Sources of income 

Start my social media management/marketing business 

Open my clothing boutique 

Have my own skin care line here in The Bahamas

To Purchase:

Smile direct club 

New bedroom furniture and closet storage (my bedroom needs a SERIOUS makeover)

New Wardrobe essentials (a little difficult considering my personality changes every three months but I think now that I’m laying it all out and building my dream persona it may get easier to manage)

Health & Fitness

Start a workout routine

At home pilates (gyms make me uncomfortable for many reasons)

Daily 30 minute jogs

Healthier diet (wholesome, plant based?)

Intermittent fasting? 

Cut out meat again?

Add more fruits and vegetables to my diet

Create a meal plan and meal prep on Sundays?

Solid Sleep schedule 

Get at least 7 hours of sleep daily (I’m struggling with the idea of this because I feel as though in order to be successful sooner I have to sacrifice some hours of sleep)

Take vitamins daily

Beauty:

Build a solid skincare routine & be consistent with it!

Practice my makeup skills

Learn how to install and style my own wigs

Finances 

Fix my relationship with money!!

SAVE & BUDGET

Increase Income 

Work/Career

Start a side hustle that I can scale into a remote/work from home business that brings in more than my current 9-5 does.  

Relationships:

Making more friends with the same interests as me and ones that have successfully achieved for themselves the lifestyle that I see for myself so that I can learn from them. This also means evaluating my current friendships and putting some distance between me and those that aren’t working on growth. 

Spirituality 

Strengthen relationship with God 

Read 1 chapter of the Bible Daily

Continue to explore my spirituality

Meditate daily

Socials: 

The girlies on every social media platform say that the best way to remain consistent and to be successful when it comes to social media is by niching down. I’ve been working on what my niche could be, based on the type of content that I like to consume and also the type of content that I will be able to post the most given my current location, income, and budget. 

I’m leaning towards: LIFESTYLE | FASHION | BEAUTY

Youtube

Start posting again. It’s that simple, I know it is. 

Hit 500 subscribers by New Years (Currently 292 - All of my past videos are private right now as I’m rebranding)

Meet monetization requirements (500 subscribers, 3 videos within 90 days and 3000 watch hours)

Instagram 

Hit 5k followers by New Year’s Eve (Currently 4,026) 

Create a solid social media strategy & content calendar 

Skills

Complete my social media marketing course 

Learn a new language (currently learning italian seeing that my boyfriend is an old Italian man loll)

Habits: 

Drink a gallon of water daily

Read more books 

Form daily routines 

Hobbies: 

Modeling 

Build my portfolio 

Book more runway stuff 

Travel for modeling

Hobbies that I’d like to start:

Tennis/Golf: I would like to have a physical hobby that can also keep me in shape. And also somewhere that affluent individuals in my community enjoy hanging out.

Traveling: This one feels like a dead giveaway. Of course I want to start traveling more. 

Horseback riding: I used to do it when I was younger and volunteering at a nearby stable. Learning to ride was a requirement but I didn’t stick around long enough to actually get good at it. 

Cooking & Baking (It’s recently become a dream of mine to host a fancy thanksgiving dinner) My family has never really been the baking type and traditional Bahamian meals are great and all but I would like to explore the art of cooking. 

I think for now this is a pretty extensive list of goals and aspirations even though in my head it feels like I’ve only scratched the surface. I’ll be going into more details on different aspects of these things here of course!

[cloudsoffire]

Please share ur Infinite headcanons :OOO

HEADCANONS????? TRY A HEADBACKSTORY

wait is that a thing

whatever

before infinite worked for eggman, he lived in a camp in the desert with the rest of jackal squad. he was a kind bit firm and a little bit scary leader. everyone in the jackal squad had number based names, and i came up with a bunch for an old oneshot.

coda is interesting but i'll get into him later because that delves fully into fanfiction/oc territory

jackal squad was extremely well known in the criminal underworld, but since they were so intimidating, they didn't get many clients. the ones they did get were all criminals, who zero didn't turn down because he's a professional with mouths to feed.

during and shortly after the events of lost world, they had an influx of work along the lines of search and rescue. during one of these trips, he loses one or several of his team, at which point he becomes more withdrawn.

he began getting tired and bored, and as jobs began to dry up again, he became desperate and tried to raid an eggman base. and we all know how that went.

jackal squad works with eggman for a while he researches the phantom ruby, leading to the events of episode shadow, where shadow kills or otherwise causes the deaths of zero's entire squad. infinite tries to take revenge, but shadow is literally the ultimate lifeform, so he fails. everything comes to a head and he snaps, offering himself up to eggman as test subject if he grants him power.

this would be when he puts on the mask and changes his name. after successfully fusing with a prototype phantom ruby, he immediately goes to challenge shadow. and then once it's fully tuned, eggman uses him to defeat sonic.

another headcanon that's a bit darker that i also like is that shadow didn't kill jackal squad, just injured them to a point where infinite found it best to send them home. then, when he became eggman's general, eggman destroyed the jackal squad's camp behind infinite's back in order to snuff out any connections to the outside world.

alright now coda. just a warning that we're leaving headcanons and delving into "wouldn't it be cool if?" this is also an idea i plan to use for sonic forces redux.

this character would almost be like infinite's younger brother, but not quite in the same vein as sonic and tails. infinite was definitely a hardass to him, but they were still close.

in this series of events, coda would be the/one of the members lost in an earlier mission. infinite would have to make the decision to leave him behind after he disappeared. when coda got out, he returned to the camp, and either found it abandoned or destroyed. he then gets angry at either his team for abandoning him, or eggman for destroying them.

after that, he starts scouring battlefields for wisp capsules before they begin, and sells them on the black market. this would also be a great place to put a rough and tumble cameo.

but anyway, i can't talk much about their reunion or anything because that would be spoilers and coda is a concept character that might get cut.

and that's it that's what i wanted to get off my chest thank you so much for asking

[most-informational-blogs]

How to Start a Home Staging Business Without Investing in Furniture

In the current real estate market, owning a home staging business is a wise decision. It has been proven over and over again that home staging sells homes quicker and for more money than non-staged homes. The problem is that lots of people wanting to get into staging hesitate or simply can not afford to invest so much money upfront in staging furniture.

However, you do not have to spend an arm and leg buying high-ticket furniture items in order to begin your staging company. This actionable guide will walk you through how to start a staging business successfully on day one without buying any furniture.

Research and Plan Your Business

Research and planning are very important for any business to start. Home staging is no exception. Firstly, do some homework on the local real estate market and research the demand for staging.

Know whether it is real estate agents, homeowners, or property developers you are targeting to be your clients. Would you serve luxury, mid-tiered, or vacation homes? Is there a good buyer’s market in your area for staged properties?

Once you know your market, get to work on a well-formed business plan. Depending on where you are with your business, it may make sense for you to map out all of your services, also potentially a pricing structure and possible marketing strategies. The catch is to uncover a way to begin your staging business without first having the expensive costs of purchasing furniture.

For example, renting staging furniture provides a malleable answer to stage every home without holding onto inventory. Thorough market research supported by your business plan is the key to building a house staging company on solid footing, which prevents you from investing too much too soon.

Build a Network with Furniture Rental Companies

A frequent question of people who may consider a home staging business is, “Where do home stagers get their furniture? The silver lining is that you do not have to buy all the furniture for staging separately ahead of time.

Building strong relationships with local furniture rental companies can give you access to a large selection of modern, high-quality furniture. Most rental companies offer special home staging packages.

Through these packages, you can rent items that suit the style, size, and target market of your property. Renting is budget-friendly and allows you to trade out styles based on the property you are staging.

Whether your property is a modern condominium or a quaint family home, you can put together a display that attracts the most likely buyers. From a financial standpoint, renting staging furniture costs a fraction of what you would spend compared to storing or purchasing inventory outright.

The cost of renting home furniture for staging depends on the scope of the project, but many rental companies offer affordable monthly rates, making it a sustainable option when starting a home staging business. By partnering with companies like HolmeStage, you can access a wide selection of furniture while focusing on the creative and marketing side of your business.

Utilize Virtual Staging

As technology advances, so does the home staging industry. Virtual staging has become a powerful tool for home stagers, especially when dealing with properties that are either vacant or difficult to stage physically.

Virtual staging allows you to add digital furniture to photos of empty rooms, transforming them into beautifully staged spaces without ever moving a piece of furniture. Virtual staging offers several benefits when you’re starting out. First, it’s cost-effective. You don’t have to spend money on renting or purchasing furniture.

Additionally, it allows for quicker turnaround times, meaning you can stage more properties in a shorter period. For homes that don’t have any furniture or for clients who want to see various design options, virtual staging provides an easy way to show a space’s full potential.

One thing to keep in mind is that virtual staging requires high-quality images and sophisticated design software. Many professional stagers either collaborate with virtual staging companies or invest in software to create realistic and appealing designs.

Another benefit of virtual staging is that it allows you to be on the cutting edge of home staging technologies and be at the forefront of what’s trending. This allows you to capture a market that may be more inclined towards smart homes or homes heavy with technology.

Offer Consultations and DIY Staging Guidance

With how to start a staging company, another way to build your business without a heavy upfront investment in furniture is by offering home staging consultations and DIY guidance to homeowners.

Not every homeowner is looking to stage their home with rental furniture fully, but they may still need professional advice on how to present their space to potential buyers.

Consultation services involve visiting the home, assessing its strengths and weaknesses, and providing homeowners with actionable advice on how to arrange their existing furniture, declutter, and make minor upgrades.

With a well-trained eye, you can make a significant impact by simply guiding homeowners through a DIY staging process, maximizing their home’s appeal without requiring new furniture. You can also offer virtual consultations, in which clients send you photos or video tours of their homes and you provide them with a detailed action plan.

This service allows you to help clients even if they are outside your local area, expanding your reach and portfolio. HolmeStage can support you by providing the tools and guidance needed to streamline the consultation process and deliver effective results for your clients.

Build a Portfolio and Market Your Business

In the early stages of your house staging business, building a strong portfolio is crucial. You don’t need dozens of properties to start; focus on quality over quantity. Document the transformations of the homes you stage, taking high-quality before-and-after photos.

If you’re utilizing virtual staging, include those photos in your portfolio as well. Showcase your work on your website, social media platforms, and real estate staging networks.

Marketing your home staging business requires consistency and creativity. Use platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to reach homeowners and real estate agents. Create a visually appealing brand that highlights your unique services, whether it’s furniture staging or virtual staging.

Networking with local real estate agents can also be a powerful tool for growing your business. Agents often need reliable stagers to help sell properties faster, and having connections in the industry can provide a steady stream of clients.

HolmeStage can assist in getting your business noticed by providing marketing support, including tips on social media strategies and building an online presence that reflects your expertise.

Consider Purchasing Staging Furniture Gradually

While renting house staging furniture is a great way to start your business without significant upfront investment, there may come a time when purchasing your own staging furniture becomes a cost-effective option. As your business grows and you secure more clients, owning your furniture can help reduce ongoing rental costs.

Start small by purchasing versatile pieces that can be used across multiple properties. Focus on neutral furniture and décor that can appeal to a wide range of buyers and fit various styles of homes. Over time, you can expand your collection to include more specialized pieces, allowing you to stage multiple homes simultaneously.

The decision to buy staging furniture should be made after evaluating your cash flow and client demand. Renting gives you flexibility when you’re just starting out, but ownership might make sense as your business scales.

HolmeStage offers rental packages for businesses at all stages, so whether you choose to rent or purchase, you have access to the furniture you need to create stunning spaces.

Ready to Launch Your Home Staging Business? Start Transforming Spaces Without the Upfront Costs!

Starting a home staging business without investing in furniture is not only possible but can be a strategic and cost-effective way to enter the market. By partnering with furniture rental companies, utilizing virtual staging, offering consultations, and gradually building your portfolio, you can create a thriving home staging business with minimal upfront investment.

HolmeStage is here to support you every step of the way, offering a range of staging solutions that can help you deliver impeccable results for your clients.

Whether you’re just starting a home staging business or looking to expand your services, there are endless possibilities for creating beautiful, sellable spaces without owning a warehouse full of furniture.

Take advantage of rental partnerships, explore new technologies like virtual staging, and grow your business step by step. With the right approach, you’ll be able to transform homes and help clients sell properties quickly and profitably—without needing to invest heavily in home staging furniture from the start.

If you want to get started, call us at HolmeStage today to learn more and get started with launching your home staging business. Your home staging empire awaits!

Source link: https://holmestage.com/start-a-home-staging-business-without-investing-furniture/

[tri-poke]

Revolver grunts unhappily again, clearly not sure he believes Zach on that score, but he doesn't argue and picks himself back upright so he is once again the silent giant with a stiff spine.

The trail home makes it easy to follow, even if they hadn't already known the way. The trouble having made its mark AND drawn attention.

Because just as they're coming up on the Suver Tripokes putting everyone in the ranch back where they belong proper, a voice booms out. Louder than Zach figures a voice out to be able to boom.

"Looks like you been havin' some trouble with that herd, Mundo. Awful lot of noise for a respectable establishment."

Thinner and higher, trying not too successfully to match the volume of the boom, Mr. Suver yells back. "It's on my property so I don't see it's any business of yours, Reever Albamofi."

As everyone stills, Zach is able to get a gander at the sallow faced man he met at the start of the day at the bar. He's got some kind of extra fancy brass Loudhailer up in front of his face which must be giving him the boom.

"Quite a day you've had, is all. Seems that's enough trouble to get you reconsidering before there's more."

Which is the point at which Zach spots that the fancy speaking horn isn't the only help the Reever has brought with him. A full six men, both hands at each of their hips, both hips holstered with an impressive looking revolver - something shiny, new, and impressive as a representative of the latest in manufacturing - are angling intimidatingly around him as his long duster lifts in the first of the sundowner breezes like one of the lord's royal capes in old folk tales.

He goes on, "Virbelim will still make good on my offer. Enough to get out, go somewheres more peaceful, less prone to troubles and trials and the unexpected."

A man dressed in dim brown wrappings, like Cookie's Puniseri scarves and robes, just meant to evade the eye instead of catch it, pops into view as if he has stepped out of one of the gunmen's shadows.

Mr. Suver yells, "That you, Tariq? Told you I'd shoot you somewhere more lethal if I ever saw you on my land again."

"Now, now, Mundo," The Reever admonishes. "I can't have you threatening my deputies. That isn't keeping law and order. But I can overlook that if we're going to make a deal."

"Go back to civilization," Suver shouts. "Ain't none of you belong this side of the wall. I ain't taking your threats or your sham of a deal. I can get more than double in any market."

The Puniseri man, Tariq, laughs. It is a high, uncomfortable sound, like some bird of prey chittering with rabies in the middle of the night.

The Reever says coldly, "There ain't no markets here. There ain't none close by. Everywhere west of west is Virbelim land or about to me. It's us or nothing. Take the offer before it goes lower."

Mundo yells back with a raise of his rifle, "Prices ain't the only thing round here about to drop."

[moon-catto]

Stay Alive

Part I │ Part II │Part III

Summary: You finally tell Gojo about the truth.

Warning: Blood, violence.

Masterlist

You woke up in an unfamiliar room. Days passed but you couldn't get used to the high ceilings and the dark marble floors below you. This is the first time you ever step your foot inside Gojo's house even after years knowing him.

It's decorated with minimalistic furniture— very contrast to his outrageous personality. His house is silent too, just a subtle noise from the television to fill the quietness in the air. Despite its' extravagant ambience, it feels kind of lonely here. You wondered how Gojo spent his time daily here alone.

Well, you're going to find out.

As you made your way to the kitchen in the first floor, you heard someone shuffling something in the fridge.

"Huh, I'm ran out of milk too." His voice is heavy with sleep. You saw his lanky figure currently rummaging the kitchen cabinets with troubled expression on his face.

"Morning, Gojo."

"Wah!" He turned his body in panic. "You surprised me!"

"What are you doing?" You ignored his last remark and went on questioning him.

"Finding some edible foods for us." He raised his eyebrows in confusion. He really didn't sense your presence at all. Your footsteps and the way you breathe is so silent, just like a ghost. If you were trying to kill him in his sleep, there's a 3% chance you'd successfully pulled it off without him even knowing.

A small number, but it's the highest percentage he gave after surviving countless assassinations. Note taken, he shouldn't messing too much with you.

"It seems you rarely go on a grocery shopping." You said after some time examining his kitchen.

"Ah, that... Yeah." He admitted. "I rather to buy take outs than cooking."

"Then we should order takeout now."

"No!" Satoru prevent you from using the telephone on his kitchen counter. "We— I need to cook for you."

"...What?"

"I mean, this is the first time you visited my house right? It's already given that I, as the owner of this house served you a hearty home made meal." He put his hand on his chest in faux elegance, bowing slightly as he continues his grand speech. "Besides! You never see me cooking, right? Honor yourself, because you got to taste the divine dish specially made by Gojo Satoru!"

"Alright, alright." You rolled your eyes at his hyperbolic choice of words. But his goofiness made a small smile appeared at the corner of your lips. "We shall go to the market, then."

"Yay! Let's go!"

After putting Gojo's titanic hoodie to hide your face, you both went to the supermarket near his house. You're pushing the cart while the chef—he told you— is currently hyper-fixated on choosing between two onions in his large hands. The big onions seem like a miniature between his long fingers.

"Hurry up." You groaned for the nth time that morning. You barely made two items from the grocery list in the last one hour. He used too much time to choose between two vegetables that looked the same to you.

"Patience, peasant. Perfection can't be rushed." He shushed you and you rolled your eyes again. Like a toddler getting impatience at her mother in the supermarket.

"Right." You lamely answered and finally your patience ran out. "Just buy both, if you're that indecisive."

Then he clapped his hands. "That's right! Why didn't I think of that sooner?" He put the onions in the cart. "You're not as stupid as you look, Y/N." He snickered when your face fall even deeper.

"You do realized that I'm the only one who has the most braincells between the two of us?"

"Said you." He smiled wider when he sensed your irritation slowly building inside you.

"Next item, please." You pushed him with the cart.

"Geez, so impatient." He's rolling his eyes in faux annoyance. "Wonder where you get that trait from."

"I'm hungry, Gojo."

"Okay, okay. I'll be quick this time." Noticing your lack of energy, he quickly put some other items from the rack after a quick glance at the label.

"You're not a vegetarian, right?"

You nodded. After receiving your approval, he put in some meats from the freezer. You wondered what kind of dish he would cook for you with so much ingredients he's putting in the cart.

"Isn't this too much?"

"Nothing is too much for you, dear." He laughed softly while checking the milk cartoon. He missed how your face slightly reddened on his words. "You're too skinny. Far too skinny. We'll need to refill those juicy thighs agai—"

"Another word and I'll cut your throat off."

"Yes, ma'am."

Finally after what felt like hours of shopping, you left the supermarket with lots of paper bags in both hands.

"You're okay?" He leaned to you. "Need me to lift some?"

"I'm fine." You refused his offer, His arms are full with heavy paper bags as he told you to lift the lighter ones.

The elevator dings and you both quickly enter. He pushed the button with his shoe and you scolded him for being such a dork.

"My hands are full."

"You can ask me to do that instead."

"No can do." He shook his head. "You look like you're going to faint in any minute now." He quickly grabbed the paper bags from your hands despite your protest. "You're my esteemed guest, you shouldn't be spending any bit of energy."

"You're basically spoiling me rotten, Gojo."

"That's the point, sweetheart." He smiled at you. Full of mischief and teasing. "Didn't I tell you before? Just leave everything to me and don't do anything else."

"But this is too much—"

You're interrupted when the elevator door opened. "Nothing is too much for you, Y/N." You heard him said that before you both entered his house once again.

Like what he said, he prohibited you from doing anything at all. That's why now you're watching him cooking from behind the kitchen counter, one hand supporting your chin as your eyes gaze at his back.

To your surprise, he's doing well until now. You might mistake him for a real chef if you don't know him well. His way of movement is precise, the vegetables are cut in the same thickness. He even does the flambé thing while cooking the meat, a gasp escaped your lips and he grinned widely at your reaction.

"I'm so cool, right?" He brushed his chin with his thumb. "What a husband material."

"Your future wife would be soooo lucky to have you." You emphasized your words with a smile, laughing at his devastated expression when you openly broke his heart in an attempt to tease him.

"You're mean..." He fake sniffled.

"Humility is a virtue, Gojo." You told him when he come over to you to serve you his cookings. Garlic butter steak, potatoes gratin, and a bowl of caprese salad. A lavish breakfast, indeed.

You cut the steak and about to eat it when you see him literally staring at you with literal stars in his baby blue eyes.

"Don't mind me." He grinned, his smile is so giddy. You never see him that excited before.

The smell of the dishes in front of you is very tempting and the visual is pretty, that's already some proofs of his cooking skills. You don't doubt it.

He knows he's a good cook and confident in his skills. But why is he so nervous right now? Like he's a cooking show-off contestant and you are the judge.

When you finally took a bite on the steak, he swore his heart stopped. Everything became blurry and only you in focus. He analyzed your expression, your every movement and your eyes. Not good. He can't read what's inside your mind right now.

"... H-how is it?" He cursed himself for stuttering. What is he doing? He should be acting cool and impressing you right now.

You munched on the tender meat. The soft seasoning made your smile bloom. "... It's delicious."

"Really?" He eagerly asked. When he noticed the insecurity slipped in his tone, he quickly cleared his throat. "I mean... Really?" He asked, slower this time.

"Yeah." Your smile widen and his heart soared higher. "This is the first time I ate a steak, but this is definitely delicious."

"Huh? First time?"

You nodded. "All of these dishes, actually. I never eat it." You scooped a bit of the potato gratin into your mouth. "This one is also delicious." You hummed while nibbling on the soft potato. "You're a good cook, Gojo."

He's taken aback by your words. As far as he knows, you came from a well known clan. Your clan is quite big and supposedly financially well state. So how come you never eat a steak before?

"Thank you."

Your words bring him out of his train of thoughts. "Yeah?"

"Thank you. This is the most delicious meal I ever had." You said.

The scenery unfolding before him is heavenly, with the sun light from the giant window behind you outlining your body with a soft light and with that gentle look on your face. His breath stopped for a moment when he realized just how beautiful you are again. The tenderness in your eyes reminds him to that summer again, how you handle him so gentle like a piece of delicate flower. How you turned him so soft just with that precious smile of yours.

He wanted to stay in this moment, with you forever. Just forget about what happened outside and he'll protect you from any harm that may come over you. The moon and sun of his world, the entire galaxy dancing inside the brilliant orbs of your eyes— pulling him inside deeper every time he glanced at yours truly, the love of his life.

His smile came out weird. Maybe that's why your eyes widen slightly right now. "Ah, it's, uh..." He's tongue tied, heart beats too quickly inside his chest. Blood flowing to his cheeks when he felt your stare at him. "It's nothing. I'm glad you enjoyed it." He finally able to made a coherent words after mentally slapped himself. "I'll cook more for you, if you want."

"No, this is already enough." You convince him before he got up to cook again. "This is more than enough." The soft smile on your face as you look into the dishes in front of you ignited something inside him. A realization.

Are you not eating well before he meet you?

That explained everything actually. Your skinny body and the pale complexion on your face. You're always busy with overseas mission, so it's really hard for him to meet you except for occasional calls and messages. He can count how many you both able to see each other face to face in a year, that's just how busy you are.

Now he's feeling bad about it, you're not taking after yourself. But you'd be there if he needs any help. Such selflessness, it's straight stupid.

"Gojo?" your voice awaken him from his trance.

"Yes?"

He gave you a small smile in hope it would mask the uneasiness that's filling his heart. It seems to work because then you continue to speak.

"I need to tell you something."

This is it. After days, you finally opened a bit. He's dying to know and ask you about so many things. The reason why you did such horrible actions, why you're suddenly so busy and rarely came to the school... He wants to know everything. But knowing you, he knows better to wait than straight asking it. You're not as open as you would appear to be.

And you, you're contemplating to tell him about this whole chaos. It's already too much for him to be the strongest pillar of the Jujutsu World and other stuffs as well. You can't possibly add more burden to his shoulders, can you?

"I think you need to know about this. But that doesn't mean you are obliged to drag yourself into this mess." You told him and he nodded.

"Got it." He voiced his affirmation and you continued.

"It all started two years ago."

"Do i need to bring some popcorn? Because i can feel this is going to be long."

"Gojo..."

"Okay, okay." He puts two hands in the air. "I'm just trying to ease the tension."

"So, anyway." You're back being serious and he can't help but to think you're so adorable. "I was tasked to exorcise a one grade curse in this village in Nagano two years ago and rescue a civilian kidnapped by the curse."

"Then?"

"I exorcised the curse. It was no big deal, but the civilian. He's dead." You tilted your head a bit and sighed. "It's common for people to die after being kidnapped by a curse. But what's weird is i sense another cursed energy residue in the victim's body that doesn't belonged to the one grade curse earlier."

"Oh?" That sparked his interest deeper.

"As you know, i can sense other's cursed energy in a... quite odd way. One thing i can tell from that cursed residue is that the owner or the real killer of that civilian is really evil. Their cursed energy is really dark and filthy, i never seen anyone possessed such an awful cursed energy-- well, beside Sukuna."

"Sukuna is unable to kill people, except the victim is in contact with Sukuna's finger before."

"True. I would suspect the same, but there's no trace of Sukuna's cursed energy."

"So this is a new type of curse..."

"... Or a new curse user." You completed his sentence.

"Right." He nodded. "So you got any lead on the mysterious curse user?"

"Yeah. I reviewed a lot cases that supposedly similar to that case. I found some and followed them for a year."

"That's why you're so busy?"

"Duh." You rolled your eyes. "Anyway, that leads me to the village where I--..."

"Wait, before that--, how do you find the similar cases?" He cut you off.

"The victims in each cases have the same similarity. Same cause of death."

"What's that?"

"Their brain gone missing, and there's a cut in the middle of the forehead."

Masterlist

[ssadumba55]

Damsel In Distress (Velma Dinkley X Reader)

Request: how about something with Velma where the gang is investigating some odd happenings at an abandoned amusement park? everyone splits into pairs to explore and she and the reader are paired together, and they eventually end up with the culprit chasing them and reader gets really protective of her. the gang catches the guy but Velma asks why reader was being so defensive, and reader accidentally blurts out that they love her and don't know what they'd do if anything ever happened to her. thanks! :)

“Alright, everyone! Let’s split up and look for clues!”

There was a loud groan from Shaggy and Scooby as the blond male said his signature line. Most of the group didn’t mind being split up, but the two ‘fraidy cats almost always ended up with the monster chasing them. Splitting up was the worst part of investigating mysteries for them by far.

“Don’t worry guys, the sooner the monster chases you, the sooner we can get out of this creepy place,” you grinned, hands on your hips. There was nothing like a good mystery for you and ever since you’d run into the gang, they’d become more frequent. Something that Shaggy and Scooby also liked to complain about.

Shaggy crossed his arms over his chest in a show of annoyance, but didn’t say anything else as Fred began splitting the six of you into teams.

“I’ll go with Daphne to check out that creepy coaster Scooby thought he saw something earlier, Velma, (Y/n), why don’t you two head over there?” Fred jerked his thumb in the direction of the other side of the abandoned amusement park. There weren’t many structures still standing in that part of the park, but there was an antique carousel that had you intrigued.

There was something about carousels you loved, and even better, this was a mysterious carousel!

“Like perfect! Scoob and I will check out the abandoned restaurant!” Shaggy volunteered himself. If there was one thing that could get the two reluctant members moving, it was food. Even possibly stale food.

The group split up into the three teams, each wandering off in their own direction. Even though the lot of you knew this would only last for a short while, until Shaggy and Scooby were inevitably chased out of their food comas by some monster.

“You think those kids really saw a monster out here?” You asked Velma, climbing onto the abandoned carousel and moving through the horses with practiced ease. Something about the carousel made you nostalgic, even though you hadn’t really rode them much as a kid. Maybe it was the amusement park as a whole that was making you nostalgic.

You went to plenty of those as a kid.

Velma adjusted her glasses, looking up from her laptop screen with an indignant snort. “You and I both know that monsters don’t exist, (Y/n).”

You shrugged. She was right. In all the time you’d been mystery hunting together, not one had turned out to be a real monster. It was always just some weirdo in a costume. You supposed in a way that was a cruel irony, humans were after all the biggest monsters out there.

Velma went back to studying her laptop screen, she carried that thing everywhere. Even, apparently, abandoned amusement parks. You took the time while she was distracted to study her.

A lot of people would argue that she wasn’t really attractive, but you begged to differ. Sure, she didn’t dress up like Daphne or put on loads of makeup, but the brunette was charming in her own way. She was the smartest in the gang, even smarter than you. You had always loved the way her eyes lit up when she was onto something, how excited she got when she realized she’d solved the mystery.

She was usually the first one too, because she was so smart.

Yeah, okay. So maybe, just maybe you had a crush on Velma Dinkley, but what’s so bad about that? She’s attractive! Her hair is really nice and her eyes shine so bright behind those glasses and the freckles…

“(Y/n)? Are you listening to me?” Her voice shocked you back to reality. Oh god, had she been telling you important information pertaining to the case? And had you missed it because you were too busy thinking about her freckles?

You opened your mouth to respond, already trying to form an excuse for why you hadn’t been paying attention when a massive shadow formed behind Velma. It was huge, twice or maybe even three times the size of you both, with glowing red eyes and long snaking arms that were reaching….

Reaching for Velma!

There was no hesitation from you, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards you, just out of reach of the monster. The long limbs collided grasping onto nothing but thin air, as for Velma she was startled and dropped her laptop. She made a move to go back and grab it but you pulled on her hand, leading her away from the monster.

“No time! We can circle back and grab it later!” You called over your shoulder, eager to put distance between you and Velma and whatever that thing was. Admittedly, you felt foolish as you ran from the exact thing you’d all been searching for since you’d got here. You’d never taken yourself for a runner, which was a good thing because Shaggy and Scooby pretty much cornered the market for that in the small group dynamic you all shared.

Still, here you were running. It was so out of character you almost wanted to turn around and go back. But you needed to keep Velma safe, that was the top priority.

The yells and screams you and your friend were making as you ran must’ve alerted the rest of the group. Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby came running (of course, once they saw the monster, Shaggy and Scooby quickly joined you).

There was a lot of panicked screaming and yelling, at one point Velma and Shaggy ran smack into each other, causing her glasses to fall. She immediately went down for them, bringing you down with her because your hands were still intertwined. You grabbed her glasses and she gratefully put them back on, the two of you laying breathless on the ground as the sounds of Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne and Fred’s panicked voices filled the air around you.

It was unspoken that neither of you wanted to move. So you just waited until the yelling stopped, then the two of you climbed to your feet and walked over to where Fred had successfully managed to catch the monster.

“Like, what’s with the hands? You guys aren’t still scared of the monster are you? Fred’s got it all tied up!” Shaggy pointed to you and Velma’s joined fingers. Immediately, the two of you flushed and separated.

In order to distract the group from the awkwardness, Velma stepped forward and unmasked the culprit. Who turned out to be the two kids who had told you guys about the amusement park. They explained their plan to the group, but you were barely paying attention.

“We would’ve gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for your meddling!” The taller boy huffed after realizing they’d been caught and would be in a lot of trouble for this.

The gang made their way back to the Mystery Machine. Another successful mystery in the bag, Shaggy and Scooby are furthest ahead, ready to get back to their precious Scooby Snacks. Not far behind them, Daphne and Fred walk, laughing to each other about something you can’t hear.

You and Velma bring up the far rear, walking a ways behind everyone else.

“Were you doing that on purpose?” She asked as the two of you walked, finally breaking the slightly tense silence between the two of you. It had settled there after Shaggy had pointed out your hands and hadn’t left the entire time.

You were slightly confused about what she was talking about, then realized. “Oh! The hands- no. I’m sorry, I forgot we were-”

“Not that, (Y/n). You were purposely shielding me from the monster back there,” as the two of you walked by the carousel, she bent down to pick up and dust off her laptop that had been laying there forgotten the entire time, “I don’t know if you know this, but I’m not some damsel in distress. I can handle my own out here, I’ve been doing this a long time, you know.”

You were taken aback by her words. Of course you knew Velma could handle her own, that was one of the reasons you liked her so much. She was the smartest person in the room and she knew it, there was nothing that could get past her. She was also the toughest, not tough in the way Fred was but she was definitely her own kind of tough.

“I know that, I didn’t mean anything by it… I-”

“You don’t take me seriously.” She put the words in your mouth and you felt your face heat up, that was not what you had meant at all!

“Velma, no, I-”

“Then why don’t you do the same thing for Daphne. Or Fred. Or Shaggy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. She was sure she had you figured out, so sure she had gotten to the bottom of this mystery. You almost wanted to agree with her just so you could see that light shine in her eyes as she pulled you back to the van to tell everyone else. Then they’d all never let you live it down.

As you were thinking this through, she took it as an opportunity to keep on rambling. You were tired, it had been a long night. It’d surely be an even longer night, because you probably wouldn’t be stopping again any time soon and Shaggy and Scooby would be hyped up on Scooby Snacks-

“I LOVE YOU, VELMA DINKLEY!”

You cut her rambling off, the words echoing through the abandoned amusement park. Up ahead, Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby froze, turning back to look at the two of you.

For once, Velma was speechless, so you decided to continue.

“And I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I let something happen to you. I know we just met less than a year ago and I know that mystery hunting isn’t a very romantic setting, but despite that I fell in love with you. You’re right, it’s different when Shaggy is being chased by the monster, because I don’t love him. If something happened to you, my world would shatter, it would be MY fault. If something happens to Shaggy that’s just another day out mystery hunting.”

Tears were burning your eyes, threatening to fall. There she had made you say it. She had made you say it all.

You didn’t even realize your hands were balled into fists at your sides until something nudged one of them and you realized Scooby had made his way back to the two of you. He’d seen you distressed and was offering his comfort. You placed your hand on his head to let him know you were okay.

“I had no idea,” the girl dressed in orange said softly from across you.

The amusement park was dead silent. Not even the other members of the team dared to speak and risk another outburst.

After a few tense moments, where everything you’d said hung weightily in the silence, Velma reached out her hand and took the empty hand of yours that wasn’t occupied with petting Scooby. She smiled softly, squeezing it gently.

“I’m sorry you thought that I thought you were a damsel in distress,” you smiled awkwardly as the two of you walked to join the rest of the gang, Scooby at your side.

“I’m sorry I thought you thought I was a damsel in distress,” she smiled guiltily, “I should’ve had more faith in you.”

As the two of you approached the other three, Daphne rolled her eyes.

“Will you two just kiss and make up already, we need to get back on the road or we’re going to miss that show Fred got us tickets to!”

“We can’t miss that! Like, I hear the food there is out of this world!”

“Reah, rout rof rhis rorld!”

You felt your face heat up, looking over at Velma. She shrugged and leaned over. Inches from your face, she stopped leaning forward quickly and pecking your cheek before bolting the rest of the distance to the Mystery Machine. Fred and Daphne climbed in the front as you pushed Shaggy out of the way to follow Velma in.

“Hey! That wasn’t a real kiss! You owe me another one!”

“(Y/n), we’re dating you can have as many as you want.”

[sylvia-forest]

Spoilers from Shaw's New Company Projects

⚡Spoilers under the cut~

As night falls, the whole city has gradually fallen into a deep sleep, only the neon lights on the streets are shining tirelessly.

After a four-hour drive, we finally caught up with the opening of the black market tonight.

I parked the car by the river and walked down with Shaw.

In order to get in, we both dressed up in disguise. At this moment, the thin dresses on our bodies couldn't resist the cold night wind at all. I couldn't help rubbing my arms.

MC: hiss… Is the black market here?

I looked at the dimly lit building in front of me, a little unsure.

MC: But isn't this an art gallery?

Shaw: Which black market would brazenly state that they're a black market?

Shaw stretched out his suit jacket, and it seemed that he was not very comfortable with such formal clothes.

He glanced sideways at me and clicked his tongue.

Shaw: Where are your earrings?

MC: Because it felt a bit exaggerated, so I took them off.

Shaw: Put it on, you can't fall off your outfit when you go to a place like this.

Shaw took out the jewelry box from my bag and motioned me to tilt my head.

MC: Are you going to help me wear it?

Shaw: What else?

Shaw leaned over, his fingers touching my ears. *He personally put on the earrings for her, screams!!!*

His movements were very careful, and I could only feel the tickling sensation, and the metal had already passed through the ear hole.

MC: Done?

Shaw: Yeah.

I don't know if it was my illusion, Shaw's fingertips seemed to stay on my earlobe for a second before letting go. *I've a hunch that he personally bought these earrings for her, just my guess!*

With the fake identity that Shaw brought up, we successfully entered the art gallery.

Unexpectedly, the building which was dark and quiet from the outside, was a totally different place from the inside.

In the brightly lit hall, many men and women in costumes were walking and talking, and everyone held a copy of today's "commodity book" in their hands.

If you fancy something, there will be a waiter who will take other boxes to discuss with the seller in detail.

I quietly flipped through and finally saw the "Turquoise Painting" at the end of the booklet

Unexpectedly, the waiter looked embarrassed after seeing the "Turquoise Painting".

Waiter: I'm sorry, a buyer had also taken a fancy to this painting. I've already gone to discuss it with the seller. Would you like to take a look at something else, miss?

Once this painting was bought by an anonymous buyer, trying to find it again would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

MC: IWe don’t want anything else~ I don’t know other pieces of art, but I’ve seen this “Turqoise Painting”. I like this one!

Shaw's expression became a little subtle the moment he heard me holding my throat, he barely held back his smile and cleared his throat.

Shaw: It's okay, darling~ I will pluck out all the stars and moon from the sky for you. *screaming intensifies, he literally said that! And his voice OMG!!*

Shaw: And you. Don’t try any “first come first served” tricks with me.

Shaw: Go to the seller now and tell him that someone is exchanging "Mrs. Dusheng Flower Hairpin Painting" for his "Turquoise Painting", will he do it?

The waiter's expression changed drastically when he heard “Mrs. Dusheng's Flower Hairpin”, he immediately nodded, turned around and hurried towards the box.

After a while, we saw him running towards us with a happy expression on his face.

Waiter: Sir, ma'am, the seller invites you to come over for a cup of tea.

Shaw: Very good. Remember that I want the high quality Pu’er tea.

—

[yourtoradorasextendedwarranty]

Ok so a comprehensive list of why you're wrong. Even though I've done this 1000 other times to every other gun control post.

I never said ban all guns, im saying gun control laws are necessary. there are other gun control laws besides banning all guns.

There are. Except we already have dozens on the books. None of which criminals follow.

There would still be ways to obtain guns illegally, but it would be significantly harder.

Ok but why? Again you're missing the point because most guns used in gun crimes are obtained, or owned illegally. Also, you'd be telling weaker people or older people or more vulnerable people to F themselves. Like the woman with a restraining order who's ex BF got out of jail, and she tried to get a fire arm, but because of "Common sense gun laws" was told she had to wait several months before she could even try to get a fire arm for self defense. He killed her. And cops said, don't worry about it you have a restraining order. YES because CRIMINALS ARE KNOWN TO FOLLOW THE LAW! Apparently.

You can believe acab and still be pro gun control. fuck the system but we still need to work in the system while we live in it. in a perfect world we wouldn't need gun control laws or police, but right now, I'd prefer to live in a world where I don't have to worry about getting shot for existing in public.

Actual no you can't be ACAB and be Pro Gun Control. Because gun control always starts with, "Oh well these are just common sense reforms. And then we end up as one of the dozens of other countries that just ops to disarm it's populace. Leaving the only people WITH firearms being criminals. (Many of whom get their shit from the black market a lot of which guns come from Mexico. Who is supplied weapons from China. (This is a known issue, and since people like you are often anti borders, well.....You see where I'm going with this.

But the second part to this is, Who tf protects you if you "Can't trust the cops". Especially if you live in a dangerous neighborhood. CLEARLY if you are ACAB you don't ever want to call the cops. So what do you do? Run away and let people have free reign? Show those criminals that you will run from confrontation so your house is ripe for picking every time they opt to rob you. And that's assuming they ONLY intend to rob you. That's the "If you are lucky" scenario.

Only America has this problem. so many other countries have successfully introduced gun control laws and have had success from it.

Actually no. Our legal system is slanted in a way that puts all shootings even shootouts with gangs and cops as part of gun shooting stats. MOST COUNTRIES wanting you to believe that their laws actually work, do not in fact share that information. Even in cases of terror attacks they STILL don't list it. Because at their heart, most countries want to look good to other countries around them. As they are on a world stage. I've listened to cops and special forces from several countries with strict gun laws and pretty much they have just as much, if not more gun crime than the US. And we also manage to include suicides, in the stats regarding gun crime as well. Which is extremely dishonest.

But even then if you say we have more of it despite that you are functionally wrong. Several reasons why.

Population density.

Amount of guns that exist in the US.

The fact that each state has it's own laws in regards to guns.

The fact that we have a different culture per state and in general in the US over all.

The fact that you demand control while also not understanding what is already on the books. Like every other anti gun advocate in general.

Stores require back ground checks. You can't just walk into a store and out in 20 min with a fire arm unless it's a shotgun and even then there is a check that takes some time to do. As well as the fact that the gun itself more or less has your name on it. Via records of seller. And even if you bring up "the gun show loop hole" you'd still be wrong because despite the fact that YES in some states you can, no sane gun seller would ever do that. Why? Because if a gun was used in a crime and they opted to not file and FFL for transfer of ownership they could be held responsible for the crime. 95% of gun owners in the US understand this stuff. 90% of anti gun activists don't know any of this.

Also there is already a ban (technically) on "Assault Rifles". And by ban what I mean is, you can BUY them, but you have to have a PERFECTLY clean record. You get added to a LIST where they know you have it. You also have to wait for an obscene amount of time before you can ever lay hands on it. And even then the amount to which it's regulated is beyond stupid because by the time you get it, and see it, the way you have to treat it is that of a show piece because the laws around using it are unconstitutional. By a long shot.

More over, almost all gun related "Mass shootings" are committed with pistols. But rather than seeing for a call from anti gun activists for a ban on pistols, they want to ban AR's because they look scary. They are no more or no less lethal than a pistol. However, Pistols are easier to hide. I'm more shocked you all don't demand a ban on pistols. Because AR15's are fundamentally one trigger pull, one bullet. That's it. But because it's a rifle, and it's "Suuuupa scawwwy", That's the one most people want regulations on.

Fact is, the states with the most gun crime, are states with the strictest regulations on guns. And by making it harder for people to get guns, you actually give the middle finger to the working class and to poor communities that might want to protect themselves or their families. Which is why every time I see an argument about levying more fees and taxes as a was to make getting guns harder, I laugh my ass off.

Because they are saying in no unclear terms, "F*ck the poor. Only well off people should be able to own guns. In their HOA's and their gated communities that already has a first line of defense." What's more, you claimed that it's uniquely a US problem it's not. Britain has issue with a lot of gun crime and it might as well be illegal to own a gun there. IT'S NOT technically, but in practice it is. Hell if you look at Mexico or South America or some other nations in the world, even first world they do have a bit of gun crime. They just don't make a habit of putting all the crimes under the same banner. That is also to say we don't know if all of their gun crimes even GET reported at all. Especially if they have strict gun laws. And why would they hide that information? Because if they showed gun crime stats and it was decently bad, but their gun laws were strict, it would show that MAYBE the laws aren't doing much on that front. Which would cause issues internally and also be an Image issue on the world stage in regards to other nations perceptions of that country. WHICH incidentally could also hinder tourism.

So. You need to look more broadly at things before talking out of your ass. Because that's what you are doing.

"hurr durr gun control bad what about freedom" there have been 400+ mass shootings this year alone.

[khaleesiofalicante]

I found this on my laptop?

Magnus frowned at Maia but she didn’t bat an eye. Alright, he thought, it was time to bring out the big guns.

He pouted at her.

“So, I can’t give free drinks to any cute people?” he asked, leaning against the wooden counter.

“Nope,” Maia replied shortly.

Huh. Maybe the pout needed more voltage.

“But what if they are super cute?” Magnus asked, pouting even further. “Like Chris Pine cute?”

“Still nope,” Maia shook her head.

“Are you telling me that if Chris Pine walks in here tonight, I can’t offer him a free drink?” Magnus asked incredulously.

Maia sighed, half tired and half exasperated. “I can assure you that Chris Pine is not going to walk into this bar on a Sunday night.”

She paused and looked at Magnus seriously.

“He better not walk into this bar when I am not bartending,” Maia said. “I will be so fucking pissed if that ever happens.”

Magnus wondered how much it would cost him to hire Chris Pine to visit the bar on Maia’s birthday.

“What’s the point of running a bar if you don’t get to give free drinks to cute people?” Magnus gestured at the patrons.

It was Sunday night and Hunters Moon was buzzing with anyone who hated Mondays – which was pretty much everyone.

“The point is to make profit so I can pay off my student loans,” Maia answered and slammed the cash register with a loud thud – she could be a little extra sometimes.

“You had to guilt me with the student loans, didn’t you?” Magnus pouted, for real this time. “Capitalism is a bitch.”

“Magnus, you don’t have to-”

He jumped over the counter in one smooth motion and put a finger on her lips. Cute people come and go – but friends are forever.

“I promised I will take over for you tonight,” Magnus smiled. “I won’t give anyone free drinks – even if they are Chris Pine cute. I promise.”

“Just for a couple of hours okay?” Maia said, as she picked up a napkin from the cupboard, probably hoping to clean the counter for the hundredth time. “It’s mostly just kids from the nearby campus. You can close up by 11.”

He smiled at her and took the napkin from her hands and put it over his shoulder. “Maia, I’ve got this. I just need to look pretty and serve alcohol. I’ve been doing that might my whole life. Just ask my dad.”

“Magnus, your jokes are more depressing than they are funny,” Maia pointed out, looking rather concerned.

“Hush, you!” Magnus shushed her. “Now why don’t you go back to the apartment and prep for the interview with the bank tomorrow?”

Maia was applying for a loan so she can renovate Hunters Moon to make it bigger and better. He wished he had the money to make her dream come true – but he didn’t. So he had decided to help her in whatever way he could. If that meant serving alcohol to redheads and Star Wars nerds with what were clearly fake IDs, Magnus didn’t mind one bit.

“You are the best-est,” Maia smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “You are sure you can handle it, right?”

“Maia, I know my way around alcohol,” Magnus reminder her again. “I once drank so much gin that I almost got married to a plate in Poland. Or was it in Philippines? It was a country starting with P. I remember that much.”

“If that anecdote was supposed to make me feel better, it failed miserably,” Maia groaned, shaking her head.

“The only thing that can make you feel better is some hardcore prepping for your interview tomorrow,” Magnus informed her. “Now off you go. I’ve got this.”

He turned around, already taking orders from a blonde girl in a leather jacket. He saw Maia exiting the counter and picking up her backpack. She turned around and gave him a fond smile.

“One drink,” she said. “You can give one free drink.”

“One?” Magnus said in disbelief. “But there are so many cute people here!”

Maia put her backpack over her shoulder and winked at him. “Then you better find the cutest of them all – and it better not be Chris Pine!”

Magnus pouted at the door, which closed after her. He looked around the bar once more - the small cozy space which will hopefully be a big cozy space in the future. It was full of cute people alright. But how could he just choose one of them? It seemed like an impossible mission.

“Alright cutest of them all, show yourself!” Magnus announced dramatically, half joking and half wishing.

Right on cue, the front door bell jingled and two ridiculously good looking people walked in. They looked like students – but Magnus did not make that assumption based on the usual signs like the dark circles under their eyes or the ramen stains on their t-shirts.

These two were actually carrying a pile of giant text books as they found a corner booth and settled down. Magnus was trying to figure out which one of them was cuter when the door opened more and his quest to find the cutest of was settled – probably forever.

The man wore a simple gray sweater and had dark floppy hair that fell just above his eyes. Magnus wanted to know whether he didn’t comb his hair or didn’t know how to.

And his face. Oh my god, his face. 

It was cute. Probably the cutest thing Magnus had ever seen – which is really saying something because Magnus had once attended a cat fashion show a couple of years ago.

The cute, no – cutest – guy’s face scanned the space, searching for someone – probably his girlfriend, if Magnus’ past luck was anything to go by. Even if this cute stranger turned out to be miraculously and conveniently gay, he was probably still here to meet up his boyfriend.

Magnus was used to his shitty luck.

The man’s eyes stopped on him and his mouth parted open, forming a slight O. He shook his head, his ridiculously cute hair flopping around making him look even cuter. The man started looking around again, this time more urgently.

“Face!” he yelled at someone. Or may it was Trace. Magnus couldn’t hear him over the patrons.

Mr. Cutest of Them All walked towards the two ridiculously good-looking students and immediately started gesturing aggressively at the counter. The two students peered over at the counter – at him? – and pointed at their books.

The man sighed and put his face in his hands. Clearly the three of them were dealing with some sort of personal drama. Magnus, despite wanting nothing but to talk to the cute guy, decided to give them space.

For now, he decided to do his job as promised and started taking and making more orders. One hour down, Magnus had successfully poured drinks, breaking zero glasses – although he did break a couple of hearts when he refused to give them his number.

They should really blame the stupid cute guy who was now brooding in the corner booth. The two mysteriously good-looking friends – friends? – seemed to be reading (studying? In a bar?) their giant textbooks in silence.

The blonde one did come over to get a couple of beers but didn’t say much. Magnus wondered if it would be a good idea to send over a drink to their table. Maia did say he could give one free drink after all and he didn’t think no one cuter could walk into that bar tonight – or any other night for that matter.

The bar was starting to empty out slowly as Maia had promised although the corner booth remained the same. Magnus shrugged and decided to clean up the counter since he had to close up in half hour. He was looking for Maia’s cleaning cloth – which she probably should wash more often – when someone loudly and awkwardly cleared their throat.

Magnus turned around to find the cute guy sitting on one of the bar stools, his fingers clasped neatly on the counter before him.

If he had thought the other man was good looking before, he didn’t have words for what he was feeling right now. Magnus could actually see his clearly now. His face, pale but beautiful – like porcelain that you want to caress at first sight. His blue eyes were so deep and enchanting and would definitely give Chris Pine run for his money.

The counter was empty, and so was the bar mostly, but one customer was still a customer. So Magnus decided to stop thirsting and starting pouring – alcohol, just to be clear.

“What can I get you?” Magnus asked, putting on his best smile.

No harm in smiling, right? It was just good customer service.

Okay he might have also unbuttoned one (or two) or his buttons while he pretended to look for something but that’s mostly because New York can be ridiculously warm in…January.

Whatever.

“Can I get a Cake by the Ocean, please?” the man asked.

“A what?” Magnus blinked.

“A Cake by the Ocean?”

“Uh, I don’t know how to make one of those,” Magnus replied helplessly.

Great his first impression on his cute stranger was that he was a loser who didn’t know fancy alcoholic beverages.

“I am sorry,” Magnus said quickly. “I am not a professional bartender. I am just covering for a friend. But I can look it up on the internet and see if I can make it for you.”

“No worries,” the man smiled, and Magnus wanted to kiss him. “It smells like orange juice and vodka. But also tastes like cranberries, I think? Oh – and peach schnapps!!”

“Hold on,” Magnus said slowly. “Are you talking about a Sex on the Beach?”

The man blinked at him once and then twice. His eyes widened in realization and he face palmed and groaned so hard that his friends looked over at the counter in concern.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry,” the man said, his voice muffled by his hands. “This is so embarrassing.”

“It’s really not,” Magnus smiled. Can this guy get any cuter?

“Why would anyone even call a cocktail that?” the man complained. “It’s a terrible name.”

“It was actually coined by this guy from Florida. He was asked by a peach schnapps company to create a cocktail featuring their product. So he made this,” Magnus gestured at the cocktail he was currently making, “He named it Sex on the Beach because most of the spring breakers who visited Florida at the time were looking for sex or the beach. It was really good marketing strategy to be honest.”

Cute guy looked both impressed and surprised at the same time. Cute guy looked cuter.

“I didn’t expect you to offer me an explanation and definitely not a comprehensive one at that,” the man said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Magnus winked – because of customer service.

“You said you are covering for a friend,” the man after a minute of silence. “So how do you know about the sex on the beach thing? Do you happen to know random details about random alcoholic beverages?”

“While that would certainly look excellent on my resume, unfortunately no. My knowledge of alcohol is limited to mixing cocktails and making hangover cures. But I was a linguistics major at Columbia. I spent an entire semester on etymology. I may have a little obsession about discovering the meaning of things. So I happen to know random shit like this.”

“That’s actually pretty cool,” the man smiled again.

“I am glad you think so,” Magnus said genuinely. “My dad doesn’t see the point of pursing linguistics.”

“Most parents don’t understand the purpose of learning for passion,” the man pointed out. “They think we need to get a degree so we can get a job. They don’t really care if we like what we to learn or enjoy what we do.”

Magnus blinked.

The man was not only breathtakingly beautiful but also eloquent and deep.

“I agree,” Magnus replied. “But if we are going to talk about our parents, we need something stronger than a cocktail with orange juice.”

The man chuckled.

Magnus used to think that the most beautiful sound in the world was the sound a cocktail mixer makes when you are getting yourself booze after a long day at work – or short day at home.

But now he wasn’t so sure.

Maia can think whatever she wants – but if his depressing jokes can get another laughter out of the mystery man it would be worth it.

“Alec,” the man said, now smiling.

“Short for Alexander?” Magnus smiled back.

“Yep,” Alec nodded.

“Do you know the etymology of your name?” Magnus asked, as he waved at the last patrons – other than Alec’s friends – who were leaving the bar.

“It means protector, right?” the man guessed. “For Alexander the Great or something.”

“Actually it goes further back,” Magnus corrected, glad they were talking about etymology and not something like…baseball. “It was actually an epithet given to the Greek goddess Hera. She was a total badass. You should be flattered.”

“Well then, consider me flattered,” Alec grinned.

[peachysamu]

Summary: just Grandma Yumie being the greatest wingwoman there ever was

Pairing: Kita Shinsuke x fem!reader

Word count: 1.08k

Genre: fluff, the usual

You sigh at the screen before you, having been sat at the patio of your favorite café for almost two hours now. Starting your work at seven in the morning, you brought yourself outside a few hours later hoping that a new environment would stimulate motivation to finish your work due in the next couple of days. The fresh breeze is nice and the ambient noise of life ever so lulling, but anything is far more interesting than the assignments in front of you.

Such as the grandma before you scuttling stiffly to fix an imbalanced table tilting back and forth with just the smallest bit of pressure.

“Grandma, do you want to sit here?” You call, standing up with the intention of helping the older woman out. “My table is stable. I don’t mind moving.”

“Oh no,” She smiles through huffs until she successfully places a napkin underneath the shorter leg. She gives the table a small push, a satisfied grin upon her face when it obediently stays put. “I’ve got it.”

At that, you can’t help but smile at the woman whose age is probably older than she looks as you sit back down. Even through her rigid movements, it is obvious she is self sufficient, even if stubbornly so.

Staring back at the screen before you, your fingers hover above the keyboard having lost your sense of thought due to your distraction.

“Thank you for offering.” The older lady calls to you again. You look up to find her, a vision of mirth through closed lids. “That was very kind of you.”

A warm expression, “Of course!”

“I may be an old woman, but I still can do things on my own.” There’s fondness in your chest as she continues the conversation with you. Her words may be strung together slowly, but you’re astounded by the way she creates human connection so easily. Where people your age are consumed by their own selfish needs, protected in a bubble they’ve surrounded themselves in, this stranger easily concocts conversation like she’s known you for so many years. You think the candidness is nice for once.

Grandma takes a sip of her water before continuing. “My grandson has been awfully protective over me lately. He won’t let me do anything.”

You laugh at the way her face scrunches at the last sentence as though her grandson has been the bane of her existence. “My legs were feeling a little tense so I went for a walk the other day. Just a small one to the farmer’s market nearby.”

Now you’re absolutely entranced by the seemingly frivolous story, mindlessly picking at the egg sandwich you ordered hours ago.

“I went and looked around. I found some cabbage that looked nice. And then I stopped at a stall selling okonomiyaki. It smelled so good I had to try some.”

You’re nodding your head, fascinated by the woman’s mundane retelling. The little snippet into her lifestyle reminds you of how large the world is and small at the same time. Though you’ve never met her, and though she is years older than you, you relate to the need of hers to stop at a stall filled with the smell of savory foods.

“Then I get a phone call from my Shin-chan,” Frown lines appear when she says the name with a shake of the head, though you can tell she’s also slightly amused at the thought. “He was not yelling at me, but I could tell he was frustrated. He was asking me where I was. He told me it was ten in the morning and that I needed to get home before it got too hot! He thinks I can’t do anything on my own!”

Grandma is shaking her head furiously, but you’re amused all the same.

“I’m the same way Grandma!” You laugh with a piece of bread on your mouth. “I’m just like that with my mom myself.”

Grandma just shakes her head, indignant. “We’re independent.”

Yes, stubbornly so, you agree in your head before saying, “Of course, Grandma, but it comes from a good place. We just care about you is all.”

Grandma raises a withered hand, the most certain movement of hers you’ve seen yet. “Yes, yes, I know.”

The door of the cafe opens and a broad male figure obscures your view of the older woman as he sets a plate in front of her.

“Sorry, Grandma,” You hear him say, a soft, tender tone escaping him. “They didn’t have any fruit tarts so I hope strawberry shortcake is okay.”

“Oh yes. I was just talking to this nice lady, Shin-chan.”

Said Shin-chan turns around and then gives you an apologetic look. Suddenly, you’re feeling nervous at the sight of the subject of your conversation of the last couple minutes, surprised by the fact that he is more handsome than you imagined.

“Thank you for keeping her company,” He says. You find yourself at a lack of words, gulping and nodding at the same time.

“Ah, Shin-chan,” Grandma’s voice is playfully irritated, “Move to the side. I want to keep talking to the pretty lady.”

It’s then that heat permeates your cheeks, awkwardly letting out a nervous giggle that makes the grandson give his grandmother a quiet, scolding look.

“Grandma,” he starts, but takes the seat next to her anyways to get out of her view, “She’s probably busy. Let’s not bother her.”

“Oh no!” You interject happily, “Your grandma’s actually really interesting. I was having a good time.”

You’re being honest and it’s not because you’re looking for a distraction, or because her grandson is kind of hot. Okay, admittedly, his handsome features were some sort of factor in wanting to continue the exchange.

There’s a mischievous glint in his grandmother’s eyes. She clasps her hands together and the smile across her face tilts lopsidedly into a smirk. “Oh? Would you like to go with me to the farmer’s market then?”

Her head tilts to her grandson, “Since my Shin-chan won’t let me go alone?”

“Uh,” You laugh nervously, eyes flitting between the pair, appraising both reactions. The older woman looks satisfied while the other provides an amused look that is very similar to his relative’s.

“If you go,” He starts, “I guess I will come along too.”

Your heart beats quickly, but your hand is already finding itself closing your laptop. Yes, anything is far more interesting than your assignment. Especially if it’s the handsome, golden eyed boy and his good naturedly stubborn grandma before you.

[mrpenguinpants]

Venti: First Meeting and Friendship HCs

First Meeting HCs

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The god of freedom certainly lived up to the title. A truly free spirit who only wished the same for others. He shaped the many hills and cliffs of Mondstadt with his own hand, and graciously bestowed his powers unto those he deemed worthy. And yet…there he sat - teetering on the edge of a barstool, completely and utterly intoxicated.

The red-head manning the bar rolls his eyes at the sorry display the archon was creating, and resumes cleaning the glass in his hand. However as a bell rings out - signaling a new patron - he looks up.

You enter the famed “Angels Share”, the best tavern in Mondstadt - or so you’ve been told. Really, you’ll decide that for yourself - is what you think as you slide into an empty seat at the bar. Eager to unwind after a long day of adventuring, you order your drink and attempt to relax.

But really, your night didn’t end how you’d hoped at all. You ended up with a loud and incredibly clingy bard hanging off of your shoulder spouting barely comprehensible rhymes and poems. You would’ve found amusement in the spectacle if you weren’t so tired. Shrugging him off did no good, as he was surprisingly strong for someone so small.

Thankfully, you got your sweet freedom as the bartender cut him off for the night, presenting the smaller boy with the shockingly large bill. A wave of pity washes over you as his face drops at the number.

He laughs awkwardly, attempting to convince the bartender that he could pay by other means, but the stoic man only sighs, trying to explain to the drop-dead drunk bard that he cannot keep the tavern open with “songs and sonnets”.

Really you were quite done with your failed attempt at relaxation - wanting to go home and just sleep the night away. Sliding a bag of Mora across the counter you state that it should be enough to cover both of your tabs. That was essentially all you’d earned via commission today, though, you can’t really find a reason to be mad about the extra expenditure. Helping people out - that’s just what you do. You don’t look twice as you exit the bar, though you feel a pair of eyes on your hooded figure as the door swings shut.

And that was that - you never saw the drunken bard again. Or so you thought. As the very next day you spotted him out of the corner of your eye while scouting around a Hilichurl camp, but as soon as you looked he was gone. And then that very same evening as you sat down for dinner at Good Hunter. Then several times over the next few days.

It was ticking you off, not just the fact that you had pretty much obtained a stalker, but the extra stress he brought with him as you now had to worry about his well being on top of yours during battle. You even started taking less dangerous commissions to further guarantee his safety. You didn’t really know or like the guy, but you certainly didn’t want him hurt, or worse; dead.

And by that point he wasn’t even trying to hide or disguise himself - trailing a few feet behind you nearly everywhere you went, drawing perplexed gazes from the townsfolk as you wandered from store to store for supplies. You were trying your best to keep your composure - to pretend he wasn’t even there in the first place - but the longer the charade went on the more cracks that appeared in your mask.

You didn’t mean to snap at him, honestly, but you were tired of putting up with a complete stranger following you around for no good reason - so you yelled at him. Right there in the middle of the market, the bard stood stunned - taken aback by your sudden outburst. He recovered quickly of course, smiling up/down at you like he hadn’t just been shouted at in clear view of the publics eye.

He hastily explains his actions, identifying himself as Venti - a travelling bard seeking inspiration for his next story. That night in the bar, he had been there lamenting - drowning his sorrows in wine over his recent pieces. They were all lacking ingenuity - a certain bit of flair that makes a story truly unforgettable. And that’s where you came in. You had caught his attention with your selfless act of generosity, so much so that it had given him that spark he he had been searching for. So naturally, he followed that spark - hoping it would continue to present him with the same creativity as before.

As you listen to his reasoning, the initial anger you felt mellows. You’re more than relieved that he’s not actually a creepy stalker, just a bard looking for inspiration.

Apologizing sheepishly for your actions, you scratch the back of your head. In that moment it was impossible to look into the boys eyes. You felt bad, truly. You had misread the situation entirely - thought it wasn’t all your fault. If the bard had simply approached you in the first place this whole fiasco could’ve all been avoided.

As you voice these thoughts to Venti he hums in understanding. He returns your apology with one of his own - bowing deeply with his beret in hand - shocking you and the few random townsfolk still paying attention to the scene.

Deeply embarrassed by the confused gazes the bard was drawing to them, you hastily accept his apology, tugging your hood further down to hide your hot face. Honestly the idea of just running away from the situation sounded quite appealing, but instead you restrain the urge - opting to walk past the boy as quick as possible.

Just as your shoulders brush, a hand latches onto your wrist - stopping your escape in its tracks. This time it’s Ventis turn to look sheepish, as he officially asks to accompany you on your exploits. He offers you entertainment and conversation, as well as any other skills he may or may not have - the latter only serving to confuse rather than convince you.

“Your journey would be far more enjoyable with a skilled bard such as myself by your side. Perhaps you would even allow me to write a ballad of your conquests?”

It’s not entirely uncommon for a bard to travel with an adventurer for inspiration, you suppose to yourself. Though you’re still more than a bit apprehensive on the matter. It’s not that you don’t want his company - really it does get quite lonely alone out on the road - it’s simply his safety that concerns you. But upon voicing this Venti simply chuckles, exclaiming that he’s much stronger than his appearance lets on.

Now - with no real reason to refuse - you accept his offer, earning a cheer from the bard. And so your joint journey began - you and Venti against whatever tasks or monsters needed tackling.

Friendship HC 

————————————————————

It goes without saying that if you didn’t have a vision before, you certainly have one now. Within the first week in fact. Waking up in the early hours of the day to a soft blue glowing vision beside your head was not something you ever thought you’d experience - but of course you’re not complaining.

Upon shaking the bard awake to show him your discovery he only gives a rather tame reaction - as if he already knew you had it.

“Hmm? You woke up to a vision by your side? My, my - what luck you seem to possess! Perhaps now you may go into battle with less distress.”

Travelling with Venti is never dull, as he fills the silence with stories of old - tales of the long deserted original city of Mondstadt, the creation of the seven nations themselves and other obscurities that you don’t remember hearing about in any history book. Often times he interrupts his own story to spill his own hot take on a major historical figure or deity - hearing him call Andrius a “mother hen in denial” had you spit out your drink. His storytimes often end with you wondering how exactly someone so young would have knowledge of times long gone. He always shrugs it off, quickly changing the subject with a smile filled with secrets. For a boy so young he talks as if he’s been around for centuries.

Any looming worries over his well being are quickly dismissed once you see him fight. His nimble fingers and sharp eyes shoot down all matter of foes in rapid succession, and his skills at utilizing anemo are completely unparalleled. Really, you’re left wondering how he’s not the adventurer here.

You will absolutely fall victim to his pranks there’s nothing you can do about it. Whether it’s the wind blowing your cloak around in your face, extra jueyun chilies in your food or a slime condensate down the back of your shirt - you cannot escape the impish bards mischievous side. It’s when he suddenly falls quiet that you have to worry. A silent Venti is a scheming Venti.

However this is not a one-sided deal at all, he welcomes - no, insists - that you prank him back. He doesn’t want you to be left out of the fun after all! So get him back for that frog he put in your pack, or the time he kept pushing air currents in your direction so you couldn’t land your glider. Really; the more creative the better. If you’re able to prank him successfully he’ll laugh with you as you celebrate, praising you for your victory. But be warned that his next scheme will be twice as good as yours.

If you ever need a break from his shenanigans, go hang out with a cat. He won’t approach you while the animal is around, however he will be pouting up a storm from a distance.

You’ve gotten to discover many quirks of the bard clad in green over time, like how the tips of his hair seem to glow brighter when he’s in a good mood - especially when he laughs, and that he’s completely repulsed by cheese. If he ever bothers you too much you can get him back by chasing him while holding the stuff. Some of that nasty, stinky stuff Sara has at Good Hunter should do the trick. Mind you that the boy is incredibly spry - so good luck keeping up.

Eventually, he ends up revealing his true identity to you after the guilt of lying begins to eat away at his heart - making it harder to keep up his persona. Really he’d wanted to tell you for months at that point, but a lingering feeling of apprehension - a worry that you may no longer see him the same way - kept holding him back.

“Y/N, I wish to tell you a truth I’ve been hiding. You see…in reality, I am Lord Barbatos.”

“…”

“That…actually explains so much…”

He’s relieved to find that nothing has changed between the two of you after his revelation. You still treat him like Venti the bard, just as you always have. It’s a weight off his shoulders to be sure, and you can tell his overall mood has improved too.

It’s still kind of shocking when he switches to “Barbatos mode”, as you’ve taken to calling it. Spouting bars of philosophical gibberish at the most random of times leaves you blinking in utter confusion and often times just hurts your brain.

At the end of the day, the God of freedom is incredibly lonely. The best way to describe it is that he’s detached - he’s out of touch with his ever-changing homeland and the people that reside in it. Only ever appearing to handle a major problem or calamity at hand and then sending himself into a deep slumber for hundreds of years.

Waking up each time is like mental whiplash for the poor god, as he sees towns rise and fall, people come and go and things change again just he’s beginning to get used them. It takes a toll on him - though he won’t let anyone see that.

He craves companionship and the feeling of belonging that comes with it more than anything. Placing unconditional trust in someone else, backing them up when the goings get tough and having them do the same in return. Providing a shoulder to lean on in moments of weakness and being so comfortable that breathing easy becomes the simplest thing in the world. That’s what he wants. Barbatos may not be human but his vessel is.

That’s why Barbatos cherishes his friendship with you so much. He knows you - like all other humans - have a finite amount of time in this world. In time, wrinkles will adorn your face, and strands of silvery gray will appear in your hair. You bones will ache as age seeps into your body. And yet he will experience no such afflictions - forever wearing the face of a young boy from another time. Ever ageless, frozen in time.

The dull ache that spreads through his chest at the thought of watching the one who he considers his closest friend wither away in front of him is…crushing. Even though he knows your time alive is brief, and that your death would only cause him more pain - he can’t stop himself.

He’ll spend nearly every day by your side, telling you tales of yore, pulling pranks and practical jokes, covering your back in battle and being there when you need it most. He wants you to experience the land and all its freedoms. He wants you to get the most out of what little time you have in such a vast and expansive world.

You’re the closest friend he’s had since the real Venti - and he sees bits of him in you too. You help fill the gaping hole of loneliness in his chest - one stemming from a millennia of duty and repressed guilt.

He knows you’ll eventually leave him, and one day hopefully he’ll come to terms with that. But for now, he’s content with you by his side, racing off into whatever dangers lie ahead.

————————————————————

This turned out so much longer that I thought it would I’m so sorry ;-;

I know you said all you wanted were headcannons but I think I went a lil too far…ok ALOT too far

I had fun though…so thanks for giving me something to work on!

—

No need to feel sorry! I loved it so much. Headcanons, fics, whatever you want^^ I stan talent and you have it 💕💕

I don’t know if you lads remember but when I was struggling over Venti HCs, this was the friend I asked for crumbs of inspiration that ended up giving me an entire fic. I went absolutely feral over it and wanted to share it with you all. 

So thank you to @fulltimeventisimp​ [alt account] for your beautiful work and feeding us all Venti crumbs. I swear to god, if there is a Venti re-run and you don’t get 6 venti’s in one 10 roll it’s time to riot. 

[No worries about tags] 

Also, I know this isn’t my work but I’m going to tag you all in this 

  @mikeysbike​​ @unionwitch​​ @musekala​​ @sunnshiii​​ @stanzastic​​ @akaasea​​ @xoneaboveallx​​ @adoring-ghost​​ @asheseiler​​ @childelover​​ @dilucsz​​ @dai-tsukki-desu​​ @thicmitten​​ @nonniechan​​ @htnicayh​​ @genshins1mpact​​ @morthecreator​​ @aanne2601 @aklxojjk​​ @hanniejji​​​​

[psychicdreamfriendoperator]

Going off from the free dating headcanon… how about some for Miguel and Agata? >.<

I’m so happy to see another blog writing for the shishigumi, they’re finally getting the character development they deserved

I'm happy to write for the lovable bastards, though it does seem like there's only 1 or 2 other blogs that write for all of the Shishigumi.

Speaking of blogs, @couldyouspeakmyname is a very nice one ü, please check them out if you haven't already!

I had to keep the word limit in mind (especially since there's 2 characters involved here), so, if this ask wasn't what you wanted, feel free to let me know and I can try again!

— Psychic

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General Dating Headcanons

Agata

Agata has had his fair share of partners. Society makes lions out to be good leaders, and so, many animals begin relationships with them. Agata's a darker-coloured lion, so this effect was multipled for him.

While he did have a “bad boy” phase, Agata is truly a nice person at heart.

That would have been more than enough for others to stay in a relationship with him, had he been born almost any other animal.

He was cheated on a lot by love interests who wanted to make a lion jealous, and by those who expected something . . . more passionate from a relationship with a lion.

As a result, Agata's very clingy, and mayhaps a bit bitter.

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Miguel

Miguel's relationships tend to last 6 months to 1 year, but never much longer than that. He doesn't have much of an interest in relationships, but he's open to love if it finds him first.

Previous lovers had a tendency to sexualise him— this is something that makes Miguel very uncomfortable.

He doesn't mind dirty jokes, etc, but more intimate actions have been partially ruined for him.

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Meeting Them

Agata

It's quite possible that you ran into him at a local community college.

I can imagine Agata taking a course there— perhaps it's related to technology?

It's also quite possible that the both of you shared the same, mandatory class.

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“oh shit oh shit oh shit . . .”

A noise that was more whisper than spoken word. You don't see it, but you can almost taste the anxiety that flows over from your colleague.

Your eyes moved involuntarily over to your left, where a dark-maned lion crawled on his hands and knees, as if searching for something.

You rest your head on your hand. “Looking for something?”

A muffled, “Dropped my pen . . .”

You fished about in your pencil case, pulling out one of your spares. It wasn't nearly as favoured as your gel pens, and, it also wasn't one you would miss if someone were to steal it.

“You can borrow this one . . . just give it back.”

You had never seen someone look so grateful; the expression was genuine, which filled your body with a cosy warmth.

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Miguel

Perhaps you met him at the gym.

Although Miguel had more than enough exercise equipment at the Mansion, he preferred to workout away from the Black Market.

It gave him the chance to organise his thoughts.

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“STAY FIT”— a simple, two word long mantra and a reminder of the New Year’s resolution you wanted to keep.

In order to achieve that goal, you signed yourself up for a gym— it was only a few blocks away on foot. Since it was so close, you were always the first one there . . .

Or rather, you were always the first one there, until recently.

“You must really love working out,” You struck up pleasant conversation whenever the both of you took your breaks. There wasn't anything else to do, really.

The feline, whose mane was tied up neatly behind him, took a swig of his bottled water. “I suppose you could say that.”

It was a curt response, yes, but it was also the start of a wonderful acquaintanceship.

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Growing Closer

Agata

over the course of several weeks, Agata racked up a fine collection of pens— all of them yours, of course.

Somehow, you didn't believe that you would get them back.

It didn't matter much though— you had more than enough to spare.

The pair of you studied together often; either on-campus or back at your place.

His notes were very neat, you noticed.

He divided his pages into three sections; one for definitions, one for summarisations of the text and one for miscellaneous notes.

When you expressed your interest, Agata is more than happy to explain the Cornell Method to you.

You were just pleased that all the pens you lent him hadn't gone to waste.

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Miguel

you actually had to put some effort in before Miguel felt comfortable enough instigating a conversation with you.

In the beginning, you talked to yourself, more or less.

Miguel gave short, curt answers in reply.

You both took note of what subjects the other person was interested in, and then went from there.

Polite conversation made to pass the time became deep and insightful discussions.

Miguel kept a neutral expression when speaking to you, but after a while, his lips curved into a pleasant smile more and more often.

You liked his smile.

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Going Steady

Agata

You didn't notice the way Agata’s hands shook until much later, when you were both reminiscing on how he had asked you out the first time.

You did notice that the lion had a few bags’ worth of stationery with him, though.

“Finally decided to return those pens you borrowed?” You were teasing of course — your friendship with him was such that you didn't care about those trivial things anymore.

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“Let’s go see a movie tonight!”

You blinked once. Twice.

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Then, you cleared your throat. “Ah . . . sure—” You turned around, intending to fetch a jacket. “I’ll just get a coat and—”

“Y-you can borrow mine!”

Thought it was several sizes too large, Agata's jacket was indeed very comfortable.

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Miguel

It just sort of happened.

One thing led to another, really, and soon, the both of you were bouncing ideas back and forth.

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“You're weird,” You snorted, playful as always. With the gentle push of a button, the treadmill belt beneath you began to move.

You thought you saw Miguel smile. He slung his towel over one of the machine's handle bars. “Maybe so, but, aren't you going to answer? It's not hard, right?”

“Well . . .” You clicked your tongue, actually thinking. “I've always wanted to go cycling at the park with someone else.”

“Are you free Thursday?”

You eyed the lion suspiciously, but nodded, “Mhm . . .”

But then, it clicked, “Oh . . .”

It really clicked, and you broke out into a wide grin, nodding up and down quickly.

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Dating

Agata

he was very nervous at first, and very, very clingy.

He felt as if he had to keep impressing you, and giving you gifts just to keep you around.

You didn't think much of it at first, but you drew a line when he arranged for a limosuine to drop you off at your agreed rendezvous point.

Where did he even get the money for a limo, anyways?

You called the date off, in favour of talking it out with him.

Though a part of you wanted to let Agata have it, the more sensible part just wanted to know why.

As the both of you stood in the parking lot of the movie theater, you noticed that several pairs of eyes were on you.

You grabbed him by the hand and, after a short walk, came to a more secluded area.

You sighed, and told Agata exactly how you felt.

In turn, he explained his side of the issue.

It wasn't planned for, but you both enjoyed the impromptu heart-to-heart under the stars nonetheless.

It was enjoyed so much so, that neither of you saw the black car which drove away, its scar-faced driver satisfied that Agata could handle things from there.

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Miguel

dating Miguel feels as if you're hanging out with a dear friend — which you were, in a way.

Your dates are spent cycling around the district, dominating patronising the local basketball court and just enjoying the other’s company.

And then, you slept together.

It had been late, so, you told him that he could crash at your place until daylight.

Despite your insistence that he take the bed while you slept on the sofa, Miguel was adamant that it be the other way around.

You had shrugged your shoulders, and decided not to fight him on it further.

Come morning, you had successfully moved him into your bed— he looked mad uncomfortable on the couch, anyways.

To your surprise, Miguel awoke with a start, a hand over his chest and eyes wide.

He demanded to know whether or not the both of you had done anything the previous night.

You didn't know about his . . . fear at the time, but you knew that you had royally fucked up.

You promised not to do that sort of thing again, and the rest of the morning is spent in the other's arms.