#it looks scarier than it did when i was a teenager

[freebooter4ever]

welcome back fall weather i guess, also holy shit i hadnt worn regular non baggy clothes in a while and... o.O

[chaptersleftunwritten]

Darkest Desire

Based off of this nonnie request! It’s a bit scarier than intended and I do apologise for that teehee. There’s also no smut…

Blurb: With a group of friends you visit the local Halloween Scare walk, an event that is hosted annually out in the creepy plaines of Hawkins and whilst it’s masks on for the locals, it’s very much masks off for the scare actors…

Pairing: Scare Actor!Eddie x Reader

Warnings: 18+, the holiday of Halloween is mentioned, talk of blood/gore, faux blades/knives, cursing, reader is referred to as girl, use of pet names, degrading, praising, stalking (cat&mouse), sly/cocky and slightly mean!Eddie. Characters are all 20+

-

divider by @reveriesources

Crunchy dry blood orange leaves litter the earth and frost tainted wind nips at your nose and cheeks. The squeals of excited children racing by your costume clad frame fills your ears with immense joy and you giggle airily as they launch themselves into one another. Racing toward the brightly lit luminescent funfair games in hopes of winning a stuffed animal or a goldfish in a bag.

Their parents lug behind them, their attire consisting of some makeshift costume they had thrown together at the last minute in hopes of pleasing their tiny humans and earning themselves a quiet car ride without any tantrums or fuss.

Your group, on the other hand, weren’t here for the childish and conning games. You were all here for the Scare Walk.

You hadn’t agreed on a coherent group costume so it was a pick and mix of totally different genres and ideas and from an outside perspective it was abundantly clear that there was no communication on the matter whatsoever.

Steve was dressed as the main character from Nightmare On Elm Street, Freddy Kruger. Nancy clearly had helped with the makeup aspect of the costume assemble but everything else screamed Harrington. He cropped the stripped knitted jumper to better suit his athletic frame and his hair was still very much classic Steve.

Robin had taken a whole new approach, dressing up as the colourful Rubik’s Cube puzzle toy. Deriving inspiration from the colourful squares she wore a long black jumpsuit covered in humongous reflective and vibrant square sequins. She more resembled a neon glitter ball, but you gave her the benefit of the doubt.

Nancy’s body was hugged by a khaki green boiler suit that had the long legs cut off and on her back she wore a black backpack with some DIY altercations made to it. She has begged Mike to help her create her costume, and that’s how she ended up dressed as a Ghostbuster, putting a strong feminine spin on the male dominated film. You hadn’t expected anything less from Nance, she was always looking for ways to empower women and her costume made you smile. Proud.

Jonathan had chosen a much whackier costume to better fit with his personality. The pungent smell of weed radiating from his body only complimented the fluorescent green costume he was wearing and the radioactive orange bandana blindfolded over his eyes. He had opted for the beloved character from the children’s series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, Michelangelo. Which shouldn’t have surprised you— but it did.

And finally, you had chosen something distinctively different from your friends. You had made the bold choice to go as a flapper girl from the 1920’s, inspired by Fitzgeralds novel The Great Gatsby. It was a bold move because you paired the costume with kitten heels and although they were small you knew by the end of the night your feet would be crying out for rest. It is a Scare Walk after all. Your body was adorned by glitter and lace and the fringe of your dress tickled at the exposed skin of your legs.

It was a bit chilly tonight, but you were having too much of a ball to really hone in and pay attention to the sharp gusts of wind. Steve and Robin were arguing over whose costume was more original and whilst Robin’s was, Steve always somehow managed to argue himself into being ‘right’.

“Talk to me when you have hand sewn a bazillion sequins onto something and not just took a pair of shears to a ratty old sweater.” Robin remarks with a smirk, crossing her arms over her chest and marching ahead of Steve.

“Hey! I’ll have you know that it was surprisingly difficult to cut this thing into a straight line— and it isn’t ratty or old, I literally bought it like two days ago.” Steve fires back with a squinted gaze as he follows closely behind Robin’s reflective beacon of light that seems to lead us through the dimness. Nancy grumbles inwardly to herself.

“Can you two stop bickering like babies? We’re here to have fun! So let’s go and do that!” She hooks her arm with yours, charging forward, “I heard that some people from campus are working here this year. I don’t know what they’re doing but isn’t that exciting? We might bump into them!” You admired how Nancy could make a good situation out of everything, however you didn’t quite share her enthusiasm for meeting people you already knew. Nancy was all about making and strengthening connections whereas you wanted to just have fun— judgement free.

And now that you knew that your peers were watching your every move you couldn’t help but feel your confidence shrink slightly and your words clam up. Dying in your throat before they could ever be heard aloud.

-

The walk started off relatively slow and rather boring. You kept mistaking your dress tickling your calf’s as insects running up the skin of your legs and Robin would giggle at the way your head was constantly shooting downward.

“You seem awfully jittery— is someone scared already?” She taunts, wiggling her eyebrows at you and grinning widely as she did.

You scoff in response, “Please. I’m nearly dozing off back here.”

An eerie dark silence falls over the group and the golden haze from the spooky funfair starts to fade into the background behind you as you venture further and deeper into the doom and gloom of night fall.

The smell of sweet popcorn no longer lingers in the hairs of your nostrils and a sinister chill runs down the back of your spine; like fingers tickling your bare skin.

“Are we sure we are sticking to the trail? It’s getting pretty dark out here— OH MY FUCKING GOD!!” Two little girls dressed in bloody dresses and horrifying makeup charge toward you from a nearby hidden brush. Their eyes glow a disturbing shade of white and they hold faux knives that still look devilishly real. You stumble backwards, nearly collapsing from shock however before you could fall to the ground you feel a hard body hit your back which makes you scream out in terror.

The figure laughs at you, jeering and sharp as you whip around to meet him and your hand is quick to find your chest. Your fingers claw at the fabric of your dress and you fist the fabric with a shaky grip. You’re panting, struggling for breath and the skull painted face looms over you for a moment too long; cocking his head to the side as he examines your costume.

That’s when you realise something. Something that you immediately recognised as a dark secret. A dark desire that should be kept hidden.

As his onyx orbs gleam and glare down at you, you feel a wave of heat feather your cold skin. Your core pulses between your thighs and your mouth hangs open in dreadful clarity; you were fucking turned on by this.

His chiselled face is painted to resemble a bare skull. White with inky dark circles that deepen his eye sockets and his cheekbones are defined with thick blended shadowy lines. His lips are painted black to match his contours and he has hand drawn on a stretched toothy smile and an empty nose cavity.

He doesn’t speak a single word.

He just stares at you. Almost as if he is furious with you.

And before long he drags himself away from you, like the simple task is deemed painful and impossible for him.

His torso is dressed in a fitted white button down shirt which is rolled up to his elbows and it exposes his tattooed forearms. On his legs he wears a simple but professional pair of black trousers paired with black suspenders that sling over his shoulders. On his feet he has combat boots supporting his ankles and some sort of padded device strapped around the joint of his knees.

You gawk at him as he skates across the concrete on his knees at an alarmingly fast rate toward another group of poor people; leaving sparks of light in his dust as they squirm and scream. Some of them even go as far to sprint off into the darkness away from him; which leaves the masked man cackling darkly and running after them.

“Holy shit! I had no idea he would be working here this year!” Steve slaps the palm of his hand onto your shoulder as he chuckles heavily and you pull away from him confused and slightly annoyed.

“Who is ‘he’ and how do you know him?” Steve’s laughter dies out slowly and his hands come to rest on his hips. A stance that he did often. The rest of the gang come to join you with curious expressions on their faces.

“Seriously? You don’t recognise him?” There’s a pause as you shake your head ‘no’ and Steve rolls his amber eyes dramatically, “That’s Eddie Munson, dipshit. He’s always smoking weed out in the courtyard on campus? Playing with the fire from the benson burner during chemistry— is this ringing any bells?” You shrug, crossing your arms defensively over your chest.

Is Eddie Munson someone you should know about?

“He has long, curly hair— not better than mine but hey, it’s definitely up there.” Steve’s hand smooths over his slicked back hair that is thick with gel and you laugh, now being able to form an image of Eddie in your mind.

“Ohh, the metal head? He sometimes walks around with his guitar slung over his back?” You reply as you begin to walk off after realising that you have all come to a stand still— and partially because you want to see Eddie again.

“Yeah! He is wicked with a guitar! I’ve seen him play.” Robin chirps from your left and Nancy hums on your right.

“He is pretty good.” Jonathan speaks through a mouthful of candy and you try to disguise your disgust as you unfortunately get a glimpse of the food on his tongue.

“Right…” is all you quietly reply as your eyes scan the bluish darkness. You can hear an owl hooting off in the distance and if it weren’t for the jump scares waiting for you, you would find this promenade quite peaceful.

Crickets whisper conversations from the tall blades of grass and you can see lanterns dotted up ahead of you. They cast ghoulish shadows all around the dirt path and your head twitches from side to side— trying to catch any of the silhouettes moving.

But they don’t.

You have strayed further ahead of the group, their voices hitting your ears in the form of muffled sounds but you don’t bother to wait on them. They are too busy laughing and booing at some of the scare actors whereas your heart is still palpitating at a ridiculous rate from the last scare.

Some of the actors were so gruesomely scary that you felt transported into your favourite slasher films whereas the others were just looming and ominous— more human. Humans are the scariest creatures after all. You fear your own kind in opposition to the unknown.

That’s why when the familiar skull skates over to you on his knees, you freeze this time. No fight or flight; just freeze. Your mouth gaping wide as his nose nearly brushes yours.

“Eddie.” His name is a breathless squeeze from your lungs as it leaves your mouth. You have to say his name aloud in order to ground your thundering heart. Were you excited or frightened? Maybe it was a mixture of both.

Whatever it was, the man stood in front of you wasn’t best pleased. His eyes narrow into irritated slits and his fingers toy with a piece of your hair— twirling it before yanking on it playfully.

Steve, Nancy, Robin and Jonathan all sprint past you in urgency. They screaming until their throats run raw as a deranged man with a faux chainsaw chases after them. Hot on their heels.

You and Eddie go unnoticed by them… and now…

Now you feel afraid.

“Y’know you aren’t supposed to address the actors personally, right?” He sneers through a tight jaw.

“He speaks.” You quip back sassily and Eddie huffs a distorted laugh.

“I’ve seen you around campus— even prettier up close. It’s a shame your attitude ruins that.” He circles you like a shark in water and you follow him. Twirling around makes you dizzy but Eddie’s chuckle makes your dizzier.

“Like a little lost lamb.” He coos, “Where are your cronies? Seems they’ve ditched.” His glove clad knuckle grazes your cheek and you flinch away from his soft touch. Taking a few steps back you widen the close distance between the two of you.

This causes Eddie to grin hugely; showing all of his teeth as he did.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re scared now?” He prowls toward you however you are quick to match every one of his steps. He takes a stride forward? You take a step back.

“You could run away if you wanted… but that’ll only entice me more. Didn’t they tell you? I love the chase.” His voice is a low animalistic growl and you couldn’t understand if this was Eddie or his character talking to you. Was this all an act or was he genuinely this menacing?

“I thought you actors weren’t supposed to get this close to the public…” You hunch your shoulders upward toward your ears as you cower away from his stalky frame and he stares through you; the gears in his head turning.

You shift on the balls of your feet uncomfortably and your skin blazes beneath his intense gaze.

“You’re blushing.” He says matter of factly and suddenly you feel the need to straighten your posture and try to get as far from him as possible.

“I am not.” The lie is pathetic as it meets the frosted air and Eddie smiles eerily.

“It’s the makeup, isn’t it? You like the makeup.” His head strains back on his neck as he lets out a loud laugh, “Fuck— that’s pathetic. You must be into some really weird shit.”

“I- that’s absurd!! I have no idea what you’re talking about!” You squeal and slink your arms around your torso. Partially because you were cold but also to be protective and assertive of yourself, “You don’t even know me—“ Eddie interjects, his finger tapping impatiently against his painted lips.

“Shhhh.” You feel the soft grain of his leather gloves as they tickle your skin and Eddie’s hands fully embrace your bare shoulders, “It’s okay— I like your costume too, I suppose.” He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly, “I mean, it’s a bit outdated and boring but hey, you look good.” He flashes you a teasing wink that is nearly enough to make your lungs implode with lack of oxygen.

“Goodbye, Munson.” You swivel on your kitten heels and briskly find the frozen dirt path again. Your head involuntarily looks over your shoulder, trying to catch sight of Eddie one last time as you leave him behind but to your total disadvantage the metal head was no longer standing where you had left him.

He too, had taken off.

And unbeknownst to you, you had just pressed play on one of Eddie Munson’s all time favourite games; Cat and mouse.

-

It was getting later and later with every passing second and you couldn’t find your friends anywhere. You had last seen them run off whilst laughing and screaming in total horror but you hadn’t seen them since.

Had they actually ditched you and went home?

Once the thought infiltrated your psyche you contemplated on cutting the scare walk short and heading back to the funfair to search for them. However, going back meant that you had to go alone and there was something devilish about that.

To your left, through a thick canvas of sweetgum trees you can hear the owl again. Hooting softly— a sound that should calm your nerves but instead it tugs on them viciously. It’s more like an emergency siren warning you. A sign for you to run and to never look back.

A man made whistle slices through the chirping of the birds and it cuts at your skin like the edge of a blade. You look left and right, frantically dancing in circles as you try to determine where it’s coming from; but you are met with nothingness.

“Eddie, if that’s you then cut it out! This isn’t funny!” Your fingernails pinch at your skin as you begin to walk panicked in the opposite direction. Never paying attention to what’s in front of you, your gaze always trailing off to the side and behind you.

That’s when you see him— the skull peering at you from a dark line of trees in the distance. Your feet come to a staggering stop as you eye him. Was your mind playing tricks on you? Was Eddie really staring back at you or were you deluding yourself?

You swallow thickly, your mouth dry as you watch him emerge from the greenery. Before your brain can compute what your body is doing you are running; charging into the fullness of the forest.

Tree branches whip and rip at your skin, causing it to redden and sting. You wince but you continue soldiering on, your shoulders barge through sticks and nettles and thorns.

Your mind had convinced you that this was real. That you were being chased by a psycho.

“Hey— hey, stop!! It’s okay! Wait—“ Eddie is close behind you, crunching twigs beneath his boots but you are quicker than he is; more frightened and resilient to get as far from him as possible. For your own safety.

“Sweetheart! Stop!” You can hear him getting frustrated as he trudges through the cluttered landscape but you can see lights shining in front of you, just up ahead, and it causes you to force your legs to quicken. Desperate to reach there.

But just before you explode onto the funfair grounds your legs give way beneath you and you crash to the ground. The palms of your hands scrape against the jagged forest floor and your dress rips against a spiked log. You thought this shit only happened in the movies— but tonight you were proven wrong.

You look behind you and your eyes well up with tears of both pure adrenaline and fear at Eddie propelling himself toward you.

You bring up your hands around your head to protect yourself as you shrink back onto the floor, over the fact that your hair is full of pine needles and your knees are scraped and bleeding.

Eddie crouches by your side, a deep frown on his face and worry in his eyes.

“Hey, sweet girl, you’re okay…” Eddie bites off his leather gloves and throws them to the soft earth. He is gentle to pry your cold hands away from your muddied face and he hisses quietly at the temperature of your skin compared to his. He examines the palms of your hands tenderly, “Ouch… this must hurt. What were you thinking?”

Your foolishness almost causes Eddie to laugh, but after witnessing the genuine anxiety plaguing your features he decides not to.

“It was too real.” You blubber, letting out a dampened sob and Eddie’s heart pangs with guilt and sorrow, “I couldn’t find anyone and… and I saw you and I just couldn’t think of anything else…”

“I’m sorry, love. C’mere, let me help you up.” Eddie is crouched down, his knees bent as he braces himself in front of your shaking frame. He outstretches his hands toward you and you take them hesitantly.

Thanks to Eddie’s strength he pulls your weak body up to meet his with ease and he hold you against his chest. Breathing softly as he tries to calm your laboured and nervous breaths.

“I really am sorry… it’s just me, ‘Kay? I’m not gonna hurt you. I promise.” He peppers comforting pecks into your hair and your nails claw at the back of his shirt, “It must’ve been pretty scary; being out there all alone with me.”

You nod, your mind finally calming at the sound of his lulling and gentle voice.

“I do like the makeup.” Your confession is meek and muffled against his chest, “I think there must be something wrong with me.” You laugh, managing to pull away his chest and look at him much more confidently now.

“Not at all,” Eddie grins, “I think it’s quite the opposite, actually. Very normal— it might even be considered vanilla to some people out there.” Although you have removed yourself from the skull painted man’s chest, the closeness between the both of you remains the same.

The truth was; Eddie had always admired you. Your intelligence and your cunning. You were beautiful, which was the cherry on top of your infectiously bright personality. He had noticed you at the beginning of the academic year and he was too chicken to talk to you. You both were connected through Steve but Steve never really paid attention to Eddie’s longing and begging looks toward you.

But Steve didn’t have to say anything. Not anymore. Because you could see it for yourself. You could see beneath the intricate paint on his face that Eddie felt something for you. You weren’t sure what it was; lust, a crush or plain friendship but you could see it. Feel it.

“You must think I’m a total freak.”

“You have no idea who you’re talking to, sweetheart. I am the biggest freak to have ever lived.” Eddie lets out a giddy chuckle and his hands continue to rest lightly around your body. You welcome his lingering touch and his nearness. It felt familiar. Nice.

“We both look like weirdos standing out here in the dark.” Your eyes scan around the auburn horizon of tall trees and a soft smile rests on your smudged lipstick covered lips, “People are going to think we’ve been up to no good.”

Eddie smiles, his hand coming to stroke your cheek gently and tuck some of your rouge hair behind your ear, “With how windswept your hair is, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

You both stand there, the air is clouded with electrifying tension and you can’t think of anything else other than how badly you want him to kiss you.

“I wanna take you out… on a date.” His hands cup your face, “When I’m not this caricature. I’ll just be me and you will be you. You won’t have to run from me…” His cold nose brushes the tip of yours, “I won’t have to chase you.” You can smell mint and nicotine on his breath and you have never been more intoxicated by anything in your entire life.

“What’d ya say, sweet girl? Let me take you somewhere nice so I can kiss you properly at the end of the night?” There is a slight desperation to his voice and you bite your lip to suppress a wide smile.

“I’d like you to chase me, Eddie. Chase me with daisies and a boombox and your guitar. You won’t have to run after me for long…” You are dangerously close to him now, your breath quickening as you press a chaste kiss to the corner of his mouth. It takes every ounce of self control not to eat his entire mouth with yours, “Take me anywhere. As long as it’s with you.”

“I will.” He promises.

“And kiss me at the end of the night?” You are desperate yourself now, your eyes sparkling with moonlight as you look up into his shadowy hues.

“I will.” He strokes your hair so delicately; like you are the most precious thing he has ever handled, “I promise.”

-

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[tealvenetianmask]

More about Blitz and anger . . .

Anger is a super stigmatized emotion. That's for a reason- it's powerful. When we see it from other people it's usually externalized- it's ugly, aggressive, shows up in abusive situations- it sometimes leads to violence. But when we talk about righteous anger, or the anger of marginalized people, we sometimes praise it. That's because anger can be empowering too.

I want to talk about how Blitz's anger, while it's also destructive at times, has empowered him.

Personal note: when I was a kid, I was yelled at frequently by my mother. The house I grew up in was a 60's rancher with a long hallway in the center, and she would chase me down the hallway yelling. As I grew older, I learned to yell back. Feeling anger and externalizing it didn't make the hurt go away, and it didn't solve our problems- it turned us into two people yelling at each other- but it did make me feel less helpless.

So let's look at Blitz as a kid. In addition to guilt tripping him, his father tells him that "there are scarier things," than stealing from a wealthy and (literally) powerful family, and he doesn't disagree. I think this screenshot captures their relationship pretty well.

We see moments of defiance from Blitz though, even as he's very much under Cash's control. Georgia Dow pointed this out in her video about how Blitz learned resilience in his childhood. Here, have some defiant expressions:

Notice Blitz's eyebrows here, mirroring his father. I suspect that as he grew older, Blitz learned to push back harder, to argue, maybe even to yell. He learned to channel his anger- at being used, diminished, devalued (very likely yelled at and probably physically hurt too) into expression, into fight (I don't picture him physically fighting Cash, but the guy has fight in him- of all kinds).

He learned to feel angry at the world and express that too- for treating imps as lower than other demons, for limiting his options in life, for filling the road to success with exploitation (as we see in the Mammon flashbacks with Fizz).

Speaking of that flashback, he's very ready, as a teenager, to express anger exactly when he needs to for the purpose of protecting a loved one.

Fast forward to the present.

Blitz's anger helps him stand up for the people he cares about- see Fizz in the present at Mammon's show but also Moxxie in Spring Broken.

It helps make him good at his job too. When we see him fight, he doesn't tend to seem all out enraged, but he's super determined and all in. He's at home in a conflict. When he's doing his best fighting, we see a mix of the "angry" facial expressions and pure confidence.

Anger also helps him manage a lot of difficult emotions. Disclaimer (and idea I'll get back to soon)- I said manage, not deal with.

When he interacts with Verosika and with Robo Fizz early in season 1, there's genuine underlying pain from how the relationships with Verosika and the real Fizz ended, but he channels that into anger. The anger makes him take action (Good action? Eh. But still action- he's not crying on his couch.) rather than get consumed by more painful emotions. He's able to keep going.

It also gets in his way, even as he uses it as a coping mechanism. Is his anger at Muffy and the Karen in the doctor's office understandable as he's dealing with his frustration about the inaccessibility of healthcare for Loona and his worries about losing Stolas? Yes. Is it helpful? No, probably not.

It isn't useful with Stolas either. Stolas is this person who's kind and beautiful and quirky and able to match his wit, and who Blitz has grown genuine feelings for, but who is also deeply entwined in the unfairness in Hell's society that Blitz has grown to resent throughout his life- AND Stolas unknowingly participates in some very familiar microaggressions himself.

Blitz channels a whole range of complicated emotions- love, fear, despair at the thought that he isn't loved back- all into anger because he HAS been wronged and his world IS unfair, and anger is COMFORTABLE because anger is ACTIVE, and with it he doesn't have to just let things happen to him!

So we end up back here.

[gustavsbrainneuron]

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The only time I can be normal.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎2008 Zombie Bill Kaulitz × female reader.

Warnings: silly & "scary" fic, zombie stuff??...basically Bill becoming friends with reader.

Author's note: I WAS WAITING OCTOBWR TO COME SO I COULD.POST THIS. I. LOVE HALLOWEEN. :3 English is not my first language so i'm sorry if there are any mistakes.

The leaves crunched with every step you took back, this boy wasn't normal.

It all started at the beginning of the 31st. You woke up with the arrival of the triumphant day that celebrated the; Halloween. October was your favorite time, perhaps because of the air of mystery that this month gave? To the leaves changing color and falling to the ground, houses decorated with scary things, people arguing about what costume to wear, summer leaving and finally giving way for winter to arrive...all of this was very good for you.

You honestly didn't know what costume to wear for Halloween. Vampires? Classic, who wouldn't want to be a vampire? Sometimes, you even wondered if vampires really existed and on Halloween, perhaps it was the only day they could mingle with humans. Ghost? No. Evil mermaid who probably seduces men and takes them to the sea and kills them? No. A bride who killed her husband and wears a necklace with a reddish stone where his soul is trapped inside for eternity? No. Everything seemed very classic, very normal. But you didn't want to go trick-or-treating without a costume. But who said you hated classic costumes? Without any idea, you dressed up as a witch. Pointed hat, elegant dress with lots of details, a black cape long enough to give a mysterious air, slightly heavy makeup, with black eyelids, very reddish lips. Everything was perfect for Halloween.

As night arrived, people started to leave their homes, your neighborhood starting to be full of children and teenagers going here and there to ask for sweets. That was your favorite part, getting free candy! Obviously you went to ask for sweets with friends, after all you always had a ritual on Halloween night; separate sweets equally for all your friends.

"How long will you take?? Me and the girls still want to do trick or treat!!" One of your friends yelled, while you were in your room, facing a mirror, fixing your makeup. "Just be patient, okay? I'm sure there's still plenty of candy out there!" You replied back, finishing applying your reddish lipstick, running downstairs, grabbing your pumpkin-shaped basket to go ask for sweets. "I'm ready!!" You said, opening the front door of your house, seeing your friends dressed up, each one more creative than the other. "Woooow, you killed it this year!" One of your friends commented, approaching you to gently run her hand over the black cape you wore, adjusting the fabric. The other friends nodded, observing your costume. "Thanks. You guys don't look too bad either."

And so the night began. Your friends and you walked almost all over the city, looking for sweets. You filled your basket with sweets and so did they! When everyone's basket was full, you decided it was better to stop taking sweets and get to the best part; separate and devour all these sweets!

Your friends and you walked back to your house and sat on the sidewalk, ready to sort out the sweets and talk, whether it was about some school gossip or songs they were liking at the moment, it was pretty random. Once you shared the sweets equally, you started eating while talking. This time it wasn't about some school gossip or current hit songs. It was something scarier.

"You know, I saw someone talking about seeing a zombie." A friend commented while chewing a chocolate, looking at the asphalt while the wind carried the leaves away. "Zombies? They don't exist. It must just be someone dressed as a zombie." You replied, giving a skeptical laugh, not believing what your friend said. "Yeah, probably." Another friend commented, opening a bag of jelly beans. "No. One of the kids at school said it was true. He said he saw a zombie walking around. A real zombie." Another friend spoke up, believing the rumor. "It's not like this zombie is here to eat specifically our brains. We just shouldn't stay here until it gets late." The friend who wasn't buying into this zombie thing said, a little ironically. "This sounds like a story to make children scared. I don't think there is such a thing as a zombie." You replied, stopping eating sweets, thoughtful about the possibility that perhaps there is an undead among humans. It made you curious, but it was probably a lie.

As the night approached, your friends left and only you were out there, sitting on the sidewalk, eating sweets. Until a sound caught your attention, a cat's meow. A very loud meow. Cats were you weak point! You got up from the sidewalk, following the meow sound, walking until you stopped in front of a forest. Okay, either you were a dumb horror movie character or you were smart enough not to go into the woods at night. Fuck it - you thought, entering the forest and trying to find where the cat were, finding a white kitten with black spots, which walked up to you and began meowing loudly. Gently, you crouched down to stroke the kitten's head, hearing the cat purr and put its head forward against your hand, responding to your gesture of affection.

Until a sound of footsteps caught your attention, the footsteps came from behind, the dry autumn leaves betraying whoever was walking towards you. Could it be a human or an animal? Hesitantly, you slowly turned your head back and the moonlight illuminated the face of a boy with black, spiky hair, his lower lip area rotten; showing a bit of his dental arch. Scared, you got up and took the kitten in your lap, looking at the boy who was looking back at you. He was about eight steps away from you and even so, he was scary, simply because he didn't say anything. He tried to take a slow step forward, grunting softly almost as if he wanted to say something.

In fear, you took steps back holding the kitten in your hands as you focused your gaze on that boy. The leaves crunched with every step you took back, that boy wasn't normal. It was then that he took longer steps, approaching you faster; which made you run away without looking back, your body feeling cold from the fear coursing through your veins.

Trying to lose the boy, you ran faster. The kitten meowed loudly, wanting to jump out of your arms, but you held him, wanting to keep him safe. What a stupid idea - you thought, mentally cursing yourself for having entered a forest where you didn't know the way out. You glanced over your shoulder and the boy was still there, running limply, wanting to get closer for some reason you had no idea and didn't want to stop to find out. "W-wait!" The boy grunted in a tired voice, making you unable to understand much of the words that came out of his mouth.

All your despair was interrupted when you tripped, falling to the ground and feeling pain in one of your knees, the kitten ran away from you, while the boy approached you. You were feeling too tired from running and in pain to get up, but you still tried to drag your own body, but that was unsuccessful.

"Are you okay?" The boy's voice asked hoarsely, showing concern, slowly approaching you, making you hear his footsteps getting closer and closer to you. "Please don't eat my brain!" You exclaimed in a desperate voice, trying to get up again; without success.

"Eat your brain?" He repeated his words almost as if he felt offended. "Why do you think that?" He snapped, crossing his arms as he watched your failed attempts to get up. "You literally ran after me like a maniac with that... scary appearance!" You defended yourself, turning your body so that you were on your back, looking in his direction. "Maniac? Spare me. You're a cat thief." He defended himself too. Looking down, you saw the kitten sitting next to him, watching you too. How could someone stop in a situation like that? It was something so awkward that it even made you look away from the cat, looking to the side. "Aha. I know that guilty look." He replied, shaking his head negatively and giving a low laugh, approaching with slow steps again. "It's okay. Let me help you up." He stated, walking over and grabbing your arm. You used the only strength you had to stand up and put your arm around his shoulders. "I'm sorry. It's just that I was scared. You don't look normal." You commented, soon regretting your choice of words. "Not that you're any different! It's just that you know? There are scary stories in this time of the month...and I didn't know anyone would be out there at this time of night."

"Scary stories? More like gossip. I know people in this town are talking about me." He said, having the strength to keep me leaning against him despite the rotten appearance. "But I don't want to hurt anyone." He stated, walking with me in a direction of the forest and I only let him because he seemed to know what he was doing. "Have you been around here?" You questioned, wanting to make small talk. "Enough to know where we are and how to get out." He quickly responded, letting out a very low growl. "So you've actually been around here a lot."

An awkward silence stretched between you two and was it really an weird situation, a zombie helping a girl who got hurt trying to escape from him? That was so silly. It looked like something from a romantic, forbidden movie, you know? Embarrassing and funny at the same time. "Name?" He questioned suddenly, walking through the forest where you could already see where the two of you were before you started running. "Y/n. And yours?" You questioned back, letting out a low whimper in pain, maybe you had scraped your knee or something, one of your legs hurt a lot and you were taking crooked steps. "Bill."

Bill guided you to a square, where the two of you sat on a bench. He looked at your scraped knee and just made a pained expression in response, not knowing exactly how to help. The square was pleasant, especially now that it was empty and everyone was inside their homes, it seemed like only you were there, along with a zombie, really a unique experience.

"Sooo..how did you turn into..this?" You questioned out of nowhere, looking at Bill, talking about his rotten appearance. "A zombie?" He responded with a question, his face showing slight confusion. You just nodded, curious to know where he came from and how he became undead. "I don't know exactly. One day you're dead and the next day you're just alive again." He responded, looking down, speaking in a low voice, almost as if he was embarrassed to talk about it. "I'm not at my best though, well...better than nothing, right?" He spoke rhetorically, giving a weak, sarcastic laugh. "I don't think you're ugly." You replied, looking at him. Okay, you literally ran away from him minutes ago but now, listening to him talking so normally, gave you the feeling that he was a normal, alive boy, despite his rotten appearance. "The first thing you did when you saw me was run." He said, making you quickly respond to him. "It's not every day I encounter a zombie, okay? And I've already apologized."

. . . . . .

"Do you eat brains? Just like in the horror movies?" You questioned, wanting to make the atmosphere less awkward between the two of you. Bill looked at you, his eyebrows furrowing. "It's hard. Sometimes yes and sometimes no. And anyway, I don't look for my food in humans, if that's what you want to know." He responded calmly, wanting to make you more comfortable around him. "Maybe you were cursed by a witch and now you have to be a zombie forever." You commented ironically, giggling and changing the subject as well. "The witch must have been you." He replied, laughing lowly, pointing to your witch costume. You sighed dramatically, placing your hand on your chest gently. "Me?? I wouldn't be that mean. I would do the opposite. I would create a spell to detransform you." He laughed at your dramatic pretense, rolling his blurry white eyes. "Mhm, sure."

You and Bill ended up talking there in the square, sitting on the bench and, in fact, he was a really nice and interesting boy. The interests you had he had too and it was nice to have someone to talk to about certain topics, even though that person was quite peculiar.

"You know, I'm not that different from you." You said as you looked at the ground, seeing the autumn leaves there, stuck to the slightly damp ground from dawn. "No?" He responded ironically, smiling sideways. "No. My transformation is already beginning." You stated, pointing to your scraped knee, the raw flesh trying to heal. Your response got a laugh out of Bill and his laugh rubbed off on you, making the two of you look like two lunatics laughing in the middle of the square at night - but hey, a zombie friend doesn't seem so bad, right?

[alittledizzy]

hewwoo requesting a ficlet pls :3 and i'll give you options

1) you can surprise me and write whatever your heart desires because you know all the me baits and i will love it regardless

2) hard launch

hard launch dan/phil rated g, 599 words

fics for Dan's birthday drive!

They’re in Brighton when the video drops.

Not at PJ’s; that’ll come later. Right now they’re on a rocky beach, and Phil is picking through stones trying to find a shell that looks just right. He’s distracted by the search and Dan envies that.

Nothing works to distract Dan. Not the ice cream still sweet on his tongue, or the ache in his legs from how much they’ve walked around, or the sounds of drunken teenagers shrieking from how cold the water is on their toes.

“Stop,” Phil orders him.

“Stop what?”

“Stop thinking.”

“I can’t,” Dan says.

“You can. You’re just not trying hard enough.”

“I’m - what?” He gives Phil a dumbfounded look. “We aren’t all blessed with your absence of brain, Lester.”

Phil grins wickedly and then shoves Dan. “Take it back.”

“What.”

“Take it back, Daniel. Take it back.” He shoves again.

Dan catches Phil’s arms and laughs, stopping the brutal attack. The abuse. Babuse. A million little moments of their life they stop owning the moment they share. A million pieces of them broken into pixels and sent out into bouncing signals. They could never get them back if they tried.

Dan’s hands fall away from Phil’s arms like they burn. They can’t get the video they just put out back, either. The cold gathers in the pit of Dan’s stomach. It’s a storm brewing, and then it’s a pebble hitting his forehead, and Phil’s eyes glaring in an exaggerated way.

“I’m cold,” Phil informs him.

“Do you want to leave?”

“I’m hungry, too.”

“We just had ice cream.”

“Ice cream isn’t food,” Phil says. “There’s a different stomach compartment for ice cream.”

“You failed biology, didn’t you?” Dan says.

“My mum taught me that,” Phil says. “She’s smarter than teachers.”

“She’s more creative at least,” Dan says.

“Are you insulting her? I’ll tell her.”

“I would never,” Dan says. “I’ll say you’re lying and she’ll believe me, because you were a demon monster child and I am her perfect angel son-in-law.”

Phil’s smile is suddenly bright and blinding. It’s not a picture perfect smile, but in a moment of sentiment that feels out of place in the swirl of anxiety building inside of him.

Dan wants to kiss him. He could kiss him. He could do it, right now.

He doesn’t. But he could. And the danger therein would be… minimal. Just the danger of exposure of Dan’s own soft underbelly. But somehow that seems scarier than a fifteen-year secret offered up on a platter for the feasting of viewers.

“What are you thinking?” Phil asks.

Dan answers with no thought to it. “I’m going to kiss you later.”

Phil grins. “I’ll hold you to that. I’m ready to go now, by the way.”

“Because you’re hungry. And cold,” Dan recites. “Any other complaints?”

“You’re not kissing me yet,” Phil says. It’s a stupid level of flirtatious, and it makes Dan bark with laughter.

“Idiot,” Dan says. “You’re so dumb. I hate you.”

“You love me,” Phil says, smile softening. “Come on. Let’s see if PJ and Sophie want us to bring food back to them.”

Dan isn’t stupid, and neither is Phil. This is just Dan’s turn. Phil will have his moments of worry, quiet contemplation he tries his best to fight against, until he snaps and Dan coaxes him through it.

This will be a burden off their backs. It will feel like freedom, the same way coming out did. But before it can become that it has to be a transition they help each other through, the way they always do.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Xiwangmu is, of course, much more subtle than her husband and is keeping the fact she is trying to prepare Wukong and his cubs to potentially ascend to the throne a secret. The fact Wukong is already an experienced ruler in his own right, one that has proven himself over and over to his people in spite of having been a child when he was crowned and all the trouble the Havoc had brought, makes it easier for her.

As for Wukong, he's not sure why the new Empress is so interested in him and his cubs. He's certain she's plotting something to do with him, but he has no idea what or why and is scared to ask because she is by far much scarier than her husband is and while it's weird she seems to have adopted him and his cubs out of nowhere, he doesn't want to risk offending her. Xiwangmu, in her own way, is careful not to let Wukong in on her preparation for him, sensing that he would not appreciate that she sees him as a potential heir. This decision is proven correct when word of how Azure had initially manipulated Wukong into the first war came to light during the debriefing process, when Wukong and Macaque were questioned about their former brother's alongside DBK to determine what would be done about Yellow Tusk and the fact Peng had disappeared.

Xiwangmu: What say you about your former brother whom took the life of NY mate and husband?

Wukong: He had been a good man when we were younger, kind and caring. Supportive. I know not where his mind and morales had strayed to. He had his flaws, but I'm certain he was manipulated into this. There was no other way he could get the scroll.

Macaque, scoffing: Yeah, just like how he was the one to manipulate and groom you into becoming the scapegoat for the War against Heaven and then turned his on you the moment you couldn't live up to his expectations!

The Noodle Gang and MK, hearing this for the first time from the witness stands: Excuse me!? THAT LION DID WHAT!?

Yellow Tusk himself had also confirmed this small details when asked, assuring them that he could sense Azure's intentions had not been malicious, but his actions had certainly played a part in Wukong's role all thsie years ago. Just as they had now.

prev.

Oooo, once Xiwangmu learns that Wukong had been a mere manipulated teenager at the time of the Havoc, all bets are off. She snaps the pen she was holding, her arms literally aflame with anger. The monkeys all rear back in case her rage is directed at them.

Calmly as she can, Xiwangmu asks Macaque and Yellow Tusk to explain how Azure Lion treated Sun Wukong during this era.

How the celestial lion had been too cowardly to spearhead his own rebellion, and placed a naive child on a pedestal to redirect punishment. To place impossible standards of martyrdom on his Sworn Brother and turn his back on him when Wukong chose to live rather than die at the Emperor's and the Buddha's hands. How the Lion convinced his remaining brothers and many demon communities at large that Sun Wukong was a traitor to their freedoms. How he tried to take Wukong's family from him multiple times...

Just when she thought her hatred of Azure Lion could go no further...

It was bad enough that he robbed her of her mate and husband, but he had also robbed her grandson of his youth.

Wukong sitll has moments when he feels like he "deserved" the treatment he got in that era. Macaque, looking away from Wukong with guilt, adding to this belief when they broke up under the Mountain. It had been time with the Pilgrims that help Wukong realise that the way had been treated by Azure and the elder brothers wasn't right.

Yellow Tusk may be wise, but even he admits to being played a fool by Azure's ambitions. Only realising that his former brother's ideals was not the best for others when it was too late to change course.

If Azure was still in the room, Xiwangmu would be wearing his hide as a collar.

Ironically his experience with tackling such manipulations, actually makes Wukong an even greater candiate for the Emperor's potiential heir in Xiwangmu's eyes...

[beanghostprincess]

Canon and logic be dammed.

I just like the idea of Uta hearing Buggy making his own town (just as the Cross Guild was forming) and as soon she finished her tour, she headed straight to Karai Bari to spend some quality time with Momma Buggy.

Like picture if you will, Buuge's getting the usual treatment in a Cross Guild 'meeting', and a shy knock comes in. A lowly follow tasked to say that there's a visitor requesting the Chairman.

'Who?' A certain lizard and bird ask, 'a by the name of Miss Uta.'

And suddenly Buggy just pops up from the floor, miraculously healed, a sparkly (dare I say, flashy) look in his eyes, "Uta?? Red and white hair? Bunny loops, prettiest purple eyes???"

As soon as the subordinate nodded, Buggy was out the door! Practically flying to the docks.

Crocodile and Mihawk got up and followed the path (grumbling all the way, cuz who the hell is this? Taking away their clowns' attention and making him this damn happy??) Cut to see Buggy swinging the young lady around, elated to have her in his arms. All the while she hugging the stuffing out of the clown and giving him cheek kisses.

'Just who in the hell is this? And who does this little-'

"Momma!" The girl shouted with joy. "I missed you so much!!"

...... huh???

"I missed you too, sweetie!" Buggy grinned ear to ear as he nuzzled his nose atop Uta's head. And he just started to babble about all the things a mother would say

'What are you doing here?/ Have you been eating well?/ look at you! So flashy and cute! Was the trip over here okay? No troubles?' etc.

All of which just turned to white noise to Crocodile and Mihawk as they watched from the sides, both clearly surprised.

And then they picked up the talk from the people around them;

'Is that the famous Uta? Why is she here?'

'Wasn't she supposed to be on a concert tour?'

'Did the captain called her Bunny?'

'Forget that, did she just called Mister Buggy, Mommy??'

I just want Crocodile and Mihawk just shocked to hear that Buggy had a child and find it funny that she's more successful and competent than her 'mother's.

And maybe a bit jealous that Buggy spends 100% of his attention to her all day (the entire trip even).

THIS IS SO CUTE I'M SOBBING-- Uta and Buggy are so so so so sweet together. They make me go insane.

Nobody has ever seen Buggy so... Happy... And optimistic.... And genuinely caring and loving somebody this much. Like it's surprising how much Buggy changes around Uta. That's his little girl!!! Seriously. Buggy calls her his little girl, his little Bunny or whatever and she's all like "I'm older now!!! Stop saying that!!!" and he just hears a sweet little voice because that's still his little girl no matter what.

I want her to stay with them for a while and she is of course so polite and sweet to Crocodile and Mihawk because she is a star and knows how to handle social situations. But damn, she is scary when she sort of threatens them to never hurt her mom ever again. They won't listen to her but at least they won't do anything while she's here because... There's nothing scarier than a teenage idol.

They have girl nights together with Alvida, too!!! And nobody is ever allowed to mention Shanks because if they do, Uta ends up getting incredibly mad or having a breakdown and nobody needs a mentally unstable teenage girl with daddy issues to be angry. Buggy manages to calm her down every time, somehow, it's incredible.

Buggy does her hair and she sings for all of them! They make this huge party to celebrate she is here and I just know a lot of them are her fans, so she would have such a great time too!!! Buuut at the end of the day it's always just Buggy and her and Uta singing lullabies for both of them only under a starry night. I am. So not normal about them. I am not okay.

I don't want to make this about Shanks but they have to have a conversation like:

Buggy: Do you miss him? Uta: No! How could I??!?! I hate him. Buggy: You know, it is okay to miss you father- Uta: He's not-- Not anymore. Buggy: Whatever you say, kid. Uta: Besides, I like you better. Buggy: Pffft. Of course you do! Thought I-- Thought I was your mom, though? Uta: You can be both. As far as I know, both titles are free if you want them. Buggy: As if somebody other than me could match your flashiness, Bunny.

But!!!!! Crocodile and Mihawk??? Jealous of Uta???? Because Buggy spends all of the time with her??? That is amazing. And I also like to think Buggy becomes more competent and bossy when he's with Uta because if there's something scarier than a teenage idol is her parent. And Buggy would do anything for her. So he's extremely protective and also even a better leader now that he has to take care of her. While Mihawk and Crocodile are all like "????? Why the fuck did he not act like this before" and also "Why the fuck has he not talked to us all week ???". Because as long as Uta is near, Buggy doesn't fear them and he doesn't need to talk to them every day. And that bothers them soooooo much.

It'd be funny to see Uta getting along with Mihawk and Crocodile in the end. You all know (because I've talked about it) I just love Uta actually joining them and being the diva of the group. She's extremely protected and loved there!! Also please, add Perona there too because they're,,, Girlfriends,,, And they should meet,,, And be Cross Guild's princesses together,,,

[oneslimybastard]

Ghetsis facts:

>At least two grunts are scared of him (musharna being able to spook them off with visions of being scolded by Ghetsis)

>His speeches does in fact convince some people to release their pokémon or at least second-guess their view on the trainer-pokémon relationship

>Tells the grunts to give Bianca's Munna back

>Persuasive enough to essentially wiggle some of his Guys out of arrest in Driftveil, even if Clay does it reluctantly

>Knows Reshiram and Zekrom would not fuck with him so he picks up a miracle child from the forest to do it for him instead. Raises said child kind of like his own but also kind of not, there's a deliberate distance put between them

>Did make this wonderchild who can speak to pokémon and are clearly very empathetic towards them hang out with pokémon who had been mistreated for the purpose of instilling an ideology in him.

>Randomly has 3 ninjas who are just ride or die until the end of time for some reason

>Lots of team plasma is ride or die for him actually, otherwise Neo Team Plasma wouldn't have been a thing

>He rubs the death of Alder's partner pokémon in the mans face. All cheeky beaky like. Because he can.

>He will tell the teenager his Adopted I Swear Not Related Promise son is fixated on as a rival all about how he basically groomed say son into doing all of this dragon bullshit while having them cornered on a bridge. Then just casually walks off. His ninjas are there too.

>Will also happily tell said teenager they probably aren't that special or chosen or whatever, lol lmao, seems like ur dragon haven't woken up yet, dw maybe it will, lol.

>Cannot take an L to save his fucking life. Will lash out at everything and everyone around him and build a stupid airship with a stupid laser powered by the crinkly old grandpa of the dragon trio and do a terrorism before taking an L

>Refers to himself as being PERFECT while inhaling massive amounts of copium

>Needs a cane in bw2 and is only ever seen using one of his hands, so probably physically disabled to some degree

>Strong enough to jam the butt of that cane into the solid frozen earth of a cave. Probably just kind of a visual metaphor for him being threatening but also Hear Me Out What If He's Fucking Built-

>N is ride or die for him enough to still try and get through to him during the bw2 climax despite having been utilized as a silly little pawn yet again. This does not work, because as previously mentioned, man just cannot take that L

>When faced with literally no other option but to take an L, he passes out. His ninja squad punctuates this with him probably not being a threat anymore.

Ghetsis interpertation:

I think all of these things weave together into just a very fascinating person when you look at them a little deeper. Someone who's clearly charismatic enough to acquire that much loyalty, love, and fear — but also not equipped to handle the shame of failure in the god damn slightest. When threatened he devolves from a calculated cult leader above it all to a snarling animal fighting for its life, because he's probably rotted away behind a mask of perfectionism for years rather than done any significant growth as a person. He's clearly intelligent, probably highly emotionally intelligent because if he wasn't he wouldn't be able to pull this shit, but all of that shatters and breaks and splinters with one (1) crucial failure. He tries to recuperate but can't, the survival instinct is breathing down his neck because to him the shame of being a human like the rest of them rather than the perfect ideal he's been forging is scarier than anything that could actually physically kill him. He blames N, he blames MC, Colress, just about anyone and anything that doesn't end up pointing back to his own shortcomings.

And still! N probably loves him! And it's probably genuine! He wants to connect with him and breach that gap and give him ibuprofen because even if he's shown himself to be cringe, that's still his father, which is something he values enough to try and hold on to. And the ninja guys remain ride or die, so there's clearly something to him other than schemes and trickery, something genuine and beautiful that might not in practice be worth fighting for but it sure feels like it.

A beautiful man who's warped himself into a demon because he couldn't stand his own humanity because he's probably autistic and traumatized from his undefined childhood, and when he's beat down, rather than taking that L at long last, he'll curl up in his little cage, continue to snarl and tell himself over and over that this is what he is. What he will always be. He couldn't become god so he resigns to dying a devil. Because even still, that is preferable to him over taking that L, admitting to himself he is just a little guy like other little guys with problems he couldn't cope with, and that it caused hurt and destruction.

Devils don't feel regret or shame, humans do. And he'd have a loooot of that to chug through if he decided to face it. So he won't.

which is just very sexy and milfy and babygirl of him i think. this is my "why ghetsis is like so sexy actually" manifesto, without even tapping into the juice that is him going "nuh-uh" over his own dang disabilities but that too ties into how he can't cope with his own imperfect humanity so u know. Also that he's just kinda sassy and petty. Amazing. 10/10 best written character not in the games but in my brain.

[dira333]

No Dating Allowed - Ginjima x Chubby! Reader

Words: 6k, angst to fluff

Warning: Fatphobia but not from the Inarizaki Volleyball team - Also the boys are idiots but they're teenagers so that's to be expected.

“You’re so fat. You’re like a cow. Mooo!” You duck your head at the comment, try to let it slide off you. It still hurts, even if your face doesn’t show. Crying only eggs them on.

“You wouldn’t be so fat if you actually participated in some sports.”

“Like any Club would take them in, she’s too fat to even be a manager.”

You can barely read the words in your book now, the letters blurred by unshed tears. 

You don’t believe that what they’re saying is true. What they are saying is not true.

But it still hurts. Oh, does it hurt.

If only you could make them believe.

-

The idea is so bad you can’t believe you’re going through with it. 

It won’t change anything. 

If your classmates find out that you tried and failed, the bullying will surely get worse.

But still… what if it works out?

Your heart’s beating like a jackhammer in your chest as you approach the door of the third-year classroom. You’ve never been here before and you’re not sure how this is going to go, but you have to at least try, right?

“Can I help you?” A girl asks, her smile open and friendly.

You nod. “C-Can I… Can I talk to K-Kita-san for a… a minute?”

“Oh, sure. Stay right there… Kita-kun! There’s someone here for you.”

The decision to ask him first wasn’t made lightly. You don’t know much about Volleyball other than what you’ve seen during Gym Class. You don’t have to run around much - which you prefer - but you’re not good at jumping. But all the other Captains are way scarier than he is and when you’ve seen him around he’d always been surrounded by an air of calm indifference. If he doesn’t like you, he’ll at least be polite about it.

“Yes?” He’s tall, looming over you like an attractive shadow. You swallow thickly.

“I-I wanted to ask… if you needed… a manager? For Volleyball, I mean.”

Kita blinks.

“You’re a first-year, correct?”

You nod.

“How about we walk for a bit and talk about it?” He leads you down the hallway, away from the prying eyes of his classmates. 

You’re not sure how he does it, but you find yourself talking, explaining, rambling at times about the reasons you have to ask. But when you bite your lip in panic, clearly having overshared, he just nods and urges you to go on. 

“Practice is every day after school. When does your last bus leave?”

You look it up on your phone and he nods. 

“It might happen that we train a little longer, especially the twins. Don’t let them rope you into staying longer. If you do have to stay longer for any reason, don’t hesitate to ask any of the boys to walk you home, okay?”

“O-okay.” 

“Good. I have to get back to class now. I will see you after school. You can see if you like it and decide later.”

You nod, speechless. To say that this has gone better than expected would have been an understatement.

-

No one saw you change into your gym clothes in the bathroom and you’re thankful for that. 

You’re not ready to let anyone from your class know you’re doing this, if ever.

Maybe that’s a bad idea, maybe that would make them see you differently, but with how things are going right now they might just use it as another way to bully you.

It’s so weird to approach the Gym alone. No one’s waiting outside and you panic a little.

Did you get the time wrong? But Kita said after school, right?

You rush to the door to find him in there with three other boys, all of them taller than you.

A dark-skinned boy spots you first.

“Hey!” He waves at you. “I’m Aran Ojiro. You must be the one who’s trying out for manager.”

You swallow hard. This is a try-out? Like a test? What if you fail?

As if reading your thoughts another boy steps forward, his face serious but his words kind.

“Don’t worry too much. Since you’re going to spend a lot of time with us we have to make sure you’ll feel comfortable doing so. You can try out what it would be like.”

“He’s Ōmimi, I’m Akagi,” the last one steps forward, shaking your hand eagerly, “It would be so cool to have a manager again and a cute one too!”

You shy away from his touch and step closer to Kita who simply nods in greeting.

“Aran will show you around and explain the basics to you. As soon as the whole team is here you will get to know them and the official training will start.”

You nod and follow Aran who explains everything thoroughly.

“Can I ask you something?” You speak up when he shows you where the water bottles are kept and how to fill them up and wash them after use. 

“Of course.”

“Kita-san said you don’t have a manager yet. Why is that?”

“Well, Shiraishi graduated last year and after it became clear that Kita was going to become the Captain, he wanted to wait a bit before we got a new manager. I don’t know if you’re aware, but our setter is pretty popular with the girls and I guess Kita didn’t want us overrun with fangirls.”

“Why? Who is your setter?”

Aran stops and turns around. “You don’t know?”

You shake your head, already panicking. Should you know?

“Oh, Samu’s going to love this. Well, we’re finished here anyway, so let's go meet the rest of the team. Just a fair warning, they are a rather rowdy bunch.”

But as you step back into the Gym, the boys are sitting on the floor, quiet like mice. 

Kita’s standing next to what must be the trainer and waves you over.

“I’m Kurosu Norimune, First Coach.” He shakes your hand with a smile as you whisper your name before he turns around and announces it loudly to the students.

Some of them nod and at least Aran and Akagi smile up at you. 

A boy with light brown, messy hair looks up at you with wide eyes and you wonder what’s so surprising about you. Is it your height, or lack thereof, or your weight? 

You swallow thickly and miss at least half of the introduction.

And after that, everything comes to life.

“Hi, I’m Ginjima,” his eyes are still wide, but he’s smiling, a light blush adorning his face. You take a step back and his brows furrow. “I didn’t want to scare you, I just wanted to ask if you want to help me get the ball cart in? That’s usually my job.”

“Oh, of course.” You nod and trod along, trying not to lose him in the bustle of boys running around, setting everything up.

A few minutes later you’re standing on the side and watching, trying to gather their names from when Coach is shouting at them.

“Stop playing around, Atsumu!” That’s the guy with blond hair.

“Osamu! That was also meant for you!” He’s got grey hair.

“You could have gotten that, Suna!” This one turns and looks over as if you’d said it instead of Coach. He looks tired, but at the same time, a little… mean?

-

Too soon it’s break time and they all gather around you, pulling water bottles from your hands.

“Hey, I know you!” You blink up at the guy but you can’t really place his face. “You’re in Class 5, right? I’m Riseki!” He holds out your hand like he wants a high five and you cautiously tap his hand, not sure if that’s what you’re supposed to do.

“You’re cute,” he says, grinning from one ear to the other. Ginjima clears his throat pointedly next to him and your eyes drop back to the floor and all the water bottles you still need to pass around. Right. Work.

As it turns out, being a manager is a lot more work than you thought it would be. But it’s also a lot less hard than your classmates made it look like. You could totally do this every day. And why shouldn’t you, if they let you? You usually don’t like the books Literature Club reads together and you’re handwriting is too awful for that Club.

“What do you think?” Kita asks as he shows you how to disinfect the Volleyball’s one after the other. “Do you want to continue?”

“If I’m allowed to?”

He smiles and you can’t help but smile back.

If you’d get to have an older brother, you’d want him to be like Kita.

- - - xxx - - -

Droplets of water run down his back. It tickles, but he cannot focus on that right now.

“Are you sure Kita said that?” Ginjima asks again, hands practically folded in front of him.

“Absolutely positive,” Akagi confirms, “As soon as she was out of sight, he told us that no one was going to be allowed to ask her out. I mean, he said that we couldn’t make her uncomfortable by any means, but you know Kita, that’s what he meant.”

“Yeah, but he didn’t say it like that.” Tsumu declares pointedly, slinging a sweaty arm around Ginjima’s shoulders. “And you’ve seen our dear Ginjima. He’s fallen for her, he’s a lost cause already.”

“Ah, shaddap.” He throws him off, but Samu’s already there. “Hi, I’m Ginjima!” he teases, voice high. They all laugh, but Ginjima can’t help that he’s blushing. Again.

-

“I want to make clear,” Kita starts the next time they’re all at the Gym, no sight of you, “That no one is going to ask our new Manager out. I am aware that this affects your private life outside of Volleyball, but we don’t want to make her uncomfortable. If you cannot focus on anything but her, you have nothing to do in this team anyway.”

Suna whistles low through his teeth. “Damn, do you want her for yourself?”

Kita stares at him instead of answering and Ginjima swallows thickly, pulling his head in. So much for a chance at love.

-

But still, he can’t help himself. 

Just because he cannot ask you out doesn’t mean he can help you, right? Get to make you smile or even laugh, maybe?

“Here, let me help.” He’s got an eye out for you, making sure you don’t overdo it. “That’s too heavy for you anyway.”

“I’m stronger than I look.” You protest and he has to force himself to look away when you flex your arms. He’s a little jealous and a little thankful that he’s not seen you in your uniform yet. He’s not sure what he’ll do if he does. Probably have a spontaneous heart attack.

- - - xxx - - -

“Where are you going?” You freeze, even though you shouldn’t. 

“To my Club,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper.

“What Club? Who’s accepting Fatties?”

You swallow harshly, grab your bag and leave, hoping you can outrun them. 

They don’t bother to follow but you know this isn’t going to be over soon.

But just for a little longer you want to have this for yourself, just be happy with how things are. 

The boys are nice, Kita-san especially. He never gets mean and even when you get something wrong he just explains it calmly to you.

“We use this for disinfecting. You won’t get the same result otherwise.”

Aran’s super nice too, patting your head every time he walks past you like he’s blessing you. He doesn’t mind when you ask questions about Volleyball even though he’s probably explained most of it twice.

“Got that now? No. No problem at all. Maybe it’s easier if you picture the people. Kosaku and Riseki for example, are pinch-servers. Do you remember what that position means?”

Riseki, funnily enough, always asks you for help.

“Did you go over the math lessons already? You did? Sweet! Can you help me with them after training? We can do it here if you want. Kita doesn’t mind when we do our homework in here as long as we don’t disturb the others.”

Then there’s Ōmimi with his serious face who likes to trade books with you and Akagi who’s a bit too loud for your taste but always greets you with a joke.

“Where do the cows go to have fun? The Moovies!”

The second years, though you find the most difficult to work with.

The twins are loud and rowdy and Suna always gets this scary look on his face when he gets quiet. Ginjima always wants to talk to you and you don’t know why and Kosaku doesn’t talk at all.

You prefer to stick with the third years where you can and the first years when they call for you. No one from the Club is in your Class but just because you’ve made it one month doesn’t mean you will make it forever.

Eventually, you’ll be found out.

-

“Where are you going?” 

You try to dash away but this time you’re not fast enough. You hear fabric rip, feel the rush of air around your legs as your skirt drops to the floor. 

Laughter rings out in the mostly empty classroom as you gather the remnants of your uniform around you, leaving with tears streaming down your face.

You won’t be late, you promise yourself, even if you have to explain to your parents later why you need yet another expensive garment. You won’t be late, even if you have to wash your eyes with cold water in the bathroom to make sure you’re not found out.

“You okay? Your eyes are kinda red,” Ginjima points out the second you step into the Gym.

You nod and the lump in your throat makes your voice sound nasally.

“I’m fine. Just allergies.”

“Are you sure? If you’re sick you should go home and rest,” Kita had been in earshot, it seems. You shake your head. Home is the last place you want to be right now. 

“It’s fine, I was just… my eyes were tearing up a lot.”

Kita doesn’t look convinced. He turns to the boys. “Start training. I’ll be back soon.”

Without another comment he grabs you by the arm and gently drags you outside.

“I’m really fine,” you insist once you’re outside and you can trust your voice again. “It’s just allergies.”

“You don’t get allergies from one day to the other. You can tell me what’s wrong. No one’s listening in.”

Fresh tears fall. “My skirt ripped.”

“Oh.” A pause. “That’s unfortunate. Can I see it?”

You freeze, shoulders pulled up. “What?”

“Can I see your skirt? I’m not that good at sewing, but Kosaku is. Maybe we can do something about it.”

He inspects the garment for a second before he tells you to wait here. When he comes back, he’s got Kosaku in tow who looks not the least bit confused.

“Oh yeah,” Kosaku inspects your skirt as well. “That’s an easy fix. I can mend this after practice if you want.”

“You can?”

“Of course.” He sounds a little displeased that you’re questioning his abilities and you bow, immediately apologizing.

“It’s fine. You can buy me some snacks as a thank you… Or not, nothing’s fine too.” He adds hurriedly but when you look up nothing’s amiss. 

“Are you sure? I could bake something.”

“Only if it’s not too much trouble for you. I think all of the boys have a sweet tooth, so I wouldn’t be able to hold onto it for long.”

“They do?”

“Oh yeah. Especially Samu. Though to be fair, he devours everything edible.”

-

You’ve learned your lesson. You’re the first out of class and the last to step in. 

Still you know you won’t be able to get away forever.

But you will enjoy it as long as it lasts.

“I made something,” you exclaim when it’s time for the first real break. You pull the large container from your bag and prop it up, open it to reveal a small mountain of sugar cookies. They’re not in season, but they’re easy to make.

Just as Kosaku predicted, Osamu’s the first to grab one. His face lights up like firework as he tastes it.

“Hey, leave me some!” Atsumu pushes him to the side and you flinch.

“Behave!” Ginjima crows and half of the team turns to look at him, his face turning almost as red as the Inarizaki tie. “We don’t want crumbs in the Gym,” he tries to explain. You offer the box to him next and his hands shake funny when he takes a cookie. 

Maybe he’s just as anxious as you are, you think and send him a small smile. It only deepens the red on his face and you turn back, glad to see Aran approaching. Aran is safe.

- - - xxx - - -

“Does anyone know how we got her to make cookies?” Samu asks, licking the last remnants of his fingers. 

Ginjima listens only with half an ear. You’re sitting on the other side of the large Gym, head bent over Riseki’s books as you explain something.

Why are you just so cute??? “I told her we all like sweets,” Kosaku explains simply.

“And she brought in sweets?” Suna’s voice is teasing enough to gather Ginjima’s whole focus.

“What are you saying?” He asks, voice skipping an octave.

“What do you think I’m saying?” Suna asks back.

“It’s just cookies,” Tsumu argues, clearly annoyed, “Can we get over it and start playing again? I’m getting bored over here.”

-

“Ginjima?” Kita’s voice cuts through the noise and he turns, half expecting a stern reprimand.

Instead, his captain stands stiff like a board, waving for him to come over. Next to him: You, head bowed.

He rushes over, heart thundering ahead.

“Yes, Captain?”

“Our dear manager isn’t feeling well. I trust you to walk her to the bus station.”

“Of course!” His heart beats in his throat now, but at least he managed to get that out. “Can I carry your stuff for you? That’s absolutely no problem!”

“I’m fine,” you whisper, but when Kita clears his throat pointedly you relinquish your bag to him 

Ginjima makes sure to handle it with the utmost care, trying not to smile too brightly as he walks you out. Kita chose him for this job!

“Do you have a cold?” He asks as you walk. “Tsumu had it last week.”

“No, I don’t have a cold.” Your hands press against your stomach.

“Oh, a stomach bug then? Did you have the curry too today? I heard it wasn’t very good.”

“No… No, I didn’t.”

“Oh, what is it then? Do you have diarrhea?”

Your face pales and he goes almost cross-eyed looking for a trashcan to puke into. Instead, he finds a girl who’s pointing… at you.

“Are you for real?” She asks, voice shrill. “You’re a manager?”

“Who are you?” Ginjima asks, already pissed at the way she asked. 

“Who are you?” She asks back. “And what lame kind of sport do you do that you allow Fatty over here to join?”

“What the hell-” He starts, hands balled to fists. “Who do you think you are?!”

She scoffs. “Like you need to know that, loser. Bye Fatty. I’ll see you.” She laughs and runs off and Ginjima has to grind his teeth to keep where he is instead of running after her.

After all, you’re still sick and Kita entrusted you to him!

“Are you okay?” He asks, turning back to you. “Do you know who that bitch is?”

You gasp.

“What?” He asks. “Like she didn’t deserve that title! You’re not fat. My uncle is fat but even if you were that’s no way to talk about you like that! She needs a good beating if you ask me.”

You look up at him, eyes welled up with tears. Your mouth opens and closes and he kinda has to guess what you want to know.

“My uncle?” He guess. “He’s got a disease… I can’t name it properly, but when he was my age he couldn’t move at all because of it and he got so depressed only food gave him a source of comfort. He’s a lot better now but he’s still got plenty of weight. Not that that drags him down if you’ll excuse that joke.” Ginjima can’t help but smile as he thinks of Uncle Keiji.

You shake your head and sniff.

“Oh, you need a tissue?” He pats down his jacket but comes up empty. “Here,” he slips out of it, “Just wipe your nose on it, I’ll wash it today, no problem.”

That’s when you start laughing, his jacket clutched in your hands.

He laughs along, a little confused, but hey, he got you cheered up again.

-

You don’t look up when the door opens. But the rest of your class does.

“It’s Miya Atsumu!” One of the girls whispers, clearly shocked.

“And his twin!” Someone else mutters equally impressed.

Ginjima leans around them and finds you easily, head bowed over a Bento Box.

“Hey!” He calls out to you. “You coming? We’re going up to the roof to eat.”

Your mouth opens and closes like a fish.

“Come on,” Suna’s voice drawls out lazily, “We don’t have all day.” 

You nod, clearly confused, and grab your stuff, rush toward them.

“Who did you say was that bitch again,” Atsumu asks just as you’re a few steps from the door. 

Ginjima pokes his head in again and smiles at the girl in question, baring his teeth. 

“If you guys mess with our manager again,” Samu declares calmly, inspecting his fingernails, “Getting banned from our games will be the least of our problems. Are we clear?”

- - - xxx - - -

“Thank you for taking the time,” Kita closes the door behind him and smiles. The little storage room is cramped but filled with light from the evening sun.

“You wanted to talk to me?” You ask, hands fiddling. You haven’t lost your anxious ticks even after all these months.

“I’m resigning today,” he explains calmly. “It’s time to graduate. I thought Atsumu would be a good Captain. What do you think?”

You blink away a stubborn tear that won’t stay inside.

“He’ll need a little help,” you sniff, working against the lump in your throat. “But I’m sure he will do great.”

“You’ll help him, right?”

You nod, swallowing thickly. Kita’s warm hands land on your shoulders.

“Do you have any plans for the break?”

“No, not really.”

“Would you like to stay with us for those few weeks?”

You freeze. 

“Are you… are you sure?”

“Yes. Granny would love you. I’m sure your parents won’t mind and you can help me with the harvest if you want. Or stay inside and help Granny with the house.”

Silence enfolds between you. 

Eventually, with the warmest voice you’ve ever heard from him, he says “I’ve never had a little sister, but if I did… I’d want her to be like you.”

-

Ginjima’s eyes zero in on yours - surely red rimmed from all the bittersweet tears - but he doesn’t say anything. 

Not long and Tsumu’s crying too, wiping his nose on his sleeve as Osamu blinks up into the sun, acting like he doesn’t care at all - the liar.

It’s hard, saying goodbye to the third years.

It will be different with them there, Aran’s daily blessings and Ōmimi’s book recommendations, Akagi’s silly jokes, and Kita’s calmness. 

It will be different, but it won’t be bad. Not with all your friends around you.

“I entrust this Club to you,” Kita reminds Tsumu again as he leaves. “Every member and our shared goal. And don’t forget our dear manager.”

-

“What are you doing over the break?” Ginjima asks later as you wait for the bus.

Your hands fold around the seam of your skirt and you pinch it as if you remind yourself that this is real.

“I’m staying with Kita,” you tell him proudly, “He asked me to come.”

“Oh,” he makes and falls quiet.

“And you?”

“Training, I guess.” He pulls his shoulders up. “Text me when you get back, okay?”

“Okay.”

- - - xxx - - -

Another graduation comes much too soon. 

Riseki’s crying this time, the captain’s title heavy on his shoulders.

“Ah, like you’d forget us,” Tsumu says but his voice is heavy with emotion.

Samu’s looking up and squinting into the sun, one of his eyes impressively bruised to match Tsumu. They’ve gotten into a fight this week and even though they refused to talk about it, everyone knows what it’s about.

-

“You coming in tomorrow?” Ginjima asks as he walks you home, the last bus long gone.

“For your graduation? Like I’d miss that.”

He smiles, fiddling something between his hands.

“You know, about that tradition… the second button… Did you get one so far?”

You laugh. “A second button? No way I’d get one.”

“But would you want one?”

You blink up at him. “Why would I want one?”

“Ah,” he smiles, “Just asking. Don’t all girls want one?”

“I dunno. Depends on the boy, I guess. Would you want one? From a girl, I mean?”

He blushes furiously and you snicker, digging your elbow into his side.

“Come on, tell me. Who is it you like?”

His smile turns pained and you step away. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to push you. It’s your decision to tell me.”

“Thank you. Though, I guess…” He holds out his hand. In it lies a button. “I think I should give it to you. For safekeeping, you know.”

“You don’t think she’ll accept it?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he tells you, voice strained, “I’m not allowed to date her anyway.”

“Oh, that sucks.” You pick the button from his hands and hold it up to the light. “But if you entrust me with it I will keep it safe until it changes. Would that be okay?”

He nods, redfaced, clearly unable to speak. 

You tap his elbow with yours and walk on, slowly. 

“Did I tell you about my summer plans?” You ask. “Kita got me a job at an accounting firm in Osaka. It’s nothing much but he thinks I might like it. What are your plans?”

-

Your hand is on Riseki’s shoulder and you’re crying along. 

It’s different when you’re the one who’s leaving. Fresh-faced first-years look back at you. The second years mourn the games they could have played - lost to Karasuno yet again. 

A new manager will help them go on and though you doubt the friendship will stay beyond these gym doors, you’ve burned her kindness into your heart.

“And don’t forget,” Riseki reminds them one last time, “Kita-san’s rule! Do not date the manager!”

You stop and turn, the tears forgotten for a moment.

“What?” You ask, not unlike a few of the boys who’ve been eyeing sweet Oyama for the better part of last year.

Riseki stumbles, clearly confused by the question.

“Yeah, he told us when you came in. It was very important to him so it must be important for the team. Keep that in mind, will you!”

They agree, some more, some less eager. 

You resolve to ask Kita about it the next chance you get. After all he promised to come in tomorrow for your graduation.

- - - xxx - - -

“Ginjima!” You hug him, tears streaming from your eyes. “You came? What a surprise!”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” He says, proud that it succeeded. “The rest of the gang is also here!”

“Heeeyy!” Suna waves lazily. There’s also Tsumu and Samu, fighting over a Bento Box like in the good old days, and Aran who’s blessing you with one of his well-missed head pats. 

Akagi drags Ōmimi and Kosaku over and for a moment, too short but still so precious, it feels like nothing changed.

“These are my parents!” You introduce them, grinning from one ear to the other. “Do you mind if I go out to eat with the boys?”

The boys. Ginjima’s heart sinks and lifts at the same time. He’s nothing but one of the boys.

Not like Kita who addresses your parents by first name.

But, he thinks when you fall into step with him, whispering how you’ve still got that second button if he needs it, not all hope is lost, right?

-

“Sit next to me,” he asks when you find chairs at the Izakaya. Half the team grins knowingly but you still don’t get it.

“No, no, I insist,” He pushes your hand back when you try to pay for your food. “It’s on me.”

“Let me walk you home, please.” He asks when they gather outside. 

Tomorrow he’s going to be back in Osaka where his job waits for him. 

Tomorrow you’ll be nothing but a too vivid memory of something that never got to be real.

Tonight you’re the prettiest thing he’s ever laid his eyes on.

“Sure,” you say, waving at the others, promises of meeting up soon hanging in the air. It’s been a year. It never gets easier.

But still, he leaves without a kiss, without a confession, without anything that means anything.

Because he can see it in your eyes, wide and warm and lovely, that you don’t get it. Maybe you never will.

But that’s okay. Or at least it will be okay someday.

- - - xxx - - -

“So you’re staying?” Samu asks as he plates the food. “For real?”

“For real!” You agree, breaking apart the chopsticks. “What should I try first?” 

“Whatever you want. Everything’s good.”

“Wow, what about being humble?” You ask, digging in.

He laughs. “When have I ever been humble?”

“A lot,” you point out, mouth full. “Gosh this is good. Tsumu was always more arrogant.”

“True,” he jokes. “Have you seen him lately?”

You shake your head. 

“Suna? Aran? No wait, Kita.”

You snort. “I see Kita at least once a month. That’s not news.”

“Ah yes, Kita, the love of your life.” Samu swoons, clutching his chest. You furrow your brows.

“What do you mean?”

“What?” Samu grins. “You’ve been a thing since when, his graduation?”

You choke on a bit of Onigiri. “What?! No! EW!”

“What?” Samu laughs disbelievingly. “I mean Ginjima told me you went to his place for the break. That’s kinda like making it official.”

“NO!” You belt out, horrified. “That’s what you all thought? But I was… But he is… We’ve always been more like brother and sister.”

Samu shrugs. “I mean he never seemed to mind that Ginjima was head over heels for you, so I didn’t bother-”

Your jaw slackens. “What?” You ask, voice breaking. “Ginjima was what?”

Samu halts, bottle of soy sauce in his hands.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”

“How would I know?”

“How would you not?! He’s got a crush on you since the day you started! Kita made it very clear though that no one was allowed to ask you out and Suna thought it was because he called dibs on you… Are you okay?”

You shake your head.

If he’d pulled the floor from under your feet you couldn’t have been more at a loss.

“Oh my god. I still have his second button.”

“Who’s?” Samu asks, taking a piece of Nigiri Sushi from your plate and popping it into his mouth. 

“Ginjima’s.”

“Damn. That guy was bold. I mean I was never fully sure you were dating Kita after all, but at least Ginjima was convinced that you liked him more than him.”

“As a brother, maybe.” You huff, heart beating. Everything looks different now, looking back, with that information in mind.

“You need Sake?” Samu asks, voice comforting. “Or Soju?”

-

Sleep isn’t coming to you these days.

Kita’s explanations made sense - you had been afraid of everyone breathing back then, scared shitless every time someone other than him or Aran tried to speak to you - and you couldn’t hold it against him that he tried to protect you.

You’d have to talk to their current Captain though, to make sure that ridiculous rule wasn’t still in use.

You’d have to talk to Ginjima too at one point. But you don’t know what to say yet.

If you think of him now, all the moments you’ve been through together, the little things stand out so much more.

How he’d always been so eager to help, always wanting to talk.

How often he blushed around you. 

How he defended you, told the other second years - no doubt that whole plan had been his idea. 

You can’t think about all those quiet walks home, side by side yet barely touching, how he asked about your day and told you of his, without curling into a ball, warmth filling you to the point of overflowing.

If Kita’s the warmth of a fireplace in winter, a spot to stay safe and comforted, Ginjima is the warmth of the spring sun, guiding you outside. He’s the bright blue sky on summer days that makes you want to stay awake forever.

And every night, without fail, you pull his second button from its safe place and rest it where it had been on his blazer, on the place closest to your heart.

-

Ginjima works as a Gym Instructor now, not far from where you work.

Twice you’ve walked by and chickened out. You’re not sure you’ll be more successful today.

This time, though, you spot him through the tall windows. 

He looks just like the last time you were a team, a towel slung around his shoulders.

It’s that sight that gives you the push you need and you step into the Gym, heart beating in your throat.

He turns and spots you, surprise widening his face. It reminds you of the first time you’ve met and your heart beats even faster.

“Hey!” He rushes over, almost tripping over a weight. “What brings you here.”

“I have something for you.” You stretch out your hand.

Ginjima stops and stares.

“I…” He starts, face split between confusion and pain he’s trying to hide. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s mine,” you explain nervously. “Samu told me… That you had a crush on me.”

“What?” He blushes furiously. “He told you what?”

“And that everyone thought I was dating Kita. We’re just... We’re just friends. Like brother and sister, actually. I didn’t know… I didn’t know you liked me,” your voice is getting lower but his eyes are wide.

“How could I not like you? You’re literally perfect!” He shouts and from somewhere behind him you can hear a voice shushing him.

You snort and he laughs, flustered, hand moving to take yours - and the button.

“And the No Date Rule?” Ginjima asks as if he’d only just remembered it.

“Officially no longer valid.”

- - - xxx - - -

“Lovebirds are in!” Tsumu declares loudly from the bar as the door opens. Ginjima shoots his cap at him, whistling in victory when he hits him square in the head.

“Don’t fight,” you chide behind him, your hand in his. “Are we late?”

“Nah,” Riseki waves from the other side, “Like you’d ever be. Ginjima should be glad to have you.”

“I am!” He declares. “Who’s questioning it?!”

“No one,” Kosaku drawls, hugging you as he moves toward the bathroom. But have some mercy on the single guys.”

“Hey, I could have a girlfriend if I wanted to!” Tsumu points out, followed by laughter.

On nights like this, when they all get together to watch one of them on TV - today it’s Aran - things hardly ever calm down.

But he wouldn’t change this for the world, not even when he has to work a shift tomorrow.

It reminds him of being young and a fool like he’s got nothing to lose and yet so much to fight for.

And when you curl into his side on the Couch, cheer him on when he manages to eat his bowl of soup faster than Tsumu, or defend him against Suna’s jabs he knows that nothing much has changed.

He’s still a fool in love.

My Kofi if you want to tip me

[britcision]

Technically it’s not Wednesday anymore and technically I should only be writing the next chapter, not several chapters down the line, but Jazz grabbed me by the throat so y’all get a rough draft on something that’s gonna be like, 2-3 chapters away 👀

Maybe 👀

Enjoy!

———————

Dan’s lips curled into an unpleasant snarl, pointed fangs suddenly more prominent.

“Oh, really, Danny. Did you think this was going to work? Some stupid illusion and I’d fall to my knees, sobbing for reconcilliation? Or did you bring me the real thing so you could watch me kill her in front of you this time? It might not stick but I’m sure I can try.”

Part of Danny nearly lunged forward, Obsession throbbing down to his core… but he held it in check. After all, this wasn’t the Jazz Dan had known; she wasn’t just a teenager anymore.

And she certainly wasn’t impressed.

“Daniel James Fenton, you know better than to talk about someone when they’re standing right in front of you,” she snapped, her hip cocked out and arms folded in an entirely done big-sister posture that only got scarier with age. “If you have something to say, say it to my face.”

And Dan… froze, for a moment. And Danny knew he’d been right in that second, that microsecond of hesitation. Of inactivity.

Sure, Jazz might be well past six feet tall herself now, but she looked like their mom enough to make his Vlad severely uncomfortable. More than that though… Danny had never gotten over the thought of her dying. Dan had broken the world about it.

And he couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye.

It was covered up a moment later, in bluff and bluster as he scoffed and glared in her general direction.

“What, are you going to psychoanalyze me? Tell me how sad and tragic I am too? Give me a break, I’ve got some lovely coping mechanisms,” he snapped, aura flaring in a burst of green fire.

But Jazz had never been scared of Danny’s aura, and frankly? He was the Ghost King. Dan’s was a drip in the bucket by comparison.

She marched straight up to him, ignoring the flames completely, and grabbed him by the chin. Forced him to face her, even as his eyes widened, face freezing.

Danny had never heard her voice so cold.

“Is that supposed to be scary? Am I supposed to be impressed, Danny? Honestly, I’d like to say that must be the Fruit Loop’s influence, but you’ve always been a drama queen.”

And then she twisted him into a headlock, all 6’9 mountain of muscle like he was still a ninety-pound twink, and noogied him.

“You’re such a fucking dork, Danny.” She sounded almost fond now, exasperated, a tone Danny was painfully familiar with. Even knowing she wasn’t talking to him-him, the cringe was automatic.

Dan sure as hell had no idea what to do about it, panic flaring madly across his face and his aura, trailed by a lacklustre attempt at anger.

“Get your hands off me,” he roared, turning intangible and going to jerk himself away… and then Jazz’s eyes flashed teal and she reached after him, her own hand changing to pull him straight back into the noogie.

Something about that broke Dan completely, his entire body suddenly limp and held up only by Jazz’s continued grip on his head. He seemed almost catatonic, completely zoned out… which Jazz completely ignored, grinding her knuckles into the top of his head.

Danny was pretty sure he knew why though; it was the one thing which had always been able to calm him down, back when he was approaching his twenties and the possibility of Dan started giving him panic attacks. Jazz had snapped him out of it in a much gentler way, but it amounted to the same reminder.

Jazz was his big sister. His beloved mentor, his voice of reason, his rock. And after living in Amity Park for almost twenty years, directly on top of the Fenton Portal, she was liminal as hell and about one near-death experience from a halfa herself.

There was just no way he was ever going to lose her, until she decided she was good and ready to move on. It wasn’t possible, and a little thing like dying wasn’t going to slow Jasmine Fenton down.

If it happened before she graduated, Danny was pretty sure she’d rise before Finals Week even if she died the night before.

(And given her self-care habits, he did occasionally worry about it actually happening… but she promised her ghost-envy days were long behind her and she’d never get that bad.

Belief: pending.)

Danny wasn’t actually fully sure if her ghost-grabbing abilities extended to anyone else or if she could just always wrangle him, but he and Dan were the same person; enough so that it sure as hell worked on him.

Dan wasn’t going down without a fight though - Danny was almost a little impressed with how quickly he fought past the blue screen (it might have been Vlad’s influence, given the sudden haughty tone) as he began to shove at her arms, quickly working up to a shout.

“Get your hands off me! Do you have any idea who I am! I am the great destroyer, breaker of worlds, and you will not treat me like a small child!” He bellowed, struggling viciously against her grip.

If they were in the real world, it’d probably have worked. If he had access to any of his ghost powers, it wasn’t a fight Jazz could possibly have won.

But this was a dream, and either Nocturn had a damn good idea what’d happen to him if anything happened to Danny’s big sister in his realm… or he just plain liked Jazz better.

(Most people did. Danny was fine with it.)

Because the more Dan struggled, the more Jazz began slowly increasing in size, getting bigger and bigger until she entirely dwarfed him and had him cuddled like a doll under her arm. Watching him struggle at this point was just a little embarrassing, actually, and Jazz finally took pity on him.

And settled him on her hip like an unruly toddler, grinning down at him.

“Now, do you think you’re ready to actually talk to me?” She asked him gently - and if she found the sight of this full sized man so relatively tiny as funny as Danny did, it didn’t even show.

Dan glowered up at her.

“You may be favoured by the fool who runs this domain, but you will never be my equal in anything but dreams,” his snarled viciously, his anger apparently stoked by indignation.

(Danny made a note. Still definitely some Vlad tendencies.)

Jazz just chuckled softly, bumping him up to give him a kiss on the forehead.

“Oh, baby brother, you know that’s never going to be how it works,” she said brightly, then paused, glancing around. “Uh… Danny, we never talk about this again, alright?” She asked, squinting down at him.

Mildly offended that he was about the height of her ankles, Danny raised both hands in immediate surrender.

“Dude, I am not letting anyone try and get freudian on me for Jumbo-Jazz. My lips are sealed from self preservation alone.” And he’d have to make sure to emphasize to Nocturn just how valuable his own silence would be. Vital to survival, even.

Apparently satisfied, Jazz nodded, sitting carefully cross legged and settling Dan in her lap, her chin on top of his head.

“So… you told me about your future once, y’know?” She said slowly, while Dan struggled and once more surrendered to the indignity. “And Danny told me some more later. And, obviously, we all actually know that taking over and destroying the entire world isn’t actually a healthy way to process grief…”

“Fucking spare me,” Dan growled, looking about a minute away from taking a bite out of her hand.

Jazz ignored him.

“But… in spite of all of that…” she paused for a moment, leaning back and smiling down at Dan, who couldn’t quite help craning back to look at her… if only to know where the next attack was coming from. “It’s… really sweet to know that you’d break the world for me, Danny. I just really wish it hadn’t broken you, too.”

And once again, Dan froze… and for the first time, Danny could feel a crack in the impenetrable wall around his core. Between all of the performative rage and theatrics and what he really, truly felt.

Even his rally only managed to produce a vaguely sulky “I’m not broken!”

Jazz sighed softly and turned him gently in her arms, lifting him to hug tightly to her chest. She might have been shrinking now, either by Nocturn’s will or her own, but she held him close anyway.

[b4b3tte]

hello!! i love ur writing, and was wanting to give a request!! I would love a rocky balboa x reader, with a reader that is very shy. just a soft little moment between them. super fluffy!! maybe reader sees some flowers she loves so he gets a bouquet for reader? tysm and of course u don't have to do this if u don't want!!

— JUST FOR YOU

꒰ ⊹ ˚ Summary — All Rocky does is try to win your heart, but your shyness makes it 10 times harder, he decides he’ll show you his love by observing your likes and dislikes

Pairing — Rocky!Balboa X Fem!Reader

Contains of — Fluff, mentions of self-doubt, Boxing Matches, holding hands, unintentionally watching reader in secret,

Babettes note — AA ANON I LOVE THIS SM AND YOU ARE THE SWEETEST!! I love this idea and I hope I was able to fulfill your desires with this scenario!! I didn’t know the flowers you liked so I picked some random ones I hope that’s okay!! If there is anything you don’t like you can tell me and I’ll be happy to fix it, don’t be afraid to request more things! Not proofread so sorry for any mistakes

You’ve always been a shy character, it was something you couldn’t help, you had friends growing up but you just liked your own company so you avoided social interaction during your years of transitioning to a teenager to an adult

It didn’t take you long to realize that it bit you in the ass, you became even more shy than you were as a child, and social interaction was more scarier then ever.

you only had one friend from childhood, Fiona, she certainly was a snarky character but she helped you move to Pennsylvania, she got you a job at the pet shop but she didn’t mention that you’d have a dog following you around everywhere

That dog was a Local Fighter Rocky Balboa, yeah he was attractive ( like extremely attractive ) but you never received male attention ever, it was a shock to you that someone so extroverted, loud and energetic liked your type of personality

You didn’t mind the attention he gave you it’s just you didn’t know how to respond, and what’s crazy is that he never stopped his chances with talking to you, or asking you to come to one of his fights

You felt like you were in a point of your life was to keep working and getting out of the poor side of Philadelphia, you thought you weren’t able to get a partner in this stage ( it’s your shyness stop the cap ) but on the other hand rocky was in awe of you

He likes the drastic differences in your guys personalities he definitely believes in “ opposites attract “ and not to mention the fact he found you insanely pretty, he just had to have a chance with you, but it seems like no matter what he does you always brush him off

He knows you don’t do it purposely but it still sorta bugged him, but he only viewed it as a sign to keep proving to you until you guys went on a date together so that’s exactly what he did on your Saturday off work

But it was unintentional, none of you guys knew you both liked to go to the fancy rich downtown side of Philadelphia, you liked the stores, the lights, the way the sun shined down it and the atmosphere, meanwhile rocky just walked around to clear his mind, two different reasons but it works!

While rocky walked down the sidewalk of the fancy town bouncing the blue toy ball he looks up at this flower shop, he noticed a lady staring at a certain bouquet of flowers, a mesmerizing combination of white lilacs and red dahlias. He couldn't quite explain why he was fixated on this seemingly random lady, but an inexplicable familiarity drew him in. So, he patiently waited for this lady to turn around.

When “ this lady “ was you and you did turn around, Rocky's face lit up with joy, and a warm smile graced his features. He intended to approach you, but just as he was about to, you turned on your heel and walked away. A frown crept onto his face, but he decided to visit the flower shop's window instead. There, he inquired about the price of the lilac and dahlia bouquet.

Back in Rocky's apartment, he grabbed a couple of ice cubes from the freezer and placed them on his forehead. His love for you drove him to want to provide everything you needed and deserved, but he faced financial constraints, struggling even to take care of himself. Determined, he knew he had to find his next fight to secure the money for that special bouquet.

Night fell, and Rocky continued his routine of stopping by at the pet shop. Each morning and evening, he'd pop in to check on the animals and share his daily joke with you. However, this time, he didn't show up. Worried that he might have given up on you, you asked Fiona about his whereabouts, trying not to arouse suspicion.

"Hey Fiona! Do you happen…to know where Rocky is?..by any means?.." You nervously inquired.

Fiona glanced up from her magazine, still somewhat engrossed in it. "Hmm, no, hun, I don't. I think Paulie mentioned something about a fight earlier at the bar," she replied casually.

You oddly forget that he fights for a living, It was one thing to enjoy watching others in the ring, but the thought of him enduring punches and blows for a paycheck weighed heavily on your mind more than it should if your being honest

Sweating and panting, Rocky waited in the locker room with an ice pack on his forehead, eagerly anticipating his earnings as the victorious fighter. The sum was $200, but after deductions for showers and towels, he was left with $100.

“ hey rocky, here’s your share for tonight ah, so 200 dollars but with shower, towel, etc fee that’s a hundred dollars less, but with you being the winner I’m living you with 100 “

Either way His excitement soared, not because he was thinking of paying his rent, but because he finally had enough to buy you the bouquet you deserved.

The next day, he returned to the flower shop, joyfully paid for the flowers, although the cashier might’ve thought he was too excited because after she said the price he slammed a 20 dollar bill on the counter with an eager smile

( AUTHORS NOTE!!! 20 dollars might not seem ALOT but I tried doing some research of prices back then and now, and the economy has changed alot, so back than 20 dollars would have the modern value of 120 dollars so it was extremely expensive back then )

and brought them back to his apartment, placing them in a vase. He patiently waited until your shift ended, timing his arrival perfectly. As you locked up the store and waved goodbye to the puppies in the window, he hid the bouquet behind his back.

"Yo, Y/n!" he called out, surprising you with his presence at this hour.

Startled yet delighted at his voice, you turned around to see Rocky's beaming face and noticed his concealed hands. "Oh, hi, Rocky. Um, what are you doing out here so late?" You asked hesitantly, eager to engage in conversation for the first time.

Rocky chuckled warmly and replied, "You think I can't protect myself? Well, I got you something. I hope you like them; I think they're really special."

In an instant, you was presented with a dazzling bouquet of lilacs and dahlias, exactly the one you had admired in the downtown shop. Your smile radiated happiness as you gratefully accepted the flowers. This thoughtful gesture made you see Rocky in a whole new light.

"Wow! These are absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much!" You exclaimed, overflowing with joy. You hugged him tightly, prompting him to shift the bouquet to his opposite hand, laughter bubbling up at your unexpected reaction.

Unable to contain your gratitude, you continued, "I can't possibly thank you enough. You didn't have to, and how did you even know I loved these?"

Rocky, slightly bashful, replied, "Well, you see, I can be very focused on things, and I thought you'd like 'em you know and uh they are just for you. " He offered to walk you home, and you accepted. As you guys strolled down the sidewalk, you subtly inched your pinky closer to his hand, a silent invitation from your shy nature. He smiled and, taking the hint, gently held your hand.

"You tryna hold my hand now, babe?" he teased. You chuckled and warned, "I can stomp on these, you know." He bent down to leave a kiss on top of your head, and together, you guys continued walking, talking about his fight the previous night and forging a deeper connec

Thank you so much for reading this!!! I really hope it gives you rocky vibes and fills your scenario desires!! Sorry if this took longer than you expect I was focusing on my YouTube channel for awhile!! I appreciate the love and the support and feel free to request anything any time you want<3 bye guys ❤️‼️

[quietwingsinthesky]

Jackie and Rose for this prompt sunday?

-🌺 Anon

hellooo flower anon :3 delivery!!!

“It hasn’t been three days, has it?” Rose asks as she watches Jackie make dinner. She doesn’t have what she’d like to make anything worth eating. After all, she wasn’t expecting her daughter home.

“No,” she says. It was a flimsy lie anyway. Rose crosses her arms and leans against the counter.

“Alright. How off was he this time?” Rose says it like it’s nothing, like it’s drinking milk from the jug or not wiping boots off at the door. Time travel is turning commonplace for her, and that scares Jackie more than she can say.

“A month.” What she wouldn’t give for Rose to hear that and say, well, that’s too long, that’s too many times, that’s too many mistakes. Rose laughs.

“He’s getting better!” She tucks her tongue between her teeth. Scarier than time travel is the look in Rose’s eyes when she talks about the Doctor, who she never becomes used to, who never bores her or disappoints her. Who makes himself scarce when Rose comes home and steals her daughter away again at the end of each visit to take her to the other side of the universe. Jackie is afraid she’ll look at her daughter one day and see her pupils replaced with stars. How can Rose find her way back, if that’s all she can see? “I’ll get him for you, Mum. No wonder he wouldn’t come in.”

“Are you staying tonight?” Jackie asks. She wants to ask How long was it for you, and Why do you dress different, sweetheart, I barely recognize you, and Could you leave him, Rose? Stop scaring me, and come home.

“Just for the night,” Rose says as she rolls her eyes. “No extra mouth to feed tomorrow evening.”

“Good, then you’ll do the washing up.” Rose’s mouth falls open.

“Mum!”

Jackie turns to her daughter. Rose stands taller than she used to. She looks for the little signs of wear on her, a bruise faded, split-ends where she hasn’t cut her hair, nails bitten short, but none of them tell her how much of Rose’s life she’s lost. A month, like it feels she did? Or more? Because Rose could disappear for years and years and show up the next morning like it never happened. She’s slipping between Jackie’s fingers.

Maybe that’s what being a mother always ends in.

Rose isn’t safer here, not really. Better than anyone ever should, Jackie knows that. She walked Rose across the street hand-in-hand past the age where Rose complained. She always waited when she was late from school, from work, giving herself gray hairs whenever she heard an engine rev across the street.

And while Rose is still complaining, “-and there’s barely even any dishes, and-”, Jackie hugs her close. Rose goes quiet immediately. She tucks Rose’s head down into her shoulder and holds her breath so Rose doesn’t hear her remember, like she always does, that her little girl shot up just that bit taller than she was. Rose wraps her arms around Jackie. “Is something wrong?” Rose asks.

She asks like the world might be ending. Maybe for her, it always is now.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Jackie says, and she reaches down for the unending years and years of annoyance of raising teenage Rose to fill her voice with enough exasperation that Rose just sighs into her shoulder like she’s being ridiculous. “I love you.” Whoever that might be, Rose.

“I love you, too.” Rose is looking at her a little funny still, brow furrowed. “So, did you want to order in tonight instead of cooking?” Jackie’s about to say yes, before she realizes what Rose is trying to pull.

“We aren’t getting take-out so you can wriggle your way out of chores.” Rose laughs.

And out of all the other things Jackie has noticed about her daughter that terrify her to her core, at least she has this: Rose laughs so much louder and so much brighter now.

[conradscrime]

3 Halloween Murders

October 31, 2024

Karl Jackson

On October 31, 1998, Karl Jackson who was 21, got out of his car in the Bronx, New York, to tell a group of teenagers to stop throwing eggs. Once Karl finished, he returned to his car and got inside of it. It was then that one of the teenagers he had confronted pulled out a gun and shot him in the head.

Karl's father, Karl Jackson Sr., had reported that his son actually never went out on Halloween, claiming that it was too dangerous. However, Karl had made an exception that night to take his girlfriend, Darlene's 9 year old son Clyde to a Halloween party.

When the party had ended, Karl had plans to drop off Clyde to a babysitter and go out to another party with Darlene.

It was then that their car got egged and Karl stepped out. Between 1984 and 2010, The New York Times reported that 24 people had been killed or seriously injured over egg throwing confrontations.

Curtis Sterling was the person who shot and murdered Karl Jackson, being only 17 at the time. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Every year on Halloween, Karl's mother sends Curtis a Halloween card to tell him that she's happy he is behind bars.

2. Laura Ann Aime

On October 31, 1974, Laura Ann Aime who was 17, left a Halloween party in Utah. Unfortunately she would shortly run into one of the world's most known serial killers - Ted Bundy.

While the details of Laura's murder are unknown, it is known that Laura had left the party to go buy cigarettes. Almost a month later, her body was found halfway down an embankment in American Fork Canyon. She had been raped, bludgeoned and strangled.

Her family chose to put November 1974 as her death date on her grave as there were reports that Laura had been kept alive for a few weeks, and died only one week before her body had been found.

Laura's murder was quickly tied to 17 year old Melissa Smith, who was the daughter of a local police chief, and the disappearance of 17 year old Debra Kent, whose remains have never been found besides one of her kneecaps found in 2019.

Ted Bundy never necessarily confessed to murdering Laura, but investigators believe she was one of his victims as her death matched his M.O., as well as the timeframe and location adding up.

3. Lisa Ann French

On October 31, 1973, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, a 9 year old girl named Lisa Ann French went trick or treating. Lisa was dressed as a hobo that year and had already gone to two houses before visiting her neighbour, 25 year old Gerald Turner.

According to reports, Lisa actually knew Gerald as he had once rented the other half of her family's duplex. She often visited him to say hello or show him things that she'd found.

That night, Gerald invited Lisa into his home. Gerald later said that he remembered Lisa looking happy as she recognized her, but then her smile turned to fear in her eyes when he closed the door behind her.

Gerald took Lisa to his bedroom where he brutally sexually assaulted her until she stopped breathing. Lisa died from asphyxiation and shock.

Gerald attempted to cover his crime by wrapping Lisa in a garbage bag and dumping her body. Police soon came to his door where he admitted to killing the little girl. He later recanted his confession but was sentenced to 38 years and 6 months in jail.

After Lisa's murder, the area did trick or treating differently. There was set hours for it and it never occurred after dark.

Here were three horrific Halloween stories where 3 individuals lost their lives young. Karl, Laura, and Lisa all had families, friends, hopes and dreams. The monsters who took their lives are scarier than any spooky Halloween movie fictional killer. May their killers never know peace. I hope everyone had a great October and a safe Halloween tonight!

[scaryspears]

My rant on ITSV and ATSV

So I've just finished watching the ITSV and ATSV because I'm a late watcher, and when the movies came out I wasn't myself. I'm glad I took the time to watch them, although I had to buy ATSV online because it's no longer in the cinema. This means I got to watch my favourite scenes without issue. With that being said, I have a lot of things to get off my chest regarding both films, mostly with the characters. 

Warning: Long post and slight bashing of characters and terrible screenshots.

I don't want to be one of those people who hate Gwen just to hate on her, and I don't hate or dislike her character, but right from the jump her vibe was just off. She felt like one of those characters that disliked the main character for no reason despite barely interacting with her/him (them). I know that isn't the case but I didn't like the way she was blankly talking to him. I'm using the word 'blankly' because I can't think of another word other than 'coldly'.

During the chase scene where Miles and Peter steal the computer, she comes out of nowhere and helps save the day. I was glad but at the same time what the hell. Anyways, Miles compliments her haircut and she snaps with "You don't get to like my haircut.", referring to when he accidentally got his hand stuck to her hair and she had to get half her hair shaved off, I understand getting angry about that. It was an accident, and Miles could've apologised (I don't remember him saying sorry), but she's acting like he did it on purpose.

To top it all off she knew he was like her, which meant she knew what he was going through as he was transitioning. Getting taller, hearing multiple voices, hands sticky, and all that stuff. So that means she's aware that it was an accident, and there's also the fact that she pretended to be a student at his school and hovered around him. She bumped into him on purpose knowing he was a fellow spider.

When you think about it, why didn't she try to get to know him and investigate with him about what's going on? She just left him to discover his spider side chaotically. She should know how scary and confusing that is, but not once does she attempt helping him out. 

I'm gonna sweep it under the rug because they are teenagers, and even if they were adults they shouldn't be expected to be more sympathetic to each other. But you'd think she'd be a little bit more understanding. (Don't get me started on her going into his artwork and opening his collectable in ATSV)

Now, Uncle Aaron. I love his dynamic with Miles, the true cool uncle. His love for his generation of hip hop and us seeing Miles' taste of music. The graffiti art bonding, loved it. There were small hints that he was the Prowler. The 1610 Peter getting killed near where Miles and Aaron did the graffiti, Miles calling him while he's being chased by the Prowler, and the Prowler appearing in Aaron's home. I'm thinking "Where's Aaron in all this?" dun dun dun, he's the Prowler. I loved every bit of it. This also makes Miles different from other spider men, being the fact that his loved one ended up being an antagonist, and one scarier than Kingpin. There's no "With great power comes great responsibility." instead it's "In a bad person you can find good in them." Also, the inner torment that he was about to harm his own nephew is chef's kiss. Uncle Ben who?

Moving on to ATSV. It opens up with Gwen and her meeting Miguel and Jess. She looked at Jess and said "Will you adopt me?" Like??? Where yo mum at? I know she passed away, but still. You've only had one look at this woman and that's one of the things that comes out of your mouth? You don't know this woman! Jess sounds like one of those women that only talk with attitude no matter what so I had a hard time rocking with her, like what is her problem??? And she's fighting while pregnant... smdh.

Spot. Funny villain, I liked his banter with Miles, but he's a pu**y punk bi**h. He's blaming Miles for what he became, when he's the one that decided to become a mad scientist and work with other mad scientists under Kingpin. I'm pretty sure there's more to it than a bagel. Lesson is: once you become a mad scientist something happens to you. Norman Osborn became Green Goblin, 65 Peter (Gwen's home) became a monster and died, Shang Tsung got Rick Rolled by himself, you get the idea. Spot made himself like that not Miles.

So Gwen didn't talk to Miles for a really long time because of the whole Spider society thing. When you think about it, none of the other spiders he met did, and I get that they couldn't with the exclusion of Peni. But not one visit? Not one letter? Something??? Now Miles has a little short conversation with Hobie and admits that he only wants to get into the Spider society to talk to his friends and help out with defeating Spot. He just wants to hang with his friends, but Peni and Gwen decided not to do that.

Moving on, I'd like to talk about Miles' walk through within the spider society. They acknowledge Gwen and only Gwen, they don't bother saying hi or even looking at Miles. It was like Miles wasn't even there. Never thought I'd say it, but these Spider men are arse holes. I also got annoyed at the way Jess was talking to him, I get that he's not supposed to be there but she needed to chill.

This anger went when Miles bumped into Margo, and she looked like she was about to lose her cool but she lightened up once she saw who it was, a complete stranger. I'm not a MargoMiles shipper, but I don't mind it (granted so long as they are the same age).

So the scene that goes 0 to 100 quick: I watched a bunch of memes and edits that painted Miguel as racist and I didn't understand why, and thought it was like a Millie Bobby Brown situation. Re-watching the scene where Miles meets Miguel I can see why.

All the other spidermen showed up to gang up on Miles.

"You can't ask me not to save my father."

"I'm not asking."

And hit him with this.

While Miles is freaking out at the sudden imprisonment we can hear Miguel say "We just need to hold him a few days." They were treating Miles like a criminal and/or a confused wild animal. And then Miguel had the nerve to say "All he had to do was listen." when Miles escaped them. I don't think Miguel is racist, but the memes I will support.

Hobie was looking out for Miles as soon as he met him, and I love that so much. He knew Miles wasn't like the ones in the spider society, and made sure to tell Miles to be better. Gwen didn't do that. She did, but she didn't if you know what I mean. She followed along with the crap Miguel was spitting.

And then there was the chase scene. Bro had a bunch of spider men chase Miles and not one of them could catch him. That is the biggest L I've ever seen. One 15 year old boy, and he didn't use his other 2 powers until after Miguel slammed him onto his back. Miles was not playing. Also, Miguel was endangering the lives of people who were driving. And yes, Miguel's at fault and not Miles.

They gave Miles crap just because he didn't want his dad to die, unlike Miguel who actively replaced the life of his other self. Gwen was really going to let her dad die, and Peter B tried to justify it by saying their uncle's death made them who they are. Pavitr was just supposed to get over his love interest's dad dying? They knowingly let that happen.

Miguel calling Miles an anomaly is mega projecting. Miles becoming Spiderman wasn't on purpose it just happened, and that's always how the story goes. No one is simply meant to be Spiderman, they just become him/her. It's also funny coming from a man who crawled on all fours chasing down a teenager.

42 Miles. Prowler Miles. Gonzales. Kilo Immorales. I love him already, can't wait to see the next film where we'll see him in full action. I love how we as a fandom collectively agreed that these two would have a sibling dynamic even though we've only seen 42 Miles for like a minute. I love the Boondocks comparisons as well. I need 42 Miles to hate everyone. I need Miles to be full of rage in the 3rd film Adult Gon style. Prepare for double and make it double.

In conclusion, I should've watched these films when they first came out, they are so great. The art, the incorporation of hip hop and correctness of Afro related backgrounds and the storyline. I honestly felt like Miles was a great representation of the new generation. I saw myself in him, and not just being black but the graffiti and finding out that a family member of yours isn't really a good person. I don't do graffiti or art but I do find them beautiful whenever I see them. Also, the Air Forces. Step aside Peter Parker, we have a Spider man with more drip.

[simothys]

SO. IM GETTING TO THE REST OF THE OC ASK MEMES. BUT I GOTTA EXPLAIN MY GIRL WIRE FOR THESE ANSWERS TO MAKE SENSE.

@planet4546b u asked the questions for Wire so ur getting @'d hi

EDIT: OH WAIT @quaxorascal also asked. ur literally in this game but u get @'d too

Wire is my Hunter in a Monster of the Week game my brother is running. it is a Homestuck themed campaign, so he made all the playbooks for it. you do not need to know a damn thing about Homestuck for this post to make sense.

Wire's a teenager - a junior in high school, stuck in a situation where (according to her) she'll be lucky if she ever becomes much of anyone. failing grades, with her few friends all having bigger and grander dreams. the only place she feels like someone is in marching band. center snare holds an important role, and when she's on the field, she can feel the beat in her heart. it is the one place she feels like she matters.

then, the world ends. and, supposedly, she plays a role, in something - a game? her friends... it makes sense, or is exciting to some of them (Tristan, Boe). is frustrating & irritating to others (Teagan). she's pretty sure Xochi (her best friend) understands the weight of this, though. at least, sooner than the others seem to catch on.

so, the world ends. in meteors and condemned buildings and watching fire spread across something she didn't think mattered to her. then, theres a door, and the creatures that look like a bad printer scan, and Xochi didnt make it through the door, and there's bug-like creatures, now, too, and theyre telling her shes a Seer and a Hero of Time, and now... there's two of her. and she looks at herself, and knows, in the way the drumbeat echos... she, the other Wire, with her hoodie stained with blood and a dimness in her eyes... is Doomed. and won't be here long. and that should be scarier than it is. the finality should come with a struggle, a kick, not just understanding and acceptance, but... it doesnt feel any different than it did before the world ended.

she's not the oldest - that goes to Teagan - but Teagan, even as the only senior, even as the oldest.. Teagan is the drum major. and even drum majors use the center snare to keep in time.

also Wire's transfem & absolutely does not know this yet, but she'll get there. E wouldn't fix her but by G-d it could kickstart her realizing she doesn't have to be miserable. so, honestly that's fixing her, nvm. E would fix her.

[loveistrueblue]

hi guys, this is a post seeking advice from anyone who has experience with going nonverbal. my experience in particular is due to PTSD/trauma (possibly undiagnosed autism, i truthfully am not sure, i do not have the resources nor money at this moment in time to be able to get a diagnosis, but it’s something i have hoped to look into when i am able), but advice about going nonverbal in general, regardless of reason, still would be appreciated. i just genuinely don’t know where else to seek advice at the moment.

as i’ve mentioned in passing a couple of times here, i experienced a sexual assault a little over a year ago. it has been really difficult adjusting after that kind of an experience and it’s been a very slow process of trying to get my life back.

one of the things i have been struggling with has been this: my fight or flight feels, constantly, like it is activated. i truly feel like i’ve been stuck in fight or flight since the night it happened. i often feel extremely disregulated emotionally and like i’m living in extreme fear a good 80% of the time. this causes me to become easily overwhelmed. now, when i become overwhelmed, i have started shutting down and dissociating and i have started going nonverbal. i am unable to speak, even though it’s like i’m internally screaming and trying to. if i’m able to talk, it’s very few words, barely a sentence or two i’m able to get out. i’ll usually stutter or fumble or trip over my words in trying to get them out, if i’m even able to do that. it truly feels like a disconnect between the words in my brain and being able to articulate them out loud.

it’s been happening a lot in group settings, with my friends who i spend most of my free time with. they’re safe people to be around and i trust they want to help me how they can. the issue is, we are having a hard time navigating what to do/how to approach me going nonverbal. it often happens randomly, just when everything in my head starts becoming overwhelming and i start shutting down. it can be mid conversation and i just start going quiet and i don’t mean to, it’s like something out of my control, making it even scarier. i would sometimes experience this as a teenager/kid, but the difference then was i was a quiet child where it was less noticeable. now i am an adult who communicates verbally way more than i did when i was a kid. i guess i am in part struggling with the embarrassment of feeling a bit childish for being unable to communicate out loud too.

for further context, at this point, my friends know it is me going nonverbal and that it is an involuntary response. we are all collectively pretty much at a point we are trying to figure out how to navigate it happening though because we’re all a little new to it.

my questions/advice i am seeking is this:

what are ways you can communicate with the people you love when nonverbal and you’re all occupying the same physical space? is there resources/maybe any apps to help navigate a situation like that?

how do you talk to your friends about going nonverbal/is there anything you find helpful when you are nonverbal, especially if it’s from a flashback/disassociating due to trauma?

how do you handle/cope with feeling embarrassment and shame around going nonverbal?

any advice would be so so appreciated. thank you. 💙

(if the tone of my post is really formal, i apologize, i feel like i get more formal and serious when i’m nervous lol)