#last one for today but i've just seen so many of them complain and like...

[thissying]

What’s your favourite gp/max moment? If u wanna give multiple favourites I would not complain btw

Oh dear, I couldn't possibly pick one so yes, there will be multiple, anon! And then I will probably forget one or two probably more big ones that I'll think of later and be bummed about that. In the meantime, I've had a little time to think about this and decided: there could be categories!

Max and GP in the media: not so much a moment but both of them saying they don't want to work with anyone else. Both of them giggling together at the beginning of podcast, and the '23 Talking Bull podcast in its entirety but special mention for "he's my little brother" and GP's fond looks. But I really have a lot of love for when they did the virtual lap videos, because even though it's not a race you can actually see them working and having fun together. But I especially loved when they switched and GP drove with Max being his co-pilot ("See? I press DRS for you." 😭) which was not just fun but suddenly the dynamic was slightly different than what we were used to with GP asking if he was doing well, if Max was happy and Max praising him (though apparently not enough: "don't be a motivational speaker, will you? 'a bit better'?! I was flat through Maggotts!")

Onboard radio: there are way too many and while I love their squabbling ones, I truly love the ones where GP praises Max as well or maybe more. Especially post-race when all the congrats and little race reviews you usually hear in the broadcast have been said and GP comes back on the radio once more to pay Max a compliment and Max deflects. Max telling GP: "You won your home Grand Prix" and GP saying: "You whispered well today." at Monza '22. Imola '22: "where's GP? he ran off? [...] oh hi GP!" and then he went and got GP an apology ice cream after. When Max hit the pitwall when driving out of the garage and GP innocently asking "What happened, mate?", GP calling Max 'Seabob' after Zandvoort qualifying after they'd spent a bit of their summer vacation together. Brazil '24, the whole race, I don't think I need to elaborate. The WDC '21 where GP, previously known to us as calm and collected, absolutely lost all of that and turned into a screaming Alex Albon , and '24 where they both got emotional and GP had to take a moment and let Horner do the talking 🥺.

Pre-race footage: GP fixing Max's collar at the Monaco GP, it's a blink and you miss it moment at the beginning, and it looks like nothing special, casual, which is exactly why it makes me so 🥰🥺🥵😊When watching the older onboards, I noticed GP giving Max a three minutes until race warning with just holding up his fingers, no radio, which means Max has to have been watching GP even when there's other things going on and people bustling about and that GP is assured he will see. As far as I've seen there was only one time that he had to wave his clipboard to get Max's attention for it. There are more than the three in the video below the cut but you get the idea. And then there's this pre-race encouragement gesture, short but sweet 🥰 And obviously a big fan of their pre-race ritual get-togethers underneath/over the halo.

GP's smile when Max did a bit of overtaking in the pitlane. Not just supporting but enjoying his work husband's, sorry, little brother's crimes. One of my all time favourites actually.

Post-race/WDC win moments: I love all of them, the dick grab and hands holding of '22 and the hug and fond neck tuck of '23 but last year's with GP lifting Max up and quietly (and maybe a bit awkwardly on account of the cameraman in there as well who was pretty much in their faces) keeping him company on the Rolls Royce ride to the podium is... I love it so much that I don't have proper words for it actually.

[noodyl-blasstal]

Neverwinter Castle - Ch1

Beep beep, it's @blupjeansweek!

I've done my usual trick and decided to try and write 7 chapters of a fic using the prompts. Today is "animal."

You can read chapter one below or on Ao3.

-

“Hey, Barold, have you got the bat broom?”

“They’re back?” Barry stands, trying not to groan as he levers himself up from his usual pre-opening leaning spot at the well worn counter. Not that Lup would tease him, well, much, but he’s always been self conscious about how creaky he feels next to her. Maybe he needs to get her to make good on the pilates threats.

“Who says they ever left?”

Barry groans. “Do you want to do it, or should I?”

“I’ll do it, I know you hate bothering them.”

“They’re not hurting anyone! They just, uh, you know, hang out, mind their business.”

“Causing the customers to come and complain to me about it…” Lup raises her eyebrows expectantly.

Barry hands over the broom with the small black plastic wings taped just above the brush part. He can empathise.

“Tell them I’m…”

“...Sorry, natch, cha’girl wouldn’t dream of forgetting Barold. The bats won't get you in the uprising.”

“If you apologise for yourself they might let you live too!” Barry shouts as she leaves.

Lup salutes him in the doorway, her laughter drifting back to him on the summer breeze. He's thankful for it, laugh and breeze, amusing Lup always feels like an achievement, and the air has been stale in the shop the last few days.

He really does hope the bats let her live. Things have been so much better since the summer staff returned.

–

“They took it pretty well.” Lup knocks the latch free and flips up the flap of the counter top with the handle of the broom. It’s painfully cool. Barry just knows in his bones that he’d get splinters trying. “I think I even heard one click out “we don’t blame Barry for this even a little bit” as it left.”

Barry shakes his head but can’t help grinning. “That’s uh, reassuring. Anyway, are you all ready? It’s 10, so I’d better open the gates.” Barry slips out from behind the counter, but waits on Lup’s answer. He can delay if the team needs a few more minutes.

“We’re good to go, Magnus is with the sandpit, cha’girl’s on stories and objects with Taako back up, and he and Ren are in the Cafe.”

“Great, Merle’s in the greenhouse, I bumped into him earlier.”

–

“Welcome one and all to Neverwinter Castle….” Barry taps the button that opens the gate and plays the creaking sound effect (there was no way it actually creaked, his regular maintenance schedule made sure of that) and taps the microphone button again. “... where we bring the past to you.”

No matter how many times he says it, there’s still a small bubble of pride. When he saw the announcement that they were selling off the site there was no way he could let it pass him by. He’d spent so many summers working here and seen so many opportunities, it had been his chance. Sure, John hadn’t been able to make it work, but that was because all he wanted out of it was profit. He’d told Barry early on that it was silly to pour any of himself into the job, that it was inevitable that eventually the money would dry up, people would stop coming, and capitalism would grind on. Barry nodded, ignored him, and resented him as the other staff dimmed throughout each summer, light sucked out of them by the time they left. Well, until the twins came. Things got better when the twins came.

Barry presses the button to open the portcullis at the front of the castle when he sees the first guests approaching on the monitor, sticking to the flagstone path, thankfully. Magnus’ sturdy fencing had really helped, Barry scribbles down a quick note to thank him again. “By visiting us today you’re helping us preserve the past and educate our future. Thank you, you’re making a difference.”

Barry moves back from the microphone and leaves his office. It’s up to them now. He’d learned from experience that the intro talk wouldn’t work if it was too long. On his first test run the speech had been full of puns, references, and fun facts. He’d heard Lup yelling ‘neeeerrrrd’ through the open window. This new version suited people better, they could pick up maps and check out the information boards and stands inside.

Barry was on shop duty this morning, so he cleaned the counter one more time, partly plated up the testers (no sense in letting them go stale, the first visitors would take a while to get round here), and grabbed the toy guillotine and a carrot from the fridge. He may as well make the entertainment display a way of preparing the crudites to test the harissa dip. It wasn’t period authentic, but it was delicious, locally made, and sold well which is all he could really ask for.

The shop was based in an outbuilding, off the gardens at the rear of the castle. The window gave him a great view of the cherry trees, undulating topiaries (he didn’t ask about the shape and hoped Merle wouldn’t tell him), and his favourite of all, Lup’s shows. She won't be gearing up for another hour yet, but he’s already looking forward to it. She definitely had the strigil and the tersorium for the artefact guessing game today and the reactions of delight and horror at the gross-ness were always fun to hear.

–

“...and what do you think this was for?” Lup held up the curved piece of metal, it dangled casually from her hand.

“It’s a primitive pickaxe, probably Neverwintian in origin, I’d date it to...”

Barry rolled his eyes and tuned the man out. He hated it when they got parents like this - the know it alls who thought it was important to be loudly correct in front of the children at the activity for under 15s. The regularity of their wrong-ness did not escape him.

“That’s not correct, Sir, and that’s not how pickaxes are shaped.”

Barry waits to see if Lup will stop Angus, he’s one of their frequent fliers, his Grandfather bought the summer pass each year and Angus certainly got his money’s worth. Barry is pleased when she doesn’t quiet him.

Angus continues, emboldened by Lup’s lack of action. “In fact, Sir, you didn’t actually have to answer, because this is an activity for young children like myself, but I’m not going to answer because I know what it is, I’ve been here before.”

“Thank you Angus, it’s good of you not to spoil it for our fantastic guessers.” Lup doesn’t even bother to try and comfort whoever it was that fell foul of Angus. They’ll survive the ego bruising no doubt, hopefully it’ll make them think a bit more in future. “So, what do you think everybody?”

A few guesses are shouted out. They’re incorrect, but at least they’re from children.

“That’s a really good thought, but it’s not quite right. How about I do a demonstration? I start here, and pull.”

“It helps you put your jumper on!” An excitable child yells.

“Ooooh, that’s a guess I haven’t heard before!” Lup manages to sound delighted about this fact. “And it might a little bit, we’ll see what you think once we find out, but this is a strigil. Will you all say it with me?”

The children say the word.

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”

Barry rolls his eyes as the yelling resonates around the shop. He swears she does it because she knows how bad the echo is.

“That’s it! You’ve got it. This was what people from all over Faerun used to take a sort-of-bath. To use it they’d apply oil, and then use this to scrape off the dirt and sweat.”

“Ew, gross!” mixes with “Cool!”

Barry stands up a bit straighter as he hears the tell tale footsteps of guests approaching on the path. He tries to put on his best customer service face even though he could use a quieter day today, he has plans to make.

–

“Davenport! Nice to see you.” Barry smiles as he enters the shop.

“I was hoping I’d run into you!” Davenport smiles brightly back. “It’s good to be back! I always love what Merle does with the gardens.”

Barry had initially been terrified of the short, dapper man when he’d suggested they met to discuss Barry’s proposal that Starbright Tours included Neverwinter Castle on their rotation. It faded fast once he realised that Davenport was just as serious about quality educational content as him. Davenport’s enthusiasm for Barry’s well-researched proposal had gone a long way to endearing the man to him.

“No Kravitz today?” Barry asks, it’s always nice to run into the tour guide. Barry had offered Kravitz some initial materials when Davenport put them in touch, but the costuming, accents, and enthusiasm Kravitz brought to the tours were all his own. During the test tour he shadowed Barry had immediately understood why Davenport had hired Kravitz.

“Of course Kravitz is here today, I don’t suppose you can guess where he is.”

Barry laughed. “Cafe?”

“However did you know?” Davenport shakes his head and turns his attention to the selection of naval history books.

“I wonder when those two will get it together?” Barry asks absently.

“I could ask you the same question, Dr Bluejeans.” Davenport didn’t make eye contact, all of his attention focused on the book he’d plucked from the display.

It made it easy for Barry to ignore it. But he’d been ignoring it too long. This year things would be different. He’d promised himself that.

Neverwinter Castle: End of Season, 2024

“Hey, Bear.” Lup hopped up onto the counter, leaning her elbow on the ancient till and resting her head on her hand.

“Uh, yeah?”

She looked at Barry a little quizzically, doing some kind of calculation in her head, then grinned, seemingly settled on a course of action. “You know I’d say yes, right?”

“What?”

“If you asked me out. I’d say yes. Maybe you’ll do it next summer? Cha’girl’s looking forward to finding out.”

Barry’s brain had never been this quiet before. The thousands of thoughts flitting in every direction at all times dropped out of the metaphorical sky and gave him the silence they’d always promised meditation could bring. He hated it. “Uh… I… Er…”

“Like I said, next summer. I’ll send you postcards like usual.”

She does. He gets one at least every week, emails too. She doesn’t mention it again. He doesn’t either, he doesn’t know how to. Telling Lup he’s in love with her, that he’s been in love with her for longer than even he’s known, that he thinks she might be the point on which his world turns? That’s one of those moments that marks a change. Just like the day John accepted his offer for the castle. Just like the day he got the last phone call from his Mother. This was important, he knew that, and he owed it to himself and to Lup to make sure this was good, to make sure it was right.

But this was the summer, he was sure of it.

-

I hope you had a goodfun time! Want to read more? Find chapter 2 here.

[cleoselene]

I just did a full rewatch with my roommates and then the mandatory "What We Left Behind" watch. One roommate had never seen it

and like

I've said this before and I'll say it again: the show was not that dark lmao it just had deeper characterization

ESPECIALLY when you compare it to the grimdark tone of everything on television today, which the Kurtzman shows are also sadly afflicted with. Even SNW is kind of a bummer given that we know what happens to its captain and other really sad shit they tossed into the "light" show.

there are so many goofy ass episodes of that show, TOO MANY TBH, for it to have the reputation it has. there are too many sweet pure wholesome episode, too many comedy episodes, too many romantic episodes, too much self-indulgence on the writers side (in the best way) to call this show "dark"

it changed television, though. Everyone gives credit to The Sopranos for serializing television but DS9 was doing it years before and even if the following for that show was cult, it was intense and we recognized they were doing something uniquely brilliant at the time. Some of us knew it immediately, I swear.

I mean it helped that the show took some of the most compelling underexplored races of TNG (Bajorans and Cardassians) and fleshed them out so beautifully but the writing was just... brave and intricate and compelling and the thing that made people complain at first -- it being a static space station that didn't travel the galaxy -- became its biggest strength. It allowed for it to make sense to see the same random recurring characters over and over again, it was a transportation hub and a place where people of many races and factions lived throughout the series. And the characterization is what made it so freakin' good.

I just... tv has gotten SO dark, SO grim, that it's comical to me that people ever looked at DS9 and complained about it being too dark. You know what sci-fi was too fucking dark and yet got bathed in critical acclaim? THE FUCKING BATTLESTAR GALACTICA REBOOT. There was ZERO joy or texture in that show. It was always peril and misery, 24/7, all the time, nothing was every okay, nothing was every peaceful, and like people who live through it, as a viewer I became numb to it. The stakes mean nothing if they're ALWAYS present. They just become part of life, banal. DS9 had texture, it went to deep places but it picked its moments and most important, built up to them in a way that current serialized Event Television does not

granted, they had 24-ish episodes per season to work with, and believe you me, the biggest problem with current tv is that the seasons are too short and writers are trying to cram too much into too short of time. But there's no space for filler. Filler is important to television. I'm so sick of 8 hour movies spliced up into one hour pieces and presented to me as a television show. DS9 serialized, but NOT ALL THE TIME. There were episodes that stood on their own. The TEXTURE, people, it's the theme of this post. There's so much going on on this show and it's ridiculous to pigeon-hole it as "dark" because it covered basically every genre, the way good sci-fi should, is filled with goofiness and lightheartenedness, and is fundamentally hopeful. That last point is really important because too much of current tv has this sense of constant, numbing doom like BSG.

Star Trek was never all rainbows and happiness, going back to TOS there are episodes that will break your heart. DS9 just had them more often and connected them into one big story. But it was always hopeful and textured. Until it wasn't (Abrams reboots - present. Wasn't an ENT fan and think it's actually the link of terribleness that connects the two eras, the first steps into mediocrity, but that's another post lol, but I think the writers tried. They just failed.)

[milksnake-tea]

Hi, can I request from Nanook or Yaoshi

Gn reader

Headcannon or Scenario like them giving kisses/affection to their reader

giving affection

characters: nanook

contains: fluff !! nanook is emotionally constipated tho

a/n: decided to do just nanook this time bc yaoshi gives a lot of affection in a lot of my other works lol, hope you don't mind! ngl not the happiest w this piece but is okay i can always edit it later <3

Alright, I'll be real with you, affection isn't really Nanook's thing. Like, they're bad at it. Real bad at it.

Aeons are often tied to their paths, Nanook especially. They haven't felt anything other than a need to destroy and kill for many millennia. Their hands are made to hurt, not to hold. They didn't even remember that they had a heart before you came around.

So you'll have to be patient with them. Nanook knows that they should show even the slightest bit of their attachment for you, and they do want to, it's just that they don't know how.

They take being emotionally constipated to the next level, but they do try. It starts out with little things, such as letting you hold onto them, or keeping a hand at your back to keep you close. Sometimes, they'll brush your hair back behind your ear, and other times, they'll hesitantly press a soft kiss to your temple.

Nanook isn't a talker, never was. Because of this, they'll rarely, if ever, tell you outright that they love you. Their love comes in other forms, such as protection and physical touch.

Nanook can come off as a distant lover, but the few moments where they choose to let down their walls remind you just how much they care for you.

"You're awfully touchy today," you murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Nanook's head. The Aeon simply grunted in response, embracing you from behind as they bury their face into your neck.

They pepper soft kisses and nips across your skin, closing their eyes as they drink you in. Their hands are tight around your waist, firm but never overwhelming.

You giggle as they nuzzle their way up to your cheek, nipping at your earlobe before resting their chin on your shoulder. You pet their head, fingers threading through their surprisingly soft hair - unfit for an Aeon of Destruction, but Nanook was never one to care about what they should or shouldn't be.

They hum as you do so, blinking open their eyes, gazing out into the cosmos.

"Too long," they mutter quietly, so quietly that you almost missed it. You looked up at them, silently prompting them to continue. Nanook leans back, bringing you with them.

"Too long since I've last seen you," they clarified, returning their gaze to you. You leaned your head against them, smiling as you twirled a braid around your finger. "I assumed you'd missed me."

"Is that why you're acting like this?" you ask, letting the braid fall back against Nanook's wound.

Nanook's chest rumbled against you as they hummed. "Are you complaining?"

You laugh airily, the faintest hint of a smile drifting onto Nanook's face as they watched you.

"No, of course not." You snuggled your cheek against theirs, kissing their cheek. Nanook seemed to be satisfied that, merely closing their eyes and returning to their spot at your neck.

You closed your eyes alongside them, savoring their presence for as much as you could. You knew that they would have to leave eventually, leaving you with the Legion for who knows how long. They always did.

But that was fine, because it made these moments all the more precious.

[starsfic]

Murder on the Candy Cane Express: Chapter 1- The Trip Begins

Summary: After Pomni makes the mistake of liking a murder mystery adventure, the next adventure sees her cast as the detective... with Gummigoo as her assistant. Notes: This is based on a discussion on Discord with @vegalocity and a few other people. The colors of Pomni's outfit mentioned are based on @hootbon's Freakshow AU

It was Pomni's fault.

It started with an adventure based around CLUE, or at least the circus’s knock-off version of CLUE. Each circus member had a role to play, with Jax being the victim, lying in a puddle of strawberry jam- 

("Good riddance."

"Zooble!"

"WHAT?!")

-to Ragatha being the detective.

Unfortunately, the issues started there.

Pomni had been a private investigator back when she was a human, one of the few facts she remembered about herself. She hadn't been sure how to bring that fact up to the rest of the group, since she had been hired to investigate at least the last two of C&A's string of disappearances. (It could have been worse. At least the company wasn't murdering people like she suspected when she saw the list of names.) She had a long string of successes under her belt, with people trusting her more than they did the police.

And her pride as a private investigator screamed at her when Ragatha did not follow procedure.

("RAGATHA, YOU CAN'T JUST BLOW INTO THE EVIDENCE BAG, IT'LL GET YOUR DNA ALL OVER IT!"

"Pomni, this is... the most impassioned I've ever seen you get for an adventure."

"What, you might as well LICK it if you want your own germs all over it!"

"...this is personal- and I don't like seeing you like this. It scares me.")

Pomni had ignored the sting of that comment and took over the detective role, ignoring her role as a knock-off Ms. Peacock. Some part of her had relaxed as old muscles flexed. Sure, the chaos of the circus made her have a weekly breakdown, but this chaos? The chaos of investigating, of putting the pieces together, of being able to point out the butler NPC as the killer?

"That was actually kinda fun," she admitted as they walked into the circus.

The next second, Caine was in her space, vibrating- literally vibrating, she could hear his teeth chattering against each other- in his spot. His fingers dug into her hands from where he was holding them, but he didn’t seem to notice. "My dear, did you say you enjoyed that?!"

"Uh..." Pomni wasn't sure why, but she decided it was best to be honest, even as she leaned away from him. "Yeah, I did."

If he had an actual mouth, she was sure Caine would have the biggest grin with how his eyes sparkled. "Nobody has ever said that they've enjoyed the adventure! This is the best day of my life!" Wow...that was actually kind of sad. She glanced around to see that everyone was looking away, looking a touch awkward, even Jax. "I have so many ideas!"

And with that, Caine disappeared.

The next few days felt normal, with an adventure a day and activities that Ragatha and Jax would set up together, except Caine would occasionally pop up to ask Pomni questions about police procedures and old cases and the pros and cons of true crime books, taking notes. He even took Zooble aside to ask about what kind of maturity they wanted

"He looks more focused than he did whenever we do a therapy session," Zooble complained once to her and Gangle when they were hanging out in their room, gently running a marker over the exposed part of Pomni’s arm, making a tattoo of a constellation. (Pomni stored that to maybe talk to them about later.)

And it all led up to today.

"The Murder on the Candy Cane Express!" Caine announced, the title popping up around him in pastel pink and blue. "That's right, folks! You are all on a train, trapped together, when suddenly, someone is horribly murdered! It's up to our master detective to solve the case!" The lights flashed, and Pomni looked down as her outfit shifted and changed, and a bundle of papers landed in her hands, like the CLUE adventure.

Instead of her jester outfit, she wore dark pants and heeled boots with a pastel pink shirt and a pastel blue vest that matched the title. Over that, she wore a dark Inverness cape, lined with pink and blue fur. She reached up and patted her head. Even the hat was gone, replaced instead by twin pigtails that were tied back with what felt like ribbon to her still-gloved hands. Next to her was a dark brown leather satchel that she tucked over her shoulder, feeling a familiar weight from her old bag. It all looked and felt so mature.

Despite herself, she loved it.

“Wait, you can change our outfits in here-”

“Ugh,” Jax groaned. “I’m not gonna be the victim again.”

“Of course not! That would be boring!” Caine said, snapping his fingers. A red wig plopped down on Jax’s head. “You’re playing the femme fatale!”

Silence dawned on the group. Between strands of hair, Jax’s eyes went wide. Then they got even bigger, with sparkles and everything. “Oh squeak yeah,” he said. “I’m gonna seduce everyone on that train!”

“Jax no!” Ragatha called, her eyes getting wide.

“JAX YES!”

“Anyway,” Caine said, pressing a hand to Pomni’s back. “Get through your portal and catch your train!” And with a push, she stumbled through the portal, right into a bustling train station.

Caine always put a lot of work into his worldbuilding, and he hadn’t skimped here. The floor resembled marble, with gold sprinkles shot through solid white sugar, and the trend continued to the ceiling, held up by huge lollipops. The ceiling was decorated with hard candy and icing, creating a fresco of Caine and Bubble doing various things. Various NPCs, both candy and otherwise, rushed about to get on gingerbread trains. Pomni’s script, however, told her to head to the biggest train.

It was beautiful. It looked delicate, made of candy glass and spun sugar and gingerbread and a bunch of other things she couldn’t recognize off the bat, but it looked luxurious, the type of train with sleeping cars and dining cars fancy enough to be five star. Despite herself, despite the stress of her situation, Pomni felt a grin form. Sure, the nice train ride would be ruined by a murder, but she was going to enjoy the ride to the best of her abilities.

Then a hand landed on her shoulder.

“There you are, Poms!”

Wait. No, it couldn’t be.

She turned.

Gummigoo smiled at her as a screen, one of the ways to introduce the characters in these murder mystery adventures, popped up.

Your best friend and sidekick!

[lilredbird101]

I Would – Sevika x OC (Delilah)

OKAY~! So this is my first actual story that I'm posting on here. I've written a lot for myself but they've all sat on my laptop. *Hides hands shaking with nerves*

This piece was inspired by the cute AF art done by @sumilane.

It involves my OC, an environmental scientist and engineer called Delilah. She's a Piltover whistleblower who ratted on the company she was working for. They'd been finding work arounds with waste disposal regulations to cut costs and now she's down in the lanes. I'm not much of a digital artist, so this is my Picrew rendition of her. Unfortunately they don't do accents of greens and blues in the hair colours, so please imagine.

Now, I know that sumilane's art has S2 Sevika hair, but let's just play around with time lines here.

Also, Delilah calls Sevika "Osavika". It's a play on the Spanish word for "bear" - "osa". No, she's not Spanish, and YES, I know Spain doesn't exist in Arcane's universe. Let me be cute XD

Anyway, here is my sappy af fanfiction!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Genuinely, fuck my life.”

Sevika knew who it was before they’d even spoken. Delilah rarely went for any other shoes than her blunnies, and the weight and pace of her gait in them was distinct. Slightly heavy with purpose but twisting and skipping around obstacles lithely. However, Sevika was usually the first seated at the Last Drop for their meetups and by now could tell Delilah’s mood from her step. Today, they trudged.

Sevika glanced her way as she shed her lab coat with stiff shoulders, sighed and slumped onto the stool next to her at the empty bar, flopping her head onto the sticky tabletop. Only Silco’s top employees could be there before evening hours, and there wasn’t anyone else around to witness the lax in professional poise. “Rough day for you too, huh?”

Delilah peered up, old bar nut crumbs sticking to her forehead, noticing a few new bruises and cuts along Sevika’s body. Her eyebrows bounced up, but not in worry – she knew Osavika could take a beating, “Oh shit. How’s the other guy?”

Sevika’s mouth twitched upwards as she reached for her bottle and another glass to pour, “Lying in an alley with many regrets and broken ribs.” She slipped the glass into Delilah’s hand, gently brushing the food from her brow. Delilah scrunched her eyes shut as they tickled her nose. “What about you? You look like shit.”

Delilah scoffed and raised the glass to her lips, knowing full well how her crumpled and stained lab coat, red eyes with dark circles, pale and sunken cheeks, cracked lips and greasy, frizz-ball hair looked. “Silco’s got me working double time until the new compound is finished. Urgh!” She grimaced at the taste of the amber liquid, “This tastes like acetone.”

Sevika reached out, “Well in that case, I’ll take it back.” Delilah snatched her hand back, smacking the hand and gave a playfully indignant look. Sevika’s shoulders bounced, chuckling, “Then don’t complain about free drinks.” Delilah smiled and nodded in thanks and a long silence hung in the air. Sevika rolled her eyes, “You can still complain about everything else if you want.” Having known each other so long by this point, their time together was always the highlight of both women’s days, and a safe venting point. Anyone who’d seen their first interactions would not believe that these where the two same people they’d seen several years ago.

Their “bond” had formed early into Delilah’s contract with Silco.

He was conducting an inspection of the labs to make sure everything was running smoothly under new management. Sevika looked her up and down. The slight little thing had the body more of a dancer than one in their dangerous business, and she moved like it to, gliding with a bounce in her step from bench to bench.

Delilah noticed her wandering eyes, “Anything wrong, Sevika?” She spoke as if each consonant and vowel deserved recognition. Delilah’s voice had lilted out from her mouth like fluttering velvet during the explanation of possible carcinogenic side effects of long-term use, and Sevika found the contrast of presence to present such a juxtaposition. Messing with this little bird will be so much fun.

Sevika leaned against a table and noticed how Delilah tensed up, glancing at the set-up behind her, “Oh nothing, twinkle-toes. Just watching your moves. With pegs like that, what were you? Some kind of ballerina in your infinite spare-time?” She jabbed.

Delilah’s face remained neutral as she collected papers to let Silco check, “Lessons from five to seventeen years. Mum insisted. Principle ballerina in my cohort for six. Why? Are you wanting lessons?”

Sevika laughed, “Certainly not.”

Delilah turned back to her; now it was her turned to look Sevika over, “Shame. I’d pay to see you in a leotard.” And just like that, she was back to her tour with Silco.

Sevika blinked, What in the…? If this little fairy wanted to try and show her up or rattle her, she had another thing coming.

For the next long while, Sevika was strutting around and poking her nose into work benches. She’d seen the woman react when she got too close to them. Delilah liked things just-so and was hyperaware of every millimetre a Bunsen or beaker budged under Sevika’s prodding. She was trying hard to concentrate on Silco’s questioning, but this woman’s damn roaming and smirking was distracting for so many reasons. The feeling built up like beetles scuttering up her back and into her brain.

While Silco was grilling Delilah on specifics, she noticed Sevika messing around with the glassware currently distilling a new shimmer formula she was testing, making a full flask under the rotary evaporator tip dangerously. She immediately turned from Silco mid-sentence, “I’m sorry, sir-,” and— SNAP! Delilah’s voice dropped like a stone, booming out in gravelly baritone built to project, “Get your paws off my equipment you bloody great bear of a bothersome bitch!” It was like a different person burst forward. Her whole posture and accent had changed to something more guttural, more feral.

Delilah stormed over and shoved between her workspace and the woman who was at least a head taller, “If you want to blow yourself up then go ahead and piss that blue-hair brat off, maybe she’ll do you a favour, but don’t go fucking around with this shit. It is volatile IN the body alone, even after testing, and I haven’t run any on this unfiltered stuff yet. I appreciate this is not your field but take some professional advice and BACK OFF.”

Sevika paused, registering that this noodle-armed twig had just insulted her AND ordered her about. Her condescending smirk returned, “Professional advice? I thought you were stripped of all those shiny credentials after the racket you made whistleblowing Up Top.”

“It’s called sacrifice. But then again, I hear you know a lot about that.” Delilah wasn’t shielded from water-cooler talk. She knew all about Vander and the kids, despite being from Piltover.

The corners of Sevika’s eyes tensed, making her mouth appear all the more sharp, “Careful, Sunshine. Bears can get awfully heavy-handed when upset.” Delilah didn’t ease up, she actually raised herself on her tippy toes to get closer to Sevika’s face. Adorable.

“Aww, did I upset you? Go on then, Osavika, take a swipe. Just remember that I’m now the only person on your team that actually knows how to make your fluro coke syrup from scratch.”

Sevika couldn’t believe she was actually having fun underneath her scathed pride, “There are plenty of ways to hurt someone without taking them out of commission.” She gave the balanced Delilah a small shove to the chest, sending her tippy-toes down and scuttling to right themselves.

“Ha! Try it! I’m running off a three-day shift, four hours sleep, a caffeine overdose, ire and manic fucking energy. I guarantee I’ll at least get a few bites in.”

That sent a completely new feeling to Sevika’s gut.

“Ladies!” Silco was momentarily amused, but now just perturbed by the disruption.

The two women eased back, but Delilah wouldn’t return to Silco and the conversation until Sevika moved away from the bench space. She stared her down/up until the woman stepped back. Like a cloud soothing itself after a storm, Delilah posture and voice floated back to it’s original poise and tone, “Apologies, sir. Now, you specified that you wanted a longer run of the effects per dose. Understandable, but I wanted to discuss the side-effects and “hangover” of such a dosage with you. Are you wanting your users to actually LIVE through the experience or is “single use” what you’re going for here? Because I’m going to need more time and resources if it’s the former…”

Delilah kept glancing back towards Sevika occasionally to make sure she was keeping her hands at bay… And to… No, keep your head focused… Unpack that mess of thoughts later.

It had been nearly three years since then, and each gruelling week had brought more stock to their sparring relationship. Then through the tough times it simmered down to mutual respect and appreciation, eventually into what could be called a burgeoning friendship. When Sevika had invited Delilah out for a drink after work, that friendship quickly solidified. They’d had more in common than they originally thought, and being in the same space felt natural after the first hour.

Their company became routine. After-work drinks and matches at the pool table were where it started. Delilah had a terrible poker-face compared to seasoned pros, so cards weren’t an option with more serious players as Sevika quickly found out when she made a terrible decision to fund Delilah’s first games. Teaching her how to line up the cue, take long shots and snooker fools was much easier since she was a visual learner and knew how to work angles. Getting up close and personal to show her the holds was also a bonus for Sevika, though she wouldn’t admit it.

They started not-so-discretely scheduling their rounds and duties to coincide despite their different fields, Sevika volunteering to do follow-ups in the labs just to talk, and Delilah often personally delivering updates in Silco’s office instead of using lackies. Delilah enjoyed bringing the meagre crop of veg from her balcony garden to gift Sevika and invited her over many times to excitedly show her the new sprouts of greens when they finally emerged. They even went going out to get dinner on late nights at work, ending with Sevika dropping Delilah off at home personally… For safety reasons of course.

When Delilah invited Sevika in for late night drinks her mind was flooded with how she might usually play this with other women, but as they sat on the balcony and watched the skyline, it felt too sacred a moment for that. It felt like she’d been given a rest stop or sanctuary. At some point Delilah was mentioning how much she missed her father. She wished desperately that she could return to Piltover and mess around in his workshop with him again, have a joint in the gardens or just fucking talk to him. It was her one regret of her actions.

Sevika surprised herself.

“He sounds nice. Better than mine, anyway.” Delilah cocked her head to the side, not pushing for details or denying with an, Oh he can’t be that bad. Just listening. “Strong family units are hard to find in Zaun, as I’m sure you can imagine. Even more-so when your mum has had enough of the booze and debt and walks out. He didn’t take it easy on me before and sure as Hell didn’t after… Maybe I looked a little too much like her…” She took a sip of her whiskey, but barely moved otherwise, “Got his fucking eyes though…” Her bitterness at that last fact seeped through in her tone, just a little. A cluster of decorative amber lights in the distance brought back a kind pair of irises from Sevika’s memory, and she wished with everything that she’d been given those instead. That she could still look at her before she slept… Just one last time.

Delilah let the moment sit before reaching towards her friend, brushing her cheek. Sevika was startled to feel a tear smudging against Delilah’s soft thumb. “She must have been very beautiful.”

Sevika’s eyes widened slightly in shock at the tenderness of it all, and she tried not to let her lips wobble, “… She was.”

A feeling, so strong and burning like coals rose from her gut as she looked back at Delilah and absorbed the warmth radiating off her… Then she realised…

Damn it.

Inside jokes abound by then and the two felt comfortable enough to get into each other’s space. Not because their shackled feelings were secretly eating them up on the inside. No, of course not. Certainly not because every little touch or lingering morsel of eye-contact had their nerves zinging like electricity through copper wiring.

One time, Sevika was leaning over Delilah’s shoulder to observe the notes she was showing Silco, and her exhale skimmed Delilah’s neck, wafting into her own airways. She felt a fool, but Delilah could have sworn the warmth of it had snaked into her gut and impregnated her, even though she knew the reproductive and respiratory systems weren’t linked that way. She made a mental note to set up her showcase on cramped desk corners more often.

Another time, Sevika was escorting Delilah to a nearby shimmer outlet. It was a particularly hot day and Delilah asked ever so sweetly for a sip from Sevika’s canteen. Her dry windpipe made her voice sound hypnotically smoky, and how could Sevika say no? How could she look away from the droplet that hung at the corner of her mouth, or the pink tip of her tongue that darted out to catch it? How could she not let her tastebuds linger on the remnants of coconut lip balm around the rim of her bottle later?

And don’t get any ideas. Sevika only called Delilah “Sunshine” to make fun of her untameable sun-bleached curls, not because she felt warmer and lighter when Delilah was nearby. And Delilah only added Osa to the start of Sevika’s name so frequently because of the bear joke, not because she felt safe, protected and calm whenever Sevika was around. She didn’t even know the word’s original language fully; she just thought it was an apt pun.

Their infatuation – nay – deep affections were visible to anyone who cared to look or had the time, but somehow these two women, both brilliant in their own fields, had absolutely no damn clue. Or maybe they just couldn’t risk realising. Sometimes the now is too precious to risk the what if.

Delilah let her breath out in a slow, robust, steady blow – a regular stim Sevika had noticed at work -, pulling the pencil from her hair that was holding the lengths of curls up and dropping it to the bar-top with a clatter. The release of pressure had her sighing as she ran her hands through the unwashed mess, and Sevika tried not to file the view away for later. “What am I doing here, Sevika?” The despondent tone got her attention, and she turned to face her coworker more directly. “Like, is it really all worth it? I know it is, but… Is it?”

Delilah turned to her, with such a sad, confused void of a look that Sevika didn’t know what to do with. “… You know I’m not a mind reader, right? You’ll have to give me more detail than that if you want an opinion.”

Delilah breathed again, “When you’re a kid you get told the basic outline of life people follow, and most of us just aim to be happy. Well, here I am, and I feel like I’m in limbo or hell or… Something! My plan was always to get my higher education (check), become an environmental scientist or engineer (check), and find some way to reverse the caustic pollutants that filter down into Zaun,” Delilah made a comically negative buzzer sound and took another sip. “No one gave a fuck up top, and I burnt all my bridges by pushing too hard. Now I’m working for effectively a drug lord in exchange for funding which by the time I take out my living expenses is pittance. The work conditions are shit too, I’m in constant burnout, and as a Topsider no one wants anything to do with me down here! I have no one…”

Sevika looked down at her drink, trying not to let that last remark sting.

Delilah winced, realising how that must have sounded, “Except for you.” She reached her hand out to rest ever so naturally on Sevika’s metal wrist. She didn’t know what Sevika would call their connection to anyone else or if they would ever have anything more, but she knew what it was to herself and that it was at least a deep friendship between them… And that meant the world to Delilah. Sevika was technically her superior, sure, but it hadn’t felt like that for years. To Delilah it was so much more, even if it was just wishful thinking that was becoming harder and harder to silence.

There was something niggling in how Sevika made regular check-ins at the labs, why she felt that Sevika always listened with gruff but genuine care, why Sevika had made sure no one at work or the Last Drop gave her a hard time, why Sevika’s mere presence made her feel like she was in her own secure little bubble. And that barely scratched the surface. Sevika was the best part of any days Delilah spent down in Zaun. Even if what some said was true and it was just to protect an asset of Silco’s, Delilah still felt that… “You are my rough-as-guts saving grace here, Osavika.” The nickname played on her lips deliciously.

God, that smile. Sevika did a great job of hiding it, but she couldn’t ignore the volts that trilled up her arm at Delilah’s touch. It was just phantom pains, but God! Her body gave her no choice but to return the smile in her slight way. “Good save, there Lila.”

“I mean it.” Delilah squeezed the metal before letting go, as if it would have the give or sensation of flesh. “You’re my solace.” She looked forward and took another sip.

Sevika’s tone changed, “What would you do?”

“Huh?”

“If you could choose another life?” Sevika seemed hesitant, playing with the rim of her glass. She hadn’t had many conversations like this before Delilah came along. No one really seemed to think they had other options down here, but she was curious.

Delilah shook her head, “I’ve seen too many damaged by the waste pouring from Piltover. I have a moral obligation to fix this, or at least try. I couldn’t walk away from my work now--”

Sevika cut her off, “But if you could. No moral responsibility. No rules or restrictions. No one else to answer to… What would you do?”

Delilah was taken aback. She hadn’t thought about it in so long, but an image she had as a child came back into her mind. Suddenly her eyes didn’t seem so weary.

“A little house out in nature somewhere. Lots of windows for natural light, clear skies, a little garden with a bird bath, and a water source nearby. Maybe the beach or a river. I don’t know what I’d do to support myself, but maybe I could just get by. And maybe, if I’m lucky, I could have someone to share it with.”

The figure she envisioned with her was so clear in Delilah’s mind. They seemed lighter in the open space away from carnage, smile lines growing around their mouth instead of constant frown lines on their forehead. The sun, good food and rest had softened their dark circles, and their metal claws were replaced with appendages better suited for cuddling by firelight under stars. She wished she could take them away and show them something better. Delilah tried not to blush or look towards the woman by her side.

Sevika watched her mind wandering. It seemed like such a nice vision that she was envious of whomever Delilah would share it with. “It sounds nice,” she said softly, softer than she’d meant it to come out. The vision seemed to have Sevika in a daze as she imagined Little Lila pulling up crop from the dirt, painting the delicate flowers she’d doodle in her lab notes onto the door frame, or washing clothes by the river. Whenever she walked past her at the shimmer labs, Sevika could smell the orange blossom and jasmine oil Delilah dropped into her laundry, and she imagined what it would be like to carry the same smell. Sevika tried not to be so indulgent as to insert herself there in Delilah’s fantasy, but the idea of sharing all that with her felt so easy that she almost forgot who she was in service to.

Delilah shook herself, “Yeah, well, I know I would most definitely need another person to get that idea going. Money is scarce for everyone and a freedom like that is pricy. No one in Zaun would trust each other enough outside of marriage to share funds like that. No one above or below trusts me enough to get to know me in the first place, I barely have enough free time to brush my teeth under Silco let alone go on a date, and who in their right mind would want any part of Silco’s network, anyway? There’s no way I’d be able to get close to anyone to where they’d want to spend a life with me, never mind marriage.”

It slipped out of Sevika’s mouth as naturally as breathing, “I’d marry you.”

…

The air froze.

Delilah slowly turned to look in Sevika’s grey eyes. They’d always reminded her of heavy clouds ready to cool the earth. A brewing storm ready to unleash invigorating, glorious potential energy into the air and light up the sky. She shook her head, trying to get a grip of herself. She must have heard wrong!

“I’m sorry, say that again?”

For once in her life, Sevika felt cold with fear and hot with embarrassment all at once. She scolded herself as her eyes darted down. What had she done? Why would Lovely Lila want someone like her? How could she have jeopardised this one good thing in her life. God, she was a fool!

…

But she wasn’t a coward. She’d already said it. No turning back now. Sevika brought her eyes back to Delilah’s and in a moment her turmoil was swept away in fields of pale green on an overcast day; a natural soft-fall, a masterpiece hiding intricate life beneath it made from infinite small strokes, capable of growing nearly anywhere. She could almost feel the breeze on her face as she stepped out of THEIR front door. The one with the little flowers painted on it.

“I… I’d marry you.” And then it all felt so easy, “In a heartbeat.”

Delilah’s breath caught in her chest, “You… You would…? Really?” Sevika slowly nodded. “But… WHY?” Delilah sounded utterly bewildered. Hearing this seemed so surreal to her she’d dare not trust her own senses.

Sevika reached out tentatively, giving Delilah plenty of time to pull away before her flesh hand reached hers, “Because when I’m around you I forget who I’m meant to be. I feel like the world isn’t as big, ruthless or cruel. Your laugh plays in my head as I go to sleep, and when I wake up – most often from dreams of you - I feel like I’m holding my breath until I see you again. You’re one of the first people in so long who values me as a whole, someone I can completely trust to share myself with, and I love that you trust me enough to do the same.”

Delilah couldn’t believe that such a proclamation that she’d only ever imagined in her daydreams was happening. She knew what it would be taking for Sevika to be so vulnerable, and it filled her chest with a golden joy like sunshine throwing rainbows onto a wall through hanging crystals in a window. She was only kicking herself that she hadn’t done the same sooner.

Sevika continued, “I know our situation is difficult, and I know your work is important and comes first, but… When you’re ready… When you’re ready to live for you… I will spend my days making sure that you’re happy. Until then… I’ll take any part of you that you can give, and I’ll give you anything you want of me.”

Tears that she hadn’t realised were forming finally rolled down Delilah’s cheeks. Sevika reached up to cup her face ever so gently - a tenderness that she would hesitate to show in front of others – and Delilah leaned into it like a little kitten in relief, her own palm raising to press it further. The metal of her hand cooled Delilah’s flushed flesh as she wiped away the offending droplets, and though she knew Sevika couldn’t truly feel it, Delilah pressed a kiss into it anyway. Sevika’s voice came out in a whisper, “I love you, Delilah.”

Delilah’s breath escaped in shudders as the years of yearning finally flew out of her in an explosion of butterflies. More tears flowed and she giggled at the silly worry of bringing rust to Sevika’s hand. Delilah threaded her hands into Sevika’s short locks and brought her forehead to rest on hers, tasting each other’s breath in the small space.

“Oh, good grief, Sevika… I love you too.” And in that moment their lips and hearts finally met.

[linashirou]

MGS Valentines!

This one is part of the Metal Gear Valentine's exchange that @hc-svnt-dracones95 organized! ♥ And this little fragment is for @war-finding-reason (I really hope you like it!♥)

He is desperate to get home. On one of those days when everything seems to be utter crap, the only thing on Mason's mind is get home and find refuge. A few steps and it will all be over. He will be able to rest and have a moment of peace. "Clink, clink" The sound of the keys as he pulls them from his pocket and another click as he unlocks the door. Slowly moving the door… everything was so neat and spotless that he had to rub his eyes to see if it was real… "Finally, he's done something on his own…" he thought. He went to the fridge, thinking about getting something to drink to cool down. When he got to the kitchen, he found some things left out: bottles of water, some vegetables, some butter, and a bunch of tickets and crumpled papers, a calculator and a pencil. "It was too good to be true," he muttered, picking up the items and putting them in the fridge. He took out a bottle of sparkling water and closed the door… Before taking one last look at the papers… Papers… How he hates papers… and how Sam seems to love to keep all those crumpled papers around him: on the bedside table, in his jackets… in his trousers… How many times he has cleaned the lint trap of the washing machine, covered in paper… Although… Lately it seems to have got out of hand…

He raised an eyebrow… Something… Insignificant… was gnawing at his mind, pulling him towards the paper… He unfolded the papers one by one: tickets, notes… drawings?

"These are worse than the drawings I made as a child." A small laugh escaped Mason's lips… But… after the last ticket… there was a note.

"I know you might think I'm a piece of shit… And I don't blame you. Not at all. I know I've made you lose your patience countless times with my attitude… And… After all… Yes, I appreciate everything you've done for me… I really do! And I know these words may seem small in comparison to everything you've done for me… from saving my life to giving me a roof to live… I don't know how to express myself and I'm really struggling to get what I want to say down on this stupid piece of paper. And I know I have an awful handwriting… But I want you to know that…"

A large scrawl could be seen next, with Manson laughing as he imagined Sam's desperation…

"It's hard to say… but I've come to appreciate you for who you are… and for how you are with me, Manson. And I really want you to understand when I say that I like you…

I like you… Sounds awful, doesn't it? Because I'm afraid to tell the truth. Because I'm a coward to say that I've started to love you… Like the useless good-for-nothing you sometimes say I am. And I know it's not to hurt me. It's to shake me up and make me come to my senses, isn't it? Well, let me tell you, you've succeeded".

Just as Mason lowered the letter from his sight, he realized that Sam was standing in front of him. Their eyes met and there was a brief silence until Sam sighed. "I didn't expect you to read it like that…" "But?" Mason interrupted. "But it's true… I had all of this planned for today… and you got ahead of me…" Mason raised an eyebrow. Sam slowly approached him and handed him a small box of chocolates. "I think you should at least try them." "Huh…?" "Come on…" Sam said, taking a beer from the fridge. "I've picked out some films for us to watch. I suppose you won't complain if we do a bit of 'Netflix and Chill'… Maybe something else will happen..." Mason's face formed a subtle smile as he replied in a low voice: "Let's go…"

[vanillavengeance]

mystic malfunction is on my mind again and i've been thinking about how funny it'd be if mikey hijacked a training session and taught everyone Lou Jitsu style (à la fish and ladders). ik Splinter's already been trying to make it a little more interesting for Mikey, but maybe it's the day after a particularly sour mission and he's like "yknow what? okay let's do it Orange's way today, just for a bit of a change of pace. lighten the mood a bit." the 2012 boys learn a very structured style, which is def useful (like when Mikey was fighting Shredder), but the 2018 boys are way more used to improvising and using their surroundings in non-traditional ways - particularly Mikey. i think it'd be really interesting to see how the 2012 boys would fare trying to fight in that style, and if they'd use it in future! anyway. the image of Mikey chasing them all around with an improvised household appliance weapon is EXTREMELY amusing to me, along with seeing Splinter's reaction when Mikey informs him that this was how they first learned how to properly fight. I think he'd go through all the stages of grief, but it'd definitely help him understand Mikey's lack of interest in regular training. anyway back to rotating your fic around in my mind like a microwave <3

Oh, I love this idea. Here, have an unedited ficlet I wrote in my notes app quick lol.

==========

Mikey vibrated with excitement, Splinter amused beside him while the others cautiously filtered into the dojo.

Splinter had seen how he’d struggled during regular training and after a small talk about why that might be, he’d allowed Mikey to run his own session to see exactly how the teaching styles differed. Both for Splinters own curiosity and to provide a different, more improvised kind of training so the others didn’t fall too much of a routine.

“So, how many different death traps are in here?” Raphael asks. Michelangelo is attempting to hide behind him but Raphael keeps pushing him away. “And where is one of them so Mike can be distracted by something else—“

“No death traps!” Mikey confirms. The others still look around cautiously as they come to stand in front of him. “I’m gonna show you the kind of training I got from Dad back home!”

The turtles share a disbelieving look, glancing towards Splinter who merely nods in confirmation.

“That’s…great,” Leonardo says slowly. “I suppose we could spice things up a bit.”

“You betcha!” Mikey exclaims. The turtles share one last confirming glance with Splinter before falling into their training stances and pulling out their weapons.

Mikey’s grin grows. “Nuh uh, nope,” he says, rolling onto his heels and thoroughly enjoying their confusion. “Won’t need those.”

Splinter turns to him in curiosity while the other look on in slight terror. Regardless, they lower their weapons to the ground in front of them and wait for Mikey to continue.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

—————

“That’s not how you use a toaster!” Donatello screeches, lunging away from the flying toaster Michelangelo threw by the cord like a flail.

“That’s exactly how you use it!” Mikey encourages from the sidelines. His alternate sends him a bright thumbs up before his head is promptly smacked to the ground by the lamp Raphael wields.

“How on Earth are you still alive if this is how your Master Splinter trained you!?” Leonardo exclaims, hurriedly blocking Raphael’s next lamp strike with his couch cushion. “This isn’t what training is supposed to be!”

“Sure it is! You just have to get creative! I don’t see Michelangelo complaining!” His alternate groans from the floor and he immediately backtracks. “Not about the training anyway!”

The chaos quickly resumed with Raphael going on a rampage with his lamp and the others scrambling out of the way with their other improvised weapons.

Mikey beams up a smile to Splinter who pinches his brow with eyes shut tight, taking deep breaths.

“I…understand your frustration with my teaching methods, now,” Splinter grumbles, watching with tired eyes as Raphael gets a whack to the face from Leonardo’s cushion.

Mikey launches to his feet, not being able to help himself anymore. Without any warning he grabs the closets of the many household items he gathered before starting. His hands adjust around the pens he grabbed, fashioning them into claws between his fingers, before jumping into the fray and straight towards a panicked Donatello.

They’re nowhere near prepared for all the razz-ma-tazz he’s about to unleash.

==========

Hehehe ❤️

[flavourlessfiction]

JayTim week progress report, where you can plainly see which fic I really hyperfixated on writing since Easter

Ironically despite being the lowest word count Green is the day I came up with first and Red is the day I plotted out second last, and you could argue last anyway because Yellow is based off a whole other week.

As a little treat, and to give myself some extra motivation, I've included a snipet from my free day under the cut which is going to be the opening point of the Hunger Games AU I inevitably write.

From his limited contact with Capitol citizens, it seemed to be a habit many of them had adopted, speaking for the sake of speaking, not so much to avoid an awkward silence but to remind others of their importance, emphasising their accent. It was nothing like engaging them in genuine conversation, and Lavinia was one of the worst at it.

The few times he’d listened in on her conversations with his mentors, her tone would shift, start to loosen and then she’d catch herself, and the affect would return. He’d stopped engaging in more than brief exchanges following the games, leaving her plenty of air to share her thoughts on his every action.

Jason knew he couldn’t pretend all of her advice had been useless; she’d been an escort for 30 years and this was her fifth Victory Tour. She knew the right things to say when he let his nerves show. She also knew the right buttons to push to get on his nerves. 

Seemingly treating him as a thing rather than a person, his mentors hadn’t been much of an improvement since he’d ‘recovered’ from his injuries; he’d sworn he’d overheard Reed call him a mutt on their first night on the train. “Shouldn’t Sable be here?” Jason mumbled as he flipped through the cards, trying to ignore the way his stomach churned when he read Aggie’s name.

“She’s resting, enjoyed a few too many libations with Seven’s victors, luckily Janet Drake will happily guide you through today’s ceremonies.” Astrid said as she entered the carriage, the stylist holding out  her selection for him to wear.

He’d heard of her before, always held up alongside Bruce Wayne as the consummate Victor, although he wasn’t sure it meant much any time he’d seen Bruce or heard him speak he’d thought the man had a stick up his ass. “What’s she like, because none of you prepared me for Dick.”

“Oh, she’s absolutely darling, although you might not be to her taste. You’re not much older than her son, charming boy, not everyone remembers, but he was born in the Capitol.” Jason tried to ignore the insult, of course, she favoured her first Victor, and if Janet was a favourite, it only confirmed what Astrid had alluded to.

That the original distaste for him had only grown in the six months since the games. If it meant they left him alone, he wouldn’t complain. “I remember the night he was born, my father had made a hefty bet on the date, the winnings paid for my schooling,” Astrid giggled, gesturing for him to stand.

Jason had always known there was gambling on the Games, that some went as far as sponsoring on those that they bet on, however betting on a Victor giving birth just seemed a step too far even for the Capitol. Although the way Astrid and Lavinia kept chatting it seemed to be perfectly normal in their eyes.

[viburnt]

Hiya, sweetpie! ♥ I've been thinking about being in a relationship with Alpha Dabi and Omega Shigaraki (hope you haven't explored this idea previously)

Hi, Douma! Thank you for requesting love <3 I'm very happy to see you here. I had never explored ABO before, so this was really fun!

CONTENT WARNING: NSFW, sex mentions. It's kinda implied that it's bit of a poly relationship since I wasn't sure if you wanted them separated or together at the same time.

Alpha Dabi and Omega Shigaraki with you

• Omega Shigaraki didn't quite had the opportunity to nest as a kid, which is bad considering all Omegas start nesting at a young age. He is not very sure of how to do it, nor if he is doing it right. Tenko likes to take your clothes from time to time, specially shirts and hoodies, to build his little safe space: pillowcases, sheets, blankets... he just takes what he can and tries to make it pass as a nest. It's endearing, really, specially when you find him curled up and sleeping after a long evening gaming. You keep a secret photo album of him sleeping.

• He is very sensitive to your scent, normally asking you not to wear perfumes because he likes how you smell. It bothers him that Dabi is an Alpha because his scent tends to compete with yours. Omega Tomura is also very whiny and needy when it comes to you, specially during his heats. He drags you to his nest and cuddles you to his heart's content, even if it's embarrassing for him (of course sometimes it'smore than cuddling).

• Talking about heats with Shigaraki, you'll be busy for a while. Dabi hates when Shigaraki gets his heat because his own hormones go bonkers, and Shiggy doesn't let Dabi near you until he's done. You spend a lot of silent nights making that man whine and cry while you satiate his need of uh- yeah.

• You have to clean the stuff of his nest with regularity after his heats because it just ends up being a nasty mess-

• Alpha Dabi also has his perks, specially when it comes to being protective of you. He is shameless whenever he talks about you, sending dirty smirks and making innuendos when a friend (or Shigaraki) ask where you are: "Oh, they're just sleeping in my bed. If you catch my drift..." "Last time I saw them they are between my legs, haven't seen them today-"

• Dabi doesn't understand Shigaraki's need of a nest but he tries to be nice about it since you insist. He often asks if you need a nest too (that, of course, depends on your type). If you happen to be an Alpha or a Beta, he'll just tease by saying "he'll build you a nest to fuck you nice and good"; if you're an Omega, he's more responsible and actually tries to make and effort with your nest (fails, but he tries).

• Touya is the kind of Alpha that is always rubbing on you, he doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself. It doesn't matter that Shigaraki complains about his scent on your body, he will make sure everyone can smell him on you.

• His ruts are... intense. You need quite the endurance to stand his stamina, and he will not waste a second to take what's his by right. During this time, he doesn't allow Shigaraki to spend a lot of time with you, often leading to arguments that are solved with long steamy make-out sessions and too many hands on your body.

• Alpha Dabi likes to make you wear his jacket when other Alphas are around (specially if you happen to be an omega), he thinks you look ridiculously cute with it. Also the kind that gives you dumb nicknames thinking they are cool but they're lame and sappy.

• Being stuck in the middle with these two sometimes allows you to see some unique dynamics you never expected to see between the two. Alpha Dabi and Omega Shigaraki tend to act like brothers from time to time: they fight for your attention, one wants to shit on the other, they snitch when they make a mistake to be your favorite... "OK, who left the toilet seat up again?" "Dabi-" "YOU FUCKIN RAT-"

• When you're not around, they tend to annoy each other with the stupidest things. Curiously enough, they sometimes work together to do nice things for you (or mischief). It's also hard to keep the place tidy with two gremlins like them.

• Sex with them is also complex. It's a constant power battle between the three, even if it's not what you guys want. Dabi wants to top you, while Shigaraki wants to do it too, and if you ever want to top it's the latter who wants to be selfish with your ministrations. Omega Tomura is very... eager in terms of you domming him. He'll of course enjoy the power trip that mounting you gives him, but he prefers it when you make him cum until it's unbearable and some tears roll down his cheeks.

• Alpha Dabi teases Tomura a lot for this, but low-key enjoys having two bitches whining under him. He'll push that knot of his inside you until you're practically trying to push him away.

"Fuck, you're so tight-" Dabi groaned, shoving his dick inside you while his hand pressed your face into the mattress. He'd been fucking you senseless for a hot minute, his rut being unbearable without your inviting body. Shigaraki was watching the whole scene display as he palmed his own cock, whining and whimpering with every carnal sound that escaped your lips. "S-shiggy, look at me- Oh, God!- Look at me, baby." You panted, your voice cracking as Dabi's knot finally reached its rightful place. "Ha- You look so sexy filled with me. Can't wait to do it again." Dabi growled, biting your skin in a territorial way.

You didn't know if it was good or bad luck to have those two with their respective heat and rut at the same time.

The omega seemed happy with that arrangement though.

[mattstromboli]

Over You- M.S

Warnings: Angst, Crying

Summary: You’re a singer holding a showcase to release a new song. About your ex, Matt, who’s in the crowd listening to you sing about him.

HEAVILY BASED ON OVER YOU BY LANDON BARKER

Matt’s pov

it’s been two months since you and i have seen each other— and two months since the two of us have broken up. you're a singer, and i broke up with you the day before you left for your nationwide tour. tonight you’re preforming an unreleased song, many people came to this concert, and little do you know, that includes me, nick, and chris.

“i just don’t get why i had to come here, she’s—“ i start to complain, but im cut off by chris and nick pointing at the stage, as you begin to speak.

“WELCOME TO THIS SHOWCASE EVERYONE!”

nick and chris cheer at your introduction, while i remain quiet, but still clap. i sit in my seat, watching you intently as you begin to speak

“today is my official bonus show! ill be performing an unreleased song today, and after i sing it, it’ll be released on all streaming platforms!”

i sit up in my seat at your words, looking around me at the hundreds of people around me, i look back at the stage— watching you intently. i see you look over at me shocked, and sad.

”okay- this is gonna take a lot for me to sing, knowing that who i wrote this about is here to hear it. this is kinda my way of admitting to myself that im not over what happened. this song has so much meaning to me and i can’t wait to share it with you all.”

i feel my heart shatter as you mention me, looking over at nick and chris, i see them eyeing me expectingly, while people around me murmur and talk about the song being about me. i remain silent and avoid eye contact, i continue to sit silently as people around me murmur about you noticing me, meanwhile, nick and chris nudge each other and look back at me expectantly

i sit there, listening intently as you talk about the song that you are about to sing, i get butterflies in my stomach, but also a sense of dread, i know that this song is about me, and im not ready to hear what you say

“okay. here we go.”

“I can't get out of my bed, your voice inside of my head

Our favorite song on repeat

I try my best to forget all of the words that you said

Act like it's nothing to me

This happens every time I wish that I could rewind

And end things differently

But, can't bring myself to move on

I miss you now that you're gone

I feel it terminally

Yeah, 'cause I can't help myself

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

There's nothing I can do

'Cause you were never just somebody

I still remember the highs, the lows, you come, you go

You leave me broken, black and blue

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

You're still inside of my blood, I won't be done 'til I'm done

I feel you run through my veins

If I've got air in my lungs, baby, then you're still the one

Nothing comes close to the same

Oh, I still can't help myself

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

There's nothing I can do

'Cause you were never just somebody

I still remember the highs, the lows, you come, you go

You leave me broken, black and blue

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

I can't understand it

I'm turning all the damage into madness over you

Oh, baby, I can't stand it

Feel like nothing worse could happen

And I know it's tragic, but not as bad as losing you

But I'll get over you

Baby, over my dead body

There's nothing I can do

'Cause you were never just somebody

I still remember the highs, the lows, you come, you go

You leave me broken, black and blue

But I'll get over you

If it's the last thing I do.”

my heart breaks further as the words of the song wash over me like a ton of bricks, i listen intently to each word, every single line of the song seems as though it perfectly describes exactly how i’m feeling. every single word of the song perfectly captures the way that i’ve felt these past few months. nick and chris look back at me, expecting some sort of reaction. i see a single tear stream down your face as the song ends and i feel a pit in my gut.

the room is nearly dead silent for a few seconds, before the room erupts in applause, meanwhile, i sit there, shell-shocked. how did you manage to describe exactly how ive been feeling these past few months? I see you erupt into tears as you walk off the stage and my body finally allows me to slowly clap, feeling dead inside.

nick and chris look at each other before looking back at me, i remain silent and just sit in my seat, too stunned to move

Your pov

as i sit backstage crying and listening to ‘over you’ on repeat, i feel my heart shatter piece by piece, knowing that matt was there to witness my song, and my breakdown over him. i watch the outside cameras as matt walks away from the venue with his head down

In a spur of the moment decision, i dial up matt’s number and hit call. the call answers and i can’t bring myself to speak. sobs wrack my body, but no words come out.

“y-y/n?”

“i-i meant it! i meant what i said. im not over you. you weren’t ever just ‘somebody’. please.”

“and i’ll get over you if it’s the last thing i do.”

———————————- THE END

taglist: @sassysturniolo2008 @wompwomp-1 @anna-sturniolo

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[lyon-amore]

    I put my hands on my face, resting for about twenty minutes before going back to work. It is just a matter of closing my eyes and waiting for the alarm. I cannot allow myself to sleep much since the last warning, even though it was a year ago, that made me stay on alert.

    A call wakes me up. Of course, it is not for me, but for Macie.     I see on the screen that it is a video call from Jessica. I have been a little too busy today to monitor her conversation, so after getting some rest, I was going to spend the whole night reading them. I am sure if Macie knew, she would be giving me a lecture about how important it is to rest.

    I shake my head at these thoughts and pay attention to both screens. If Jessica is calling this late, it must be important for Hannah's case.     I clasp my hands together and rest my elbows on the table, paying attention.

    "Hello Jessy," Macie greets with a smile, although it fades when she sees Jessica's expression, which seems more worried. "What happened?"

    I see what appears to be a room? At least, what I see behind her is a bed.

   "I thought I heard a noise and I got scared," Jessica walks towards the window, opening the curtain.

    I pay attention to any sounds I hear from the call, if the kidnapper is there, I will have to rule Jessica out as a suspect.

   "Do you see something?" Macie's scared expression is what worries me, for some reason, it makes me feel uncomfortable. Is that the word I am looking for?

    I clench my hands, as if I wanted to grab something.

<<Her hand…>>

   "No, everything's fine," Hannah's friend sighs, moving away from the window, "I'm sorry if you were sleeping Macie."

   "No, don't worry, I wasn't sleeping," shee leans a little to her right, murmuring words. Shee picks up her pet, caressing it. “Do you want to talk until you're better?”

   "I could use any chat right now."

    Macie nods.     Well, I guess if it is not going to be important, I would better turn off the audio.

   "What did you do with what you bought?" I am about to hit the mute button, but Macie answers Jessica.

   "Nothing, it was too big, it didn't fit properly."

    I pause for a moment, my brain is creating images it should not.

   "Oh really? Have you even tried spinning around?"

   "Spinning around, pressure, even with a little help to separate it," my face begins to burn. What did she buy? "If I continued insisting, it would surely destroy it."

    I cough in surprise. What is she going to destroy and with what?

      <<Calm down Jake… I am sure it is not… Well, she can do whatever she wants with her private life, it is… Why does it bother me?>>

   "You should have seen the scene I put on, with my legs spread so wide from the effort," she laughs and I shake my sweatshirt, trying to get some fresh air, "the neighbors have even heard me complain and I live in a house, not an apartment."

    I open my eyes wide enough to imagine sounds in my head that I should not.     Okay, time to close the conversation between women, I should not have heard it.

   "All this to put a screw in the wall?" Jessica laughs and I keep blinking.

   <<What do you mean, a screw?>>

   "Let's just say I didn't have the drill nut the same size as the screw so I tried to force it in with the screwdriver after drilling the hole."

    I hit my head on the desk, breathing hard. My head is spinning from imagining things with her that I should not. How is this possible? This has never happened to me. Well... No, never. I know it sounds weird, but it is like she brings up so many thoughts in so many ways that I do not know how to control them.

    "So all this conversation about a screw, huh?" I take a deep breath, raising my head.

    A fleeting smile appears on her face, a mischievous one. Wait a moment…

   "I have to admit, this is the first time I've heard such funny descriptions of how to hang a painting," Jessica laughs, although I do not, "I’m sure if the boys had heard you, they would have been shocked."

   "What can I say? I love to give my listeners a bit of humor," she smiles in that mischievous way again.

   "You mean the ONLY listener. "

   "Hey, Henry's here too," she lifts him up a little, "he's had to watch me make a fool of myself until I give up on trying to avoid breaking the wall."

    They both laugh, but I do not find it funny. I sit rooted to the spot in my chair, not wanting to move. I am thankful that the only water there is is cold water.

   "Thank you for cheering me up Macie," Jessica calms down, smiling, "I think I'm better."

   "I'm glad to know."

   "Try tomorrow to buy the correct size to make the hole with the drill," her friend reminds her, "the reforms are more expensive than putting up a painting."

   "I'll put it on the list."

   "See you tomorrow, Macie," Jessica says goodbye and Macie does the same.

    I throw my head back, feeling all the heat from my face transfer to my body. Macie knew I would be watching the conversation and after the chat we had about parkour, I feel like I was wrong to talk to her like that. I should not cross the line or she will be the one in danger.

    I get the message sound and sit up. Macie is talking to me.     I cannot talk to her like this… ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Well? How did you liked it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A laugh escapes me when I read that she is trying to imitate me. It calms me down.

   <<I really like talking to her.>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake I do not know what you mean. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I answer the same as her, except that my intention is to make it not obvious that I actually heard it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie My call with Jessy Since I know you hear everything, I thought you had snooped on the call too 😝 You and cats have something in common Your curiosity kills you ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   <<Not only has it killed me, it has turned me into a human oven. Something I never thought could really happen.>>

    I try to answer, but I make so many mistakes because of my nerves that she laughs at me again thinking that I heard her. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Not everything I talk about is going to be about the Jake case 🤭 One also needs to have a normal conversation with friends

Jake In a normal conversation you give all the details, you do not let the other person guess what you were talking about.

Macie You and I weren't talking 😛

Jake But I was listening.

Macie So I was right ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I open and close my mouth. She is tricking me again into talking more.

   <<Well… I am not complaining… She is fun.>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake I apologize for doing that. I know it was inappropriate.

Macie You have to do it for the investigation

Jake I have to do it for the investigation though. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    "Am I so obvious that I was going to answer the same?"

    Apparently, I am not the only one who pays attention to someone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I promise not to do it again 🙏 I just wanted to joke around a little 🤭 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I start to write “But at least I like that you are the one doing it,” but I think it is too much.

   "Stay professional, Jake... just... Do not get excited." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Hey, what if we meet tomorrow for the first time and you put me the nail? 😊❤️ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I read her message several times, trying to figure out if what she says is true, she has ulterior motives, or she is joking.     Seeing her in person would be wonderful, although I would not know what to say, I am sure she would be bored with me.

   <<But you cannot go…>>

   "Thanks reality check."

    I come back from my thoughts and laugh at Macie's message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I meant a real nail this time, Jake, I swear! 😭 Please don't think badly of me!

Jake Hahaha. Well, one thing is clear I never get bored with you :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   <<Maybe I have said this too much?>>

    I am going to delete the message hoping that she has not had time to read it.

    Late, too much time thinking ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I'm not bored with you either You have a funny side 😜 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     A small sigh escapes me as I look at her picture.     It is actually been years since I have had this much fun with someone. And someone who makes me feel like myself again.

    Unfortunately, I have to stop it. If we keep getting our hopes up, we are both going to get hurt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake Unfortunately, I have to decline your offer. I live too far away from you. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lie… I know we are in the same city. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie Mmm… I see You have already told me a little more about yourself 😁

Jake Well, that slipped out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Macie I guess I'll have to deal with the screw alone then... 😏 Ok, now I was kidding 😆 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I would be nervous to see you open up, to see your smile. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jake I noticed :) But try to choose your materials better this time ;)

Macie Yes, dad 🙄 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I would hear your jokes in person while I try to find excuses to stay a little longer, saying that the painting does not look good in every place.     But I am sure you would have noticed that already ------------------------------------------------------------------------------¡

Jake See you tomorrow, Macie.

Macie See you tomorrow, Jake And good night 🤗​

-----Macie is now OFFLINE----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Empty. That is what I feel when I see that notice. Not talking to her all the time reminds me why I am in this situation.

    I rest my head on the desk again, trying to calm my thoughts and focus on working again.

   "I am not like a cat, Macie," I say while I notice how my heart does not stop beating fast, "cats land on their feet, but with you I have crashed to the ground completely."

[sheepheadfred]

Ectoberhaunt Day 2- Dinosaur

Summary: With a portal to the afterlife in his basement, it's a wonder how they haven't been invaded by extinct creatures before. Not that many would complain about it. Danny would care more if it wasn't on a school night.

AO3 link

Damn! These dinosaurs flying at him from all angles at this time of night! Danny has a test to study for that he'd rather do than fight these toothy monsters! A badly done ghost version of Jurrassic Park, though when they said that Sam went off about the horrible capitalist decisions made by the guy in charge that he tuned it out, not in the mood for what is basically a lecture at this time on a school night.

"Where did these extinct lizards even come from? I've never seen them around in the part of the zone the portal is in."

Tired and cranky gripes coming from a half ghost out way past his curfew and definitely getting grounded once he fails that test in school tomorrow.

"Are you really going to complain about real life dinosaurs, ghostly or not, in front of you?"

"Sam, I'm with Danny. I'd rather not get eaten tonight, or see my best friend bite it like he's in Jurrassic Park."

The Fenton Phones are quite useful in battle to receive his friend's support but he really isn't in the mood for their color commentary. All he wants is to go home at this point.

"Thank you peanut gallery, but do either of you have anything helpful to say while I'm being chased by a T-Rex, some small and fast guys, and the winged fossils coming at me?!"

"Technically, those are raptors and Pterosaurs respectively and Pterosaurs aren't actually dinosaurs."

"Can't they all fly, being ghosts and all?", Tucker oh so helpfully chimed in.

"Can't say I'm surprised Sam knows that, but anything i can USE?" Danny is tired and Sam's recent dinosaur kick will serve his irritation right now. He'd appreciate it more if he didn't have to see real ones. At least these creatures being gone aren't something she can get mad at humans for. Something, something how goth it was to learn about these massive animals that no longer exist- right now he can't even care right now if it makes sense.

"Well, excuse me for being well informed! Fine, if you want to be like that just save me one."

"Sam, I am not giving you a ghost dinosaur that you can sic on people," he really should have seen that coming.

"You are no fun, but I guess it would be unfair to cage such beautiful, wild creatures."

"You're still mad your parents won't let you get a tarantula, aren't you?"

Suddenly he felt the shadow and heavy breath of a large mouth about to snap at him. Oh no, was he distracted, are they working together, or both?

"AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaah!" Danny screams, narrowly avoiding being swallowed in one bite.

"We forgot to keep track of them, didn't we?" the deadpan voice in his ear goes.

"No shit, Sherlock." says the snarky voice, answering Danny and Tucker's questions at the same time. Fascination with these creatures aside, it really is time to take it more seriously.

"Since you've already led them to the park, how about -"

This plan took several more hours of back and fourth and near full death. Danny decided to put them back in the zone after school, far away from the portal. If he finds out Vlad was involved he's going to end that man for real.

Danny collapsed on his bed without changing and was awoken three hours later by his dad's booming voice complaining about missing the ghost dinosaurs and that 'no good phantom' a citizen or two must have reported on last night. They weren't exactly quiet after all.

-----

At school, Dannys meets up with his friends who somehow got in an argument about how dino meat tasted vs the ethics of finding out.

"Can we not do this today, please?" Danny is so tired and if they try to pull him in he will just leave. He's already dreading going to class and he does not need their petty debate added to it.

Two 'Hey, Danny's and a thankfully dropped subject later and they headed inside.

"Still want a raptor, though..."

Tucker and Danny looked at each other and just sighed. Exasperated, Danny replies, "Just get a bird, then. Didn't you say they are descendants of dinosaurs or something?"

"Of all the things you remember from my research and it's that. Not a bad idea, though. Raptors are beautiful and endangered creatures, I should learn falconry."

Danny just looked at her and went, "Are you fucking with us right now, because i seriously can't tell."

"Talking bird capitalism, babey..."

Tucker's deadpan delivery was enough to get all three sleep deprived teens laughing and almost missing the first bell.

[bibbityboppitybillyharvgrove]

Admiration - S.Black

Summary - Y/N and Sirius Black are spending their time together watching muggle Christmas movies, more like she was watching and he was watching her. Even though he had seen these movies a million times he would never change it for the world.

Word Count - 512

Warnings - Female reader, use of Y/N, Sirius in love, not proofread

Author's Note - Hello my friends! Welcome to day 10!! I know this is getting posted later once again but I've been super busy the last few days. I spent like 6 hours doing homework today before the end of my semester this week. When all of my work is done, I will be more consistant and on time with my posting. I hope you enjoy!

Harry Potter Masterlist

my masterlist

25 days of fics masterlist

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged

Enjoy!

not my gif

not my gif

In the twenty-first century, there came a plethora of first world problems, like not knowing what to watch on tv, the internet going down and so on. One of these problems was currently occurring in the Black household.

“Baby, I don’t know what to watch,” Y/N whined to her husband. She had been scrolling aimlessly through streaming service after streaming service trying to find something for them to watch that they hadn’t seen before. Sirius walked into the room with a smirk on his face.

“I already know exactly what you’re gonna go right back to. Just turn it on,” He told her as he plopped down on the sofa right next to her. 

“But you always complain that we’ve seen them so many times. I wanna watch something different.” 

“If you can’t find anything now, I don’t think you ever will. Just turn it on, even if we’ve seen it a million times.” She sighed but listened, turning on her go to Christmas movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Despite how many times she has seen it, she will watch it over and over again. Sirius swears she could quote the whole movie if she had to.

He lovingly watched as his wife mouthed the words to the film as she was hyper-focused on the tv in front of her. He continued this until the end of the movie. She only looked to her husband when the credits began to roll. “What?” She giggled under his gaze, her heart fluttering in her chest as she looked in his eyes.

“Nothing,” He shrugged as he continued to take in her appearance. She had a day off so she spent it as a lazy day. She had lounged on the sofa waiting for her husband to return home from work most of the day, her hair was still messy from waking up, mascara smudged under her eyes, her body drowning in a large t-shirt and a pair of shorts. She felt like she looked disgusting but Sirius would disagree. He thought that she looked even more beautiful than usual, her skin glowing, her hair was healthy and her eyes sparkling with joy.

“Stop looking at me like that!” She whined as she hid her face in his chest. 

“Like what?” He questioned with a chuckle.

“Like I’m your last meal! I swear you’re more like Padfoot than you think, baby.”

“Oh shush. I’m simply admiring my beautiful wife, am I not allowed to do that?” She picked her head up, pecking his cheek and brushing off his question.

“Turn on something you want to watch.”She handed him the remote, and he changed the film to another one that she enjoyed, Elf. As he slung his arm around the back of the couch behind her, she took the opportunity to snuggle into his side and take in his warmth. Sirius had never believed that he would get a life like this but he thanked his lucky stars that he did. He would never give up the life he has with Y/N.

[cetaitlaverite]

Can we maybe see jealous Rosie? Maybe during the war or whenever you think it makes sense. Maybe some new guys don't know Freddie is with him. Whatever you think. Thank you!

absolutely you can!! this is set a few days after freddie returns to thorpe abbotts after she and rosie got married. it got just a little bit suggestive at the end - hope you don't mind!!

this is the first of the requests i've gotten to so far but if you've sent one in, rest assured it is on the list/in progress!! and as always, the masterlist is here <3

Freddie was back at the piano. She’d had an urge to play all day. After arriving back at Thorpe Abbotts, the last few days had been a whirlwind - being filled in on Operation Corona efforts from her stand-in, getting everything planned and prepared to pick up seamlessly from there, filling out all the necessary paperwork to get her last name changed on her WAAF profile - and she just hadn’t had time for music in the chaos it had become. But she was a married woman now and there was so much she wanted to say and yet hadn’t properly been able to, not through her music. When Rosie left after the wedding she hadn’t had too many songs left in her, not between all the worrying, but she was full of them now. Love songs, songs full of passionate crescendos and beautiful, twinkly beginnings. Rosie had inspired so many emotions in her from the moment she’d laid eyes on him but never more than now, when he’d come back from the dead and married her the next day.

No one had made it to the officers’ club just yet - it was too early in the evening, Freddie supposed. But she had finished work early today and had gotten ready early. Now, her hair was placed in pristine curls and her makeup was freshly reapplied, her uniform ironed and her earrings in, and yet there was no one here to appreciate it - save for Atley the barman, that was, who had jokingly complained when he had accepted Meatball’s water bowl from her but filled it up for free nonetheless.

Meatball was keeping Freddie company, as he tended to, by lying beneath the piano bench. He had heard her play the piano so many times by now he knew exactly where to go and what to do with himself, and was able to tune it out and fall asleep. And he was so sound asleep, and Freddie so deep in her playing, that neither of them noticed when the club started to fill up with wireless operators and American Red Cross girls, American airmen and ATA pilots alike.

Freddie’s fingers lingered over the keys when she finished playing a song she was happy with, a song she would have written down had she had any paper. She peeled her eyes open with a smile. Rosie would love that one, she thought. Well, Rosie loved all of her songs, but he would especially love that one. He had always uniquely understood what she was trying to communicate in her music and she knew he’d understand the depth of her affection for him after hearing that song.

With a grin, Freddie turned on the bench to face the door, hoping Rosie might enter through it any moment now, but gasped and pressed a hand against her startled heart when she was met with four unfamiliar faces instead.

“Buy you a drink?” one of them asked, an expectant smirk on his lips.

Freddie’s eyebrows furrowed. These must be new arrivals, she thought - presumably, they had arrived while she was on R&R. She didn’t think she’d ever seen them before and she was sure they’d never seen her - if they had even the slightest idea of who she was they certainly wouldn’t still be standing there.

“No, thank you,” Freddie managed to reply after a few beats. Before she could say anything more she found herself being cut off.

“Aw, come on,” one of the other airmen spoke. “Playing all those tunes has gotta take it outta ya. And it just ain’t right for a pretty lady like yourself to be sittin’ all on your lonesome, and with no drink at that.”

“Let one of us keep you company,” chimed in one of the others.

“Better yet, let all of us keep you company,” added another.

“Four drinks and four dates, how’s a lady gonna say no to that?” asked the first.

“I’m married,” Freddie said, holding up her left hand to display the two rings on her ring finger.

One of the men smirked. “I don’t see a husband.”

“You will soon,” Freddie said.

The airman closest to her lifted one eyebrow. “He work here?”

“Major Rosenthal is my husband,” Freddie explained. She raised both eyebrows. “Will you take my no for an answer now?”

Three of the men’s faces fell. Fear briefly flickered through one of their eyes. The fourth, however, didn’t bat an eye. “Major Rosenthal ain’t married,” he said, flicking his wrist as though batting away her rejection. “Now don’t be difficult. All we’re asking is to buy you a drink, maybe dance a little.”

“Major Rosenthal is recently married,” Freddie corrected, turning on the piano bench to face the group properly. “To me. The day after he came back here after his fort went down.”

The same doubtful airman scoffed. “You expect us to believe the first thing Major Rosenthal did after being carted across Europe with a sprained wrist and damn-near hypothermia is marry you?”

Freddie rolled her eyes and sat up straighter. “Believe it or don’t believe it, I really don’t care. But my answer is still no. I don’t want your drinks and I certainly don’t want to dance with you.”

The airman sat back into one of his hips, tilting his head back with a dramatic roll of his eyes and smoothing out his eyebrows with one hand. He shook his head briefly, then stepped forward and bent down until he was at eye level with Freddie. No longer was he smiling and smirking. His gaze was hard. “Fucking difficult broad,” he snarled. “Should think yourself fucking lucky we’re trying so hard to loosen you up -”

“We got a problem here, gentlemen?” Rosie interrupted. His voice was light and casual on the surface but its hard edge was undeniable. Immediately, Freddie stood and hurried into his side, less out of fear and more to prove her point, but Rosie was all too happy to lift his arm for her to snuggle up under, his gaze unwavering on the group of airmen currently staring back at him with jaws agape.

“They don’t think you’re married, Major,” Freddie said when none of them replied. She was looking up at him from beneath his arm with wide, innocent eyes. “They think I’m lying when I say I’m your wife.”

Rosie’s eyes found hers and now there was a twinkle of amusement in them. “That so, honey?”

“Yes, my love. And apparently I’m a ‘fucking difficult broad’ for telling them I don’t want to dance or have a drink with them, and I’m ‘fucking lucky’ they would even try.”

“Filthy language,” Rosie disapproved, turning back to the airmen. Now his eyes were hard, his lips drawn in a thin line.

He was greeted with four sets of eyes filled with horror, four Adam's apples bobbing as lumps in throats were swallowed.

“I ever catch you speaking to any woman like that again you’ll be grounded and on latrine duty so fast you’ll mistake the toilet bowl for your bomb sight, you understand? And if I ever catch you speaking to my wife like that again you’ll be court-martialled so fast you won’t know what’s happened ‘til you’re sitting in the damn cell. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” chorused all four voices at once.

“That ain’t how you boys have been taught to treat any woman and it’s certainly a problem that you tried it out on my wife,” Rosie responded. His voice was still casual and yet authoritative. His arm around Freddie’s shoulders was protective. “Now, if I were you I’d call it a night and we won’t have any more problems, gentlemen. But that’s up to you.”

“Yes, sir,” they all replied once more.

“Fantastic,” Rosie said. He flashed a smile at each of them in turn. “Glad we see eye to eye on this. Make sure you hand what’s left of your drinks back into the bar, see if they can be refilled and passed on to someone else. You want one, honey?” Rosie directed this last question at Freddie, looking down at her with a small smile.

“No thank you, my darling love,” Freddie answered him sweetly, pushing up briefly on her toes to beg a kiss which he promptly gave her. She didn’t drink beer and he knew it, but she knew he was feeling protective and wanted to flex his muscles a little bit. He had earned it, she thought. And it wasn’t often she got to see him jealous, not when everyone on base quickly learned that Freddie was Rosie’s girl and thus made sure to keep a wide berth. She was rather enjoying it. She thought the two of them would probably have to cut their night short, too, though for entirely different reasons to the group of airmen currently nodding, eyes wide like deer in headlights.

“Alright,” Rosie agreed. He turned back to the disciplined airmen. “Dismissed.”

They scattered like a handful of marbles dropped on a hardwood floor, hurrying over to hand their drinks back into the bar before scurrying out of the door with their tails between their legs. The last in line threw one final glance back over his shoulder as though he expected Rosie to follow them. 

As soon as the door closed behind them Freddie turned into Rosie completely, wrapping both of her arms around him and nuzzling into his chest. “Thank you, Bärchen,” she said softly.

Rosie’s arms twined around her in turn, holding her close. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before answering, “Not a thing, honey. I don’t think they’ll give you trouble again but let me know if they do, alright?”

Freddie hummed her agreement.

“You want a drink?”

“I want you,” Freddie replied simply. She withdrew her head from his chest to look up at him with a coy smile. “Can I have you?”

“Now?” Rosie asked. He was starting to grin.

“So big and strong and protective,” Freddie said, tilting her head to one side. She moved her hands to his biceps and started rubbing slowly up and down, gazing up at him from beneath her lashes. “Yes now. Millie and Jem will look after Meatball and I happen to know for a fact my office is empty.”

“Oh?” Rosie humoured her. “That’s convenient.”

“Isn’t it just?” Freddie mused. “So what do you say, Major? Gonna let me take you on a date?”

“Absolutely I am,” Rosie decided, his eyes all lit up with stars. “Whatever my princess wants.”

Freddie laughed, taking his hand and starting to cart him towards the door with her. “And they thought you weren’t married.”

[justalittleprince]

I just came to remember The Grays from Netflix ig??? while I was taking a bath after work and I was like

Like I know maybe not many people are talking about it now but I haven't complained about anything today and since I can't be happy, here I go. Because oh boy, I have A LOT of things to say about this

Starting with the modern environment. I know, the story could work in a modern environment because of the context of the whole story and it's meaning. But I can't help but think in a more superficial way (which I KNOW they are) the portrait itself doesn't work... Internet filters, Photoshop, PLASTIC SURGERY IDK. There, problem solved. I'm just saying incoherent stuff at this point bc I want to complain about something. But going to the thing that actually matters...

Dorian's and Basil RELATIONSHIP. Who tf told them it was a good idea to make them siblings??? SIBLINGS.

They're ruining their complete relationship, Basil's whole character arc. They're changing it completely and I don't like it. His own thoughts about Sybil Vane. There was a scene in the book that broke me, where Dorian, Henry and Basil are on their way to the theater and the absolute heartbreak that was reading to Basil's thoughts alone during the whole ride, it's something I won't have. THE LOVE CONFESSION.

That is such an important piece of the story, it's indicative for Dorian that he has power over Basil. Of course, that was also changed in that weird movie back in 2009 (the only piece of cinema I've seen because I cannot find the others 😞) but at least personally I liked the kiss part, idk.

I just DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY'RE DOING

And like, 2 things came to my mind, one more possible than the other

1. They're gonna do really weird stuff

2. The most probable one, they are literally changing things so much that at this point it won't be The Picture of Dorian Gray, it will be just a random story with their names on it (except for Basil my poor baby doesn't deserve this)

And last but not least... Henry. What are they going to do with him, what are their plans? I am not really informed what the whole thing is going to be, but I don't know what's going to be with Henry. Modern environment, knowing how Henry is the minimum thing he would say and he would be absolutely BLASTED in social media, cancelled on Twitter and all /j

Or, just my thoughts I really don't know, but seeing how things are going they could change his character so much he wouldn't be Henry Wotton and would be more like Enrique Waton

Anyways, I finished rambling now, imma disappear for another fifty centuries