#latest piggy bank

[lesbianstarlightglimmer]

Still waiting on my package 😔

[sweet-villain]

Cause I Believe~ Older Eddie Munson ~3

Part 2

Summary : You and Eddie keep poking each other until Steve has your back.

“You’re going to love it,” Dustin beamed as he pushed open the door to the record store, the familiar chime of bells ringing out.

Dusty light filtered through racks of vinyl, reflecting the vivid album covers. The scent of old paper and musky wood enveloped you, yet an inexplicable tension hung in the air.

“Uh, about that… I’m not sure I—”

“Shh!” Dustin dropped his voice, eyes wide. “Look over there!”

You followed his gaze. Eddie Munson stood behind the counter, arms crossed, brow furrowed. The chain around his neck jingled slightly as he leaned forward, fixing a scowl on you. He wore a sleeveless top and black skinny jeans as his hair held up in a messy bun. 

“What are you doing here?” Eddie’s voice sliced through the murmur of the store like a serrated knife.

“Dustin brought me,” you mumbled, feeling heat prick at your cheeks.

A flicker of annoyance flickered in his eyes. “Great. Just what I needed.”

Dustin elbowed you gently, eyes dancing. “Come on, don’t be shy. Eddie loves having guests.”

“Yeah, my favorite hobby,” Eddie replied, smirking with a hint of sarcasm. “You two can browse while I pretend to care.”

Your feet shifted, the need to bolt coursing through you. “Maybe I should—”

“Stay,” he interrupted, expression darkening. “It’s fine.”

A silence draped over you, thick and heavy, as you weighed your options.

You bite down on your bottom lip, chewing on it enough to draw blood. You were looking around the store, it looks more like Eddie style as he must of changed it up. 

“Do you have any new arrivals?” Dustin asked, enthusiasm bubbling in his voice.

Eddie rolled his eyes but a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me that…” He shook the piggy bank on the counter, " I'd be rich." 

Dustin leaned against the counter, practically vibrating with curiosity. “So, what’s the latest? You got anything that’ll blow our minds?” 

Eddie snorted, " Like blow princess mind over there, hm?" he motions to you. 

You squirmed under that slight jab, the warm embarrassment creeping up your neck.

“I—” you stammered.

Dustin’s laughter bubbled. “Eddie’s just kidding! He has a warped sense of humor. Isn’t that right?" 

" Right you are" Eddie rolls his eyes, " Princess over there said she was done with the banter, now she's back for more.. classic..." 

Eddie leaned back against the counter, arms crossed defiantly. “I’m just stating facts. Look at her—she wants to bolt.”

You held your ground, brows furrowing. “I thought you liked it when people came by.”

He snorted, " not when they are ... you" Dustin chuckled, tapping his fingers on the counter. “Come on, Eddie, don’t scare her off. She’s brave enough to come here.” 

Eddie leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto yours. “Is she really? I thought the princess had enough of me, her words exactly " I'm done with you" Eddie waves his hands as he rolled his eyes.

A spark of fire ignited in your chest. “I never said I was done.” 

“Yeah?” Eddie leaned in, an eyebrow cocked, curiosity flaring. “What did you say then?”

You glanced around, the tension pooled between, " You're complicated, Munson. It's irritating and making things hard when you shut people out, when all I want to do is get close to you and be your friend. " 

His eyes narrowed, the smirk faltering. “Close or... closer? You know what I mean.” He straightened up. “Can’t keep everyone at arm’s length forever, then watch them get hurt, I am not intrested to be your therapist or your friend, sweetheart. " 

A rush of frustration pulsed through you. “I don’t need a therapist. I just want—”

“What? A tour of my tragic life story?” Eddie interrupted, arms crossed tighter against his chest, his jaw clenched. “How it you always want to prick at me? Only me?" he asks. 

A spark of defiance flickered in your chest. “You make it sound like I’m the villain. I just—”

“Just what? Sneak in, play the friend card, then disappear once things get real?” Eddie leaned forward. " Take my advice sweetheart, just because your my neightbor doesn't mean I want a buddy or the next person to fuck.." 

You clenched your fists, heart hammering in your chest. “You don’t get to decide that for me, Munson. I can choose who I want to be around.”

" Just go back to bussing the table's at Harrington's diner." 

The words landed like a cold splash of water. You bristled, fists tightening at your sides as the weight of his word hung between you.

“Do you think you know me that well?” you shot back, your voice low but steady. " I just moved here, I don't know anyone like you do shit head. I'm thankful your friends helped me and Steve gave me a job." 

Eddie smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. “Oh, right. The noble job at the diner. What a solid life choice, huh? Look at you—soaring through the world one plate at a time.”

" At least I don't smell like a trash can, and look decent" you motion to yourself. 

Eddie’s brow arched, amusement flaring in his eyes like a spark igniting kindling. “Oh, sweetheart, don’t flatter yourself. I’d like to think I’m a classic original, not some cookie-cutter model in a tray." 

" Look at you, you put your hair up today. You probably didn't wash it and said what the hell, your clothes are wrinkled and when was the last time you did laundry?" 

Eddie’s lips parted in mock offense. “Just because I like to live in the moment doesn’t mean I’m a complete disaster.”

“Right, because that ‘living in the moment’ look is definitely all the rage now,” you shot back. 

"At least I can get laid" he shot back, annoyed. The challenge hung in the air like a thunderhead, palpable and charged. You narrowed your eyes at him. “Maybe you should stop relying on that one-liner, Munson. Not every girl is taken in by bravado and half-hearted insults and whatever this is" you point towards him.

Eddie leaned back, arms folding tighter against his chest, as if bracing for impact. “What can I say? I’m an acquired taste.” 

“More like a bad aftertaste,” you countered, a smirk tugging at your lips. " Bet you're carrying something too with how many times that dicks been around." 

Eddie’s eyes widened, a flicker of surprise passing over his face before he quickly masked it with a cocky grin. “Ah, I see what you did there. Feel free to swing that witty banter my way anytime.” He leaned against the records. 

" Now guys, don't argue and do this" Dustin says standing between the two of you. 

Dustin raised his hands like a referee caught in a boxing match, shifting awkwardly. “Come on, you two! This is a record store, not a wrestling ring.”

" She can't handle anything coming out of my mouth" Eddie mutters. 

Dustin rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Eddie? She’s standing right here.”

“Let her speak for herself then,” Eddie leaned back against the counter, his gaze unwavering. 

Unsure whether to feel offended or amused, you narrowed your glance at Eddie. 

" Hey smelly, your zipper is down" you pointed out. 

Eddie’s hands darted down to his jeans, fingers fumbling over the unzipped fly. A sharp breath hissed from his lips, and he shot you a look—that mix of horror and indignation.

“Very funny,” he mutters.

" You missed a button on the pants too" you snickered.Eddie shot you a glare, the flush of embarrassment painting his cheeks.

“Laughter doesn’t suit you, princess.” He fumbled to fix his fly, frustration spilling from him like a poorly written punk song. “Try harder next time.”

" Your tattoos stink too, random patterns and don't make sense. Did you draw them yourself?" you asked. 

Eddie’s jaw dropped in mock offense, his brown eyes narrowing to slits. “Excuse me? You might not grasp the subtle beauty of my ink, but it’s a map of my soul, babe.”

“Don't call me babe, that's not in your vocabualry" 

Eddie leaned closer, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Oh, but I think it is now. You seem to inspire creativity in me,” he shot back, voice low and playful.

“Is that what you call that? Creativity?” You asked.

" Guys!" Dustin shouted, " Stop it"

“Fine.” Eddie raised his hands in mock surrender, the defiant glint in his eyes still unyielding. “I’ll keep the creativity to myself. Wouldn’t want to overwhelm anyone.” 

" Giving up already, Munson?" He stops in his tracks, his nose twitching in annoyance. 

Eddie’s jaw ticked, the hint of a challenge sparking in those dark eyes. “I don’t give up, sweetheart. I merely adjust my strategy.” He stepped closer, closing the distance. 

" Watch your mouth" he adds. Eddie’s breath brushed against your skin, an intoxicating mix of musk and rebellion. You held his gaze, daring him to step even closer.

“Just adjusting it, huh?” you shot back, feeling the hum of tension crackling between you two. 

" You're still new here, sweetheart. Don't fall into a hole" he chuckles, " or fall on your ass at the diner." 

“Maybe you should worry about falling into your own hole,” you fired back, the heat of the moment giving you courage. “I wouldn’t want you to cut yourself on all those jagged edges.”

Eddie’s lips curled into a wicked grin.

" What a mouth you have" he leans close, " get out of my store." 

You stood your ground, heart racing, the tension between you thickening like smoke in the air. 

“Am I banned already?” you teased, crossing your arms defiantly. 

Eddie leaned back again, the corner of his mouth tugging into a smirk.

" This isn't a place for you, sweetheart." Dustin rolled his eyes, interjecting with a bold gesture. “Seriously, Eddie. Any girl brave enough to face you deserves a medal, not a ‘get out’ sign.”

Eddie leaned back, crossing his arms with a cocky grin. 

" She's not a girl, she's a brat" he says. 

Dustin threw his hands up in exasperation. “Congratulations, Eddie. You’ve managed to offend everyone in one sentence. Seriously, who taught you how to interact with people?”

You rolled your eyes at Dustin’s response, allowing the corner of your mouth to smirk.

" Let him, Dustin. He's going to get what's coming to him" 

“Yeah, well, I doubt that’s going to be pretty,” Eddie shot back, the sarcasm dripping from his words. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed defiantly. 

" Oh Eddie" Dustin pinched the brige of his nose. 

“Seriously, man. Just let her be. You’re practically a magnet for trouble,” Dustin continued, glancing between you and Eddie.

Eddie shrugged, feigning indifference, though the amusement sparkled in his eyes. “Trouble? As if she can handle me." He points a thumb your way. 

“Handle you? I believe I’m doing just fine, thank you,” you shot back, feeling a rush of adrenaline fuel your words.

Eddie chuckled, arms stretching as he leaned back against the counter, clearly amused by the back-and-forth.

" Handle me? You could never handle a real man like me" 

“Real man?” You scoffed, the words dripping with sarcasm. “I think you’re more of a fantasy than anything close to reality, Munson.”

Eddie feigned shock, a look of exaggerated disbelief flashing across his face.

" Nice to know you fantize about me, sweetheart" 

Your heart raced—not entirely from his teasing words but rather from the simmering electricity between the two of you. You rolled your eyes, playing it cool. “Please. That’s a nightmare, not a fantasy. Too much leather and... what was just a bad taste in my mouth." 

The door opened as people stepped in, Eddie moved his hands, " I have real customers to attend to." 

Eddie's voice sliced through the tension, a clear dismissal hanging in the air like the scent of burnt toast. He turned, catching the newcomers with a blink-and-snap attention, pushing the playful atmosphere aside like a pile of discarded records.

Dustin mumbles, " ignore him. He's just being Eddie." 

You flipped Eddie off behind his back and it's like he knew you would do that as he turned around to catch it. 

Eddie caught your gesture, his eyes narrowing into slits of amusement. A mocking grin spread across his lips as he crossed his arms. “Charming. Real classy, sweetheart,” he quipped, the edge of his voice laced with a venom.

You put the other finger up to match your hand, grinning at him. 

A bemused glint sparked in Eddie’s eyes as he surveyed the double-barreled salute. “You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that,” he said, smirking. “But I’m not so easily intimidated, sweetheart.”

This time you knocked over a bunch of stacked records, shrugging. 

" Oops" 

The vinyls tumbled like dominos, a cacophony of sound echoing through the store. Dustin’s eyes widened as he dove to catch a few.

“Whoa—be careful!” he exclaimed, trying to salvage the albums.

Eddie gasped as he grabbed his hair racing to get to them. 

Eddie sprinted around the counter, a dash of urgency breaking through his previous nonchalance. “Great, just great! These are limited editions, you know!” He dove to catch the albums tumbling toward the floor, eyes wide as if he scrambles to get them. 

Nothing was damaged but he's going to be hours at this. 

“Yeah, real shame if those special editions ended up with scratches,” you called out, feigning concern as you surveyed the chaos. The corner of your mouth twitched, suppressed laughter bubbling beneath your annoyance. 

Eddie grunted, hands gripping one as he glared up at you. 

“Just so you know,” he huffed, “vinyl isn’t just for decoration, okay? They’re sacred!” 

You leaned against a nearby shelf, arms crossed, feigning innocence. “ I spy another stack, and my fingers are itching..." you taunt him. 

Eddie’s eyes flared, a mixture of irritation and amusement painting his features. “Touch one more and I might just ban you for life, sweetheart. You’re treading on thin vinyl.” 

Dustin scrambled to his feet, helping Eddie up as he shook his head at you. 

" Y/N, don't. Don't do it." 

You smirked making your way to his counter, seeing Eddie's backpack on the seat. 

" What do we have here.." 

Eddie’s eyes darted to his backpack, panic flickering across his face like shadows skittering in the wind. “No, no, no! Don’t touch that!” He lunged forward. But your hands are already on his song book.

You flipped the cover open, a whirlwind of scribbled lyrics and doodles spilling out like secrets. Eddie halted mid-lunge, his expression morphing from hurried concern to a mix of disbelief and fury.

“Seriously?” he hissed, heart racing as he stomped over. 

" These are really deep... oh this is about a girl.." you continued to read. Eddie’s eyes widened; the color drained from his face. “You’ve got no business looking at that!” His voice dropped an octave, baring sharp edges as he reached for the book, but you danced sideways, holding it just out of his reach. 

" I swear... you're annoying little shit!" he shouts. 

Eddie lunged again, arms reaching for the notebook, but you deftly sidestepped, spinning away just as he made contact. The reckless thrill of the chase danced between you, an unexpected exhilaration igniting the air. 

“Oh she broke your heart... oh boo hoo..." you put your fist up to your eyes pretending to cry. Eddie’s eyes blazed with a mix of irritation and amusement. “It’s not funny, princess!” He arched an eyebrow, hands planted firmly on his hips, trying to exude authority despite the absurdity of the situation.

“Oh, and you loved her... awe... so your still heart broken over her?" 

Eddie’s expression twisted between annoyance and embarrassment. “How creative of you, Y/N. Why don’t you just take your little act on the road?” His hands fisted at his sides, muscles taut with a mix of frustration and something else.

You flipped a page, your voice trailing off as you scanned the handwritten lyrics. The words jumped out, raw and unfiltered. Pain, longing, and a haunting melody flowed from the page, capturing emotions too vast to contain. 

Eddie lunged and took the book from you.

You caught sight of the box at the edge of the counter—a treasure trove of colorful guitar picks, some adorned with skulls, others with cartoon characters. A devious grin formed on your lips. 

“Oh, what do we have here?”

" Would you stop touching my shit?" 

Eddie’s voice dripped with exasperation, eyes narrowing at you. “Those aren’t toys, you know.”

You shrugged, flicking through the box of picks, your fingers dancing over the designs. “ I could use some of these.." you trailed. 

Eddie’s irritation simmered just below the surface, his hand reaching to snatch them back. “Those are mine! Seriously, you can’t just pluck at my stuff like it’s fair game.” 

You flicked a sparkly pink, " You like pink? The color pink? Are you secretly a princess, Munson?" 

Eddie’s eyes widened, a mixture of offense and disbelief washing over his features. “First of all, who doesn’t like a good pop of color? And second, I am not a princess.” He snatched the pick from your fingers, and that's when you see a guitar necklace. 

" Don't touch that, Y/N" Dustin warns knowing what you just took in your hands. The guitar necklace dangled from your fingers, catching the light with its glossy finish. A tiny electric guitar dangled at the end of a delicate chain, the craftsmanship exquisite. 

Eddie’s eyes widened, panic etching his features. “Seriously! That is off limits" he growled, eyes full of hurt. 

You swung the necklace gently, letting it shimmer in the light. “What’s this? A token of your accomplishments, Eddie? Or is it a gift for a special someone?” The sarcasm dripped from your tone, the thrill of teasing him. 

His eyes brim with tears as he pushed you against the counter and snatched the necklace as he said not a word to you. 

Eddie's grip tightened around the tiny electric guitar pendant, his breathing ragged. The intimacy of the moment hung between you, thick and electric, like the air before a storm.

" Don't touch what doesn't belong to you, kid" 

His voice dropped to a low growl, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity. The close proximity set your heart racing, the warmth of his body radiating against yours, defiance bubbling just beneath the surface.

“Fine,” you shot back, " nothing special about it anyways" Eddie jaw tenses as he looks at Dusin. 

" You either take her out of here before I snap or there will be hell..." 

Dustin held his hands up, wide-eyed, a referee caught between two feuding players. “Okay, how about we all just breathe for a second?”

" Dustin" Eddie warns. 

Dustin raised his hands higher, his eyes darting between the two of you, desperate to diffuse the tension. “We can talk this out, guys. Really. No need to escalate, right?”

" Get her out of here, now Henderson!" Eddie shouts. 

You glared at him, heart pounding, desperate to maintain the bravado. Eddie, with his wild hair and defiance, had a way of throwing you off balance; he was like chaos wrapped in leather and ink.

“Okay, okay!” Dustin said taking your hands, " What have you done, Y/N... " Dustin pushes you out as he talks. 

Once outside, the bustling noise of the street swallowed the tumultuous atmosphere of the record store. The sunlight beat down, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air as you let out a sharp breath. A swirl of emotions swirled within you—

" I didn't meant to, I just was playing around" you mumbled. 

Dustin rubbed the back of his neck, glancing back at the store. “Trust me, things can get tense between you two. You really shouldn't poke at him like that. You know how Eddie is.”

" No I don't know, I just moved here not long ago" 

Dustin sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “You’re like a magnet for chaos, you know that? Eddie's one of my best friends, but he has... a lot going on.." 

" I'm sorry, Dustin" 

“Sorry isn’t going to cut it with him,” Dustin said, shaking his head. “He doesn’t do well with people prying into his life. Especially when it comes to his—” he hesitated, searching for the right words.

" His what?" 

Dustin shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the ground as if the asphalt could offer him some kind of guidance. “His past,” he finally said, frustration creeping into his voice. “He’s had a rough go of it. Just…" 

" Just what?" 

Dustin hesitated, glancing again towards the record store, his expression pained as if he were weighing the consequences of speaking too freely. 

“Eddie doesn’t let many people in, okay? He guards his heart like it's everythign to him." 

You crossed your arms, letting Dustin's words settle like heavy stones in your gut. “So, what? I have to tiptoe around him? Play nice just to stay on his good side?”

Dustin sighed, his expression a mix of emotions.

" Just let him be" 

“Let him be?” you echoed, arms still crossed, the weight of the situation settling heavily on your shoulders. “Isn’t that exactly what’s gotten us to this point? I can’t just pretend he’s some untouchable person. He lives next door for crying out loud." 

Dustin pinched the bridge of his nose, visibly torn between your frustrations and Eddie’s burdens. “It’s not that simple. You push him, you’ll only drive him further away. Trust me.”

“Trust you?” You scoffed, " that's hard." 

Dustin winced, hands shoved deep into his pockets, shoulders slumping slightly. “I get that you don’t know him. And honestly, I can’t blame you for being frustrated. But Eddie... he’s different. You have to treat him carefully.. he's been through worse than all of us has.." 

You ran a hand through your hair, frustration bubbling like molten lava beneath your skin. “So what, I’m just supposed to coddle him? Buy him flowers and serenade him to win his heart?” 

Dustin chuckled, " He's not into that." 

“Exactly! He’s all about the edgy, tortured artist routine,” you snapped, exasperation boiling over. “I’m tripping over myself trying to figure him out, and all I get in return is attitude wrapped in leather and sarcasm." 

Dustin sighs, " Give him time." 

“Time,” you echoed, bitterness lacing the word. “Time doesn’t change someone who’s stubborn as a mule and closed off like a vault.” 

" You don't know him like I do" 

" Yeah he calls me kid, I'm not that young and he brings girls over every weekend. It never stops..." Dustin frowned, running a hand through his unruly hair. “He’s not bringing them over for good reasons. Trust me.” He glanced back toward the record store, worry etching his features. “You have no idea what he’s dealing with." 

" He's fucking them left and right and I have to hear it all" 

Dustin grimaced, and you could see the gears turning in his mind.

“Look, I know it sounds wild. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism or...” his voice trailed off, uncertainty flickering in his brown eyes. “Eddie's complicated, but he has his moments. He's my best friend and one of many I've trusted with my life.." 

You let out a breath, frustration mixing with something deeper—curiosity, maybe. “Moments? Like being a jerk?” 

" No" Dustin shook his head, " you'll understand one day.." 

You crossed your arms tighter, clouded thoughts swirling like storm clouds. “I’m all ears if you want to elaborate.”

"Don't you have work? Steve might rip my head off if I make you late" 

You glanced at the clock on the shop's mirrored wall, its hands ticking ominously. “Crap, I really do,” you muttered, guilt twisting in your stomach.

" Drive safe" Dustin says, " Don't be too hard on yourself either." 

You nodded, forcing a smile as you turned away, but the knot in your stomach lingered like a heavy stone. The conversation replayed in your mind as you strode down the street—Eddie’s sharp tongue, those fierce eyes, and the anger. 

As you arrived at the diner, Steve had a phone in his hand.

" I was about to call you, where have you been?" He asks. 

You brushed a hand through your hair, still feeling the sting of your earlier encounter with Eddie at the record store. “Just… hanging out,” you replied, a little too quickly, glancing away as you walked past Steve towards the bustling kitchen.

Steve follows sensing something isn't right. 

" What happened?" 

You shrugged, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than anything genuine. “Nothing, really. Just... hanging out with Dustin.”

Steve raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Dustin doesn’t usually leave you looking like someone just stepped on a banana peel." 

" Steve, please" 

You straightened, the mask slipping ever so slightly. “I just had a… disagreement with Eddie..." 

Steve leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his brow furrowing. " Oh, you two haven't fucked yet?" 

A wave of heat rushed up your neck, and for a moment, you were too stunned to respond. 

“What?” Steve laughed, clearly enjoying the shock on your face. “It’s a valid question!"

" Absouletly not, Harrington" your nose scrunched up. 

Steve crossed his arms, the grin stretching wider. "Oh, come on! That’s the fun part, right? The tension, the fighting, and the inevitable—”

“Steve!” You interrupted, heat spilling over, forcing it down before anyon hears. " Eddie would be the last person I fuck if the world ended." 

Steve laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Sure, keep telling yourself that. It sounds convincing.” 

" I would rather have you instead" you giggled, teasing, " Eddie is more like a trash can." 

Steve's smirk widened, eyes alight with amusement. “Are you suggesting I’m the shiny new model? Because I’d argue I’m more like the deluxe edition.” He adjusted an imaginary tie, the playful confidence rolling off him in waves.

" You're funny, but I'm saying if it came down to fucking. It would be you over Eddie any day." 

Steve's laugh echoed through the kitchen, bright and infectious. “Oh, I appreciate the compliment. You know I’m a solid choice.” He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, a playful glint lighting up his eyes. “But you have the hots for Eddie." 

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms defiantly. “I don’t have the ‘hots’ for anyone. Especially not him.” 

Steve leaned in, that mischievous sparkle dancing in his gaze. “Oh, really? Because the way you talk about him says otherwise. It's always Eddie this and Eddie that." 

You scoffed, throwing your hands up in exasperation. “It’s not like that, Steve! Eddie’s just... infuriating. It’s like he has this magnetic pull, but also a hundred explosive landmines.”

Steve grins, " Don't admit, it's okay. But your not fooling anyone. Plus don't look now but he's coming in now." 

Your eyes grew wide as you hide behind the counter, " Take him please" you begged Steve. 

Steve barely suppressed a laugh. "You really think hiding is going to solve this?" 

“Shh!” You shot a panicked look at him, keeping low as Eddie crossed the threshold into the diner. The door swung shut behind him with a jingle. He looked around, grumbling knowing you were working today. 

Eddie’s gaze scanned the diner, lingering on a few patrons before landing on Steve, who stood half-leaning against the counter, trying to suppress his smirk. You ducked behind the counter, hands gripping the edge, heart pounding in rib cage and holding the note pad with the other. 

" Harrington!" 

Eddie’s voice boomed across the diner, cutting through the low hum of chatter and clinking dishes. 

“Hey, Munson!” Steve called back, grinning like a cat that had just caught the canary. “What can I do for you?" Steve glanced down at you for a quick second but you shot him a glare to not give you away. 

Eddie sauntered towards the counter, hands tucked into the pockets of his worn jeans, the leather jacket hanging just right on his shoulders. “I was hoping you had something stronger than coffee here,” he said with a hint of mockery.

" Rough day? Had a battle with someone?" He asked, Steve was grinning like a Cherish cat. 

Eddie sauntered closer, his expression a mix of amusement and annoyance. “You can say that,” he drawled, leaning against the counter with an air of careless confidence, trying to appear nonchalant.

Steve playfully kicked you as he turned around to get something for Eddie. 

You glared at Steve, burning with the urge to take that notebook and fling it right at him. Instead, you ducked lower, shifting your weight as if that would somehow make you invisible.

“Care for a menu, or are you just here for the strong drink?" Eddie hummed tapping his fingers on the counter. 

“Just a strong drink would be nice,” he replied, his voice laced with casual confidence. “But if you have anything with a twist, I’ll take that too. You know, to go probably.." 

" You look like your looking for someone" Steve says. Your eyes got wide as you shot him a glare as he smirks. " Perhaps a girl" if looks could kill, you were doing that shooting at Steve with a look. 

Eddie’s laughter echoed softly, amused yet tinged with something sharper, as he leaned closer, eyebrows arched. “A girl? Why, Harrington, is that the latest gossip? What’ve you been spreading around—my tragic love life?" 

" You know I'm a gossip queen" Steve rolled his eyes as he waved him off. 

" No.. but I do have to say, isn't what's her face working today..." 

Eddie's eyes flickered over the diner again, landing just short of the counter where you huddled, unseen.

" Who are you on about?" Steve asked, placing his hand on the counter where your head was just below.

“Y/N!” Eddie called, his voice sharp as knife, slicing through the chatter and clatter of the diner like a lightning bolt. “I know you’re hiding back there. Come on, don’t be like that.”

" She's not here, she took the day off" Steve backed you up.

Eddie's eyes narrowed, and a sly smirk crept across his lips. “Oh, really? Because I have this uncanny feeling she’s just trying to avoid me.” 

You kept your head down, fighting the urge to bolt right out. 

" She's not here, Munson. Something about not feeling well. I got it covered around here" 

Eddie leaned in, eyebrows arched, a challenge flickering in his gaze. “You sure about that, Harrington? Because I distinctly remember her being more... lively this morning.” He cast a knowing glance toward the counter where you cowered.

You held in your breathe crawling your way into the kitchen slowly to be not seen by Eddie. 

" She's not here, I promise you Munson" Steve put on a face that Eddie would believe. 

“Is that so?” Eddie leaned closer, crossing his arms over the counter, a cocky grin curling his lips. “Because I swear I could hear her heart racing from a mile away.” 

Your heart pounded at Eddie's words, reverberating against the walls of your chest. You pressed your back against the kitchen wall, hoping it could swallow you whole. 

“Why do you even care?” Steve shot back, maintaining his cool.

Eddie pursed his lips, " She's fun to poke at." 

Steve raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his gaze. “Fun or infuriating? Because it seems like you two are perpetually at each other's throats.” 

“Both,” Eddie replied smoothly, the corner of his mouth twitch.Oh you wanted to say something to him but held your breathe. 

" You know she's new in town, don't have to be such a jerk and you live next door to her." 

Eddie shrugged, the cockiness unyielding in his stance. “That’s the fun part, Harrington. I like to keep things interesting. Plus, she can handle herself.” 

" You like her, older Eddie likes her.." Steve nods. 

Eddie snorted, the smirk plastered on his face unwavering. “Like her? She’s more like a thorn in my side.” 

" Right, and that’s why you’re here trying to assess her whereabouts," Steve scoffed. 

" I know she's here" Eddie says. 

Eddie’s gaze sharpened, eyes narrowing as if he were hunting for prey. “I can sense her. It’s like she’s a color in a world of black and white.”

“Dude, you sound like a creep,” Steve said. 

" Then what's this?" Eddie picks up your phone in his hands as he waves it around. 

Eddie’s fingers flicked over your phone, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Found this gem on the counter. Looks like our little secret gadget can’t hide after all.” 

You stifled a groan, pressing your back.

Steve snatched it out of Eddie's hands. 

" She dropped it, Dustin brought it here" Steve lies, he knew you were with Dustin as you told him before. 

Eddie's eyes flickered with suspicion but he shrugged, showing the slightest hint of indifference. “Dustin, huh? Well, I guess he must be keeping her company,” he mumbles. 

" You know, she's a nice girl.." Steve starts. “Nice? Is that how you’d describe her?” Eddie leaned back, skepticism etched on his face. “You must’ve met a different ‘nice’ girl than I have.”

Steve rolled his eyes. “Come on; you can’t honestly believe you don't want to be her friend.." 

Eddie crossed his arms, leaning back against the counter, a cocky grin illuminating his face. “Friend? Sure, in the same way a cat might befriend a mouse. You see, Harrington, there’s a fine line between bites." 

" She not a cat or a mouse, she's a human being trying to make ends meet like all of us. She wants to fit in, and I like her. "

Eddie shot Steve a bemused glance, eyebrow arched. “Like her? That’s rich coming from you. Last I checked, charm isn’t your strong suit.” 

" She's funny too" Steve continues. “Funny?” Eddie scoffed, tilting his head. “Is that what you’re calling her? I’d say ‘pain in my ass’ fits better.” 

" You don't see it do you, you like her.." 

Eddie shot Steve a glance, a weathered smirk still hovering at the corners of his mouth. “Like her? That’s rich, Harrington. You think I’m some lovesick puppy chasing after every girl who dares to throw my way." 

" One day someone will sweep her off her feet and you'll be sorry" 

Eddie chuckled, a deep throaty sound that resonated like music but carried an edge. “Oh, please. I’m not worried about some prince charming whisking her away. She’s not exactly the type to fall for cliché romance.”

" Actually, you're wrong. You're very wrong." 

Steve leaned closer, a knowing smile blossoming across his lips. “Oh, yeah? And what makes you say that?" Eddie scoffed, crossing his arms tighter. “You really think she’d be interested in the brooding rebel with a flair for drama? No thanks. She’d probably rather date a rock.” 

“ She has a date lined up" 

Eddie’s expression shifted, a flicker of something darker shadowing his features. “A date? With who?” His voice dropped, curiosity now laced with a hint of annoyance.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Steve said, with a smirk. " But look at that, your eyes got darker and your whole expression changed." 

Eddie furrowed his brow, the casual bravado slipping just a little. “I’m just curious, that’s all. It’s not like I’m hunting for a reason to care.” 

“Right, sure,” Steve replied, leaning to clean the counter. " And I wouldn't tell you, Eddie." 

Eddie’s gaze bore into Steve, lips twisting into a sardonic smile. “What are you, my counselor now? I don’t need a shrine built to worship my love life. I’m just fine on my own.”

" Just you watch, when she gets a boyfriend, it will all come crashing down.." Steve tsked. 

Eddie’s eyes flickered, the crack in his facade momentarily exposing something raw and vulnerable beneath. “Yeah? You think she’ll just pack up her bags and leave me behind?” His voice lowered.

" She will be done with your games. It will be all over" 

Eddie’s eyes darkened, a flicker of anger rippling beneath the surface. “Games?” he scoffed, disbelief coloring his tone. “You think this is a game? She’s not some pawn on a chessboard, Harrington." 

" Then quit poking her" 

Eddie clenched his jaw, the tension coiling tighter around him. “You think I’m poking her just for kicks? It’s not like I’m out here trying to ruin her life.” 

Steve rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, " No but your close to it." 

Eddie's flippant demeanor began to crack. “I’m not trying to ruin anything,” he shot back, voice low and gravelly. “She dishes it out just as much as I do. It’s... it’s a back-and forth.." 

" Why are you not getting it, Eddie.." 

“Because you aren’t making sense, Harrington!” Eddie snapped, frustration surging through him like hot fire. “It’s nothing but a game to her, always pushing those damn buttons. And I’m not going to let her walk all over me." 

" Then talk to her! Grow some balls, hang out with her." 

Eddie's expression contorted, caught between irritation and contemplation. “Talk to her?” He let out a scoff, hands gesturing wildly as he paced slightly. “What do you want me to do? Write her a diary entry or a song?" 

" You two live next door to her, instead of fuckign some girl. Take the time to talk to her" 

Eddie’s laughter rang harsh, but beneath it, you could hear a note of hesitation. “Talk to her? You want me to go up to her, all sunshine and rainbows, and say, ‘Hey, I’m Eddie. Let chat over a drink or a smoke?" 

" Yes" Steve nods, " or you will lose in the end" 

Eddie rolled his eyes, arms crossing tightly, a fortress formed around him. “And what makes you think she’d even want to hang out with me, huh? I’ve got a reputation.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

" Because I know you Eddie, the real Eddie." 

Eddie glared at Steve, yet the challenge sparked something deeper within. “The real Eddie, huh? What part of my ‘realness’ makes me attractive to a girl like Y/N? She isn’t exactly lining up for the all-access." 

" You can try by being less of an asshole and offering her a smile or just a hey" 

Eddie scoffed, arms still crossed tight against his chest, irritation simmering beneath the surface. “Smiles and pleasantries? Hard pass, Harrington. That’s not my style.” 

“Exactly!" Steve threw his hands up. " You're compicated, and that's okay. But it would be a start.." 

Eddie's lip curled, but something in his eyes softened, a flicker of contemplation breaking through the bravado. “A start? You really think a simple smile is going to change the world?” He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed. 

" Yes, for you to get along. You two can keep the banter going but ease on it." 

The air hung heavy between them, almost vibrating with the unresolved tension. Eddie’s fingers drummed against the counter, his posture shifting from defensive to something contemplative. 

“Fine,” he said finally, voice laced with reluctant acceptance. “Maybe I will try it out." 

" Thank you, Munson" Steve smiles. 

Eddie rolled his eyes but an unwilling smirk danced at the corners of his lips. “Don’t thank me just yet, Harrington. I’m not making any promises.” He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. 

" No, for now. But if you do anything, I mean anything to drive that girl away.." 

Steve leaned in, fixing Eddie with a steely gaze. “You’ll wish you had never been born, Munson. She’s not just some girl to mess around with.”

" Looks like your into her, huh Harrington?" 

Eddie’s smirk turned mischievous, eyes dancing with playful intrigue. “Oh, now that I’m curious. Are you crushing on our lil' waitress here?” He chuckled, leaning in on the counter.

" No, she's like a sister. I've very protective of my co workers, and friends." 

Eddie arched an eyebrow, the wearied smirk still hovering. “Protective? That sounds an awful lot like you’re trying to keep her on a leash.”

“Not a leash, Munson. Just accountability,” Steve replied, " she's still getting around and learning. I'm looking out for her" Steve nods. 

Eddie chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that echoed through the diner. “Accountability? Nice way of saying ‘I’m her babysitter.’ What are you going to do, put a tracking device on her?” 

“Actually, she can do what she wants. But I have her back, as her boss, as her friend and like a brother.." 

Eddie's smirk deepened, a playfulness dancing in his eyes. “Oh, the classic friend zone. A noble title, Harrington. Next thing you know, you might be fighting off her future boyfriends with that brotherly love" 

" The only one I'll fight is you if you harm her in anyway" 

Eddie leaned back, feigning a look of mock offense, hands raised in surrender. “Harrington, I’m hurt! How could you ever think I’d harm a delicate flower like Y/N?” 

" I know you, all the rockstar nonsense in your head and all the I'm lonley but I want a body next to me is your vibe.." 

Eddie's feigned innocence melted away, replaced by a smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth. “You really think I’m just some poor lost soul out looking for a flesh-and-blood substitute? Please. I have standards." 

" Fucking girls and owning a record store, right.." 

Eddie shrugged, that familiar cocky grin reclaiming its spot across his face. “What can I say? The two go hand in hand, Harrington. A guy’s gotta have hobbies.” 

“Right, because you’ve got it" Steve nods, " Just be careful." 

Eddie threw a casual wave over his shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. Just keep the water cooler gossip to yourself, okay? I’ve got a reputation to maintain.” 

“Right, and we both know it’s impressive.” Steve rolled his eyes. " Don't you have a job to get back to, Munson?" 

Eddie arched a brow, pausing as if considering the question. The smirk on his lips faltered slightly, then reasserted itself. “Oh, you have no idea how much I enjoy slinging vinyl in a room full of teenage rebels." 

" You might want to get back, in case you have a line. You know those rebels waiting"

Eddie glanced around the diner, his expression shifting to one of mock contemplation. “You’re right. I wouldn’t want to keep my adoring fans waiting,” he joked, quirking an eyebrows.

" Have a good night, Munson" Steve says as he walks back into the kitchen. 

Eddie leaned against the counter, a smirk curling his lips. “Always a pleasure, Harrington. Next time, I expect a stiff drink as payment for my witty banter.”

Steve kneels down before you, " Thank you, Steve.." you mumble, sending him a smile. 

“Anytime,” he replied, straightening up and crossing his arms. “Just don’t let Eddie get to you. He’s all bark, no bite—mostly.” 

" But who am I going out with? What was that about?" 

Steve shrugged, an amused glint in his eyes. “Just stirring the pot a bit. There’s definitely something brewing between you and Eddie; it's like watching a poorly written sitcom," he laughed.

" What if I actually went on one, would his grandpa ass notice?" 

Steve chuckled, a glimmer of mischief lighting his eyes. “Oh, I can guarantee he’d notice. His old heart would probably skip a beat as he plotted your downfall.” 

" Not funny" you groaned, " but, I do have someone in mind" you grinned. 

Steve’s eyes lit up, a smirk creeping onto his face. “Oh, do tell! Who’s the lucky candidate vying for your attention while you’re trapped in the Munson tornado?” 

You leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, " His name is Jake and he's a regualr here. You know the one that sits in the corner with the jean jacket and works at the mechnics down the street?" 

Steve’s eyebrows shot up, his interest clearly piqued. “Oh, Jake? The one with the motorcycle? He’s definitely got that brooding bad-boy vibe going on. I can see why you’d be curious.”

“Curious? He’s got that whole ‘mysterious stranger’ thing going for him,” you admitted, feeling a heat rise in your cheeks at the thought. 

Steve leaned closer, an eager grin spreading across his face. “Oh, your going to go for it. Oh man, Eddie is in for a surprise.." 

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “It’s not like I’m doing this to get a rise out of him,” you insisted, though a part of you found the notion wildly entertaining. 

" Are you? You want his attention..." 

“Maybe just a little,” you admitted, crossing your arms defiantly. “But it’s not like I’m planning to walk into his life all ‘look at me, Eddie! I’m going out with some cool guy now!’”

Steve chuckles, " He should be here when you ask Jake out." 

You laughed, rubbing your temples as the thought spun through your mind. “As if it isn’t humiliating enough trying to work up the courage to ask him. I don’t need Eddie eavesdropping, making snide comments.” 

“No the look on Eddie's face when he hears you actually do it. He doesn't really think it's something you'd do." 

The thought of Eddie's reaction made you laugh, a lightness breaking through the tension that had woven itself through your day. “Exactly! I can almost picture it—those dark brows furrowing, jaw clenched like I'd just declared war on vinyl record being broken." 

" When should this happen?" you asked. 

Steve leaned back against the counter, tilting his head as if deep in thought. “I’d say make it happen soon. Maybe tonight? While Eddie’s busy pretending he’s too cool for school?” 

" He's going to come back?" 

“Probably, knowing him,” Steve replied with a smirk. “He always manages to find an excuse to show up, like he’s drawn to you or something.”

" I mean he was looking for me earlier.." 

"Exactly! Maybe he can’t resist the temptation to see what mischief you’re up to,” Steve said, the glint of amusement in his eyes. “It’s almost like romantic tension, right under our noses.”

“Romantic tension?” you snickered. 

" Just looking at you two go at it, makes me miss having someone" Steve states.

“Aw, you poor thing,” you teased, your lips curling into a smirk. “Are you feeling lonely, Harrington? Need a shoulder to cry on?” 

Steve rolled his eyes, but an amused grin crept onto his face.

" You know what I mean, you goof" 

" Come on, we have customers to serve to. The diner is anout to get busy" You straightened up, the light banter fading, the bustling world of the diner settling back into focus around you. The sounds of sizzling pans and laughter filled the air, the smell of fries wafting through the kitchen.

“Alright, alright, getting back to work" Steve helps you up. As you stepped back into the rhythm of the diner, the familiar sounds wrapped around you like a cozy blanket. The hustle of orders being called, the clinking of silverware against plates, and the low hum of conversations provided a comfortable backdrop. 

You couldn't wait till tonight. 

[a-forbidden-detective]

Another day, another discovery.

The blurry couple on the left will become Unno-san and Donzawa from the Observatory on Solitary Island arc.

The two men on the right will become Torage and his victim.

The femicide victim and her husband are already un-blurred while Kawasemi-san and Yamane still await their turn.

The young woman sitting on the bench’s arm support will become Onodera the photographer and John Grizzly behind her.

Culled from Episode 2, the Case of the Piggy Bank Murder

Much has been said ( @ecargmura ) on the opening song’s blurring of the people around Ron and Toto that has become clearer once these supporting characters have appeared from the episodes.

@plant-akki posted several gifs of these comparisons from episode 3 to the latest.

But have you noticed the man who’s running with the billowing black coat? Once he is seen running in the other direction, but most of the time Ron and Toto are chasing after him.

During Episode 8, the man on the left becomes Jumonji, the director of the observatory. But take a look at the man wearing a black coat running behind him.

He’s now in front of Toto. It looks like the duo is running after him.

He’s appeared now behind them of what looks like a rendition of the “Murder on the Orient Express.”

In the end, he’s pointed the crime scene to them from what looks like a scene from a Japanese detective TV series or mystery film.

The trench-coat wearing Ron is a direct reference to “Columbo.”

Take note that it is only Ron who wears different kinds of clothing, depends on the media he’s dreaming in, while Toto still wears his grey suit.

Anyway, it is none other this guy.

This guy here, Sherlock Holmes, and the man next to him, his John Watson, are fond of running after their suspects in this BBC series. This image is iconic.

It must be an homage, or a running gag (no pun intended), that Ron and Toto should do the same as Ron gets to live his dream of becoming a full-fledged detective like his ancestor with the help of Toto. Hence, Toto holding his friend’s hand who must be telling him, “Hey, slow down, I got you, you are all right. I’ll be here beside you. You aren’t alone now.”

[rubywolf0201]

My thoughts on the latest episode of BUCCHIGIRI?! Episode 9 aka the one episode that had me mentally broken

WARNING: *May contain spoilers esp in regards to Senya and Ichiya and the starting of the corruption arc of Matakara*

- Continuing the ending scene of Episode 8, it seems like everything was Akutaro’s and Ichiya’s plan was to go smoothly but SIKE! It was ICHIYA’S plan all along! Akutaro was just a pawn!

- Akutaro doesn’t seem too pleased about it and wants to merge back with Ichiya with the latter telling him straight up how he was nothing but a tool straight up made him mad.

- In class, Mahoro as always is looking at photos of her brother and holy moly! THE JIN’S HAVE A DOG?! I DIDN’T KNOW THEY WERE FRICKIN RICH!

- Anyways, Arajin being the simp that he is tries to give her the soapstone but she ignores him.

- However, Arajin just so happens to overhear Komao and Zabu being worried for Matakara and how he’s been gone for three days! WHAT?!

- This has got me super worried AF.

- Arajin doesn’t seem too concerned about it but something tells me that deep down he feels…worried for some reason.

- Back in the Tomoshibi family restaurant, Arajin is helping out as always and Senya can’t help but notice Arajin’s worry so much to the point that he slapped him on the back pretty hard to cheer him up which he doesn’t seem to accept.

- Back with Zabu and Komao, they asked the receptionist about Matakara’s whereabouts again only this time he’s back. Excited about the news, both Zabu and Komao bought him something to eat but they heard a crashing sound.

- They open up to see Matakara opening up his piggy bank and taking up whatever remaining money that he has all the while ignoring Zabu and Komao. Man. That hurts.

- Meanwhile, Arajin is heading to the bathhouse due to the showers in his home being broken down, but then he bumped into Matakara but unlike the usual, Mata’s whole cheerful demeanour is gone, most likely from what happened last episode and just left without saying a word.

- The customer and cat cafè waiter returned again. This time, when the customer asked for Pu’er again, the waiter begged him to take Jasmine again because of how she’s been waiting for the customer which causes the customer to change and asked for Jasmine. What this means is probably gonna be foreshadowing of the next episode or the current predicament that’s happening.

- At the bathhouse, Arajin was trying to enjoy a peaceful bath time when he ran into Komao and Zabu with the former being all cheerful, calling him Ara-pyon and offering to wash his back despite seeing him act like an uncaring asshole last episode (what a sweetheart).

- Arajin and Zabu asked each other about Matakara’s wellbeing before Komao jumped into the bathtub cannonball style.

- There’s something oddly cathartic seeing the NG Boys and Girls discussing about Akutaro’s downfall (I mean he did abuse them after all) and Akutaro can’t help but watch all of this happen and ran off embarrassed by his downfall.

- Tho that being said, Akutaro does have a plan in which he discovered a slip of paper that says Honki on the front but what it says is pretty unknown.

- Any scene with Matakara and Ichiya is just so heartwrenching because unlike Arajin and Senya’s relationship, Ichiya is trying to break Mata down mentally.

- Oh and it turns out that the dark shadow thing isn’t Ichiya’s but something hiding within Matakara all along.

- Also, we got some backstory regarding how Matakara joined Minato Kai, in which he just beat up a bunch of random thugs because of honoring his brother and Arajin, he and Ken went up against each other to pass the trial to become a member of Minato Kai.

- Also, just saying but the first year design of Zabu and Komao are just so adorable. Oh and I guess my headcanon of the first meeting between these three got debunked but it technically became true when it’s revealed that all three joined Minato Kai at the same time.

- To Mahoro, Marito and Outa (the latter two who are absent since last ep): Mahoro is playing some sort of imaginary tea party with a dolly of Marito lol but the moment real Marito and Outa came in she quickly hid under the covers.

- From there, both Marito and Outa began to discuss about Mitsukuni’s hospitalization and also revealed that not even Kenichiro can beat him. When Marito asked why is Outa is concerned about Mitsukuni and even brought up the topic about it, Outa then revealed that Matakara is going through a hard time right now and that he is the kid brother of Mitsukuni.

- Both Marito and Mahoro who overheard about it expressed shock at the relation. And my reaction to all this is: “Wait none of you siblings knew about it?” (Moreso from Mahoro because Matakara told her about it back in Episode 4)

- Marito heard something and began to search in his room for the noise which Outa began to question what is he doing before they continue their discussion.

- Mahoro oddly began to display worry and concern for Matakara, despite those two never interacting by a whole lot. But it is a nice gesture nonetheless.

- The next day, Arajin and Mahoro have a talk on the rooftop, to which the latter asked about the condition of Matakara’s wellbeing. Arajin was hesitant to ask and even begin to worry about how she is showing interest in Mata (which is not true at all) to which Mahoro is disgusted by and just left him.

- Also, it’s interesting to note how Mahoro said that it happened to her once (regarding the things Matakara is going through) but what this mean is quite peculiar.

- While walking back, Senya tried to cheer Arajin up with a massive slap to the back but Arajin dodged it this time. At least until they are approached by a disheveled Akutaro who slipped a paper right into Arajin’s jacket pocket before going off.

- Ichiya breaking down Matakara and manipulating him to fight Arajin. My poor sunshine puppy. 😭

- Arajin and Senya are walking to the bathhouse again but this time we are given expository on Senya and Ichiya.

- Both Senya and Ichiya are street kids (possibly back when they were mortals) who live in an unknown part of the desert long time ago. Senya (who wasn’t given a name back then) admired Ichiya’s fighting style and begged to fight him. Ichiya was disinterested in Senya at first but he doesn’t seem to say no either.

- Over the years, both Senya and Ichiya’s friendly rivalry grew and grew so much so that when they were hanging out, Ichiya was the one who named Senya as he is today.

- But all of a sudden, their relationship turned sour at some point with black shadows covering Ichiya. What happened is unknown but it’s seem odd for some reason.

- When Arajin asked why Senya relied the backstory to him, the genie said that both Arajin and Matakara’s goal of being Honki People is a lot similar to his and Ichiya’s goal.

- Matakara appears in front of Arajin, clearly looking distraught and not long before he starts attacking Arajin.

- Arajin had no idea what has happened and Senya told him to merge with him to which Arajin managed to thankfully stop Matakara’s kicks but Matakara overpowered Arajin and just as he was about to land a finishing blow, Arajin’s gut began to growl which hit him to run to the nearest bathroom

- Also in all seriousness, can’t they dropped the toilet humor?

- Ichiya appeared and is convinced that the reason Matakara held back was because of his kind heart.

- Back in the Tomoshibi residence, Ara patched himself up from what has happened and Senya looked down and muttered about how Ichiya now has a hold on Matakara now. Angered by all this, Arajin began to ask how did he know about it before Senya disappeared.

- Just as Arajin is lying down, he saw the slip of paper that Akutaro slipped in meet him in the dead of the night.

- Akutaro then revealed that the reason why Senya is being secretive is because apparently Senya is planning to take over Arajin!

- Back with Ichiya and Matakara, Ichiya talked about Mitsukuni and feed lies on why the latter is weak before Matakara began to go apeshit and destroyed the dark shadow. Oh and Matakara has a mark behind his back not unlike the one Arajin has behind his ass.

- And with that, the final scene now has Ichiya in full possession with Matakara all the while saying that he is lacking anger and hatred in his heart. Matakara’s eyes lacked shine and now resembles Ichiya’s.

[frustrationinexcelsis]

I've started playing Terraria just a couple weeks ago, and it's extremely addictive.

Keeping the villagers happy and getting the pylon network running has been a fun challenge. The pets and slimes have been a big help in getting starter villages padded out.

Also, collecting the different slimes is pretty fun.

Inventory management has so far been the biggest hurdle, because there's a ton of shit to make or collect and I am a huge packrat. The flying piggy bank helps, as has digging out a storage basement the size of a house.

Words cannot describe the depths of my loathing for the underground desert and all of its misbegotten denizens. I have learned to hate antlions like I never have before.

So far I've got the Eye of Cthulhu, Slime King, the Brain of Cthulhu, and Skeletor under my belt, in that order. The Brain was easier than I expected; the grass blade made pretty short work of the orbiting eyeball thingies. I'll probably need to fight it again to get my gear fully upgraded.

The bee, though.

My God.

The fucking bee.

The Dungeon is... a lot. At one point like four of the fucking magic skeleton guys spawned in at once and I swear that I almost shit myself.

At least I got the magic missile wand from the latest foray down there. That one's fun.

[queen-of-writing-bad-things]

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 1

Episode 2: The Danger Begins Pt.2

~The following day, Henry's house~

"Okay, George has six times as many dimes as quarters in his piggy bank." Charlotte started to read out the math question to Henry. However, she was quickly interrupted by an exuberant Jasper bursting through the door.

"Oh yeah, oh yeah! I got two responses!" He yelled at them in excitement.

"To what?" Henry asked him.

"My birthday party invitation." He explained. "Two guys said they might come." He was ecstatic that at least two other than Henry and Charlotte could attend his party.

"Who?" 

"Sidney Burnbaum and Oliver Pook." Jasper read from his PearPad, but on hearing who had RSVP'd, Charlotte and Henry pulled a face of disgust.

"Ugh."

"Those guys eat bugs."

"So? They're people." Jasper started indignantly, but he soon caught his eye on the latest PearPhone on the table.

"When'd you get a new phone?" He asked Henry, picking the device up and looking over all its incredible features.

"Oh, uh, mine broke, so-- what are you doing?" Henry didn't want Jasper to realise that (y/n) had bought him a new phone with all of the Man Cave's contacts saved in it.

"You've got to get this new app," Jasper explained, typing away on the App Store.

"Wait, what app?" Henry tried to ask.

"Hey, you never told us what you do at your new job." Charlotte piped up, filled with curiosity from Henry's lack of telling them about Junk-N-Stuff.

"Oh, right, right." Henry trailed off as he didn't know how to explain his actions without breaking the oath.

"What do you do?" Charlotte enunciated each word after not being satisfied with Henry's silence.

"I--" Henry started making an excuse, but luckily, Jasper had already installed the app, giving him something else to direct the conversation to.

"Oh great, the app. Tell me about the app." He rambled at Jasper, wanting him to distract Charlotte from her questioning.

"It plays a billion sound effects, like a school bell, a cat choking on a hairball, ice cream truck.." Jasper listed and played all the weird sound effects, confusing and entertaining Charlotte and Henry.

"You have the brain of a hamster." Charlotte sassed at him, not impressed by the weird app.

"I wish," Jasper revealed.

"Gimme my phone," Henry said, not wanting to hear more cats choking on hairballs.

"Hey, did you guys hear what Captain Man did yesterday?" Jasper excitedly asked the other two teens.

"Oh yeah, the Jandy Bridge." Charlotte nodded with him. The turn in the conversation freaked Henry out because he couldn't risk revealing that he was Kid Danger.

"And so if you divide 9x by the square root--" He tried to focus on the homework, but Captain Man was too cool not to talk about for his friends.

"They say he pulled seven people out of the river and saved their lives," Jasper told them.

"Yeah, and he has a new sidekick. There's a story about it on my news feed." Charlotte looked at her phone with Jasper, meaning she didn't see how flustered Henry was.

"Hey, let's talk about your birthday party." Henry diverted, but it didn't work.

"Shhhh!!" 

"Here. "For the first time ever, Captain Man was not working alone." Charlotte read out from the news story. In desperation, Henry picked up the vase from the coffee table and threw it at the wall, hoping it would stop her from reading.

"Woahhh, how'd that break?" He said in a fake shocked voice, causing Charlotte to look at him weirdly, but she continued.

"According to witnesses on the scene, Captain Man was heard calling his new sidekick 'Kid Danger'." At mentioning his heroic name, Henry grabbed the phone from Charlotte's hands and launched it across the room, causing it to break something.

"You just slapped my phone right outta my hand." Charlotte and Jasper looked at him in disbelief.

"Yeah, sorry. Sorry, I'm just -- I'm worried. You and I gotta study, and I'm worried about Jasper's party, and there's-- I don't know, there's just--" Before Henry could rent any further, the wristband on his arm started beeping three times.

'A triple flashing light means emergency like major sitch going down, so get here fast.' He remembered (y/n) telling him in the Man Cave, and he knew something big was happening.

"Uh, why don't you guys go to the zoo?" Henry tried to distract his friends so he could get to Junk-N-Stuff as soon as possible.

"Why?" The dark-haired girl looked at him strangely.

"You know I got banned from the zoo," Jasper recalled while the beeping wouldn't stop.

"What is that?" Charlotte asked him.

"What, my thumb?" Henry attempted.

"The bracelet that's beeping and flashing on your wrist." She said.

"Uh... it's, uh, a timer," Henry said off the top of his head. 

"What are you timing?" Charlotte pressed.

"Muffins." He replied.

"You're making muffins?" Charlotte was not buying what he was saying.

"Birthday muffins." He pointed at Jasper with a smile, trying to convince them.

"Yes!" At least Jasper was happy.

"Dang. There goes the surprise. I'll just turn this off. Push the button." Henry struggled with the bracelet, not knowing how to stop it from making noise. Ultimately, he shoved his hand down his pants, which wasn't very effective.

"It's still on," Jasper noted.

"No, it's not."

"We can see it flashing through your pants." Charlotte wasn't impressed.

"And we can still hear it beeping," Jasper added at the end of her point.

"I know..." Henry grabbed a cushion to cover up the flashing.

"I-- uh... I need a pickle." He abruptly ran to the porch after throwing the cushion down.

"Wait! I thought we were going to study!" Charlotte called after him, but he was already gone.

"Bring me back a pickle!" Jasper shouted too.

~The Man Cave~

(y/n) watched on as Ray and a Hawaiian girl named Leilani sang Polynesian songs on the couch. Seeing them cuddled together on the couch made the green beast of jealousy rise within her, but she knew she could never say anything. All she could do was wait for Henry, as Ray had triple-beeped him.

The two continued strumming on the ukuleles as the (y/c/h) girl sat at the supercomputer in annoyance and boredom. However, the elevator dinged, and a frantic-looking Henry stepped out.

"Ray! Ray, what's wrong?" He said, instantly looking confused at how relaxed Ray was in the emergency situation. 

"So fun for everyone to sing E Hoomau Maua Kealoha." The two sang in Hawaiian together, making Henry look to (y/n) for answers, but she only shrugged and looked away.

"Uh, Ray?" Henry pressed, but Ray only pointed his finger at the boy to acknowledge him. 

"Hawaii make you say, hele mei hooiwahiwa." They finished singing, smiling at each other, causing an acrid taste to settle on (y/n)'s tongue.

"Dude!" Henry was getting upset, but Ray still grinned.

"Henry, what goes on?" He asked flippantly.

"You triple-beeped me, (y/n) said that means there's an emergency." 

"Oh right, sorry. I was just getting a ukulele lesson from Leilani." He kept smiling, using his remote to raise the Hawaiian background behind the couch.

"Take a break." They giggled again, with Leilani tickling his nose and standing up. (y/n) fake giggled with them, but no one heard, as the singer took her ukulele to the back of the Man Cave.

"Mmm, yeah." (y/n) felt her heart sink as his eyes followed her up the steps, but once again, they were friends, nothing more.

"So, what's up?" Henry asked, grinning Ray's attention again.

"We have a situation. And by we, I mean our city, all of Swellview." Ray switched to being severe, putting down his instrument, removing the flowers from around his neck, and putting them on Henry.

"Check this out." His remote put up a hologram in the air, showing a video of The Toddler.

"The Toddler?" Henry gasped.

"He's the one who destroyed the Jandy bridge yesterday." (y/n) explained across the room. 

"Why?" Henry inquired.

"To set up phase three of his plan." Ray looked at him.

"What's phase three?"

"It's the phase that comes right after phase two, but before phase four, if there is a phase four. But if there's no phase four, then phase three will be the final phase." Ray ranted, confusing his sidekick.

"So what happens in phase three?" Henry said, puzzled, as the two walked to where (y/n) was at the computer.

"While you and I were pulling people out of the river, the Toddler's men stole five thousand packages of diapers," Ray explained to him. 

"Can you guess why?" He quizzed the teen.

"Uh--" 

"To bombard the diapers with radioactive Zenite particles," Ray stated like it was apparent. 

"I would not have guessed that." Henry looked a bit dizzy.

"You wanna see what happens when a baby pees into a diaper that's been bombarded with radioactive Zenite particles?" Ray asked, squatting down to the floor as he spoke the question. 

"No."

"Watch this." He pointed at (y/n), who was already pulling up the video. 

"Why does he ask me?" He asked the young woman.

"He does it a lot." She shook her head.

"What's taking so long?" The Toddler asked as the video started to play.

"Well, he hasn't peed yet." The henchman and the evil criminal stared at the baby.

"Well, give him some more apple juice." The Toddler growled and walked off.

"Wait, wait, I think he's peeing." The man quickly brought back The Toddler.

The three watched as the baby began to cry, and The Toddler excitedly anticipated the transformation. The baby's skin turned green, and when it opened its eye, they were glowing a demonic red. It roared, making the insane man-child laugh in success.

"Oh my gosh." Henry looked disturbed.

"Kill you, kill everyone." The baby was now speaking in a deep voice, making Henry step back in horror.

"Monster babies?" He spluttered incredulously. (y/n) paused the video before they could be creeped out anymore.

"That's right, Henry...unless we stop The Toddler." Ray looked down at the boy.

"Are you with me?"

"Well, yeah," Henry affirmed.

"Good, you'll need to meet Ray here at 7:00 sharp." (y/n) looked around Ray's prominent figure at Henry.

"Wait, wait, wait. Tonight? No, I--I can't do tonight." He said, looking between the two.

"What? What do you mean?" Ray couldn't believe what he just said.

"My-- My best friend Jasper, he's having his birthday party tonight, and--" Henry explained, but his excuse made Ray laugh.

"Party? Henry, there's a freakish man-toddler out there about to turn all the babies in Swellview into that." He said, turning Henry around to see the green monster baby.

"And you're worried about a party?" Ray asked him, not happy.

"But-- But, Jasper's been my best friend since we were five." Henry pleaded, but it didn't make Ray realise this was important to him.

"Okay. Okay. It's cool. Uh, you go to Jasper's party. I'll handle The Toddler by myself. Don't worry about it." (y/n) frowned because he was ignorant of Henry's feelings.

"Are you sure?" Henry asked tentatively.

"Yeah, I've battled The Toddler alone before. Almost killed me, but whatever." Ray walked up the steps to the sprocket in a tantrum.

"Now I feel all bad," Henry said dejectedly.

"Raymond, please stop guilt-tripping the poor kid." (y/n) stood up and called up at her friend in a stern voice. 

"Don't feel bad. I'll save the world. You go have a fun time at Jasper's birthday party." Ray continued to go up the steps, talking to Henry in a passive-aggressive voice. 

"Dance. Drink some fruity punch." Henry and (y/n) looked at him with frowns.

"Leilani! Turn on the hot tub!" Ray yelled to the girl in the other room, walking away. (y/n) sighed in annoyance as she heard Leilani cheer but took a deep breath and looked at Henry.

"Don't feel bad. He's just a child." She smiled at him, but he didn't look entirely convinced.

"Go to your party and have fun. Ray doesn't understand the meaning of 'social life." Her comment made Henry chuckle, and he looked up at her confusedly.

"Why does he go in hot tubs with Hawaiian girls if he's with you?" Henry questioned her. The comment made the young woman freeze but she kept her composure and feigned ignorance.

"Uh-- what do you mean?" Henry looked at her funnily but carried on.

"Aren't you dating?" (y/n) laughed sadly but didn't let Henry see how much Ray's actions and flirting hurt her.

"Ray? No, no, no. No. I could never. We're just friends." The words tumbled out of her mouth automatically; many people had asked her the question over the seven years of her employment. 

"Right, sure," Henry said sceptically. (y/n) shook her head and him and waved him off.

"Just go to your party. I'll deal with Ray." Henry smiled at her and ran off to the elevator, leaving the Man Cave.

~

"You got water all over the floor, and I'll be the one who has to clean it up." (y/n) grumbled at Ray, who was busy suiting up for his fight with The Toddler.

"Yeah, yeah." He ignored her, focusing on choosing the appropriate weapon.

"I can't believe Henry chose a party over me." He mumbled, picking up a laser blaster and fixing it to his utility belt. (y/n) sighed and faced him.

"He's at the age where his friends are the most important thing to him. And he can't ditch his best friend's birthday party." She explained, knowing that Ray missed out on many of these things due to his early superhero training. 

"Yeah, but I'm Captain Man." Ray lifted his arms as the woman adjusted his belt and ensured everything was secure.

"Which means you are more than capable of taking care of The Toddler." (y/n) smiled up at him, patting both hands on his chest. 

"True, I am awesome. And unbelievably handsome." He bragged, grinning back at her as he opened the door to the Man Van. 

"Just go, Captain Ego." She laughed, silently agreeing that he was too handsome for his own good. 

"Be safe." She waved at him through the window, hoping he'd return in one piece. Ray waved back, and in a few seconds, she stared at the back of the van as it drove away.

~Henry's house~ 

Henry walked down the stairs, all dressed up for his party. He could hear Jasper whining in his ear about how late he was.

"Jasper, Jasper, I'm on my way." He tried to tell his friend but was too busy talking about muffins.

"No, I'm not bringing the muffins." He grabbed his jacket, but a frown grew when Jasper spoke again.

"Did you hear what happened to Captain Man?" Henry's stomach dropped at the mention of his new boss, but he tried to play it cool as if it was merely a passing question. 

"What about Captain Man?" He interrogated in a panicked voice.

"He got captured," Jasper said over the phone, making Henry's worst fear a reality.

Henry ran over to the TV, switching on the news and ignoring Jasper's jabbering on the phone. The report came on, showing that Jasper's gossip was true.

"While reports are unclear, we do have confirmation that Captain Man has been captured and is being held at a secret location." The report said on the screen.

"Captured? Dang it, Ray!" Henry said in an annoyed tone. He switched off the TV once the report ended, and the next bizarre story appeared. Jasper was calling his name on the line, but Henry was too worried about his boss to care. 

"Uh, I can't talk. I'm naked." He gave a quick excuse before slamming the end call button and running out the door. 

~

Henry was halfway to Junk-N-Stuff when a call came through on his phone. Thinking it was Jasper again, his thumb hovered over the decline button, but to his surprise, the caller I.D. read '(y/n)'.

"(y/n)? How'd you get my number?" He greeted her in a confused voice.

"I gave you this phone, duhhh." She said in an 'it's so obvious' tone, but Henry ignored it, the need to find Captain Man still making his heart race.

"(y/n)! I saw on the news about Ray! What do we do-- tell me, what do I do?" He ranted at her in alarm.

"Okay, firstly, calm down. Secondly, I've managed to get a fix on The Toddler's location, but you'll need to get in there unseen to help Captain Man." She relayed the instructions over the phone, her demeanour having a calming effect on him.

"Okay, got it. Just send me the location." He replied.

"Already sent it. Remember, no one can see you as Henry. Do you still have your gum tube?" She needed to mentor him a little, as Ray hadn't given him any training yet. 

"Yeah, of course. It's right here in my pocket."

"Then you're all set. I'm a phone call away if you need backup. Good luck." She said curtly, praying that the kid and Ray would be alright.

"Thanks, I'll bring him home."

~The Toddler's Hideout.~

Henry peered through the bars and baby bottles in a room that looked like a creepy nursery. He looked on in horror as he saw Captain Man suspended from the ceiling, trapped in a giant baby bouncer. He groaned and grunted in a futile attempt to escape, but all he could do was bounce up and down.

"Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah." The Toddler taunted him in a baby voice, shaking a rattle.

"Come on, Toddler, let me out of this thing before I puke." The superhero pleaded, but it infuriated the criminal.

"NO! This is my playroom, my toys, my rules!" He growled back at him. Henry crept around amongst several large stuffed animals and gritted his teeth at the sight of The Toddler.

"You sick, underdeveloped maniac." Ray snarled back, despising how cruel Toddler was. His answer made The Toddler throw the rattle in his hand, hitting Captain Man on the head.

"Ow! Geez, man!" He yelped out.

"Oh, I thought the famous Captain Man couldn't be injured." The Toddler whined at him, and Henry decided it was time to pop a gumball. 

"He can't, but he does feel pain." A giant, bald henchman with a beard and animal onesie pointed out, and his interruption caused the man-child to throw a tantrum.

"You're not allowed to talk unless you raise your hand and I call on you!!" Toddler screamed back with a stamp of his foot.

"You stupid head!" He shouted into the man's ear. Blowing the gum into a bubble, Henry transformed into his costume, ready to take on The Toddler and his henchmen as Kid Danger. 

The Toddler was busy using his new spit machine on the henchman, so Henry used it to sneak around the corner, waiting for the opportune moment.

"Come on, Toddler. Your insane plan won't work," Ray spoke up. Before he could make his move, the phone in his pocket rang, making Henry's anxiety spike up.

"What?" He whispered.

"You're late." Of course, it was Jasper.

"Well, sorry, but I'm kind of in the middle of something." He replied in a hushed tone, hearing Ray groaning from the bouncer.

"Something more important than my birthday party?" Jasper really picked his moments.

"Uh--" Henry looked across the room and saw The Toddler describing how soon all the babies in Swellview would be monsters.

"Yeah, this is pretty important." He confirmed to the boy on the other side.

"But you promised me that-- Henry, will you get your butt to this party?" Jasper was interrupted by Charlotte, who sounded pretty miffed.

"'Cause so far, it's just me, Jasper, and two dorks who keep slapping each other's boinks!" She said, which Henry didn't really understand, but then again, he didn't really care.

"I gotta go!" He said quickly, hanging up and formulating a plan in his head. 

"Come on, Toddler, let me down from this thing. It's squeezing me in bad ways," Ray pleaded and groaned.

"NO! And now, Captain Man, I have thousands of babies to monsterise and to make sure that you don't try to stop me, I will now destroy you!" The Toddler gloated at him.

"You idiot. I can't be destroyed!" The bouncing hero growled back, not understanding what the criminal had planned.

"I KNOW THAT! But you can be dropped!" The Toddler stamped his foot and pressed his remote control. The bouncer started to move Ray over the ball pit, making his stomach feel even more queasy. 

"...into my bottomless ball pit." The prospect of being dropped made Ray nervous.

"Tod-- Tod--Todd--"

"Toddler!?" The man-baby screamed. Knowing that The Toddler's limited patience was near the end of its rope, Henry took out his phone and opened the app Jasper had downloaded this morning. Finally, he could thank Jasper for something. Scrolling down the page a little, he found the ice cream van sound effect and pressed it. The Toddler and all his men looked up gleefully at the thought of getting ice cream.

"Wait! Listen!" The Toddler gasped.

"It's the ice cream man! Yay! Whoo-hoo! I'll destroy you in a minute." The insane criminal's voice switched from a high to a low pitch.

"Come on, fellas, ice cream man! I hope they have mint chocolate chip!" All the villains in the room ran out of the building, allowing Henry to reveal himself to his boss and devise a way to save him. He ran into the room and over to Ray.

"Captain Man!" He greeted him.

"Henry!" Ray couldn't help but say,

"It's Kid Danger," Henry corrected him with a smile, which Ray copied.

"How'd you find me?" The superhero said, still bouncing.

"(y/n), of course. She gave me your location." The sidekick explained.

"Clever girl," Ray mumbled to himself.

"Now, quick! How do I get you down from there?" Henry asked, looking up and down at the baby bouncer contraption. 

"I don't know. This is the first time I've been trapped in a baby bouncer over a bottomless ball pit." Ray said, glancing around the room.

"Try that lever!" 

"Right." Henry ran across the room and was a second away from releasing Captain Man when The Toddler and all his goons came stomping back into the room, grumpy from the lack of ice cream.

"Who tricked me?! And who's that boy near my lever?" Toddler frowned when he noticed Henry.

"That's my sidekick, Kid Danger." Captain Man announced, making Henry puff out his chest in pride. 

"I didn't know you had a sidekick. Why don't I have a sidekick? I want a sidekick!!" Another tantrum. His loyal henchman said something, but The Toddler didn't care and just slapped him in the gut. 

"Uh, Kid Danger," Ray said over the bad guys.

"Yeah?" 

"Why don't you pull that lever?" Ray said desperately.

"Oh, right!" Henry went to pull it, but The Toddler had other ideas.

"No! Squish the boy!" He shouted as Ray was dragged away from the ball pit. The henchmen ran towards Henry, who now had to think quickly on his feet to avoid severe injury or capture.

"Kid Danger, look out!" Captain Man called out to him. Henry ran around the criminals, climbing up the boxes of diapers. He jumped over a man reaching out for him, causing the guy to tumble over the boxes. Running over to where Toddler had left his spit squirter, he used it to defend himself against the largest goon. 

Ray swung out at another henchman in a red onesie, using momentum to kick him in the face. Henry continued to utilise the weapon in his hand, attacking numerous villains running his way. He climbed up the diaper tower again and started throwing the various toys on the wall at the men.

"Use the truck!" Encouraged Ray, Henry did as he said, taking down a guy with a large yellow truck toy. Ray was still busy jumping on the henchmen as The Toddler angrily shouted in the background. 

"Captain Man cut the bands!" Henry shouted at the older man, not wanting to fight alone. Dodging another attack, Henry came face to face with The Toddler.

"Look at you." He taunted, and they began to wrestle over the spit machine. 

"Get him, kid!" Ray shouted as the pair began to fight across the room. The Toddler tried to pull it away from his hands, but Henry got it free and pointed it at The Toddler. Pulling the trigger, the spit disoriented the villain, making him stumble backwards. Another henchman tried to grab him, so Kid Danger caught a letter 'D' off of the nursery walls and whacked him across the face with it. The superhero team were making light work of defeating the bad guys as they carried on beating them up.

"You guys are seriously the worst henchmen ever." The Toddler complained in anger. Managing to get all the men on the ground, Ray bounced in front of Henry, who was glad to have him back at his side. 

"You boys think you're so spiffy." The Toddler whined at them and kicked some diaper boxes.

"Well, have a look at my bang bottle." The Toddler exclaimed, showing them a glowing, green baby bottle.

"Bang bottle?" Captain Man and Kid Danger looked at each other with doubt. 

"That's right, and it's filled with explodey juice." He said with a sinister smirk. He twisted the lid, changing the bottle from green to red, meaning it was primed and ready to explode.

"Kid Danger, get outta here!" Ray couldn't bear the thought of his sidekick getting hurt or, worse, killed.

"I'm not leaving without you. I promised (y/n) I'd save you!" Henry protested. 

"But that nipple is flashing!" Captain Man said in a panic.

"No one leaves." The Toddler said, as all the baby gate doors locked shut. 

"Now, we're all gonna go boom together." 

"What do we do?" Henry looked to Ray for their next move. Ray took a moment to think, an idea springing in his mind.

"Push me that way!" Ray exclaimed, prompting Henry to shove him towards The Toddler with all his strength. The Toddler screamed out in fear as Captain Man collided with him, sending him flying backwards, straight into the bottomless ball pit. Ray swung back to Henry, and they watched as the criminal slowly sank into the balls.

"Uh! Help me! Get me out! These balls smell like feet and pee!" The Toddler wailed, but it was no use. The hero and sidekick duo just watched him sink with smiles on their faces.

"Oh, this is it for me! I've been hoisted by my own petard." Were the final words of The Toddler. The two jokingly waved at him, happy the fight was over, but they soon remembered that the 'bang bottle' was set to explode.

"The bang bottle!" Ray pointed out.

"Oh, man!" Henry jumped down from the stack of diaper boxes and picked it up.

"What do we do with this?" Henry looked at Ray in desperation. Ray saw the ball pit, and a bright idea pinged in his brain. 

"We give the baby his bottle." He said huskily in his best hero voice.

"Good call." Kid Danger complimented, liking the idea.

"Hey." Ray paused to say hello to the kid who just rescued him properly.

"What's up?" The boy said, forgetting about what was in his hand.

"Hurry." 

"Oh, right!" Henry aimed the bottle behind his head and threw it towards the ball pit, praying it would land in the right spot. Thankfully, his aim was perfect, and the bottle landed, sinking for a few seconds as the beeping increased.

"Kid Danger!" Ray beckoned for Henry to run over to him. Climbing up the boxes, Henry had seconds to spare as Ray shielded him with his indestructible body as the bottle exploded. Above the noise, the faint scream of The Toddler echoed in the room. 

They unwrapped themselves from each other once the balls stopped falling from the air, and Henry chucked Toddler's hat over his shoulder, which had landed on Ray. 

"Nice work, Kid Danger. You got skills." Ray congratulated him, proud that Henry came through for him.

"Thanks, Captain Man." Henry looked up at his boss with pride. Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket, and he saw that he had a text from Jasper.

"Jasper!"

"Oh yeah, you better get to that birthday party," Ray told him.

"Right." Henry paused momentarily before returning to Ray, who was trying to get the bouncer off.

"Uh, Ray, will you do me a huge favour?" He asked in a hopeful voice.

~Jasper's Basement Party~

The party couldn't be more tragic. Jasper and Charlotte had been bored, and Sidney and Oliver were now trying to talk down cups and strings to each other. Henry looks at them in confusion.

"They've been doing that for two hours." Charlotte sighed tiredly. 

"My party's a flop. I'm just going to go upstairs and sit in my closet with my cat." Jasper stood up in defeat. 

"Pardon me..." A manly voice shouted from up the stairs. Ray swiftly walked down them, surprising the birthday boy and his friends. Henry looked at him in thanks for saving the party.

"My Man Van broke down out there in the street, so I walked into the house and came down to this basement," Ray explained his exact actions to the amazed children.

"Holy chunks! You're--you're Captain Man!" Jasper squealed, not believing the famous hero was in his house at his party.

"Thank you." Ray looked across the room and walked towards Henry and Charlotte.

"You're my hero," Jasper told him.

"Of course." Ray's ego jumped out.

"Mine too. Um, I'm Charlotte. Hi, Mr Cap--Mapton Can." The poor girl was so excited she couldn't get her words out. She quickly stumbled out a rushed apology.

"And, um, I'm Henry." The other boy pretended to introduce himself. 

"Nice to meet you, Henry." Captain Man said calmly, shaking the boy's hand. Jasper excitedly tapped his hands on the hero's shoulders, trying to get him to turn around.

"Hey, Captain Man?" Jasper said.

"Yes, a question." Ray was used to excitable fans shouting all kinds of things at him.

"Can I hit you in the head with a baseball bat?" Jasper asked. 'Oh boy, (y/n) will love hearing about this kid later.' Ray thought to himself.

"Jasper!"

"Dude." Henry and Charlotte scolded the curly-haired boy.

"No, no, it's okay. But remember, kids, never do this to anyone but Captain Man," Ray started as Jasper grabbed a baseball bat.

"Because regular people could be badly injured--ah!" Ray's warning was interrupted by Jasper hitting him with the bat, the sharp pain lasting for a few seconds. The kids were amused by how incredible his superpower was and how he was still standing, despite the blow.

"Wow!" Jasper squealed.

"I wasn't done talking," Ray said in a slightly high-pitched tone.

"Did that hurt?" Charlotte inquired.

"Yeah, but I"m okay!" He replied, regaining his composure. He smiled at the kids to show that Captain Man was indestructible and cool, making them all clap.

"Well, I should call my helper to come and pick up my Man Van." Ray had made his appearance; now, he wanted to leave. 

"Or, it's my best friend Jasper's birthday party," Henry told him.

"Oh, oh yeah, yeah, it is." Jasper hugged Ray's arm at the mention of his birthday, making Ray tense up a bit.

"You can stay and party with us if you wanna." The dark-haired girl offered.

"Will there be soup?" Ray turned to the boy next to him.

"I'll open up a can!" Jasper said in excitement.

"Then, I'd love to stay and party with you guys." Ray smiled at all of them, causing the two weird boys with the cup and string to scream at each other.

"Uh, Captain Man..." Henry started.

"Yes, boy?"

"Would it be cool if Jasper texted a few friends from school and told them you're here at his party?" Henry asked, not wanting the party to be so dead.

"Yeah, can I?" Jasper pleaded too.

"Sure, I love being used," Ray said in a fake happy voice, starting to wish he was back at the Man Cave with (y/n).

"Yay!"

"Wow, thanks! This is the coolest thing that ever happened to me!" Jasper shook Captain Man's hand excitedly with sweaty palms. 

"Are your hands always this sweaty?" Ray asked with a strained smile.

"Yes, sir!" Jasper answered truthfully.

"He takes medicine for it," Henry added, smirking at Ray.

"Well, it's not working!" The superhero chuckled at the boy and wiped his hand down his shirt.

~

After making a few phone calls, Jasper had plenty of kids at his party who all came to the party with Captain Man. The music played; everyone was dancing, eating and having a good time. Ray kept signing every notebook that was pushed into his face.

Jasper was preoccupied with two kids, who were still in awe that the dorky boy had managed to get Captain Man to his party.

"Hey, we're buds, right, Captain Man?" He shouted across the room so he could impress the other kids.

"We sure are, Billy." He said with a thumbs up, even though he got his name wrong.

"Uh, that's just how we kid around. We call each other Billy. Back at ya, Billy!" Jasper played off, which confused the superhero, who had no idea what he was talking about.

Henry came down the stairs with a tray of birthday muffins.

"Okay, okay, kill the lights." With the room dimmed, everyone began singing Happy Birthday to Jasper as Henry slowly walked towards them with the lit muffins. Everyone was clapping and wishing Jasper a happy birthday when Ray pulled out his laser remote and saw it flashing the emergency light. Taking the opportunity to leave while the kids were distracted, Ray sneaked up the stairs and out of the house.

"Hey, where'd Captain Man go?" Jasper was the first to notice his absence. 

"He's gone," Charlotte added too.

"Aw, why'd he leave?" Jasper whined, sad that his idol was gone already.

"He probably had to go do superhero stuff." Charlotte rationalised, knowing Captain Man was always busy helping people across Swellview.

"And you did break a bat over his head." Henry bantered with his best friend.

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, me and Charlotte got you something," Henry revealed, excited for his friend's reaction to his gift.

"What?" The birthday boy asked.

"Look," Charlotte said, pulling the barrel/bucket from Junk-N-Stuff. Henry smiled, remembering how (y/n) let him have it for free, knowing Jasper loved it so much.

"You got me the bucket?" Jasper gasped in glee, hugging it to his chest.

"It's a barrel!" Charlotte insisted as she yelled for someone to get the party going again.

"So you happy with your party?" Henry spoke to Jasper as the party kicked off again.

"Heck yeah. But for a while there, I thought you weren't gonna come." Jasper revealed his true feelings.

"Come on, man. I'm always gonna be here for you." The blond boy reassured him, and the friends hugged each other. The sweet moment was soon over when Henry's wristband started to flash and beep. Ceasing the hug, he let go of Jasper.

"I gotta go." He said quickly, running up the stairs. He smiled as the party continued without him, glad Jasper wouldn't notice him gone. He popped a gumball and transformed into Kid Danger. 

~

He ran into the street, seeing Captain Man parked in the Man Van.

"What's going on?" He asked as he clambered into the passenger seat and plugged in his seatbelt. 

"Robbery at Swellview Bank." (y/n) said over the radio. Ray quickly put his foot to the floor, and the vehicle sped off.

"Three dudes... They don't look very experienced, but the cops still want your help." She continued telling them about what they were about to face. 

"Ugh, they always want our help." Ray groaned, making his best friend laugh. Henry noticed the chemistry between them again. 

"You're the city's resident superhero. Deal with it." Her voice crackled over the radio, but they could still hear her sarcasm.

"Yeah, yeah, tell the police we're on our way," Ray replied.

"Okay, ETA is 10 minutes." She confirmed, and the radio went silent. Henry didn't know if he should ask, but he couldn't help himself, so he looked at his boss and spoke up.

"What's with you and (y/n)?" He said to break the silence and satisfy his curiosity about what Ray's answer would be. He wondered if it would be different to (y/n)'s.

"What? There's nothing up with us." Ray glanced at him, trying to keep his focus on the road.

"Don't you like her?" He pressed him, watching a blush tinge the man's ears.

"No! Come on, man! She's my friend, and she works for me!" Ray's heart rate picked up.

"Yeah, but you like her." The teen reiterated in a sing-song voice. 

"Stop!" Captain Man wasn't used to being teased, especially about his pretty helper.

"Don't worry, man! I won't tell her!" Henry patted his bicep as they pulled up to the bank.

"Good!" Ray unbuckled his seat belt and grabbed his laser gun, preparing to stand off with the criminals in the bank.

"AHA! So you do like her!" Henry smiled at his eureka moment, happy that Ray had tripped over his words.

"Henry!"

[foreverlogical]

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Rifle Association and its former longtime leader were found liable Friday in a lawsuit centered on the organization’s lavish spending.

The New York jury found that Wayne LaPierre, who was the NRA’s CEO for three decades, misspent millions of dollars of the group’s money on pricey perks, and it ordered him to repay the group $4,351,231. Jurors also found that the NRA omitted or misrepresented information in its tax filings and violated New York law by failing to adopt a whistleblower policy.

LaPierre, 74, sat stone-faced in the front row of the courtroom as the verdict was read aloud. The jury actually found him liable for $5.4 million, but it determined he’d already paid back a little over a million.

The verdict is a win for New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who campaigned on investigating the NRA’s not-for-profit status. It is the latest blow to the powerful group, which in recent years has been beset by financial troubles and dwindling membership. LaPierre, its longtime face, announced his resignation on the eve of the trial.

NRA general counsel John Frazer and retired finance chief Wilson Phillips were also defendants in the case. Phillips was ordered to pay $2 million in damages to the NRA. Frazer, meanwhile, was found to have violated his duties, but was not ordered to pay any money.

The penalties paid by LaPierre and Phillips will go back to the NRA, which was portrayed in the case both as a defendant that lacked internal controls to prevent misspending and as a victim of that same misconduct.

James also wants the three men to be banned from serving in leadership positions at any charitable organizations that conduct business in New York. A judge will decide that question during the next phase of the state Supreme Court trial.

Another former NRA executive turned whistleblower, Joshua Powell, settled with the state last month, agreeing to testify at the trial, pay the NRA $100,000 and forgo further involvement with nonprofits.

James sued the NRA and its executives in 2020 under her authority to investigate not-for-profits registered in the state.

She originally sought to have the entire organization dissolved, but Manhattan Judge Joel M. Cohen ruled in 2022 that the allegations did not warrant a “corporate death penalty.”

The trial, which began last month, cast a spotlight on the leadership, organizational culture and finances of the powerful lobbying group, which was founded more than 150 years ago in New York City to promote rifle skills and grew into a political juggernaut that influenced federal law and presidential elections.

Before he stepped down, LaPierre, had led the NRA’s day-to-day operations since 1991, acting as its face and becoming one of the country’s most influential figures in shaping gun policy.

During the trial, state lawyers argued that he dodged financial disclosure requirements while treating the NRA as his personal piggy bank, liberally dipping into its coffers for African safaris and other questionable expenditures.

His lawyer cast the trial as a political witch hunt by James.

LaPierre billed the NRA more than $11 million for private jet flights and spent more than $500,000 on eight trips to the Bahamas over a three-year span, state lawyers said.

He also authorized $135 million in NRA contracts for a vendor whose owners showered him with free trips to the Bahamas, Greece, Dubai and India, as well as access to a 108-foot (33-meter) yacht.

LaPierre claimed he hadn’t realized the travel tickets, hotel stays, meals, yacht access and other luxury perks counted as gifts, and that the private jet flights were necessary for his safety.

But he conceded that he had wrongly expensed private flights for his family and accepted vacations from vendors doing business with the NRA without disclosing them.

Among those who testified at the trial was Oliver North, a one-time NRA president and former National Security Council military aide best known for his central role in the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980s. North, who resigned from the NRA in 2019, said he was pushed out after raising allegations of financial irregularities.

After reporting a $36 million deficit in 2018 fueled largely by misspending, the NRA cut back on longstanding programs that had been core to its mission, including training and education, recreational shooting and law enforcement initiatives. In 2021, it filed for bankruptcy and sought to incorporate in Texas instead of New York, but a judge rejected the move, saying it was an attempt to duck James’ lawsuit.

Despite its recent woes, the NRA remains a political force. Republican presidential hopefuls flocked to its annual convention last year and former President Donald Trump spoke at an NRA event earlier this month — his eighth speech to the association, it said.

[scarletttries]

You Are In Love (Eddie Munson x Reader series)

Part Eight: You Let Go, Of Your Fears and Your Ghosts

Pairing: Eddie Munson (Stranger Things) x F! Reader

Tags: Bit of bullying mentioned, one mention of food, otherwise all fluff :)

Word Count: 2.7k

Author's Note: This is the eighth part of an Eddie Munson series inspired by Taylor Swift's "You Are In Love". Links for other parts on my Eddie Munson Masterlist :) As always please feel free to send me thoughts and headcanons for Eddie Munson 💕

And for once, you let go, Of your fears and your ghosts. One step, not much, But it said enough

"Natural Twenty!" Erica shouted excitedly, the rest of the table jumping to their feet in uproar. Eddie stared pensively over the laminated board separating him from the rest of his players, waiting for apprehensive silence to descend over the group again.

"Lady Applejack. How do you want to do this?" He smiled proudly, Erica's face lighting up as she described her character dealing the final blow to the big bad boss of Eddie's latest imaginative campaign.

"And with that, Lady Applejack has once again saved the party for immeasurable peril. Until next week brave heroes." Eddie said gradiously, rising to his feet and performing a dramatic bow as Mike remarked, returning Erica's victorious dice to her outstretched hand

"I feel like ever since you joined this group you always seem to get the final hit in."

"That's girl power Wheeler, get used to it." She replied confidently, turning to face a now laughing Eddie, the only person allowed to use his town-given label affectionately "Speaking of, Freak, when you are getting your girlfriend to join in? It'd be nice to have a little more representation of my fine gender."

He heard Gareth scoff beside him, still in disbelief at yours and Eddie's relationship despite all evidence to the contrary, convinced Eddie had just been playing an elaborate game with him since that first night at the Hideout.

"That's a nice thought Sinclair, but I don't think Dungeons and Dragons is really her thing." Eddie dismissed, feeling a bit embarrassed by the suggestion for a reason he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Let me guess," Erica continued, one hand on her hip like Eddie was about to be dealt more damage than his precious game's monsters, "You've never even asked (y/n)?" Eddie faltered, defensive and unsure why he was suddenly the one being interrogated. "You know what Munson, i'll make you a bet."

"Erica, you've got to stop making bets on people's lives." Lucas sighed from across the room, only to get immediately shushed.

"I'll bet you ten american dollars that if you ask (y/n) if she wants to join the party, she'll say yes." Silence fell amongst the group, wondering if the quest cast Eddie's way would be a gauntlet he chose to accept.

"You're on Sinclair, let me know if you need something to break your piggy bank with ." He mocked, spitting out his answer before he could think about it enough to back out. But as Erica mimed shaking his hand across the table and the group started to pack up their things, a certain chill seemed to settle under his skin at the thought of broaching the topic with you.

---

"Eddie? Eddie. Eddie!" You repeated, starting to wave your hand an inch from his nose until finally he snapped out of his trance.

"Sorry, we're on question two right? I was just thinking about it." He quickly tried to recover, watching an unconvinced expression form across your face as you set the pen in your hand down amongst the books and papers scattered across your bedroom floor.

"We were on question two forty minutes ago. And you've been somewhere else all day." You leant forward across the floor, crawling closer to Eddie so you could kneel right in front of him, knees lightly meeting on his. "What are you actually thinking about Eddie?" You asked softly, trying to mask the concern in your voice as you placed your hands in his lap.

The truth was, from the moment Erica had mentioned you at D&D, Eddie had felt a mess. It should be a seemingly innocuous step in your relationship, your answer either way not bearing any weight on how you felt about Eddie. But Eddie knew it meant a lot more than that to him. There was a reason he hadn't wanted to bring up that important piece of his life with you; and the reason was fear.

Even though it was just a game, as soon as Eddie started running a dungeons and dragons club in second year of high school, people had turned it into so much more than that. It felt like every year his reputation grew yet again, the cruel names, the snide comments, the satanic rumours about him spreading until he felt like he couldn't even look Wayne in the eye for fear of what he'd heard about him, and even worse, what he believed. It felt like D&D was so intrinsically tied up in Eddie's bad reputation, in the things about him that made it impossible for him to fit in with everyone in Hawkins, that broaching the subject with you could only end in more ridicule, more scorn.

All day Eddie'd been haunted by the ghost of his life before you were in it. The constant taunting at school, the fear of what the rumour mill would churn out next, feeling like maybe he'd just never be enough for someone to want in the way he wanted them. And now, as you perched barely an inch away from him, empathy emanating from your eyes as you watched the gears turning his head, his sullen expression setting your own mind racing, Eddie felt like he was about to open a gate in Hawkins you'd finally choose to exit through, leaving him behind and alone again.

"It's nothing, I was just wondering," he readied himself, taking a deep breath to try and steady the imminent cracking in his voice, knowing if he let fear win out in this moment it's one he'd always regret. And he knew, deep under all that worry, that if there was anyone he could stop feeling scared around, it was you,

"Would you ever want to play D&D with me and Hellfire club?" He let the question hang in the air, watching a confused frown form across your brow and bracing himself for the haunting rejection that was about to come.

You could feel your face portray how lost you were by his request, unsure how something that made him so happy would make him so uncomfortable to talk about. Was he worried you'd ruin it for him and the group, because you didn't know all the rules? Did he feel like he just had to invite you as his girlfriend? As the second of silence passed you watched the depth behind his intensely dark eyes drift from discomfort to genuine sadness, finally understanding what this exchange meant to him. He wasn't worried you'd say yes, he was terrified you'd say no, and call him a freak like the others. He was scared to let you into a part of his life that so many mocked, worried even asking would change how you felt about him.

And so you let the widest smile you could muster break out across your cheeks, letting out a happy chuckle as you asked excitedly,

"Can I really? Are you sure that would be okay!" You practically bounced as you drew yourself up on your knees, watching Eddie's apprehensive expression, still waiting for you to deliver a punchline at his expense.

"Yeah, of course, if you want to." He stumbled through the confirmation, watching with suspicion as you shifted position again, a relieved smile starting to cross his worried face as you settled onto his lap, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling your chest tightly against his.

"Thank you Eddie! I'd love to." You held your position until you felt Eddie's arm finally react and begin to envelop you, vice-like in their encompassing hold, but leaving you just enough room to pull back to bring your face back in his view. He scanned it eagerly, looking for any signs of deceit or sarcasm, judgement or disgust, but just found the warm joy he'd still not grown accustomed to having so close.

"Really?" He found himself breathing out without thought, unconvinced of your answer to his request, but even more astounded by your existence in his life, the seemingly missing piece from his years of anguish.

"Really!" You replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, lips finding his in your excitement and feeling the undeniable response of a smile. "Can you give up on homework and start teaching me the game?" You asked happily, wondering quite what you had just signed yourself up for, but looking forward to seeing Eddie in his element nonetheless. Eddie stared back at you for a moment, heart bursting at the prospect of getting to talk you through something that meant so much to him, like another little piece of his being was revealed and you were accepting it with the same unending affection you had the rest of him. He let one hand loosen its hold on your waist, the other coiling round tightly to fill the void, while he brought his palm to the side of your face, bringing it back towards him again.

"Not yet." He said happily, excitable kiss landing on your lips as he pulled you tightly against him, intending to keep you firmly in his lap for the rest of the afternoon if he could help it. He could let go of his fear and his ghosts, as long as he didn't have to let go of you.

---

That week Eddie found himself setting up for Hellfire even earlier than usual, nervous for your first experience of the game, but excited that it meant he'd have you perched beside him all night. You agreed to just watch the session that afternoon, still trying to get your head around the basic mechanics of the game and wanting to see how it all worked in practice before jumping in yourself. The party were set to arrive at 5:30, and by 5pm Eddie had laid out all his props, carefully hiding key figurines behind his dungeon master's screen and watching you carefully rotate each one in your hands as you examined it closely from your chair beside his throne. It had taken a bit of convincing that you did in fact need your own chair for the evening, Eddie campaigning whole-heartedly for you to just spend the session observing from his lap, cocky smile creeping across his lips as he threw glances to the clock above the door periodically,

"If you insist on sitting over there for the game, you could at least do me the honour of joining me on my throne before everyone else gets here." He uncrossed his legs and patted the top of his thighs, feeling more in his element settled in his master's chair than he thought he would around you. Eddie wore confidence well, his eyes glowing darker as you obliged his request, lifting slowly from your seat to straddle his lap, fingers weaving through his hair as his hands found your hips,

"You can have me for ten minutes, then back to my chair, I don't want to scar any of your freshman," You flirted, Eddie nodded slightly in agreement before his lips landed on yours, wasting no time and knowing it wasn't a freshman he was hoping to scar. His chest pressed into yours as his thumbs rubbed warm circles in the soft skin of your thighs, taking your content hum as an opportunity to pass his tongue through your lips. Caught up in the intoxicating taste of Eddie you always missed the smile flashing against your lips as you heard the room's double doors creak open behind you.

"Eddie, why'd you...AH!" A confused voice called behind you, before falling into awkward silence as you climbed off Eddie lap, noticing his reluctance to loosen his grip on you.

"Gareth, you're early." Eddie feigned surprise, knowing full well he had given him the wrong time, basking in the baffled look on his face at your position by Eddie's side. "I don't think you two have properly met you, Gareth this is my girlfriend (y/n)." The word girlfriend was loaded with emphasis, the set up quickly becoming clear to you, even if the motive remained a mystery,

"Nice to meet you Gareth." You offered with a small wave, trying to remember anything beyond climbing on Eddie's lap. "I hope you don't mind, Eddie said I could sit in on Hellfire today so I can see how this all works for when I wanna play."

"Eddie said you could sit in? You want to play Dungeons and Dragons?" Scepticism still clear in his voice as Eddie draped his arm over you, less than subtlely planting a kiss to your template as you returned to your separate seats.

"Yeah one day! Why don't you tell me about your character?" You asked as Gareth began pulling sheets of paper out of a notebook, still unsure if this was an elaborate set up from Eddie, rather than admitting to a lie. As he began to tell you the details, you were sure out of the corner of your eye you could see Eddie stick out his tongue at Gareth from beside you, beaming with confidence in your company. Even if you didn't end up enjoying the game tonight, you could tell you were going to really enjoy the confident, funny, and somehow sexier than usual dungeon master Eddie.

Eddie watched the scene playout with glee, ecstatic that his friend was going to have to stop being surprised at every mention of your name now. However as sweet as the vindicating feeling was, he could only consider it his second favourite Hellfire interaction of the week.

---

Two Days Earlier:

It was no wonder Erica walked through the halls of her middle school like she owned the place, crowd of friends swarming her side, drawn to her confidence and unwavering loyalty to herself and those she deemed worthy of her friendship. That Tuesday was no different, pausing while one of her assorted besties exchanged books from their locker, Erica monologuing fluently about 'it being absolute bullshit if she doesn't get made captain of the debate team this year.'

"Erica, sorry to interrupt but I think that guy is looking at you?" One of her friends stopped her, pointing to the figure coming down the corridor and beginning a wave of giggles from the squad around her.

"What the freak?" Erica sighed out in disbelief as she recognised the figure of Eddie Munson towering over the kids in her middle school, walking confidently through the halls, clutching a cupcake in one hand as he scanned the shapes below him. As broadly as his reputation seemed to have spread around Hawkins, it didn't seem like any of the middle school girls knew Eddie as a freak, any older boy approaching Erica enough to send a few excitedly scurrying off to begin stirring up the rumour mill.

"Sinclair!" Eddie called out as he finally laid eyes on his target, ignoring the look of borderline outrage she gave him as he stomped over, oblivious to the stares of the kids around him.

"What are you doing here Munson? Even you can't be repeating this many years." Erica delivered the line suspiciously, the kind of comment that would have stung from anyone else, but from Erica only drew a wry laugh from Eddie.

"Not quite Lady Applejack, I come with an offering." He fumbled in his pocket for a second before pulling out a ten dollar note, extending it to the frowning middle schooler before her patience with him expired completely. "You won the bet, so this is for you. And this is for you as well." He continued, revealing the cupcake resting on his outstretched palm, "Just as a thank you." His performative tone dipped into sincerity as the sentence came to an end, Erica letting herself exchange a real smile with Eddie, happy for her friend and her just desserts.

"You're welcome. And you should never doubt me again." She said, nodding seriously as she took a bit of the well-earned treat. She tilted her head as she chewed, eyes widening at Eddie, "Was there something else?" Eddie laughed, genuinely a bit intimidated by the girl that barely reached hip height on him, and bowed as he stepped away.

"That's it, enjoy the spoils of your victory!" And with that he bounded back down the corridor, conscious to get through the exit before any of his old teachers saw him and realised he still had homework due.

"Who was that!" A chorus of girls whispered as they formed around Erica again, her surprise visitor sure to be the talk of all her afternoon classes.

"Just a senior who needed my advice with something." Erica remarked nonchalantly, taking another bite of her cupcake before setting back off to class. Owning middle school was easy.

You Are In Love taglist:

@lacrymosa-24 @aftermidnightwriting @fluttergirl1202 @tayhar811 @souls-rain @neewtmas @kimmi-kat @wintrrrsoldier @dylanmunson @sidthedollface2

@eddiemunson95 @mistiatmosphere @singularattitudeofasafetypin @omgsquee2001

[abuddyforeveryseason]

This is the Buddy for March 14th. You see he's holding his instrument of torture, ready to subject his latest victim patient to a cavity treatment. Nothing surprising there, after all, a dentist is just a sadist with newer magazines.

Some people are afraid of dentists. Dentophobia, they call it. And, it might be understandable since a lot of times going to the dentist is a painful and uncomfortable ordeal. And it doesn't help that they all look like nazis. Or the sinking feeling that if were actually competent, they'd have gone into medicine.

Or maybe these people are just ashamed of admitting they can't afford to go. Because to me, the scariest part about going to the dentist is the bill. I hate to go, sure, but the pain and discomfort is the least of my issues, since they at least seem to be a logical consequence of the work being done.

Of course, you have to take a sick day to go to the dentist, and those are worth their weight in gold. You get there and there's a rude receptionist glued to her phone, having you fill in an enormous, useless questionaire. Why does the dentist need to know my address?

The tyranny of the waiting room is somewhat diminished by having an e-reader and internet access. I learned really early on to carry an emergency book everywhere just in case I have to be subjected to a sudden waiting room.

Then at the consultation itself, you're at a battle of wits. The dentist will try to gouge as much money out of you as he can, which doesn't really engender trust - I'm not accusing the dentist of making up cavities so I'll shell out even more cash (or, so the insurance will, making me more of a piggy bank that shoots out money whenever he hurts it, in the eyes of the dentist) - but it does feel worrisome to know that, the worst my dental health is, the more money he'll make.

And it doesn't help that the dentist'll try to guilt trip me about whatever's wrong. For the sin of allowing the cavities to develop (by eating all that sugar) I should be fined with a larger bill. It's not like the torture isn't punishment enough, no. After all, if dentistry was free, nobody would even bother brushing, right? It's just some hours in house of pain, sitting in that alien chair looking up at the flying saucer lights while doctor Mengele sharpens his hooks and needles.

And you accuse me of not flossing enough? Fuck you, how about I get some floss to wrap around your neck and choke you with it, you piece of shit?

Huh, maybe I am a dentophobe.

[denimbex1986]

'“You talk about no one, ever. You just keep charging on”

Well, that was mad.

Who knew when we all settled down to watch the latest Doctor Who that we were getting The Two Doctors Reboot, nice and early? We basically got a 40 minute episode then a 20 minute episode here, bringing the 60th birthday trilogy to a close, and setting up, well, seemingly everything.

The Giggle, then, is a fairly traditional episode of Doctor Who on the surface. A foe from the past, a fancy corridor to run down, the world under threat. That sort of thing.

What’s more, it’s an episode that wasted no time at all bringing The Celestial Toymaker back from the 1960s, now not in the guise of Michael Gough, but looking incredibly like Neil Patrick Harris instead. Harris with a German accent no less, behind the counter of a 1926 Soho store when we first meet him. He’s dancing to the Spice Girls by the time we watch him drop a ball, and that gives an indication as to just how fast and furious The Giggle would turn out to be.

After the opening credits, we’re in London, and all is not well. Lots of smoke, looting, cars rampaging on pavements. On the surface, a little bit of a horror movie, with a creepy ventriloquist’s dummy mixing in a bit of the 1940s movie Dead Of Night with a dose of Saw.

There was a threatened subplot setup about John Logie Baird, the invention of television, and the seeding of something that’s been subtly threatening the human race since the invention of said telly. But once Russell T Davies had made his point, it was pretty quickly shelved. It’s an idea that at any other time could have happily been explored in a full episode. Here, it was needed to the point that it wasn’t. And when it wasn’t, it was gone.

The point that Davies was making? Well, you could call it subtext, but it was so close to the surface of what was going on we may as well call it text. The unbeatable enemy here wasn’t The Toymaker, it was humans. Worse: the brand of humans who think they’re always right. Facebook comments boards in walking, talking form.

Even UNIT doesn’t know what to do about them.

As Davies points out, they shout, they cancel. They’re even offered Zeedex, a vaccine against trouble of sorts, and they criticise it.

It would be fair to say that The Giggle is not Russell T Davies at his most subtle, but clearly deliberately so. He’s got something to say, and boy, does his script say it.

Yet as soon as he’s done with that, the television and the doll are shuttled off, as there’s much else to get through.

It would, after all, be fair to say that The Giggle had a hell of a lot going on, and much was splashed on the screen.

If last week’s Wild Blue Yonder was the slightly more contained of the three episodes we’ve just had (and my favourite), perhaps saving a few of Disney’s dollars by sticking mainly to a single location with a small cast, here Davies is emptying the piggy bank in ten minutes flat.

Again, it’s not special effects per se (although they were not skimped on – witness the folding up shop): it’s scale. A busy London street looks really busy. Chaos looks like chaos The helicopter flying over London actually looks like a helicopter flying over London.

And that’s before we get to the new UNIT headquarters. The first clues were the branded armour on the UNIT troops. Then, off we pop to a tower that looks like it’s been bought off Tony Stark, and not at a discount.

I think most of us are expecting, thanks to the Whoniverse logo that now precedes episodes of Doctor Who, that we’re going to be getting spin-offs in due course. The scale of the UNIT set and the sheen of its new tower means my money’s on that being one spin-off right there. Especially as it offers a welcome pension scheme for erstwhile Doctor Who companions. There’s a job offer for Donna Noble for a start.

It turns out there’s a second spin-off that’s also set up: David Tennant’s 14th Doctor is still in play, and we’ve now got two TARDISes. Will that be explored as a possible option? Who knows, but I’d not bet against seeing Tennant again in the show.

Let’s go though to what was set up as the meat of the episode: the face-off between Neil Patrick Harris’ much-hyped The Toymaker, and Tennant’s Doctor. All with Donna Noble involved too. A rematch, now in our universe, nearly 60 years in the making.

It’s The Toymaker up against a doubtful Doctor too, one questioning his effectiveness. “Take away the toys, what am I?”, he questions, giving the Time Lord the kind of gravitas and weight that Tennant has always excelled at. At one stage almost a failing Doctor too, one with his confidence stripped away.

Is this the continued weight of the Flux on his shoulders here? It – along with Trial Of A Time Lord – certainly gets another reference here. At one stage, a puppet show even. Heck, the puppet version of the Doctor’s history: we’re up to spin-off number three. Would watch.

Interesting fella then, The Toymaker. He reminded me of when Russell T Davies re-introduced The Master all the way back in 2007. John Simm’s take on that particular foe was played big, a rampaging, loud, scene-demanding antagonist, not shy of a pop song. Certainly a marked difference from how we’d seen The Master before.

Neil Patrick Harris – at his most creepy in a suit in the background, staring at the camera – is more than up to what’s asked of him here, and it’s a not dissimilar approach. The words ‘quiet’ and ‘subtle’ were not part of the pitch.

It’s a whole lot of fun though, if not always a settled and particularly interesting take on the character. When he appears from the sky as a puppeteer, I confess, I wasn’t unnerved. When he was silent, staring in the background, I was.

A doll reciting poetry while walking slowly past a clock in the wall? Yep, that was creepier. A dance with Jemma Redgrave – welcome back! – to the Spice Girls? Again, less so. The smaller the ask, the more unnerving The Toymaker became.

But then, after all the build-up, not actually much time. It was lovely to see Bonnie Langford’s Melanie Bush again – quieter than usual – but again, not much time with her. Perhaps we’ll meet her again. Hope so.

The first 40 minutes then, the episode that we though we were getting, was perfectly decent, entertaining, breezy, and occasionally very funny (Donna knowing exactly when to run). Credit to director Chanya Button for keeping up with it all.

The last 20 minutes? Well, where do you start.

Doctor Who has always changed, always evolved, and rightly so. Right before our eyes tonight, it was rewriting its rule book again, and there was much to take it.

It was, in two words, a lot.

We’ve had a premature David Tennant regeneration before, but when he started getting the glow some 15 minutes from the end of The Giggle, I confess I was expecting a more traditional handover, albeit with Davies giving us an unexpected 15 minutes to get to know, well, the 15th Doctor.

What we got was something new: bi-regeneration.

That, plus a TARDIS with a jukebox. A Doctor parading around in his pants. Fourteen and 15 hugging it out. And an actual happy ending for a Doctor. Bet the BBC gets letters about some of that, too. Probably from the same lot that wrote in last time.

Things just kept on coming. This was full-on blockbuster television, and a very clear sign of where things are heading.

Just one of those things we got in the last act would have been new: in Davies’ latest generation of Who, we got the whole lot in a quarter of an episode. You ain’t going to get much slowdown in a Saturday night slot either.

I should note that a few things have been seeded here alongside the pair of Doctors and their respective vehicles.

The Master’s clearly back in play, and not just because of the namecheck of the Archangel network. The picking up of the tooth at the end (yep) had a ring of the last reel of 1980’s Flash Gordon about it. We know The Master’s in there: but who picked the tooth up? Someone at UNIT presumably. For now, they’re not telling.

There’s more too.

Who are the “legions” that the Toymaker talks of? Again, there’s clearly more threat coming, because he was incredibly easily defeated here after being told how deadly he was. It made the regular batterings of the Daleks look difficult. But also, we’re told of The One Who Waits. Who’s that? Whoever or whatever it is, it’s clearly Ncuti Gatwa’s problem. And it sure looks, from the glimpse that we’ve had, that Gatwa is going to have a lot of fun trying to solve it.

He may even need to invest in a pair of trousers.

Even writing this all down though, what I got from all of this, as much as Russell T Davies was repainting and rewiring the show, was a deep love of it from him. The time taken to pay tribute to Sarah-Jane. The mention of Adric. That aforementioned puppet show. Even protecting moles from Wilf. All of this is the woven fabric of the show, and it’s very, very clear that Davies is building on it, not disposing of it. I love that.

Here, he’s used a trilogy to give fans new and old something. The old farts like me are far more Wild Blue Yonder, I’d imagine, but I had fun with The Giggle, even if I wanted more of The Giggle in it. The last 20 minutes took me very much by surprise, and for a show that’s entering its seventh decade (!), how impressive is that?

It’s been a fun trilogy of episodes, this. And what we got here was the culmination of an ambitious, top-to-bottom reintroduction of the show that’s already got a fresh run of episodes waiting for us, beginning with the festive special.

This, then, is Doctor Who. And this is now the future of the show.

It ain’t going to be everyone. But all signs are, it’s going to be quite a ride. Roll on Christmas…'

[xoxardnekoxo]

Movie Review: TMNT Mutant Mayhem

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Ah, Ninja Turtles. My childhood superheroes... oh who am I kidding, my eternal superheroes. :D This fabsome foursome debuted in 1987, the same year I was born, so I literally grew up watching the franchise. The series has gotten several reboots over the last three decades, and it's still going strong. The hype now is around the latest installment, Mutant Mayhem, created by Seth Rogen.

So, confession - when I first heard details about this movie and saw promo images, I was NOT on board. The art style is amateur at best, and yet another one of my beloved childhood redheaded characters has been black washed. First Ariel, now April? If we could stop doing that, that would be great... I'm totally okay with her being heavyset and more realistic in terms of body. We could all use THAT type of PC upgrade for beloved classic characters. But at least keep them the same race we've always known them to be.

But enough about that. It wasn't just the art style that made me stick my nose up in disgust at yet another remake of my ultimate childhood series. I'm literally a mega fan - my TMNT collection dates back 30+ years and is still growing, and it features some sort of item from every series thus far (with the exception of Rise... because even I can't get on board with that one). I'm talking figures, plushes, clothes, jewelry, hats, backpacks, bookmarks, magnets, buttons, piggy banks, etc. You name it, I've got it in TMNT form. So I'm very passionate about the show and can be quite critical of changes to it.

Which is why when I was starting to get past the art style, I was appalled to learn that not only would Shredder not be the main antagonist this time around, he wouldn't even be referenced at all.

Uh... yeah, we all know - we've known since 1984, when the comics came out - that Shredder is THE villain of the turtles. That's the one thing that's been consistent with every franchise (except The Next Mutation, but he at least made an appearance in that, albeit for a brief time). Instead, the bad guy is a hideous creature called Superfly. Kind of a double play on words considering he's literally a giant mutant fly with fancy/classy/fast cars and an entire mutant army and crime baddies at his disposal.

And Splinter? OMG, what did they DO to him? His face looks like someone splattered vegetables on the sidewalk. I see a squashed tomato/potato where his nose should be, and his "beard" is like the top of broccoli or a garlic clove. (shudder) And let's not get into the fact that, when the turtles were kids, he had a freaking Afro and a mustache. The turtles are meant to be 15 in this time, which would make the year roughly 2008 when they were kids, so the 70s look was way dated at that time.

Then we get more great news... not only are we now race-swapping characters; we're also gender-swapping them. Leatherhead and Wingnut, while minor characters throughout every iteration, are now girls instead of guys.

Leatherhead has always been an ally to the turtles, except in the original series, and considering the direction this movie took, I have to wonder if the writers thought it would be inappropriate to make them enemies because it would show teen guys beating up a girl. I mean, "beating up" may be a stretch, but you get what I mean. And Wingnut has always been super annoying to me, so I would have been okay had she not been in the movie at all. But I digress.

Okay, so, plot. Since Shredder isn't the main villain, the plot isn't the usual "stop Shredder from conquering Earth" thing. The movie starts with Baxter Stockman raising a giant mutant baby fly - in a crib and all - in a lab surrounded by test tubes of animals. Yeah, I didn't make that up. Animals of all different species and sizes are somehow shrunken down to conveniently fit inside a test tube.

Some heavy-duty suit guys break in and grab Stockman to take all his research at the behest of a mysterious woman named Cynthia Utrom. We know from prior series and lore that the Utroms are the alien race that created the ooze that caused the mutations of, well, all mutants. Utrom looks like a woman here, but she could be wearing a human suit like in the 2003 series. We don't know, and we don't find out.

Anyway, the baby fly escapes and takes out all the suits because, well, he's super strong and inhuman. And he has wings. He manages to grab all Stockman's test tubes and book it out of there, and then we fast forward to 15 years later where we meet our protagonists. Their current mission? To acquire necessities for the lair from a list given to them by Splinter. So they do this and they're like, "Hey, we've only been gone for a little bit. Let's go check out the outdoor movie playing in the park." So then we get to see them watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Yep, a live action movie in a CGI movie with art that's literally meant to resemble sketches like kids would draw.

So then they get back to the lair but Leo guiltily confesses that they all went to watch a movie in close proximity to humans. We're then introduced to the origin story of the turtles and Splinter, and while we're all familiar with it, it's slightly different this time. Splinter was a normal rat before, but he wasn't anyone's pet. He was a typical NYC rat, hated by humans (and raccoons... and dogs...) and one day he finds himself in the sewers and comes upon four baby turtles crawling around in green ooze. This ooze had come from a canister kicked into a sewer grate from Stockman's lab earlier. Splinter was shocked that the turtles took right to him, and they were the first and only things to not instantly hate him or want to kill him. So of course he touches the ooze and mutates, as do the turtles. He raises them as his sons, and honestly, I don't recall ever hearing him being called Splinter. All the turtles called him Dad. I don't think we ever knew his name... so if you didn't know of any other TMNT series before this, you'd have no idea what his name was.

Anyway, the turtles, as kids, wanted to go above ground one day, and Splinter thought he'd give it a try. Bad idea, because, of course, everyone freaked out and chased them away. So Splinter vowed to keep his sons safe and refused to let them leave the lair except to get supplies. We're also treated to a montage of cheesy old footage of actual martial arts movies/shows depicting how Splinter trained the turtles in ninjitsu as a means of self defense. He now loathes humans and wants nothing to do with them, and wants the same for his sons.

So after the confession of watching a movie, the turtles get grounded and are all talking in their room about what they'd do if they could be normal. Meanwhile, a crime spree has broken out with mega villain Superfly (yep, that's his name) stealing all kinds of high-tech scientific items... and if anyone sees his face, he kills them.

We're soon introduced to April, who, this time, is not an adult reporter. She's an aspiring reporter in high school, and she's collecting information on the Superfly case because, due to the crime spree, the school's prom has been cancelled and she thinks she can get it back if she solves the mystery of Superfly.

Well, the guys are throwing ninja starts at watermelons (because why not) on the rooftop one night, and one lands in April's helmet. As she's chewing out the shadows on the roof that she can't see, someone steals her scooter. And Leo decides this would be a great time to play hero and get the scooter back for the "beautiful human girl." Yeah, in the 2012 version, Donnie had a crush on April. This time around, apparently it's Leo.

The guys then partake in their first actual fight with bad guys - I'd love to say that I went YES in the theater when a car radio turns on and "Ninja Rap" from the original second movie is playing - and shortly thereafter, April sees them. But she doesn't freak out even when she realizes they're not wearing costumes. She's more interested in getting a story about them for the school newspaper. But of course, considering they aren't supposed to be seen or known about, that won't do. April then tells the guys that, had they not helped her beforehand by getting her scooter back, she probably would have had a much different and more negative reaction to seeing them. This gives the turtles an idea: Become heroes by finding Superfly and bringing him to justice, allow April to get it all on film to showcase them as heroes, and then she can write and submit her story.

April accepts the terms, and the turtles go to her high school with her and are all "ooohh, ahh, we want to go here." They find April's locker, which has been graffitied with things like "puke girl." We're then treated to the ever delightful scene of our female protagonist spewing what looks like green ooze all over a desk because of nerves while giving the morning announcements. Look, I know this is CGI and not real, but that was completely unnecessary. More on that later.

So to get to Superfly, the guys have to interrupt a transfer of goods, i.e. the final piece of some machine Superfly is building for his nefarious plot (which we don't know what it is yet). The guys are waiting in the truck and he shows up... with Bebop and Rocksteady. You remember them. The mutant warthog and rhino, respectively, from 1987 and 2012? Shredder's mutant allies? The ones Shredder created? Yeah, those two. Well, this time, since there is no Shredder, they were created in Stockman's lab. Remember all the animals in test tubes? Yeah, they're all grown now as well, raised by Superfly since he was the oldest. Stockman's plan was to create a family of mutants because he was never liked or understood by people. Superfly's plan is to pick up where his "father" left off... by turning all animals into mutants and killing all humans.

So of course, eventually the turtles manage to turn the tables and attempt to escape with the last piece of the machine Superfly needs to spread the mutagen. But of course, that falls apart and a bunch of Utrom's suits find and capture them. April races back to the lair to tell Splinter that his sons are in trouble... yeah, that's an awkward first meeting. Splinter shows up and takes out all the suits (Utrom has been taken away to safety), saves his sons, and they all start to head back home to come up with a plan to stop Superfly. It results in them basically appealing to all the other mutants, telling them that they don't have to listen to Superfly and that they have a choice. Surprise, surprise, they all turn against the big bad. Even Rocksteady and Bebop, and they're supposed to be villains... I realize their origin is different here, but come on.

Well, everyone takes out the giant mutagen machine... sort of. It lands in the river below, where there are dozens of species of sea life. Yep, you guessed it. Superfly merges with all the animals in the river. He gets a whale body, crab pinchers, some sort of tail, etc. And, for some reason, random horses on his legs. Wha... Oh, and he's now taller than the Empire State Building. Awesome.

Yeah, as if he wasn't ugly enough before LOL. Well, the suits in Utrom's lab had been working on an anti-mutagen, and April managed to swipe one of these canisters... somehow. It didn't really show how, she just did it. Times Square has a huge news report going on about mutants attacking, so April manages to get inside the Channel 6 (yep, the right station!) building to take over the report and explain that she knows the truth - that the only bad mutant is the giant fly/whale hybrid thing. And then she pukes again. Seriously, STOP THAT.

Splinter is trying to get to his sons, but Superfly manages to knock him back hard enough to break his leg. Humans approach, and he's terrified... but they're reaching for him to help him. So then we have humans and mutants working together to get the anti-mutagen to the turtles, who manage to throw it into Superfly's weak spot - the whale blow hole. Yep, that takes care of it. So then the turtles are revered as heroes, and the other mutants are all now living in the sewers with them... and the turtles wind up going to high school. They're got human clothes on, ditch their masks, etc. And all the kids welcome them and think they're super cool. April's locker has been re-graffitied with things like "cool girl" instead of "puke girl," and then the movie just... ends.

Then we get a post-credits scene, showing how the turtles are getting along in high school. Each one seems to have found his niche, and they're even all at the prom together. However, Utrom is watching them, and she says that capturing them will be difficult. So she asks her assistant to bring her... The Shredder! Then we see an outline of Shredder before the scene cuts away. So yeah, totally open for a sequel, as is the norm with movies these days. In fact, a sequel (and TV series) has actually already been confirmed! I mean, honestly, how could Seth Rogen, a self-admitted TMNT addict, create a TMNT movie without at least planning for Shredder to be in it?

So, all in all, it wasn't a bad movie. I appreciate the throwbacks to the original series, and I'm glad to see my favorite heroes getting so much recognition again.

However, there are definitely some things in this movie that weren't necessary. The top of that list is April's barfing scene. She was nervous doing the morning announcements at school and wound up throwing up as a result. Then later, during her news broadcast telling everyone that the only bad mutant is Superfly, she does it again... honestly, I get that we may need a reason for her to rather be behind the camera instead of in front of it, and she needs an obstacle to jump over to tell the people who tease her to suck it, but did it have to be that??? We're showing puke in kids' movies now? Please, just, don't... I don't care that it's a cartoon and looked like the ooze that mutated our beloved heroes. That doesn't mean I want to see it spewing out of someone's mouth. What is it with Seth Rogen and vomit movies? Is it like some unwritten rule that someone has to upchuck in everything he's in? UGH.

Also, this movie is rated PG, but... were all the nipple references necessary? Splinter is legit concerned that, if his sons are found by humans, they'll be put in a lab and milked...and they're like, "But we don't even have nipples!" Then the turtles say the same thing to April when she talks about writing a story about them, and she asks how that could be done for the same reason. Then later, in Utrom's lab, they are getting milked... but, I mean, how... way too much emphasis on that.

And did Splinter seriously need a love interest? With an unintelligible giant bug? Just... why? That's wrong on so many levels.

It was said from the start that this movie would focus mostly on the "teenager" aspect, and it absolutely did that. The guys weren't all serious about ninja training and mastering new techniques; they were more interested in what it would be like to be a normal kid, go to school, go to the prom, etc. And since it's 2023, and because it's Seth Rogen, we have to have some swearing and such, even in a cartoon. Mostly it's by Superfly (aka Ice Cube), so not surprising. But even the original 1990 live action movie had cursing LOL.

You know, I'm almost positive that the turtles never officially introduced themselves to April upon meeting her. She introduced herself, but I don't think they ever identified themselves. The closest we came was in they were in the school and Michelangelo was signing himself up for a talent show. We all know who they are, but a human meeting them for the first time more than likely wouldn't. Hmmm... I think some details got overlooked. Just like how I swear Splinter's name wasn't mentioned once in the entire hour and 49 minutes of the movie's runtime.

Anyway, as a hard-core TMNT fan, I did enjoy the movie. Definitely some things that I would have changed, and others that should have stayed true to the original, but all in all it wasn't bad. I think I can give it 8/10 and be satisfied. :)

[milomaxxy]

This!! Our toddler loves helping with chores (that are age appropriate, tho she tries to ask to help with things she's not old/physically big enough for too) and we're slowly integrating giving her change to "feed her piggy bank" (or I guess a pony bank bc it's Twilight Sparkle) bc that's her latest fascination. Now she wants to take out trash three times a day, clean up cabinets, help sweep, help with dishes (putting them in the sink, not cleaning them lol). We have to tell her "hey kiddo, the trash already got taken out and won't need it for a couple days" now bc she gets the bonus of "feeding the piggy bank" when she helps

for the love of god, do not use chores to punish your kids!!!! it's just going to make them struggle deeply to keep their houses tidy as adults since you made them associate necessary chores with punishment and suffering, and it's going to take years of therapy to undo. don't use chores as punishments!!!

[starseedfxofficial]

UK Pension Megafunds: Game Changer or Repackaged Hype? UK Pension Megafunds: A Game Changer or Just Another Repackaged Deal? In an attempt to inject new life into the UK pension system, Chancellor Reeves has announced plans to create a series of "megafunds" by pooling pension savings. It’s kind of like everyone throwing their coins into a giant piggy bank—except the stakes are a lot higher, and instead of a pink ceramic pig, we’re talking about billions of pounds and institutional investors making big moves. According to Bloomberg, these new funds are meant to provide the power to invest on a larger scale, potentially unlocking returns that smaller pension schemes just can’t reach. The Real Question: Will Megafunds Deliver? Let’s get real for a moment—"megafunds" sounds impressive, but is this really a groundbreaking shift, or just a shiny new name for something we’ve seen before? Critics argue that pooling pensions is nothing new, and we’ve heard promises of better returns before. Remember that time you bought into the hype of a "one-size-fits-all" investment strategy, only to realize it was as awkward as wearing your friend’s shoes? Yeah, this could be something like that. But on the flip side, the sheer scale of these funds might indeed give them access to opportunities that were previously out of reach. What Traders Should Watch For From a Forex perspective, larger funds moving into different assets can ripple through markets—and not in the relaxing, "ocean-wave" kind of way. We’re talking serious waves that can shift exchange rates. If these megafunds go heavy on international assets, the pound might dance a bit—up or down—depending on how much capital flows out of the UK market. "But here's where the real magic happens..." If the megafunds succeed in generating higher returns, the demand for UK assets could increase, giving the pound a boost. On the other hand, if investors aren’t convinced, we might see some instability. As always, keeping an eye on investor sentiment will be crucial. UK Housing: Unexpected Upswing or Just a Fluke? Now, let's switch gears to the housing market—something that affects all of us, whether you're a trader, a homeowner, or still trying to save for that first flat. The latest UK RICS Housing Survey came in at 16.0, smashing expectations of 11.0. Talk about a surprise move! The housing market showing resilience is kind of like finding a tenner in your old jacket—pleasant, but not necessarily a sign you’re about to get rich. But why does this matter to Forex traders? A stronger housing market often points to an economy that's not doing too badly. It could imply potential rate hikes ahead if inflation rears its head—which could make the pound stronger against other currencies. Think of it as a mini chain reaction: stronger housing market, potential rate hikes, higher pound value. Hidden Patterns and Trading Insights So, what’s the hidden gem here? For starters, this housing data could be the "canary in the coal mine" indicating what’s next for the Bank of England. Traders should watch for how this data could shape BoE sentiment. If inflation starts ticking up alongside stronger housing numbers, we might see a shift in rhetoric—and that’s the kind of moment that savvy traders can capitalize on. Quick Tip: Keep your eye on emerging trends around pension funds investing abroad. If these megafunds are going global, they’re going to need to exchange a lot of pounds into foreign currencies—and that’s where volatility could present trading opportunities. A sudden increase in demand for USD, EUR, or JPY could mean great chances for those quick enough to catch the wave. A Megafund Opportunity or Market Gimmick? Whether or not these megafunds truly live up to their name, one thing is certain—the FX markets will react. And when they do, you’ll want to be ready to move. As for the housing market, treat the latest surprise as a sign of resilience, but keep in mind that a single strong data point doesn’t make a trend. Stay sharp, keep an eye on those capital flows, and remember—the market has a funny way of making the unexpected happen. Let’s keep finding those hidden opportunities that others overlook! Read the full article

[eliwal]

Connecticut's Most Reliable Gravel Driveway & Asphalt Maintenance Team

Owner/Operator of VP Asphalt Paving, Victor Pagona, Stands by 35 Years of Reliable & Long-Lasting Driveway Repair Solutions! VP Paving is Your Trusted Source for Gravel and Asphalt Pavement Installations in The Greater Waterbury Area of Central Connecticut!

Call VP Asphalt Paving Today for a FREE ESTIMATE on Gravel and Asphalt Services for Your Home or Commercial Real Estate

Sub Base Material Installation - 3/4" Procesed Stone Gravel Driveway

Asphalt & Blacktop Paving Services YouTube Video

Gravel & Processed Stone Driveway Services

Asphalt Pavement & Gravel Driveway Repair Services in Western Connecticut

Is your driveway starting to get ominous looks from passerby's and neighbors? Maybe it's finally time to crack open the piggy bank and do some repair work at your home or business location?

At VP Asphalt Paving, we’re pros at turning pot holes, crevices, asphalt settling and alligator cracking into a newly smooth, solid paved foundation.

We proudly service Waterbury, CT, and nearby towns including Southbury, Oxford, Woodbury, Goshen, Wolcott, Southington, Litchfield, Cheshire, Thomaston, Middlebury and Harwinton and Torrington – we have all the solutions for your asphalt and gravel driveway repair needs.

VP Asphalt Paving can be summed up in three words, reliability, honesty, and efficiency. We provide top-notch services for gravel driveways, sidewalks, firepits, and all forms of residential and commercial landscaping. We have served the Woodbury, Oxford, Newtown, Middlebury, Bethlehem, Sherman, South Britain, Bridgewater, Washington, and Southbury areas for over three decades.

Also our excellent reputation is well known in the greater areas of Waterbury and south to Northern New Haven County and have earned a trusted name among the local patrons. Our pledge has remained the same-from installations of gravel driveways to delivering topsoil and structurally engineered subsurface gravel, including offering all those essential maintenance and repair services.

We are as deep into the area of Southbury, Watertown and Woodbury in The Nutmeg State as our family-owned and operated asphalt and gravel business is, even having delivered all types of gravel and site driveway fill back since the mid 1980s!

Some of The Beautiful Areas We Service Throughout Western Connecticut

Bent of The River in Southbury CT

A Drive Through Watertown CT

"The Farm" in Woodbury CT"

Life in Torrington Connecticut

The Hills of Litchfield Connecticut

Modern Solutions for Efficient Driveway Installations

We continuously invest in the latest technologies and new truck fleet to lift the bar for our services all throughout Hartford County. Because of the tracking systems installed in our trucks, we promptly respond to all customers' inquiries in a timely manner. We also expand the customer service team so each client can get fast personalized support.

Some Best Types of Gravel for Driveways

First and foremost, proper material choice is crucial when it comes to the stability and drainage of gravel driveways. Most driveways depend on three kinds of gravel set on top of one another to function properly. These include river rock, dense grade, and pea gravel. Let us dive further into each option through investigating the history of gravel right here!

River Rock

River rock remains very popular. It looks very natural and its texture is rather smooth. The water flowing over them wears them down, thus the completed item is smooth, attractive rock. However, river rock is easily moved and does not hold up to steep slopes or sharp curves.

River rock prices are different depending on location and availability; thus, it pays to shop around in order to get the best deal possible. It is also often used for landscaping, fire pits, and erosion control.

Dense Grade or Processed Stone

Dense grade is also called crusher run or road stone. This is a combination of crushed stone and stone dust. When compacted, it becomes rock solid, and fairly durable. Although not as handsome, this is a very functional choice for a base.

On the other hand, it does not fare well when it comes to wet-weather driveways since the stone does not facilitate drainage. Prices in Connecticut will vary depending on your location, in relation to quarries and market demand.

Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is another of the most popular driveway materials. It basically includes small, smooth, naturally weathered stones in several colors. Unlike river rock, pea gravel doesn't shift as much under the weight of a vehicle and thus is a little more stable once installed on a driveway. It allows a lot better drainage than its river pea gravel cousins and seems to work well on areas prone to heavy rainfall.

Crushed Pea Gravel and River Pea Gravel

Crushed pea gravel is meant for those looking to have a cheap substitute for traditional river rock. This gravel is angular in shape, hence it interlocks way better compared to your typical pea gravel. It is cheaper compared to river rock, hence practical for most Litchfield County homeowners seeking a very stable driveway surface.

Gravel Size and Application

The size of gravel you need would wholly depend on the nature and type of your project. Gravel is available in sizes, its size based on the number but in reverse. The bigger the number, the smaller the size of the gravel. Certain common sizes include #57s, which are roughly the size of a quarter, and #89s, which are far finer.

Video Explaining Gravel's Various Sizes and Applications

Even larger stones become useful for when the area is a construction entrance or a road base. A proper gravel driveway installation needs to be prepared on the site, and this involves removing the topsoil-the hardpan beneath it used as the base for long-term stability.

Clean Gravel vs. Minus Gravel: Key Differences

Clean gravel products are thoroughly washed to eliminate fines, that are microscopic particles which could result in compaction issues in some uses. Because of the washing process, clean gravel is usually a bit more expensive. Clean gravel works well for drainage systems like French drains, house footing drains, curtain drains and sub-surface drainage for driveways, roadways and parking lots.

On the other hand, minus gravel does contain fines, which help it have a higher compaction rate; in the end, that would make it better for driveways or roads where one needs a solid compacted base. The smaller size of particles allows filling gaps, and they can compact as high as 96% engineered.

Gravel Size Guide for Driveways and Road Construction

Gravel is usually under 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Gravel sizes are generated by their "Size No." or "Size #," referring to grading or screening of the gravel. The smaller the Size #, the larger the gravel, while the bigger the number is, the finer the particles.

For example, a combination like #57s contains a mixture of a variety of gravel sizes including #5, #6, and #7. These combined sizes enable a multitude of uses due to the varied sizes contained within the mixture. Below is a list of some common sizes and their uses:

Baby Surge (1/4" minus) 5/8" minus 3/4" clean 1-1/4" minus 1-1/4" clean 2" minus 2" clean 2-4" quarry spalls 4-8" quarry spalls

Selecting the Correct Gravel for Your Specific Project

The longevity and functionality of your driveway or road project depends on choosing the right size and type of gravel. Smaller rocks are best used for surface layers and walkways while the larger stones work as load bearers such as in driveways and parking lots.

Preparation of the Site for Gravel Driveways

Proper preparation of your building site in New Haven County is necessary before you install gravel. First, you will have to remove the topsoil, which is high in organic matter and quite unsuitable to form a foundation for a driveway because it is unstable. Immediately below the topsoil is the hardpan, a real dense layer that forms a very solid foundation upon which your gravel driveway can rest on!

Otherwise, this would lead to an unstable driveway that eventually would be rutted or even develop sinkholes. Always make sure the excavation is just right through a refined step-by-step process, and the land is leveled well before laying down gravel so that problems in the future are avoided.

Questions and Answers Section (Q&A)

Q: How Much Gravel Do I Need?

A: To find out how much gravel you will need for your project, either take a simple formula approach or use one of many online calculators. Gravel can vary in weight from 2,400 to 2,900 pounds per cubic yard, but on average, it weighs 2,700 pounds, which is 1.35 tons of regular or building gravel. A ton of gravel may be enough for around 80-100 square feet with a depth of 2 inches and 40-50 square feet at a depth of 4 inches.

For purposes of estimation for a driveway assume an average width of 8 to 10 feet. If the driveway is over 100 feet in length then it is assumed that at least one dump truck load of gravel will be required. Projects range from single tons up into the thousands and we can deliver quantity needed.

Q: What Is Landscape River Rock?

A: These river rocks are ideal for landscaping, including but not limited to water features, rock gardens, and walls, and are 3 to 6 inches in size. Their cream, caramel, and grey hues bring a more natural aspect to designs. These rocks are very functional and have many uses in improving drainage, preventing erosion, and making decorative borders.

If you're searching for river rocks to add into your landscaping project or for edging a driveway or parking lot area at your professional building, call or Contact VP Asphalt Paving today for your FREE No Obligation Estimate, to directly place your order or become informed about our other available options.

Q: How to Choose the Easiest Gravel to Walk On?

A: For walkways, pea gravel is the best option because it has small, rounded stones with a stable surface and decently smooth. The water is drained out easily unlike larger gravel that can't be comfortable underfoot and doesn't shift much. This type of gravel is ideal to use on pathways.

Q: Should You Put Landscape Fabric Under Pea Gravel?

A: Although not necessarily, you can place a barrier of geotextile landscape fabric underneath the pea gravel to prevent contamination of dirt and the growth of weeds. Whether you want to use fabric or not, it is highly recommended that you give the gravel an extra minimum of 2 inches in depth for stability; with fabric, you're assuring a longer lifespan and a more beautiful gravel surface.

Q: How Many Tons of Gravel Do I Need Per Required Square Footage?

A: One dump truck load is about 18 tons, and it will resupply a 200-foot driveway on average. For a better estimate, multiply the length times the width times the depth of your driveway in feet, divide by 27 to give you cubic yards, then multiply by 1.35 to get the tons of gravel required.

Q: What is the average cost per ton of gravel and asphalt for residential driveways?

A: Gravel typically costs between $15 to $30 per ton, depending on the type and quality of the material. Asphalt, on the other hand, costs more—around $100 to $150 per ton, with hot-mix asphalt being a common choice.

For a standard residential driveway, the overall cost difference between using gravel versus asphalt depends on the size of the project, but asphalt tends to be significantly higher due to the material and labor required. Learn more about us Today!

Q: How much does it cost per square foot to pave a commercial parking lot with gravel versus asphalt?

A: Paving a and installing a commercial parking lot with gravel costs approximately $2.50 to $3.50 per square foot, including material and labor. Asphalt, however, ranges from $4 to $8 per square foot, for a complete installation which includes all labor and materials and proper permits and insurance requirements put forth by local building, wetlands/inlands boards and zoning officials.

Q: What Are The Average Gravel Prices Per Ton Delivered to My Job Site?

Gravel prices can range from $10 to $50 per ton, $18 to $85 per cubic yard, or $1,575 per truck load depending on the rock type and travel distance throughout the State of Connecticut.

Connecticut's #1 Trusted Paving and Gravel Driveway Contractor

VP Asphalt Paving was voted the most reliable asphalt paving and gravel contractor in Connecticut due to their unwavering commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and over 35 years of industry experience.

Known for our company's prompt service, skilled craftsmanship, and attention to detail, VP Asphalt Paving has earned a reputation for delivering long-lasting driveways, parking lots, and gravel projects that meet the highest standards.

Our dedication to providing dependable, affordable solutions and maintaining strong relationships with clients has made them a trusted name across the state.

Our Top Customer Service Rep

Asphalt and Gravel Driveway Repair and Installation in Southbury CT 06488

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VOGUE RUSH Kids' fashion clothing online: stylish, yet affordable trends for your little ones

Parents always want their little ones to look stylish yet not compromise on comfort or quality. The problem is in balancing between trendy designs and affordability. That's exactly what VOGUE RUSH brings, offering you the most fantastic collection of kids' fashion clothing online, blending the best style, comfort, and price together. Be it casual wear, festive outfits, or daily essentials, the answer lies in VOGUE RUSH.

Why VOGUE RUSH for Kids' Fashion?

Quality Material: VOGUE RUSH lays importance on quality. Children are by nature playful, and the clothes they wear need to withstand all the clothes-ruining ways of kids' play. Soft, breathable cotton for daily use and strong, hard-wearing materials for those outings, VOGUE RUSH makes sure that your little one stays perfectly comfortable all day long.

For all occasions, VOGUE RUSH has some style for you. You'll find everything from playful prints and bright colors to the chic designs and classic styles to make your little ones feel and look perfect according to their personality and need.

Additionally, affordable options are extremely pricey, especially when the kids outgrow clothes all too soon. VOGUE RUSH provides fashion-forward, quality kids' clothing at affordable prices. So, parents can afford to keep their little sweetpea looking stylishly fabulous without breaking into the piggy bank account.

Conveniences of Online Shopping: One cannot go to the shops every time with such a busy schedule. VOGUE RUSH offers online shopping for cheap kids' clothes and gets it delivered to your doorsteps.

1.Fashion Store for Kids: Latest in Kid's Fashion

VOGUE RUSH boasts of being ahead of the fashion curve to guarantee that your little one's clothes are trendy and new all year round. Some of the current trends that bestsellers now include the following: 1. Playful Prints and Patterns

Kids enjoy wearing clothes that are funny, colorful, and full of life; parents feel great when their little ones are in adorable outfits. VOGUE RUSH brings out all the playfulness with a range of fun prints and patterns - animal motifs to abstract shapes. This ensures every outfit is whimsical.

Comfort-First Fashion

Kids should feel comfortable in their clothes to move, explore, and have fun. VOGUE RUSH combines comfort with style through soft fabrics and relaxed fits. Parents can find trendy joggers, tees, and dresses that look stylish while allowing kids to move freely.

Miniature Versions of Adult Trends

Kids love to imitate adults, and VOGUE RUSH has adorable "mini-me" styles which allow them to wear miniatures of the latest adult fashion trends. From cute denim jackets to stylish sweaters, your child can be just as trendy as you are.

Eco-Friendly Choices

With the increasing awareness on sustainable fashion, VOGUE RUSH has listed environmentally friendly options so that you can choose mindfully while buying kids' outfits. Choosing the collections will positively contribute to sustainable living, and your child will be comforted in high-quality pieces.

How to Order Budget-Friendly Kids' Outfits from VOGUE RUSH

Online shopping at VOGUE RUSH is easy and straightforward. Here's what will make your experience even better at VOGUE RUSH: online

shop by category.

SHOP BY CATEGORY At VOGUE RUSH, products are categorized by categories : tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and many more. It won't take too long to browse through each collection without being overwhelmed.

Check the Size Guide: The right size is very important for comfort of your child. VOGUE RUSH offers a complete size guide so you can pick the best fit for your child. Do not forget to check it out, especially when your child falls in-between sizes.

Look for discounts and deals: Affordable fashion gets even better with frequent deals and discounts at VOGUE RUSH. Seasonal sales can get you quality clothing for kids on discount.

You'll see many parents have reviewed their experience here, so you can get a clear idea if the clothes fit well, feel great, or look good. Reading reviews will be helpful in making your decision and choosing items other parents and kids just love.

Secure Payment Options: VOGUE RUSH has ensured safety as well as convenience with several secure payment options to let you have a hassle-free checkout experience.

If you do not know what you will purchase, here is what each child needs within the kids' wardrobe-all at VOGUE RUSH.

Casual Tees and Tops

These casual tees and tops fall among those most crucial pieces in the children's wardrobe. VOGUE RUSH offers ample choice when it comes to graphic tees with fantastic prints as well as ones simple enough to blend effortlessly into whatever outfit they form.

Stylish Dresses for Girls

From floral prints to a simple color, a dress is something every little girl needs. VOGUE RUSH combines casual sundresses, party-ready frocks, and elegant outfits for all possible occasions.

Tough Bottoms for Play

Kids need bottoms that can handle their energetic lifestyle. At VOGUE RUSH, you will find jeans, joggers, and leggings that are made of high-quality materials that can withstand much movement and play.

Cozy outerwear for cooler days

VOGUE RUSH has a large range of jackets, sweaters, and hoodies to keep you warm while you style. It ranges from classic denim jackets to the hoodie sweatshirts and has plenty more for layering during the winter season.

Footwear and Accessories

Complete your look with some trendy shoes and accessories. VOGUE RUSH also has some cool sneakers, hats, and scarves to give a little touch to someone's personality.

Online VOGUE RUSH shops for kids' fashion clothes have some advantages:

You can find a very wide range of styles and designs all in one location. VOGUE RUSH continually updates its stock to meet current trends in kids' clothing.

Easy access to the latest trends: be it casual wear or a little more formal, they can easily access the latest styles and keep a child's wardrobe updated.

Budget-friendly: VOGUE RUSH is committed to affordable kids' clothing. Quality pieces will not strain your wallet. Stylish and trendy outfits without breaking the bank. Elevate the wardrobing of your child today.

The main reason VOGUE RUSH is very much in demand today is that you will get absolutely everything you need for kids. From dressing kids nicely to making them feel as good as possible, VOGUE RUSH does provide excellent quality and is more pocket-friendly while providing them with the most in-demand style.

From basic necessities to an eccentric look, VOGUE RUSH offers something for everything. Thus, browse online kids fashion clothing with the latest designs, order affordable kids' clothing for a fashionable comfort outlook just perfect for little ones, and let them shine all day with that confidence of theirs, wrapped in VOGUE RUSH.

More for info. :- Trendy Kids Clothing Store

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