#like a hat with aircon

[harleykeener69]

kinda wanna go to someone’s lab and create an idea i just thought of

[patrollingboston]

141 Beach Episode // Cod x Reader

You know how in every good show there's a beach episode? Yeah this is theirs.

The 5 of you were sat in a truck with the aircon blasting. Price was dramatically fanning himself with his boonie hat. With one hand placed on the steering wheel. You had just finished a week-long mission and it left you all somewhere on the east coast with the sun beating down with no mercy. You were so uncomfortable, dressed head to toe in full gear practically sweltering in it.

“Not used to this bloody heat.”

  Soap sighed placing a hand to his forehead to relieve his brow of sweat.

“I’ve got the aircon.”

 Gaz smirked, of course he was fine he was sat in the front seat with cold air blasting directly onto him. You were squished between Ghost and Soap, plus he always wore a sunhat and sunglasses even in the rain.

“How ghost isn’t a puddle yet I have no clue.”

You stated, glancing over at ghost who was dressed in all black with his mask still pinned down onto his face yet he didn’t show a single sign of discomfort.

“Can you even breathe? Isn’t it like being trapped under a blanket?”

“I can breathe fine.”

He grunted not sounding amused by your questions.

“Look at tha’ ain’t it a pretty view.”

Soap said tapping on the truck window, everyone’s eyes glanced to meet where he was pointing. You were greeted with the sight of a gorgeous white sandy beach with the clearest sea water you had ever seen with families playing in the sand and surfers utilizing the waves.

“The things I would give to dive in those waves.”

 You said groaning, resting your head back in the seat knowing you had a hot and uncomfortable 6+ flight ahead of you to get back to base in England not to mention the drive to even get to the airport.

“Can’t we stop for a bit? The missions all done and dusted, surely, they don’t need us back that hastily.”

Gaz asked turning to face the captain with a cheesy grin plastered across his face.

“I could use a pint. I’m sweating like a fucking pig. We only have a few hours but I think we could all use a break.”

“Make that two.”

 Ghost’s gruff voice chimed in his mood perking up at the promise of a cold beer.

“I think everyone here wants a bloody pint.”

A few moments later the 5 of you were all stood on the beach boardwalk, you removed your boots and placed them by the railing before stepping onto the soft, warm sand.

“I have never ever stepped on sand so soft oh my-“

You wondered how long it had been before you stood barefoot on a beach. Probably not since you were a child on a day trip with your family.

“Shit the sands a bit hot ain’t it?”

Soap said as she stepped onto the sand beside you, shifting from foot to foot as he complained about the temperature once again.

“I’ll go grab us some drinks, find a spot I’ll come find you all.”

 Price said before stepping up the stairs and walking towards the crowded beach bar on the boardwalk.

Ghost, who was still dressed fully in his gear stomped behind you scouting the beach for a place to sit like it was the toughest decision he ever had to make.

“Here.”

He said pointing to a peaceful square of the beach, not too far from the shore.

You all placed your backpacks down and set a towel down for yourself. Ghost was wrestling with the beach umbrella to get it stood up.

“Whose going for a swim?”

Soap said with a huge smile on his face as he stripped off his t shirt leaving him in his cargo shorts.

“You go first mate, tell us how cold it is eh?”

Gaz joked, pushing soap slightly closer the seafront.

“Don’t be a pussy.”

“I’ll go!”

 You said, removing your jacket and vest leaving you in a tank top and some old cargo shorts dumping by your backpack them away from the shore so the waves didn’t steal them.

You jogged down to the water front stood beside Soap and Gaz.

“Whose going to make the first move then?”

You all stood in a line, hands on hips inspecting the water as it broke in front of you. As you spoke Soap dived headfirst into a wave like a goofy dolphin. He stuck his head up like an seal, running his hands through his mohawk and wiping the salty water off his face.

“Is it cold?”

 You shouted through the crashing waves.

“Nah, its refreshing.”

He shouted back before running through the water back onto the shore to stand beside the two of you.

“I don’t know if I’m that hot anymore you know-“

You said backing off after feeling the  ‘refreshing’ water splash over your feet and ankles sending little shockwaves through you.

With that statement Soap placed two hands on your waist and lifted you up into the air before placing you over his shoulder like a fireman would carrying someone out a burning building.

“DON’T YOU DARE SOAP, I MEAN IT.”

You screamed thumping his back in fear as he stepped into the freezing ocean once again. Gaz stood on the shore filming the entire situation laughing at your misfortune. Ghost sat watching from afar under a big shady umbrella pint in hand with Price sat beside him reading something, smoking one of his cigars as per usual.

“Ready?”

Soap teased as he began to hoist you up even further before throwing you into the sea with a huge splash. The cold water shocked you at first but after a few seconds, soap was right. It was kind of refreshing. You popped your head up out the water with a frown.

“I hate you asshole.”

“You weren’t going to get in I had no choice-“

You pushed a big wave of water his way aiming for his face secretly hoping the salt would burn his eyes.

“GAZ GET IN.”

Gaz stepped into the water with haste joining you and soap.

“We going play mermaids or what?”

You asked with a chuckle as the 3 of you treaded water in a circle.

“I would prefer to drown Soap.”

Gaz said before dunking soaps head back under the water.

About an hour later you sat on the beach wrapped in your towel, drying off in the sun.

“Been a while since I’ve been able to relax on a beach.”

Price spoke, he was leant back on a sun lounger his hat placed over his face shielding his eyes from the setting sun.

“Thought you were asleep old man.”

Ghost chuckled.

“Can we take a photo?”

You asked bringing out your super old digital camera you dragged around on every single mission.

The 5 of you gathered in closer. Gaz throwing up a peace sign. Soaps arm slung around ghost and a beer held loosely in the other. Captain Price sat up placing his hands on your shoulders. Your smiles were all wide (you would like to believe ghost’s was too) as the light of the setting sun glowed on your faces.

That day was a good day.

[syrupfog]

Luffy needs a place to crash over the summer because his straw hat crew are all going home or traveling abroad before the new semester starts in the fall. He puts it off to the last minute and ends up claiming a bed in an old half-double with a painted sign reading Polar Tang.

(Is half-double a local term lmao it’s when there’s a house that’s split down the middle into two full houses lmao) 

Fourteen people live here, between three bedrooms on the second floor and two in the attic. It’s absolutely a fire code problem but Luffy’s never been one to care.

(He’s not a fireman YET— not until he can pass the exam). 

Plus, rent is dirt cheap. 200/month and that includes house dinner once a week. 

He moves in with just the duffel bag of clothes, his sleeping bag and his backpack. The guy who’s number he picked up off a telephone pole is the one who answers the door. He’s tall and wide and apologizes for everything; the screen door that’s missing a screen, fireplace that doesn’t work and instead holds all their shoes, the state of the kitchen (dishes are stacked on every surface including the floor).

Luffy feels right at home. Not home like Zoro and Sanji’s place, which is clean and always smells of rubber from Zoro’s dumbbells. Home like with Ace and Sabo in a place that wouldn’t pass a health inspection. 

He grins as they continue on.

Bepo shows him through the bedrooms on the second floor (homemade bunk beds squeeze four to a room) and the tiniest bathroom with a window that looks directly into the neighbor’s shower (“he refuses to put up a curtain so we don’t either” says Bepo.) (“sorry”.)

Then up to the attic, with a sloped bedroom that three mattresses are squished in (two guys in funny hats are asleep on the floor between two mattresses), a second bathroom (“no one is allowed to use that toilet because Shachi’s credit card is wedged in it”), and another bedroom.

“You’ll be in here”, Bepo says, and Luffy can sense the sorry before he says it as he pushes the door open. 

It’s tiny. The ceiling slopes down so low there’s really only three walls. The tallest wall has shelves mounted on it completely covered in action figures.

There’s two mattresses — one bare, one covered in books. And surrounded by stacks of books. And papers. And empty coffee mugs. 

And a guy blearily blinking at the light they’re letting in from the hall. He’s buried between piles of books, his laptop perched on his knees.

“Your roommate!” Bepo squeaks. “Bye guys!” 

He closes the door and slips (noisily) down the stairs. 

“You look like a vampire,” Luffy says. The man looks like he’s never seen sunlight. 

“I’m on a dual pre-med pre-law track,” the man scowls. 

“Cool,” says Luffy.

He dumps his things on the bare mattress. “Robin says I’m a free spirit.” 

The man blinks at him. “Don’t open the window or the raccoon will get in. The aircon doesn’t work in the attic. If you break my Sora figures you will die in your sleep. I’m Trafalgar Law.”

“Hi Traffy! I’m Monkey D Luffy,” says Luffy. He holds out his hand and Law hunches back before awkwardly shaking it. 

Luffy flops back onto the mattress. It smells like frogs. “Hey Traffy,” he says after a moment. Law squints at him. “you seem like someone who would like urb— urban ex— someone who would like to break into buildings.” Luffy looks over at him with a grin. “Wanna explore the underground tunnels on campus?” 

Law scowls. He’s hunched at a 90 degree angle over his papers and books and coffee. He looks murderous. 

“…Yeah.” He says.

Luffy kicks his feet. “This will be a good summer,” he says. 

(He learns quickly that coffee is the only food allowed in their room because of The Ants and The Flies and The Possum). 

(He also learns to take the fall for Law whenever they get caught exploring since Law can’t have a record) 

(Luffy does this gladly) 

(They kiss in an abandoned hospital)

[nyoomfruits]

Please please PLEASE do 1 and 3 (“you’re cold” “am not” and “just hold my hand”) with Landoscar!!! I’d also love if it could be like Lando babying (?) or taking care of Oscar a bit - we often see the dynamic being the other way round in fic!!!

"you're cold" "am not" + 3. "just hold my hand"

Oscar’s fingers are twitching. It’s subtle, barely noticeable if you haven’t been staring at them the way Lando has been for the past half hour. He doesn’t even really have an excuse, except maybe that they’re signing hats and he could do this blind and the way Oscar’s fingers grip the pen is just so much more interesting to look at.

His hands are smaller than Lando’s, he knows from that one time they were running late and Lando had grabbed it to drag him into the correct hallway. He remembers the feel of Oscar’s hand in his, slightly sweaty but weirdly not gross. More like, comforting. Like a little reminder that Oscar is there, right behind him, that he’s real.

Oscar feels a little not real, sometimes.

Lando gets shaken out of his thoughts when Oscar’s fingers twitch again. He narrows his eyes. “You’re cold,” he blurts out.

It’s the first thing he’s said in like a good twenty minutes, and Oscar startles a little, looks up like he’d almost forgotten Lando was still there. “Uh,” he says, brows pinching together. “No I’m not?”

“Yes, you are, your hands are,” Lando says, gesturing at where he’s still holding the pen, hovering over the cap in his other hand. “They’re twitching, like you’re trying to get the blood flowing or some shit.”

It makes sense, too. The aircon is on full blast in the little room they’re sitting him. Lando himself is bundled up in a hoodie too, keeps shoving his own hands in the front pocket every few hats to keep his fingers warm.

“Oh,” Oscar says. Blinks. Looks at his hands. “Huh, yeah, I guess.” And then he goes back to signing.

Lando sighs, dramatic and loud, and bats at Oscar’s hands, making him drop the cap and the pen. “C’mere, just. Just hold my hand, yeah?” He says, grabbing one of Oscar’s hands in his, rubbing it the get the warmth back into it.

Oscar is staring at him, a little startled and wide eyed, but lets himself be manhandled regardless, though his eyes widen considerably more when Lando brings his hand to his mouth to blow hot air on it.

And, well. Lando hadn’t really realized his mistake until his lips are already inches away from Oscar’s fingers, and it feels weirdly intimate all of a sudden, with Oscar just staring at him, a noticeably dark flush on his cheeks.

“Uh,” Lando says, drops Oscar’s hand like it burned him, turning back to his own stack of hats. “Well, there you go.” His cheeks are burning, he can feel them, and he tries to hide it by hunching over the table, bringing his face closer to the surface as he signs the next hat.

“What, uh,” Oscar eventually says, voice a little rough. “What about the other hand?”

Lando’s head shoots up. Oscar is looking at him a little sheepishly, and his face is absolutely bright red. It’s kind of really cute. “Your other hand,” Lando says.

“Yeah. That one is uh. Also cold.” Somehow he gets even redder and Lando should absolutely not find this so incredibly endearing.

“Oscar Piastri, if I knew any better I’d say you were flirting with me,” Lando says, trying to sound not so goddamn delighted about it and failing miserably. “Next you’re going to tell me that what, your dick is cold too.”

Oscar chokes on air and glares at him. “Fuck off,” he says, and Lando laughs, reaches forward, grabs Oscar’s hand.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m kidding, it’s uh. Here, let me, let me warm that too.” He hopes it conveys ‘I like that you’re flirting with me’ because saying the words out loud feels. Well. Big.

This time, when he holds Oscar’s hand up to his face, he actually presses a kiss to his fingertip. Oscar flails a little and then says, voice tight. “What uh. What are you doing? After this?”

Lando, never one to pass up an opportunity to make Oscar blush, grins. “You, hopefully,” he says, with an obnoxious little eyebrow wiggle. Oscar throws a cap at him, grumbles something that sounds like ‘never mind, I changed my mind, you absolute dumbass’.

The speed with which he finishes signing the rest of the hats tells a whole different story.

[toothfa-1-ry]

LAST SUMMER - Huang Renjun

The weather is so humid, it's so warm.

The electricity is horrible too.

The light linen shirt he wore was now drenched with sweat, from his collar to the sleeves covering his armpit.

Near him is fan that was working just a few minutes ago, working hard to keep Renjun cool from the heat just a few minutes ago before the electricity got cut off Iin broad daylight.

Now, Renjun in laying on the ground. His hair is slightly wet and his skin is all sticky.

He hates summer. He really hates summer.

Renjun is sure that the half eaten icecream left by Haechan is now just a puddle of thick brown liquid, staining his white mini cooler

Damn you Hyuk..I just got it recently too!

Renjun prays that the electricity would appear again, or the dark clouds forming in the sky would bring the cool rain along with a cool breeze.

He wonders if it's only his apartment that has the electricity cut but judging by the way his next door neighbours, Hendery and Lucas's shouts every 5 seconds he thinks perhaps it's the entire block

Atleast he isnt suffering alone.. atleast

The weather was so cruel to him, summer was always cruel to him. He hated the way his hair would get stuck to his forehead, or the way his body would be stuck to ground.

Maybe it would've been a but bearable if you were still here, yea... if

You used to love summer and the way your ice lolly would drip down your arms, and your tongue would lick the drip off

You liked using small tacky paper hand made fans which hardly worked, saying that it was better than those large fans or aircons other people had. Yet your paper fan would always break apart

You loved summer, you were summer

With a giant straw hat which could easily hide your face. And a huge bottle of sunscreen that you bought in the store just down the street.

Maybe you had a freckle or two, maybe you had none. But there was a bright spark in you eyes that Renjun always failed to capture.

A bright spark that always made him feel just a little bit warm, a little sticky all inside but he didn't hate it like how he hated summer, oh no, he absolutely adored it.

You'd buy a huge watermelon from an elderly man who you claimed looked alot like your great grandfather, the one you never met. And then you'd invite Renjun's friends, ringing up Mark first, inviting them for some fresh watermelon

You and Renjun would looks up recipes online on how to make homemade icream. You always claimed that homemade things were better, after all they were made with your love

Sometimes you and Renjun would take out a small kiddie pool into your perhaps even smaller bathroom and squeeze yourselves in. Wearing nothing but a flimsy shirt with a thin strap and your undergarments

You'd both splash eachother with coldwater, screaming as it hits your body as you were taken back to your childhood and how it was filled with no worries and only laughs.

There was nothing sensual about it, not that it never was sensual between you and Renjun but summer,

Summer with you was innocence.

With a little laughter, and a little bit of homemade ice cream.

It was warm and sticky and wet. But Renjun didn't mind that kind of summer, because it was summer with you.

Renjun wonders if it's as warm as it is for you right now,

Your probably wearing an oversized white t shirt right now, trying to make a paper fan out of newspaper.

For a second he sees you and he smiles. Only for a second though, just before the electricity comes back and the fan starts whirring sending a cool light wind to Renjun's face.

Renjun could hear Lucas and Hendery's screams of joy and a dog barking. Bella? I guess that was its name.. probably their friends dog.

He wonders what his friends are up to right now and Renjun wonders if Mark would be down for some watermelon he bought from an old man just a few blocks down

Renjun hated summer

But he didn't mind the summer he spend with you.

[kydrogendragon]

Dec 4 - Kissing Cold Noses

(Ao3 Link)

The cold December air nipped any visible skin, leaving it numb and red. Morpheus, after having mastered skating, or at least close enough to it, decided that skiing would be fun to try as well. This came after, no surprise, another Hallmark movie. Perhaps Hob needed to send Hallmark a personal thank you card for getting his boyfriend to agree to so many activities and outings.

They were staying in the lodge over the weekend. Currently, they stood outside on the balcony, enjoying the view of the snow covered mountains and trees outside that were lit up from the golden glow of the ski lift lights. There were still a few skiers and snowboarders out for the night sessions. Tomorrow morning, they’d get out onto the slopes. They had just gotten in and enjoyed a nice, hardy dinner.

Morpheus was bundled up, his hat and scarf covering most of his face. Only his eyes and the very edge of his nose was visible over the red fabric. Hob leaned over the railing, peering around at the sights, watching as one skier expertly swerves down the hillside.

“Well, what’re your thoughts so far?”

Morpheus comes up beside him, nestling into Hob’s side like a heat seeking missile. Hob wraps his arm around his shoulder, pulling him closer.

“It is cold. Colder than home.”

Home.

It always sent a spark of warmth through Hob when Morpheus referred to their flat as home. Not Hob’s flat. Not the house or anything like that, but home. And it was his home. It was his home as much as it was Hob’s. Although wherever Morpheus was would be home for him. After having lived in so many places, he realized that’s what matters most.

“Yeah,” Hob said with a snort. “It definitely is colder here. Gonna be colder on the slopes.”

Morpheus groaned, tucking his face into Hob’s side. “I am missing the warmth of summer.”

Rubbing up and down Morpheus’s back, Hob sighed in agreement. “Yeah, you say that now until you’re drenched in sweat because the aircon crapped out again.”

“It would still be better than the cold.” Hob shook his head and smiled. He nuzzled into the soft fabric of Morpheus’s hat and gave it a kiss.

“We don’t have to ski, either. We could just relax here in the lodge for the weekend. Enjoy the weather, sit by the fireplace.” Morpheus hums.

“You have already purchased the rentals.”

“Yeah, doesn’t mean we have to use them, though.”

Morpheus is quiet for a moment, taking his time to consider his answer. Hob waits, simply enjoying the cool air, the press of his boyfriend at his side, and the padded silence of the snowy landscape.

“I still wish to learn.”

“Then we’ll ski.”

The next morning came quickly. Morpheus was pressed against Hob’s side, one leg flung over his own, trapping him. Morpheus’s hand was thrown over Hob’s stomach and was gripping his waist tight. Blinking away the sleep from his eyes, he looked down at the mess of black hair sprawled across his chest and smiled. Every time he thinks he might finally get used to the fact that  Morpheus was here, in his bed, holding him close like this, the next morning finally comes around and he realizes that, no, he’s never getting over it.

He gives him a gentle kiss on the top of his head and rubs his hand up and down along Morpheus’s back.

“Morning sleeping beauty,” Hob whispers in the quiet morning air. Their lodgings were nice for the price they had paid for them. The bed was a study wooden bedframe and the mattress was actually decent. Supposedly they had gotten the room with the ���upgraded suite” which meant that they got a better heater in their room and a newer mattress. It worked out well as Hob’s back didn’t ache a single bit.

Morpheus roused from his slumber and tilted his head up and off of Hob’s chest. Strands of black hair clung to the sides of his cheeks and a now dried trail of drool could be seen along his chin. The eyeliner he hadn’t successfully removed the night prior was now smeared across his lids, giving him some resemblance of a racoon.

He was beautiful.

“G’morning,” Morpheus slurred out, stretching his limbs like a cat after a good nap in the sun. He rolls over, flinging his other arm across Hob’s chest and stares up at the ceiling. “We are skiing today, yes?” He asks.

Hob rolls to his side and rests his own hand on Morpheus’s stomach. “That’s the plan. If you still wanna go.”

“Mmm… I do, I think.” He furrows his brows. “After breakfast, however.”

“Yes, definitely after breakfast. You’ll need the energy for it.”

They enjoyed a decent breakfast at the lodge’s cafe. It was a pretty standard hotel type faire, but it was satisfying enough.  Morpheus was clearly underwhelmed by the quality of scrambled eggs here, but he always did think Hob made the best ones, so these weren’t even in the same league.

After donning their winter gear and successfully transforming Morpheus from a slender gothic wet dream of a man to the Michellan Man’s narrower brother, they made their way over to the gear rental shack. Hob presented the man at the counter with their rental receipts. They were ushered through the rooms, getting their boots, skis, helmets, and poles, then having the sizing marked on a sheet so they could get the same sizes again tomorrow without having to go through the sizing steps.

They shuffled out of the shack to the numerous benches outside to get situated. Hob helped Morpheus get latched into his ski boots.

“These feel odd.” Morpheus muttered, staring down at his feet.

“Yeah, they will. They push you forward a bit so your legs are in the right position for skiing. It feels a bit like you’re walking in a squat, huh?” Hob clicked the last of his straps over as he spoke. The boots were rather tight, but not too uncomfortable.

“Indeed.”

The skis were a bit of an interesting experience as well. After making their way off of the concrete and into the snow, they donned their skis.  Morpheus stared down at the two long sticks attached to his feet and frowned.

“Stepping in these is hard. Are they like skates?”

Hob tilted his head side to side. “Yeah, kinda. That’s probably closer than anything else I could compare it to. Like with skates, it’ll take a bit to get used to.” Hob helped guide Morpheus over to the bunny hill area. It was early enough in the morning that this section was relatively clear. There were still some kids around, but not enough to be stressful.

“Alright, so! Ski basics!”

Morpheus listened intently as Hob gave him a run down of the basics of skiing, how to accelerate, how to slow down, and how to stop. He also walked Morpheus through how to get back up if he fell and how to do it safely.

After about a half hour of practicing on the bottom of the bunny hill, Hob turned to him and asked, “Think you’re ready to try the ski lift to the top of the hill?” Morpheus nodded and so off they were.

Hob talked him through the ins and outs of the ski lift as well, since that was its own challenge. Thankfully, they were able to slide on without a hitch.

“Enjoying it so far?” Hob asked, looking over to Morpheus who was taking in the sights from the lift with eager eyes. If he thought this was a pretty view, Hob couldn’t wait to take him up on the upper tracks.

“It is quite nice. I am enjoying it more than I believed I would.”

“Not too cold?” Hob bumped his shoulder with his own, earning him a smirk.

“I did not say that.”

“Oh, well, we have to fix that then.” Morpheus turned to face him, confused, when Hob leaned forward and placed a kiss right on the tip of Morpheus’s reddening nose.

“There. All better.”

Morpheus huffed and shook his head with a smile.

“I do not believe that is how one cures being cold.”

Hob hums. “No, but did it help?”

Morpheus sighed. “Yes. Yes it did.”

[wavytam]

The Weather Queen and the Cook King: Power Ups Foreshadowed in Colorspreads

After writing these two theories, I wanted to write a separate post talking about the parts I mentioned Nami and Sanji.

To summarize, I think that these two will be extremely important in Future Island Arc because of two colorspeads that Oda drew during the arc:

First, I love how Oda chose Sanji as the main focus in the Boys Colorspread and Nami in the Girls Colorspread - but I don't think it was coincidental.

He said we should keep an eye on Sanji in an SBS after the Wano arc, and ever since then, we have seen around two colorspreads that have him as the main focus. So maybe, as unsuspicious as the only girls' colorspread might seem, it might also give us some type of foreshadowing about Nami's next power up as well, since she is in more evidence.

Not only that: Oda also chose to put the words King and Queen for both of them.

(Alright, before anyone comes at me saying that, I'm trying to push them as King and Queen in a shipping way... no. I do want them to be together, but I don't think those spreads are any indicative of that. Nami and Sanji are both one of my favorite characters in One Piece, and I love to talk about them together and separately, and I just really want both of them to have development and growth - Nami specially, because we can already see how Sanji WILL already have a lot of screentime)

The King and Queen titles, I think, mean different things for Sanji and for Nami.

For Sanji, I think he is going to unlock his Conqueror's Haki (which is also known as King's Haki), and Oda played with the similarities between the words "Cooking" and "CoC King" to make it more... questionable and not in-your-face. We all know he loves to do that.

For Nami, I think it has to do with how she will be known as in the world of One Piece.

When Luffy, Jimbei, Chopper and Bonney were exploring Future Island, Vegapunk talks about one of his inventions, which is...

Yes, a technology that controls climate (Island Aircon) - something that seemingly only controls the temperature of islands (not too threatening).

However, we know how creative and resourceful Nami is with what is given to her and I don't doubt that, if she is given the chance, she could operate Island Aircon in such a way that it could be used as a weapon.

So my theory is that Nami could use Vegapunk's technology to turn Future Island into a huge hell hole for the Straw Hats' enemies.

With her knowledge, she might be able to create cyclones, storms, and even thunderstorms to jeopardize the Marines' invasion into Future Island or to stop them from following the Straw Hats as they run away. With that, she will gain the worldwide reputation of Weather Witch or even Weather Queen, or another title close to that.

It's kind of like how Zoro became the King of Hell, how Raileigh is the Dark King, Usopp is the King of Snipers, and so on and so forth.

In addiction, I think that this is going to be a huge moment for Nami, not only because of her power up but also because of her backstory. I have been coming up with a theory that Nami's past is actually connected to the Void Century and, most importantly, to the Sky Islands and Uranus, which is why her past is still a mystery - since Uranus is going to be the last weapon they will "visit" (they already met Shirahoshi and visited Wano, where Pluton is burried).

So my prediction is that, as Future Island ends, Nami will realise that there is something different within her and that doubt will continue throughout the next arc.

I also have this theory that everyone from the Straw Hat crew has potential to have Conqueror's Haki, but, to me, only the first five Strawhats could have it. This is more of a far fetched theory, I know, but a lot of people have already discussed the possibility of both Nami and Usopp having Conqueror's (maybe Usopp will have CoC in a diferent way than the others) and I think that if they go to Elbaf, Usopp cpuld unlock his CoC there and Nami will unlock hers in the very last Arc of One Piece.

Back to Sanji now! I think his color spread also indicates things that he will use during Future Island and of things that will happen to the Straw Hats there. Basicaly, I think that Sanji will unlock his Conqueror's Haki when his friends are in danger and incapacitated, and he will do everything he can to stop any harm done to them.

The bubbles are also interesting to me, because (although in the colorspread they are coming from the boys' noses) I find it curious that in this arc there is a VERY useful weapon that can incapacitate devilfruit users through bubbles.

Maybe the weapons will be used against the Straw Hats, OR Sanji will use them against their opponents.

In conclusion, I have a feeling those colorspreads might indicate Sanji's and Nami's next power ups, and I think their roles will be extremely important in this Arc.

And because of this coverpage, I think Franky will be important too:

But this is a theory for another time...

I'd also like to remind you how two other colorspreads from the same Arc also seem to have Nami and Sanji in evidence (along with Luffy, obviously, and weirdly Chopper?? Hmmm). So we might have to pay attention to them.

To end this post:

Obviously, there's more of a big possibility that this is all just a coincidence, and Oda wanted to say something entirely different. But I don't mind being wrong since the fun part is to speculate and talk about our favorite characters.

Hope you liked reading it anyway! I'd love to know what you guys think!

[the-kr8tor]

I’m imagining hobie in Australia rn dying in the heatwaves bc of how hot it is and how he isn’t used to it being so hot bc it never reaches that temp where he lives 😭 😭 and I think just him in Australia in general would be so funny and interesting

🕊️ anon

🕊️ Anon!! Welcome back!!

I know the feeling 😭 I'm literally melting rn it's 33 degrees c here and this is supposed to be cold???? And it's December 😭😭 I keep seeing ppl post pics of snow in their area and I'm so jealous 🥲

Oh you're right Hobie would be melting, he'd be walking around sweating, trying to keep his temperature down in front of the electric fan. If you have an aircon then get ready to have your electric bill skyrocket lmaoo but the heat offers opportunities to bask on the beach, savouring the cool water with a huge ass hat on, shades and sunscreen lathered all over him

But if it's too hot even for the beach, like when the sand feels like hot coals then sadly it's off back home for you two, drinking the coldest drinks you have and hogging the fan.

I'm imagining Hobie following the electric fan's rotating head lmaoo

[fictitious-fluff]

This was written in 2021 for Tickletober2021. (posted on @ticklishshenanigansau using their prompt) Posting this to log my progress at a writer

(yes i am p ry lc, have to seperate the name as I want this to be a seperate account that people that know me irl wont be able to find it by searching up my name)

-

Eight Plus Two Makes Ten

Prompt: Counting

Fandom: Undertale

No pairings

Masterpost

Nothing scheduled today, Papyrus finally taking a day off to hang out with Undyne... Yup. Today was the best day to relax... A day to just be even more lazy, a da- "Sans!" someone shouted, bursting through the door. Oh, it was Frisk.

"oh, wassup?" Sans waved.

"I called you five times already and you didn't pick up or reply to my texts!!!" Frisk exclaimed.

"oh sorry. left my phone upstairs heh."

"Well grab your phone and let's just get going already I guess."

"going where?"

"To the study lounge outside the library you bonehead. Did you forget about our meet up?"

Oh, right! He knew he was missing something today. "ah... ok, give me a moment." Sans said, before teleporting upstairs to grab his phone. "ok i'm ready, let's go frisk."

"Aren't you gonna teleports us there since we're already 25 minutes late?" Frisk questioned.

"oh right, forgot I could do that heh."

Sans held out his hand as he spoke. Frisk rolled her eyes in amusement and grabbed it.

The study lounge usually didn't have many people since the library had aircon while the study lounge didn't. Both of them usually chose that spot since Frisk always felt the library was too cold. Moreover, they kinda liked the privacy the place provided. The best place to study without any disturbance.

As time flew by, sans stumbled across something peculiar to him. "hey frisk? can I comfirm something?" Sans tapped Frisk's shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"this book states humans have 12 pairs of ribs... is there a typo? or is it true."

"It's not wrong. Why? Do you have a different number of ribs?"

Sans looked a little surprised, "well yeah. I only have 10 pairs... weird. humans are weird."

"Pff- says the guy that's close friends with a human. Anyways, would it be fine if I checked to see if you really have 10 pairs of ribs? I'm curious now." It was interesting to Frisk how human anatomy and skeleton monsters were so similiar yet so different. But technically skeleton monsters weren't exactly skeletons from humans so it made sense.

"uh well I rather not do it in public.. you know" Sans commented.

"Oh, no, I didn't mean show it to me, I can just try feeling it through ur clothing if that's alright with you."

"well, if that's the case then it's... fine, just do it."

"You sure? I wouldn't want to do something your not comfortable with."

"nah, it's fine. I'm okay with it."

Well... If he said it was alright then alright. Frisk started slowly moving down Sans ribs, counting slowly as she made her way down. All the while, she was oblivious to Sans. There was a reason why he was hesitant.

Sans could feel the slight laughter threatening to slip out. He had to use all of his will power to not move or make any sudden twitches. That, and the fact that he was trying not to grin like an idiot even though it was fruitless.

"snrk-!" it slipped. Welp, all of his efforts were in vain because of that one slip up.

"Uh Sans? You alright? I heard you-" Frisk stopped as she scanned Sans's half covered face. After a few seconds, it clicked. "Oh wait... Are you, ticklish?" Frisk then started scribbling a little harder.

This time Sans pushed on her arm, clearly knowing she was doing it on purpose now. "kh! w-wahait we're a-hat the st-studehe lounge n-now. Theherse p-people studying." Sans stuttered, trying to control his laughter from pouring out.

"Okay, I guess I can lay off this new discovery. For now." Frisk snickered and stopped. "Don't think for a second I'm letting this off though."

Sans whimpered. Time to stay in his room for the next few years. "can we jus get back to reading...?" He pleaded

Frisk gave him a thumbs up and continued to read up on how human souls worked. Occasionally chuckling as she saw Sans ever so often darting his eyes towards Frisk and back to his book.

A few days after the incident, Frisk had planned to have a sleepover at the brothers' house. It was always a blast when the two were around. She couldn't wait to finally relax after studying for one whole week, straight.

Ding! The doorbell sounded. Papyrus was cooking up some lunch, which was finally something other than spaghetti, so he couldn't get the door. "SANS! Can you get the door for me?" Papyrus exclaimed from the kitchen.

"ok" Sans replied, as always.

"oh, sup." Sans greeted Frisk.

"Hey Sans. The food actually smells good for once. Papyrus's been taking classes?" Frisk asked.

"yup. wannna stay in my room while we wait?"

"Sure!"

Frisk stated walking up the stairs to Sans's room, only to find out he had taken a shortcut up there. Typical Sans. When Frisk opened the door, as usual, it was a mess. His bed was no more than a mattress on the floor, with a table, a beanbag and a chair beside it. On the table there was a few sketches and books layed out in a pile. Near the entrance to the right, there was a bookshelf full of science books and a few new additions from the last time you visited. Frisk could see Sans sitting comfortably on the beanbag reading a book. As if he had been waiting for Frisk for a long time.

"so, i've recently been reading more about humans. gotta say, pretty weird. guess that's why you were so confused on how i worked, with how all your organs work and stuff." Sans had always thought humans worked similiar to monsters. Sure, he knew they were different, but he didn't know they were extremely different. They did have souls anyways, though he hadn't found a book talking much about human souls which was unfortunate.

Frisk walked over and sat on the chair, all while listening attentively to what Sans had to say. "Yeah, just like how I was surprised you only had 10 pairs of ribs. Speaking of which, I haven't really gotten the chance to count them since last time, have I? And I still have my doubts..." She chipped in.

Sans eyes widened for a brief moment before eyeing Frisk, "d-don't you dare."

"I am also kind of curious how you manage to feel without nerves... I might need to conduct an experiment to find out." Frisk continued.

At this point Sans had wrapped his hands around his sensitive ribs, zipping up his jacket. However, Sans did have a trick up his sleeve to counter Frisk's attack. He did have a knack for observing expressions to tell what their next move would be. In addition, while Frisk was still babbling on, now would be the best time to strike. Now just any attack though, a surprise attack. He could teleport and he was going to use it to his advantage. And that was what he did.

However, Frisk knew, she knew that Sans would retaliate. So the moment he teleported, she turned behind her, expecting to catch him off guard. Though, she was the one who got caught off guard. Sans being Sans, knew full well that Frisk expected something like that. So instead of teleporting behind her, he teleported in front of her. Sans then engulfed Frisk into a bear hug and digged into her sides. Frisk yelped and tried to get away but Sans grip was too strong. Who knew he could actually be decently strong? "!? SAhAnnNs aha! Pfhaaha waahaaittt!"

"you were the one who started this frisk, heh."

No! Frisk couldn't let a silly skeleton overpower her. She had to retaliate! Among her struggles, she managed to catch a hold of Sans's wrist. With much effort, she finally turned the tables. Frisk pulled one of Sans hands above his head and scribbled on his ribs. "crahahaap! frihiskk nohoo, ahem sorrhee!! nahaa-" Sans flailed. Guess he hadn't though that Frisk could get the upperhand so quickly. He should have used his gravity magic on her.

"I started this and I plan to finish it!" Frisk exclaimed. "Now let's see.. How many ribs... 1, 2.."

No matter how Sans struggled and pushed, he couldn't get rid of Frisk's teasing fingers. "aeheh alreheady tohold yaha it wahaaas 10 pahahairrss!!! staaaahaap ghaaha!" Sans tried teleporting or using his magic to push frisk away, but he couldn't focus enough to use it. His magic, though was very powerful, was not trained enough. Damn, he should start training with Pap if this was going to be a thing that Frisk would do now. Now that was a joke of course, he probably would just practice dodging instead.

"Well, I still need to make sure don't I~? 6...7.." Frisk teased.

"thihis iss juhuust cruhuehel- nohooo nahaht theeheere!!!" Sans snorted. "ghaahaha plheheaasee!-" The poor guy kicked and flailed but nothing helped. Uncontrollably laughter continued to pour out.

"Juuust a little more~ I could always go faster~~" Frisk cooed "10..11..12.."

"wahaahait! nahaahaa dohoon't, ahaa! cohome ohonn-"

After what seemed to be an eternity for Sans... "And... 20!" Frisk release the poor guy.

"hff.. hf.. thahnk g.. hff god." Sans panted, slumping to the ground. He lied on his back, facing the ceiling as he closed his eyes.

"Pfft. You alright there Sans?" Frisk chuckled. She handed Sans a bottle of water she found on his desk.

Sans nodded, accepting the water and gulping it down. Afterwards, he looked up at his alarm clock. Damn, it had only been 7 minutes and he was already tired. However, he still had some energy... And he knew exactly how he was going to use it. After a few minutes of chilling in Sans room, the both of them heard Papyrus call them for lunch.

As they walked out, Sans called out to Frisk. "Yeah?" She responded. Sans was about to speak, but stopped himself.

Instead, he replied, "uh nevermind. i wanted to tell ya somethin' but i forgot heh."

Frisk gave him a confused look but continued walking down the stairs. Sans being Sans. When Frisk turned towards the stairs, Sans casual grin turned into a smirk. Guess Frisk forgot that Sans has a tendancy to side with justice.

[journeyman-tier-fibercraft]

WIP Wednesday more like organize my mess of a desk day. I've been rather non monogamous with what I'm working on and it shows.

Had slow prog on Doily 10, Every row is soooo long (tho at this point the repeats have been pretty easy to remember still). The main reason I've not had too much progress is that the needle/lace combo makes my joints hurt after about a half a row :/

The hat for my dad has gotten a lot of work, since it doesn't hurt my joints at all to work on. I just started the decreases (which are different than I usually do, this time I'm doing s2kp) and don't expect it to take that much longer. The only bad parts of this hat is that it shows any tension issues very clearly (and there are a lot of those, i've been knitting it while reading/looking what i'm doing) and the join from one ball to another is very visible. I know my dad won't care so I didn't bother to fix it.

I've just finished section 11 of Shawl 13, unfortunately it's a big too warm to work on this consistently, it's been 80 degree weather every day >:[ We're installing an aircon unit into my normal work space this weekend so with any hope I can work on this more before winter.

I think Blanket 9 is at the same point it was last week but hey, photos! I can't really work on it right now but I can stare deeply into and Imagine. I always underestimate how big queen size blankets are, I have nearly three full squares left to knit and this guy is already longer than my arm span.

[whispersandreveries]

Reasons why it will take me 10 years to visit Puerto Galera again.

I like a lot of my friends have itchy feet and want to travel at the drop of the hat. So when my friend invited me and told me she will take care of the hotel, I really pushed to go to with her on this Holy Week trip. I'm no stranger to Puerto Galera. I've been several times. I even traveled once on my own to cure from a broken heart. And I remember it as a quaint beaching community with touristy prices and lots of afams looking for their next Filipina bride. So Gemma and I went without doing a double take.

In the early morning of Holy Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the bus ride from Buendia to Batangas Port was smooth and I got some zzz's in. When I go to the Port it was mayhem. We were made to "fall in line" to get our baggage checked. And falling in line was more akin to die because of a stampede. It scared me. And I told the people inside, and they were like that is the choice of the customers. They couldn't have cared less.

We were ushered to the ticket selling area. It was full and the line was like a snake going around. The people at the port were not prepared for the mass of people that came. It was so unorganized, that the people in line were the ones organizing themselves. We had to line up for 2 hours or more to get a boat ticket and once we did we had to go back in line to get another ticket for the terminal fee. It was such an inconvenience, because they did not inform us there was a terminal fee. It was only at the start of the line before getting to the gates they would tell you such. They need to put a more orderly process and speed up the process for the masses of people coming.

My friend and I rode the boat and I get very nauseous with waves and it is really a struggle for me. When I got to the port, all I wanted to do was get off the boat. And find a hotel. When we got there, there was this new Environmental Fee. It was very expensive, Php 120. And what more is there was a declaration that nobody can enter the island without a hotel reservation. My friend was being forced to reserve a hotel room worth Php 4,500 a night, and we were informed that the people processing the Environmental fee would get 10% of sales. Finally, my friend found at Php 1800 at Liro and Lisa. We took a Php 200 tricycle (taxi prices) from the port to the hotel (the driver got lost several times).

We couldn't really enjoy the place just yet because we were looking for a hotel for the rest of our stay. We got so hungry that we stopped by a turo-turo place. We ordered, rice, pares, tenga, hotdogs, barbecaue, and drinks. We were charged Php 200 at first, then they said it was Php 400. Then they said we hadn't paid for the drinks yet and we paid an additional Php 50 for a total of Php 450. Sana nag-samgyup na lang ako.

These same people were "helping' us find a place to stay. They told us there was a hotel. And they brought us to the back parts of the island. And it turned out the residential place started at Php 2,500 then went on to Php 3500. All the hotel rooms we were looking at were priced at Php 3,000-3,500 a night. Usually, during the off season, they would be at Php 1,500-Php 2,500. And I remember transient kubos for less. This was extortion at the highest level.

After being so heartbroken (my friend and I thoiught we would go back home to Manila the next day). We found a place that was going for Php 2,500. It was not as good as our first hotel Liro and Lisa but it was good enough so we could stay in Puerto and at least it was beach front. We ate and reserved a room at Mindori Korea. Just so we could stay one more day. So we stayed our one night in Liro and Lira, (wifi ---but a lot of users, split type aircon, hot and cold shower, new, and very kind owners and staff) and we checked into Mindori Korea the next day.

On Maundy Thursday, we finally felt like the vacation had begun. And we enjoyed shopping, a little henna, and of course the sea. but it was littered with people it was so gross. Like really. the next people from me were barely 2 feet away. So it was really not as relaxing as could be. And there were even more people on the beach. It was unfortunate that I got my period this time and I had to buy. They were charging the Sisters napkin Php 15 EACH. Usually a pack of 8 is Php 22. My friend and braved the MRT like crowds to buy food that was under Php 200. And we finally found Mang Inasal like food and prices. We had to keep our budget down. because it was just so expensive. I spent around Php 6,000 for 3 days of food on the island. This is like a month's grocery. Just a bit more and I could have gone to Boracay instead.

And really, I love to travel, and will brave Puerto Galera (even with the horrible boat experience) but this is just too much. I understand that there was a pandemic, and "ngayon lang kami makakabawi", PERO GRABE NAMAN KAYO BUMAWI. Nawalan ako ng amor sa Puerto. Gone is the local color. It is a Station 1, 2, 3 wanna be. The sea will always be beautiful. But the business part is ugly. I will just save up more and go to Palawan or Siargao. Or if I really need a quick sea trip, Calatagan or LU. IT IS NOT WORTH IT. Kudos to Liro and Lisa, they really look after their guests. You can see that they love what they do. Thanks to people like them, I have hope for Puerto Gallera. But I will revisit this after 10 years.

[hedge-rambles]

#I think Brits call it 'aircon?'#but this is delightful

We do...hang on, do US Americans not call it aircon? Legit can't remember.

But also, this legitimately might be the first time I've seen someone say "I bet Brits would call X thing Y" and not been completely and fantastically wrong about it. Like, hats off to OP, if we called it "the climate fixer" (which...ok yeah, that's itself believable), we would 100% end up calling it both "the climb" and "the climmy". Touché.

Can't let British people have air conditioning because first they'd call it something twee like "the climate fixer" and then in 20 years they'll call it "the climb" or "the climmy"

[purplesurveys]

1930

1.) What was the last strong scent you smelled? The essential oil I currently have for my reed diffuser.

2.) When was the last time you changed your outfit? This morning. I'll change before heading to bed, which I'll do after this. I really need to sleep; it's nearing 2 AM on a Monday.

3.) What did you buy the last time you went shopping for new clothes? Concert outfit for Seventeen back in January. I'm not a big clothes shopper.

4.) What is your favorite meal of the day? Dinner.

5.) Do you typically eat breakfast or skip it? Skip. Unless coffee counts, because I have that everyday.

6.) What was the last thing you took a picture of? A pissed off reaction selfie I took immediately after finishing Gyeongseong Creature 2 (credits weren't even done rolling yet hah).

I spent THE ENTIRE!!!!!!! evening watching it as I was desperate to see what would happen, but the whole season's pacing was so off and there was barely a payoff in the finale...so I took that selfie with the 5 AM blue sky as my background to let everyone know I put in That Much Time for a season that ended up sucking lol

7.) Do you have a collection of anything? BTS merch and bucket hats.

8.) What was the last thing you threw away? The can of coffee I finished.

9.) What is the cause of your current emotional state? The fact that I'm going back to work that I dread in less than 8 hours.

10.) What were the last plans you made? How about cancelled? Last plan I made was to resign, which I announced to my bosses last Tuesday. Last I cancelled was my initial plan to take the dogs to the vet earlier today, because when I checked their booklet it turned out I didn't need to take them til end of the month. I had no idea why I thought they were due today hahaha.

11.) How did you discover your favorite band? They were very huge when I was in Grade 3 and all the cool kids seemed to like them (Paramore).

12.) Does the weather affect your mood? If so, in what ways? Only if it's hot. I get cranky when it's hot and humid and there's no sign of aircon anywhere, and especially so if I haven't eaten.

13.) When are you most likely to be bored? Usually in the afternoon, from around 2-5 PM. Even at work, I get very restless during those hours because I want the day to be done with already.

14.) What was the last big decision you made? Resigning for good. There's a part of me that still thinks it was such a rash, impulsive, barely-thought-of decision to make...but September hit me like a 16 wheeler when it came to my mental health.

I really need to rest. But also, let's hope I find a new place to work in soon :)

15.) Where was the last place you traveled to, and what did you do while there? Vietnam! Saigon and Da Nang. I shopped more than I'd like to admit; walked, walked, and walked; simultaneously celebrated Jin's military discharge; drank a lot of coffee; discovered and fell in love with bánh tráng nướng (I still look for it...); took lots of photos.

16.) What is your favorite thing to go shopping for? Not much. I'm not a big shopper unless I'm traveling, in which case I like getting local knickknacks and snacks.

17.) How organized are you? I'd say a 7/10. I'm fairly organized, but I do have the tendency to lose track.

18.) What were the positives and negatives of your last week? Positives: I informally filed my resignation. I also...just survived.

Negative: I woke up every day of the week, save for the weekend, with a crushing weight on my chest.

19.) If applicable, how did you decide what you wanted to study in college/university? I liked to write and was good at it, and I've always enjoyed watching documentaries. It seemed like the obvious choice to make. I also came from a family of writers and lawyers, and I just wanted to continue the practice, albeit through an adjacent route.

20.) What was the last thing you received in the mail? Shopee orders but they were both for my sister lol.

21.) What is one of your wildest dreams or ambitions? Travel to the US alone.

22.) When was the last time you performed in front of a group of people? No clue. High school, maybe?

23.) Who was the last person to upset you? How about the last person to cheer you up? Upset would be someone related to my work. Cheer up...Namjoon.

24.) Is there anything or anyone you’re trying to get over or let go of? Yes. My current job.

25.) What was the subject of your last phone conversation? My grandma let me know she made me laing and asked me to come over to pick it up when I can. Apparently my mom asked her to make it...I'm guessing she did so because I recently shared with her my work troubles, and it's her way of helping me feel better. In any case, and whether my theory is right or wrong, the gesture is appreciated.

26.) What are your plans for tomorrow? How about the weekend? Tomorrow I need to work. I'm also working on the weekend. Both days.

27.) When was the last time you were sick? Sometime last month I threw up like 101% the contents of my stomach from food poisoning.

28.) How close do you have to be with someone before you’ll consider them a friend? If I feel comfortable approaching them first and share with them stupid stuff like memes.

29.) What did the last jacket you wore look like? Green and with the right sleeve decorated to look like the Philippine flag. It's a jacket I was given by one of the brands I handle; and we usually have to have it on during our more formal events like contract signings so that we can also be 'in-attire' and look the part as their PR reps.

30.) Name five things you can grab from where you’re sitting. Vape pen, Oatside coffee, phone, a BTS frame, highlighters.

[goldendivinewrath]

Meryl cannot count how many times she has been thankful that her apartment building has an accessible back entrance. 

It is the perfect place for sneaking in wanted Typhoons and trained assassins with giant cross-shaped weapons, but the fire escape stairs can be cumbersome. However, she’s not going to look a gift toma’s in the mouth. Today, in particular, she finds herself using said stairs to avoid the main entrance. Despite Vash keeping a low profile, she is aware that the media has listed several people as close accomplices and while no full details had been given out, Meryl thinks that some higher ups are suspecting she’s hiding something.

When the news about Jeneora Rock reached Headquarters and the news anchor listed both herself and Roberto as possible allies to Vash, without giving their exact description or name, it had felt like it was only a matter of time before Headquarters put two and two together. 

The aftermath of Julai seemed to have put those investigations on hold, though Meryl could not be certain for how long.

In a way, she’s been keeping a low profile too since coming back to work for Bernardelli. While a desk job may not have been what she was planning for, it did offer a type of security that could not be found in field work; however, she found herself missing being out in the open, with nothing but an endless sky and sand dunes for iles and iles and iles.

The stairs, while functional, always make her feel a bit apprehensive, as they never made her feel secure while climbing up or down them. And it is when she reaches the shared balcony on her floor does she let out a sigh of relief, especially when she steps in and is met with colder air coming from the aircon.

A rather small, modest apartment, but functional in all the ways she needs it to be. With Vash there, he takes up much of the space that isn’t occupied by camera and photography equipment. She’s not yet managed to organize the way she has wanted to since landing a more stable, and also boring, position, so it has been easier to just forget it’s there and live her life around this organized chaos.

“Okay, I got us some party hats and you are going to wear one,” she says as she rips open the plastic packaging and pulls out a rainbow gradient party hat with gold polka dots that shimmer when it touches the light. Carefully, she pulls the elastic band so as to not break it, and adjusts the hat so it sits right atop his head.

Meryl does the same for herself, choosing another rainbow gradient party hat, but with shimmering blue polka dots. 

“Oh yeah, here!” She bends down to pick up a neatly wrapped package and places it before him.

“Figured you might get a kick out of this…and you never know, might also come in handy.”

Inside is more of a gag gift of a disguise kit with fake round glasses and moustache—more comical than practical—but when she’d seen it, Meryl knew she had to get it.

“Nick should be here soon. He’s on cake duty. I made him be on cake duty.”

Initially, she had wanted them to go dancing, perhaps at a place that served half decent food with half decent drinks, and spend the night out until the suns crested the horizon, but it felt too risky to be out like that. 

Maybe next time, when things have had a chance to cool down a little more, they’ll make a full day of it.

“Happy birthday, Vash,” she says and leans forward to place a kiss on his cheek. She lingers there a little longer than intended, and pulls back with a hint of red in her cheeks.

“Probably by the time I finish getting our food sorted, he’ll be here with the cake. Probably wants to make a memorable entrance or something, always showing up,” she grumbles but there is no bite to her words as she slips from the chair and walks the barely five steps to the kitchen and gets started on their supper.

Vash softly squawks at the party hat being placed on his head, but it's a token protest at best when he makes no move to pull away or stop himself from smiling. All this for him, really? It's silly and not particularly useful, but--

That's exactly why he smiles wider at seeing the hat on Meryl's head, just barely hiding an actual laugh behind his hand. He's not laughing at her! Well, a little, but not in a bad way; it's always nice to see her relaxed. Er, more relaxed. He's sure as the evening goes on that lingering tension will ease, when everything fits into place.

It's that thought which gets gently interrupted by a wrapped gift, and nothing more interesting could grab his attention in the moment. The "You really didn't have to..." dies before it forms, words unnecessary. Words temporarily impossible, because the overwhelming fondness he feels in seeing exactly how much attention has been put into gently creasing paper is an utterly ridiculous thing to notice and feel fondness over, but his fingers reach out to brush the present delicately anyway. It can't be silly if it's heartfelt, right?

Vash looks up at her with a sheepish smile, and nearly anyone might expect him to be the type of person who would try to unfold the paper and preserve it for something else. Normally, yes, they'd be right. Celebrating a birthday, though? He tears into the paper and laughs softly to himself about the whole affair, opening the box inside-- And laughing more, prosthetic hand over his mouth suddenly doing very little to keep him quiet. Okay, that's silly. Good-silly, wonderful-silly, and as much as he does appreciate and keep practical things, this seems worth finding a place for in his bag. "Aw, Meryl. You're a life saver, you know that?"

He has to. Has to. It's customary to try something gifted on, isn't it? Exchanging his usual glasses for the "disguise", he doubts it makes his eyes any less conspicuous, or the rest of him, but he tries to maintain a straight face for several seconds before making the supposed realization, "Oh, I can't risk Nick walking in and seeing a stranger, I'll have to model it later." Snickering, he's careful about re-folding the arms of the glasses, his usual shades once more properly in place.

He-- He doesn't miss it, the way Meryl leans in after birthday wishes, but it doesn't... register, fully. The closeness. The possible reason. He realizes it like a thought moving in slow motion in that moment of stillness before she pulls back; he's just comfortable with that level of closeness when it comes to Meryl. Of course they'd been packed tightly together before, and he'd never minded the occasional physical affection from her, but the kiss is a later realization. The lingering on top of that is another dimension, and surprised as he is, Vash remains still for a moment. Not frozen, not in any was afraid to move, just. Still. Taking in details.

He considers catching her hand before she goes, not letting her simply walk away and keep herself occupied, but ultimately decides against it. "Thank you, Meryl." Sincere words. Sincere smile. And quite a bit of thinking happening underneath.

He smiles through her minor complaints about Wolfwood, because there's something softly amusing about listening to both of them complain about one another with no real heat and no bite to the words, and always to him. That's... that's another thing to think about. Later. Now--

Thinking stops. A little. Vash stands and follows, the kitchen only steps away but still he takes his time getting there, making his footfalls a little heavier than they usually would be. Audible. He doesn't want to sneak up behind her, after all, but he does want the advantage of enough surprise to hug her from behind. Just... a little. Just for a few seconds. Appreciation and affection. Contact. And any small nuzzles to the side of her neck are completely incidental, of course. "I know this is my birthday, but you shouldn't have to do everything. Can I help?" Not that he was sure there was room to help, of course, but the offer needed to be made.

[that-cheer-up-anon]

Went to the tip w my little sister today and helped her get rid of some junk and organic waste. My first time going there so that was exciting! We went to the treasure market afterwards and got her some cube shelves for $5. I got a mini acrylic drawer for my makeup or nail stuff for $1 which was nice since it's usually $15 or $20!

The cashier lady had some really nice black acrylic nails w purple, blue, and pink chrome shifting pigment powder on top. Makes me want to practice more nail extension stuff.

[pseudinymous]

@UK followers, Australian here who survived 48C in a brick house with no aircon. Fill your bath with water and deadass soak in it with your clothes on. Don’t dry yourself. Then stand in front of a fan. Repeat as often as necessary.

Going to the beach in this kind of weather is a one way ticket to a sunburn so severe you’ll wish you were dead. I know Australia has a much worse UV index, but don’t underestimate things - water is reflective to UV light and you’ll basically get double dosed.

SPF 50+ waterproof sunscreen only if you really are stupid enough to go for a dip in the ocean. Lay it on thick. Reapply AT LEAST every four hours. Also wear a broad rimmed hat, bring a beach umbrella, and stay under it as much as you can.

… Unless you want to look like a tomato for a week and experience searing pain touching anything, including your bed, clothes, etc… and don’t forget the cancer!

I need UK journalists to not show 43 degrees is not beach weather like people are gonna die

Americans do not interact