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nullset2 · 4 years ago

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Mother 3 - An In-depth Critique and Review

Ah, Mother 3, how I love you so!

The game which with which I forwent all possible aspirations to healthily integate into normal High School society: imagine walking into a party, people are drinking and being cool, and you ask them if they have ever played a very underground, very deep RPG only released in Japan called "Mother".

Yeah! I know! It's like you're asking to be bullied, and I realized it too late.

But anyway!

Mother 3 is one of the most important games you could ever play --alas, if only it wasn't near impossible to obtain it.

Yet, perhaps this adds to its allure and to the power of its narrative --a narrative which, by the way, I'm convinced is the very actual reason why it will never release formally in the United States.

As time has passed, I've actually become more and more impressed about how relevant the game is to the socioeconomic reality that we are in nowadays. I'm impressed that Shigesato Itoi had all of this in his mind's eye as early as 1996, and that the story was already written down in 1999!

Right now it's been 14 years since it's release on the GBA, but I think that the game is a timeless classic and warrants a playthrough now more than ever. Wanna know why?

Wanna find out?

Part 1. "A Japanese Copywriter's Americana"

The year is 1989 and a Japanese Copywriter --somebody who writes "Catch Copies", which are a sort of a long-form slogan that is very common in Japanese pop culture to advertise)-- by the name of Shigesato Itoi became a fan of the Dragon Quest series of RPGs, which are massively popular in Japan, even to this day. He also loved video games: he's asthmatic, so he recalls only being able to sleep sitting up as a child, and having to occupy his lonely time through asthma attacks playing video games, since he had to sit up and had nothing else to do at night.

His love of RPGs would linger in his mind until 1989 when he had an opportunity to meet with Hiroshi Yamauchi and Shigeru Miyamoto and was offered the opportunity to develop a video game with Nintendo. Harkening back to the endless hours he poured into Dragon Quest, his concept eventually took form by deriving from it. He called the story "MOTHER", as a reference to John Lennon's "Mother", since he is a very hardcore fan of The Beatles. The games have tons of obvious influence by old American films and comics, like ET and Peanuts, which he also loved very much.

For MOTHER, he wanted to explicitly go against the grain, by designing an RPG without "Swords and Magic", which stereotypically most RPGs follow, even from things as minor as to design a protagonist who was weak and vulnerable, asthmatic and without a Father Figure, yet, still heroic through much toil --which reflects Ninten from the original MOTHER for the famicom.

Miyamoto, in his usual taskmaster persona, arranged a team to work with Itoi for the creation of the RPG, by bringing in people from HAL laboratory and APE Inc, and thus MOTHER was born to great Japanese Acclaim. A game which took many risks in its genre, such as eschewing the idea of a separate overworld from navigation in the towns, the subject matter, the movement system and many other things which made it quite Unique. It was so popular that soon after the first project was released, MOTHER 2 started development, involving people from what's currently known as Game Freak and HAL Labs.

MOTHER 2 is a very unique game because it was the very first time that the series attempted to make an incursion in the Americas. Releasing in a big flamboyant flashy box, with a strategy guide and a bunch of goodies included, MOTHER 2 released as Earthbound in the states, a bigger and better version of the vision of the first game. Better graphics, Beatles references, sampled audio, pop culture cornucopia, it's all here and then some!

Famous for its role in technically driving the game, Satoru Iwata, ex-CEO and software developer for Nintendo,7 of Wii acclaim, helped the game meet its 1996 release date. It is known that the original version of the game ran into deep technical issues which the original dev team was not able to overcome. Once Satoru Iwata got involved, the game was reworked to a viable version and released to much critical acclaim. In his own words, he proposed to rewrite the tech that powered the main game. It was a matter of either continuing with the current code and be done in two years, or redoing everything and being done in six months under his vision, he said.

No matter its strong promotion from Nintendo, the marketing got botched, and the game paled compared to the flashy and bombastic magical RPGs of its era, like Final Fantasy VI, Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger of all things. So, Earthbound faced a very bad destiny in the states, by releasing to low acclaim, bad review scores and terrible sales numbers --even though it eventually reached Cult Classic status, due to its pure hearted nature, its hallucinogenic themes and characters, and its fantastic spirit over all.

And this game is worthy of discussion by itself a whole bunch because of the ripple effects it had in video game culture in the Western world. Enter starmen dot net. To this date, the epicenter of discussion for everything related to the MOTHER series. There you had me as early as 2002, browsing a half-rendered version of starmen dot net in a dingy computer in some dingy internet cafe in some shitty neighborhood in Mexico, trying to be a part of the discussion and the hype.

To this date, I consider starmen dot net as the non-plus-ultra case for how passionate Internet fan cultures can become.

Flat out, no other fandom has ever came close to the level of dedication, attention to detail and passion to tribute the original creation around which its fans congregate. A massive amount of fan paraphernalia has come out of starmen dot net --yes, even Undertale, 2015 indie darling RPG thing, originally got started on the Starmen dot net forums. People married and even started large, commercially viable enterprises, such as Fangamer.net, the firm which publishes Undertale, from starmen dot net.

...and then... silence...

After Earthbound's 1995 release, we enter a ten year hiatus for the series.

Even though both MOTHER games were incredibly popular in Japan, HAL Laboratory and APE Inc. weren't able to successfully make a jump onto the third dimension for the series come the Nintendo 64 era. They had a demo come the infamous Spaceworld 96, where a bunch of pre-release games for the then called "Ultra 64", which was the codename for the Nintendo 64, were showcased. And lo and behold, we have a sequel to Mother coming out, called Mother 3, the ROM for which has never been found by the way.

I'd love to get a look at the materials in that ROM.

The scarce footage we have available from it exhibits some of the elements we ended up seeing in the final released version of the game, like some of the original music like the Mozart ghost theme, and the DCMC section, albeit in a more primitive low poly way. It is known that both studios weren't very proficient at 3d Game development yet, which was still nascent. This together with other factors, such as the fact that at some point development was moved onto the unreleased-in-America, unpopular 64DD addon, undisclosed factors dropped the game into development hell, which ultimately led to its cancellation in the year 2000.

Plenty of mystery surrounded the now defunct project, to the dismay of a bunch of passionate fans in Starmen.net and elsewhere online. However, it turned out that the valiant effort of the fans, who made a huge amount of effort to campaign for the revival of the series, even mailing fanmail, fanart and other materials to the Itoi Shinbun offices in Japan (a titanical task in the world of the early 2000s).

Fast forward to 2003, and the Game Boy Advance, the little portable console that could, was in its Apex. Due to Satoru Iwata's campaining, it was announced that development on MOTHER 3 would be restarted, this time in 2D, for the gameboy advance. Much anticipation in Starmen.net followed this announcement, since it finally validated its efforts...

Come 2006, once the console was well into its end-of-life, with small nudges to play the game on a Gameboy player if possible, perhaps to try to follow suit with its predecessors, the sequel finally released to much acclaim. But what did Shigesato Itoi have in store for everyone all along? What kind of beast had just been unleashed onto the World?

Part 2. "Of Monkeys and Men"

Mother 3 follows the story of a young boy, Lucas, in a multi-chapter structure, which is novel for the series but not unheard of in the RPG genre. Besides this, the RPG plays very similar to your usual JRPG fare, and basically uses the Ultimately polished version of the MOTHER series' mechanics, groovy backgrounds and all.

The first three chapters of the game follow the perspective of different characters residing in Tazmilly Village as the plot of the game unfolds. The plot is centered around the residents of a peaceful town in an Island in an unspecified location, Nowhere Islands, which in my opinion is an allegory both of Japan and America, moreover with the fact that the game of the logo very clearly has a rising sun covered in metal, in a logo that's an amalgam of two different things which don't match, a subtle reference to the game's undertones to come.

From these residents we come to know the daily lives of a particular family: Flint, a farmer; Hinawa, his wife (a name in reference to Sunflowers, Himawari, her favorite flower), and their twin children, Lucas and Claus.

The game begins in the midst of their idyllic life in the mountains visiting Lucas' grandfather Alec, and playing around with meek dinosaurs which inhabit Nowhere Islands. See, in the world of Mother 3, no violence truly exists, and people have come to live peacefully with each other and nature. There's no such thing as the concept of money, Instead relying on an economy that's mostly based around bartering and hospitality.

However, everyone's lives veer into turmoil once strange alien beings invade, the Pigmask army, an army of big, fat and slovenly creatures dressed in pig-like attire, who seem to have a vast amount of technology and resources at their disposal yet aim for Nowhere Islands for colonization.

The Pigmasks have an as-of-yet unnamed leader, who is demanding them to make everything in the World "bigger, cooler, stronger and faster", and thus they seize Nowhere Islands by force of bombings and a forest fire to use its flora and fauna. And thus, while escaping from the forest fires returning from Alec's home, Hinawa tragically gets killed by a Drago which has been modified to be aggressive against its nature through robotics implanted in it by the Pigmask army.

There's an unused cutscene in the game's ROM data where Hinawa, instead, dies by bomb explosion...

...yeah, I'm just... gonna let you process that one by yourself ;)

The Drago left a fang in the middle of her heart, which is recovered by one of the Tazmillians and provided back to Flint along with a fragment of her crimson dress. Besmirched and angry, Claus, the festier one of the twin children, sets out to try to hunt the drago and achieve revenge, but he goes missing... Flint embarks in search of Claus and to kill the drago, and thus the first chapter of the game concludes, with the implication that Claus has gone missing...

With Lucas' family torn to shreds and The Pigmasks invading Tazmilly, it seems that we're in a situation ripe for disaster.

Chapter 2 follows Duster's adventure, which runs in parallel (as every other chapter will) to other chapters' stories. Duster is the last heir in a bloodline of Cat Burglars whose abilities are not in use anymore given that Tazmilly has no more commerce or crime. However it turns out that the Pigmask invasion puts his skills back in demand to infiltrate Oshoe Castle and retrieve an artifact which the Pigmasks are after and which Duster's family is the guardian of. The nature of the artifact in Oshoe Castle is as of yet unknown, however it is implied that it is important to the fabric of Tazmilly village.

At Castle Oshoe, Duster meets a mysterious princess, Kuma-tora (which translates literally to "beartiger", in allusion to the dichotomy of her existence, since she is very... masculine in attitude and refers to herself with, yes, male pronouns, perhaps anticipating identity politics by 14 years at least), who is also after the artifact in the Castle, the Hummingbird egg. The chapter ends with the Hummingbird Egg going missing, and a mysterious peddler of goods arriving into town, while Kumatora and Duster's father realize he has gone missing...

Chapter 3 follows the adventure of a little Monkey, Salsa, which gets flown into Nowhere Islands to perform a job. This is a novelty in a town where the concept of a job doesn't exist as of yet, however, the peddler of goods is going to need a lot of hands if he wants to fullfill his vision. The peddler, Fassad (which is a tongue in cheek way to say "facade", right?) promises to all residents in Nowhere Island eternal happiness if they buy his newest product, the "Happy Box", a television-like contraption which glows with a warm light and which people are attracted to and engrossed by. For this, he introduces the concept of money and swindles people his way, convincing them that this is the way to go and promising them excitement and benefit if they listen to him.

Salsa delivers Happy boxes throughout the whole chapter, and gets shocked, even in the middle of the night, if something goes wrong with his job or tries to escape due to a shock collar implanted by Fassad. However, he runs into Kumatora and Wess, Duster's father, and they ploy together to free up Salsa and mess up Fassad's forceful takeover of Oshoe Castle, when Lucas shows up with several dragos in tow and fights against the Tank invasion of Oshoe Castle.

(A foreign animal being introduced into a new society with the express intent of exploiting it to propel forward a commercial enterprise by toil... geez, I dunno, where have I heard that one?)

From Chapter 4 Onwards the game adopts a more conventional JRPG scheme, through a timeskip which happens literally two years in the future. In this future version of Tazmilly, money (Dragon Points) and ATMs are now existent, similar to other Mother games. The game follows Lucas' adventure through a now-modernized and industrialized technologically advanced Tazmilly, trying to retrieve the "seven needles" from the island, which are soon enough shown to be a source of great power that the pigmask army is also after and to which Lucas must try to get to first due to a calling by mysterious beings which inhabit Nowhere Islands, the Magypsies. With a lot of emotional moments, such as Lucas having visions of his Mother in the middle of a field of Sunflowers, we follow the adventures of the party as they infiltrate the pigmask ranks and gather information about its nature and intentions.

It is then discovered that the pigmasks are commanded by a Masked leader, who dominates the power of thunder through a tower which was built in the middle of the town and which strikes anybody down with thunder if they overstep the Law and Order that the pigmasks have implemented. The party fights this masked leader in bouts while exploring the world and reuniting with a now missing Kumatora and Duster, who are found to have settled as employees in a Nightclub called "Club Titiboo".

Eventually, through his travels, Lucas gains an artifact from Mr. Saturn, the inhabitants of a special region in Nowhere called Saturn Valley and which has been passed down through all three Mother games, called the "Franklin Badge". When equipped, this item allows the bearer to become immune to lighting attacks and reflecting them back.

The party soon discovers that the world is inhabited by an special elder race, existant from before the creation of Tazmilly village and who know more about everything going on with the invasion, called the "Magypsies", a race of transexual, magical creatures who help Lucas discover the fact that he has Psychic abilities, also known as "PSI" within the MOTHER canon. He uses these to proceed further in his adventure to pull the seven Golden Needles, the first of which Fassad was attempting to get to, in the Courtyard of Oshoe Castle.

Lucas moves into a city called "New Pork City" in the conclusion of the game, which is a town built by the pigmasks completely in the honor of Porky, full of all sorts of Pigmask paraphernalia and amusement. It is found that the seventh and final needle is inside humongous tower in the middle of the city, the Porky tower.

Moreover, it is also revealed that the Pigmask army is led by Porky, known as "Pokey" in the American localization of Mother 2, Earthbound. Pokey is shown to have developed into a tyrant as an adult, with unlimited lust for blood and power, who used Doctor Andonuts' Phase Distorter after the events of Earthbound to mess around with the unlimited realities and dimensions it gave him access too, as a petulant child does with a video game. Once he got kicked out of every other possible reality due to the chaos he created, he found the Nowhere islands and decided to mess with it.

The climax of the game comes around Chapter 7, when the now fully-developed party runs into Leder, one of the original Tazmillian villagers, a lanky and really tall person who never spoke, not a single word, in the game until now. Leder is revealed to be the only person who knows what is the true nature of it all: tazmilly village is the remanider of civilization once the world of Mother 2 collapsed by cataclysm. A flood wiped away everything and the very last remainder of people who survived fled to nowhere islands in a big white ship and settled there, willingly forfeiting all technological advances and knowledge of the world into the Hummingbird egg, the artifact that Duster's family protected in Oshoe, a device which wiped everyone's memories, with the intent of undoing civilization and living back in a peaceful village-like state again.

It is revealed that when all seven needles are pulled, a supernatural power on which the island is built will be awakened. This supernatural power is revealed to be a Dragon by Leder, who had to be subdued by the ancestors of the Magypsies so people could live in Nowhere islands as their last resort. Whoever pulls out the needles which keep it in slumber will pass the intentions and nature of their heart onto the dragon. Thus, Lucas must be the one who pulls out the last needle instead of Porky or the masked man, in hopes that a second cataclysm like the first doesn't happen again.

After making their way through all the pigmask defenses, Lucas and Co. face off with Porky, who is now a bedridden, pathetic man. Doctor Andonuts from Mother 2, appears here, and is revealed to have developed a solution to contain Porky, the Absolutely Safe Capsule, which is a capsule which once it's sealed, it can never be opened again, trapping whoever is inside forever in a parallel universe where only them exist. The party is successful in locking Porky in the absolutely safe capsule, so, porky is not hurt by the end of mother 3, instead, he just has been locked away forever in a place far away from everyone else --perhaps, providing the ultimate form of comfort that a personality like his would seek after.

At the end of the game, Lucas and Co. face against the masked man, who is revealed to have been Claus all along, who, brainwashed with Pigmask ideologies, is hellbent on drawing out the final needle to awaken the dragon. Lucas and Claus face off in an emotive fight, where they suddenly remember each other and how friendly they used to be with each other... and moreover, their Mother. Claus strikes Lucas with thunder in a final murderous attempt before snapping out of the Pigmask brainwashing. But since he had the Franklin badge on, the attack is reflected and mortally strikes Claus, who, in his final moments, finally remembers Lucas...

The ending of the game is open ended, without showing much of what happened once the seventh dragon needle was released, so the ending of the game is subject to interpretation. However, it is heavily implied that, since Lucas was the one who released the needle, the dragon, once awakened, did not destroy Nowhere islands and instead led to a regeneration of existence.

Part 3. "A Musical-Adventure"

One of the pre-release materials for the game called it a "Musical" adventure, and I think this is completely warranted: the musical beautifulness of Hip Tanaka, famed Nintendo composer and long-time MOTHER music autheur, is joined by the expertise of Shogo Sakai, who gave the soundtrack a more mature, sample-based vibe, compared to the early two more "chiptuney" soundtracks in the series. The songs are all-time favorites of mine, and I still the soundtrack every so often given all of its mystique, its eclectiness and curiosness.

But the musical aspect to the game doesn't stop here: as an addition to the mother series, the battle system has now been changed to become rhythm-game based instead of simply turn based. If the player attacks an enemy during a battle, it is possible to strike additional damage as long as the player continues to press the attack button in rhythm to the background music in upwards of 16 hits. A full combo is incredibly effective and plays a nice fanfare if executed correctly.

As an enthusiast of rhythm games, this premise captivated me from the get-go and it works wonders, functioning as a breath of fresh air to the way overplayed mechanic of turn-based combat, which has existed since the 80s. It also provides a certain nice feeling to combat, given how every character has their personal musical instrument, with lucas being a guitar, Kumatora being an electric guitar, Duster being a bass, and Boney, Lucas' pet, being... barks.

Besides this the mechanics from Mother 2 are translated almost completely: every character has a rolling HP and PP counter, which rolls down over time as an airport display instead of immediately as in other RPGs. This may seem minor, but it adds an amazing element of strategy to the game, since it is possible to recover an ally from mortal damage if a healing PSI is executed against the clock before the counter hits 0.

Besides this you got almost completely conventional standard JRPG fare, with the character being able to move in eight directions in the overworld, with the addition of a run button, preemptive attacks and overpowered kills. Once you start facing enemies in the overworld, the first one to attack can be decided depending on the angle that the enemy was approached with: sneak up on an enemy from behind and a green swirl will display, which means that you get to attack first; if an enemy sneaks behind you, you'll see a red swirl and they will attack first instead. Otherwise, a gray swirl will display, which follows conventional order according to your stats.

Part 4. "WE WANT MOTHER 3, REGGIE!"

...Mother 3 will never be released in America.

This may be too dramatic of an opinion to have but I see no other alternative. For the most of fourteen years, Nintendo of America's head honcho Reggie Fils-Aime was requested to release and distribute the game in the americas, and for twenty years the request fell on deaf ears, citing commercial inviability, potential copyright infringment and many other reasons.

But I think the main reason that the game will never be localized is because Mother 3 was a passion project, pushed for by people with personal involvement in the series and very special sensitivities about it. Shigesato Itoi and Iwata were personal friends. The game appeals to japanese tastes and touches on issues and subjects that the American population is very politically sensitive to.

For example, in chapter 6 Lucas and the party experience a bad trip because they eat hallucinogenic mushrooms in a swamp. This leads to Lucas having visions of his family in a very bad light, with implications of violence and abuse, to try to get at the players' deepest sensitivities. Even the name of the real player is used here.

I think that it's impossible that nintendo will release a game which openly involves Hallucinogenics no matter its innocent exterior. This is the kind of subject in media that Japanese audiences usually handle better than American audiences.

Besides this, the game has very clear allusions to accelerated capitalism, anti-capitalism, colonization, slavery, transexuality and the changes and chaos they have brought onto the world, which is a tough subject to tackle in the Americas, which is still part of an ongoing, vicious culture war.

Particularly, I adore how the game even tries to convey its points through the Sound Test, of all places. Mother 3 has a collection of music pieces, which are available on demand within the game itself. Of those, there's a music piece which is a remix of Pollyanna, the Mother 1 theme, which is present throughout the series, in an nod to the previous games in the series. The hallway where this plays is full with mother references and it expects the player to sit down and watch passively all the references in order.

But this is meta, amazingly enough. The hallway is located in the final section of the game, before facing Porky, who is presented as the effigy of vicious capitalism in the game. As if he left them in his palace just as collectibles, things to be purchased or acquired.

The name of the song which plays during this sequence? "His Majesty's Memories". Subtle.

Nintendo is a company which tries to keep its image clean and sterile, so it can be used broadly for a variety of projects, usually with family friendly intent behind --and even more so in the US.

However, Nintendo has a history of risky bets with Mature content, which has become even more glaring lately: you got Eternal Darkness, Astral Chain, Bayonetta, No More Heroes, the disappointing Metroid Other M... this together with the fact that most of their target audience is of age now, could, at least remotely, mean that, perhaps, Mother 3 releasing in some manner in the future, localized in English, could happen: however, this is not happening at least the way I see it.

Once the game was released, there were several different campaigns online to try to gather Nintendo's attention: a 10k signature strong petition was completed among several other things, and if this hasn't lead to results... I don't know what will.

Part 5. "No Crying Until the End"

Mother 3 is a beautiful, engrossing and captivating game which is hidden away under a cutesy exterior. Its complex themes and characters are evoking of deep human truths which call out to us and ask us to reflect on things and the way we're living. Of strong pedigree in its series and with a superb musical production behind it and a mastermind of writing, MOTHER 3 excels at what it sets out to do.

When the game released, the game had a "Catch Copy" written for it by itoi himself, which called the game "Strange, Funny and Heartrending", and I think this is a beautiful way to bring everything full circle. Itoi wrote on the Advertisement that if you wanted to cry because of Mother 3, you should save it until the end. And those three words are a fantastic way to close off this review: if you want a game that will provide you with bizarre and laugh out loud moments one second and tear-jerkers the next, Mother 3 is the game for you.

And the game is just so poignant... to this date not only do I think it's one of the most expressive and well done pixel-art based game, I still find myself impresse at how much I can connect with the characters through small, cutesy sprites and pastel color pallettes, lack of Unreal engine and RTX graphics card be damned. Themes of grief, missing a loved one who's gone, the feeling of loss of identity due to accelerating social and economical change, how tyrannical political figures establish themselves and change communities, sexual and identity politics and how the modern world was to have shaky and voraginous sexual identities become commonplace... it's all there, and masterfully, tastefully expressed, without that icky feeling of "agenda"ism that you can get sometimes from Hollywood productions when they try to hamfist tropes and "messages" down people's throats. You know that feeling? I hate it when it happens in movies or shows I'm watching just to have a good time, and then I get some succint propaganda.

But MOTHER 3 is a kind beast, trying to reach to your heart and directly speak to the mind of the player. It tries to show us what it thinks of modernity and to make us seriously ponder what the frick is up with all of this shit, and thinking it has kept me for the last 14 years, and I anticipate another 20 ahead of me. And you can join me in reflecting about this...

Or maybe you can just go back to your happy box. Whichever way you choose.

#works #review #mother 3 #gba #game review #shigesato itoi

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crocodilenialledfics · 4 years ago

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story page // masterlist // wattpad

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Ten: where did our love go?

word count: 4261

warning: This chapter contains mention of mental illness and violence

“Well a lot of people thought you two were like...” she trailed off with a laugh. “It’s so ridiculous. They thought you two were like lovers or something. I said that was completely...” her humorous tone faded.

Niall knew his face had given it away. Maria could read his eyes. They were lovers. “You’re not here for the money are you?” She asked after a long moment.

“No I’m not,” Niall shook his head, facade crumbling before her.

“This is a very typical Rosalind move, you know?” Maria told him, reaching down to open up her desk drawer. “Leave the men she’d gotten to fall in love with her. I really can’t explain it. She’s like a magnet sometimes.”

3 months later

Niall could not let Rosalind go. No matter how hard he tried, how badly he wanted to, it wasn’t possible. His chest ached at the absence of her. She put him through hell most days and Niall swore deep down he hated her for it, but most strongly he never wanted to let her go.

Rosalind disappeared the day after Mario was buried. At least that’s what Luca told him. She’d left him and Maria notes with envelopes of cash and she was gone.

“She’s not coming back,” Luca told him, voice firm after the millionth phone call. “And why should it matter to you, anyways?“

“It doesn’t,” Niall had tried to convince him, voice quiet over the phone. He wanted to tell Luca everything but he didn’t. He kept it to himself.

It was a shot in the dark. He put a trace out on Rosalind’s plates. Her car was found at LaGuardia. No one knew how long it’d been there. Niall got his hands on their flight history and it seemed almost too good to be true. Would Rosalind really leave the country? Is that the extent of her leaving it all.

But Niall had been around the shop. He realized that Luca knew nothing. Maria, he learned, had loose lips. She just had a look in her eye like she was waiting for someone to ask so she could spill all of her secrets.

Niall found himself leaning against Maria’s desk, eyes glued to her as she moved around the room, making him a cup of coffee.

“I’m sorry Rosalind left without paying you,” Maria said, her back to him. “I really wish I could help you. Unfortunately she’s left without a trace.”

Niall wasn’t convinced. He sat down across from her desk, scratching at his jaw. Soon, Maria set a cup of coffee down in front of him, sliding into her own seat.

“Rosalind and I were actually kind of like friends,” Niall told her, eyes flicking up to hers, studying her reaction.

“Rosalind and I weren’t very close,” Maria responded. “So I wouldn’t know her personal affairs. Always tight lipped- unless she was angry of course.”

And Niall felt like this was the moment he could tell her everything. Maria was nice enough, kind eyes that were the same as Rosalind’s. And dark black hair but much shorter. Maria took a slow sip of her coffee, sitting back in her chair. “You know a lot of people thought...” she trailed off, meeting his eyes. “Never mind.”

“No what is it?” He urged.

Niall knew his face had given it away. Maria could read his eyes. They were lovers. “You’re not here for the money are you?” She asked after a long moment.

“No I’m not,” Niall shook his head, facade crumbling before her.

Niall knew what she meant. The way he had just gravitated toward her the second he laid eyes on her. From there it was history. A shared cigaret behind the building and then Rosalind had kissed him, fingers in his hair. The memory itself was enough to make Niall lose his breath.

“Anyways,” Maria concluded. “Here’s an address that she gave me to send money. Whether that’s where she is, I don’t know. She gets transactions every Wednesday. Might be worth the flight, you know, to get the money she owes you.”

Niall met Maria’s eyes from across the desk, taking the scribbled address from her. “Thanks,” he mumbled, looking it over. For a moment he wondered why he had to fall in love with the evil Civella sister.

“You’re welcome,” Maria told him, a slight smile on her face. “Can I ask how serious it was? Between you two, I mean. In all of Rosalind’s life she’s never had a boyfriend she even remotely liked.”

“Never?” Niall asked.

“Yeah,” Maria chuckled. “God she dated so many boys who were just like our father. Hated all of their guts. Fought like crazy. Physical, too.”

“Am I like your father?” Niall asked, unable to help himself.

“Well I don’t know you very well,” Maria smiled, stirring her coffee slowly as her eyes drifted to the wall behind him. “But judging by how quiet and calculating you are, I’d say only in the best ways. It’s good you don’t have the temper that she has, though.”

Niall thought back to the fight they had. The way he’d let his temper get the best of him. How Rosalind had finally said what he wanted to hear and he said all the wrong things.

“I guess I was surprised when she left,” Maria told him, pulling him from his thoughts. “Because she’d been doing really well, I thought. No physical fights at least.”

Niall hummed, nodding, “I was surprised too.”

“Did she kill Mario?” Maria asked, jumping right to it.

“No,” Niall shook his head. “I have no idea who killed him but it wasn’t her.”

“Are you sure? Falco was hellbent on pinning her to it that morning,” Maria urged.

“We were together that whole night and the next morning,” he told her, hoping it’d clear her name. “She didn’t do it. She couldn’t.”

“But she was going to have him killed?” Maria asked, eyebrows raising.

Niall shrugged, “I honestly don’t know. We didn’t talk business.”

“Right,” Maria nodded. “Well I hope you find her. Tell her to get her ass back home. Brooklyn isn’t the same without her.”

“I’ll pass the message along,” Niall nodded, standing up. He glanced at the address one more time, wondering if this was actually it. If Rosalind would actually run away to Canada, of all places. The address that would magically fix everything. That was a high hope.

Niall set off to find her, though. Packed a bag, grabbed his passport and was off to the airport without telling a soul. Just for the fun of it, he called Rosalind’s phone for the hundredth time. It went right to voicemail.

While he waited for his flight he began to worry about the million sceneries. If he showed up and found Rosalind with another man, if she wasn’t even there, if maria had just thrown him off her scent.

While on the flight, he convinced himself that Rosalind did owe him money and he was coming to collect his debts since she left without a call. If money was code for love ad debts was code for kisses, that’s Niall’s secret.

Rosalind was right, though. Life without her was unbearable. He wondered how he could’ve been so stupid, to let this happen. Rosalind and him deserved each other and that was really something. Equally as fucked up after years in the business. They could love the way normal people loved.

When Niall finally stepped foot in Canada, he had the feeling that he wasn’t supposed to be there. The impending feeling that Rosalind would hate him to be here. The air was cool, though. He could tell fall was coming faster around here.

He felt aimless as he gave the driver the address. The man didn’t ask anything of it, though. He took Niall to the bank, letting him out in front of the building. Niall got out, eyebrows furrowing as he adjusted the bag on his shoulder. It was a family owned bank that looked almost vacant.

Niall went in, pulling his phone out. He pulled a photo of Rosalind up, walking toward the desk where an older man sat, magazine in hand. “Hi,” Niall said, leaning against the counter. “My name’s James. I’m looking for my wife she told me to meet me here today. This is her,” he showed the man the picture.

“I’m afraid I don’t know who that is,” the man shook his head. “We don’t have very many clients as it is.”

An older woman came out from the back office, a box in her hand. She saw Niall and smiled, “hello.”

“Do you know who this is?” The man asked, pointing to the phone. “He’s looking for his wife.”

Niall watched the woman study Rosalind’s face. It took a moment but she smiled again, straightening up. “Of course, that’s Isabella, remember?”

“Isabella,” the man repeated. It finally clicked I’m his mind and he laughed. “Ah right. Ms. Jones. I hardly recognized her.”

“Reckon Isabella came in early this morning,” the woman told Niall. “Got her money and well, you know.”

Niall nodded his head slowly, eyes glancing between them. “Right. Well I appreciate it.”

“Of course,” the man nodded. “By now she’s probably off to work. What is it?” He asked, looking up at the woman. “That bar on McDermot?”

“Well surely he knows where his wife works,” the woman waved him off. “It was lovely to meet you. I’m afraid we can’t disclose much about Isabella. She’s a very private person.”

“Of course,” Niall nodded. “I appreciate your help. It’s just,” he sighed. “Isabella and I have been separated. I’m sure she hasn’t mentioned me. Recently we’ve reconnected. We had this fight for months. She wanted kids,

I didn’t. Eventually I came around, realizing that the only thing I want is to make her happy. I was surprised when she told me we were meeting here. We were finally going to put a down payment on a house. I fear she’s changed her mind.”

Niall watched, the man engrossed by it. The woman, not so much. She looked Niall over, slowly nodding, “I’m sorry to hear that. I could give her a call, if you’d like? She hated to be bothered at work, though.”

“That’s okay,” Niall shook his head. “I thought she quit her job at the bar, though. Moved down to that restaurant with the white table cloths. Shit, I always forget the name. You know what I’m talking about?”

“No,” the woman shook her head. “She’s still at the bar, as far as I know.”

“Right,” Niall nodded slowly, pocketing his phone. “Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome,” the man answered. “And good luck with everything.”

Niall stepped back out onto the street, letting out a sigh. He thought about going right to the bar, confronting her and demanding that she speak to him. He thought better of it, though.

Maria was right, he was calculating. He wouldn’t mess it up. So Niall got a rental car, and a room at a hotel not far from the bar to wait it out.

Niall thought about all the things he wanted to say to her. He wanted to tell her that he loved her. He wanted to make sure she knew just how sorry he was. The rest, he realized was up to her.

Niall imagined her face a million times. He dreamt about the moment he’d see her again. The way she looked and how she looked at him. Nothing prepared him for the moment he walked into that bar.

Niall saw her at the bar, filling up a glass while she talked to the man across from her. She laughed at something he said, finally setting the glass down in front of him. He gave her some money and she flashed him a smile, shoving it into her apron.

Niall unstuck his feet from the floor, finally sliding into a seat at the bar. Rosalind set a Guinness down in front of him, meeting his eyes for the first time in months. “It’s about time,” she said, arms crossing over her chest.

Niall’s tongue was heavy. He could hardly speak, let alone say everything that he’d thought of. She threw him off, the calmness of her voice, like she knew he’d come all along.

“Three months,” Rosalind shook her head. “It took you three months to find me? I thought you were better than that?”

“I didn’t think you wanted me to find you,” Niall told her, voice quiet.

“If I didn’t want you to find me, do you think I would have given Maria the address?” Rosalind asked, an amusement to her voice.

“So you knew I’d come?” Niall asked, eyebrows furrowing. He hesitantly wrapped his hand around his glass.

“Eventually,” Rosalind nodded.

“So what the fuck was the last three months then?” Niall demanded. “Pure hell for no fucking reason? You put me through that shit for nothing?”

“Niall,” Rosalind sighed, looking around at the people beginning to stare. “This was never about you. I left because I couldn’t breathe in that city. That was not the person I wanted to be. I didn’t leave to spite you, or to make you pay. I left because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten better.”

Niall couldn’t stop himself from feeling like it was selfish. Her voice rang in his ears as he remembered her saying, ‘I’m selfish because I have to be.’

“Obviously if you hated me, you wouldn’t have come,” Rosalind told him, shrugging. “I think you came to tell me something. Think about it. I’m here till midnight.”

Niall let out a sigh, finally picking up his drink. Rosalind moved down the bar, taking orders. He watched her, the skill she had. It looked effortless. Most everything Rosalind did looked effortless.

Niall counted the amount of times he heard Rosalind laugh. It was more than all the time he’s known her. Maybe, he thought, this was where she was meant to be.

By the time midnight rolled around, Niall felt himself begin to forgive her. He wasn’t angry as he watched her come out of the office, her purse on her shoulder. He thought maybe he was still in love with her.

“Do you want to talk?” Rosalind asked, nodding toward a booth in the back.

“Yeah,” Niall nodded.

Rosalind slid across from him, hands on the table. She focused her eyes on him. Niall let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, meeting her eyes.

“So how’s things in Brooklyn?” Rosalind asked after a moment.

“Alright,” Niall shrugged. “Sucks without you.”

“Winnipeg sucks with you,” Rosalind told him, voice soft.

“Did you mean it when you broke up with me?” Niall asked, eyes falling to the table.

“Yeah,” she murmured, fingers tapping against the table. “I think I did. In that moment.”

“I should’ve...” Niall trailed off, shaking his head. “I’m a fuckin’ moron. I should’ve just told you I loved you and-and everything would have been fine.”

“It wouldn’t have been fine,” Rosalind shook her head. “My anxiety got progressively worse. Me throwing up in the parking lot- you fuckin told me to pull my shit together. That was anxiety and it got a lot worse leading up to Mario’s funeral.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Niall asked, almost desperate.

“Having a mental illness doesn’t automatically forgive a person’s behaviors,” Rosalind told him, eyebrows furrowing. “And I wouldn’t want that even if you believe that. You never held me accountable. You let me do and say whatever the fuck I wanted.”

Niall didn’t respond, eyes glued to the table. Rosalind sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “I’m on medication. Anxiety shit. Mood stabilizers. I’m in therapy. I don’t smoke anymore. No weed or cigarettes. I hardly drink anymore and I work out every morning. I take my medicine regularly. I’m...” she trailed off. “Niall, look at me.”

Niall finally looked up at her, eyelashes fluttered. She could see the contempt on his face. “I’m doing so good, and I’ve tried so hard to be a better person. Can you see that? Can you at least just acknowledge it?”

“I can see it,” Niall nodded, letting out a sigh. “And it’s a relief that you’re okay. I’m really proud that you’re doing so well. I guess I’m still a bit hurt, though.”

“I know,” Rosalind nodded. “Because we talked about running away.”

“Yeah,” he murmured, shifting in his seat. “And if you’d told me you were moving to fuckin’ Canada, changing your name and becoming this completely new and better person I would’ve been right behind you.”

“I didn’t want you to feel pressured,” Rosalind told him, shaking her head. “I wanted you to come to it on your own. Realize how shitty brooklyn is, and how you can’t live without me.”

Niall chuckled, nodding, “I knew all of that before you ever thought about leaving. I knew Brooklyn was shitty and I knew I couldn’t live without you.”

“Except we both did,” Rosalind pointed out. “Iived without each other.”

“Barely,” Niall agreed, nodding. “I barely lived without you.”

“Well I knew you were coming to find me,” Rosalind smiled, head tilting to the side. “So I was okay just waiting for you to come around.”

“It must be nice to be able to see the future so clearly,” Niall teased, feeling himself begin to lighten up.

Rosalind’s smile spread even wider and Niall was fine. His own smile spread across his face and Rosalind laughed, resting her chin on her hand. “So how long do you plan on staying?”

“I don’t know,” Niall shrugged.

“Well,” Rosalind murmured. “I have a two bedroom house. It’s kind of small but it has a nice kitchen. I have to be honest, though. It is quite lonely.”

“Lonely?” Niall echoed, eyes meeting hers. “That’s really a shame. Anything I can do to change that?”

“Maybe,” Rosalind nodded. “Do you know anyone new to Winnipeg that might be looking for a place?”

“I might,” he nodded, eyes shining. “Your ideal roommate?”

“He has to be handsome,” Rosalind told him, smiling so wide Niall was almost blinded. “Ruggedly, so.”

“Okay,” Niall drawled out. “I might know a guy.”

“And he’s got to be okay with sleeping in because since I’ve gotten out, the only thing that I ever want to do is sleep in,” she added.

“I think he’s probably more than okay with that,” Niall agreed. “Any other specific details he should know of?”��

“In my house we only shower together because it’s better for the environment and keeps the water bill low,” she added.

Niall finally laughed, nodding, “that just might seal the deal.”

“So your guy’s interested?” Rosalind asked, feigning surprise.

“Of fucking course,” Niall laughed, pulling at his hair. “He’d be an idiot not to be.”

“So you wanna see the place then?” Rosalind asked, shouldering her purse.

“More than anything,” Niall murmured, standing up.

Rosalind stood up too, unable to help herself as she wrapped her arms around him. Niall hugged her tight, one arm around her waist, the other hand on her head. Rosalind let out a deep breath, eyes fluttering shut.

This was all Niall’s ever wanted.

“You have to call me Isabella,” Rosalind told him as she pulled away.

“I’m not calling you Isabella,” Niall shook his head.

“You have to,” she laughed as they began to walk out of the bar.

“I’ll call you Roz,” he murmured. “Because it’s your fucking name and the only fucking name that looks right on you.”

Niall walked Rosalind to her car, resisting the urge to kiss her. Rosalind looked at him with a smile on her face that he’d never seen before but he knew he’d never get sick of it. Niall wanted to draw it out, he decided.

Rosalind gave Niall the address, eyes lingering on his. She was giving him the look she always gave him when she wanted to make a move. It was a daring look.

“I’ll see you soon, then,” Niall told her, stepping back.

Rosalind chuckled, nodded, “so now you’re playing hard to get?”

“The tables have turned,” Niall laughed, shrugging.

Niall took his time getting his things from his room. He checked out, eyes glancing to the clock every couple of seconds. His mind was racing, thinking about everything. Would this be his life? Was this everything that he wanted?

When Rosalind opened the front door, robe clad with wet hair falling in her eyes and that smile on her face, Niall decided that this was everything to him.

“I got pizza,” she told him, leaving the door open for him to pizza. “And a couple beers if you want one.”

“Sounds great,” Niall murmured, closing the door behind him.

“So this is the kitchen,” Rosalind said, gesturing to the room around her. “Kind of small but we make it work. And then living rooms in there.”

Niall followed her into the living room, looking around. It reminded him of the place she had in Brooklyn. There wasn’t much to it, but somehow it all made sense.

“And then a bathroom over there,” she pointed to a door. “Upstairs we have both of the bedrooms and another bathroom.”

Rosalind brought him upstairs, showing him the spare room which had a few stray boxes and things in it. And then the bathroom, which had a bathtub and a shower, which obviously Rosalind loved.

And then she flicked the bedroom light on, showing him the bedroom. “You can put your bag anywhere,” she told him, walking in. “But yeah, the bedroom.”

Niall set his bag down on the floor beside the bed, nodding, “I like it.”

“So you’ll stay, then?” Rosalind asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“I might need convinced,” Niall told her. “After all, you did leave without even telling me.”

“That’s fair,” Rosalind chuckled, nodding. “How much convincing do you need? Like a pizza and a beer convincing or is this one of your plans to get a blowjob out of me?”

Niall laughed, walking past her, “all of the above, I think.”

They took to the couch, a beer for Niall and a glass of wine for Rosalind. They devoured the pizza, leaving only a few pieces of crust in the box.

Rosalind told Niall about the bar, how she’d gotten her job. She confessed that she didn’t need it. Not even a little. All she’d done for the last how many years was save her money in obscure places.

Niall agreed, a job was probably unnecessary. He too had more than enough for them to be well off together. But Rosalind convinced him otherwise.

Rosalind reached forward, setting her now empty glass of wine on the coffee table. “We should travel,” she told him, shifting back on the couch, eyes on him.

“Yeah,” Niall agreed, glancing over at her.

“Do you want kids?” Rosalind asked him, propping her feet on the table.

Niall chuckled, “yeah. You?”

“Yeah,” she nodded. “I think so.”

“Roz,” he said, chuckling. “I don’t know how to tell you this but, we have to get married.”

“Married?” Rosalind laughed, eyebrows raising. “You haven’t even moved in and you want to get married.”

“Think about it,” Niall explained, looking over at her. “We’ve been doin this shit for what two years? We successfully dodged an FBI investigation. You convinced me to run away with you and I’m pretty sure that we just agreed to have kids together. We’ve got to get married.”

“It’s crazy how you turned all of that into a marriage scheme,” Rosalind murmured, shaking her head. “Sneaky, I’d say.”

“Well,” Niall shrugged.

“I’m afraid we can’t get married, though,” Rosalind told him. “I don’t want to give up my last name and the last thing that I want is a fuckin’ Irish last name.”

“Fuck off,” Niall laughed, shaking his head. “You’re so full of shit.”

“I’m serious,” she laughed.

Niall reached for her, pulling her closer by her wrist, “come here,” he muttered.

Rosalind laughed, letting him pull her toward him. She wound up on his lap, straddling him. Niall shook his head, pushing the hair off of her shoulder, “you’re going to take my last name.”

“I might need some convincing,” Rosalind told him, shrugging.

Niall couldn’t help his smile as his hands drifted to her waist. He thought about laying her out on the couch to convince her properly. Or taking her to bed to convince her. All Niall wanted to do was look at her, and watch her, and admire the person she’d become.

Rosalind kissed him first, diving down to catch his lips in a painfully slow kiss. Her hands found his hair, and suddenly Niall lost all the thoughts in his head.

His hands on her hips, wanting to roam, but feeling like he should take it at her pace. He did, letting her untie her robe, letting it slip from her shoulders, her eyes glued on his eyes.

Niall had spent so long thinking she was a new person, that he’d forgotten that she was exactly the same, just better. Better for him, she’d tell him, lips ghosting over his. Niall knew that she was better for herself, so she could be better for him.

As Niall kissed at her neck, Rosalind held onto his shoulders to save from falling over. Her eyes slipped shut and she hummed, “fine. I’ll take your last name. As long as you stay with me forever.”

“That means you love me?” Niall asked, pulling away to get a look at her face.

Rosalind smiled, eyes fluttering open. “Of course I love you.”

Note: There is actually one more chapter left, an epilogue!

taglist: @swasanfrancisco @halluciniall @coconutdawn @exoticniall @missy14us

#Niall Horan #Niall Horan fanfiction #one direction fanfiction #1d ff #niall horan fanfic #niall horan fic #Niall au

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azozzoni · 5 years ago

Note

Hey! Hope u have the best time on your trip! As Valentines’ day is coming could u do something for vds? Thank u 🥰

Happy V-Day! Get yourself some chocolate!

“What are you and Lucas doing tomorrow?”

Jens looked up at Robbe’s question, away from the screen where Moyo was kicking Aaron’s ass at Mario Kart. He didn’t even blink any more at the way Robbe was so firmly cuddled on Sander’s lap. They seemed to come in a pair these days no matter what they were doing.

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Robbe frowned at his answer, and Jens didn’t know why. Was he supposed to know what he was doing with Lucas every minute of every day?

“Is he coming here? Are you going over there?” Robbe asked, a wrinkle in his forehead as though worried somehow.

“I don’t know,” Jens said again. He hadn’t talked to Lucas about their weekend plans. They didn’t see each other every weekend anyway, given the time and the cost and everything else they had to do. He didn’t know why Robbe seemed to care so much all of a sudden about what Jens and Lucas were doing tomorrow.

“You’re not doing anything for Valentine’s Day?” Aaron piped up as he lost the race and Moyo cheered, punching him in the arm. “God, I wish Amber would let me get away with that.”

Valentine’s Day. Jens’ eyes widened as he realized. Fuck.

Robbe seemed to watch the realization hit him, shaking his head softly. “You forgot.”

It wasn’t that Jens had forgotten. He just never thought about it. He’d never been dating anyone on Valentine’s Day before, and to tell the truth, Jens was pretty bad at being romantic. He wouldn’t even know where to start.

“Well, what are you guys doing?” he asked, nodding at Robbe and Sander. Robbe twisted his head to look back at Sander, who merely smirked.

“It’s a surprise,” he said, brushing Robbe’s hair from his forehead.

“Not another mural of my face?”

Sander shook his head, pressing a kiss to Robbe’s temple. “I’m not saying anything.”

Rolling his eyes fondly, Robbe glanced back at Jens. “You have to do something for Lucas.”

Jens didn’t reply for a minute, frowning at the couch. Do what exactly? The last time he’d even gotten close to romance, he’d accidentally invited Robbe and Moyo on a weekend he was supposed to be spending with Jana. He didn’t have the best track record when it came to these things.

“What’s this?” Moyo asked from the floor, setting up another match. “The infamous Jens, flirt extraordinaire, doesn’t know how to sweep a guy off his feet?”

“Fuck off,” Jens said, but Moyo did have a point. He hadn’t exactly done much sweeping with Lucas so much as falling, falling completely for the boy with bright blue eyes, a gorgeous smile, moles Jens liked to kiss before saying goodbye every time.

“Flowers are always a good start,” Sander said from behind Robbe.

“I’m taking Amber to a rooftop restaurant that has a view of the river,” Aaron said, surprising everyone as they looked to him. “And I got her a necklace.”

“Did you come up with that by yourself?” Moyo asked, almost sounding impressed, and Aaron shrugged.

“Amber pretty much told me what she wanted.”

Jens rolled his eyes, looking away from Aaron. This wasn’t helpful to him at all. What was he supposed to do on such short notice? Valentine’s Day was tomorrow and he hadn’t even invited Lucas to come over.

Sander seemed to sense his concern, tilting his head to the side. “All you have to do is think of what he would like, then add a little flair.”

“A little,” Robbe cautioned. “Not a lot.”

“Speaking from experience?” Jens asked as Robbe’s cheeks went red and Sander hugged him around the middle.

“He just means, try not to go overboard or you might scare him.”

It was all completely useless advice, but Jens had to do something, so he pulled out his phone and texted Lucas. Getting him to Antwerp was the first step. Then he’d worry about the rest.

Jens was actually nervous as he stood outside the bus station, scrolling through his phone mindlessly, nearly dropping the flowers in his hand as he tried to scratch his nose. He needed to get himself together before Lucas got there. He didn’t know why this felt so different than all the other times Lucas had come to Antwerp, but it did. Like he had something to prove.

“Hey!”

Jens turned at Lucas’ voice, meeting his big smile, and exhaling as Lucas threw his arms around his shoulders, hugging him easily.

“Flowers?” Lucas asked when he stepped back, eyebrows rising in surprise as Jens held them up.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Lucas’ grin widened as he took the flowers, brushing his fingers over the white petals. They weren’t anything fancy, but the simplicity had made Jens think of Lucas.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Lucas echoed, reaching for Jens’ jacket, tugging him in closer so he could kiss him. It wasn’t a lingering kiss, though Lucas did hover centimeters away when he pulled back. “So are we going to your place?”

Shaking his head, Jens kissed Lucas again, soaking in the way Lucas kissed back, closed his eyes, smiled slightly against his lips. “We’re going to do something a little different today.”

“Oh?” Lucas’ eyebrows went up, but Jens didn’t say anymore, taking his hand instead. Jens could be romantic, and he was going to prove it.

“I’m not sure I can pronounce half the things on this menu,” Lucas said, frowning slightly at the paper in front of him. Candlelight flickered over his face, and Jens glanced up. He wasn’t sure he knew what half the things on the menu were either, but no one could deny it was the perfect restaurant.

Dim lighting cast a romantic glow over all the tables in the room, candles flickering on each table, wine glasses clinking, soft music playing from somewhere. The tables were covered with deep red cloths, and there were one too many forks set to the side of the plate.

“So what do you think?” Jens asked as Lucas glanced around the room, at the many couples eating dinner, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes.

“It’s fancy,” Lucas said after a minute, straightening his forks.

It was that. Jens had googled ‘most romantic restaurants in Antwerp’ and aside from the rooftop restaurant he already knew Aaron was taking Amber to, this had come up next. He was sure someone was going to propose at any minute.

“Do you like it?” Jens asked when Lucas didn’t elaborate.

Lucas caught his gaze, pausing a second before he smiled. “Of course. It’s really nice.”

Jens didn’t know why Lucas’ answer didn’t reassure him, but he didn’t press it. It was exactly the kind of restaurant he pictured when he thought of what romance was supposed to be. It wasn’t as if he’d ever taken anyone else to a place like this before. With Jana and Britt, they’d mostly just spent time sneaking around their houses.

Fishing in his jacket pocket, his fingers wrapped around a box he’d stashed there earlier. He was going to wait until after dinner, once Lucas was fed and happy and smiling at Jens in that way that made Jens think he should have realized he liked guys way sooner, but with the atmosphere a little too quiet, a little too subdued, he figured why wait.

Taking a breath, he pulled the box from his pocket. He shouldn’t have been nervous, but he was. It was just a gift. People gave gifts on Valentine’s Day. That was the whole point of the holiday, wasn’t it?

“Here,” he said, sliding the box across the table as Lucas’ eyes widened in surprise.

“A present?”

“It is Valentine’s Day.” Jens shrugged, and Lucas seemed to hesitate.

“I didn’t get you anything,” he admitted after a minute.

“I don’t care,” Jens said easily, nudging the box closer. “Open it.”

“Okay,” Lucas said, hesitant, picking up the box and sliding off the ribbon. Jens watched carefully as he opened it, nervous, anxious. Lucas pulled off the top to reveal the shiny watch, the glass surface catching the light as Lucas tilted the box. “A watch.”

“The guy at the store said it’s their most popular for guys,” Jens said as Lucas stared at the watch. Lucas wasn’t really reacting, though, and it made Jens pause. He’d kind of expected some kind of reaction. “Luc?”

“Wow,” Lucas breathed finally, sliding the watch from the box. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“It’s Valentine’s Day,” Jens said, and Lucas nodded slowly.

“Yeah,” he agreed, but it wasn’t an enthusiastic sort of ‘yeah.’ At least not in the way Jens might have expected.

It wasn’t exactly jewelry, but aside from a silver ring Lucas sometimes wore, he’d never seen him wear any jewelry. A watch had seemed like the better choice.

He had expected a bit more than Lucas gazing down at the watch, biting his cheek as though thinking something he wasn’t saying out loud. Maybe he should have gone with the leather cuff, he thought as Lucas turned the watch over, metal links sliding through his fingers. Jens wasn’t great at picking out gifts either--maybe he should have asked Sander for advice. He bet Sander had gotten Robbe something perfect.

“You hate it, don’t you?” Jens asked finally, and Lucas seemed to snap out of his thoughts, shaking his head quickly.

“No,” he said, setting the watch gently back in the box. “I like it.” He glanced up at Jens across the table, reaching for his hand and squeezing. “Thank you.”

Jens still wasn’t reassured, but the server arrived at that moment to take their order and he was forced to stop thinking about it for the moment.

Jens caught Lucas glancing at the watch on his wrist as they walked along the river, lights sparkling off the water, other couples strolling the opposite direction. Lucas’ other hand was twined in Jens’, warm and soft, and Jens couldn’t help sighing as they came to a stop on the docks.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as Lucas gazed out at the water.

At his question, Lucas glanced at him, brow furrowed. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“You’ve been weirdly quiet since dinner,” Jens said, and normally, he wouldn’t have asked, would just have assumed it was something at home or a weird day, but he had a sinking suspicion that it had to do with him. He had a feeling it had to do with tonight and how Lucas hadn’t seemed completely satisfied. “Was it the restaurant?”

“No,” Lucas said simply, shaking his head, but Jens caught the way he sighed afterward.

Jens was confused. He’d done everything he was supposed to do--took Lucas to a nice restaurant, brought him flowers, gave him a gift. Wasn’t that what he was supposed to do? Wasn’t that what people wanted for Valentine’s? But Lucas wasn’t happy. He could tell just by looking at him that something was wrong.

“The watch?”

“Jens,” Lucas said, a small smile at his lips as though Jens had nothing to worry about, but clearly he did.

“Is it me?”

He didn’t want to ask, but he had to. He heard about couples breaking up on Valentine’s Day all the time. He just hadn’t thought he and Lucas would be one of them. Everything had been going so well the last couple of months. What had he done so wrong?

“Fuck, no,” Lucas said firmly, taking Jens’ face in his hands. “Everything’s fine.”

“It doesn’t seem like it,” he said. Lucas sighed and Jens knew he was right. His stomach sank at the thought.

“Jens, you know I like you,” Lucas said, and Jens frowned. This didn’t sound good. Buttering him up before breaking his heart. He wasn’t sure how he would take it if Lucas was going to be the one to break up with him. Fuck, he hadn’t even thought about it before this moment, but now that he was, his heart was in his stomach, pulse racing against his throat as he frowned at Lucas in the yellow streetlights.

“Good,” he said instead. “‘Cause I like you too.”

“And you know why I like you?”

Jens paused. Was this a trap? “My handsome face and winning smile?”

Lucas smiled, but Jens didn’t feel better. It felt like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. How could he have screwed up one night so badly?

“I like how laid back you are,” Lucas said simply. “How calm and chill you always are, how nothing ruffles your feathers, how you don’t try too hard.”

“Okay,” Jens said, still confused, but it didn’t sound like Lucas was breaking up with him. A breeze off the water rustled Lucas’ hair as Lucas gazed up at him.

“Everything was just so… fancy tonight,” Lucas said finally, and Jens frowned. The way Lucas said it, it sounded like a bad thing.

“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do for Valentine’s Day?” That was what had been clearly communicated to him yesterday from the boys.

“I don’t know,” Lucas admitted with a shrug, looking as lost as Jens felt. “Maybe. But I’d rather just hang out with you. Watch a movie, eat pizza, make out on the couch.”

“We do that almost every time you come over,” Jens pointed out, and Lucas smiled slightly.

“I like doing that. I like being with you. When I’m with you, I feel like I don’t have to think about all the other shit in my life because everything is just chill with you.” He sighed, reaching for Jens’ neck, squeezing gently. “I appreciate all the effort you put into tonight, really, but it’s not you. It’s not us. I don’t want you doing things just because you think you’re supposed to.”

Letting out a breath, Jens almost laughed. He’d been worried for nothing. He should have known better than to worry that Lucas cared about Valentine’s Day. Robbe and Sander and Aaron had just gotten inside his head.

Lucas was right, he thought as they stood there. They didn’t need to do anything fancy or ridiculously romantic just because it was a holiday. They didn’t need to be anything other than themselves. Jens didn’t want to be anything but himself, even if it meant fucking up holidays.

“Fuck, I’m an idiot,” he said, and Lucas shook his head, stepping in closer.

“You’re sweet,” he said instead, kissing Jens softly.

Wrapping his arms around Lucas, Jens didn’t let him go for a long moment, kissing on the dock as couples strolled past, hand in hand, the wind chilly as it cut through their jackets.

“Don’t ever tell the guys that,” he said when Lucas pressed a kiss to his cheek. He felt Lucas’ smile against his skin.

“I won’t,” he promised, kissing him again.

“Want to go get some fries and catch a late movie?” Jens asked, breathing out slowly when he pulled away from Lucas, pressing their foreheads together.

Lucas smiled that beautiful smile of his, tilting his head to the side. “Can we sit in the back and make out the whole time?”

“Definitely,” Jens agreed, sliding his arm over Lucas’ shoulder as they turned. He was never taking advice from the guys about romance, he decided as they strolled down the bank of the river.

“I do like the watch, though,” Lucas said as they walked. “That was a good choice.”

Laughing, Jens pressed a kiss to Lucas’ hair, shaking his head to himself. Next holiday, he’d just ask Lucas what he wanted to do and whatever it was, they’d do it together.

#van der stoffels #skam nl #wtfock #my fic

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flamebearrel · 4 years ago

Note

Ness (smash) Steven (su) and Sonic (also smash) for your ask game!

Ness BrOTPs

Snake - Ness has built up a huge admiration for Snake over time - what he’s been through, how he powered through it all, his weapons and abilities and sense of humor and the like. He essentially feels like Snake is a second father figure, and is honestly pretty shy about it. But Snake is happy to spend time with him and makes sure he voices his approval more frequently than usual, cause Ness’s face lights up every time and he finds it so sweet

F!Wii Fit Trainer - As someone interested in athletics but not speedy enough to play competitively, Ness quickly latched onto WFT’s more relaxed fitness and yoga sessions as a way to get moving instead. Over time she effectively became his Cool Aunt that he’d come to with new discoveries and questions! One particular thing they often do together, as a very-confused-with-tech lady and a kid who still lives in the 90s, is try to figure out new tech and ignore anyone who tells them they’re doing it wrong yes I know cameras aren’t new they’re just messing around in the linked example

Toon Link and Lucas - The first pair of people his age that he really clicked with, since Young Link was a lot more solitary and the Ice Climbers just didn’t become part of the super-tight group they formed. These three can find pretty much anything to do together, and they often like to discuss their families. When it comes to competition, their teamwork excels - they’re somehow always in sync, especially with Ness always leading the team (until Villager joined the friend group in 4 and started competing for that role)

Luigi and Dedede - While they don’t usually go out of their way to hang out, the three of them just feel really connected with each other post-Subspace. Expect lots of knowing smiles, inside jokes and eye contact from across the room, to the extent that people know they’ve got secrets but no one ever gets a real hint as to what they are. They will also most certainly team up if they have the chance, but honestly that’s when they do most of their catching up rather than trying that hard to win anything

Steven BrOTPs

What makes this easier is that he forms some kind of relationship with pretty much every character in the show, so let’s talk about a few we don’t get to see him with much!

Jeff - It took a while before they could meet up, since at first Steven only heard about him from Connie and then her cram school started, but when all three finally did (around Change Your Mind time) it was a pleasant surprise to see how many interests they shared. Jeff immediately started looking up to Steven and took to learning about Gem stuff, even volunteering to help with the construction of Little Homeworld! Eventually they start hanging out themselves playing video games and such, and Steven even gives him a warp whistle shortly before the movie so they can meet up more

Nephrite - Steven wanted to spend as much time as he could with Nephrite once she was healed - it was his chance to finally really listen to his friend after so long and he could just feel the excitement radiating from her to be back. For a while she came with him to Homeworld out of wanting to see how it had changed. Hearing others’ stories and tales and being able to tell her own really struck a chord with her, so she started studying therapy - Nephrite was actually the one who helped Steven get into it! In addition, Steven is happy to introduce her to Earth tech, and on his road trip she somehow always manages to sneak up and stop him for a hangout

Blue Zircon - Upon making changes around Homeworld, one of the first things Steven wanted to do was show some appreciation for the more trustworthy faces around there. Immediately he voiced his approval for Blue Zircon, calling to mind her amazing deduction skills from the trial. BZ also feels the trial let her see Steven as someone on her level rather than far above her - there are plenty of occasions where she calls Steven to ask for leadership tips or discuss plans, rather than any other leading Gem

Peedee - Though he doesn’t realize it, once Steven starts managing Little Homeschool he subconsciously makes comments on his work woes as he goes about Beach City. Peedee’s the first to pick up on it, and honestly, he gets it - soon the conversations at the fry shop/tater truck are getting longer and longer before Steven has to go. He recognizes the deflecting and watering down of his problems Schtu-ball tends to do too, and asks cautious questions so both of them have a better outlet when they talk. The realization that they haven’t hung out enough hits hard leading up to Steven’s road trip, so that’s what they do - Steven helps him relax a little more and Peedee helps with the plans

Sonic BrOTPs

I wanna point out that I know enough about Sonic to get all the important characters’ personalities and general dynamics, I just don’t really know the lore :,D so hopefully these are okay ahaha they took a while to think about

Mega Man - Buddies since the comics, and that holds true even to now. When Rock first arrived at Smash, it was the hedgehog that showed him around and helped him settle in - and the actually kinda overwhelmed Rock clung to his arm for quite a while. They like to host friendly competition all the time or poke fun at each other’s slip-ups. Honestly, though, it’s refreshing for Sonic to have a robotic friend rather than an enemy for once; in turn, Rock appreciates having a stable friendship with a former enemy instead of some vague tension-filled team up

Orange and Blue Inklings - During the first Ultimate pool party, Sonic wasn’t the only one who hanging around away from the pool - he was able to click with Amber and Neil almost immediately. The Blue Blur’s found himself completely enamored by the culture of Inkopolis, and these two are happy to share with him their “fresh” fashion tips and lifestyles. And if they so wish, they can become one of the most chaotic trios in the whole Palace

Mario - As much as he tries to play off the aloofness sometimes, Sonic always inevitably draws to Mario in a crowd. His “old man” just makes him feel a lot safer since he always backs him up, whether it’s a tough battle or just messing around (not only will Mario find it hilarious every time Sonic pulls something, half the time he can and will join in). Mario keeps the hedgehog at the top of his list for whenever he’s up for some sports, and while usually Sonic’s too caught up in stuff to join in, he makes sure to mentally cheer for the plumber every time

Shulk - His kind, nerdy vibes remind Sonic of Tails, so he’s more than willing to just walk up and start chatting with the guy. Initially Shulk didn’t think too fondly of him since their priorities and tactics seemed to clash a lot, but when Sonic started telling stories of his friends (specifically Silver and the aforementioned Tails), it definitely grabbed his interest. The two start talking about their own experiences with the future, and their regrets, and it definitely becomes one of Sonic’s more introspective relationships

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willespurplehoodie · 5 years ago

Text

seven minutes

“Is there a light we could turn on?” Jens mutters into the darkness. “I can barely see my hand let alone you.”

“I don’t think so,” Lucas says softly. “I tried to find one before we got pushed in here but there doesn’t seem to be a switch anywhere.”

“Hold on, I’ll use the flashlight on my phone.”

Jens pulls his phone out of the pocket of his jeans and types in his password, finding the flashlight icon and pressing it. He grins and sets his phone down on the floor in front of him. In the light he can see Lucas grin and adjust his position on the closet floor. “Better?” Jens asks. Lucas nods and leans his head against the wall behind him. Jens crosses his legs and shoves his hands into the pocket of his hoodie.

He looks around the closet they’re in. It’s definitely a tight squeeze, Jens can feel the toes of his shoes touching Lucas’s, but it is not as small as he thought it would be.

Somehow their friends had roped everyone into playing party games. They were at a house party somewhere in Antwerp when Kes had suggested they play spin the bottle. Immediately everyone objected to it, the majority of their friend group being in relationships, Robbe and Sander, Aaron and Amber, Kes and Isa and even Moyo had a thing blossoming with Noor. With spin the bottle out of the question, Jayden suggested truth or dare which is how Jens found himself in this particular situation.

The questions started off like any other. Weirdly sexual mixed with immature dares until Robbe asked Jens truth or dare and he mistakenly said truth. “If you had to do seven minutes in heaven with anyone at the party, who would you pick?” Robbe had asked him with a smirk. The latter knew about Jens’s small, miniscule, crush on Lucas ever since he moved to Antwerp for university four months prior. Jens had glared at him. He thought about saying Jana but things were still relatively fresh from their breakup over the summer and he didn’t want to risk actually getting locked in a closet with her.

So he said Lucas. Lucas had perked up at the mention of his name and looked around the group confused. “He said he would pick you to do seven minutes in heaven with,” Robbe exclaimed, leaning into Sander who wrapped an arm around Robbe’s waist. Lucas stuck his tongue out at Jens and Jens flipped him off.

“It's okay Jens,” Lucas said teasingly. “I would rather pick you over Jayden.” Jayden let out a cry and shoved Lucas’s shoulder. Lucas grinned and shrugged before turning back towards the group.

“There’s a closet over in the back. You guys should go since you both chose each other.” Sander chuckled into Robbe’s shoulder and nodded in Jens’s direction.

“Seriously Sander!” Jens exclaimed. The blond laughed.

Suddenly the whole group was agreeing with Robbe and Sander and the next thing Jens knew was he was being dragged to the closet with his friends and shoved inside, stumbling over Lucas.

That is where Jens finds himself. In a closet. Alone. With the boy he kinda, sort of, definitely has a crush on. He wasn’t blind. As soon as Jens saw Lucas on the first day of university in their shared literature class, he felt butterflies. Because holy crap, any doubt he had ever had about his sexuality was suddenly gone and replaced with the image of ocean blue eyes staring back at him. His blond curls that fell over his forehead, his eyes, his freckles that scattered his cheekbones… Lucas was the epitome of the boy next door.

And it made Jens’s insides turn to mush.

He looks at Lucas across from him in the closet. Lucas nudges his foot against Jens’s and Jens kicks him back with a smile.

It really wasn’t Jens’s intentions to fall for Lucas, but he couldn’t help it. Being around Lucas was easy, uncomplicated and in all honesty being around him made Jens feel good. Lucas reminded him of Robbe because of everything that went on with his mom and dad and he was just really fucking easy to talk to. They could talk about their fears and dreams, they could make fun of each other, they could banter, they could easily talk to each other about who was the better Mario Kart player. Jens didn’t realise he could get so close to a person in such a short amount of time but here he was, with an undeniably huge crush on Lucas and it was killing him.

“So,” Lucas starts, snapping jens out of his thoughts. “From what I’ve gathered, this game is either supposed to relieve the sexual tension between two people or make it worse.”

Jens laughs and shakes his head. “Oh really?”

“Totally.”

“You know we technically don’t have to do anything right?”

“I know,” Lucas says and looks down at their feet. “Our friends think differently however.”

Jens sighs. “Yeah, apparently.”

Lucas purses his lips and looks up at Jens through his lashes. “Did you actually mean it when you said you would pick me for this stupid game?”

“Of course, Luc,” Jens says, making eye contact. I would pick you over anyone in a heartbeat, he thought to himself. “Did you really mean it when you said you would pick me over Jayden?”

Lucas giggles, the tips of his ears flushing. “Duh, I’m pretty sure you’re aware of this, but you’re pretty easy on the eyes. Plus if I picked Jayden I’m pretty sure I would end up killing him halfway through this instead of actually doing anything.”

Jens smiles and Lucas ducks his head down again. Jens clears his throat and looks around at the closet. There were a few shelves above them, leaving them barely enough room to stand. It looked like there were shoes, some old sports equipment and a variety of clothes that smelled like they needed to be cleaned three years ago. There was an old basketball in the corner collecting dust, but other than that, the closet was pretty bare bones. Well except for the gorgeous boy in front of him. That was very nice.

Jens looks back at Lucas and is met with the blue eyes he has grown to love. Lucas gives him a small smile before clearing his throat.

“Jens?”

“Yeah?”

“Hypothetically, would you want to do anything while we’re in here?”

“What do you mean?”

“If I kissed you, would you be okay with that?”

Jens felt his breath get caught in his throat. His eyes widen as he looks over at the other boy. Lucas blushes furiously and looks away before Jens can speak.

“Its okay if you don’t want to, I probably just misread the vibe in here and made it super awk-”

“You want to kiss me?” Jens cuts Lucas off. They meet each other's eyes again. Jens feels his heartbeat pick up. Lucas wants to kiss him? What does this mean? Does he like him back, does he feel the same electricity when they’re near each other, does he want something other than friendship?

“I mean, yeah.” Lucas plays with his hands.

“Really?”

“You know what? Forget I said anything I don’t want to make myself look stu-”

“Luc!” Jens cuts him off again and crawls over to him, sitting closer so that they are facing each other closely. “I want to kiss you too.” It was finally out in the open, now was not the time to turn back. Jens took another breath. “I’ve had the biggest crush on you these last few months but I didn’t want to say anything in case it would mess up our friendship.” He puts his hand on Lucas’s knee. “But seriously, I have wanted to kiss you for so fucking long.”

Lucas laughs, a pretty blush spreads over his cheekbones. He puts his hand over Jens’s. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, really.”

“I’ve had the biggest crush on you too, I mean, if that wasn;t clear by what I said about wanting to kiss you and stuff.” Lucas says softly. He intertwines their fingers together and lets out a breath of relief when their hands interlock. “I really like you. So much that it’s kinda scary.”

“I feel that,” Jens gets out. “I really don’t want to screw anything up with you.”

“I don’t want to screw anything up with you too.”

“Can I kiss you now?”

“Yes please.”

Jens nudges their foreheads together and rubs his nose against Lucas’s. He closes his eyes and lets himself breath for a second. Slowly, he turns his face and slots their lips together. Lucas lets out a sigh and kisses him back slowly, moving one hand to cup Jens’s jaw, angling their lips together.

Lucas’s lips are soft, plush against Jens’s and it feels so fucking right. Jens moves his lips against Lucas’s and feels the swarm of butterflies in his stomach return. This time, he doesn’t feel nervous. He just feels their lips moving against each other, and he smiles into the kiss. He can feel Lucas smile back and takes the opportunity to push his lips open. Lucas makes a soft noise and Jens runs his tongue over Lucas’s bottom lip. He feels their tongues slide together and deepens the kiss further.

It’s warm and wet and all kinds of good that Jens can feel his toes curling at the sensations. He pushes into the kiss harder, making his desperation and feelings known. Lucas meets him in the middle. Jens moves his hand to Lucas’s waist and tries to pull him closer, which is proven difficult since they’re sitting cross legged infront of each other in the fucking closet. Lucas pulls away first and grins. He starts to move from his position and nudges Jens so that he’s pressed against the wall behind him. Jens makes a confused noise.

“Luc?” He questions but his voice gets caught in his throat when Lucas moves so that he is practically in Jens’s lap, legs straddling him on either side. Lucas cups his neck and smashes their lips together again. Jens automatically moves his hands to Lucas’s waist and tugs him closer.

This kiss is more urgent than their first one. It’s all kinds of intense and a flurry of teeth and tongues as the two try and pour their emotions into it. Jens lets out a groan as Lucas’s tongue flicks around in his mouth and he is suddenly so grateful that they’re sitting because he thinks his legs would give out if they were standing. He arms clammer up Lucas’s back in an attempt to bring him closer, closer, closer.

Lucas pulls away again and turns Jens’s face to look at him. Their lips are red and swollen. Jens looks far away, as if kissing Lucas pulled his world out from under his feet. Licas takes the opportunity to lean down and place a sloppy, open mouthed kiss behind Jens’s ear. He feels the boy beneath him gasp at the sensation and lightly grazes his teeth against the skin before nipping gently and soothing the mark with a swipe of his tongue.

“Luc.”

Jens’s eyes are closed and he sounds so gone for this boy that Lucas learns back into his neck and continues his trail of sloppy kisses, occasionally biting to leave small marks as if to say, you’re mine. He moves from behind his ear, to the side of his neck, grazing down the juncture between his neck and shoulder, to across his collarbone, pulling down his hoodie. Jens’s hands push and pull and his waist and back trying to pull Lucas impossibly closer. He feels drunk on the sensation of Lucas’s lips against his burning skin. He feels electric, on fire, tingling in all the right ways until he mistakenly rolls his hips up to meet Lucas’s.

Lucas moans and drops his head against Jen’s shoulder, pressing down into the movement. He feels Jens stiffen beneath him and moves to look at him.

“Sorry I just - you feel good and - I - I” Jens stammers.

Lucas shushes him by meeting his lips in a bruising kiss. “Don’t stop,” he gasps into their mouths. Lucas presses down again and rolls their hips together electing a moan out of both of them. Jens leans down and presses open mouthed kisses along Lucas’s collarbone and Lucas hesitantly begins making small thrusting movements with his hips. Jens rolls his hips up to meet Lucas’s thrusts and he gasps because it feels so impossibly good. They officially crossed the line between friends and maybe more than friends, Jens thinks to himself as he and Lucas move together, building a rhythm and breathing heavily into each other's mouths.

Their movements speed up and Jens can feel heat pooling in his stomach. He desperately grabs at Lucas and kisses him and kisses him, feeling himself get hotter with each touch. Lucas begins moving his hips in earnest, making small little gasping noises that sounds like fucking music to Jens’s ears -

A knock on the closet door causes them to abruptly halt.

“You guys okay? You’ve been in there for like twenty minutes…” Robbe’s voice floats through the door. Lucas huffs out a laugh and his head flops onto Jens’s shoulder, his shoulders shaking. Jens rolls his eyes and lets out a giggle as his hand moves to gently stroke the smaller boy’s back.

“We’re good!” Jens calls out. Lucas muffles laughs into his shoulder.

“Are you guys planning on coming out of there anytime soon?” Robbe continues, “because we were gonna get some more drinks and stuff.”

“Yeah we’ll be out in a sec!” Jens can hear Robbe yelling back towards the group, the music thumping behind the closet door. Jens and Lucas look at each other before bursting out into laughter at their current position.

Jens moves his hands to cup Lucas’s face and bring their lips together softly. They spend a minute lazily making out until they hear the unmistakable noise of a bottle breaking on the floor outside. “We should probably go back out there,” Lucas smirks.

“Yeah,” Jens agrees. “Are we okay?” He asks quietly. “Because I don’t want this to be a one time thing.”

“Neither do I.” Lucas murmurs. His presses a soft, barely there kiss against Jens’s mouth and smiles. Jens’s heart fills with warmth as he pulls away and hugs Lucas, his Lucas, close to his chest.

“Okay, good.”

#wtfock fic #wtfock #vds fic #vds

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edgy-ella · 5 years ago

Text

Super Smash Bros critical hit quotes

To contribute to the recent efforts to turn Smash Bros into Fire Emblem with Nintendo All Stars, I thought it would be cool/funny to add critical hit quotes to Smash Bros characters. Maybe they could say these whenever they used their final smashes (some of them already do lmao). Or, if we ever do get a tactics RPG with Nintendo characters which would be THE DREAM, Nintendo could use these. Some of these were really easy, others were really hard. I bet you can guess which ones.

Also, for characters who communicate with singular noises/grunts, I’ve added a translation of what they’re actually saying.

Mario:

“Lets-a go!”

“Mario time!”

“Mama Mia!”

“Wahoo!”

Donkey Kong:

“Banana slamma!”

“DK! Donkey Kong!”

“You’re an absolute zero!”

“Here I come!”

Link:

“My courage will prevail!”

“This is just between you and me.”

“…Now!”

“I’m dangerous, you know.”

Samus:

“For true peace!”

“You’ve done well.”

“Time to pay up!”

“Mission complete.”

Dark Samus:

“I will corrupt you.”

“The thrill of battle.”

“Touch me. I dare you.”

“Dead on arrival!”

Yoshi:

“Yoshi!” (Peace!)

“Hm hm, hup!” (I’m finished with you!)

“Yoshi yo?” (Fried or scrambled?)

“Yo yo yo!” (Don’t be such a baby!)

Kirby:

“Haiii!” (Hello!)

“Poyo poyo!” (Thanks for playing with me!)

“Uwaaah!” (Hey, that hurt!)

“Hiyaaa!”

Fox:

“Here I come!”

“Better luck next time.”

“It’s go time!”

“Mission complete.”

Pikachu:

“Pika pika!” (Bye bye!)

“Piii, pikachu?” (Oh, you want some more?)

“Chu, pika pi!” (I’m electrifying!)

“Pika pi pi!” (Sparks are flying!)

Luigi:

“Let’s-a go…”

“Go, green!”

“Bang, bang!”

“ACHOOO!”

Captain Falcon:

“Come on!”

“Show me your moves!”

“I’m number one!”

“Guess I’ll have to show off!”

Ness:

“Say fuzzy pickles!”

“Batter up!”

“You stink!”

“Does it hurt yet?”

Jigglypuff:

“Puff puff…” (I’m getting sleepy…)

“Jigglypuff jiggly jiggly!” (Time for a power ballad!)

“Jiggly, jigglypuff puff?” (Would you like an encore?)

“Jigglypuff puff jiggly!” (Sing with me now!)

Peach:

“Sweet!”

“This is fun!”

“Don’t hit me!”

“Want some cake?”

Daisy:

“Sweet!”

“I got it!”

“I’m the best!”

“Hi, I’m Daisy!”

Bowser:

“Bowser time!”

“I’m oughta rip your stuffing out!”

“Even scarier up close, huh?”

“Bwahahaha!”

Ice Climbers:

“Knock ‘em out!”

“Double trouble!”

“You’re wobbling!”

“Catch and release!”

Sheik:

“Time is cruel.”

“For my people!”

“Silence.”

“We will meet again.”

Zelda:

“Victory is a step away!”

“For my people!”

“I will not yield!”

“It would be wise to stand down.”

Dr. Mario:

“You are terminally ill.”

“The doctor will see you now.”

“I diagnose you with defeat!”

“Clear!”

Pichu:

“Pichu pi pi…” (This is exhausting…)

“Pichu pichu!” (My time to shine!)

“Chu, pichu pi!” (I’m electrifying!)

“Pi pichu chu!” (You’re such a baby!)

Falco:

“Had enough yet?”

“Gotta jet!”

“Quit moving around!”

“I’ll take you down with one shot!”

Marth:

“Eyes on me!”

“This is it!”

“Forgive me!”

“Shine, Falchion!”

Lucina:

“Time to change fate!”

“You will not stop me!”

“Hope will never die!”

“Our bonds give me strength!”

Young Link:

“My courage will prevail!”

“No hard feelings.”

“I’ll show you a terrible fate!”

“Hey, you! Listen up!”

Ganondorf:

“Pathetic little fool!”

“Your place is beneath me!”

“I am your demise!”

“Behold my power!”

Mewtwo:

“Do not defy me.”

“Pathetic.”

“You’re a fool.”

“Your thoughts betray you.”

Roy:

“I won’t lose!”

“By my blade!”

“For those I must protect!”

“My flame burns bright!”

Chrom:

“Anything can change!”

“Now I’m mad!”

“I will not fail!”

“Our bonds give me strength!”

Mr. Game & Watch:

“RING!” (NINE!)

“Beep beep bop beep.” (I am beyond your comprehension)

“Breep BOP!” (Now DIE!)

“Boop boop beep bop.” (The time has come!)

Meta Knight:

“Know my power!”

“Behold!”

“Come meet your doom!”

“You will not escape!”

Pit:

“You’re finished!”

“Bye now!”

“It’s game over for you!”

“Say your prayers!”

Dark Pit:

“Goodbye!”

“It’s time!”

“Game over.”

“Nothing personal.”

Zero Suit Samus:

“Be still.”

“You’re mine.”

“I object!”

“Stunning, isn’t it?”

Wario:

“I’m-a gonna win!”

“Stinker!”

“You smell that?”

“WAHAHAHA!”

Snake:

“It’s showtime.”

“War has changed.”

“I won’t shed tears for you.”

“Be quiet.”

Ike:

“Prepare yourself.”

“No holding back!”

“Amateur.”

“Out of my way!”

Pokémon Trainer:

“It’s super effective!”

“A critical hit!”

“Go get ‘em!”

“We’re a top percentage team!”

Diddy Kong:

“You’re outta here!”

“I’m one tough Kong!”

“Here’s my chance!”

“Hoo hah!”

Lucas:

“Don’t back down now…”

“I’m sorry!”

“You must be tired.”

“I can endure this!”

Sonic:

“Now I’ll show you!”

“I’ll always keep on running!”

“Do you know who I am?”

“You’re too slow!”

King Dedede:

“You ready to get clobbered?”

“I’ll kick you to the curb!”

“Bow before my majesty!”

“I am D-D-Devious!”

Olimar:

“You were a fine research specimen.”

“Courage, Olimar!”

“I must survive!”

“Carry, fight, multiply!”

Lucario:

“The aura is with me!”

“I can smell your fear!”

“You can’t hide from me!”

“That was your last mistake.”

R.O.B.:

“Now terminating.”

“Initiating critical attack.”

“ERROR: Life not found.”

“I am Robotic Obliterating Buddy.”

Toon Link:

“My courage will prevail!”

“You want a piece of me?”

“Let’s get dangerous!”

“Do you hear the wind blowing?”

Wolf:

“What’s the matter, scared?”

“Playtime’s over.”

“You’re good, but I’m better.”

“Can’t let you do that!”

Villager:

“Now, scram!”

“Time to get buried!”

“This is gonna hurt!”

“Who’s the mighty one now?”

Mega Man:

“Leave it to me!”

“I’ll make you pay!”

“This is for the greater good!”

“You must be stopped!”

Wii Fit Trainer:

“Feel the burn!”

“Let’s get fired up!”

“You’re off balance!”

“No pain, no gain!”

Rosalina:

“I’ll put you to sleep.”

“Children, avert your eyes!”

“Let us begin!”

“Away with you!”

Little Mac:

“Don’t underestimate me!”

“I’m gonna punch you out!”

“This one’s for the Bronx!”

“Dance like a fly, bite like a mosquito!”

Greninja:

“Gre nin.” (Silent takedown.)

“Ja, Greninja!” (Now, you must die!)

“Gre, ninja gre…” (Just as the flow of the ocean…)

“Gre JAJAJAJA!” (Hiyayayaya!)

Palutena:

“You shall be purified.”

“Time for some divine intervention!”

“I won’t hold back!”

“Say your prayers!”

Pac-Man:

“Get ready!”

“Let’s put a smile on that face!”

“Do you have a fevor?”

“Wakka wakka wakka wakka.”

Robin:

“Time to tip the scales!”

“Checkmate!”

“I have a plan!”

“Our bonds give me strength!”

Shulk:

“This is the Monado’s power!”

“I can change the future!”

“Looks like I don’t have a choice!”

“I’m really feeling it!”

Bowser Jr.:

“I won’t quit!”

“Are you watching, Dad?”

“You need some roughing up!”

“Hope you’re ready!”

Duck Hunt:

“Heheheheh~”

“Grrr…”

“AWOOOO!”

“Ruff, ruff!” (I’ll bite your ankles off!)

Ryu:

“I will finish this.”

“Now’s my chance!”

“Gotcha!”

“I’m not finished yet!”

Ken:

“You’re going down!”

“Get serious!”

“Gotcha!”

“Open your eyes!”

Cloud:

“No hard feelings.”

“Your luck’s run out.”

“I’m breaking my limits!”

“Not interested.”

Corrin:

“This ends here!”

“I make my own fate!”

“I won’t surrender!”

“Open the way, please!”

Bayonetta:

“Let’s dance, boys!”

“New ‘do, dead you!”

“You’ve been naughty!”

“Flock off!”

Inkling:

“Woomy!” (Booyah!)

“Ngyes!” (Aww yeah!)

“Wo squalimey!” (Come on, this way!)

“Say fwess!” (Stay fresh!)

Ridley:

“You’re about to die!”

“I make a big impression!”

“Start screaming.”

“You’ll make for a good snack.”

Simon:

“My path is clear!”

“On my honor as a Belmont!”

“I vanquish the darkness!”

“I offer only defeat.”

Richter:

“You don’t belong in this world!”

“Begone, monster!”

“I vanquish the darkness!”

“Farewell.”

King K. Rool:

“I’ve had enough of this!”

“Nothing can stop me!”

“You’re all doomed!”

“Any last requests?”

Isabelle:

“My apologies!”

“Now you’ve done it!”

“I’m gonna go Isaballistic on you!”

“Will that be all?”

Incineroar:

“Grahaha!”

“Cineroar!” (I’m gonna put on a show!)

“Incin!” (Oh, yeah!)

“Incineroar, cin?” (You want an autograph?)

Piranha Plant:

“Plant gang!”

“You see these pearly whites?”

“For Lord Bowser!”

“I’m about to head out.”

Joker:

“The show’s over.”

“You never saw it coming!”

“I’m going to ravage you!”

“Time to steal your heart!”

Hero:

“But I must!”

“Have you wet your knickers?”

“My turn!”

“Time to get critical!”

“HOES MAD”

Banjo and Kazooie:

Banjo: “I’m sorry!”

Banjo: “Out of the way, please!”

Kazooie: “You can shove it!”

Kazooie: “Get bent, nerd!”

Both: “We’re raring to go!”

Terry:

“Are you okay?”

“Hey, c’mon!”

“Bingo!”

“Take it easy!”

Byleth:

“Here is something to believe in!”

“Allow me to demonstrate!”

“Let this be a lesson!”

“No hesitation!”

Bonus:

Sans:

“You’re gonna have a bad time.”

“Get dunked on!”

“This’ll hurt a skele-ton!”

“Sorry about this, pal…”

Cuphead:

“You’re up!”

“Don’t mess with me!”

“Ready for a walloping?”

“Oh, it’s on!”

63 notes · View notes

xhaotixaesthetica · 5 years ago

Text

The Shooting Stars of N.City (Soulmate Au! Jaemin Fluff)

Starlink Intergalactic Navigator

Author’s Note: YAY, a request for one of my ult groups! And one of my biases! It’s a win for me, ladies and gays! I accidentally deleted the original request, so I can’t post an answer to it. (It’s really lucky I screenshotted it before that happened.) Also, keep in mind that I’ve never been to a concert before, so this might not be entirely accurate, but I tried to just use my common sense. This imagine honestly has just as much Jisung X Felix as Reader X Jaemin, I’m sorry I got carried away. Hope you enjoy!

Trigger warning: none

Genre: fluff and slight angst

Word-count: 4.2K+

You are in: The Luck of Fate Star System

“And what’s the name for that?” the barista asked, the bored lilt to his monotoned voice offset by the heady scent of vanilla and coffee in the air.

“Y/N.” you said softly.

The boy didn’t bother to respond, not even nodding as he tapped your name into the register and told you your total.

“Eight dollars and twenty-one cents.” he drawled.

If it wasn’t so early, you would have groaned about the absurd prices — were you ever going to buy that coffee maker? — but as it was still so early, and you were incredibly sluggish, you only nodded, pulling the money out and handing it toward him.

The boy’s brow furrowed at the ink on your arm, suddenly looking a bit more awake as he craned his neck to see it better, like all nosy people did.

You will meet at: N.City.

The boy startled when you yanked your sleeve down over the words, glaring fiercely as he took the money, stammering and dropping change all over the corner.

You had seen the words on your arm for the longest, and you were beyond sick of being ogled at like a zoo attraction for a soulmate link that you had come to hate anyway.

As if you hadn’t looked at every website, in every almanac and encyclopedia, on every map and globe, trying in vain to find N.City.

Only, no matter how hard you looked it up, you couldn’t find the place on your arm.

N.City was not a real place.

But that didn’t matter, you reminded yourself.

Because this, right now, was a real place. The current moment is what you should be focusing on. Not some distant person that might not even exist in the first place.

“Y/N!” another barista called.

This barista, a pretty girl whose nametag read Yeji, gave you an airy smile as you shuffled up to the counter and took your drink. It made you feel a bit better.

The hot drink in your hands warmed from the inside out, a comforting brace against the sharp November breeze.

Despite the resentment for the words on your arm, you couldn’t help the old childhood habit of brushing your thumb lovingly against the words as you walked into your lecture hall and took your seat.

While your soulmate link wasn’t particularly common, it wasn’t particularly rare either. It wasn’t hard to find other people who had it and they all said the same thing: while seemingly helpful, it acted more like a puzzle than a hint.

Many times, soulmates would have different pieces of the location on their arm, like one soulmate having a street name and the other having the city and state its in. Some soulmates had vague locations like ‘bus’ or ‘river.’

And some, most likely in your case, had emotional locations. This could mean somewhere that’s really important to one of the soulmates, but isn’t actually a place with a name, so the soulmate link had to make one.

This was most likely what you had.

At least, that was what you hoped.

This was much easier to accept than the thought that the soulmate system just screwed you over.

“‘Sup N.City,” Felix’s low baritone, still scratchy with sleep startled you out of your pre-lecture stupor.

You gave him a sour look, too tired and too fond of him to have any real malice behind it.

“Stop calling me that,” you said, like you did twenty times a day whenever he used that nickname. If it had been anyone else, you probably would have body-slammed them.

But Felix, with his deep voice and big pretty eyes and heart way too big for his body, was an extremely hard person to get mad at.

When the years went by and you started to resent the writing on your arm, he was the one who distracted you with Mario Kart and the detentions his stupid ideas brought.

When everyone kept asking what N.City was and what it meant and where it was and your stomach dropped when you saw their faces twist with pity when you said you didn’t know, he was the one who told them to back off and mind their business.

And when people started trying to use your confusion toward your soulmate link to their advantage, trying to trick you into believing they were your soulmate, he was the one who protected you. The one who stood by you when you started isolating everyone in the interest of your safety.

The lecture passed by as it always did, your professor’s incredibly boring voice sliding in one and ear and out the other, without a word of his speech actually sticking in your brain.

If it hadn’t been for the notes Felix took in this class, you probably would have failed weeks ago.

“You really need to start paying attention,” Felix admonished, sounding more amused than disapproving.

You pouted, crossing your arms over your chest as you two packed up. Well, Felix packed up, you didn’t have anything out to begin with except your iced coffee.

“Come on, Lix. Statistics make me sad, you know this.”

Felix rolled his eyes as you two left the lecture hall, on the way to get some actual food in when his phone buzzed in the middle of the walk.

You weren’t paying attention to him until you noticed he wasn’t beside you anymore.

You glanced around, confused, before seeing him a few paces back, an upset and pensive look on his face.

“Lix? What are you doing? What’s wrong?”

The moment he heard your voice, the look broke and he grinned.

“Felix, I don’t like that look. That’s the same look you got on your face in sophomore year when you—”

“Oh? Oh, we bring up stuff from the past, are we?” Felix’s brow rose and your eyes narrowed. “Because if that’s the case, then we can always talk about that time when—”

“Don’t you dare bring that up,” you hissed, cheeks already flaming as he smirked.

“That’s what I thought,” he said sliding his phone back into his pocket and catching up to you, throwing a jovial arm over your shoulder.

You really didn’t like that grin on his face.

“So you know what concert I was going to in June?”

“Yeah,” you said warily, swiping your student ID at the entrance to the dining hall.

“Well, the concert’s in Korea and I don’t like going by myself, so I was going to have Chris-hyung come with me.”

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“But he’s going on a family vacation with Lucas and their mom.”

“I really don’t like where this is going.”

“So I want you to come instead.”

“Oh, Felix,” you whined as you two moved down the line.

“No, listen! It won’t be like that time in LA! My Korean is pretty good now and I’ve been to Seoul loads of times before so I can get us around! And Chan already paid for you, so all you have to do is come!”

Your eyes widened, almost dropping your plate as you looked for an empty table to sit at.

“Chan paid for me?”

“Well, he already paid for his stay in the hotel and his concert ticket and his flight and everything so he’s just giving it to you.” Felix smiled brightly, as if he wasn’t asking me to go with him to a country where I couldn’t speak the language and had never been there before to see a band that I didn’t even know the name of.

Felix was an avid K-Pop fan, but I think it was only because of the name that appeared on his collarbone a day before he turned eighteen.

Han Jisung.

A Korean name if I’d ever seen one. Since then, Felix had been to Korea like six times and was very near fluent in the language. Despite always going there “strictly for concerts and conventions,” he always stayed for, like, a week to “take in the sights.”

Normally, any mention of soulmates irked you. You tried to forget about it as time went on, but it kept being thrown in your face. Couples everywhere, your parents and family constantly harassing you about N.City and your potentially nonexistent soulmate.

But you found his dedication to his soulmate so cute and genuine and innocent, that you just couldn’t fault him for it. This Han Jisung was a very lucky person.

And, no matter how much you didn’t really want to give up a week of your hard-earned summer downtime to go frolicking in a foreign country, you had to admit that the idea of Felix being alone there didn’t sit well with you either.

“Ugh, fine. But you better not turn me into Nancy Drew looking for Han Jisung.”

Felix blushed, ducking his head down as he grumbled, “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

The next two months passed by uneventfully. Exams, homework, and copious amounts of finals stress came and went. And though you and Felix were worn and tired, the thought of having another year under your belt and being one step closer to your degree lifted your spirits considerably.

Because you were petty, you didn’t admit to Felix how excited you actually were about the upcoming trip. But he’d known you for years and the grin wouldn’t leave his face as he watched you run around your room, stuffing clothes and toiletries in a suitcase as you babbled nearly incoherently to him, practicing the little phrases of Korean that you had had time to learn.

Something you knew from experience was that traveling with Felix was . . . stressful. At least, at the beginning.

You had both worked out a plan two days earlier to keep everything relaxed and smooth.

However, the day of the flight, that entire plan went out the window.

You both woke up an hour and a half after the alarm went off, had to go back to his house three times for things you forgot (one of which being his passport and ticket), the bus you were on broke down, Felix cause a hold up at TSA cause of all the snacks in his carry-on, you very nearly got questioned by the police when Felix yelled, “This concert is going to be the bomb!” at the top of his lungs, and then you nearly fought a man at the terminal who you were pretty sure was trying to kidnap you and Felix.

“This happens every time!” you complained to him as you both finally boarded the plane, putting your carryon in the overhead compartment.

Felix got the window seat — due to all his whining — but at this point, you didn’t even care, just settled down in your seat with your earbuds, head leaning back, and drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

At least that’s what was about to happen until Felix tapped your shoulder.

“I have to pee, you have to move.”

“Oh, for FUCK’S SAKE!”

You wondered if other people had this same experience, the feeling that everywhere they went, soulmates were all people seemed to want to talk about. But maybe it was just because you were trying to avoid the topic that it kept coming up.

Either way, you were pretty sure that hearing Felix talk about the etymology of the name Han Jisung for the past ninety minutes would have been too much for anyone.

“We’re here!” you said gratefully, nearly crying tears of relief as you practically threw yourself out of the Uber you were sharing with Felix.

The venue was large, and you were elated to see there weren’t too many people in line yet so Felix, hopefully, wouldn’t have time to start talking about Jisung again.

You really hoped they met soon, because, as much as you loved Felix, you didn’t know how much more of this you could take.

“What’s the name of the group again?” you asked as you and Felix walked in, stopping at a merch stand so Felix could buy a shirt and lightstick.

“NCT,” he replied, holding a shirt and lightstick out to you as well as if asking if you wanted one as well.

You shook your head. “Nah, those things are way too expensive to buy one for someone who isn’t even a fan.”

Felix only smirked, buying the extra shirt and lightstick anyway.

“You will be after this, trust me.”

You shrugged, putting the shirt on over your clothes and turning the lightstick around in your hands, examining it curiously. It wasn’t the prettiest thing, but it wasn’t that ugly.

Maybe you could use it to light the way when you go to the bathroom at night.

It was Felix’s money, he could spend it how he pleased. Well, more likely it was Chan and Woojin’s money, but that’s beside the point.

For the next hours, you and Felix spent a generous amount of time talking, beating each other up with lightsticks, and conversing with other fans until finally the lights die down and the music starts up . . .

The summer air was cool, gently ticking your face as you gazed up at the sky. The night was quiet, quiet as it could be in a big city like Seoul, and the only other thing that filled your ears was the sound of NCT’s songs on shuffle.

You’d been impressed by the concert, to say the least.

The way they all performed with such passion and precision made you feel electric and, even though you didn’t know the words to the songs, you almost forgot you weren’t a fan as you waved the lightstick and hummed along with Felix beside you.

When you got back to the hotel, you were still wired, unlike Felix, who fell asleep the instant his head hit the pillow.

You decided to go to the nearest park, only a couple minutes' walk away. Even though you didn’t wake Felix up and disturb him, you made sure to text him the location of the place you were going ahead of time just in case something bad happened.

So far, nothing had happened though. There were other people in the park, but none of them paid much attention to you. It seemed they were all just people who couldn’t sleep either.

At least, that was what you thought until some random guy appeared beside you, pointing at the spot on the bench next to you. “Can I sit here?” his voice was smooth and pleasant, and you nodded before you even realized what you’d agreed to.

The boy — who seemed to be about your age — had a black mask on, but you could see his eyes crinkle cutely so you were pretty sure he smiled as he sat beside you.

“Are you here for the shooting stars?” he asked.

Your face contorted in confusion.

“The what?”

“There’s supposed to be shooting stars tonight,” the boy said. “That’s what most of these people are doing here.”

“I didn’t know that. I just couldn’t sleep. I went to a concert, so I guess the adrenaline still hasn’t worn off.”

The boy rose an eyebrow. “The NCT 127 concert? You went?”

You nodded, a ghost of a smile curving your lips. “Yeah, I went with a friend. He’s an NCT friend. I guess I am too, after what I saw at their concert.”

“Do you recognize me?” the stranger suddenly asks.

You stared at him for a moment, bewildered. It was kind of hard to see past the black hoodie, mask, and sweatpants that covered nearly every inch of him, but even so, you pretty sure you’d never met this person before.

“Uh, should I?”

The boy’s eyes changed and you were pretty sure he was smirking.

“NCT has another sub-unit, NCT Dream. Are you and your friend going to see them perform tomorrow?”

You racked your brain for anything Felix might have said about it and slowly nodded. “Yeah, I think he did say we’re going to see them to— oh. Wow . . .”

At that moment, the shooting stars appeared, brilliants streaks of white painting the sky, enrapturing you so much that you failed to see the boy staring in awe at you, a realization seeming to dawn upon him as he watched your face light up at the sight of the shooting stars.

“Holy shit, it's you,” he breathed.

Your brow furrowed as you looked at him. Before you could ask any questions, he just held a hand out to you. You were even more confused at first, before you saw the words on his palm. They were in Korean at first, but they shifted before your eyes, reforming into an English sentence.

You will meet: under the shooting stars.

Your eyes widened, glancing back up at the shootings tars, now long-gone, leaving behind only the brilliants trails where they once were.

“I....but I don’t understand.”

You yanked your sleeve up showing the sentence inscribed onto your arm, but it only made the boy’s eyes crinkle more.

“NCT 127 is called that because they’re based in Seoul. That’s what 127 is, it’s the coordinates for the city. NCT? N.City? You came to Seoul for their concert and now we met under the stars. We’re—”

“Soulmates,” you whisper in disbelief, your eyes widened to the point of saucers.

The boy grinned, nodding as he finally pulled his mask under his chin, revealing the face of what was probably the most gorgeous boy you’d ever seen in your life, a few strands of soft-looking pink hair falling into his sparkly eyes, curved with happiness.

You let out a choked sob as you flung your arms around his neck, hugging him close without even really being conscious of what you were doing, but your soulmate didn’t seem to mind. He just laughed, arms circling around your waist just as tight, rocking you back and forth, hand rubbing your back comfortingly as he nuzzled his face into your hair.

“I thought you weren’t real, I thought the system screwed up,” you blubbered, hands clenching fistfuls of his hoodie. “I tried to look for N.City and I couldn’t find anything, so I thought . . .”

You trailed off, trying to pull yourself together as you buried your head in his chest, the scent of his sweet-smelling cologne filling your senses and calming you slightly.

Your soulmate nodded in understanding, hugging you a little bit closer.

“I’m real. I’m real and I’m here and I’m yours,” he whispered.

“I can’t believe all those years of being obsessed with astronomy actually paid off,” he said and you scoffed.

“I can’t believe letting Felix drag me to a foreign country actually paid off,” you chuckled.

Your soulmate stiffened, pulling back to look at you. “Felix? Lee Felix? His Korean name is Yongbok?”

Your jaw dropped, brows furrowing as you nodded slowly. “Yeah, how did—”

“I’m friends with Han Jisung.”

“FELIX!”

A loud bang echoed through the hotel room as Felix shot up in the bed, an anguished cry escaping him when his forehead collided with the headboard.

“What? Are we being robbed? Where’s the fire? Fuck, that hurt!”

Felix groaned, clutching his head, only to yelp when he strayed too close to the edge of the bed and tumbled to the floor in a heap of aching limbs.

You barely even noticed, throwing him clothes and speaking so fast that Felix wouldn’t even be able to understand what you said if you hadn’t just woken him up and given him two concussions and a bone fracture in the span of eight seconds.

“Y/N, slow down, what the hell are you talking about, I— DON’T TOUCH THAT, I CAN GET DRESSED BY MYSELF!”

“Hurry up then!” you groaned, shoving a jacket onto him as he put a pair of jeans and a sneaker on at the same time.

You finally made it out of the hotel room, arguing incoherently the entire time as you pulled Felix along to the destination that you and your soulmate had agreed upon before racing to go fetch your respective friends.

Your soulmate had obviously been more adept at explaining the situation as he stood beside an intensely good-looking boy with long-ish messy blonde hair that looked nervous beyond all belief, but otherwise pretty well pout-together for being woken up at three in the morning.

Meanwhile, you and Felix were still arguing loudly as you entered the already-loud restaurant, his shirt on backward, jeans inside out, mismatched socks on, one shoe missing, and hair sticking up at every angle as he shouted at you, the both of you somehow not bumping into anything as you approached the pair.

“— could have died for Christ’s sake Y/N, you don’t even know Hangul, not to mention I have a headache the size of Germany now and—”

“Germany is a small country and headaches don’t have sizes you moron—”

“YOU KNOW WHAT—”

“DO YOU WANT TO MEET JISUNG OR NOT?”

That made him shut up, eyes wide as he gaped at you, still not noticing the two boys now directly in front of you.

“I— wha— Jisung?” he finally stuttered out.

You wordlessly waved a hand toward the boy, who you could now clearly see had Felix Lee/Lee Yongbok written on the back of his hand.

“That’s him. He’s apparently one of my soulmate’s friends so I thought you’d like to finally meet him.”

Felix looked back and forth between you and Jisung, mouth flapping open and closed like a fish as he tried to find the words to say.

Jisung finally found his voice, squeaking out a, “You’re very pretty.” in a timid shaky voice.

That seemed to shake Felix back to his senses as he flung himself onto the boy. They were the same height but Felix still found a way to comfortably nestle his head in the crook of his neck.

Jisung looked surprised but absolutely elated and you could already tell that he was even more whipped for Felix than Felix was for him. You could see Felix’s ears flushing red as Jisung whispered things in his ear in Korean that you probably didn’t even want to know.

“They’re cute together,” you whispered as your soulmate came over to you, putting an arm around your shoulder and pulling you into his side.

“Not as cute as you,” he said, grinning as you groaned.

“Ugh, way too cheesy,” you said in mock disgust as you two sat in a booth, no longer focused on Jisung and Felix at all.

“Get used to it, prince(ss). You’re stuck with me for now. For a long time, hopefully.”

You smiled, anticipation thrumming in your veins as his face advanced closer to yours. You had always thought it was stupid that soulmates got so comfortable with each other, and especially with physical affection, so early on in the relationship, but now you understood perfectly.

You didn’t even care about the fact that you and your soulmate hadn’t even exchanged names or numbers yet as his lips met yours. All you cared about right now was him and the rest could come later.

And if the way he held you so delicately and adoringly was anything to go by, he felt the same.

“Wait, so you’re telling me that my soulmate is an idol?” you gaped, turning to look at Jaemin who smiled sheepishly.

Felix snorted, shoving twelve fries into his mouth at once, as he cuddled into Jisung’s side, much like you were doing with Jaemin in the booth seat across from theirs.

Jisung and Felix were an incredibly good-looking couple. You’d grown somewhat used to how pretty Felix was, but Jisung looked like a prince from another direction and it startled you every time you glanced in his direction.

Still, biased though you might be, you didn’t really think anyone was in the same league as Jaemin, whose name you just found out three minutes ago.

“You’d know what if you actually asked his name before you decided to shove your tongue down his throat.” Felix sassed.

You narrowed your eyes at him.

“You really want to go there, Felix? You really want to bring that up when I saw Jisung squeeze your ass right in front of my salad two seconds ago?”

Jaemin guffawed loudly as Felix choked on his water. Jisung just gave a tiny smile, not looking the least bit ashamed or sorry.

“Touche,” Felix squeaked.

“Isn’t a relationship going to be complicated for you?” you whispered worriedly to Jaemin as Felix and Jisung talked amongst themselves.

Jaemin’s smile dropped and he looked completely serious now, scaring you a bit as he took your hands in his.

“No matter how hard or complicated it gets, I won’t let that get in the way, Y/N. I’ve waited for you way too long to let my work get in the way. I want you to know I’m serious about this, Y/n, serious about you. I can’t guarantee that we’ll last forever, but I’ll do my part in trying.”

You stared, speechless, for a moment, trying very hard to keep your tears at bay.

The moment was ruined when Felix and Jisung groaned.

“You guys are disgusting.”

“WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP?!”

The Luck of Fate Star System

Starlink Intergalactic Navigator

#jaemin #nct #fluff #luck of fate #genetic mutation #nct fluff #jaemin fluff #kpop #kpop fluff #soulmate au #jaemin soulmate au

54 notes · View notes

smashy-headcanons · 5 years ago

Text

An anon's complete list of headcanons on the WoL intro

So, yeah. This is what I headcanon happened to every fighter during the World of Light intro. But just for fun, I’m not using names, only numbers. So without further ado…

• Mario and Peach disregarded all logic and ran for each other, knowing they were doomed and wanting to be together. The sick part was, the light didn’t touch them until their outstretched fingers were mere inches away from each other. • Donkey Kong knew only one thing in his final moments: he wanted Diddy Kong to live. But all he could do was launch him into the air, hoping his rocket barrel would carry him the rest of the way (spoiler alert: it didn’t). • (Young) Link, Sheik, and Ganondorf were cursed with the knowledge that they would die here. They knew they had to go down fighting, and that’s exactly what they did. • Samus kept fighting even after she saw Link die, knowing she could do nothing else. • Dark Samus quickly realized there was no point in getting others to fight for her, and she tried to flee, just like so many others. • Yoshi ran. He ran as fast as he could, hoping to carry Jigglypuff, Olimar, and Alph on his back to safety. It just didn’t work. • Fox had an agreement with Falco. If things went wrong, Falco was gonna get out of there as fast as possible and call for help while Fox faced his fate. He knew what was coming for him. • Sonic tried to save Pikachu. We all cried. It was very emotional at the time. • Since Luigi and Daisy were standing at the back of the group, they had an agreement with Bowser that they would get Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings to safety if anything went wrong. When things did go wrong, they lost track of one, but in the end, they shielded the other seven from the horror that awaited them. • Ness and Lucas ran for their lives together. In the end, Ness tripped, and Lucas shielded him in vain. • Captain Falcon didn’t even get a chance to run. • Bowser fought back, knowing he had people at home and with him depending on him. His last thought was of his children, but he didn’t see Bowser Jr. running up behind him just to be with him. • The Ice Climbers held each other in fear, drawing comfort from the one person who understood most. • Zelda and Mewtwo were hopeful, which is the only reason why they shielded themselves at all, but they were also smart enough to know that, without a miracle, they were all done for. • Dr. Mario went looking for his sons, but he couldn’t find them. He died after they did. • Snake’s attempt at hiding seemed hilarious at the time, until he sadly admitted he had been hiding Pichu and Isabelle. • With tears in his eyes, Marth tried to fight back. He died a broken man, having helped lead this massive army and knowing he had failed them. • For once, Lucina didn’t have to protect anyone. Instead, she was held and protected by the people who loved her the most. • Young Link rewound time over and over and over again, until he realized there was just no fighting this. In the end, he let the light take him. • Roy hid with Toon Link. The light had stolen the courage from the Young Lion and the Wind Waker. • Chrom knew only one thing: he had to protect his baby girl. He died holding her, trying not to cry, his two best friends at his back guarding them. • Mr. Game & Watch didn’t understand completely, but knew beyond a doubt that this light thing was not good. He hid too. But since he was made of shadow, the light actually hurt him when it touched him. • Meta Knight and King Dedede could only watch a miracle in the distance. They knew beyond a doubt that they were not getting out of here, but they could see that star and know it meant hope. • Pit and Dark Pit thought they were safe until their wings stopped working. They knew what happened in that exact moment: Pit’s patron goddess was dead, and they were next. • Wario didn’t even get a chance to pull out his bike before he was taken. Good thing too, he would’ve trampled over so many if he had. • Ike did what he did best: he fought for his friends. • Charizard, Ivysaur, and Squirtle stood defiant, even as their trainers urged them to leave. They refused to leave them even in this desperate hour. • Lucario, Greninja, and Bayonetta felt foolish later, as they all dodged one beam only to get hit by another. However, Bayonetta found the courage to laugh about this once it was over. • R.O.B. only stood and cried (or as close as a robot can get to doing so), hoping to be reunited with his family. • Wolf wanted to run, but he absolutely refused to go down without a proper fight. Plus, if Fox was staying, so was he. • Villager panicked and couldn’t even hide in time. • Mega Man fought back and just hoped the light wouldn’t get his dad, sister, and brother back home. His hopes were dashed later. • Knowing what was coming, the Wii Fit Trainers just tried to calm themselves down. • Rosalina wanted to stay with her friends, but she was a mother. She couldn’t abandon her children like this, and if she asked Mario and Peach, they’d have agreed with her. It was the only comfort she had when she died. • Little Mac didn’t even know what to do, so he ran. • Mii Brawler died alone and he died later than the rest of them. He saw his friends, the Mii Swordfighter and Mii Gunner, too late and he couldn’t even go to them. • As for Mii Swordfighter, he shielded the Mii Gunner though he knew it was futile. They both hoped the Mii Brawler didn’t see them. • Palutena was one of three people who secured their hope for rescue, and unlike Falco’s failed attempt to call for help, she succeeded. She called to other dimensions, other deities, hoping something would work as she tried to get Pit and Dark Pit to safety. • Pac-Man didn’t know what to do, he’d never been through anything like this before! • The Robins went down with a unified blast of thunder. They had their best friends behind them to protect, and that’s what they were going to do. • Shulk refused to be totally helpless in his final moments. He made sure their last hope, their miracle, got out safely. • The Duck Hunt Duo went down as a pair, one wanting to hide but refusing to leave his best friend alone. • Ryu channeled his honor and tried to fight. • Ken decided to screw honor and retreated, but that’s only because he wanted to see his wife and son one last time. He didn’t get the chance to. • Cloud charged at Galeem. …He doesn’t know what he was thinking either. • The Corrins went down together, fighting and protecting the one other person who truly understood their struggles and pain. • The Inklings tried to hide in their own ink…they weren’t ready. They didn’t know what to expect when they accepted that invitation, but it so was not this. • Ridley only thought of himself. He wanted to run, and damn it, that’s what he did. • Simon gave a final word of encouragement to Richter. They refused to meet their maker scared. • King K. Rool fought back, defending Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, his former enemies turned friends. • Incineroar hadn’t been this scared since he was a Litten. But he put up a brave front and went down fighting, with a massive grin on his face. • Piranha Plant, Joker, the Heroes, and Banjo & Kazooie were actually saved by Palutena before they could officially be brought into the fight. She contacted their deities and told them to hide their chosen champions in the space between dimensions, where they’d be safe, and to only bring them out when the time was right. They were forever indebted to her, but they couldn’t save their friends. Later, when everything was over, they all decided to stay in the world of Smash. • As for Kirby…well, they all had to be saved somehow, right?

(submitted by anonymous)

I changed the #s to the character names just to make things easier on others.

Also I’m going to add to some of these because I can and I want to.

When Fox told Falco the plan, there was a lot of initial refusal on Falco’s part, which only stopped when Fox yelled at Falco five minutes away from the expected arrival of Galeem, at which Falco had no more time to be oppositional. Fox was making sure Falco got in the Arwing and fled, even if it meant he had to drag him kicking and screaming into the Arwing and lock him inside.

Captain Falcon had no plans to run. His initial plan was to try to attack from inside the Blue Falcon because if he was fast enough, he didn’t think Galeem could catch him. That all changed when he saw just how quickly people were being lost.

Dr. Mario realized what had happened to his kids in the split instant before Galeem’s beam hit him.

The moment when Young Link realized there was no stopping Galeem was when he found one (1) possible solution to stop Galeem before he attacked and save everyone, only to have Dharkon arrive and wipe everyone out instead. He played the Song of Time one last time to go back to Dawn of the First Day, and just stood where he was.

When Mr. Game & Watch was first freed, he started asking a bunch of questions which, if Pac-Man was around to translate at the time, would have been translated to, “Is that this realm’s version of Dharkon? Am I gonna have to leave this realm too? Where am I gonna go? …Wait, are we planning on fighting this guy?! Will we have to fight Dharkon too?!”

R.O.B. was hoping and praying that he would end up in the Subspace where his people were trapped, because he knew that there was no afterlife for robots (the closest thing is the internet or cloud storage, which he had no access to at that moment).

Pac-Man was off somewhere else when Galeem arrived. He had no knowledge of the invasion until he saw a light beam flying at him for half a second.

K. Rool helped give Donkey Kong an extra height boost to try and get Diddy Kong away (to no avail). Afterwards, Donkey Kong and K. Rool stood behind hoping to try and combat Galeem.

I have my own developed headcanons regarding the DLC fighters but I also like that idea too.

#smashy headcanons #super smash bros #headcanon #world of light spoilers #submission #all #galeem #dharkon #mine #long post

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ofmara · 5 years ago

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*record scratch* *freeze frame* yep, that’s me. BVCNJ hey lads ~ i’m ally, i’m twenty2, my timezone is est, i use she/her pronouns & full disclaimer: i don’t know what the fuck i’m doing! just keep that in mind when you read this.. trash lmao. anyways! if u wanna plot, feel free to hmu on d*scord at HE IS SO BIIIIG 😩👌🏼🧡#2581 or yk use the lil chat thing on tumblr if u wanna start small or w/e FDCNK no pressure. moving on..

mara’s pinterest: here!

content warning: ..none?? who am i???

( ariana grande & cis female. ) oh my god look, it’s mara de luca! she is a 24 year old singer/songwriter from queens, new york. they were first associated with the met cartel 3 years ago, and the tabloids are always saying she is so impulsive & irreverent, but their stans on twitter say that she is actually really magnetic & passionate.

first thing’s first.. i haven’t written a coherent intro in a fucking Minute, so i’m offering premature apologies for the shitshow that’s about to follow, especially since i really waited til the last second to type this out even if this blog’s been Done for a week smh ANYWAYS!

ok so! mara is what i like to call ‘a textbook new yorker’ in that she’s Loud, she Loves Her Family and she’s Unapologetically Herself. my character inspirations for her are joey from netflix’s the circle, fran fine from the nanny, molly gunn from uptown girls and a little bit of cher from clueless sprinkled in there ( mainly bcos of this gifset lmao ). since i came up with her a few weeks ago, i really had so many different personalities for her but like.. let’s keep reading to see that literally all of them were apparently Not True ~

she was born into a very tightly-knit family & grew up constantly surrounded by them. she’s got three older brothers, meaning she’s the Baby of the family, so she’s been uhhhhhh doted on all her life! we stan! that said, she’s never known what its like to be on her own, especially considering that her family was right by her side every step of the way as she slowly grew her career from childhood. she got her start singing the national anthem at a knicks game when she was 8 and slowly built from there. her parents were always suuuper supportive and did all they could to help her achieve her dreams, even though they were struggling to make ends meet.

her parents own a small bakery in queens that they started when her oldest brother was little and have been a staple in the city ever since. though they’re a somewhat popular spot for tourists and locals alike, ny real estate isn’t cheap, so paying rent both for the store and their apartment above it has always been a struggle, especially once they started dedicating a good portion of their money to plane tickets and agents and all sorts of necessities mara needed in order for her dreams to come true. the extra expense was difficult on her brothers as well, though they made a point never to complain when they had to get a second or third job to help pay the bills.

ANYWAYS she grew up veryyyy close to her family and the sacrifices they made on her behalf didn’t go unnoticed, so the first thing she did when she finally Made It was buy them a bigger space for their bakery ( since her parents Love working it even if its rough sometimes, buddy ) and a new house so ;) we love a Family First mentality!

HOWEVER!! when mara first moved to LA in like?? 2015 or something?? idk timelines.. but anyways when she first moved to LA she was.. how u say.... Depressed cos like even though she was Living Her Dream as the artist she’s always wanted to be ( she lived in queens w/ her family up until after her first Big Break cos she’s a big time daddy’s girl ) .. she was essentially on her own since her family stayed in nyc :/ yk, where they live? yeah. so she was on her own for the first time... Ever & it was scary and stressful and essentially, she wasn’t doing great mentally or emotionally, even if she put on that *ari vc* fake smile.

that was untiiiiiiil she got her first ~ hollywood boyfriend ~ aka someone famous who helped both with her career and as a salve to the constant loneliness the bitch always feelin. long story short, he didn’t last long, but she Needed to feel Wanted so she got Another ~ hollywood boyfriend ~ until it became, like, Her Thing to Always be attached to someone in the tabloids and the press and on Entertainment Tonight. we love a codependent bitch! that’s also kinda how she got to be part of the met cartel cos she immediately attaches herself fully and completely to everyone she meets & falls a little bit in love with every person who has ever said hello to her, so.. Yeah! most of her friendships were likely formed because she just would not leave them alone ( she’s clingy and needy As Fuck, but she knows she is, so she’s constantly worrying about it aka she’s always wondering if people really like her cos she’s been said to be “too much” and “annoying” by some people who.. weren’t interested in being her friend ) anyways.. feel free to lmk if u want ur chara to hate her cos she will fully have her feelings hurt but still want them to like her cos shes a, say it with me kids, people pleaser ~

its v clear why i thought of joey & fran for inspo ( espeeeeecially fran, now that i think about it: i.e. constantly searching for love, lovingly obnoxious ) but as for why she’s like molly gunn... bitch is uhhh naive as fuck and will trust anyone who is even a little bit nice to her so peep her constantly seeing everyone through rose colored glasses and immediately feeling like her heart is broken when they turn out to be someone completely different lmao! also yk in the little mermaid when ariel was like “but daddy, i love him!” ??? YEAH, that’s mara to a fucking T, m8!

i could quite literally go on and on for hours, but to keep it short and sexy, here’s her stats page & i’ll follow up with a list of some little tidbits of info.. some Quirks, if u will..

she hiccups when she cries & BOY does she cry often BVJNCDKM

cannot cook a single mf thing to save her life? yeah.. her parents wanted to let her work in the bakery but .. she burned everything so she was cashier ;)

can quote the entirety of bring it on: all or nothing & as a segue from that, she is very chatty during movies if she’s with even one other person but Silent when she’s alone

will challenge anyone and everyone to mario kart wii as long as she gets to play yoshi ( she has a vendetta against baby peach )

is Constantly Freezing, so she’s always in thick socks and turns the heat up high when she’s at home

has a cavalier king charles spaniel named piper ( yes, i'm using a fc for her dog )

i’m gonna b p selective with which ari songs she’s released both bc i dont like All of ari’s songs & for character purposes ( rip in peace, sweetener )

is classically trained on the piano and sometimes just plays classical music for fun, making up silly lyrics at parties and whatnot lol she’s just Fun & Quirky like that

owns every season of the o.c. on dvd

she has a car but i havent decided if she ever drives it ( or what kind it is, tho i assure u my virgo ass will be researching it at some point ) since she really just barely passed her driver’s test

is constantly in the tabloids for one dumbass thing after the other mostly as an excuse for me to make tabloid edits but like... i love that for her & will 100% be down to include any and all of u if u lmk u wanna be in one

and many more, but i’m really just sitting here rambling UGH EW so lms for plots cos i’m unprepared & i don’t have any wc’s! very on brand for me, i must say

#met:start #♡ — ❛ out of character. ❜#when u use recycled tags and cant remember what the fuck they are? yeah #anyways!

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gokinjeespot · 6 years ago

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off the rack #1242

Monday, December 24, 2018

I was hit by a spasm of back pain on Saturday like the ghost of Christmas Past. That'll teach me for being such a Scrooge this time of year. I try not to be naughty but being nice is such a pain in the pants. I am slowly recovering under the gentle ministrations of Santa's Helper. Being around family and friends is better medicine than any pain pills I could take. My brother and sister-in-law hosted a brunch yesterday and seeing everyone together laughing and happy soothed me greatly. Just holding baby Oliver and making him smile eased my back pain.

I saw the Ottawa premiere of Aquaman thanks to my Jee-Riz partner Chris, who won passes from the comic book store Myths, Legends and Heroes. I can sum up how I felt about the movie in one word; wigs. I wish they had spent some of the Atlantis special effects budget on better wigs for the actors. Arthur's dad's toupee was glaringly obvious. I've seen better hair on Cosplayers than Nicole Kidman's wigs. It looked like Amber Heard/Mera was wearing a wig at times but even when it looked like her real hair the colour red they chose was too unnatural looking. The movie's saving grace for me was Jason Momoa. He makes a great Arthur/Aquaman. I'm glad I didn't pay to see this one.

Ugh. Stan Lee tribute covers. Terrible marketing idea.

Dead Man Logan #2 - Ed Brisson (writer) Mike Henderson (art) Nolan Woodard (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). A couple of things really annoyed me this issue. Sin, the Red Skull's daughter, acted like a spoiled brat. It's not a stretch to foresee the villains losing at the end of this 12-issue story. Then we have Forge repairing a machine that can get Old Man Logan back home. They actually go there and he doesn't stay. I'm for super heroics as much as the next nerd and maybe I'm selfish, but that irked me to no end. Old Man Logan has been whining about getting home ever since he showed up in this timeline and now he wants to stay to prevent all the super heroes from being killed by all the super villains. There isn't even a guarantee that is what happens in the future. And why don't they use the machine to fix things? Man I hate time travel. I really like Mike Henderson's art but this looks like another travelling super heroes versus super villains battle every issue, and that's not very interesting to me.

Defenders: The Best Defense #1 - Al Ewing (writer) Joe Bennett (pencils) Belardino Brabo (inks) Dono Sanchez Almara (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). It's the big Defenders reunion to save Earth. Old Man Dr. Strange, Hulk, Namor and the Silver Surfer have to sidetrack The Train in order for Earth to survive. It's a bit complicated and I'm surprised that you didn't really need to read all the one-shots to get what's going on. I mean all those scenes where the stabby killer in the bed sheet is killing aliens isn't even mentioned in this story. So what was up with that?

Marvel Knights #4 - Vita Ayala & Donny Cates (writers) Joshua Cassara (art) Matt Milla (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Here's where they explain why all the super heroes have forgotten who they are. T'Challa/Black Panther is featured in this issue that ends with him discovering the lair of villains. I'm wondering how the bad guys retained their memories.

Old Man Hawkeye #12 - Ethan Sacks (writer) Francesco Mobili (art) Andres Mossa (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). That was a very satisfying ending. What a great prequel to the Old Man Logan story where Clint and Logan go on a road trip. This is where Clint loses his sight for good. I loved the last page epilogue showing Clint tracking down someone who will help him to continue to fight the bad guys despite his blindness.

Runaways #16 - Rainbow Rowell (writer) Kris Anka (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). Reading this Christmas special is better than getting a lump of coal. Having Doombot as a dinner guest made this a treat. I wish he was a regular member of the team.

West Coast Avengers #6 - Kelly Thompson (writer) Daniele Di Nicuolo (art) Triona Farrell (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). The good guys have been captured by the bad guys: Satana Hellstrom, M.O.D.O.K., The Eel and Madame Masque. Kate is still free however and she's not going to abandon her team mates. Too bad she gets waylaid on her way to rescue them. Her captor is a complete surprise, which will make the next issue a hoot.

Thor #8 - Jason Aaron (writer) Mike del Mundo (art) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). This is an awesome issue with Thor fighting the Angelus. It ends with an ex-Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. being paid a visit by the Black Panther. I like how this book is being tied into The Avengers.

Season's Beatings #1 - Jason Latour (writer) Greg Hinkle, Chris Brunner, Veronica Fish & Mario Del Pennino (art) Rico Renzi, Jim Campbell & Veronica Fish (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). I should have realized from the cover that this was a Deadpool Christmas Special. If I had known, I would have bought a pair of socks from the Dollar Store with the $4.99 US that this comic book costs. Unless of course, you're a big Deadpool fan or West Coast Avengers fan or even an X-Force fan. They're all in here too. Plus Squirrel Girl and Doctor Doom. Come to think of it, this is an everything but the kitchen sink gift for a Marvel Comics fan who will get a few chuckles out of it.

Freedom Fighters #1 - Robert Venditti (writer) Eddy Barrows (pencils) Eber Ferreira (inks) Adriano Lucas (colours) Deron Bennett (letters). This is some heavy duty patriotic poop right here. We start this 12-issue story in 1963 America that is ruled by Adolf Hitler and his "ratzi" party. The original Freedom Fighters meet to plot a resistance attack on a war robot factory. Things don't go well for the good guys. Jump forward to 2018 and the surprise appearance of the New Freedom Fighters; Black Condor, Doll Woman, the Human Bomb and Phantom Lady. All we need is Uncle Sam. Robert Venditti holds nothing back showing the Germans as ruthless racists. The art is really well done so I will give these Golden Age heroes a chance to see how they fare in modern times.

Middlewest #2 - Skottie Young (writer) Jorge Corona (art) Jean Francois Beaulieu (colours) Nate Piekos (letters). A new character named Jeb is introduced who helps Abel get out of a bind. Jeb reminds me of the first time we meet Gandalf. Abel's quest continues and we find out a bit more about the symbol on his chest. I predict he'll meet his mother down the road but unlike the talking fox, I won't be travelling down it with him.

Cover #4 - Brian Michael Bendis (writer) David Mack (art) Michael Avon Oeming (Owen art) Zu Orzu (colours) Carlos Mangual (letters). This issue is a great example of how a comic book can tell a story with words and pictures. I felt like I was watching a TV show or a short film. Brian, David and Michael work together seamlessly

Hardcore 1 - Robert Kirkman & Andy Diggle (writers) Alessandro Vitti (art) Adriano Lucas (colours) Thomas Mauer (letters). Yeah man, it is. Agent Drake is a drone pilot but what he controls are other human beings. A new nanotechnology allows him to take over and move a remote body for 72 hours so he can complete wetwork missions. It's really cool. The big problem arises when the guy who invented the tech comes back to reclaim it from the government. That guy is not asking nicely. I like this concept and the predicament that Agent Drake finds himself in at the end of this issue. Therefore, this goes on to my "must read" list.

Klaus and the Crying Snowman #1 - Grant Morrison (writer) Dan Mora (art) Ed Dukeshire (letters). This $7.99 US one-shot tells the tale of how Sam the snowman helps Klaus save the Earth from murderous aliens. I loved how they wove in Norse mythology. You'd think a crying snowman would be doomed in the end and you'd be right, but fear not, 'tis a happy ending.

Betty & Veronica #1 - Jamie Lee Rotante (writer) Sandra Lanz (art) Kelly Fitzpatrick (colours) Jack Morelli (letters). The BFFs are back with a 5-issue mini that starts off their senior year of high school. I know that these slightly more mature Archie Comics want to draw in a new audience but Betty dating Reggie? Sacrilege. A few other things bothered me storywise that turned me off even more. Betty drinking a spiked punch without noticing? C'mon. Then there's the art. I didn't like the interiors compared to the nice cover that Sandra drew. I expected my girl Betty to be treated better than this.

Catwoman #6 - Joelle Jones (story & art) Laura Allred (colours) Josh Reed (letters). The finale of "Copycats" is a quick read so I read it twice. The first time was to see how Catwoman deals with the evil Mrs. Creel and her pumped up on drugs son. The second time was to see Catwoman in action and to savour the beautiful art and layouts. I wish Joelle Jones would do a Betty & Veronica mini.

Extermination #5 - Ed Brisson (writer) Pepe Larraz (art) Marte Gracia (colours) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). I tolerated this time travel tale because of the amazing art. I wish Pepe Larraz would do a Betty & Veronica mini. If you thought that the mutants being exterminated was a real threat then you haven't been reading X-Men comic books for very long. This story puts the young X-Men back in their own time and all is well again. The big surprise comes on the last page and I'm thinking "oh geez, here we go again".

Domino #9 - Gail Simone (writer) David Baldeon & Michael Shelfer (art) Roberto Poggi (ink assist) Guru-eFX (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). Soldier of Fortune part 3. The ladies are asked to kill Longshot. Haven't seen him in a while. Might not see him for long though, since he's supposed to bring about the end of the world. This is interesting because both Domino and Longshot have the same super power. Who's luck is going to run out first?

Firefly #2 - Greg Pak (writer) Dan McDaid (art) Marcelo Costa (colours) Jim Campbell (letters). Mal and Zoe are being hunted by a gang of thieves and the Alliance. Darn tootin' there's going to be shootin'. I have been watching Nathan Fillion's new cop show The Rookie and I quite like it.

Batman #61 - Tom King (writer) Travis Moore (art) Tamra Bonvillain (colours) Clayton Cowles (letters). Knightmares part 1. The "what the!?" appearance on the last page of #60 is explained here as a new story starts. I knew something was hinky when I saw the string of pearls around the dead body of Martha Wayne in the alley. I thought we were in an alternate universe and we sort of are but it came as a complete shock when what was going on was explained. Arkham Asylum is getting a new inmate. At least he's new to me unless I want to go back and read Batman #38.

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nsofties · 6 years ago

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college!mark

undergrad!mark political science and english double major creative writing minor mark chose political science as his major because making new laws for equality and representation is incredibly important to him - he really wants to make a difference in the future for people was told that "if you can help change just one person's world, that's enough" but mark firmly wants to help many people - he wants to make many people happy and bring change to the world a lot of people in high school told him it was stupid of him - that politics can be very corrupt and not everyone will be kind or helpful or have the same intentions as him and he might get tricked by people but mark is an optimist and firmly believes in the good in people and so he gets to college and still decides to major in political science because even if that's people's perception of politics, he will make a change and do what he intends on doing, even if he has to run himself into the ground and that honestly worries everyone around him, because they know he will - mark is one of those people who earnestly puts his all into everything and will work until he's exhausted and having to survive off of energy drinks and smoothies and protein bars however, mark is always sure to have a way to relax, and so he is also double majoring in english and a double major may not sound like relaxing to literally anyone else, but mark finds so much enjoyment in being an english major and in all the assigned readings and myriad of papers and projects because something about english he finds so much fun - maybe it's the variety of subjects he studies and writes about for his different classes, or maybe it's the many different people he gets to meet jokingly his professors all call him the next global traveling poet because of his very clear distaste for poetry - it's not that mark doesn't like poetry, but he much so prefers to write short stories and may or may not be secretly working on a book on the side in his free time he loves fiction because he loves making up new worlds, creating realistic characters, creating dialogue... it's something about life that he can control. even when his life seems hectic, because it really is, he has his stories to relax to the hardest working student out there - on the student council, in the honors program, works at the writing center, has a part time job at homegoods, works for local political campaigns... honestly mark is just a very hard working young man and he's stretching himself a bit thin; his friends are all like "dude chill for maybe five seconds" and mark is like "maybe YOU chill" and lucas has to be like "no seriously mark you've had like six hours of sleep the past five days and i'm pretty sure your pants are on backwards you. need to chill." mark, a few minutes later: hey siri, how to chill out lucas: mark that's not the way to do it actually in high school, mark was much the same way - he was on the hockey team, was on debate team, was in model un, was student council president, tutored other students, was in the national honors society, had the job at homegoods, in all advanced courses, was in band... and back then lucas used to tell him that he has to relax, too. so, their bantering isn't new but lucas is still stressed by mark's overscheduling and overcommitting and lucas vividly remembers during prom how mark was so tired that he was slumped over at the dinner table, head narrowly missing falling into his plate of food as lucas pushed it out of the way which is? sort of how you met mark? you were a childhood friend of lucas's and you didn't know any of his friends - "what is a haechan?" - but sometimes lucas would make memes of his friends and send them to you, so you received a picture of mark that night with the caption of "slumped" and you were like lol and then lucas help him and you all ended up at the same university and you finally get to meet this mark character in person - "haechan is still in high school" "haechan is a person?" "uh yeah -" "lucas's stories about haechan made them sound like... idk a really excitable puppy?" "close enough" - and he meets up with you and lucas for lunch in town and you ask him what his schedule this semester is like and when he starts listing everything you're like "when do you breathe?" "i breathe all the time?" "... no, i - nevermind" you get along with mark well enough and you eventually admit to him that lucas makes memes of him when he catches him sleeping in the library and mark is like brb i gotta go fight lucas and ur like "his hand is as big as your head" "yeah i know he's like big foot but big hands" "i thought bigfoot has big hands too" "then why wouldn't his name be big hands and feet?" "discourse in the bigfoot community" despite you and lucas being close childhood friends, you and mark honestly are on a really similar wavelength so you get along really well and eventually lucas is like "wow might as well just not hang out with you guys anymore" and mark is like "yeah but it's mostly because you've called out of work sick the past ten shifts and i'm sure they're about to fire you" and kind of like mark you're overly involved on campus, and your schedules actually match quite nicely, so the two of you end up spending most of your meal times, no matter how short they are, together, and honestly it's relaxing a nice break from your daily schedules and the hectic, fast-paced life of a university student and eventually it gets to the point where lucas and mark are hanging out without you one day and lucas turns to mark and was like "so are you two dating?" and mark is panicking and like "i??? don't???? i don't think so??? are we??? did they say that i'm?????" lucas: cool okay hold on i'm telling them you want to go on a date this weekend ok cool you two are going to meet at the local cafe on saturday morning see you mark: duDE lucas: UR WELCOME mark: HOW ARE YOU TALKING IN TEXT SPEAK OUT LOUD lucas: LOL and when you two meet at the cafe on saturday morning, mark sits down with his coffee then immediately, after taking a single breath, says "i just wanted to let you know that this was lucas's idea but i do actually like you so i hope it's okay that this is a date and that you're not upset by that and if this makes you uncomfortable i'm totally cool with just being friends actually anything is cool it's all fine i just really like you oh my jeSUS I JUST SAID THAT OUTLOUD i'm sorry oh my gOD" and his panicking makes you panic and you two sort it out after a prolonged moment of silence where you're like "oh wait we like each other" and mark is like "what" and you're like "yeah" and lucas from across the street is like "WHAT'S UP IT'S YOUR BOY CUPID" (sicheng, from homegoods: something... something is wrong....) and it's cute because a lot of your dates together are just lil' study dates in a local cafe or the campus library or sometimes mark has even convinced you that the zumba class offered on campus would be a fun event and you agree but only because he wears a lil' sweatband and has the time of his life not cooped up studying mark is always very busy and you're honestly afraid that he doesn't know how to relax - that maybe he doesn't even know the meaning of relaxing? and so sometimes you're just like "hey how about we go to the arcade with lucas and sicheng and johnny and everyone else and just have fun for once? a little break won't hurt?" and those few times are when the polaroid cameras come out and you get little memories with everyone that you're sure you'll cherish far into the future mark and you really like the chocolate croissants from the cafe that you two had your first date at and on important events, like a huge exam or a huge event, you'll go to the cafe and get a chocolate croissant for each of you and honestly mark is working himself into the ground and you're busy yourself, but you're always sure to remind one another that taking a break and taking care of yourself is important, too overall you two prefer to stay inside when you hang out, and both of you are equally poor at videos games so sometimes you'll play mario kart online with jisung and everyone and jaemin will text him like "i didn't think you could find someone as bad as you at video games but here i stand corrected" (haechan: actually i think they're at least getting better mark hasn't improved for five years mark: HEY HAECHAN haechan: chenle here's my will chenle: ok) we love mark lee pls love and support him

#mark lee #nct mark #college!au #college!nct #soft headcanon #nct headcanon #nct 127 headcanon #nct u headcanon #nct dream headcanon #nsofties

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smashmusicideas · 6 years ago

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June 25: How the Ultimate Trailer Works So Well

Amongst all the thoughts and discussion regarding Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, I don’t think any individual element of the game - even more than the confirmation of Ridley - warranted the level of adoration and excitement as not just the inclusion of every Smash character ever, but the short “Challenger Approaching” trailer explaining that.

So I decided I’d take some time and analyze it for how it works. Hoo boy, did that take longer than I expected.

youtube

For ease (and because I’m, well, lazy), I’ll be splitting this up into bullet points. I should also note that I’m avoiding a lot of stage analysis except in certain cases, largely because the emphasis on fighters is the focus. Also, this is quite long, so a “read more” tag is needed for this one.

Before the video: Sakurai adds this whole “character numbering” element, which is odd. Most viewers less familiar with this scheme (which has mostly always existed within the series) assumed this indicated the total number of characters from the start, but more than that it inherently acknowledges cut characters, something Sakurai tries to avoid as to not make their fans feel worse. No matter who is watching, it’s odd, and sets up the actual video in a way that feels odd.

00:02 - 00:15: We see Battlefield, something which since Brawl has always functioned as a focal point for the series - kind of in the way Mario does, too, which is why he appears here. Traditionally, Mario is also the character who reflects the visual direction of each game the most, so his “Brawl meets Smash For“ art style confirms it as a new game, one that will marry multiple iterations of Smash.

0015 - 00:28: Kirby, Samus, and Bowser are all Smash staples (two from the first game, one from Melee). They’re also not in numerical order, telling us to not expect things in a “normal” way. They also more clearly show a few returning stages, Castle Siege and Green Greens in particular, and Giga Bowser seems to function in a far new way.

00:28 - 00:34: Link is also one of the central Smash characters, but his drastic redesign tells us further that this will be a new iteration - one that will look to more recent games, at least in part (we also see a new Breath of the Wild stage, alongside Temple). Keep in mind that he gets a huge amount of time to emphasize this.

00:34 - 0:44: We see a lot of Donkey Kong (including a change to his Giant Punch), but it’s Falco’s appearance in 00:42 that’s surprising. He’s typically and understandably a hidden character; showing him off is kind of bizarre. For most viewers, it’ll just seem nice for a beloved character to return, but for the more attentive first-time viewers it is somewhat odd and continues the off-kilter vibe of Sakurai’s introduction.

00:44 - 00:48: Marth casually shows off the new changes to Shield Breaker, just like with DK earlier. Further indication that old fighters will have, to quote Sakurai from a decade ago, a “slightly different flavor this time around,” and that it won’t simply be an expanded port of Smash for Wii U (this emphasis will continue throughout the video and into Nintendo’s continued promotion of the game.

00:48 - 00:52: New Zelda! Not really new Sheik! Their having their default costumes implies they will remain separate fighters, and Zelda’s in particular bucks a trend of Zelda and Link’s costumes coming from the same game.

00:52 - 00:54: Our first post-Melee fighter, Villager, shows a new ability. His appearance also begins to move us from the more classic Smash fighters into a wider variety of ones new and old.

00:55 - 00:58: Meta Knight and Mewtwo. Notable for the former being the first Brawl character in general and the first one shown, and for the latter being the first Pokémon representative - before Pikachu, even. Mewtwo also looks like it did in Smash For, an indication the DLC would not be ignored.

00:59 - 01:01: And here comes Sonic - with a new version of Super Sonic and a returning Green Hill Zone in tow - as the biggest guest fighter out there, though that doesn’t confirm whether less established third party content would be joining him.

1:02 - 1:08: Peach and Pikachu, each with slight new changes in how Toad and Volt Tackle work. It’s notable how long it took to get to either of them, though their being more famous leads nicely into...

1:09 - 1:15: the Ice Climbers! Their return is such a big moment it’s hard to notice we’ve also got a returning Summit (and Living Room), and they unsurprisingly get a whopping six seconds to show off how they look in HD.

1:16 - 1:21: And from a beloved, long lost fighter to a highly desired new one, Nana and Popo formally introduce Inkling, with both a male and female design in tow. We get a good look at how diverse their weapon selection is, alongside a new Splatoon stage.

1:22 - 1:27: Pretty much the only thing we need to see with Falcon is the Punch, while Zero Suit Samus and Wii Fit Trainer show that even the less “iconic” of the cast aren’t going to be ignored. Given Boxing Ring’s centrality to Smash For, its being so prominent here makes sense.

1:28 - 1:30: here’s where things get weirder. The Ice Climbers coming back makes sense, but the Pokémon Trainer? I don’t really think it’s vague on whether the switching mechanic will return (he’s in the back, so...), but it’s out of the blue in a way none of what we’ve seen here is. That it only lasts about two seconds makes it all the more shocking.

1:31 - 1:36: Ness and Lucas. A little surprising for the former, given his traditionally being a hidden fighter, and more so for the former, who was last in the series as DLC.

1:36 - 1:41: The DLC concern becomes even more noticeable now, with Ryu fighting yet another normally hidden fighter: Ganondorf, surprisingly sporting the classic Ocarina of Time design Melee used. It implies a far greater amount of changes than what we were initially expecting, and assures the less confident of us that even third party DLC will not be ignored.

1:41 - 1:44: And look who else is looking new, but Ike, who’s reverted to the design Brawl used...except he isn’t. While the Inklings were expected to have male and female versions, this is the first indication we’ll have more pronounced alternate costumes for specific characters.

1:45 - 1:51: Cloud’s inclusion is another important one at this point, because compared to other guest fighters, the possibility of his return seemed far more up in the air. He gets a lot of airtime, space that comfortably confirms his two outfits and Omnislash, a great flashy move to send us into the big moment.

1:52 - 1:55: If Cloud’s return wasn’t a sure thing, than Snake’s was a pipe dream for fans (myself included). Having one go to the other is smart, because after him, Ice Climbers, and Pokémon Trainer, Snake‘s chances feel so much more possible. And it works so well. We don’t see an attack, or anything, because we don’t need to. It’s Snake, on Shadow Moses Island. That’s enough for us, until...

1:56 - 2:01: “EVERYONE IS HERE!” really just speaks for itself, but I’d also like to note the small feature of Snake running right after the words appear. It’s subtle, but it’s a flash of energy leading to the rest of the video (an energy that is supported by the music, which becomes far more intense up until the end). And it’s important to him be behind the words, because by this point a viewer is processing them, recognizing the totality of what that means.

2:02 - 2:04: And to prove how serious that claim is, Jigglypuff - the last of the original cast (minus Luigi and Yoshi) - brings back Pichu, likely the very fighter most people would think of after hearing that “everyone is here”: “even Pichu?” That the joke character of Melee has returned is proof of the claim, an example of how insane and wild this project is planning to be. But despite how notable it is, the two Pokémon are onscreen for only two seconds.

2:15 - 2:18: Truthfully, the next few reveals are less exciting. Roy is the fifth DLC character revealed to return, but Olimar, Diddy, and Lucario are all fairly normal. But it’s with Lucina that we get yet another oddity. She’s 21ε - an indication that something different was being done with the then-called “clone characters.” It’s yet another indicator that Smash is going to be different, and in rather unexpected ways.

2:26: It’s not a big detail, but Dr. Mario lacks the Epsilon, indicating that he’s different from how he used to be (given that he, Lucina, and Dark Pit are associated as the Echoes of the previous iteration of Smash, it stands to reason people might look for that on him, too).

2:30 - 2:32: And there’s Dark Pit literally one shot after Doc, with the Epsilon. It’s important to keep it all in mind more easily. I also think it’s notable that Palutena’s moveset isn’t shown at all in here; it’s one more thing about which Sakurai’s been coy.

2:39 - 2:42: It’s important, I think, to have the two versions of Link show up together; it highlights how they’ve both functioned as spinoffs of one of Nintendo’s (and Smash‘s) most important heroes. By this point, Young Link is the final character (again, other than Luigi and Yoshi) who came from a game before Brawl; he’s important as one more reminder of this game’s scope.

2:46 - 2:49: And if there were any fighters whose fate would seem as up in the air as any third party character, it’d be the Mii Fighters. And yet, they’re all here, too. And like with Palutena, we see no customization or anything beyond some very basic attacks.

2:55 - 2:56: Despite not being a huge surprise, Pac-Man’s new Final Smash (or new version of Super Pac-Man, technically) is fast, really fast. And that’s good because it kicks up the pace right to the finish. Like, it’s weirdly intense to watch at that point.

3:00 - 3:03: Wolf! While calls for him were probably not as loud as those for Snake and the Ice Climbers, he has remained a beloved Smash character and a fighter people really wanted. Having him here is good for a bunch of reasons - he was the last newcomer in Brawl, his style works really well for this point in the video - but probably the most is that people really wanted him back especially. And holding off on that until now helps emphasize this game’s scope.

3:04 - 2:08: Mega Man needed to be the final main shot for a lot of reasons. He’s a beloved gaming and Smash character, he’s got name recognition, and especially because his Final Smash is the best way to send off us. It’s just this huge blast that keeps up the momentum right until the end.

3:11: And we have the title. “Ultimate” really is perfect word for this, a video that is pretty much just about the history and power of Super Smash Bros.

3:16 - 3:20: ...But it also wouldn’t be Sakurai without some goofing around, so we let the air out of all this pomposity with some silliness from Luigi and Yoshi. I think it makes sense for more reason than Sakurai often using those two for mirth. The Brawl trailer had all this bombastic, dark energy...but then Wario showed up and farted. The first Smash For trailer seemed exciting and crazy...and then Wii Fit Trainer appeared; almost all the character trailers after it had stingers afterwards, mostly goofy ones. It’s a good and important statement that Smash will always be goofy and weird. And you got that in some individual shots (Dedede and Wario, for instance), but it’s a deliberate anticlimax that mocks you, but only slightly, for all the energy you’ve hopefully gotten from what is a very long trailer, all things considered.

So, what have we learned, aside from me realizing I need to come up with shorter topics for this blog? I think it’s that you could have made this announcement any way. Sakurai could’ve just shown the character selection screen, Nintendo could’ve put it out in a press release, or they could’ve just not mentioned it entirely (though that’d be insane given that “everyone is here!” is the game’s tagline). But a video was the best way to do it. And I think this way was the best video they could’ve realistically made. Every fighter gets to show off a ton of personality in a couple seconds, and by basing the whole video around being before or after Snake, it can position the ideal fighters in a way that lets viewers slowly realize how much grander this is going to be than they realized. It’s all just great design in general, and more than just a really cool trailer that showed things off.

(Link to my writings on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)

#Super Smash Bros. Ultimate #Super Smash Bros.#Masahiro Sakurai #Nintendo Direct #E3 2018

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welcometophu · 7 years ago

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Not Your Destiny: Chapter 6

Marked Book 1: Not Your Destiny

Chapter 6

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By the end of the day, Ángel remembers how hard it is to get grease off his fingertips. It’s not ground in as badly as if he were working on the cars—Luca won’t even let him out on the floor, except to collect paperwork—but it’s still stuck in the cracks of his fingerprints. He’s washing his hands for the third time, trying to scrub it off the pad of his thumb, when Gabi leans against the door to the bathroom, arms crossed.

“You’re not all that bad,” she says.

“Thanks for the positive recommendation.” Ángel finishes up, dries his hands; there’s still grease but it’s as good as it gets. “I think I’m getting out of here, soon, right?”

“You’ve got fifteen minutes left, so go do one last paperwork sweep, make sure I’ve got the status updates on everything still on the floor, and remind Tony he should actually get out of here tonight.” Gabi gestures for Ángel to step through the door, pats his shoulder on the way by. “If you can find Tony.”

By this point, Ángel knows that Zita, Tony, and Gabi co-own the shop. Zita and Tony own the larger share, and Gabi plans to buy herself up to an even third of the business when she turns twenty-five. He even met Zita’s two kids briefly at lunchtime, when Zita brought in a pan of baked ziti and dropped it off.

He still hasn’t met Tony.

He’s heard him, grumbling on the floor, behind the car he’s working on. He’s seen his feet from around a car. He’s seen his backside while his head was buried under the hood of a car. But he hasn’t met Tony face to face yet and been introduced.

By this point, Ángel has decided that of the two guys on the floor, Luca’s the personable one. Which is saying something, considering that Luca has yet to pronounce his name correctly.

“If I hadn’t seen his ass once, I’d think Tony was a sound system set up to grumble loudly in the corner and make us think there was someone else here,” Ángel quips. Gabi laughs, and it makes Ángel smile that she’s willing to laugh at his bad jokes.

Working at the garage hasn’t been an awful experience, so far. It’s not what he planned on doing over break, but verbal sparring isn’t a bad way to spend the day.

The bell over the front door jangles and he shifts direction to intercept whoever’s coming in. “We’re closing in fifteen,” Ángel calls out. “Are you here to pick up your car, or—” He cuts out, recognizing the two men approaching. “Sam and Max, right?”

Max shoves his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, twists to look at Sam and arches an eyebrow. Sam pauses, brow furrowed. “You’re the kid from the car last night.”

“Ángel,” he reminds them, and Sam nods with the explanation.

“Tony was able to fix you up already?” Sam asks, and there’s a grunt from somewhere on the far side of the floor.

Ángel glances at the floor, sees movement. “Not really, no. It’s going to cost a lot, so I’m working here in trade,” he admits. “I spent time in another shop when I was in high school.”

“Sounds like you’ve been adopted.” Sam claps his shoulder, tugs him in to slap him on the back. “Welcome to the family. You should go out with us tonight.”

“It’s a Tuesday. And I don’t have a car.”

“So what if it’s a Tuesday? Tony!” Sam spreads his arms; Ángel gets out of the way before Sam gives Tony a firm, back-slapping hug. “You hired our stray! Tell him he should come out for drinks.”

Max snorts softly, shaking his head.

Tony meets Ángel’s gaze, dark brows furrowed deeply. There’s a grease stain on Tony’s cheek, and another that draws a line down his throat. He’s as imposing as his grumbles implied, with dark eyes and thick, furrowed brows. Broad shoulders stretch his oil-stained t-shirt, and there’s a hint of chest hair in the v-neck when Tony crosses his arms.

Ángel tilts his head curiously, and Tony’s nostrils flare.

“You really don’t talk much, do you?” Ángel finally says. “I get the feeling God saved up all the conversation for Gabi.”

“Oh, he talks when he’s in the mood, and he can be snarkier than Gabriella,” Sam says, his arm looped around Tony’s shoulders.

“I didn’t say I was going out tonight,” Tony says, his voice soft and even.

“We say you are,” Sam challenges. “Max insists.”

“I can hear that,” Tony says dryly.

“Is Max your twin separated at birth?” Ángel asks. “Because I’m seeing similarities.” He doesn’t flinch when both Max and Tony raise an eyebrow at him.

“Ángel, I need that—oh, hey Sam.” Gabi barrels past Ángel, pushing him further away from Tony and into the wall on her way. She wraps her arms around Sam’s neck, leaps up to wrap her legs around his waist while he catches her. She rubs her cheek against his as she hugs him, then jumps down. “Are we going out?”

“You’re not twenty-one,” Tony mutters.

“That’s never mattered before.” Max shrugs when Tony glares at him. “You know Mario will serve her as long as she’s not driving. She’s family. It’s not like there’ll be that many people there tonight.”

“Luca!” Gabi yells out. “We’re going out! Get your ass cleaned up!”

Shit, this is getting out of hand fast.

“I still need a ride home,” Ángel points out. “I don’t have a car, so currently Luca’s my only transportation. He can drop me off at home on the way to wherever you’re going.”

“Or you could come with us,” Sam tells him again. “You’re here, you’re family, right?” His jaw sets, expression clearly challenging. Gabi smirks as Tony grumbles low enough that it could be a growl.

Gabi has her phone in her hand, texting quickly. “Maritsa and Cleto are just finishing up at the florist, so they’ll meet us there. Antigone, right, since you mentioned Uncle Mario? Want me to text Zita? If Danny’s home she might be able to get a night out.”

Ángel puts one hand behind him, as if touching the wall will keep him from feeling as if he’s somehow been bowled over by Sam and Gabi. He glances at each of them in turn, surprised to find no one looking at him except for Tony, who glares back at him. “I’m not family,” Ángel says. “I’m okay if Luca just drops me off on his way. I’ve still got a guest, and I dumped her on my best friend.”

Gabi glances up from her phone, gaze assessing him. “Did Maritsa’s tía invite you over for part of Christmas Eve?”

“She invited me to stop over on Saturday.” As if it’s an invitation and not an order to stop by.

Gabi arches one eyebrow, and Ángel frowns, not sure what she’s getting at. “Saturday,” Gabi says slowly.

Oh, wait. That’s right. Saturday is Christmas Eve. Even more importantly, it’s Noche Buena. Well, fuck.

Ángel has no idea how it all keeps slipping from his mind, the way the days are starting to run together. It’s as if his entire life has been spinning out of control since the failed ritual. “Fine, she did,” he has to admit. “But I still can’t abandon Tanner and Hayley.”

“Mmph. If she loves you, she’ll still love you after you abandoned her today.” Gabi waves off the issue with a flick of her fingertips. “Besides. It’s obvious she already knows that your car’s more important to you than she is.”

Ángel can’t argue that assessment. It’s not true, but he did walk away from his two best friends in order to deal with his car, which doesn’t look good. And he didn’t really think too hard about the choice that morning, either.

“Bring them,” Max suggests. He gestures at each of them. “It was only a matter of time before Sam and Gabi came up with the idea. You’ve already adopted the kid, you might as well adopt his friends.”

“I haven’t adopted anyone,” Tony mutters. “This was entirely Zita’s idea.”

“My idea,” Gabi corrects before turning to bellow again. “Luca!”

“Silenzio.” Luca shrugs into a leather jacket as he approaches. “Did you figure out what you want, Ángel? Do you want me to pick up your friends on the way?”

Breath shudders in Ángel’s chest. He puts one hand up, keeps the fingers of his other hand pressed against the wall. “I want five minutes to think,” he says slowly. “I never finished getting the rest of the paperwork, so I’m going to do that. And text Tanner and Hayley. And then I’m going to be back.”

“Don’t take too long, or Luca will leave without you,” Gabi comments.

Luca elbows her, then drags her in close with an arm around her shoulders and rubs his cheek against her hair. “She’s lying. I’m not going to leave.”

“You are not as much of an asshole as I thought.” And he pronounced Ángel’s name right. Finally. Just at the point where hearing it wrong might’ve sent him over the edge and into a panic attack.

Ángel hasn’t had a panic attack in a very long time, and he really doesn’t want to have one right now, either.

“I’m going to get Tony out of here before he reconsiders,” Sam says, dropping an arm around Tony’s shoulders and leveraging him toward the door. “We’ll take him home to get him cleaned up first, and meet you at Antigone.”

It’s not a statement meant for Ángel, and he takes advantage of the moment to slip away, out onto the floor. There are still two cars inside—one up on the lift in the near bay, one on the floor on the far side, while the middle bay lies open. There’s no sign of his own baby, but Ángel supposes he can’t expect them to put it as a highest priority. Or they’re waiting for parts. He doesn’t know, and he’s not sure he dares ask. So far, he’s probably worked off the cost of one gasket and the labor to put it in place. If that much.

He gathers up paperwork, then ducks out the rear entrance into the back corridor, heading straight for the office. He drops the paperwork on Gabi’s desk, then sinks into the spare chair, spinning it as he pulls out his phone. They want me to go out with them, he sends to both Tanner and Hayley.

While waiting for them to get back to him, he scrolls through the pictures they’ve sent throughout the day. There’s one on the steps of the library, obviously taken by someone else. They sit close together, knees pressed tight, Tanner’s arm around Hayley’s shoulder. Tanner’s turned toward her, saying something, and Hayley’s skin is bright, shining in the sunlight. Ángel can imagine the way her fingers are probably light, tickling against Tanner where the sparks dance along her fingertips.

He licks his lips, scrolls past to see more pictures of them walking around town. Eating ice cream. Posing in front of the police station, and the arts center.

Hey, cool, where are we going?

Ángel blinks at Tanner’s text, not sure how to handle this. He shakes his head, starts typing and restarts three times before he finally just says Antigone and lets it go at that.

That little Italian hole in the wall? Mom says they have great breadsticks. I’ll have to bring some home for her and Emerson.

Why is Tanner making this all so easy?

Ángel slumps down, head tilting against the back of the chair. Of course Tanner’s taking it all in stride; he wouldn’t be Tanner if he didn’t. Easy-going. Relaxed. Calm. Takes everything as it comes and just keeps going. It’s one of the things Ángel has always loved about him. Ángel was the one with all the tension, and Tanner just rolls with the punches, gets up, and keeps going no matter what. They balanced well.

Ángel figures that Tanner will balance Hayley’s sparks well, too.

Does this mean you made friends today? Hayley asks.

Ángel snorts to himself, pushes against the floor to set the chair spinning slowly again. Depends on what you mean by friends. Luca finally pronounced my name right. Gabi’s snarky but I like her. I didn’t even actually see Tony until his friends got here to drag him out tonight.

But do you like them? Hayley sends back quickly, and Ángel pauses with his fingers on the phone because it’s complicated.

Yeah, he finally replies. They’re not bad.

He’s pretty sure they only tolerate him, and he’s not sure why he’s been included in tonight’s outing. Not to mention wondering what they’ll say when they find out Tanner’s planning on meeting them there.

Luca did offer to pick them up. At least this way he can get a ride home with Tanner afterward, and won’t have to put any of the Mollicone’s crew out.

The door swings open, and Gabi stands there, leaning against the door jamb. “Hey,” she says. She jerks her chin toward the corner of the room, and Ángel spots a small fridge there that he hadn’t noticed before. “There’s water in there, if you ever need something during the day. Or you want to bring a lunch or something.”

“Don’t start being nice to me now. You’re upsetting my world view,” Ángel mutters. His phone pings.

We’re leaving in five minutes. See you at Antigone! I hope it’s as good as Tanner’s mom says. Wait, are we eating there? Or does out mean we’re drinking? Who’s driving?

Ángel smiles to himself as he touches the screen; he can hear the words in Hayley’s voice.

“Don’t look like you’re going to pass out, and I won’t have to be nice,” Gabi retorts. She drops into the other chair, leans in to unashamedly peer at Ángel’s phone. “Is that the girlfriend?”

“Kind of ex, but still best friend,” Ángel says, fingers still hovering over the keypad. “It’s complicated.”

Gabi snakes one hand out, snatches the phone from his grip and quickly taps into it, narrating as she does. “Hi, I’m Gabi. It’s my uncle’s place. We’ll be drinking. Luca will drive everyone home so you can leave your car there. Unless you don’t drink. I want to see if I can drink Ángel under the table.”

“It’s a Tuesday night.” He reaches for his phone, plucking it from her hands and twisting so she can’t grab it back. The message has already been sent.

Is it her?

Ángel’s jaw goes tight. He glances down at the clouded spot on his wrist. Not her, he types. Gabi’s watching with interest, so just adds, See you at Antigone. We’ll figure out the driving thing there.

He shoves his phone in his pocket when he’s done, looks at the streaks of grease still under his fingernails. He could wash his hands another time, but he doesn’t think it’ll help.

“Ready?” Gabi asks, standing up and offering him a hand.

“Close enough.” Ángel doesn’t think he’s ready for any of this, and he’s definitely not ready to mix his friends into one big, fun melting pot, but it seems like it’s going to happen anyway. He needs to try to channel his inner Tanner and roll with it, instead of hiding the way instinct tells him to do.

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#welcome to phu #welcometophu #not your destiny #phu marked #marked

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flamebearrel · 5 years ago

Text

Some Dark Shade of Tired

Fandom: Super Smash Bros

Synopsis: Even in the World of Light, adventurers need their rest. Saving countless souls is never easy, after all. It's especially the case for the rookies, so when Villager finds himself losing sleep to someone's sobs he has no choice but to take action.

Word Count: 2114

Original Post Date: August 26, 2019

Characters: Villager, Ness (Minor/Mentions of Mario, Lucas, Paula, Jeff, Prince Poo, Galeem, Ness’s Family, Isabelle, Toon Link, Rosalina, Luigi, Trainer Red)

Ships: Ness/Villager (Can be taken as platonic or romantic)

Trigger Warnings: None

Other Notes: Ness has a lisp that only really comes out when his emotions go out of whack; I see Villager as a kid (like twelve years old); this is a sequel to Split Number One

Ao3 Link - Sequel to This

~~~

There were panicked, choked-up sobs coming from the cliff edge nearby when Villager woke up. He grunted quietly and shifted, glaring in the relative darkness. “Come on, who is up,” the little mayor hissed to himself. Any attempts of blocking it out proved futile, since the constant rays of light Galeem gave off were shining through the trees and into his eyes and the crying wasn’t stopping anytime soon. So he went to check it out.

Grazing his hand against a tree, Villager stepped over its roots and drew his gaze over the clearing. Once his eyes adjusted, he could just barely make out another fighter. Black hair… a striped shirt… a yellow-brown backpack clutched desperately against his chest… was that-

“I can’t do thith now,” Ness suddenly sputtered, cutting off Villager’s train of thought. “Out of all the timeth, not now, it can’t be now…!”

Yeesh. I… don’t think I’m qualified to help here. Villager backed up a little, pivoting to return to his sleeping bag. Ness wasn’t usually like that. He was supposed to be the confident, easygoing guy. Not… that. Whatever had gotten to him was probably something really private, which was likely something really deep and emotional, which was certainly not the mayor’s line of expertise.

…But he stopped halfway through his next step, because suddenly he remembered.

“You’re as much a part of this team as us, Villager. And we need your help just like you need ours.”

Mario’s words from before were rattling around in the back of his brain. They had never left, really, since even after they had cheered him up it still felt like he was barely helping. It wasn’t as if he was bad at fighting, but the others were just more experienced. Better. Aside from that, and providing everyone with snacks, Villager’s attempts to even out the burden-to-help ratio weren’t working.

So should he do something here? This was his chance to make up for it all, with one of his friends at that, and if he could run errands for the citizens back home then maybe it wouldn’t hurt to-

It didn’t matter what he decided anyway, because right then his overthinking was cut off by a burst of light. Whatever flickered behind him came completely out of the blue. The brunette squeaked and hurtled to the ground.

When Villager opened his eyes again, the other boy was staring at him.

The mayor shot to his feet. “Uh. Heeey, Ness.”

“How- how long have you been there?” came the tense response.

“Doesn’t matter.” He’d play it cool. “What’re… what’re you doing crying out here? Really loudly? …In the middle of the night?” Okay, maybe that wasn’t so cool.

“Stop it! I’m not crying.”

“There are tears all over your face.”

Ness turned away. “It’th the PK Flash.”

Raising an eyebrow, Villager pressed, “Since when has that ever affected you?” The PSI user just shrugged. His hands were still fizzing with bits of green. “Come on now,” the kid in the No. 1 shirt continued, “there’s nothing to hide out here! Nobody’s gonna laugh at you, you know, if you’re the one saving the world.”

“…I don’t care if people laugh at me.”

“Oh?”

“Well, I’m a laugh-y guy, right? Heh…” When Ness paused, it left the sounds of sniffles and the distant pummeling of a waterfall. “It’s worse when people get all worried.”

Villager ran over the sentence in his head. “It’s… worse when… Huh. I guess I never really thought about that.”

“Everybody’s got their own problems,” sighed the kid in stripes, “especially right now. You’ve seen it, I’m sure. You see how hard they’re taking everything, and the least you can do is be the big guy. Make sure you don’t worry ‘em even more.”

“Mm. …You know what?”

“I don’t really know a lot of things. Uh, what?”

“Of course we’re going to worry, but- if we get to, then you should too! Our team will only be as strong as the weakest of us, so we all gotta get stronger! And that doesn’t just mean physically. So go ahead and tell me… what’s wrong? I’m no Lucas when it comes to this stuff… but I’ll listen.”

Contemplation on Ness’s end, drawing out the seconds - one K.K. Slider, two K.K. Slider, will-he-ever-choose-K.K. Slider - until finally he set his backpack aside. “Okey,” he breathed. “Oookey.”

His violet eyes were some dark shade of tired when they met Villager’s.

“You see… I’m homesick again.”

The mayor blinked. “Wait wait wait, ‘again’? This is a recurring thing? I never knew you were homesick in the first place-”

“Well, I was! Why do you think I just randomly run off after matches? Whenever it happens, I can’t do anything until I call Mom.”

Leaves were rustling in the wind behind them. Villager gave a sympathetic nod.

“It’s always been like this,” continued the PSI boy. “As soon as I left Onett to find the Melodies I started calling her, and then, when I got back, then it was Paula, Jeff and Poo, a-and- And I know it’s such a tiny thing. I know they’re just a call away; so I don’t make a big deal about it. ‘Cause I’m not gonna weigh everybody down when they’ve got real problems and mine are always just a single call away.”

“…You say always… except…”

Quietly, almost hysterically he snickered to himself. “Yeah, you get it. You get it! Now there’s no one to call, is there? Some angel alien thing lasers everything away and now Mom’s a Spirit, and Tracy and Dad, and nobody answers me anymore! And I need them, Villy! I mith- miss them so much, this ithn’t fun anymore… I want to go home, but I can’t, and I can’t ring up anyone either so the feeling’th not gonna go away! Which meanth I’ll be all weak and utheleth right when you need me, I can’t do thith now, not when you need me, I-I-I-”

A moment of pause as Ness scrubbed at his eyes. Shaking, he tried to take a breath, but when he opened his mouth another thought spilled out instead.

“And I hate thith lithp too! You can’t underthtand anything I’m thaying, all of it jutht-”

What happened next looked to Villager like some kind of distraction, because his friend shot to his feet and was suddenly very interested in doing yo-yo tricks. Walking the dog, rocking the baby, a million other tricks Villy didn’t know the names of but were probably more caretaking terms… until Ness was able to slowly calm down again.

“…Nice tricks,” the mayor offered.

Then, when Ness didn’t answer, Villager took the opportunity to try and figure out what he had just heard. What was he supposed to say? How could he say anything at all? As if some cheesy “they might be dead but they’ll always be alive in your heart” would…

“Hey.” That wasn’t a terrible idea, actually. “Let’s go to Magicant.”

“Wh- What in th- Where’d that come from?”

With an awkward chuckle, Villager replied, “Trust me on this, alright? I know it makes no sense, but I want to show you something.”

Ness just sniffed and shut his eyes.

“So is… that a no, or-”

A pulling in the mayor’s chest cut him off, and then the world was pink and green and soft all around. As he steadied himself, he could see his friend nearby, buttoning up his pajama top. I wish I pocketed my pajamas. Then at least saving the universe would be comfy. Wait, not a good time.

“Here we are, O great mayor.” Taking a step toward the shorter fighter, Ness threw his hands out. “The train has arrived at the station. Now why are we here…?” Villager noted that despite the grand words and sweeping gesture, his friend’s eyes refused to meet anything but the floor.

Trying to figure out how to word his speech, the little mayor glanced to the side. It was there that a scene caught his eye. Just ahead, amidst a swirl of clouds and veggies, there was… a family. A blond woman was eating steak with her daughter. A man and an old dog sat nearby. All of them were smiling. And then the woman turned, and saw the two of them in the distance.

And she beckoned them to join in.

Something twinged in Villager’s chest. “Isn’t it obvious? We’re here because they’re here.”

“You can’t be serious…”

Smile fading fast, the kid in the No. 1 shirt snapped back to his friend. There was practically steam rising from the watery glare he met.

“Eh-? What’s with that look? What did I say?!”

“We just came so you could get me off your back! Villager, this isn’t real, everything here is just in my mind-”

“It’s not like that AT ALL!”

The next thing he knew, Villager had pulled the taller boy down by the shoulders and to his level. Suddenly the world seemed to dim around them.

“Listen up,” the mayor ordered. “This is for a reason, got it? Now pay attention, cause I’m only making my point once.” Ness nodded, startled, giving Villager the chance to take a breath.

“I know this is your mind. No duh! But can’t that mean these guys are made from your memories? The perfectly real memories that you’ve amassed over who knows how long? These are the people you know- they look and act and care like you’ve always seen. If you’re in a place where you’ve literally made memories, where everything is familiar, and where everybody loves you… I’d say, technically, you’ve got a home right where we stand!”

A step back. Crossed arms. Villager nodded in the family’s direction as Ness took a long look, contemplative. That wasn’t enough, was it? He’d still have to…

“…And, besides this place… I get missing them. I understand! I miss my family, my villagers, the shopkeepers… I missed Isabelle until we found her! Even now, Toon and Rosalina! I even… I even missed you-!” Warmth was starting to tinge his cheeks from such openness. He cleared his throat. No stopping now.

“Uh. Uhh, and I’m sure everyone else misses each other too. Mario talks about Luigi all the time, and Lucas is keeping an eye out for Red… What I’m trying to say is, you’re not alone in this. Any of this! Not just in feeling homesick, either. If you feel down? Insecure? Like you’re the biggest burden anyone in the entire World of Light has ever seen?! …I get it. We… we really, really get it. And if everybody gets everybody, then that means right now, we can be your family, too.”

Whatever reaction Villager was expecting, it wasn’t this. Had he been the one hearing it, he’d be saying something, not just… staring. Admittedly the stare wasn’t too surprising; it was more the fact that Ness was smiling, sincerely, for the first time since he’d been saved.

“You really do mean it, huh…”

“Well… yeah.”

Then he was almost sent toppling. The kid in stripes practically tackled him, squeezing him tightly. After flailing a moment, the mayor managed to find some kind of balance. He huffed, “Okay, what’s this for, it isn’t part of my deal-”

“I’d never expect that from you,” Ness whispered. “Thank you.”

“…Blech! You’re so sappy.” In response to the PSI user’s smirk, he merely stuck out his tongue.

“Says the guy with the big old speech. Who, ya know, is hugging me right back~”

And Villager immediately dropped his arms. “Y-YOU HAVE NO PROOF-” It was true, though. Lately lots of hugs had been going around. Just this once, he’d wanted to return one. “F… fine, I guess you’re not totally wrong… But you better not go acting like it’ll happen again.” Shaking his head, he moved to change the subject. “Nevermind that. Why don’t you tell me about them? Your family, I mean? There’s gotta be something interesting about ‘em for you to care so much, right?”

“Heh, lemme see… There was this one time Poo took a prank call… … …”

A few early risers the next morning, checking to make sure no one had been spirited away, immediately noticed they were down two fighters. Their epic search lasted only a few minutes. In the grassy clearing of the cliff edge lay the two, sound asleep.

The others stared a moment at their light-dappled faces before deciding to leave them be. Quiet, content… those expressions… who would want to interfere?

For a single morning in Galeem’s World of Light, despite all the odds, their expressions shone like they were right at home.

#smash bros fanfiction #smash bros #smash ultimate #super smash bros #super smash bros ultimate #fanfic #villager #red shirt villager #ness #ness x villager #nessvilly #nessvillager #animal crossing #earthbound #world of light #krispy kreme word machine

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