#making small tweaks but overall just watching

[natalianovnas]

❛❛ 𝐏𝐀𝐖 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 ❛❛

꩜ ۫ . SUMMARY :: what starts as vet visits for Fanny slowly turns into a healing connection — where vulnerability, trust quietly grow between a guarded ex-spy and the woman who helps her feel safe again.

꩜ ۫ . GENRE :: dog!owner!yelena x vet!reader, emotional healing.

꩜ ۫ . WARNINGS :: mentions of ptsd and past trauma, but overall is just pure fluff.

an : finally got to write for lena after struggling this whole time T-T word count got lost, lmao | masterlist

Yelena never trusted vets.

Not after that one time in Bucharest where Fanny came back with a cone and a limp that wasn’t there before. Since then, she’s handled most of Fanny’s issues herself — scrapes, minor injuries, ticks, bad moods, all patched up with first aid kits, a little YouTube, and a lot of stubborn love.

But when Fanny starts limping again, this time without any clear cause, Yelena knows it’s something deeper than a sore paw.

Which is why, against her instincts, she’s pacing outside a local veterinary clinic in a small upstate town — far enough from the city to feel anonymous, close enough that she can get back in case things go south.

“Hi there, weclome.” You greet with a warm, welcoming smile, wearing a dark green scrub top with a paw print on the sleeve, and your eyes soften immediately when they land on Fanny. “Is she your dog?”

Yelena straightens like she’s been caught doing something illegal. “Yes. She’s… she is my everything.”

You smile, kneeling down, hand outstretched.

“Can I take a look at her?”

Fanny trots over like she’s known you her whole life. Traitor.

Yelena watches you with the intensity of someone trained to spot danger. You’re gentle, skilled, talking softly to Fanny as you check her gait, her joints, her paws.

“She’s got a bit of swelling here,” You murmur, pressing along her leg. “Probably just tweaked something. But I’d like to do an X-ray to be safe. Is that okay?”

“Will she be sedated?”

“No need for that. We’ll keep her calm. You can be in the room if you want.”

Yelena hesitates. Then, “Fine. But if she looks scared, I’m calling it off.”

The exam goes smoothly. Fanny eats up the attention. Yelena doesn’t say much, except for the occasional glare if someone gets too loud or moves too fast. You notice and adjust.

When it’s over and you’re handing over the report — nothing serious, just rest and a mild anti-inflammatory — Yelena lingers at the counter.

“You were gentle with her,” She says as if she wasn't expecting it but it warmed her heart, despite the fact that she wouldn't admit such a thing.

“I always am,” you reply, still scribbling something on a notepad. “Dogs don’t lie. They know when someone’s not safe. Fanny didn’t flinch once.”

She frowns a little, like that means more than it should.

Then, “Would you… like to see her again? For a follow-up, I mean.”

You look up. There’s a new kind of softness in her tone which is the — testing, even.

“I’d love to,” You agree. “Same time next week?”

“Same time,” She echoes, already backing toward the door. “And… thank you.”

The follow-up becomes a walk afterward, then coffee and it continues when Yelena brings Fanny by for “emergencies” that suspiciously always occur when you’re the only one on shift — a sneeze, a scratch, once even because Fanny “looked offended” after a bath.

You play along. You tease. She teases back.

“You know, you can come by without inventing a crisis,” You say one evening, leaning against the clinic doorway, the sky dusky behind you.

The Russian shrugs, “Harder to explain to myself that way.”

You smile while stepping forward.

“I’ll make it easy for you then.”

You kiss her on the cheek — soft, brief, enough to make her go still and Fanny barks like she’s been waiting for this the whole time.

That night, Yelena texts you a photo of Fanny curled up on her lap.

"She’s sulking because I smell like you. She’ll get over it."

Smiling behind your screen, you type back "You don’t have to." — as a reply.

. . .

Yelena drops by the clinic on quiet mornings, Fanny trotting ahead like she owns the place. You’ve started keeping her favorite treats behind the counter. Yelena notices and says nothing, but the way her lips twitch when you offer one says enough.

One morning, it’s raining. You’re organizing files when the bell above the door rings.

Yelena walks in soaked — hoodie clinging to her, hair matted down, and eyes unreadable. Fanny shakes out beside her, wagging as usual.

But the blonde doesn’t speak right away.

You frown and step around the counter. “Lena? What’s wrong?”

She doesn’t look at you. She just kneels, fussing with Fanny’s leash. “Didn’t know where else to go,” she mutters.

That quiet admission settles heavily between you. You don’t push and instead, you kneel too, hands brushing hers as you help remove the leash. “You can always come here. You know that.”

She looks up. And for the first time, her walls crack — not all the way, but enough that you see the fear underneath.

“I had a nightmare,” She confesses. “Woke up in sweat. Gun in my hand. Fanny whining. Thought I was back in… somewhere else.”

You nod slowly, voice steady. “PTSD?”

Yelena scoffs, wiping her face. “I don’t need a diagnosis.”

“I wasn’t diagnosing you, Yelena. I was just… acknowledging it.”

The way you say her name in that soft voice of yours does things to her, makes her feel things she never imagined she could feel but she doesn't voice it.

“You still want to kiss someone who wakes up ready to kill?”

You reach forward, hand grazing hers. “I want to kiss someone who wakes up ready to protect. And who brings her dog to me every time she needs an excuse to feel safe.”

She blinks hard. “You’re too good for me.”

“No, Lena. Just good enough for you to be uncomfortable about it.”

That earns a faint laugh — broken, but real.

You stand and help her up as well. “Come on. I’ve got chamomile tea and an extra hoodie that doesn't smell like wet dog.”

. . .

She stays the night.

Not in your bed — not yet. But on your couch, wrapped in a dry blanket, Fanny snoring beside her. You check on her around midnight. She’s awake, eyes on the ceiling.

“You’re allowed to sleep, you know,” You whisper.

“Yeah,” She whispers back. “For once, I think I might.”

. . .

Weeks pass. She starts showing up without Fanny sometimes.

Once, she brings you takeout and a smirk. “For the hardworking doctor who touches animals all day and still looks… hot.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Are you flirting with me?”

Yelena steps closer, something electric in the air. “Would you rather I didn’t?”

You shake your head. “I’d rather you stop hesitating.”

Then she kisses you.

It’s not gentle — it’s cautious at first, but intense, like she’s afraid she won’t get another chance. You pull her in, one hand in her hair, the other against her waist.

And when she exhales, it sounds like something long-held finally letting go.

. . .

Later, as you sit together on your porch under the stars, Fanny curled up at your feet, Yelena nudges your shoulder.

“Thank you,” She murmurs.

“For what?”

“For letting me be soft. I didn’t know I had that left in me.”

You lean your head against hers with a smile.

“You don’t have to be soft for everyone. But you can be, here.”

She hums, looking out at the moonlit fields.

“And I’ll protect that softness like you protect Fanny,” You add.

Yelena smirks. “So… you’re in love with me?”

You laugh. “Ask me again when Fanny stops being your wingman.”

She doesn’t say anything else, but she reaches for your hand and laces her fingers with yours and that was enough.

[koralcove]

contains: cockwarming, period sex, unprotected sex, gentle sex... just overall vanilla.

thinking of cockwarming xavier while you're both taking a nap.

he'd have his arms wrapped around you, cocooning you in his warmth, nose buried in your neck, feeling the soft wisps of his breathe tickling you. you're curled up against him, back rested against his chest as your legs wrap around each other loosely. it's only midday, and you're already in for another nap. it's not unusual for xavier to do so, but when you're in your mid-cycle, your body has been opting for you to rest more, making you prone to habitual heavy napping. and xavier is more than happy to indulge in nap time with you. he gets to do what he loves most while spending it with you – two birds with one stone!

you shift slightly in your sleep, one peeking at your sleeping form as he feels you hugging the pillow you have to your chest tighter, nuzzling on it before your body settles again. xavier does the same as well, pulling you close to him and nuzzling against your neck before going back to his own dreamland.

when your consciousness comes to, you revel in the warmth surrounding you, carefully moving xavier's arm closer to your face as you inhale the scent of his hoodie sleeve. it smells of clean detergent, the kind that has a soft, but lasting impression, with a hint of his scent. it makes you feel heady, your hormones surging, singing to you as you're surrounded by the presence of your lover. you gyrate your hips softly against him, only small movements as you feel him stir gently inside you. you're surprised by a reciprocated movement from him, hips following your slow rhythm. you're unsure if it's him unconsciously letting his body move instinctively with you or if he's come to his senses, but you're answered with a small peck on your neck.

as you continue your movements, a slow heat is building up between you. your hips rock against him with slight force, hinting that you want more. he answers with tightening his arm around your waist, catching the small movement of when your hips meet his to push against you. you hold onto your pillow, humping your hips against it, the fabric brushing against your clit, making you sigh out. the arm around your waist slides down to tuck itself under your shirt, his warm hand splayed on your skin, gripping on it softly as he continues to move from behind.

the intimate, soft sounds of your bodies rubbing against each other are only heard through the shape of you and him. he doesn't pace any faster, only consistent with the soft rock of your bottom meeting his pelvis, unhurried with his release. he watches as the golden stream of light filters the room in a soft glow, paired with the faint scent of your shampoo on his nose, and he wishes that he could loop this moment to infinity.

when you near, you squeeze softly on his arm, simultaneously clenching around him. xavier responds with trailing his hand higher to your chest, softly kneading on your breasts, tweaking your nipples gently in between his fingers. a few more thrusts from him and little humps on your pillow, and you finally release, body stiffening as you let your climax come through to you. xavier stops his hips, letting you ride out your high as he continues to softly knead on you flesh. after you come down, he continues to move gently against you, making you clench around him, still a little sensitive from your climax, but you let him have his way with you. a few moments pass, and you feel him twitch inside you, stiffening as he releases in you with a soft grunt. when he finishes, he kisses your head, trailing down to your cheek, your jaw, then to your neck. you hum in small delight at his affection.

you both bask in the afterglow, his hand tracing small mindless shapes on your skin. a sigh leaves you as you wish to revel in his warmth longer, but you could already feel the stickiness between your thighs clinging uncomfortably on you. you tap on his arm lightly, and he gets the message. he pulls out of you slowly, and you feel the warmth of his seed spilling out of you, probably with your own fluids as well. you feel him shift from behind, dipping the bed as he slowly sits up, stretching his limbs a bit. he grabs a tissue from the bedside table, wiping himself clean, doing the same to you, gently wiping between your legs and your thighs. he pads his way to the bathroom, throwing the tissues and getting a washcloth, dampening it slightly before making his way back to you. you spread out for him as he cleans you, the coolness of the washcloth on your skin and being cleaned making you sigh out in relief. you sit up, taking the cloth from him and giving him a peck, swinging your legs from the bed and going to the bathroom. xavier lets you tend to yourself, putting his sweats back on and inspecting the towel on the covers to make sure if it's still cleaned. when he doesn't find any stains, he settles on the bed, taking off his hoodie and setting it aside. you come back, pulling out a pair of bottoms from the drawer before joining him to bed, seeing how enticing and cosy he looks in the afternoon glow.

you crawl into his arms, feeling the soft heat of his body warmth radiating. he wraps his arms around you as you settle on top of him, caressing your head softly as you feel the slow, gentle pace of his heartbeat. both of you lay in the gentle silence wrapped around the lazy moment. later on, you'll both drift off to eventually sleep once more as the sunlight's glow immortalises this peaceful moment.

[sl3epyaf]

WHB Kings as parents

Adopted or biological- These are just my headcanons of the kings as parents.

Now do I think the kings would be good parents? Ehh.. maybe? It honestly depends.. but also for Beel for an example I feel like he'd accidentally forget you somewhere or just legit leave you with Bael- (I promise i'm not slandering him I love him sm)

Update: I did make a small fic but tweaked the concept:

Beep beep

Honestly the best parent out of the kings- considering his experience in raising his brothers when he was an angel- well overall the best dad tbh.

I feel like Lucifer would tell you stories about heaven if he deems them safe enough for kids

So maybe about the scenery, about his past etc.

He'd definitely teach you important life lessons- once you're old enough to atleast understand somewhat.. that's when the life lessons start.

Might even teach you medicine incase you're curious about it

You and Gamigin are the chaos twins but Lucifer still loves you both.

Your future lovers better PRAY to God that they pass the Lucifer test, if they don't they can kisses their asses goodbye without an anesthetic

I don't think he knows shit about parenting

Atleast Levi will make sure someone (Foras cough cough) keeps an eye on you 24/7 to make sure you're safe.

Leviathan will not be the most affectionate to you but he still cares for you

If you mention wanting something expect to find it in your room. Don't ask him though, he'll deny it 100%.

You'll have the best fashion ever, if you're his child then naturally you have to look good as him, just not better, he'll get envious.

Your future lovers also better pray to someone that they'll pass the Leviathan test (Failure rate 99,9%). If they don't they're turned into coffin monster food, simple as that.

This can go either two ways

He'll leave you with Bael

And Bael will curse him out for it..

But Beel will send you tons of gifts that he's either found or gotten while he's been out, which may or may not include wine because he doesn't know that it's not safe for children to consume- but atleast you'll have a stash for when you're an adult?

Bael also curses him out for this and he may or may not have stolen a bottle or two because he's tired of Beelzebub's shit.

Second option- he brings you with him at all times which is like- good job your life is a constant roadtrip.

You'll need a few- hundred phones to for your pictures unless you have godly memory

When Beel forgets something he asks you about the memory and 100% wants you to send him pictures of the moment if you have them.

Beel will also 100% want to create tons of memories with you so he doesn't forget that you're his child.

Your partners might have to pass the Beelzebub test a few times because he'll forget..

but on the good side atleast they can sorta memorize the answers in advance for the next time they have to retake the test?

The best dad #2

I mean come on, mf had a wife and kids.

He'll often take you out to visit earth and during that time he'll ignore the people swooning over him, your enjoyment is his top priority.

If you're in an amusement park/arcade he might charm the employees to give you free plushies..

Honestly though Asmodeus might be the reason why you're single.. If your partner is a devil I can guarantee you that they'll run to the fucking north pole to avoid taking the Asmo test that determines whether or not they're good enough for you.

And Asmodeus has the highest standards, he wants the best for his child..

But other than that he's on the same level as Lucifer- maybe honestly even higher?

If you end up as a spoiled child it's all Mammon's fault.

Mf will buy you anything you want including stuff from earth

Nobody also dares to fuck with you considering how big Mammon is-

I'll be 100% honest if you're holding a birthday party or just any event Bimet will be there and he will try to charge people for everything- A guest wants to use the bathroom? Pay him 50 bucks.

And of course Mammon is watching him not giving a damn- in fact he might tell you to look up to Bimet..

When it comes to your partners I'm honestly not sure- I feel like Mammon would have them prove their worth to him in some kind of way considering you deserve nobody but the best.

The Mammon test might include having your partners give him treasures that he hasn't discovered yet.. so uhh- welp, that's nice.

You're Beleth's child now, congrats you're switching fathers like it's musical chairs!

No but- Beleth will look after you 99,9% of the time. The only time when he's not looking after you is nap/bed time.

During that time you're 100% with Belphegor and he'll make sure you get ZERO nightmares. Your sleep is important to him (Just like you are- he just doesn't have the energy to take care of you all the time)

Imma be 100% fr- You're gonna have piercings.

Your partners have to worry about the Beleth test more than the Belphegor test considering his only requirement is that his sleep (and yours) doesn't get disturbed.

You might end up as short as him-

Jokes aside you'll have a FUN childhood. Satan will 100% let you on his motorcycle.

If you don't want a motorcycle later in life I'd be shocked honestly.

He'll also teach you the classic Satan yeeting method- (Aka ass kicking to the Gehenna devils)

Does Satan really know how to parent? Not really but he'll try his best

If something annoys you/makes you sad prepare for it's funeral- whether it's a devil or an object. How dare something/someone annoy you or make you sad.

When it comes to the Satan test I feel like It'd be a motorcycle race.. If your partner doesn't win they'll get their asses kicked out of Gehenna and into Paradise Lost..

[grossnyucky]

Samsonite Headcanons

gonna put everything undercut, taking this from my comments on someone else's post so sorry if this is formatted weird i've never done anything like this </333

please feel free to tell me yalls headcanons too tbh

I like to think he's selective mute

his smile is his resting face which can make him hard to read initially

with that being said I think if he cares about you in our way traditionally, I think he takes the time to add nonverbal signals for his emotions

his ears twitch/move to show emotion, like a cat's (I think it would be easy for people to get confused what it means, which would end up with tales mixing which signals mean what for people who encounter him)

also giving him a small tail just cause, tails are fun

his favorite on brand is mtn dew :]

Samsonite likely inspired music in that universe, which would give more reasoning to drums/bass considering he likes a beat

that being said, I think he'd enjoy things like electro swing and would actively switch his dance style (enjoy the swing dancing mental image)

if y'all listen to music together that doesn't have much bass/beat I think it's slowly turn into pony by habit

he's a horse and I'm basing it off of the fact the song is Pony, do with that as you will

though all of his outfits have the overall and hat combo, I do think he also has the sagging pants and open shirt outfit on very rare occasions too (begging someone to draw this ngl)

I also want more people to draw his small fucked up form that appears during the exorcism, and whenever he tweaks out

on that note, he needs a host every once in a while. Taking liberties there I like to imagine it like Venom if he's weak enough/if a person is powerful enough

he calls you a doodoohead etc if you don't listen while he's in the backseat

this does probably mean being on a people's soul/on brand soda diet, so rip ur wallet probably

if you take his hat count your nanoseconds

Samsonite is playful/a tease, he likes to torment before taking people as a host or to his domain I feel like it's a given

if we go with the headcanon that he's a pig, he snorts for laughter

his domain reaches not only closets, drawers and bed undersides, but I also like to think this means any larger pieces of room furniture

he 100% uses this to jumpscare you or pulling you off the bed just cause

I think this would also allow him to travel via luggage

he can become pocket sized, let him have an iPod to listen to fr

he probably disappears for months at a time before coming back regularly, he's gotta feed

I think he'd adore scratches/pets

on that note watch out for biting or potentially ur soul being eaten (it's worth it though)

on the fence about how I see this, but I think touch is a one way street more often than not

but that could also be why he likes scratches and pets whenever he allows them

self-inflicted touch starved LMAO

if you think of him romantically, hear me out on doomed relationship cause technically he is one of the "great old ones"

denies each trip without taking you to the domain as stalling because he is attached but his survival needs mean more

using you as a host because in a way its a compromise, the best that both of your limits can offer anyway Anyway, I'm insane and if yall want something specific lmk :]

[decks-writing-blog]

Here to Stay Drabbles: Preferred If You Woke Me

Summary: Benrey has a nightmare.

[A/N] Now might be a good time to clarify that these drabbles and one shots aren't in chronological order.

Also, with this upload my total overall published word count over on Ao3 surpasses 2.5 million. :)

~

The cube was small, encouraging Benrey to be small too. He could only shrink so much though. He pressed against the glass like walls, trying to phase through. The cube got smaller, compressing his form further, making the need to phase through it stronger but not any more possible.

Figures walked around outside it, distorted heavily by the orange tinted barrier walls. They were watching him, studying him. An experiment or a test. Whichever it was, he wanted not part of it. He’d have said something to annoy them for that but… he didn’t have the parts formed to make speech possible. For some reason he couldn’t remember how to make those parts.

The cube got smaller, forcing him to shift his bones to make himself more flexible. The barrier was cold. Pulling away from it was just as impossible as phasing through it though. He tried anyway which… made the cube grow smaller. It pressed in on all sides now, forcing him to conform to its shape. He couldn’t breath with how tight it was or struggle or move at all. The only thing he could do was hope it wouldn’t get any smaller.

As if egged on by that thought, it got tighter, compressing him. He tried again to phase through it, had never really stopped and was just trying harder now because he needed out! He needed out right now! There was no out though, just the cube getting smaller and smaller until...

His eyes snapped open. Above him was the ceiling to the game room. The TV was on though silent. A glance over revealed why; the game was paused with a message stating that the wireless controller had lost connection. He sat up, making said controller fall from where it had rested on this chest to his lap.

Apparently he’d fallen asleep playing video games. In his defense, the electric blanket Gordon had given him yesterday was cozy. … Or had been cozy; it turned off automatically after a few hours and thus was cold now. Picking the controller back up, he quickly saved and quit before grabbing the blanket and folding it up to place on the couch’s arm rest. He didn’t bother to unplug it as this was likely to be its primary home.

His hands still shook by the time he was done but… he was going to ignore that until it went away. Judging by the light coming in through the window it was late enough that Gordon should be home by now. Good.

Not bothering with opening the door, he phased through it because he could. There was only one material that he knew of which he couldn’t phase through. He was otherwise completely free to go around and do whatever he wanted; nothing could contain him or squeeze him.

Loud music came from the kitchen, indicating Gordon was there and probably doing the dishes. Benrey headed that way.

The music was blaring, making walking into the kitchen feel almost like passing through a wall of sound. Gordon always liked to listen to things loud when he was alone. When asked, he’d said it drowned out his thoughts. An impulse Benrey could understand, especially right now, but loud things had never helped him much. Distractions did though.

Still unnoticed, he approached the radio and stuck his hand into it. Most of the time when he messed with electronics while phased into them, they broke. Thus maybe he shouldn’t risk such here but radios were the easiest thing to mess with without breaking and this one was old, easily replaceable if need be. Lightly touching and tweaking some of the inside bits of it in just the right way made the music distort and fuzz in a way Tommy had ensured him sounded creepy.

It apparently worked on Gordon as he let out a small yelp as he snapped around to look at Benrey and the radio, squeezing the sponge in his real hand tight. His gun hand was up and presumably ready to shoot. At the sight of Benrey though, he relaxed, letting it fall to his side. He said something but the radio, still distorted and fuzzy with static drowned most it out.

Just to show off, Benrey turned the radio off – or accidentally broke it in his attempt to do so, only trying to turn it back on again would reveal which it was – before pulling his hand back out. The sudden silence seemed just as physical as the music had been.

“Hey,” he said in way of greeting as he leaned against the counter. “How’s it going?”

Gordon turned to place the kitchen sponge back on its little dish by the sink before setting to wriggling his hand out of the dish glove. “It’s going. I didn’t know you could do that.”

“It’s cool, huh?” No need to mention the radio might be broken because of it.

“Kinda creepy sounding but sure, cool too, I guess.” Free of the glove, Gordon turned to face him fully. “You… uh, have a nice nap?”

“You could’ve woke me when you got home. I don’t really need much sleep anyway.” Benrey would’ve expected him to since he had a thing about being alone.

“Yeah, I know but… I didn’t want to disturb you if you were cozy enough to nap. And I needed to do the dishes anyway.” He gestured back towards the sink which was actually empty now. Apparently Benrey had disturbed him right as he’d finished.

“I’d’ve preferred if you woke me.” He liked hanging out with Gordon when he got home from work and well, the bad dream would’ve been nice to be pulled out of early.

Gordon was silent for a beat or two before… “Oh, uh… bad dream?”

Benrey didn’t want to talk about it but he was trying to make an effort to stop lying about being fine when he wasn’t. Apparently acknowledging bad feelings was supposedly ‘healthier’ and ‘better’ than ignoring them until they went away as was his usual habit. A hard habit to break but Gordon of all people would understand nightmares so… “Yeah.”

Gordon stepped towards him, already reaching out to touch him. Normally when Benrey felt bad, Gordon’s arms was the best place to be, they were warm and nice. But Gordon didn’t like to be phased through so Benrey tried not to. With the nightmare still pressing in on the back of his mind, the thought of being surrounded by anything he couldn’t freely phase through was unpleasant. So he stepped backwards, phasing into the counter to make it very clear he didn’t want to be held right now and just because he could. He couldn’t be contained by anything mundane, let alone squeezed and squeezed.

He flinched a little but Gordon did stop, shifting his trajectory as if he’d been coming over to stand a short distance away from Benrey instead. Leaning sideways into the counter, he fiddled with the gun’s barrel, turning it absentmindedly as he looked down at it. “You wanna talk about it or just want a distraction?”

“Uh… you know that stuff we put in the basement yesterday from my old lab?” It had taken them almost a whole week to finally get around to moving it out of the gaming room but they’d got there eventually. “You think we could destroy the panels we tore off walls and stuff?” The only material in the world he couldn’t phase through and there was a whole bunch of it in the house, just a single flight of steps away. He’d gotten really good at not looking at those boxes while they’d sat in the gaming room but if ignoring bad feelings was unhealthy then surely ignoring the things that caused bad feelings was too, right? So… “Like grind them down to dust then burn the dust kinda destroy.”

Gordon looked up at him. “Yeah, sure, we could do that. It’s a bit late to be heading out into the desert right now but maybe tomorrow we could drive a few miles out into the middle of nowhere, perhaps even off road a bit, destroy them best we can then bury what’s left.”

Immediate agreement, no questions asked, he’d even offered a place and time to do it. Benrey didn’t have to explain why he’d brought that up unprompted instead of answering the question or why he didn’t want to be held right now when normally he liked cuddling. Often Gordon was annoyingly curious, he liked asking questions about basically anything that caught his interest, but this time, blessedly, he just got it. That probably came with the territory of having his own problems that he preferred to talk about instead of directly about.

“’kay,” Benrey said. “We can invite the others too ‘cause there’s lots of stuff to destroy.” And Coomer had already punched through a sheet of it so he for sure was strong enough to break it. “It uh… might even be fun.”

“Yeah, might be. For now though… wanna go for a walk or would you rather stay home and play games or whatever.”

“Walk.” Benrey could do with working off some energy. And even if it was late enough that the desert heat had gone down some, it was still plenty warm. “I’ll get my camera.” Taking pics of things was always fun too. Maybe if they were out for long enough they could catch the sunset.

[annerly-san]

Love and Deep Deadlines | A LaDS Corporate AU - Chapter 5

Summary:

Amidst the cut throat culture of Onyxion Enterprises where cutting-edge innovation is overshadowed by corporate chaos, no one talks about how hard it is to be an intern.

Alongside Caleb, the sales department smooth-talker; Zayne, the cold and unflappable CTO; Xavier, a director who might as well be an intern himself; and Rafayel, the overly dramatic Creative Director who brings his own flair to every meltdown, our intern is just trying to survive the workday. Oh, and don’t forget Onyxion’s very own CEO, Sylus, a walking HR violation who gets off on terrorizing his employees.

In this company, will love bloom before the deadlines run deep, or will the company go under first?

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The buzz around the Aethercore was undeniable.  The interview with Zayne had gone far better than I could have hoped, and ever since then, whispers about the new technology had echoed through the office halls.  My inbox was filled with emails about presentations and marketing collateral that needed to be finalized.  There was a lot to do, but I liked the pace—it kept my mind from wandering into less comfortable thoughts, like how my internship was nearing its end, or the growing sense of uncertainty about my future here at Onyxion.

I’d been working in one of the open creative spaces on the sixth floor, a bright, modern area designed for collaboration.  It was my new favorite spot—close enough to the marketing department but far enough from the constant hum of the main office to do work in peace.  The smell of fresh coffee wafted through the air, and the quiet chatter from nearby desks made it feel more like a café than a corporate building.  I liked that.

Today, I was deep into building the slides for the sales team’s upcoming pitch on one of the new Aethercore application projects.  They were expecting something sleek, cutting-edge, and polished enough to impress even the most skeptical customers.  I sipped my iced coffee, fingers dancing in rhythm to the clacking of the keyboard as I wrote out various value propositions and tweaked design elements on the slides to make a compelling slidedeck.

"That’s nice," a voice said from behind, startling me.

I turned to see a man leaning casually against the desk next to mine.  His clothes were effortlessly stylish, and there was an air of playfulness in the way he tilted his head, studying the slide on my screen. His short purple hair framed his face in a curtain-cut similar to that of the pop stars that I watched on screen.  His eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Oh, uh, thanks!" I said, quickly recovering from the surprise. "Just trying to get this presentation ready for the sales team. We’re gearing up for the Aethercore launch."

His gaze lingered on the screen for a moment before he walked over, sitting on the edge of the table.  He studied my work with a faint smile, but his posture remained completely relaxed, like he belonged here.

“You know,” he began, gesturing vaguely at the slide, “you might want to add a bit more contrast between the text and the background.  It’ll make it easier for people to read without squinting. And maybe try using a bolder font for the headers—just so there’s enough contrast between that and the subheader text.”

I blinked, considering his suggestions.  “That’s... a great idea!”  I quickly made those changes and saw how it really elevated the overall slide deck and message.  “Thanks for those suggestions!” I beamed.

He gave a small chuckle, pleased.  “Of course it is. Are you presenting this, or is it for someone else?”

I laughed.  “Oh, I’m just an intern, so I’m not presenting it.  Caleb—uh, one of our sales leads—is going to present it next week.”

He chuckled as he leaned in a little, eyes twinkling. “Oh, Xia?  I know him.  He’s good.  Tell him to make his own slides next time, why bother the poor intern?”

I shook my head and let out a polite grin.  “I’m in the marketing department, so I work with Sales.  This is one of my jobs and I don’t mind helping Caleb out.”

The man let out a resigned sigh as he threw his hands up in defeat.  “Well, if you say so, I guess that’s how it is.  If you ever need any more tips though, I’ve got plenty of those. Especially for someone working so hard on something so important.  That’s also part of my job I guess…”

I tilted my head, intrigued. “Thanks!  I appreciate it!  Are you in marketing?”

His smile widened, but he didn’t answer directly. “Let’s just say I dabble in the creative side of things.” He stood up smoothly, as if ready to make his exit, but paused. “If you ever need help with graphics or design, feel free to stop by my office. I’m always happy to lend a hand.”

Excited that I might have found a new friend and coworker, I couldn’t help the wide smile on my face as I asked, “I might take you up on that. What’s your name?”

“Rafayel,” he said with a wink. “Just ask around. People will know where to find me.”

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed with a meeting reminder. “I’ve got to run,” I said, grabbing my laptop. “But thanks again for the advice, Rafayel.”

He gave me a playful salute before walking off with an air of mystery, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d just met someone... eccentric.

“Oh, you met Rafayel?”  The barely concealed glee in Caleb’s voice made me frown as we stared at each other in the meeting room.

I crossed my arms and glared at him, already regretting that I’d mentioned meeting someone new at work.  “Yes?  And-?”

Caleb bit his lip as he was barely able to make out his next few words without laughing too much.  “D-Did you ask him to be friends with you too?”

“Hey!!”  I grabbed my pen and threw it at him from across the conference table.  “What’s that supposed to mean?!”

By the time Caleb managed to stop laughing long enough to get the point across, I had already pulled up Rafayel’s name in the organizational chart.

‘Rafayel Qi - Creative Director’

My jaw dropped as Caleb burst out laughing again. “Man! How do you keep running into all these directors so casually, pipsqueak?” he cackled, kicking his feet up onto the table. “That’s some real talent right there! Talk about getting your network early—”

The notebook I threw hit its mark.  “Owowowow! Ok, ok!” Despite the direct hit, Caleb still wore that stupid grin. “I’ll report you to HR for sales guy abuse!”

“Pft, like anyone in HR would believe you!” I shot back, rolling my eyes as I stood up to retrieve my notebook. “That’s rich coming from the guy who has a monthly meeting with HR because you don’t understand that sending memes to half the company is not ‘professional communication.’”

“Whaaat? No idea what you’re talking about, pipsqueak. I’m just trying to make things fun around here. Can’t help it if some people don’t have a sense of humor.” Caleb whistled innocently, typing away on his laptop as if last week he hadn’t just ‘Reply All-ed’ to the Sales & Marketing newsletter, telling everyone to direct customer inquiries to Zayne’s personal cell number.

“Yeah, sure, Mr. ‘Culture Enhancer.’” I muttered, shaking my head. “You’re like a walking HR-violation.”

Caleb clutched his chest dramatically. “Wow! That’s harsh! But listen, you haven’t even met a real walking HR-violation yet, so don’t throw around such accusations!”

“Oh really? Who’s worse than you?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

Without missing a beat, Caleb’s voice dropped into a mock-serious tone. “SYLUS.”

I frowned, feeling a strange twinge in my chest.  “WHAT?  OUR CEO!?  DON'T EVEN START COMPARING YOURSELF TO HIM, YOU’RE NOWHERE NEAR HIS LEAGUE!  HE'S A GREAT GUY!” I shot back without hesitation.  The words flew out of my mouth faster than I’d expected. I could feel my face heating up as he blinked in shock at me. 

Caleb stood straight up, his chair clattering to the floor. “EXCUSE ME, PIPSQUEAK???” He looked genuinely scandalized. “WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!?!?”

“YOU HEARD ME! I SAID WHAT I SAID! DON'T DISRESPECT SYLUS LIKE THAT!”

“I SHOULD BE THE ONE OFFENDED! HOW IN THE WORLD IS SYLUS A GREAT GUY?! EXPLAIN YOURSELF!”

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling self-conscious about how strongly I had reacted.  What was that? Why was I defending Sylus so adamantly?  Aside from seeing him in the news and on the screen in formal events, I didn’t know him at all to be arguing with Caleb on his behalf.

“AREN’T WE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING OVER THE PRESENTATION? THEY’RE GONNA KICK US OUT OF THE CONFERENCE ROOM!” I waved my hands toward the slide deck.

“OK FINE!!” Caleb dropped back into his seat, still clearly flabbergasted but reluctantly pulling up the presentation. “But we’re not done talking about this!”

A few moments passed by in awkward silence between us as Caleb started flipping through the slides.

I waited with bated breath as the projector showed him clicking through everything-- my work getting scrutinized under his eyes for the first time.

“This deck’s looking sharp, pipsqueak,” he stated proudly, nodding with approval.  “You’ve really nailed the messaging here.”

I smiled, feeling a little more at ease. “Thanks. I just hope it’s good enough for the customers.”

“Good enough?” Caleb raised an eyebrow, spinning his chair to face me fully. “This is more than good enough.  It’s killer.  The audience will eat this up.  You’re making me look like a rockstar.”  He winked, but there was something genuine in his voice, like he wanted me to know that I’d done well.

I gave a small laugh, brushing off the compliment.  “Hey, that’s what I’m here for.  I just hope that it’ll be enough for you when you get up there.”

He leaned forward, folding his hands on the table, his usual playful expression replaced with something a little more serious. “Don’t sell yourself short, pipsqueak. You’ve got a talent for this.”

His words warmed me, but the knot of anxiety in my stomach still wouldn’t unravel.  Caleb was a master at sales, so if he said that the presentation was solid-- then sure-- it would be fine.

But I couldn’t shake the pressure of knowing how much was riding on this.

This was a very large customer-facing sales presentation.  The slides were practically finished, but every time I thought about it, my stomach flipped.  Sure-- Caleb would be the one presenting, but my work was going to be on full display.  The thought of having my work so visible to the larger organization was exciting, but also terrifying.

It felt like a double-edged sword. If it went well, maybe I could turn this internship into something more permanent. If not, well...

I must’ve drifted off into my thoughts because Caleb suddenly nudged my arm with the back of his hand. “Hey, earth to pipsqueak. You alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a smile.

Caleb stared at me with a strange look on his face, and I knew that there was something he wanted to say to me, but he seemed to decide against it.

“Ok,” he said calmly as he started to type up speaker notes on the file.  “If you say so.”

We spent the next hour going over every detail, fine-tuning the flow of the presentation until Caleb could practically recite it in his sleep. His usual goofy demeanor gave way to his professional side as we worked through each point, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride watching him in his element. He really was good at this.

By the time we wrapped up, I felt a little more confident in the work we’d done. The presentation was solid, and Caleb had a way of making everything seem like it was going to be okay.

As Caleb shut his laptop and stood up to leave, he paused by the door, glancing back at me. “Don’t stress too much, pipsqueak.  These slides you made for me are great, and this is going to go super well.  I know it.”

I gave him a small smile, appreciating his faith in me more than I could say. “Thanks, Caleb.”

“Anytime.” He gave me a two-finger salute before heading out. “Now let’s go show these people what’s coming for them.”

The day of the presentation came sooner than I expected.

The room was buzzing with energy as Caleb started the presentation. He moved confidently from slide to slide, his voice commanding the attention of every client in the room. I sat quietly off to the side, fingers nervously clutching the edge of my notebook, hoping everything would go as planned. Caleb had rehearsed well, and the smoothness of his delivery was testament to his natural talent for this kind of thing.

“And now,” Caleb said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, “I want to take a moment to thank someone who was instrumental in making this presentation the success that it is.” His gaze flicked toward me, and I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

Oh no.

He wouldn’t.

Caleb called out my name, and in an instant, the entire room seemed to shift. All eyes turned toward me, and I could feel the weight of their attention like a tidal wave crashing over me.  The sudden recognition caused my heartbeat to thunder loudly in my ears.  “She’s an intern in the product marketing group,” he continued, “who worked tirelessly to design these slides and make sure everything looked as polished as it does.  Couldn’t have done it without her.”

Heat rushed to my face as Caleb gestured toward me. A wave of applause followed, the sound ringing in my ears as I glanced around the room, overwhelmed by the sudden attention.  I forced a smile, trying to stay composed, but my heart raced frantically.

My coworkers who attended the meeting with me were cheering and giving me encouraging pats on the back, and I felt the rushing emotions of joy, embarrassment, and pride run through me.

I’ll give Caleb an earful later.

As the applause echoed, something strange caught my attention—a gaze that felt sharper, more intense than the rest.  A strange sensation crawled up my spine, and I instinctively scanned the room. The source of that intense gaze felt almost magnetic, and when I found him, my heart skipped a beat.  Toward the back, just barely visible, I caught a glimpse of a tall man seated at the edge of the crowd.  His broad shoulders filled out a deep red velvet suit jacket he wore, sharp in contrast against the sleek black of his fitted trousers.  His silver hair glowed under the dim lights, stark against the sea of black and blue dress wear—like a full moon hanging in the night sky.  However, the most noteworthy feature was that he wore sunglasses, indoors, no less.  His lips were curved up in a slow, deliberate smile as he clapped—once, and then twice, almost lazily.

My breath hitched. That… that looked like Sylus.

I blinked, shaking my head as the applause continued around me.  No way. I pushed the thought aside.  There was absolutely no way Sylus would be at a sales presentation like this. CEOs didn’t just show up for routine meetings, right?  And yet, as I glanced back at the man, that same chilling smile remained.

For a moment in time, the applause and attention from the crowd around me seemed to disappear into the distance as I locked eyes with the strange man.

But before I could dwell on it further, Caleb’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Her contribution really made this all come together. Thanks to her, we’re confident this will resonate with our clients and really push the frontier of this new Aethercore technology forward!”  He shot me a quick wink before turning his attention back to the crowd.

The rest of the presentation continued seamlessly, Caleb’s charisma pulling the room back in for the Q&A section, but I couldn’t shake the eerie sensation that I was being watched.  As Caleb wrapped up, the room erupted into applause again, louder this time.

I risked a glance toward the back, but the seat where the man had been sitting was empty. My stomach twisted with unease.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed as I sat there, but I was brought back to my senses as Caleb came back to my side, nudging me with his elbow.  “See? Told you they’d eat it up. You killed it out there.”

I hit him in the shoulder, trying not to smile-- but failing terribly, as I chided him for calling me out in his presentation.

The unsettling thoughts from earlier had vanished to the back corner of my mind.

“And hey,” he added, his voice dropping to a softer tone, “after that? You’re definitely on their radar. You’ve more than earned that full-time spot.”

“How did-?

Caleb laughed as he ruffled my hair.  “I always know, pipsqueak.  It’s written all over your face.”

After the presentation, the energy in the room was palpable. As I made my way back to my team, several people congratulated me with smiles, pats on the back, and even a few thumbs-up. I smiled, still a little dazed from the overwhelming attention, but their support helped ground me again.

When I finally reached Caleb, he was leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed and a proud grin on his face. “Told you. Rockstar status achieved.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t suppress my grin. “Alright, alright. But seriously, did you have to call me out like that in front of everyone?”

“Of course!” Caleb said with a laugh, standing up and throwing an arm around my shoulders. “If I didn’t give credit where it’s due, what kind of brother would I be? Besides,” he winked, “you deserved it.”

We gathered our things as the day wound down, and after a few more congratulatory handshakes, Caleb and I left the office.

The evening air was cool as we walked to his car, our footsteps echoing in the mostly empty parking lot.

“You know,” I said, glancing at him, “I’m still mad you called me out like that.”

Caleb smirked. “Oh come on, pipsqueak, it was the highlight of the day! Besides, you killed it.” He shot me a sideways glance. “You looked like you were about to pass out, though.”

“I did not!” I protested, elbowing him in the side.

He chuckled. “Okay, okay, maybe not pass out, but you were definitely red as a tomato.”

As we got into the car, my phone buzzed. A quick glance told me it was a text from Zayne.

[Zayne]:  Hey, just wanted to say you did a really good job today. Presentation was solid. Don’t let Caleb take all the credit.

I smiled, feeling a bit of warmth at the message.

[Zayne] (to Caleb):  Congrats on not completely messing it up, Caleb. Small miracles, huh?

I stifled a laugh as Caleb’s phone buzzed at the same time.  He glanced at it, rolled his eyes, and muttered, “He just can’t help himself.”

As Caleb drove the both of us home, I couldn't help but feel satisfied with the weeks of hard effort the two of us put in-- culminating in today's reward.  I let out a sigh as I watched the streetlights flash by us through the car's window, smile on my face.  I couldn't wait to head back to the office tomorrow.

[eddseddede]

i HATE mary shelley's frankenstein (the movie)

(Very long rant under the cut)

First off im gonna be clear im absolutely NOT talking about the novel frankenstein written by mary shelley. This book is my favorite story ever and i could rant for hours about how much i love it. Im specifically talking about the movie titled "mary shelley's frankenstein". If you ask literally any frankenstein fan they will tell you that most movie/show adaptations are relatively inaccurate. Thats why when i found out that "mary shelley's frankenstein" was considered to be the most faithful and book accurate adaptation, i was super excited to watch it. I was incredibly wrong.

At first, i didnt really know how to feel. The movie was fairly entertaining, i liked how they expanded on a few characters and made a few story changes, but thats about it. What makes me dislike this movie SO MUCH is the fact that it feels like instead of actually reading and analyzing the book, the creators just read the sparknotes of frankenstein and tweaked the story a bit. It removed some details/plot points that seem insignificant at first glance, but any further analysis will show those "small details" were super important story-wise. It lacked so much of the depth that i was hoping for.

One thing i noticed from the very start was the portrayal of victor and his family. I will say that i dont really mind how william and elizabeth were written. I tgink my main gripe would be that they feel so flat and one dimensional (especially elizabeth), but i kind of understand since they arent really given much depth in the original story either. i thought it was cool that they made justine have a little bit more depth and they showed her close relationship with william, i thought that was cute. I think they couldve done that better without having her have a one sided crush on victor though. It just felt like a lazy attempt to make her seem more interesting.

What i HATED was how victor was portrayed. No hate to the actor, but he is NOT victor at all. Some of my gripes are personal things (blond hair, beard, etc) but others just straight dont make any sense. Like... he just seems so much more outgoing and friendly than og victor. It wasnt the vibe he had in the book and was a very.... interesting creative choice. And WHY in the world did he have ABS. Victor spent 2 whole years making his creature and its obvious he barely takes care of himself in this time. Even if he was well built beforehand (even then. does he really seem like the type to work out) i really dont think he'd still be in shape after the trauma his body goes through during the creation process. The narrative also lowkey felt very... apologetic towards victor. A lot of scenes that highlight victors selfishness and flaws are cut from the movie, which made me really upset because it takes so much away from victors character. Victor's complexity and moral gray-ness is what makes his character so interesting and appealing to me, so this victor portrayal just overall felt very flat and bland.

One of the two things that really frustrated me was the lack of justine's trial. The trial is SO incredibly important because it is the first scene where victor truly has to face the consequences of his actions, yet he lets another person take the fall. However, in the movie, william is killed and justine is found next to his body. The town immediately carries her with pitchforks to the town center (?) with victor and elizabeth chasing after them yelling to stop. Justine is immediately hung without any questions or anything. This change is so terribly detrimental to the plot, i was shocked they changed it. The fact that the trial in the og novel spanned several days gave us time to see elizabeth spiraling into depression, justine eventually accepting her death, and most of all, the guilt eating victor alive. We see him contemplating saving justine, but in order to save himself, victor stays silent the entire time. This conflict highlights victor's selfishness and his tendency to run away from his consequences. Victors guilt does not purify him.

The other thing that infuriated me was henry clerval's lack of importance. Basically all he does in the movie is lighten the mood at certain parts. This is such a superficial way of portraying his character, and i was super disappointed as someone whose favorite character is clerval. In the movie, Frankenstein and clerval meet in college, both studying science/medicine. This immediately gave me a bad feeling, since the whole point of victor and henry is that theyre opposites, but love each other nonetheless. Victor is into science and sees everything very matter-of-factly, while henry is into poetry and sees the beauty in life. The two balance each other out and their opposite traits give them great chemistry. Them being childhood friends is also super important, which is taken away in this movie adaptation.

I wont go into depth because if i do ill ramble for hours, but clerval is so incredibly important to the story, especially victors character. He represents victors happy and relatively carefree life before his obsession with reanimation, and provides comfort when victor is at his lowest. One of the most important clerval scenes is actually his death. Victor is left absolutely devastated by the death of his best friend, to the point where hes pushed to thw brink of insanity. Why? Because the death of clerval symbolizes the death of his old self. The consequences of his neglect and selfishness have ruined his life so much, to the point where he can never be happy like he used to be. Clerval, the man he describes as the most pure being, the (literal) light of his life, is gone forever because of his actions. As you can tell, this effect is not achieved when victor and henry only know each other for their short college careers, and it's definitely not achieved when clerval doesnt die. It feels like they only added henry just to say they had a character that is typically forgotten by adaptations in their movie (btw if you really wanted this achievement then add ernest frankenstein into your movie cowards). If thats your motive, then id rather you a stereotypical mad scientist frankenstein movie instead.

If you like this movie, absolutely no hate to you at all. I can def understand why and i really liked some parts of the movie. The reason why i hate it is mainly because it is advertised as a book accurate, faithful adaptation, when many crucial parts of the book are discarded

(Please dont bully me about grammar/structure im writing this purely off passion 😢)

[slugdragoon]

Devlog #6 - New Bed, Torch, and Table assets + status indicators

This week, I wanted to work on more visual assets, so I took a full break from code and just did models. However, I also had like 3 appointments to keep and babysat a toddler for a family friend to attend a wedding over the weekend (then I watched all the summer gaming conferences), so I was just a bit too busy all week to get much done.

Initially my plan after getting the bed done was to get the furnishings for a whole bedroom done, to sort of have one small environment complete, but that didn't fully pan out this time. Might work on it some more this week, or go back to code more features for a bit.

I finished the bed from my last post , where I explained the concept behind it and how it fits in with the game overall.

The second piece of furniture is a small round stone (granite?) table, I figure this one may go in the bedroom used by the player, but I could just as easily use it somewhere else or retexture it.

Besided the furniture, I also have a new wallpaper texture for the bedroom, and wooden beams to break up the corner areas of rooms, which I will make a few different versions of.

We also now have animated torches, which we can see on the sides of my test battle screen.

Finally, I made up some new sprites for indicating status effects, but I'll have to tweak them when the overall battle UI is designed to make sure they "pop", right now I'm not certain.

[akechis-special-case]

Ok ok ok I just went out of the cinema and I have thoughts... I am so normal (that is a lie, I am tweaking on the inside).

Before I get into overall thoughts, I was caught off guard when someone commented on my Shadow plush. Said it was neat. Even apologized that they said it but it was fine. I was just surprised someone commented on it in a positive way.

Also bringing the popcorn home, this was a large serving (it was middle sized), next time I take a small one and a drink.

Anyways, spoilers time! If you wanna avoid spoilers, do not proceed! Everyone else, go on.

Ok so it is obvious that I thought of it as a blast. I have minor issues writing wise (mainly the pacing but again, nothing major. It doesn't affect my enjoyment in any way) but it doesn't take away from the overall experience. Out of the three so far the 3rd is my fav and I have high hopes for a 4th... Given the cliffhanger I think that we will get a 4th movie.

I think in this one they nailed the action scenes in particular. I loved them the most in the 3rd movie. From the first to last it was just always amazing to look at. Loved each scene more than the last. The final showdown especially looked amazing.

The references were of course spot on too but just that, references. You don't have to know anything to enjoy the movies as a whole (I tested it since my parents watched the first two with me and enjoyed them too. They have no clue about anything Sonic). Even the song references were once more spot on.

I think what they nailed in particular were the flashback scenes with Maria. They were few but you get a good idea what she was like and how important she was to Shadow, making you understand what he is going through. It made his change of heart at the end even not feel sudden either. I think that they handled Shadow pretty well. Way better than some media before Sonic x Shadow Generations for sure...

Also shoutout to the ending scene with Amy appearing. That was badass. And yes, I lost it at the post credit scene. The crowd went wild at those scenes. Literally. The cheering was so loud.

Also I really enjoyed the Robotnik scenes of course. Always a blast to see.

Overall I will watch it again when it comes out for distribution, probably with my parents. And I would definitely recommend watching it at some point. Then again, maybe I'm just amazed because of Shadow bias I barely watch movies.

I let it all out, ok... Time to pretend to be normal again.

[heloflor]

Probably my hottest Mario take: I might actually like the 1986 Anime Movie more than the 2023 Movie. Yes the 2023 one is a better movie overall while the 86 Anime didn’t age well and is filled with plot conveniences and random things happening just because, along with the bad animation, questionable voice acting, weird soundtrack and sound design, but idk I still really like it.

It’s just that there’s something very charming about that movie. It came out a single year after the first Super Mario Bros, back when there was little to no lore about the Mushroom Kingdom, and it really shows in the way enemies are used and random characters exist but also you can tell they made an effort with the little they had. It’s like watching the very beginning of the franchise, way before it became the phenomenon it is today, and there’s something about it I really like.

I’m also fascinated by the way Peach and Bowser were written in it. This was the first time these two were given a personality past “evil bad guy” and “damsel in distress”. And not only are they both great in the little screentime they have, but these new personality traits, given one single year after the creation of those characters, remain to this day their personality, albeit with a few small tweaks (Bowser being a dad becoming a huge part of his character, Peach losing her temper in most versions). Kinda funny how these two are the biggest highlight of the movie despite only being in it for like 5 minutes, but still, love what was done with them.

And when it comes to comparing it to the 2023 Movie, I actually find it hilarious how many similarities the two have, including having the exact same skeleton for their story. It’s been 37 years yet Nintendo is still writing the same thing, I love it (more on the comparison here).

Oh yeah and because I just know there are some people who will go “the hell you like about this movie?!”, here’s an actual list!

- Literally everything about the intro is great once you get past the weirdness of the Mushroom people coming out the TV. We get Mario playing the Famicom, Peach managing to defend herself for a while before getting overwhelmed, Mario being hilariously chill about all of this, Mario more than willing to fight Bowser until he sees just how enormous Bowser is and gets intimidated, the back and forth between Peach and Mario hiding behind each other, that moment where Bowser gets rid of Mario with one finger and then smiles about it followed by a beat and then Peach starts throwing furniture at him, the Game Over screen, Luigi reacting like you’d expect. Just. Everything about this scene is great!

- The wooden title cards look amazing. It’s a small thing, but I love the “fairytale” vibe it gives the movie. And now that I think about it, that might also be why I’m being so nice with this movie, since fairytales do tend to be small stories with little going on and not always making sense, making it easier to forgive its flaws.

- The shop scene is also very solid in showing us who Mario and Luigi are as people and how they play off of each-other. On that note, I like their dynamic. It’s a bit of the usual bickering siblings who would still do anything for each other, but it works.

- The meeting with the wizard guy is also solid with the way Mario and Luigi react to things. It’s a bit of an exposition dump, but you can tell they try to make it entertaining. Plus, it works for how simplistic the story is (yes I’m giving this movie a lot of slack).

- The travel montages...yeah I’m gonna be honest with this one, it sucks. I do like how they use them to show the different power-ups they get, but it’s still very boring and I skip them when watching the movie. Except for the last one on the airship, that one is pleasant.

- Luigi tripping on mushrooms. Do I even need to say more? But yeah that whole sequence with the paratroopa is nice (once you get past the fact that a turtle made a bunch of birds). And I like how clever Mario gets to save himself and Luigi from the babies.

- I’m not one to care about people drawing smut of cartoon characters, but the internet is sleeping on those Toads. That’d actually be hilarious if the main takeaway the fandom had of this movie were to be the Toad girls. And on an unrelated note, their designs is more original than the Toads we get now!

- The whole sequence with the Piranha plants and the Lakitu honestly bores me and drags on a bit. The Piranhas might also be the worst animated part of this whole thing. I do like how much of a selfish bitch the Lakitu is though. Idk, that’s a fun character in their shittiness.

- The scene in the cavern is fine. I like how the Hammer Bros is used as that intimidating guard, and we get to see Luigi be the one to solve the issue this time around! On that note, I love that Luigi’s love for money isn’t only for jokes but is at times used as a plot point (him later on flooding the castle and finding Mario’s star). Mario’s daydream is also pretty cute.

- I probably watched that scene between Peach and Bowser a dozen times since I re-discovered this movie this year. I adore the way they are characterized, especially in the context of this being the first time they’ve been written this way. Bonus points for Bowser who has no rights being as adorable as he is in this. Ultimately this scene doesn’t really advance the story, but I still love that we got some insight on who these two are at such an early stage of the franchise’s existence.

- The underwater scene is also a slug to go through, though it’s interesting to see how they used the Cheep Cheep. Also Mario dressing up as a ballerina while the dog references that one queer music star is a yes.

- I find the third act of this movie to be honestly solid. Sure there are some contrivances with the fire platforms room and the water somehow destroying the castle, but I still like it. Granted it might be due to how much screentime Bowser gets here. Speaking of which, it’s actually surprising that Bowser turns down Peach when she promises to marry him if he lets Mario alone, with Bowser refusing because he knows Mario might be trouble since he already ate two of the power-ups. This is probably top five smartest things Bowser has done in the entire franchise. This isn’t an insult to Games Bowser btw, I fucking love this dumbass, and he is kind of a dumbass when interacting with Peach in this movie as well!

- While the ending is hated for a reason and I do find it dumb as well, it’s still incredibly sweet how Mario accepts it and wishes happiness on Peach.

So overall, is the 86 Anime good? Ehh, not really. But if you’re able to get past all the weird shit going on, it’s very charming as a piece of Mario history, and it’s especially funny to see all the small things that end up becoming a core part of the franchise. And because of that, I can’t help but like it more than the 2023 Movie, even if the 2023 one is an overall better movie (I’d give the 86 Anime a 4,5/10 and the 2023 one a 6/10 in terms of movie quality; but in terms of enjoyment the 86 Anime is above the 2023 Movie for me)

[undead-potatoes]

OC Questionnaire!

Tagged by @mightymizora B)

Tagging @ottobooty, @trashwizards, @muddiestpath, @axiolotl, @rarestereocats, @collegeoflore, @inkberrry and anyone else who sees this and want to do it~

NAME: Jay

A small side tangent here, but I kinda want to keep the name Tav as a shorthand for some kind of alias that Jay uses and have been using since he was quite young, possibly before he even settled on the name Jay for himself. Problem is, I haven't found anything I like yet so uuh for now he's just Jay 🙈

NICKNAME: Tav, Spud (Nana calls him this, even as an adult)

GENDER: Trans man

STAR SIGN: Gemini I think, at least in our world. The calendars don't translate 1:1, and FR don't seem to have zodiac signs so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

HEIGHT: 102 cm / 3' 4"

ORIENTATION: Gay

NATIONALITY/ETHNICITY: Forest Gnome, born and raised in Baldur's Gate. He doesn't really know any of his family history, as he was orphaned as an infant and grew up in an orphanage.

FAVORITE FRUIT: Pears

FAVORITE SEASON: Spring. He loves watching the world come back to life after the dormancy of winter.

FAVORITE FLOWER: Harebells (aka Scottish Bluebells).

FAVORITE SCENT: Outside after rain, new leather, fresh parchment, lavender

COFFEE, TEA, OR HOT CHOCOLATE: He has a real sweet tooth so I image he'd love hot chocolate, maybe with a dash of coffee to spice it up a little.

AVERAGE HOURS OF SLEEP: Ideally 8-9 hours on a good day, but most of the time he only gets about 5 or 6. He gets home too late and has to get up again too early for anything more.

DOGS OR CATS: Cats are his favorite animal, so you know. But he loves dogs too. And rats. And birds. And owlbears. An-

DREAM TRIP: Don't know enough about Faerûn geography and destinations to really answer this, and I don't want to spend the next 3 days reading up on it so I'm taking the coward's way out and skipping this one

NUMBER OF BLANKETS: Like 5 of them, however many it takes for him to burrow like he's hibernating over the winter or something.

RANDOM FACT: While a mediocre cook overall, Jay makes a killer fish stew/soup. It's a favorite of his that he's been tweaking and perfecting over the years, and might be one of the few dishes he makes better than Gale.

[if-music-be-the-food-of-love]

✨New chapter posted✨

Brushing away the bits of eraser, Sander flipped his pencil and shaded the elephant’s knee again. He was nearly done. The story had already passed Yasmina’s first cut and the editor’s review; and the individual pages of the first book were essentially complete, minus a few tweaks here and there, which was great news, as his “before Christmas” deadline had gone from months away to two weeks away.

Sander took a sip of his coffee and placed it back on the table before erasing and reshading another spot, this time on the trunk. He gazed around the restaurant, taking in the bundled up tourists and families with small children, rushing to grab a hot drink or meal before heading back out into the bitter cold.

Now that the weather had changed, Sander spent most of his time at the zoo indoors, sitting at a cafe table or in an indoor habitat, at first finalizing his work and now working on the concept art for the next three books in the series. He could do it at home, of course, and often did, but he made sure to come in on days when he knew he could see Robbe. 

Both of them had been busier since their first date, Sander readying his presentation for the publishers and Robbe working with patients who rarely fell ill at convenient hours. 

Dating Robbe was both gloriously exciting and endlessly frustrating because, while they saw each other often, they never seemed to find time to be alone. If they were at the zoo, they needed to be professional. If they were at Sander’s home, Millie was there, and Robbe could never stay late. If they were out, they had spectators (and usually Millie). If they were at Robbe’s… Well, one day they’d get to Robbe’s. It was just hard with Millie. And Frodo. And life. Sander’s house was just easier (and supposedly much bigger–he wouldn’t know).

Sander enjoyed every moment of their time together, every conversation, every quick kiss, every brush of hands under the table. The problem was that he wanted more, so much more, and they just couldn’t seem to make it work. The few times he’d asked if someone could watch Millie, it hadn’t lined up, and he was overall uncomfortable asking in the first place. 

Keep reading on Ao3

[health-fitness-1960]

Venus Factor 2.0: Cracking the Code to Female Fat Loss?

Source : youtube.com : must watch

For women on the weight-loss journey, the struggle can feel real. Fad diets, endless cardio, and plateaus that mock our every effort – it's enough to make anyone throw in the towel. But what if there was a secret weapon, a "female fat-loss trick" that unlocked the door to sustainable, healthy weight loss? That's the promise of Venus Factor 2.0.

So, what exactly is Venus Factor 2.0?

Created by John Barban and Brad Pilon, Venus Factor 2.0 is a 12-week weight-loss program designed specifically for women. It moves beyond the "one-size-fits-all" approach, acknowledging the unique hormonal and metabolic differences that influence how women store and burn fat.

Here's the core principle: Venus Factor 2.0 focuses on balancing hormones, particularly estrogen and insulin, to create a fat-burning environment in the body. This is achieved through a combination of:

Strategic Nutrition: The program emphasizes low-glycemic carbs, healthy fats, and moderate protein, with specific meal plans and recipes to guide you. Think whole grains, lean meats, vegetables, and healthy fats like nuts and avocados.

Targeted Exercise: Forget endless hours on the treadmill! Venus Factor 2.0 incorporates interval training and resistance workouts designed to boost metabolism and build muscle, which further aids in fat burning.

Please visit the official website: Click here

Lifestyle Tweaks: The program goes beyond food and exercise, offering tips on sleep, stress management, and mindset to optimize your overall health and support lasting weight loss.

But is it just another fad?

Venus Factor 2.0 has its fair share of fans and critics.

Pros:

Science-backed approach: The program's focus on hormone balance and metabolism aligns with current scientific understanding of female weight loss.

Sustainable and balanced: Unlike restrictive fad diets, Venus Factor 2.0 encourages healthy eating habits and exercise routines that can be maintained long-term.

Targeted for women: The program acknowledges the specific challenges women face and provides strategies tailored to their needs.

Community support: Venus Factor 2.0 offers access to online forums and communities where users can share experiences and support each other.

Cons:

Cost: The program requires a paid subscription, which may be a barrier for some.

Individual results may vary: While many have success with Venus Factor 2.0, it's not a guaranteed magic bullet. Genetics, individual health conditions, and other factors can influence results.

Complexity: Some may find the program's meal plans and exercise routines too detailed or restrictive.

Ultimately, the decision of whether Venus Factor 2.0 is right for you is a personal one. It's important to weigh the pros and cons, research the program thoroughly, and consult with your doctor before embarking on any new weight-loss plan.

Please visit the official website: Click here

Beyond Venus Factor 2.0:

Remember, weight loss is a journey, not a destination. While programs like Venus Factor 2.0 can offer valuable guidance, true success lies in developing healthy habits and a sustainable lifestyle. Here are some additional tips for women seeking lasting weight loss:

Focus on progress, not perfection: Celebrate small wins and don't get discouraged by setbacks.

Find activities you enjoy: Exercise shouldn't feel like a chore. Choose activities you find fun and engaging.

Prioritize sleep and stress management: These factors play a crucial role in hormone balance and overall health.

Build a support system: Surround yourself with positive people who encourage your healthy choices.

Listen to your body: Pay attention to your hunger cues and adjust your eating and exercise accordingly.

Weight loss is not a solo mission. With the right tools, support, and mindset, you can unlock your body's potential and achieve your health and fitness goals. So, whether you choose Venus Factor 2.0 or another approach, remember to be patient, kind to yourself, and celebrate every step towards a healthier, happier you.

Please note: I am not a medical professional and this blog post is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your doctor before starting any new weight-loss program.

Continue reading………………………….

Click here to find more details..

Please visit the official website: Click here

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Yes, our forebears managed just fine in sweatpant cutoffs, but why settle for less when the best workout shorts for men will give you an edge? Whether you're hitting your local gym five times a week or committing to a weekly vinyasa flow, a dependable pair of shorts can help you get the most out of your reps, keeping you from wearily picking wedgies or watching your phone fall onto the mat for the fifth time this session. And to help you hit the ground running on your 2025 fitness goals, we went deep on a catalog of the finest ones we've ever tested.Here, you'll find some of our most stood-behind athletic brands, familiar names like Rhone, Ten Thousand, Tracksmith, and Lululemon. We've also tossed in some runner-up budget buys if you're looking to save your money on a big-ticket piece of equipment for your home gym instead. For guys who aren't afraid to show some thigh, we've got everything from lean 5-inch inseams to baggy basketball-ready silhouettes if you're not ready to show up to the pickup game in short-shorts. All of them will help you make some gains and look good while doing it.The Best Workout Shorts, According to GQIn This GuideAccordionItemContainerButtonThe Best Workout Shorts Overall: Ten Thousand Interval ShortsTen ThousandInterval ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonProsAvailable in various inseams, with or without liningHas lots of pocketsConsPocket ripped at the seamThe workout legends at Ten Thousand got their start back in 2014 with a simple pair of exercise shorts and a shirt. We dug version 1.0, which we tried back in 2015, but the company has spent the intervening years making small tweaks and adjustments to the design that have tipped the scales even further. The updates to its staple Interval shorts maintain the extremely minimal aesthetic, but add thoughtful details like hidden zipped pockets.The thing you'll notice most as you actually train in these GQ Fitness Award-winning shorts, though, is how they move. Thanks to the un-bunchable, pinch-free waistband and extremely flexible shell, the shorts mold to your body but also shift easily with your movement. If you're looking for the best shorts for going absolutely nuts on the battle ropes, look no further.These were so good that we inducted the Intervals into last year's GQ All-Stars, dubbing them the only workout shorts you'd ever need, and sung their praises in a full-length review.Best Budget Workout Shorts: Gymshark Arrival ShortsGymsharkArrival ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonGymshark has blown up recently, thanks to the brand's commitment to creating high-performing workout apparel at approachable price points. Take the Arrival shorts, for example, which are about as little as you'd want to spend on gym bottoms lest you're down for mooning your fellow gym goers while you're hitting that deep, deep squat (we can't promise you won't get your membership revoked if that happens). Their slim fit really accentuates your quads during leg day, and a variety of sizes—from XS to 3XL—mean that you can find a pair that fits you no matter where you are on your fitness journey.Best Training Shorts: Lululemon License to TrainLululemonLicense to TrainAccordionItemContainerButtonProsFeatures lots of pocketsDurableConsDespite Lululemon's push to branch outside of activewear (I mean, a Lululemon suit?), the Canadian athleisure brand still knows how to do fitness apparel pretty damn well. Its License to Train shorts are great for the multifaceted athlete, able to handle runs, lifts, climbs, or whatever other activity that gets the heart rate up. Its durable material means they can hold up to endless contact with the barbell during deadlifts, but they're still lightweight enough to feel like they're barely there when you're just about to wrap up your 10K. Zippered pockets are a huge plus, adding to just how much we love to train in these—even if we're only training to work on our summer bod.Best Running Shorts: Bandit VentoBanditVentoAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHas lots of pocketsFeatures a well-fitting compression linerStylishConsSells out frequentlyEasily wrinklesBandit's meteoric rise to the top of the running game has been impressive to see. From starting up in 2020 to collaborating with Asics in 2025 (as well as a frustratingly endless number of out-of-stock releases), Bandit makes running clothing that actually makes you want to lace up. Its Vento shorts make an exceptional running buddy, decked out in more pockets than we're used to seeing in a pair of jogging bottoms. Two compression pockets (big enough to fit “the big” iPhone), two side slant pockets, and a zippered pocket ensure you have everything on your long-distance runs, while the overall look ensures that passersby know you take your running 'fits seriously.Best Mesh Gym Shorts: American Trench O.E. Classic Mesh ShortAmerican TrenchO.E. Classic Mesh ShortAccordionItemContainerButtonProsConsOnly available in one inseamWe're all in favor of mesh shorts, whether they're the raggedy pair we still have from high school PE or the massively oversized ones that Adam Sandler seems to never run out of. American Trench, which makes incredible basics right here stateside, seems to have perfected the mesh short, a classic gym staple that's fallen to the wayside in favor of higher performing, more technical workout shorts (which we love and have given enough of a spotlight here). These no-frill mesh shorts have a great fit, clocking in with a modest (but not prudish) 6.5-inch inseam. Their mesh construction keeps you cool down there, and two slant pockets are just the icing on top of the handsome cake.Best Compression Shorts: 2XU Light Speed Compression Shorts2XULight Speed Compression ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHelps to improve performanceHas lots of pocketsConsHard to put on and take offExpensiveDon't call them tights. (OK, fine, they're tights.) Compression shorts are the underrated bottoms for all workouts, as long as you can get over the sausage-casing look. 2XU's Light Speed compression shorts are long enough to cover the top half of your legs, which improves blood flow to reduce fatigue and decrease recovery time. Sure, they're kind of hard to put on and take off, but the benefits of wearing these make themself known once you check your stats for your next run.Best-Looking Workout Shorts: Tracksmith Van Cortlandt

[norajworld]

Yes, our forebears managed just fine in sweatpant cutoffs, but why settle for less when the best workout shorts for men will give you an edge? Whether you're hitting your local gym five times a week or committing to a weekly vinyasa flow, a dependable pair of shorts can help you get the most out of your reps, keeping you from wearily picking wedgies or watching your phone fall onto the mat for the fifth time this session. And to help you hit the ground running on your 2025 fitness goals, we went deep on a catalog of the finest ones we've ever tested.Here, you'll find some of our most stood-behind athletic brands, familiar names like Rhone, Ten Thousand, Tracksmith, and Lululemon. We've also tossed in some runner-up budget buys if you're looking to save your money on a big-ticket piece of equipment for your home gym instead. For guys who aren't afraid to show some thigh, we've got everything from lean 5-inch inseams to baggy basketball-ready silhouettes if you're not ready to show up to the pickup game in short-shorts. All of them will help you make some gains and look good while doing it.The Best Workout Shorts, According to GQIn This GuideAccordionItemContainerButtonThe Best Workout Shorts Overall: Ten Thousand Interval ShortsTen ThousandInterval ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonProsAvailable in various inseams, with or without liningHas lots of pocketsConsPocket ripped at the seamThe workout legends at Ten Thousand got their start back in 2014 with a simple pair of exercise shorts and a shirt. We dug version 1.0, which we tried back in 2015, but the company has spent the intervening years making small tweaks and adjustments to the design that have tipped the scales even further. The updates to its staple Interval shorts maintain the extremely minimal aesthetic, but add thoughtful details like hidden zipped pockets.The thing you'll notice most as you actually train in these GQ Fitness Award-winning shorts, though, is how they move. Thanks to the un-bunchable, pinch-free waistband and extremely flexible shell, the shorts mold to your body but also shift easily with your movement. If you're looking for the best shorts for going absolutely nuts on the battle ropes, look no further.These were so good that we inducted the Intervals into last year's GQ All-Stars, dubbing them the only workout shorts you'd ever need, and sung their praises in a full-length review.Best Budget Workout Shorts: Gymshark Arrival ShortsGymsharkArrival ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonGymshark has blown up recently, thanks to the brand's commitment to creating high-performing workout apparel at approachable price points. Take the Arrival shorts, for example, which are about as little as you'd want to spend on gym bottoms lest you're down for mooning your fellow gym goers while you're hitting that deep, deep squat (we can't promise you won't get your membership revoked if that happens). Their slim fit really accentuates your quads during leg day, and a variety of sizes—from XS to 3XL—mean that you can find a pair that fits you no matter where you are on your fitness journey.Best Training Shorts: Lululemon License to TrainLululemonLicense to TrainAccordionItemContainerButtonProsFeatures lots of pocketsDurableConsDespite Lululemon's push to branch outside of activewear (I mean, a Lululemon suit?), the Canadian athleisure brand still knows how to do fitness apparel pretty damn well. Its License to Train shorts are great for the multifaceted athlete, able to handle runs, lifts, climbs, or whatever other activity that gets the heart rate up. Its durable material means they can hold up to endless contact with the barbell during deadlifts, but they're still lightweight enough to feel like they're barely there when you're just about to wrap up your 10K. Zippered pockets are a huge plus, adding to just how much we love to train in these—even if we're only training to work on our summer bod.Best Running Shorts: Bandit VentoBanditVentoAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHas lots of pocketsFeatures a well-fitting compression linerStylishConsSells out frequentlyEasily wrinklesBandit's meteoric rise to the top of the running game has been impressive to see. From starting up in 2020 to collaborating with Asics in 2025 (as well as a frustratingly endless number of out-of-stock releases), Bandit makes running clothing that actually makes you want to lace up. Its Vento shorts make an exceptional running buddy, decked out in more pockets than we're used to seeing in a pair of jogging bottoms. Two compression pockets (big enough to fit “the big” iPhone), two side slant pockets, and a zippered pocket ensure you have everything on your long-distance runs, while the overall look ensures that passersby know you take your running 'fits seriously.Best Mesh Gym Shorts: American Trench O.E. Classic Mesh ShortAmerican TrenchO.E. Classic Mesh ShortAccordionItemContainerButtonProsConsOnly available in one inseamWe're all in favor of mesh shorts, whether they're the raggedy pair we still have from high school PE or the massively oversized ones that Adam Sandler seems to never run out of. American Trench, which makes incredible basics right here stateside, seems to have perfected the mesh short, a classic gym staple that's fallen to the wayside in favor of higher performing, more technical workout shorts (which we love and have given enough of a spotlight here). These no-frill mesh shorts have a great fit, clocking in with a modest (but not prudish) 6.5-inch inseam. Their mesh construction keeps you cool down there, and two slant pockets are just the icing on top of the handsome cake.Best Compression Shorts: 2XU Light Speed Compression Shorts2XULight Speed Compression ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHelps to improve performanceHas lots of pocketsConsHard to put on and take offExpensiveDon't call them tights. (OK, fine, they're tights.) Compression shorts are the underrated bottoms for all workouts, as long as you can get over the sausage-casing look. 2XU's Light Speed compression shorts are long enough to cover the top half of your legs, which improves blood flow to reduce fatigue and decrease recovery time. Sure, they're kind of hard to put on and take off, but the benefits of wearing these make themself known once you check your stats for your next run.Best-Looking Workout Shorts: Tracksmith Van Cortlandt

[chilimili212]

Yes, our forebears managed just fine in sweatpant cutoffs, but why settle for less when the best workout shorts for men will give you an edge? Whether you're hitting your local gym five times a week or committing to a weekly vinyasa flow, a dependable pair of shorts can help you get the most out of your reps, keeping you from wearily picking wedgies or watching your phone fall onto the mat for the fifth time this session. And to help you hit the ground running on your 2025 fitness goals, we went deep on a catalog of the finest ones we've ever tested.Here, you'll find some of our most stood-behind athletic brands, familiar names like Rhone, Ten Thousand, Tracksmith, and Lululemon. We've also tossed in some runner-up budget buys if you're looking to save your money on a big-ticket piece of equipment for your home gym instead. For guys who aren't afraid to show some thigh, we've got everything from lean 5-inch inseams to baggy basketball-ready silhouettes if you're not ready to show up to the pickup game in short-shorts. All of them will help you make some gains and look good while doing it.The Best Workout Shorts, According to GQIn This GuideAccordionItemContainerButtonThe Best Workout Shorts Overall: Ten Thousand Interval ShortsTen ThousandInterval ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonProsAvailable in various inseams, with or without liningHas lots of pocketsConsPocket ripped at the seamThe workout legends at Ten Thousand got their start back in 2014 with a simple pair of exercise shorts and a shirt. We dug version 1.0, which we tried back in 2015, but the company has spent the intervening years making small tweaks and adjustments to the design that have tipped the scales even further. The updates to its staple Interval shorts maintain the extremely minimal aesthetic, but add thoughtful details like hidden zipped pockets.The thing you'll notice most as you actually train in these GQ Fitness Award-winning shorts, though, is how they move. Thanks to the un-bunchable, pinch-free waistband and extremely flexible shell, the shorts mold to your body but also shift easily with your movement. If you're looking for the best shorts for going absolutely nuts on the battle ropes, look no further.These were so good that we inducted the Intervals into last year's GQ All-Stars, dubbing them the only workout shorts you'd ever need, and sung their praises in a full-length review.Best Budget Workout Shorts: Gymshark Arrival ShortsGymsharkArrival ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonGymshark has blown up recently, thanks to the brand's commitment to creating high-performing workout apparel at approachable price points. Take the Arrival shorts, for example, which are about as little as you'd want to spend on gym bottoms lest you're down for mooning your fellow gym goers while you're hitting that deep, deep squat (we can't promise you won't get your membership revoked if that happens). Their slim fit really accentuates your quads during leg day, and a variety of sizes—from XS to 3XL—mean that you can find a pair that fits you no matter where you are on your fitness journey.Best Training Shorts: Lululemon License to TrainLululemonLicense to TrainAccordionItemContainerButtonProsFeatures lots of pocketsDurableConsDespite Lululemon's push to branch outside of activewear (I mean, a Lululemon suit?), the Canadian athleisure brand still knows how to do fitness apparel pretty damn well. Its License to Train shorts are great for the multifaceted athlete, able to handle runs, lifts, climbs, or whatever other activity that gets the heart rate up. Its durable material means they can hold up to endless contact with the barbell during deadlifts, but they're still lightweight enough to feel like they're barely there when you're just about to wrap up your 10K. Zippered pockets are a huge plus, adding to just how much we love to train in these—even if we're only training to work on our summer bod.Best Running Shorts: Bandit VentoBanditVentoAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHas lots of pocketsFeatures a well-fitting compression linerStylishConsSells out frequentlyEasily wrinklesBandit's meteoric rise to the top of the running game has been impressive to see. From starting up in 2020 to collaborating with Asics in 2025 (as well as a frustratingly endless number of out-of-stock releases), Bandit makes running clothing that actually makes you want to lace up. Its Vento shorts make an exceptional running buddy, decked out in more pockets than we're used to seeing in a pair of jogging bottoms. Two compression pockets (big enough to fit “the big” iPhone), two side slant pockets, and a zippered pocket ensure you have everything on your long-distance runs, while the overall look ensures that passersby know you take your running 'fits seriously.Best Mesh Gym Shorts: American Trench O.E. Classic Mesh ShortAmerican TrenchO.E. Classic Mesh ShortAccordionItemContainerButtonProsConsOnly available in one inseamWe're all in favor of mesh shorts, whether they're the raggedy pair we still have from high school PE or the massively oversized ones that Adam Sandler seems to never run out of. American Trench, which makes incredible basics right here stateside, seems to have perfected the mesh short, a classic gym staple that's fallen to the wayside in favor of higher performing, more technical workout shorts (which we love and have given enough of a spotlight here). These no-frill mesh shorts have a great fit, clocking in with a modest (but not prudish) 6.5-inch inseam. Their mesh construction keeps you cool down there, and two slant pockets are just the icing on top of the handsome cake.Best Compression Shorts: 2XU Light Speed Compression Shorts2XULight Speed Compression ShortsAccordionItemContainerButtonProsHelps to improve performanceHas lots of pocketsConsHard to put on and take offExpensiveDon't call them tights. (OK, fine, they're tights.) Compression shorts are the underrated bottoms for all workouts, as long as you can get over the sausage-casing look. 2XU's Light Speed compression shorts are long enough to cover the top half of your legs, which improves blood flow to reduce fatigue and decrease recovery time. Sure, they're kind of hard to put on and take off, but the benefits of wearing these make themself known once you check your stats for your next run.Best-Looking Workout Shorts: Tracksmith Van Cortlandt