#naughty shrimp

[lordshrimpscream]

[akkivee]

“lemme try some of that ichiro!!!!”

kuukou week day 2: food

[neptune-139]

Mildly suggestive warning? Maybe?

In the tags

[Song: Prawnography by the Dirt Man guy]

reblog w the song lyrics in your head NOW. either stuck in yr head or what yr listening to

[leatherbookmark]

dear god but almost everything about shatter is so fucking silly. the lyrics. the choreo. the way i've seen translations of them explaining that "oh it's about medusa" which is like saying that a song from the pov of someone who's about to be murdered and eaten is about hannibal. what the hell are we doing here. but the song fucks. bang it on me shatter

[chuluoyi]

Baby gojo and daddy gojo not wanting to share mama gojo😭✋i-

࿐ ࿔ 🕰️ 「 06:20 P.M 」

aww this is so cute of course this is the first i worked on after getting back from my weekend break <3 and actually i have this one similar ask too so i combined yours with theirs! here's some cute blinking gojo in phantom parade and okay now let us have some crack and make gojo suffer

a part of gojo's love entries

general masterlist

“bwah!” a nudge.

“myah!” a shove.

and then—

“waaa!” a… slap (?) on the cheek.

“huh?” satoru winced, touching where the baby’s palm just connected with his face, blinking rapidly. so he wasn’t imagining things. this really was happening in front of his eyes.

and it was the baby—his baby.

your giggles filled the air in response.

“hey, you,” satoru took on a very stern look and an exaggerated frown, glaring at his own son. the baby merely babbled at him innocently, blinking his wide crystal blue eyes that mirrored his. “bad, bad minion. this is a very serious issue. you shouldn’t do that, you hear?”

the serious issue being each time he tried to lean closer to steal a kiss from you, your son always found a way to repel him away with his tiny hands.

you snorted at his righteous tone. “he’s just protecting me. even your kid knows you’re a danger.”

a gasp left your husband’s shiny lips, mockingly in disbelief. “me? a danger? i make your life a heaven on earth!”

“heav—pfft—”

“i give you love, food, my body—” he emphasized, pointing at himself for a dramatic effect, and you threw your head back, dissolving into a fit of laughter even more, “—heck, i even give you this naughty baby!”

“wha—no! that’s team effort!”

“still! and now he is staging an uprising against me?” satoru cheekily eyed his child, who was now clutching the fabric of your blouse, tiny fingers playing with the shiny diamonds of your necklace—a gift from satoru too, actually.

“look at him go,” he grumbled, his eyes following each little movement his son made, then dramatically yelped when the boy pawed at your breasts. “hey! no touching! those are mine!”

“please.” you almost choked on your laugh. your silly husband always had a way to make things sound funnier than they actually were, and that was what made you fall in love with him more each day, really. “the milk is his!”

“he can have the cow’s! and more importantly, it’s thanks to me that you’re so milky—”

“satoru! you’re so uncouth i can’t—!”

“see? you’re laughing so much! this proves enough that i make you happy every day!”

later that night, after you put your baby to sleep in his crib, satoru gently poked his cheek, his expression tender despite his pursed lips. “he is out like a light…”

satoru might whine a lot, but ultimately, you couldn’t miss the look of adoration and fondness that made him the father of your child. even without saying it out loud, you knew that he would willingly put everything aside and sacrifice anything—first of all, himself—if it was meant for his dearest, most precious treasure.

knowing he'd do the same for you only served to melt your heart even more. and you felt full—so full, in fact, with warmth and love and anything that was soft.

you really do love him, don’t you?

“look at him, he’s like a shrimp,” your husband pointed out, still gazing at his baby in wonder as he kept poking and prodding at the chonky rolls of his little arms, and you thought, nothing could have been more precious than this.

“satoru.”

“yeah?” he turned instantly at the sound of his name, but before he could react further—

you stood on your tiptoes and planted a swift smooch on his cheek, putting the overflowing love you held for him in it. “mwah!”

“…?!”

for the next three seconds, satoru malfunctioned. the brush of your sweet lips on his cheek was so innocent that he was rendered speechless. heat steadily gathered on his face, turning him pink despite himself.

“you…” he groaned, collecting himself, a dopey smile was quickly plastered on his face to cover up his setback as you burst into hearty laughter. “now you’ve started it…” and then he latched on you with a glint of a joker, launching a full-blown tickle attack.

“a—ah! why?! satoru! ahahahaha!”

. . .

safe to say, your wheezes effectively awoke your son from his slumber, and as a bit of payback, you left satoru in the dust to deal with the crying baby, both of them whimpering in unison since he had absolutely no clue how to comfort the little one.

[bby-boy-matt]

Imagining my Dom taking me to a doctor because they're worried about me touching myself all the time.

I protest, but there's nothing I can do and once the Dom promises me a reward if I'm a good boy, I am sold on the idea. In the doctor's office, the Dom comes with me and tells the doctor about my problem while I'm sitting there, fiddling with my shirt, unable to look away from the floor.

The doctor then has me undress, and my Dom gives me a threatening look when I hesitate before removing my boxers as well. I'm told to climb up onto the stirrups, and before I can react, the doctor fastens belts around my arms, legs and stomach so I won't be able to move. "Just a precaution," he says, as he roughly shoves a large thick thermometer inside my ass, making me yelp, "We don't want him moving around too much during the check-up". He takes out a measuring tape and measure my tdick, and double checks before measuring it again. "That is really small, even for a man like him - or should I say boy, looking at the size of this?" My dom laughs a little, and I try to squirm. My cock is already fully erect, as big as it can get, and hearing the doctor say this makes me want to close my legs, but they're securely fastened to be spread wide in the stirrups.

The doctor starts rubbing my chest, and I gasp as he harshly twists and rolls my nipples - already erect from the cold - between his fingers. "His sensitivity here seems to be normal," the doctor notes, eyeing my tcock - still hard, but not reacting much. "But if you want, it can be increased with time." He moves to rub and press on my stomach, and once he's done with that, forcefully grabs the thermometer that has been inside me this whole time and takes it out, leaving my hole convulsing around nothing. "Looks like he needs something back here," the doctor moves his fingers under my tcock to cover them in my slick, and roughly starts fingering me with two of his fingers, noting how my tcock twitches every time he goes deeper. "Does he experience penetration often, or does he mostly pleasure himself with touching this... Shrimp?" The doctor asks, letting his free hand gently rub my tdick. My Dom shakes their head, "I've been busy lately and haven't penetrated him much, he mostly rubs himself for pleasure." I'm about to come, and the doctor notices it as I clench myself around his fingers. "What a needy, naughty boy, trying to come without permission," he takes out his fingers and cruelly pinches the head of my tiny sensitive tcock between his fingernails, making me howl.

"I think I see the problem. It's not healthy for boys with tiny cocks to rub themselves too much, it makes them forget their discipline and can even hurt them. I have just the perfect solution for you," The doctor goes and takes an ice cube from a freezer in his office to press it against my tcock, making it deflate and shrink even more until you can barely see it's there. Then, he takes out a small metal device - a tiny, minuscule solid cage - and fastens it against my body with soft rope so it presses tight against my tcock. I whine, desperately looking at my Dom who seems to be thoroughly enjoying this.

The doctor motions for him to come over once he's done. "This device should stop him from getting hard - boys with small cocks can't really control themselves when they're hard, this is the easiest solution. I'll give you a lock and a key so only you can undo the ropes. In the meanwhile, make sure to have him penetrated at least once per day, a toy or a plug will do. That way he'll learn to cum just from being penetrated, since it's such a pain to try and rub something this small."

I'm still wet and desperate as we leave, and the doctor tells us to come back in 2 weeks to see my progress. For some reason, I feel my tcock futilely try to harden already as we get home - but the cage painfully presses against it, and all I can do is rub the smooth metal and whine. My Dom smiles at me, starting to take off their pants. "You heard what the doctor said. It's time for me to give you a special medicine."

This is going to be a very long and frustrating 2 weeks.

[satowooo]

PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

contents. fluff, light nsfw, crack.

“You're driving me wild, sweets.”

Satoru always loved it when you showered him affections, peppering his face with hundreds of kisses as you sit on his lap after a tiring day at the beach with your other friends. It was like a routine for the two of you, and you always show him that you're willing to indulge his needs whenever, and wherever, which means even if you two are at a beach house inside you're own private room, while you're other friends are outside to prepare dinner, Satoru makes sure he still gets what he wants.

“Is it a bad thing?” You asked, chuckling as you lifted his shirt up and discarded it down the floor. You leaned down, lips traveling down his collarbone, until it reached his sensitive nipple. You smirked, diving down and latching it between your lips, making him groan.

“No. Not at all.” His hands cupped the back of your neck, lips parted as he savored the feeling. You sucked one of his nipples, while your fingers flicked on the other one. “Fuck, babe– Keep doing that, y-yeah?”

“Where do you want my hickies, Satoru?” You smiled, grinning up at him.

His eyes dazed as he looked back at you, chest rising up and down heavily. His face was flushed with arousal, and he was turning red all over his body. “Everywhere, baby. Don't leave anything untouched.”

“Ooh, what's for dinner?” You asked as you sat down with Shoko, Suguru, Haibara, and Nanami at the table, your eyes feasting at the amount of food they'd cook.

Shoko smiled, setting a plate of shrimps. “Lots and lots of seafood— Jesus Christ, Satoru!”

Your eyes looked curiously at Shoko who had her brows furrowed, Haibara who suddenly choked on his drink while Nanami patted his back, and Suguru who had a smirk on his face. That's when you tilted your head back, gasping as Satoru parade around the room with no shirt on, leaving his skin filled with red and purple marks on full display. It was everywhere, his neck, throat, collarbone, chest, abs, and yeah... the reddened nipple of his, all because of you.

“What?” He asked innocently, taking a seat beside you.

“Someone was feeling a little naughty,” Suguru teased, eyes darting at the two of you. “Nice tits, Satoru.”

“Thanks. I think it's an art.”

You blushed furiously, swatting his hands away that was about to wrap its way on your waist. “Put a shirt on!”

The scene got Suguru and Shoko chuckling, while Haibara seemed to not be able to recover just yet as he too was blushing while Nanami had a palm on his forehead.

Well, let's just say, it was a bit embarrassing, but definitely something that everyone would laugh at as they would reminisce this moment. But Satoru definitely got a big scolding for pulling that stunt, and a big smack for staining Haibara's innocence.

[leiawritesstories]

Naughty Chef

Rowaelin Month 2024, Day 4: Accidental Nude @rowaelinscourt

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: swearing, suggestive content/slightly NSFW

Surprise! Another episode of Chef Rowan! Enjoy!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“42 up, 43 up, 51 in two minutes, and—what do you want, Moonie?” Wiping the rolled-up sleeve of his white chef’s jacket across his sweaty, flushed face, Rowan shot a sharp look at Fenrys, who had appeared out of nowhere in the expo window. “Hurry the hell up, we’re buried in tickets.” 

“I know.” Fen cleared his throat. “Just stopping by to check on the 86 list and give expo another set of hands.” 

Rowan glanced at the scribbled notes on the back of a guest check that was tucked into his side of the expo window. “We’re down to three halibut all day and one of the prep cooks said the mushrooms were slimy, so no stroganoff besides what we have in the fridge. That’s all for now.” 

“Fen, I need a comp on table 52!” Dorian, one of the servers, hurried around the corner. “You got a minute?” 

“Go on, boss man.” Rowan waved an empty frying pan at Fenrys as the blonde man left the expo hall. “Lor, where the fuck is that ribeye for 51?” 

“Don’t fuckin’ rush me, asshole!” Lorcan yelled from his station. Rowan chuckled and turned back to the orders he was working on, knowing Lorcan’s surliness was his way of showing affection. The two of them had been working for long enough to know each other’s cooking times and moods, and every so often he liked to needle the grumpy man in the middle of dinner service just to get a reaction. 

The music pumping from the speakers abruptly paused, and the voice on Rowan’s phone—it was his turn to pick the music—announced a message from Aelin. “Fireheart sent you a photo. Would you like to open it?” 

“No,” Rowan called, and the music started back up. He’d check his phone as soon as he was done with this ticket, because he didn’t want to miss a single photo or text about his precious angel baby girl, and Aelin frequently sent him Lana updates while he was at work. 

Lorcan snickered. “Aww, is Daddy Chef anxious about his wittle girwie?” 

“Asshole.” Rowan finished plating up the shrimp skewers he’d been grilling, slid the plate across the expo window, and threw a wadded-up rag at Lorcan’s ass. “Give me five, I’m gonna go check what Aelin said. You want music, Lor?” 

“Want me to play you a lullaby?” 

“Hey, Vaughan!” The chef down at the cold line looked up, brows raised in question. “How about you run the music while I duck into my office for a minute? Lorcan decided to be a dickwad.”

“When is he ever anything but a dickwad?” Vaughan pulled out his phone and connected to the Bluetooth speakers. “Go on and cry over your baby, Chef.” 

“All of you are dicks,” Rowan grumbled, affectionately. He left the kitchen, walked past the dishwashing station in the back, and pushed open the green-painted door of his office. Technically, he shared it with Lorcan, but his co-executive chef had once walked in on him cooing and blowing kisses to his baby daughter over the phone and declared that the office was ruined and he never wanted to step foot in it again. 

Taking a seat in the worn leather swivel chair, Rowan pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened his texts. He tapped on Aelin’s name, which was the top of his list, and opened the photo she’d sent him a few minutes ago. 

And his heart fucking stopped. 

Eyes the size of dinner plates, jaw nearly on the floor, and all of his systems short-circuiting, Rowan gaped at the picture on his phone, desperately trying to control the sudden rush of his blood directly to his groin. Because the picture was not Lana, but Aelin. Aelin, who was standing in front of her full-length mirror wearing tiny, nearly sheer scraps of flimsy lace, the pieces so tiny that he couldn’t tell what color they were from the photo. Aelin, whose artfully tousled wavy hair and smoky eye makeup and bold red lipstick made a forest fire erupt in his blood. 

>>what do you think of this for tonight?

<<You’re fucking stunning, Fireheart.

Seconds later, gray dots pulsed as Aelin responded. 

>>oh my gods

>>i’m so sorry!!!

>>that was supposed to go to the girls chat

>>oh my gods

<<You send…those pictures to the girls chat?! Aelin, you’re naked! It was irrational, he knew, to expect his fiancée not to ask her close friends about her outfits, but he was hard in his office and he wanted that photo only for himself. 

>>yes, you hovering buzzard. who else would give me honest opinions?

<<Me

>>love, you like everything i wear

>>it’s not a complaint, but i do want to surprise you sometimes

<<Naughty girl

<<You’d better be wearing that when I get home tonight. That, and nothing else.

>>ro, we have a baby…

<<We’re gonna have two babies if you keep getting new lingerie, baby. I want to see it when I get home. On you, then on the floor. 

>>hmm, sounds like someone’s a little worked up. He could practically hear the smirk in his fiancée’s voice. Instinctively, he locked the door, stood up, and angled the cheap mirror that was propped against the far wall. She wanted to tease him with photos of her looking absolutely sinful while he was at work? He’d give her something to think about, too. 

Rowan unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his bare, tattooed skin, and unzipped his pants. Shoving a hand into his boxers, he wrapped a fist around himself and faced the mirror, turning slightly to emphasize the rock-hard bulge. Before he could think better, he turned his flash on and snapped the photo, the bright light illuminating the gloomy space of the office and casting the angles of his figure into light and shadow. He sent it, turned his phone back to Do Not Disturb, shoved it in his pocket, left the office, and made a beeline for the staff bathroom. 

Several minutes later, he emerged more composed, straightened his chef’s jacket, and headed back to the kitchen. He nodded his thanks at Nico, the sous chef, who had taken over his station while he was…on break. Lorcan shot him a knowing smirk, wiggling his dark brows suggestively, and Rowan flipped him off, turning his attention back to the flood of tickets pouring off the printer. 

It was almost eleven o’clock by the time he clocked out and left through the back door, tiredly driving home through quiet streets. He unbuttoned his jacket as he walked up the steps to his house, and pushed through the front door. Inside, he carefully stepped out of his shoes and left them on the shoe rack before heading down the hall towards the bedroom. 

Where his fiancée was waiting, sprawled on their bed wearing barely more than a smirk.

~~~

TAGS:

@live-the-fangirl-life

@superspiritfestival

@thegreyj

@wordsafterhours

@elentiyawhitethorn

@mariaofdoranelle

@rowanaelinn

@house-of-galathynius

@tomtenadia

@julemmaes

@swankii-art-teacher

@charlizeed

@booknerdproblems

@earthtolinds

@goddess-aelin

@sweet-but-stormy

@clea-nightingale

@autumnbabylon

@llyncooljones

@silentquartz

@renxzs

@anarchiii

@fauna-flora11

[plaguedocboi]

you know how some zoos do “nice animal” and “naughty animal” of the week? i don’t know if your aquarium has any particularly naughty animals (the snails are sinless) but do you think you could pick a few of each for us?

I think our naughtiest animal is probably Neptune the lobster because he escaped and went on a whole adventure in the ocean for a week before we got him back. Other naughty animals are Elvis the lobster (because she’s just full of rage and tries to fight us all the time) and the Big Hermit Crab because he steals the whelk’s food.

Nice animals of the week are Diesel the giant crab because he’s just a very polite boy and Conner the cunner because he ate a mussel and a chunk of herring (and he used to spit out anything that wasn’t Cubed Shrimp Meat but we are trying to diversify his diet)

[ask-an-e-droid]

Dear Diary!

Darling said I should start writing like this, because I looove reading my books and this is like writing my own! And aaaaaall of Darling's ideas are the best, so of course I have to do it!!

Today I learned that prawnography doesn't actually have to do with shrimp, which I think is a little sad. Shrimps are so cute!!! They're better than watching naughty things in a video. If I wanted to do that I'd just as my friends!

I'll write more things tomorrow probably! Bye!

- Blade

[lordshrimpscream]

Hi, can I request Blast Off mild bondage with a gag? 💦

Drew him with a ball gag, hope you like it

(Btw I always have to do a double take when a mutual finds my side blog lol)

[ridiasfangirlings]

SARUMI GETTING TURNED INTO KIDS BY A STRAIN BUT THEY STILL ACT AS THEIR ORIGINAL AGE (19 OR 20). KID SARUHIKO IN S4 UNIFORM AND KID MISAKI IN HIS HOMRA OUTFIT LOL

Imagine this pre-S1 and at first after they get transformed everyone assumes that they’ve been transformed both mind and body into little kids because they’re still fighting like toddlers XD Like Homra and S4 are going after the same Strain and there’s a confrontation, Munakata stepping forward to inform Mikoto that this is S4’s job and Mikoto just telling him to shut up. Fushimi naturally goes right to tease Yata into a fight, and the two of them end up separated from the rest of their clans. That’s when the Strain jumps out of nowhere to attack them, both of them looking up just in time to get hit by a wave of power. Meanwhile Awashima and Kusanagi are trying to work this out like adults away from where Mikoto and Munakata are flirting posturing and they spot the Strain running away. Kusanagi hears Yata yelling and he and Awashima immediately go towards the source of the sound where a pair of six year olds in oversized clothes who look suspiciously similar to Yata and Fushimi are fighting. Awashima and Kusanagi reach in to separate them (imagine them each picking up their respective Sarumi by the collar like mother cats collecting naughty kittens). Fushimi is dangling there miserably while Yata swings around like come on Kusanagi-san, I’m trying to teach that stupid monkey a lesson. Fushimi snorts like how could an idiot like you teach me anything and Kusanagi sighs like well I guess their personalities are intact at least. 

The two of them are taken back to their respective clans, Munakata suspiciously has a small S4 uniform already prepared for tiny Fushimi. Fushimi clicks his tongue and calls Munakata creepy but takes it, imagine him trying to adjust his knife harness so he can get at least a couple knives in here while the alphabet boys get all nervous because what if he cuts himself. Fushimi’s getting annoyed at being treated like a little kid, insisting that he’s fine even at this size and that he can go out and do missions and things like normal. His powers are still working but maybe weaker than normal, even so Fushimi doesn’t intend to relax just because he looks like he’s six. He also doesn’t particularly want to stay at the office anyway because Captain keeps offering him candy and trying to hint that Fushimi is welcome to sit on his lap while he works so Fushimi decides to sneak out and go patrolling all on his own. 

Meanwhile Homra buys Yata a nice sweatshirt and shorts and he’s hanging out at the bar, annoyed because it’s even harder to reach high stuff than normal and the Homra guys keep teasing him. Kusanagi tells him to take it easy and that maybe he should go home and rest. Yata says he’s fine but decides he may as well go home since he can’t do much right now, a little down because he can’t even really use his skateboard that well. He decides he just needs to practice more and he’s dragging his skateboard to the nearest skate park when he hears someone laughing at the ‘little shrimp with the skateboard.’ Yata immediately looks up and is like you don’t get to call me short you chibi monkey. Fushimi scoffs, smirking as he wonders why Yata was allowed to go off on his own, he might end up following someone to their van for candy. Imagine they start fighting but rather than using weapons and powers like usual it turns into a kid fight, Yata just tackles Fushimi and now they’re scratching and biting at each other.

Someone suddenly steps in and pulls them apart, a police officer off duty saw them and is like kids where are your parents. Yata starts stammering, trying to think up an excuse, while Fushimi coldly says he’s on official business and flashes his S4 badge. The police officer is unimpressed though and asks where Fushimi stole the badge from, Fushimi’s about to say something acid when Yata just grabs his wrist all come on Saruhiko and takes off, dragging Fushimi behind him. When they’re finally away from the police officer Fushimi pulls away, panting hard as he’s like stupid Misaki what are you doing I was taking care of it. Yata’s all sure you were, I’m sure that guy was gonna believe you’re a government official. Fushimi clicks his tongue and looks away, annoyed because he totally knows Yata is right and no way is he admitting that. Of course now it probably turns out that they’re lost because Yata wasn’t paying attention to where he was going and Fushimi’s PDA with his badge is back with the police officer so they have to stick together to get back home, arguing like the six year olds they appear to be the whole way.

[therantfairysblog]

I'll find you over and over again

Writer's note: my first attempt to write some sweet stuff so apologize for any over sugary contents. My feet honestly curled. I need to stop lol

MODERN SETTING

Once they finished cleaning up their shop and closed it, the husband and wife walked together towards the bust stop. Today, they are not driving, their home aren't that far too.

"hey....do you believe in reincarnation...?" Kanroji little finger reach her husband's shirt. Her reddening face look adorable under the streetlights.

"uhm...let see, to be honest i don't have any opinions on that, but..." iguro' hand slowly slipping on her wife's waist, pull her closer to him.

"...i do hope if we ever reincarnated, i want to be with you again and again, if it possible I'll beg to God" a small peck in her mouth shocked mitsuri. Her face become even more red like a plum.

"heyyy...honey, wha-"

"he he your face looked like a red shrimp." Iguro naughty laughter remind her of her dream last night. She looked at her husband's eyes, and smile. For some reason, tears started to form. She was so happy. So happy that she want to cry.

"oh, I'm sorry honey, are you okay," iguro startled. He worried that he had crossed the line and mitsuri aren't in the good mood. He wiped her tears slowly.

With a little laugh, she hug her husband.

"hey, tonight i want to tell you something.... and maybe...." she whispered closely near her husband's ears. It's now Iguro's turn to blush. He just stood there, stunned and Kanroji just walk away with her little hum.

.......

It's 12 a.m. The children are sleeping peacefully. It's just the two of them, watching the full moon from the window, hugging each other.

"Yesterday i dreamed of strange but seem so familiar place..." mitsuri started her soft talk.

"humm," Iguro hugging her from behind, kissing her cheeks and waiting for her story.

"there's a person like you, i think and he's wearing some sort of strip haori, smile like you but his mouth was hidden....but there's some kind of sadness in him....i feel like i need to save him somehow..."

"...hmmm why I'm suddenly feel jealous kanroji san? Who is this man..." iguro pull his face playfully, her wife laugh at him.

"heyy, listened to me. I'm pretty sure that's you," iguro just smiled.

"that's why i wonder, if it's was our past life...your smile is the exact same, your gesture is so familiar, you are so kind to me too..." kanroji caressing her husband's face carefully. He was so handsome, his eyes are big and beautiful. He was her love at the first sight.

Iguro started his words with a smile "you know when you get lost in your first day at campus, you are so beautiful to me, especially when you came and beg me to help you because you already late to your class?" A sudden reminder of their first encounter make her cheeks awfully hot. She looked at him with her wide eyes.

" Nooo don't remind me of that embarassing dayyy" she leaned her body towards her husband, her favorite things to do.

"it was so familiar to me too..." a bit of silence before he continue. " it as if we has meet before...and i feel like i has made so many promises to you."

"honey...'

"i want to live with you in this life, and the next life and the next life too." Iguro little confession make her heart flutter.

"I love you, and I'll protect you in this life and the next. Your hear me. Kanroji san, if i had failed you in the past life, i want to make sure to make you happy for thousand more years to come. I love you, i really do, I'll find you over and over again" his long confession tearing her up. They both embracing each other closely.

"iguro san, thank you,"

And that was a long night for the two lovebirds.

[unluckyhoneybee]

Awkward (Jamie Drysdale)

Jamie liked you a lot, but he didn't make the smartest move.

Warning: underage drinking, alcohol, dr*gs mentions.

"No, no. Not on my watch" You said taking the beer away from Jamie's hand. "Who gave this to you? Huh? Was it Trevor?"

"YN..." Jamie complained with a flustered cheeks. "It's just..."

"Trevor! I told you to stop giving alcohol to the kids" You exclaimed to your brother.

"He picked it!"

"Naughty" You said pointing at Jamie. You loved teasing him, how much he blushed and how his voice stuttered.

"I won't get too drunk I pr-"

"I'm just teasing, Jamie" You took a sip from the bottle and passed it back to him. "You are cute."

Jamie wanted to throw himself to the pool. Maybe he could cool down a bit.

Mason chuckled and punched his shoulder. You didn't see the eyes he gave Jamie because you were already walking to Trevor.

"Give him a break" Trevor said with a smile.

"It's just so easy..." You chuckled.

"Yeah, because he is crazy for you"

You rolled your eyes and laughed. You knew Jamie was into you. A lot actually. It was kind of obvious.

"And you like him too"

You rolled your eyes again and Trevor laughed.

"C'mon." He elbowed you and you pushed him with your hip. "Now you are blushing"

"Shut up, Trev"

"I just think that this trip is a great moment."

You looked at Trevor and back at Jamie. You had gone with them to some trip, which meant you were stuck with the three boys for some days in a beach house.

"The beach, the sun, an extra white Canadian boy..."

You chuckled. "He should wear some cream, yeah"

Trevor laughed. "That's not what I..."

"I know, idiot"

"Maybe you can help him"

You scoffed and walked away from him, who only laugh and kept cooking on the barbecue.

"How much till the food is ready?" Mason asked.

"I don't know. He barely knows what he is doing."

Jamie giggled and took a sip from his beer. You cautiously observed him. The freckles on his face were darker because of the sun and his shoulders were turning pink.

You looked at Trevor and then back at Jamie.

"I'll be in the pool in that case." Mason threw himself to the cold water and Jamie hurried with the beer. He didn't want to be alone with you and embarrass himself.

"Hey, hey. Not under my watch, Drysdale."

He looked at you with big eyes.

"You are turning pink like a shrimp, honey."

He saw you approach with the bottle and panicked.

"It's fine. I don't need it. YN. No. No. It's really fine" He started walking backwards. Trevor was really entertained from his place in the porch.

"Jimmy..." You softly said and he stopped on his tracks. "It's for you. Tomorrow you will be in pain"

He nodded, but he was so anxious. What if you thought his skin was weird? What if you didn't like how hairy his chest was? He had shaved but it was growing back and looked like a cactus. What if you thought that that pimple he had since last week was disgusting? He couldn't get rid of it and it looked kind of bad. What if he wasn't strong enough? Maybe his muscles weren't as big as other guys'.

He gasped when you planted your hand on his back, it was cold and it made him shiver. But he also forgot how to breathe. You were so delicate and gentle, being extra careful with his shoulder because you weren't sure if it still hurt sometimes.

"Turn around" You softly said.

He did and while you were putting the cream on his toned chest you could feel his heart beating like mad. Which made yours beat hard too. You were making sure to cover all his skin, but also enjoying the moment a little bit. But you wouldn't confess that.

"Your hair is getting long, huh?"

Jamie swallowed hard. You didn't like it.

"Y-yeah. I have to cut it soon and..."

"I think you look good." You cut him.

Jamie swallowed and you smiled.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Maybe we could fix it a bit, it's getting in your eyes. But you look great with your hair like this" If your hands weren't sticky with sunscreen, you would run your fingers over it.

"Thanks" He sweetly said and looked down at his hands.

"Jimmy! Her eyes are not down there!"Trevor shouted. He was an idiot and from his place it looked like Jamie was looking at your chest.

"Shut up, Zegras" You told him.

"Don't Zegras me, Zegras!"

"Then shut that mouth"

You loved messing with Jamie, making him blush and stutter around you. But only you. No one dare to mess with my Jimmy or I will end them.

"I think I'm going to the pool and...."

"Tss. The face. You have to take care of this freckles"

And then you cupped his face and carefully put the cream on it. Jamie was fully loosing it. He was trying to think of dirty things. The gloves after a long practice day, the locker room after a game, Trevor's bathroom in the house, that banana he found forgoten on the fridge after their first roadie as roommates... It didn't work.

"Okay. There you are, cutie"

He loved when you called him cutie. When he was already in the pool and the cold had calmed him down, he swam closer to Mason.

"Hey Mason"

"Hey"

"Can I ask you a question?"

The curly haired nodded.

"Do you think she is flirting with me or is she just messing with me?"

Mason laughed.

"Man, she is flirting" He said laughing. "She wants you"

They both looked in your direction. You were in the sun, face down and reading your book. Trevor caught them and flipped them off, giving them the stop looking at my sister's ass look.

"What should I do? I don't want to ask Trevor because it's his sister and he definitely will tell her."

"Okay, this is what you will do..."

.

.

.

It was a mistery to you how he could get the house full of people he didn't know in so little time. But Trevor had done it again. Who is up for a little party tonight? It wasn't little. Not even close. Lots of people were in the house and you were praying for them to not break anything.

But in that mess of people, there was someone that was calling for your attention more than anyone else.

"What the fuck is he on? Have you given him something?"

Trevor and you were standing shoulder to shoulder watching a very strange Jamie being the social butterfly. Red cup after red cup, girl after girl, drink game after drink game, and Jamie was looking less like Jamie.

"For once, this isn't my fault." Trevor said pointing at you. "I promise"

"I have to believe you, right?"

He nodded.

You both gasped when he wrapped his arm around some girl's waist and pulled her to his side. The little jealousy monster living in your belly woke up.

"Oh wow" Trevor whispered when Jamie kissed the girls cheek. He then looked at you. "Are you okay? There is smoke coming out of your ears"

"I don't want to hear a single word" You growled under your breath and turned around. You grabbed two bottles and started pouring the alcohol in the cup.

"Hey, hey. No. Careful" Trevor took a sip of the alcohol, drinking the half of it and coughing when it came down his throat. "Not binge drinking because Jimbo is making you jealous"

"For fuck sake" Without mixing it, you drank the rest and coughed too. "He is not making me jealous."

"You are jealous. He is making you jealous." You were his sister and best friend, he could see what was going on. Jamie was looking at you every once in a while, checking you were watching before starting the next stupid act.

"He is not making me jealous. He is enjoying himself because he is young, handsome and famous"

"Yeah. Definitely he is being himself and enjoying a lot"

Now instead of a girl, there were too.

Trevor hugged your shoulders. "I'm not afraid of fighting him. He is a softie. Just ask"

"No way. I just need shots."

"You don't"

"Since when are you the responsible sibling"

"Since your crush is being a dick right in front of you"

You leaned your head on his shoulder and sighed.

"This is Mason's idea" You pointed at him. He was having so much fun watching, proud smile on his face and model like brunette on his lap.

"I'm going to kill them." Trevor said.

"No"

He sighed.

Then, the unexpected happened.

"YN!" Jamie called you. "Come here!"

You swallowed and walked on his direction. Trevor took the opirtunity to go and talk to Mason, who simply shrugged.

"He is getting the girl"

"That girl is my sister, prick"

"Guys, this is YN. YN, this are Johny, Claudia, Mark and... Lizzy?"

"Lily" The girl under his arm pushed him away clearly annoyed.

This wasn't your Jamie. This Jamie was a fucking asshole and you didn't like it a single bit. You wanted the cute nervous Jamie that you were used to. The real one.

"She is great at beer pong." Jamie told them. "And Johny, she is single"

The last drop. That was the last drop.

"What the fuck are you doing?" You hissed and pulled him closer.

"Wow, YN. We are having a good time, relax, girl" Even his voice sounded different.

"Fuck off, Drysdale" You said and walked away.

"Hey! Johny wanted to meet you!"

"Fuck off you too, Johny" You said flipping him off and walking away.

Trevor punched Mason's arm and jumped.

"You better sleep with one eye open"

"Trevor!"

"Fix this! The party is over!"

He followed you to the backyard and grabbed your shoulders.

"I'm not crying"

"I know."

"What is he doing?"

Trevor sighed and hugged you.

By the time you went back inside, Jamie had a shot glass on his hand and other four on the table. Mason was pushing Johny outside. The brunette was there playing with her hair.

"You better leave too" Trevor told her.

"Trev, mate!"

"This is your fault, you are grounded, kid."

You leaned against the kitchen doorframe and observed Jamie taking the last shot.

"You guys are no fun"

"And you better shut up" Trevor told him. "We are talking about his in the morning. And you guys are not running from it."

"He just wanted to..." Mason tried to come in Jamie's (and his) defense, but Jamie's body had other plans.

He felt dizzy out of sudden. The last shot hadn't sit well. He ran upstairs and the three of you followed him with your eyes. Soon, you heard him throwing up.

You, feeling responsible as always, sighed.

"I'll go."

"YN..." Trevor tried to stop you. He would have left Jamie by himself in the toilet. He didn't deserve your help.

"It's fine"

You ran upstairs and found him leaning back against the tiles. He looked at you and you saw him. Your Jamie.

"Hi" You smiled a bit and picked a towel. "Here, clean yourself a bit"

You had to help him get up and almost washing his teeth too.

"Let's go to bed"

Once you were on his bedroom, he sighed and looked a t you. He was pale and sweaty.

"Get this clothes off, Jimmy. You will be uncomfortable"

"Okay... But don't look" He whispered.

"I'll bring you water"

When you came back, he was sitting on the bed with his sport shorts on. He looked at you and your heart cracked a bit.

"Hey..." You weren't even angry anymore.

"I'm sorry" He whispered. "Johny wasn't your type. I'm sorry. I wasn't going to let him make a move. I promise. I just thought..."

You looked at him and shoved his shoulders slightly. "Lay in bed"

"It's true. He is an asshole"

"So have you been, Jamie" You said and touched his cheek.

He looked at you.

"I thought that's what you would like. Other girls do. The tough and outgoing thing. More like Trevor... You know?"

"Trevor is my brother, idiot" You said trying to ignore the fact that he had just said he had done it so you would like him.

"But he is attractive."

You fake gagged.

"Girls always prefer the confident guys. I'm just shy and awkward"

You felt horrible. He looked so small now, laying on the bed and looking at the ceiling with glassy eyes. He was still too drunk, but you could perfectly see through him. Since when had he felt so insecure?

"Jamie... I always liked the shy and awkward guy" You whispered. "But you are drunk and I'm not talking about this now"

He was shaking and looking at you.

"Have a good sleep, Jamie"

.

.

.

You walked downstairs after hiding in your bedroom for longer than usual. You were scared of facing Jamie after your last night confession (and his). But it was something you had to do sooner or later.

"Not a single word, Mason. I'm the adult here and you both played with my sister's feelings. And I'm not going to let go of this. I don't even know why you went to Mason on first place. Like. He is Mason. And... I shouldn't let you date my sister after this."

Trevor looked up and saw you standing there.

"Oh. Hi." He gave you an innocent smile and you frowned.

"I gave you that talk long ago" You pointed at him.

Jamie froze. He didn't even move his eyes from his hands. Mason looked at you, yes. But he was ashamed. Trevor had been scolding them for ten minutes already.

"Yes. Sorry." He said and looked down.

"Not so brave anymore, huh" Mason joked.

"Shut up, McTavish" You smacked his head. "You better stop giving advice."

"Yes, ma'am" He nodded.

Jamie knew he was the next, but he couldn't face you.

"Jamie"

"Yes" He muttered. He sounded so scared.

"Care to come outside with me? We need to talk"

"Of course" He muttered. He had only slept because of the huge amount of alcohol he had gotten on his body. But he had waken up and laid on his bed, anxiety eating him alive. Then he had gone downstairs and faced Trevor, who looked like he wanted to destroy him.

Once you two were outside, you took a sit in one of the garden chairs. Jamie didn't need to be told to sit too.

"Okay" You sighed. "Um... There is a lot to unpack here" You had been thinking and planing what to say. "I need an explanation, Jamie. You were yourself in the morning. We had fun in the pool and playing those board games after lunch. But then... What did Mason told you?"

"It's not really Mason's fault." He whispered. "He was just helping."

"Yeah. I know. But what did he told you to do?"

Jamie swallowed hard and fixed his cap. "You are... You are always flirting and... You... I don't know. You probably like guys who flirt back, no guys that hide and wait for you to leave"

You felt as if he had squeezed your heart. Was that the idea you had given him?

"Jamie..."

"I thought that showing you that I can also be like that you will start liking me"

You bit your lip.

"Do you remember something from last night?"

"Not much. I just know that I fucked up."

"You did"

"Sorry"

"It's fine."

"Is it?"

You sighed.

"Next time... Ask the girl her type, not your friend"

Jamie looked at you waiting for more.

"I'm so into you, Jamie. I find really cute how shy and awkward you can be."

His blue eyes looked at you in shock.

"Why"

"Because it's you. And you have always been nice to me and... I just like you. I love spending time with you. And... To be fair, its fun to tease you"

"If you liked me why didn't you make a move?"

You shrugged. "I'm not sure. I wasn't sure either if you wanted me to do it or not"

Jamie wanted to reach for you. He wanted to pull you closer.

"Are you angry?"

You shook your head.

"No, Jimmy. I just... Can you promise me something?"

"Maybe"

You chuckled and he finally smiled.

"Don't change to be liked. Asshole Jamie was horrible. It doesn't suit you."

"Really?"

You nodded.

"My stomach agrees"

"You are amazing. Incredibly attractive just in the way you are. You really don't need to change nothing in you" You told him with sincere eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"A lot. Look at that cute face. And those eyes! You are a really nice guy, I adore you. And... Not to be superficial, but good body too, Jimmy."

He blushed. "I'm sorry I fucked up"

"I know. And I forgive you. Just... Never trust Mason's advice ever again."

He nodded with an embarrassed look in his eyes.

"Did you really just say you adore me?"

"Jamie, I have been basically telling you I'm in love since we sat here" You said laughing. "See! This is why I like you."

He looked back and checked the glass walls. "They are watching" He said blushing.

"Do you really care?"

"A bit?"

"So if I sit on your lap now you will freak out"

"You really have a lot of fun, don't you?" He said giggling. He couldn't believe it was real. Maybe he was still asleep. He didn't know well.

"I do. But you actually like it, don't you?"

He rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Can I?" You whispered with a smile.

Jamie nodded and got all flustered as you leaned on his chest when you claimed on his lap.

"Be a bit bold, Jimmy" You said when he was trying to figure out what to do with his hands.

He chuckled and put them in your lower back. "This is the best I can do for now"

You giggled and cupped his cheeks. You leaned and kissed him, sweetly and slowly. Jamie smiled and his fingers dug into your skin. Yeah, he couldn't believe t was happening.

But hey, it didn't last much.

"No, no. Not in front of me!"

[cyberneticlagomorph]

The Appraiser's tent is much larger than you expected.

A sprawling mess of fine fabrics in colors that would make shrimp jealous, decorated with glittering baubles of all shapes and descriptions. The whole thing is perched on a set of four scaly bird legs, with the front set idly pawing at the dirt and a tail of some sort curling behind it.

Zeb gazes uneasily at the strange limbs. The tent seems to be aware of the boy because it curls the fingers of one front paw in a beckoning motion. Tigger has no such apprehension and is sitting very comfortably in the palm of the opposite paw, examining its large painted claws with childish delight.

A snout of considerable size melts out of the tent's shadowy interior, purple smoke coiling from fist sized nostrils and slithering between sharp teeth. "Come in, come in!" Purrs the snout. "I don't bite... much."

You watch the snout slowly retreat back into the silky darkness from whence it came and move to follow it, stopped only by the sudden iron grip on your wrist. Zeb's nails dig into your skin, his palms damp with anxious sweat, he's pulling on you with all of his weight and going nowhere.

"We need to go!" He gasps with exertion, still trying to pull you along.

"We can't go, I haven't finished my shopping." You don't budge, you weigh a quarter ton after all and even if you didn't this kid isn't very strong to begin with.

"To hell with your shopping!" Zeb switches from pulling to trying to push you, again getting nowhere. "That. Is. A. Dragon."

"Yeah, and?"

"Dragons EAT!! PEOPLE!!" He keeps pushing.

You pick Zeb up by the armpits and dangle him off of the ground like a naughty cat, "Good thing I'm very much not a people, c'mon they invited us in and it would be rude to decline."

Zeb squirms and thrashes as you throw him over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes, loudly objecting to this clear and definite suicide attempt of yours. You pointedly ignore his antics and carry on inside with Tigger close behind.

The tent's interior is no less grand than its exterior, the ceiling festooned with all manner of lights and lamps, the floor swaddled in intricate rugs. One corner of the tent is dominated by a massive set of golden scales, but the rest of the space has been taken over by the sheer bulk of a magnificent dragon.

It's a beautiful beast, with a long neck and an elegant snout that crinkles with a conspiratorial grin as it lays its golden eyes on you. The dragon's teeth are sharp glittering things made of precious metals and moon-bone, encrusted with gemstones and zigzagged with incomprehensible filigree.

You put Zeb down and watch the boy try to scuttle for the tent's open mouth, only for the flaps to delicately flutter closed and for him to run into them full force like a confused coyote. The dragon laughs at the display, it's a deeply melodious sound that shakes your bones in the best way.

The dragon lifts Zeb off the ground by the back of his shirt, bringing him up to its face for a closer look at the boy. Zeb of course starts to kick and scream, twisting and flailing until he manages to slip out of the creature's grip, falling into the dragon's other hand. The dragon opens its vast maw as if to eat the child, you reach for a weapon that isn't there only to watch the dragon reach into its own mouth and pull out a set of dentures.

"Now then, little Knightling, what was that about dragons eating people?" The dragon rumble-purrs with amusement.

Zeb stares at the dentures with clear distrust and disbelief, one hand reaching out to touch a moon-bone fang. His hand comes away wet and slimy of course, but he relaxes almost imperceptibly. "...you're toothless..."

The dragon roars with laughter, slotting their dentures back into their mouth, "Toothless is an old friend of mine, but no my name is Avarice."

Zeb looks, really looks at the hand he's sitting in. Avarice has no claws, the first digit of each finger and toe has been replaced by an intricate metal prosthesis. The dragon has no scales or horns, just soft bare skin tattooed to look like scales and sawed off stumps where horns should be.

Avarice doesn't have a tail either, just a scarred over nubbin at the end of their spine.

Zeb... feels sick and scared, but not like his life is in danger, like he's done something wrong again. "What happened?"

The dragon smiles again, resting its chin on the knuckles of its free hand, "Nothing you or your kin did, little morsel, I did this to myself as a brash wyrmling."

"Why?"

"Money makes the world go round, and I didn't have any, so I sold myself bit by bit until I had what I wanted and what I needed." Avarice sets Zeb down and the boy doesn't run this time, instead inspecting the dragon's fake claws and mangled tail.

"Did it hurt?"

"Oh yes, it still hurts in some places." Avarice says, fetching a kettle and some cups for you and Tigger and Zeb. "But I try not to think about it."

Zeb wanders numbly back to you without saying anything, you rub his back and feel him stiffen before he starts to relax again.

Avarice pours you all cups of spicy smelling sky blue tea with fluffy clouds scudding by just beneath the surface. It tastes the way flying feels, the rush of wind and the ever present excitement of defying physics that grips your heart like fear but is so much gentler. Zeb doesn't drink his, but he holds the cup politely and let's the warmth seep into his skin.

"Now then!" Says Avarice, sipping from a mug the size of a bathtub, "I assume you need my services, or you came to gawk at my misfortune, I charge by the hour for both so let's get things started hm?"

[radioactivepeasant]

Fic Prompts: Snippet Tuesday

Continuing from Monday's Snippet, now we come to the bit with Spy Tess. Now, there's a variety of ways she could've gotten here -- @sparguscityangel had an idea of Tess actually being there to report to the spies who trained her, and those spies being loyal to the deposed king of Haven. Other contexts can involve Tess trying to blend in with Wastelanders like in @sonicringnoise 's Friends in Low Places, or there to bring Jak intel (and shiny new guns) from Haven.

"Tess!"

Jak stretched up, waving her over from a circle of men and women at one of the cookfires dotting the courtyard of the temple.

"Sit over here!"

Jak really wasn't the outgoing type, and he never had been for as long as she'd known him. But after navigating around more Wastelanders than she'd ever seen in her life, Tess wasn't about to pass up a chance for some information from a friendly face. The circle parted, a little begrudgingly, to let her through, but this seemed more related to having to move while eating rather than an objection to her presence. She dropped down to sit on an overturned crate beside Jak, who pulled a paper-thin circle of some kind of bread from a rack by the fire and handed it to her.

"Dax just schmoozed one of the Foothill Wastelanders into trading a pound of peppers for a sack of rice," he said, flashing a quick smile, "I haven't had rice since I was a kid!"

He pointed Tess to a blackened old pot a woman was stirring with a heavy paddle. Rice piled up high on the paddle, and the weatherbeaten warrior jerked her head meaningfully at Tess. After a second, Tess realized what she was meant to do and obediently held up her flatbread. With a squishing sound, the rice was spread across it in a thick carpet.

"Rice from Foothill, shrimp and pepper from Spargus." Jak pointed to each ingredient in the small bowls Spargans were passing back and forth to add to their rice.

"And," Daxter interrupted, suddenly appearing between them, "Corn from Longstump, for just one tomango!"

The king -- Precursors within and without, that was the king! The actual head of the House of Mar was alive! -- shook his head and laughed as he took the ground corn from Daxter and added it to the pot. "You're a wonder, small one. In another life you must have been a master trader."

"Whaddya mean past life? I'm a master now!" Daxter puffed out his chest, soaking in the praise and approval like sunlight.

About time someone gave Daxter his due, in Tess’s opinion.

She sat and watched them all, allowing the food to cover for her observant silence. Not everyone at this fire was from the desert clan, the Spargans. One of the blue Lurkers from the mountain group had seated herself in the circle, humming something in a quavery old voice as she placidly worked a drop spindle. Foothills Clan mostly traded in cloth and metalhead pieces, as far as she could tell. The folk who lived down near the old Precursor Basin made beautifully intricate guns and staves -- and jewelry that doubled as weaponry in a pinch. Tess had haggled for twenty minutes to get a pair of razor sharp bone earrings from one of the Longstump Clan.

Seemed like Spargus was the gang producing all the Precursor artifacts, by and large. Tess blinked as a thought struck her: did this mean the former king of Haven was indirectly funding the Underground? Was he aware of that?

Daxter settled next to Tess comfortably, wrapping shrimp into the flatbread. Periodically he straightened to bark orders at whoever was manning to cooking pot at the moment -- even when it was King Bloody Damas Himself. Daxter took campfire cooking as seriously as he took the menu at the Naughty Ottsel. Tess bit back a giggle as she watched hardened soldiers grumble and comply with every recipe adjustment Daxter demanded.

Obviously, Daxxie knew what he was doing. His coat was softer and shinier now than it had ever been in the city, and he'd even put on either weight or muscle. He was actually getting nutrition out here in this ghastly desert, and that told Tess more about Spargus than any of its taciturn people could. Jak was just as obviously changed by his months in the Wasteland. His face was no longer pale and sunken -- he'd seen enough sun for a smattering of freckles to dance across rosy brown cheeks -- and his clothes didn't hang so loosely off his shoulders anymore. Like Daxter, his hair looked softer, and about as well-kept as the ocean breeze would allow.

Spargus was in better shape than much of Haven, clearly. Maybe it would be worth it to attempt an alliance.

A tankard began to be passed around the circle, breaking Tess from her thoughts. One by one, Wastelanders took a swig of a bitter alcohol, spiced with cinnamon. Tess managed to get a sip that burned like fire for a second before dulling into a warm glow. Definitely better than what Wastelanders usually carried, although not really to Tess’s tastes. She snorted when Jak's turn was swiftly curtailed by Damas deftly lifting the tankard from his hands.

"Not for you, young man." He took a draught and passed it back to the right.

Tess half expected Jak to be angry about this -- a teenager he might’ve been, but Krew never cared about Tess serving him whatever was watered down the most as long as he paid. And since it wasn't safe to drink the water in most of Haven, there wasn't much else Jak could drink without getting sick. But to Tess’s surprise, Jak only shrugged with a goodnatured laugh.

"So close! I'll get it next pass."

"Good luck with that," Damas snorted, leaning an elbow on one knee and pointing. "I've got eyes on the back of my head."

Jak almost seemed like he was going to argue that, but then he appeared to remember something. He grinned boyishly and settled back into his seat.

"It's true, he does," he said conversationally to everyone and no one.

The elderly Lurker looked up from her spindle with a croaking harrumph. "Little one is too little for grog," she scolded. "Too little for Running the Spire, too!"

Damas took this in stride. "Our rites of passage in the desert are more closely monitored than up north," he assured the old Wastelander. "Any trouble he gets into is wholly of his own making. Isn't that right, Jak?"

Jak snorted. "You're really not gonna let that Arena thing go, are you?"

"You took out a wall with a half dead metalpede," Damas answered dryly, "Lava clean-up took two weeks. No I'm not letting "that Arena thing" go."

Well, Tess mused, clearly some things hadn't changed.