#nobody ask me how that outfit works im not answering any questions right now

[retroosquared]

day 1 of drawing squak in ridiculous outfits i think should exist

[ssamie]

epilogue. “your girlfriend’s kinda hot”

kozume kenma x fem dazai!reader

(bsd x hq)

tw: mentions of suicide and suggestive themes + dirty jokes

masterlist.          suicide freak!

"hey uh, welcome to my stream i guess" he said as he spared the camera a quick glance "im not really playing tonight because an incident has recently occurred in this household" kenma said with a tired sigh 

nobody else knew it, but the said 'incident' was y/n accidentally setting half of their living room on fire 

the reason? apparently, she wanted to try burning herself to death in the furnace. obviously, it didn't work. and all that's left from that is more shit for kenma to clean up and a trip to yosano-san. 

kenma is stressed. and y/n is still alive. both of them are facing problems. 

"can you please wear a maid outfit- no."

kenma shook his head as he continued playing, glancing at the chat once in a while to read the veiwers' questions and comments

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: how about cat ears?! 

user: ^^ cATBOY CATBOY CATBOY 

user: u suck at this game wtf

kuroo.tetsu: hey kenma ;) 

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

"first of all, i do not suck at minecraft thank you very much" kenma scoffed 

"second of all, go away kuroo. im still mad at you" 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: LMFAOOO kuroo what did u do?? 💀💀

user: he probably broke kenma's pc 

user: PLSS he's the one kenma’s throwing shade at on twitter 

kuroo.tetsu: STOP THE SLANDER 😔✋🏼

user: rooster head lookin ass 

user: ^^ NOT THE HAIR 

kuroo.testsu: 😃😃

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

kenma sighed as he continued building a cute little cottage. he was currently vibing, just building y/n a cute cottage for her to probably burn later on. 

and he decided it would be nice to go on stream since his oh-so-lovely girlfriend was still out for work. 

ah yes, kenma has somehow kept y/n alive all those years. 

barely. 

hence why his phone was being bombarded with messages from her, all of which being blurry selfies. 

the photos had her sporting a huge grin while atsushi panicked in the background. 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: ayo, ur phone's blowing up 

user: do you have a girlfriend? 

user: KODZUKEN LET ME SUCK UR TOES 😋😋🤩

user: ^ ayo chill 😃

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

kenma simply ignored them and continued on with his task. all was going well until a loud slam was heard. his cat-like eyes widened as he heard a familiar voice singing from downstairs, it was undoubtedly y/n. 

kenma chuckled nervously and muted his mic. 

but of course, cute dumb catboy didn't actually mute his mic. haha <3

he ignored all the questions in the chat, all of them being  speculations that he has a girlfriend. which he does, but they simply did not need to know that <3

"kenma~" she yelled out "i have a surprise for you!!" she said, followed by menacing giggles. 

kenma glanced at the camera before hopping off his gaming chair and peeking his head out of the door. 

"y/n, im streaming!! stay down there!" he yelled out in panic 

"aw, you're playing hard to get aren't ya?" she chuckled 

kenma deadpanned as he saw her limping up the stairs, with her bandages torn and unravelled, same with her clothes. he didn't really think much of it since this is usually how she comes home. 

its most likely just due to work and/or another suicide attempt.

"so, kenma.. you'll never know what just happened to me today" she started off with a goofy grin 

"im streaming, atleast let me turn it off first-" 

she paid no mind to him as she peeled off her ruined coat and pointed to her poorly bandaged stomach

"i got stabbed!" 

"you got what?!"

kenma furrowed his brows as he immediately rushed over to his side, cradling her face and waist as he inspected her injuries

"are you okay, kitten?" he asked worriedly 

"yep, apparently it wasnt deep enough to be fatal" she sighed dejectedly 

"please don't be sad about that." kenma groaned "can you undress?" 

"ara ara~ whats this?" she cooed "you're getting real bold, kenma" she smirked at him 

she unbuttoned her shirt and started pulling down on her skirt "but since you asked so nicely-" 

kenma simply sighed and shook his head. "i was gonna prepare you a bath but now im considering leaving you here to die" 

"but the second option would've been better though" she smiled at him 

"oh my fucking god." 

kozume kenma. (22)

╰─▸ university student, stock trader, pro-gamer, youtuber, ceo of bouncing ball lpt. 

╰─▸ y/n's struggling boyfriend. definitely needs a pay after all he's been through.

╰─▸ currently panicking because his girlfriend got stabbed.

l/n y/n. (22)

╰─▸ operative/member of the armed detective agency. 

╰─▸ kenma's girlfriend. kinda dumb, very hot to compensate for it. still hasn't died yet. 

╰─▸ currently bleeding and wounded. also hoping for severe blood loss.

"kenma, did you know" she mused in a teasing tone "lack of sleep and too much stress could possibly lead to poor memory and lack of awareness" 

kenma looked up at her with a look of confusion. he was currently kneeled down before her while she was sat on the bed as he cleaned her wound up with a damp towel. 

"why are you telling me this?" he asked 

"i just thought it probably applied to you" she snickered 

"why? i didnt forget anything-" 

he cut himself off with a huge intake of air. he slowly turned his head to look at the screen which still had his stream going on. to make it worse, the camera was on and they were both clearly in the camera's field of view. 

to make things worse worse, his mic was on the whole time and the live chat was in shambles. 

"i hate it here" he sighed 

kenma laid his head on her lap as he continued on patching her up, honestly not caring that this whole scene was being recorded for thousands or millions of people to see. 

"well, atleast the internet could finally see my beauty before i die" she laughed 

she ran her fingers through kenma's hair as he grumbled under his breath. kenma was a pretty private person. he made sure not to overshare, given his current 'influencer' status. and he was planning on keeping his relationship a secret, though it seems he can't do that anymore. 

"might as well say hi" she shrugged 

so of course, she then decided to walk up to the camera looking utterly dishevelled and roughed up. 

for context, the newly wrapped bandages around her stomach was being stained already by a crimson red hue and it was only getting worse the more she moved, undoubtedly messing up her wound. 

"hi, im kenma's girlfriend and if i see you flirting with him i will make you regret it" she grinned 

"y/n!" kenma groaned from the bed "you're close to dying right now, turn the stream off" 

ignoring him, she proceeded to read the veiwers' comments, laughing at some of them while she joked around. 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: heLLO?!?! 

user: GE HAS A GIRLFRIEND NOOO

user: bruh, did i just hear that right? were you fuckin stabbed? 

user: ur kinda hot tho

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

kenma furrowed his brows as he reluctantly walked up behind her, reading the comments with varying reactions 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: well damn, hot bloody girl comes in and suddenly im lesbian

user: kenma looks so done

kuroo.tetsu: hi y/n ;) 

user: HER NAME IS Y/N

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

"jesus christ shut up, kuroo" kenma grumbled out with a sigh 

"yup! yup! im y/n, and no, i am not a criminal. i swear." she shook her head 

"i got an injury from my job, that's all." she cleared up 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: tangina nyo sana ol

user: MSKAKAKKA

user: THIS IS LOWKEY ICONIC

user: time to scratch another gamer boy off my possible bf list 😔

user: girl wtf happened to u

user: that's wack bro 🚶‍♀️

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

"great question, random person from the internet!" she beamed "see, what happened was.." 

"i went on a certain mission and got severely injured. though, when i called for help nobody responded" she said 

kenma furrowed his brows at her words. "why didn't anybody respond?" he asked. she sighed and fiddled with her torn bandages, pouting her lips as she does so. 

"well, when i told them that i was finally on death's door, all they said to me was 'congratulations!' and all that.." she said "what's your take on that, hm?" she asked kenma 

"im not surprised" he said 

she grinned at his words and leaned in for a kiss. "you're so mean to me, kenma~" she whined 

she licked her lips as she held his blushing face in her hands, she nuzzled their noses as she leaned in closer to him. 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

kuroo.tetsu: oh shit 😳

user: we all know where this is heading ;) 

user: sana ol talaga punyemas 

user: AYO CHILL 

user: why we goin so fuckin fasstttt 😳

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

kenma hastily turned the camera off as soon as y/n's lips touched his. 

"kitten, were still- hmph-" 

he was only silenced as she slipped her tongue in his mouth, smirking lightly as she ran her fingers through his hair 

"thanks babe." she said as she pulled away, giving him a soft peck on his cheek and a nod "anyways.." she hummed as she turned the camera on once again 

she looked through the chat while kenma slaps his face to get rid of his blush. 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: ur fuckin freaky 

kuroo.tetsu: oya oya 😼😼

user: MS MAAM I JUST MET U AND I LOVE U ALREADY WJABSJSJJS

user: not me blushing chiiilllleeeeee 🏃‍♀️

user: KENMA IS FLUSTERED

kuroo.tetsu: kenma, i didnt expect this from u 😼

user: im so fucking JEALOUS GRR😡

user: girl r u bleeding rn 😃

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

upon reading a certain comment, she subconsciously grazed her fingers against her bandaged wound. her eyes slightly widening as she felt a concerning amount of wetness seeping through

she glanced at kenma who was still calming himself down and inspected her wound 

"oh my.." she muttered, though she couldn't help but let a smile slip through 

so like any normal person would do, she simply ignored her bleeding wound and the fact that she was getting a bit lightheaded. haha <3

"anyways, let's answer some questions!" she beamed 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: what's ur full name

user: what's ur job miss girl 

user: are you possibly looking for a gf, because i am more 

than willing to take the spot 🚶‍♀️

user: how did you meet?? 

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

"alright, those are all very nice questions" she chuckled. kenma, who's now calmed down, sat down beside her to look at the chat. 

"first, im l/n y/n" she mused "nice to meet ya" 

"second im a detective! mhm, im cooler than your fathers" 

"third, it depends, belladonna" she cooed as she sent the camera flirty smirk "are you perhaps willing to join me in a double suicide?" 

"oh god.." kenma grumbled. he pouted at her and shook his head in disapproval. "don't flirt with random girls" he whined 

"why not?" 

"uh- because i am your beloved boyfriend, is that not good enough of a reason??" 

"... anyways, we met at a cafe way back in high school" she said with a smile "also, i asked him to join me on a double suicide" she said 

she was smiling and nodding as if it was the most normal thing in the world, all while kenma nods along 

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: wtf are u okay 🗿

kuroo.tetsu: teenage romance 🤩

user: cute ❤️

user: im concerned ❤️

user: ur a detective?? cool

user: LMAOO I'LL GO ON A DOUBLE SEWER SLIDE 

WITH U MOMMY 😩😩😋

user: ^^ SAME 😩

user: CHOKE ME WITH THOSE BANDAGES MOMMAE 😩

user: u r still bleeding 🚶‍♀️        

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

kenma was simply glaring at the chat as more compliments and flirtatious comments came flowing in, all of which were directed to his girlfriend. 

"this is why i didn't wanna let people know about you.." kenma grumbled 

"aww, why not?" she asked with a playful pout 

"people are flirting with you." he sighed "also, stop asking for my girlfriend's onlyfans! she doesn't even have one!" he snarled

╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

user: LMAOO CATBOY IS ANGRY 😩

user: y/n-senpai spit on me 😡😡

user: drop the onlyfans 

user: chupapi munyanyo 😩

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

"anyways, i'd hate to ruin the mood" she chimed in with a sluggish giggle "but im so wet kenma" she whined out 

a menacing smirk was etched on her lips as kenma spluttered in response, a bright red hue covering his face almost instantly as he faced her with widened eyes 

"y-y/n! why would you say that?!" he whisper shouted 

"cuz i am" she whined out as she grabbed his hand and trailed it down her abdomen 

she faced the camera and gave them a shit-eating grin as kenma mumbled out incoherent words 

"y/n we should-" he cut himself off as he felt the concerning amount of blood drip down his whole arm 

kenma's face paled as he looked up to see her smiling like a kid in a candy store, completely unbothered. 

"y/n, you idiot! why didn't you tell me!" kenma exclaimed 

"um- my girlfriend is bleeding. excessively. so uh- bye i guess" it was all he said before hastily ending his stream and turning off his computer. 

"y/n, let's get you to a hospital" he said as he reached down to carry her away. though she simply slapped his hands off and closed her eyes. 

"nope. this is my time, kenma. don't ruin it for me" she said 

"you're fucking dying!!" 

"well, would you like to join me?" 

"no"

"damn." she muttered in response 

"so...wanna fuck?" she asked sheepishly 

"for the love of god-" 

this was so messy :/

[spencerhotchner]

Alternative {spencer reid}

Chapter 1 

summary: Since quarentine was announced, Y/N decided to rewatch all seasons of Criminal Minds. On a lonely night she wished she could be in that universe instead of this. What happens when she wakes up in 2008 in Quantico?

warnings: angst, a very confused reader, regular cm stuff and my grammar (if you find anything else pls lmk

word count: 2k

a/n: i have this idea while watching a movie about parallel universes and all, so i just wanted to try this out. it will be a 10 parts series! im not really sure about this, i think i kinda hate it but im posting it anyways lmao. i hope you gonna enjoy!

series masterlist

part 1 | part 2

You woke up feeling dizzy and with a major headache. At first you thought it was because you drank a whole lot of wine last night but then you saw yourself in a room you never saw before. You stoop up quickly trying to understand where you were and how did you end up there. You were sure that you have never been in this place before, and it was scaring you that you showed up in there.

There was a mirror nailed to the wall in from of you almost forcing you to look at your own body, that made you notice that you were still wearing the same clothes from last night, but you weren’t home. Not being home was odd given by the fact you stayed there with your family and two friends you invited over, since there’s a whole freaking pandemic going on and you for sure did not want to get sick or get other people sick. 

“Did I get kidnapped?” you think out loud. “No, I just watch too much Criminal Minds.” you tell yourself, trying to calm down.

You reach for the face mask placed on the nightstand, getting ready to leave this random place and go home. You tried not to freak out when you realized your phone was gone and the only cellphone in there was probably as old as your grandmother. You dialed your moms number about five times and all of them went on voicemail, making you curse mentally. 

This can’t be happening. Not to me.

As soon as you leave the apartment you were in you realized you weren’t in your hometown, definitely not. It was crowded, like, really crowded and no one was wearing any face masks. Where did the freaking pandemic go? You wondered while you felt like a misfit for being the only one wearing it. 

“Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?” you ask an old lady walking by.

“You’re on Main Street, sweetheart.” she says.

“No, um, I mean the city.” you watched as the old lady looked at you with a funny face, as if she was calling you crazy on her mind.

“We’re in Quantico, dear.”

“Quantico?” you repeat, mostly for yourself then for her. The lady started at you like you were an alien. “Thank you so much, ma’am.”

The air started to go low on you, how did you get to Virginia, anyway? That was across the country from where you lived, Bellevue in Washington state. You started lost walking, trying to understand what the hell was going on. It felt like you were on a parallel universe, like you were in a dream but couldn't wake up and it sure felt very real. You stoped a jornal shop taking a lot at the last newspaper in there, trying to figure if something happened that you were missing. However, nothing reported there shocked you, what did, though, was the date. 

July 1st, 2008

You were about to ask someone about it when you bumped into a blonde woman, falling on the ground. As soon as you looked up, you almost chocked yourself. If the day was already weird, this was even weirder. A.J Cook was standing right in front of you with a concerned look. You couldn't really say anything, just staring at her like she wasn't real. It was weird seeing her in front of you after only seeing her through screens. 

“I’m so sorry!” she said as she offered a hand for you to get up. “Are you ok?”

“I- um, yes! I’m fine.” you san, getting the dirt out of your outfit. “I’m a big fan of yours! Wish I had my phone here to take a picture but- sorry.“ you stoped talking, realizing she probably doesn’t care.

“Big fan of me? Wow, howcome somebody’s a fan of me?” she sounds surprised.

“Well, you’re on Criminal Minds.” you say as it was obvious. 

She looked at you as if you were out of your mind. Not that you weren't thinking otherwise at the moment, anyways. 

“I’m on what now?” she asked.

Maybe you got confused and she was the wrong person, but she looked so much like her to not be her. If they were not the same person, then definitely twins. This was so weird, once again, you found yourself asking ‘what the hell’ mentally.

“You’re JJ, Jennifer Jareau, FBI Agent and all.” you say, trying one more time. “Behaviour Analysis Unit...”

“Yea, that‘s me.” she let a nervous laugh comes out of her mouth. “How do you know me?”

‘This is weird’ you thought. How does she not understand where you know her from? Literally Criminal Minds, like you said at first. ‘Maybe this is all a dream.’

“I saw you on tv” you try.

“Oh, I see! You like law enforcement?” she asks you.

“Oh yes, I’m in law-school to be a judge someday.” you answered. “The show, all of it just makes me wanna put all them bad guys in jail.” you say, laughing a bit. 

“The show...? What?” you hear her whisper, but decide to ignore it. “What’s the mask about?” JJ asks, making you look at her surprised.

“Um, covid-19?” you say like it’s obvious, because it is.

“Oh, sure...” she smiles as she says it, almost like she's only agreeing because she won't discuss it. “Great talking to you, really, but I gotta go, FBI duty calls.” she jokes.

You smile at her watching carefully as she picks up her phone from her pocket and pick up a call. That phone looked awfully old, like 2000’s old. Why would a famous actress have that kinda of phone? Then, you looked around trying to understand more about what was going on. It was all too out of place.

First, nobody wearing masks, not even a single person but you. Second, you were in a city in which is miles away from your own. Third, a famous actress acted like she’s nobody. And fourth, the date on the calendar said 2008.

If it wasn’t just impossible I would say I time travelled into Criminal Minds universe.

After standing there for literal 10 minutes trying to figure it out what you were going to do, you decide to go to the police department. After all, you may have been abducted, right? Because you didn’t have any knowledge of the place, you took quite some time to get there. As soon as you got there you sigh in relief, that has been quite a walk and damn, you were tired of this situation. 

“Excuse me, ma’am, can you help me?” you ask to the lady standing behind the counter.

“Sure, dear. What do you need?” she looks up at you, taking her glasses of her face.

“I think I might have been abducted?” you start. “I woke up in this random apartment.”

“Maybe you had a one-night stand.” she said putting back her glasses.

“No! I am sure I didn’t because first of all, there’s a pandemic going on, second of all I was in Bellevue in Washington state when I went to sleep.” you yell, involuntarily, desperate to make her believe in you. 

“Miss, I’m gonna need you to calm down or you will be escorted out of the building. You’re probably on drugs, there's nothing we can do for you.”

“Fuck you.” you say as you watch her face get all red.

Frustrated. That could define what you were feeling, scared and worried could do the work, as well. What were you going to do now? Go to the FBI to see if they could freaking understand why you simply appeared in Quantico? Didn't sound like a bad idea in your mind as you decided to just try it out. After all, you were already pretty screwed up, it would worth a shot.

You reached for your back pocket, hoping that the money you shoved in there more than a week ago would still be in there. Bingo! You pull out a 20 dollar bill out of it and the next thing you know you’re getting into a cab asking him to take you to the FBI. Now that’s something you never thought would happen. The travel was quite quick, in 20 minutos you were standing in front of that big isolated building. It looked like it was taken straight out of your favorite show, that was insane. 

The wind blew hard on you when you got out of the vehicle, making you shiver a little, that reminded you that you did not have any clothes nor money to buy more. God, you did not even have where to go. You didn't even get the chance to get into the building as a big man steps in front of you, blocking your way. 

“Miss, you're not allowed in this building.” he said without much expression. 

“But, sir-” you started, as you saw he was about to interrupt you, you go on. “Ive been abducted and I don't know where or how the hell did I get in here, I’m completely hopeless... Please.” you beg him.

He started at you for a couple of seconds, that felt like centuries for you, just to sigh at you.

“Ok, follow me.” he said. “Do not make me regret this.” 

“I-I won’t, sir.” you were quick to answer. 

The agent asked another man to cover up for him as he led me into the building. Once again you found yourself admired of how much it did look like a Criminal Minds episode in there, if you weren't totally desperate you'd be amused. Soon, you two were out of the elevator on floor 8, leading with the words Behavior Analysis Unit quite big. 

“Can you take her to Agent Jareau, please?” the man said to someone who passed by, who simply agreed. 

Now, that's a funny coincidence, there's actually an Agent Jareau in the BAU. 

You followed the woman with questioning trying to stay calm when you saw Matthew Gray Gubler sitting on a desk reading some book in Reid style, almost like he was Spencer himself. If you had any doubts you were going crazy, that was the final proof. You stoped walking, taking a stare at him and then at the Agent that stared a you like you were an alien.

“Is there something wrong?” she asks you. “Miss, are you ok?”

You were unable to answer for a few seconds when you finally opened you mouth, still trying to figure it out how to say what was on your mind without sounding completely insane.

“Is that Dr. Spencer Reid?” 

And that was all you’re able to say because as soon as you let his name out of your mouth he looked up at you, trying to somehow recognize you. You were sure, that time, that you never looked - and sounded - as insane as right now. 

“Yes, that's me.” he answers. 

His voice was the last thing you could hear before everything go black. Maybe you were finally going to wake up. Maybe. 

[turinn]

Naive

Ray Blackwell x M!Reader

Summary: An invitation at a party reveals that Luka had no idea you’re gay, and brings up a concern you hadn’t had before. Tags: Crack, fluff, secret relationship, mention of homophobia, alcohol consumption A/N: This is based on a dream I had where Luka and I had this exact conversation and when I woke up and remembered it I nearly threw up laughing. I did actual research for the girls outfit and hair bc im a fashion history nerd. the pocket watch i just thought was cute. Fenrir calls the reader fruity but its okay bc hes gay too god bless Word Count: 1.5k

The party was the usual affair expected of the Godspeed's, an air of elegance- present but not too overbearing- hanging over the large hall. Music drifted gently to your ears as you took everything in, a small smile settling on your face.

You couldn't help but feel a little underdressed. The officers had, of course, kept their uniforms on, but everyone else present was dressed to the nines. You'd thought the suit you wore was lovely when you and Seth had seen it last week, dark blue with a white trim, paired with a pale cyan tie and pocket square. The gold watch that settled comfortably in your pocket had been a gift from Blanc, supposedly made by Oliver to look similar to his own, to commemorate your decision to stay in Cradle. Compared to everyone else, it felt rather simple now, but you pushed the thought aside. Nobody was judging what you were wearing, they were here to enjoy themselves same as you.

"Would you like a drink?" Ray asked, voice soft enough not to startle you too much. This wasn't too effective, as you'd gotten lost in your thoughts, and sort of forgotten there were people around you, but it was kind of him to try. "Oh, yes, please." You smiled at him and a moment later he'd walked off, talking to Sirius about something, leaving you alone with Luka. Fenrir had disappeared to greet his family when you'd first arrived, and Seth was who knows where, but you didn't mind it being just the two of you. Luka rarely came to these, in fact this was the first he'd been to since you'd arrived in Cradle, despite it being your fifth, and you decided someone should stick with him so he didn't feel quite as nervous.

As you turned to say something to him, you noticed a lady making her way over to the both of you, looking rather flustered. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and she seemed to be muttering something to herself, but it was clear she had intent to speak to one of you. Perhaps she wanted to talk to Luka? He was cute, it wouldn't surprise you. What did surprise you, however, was when she walked up to you instead.

"Um, excuse me if this is far too forward, but... would you be interested in dancing with me?" She sounded so nervous, and you almost wanted to say yes. Any other man would have been lucky to get such an invitation- she looked stunning. She wore her hair in curls, gathered at the back of her neck, with a hairpiece of pale blue flowers was pinned at the front, a necklace donning the same type of flower hanging just above the neckline of her gown. The gown in question matched the colour of the flowers well, though the width of the crinoline supported skirt would have made you concerned about the logistics of dancing with her- if you'd had any intention of saying yes. Her cheeks were tinted pink as she chewed her bottom lip and waited for your answer, avoiding your gaze. A hand on your chest and a sincerely apologetic look on your face, you began to respond. "Oh dear. I'm terribly sorry, but you seem to have gotten the wrong end of the stick. You're a very attractive young lady but I'm afraid... how should I put this," You glanced at Luka for help, but he seemed to have no idea what you were trying to tell her, "I'm afraid I don't tend to set my eye on the ladies, so to speak." "You're... gay?" A sympathetic nod. "That's the ticket. Sorry, love." "Oh, it's not a problem! I'm really sorry to have bothered you!" She suddenly looked much less nervous, though a little embarrassed, and scurried off. You sighed. "I feel a little bad. I really hope she finds someone to dance with." Luka looked at you quizzically. "Why did you lie to her?" A confused laugh escaped you. "I'm sorry?" "You told her you were into guys. Why lie?" As he said this, Seth and Fenrir came up behind him, and hearing his question their eyebrows shot up. So did yours. Was he kidding? "Luka, sweetie, you have got to tell me what part of my personality made you think I was heterosexual, so I can set about changing it immediately." Seth choked on his drink, and though you flashed him a grin, you weren't entirely kidding. Going from Victorian London to a world where being gay was perfectly acceptable had been quite the change, but you'd been certain all of your friends had known. It's not like you were quiet about it, and sure, Luka was naive but... come on, now. "Wait are you... you were being honest?" "Yes?" "Luka," Fenrir began, stepping next to you and resting an elbow on your shoulder, "How have you seriously not noticed that he's gay yet?" "Well- there was no reason for me to assume!" "You watched me drunk make out with at least 2 different Black Army soldiers in my first month here!" Luka looked flustered, and utterly dumbfounded. The expression was one he wore often, usually when people insinuated that someone was in love- but somehow about five times more confused. He was unfortunate enough that Ray and Sirius returned at this moment, just in time to hear both your last remark, and his next one.

"I thought that was just something you did when you were drunk?" In another moment you were on your knees, legs shaking so much from laughter that you couldn't hold yourself up any longer. Fenrir was right there beside you, practically convulsing. Everyone else was laughing too- except poor Luka. You felt a little bad, truly you did, but this had to be the funniest thing you had ever heard. "He's completely straight, but watch out! Get a couple drinks in him and he turns fruity!" Fenrir managed to get out between cackles, and Ray was glad to have put your drinks down when Luka had last spoken, because he too nearly fell to the ground at this.

"Luka- Luka I'm sorry." You pulled yourself to your feet, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "We aren't laughing at you." Another fit of giggles overcame you. "Okay we kind of are, but it's not malicious or anything. That was just... hands down the funniest thing you've ever said." It took most of you 5 or so minutes to fully calm down from what he'd said, and anything that jogged your memories of it would bring you back to a state of uncontrollable laughter for the rest of the night. Luka came round to it being pretty funny after you talked him through the dozens of times you'd mentioned your sexuality to him since you'd met- every one of which had gone over his head.

Hours after the party had worn down and you'd all made your way home, you lay in bed, your head pressed against a familiar chest, and sighed. "What's up?" "I just... D'you think anyone else just hasn't realised?" Ray cocked his head, confused. "I'm gonna need a little more info than that, kitten." "I suppose I just... Back in London, it's not even legal to be gay, and I don't know if it ever will be. When I first came out to Fen, he told me that it was fine here, accepted and even celebrated. So, I guess I just thought that people wouldn't make the automatic assumption that I'm straight, y'know? I mean I talk about it a lot among you guys but- when I’m out and about... where do people think my final destination is? When I pick up a silly cat themed gift for you does the shopkeep think I’m buying it for my wife? It shouldn't be a big deal, I guess, but I'd never been able to be myself until I came here, and now it's like I can be me but... people will still only see who I am if I tell them. It's just weird is all. I dunno. Maybe I'm drunk." "You're not drunk. It's an understandable concern. I guess I've never thought about it, because whether or not people would accept that part of me has never been an issue, but the fact that you've had to hide it for so long and now that you're able to be open people still aren't seeing it must be hard. If you want we could... come out, so to speak?" Your eyebrows raised, and you moved back, propping yourself up on your arm so you could look your partner in the eyes.

It had been decided at the very start of your relationship, which had officially begun a few months after you'd made the choice to stay in Cradle, that the two of you would keep it under wraps for a while. Being from the Land of Reason was more than enough reason for people to take an unwanted interest in you, and you didn't need the extra attention being the King of Spades' partner would garner. Plus, anyone with a grudge against Ray would see you as a target the second you announced it. It had been a sensible suggestion on his part, one you hadn't hesitated to agree to, and as far as you knew only Sirius and Fenrir knew about your relationship. Fenrir because he had walked in on you sitting in Ray's lap while he worked late one night, and Sirius because- well, can anything get past that guy? And now, Ray was offering to tell the entirety of Cradle you were his, just so that you didn't feel like you were hiding your identity anymore? You could feel your eyes starting to burn, and you cursed the late hour and the alcohol in your system for making you cry so easily, but... "I don't think we need to be that drastic. You were right when you said it would keep me safe for us to not be in the public eye, at least for now. I'm sure Seth can come up with some better way for me to tell the whole world I'm gay." "I don't doubt that at all." Ray grinned, placing a gentle kiss on first your forehead, then your nose, and finally on your lips. "Tomorrow, though. You need your beauty sleep." "Ah, yeah, can't risk getting ugly. My boyfriend might not want me anymore." You quipped. "Exactly." He smirked at you, turning out the light and pulling you into his arms.

[disney8733]

finding our song book one

begging

The lights of the stage flashed on showing the band members on it. You could hear the hum of the lead starting the opening of the song “ Put your loving hand out, baby 'Cause I'm beggin'' The rest of the band starts to join in the song known as, Beggin’. From the right side of the stage, you could see him as the main bass of the band Daichi Sawamura, A five foot nine well-built dark-haired brown-eyed man with thighs so thick they could crush a watermelon in half. It was the beginning of the trash heap tour for Junkyard scrap. The alternate punk rock band that everyone knew. They were known for being an attractive upcoming popular All-Star Band. Their lead singer had an amazing voice that could go and reach the low notes of a song but sound smokey and sweet and loving. Their bass guitarist could play the strings of his bass like nobody else. Their lead guitarist could play any guitar ranging from electric to ukulele. And there was their drummer. He was the rhythm of their band and could make a beat out of a pencil tapping on a table. But that's not all the band had to offer oh no there is much more. At first glance, junkyard scrap looks like a normal band but that's not all they had. Each one of the band members could do more than just what they were known for. junkyard scrap was nicknamed The Multiverse band, their lead singer Kōtarō Bokuto Also known as the owl was a Bombastic, friendly, energetic guy. Also known as The Moody one tending to sometimes in the middle of an interview going into an “emo mode” because he was sad. Bokuto could also play the drums, guitar, and song right to a certain extent. Tetsurō Kuroo the lead guitarist, is also known as rooster head due to the way his hair looks. Although he looked laid-back, he always seemed to be scheming for something and liked to provoke others' well-dishing outside remarks to them. But the truth of reality is that true karoo is a kind of surprisingly genius man both in music and somehow chemistry. The man could not only play electric guitar but also the bass, the acoustic, the ukulele, the piano, the trumpet and is an absolute god at writing love songs. Daichi Sawamura The bass guitarist of the group. Known as the dad of the group he's responsible, caring, understanding, and patient. Except for when you piss him off then he becomes utterly terrifying and everybody seems to be attracted to that. He can also play the electric guitar. If and when he does sing it's a very low soft and sweet velvet voice. And lastly Hajime Iwaizumi on the drums. A stubborn yet reliable member of the band with a strong intimidating vibe. With a firm yet caring attitude towards the rest of his team everyone tends to respect him and all his fans see him as a bad boy. He can also sing very well. These four young men make up the group known as Junkyard scrap. Clear their fan base they were gods that can play music like nobody else the hottest things on Earth. But to the four of them, they were just a bunch of friends who decided to play at a concert one night with the rest is pretty much history. From the crowd, you can hear the girls screaming their heads off for Daichi. Indicating that they were playing the song ashes which was sung by the drummer Iwaizum. “I fell in love with a boy I met in hell”. As the concert continued The Stylist walked up to their manager Kiyok.

“Are we going to do an outfit change?” the stylist asked

“Not that I know of unless Bo has other plans” She replies with a heavy sigh. Bo had a habit of taking his shirt off in a particular song known as Glory and throwing it in the crowd because according to him the song had just such a “vibe” and “he was so pumped he didn't know what he was doing”. The entire band called them out for just wanting to take his shirt off for no reason. And he did not deny or confirm this action. As the two were talking at that very moment You could hear Kuroo starting to play his electric guitar to the notes of none other than the song Glory. Kiyoko Turn to The Stylist rolling her eyes towards the stage saying “ well the answer to your question is yes Suga, we will be an athlete change in which Bokuto will need another shirt”

“Noted” he replied back quickly leaving her at the side of the stage to go get him a new shirt. At this point, he wasn't surprised he had been with the band as their stylus for the past 6 months and he had gotten pretty much used to the clothes that he had either hand-picked or made himself for Bo, being thrown into the crowd. At first yeah totally annoying the crap out of him. But then the bass player of the band talked to him stating how typically they get the shirts back because most of the fans know but was not allowed to do that anymore even though he still does it. Daichi promised that he would talk to Bo after every concert and yell at him for doing so. Now it wasn't that Suga would say that he was in love with Daichi. But he loves the idea of having a strong Rockstar boyfriend. Though it was never going to happen, he knew that and that was fine. What he didn't know is that Daichi himself had fallen head-over-heels Suga from the day that they met. As the concert ended you could hear the loud roaring of the crowd. The band thanked everybody for coming out and giving them a chance to start a brand new tour.

As the band members came off the stage. They were talking and laughing in a way that made you feel at home.

“That was a good show” Kuroo stated “Even if Bo took his shirt off again” the Rooster continued

“ I told you guys every time you play the song. I just get this feeling that I just can't explain it I just got to be free it's glorious if you try it sometime” Bokuto responded well laughing

“ You know Bokuto. First of all, it's just weird and secondly, you throw away all of Suga's hard work. You jerk” Daichi replied looking at Suga

“Oh, it’s ok. There just close

“No, it’s not ok. It costs us money every time he does it. Right kiyoko” Iwaizumi said

“Sadly Iwaizumi is right,” she said without even looking up from her notes.

“IM SORRY SUGA” Bo bowed his head. Suga just smiled.

“Don't worry, let's go get the shirt back together this time ok” the beautiful silver hair boy stated. As they walked away Daichi couldn't help but stare at Sugawara. To him, Sugawara was a beautiful 5' 8.7" slender-built guy, with light grey hair, and hazel-brown eyes. Not to mention, a birthmark mole under his left eye that Daichi just wanted to kiss. Kōshi Sugawara had a soothing and gentle personality. he kind of acted as a pillar of support for the crew and the band. He was a kind and sweet man. Daichi was unsure of when he had fallen for the man, maybe it was when they first met. That was the start at least.

“You if you ask him out, no one would stop you and every owner would approve,” Kuroo said smiling as they walk to the dressing room.

“I can't I have to Maintain appearance for the band's image” he s simply replied

“ You're joking right, In case you forgot I'm dating Kenma. You know the guy who wright more then half our song” Kuroo Side as he sat down in the chair taking his shoes off

“That's different. You two were dating way before we came to fame” Daichi huffed out as he took his jacket off. Just then Kenma walked while playing on his Game Boy.

“Kuroo,” the short boy said not looking up

“Yes, kitten?” the roster replied

“I want cuddles and apple pie”

“Ok kitten, just let get changed” Kuroo hurried up getting out of the outfit he had on and into sweatpants and a sweatshirt then picked up his boyfriend, leaving the room to go get apple pie and cuddle. Leaving Daichi alone. “Maybe he’s right,” he sighed as took out his shirt.

“Knock knock Dai-” Suga said, opening the door just as Daichi’s pants groped. Leaving him in nothing but his boxer. “OH, MY GOD IM SO SORRY I- I’ll um” He stumbled to figure out what exactly should say.

“It’s fine, just give me a sec,” Daichi said as he grabbed his sweatpants, He had decided to leave his shirt off for a multitude of reasons, mainly because he wanted to make Suga blush. “So I'm guessing you need the outfits from the performance today,” He said as he smiled. “Um yes please… and thank you” Suga replied calmly. Daichi nodded, picking up the clothes in the room and heading them over to Suga. Just as Suga took them he ended up trying over his feet, falling on Daichi. When Suga opened his eyes he realized both of his hands were on Daichi's chest, his shirtless chest realizing. where his hands were he blushed training his face into the color of the Tomato he stood up to grab the clothes and ran to the door. “I'M SORRY...Again… AND THANK YOU… GOODBYE!” He said that he closed the door behind them running down the hallway away from the embarrassment that just happened. Leaving sitting on the floor as red as the color of a tomato. “Your welcome,” he said to no one but himself.

To be continued

[rant-2-me]

My mental state has just worsened over the days, though I'm not sure why, and I just feel so unmotivated and lacking any energy to practice any self care other than napping, and also feel anxious because I'm not studying enough.. feel like I'm just 1/4th assing my responsibilities.. And when someone asks me how I'm doing, sometimes I blurt out that I'm not fine, and the guilt I feel afterwards for making them worry, so I find myself withdrawing from initiating conversation with them, even though I really want to, and this makes them worry about me more.. I just don't know anything anymore, everything feels too much, yet I can't rant in a clear conscience without feeling guilty for bothering them, and thinking how I don't deserve to complain because they have had so much worse (yes I know pain is relative, but I feel so horrible, like a whiny child, who doesn't know how to be content with her blessings)......

Sorry I know it's a lot.. feel free to delete it if it's triggering or making you uncomfortable in any way... I just needed to get it out..

My lovely nonnie, im so, so glad you sent this ask. and got it all out of your system. yeah this sounds cheesy but like ive been there, with not knowing how to reach out—im proud you had the courage to send this ask. girlboss vibes.

also this ask took a while to answer and im so so sorry about that, but I didnt want to do anything less than the best for you, so let's just jump right in <[:)

Lacking motivation, god I've been there, but doing self care is super super important so here is a how-to, hon.

How to do selfcare when you’re not motivated to:

1. Be a little “gross.”

Gross is in quotes because it’s so subjective, but you undoubtedly have a few behaviors you consider kind of gross regardless. Now’s the time to do them without judgment. For me, that’s meant showering less, eating weird food combos (sometimes in bed), and letting my brows and mustache grow magnificently unruly. For you, it could mean doing something you normally judge yourself for or cutting back on activities you only do for the benefit of others. Now is not the time to allow “socially acceptable” behaviors to rule you.

2. Eat whatever the hell you want.

This should be a rule always, but I’m not going to pretend there aren’t societal, social, and personal pressures that go into why we eat what we eat. Try to shut down the voice that judges or polices what you’re eating right now. We’re in the middle of a goddamn pandemic. If dinner has to be some slices of cheese and deli meat eaten in front of the open fridge, so be it. If you have a lot of cravings and are snacking more than you normally would, cool. If pre-pandemic you decided you were going to stick to a certain meal plan and it’s just not happening anymore? Don’t beat yourself up.

Yes, what we eat is connected to our mental health, and I don’t want to discount that—but if the stress of eating healthfully is making you feel like crap anyway, whether that’s because you can’t fathom cooking or don’t have the means to shop for certain foods during isolation, just eat the sleeve of Oreos and try again another day. It’s okay.

3. And wear whatever you want.

Or, more realistically, wear whatever you can. Even if it means wearing the same ratty sweatpants for a whole week. Or month. Maybe you started all this out aspiring to get dressed every day to work from home productively, or maybe you have a whole collection of comfortable loungewear you feel guilty for not utilizing. Whatever arbitrary rules and expectations you’ve set for yourself, you can throw them out.

On the other hand, maybe you need to quiet the voice that tells you there’s no point in getting dressed or feeling presentable. If it helps, by all means, play with your look, wear awesome or weird outfits, do your hair and makeup or whatever activity might feel a little silly given your current reality. In the middle of a pandemic, nothing is a waste of time if it makes you feel good.

4. Use shortcuts to avoid creating chores.

In my first week or so of working entirely from home, I was baffled by just how messy my apartment got. How on earth were so many messes piling up when I wasn’t even doing anything but working, sleeping, and eating? I hadn’t realized it, but a lot of my small tidying routines had become casualties to the pandemic. And, it turns out, slacking on the little ways I pick up after myself every day (such as doing the dishes right after I use them) added up quickly.

Instead of forcing myself to stick to the same levels of tidiness that I used to maintain, I’ve found shortcuts. For example, I use paper plates and plastic cutlery when I feel too fatigued to wash dishes so they don’t sit in the sink for days on end. Or I stick to the same two “outfits” to avoid clothes piling up when I’m too depressed to put them away every day. If you can find a small way to go easy on yourself, even if it feels a little wasteful or indulgent or gross, it’s okay to tap into those shortcuts right now.

5. Be kind to yourself if your place is messy or dirty.

I won’t lie: I’m someone whose space impacts my mental health a lot. Typically, keeping my apartment clean helps keep my mental health in check and letting my apartment get gross makes me feel worse. That’s still true in a lot of ways, but to adapt I’ve been trying to be mindful and accepting of where I’m at. And it’s…helped?

It turns out that taking the pressure off does a lot to mitigate the guilt and some of the other negative mental health effects I usually experience. In practice, it involves a lot of talking to myself. Instead of seeing my apartment turning into a depression cave and immediately thinking, “Oh, God, I need to clean up, this is so disgusting, I’m a monster for living like this, of course I feel depressed,” I go for kindness. I think (or even say out loud because, well, desperate times), “Of course my apartment is a mess right now. I’ll get to it when I get to it. I can handle the mess for now.”

6. Accept your new sleep schedule.

idk anyone whose sleep hasn’t been screwed in some way by all of this. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, pent-up energy from sheltering in place, tech use, new work responsibilities, screwy schedules…pretty much every aspect of our new reality can impact our sleep. Some people are sleeping a lot more, some are sleeping a lot less, and some are cycling through both extremes. Oh, and the temptation of naps! It’s all there.

Trying to maintain a healthy sleep schedule during all of this is a worthy endeavor—and more power to you if you’ve figured out how—but there’s a good chance that it feels impossible.

By “accepting” your new sleep schedule, I don’t mean pretending it doesn’t suck; I mean doing what you can to be gentle on yourself about it. For me, acceptance has looked like watching some comfort tv and reading my favourite books at 2 a.m. instead of staying in bed and anxiety-spiraling about how I can’t sleep. Is it ideal? No way. But I’m not going to waste energy stressing about something I currently can’t control.

7. Give yourself plenty of room to do absolutely nothing.

I’ve given myself permission to do a whole lot of nothing. That includes getting rid of the pressure to be productive and practice self-care, yes, but in a broader sense, it also means not forcing myself to actively “adjust” every day.

Some days, I just need to do nothing but feel my feelings. Or avoid feeling my feelings. Or stare at the ceiling. Give yourself space to do (or not do) whatever you need to.

also, nonnie? my love?

Never feel guilty about telling someone who cares about you when you don’t feel okay.

People who genuinely care about you—and I’m sure they are many—will care if you aren’t feeling good, there are always going to be people who care about you, who want you to be okay, that’s why they ask, why people make rant, why “how are you?” is such a common question.

But if you do need to talk, but you feel like you’ll “burden” people who you do talk to, here’s a guide to ranting.

Guide to ranting:

1. Pick the right person. Someone who’s in the right headspace to listen to you, you could also pick someone who cares about you—if you’re anxiety tells you nobody cares about you, pick someone who “should” care about you in your relationship, e.g: a friend you’ve had for a long time, a friend who’s told a few of their problems, or friend you might not feel close with, but seems very kindhearted and a good listener.

2. Pick the right time to talk to them, so you can have their undivided attention. If they are busy—as most people will be with something—they’ll have a hard time giving you good advice and listening to you. Ask them when they are free, and then ask them:

3. “hey, can we talk? I’m not mad or you or anything, it’s just that I have been not feeling great, and I just want to rant to someone about it.” and “No pressure to say yes, you might have your own stuff to do deal with.” to make sure they are the right person to talk to.

4. It’s ok to test the waters. Start slowly, you don’t have to share everything at once if you don’t want to.

5. You never know how your friend will react to what you say.While you can’t know how they’ll react, just remember that sometimes people’s initial reactions may come from a place of shock, surprise or not knowing what to say. Their initial reaction isn’t always their longerterm reaction, it may just take them a little time to process.

6. Look for ways to take action. Don’t get me wrong, ranting can be amazing for you, but on its own may not solve your problem.

But maybe venting to people isn’t for you. No matter! There are other ways to get out emotions:

Ways to rant without talking to anyone

1. Cry it out— simple and rewarding. When the baggage is just too heavy to carry cry it out. It can help you ease the pressure and ease your mind to think straight after days of holding that frustration in.

2. Work out — easy and fun. tire yourself out and release all the frustration in working out! This is going to be so satisfying for you as you try and punch, kick, balance, lift, and breathe those frustrations away.

3. Clean & rearrange — practical and can be fun. we get frustrated by so many things and one thing that can truly help clear our minds is to have a clean place where we can stay and live for the moment to breathe. Clean your room, rearrange your things and you’ll be surprised by the satisfaction this brings — a signal of a new beginning.

4. Scribble — simple and fun. Make scribbles, doodles, drawings, take a pen or a pencil, and let go. It does not have to be “good” art or professional at all. Just draw whatever comes to heart, sunflowers or clouds or rainbows—anything.

5. Write it down — fun and simple. Let those words out of your head and just live in the moment.

How to fight the lack of motivation.

1. Don't fight the lack of motivation.

If you feel down or unable to muster tons of energy, let it be ok. Be easy on yourself and acknowledge that it's ok to have a dip, especially at this time of the year.

2. Once you have accepted your slump, get to the bottom of it.

Ask yourself, "What is the root cause of this sluggish feeling?" Go deeper than the obvious reasons. Is it related to work? Your personal life? Relationships? It might also just be the weather. Get clear on what areas of your life you're feeling the most resistance.

3. Dig into that area. What is not ideal about this aspect of your life? What would make it better?

Make a list of how you'd like your current situation to improve--and be specific. If you truly can't find a reason to be less than enthusiastic, then accept your feelings and let them pass with time.

4. Take your list of what is missing and go through it.

What is holding you back from being able to create the things that are missing in your life?

5. Get support for creating the life you want.

Do some research and find an expert to help you. Even though they love you, friends and family aren't objective enough, and they tend to give advice that is a reflection of their own life and insecurities.

6. Think of current habits that are contributing to a less-than-ideal life.

Maybe it's fear, laziness, or not having enough confidence. Pick one to focus on.

7. Address this habit over the next 2 months.

They say it takes 28 days to create a new habit, but this varies from person to person. If you focus on it for two months, you are sure to build the neural pathways needed to call it a new way of being.

8. Buy a book, read articles or do some research on this particular behavior or feeling.

Read about the common causes of this habit as well as the proven ways to bust through and work around it.

9. Create a plan around shifting your current habit.

Make sure that changing this habit ultimately helps you move forward in the area of your life that is not ideal. The energy from clarity, awareness and then action will immediately get you feeling more motivated, no matter what.

10. When all else fails: make a list of activities that excite you, and do one of them right now.

Talk to a fun friend, dance around at home, workout, watch a funny YouTube video, tackle something on your to-do list. Accomplishing something will give you a hit of dopamine in your brain. If you're too overwhelmed by your day, sit for five minutes and meditate. Put on some soothing music and breathe.

okay, that's all nonnie, I hope you feel the lust for life in your lungs, please have all my love, i hope this helped, this ask took a while, but it was worth if it helps

and if you need to dont worry to send another ask, if you like spam the inbox!! queen!!!

take care, much love my sweet honey, bye <3

—*putting daisies in your hair as they leave* mod peppermint <[:)

[glamrock-jre]

detour

chapter 2: motive

Two Days Later

rubae went into the hotel bathroom that he was currently staying in. he tiredly looked at himself in the landscape mirror as he shivered due to the cool temperature throughout the hotel room.

rubae set his hair in a high bun, a few strands of his hair falling out a little. he turned on the shower as he stripped his clothes off, showing off his spine and sternum tattoo along with other small tattoos. he popped his head out of the bathroom as he spoke aloud.

“aye homeboy...” his raspy, deep voice called out. soon after, a small sculpture of a male head lit up and replied.

“wassup?” a deep and monotonous voice came from the male sculpture.

“play icy girl by saweetie.” three short beeps sounded as the song started playing aloud.

Now Playing: ICY GIRL by Saweetie

rubae smiled as he bobbed his head to the beat as he stepped into the shower as he started washing himself.

after ten minutes, rubae got out of the shower and dried himself off. he walked out and wiped away the fog on the mirror as he started to brush his teeth. after he finished with his teeth, rubae did his skincare.

“hmm..” rubae was currently lookin for an outfit while he let his skincare do its care. he sighed softly as he decided to deal with his hair, which was a tangled mess.

“i don’t know why i don’t listen ma when she be tellin me to put my hair up in a damn bonnet...” rubae muttered to himself as he brushed his hair harshly. he grunted as he felt a huge discomfort on his scalp.

“damn bitch detangle..” he muttered once more as he dealt with his hair longer that he would’ve liked but he tamed it eventually. he washed off the skincare and dried off his face. he looked at himself, noticing that he was still naked.

“aight lemme find somethin to put on.” he spoke once more and went to his bed, lookin at all the pile of clothes he had resting. he started lookin through the mountain of clothes he had, tossin them all across the hotel room.

“finally.” rubae rolled his eyes in relief and got dressed. he looked in the full body mirror that hung on the hotel closet door. he put on a red turtleneck crop top with black skinny jeans and red timberland boots. he put on a black trench coat that had fur around the outline of the hood.

rubae then went back to the bathroom, seeing his reflection once again. he grabs a handful of jewelry, smiling as he put his tongue piercing, naval piercing, and helix piercings where they belong on his body. rubae then put some rings on his left hand and silver hand bracelet chains on his right hand. he admired his non polished, clean, natural nails that were medium length and stiletto sharp. he smiles and sticks his tongue out playfully.

“ah~” rubae let out a soft fruity laugh as he grabbed his phone and his hotel keycard, leaving his hotel room and heading down to the lobby. the elevator dinged, signaling that rubae reached the lobby. he left out of the elevator into the lobby and then outside of the hotel.

rubae’s phone rung suddenly as he looked at the contact name. noticing that it was one of his sisters calling.

Now Playing: Hit My Phone by Megan Thee Stallion ft. Kehlani

“wassup sis?” rubae answered as he walked down the sidewalk, peering around at the busy city and adjusting his hair a little.

“damn no “mornin sis”?” a orotund, high adjective voice asked as rubae moved his phone away from his ear slightly due to the naturally loud woman.

“mornin. you ain’t gotta yell, ina..” rubae complained as he put his phone back against his ear. his sister, ina, let out a soft laugh.

“my bad bro. what you doin up this early tho?” ina questioned as there was shuffling on the sister’s end of the phone.

“im takin care of my business. why you up so early, sis?” ina hummed as she spoke again.

“im gettin ready to go somewhere. im doin my makeup.” rubae raises an eyebrow suspiciously.

“who you finna go fuck around wit?” ina giggles softly and replies.

“nobody dude.”

“stop lyin you don’t ever wake up this damn early to just ‘go somewhere’.” rubae stated as he sat on a bench to rest for a moment.

“im deadass not finna meet up wit nobody, yo. even if i was, that’s not your business boy.”

“how come?” rubae teased as he relaxed against the bench, stretching his legs slightly.

“duuude you in my business and for whatttt? you don’t want nobody in yours.” ina laughed once more as she replied to rubae.

“point taken.” rubae concluded as he started back walking to his destination. ina hummed in victory as she asked a question suddenly.

“who you goin to see, hm? cause you don’t wake up this early either.” rubae rolled his eyes and smiled slightly.

“im goin to a meeting.”

“wit who?”

“none of yo businesssss.” rubae dragged as ina protested soon after.

“naw naw you GOTTA be fuckin around wit somebody.”

“im finna hang up on yo ass.” rubae warned as he laughed softly.

“are you boutta get some cat or some di-“

rubae hung up the phone as before the woman could finish her question. instantly, his phone rung again as he answered.

“you ain’t have to hang up like that. mean ass.”

“you betta stop cussin before ma catch you and put a damn dent in your head.” ina sucked her teeth and sighed.

“whatever. but for real tho...did you find somebody new yet? a hot girl or a sexy guy?” if rubae was there with ina, she would give him wiggly eyebrows and a crazy smile. rubae ran his fingers through his hair to comb some of the kinks he had out with his fingers.

“maybe i did, maybe i didn’t.” rubae dodged the question as he gazed up at the sky for a moment.

“well? yes or no?” ina prodded as rubae smacked his lips.

“you so nosy.” rubae paused in front of a building, which is presumably his location.

“i gotta go sis.”

“so you ain gone-“

“love you sis. keep the fam safe for me.”

“boy you bett-“ rubae hung up the phone and put it on silent to prevent any future calls from his twin sister. he quickly walked inside the entrance of the building.

Now Playing: in my head by Ariana Grande

rubae fixated his gaze on the surroundings of the building as he strides through the the almost empty lobby, looking for the secretary.

“are you here for the meeting?” a light, high pitched voice asked from behind rubae, making him turn on his heel to look at the unspecified person. he noticed that it was a woman. a very beautiful woman that wore formal attire and glasses. his eyes wandered all over her body until she called out to him again.

“are you alright sir?”

“u-uh yeah. yeah im completely fine. im the hero that was requested to meet with the heroes that are here and i need to be with them at this moment. could you show me the way to the meeting?” the woman smiles as she waved for rubae to follow after her to the elevator.

“sure. follow me sir.” rubae followed her into the elevator as she pressed a floor number. the elevator closed as they both stood beside each other in silence.

‘she is really pretty..’ rubae commented to himself as he shifted the weight of his body from one foot to the other.

“are you nervous sir?” rubae glanced over at the woman slowly, gulping out of nervousness. he gave a nervous smile as he replied.

“huh? oh no i-im not nervous, im just a lil hot.” the elevator dinged, signaling that they arrived at the floor. rubae and the woman stepped onto the floor. the woman lead him to some double doors at the end of the hallway.

‘just say it dude..’ rubae thought as he let out a shaky breath.

“this is where the meeting is held, sir. it seems that they have already started.” the woman raised her hand to knock on the door but rubae grabbed her wrist.

“is there something wrong sir?” the woman asked as she looked over at rubae, who was sweating bullets. he let go of her wrist as she rested her hand on her side.

“i just wanted to say that...” rubae hid his face in his hand out of embarrassment. the woman waited for rubae to finish his statement.

“i just wanted to say that you are really beautiful.” rubae blurted out as he peeked through his fingers. the woman giggled softly as she gave rubae a warm smile.

“thank you. i appreciate the compliment.” rubae sighed in relief as the woman knocked on the door firmly.

“who is it?” a firm and gruff voice questioned from the other side of the doors.

“the hero that you’ve requested for this meeting has arrived.” the woman replied as rubae took a few deep breaths.

“bring them in.” the woman opened the door and rubae stood up straight and took a deep breath, walking through the door. many pro heroes sat around a conference table with many seats. the woman closed the door and rubae sat down in a random seat.

“well?” the same gruff voice spoke again.

“im rubae.” rubae relaxed in the seat and informed the heroes sitting around him. the heroes greeted rubae as he nodded slightly as a thanks.

“im endeavor. the number one hero.” the gruff voice, also known as endeavor, informed as he had a dominant aura radiating off of him. rubae didn’t feel intimidated though as he just simply nodded.

endeavor and the other heroes started to converse about some hero work and missions. rubae was bored out of his mind, which lead him to play with his nails and jewelry. he kept himself occupied unless one of the pro heroes asked him a question. after what felt like forever to rubae, the doors to the conference room opened. rubae gazed over at the double doors boredly until he saw who walked in.

‘awe shit..’ keigo walked into the conference room and announced himself to the pro heroes.

“heyo~“

“you’re late, hawks.”

“i had some business to take care of.” keigo sat in the seat beside rubae. rubae quickly threw his hood on and turned away from keigo.

‘why is he here?..’ rubae thought as he decided to braid his hair to keep from being obvious. keigo glanced over at rubae for a moment and then looked away.

“back to the topic,” endeavor started as he looked at all of the heroes. keigo shined his usual smug smile and chewed on a toothpick.

“each of you have a mission that requires a partner in order to complete. now these missions aren’t serious in the slightest but that doesn’t mean that they’re any less important...” rubae zoned out after a while. he rolled his eyes out of boredom as he went back to braiding his hair.

‘why we gotta have partners?’ rubae thought with slight agitation as he finished braiding his hair, going the play with his jewelry once more. eventually, rubae tuned back into the meeting.

“im going to assign your partners now.” endeavor started assigning the pro heroes in pairs.

rubae just sat there, hoping that he wasn’t paired with anybody too weak or too stubborn. he clasped his hands together and rested his head on them.

‘please don’t let me be paired wit nobody that’s shitty or weak or both...’ he chanted the thought over and over in his head as endeavor called his name.

“rubae.” rubae looked and noticed that most of the other heroes were conversing with their partners.

“you’re paired with hawks.” rubae blinked twice as he stammered.

“im sorry. did you say hawks??” rubae questioned as his eyes widened slightly. hawks smirked complacently, letting out a soft laugh.

Five Minutes Later

Now Playing: Real Games by Lucky Daye

the meeting was still going as endeavor and the other pro heroes were conversing about more hero work. rubae was still shocked at the fact that he and keigo were partners. he took his hood off of his head as he sighed. keigo glanced over at rubae, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“you didn’t greet me, rubae. that’s rude of you.”

“i really don’t care to greet somebody that ain’t worth my time.” rubae replied as keigo chuckled softly.

“when i said that i had a feelin’ that we were gonna meet soon, i actually wasn’t expecting us to meet this early. not that im complaining though.” rubae looked over at keigo and turned to him.

“neither was i but the only difference is that i am complainin. i didn’t want to see you anytime soon.” keigo smirked as he dramatically gripped his shirt.

“you’re gonna hurt my feelings. you didn’t miss me?” keigo teased as he gazed into rubae’s mismatched eyes. rubae scoffed and looked away as he waved him off.

“you should know the answer to that.” keigo let out a sound of amusement as he grabbed rubae’s hand, starting to examine his nails. rubae raised his eyebrow and looked at keigo.

“we randomly grabbin hands now?” keigo looked up rubae as he licked his lips slightly.

“they look nice.” keigo smirked as he caressed one of his fingers. rubae took his hand away and put his hand in his pocket.

“shut up.” rubae replied as he grabbed his phone. he started to text one of his sisters.

Me

please call me right now yo.

“a thank you would’ve been nice.” rubae looked and saw keigo smirk at him.

‘weird ass...’ rubae’s phone dinged as he read the message from his sister.

baby sis🔥

why?

Me

i need to get out of a conversation.

rubae sighed as he took his phone off of silent. his phone rung as soon as he did, causing him to leave out of the conference room and answered his phone.

“thank you sis.” rubae started to look for a random vacant room, pushing on all of the office doors to see if they would open.

“i gotchu bro. why did you need to be saved exactly?” a high adjective voice asked on the other end of the phone. rubae cursed under his breath, taking notice that all of the doors were locked.

“cause’ i met up with someone that i REALLY did not expect to see so soon.” rubae observed the hallway as he saw a sign that read ‘restroom’ in japanese. he quickly went into the restroom, stepping inside of a stall and locking it.

“oouu tell me tell me.” the voice sounded excited as rubae sighed softly.

“why? you tryna get in my business too?” the voice spoke again as the door to the restroom opened, most likely someone else entered into it. rubae didn’t care though as he kept talking.

“come on mane. i swear ina didn’t send me this time.” a red feather flew into his stall, making rubae glare at it suspiciously.

“funny. i didn’t even mention ina.” he picked up the red feather and put it in his pocket. the voice on the other end of the phone whined.

“no she really didn’t this time. im askin out of curiosity for real.” rubae smiled a little and he took a lollipop out of his pocket, planning on eating it soon.

“it’s a thin line between curiosity and nosiness.”

“mine is strictly curiosity though yo. im so deadass.” rubae smirked as he leaned against the stall door, tapping his lollipop on the door slightly.

“you showin too much of it sis. that’s not curiosity.”

“then what is curiosity, huh? since you so smart.”

“curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something.” the voice let out a sound of perplexity as the woman spoke again.

“i have a strong desire to know who you runnin from.” rubae laughed softly and smirked.

“nah cause see nosy means showing too much curiosity about other people's affairs and you, ishi, are bein nosy.” the woman, ishi, sighed in defeat and laughed a little.

“fine you got me...but gimme like a piece of crumb.” rubae smirked a little as ishi still insisted.

“bye sis. love you and tell ina to mind her business.”

“you bett-“ rubae hung up the phone as he sighed, walking out of the stall and unwrapping a lollipop. until it got taken from him suddenly.

“who da f-“ rubae turned to the culprit who stole his lollipop only to see keigo with his usual complacent smirk.

“so you’re not gonna tell your family about me?” rubae rolled his eyes slightly and reached for his lollipop, until keigo held it away from him.

“here you go. takin my lollipop and shit.” keigo laughed as rubae tried to rest for it once again.

“answer the question and maybe you’ll get it back.” rubae rolled his for what felt like the fiftieth time this morning.

“everybody just want a piece of MY business, huh? why do i have to be surrounded by nosy people?? just why?” rubae asked no one in particular as he clasped his hands together, squeezing his eyes shut.

“im curious. i want to know why you don’t want your sister knowing about us.” rubae elevated an eyebrow slightly as he crossed his arms.

“you askin like we in a relationship or somethin.” keigo smirked and leaned towards rubae, making rubae look around the room.

“not yet.” keigo teased softly as he witnessed rubae’s face of embarrassment.

“yet?? stop playin wit me.” keigo hummed and went close to rubae’s ear, brushing his lips against it slightly.

“who said that i was joking?” keigo’s voice went slightly deeper as he purred. rubae flinched away and took a few steps back, taking a deep breath.

“here you go flirtin again..” rubae glanced at keigo as keigo smirked as he took a few steps towards rubae.

“so what if i am?” rubae rolled his eyes and turned away from keigo, looking at himself in the restroom mirror.

“shut up. i want my lollipop back.” rubae started to put his hair in a low ponytail as keigo came behind him. he rested his arm on rubae’s shoulder.

“answer my question and i’ll leave you alone.” a vein popped out of rubae’s forehead and then he took a deep breath, calming himself down.

“yknow what? fine. i don’t want my sisters to be in my business because if i tell them, they gone run their little mouths everywhere. and i ain’t just talkin bout to my ma.” keigo smiled in approval as he went beside rubae, putting the lollipop in the small man’s mouth.

“i guess that answer’s fine.” keigo shrugged as rubae received the lollipop from keigo.

“coulda did that myself yo.” keigo smiled and shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets.

“just helping.” rubae sighed as he walked past keigo, the red feather slipping out of his pocket. the red feather went to keigo’s wing as he smirked.

‘mission accomplished.’ keigo thought as he followed rubae out of the restroom. they both headed out of the building, exiting into the busy city.

rubae and keigo strolled along the sidewalk as they peered around at the people and buildings, not conversing with each other. after a few minutes of silence, keigo spoke suddenly.

“let’s talk.” keigo suggested as rubae shrugged his shoulders slightly.

“fine. only because im bored though.” rubae sighed softly.

30 Minutes Later

At the Cafe

Now Playing: motive by Ariana Grande & Doja Cat

rubae and keigo talked for nearly thirty minutes and wounded up at a cafe due to the two men being tired of walking. they both were sitting at a table by the window as they conversed.

“are you serious?? five other people look just like you and you’re the oldest too? that’s gotta be a handful.” keigo gave a slightly surprised look at rubae as he let out a small laugh.

“yeah like deadass. imagine if you were the finest person in the world and then have five other people lookin just like you.” keigo smirked while rubae joked a little.

“well how would it feel?” rubae tilted his head slightly as he raises an eyebrow, smiling slightly.

“what you mean?” keigo let out a soft laugh and gazed into rubae’s red and hazel eyes as a cocky smirk painted itself on his face.

“i mean you don’t have to imagine to be the finest person in the world if you already are, right?” rubae rolled his eyes slightly in a bashful manner.

“you deadass really flirtin wit me.” rubae stated as he played with his fingers due to him being bashful at the moment.

“it’s just the way i talk. i just call the truth out when i see it.” rubae looked at keigo as he chuckled softly.

“well you definitely got a slick tongue on you i’ll say that.” rubae rolled his eyes once more as keigo started to talk again.

“thanks. that’s the first compliment i’ve gotten from you.”

“that wasn’t a compliment.”

“well it wasn’t an insult.” keigo leered as rubae rolled his eyes again, crossing his arms.

“whatever. anyways, tell me what’s yo motive.” confusion painted on keigo’s face as rubae laughed a little.

“for bein a hero, i mean.” rubae added as keigo let out a small hum, showing a closed eye smile as he rested his head on his hand.

“it's my duty as a good guy to stop the bad guys and takes my profession seriously. as an individual, i was never one for fame and attention and i pursue a stress-free existence.” rubae hummed and nodded, showing that he understood the statement.

“that’s actually pretty nice to hear from a guy like you.” keigo laughed as he scoffed playfully.

“damn, you’re just gonna give me a smack to the face like that?” rubae smirked softly as he rested his face on his hand.

“you may have a good reason or whatever but that don’t lessen the fact that you hella cocky sometimes.” keigo let out a slightly bitter laugh as he brushed it off for a moment.

“but i will say that you have probably a way with showin it....whether it be shown through your charisma or your actions.” rubae finished as he leaned back against his chair.

“that praise is pretty high comin from you, rubae. that says a lot about our bond as of right now.” rubae sighed softly as he looked over at keigo once more. he stuck another lollipop in his mouth before he spoke again.

“bond? don’t think just cause i gave you a lil praise that imma start considerin you as a friend. cause it’s gone take a lot more for you to be that to me.” keigo smirked as he shrugged a little.

“eh, fine by me. friend wouldn’t be an appropriate title for someone i’m attracted to. don’t you think?” rubae’s widen for a moment as he coughed a bit from spit getting caught at the back of his throat.

“hand over that sexuality cuz you givin me very much confident homosexuality.” keigo let out a soft chuckle as he shined a conceited smirk. rubae shifted his glance around the cafe due to getting embarrassed again.

“i don’t dislike men, women, or anyone else.” rubae squinted his eyes slightly, thinking for a moment.

“lets just say that i don’t care what or who you are. it’s all about the personality in the person.” rubae smiled inwardly and then stopped, thinking for a moment.

‘why the hell am i smilin??’ keigo spoke up again.

“what about you, rubae?” keigo asked as rubae let out a small chuckle.

“wellll...” rubae looked down at his hands, watching them fidget anxiously. keigo took notice as he rested his hand on top of rubae’s fidgety ones. that somehow relaxed rubae as he continued to speak.

“i like women and men a lot.” rubae stated bashfully, hiding his face and looking away. keigo smiled softly as he retracted his hand.

“well that’s good.”

“what you mean by that?”

“that’s good to know that i have a chance.” rubae pointed a finger at keigo aggressively as he laughed a little.

“you betta stop with that flirtin shit. you ain’t slick man.” keigo laughed as he grabbed rubae’s finger, enveloping in his hand.

“i told you it’s just how i talk.” rubae rolled his eyes and tried to pull his finger out of keigo’s grip but keigo smirked and tightened it.

“let go of my finger yo.” rubae tried to pull it away again as keigo bit his lip slightly.

“beg for it...” rubae let out a slightly agitated sigh.

“i wish i would beg for MY finger that’s connected to MY body back. now let it go.” rubae demanded as keigo squeezed his finger tighter. rubae’s face scrunched in slight discomfort as he threw a glare towards keigo, who was still smirking like the cocky bastard he is.

“it would be cute though.” rubae rolled his eyes.

“i don’t give a damn if it would be adorable. gimme my damn finger back.” keigo laughed as he rested his head on the hand with rubae’s finger in.

“a brat that’s asking to be tamed? that’s my type of party.” rubae’s eye twitched slightly as he forced a small smile.

“shut up.” rubae finally wiggled his finger out of keigo’s grasp. rubae sighed in relief as he felt the blood circulate back in his finger.

“you was really grippin my shit..” rubae mumbled as he put his hand in his pocket, giving keigo another glare.

“rubae.”

“what?”

“i told you my motive. tell me yours.”

Now Playing: Lowkey by Teyana Taylor featuring Erykah Badu

rubae glanced at keigo and took notice at how serious his face and tone was. rubae sat up and thought for a moment.

‘my motive, huh?’ rubae asked himself as he discarded the lollipop stick into a nearby trash.

“i’d rather not state my reason...” keigo’s curiosity peaked as he waited for him to finish his statement.

“not because i don’t want anyone to know but because i can say why im doin this hero shit all day but if i don’t have the actions to show for it, then why bother statin it?” rubae played with his rings as he licked his lips slightly, gazing at keigo.

“meanin that i’d rather show what my reason is because actions speak louder than words.” his mismatched eyes stared into keigo’s gold ones. keigo realized that rubae’s eyes hinted that he was serious about what he said. rubae broke eye contact due to his bashfulness once more.

“why you ain’t sayin nothin?” rubae questioned with a tone of apprehensive-ness. keigo broke out of his trance as he smiled a little.

“sorry. i was just thinking about what you were saying. you make a valid point.” keigo agreed as he tilted his head slightly, observing rubae silently.

a few strands of rubae’s hair came out of his ponytail and he just noticed that the ends of his hair were an opaque red.

‘did he dye his ends after we met or did i just not notice it at first?’ keigo pondered as he observed rubae more.

his eyes wandered to look at rubae’s ears, realizing that they were pointed like an elf’s. he took notice to the helix piercings, which was six in total as keigo counted, right along with an orbital piercing.

“uhhh why you starin at me so hard?” rubae spoke out to keigo as he shot him a side glance. keigo laughed awkwardly as he scratched his head.

“err...i was just counting your piercings.” rubae hummed as he smirked slightly.

“you was checkin me out, wasn’t you?” rubae questioned as keigo gave a slightly panicked look until he masked it quickly.

“i wasn’t.”

“bullshit.”

“it’s not bullshit.” keigo denied as he let out a soft laugh.

“you ain’t gotta lie about it. it’s not like you didn’t tell me that i was the finest person in the world just a few minutes ago.” keigo smirked a little and spoke again.

“alright, you caught me. although...i meant what i said when i said you were fine though.” rubae hid his face for what felt like the fifth time.

“you really don’t hold back, do you?” rubae asked as he peeked at keigo through his fingers.

“knowing that i’m making you shy is what makes me feel good.”

“you ain’t make me shy.”

“look at me and tell me that.” keigo challenged, making rubae quickly look at him and then look away just as fast.

“you’re not looking at me, rubae.” rubae rolled his eyes slightly as he took a deep breath.

“why you want me to say it while lookin at you?”

“i wanna see if you can prove me wrong.” keigo affirmed as his smirk got bigger, enjoying rubae’s struggle. rubae exhaled softly as he bit his lip and looked at keigo.

“you didn’t make me shy.” rubae divulged as he smirked slightly. keigo licked his lips slightly and raised an eyebrow, making rubae roll his eyes.

‘not gone lie....that was a lil sexy...’ rubae thought as he looked away from keigo, smiling a little.

‘hol up...im trippin..’ rubae thought once again as he hit his face lightly. rubae spoke once again as he realized keigo was still staring at him.

“you want a compliment or somethin? cause if want one you could just ask.”

“that depends. do you want to give me a compliment?” keigo smirked as he leaned towards rubae. rubae didn’t say anything for a moment as he tilted his head slightly.

“maybe i will since you been flirtin wit me all day.” rubae smirked slightly as he stood up. keigo looked up at him, wondering what rubae was about to do.

“after you tell me bout the missions and when we need to prep for em...maybe you’ll get somethin.” rubae put another lollipop in his mouth as he walked past keigo, putting his hands in his pockets and leaving out of the cafe. keigo laughed a little as he followed after rubae.

“right. you did leave right when the meeting ended.” rubae hummed softly as he sat on a bench beside the cafe. keigo sat beside him and started to talk.

“alright so we have to go undercover to expose some really bad people. a cruise ship...for couples-“

“couples?! awe hell naw lemme just-” rubae stood up, starting to walk away until keigo sat him back down beside him as he sighed.

“rubae, you’re a grown ass man. im pretty sure you can deal with a game of make believe.” rubae bit the inside of his cheek, sighing softly. keigo continued to speak.

“these guys are supposedly a very, very dangerous gang and they run everything on this cruise. they have heavy security and they’re heavy on the guns.” rubae hummed as he stretched upwards slightly, his shirt raising up a bit.

“they could possibly have paid some people on the boat to sniff out anybody that that may be suspicious aka us.”

“figured that. how long we got?” rubae asked in a serious tone, playing with his hair.

“we have three days to get ready and when we’re on the cruise we’re gonna be on it for two weeks because hey it’s a couple’s retreat.”

‘damn...that’s way past my deadline..’ rubae scowled slightly as he exhaled softly.

“okay.” rubae stood up and started to walk off, presumably back to the hotel.

“let’s exchange numbers. yknow....so we can talk business.” rubae paused as he swirled his lollipop around in his mouth, turning to keigo slightly.

“just business or something more?” keigo smirked as he hummed.

“do you want it to be something more?” rubae let out a small laugh as he showed a toothy grin.

“i asked you first.” keigo stood up and strides over to rubae, towering over him by an inch.

“it can be whatever you want, rubae.” rubae could hear the smirk that keigo had as he talked lowly in his ear, looking up at keigo. their eyes met for a slight moment, them both being frozen for a while. keigo backed away a little, showing his usual smug smile.

“unless, of course, you don’t want to. that’s fine with me.” rubae took out another lollipop and walked towards keigo, unwrapping it and resting it on keigo’s lips.

“look at that. you earned yourself another lollipop.” keigo took the lollipop in his mouth while rubae went to whisper in his ear.

“well i-“ keigo turned around and saw that rubae was nowhere to be seen. he tilted his head slightly as he subconsciously moved the lollipop around in his mouth.

suddenly, he looked at his hand with the wrapping paper and saw that it had a number on it. he flipped it over to the other side and saw words written on it.

‘you look a lil attractive or whatever..’ keigo smiled and put the paper in his pocket, wandering off around the city.

A/N: wassup !! kazu here :3 rubae (pronounced ruby) and keigo gettin a lil close👀👀. aight lemme stop. this chapter was way longer than i intended and i was a lil bit scared that tumblr wasn’t gonna let me post it because of how long it is but LUCKILY it was able to post. next chapter, you’ll find out what rubae’s quirk is and maybe even a little more about him anyways. hope you enjoyed and thx for readin <33

[ask-de-writer]

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT : Part 21 of 83 : World of Sea

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to World of Sea

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT

Part 21 of 83

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

140406 words

copyright 2020

written 2007

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express consent of the author.

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Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users   of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may   reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information   remains intact.  They may use the characters or original characters in   my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical   compositions.

All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.

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New to the story?  Read from the beginning.  PART 1 is here

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Chapter 5a: Tanlin and Story time

Amid the bustle of crowds, racing children dashed about.  They now had a glorious place to run on the biggest decks in the fleet.  Sea birds of many sorts swooped about and squabbled for the best perches on ridge poles and comically tried to maintain their balance on guy lines.  

Tanlin was shopping fabrics from the Gula’s booth.  Khilda, the proprietress, was confused.  This lady of exotic looks and good taste had just publicly married Barad?  The proof seemed to be in the two deck-hands who were hovering over her like paddle ducks over their chicks.

She knew the sailors and disliked them.  They had a bad reputation among a bad lot.  Being better dressed surely hadn’t made them any better.  Scupper sweepings picked up by the Grandalor when nobody else would.  Now, they were being as solicitous and polite as could be asked for.  The air of absolute assurance radiating from the woman they were attending was the only reason that Khilda let them into the booth.  For a wonder, they were keeping their hands off the merchandise.

“T’ese satins o’ yers are luvely.  Oi like t’e red-black color play.” She pulled her brown pony-tail over her shoulder and examined it and the cloth together critically.  “Dunnae really go wit’ m’ ‘air t’ough, t’e colors are t’ strong.”

She let the fabric of the bolt-end fall and looked at others.  Khilda did not want to loose this sale.  Word had run through the booths that Tanlin’s scrip was being spent plentifully.  Still, it was the Grandalor’s credit — — and that was always questionable.

“True, but we also have these greens.  They’ll work well.  What are you looking for, something to please your husband?”

Tanlin looked up in surprise.  “Wye wad Oi want t’ do t’at?  Oi gladden ‘im already an’ ‘e m’.  Tis t’ be an outfit for us bot’.”  Her eye found a bolt over in the corner of the booth.

“T’ere! ‘Ond, wad ye bring m’ t’at ane, please?”  One of her men went carefully through the booth to get the bolt in question.

Khilda’s heart sank as she saw which one had been chosen.  The fabric of the bolt was botched.  The loom tension had been uneven, giving the fabric a bad curl.

“T’e color’s perfect!  T’e brown wit’ red ‘ighlights will do for us bot’!”  Tanlin caught sight of Barad through the crowd. People were making way for him without thought, responding to his manner of dress and air of calm authority.

“Barad! Luve!  Come see w’at Oi’ve got!”

People did respond to her call.  “Barad?  Where?” they looked around and realized that the finely dressed gentleman was, in fact, the infamous and usually slovenly captain of the Grandalor.

“What have you found, Tanlin?”  He put an arm about her waist and she leaned affectionately into him.

“Look at t’is fabric, Luve.  T’e Gula’s bright reds an’ greens are too strong for us.  We do better in t’e dark colors.  Amber-browns t’ blacks — — just look at t’e red ‘ighlights t’at move over t’is brown sheen.  Tis perfect for us.”

Barad eyed the fabric dubiously.  “It’s flawed, Dear, don’t you see the curl to it?”

“O’ corse Oi do.  Besides t’e color, t’at’s wye Oi wont ‘t.” She sighed, “Someane bock ‘ome in t’e Arrakan fleet taught m’ t’ work wit’ ‘t.  Tis nae flat an’ neit’er are we.”

Her shoulders began to shake and she bit the back of her hand to keep from sobbing.  Her eyes filled with tears that leaked a little from the corners.  Her voice quavered slightly as she added, “Oi wish Oi could remember ‘oo ‘t wa’ taught m’.  Even ane familiar face wad be such a treasure.”

Barad gently wrapped his massive arms about her while Khilda looked on gape mouthed.

“Peace, darling Love.  Your memories will return in their own good time. Dark Iren must have had his own sound reason to send you back to us but keep your people from you.  You are safe with me.”

This caring man was not the Barad that the Naral fleet knew.

Biting back tears, Tanlin shook with the effort to regain her composure.  It is so easy to put myself in her place because I must deny all of those that I know, on or off the ship.  These feelings are real. Kurti must die if I am to live.  “Oi do know t’at, m’ Luve. ‘T’s just so hard t’ know all o’ t’ese t’ings an’ ‘ave nae trace o’ t’ose folk ‘oo filled t’em wit’ meanin’.”  Regaining her composure, she went back to the task at hand and finished choosing fabrics and trims.  Barad stood by patiently and watched.

Turning to Khilda, he said, “I believe her.  She always knows what to do and how to do it.  We saved her from drowning when her ship went onto a rock during a Dragon Tide.  She’d been hit and swept overboard by a falling yardarm.  When she woke from her coma a few Wohans later, she could remember everything except the people of her past.  She has just passed the Ship Master’s examinations, confirming her as a Naral fleet First Officer, in line for a captaincy if one comes open.”

“So much done by someone so young?” asked Khilda curiously.

“Most of her life has been spent learning what she knows.  They educate in a different way in the Arrakan fleet.”

“I see.  On a different topic, how is she going to pay for all of these things?”

“A note drawn on surveyed and secured cargo.”  Seeing Khilda’s skeptically raised eyebrow, Barad went smoothly on, “I know what is thought of the Grandalor’s credit, so I had Alor of the Longin do the survey and provide for the cargo’s security.  It is no longer on the Grandalor.  Send to Alor for collection of the note.”

Khilda discretely withdrew and sent a runner to the Longin booths.  The runner returned and whispered into her ear.  Both of her eyebrows shot up in surprise and she sent the runner to all of the nearby booths to let them know that Tanlin’s credit was not merely good, it was very good.

A rapid patter of drum-talk on a small tocsin drum cut across the air of the Gathering, sending flocks of sea-birds into the air and causing children to look about for playmates and yell STORY TIME! They scampered off in the direction of Kurin’s toy booth.  Tanlin dropped everything else that she had been doing, settled her charges and darted after the children, leaving both of the deck-hands to follow in her wake.

When they finally caught up with her, she was sitting at the edge of a pool of children who were giving Kurin their utmost attention.  Kurin was sitting on the sales board of her booth, where all the watchers could see.  She had let down a dark curtain behind her making a sort of stage out of her booth.

Kurin stood up on her sales board, her head still lower than her awning, and  held up a hand for silence — and got it.  She began by asking a question.  “In all of the World of Sea, there are only three creatures that men do not hunt.  Why don’t we hunt the Ord fish?”

Children eagerly held up hands, wanting to show off for their friends.  Kurin pointed to the smallest child.

“‘Cause it’s about the most poison thing in the ocean!” he exclaimed proudly.

“Right, the Ord is the deadliest thing in the sea, so far as poison is concerned.  Here, have a model of one to learn what it looks like.” Kurin felt about on an invisible shelf, muttering, “I know it’s here somewhere.  Ah, here it is!”   She appeared to pull the toy fish out of thin air, to the delight of her audience, and tossed it to the child.

“Why don’t we hunt the Great Dragons?” she asked, head tilted questioningly.

Eager hands went up all over the group as children vied for attention. Kurin chose an older child to answer this one.

“‘Cause Sea is their world and if we tried to hunt them, they could destroy us!”  He looked sternly about, arms crossed over his chest.

“Right!” she exclaimed.  “They helped the First Ships and then helped us to make the First True Ships.  But they were here first and they are more powerful than we are.  Wiser, too.”  She produced a rolled parchment, seeming to lift it out of a hand that was empty and far too small to hold it.  She unrolled it so that all could see the colored drawing, then gave it to the pleased young man.  “This is a picture of Dark Iren and Blind Mecat at the Wedding Raft.”

She paused with dramatic flair, “Who knows what else it is that we never hunt?”  Her eyes scanned the crowd.  A small child had his hand up.  On impulse, she picked him.

“We don’t hunt paddle ducks,” he said confidently, “because we raise them and they are so funny.”

“A good guess,” she answered.  “We first got paddle ducks by hunting them, though.  Here, have one.”  Her hands appeared empty as she made a tossing motion toward him.  A soft cuddle toy of a paddle duck, made of canvas scraps and fluff landed in his surprised hands. “The other creature that we never hunt is the Orca Whale.  Would you like to hear the story of why we never hunt them?  Mecat herself told it to me.”

TO BE CONTINUED

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[dylanxmin]

A Little Serendipity

Part.11

before / next

•masterlist•

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It was 3 pm, which its been a while since I was trying to find a good theme for my new work, as someone can guess, I couldn’t. I did in the end but it didn’t fit properly or it felt like that, because I was thinking a lot, trying to find something worthy but it was useless, my hands were empty in the end. I decided to give a break for my mental sake so, I took my phone from the bed and look at to notifications. There were texts from the group chat, the one Hoseok added me, which I was still surprised of it. I wasn’t expecting to be accepted this quick but they did it anyway so, I was happy about it but seeing messages from Min Yoongi makes me little bit nervous and I was still trying to get over him, which I did a little. At least I thought, because I never saw him again after the day we had breakfast so, I really had no idea about getting over him. If I could see him now, how would I respond, how my emotions going to be respond to it, I didn’t have any idea about these things. It was just something uncertain but my bet was on getting over him so, I believed myself about having zero feelings for him. Then I looked at the message that came from Soo-bin and it made me to take a breath, it forced me actually. It was about having some drinks at evening, everyone was going to be there so, that idea made me little tense, but it was okay right? I did get over him so there is nothing for me to be tense, right? Aish, it is going to be alright. I was sure about it.

When I was getting ready for the night, Soo-bin called me to be sure about my attendance to the gathering and warned me about my outfit, it should be pretty or something nice, otherwise she threatened me about shaving my hair, which it was typical Soo-bin. So I made sure her about my outfit going to be something nice, but our thoughts about something nice was different from each other so, it was hard for me to find something Soo-bin would like, but I tried my best to about it.

When I came to the street, I got off from the taxi and thanked to the driver after giving the money. I looked at around but couldn’t find the place that Soo-bin sent me so, I called her. I was little shaky but it was okay, after I wear something nice and it was thin and the weather was little windy but not much, it was sweat. I was shaky because of the event but hopefully they would think it because of the weather. When Soo-bin, answered my call, I told her the situation, so she said to me wait for her and I described where I was so she was going to get me here. After waiting for a few minute, I heard my name from my back. The voice was croaky but sweet at the same time and I was sure about its owner. I turned my back to voice and came face to face with Min Yoongi, then it hit me. The idea of getting over him was a lie, it was bullshit, it didn’t go away and it came harder then the first time. He smiled little so I did it same. “Why are you waiting in here?” he asked me but I couldn’t answer it because of the voice from my back, which it was so hyped and happy melody, calling for me by shouting my name in the street. I turned my back and saw Hoseok coming towards me, with a wide smile, then he waved his hands. He was wearing a white shirt with wide open neck, onto it a zigzag line jacket which it has blue and cream color and a black pants. He was wearing a necklace with three chain. He looked good with this outfit, actually it was fitting his character’s. “Oh heyy,” When he came to our side , he gave me a tight hug and then hugged to Min Yoongi, too. “Did I make you wait too long?” he asked with care but I nodded my head as a way of, no. “It wasn’t that long, I just came here.”

“Oh you were waiting for Hoseok, then?” Min Yoongi asked but it wasn’t like a question, it was more like a statement. When I looked at him I saw his black outfits. It was just black, he even had a little black hat, but if Im going to be honest, he looked so good, it was too much for me. His hair was falling to his forehead, they were little wavy and made him more handsome, than already. He was looking directly to me with a curious look that I couldn’t understand why. “Actually, Soo-bin was going to came here but I volunteered.” Hoseok giggled little, which it was too good to hear a voice like this, it could make you happy even in the worst scenario, believe me. “Did you guys just run across to each other?” His voice had some secret implies that I couldn’t understand why he was tried to do that, but I didn’t think too much about it. “Yeah, but we should get going right?” After saying that, he started to walk and leave me with Hoseok, which it hurt. I was making my hopes high for nothing, now I was sure. He didn’t like me at all, in the begging because he couldn’t stand to be with me more than five minutes. “He is right, Y/N. We should get going.” Hoseok, touched my arm and made me look at his smiling face, it made me feel good actually, looking at his smile made my heart go ease from numb. He was something different at making people feel good and I appreciate it, at that moment. I smiled back and started to walk with him.

When we arrived I continued to smile and hugged them one by one, then take place between Hoseok and Min Yoongi, because we were the last one who arrived here. We talked about how our days went then Soo-bin lifted up his little glass of soju then we were all locked to her, so she started to speak after fixing her voice. “Sooo, I need to make an announcement,” She looked us one by one, which it was on purpose to grow some curiosity on us. “Heyy, say it already!” Jimin was so impatient for the news, so I giggled at him, because he was so cute with his puppy eyes looking at Soo-bin, waiting for the announcement. “Okay,okay.” She looked at Taehyung then turned to us again, which it hit me right then, I couldn’t hold my excitement to myself and screamed little, “You guys are together!” They all looked at me with surprise because they wasn’t expecting this kind of attitude from me and I get it but I made a promise to be normal around them and it was me being normal, it was me. “Hey it was my line you, idiot!” She yelled at me little with disappointment but she wasn’t serious of course. “So you guys seriously official, now? Did we get it right?” Namjoon asked to them with excitement because they were waiting this for a long time, they were relieved with the news. Taehyung hold Soo-bin from her arms and gave her a little hug and then he kissed her on the lips, which it made guys go crazy and they screamed, cheered them with claps and etc. I did the same things with the guys but my eyes slide to Min Yoongi, which he was giving a wide smile to them and cheering them. Oh boy, it was a beautiful scene that made my heart trembled, when his eyes crossed mine, I take my eyes from him, immediately and turned to our new couple but my heart was beating so fast like it was on a race.

After drinking so much soju and celebrating for the new couple, now we were all drunk a little. I was laughing all the jokes they make and even make some jokes about the guys, which they were doing some acting like they were offended by it. I was having good time, after having so much bad experience, being in here and having these lovely people around me, it felt so great. “Okay, now Im going to ask questions to my best friend, but Im sure she will hate me for asking this but I have to guys, okay?” Soo-bin, take all the attention to herself and me, normally this would make me nervous but I was too drunk to be nervous at this point. Jin shout with opened arms, “Send it.” He was way more drunk than me, but his attitude was cute so nobody mind it. “I need some comparison about US guys and Korean guys.” She giggled at her question, but my eyes were opened widely, now. I felt heat on my cheeks, which I was sure that was visible. “You need to answer that!” Jungkook laughed while saying this to me, but I was shocked because of the question. They were waiting for an answer but it was little embarrassing for me to answer this question but I had to, at this point. “Ihm, I can’t do that comparison.” I said but they boo-hoed me with disappointment. It made me more embarrassed but it was the truth after all. “I never be with a Korean guy, okay?” I managed to say this and then they go quite but then Min Yoongi, broke the quietness. “Why? Korean guys are not enough for you or something?” I surprised of his questions and offended little, because I wasn’t expecting this kind of question from him, he was rude. “Of course its not like that Min Yoongi,” I stopped to look at him but he was so cold looking at that moment. “I leaved here after high school so, I never had to chance to be with someone in here.” After saying these he nodded his head and turned to Namjoon to say something about their job, like his attitude wasn’t rude at all.

Everybody were talking and laughing to something but I couldn’t because what happened before. I drunk little more, which it made my head numb and messy. I needed some fresh air to be alright, so I got up and headed to outside after telling them, that I would come in a minute. I got out and set down at the sidewalk, took a deep breath and looked at the sky. It was beautiful with a lot of stars, shining through each other, in an order. While I was thinking about the sky and stars, someone touched my shoulder and distracted me. I looked at my right side and saw Hoseok, which it made me smile, widely. “Oh, hey! Hello, you!” I said while shouting a little. He giggled at me and sit right beside me, then looked at the sky, where I was looking before he coming to my side. “They are beautiful, aren’t they?” I asked but he just smiled and nodded, which it made visible of his dimples, so I felt an urge inside me to touch them. I put out my forefinger and touched his dimple, pushed it little. He laughed at my action and I laughed with him, “You are cute,” I said to him, which it made him look at me in a daze. “Why did you surprised? No one told you that before?” I got closer to him to make him little more surprised, which it was on purpose. “Im not trying to flirt with you, be cool.” I giggled after what I said and he gave a big breath and giggled with me. I was happy with him, he is like a bright light for me, but I would never flirt him, because I can’t look at him in that way. I put my head on his shoulder because it was getting heavier and I couldn’t hold it still anymore. “Did Yoongi made you upset?” His unexpected question made me smile, because he mentioned his name and it made my heart trembled, again. “Oh, Yoongi.” I laughed my answer but he looked at me with curiosity, I looked at him too, “His name is too cute, isn’t it?” I asked with a reflex, but now he looked at me with scowled brown. “Just like his cheeks,” I said with a little action like squeezing his cheeks but I did it to the air. “I love his cheeks, they are so soft and kissable.” I sighed a little, but Hoseok was quite. I didn’t mind it at that moment because my eyes were closing now and I don’t have the strength to make them open. So, I didn’t do anything and listened to the street and Hoseok’s breaths.

hey guys 🤞🏼 hope you liked this part of the story:) if you want anything from me you can just message me:) for the taglist just comment down below:) lots of love 💜✨

taglist : [ @mochiloverbts ]

[someone-always-cares]

[image description: a q&a for the webcomic someone always cares. full desc under the cut because its long and wordy sorry]

post chapter 3 Q&A

first - previous - next

thanks for yalls questions!! it was fun to answer! if anyone still has questions feel free to ask whenever i am always 100% down to ramble. even if i did go slightly off topic in some answers

additional: went off topic with the hair question a bit. their bright hair is all part of the transformations. regular hair dye does exist though. best way to tell is that if the eyebrow matches the hair its probably not dyed. also, quartz’s hair is naturally ginger.

also for more on ages, check out the character bios here

also was gonna keep this in the tags but thought i might as well actually try to answer it: the question i found it hardest to answer was someone the song one. my taste in music is. a mess really. ive been listening to like the same 5 songs on repeat all day. more under the cut because i was rambling again and now its uhhh half 1am

if it helps at the time of answering that specific question i had home by cavetown on repeat, and that song reminds me of both rami and lewis. but that may be because i project onto those two a lot, and as a aro trans dude. who sucks with people skills, yeah of course i love that song.

specifically the vibes of like not knowing how to communicate (rami is fine with his friends but other people are different), the lines “ Turn off your porcelain face, I can't really think right now and this place, Has too many colors, enough to drive all of us insane” idk what the porcelain face line is supposed to mean but im picturing it as like. a mask. that you need to take off and stop hiding and rami does tend to hide when hes feeling upset, and the next two lines kinda could tie into that, like the feeling of when youre overwhelemed and just want the world to stop so you just hide somewhere. also the colours could go with chapter 3 with the chromatic abberation.

also the bit with “ my eyes went dark, I don't know where, my pupils are, But I'll figure out a way to get us out of here” just kinda sums up ramis whole hero thing with his powers and all. anyway this has turned into less what songs rami would like and why this particular song reminds me of him and lewis (lewis specifically has the hair cutting/chest hiding, [big transmasc mood], and also messy haired trainwreck who doesnt know who he is yet. also the ghosts bit)

i did end up picking upbeat songs because ramis a dude who like to try and be upbeat even if things arent. even if hes not really feeling it he will pretend to.

[full description: Anonymous said to someone-always-cares: “hi ily!!! do characters like quartz who have colored hair have that naturally or did they dye it?”

“its both natural and not! while most supers can do a magical girl ish transformation, including a change in hair colour, there are some exceptions.”

theres two small full body drawings of rami, one in civilian clothes, one fully transformed.

“if a superhero were to have a biological child, the child will inherit the powers of the parent(s). however, the child will not inherit the full transfromation. they do inherit any physical transformations, but not the outfit.”

theres a drawing of a woman in blue, quartz’s mother, fully transformed, holding her mask in her hand, smiling down at a much younger quartz as a child. hes smiling back up at her with the same blue eyes, pointy ears, and blue hair, but hes still in normal clothes.

“in the case of quartz, both of hisparents had superpowers, and he inherited those powers and the physical transformations.he can also pick and mix whatphysical traits to change.“

next is a headshot of adult quartz, his face split down the middle with one side having hair and eye like his mother, the other like his father. theres a list of traits from each parents, blue hair and eyes and pointy ears from his mum, and purple hair and eyes and pointy teeth from their dad.

 “Anonymous said to someone-always-cares:  Are all the characters the same age? If not, how old are they? Are they irl friends or just superhero friends?”

theres some headshots of rami and his team lined up with ages labelled: cam is 15, rami himself is 17, lin, mateo, and dante, are all 18, and cap is 20.

“rami and xandra were somewhat friends before she got superpowers, so when, after the incident with her old team, she found rami had developed powers, xandra stuck close to him. their other teamates started off as superhero friends but soon turned into irl friends too”

theres a headshot of lewis and jade. theyre both 17

“when lewis first decided to start being a vigilante,jade quickly found him and decided to help train himand offered to be a mentor of sorts, as they both have similar powers. that quickly derailed.”

“ cinder5555 said to someone-always-cares: How long does it usually take to make a comic page? I'm curious because they're so freaking good that they must take FOREVER”

theres a drawing of myself, a fluffy hair tired bastard in a hoodie, smiling

“Thanks! Ive been doing this shit since like 2017 and i still have no idea how long it takes me. i can get a page done in a day if i have nothing else to do or if its a simple page, but if i have work then maybe 2-3 days? i spend like, most of my free time doing this.“

another drawing of me, now looking frustrated muttering “how the FUCK does time work”

“but i can never do it all on one sitting.i will inevitably get distracted and zone out daydreaming mid drawing so its very hard to get an accurate read on how long it takes. so however long a piece of string is i guess“

the only qustion not from tumblr is a discord message from RuneStone Cabin:

“Q: Can you talk about the incidence of superpowers in this world? Like many people are supers, which powers are more or less common, how long they've been a thing for, stuff like that. Also does Omen know I'd die for them “

theres a drawing of omen pointing at a date circled on a calender marked “decembuary”, theyre saying “i know. i already wrote your death in my calender.”

then a giant wall of text reading: “Supers have only existed for a relativly short time, since the early 1940s. momento mori was the second person to have ever gained powers.

Only a small number of the population are supers! the chances are higher in more populated cities, but unusally london has oneof the higher percentages of supers. while nobody in universe has any idea of the origins of superpowers, it does seem that powers are more likely to occur in people who would actually use their powers.

as for what powers are most common, after making a badly catagorized spreadsheet of every superpowered character ive made for this world (70% of which will probably never even be seen), turns out that elemental powers are the most common. although not all elemental powers manifest as the straight up 'controling this element' as seen in characters like lin or tsunami. for example, iris's powers would fall under shadow elemntal powers, but theyre a lot more weird that just controlling shadows.there are some abilities that have never been seen before,such as ressurection or full on time travel (aka anything that could bring a character back to life), but powers are certainly allowed to toe the line eg healing, powers involving undeath, immortality, pausing or manipulating time.

aside from that, anything goes. you could get plain old superstrength, but you could also get the ability to create dogs with your mind. other not quite rules, more guidelines are that supers are immune to their own powers hurting them (unless they were pushing themselves too hard), although the way the imminuties occur may be inconvinient to the super.

while some powers may be 'more powerful' than others, powers dont really get to be way underpowered or overpowered in comparision to others. sure being able to talk to animals may feel a bit useless compared to someone who can lift 4 tanks at once, but nobodys going to end up with a power like 'can turn into a goose but only once' or 'can grow toenails twice as fast' or 'if i sneeze i can change my hair colour'. at the same time, youre not going to get someone with the power to snap their fingers and level a city, or instantly blow up the moon or whatever.

“Anonymous said to someone-always-cares: I love rami PLEASE tell me his favorite song(s) and why. I will die for you”

a drawing of rami saying out loud “i dont really have any specific favourite song, really? i just listen to whatever sounds catchy and then listen to that on repeat for hours until i hate it. i guess i do like upbeat songs? ones that make you feel happy even if the lyrics are sad”

“ un1c0rnhh said to someone-always-cares: tell me,,, please,, cam,,, are they a cat person or a dog person?? ily"

theres a drawing of cam a metre away from a cat lying down. she has her arm out and is making ‘psspsspss’ noises at it. end id]

FUCK i am so glad i didnt hand write all of that, it would have been a major pain in the ass to write it all and then have to transcribe all that next. but nope i could directly copy paste the asks and word answers. cheers if anyone made it this far down. if anyone wonders why this is uploaded late, you know now.

[maxhoemo]

Joji and the Pussycats

im sorry idk how to write people writing music so I just made this instead...

(it’s literally cc in the josie and the pussycats world its so dumb)

“Another gig, another shit payment... Sometimes I wonder why we even try...” Max sighed, packing up his guitar.

“Come on Max. We play music cause we love it. It’s not about getting rich,” Joji countered.

“Sure, I know...But we need something! It’s just so unfair, I don’t want to work at the record store my whole life....”

“Well...” Ian tried. “We’re out here, playing. We’re putting ourselves out here, we’ve got our stuff online. What else can we really do?” 

“Guess you’re right....” Max frowned, as Ian pulled their van into the driveway of their shared house. They unloaded their equipment back into the house, Max feeling disappointed and frustrated. 

---

Meanwhile! At Cancerous Trash Music Inc.

“I can’t believe this!” The blonde executive screamed into her phone. “You killed another band! Was it at least on purpose this time!?”

“Tana, relax. I did what had to be done...”

“Yeah, great going, Keem! We don’t have a goddamn band for the Arena Show! And we cannot afford another TanaCon disaster!”

“Well, I mean, that was mostly your fault...”

“Shut the fuck up! If you don’t find a new band within 24 hours I am going to break both your legs!” 

--- 

“Oh hey Chad, nice of you to show up...” Max glared as Chad and Jack came strolling threw the front door.

“What’s your problem?”

“You’re our manager, cunt...” Ian chastised. “You’re supposed to at least show up to our shows!”

“Well, Jack and me we’re busy...” he defended.

“Yeah, buying matching pink outfits by the looks of it...” Joji snarked. While they weren’t exactly matching, both guys were dressed in various shades of pink.

“Pink is the new yellow,” Jack shrugged.

“Ugh. You two have more money then you know what to do with....” Joji shook his head.

“So, Ian...” Jack started. “Given any more thought to me maybe joining the band?”

“Uhh.... Well, jeez, Jack. You don’t play anything or anything, you know?” Ian tried to be polite, but it was difficult.

“Yeah, I know. I was thinking I could be a dancer for you guys! Check this out!” Jack gave the band an enthusiastic dab.

“Hey...That’s...Pretty good.... We’ll think about it, okay?”

“Okay, Ian,” Jack smiled at him.

“Look guys, don’t go crowing at me for being a bad manager or whatever. Check out what I just got you guys from City Hall. A busking permit!”

“Busking?” Max asked. “You want us to go play out on the street corner for change like we’re bloody homeless or something?”

“Well Max, you already look the part,” Jack quipped. 

---

“I’m nervous about this...” Ian admitted. Driving the van, the group were headed to a meeting with Cancerous Trash Music Inc. “The guy barely heard us play. He spotted us on the street-corner and offered us a record deal...”

“It seems a little suspicious...” Joji admitted.

“But Ian,” Max interjected. “You said we have to make things happen for ourselves, and we did... What do we have to lose?”

“We either become huge stars, or we’re right back where we started,” Joji said. 

“There’s always the possibility we become moderately successful.”

----

“Alright, these guys are fucking perfect I swear! They’ve got a great look. They’ll look great on the cover of J-14 or some shit.”

“Look, I know you aren’t good for much with your minuscule little pee-sized brain, but I hope to fucking god that these three dumb cunts are in the fucking studio!”

“O-on their way right now!”

“Good! Record a fucking song and shove it on the air! I’ve got a meeting with some failing old media morons!” Tana slammed down her phone.

----

Max was taken aback. He had never been in a recording studio like this before. It was pristine, everything was brand new. It was too perfect, as if it were artificial or something. “Wow...” he whispered under his breath. 

“It’s all state of the art,” Keem said. “Latest greatest technology, boooiiii!”

“What does it sound like?” Joji asked. 

“Well, go on and play something fella’s. I’ll show you!” The executive crossed his arms over his chest, giving the trio a confident, and slightly unnerving smile.

Still, the boys picked up the brand new instruments that were provided and played one of their songs. Just some silly breakup song they had written back in high school. It was one of their oldest, so they had it perfected at this point. 

“And now, we’ll play it back...” Keem grinned. The boys followed him over to the sound board. 

“Holy shit...” Ian exclaimed, listening to the playback. He had never heard them sound so clear and....Huge... It was nothing compared to the GarageBand laptop recordings they’d done at home. 

“I want a Big Mac…”

Ian looked over at his friend who had suddenly spoken. “Max, you’re a vegetarian...”

“I know, but I just want one!” 

“Okay….” Joji agreed, nodding his head to the music. “As long as we can stop by Foot Locker for a new pair of green Tretrons!”

“Jerkin’ Tretrons are the new Adidas!” Ian exclaimed. 

“Yeah, sounds like that’s working really nicely....” Keem grinned, turning the sound off.

As soon as he did, Ian clutched his head, looking over at his two friends. Like him they looked slightly dazed.

--

“Two weeks ago, nobody knew who the fuck you were. And now you have a number one hit song?” Jack asked, looking Max up and down suspiciously. “It seems a little suspicious...”

“Suspicious? That’s the business!” Keem exclaimed from the background. Jack just rolled his eyes.

“You’re only jealous.” Max answered. “You’ve always wished you were in the band, and now you see us have a little success, and you wanna ruin it...”

“Whatever,” Jack dismissed. “I’m just saying. I turn on the radio, there’s Max. I go outside, there’s Max on a billboard or an advert. Max on TV, Max all over the front page of YouTube....”

“Oh god, are you jealous!” Max laughed.

“Alright ladies, enough yammering. Time for everyone to shut their pussy-hole’s!”

“Well, I don’t know about these guys but I don’t have a pussy hole...” Joji started, but was quickly cut off by Keem again.

“You guys have to get ready for your record release party! Tana went all out, and she cannot wait to meet you guys. She has been talking non stop about this party for Max and Joji.”

“What about me?” Ian asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Huh...” Keem glanced at his phone, pretending to check something. “No, doesn’t look like you were invited, Ian. Well, I guess you can tag along too if you really want.”

“What about us?” asked Chad.

“No.”

--

“Wow, Max...You look amazing...” Ian was a bit taken aback when he met Max at the party.

“Thanks...” he laughed nervously. “I mean, they sent this outfit over....”

“Yeah, but...You wear it well....”

“So, did you guys meet Tana yet?”

“Yeah,” Joji answered. “She’s nuts.” 

Ian nodded in agreement. “She gives me this...creepy feeling, I don’t know, I can’t explain it.”

“I kind of get that same feeling from everyone here...” Joji added. “It’s all so...Fake...”

“It’s more than that,” Ian went on. “All these people we’ve met in the city, all our fans, everyone, they’re all such sheep. They all dress the same. They talk the same...”

“Well...People are usually sheeps...” Max countered.

“I know. But... I’ve just been thinking. When we did that fan meet and greet, nobody could tell us why they liked our music. They all just liked it. No personal story, no connection.  Just ‘Deadly Twister is the new Boyinaband’.”

“Boyinaband? I know that name...” Max said. “He’s that musician from YouTube. He was so big. And then he died in that plane crash....”

“Deadly Twister is the new...” Joji muttered to himself. “That reminds me of something... When we recorded in the studio for the first time...Remember Ian? You said something just like that. We all did.”

“Yeah... That was so weird...”

--

“Why are those two asking so many questions?” Tana sneered, tapping her long fingernail on the desk as she watched her security footage. “I don’t like that... I want them taken care of... Max is the star anyways. Those two snoop dogs are dead weight and dead meat!”

“Tana... I don’t think Max will play without his friends.”

“Oh no? Well Keem, I think we might persuade him...”

--

“Ian...” he heard someone whisper from behind him as he was trying to sleep. “Ian... Get up...”

“What’s going on...” He rolled over, seeing Jack at the edge of his bed. “What are you doing?”

“I saw someone...”

“Huh?” Ian asked, taking his glasses from the nightstand and putting them on. 

“Someone is creeping around in the hotel room... I’m scared...” he pouted.

“Shit...” Ian rolled out of bed. He didn’t like the sound of that.

“Oh, Ian, I’m scared!” Jack clung to Ian as they checked the room. “Hold me...”

“Be quiet!” Ian whispered. 

“Hua! Did you hear that?” 

Ian nodded. He looked around for the source of the sound, just as he did, a crash was heard from inside the closet. Ian signalled for Jack to be quiet, tip toeing over to the closet and opening it with a creak. Something was moving under a coat on the ground, but nothing big enough to be a person. He pulled off the coat, annoyed at what he saw. “Goddammit Jack! It’s just your dog!”

“Oh, Klondike! You useless mutt! You ruined everything!” Jack pouted.

“What are you talking about?”

“I told you it wouldn’t work...” Chad smirked, emerging from the kitchenette.

“What the fuck?” Ian questioned.

“Jack wanted to play damsel in distress.”

“Shut up, Chad!” Just as he was about to speak again, the three heard another loud crash. “What was that?”

“Jack...”

“It wasn’t us!” Chad assured.

Ian raised a brow. “It came from the bathroom....”

Ian cautiously opened the door, Jack cowering behind him. He looked around, seeing nothing. He switched on the light. Luckily the bathroom didn’t have any hiding spaces, so it was obvious nobody was there. At least, not anymore.

“Shit, look!” Chad pointed.

“A message on the mirror!” Jack exclaimed.

Ian looked over, taking a few steps towards it. Huge letters, written using the bar soap. “Beware the music...” he read.

“What does that mean...?”

“I don’t know.... But I’m going to find out...”

---

“Alright, hope you’re ready for your press conference!”

“Press conference?” Max asked. “I wasn’t...”

“No, no, no,” Keem interrupted. “Not you, Max. Just Joji and Ian. You know, Tana’s idea. She thinks the public needs to get to know your backup a  little better.”

“Backup?” Ian questioned. 

“Look, let’s not get caught up in semantics. There’s a car waiting downstairs, come on, you’re gonna be late.” 

“Hang on...” Joji protested.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, they’ll be wardrobe at the studio, come on,” he insisted, practically shoving the two of them out the door.

“So...Do I have the day off then?” Max asked.

“Not exactly. Here, just one thing you need to do,” Keem smiled again, that smile that made Max unnerved. “I just need you to listen to the demo for your new single.” He took an ipod shuffle from his pocket, handing it to Max.

“Oh...Well, Okay... What exactly am I listening for...?”

“Just listen very carefully. Trust me, you’ll get the idea.”

---

“What the fuck is going on?” Joji asked, looking around at the barron location they’d been dropped off at. 

“This is just an empty warehouse.”

“I’ve got a really bad feeling about this, Ian...”

“Me too. Like, I never got the chance to tell you. Last night, there was this message written on the bathroom mirror. But in the morning, it was gone.”

“What did it say...?”

“It said-”

“Hey dudes, what’s up!?” 

Joji and Ian turned around. “Jake Paul?”

“Ricegum?”

“You’re the guys they sent to interview us...?”

“Oh man, it’s Ian and Joji!” Jake shouted.

“You guys have like, the most popularist band in the world,” Rice added.

“What? You mean most popular?” Ian asked.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s the word...”

“I don’t get it...” Joji told them. “Why here? There’s no camera....No nothing....”

“Well, that’s the funniest part,” Jake laughed. “We weren’t exactly sent here to interview you.”

“We were sent here to kill you.”

Later that night...

Max was sitting in an arm chair. The new single sounded pretty good. In fact, he couldn’t seem to stop listening to it. God, no wonder he was such an overnight success. He was good. 

“Max!”

Max jumped, pulling the earbuds from his ears. Joji and Ian bursting through the door obviously giving him quite a shock.

“What’s going on?”

“Max, Jesus Christ!” Joji panted. “Jake Paul and Ricegum just tried to kill us. And I know that sounds like a joke, but that literally just happened.”

“I think it has something to do with our music. The mirror. Last night. Did Jack and Chad tell you?”

Max only blinked. Giving the two a skeptical look before finally speaking. “...Why did they let you two in here?”

“What...?”

“Max! Are you even listening!?” Ian demanded. 

“Yes, Ian... I am listening very carefully. And do you know what I hear? I hear someone glomming on to my talent, and my credit... Our music, Ian? I basically write everything!”

“No, you don’t.” Ian said bluntly. “Someone tried to kill us. We had to steal one of their lambos to get away. What the fuck is wrong with you!?”

“Nothing is wrong with me. You two on the other hand... Your days are numbered, you know.”

“Max, you’re starting to scare me...” Joji took a step back.

“Ian. How long do you really think you can keep up the act? You’re replaceable. Bass players are a dime a dozen, and you’re not even one of the better ones. I’m the face of the band. I’m the one with the talent. I’m the one with the looks. I don’t even know why I brought you along.”

“So that’s how it is, Max? What? Keem and Tana finally get to you? Or is this how you’ve felt all along?”

“Ian. I don’t need you. I never needed you. Now get out of my hotel room before I call security.”

“Fine!” Ian spat, turning on his heel and slamming the door behind him.

“Max...?” Joji asked. “Why are you doing this...? We have more important things to worry about....”

“Oh, what’s the matter George? Is the little emo boy gonna cry? Go on, Joj. Cry for us. Oh, I’d love to see it one last time. One last time just for fun.”

“Shut the fuck up, Max.”

“You talentless fucking loser. I can’t believe you convinced me to keep you around all these years...”

“I’m going to find Ian.”

“Good. I hope you never come back.”

--

“How’s Max doing?” Tana asked, grin crossing her face.

“Oh, he’s just perfect now,” Keem smiled. 

“Excellent! I don’t want anything coming in the way of this arena show! This is bigger than coke, Keem! Bigger than maxi pads or tide pods! Tomorrow night these kids will be exactly where I want them!”

--

Max was glad Ian and Joji were gone! He didn’t need them! He never did! He strutted down the street, ipod in his ears. He’d never felt this confident in his life. It was probably Ian and Joji holding him back all this time.... Sure, he was glad they weren’t dead. He guessed. But as far as he was concerned, they may as well have been. As Max walked along, he suddenly felt someone grab him from behind. He let out a scream. “Let go of me!” he kicked and flailed, doing everything he could to get away. When he finally broke free, he bolted down the sidewalk as fast as his feet could possibly carry him. He ran, looking straight on ahead. Not looking down, his foot hit a raised edge of concrete, causing him to come crashing to the ground. 

He stayed there for a moment, in shock. His hands has scraped across the sidewalk from breaking his fall. His headphones lay on the ground, as well as his wallet. The contents spilled over onto the streets. Quickly, he began to gather them up and put them away. Money, keys, credit card, busking permit...Wait, why did he still have that? He paused for a moment, looking at it. 

This busking pass gives permission to Max Stanley, Ian Carter and Joji Miller....

Max blinked. It was only dated two weeks ago.... “Max...Ian...Joji...” he read aloud to himself. He put it away, stuffing his wallet back into his pocket. Then he looked at the ipod lying on the ground. He could hear the music faintly as it blasted from the headphones. The sound made him nauseous. He picked up the device and threw it out into the street. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he stood and dusted himself off. As he did so, he came face to face with a billboard across the street. ‘Deadly Twister Twist of Lime Pepsi!’ He looked up into the faces smiling back at him. Fuck... 

---

“Ian!? Joji!?” Max called, bursting into the hotel room. He looked around. Nobody but Chad and Jack. “Where the hell are Ian and Joji!?”

“Since when do you care?” Jack asked. “I heard what you said, diva cunt...”

“Look. Something is going on! Joji and Ian are in trouble, and I have to get to the bottom of this! Chad, Jack! You two are gonna help me, come on!”

---

“I don’t think we’re supposed to be in the studio this late...” Chad said warily.

“I don’t care...” Max groaned. The three sat at the mixing board, Max fiddling with different switches and sliders. “There’s something on this track. I know it...I was listening to it and...There’s something about it...”

“What? It sucks?” Jack asked.

“Ugh...” Max groaned in frustration, turning down the volume on the vocals but hearing nothing. He turned down the guitar, then the bass, then the drums and the background vocals until all he heard was silence.

“Great sleuthing, Sherlock Homo....”

“I swear to God, Jack...There’s....” He blinked, and he saw it. Out of the corner of his eye. Something on the monitor was still flashing. Moving up and down. Arching a brow, he scanned the mixing board. Finding only one slider that wasn’t completely at the bottom, he turned it all the way up. As he did, an off-putting, stunting and nasally voice filled the room.

“Freedom is slavery! Conformity is freedom! Deadly Twister is the most rockin’ band in the world!”

“Oh my God...” Jack let out. “I know that voice...That’s... That’s Top15! How the hell did you get him to put this on here!?” He demanded. “You slept with him!”

“Shut up! I didn’t put this on here! Tana did....To brainwash us....”

“You need an H&M vintage tee! Ethan Klein is the new Pewdiepie!”

“I want a vintage tee...And Ethan Klein...”

“Chad!”

“Sorry, it’s just...That voice... It’s so strange, yet...Hypnotic!”

“Exactly! This is why! Everyone dressing alike, talking alike, buying shitty products! They’re selling all this shit through the music!”

“...Deadly Twister is the most rockin’ band in the world!”

“They’re selling us through our music! Well, it stops here! They can’t control people like this! It’s wrong! It’s evil! And Tana... Tana is gonna pay!”

“Oh...Am I now?”

“Shit...It’s Tana...” Chad squaked. 

“Fuck!”

--

“God, Max, you almost got me...” Tana smirked sarcastically. Leading her muscular goons, Max, Chad and Jack in their grip, across the basement of the arena. “Take those two and tie them up over there..” She pointed with a manicured nail, the men leading Jack and Chad away.

“Where are Joji and Ian!?”

“Don’t worry. They’re safe. At the moment...” She laughed.

“What are you gonna do to them!?”

“That all depends on you, cupcake...” She patted his cheek. “Keem!” With a shout and a snap of her fingers, Keem emerged. Ian and Joji bound by their wrists, and lead out by a tight grip to their shoulders.

“Get your hands off me, cunt!”

“Shit Ian, it’s Max!”

“Max!?”

“Ian! Joji!”

“So Max, are you going to co-operate? Or is Deadly Twister going to have to meet the same fate as Dave and Pewdiepie...”

“Pewdiepie...?” Ian asked. “Pewdiepie’s dead...!?”

“Oh, very shortly!” Tana laughed. “Special request from our new client, the Wall Street Journal! In fact, I think I’ve got a late breaking news story about it! Keem...”

He switched on a nearby flatscreen. “What is up, you beautiful bastards? Some really sad news to start off with, unfortunately. Pewdiepie was found dead late last night...”

“See, Maxy?” Tana cooed. “Philly-D here is a good little cupcake. He does what he’s told. And Maxy, I think you should too. Otherwise, well... I think Phil provided us with another advanced news story, huh Keem?”

“Oh, I think you’re right...”

“Ian Carter and Joji Miller, brutally murdered in their dressing rooms.... Police have already confirmed their manager Chad Roberts as the culprit...”

“What!? Why me!?”

“I don’t like you,” Tana shrugged.

“...Max Stanley has yet to release a statement on the tragedy....”

“Well, Max...” Keem grinned. “What is your statement? Did you always know Chad was so unstable? Will you be releasing a memorial album in tribute to your friends?”

Max glared at his captives. “What do you want...!?”

“Simple, dollface. Just go out there, and play the show. It’s the last thing I need you for.”

“Why don’t you just get a new band, and let us go home?”

“You can go back to your shit lives after, I promise. But it’s too late to get a new band. It has to be you, Max.”

“It doesn’t matter...” Max looked over. It was Ian who spoke. “Your threats won’t work, so you might as well kill us. He doesn’t care what happens to us.”

“Ian, that’s not true!” Max shouted. “It wasn’t me, okay!? I didn’t mean anything I said! It was the single! The music! It has subliminal messages, that’s how they’re able to control everyone!”

“Of course! That’s why I wanted those ugly shoes!”

“Beware the music....” Ian paused, the pieces falling into place. “...Oh God, Max, I’m sorry!”

“Yeah, very touching...” Keem rolled his eyes. “I’m tired of all this time wasting!”

“Me too! Someone get me some of that fat cunts hair to plant on these two before we kill them!”

“No! No! I’ll do it, okay!?”

“Good to hear...”

---

Max returned minutes later, after being whisked away to hair and wardrobe. 

“Alright Max, ready for your big night? You’re finally a star! Doesn’t it feel great!?”

“Tana...” Max sneered. “You’re gonna have a difficult time with your secret messages once your secret’s out...”

“Oh, please! Who the hell would listen to the insane ramblings of some paranoid, Aussie cunt!?”

“We will!” A voice echoed off the walls. Tana and Keem turned to the source.

“Who the hell are you?” She demanded.

“Someone you thought you’d gotten rid of....”

“Fuck!” Joji shouted. “It’s that Dave guy! I thought you died in a plane crash!”

“So did I!” Tana spat. “What the fuck, Keem!?”

“Oh no, I never boarded that plane. I overslept.”

“Keem!! You fucking idiot, you told me he was dead!”

“You two have to stop with the assassinations...” Another voice rang out. That Swedish accent was unmistakable. The two stepped out of the shadows.

“How the fuck did he get out!?”

“It doesn’t matter! I’m not dealing with these two right now! Congrats, you survived! You shouldn’t have come back, but I’ll have to finish you two off later!” The two turned back to Max, who had taken the opportunity to untie his friends. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’ve got them, Tana...” Keem grabbed Ian by the arm, who quickly gripped him by the wrist with his other hand. Pushing him backward, he punched him hard in the stomach.

“I’ve wanted to do that for so long...” Ian smirked.

Tana immediately put her two goons up against them, but Ian, Max, Joji, Chad, Jack, Dave and Felix managed to take down the group in an epic fight scene I’m not going to write because I can’t write fight scenes but trust me it’s pretty cool.

“That’s it Max, you’re finished!” Tana screeched, grabbing a guitar and swinging it above her head like a weapon. Max put his hands up in defence, taking a few steps backwards.

“W-what are you gonna do...? Kill me with the guitar!? Who’s gonna go out there and sing!? You need me, remember!?”

“Need you? Muffin, I created you... And believe me, I can destroy you!” She swung the blunt instrument hard at Max’s head, who dodged just in time. Instead, hitting the sound system behind him. “Oh, no no no...” A loud hiss and feedback emanated through the room.  “Keem! Fix it!!”

“Oh god...” Joji covered his ears at the sound. Before anyone could do anything, Top15′s secret message began to ring out.

“Shit....” Tana muttered.

“Tana, is the most coolest, hottest girl in the world!”

“What the fuck....?” Chad muttered.

“Most coolest?” Joji asked.

“Well, it’s the Top15 guy...” Max shrugged.

“Everybody wants to be just like Tana Mongoo!”

“No, no, you aren’t doing it right!” Tana’s own voice came over the speakers. “It’s pronounced Mojo! Do it like this! Every guy wants Tana so bad, and all you girls, you wish I was your best friend! Everyone wants to dress like me, they think I’m hilarious! My abrasive attitude is charming! Not disgusting or anything like that at all! I’m the prettiest, and the most smart! TanaCon was the funnest ever! You wanna go back every year!”

“That’s the secret message that you wanted to send out?” Max asked in disbelief. “That you’re cool!?”

“Shut the fuck up! You’re so pretty and talented! You have no idea what it’s like... To be mocked and ridiculed your whole life!” For the first time, the blonde seemed to be showing some form of vulnerability. In fact maybe a little too much. “All I ever wanted was to be popular! Tell me, is that so bad!?”

“But you’ve been conspiring against the whole world to do it!” Ian shouted. “You’ve been manipulating people, killing! You’re a total sell out on top of it! You’re no better than anyone who’s bullied you! In fact, you’re actually a lot worse, considering....” he gestured around the room. “...All this...”

“Uhhh, Ian...” Jack questioned. “I’m lost. What exactly is the point you’re tryng to make? I mean, what’s the moral of the story here?”

“I think the moral of the story is...” Chad spoke up, “...That we should be happy with who we are. This whole time we’ve been spending money on expensive clothes to try and impress people? Never made me happy. No! Happ - -Oh, my God…..Happiness is on the inside! I’m not this.” He ripped off his shirt, throwing it on the ground with force. “ I’m not what I wear. I’m not what I wear!”

“Wow. That’s beautiful Chad,” Joji smiled.

“What the fuck is going on here....?” a man in a suite asked, coming across the entire scene.

“Who the fuck is this?” Felix questioned. 

“I’m Agent Smith, I’m with the government.”

“Oh, thank god you’re here!” Max ran up to him. “Tana and Keem over there, have been using their music to brainwash people. To make them buy things and think things....”

“....What!?”

“Oh come on,” Keem laughed nervously. “You guys knew about this the entire time...”

“No, no, I can assure you the government knew nothing of any brainwashing... You two are under arrest...”

“They totally knew...” Ian shook his head, watching the two record moguls be dragged away. 

“Now what?” asked Max.

“Well...” Chad, now completely naked, came up between the two and put an arm around each of them. “I think you’ve got a show to play...”

---

Max looked out into the crowd. The biggest crowd he had ever seen. He looked to Ian, then to Joji. They smiled at him with encouragement. Taking a deep breath, he stepped up to the microphone. “Umm...Wow...Hi...” The crowd cheered. But Max frowned. They’d all been manipulated. “Umm... I know...I know you guys came out because you heard something on our album that you liked....” They cheered again. “Well... We’re gonna play something different tonight. It’s cool if you like it, it’s okay if you don’t. Just...Decide for yourselves...” As Max started up the first few chords to a new song they’d recently written, his friends soon followed. The crowd seemed unsure at first, but before long they seemed to get into the groove of the song. Max couldn’t believe it. They liked them for them!

As the song came to a close, the crowd was losing it. Screaming, jumping up and down with pure excitement. “Max, Max!” Ian shouted into his microphone. He looked just as hopped up as the crowd.

“Yeah?”

“I have to tell you something! I don’t know when else, or how else to tell you! But I feel really fucking good right now so I’m gonna say it! Max... I love you!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. 

“Ian!? I love you too! I always have!”

“Oh wow... I never thought you felt the same!”

“Of course I do!” Stepping forward, bass still in hand, Ian kissed Max the best he could in their position. Again, the crowd cheered. Max just grinned in shock disbelief.

“Ohhhh....!” Jack whaled, watching the scene unfold on stage. “it isn’t fair...”

“Hey...”

Jack looked up, Felix now by his side. “Hey...”

“You know, I always thought you were pretty cute...” he said, placing his arm around Jack.

Jack grinned. “Same to you...”

“Do all ya’ll motherfuckers want another song!?” Joji screamed into his mic. The crowd shrieked. 

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Max practically jumped in place. “Joji fucking Miller on the drums! Ian mother-fucking Carter on bass!”

“And this bitch on guitar is the love of my goddamn life! Max Mother FUCKKkkkker!!!”

And they all lived happily ever after. Probably. Maybe. I’m not sure. But probably.

[disney8733]

finding our song draft

(the song mentioned are real songs that don't belong to me. also this story is not done so sorry for the miss spelling)

Ch1 Beggin you

The lights of the stage flashed on showing the band members on it. You could hear the hum of the lead starting the opening of the song “ Put your loving hand out, baby 'Cause I'm beggin'' The rest of the band starts to join in the song known as, Beggin’. From the right side of the stage you could see him as the main bass of the band Daichi Sawamura, A five foot nine well-built dark haired brown-eyed man with thighs so thick they could crush a watermelon in half. It was the beginning of the 2021 tour for junkyard scrap. The alternate punk rock band that everyone knew. They were known for being an attractive upcoming popular All Star Band. Their lead singer had an amazing voice that could go and reach the low notes of a song but sound smokey and sweet and loving. Their bass guitarist could play the strings of his bass like nobody else. Their lead guitarist could play any guitar ranging from electric to ukulele. And there was their drummer. He was the rhythm of their band and could make a beat out of a pencil tapping on a table. But that's not all the band had to offer oh no there is much more. At first glance junkyard scrap looks like a normal band but that's not all they had. Each one of the band members could do more than just what they were known for. junkyard scrap was nicknamed The Multiverse band, their lead singer Kōtarō Bokuto Also known as the owl was a Bombastic, friendly, energetic guy. Also known as The Moody one tending to sometimes in the middle of an interview going into a “emo mode” because he was sad. Bokuto could also play the drums, guitar and song right to a certain extent. Tetsurō Kuroo the lead guitarist, also known as rooster head due to the way his hair looks. Although he looked laid-back, he always seemed to be scheming for something and liked to provoke others' well-dishing outside remarks to them. But the truth of reality is that true kuroo is a kind surprisingly genius man both in music and somehow chemistry. The man could not only play electric guitar but also the bass, the acoustic, the ukulele, the piano, the trumpet and is an absolute god at writing love songs. Daichi Sawamura The bass guitarist of the group. Known as the dad of the group he's responsible, caring, understanding and patient. Except for when you piss him off then he becomes utterly terrifying and everybody seems to be attracted to that. He can also play the electric guitar. If and when he does sing it's a very low soft and sweet velvet voice. And lastly Hajime Iwaizumi on the drums. A stubborn yet reliable member of the band with a strong intimidating vibe. With a firm yet caring attitude towards the rest of his team everyone tends to respect him and all his fans see him as a bad boy. He can also sing very well. These four young men make up the group known as junk yard scrap. Clear their fan base they were gods that can play music like nobody else the hottest things on Earth. But to the four of them they were just a bunch of friends who decided to play at a concert one night with the rest is pretty much history. From the crowd you can hear the girls screaming their heads off for Daichi. Indicating that they were playing the song ashes which was sung by the drummer Iwaizum. “I fell in love with a boy I met in hell”. Is the concert continued The Stylist walked up to their manager kiyok.

“Are we going to do an outfit change” the stylist asked

“Not  that I know of unless Bo has other plans” She replies with a heavy sigh. Bo had a habit of taking his shirt off in a particular song known as Glory and throwing it in the crowd because according to him the song had just such a “vibe” and “he was so pumped he didn't know what he was doing”. The entire band called them out for just wanting to take his shirt off for no reason. And he did not deny or confirm this action. As the two were talking at that very moment You could hear Kuroo starting to play his electric guitar to the notes of none other than the song Glory. Kiyoko Turn to The Stylist rolling her eyes towards the stage saying “ well the answer to your question is yes suga,  we will be a athlete change in which Bokuto will need another shirt”

“ noted” he replied back quickly leaving her at the side of the stage to go get him a new shirt. At this point he wasn't surprised he had been with the band as their stylus for the past 6 months and he had gotten pretty much used to the clothes that he had either hand-picked or made himself for Bo, being thrown into the crowd. AT first yeah totally annoy the crap out of him.  But then the bass player of the band talked to him stating how typically they get the shirts back because most of the fans know but was not allowed to do that anymore even though he still does it. Daichi promised that he would talk to Bo after every concert and yell at him for doing so.  Now it wasn't that Suga would say that he was in love with Daichi. But he love the idea of having a strong Rockstar boyfriend. But it was never going to happen and he knew that and that was fine. What he didn't know is that Daicih himself had fallen head-over-heels Suga from the day that they met. As the concert ended you could hear the loud roaring of the crowd. The band thanked everybody for coming out and giving them a chance to start a brand new tour. 

As the band members came off the stage. They were talking and End the laughing in a way that made you feel at home 

“That was a good show” Kuroo stated “Even if  Bo took his shirt off again” the rooster continued

“ I told you guys every time you play the song. i just get this feeling that I just can't explain it I just got to be free it's glorious if you try it sometime” Bokuto  responded well laughing

“ You know Bokuto. First of all it's just weird and secondly you throw away all of Suga's hard work. You jerk” Daicih replied looking at suga

“Oh it’s ok. There just close

“No it’s not ok. It costs us money every time he does it. Right kiyoko” iwa said

“Sadly Iwaizumi is right” she said without even looking up from her notes.

“IM SORRY SUGA” Bo bowed his head. Suga just smiled.“Don't worry, let's go get the shirt back together this time ok” the beautiful silver hair boy stated. As they walked away Daichi couldn't help but stare at sugawara. To him sugawara was a beautiful 5' 8.7" slender built guy, with light grey hair, and hazel-brown eyes. Not menchon, a birthmark mole under his left eye that daichi just wanted to kiss. Kōshi Sugawara  had a soothing and gentle personality.he kind of acted as a pillar of support for the crew and the band. He was a kind and sweet man. Daichi was unsure of when he had fallen for the man, maybe it was when they first met. That was the start at least.

“You if you ask him out, no own would stop you and every own would approve” Kuroo said smiling as they walk to the dressing room. 

“I cant i have to Maintain appearance for the bands image” he s simply replied

“ you're joking right, In case you forgot I'm dating kenma. You know the guy who wright more then half are song” kuroo Side as he sat down in the chair taking his shoes off

“Thats different. You two were dating way before we came to fame” Daichi huffed out as he took his jacket off. Just then kenma walked while playing on his Game Boy.

“Kuroo” the short boy said not looking up

“Yes, kitten?” the roster replied

“I want cuddles and apple pie”

“Ok kitten, just let me get changed” Kuroo Hurry up getting out of the outfit he has on and into sweatpants and a sweatshirt then picked up his boyfriend and left the room to go get apple pie and cuddle. Leaving Daichi alone...

[souljournaler]

I’m gonna reach out to that cop-looking entity and channel the message

i’ll put my communications in bold

immediate update, i can’t seem to get a lock on them. i remember their outfit, but each time i try to imagine it, their form underneath the outfit shifts. sometimes they are shorter, sometimes they are tall, sometimes they are lean, sometimes they are broad. they are always quiet, but i can sense they feel something under their masks.

my bias says again, astral cops. magic fasc. the fact that their masks were so featureless and shiny, and the military-ish uniform? Black pvc is A Look, i gotta admit, but it looks so hella fasc-y & cop-ish

let’s see if i can get any of them to talk

they dont expect me to go straight for seeing through their eyes. i’ll put my feet in their feet and feel them in their own shoes and it makes them leap. i get kicked out immediately. i think it’s hilarious. i dont think they agree.

they dont even know why theyre there, they are just following orders. many are not even lucid until i disrupt them and then we both get kicked.

some of them are awake while their energy is out busting ppl’s dream bubbles! not like breaking them, but like a cop would bust someone, but literally in people’s dreams and astral spaces

they look for cracks.

oh whoops someone is getting me back!! time to channel

who is this

how did you find me

where are you

open your eyes

are you real

wow hm ok, well, they weren’t very strong, just very startled. they cant stay focused now that they’re awake. i think they felt my presence though. oops lmao

someone has been looking for me. maybe not me, but something/someone like me

they have a higher voice, dark hair, tan skin, extremely slick & neat bun, dark brown eyes. their favorite hair accessory are navy or grey scrunchies. big ROTC vibes. innate magical talent but doesn’t know how to use their power which has become more intrusive on their everyday life over the past few years. they live in a nice house post-2000s construction or remodeled then, mostly tidy, workout equipment, house plants, white walls & light tile floors. Black gym bag. didn’t have time to take their grandma’s powers & practices seriously.

who are you

why are you looking for me

i was told to find you

who told you to find me

my grandma, i think

did you bust my dream a few weeks ago?

no. what?

who are you?

i cant hear their name cuz honestly i dont want to know but i heard Lieutenant. it’s really hard to stay focused cuz im hella distracted in my workspace rn

wow you’re really strong

thanks. wait what do you mean?

you keep finding our connection again

you keep diverting

ok. that’s true. well, what can you tell me about the 

wow i got distracted, just got some kinda good news oh wow they’re pulling me back

where do you keep going

another channel

what’s that mean

you’re channeling baybee

what’s that mean

sixth sense henny

welcome to clairaudience. hearing shit.

they cut the connection

no they didn’t lol they’re back

wym hearing shit

spirit realm baybee. did u just have a weird dream?

ooh the connection has cut out again

i think they’re having a lil moment. their call feels like someone pinching my deltoids lol. they do seem kinda cop-ish the way i saw them just now. i wonder if we’re on the same earth.

woop they’re reaching again.

what do you want?

what do you want?

you first

who are you

Look, Lt. you have some powers. your grandma didn’t get to tell you about them.

wym?

sorry, i can’t tell you anything else. you seem kinda cop-ish, no offense. it’s harshing my vibe.

wym cop-ish

no offense

wym cop-ish

u ask a lot of questions i dont rly have answers to. look, i saw someone dressed like this in my dream right as i was waking up. do you know them?

[the image of the outfit from my vision]

no i don’t really recognize that.

okay, that’s all i wanted to know. i thought about them and something clicked our energy together. i wasn’t really looking for anything else.

[they showed me my image back] i don’t think i’ve seen them.

i see an image of a dream where they are wearing that outfit and they see themself in a mirror and take their helmet off. they are surprised to see themself underneath.

are you recording me?

no

im lying, im recording this.

i can’t do this right now

ok bye.

i tried to close the link

why the hell did you record that?

you need to be more careful about what you share on a psychic link.

i’m seeing the flash from their dream again

why is that bothering you?

i don’t know

it feels normal. but scary.

what’s scary about it?

i don’t know. just... the mask makes me faceless. and i’m taking it off because i want to see myself.

why did you redact that part?

quit asking too many questions.

ok.

who are you?

you can call me whatever.

that’s not gonna work

no it’ll be like odysseus calling himself nobody, that’s cool

i’m not doing that. that means i’m polyphemus

oh my gods you know epic poetry, that’s cool

of course, we all had to read it in school

yeah i guess that’s true.

why are you trying to trick me?

because im assuming you’re a cop. just cuz u have powers doesnt mean i can trust u.

should i not trust u either?

no u can trust me if u want. but like, honestly, it’s up to u and ur discretion.

okay.

i’m still recording this

what dude what the fuck

sorry. i’m going to close this channel now. it’s been nice! bye!

where are you going?

they’re holding the channel open

hey i’m talking to you

who are you

im closing the channel

hm. okay. well. okay. honestly i ran out of energy at the end there but they kept putting their foot in the door to the channel. ppl with innate power can be scary cuz they don’t know how strong they can be. i bet that person is gonna feel hella tired later.

they tried the channel again a couple times but i’ve closed my personal channel for a little bit so they keep hitting it like a wall.

wait

who are you

why did you contact me like this

what am i supposed to do now?

idk fam, have yourself a lil moment tho

i’ll let yall know if i hear anything new but im gonna submit this post now

[supersoldierfreak]

Teasing

Request: ‘Hey! I wondered if I could request 47,42,60 with the song Express by Christina Aguilera’ 

Lyrics are in italics and so are the prompts

Genre: Fluff, Burlesque

WARNINGS: Dirty minded HYDRA agent, non descriptive pole dancing,  Bucky being charming, Avengers out for the night, Reader being flawless (because you are) 

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

“Remind me again why we let our youngest Avenger do this?” Tony was heard through the com. 

“Because I’m the only one who knows how to do it, Tin Man.” You responded while walking in the burlesque bar, wearing a casual outfit of jeans and a loose t-shirt. “And because I’ve been bored out of my mind without any missions.”

Walking a good twenty paces behind you were Steve and Bucky, dressed in fancy office wear clothing to blend in so they’d look like they were average customers. You flicked your hair back before discreetly pointing towards the bar so the two super soldiers would sit there and would be able to watch the target’s moves. The guy you were there to get information from, worked for HYDRA and hang out a lot at the place and his name was Victor Slakov. Slakov always took a ‘lucky’ stripper home and you were hoping you were the one tonight. 

Tony and Clint were dressed up in a tuxedo each to match the dress code for the VIP zone, quietly scanning the club below for the target, and commenting on clientele patterns. Bruce was staying by the quinjet in case he couldn’t keep his cool.

“Remember why you weren’t allowed in a mission for so long?” Natasha spoke. She got the bartender job for the night along with Wanda since they both knew their way around a bar. 

“Just because I was telling the truth he tried to shoot me. I don’t see how that was my fault.” 

“You say that like you only corrected his times.” Wanda talked this time, making you roll your eyes as you were entering your dressing room. You said your hello to your boss and locked the door. 

As you were changing Clint spoke up. “You know this is the most we’ve been told about that mission. What happened?” 

You smirked as you shimmied off your sports bra and swapped it for the top half of the lingerie set. “I told the French President’s head of security that I wear heals bigger than his dick whilst we were under heavy fire.”

You changed your bottom half and looked at yourself in the mirror. The lingerie set complimented your body perfectly and to be honest you looked even more flawless than you already were. Nobody was used to seeing you like this, all dolled up. Of course they wouldn’t see you in your underwear only, but they almost never saw you with make up on or with a different hairstyle other than your basic stylish messy ponytail. It made them wonder how you could be so beautiful already, and what you’d look like all dressed up. Well, this was the night they’d find out. 

“Y/N are you dead?” Clint said through the com, shaking you out of your trance. 

“You wish.” You smiled at yourself in the mirror and you were certain he heard the smirk in your voice and his eye roll was audible. 

“Not really.”

The song was rolling to a close which signified it was your turn to show up. You made your way to the dancefloor through the five second blackout and walked slowly over to the pole. 

It’s a cold and crazy world, raging outside.

You swang yourself around on the pole to get a feel for it after being away from it for so long. 

Well baby me and all my girls are bringing on the fire.

Turning your head to the left you saw Tony and Clint with a shocked look on their faces. Tony took off his FRIDAY moderated glasses and was struggling to keep his jaw from touching the floor, whilst Clint’s open mouth turned into a smirk.

Show a little leg, gotta shimmy your chest. 

 Natasha and Wanda were watching your hips swaying to the beat before you grinded back against pole, throwing a wink their way. 

It’s a life, it’s a style, it’s a need, it’s Burlesque. 

You glimpsed over to Steve and Bucky, as you climbed the pole and leant back removing your hands from the pole; their eyebrows raised and mouths turning up slightly in a smirk, boosting your confidence up to where it needed to be. You flipped and spun yourself around the pole, way up from the floor.

E-X-P-R-E-S-S, love, sex

Ladies no regrets. 

E-X-P-R-E-S-S, love, sex

Ladies no regrets.

You gave a wink to the dancer to your right. Your focus was then on the guy you were originally here for, Victor Slakov. He was seated in the front, right in front of your pole and your big sultry eyes never left his tired and red ones. 

Been holding back for quite some time and finally the moment’s right.

You danced to the music, doing your flips and aerobatics on the pole, silently praising yourself for taking those classes. 

I love to make the people stare

“Guys are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Tony said, his mouth never really closing from the moment you showed up. 

They know I’ve got that certain savour-faire

“Oh sweet Jesus. I’m about two and a half drinks away from being gay.” Natasha was the one to speak this time. 

“I’m already gay for her.” Wanda whispered loud enough for the comms to broadcast it so everyone in the team could hear.  

Fasten up

Can you imagine what would happen if I let you get close enough to touch.

“Come on t-team, we’re here f-for Slakov; no other r-reasons.” Steve stuttered. 

Step into the fantasy

Tony snorted. “Speak for yourself, Captain.” He muttered into his glass.

You’ll never want to leave, baby that’s guaranteed

“My, my Y/N.” Bucky whispered.

Why? 

Teasingly, you licked your lips and and made eye contact before winking at the soldier. Unfortunately, you couldn’t play around with the guys anymore since you were making your way down the dancefloor and over to Victor.

It’s a passion, and emotion, it’s a fashion, Burlesque

It’ll move you, goin’ through you, so do I what I do, Burlesque

All ladies, confident, flaunt it boys throw it up if you want it

You continued to strut your way, swinging your hips till you were seated in his lap.

Can you feel me, can you feel it? It’s Burlesque.

I tease them till they’re on the edge

You gave him an, explicit, lap dance until you were seated comfortably on Slakov’s lap facing forward. 

You rolled your hips once more for good measure. You arched your back against him and wrapped a hand around his and brought your lips level to his. 

“You know,” You snapped those hips slightly, feeling him hard beneath you. “These aren’t the only tricks I have.” 

He smirked and responded in a gravelly voice. “There’s a room upstairs with my name on it; I would love to see any other tricks you have.” He punctuated his statement with a squeeze of your hips. You slipped languidly off his lap and he stood, taking your hands in his and climbing up the stairs. 

You winked to Steve, making sure the team knew that you were successful. There were ‘fuck’ rooms on the floor above, for when a customer liked what they saw and the dancer did. Entering the room he had reserved, he spun you around and onto the bed. He trailed open mouthed kissed down your jawline. Deciding to get this over with, in the blink of an eye you flipped him over so you could straddle him and pulled the knife that had been in his blazer pocket out. 

“You always carry this with you?” You asked in a playful voice, idley twirling It around your fingers. 

“I keep it just in case of some… difficulties occuring.” He watched mesmerised as you switched hands. 

“What sort of difficulties, sir?” You were going to be teasing the hell out if him until you got the information you and the team came for.

He smirked. “My job doesn’t come without risks, DC’s a dangerous place.” 

You widened your eyes innocently. “DC? I know DC well; where about’s?”

“Palisades? Heard of it, kitten?” He gave you a dirty smirk and you refrained from shuddering in disgust.

“Yes, sir.”

He bucked his hips into yours involuntarily, causing you to smirk; you were good when you wanted to be and damn, did you know it.

“Potomac Avenue is where I was earlier, baby girl.”

“Thank you sir, for your help.” You purred with your voice low before rocking forwards and pressing the knife to his throat before pulling a cable tie for his wrists. “Now, sir, if you don’t mind.”

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 

The ride on your way to the tower was silent, as you had gotten rid of Slakov to the federal agents there for retrieval. There worst part of it all now was that you could feel all of your team mates’ eyes boring into you, and since you didn’t have time to change back to the clothes you arrived with, your were still wearing the lingerie with a short length silk gown which barely covered your behind because it was the only thing you could grab before storming out once you got all the info you needed. 

“If you guys don’t get your eyes off me I’m going to be in with a serious chance of crashing the quinjet.” You chuckled slightly, uneasy at just how much attention they were giving you despite the silence.

“How did you do that?” Tony asked from the seat directly behind you, next to Natasha. 

“Do what?” You questioned, looking back over your left shoulder to look at him. Bucky from beside you in the seat next to the pilot’s answered your question. 

“He’s talking about the fact, Y/N, that you look so innocent around us, wearing Steve’s and mine sweaters and having your hair up but just magically turned into a sex bomb out there, dressed in lingerie with your hair down.” 

You smirked whilst shrugging. “It’s just part of the package, Barnes.” 

“Mind showing me the whole package in my room tonight, doll?” Bucky whispered so only you could hear.

“God, your charm just doesn’t stop does it?; that was smooth, James.” A sultry tone slid off your tongue without you thinking about it. 

Bucky subtly crossed his legs at you tone. The men laughed at his predicament whilst you chuckled with Wanda and Natasha.

“Don’t you even for a second think I didn’t notice all of your guys’ boners.” All of the guys stopped immediately, too embarrassed to even move leaving the girls to be the only ones left laughing. “Or that I didn’t hear the conversation on the comms earlier.” 

You were the only one left grinning to yourself as the tower came within sight.

[a-panda-reads-act-omega]

ACT OMEGA PART 24

THE 04/02/17 UPDATE

Hey look at that, I’m bored and I can’t urge myself to close that act omega tab. You know what that means. I’m doing another part today, w o o o o o 

Alrighty, last time. Aranea showed up, and I reacted in a perfectly calm and orderly fashion. Let’s see where this goes!

Yup. Nobody’s happy. Put that grin away Aranea.

MEENAH: serket?? MEENAH: HOLD the GLUB up MEENAH: i thought you like MEENAH: got owned or w/e

She did indeed get owned or w/e. By you, in fact. You from another universe in which you became a giant hot troll wearing a goddamn skintight outfit.

Oh yeah, and she is currently destroying the hell out of the kiddo’s back at the lily pad.

ARANEA: ... Nice to see you too, Meenah.

Pssst.. it’s not nice to see you aranea...

ARANEA: Just as anxious to get to the point as ever. 8ut as per usual, I encourage you to exercise a 8it more p8tience. ARANEA: All your questions and concerns will be addressed eventually, I assure you. MEENAH: UUUGH MEENAH: i cannot B-ELI-EV-E this MEENAH: you go all crazy and try n pull off some ridiculous timeline divine intervention stunt MEENAH: prolly kelped actin like a hotshot all the way up to getting fuckin WAST-ED MEENAH: im out here thinkin i aint never gonna sea you again cause you got it in your head you had ta be the ultimate magnanimous blowhard just like your STUPID ALT S)(-ELLF MEENAH: AND T)(-EN MEENAH: you reappier outta NOW)(-ER-E MEENAH: lookin just as smug as you got no business bein MEENAH: and you tell me i gotta put up with whatever sanctimonious salmon youve prepared before i get any answers?!

LET ‘ER HAVE IT MEENAH. Can Aranea get the idea out of her head that SHE has got to be the one everybody looks up to? Because everytime she’s had an effect on this story, it’s made everything completely horrible. Honestly, she just tries too hard to be worthy of admiration. If she were like Vriska, she’d care more about doing what needs to be done instead of being admired by all. Merely because Vriska isn’t so dependent on the approval of others, and is happy with doing what needs to be done just so she can brag to herself and others. Alright, I kinda feel like getting deeper into this. How Vriska and Aranea differ and parallel eachother, because it’s a pretty thin line that doesn’t feel obvious. But here’s a very simple way of putting it:

Vriska wants to be the hero Aranea wants to be seen as the hero

Vriska wants to force dead weight to carry itself Aranea wants useful people to depend on her

I feel like that sums it up fairly well, really. Maybe I’ll start making sideposts of character analysis if I feel like getting deeper into these topics.

ARANEA: Sanctimonious what? MEENAH: OH MY COD I M-EANT S-ERMON

GET MAD MEENAH. IMPALE HER WITH YOUR POKEY FORK.

And here we find Porrim, in her natural state of “tired of everybodys shit”

PORRIM: Meenah. Yo+u might want to+ reel yo+urself in for a mo+ment.

S)(-ELL NO

MEENAH: >38( PORRIM: Maybe try to+ avo+id making the same mistakes as the yo+unger Serket.

DONT BRING VRISKA INTO THIS 

VRISKA: Excuse me???????? PORRIM: O+h, hush. Yo+u’ve spent far mo+re energy externalizing yo+ur frustratio+n than you+ have do+ing anything pro+ductive. PORRIM: We can o+nly take so+ much o+f this. We're here to+ try and do+ so+mething with o+ur afterlife o+ther than willfully subject o+urselves to+ its infinite echo+ chamber o+f teenage drama.

Porrim

porrim, baby

i love you, i do

but this is n o T JUST TEENAGE DRAMA? I mean, Aranea killed EVERYBODY.

PORRIM: I myself have had eno+ugh o+f that fo+r at least two+ lifetimes. PORRIM: So+ if either o+f yo+u are ultimately o+nly go+ing to co+ntribute to+ the endless caco+phany, rather than fo+cus o+n getting results, I suggest yo+u mo+ve it to+ so+me o+ther bubble. PORRIM: If no+t, then co+nsider jo+ining the rest o+f us in seeing what Aranea might have to+ o+ffer to+ o+ur cause. ARANEA: Why, thank you, Porrim. That was very eloquently put. I promise you won’t 8e disappointed. ::::)

Goddammit Porrim, you gave her a reason to be smug. Just because Porrim is tired of the arguing, doesn’t mean you’re somehow at all justified in anything you’ve ever done ever.

ok im salty

PORRIM: Hmmm. We’ll see. ARANEA: Really, I was well prepared for my reappearance to cause something of a stir. It’s completely understanda8le to want an explan8tion.

UUUUUGHHhfadjnkms SHuuut uppp

ARANEA: I’ve 8een lying low for quite a while now. Gathering inform8tion, drawing conclusions, revising and perfecting plans... All of which will certainly prove invalua8le for you all in your current predicament! ARANEA: It really is a shame you’ve landed yourselves in such a 8ind! It was ultim8ly inevita8le, 8ut unfortun8 all the same. ARANEA: Isn’t it lucky, then, that I’m here to put this tr8n 8ack on its tracks?

Im gonna die from salt poisoning help

PORRIM: SIGH...

SIGH...

PORRIM: If yo+u have any interest in keeping that pro+mise o+f yo+urs, I suggest yo+u skip the preamble.

Thank you Porrim. I’m trying to find somebody to latch onto here, but everybody is starting problem’s n s t uf f . 

Everybody looks so

VRISKA: Hold the fucking phone! Why should we listen to ANYTHING you have to say?

YOU sHOULDN’T

VRISKA: Your track record isn’t exactly stellar! And from what I’m seeing right now, you haven’t learned from your colossal fuckup one iota!

WOAH, VASKA... who the hell says iota????

VRISKA: I have a8solutely ZERO interest in letting the same washed up has-8een whose mess *I* had to clean up waltz up here and act like she’s my goddamn s8vior!!!!!!!

YEAH TELL HER VRISKA! EVEN THOUGH IM PREEETTY SURE YOU DID NOTHING AND TEREZI DID EVERYTHING...

And, oh god my memory of the timelines and stuff are getting me confused. I’m sure I’m probably wrong about this, but y’know what I’m gonna talk about it anyways. Would this Vriska really even know about Aranea? I mean, she didn’t die, so... maybe just in her dreams or something. or. gdi im confused.

ARANEA: Come now, Vriska. You of all people should know that there are 8etter times to choose for throwing hissyfits!

This isn’t a HISSYFITS. This is clear and rational thought. And I don’t get w hY NOBODY ELSE IS QUESTIONING THESE THINGS.

ARANEA: And 8esides, what a8out your little plan? We can all pl8nly see how well that turned out. You were smacked down just as unceremoniously as I was, so don’t act as if you’re suddenly the only person who can pull their own w8 around here.

Yeah, but you know what? Her plan didn’t revolve around dooming EVERYBODY. Her plan had essence of COMPETENCE.

ARANEA: You may 8e incredibly stu88orn, 8ut you can’t 8e so foolish as to dismiss common sense purely for the s8ke of your ego. I’m your 8est shot at m8king it out of this alive. While your army was 8eing eradic8ed, I was 8usy uncovering the truth. ARANEA: If you would just allow me to expl8n, perhaps you could finally reg8n your wits and 8e a8le to focus on what TRULY matters.

oh god i hate her h e l p.

pLEASE.. DOUBle DEATh HER.

VRISKA: I already HAVE my wits! And I was just a8out to use them to whip this 8unch of losers into sh8pe 8efore YOU and your 8loated delusions of grandeur showed up! ARANEA: Is that what you were a8out to do? I never would have guessed. Considering from my perspective, you were in the middle of some sort of mental 8reakdown 8rought on 8y 8eing utterly incapa8le of comprehending the magnitude of your own failure!

At least she DAMAGED HIM. SHE INFLICTED SOME FORM OF HARM TO THE UNKILLABLE GOD TRYING TO FUCK THEM OVER. You literally just got everybody killed with no positive result, you cannot claim that you are A N Y better than her.

ARANEA: If you had been p8ying attention, you might have t8ken note of when I mentioned that this outcome was inevita8le. There was hardly anything I could have done to prevent it. YOU, on the other hand... ARANEA: The mishap with your dice could easily have 8een avoided if you had simply realized how thoroughly outmatched you were. Did you actually try your little luck-stealing trick on LORD ENGLISH?

FIRST THE  F U C K OF ALL... If this outcome was inevitable, then that literally makes EVERYBODY IN PARADOX SPACE JUST AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DISASTER. NNGH YOU CANNOT PIN THIS ON VRISKA JUST TO MAKE YOURSELF LOOK BETTER

VRISKA: Yeah! I did!!!!!!!! That’s kind of what I DO? VRISKA: 8ut... it didn’t WORK. ARANEA: Tsk, tsk. Of course it didn’t. Lord English is hardly on the same level as the 8lack king, or the myriad low-level imps, hapless trolls, and pitiful ghosts from which you’d previously acquired your ill-gotten fortune. Your a8ilities aren’t even close to developed enough to stand a chance against such an opponent! ARANEA: 8ut say, I think that perhaps we can strike a deal. We all know that time has 8een kinder to me in that I’ve had enough of it to refine my powers considera8ly. 8etween the two of us, I am clearly the superior Hero of Light.

. . . . . . . . F U C K Y O U .

Can’t deal with this. Can’t TAKE this girl’s superiority complex.

God im turning into the human equivallent of a salt shaker.

VRISKA: Oh, yeah. Sure. 8ecause I’m totally interested in whatever 8ogus “deal” you have to offer. Especially when you phrase it like THAT! ARANEA: And yet you don’t deny truth of my words. A smart choice. VRISKA: Are you going to w8ste time gloating, or actually get to the point?! ARANEA: My point is that I would 8e more than happy to lend you my services. Allow you to maximize your potential in a more... expedient fashion, given the sizea8le constraints we are currently under. ARANEA: All you would have to do is ask nicely. May8e even apologize for raising your voice? A little more respect and deference would 8e appreci8ed as well. ARANEA: What do you say? A deal is a deal? ::::)

GOD. DAMN IT I CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS. I REALLY REALLY R E A L L Y HATE HER. NOBODY WANTS YOUR HELP. Oh god this is turning into the worst liveblog ever, B U T SERIOUSLY I HATE HER AND THAT IS LITERALLY ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

VRISKA: How a8out this: I DON’T NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!

YEs. PRECISELY 

OHFUCKHIKANKRI

KANKRI: *PHWEEEEEEEET!!!*

...

O k you know what. For once, I’m actually happy about Kankri existing. That fuckfest needed to end.

And jesus. I need to calm myself down.

Oh god poor Mituna is freaking out.

KANKRI: I think that is QUITE en9ugh 9f that f9r n9w. While I n9rmally endeav9r t9 enc9urage c9nstructive de6ate in the interest 9f inf9rming the ign9rant masses, this argument has 6ec9me far t99 pr96lematic f9r me t9 all9w it t9 c9ntinue!

Gdi I haven’t even read it yet, but it already hurts to look at.

Alright. So yeah, this is getting out of hand and he’s putting a stop to it with his space jesus powers.

KANKRI: There isn’t nearly en9ugh time f9r me t9 g9 9ver all 9f the deeply distur6ing c9mments disparaging n9t 9nly the magically disadvantaged, 6ut the mentally challenged, which I have just 69re witness t9. S9 I will settle with 6riefly chastising y9u 69th f9r y9ur cavalier disregard 9f y9ur inherent privilege, and enc9urage y9u to 6e m9re aware 9f h9w the nature 9f y9ur w9rds might affect the very imp9rtant feelings 9f pe9ple that aren’t here.

And people that ARE here. Like, you know. The mentally challenged Mituna right behind you. Though I’m pretty sure you’re speech his having a worse affect on him than they are. Also, how the hell did they even offend any mentally challenged people??

LATULA: ummmmmm, l1k3, not to b3 UN-r4d or wh4t3v3r, b3c4us3 th4t 1s TOT3S not my styl3, LATULA: but m1tun4 1s l1k3, R1GHT h3r3??

Thank you Latula, the poor guy is dying at all these words.

KANKRI: He is?

Oh my god Kankri, seriously? Were you too busy ogling at Latula to realize that their were handicapped people who needed defending in the area?

MITUNA: 1 H4T3 Y0UR FUCK1NG W157L3 KANKRI: 9h. Right, 9f c9urse. My mistake. Ap9l9gies, Mituna. I h9pe y9u d9n’t mind that I have taken it up9n myself t9 help speak 9n y9ur behalf, c9nsidering y9ur vari9us issues with speaking at all.

kANKRI. that is not how you speak to handicapped people. Is he just salty that he’s dating Latula? Yeah. he’s totally salty about latula.

MITUNA: UM KANKRI: Exactly. Y9u’ve 6een rendered n9n-ver6al 6y the sens9ry 9verl9ad caused 6y all this unnecessary sh9uting. Which makes the wh9le thing w9rse, really. Right, Mituna? MITUNA: WHY 4R3 7HR33 S0 M4NY W0RD5 MITUNA: 175 4LL MITUNA: 8UZZ1NG LATULA: dont worry 4bout 1t b4b3! 1ts 4lmost ov3r. MITUNA: 5H0U71NG 4ND MITUNA: 5TUP1D 8ULG3 WH1FF1NG WH157L35 MITUNA: FUCK

Latula is literally the best supportive girlfriend. Is she gonna cover his ears for him next?

KANKRI: Even m9re sincere ap9l9gies, Mituna. Even if the use 9f the whistle was vital in the c9nstructi9n 9f y9ur safe space, I understand that it did upset y9u and that y9ur feelings 9n the matter are valid. KANKRI: 6ut thankfully, and despite the unf9rtunate side effects, it did its j96 9f helping 6ring every9ne t9 their senses. KANKRI: Really, this wh9le thing c9uld have 6een av9ided if y9u 69th had just listened t9 P9rrim's advice. PORRIM: O+h. PORRIM: Kanny, did yo+u just... AGREE with me fo+r o+nce? KANKRI: ... KANKRI: I 6elieve I have asked y9u several times n9w n9t t9 call me that!

what has this devolved into? What is this BICKERING. Can anybody remain on the same page for more than two sentences? Honestly, I’m surprised Lord English hasn’t just killed them all yet.

AND HERE THESE TWO ARE, indifferent as always.

SOLLUX: (well.) SOLLUX: (this is pr0bably the worst clusterfuck i have ever had the f0rtune 0f n0t seeing.) SOLLUX: (are y0u sure we can’t just leave?) SOLLUX: (as if whichever smug fuck that ends up running the idi0t brigade is g0ing to s0lve 0ur impending d00m. it’s alm0st starting t0 feel like the wh0le pirate crew bullshit all 0ver again.) SOLLUX: (except s0meh0w even m0re 0f a catastr0phe.)

Sollux, there’s one thing you’re forgetting. The pirate ship was a disaster, yes. but now you have one KEY FACTOR that will lead you all to victory. The power of F R I E N D S H I P. Can’t you just feel all the good vibes radiating off of these assholes?

ARADIA: (we cant go yet sollux!) ARADIA: (i have no intention of leaving) ARADIA: (and while i understand why you may want to this time it really is somewhat imperative that you stay) ARADIA: (we all have a part to play in the preservation of reality) ARADIA: (a mission which is even more critical now than it has ever been!)

Alright, so this team’s objective “SAVE REALITY” Team lilypad’s objective “DONT.. DIE” Team Lowas’s objective “THERAPIZE ERISOL”

SIMPLE ENOUGH.

oh god i just remembered Calliope already died and that’s s A  D ...

SOLLUX: (ugh. really?) ARADIA: (yes!) SOLLUX: (s0 i’m like. imp0rtant s0meh0w?) ARADIA: (does it help you feel better to think about it like that?) SOLLUX: (... kind 0f? bizarrely en0ugh.) SOLLUX: (where did that c0me fr0m all 0f a sudden?) ARADIA: (i couldnt possibly tell you) ARADIA: (but what i can tell you is that i think this brief setback will be over soon) SOLLUX: (fine, if y0u say s0.)

All setbacks can be overcome with enough  TIME. HAHA.... TIME JOKE. The hell am i doing with my life.

Oh shit is Davepeta here to drop some calm bombs on the group?

DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < man this is just getting sad DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < but guess i oughta toss my two cents into this clusterfuck DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < beclaws honestly i KIND of agr33 with vwiskers a little? DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < my subconscious is clawing at me that we totally cant trust aranea at all ever

THANK, you. 

DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < cause shes seriously bad news DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < i dont have any real concrete memories or anything to support it but DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < i dunno! thats just how i f33l DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < meow on the other paw DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < we kind of are in some purrty hot water DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < and i ALSO have the conflicting f33ling that whatever info she has fur us will be impurrtant DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < so if anything we should just hear her out DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 < so long as you dont try to pull anything fishy!!

SIGH... I G U E S S. It still feels horrible to even let her get a word in, just because she’s literally gonna act like every useful information she gives is worth everything, and they have no right to blame her for anything.

ARANEA: Er... ARANEA: Thank you for the endorsement. And the warning, I suppose. ARANEA: If there won’t 8e any further interruptions? MEENAH: yeah sure fine whatever MEENAH: but u beta believe im gonna be gilling you later ARANEA: I look forward to it.

I’m gonna hope that was a fish pun, and what she meant was ‘killing’

TAVROS: i THINK VRISKA LOOKS LIKE, sHE IS READY TO STOP SHOUTING, TAVROS: sO WE CAN BEGIN LISTENING, TAVROS: wHICH IS GOOD, bECAUSE I AM VERY CURIOUS, TAVROS: eSPECIALLY SINCE, i SORT OF, aLWAYS LIKED YOUR STORIES, aRANEA, TAVROS: wHEN THEY DIDN’T RUN TOO LONG, aNYWAY,,,

N O B O D Y A S K E D Y O U  T A V R O S

putthatfuckingsmileaway

ARANEA: Don’t worry, Tavros. I will try and keep this as 8rief as possible. ARANEA: While also ensuring all vital inform8tion and context is provided, of course. ARANEA: Now, allow me to 8egin...

...gjdkgfignjfij

conflicting feelings about everything here. Alright. WELL, that is the end of this update. you can listen to my whine a bunch on the next part. SO. yeah.

[ask-de-writer]

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT : World of Sea : Part 21

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

140406 words

copyright 2018

written 2007

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express consent of the author.

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Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information remains intact.  They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions. All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.

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New to the story?  Read from the beginning.  PART 1 is here

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Chapter 5a: Tanlin and Story time

Amid the bustle of crowds, racing children dashed about.  They now had a glorious place to run on the biggest decks in the fleet.  Sea birds of many sorts swooped about and squabbled for the best perches on ridge poles and comically tried to maintain their balance on guy lines.  

Tanlin was shopping fabrics from the Gula’s booth.  Khilda, the proprietress, was confused.  This lady of exotic looks and good taste had just publicly married Barad?  The proof seemed to be in the two deck-hands who were hovering over her like paddle ducks over their chicks.

She knew the sailors and disliked them.  They had a bad reputation among a bad lot.  Being better dressed surely hadn’t made them any better.  Scupper sweepings picked up by the Grandalor when nobody else would.  Now, they were being as solicitous and polite as could be asked for.  The air of absolute assurance radiating from the woman they were attending was the only reason that Khilda let them into the booth.  For a wonder, they were keeping their hands off the merchandise.

“T’ese satins o’ yers are luvely.  Oi like t’e red-black color play.” She pulled her brown pony-tail over her shoulder and examined it and the cloth together critically.  “Dunnae really go wit’ m’ ‘air t’ough, t’e colors are t’ strong.”

She let the fabric of the bolt-end fall and looked at others.  Khilda did not want to loose this sale.  Word had run through the booths that Tanlin’s scrip was being spent plentifully.  Still, it was the Grandalor’s credit — — and that was always questionable.

“True, but we also have these greens.  They’ll work well.  What are you looking for, something to please your husband?”

Tanlin looked up in surprise.  “Wye wad Oi want t’ do t’at?  Oi gladden ‘im already an’ ‘e m’.  Tis t’ be an outfit for us bot’.”  Her eye found a bolt over in the corner of the booth.

“T’ere! ‘Ond, wad ye bring m’ t’at ane, please?”  One of her men went carefully through the booth to get the bolt in question.

Khilda’s heart sank as she saw which one had been chosen.  The fabric of the bolt was botched.  The loom tension had been uneven, giving the fabric a bad curl.

“T’e color’s perfect!  T’e brown wit’ red ‘ighlights will do for us bot’!”  Tanlin caught sight of Barad through the crowd. People were making way for him without thought, responding to his manner of dress and air of calm authority.

“Barad! Luve!  Come see w’at Oi’ve got!”

People did respond to her call.  “Barad?  Where?” they looked around and realized that the finely dressed gentleman was, in fact, the infamous and usually slovenly captain of the Grandalor.

“What have you found, Tanlin?”  He put an arm about her waist and she leaned affectionately into him.

“Look at t’is fabric, Luve.  T’e Gula’s bright reds an’ greens are too strong for us.  We do better in t’e dark colors.  Amber-browns t’ blacks — — just look at t’e red ‘ighlights t’at move over t’is brown sheen.  Tis perfect for us.”

Barad eyed the fabric dubiously.  “It’s flawed, Dear, don’t you see the curl to it?”

“O’ corse Oi do.  Besides t’e color, t’at’s wye Oi wont ‘t.” She sighed, “Someane bock ‘ome in t’e Arrakan fleet taught m’ t’ work wit’ ‘t.  Tis nae flat an’ neit’er are we.”

Her shoulders began to shake and she bit the back of her hand to keep from sobbing.  Her eyes filled with tears that leaked a little from the corners.  Her voice quavered slightly as she added, “Oi wish Oi could remember ‘oo ‘t wa’ taught m’.  Even ane familiar face wad be such a treasure.”

Barad gently wrapped his massive arms about her while Khilda looked on gape mouthed.

“Peace, darling Love.  Your memories will return in their own good time. Dark Iren must have had his own sound reason to send you back to us but keep your people from you.  You are safe with me.”

This caring man was not the Barad that the Naral fleet knew.

Biting back tears, Tanlin shook with the effort to regain her composure.  It is so easy to put myself in her place because I must deny all of those that I know, on or off the ship.  These feelings are real. Kurti must die if I am to live.  “Oi do know t’at, m’ Luve. ‘T’s just so hard t’ know all o’ t’ese t’ings an’ ‘ave nae trace o’ t’ose folk ‘oo filled t’em wit’ meanin’.”  Regaining her composure, she went back to the task at hand and finished choosing fabrics and trims.  Barad stood by patiently and watched.

Turning to Khilda, he said, “I believe her.  She always knows what to do and how to do it.  We saved her from drowning when her ship went onto a rock during a Dragon Tide.  She’d been hit and swept overboard by a falling yardarm.  When she woke from her coma a few Wohans later, she could remember everything except the people of her past.  She has just passed the Ship Master’s examinations, confirming her as a Naral fleet First Officer, in line for a captaincy if one comes open.”

“So much done by someone so young?” asked Khilda curiously.

“Most of her life has been spent learning what she knows.  They educate in a different way in the Arrakan fleet.”

“I see.  On a different topic, how is she going to pay for all of these things?”

“A note drawn on surveyed and secured cargo.”  Seeing Khilda’s skeptically raised eyebrow, Barad went smoothly on, “I know what is thought of the Grandalor’s credit, so I had Alor of the Longin do the survey and provide for the cargo’s security.  It is no longer on the Grandalor.  Send to Alor for collection of the note.”

Khilda discretely withdrew and sent a runner to the Longin booths.  The runner returned and whispered into her ear.  Both of her eyebrows shot up in surprise and she sent the runner to all of the nearby booths to let them know that Tanlin’s credit was not merely good, it was very good.

A rapid patter of drum-talk on a small tocsin drum cut across the air of the Gathering, sending flocks of sea-birds into the air and causing children to look about for playmates and yell STORY TIME! They scampered off in the direction of Kurin’s toy booth.  Tanlin dropped everything else that she had been doing, settled her charges and darted after the children, leaving both of the deck-hands to follow in her wake.

When they finally caught up with her, she was sitting at the edge of a pool of children who were giving Kurin their utmost attention.  Kurin was sitting on the sales board of her booth, where all the watchers could see.  She had let down a dark curtain behind her making a sort of stage out of her booth.

Kurin stood up on her sales board, her head still lower than her awning, and  held up a hand for silence — and got it.  She began by asking a question.  “In all of the World of Sea, there are only three creatures that men do not hunt.  Why don’t we hunt the Ord fish?”

Children eagerly held up hands, wanting to show off for their friends.  Kurin pointed to the smallest child.

“‘Cause it’s about the most poison thing in the ocean!” he exclaimed proudly.

“Right, the Ord is the deadliest thing in the sea, so far as poison is concerned.  Here, have a model of one to learn what it looks like.” Kurin felt about on an invisible shelf, muttering, “I know it’s here somewhere.  Ah, here it is!”   She appeared to pull the toy fish out of thin air, to the delight of her audience, and tossed it to the child.

“Why don’t we hunt the Great Dragons?” she asked, head tilted questioningly.

Eager hands went up all over the group as children vied for attention. Kurin chose an older child to answer this one.

“‘Cause Sea is their world and if we tried to hunt them, they could destroy us!”  He looked sternly about, arms crossed over his chest.

“Right!” she exclaimed.  “They helped the First Ships and then helped us to make the First True Ships.  But they were here first and they are more powerful than we are.  Wiser, too.”  She produced a rolled parchment, seeming to lift it out of a hand that was empty and far too small to hold it.  She unrolled it so that all could see the colored drawing, then gave it to the pleased young man.  “This is a picture of Dark Iren and Blind Mecat at the Wedding Raft.”

She paused with dramatic flair, “Who knows what else it is that we never hunt?”  Her eyes scanned the crowd.  A small child had his hand up.  On impulse, she picked him.

“We don’t hunt paddle ducks,” he said confidently, “because we raise them and they are so funny.”

“A good guess,” she answered.  “We first got paddle ducks by hunting them, though.  Here, have one.”  Her hands appeared empty as she made a tossing motion toward him.  A soft cuddle toy of a paddle duck, made of canvas scraps and fluff landed in his surprised hands. “The other creature that we never hunt is the Orca Whale.  Would you like to hear the story of why we never hunt them?  Mecat herself told it to me.”

TO BE CONTINUED

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