#not everybody wants to play mind games and politics

[fiber-optic-alligator]

(Not a request dw) (So, about the two KO fics I was talking about earlier. I think I'm just gonna do the post-time skip one. The other one where Knock Out's human gets moved outta town, and has a few close calls isn't itching my brain good enough right now. I might have to let that one cook for a bit. lol.)

Re: Bumblebee rescuing Knock Out's human after they escape his game at the trainyard.

Once every other week, Bumblebee picks up his Little Pal for their typical hang out session at the Autobot Base. As they are wont to do, they spend the trip there excitedly chatting about what they're planning on doing together once they arrive. "What to do, what to do… … -Maybe a dance party?

"Hhhmmmm… No, that'd get too loud. Ratchet hates when we play music too loud. Or dance. Peepaw Ratch needs it relatively quiet in order to do his work. Haha. He could always use a break!"

"It doesn't have to -bee -loud music. We could -just have - regular music playing while we -hang out." Bee pleads through his spirit box speech, and his Little Pal finds that his bright blue, puppy dog eyes are hard to resist.

"Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh… True. But we'd probably do that anyways. Haha. Maybe we could play video games? There's this one I found that I think you'll like. It's a racing game with weird tracks, gliding sections, customizable cars, and some killer music!" Bee lets out a string of excitable chirps before he tunes back into his alt form's radio.

"-Crowd cheering sfx- -Sounds great! When do we start?"

"Oh, just after we get to the base, and say hi to everybody. It's been, what, like, a month since last time? It's only polite, after-!!" They freeze mid-sentence like a deer in headlights at the sight of a familiar crimson mech. Of course he was real, they knew he was real. They'd only gotten repeated confirmation from everyone else they'd met that night. And every day since then, when they'd asked.

But. To see him again. To know for a fact that this particular mechanical alien that haunts their bizarre, blurry nightmares actually exists. That Knock Out actually exists, and is here. He's. He's here, and is planning on finally getting his talons on them once and for all! And-

They shake their head hard to dislodge their panic, and shuffle a little lower in Bumblebee's servos to hide themselves from Knock Out's line of sight. Bumblebee looks down at the human shaking like a twig in his servos, and tilts his helm. What's with the shaking? Why'd they pull his digits up, and around themselves like that? Who could they possibly be afraid of here? …-Wait a minute. Of course.

Bumblebee would recognize the tell-tale click of those pedes anywhere.

"Well well well~! There's no need to stop the party on my account. Do you mind if I get a closer look at this new visitor of ours, Bumblebee?" Knock Out purrs as he draws closer, evidently more interested in the human huddling in the scout's servos than maintaining optic-contact with him.

"No can do, man! -They're -Off the menu! -There's no need -to play coy about your -obsession with them -anyways." Bumblebee growls, annoyed that the supposedly reformed Decepticon would even try to get at the poor human again. Especially right after he'd Just helped them get confident enough around Cybertronians to have a good time hanging out around the base!

This doesn't happen with any other human who happens by the base, by the way. Knock Out is loathe to even think about touching humans, typically. Something about "having taste", and a "refined palette" apparently. Whatever that means. But with BB's Little Pal? He's practically obsessed!

Now, he's fixated on them for a while, sure. But being this obvious about his desire to get his servos on them after he's joined the Autobots is new. New, and concerning.

"Oh fine. If you don't want to run the risk of your -eugh- "Little Pal" getting stolen away by the Big Bad Ex-Con, then why don't we all just sit down somewhere and have a nice, long chat, hhmmm? It'd be nice to catch up with each other after So long, wouldn't it?" Knock Out aims the latter question towards the human in Bumblebee's servos attempting to get a rise out of them, if nothing else.

The human clears their throat, and sits up a little to speak. They don't like the way he's talking to/about them, and they've decided that he's going to hear about it. "You know? I'm not feeling particularly chatty today, but maybe we can have this conversation some other day… … … Ah, what was your name again?"

Knock Out lights up at the sound of their voice, despite being a little put out by their refusal to remember his name. It's only been a few months since they'd been swept up in all of this, and they're already So comfortable talking to him like this. How… Cute.

Though, he really only has to take a step closer to shut his Little Runaway up. A quiet growl arises in his chassis, and he laughs- he Has to. The audacity of this human. If only he'd captured them back at the trainyard, they would have Long since lost the ability to sass him like this. How lucky this Squishy little Mouse must consider themselves- Ahem.

"Oh? Have you truly forgotten about me already? And here I thought our fateful encounter that night would've seared itself into your processor for good, lest you find yourself wandering alone at night the way you had been when I found you." At his human's lack of a pronounced fear reaction, he decides to press on with his little speech. He really shouldn't have to reintroduce himself, the human memory isn't that fallible, is it? He may have to remedy that, personally, if it is.

"I mean, we could have gotten to know each other better back then if only you'd stuck around to socialize. Ah, but I suppose you were a little too focused on winning to think about that now weren't you?" Knock Out's attempt to remain casual about how he lost a game he'd rigged so thoroughly in his favor, fails, and bitterness colors his tone.

Nonetheless, he takes another step closer, and reaches out a servo to lean on a nearby wall. Attempting to get a better view of the little one that got away. Bumblebee, in return, readjusts his grip on his Little Pal to block Knock Out's view even further, and quickly strides around the mad doctor before the human could reply to Knock Out's irritable rant.

Primus, how he loathes the effect Knock Out has on them. The way they're shaking right now, breathing unsteadily, and trying to bury themselves deeper into his servos than they could feasibly go. It sucks! They shouldn't have to put up with him! They've already won his game. They've already gotten away! What does he have to gain by terrifying them like this?!

-Whatever. It doesn't matter. He's going to put as much distance between Knock Out, and his Little Pal as possible. No matter what. "Nope. No way. Not gonna happen. -Optimis- won't be happy to hear about this." He keeps his pace steady to avoid shaking his Little Pal around as he goes, but that only allows the crimson mech to catch up sooner. KO's less than casual stride lets him overtake the scout, and pivot around to face him.

"And he doesn't need to. It isn't like I could do anything to them what with everyone keeping such a close optic on me, anyways." If Bumblebee could look less amused about the current situation, he would.

"You aren't helping your case here, -Knockout! -And besides, if they wanted to talk to you -to see you, -they would've approached you first. -The way they approach me. -There'd be no need for you to try, and corner them like this -at all." Bumblebee flexes what he's come to learn about his Little Pal over time, hoping to get under KO's armor. Weaponizing their well-earned faith in him to prove how easy it is to befriend humans if you don't terrorize them.

No amount of false platitudes from an ex-con is gonna charm him into putting his Little Pal into harm's way. Especially with how often Knock Out looks like a ravenous, starved even, Predacon whenever he catches sight of them. Let alone how he acts after catching a whiff of their fear, eugh. Some things never change, huh? Not even after KO became an Autob-"

Bumblebee feels the human shift in his servos, and only has time enough to look down at them before they pipe up with their trademark sass. "Hey you! Knock Out! Why do you still follow me around anyways, huh? You lost then, you keep losing now, and for what? A snack? Why don't you get a life, and go polish your paint job, or something. It's starting to get sad."

The pair of Cybertronians balk at the human's acerbic comment before Knock Out growls loudly, and makes a grab for them. How dare they speak to him like that! Especially when he could just-... Hold on. Knock Out retracts his reaching servo just in time for heavy footsteps, and rumbling laughter to echo from up the hall. It seems they aren't alone any more.

"Hah! Ohhhh you may need to stop by the Med Bay after this, Doc Knock. Pally got you pretty bad with that one!" Bulkhead pulls up next to the bickering mechs, and pats KO on the shoulder as if to comfort him about getting roasted.

"Yes! Well, to answer your question, Fleshy. I am nothing if not consistent regarding how I choose to spend my time. Now if you'll excuse me." Knock Out brushes Bulkhead's servo off of his shoulder, dusts himself off, and stalks off to the Med Bay. Likely to buff out the cracks the human made in his ego... And the ones Bulkhead made in his shoulder.

He doesn't get to far down the hallway before the human responds with one last grumpily, half-muttered insult. "Yeah... You're consistent alright. A consistent pain in my ass."

Knock Out had turned back to watch them as they spoke, and Oh how he wished he could wipe that look off of their face! They don't even look pleased with themselves about that insult either! It seems comments like those come naturally to them now. Ugh. He stomps off to the Med Bay for real this time, chased away by the sound of the Autobot duo's laughter, and begins to see to his paint job once more. Ignoring Ratchet's judgemental, but silent sidelong glance at him.

That human. His human. Has grown So comfortable around Cybertronians that they feel as though they can talk back to him whenever they damn well please. Why, he'd almost be impressed by their boldness, if it wasn't directed at him. Though he is aware that most of their bravado comes from the support they'd received from their new found allies. Maybe he should've taken that game of his seriously, after all.

-Not a Request Anon

Holy shit dude, this is awesome! It’s like a story within itself! You should totally write a full length fic about this if you’d like to!! You’ve written out the relationship between Knockout and the reader so well with the former’s “redemption” into the Autobot ranks! God, I love the way Bumblebee protects the reader and constantly defends them. It’s like he knows the trust this little human has in Cybertronians, no matter how established, is still very fragile, and there’s no way he’s going to let Knockout ruin the friendship he’s forged with his Little Pal! And AUGH, Knockout still referring to the human as his, even after all that’s happened, it’s so him!!!

[katsigian]

This is a very small, little note; nobody needs to like anyone. Everyone is free to dislike someone if they wish. But for the love of Christ, if you decide to dislike someone (especially for a subjective opinion), leave them the fuck alone. Go ahead, dislike whoever you want, but don't get all passive aggressive and try to harass or bully them. Just leave them be, it's not that hard to walk the other direction than them.

Learn to move on and be an adult about things that annoy you instead of building your entire personality around disliking people.

[chuthulhu-plays]

I generally watch LPs of horror games bc I'm too anxious to actually play them but a lot of them have FANTASTIC stories, so sometimes I just binge-watch KrinxTV for background noise. Been watching a lot of playthroughs of Still Wakes The Deep because it's such a delight to hear Scottish voice actors get work and I thought I'd address some questions I keep seeing Let's Players ask:

--Adair is a member of the National Front as you can find out from posters in his cabin, a Neo-Fascist British political party that’s been going since the sixties. While it often preaches British ethnic unity, in practice that often means “everybody in the UK should be exactly like East End Londerners” and features plentiful disdain for Scottish, Irish, and Welsh folk, alongside those perceived as “not British”. No wonder the wanker eats alone in the canteen.

--Neeps and Tatties=turnips and potatoes, mashed, drenched in butter or sauce. Fills your belly, keeps you warm, probably makes you sink like a stone because it’s so heavy.

--Cranachan=a dessert made of raspberries, honey, cream and oats, absolutely delicious

--Rennick calls Caz a “wee ned prick”. Ned is apocryphally said to stand for “non-educated delinquent” and is basically just a way of calling someone an uneducated, lower-class criminal

--A lot of things said by and about Roy indicate that he’s a teetotaller who went through AA and specifically became Catholic and is making an effort at converting Caz.

--I think it’s entertaining how Scottish nicknames often follow a pattern of shortening/rejiggering that I also see a lot with Australian nicknames—Cameron becomes Caz, Rafferty becomes Raffs, etc. Trots is an unusual one but is almost certainly a reference to him being a communist, presumably a Trotskyist. Gibbo is also an unusual one in that it’s just very silly. There’s a kind of indignity implied in being killed by a guy called Gibbo.

--A few times on the radio you hear the Shipping Forecast, a type of weather report aimed at specifically reporting weather conditions out on the ocean, and is also famous for the report being read in such a calm, soothing tone that some folk use it as a sleep aid.

--All the yellow paint for interactable things is very video gamey, yes, but is also in line with old British health and safety standards, and yellow paint on things like emergency ladders or on the edges of stairs that are trip hazards is a thing ou can still see in some older buildings.

--Caz keeps saying he’s “good with the leccy”; leccy=electricity. Caz is implied to be quite a wee guy who can get through a lot of tight spaces, and my uncle swears blind that electricians used to refuse to take on apprentices over a certain size because they only wanted to train wee guys who could get up into the tight spaces that a lot of older buildings are full of. On that note, “wee man” is a term of endearment, generally, and isn’t exclusively applied to short guys.

--Finlay saying of Gibbo that “he’s no right” is INCREDIBLY OMINOUS. It sounds mild but “he’s no right, that boy” is what older folk say about a child who’s been found disembowelling cats for fun or someone they strongly suspect is a pedophile. It’s not something you’d say about a friend who’s just acting a bit unusually.

– “Great minds united over a Buckie”--Buckfast, or Buckie, is a caffienated tonic wine that’s cheap, widely accessible, and is a bit like rocket fuel for bad decisions.

– “Ya roaster” tbh I don’t really know where it comes from, calling someone a roaster, but I’ve always felt like it has a vibe of telling them they’re huffing their own farts.

--Scunnert/scunnered--buggered, screwed, utterly fucked, etc

– “You’re the jammiest bastart on this rig” Someone who is jammy is someone who has incredible luck that is implied to be related to their sheer confidence or willingness to engage in risky behaviour. Walking along the street and finding a pound coin isn’t jammy; crossing the road confident that the cars won’t hit you and stopping in the middle to pick up a pound coin before making it unscathed to the other side is jammy as all hell.

--Barlinnie is the biggest prison in Scotland, and largely hosts violent offenders—it’s where Caz would definitely go for hospitalizing a man.

--Weans are children (contraction of wee yins/wee ones). I thought this one was contextually obvious but apparently not.

SPOILERS BELOW

--”One spark and the whole thing’ll go up”—this is referring to the wee spark of flame in the lighter used to blow up the rig, but is also kind of a pun because electricians are often called sparks or sparkies, and in the end it’s Caz who blows up the rig.

[fromorigintofinality]

i dont post on here a ton but i gotta say the growing attitude on tumblr that voting in the US is somehow useless is really concerning.

just recently i saw this post that was basically making fun of people saying that voting was the way to change the system, and that's just.. wrong? like seriously, how do you think roe v. wade got overturned? its because despite everything, republicans are smart voters and know how to play the long game.

but leftists as of late have lost that quality i feel. instead of advocating for people to vote, they advocate for some "revolution" they think will solve everything. among the people in the post mentioned earlier being glorified as revolutionaries were mao zedong and stalin, and when asked why the poster was glorifying these horrific figures, they said, "yes. Mao freed my family and stalin defeated the fascists. Get with the program sugar"

do you notice anything about that? do you notice how it sounds like the way a child describes the world? "stalin defeated the fascists" like he's some hero who defeated the evil horde of thieves? the way things like the red guard, struggle sessions, all of that, are completely ignored on the side of Mao? how this person, despite having a trans flag in their pfp, is ignoring how the utterly homophobic state of the Chinese government at present is the fault of Mao? how they ignore horrific things such as the Gulag on side of Stalin? this person cannot think, and the only way they believe that the world can move forward is a revolution, and revolution's don't work when the people advocating for them do nothing.

maybe one could argue that this was just a one off type of thing, and that all of the thousands of people liking and reblogging this post are just weirdos. but whether or not thats true, this growing sentiment of praying to a revolution that will never come is indeed growing. and its not just like these people stay in their lane, they actively encourage and probably will cause people to not vote.

so i want to remind everybody. elections are not a moral choice. joe biden is complicit and actively funding a genocide, but not voting for him, third party or not (if you still think third parties are viable please look into the history behind them), will make it more likely that trump will win, and that things in palestine and other things that joe biden has failed in will get 1000x worse. candidates in elections are a bus stop to the real goal, and treating them as such is smart voting, republicans proved this with the overturning of roe v. wade.

please do not be selfish. this last bit may seem out of nowhere, but i need to say this. this type of thinking is selfish. it is selfish and almost impossible to detect as such for the people who believe in it. if you are the type of person who believes in this style of thinking, you have created a completely arbitrary moral code, and care more about your conscience than real political change. you believe yourself to have completely good morals that are universally good, and for the consequences of following these morals, you don't consider the real change that will occur, just your conscience and peace of mind. as for what happens because of that moral code, you will always find a way around looking inwards to how you contributed.

this election season may be the most important yet, please learn to take the practical route instead of the "pure" route.

[weewookinard]

Dear love of my life (a BuckTommy fanfic)

Hello everybody

With all that is happening I feel like we deserve fluff and cute things and happiness and so I decided to write..... letters!

Tommy had always loved to write letters, love letters to be exact. Of course he never sent any of them. But it is always great to write them anyway. Especially when they are about Evan Buckley.

You can find Dear Love of my Life on AO3.

Or, you can read the first letter right here!

-----

My dear Evan,

I am glad that you won’t ever be able to read this letter. You would think it’s a weird thing to do and you would be right. You don’t even know me, not really. Who write letters for people they just met? Who even write letters in 2024?

But you see Evan, my mom always told me that words were powerful. She sent me so many letters over the years and they helped me go through everything. Words keep helping me now that she’s gone. I had never written to anyone but her before today and yet, this feels so natural. Like my pen was meant to bleed for you. Like I was meant to be charmed by you.

It’s stupid that I can’t stop thinking about your smile, that I replay the memory of you asking a thousand questions about shoppers and Harbor and me. Not many people ask about me. It’s also stupid that I can’t stop feeling guilty of leaving you after the tour. Embarrassment is a feeling I worked hard to get rid of and yet it’s coming back again. That, and regrets. I would have loved going out for a beer with you, I hope you know that.

The flight was great, and I had a good time with Eddie. He’s a cool guy, I understand why you all feels like a family. I’m a little bit jealous that he’s able to see your smile practically every day and I can’t. It is a great smile you have, and I might dream about it for a long time.

I spent the match thinking about you, wondering what you were up to. Did you go to the bar by yourself? Did you bring someone else? Should I feel jealous? Probably not, a part of me knows that you were just being polite.

Another part of me can’t stop thinking about you. About all the questions I have for you and all the things I want to teach you. It’s a dangerous game that is playing my mind but tonight I don’t care. Nobody but this paper will witness the longing that I can taste in my mouth. It’s like strawberry and happiness. My only wish is to be able to see your face again. Maybe I should text you.

I look at my hand and I laugh at myself. The perfect romantic cliché, don’t you think? You make me feel like I’m seventeen again. It is a great gift, thank you for it.

With all the feelings that I can’t name yet,

Tommy.

[marvelettesassemblenow]

The Swan Princess

Pairing: Bucky x female reader    

Summary: Fairytale AU based on the movie The Swan Princess – Bucky and you hate each other! Your kingdoms hope for a marriage between the two of you, but each summer you have to spend with in each others presence makes it worse – until his friends start to befriend you and he realizes you have more in common than he thought. But when he was ready to finally accept his feelings a curse hit you. 

Warnings: Reader is called Sunshine, maybe some stuff that isn’t accurate because I couldn’t decide on a time this would take place and switching POV’s 

Word Count:  ~7k

A/N: This is for Nika! I started it so long ago as I rewatched the movie I liked so much as a kid and I still loved the part when they were kids! Sadly my favorite part didn’t fit in, as Bucky wouldn’t offend you in 5 syllables or less. @intrepidacious

Once upon a time there were two kingdoms divided by a sea.  It wasn’t so long ago to be honest, but that’s just how fairytales start and this is the one of the swan princess. We’ll get to the part with the swan soon, but first we must start when she was just a little girl. 

Her parents had both passed and the kingdom was without a ruler until the princess was of age. Until then a council was ruling the kingdom on the island. The council often argued but there was one part everybody agreed on: They needed to bond with the kingdom of Shield. An arranged marriage would solve all their problems as Shield had an heir only one year older than the princess. The only problem was that the late king and queen had made sure that their daughter should only marry if she wished so and should have never had the pressure of an arranged marriage. And so the council came up with a plan that they proposed to Queen Winnifred of Shield, who immediately agreed. Both kingdoms would benefit from a joining and the plan was made that the princess and prince would spend each of their summers together to hopefully fall in love. 

They didn’t get discouraged when the princess and prince hated each other at age seven and eight. They were young kids and both thought the other gender was gross. Prince James even wiped his mouth after he was forced to kiss the young princess hand. „James, behave!“ the queen called him out. 

„But mom, girls are just gross,“ James said in a whiny voice and looked up to his mom. 

„You don’t think so about Natasha, right?“ His mom tried to point out, but his mind was made up. He wanted his summer spent with his two best friends Steven and Natascha – not being forced to entertain a stuck-up princess who had been apologizing repeatedly that there had been mud on her dress when she stepped outside the carriage. Natasha was covered in mud and didn’t complain! 

His only logical response was to tell his mother that Natasha didn’t count. She sighed, but didn’t force him anymore. They still had time and they were still kids. 

It didn’t get better the following summers. James, Steven and Natasha had been friends for years and spent all year together. You on the other hand didn’t have any friends. The council, maids and teachers raised you, so your childhood wasn’t really one for fun. You learned how to stitch and to sit properly at a table, so you were always lost when the three kids started games that you didn’t know and soon you rather sat with the maids and helped them stitching some flowers onto a tablecloth. 

It all came to a turning point when Samuel came along. He was the son of a new teacher and only a year younger than you – and he was your first friend. He played hide and seek with you and taught you that it was okay when the seam of your dress was dusty and that you could clean it. And soon your laughter was heard in the castle and you were smiling as you were finally having fun. Which gave you the nickname Sunshine from the guards and maids in the castle as you were still always politely greeting them and asking how they were, while sneaking them little treats – but now you were mostly smiling and happy while doing so. 

“Sunshine,“ James, who went by Bucky now, scoffed. “What kind of stupid nickname is this?“ He kicked a stone that was lying in front of him on the path and then even his supposed to be best friend had gone behind his back. “Hi Sunshine,“ he waved in the air with a stupid grin towards a tree and made gagging noises afterwards. No one was here to see him, but he had to get it off his chest. It was supposed to be Steve and him against you. Not you bringing a friend along who glared at him the whole time and Steve greeting you with a horrible nickname that wasn’t even fitting. And now he was stomping alone to his tree house while his traitor friend was making new friends and forgot all about the pact they both had made years ago to never befriend you. He hoped at least Natasha was still on his side. 

It turned out that Natasha wasn’t on his side as both her and Steve reminded him, they weren’t ten anymore and that you could all spend your time together. But Bucky watched how you joked around with the guards and the smile you got back made him roll his eyes. Why were you charming everyone? He had heard about the whispers how they hoped that there would be a marriage. But he was only 14, he shouldn’t even be thinking about stuff like that. And with you? No way! 

You on the other hand didn’t think your summers sucked anymore. Sam trained to be a guard and was accompanying you to your visits still and Steve and Natasha were nice and started to include you – even if it sometimes meant to exclude Bucky. Stupid nickname, you thought. And he was always especially mean when you played cards and he lost. But it wasn’t your fault when luck was on your side and that he had a tell when his cards weren’t as good as he pretended them to be. 

“We could go to the market tomorrow on your last day here,” Steve suggested when he shuffled the cards. Bucky wasn’t amused but in the end he agreed to go to – at least he could get one of the best peach pastries, that would make up for the day. And at least you were gone soon and he would have his friends to himself again. 

A carriage was taking the five of you to the market the next morning with four guards trailing along. They weren’t too keen to accompany the teens on an outing, but then you came and handed each of them a flower and thanking them for trailing along. One of them even put the stupid wildflower through his chain armor – which caused you to smile so brightly that Bucky finally understood why you got that nickname. 

People swarmed the young prince when they saw him and you snuck away with a guard and Sam by your side. A lovely smell pulled you towards a bakery. “Good morning,” you greeted the baker when you stepped inside the small building. 

There was only grunting as a response until the tall man turned around and spotted you. “Oh, excuse me. Good morning, princess. What can I get you?” 

“What can you recommend?” you ask and looked around. In response the baker held a finger up in the air, turned around and came back with a steaming plate in his hands. 

“These are the favorites of the prince. He loves them and gets them every time he comes by. I hope you’ll like them just as much. Maybe I can even provide them for your wedding, it would be such an honor.” 

That made your eyes grew wide. “What wedding?” you asked stunned, but Sam had already placed some coins on the counter and grabbed the plate. 

“Thank you for that, I’m sure we’ll enjoy them,” he said and pushed you towards the door while the guard just shook his head towards the baker. 

“What wedding, Sam?” you asked him in a quiet voice when you stepped outside and he was already tasting a small pie. 

“Oh yeah, well... they all hope that you and Bucky will marry,” he picked a crumb from the corner of his mouth with his tongue. “As if you couldn’t get someone better and not as brooding. What about Steve? I could see that, I think?” He was quiet after that and you pushed the half-eaten pie in his face. You could hear a chuckle behind you. 

“Stop talking nonsense,” you said and grabbed the plate from him. You shared them equally with the others and Bucky was surprised that you even handed him one and that you got his favorite.  

-x- 

“What are you reading?” Bucky let himself fall into the seat next to Natasha. He just came from lessons and a meeting and he was tired. 

“A letter from Sunshine,” his friend replied casually, but Bucky peaked up. 

“You exchange letters?” he asked confused and was more awake. 

“We have for three years now,” Natasha confirmed. “Mostly we write about what a dumbass you are.” 

“Haha,” Bucky replied, but he wasn’t so sure she was really joking. He hadn’t been the friendliest towards you, even though you had tried. 

“Other than that, she’s really nice. And lonely, Bucky. She’s living on an island without her parents. Her only friend there is Sam and her whole childhood was constantly pushing her into being a queen. She’s 17 now and the only times she was outside of her kingdom was here and let’s be honest, we weren’t friendly with her at the beginning. It’s only two months until she’ll come again, just try to not be as annoyed, will you?” 

“I’m not really that annoyed with her anymore to be honest. It’s just that people expect that we’ll marry each other. They watch like a hawk how we’re acting and it’s,” his voice turned quieter at the end until he stopped himself. 

“I get it,” she said and pushed her elbow into his side. “Maybe you should write to her about it. If there is one person who’ll understand how you feel it's her. Just clear the air and maybe you’ll be friends. You don’t have to marry her, you know? And before you say that it's expected from you and that both kingdoms could benefit from it... Be Bucky first and future king later. Just try to talk to her normally, you’ll see she’s nice.” 

“I’ll think about it. After dinner,” he added when his stomach let out a loud growl. 

In the end Bucky did send you a letter. And you replied, which motivated him to write a response and you both agreed to just try to be civil towards each other. You also both started to talk about the pressure both of you felt and with the hushes of whispers of a marriage that was following you when you were walking through the halls. 

Bucky was looking forward to see you this time, because it seemed like you just got him. And so he was smiling when he stood in front of the castle, next to his mother and best friends and saw the carriage on the horizon. 

“Are you smiling?” Steve teased his friend quietly, but the queen still heard and was beaming. 

Sam was the one helping you out of the carriage and maybe that was a good thing because you knocked the breath out of the prince. It had been nine months since he last saw you and maybe it was because he had never really looked at you before or maybe it was because he now knew a little bit more of you, but you were beautiful. And when you smiled at Natasha who beat him to greet you, he decided that from that moment on he would call you Sunshine too. Steve came next and then his mother nudged him so he would finally come forwards and greet you. 

He wanted to greet you with your title, he really did, but when he kissed your hand for the first time and wasn’t grossed out by it or the idea of standing near you, your nickname slipped his lips as a greeting. 

“It’s good to see you, Bucky,” you replied and he held your hand when he guided you towards his mother where you could greet the queen. 

“Do you want to lie down after your travel?” he asked you, but you denied and so it was decided that you would all gather for tea in the green house. He knew it was one of your favorite places as Steve had told him so. It was something you didn’t have at home. Bucky offered his arm and you accepted with your friends and guards following behind you. 

“What is happening?” Sam asked Natasha and Steve, not believing his eyes. But that was only the beginning and when the second month of your visit was coming around no one was batting an eye seeing you and Bucky arm in arm anymore. Instead, the whispers weren’t whispers anymore and they were openly asking you when the wedding would be. But no one of you even bothered to reply to that. 

“Since when do you like that brat?” Sam asked, referring to Bucky the name you had given him when you were younger. 

“Since I noticed he isn’t really a brat,” you replied and tugged Sam along on your way through the garden. “We were kids, we aren’t anymore and I kind of like him now. He kind of gets me in a different way.” You then realized what you said to your best friend and started to apologize, but he stopped you. 

“I get it, kind of. It’s something different for someone who is in the same position. And I mean he is friends with Steve, so how bad can he be?” he chuckled and you continued your way. As if on cue your name was yelled by the blonde, who ran up to the two of you and asked if you wanted to accompany him into town as Bucky was sitting in a meeting. 

When you came back you had some peach pies in your hand and were on the search for Bucky, who was searching for you as well. When you found each other and you held out his favorite pies for him and him a flower (because he just had to give it to you as he knew it would make you smile), your friends all had a smile or smirk on their faces when you agreed to dine with Bucky while Steve decided he would eat with Sam and Nat in the kitchen tonight. 

This was the first year that both parts weren’t glad that the summer was over. 

“You can write to me, if you want to,” you said when Bucky was leading you through the castle towards the carriage that would bring you to your ship. 

“I will,” Bucky promised and cleared his throat. “And you don’t have to wait for next summer to come visit. You can come visit in winter too. We have places here that are nice in the cold too. And the greenhouse is heated we could sit there even when it’s snowing outside. I mean, if you want to,” he added more shyly, but still hopeful. 

“Do you mean that?” you asked and stopped to look at him. 

“Absolu-,” he started but didn’t finish as the impact of your sudden hug cut him off. 

“I would like that very much,” you admitted in his neck.  

“You’re always welcome here,” he told you and although his mom had said the same sentence to you often, you never felt them like now. The farewell did take longer until a guard told you you needed to leave before it would be too late for the ship. You promised again to come back sooner and went on your way. 

It was late in the evening with Steve and Natasha being in a competitive round of chess when a knock was heard above the storm outside. At the same time as a thunderbolt was hitting outside the door was opened. 

“Prince James, sorry to interrupt but I thought you wanted to know. It’s about Sunshine, I mean Princess,” he started but Bucky was already jumping up at your name and stalking towards the guard that wasn’t even fully in the room. Steve and Natasha had also stopped their game and walked closer so they could hear the guard over the storm. 

“There has been an accident. Samuel is here and he says they got attacked.” Bucky knew that Sam would never leave without you. His heart got heavy as he feared for the worst. The guard pointed him in the right direction where Sam was sitting on a chair while someone tried to get a look at his leg that was bleeding. 

“We were attacked,” Sam said as soon as he saw Bucky running towards him. “I couldn’t really see what it was and I tried to get Sunshine out of there, but there was suddenly a bright light and she was just gone. I couldn’t find her, I searched for her, you must believe me! I would have never left without her! She wasn’t there and with the injury I thought it was better to get you.” 

Not soon after Bucky left with a few men despite the storm. But they couldn’t find anything despite the carriage and the men that were left there. They couldn’t see that much and the rain would wash away every traces soon, but even Bucky had to admit to himself that they couldn’t do anything more now. The next few days and nights were restless, but your friends were searching for you. 

What they didn’t know was that they had no chance of finding you. You were held at an enchanted place and even if they found it – there was no way that they would recognize you. Which would be the only way to help, but we must rewind a few days. 

After the attack on the carriage, you were knocked out. When you woke up your feet were wet and your dress had soaked up a lot of water. You tried to push yourself up, but you were too dizzy to do so. 

“Ahhh, my princess is awake. That is good, we can wrap this up in a few minutes.” You couldn’t recognize the voice, but something was off and nothing could have prepared you for the next sentence. “My dearest princess, would you please marry me?” 

Your dizziness was all forgotten when you pushed yourself up. “What?” you wanted to scream, but it was more of a whisper. One part was because of the ridiculous offer, another because the man in front of you looked nothing like a man with the red skin across his face. 

“Isn’t it simple? When I’ll marry you, I’ll be king!” 

“Why do you even want to be king of Madripoor so bad? Wouldn’t it be easier to just kill me?” You didn’t know why you were even suggesting that, it was like an offer of your part and you didn’t know what he was capable of. 

He walked closer. “See, the thing is your folk loves their princess. When you’ll finally agree to marry me, your kingdom will accept me. Because there has to be something good about me, when Sunshine decides to marry me. And you and I both know why I want your kingdom! Usually islands need more help, so I wonder why no one was suspicious that a lot of things just grow there. The things you could do with the Tesseract and you fools use it to let the ground be more nutritious,” he scoffed. And you were shocked that he knew about it - it was one of your best kept secrets! “Don’t look so shocked, I knew your father. But enough of that. Will you marry me?” 

“No, never!” The words were spat out of your mouth and he nodded as if he had expected that. 

“Then we’ll see each other tomorrow. Goodnight my little swan.” 

You would scream if you could be sure he wouldn’t hear you and wouldn’t know he got under your skin. Why was your life so unfair? You felt helpless!  

The secret had been kept for generations. Once your ancestor found a cube that had a blue shining. When he took it in his hand he felt the force from it. It had been a hard year, the rain hadn’t stopped and the harvest had been weak. His folk had been starving and so he had wished for a miracle to help him. The miracle had been the stone that was called Tessaract and the information had been only shared by a few selected people. But as it always had been when there was a force was that someone tried to steal it for their own selfish purpose. The guy that had kidnapped you and whose face you hadn’t seen yet was once called Johann Schmidt. He was a magician wo had the Tessaract for a short while. But he was too selfish, wanted too much at once and now he was called Red Skull as it described him the best now. HIs face was deformed and red and he wasn’t ashamed. Why should he care what he looked like when he almost had the solution for infinity? He had to get closer, but he couldn’t come back to the island, your father had made sure of that. So had trapped you at the lake. You could only turn into a human when the moonlight hit the water on the lake and you were touching the water. You could turn back into a swan anywhere as soon as the first rays of sunshine were seen. 

Days passed and the routine stayed the same. Every night he came back, asked the same question and walked away when you refused. You were standing at the end of the lake waiting for the moon to rise. There was something in your feathers that you tried to pick out with your beak when something slammed your body into the water. You tried to lift your neck, but something pushed you under the water. Something sharp was pressed into your body and it hurt, but then you felt your body shifting. The struggle for air was still there but suddenly your human head was out of the water and you took a big breath. A pressure was on your chest and when you looked at it you saw a white cat staring at you. If a cat was able to look puzzled this one just did. 

“Did you attack me?” you asked and the cat looked from its paw that was resting on your chest towards your face as if it couldn’t understand what was happening here. Which it probably couldn’t. The cat stayed close to you after that, followed you when you were walking around at night in your human form (and hid once Red Skull came to ask you the dreaded question) and when you turned back into a swan it stayed near you. It even laid beside you when you finally rested your eyes and thought back of home and your friends.  

Meanwhile Bucky, Steven, Natasha and Samuel were gathered in the greenhouse as it was the only place where they wouldn’t be disturbed. 

“Okay, I hate to say this, but we searched everywhere. I don’t know how, but if they’ve taken her, they must be really far away,” Steven sighed. He was exhausted, not that he would say that out loud but his friends looked like they would drop from the chairs any minute now. 

“We can’t give up,” Bucky still sounded determined, but his eyes were closed. He just needed to rest them for a second. That’s why he didn’t notice the yellow and orange sparks that started to appear. 

“What is that?” Natasha asked and it caused Bucky to raise his head. Everyone was staring now at the sparks that appeared in a circle until they suddenly spotted a blonde woman, stepping confidently through it and stopping in front of Sam. 

Bucky didn’t have a weapon with him so the first thing he could think of was standing up and taking a few steps into the direction of the new arrival. “Samuel,” the blonde woman said coldly. 

“Yelena,” Sam replied, not much warmer. 

“You’re an idiot.” 

“I know,” the man agreed, which caused the others to share a confused glance. Their attention was divided by another newcomer. A man with white streaks in his hair and a long red cape followed through the hole and then the sparks died. 

“I’m magician Strange, this is Yelena and we’re here to search for the princess. As this was the last place where she was before she disappeared we needed to come here. We’re sorry for coming in here unannounced,” he said, but he didn’t sound as he was sorry at all. 

“Where were you coming from?” Natasha asked and walked around the place where the sparks had been and only a small black trace on the floor revealed that there had been something magical. 

“It’s called a portal and I don’t have much time. Yelena, if you’re done with staring at Samuel, would you help?” 

It still took a few seconds for the staring contest between the man and woman until she stepped back and stood next to the magician. “We need something from Sunshine that she recently had on her,” she said and suddenly Bucky felt as if he couldn’t move under her stare. Maybe it was magic too. 

“I’m not going to give someone I haven’t even heard of something of her. Maybe you’re after her and I would only help you.” Bucky managed to say. He couldn’t see it, but Natasha and Steve were nodding behind him. 

“You haven’t heard of us because we’re in a secret organization. That’s the point: You don’t see or hear us.” He could have sworn he also heard an insult, but it was too quiet. 

“They tell the truth. They live on the island and they’re there to protect the land. I know Yelena and I know of Strange, I was wondering when they would show up.” 

“Then a warning would have been nice,” Steve commented. 

Samuel recreated the story of how you were taken and the other added where they had been searching for Sunshine and what they found at the damaged carriage. They brought the magician and his shadow towards your stuff. Magician Strange wasn’t interested in your clothes and books, but then he found a stone. It was a regular stone, he didn’t have a special color or a special shape. They were confused why it had been there, but Strange claimed it was the object they needed. Sunshine carried around the stone with her on her travels as it was a gift from Steve. He had given it to her when they started to become friends and he had pressed it in her hands and told her if Bucky was annoying her again she should just throw the rock at him. He had laughed and ran away, but it was the first present she got from a friend and so she kept it close to her. Strange told Yelena he would open a portal for her where he would feel she was with the help of the stone, but he looked more than confused when the other people said they would follow through. He tried to tell the prince he couldn’t just send him out, but in the end he noticed he didn’t have a chance at a discussion with them and he wanted to get their princess back so he agreed. 

Packed with weapons they stepped through the portal. When Bucky looked back he saw Strange staring back at him before the portal closed. They were in a forest, trees he had never seen surrounded him. He could hear the animals, a few birds and frogs. While the others discussed how they should approach they divided in teams. Yelena, Natasha and Sam while he would walk with Steve. 

“Take this,” Yelena pressed a red stone in his hand. It was smooth and cold. “If there’s black magic around it will glow and alert you. Be careful.” She nodded at him a last time before she walked away with Natasha and Sam. 

“That’s a lot. Suddenly there’s magic, we just stepped through a hole full of sparks to step out into a forest and we have a stone that will glow when we stumble across magic. But I guess that’s what you’ll have to do for the woman your best friend loves,” Steve concluded. 

Bucky looked from the stone to his friend who was smirking at him. “I thought she was your friend?” 

“Oh, she is! But she’s also the woman you fell in love with. I actually thought we would have this discussion when she would have been gone for a few days and you noticed that you miss her. Not here – mostly because I didn’t know this part existed.” 

“I already noticed,” Bucky admitted and looked at the stone. No glow, still cold and dull in his hand. “That’s why I invited her for winter. And that’s why I’m afraid we won’t find her.” 

“We will! Now come, so you can tell her,” Steve patted Bucky's shoulder and with more determination than ever they walked through the uneven path. Suddenly there was a glimmer in the stone and Bucky tugged on Steve’s sleeve to show him without having to talk. The closer they walked towards a lake the brighter the glow became. The fact that the sun was down and the moon was about to come up made it look even brighter. 

By the end of the lake was a white swan staring at them. Next to it was a white cat - also staring. “It seems like it comes from them,” Bucky whispered. “What should we do? Should we catch them? The swan and the cat?” 

“I mean we were only here to find Sunshine,” Steve was interrupted by the swan making angry noises at them. Before they could say anything else the swan was startling them as it ran in their direction. Its beak was pulling at Bucky's sleeve, and it ripped. Steves arrow was pointing at the swan, but the bird took another bite into the fabric and Bucky was too stunned and almost lost his balance as the swan was pulling him in the direction of the lake. When he gained back his balance and pulled into the other direction, he lost another piece of fabric. It almost seemed as the swan huffed and waddled towards the water alone – still followed by the arrow. As soon as it could the swan swam on the lake and the cat followed to the muddy path where it could still stand and interrupted the line of the arrow. 

“What should I do?” Steve asked, but Bucky only had eyes for the swan. As soon as the reflection of the moon hit the water small splashes flew into the air until they swirled around the swan. 

“What is happening?” Bucky asked but had already drawn his sword. The cat looked unimpressed even by the splats of water that were hitting it as it was still staring at Steve. The water went higher and higher until it suddenly stopped and fell. But where previously had been the swan was now Sunshine. “How?” Bucky breathed. 

“Bucky,” you sobbed and ran towards him. As you had to travel through the muddy part he had enough time to lower his sword and wrap his arm around you as soon as you reached him. Your tears landed on his shirt, but he couldn’t care at all. 

“Are you okay, love?” His arm pressed you against him and he savored the moment you were in his arms. The stone in his hand suddenly wasn’t only glowing but turned hot. The air around them was shifting. 

“You have to go,” you exclaimed and pushed him away. 

“We just found you,” he tried to say, but you kept on pushing. “Go now, before he sees you. Please,” she begged when he didn’t move at all. The cat behind you was hissing. “Just hide there,” you pointed somewhere where the trees were thick. Unwillingly Steve and Bucky walked where you pointed and they only did it because they noticed your panic. The white cat was also hiding in the high grass and Bucky had to watch as you tried to dry your eyes while the grass around you started to become greener and flowers started to grow. 

“There you are,” he heard a voice and his eyes were about to fall out when he spotted someone walking towards his Sunshine. “There is no need for tears, we can turn them into happy tears if you’ll finally accept my offer of marriage. Your days as a swan will be over, you can go back to your island. So will you marry me?” Bucky had to watch as the man with the red face stepped towards you and tried to wipe away your tears. He was about to confront the man, when he saw you stepping back and he could hear your disgust when you declined. 

“Oh this would have been your chance, princess. Did you think I wouldn’t notice your little visitors. This was your last chance,” with a swipe of his hand the enormous tree where Steve and Bucky were hiding was split in two. “You think you can save her? What fools you are! Have fun finding her now!” A loud boom was heard and before they could do anything the whole area around them changed. Loud cackling was heard and suddenly hundreds of swans were surrounding the two flabbergasted men. They couldn’t see Red Skull anymore but could hear his voice before it faded out. “No more human form for you, princess. Let’s see if your prince will recognize you now.” 

“Where is he?” Steve asked confused. 

“Where is she?” Bucky asked at the same time.  

It was loud, very loud. They could almost not hear each other despite standing next to each other, but the swans were making so much noise. They were making their way towards the lake while a few of them came towards Steve and Bucky. One snapped at Bucky’s sleeve. “Sunshine?” he asked, but the swan only turned more aggressive. Another one was biting in Steve’s shoe. 

“Sunshine?” Both yelled in the hopes that you would hear them and come towards them. But they only saw birds over birds.  

“And why are they so aggressive? Sunshine?” Bucky complained and tried to take some steps forward, but there were too many birds. Suddenly a few swans were extra loud and two started to dive into the air. Feathers were flying around and they could see something else between the swans: a white cat. The one which had protected Sunshine. 

“We must reach it, I bet it will be able to recognize her! Can you grab it?”  

“One of them just stole my shoe!” Steve complained and tried to move forward but slipped on the ground and almost fell on one swan. In the end he managed to grab the cat who climbed his form more than willingly and sat down on his shoulder. “Got it, Buck!” As soon as both men stood next to each other the cat walked over to Bucky's shoulder. Together they moved and when the claws retrieved from Bucky's skin, he knew they came closer. 

Until the claws came back full force suddenly and the noise in his ear indicated that Sunshine had to be close to them. That’s when he spotted one swan fighting against two others and the cat jumped in, ready to shove her claws into the bird. Steve was pushing one out the way and Bucky almost ran to the animal that was injured and tried to scoop it up in his arms, but the bird didn’t want to be caged. 

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he tried to soother it. “Calm down, Sunshine. I’ve got you!” 

It was these words that did the trick. Suddenly it was very quiet around them while the swan and the prince stared into each other's eyes. One by one the other swans disappeared until only one remained. 

“I think she needs to be on the water to change,” Steve’s voice sounded much too loud in the now quiet area. Bucky was finally able to lift the swan he believed to be his princess and carried it towards the water. And as soon as the feet touched the surface the water started to spin splash against both – although the prince couldn’t care less as he stared into the face he came to love.  

“You’re hurt,” he exclaimed once he let his eyes roam over your body and saw you clutching your arm against your torso. 

“It’s not much, but we need to leave. I think the curse might be broken I feel more like myself I think. But we need to get out of here in case he comes back.” 

The prince agreed. He might be a good swordsman but he was helpless against magic. The three of them made their way back to where Bucky and Steve came from, including a white feline following them. Bucky didn’t hesitate to pick it up and place it back on his shoulders. As soon as it had a comfortable place where it was secure it retreated its claws and slung its tail around the prince neck. With Sunshine to his right and Steve on her right side they continued their way. 

“Okay, so we have Sunshine. And now how to we get back? The portal is closed?” 

“Oh, I might be able to fix this,” you said and walked towards a burned place on the ground. Suddenly your voice had more authority than they had ever heard from you. “Magician Strange, I order you to open this portal right now so your crown princess can come back home.” 

“How did you do that?” Steve asked when he watched the sparks to appear again. You pointed at a bracelet around your wrist with an orange stone like the one they had in their hand. When you told them it was a precaution so you could stay in touch with the magicians it dawned on them that they didn’t even have a plan to get back or if they even should have made it back. And later when you heard the whole story you fell even more in love with your prince and were glad that you had such good friends who risked everything for you. 

“It’s so good to see you, princess,” Strange lowered his head instead of a bow. 

“It’s good to see you too, magician Strange. At least one magician I know I can trust.” Your recap of the story was interrupted when another portal opened and Yelena, Natasha and Samuel stepped through. Samuel didn’t even care that he had to bow before you – never in your life had you seen him rum so quickly and his arms were thrown around you. A burnt smell filled your nose, but you didn’t care and wrapped your uninjured arm around him. 

“I’m so sorry I failed you,” he almost sobbed in your shoulder. 

“You didn’t fail me,” you assured him. It was chaos after that. When Strange heard the whole story, he took Yelena with him to face Red Skull and they disappeared through the portal. After a lot of hugging and checking in with each other (and calling a healer for your arm) you all agreed to get cleaned up to get rid of the burned smell and the smell of swamp. 

Many hours later you were all still gathered in a sitting room. Your head laid on Bucky's shoulder and you had problems with staying awake. Sam was currently retelling the story of a dragon they had faced and you weren’t sure if you should believe him if it wasn’t for Natasha who backed up his story. The white feline was laying on the softest pillow next to Steve, but decided that your lap looked more comfortable.  

“You can sleep, princess. We’ll all protect you,” Bucky mumbled in your ear. 

“I need to go home tomorrow, but maybe – would you like to accompany me? I could show you my island and to be honest,” you paused as you weren’t sure if you could share your feelings now. 

“I’m not ready to be apart from you again too,” he assured you and a featherlight kiss was pressed against your hair. 

“Okay, good,” you yawned and your eyes finally closed. 

In the end the two kingdoms were reunited. And while it was a huge political thing that no one really wanted to get into it was more about their princess. As the story started as the Sunshine and the Grump it didn’t end that way. Because when their King looked at his Queen you wouldn’t know who smiled more. It was a story of love that most people would only find in a fairytale book. And with their friends who travelled with them from the island to the mainland it wasn’t only a story about love, but friendship and family. And as we stated that the story wasn’t so long ago, they still live very happily. 

Masterlist | Library Blog

Reblogs, comments, asks or just a ramble mean the world to me <3

[randomkposts]

So I see people finding similarities between Katniss and President Snow, or Sejanus, or both her and Peeta and Lucy Grey, and how Peeta is similar to the other two as well, but I rarely see anyone bring Gale into the mix.

Which is kind of a shame. I felt that Gale telling Katniss that he is playing by the same rule book President Snow plays with, memorable.

I don't see a lot of similarities between Gale and Lucy Gray, beyond both wanting to leave district 12, willing to leave it all behind with another.

By position, Gale has a lot more responsibility on his shoulders then Lucy Grey, he's his family breadwinner, he's working in the mines, he's hunting, he doesn't have a lot of downtime to say the least. He can't.

Gale and Katniss both have this problem, in contrast to Peeta and Sejanus who having wealth (Sejanus more so then Peeta) they have the space to think about morality, their humanity, and how they can keep what they can of it in the world they live in.

Both Gale and Sejanus want to join the rebellion. Gale does so more sucessfully in part by being part of the people and knowing how to navigate the world the world he live in better then the wealthy Sejanus. They share that anger at the world they live in, that desire to fight for a free world.

The way they go about it is reflected by their upbringing.

Snow and Gale start their stories Poor. Snow is not the primary breadwinner, and shies away from thinking deeply about what Tigres may have done to keep them fed.

Sejanus is a rich only child, in the recent wake of the uprising. He's new to the Captiol, hasn't faced the starvation and despration his classmates did. He's not Capitol. He's Ex District 2. He doesn't really belong anywhere, is outsider enough to see the tributes as people first, instead of dehumanizing them as Rebels or Capitolites.

(Example of Capitolites dehumanizing districts)

"A self-important little girl marched up beside them and pointed to a sign on the pillar at the edge of the enclosure. “It says, ‘Please don’t feed the animals.’”

“They’re not animals, though,” said Sejanus. “They’re kids, like you and me.”

“They’re not like me!” the little girl protested. “They’re district. That’s why they belong in a cage!”-

Snow on the tributes.

"They really were creatures out of another world. A hopeless, brutish world."

" He thought of Sejanus telling Dr. Gaul it was the government’s job to protect everybody, even the people in the districts, but he still wasn’t sure how to square that with the fact that they’d been such recent enemies. "

Gale on Capitolites

"He throws Cinna's gloves at my feet. "I changed my mind. I don't want anything they made in the Capitol."

"Doesn't matter. Even if those civilians are just moppin' floors, they're helping the enemy. And if they have to die, I can live with that. No one who supports the Capitol is innocent."

(Of course the latter is after the tramua of loseing district 12, on top of the other tramua he carried from growing up in the system)

Gale comes to see the problems caused by keeping districts divided, and Katniss comes to see it as well, but its a harder step for them to see the Capitolites as people like them. Katniss gets there earlier and easier by having gone into the games and the Capitol and met people who were kind to her. People like her prep team. Sejanus did the same.

Sejanus's outsider POV may have made him the right person to see the moral issues inherent in the system, but it also put him a terrible position in navigating how to rebel against them.

In contrast, Gale understands the political manipulations of the Capitol, and has a good sense for when to get out of dodge, given he rescued 900 people from the bombings and feed them for 3 days in the woods with 2 bows and a fishing net. Lots of soup I pressume.

He's far more of a Cynic then Senjanus. And I've seen Katniss compared to Snow.

But little about Gale and Snow.

Let's get this out of the way. They may have both been in love with a district 12 female tribute, but the way they viewed her was diffrent.

Gale on Katniss "Katniss will pick whoever she thinks she can’t survive without.”

Snow on Lucy Gray :- "His girl. His. Here in the Capitol, it was a given that Lucy Gray belonged to him, as if she’d had no life before her name was called out at the reaping. Even that sanctimonious Sejanus believed she was something he could trade for. If that wasn’t ownership, what was? With her song, Lucy Gray had repudiated all of that by featuring a life that had nothing to do with him, and a great deal to do with someone else. Someone she referred to as “lover,” no less."

Gale acts jealous and insecure, and maybe a tad possessive twords Katniss about Peeta beacuse he's a teenager taking on the breadwinner role to his large family (and also helping hers) who is watching his crush get wooed by another guy and its being filmed and shown to the entire country. The country ships them btw. How the hell do you handle that normally?

In contrast, Snow gets jealous that Lucy Grey has a life that doesn't involve him, and in fact had a boyfriend before him.

"But Lucy Gray was his tribute, headed into the arena. And even if the circumstances were different, she’d still be a girl from the districts, or at least not the Capitol. A second-class citizen. Human, but bestial. Smart, perhaps, but not evolved. Part of a shapeless mass of unfortunate, barbaric creatures that hovered on the periphery of his consciousness."

And even later, Snow on Lucy Gray

"He felt trapped here on base, while she could freely roam the night. In some ways, it had been better to have her locked up in the Capitol, where he always had a general idea of what she was doing."

That's Snows thought's on the woman he claims to love. It's more of an infatuation.

The big thing that Gale and Snow have in common is that they have a corruption arc.

Gale starts the series poor and surviving in the system in ways he can. He has 42 names in that pot. He is doing his best to feed his family. His life is on the chopping block in the same way childrens lives have been on the chopping block at the reepings for generations.

Already not a healthy mindset.

Snow starts his story Poor, and faking being otherwise. Its the aftermath of the war, and the capitol is not the pagentry it will become in the future.

They are both trying to survive. What they aim for in their survival is diffrent. Gale wants to protect his people, and enact justice and later vengance , for the ones lost.

Snow wants to climb. He wants to get back what he lost. He wants to feel safe, and he feels the best way to do that is to have Power.

"It was like the Hunger Games. Only they weren’t district kids. The Capitol was supposed to protect them. He thought of Sejanus telling Dr. Gaul it was the government’s job to protect everybody, even the people in the districts, but he still wasn’t sure how to square that with the fact that they’d been such recent enemies. But certainly the child of a Snow should be a top priority. He could be dead if Clemensia had written the proposal instead of him. He buried his head in his hands, confused, angry, and most of all afraid. Afraid of Dr. Gaul. Afraid of the Capitol. Afraid of everything. If the people who were supposed to protect you played so fast and loose with your life…then how did you survive? Not by trusting them, that’s for sure."

"What had mattered then, what mattered still, was living without that fear. So he added a paragraph about his deep relief on winning the war, and the grim satisfaction of seeing the Capitol’s enemies, who’d treated him so cruelly, who’d cost his family so much, brought to their knees. Hobbled. Impotent. Unable to hurt him anymore. He’d loved the unfamiliar sense of safety that their defeat had brought. The security that could only come with power. The ability to control things. Yes, that was what he’d loved best of all."

Over the course of catching fire, Gale looses what freedom he has and his way of life. He can't use the balckmarket, he works in the mines long hours, is publically whipped, and it ends with his disctrict destroyed by bombs, and keeping the survivors in the woods with little supplies.

Snow is also made to feel afraid throughout the book, as he slowly looses his freedoms.

His financial situation gets worse, and he is afraid.

"My cousin said to remember this isn’t of our making. That we’re still children, too.”

“That doesn’t help, somehow. Being used like this,” said Lysistrata sadly. “Especially when three of us are dead.”

Used? Coriolanus had not thought of being a mentor as anything but an honor. A way to serve the Capitol and perhaps gain a little glory. But she had a point. If the cause wasn’t honorable, how could it be an honor to participate in it? He felt confused, then manipulated, then undefended. As if he were more a tribute than a mentor."

-"Another student, or even the Coriolanus of a couple of weeks ago, would have protested this situation. Insisted on calling a parent or guardian. Pleaded. But after the snake attack on Clemensia, the aftermath of the bombing, and Marcus’s torture, he knew it would be pointless. If Dr. Gaul decided he was to go into the Capitol Arena, that’s where he would go, even if his prize was not at stake. He was just like the subjects of her other experiments, students or tributes, of no more consequence than the Avoxes in the cages. Powerless to object."

Of course he also has Dr Gaul as a mentor in corruption.

"What happened in the arena? That’s humanity undressed. The tributes. And you, too. How quickly civilization disappears. All your fine manners, education, family background, everything you pride yourself on, stripped away in the blink of an eye, revealing everything you actually are. A boy with a club who beats another boy to death. That’s mankind in its natural state.”

“So, if I’m a vicious animal, then who are you? You’re the teacher who sent her student to beat another boy to death!”

Even if Snow is not officially a tribute, he was sent into the arena, and it stuck with him and is something he reflects on often.

-"It reminded me of my stint in the arena. It’s one to thing to speak of humans’ essential nature theoretically, another to consider it when a fist is smashing into your mouth. Only this time I felt more prepared. I’m not as convinced that we are all as inherently violent as you say, but it takes very little to bring the beast to the surface, at least under the cover of darkness. I wonder how many of those miners would have thrown a punch if the Capitol could have seen their faces?"

Coming to the conclusion at the end

-"Because we credit them with innocence. And if even the most innocent among us turn to killers in the Hunger Games, what does that say? That our essential nature is violent,” Snow explained."

He's not a great person.

Anyone who describes their cousin raised as sister with "she was no great beauty, but she had a sweetness, a vunribility that invited abuse" - has a WTF from me.

But back to the point, his finical situation gets worse throughout the book, to the point of them looseing their apartment, he gets kicked out of school, and all but forced into the military, and with all that, his behavior esclates.

He could have picked to do better. He had options. But he was scared and parinoied and made shit choices.

-Friend is helping rebels. Thats bad. I could get implicated. Frame him, and maybe I can keep me and fam safe. His father will cover his ass -

The more he killed, the easier he found to keep his distance emotionally from it, which in turn continued to make it easier to keep picking violance as his soloution.

A part of him never left his arena either

They both escalate their actions the more they hsve lost.

Snows point of no return is when Sejanus dies.

Gale crosses his line when Prim dies.

Thats his climax of his low key corruption arc. We don't know if he pulls the breaks, or keeps going on it, as the story is from Katniss's POV.

In contrast, we see Snow kill Lucy Grey, and we see his Revoloution, his endpoint, his first posion victim, done on his dead friends birthday.

The characters in the hunger games mirror and contrast eachother to great effect, and I love that about them!

[crguang]

feel like the only way i can see kafhime be so soft is if we go with an AU where kafhime got together before astral express and stellaron hunters. and they broke up due to their opposing natures as astral express and stellaron hunters are symbolized to the opposites of one another in many ways, including their path.

astral express cares about the journey while stellaron hunters care about the ending. and they break up on a bitter note and go with their life.

EXACTLYYYYYYY UGH!!!! i feel like such a contrarian cause everyone loves kfhm but unless they met before a LOT of things happened canonically and have some sort of history they make no senseeee, kafka is everything himeko hates. himeko is everything kafka could never bother to be. the SH and the express crew are ultimately working for the same goal but the SH are undeniably more selfish about it, and they believe that the end justifies the means when that’s not a value of the express crew at all. trailblaze vs finality. their core values don’t align and that’s what’s so interesting about their relationship with each other and the TB, who’s known both sides (even if they cant remember they still have a relationship with the SH). characterization wise i just don’t see canon himeko letting her guard down for someone like kafka and vice versa, i think the destroying planets part would be enough for her to never wanna see kafka again personally

it’s also what currently irks me about how the stellaron hunters are perceived in the game, they have everybody be friends when they shouldn’t be like😭 in the recent event march is acting all buddy buddy with silver wolf like she wasnt ready to leave the luofu to deal with their stellaron crisis alone just because kafka was the one telling them to go there… like she got so heated seeing kafka but SW helps her out once (cause she’s the TB’s friend) and suddenly there’s no animosity towards what the SH do, i don’t get it. and it’s not himeko’s politeness towards firefly to work towards a common goal (saving penacony) either, she was trying to cheer her up and everything like what’s going on… what happened to “we’re not your friends why should we care”?😭

i also recently saw one of topaz’s voice lines about them and it’s just something like “i’m not familiar with their work but they have an excellent credit score”… YOU WORK FOR THE IPC?????? in kafka’s trailer she literally breaks into pier point (ipc hq) and kills a bunch of them. you’re telling me she doesnt give a fuck?… i get that she only works for one division of the ipc but how is she not familiar with some of their work like that sounds so stupid. jade i understand because that woman is evil herself so im not surprised she sees the SH as an opportunity/investment rather than condemn their actions. but it’s just crazy because you don’t get a 10.99 billion dollars bounty playing with kittens. i feel like the natural reaction to them would be “i don’t like those guys actually” but no one cares😭😭 it’s a little annoying bc i love that the SH aren’t good people but they’re not treated with the ire they deserve and it’s lame. commit to the bit!!!!!

all that to say that himeko’s the one person i would never want to change her mind about them because her understanding/empathy should have its limits. their actions are despicableeee firefly can act as cute and shy as she wants, that machine probably has killed so many people bruh. they make their own choices and should be held accountable for them otherwise it’s just lame and there are no stakes to that story imo. ive had that on my chest for the longest time im sorry i used your ask to dump it all but omg it was annoying me so bad😭😭😭

[eomayas]

friendly competition • kji

pairing: kai x f!reader

genre: fluff, bit of angst and suggestive comments at the very end

synopsis: your boyfriend isn’t paying you any attention and you are upset about it!

warnings: slight angst, implied jealousy

it was wrong to have beef with a seven year old, but alas. your arms are crossed as you sit on the couch next to your boyfriend, who has your little niece in his lap as they play on her nintendo switch.

it’s been like this since you came to visit family three days ago, for the holidays. from the moment jongin walked in, all of the women in your family started fawning over him; he was so tall, so handsome, so polite, they complimented. and you didn’t mind it—of course, neither did he—but after the first day, the effect started to wear off, and you wanted every last one of them to back off of your boyfriend.

you havent had any time alone together since you got here, and that would have been fine if he wasn’t spending every moment that you both could have had together, with everybody else. if he’s not helping your mom with random tasks around the house, he’s grabbing thing off of the shelf for your aunt, and if he’s not doing that then hes sitting with your grandmother while she goes on about who knows what, and if he’s not doing that, then he’s entertaining your niece, yerim. which is most of the time, if you’re being honest.

“oh no! we lost again!” yerim says, looking up at jongin.

“it’s okay, we’ll just try again,” he says, and you roll your eyes because he’s terrible at video games, and if you niece really wanted to win, she’d be asking you to play with her. from what you’ve been hearing, this is the fourth time they lost the same level.

“auntie, can you try?” yerim asks you, shoving the switch in your face. you nod and take the gaming device snd restart the level.

“why are you actually good at this?” jongin asks as you effortlessly get through the level. you ignore him and finish the level, passing it back to your niece. she looks over at jongin with a timid look, glancin down at the switch.

“uncle nini… i think i want to play with auntie y/n instead,” she says, and you can’t help but snort at the way she’s trying to let him down easy. you glance over at jongin who glares at you, but quickly changes his expression and pats yerims head sweetly. “auntie, can we play this one?” she asks, crawling onto your lap.

you want so badly to be childish and stick your tongue out at jongin, but you don’t and instead take the switch out of her hands and help her win.

“y/n!” your name is called from the kitchen. you tell yerim that you’ll be back and quickly find your mother in the kitchen.

“yes?” you question, already washing your hands.

“help me cut up these vegetables, please,” she says, nodding with her head at an array of food on a cutting board.

“surprised you didn’t ask jongin,” you mutter, grabbing a knife and starting on the cucumbers.

“what did you say?” your mom questions, glancing at you over her shoulder.

“nothing,” you reply, busying yourself with the task of chopping. your mother leaves the kitchen to go back outside to the garden, where she got most of these vegetables and where most of your family is hanging out.

a few minutes later, you hear footsteps and assume it’s your mom so you don’t look up. it’s only when a gentle hand is placed on your waist that you jump and turn around, the sweet face of your boyfriend smiling down at you.

you almost smile back, until you remember that you’re having a one-sided issue with him, and turn back around. “what’s the matter, babe?” jongin questions, rubbing his hand in circular motions on your side.

“nothing, are you bored?” you ask sarcastically. jongin quirks an eyebrow behind you but doesn’t question your tone.

“kinda—yerim went out with her parents, and took her switch with her,” he says, moving to lean against the counter. you hum and finish your last vegetable, tossing everything into a bowl for salad.

jongin watches you closely, his arms crossed lowly over his chest. he watches how you snap the lid on the bowl with extra force, how you nearly throw the cutting board and knife in the sink, how you slam a drawer for seemingly no reason. “y/n?” he says, standing up and reaching for you, but you spin away from his touch, and he frowns. “are you mad at me?” he asks, trying to meet your eye.

“no,” you say, and it’s true. you’re not mad, you just miss him and want him back to yourself.

jongin starts to question you again, but is interrupted by your mom, who says his name with too much enthusiasm for somebody who has seen him all weekend. “jongin, sweetie, can you grab me the blender from up there, please?” she asks him, and you take the opportunity to slip out of the kitchen and go upstairs.

you head to your room, where you change into something more comfortable and then lay down. you scroll aimlessly through your timeline, liking and commenting on your friends’ posts.

about ten minutes later, a light knock sounds against your door. “yes?” you say, lifting your head from the pillow. the door opens and jongin steps inside, closing the door behind him.

when you see that it’s him, you lie back down and go back to your phone. “honey, why are you ignoring me?” he asks, sitting next to you and rubbing your back. “why are you mad at me?”

“i’m not mad,” you say, not looking at him. jongin sighs and gently wrestles your phone out of your hands, putting it on the table next to you. you cut your eyes at him, and he lovingly strokes the side of your face. you can’t help but wrap your hand around his wrist, leaning into his touch.

“then why are you being like this?”

you scoff. “like what?” you question. jongin chuckles at your oblivion, pushing hair away from your face.

“you’re all pouty and sulky,” he says and you roll your eyes, even though he’s getting you good. “just talk to me, baby.” he says, and you can’t deny that face of his.

“it’s embarrassing,” you say, turning your head so it’s smooshed against pillows.

“so?”

you sigh dramatically and press you face harder into the fabric. “i miss you,” you say, your voice muffled by the pillows.

“what? i can barely hear you,” jongin says, trying to pull you up from the bed, but you don’t budge. instead, you groan into the pillow and say, “i miss you” much louder.

jongin smiles behind you, giggling at your admission. “it’s not funny,” you mumble, but he can’t help himself because you’re so cute when you’re like this.

“y/n, please look at me,” he says. you sigh and peel yourself away from the pillow, turning your head so you can look at him properly. “it’s not embarrassing, it’s cute.” he says and you scream and roll away from him, making him laugh harder and pull you towards him again.

“you’re making me feel worse,” you moan, letting him pull you up and into his side.

“i’m sorry, but you’re just so cute right now. and to be fair, i miss you too,” he says, kissing your quickly on the lips.

“yeah? well, why won’t you hang out with me?” you ask, looking at him in his eyes.

“i’m getting to know your family,” he says, pinching your side, making your fold into him. “don’t tell me that you’re upset about that?” jongin adds when you roll your eyes.

you sigh and adjust so your back against his chest, and you’re sitting between his legs. “i’m not… i just miss you, okay? and everybody loves you and that’s great, but i want to spend some time with you too,” you say, your head resting on his shoulder. “and every time i get you alone, it’s for a few seconds.” you rant. jongin wraps his arms securely around you, rubbing his thumb against your forearm.

jongin only hums, not really understanding why you’re so upset, other than you’re jealous of the attention he’s been receiving from and giving to everybody else. “baby, if you want my attention all you have to do is ask,” he says, but when he says ask, all you hear is beg, and make a face. “but if it helps i miss you too.” he adds, kissing your cheek.

you sigh at his admission and lean your head back to look up at him. he smiles and kisses your lips, one of his hands gently resting on your throat. you can’t help but put your hand on top of his and close his fingers around your neck, the back of it hurting from the angle it’s at, but you don’t care.

snaking one of your hands around the back of his head, you pull him impossibly closer to you and tangle your tongues together. his free hand slides up your chest and gropes one of your breasts. you brace your hand on his leg and revel in the way he twitches against you when you drag your hand closer to his crotch.

unfortunately, your moment together doesn’t last long. “uncle nini!” yerim shouts, banging on the door and startling you both and making the two of your knock your teeth together.

“ow,” you say, pressing your hand to your upper lip and frowning. jongin grumbles behind you and slides out of the bed. “bye!” you say bitterly, lying back on your side.

jongin leans down and places a kiss on your forehead. you put a hand on the back of your neck to hold him a little longer, but again it doesn’t last long. “uncle niniii!” yerim yells again.

he pulls back and kisses your forehead. “i’m yours tonight,” he whispers, leaving you with a smile on your face as he runs to go entertain your family.

[tobiasdrake]

That's everyone. Time to check out the Favor Tree, then we're on to the Clocktower meetup.

So how's this work? Do I just tell the tree what I want? Do I yank off a leaf and then write my request on it?

I dunno. Given that the rules are lax enough that a Favor Tree is as simple as "the biggest tree nearby" I think there's probably some leeway here. There may not be any particular rules for how we're supposed to pray to it.

Then again, that is the kind of logic that leads to the Bystander Effect. If everybody thinks like that and then nobody wishes for Vaugarde's salvation, that's a whoopsy-doodle. So it's better to inconvenience myself, at the risk of redundancy, for the sake of locking in aid for people in crisis.

Of course, it's not impossible to have your cake and eat it when it comes to wish-granting. All of these potential wishes are things that my team wants to do once the King has been defeated. Granting a wish for these things necessarily requires that Vaugarde be saved.

Therefore, I can wish for something for myself that nonetheless adds the strength of my wish to whatever existing pool of wishes towards Vaugarde's salvation already exists! This is what we call "gaming the system".

And while I wish the best for everyone, there is one person whose desires matter more than anybody else's.

Odile, Maribelle, and Isabeau all have dreams and ambitions for the future. That's great. I'm happy for them. But Bonnie doesn't. Bonnie has trauma. If I'm going to spend a wish on anyone, it's going to be for Bonnie to be healed.

If only one of us can have what they want, it should be them. A lost child's wish to save their family is worth more than gold.

Okay PARTY TIME

Alright y'all, come clean. Who ripped the bread in half and just left it on the table like that?

Or. Wait. Is that the bread, of "breaking bread"? Did we literally break bread? And then not eat it?

Are... are you supposed to eat it? Is it rude to break the bread and then not eat it? Or is it sacrilegious to eat broken bread? I feel like the bread's just going to waste if you don't eat it. But maybe it's a holy gesture? Maybe the act of letting the bread go stale... symbolizes its Change from a state of freshness to a state of badness.

Or maybe one of us here is just a dipshit who doesn't understand the phrase. Looking at you, Isa. On the "Risk of Dipshit" Scale, you're Suspect #2.

Suspect #1 is me but I'm, like, 65% sure I didn't do it.

You made the entire feast all by yourself? I am simultaneously very impressed with you and also tremendously disappointed in the rest of us. Four grown-ass adults and not one of us pitched in to assist the child in the kitchen. I am ashamed of every single one of us.

SPEECH SPEECH SPEECH SPEECH

Uh. No. Appreciate the sentiment but you're wrong. I don't know if you have Pocket Notes on the stakes of this thing but "Everyone dies tomorrow" isn't something people get to opt out of.

I know you don't want to think of membership in this crew as compulsory but... it kind of is. Our options are "Roll the dice tomorrow" or "Find a nice place to die". The latter of which is something most of the town is actively preparing for.

People are capable of tremendous acts of selfless courage when they have no hope of survival. With that in mind, I intend to be very brave tomorrow. There's only one place to do that.

You know, I'm used to rousing campfire speeches having a lot more swearing, raging narcissism, and thematically inappropriate criminality. But this is nice too. All-a y'all are swell. I'm happy to be a part of this.

My dude, I was wide awake. I slept all day today. I was just trying to be politely still so everyone else can sleep, while quietly going over Rock Paper Scissors strategies in my head.

The trick is to not throw the wrong symbol. But to make them think you're going to throw the wrong symbol, so they play into your hands when you throw the right symbol. *sage wisdom*

I love you too, man. Still making sense of things too much to decide if that's romantic or platonic but one way or another we're tight.

Mm. Pillow beats Rock. Good to know. See, that is why I've been silently reviewing Rock Paper Scissors strategies.

Good night, Isa. We'll continue this talk on the day after tomorrow, so long as it comes to pass.

[thatmiraclecupcake]

Little things I liked/thought were funny/want to yell into the void about (but not in a bad way) in the first Nicktoons Untie game and only the first one because it's the only one I've actually played part of and I'm biased. SPOILERS ABOUND!

Sandy unironically making Patrick a spy

Patrick immediately blows his cover and gets captured

the whole bit before and after Plankton's boss fight about his mother

the video call from Calamatus where Plankton and Vlad have to finish his sentences

the fact that said call doesn't have Crocker in it+the camera movements being janky like a person was holding it as opposed to a robot, so one could infer that Crocker was holding the camera for the Big Plan Reveal To The Heroes TM

Timmy calling Spongebob a piece of cheese

Goddard has fleas. this is an integral part of the plot

"Well this is the craziest thing I've seen since....well, since last Tuesday." Spongebob. Spongebob what happened buddy. What happened. What did you do.

Spongebob's little scared jump animation in some of the cutscenes where his eyes bulge out of his face like a looney tune

"Great things come in small packages-just ask Wanda!" COSMO WHAT THE FUCK

The fact that Cosmo and Wanda can be out and visible and shit, like the Secret Fairy Godparents are no longer secret to anybody here. Crocker can fucking see them.

I get the angst of people making like. fanfics and whatnot of Timmy losing his fairies and forgetting the other nicktoons. I GET it. but like. honestly. I think he'd be fine.

I just think Jorgen would let Timmy keep his fairies even outside of the whole crossover spinoff games because like. How many fucking times have they had to save the world. From something Timmy didn't make to begin with. Anyways

The Doomsday Device has four comically large wall plugs, which are probably color coded to each of the members for each world being siphoned

Calamatus' stupid little fucking dance while the boys try to scramble and stop the device. Seriously. Look up a cutscene video and watch his little stupid fucking dance.

Spongebob saves the day by unplugging the comically large plugs

Jimmy, after being given a Fenton thermos by Danny: Wait Vlad's not in here is he O-O

Spongebob would have to owe Mr Krabs money for saving the world, the Krusty Krab, and Mr Krabs himself on company time, even though the opening cutscene suggests that Spongebob was off today because his first idea of what to do that day was go visit Patrick.

Everybody talks about Jimmy and Timmy dating, Danny and Spongebob being besties, and the different roles each person plays in the squad's general relationship dynamics, but I wanna know what those Middle-Aged Scientifically-Minded GOOBERS known as the Syndicate had going on while they weren't getting their asses kicked

I'm not even talking about shipping I just want to know what those conversations were like.

Like. Plankton wants a sandwich recipe. His key to ruling Bikini Bottom is a really good burger, but the others might not understand that Krabby Patties are the glue of Bikini Bottom society and therefore an important political piece. How does this fact play off the other villains

Vlad and Plankton seem comfortable finishing Calamatus' sentences for him already and don't really seem annoyed so they must be at least a little friendly with him

Vlad's little run into the portal after his boss fight is actually pretty well done considering the rest of the jank in the animations

Spongebob lets himself be sprayed down in (what is to him) a mystery substance made by a stranger

ASS FIRST MIGHT I ADD

Jimmy's solution to the gang breathing in Bikini Bottom is chewing gum

"Spongebob, your birthday's not for another month"

Jenny XJ-9 should have fucking been there. She had existed for 2 years. My Life as a Teenage Robot had only ended like 2 months before the first Nicktoons Unite game first released in 2005

Yes it was 2005

Look there's 2 cartoons made by Bitch Hartman in this game. Nice of them to add Tak and Zim and Dib and whatnot but I think Jenny would have done well with the others in the first game.

ALSO BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH GIRLS!!!!!!! WE NEED MORE GIRLS!!!! SANDY AND SAM AND WANDA AND CINDY ARE NOT ENOUGH!!!!

And!!! AND!!!! Who would be more willing to rule multiple worlds than the fucking CLUSTER???

would've also added like. another world/hour to the game. could be nice for a remake. hint hint wink wink nudge nudge

[lxverrings]

HIII ik u usually make Miguel Ohara fics but can you please please please make a fic abt spidernoir?? I don't care if its smut or smth just please 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Btw love ur Miggy fics 😋

20’s lovin

A/N: DAMMIT I wanted to get other requests in, but I finished playing Genesis Noir (Point and Click Adventure game! It’s so beautifully animated!) And it just reminds me so much of Noir over here and I just GOTTA 💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥 THANKS for the request N♡nnie! Finally a good excuse to get my hashtag hashtag vision out !!!!

Summary: Jazz Singer Reader x Spiderman Noir/Peter Parker, set in the 20’s, obviously!!!! Not very good at 20’s slang, PLEASE be patient 😭

Warnings: P in V. . .at some point maybe in the near future, kind of poor plot, Noir being a wee bit desperate because I ❤ pathetic men!!! Um lowkey fem!reader but if anyone wants a masc! reader fic with Noir, let me know!

Another simple Friday night, faceless people trailing around muddy streets and murky skies, the cigarette barely flickering alive, much how he felt that very night. The skyscrapers touched the smog filled clouds as the dim golden lights reached around.

The hunger filled stomach he nursed was all that kept the man walking. Peter, for god’s sake.

He should have grabbed something at HQ, and damn he should have, The Hopper’s smells filled the area, and with the small coins he had, he trudged forth, and walked inside of the area, ignoring the posters for a Jazz concert tonight.

[ . . . ]

Some... Golden Boy on the Saxophone playing and only heard idly, once on the spotlight, still he stayed, playing til the sun gave way, yet alone and ignored the music would sway. Because no one here would give him the time of day.

[ . . . ]

He watched idly as he downed some whiskey in a few sips, something to numb the soul, something. Oh just something as the saxophone stopped and a mundane applause filled the area, done only for the sake of one person clapping and the rest following like sheep. And instead, the heels of a woman clasped the stage closer and closer, behind golden, shimmering curtains. And as they raised, the club went dark, faint piano serenading the ears of every lost soul, and a sultry voice spread the area.

“Everybody needs a little lovin’ this Friday night, don’t they?” the voice asked into the microphone, smooth and sweet. Like honeyed liquor dripping from his mouth. Peter finally looked up only to find himself eye to eye with the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Eyes glowing, like stars and hair that seemed nothing but glorious to watch on stage. It practically swayed with her hips as she serenaded, and the stage was for her. Not just the lights. Not just the stage. But the audience as well, the simmering lights sparked and shone on her, contouring her beautifully. The shadows only brought out the most beautiful aspects of her as she sung softly, the lyrics seeping off of her throat like a melancholic grief leaving the soul, finally freeing the internal chains of agony.

[ . . . ]

You had never seen him around before. Not at all. The man in the black trenchcoat, after your little show, you slowly trailed off stage, and made your way over.

“... Hello! I don’t recall having seen you here.” you spoke softly, but to him? Oh... To him.

It felt like an angel had smiled down at him, as he slightly choked on his drink. Not a good look, Peter. Not a good look.

He looked a little silly, you had to admit, so suddenly flushed and perhaps a bit shy. You felt quite smitten, as you politely sat down.

“You don’t mind, do you?”

“... Not at all.”

By the end of the night, he walked away with a napkin. That napkin had a lipstick mark and a couple of digits. ... Given after a night of attraction.

For anyone curious, this is what Genesis Noir looks like!!!! If anyone wants to, I’m willing to entertain this and write part 2!

[joprompts]

chess (musical) starters. part one. *starters from the musical. adjust as necessary.

everybody's playing the game but nobody's rules are the same. nobody's on nobody's side.

all men have a weakness: his is that woman.

no one in your life is with you constantly. no one is completely on your side and though i move my world to be with him, still the gap between us is too wide.

no one can deny that these are difficult times.

knowing i want you, knowing i love you, cannot compare to my despair, knowing i've lost you.

they're not too polite.

who needs a dream? who needs ambition? who'd be the fool in my position?

don't get me wrong, i'm not complaining.

that's the problem. he's a brilliant lunatic, and you can't tell which way he'll jump. like his game, he's impossible to analyze. you can't predict him, dissect him, which of course means he's not a lunatic at all.

i've been a fool to allow dreams to become great expectations.

how can i love you so much yet make no move?

one of these days--and it won't be long--he'll know more about me than he should.

if it were love, i would give that love every second i had.

wasn't it good? wasn't he fine? isn't it madness he can't be mine?

i'm on the case, can't be fooled. any objection is overruled.

pity instead the careless mother, what she missed, what she lost when she let me go. i wonder, does she know?

pity the child who knew his parents.

if i knew from the start, why am i falling apart?

i'm not getting rich. my only interest is in something which gives me the chance of working with the best.

you have caused such grief i can't forgive this evil thing you've done.

if you walk out on me, you're really betraying your father. were he alive now he'd surely be dying of shame.

you're on nobody's side, but your own.

there will be days and nights when i'll want you more than i'll want to.

you and i, we've seen it all.

this is the one situation i wanted most to avoid.

the one i should not think of keeps rolling through my mind and i don't want to let that go!

what's going on around me is barely making sense. i need some explanations fast!

what if he saw my whole existence?

what we've just seen's a pathetic display from a man who's beginning to crack. he's afraid. he knows he isn't the player he was and he won't get it back.

once i had dreams now they're obsessions. hopes became needs. lovers possessions.

maybe it's best to love a stranger. well, that's what i've done. heaven help my heart.

who'd ever think it? such a very pretty setting. tell me what's the betting, very pretty plotting, too. no matter--i've done all your work for you.

i want to talk chess.

how'd we ever get this far before you showed me what you really are?

never lose your heart, use your head!

looking back, i could have played it differently. won a few more moments, who can tell?

not much is known of early days of chess beyond a fairly vague report.

where's daddy? dead or in the KGB?

when i was nine, i learned survival, taught myself not to care.

pity the child who twenty-five years on, finds her confidence gone!

how you've hated my success!

it's the only thing i can stay true to.

you got your tricks, good for you, but there's no gambit i don't see through.

there must be more i could achieve but i don't have the nerve to leave!

how can you let mediocrity win? you have one chance left. win for chess. you were five one up. now it's five all. get a grip.

i don't see anything outrageous about demanding what i'm worth.

chasing our hearts' desire, but we go on pretending stories like ours have happy endings.

did i plan doing all of this for the love of a man?

[d4xis]

I was, I am and I will always be in love with Empire of the Sun… Their music hit my heart when I was 11 yrs old when I moved to a different city, I lost my friends, favourite school and places… And they just helped me to build my whole inner world again, their music always helped me when I was/am sad, depressed or anxious. I wish to see them both, once in my life, here in Czech Republic. I wish to tell them what their music means to me. Nobody can understand the pain I went through, because everybody's story is unique such as our feelings… Think big, wild, be yourself, do not spread hate, mind your own business, don't play politics, support what or who you want, create art, listen to music, read a book, go outside, play games, watch a movie, live in peace…

[dewitty1]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - February 2023 (ノﾟ∀ﾟ)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

Vis-à-Vis-à-Vis by Vukovich @vukovich

Harry’s assignment was simple. Close out Draco Malfoy’s missing persons case so he can be declared dead.

But who’s making withdrawals from Malfoy’s vaults? How is a death omen-turned-Unspeakable involved? Is an organization known as the Moirai to blame?

Harry brushes it off until he can’t. Until The Prophet is flooded with sightings of dead people. Until Robards throws himself on his sword. Until Ron turns on his own family. Until Harry scarcely trusts his own reflection in the mirror and trusts the stranger in his bed even less.

Until all that stands between war and peace is Harry, a name plate, a stadium of murderers, and Draco Malfoy.

God save the Ministry. Rec Post

Harry Potter and the Chariot of the Sun by Philosopherscribe 

Hot on the trail of a Dementor-worshipping cult, Harry plays a dangerous game with an old enemy. Rec Post

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them (or Draco Malfoy’s Guide to Stop Dying and Start Living Instead) by dustmouth, nerakrose, art by dustmouth,  written by  @greaseonmymouth

Malfoy is way too interested in coroner reports for somebody who’s definitely not looking for ways to die, Harry wants to be friends with him, and Ginny wants to break up with Harry. Rec Post

The Garland Gay by Vaysh

Draco Malfoy has it all – sex, money, power. But a family secret threatens to become the undoing of the successful head of Malfoy Bank. His troubles bring him to private investigator Harry Potter, who lost it all – girlfriend, Galleons, Auror career – over a tenacious obsession with a certain blond. Both become entangled in the vengeful schemes of a stranger from the past. As much as Draco tries to resist, in the end, he must make a fateful choice for the man he is destined to love. Rec Post

Eagles in Truro (Alt: That filthy one that snuck in a plot.) by Vukovich @vukovich

Hermione Granger just wants to get laid and maybe someday become Supreme Mugwump. Ronald Weasley just wants to build a dubiously-criminal empire and hug everybody. Harry Potter just wants… he’s not sure, but it might be Malfoy. Draco Malfoy just wants to survive the post-war world. And snuggles. A story about four lonely people in a mineshaft in Cornwall, and blasting a home in bedrock when nothing else quite fits. Hermione: Excuse me. This is a political thriller, but it’s also how I ended up in a really complicated relationship. Ron: It’s not that complicated. And it’s a love story. Draco: He’s right. Harry: You always side with Ron. It’s an action story. I got stabbed. Draco: Sorry about that. But you’re all wrong. This is art. And SMUT. All: Oh… Rec Post

My Best Friend, the Serial Killer by trishjames @thusspoketrish

Draco’s best friend and flatmate Pansy Parkinson is a lot of things: she’s beautiful, intelligent, doting, and a bit unnerving…but Draco loves her all the same, even if he has to clean up after her bloody – ah, messy romantic breakups more than usual. He doesn’t mind, after all, what are best friends for?

But Draco starts to question just how far his love can go when Pansy brings home her next victim – ah, boyfriend, Harry Potter. Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

By the Grace by lettered @letteredlettered

Harry is an Auror instructor. Malfoy wants to be an Auror.

Away, Away by Aelys_Althea @aelysalthea

Abandonment didn't sit well with Harry. Not at all. After the calamity that was the end of the Triwizard Tournament and the dismissal of his friends over the summer, he decides: enough is enough. He's done. Done with it all. He just wanted to get away. But the Wizarding world, as it happens, isn't quite finished with him. No matter how far he runs, it always catches back up to him. Years after turning from those who left him, Harry is dragged back to that world once more. Many find him far changed from the boy who'd once known. Some - some very few - even like that change. Draco Malfoy just happens to be one of those chosen few.

In the Shadow of Your Heart by lq_traintracks (lumosed_quill) @lqtraintracks

And thus began the very strange circumstance of their fake dating in public and real fucking in absolute secret. It was, with no comparison, the weirdest relationship Draco had ever been in – which was to say, it wasn't one.

what husbands are for by softlystarstruck @softlystarstruck

To settle tensions between werewolves and vampires, Harry volunteers for a political marriage. But it turns out he's marrying Malfoy– cold, untouchable Malfoy, who he hasn't seen in ten years. Throughout contention and politics, werewolf pub nights and grudgingly shared meals, they have to make it work.

And in the midst of it all, Harry finds something he already gave up hoping for.

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡ I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I have! Happy reading, y’all! xoxo Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚���❤💗💕💖

[midnightmajick]

Everybody Talks

Mike Schmidt x Reader

Warnings: None, just fluff!

Word count: 1,124 words

For the best experience reading this, listen to Everybody Talks by Neon Trees. That's what I was listening to when I wrote it!

You and Mike have known each other for years. So whenever you wanted to come over, you knew he’d leave the key under the flowerpot to the left of the door. Today is no different.

You lift the flowerpot, and sure enough, the key is sitting right under it. You pick it up and insert it into the lock on the door before turning it and twisting the doorknob. You pull open the door and call out, “Hey, what’s up?”

Your voice echoes through the otherwise empty house as you walk through the door. Abby must be at a sleepover again. Or on a school trip. Either way, Mike’s alone for the weekend, and based on how fast his footsteps approach you, he’s happy to see you.

“Not much, you?” he replies as he wraps his arms around you. He’s very happy to see you. “Not a ton, you wanna play Super Smash Brothers?” “Sure,” Mike responds. “By the way, would it be okay if I invited my friends Monica, Jimmy, and Natalie over? I know you’ve never met them, but I thought it’d be fun.” “Dude, it’s your house, you don’t have to ask me.” “Well I just wanted to be polite. You are the guest after all, I have to ask you.” You snort in amusement.

“I suppose that’s okay,” you tease. “In all honesty, it sounds like a lot of fun to me.” “Alright, lemme call them real quick.” He walks over to the phone and begins dialing. “Ok, I’ll get the controllers.” You grab five Wii remotes and five nunchucks.

Before long, Mike’s friends show up. You all sit down on the couch and start playing. They’re all super nice, but nobody is as good at Super Smash Brothers as you are. Except Mike. But he’s been button mashing the whole time. It annoys you, but it isn’t working for him as well as your strategy works for you. That, and you’re too focused on fighting everyone else to do anything about it.

You all play several rounds, and before you know it, nine o’clock rolls around. Everyone else is in the kitchen talking, except for Natalie, but she’s taking an important call in the other room. That leaves only you and Mike, and you’re both still duking it out.

“Dude, you can’t do that, you’re cheating!” you complain. “No I’m not, I can button mash if I want!” he snickers. He clearly finds this hilarious. “No fair! If I did that, I’d beat the crap out of you!” “Would you though?” “Totally!” “Alright, do it then. I dare you,” he challenges.

You sigh in annoyance, you don’t want to. You know it’s what he wants, but right now he’s winning, so how else can you beat him? Then again, that would destroy your dignity as a gamer. Right? Maybe not. If he beats you by button mashing, it’ll be embarrassing. But if you button mash and win... Maybe button mashing is only bad if you lose doing it. And you’re great at this. You can’t lose, right?

“Okay, fine. Game on, Mike,” you say as you furrow your brow in concentration. You both begin button mashing, and you immediately notice that it isn’t going to work well for you. He smirks at you, he knows he’ll win if he continues. You have to do something, but what? You don’t want to wipe that smile off of his face, but you don’t want to lose. You’re going to lose, though, you know it. You think, and your mind wanders while your character flounders on the screen.

You’re snapped out of your thoughts when you hear a beeping noise from the TV. You lost. And Mike is determined to rub it in your face. But you’re determined to shut him up. You’re a bit annoyed, and all you want to do is slap your hand over his mouth, but you don’t care about his teasing once you remember it. The exchange you overheard between him and Abby a few days ago. The one where he admitted to liking you.

You ponder what to do about it, you always liked Mike too, but you weren’t supposed to hear that conversation. And you didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. That’s the last thing you wanted, and you knew that’s what would happen if you talked to him about it. But if you both liked each other, why shouldn’t you do something about it? Plus, all of his friends were in different parts of the house. And then it hits you. You can shut him up and do something about it at the same time.

“Ha! Told you button mashing was superior! Not even you can de-” And then your lips smash against his. He’s surprised, that’s for sure, but he doesn’t pull away. In fact, he leans forward, into your lips. He closes his eyes and melts into you, and it’s clear he’s enjoying this almost as much as you are, if not more. Several moments pass, and before you know it, Mike is pulling away for air. You’re both panting heavily, having given into the moment completely. His next words come out in ragged gasps, his attempts to calm himself proving futile. “I-I’ve wanted that for so long...”

But before you can respond, you hear a cup fall to the floor. You look up to see Natalie gawking at both of you. Mike’s face is bright red, and you’re certain yours is too. You grab his hand and squeeze, trying to show him that you’re not going anywhere, that you’re there to support him. He smiles and squeezes back. Natalie runs off to the kitchen, no doubt to tell everyone what she just saw, leaving you and Mike staring at each other. You’re both speechless, unsure what to do, that is, until he starts laughing.

“What’s so funny? She’s gonna go tell them, I thought you’d at least try to stop her. It doesn’t bother me that they know, but I know you aren’t usually open about that kind of thing.” He sighs in relief when you say them knowing doesn’t bother you, and giggles a bit before he continues. “Normally it would bother me, but I know you’re there for me. If you’re not afraid, then maybe I don’t need to be either,” he speaks softly.

“Also, Natalie isn’t exactly great at keeping secrets. She’d probably tell them later even if I stopped her. She wouldn’t do it to be mean, it’s just that she can’t help herself,” he explains. “Are you sure? I want to make sure you’re okay,” you tell him. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I have you,” he responds, gazing lovingly into your eyes. “Everybody talks anyway.”