#not like it was a great tile to begin with it looked better before it was fired

[pearl-kite]

So there's this professional training for the school district today, and it's at the school I graduated from, right.

Back during school I was in Art Club (surprise) and in 2004 we all decorated tiles and made a bench for that hallway. I thought hey, this is a good opportunity to get a photo for memory's sake:

And then I noticed...

Mine is the only one broken :c

[literaryslapshot]

LUNCH ⎯ C. Berzatto

carmen interviews a new girl for the recent waitressing job at the bear, and she's been the recent reason for his journal entries the past two weeks.

carmen berzatto x fem!reader

warnings: sexual themes (18+ MDNI), cuss words, carmen being super whipped but also kind of a perv, reader is kind of a ditz but so am i, reader has tats because i do too, reader also doesnt have much dialogue bc it's mostly from his pov.

word count: 1k

a/n: not really based off any specific episode or season in the series. i just love carmy so much <3

"Chef i need you to take over for at least an hour, i got an interview in 10." Carmen instructed Sydney, walking into the office as the kitchen staff began to prepare for open. The staff- mainly Sydney, Richie, and Carmen desperately needed a waiter in house. With how busy the restaurant was beginning to get they needed more than Nat out there.

"Are you gonna hire her?" Sydney asked; Carmen had briefed her about the applicant a day prior. He sat down, refreshing himself on the resume before meeting with her.

"Well she's the only applicant so far, so I don't really think I have a choice chef," before he could finish his thought he heard the chime of the entrance door. Glancing down at the time it read 10:51.

Early, off to a good start, he said to himself quietly. He gave one puff of cologne on his neck to try and musk the smell of kitchen before going out into the front of house to start the interview. Carmen forgot how to breathe for just a few seconds when he saw her- easily the most beautiful person he's seen walk in his restaurant.

"Um- Hi I'm Carmen Berzatto, the owner, you must be Y/N?" He introduces through a deep breath and a shaky hand that he extends. She takes it with a smile, following his lead. The soft taps of her high top converse against the tile floor, the flow of her skirt twirling as she turns in front of him slightly. It's exhilarating.

"Can I get you something to drink before we start? Water, a soda, coffee?" He offers, standing tall next to the table side. She grins and shakes her head denying his offer, her sweet sounding voice making butterflies flutter around in his stomach. That hasn't happened in a while.

They make small talk for a little while, Carmen asking pre-thought out ice breakers before getting to the real questions. But if he's honest with himself he isn't even listening to her answers. He's too focused on the way her lips move and how she purses her lips when she thinks about an answer.

He's taken great notice of the tattoos she has on her arms, in similar places to his own, all black outlined like his too. one is written in french, he assumes, right above her wrist on her arm. One is two small birds on the inside of her forearm. He wants to pause the interview just to talk about what they all mean to her. Partially because he wants to hear her voice for the rest of his life. He wants to press record on his phone and listen to her talk about whatever she wants to, her voice is that angelic.

"Can I ask you what the tattoo on your hand means?" she asked and he thought he was going to faint because she grabbed ahold of his hand gently to get a better look at it. She giggled when she got a better look at the artwork.

"It's to remind me to be careful when I chop vegetables, essentially," Carmen explained with a chuckle. "What does the one on your wrist mean?"

"Terre à terre, down to earth. I dont want to stray too far from who I was raised to be, so that's a reminder. I also have a couple more in french- my grandmother was french so I have a lot of french things in my life." She pulls up the sleeve of her shirt to reveal another tattoo, "étoile filante, shooting star. The first time I saw a shooting star was on my sixteenth birthday, my worst birthday actually."

He reminded himself to close his mouth because he knew he was about to start drooling, hearing the way her silky voice sounded even better in a foreign language.

He breezed through the interview, Natalie insisting that even though there are no other applicants and she'll probably get the job, do it the right way. "I'll give you a call by the end of the week, Y/N. It was a pleasure having you today." He shows her out of the restaurant, walking her to her car for safety, of course."

When Carmen got back inside, before he got to joining the team in prepping for the lunch crowd he pulled out his journal that he started to carry with him. It was full of various things: different dinner ideas to try out on the menu for a special, addresses, phone numbers, and other journal entries. he's made a habit of journal three times a week and he has a feeling he's going to be doing it a lot more with Y/N joining the team.

-

I could eat that girl for lunch. She smelled sweet like fuckin brownies or something, rich and delicious. Her tattoos, her gold necklaces, her smile, her skirt. I feel like a perv but god i know her skin would be so soft, and she'd have the best blind reactions to recipes, and i bet she'd taste good too. I'm closing the applications, this Y/N chick is gonna be the death of me.

-

"Hi Y/N, this is Carmen from The Bear, how're you?" he couldn't even wait a full 24 hours before he hired her. Embarrassing. "I just wanted to call and let you know that we're offering you the job if you are still interested." He bit the cap of his pen with a grin hearing her cheer and laugh on the other side of the phone. "Yea- yeah that's great, listen could you start Monday? I'll get you trained n'all that."

Carmen ends the phone call and moves some papers around on his desk, printing the papers for Y/N and putting them in her folder. He couldn’t stop grinning like a kid from hearing her excited voice over the phone.

Instantly he’s thinking of a million things to write in his journal about her. But he doesn’t have time, he needs to prep the special for tonights dinner service before anything else. Carmen will be thinking of her, however. Thinking of how soft her hands must be, or how sweet her chapstick tastes. He'll think of how it'll be nice to have her around, not just the help but to have someone with a softer tone around the place, too.

He thinks about Y/N while making glaze, mixing everything together to get that perfect spicy honey taste, he's imagining how her face lights up when she laughs. He doesn't even really know her yet but he's already making up what a first date would be like. He'd take her out for coffee, go see a movie, then go for a walk. But not too late, though. Even if she might be a night owl it's still inappropriate to keep a girl out past ten, at least that's what he read in some magazine a long time ago.

"Chef you ready to prep the team for tonight?" Sydney asked, interrupting his thoughts. He stumbled, dropping the spoon into the bowl and biting his tongue.

"Fuck- yeah, yeah I am."

-

"'M gonna go over the menu with you, if m'goin too fast then stop me." He pulls up a chair and tucks his hair behind his ears. Setting the laminated piece of paper in front of her, explaining each dish to her in firm detail. Carmen watches as her french tip acrylic nails trace along the menu, guiding along the words that he says from memory.

She's impressed, shocked even that he came up with this himself. She jokes that she can't cook and it gains a laugh from him.

"I'll teach you a few things, if ya want." He didn't mean for it to come out sounding like he was hitting on her...but secretly he was. Since when was he that slick with words?

-

I can't stop thinking about her. She's on my mind all the fuckin' time. She smelled really good, must have been her shampoo. I would love to just sit with her there, not sexually. Just be. I bet she's really calm and chill. I'd love to get ready with her in the mornings, again not sexually. To spend time, to laugh, to talk. I could eat that girl for lunch.

-

When Carmen walks into the front he catches Y/N taking pictures in the mirror by the entrance. He chuckles, watching her pose and smile. She turns around and gasps, cheeks getting darker when she realizes she's gotten caught.

"Sorry, the mirror is just so aesthetic."

"That? Um, okay? Guess we have different opinions of what aesthetic is." Carmen guides her to the back counter, teaching her how to count inventory of everything.

He feels out of place- no, he feels gross when he watches her bend down. He sees a peek of white lace stick out from the band of her jeans and he knows he shouldn't stare, but he can't help his mind from wandering. He wanders about what other types of underwear she might have, if she has any special ones, what they'd feel like wrapped-

"Carmen!" Sydney snaps him out of his daydream. "Sorry to interrupt, but you have a phone call from the AC guy." He's pulled away, for the better, but he knows he's going to write about this as soon as he gets the chance.

-

I'm interested in more than just being her boss. I could eat her alive, i'd let her take a seat on me wherever she wants for however long she wants. She'd taste like....like sweet watermelons on a sunny summer day. Yeah, something like that. She can't be real can she? I don't know how long I can keep acting professional. I just know she'd be the one for me.

・。♡.・゜✭・.・✫・゜✭・。. ♡・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜♡・。

feedback | masterlist

[amorchai]

𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐌!𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔.

written for my old blog but never posted!

pairing(s): tasm!peter parker x reader

words: 873

warnings/tags: proposal + nervous pete.

peter was surprised you hadn’t caught on yet. anytime you held his hand, he was terrified when you would ask if he’s okay, having noticed him shaking and sweating, anytime he would speak to you he would stutter but after asking him if he was alright, you would shrug it off when he replies, ‘course.’

all he would say was that he was overwhelmed from the party, people around the house as a gathering on the same day as your anniversary with peter. while one hand held yours, his other was stuffed in his pocket where his finger ran over the ring box. 

gwen winking at him knowingly as he smiles back scared, no one else in the party knowing that peter was hopefully going to have a fiancée by the end of the night.  

“are you sure you’re okay?” peter drags his eyes away from watching his feet slightly kick the tiled floor in your shared kitchen, jumping in surprise while you lightly tug his hand for him to focus. “what—? oh, yeah. yeah i am, baby. i just— i’m just slightly overwhelmed.”

it wasn’t too busy, just some friends and family over, music not too loud, but you knew his heightened senses meant he could get easily agitated by these things. “do you want to step outside for five? we could go up to the roof?” you ask. 

“hm?” he mumbles again, eyes looking back at the floor before back at you, “oh— um. s-sure, that would be great, thank you,” he replies, watching your expression which continuously grows more worried. he doesn’t understand why he is this nervous.

but as you begin to walk out of the kitchen, pulling him behind you and politely passing people with a small, “we’ll be right back,” peter realises that it was the moment it was going to happen. he knew you both wouldn’t want it to happen in front of everyone, a quiet moment on the roof atop their flat where everyone they love was waiting downstairs sounded perfect. 

you didn’t speak again until you opened the door to the roof, entering the airy space and looking onto the city of new york, dark skies contrasting with the lights within windows of buildings and on the busy streets, “that’s better.”

peter felt like he could breathe again, the wind floating past as he takes a deep breath, walking beside you as you near the rooftop edge, leaning against the wall. your shoulders touch as you lean in close to him, peter watching you as you gaze around the city in front of you. 

your hair breathing against the wind, your eyes slightly squinted as well and peter can’t help but lean in to kiss your cheek gently. 

you smile, turning your head to look at him, “you okay, spidey?” you ask him, hand re-finding his as you lace your fingers together with affection. “never better,” he replies, both of you smiling at each other giddily before instinctively leaning in to kiss you softly. 

both of your bodies turn to each other, peter’s spare hand tangling slightly into your hair as he pours all his love he has for you into the kiss, overwhelmed at the feeling of what’s to come, and you don’t even know yet. 

you lightly gasp once he pulls away, both hands moving to settle against his chest as you catch your breath, peter tucking a few strands of your hair behind your ear as he watches, “i have something i wanted to ask you.” 

nodding, you feel your eyebrows tug together as you wordlessly usher him to ask and peter feels nauseous and light headed as he reaches into his pocket to pull out the ring box.

you look down where his hand was, eyes widening slightly as your hands cover your mouth while gasping. peter steps back before falling onto one knee and opening the box, “i’ve been nervous this entire night to ask but after waiting for years, i don’t think i can wait another minute from asking you to marry me.”

he rambles slightly, yet able to not tumble over his words as he speaks, peter’s eyes gazing into your tear-filled eyes, his not far behind. “so, will you marry me, y/n?” he asks. 

his cheeks hurt from the widest grin plastered on his when you nod before saying, “of course i will,” he goes to reach into the ring box but before he can take it out he feels you collapse into his arms, pulling into a tight hug as you both begin to cry. 

peter’s arms secure you to him, one holding the back of your head while the other gently across your waist while grasping the box. “i love you, i love you so much,” peter repeats into your hair lowly, both of your faces wet from tears as the exciting next step in your relationship begins.

finally, you pull back as you both stand from your kneeling positions and you both laugh together through slight sobs as peter slides the ring onto your finger. you both keep laughing together, in disbelief as he uses his thumbs to caress the tears away from your cheeks before leaning in to kiss you again.

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amorchai © ─ all rights reserved. no reposting/translating/copying will be tolerated.

[sleepyjuice]

WARNINGS: 18+!!! rimming!!! female reader eating jj’s ass!!! this is definitely not for everyone but that is literally the only warning for this. if you’re not interested in this or grossed out, you don’t have to read it! i totally respect the decision either way. we don’t kink shame here. enjoy!!!!<3

alcohol was a godsend for bringing you the confidence you had tonight. you weren’t wasted, but you had enough in your system that anxiety was a thing of the past.

you and jj had a couple beers at the kegger but decided to head home early because it had been awhile since you both had any alone time together. so with the chateau all to yourselves, you headed straight for the shower and got fucked nice and good against the tiled wall.

the night was still young and you were sure you still had at least an hour or two before your friends returned, so you and jj were cuddling fully naked in his bed. you were facing each other, his arms holding you tightly while you played absently with his necklace. you came twice in the shower and jj once, but your stomach was still full of need, desire.

taking a deep breath, you slowly lowered your hand down the front of jj’s naked body, sensually rubbing at his skin as you made your way lower and lower. you stopped once you got to his soft cock to palm it, already feeling it twitch and begin to grow.

“mm, you still horny, baby? wanna go again?” he grinned, exhaling slowly and lifting his hips a bit to allow you better access to continue rubbing his now half hard cock.

you hummed in response, the words on the tip of your tongue, but you wanted to get him fully hard first. that didn’t take long though, your thumb circling his tip and rubbing along his vein had him fully hard in seconds. plus, you were still butt naked right before his eyes. that always did the trick.

“i was thinking…i wanna make you feel good.” you looked up from his dick to meet his eyes, seeing his own eyes were filled with lust once again, a grin still lingering on his lips.

“yeah? wanna suck my dick with that pretty lil mouth of yours? go right ahead.” he told you, your cheeks heating at his words. it wasn’t surprising that was what he gathered from your words. you were vague and this was also something you two had never talked about before, you had always been too anxious to bring it up.

“well, i kinda wanna put my pretty little mouth somewhere else.” you said firmly, watching him closely for his reaction.

now, jj had eaten your ass plenty of times. he was shameless about it. as a matter of fact, he called himself a proud ass eater. he was great at it too, his tongue was quite a talented organ.

“oh yeah? where’s that?”

“i wanna eat your ass, jj.”

your eyes quickly flickered away from his face down to his cock that you were still stroking, irrationally thinking that the second those words left your mouth, his cock would go soft.

“hey, look at me,” he reached down to cup your chin between his fingers, returning your gaze to his own. “i’m down. why the hell not?”

you were giddy now. his nonchalance about it was actually a huge fucking turn on and you found your thighs clenching at his words. that was jj though, he lived life to the fullest and was as open minded as they come, so you really shouldn’t have expected him to have another response. you loved that about him, truly.

“okay! fuck, yeah, let’s do it.” you giggled, sitting up, your face heating even more as he smiled back at you, not an ounce of disingenuousness evident on his face.

“aight, how you want me? and do i call you mommy?” there he goes.

“no! jj, god — shut up,” you laughed, fully sitting up now. “just lie on your stomach and put your ass up.” you instructed, watching as he playfully saluted you before getting into said position.

your pussy was leaking once again, the same arousal from earlier was still present but there was an entirely new rush of pleasure you felt just from seeing him like this. he was trimmed for the most part, only sparse hairs here and there, and you had a perfect view of his hole as well as his balls that you loved so much, plus his hard cock that was now leaking precum.

you were a bit nervous. for no reason other than that you hoped you would do it well. you had been with girls before, eating pussy was no stranger to you, but this was in a whole new ballpark.

“you look hot as fuck like this.” you told him, positioning yourself behind jj and bringing your hands to rub at his ass cheeks, your thumb slowly and gently brushing in between his cheeks.

you could see his abdomen flex in response to both your words and your touch and he glanced back at you from over his shoulder to give you a reassuring smile. it seemed like he could tell you were a little nervous. but truthfully the excitement was outweighing your nerves.

you grinned back at him before leaning your head down and planting wet kisses along his ass cheeks, bringing one hand down to pump jj’s cock, gathering the precum that had dripped down his shaft to lubricate his cock, slick sounds emitting from your hand tugging up and down on him.

you didn’t miss the little huffs that left his lips as he held himself up with his forearms, his hands clenched in fists.

without saying anything, you dipped your head, using your free hand to spread his cheeks slightly before pressing a soft kiss against his hole, followed by your tongue swirling effortlessly around the tight ring of muscles.

jj moaned shamelessly, quite literally the second your tongue touched him had instant chills shooting down his spine and you hadn’t even really gotten started yet. this was new for him, but so far the feeling of your warm mouth and wet tongue on him was feeling better than he could have envisioned it to be.

“ohhhh fuck, shit, baby— yeah.” he grunted as you flattened your tongue, intensifying the pressure against him as you lapped your tongue up and down.

your stomach was flipping in pride and pleasure, beyond pleased that he seemed to really be enjoying it so far.

“it feels good, jay?” you asked before returning your tongue back to its spot on him, swirling it wetly and gently teasing the opening with the tip of your tongue.

“fuck, oh god, it’s good, it’s good. doin’ great down there, baby, fuck.” he cursed, fighting between the physical urge to keep his head pressed down against the bed and just allow the pleasure to happen and the urge to watch you. he would turn his head back to you every few moments, but have to go back to the pillow when it was too much.

you smiled in satisfaction upon realizing how good this was really making him feel, and after a couple minutes of teasing your intrusion, you slowly pushed the tip of your tongue further into his hole and began fucking him with your tongue.

jj shuddered at the feeling, a moaning and panting mess before you. your hand was still working at his cock and the combination of that along with you tongue fucking him had him closer than he would like to admit. the two of you had done just about everything, but this was a brand new feeling for him, and a good one at that.

you continued your wet movements, sloppily and quick, spit dripping shamelessly down your chin as you fucked him. your pussy was clenching around nothing and you swore one touch against your clit would be enough to send you over the edge right now. it was all so sensual and erotic and seeing how jj’s body reacted as well as hearing the sounds that left his lips had you feeling so powerful and completely and utterly aroused to the max.

“shit, baby, ‘m close, real close. bout to cum.” he suddenly warned, but you weren’t surprised. you had felt how his dick was twitching rapidly and the way his muscles were tightening was all too familiar for you.

“cum for me, jay, you’re doing so good.” you praised before quickly returning to slip your tongue back into his hole and quickening your movements on his cock. that was all it took for him to hit his peak, groaning loudly and breathlessly as he came all over your hand, his body collapsing forward down onto the bed.

you quickly moved your hand once he finished and just in time for him to not crush it, pulling your tongue out of him and giving his hole one last lingering kiss before crawling up to lay beside him.

he turned his head to face you when he felt you lay down beside him, his cheeks flushed and a lazy smile tugging at his lips. the only way to describe how he looked was euphoric, and that’s exactly how he felt.

“you did so good, jay.” you spoke lovingly, kissing his sweaty forehead a few times, unsure if he’d want to kiss your lips after where they just were.

but jj didn’t care, of course. nothing could stop him from kissing his girl. he pulled you closer to him and connected your lips, kissing you tenderly. you hummed into the kiss and eventually pulled away because it seemed like he still needed to fully catch his breath.

“you did good, baby. i loved every second of that. that was hot as fuck.” you giggled loudly at his words, your heart full as he pulled you into his arms with a yawn. this was how you imagined you looked after he fucked you good. so it wasn’t surprising that he was seconds away from sleep now, because that was exactly how you were after he fucked you.

“yay. so we can do it again?” you asked as you relaxed into his touch, your head pressed against his chest as you listened to his previously racing heart begin to slow as he drifted off to sleep.

“mm, we’re definitely doin’ that again,” he chuckled tiredly, planting one last lazy kiss to your lips as he shut his eyes. “love you, baby. my perfect girl.”

[mirrors-are-green]

How to make Tim & Damian friends? Through animals. Obviously. Also Damian should've gotten a horse waaaaay before there was a cow. He's a 10 year old aristocratic child. Which likes animals. OF. COURSE. HE. IS. GETTING. A. HORSE.

Damian is a horse girl. No, I will not elaborate.

(It's a sport. Dignified. With animals. Which you get to train. Actually the better you train them, the more successful you are. OF COURSE he would be into it. Come on.)

(horse riding training in Mongolia was actually used as a reward/present for him from Thalia. Still training. Technically. But you all know how it went.)

(bonus points if he gets to bond with a stable man)

What if Tim got a horse from his parents for a late random-rich-folks present? Like a car, but he was too young so... He names her Queenie Buttercup.

What would Tim do with a horse? Well, he researches. Alright. His parents bought him a place in the best stable in the city, but it's so obviously corrupt. Also incompetent. Tim' s gotta take care of that. Obviously. Also some horses are horribly mistreated by their owners. Or sold to the slaughterhouse. He manipulates, blackmails, bribes these people off. And.... he somehow ended up with a full stable some day, without even realizing it or planning it one bit???.

Also he lets all the poor kids in (he hired some people to supervise dw) to the horsies. Obviously. They help around. Get to ride? There is one pair of twins from Crime Alley (most of the kids are from there...) taking care of this one old horse in particular. They're making him the most beautiful looking food, braid his mane, decorate him with frills...

There is a quiet red haired boy, with black eyeliner, heavily tattooed. He always helps the younger kids and is the best at shushing any spooked horse.

There is a great competition who can decorate their saddle the prettiest. Some adults even try to cheat...

There's also one reeeealy ambitious kid. He wants to compete for real. He showed up, determined, fists balled up, at Tim's front door one day. He said that he discovered some of Janet & Jack artifacts were in fact very convincing fakes like this one tile, from example. Supposedly from Hadrian's grave. But it was identified on the basis of three papers, all of which cite in a critical junction a paper which, under closer examination, is clearly just pretending to answer the question of the origin, in fact it was written with the specific person in mind from the very beginning, isn't it strange that....... etc etc. But he won't tell anybody, no siree. He'll spare Tims' family the embarrassment. But only if he gets to ride Queenie Buttercup. And if he's good, get the chance to compete.

(He has a mother who supports him very much. And a stepfather who loves him. And two no no-nonsense older sisters (one is veterinarian, Tim hires her immediately. Pays her VERY handsomely. She always sees through his bullshit and doesn't care about his money or power or status, her brother and animals come first. Damian is Very Impressed and demands to be made aware every time she does something so he can watch or even assist.) who do whatever they can to help him realize his dream. Actually his whole block loves him. When he competes the whole Crime Alley keeps their fingers crossed for him to win. He gets a big celebration when he comes home after winning his first big trophy.)

There's also a girl from Tim's class really into horses. She's overly formal and does karate in her free time. Tim never noticed her before, but now they're besties. They trade statistics and have regular fights about what's the most likely breed to do XYZ.

Damian of course wants the piece of that fairytale dream stable as soon as he finds out (so maybe the stables are not on the manor grounds idk). Also after realizing how many animals Tim has rescued he starts to respect him.

How he found out?

Tim obviously doesn't advertise that he's got a whole stable and is literally changing lives of a bunch of kids. No one cares about his stuff, obviously. He would bore them to tears when talking about it, just like with any other of his hobbies. Also it's normal and totally what anyone would do. Besides, doesn't every upper class family have stables? It's, like, a requirement when you're filthy rich. Like having a yacht.

Also that could make Tim, who always wants to do everything by himself, the most experienced in terms of normal farm adjacent/ manual labor. Like, the Bats are city boys through and through. Jason maybe did idk some construction work when he needed money, but he wouldn't get the chance to actually muck about with horse manure probably ever. So it would be HILARIOUS. He could casually bring it up? His casual knowledge of this kind of work. Everyone would think it was a joke and something he researched, so in poor taste even to pretend to actually have experience with this hardship and act all knowledgeable. Jason would scoff at the silver spoon Tim has been fed with since birth, so what can he possibly know. And he just goes...

"Oh yeah, I run a stable actually. Yes I do the clean ups with everyone. Obviously. So that's why I know about that. Anyway so what are we watching?" And they're just SHOCKED.

Or alternatively

Tim is of course the owner of like, 6 cats. Actually there was just one stable cat at the beginning but she had kittens so... yeah it's 6 now. Yeah we take care of them. They're cute. And he just casually brings it up to Damian?

Tim: "I totally get making so many pictures of your pet. I have, like, five thousand pictures of my cats. I sometimes stalk them, even. To get better shots. And they look so adorable in each of them!"

Damian: "You. Have cats. As in. Multiple."

Tim: "Oh I've never told you, sorry, completely forgot haha. Do you wanna see the pi- *grabs his phone*?

Damian: "That. Was. The. Stupidest. Question. I've. Ever. Heard. OF COURSE I WANT TO SEE. SHOW ME NOW OR PERISH.

Damian, some time later: And just as I was looking at Ismat Hasna...

Tim: Woohoo stop. I don't know what you're talking about. None of my horses are named like that?

Damian, completely seriously: Well obviously. If she was originally named like that, it would mean you have some common sense and I wouldn't have to rename her. But, alas. You named the most majestic horse on this plane of existence QUEENIE. BUTTERCUP. So. She needed an intervention from someone more sensible than you. Obviously.

Tim:

Damian: You're welcome, by the way. I already corrected her paperwork.

And they just bond and start being friendly towards each other and Dick is soooo proud, Bruce has no idea what/how (he suspects blackmail or witchcraft), Jason and Tim team up to support Crime Alley kiddos in pursuit of their hobbies. Jason got literal tears in his eyes when he saw, in real time, some harmless contact with animals and getting a chance to take care of something slowly, slowly breaks the circle of violence these kids were stuck in.

His next charity project is some martial arts centre, an indoor basketball court, paying some good trainers to just believe in those kids. It works wonders.

Idk just some thoughts I would be very glad if someone made it into a proper story or even help me develop the concept fuller... just tag me!!

[hongcherry]

webisode: two || j.jk

Jungkook speaks to you for the first time, and the outcome shocks him.

📸 Pairing: spiderman!Jungkook x girlfriend!Reader(afab)

📸 Rating/Genres/AUs: PG-15; fluff, strangers to lovers, SBaFL au, Marvel au

📸 Warnings: Bullying

📸 Word Count: 1k

📸 Timeline: Before Tangled Thoughts, Jungkook is not Spidey yet c:

📸 Author’s Note: This has been a long time coming! I'll try to work on more high school-related fics of this couple since a lot of you guys have been asking for them thru my SBaFL survey. I greatly appreciate all the great feedback I've gotten, whether through the form or on here directly! 💖

SBaFL masterpost | bts masterlist | main masterlist

“Jeon! You’re late!”

Jungkook scrambles to grab the camera bag from its cabinet. There’s a thin layer of sweat on his body from having run from the library.

“I-I’m sorry, Mr. Jay! I got caught up with ho—”

“I don’t want excuses, Jeon. I want pictures!” he exasperates while pointing to the door. “The play starts in seven minutes. You better haul it before they shut the doors.”

“Y-yes sir,” Jungkook exclaims before rushing out of the room.

Jungkook sprints through the halls, dodging students left and right. He wouldn’t consider himself completely non-athletic. He’s not as clumsy as he looks, and he can run a decent length without getting tired. However, he’s still grouped with the “weaker” students. He blames his narrow frame. 

Jungkook’s a few feet away from the auditorium doors when he suddenly trips over something. His body slides across the tiles, and there’s a small crack as his face collides with the ground. His vision is paired with an annoying new line now that his glasses lenses are cracked.

There’s laughter behind him as he staggers back up. He doesn’t need to look back to know his fall wasn’t accidental.

“Awh, even he’s falling for you, Flash,” one of the students chuckles.

Jungkook glares at them. He wants to scold them, but the play is about to start.

“Are you speechless over my looks too, Jungpoop?” Flash smirks.

Jungkook rolls his eyes as he turns to rush toward the now-closing doors. He doesn’t have time for a pointless argument.

“Wait! Please!” he calls out.

The doors keep closing.

Jungkook pumps his legs faster and shoves his foot in the small gap. He curses mentally as the door crushes his foot. Pain shoots up his leg and instincts make him want to cradle it. Though, he pushes past those feelings and shimmies his way in.

“Excuse me, thank you,” he mumbles hurriedly even though the student worker doesn’t help him or say anything. They simply stare at him blankly—bored and unbothered.

Must be working for extra credit or something.

Jungkook takes a seat in the back while he pulls out the camera. He messes with the settings for a bit before taking a test shot. However, he fails to remember the flash is on due to the dark setting.

Heads turn to glare at him at the sudden burst of light.

“Sorry! Sorry!” he whispers loudly and quickly turns the flash off.

“Dammit,” he huffs to himself as he readjusts his settings.

The house lights dim and music begins to play over the speakers.

Looks like he made it just in time.

He puts his student worker lanyard and the camera’s strap around his neck. Time to get to work.

He carefully descends the aisle, getting closer to the stage.

“Stop right there!”

Jungkook halts in his movements, glancing around to see who said that. Then he realizes it was someone from the play.

Jungkook’s gaze drifts to the stage and his heart stops.

It’s you.

Yn.

You’re the lead?

Jungkook watches you perform, amazed by your talent. You’re embodying your character well.

He had no idea you were going to be on stage.

He mainly knows you from class, but he’s also seen you in the halls occasionally. Your bright personality caught his attention, along with others. You’re not the most popular, but you’re definitely not a shadow either.

He’s never talked to you and doubts you even know who he is.

Jungkook has always thought you were pretty. Though, not only that, you were also top of the class. Brains and beauty.

And now, you’re a great actress? He wonders what you can’t do.

Once Jungkook finally snaps out of his surprise, he begins capturing photos. He moves to and fro of the stage, getting different angles. He finds a spot that provides a good view and makes a home there. He watches the play with rapt attention, taking a few pictures during interesting scenes.

Before he knows it, the play is over and everyone is taking a bow.

The house lights turn on and people start filing out of the auditorium.

Jungkook grabs his belongings and then follows the stream of others. He spots you in the corner surrounded by a handful of people.

People you seem unfamiliar with come and praise you, and as always, you give them your dashing smile.

Jungkook adjusts his camera settings and after a deep breath, makes his way toward you.

“Excuse me, Yn,” Jungkook hesitantly calls out.

You turn from your group of supporters. Your eyes shine so brightly that Jungkook feels his breath get stuck in his throat.

“Yes?” you respond politely.

Jungkook blinks rapidly. “I-I’m with the school’s newspaper. Can I get a p-photo of you?”

You smile and nod, then point to the flowers in your hands. “Should I give these to someone?”

Jungkook shakes his head quickly. “No, it’s okay. You look pretty with them.”

You raise an eyebrow at his comment, and it’s then Jungkook registers what he has said.

“I-I mean they look pretty! They’re nice flowers,” he corrects hurriedly.

You giggle. “They are.”

Jungkook nods but doesn’t say anything.

“Where should I stand?” you ask after a few awkward silent seconds.

“Oh! Over here is fine,” Jungkook points to a blank wall.

You move to stand in front of the wall and hold up the flowers. Tilting your head, you smile at Jungkook.

Jungkook’s heart is beating quickly as he snaps a few pictures. He just hoped his hands were stable enough; Mr. Jay will be more mad at him if his pictures turn out to be crap.

“Thank you,” Jungkook says.

You start walking slowly backward toward your friends and family.

“Anytime… Jungkook, right?” you question.

Jungkook nearly drops the camera at his name from your mouth. You know his name?”

“Y-yeah. You k-know me?” he stutters pathetically.

You smile kindly. “Of course. You’re the awesome photographer for our school’s paper,” you gesture to the camera.

“And,” you continue, “you’re in my chemistry class. You always get the questions correct.”

“R-right.”

Jungkook’s too stunned to say anything. He didn’t expect you to remember his name. After all, he’s never really spoken to you, let alone told you his name directly.

“I hope you liked the show. I’ll see you Monday,” you say with a wave, then turn away.

Jungkook’s delayed wave goes unnoticed, but he’s too amazed you know his name to care.

A/N: Has anyone seen/played the new Spidey game? It's so amazing!!! I loved it so much! I'm also a big Venom fan 🤭

©️hongcherry // DO NOT REPOST OR MODIFY Please consider reblogging if you liked this work to show your support. Feedback/commentary is always welcomed.

[italiansteebie]

Babe, with the most kindness I can muster, I need to see more Steve with a prosthetic leg!!! 🫶

I only saw the beginning of this and got so scared that someone was telling me i got something horribly wrong or something, or that it was complete shit, BUT I AM SO RELIEVED THIS IS NOT THAT

here you go babes, some prosthetic!steve hc's

- when he gets a new socket (the part that holds his leg) he gets the party and family to draw little guys on it BEFORE they put the outer shell on, that way the drawings are protected

- he's got insanely good balance

- when the socket rubs his leg raw, bc they can do that sometimes, hes really good at hoping place to place on one leg even though it scares the shit out of everyone else

- fresh amputee baby steve cried for hours and hours bc his mom said that it ruined her perfect boy and he was so scared that she didn't love her anymore.

Drabble:

(different universe than the one i just posted)

robin was spending the night at steve's house. they were best friends, and it was their first sleep over, and robin couldn't tell you how excited she was.

she didn't get to have these when she was younger, the other girls deeming her too weird to be invited. she had it all planned out!

they built a fort, ordered pizza, watched movies, and even talked about girls together! and maybe steve talked about boys too... who knows?

it had gone so well, it was going so well.

until they were getting ready for bed, and a thump came from the bathroom.

and then "uhhh. rob? could you... i need help." steve's voice floated through the door, it was hesitant. she put her hand on the handle, "wait!" he said, "uh. before you come in, i. well."

oh shit.

this was the part where he kicked her out, says he isn't comfortable with a lesbo in his bedroom, oh god, she was freaking out, she- "maybe it better if you just come in here..." steve voice cut through her panic. why did he sound nervous? he was the one kicking her out!

but she opened the door and there was steve sitting on the tile floor. "what?"

steve blanched, "i um. i need help standing. i..." he murmured something she didn't catch. "what? why do you need help standing up steve just get-" she paused the motion of bending down when she noticed it.

"where the fuck is your other leg?"

and steve just... breaks, he's laughing so hard that there are tears coming out of his eyes. "that was so much better than any other reaction i've gotten." he's still laughing, and he's clapping now. robins only a little embarrassed, and she thinks he looks like a seal.

"sorry, sorry. just- whew. that was great. i uh- i lost my leg when i was 10. tore it up in a car accident. so there it goes! no more leg. uh. can you help me stand up now?"

and she's still a little shocked. so she silently helps him to his bed, grabbing his prosthetic out of the bathroom where it had fallen and places it next to the bed wordlessly.

she sits on the edge of the bed.

"did i ruin it? is... am i too weird?"

and that breaks robin out of her thoughts, "what?! no way. sorry, sorry, i was just thinking. i never... pegged you as- well. you always just looked so. normal." she says nervously.

"well. yeah, uh. here comes another sad steve fact!" he sing songs before continuing, "my parents really wanted me to remain as normal as possible after the accident so it was a lot of physical therapy... and a lot of emotional therapy... and yeah! they couldn't have me losing a leg effect their whole 'perfect harringtons' image."

"oh. steve..."

"it's okay! really. because now i've got you, and dustin! and even like... mike. so. yeah."

"i mean. missing a leg is pretty cool."

"rob..."

"no really! it seems kinda like... spooky. but in a good way! imagine the pranks you could do!"

and what started out as a sad confessional, turned into an excited prank planning session.

[swampstew]

Killer, I-21 ~ Shibari

Summary: You and your long time crush finally make it official and as promise of commitment, Killer shows you what's under his helmet. You learn a lot about his culture and yourself in the progress.

Warnings: Spicy! Killer as a Wulver with female reader, technically monsterfucking, shibari kink with suspension and bondage, oral (Killer receiving), vaginal penetration, Killer will always have better hair than reader in any AU sorry I don't make the rules. Word Count: 617

Wulver: a wolf-like humanoid creature thought to be benevolent but known to become violent if provoked. They’re generally friendly to locals and were known to shared back with the community it felt safe in. They were described as furry-looking people, often times with the head of a wolf or extreme wolf-like features. Some claim they were never human to begin with.

You were always curious why Killer wore a mask. You passed by him every day when you came home from work – he worked in construction, a business he co-owned down the street from you, and you would always see him around town on projects he was contracted for. Him and his crew. Maybe it was the mystery that allured you to him, but after months of flirting he finally asked you out.

It took even longer to find out Killer’s true nature. You always assumed his gorgeous mane of hair was…well…human hair. Not fur. Well, it was technically hair but it protruded from a fuzzy scalp and neck. He was only able to dodge the inevitable for so long before he finally told you, finally allowed you to see him under the mask – as a token of deepening your relationship. You felt honored, humbled, taking in the sight of him.

You wouldn’t describe him as a wolf-man so much as a beast of a man with a wolf-like appearance. He didn’t have a long, protruding snout but he did have sharp, canine teeth. His deep blue eyes gleamed under the blonde hair that flopped over his forehead, short and soft fur lined his scalp and his upper back, and that was it. No tail, his ears were slightly pointed at the top curves, and filed his nails a lot – on top of painting them which you thought was hot to begin with.

When you asked him to kiss you for the first time maskless, you knew you were in deep when you moaned into the kiss, his massive body having pulled you into his embrace to show you he wasn’t a mindless monster, but a man with mutual desire and needs. Relationships are for growing, and you found that you had a certain kink you didn’t know about before Killer.

Making sure he didn’t accidentally slash an artery with his nails and teeth, he spent a great deal of mental energy keeping himself in check. So he wanted to try a new avenue. A way to keep you in place, a way to bend you to his body without fear of blood loss. With his experience with tools, you were delighted to find how efficient he was with tying rope.

Knots intricately woven and placed over your body, pulling against your smooth skin and flesh as you were suspended into the air. Positioned to meet Killer’s needs, easy to manipulate so he please you both in creative ways. He had you sideways in the air.

Your breasts lolled towards the floor, jiggling in Killer’s palm as he groped and pinched your nipples. All while thrusting into your throat. His free hand buried in your hair giving you soothing pats and loving clenches as he edged himself with your mouth as you eagerly sucked him. Always so giving.

Fucking into your needy pussy with his swollen cock, holding one thigh up and his hand on the suspension rope to pull you into his chest. The position buried him deeper and your neck was cradled by his beefy bicep as he snapped faster into you. The sensation brought you over the edge, clamping down on his cock and making him howl in pleasure from the tight grip you put him in.

Down boy, you both have all night.

9 tiles to go, 47 calls made so far.

[3xen]

under the gentle sky; i. r                                                               when you see a fellow classmate—in dire need of help, it’s only a natural instinct to assist them in any way.

n. as you read, my writing gets worse. possible pt.2 (?)

c. strangers to lovers, rainy day au, “soccer” is portrayed as “football”, profanity, reader & rin are hs students

raindrops pitter and patter across the brick tiles of the sidewalk—water flooding the streets of kamakura. the sole of his shoes, drenched, as the result of the sudden downpour. his hair soaked—almost as if he stepped right out of his bath. rin knew better. when the murky clouds begin to conceal the once mellow sky, it should have clicked in his mind—an umbrella would be of great use in this kind of weather.

his mother informed him of the weather that morning. but even so, he was reluctant to bring proper protection. the traveling distance from his home wasn’t far. he wasn’t going to be stopping anywhere on the way home—an umbrella was not necessary.

but here he was; jogging—surveying the area to find a place for shelter. rin mentally cursed the weather gods—if he caught any sort of cold from this weather, he’d be furious. just the thought of skipping football practice was a no-no.

after a few more moments of jogging, his eyes darted directly to a bus shelter—just at the corner of an intersection. he neared closer—finally having the chance to take a relieved breath as he sat seated on the metal bench. he slicked his hair back—away from his line of vision. he wondered, how could he get home now?

he could always resort to calling his mother—no. he couldn't do that, that's totally disrespecting his mother. sae? no. he shook his head—maybe the storm would cool down after a while. once the storm passed, he would leave.

“fuck.” he sat in silence for six solid minutes. the rain, in fact, spared no mercy for him today. the rain hadn’t stopped, even till now.

suddenly, rin hears a few light footsteps from beside him. he doesn’t pay any mind to them—ignoring their presence as a whole. but, the shoes look so familiar. his eyes scan the figure from the bottom of their feet till he can see their face—where he can clearly make out the identity of the person.

you wring out the water from your hair, almost like a shirt. you, too, don’t pay any mind to him—until you notice his lingering gaze. immediately, you can easily identify who it is. that football genius.

he looks away—shoving his fists down his pockets. you had never seen the football genius so powerless. itoshi rin? forgetting to bring an umbrella? something as simple as that?

you bask in the silence for a few more seconds—really not knowing what to say. i mean, did he even wanna hear anything at all? he was a quiet individual and didn’t seem like the type of person to tolerate others. it was already difficult enough to even approach him without some sort of unease.

“did you forget your umbrella?” his ears perk up at the sudden question. though his eyes are mainly focused on the somber road before him—you know he’s listening.

“yeah.”

“well,”

“you can have mine.” you continue, offering him your umbrella with a gesture of your hand. he turns—giving a short, quick glance to your offering, then back up to you. he looks displeased, but nonetheless, takes the umbrella.

his expression is visibly questioning your antics but he can’t urge himself to ask. it’s foreign—the kind gesture of yours. it caused a spiral in his head.

it was the first time—anyone witnessed his venerability. he let himself fall victim at your hands. it was shameful—rin never allowed hospitality from outsiders.

rin’s eyes flickered over to you as you begin to rise from your seat—all he could think was, oh. you weren’t gonna head home in the rain were you? it’d be pretty shitty of him to take something that you would desperately need in weather like this.

you pointed to the approaching bus—his eyes followed the direction of your finger and finally he understood what you meant. he felt somewhat relaxed—reassured that you giving up your umbrella was for good purpose.

he remained seated on the cold bench—watching your soaked figure enter the vehicle. you gave a brief, respectful bow to the bus driver and hurriedly went to find an available seat.

rin walked in silence that night—his thoughts in a daze. it was such a small, simple act. and it had him in shackles just like that. the reminder of your gesture quickly became the only topic on his mind for the remaining night.

© 3xen

[ivory-lamps]

A10: Interstellar Mirage

Characters: Muneuji, Ushio, Nagi, Netaro, Akuta, Yukikaze, Kafka, Tao, Chihiro, Ten, Kuguri, Kiroku & Nanaki Location: Hama Summary: Some time passes since the toast and excitement spreads through the room. Netaro arrives late and begins passing out colourful steamed buns… Proofreader: Shay

ㅤ

Translator’s Notes ☽.‎˖

Gyaru: Derived from the English word “gal”. It’s a Japanese fashion subculture which consists of showy clothing, heavy tanning, bleached or dyed hair, and lots of makeup. Associated items can be brightly coloured.

Cica: This is the Hungarian term for “cat/kitten”.

Momiji / Kaede: (Kafka went around giving a toast to all the ward mayors, but I wonder if he’s doing okay. He looked like he couldn’t handle his alcohol very well during his coming-of-age party…)

Kafka: Heey~ Manager, so this is where you were~ Huug~

Momiji / Kaede: Wha!? I took my eyes off you for a second and you’ve gotten this drunk?

Yukikaze: He must have gotten into a good mood seeing things finally take shape. Should I carry him?

Momiji / Kaede: Oh, thanks. But maybe it’ll be better to ask Sakujiro-san to take care of him instead.

(It was inevitable during Kobe, but I bet he’ll sulk again if he finds out Yuki-nii carried him.)

Yukikaze: But Sakujiro-san went out to get a set of mahjong tiles to play with Liguang, Kinari and Yodaka-san.

Momiji / Kaede: Huh? Why mahjong tiles?

Kafka: Noo~ I’m not sleeping until Netaro gets here! We’re gonna conquer the world together~

Momiji / Kaede: (After having an interview with Netaro-kun through Daniel-san’s recommendation, Kafka has really taken a liking to him.)

(But it’s nice having more ward mayors that are like friends. Right, Kafka?)

Chihiro: Oh, I wanted to take a picture with Manager-pii but looks like they’re having a hard time with a dead-drunk President-chii. Guess I’ll come back later.

Tao: Hmm… ……? Can you hear something?

Chihiro: Huh?

??: …Steamed buns~ Addicting steamed buns~ Straight outta the steamer ♪

Netaro: How about some crazy delicious steamed buns?

Laika: Buns!

Chihiro: Wow~!! These are great! They’re so cute ☆ The pet robot also has a [1]gyaru look to it – you’re the G.O.A.T~♪

Tao: Oh, are you Yowa-san? The one who runs that steamed bun cafe…? You said you were gonna be late, right?

Netaro: That’s right. I’m indeed Netaro Yowa, the one who will be the mayor for ward 18! I ended up arriving late since I was steaming these new limited buns for the party.

Chihiro: Chii’s Chihiro! And this is Tao-Tao! I’m so psyched – these strange steamed buns look so good~♪

Netaro: This is the “Interstellar Mirage ☆ Natto Bean Curry Bun” and this one is “Smiling Bon Voyage ☆ Mushroom Cheese Bun”.

Laika: Nattuuu~♪ Lalala, beep beep beep.

Chihiro: OMG! This lil’ robot just started singing outta nowhere – that’s sooo cute ☆ Can I take a picture with you both, Taroppu? And post it on dazzle~?

Netaro: Why, of course, Chii!

Tao: Wow, they’re already calling each other by their nicknames…

Chihiro: Hey, do you have fingers~? Can you make a heart with Chii~?

Tao: Taking a picture’s fine and all but I’m gonna have a steamed bun. Uhh… I’ll take the mushroom and cheese…

Chihiro: Then Chii’s gonna have the crazy natto curry one. Thanks for the food ♪

Tao & Chihiro: Munch…

Netaro & Laika: ……

Tao: …Pfft, ahahahahahaha! What the heck is this? It’s making me laugh like crazy!!

Chihiro: Huh!? Tao-Tao…!?

Tao: Ahahahahaha!

Chihiro: Uh, I dunno what’s going on but Tao-Tao’s going LMAO and it’s so SSR worthy! I totally have to film this!

Tao: My stomach, it hurts…!

Laika: Natuu, Giovanni, piroppu~

Chihiro: Cuteeee ☆ He’s rolling around on the floor~ Sigh I think my maternal instincts are overflowing! OMG!! I’ve never felt this way before! I can’t stop taking pics~♪

Toi: I–It’s Chii-sama…! We’re standing on the same ground…! Breathing the same air…!

Ahh… I want to pray for this miracle! Thank you for letting me be born in the same generation as my idol…!

Mashiro: Chii-sama is certainly one of the most important people destined to be born in this world!

Sonia: Ohh~ So Chii-sama is one of the chosen life-forms! I see!

Chou un: …I think all life is equal but I shall refrain from tactless comments.

Momiji / Kaede: Oh, Netaro-kun is here. Kafka’s asleep, though.

Kuguri: Hey, [2]Cica. Are you enjoying the banquet?

Ten: I figured we haven’t had a drink together yet. Anyway, good job selecting all 18 ward mayors.

Momiji / Kaede: Thanks, you two. Cheers!

(A lot of different relationships are being formed now that they’re all living together under one roof, but… it’s a bit strange seeing Ten-kun and Kuguri-san get along so well already.)

Ten: Oh, right. Shumai was howling up a storm when that guy from the steamed bun cafe came.

Kuguri: Hehe. It must be one of those wild instincts. Are you sure you want to let him in?

Momiji / Kaede: Oh… you’re talking about Netaro-kun? He is a bit of an enigma but I think it’s fine.

(According to Toi-kun’s divination, Netaro-kun was also a necessary individual that will guide us to his brother. We have to help him find his brother, just as we promised.)

Akuta: Haa, haa, all of these are so good I think I might go to heaven…!

I think I’m gonna stuff myself like it’s my last day on Earth, so don’t get in my way, okay!?

Ushio: What an idiot, walking to and fro like that. I don’t wanna watch you pig out.

Kiroku: …But… Kurama… that’s your… third plate of fried noodles…

Ushio: Hey, we’re not talking about me right now.

Kiroku: …It’s delicious so… you don’t… have to be embarrassed…

Ushio: I’m not feeling any bit embarrassed, just so you know.

Muneuji: Hmm… I’d like some more. I’m going to get seconds.

Nanaki: Oh, I’ll go with you, then. The pizza I had before was pretty good… Hm?

Tao: Sigh I finally calmed down… My cheeks hurt from laughing too hard.

Chihiro: Huh? Why did I take a gazillion pics of Tao~? I had these weird maternal instincts that washed over my entire body…

Netaro: Ahaha! Perhaps I added too much of that one secret ingredient~! Right, Laika?

Laika: Shwaa.

Nanaki: ……! …Huh…!?

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ📍 Flashback

??: “Euclidean Instant Disassembly Stripping Pen”. Why, I’m rather proud of my invention!

Human clothes… they tend to get stuck at the throat.

Kiroku: …W–Where is he…?

Nanaki: Who even is he? Where did you come from? The door’s supposed to be over there…

Akuta: Wait, what about the egg?

Nanaki: Ah…!

Muneuji: What’s wrong? You’re trembling.

Nanaki: T–That’s… that guy…!

Muneuji: ?

……!

Akuta: Maaaan, I can feel the calories seep into every fibre of my being~!

Muneuji: Everyone, I want you to listen to me closely.

Kiroku: ?

Muneuji: The individual we met on the rooftop after the concert is right there. It’s that secret agent with the egg.

Ushio: What!? You’re kidding…

Nanaki: I’ve been staring at him and it has to be him. There’s no way I wouldn’t be able to recognise him.

Akuta: …Really? I don’t remember.

Ushio: I never expected anything from your brain cells, idiotake. Anyway… why is he even here? I don’t get it.

Is he the mayor of ward no.18? The one who said he’d be late?

Muneuji: Most likely. He must be Netaro Yowa-san.

Nanaki: What was it? He’s supposed to be from the secret special forces… It’s called ponzu or something…

Akuta: Yorozu!

Ushio: You remember that?

Kiroku: …The… egg… it’s there… too…!

Ushio: Huh?

Kiroku: Look…

Laika: Beep beep beep. Zee zee zee. Boing.

Nanaki: Hmm… That’s not the egg. I think that’s just a normal pet robot.

Ushio: I agree with the panda.

Kiroku: N–No… that’s… definitely…

Muneuji: You were the one who shared a deep emotional bond with the egg. I believe in Kinugawa’s intuition.

Nanaki: Even if we ignore the egg, is it okay for us to carelessly approach him?

Ushio: Who knows…? He seems dangerous so maybe it would be best to keep our distance. There might be an explosion or we might get our clothes stripped.

Akuta: Hey, did we meet on a rooftop in the summer?

Netaro: Hm?

Ushio: That guy…! He shouldn’t have strolled up to him and asked him that directly…!

Akuta: Well, everyone’s saying we all met then.

So is it true~!?

Ushio: Pretend we don’t know him.

Nanaki: …… Muneuji…!?

Muneuji: Pardon my impertinence. I’m Muneuji Kaguya, the mayor of ward no. 8. Do you recall?

Netaro: Uji, your eyes are beautiful. I feel like I’ve seen them a long time ago…

Muneuji: ……

Netaro: I don’t really remember. How about we call this our first meeting?

Muneuji: ……

Akuta: Nice to meet you. Je m'appelle Akuta Supa Hero!

Ushio: Mu-chan, we’re leaving! You, too!

Muneuji: …I see. It’s because he’s a part of Yorozu.

He is a secret agent who performs his duties in civilian clothes, so he’ll blend into society by working an ordinary job. He must not be able to reveal his identity – just like the time on the rooftop.

Ushio: Mu-chan, what’re you mumbling about?

Nanaki: So this just means he doesn’t know us, right?

Muneuji: Right. If he says he’s never seen us before, then we should also get our story to match with his. We mustn’t get in the way of his mission.

Kiroku: ……

Ushio: That’s fine. Let’s just leave it at that.

Nanaki: Hmm… Oh, well.

Akuta: Then I’m good too. Anyway, let’s eat!

Muneuji: ……

Nagi: …Sigh…

Sonia: Are you okay, Nagi-san?

Nagi: Yeah…

Sonia: This is worrying.

Nagi: Yeah. At this rate… things might be really bad.

Maybe I should go back to the store and start handing out flowers.

Sonia: But… the temperature’s gone down and it’s cold.

Nagi: That’s even better.

Sonia: ……

Nagi: Yeah. It’s better this way. …Anyway, I’ll be back.

Sonia: Nagi-sa–

Momiji / Kaede: Oh, Nagi-kun. What’re you doing over here?

Nagi: …Uhh… um.

Sonia: O–Oh, we suddenly received a work request…!

Nagi: Yeah. A sudden work request.

Sonia: Y–Yes, we’re in quite a pickle since we’re temporarily closed!

Momiji / Kaede: Yeah? Okay. We’ve got cake too so hurry back, alright?

Nagi: Y–Yep. Thanks. I’ll be going, then…

Momiji / Kaede: Come home soon!

Nagi: Ugh!

Momiji / Kaede: Are you okay!? You’re suddenly clutching your chest!

Nagi: It’s nothing… I’ll be back…!

*Nagi leaves in a hurry*

Sonia: Are you okay, Nagi-san!?

Nagi: I’m still… fine.

But if anymore happiness starts spilling out… then things will start getting really bad. I need to regulate it…

…Let’s go, Sonia. We’ll bear with the numbing cold and hand out the flowers – we need to dilute these happy feelings.

Sonia: Gotcha!

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[skysometric]

Zeta - As Complete As It Gets

Zeta was my "magnum opus" back in 2014… the pinnacle of everything I had learned with level design in Mari0 1.6. Everything about it is as grandiose as possible – colorful levels made with an omnipalette tileset, unique challenges that blend Mario and Portal elements in fun ways, a plot holding secrets close to its chest. I released about half of it in various demos up until mid-2013, getting lots of praise and attention from the community! I was quite proud of myself and my work…

But I had ambitions to use features that hadn't even been added to the game yet, like a full custom music album, water tiles, custom enemies, cutscenes. I decided to shelve the project for a little while, at least until later versions of the game gave me more tools to work with. Those new versions came and went… yet I never returned to Zeta, instead embracing other big new projects like Retrush and Floating Isles. Zeta faded into history, left unfinished, a casualty of ADHD novelty-chasing.

Many of the ideas that were planned for Zeta would later find their way into my other projects, but the idea of returning to Zeta itself has always been daunting. Despite the fact that I was so proud of it in 2014… it's a little uneven looking back on it now. In addition to finishing the existing levels, there's a ton I'd want to rework from scratch! That would practically be a new project in its own right.

The perfect excuse to return to Zeta came when I started streaming all of my Mari0 mappacks in a retrospective series. Most of them I was content with showing as they were released… but with Zeta, I specifically wanted to show it in its best light, as close to its original vision as possible. So, using modern tools in AE, I added all of the music I wanted to add from the beginning, added warps between areas of unused content, and even finished the final boss! The stream itself went great, and I had a lot to say about development of the mappack – you can watch it in full here:

The short version is that Zeta is honestly better than I remembered! Even though there's still a few rough edges, and the blend of Mario and Portal elements gets kinda wacky at times, it has a cadence to it that's genuinely unique and fun in its own right. It's a lot more mature than I expected, and getting to revisit it was a joy.

And since I already have all the materials ready… I'm releasing this version of Zeta to the public! This version has a little more work done on it since I played it on stream, including the addition of water tiles in some areas and fixed time limits in most levels. There are still a few unfinished levels, but otherwise… this is how I wanted Zeta to be, ten years ago. This is as complete as that original vision gets.

I have to make the distinction that this is the "original vision" because there's SO MUCH I would change these days. Before I did the stream, I had to mull over just how extensively I wanted to change things up – but I decided that preserving the original vision was most important… and if I want to change things more extensively, that will be a separate release. I guess let's say that a Zeta DX isn't off the table~

For now, though, here's that original vision preserved as faithfully as possible. It doesn't run in the original Mari0 1.6 anymore due to the music and the final boss, so you'll have to use Mari0 AE. A decade later, please enjoy Zeta as it was meant to be played!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/85z8jqotzun1e8z/Zeta%20-%20As%20Complete%20As%20It%20Gets.zip?dl=1

[inventors-fair]

And Another Thing: Mistake Contest Runners-up!

Our runners-up this week are @corporalotherbear, @nine-effing-hells, and @stupidstupidratcreatures!

@corporalotherbear — Counterstrike

I was quite torn on this card, actually. It's incredibly complicated when it needs to be and extremely simple—and powerful—in every other circumstance. Honestly, I'd play this card for sure; at its worst, it's "deal 3 damage to target attacking or blocking creature, or a creature that's being declared an attacker at the beginning of combat before it can do its thing." At its best, it destroys combat tricks and smashes face. Versatile is the name of the game.

Is it just me, though, or is this quite ambitious for an uncommon? I think that the complexity stands out to me because of all the possible restrictions and inter-rules complications. I can imagine players being quite annoyed if their choice of target becomes illegal, and so the spell they were trying to counter still resolves. And at the same time, that's a corner-case that's easily explained in more complex gameplay in general, so like, I get it, and I love it. I especially love, if your opponent's at 3 life and about to swing for lethal, you can get them before damage with this and blow them away. I'm weird like that, though—and for the record, the mechanics stood out first and foremost but the flavor text is also sending me. Great job on the humor there.

@nine-effing-hells — Oeuvre Bonfire

Looks like this wizard's work is now...oeuvre-done. Heyo! Anyway, this card's probably fine as a ramp spell in limited if you really need it. I can't imagine that it would get more than 3-4 mana depending, but what do I know? I think that a set like Shadows over Innistrad showed the power of Delirium, but even then, the question is: at what point in the game are you hoping to fill your graveyard to the point where this card is worth it? If you max out on non-planeswalker card types in a normal limited environment, then getting artifact + instant + sorcery + enchantment + creature + land for 2→6 mana is... I don't know, I don't think it'd be worth it.

All the same, some combo players are gonna try to make it work through channeling and discarding and all that nonsense, so what do I know. The flavor of it makes it worth it. What kind of madness are we seeing here? Is this the freedom from the mistake that grants the speaker a new lease on life? Or, are we seeing the beginning of a madness only emergent from one's realization that time has been wasted so? The ambiguity here is really doing it for me—including the question of whether this was by force from an outside perspective, internally a mistake, or a choice upon a mistake realized. I love what you've done with this, honestly.

@stupidstupidratcreatures — Bright Idea

This flavor text saved you from the fact that you submitted this card literally three minutes before I had queued the list of entries. If you're gonna try to cut it that close again, you better believe you'll be scrubbing yourself out of the tiles! Regardless, I can't say that this card is especially inspired considering the 2BB instant that destroyed a creature or planeswalker, but for one, the tapped requirement is fair enough, and the W ideal cost is a little more aggressive and combat focused, and it exiles, so whateva. And the world as well! I can imagine this being less of the Kamigawa variety and more... Hm, that's a good question, actually.

Where would a wizard try to put a star in a bottle? I'll be honest, the first person I imagined was an old-school wizard in star robes with a fancy hat, and I'm stopping myself now before I try to go down the Wikipedia rabbit hole about historical depictions of wizards in fantasy. Maybe this is Dominaria, maybe this is even Capenna because of the janitorial angle. All the same! I think that the dark humor in a wizard's alchemical mistake is enough of a mildly-gross moment that I'll admit to cracking a smile here. Hey, what more can you want?

Commentary comin' as it comes. @abelzumi

[archoneddzs15]

PC Engine - Seiya Monogatari AnEarth Fantasy Stories

Title: Seiya Monogatari AnEarth Fantasy Stories / 聖夜物語 Anearth Fantasy Stories [エイナスファンタジーストーリーズ]

Developer/Publisher: Media Works / Hudson Soft

Release date: 22 December 1995

Catalogue No.: HCD5071

Genre: RPG

Format: Super CD-ROM2

I have scoured the net trying to find the actual back story to this game and have come up short. However, based on conjecture from the cutscenes and what little I’ve found, here is what seems to be going on. A dragon cult is rising in the land. A young virgin named Lena has a child who is either to be sacrificed or used as a figurehead (as is evident in the cutscene where an expressionless older child sits on a thrown during a cult ceremony; I gather he is a puppet, or the clip is a premonition to what Lena’s baby is to become. Lena and her perhaps immaculately conceived child are in a separate, dark chamber).

Lena steals away to the town of Yalem where she puts the infant at the doorstep of a church before herself becoming a spirit. Four people will wander by the baby’s basket. If players push the cry button, the person investigating will adopt them! Depending on a choice between four potential parents, the child will be raised as a swordsman, thief, wizard, or monk. The child will grow from 5 years old to 10, and then when 15 years old the adventure begins. I surmise the character is sort of a messiah who is to overthrow the demon taking control.

I’ve seen Seiya Monogatari translated as “A Christmas Tale”, “A Christmas Eve Tale”, and “A Starry Night Story”. It was to be the first act in a three-part series, but unfortunately, it became the last game Hudson published for their little PC Engine that could. It would also be remade for the Sega Saturn. Sadly, such a great game slipped into obscurity much like the great system for which it was designed. It really is a showpiece in many ways, try it and you’ll see.

The development team MASTERED the PC Engine's color palette, and you will not find better tile work in an RPG on the system. Amazing touches like falling snow, footprints left behind, and the ability to open or look inside practically anything show how much heart went into this production. In battle scenes, characters run toward foes on a multilayered parallax-scrolling field that made me take a step back when I first saw it. I just didn’t expect a PCE RPG to have such an element. When flipping switches or pulling ropes, you actually see the movement of the levers.

Even though it’s in Japanese, one can tell the voice actors are of the highest quality. You can hear the emotion and inflection in what they’re saying, and the recordings are clearly of professional quality. The music is top-notch whether it’s the Redbook or PCM which takes over in some buildings. Catchy, memorable, and classy.

Weapons, items, and stats have pictures coinciding to help the Japanese impaired. Many items can only be used by their respective class of warrior and through the 17 areas you’ll eventually have four in your party. Unique to this RPG is the fact there is no leveling up! Your stats update based on your battle performance, but there is no great and lofty number you have to work toward. In fact, this is more about exploration and finding the next path, battles only happen in specific areas, and you can see the creature you’re about to get into it with (no random pop-up). Also unique is the “Holix” system. Holixes are treasure items that aid magic, power, and healing. You have to mix and match Holixes to get the effect you’re looking for.

From the first scene of snow falling on the hilltop church, I fell in love with this game. As long as you “read” everything on shelves and talk to everybody, you shouldn’t hit roadblocks. A wonderful send-off to Hudson Soft's adventures with the PC Engine, as they say goodbye to the PC Engine.

[malconnorsupremacy]

love is a ruthless game (unless you play it good and right)

Pairings: Kanej, mentioned Wesper

Rating: Mature

Summary: Inej is kidnapped, and it doesn't help when the abductor is the man she walked away from a year ago.

Chapter 1: never saw you coming

Inej woke up in an unfamiliar room, disoriented and with a headache the size of Ravka.

She blinked- once, twice. When her eyes adjusted to the pitch darkness of the room, she tried to gauge her surroundings. Someone had taken her shoes off, and her hands were bound by a rope.

She felt the ground beneath her with her bare feet. Cold, tiled, uncleaned for a while.

Before taking action, she unwound the happenings of the night before. Her mind decried for details she might have missed, with great difficulty. Hell, it hurt to think.

~~~

Inej had just finished her routine walkthrough of the ship, reminding everyone of their duties and giving pointed looks to those slacking off. It was then when she heard a knock on the door of her captain’s quarters and the head of a small brunette poked in.

“Sana! Beta, what are you doing here?” Inej offered her a pleasant smile.

Sana was barely 11 years old, and was intercepted by slavers on the streets of Ravka. Her parents had left her to fend for herself just two weeks before her abduction, too poor and sick to give her anything to meet a level of subsistence. They were Suli, too, and were driven to such poverty by the treatment of the horrible government. Inej wondered sometimes, if her parents would’ve ever abandoned her in times of such crisis. If they knew how bloody her hands would be in the future.

“I brought us some tea, will you have some with me?” Sana enquired, holding two cups of tea in her small hands. Inej was replete with a strange warmth and automatic affinity towards this young girl. Well, it wasn’t like she had anything better to do.

“Of course beta, tell me about your day.”

~~~

That tea.

That fucking tea.

Someone had put something in that tea, not enough to make her unconscious on the spot, but just enough to knock her out in another two hours’ time.

Oh Sana, Inej thought ruefully. What did you do?

Her hands had been working on the rope for a few minutes now, and with a sense of triumph, she finally wriggled free of them. Now, free and unbound, her eyes wandered around the room in the proper sense.

A faint glint caught her eye on the far left of the room. A lock.

Bending towards it, she pulled out a bobby pin from her hair and began picking the lock. A few clicks, turns and the lock gave in. With a satisfied smile, Inej got up to open the door when the air around her shifted. Her neck trickled with a trail of goosebumps as she heard a raspy voice speak behind her.

“You’ve gotten so much better at that.”

It was like glass shattering on a marble floor, like a stone scraping a jagged wall. It was the voice Inej had craved to hear for a year now.

Reflexive and nimble as ever, she turned, grabbing a knife on her thigh and holding it against his neck.

She stared at the mosiac of hard lines and sharp edges, and felt a strange sense of relief upon hearing his salt voice.

“Good to see you again, Wraith.”

~~~

The early sun, high and mighty in all its glory, shone down upon the sea and cast its light on a ship- The Wraith- bobbing its way along the glistening waters. Just ahead, were the beginnings of land; of a city most feared- Ketterdam. Inej stood at its hull, her posture stoic, her pride unwavering as she gazed at the Land of Sinners, as most called it. Ketterdam had countless names, all dark and unwelcoming just as the city itself.

But for all its imperfections, for all its flaws, for its abrasive cracks and irascible shortcomings, she’d found a place among its people. She’d found solace in the constant clatter of heels on cobblestones, in the clink of two kvas-filled glasses between strangers, in the sight of a labyrinth of dark coloured coats and boots. She was arriving at the place that had made her who she was today.

Her maiden voyage had been eventful, she had spent the first three months learning the ropes of the role, under the watchful eye of Specht. She had begun her mission of rising to the pinnacle of her crew’s trust as they circled her cautiously, aware she was inexperienced, and testing if she could cut the mustard.

She did, as it turned out. Their first attack was in Shu waters. They had the most extravagant ships with technically qualified sailors and mechanised equipment. This made them simple to spot, but tedious to overwhelm. But Inej was the Wraith, and she was nothing if not headstrong in proving herself. And so she strategised. And she planned. And left the rest for her to show her skills. She shadowed the Shu Captain, translated his words with the help of her Shu crew members, and that night, they freed 30 innocent boys and girls.

That was the night Inej truly earned the respect and admiration from all her crew members.

Over the course of the next six months, she took down 3 more ships. By the time she returned to Ketterdam, she had already created quite a fearsome reputation for herself.

Inej climbed atop the mast and peered through her spyglass as the dock revealed itself beyond the morning fog.

She spotted familiar figures at Berth 22 and could not refrain from grinning. Jesper stood with an obnoxious suit and an even more vibrant hat flailing his lanky arms upwards. Tucked beside him was a bundle of red curls and freckles. She could not see Wylan’s expression distinctly, but could tell he was smiling too. She looked around them in vain, hoping to catch sight of gloved hands, hats or crow-headed canes. Disappointment sunk in quickly, dissolving in her ecstasy, leaving her with a bittersweet, lingering taste. When Inej had left Ketterdam, she had left with a promise to return, if he tried. But she would give him his time. To be ready.

Inej had flushed cheeks by the time she was released by Jesper while Wylan chuckled at his boyfriend’s exaggerated reactions.

“No letter! For two months! Two whole months, Inej. Was it because I asked for more of those spiced muffins from your mother? I understand I overstated my desire to raid her kitchen of those flavours…”

Jesper’s voice was blanked out by another rising point of disdain. Kaz never wrote back. Every time she wrote letters, she wrote to the Van Eck house, to Nina and to the Slat. Did he ever even open those letters? Did he just skim through the points important for business and discard the rest?

Jesper seemed to notice her awry expression and slipped in a nonchalant comment.

"And Kaz has been working himself to death with all those new clubs opening up, man barely has time to breathe."

Inej gave him a good-natured smile. Leave it to Jesper to assure her with those knowing grey eyes.

"Well, " Inej said as she clapped her hands together. "I'm starving."

*

The first stop Inej made after a hearty lunch at the Van Eck mansion was the Slat. She'd had a lovely time catching up with the couple, sharing her adventures at sea and dodging certain innuendos thrown in by Jesper while he explicated details of the developments in their relationship.

Her feet scaled the rooftops, easy as butter on a hot pan. The waves of nostalgia cascaded over her because nothing had changed . The tiles on the roofs. The crooked pipes. The crows outside Kaz Brekker's window.

Inej noticed the attic window was open, meaning he had known she would come. She quickly slipped into her place on the windowsill. The crows cawed at her presence and nipped at her hand as they used to. Crows don't forget, Kaz had told her once. They hold people who nurture them close to their heart. They remember the faces of those who had wronged them, and coddle their thirst for vengeance.

After a good bell of sitting in silence, Inej decided to finally speak to the man seated at his desk.

"Hello, Kaz," She said, her eyes boring into the back of his head.

"Hello, Wraith. What business?" He clipped. Ever the businessman, she thought wryly.

"You didn't come to see me at the docks," she accused.

"I didn't see the reason for doing so. Was there something important?" He asked, his tone showing no sarcasm.

"I was gone for nine months, Kaz. You didn't even write me back."

"What did you expect me to write you about? About how my day was? About how many people I had killed that day? About how I felt so righteous but at the same time deafened with guilt because of the number of souls I had sent to the Saints?"

Inej felt hurt. His tone was mocking, ridiculing as he mimicked one of the lines from her letters.

So he had read them. He had probably laughed at them.

"No, Kaz," She said as she pulled her hood over her head. "Even a simple 'Hello, Inej' would've done."

~~~

"What business, Dirtyhands?" She tried not to let her anger show, of being drugged and then tied to a chair by him.

He only raised a brow in response, which fueled inej’s annoyance.

She backed him until he sat down on the chair right behind him. Then using her leg, she shoved open the door with the picked lock. What stared at her was an unwavering brick wall.

She couldn't help but huff a laugh.

"Whose idea of a cruel joke was this?" She asked, as she watched him curl one end of his mouth.

"Rotty's. Hope before the torture; callous, wouldn't you say?"

It then dawned on her that this was a Dreg safe house. It wasn't one she had been in before, so it had to be a new one. Which also meant there was a hidden escape somewhere in this room.

"You make quite a lousy abductor. You didn't strip me of my knives." She stared right at his brown eyes, swirling, brewing the most bitter coffee she'd ever seen.

He grinned at that but didn't say anything, and Inej hated it. Hated how he made it look like it was part of his plan. How he still rendered her completely flummoxed, even while she was the one who wielded the knife.

"I will ask you one simple question, Dirtyhands. Why did you bring me here?"

"My answer to that has never changed, Inej. Money. Always money."

The urge to spit on his godsforsaken face was so overwhelming she had to clench her mouth shut. She had given up on him a long time ago, and yet he managed to spew such bullshit that she was compelled to want to give up on him all over again.

"What were you going to do? Hand me over to my enemies at sea? Or maybe you'd do me a clean kill yourself? Anything to earn you a quick buck."

Inej thought she saw Kaz's face morph at her words. To something of sadness. Of guilt.

But he went back to wearing a poker face the very next second.

Some deep-rooted part of her screamed vehement denials at the accusation, but she shoved it to the bottom.

This was too much. All of it. It was a bubbling wave of frenzied emotions coupled with anxiety, threatening to burst through her stoic dam.

"No," Kaz said slowly, testing the cracks in her fortress. "I've been paid to bring you here. To get you away from the ship."

When Inej shot him a pointed glare, demanding an elaboration, he sighed.

"Gheller, the man whose ship you raided 7 months ago, has a son- Revanch. Now, Gheller's ship had a signed contract of transfer of 3/4th of his business profit to Revanch. It was a plea to amend the demand in his will, since every other asset he owned went to his bastard son in Kerch, Gewild.

"So you see, Mr. Revanch was furious he wasn't getting anything from his father and commenced a fight with Gewild, demanding he give Revanch his share of the assets."

"And Gewild didn't agree," Inej guessed, painfully nostalgic with how this was the way Kaz always narrated his ventures before the Ice Court heist.

"Of course not, which is why he turns to you, the woman who had stolen his wealth in the first place."

"He wants revenge. And he wants to loot my ship." Inej pieced it together, jaw clenched.

"And that is why he paid me a hefty price to bring you here. You see, your ship is disorganised without you. They wouldn't hold a strong front, unprepared and without the support of their Captain. They’d lose, giving way to Revanch to ransack your ship," Kaz explained, his eyes glinting with a familiar light of mischief.

Inej caught on immediately. The lie in his eyes. The upward tilt of his lips.

Because her ship was the complete opposite of disorganised. Inej had given first importance to making her crew as disciplined as possible. Attacks should be coordinated, and every member should remain alert in case of an emergency.

She narrowed her eyes at him. What was he playing at?

“What did you do? Is my crew in danger?” Inej hissed, tightening her hold over the hilt of her knife. It was starting to make a scar on his pale skin.

Kaz remained baring his ridiculously infuriating smirk.

“No, Inej,” he whispered, as if trusting her with a secret, “because I didn't follow the plan.”

on ao3

[tetralea]

I just found accidental sex prompts and I thought about Max calling Charles a good boy (or girl?) as a joke, but it turns out Charles really likes it.. And he may have a praise kink? And Max will use this knowledge to get him worked up and begging to be fucked?

Okay, so this is a sudden idea, kinda mixed with this prompt. I hope it will work 😄

“You look so good in that.” Charles heard the clear praise coming from behind him as he poured a glass of water in the shared kitchen with Max. “I assume the exam went well?” Ha asked, standing next to Charles.

Emptying the glass Charles smirked. “I maxed out all points.” He was proud.

“Wow, that’s very good, very very good.” Max was looking at him, the blue eyes trying to read his reactions. “You prepared a lot, well done.”

Charles swallowed and knew all too well where this was heading. “Thank you.” His smile reached his eyes, giggling a little, his voice getting a bit quiet.

Max raised a brow, biting his lips at Charles’ attempt to avoid his gaze, like both of them didn’t know where this would end.

“I think-“ Charles spoke unsure, quickly looking at Max before looking down at his glass again. “I think im gonna have a shower. Okay? I got a little sweaty.” He made a disgusted face and they both knew it wasn’t all that bad, but whatever they were playing at couldn’t be addressed more openly that that. Because it was an invitation, something Charles was thinking of since he left university and something Max was hoping for since Charles last in the morning.

“Alright, that’s a good idea, helping to relax a bit.” Max nodded, a bit awkward, fumbling around his words, while Charles nodded and trailed out of the kitchen. “Such a good boy.” Max said, loud enough for Charles to hear even if he wasn’t in his sight anymore, he heard the sharp intake of breath and Charles couldn’t be in that shower fast enough.

It did something to him and Max discovered it when they started, well, whatever they started in the second week of this exam term. Charles was stressed as hell, couldn’t sleep or study and Max wasn’t in a much better state. Max joked Charles needing to get off or even better both of them in a great need of it, and the suggestive yet timid look should have gave it away. Charles was too done with life and quite frankly he felt like his brain wasn’t functioning at all, to try to get the intentions of Max.

He was thirsting over his flatmate in the last one, well, if he really wanted to be honest in the last one and half years, not having the balls to make a move or say a thing. He did the obvious, hooking up with tall blonde man, jerking off thinking about Max and praying to the universe that his flatmate would take the nonexistent hints. On that first instance he tried to get off under the shower, which was a ridiculous attempt but he tried and failed until his mushed brain called out for Max. Soon he was plastered against the broad back, bigger hands replacing his own on his throbbing cock and soon he came, shaking, moaning, finally is body and mind releasing some of the pressure. 

He never realised just how much he gave away that evening. Ever since Max was pushing his buttons, praising him and calling him good, all kinds of good, sometimes a good boy even and it took him an embarrassing amount of time to realise that these were the words which set him off so easily during the first time to begin with.

He stepped into the shower, shivering to the touch of the cold tiles under his feet, and not to the memory of those words, he told himself. He was already half hard. Pathetic. Max never said he would join, but he didn’t close the bathroom door just in case. Opening the water he let the warm soak into his skin and his body, relaxing his muscles, easing his mind. He pushed his head under the spray of water and sighed. Only one more exam to go.

He stood there, the noise of the water filling his ears. He registered the gush of cold air when Max opened the door of the tiny bathroom, he also somewhat heard the blonde getting naked, but only pulled his head out from under the water when the steam flooded out of the space surrounding him as Max entered.

Soon the much anticipated hands found their now usually way to his hips, across his stomach, up his pecks, pulling him, encouraging to lean into Max. “Hey baby.” The blonde greeted and they both laughed. Their encounters were strictly limited to shower time, as ridiculous as it was. They had no idea how to address it, or taking it to the bedroom would mean a step both of them were too afraid to take. Not like Charles didn’t want it, but this was safe, this they knew, and the small glass walls kept their secrets, their feelings the were too awkward to admit.

“I was hoping you’d join.” Charles laughed, head resting against Max shoulder, nuzzling into the dry skin. Max was also hard already.

“I wouldn’t miss it. You did so good today, such a good boy.” Max grinned, knowing the reaction would be instant.

“You are using this against me.” Charles complained with a small smile, pouting, but his fingers held tighter onto the strong arms around his body.

Tilting his head Max nudged Charles’ cheek with his nose. “But you like it, don’t you? I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t know you enjoyed it a lot.” He exhaled with a soundless laugh, finally finding Charles’ lips with his own. It wasn’t always that they kissed, mostly they didn’t, it was about getting off, but now it felt nice, fitting. Charles tried to ignore the flutters in his stomach to the not alien but not even familiar feeling of the plump, warm lips against his own. He moaned into it when Max found his cock, starting to stroke him gently. He melted against the warm, strong body behind his.

“I like it, I just don’t like it when you use it against me.” He had to pause when a hot wet finger swept across his soft tip. “Fucking hell.” His fingers were digging into the one arm around his torso, still keeping him pinned against Max. “Just maybe use it less in other areas of the house.”

“But it turns you on, baby, and how else am is supposed to let you know it’s time for reliving some stress?” Max asked slowly, and softly. The question was stupid and they both knew it, but it worked as an explanation. “You like when I praise you, like today, you like to hear how good job you did today, how good you looked in that suit, how pretty you are now, how much I want to be inside you.”

“Max.” Charles tried to hide his face into the strong neck, and he was hoping the burn in his cheeks were because of the heat for the water and not the words of the blonde. The hand from his cock trailed back, tapping his thigh, making him widen his stance.

“But how could I not, when you are such a good boy for me?” Max asked and Charles whimpered. If he was being honest he wished they’d do it in a bed sometimes that would have been more comfortable. “But if you want me to say it only here, when we are helping each other, that is okay.” Max nodded, his finger slowly working on Charles wet hole, drawing circles and rubbing against the tight ring.

They got a special lube, one for the water. Charles reached for it.

Soon Max was working him with two fingers. Maybe he was still loose from last night. Maybe he needed Max desperately and his body loosened up easier. Maybe he was going crazy.

Now both his palms were against the cold tiles, the water barely running as Max worked his body, one hands inside of him the other around his cock, lips attached to this neck, kissing and sucking, never leaving a mark. Charles wished they did. He was moaning and whining, mumbling Max’s name like it would make him understand, like it would make him understand his feelings.

“God, Charles, I think I can fuck you already.” Max was also breathless, and Charles took a little pride in that. “You are so easy for me today, opening up so quickly. Do you need it so badly?” Max’s words felt like babbling.

“Just fuck me already, okay?” He asked, trying to push hi feelings back down from his throat, threatening to spill. Max huffed to his words but lined up to him anyway.

He pushed in slow. The water wasn’t even running anymore, showering was all a lie. Charles cried out, satisfied and oh, so full with Max. “Taking me so good.” Max praised and Charles wanted to cry.

Thank god there wasn’t much talking after Max set a brutal pace from the beginning, and Charles thought maybe he wasn’t the only one desperate for this. He didn’t mind, and only angled his hips to take Max better to feel him better, to make his brush against his prostate. He saw starts and he wasn’t gonna last. Both forearms were leaning against the wall now, in a desperate attempt to hold against Max’s thrusts. The floor was slippery, his skin felt sticky from the drying water but not dry enough to make this sound any less obscene.

Max’s both hands were on his hips in an attempt to keep Charles in place better. “Can you touch me?” Charles barely registered his own voice. He could have touched himself but he wanted to feel as much from Max as he could.

“Of course baby.” It was a groan and a breathless moan and Charles was glad he wasn’t the only one coming too early. He had no idea when or how he learned to tell when Max was close too, but he did. “Such a good boy for asking me.” He whined and his body tensed. It was to Max’s touch he told himself.

“More.” He never specified what, but Max seemed to understand.

He fucked into his harder and his hands moved fast on the sensitive cock. “So good, fuck Charles, are you gonna come like a good boy?”

He didn’t need to answer, he was done for, he was needy and not only for the sex but for Max himself, even if he only admitted this to himself in these moments, when his bod tensed, pleasure washing over him, coming on Max’s cock, his cum staining the wall in front. He was lost in his own high, drunkenly registering Max’s dragged moans and shaking body as he emptied himself into Charles body.

He was sensitive after and he had no idea when Max picked the habit of opening the shower and gently cleaning him, warming up his muscles, slowly kissing the back of his neck, still buried deep into Charles. He sighed and pressed his lips together quickly, because he was tied to say something stupid.

When all was done, Max pressed a gently kiss behind his ear. “Wanna get lunch?” He asked like he didn’t just fucked the soul out of Charles in the matter of ten minutes.

He nodded and mumbled something, he needed a minute.

When he got out, and walked back into his room on wobbly legs he collapsed onto his bed. He really wished he dared to say something, but the bathroom seemed like a spot where both of them were to admit to their desires and bothering it seemed all too dangerous. Mostly because he still had an exam left, they lived together and the idea of getting off together seemed way more pleasant than finding new apartment because he screwed up whatever idiotic roommates with benefits relationship Max started a few weeks ago.

[tf-au-mer-osborn]

Log entry 006

Tw: gore

18/8/2005

Please Enter Password: uhh fuck. Was it Firelight?

<new voice detected - saved to Normtech manual database - welcome new user!>

«Yeah, hi err... Manual was it?. I need help and not from that norm guy.»

<Manual mode selected! What can I help you with today?>

*he goes quiet for a minute, contemplating if he's really about to do this*

«Uh- I just killed a man.»

<Please select one of the following modes of help:

> how to dispose of a body

> how to keep harvested organs fresh

> which parts of the body are edible

> emergency services >

*baffled by the so called 'helpful' options, he glances down at the dead scientist at his feet, before quietly picking the first option*

<Great choice! Given your location and proximity to railroad tracks, the Normtech database suggests to either stage an accident or harvest the organs and meat and feed it to pigs!>

«both options sound too messy. What if I leave the guy in a different dimension instead?»

*the lenses in the goggles crackle with static as a warning flashes*

⚠️ INTERDIMENSIONAL TRAVEL PROHIBITED ⚠️

*he sighs*

«Switch back to Norm mode»

<Affirmed! Good-bye new user!>

«yeah...»

*the lenses crackle with static again before a familiar little blue mascot appears*

«Norm! Look, I know I don't like you and that you're weird but I kinda need to dispose of a body in a different dimension. Manual mode prohibited me.»

[Hello vessel! Nice scientist you have there! Is he with Oscorp? Where would you like to go? (⁠✿⁠^⁠‿⁠^⁠)]

«Vessel? Eh, nevermind, take me to the one place no one will ever look and quickly before someone comes»

*Norm opens a portal up just as Mer grabs hold of the scientist's arm and sucks him through it, dumping them in the middle of an abandoned Oscorp facility in the middle of the desert. The air is hot, thick with pollution and the building looked like it had been hit with a nuke.*

«Ough! Rough landing— *cough cough* what the fuck is up with the air here?»

[Welcome to the Deadlands Mr Osborn! I hope you find this location to your liking (⁠.⁠ ⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)]

«... Yeah s'good. I'll find a spot to bury him in a sec though, wanna look around.»

*He takes off his goggles and wipes his brow as beads of sweat begin to manifest on his skin. The rubble around him felt familiar. Too familiar.*

«What'd you say this place was called again?»

[The Deadlands \⁠(⁠･⁠◡⁠･⁠)⁠/]

«hmph... Fitting.»

*Mer circles what used to be a set of work benches, now half sunken in sand and brick filling in corners and cracks in what was left of exposed tiling. Skeletons and bones of old lay strewn about in half crumbled stairwells and most of the sand in the area outside the facility had been turned into glass.*

«I did this... Didn't I?»

[Not you per se, but a part of you did (⁠✿⁠^⁠‿⁠^⁠) isn't it beautiful?]

*He picks up a skull and dusts it off. Who were they? did they have family?... Did he destroy them too?. Fragmented memories, confusing and horrific danced about his brain in psychedelic flashes, causing him to drop the skull and hold his own head*

«Destruction wasn't the answer, it wasn't the answer oh god it wasn't the answer! I'm so stupid! I'm so weak and stupid! Why couldn't I have just stayed in that apartment and been happy?! Why couldn't I have been good?! Why'd I kill so many people?! Oh god oh god oh god what the hell have I done?! What is wrong with me?!»

[it's hilarious that it took losing everything and getting a new body to feel guilt for actions we all found admirable at some stage.]

«WHAT THE FUCKS ADMIRABLE ABOUT MURDERING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE?! I WAS SICK! I WAS SO FUCKING SICK AND NO ONE STOPPED ME! NO ONE HELPED! THEY JUST LET ME FESTER!»

[that's debatable. Maybe if you were a better person, you wouldn't have jumped into a collider twice and become who you are now. A weakling. (⁠ㆁ⁠ω⁠ㆁ⁠)]

*he threw the goggles into the sand and went back to the dead scientist who'd been tracking him for quite some time. Sickly levels of melancholy and rage mingled inside him as he searched the man's lab coat and pockets for an ID and whatever else he could steal before he reached inside his bag and pulled out his trusty box cutter, plunging it into the dead skin, still warm and fresh as he cut through the layers and reached inside to rip out what organs he could, taking out his feelings on the body and not on himself like he so desperately wanted to.*

«If I'm going to be horrible I may as well just get this over and done with. Organs sell for a good price. He's healthy, strong, i-i can be better right? T-this is better than before, right? I'm *sob* a good *sob* per...sssooon...»

[log ended]