#now I gotta do one for Jojo’s too. just to make it fair.

[scottpilgrim4everr]

I couldn’t sleep last night so I doodled somethin.

Idk why I like it so much. It’s not even a real drawing.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - lots, just LOTS

I thought I would be pretty lean reporting for Oct 2023 but then (for reasons relayed here) the weeklies got saved by a drunk avenging hacker in a hotel room.

Oct 2023 Wk 1

Except I still can't watch IFYLITA, because I use my other computer for it.

Gotta say though, watching tese mostly all in one day (for travel reasons) is beyond even my BL superpowers. I did my best tho.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Dangerous Romance (Fri YT) ep 8 of 12 - Sailom, sweetie, Kang is never sleeping alone again. It wasn't really translated, but Kang's way of speaking in that opening stinger was VERY cutsie. Also the gay sheets have made another appearance. I do have to say that "rich kid problems" is not my favorite story arc, but I still think this is a great Thai BL.

Naughty Babe (Sat YT) ep 6 of 8 - I love that they are finally talking to each other but Yi’s whole personality is shifting. Honestly, this pair is great at kissing and casual touches, but the friendships are the best thing about this franchise. Also Mr Chenne remains my fav character. But where did Diao's baby superhero team come from? And why? This show is very confusing... It’s also not very good.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) You Are My Soulmate ep 7 - This was the one of the series I was looking forward to the most, because silly, pretty, and v BL. It is, in fact all those things and nothing more. So I'm enjoying it, of course.

Absolute Zero (Thai Weds iQIYI) ep 2 of 12 - I like it, but it feels like it's gonna be so sad. I'm having Promise and Dew the movie flashbacks. Plus 12 eps seems too long for this narrative thread. I am worried.

Venus in the Sky (Tues iQIYI) 6 of 10 eps - This show is so slow it's hardly worth the bandwidth, but we attained "baby is a floppy drunk" and thus a finger bite frustration scene, which was nice.

Only Friends (Sat YT) ep 9 of 10 (not a BL but I'm watching it anyway) - Ray is so mean to Sand. The not-a-thing with Sand & Nick was cute. I’ve had several experiences like that. All my queer friendship groups tend to be incestuous, but sometimes they're just too much of a sibling and trying to sleep with them is the most unsexy thing in the universe. To be fair, I’ve also been in Ton’s position (this ep). Jojo sure makes queer shizz. But also, Ton must have a magic rod with everyone wanting a repeat. (I'm so glad they put Neo in this role, no one else at GMMTV could play him as complex or sympathetic.)

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

You Are Mine (Taiwan Fri Viki) eps 5 of 10 - now officially known by me as "I'm too sunshine for this seme" where our boss is being hella obvious but our cinnamon roll is just too ooey-gooey to notice. Al.though, baby boy, he takes you home, sleeps on top of you, feeds you cookies (IN HIS BED) and keeps you in his space? Surely even this sunshine is catching a few rays of truth?

Gaga's *unintelligible gay murmuring* is my favorite caption EVER.

Also the name of my new ASMR YT channel.

Bon Appetit (Korea Weds iQIYI) 3-4 of 8 - ah gay panic, also what is Korea's obsession with 7 year separations? Is it only true love if you wait 7 years? Dohoon is SUCH a flirt, it's kinda great! Also, since it's Korea, we got us a bit of a love triangle with 2 hyung romances, so I (of course) am torn. Either way Dohoon is going down. I do love how much time we are spending with the food in this drama, finally one that lives up to its name. On an entirely different note, Korean camping is the most bizare thing to me. It's SO damn civilized. There will be NO DIRT. They pack blow torches. And full dinner sets. Every time I see it in a drama, I'm amused.

My Personal Weatherman AKA Taikan Yoho (Japan Sat Gaga) ep 7 of 8 - OMG these 2 are so in love with each other, and so ridiculous about it. They're tiny idiots but I love them.

If It’s With You AKA Even If I Fall In Love With You AKA Kimi to nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo’ (Japan Gaga) ep 1 of 5 - from MBS a live action adaptation of Kubota Maru’s manga ‘君となら恋をしてみても. Amane has stopped loving people due to trauma until he meets Ryuji. At first Amane just wants to play with Ryuji but… feelings.

I like the odd Japanese mature-childishness in this one. Plus a broken sunshine who is out in a kind of aggresive way and an instinctive caring seme. What's not to love? Well, it's Japan I'm sure it will surprise me one way or another.

Mr Cinderella 2 (Vietnam Sat YT) ep 3 of ? - the cray cray step brother quazi incest is a bit much for me. Why does VBL just suddenly get so unhinged like this?

Kiseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan Tues Viki & iQIYI) ep 9 of 13(?) - resumes next week

It's Airing But...

I Feel You Linger in the Air (Fri grey) ep 8 of 12 - I will try to watch 8-12 and do a series review when I get back in November but... not sure I will be able to. Fingers crossed.

Love in Translation (Sat iQIYI) ep 8fin - I will complete and drop a review in Nov.

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - 4th installment in this series (1st series, 1 special, 1 movie prior) about a lawyer who lives with his boyfriend, a hairdresser, and cooks for him. I find thie series more fun to binge, som I'm waiting until it completes its run.

I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan Tues Netflix-Japan & ????) - in classic JBL fashion, I Cannot Reach You could not be reached. 

Can I Buy Your Love From A Vending Machine? AKA Sono Koi, Jihanki de Kaemasu ka? (Japan cinema release in-country only) - This one is a movie from Japan so in customary fashion who tf knows when (or if) it will get international distribution. Salaryman Ayumu Koiwai just can't tear his eyes away from the strong, muscular man as he checks on the stocks of the vending machine in his office.

In case you missed it?

Crazy Handsome Rich (Sun Gaga) Apparently ended its run I DNFed this at ep 3. So no review from me.

My Beautiful Man: Eternal AKA Utsukushii Kare Eternal (Japan movie Viki & Gaga) - Play it again Sam, only I'm kinda tired of this song. I was v dramatic tho. And it's always nice to be reminded JBL can kiss when it puts its mind to it. 8/10

Next Week Looks Like This

Upcoming October BL

10/31 SHADOW (Thai VIU ????) - this is a horror BL featuring ghosts and other paranormal elements in a high school setting. I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all, but if it must be done in BL let Japan do it). It features Singto (who did paranormal BL He's Coming to Me) opposite Fluke N (who's done a couple horror's before). Also Fiat. Dan suffers from sleep paralysis, and in his dreams he sees a shadow that suffocates him. It gets worse when he transfers schools.

10/? Bump Up Project AKA Bump Up Business (Korea ????) - BL staring OnlyOneOf that released(??) as a movie in July but is now being recut and reissued as a series. Stars NineMill and from Idol Romance bulled as a love story between a trainee who is about to debut and a celebrity from the same agency (based on a webtoon). OnlyOneOf have been auditioning for this since Libido IMHO. You can watch me chronicle their BL MV work in this post. Idol Romance will do sad but can do good kisses (Wish You, Nobleman Ryu, Once Again, Kissable Lips, Poongduck 304, Tasty Florida, Tinted With You) but I don't think we will get any in this. After that OmegaX Shoulder bullshizz buisness I am very wary of this show.

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

I've seen this Chinese drama like... no wait... okay it's like EVERY Chinese drama ever.

(both Mr Cinderella 2)

I only got to watch this scene and the bath, but bot were pretty darn good! I Feel You Linger in the Air

There's only one bed but they slept together on the floor anyway. One of BL's oddest tropes.

I do love a finger bite. (both Venus in the Sky)

Good advice

(Naughty Babe)

(Last week) 

[smolwritingchick]

Forced To Believe Chapter 17- Total Divas Season 1 Episode 5

Chapter Summary: Melanie joins the girls for go-karting while Ariane and Trinity have issues with each other

Words: 900+

---

'Tampa FL, Next Day'

"Come on girl!" Eva Marie said as her, Jojo, Trinity and Melanie waited for Ariane.

"Gotta wait for the diva," Ariane teased as they all laughed

Trinity (Ariane, Jojo, Melanie, Eva Marie and I are going go-karting today on our day off. Ariane and I have had a lot of tension between us lately so I'm hoping that we'll be able to have fun and chill out a little bit.)

"Ladies, Ladies, I hate to break it to you but I'll be standing on top." Eva Marie grinned as she looked at the stands for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. She gets on top of the 1st place stand.

"Oh yes, girl." Ariane stood up next to her.

"Both of yall are gonna be number 2 and number three. I'm gonna be number 1." Trinity chuckled

The girls get in their go kart gear. 

"All right! Who is ready to get trashed!?" Melanie exclaimed, earning laughs from them.

"Someone's competitive," Trinity teased while Melanie gave her a thumbs up after she put her helmet on.

Ariane (If I don't win, I'm gonna have a boo boo face.)

After the race, Trinity gets 5th place, Melanie gets 4th place, Jojo gets 3rd place, Eva Marie gets 2nd and Ariane gets 1st place.

Melanie (Sucks I lost but it was really fun racing with my friends. I'm happy for the winners. I lost fair and square but I declare a rematch!)

"Losers! Losers!" Ariane bragged and walked around with excitement.

"You are all about winning. Passing me and everything." Trinity grinned as Eva laughed

"Don't be mad." Ariane said.

"I'm not mad. I'm not a sore loser. You won, congratulations." Trinity shrugged.

"You can be a little more sincere about it."

Melanie (I knew I felt tension between them.)

"You're just being bitter right now." Ariane declared

"I'm not being bitter, you doing too much right now. It's a game, who cares?" Trinity exclaimed

"But I won though."

Melanie sighed as she and the new divas watched the drama.

Trinity (You won, we said good job.)

"Don't get hot." Ariane said.

Melanie (Okay, I think Ariane may be making the conflict worse because she keeps talking about how she won. It's done and over with. We all said congratulations, now can we please get some lunch? I want some food.)

"I'm not hot. I'm the one who wins the matches." Trinity argued

"Oh!" Jojo dropped her jaw.

"Ooh~" Eva and Melanie say.

"Oh, you're the one who wins the matches? I'm the one who can talk on the mic. " Ariane declared.

"I can speak very well for myself." Trinity retorted.

"You wanna take it there?"

"Why you getting hot for?"

"Because you took it to a whole 'nother level."

"I didn't! Isn't it true that I'm the one who wins the matches?"

"You win every single match?"

Trinity (No one wants to sit and hear you talk about yourself for another hour.)

"Actually, I'm done..." Ariane rolled her eyes.

"You see? She's too much." Trinity pointed out.

"No, you're too much, you took it to a whole 'nother level."

"Can we please just get some food? And can we please just drop this?" Melanie asked while Jojo nodded in agreement.

"You need to shut up sometimes." Trinity snapped at Ariane while Melanie facepalmed.

"You need to shut up, that's what you need to do." Ariane snapped back.

"Okay, well go."

"I'm done with you."

"No, I'm done with you, nobody wants to hear all that."

Melanie (I'm getting kind of worried because people are staring. Not good...)

"Relax!" Ariane yelled

"Take that bullshit somewhere else. Nobody got time for that right now." Trinity exclaimed. "All right, ready to go?"

"Yes!" Melanie shouted. "I'm freaking starving-" she began but stopped when she saw Trinity push Ariane and getting pushed back by her.

"Don't push me." Trinity angrily said.

"You just push me!" Ariane yelled

"What are you gonna do huh?" Trinity got in her face and Ariane retaliated by pushing her face.

Trinity (Really? You really think I'm scared of you?)

"You acting real ghetto right now." 

"I'll show you ghetto," Trinity said in her face.

"Everybody calm the fuck down!" Melanie yelled as she separated the two. "I'm in no mood for this! Enough. We're in a public place and we're supposed to be WWE divas. And right now, we're not showing that because you guys keep arguing. In public! Let's just take it somewhere else and get some food! I'm dying over here!"

"I agree Melanie. Trinity isn't acting like a WWE diva since she wants to act all hype. Tell her to calm down." Ariane pointed out.

Melanie (That's not what I fucking meant!)

"You calm down!" Trinity retorted.

"Ariane! You're escalating it! Just stop, both of you." Melanie exclaimed.

"I'm done..." Ariane walked away.

Jojo (I would have been kind of scared to get in between them two because they really were close to getting very physical.)

"That's what I thought," Trinity said while Melanie held her back.

Melanie (So much for a positive day with friends...)

'Next week, Raw'

"Mark and Jane are with Ariane and Trinity, they are still arguing," Eva says to Melanie as they walk around.

"Jeesh...I hope they get it together. They've been through so much." Melanie sighed.

"Hey, ladies." Nattie smiled, approaching them with Jojo.

"Hey, how are ya?" Melanie asked with a smile.

"I've been all right. How are you, ladies?"

"Fine. Just waiting for Ariane and Trinity. They've been at it."

"I heard..." 

Ariane walked to them with an angry expression and was asked how did things go.

"I don't get why she has to act like this..." Ariane sighed.

"Are you guys still having the match?" Nattie asked

"I don't know. We're supposed to talk to Stephanie now."

Ariane (Stephanie McMahon is top lady. She is THE Vince McMahon's daughter. You do not want to be on Stephanie's bad side.)

"Honestly, Ariane, that's not good," Nattie said.

"Exactly..." Ariane mumbled.

Later, Melanie, Ariane, Jane, Nattie and Eva watch Trinity's match. They watch as Trinity miscalculates with the crossbody. 

"Yikes," Melanie said with worry. 

Trinity loses the match as Alicia wins by the roll up. After Trinity's match, they watch Ariane's match against Aksana and she loses. After their matches, Melanie sees Trinity and Ariane walking together with smiles. "You guys worked it out?"

"Yep!" Ariane grinned.

"Awesome. I'm so happy."

[dilftaroooo]

hi! can you please write a nsfw oneshot for dio brando x fem! reader ? to be a little specific; can you add a boss/assistant dynamic & corruption kink? tysm ( ◠‿◠ )❣️

mmm corruption kink. thats absolutely my fav, anon 🤤. i'll be more than happy to write it for you. enjoy!

(business office au)

you gotta earn it. (boss!dio x secretary!reader)

word count: //1.7k+//

synopsis: you want that raise? then show mr.brando what it is you're willing to give up to him. it's only fair.

tw/tags: dubcon, nipple play, corruption kink, size difference (not heavily mentioned though), business attire, afab reader, cute virgin reader.

"No."

Those words left you speechless; stiff in your spot as you looked into piercing, yellow, eyes. He said it in such a nonchalant manner, you don't think he even took a double take on your question. You spent so much effort to muster up the courage to ask your boss the question that you dread to be answered - but not in this way. He must have made a mistake.

"'No'...?" You echoed.

Dio leaned back in his seat, eye contact never faltering as he crossed his legs, burgundy colored dress pants ruffled at the movement. He tilted his head in a mocking manner as one well groomed eyebrow raised upwards.

"Oh dear. Perhaps my beloved secretary has gone deaf? I shall repeat myself once more: 'No' meaning, 'No, I will not offer you a raise.'"

Your fist clenched as you try to fight back the tears of humiliation and neglect. Why? Why did he refuse you? You worked so hard for him and you knew he knew that. So why won't he give you this raise? Leave it to Dio to crumble up your acts of valor and throw them into a fiery pit.

Trying to regain your composure, you speak up,

"But, sir, Why? I've done so much for you these past couple years; schedule your meetings, review your records and documents, compose orientations for newcomers. I even make sure to make your coffee each morning - a long black with two shots of expresso."

Your eyes were becoming wet. You were on brink of breaking down and crying right in front of your boss. You don't even think he was the slightest bit convinced by your retort. All he did was observe you with a wicked smirk plastered on his face. There was no change in his features but, reluctantly, you resume.

"Please, Mr.Brando. Please give me this raise. I-I'll try to do better for you! Just tell me what it is I need to do. Please, I'll do anything, Mr.Brando."

Dio stiffened. It was that keyword that gained his attention: 'anything'.

"'Anything', you say?" You nod and a flash of his white teeth glimmered from the building's colorless light on the ceiling. His chuckle was deep. "Think before spouting careless words such as that, my little mouse." The small squeak emerges from his office chair as he gets up, approaching your meek figure and you cower at his nearness. His fingers gently grasped your hair and you notice how well kept they were - manicured with a clear polish and decorated with gold rings. You didn't miss the Rolex watch wrapped around his wrist.

"Such pretty hair," He lightly plays with your mane before tightening his grip and hoisting your head up, forcing you to look directly at him. "You don't mind if I tug on it do you, love?" He adores the wince you let out, eyes scrunched close with pain.

"Ouch! Mr.Brando, Please stop-"

"Oh but you said you would do anything for me, remember? So I'm allowed to use you however I please. You want a raise, don't you?" Your face burns when his lips feather against the skin of your cheek. You heave out a low sigh at his deed. Dio deliberately consumes your reaction - savoring it like the smoothest red wine.

"Have you ever been fucked before, dear?" The amorous question made you whine. This was just too dirty. You shake your head for an answer.

"N-No, sir."

"Really? You've never been touched before? No one has ever pounded that filthy, little, pussy of yours? Tsk, tsk, tsk - What a shame. Looks like I have to change that." He lets go of your scalp but your head never moves, eyes still on his frame as you process his words.

"Wait, Mr.Brando, please. I've never- oh!" You were put to an abrupt stop when he picked you up from under your arms and legs before setting you down on his desk. It messy with scattered documents he found frivolous and purposeless, there were much more important matters at hand.

Tearing off your white dress shirt and bra in a blink of an eye, he gave your mounds a carnivorous stare, gulping at your nipples swell at his glance. He wasted no time kneading them. You let out a moan from his heated touch. It was foreign to you.

"What a lewd sound you made just now, Y/n. You like this, right? I barely even started." His fingers teased your stiff buds, pinching and pulling at them.

"Ngh- No, Mr.Brando..."

His touches were blunt and straightforward, they were rough as he assailed your fragile body. He was fervent to take it to the next step. He lifts your legs up to take off your pencil skirt.

He lets out a delighted sigh beyond seeing your choice of underwear. "Lacy panties? Was my little mouse expecting this? Getting all dressed up for your boss. You're such a nasty fucking girl."

"That's not true! I was in a rush to-"

"Excuses, excuses. That's all I hear from you. Shut up and take your panties off. I want to see how wet your cunt is." You obeyed under his stern tone - slowly stripping off your red-laced panties. You still had your legs closed, ashamed to show him your untouched flower but Dio pried them open by your knees. Your heady scent instantly fills his nose and he takes this time to observe your pussy, you were soaked - vagina pulsating, waiting for anything to be plunged inside, trimmed hairs placed on your pubic area, clit swollen with excitement. It was remarkable.

"Look at you, throbbing so greedily." He puts two thickset fingers in your sopping pussy without warning." An invevitable moan escaped your lips when he applied pressure to your g-spot.

"M-Mr.Brando - mmmm - that spot, you're hitting that-"

"Quiet, little mouse. As much as I love to hear you scream did you forget the setting we're in right now? I hate the idea of someone seeing this pretty pussy other than me." You pitch your voice down an octave - not too fond of the idea of being caught by your coworkers (especially by Jonathan).

His digits rapidly thrash inside you, bodily fluids flew everywhere. "You're making such a mess all over me. So sloppy. I have no doubt that this is what my little mouse wanted. Your grip is so firm around me." Your small hand cover your painted lips. You didn't want anyone to hear you but Dio was making it all too hard, he was hitting all of the right spots within you.

Pulling his fingers out, he unzips his flyer and sought out for his cock. His length was huge, you were unsure if you should even continue. His member intimidated you. Dio knew you were on edge, he softly coos at your expression.

"Aw, don't worry, sweetheart. You'll only feel a slight pinch." Aiming his shaft to your entrance, you recoil once he plummets inside of you, tip kissing your womb. What you felt was more than a pinch. it was easily comparable to being stabbed in your nether regions. Tears flowed from your eyes.

"Pull out! Please, it huuurts!" Your cries were ignored as Dio continued slamming into you like no tomorrow. He covered your mouth with his large hand, muffling your wails.

"Ah- You feel that? My cock jabbing at your womb?" His thrust slow down so you can feel every inch of him - veins feeling more prominent than before. "That's how deep I go inside of you. This tiny body of yours can't handle a cock like mine. Ha! And would you look at that, I can even see your stomach bulging from my dick. How filthy."

He traced his fingers along the bulge forming near your abdomen. He rams in you relentlessly. You gripped the sleeves of his business suit, wrinkling them while doing so. Dio was fired up by the calls of his name leaving your lips, making him go at a, almost inhuman, pace.

Vulgar slaps of skin filled the room and you were both close to coming. Dio's hot breaths reached your ear and his thrusts losses its initial tempo.

"You're a few inches away from getting that raise, sweetheart. Just let me fill you with my seed." He bites the crevice of your neck - his teeth were sharp.

"Mr.Brando-! I'm gonna come...Agh- Mr.Brando... D-Dio!" Said man met his high after his name was yelped - relieved to let himself go, his cum spurts deep in your walls. You came shortly after by the feeling of him filling you up. Both of you sigh.

He hoists himself up off of you to put his dick back in his pants and fix his attire. You grimace at the slimy fluids now sticking between your legs. Dio scoffed. "Consider yourself lucky, little mouse. You finally got that raise you so desparately wanted. What's wrong with a little cum in you, hm?"

A bit irritated, you get dressed as well, getting ready to leave his office. But before you can exit, he turns you around to face him, eyebrow lifted in question.

"Leaving now? Have you forgotten what to say?" You assume he wanted some form of gratitude from you for giving you a raise.

"Thank you, Di-

"Hmmm? Did I fuck you so dense you forgot who I am to you?" You blush at his smile.

"T-Thank you, Mr.Brando."

"Good girl. Run along now." He slaps your ass before you leave.

"Dio, why do you smell like sweat? The only thing you do is sign papers and present at meetings." Jonathan frowned at Dio's pungent scent. The man chortled at Jonathan's exasperation. If only he knew what happened behind closed doors.

"Don't worry about it, JoJo. A little boy like you wouldn't understand."

"We're the same age, Dio."

"Oh yeah. You're right. You have such the resemblance of a child that I must've forgotten." Dio teases. The both head to the parking lot of their company to call to it a night. Jonathan clenched his teeth.

"I do not! Just what in the hell were you doing in your office? Working out?"

Dio roared out a large laugh at the word akin to what you and him did earlier today.

"Yeah.. you can call it that."

this fic belongs to @dilftaroooo

[yrpreciousmoon]

Morioh Hi-Fi (5/25)

Title: Morioh Hi-Fi (5/25) All Chapters Here Fandom: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Pairing: Josuke x Okuyasu; Rohan x Reimi; Koichi x Yukako; more. Rating: T for now Description: In an AU where Part 4 never happened, it seems Stand users are still  drawn to each other.  Rohan Kishibe runs Morioh’s coolest record store,  along with the  world’s okayest employees: Koichi, Yuya, and Okuyasu.  They live happily  in their bubble of obscure music references and  hipster style points  until the fateful day when Josuke Higashikata  enters the picture. AN: Please enjoy the absolutely stunning artwork that Miima created for the fic!!! It is so thematically appropriate for this chapter too!

Track 04 : Spinning

Okuyasu paced up and down the aisle, practically vibrating with excitement as he examined the paper in his hands. “Okay. Okay...” His gruff voice came through the filter of a chewed fingernail. “Right. That makes sense. That makes so much sense!” He finally stopped and looked up at the boy leaning against the brick wall of the store. “Have I told ya you have a way with words?” “You may have mentioned it.” A small smile played on Josuke's lips. “Seriously, man. It's like... it's like poetry sometimes. Is that weird to say?”

“Yes,” remarked Yuya, who was idly flipping through a magazine on the other side of the room.

“Ah shuddup, you of all people know the importance of some pretty words.” Yuya looked up from his reading, considered this for a moment. “Fair.” “Anyway...” Okuyasu returned his attention to Josuke, “What I'm tryin' to say is, I really dig your interpretation, man. It's totally what Bowie was goin' for.” “Yeah?” Josuke shot him another lop-sided grin. “It didn't read too much like a research paper?” An enthusiastic shake of the head. “Nah, bro. Bowie wants you to think about his shit. He wants you to build a fuckin' thesis statement around it.” He reached out and placed a hand on Josuke's shoulder, eyes intense. “Listen, I gotta introduce you to this one friend of mine... He loves 'Ziggy Stardust,' he's obsessed. He'll talk to you about it for hours if you let him, it's like goin' on an acid trip...” “Yeah? Have you ever been on an acid trip?” “No but that's beside the point.” A chuckle. “What is your point?” “Oh, uh...” Okuyasu paused, having momentarily forgotten. “I guess just that... I'm glad you liked it. I was worried I might be leanin' into the foofy stuff a little too hard.” “What?” Josuke tilted his head. “Foofy?” “Like...” Okuyasu tapped his chin. He looked over to Yuya, who was definitely still eavesdropping. Yuya took the cue and shrugged.

“I don't know, man, you always call my sense of style 'foofy,' so I guess it means tasteful and refined.” He pointedly adjusted his black cravat.

Okuyasu clicked his tongue, indicating that there were several other adjectives that came to mind first, though he thought better of using them.

“So you mean 'flowery,' maybe?” Josuke tried, “Err... experimental?”

“Yeah, yeah, you get it! So like, I wasn't sure if I should change directions and go a little more masculine instead. But I'm glad the experimental stuff really did it for ya.”

“I can do masculine too, y'know,” Josuke said with a raised brow, challenging. “Oh yeah?” Okuyasu replied, instantly picking up on his playfully competitive tone. “Okay, then how 'bout I hit you with a one-two punch this week?” He took a boxing stance and Josuke mirrored him without missing a beat. “I'll find ya somethin' more flowery AND somethin' with some big balls.” “Sounds right up my alley,” Josuke said, throwing a pulled punch that Okuyasu easily deflected. “But you're gonna burn through those 'Five Records to Blow My Mind' pretty quick. Are you trying to get rid of me?” “Course not, bro. Just tryin' to sell you some records so Rohan doesn't fire me.” He side-stepped, tried to jab Josuke in the ribs, was too slow.

“Alright, well I can't have you cast out on the streets. Go ahead, show me what you've got.” Josuke tapped his knuckles against the side of Okuyasu's head and was ready to gloat when the other took advantage of the contact, pulled him forward and caught him in a headlock. “Aah! No fair!”

“Yeah, Nijimura always plays dirty,” rang the cool voice from behind them, as Yuya appeared from seemingly nowhere. “Jeeee-zus,” Okuyasu gasped, hopping forward and releasing Josuke. “Toldja not to sneak up on me like that, ya freakin' ninja.” “Oh, get over it. I just wanted to come see which Of Montreal album you're about to recommend.” Okuyasu pursed his lips at this. Yuya flashed a smug grin. “I mean, you were talking about Mikitaka a second ago, right? And experimental music? Not too hard to see where you're going with this.”

“Yeah, yeah, I'm so predictable, losin' my edge, I get it.” Back to Josuke, he added, “Count Dorkula here is actually right. Of Montreal is my buddy Mikitaka's favorite band... they're this American group. Totally insane. I can't exactly say I get 'em, but you might. Experimental – check. Flowery – check.” He nodded his head in the direction of the 'O's and walked both of the other men over.

Josuke's fingers immediately drifted over the various album covers, exploring the chaotic, 1960s-looking psychedelic scenes. “Hmm... 'The Gay Parade?' ” he read aloud.

“You wish,” replied Okuyasu.

“What's that even supposed to–”

“Look, The Beatles already did 'Yellow Submarine,' you don't need to listen to its little sibling.” Okuyasu dismissed the idea with a wave. Josuke simply nodded, as if this statement made any sense at all to him. “Nah, dude... this is what I was lookin' for...” He pulled out a record featuring what appeared to be several women woven together by the locks of their wild hair. Josuke smiled to himself, and Okuyasu knew exactly what was going though his mind. “Looks kinda like Yukako, right?” snickered Okuyasu, and the stare Josuke gave him let him know that his hunch had been dead on.

“Ah... 'Coquelicot,' ” observed Yuya, oblivious to the synchronicity happening between the other two.

“Eh?” asked Josuke.

“ 'Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies,' ” Okuyasu elaborated, as if this clarified anything. Josuke continued to stare. “Well... technically the full title is 'Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse.' ”

“It's foofy, alright,” Yuya muttered.

“...Man, my English is pretty good, but you may as well be making these words up,” Josuke said, squinting at the album cover.

“Hey, you're the one who's always writin' fancy, big words! Just trust me on this!” Okuyasu blushed fiercely. “I know it sounds weird, but I think you'll get somethin' outta it.”

Josuke shook his head, nudged the other's arm. “C'mon, don't pout... Of course I trust you! You were right about Ziggy Stardust after all.” He snatched the record away to make a point, inspected it some more.

“Hell yeah I was right!” Okuyasu shot a triumphant look over his shoulder at Yuya, who was snickering and retreating. Evidently he'd lost interest in this exercise now that Josuke had agreed to humor Okuyasu's bizarre recommendation. “So here's the thing, Josuke. 'Coquelicot' leans way, way into that weird, like, character stuff. This one's about fairies.”

“Fairies?”

“Yeah. I guess. Look, man, I'm not saying you're gonna like it, but it WILL blow your mind. This is gonna open up a lot of very weird doors for you. A gateway drug. And I'm gonna introduce you to Mikitaka afterwards, and he's gonna take you down the rabbit hole.”

“Uh huh. Okay, you've sold me, now before I change my mind... what's the other one you're sending me home with today?”

“Ahh.” Okuyasu closed his eyes, stood up a little taller. “Now this is a little more up my alley, personally. So if you hate it, don't use those pretty words of yours against me, okay? But I think you'll be into it. ...You better be into it.” He stalked a few rows further down the aisle and quickly plucked out an album with a stark red and black cover.

Josuke leaned in to suss out the writing. “Queens of the Stone Age... This is the album with big balls?”

“The biggest,” Okuyasu confirmed proudly.

“Hm. I think I liked your 'love-making and fucking' analogy better.”

“Yeah, well, this one fucks. It's all sweat and testosterone and muscle cars.”

“You've got a way with words yourself, y'know, Oku.”

The little nickname didn't get past him, and he swelled with the knowledge that Josuke had given it to him. When was the last time he'd gotten a nickname... one that wasn't an insult? “Ah! Flattery won't get you a discount, Josuke...”

“I had to try.”

Okuyasu slapped him hard on the back and, his job as the music guru completed, he promptly started off towards the register. He paused for just a moment to crane his neck and inspect the record that Yuya had picked up in the meantime – letting out an ominous “Hmmm” before continuing on his way. When he finally turned around again, he was struck by the deeply thoughtful look on Josuke's face.

“Um... Everything okay, dude?”

“Yeah.” Josuke shook himself out of it. “I was just thinkin'. I don't have anything to do tonight, so... we could listen to these here, maybe?”

Okuyasu's eyebrows crept up towards his hairline. “Oh? Huh. Yeah, sure! Why not? You're gonna get whiplash listenin' to these two back-to-back though, I'm warnin' ya!”

“We could take a break in-between. You get to take a break, right? We could grab a bite to eat or something. You're buying though, since I'm already pushing it getting these.” He tapped the records in his hand and smiled.

Okuyasu beamed back at him. In truth, he hadn't been too sure if Josuke was really into this budding friendship of theirs but... here he was, specifically asking to spend a couple of hours just hanging out with Okuyasu, shooting the shit about his favorite thing. A cool guy like Josuke – the kind of guy who probably spent most nights crashing parties and wooing the ladies – and he wanted to chill at Dark Pink? Damn. Okuyasu must be doing something right.

“Hey, hang on,” came Yuya's voice, breaking into the thought. “Since when do we get breaks?”

“Since you agreed to cover the store while we go out to eat. Thanks, man!”

Yuya just glared.

.

Ultimately, the two did not take a break, though not for the sake of poor Yuya; instead, they found themselves doing so much laughing and analyzing and waxing philosophical while Coquelicot spun on the turntable that it hardly seemed necessary to discuss it over snacks afterwards. And so with a little bit of coaxing Okuyasu had agreed to put on the second record immediately and ride out this little marathon of theirs.

While the music was infinitely different this time, heavier, the album still evoked the same jokes and back-and-forth-struggling-for-words that the first one had. And likewise remained the quiet, pensive moments where words simply wouldn't do. But that was okay, because somehow just by looking at him, just by being there, Okuyasu knew what Josuke was thinking and yeah, he was totally right. As always.

Sometimes Okuyasu would get especially excited about a particular bassline, grab Josuke's shoulders and tell him to really listen, and though a tiny part of him worried that his new friend might deem this behavior very uncool, he had a feeling Josuke would just get it.

.

At one point near closing time, Rohan had come in to check on something. He stared wordlessly at the two of them splayed out on the floor as he passed. Josuke flashed him a peace sign.

“...Yuya, you can go home early if you want,” Rohan called over his shoulder, “Since apparently Josuke works here now.”

Yuya slammed down the magazine he was perusing. “Yeah – really? That sounds good to me!” He grabbed his jacket and then raced from the store before anyone could argue. “Smell ya later, assholes!” he hollered from the front steps.

Frozen mid-air guitar and still on his back, Okuyasu tipped his head as far back as it would go to catch a glimpse of his boss. “Hey Rohan, umm... you're not mad at us for doin' this or nothin', right?” he called.

Rohan stepped back into the room to study them again. Arms crossed, hip leaning hard into the door frame, he raised a brow and took a long while to reply. “Nah. You two are mostly harmless. Frankly the least of my worries at the moment. But you have to actually do your job if anyone comes in.”

“I have been!” Okuyasu replied, “Honest! And anyway I'm just helpin' a customer here with his purchase.”

Josuke punctuated the statement with a smile and wave.

“Yeah, yeah. Don't forget to lock up.” Rohan disappeared into the office again for a few seconds, returning with a small portfolio that Okuyasu suspected held some unfinished drawings. Rohan rarely let Okuyasu peek at his artwork, and even more rarely appreciated his clumsy feedback about it, but there was no harm in asking, right?

“Hey, whatcha got–”

“If anything gets broken or stolen,” Rohan interrupted, “it's coming out of your paycheck. And Josuke will owe me another round.”

Josuke laughed. “We'll see about that.”

Okuyasu sat up slowly, watching his employer cross the floor to the exit. “Uh. Yeah, sure, man, you got it,” he called, and received only a flick of the wrist as both a reply and farewell. As Rohan vanished into the stairwell, Okuyasu looked over at Josuke. “...You guys went out drinkin' together?” He wasn't sure if he loved this idea or hated it.

Josuke avoided his eyes, suddenly something tense in his expression that Oku couldn't quite put his finger on. “Oh, yeah. We ran into each other the other night. I was sayin' hi to Koichi and Rohan showed up.”

“Oh.” Somehow, that was enough put Okuyasu's mind at ease. “That makes sense. Cool.” He hugged his knees to his chest and turned to look at the turntable that was still diligently spinning. The music quieted, dissolved into some indistinct chatter that indicated a change in songs. “Ooh, hey Josuke, pay attention to this one, okay?”

He closed his eyes, indicating that Josuke should do the same. And then he surrendered to it, the slow and sultry bassline washing over him, followed in short order by the drums and a ferocious guitar melody. When the surprisingly gentle vocals came in, he let out a breath that he'd been holding in. Yoga and meditation had nothing on this.

“You know...” Josuke said quietly from behind him, “I get what you meant earlier when you called this music 'masculine', but – it's really more than that, isn't it?”

“Mm?”

“It's like...” Okuyasu heard the other boy sit up, felt him lean his weight against Oku's back. “...There's a lot of energy. Raw energy. Pent up frustration. Pain. And... strength. It sounds like someone who's been knocked down again and again, but who always gets up and keeps fighting.”

“Yeah...” Oku turned this description over in his mind. “Yeah, dude!"

A moment passed, and Okuyasu could tell Josuke was debating if he should say what he was thinking. “It's just interesting that you said you... identify with it.” Okuyasu felt him shift again. “I mean... Do you feel like–” He paused, let the aggressive music fill the space around them, “–this?”

Okuyasu let his chin rest on his knees. “Sometimes, I guess,” he mumbled.

Josuke hummed softly. Okuyasu had a feeling the other boy knew there was more to it than that, but he didn't press. Instead he said, “You're a pretty cool person. You know that, right, Oku?”

But Okuyasu didn't reply; didn't want to say 'not really' and then get lectured about it. He'd been there enough times with Koichi to know better. So instead the two of them simply sat there together until long after the music had ended and the turntable clicked into its infinite, silent spiral along the inside of the record.

[eminems-skittles]

target run [ bau family au]

bau family au  warnings: none word count: 1.7k

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

"Do you guys remember what I said?" David said, his eyes moving up to the rear view mirror to look at the five kids in the backseats.

"No messing around," Six voices droned in unison.

"Perfect," Rossi said smiling as he pulled into a parking spot.

"Do we have to all stick together?" Aaron asked from the passenger seat. His earbuds, hanging out of the collar of his shirt, played a vaguely familiar rap song that David could just barely hear.

"No but someone does have to stay with your little brother," David said, earning a groan from the seat behind Aaron.

"But dad," Spencer whined, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm almost nine years old. I can go off by myself."

"Says the kid sitting in the booster seat," Derek mumbled, earning a smack on the arm from Penelope and a giggle from Emily. JJ shook her head disapprovingly but there was a trace of a smile at her brother's antics.

"Spence, wanna come look at the toys with me?" Penelope asked, leaning across Derek so she could see Spencer. The question cause Spencer's face to light up and he nodded excitedly.

"Alright, let's go," David said, getting out of the car. Aaron and Emily were next out.

"Aaron?" Spencer called for his big brother.

"What is it buddy?" Aaron asked, pulling his head phone out of his ear.

"Can you give me a piggyback?" Spencer asked while unbuckling his seatbelt.

Without saying anything, Aaron turned around and crouched down. Spencer threw his arms around his big brother's shoulders and jumped up slightly. His tiny hands clutched the black and white flannel that Aaron was wearing. Aaron laughed and held onto the little boy's legs.

"Hey! I never get piggybacks!" Penelope complained.

"He's my favorite," was all Aaron said as he walked toward the store. The rest of the kids followed suit and branched off to go off on their own. Penelope walked next to Aaron and Spencer, talking animatedly about the newest episode of the anime her and Spencer were watching. When the trio got to the toy section, Aaron set Spencer on the ground and started to walk away. Before he got too far he turned around facing Penelope and Spencer, laughing at the contrast of their appearances. Penelope was dressed in what Aaron swore was all JoJo Siwa merch, although whenever he mentioned it to Penelope she'd deny it profusely. As if they planned to be polar opposites, Spencer was wearing a grey sweater vest he had gotten for Christmas with a blue long sleeve underneath it and khaki pants that were a little too big for him. The only pop of color Spencer was wearing were the beat up pair of purple Chucks he wore every day. "Don't get into too much trouble and remember-"

"If we see you, no we don't," Spencer finished, the corners of his mouth tugging into a small smile. Aaron smiled back before spinning on his heel, popping his earbud back into his ear.

"Where do you think Derek went?" Penelope asked, her eyes trained on a lego set.

"Probably to the sports section or he's following Dad around," Spencer replied. "Why?"

"I still have to get him a birthday present. Do you think he'd like this?" Penelope held up a box of legos for Spencer to look at.

"He hasn't opened the set you and JJ got him for Christmas," Spencer said, shaking his head, a pout forming on his face. "He won't let me play with them."

"I'll just get him a sticker or something," Penelope sighed defeated. "Do you think Dad will let us get a toy?"

"I dunno," Spencer shrugged.

——–

"I'm telling you, Em, she's out to get me," JJ complained as they milled around the junior section.

"Strauss isn't out to get you," Emily said, holding up a top for JJ. JJ cringed at it, shaking her head.

"Yes she is! Last week, I labelled my paper Unit One instead of the actual unit name and she gave me an F on the assignment even though I got all of the questions right," JJ groaned.

"That's probably Aaron and I's fault," Emily stated. "At least you don't have Mrs. Barnes. She hates me so much. Probably because she had Aaron last year and I'm nothing like him."

"You mean you're not a quiet straight A student?" JJ asked, quirking an eyebrow. "Can we go over to the sports aisle? I need to get a new ball since Will kicked mine onto the roof of the gym during practice yesterday."

"I still think he likes you," Emily teased, nudging her shoulder as they walked towards the sports gear.

"No he doesn't," JJ blushed.

"Oh my god! You like him too!" Emily said, poking her sister's cheek. JJ swatted her hand away, her eyes staring widely at Emily.

"Can you please be quiet?!" JJ asked, frantically looking around to make sure no one heard. She stopped abruptly when her eyes landed on her brother just a few aisles away from them. "Hey, who's Aaron talking to?"

——–

"Derek, why don't you go find your brother?" David asked as Derek threw random snacks into the cart. "I can do this myself."

"If you say so," Derek said laughing. "See ya later, pops!"

Derek ran down the aisle toward the toys to find Spencer and Penelope, his shoes squeaking every now and then. When he saw they weren't at the toy section, he ran through the whole store looking for them. Eventually, he found them near the sports aisle, huddled close together with JJ and Emily. He quietly walked up to them, careful not to make any noise.

"What are you guys doing?" He asked causing his brother and sisters to jump and turn to face him. Emily pulled his arm down so he was level with all of them. "What are we looking at?"

"Aaron has been talking to this girl for like fifteen minutes," Emily explained, her voice hushed. She pointed to where Aaron and the mystery girl were standing. She had short blonde hair and was wearing high waisted mom jeans and a white t-shirt.

"Who is she?" Derek questioned.

"Her name is Haley. Haley Brooks. She's the reason Aaron auditioned for the play," JJ whispered.

"We should go say hi," Penelope stood up, beginning to walk over to her older brother. Before she could get even half a step away, she was being dragged back to her spot.

"Absolutely not, Pen. Aaron can't know we saw him," JJ whisper-yelled.

"Why not?" Spencer asked, pulling on JJ's sleeve.

"Because he really likes her so we aren't going to ruin it," JJ said, looking down at her younger brother.

"Speak for yourself," was all Emily said before she stood up and walked over to Aaron and Haley.

"Hey Em!" Haley greeted. Emily winced at the nickname. Only her siblings could call her Em.

"Hey...Hal," Emily said, forcing a smile on her face.

"Why is she smiling like that?" Penelope whispered from where they stood.

"She's not Haley's biggest fan," JJ whispered. "Now, shush. I'm trying to listen."

"What's up, Emily?" Aaron asked, an annoyed smile settling on his face. Emily turned to face Aaron, her back completely to Haley.

"Spencer's looking for you. He needs help getting something. Says you know where it is," Emily lied.

"No I do-" Spencer was cut off by JJ shushing him.

"Okay, I'll be right there. I'm sorry Haley, but I gotta go help him," Aaron apologized.

"I can come with if you-"

"He can do it by himself," Emily cut her off before walking away.

"I'll see you at rehearsal," Aaron said to Haley before following Emily to where everyone else was waiting eagerly. "What do you need help with, buddy?"

"I don't need help," Spencer stated as if it was obvious.

"Then why did Emily practically drag me away from Haley?" Aaron questioned, turning to glare at his twin sister.

Deciding to not answer with 'because I hate your girlfriend,' Emily went with a much more logical approach. "Would you rather have us drag you away from your girlfriend or Dad?"

"Fair point," Aaron said with a smile.

The group of six wandered aimlessly around the store, having at least ten different conversations. They looped back to the front so they could grab a cart to fill with things they know Rossi would never let them get. Aaron and JJ, the responsible ones, were in charge of pushing the cart while everyone else threw random things into it.

"Emily tells me it's your fault Mrs. Strauss hates me," JJ says casually to Aaron.

"Uhh, maybe?"

"Great," JJ said rolling her eyes. "Hey, Spencer! Put that down!"

Spencer sighed, setting down the large glass ball he was about to throw at Derek. He looked at JJ and mumbled, "You're no fun."

"I could've caught it!" Derek muttered.

"Derek Morgan Rossi!" JJ exclaimed exasperatedly. "You are the older one, you know better than to egg him on."

"JJ, why don't you leave the parenting to me?" A voice said from behind them. They all turned around to find David standing with an almost full cart, an amused smile on his face. "But seriously, Derek, Spencer, you guys should listen to your sister."

"See!" JJ shouted, earning a few curious looks from other customers.

"What do you guys have there?" David asked, looking into the cart.

"Just some random things," Emily replied, tossing a tube of mascara into the cart.

"Okay, well let's go checkout," David said, before walking away.

"Wait, Dad!" Aaron said causing David to turn around. "Shouldn't we put this stuff away?"

"If you guys want it, you can get all of it," David said before turning back around and continuing his journey to the checkout. The six children shared looks of disbelief before following their dad.

After checking out, pushing three carts of bags (they had to get a third after they paid) and stuffing the car full of their goodies, they were on the way back to their house. The car was filled with excited chatter, everyone discussing the stuff they got.

"I have a question," Rossi said, grabbing the children's attention. "Who's Haley?"

[sohin-ace]

Hermes - Switching Cells

*looks at watch* Would you look at that? It's gay time!

Fem reader

"Why did they make us switch cells again?" You glanced up at the tall dark-skinned girl next to you as she scoffed, rolling her eyes to the back of her head.

"Pfff... Some bullshit." She huffed exasperatedly, "They caught two girls being all nasty and frisky and they got mad."

Hermes and you were currently both walking along the hallways, all your belongings in your arms as two assigned guards escorted you, holding onto the chains tied to your handcuffs like a lifeline as they kept careful watch over you.

You could see other inmates doing the same from the corner of your eyes, moving from corridor to corridor and getting ushered to pack their stuff faster.

Everyone in the prison were to move from their cells and switch cellmates. It was the new rule that had just been established after some people decided to act a tad more intimate than they should appropriately have within a strict prison and disturbed other inmates as well as some night duty guards.

When the announcement was made in the court yard, the entire staff present to break the very important news down to the people, all the inmates started laughing their asses off between annoyed grunts and 'booh's.

Anyone would. How stupid was that rule? What kind of prison even forbade physical relationships between inmates? How was intercourse ever harmful to jail discipline? Weren't prisons in Florida famous for rape culture and letting inmates basically abuse each other? What about 'prison sexuality'?

All these questions you and your fellow comrades couldn't answer.

Your assigned guards set you up in your new cell after you finally reached it and locked the door behind you two, leaving you to settle down before phone calls time.

You stared around the small windowless room, cemented walls and armored door. Well that sure changed from the huge bars from before. To be fair this cell seemed even better than the old one.

"So... What are these things for?" You pointed at the bars on the small frame cut on the metallic door.

"To prevent girls from snatching each other I guess? Not like that would stop anyone but ya know... No one else but the guards on duty can see the inmates now so I suppose that's what they wanted." Hermes cleared, still salty from the ordeal and unnecessary bother.

She threw her belongings somewhere and you turned your gaze away from the door, you could only agree with her scepticism. "Hmmm... Yeah that's bullshit."

Hermes plopped herself onto one of the beds with a breathy groan, supporting the back of her head with her arms, certainly claiming that bed as hers.

Your eyes widened a bit in surprise and slight confusion when you realized that the two beds were in the complete opposite sides of the room.

"They... They even removed the bunk beds?"

"Yeah," She scoffed with a smile. "To be honest that just makes what they want to prevent easier. Like, you could easily just- Tch, I'll never understand the warden."

You looked around a bit before putting away your stuff neatly, unaware of your cellmate's sneaky and insistant eyes on you.

"Are you gonna be okay? Without F.F., I mean." You asked without taking your eyes off of your current task.

"Hah, you should worry more about her than me. She's the one that's stuck with Jojo."

"Hey, Jolyne's not that bad..." You chuckled in your ex-cellmate's defense, "...When she puts her panties away, at least."

The room became awfully silent until you suddenly heard Hermes chuckle lowly, almost evilly, even. You turned your head around to look over your shoulder and saw the latina give you a mischievous sideway glance.

You blinked and furrowed your brows at her in confusion but she only smirked back, swallowing another chuckle.

"Girl, do you want to have a good laugh?"

Her sudden deep voice made you gulp and you swore you felt a wave of heat wash over you and a pearl of sweat glide down your forehead.

Oh no, first of all, she didn't have any business being this hot, sprawled on her bed like that, her strong arms flexing effortlessly and her enticing smirk reaching her golden-green eyes.

Secondly, you knew that when Hermes had ideas, they were almost just as bad as Jolyne's. And God knows that Jolyne could scream dumbass energy like no one else sometimes. Especially when she was bored or horny. Or both.

You bit your lower lip and nodded at her. Hopefully you wouldn't be in trouble because of her genius plans, but again, it just made it all the more exciting.

Hermes jumped off the bed and struggled to keep the grin off her face as she glanced at the barred door. God she was so gorgeous and she didn't even brag about it.

She approached you and landed one strong hand on your shoulder, bringing her index towards her green painted lips in a shushing gesture.

"Here's what we're gonna do..."

She leaned in and explained the plan in a sweet hushed tone and you could barely concentrate on her words when she was this close to you, whispering with her overly endearing mexican accent. God, how could one be so cute and so sexy at the same time?

You tried your best to keep a straight face as she laid her evil plan out to you, but you could feel her breath hitting your lips and you had to clear your throat many times to cover the small squeals you unwillingly let out.

The more she explained, the more you could feel your face warm up. Not only because you were trying hard to not stare at her very inviting lips but also, and mostly, because of what her plan actually implied.

Hermes sure was a bold woman, but this plan would piss off the guards so much and be so incredibly funny if nicely executed, but at the same time, it was a bit, if not very, inappropriate and risky, which you got to figure out, was something she very much enjoyed.

"You sure about that, Hermes...? It's a bit... It's embarassing." You hesitated, visibly flustered but she squeezed your arm in reassurance.

"Come on! Don't be like that, it's gonna be so much fun!" She grinned at you and she knew you could hardly resist or refuse her anything. "Y/N, please? It'll be so worth it babygirl, trust me."

You gulped and nodded. Oh well, what's the worst that could possibly happen?

"A-aah!! I-... I can't do this...!"

"Ughh... Come on, bebé, just like that, yes...Yes!"

Very suggestive noises of the two cellmates echoed in the room and throughout the prison corridors. A wanton mix of grunts and whimpers and moans. What could be going on in this prison?

"I-Ah!... Aaah, no~!" You whined breathlessly and Hermes groaned right after you, accompagnying you in your, quite strange, string of sounds.

"Yes! That's it, Y/N! Do that again!"

"Hermes, I-...nnghh!! Fuck!"

"You gotta move like this Y/N! Yeah, r-right there! Aah! Perfect!"

Some guards on walking duty were passing by and stopped, alerted by the horrendous noises, easily heard by anyone nearby, and that left very little, if not nothing to the imagination.

"A-aah please! Hermes! I can't-..." You gasped, your voice leaving you, "No more..."

Hermes, motivated, encouraged you further, purring, "No, no, you're doing great babe... Hmmm...That's what I like to see... Ah yes..!"

The guards hurried up to the cell you two were dwelling in and banged loudly on the metal door in hopes to shut you up.

"What the hell is going on here?!" One guard screamed and tried to check inside the room. But you girls were hidden right against the door, underneath the frame and perfectly in the guards' blind spot.

You two stiffled a laugh and continued on whatever you were doing. Yes. The plan was coming together amazingly.

Hermes was currently showing you some 'magic tricks' with playing cards. You were of course, completely failing and clumsily dropping the cards all over the place after trying your best to swipe and hold them in a way that would make any spectator blind to your misdirection and believe the cards were disappearing in your hands.

The Mexican was surprisingly good at these card tricks, things that she learned during her childhood, but she decided to add a little... spice to your teaching session. Something that would drive the prison staff nuts. Something that would make you pass time wonderfully in this boring prison.

"I can't do this, Hermes, we... We have to stop!" You cried with a hitched breath and the dark-skinned girl shushed you.

"Shhh. Relax, Y/N. You're too tense. Curl your fingers a bit. Oh-Yeah... Just like that... Aah~... See?"

"Yo-you're too good at this..."

"Let me teach you, guapa." She rasped and you let out an exaggerated ragged moan that she had to muster all her self-control to not burst into a laughing fit. What an actress you were.

"AAAHH~!"

The other guard came in to join his partner after leaving to call for help and you two could hear them bickering over what to do. The youngest, after getting insulted way too many names, eventually walked off again to call the supervisor.

"Come here supervisor! I heard them! Those two are at it as well!"

"Those damn lesbians, I'm so fucking tired!" The first guard commented as the supervisor stomped towards your cell and grumbled.

"I swear, these fucking girls are all so horny!" The man punched at the door, almost breaking it off its hinges and making you both flinch under the door. "HEY! MOVE AWAY FROM THE FUCKING DOOR YOU SLUTS!"

You put your hands over your mouths to silence your endless snickers and hurriedly got up, getting into the supervisor's view in front of the door's barred frame and forcing straight faces out of you.

"A problem, sir?" Hermes asked as calm as ever, her smirk effectively washed off her face.

"What the FUCK were you two doing in there?!" He growled, clearly not amused and way too busy to deal with that kind of joke.

"Nothing sir. We're playing with cards. Are we not allowed to?" She feigned as she tilted her head slightly, quirking an arrogant eyebrow. She too, was quite the actress.

"Tch, you freaks, I'm coming in." The supervisor fumbled messily with the keys and unlocked the door, missing the keyhole at least three times before succeeding, opening it wide and checked you two up and down scrutinizingly.

Nothing out of the ordinary. Neither of you looked disheveled in the slightest, and there were indeed cards sprawled onto the floor and in your hands.

He let out a suspicious drawn-out grunt and squinted his eyes at you, pointing an accusing finger at you two as he slowly backed out the door.

"I got my eyes on you, Costello, L/N. Don't you fucking mess with me." He hissed before slamming the door and locked it, walking away with the other guards close behind him.

When they were all out of earshot, you two finally burst into a laughter that you had been desperately containing as you slid back against the door, holding your stomach with pain from laughing so much.

"Man, we really got them!" Hermes obnoxiously sneered and you could only laugh back, contaminated by her laughter.

"Yeah! It was genius! And the overly lewd noises too! He was so red!" You added between laughs and slapped her arm playfully.

You both continued until your laughter died down a bit. You kept giggling softly and Hermes leaned over, smirking at you.

"Well," She purred and you looked back at her with wide eyes as she slid her hand up and down your thigh sensually. "Since they won't suspect a thing now, let's just get into the real deal, you're okay with that babe?"

And just like that, she grabbed your wrist and gently pinned you to the floor, connecting your lips with hers in a hungry and wet kiss.

And indeed, they did not suspect a thing after that.

Bonus:

"So Y/N is a bottom, huh?" Jolyne sneered as you all sat together at the cafeteria at lunchtime.

You gasped and blushed and Hermes wore her favourite expression. The smug one.

"I don't know what bottom is, but if Y/N is that I guess I approve." F.F said her straw between her lips before she slurped her drink again.

"Shut up. All of you!"

To be honest I didn't know what the Mexican accent sounded like until I started hanging out with @gio-is-writing and ??? Hello? Cute? Sexy? Be mine already.

[blitzturtles]

Title: It Starts Like This, Ch. 6

Rating: Teen and Up

Fandom: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo

Pairing(s): BruAbba, FugoNara / NaraFugo (Could be platonic, honestly, tho the BruAbba definitely isn't.)

Summary: “What?” he snaps.

“I’m just thinking.”

A pause. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Notes: Turns out being dead has a bit of a long term effect. Who would have thought?

This fic got away from me, so I'm breaking it down by character interaction (sort of). Here's another Bucci-centric chapter for the Bucci-centric fic.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8

Additional Notes: Sometimes having two disabled folks in one relationship is... rough. Not at all based on real life experiences...

Content Warning: couple fighting and a panic attack.

Also, for unnecessary clarification: Moody doesn't zipper through anything. Abbacchio goes around barriers and resets her timer as needed. Oh, and I use she/her for Moody. I've got a fic planned for that eventually.

There's also a mild mention of a headcanon I have where Bucci is technically Narancia's guardian. For school and healthcare purposes. (Fugo emancipated post-disownment, and Giorno kind of flies under the radar.)

-

Bucciarati won’t admit it, but there’s something devastating about the first medication not working. Or not working well enough. They can’t be sure, but he’s not willing to continue on something that ultimately failed to curb such a traumatic experience for one of the people he cares for most. He can’t quite shake the guilt that’s been slowly wearing away at him for days.

It’s only the anxiety of having another seizure in front of his famiglia that has him permitting Abbacchio staying home once more. He can’t do that to Narancia again, and he knows that it won’t be any less stressful for the rest of them. It’s bad enough when Leone has to deal with the fallout, but he’s better prepared for it. He’s seen worse, and it’s part of what they both signed up for. For better or worse, in sickness and in health. They’ve done everything but scribbled their names on the paperwork to make it official, but Bruno thinks that, with everything else they’ve gone through, they’ve more than earned their right as one another’s life partner.

Still, that doesn’t mean that Bucciarati likes to be watched like a lab experiment. With eyes that are waiting for the slightest hint that something’s wrong. It makes him acutely aware of the fact that he could have another seizure at any given moment. That he might have one with no warning signs, or at least not any that he’d recognize as such.

That’s the problem with auras; he can’t seem to recognize them for what they are.

He’s being unreasonable, he knows. He hasn’t had enough seizures to know whether or not he’ll learn to recognize the warning signs, but it feels like it’s been an eternity already. And a thousand seizures, rather than a small handful. Part of that is due to how poorly he feels afterwards, and how off he feels on the medication. Part of it is how all of this has disrupted their lives in every way imaginable. And all of it has him in a sour mood.

“You’re upset,” Abbacchio starts with a frown. It’s the first time either of them has spoken all morning.

“I’m frustrated.”

Abbacchio hums in response. A quiet sound that wouldn’t normally grate Bucciarati’s nerves, but it gets under his skin and festers.

“What?” he snaps.

“I’m just thinking.”

A pause. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You never want to talk about it,” Abbacchio answers, snappish and untrue. Even if it were, he knows why. Understands better than anyone else.

Bruno’s eyes widen slightly. A startled, wounded look evident in his blue irises, but his gaze hardens and he sneers,

“You’re right. I don’t.”

“Bruno, wait--”

But Bruno is already gone with nothing but a trace of gold left behind.

Damn that stand.

______

It’s a childish thing, to storm off, especially when Bucciarati knows that Leone’s only worried. That he hadn’t meant the words that came out of his mouth, and that he’s as scared as Bucciarati is. That this is all out of his depth, regardless of what they feel for one another or what promises they’ve made. It’s still terrifying the way it’s terrifying to watch Abbacchio cough up blood some mornings.

He regrets leaving the moment he stops moving. Stops tearing holes through walls and leaving Sticky Fingers to put them back together. It’s like someone punched the air out of him, and all he can do is sink to the ground, on his knees, with his head held in his hands and his mouth open, gasping for air.

Each breath comes too quick, and leaves before he feels like he gets any air. There’s something wrapped around his chest. Too tight, and somehow pulling tighter. It’s all he can do to lie down. Before the next inevitable comes. He already feels too light-headed with a lingering dizziness that makes it impossible to think through.

“Bruno,” the voice sounds familiar. Too much like his own echoing in his ears, but he’s not talking, much less calling his own name. His voice wouldn’t sound like that. Wouldn’t sound steady, if not worried, but, when he looks, there’s a mirror image of himself looking down at him. It falls to its knees, and a familiar sound rings out in the air as Moody’s timer runs out. She reaches for him as purple wraps around her frame once more.

“Bruno,” Leone repeats, this time in his own voice, from his own body. He all but collapses on his knees beside his stand and reaches out with careful hands to brush Bucciarati’s hair from his face.

Time freezes for a moment. Bucciarati expects consciousness to flee him without warning, but the air lingers. Stale and stiff and impossible to breathe, and all he can do is try and try to pull enough of it into his lungs to try to chase away the spots dancing across his vision.

Recognition flashes across Leone’s features. Where his hand has gone still in Bruno’s hair, it moves once more. A gentle carding. A distraction from the racing fears in Bucciarati’s head. He can’t calm his breathing no matter how hard he tries. It feels completely out of his control, and he doesn’t know what to do.

“Hey, are you listening to me?” Leone asks him seemingly out of the blue, but he knows that’s not right. That Leone must have been talking since his arrival, but Bruno can’t recall a word that’s been said.

“Yes,” he breathes, because he is now, and he meant to before. It’s just so hard to hear anything past the roaring in his ears.

“You need to calm down a little bit. Take some deep breaths,” Leone tells him, as if Bucciarati hasn’t been trying to do that since he stopped moving. There’s a sense of impending doom that lingers, pressing down on him until it’s crushing and unbearable.

“Hey,” Leone calls, tapping Bruno gently on the forehead, “You gotta focus on me, alright? Stop listening to whatever’s going on in that thick head of your’s, and listen to me. I need you to breathe in-- slower than that. Okay, good, hold-- now out. Annnd in--” They go through the steps several more times, until Bucciarati can successfully follow the counts more often than not. Finally-- finally he can breathe. Oxygen filters through his system, and his vision begins to clear. It’s only then that he starts to put the pieces together, and it’s shame that replaces the panic.

“I’m-”

“Don’t,” Leone cuts Bruno off before he can apologize. “I get it.” He moves to catch Bruno when he wobbles a bit too much upon trying to sit up. “Take it easy, will you?” He sighs and sits back.

“Sorry,” Bruno says, for lack of anything else to say.

“I’ll kick your ass if you apologize again.”

Bruno opens his mouth, and Leone quirks an eyebrow. It’s enough of a threat, empty as it may be, to convince Bruno to click his teeth together.

Leone huffs a sound that might be a laugh. Or it might be the last of his sanity slipping away. He scrubs his hands over his face and sighs. “I’m sorry. For what I said earlier. That was shitty. I’m just-”

“Scared?”

“Terrified.”

“That’s fair,” Bruno muses quietly. He absently wipes at his face, and it’s the first time he realizes that there are tears there. Streaking down both cheeks and plentiful in nature. He can’t remember the last time he had a panic attack. He’s better at running from his problems than he is dealing with them head on. At least the ones emotional in nature. The rest he’s always tackled with little more than a hope and a prayer to a deity he’s long lost faith in. “I’m sorry, too.”

“I told you to stop apologizing.”

“When have I ever listened to you?” Bruno snarks back, shoulders relaxing slightly.

Leone snorts, “Not a day in your life.” Bruno has the scars to prove it, too. Bastard. “C’mon. Let’s get off the floor. I’m getting too old for this.”

It’s Bruno’s turn to laugh this time, “You’re barely in your twenties.”

“And I’m too goddamn old. Up,” Leone pushes himself to his feet before reaching his hands out to pull Bruno upright. There’s a pause where the two are lost, staring at one another, and Leone decides ‘fuck it’. What better time to go for a kiss then after your partner has a full on panic attack? They’ve done worse with far more questionable timing.

Bruno responds to the kiss with a pleased little sound in the back of his throat. He tugs Leone closer, wanting the contact more than anything. He can feel Leone’s hands cradling the back of his head, fingers linking together at his nape.

“Gross! Get a room!”

Leone curses as they break apart and shoots Narancia the meanest look he can, “I will murder you.”

“Only if you catch me!” And the kid is off before Leone can even respond.

Bucciarati can’t help laughing at the whole display. He grabs for Leone’s hand before his partner can seriously consider killing Narancia. “May I remind you that I’m legally responsible for him?”

“They won’t find the body.”

“Leone!”

[smugbugunderarug]

Smug Bug Reads: Fleetway’s Sonic the Comic #13

         Double Trouble introduces yet another villainous look-alike for Sonic... however, instead of originating from an opposite yet parallel dimension or from the lab of Dr. Robotnik, he comes from a power up most would expect to aid you instead of have a grudge against you...

         Script: Mark Millar          Art: Mike Hadley          Lettering: Ellie de Ville

         The first panel shows Tails losing his football (or his soccer ball, Americans) in a cluster of bushes whilst playing around in Emerald Hill. While rummaging about the foliage, he comes across what most fans that have played Sonic the Hedgehog can easily recognize -

         - one of these things. You’ve seen this before, right? An extra life tv box, a one-up, whatever you wanna call it. These are good things. Grab them when you can. They come in handy.          Now what Tails found doesn’t look quite as harmless.

         Granted, compared to Shadow or Metal Sonic, this “Sonic” does look a bit like the real deal (at this first glance close-up, anyways). He gives this story to Tails about how Robotnik trapped him in the T.V. box (later we find that that’s not entirely false) and that he had to press the button in order to get him out. Tails, completely falling for it, does as he says. The button is pressed, and “Extra Life” is free.

         I’m going to be honest, when I first saw this dude’s design, I thought of the werehog mixed with Classic Sonic. I still see it!          The shredded looking ears, particularly prickly spikes, harshly angled nose, sharp gaze, and spiked teeth are the details that separate this fake from the hero (at first, I thought he looked greyer than Sonic did, but later on when the two share a panel, both share the same blue). Tails is knocked out, and Extra Life is free to cause havoc.

         Close by, critters from the resistance are building a hideout in Emerald Hill that could hopefully keep them safe from Robotnik. It’s good to see them finally take some action in a sense; they havent done much except follow Sonic around, be saved by him, or be held captive by Robotnik and his creations. Now (or in this issue anyway) they’re actively helping out the... well, I guess you could call it the war effort. It’s good to see that!          But anyways, guess who’s headed their way...          Extra Life sees the group with their unfinished hideout and doesn’t hesitate to undo almost all their labor (while hurting and endangering a lot of them in the process).

         I really gotta wonder how fast one has to go in order to set fire to the forest. Like... dang. Well, it’s clear now that Extra Life can rival Sonic’s speed, so it wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to say that they’re equal in ability.          The critters believe that Sonic was the one who torched their hard work, and frankly, that wouldn’t be a bad assumption for them to make based off of appearances alone (however, by now they should know that although Sonic can be a jerk, he’s not villainous in behavior). Since Extra Life was practically speeding through the destruction, chances are none of them got a good look at him. A blue blur alone must have been enough to pin the blame on the hedgehog... but not the one they originally assumed.

        Although much damage is done, the real Sonic steps in to combat the fake. Since Sonic had the element of surprise, he found himself with the upper hand against Extra Life, and managed to send him flying out of sight... but then, the critters arrive.

        Sonic tries to explain that he wasn’t the one who trashed their efforts, but they deem him too dangerous and want him banished. I think maybe that was perhaps a bit too much and a bit too fast to do, especially after knowing what Sonic is really like (even with the more often than not sour attitude).          Anyways, unintentionally proving Sonic’s claim, Extra Life jumps back into their fight. The critters now realize he was telling the truth after narrowly dodging the storming fake.

         In the distance, Tails finally wakes up from being knocked out by Extra Life, and sees the terror going on further off. Picking up the T.V., he makes his way towards the scene...          Meanwhile, Extra Life seems to be winning against his brawl with Sonic,,,

         If Extra Life doesn’t fair well with a surprise attack, it would make sense that Sonic wouldn’t either.          We do have an origin story for Extra Life, anyway, so that’s neat. It really makes me wonder how long ago the doc turned evil if Extra Life was stuck there for years... So he was probably created some time after Sonic got his super speed, but before the incident happened with Kintobor, but that’s not really a time span that’s been explained in detail just yet. So yeah, really gotta wonder how long he was stuck in there for...          Another thing... how would the box work? Or rather, how was it intended to work? Was he really supposed to be just a “helping hand”? Not something that could revive Sonic if he died or was on the brink of death? Or maybe a more morbid idea; a replacement if the real Sonic truly died??? How does he know about all these things that happened anyways? He knew about Tails towards the beginning of the issue, and he knew about Kintobor going bad... he couldn’t escape his confines, and assuming they’re following game cannon at the time he should have been created before Sonic 1, so how’d he know about these things?          Well, it doesn’t really matter anyway since Tails comes in to set things right and save Sonic... wait... did I read that right? Yes! It’s time for Tails to save the day (woot woot)! He doesn’t do much, but not much needs to be done. All he needs to do is point the telly to the fake, press the button, and presto! The doppelganger is back in his digital cage.

         is this a jojo reference? Well, that’s the end of that. I doubt we will see Extra Life again since he was booted to the cosmos, but after all the trouble he caused, I don’t think they much care. After that, the critters apologize to Sonic for accusing him so quickly, and then the issue ends right there with all of them staring into the sky above.

         I can’t help but feel just a bit bad for Extra Life. The dude was created and (appears to be) sentient, but was kept trapped in a box against his will for years. He probably grew bitter over all that time. It’s not entirely explained why he turned bad since he was created with good intentions, but being abandoned for so long... probably was a main reason why. While this serves as an explanation for all the ruckus he caused, it’s still not an excuse. I guess banishment a la space is what was in store for him, but still... can’t help but feel bad...

         TL;DR: don’t do 1-ups, kids.

[belphiesreverie]

Last of the requests! A fluffy date with Josuke for @sinful-jojo-imagines

———————————————————————

Dates with Josuke were never predictable. He always managed to make each and every one unique and fun in their own ways. Whenever you were getting ready to meet up with him, the anticipation for what he had planned always made you walk just that little bit faster.

When you arrived at Josuke’s house today, he greeted you with his hands behind his back and a cheeky smile stretched across his face.

“What’s that look for Josuke? You got something gross behind your back?”

He let out a soft chuckle before moving his hands in front of him and showing you what he was holding. There was a small collection of old Wii games in his hands.

“There’s more in the living room too! My mum got them real cheap so I thought we could play a bunch together!”

You walked further into the house with Josuke and looked over the pile of games as he finished setting up. There were multiple classics like Wii sports and the Mario games like Mario cart and a few Mario party games. Then there was a couple more obscure ones, but childhood favourites nonetheless like Warioware and some franchise games. All in all, it was a rather varied selection.

Your focus was diverted back to Josuke when he started to wave a wii remote in front of your face. You looked over to the tv to see what game he’d put in, only to realise you had absolutely no idea what this game was. It seemed like a ripoff of a Sonic game.

“Josuke, what on Earth is that game?”

He gave you a big goofy smile,

“I have absolutely no idea! But it looked fun!”

*

That game turned out to be as bad as it looked, as well as most of the other games you’d never heard of. Perhaps it was for good reason that they never became popular.

But you did have a lot of fun with them, the chaotic and ridiculous nature of most of the games had you both in stitches at some points. At least they brought you joy in those ways instead of being just outright horrific.

So what were you doing now you’d exhausted all those games? Well, currently you were in the middle of an intense battle with Josuke in Just Dance. He insisted he could beat you at Rasputin, but you begged to differ. Nobody could do that dance as good as you and you were not gonna lose your title as the Rasputin master just to make Josuke happy. This was war.

There wasn’t nearly enough room for you two to both be trying to do the dance at the same time though, so when Josuke accidentally turned the wrong direction at one point in the song, you both went down.

“You totally did that on purpose because you knew I was gonna win! Don’t even try to deny it!”

“Are you calling me a cheater y/n?”

Josuke let out a fake gasp and held his hand over his heart. The faked expression of hurt he had made it very hard to contain your laughter.

“You wound me y/n, truly. To think you’d have such a low opinion of me to accuse me of cheating! At just dance no less! Why I cannot bear it! The pain I feel is too immense!”

At that point, you could no longer contain it and burst out into a fit of laughter, Josuke joining in soon after. Shortly after you’d calmed down he helped you get back up onto your feet.

“Anyway, you wanna go again? Separately this time though.”

*

Exhausted was not even close to being able to describe how the two of you were feeling. After playing just dance for a good few hours, you were about ready to pass out. Josuke seemed to be about the same.

He’d exchanged the Wii for a movie and the two of you were currently cuddled together on the sofa under the thickest blanket he could find. It was around 3am at that point so you had already accepted that you’d be staying the night. Josuke had promised he’d get you some spare clothes to sleep in, but with how sleepy he looked, you felt bad for making him get up.

The movie wasn’t anything interesting so it wasn’t helping in keeping the two of you awake. Josuke’s grip around your waist had already began to loosen slightly as he struggles to stay awake.

“If you’re tired, you can go to sleep Y’know.”

Startled by you speaking all of a sudden, Josuke’s back straightened up from it’s previous slouched position and he blinked a few times to bring himself back to the present.

Once he was focused again, he turned to you with a slight frown on his face.

“I can’t fall asleep before you, that’s not fair! I gotta stay awake until you fall asleep!”

You let out a small giggle in response to his statement which earned you a pout from Josuke. He muttered out a ‘There’s nothing funny about wanting to make sure you’re sleeping well’ before turning his attention back to the tv.

“Ok ok, I’m sorry Josuke! Let me go grab something to change into and then we’ll both go to sleep alright?”

He gave a little nod in confirmation and reminded you where he kept his clothes despite you having borrowed them many times before. Detangling yourself from Josuke’s arms, which proved to be a hard task when he was comfy and wanted cuddles and to sleep, you made your way to his room to get changed as quickly as you could.

Apparently your fastest wasn’t fast enough, as when you emerged from his room again, Josuke had already fallen fast asleep sprawled our on the sofa. Approaching the area, you could confirm that he wasn’t going to be waking up any time soon.

You turned the TV off, grabbed some extra pillows and tried to nab some of the blanket from Josuke. Then, as carefully as you could, you lifted Josuke’s head just enough so you could sit down and placed his head back down on your lap. Immediately, Josuke wrapped his arms around your waist and snuggled as close as he physically could. You were now stuck in this position for the rest of the night.

Your back was going to kill in the morning, but it was all worth it if Josuke was happy.

[amazingorangedangantrash]

Give us the list of gifts!! I’m curious to know what they would give,,

You got it chief!

(Sorry this is a tad late, life has been kicking my butt lately-)

• Chiaki- probably a game or something like that. Most likely a multiplayer, and a promise for the two of them to play it together sometime. She might bring his switch or smth if she knows he'll be there a long time and get bored.

• Hajime- his underwear unlike everyone else, a relatively normal gift, like chocolates or something. they're orange flavoured He'd probably also be the one bringing him general stuff, like a change of clothes and all that.

• Nagito- also his underwear honestly, Nagito is one rich hoe so you know whatever he brings is going to be extremely high quality (especially for his beloved symbol of hope!). It's mentioned in UDG that Makoto likes trendy things, so maybe something he knows Makoto's had his eye on for a while now, but couldn't quite afford.

• Peko- honestly, Peko has zero experience in gift-giving, and probably turns to Fuyuhiko for help. Little does she know, he also has no fucking clue-

• Fuyuhiko- the guy has no idea how to give casual gifts. Makoto just wakes up one day and there's a newly crafted authentic sword embellished with the Kuzuryu clan name lying in the corner wrapped in silk, and he's just like... 'thanks... ig-'

• Jokes aside, he'd probably give him a nice watch or suit- guy's gotta look good when he confronts his rivals attends school.

• Nekomaru- hmm. He's a pretty sporty person, so maybe a tracksuit or gym clothes? Or no- maybe a nice planner/to do list to scribble in. (To Makoto's surprise, it's actually very pretty, and even handmade!)

• Akane- we all know the way to Akane's heart, and it's food- she'd probably bring him a lot of snacks and stuff, especially whatever's his favourite (maybe a bit too much... well, it's not like he minds sharing. Although, maybe that was her plan all along...)

• Ibuki- she'd bring along some CDs and music he likes/she thinks he'd like. It's the perfect opportunity to get him to listen to some of her reccomendations! Also, here's a cute idea- she brings her guitar and sings to/with him in his room.

• Mikan- Mikan is most likely the one actually looking after Makoto, but I guess if she'd had to gift something, it might be some cute stationary? (*looks at Mr stapler-*). I feel like she'd want to give something handmade, like cookies, but she's a bit clumsy and wouldn't be able to make it.

• Teruteru- ok teruteru would DEFINITELY give homemade snacks and stuff. He'd for sure insist on making Makoto's meals (in exchange for helping him with uh... changing his bandages-)

• Sonia- she might realise that Makoto is likely to get bored, and leave him some of her favourite reading material (unfortunately for him, said material is occult magazines, the current issue of which is centred upon a haunting at a hospital... he doesn't sleep well that night-)

• Gundham- isn't it sweet to imagine Gundham might actually leave one of his animal friends to keep Makoto company (even moreso if it's one of the Dark Devas- ahhh that level of trust)- or as he'd say, to "keep watch over him".

• Hiyoko- knowing Hiyoko, she'd probably leave a LOT of sweets. Most likely the traditional japanese kind too, though, there's a fair share of gummies and chewy sweets too.

• Mahiru- she has quite an eye for pretty things, so I think she'd leave some rather nice flowers, maybe in resin, like a bookmark or table decoration. Or, maybe she'd leave some polaroids to remind him of how much they all appreciate him.

• Kazuichi- a television. But not the hospital kind, oh no, this one he built specially for his bud. And maybe some other little gadgets here and there. (Also some coconut water, cause, he just likes it man-)

• Twogami- he'd.. probably copy Byakuya tbh *wheeze*

• Ryouta- a copy of a particular anime that he knows Makoto will like/cheer him up (I'm looking at you, *insert your favourite comfort anime series/movie here*)

Class 78

• Byakuya- knowing this guy, he'll buy whatever's expensive- he might even leave some of that pricey coffee because he "cant stand to see Makoto drinking that commoner crap anymore-" (insert that scene from ouran high school host club here-). Although... i cant remember but i think it was mentioned that he likes flowers? He might leave those.

• Kyoko- she actually likes some pretty feminine things, like perfume and cherry blossoms. I can see her leaving one of those really nice pens/journals. Or a set of some nice lotions/stuff like that.

• Aoi- donuts, duh. (She really likes cute stuff too, so maybe some adorable erasers!)

• Sakura- don't let her appearance as a wannabe jojo character fool you! she likes some delicate things. She might leave a rather beautiful charm, as a token of her friendship. Due to her practicality, I can also see her leaving vitamins and health supplements to make sure Makoto recovers quick!

• Yasuhiro- he's pretty superstitious, so alongside some nice scented candles (pine tree and summer berries, to be specific, to match Makoto's 'vibes') to clear the air, he'd leave some good luck charms to keep away any um- 'ill-intentioned spirits'.

• Toko- she definitely likes receiving very girly gifts, but I don't know if she'd feel very secure about giving them? Maybe she'd give him a signed copy of one of her books- maybe even a personal one she wasn't really planning on publishing...

• Genocide Jill (or however you call her idk)- JILL PUT DOWN THE SCISSORS- JILL- N O-

• she gave him a coupon for a haircut. That's... considerate (he'll let his hair grow to his feet before he lets her scissors anywhere near his neck-)

• Hifumi- 'please,,, please let this be a normal, completely safe for work piece of storytelling', Makoto thinks, as he opens the doujinshi, already perturbed by the... *ahem* somewhat suggestive cover.

(It is not safe for work)

• Celeste- a rather aesthetic pair of red and black glittery dice, and playing cards. (He finds that the dice are loaded and the cards are slightly uneven). I also like to think she might leave him some high quality tea and a set- (as a tea lover myself I'd definitely appreciate that as a gift hehe)

• Chihiro- they also like cute things! They'd definitely leave a totally adorable set of charms or something (I'm thinking of those ones that you'd hang from your phone), or pretty flower stickers for a laptop. Maybe a handmade gift too!

• Kiyotaka- he's that guy who brings the homework most likely something practical, like a scarf or coasters, y'know, that kind of stuff?

• Mondo- an entire motorcycle maybe- maybe just a leather jacket for now...

• Sayaka- he likes pop music, and I'd imagine he likes hers too (maybe not as much as his sister tho adjajsaisb-). She'd give him an album of covers she'd made, since she knows he likes her voice- all his favourite songs.

• Leon- a signed baseball. Makoto's the only one he's confided in about wanting to go back to baseball about, so he gives him a signed one as a token of appreciation.

• Mukuro- a confession letter. Mukuro has no idea what to give. Her love language is bullets and weapons and oh wait a minute.

• "Is... is this an actual gun-?"

• Junko- chocolates. Yup. That's it. They're just chocolates. Promise. 100% dairy-filled, ethically produced, got-em-on-sale chocolates.

• (And they may or may not be lined with Carolina reaper pepper extract-)

Bonus:

• Izuru- literally all of these but handmade and 200 times better because he's an actual god-

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8a/df/ca/8adfcaa6bc7579f028bf5d0b34583dd5.jpg)

[elizaisthetruehero]

Stranger with my Sister's Face Chapter 1

Someone at the DOD has a cruel sense of humor. That’s the only explanation Jo can think of for why her brother Tony is standing in front of her, being introduced as the new DOD liaison for Eureka and GD. Tony takes in his new assignment in stride as well as he can, though he has some trouble reconciling the person in front of him with his little sister. She just seems to have a little too much practice keeping secrets from him, starting with the boyfriend.

AO3 Link

Sunlight came streaming in through the windows and was glinting off of the data pad Zane was pushing in front of Jo. "Come on, one more problem, and then we'll take a quick break. You've got orbital and flight mechanics down, and you know the ship inside and out. I know you can do this. Let's just make sure everyone else knows it too."

Jo leaned back in her chair, where she was sitting at Zane's kitchen table, with more data pads and textbooks spread out in front of them. "And what were you thinking of for a break?"

"Well," Zane placed his hand on her arm, gently caressing up towards her shoulder, "you should probably have a snack, feed that brain. I've got the stuff for smoothies if that sounds good. Then", he leaned in and pressed a kiss to where her jaw met her ear, "I should probably make sure you get nice and relaxed. Studying while all tense can't be good for memory retention, I'm sure there's a study on it." He continued to press his lips along her jawline, marking a trail to her chin and back to her ear.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, someone in educational psychology has probably done studies on the length of the cramming session" another kiss was pressed to her jaw, "the proper environment" his nose nuzzled at the side of her face, "and what mental state the student should be in." He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and drew back, smirking. "I think a snack and a few minutes away from the books will be just what the doctor ordered."

Jo raised her brow and tried not to smile at his familiar antics. "I think you want an excuse to get me out of my clothes."

"Now Miss Lupo, who said anything about taking off your clothes? Besides, that dress looks so nice on you. It'd be a shame to take it off." Zane said while looking up and down her body, grinning appreciatively, his eyes lingering.

"I had church before I came to see you."

"I'm not complaining JoJo, just complimenting."

Jo's PDA buzzed, and she pulled it out to check it. They've got to be kidding me. "Shit, I gotta run."

"What happened?"

"The new liaison from the DOD came early. They sent someone active duty military, and I have to give their briefing and finish their clearance."

"How long is that going to take?"

She stood from the table and started looking through the papers for her wallet and keys. Where the hell did I put those? "Probably about an hour or so, I'll make Larry settle them into housing and everything else, I just have to handle the security aspect. It would have gone faster if they'd given me their information beforehand like I asked, but the DOD keeps to their own schedule. If it takes much longer than that I'll grab dinner from Café Diem for us on my way back. Does Thai sound good if I have to do that?"

"You don't want to make them sweat while you finish this last problem?"

She smiled at Zane's pouting face softly. "I'll finish up with this guy as quickly as I can and then I'm all yours to torture with orbital mechanics and rocket ship engineering for the rest of the weekend." Jo kissed him slowly, bringing a hand around the back of his neck. Zane pulled her to him, both arms slipping around her waist, a tongue licking into her mouth. She smiled against him then pulled away. "I'll text you when I get out of GD."

"Fine, go, do your job. Make sure that the DOD didn't send a complete moron our way."

"Or a Consortium spy."

Zane furrowed his brow in confusion. "Shouldn't they have already checked that?"

"Yeah, but my background checks are more thorough. Even if the DOD objects to them. Apparently, it's rude to request those records for a sitting Senator. But some lowly grunt is fair game." Jo grabbed her keys from the dish on the table beside Zane's front door and tried not to think of how she'd automatically tossed them there when she'd gotten there a few hours ago, how easily she'd slipped back into the habits built from two years together.

She drove off to GD, parked, grabbed the extra blazer she kept hanging in the backseat of her car, putting it on to look a little more professional and pulling her hair into a ponytail, now grateful that she hadn't changed after church. Her heels clicked on the floor as she made her way to the conference room off to the side of the rotunda.

Jo saw Daisy Lowell, one of her overnight and weekend security guards standing outside the conference room and nodded in greeting. "New liaison get in okay?"

"Uh, yeah, he just got here. His files are all here, and I ran the checks you like when he showed up, as soon as I got the name. No security concerns, no red flags." Jo heard a slight shuffle, looked down and saw Daisy's left leg shuffling, a tell that something was off with her.

"Is there something else you'd like to tell me?" Jo kept her tone light, but her eyes on the shifting leg.

Daisy kept her gaze forward but avoiding Jo's face. "One thing you should know Ma'am. When I saw his record, I noticed that it was someone who, well, uh, would be familiar to you."

Jo turned her eyes upwards to Daisy's face. "Someone I served with in the Rangers?"

"He was a Ranger." Her voice was tight, clearly taking care not to betray anything.

"Lowell..."

"Look, I didn't say you were the Chief of Security, and he didn't say anything, so I think he'll be just as surprised as you. Just go in there, do the briefing, and maybe schedule in time to catch up." Daisy handed her the file, moved out of the way of the door, and Jo pushed it open.

She first saw Senator Wen sitting at the head of the table, and the back of the new liaison. Crew cut, tan skin, the muscles obvious through the army dress uniform, but not particularly broad, though from what she could tell while sitting, fairly tall, at least six feet. She began cycling through the men she'd served with, trying to place him without the face or voice. Maybe Matteo Garcia, or Joey Pesci. Hell, if Adam Johnson had been serving somewhere sunny before coming here, he might be tan enough to fit the bill.

Senator Wen noticed her enter the room. "Ah, Ms. Lupo, glad you could join us." The new liaison's head swiveled around, and he almost toppled out of his chair getting up. Jo realized that all of her guesses were wrong, that while this man had been a Ranger, he hadn't served with her.

"Hi, Tony." She did her best to act blasé, though she was sure he would be able to recognize the surprise on her face.

Tony just blinked at her, looking just as he had when they'd been caught trying to sneak out to go to a concert years ago, "I, uh, Jo? What are you doing here?"

"You have a security briefing. I'm the Chief of Security here. Do the math, you're going to have to do a lot of it here."

"I thought you said you were working private security for some tiny tech company."

Jo drew her shoulders back and tried not to sound too smug. "You are familiar with the concept of top-secret and need to know, right? Cover stories? I do hope so, or else I'm going to have a hard time approving your clearance."

"Ah-hem." Jo and Tony turned to Senator Wen who had a slight upturn to her lips, almost a smile. "Evidently you two don’t need me to introduce you to each other."

Jo smiled, "No, that won't be necessary. That was taken care of a long time ago."

"You were irritating and loud from the moment we met," Tony smirked.

Jo chose not to respond verbally and simply backhanded him in the gut. "Senator, with all due respect, how long have you known my brother was coming to Eureka?"

Senator Wen did smile now. "Oh, a few days now. I thought it would be a nice surprise for the two of you." She walked around the table. "I'll let you get to work now. He already got an overview briefing in DC, he just needs the details of what's going on right now and security procedures."

"I'll take care of it." Jo and Tony each shook the Senator's hand before she left.

"Pleasure meeting you Major Lupo. Oh, and it goes without saying, but he will not have any say in the selection of Astraeus candidates. Washington was very clear about that." The senator left, and Jo tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach, the one that said that her brother's placement in Eureka had something to do with her.

"Well?"

Jo turned back to her brother. "Right, let's get this started. So, what were you told? I just want to make sure we don't miss anything."

Tony looked at her incredulously. "No no no, back up, let's take a minute. When one goes months without seeing one's siblings, it's customary to express some form of affection. Acknowledgment that we're not complete strangers. That sort of thing." He held his arms out and cocked his head.

She rolled her eyes and hugged him. "It's good to see you too Tony."

He chuckled. "Why did that sound like it hurt a little?" He squeezed her tighter, and Jo pushed her face into his neck smiling, taking in the familiar smell of the god-awful musky cologne he'd always worn. She hadn't smelled it since before 1947.

"Don't be a jackass."

"There's only so much I can do about that." They separated from the hug and sat down at the table. "We should probably get started."

Jo opened his file on the table and checked which briefing and checks he had gotten in DC and what Daisy had already taken care of. "Okay, so you know the basics. Eureka was founded as a place for the greatest scientific minds in the US to gather, collaborate and redefine the cutting edge. We get funded by the DOD, and they get military projects and inventions. You're the military liaison, so you're going to be focused on the projects with military applications and finding military applications for others, mostly weapons projects, but also infrastructure, energy alternatives, medical advancement, etc.

You'll have meetings with department and lab heads, but you should schedule those. These scientists are very busy, and their experiments often have delicate timetables. They can't drop everything to chat with you. I do not want one of their pet projects blowing up because you forgot how to work a phone. Is that clear?" Jo fixed her brother with a look that made it clear she was not making a suggestion.

"Yeah, crystal."

"I also see you were told about the Astraeus mission."

"Yeah, they mentioned the 20 Billion dollar space project. I'm still confused as to how it travels, but apparently, it's been tested and works, and last I checked, understanding how these things work wasn't my job."

"Yeah, it's a 6 month mission to one of Jupiter's moons, Titan. I'm sure the DOD will find some use for the research done on it. And no, no one expects you to understand the details of the science and the experiments done here, though you will probably pick some things up. The people here like to talk about their work, and you're going to be pressed for company that doesn't already have multiple PhDs."

"Okay," Tony looked over the paperwork he still had to sign and then asked, "What did Wen mean when she said I obviously wouldn't have any say over the candidates. I figured the DOD would want a little more say over who goes on this thing."

"You'd get accusations of bias." Jo drew her attention to the papers in front of her, looking for the different disaster procedure outlines for him to sign. If Larry lost them again, she'd kill him for real.

"Why would I get accused of bias? I don't know any of the geniuses trying to get off the planet."

"Tony," she drew her shoulders back and sat straighter, the way that she'd been drilled to in Basic training, the same way her brother had been drilled too, "I'm one of the candidates for the Astraeus mission."

He blinked. "That's very funny Josefina."

"I'm not kidding."

"Seriously." He paused, staring at her in shock. "You want to go into a never tested spaceship, that has a barely tested, still experimental engine that travels through creating wormholes, and hang out on another planet for six months doing what exactly?"

"First of all, I just told you, Titan is a moon, not a planet. Second, the researchers are going to be doing their experiments around Titan and out of the atmosphere at various points and will need an experienced pilot to handle the mission shuttle. Third, in case you forgot, I went to West Point for Mechanical Engineering, and since coming to Eureka, have gotten a more thorough practical education. I know what I'm doing, I know how the ship works, and am damn good at wrangling those geniuses when something goes wrong, which it inevitably will. And for the love of God, it's the opportunity to go to space! This is what everyone dreams about! I'm not turning that down."

Tony shook his head. "This is Uncle Ralph's fault."

"What are you talking about?"

"If he hadn't gotten you those books on space when you were a kid, this wouldn't be happening."

Jo couldn't believe what he was saying. "Oh come on."

"Nicky always told us the space phase would come back to bite us in the ass. We didn't believe him, but what do you know, crazy shit happens."

"I know what I'm doing. This is what I want, and I'm good at it." Jo tried not to be annoyed at Tony, but he was making it difficult. "Look, can we have this conversation later? We have a lot to get through."

"Fine." She knew that she wasn't going to be able to avoid this conversation for very long, and Tony would probably try to talk her out of the Astraeus mission at least a few more times. Stubbornness was a shared Lupo trait after all. "After we finish the government's business, is there somewhere around here to get take out? My briefing in DC mentioned an apartment, but to be honest, after the flight, I don't feel like cooking. And it would be nice to catch up."

"Yeah, I can grab us something from Café Diem while Larry gets you settled." Jo's gut twisted. She wasn't going to be in and out of this like she thought. She took out her PDA and messaged Zane and turned the non-emergency ringer off. Briefing going to be taking longer than I said. Won't be available until after dinner, later tonight. Sorry.

"Everything okay?" he nodded toward her PDA.

"Yeah, I just had plans. Going over stuff for the written science background test for Astraeus with a friend. I was just letting him know I had to cancel."

"Uh-huh. And uh, did these plans have anything to do with why you're wearing a dress?"

That got him a glare. "I had church this morning and I didn't bother changing afterward. Do you want to finish this after midnight, or do you want food at some point?"

Tony looked like he wanted to argue, then thought better of it, "I would like food at some point."

"Then shut up."

Paperwork was completed, Larry showed up, and Jo handed off Tony to him, noting the wide eyes as Larry processed who the DOD had sent. She quickly ordered some pizzas and salad (ignoring Vince's eyebrow-waggling, since he probably thought she was bringing them somewhere else) and brought them back to the one bedroom apartment that the DOD had arranged for Tony while Larry was leaving with the completed paperwork. He unpacked his bags, which had been brought when he arrived. Jo and Tony spent the rest of the afternoon and evening catching up, Jo retelling some of the stories she had already told him over the years with the details filled in, now that he had clearance.

She excused herself around 8, saying she had work in the morning, and still needed to take care of things, and drove over to Zane's apartment. Jo knocked on the door and forced herself to keep calm while waiting. It's not the end of the world. It's just Tony and Zane living in the same town. Working in the same building.

Oh God. The end of the world would probably be less explosive.

Zane opened the door and waved her in. "How long did it take to sign in some DOD bureaucrat?"

"Signing him in didn't take very long. Catching up is what took up most of the afternoon." She wrung her hands together and turned to face him, her skirt swishing against her knees. Zane closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

"They send someone you served with?"

"I wish," Jo scoffed, then ducked her head. "Someone at the DOD has a sense of humor, and decided to give my brother Tony the job".

Zane stiffened, then cracked a strained smile. "Big Brother sent big brother?"

"God, I'm going to be hearing that one for weeks aren't I?"

"Oh yeah." Zane came closer, and wrapped an arm around Jo's back, pulling her to him. "So what does he know?"

"Tony has access to all labs but will need prior authorization from myself or Fargo before entering Section 5. He does not get to harass the scientists, and we're trying to make sure he doesn't disturb the work done."

"Jo…"

"He knows about the Astraeus, and that I'm a candidate, and let me tell you, he is not happy about that, thinks I'm an adrenaline seeking idiot for going to space, and he doesn't want to have to tell"

"What does he know about us?"

Jo paused. "What, that his little sister is screwing the town felon? Funnily enough, that question didn't come up."

Zane ducked his head down to meet her eyes. "He's going to hear about it. Your brother is going to be here until at least the launch, if not longer, and people in this town talk. Zoe heard about us while she was on the other side of the country. How long do you think we have until someone mentions me to him?"

"Carter didn't find out for over a month."

"Yeah, and once it got out, it spread. Everyone knows, and everyone's a gossip. He's going to find out we're sleeping together some way or another."

"Look, I just need you to behave yourself around him, okay? Tone down the flirting, don't blatantly discuss the fact that we're sleeping together in front of him and try not to stare at my ass. Or my chest."

"Why should I?"

Jo stilled when she heard him, not understanding what he was saying. "What?"

"What motivation do I have for behaving? You're insistent that we're just friends, so why should either of us care what your brother thinks of me?" Zane ran his hand up and down her spine softly, trying to get her to relax. "I don't know what the Zane Donovan you knew was like, but I have a reputation for spitting in the face of authority. If I start sucking up to some DOD schmuck for no reason, well, someone's going to think I'm up to something."

"Or maybe they just think you're turning over a new leaf. You know, becoming an actual grownup."

Zane leaned back from Jo, and pulled one arm away from her, propping it up on the counter. "Maybe, but maybe he wouldn't."

Jo raised an eyebrow "You realize it sounds like you're asking me to introduce you to my brother at my boyfriend, right?"

He shrugged, "If that's what you want to call it, fine by me. If you want to tell him we're just having meaningless sex, which, need I remind you, has been your call, that's your choice. If you want to look your big brother in the eye and use the phrase Friends with Benefits, go for it, I will back you up. But you and I both know that's not the only thing that's going on here.

We have dinner together most days. I spend most of my free time with you. You spend most of your nights in my bed. Honestly, you really should start keeping clothes here at this point, there's going to be a Eureka disaster at some point. Do you want to show up in yesterdays' clothes or better yet, mine?"

"Zane,"

"I have no intention of going out or being with anyone else right now, and I don't think you do either. What's the harm in telling your brother what he's going to hear anyway? At least this way I'll see it coming when he tries to shoot me."

She stepped back and wrapped her arms around her chest, looking away from Zane, not knowing how to explain the relationship between herself and her brothers. "The last time I would have introduced a guy to my family in this timeline, would have been my junior prom date. They were so overbearing and overprotective and just awful that I told them the next time I introduced them to someone I was dating would be when I was handing out wedding invitations."

"In this timeline?"

"I'm assuming so anyway. Based on conversations I've had with them, they never met anyone I dated."

"What about the other timeline?"

Jo turned her gaze toward the floor, away from his bright blue eyes. "In the other timeline, we had been dating for two years before you met my dad and my brother Nicky. You- He, never met Rico or Tony." She felt him staring at her.

"Tony's the one who the DOD sent, right?" She nodded. "Two years, popped the question, I never met two of your brothers?"

"You'd talked to them on the phone, skyped a couple times, but not in person. You were supposed to come with me to meet Rico and his family when he was home on leave, but you were stuck in the Arctic on a project."

"So I still got my ass frozen off in that timeline too? Good to know some things stayed the same."

"Yeah." Jo tried to look anywhere that wasn't Zane. I almost lost him both times then.

Zane crossed his arms over his chest, and Jo tried not to notice his shirt pulling at his biceps. "So, what are we telling your brother?"

Jo slipped off her blazer and draped it over the couch. "Well, if he asks, I guess we're telling him you're my boyfriend. But only if he asks."

Zane smiled, and unbuckled his belt, slipping it off before shoving down his jeans. "Of course. I'm not looking to get a bullet in my head if I don’t have to."

[psychosistr]

Prince Nori- Chapter 2

Summary:  Kakyoin gets used to having Jojo around and finds himself growing more attached to the runaway boy day by day. However, all good things must come to an end at some point..

Notes: *rises from the ground* I LIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! Thanks to everyone who posted such nice comments about the first chapter ^/////^ This is being posted as part of my "Halloween trick or treat" special where I'm posting many of my WIP's, so I thought I'd update this. Thank you all for your patience!

-First Chapter-

Jojo stays longer than what should probably be considered “a bit”. He ends up crashing at Kakyoin’s place for close to three weeks. It’s different for Kakyoin, living with another person again rather than just Iggy, but…he likes it.

Jojo is actually a lot of fun to hang out with. He talks when he feels like it, but he never feels the need to push conversation just to break long silences- a trait that Kakyoin is grateful for. He’s even more grateful for the fact that they seem to understand each other on a level beyond words, often predicting each other’s thoughts and actions with almost perfect accuracy.

He seems grumpy and stern at first glance, but Kakyoin quickly finds out that that’s just his default demeanor. Jojo actually also has a pretty good sense of humor, often giving that small smirk-smile and a quiet huff whenever Kakyoin tells him a joke; he even tells a few of his own, mostly with a sense of dead-pan humor that makes Kakyoin chuckle every time.

He goes outside with Kakyoin whenever possible, keeping his hooded cloak handy to cover himself so the people searching for him don’t recognize him. He can’t go with Kakyoin to school, but they do nearly everything else together- including stealing food. Kakyoin teaches Jojo all of his tricks from shoplifting to running from angry store clerks and police officers. By the end of the second week, Jojo’s gotten pretty good at it and is even learning his way around the alleyways and back streets so he can escape to the rooftops without needing much of Kakyoin’s help.

Even the mundane things, such as doing homework or finding change to visit the laundromat are much more entertaining with Jojo around. He’s pretty smart and offers Kakyoin help when he gets stuck on the rare problem with his homework, and thinks of creative ways to find loose change like using Star Platinum to lift up vending machines or tying a small magnet they found to a string and sliding it into crevices. Also, he always lends an ear to whatever Kakyoin feels like talking about, offering his input when appropriate but always listening even when he doesn’t say much in return.

Kakyoin finds himself enjoying Jojo’s company more and more with each passing day and thinks that maybe, just maybe, he might be starting to develop a deeper connection with him…

Unfortunately, everything comes to a sudden and abrupt halt one day while they are hanging out in a local park.

It’s sunset and they are enjoying the peace and quiet- it’s around dinner time, so most people have gone home for the moment and won’t be back until much later. They are seated under a large tree, just enjoying one another’s company as they watch the sun go down. They’ve grown comfortable enough around each other now that they sit with their shoulders touching, Jojo currently sitting to Kakyoin’s right with his hood down for a change and, by some miracle, they actually convinced Iggy to come with them, so he’s curled up napping in Kakyoin’s lap.

Everything was peaceful and relaxing- a perfect end to the day.

Kakyoin smiles softly while looking at the slowly changing colors of the sky. “I think this is probably my favorite time of day..” He comments quietly, not wanting to disturb the mood too much.

“Hm..because the sky is cherry red?” Jojo asks with that small smirking-smile of his while glancing at Kakyoin.

Kakyoin rolls his eyes with an exasperated but fond smile and elbows him lightly in the arm, careful not to move too much and risk disturbing Iggy. “Not everything I like has to do with cherries, you know.”

“Really?” Jojo questions while raising one eyebrow slightly. “Name one thing that doesn’t.”

Kakyoin is about to comment on the fact that he likes melon bread just fine…but..his mind comes up with something far better to say in that moment and forces him to say it before he even has time to register the words coming out of his mouth:

“Well, I like you.” His eyes widen instantly after he says it and his left hand quickly moves up to cover his mouth and his burning red cheeks. “!!”

Crap! Why did he say that?! Maybe he still had time to take it back! Yeah, he could back-pedal and say that he meant he likes having Jojo as a friend and-

“Hey, Kakyoin.” Jojo’s voice interrupts his train of thought and he looks up to see Jojo giving him that serious look that means he’s being sincere and honest with his words. Jojo then surprises him by taking Kakyoin’s right hand into his own and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I like you, too.”

Kakyoin feels his heart skip a beat and his face grow redder from both the contact and the look in Jojo’s eyes. “Jo..Jojo..I-”

Their attention is diverted from each other when Iggy’s ears suddenly perk up and his eyes snap open. “!!” He stands up in Kakyoin’s lap and looks at the sky, barking urgently in a way that clearly says “Crap! Get up!! Look out!!”

Kakyoin follows Iggy’s line of sight and sees what looks to be a falcon flying in a circle above their location. “Is that..a bird?”

Jojo looks up too and his eyes widen with the closest thing that Kakyoin’s ever seen to panic on his face. “Shit..they found me.”

He summons Star Platinum and Iggy calls out The Fool (Jojo told him the name of Iggy’s stand a while ago) as they all hurry to their feet. Kakyoin still isn’t sure what’s about to happen, but he calls out Hierophant Green as well, just to be safe.

As they prepare to run, though, a blonde man in what could only be described as “cowboy-style” clothes walks towards them with a slow, impressed whistle. “Gotta say, kid, didn’t think you’d give us THIS much trouble. A whole month- that’s gotta be a new record for ya!” He claps his hands in a slow, mocking way as he approaches. “Hate to say it, Jojo, but this is the end of the line- time to come on home.”

Jojo glares at the man, Star Platinum tensed and ready for an attack. “I’m not ready yet.”

“You talk as if you have a choice.” A female voice that is way too close behind them says.

Kakyoin turns his head to see who it is- a woman with tan skin and white hair leaning against the side of the tree that they were previously sitting under.

Damn it! Kakyoin had been too careless not to notices enemies getting so close!

He discretely begins having Hierophant Green unravel itself to form a perimeter of trip-wire like tendrils on the ground as both a means of detection and method of defense should anyone get closer.

“I don’t know who you are..” Kakyoin begins with a warning tone of voice and a glare that moves slowly from the woman behind them to the man in front of them. “But I’ll give you only one warning:” He raises his hand high over his head for dramatic effect and Hierophant Green finishes unraveling the rest of the way before its tendrils raise up off of the ground. The green strands snap taught, forming a perimeter net around the trio from all sides. “Take even one step closer to us and it will be your last.”

“Heh..pretty cocky for a kid.” The blonde man comments while holding his own hand out in front of himself. “Our orders were just to bring him back.” To Kakyoin’s surprise, a gun appears in his hand, aimed directly at Kakyoin’s head. “That means you’re fair game.”

He fires the gun and Kakyoin prepares to block the bullets with his stand, but Iggy beats him to it with a barked order to The Fool. “Arf! Arf!!” The Fool responds by turning into sand that follows the bullets’ swerving path to block them when they get too close. Iggy uses The Fool to continue blocking the shots that the blonde man fires while also shooting out small sand arrows to retaliate.

Kakyoin’s attention is soon drawn upwards towards the sky when he hears a loud screech from the bird above them. He looks up in time to see a strange skeletal stand appear by the falcon and several icicles forming before shooting down towards them.

“!!” He focuses part of Hierophant into a large enough form to attack properly. “Emerald Splash!!” A blast of emeralds shoot out from the Hierophant to intercept the icicle-missiles and try to take out the falcon above them. It succeeds in breaking them up, but more continue to fall- keeping Kakyoin on the defensive and preventing him from getting a clear shot at the bird. “Jojo!” He calls to the other boy for assistance.

“Got it.” Jojo responds, already aware of Kakyoin’s plan. He waits for Kakyoin’s next Emerald Splash attack and has Star Platinum grab a few of the emeralds.

The purple stand tracks the falcon’s movements with its keen eye sight, waits for the perfect opportunity, then spots it- a brief gap in the ice while it takes a moment to form new icicles. “ORA!!” The stand shouts while hurtling the emeralds with the pin-point accuracy and power of a military-grade sniper rifle.

The gems hit their mark- the falcon’s wing- dead-on and cause the bird to let out an indignant squawk as it is sent hurtling towards the ground. It manages to catch itself at the last possible moment and flutters down to land on its own stand, glaring hatefully at the green and purple spirits for forcing it down.

“We’ve grounded it for now!” Kakyoin calls out victoriously while prepping another attack. “Let’s take it out quickly then deal with the others!”

“I think you’re underestimating us far too much.” The woman’s voice says- once again far too close for comfort.

“Wha-?!” Kakyoin turns towards her voice and finds her standing behind him. “How did you get through my web?!” He looks at the perimeter he’d set up with Hierophant Green earlier and, to his horror, he notices a hole just big enough for her to slip through due to the amount he’d recalled to attack the bird earlier. “Damn it!” He turns the Hierophant’s focus on her and has his stand fire another round of emeralds. “Emerald Splash!!”

The woman seems pretty agile, able to duck out of the way and avoid most of the damage, only taking a few minor hits along her legs and back while retreating. She does, however, end up getting snagged on the green vine-like tendrils of Hierophant Green that Kakyoin pulls in closer and manipulates so that they wrap around her.

“Ngh!” She winces when she’s captured and the tendrils tighten around her. However, her expression quickly turns into a rather cruel smirk as she points down towards his feet. “Looks like you’ve already lost, brat.”

He looks down to where she’s pointing and sees what looks to be, oddly enough, an electrical outlet implanted in the grassy ground- his foot stepping on part of it. “An outlet?” He questions, knowing there shouldn’t be any out in this park at all.

Jojo sees it and scowls. “Shit, she already got you..” The chain from the jacket he wears under his cloak starts to rattle as it lifts slowly closer towards Kakyoin. “It’s starting already?” He looks at Kakyoin with a gravely serious expression. “Can you get us out of here?”

Kakyoin shakes his head, having already considered that course of action. “There aren’t enough surfaces for Hierophant Green to grab onto out here- we need to get back to the city.”

“Fine. For now-” He looks at the woman still being held captive by Hierophant Green. “Toss her- as far away and as hard as you can.”

Kakyoin looks at the woman with a smirk, clearly thrilled by the idea of putting the rude woman in her place. “With pleasure.”

The woman’s face begins to change from its earlier cockiness to an enraged glare. “Don’t you fucking dare, you pieces of-” The rest of her sentence turns into a scream as he reels back with Hierophant Green and hurtles her with all of the strength his stand possesses, her face turning into an almost comical depiction of anger. “SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!”

As she gets further and further away, the chain on Jojo’s jacket settles down once again. “We need to go- now.” He grabs Kakyoin by the hand and uses the other to pick up Iggy, the dog still engaged in its fight with the blonde man.

Iggy growls at first when he’s picked up, but settles down once he’s placed on Jojo’s shoulder to face behind the large boy. He’s still glaring at the blonde man and keeping his stand focused on blocking his shots as well as any ice that gets shot at them by the falcon’s stand. “Grrr..”

“I hate using the old man’s technique, but I guess we don’t have much of a choice.” Jojo keeps a firm hold on both of them. “This will feel weird, so close your eyes for a second.”

Kakyoin nods, unsure what Jojo is planning, but he trusts him and does as he’s told. “Got it.” He feels a strange sensation, like he’s being lifted, before he opens his eyes again and sees that they’re now outside of the park with Jojo still holding his hand and leading him down the street at a rapid pace. He stumbles for a moment before regaining his footing. “Huh?!” He blinks in surprise and looks around rapidly in confusion- he’d only had his eyes closed for a second! Did Jojo’s stand have the power to teleport?! “How did you do that?!” He asks while running with Jojo and keeping an eye out for their enemies following them.

“I can stop time.” Jojo replies while heading for a part of the city that was more dense with buildings.

“You can WHAT?!” Kakyoin asks, truly astonished. Jojo’s stand was seriously powerful!

“Stop time. It’s only for a few seconds, though, and the cool down period sucks..” He says right before he hears gunshots and a loud screech from the falcon. “Damn it..Iggy, cover us!”

Iggy barks in response, summoning The Fool again just in time to block more of those moving bullets and a few icicle missiles. “Arf!”

Kakyoin spots a building ahead and leads Jojo to it by their still held hands. “This way!” They round a corner near it and he calls out his stand. “Hierophant Green!” His stand reappears and wraps itself around Kakyoin, Jojo, and Iggy, quickly pulling them up onto the rooftop and out of sight.

______________________________________________________________

Down below, the blonde man is letting the falcon perch on his shoulders as he runs since its wings are still injured. He looks in every direction after going around the same corner their targets had and swears loudly. “God damn it! Where the hell’d they go?!” He tosses his hat on the ground in a fit of frustration. “Dio’s gonna have my head if we go back without that brat!”

The falcon shrieks something at him and looks upwards pointedly.

He looks up as well and whispers quietly. “Hm..ya don’t say..” A smirk appears on his face as he retrieves his hat from the ground and shakes off the dirt before placing it back on his head. “Come on, Pet Shop- they gotta be ‘round here somewhere!” He shouts loud enough to be heard from a distance before running off down the street.

The bird shrieks back in response, something like a smirk appearing on its beak as well.

________________________________________________________________

Kakyoin arrives back at the factory with Iggy and Jojo, using his Hierophant Green to get each of them inside. “That was a close call- are all of your family’s servants stand users?”

“Just the high-ranking ones.” Jojo replies as he lands on the other side of the window. “They all work for our advisor.”

“Guess that means they’re tired of waiting for you.” Kakyoin gives Jojo a thoughtful, concerned look once they’re all inside. “You have been gone a while..your family must be getting worried by now if they’re willing to send people like that after you.”

Jojo shoves his hands in his pockets and turns away, walking off towards Kakyoin’s bedroom. “Like I said, I’m not ready to go back. I’ll leave when I feel like it- they can send whoever the hell they want.”

“Still..” Kakyoin sighs and follows him towards his room- the small office having unofficially become THEIR room since Jojo started staying with him. “It must be nice having people who’d miss you..if I went missing, the only one who might look for me would be Iggy- and I honestly doubt even that much..” He says with a small smile while glancing back to watch Iggy climb up onto his favorite crate to sleep.

Jojo pauses at the door to the room, looking down quietly as Kakyoin unlocks it with Hierophant Green. “……”

Once the door is open, Kakyoin walks inside, moving his arms up to stretch them above his head before lacing his fingers behind himself casually. “I think I might heat up the instant noodles for dinner- sound good?” When he doesn’t receive an answer right away, he turns back to look at Jojo with a raised eyebrow. “Jojo?”

Jojo is standing in the doorway, eyes still on the floor and unmoving. “……”

“Jojo?” Kakyoin tries again. When he still doesn’t receive an answer, he walks up to the larger teen and leans down and to the side slightly so that he can slip into Jojo’s field of vision and allow the other boy to see his concerned expression. “What is it?” He doesn’t bother to ask if something is wrong, the answer to that is easy enough to read on the slightly irritated-looking frown on Jojo’s face.

“……” Jojo finally looks him in the eyes, but takes a minute to say anything. “…I’d look for you.” He finally speaks, the expression on his face having that same intensity and sincerity from earlier in the park when he told Kakyoin that he liked him.

He takes one hand out of his pocket and reaches for Kakyoin’s own. He pauses just before he reaches the redhead’s hand, his own fingers flinching back slightly before he pushes back whatever hesitation he’s feeling and grabs Kakyoin’s hand the same way he did back in the park- firm but gentle, and with a light squeeze that communicates a thousand thoughts and feelings that neither of them could likely ever put into words.

Kakyoin’s face heats up. His heart skips a beat in his chest. His palms feel sweaty, even the one that Jojo isn’t holding.

This feeling bubbling up within his chest…it’s new. He’s never felt it before, but he’s learned enough about it through stories and observations to know what it is:

Love.

It’s hard to say what level it is, whether it’s a mere crush or something much deeper, but the fact that he’s feeling it AT ALL is new and alarming and amazing all at once.

A thought occurs to Kakyoin that he should probably say something in return. “I..” He swallows, his throat suddenly far too dry. “I would too.” He looks down slightly, unable to meet Jojo’s stare with the heat singeing through his face. “I know you’ll have to leave eventually..but..I really do like you, Jojo..I value the time we spend together and, even though it would be difficult, I would still find a way to see you again. You..You mean too much to me not to..” He squeezes Jojo’s hand back, hoping that it will get across everything else he’s not able to put into words in that moment.

The very small smile Jojo gives him, nothing more than an upward quirk of the lips on one side, and the way he squeezes Kakyoin’s hand again tells him that yes, he understands. He looks back up at Jojo and returns the small smile with one of his own, glad to know they could still understand each other on such a level, even on something as complicated as this.

They spend the rest of the evening cooking dinner (meaning putting batteries in the small electrical hotplate and warming up some bottled water that was poured into a kettle so they could eat their instant noodles and other snacks), eating, and just lying comfortably next to each other on the bed. There is no need for conversation, no need to force physical intimacy that neither of them are ready for, no need to rush into anything just yet because what they have is already enough for the time being.

Kakyoin doesn’t complain when he falls asleep with Jojo spooning him from behind, one large, warm arm wrapped around his waist to hold him close to the other’s strong body.

He doesn’t complain one bit…

<-Previous Chapter Next Chapter->

End Notes:  Thanks again for your patience, everyone. Hopefully this chapter will be a good appeasement for now ^///^"

[lordxgrinnyxboy]

watching london tgm! pt 2!

they actually carry clarence in in his coffin????

Kupsak sounds Different

OOOOOOOOOOH THAT WAS OSRIC’S VOICE THAT DID THE “Will our land at last be free” LIKE THE LINGERING ECHOES OF THE TRELAW SPIRIT. NICE.

the voice he used leaves me with no doubt he could’ve been another amazing Gwynplaine.

“Get out” WAS OSRIC LITERALLY THERE DID OSRIC STRAIGHT UP GO BUST A FUNERAL

 OOOOH IT’S THE TRELAW REBELLION NOW. SPECIFICALLY THE TRELAW REBELLION. THE REBELLION BELONGING TO TRELAW.

for just a second i was living in a world without Barkilphedro but there he is, man, there he is. i was surprised to see him.

ooooh. oooooh “Angelica has not emerged from her chambers for almost exactly 20 years, during which time, she has not uttered a single word” WHAT?

DON’T SEND SPIKE TO GO GET HER WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU

off topic but getting back to the previous post if the “father she’ll never see” was part of the inscription and Ursus gave it to her then he’d know about it so it can’t be that did the MOM get her a necklace that said she’d never see her father??? was the mom like “ope we gotta pack up and sail away without your dad but lemme get you a cool trinket first” or was there no inscription and Ursus is just assuming that it was the dad who gave her the necklace but it was actually the mom and the mom got a necklace for Dea without telling Ursus but hold up aren’t they poor? wouldn’t somebody have known? do they have separate bank accounts? did the mom say “well I got our unborn child a present but it’s a surprise you’ll find out later” why a necklace that says “dea”? did the mom name her without consulting Ursus? how’d she know wh-? was she going to name the baby ‘Goddess’ regardless of gender? (valid?) was she asking a goddess to protect the baby??? did she have the baby, immediately go get her a little trinket, and then freeze to death? was ‘Dea’ a deliberate move or was it just the last name trinket in the shop? Were all the  “Makynzeiye” necklaces taken? I Have Questions About This Necklace

anyway

the other version always makes me feel almost like Barkilphedro murdered the king himself. i don’t get that so much in this one but i do get the impression he Knows What He’s Doing with this speech and is Doing It On Purpose. Having A Good Time, as it were.

angelica????

oh my

“SWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE” uhm

b-bird noises?

ooh she’s actually. calling out the corruption of her father. good girl angelica.

“I will make this country great again” did they. have. to say that. did they have to. was it necessary. why make me think about that man. why do that to me. london has no rights u-u

wHAT we’re back in the cart? No JoJo?

london gets rights for the fact that Gwyn’s crouching. that is a very good crouch sir, perfect.

“with mojo and father...GAH” oh gwyn :(

that hit him so hard so sudden like :(

FIDDLIN WITH THE BANDAGES IS CANOOOOON IT’S CANOOOOOOOON I AM VALID! I’M VALID! I KNEW IT! I THOUGHT SO! YES. YES. WOOHOO

gwyn your arm

the drama of that dismount. the delicate self-yeet. incredible.

WHY IN HEAVEN’S NAME IS YOUR SHIRT TUCKED IN YOU STOP THAT THIS INSTANT

“please help me find” gwyn what is she supposed to do, google it?

CROUCH

oh here we go

that was terrifying jojo

jojo that was terrifying

the dance is. worse.

pleeeease no please no please no pl

where did she get that

i am scared for my life rn

JOJO STOP

ohhh i’m dreading Brand New World. can’t believe i’m gonna have to watch Gwynplaine Trelaw literally be killed for sport. she’s gonna snap him like a twig 😭 

JOJO I AM BEGGING YOU TO PUT THAT DOWN

i am so scared of this jojo i am so

oh JOJO’S gonna offer to make the scuttling dream a reality???

book canon right there

😱😬😭

in this one she literally warns david personally to his face he’s got no excuse let’s go david wygd

but sure let’s go to the fair

i don’t hate this david but he’s like the mellow, zero-energy edition.

he bouncin

he’s turned into a starfish???

i hate Bristol!Jojo’s costume so bad but dang if i haven’t gotten used to it and now this one’s a little weird

i’m not strong enough tbh

dirry-moir just crouched and i’m gonna have to sue for copywrighte on gwynplaine’s behalf. i’ve apparently lost my ability to spell

idk man these people are just incredibly scary

oh thank goodness that part’s over

london!gwyn looks like a hobbit that’s been stretched out. like a screenshot of Mr. Elijah Wood in Unexpected Journey, but it’s been pasted into MS Paint and then stretched out a bit and then squished down and stretched out again and somehow pasted back into the movie.

i am genuinely so grateful we get another cart scene. i need time to recover from never seen a face.

the dynamic feels different in this version

awww the shoulder pat :3

this Gwyn is a whole other person. he’s both Calmer and More Wound Up. at the same time.

😭 he just 😭 literally choked 😭 i can’t 😭 he just fell right over 😭 wilted like a flower 😭 howm i supposed to cope with this 😭 

Don’t pat him so hard Ursus for pity’s sake DX

aw we’re not doing Born Broken in front of an audience this time? rights are evaporating.

is Gwyn even alive rn i think he straight up died

did he take the medicine yet?

Ursus are u touching his face?

HE’S HAVING A WHOLE SEIZURE

What Was That Move

i have lost my ability to exhale

i think Gwyn’s doing a physical impersonation of a fish being mercilessly dragged from a lake by a grappling hook thrown from a moving speedboat

i do like how Ursus crouches down to their level while they’re on the ground

love how Mojo looks over like “are y’all seeing this”

LOOK AT THE SMILE OF YOUR MOTHERL

THAT’S WHY URSUS FREAKIN SNAPS

Ursus is holding Gwyn by the wrist and just shaking his arm as punctuation like “I CANT tell you ANYthing you DON’t already KNOW” URSUS STOP

GWYN TRIED TO PULL AWAY AND URSUS YANKED GWYN’S ARM

URSUS YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS

i mean i always thought the near hysteria was valid and acceptable but you know what Gwyn is MORE than allowed the “NOOO NOT TODAY” line. he can HAVE IT. understandable. he did nothing wrong.

someone’s drinking a beer

i’m sorry but the way he just climbed through that curtain was hilarious

it’s too calm. mr. maskell you’ve got three seconds to lose your damn mind and go absolutely OFF

BOING BOING BOING BOING BOING

CLAP

twinge

this one doesn’t have enough hysteria but it gets points for being even more boneless

lost an elbow again

here we go his brain’s going AGSHAFUIABNAVSBKJAG AGFYAIAFIguAI here we go it’s happening i can see the sparks

MR MASKELL PLEASE

GWYN YOUR ARMS

YOUR SPIN GWYN

that right there was what medical professionals commonly diagnose as a Religious Experience.

his pantlegs are even shorter in this version

OH HE JUST YANKS THE BANDAID RIGHT OFF.

jojo please

hangon i gotta go back and see him in Zero Bones mode one more time that was actually so personal

i must say that rewind was Flawless. without even looking i took it back exactly to him coming through the curtain. at myself goodjob man

i would like to formally apologize to myself for just having the “talent show au” thought. stop that.

WIGGLY FINGERS ON “WALKS IN THE NIGHT”

can’t believe i’m in love with an overcooked linguini noodle

he is So Floppy it genuinely hurts to even look at and honestly i love that for me. I’m living. i’m about to watch this scene a third time in a row see if i don’t

it really is a little low on the sheer manic vibe but at the same time it kinda has the energy of if you climbed into the washing machine or maybe dryer while the appliance is on? or if you got in the washing machine but you brought a toaster with you. and threw your phone in separate.

another perfect rewind let’s go I’M THE STUUUUUUUFF OF YOUR NIGHTMARES WAS I

his voice sounds like it’s coming from a vintage record player and it’s definitely in black and white with a smattering of static and just a slight flavor of tin and honestly i love that for me

Gwyn’s literally one of those old door stoppers you know like the little stick on the bottom of the door and sometimes you pull it all the way to one side and then let go and it’s like FWOBBLEFWOBBLEFWOBBLE and you’re like “OOOOOOH”

JEAN VALJEAN

ARMS UPPPPPPPP GO BACK AND BOIIIIIIIIIIING

LOVE that dude. Amazing.

did he just spit actually? he physically can’t? at least traditionally?

steppy leggies!

one more time and then i’ll move on. just one more.

rewound too far i’m now back at “Ursus If You Don’t Let Go Of That Boy’s Wrist”

come on through that curtain Gwynlit i am Ready for You.

I’M THE STUUUUUUFFFFF OF YOUR NIGHTM

i want this played at my funeral and i want mr. maskell to be there to dance to it

so i guess in this version his limbs just short-circuit at different times huh because i mean genuinely for real his elbows just seem to nope out every now and then

this right here is what mr. hugo meant when he said, if not in as many words, that you were a ten.

ARRRMMMS UP! ANNNND BAAAAAAACK AND

B O U N C E

he has the x factor

love how he just shuffles back through the curtain like that one gif of the yellow dude being absorbed into the bushes

JOJO I LOVE YOUR DRESS WHAT

Dirry-Moir’s voice is nice even if it’s Very Different

fr jojo that’s actually kinda cute

Osric my dear i Love You

and now they’re all dirilious

dilirius

dilirious

dileros

d e l i r i o u s ?

that

Dea and Gwyn just dropped out of the sky

awww mojo came to check on him

Mojo’s nudging at Gwyn’s arm and Gwyn’s Not Having It

Ursus you’re banned from touching him i am Mad At You

Gwyn’s having another attack in this version it is constantly happening. has this boy sipped any sauce yet?

he just stood up and now he’s like

HE’S DOING HAND FLAPS HE’S GOT FLAPPY HANDS HE’S ACTUALLY. WHAT. FLAP FLAP FLAP I LIKE IT I AGreE WITH THIS

ooh he reacts a little bit to “all the other fairground freaks”

FIDDLING WITH THE BANDAGES

Ursus sounds Angery

 oh. gwynlit :( he’s cryin :( on “I don’t believe you” :(

😭💀😭💀

these two have PROBLEMS in this version and i am Hurt

he’s doing hand things again

VOCAL THINGS

this is canon now

DEA JUST HELPED HIM WITH THE CRIMSON LETHE

it looked like he was too jittery or something so she puts his hand over his and helps him bring the bottle of crimson lethe up to his mouth

im really just filling up a shopping cart over here

did quake just clock ursus over the head or did someone get shot boy golly that was loud

wait though with the little noise that Gwyn did a second ago, we hear it after the crowd starts doing it but in-universe did they hear him do that at some point and now they’re imitating it 👀 

THAT CRISMSON LETHE JUST KNOCKED HIM OUT HE JUST FLOPPED FORWARD AND DEA HAD TO CATCH HIM 📝👀

oh. “The Grinning Man Is Not To Be Disturbed” is because he’s straight up out of it after having the medicine. oh no

Mojo just growled as Gwyn stood up and i heard it wrong and thought there was like a cartoon sound effect like “LOOK HOW FAST HE JUST STOOD UP. WOOSH.” but no it was a growly bark

he held onto Dea’s hand and kind of hopped over to the door that was neat

i’m gonna start holding everything i read Like That

shjshgsj he just held it Like that and Stared before switching to holding it normally and actually opening it

random Itch

her outfit really is cute though i like this costume

“who I aaaaaaaaaam” stop the voice is too good sir

okay but that maneuver really is illegal y’all ought not to have done that

wait wait lemme go back and

i don’t know how i feel about that

one more time lemme check lemme just ch

*phil collins voice* oh lord

there is no reason

gwyn sweetheart you are not strong enough. she will kill you.

i now know what song this reminds me of now and i’m so upset

why do they have the outside of the cart looking like a happy meal box

GWYN WHAT WAS THAT

he just did the squawkiest laugh oml

HOLD UP

“you must see or you’ll never know” “YOU’RE RIGHT! Something is changing! She wants to meet me!” WHAT IS THIS CONVERSATION

HE SOUNDS HAPPY

SHE KNOWS HE’S GOING TO MEET SOMEBODY AND SHE ACTUALLY KISSES HIM LIKE “You must go!” WHAT

boy i know you did not just finger-gun goodbye at the blind girl

he’s walking in place now and i’m crying

she told him he must go now and he took it so literally he left while she was still talking

THE WALKING IN PLACE THOUGH. IT’S IN SLOW MOTION. I AM DISTRAUGHT

did you just wave at someone Gwyn

he’s so doped up

i think he thinks he’s about to get beat

okay in this version he doesn’t Let Osric grab his hand Osric just kind of grabs him and then Gwyn snatches his hand away and Osric’s like “i’ve got a funny feeling in my hand” meanwhile Gwyn puts his hand up and looks at it for a second and shakes down his sleeve and then he’s all hands-on-hips and looking at Osric like >:?

i think he just did the sound with them

and he’s having another attack.

he just fell back and they caught him and one person grabbed his hand and yanked him forward and now they’re picking him up

idk think he knows he’s alive in this version

AJSHFAJGAH THEY’RE DOING HIM LIKE THE PUPPETS IN THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST DANCE SEQUENCE THEY JUST TOSSED THAT BOY LIKE A FRESHLY-LAUNDERED BEDSHEET

he ain’t well sir

that’s all for now!

[the-mic-drop]

Shonen Jump Rap Cypher by Rustage

Lyrics below the cut

If anyone wants to break down some lines that you think not everyone will get, please feel free!

Monkey D. Luffy- One Piece (Performed by Rustage)

Starting with the number one, hey

How’d a pirate get this long, hey

‘Cause I eat the gum-gum, see them run run

when I hit that gun, hey

Sailin’ I’m taking no breaks when my crew’s on the move as we pillage the grand line

Looting the treasure we can find

I’m blowing up like a landmine

Going gear second, I reckon that I’m a weapon

I’m wrecking up those who threaten in messing with my own brethren

Stay reppin’ look where I’m headin’

No question the Yonkos sweatin’

I’m bettin’ in words I’m yellin’

I’m the king and there’s no forgettin’, UH

Gon Freecss- Hunter x Hunter (Performed by Fabvl)

I’ll jump the competition, really there’s no contest

Channeled future Nen and most of y’all ain’t even bomb yet

It’s nonsense

Pro exams completed as a child

Hisoka, I think these clowns are living in denial

So don’t make me power up, I’ll call the thunder at my right hand

If you want the strongest Shonen, then you called the right man

They might stan

Treat you all like Pitou, it won’t take long

Name is Gon and this time, I’mma make sure that you stay gone

Naruto Uzumaki- Naruto (Performed by None Like Joshua)

Oh, better believe it’s Naruto

Who’s the best hero? All of you know

My legacy is happening, I got a type of running named after me

while you’re slow

Can’t keep up with my chakra flow

Except Hinata, I’m her Ho

Kage

All I did was call her and I told her to come over ‘cause my parents are not home

Out of these ninjas, you can watch my dub

Even all my filler is so far above

When it comes to Boruto, why y’all givin’ up

like I did with simpin’ on Sakura?

Killer B’s rapping, but I get the encore

With the power that I bring, I don’t really want yours

‘Cause I came from the swing, everybody shunned more

Now you’re looking at the king of this Jump Force

Yami Yugi- Yu-Gi-Oh! (Performed by Connor Quest!)

I’mma master, you be

practice newbies

That’s a doozy

for Yami Yugi

Puzzle did something like a hadron tunnel

‘cause now I got Atem through me

Champ of the match see fans fawn, no matter what hand’s drawn

I’m kicking up dust, metal tanks in land form

When we d-d-d-d-duel there’s sandstorms

Cards are flippin’ I need an answer quick

and I might find my Dark Magician

If I wish, and believe hard enough in the heart that’s in ‘em

(Heart of the cards)

I see Seto’s fear

Pull the fifth part of Exodia

Guess it’s all came to a head, so clear

that your deck’s gonna get X’d, oh dear!

Asta- Black Clover (Performed by Eddie Rath)

Welcome to the magic

It’s a tale that’s tragic

Filled with a pain that’s harder than plastic

especially when you discover you don’t have it

When I started I was less than amazing

But now that I’ve been chosen by the Grimoir, I’m rising to the occasion in a blazing flame of

Magic

Ain’t no Hocus Pocus and Abracadabra

Not a wizard you joke with

This is not Gandalf the Grey, but you shall not pass hopeless

Better be ferocious

Was the poorest orphan living in darkness

but now that I’m focused, I be thanking all my hardships

Ichigo Kurosaki- Bleach (Performed by IBDL)

Uh, hittin’ back with that Bankai

Got that power like I came out of the Dangai

Pops passed the torch; now I’m the fam’s Don guy

Think you Aizen, but you lookin’ like that Don guy

Y’all like Soifon, your raps barely sting

My bars are Getsuga Tensho, got that masterful swing

They say, it ain’t over til the fat lady sings

But you’ll know it’s really over when that black lady sings

Koro-sensei- Assassination Classrom (Performed by CDawgVA)

Mach speed

Blow up the moon and now I’m making these children write essays

Comin with tentacles teach you a lesson in why you don’t mess with the sensei

I amaze

Used to be the Reaper, now I run this class

I can turn a loser to assassin, do it real fast

Light Yagami- Death Note (Performed by Zach Boucher)

I think I’ve been out of my head

Gift was given, made some poor decisions, that I wish I didn’t, but I’d do it again

Feeling different, I was on a mission to achieve my vision with a page and a pen

Sit and listen to the words I’ve written

I ain’t even finished ‘til I see that they’re dead

Don’t even try to pretend

There’s no malicious intent

Stay in my thoughts, stick to the morals I’ve got,

and kill everyone who is not

Just never get caught, ‘til every criminal rots

They’ll consider me as a god

At whatever cost, that’s how I excel

Cannot be stopped, even if I fell

I’m taking them off if you couldn’t tell

I gave up a lot to give you this L

Shoyo Hinata- Haikyuu!! (Performed by Shwabadi)

Yah, here comes Hinata

When I’m on the court the enemy has got their guard up

Never gonna fall off, bet I’m gonna pop off

Way short, but I’m packing punches like a sawnoff

Hot like a sauna, this ball of fire don’t know nada

but I’m gonna chase desire to go farther

every jump will take me higher

They put walls up, so I had to learn to fly

Putting up points, spiking it, or clearing the way

Best decoy, got a little something to say

to anyone that doubts that I’m here to stay

Only got one goal, that’s to play the game

Underestimated, I’m the ace, you just wait

when I spike it past the net, you might take it to the face

Izuku “Deku” Midoriya- My Hero Academia (Performed by Divide Music)

Coming in with 100% of me

I got you all trembling

Oh just with a flick of a finger

put you back where you’re supposed to be

I’m not, holding back

I got you so calculated. I’m

one step ahead, One for All gon’ be demonstrated

Get it? Got it? Good.

Nothing better and you should know

Started at the bottom

but I made it to the top so

Step aside, I’m climbing to great heights

with All-Might by my side

Reppin’ U.A. with pride, oh

Yusuke Urameshi- Yu Yu Hakusho (Performed by GameBoyJones)

Giving you the finger, Spirit Gun

Send you off with Botan, then you done

Hit you with the stick, and I didn’t need a grip when I’m pulling from the hip, then click!

Because I’m, locked loaded, the clip is ready to go

Got a, shotgun in my hand that’s ‘bout to blow

Cause I’m hittin’ you quick fast

givin’ you whiplash

wearing these Spirit Cuffs

You could be human or demon, cause honestly, I just don’t give a fuck

If you’re looking for the best, just know there’s no other

‘cause I’m flexing out here like I’m the youngest Toguro brother

Gintoki Sakata- Gintama (Perfomed by Shao Dao)

They call me, Gintoki, slim not stocky

Lemme Shonen Jump on your leg and your body

Odd Job Gin, don’t mess with my possee

If you touch my hair, then you will be sorry

Ne, boge (Hey, bloke)

Nanikore, uruseena (what is this? Not good.)

Cause you’re way too sloppy

Got a silver soul, Shiroyasha

Swing my sword and Amanto scatter

Gintama, not Kintama

Tell Shinpachi we need money

If Kagura or Katsura bring more trouble, we keep running

Pay rent? That’s a waste of time

That weather girl, I will make her mine

You can beat me up and that’s fair and fine

But if you hurt my friends, then prepare to die

Tanjiro Kamado- Demon Slayer (Performed by DizzyEight)

Look, slayin’ demons that’s what we do

If you filled with evil, then my blade is highly lethal

If you comin’ at my people, pray to god I never meet you

Ever mess with Nez, you KO’d when I see you

I’ve grown stronger from that fateful day they found me

I trained hard to hone the skill, the progression so astounding

My style like breathing water, that mean you can never drown me

Whirlpool, that mean I’m slicin’ everything around me

Emma- The Promised Neverland (Performed by FrivolousShara)

E-M-M-A 63194

Listen to what I’ve gotta say

The others walked, seems now we’ve gotta run away

Don’t you talk, adults are the enemy

You can break every bone in my body, I won’t falter

and if the plan fails, the idea simply alters

Ah, these demons scheming, but they ain’t the only monsters

Our combined IQ breaks the safe, strength in numbers

Now we’ve woken from the slumber

Never ending perfect Summers

Across the farm, you can’t help but wonder

Soma Yukihira- Food Wars! (Performed by DiggzDaProphecy)

See I’m the anime Raekwon

The chef baby, stay calm

You can’t stand the heat

Stay out the kitchen, get a day job

Word, and the finale’s superb

I take a sec, put on my band, an’ I’ll be happy to serve, uh

So ma, tell me what you like and I can hook it up

Ya boy’s got them recipes the best couldn’t cook it up

And she gon’ bust from the taste of my meat

Chef, boy are these boys always cookin’ up heat

Jotaro Kujo- Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (Performed by Dreaded Yasuke)

It’s my go, they call me Jotaro

Don’t get me mad, I’mma go fat only with jabs you go through silos

Got that drip from Cairo, girls will simp my silhouette

I know think it’s a typo fighting with a platinum psycho

None of y’all is a threat

What you gotta say in your breath

Better speak with a bigger chest

Now you lyin’ down with my pet,

while Iggy piss on your neck

All types of disrespect, what you expect?

Go against a vet, better get your techs

wanna get swept through the complex,

now who is next?

Bobobo- Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (Performed by BassedOlaf w/ ThighHighSenpai)

Bobobo making the foes stare

Call me the master of nose hair

Look at the hair on the heads of these anime characters,

brother, it’s no fair

But I’m better than these guys, don’t you understand?

I came second place at screaming face-to-face with desk fans

Afro is full of surprises, look at my power’s immense

Leaving beauty screaming-

(Bobobo, that makes no sense!)

Hunting hair hunters, Saitama, I’m coming for you

Don Patch a better Super Saiyan God than Goku

Son Goku- Dragon Ball (Performed by DaddyPhatSnaps)

Oh they went and called Kakarot

had to be danger

Leave em flat-footed like they in the gravity chamber

I’m just looking for a challenge, can you battle me stranger?

Shonen legend in the saddle and the power is major

Level up on the track, flow Ultra Instinct

Bye bye bye fusion dance is always in sync

Wink

And they wonder why I’m last on the song

‘Cause when all of y’all were talking

I just formed a Spirit Bomb

[cheemers-writing-archive]

Nothing Else Like It: Chapter 5

Tw for some heavy swearing in one small section of this chapter!

Yorokobi stood at the edge of the group’s second rescue boat, breathing in the salty air. So far, this one was manned by regular people, and not an orangutan whose Stand was the boat itself.

“Don’t fall in, Yorokobi,” Jotaro said as he lightly pushed his sister, which made her yelp in surprise.

“Don’t scare me like that!” she scolded. Jotaro let himself laugh a little bit.

“Anyway, we’re about to make it to Singapore,” he continued. “The old man said we would check in to a hotel and get a little bit of time to ourselves.”

“Good,” Yorokobi replied. “If I have to spend any more time with you I feel like I’ll die.”

“I’m glad we’re on the same terms,” Jotaro said. “The boat will dock in five minutes.” As he walked away, he felt a shocking flick in the back of his neck.

“Payback,” Yorokobi smirked.

Jotaro rolled his eyes, but continued walking away.

After standing at the edge a little while longer, Yorokobi decided it was time to get going. While she walked down the hallway, she suddenly felt her foot get caught on something, and she tripped, falling to the floor. As she lifted herself up, she saw Jotaro walking by.

“Oops,” he said. “Guess I still don’t have full control over Star Platinum.”

Yorokobi scowled, but left it alone for now.

“What are you doing on the floor?” Kakyoin asked.

Yorokobi tensed up. She would kill Jotaro for making her look bad in front of Kakyoin.

“Oh, I just tripped, that’s all,” she laughed. “I’m okay.” Challenge accepted, Jojo.

“Thank goodness,” Kakyoin smiled. He reached his hand out to Yorokobi, who graciously accepted it and let him help her to her feet again.

“I’m not that much of a klutz, I promise,” Yorokobi said. “Jojo was just messing with me.” She got closer, and whispered in Kakyoin’s ear. “If you’d like, I’ll let you help me get revenge.”

“Revenge?” Kakyoin asked.

“Well, he tripped me because I flicked him hard in the neck, which was only because he pretended to shove me off the boat,” Yorokobi explained. “That’s two to one. I need that to be at least equal, or leaning in my favor. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

“Sorry, but I’m out,” Kakyoin replied. “This sounds like a recipe for disaster, and there’s no reason for me to get involved.”

Yorokobi shrugged. “Suit yourself,” she said as she turned around and walked away.

“Hey, wait, you’re just going to leave like that?” Kakyoin asked. “I would’ve thought you would beg a little bit more.”

“I mean, it’s fine if you don’t want to,” Yorokobi turned back. “After all, there’s no reason for you to get involved, like you said. I just thought we could get to know each other better, you know, like friends should.”

It hurt Yorokobi to force the word friends out of her mouth, and it hurt Kakyoin to hear it. But they both also knew that building their friendship was better than nothing.

“Sure, why not,” Kakyoin shrugged. “But just this once. I don’t want Jotaro as an enemy.”

“Yes!” Yorokobi pumped her fists. “Okay, for now, let’s just get off the boat. I’ll explain to you my plan along the way.”

As the group walked down to land again, they saw Yorokobi and Kakyoin dawdling behind, smiling and talking as they walked.

“Somebody’s gotta tell them,” Polnareff muttered.

“You’re kidding, right?” Joseph said, almost too loud. “This is the most fun thing I’ve witnessed in years!”

Yorokobi looked down at the water, and pointed to it. “Look!” she exclaimed. “You can see the marine life in this water, it’s so crystal clear!”

Kakyoin bent down to look with Yorokobi. She was right, it was clear enough to see the fish swimming down there. But he knew that wasn’t Yorokobi’s only reason to bring him down here.

“Now, we need the plan to fall into action,” she whispered. “First, hold my hand.”

“Huh?” Kakyoin could feel warmth rising to his cheeks, but failed to notice Yorokobi having the same reaction.

“Well, you see,” Yorokobi stuttered, “for this to work, I need to send Hamon into you. I can only do that through physical touch.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” Kakyoin said, with just as much fumbling as Yorokobi. He grabbed her hand, feeling a warm tingling through his veins.

“Now, take Hierophant and put his strings in a circular shape in the water,” Yorokobi told Kakyoin. “Don’t make it too small, but don’t make it too big, either. I’ll handle the hard part.”

Kakyoin did as he was told, arranging Hierophant’s strings in a perfect circle. He could feel a surge of Hamon, and it extended to his fingers and toes.

“Now, pull Hierophant out of the water, keeping its current shape, and hover it over Jojo’s head.”

Kakyoin was a little bit confused, but when he lifted Hierophant, he knew that Jotaro was going to be furious. The water between Hierophant’s strings was being held purely by Yorokobi’s Hamon, and he knew what she had planned. It made him question if he should follow through with this. But before he could move the water hovering over Jotaro’s head, Yorokobi lifted her hand away from his. Instantly, the water spilled all over Jotaro.

Yorokobi was laughing so hard she was crying, clutching her stomach as she rolled on the floor. Kakyoin could practically see Jotaro’s aura burning.

“Yorokobi, you little bitch!” Jotaro shouted.

Yorokobi’s laughter stopped immediately. “Uh oh,” she muttered. Seeing her brother running towards her, she scrambled to her feet and started running away.

“Granddad!” Yorokobi cried out. “Jojo’s gonna kill me!”

“You deserve it, shithead!” Jotaro roared.

“Hey, guys?” Polnareff said. “I think those two are actually close to killing one another.”

Joseph looked over, and saw Jotaro, soaking wet, grabbing Yorokobi by the collar.

“These are the only clothes I have for the whole trip,” Jotaro growled lowly. “And they’re expensive. And now, I have to trust that nobody will steal them while they’re in the public wash, while I walk around my hotel room naked. All thanks to you and your stupid sunlight powers!”

“Speaking of, you shouldn’t have grabbed me,” Yorokobi smirked. “Water is a good conductor of Hamon.”

Jotaro felt a sharp tingling all around his body, a feeling he was used to, but it still hurt every time he felt it. He dropped Yorokobi, and the tingling stopped.

“Why, you,” Jotaro scowled, then swung a fist at Yorokobi, hitting her as hard as he could. It sent her to the ground, and he saw her lip tremble.

Uh oh.

Yorokobi exploded in a flowing of tears, screaming loudly and clutching her cheek.

“Hey…” Jotaro nervously said. “Hey, knock it off! The old man’s gonna hear you. It’s not really that bad, right?”

“I taste blood in my mouth!” Yorokobi wailed. “It is really that bad!”

“Oh, come on, it’ll be okay,” Jotaro replied, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Look, I’ll get you some ice for the wound. Just calm down a little!”

“Jotaro!” Joseph said as he walked over. “Did you do that?”

“Come on, old man, you really believe she’s not faking that to get your attention?” Jotaro tried to play it off nonchalantly, but he knew it was useless.

“Oh, God,” Yorokobi quivered as her cheek swelled up, “I think I feel a loose tooth!”

“Well, it’s certainly clear I can’t trust you two in a room together,” Joseph muttered. “Now, I know Yorokobi was messing with you a lot beforehand, but I feel like you were messing with her, as well. And did you really have to punch her? You’re spending a whole day in the hotel we’re staying at. No pool, no fun, you have to stay in your room except for meals.”

“What?” Jotaro exclaimed. “That’s not fair!”

“You hurt your sister!” Joseph replied. “I think that’s plenty fair, especially considering she has to stay in her room until three o’ clock.”

“No!” Yorokobi shouted.

“Don’t think you’re getting off the hook just because you got hurt,” Joseph scolded. “You did soak Jotaro, after all.”

“Only because he tripped me!”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Joseph said. “Both of you, play nice until we get you situated!”

The moment Joseph left, Jotaro muttered under his breath, “Bitch.”

“Bastard.”

“Shithead.”

“Dicknips.”

“You were the accident baby.”

“We’re twins, and my name literally means joy.”

While Jotaro and Yorokobi were arguing under their breath, Kakyoin lagged behind, laughing to himself. Although he wouldn’t dare say it out loud, Yorokobi was right. It was really fun seeing the two of them lash out at each other.

***

Yorokobi slammed her head in her pillow and groaned. “Is it three o’ clock yet?”

“It’s two fourty five,” Kakyoin answered.

Yorokobi groaned louder.

“Was it worth it?” Kakyoin asked. “Soaking Jotaro, I mean.”

“Definitely,” Yorokobi lifted her head from her pillow and giggled a little. “Did you see his face?”

“It made me nervous,” Kakyoin admitted. “How do you mess with Jotaro and not worry about your life being taken away from you?”

“I fight back,” Yorokobi shrugged. “He may overpower me, but he can’t outsmart me. It was easier before he had Star Platinum.”

“Anyway,” Kakyoin said, “why don’t we pass the time while you wait for three o’ clock?”

“Like what?” Yorokobi asked. “We’ve been talking for an hour. Why are you still here, anyway? I’m the one who’s in trouble.”

“Um…” Kakyoin started, “well…” It was hard making something up when he wasn’t expecting Yorokobi to ask that question. “It would be dangerous for you to stay here by yourself, especially when we’re being attacked by Stand users.”

Before Yorokobi could say anything, the phone rang. Kakyoin picked it up. “Hello?”

“Kakyoin, Polnareff and I were ambushed by a Stand user,” Avdol said. “Thankfully, I knew what their ability was, so I burned the doll before he could inhabit it, but be careful. There could be more Stand users here.”

“Burned the…” Kakyoin started to say, “nevermind. Thank you for telling me.” He ended the call, then looked back at Yorokobi.

“Hey, I got a good idea!” Yorokobi said. “I can help relieve some of your anxiousness of being Standless by awakening mine!”

“Doesn’t that require a near-death situation?” Kakyoin asked nervously.

“And that’s why you’ll be there with me,” Yorokobi answered with a mischievous grin. “You can assist in keeping me alive.”

“Yorokobi, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Kakyoin fretted. “I mean, what exactly do you have in mind?”

“Oh, just things like jumping off of the top of this building, having my breathing cut off, maybe having Jojo punch me half to death. It’s okay, though, if you help me, I won’t die.”

“I highly doubt Jotaro would keep you alive if you allowed him to punch you as hard as he could,” Kakyoin said. “Yorokobi, please don’t do this. What if something goes wrong?”

“Fine,” she mumbled, walking out the door.

“Where are you going?” Kakyoin asked.

“The pool,” Yorokobi answered. “It’s three now.”

Kakyoin looked, and sure enough, the clock had struck three. It almost distracted him from the door slamming and Yorokobi’s fast-paced stomps running to the stairs.

She was not going to the pool.

Kakyoin burst out the door after her, running as fast as possible.

“Yorokobi! Stop!”

He followed her down the hallway, up the stairs, and to the top of the building.

“You can’t catch me on foot now!” Yorokobi exclaimed at the edge of the floor as she jumped off. Kakyoin, still running, called Hierophant, who followed her down.

The moment Yorokobi jumped off the building, she realized Kakyoin wasn’t exactly obligated to save her, especially since she jumped on her own accord. Now that she thought about it, she jumped off a building! And for what? A silly little astral projection of her fighting spirit? What if it didn’t help save her, either? What if its powers were completely useless in this situation? She could die!

“To whatever god is out there, please spare me!” she screamed. “I won’t jump off a building like that ever again! Just give me another chance to live!”

In that moment, her falling suddenly stopped. She was suspended in midair, but her feet were still dangling.

“You better keep that promise,” Kakyoin’s voice chuckled from above. Yorokobi finally took notice of Hierophant, who had his arms around her waist and was lifting her up to solid ground.

When Yorokobi planted her feet back down on the concrete, she let out a long and heavy sigh, then collapsed to the floor.

“Y-Yorokobi!” Kakyoin exclaimed.

“I’ll never do something stupid like that again,” she muttered. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry to me,” Kakyoin laughed. He grabbed Yorokobi’s hand and helped her up. While she was still getting over the shock, he put his arm over her shoulder and helped her walk back to their room.

“My life could have been over,” Yorokobi whispered to herself. “That could have been it.”

“Yeah, must have been scary, huh?” Kakyoin asked. He sat Yorokobi down on her bed.

“Who would have saved Mom if I died?” Yorokobi murmured. “I mean, Jojo and Granddad would probably do it, but it doesn’t settle well with me that I wouldn’t be around to help.”

“All of what would have happened, and you’re thinking of your mother?” Kakyoin chuckled. “She would be the least of everyone’s worries if you died.”

“Oh, come on, don’t act like I didn’t think about how everyone else would feel first,” Yorokobi laughed. “I’m not selfless. I would want everyone to miss me, including Mom. I was thinking about how hard she’d cry, then remembered her sickness.”

Suddenly, a knock came at the door. “It’s Jotaro,” the voice said from outside.

“Aren’t you supposed to be locked up in your room?” Yorokobi asked.

“The old man said I could leave early if I apologized,” Jotaro replied as he opened the door. “So I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Yorokobi sneered.

“For punching you in the face.”

Yorokobi stayed silent for a few seconds, then huffed. “You don’t really mean it.”

“You know, lots of times I don’t, but-”

“This time I actually do,” Yorokobi interrupted, using a mocking voice. “You say that every time. Granddad’s with you, isn’t he?”

Jotaro didn’t answer.

“He doesn’t mean it, Granddad,” Yorokobi said again. “If he meant it, he wouldn’t just say sorry. Jojo’s not like that.”

“Just take the damn apology and let me leave!” Jotaro yelled.

“Yeah, Granddad’s definitely with you,” Yorokobi chuckled. “You would’ve left already and lied to him to get out.”

“Come on, Jotaro,” Joseph said. He appeared from the side of the doorway. “She doesn’t want to accept the apology, but I’ll still let you go.”

“What?” Yorokobi shouted. “I told you, he’s faking it!”

“I wasn’t done, Yorokobi,” Joseph replied. “I’ll let Jotaro go at six. It’s about three right now. He did apologize, even if he didn’t want to.”

“Three hours?” Jotaro exclaimed.

“You punched Yorokobi in the face, and you still don’t feel sorry for it!” Joseph scolded. “I think we need to talk, just you and me.”

“Serves him right,” Yorokobi muttered as soon as the door closed. She had a smirk on her face as Kakyoin finally broke his silence.

“So… are you okay now?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Yorokobi said, smiling but not looking up. “I just have really conflicted feelings after fights with Jojo like these. On one hand, I feel bad for not just accepting the apology, but on the other hand, Jojo is totally in the wrong here and I’m not apologizing for anything.”

“Not even soaking him in seawater?”

Yorokobi paused for a few seconds, then answered, “Yeah, maybe I should apologize for that. But not right now.”

“Don’t worry,” Kakyoin chuckled. “You have all day to think about it.”