#oh I forgot the cards on the hat oh well

[tsunamiam]

day sort of 12 (wasn’t given a character but thought I should draw something at least even if low effort)

Character: Kremy LeCroux - Once Upon A Witchlight (Legends of Avantris)

[egophiliac]

last chance to guess what the new round of birthday outfits will be!

[beauty-and-passion]

Eurovision 2023: the show of unfairness and the triumph of people’s hearts

My god, this year left me exhausted.

It’s 1:30 am, the Eurovision Grand Final just ended and I am starting to write this post now, because I need some time to calm myself before going to bed. And maybe putting down some thoughts about this year will help me find some peace - at least for a couple hours.

This year has not been what was supposed to be, starting from the show and ending with the winner.

But let’s start from the beginning.

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Ukraine: robbed of their own show

We all know Ukraine couldn’t host Eurovision in their country because of the war, so they asked the UK to do that.

And the UK tried to be a good host. They reminded us of the reason why Ukraine couldn’t do it, they tried to call Ukrainian artists and make the show about them... only to systematically forget it two minutes later and start acting as if they won and this was their show.

I hope now you understand why last year I said to not give them power over anything. The UK has a tiny little problem called “massive ego” and if you give them a little crumb, they will immediately scarf the whole cake down.

This year should’ve been 70% Ukraine themed and 30% UK themed. What we had instead was the other way around: the UK gave us a tiny little interval show in the semifinals about Ukraine, then a massive show all about the UK.

The Gran Final has been the icing on this disgusting cake. It started with a bang, featuring all of our favourite Ukrainian artists in the span of five minutes: Tina Karol (I had no idea she was Ukrainian, what a nice surprise!), goddess Verka, my beloved Go_A with The Only Queen That Matters, aka Kateryna Pavlenko. And, of course, our favourite winners: the Kalush Orchestra. Man Carpet is still an icon and I still wonder what the singer sees behind that pink hat, but I don’t care. It’s perfect, it’s great, I want this but 200x more. I want them to steal the show, I want them in all interval acts. But no worries, I’m sure they will definitely appear more during the final. I mean, there’s no way the UK called them just to appear for 20 seconds, right? Right?

Oh sorry, my bad. I forgot this isn’t Ukraine’s show, this is UK’s show. We should definitely have Sam Ryder in the interval act and we should definitely make it all about English songs. I mean, it’s not like there are four of the most beloved Ukrainian artists in Liverpool. Let’s make it all a huge masturbation session of the UK instead.

I apologize if my metaphor offended someone, but this is what I felt while watching the UK celebrating itself. Like... can’t you do this in a private room? Do I really have to watch it? This is just one step below Portugal’s show, which showed a massive ego as well and tortured me for three nights straight, by repeating how cool they were and how nice they were and how I would’ve done a great choice visiting them.

But even if that was torture, at least Portugal was the winner of the previous year, not a host masturbating over the fact they are allowed to host a show they didn’t win.

The only choice I fully approve of in this show is the postcards idea: that was very elegant and respectful and I want to thank the person who thought about it. The cards show Ukraine’s beautiful places, UK’s beautiful places and every country’s beautiful places. It’s all beautiful and it’s a great way to both honor Ukraine and emphasize UK’s hosting role, since it looks almost like the UK acts as a “connection” between Ukraine and every other country.

Unfortunately for us, this is the last proof of elegance we will see for the rest of the show.

______________________________

Danemark and Poland: robbed even before starting

Do you remember Danemark’s and Poland’s entries? I know, me neither. Bland, forgetful, two huge balls of nothing.

Well, I have a good news and a bad one. The good one is that Danish and Polish people are not insane and their musical tastes are actually way better than this. The bad news is that the two entries we got (Bejba and Tiktokkid) were not supposed to win their country’s competition, because the public’s favourites were different. But, like, VERY different.

Same thing happened last year for Spain, but at least Chanel was able to put on a great show - even if her song was boring. Danemark and Poland didn’t have that either: one gave us a meme, the other gave us nothing. Disappointing.

So let’s clean Danemark’s and Poland’s names, by listening to the artists they were actually supposed to bring. Let’s start with Danemark and please, tell me if the tiktok kid is better than this (if you dare):

And before you think: “oh my gosh, this could’ve been a great entry for Danemark!”, please listen to what Poland was supposed to bring:

I love this song. I love this cute nice boy. I love the classical vibes. And when I played this song for my father, my 70-year-old father told me, with no hesitation: “Oh, this is way better than the other one!”.

So if a 70-year-old can recognize how good this song is, then there’s no generational gap and it’s not true that people are accustomed to the same boring stuff. If a song is good, is good. If a song is bland, is bland.

By now you probably already heard from Polish people about how the voting system of their competition was rigged and how Blanka won thanks to the power of nepotism. So our duty as Europeans (and as people with some fucking taste) is to stream Gladiator, listen to all of his songs and shower this boy with love because he needs to know the world loves him.

And for you all, Polish people: thank you for making us know about your true winner. He really looks like one and we love him too.

______________________________

Germany: robbed while trying

I really cannot understand why people keep hating Germany this much. Is it still because of WW2? What did they do, to deserve the bottom of the chart? I know it’s funny, I know it’s for the memes ah ah ah, but also... come on. Come. On. Are you really telling me that Poland was better than Germany? Are you really telling me that the UK was better than Germany?

I can assure you that if Sweden brought this exact same song, the jury would’ve given this song 300 points. But hey, ThE jUrY iS iMpArTiAl, right?

German people: I don’t know why the world hates you. I think you would’ve gotten more votes, if only the system wasn’t so stupidly rigged and forced everyone to choose one winner only, hoping to defeat the jury’s sheer power. Personally, I enjoyed your song and I enjoyed Lord of the Lost and I will definitely listen to more of their songs to add to my playlist.

However, I also understand your frustration. So you know what? Just go nuts. Choose whoever the fuck you want to represent your country, attend Eurovision whenever you want and do whatever you want, give us insane shit and amazing stuff. You will be treated the same either way, so why give a fuck? Have fun showing your insane side, I will support you 100%.

______________________________

Italy and Israel: what did they ever do to deserve these places?

As an Italian, I am honored people gave so many votes to Italy. Seriously, thank you all, nice to know people appreciate our singers.

But also: why so many votes? Why? I know Mengoni is a good singer, he has a great voice and if this was a real singing competition he would’ve probably deserved to win.

But since Eurovision is not a singing competition, why all these points? Were people really so in love with this ballad? Why? What does he have I cannot understand?

Even more important: why Israel, with their stupid unicorn song, got all these votes? Why? Is it because she’s good-looking? Seriously? Are we still stuck thinking with our genitals, instead of using our brains? I thought Europe moved past the need of thinking with genitals only and started developing some good fucking taste.

Or did her amazing “dance moves” get the public? Ok, she’s very flexible... but do I really really have to remind you of Chanel? A small dance segment is really worth so many points, when last year we had someone who was able to sing AND dance as she did for the entire song? I didn’t even like Chanel, but I am mature enough to recognize that THAT was a show, while the unicorn lady did nothing more than a small dance. Definitely not worth 185 public votes.

At least I know that my country didn’t go insane and the true points (aka the public’s points) didn’t go to the unicorn but to Moldova. Thank god, we are still able to recognize what’s good.

______________________________

Finland: the real winner

When Eurovision started, I was sure Czechia would’ve been the winner. However, their performance wasn’t enough to grant them victory.

Finland, however, had everything a winner needs. And now I will explain to you why, because I love this funky green man and you should love him too.

1) “A little man from Vantaa”

Käärijä is a rare gem, not just for Eurovision, but in general. He’s a simple, genuine, silly guy, who comes from a city few people knew before. He doesn’t speak English too well, but he tries and fails in comically sweet ways. He’s a huge fan of Rammstein, so he’s a man of culture. He became besties with Bojan from the Slovenian band Joker Out and their bromance has been the best part of this Eurovision: these two share one single braincell and I love them for this.

But, most of all, he’s humble. He never considered himself above all others, even after his victory. He knew right from the start that it would’ve been a battle between him and Loreen and yet, he never grew arrogant about it. He always talked about their rivalry in funny ways, through memes and by treating her nicely. But he also never underestimated her: he always put his whole self into every performance, knowing full well he had to give everything, to reach the public’s hearts.

And he did. He reached the public’s hearts and like many others all over the world, I also love this little man. He’s genuine, he’s honest, he’s a fashion icon (Finland changes their flag to green when), his dancers are funky and nice like him. You look at him once and all you can think is: “I want to protect him at all costs”. It’s just impossible to hate this man.

2) His song is a banger

Not only his song is a fusion of three genres (industrial metal, hyperpop and hip-hop/rap), so he’s already serving you three songs in one, but the language he used is Finnish.

I’ve heard Finnish people saying that they never used their language because it’s “too weird”. People, that’s exactly because it’s weird that you should use it! You have this gem and you hide it to us?!

If you don’t know why Finnish is so great, please consider that while all other European languages are part of the Indo-European family, Finnish, Estonian and Hungarian are not. They are part of a completely different family (the Uralic languages).

That means they have nothing similar to any other European language. They are something completely different and new, a whole new world to explore. And they’re here, in our continent!

In addition to that, Finnish is an agglutinative language, which means words are formed by stringing together morphemes. How fucking cool is that? I love this kind of language!

As someone who studied English, French, German and Russian, Finnish is something that gets my attention. I can recognize similarities between Germanic, Slavic and Italic languages and I love them, but Finnish is an unexplored world. It’s made of sounds that well, sound familiar even if they’re not. It’s a constant surprise, you know?

Also, I love that it’s a language full of vowels because it makes me think of my own mother tongue (Italian). It’s a bit like feeling at home, even if our languages have nothing in common <3

3) The best performance of Eurovision 2023

I love the Croatian daddies like the next person (and I’m glad the public gave them the top 10 because they deserve it), but Käärijä’s performance had everything: it told us a story (i.e. how Käärijä slowly emerges from behind his barriers to join the party), he gave us the best stupid dance moves and there’s even a family-friendly human centipede. What else do you need, to start dancing?

Also, another shoutout to his dancers, because I live for those shocking pink dresses and for their immensely creepy expressions. And I live for the public always welcoming them with screams: they deserve it.

I know you already enjoyed it 200 times, but you know what? Let’s fucking destroy the views of this video and let’s watch it again. And also, let’s notice how much the public enjoys it. How much they screamed, how they sang with him, how they enjoyed this party.

Even without knowing Käärijä, you can feel he put his whole self into this. And the public felt it too.

And the final result was astonishing: he got 376 points from the public. It’s the second-highest public score, after Kalush Orchestra, who got 439 points.

If you notice, Käärijä’s percentage is even higher than Kalush Orchestra’s! And such a high result means one thing and one thing only: the public has chosen its winner. He is the winner. People are sovereign and people’s will has been very clear about it. So when I say he’s the winner, it’s not because I want to indulge him: it’s because it’s the fucking truth.

Also, please notice the kind of songs the public chose as their top 3 favorites: songs with nothing mainstream and native languages. All while the jury thinks what we want is the same boring shit we can hear on the radio 24/7.

______________________________

A painful evening

Let me start by making something clear: I don’t hate Loreen and I don’t hate Sweden. It’s not their fault if they win. They are just exploiting the situation, because they learned what the good formula is and keep using it over and over.

Loreen knows that if she sends another song that is just like all the others she made, she will get a high position. And now, thanks to yesterday’s victory, she knows she doesn’t even have to try. Why should she do something different, when doing the same thing twice made her win twice? Why try something different, why step out of her comfort zone? If she does the same thing, she can win. So she will keep doing the same thing.

Same goes for the entire country of Sweden. They learned that if they bring the most boring, generic pop song you can listen to on every radio on planet Earth, you will win. So, they will keep sending it. After all, a bland pop song is what the world is more accustomed to, so why change? Why do something different, when they can be teacher’s pet and always get a high score? This isn’t being stupid, this is being clever.

But is it elegant and fair too? Oh honey, absolutely not. This is the exact opposite of what elegance and fairness are.

On Saturday evening, when we reached the voting part of the show, the crowd literally CHEERED AND SANG Käärijä’s name or “Cha Cha Cha”. Multiple times.

Once the public clearly states who they want to win, then the competition is over. When the consensus is unanimous, there’s no competition anymore. The winner is already here. Everything else is just white noise and bureaucracy.

That’s what I felt, while I was forced to keep listening to a bunch of people loudly kissing Sweden’s ass. The public had already decided, we already have a winner. Why are we still wasting time?

And if forcing us to keep listening to this pitiful charade was not enough, the hosts decided to lose that shred of elegance that was still left on this joke of a show and not only shushed the public all time but even said “just ignore everyone”, as if their voices didn’t really matter. It’s not like this is a music competition and the public is the final receiver of said music, after all.

I don’t know you, but I don’t like to see the sovereign public being silenced and told they do not matter, all while a bunch of people takes the decisions for them. Maybe the Brits are accustomed to being silenced because an old rich man has to decide for them, but other countries don’t work like that. Like, you know, the one they’re hosting the competition for.

There was nothing democratic about Saturday evening. There was nothing fair in silencing the public and pretending they haven’t chosen their winner one hour ago, because teacher’s pet had to win again.

Do you really think Sweden deserved this victory more than Finland? Do you really think that a country that won six times needed to add this victory to their list, so they can say “ah ah we won as many times as Ireland”? Or just because they can do their stupid ABBA anniversary next year? Is this the reason why we choose our winner, now? The past glories of a country? Well, then in 2048 is the anniversary of Dana International’s winning song, let’s all go to Israel! And in 2056 we’ll go to Finland, because it’s the anniversary of Lordi’s winning. And in 2071 will be 50 years from the Maneskin’s victory, so let’s come back to Italy.

What, does that sound ridiculous? Tell that to the jury, then.

I feel immensely sorry for the Finnish people, because I read online how much this victory could’ve meant for them. This could’ve been so important, such a good chance to shine for a country that considers their language “too weird” and who hasn’t won in 17 years. And since they are stuck between that ticking bomb that is Russia and the always perfect Sweden, they really needed something that gave them more positive attention.

And it broke my heart even more to see Käärijä suffering. He even apologized to his nation. He did something amazing and he still apologized. He literally won and apologized for not winning. That’s unfairness to its finest.

And if all of this is not enough, the results of the public’s vote came out and oh, look, not a single country gave 12 points to Sweden, while almost every country gave 12 points to Finland. Wow, who would’ve fucking guessed that teacher’s pet won because of the teacher.

Again: does that seem fair and democratic to you?

______________________________

Oligarchy masqueraded as democracy

Let’s do a little bit of math, shall we?

Each national jury consists of five people + one backup juror. They supposedly vote for the best singer and performance- AHAHAH great joke, very funny.

But let’s not focus on this, now: let’s focus on numbers.

37 countries participated this year. So 37 x 6 = 222. The jury is made up of 222 people in total.

The entire population of Europe is around 451 million people, but let’s keep it low because Eurovision isn’t watched by all Europeans. Let’s take just the number of views on the Youtube streaming of the Grand Finale: 9.5 million people. Let’s round up to 9 million, okay?

Okay, so now we have 222 people on one side and 9 million people on the other. Let’s pretend that less than half of them voted at least one time.

Okay, now look me straight in the eyes and explain why the votes of 222 people should have the same weight as the votes of 4 million people. Please, explain to me how democratic this decision is, can’t wait to hear it.

But you know what? Even if it was 1 million voters only, that wouldn’t have been fair either. In no universe is fair to put one million voters on the same level as 222 voters.

There’s only one possible scenario in which this is fair: if Eurovision was a talent show specifically centered around performances and voices, with a jury made of vocal teachers and choreographers, and all I have to do is passively watch it on my couch.

But from the moment you gave the public the power to choose who the winner could be, then why do the votes of all the people from Europe (and Australia) have the same weight as what 222 people decided?

This isn’t a democracy. This is an oligarchy masquerading as a democracy: a bunch of people decides what you should like, basing their decision on their own interests. And you have no way to oppose them, unless you focus all your votes on one single artist, hoping it would defeat the one the jury chooses.

But this deprives Eurovision of the competition aspect. It’s not a competition if I have to endure a tug-of-war against the jury. It’s not a competition if I am forced to give all of my votes to one artist only, instead of spreading them out to all my favorites. And even in that case, basically all of Europe should vote for that specific artist to try and overcome the sheer power the jury has. Again: does this sound democratic to you?

Now you may say: but the jury is made of experts. Oh, you mean the same experts that proved multiple times they base their votes on politics, who their neighbor is and who can corrupt them better? Or do you mean the same experts that in the past made their choice even without listening to the songs?

The truth is that we have 222 people who can easily be influenced by anything and their power is as strong as the power of 4 million people at least. Four million people, who got invested and followed the entire show from start to finish, if I may add. Please, tell me about the fairness of this system again.

And before you say “but Eurovision is a music competition and we need experts”... sorry, but no. According to Wikipedia, the jury was present before televoting was born, but once televoting was extended to all competing countries (1997 ca.), the jury was no more. It came back only in 2009, with this unfair compromise of 50/50 between jury ad public votes.

So there was a period of time in which there wasn’t a jury and in that period we had the first win for Estonia, Turkey, Latvia, Greece, Finland, Serbia and Russia. How weird that, once the jury isn’t there, other nations have a chance to win too.

The thing is: Eurovision isn’t a simple music competition. It’s more like a window. A window where anyone can have their chance to shine. No matter if you’re from a well-known country and everyone knows who you are or if you’re from a tiny piece of land in the middle of nowhere and all you can do is speak your native language: if you have the right combination of song+performance+voice, you can win.

And it’s beautiful we have this window, because it allows us to see something we’ve never seen before: rock bands, silly songs, folk songs and straight-up weird songs. In Eurovision, you don’t have to listen to just the same generic bland song, but you are allowed to listen to different artists and different cultures - and if you like them, you are free to choose your winner, no matter how not mainstream it is.

And we Europeans need this. We need to celebrate the diversity of Europe and embrace them. We need to see people from different countries hanging out, having fun and becoming best friends. For a continent that has always had (and still has) a problem with wars, we need something that allows us to look at each other and not see a piece of land to conquer, but a place full of life and culture to learn about.

And since we pride ourselves to be the continent where democracy was born, let’s put this democracy in the show we’re so proud of. Do we really need the jury vote? Do we really need the vote of this bunch of people? Okay, let’s have them. But it’s not acceptable to give them the same weight as the public’s vote. 50/50 isn’t acceptable anymore. 20/80 is fairer. I’m feeling nice, we can even do a 30/70. It’s just not acceptable that 300 people should have power over millions over something those same millions will enjoy. As always, the public is sovereign.

And if the public’s taste is shit, at least we will be free to blame ourselves for something we brought unto ourselves - and not feel sick and angry over something others forced upon us.

Or everything can stay the same and the 50/50 system will keep going. But at least, be honest enough to not waste everyone’s time, by pretending the public can do something more than watch what a bunch of people decide for them. Do not pretend to be righteous and democratic, when you’re not.

______________________________

The triumph of people

This finale drained me. If it were just a little fairer, I would’ve been thrilled to see Luxembourg coming back after years. But right now I don’t feel like watching next year’s show. I know it will probably be amazing, because Sweden is very good at hosting. But I don’t want to see them masturbating over how good they are and how much they deserved to win - even if they didn’t win.

And, honestly, I don’t care about ABBA either. I don’t give a damn about them, nor about their anniversary. I’m definitely not looking forward to that either.

I will listen to the songs as always, then I might give it a try and watch the semifinals. It depends on how bitter my grudge will be, after one full year. If it will still be very bitter, I will probably spend my time better, by listening to the songs more times, watching the performances and making my own personal final chart. I won’t have ABBA or funny interval acts, but I can try my best to make it enjoyable to read. And it won’t be a fucking charade, at least.

Sorry, but I will keep being bitter for some time. And if you feel bitter too, you have every right to be, no matter what people say. Your voice has been silenced and ignored and numbers don’t lie. It’s very understandable you feel bad.

But you know what you can do? Use your anger in a positive way. And no, that doesn’t mean sending death threats to Loreen. You can accuse Sweden of its lack of elegance and decorum if you want, but always be polite. Don’t be like some of them, who are such sore losers they had the guts to be angry at Finland because it didn’t give Sweden any public points. Bo-hoo, may I add.

What you can do instead is make some noise: ask for the jury to be abolished or for this shitty system to change. And, even more important, support your winners. A lot of amazing artists have been wronged this year, so shower them with love.

And send your love especially towards our winner. Stream Cha Cha Cha, check his other songs, shower him with love and support, make a statue for him in Vantaa, pay me a plane ticket because I need to tackle him in a hug and tell him how much the world loves him. Let’s show the world that he slaps, Finnish slaps and we want more of this.

Do you still need more Cha Cha Cha in your life? Good news: Lord of the Lost made a cover for Cha Cha Cha and OH MY GOSH it’s insanely good. It has a lot of Rammstein vibes, it’s cool and it slaps even harder. Check it out because it’s amazing!

Also because the German singer learned some Finnish, just to spell every word correctly and, according to the Finnish people in the comment section, he did a great job. What a wholesome guy, I love and stan him and his band - and you should do the same, because they are amazing and they don’t deserve last place <3

And if you need more Käärijä in your life, there are amazing Youtube channels with great collections of his moments, like Eurovision Is Ambition and Uni Dash Corn. I especially suggest you see his bromance with Bojan - and speaking of him, another shoutout to Bojan! He’s such a nice, wholesome guy with great charisma, you cannot hate him. I am not head over heels for his song, but he’s so fucking wholesome, he deserves good things only.

And I also suggest you see how Käärijä has been welcomed in Helsinki. He has been welcomed like a fucking hero, a national treasure. And of course he was: he is the true winner after all, he deserved the welcome only winners get.

It’s a bit like he said in his apology: the better one won. And so he did.

You know, I think the only good thing that came out from this shitshow that was Eurovision 2023, is the people’s heart. People showed their kindness, their love, the best of humankind. We saw acts of friendship, we saw empathy and appreciation. The hug between Käärijä and Bojan, despite its sad meaning, is also a perfect example of what we all should be: kinder, softer, more empathetic, together, no matter how far and different our countries are.

In a way, I am happy that Ukraine’s message of unity was still carried out, even if indirectly and definitely not the way the UK wanted.

And in the end, the trophy isn’t so important: it’s just a piece of glass after all. And no piece of glass is worth the impact one little man from Vantaa left on so many people all over the world.

I know you will never read this post, but I wish you a lifetime of success, Käärijä. You have everything a winner needs and, in fact, you are one. So don’t be too hard on yourself, because the world still needs to show you how much it loves you. Take your time, relax, have fun and come back when you’re ready - just don’t leave us hanging for too much, ‘kay?

And you, Finnish people: please treat our beloved winner with love for us too. We will do our best from afar, so let’s be together on this as we should <3

[sexlapis]

just thinking abt corporate!reader & her goth!wife mikasa :3

female!reader, short fic, flirty coworkers, fluff, crack, wife!mikasa

wc: idk just read it damn

you were a diligent, serious worker but you’d never be caught working overtime in a place like that. you would never work longer than you had to, you don’t give a fuck about your job, or any company that much. the job wasn’t exactly exciting or difficult, but the salary was absolutely ridiculous for such simple tasks and you just can’t say goodbye to this lifestyle, really. it is easy, stable and comfortable and you really cannot ask for anything else.

you always kept to yourself and minded your own business but, unfortunately for you, the men you worked with were not familiar with such a concept.

when you started you job, your male coworkers found no problem or shame in flirting with you. and now, with the new, simple yet expensive golden wedding band on your finger…they still had no problem flirting with you.

you sit at your desk typing away, when all of a sudden, your coworker, sam, appeared out of nowhere like a bunny in a top hat.

“hey!” he spoke, far too loudly for the environment you were in.

“…hi.”

“how are you?” sam leans on your desk, shifting it in a way which will irk you for the rest of this painful interaction.

you look up at him, mouth streamline and eyes blank. “i’m fine, thank you,” you make a point of not asking how he is before raising your eyebrows and looking at your desk computer, “got work to do.”

“yeah,” he chuckles, biting his lip, “so listen…”

oh no.

“so i’ve been thinking…”

please, stop.

“i think we get along really well and i’m just wondering…”

god, help me.

“…if maybe we could go out sometime,” he finishes, smirking all of his ivory, hyper-perfect, white teeth at you. he stares at you, awaiting your answer.

you sigh. he sees so confident. it was sad.

you fiddle with your watch and begin your awkward rejection, “look i-”

a voice calling out your name is heard as you spin around in your squeaky desk chair and a few feet away, stands your wife, mikasa.

what is she doing here?

next to her is the receptionist, you smiles at you and nods to mikasa before walking away.

mikasa is dressed to the nines, as she always is.

she is decked out in an all-black outfit - her toned arms, decorated with lace sleeves, snug at the top and loosening out as the fabric goes on. a corset adorns her waist, peppered with lace accents and it emphasises the pale expanse of her upper breasts that are on display for everyone to see. her lower half is draped in a long, slightly billowed out skirt and platform boots cover her feet, making her almost tower over everyone.

mikasa walks over to you, unbothered by all the eyes on her. in her hand is a small container, one that you assume carries your lunch. she leans down and kisses you cheek, surely staining your skin with scarlet. you feel heat on your face. you’re pretty sure nobody is working at this point.

“hi ♡.” mikasa greets, a soft smile on her lips.

“hi-mikasa, what are-” you stand up swiftly, looking around your small work area, noticing how your colleagues are simply pretending to work, “what are you doing here? i said i’d meet you outside.”

“you were taking a while. the receptionist noticed and asked who i was waiting for. she let me come up here.”

“yeah, but-”

“but what?”

you huff and glance behind you.

sam, your flirty coworker who cannot take a hint, stands there like a buffoon, mouth agape and just watching you and mikasa interact. mikasa says a small “hello” to him and he responds with a dumb wave.

you roll your eyes. then you notice the food container in mikasa’s hands. she has a new set of nails too. “is that my lunch?”

“yes, that’s why i came here. you forgot it.”

you take it out of her hands, graceful. “thank you, baby…new nails too, i see?”

mikasa blushes, eyes knocking to the side. “mhm. i took your card for that.”

“mikasa!” you frown halfheartedly, “i was looking for that.”

“sorry. but you have seven other cards, so i think you will be okay.”

you hear a snort on your right, and a sharp glare from you shut them up.

mikasa beams at you.

you huff, beginning to walk “lets go to that café across the street.”

“okay!”

mikasa slips her hand into yours. on that very hand, a ring with an onyx diamond beautifies her finger. the ring that you placed there.

you coworker starts to call out, “aren’t you gonna introduce-”

“no!”

*

“you should be nicer to your coworkers.”

“why on earth would i do that?” you groan, disgusted by the suggestion.

the food mikasa made is delicious, and you shove your face with it in bad table manners. you were starving. mikasa doesn’t mind.

it was a sunny thursday afternoon and the streets were quiet, along with the café itself. mikasa nibbles on a small pastry and sips her tea.

“because, they’re your coworkers. and you need to keep your job.”

“ha! they need to keep me. i’m the best worker in that damn place.”

mikasa hums, taking a hold of your hands, causing you to drop you cutlery on the table ungracefully, “but then, who’d be able to pay for my nails?”

“…yeah, you’re right,” you smooth your thumb over her smooth knuckles, kissing the ring on her finger, “who would, huh?”

*

you walk back into your workplace, skip in your step. you whistle a tune all the way to your desk, stopping in your tracks when you realise everyone is silent and looking at you.

“…what?!”

the continuous chatter starts up again and everyone goes back to their tasks, not looking to bother or piss you off today

later on, when you walk through the door to your house and look in the mirror right beside it, you see a multitude of faded, red lip-shaped lipstick stained kissed all over your face.

a/n: i want her to be my wife so bad………

[thehazelmist]

So, I just had a dream about Mr. Puzzles (SMG4). It's very weird, so brace yourself. - Mr. Puzzles/Reader Fanfiction I guess??? created by: HazelMist's Unconscious

Um, so…I just had a strange dream with Mr. Puzzles. Specifically, a dream where he announced the new PuzzleVision merch. It was a 1960s style commercial…kind of, I guess. I have barely watched any 1960s commercials, so I'll just say It was black and white, except for Mr. Puzzles smile. and the commercial was animated.

So In the start of the dream, I wake up. and see In my notifications, that SMG4 uploaded a video. titled "NEW PUZZLEVISION MERCH!" I was extremely excited and hoped they had made a plushie of Mr. Puzzles. so I clicked on it, and uh...this Is how the commercial was.

So, he Is first walking down a lonely street, and see's someone leaning on a pole. uh, that person was Y/N... And they were wearing a plain T shirt, with oversized baggy pants. Not very fitting for the 1960s, but 🤷‍♀️. Mr. Puzzles noticed them, and walk right up to them and said

"Well, hello there my dear~! I'm your friend Mr. Puzzles, and- Oh god, what the hell are you wearing. Your outfit Is so boring, It makes an Average Joe look special."

Uh…Couldn't tell If my unconscious was insulting me or not, because I enjoy wearing plain T shirts and baggy pants. Then Y/N looked down in embarrassment. Then Mr. Puzzles grabbed their hand, and kept walking. but Mr. Puzzles was so tall, that Y/N was almost tripping. but then he stopped, and looked right at Y/N, and suggested

"Hey, I've got the solution to your problem! Why don't you buy some of the latest PuzzleVision merchandise? Your fashion sense would be amazingly blinding! Why not try on our Mario's Mysteries T shirt? Blue's clues and Mario fans would be confused by your stunning (not bootleg…) shirt, and you would attract many PuzzleVision fans!"

The shirt was basically the Mario's Mysteries thumbnail, Then he handed Y/N the shirt, and they responded "W-Wha..? but I don't even watch-" Then Mr. Puzzles cut them off

"Oh, and If you didn't like Mario's Mysteries, we have T shirts of our other episodes too! It would normally be 300.000.00$, but since you are special to me~ I'll make a discount! It's now only 30.00$!"

The shirts were also the thumbnail of the episodes. Then he threw them In a dressing room, and Y/N came out with the Once upon an SMG4 T shirt on. Mr Puzzles clapped his hands excitedly and said "Oh my dear! You look absolutely gorgeous! And If you get cold with only a T shirt, Buy our Mr. Puzzles Hoodie! It's 50.00$!"

The hoodie was a picture of Mr. Puzzles sitting in a chair, with his legs crossed. with a smug face. then afterwards, he said to them

"And I will be going soon, but If you want to keep me with you forever, then you should get…"

Then he pulled out a Mr Puzzles plushie, except It looked kinda weird. He didn't have his bowler hat, and he didn't have his color bar smile, It was just a straight line for a mouth. Anyways, he continued

"This adorable version of me, In plush form! Take It with you everywhere you go! Or If you don't want to get it dirty, just keep It on your shelf! But If you aren't the plushie collector type, Here Is an awesome figurine!"

It was a figurine of Mr. Puzzles doing a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure esque pose, with his maniacal face. and then he showed another figurine.

"Oh, and here Is another action figure of….that one inkling guy!"

The figurine barely looked like Oneshot wren though, and It wasn't even an Inkling. It looked like someone tried to recreate Wren In Plotagon. and didn't Western Spaghetti already have It's own merch? I kind of forgot what else Mr. Puzzles said, but he showed some Mr Puzzles Pins and Keychains that were both In chibi style. they were really cute! not like that Oneshot Wren figure…And after showing all the merch, He said

"Now, Let's skip time to a few weeks, and see how much these items have affected you!"

And then there was the Spongebob time card that said "2000 years later" and we are back with Mr Puzzles and Y/N, Except he is holding a microphone now, and asks them

"So, how much have my great merch helped you In life?" and then Y/N says something like "Nothing much has changed-"

and then the commercial rewinds, and goes back to when Mr. Puzzles asked that question. and then Y/N says "Oh, I feel much more happier now! with my amazing T shirts, I have so many more friends, and everyone wants to hang out with me! and I am enjoying your company, In plush form! Thank you, Mr. Puzzles!"

Then Mr. Puzzles responded "You're welcome! Have a great day, my darling!

Then, the commercial cuts to a blank screen, showcasing all the merch. and some strange announcer voice, that was definitely not Mr. Puzzles, their voice was very deep. says something like… "Go buy the new PuzzleVision Merch In smg4.store today!"

And then the video finished, and I was very confused of what I just saw. but then I might have waken up.

and uhhh…I think thats all I remember. If you made It this far, thanks for reading me ramble about some nonsensical dream I had last night. I probably dreamt It because I am TERRIBLY DESPERATE to have a Mr. Puzzles plushie. If I feel like It, I might try to make an animatic based on this dream. I might post It on Youtube. But I dunno, would you actually want to see that?

[devildomwriter]

Christmas Family Photo Fiasco

❗️Chaotic energy

Lucifer: "A family Christmas photo? Is this really necessary?"

Diavolo: "MC mentioned it as a holiday tradition." MC: "Yeah, but it's mostly for parents obsessed with their new baby or their dozens of kids."

Diavolo: "Well, we can do it too! We can send them to the nobles, and the angels too. In fact, this photo could make history!"

Lucifer: "Aren't you exaggerating a bit-"

Diavolo: "The first official Christmas photo of the exchange program students and the program founders? This will be a historical treasure!"

Diavolo was light on his feet and very giddy as he hovered over Barbatos, setting up the camera. Mammon looked like he was scheming something. It probably had to do with the photos being of historical importance-potentially.

Lucifer straightened his collar and smoothed his hair down as he looked at himself in the mirror. Asmo stood next to him, touching up his make up and glossing his lips every minute to make sure they stayed perfectly shiny.

Belphegor: "MC, you need to stop sharing Christmas ideas..."

MC: "No."

Leviathan: "But why?!"

MC: "Because I like sharing my culture, and if I'm getting dragged down to hell every few months, then I'm gonna make it fun whether you like it or not."

Mammon: "Selfish, much?"

MC: "You have literally no room to talk."

Mammon: "Heh? No, don't get me wrong, I'm real proud of you!"

Mammon patted MC on the back, smiling cheekily, and MC rolled their eyes and walked away from him to the couch on the other side of the room.

Barbatos: "MC, have you heard from Solomon and the angels?"

MC: "Umm...let me check my messages real quick."

MC unlocked their D.D.D. to find they had twenty missed messages.

MC: "What the hell?"

Barbatos: "Is something troubling you?"

MC: "I don't know yet; I just have a lot of missed messages."

Mammon: "Is it, Solomon?"

MC: "Yeah, it's the purgatory group chat, Solomon, Simeon, Luke, and I."

Asmodeus: "What? Can be invited into the group chat?"

MC: "Exchange students only."

Asmodeus: "Hmph!"

Asmo angrily twirled back around to the mirror and began applying his gloss again, to which Lucifer sighed dramatically and sat down on one of the soft chairs.

[Exchange Students]

Solomon: On our way

Luke: See you soon

Solomon: Luke tripped in a puddle and is crying, see you in twenty

Luke: I was not crying!

Solomon: Are shorts acceptable for the photo?

Simeon: Probaboy not

Simeon: Probably

Solomon: XD

Luke: I don't like pants!

Solomon: Just finished getting dressed

Simeon: I forgot MC was in this chat, sorry MC

Solomon: On our way

Luke: See you soon

Simeon: :)

Solomon: Is Luke allowed to wear a hat

Luke: I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITHOUT A HAT

Simeon: Calm down, Luke

Solomon: Are top hats acceptable?

Luke: MC, help me!

Luke: I'm not wearing a top hat!

Diavolo: "MC, any news on the others?"

MC: "Luke tripped in a puddle and had to get changed and won't wear a top hat."

Diavolo: "Top hat? They do know we're just wearing Christmas sweaters?"

Barbatos: "It would appear they don't. I'll inform him."

MC: "No, don't!”

Barbatos: "Oh? Why not?"

MC: "It's gonna make a hilarious photo."

Barbatos: “…”

Lucifer smirked and laughed to himself, imagining Simeon's embarrassment and the chihuahua's tantrum.

Beelzebub: "We should probably tell them..."

Mammon: "No way! MC is right; that'll be hilarious!"

MC: "Okay, if Mammon agrees, then we probably should just tell them."

Mammon: "Hey!"

Diavolo: "We could do different kinds of Christmas cards!"

Belphegor: "One picture is enough."

Diavolo: "You can never have too many pictures."

Mammon: "That ain't true at all! What if ya got some ass disease and you're doctor needs a picture for the medical profile. If ya send him twenty-five, then that's just creepy."

Everyone: "..."

Diavolo: "I'm not sure how to respond to that."

Barbatos: "I'm not sure I've ever been at a loss for words..."

Mammon: "Why are ya looking at me like that? It's not based on a true story!”

Belphegor: "Are you sure?"

Mammon: "Of course, I'm sure! I'm not sending my ass pics around; people gotta pay for that shit."

MC: "Do you sell pictures of your ass?"

Mammon: "No!"

Mammon: "...interested in buying some-“

Lucifer: "Maaaamoooon."

Mammon: "Eep! I don't, I swear! I swear-Ack-“

Lucifer proceeds to drag Mammon from the room but the collar of his fuzzy green Christmas sweater.

Asmodeus: "I think that's the first time I haven't wanted to talk about ass..."

Belphegor: "How did we get to this?"

MC: "Um...anyway, Diavolo, you were saying we could take different kinds of pictures?"

Diavolo: "Ah, yes! We could take some formal pictures, some in our true forms, and some in our Christmas outfits! Oh! We could even do some as characters from a Christmas movie."

Belphegor: "Which one?"

Beelzebub: "How about a Christmas Carol."

Everyone: "No."

Beelzebub: "But why?"

Satan: "You can't possibly have forgotten what happened when we went to see the play?"

Belphegor: "Hehe..."

Beelzebub looked dejected, which immediately made everyone change their minds. He may be a demon, but he was a gentle giant.

Barbatos shook his head at the memory.

Barbatos: "You caused so much chaos we got calls from Michael."

MC: "That was bound to happen."

Satan: "That shouldn't be the case."

MC: "Don't pretend you didn't threaten the security-"

Before they could continue to argue about the biggest scandal they'd had that month, the doors opened, and Solomon, Simeon, and Luke walked inside dressed elegantly.

MC: "Oh, wow, you guys look great!"

Solomon and Simeon blushed, and Luke smiled proudly.

Luke: "MC, do you like my hat?"

MC: "Uhh....I have to say you're gonna regret wearing a fedora in a picture sent to three different realms."

Luke: "There's nothing wrong with fedoras."

MC: "Okay, buddy."

Luke: "Huh?"

Diavolo: "Welcome, gentlemen."

Diavolo grinned joyfully as the three looked at him in confusion.

Diavolo wore a red sweater with a reindeer whose nose glowed when you pressed on it.

Solomon: "MC...was this not a formal event?"

MC: "Nope."

Solomon: "And you didn't tell us?"

MC: "Nope."

Solomon: "..?"

Having heard them arrive, Lucifer came back into the living room, tugging Mammon behind him, who wore a grim expression on his face.

Lucifer: "Okay, let's get this over with."

Diavolo: "Don't be like that, Lucifer, this is going to be so much fun!"

Satan: "Did anyone arrange the seating positions?”

MC: "Seating positions; it's a picture?"

Simeon: "Who will be taking our pictures?"

Diavolo: "The camera."

Simeon: "What? All by itself?"

Barbatos: "It has a timer."

Luke: "Where am going to stand?"

Asmodeus: "I think what matters most is making sure you match.”

MC: "I think the clash in outfits really sums up the chaos of our friend group, and that's a beautiful thing."

Lucifer: "MC, please be quiet."

Diavolo: "First, I'd like to take a picture together dressed as we are right now!"

Leviathan: "First?"

Solomon: "How many pictures do you plan to take?"

Diavolo: "As many as I want."

Mammon: *cough*"Entitled "*cough*

Diavolo: "Did you say something, Mammon?"

Mammon: "Huh? N-No."

Barbatos gave Mammon a grin, which was clearly just a mask to hide his fury towards the demon, although Diavolo remained blissfully unaware he was just called out.

Barbatos stopped behind the camera and set the timer for one minute as they arranged their seating positions.

Barbatos: "Diavolo, you'll sit down in the middle of the sofa. Lucifer stand behind him on his left, Mammon stand behind him on the right. Levi, stand next to Lucifer, Satan, stand next to Mammon."

Satan: "Dammit."

Mammon: "Hey!"

Barbatos: "Beelzebub, stand next to Satan, and Belphegor stand next to Levi. Good, now don't look so murderous.”

Mammon scoffed and was elbowed in the gut; he bent over in pain as Barbatos continued arranging everyone.

Barbatos: "Asmodeus, sit at the end of the sofa; I'll sit on the other end in a moment. MC sit in between Asmodeus and Diavolo, Solomon, sit in between Diavolo and where I'll bit sitting. Lastly, Luke and Simeon, lean against the arms of the sofa and face the camera....good."

Barbatos stepped in to make adjustments to how everyone was positioned before starting the timer on the camera.

Beelzebub: "My stomach...I'm hungry."

Lucifer: "Just be patient and smile."

Mephistopheles: "Oh, hey, what are you guys up to!?"

Lucifer: "Grrrrrr.”

Belphegor: "I'm sleepy.”

Leviathan: "Someone kill me; I want to go home already."

Luke: "Eek, a rat!"

Barbatos: "What!?"

Simeon: "Luke, don't fall!"

Mammon: "Ahahahah-ow! Satan, you don't gotta punch me!"

Asmodeus: "MC, let's blow a kiss to the camera!"

MC: "No."

*flash*

After hundreds of photos that resulted in Luke crying to go home, they finally stopped taking pictures and changing outfits. Simeon carried Luke over his shoulder as they walked home, and everyone looked forward to seeing how nicely the photos turned out since they took hours trying to take the perfect one.

In the end, Diavolo and MC decided on the picture they wanted to send to thousands of people wishing them a happy holiday from the exchange students.

They both immediately agreed on their favorite and kept it a secret from everyone else. MC laughed the entire week as they helped send cards to people like Michael, the Demon King, Diavolo's court, the archangels, and famous witches like Madi.

After the week passed and all the cards were sent out, the friends agreed to meet together to open them at the same time.

They counted down, and MC called out their phone, smiling mischievously, which gave Solomon the suspicion they were about to witness something chaotic.

Asmodeus: *screeching*

Lucifer: "Diavolo, why in the devildom did you choose THIS disaster photo!?"

Leviathan: "Oh, no..."

Mammon: "I'm not sellin' this, and that's the first time I've ever said something like that!"

Luke: "Why!? Michael is going to see this!"

Lucifer: "What!? DIAVOLO TAKE THEM BACK!"

Diavolo: "No thank you. I find them charming."

Solomon: "Haha, I'm putting this on devilgram.”

Lucifer: "Do NOT!"

Solomon: "Hmm,....fine, but only if you make a pact with me."

Lucifer: "Grrrrrrrrrr."

Diavolo: "Hahaha! Barbatos, look at my eyes!"

Barbatos: "My lord...you sent this to all the nobles?"

Diavolo: "Yes."

Barbatos: “...”

MC: "This is amazing."

Lucifer: "Shut up, no, it's not!"

Diavolo: "I think it sums up our chaos perfectly, and that's beautiful-"

Beelzebub: "Didn't MC say that earlier..."

Lucifer: "MC..."

MC: "Yes?"

Lucifer: "Diavolo, don't tell me you let MC choose the photo...."

Diavolo: "MC loved it! There's no way I could refuse; besides, I love it too. I can't stop laughing when see it."

Lucifer: "Dammit, MCCCCCC!"

That's how the three realms ended up with a picture displaying Lucifer's grimace, Mammon bending over it pain as Satan punched him, Levi looking dead inside, Beelzebub drooling onto the couch, Belphegor mid-fall as he fell asleep, Luke mid-fall as he was scared by the rat, Barbatos looking horrified, Asmodeus blowing a kiss in the wrong direction as MC glared at him, all while Solomon and Diavolo smiled while their eyes glowed from the camera flash.

As Diavolo had thought it would, the picture became famous and was placed in the devildom treasury for historical significance, and Lucifer spent every Christmas after complaining about it.

It was in newspapers for months and was framed on Michael's wall where unbeknownst to the demon brothers, the angels laughed at it every day.

MC, of course, regretted nothing and smiled at the chaos caused by a simple Christmas card.

[winniemaywebber]

Honeysuckle Rose • Part 8

james douglass x olive lewis

part one part two part three part four part five part six part seven

masterlist ao3 olive's playlist

notes: a little heavy petting 🤭

Something big is brewing on base, the Brass keeping their cards close to their chest. The Red Cross Girls navigate their way through revelations, chance meetings and feelings from the past that rear their ugly head.

Despite the very few hours of sleep she had gotten, the sun rising over the beautiful Suffolk fields as the gang had all congregated in the cool morning air in celebration of no longer being a fractured bunch, Olive felt refreshed. 

The group had left the club in the early hours to see the sun rise, telling each other that the lack of sleep would be worth it. The gang, joined by Curt’s co-pilot Dickie, sat on the surprisingly soft grass of the airfield in a gentle silence. The sweet countryside air whipped all around them, Olive finding warmth tucked inside of Dougie’s jacket, his arm around her as she snuggled into him. She laid her head on his shoulder, him smiling as she stroked his face. The fiery hues of the morning sky brought out the beautiful blue of his eyes, Olive practically falling into them as the two of them seemed to slip into their own little world. It was at this moment she realized; she was falling in love with him. It had hit her like a freight train, the thought causing her to gasp out loud.

“Okay, doll?” James asks, holding her even closer to ward off the cold.

“Never better, honey.”

—

The early start came with the beginnings of a headache from lack of sleep. However, Olive found herself extremely peppy for this time of the morning. She, along with Tattie, had gone about most of their morning duties occasionally exchanging quiet conversation and Tattie preparing herself for her impending hangover. “It doesn't knock you on your ass if you don't go to sleep,” she laughs, wincing at the sound of her own voice. 

“You didn't sleep? Jesus Christ, Spaatz. You mad bugger.”

“There was no point,” she replies, beginning to daintily arrange donuts on a tray. “By the time I'd have got myself into bed, it would have been time to get up again. There,” she says, placing the tray on the counter. She lights two cigarettes, handing one to Olive before pouring them a cup of coffee each. “This'll perk us up, kid.”

A bark echoes through what feels like the whole air base, Olive and Tattie both jumping at the sound of it. “Hold on to your hats,” Tattie smiles. “Here comes trouble.”

“Oh, yeah! He's brought Meatball with him too!”

Benny strolls up to the Clubmobile alongside Meatball, stifling a yawn as he approaches. 

“Demarco!” she cheerfully greets, pouring him a coffee before he even has a chance to ask. “What are you doing up so early?”

“Meatball was crying for the bathroom, then I saw Lemmons while we were out there. Said he needed me to look over something on Our Baby.”

“Ah,” she nods. “Leave the good boy here with me. It seems pretty easy out here today, so it's no bother.”

“Thanks, Ol. Hey, everything worked out now?”

“Oh, yes,” she blushes. “Everything smoothed over. What about you?” she enquires, eyebrow raised. “You set him straight?”

“Too right. I made it clear that it's only him you care for in that way. I told him that if he thinks he saw what he thought he saw, he should've asked me; I also told him that if he ever made you cry again, he'd pay for it. He got a little sheepish at that.”

“Christ,” she whispers, shaking her head in amusement.

“Hey, no hard feelings. We shook hands, back to being pals. No harm done.”

“Well, if you say so. Here,” she says, placing another two cups of coffee and a few donuts in front of him. “One for you, the coffees and other donuts are for Kenny and Wink.”

“Thanks. Run over and grab me if the dog is too much trouble.”

He turns on his heel and departs, Meatball barking incessantly as his person walks away from him without so much as a pat goodbye. 

“Benny!” Olive shouts. “You forgot something!”

—

“Good morning boy, hi!” Olive hears, seeing Meatball perk up instantly with his ball in his mouth, expecting playtime at the sight of more people walking up to the Clubmobile. Val bends down to pet him, scritching at the dog's ears as he drops the ball at her feet and pants happily in her face. “Did you have a nice snooze?”

“He snoozed more than any of us, that’s for sure.” Helen says, rolling her eyes and smiling.

“When I checked last night, you were snoozing on top of Dickie,” Olive smiles, cheekily pointing at her friend with a triumphant grin.

“He was closest,” Helen grumbles. “And Tattie took the dog.”

“Surprised Benny didn’t put up more of a fight for him honestly,” Tattie says, stubbing out her cigarette and turning to begin spot cleaning the counters.

Mentioning Benny's name seemed to be a careless mistake. At the mention of his name, Meatball leans forward and begins howling, Cleven’s assumption once again being proved right. 

“That wolf is part dog,” he had grumbled to Olive, a few days after their first meeting. Seeing her love on him, he crouched down beside her and told her all about how he'd come to be the group's mascot. 

“Benny won him,” he laughed, holding a hand out for the dog to sniff at. “Craps.”

“Probably the luckiest win of his life,” Olive had replied, nuzzling into Meatball for warmth. “Wait, how did you get him here all the way from Greenland?”

“He flew with us. Howled the whole darn way, Lewis. It was unbearable, let me tell ya.”

“I'll bet,” she had said, raising her eyebrows. 

“Benny joked that his dog was part wolf,” he pauses, standing up and wiping his hands on his slacks. “I said that wolf is part dog.”

“Okay, Meatball, shhh.” Olive crouches down to ruffle the fur between his ears in comfort, when suddenly, the dog mistakes her loving on him for playtime and jumps up onto her, pushing her to the floor.

“Oh, Meatball!” Val laughs, unable to pull him off Olive and help her friend as he continues to lick her face. Through the chaos, laughter and struggle, a familiar voice booms across to them, with Everett Blakely following closely behind.

“Wow, and here I thought I was the only fella who got to smother you in kisses!” Dougie’s voice calls out as he walks up the path to the Clubmobile, a smirk about his lips. He seems to have woken up incredibly happy, a jaunty little pep in his step as he walks up to greet everyone. 

“Fella, yes,” Olive looks up at him from her place on the ground, his blue eyes softly boring into her. “But he’s not a fella, he’s a Meatball.”

“Well, then he’s the only Meatball who gets to smother you in kisses.” Dougie approaches the dog, gently tugging at his collar to get him off Olive and helps her stand, his hand stroking hers as he does so.  

“Did anyone get any sleep last night?” Dougie questions everyone, looking at their exhausted faces as he helps Olive dust off, tickling her playfully as he does so. 

“James!” she shrieks, playfully swatting at him.

“Barely,” Val sighs, answering his question through Olive’s giggles. She moves slightly, joining Ev and snuggling into him. “I can’t remember the last time I stayed out all night like that.”

“Had to be sometime before the war…” Ev sighs, placing a kiss to the top of her head. 

“Somehow it always involves Curt.” Val groans, her back turned to the path the aforementioned man is now sauntering down. 

“Hey, yous guys!”

“Talk of the devil…” Val begins.

“And he shall appear,” Olive and Helen finish, climbing into the truck and pouring coffee for those who have now congregated around the area. They hand out the cups, now knowing each coffee order by memory. If anything proved how close these girls had gotten to these men, it was this very thing. Sometimes, all these men needed was a silent nod and a wry smile as a perfectly warm beverage and donut was set in front of them without a word. All the girls could do was hope they were able to make the same coffee the next day, hoping more than anything to keep seeing these familiar faces, just as the men wanted to see theirs. 

“Ol, Harding wants to see me. Not sure what it's regarding but I'd better get there al momento. Curt says he'll be on Meatball duty but–”

“Yeah, he'll sod it off after five minutes,” she titters. “Need one of us to go with?”

“Ev is giving me a hand, thanks, doll.”

“I'm sure he is, you cheeky pair.”

“Leave it, English,” she scolds with a wink, surprising her with a kiss on the cheek. “Be back soon, ‘kay?”

“Tell me what it's about when you're back! I may be sleepy but I am still nosy!”

—

“Mail's here!” Tattie yells, wafting a letter in front of Olive's face. She takes it from Tattie’s fingers with a smile, and takes in the unfamiliar penmanship written upon the envelope. It feels thick, the paper creaking slightly as she squeezes it to survey its contents without needing to open it. Not able to keep herself waiting any longer, she rips it open with her thumb and removes six thick pages, tied with ribbon, along with a single sheet of paper that's been beautifully folded into three. Setting the wad of paper to the side for just a second, she quickly scans the letter: your friend, Juliet.

“Aw!” Olive says, stuffing the papers back in the envelope they arrived in. “Brady's girl wrote me back. That's so sweet.”

“What you got there?” Dougie asks, stuffing a second - or was it a third? - donut into his mouth, looking at the huge stack of papers in Olive’s hand. She opens it, a huge smile spreading across her face, causing her cheeks to glow a little. Dougie feels his breath catch in his throat as he sees her eyes light up, quickly taking in the first three pages. It's the dimple in her cheek as she grins, the way her eyes sparkle and crinkle as her cheeks lift, the subtle glow of them, too. He clears his throat after realizing he's been holding his breath, a hand out towards Olive.

“I've got a few minutes. You wanna go somewhere quiet and read that?”

“I'd love to! Helen?” She calls, turning her head to find her friend. “You good here? I wanna go read this,” she says, gesturing to the thick pages in her hands. 

“Gosh, yes!” she cries, beginning to pour herself a coffee. “Take your time. I'll have Meatball bark if I need you!”

—

Sitting on her bunk with a sigh, she pats the space next to her. “Are you staying?” she asks Dougie, who is standing awkwardly by the door.

“Am I allowed in here?”

“It's just me, so, yes, I'd say so. Don't be trying to come in when we're all in here though; it gets a little cramped.” She pats the blanket again, hoping he takes the hint. “Come sit, darling.”

He finally begins walking towards the bunk, swiping up Val's copy of Screen Romances as he reaches Olive. “You think she'll mind?” he asks, holding it out toward her. Smirking, she shakes her head, beginning to open the letter again. Dougie sits down next to her as gently as he can, his arm wrapping around her shoulder. Her head falls on to him right away, as if his shoulder was always its safe place.

“How long do you have?” she murmurs, looking up at him from where she's laying.

“I've got a little while,” he smiles, opening the magazine right at the gossip column. “How ever long you need, Ollie.” 

She whizzes through the essay, her head on Dougie’s shoulder the whole time as he flips through the magazine, letting out little gasps and even an “ooooh!” when he reads about Clark Gable's latest exploits. Olive folds the papers back together and ties them with the ribbon they came with, smoothing out the silk as she ties it as neatly as she can, trying her best to replicate Jules’ expert handiwork. She looks over at Dougie, shifting slightly under his arm so she can sit up. He doesn't realize she has moved at first, his eyes still on the page and his brow furrowed in concentration. She smiles softly at him, trying her best to take in every detail of his sweet face.

“You're so into the gossip in that magazine, huh?” she asks, breaking the silence. He jumps, face now turning toward her. “Gossip queen.”

“What can I say? I like to be in the know,” he laughs. 

“That's just called being nosy, my love.”

“Yeah,” he blushes, taking her hand. “But you know you love it.”

“I do,” she sighs, her face coming towards his to kiss him as her eyes flicker down to his plush lips. She kisses him gently, her heart growing lighter as he smiles down at her. She doesn't pull away right after, and he isn't about to let her. His hand gently tilts her chin up to him and their lips meet again, the both of them softly falling into each other with a sigh. He delicately strokes down her chin to gently grip the side of her neck, an action that causes her to gasp and push her tongue into his mouth. A breathy moan leaves his lips as she kneels - never breaking the kiss -  and places a leg on either side of his lap. Her hands wander up to his cheeks, letting them take in his features without needing to open her eyes as his hands fall to her waist, gently squeezing and stroking each curve he can reach over her clothes. Sighs and moans pass between their lips, both of them fighting the urge to not get totally lost in it, a whine of displeasure leaving her as he pulls back to catch his breath. 

“Ollie,” he whispers, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “You're so pretty.” 

That does it for her. She quickly closes the distance between them, tugging on his shirt to bring him impossibly closer, intent on getting the very thing her body craves from him the most. The warmth of his body touching hers, the way he touches her: being so gentle with her that it was like she was something precious and made of fragile porcelain. Her mind recounts previous kisses with previous people and she is sure it’s never felt this good with anyone else, nor has anyone else treated her so lovingly. She sighs back into him, pushing her hips into his. 

She's not sure how long they stay like that, herself pulling away to catch her breath. The rule, it seemed, was that she was allowed to do that and he wasn't. Either way, she hated losing the time but loved the split second of taking in his half lidded eyes, as if he were in some kind of dazed state. His expression made a warmth erupt within her, her lungs filling with a contented sigh. She couldn't get enough of knowing she had got him into this state and only she was ever going to make him look like this. 

She adjusts herself on his lap, feeling him rock hard underneath her as she sits back down on him. As she moves, a hearty moan leaves him and his breath hitches and she begins to slowly rock on top of him. 

“Aaah,” he sighs, his hands now in her hair as he pulls her face away from his. He sees a worried expression flash across her face, her kiss swollen lips beginning to pout as he holds her hips still. 

“Why did you stop me?” she asks, intertwining her fingers with his. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, no! God, no,” he urges. “I really really want to do this. But I don't want it to be some quick thing where we don't take our time. You deserve better than that.”

“I don't care,” she whimpers, planting urgent kisses all over his face and neck as he laughs. 

“I do,” he sighs, kissing her back once she breaks away. “I can't give you the time you deserve right now. I wanna do this right, take our time. Show you how you should be treated. Okay?”

“Fine,” she pouts, her eyelids blinking up at him.

“Hey, don't be like that, angel. Soon, I promise. Pinky promise,” he says, joining their pinky fingers together and kissing her hand. 

A tap, tap, tap on the window pulls them out of the moment. They both turn towards the window and see Ev standing out there, urging Dougie to go to him, Dougie patting Olive's behind to get her off his lap. “Give me a second, honey,” he says quietly, planting a chaste kiss on her forehead as he gets up off the bed. 

Olive watches them through the window, Dougie's eyes widening slightly with whatever information Ev seems to be relaying to him. She sees his shoulders droop slightly before Ev pats one of them, beginning to walk towards the hut, and gesturing by pointing at the door for Olive to let him in. She gets up off her bunk, placing the letter on the small desk next to it and walks towards the door, opening it quickly.

“You can open it yourself, Ev,” she laughs, smoothing her hair down quickly.

“How was your, uh, reading?”

“Educational, thanks,” she replies, blushing and giggling. 

“Can't believe that guy got to sneak in here before me,” he complains, shaking his head and pulling a small sheet of paper from Val’s stationary.

“Maybe you're not picking the right moments, Blakely. What are you doing?”

“Leaving a note for Val, English.”

“You're so sly,” she pokes, reading it as he places the small sheet of paper on her pillow. She catches sight of the last line and gasps, almost squeals, in fact. Love you.

“Don't let that slip before I can, Ol.”

“Don't know what you mean, Everett,” she winks, nudging him with her elbow into his ribcage. “I promise I won't tell her before you do.”

“Good. Then I promise to not tell you before Dougie does.”

She processes what he has just said. What did that mean? 

“Ha ha, yeah, good one.” She stumbles over each word, her mouth drying as her hands clam up. A false laugh tumbles from her lips as she rushes towards the exit, finding Dougie still outside and waiting for her and Everett.

“Everything okay?” he asks, her hand finding his instantly. She feels him relax into her touch, his face softening as she silently comforts him. She pulls him towards her and holds him close, breathing him in as she savors the words that have just been said. “I promise to not tell you before Dougie does.” 

“I've gotta go,” he sighs. “We're taking the new boys on a practice run.”

“New boys?” she questions, realizing that was why Val was beckoned by Red and Chick earlier. 

“Yeah, replacements came in today. Ev says they seem a little nervous, but–”

“Hey, you've both got it,” she says, pulling him close. “You'll lead them through,” she soothes, beginning to stroke the back of his neck. “I know it.”

“Thanks, sweetheart. I'll be back later, okay?”

“Yeah,” she smiles, kissing his cheek. “Be safe, all of you. Especially you.”

—

Olive spots Tattie leaning against the vehicle, smoking a cigarette and deep in conversation with Jack Kidd, Tattie breaking into peals of laughter at something he has said. Olive subtly looks between the pair of them, him smiling down at Tattie as laughter rises from her throat. She sees his whole face light up with joy as he watches her laugh, the first time she has seen him without a scowl upon his face. The air somehow feels different between them, and Olive finds it best to not disturb that. 

She feels a wet nose poking into her leg and turns around to see Meatball sniffing at her incessantly. “Hey, buddy,” she says, leaning down to pet him and making kissy faces at him. 

“Hey, kid,” greets Tattie, making Olive jump slightly. “Val and Helen are tidying up after greeting the new guys, so we're on Meatball duty.”

“I guessed. Ev had to come grab Dougie from me so they could go on their practice run,” she shrugs. “Curt just go too?”

“Jesus, no,” she laughs. “He gave up on doggy daycare after five minutes.”

“Why am I not surprised?” she replies, smiling. “What do you need me to do?”

“There's a load of donuts we need to get rid of before they go stale. Know anyone on the ground that would be interested?”

“Seems I know just the guys, Tat. You parcel them up and I'll take Meatball over to the hardstands to see Kenny and Wink. This dog needs a run around anyway.”

—

The sun tucks itself behind the clouds, the skies graying as the afternoon passes slowly. It seems that British summer time never changes, Olive thinks to herself as loads up a tray with coffee and donuts for the ground crew. Placed in the middle was a paper bag stuffed full of donuts, the bag being found by Tattie as she rifled through the last of the day’s newspapers.

“Ah,” she declared, somehow expertly turning it inside out without ripping it, so as not to get newspaper ink on the baked goods.”Just perfect,” she had said, a half smoked Lucky Strike hanging from her red lips. Without warning, the smoke had risen up from the cigarette and crept its way into her eye, her hand instantly clamping over it as a single tear ran from the lid. “Darn it!” She had shrieked, whipping a cloth from Helen’s shoulder as she secretly tittered, her own hand over her mouth. Olive tries her best to hold it in, the full coffee cups shaking on the tray she was holding. 

“Get gone, English, before I clip you around the ear hole for laughing at me!”

“Yes, ma’am,” Olive giggled, slipping Helen a subtle wink as she departed.

Left with no other choice, Olive lets Meatball walk off leash. “Don’t make me regret this, buddy,” she urges, watching him walk not in a straight line but in some strange zig zag motion, as if to antagonize her into dropping the six cups of hot liquid straight on to the pavement. 

“Woah!” she scolds, nearly tripping over the furry fool’s body as he stops suddenly to sniff the air, panting at the sound of his friends’ voices from afar. He almost looks like he’s smiling at her, seeming to enjoy her almost panicking at each drip of coffee falling from its full cup. “Meatball, we’re about to not be friends if you have me tripping face first into the ground.” 

He suddenly obliges, though not to appease Olive; a baseball lands right at his feet and he’s off like a shot towards the hardstands the second he retrieves it in his mouth.

A few moments later, Olive finds him being fussed over by Lemmons. She places the tray down on someone’s tool chest, rubbing her sore arms. 

“Heavy?” Wink asked, nudging her with his elbow.

“Not really,” she replies. “Not much weight to it but it was the keeping it upright that was the challenge. Especially with trying to keep Meatball close by and not have me tripping over my own feet. Here,” she says, handing him his cup. “I know it’s a little late in the day, but–”

“No, it’s much appreciated, Lewis,” he replies, taking a deep sip. “We’re out here for a while longer anyway, and this’ll keep the energy up for sure. We’ve got a long night ahead of us, I think, judging by Harding’s urgency.”

“You know what it’s about yet?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing,” he laughs. “You seem to be in the know. Friends in high places and all that.”

“No special privileges here, Wink,” she jokes back, opening the bag of donuts and offering it to him. “I know as much as you, kiddo.”

“Olive!” Lemmons greets, grabbing a coffee from the tray. “Y’know, I expected more cold beer than hot coffee for keeping your little secret, but seeing as you brought donuts, I’ll let it slide.”

“You’d better,” she smiles, handing him the bag. She realizes that Wink is still standing in the same spot, absolutely in earshot. He is either too invested in his donut to look shocked, or there’s the alternative. Olive’s eyes narrow and bore into the young man in front of her, happily sipping coffee and petting the dog.

“Kenny…” she says through gritted teeth. “Did you tell anyone else?”

“Oh, heck,” he murmurs, his face dropping and growing ashen by the second. “Y’see, I just– well, he wanted to know why I was just so het up and I–”

“So you told Wink, without checking with me first, and he–” she stops, turning to the man beside her. “You’re fine with it?”

“Yeah, Olive. I was telling Kenny you seem a little different and I was just putting it down to you being English.”

“But I let it slip. I–I’m sorry, Ol.”

Her teeth bare again, her brow furrowing so hard that she is sure it could one up Valencia’s famous glare. “Kenny,” she growls, her eyes beginning to fill with angry tears. She drops the act the second she sees him wince at what’s coming next. She laughs, wiping her tears and sees his eyes grow wide. “I’m only fucking around, pal. It’s fine, you’re grand.”

“Jesus, Ol,” he breathes out, relieved. “Ya scared me, girl!”

“I told you, I’m an actor. I’ve got to pull it out every now and then to mess with my friends, it’s only fair.”

“Well, it worked! Hell fire!” He wipes his brow, finally taking a bite of the donut he had picked from the bag a few moments ago.

“Will you keep the dog for a little while? Me and the girls want to be ready for when the boys come back and we don’t want our nicer uniforms covered in dog hair.”

“What, not just this once? Take a little Meatball to dinner with ya?” Kenny coos, bending down to be close to Meatball’s face and pouting. Laughing, he stands up and brushes at his knees. “Sure thing, buddy. I’ll bring him back later.”

“Thanks, Ken. See you later!”

“Hey, thanks for dinner and a show!”

“You’re welcome!”

—

Back at the hut, Olive slumps on her bunk with a tired sigh. All this staying out into the early hours of the morning was beginning to take a real toll on her, no matter how fun it was. She feels herself getting drowsy, a sleepy warmth washing over her as she lay her head on her pillow for just a moment, to get the room to stop spinning. She calculates how long it's been since she went back to Pearl, and sits up in shock. Her whole body suddenly tense, she makes a mental note to go back as soon as possible. Not knowing how time will behave and treat her, she feels a panic rise up in her chest, the breathlessness of it making a rush of heat run up her body and burn her throat.

“Ol?” a voice, Helen’s, but sounds like it's underwater. “Olive, look at me,” she urges, her hand now on Olive's forehead. “Breathe, girlie.”

 She nods weakly, and begins to look around the room as the walls begin to close in on her. She tries to find something to focus on, her eyes falling to the bed opposite hers - Valencia’s bunk - with the note still sat prettily atop the pillow. Disappointed that Val hadn’t seen it yet, she hopes that she arrives back soon to retrieve it. It’s this simple thought, the thought of her friend smiling as she reads it, that brings her back to herself. 

“There,” Helen comforts, wiping Olive’s face with a damp washcloth. “I’ve got you. What pulled you out of it?”

“Thinking of Val’s face when she sees what he’s written.”

“Oh, I know!” She squeals. “I can hardly wait. Did she tell you who I met today?”

“No!” she cries. “I haven’t seen her since this morning. Oh my gosh, spill!”

She begins, her words coming out of her dainty mouth at a mile a minute as she regales the tale of meeting ‘the most handsome pilot I’ve ever laid my eyes on.’

“The most handsome?” Olive teases, hanging on every word.

“Yes!” she giggles, once again describing him. As she continues to chatter and giggle, Olive joining and doing just the same, the door swings open. Their conversation stops, their eyes sparkling and smiling widely at their friend. 

“You’ve got mail…” Olive sing songs playfully, pointing over at the pillow.

“What don’t I know?” Val smiles, her pretty green eyes narrowing at the two giggling girls on the bed opposite. 

“Nope,” Olive says, truly sticking to her promise of not revealing anything. She mimes zipping her lips, the action sending her and Helen into a peal of girlish giggles all over again.

“Olive!” she stomps, shaking her head at the mischievous pair who are falling over themselves with laughter. 

Olive sees Val’s eyes read the note one, two, three times, each time with a little extra speed than before. She stands up from the bed and stands in front of Val, that all knowing, cheeky glint still sparkling in her eye. 

“He…oh my God…” She stutters out, her hand flying out to find Olive’s to steady herself.

“He what, honey?” Helen asks, despite knowing exactly what she is referring to. 

“That’s the first time...in a note!” She cries, trying to find a way to steady her heart’s rhythm at the revelation. 

“The first time for what?” Helen teases again, still perched upon the bed with the same all-knowing look Olive has on her own face.

“Val, honey, are you okay?” Tattie asks, quietly entering the room. 

“DID YOU KNOW?!” Val yelps,  her attention turning to Olive, who is taken aback by the way Val’s voice is a few pitches higher than they’re all used to.

“Did I know what?” she asks innocently, almost winking at her.

“THIS!” she shrieks, waving the paper in front of her eyes.

“What’s it say?” the Brit asks, trying to peer around the paper to read the words she’s already read numerous times today.

“English, please!” She releases Olive’s hand and sits on her bed, her lungs tightening in her chest.

“Okay, okay,” she relents, taking a seat beside her on the bunk. “I promised,” she says, crossing her heart, “that I wouldn’t let it slip before you found out or he told you.”

“How did you…”

“Dougie and I were in here earlier,” she smiles at the memory, remembering the way he touched her hours before sending her organs dancing into a frenzy. “I was reading my mail when Ev came looking for him.”

“Yeah, okay, you two were ‘reading,’” she kids, rolling her eyes at her friend.

“Don’t change the subject, Valencia!”

“Olive!” Helen calls, her face now suddenly a picture of disgust. “Please tell me I’m not sitting where…”

“No, Helen, you’re safe. Nothing happened.”

“As long as I’m not–”

“Would you two please focus?” Val urgently cuts Helen off. “Everett just said he loves me!”

“Well of course he loves you!” Tattie says, rolling her eyes as she walks past the hubbub on her way to the shower block. 

“No, I mean, that’s the first time he’s ever said it.”

“I find that hard to believe,” she yells, turning one of the showers on, the squeak of the pipes causing her to need to raise her voice so she’s heard.

 “What makes you say that?” Val queries, the note still in her hands. 

“Well, for starters,” Helen begins, hoping she is not interjecting on whatever Tattie has to say. “It’s the way you gaze into each other’s eyes when you think no one is looking…” She rolls over, her stomach now on the bed with her feet kicked up behind her. 

“Or when we are looking,” Olive teases, nudging her a little. She reaches into her pocket and grabs her cigarettes, lighting two and handing on to Val. “Here, chicken, come on…”

Val takes the cigarette from Olive’s fingers and takes a long drag before exhaling quickly, Olive seeing that the deep breath she took is beginning to somewhat ground her. She begins to talk again, in her normal tone and slower this time, the words accompanied by a plume of white smoke as she speaks. Her eyes seem to glaze over, like she’s lost in another time far away from this one.

“The last person who told me they loved me,” she begins, blinking suddenly.

“There was someone before Blakely?” Tattie calls, her head popping around the wall of the tiled bathroom as she dries herself. 

“I don’t like talking about it,” Val sighs, her eyes almost back to their usual green tone. “We met when I started working at the bank. He was a big shot and I was a secretary.”

“Val, you don’t have to tell us.”

“No, it’s okay,” she sighs, looking between her friends. “I want to. I think I need to, to finally be rid of him.”

“Rid of him?” Helen questions.

“He was a real sweet talker,” Val starts. “Not like Curt or Ev. He was the kind of guy who could charm the skirt off a nun. Not even Curt can do that.” She titters, taking another pull of the cigarette in her hand.

“Oh…” Helen cringes slightly, still intrigued by Val’s story.

“So, he charmed me. Charmed me real good, made me lots of promises.”

“Val, did he…” Olive asks.

“No,” she urges, shaking her head. “I was so enthralled by him, I had wanted to.”

“So, what happened?”

“The secretaries would always leave at five in the dot. So, there would be nights I would go home and he would still be working, and so Curt would meet me and walk me home. And one night, we were walking home, we came up to the picture house, and there he was.”

“Oh no!” Helen cries, her hand slapping to cover her mouth as she figures out where this is going.

“He was with another woman,” she sighs, shaking her head. “I don’t know who she was, but I begged Curt to take me home.”

“Did you ever see him again?”

“Yes,” she says quietly. “In the police station, after Curt beat him within an inch of his life. They both got arrested for a public brawl.”

“Valencia!” Olive cries, somewhat shocked but not shocked at all at the mental image of Curtis Biddick defending his best friend with his boxer’s fists. 

“I had to identify them both. Curt had claimed self defense, so, when it came time to make my statement, I said that my ex had attacked me, and Curt fought back in my defense.”

“Oh my God!”

“I tried dating other fellas after the dust settled, but Curt was always wildly protective and made it difficult. I get why he did it.”

“He really is your protector, isn’t he?” Olive soothes, her fingers intertwining with Val’s.

“Until I found out he was the one who divulged my cocktail order to Everett…”

“Curt did?!” Helen cries happily, almost cheering at the discovery.

“He did,” Val smiles, the cigarette long ignored as it burns its way down to her fingers. “He surprises me in funny ways like that.”

“Insufferable, that one,” Olive chuckles, shaking her head. “But he really is a good egg.”

“What are you going to tell Blakely?” Tattie asks, joining the others in the room again. 

“That I love him too,” she grins, showing her perfect teeth. “Because I do love him.”

“Ohhhhh!” It’s Olive’s turn to squeal, almost jumping up and down in excitement. “I knew it!”

—

Olive and Helen watch as Val takes Ev’s note and delicately places it between the pages of the book that rests on her side table. Everett Blakely’s first ‘I love you’ was now secretly pressed between chapters seven and eight of The Great Gatsby. The girls then found themselves in front of the mirror, prettying themselves up for dinner. Being invited to eat in the Officer’s Mess was slightly anxiety inducing anyway, but even more so when Chick Harding would be sat just a few tables away. They dug out their cleanest uniform, once again glad that Olive had sent Meatball to the airfield for his daily exercise. For such an occasion as this, the uniform needed to remain dog-hair, coffee stained and donut sugar free. 

Olive watched as Valencia expertly daubed rouge on her cheeks and her signature Victory Red shade on her lips, pouting occasionally in the mirror so as to ensure she’d got the right shape. She tries her best to mimic her movements without making it obvious, pulling her dark brown hair out from under the silk scarf she had used to keep it contained all day, now pinning it away from her face. She had found the perfect shade after the disastrous testing and application of Val’s Victory Red on her first night in the hut. It’s one she will be happy to have kissed off her mouth later, that’s for certain. 

“That color looks good on you,” Val utters from next to her.

“Yeah?” She replies, meeting her glance in the reflection of the mirror and resuming the primping of her hair, hoping to somehow smooth it into submission. “It’s not too dark?”

“Not at all. It’s the perfect red for you.”

“I think only you can pull off that Victory Red,” Olive chuckles, the pair of them remembering how that shade had been much too light against Olive’s pale skin, it washing her out and making her impossibly more pasty. “It was not for me.”

“Oh, gosh, do you remember how fast you wiped it off?”

“Immediate no,” she laughs. A sigh leaves her lips, throwing a stray hair pin that had escaped from her hair onto a nearby table. “Ugh, this side does not want to cooperate!”

“Here, let me…” Val stands and walks towards her friend, standing behind her as she begins gently rolling Olive’s hair between her manicured fingers and pinning it in the desired spot.

“How do you do it?” She grumbles, her hair now perfect within seconds, all thanks to an expert hand. 

“From an early age, my mother taught me how to be a ‘proper lady’,” she replies, Olive stifling a giggle at Val’s impression of her mom. “‘Valencia, don’t leave the house without lipstick on. Don’t forget to set your hair.’”

Olive laughs fully now at the broken English accent that comes out of her. She is so good at it that it’s almost like her mother is in the room with them. “Is that what she sounds like?”

“Oh, yes,” Val nods. “And Nonna, not a word of English.”

���Well, you’re a whizz,” she compliments, looking up as the final pin is placed in her hair. “I need to pay attention to how you do your hair.”

“You’re doing just fine, chickie,” she winks, walking over to her side table and putting on her watch before collecting her jacket. Olive does just the same, Helen waiting impatiently by the door. “We were all there once.”

“Thanks,” Olive beams at her friend, shoving her arms into her own jacket. “Now, come on. It’s almost 5:30 and if I know those two…”

“They’re probably already outside,” she finishes, Helen opening the door. 

The two men stood outside, smoking together and deep in conversation, no doubt about the replacements that had joined them today. Listening in as they mischievously stare through the screen door at  their fellas, they catch that Ev had taken a few of the boys up and tested them on formations and calling out navigation patterns. Dougie had simulated a bomb drop for them, the pilot and the bombardier agreeing that two forts in particular had impressed them - the rest, not so much. 

“I wanted to take Ol to the pub tonight, but that’s not happening,” Dougie grumbles as he senses the girls making their way towards them. 

“I know,” Ev groans in response. “I owe Val a date but, based on what Jack told me earlier, we’re about to go through the mud for a bit.”

“This whole place is mud. Never stops raining!”

“This one sounds big,” Ev musters, his voice low. 

“He say where?”

“No, Harding’s keeping it close to the vest.”

“Dammit,” Dougie shoots out, teeth slightly gritted together in annoyance. “It would be nice to know what we’re up against for once.”

“Yeah,” comes the quiet reply from Everett, the final ember bursting from his cigarette. “Explains why he wants us looking after these new kids.”

“Fucking replacements…”

The conversation carries on, the men so involved in it that they still haven’t noticed the girls right by them. The compliments flow, them talking about a pair from Laredo who seemed to be the only ones worth their salt. 

Dougie does a double take as he realizes his girl is right by him. He throws his finished cigarette into the makeshift ashtray in front of the hut and smiles his sweet grin, holding out his hand. 

“Hey,” he murmurs. “You look beautiful.”

“Heh, thank you,” she giggles, feeling herself blush at his compliment. “You’re looking mighty fine yourself, my love.”

“Good day?” he teases, kissing her gently on the mouth.

“Hm, it was okay, I guess. Nothing much happened,” she pauses, this time being the one to initiate the kiss. “A lot of reading.”

“Oh yeah, we definitely read a lot. Can we read more tomorrow?”

“Only if you buy me a drink later.”

“Deal,” he winks, pulling her close. “Oh, you smell divine, Ollie.”

“Yes, I’m quite appealing when I’m not covered in dog hair and coffee.”

“I think you’re just as beautiful all the time,” he whispers, his voice in her ear sending a delicious tingle down her spine. She lets him keep gently whispering sweet nothings in her ear as she catches sight of Val and Ev going on ahead, the pair of them walking in step as he wraps his arm around her shoulders and keeps her close. 

“We’d better go,” she laughs, nodding her head towards their friends. “We’re gonna be late.”

“If that hut is empty, I’m fine being late.”

“James!” she scolds, but laughs nevertheless. “You are so cheeky!”

“Yeah,” he grins, his eyes beginning to light up. “Only for you, though.”

“Oh, it had better be only for me, Douglass,” she flirts, batting her long lashes at him. “Nobody else is getting a piece of this!”

“Nu-uh, no, ma’am. Never.”

The evening air has a chill upon it, Dougie feeling it the moment they begin walking towards the Officer’s Mess. He throws his arm around Olive’s shoulders and pulls her close, the warmth from his body edging the cold away with each step. 

“I’d give you my jacket,” he offers. “But I’d have to put it right back on in a second.”

“I understand, sweet. No bother at all.”

He stops, taking her face between his hands and plants a deep kiss on her mouth, both of them feeling the other smile as their lips meet. She giggles as they break apart, taking her thumb to wipe the lipstick from his lips. “Oh, seems this red is your color, too.”

“I knew it. Does that mean I can keep kissing you forever?”

“Sure,” she swoons, the word ‘forever’ sending her insides melting. “I’d like that.”

“Me too,” he whispers, a tone of nervousness to his voice. “Come on, pretty girl. We’re late.”

— 

Upon entering the mess, Dougie’s arm once again wraps around Olive, they hear Val’s voice loudly making a remark to Harry Crosby. Gesturing to the couple who are smiling themselves into oblivion, they hear “that about answer your question, Croz?”

“Sure does,” he laughs in response, smiling at them both as Dougie, ever the sweet gentleman, pulls the chair out next to Val for Olive to sit on before rounding the table to sit opposite her, next to Everett. 

“So, fellas,” he pipes up, his eyes crinkling from his smile. “How’s it going then?”

“Could ask you the same thing, Dougie,” Brady grins, nodding towards Olive.

“Oh, I’m great,” he enunciates, winking at his girl opposite him, who rolls her eyes in return.

“Brady,” Olive begins, tapping his hand to get his attention. “I just wanted to say how lovely your Juliet is. I received her reply today, and I’ve got to say, what an amazing person. What a magnificent writer she is. Those kids are lucky to have her as their teacher, that’s for sure.”

“Oh, thanks, Olive,” he smiles, his cheeks turning red at the mention of her. “Make sure you mention that in your next letter. I tell her that all the time, yet she never seems to take it in from me. Maybe she’ll listen to someone else.”

“Maybe so! I’m very much the same, John. It’s a girl thing.”

“She write you an essay?” he jokes, shuffling with the salt and pepper shakers on the table.

“She did, actually,” she nods enthusiastically, promising to show him tomorrow.

“Yeah,” Dougie interjects. “We read it together.”

The men at the table give a roaring cheer at his remark, Olive feeling herself turn a deep shade of beetroot as she begins to laugh. “James!” she says, holding on to Valencia as they both laugh with tears in their eyes. “Keep it quiet.”

“Yeah, Doug,” Ev says, ruffling his hair a little. “Keep it quiet.”

Next to her, she sees Val catch the eye of one of the new replacements that had been mentioned earlier. Due to her having not been introduced to them yet, she is finding it hard to place which one had captured Helen’s heart and mind this morning from description alone. Nevertheless, Olive smiles brightly at them in greeting, the curly haired mustached man waving across to Val. 

“Hey, Val,” Benny calls from the other end of the table. “Looks like you’ve caught the eye of some of the replacements.” Olive sees Everett’s head twitch just a little at Benny’s words, turning his head slightly to get a better look. “Starry eyed kids.” 

“Rosenthal and his crew?” Val responds, shaking her head with a laugh. 

“Uh, no, actually…”

“What?” Ev scowls, and finds the men Benny has been referring to. His eyes narrow towards them, his gait akin to a wild cat ready to attack. Olive feels her chest tense up, hoping and praying this isn’t the start of a whole new argument, so soon after getting over the last one. 

“Everett, they’re not doing anything,” she pleads, her voice soft. “They’re just–”

“Drooling at my girlfriend like a pack of dogs.” 

Olive quickly looks over each of her shoulders, hoping that brotherly Curt Biddick isn’t in the vicinity. Olive isn’t sure who Curt would go for first in this situation - Ev for acting in such a way, or the new boys acting like uncouth savages whose mothers hadn’t taught them manners. 

Dougie places a hand on his friend’s shoulder, bringing him out of the envious trance he’d gotten himself in. “Ev, hey pal. They’re just kids, they’ll learn.” 

Olive sees Ev’s eyes unlock from the group with a shake of his head as he hears Dougie’s words, the ready-to-pounce stance dropping almost immediately. 

“Yeah…learn not to ogle other people’s girlfriends,” he spits, pointedly talking to those same boys, whose faces had dropped a mile in fear. 

“Everett…” Val warned, her eyes meeting Olive’s in some kind of confusion. Before he can respond, Gale Cleven stands with his hands on his hips, ever the authoritative figure. Major Buck Cleven addresses the boys, their faces now pale and their eyes darting to fixate on anything but Everett Blakely. 

“Fellas,” he nods. “Those girls will get your utmost respect, understood?” 

“Y-yes, Major,” they all stutter out, Buck nodding before moving along to say hello to everyone. 

“Boys. Miss Lewis, Miss Val,” he smiles, giving Val a little wink after realizing she has heard his talk with the replacements. “Enjoy dinner, everyone.”

“Thanks, Major.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Val and Ev, who are sitting opposite one another just like Olive and Dougie are, begin quietly talking to one another. Olive finds it best to not listen in, having found that this situation was enough drama for one night. Instead, she catches the eye opposite her, Dougie shaking his head and rolling his eyes with a smile as the pair murmur next to them.

— 

Dinner finishes, and the group finds that the tiredness has finally caught up with them all, Olive and Val exchanging tired glaces which are not just from feeling full after all they’d eaten for dinner.

“So, club?” Dougie asks, taking a drag of his just lit cigarette and passing it across to Olive.

“Hmm, no. Not tonight,” she shakes her head, blowing smoke out of her mouth. “Unless Val wants to?”

“Hell no,” she laughs, dark circles beginning to form under her eyes. “I need my bed.” She pauses for a second, evidently piecing a thought together. “Why don’t we just go sit outside our hut for a while?”

“It’s a nice night, I don’t see why not,” Olive agrees, already beginning to stand. Dougie rushes up behind her and helps her with her jacket, holding out his hand for her to hold. “Come on, honey,” she smiles, before leaning up to kiss him on the cheek. “We can have a cuddle.”

“Perfect.”

The group makes the short walk back, Dougie not letting Olive’s hand go for a second. Every now and then, he puts it to his lips and kisses the back of it, smiling softly at the sight of their fingers linked together. Once the hut is reached, the girls rush inside and place a vinyl on the player, gesturing for one of the guys to grab a chair and prop the door open so the music can be heard from where they will sit. 

“Ev, we need a record player in our rack,” Dougie says, handing a cigarette up to Olive who is sitting on his lap, his arm around her waist, holding her close to him. 

“Croz has a record player,” Ev responds with a sigh, him and Val squeezing up to share a chair so they can be as close as possible to one another. 

“Yeah, but he plays fancy stuff,” he laments, his free hand squeezing Olive’s waist a little more. 

“What exactly is fancy stuff, Doug?” Val asks with a laugh. 

“You know, opera and stuff.”

“Classical music is nice,” Val reasons to him, her eyes softly narrowing at him. “Nonna plays a lot of classical Italian at home. It’s actually quite nice.”

“Hey, Ol,” Dougie asks, nudging her a little. “What does Pearl play?”

She smiles, happy that this is a question she can answer truthfully.

“A lot of Glenn Miller in her house,” she sighs, another reminder to go back to her and reality looming over her. 

“She has good taste,” Ev offers, nodding. 

“Heh, yeah. She sure does.”

The four of them excitedly begin exchanging anecdotes about their families, Helen and Tattie joining them while Ev is in the middle of a story, regarding his mother and how she dealt with his rebellious behavior as a child.

“All I heard was, and it scared the life out of me, let me tell ya, was ‘Everett Ernest, if you so much as look at that vase–’”

“Wait, wait!” Olive shakes her head, wanting to make sure she heard him correctly. “Your middle name is Ernest?”

“Yes, and what of it, English?”

“I'm sorry, it's just–” she is cut off by the sound of a cackle erupting from her own throat, clutching her stomach as her eyes squeeze shut. “I didn't expect that. You don't–” she squeals, trying to compose herself. “You don't look like an Ernest, that's all.”

“Go on then, what's yours?”

“Maude,” she giggles, catching the glint in his eye as she says it. 

“Maude? Jesus, Ol, that's somehow worse than Ernest!” It's his turn to laugh now, the pair of them throwing their heads back and laughing loudly into the night. 

“I think it's cute,” Dougie says, sweetly tapping her nose with his finger. 

“Thank you! I think so too.” Her nose wrinkles sweetly as he touches it, him mirroring her expression and pulling her into a quick peck on the lips. 

Tattie lights one of the last cigarettes in the pack, passing it between the group. 

Helen, the most inexperienced smoker of them all but not wanting to be the odd one out, keeps coughing at each drag she takes. The dainty little noises leave her every few seconds, her chest heaving delicately as if she were a sickly little kitten.

“Helen, doll,” Olive urges. “Put that out. You're hurting yourself!”

“I don't wanna look like the party pooper!”

“I can promise, you're not,” she laughs, gesturing with a wave of her hand to give her the cigarette, the tip covered in her lipstick. As she stubs it out, she sees four men round the corner, all of them wide eyed and seeming to be taking in their new surroundings. Val looks up with a grin and waves, beckoning them over while Helen visibly swoons at the sight of the thin, dark haired pilot. 

“Ohhhh,” Olive says, knowingly. “That'll be Nash, then.” Helen simply giggles, tucking an invisible strand of her behind her ear.  “There is no hair loose, my girl,” Olive guffaws, shaking her head. 

“Ol, come meet the new fellas!” Valencia calls, three of the four in front of her. Nash had made his way over to Helen without a hello, his target clear from the moment he'd seen her leaning against the wall of the hut. 

“This is Robert,” Val begins. “Speas here is Nash's co-pilot and…where's he got to?”

“I'll give ya three guesses,” the round faced blond man perks up, eyebrows wiggling.

“That was fast. He's keen.”

“Sure is. Sorry, Miss…?” he says, looking at Olive.  

“Lewis. Olive Lewis.”

 “No way!” he gestures to himself, patting his chest three times in a fit of excitement. “Pappy Lewis!” 

“Oh, what?!” she squeals, clutching on to his arm. “I mean,” she stutters. “It's a pretty common name, Pappy.”

“Never met a Brit with the same one before though. Truth be told, never met a Brit til just now.”

“It's your lucky day. A Brit and a long lost cousin,” she jokes, stubbing out the last of her cigarette. 

“Oh! You're right! Hey, Rosie!” he calls over to him, not realizing he's still stood right next to him so he almost deafens the curly haired pilot. “Came all the way to England to find my cousin!”

“Pappy, she's not–”

“Long lost cousin Olive,” he says, pulling her into a hug. Olive pulls away as he loosens his grip on her, platonically grabbing his arm to lead him over to Ev and Dougie. Olive catches sight of Everett talking in hushed tones to Dougie, his hand on his shoulder. Ev is carrying an expression that's rarely seen, his brow softly furrowed and his body squared up as if to cover Dougie’s from where he is sat. The pair seem to be speaking softly, Ev obviously talking Dougie down from a mood that hasn't been apparent thus far. Olive worries, instantly trying to break the ice between them and her new friend. She rifles in her pocket and pulls out the box of cigarettes, somehow hoping that a simple gesture will give some ease to the surrounding atmosphere.

“Smoke?” she offers to Pappy as they reach the two men. “You guys have–”

“We've met,” Dougie says sharply, taking the last pull of his Lucky Strike as he stands. 

“Doug…” Everett urges, gesturing for him to sit back down. Olive can clearly see Dougie’s neck tightening, a vein beginning to pop out on his forehead. His face is covered with a thin sheen of sweat, him wiping at his brow quickly as Olive takes in his expression, her eyes full of concern. 

“Excuse me, Pappy,” she says, placing herself in front of James. “Honey,” she soothes. “What's up?”

“Nothing,” he replies, his voice meek and quiet. “It's nothing.”

“You wouldn't be acting like this if it was nothing.” She puts a hand on his face, before raking her fingers through his dark hair. “Come on, come with me.”

She links her fingers with his and takes him to a quieter spot, the back of the hut where they can't be seen. Instantly, she crosses her arms and shakes her head, as if to urge him into telling her what's going on.  “Well?” 

“I need you to know I'm not mad,” he begins, his eyes stuck on a spot on the pavement below. “I just…I get uneasy sometimes.”

“Can I ask why?”

“Someone - an old girlfriend - stepped out on me. Was unfaithful and I don't–”

“My goodness. I could never. I would never.”

He sighs, the back of his head against the wall as he breathes out. “I just need to know you're my girl.”

“Oh, James,” she mollifies, lifting his chin to have him look at her. “I'm your girl.”

“What if you change your mind?” He sounds so unlike himself, his voice, so small and meek, barely above a whisper as it cracks just a little.

“I will never change my mind. D'you hear me?” He nods, his blue eyes suddenly swimming. “Never, ever. However long you want me for, at least.”

“Oh, I'm planning on a really long time.”

“Good,” she smiles, pulling him closer to kiss her. “I'm yours. Okay? And when you feel ready, you can tell me the whole story.”

“Okay.” The deep breath he seems to have been holding escapes him, Olive seeing his chest collapse a little with relief. He smiles at her, gently stroking her face. “Hey, you think we can sneak in and do some more reading?”

“No chance of that, darling,” she says, nodding towards the group still outside. “But I’m sure we can read here for a little bit. Maybe a bedtime story, hm?” She grins at him, and he catches a cheeky glint in her deep brown eyes as she kisses him, open mouthed and firm. He gently pushes her against the wall, her opening her legs slightly to accommodate his lean body pressing on hers. Gentle moans pass between their mouths as they kiss, pushing their tongues together, trying to find a moment to breathe. His hand gently strokes down her neck, her eyes squeezing further shut to bite off a groan that’s trying to escape from her throat. It’s when he softly presses his fingers on the area he is holding that the moan crawls from her mouth and into his, him laughing on her lips in return. 

“You’re fresh, James Douglass,” she murmurs, his lips capturing hers again as the hand eases its grip. She finds his bottom lip with her tongue and gently nibbles, her hands finding themselves in his hair, softly gripping his hair and mussing it, the pomade slightly sticky upon her fingertips. She doesn’t care. All she cares about is the man in front of her, his mouth moving and working upon hers as if he never wanted to kiss another woman this way ever again. She shivers at his touch, the hairs all over her body standing on end as he plants soft kisses on her jawline and neck, making Olive quietly moan, her warm breath condensating in the dark, starry evening. 

“Can we say goodnight like this all the time?” he mumbles into her skin, his tongue finding her jugular. 

“Yes please,” she whines, her hips bucking into him as she goes to grab him once again. “And good morning, good afternoon, good evening…” her voice drifts off as he presses his lips to hers again, silencing her. He teasingly breaks away as she gasps, sighing in frustration. She catches sight of him in the moonlight and cackles for a second, his kiss-swollen lips covered in her lipstick. A familiar voice booms over the whole base, shocking the couple slightly. “The light was on. Everyone get back to your racks,” followed by a very stern  “James Douglass. Bed. NOW!”

“I’m beginning to think we need to find better hiding spots,” Olive says, rolling her eyes.

“Come on,” he whispers, pulling her off the wall. “They’ll be wondering where we got to.”

“Oh, I think they’ll know. Come here, love,” she says, pulling a spare handkerchief from her pocket. “You need this.”

“Do I look pretty?” he pouts, leaning forward to get her to clean his face. 

“Always, doll,” she reassures, touching his nose with her own. “There,” she nods, not a smear of lipstick to be seen. “They’ll never suspect a thing!”

The two round the corner, still giggling from their little tryst as they catch Val smiling sweetly at them. She gives them a little wave as she makes her way into the hut, leaving the door open for Olive. The lull of the night surrounds them as they quietly bid one another goodnight. A sweet kiss planted on her lips makes her toes curl. He kisses her cheeks, her nose, her forehead and touches her nose with his one final time. No words are spoken; it’s as if nothing else needs to be said, the actions seeming to do the talking. She watches as he turns and walks away into the night, Olive finding herself thanking the stars above for bringing her here.

taglist: @sagesolsticewrites @ginabaker1666 @hephaestn @manonsmanicmind @derry-rain @bobparkhurst @archival-hogwash @lestweforget5 @butterfly9012

[actiniumwrites]

𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘

synopsis: in which a victory against cyno at genius invocation tcg leads to unexpected confessions

characters: cyno x gn!reader

wc: 880

warnings: fluff, angst, kinda hurt/comfort? established relationships, jealousy, loneliness

notes: sorry it’s been so long since i’ve written something :( this also isn’t based on the new event since i haven’t had the chance to play it yet! it kinda just popped into my mind randomly

“Ha, I win!” You exclaim loudly, immediately bursting up from your spot at the table and pointing downward at your victory.

“What?” Cyno gasps before spouting words of denial, “No, that’s impossible!”

Ruby eyes hurriedly glance over the cards on the table, desperately searching for some sort of error. Cyno was the king of Genius Invocation TCG. He fought people over it, entered dangerous competitions just to win cards, and for you to so easily defeat him? He couldn’t bear to admit his pitiful defeat.

Cyno never knew just how good you were at TCG. Your deck was damn near flawless, cards powerful beyond belief — not to mention how many limited editions you had. All these years of knowing each other, and not once did he know of your affliction for the card game.

“Admit it, Cyno, you lost!” You rub in your victory once again, reveling in the shear defeat painted across his face. It’s priceless, an expression you’re pretty sure you’ve never seen on his face. If you’re being honest, you didn’t know he could make such an expression.

“No, I won’t accept it,” he says slowly, staring down at his own cards, analyzing where he went wrong, “Let’s go again. If you really are that good, then beat me again.”

Your smile grows big and is rather mischievous, “Oh? Ready to lose again?”

And so you play. Again and again and again. Over and over. It takes hours before either of you declare it time to leave the tavern. Countless people go in and out, some wander over and stare at the intense match, while others pass by without a glance. It isn’t until Lambad comes over and tells the two of you the tavern is closing that you finally pick up your cards and place them back in your deck.

You glance up curiously at your boyfriend when you’re done. His looks distraught and a pinch of disappointment rests on his face. You watch as he picks up his cards one by one and carefully places them in his deck as to not damage them. It contrasts how you care for your cards: eager to place them away in bundles, almost like you didn’t practically sell your soul for them.

When he’s done, the two of you walk out of the tavern silently. You don’t like the tension in the air or the lingering sense of defeat, even though you won.

A grumble from either of your stomachs cuts through the deafening silence. You go to meet Cyno’s eyes, but he isn’t looking. You speak anyway, “I guess we played so long we forgot to eat, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to stop and get something? I’ll pay,” you offer in the hopes he’ll give you a real response.

“I’ll just eat at home.”

“Oh, okay,” you say meekly and avert your eyes. You play with the bracelet on your hands for a few seconds, fiddling with each gem on it.

“I never hid that I was good at TCG, you know?” You blurt out suddenly. It captures Cyno’s attention in an instant and his eyes finally snap to yours.

“What?” He says as if he doesn’t believe you.

“Really, I swear! I just—we’ve been dating for years. And, well, I knew how much you liked the game, but I was never any good at it. You always go out with the others and play with them and it always made me feel a little jealous because I didn’t understand how to play it.”

Cyno looks shocked, but he motions you to continue on, eager to hear your explanation, “One day, a few years ago, I decided to find someone to teach me and I got a good deck and started collecting cards in the hopes that I could play on your level one day. I didn’t mean to make you feel so defeated though, honestly! I just wanted to have fun with you too.”

Cyno sighs. He hates the way he made you feel guilty just because he was upset he lost at a stupid card game. That, and he never knew how you felt all these years. While he was off playing for hours on end with the people you both called friends, you were at home feeling left out. How did he never realize?

“You could’ve asked me, you know?” Cyno says quietly, “I could’ve been your teacher.”

“Yeah, but I sort of wanted to surprise you,” you smile bashfully.

“Trust me, you certainly surprised me,” he scoffs, “All that talk about wanting to be on my level and you go and exceed me.”

You laugh loudly at that, and a smile pulls at Cyno’s lips as he lets out a breath of air, “You’ll have to teach me some of your tricks. I still cannot believe you beat me every single time.”

“Maybe, but only if you give me that card with the limited edition Inazuma backing!”

“What? No. Do you know how long it took me to get that one?”

You dramatically sigh and look away, “Oh well, I guess you’ll just have to continue losing then.”

“Okay!” Cyno interrupts, “but only if you agree to share it with me.”

You smile and nod at him, “I can work with that.”

[saturnalmoss]

ARM-WRESTLER

Chapter Five

Old Friends Dead Ends

Master Post

The detectives didn’t have a chance to ask Leon more about the odd encounter when they met again that evening. Leon came home only just in time to head back out again. Piri pulled Grendan along playfully. 

“You look too boring in the clothes Granny gave you. You’re coming with us, right?”

Grendan laughed, following along after her. “To this fortune teller, right? Yeah! We all want to come!” Piri squinted at Rosé and York, then huffed. 

“Piri, be nice.” Leon said. “You’re all welcome to join.” They looked over at their eldest. “Are you sure you don’t want to, Jyuri?”

Jyuri stared at her Narri with an expression so complicated and pained that only a teenager embroiled in her own personal drama could have made it. 

“I’m fine.” She said. 

“Uh-huh.” Leon said. They looked at Piri, who shrugged.  “If you’re sure...” She nodded, eyes glittering. Granny Skully gave her a hearty thump on the shoulder. 

“Never you mind this. I’ll take care of her.” She grinned toothily, and Leon smiled back. 

The fortune teller’s building was a little hole in the wall. There was a banner hung over the door advertising the grand opening, dated almost three weeks ago. Piri was vibrating as they approached the door. “Ahhhhh...!!”

She flung open the door. “Hello!!”

“Madam Arrow...?” Leon called after her. 

“Welcome, welcome.” A voice called out from the dimly lit interior. Rosé perked up, and glanced back at York, eyes wide, and Grendan, with a big disbelieving smile.

The group walked carefully into the smokey candle lit room. A short woman sat at the far end of the table. She was wearing, as far as they could tell, a hat shaped like an ominous tower, complete with lightning bolt. 

“Ohh, I get it.” Grenda muttered.

“Terry!” York said. 

“Or, Sharron..?” Rosé tried. “It’s Sharron for real, right.”

Sharron Lutz blinked at them. “Oh, I know you.” She said. “Who do I know you?”

“We’re Eugene’s parents!” Rosé said excitedly. “He’s our precious baby boy.”

“Oh, you're those ones, huh.” Sharron said. 

“Did you miss us?” Grendan asked. 

“Sure, sure.” Leon looked between them, bewildered. Piri didn’t seem deterred at all and waited with a hunter’s patience at the table. 

“We missed you.” York said. The three of them sat too. After a moment of hesitation, Leon followed suit. 

“We’ll catch up later,” Rosé said sweetly. “This young lady has been so excited to meet you.”

“Aw, well, that’s nice.” Sharron said. She put her hands on the the table and it rumbled gently.

Sharron leaned back, eyes to the ceiling. “Ah... let me summon the spirits to converse...” She said. "Do you wanna speeeeak... speak with your passed mother?” 

Leon lurched in their seat. Panicked, they shook their head as violently and subtly as they could.

“Nah,” Piri said. “Show me the fake stuff.”

The table stopped shaking. Sharron looked down. “The... fake stuff?”

“I love this kid.” Rosé whispered.

“Yeah. I’m not interested in the real spirit summoning. I want the tricks! Please show me your best tricks!”

Sharron looked perplexed. She looked at Leon, then the drawtectives, who were all looking at Piri. “Well, it looks like you run the show around here. Alright, hold on. I wasn’t prepared for the fake stuff.” 

She shuffled into a room nearly invisible in the shadows. Leon leaned back into their seat, calming their racing heart. 

When she came back she offered a deck of cards with black and white geometric designs on the back. “Draawwww a card...” Sharron told her. 

Piri delicately plucked a card from the top of the pile and turned it over. Sharron stood, free hand dramatically in front of her face. “I see..eeee..ee... you’ve drawn DEATH!” She droned. 

“Oooh! I did!” Piri said.

“What?!” Leon looked alarmed between them. Piri gave an annoyed sigh. 

“Narri, it’s fake, remember?” She said pityingly. 

“Also, death’s more of a metaphor.” Sharron added. “But it makes for some juicy drama. Good card for a reaction.” Leon deflated.

 “Haa. Yes. I forgot. Immediately.” They rubbed their temple. “I’m. Going to get a little air, alright, Piri?”

“Yup! I’ll stay right here. I’m gonna figure out how Madam Arrow knew it was Death.” She waved after Leon and loudly sniffed the card. “Hmm.”

Rosé leaned over to Grendan and York. “Should one of us go after them? Maybe they remembered something important?” 

“Good idea! York, do you want to go? Their whole family is orcs, maybe they would be more comfortable with you?” York thought seriously about this.

“No. That’s why I should stay here. I’ll keep Piri safe.” 

“From Sharron?” Rosé asked incredulously. York shrugged. 

“Probably not.”

“I’ll go, then.” Grendan said and slipped away from the table. 

Rosé and York turned back to the table. “So it’s not smell?” Piri was asking.

“That’s be hard.” Sharron said. “All the smells would get on each other.”

“I guess... Are the backs subtly different?” Piri asked. 

“Can’t see the backs or the fronts with my hand in my face.” 

Piri chewed her lip lightly with a tusk. “Ahh... How’s she do it..”

“Maybe it’s my psychic powers.” Sharron said. Piri grinned. 

“You had the card in your sleeve and slipped it to me!”

“Surely you would’ve noticed that?”

“You subtly pushed the death card to the front and made me pick it!”

“Nah.”

“The whole deck is death??”

“Oh, you got me.” Sharron said. “Keep it to yourselves, would ya?” Piri looked pleased and nodded. 

“What else you got?” Sharron tapped her cheek with a nail. 

“You’re an odd kid, huh?”

“Hey, Piri,” Rosé said. “You really enjoy these sort of things, huh?” Piri wiggled a little in her seat. 

“Yes! I’m gonna learn magic and grow up to be like Narri!” She thought a moment. “I’ll get a cooler job, though. I dunno. Street magician or master thief or something.”

“Master thief?” said Rosé.

“Master thief?” said Sharron, with a touch more concern. Piri shrugged. 

“I’m still undecided. The cards aren’t your only fake trick are they?”

“Well, I don’t really have a need for the fake stuff when I can do the real stuff.” Sharron considered a moment. “How about a seance?”

“A fake one?”

“A fake one.” Sharron held her hands out to the side. In one she took Piri’s hand and in her other she took York’s. At her insistence, Piri and York took Rosé’s hands in theirs. 

“Oooh, spirits.” Sharron said. The table rumbled. “Oooooh, listen...!” She huffed and the candles went out. “Tell us.... Secrets!” The crystal ball glowed gently in the center of the table. 

Sharron turned to Piri. “Ask... the spirits! Ask ‘em your question!”

“Just like, anything?”

“Yeah, like anything. Works best if it’s something you’re a bit invested in.”

“Sure. Uh. My sister’s acting weird lately. Can you ask the spirits, did she like steal Narri’s arm as a prank and she’s too embarrassed to own up?” Sharron looked at her. 

“No.” She said.

“No.” York said.

Outside, earlier, Grendan stepped into the low evening light after Leon. They looked back at him. 

“Ah. Hello, Grenda.” They looked back through the doorway behind Grenda. “Just you?”

“York and Rosé are staying with Piri.” They said. “But I was worried about you. You wanna talk about it?”

Leon sighed. “I’m grateful to them. You three... How do I explain?” They leaned back against the wall and looked up at the purples and reds of the evening sky. “I feel very sure that you would protect them. Piri and Jyuri.”

“Of course! I think you’re more in danger right now, though, don’t you?”

“Well...” they said. “I still don’t know that it was more than a one off thing.”

“Pretty mean spirited! If someone hit me and took my arm? I think I’d feel pretty targeted!” Leon said nothing. “You seemed pretty shaken up by Te- Sh... Madam Arrow.”

“It was foolish of me. I mean, it’s fake tarot. Deliberately fake tarot.”

“Maybe you were feeling tense in general?” Grenda suggested. “They whole mugging, and the seance before?”

Leon glanced down at them. “You’re a pretty astute bunch, aren’t you?” Grenda smiled. “... I didn’t expect Madam Arrow to bring up the kids’ - My wife.”

“Didn’t talk to her about it before hand, huh?”

“I mean, why would I! I certainly didn’t want her to bring up Piri’s late mother?!” Grenda nodded, understanding. They leaned back as well, and tried to study Leon from under the brim of their hat.

“Of course, of course. I meant, to warn her not to! Like, boundaries and stuff.” Leon thought a moment.

“Grenda. I’m afraid to say it has only just occurred to me that she may have some supernatural power.” They rubbed their temple. “I just thought she was going to cold read the kid and Piri would get a kick out of it.” Grenda laughed lightly. 

“She’s not too good at that actually! So, it’s like a fun thing you two are doing? Finding scammers and street magicians and stuff?” Leon smiled and nodded. 

“She’s got quick fingers and a sharp tongue. I am hoping she’ll find something... above board that keeps her interest.”

“Oh, definitely. There’s lots of stuff. I mean, Rosé’s super above board and she’s got all those quick fingers. The fastest. And you!” Leon’s eyes flicked away and back. 

“Myself?”

“Of course. You’re in logistics. I mean, until you quit I guess. I don’t know what you’ll do after that.” Leon was quiet for a moment. They seemed to be genuinely thinking about it. They quit without another job lined up? Grenda thought. They must have decided very recently, indeed. 

“Leon, can I ask you, what we saw earlier... Did you think that your boss has something to do with your attack?” They heard Leon groan. 

“Ugh. Of course not. Quitting has nothing to do with this. It really was something I was planning for a while.” They tapped their foot impatiently. Grenda was sure there something else here... something with their boss or their wife, they weren’t sure. 

“Sure, sure.” They said kindly. “I’ll stop bothering you about him.” Leon laughed softly. “Can I ask you something else? Case related, of course.”

“Of course.”

“I wanted to ask... and I sorry if this is sensitive, but were you reminded of anything when Madam Arrow mentioned your late wife?” Leon frowned at them. 

“I don’t see how this is related to a recent mugging.”

“It’s just, I get that you’d be worried about Piri getting upset about talking to her mother... I definitely wouldn’t know how to handle that! But I don’t really see how it would, let’s say, prime the mind to worry that Piri is in danger?”

Leon was quiet for a long moment. 

“It didn’t, of course. It’s perhaps a fault of mine but I’m rather overprotective of my kids. I’m told it’s rather unbecoming for a parent of orcs.” They pushed off the wall. The sun had set and left long shadows on the ground. Leon’s face was hard to distinguish. “The seance... It only put into my head that what she does could be real.”

Grenda patted their arm. “I understand. Thank you for telling me. Let’s go in! It’s getting pretty chilly, huh?”

They both slipped quietly back inside and through the back. They heard Piri talking loudly.

“Eh? That was too fast! You didn’t even check with the spirits! Er, pretend to check, I mean.”

“Oooh, spirits...” Sharron said.

“She’s a good orcish kid.” York said over her. “She woulda crowed ‘bout winning the fight.” Piri looked peeved. 

“No, she’s not all orc. We’re half sea-elf.” she said. “I can even swim. Can you swim?”

“Sure.” York said. “It’s just punching and kicking water.” Piri only looked more irritated. 

“She’s a dumb cry baby elf and I’m a sneaky clever elf!” York nodded. 

“But she an’ you are also good honest orcs. I see it on you. If you beat someone up, they’ll know who did it.” 

“What’s going on?” Leon ducked their head around the curtain. “Piri, don’t yell, love. You’re a guest.”

“Nothing’s going on.” Piri said, suddenly sullen. She looked away. Rosé waggled her eyebrows at Grenda subtly. Grenda gestured back that there was much to discuss. 

Sharron looked skywards. “Oohh... ” she said. Leon looked over.

“Ah, I think we should head out, actually.” They told her with regret. 

“I see... A large shadow... a large shadow...” she droned. There was a tension in the room. Piri looked up at Leon, who walked to her side. Rosé leaned over and laid a gentle hand on Sharron’s shoulder.  

“Sharron...?”

“You think this is a real one?”

Sharron blinked suddenly. “Whoops.” She shook her head. “That wasn’t what you paid for at all.”

“Um.” Said Leon. “We were going to head out? Are you okay?” 

“Oh, yeah, yeah. Don’t worry your head. Comes with being in the psychic field of research.” Leon nodded slowly. 

“What did you see?” York asked.

“A large shadow!” Grenda said. Sharron thought a moment and nodded.

“That it?” York said.

“Hmm. It was standing behind you.” She said, and pointed to Leon.

[freyrmichokolatte]

Timmy forgor arc because I'm a fucked up little shit and I want my fave to suffer because that's how I am smh

Timmy canonically puts notes on everything that's important to him because he might throw everything related to Cosmo and Wanda so it shouldn't be any different that he'll put notes on everything related to the rest of the Nicktoons

But what if he also writes everything that happened in a diary and kept it hidden in a box filled with things related to his Godfamily and the Nicktoons?

Timmy already turned 18 and the next day after his birthday, the first thing he saw when he woke up is an empty fish tank still filled with water. Timmy got super confused because why is there a fish tank here? Why does it have water when there's literally no fish inside? Then he saw the sticky note and went oh ok I guest I shouldn't throw it out then.

Throughout the day, he keeps seeing sticky notes with his hand writing on it saying "Don't throw it out me! -Timmy Turner". Timmy doesn't know the purpose of all the things because he only does this when it's actually important so he doesn't understand why there's a sticky note with the same message pinned on his old hat.

When he, Chester, and AJ hangout, they'd sometimes ask him about the things he forgotten and Timmy is just confused. His reaction are just "What?" "Since when did that happen?" "Talking to objects? Did you hit your head or something cause wtf" Chester and AJ had to suffer but didn't dive too deep into it.

That until Chester mentioned Jimmy

Timmy isn't the type to forget people that he's close and actually liked him. So when Timmy said he doesn't know who Jimmy is it caused a havoc. Chester made cards filled with things related to their childhood while AJ interogated the poor brunet's head off just to get answers so he could somehow cure his bestfriend's amnesia.

This went for Gods' know how long it just keeps going.

But hey the Nicktoons fianlly visited hoorayyyy

They didn't encounter Timmy first though, they encountered Chester and AJ. They both felt like their dreaming but soon dragged them into their shared appartment with Timmy because wtf their bestfriend's bestfriends who doesn't even know they're his bestfriends from different universes are here and oh are they glad.

Before the Nicktoons could even say something, AJ and Chester already bombered them with concerns relating to Timmy while the three are all just there sitting on a small couch and saying literally the same things as if they were one person.

Where's Timmy? What happened to his Fairy programs? What do you mean he has amnesia? He doesn't remember us? What the fuck does this mean? Is this related to the Fairy World's rules?

They were all distraught. Spongebob who's no longer in disguise is sobbing. Danny is in denial. He sees him as his kid brother and said kid brother sees him as his big brother there's no way he could've forgotten him right? He denise it, there's no way.

And Jimmy is fucking depressed. After a long time of trying to find a way to go to Timmy's universe, the first thing that was said to him was that Timmy forgot about them.

Jimmy was mad. He wasn't mad at Timmy for getting his memories erased, he was mad that he didn't do anything to prevent it. He was mad at himself. But he knew damn well that there's no way of stopping Da Rules and the rest of the Laws of the Fairy World.

Meanwhile with Timmy, he sneezed as he's currently going back to his old house to get the rest of his old stuff. Then he went to the attic and saw some weird big old box with his name written on it. The box was filled with notebooks, diaries and pictures.

Timmy was utterly bamboozled

He skimmed through some of the pages. Fairies? Ghost brother figure? A talking sponge? And he's hooked? Timmy doesn't even know anymore. Then he took the photos inside the box.

What the fuck.

Why is there a sponge? It's alive? Why is there a floating guy behind him? Who's he brunet with a weird hair style?

And why do these strangers feel so familiar?

The more he dives deep into it, the more his head hurts. Timmy decided to brush it off temporarily and took the box with him. He'll get his stuff next time.

ANYWAY the rest is up to you guys on how you want it to end I'm out of energy to write the rest ksksakjssfhasksf

[nitewrighter]

Maybe some fanteractions based on the Junkrat n Ana “adoptive mother” interaction? Possibly where Ana’s a bit more receptive to the idea and maybe Pharah has to deal with having a new “brother”?

Ana: I'll have you know I don't take just anyone under my wing.

Junkrat: What's it going to take? A cowboy hat? I bet I can find a cowboy hat.

Ana: ...well firstly it's going to take a bath. Then, maybe, a shirt.

Junkrat: You drive a hard bargain, Captain.

---

Ana: Do you have all your bombs?

Junkrat: Present and accounted for! Er-mostly.

Ana: Did you remember to floss this morning?

Junkrat: Yes, ma'am!

Ana: Did you pack your snacks?

Junkrat: Yep!

Ana: Spare change of underwear?

Junkrat: Check-a-roonie!

Pharah: Someone please kill me now.

Junkrat: Sounds like someone forgot her spare underwear.

----

Junkrat: Fareeha, I know you've been panicking about what to get the dear Captain for Mother's Day.

Pharah: What? It isn't remotely near Mother's da--

Junkrat: That's why I've taken the liberty of stealing every Egyptian artifact out of the British museum for her!

Pharah: ...Er... I don't really know where she would put all that...

Junkrat: You're not going to go 'ahh no, Junkrat, stealing is wrong and I'm going to arrest you, now?'

Pharah: *snort* Well, I'll let this one slide since they were already stolen.

Junkrat: Oh I'm so glad I put your name on the card!

Pharah: You did what?

[gravity-what]

GASP! Could it really be? The lost season 4 of Xiaolin Showdown is finally being released to the public! OH I am SEATED 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

Kicking off the season with another 🤝👫team-building exercise👥🧑‍🤝‍🧑 from Master Fung, how classic! A lot of those in the show itself, so the opening slots right into the roster! Feels so real!

The different is that this time it's a team-building exercise that's meant to emphasize the team that's no longer composed of equals, since one of them is apparently their better and their superior now... Shaking up the team dynamic after all that talk about them working together as one by promoting one to manage the others, I can see why it's already going to Raimundo's head and he's trying to pull rank. He was sort of doing that already in season 3 before it was even official, so now that it's official, that 🤴"as your leader"🤴 talk is so so him, LOL... Mixing pulling rank in with one of the kids' usual bouts and adding Kimiko's hair-trigger temper into the mix too! 😡 And Master Fung comes in just in time to break up the fight and use it to segue into today's lesson! I can only imagine how many rewatches you've have of the series because that whole set up in the opening plays out exactly like it does in the episodes itself! That's so cool!

And I didn't expect a cameo from Megan again after all this time! 👧🎀 She's still the cutest! And the age-typical brattiness makes her even cuter! And Jack is cute looking after her! The Spicer cousins are being so cuuuute! 🎀🍥 And Megan even gets a part in the showdown a little like Dojo does sometimes! The powers that be gave Megan a better role than they usually give Dojo though.

I never even imagined that mochi-making could be a showdown challenge! 🔨🐇 Kimiko had some ANGER put behind those blows! Cute having her bring in something from her culture for the playing field today too! That's how you stack the odds! And it finally gave Kimiko a chance to show her expertise and show a situation where she gets to take charge and has the knowledge they need. Even in season 3's own Kimiko episode, they made her sit out the solution solving so Raimundo could have an A-HA! moment and tell her how to fix her mistake for her and that was so frustrating. This feels like it really fixed that!

Raimundo learned his lesson, Kimiko has been vindicated, Jack has been defeated, lunch has been caught and cooked, Megan had her fun time, all's well that end's well-- OH NO OMI?!

🥺😢 Poor Omi, I totally forgot he doesn't even eat meat! And so did the other monks! 😭😭😭😭😭 OMIII! At least Dojo is looking out for him. Best dragon right there, true MVP of the episode 🐉🔥🐉🔥

‘Championship Strikes’ feels like it's supposed to be a reference to something.... But I don't know a lot about video game franchises. (I don't even know what Goo Zombies is supposed to be a parody of in the show even though I'm sure it's probably something) 🎮🕹️👾 Can I ask what Championship Strikes is riffing off of? What kind of game is it? Is it sport stuff?

Those are super cute outfits for Kimiko and Megan in the title card! Their braids and hats and ribbons are super duper cute! Megan looks like a little adventurer and Kimiko is rocking that sporty look! Boys in the back all being kinda huffy or sad, meanwhile right up front are my GIRLIES! 👗👢👒🎀👚👟

If this episode was on a streaming service I could rate it 5/5 stars like it deserves, so here you go: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m so honored by this review 😭! I did my best to emulate an actual episode when I wrote this so I’m really glad that I succeeded!!

Honestly it was so much fun to bring Megan back! It felt like a good low-stakes episode to bring her back~ it was also fun to let her judge the showdown! Poor Jack though, he didn’t manage to win even with his cousin deciding the outcome.

The motchi making showdown came from me getting able to participate in a motchi making class allll the way back in February and going ‘this would make a really fun showdown!’ And it just fit so perfectly into this episode~ letting Kimiko show off while at the same time getting a chance to terrify Raimundo and teach him a lesson really was so much fun to write!

And Omi….oh Omi. He isn’t doing too hot after everything that happened in the other universe and in the hypothetical future he saw with Jack and now his needs are being forgotten too…At least he has Dojo looking out for him. Always.

And the ‘ championship strikes’ game is just meant to be a reference to a soccer game like the FIFA games! So you were definitely right that it was a sports game!

Thank you again for the fun review! And I’m glad you liked the first ‘episode’!

[uaremyjae]

[ SPOILER ONE PIECE CHAP. 1105 ]

IS THE UNKNOWN PARTY APPEAR AT EGGHEAD WILL BE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY?

Okay so I have read the summary spoilers this morning and oh boy, the title itself is funny like “ THE PEAK OF SEVERE STUPIDITY” like what’s that even mean oda???

Anyway I want to talk about the last part of the chapter where it’s says that there’s unknown party has pulled at egghead and destroyed Marines warship that going after the escape technicians & research teams of Egghead. And the Marine frantically asked to call for Admiral Kizaru and tell him that “ They’re heading to Egghead” ?? 👀 This unknown party must be a very huge threat that it requires for Admiral Kizaru attention.

Some people thinks of maybe Blackbeard Pirates, I was like nah Blackbeard helping escapees in a broad daylight? That’s very uncharacteristic of BB Pirates where they all go for sneaky & stealthy attack. Besides BB already at Egghead.

Some people said maybe it’s Neo MADS. 🤷‍♀️ I am not onboard with that idea but it could be a wild card who knows. I’m not Oda. Why I think it’s not Neo MADS is that Judge is not that stupid to come to egghead Island with his bigass snails 🐌 ship with potential catch strays along in the Buster Calls. It’s better for them to watch Vegapunk downfall since they both wanted that and get the chance to be hire by WG.

Revolutionary Army?

Ooh that’s what makes me feel like ITS POSSIBLE. Ok some people said “ RA is at Momoiro Island at the Grand line Paradise. There’s no way they can arrived at Egghead that fast.”

Seriously? Did everyone forget that Shanks pull up at Marineford from New World? When he literally stopped Kaido from coming a day before execution? 😬

And you think Revolutionary Army only resides at Grand Line? Ofc that’s their HQ and they must have their branches at every sea. See that’s what people forgot about the whole RA’s structure. And Dragon did mention before founding RA that he want to raise into a massive armed force scattered across the globe. Did he make it? YES!

You see RA’s has 4 captains for each blue sea forces. East Blue; Bello Betty, West Blue; Morley, South Blue;Lindbergh, North Blue; Karasu and each seas has their own team led by those captains. You are here telling me RA’s doesn’t have a team that resides at New World?

And the panel of where Vegapunk via Shaka ( RIP shaka mann 😭) talk with somebody that he can see that his death is about to happen and it turns out, it’s DRAGON who he is talking to. Another thing that seems possible is that Dragon asked Ivan opinion of where would Kuma heading to if a fragment of his true instinct still there. AND THE CLIFFHANGER THERE 🧐

I think He’ll— go where Iva? I think Iva knew Kuma will be heading to where his daughter is. Remember the exchange of how “ Child is Parents’ Weaknesses” from Dragon to Kuma? And with Shaka in contact with Dragon, there might possibility that Shaka inform him about Luffy & Bonney is on the island and the assassination planned on VP.

Judging by how the latest ending chapter turns out, the chances that RA pulled up to prevent lives of Egghead become like Ohara is quite high. Like the whole reveal about how Dragon told Vegapunk he will create military forces that can fight back after Ohara incident on Ohara remains must be hint of the future moves that RA will do during this arc.

Regardless, who are going to be there doesn’t matter. But if the RA catch the words that the Gorosei is at egghead and also stayed at the island with Kizaru while the Buster Call starts , well dragon appear to assist the RA & took Straw Hats under their care temporarily might be it. Probably escorted them to Elbaf.

How about Straw Hat Grand Fleet? Well yes it’s possible too! At this point, im sure the news about the Straw Hats vs Navy has been reported by Big News Morgan and the fleet took notice about it. Here’s the thing about Straw Hat Grand Fleet, what has been reported that seven powerful pirate groups under Straw Hats but no names mention on which pirates. So it’s interesting to see what happened soon!

[jnstudios2]

Nicktoons Unite The Animated Series episode two

The syndicate lair

Deep below the surface was a lab full of gadgets and sparks flaring everywhere. Professor calamitous was repairing his bots grumbling about the nicktoons unite. “ blasted nicktoons unite,

Destroying my toys and making me a mockery!” He grumbled while fixing them. “ these nicktoons unite are getting stronger with everything we throw at them to slow them down “ plankton said folding his robotic arms with a hmph. “ yes it seems so “ calamitous said then smiled bringing out a microchip “ but not anymore “ he chuckled putting it in a syndicate bot. The bot started up and adapted itself to create new weaponry to destroy the dummies into pieces.” Ooooh” the two said when calamitous turned it off. “ yes quite impressive, but I’m out of supplies here to develop more” calamitous said when the two pondered what to do with this supply problem. “ I have a supply port in California for me to resupply, but I need you two to distract the nicktoons unite while I gather the supplies to create an army of powerful syndicate bots for us to rule the universe hahaha!” Calamitous laughed as did plankton and Crocker getting ready to create their powerful robot army.

Cue theme song and title card

At the headquarters

The crew was playing cards at the game room, a place where glowing games were, a giant tv, a table, and a couch. Timmy was secretly wishing for full houses in their games of go fish. Jimmy noticed it “ Timmy you’re cheating!” Jimmy said “ no I’m not!” Timmy said then continued to secretly wish for more full houses. “ I can literally hear you wishing you right now “ Danny said annoyed.” Cheaters never prosper” SpongeBob said “ oh please if you had faires you would do the same!” Timmy argued. “ I would use them to help solve problems like pollution and other issues going on right now” Jimmy said making Timmy looked at him “ those are some lame wishes!” Timmy said “ no you’re not!” Jimmy said as they faced each other and growled. “ hey stop that! “ Danny said separating them both “ and try to enjoy our time off from protecting the universe “ Danny said as SpongeBob agreed with him. “ yeah fighting never solves anything, except if you get bullied “ SpongeBob said. “ whatever” Timmy said rolling his eyes and leaning in his seat. An alarm went off “ Crocker has been causing trouble in fairy world, stealing..wish muffins?” Ella said looking at her tablet confused. “ well it’s the syndicate up to no good again, I need you guys to help out fairy world “ Ella said when the four looked annoyed “ were on it” Danny said acknowledging her and heading out with the three into fairy world. The three mischievous ghost vultures grinned watching them invisible “ ooh I think the boss is going to enjoy hearing about this” the leader vulture said. “ yeah but what about our job to spy on that fool?” The second vulture said. “ you moron!, we already spied on him and got what we needed” the leader vulture said hitting him in the head. “ ow! Sorry I forgot ok” the second one said “ we should be going back to the boss, he’s expecting us” the third vulture said as the other agreed flying away into the sky.

Vlad’s castle

Throne room

The throne room was like the video game was, the only difference was that the ghost portal wasn’t in there. That was in his laboratory full of technology and where experimenting happened. Vlad was in his fancy throne chair that was gold and purple waiting for something to arrive. He tapped his finger on his throne waiting and waiting until three green ghost vultures with red hats with a skull on it appeared in the throne room. “ ah there you are my feathered friends” plasmius said when the leader vulture landed on his right shoulder “ have you got any news for me?” He asked the leader vulture. “ jack is still in the lab working away on new inventions and didn’t even notice us in there just like you predicted boss” the leader vulture told him making him grin wickedly. “ of course, jack is very predictable even after all these years, getting my sweet revenge on him would be satisfying to enjoy” plasmius smiled when his black gloved hand glowing pink. “ of course boss, you’ll have it soon” the leader vulture said nodding his head. a single on his watch device told him that calmitous was calling “ oh great, calamitous is calling ..ugh this better be good” he said teleporting to his lair turning on his screen while sitting in his chair. “ what is it this time calamitous?, another robot?” He said a bit annoyed. “ I have developed a microchip to be put inside our bots, we are going back to the roots of what made the syndicate..the syndicate “ he told him. “ Finally a good idea instead of throwing bots at them and being turned into metal cubes” he said. “ i need some of your technology to help us get started though, can you send it to my secret dock in California?” He asked as plasmius nodded. “ consider it done, I’ll bring it to your location, and don’t mess this up calamitous or I’ll be very upset “ he said pointing to the screen. “ you won’t like it when I get mad, I can’t be giving my technology and gadgets all of the time” he said as calamitous understood. “ thank you plasmius, you won’t regret it “ calamitous said as he hung up. “ better not, does he know how valuable my technology is? If he messes up another piece of my technology..I’m going to be very upset with him” he growled getting up and gathering his technology after he sent him the secret location on his syndicate watch. “ guard the castle you three, I want nothing happening while I’m gone or there will be consequences ,got it?” He said as his hand glowed pink scaring the three vultures. “.. you got it boss, you can count on us” the leader told him “ good” he said creating a portal to California and activating the security in his castle before he left and disappeared into the portal and went to see calamitous.

Fairy world

The nicktoons unite arrived to see everything a mess, fairies fleeing, destroyed homes, and blasts hitting anything in it’s way. “ look out!” Timmy said when the team dodged the blast coming towards them“ hahahaha well look who came to witness my glory” a familiar voice said when the team looked up to see Crocker in his armor and his staff giving them a wicked smile. “ Crocker!” Timmy growled “ where’s the wish muffins you stole?!” Wanda said when Crocker chuckled. “ I ate them of course quite delicious and stolen all the FAIRIES POWERS!” He laughed like a hyena scaring the team. “ you’re going to return what you stolen Crocker!” Jimmy said pointing at him “ or what brainiac? I have so much power to defeat you all so easily!” Crocker laughed uncontrollably. “ oh yeah!” Danny said blasting his ghost rays at him. But Crocker created a shield blocking his attacks “ yeah” Crocker said creating a giant boxing glove to hit Danny when he was flying towards him as he crashed in the bakery. “ charge!” Timmy said as the rest charged towards him but he grinned aiming his staff and trapping them in a bubble then throwing them into the bakery making a loud crash. The team got up “ we can’t even get close to him!” Timmy said as Danny was dusting himself off “ he wasn’t kidding about his power “ he said. “ but brains always beat brawn, I got a plan “ jimmy said when the team gathered. “ I need you three to distract him while I free the fairies and Jorgon, then we’ll let him have it!” jimmy said hitting his fist in his hand. “ sounds risky but it’s worth a shot” Danny said as the two agreed with him “ we’ll show him who we are!” Timmy said “ you said it sport! Wanda said. “ oh where did you go nicktoons unite? I’m not finished playing with you four yet and Timmy’s FAIRIES will be mine!” He laughed uncontrollably. “ now!” Jimmy said as the three got out of the bakery and attacking him. Crocker looked stunned then growled when the three grabbed him and his staff “ get off you miserable heros!” Crocker said trying to shake the three off of him and his staff distracting him when they were punching and kicking him or blasting him with their powers. SpongeBob blew bubbles right in his eyes as he howled “ ow ow ow! I got bubbles in my eyes!” Crocker howled trying to get it off of his eyes. Danny punched him into a wall while he was blinded and reckless shooting his staff everywhere trying to hit them. Jimmy found the dungeon Jorgon was trapped in and freed him by using his robotic arm to pick the lock. “ I thank you little one but that maniac hidden my big wand” Jorgon said “ well we have to find it cause my friends can’t hold him much longer!” Jimmy said. Timmy smacked him with his hammer that cosmo turned into while Wanda turned into a dragon blowing fire at him. “ OW HOT!” Crocker said finally getting the bubbles out of his eyes. He smacked Danny with his staff like a baseball bat and crashed into Timmy. SpongeBob used his karate gear to smack Crocker while he was blocking Wanda’s claw swipes angry that he hurt Timmy. “ ENOUGH!!!” He said creating a force field to smack everyone away from him. Everyone groaned when he shadowed over him “ time to say good bye to your FAIRIES Timmy and your friends!” He laughed aiming his staff and trying to trap Timmy’s fairies inside of it.” HEY JERK!” Jimmy shouted as Crocker turned to see him “ how dare you mock your ruler!” Crocker said pointing his staff at him. “ ruler? Oh please, he’s the ruler!” Jimmy grinned “ who’s he?” Crocker asked confused. “ ME YOU FREAK!” Jorgon said cracking his fists. Crocker turned to see him and looked scared aiming his staff at him “ stand back, I have all the FAIRIES powers !” Crocker said until Danny phased through him grabbing his staff “ not anymore “ Danny said smiling. Crocker looked shocked seeing the power fading away. “uh..oh” he said realizing what was about to happen next. Jorgon smiled when his big wand appeared again then blasted Crocker “ ALLLIIIEEE!” He screamed when the team just watched then he was beaten up and sliding to their feet all busted up

“ curse.. you” he said pushing a button on his armor disappearing out of fairy world. Danny smashed the staff to free all of the magic he stole and restored them back to the faires “ that was easy” Timmy said “ usually it would take longer to fight him” Wanda said a bit suspicious. “ at least fairy world is safe from him for now” jimmy said “ but something is up, why did crocker give up so easily?” Jimmy added. “ nicktoons unite! Plankton is attempting to steal the secret formula! I need you to head over to bikini bottom stat!” Ella said on their calling devices. “ that’s why! He was distracting us from plankton!” Danny growled. “ but we should help clean up fairy world first” SpongeBob said. “ nonsense, I’ll take care of this” Jorgon said when his big wand glowed. “ let’s go guys ! Time to stop plankton!” Timmy said as jimmy created a portal to bikini bottom.

They arrived at bikini bottom quickly

“ the blasted plankton , he’s going to pay for making us look like idiots!” Timmy growled grasping his green hammer that cosmo formed into. “ at least we got to beat up Crocker” Danny said looking at his hand and rubbing it “ that’s true “ Timmy said. “ guys we got to find plankton and stop him before he succeeds!” Wanda said when everyone agreed “ he wants the secret formula right? He must be heading to the Krusty Krab” jimmy said. “ not anymore! “ plankton said when a giant bubble trapped the team shocked. “ ohhahaha! I got you all good didn’t I?, should have seen the looks on your faces!” Plankton laughed in his giant robot. “ don’t bother breaking out , we created this bubble to keep you trapped inside even if you use your powers hahahaha!” He laughed. “ now if you’ll excuse me, I got a special guest in my home to have fun with , rubbing it In that I have the secret formula hahaha!” Plankton said flying away leaving the team in their giant bubble trap.

At the port

Calamitous smiled seeing the team trapped “ excellent work and with them trapped, I’ll have some time to start developing my microchips into our army haha! “ calamitous laughed as did Crocker. “ yeah the fools have no idea that we’re just putting them on a wild goose chase to work on our real plan “ Crocker laughed “ yes, and now it’s time to finish the job, you still have some fairy magic right?” Calamitous asked him “ umm only this vile that I kept with me” he said showing him the vile in his pocket. “ good, that should be enough to power them up to adapt, put the magic in the container so we can begin “ calamitous said pointing to the warehouse. Crocker nodded, heading to the warehouse to get more supplies for their army. Plasmius arrived “ alright here it is, now what exactly are we doing here?” He asked him “ simple, we are giving our bot minions from the video games a major upgrade, the microchip will give them the ability to adapt from attacks and create new weaponry to take care of the nicktoons unite “ he explained as plasmius was interested in his idea “ ooh sounds interesting calamitous “ he told him. “ but how do we know this won’t back fire on us..like last time?” He glared at him “ it won’t explode this time, you have my word” he told him as plasmius was doubtful about that.“ now let’s not waste any time and start creating our army to rule the universe “ calamitous smiled as the two did as well. plasmius grinned stretching his fingers “ let’s have some fun shall we?” He smiled as did the others.

Back in bikini bottom

The team was still fighting trying to burst the bubble “ we tried everything on this thing!” Danny said still blasting it. “ the syndicate sure did their homework this time” Jimmy said blasting his tornado blaster or his robotic arms to attack it. But the bubble took everything and didn’t even burst at all. “ great we’re stuck in here! Plankton is probably taking over bikini bottom as we speak!” Timmy said. “ don’t give up sport “ Wanda said then gave jimmy an idea. “ Timmy your fairies can get us out!” Jimmy said. “ oh right, cosmo,Wanda, I wish for us to be free from this bubble!” Timmy wished when his fairies proofed the bubble out of existence. “ what in Texas, the nicktoons unite? What are you doing here?” Sandy appearing out of nowhere scaring the team. “ sandy it’s plankton , he’s got the secret formula and possibly mr krabs!” SpongeBob explained shocking her. “ that’s horrible news SpongeBob, but I’ll help you guys out with any combat “ sandy smiled. “ would appreciate that, but we have to be careful with him, he’s part of the syndicate and has some gadgets to play with “ Danny warned her. “ oh don’t worry, I’ll be ready” sandy said. “ hellllooo plankton is probably causing more trouble!” Timmy said “ right, let’s go team..to the chum bucket!

At the chum bucket

Plankton had captured mr Krabs and had devious plans for to rub it in his face. He entered the room where he was tied and chuckled “ well krabs, I finally win with the secret formula in my grasp, I’ll rule bikini bottom hahaha!” He laughed shadowing over him. “ with the nicktoons unite out of the way, we will rule the universe as well, but for now it’s time to have some fun with you krabs” plankton said clinching his robotic clawed fists. “ umm we got a problem” Karen said showing the nicktoons unite heading towards them “ what?! How did they escape our bubble trap?! Oh well “ he said pushing a button. “ now you’ll watch krabs as I destroy your precious business and the nicktoons unite! Hahaha!” He said when the chum bucket turned into a giant robot armed to the teeth with weaponry going towards the krusty krab ready to stomp it into pieces. “Nooooooo! Not me business and money!” Krabs as plankton laughed until Danny punched his robot making him catch himself. “ it’s over plankton!” Timmy said when Wanda turned into a jetpack and cosmo into a giant hammer smacking him in the robotic eye blinding it. “ ahhh my robotic eye! Do you know how long it took to build that?!” He growled firing at Danny flying around him “ sorry plankton but it seems your tiny little brain isn’t smart enough to take us down” jimmy said using his robotic arms to get inside the robot when Danny did the same phasing inside. SpongeBob, sandy, and timmy was distracting him from noticing the two inside the robot. “ you free mr krabs, I’ll hack into the system” jimmy using his robotic arms to begin hacking into plankton’s system. “ on it” Danny said turning invisible and searched for mr krabs to free him from plankton.

Meanwhile at the port

Calamitous was busy at work “ my plan for our conquest has finally arrived after such a long time of waiting” he smiled. “ yeah and those fools are so busy fighting us to realize that we sent them on a wild goose chase! Hahaha!” Crocker laughed uncontrollably making calamitous eyes twitch “ silence you fool! You’re wasting time to build for our conquest, and your laughing is starting to give me a headache “ plasmius growled at him. “ oh..sorry” he smiled nervously as he went back to work as some bots gathered supplies for calamitous . “ what if they find out tho? They will be definitely come here to try to stop us” Crocker asked him. Calamitous grinned “ contact plankton “ calamitous told a syndicate bot. They saluted “yes lord calamitous “ the bot said contacting plankton for him.

Back at bikini bottom

Danny found where mr Krabs was tied up in and freed him “ I found him” Danny said on his earpiece “ great work,I’m almost done with the hack, that little insect won’t have his toy to play with soon” jimmy grinned. “ aw man but I’m enjoying destroying his toys!” Timmy said destroying a laser cannon “ my cannons, Oh now my back account is so dead!” Plankton said swiping at SpongeBob who was using his karate gear to smack his attacks. “ 3…2..1” jimmy said when the hack went into motion. “ huh? Why are you not destroying them? What is happening?!” Plankton said pushing buttons. “ play time is over plankton!“ Danny said freezing him with his ice powers“ I’ll be taking that “ mr krabs said taking away the secret formula in his safe “ nooooooo! Curse you all! I had bikini bottom in my grasp!” Plankton said. “ but you will soon once again” a voice said as plankton was teleported out of the ice and disappeared. “ that voice, calamitous!” Jimmy said as calamitous appeared on the screen “ what’s up morons!” Crocker said until he was pushed away. “ quiet you!” Calamitous said “ I’m afraid you are too late to stop us, our robotic army is almost complete! I had Crocker and plankton distract you fools while I worked on our real plan hahaha!” Calamitous laughed. “ we’ll stop you and your tin cans!” Danny said pointing at him. “ oh really? We have upgraded our bots to the max!, but here’s a little gift for you all falling for our trick” calamitous said pushing a button. “ self destruct in one minute “ a robotic voice said “ goodbye..nicktoons unite hahahaha!” Calamitous said as the screen turned off. Danny grabbed mr krabs and jimmy and phased throughout the robot before it exploded into bubbles. “ what the?” Danny said “ got you hahaha! But try to stop us if you can” calamitous said trolling them. “ ooh he’s getting on my nerves!” Wanda said. “ seriously he’s just playing with us!” Timmy said. “ he is and he did trick us good with the other members, but he was a bit clumsy “ jimmy said grabbing a metal sheet with the syndicate logo on it. “ I’ll just scan this and tada! He’s at a port in California” jimmy said “ I’ll call Ella to send some backup in case they activate their army” jimmy said typing on his wrist. Ella got the message “ Jenny, zim,and mighty b you’re needed in California “ Ella said contacting the three. “ heading there now “ Jenny said flying away “ zim will conjure all!” Zim said flying in his ship. “ mighty b to the rescue!” Might b said saluting. “ l like waffles!” Gir said calling back. “ I’m sure you do gir” Ella said hanging up and calling jimmy to tell him backup is on their way. Jimmy grinned creating a portal to California and used the data to arrive to the port.

The nicktoons unite arrived at the port after searching for it for a while

“ backup is arriving..now” Ella said when they heard a rocket to see Jenny land in front of them “ hey guys” Jenny said waving. Zim laughed coming out of his ship “ zim has arrived to conquer the universe! Hahaha!” He laughed as they looked at him. “ make way for the mighty b” mighty b said jumping from some crates. “ you guys must be the backup” jimmy said as the three nodded “ you betcha!, we heard something wicked is happening at this port” mighty b said. “ it’s calamitous, he put us on a wild goose chase with Crocker and plankton “ jimmy said. “ that inferior punk!” Zim said clinching his fists in anger “ that no good trickster, but he sure tricked you guys good” Jenny said. “ yeah he sure did” Danny said. “ but not anymore, we’re here to stop their plans once for all!” Timmy said. “ let’s get them!” Mighty b said bringing out an arrow as Jenny punched her hand with her fist and zim smiled wickedly cracking his fists.

Calamitous spotted them “ impossible! How did they find me?!” He growled. “ oh way to go cookieduster! Some genius who leaves technology laying around for boy genius to find your secret dock..way to go champ“ plasmius looking at him .” nevermind, I’ll just send them a distraction while We get away with my supplies and continue to build our ultimate army!” He laughed pushing a button when the ground began to shake transforming his workshop into a ship making their escape. “ this will keep them busy haha!” He laughed pushing a button on a remote when flying in their sights

“ there getting away!” Jimmy said pointing to the ship. “ uhhh guys” SpongeBob said. “ what is it?” Danny asked him “ we got company” he said pointing to some syndicate bots beginning to surround them. “ oh yeah I’m been waiting for this!” Timmy said when cosmo turned into a big green hammer and Wanda into a wish ray blasting at two then charging at them. Zim laughed pinching some then becoming a deadly tornado to slice through some “ gir attack!” He ordered when gir laughed throwing some waffles at two when the butter made them spark then collapsed onto the floor. “ I didn’t me- oh forget it” zim said heading towards one. Danny flew towards three freezing them using his ice powers then ghost powers to blast them into pieces. SpongeBob blew bubbles trapped some in bubbles as jimmy uses his robotic arms with ray guns to fire at the trapped bots destroying them in the process. Jenny and mighty b finished the last of them when mighty b jabbed her arrow into one turning it off as Jenny created a buzz saw to slice the last one who was blasting at her. The team saw the parts scattered all around the ground but they didn’t celebrate they just looked at the sky seeing that they escaped.”They got away” jimmy said clinching his fist glaring at the sky as did the others. They got away, which meant the syndicate was about to begin their plans to take over the universe.

The team headed back to the headquarters to tell Ella that the syndicate escaped. “ that no good cookieduster! He tricked us!” she growled when of her robotic clawed hand punched a metal wall showing her anger. She calmed down. “ but not to worry, we’ll be ready for them when they strike” she told the team. “ you bet we will, they are not going to trick us again” jenny said as they all agreed. “ now who wants waffles?!” Gir said as everyone looked shocked when gir laughed uncontrollably and zim smacking his face.

Meanwhile at the syndicate lair

Calamitous was hard at work creating his army as did plasmius using his genius and powers to create some when the microchip was placed into them. He tricked the nicktoons unite to gather his supplies, and now he was beginning to put his plans into motion. What evil awaited the team? what plans were the syndicate about to use? Who knew what the syndicate was planning to do next? One thing to say is that the syndicate has truly returned and was starting their conquest on the combined universe…soon. “ ah yes, I think this will definitely bring us back to our flare we had before for sure, not just with an army but we are finally making great plans instead of childish ones haha! “ plasmius said pushing a button to activate the factory machine to create more microchips for their army. “ oh and calamitous, while we wait on our army, why don’t we have some fun in the meantime” Plasmius grinned wickedly as did calamitous “ yes, we should indeed have some fun” he smiled as everyone’s laughter echoed throughout the lair.

[themightymoose]

So you know the whole choosing names at random from that stupid hat scene? Well, of course you do. And you know how they said each time Russell was picked?

Objection!

This one very very clearly says "Vinnie" the capitalized V at the beginning says it all so it not only definitely does not say Russell but it's for sure Vinnie.

Yes, I know it's most likely an animation error especially given that the scene with Minka picking was so quick if I didn't pause in just the right moment I wouldn't now, but I still find it so incredibly bizarre. Like, huh??? Did they just not make a string with Russell's name but since they had Vinnie's done already they just went with him?

wait I swear I see an S on one of the cards

Yeah but that hat thing was so stupid though. I feel for Russell, and the way Zoe was acting??? She did this with Sunil too, does she act like that in the future? God I hope not. But I do actually love Penny and Pepper's role in the episodes. Being supportive friends and not putting up with her bs.

Zoe definitely deserved to be hit in the head though

Okay but imagine while the pets are hiding out in Blythe's thing (I forgot what it's called) an exchange like this happens

"Guys... I just realized something."

"What's that?"

"Why didn't we just take Russell's name out of the hat so there would be no chance that we pick his name?"

"..."

"....... Oh shit-"

[adrianasunderworld]

💕Gift for a Godmother💕

A valentines drabble of Crowley wanting to get Clara a present.

@mangacupcake @marrondrawsalot @writing-heiress @the-weirdos-mind

💝💝💝

The council was not very helpful. And by council he meant his ward and young cousin he had gone to for an opinion on what to buy for Valentine's Day.

Crowley sat on the living room floor of Ramshackle, his laptop open in front of him on the coffee table,several tabs open to various shopping websites. His coat and hat tossed aside on the nearby chair. He wishes he was better at gift giving. He had known Clara for years, getting her a gift should have been easier than this.

Dreary and Isabelle also sat on the floor, just as perplexed, eating the snacks he brought to bribe them into helping him.

“What about shoes?” Isabelle suggested through a mouth half filled with candy, “She always has the best shoes.”

“ Yes, but what kind?” That had been his first thought. “She buys every pair she wants from all her favorite brands. Everytime I peak at her wishlist it's seems to be after she's already bought them.”

“You mentioned she likes clothes,” Dreary said, “Maybe that? Or accessories, like a handbag.”

“Similar problem,” Dire said as he looked through the tabs of all her favorite shops. There was very few things Clara did not possess. If she didn't, it was not her style at all. He had known her long enough to tell her taste at a glance and somehow that made it all the more difficult to find something just right.

“What do you normally do for Valentine's anyways?” The prefect asked.

“A standard card, and flowers she likes,” Crowley replied, thinking of all the years past. They had been standard gifts, and he never forgot a year. “But I want to do something different this year, even if it's a small gift.”

“But why?” Dreary asked, leaning forward with her chin resting in her hands. Isabelle leaned forward as well. “What changed?”

Suddenly the Headmage felt coming to Ramshackle was a mistake as both girls looked at him expectantly for an answer. He cleared his throat and tried to play it off. “No reason. Just felt doing something different to show my appreciation for my fellow Headmage.”

“Uh huh. Now what's that real reason?” Isabelle replied, clearly not buying a word of it.

“It's ok, Dire. You can tell us.” Dreary said softly.

Crowley knew they would not leave him alone now. He could already picture them in his office pestering to tell. “I just… Want to make it special this year. Nothing big has happened to warrant it I suppose. I simply want to give her something she deserves for a change.”

“Translation: You like her and want to actually shoot your shot.” Isabelle said.

“Not how I would have put it, but in a manner of speaking, yes.”

Dreary seemed excited at this development. “That's sweet! I think this will go well.”

“Before you get your hopes up, I need a gift.”

“Ok well what does she like besides fashion?” Isabelle asked as she grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil. “You might be able to narrow it down more if you just make a list.”

“Besides clothing and shoes, she has one of the biggest sweet tooths I think I've ever seen. Especially for pumpkin flavored treats. Pie, coffee, you name it. It's one of the few things she refuses to share. She loves pastel colors. If it comes in a soft pink or blue, she'll take it everytime. Oh, she loves Romance movies and novels. She always insists she doesn't cry at them, but the happy endings always get to her-”

Dreary and Isabelle glanced at each other as Dire rambled on about Headmage Cristalería.

“-and don't even get me started on her and the autumn time-”

“Dire!” Dreary interrupted. “What about hobbies?”

“Hm? Oh she absolutely adores miniatures.”

“Miniatures?” Isabelle asked. “Like dollhouse stuff?”

“Yes, she's always found them cute. But she likes making and getting them for her mice and the pixies of White Ash to enjoy. She also adores her mice. She's told me she's looked after the mice in the school since she was a child, they mean a great deal to her.” As he said it, Dire finally had an idea. “Wait a minute.”

“What?” Dreary leaned over to see what he was looking up and smiled approvingly. “These are adorable.”

Isabelle peeked as well at the screen to look at the online store Dire was scrolling through. “Aw. She'll like these.”

“I hope so.”

***

“Good morning, Prudence.” Clara greeted her assistant as she walked into the main office of the school.

“Good morning, Headmage.” The woman replied with a nod of her head.

“Anything of note this morning?”

“No, but a delivery came for you shortly after I came in. I left it on your desk.”

“Delivery?” Clara asked, trying to think of what it could it could be. “I wasn't expecting any deliveries.”

“It's seems to be a gift, ma'am. The tag said it was from Mr. Crowley of Night Raven.”

“Ah, I see. I'll take a look at it now. Thank you Prudence.” Clara opened the door to her office and was immediately greeted to the sight of a bouquet of white and pink roses in a glass vase on her desk.

She smiled at the sight as she admired the flowers, picking out the card that was addressed to her from it.

Then she noticed the two small boxes as well. One of the mice that was always sniffing around her office seemed rather interested in the smaller box. Opening it, she noticed it had the logo of a bakery she regularly went to, so she was delighted to see it full of her favorite pumpkin cookies inside. She was already thinking of how they would taste with her morning coffee. Before she got ahead of herself, she opened the slightly larger box. In it was a miniature open carriage. Pink with all the intricate little details molded onto the side painted in silver, it's little seats made with a soft white material. Clara thought it was adorable with all its little details. She set it down, the mouse scurried over to it to investigate. Crawling in, the little seat was just the right size for the little creature.

“Is that comfortable, Augusta?” Clara asked as she reached over to pet her.

Augusta the mouse squeaked in approval.

The fae woman chuckle to herself a bit before finally opening the card.

I hope you enjoy these gifts. I wanted you to have something special this year, simply because you deserve it. Happy Valentine's - Dire Crowley

Clara smiled. As obnoxious as Dire was, he knew when to be sweet. She picked up her phone as she sat in her chair, looking at Augusta the mouse drift off to sleep in the tiny carriage.

“Good morning, Clara.”

“Hello, Dire. I just got your gifts.”

“I hope you liked them.”

“I did, I wanted to call and thank you. They're very sweet.”

“I'm glad. Clara, now that I have you on the phone, I hope you'll let me treat you to dinner as well tonight if you're not busy.”

The corner of her lips curled up into a smile. “I'd like that, Dire.”