#ok there is so much history this is just the big picture

[pandemic-info]

"Any chance we're wrong about Covid?"

It's a valid question many people earnestly think about — even the very cautious.

'it becomes important to ask: "what does the data actually say?"'

Quoting a few good answers from a thread:

"Covid left me disabled in 2020. I know with 100% certainty that I am not wrong about Covid. I live with the proof every minute of every day for the rest of my life."

"The insurance companies and government statisticians care, or rather they have taken an objective interest." > https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNU01074597 > https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/insurance-industry-coalition-forms-non-profit-to-study-excess-mortality

"There are parallels between how governments are responding to COVID-19 and how they responded to tobacco back in the day. “it would be a mistake to assume governments would automatically protect people from a public health threat in the face of more immediate economic considerations…there would be resistance to change that might be costly until evidence to justify it was overwhelming.”" > https://johnsnowproject.org/insights/merchants-of-doubt/

"I suspect most of us entertain this thought from time to time, especially when it’s this absurdly difficult and lonely to maintain a Covid Conscious lifestyle. But it’s important to remember that history is littered with people making terrible choices en masse: with handling past pandemics, the holocaust, slavery, witch burnings, etc. Hell pretty much everyone used to smoke and putting lead in everything was A-ok. Just because a lot of people believe something doesn’t mean they’re right. So it becomes important to ask what does the data actually say? The research and the statistical data on this subject paint an ugly but fairly quantifiable picture by which we can gauge our understanding of the situation and our choices in response to it. Read the science. Look at the data on things like Long Covid. There are also many of us who have already had our health absolutely ravaged by this virus or lost loved ones to it etc., and everyone in that position has first hand evidence for how dangerous this virus is. It’s tremendously difficult to swim against the current like we are and self-doubt is natural in those conditions, but that’s when seeking out factual information on the subject is the best course of action."

"But what it all comes back to for me is - say we're wrong, and covid is a big nothingburger and lockdowns are the root of all evil. Ok, well, what I'm doing is acting on the best information available to me at this time to protect my family. I can't regret that. I will always be able to look my kids in the eye and say "I did my best with what I had."" ... So if we're wrong - well, we wore masks, changed our social habits, reduced our consumerism and our contribution to the destruction of our planet, and reduced how often we got sick. None of those things are bad. If they're wrong, they and their kids are screwed. I'd rather err on the side of caution.

[222prettysickgirl777]

18+

spencer is into tying you up. nothing too crazy, but he likes when you sit there in your pretty lingerie, hands behind your back like a good girl as he carefully ties you up. he likes to see your curves hugged in rope. it makes you look so soft. the contrast of your soft smooth skin and the lace of your underwear and the rope just does something to him. it’s not about him dominating you, it’s about how eagerly you submit. you like it, you like how gentle he is and watching his hands work. he likes how sweet and happy you are when he does it, like it’s a love language. it’s definitely a kind of affection for you guys.

nsfw ↓

it mostly started as a joke. you noticed he had some strange figurines on his desk at home. he told you what it was, went into the history of it and everything. somehow he made it sound not creepy or intimidating at all. when you stared at them, biting your lip with curiosity, he asked if it was something you might be interested in, and when you said yes, he helped you explore it safely.

the first few times you don’t do anything sexual, you don’t even get naked just wearing comfy shorts and a t shirt. for him it really is an art form, a way to decorate you and worship your beauty. you still don’t always have sex that way. sometimes you just try new patterns together and then he tells you how beautiful you look or he’ll tie your hand or thigh in a decorative way for fun as you watch tv or something. sometimes he carefully ties your arms behind your back and leaves you kneeling on the bed, legs spread prettily looking at his with those big eyes, so he can touch you however he wants for however long he wants. usually if he’s going to fuck you he likes to untie you first so you can wrap your arms and legs around him while you gasp. usually.

both of you like when he moves your body around for you, carefully manhandling you. you like how he decides what’s going to happen to you while somehow staying so respectful, praising you for sitting so still, looking so pretty all done up for him, asking if it feels comfortable. he thinks it’s so hot to watch you self tie too. while he’s gone on cases sometimes you’ll tie yourself up and send him pictures or videos and it makes him crazy, knowing you love it so much you do it to yourself when he’s gone. you practice for fun. and cos you like to make him proud, imagining the way he slips his phone out of his pocket at work and quickly checks it just to see you sent him some pictures. the small smile he would have as he looked at them or even just realized what they were without opening cos he thinks it’s sweet.

when he is home, he unties you with so much care, and then he kisses and caresses your skin wherever it’s red from the ropes pressing in and cuddles with you for an hour at least. sometimes he’ll run you a bath but no matter what he’ll afterward rub lotion into the irritated skin to make sure it’s soothed and doesn’t hurt you. and he always consistently checks to make sure it’s something you still like and reminds you you don’t have to do it and makes sure to regularly have intimacy without any of the tying so you know it’s not the ropes he loves.

but he adores seeing you like that. so vulnerable and comfortable with him and feeling safe.

i know not everyone will agree or like this headcanon and that’s ok that’s why it’s called a headcanon cos it’s only canon in MY head doesn’t have to be in urs xx

that first picture just feels so spencer to me he’d be so gentle with you and take such good care of you. spencer my pretty boy angel <3.

[swampthingking]

“i’m sorry that you think i’ll never understand” keeps me up at night. nora. what do you have planned for captain sunshine.

(this is right after jeremy, laila, and cat find out that the ravens weren’t responsible for the “hazing” injuries, and then jeremy calls kevin and finds out that riko broke his hand).

what do you mean “i’m sorry you think i’ll never understand” ???

and there’s been so many other people on here that have gathered evidence for jeremy’s backstory that i have done it much better than i can, so i think it’s obvious that we all know jeremy has been through some sort of trauma/s. but hello, this line makes me wonder about specific abuse, and to what extent. given nora’s history with horrific ml backstory reveals, i don’t have hopes that jeremy’s backstory is something…”normal” i guess? in comparison to what other aftg characters have going on. i don’t think it will be just that jeremy’s family is fucked up and they blame him for something happening at the banquet.

there’s something more happening with the mysterious missing knox sibling and the estranged relationship between jeremy and his existing siblings. jean has experienced maliciously targeted physical, sexual, and mental abuse, and the specific language of the line, “i’m sorry that you think i’ll never understand,” reveals something (at least to me) in its obstruction, which is, “i would understand better than most.”

i don’t want to immediately jump to sexual abuse—but to me, this is where it’s leading to. i don’t want to automatically mirror jeremy’s character with andrew’s, but at this point, the extent of jean’s abuse has culminated into something undeniable.

and now i’m like ok nora what the Fuck do you have planned … i’m putting 2 and 2 together and idk if it equals 4 but i’m scared that jeremy’s missing sibling isn’t in the picture because there was some sort of abuse inflicted by them onto jeremy. and jeremy reported it, and maybe the sibling was arrested at the banquet, or there was a big fight at the banquet because of it. step-grandpa is a congressman, so it was either covered up or it’s a “shame” thing that jeremy “allowed” the abuse to happen… guys idk. then there’s the exy conflict in there somehow and how shameful it is that he still plays??? anywho

[tyrantisterror]

Who's THE Devil?

You know, from, like, The Bible?

One of the things the various takes on Hell more or less agree on is that there is one demon among the legions of Hell who more or less reigns supreme - The Devil with a capital The. What they rarely agree on, however, is which devil that is. So, for funsies, let's look at all the candidates for The Devil, shall we?

Belial

The concept of demons arguably predates Abrahamic religions, at least if we take it at its most nebulous definition of "supernatural people from an Other world who are somewhat antagonistic toward humanity." But the more specific and probably more familiar version of them began with The Book of Enoch, one of many texts that were deemed non-canonical by Christians yet still holds a great deal of influence on Christianity as a whole. It's an extended account of the Noah story, positing that a group of angels rebelled against heaven because they wanted to sleep with mortal women, and created a race of giant half-human half-angel offspring called the Nephilim (Goliath, of David and Goliath fame, was one of the nephilim). God wasn't happy with this, and sent the rebel angels to a fiery pit before killing most of the nephilim with the big ol' flood (though Goliath's lineage survived somehow I guess).

It's not quite how most people picture the War in Heaven and rebellion of the angels, but it's nonetheless where that story started, and that makes it important. This is the first take on what would become the classic origin story for demons and Hell itself. And who is the leader of the rebel angels in this story? Why our good friend Belial, of course. Belial would remain a prominent demon from hereafter, but despite having the earliest claim for the crown of The Devil, Belial has not remained the frontrunner in the race, and is generally demoted to just being a high ranking demon, rather than the Highest ranking one.

2. Beelzebub

I've talked about Beelzebub before and I don't want to spend too much time rehashing that post, so brief recap: Beelzebub began as a mean nickname for a god from a rival religion to Judaism who was named Baal Zebul, which means Lord of the Heavenly Place. Baal Zebub, by contrast, means "Lord of the Flies." Eventually Baalzebub becomes Beelzebub and, divorced from the original context of its creation, becomes a character in his own right, being a prominent demon. And because Beelzebub appeared in a lot of texts, many of them very old as demonology go, he became a major competitor for the title of The Devil, and remains so to this day. I think it's partly because the name "Beelzebub" is really fun to say, but the sheer history and volume of demonology texts portraying him as a big, powerful devil also help. In the rare stories where Beelzebub appears but does not get to be The Devil, he's still portrayed as fairly high ranking, with both Milton's Paradise Lost and Marlowe's Faust making him The Devil's right hand demon, second in command of Hell. So even when he loses the crown, Beelzebub takes home a good silver medal

3. Asmodeus

Asmodeus is another of our "predates Christianity" demons, right up there with Beelzebub and Belial, and as far as I can tell from what I've read he was originally intended to be The Devil rather than just a devil. It's kind of right there in the name - "deus" means god, so Asmodeus having that name marks him as a demon who thinks himself equal to God.

(well, ok, there's some debate about the full origin of his name, with some arguing the "deus" part was originally a play on "deva," which in turn is loosely translated as... demon. The fact that Asmodeus's name is pronounced/spelled differently to a preposterous degree is part of why the water is so muddy - Asmoday, Asmodai, Asmodee, Osmodeus, it goes on and on)

One of his better claims to the crown comes from the story of Solomon - you know, the wise king who told people to cut babies in half. Solomon's less canonical feats include enslaving a shitload of demons to build a temple for him by way of the rite of exorcism, using a magic ring and the power of Christ to compel the damned to do manual labor for him. Asmodeus is specifically stated to be the strongest demon he summons in part because he is the King of all Demons, i.e. The Devil - and the other demons weep at the sight of their king being reduced to a slave by mortal hands.

Why is this a strong claim? Because the story of Solomon in turn inspired The Lesser Key of Solomon, a text about using the rite of exorcism to summon and use demons to do your bidding. The Lesser Key of Solomon includes the Ars Goetia, which is basically a big ol' bestiary of demons, and where many of your favorite pop culture demons - like, say, Stolas the owl guy - come from. Being the King of all demons in the story that inspired one of the more thorough and exhaustive lists of demons and their hierarchies should count for a lot.

There's one other great claim to fame Asmodeus has in his favor. While not directly named in Dante's The Divine Comedy, the description Dante gives of Satan's physical appearance matches with the most popular descriptions of Asmodeus - in particular, his three heads, one of which is yellow, one red, and one black. Granted, it'd be more of a smoking gun if one of those heads was a bull and the other a goat, but they're all very ogre-like, so I still think it stands. Dante's Devil is, more likely than not, Asmodeus, and that's a BIG point in Asmodeus's favor.

4. Hades/Pluto

Ok, so, a great deal of the Old Testament was originally written in Greek, and the New Testament was written in Latin, both of which happened when belief in the Olympian Gods was pretty strong. As such, the word "Hades" appears in the Bible a lot when talking about the place where dead people go, though it probably wasn't meant to literally be the same underworld as that in Greco-Roman mythology. Probably.

But because Christianity was spread primarily by the Roman empire once they converted to Christianity, and because Europe ended up getting a centuries-long case of stockholm syndrome for the Roman Empire that involved many people in power declaring that Greco-Roman mythology was super important literature and Latin was the language of God Himself, there is a good chunk of Biblical apocrypha that treats the use of Hades as, well, a literal crossover of sorts. Which is to say that Hades the god is sometimes treated as, like, a figure in Christianity, generally a demon specifically. And because he's, you know, Hades, from, like, The Odyssey, people feel he needs to be prominent. I mean, Hades RULED the underworld in Greek mythology, so if we're stealing him for Christian folklore, he should at least be in upper management, right?

The strongest case for Hades being The Devil comes from The Book of Revelation, one of the few books in the Bible that actually contributes to demonology (despite what people tell you, demons really don't show up in the Bible that much - most of what we think of as iconic demon lore come from non-canonical works). You know the four horsemen of the apocalypse? War, Famine, Plague, and Death, right? HA, WRONG! It's Conquest, War, Famine, and Pestilence & Death, you fake horseman fan. Well, anyway the line that introduces Death/Pestilence & Death ends with "And Hell followed with him." Except, no, not really, because the specific word used is... Hades. "And Hades followed with him." Which, depending on how you want to interpret the line, could very well mean a literal, King of the Underworld Hades.

Of course, the problem with using Revelation as proof is that Revelation itself is pretty unclear on who's leading the forces of evil. Is it the Seven-Headed dragon who's cast out of Heaven at the beginning of the end of the world? Is it the seven headed leopard monster that the dragon gives his crown to? Is it the monster who crawls out of the ground to speak for the seven-headed leopard with the voice of a dragon? Is it Hades? Is it God, the one who's allowing all this violent shit to happen and frequently sending his angels to make it way fucking worse? Who can say.

So, while it's not super common, there are more than a few works where The Devil is none other than Hades himself. Disney... might not have been completely off the mark, I guess?

While I think Hades's claim is pretty weak, I should note that one of the works that puts a LOT of Greek mythology into Hell is none other than Dante's The Divine Comedy. 70% of the demons in Dante's Hell are just Greek monsters, with the remaining few being Asmodeus and some OC demons he made up with portmanteu names a la Pokemon. Notably, Hades is one of those demonized Greek figures - presented as the Judge who decides where in Hell sinners end up based on their crimes. He's not The Devil, though, so while Dante kind of helps Hades's case, he also kind of ends up making a counter argument to it.

5. Abaddon/Apollyon

Ok, so, the word "abaddon" is used in some texts to refer to Hell, and sometimes it's personified as well. It literally means "ruin." Well, in time, Abaddon is personified and become a demon, which should feel like a familiar story to you by this point. And because Abaddon can also literally be Hell itself, it's only natural that some stories posit Abaddon the demon as the rule of Hell, much as Hades is the ruler of Hades in Greek mythology. This is Abaddon's big claim, and it's not bad, but it's not super strong. Nonetheless, it was enough for at least one prominent Christian text, Pilgrim's Progress, to make Abaddon (under one of his synonym names, Apollyon) to be The Devil, so we can give him that too.

6. Sheol

The sections of the Bible that are written in Hebrew use the word "Sheol" to refer to the underworld/afterlife rather than Hades. Now, Judaism doesn't have the same Hell as Christianity, or the same concept of Heaven either for that matter, and Sheol is less a place of torment for the damned and more of a waiting room for the dead to hang out in until the Messiah comes.

Nonetheless, Sheol did get personified like Abaddon and Hades, and that personification (which, in some versions, is a batty old lady, which is fun) later became a demon in its own right, and thus, for the same reasons as Abaddon and Hades, has a claim to being The Devil by dint of also being, you know, Hell itself. Not the strongest, most popular claim, no, but a claim nonetheless.

7. Satan

Feels rather obvious, doesn't it? Ok, so, in The Bible, one of the characters who was retconned into being The Devil is the angel in the Book of Job who takes on the title of Satan. In the original context of the story, "Satan" is not a name, but, again, a title - a job title, really, roughly akin to "prosecuting attorney." The Satan in the Book of Job isn't a rebel angel, but an angel whose job is to argue for the opposing view point to make sure everyone is doing the right thing. Less "The Devil" and more "the devil's advocate."

But! Christians fucking LOVE the devil, and they want more devil in their Bible, so many translations treat (the) Satan not as the hard-working servant of God he was originally written as, but as, you know, The Devil, arch-enemy of God and justice. And so Satan becomes synonymous with The Devil, and over time more and more appearances of The Devil give him the name Satan.

I can see an argument for this being the strongest claim, because the sheer amount of works where "Satan" is treated as The name of The Devil is enormous. But I think it's important to note that many of those works actually treat it as a name for the devil, which is to say, not the only name. I guess a lot of modern works think the name is so commonly used that it lacks its punch, and so they have The Devil pull the "I have many names" schtick to sound more imposing.

8. Lucifer

So there's a part of the Bible that talks about a star falling out of Heaven as a sort of metaphor for how people can fall from grace. Well, good ol' King James translated this as not just a falling star, but specifically The Devil himself, giving him the name Lucifer, which means "light-bringer." The King James translation of the Bible is bad in that it's immensely inaccurate, but good in that it's a beautiful piece of poetry in its own right, and since it had the authority of a goddamn king behind it, it quickly became a prominent Christian text and is still the preferred translation of many Christian sects to this day.

So, you know, that's pretty fucking big as claims go. There is one incredibly prominent (if woefully inaccurate) translation of the Bible where Lucifer is The Devil. Kind of hard to fight that one.

But it doesn't end there! I would argue that the most influential origin story for Christian devils, the one that has become ingrained in the cultural consciousness as THE story of the War in Heaven, is Milton's poem Paradise Lost. That's where most of the tropes we associate with The Devil and demons and Hell really come together to form the great devil mythology - well, it and Dante's The Divine Comedy, anyway. You know which name Milton chose for The Devil?

Lucifer.

Well, ok, he also calls Lucifer "Satan" with about equal frequency, but still - Lucifer is The Devil of Paradise Lost. And because of the sheer weight that both Paradise Lost and the King James Bible have in culture, Lucifer has ended up being used as The Devil in countless works since! Not bad for a translation error, right?

While the sheer number and notability of literature that uses Lucifer as The Devil is kind of argument enough for him having the best claim, I'd like to add one more argument in his favor: dramatic irony. I think what draws people to Lucifer is the meaning of his name - "the light-bringer" - and how it contrasts with his role as the king of a pit of darkness and misery. "Light-bringer" is a heroic name, the name of a character who brings hope and joy, which makes it so delicious when it turns out our "light-bringer" is an utter bastard. It's just irresistible, isn't it?

9. Mephistopheles

A good number of demon stories - arguably the majority of them - focus on mortals who make deals with demons and end up damned to Hell for doing it. We call these stories "faustian pacts," and we do that because the most famous story of this kind is the story of Faust, a scientist/alchemist who makes a deal with a devil named Mephistopheles to learn the secrets of the universe and ends up doing a lot of sinning in the process. Since Faust is such a famous and influential story, it only follows that its main devil is frequently viewed as The Devil.

...except

In most versions of Faust, Mephistopheles is not presented as The Devil within the narrative. He's a henchman, a flunkie, with one of the bigger names like Lucifer or Beelzebub pulling the strings. So while there are a number of stories (including a few versions of Faust itself) where Mephistopheles gets to be The Devil, it's far more common for him to be a devil - perhaps a prominent devil, maybe even one of the strongest and a close member of The Devil's inner circle, but rarely the one in charge.

10. Baphomet

Baphomet is a god whose name and appearance was repurposed as a demon by The Church of Satan, and so while I have to admit that is a claim to the crown, I don't think it's a great one. First, nothing about the Church of Satan's belief system is meant to be taken genuinely, with them admitting that they view Satan/Baphomet as a symbol rather than a literal supernatural being they believe in. Second, by rights Baphomet should be allowed to be Baphomet instead of being literally demonized. I honestly think it's better for Baphomet to lose this race than to win it.

11. Iblis

Demons in Islam work differently from demons in Christianity. Rather than being fallen angels, demons are wicked Djinn - a race of people made from fire and smoke rather than ash and dirt like humans. Djinn aren't quite as powerful as angels in Islam, but do have significant supernatural powers that humans lack. Like humans, Djinn have free will and can choose whether to be good or evil - and those that choose to be evil reside in Islam's version of Hell, where they are ruled by Iblis, the first Djinn to choose the wicked path and the ruler of Islam's Hell.

Unlike Christianity, there isn't really any debate on this. Iblis is, for all intents and purposes, the CANONICAL ruler of Hell, The Devil of Islam, and thus has the strongest and really ONLY claim to be The Devil of that religion.

...but, at the same time, Iblis can't really be the Christian devil, because Christianity doesn't have Djinn, and all the iconic parts of Christian demonology kind of hinge on the idea of demons as rebel angels, which demonic djinn very much aren't. So while Iblis's claim in Islam is irefutable, he doesn't have one in Christianity. Ain't that wacky?

I think it should be noted that there are more-or-less canonical texts where Iblis isn't treated as purely evil, either, including one where he actively asks for help in repenting and is turned down because, well, evil has to exist, and someone has to rule over it, and like it or not, that's Iblis's job now. It ends with Iblis wailing that he has become the greatest martyr of Islam. Which is so fucking hardcore, I love it. In Christianity, the texts where we humanized demons are non-canonical at best and deemed heresy at worst, but Islam allowed it to be more-or-less canon. They saw the coolest takes on the Devil and said "yeah we can allow that" - so much more rad than what Christianity did with them.

~

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So, who do YOU think is The Devil? You know, from, like, The Bible?

[awkwardgtace]

Not Quite A Breakfast Date

Eepy!! we did it folks. The 31 days have happened. Just took like.... til april of 2025. We got more Felix and Maxxie. This time in mafia AU!!

Maxxie was taken by some mafia goons to be a living candy. When they plan to give him to a guest that's expected to kill him he runs away. Surrounded by giants should be a dream, but they'd all actually eat him. If only he could find a safe place (and maybe a hot giant to save him)

Not Quite A Breakfast Date

I barely remembered my life before I started my ‘career’. At least if you could call giants paying to taste you a career. It was easy, fun, and there was minimal danger. Giants eating people was a thing of the past. History long forgotten. Until… (pause for a dramatic sigh) until a mafia goon tasted me and decided it would be fun to keep me around.

Every night I listened to the screams of humans less lucky than me. I couldn’t remember the last time I actually slept. Not with those screams. Begging for freedom, begging to live. At least I was safe… until I wasn’t. A benefit to my sleepless nights. I caught wind of the plan.

Some important visitor was coming. One that I would entertain, it had happened before. The one who took me hated the idea, said he didn’t want me killed by someone else. I took it as my cue (exit stage everywhere) to run. They thought I was well behaved because I didn’t beg and plead like the others. A bigger benefit than I thought.

If only the damned place wasn’t so big. I could barely move without running into another giant. If I could trust they wouldn’t try to eat me I might like it here. Let’s be honest, you don’t end up in my line of work without a thing for giants. Positive or negative doesn’t matter, you have a thing and I had a thing.

The constant running for my life was not a part of that thing. In fact I hated it. I’d love to rest for five minutes (preferably with a hot giant). It wasn’t going to happen. Not while I had to keep moving. Which I did. Every time I thought I could relax there was a bang followed by voices saying I had to be close. Too much risk to stay still.

It was starting to weigh on me. It wasn’t easy to live without sleep… or food… or water. Ok I might be in danger. It was fine though. There were vents and if I got to one I could hide and be safe. Although it could broadcast my scent too. It was worth the risk.

Heavy, thudding steps came from nearby. I was screwed (in the bad, explicitly not fun way). Someone shouted and I bolted. The vent was close enough. So close. The steps came faster. Voices, one I recognized as the one who brought me here. Wind at my back just as I dove into the vent. Which didn’t have a floor.

The fall lasted an eternity. I managed to make peace with my death (sort of. I actually wanted very much to live). Luck was on my side as I landed on something soft and warm. I knew I should move. It was time to run. I couldn’t though. The warmth seeped into the aches I’d ignored. It couldn’t hurt to rest for a bit. The giants probably thought I died. I’d hear if any came close. It was safe…

My dreams conjured up a kind giant. One that held me close. Promised that he’d save me from this place and get me back to a normal life. Warm, gentle hands held me softly. I’d do anything to live in this dream. Well, as long as I had some kind of freedom. This was a dream though, he’d understand. So yes, I’d do anything to live in this dream.

The peace was destroyed by a sound I’d grown to know well. It would bring about screams and death. I could picture the others searching for any escape while I sat there. Apparently the only one who knew running would make you the first choice was me. The sound came again. Louder, hungrier and too real for me to pretend it was a dream. The worst part… (dun, dun, dun) it was beneath me. 

My eyes snapped open just as a hand smothered me. My stomach dropped as the giant moved with me along for the ride. My position was held firm, I wanted to scream. The pressure grew on my back, the stomach growled as if in response. Fingers eventually pressed into the body and surrounded me. 

“I need something to eat,” the giant yawned. The hand with me flew through the air. I hoped they’d bite and make it quick. The fingers released me, but I landed on a soft cloth surface instead of inside a mouth. “Wait here.”

The surface I was on creaked before rising. I risked looking up, just in time to see the giant leaving. He was fast… In the sudden quiet I chastised myself. I never should have fallen asleep somewhere I didn’t recognize. Not when giants that would eat me were all over the place. I should have recognized the feeling of where I was with how often I was manhandled or shoved in pockets.

Those thoughts were for later. Lectures were for later. I could do all of that and even ground myself once I was safe. The giant would be coming back and I had to get away before he did. I slept so now I could do it. That confidence fell as I took in my surroundings. The only thing close to me was the giant bed I’d been left on. A blanket was flat on the floor. Pillow thrown lazily to the other side of the room (weird imo. Who would throw their pillow away?). Not even a table within jumping distance.

“I’m dead…” the whisper slipped out as I fell to my knees.

The giant chose that moment to return with a large, to him, plate. Now, with a full view of the man, I saw I was going to die by someone hot. Somehow that did in fact make it worse. He was bigger than any giant I’d ever seen too. Which if the stories I’d heard from the humans before they’d been killed were true, meant one thing. This was a member of the Kamia mafia family, and they were some of the worst to humans.

It wasn’t the head. The others said he had white hair, this one had short black hair. Beige skin and a stocky build. I couldn’t remember which of the sons looked like that. The man got closer and I wracked my brain for any other discerning details. Then I saw his eyes. Golden… that meant the next in line and my death was more than assured. The other one would play with me and I’d have a chance to run. Not this one. I was well and truly fucked (still not in the good, fun way).

As the next in line stopped and stood over me, I tensed. He’d sit on the bed, I’d be thrown, he’d grab me, and I’d be barely a bite to him. The heavy thunk as he kneeled knocked me off my feet. His other knee followed the first to the ground. One final thunk as he sat before me.

The dish was placed next to me. Only then did I realize I’d stopped looking at him. From where it was placed I saw the slice of fruit he took and popped into his mouth. My size at least.

“I wasn’t sure what you eat,” he said. Voice deceptively soft. I heard the emotion beneath it. The hidden excitement. “There’s plenty, take all you want.”

As much as I wanted to refuse, my own stomach growled. Reluctantly, I looked at all the food he’d brought with him. The amount made my heart race. A bunch of pieces of fruit covered a fourth of it, eggs and bacon another, a bowl of oatmeal for the next, the last a bagel covered in…something red. I repeated over and over that the red was jam. The giant’s stomach growled again and I worried this wouldn’t be enough to keep me outside of there.

My only option was the bagel. (Ok not really, but I had to know what was on it.) Each of my steps were careful, precise even. I wouldn’t get the food all over me and make me more appealing. I had more than one customer who enjoyed that and I wasn’t interested in it when I’d follow it down. I could feel the golden eyes following each step. Predator and prey.

As I got closer I saw the bagel was cut oddly. A small sliver sliced out of it, but left standing against it. Before I reached it, the hand of the giant soared overhead and lifted the larger part. I slipped into the eggs as I tried to back away. With most of the bagel gone I saw a few dishes about waste high for me. All filled with spreads. One of which was the same red I'd been curious about.

“Sorry, I realized I didn’t pull it away to show the piece I’d cut for you, or the spreads,” he muttered. Again an attempt to feign disinterest. This time disappointment broke through. The smell around me made my stomach growl and I knew it was time to give in. I couldn’t actually remember the last time I’d eaten warm food.

If this giant wanted to kill me, fine. I would at least die full and moderately content that I could pretend I had a breakfast date with a hot giant for my last meal. The first bite reminded me how hungry I was. I started shoveling eggs into my mouth, desperate to get all I could before he killed me. I watched as he grabbed a piece of bacon bigger than me and popped it into his mouth.

“There’s plenty, you don’t have to rush,” he said between bites.

A part of me wanted to scream. Another part said this is kind of what I’d wanted in my dream. The smart part of me kept me quiet and continued to, slowly, eat. Of course all the parts of me thought of why he was letting me eat. Maybe he wanted a bigger snack or he wanted to keep me. Both awful, but both gave me a chance to live just a little longer.

I tried to force all the thoughts away as we ate. Especially as space on the dish cleared up. Each bite was at least my size if not bigger. By the time the giant stopped half the plate was cleared. I kept going for a little longer. A vain attempt to bore the giant into leaving. Before long my body lost the fight. The smell of the food in my hands made my stomach churn. I had to push myself away from it all.

“Are you done?” he asked. Pretending would get me nowhere, so I nodded.

In an instant the fingers were around me again. I hadn’t even heard him shift. The air blew by me as I was moved. There wasn’t time to close my eyes before the fingers loosened. Again no mouth to greet me, just the bed. A damp cloth in front of me.

“Get cleaned up,” he said, fighting back a yawn. It felt like an order and I decided to treat it like one. I grabbed the cloth, but I did it slowly. I controlled the speed.

Regret filled me as the giant stood. The dish was lifted up and away. I watched him move. A strange, cruel reality for me. I’d be trying to flirt if he wasn’t about to eat me. I mean warm hands, good looking, catering to me? As long as he let me have all the freedom I wanted he’d check all the boxes. Maybe he could if he continued not eating me. Too bad this was reality.

I wiped my arms slowly. Maybe he’d fall asleep and I could run. Though he was fast, I'd have to get away before he woke up. How would I outrun him? Maybe I could outmaneuver him, but I’d need him to be predictable for that to happen.Then there was the whole bigger than other giants thing… I started to pick up the pace in washing off the meal. Not because he’d told me to clean up, but because I was scared he’d kill me if I was too slow. Very different reasoning.

Apparently that increase was just in time. As I wiped the last of the meal from my face the giant returned. I did my best to stand tall as he neared. His steps had gotten heavier. They knocked me down and it didn’t look like he noticed. I’d always loved this part of being around giants, not so much right now. Not when I wanted to run away.

For a moment, as he towered over me, I wondered if he’d forgotten about me. If that was better or worse. The hands descended on me again. Well, only one actually. It wrapped around me like a cage. The giant sat on the bed making it creak and dip. Which then made me fall. The fingers kept me where I’d been sitting.

The fingers were gone. I crawled towards the damp cloth again. When I looked up his eyes were on me. I swore there was a hint of embarrassment in them. Not that I cared, I still had to get away.

“If you’re done we can go back to sleep…” he mumbled. That disinterest was gone, only embarrassment dripped from the words. “I uh… usually sleep without a shirt on. Are you… still ok with that?”

My eyes widened. With all the fear I missed the fact he was shirtless. I chose to blame the lack of everything required for a healthy mind. It did make the request (order? demand?) make more sense. Who would want someone sleeping on them when slightly coated in food?

(I have to say I am not a fool nor am I an idiot. A shirt would make it much easier to run. Especially if I got him to wear a baggier one. However, as I’ve made clear, I have a thing for giants. I am also fully aware that I am more likely to die than escape. With all of that noted we can continue) I nodded to sleep on the hot giant’s stomach before I died. The soft smile was definitely a nice touch.

To say I was filled with regret as fingers surrounded me would be an understatement. They lifted me into the air. Before I could blink I was pressed against him again. Soft, warm, comforting. Not what I should think when held against a man who would kill me. Hard when this was straight out of my dreams. He could act like the dread pirate Roberts and keep saying he'd kill me. That might be kind of hot too. (let’s be real it straight up would be)

The massive body moved. I could hear all the workings within it as he held me. Whooshing air, pumping heart, a gurgle from his stomach. All things that would easily lull me to sleep. 

The hand was gone as soon as his body went flat. I tried to squirm in a way that appeared to be getting comfortable. I only stopped when I had a good view of his face. He put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. Now, I had to wait.

Waiting proved hard. The sounds of his body. The gentle rise and fall as he breathed. The periodic peek of a golden eye to check on me. Each thing inexplicably made me feel safe. Eventually I lost my battle. Sleep took hold.

The dream was the same as earlier. This time the featureless giant was replaced with the Kamia holding me in reality. Gentle, kind, warm. Not what someone who’d eat me should be. Yet this wasn’t all that different from my experience. The man had been like that this whole time. It made it almost hard to tell that I was in a dream.

It was obvious once I opened my eyes that reality remained cruel. (Hot and deadly was the worst combination ever). The giant had his own eyes closed high above me. His body had a slow rise and fall. A sign of sleep. Now was the chance to run. I climbed to my feet. Managed a few steps before a hand surrounded me.

“What are you doing?” the giant asked. I spun around to face him. Eyes bright, fully awake. He’d never fallen asleep. Never was tired. It was a play. A trick at my expense. “You shouldn’t go off on your own. You know what’s going to happen out there. Anyone else would take the first chance to keep you for themself. Didn’t you…”

The giant trailed off as tears fell from me. I hadn’t expected to cry. Didn’t cry when they brought me here. Didn’t cry the times a mafia goon’s tasting session almost went too far. Didn’t cry as I watched dozens of other humans die for a giant’s snack. This was apparently my breaking point. Now I would die. (Look I’d had two nice dreams, been running for days, and honestly didn’t know what else to do anymore. Plus he was hot and I would much rather die to someone I am not attracted to).

The hands wrapped around me. Gently nudged me into the palms. As they did, loud knocking came from somewhere else. The hands pulled me close as the giant moved. I wiped at my eyes to try and stop the tears. Glad there was enough space for me to do that. It felt kind of nice to be held like this. The sound of a door made it a lot less nice. 

“What?” the giant’s voice was harsh. The disinterest from earlier long gone, he sounded angry.

“Uh, Mr. Kamia, sir. We had a pest that we think might have escaped into this room. If you wouldn’t mind… letting… us…” The other giants trailed off. The fist I was in grew tighter. It made me realize I was shaking. Honestly, I would rather die to this Kamia guy than them. At least this guy let me feel like a person for a bit. (Ok I lied, I would kind of like to die with dignity even if my killer is hot).

“Letting you what?” The giant that held me started to growl. 

“Uh… nevermind Mr. Kamia, Felix sir. Please excuse us for disturbing you.”

The door slammed. Heavy steps vibrated up the giant; named Felix if the others were right. The creak of the bed was barely audible over the growl in his chest. I wanted to feel safe again. Go back to the dream. Eventually the hand moved. The fist opened and I was left looking at golden eyes.

“You didn’t come to me by choice, did you?” he whispered. I shook my head. “I should have known better than to expect that… I thought some of the humans had told you, that you…”

Felix sounded almost despondent. A pain in his words. I didn’t like it. His whole demeanor changed. Less sure of himself. Somehow he felt smaller.

“I’m sorry, I should have realized sooner, explained sooner. You’re safe with me. I’m Felix. In my family, we don’t hurt humans. They’ve come in without knocking before so I wanted you close.”

A protector, someone to pamper me. That’s what I wanted during the first dream. The second I wanted this man. Felix Kamia. Now…now I saw a new side. Meek, nervous. His hands twitched and I could feel the need to put me down. To get away so I could have my space. To give me control of the situation. That was something new. Reminded me of the reality that I truly wanted. 

I had to run down my check list.

Hot. Check.

Giant. Double check.

Happy to cater to me. Triple check.

Willing to give me my freedom. Quadruple check.

Someone that could use some unbridled affection (new addition to my list). Quintuple check.

(Now wait. I can hear you already. “Maxxie..” No wait, serious mode full name. “Maxwell. You’ve been convinced this man would kill you. He says sorry and looks sad so you’re just gonna believe him? Are you foolish?” I am not a fool. Of course I won’t believe him just cause he said sorry. I’m not crazy. Come on… >.>)

“I believe you,” I said. (he’s hot, I have no regrets!) Those golden eyes went wide. I saw a hint of film on them. Felix was close to tears. I bet he’s a secret crybaby. He didn’t believe me. I could see it. A smile full of self loathing disrupted his handsome face. I would fix it. “Honestly, I kept trying to remind myself you were gonna kill me, but it was hard to believe. Hot, giant, warm, gentle. Only one of those things equals dangerous in my book. One I like too.”

“H-hot?” The squeak Felix made was unbelievably cute. I wound up laughing a little. Especially as a blush dusted those cheeks. At this point I wanted to go back to sleep. Maybe even closer to his face. Steal a kiss or two or ten. Have I mentioned I have a thing for giants.

“Surprised to hear it from a human? Well I’ll say it again. You’re pretty damned hot.”

“You don’t have to try to flatter me, I won’t hurt you.”

“Good because I prefer doing things I don’t have to. Do… you think we could get some more sleep? Didn’t get to enjoy it while I thought you might kill me. It’s kinda been a while since I got some good sleep too.”

The hand started to move. Lower me down away from him. I grabbed a finger. There was no way I would give up this spot. Either I sleep on him or in his hand.

“Did I move too fast?” he whispered.

“Now you ask, what about earlier?” I laughed, but he looked away. Too soon to laugh about, got it. “I happen to like getting whirled around by hot giants. Especially ones that aren’t about to eat me. Now why don’t we go back to sleep. Maybe I could move up a little though? Near your face or on your chest?”

“Aren’t you scared? Are you trying to hide it?”

“Nope. Hiding it would be earlier when I was silent. Not scared at all.”

Another set of knocks called my bluff. I curled into the fingers. Felix, not scary. Those others, terrifying. Tears landed on the skin beneath me. Another hand clamped over me. The growl started again.

“What!” Felix barked.

“Mr. Kamia, I’m sorry to disturb you, but we must check your room. I’m afraid a human has gotten away from us and might have entered. I apologize for the disturbance.”

I thought I would be safe. Until I was lifted up from where he’d started to lower me. A blink and you miss it look at his eyes before he slid me between his lips. The regret and pain was clear. He hated this. For the first time a giant didn’t even take pleasure from tasting me. Shoved right under his tongue instead. (Ok look, this is weird, but it made him even hotter. I knew I tasted good to most giants and he wasn’t even taking the chance to enjoy it.)

Footsteps heavier than he’d done before followed. I felt shockingly calm. Even as the sound of a door opened. Even as the voices of the giants that brought me here spoke. Even as Felix spoke around me. I trusted the giant that had me at his mercy.

“I can smell it. It has to be here!”

 Felix’s hand blocked the light that filtered through his lips. Something slipped in. I watched as his teeth crushed it, a red liquid filled his mouth. Felt like blood, looked like it too. Tasted like fruit punch.

“How much longer do you plan to disturb me?” Felix sneered. The growl made my entire body vibrate.

“Not much-” 

The others went quiet. I could picture the way their faces fell. The bloody teeth making them think I died. This would guarantee I was free. Promise I could leave, maybe go back to a normal city. Live a normal life, at least if I didn’t go for my old job again. Don’t think I’d be that foolish… then again I was immediately trusting a mafia giant because he said he was sorry. Maybe I was foolish. Either way Felix was hot and I was ok with it, especially if I don’t get killed in the process. Even more so if I get a hot, scary, giant boyfriend. (I would accept a fling too, but idk this one was special compared to all the other giants I’d met before).

“S-sir, did you happen to find a human in your room this morning?”

“Don’t remember. Something woke me up, it disappeared around the time I finished breakfast,” Felix sounded disinterested. I could hear the nerves. He was worried they’d find me.

“I-I see. We’ll leave you be then. Please if you see it would you…”

Silence sat between them all. I started to shake again. That made Felix’s growl renew. 

“N-nevermind. Mr. Kamia sir. Thank you f-for your time.”

I waited as the others left. The door closed. Immediately the teeth hiding me separated and I was dropped onto a palm. I still felt safe. The eyes staring at me were worried, scared.

“Ok, a shower then we go back to sleep. Unless you wanted to take a taste without them watching,” I said with a seductive smirk.

(I can already hear you. “You thought he'd eat you and now you're offering?!?!” He's hot, clearly protecting me, and I know how some giants get after a tasting session.)

Felix grimaced. For the first time since I decided to believe him I felt a bit of regret towards my actions. Obviously he might not be into me. Here I am throwing myself at him. This time I might be a fool. Unfortunately I am horrible at finding the right words.

“I'm-”

“I don't like how humans taste,” Felix whispered. He looked away. Might I say he looked bashful. 

Now after the line of work I'd been in you may think this is a deal breaker. Sometimes it is. I mean what's life without a giant purring just because of your taste, right? Felix though…

That bashful look. The way he couldn't look at me. Not only was it adorable, but it had to mean he was into me. So now another addition to my list.

Doesn't want to taste me. (Felix rule only!) Sextuple check.

“Guess that leaves me with a shower. Any chance you have something I can wear? Unless you want me barely dressed, I might agree to that.” Another subtle blush.

“I… could make something while you get cleaned up,” Felix whispered. 

Good enough with his hands to make me tailored clothes. (another Felix specific addition). Septuple check.

“Ok, I don’t think you could get more perfect. That’s it I did die and the giant of my dreams finally showed up. The only possible explanation.”

That one got a laugh. Kind of like when we were eating. It sounded kinder now. All that time afraid when I could have enjoyed a breakfast date and flirted. Time to make up for it in spades. 

Soft eyes, a warm smile, followed by steps that didn’t quite reach me anymore. He could be cautious. A whole new avenue of possibilities for us. I might be getting ahead of myself, but I was going to stay ahead. Like I’ve said before I have a thing for giants. I also happen to have a thing for guys who act tough, but are big softies underneath. 

At the very least I’d repay him for saving my life. Can’t protect him from giants, but I can protect him from himself. That would be enough. 

(I'm lying. I saw the way he looked at me when I took off my shirt. I totally have a shot!)

[ateez-himari]

[241116] GOLDEN INVITATION

[NEW UPLOAD FROM G-DRAGON]

G-DRAGON @/IBGDRGN

The Big Dragon 🐉 meets a Small Tiger 🐅. Warm dishes and even warmer conversations between two producers, with ATEEZ's Holy Maknae, Min Himari.

INTERVIEW RELEASING; NOVEMBER 18 AT 1PM KST ON YOUTUBE (OfficialGDRAGON)

Translated from Korean by Google

11:51am · 16 Nov 24 · 7.1M Views 1.3M Reposts 95,039 Quotes 4.1M Likes

mikah @/himaswife Replying to @/IBGDRGN i was expecting a lot of things in 2024 but seeing G-Dragon tearing up in this teaser was not one of them...(i hope most of this is just them being silly otherwise i'm afraid it's over for me) but like ok after years of inactivity one of the first things posted to his channel after his comeback track is with her ?? something is cooking and it's probably them

GOLDEN HOUR 5/31 @/lightuptiny Replying to @/IBGDRGN that has to be the most unexpected video in k-pop history, what is going on 😭we make jokes that she knows almost 2 whole generations in the industry but now she's casually promoting Golden Hour Part 2 with G-DRAGON ??

에헴 비헴 에헴 @/ughtannnbang Replying to @/lightuptiny no because the best part is that she could know them through her brother but almost everyone said she just casually came up to them at music shows 🤧Imagine being THE Hwasa and this random girl that's only been in the industry for about a year casually strikes up a conversation with you-

왔다 갔다 @/yeosangiecookie Replying to @/IBGDRGN I might be delusional...but does that mean we have a new collab coming ? 👀 I know she denied it on Fromm but she also said 'Too Bad' right after...don't underestimate her ability to spoil she literally posted a picture to her Instagram with the same nails, makeup and lip chain that she wore in the MV and no one realized-

sweethwa @/weonfirewihomhae Replying to @/IBGDRGN Omg they're gonna do karaoke together! That teaser has so much in it that I have no idea what to prepare for; crying, singing, cooking, laughing, and them just being the cutest patooties (Can we take a second to appreciate those photos omg he definitely sees her as a baby 🥺)

Hotteokie N.1 @/yunhosbuckethat Replying to @/IBGDRGN Taemin immediately going on social media and reminding people that she's his protegee is taking me out 😭this man really said 'guys that's my daughter okay, I'm sure she doesn't even know these other idols that well'

[khaire-traveler]

🥇 Subtle Nike Worship 🏆

Participate in/learn about competitive sports of any kind

Honor your own accomplishments; give yourself some credit, and allow yourself some pride

Celebrate the accomplishments of others; be a good sport if you lose at something

Sing/listen to music that empowers you or makes you feel good about yourself

Have a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Keep a picture of her in your wallet

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Exercise; move your body frequently

Enter into competitive contests, even if you don't think you'll win

Practice acceptance for when things don't go the way you planned

Practice resilience for continuing onwards despite it all (the fact that you're here now shows you're already doing it c:)

Have imagery of wreaths/laurel wreaths, laurel trees, wings, feathers, palm branches, palm trees, lyres, and sashes around

Have stuffed animals of horses or any animal that you associate with victory, such as eagles, rams, or lions

Display your awards/achievements in your space; it's more than ok to be proud of yourself

Make a list of your personal strengths, things you're proud of, or things you've achieved (both big and small)

Make a list of future dreams, goals, and aspirations you have; they can be as simple and short-term as "waking up in the morning"

Support humanitarian or human rights organizations

Stand up for causes that you strongly believe in; attend protests if you can

Stand up for others if you see injustice; stand up for yourself as well

Volunteer at homeless shelters or for local humanitarian causes

Leave positive sticky notes around your workplace/school anonymously to encourage your fellow human

Engage in random acts of kindness; put a bit of goodness into the world

Treat yourself to something that makes you happy, especially when you're having a hard day

Try to dress in ways that make you feel good about yourself

Express yourself; if you can't do so openly, try doing so in subtle ways, such as wearing a bracelet that represents your gender, wearing shoelaces that are pride flag colored, or using gender neutral colognes/perfumes

Look into your family history; try to find things that you're proud of

Take pride in your cultural heritage; celebrate it freely

Take time to appreciate the things you love about your life, such as pets, friends, or even just nature

Learn a new skill; take up a new hobby

Hone previously learned skills; practice, practice, practice

Give some love to your past self; acknowledge all that you've overcome

Practice self-forgiveness

Send yourself positive messages; leave sticky notes around your space with encouraging messages for yourself

Send random reminders to loved ones about why you love them; make someone feel good about themselves

Take breaks after you've been working on something for a long time

Practice patience with yourself; you're only human

Be gentle with yourself when experiencing burnout

Remind yourself that you are more than what you "contribute to society"; you are more than the expectations set on you

Constructively self-reflect on things you can work on; work towards self-improvement

Work on skills that build your confidence; this takes time

Prioritize your own well-being when necessary; remember that you matter as much as anyone else

Practice projecting your voice; practice public speaking; get comfortable/familiar with how you come across

Take risks; try new things that you normally wouldn't

Ride a rollercoaster or amusement park ride

Be adventurous with the world around you; explore new places that you haven't been to yet

Practice conquering your fears

Get curious about the things that you scare; learn more about them to familiarize yourself with them

Eat a good breakfast on days you know will be straining for you

Try to eat healthy; eat foods that make you feel good physically and mentally

Make sure to hydrate throughout the day

Drink something with caffeine or honey in it; tea is a great option for this

Keep moving forward

-

It's been a while since my last post, so here's the newest addition to my list of subtle worship! I may add to this list later on, but for now, here are discreet ways to worship the goddess Nike. I hope it helps someone, and take care! 🧡

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[daichiduskdrop]

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚⋆·˚ ༘ *𝙎𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡 ⋆·˚ ༘ *ੈ✩‧₊˚

Chapter 22

Pairing: BTS Ot7 X fem! reader

Genre: A/B/O AU, Fluff, Angst, Strangers to lovers,

Warnings: none :)

Words: 4017

Taglist:@thelilbutifulthings @ilovemoneymorethenmen @singukieee @cherrysainttt @felicityroth @mageprincess7 @lucis-noctiana @danielle143 @osakis-gf @girl-nahh @vintageoldfashion @neverthefirstchoice @juju-227592 @silentreadersthings @i-have-no-life-charlie @everyonehatesshani @iamkookiesforyou @dragons-flare @fangirl125reader @roseidol @frieschan @popcatx0 @liz67900 @exfolitae

Previous:

⋆·˚ ༘ *ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚˚ ✩‧₊˚⋆·˚ ༘ *

And so, you and Yoongi took your time walking around the bookstore, looking over the many different sections of stories available.

You ended up in front of the multilinguage books, ranging from English and Spanish all the way over to Hindi and Japanese. Your mother tongue spiked a bit of interest in you, having you reach to grasp the first book in sight.

It was a cookbook, talking about the usual Japanese cuisine and treats available mostly in the country, bringing them to your home so you can enjoy them there too.

„Do you speak Japanese, oppa?” You asked, your voice low as you looked over the colourful pictures of Yakitori. It looked quite tasty there, too.

„I know a few things, kitty.” He answered with his hand in yours, his thumb gently running over your knuckles. You smiled softly.

You knew Korean more than well now, but still, you liked to watch a lot of movies in Japanese, just to make sure you wouldn't forget.

Growing up, you didn't really have a big opportunity to learn any languages, apart from korean of course, which was usually spoken at your home. Your school had only minimal lessons of English, so apart from the simplest phrases ever, you didn't know much.

You let the alpha gently pull you along towards a music history book he saw in the corner of his eye—the man flipping through the massive encyclopaedia.

„Pup, do you want to stay here for a bit longer or do you want to go now, sweetheart?” The packalpha asked, walking bristly over to the both of you. He already had a big bag from the bookstore hanging from his hand, seemingly pretty full with how bulky it was.

„Did you-” You didn't get much of a word in before his palms were over your cheeks, gently running over the sides of your face covered in the face mask.

„Be a good girl, pup, and let alpha spoil you, baby."

He said, gently bowing down to be face-to-face with you. Smiling brightly, he booped your covered nose before he took your other unoccupied hand in his.

„We can go...” You whispered, and your cheeks warmed up at the sweet words the alpha shared with you.

„How about the music store? I want to check the new audio monitors; I saw many ads.” Yoongi said, he was already pulling you both out of the bookstore.

„Oh yeah, they had a lot of claims for sure." Namjoon answered, leading you both back to the very bottom floor. The mall had fewer people now, but still, there were quite a few bypassers, making the alphas stay close to you.

When the music store with the giant NAKWON light-up sign appeared, you and the pair of alphas were only left in slight disappointment. The metal bars were pulled over the entrance to the store, and the neon sign was turned off.

„Shit, it's closed.” The older man mumbled, but still, you wanted to at least look through the gaps, and the large arrangement of equipment made you interested.

„Kitty I'm sorry, but we can't go right now, baby. I'll take you later so you can see, okay? It's alright, baby kitten. Let's go somewhere else now, hm? What would you like to see, my kitty?”

The alpha was quick to try and distract you, not wanting you to dwell. He wasn't sure if you were as excited as he was deep inside, and he didn't want you to be disappointed and sad. He didn't realise that it would be closed today.

„It's okay.” You whispered, looking over the music instruments hung up on the wall, a beautiful dark blue guitar catching your attention. It was almost black with how greyish it was; it looked very pretty and luxurious.

„Sweetheart, alpha's will take you here sometime, okay? I promise. Let's go now; don't be sad, baby.” The packalpha tried to pull you away himself, not sure if the way you were mesmerised was a good sign.

You seemed to definitely want to go in with how your eyes sparkled, and he was sad he couldn't let you go. They didn't want you to start crying so suddenly either, choosing to take you somewhere else to take your mind off of the store.

After a few seconds, you nodded, looking back up at the two men who pulled you so sweetly along. Remembering that you needed some clothes, you weren't sure if it was appropriate for you to ask that.

You felt embarrassment creeping up on you, your steps slowing down a little, and both of the alphas turned to you right away. Noting how you avoided their eyes, Yoongi was the one to kneel down first, your head in his palms.

„Kitty? Baby, what's wrong? Tell alpha...” He whispered, your eyes meeting his for a second or two. Whispering it in his ear, you felt your cheeks flare up.

He started laughing gently, ruffling up your hair. „Yah, don't be scared to ask for something like that, baby. Of course we can get you some; let's go.” The alpha quickly led you around until a lingerie shop was in your view.

„Should we go with you, pup? Or do you want us to stay outside?” The packalpha asked, his fingers combing through your hair. You were so glad you had been wearing the face mask this whole time; you would surely be more embarrassed at how much you were blushing.

„I can go on my own.” You whispered, not wanting to embarrass yourself any further. Just as you were about to pull yourself from their warm hands, the packalpha was quick to pull your right back.

„Okay. We will stay right here; if you'll need anything, come get us, okay? Here's the card.” He handed you a black credit card. Your eyes grew double, looking up at the shocked man.

„N-No, oppa, I have my own card plus-” Namjoon didn't do much; he only pulled you closer, his lips brushing over the top of your head, a light scent mark being left between your hair.

„Let alphas spoil you, 'mega." He whispered in your ear, gently patting your lower back and ushering you towards the entrance of the store.

The two alphas watched over your figure carefully but fondly, wanting to make sure you would be safe without them. Taking a seat at the benches, they waited patiently for you to return.

Meanwhile, the other pack members have been up to a few things each. Jungkook has already bought one of your many upcoming Christmas gifts and was pleased with the purchase. He was so sure you would like something like this and was happy he could spoil you rotten.

After texting his two hyungs, he soon got around to them, wanting to choose a few clothes for you himself. The youngest received a few private messages from Jimin and Taehyung, both of the alphas asking him about his opinions on a few things.

Quickly greeting themselves, Jungkook pointed to the snow boots they chose for you; the adorable white pair of knee-high boots that were from Dior once again.

They were the moon boots style, with gold lettering up top spelling the luxury brand's name. The fluffy fake fur covered the very front of them, and with the tie-up pom-poms over it, the boys were sold when they came across them.

After checking if the inside was comfortable and the insole fleece would keep you nice and warm, the two Alpha's decided that this would be a nice pick for you.

„Those are cute, Hyung!" He said after Jimin opened up the paper box for him to see. The alpha nodded happily, glad to find a pair that seemed to go so well with your style.

„They are really good quality; I think they should keep her nice and warm.” Taehyung said, running his fingers over the fluffy material lining the inside.

The youngest nodded at that, happy to know so. This was very important; they didn't want you to be sick and would do anything to prevent it.

And so, the trio went around a few more stores, ending up with another two pairs of boots in the bag. The first was one that Jungkook chose for you. They looked quite similar to the moon boots the two other alphas bought for you, but these seemed to be a bit more durable.

They were an off-white colour, with a hint of brown and beige here and there. With a thicker sole and fluffy insoles and lining, the front was also lined with fur-like fabric. They had thick, circular brown lacing that created an adorable long bow, and went only to your ankles.

The other pair was black, also an ankle boot that had a grey fur lining going over the top of the shoe. They were made from a strong leather-like material, meaning that they wouldn't be as comfortable but would for sure not get dirty or wet.

Just as they were standing in a selectively snowboarder and skiing store that had a lot of very nice jackets, beanies, and such, the eldest received a call.

„Hey Jin-hyung, what's up?”

„Hey, me and Hobi-ah, just finished the groceries; are you guys done? I still have to get started on dinner, and it will be almost 18 soon.”

Looking around for his packmates, Jimin placed the light pale blue jacket back onto its hook, the two other alphas discussing something about a pair of snow trousers the older held.

„Guys, we are leaving; go pay if you have everything now.” He said, taking the phone from his ear before he listened back to the eldest packmate on the phone.

„We will meet you guys near the main entrance, okay?”

„Okay hyung, see you then.” Jimin answered, ending the call and walking back to the youngests, currently paying for a few more things they bought for you (and a pair of gloves Taehyung fell in love with).

The alphas made sure not to take too long, quickly collecting all the bags before they made their way to the entrance, where the rest of the pack was waiting.

You were currently being smothered by Jin and Hoseok, both of the men hugging you and caressing your back and cheeks, gently asking you about where you went and what the alpha's bought for you.

„My sweet peaches, you were such a good girl, baby.” Jin murmured softly, swaying you both from side to side, your head resting against his chest.

„What did you do, oppa?" You asked, your voice soft and sweet, sounding like music to their ears.

„Us sunny? We didn't do much stuff that's exciting, bub; we just went to get the groceries. We bought a few snacks, though. Do you want to wat-"

„Babybun!” Jungkook smiled widely, plucking you right from his elders arms and taking you into his instead. His hands went over your hair, smoothing it down gently, while his chin ran over the top of your head, his scent covering yours virgously.

It didn't take too long for Jimin and Taehyung to catch up, each of them having their respectful times with you while they rubbed their scent into yours, soft and mindful.

„Babycheeks, Alpha is very happy to see you, baby.”

„Hm.. what did you buy, princess? Did you like the mall? We can come here again, precious, anytime you want.”

You tried your best to answer all their questions, reassuring them that you did indeed have a great time while Namjoon and Yoongi spoiled you. You left out the visit to the lingerie store, the smaller, light pink bag standing out a little considering the other much larger shopping bags held.

It didn't take too long for the other alphas to notice, but they let you be, not wanting to make you uncomfortable.

Namjoon soon appeared through the sliding entrance, taking a few bags himself. You tried to carry a few yourself, but your hands were quickly tucked away into Taehyung's and Hobi's palms, the two alpha's leading you to the front of the store where Yoongi was waiting with the car.

The men made quick work loading up the vehicle's booth before you all started to pile in. You took a seat in the middle of the front row, with Hoseok and Tae on each side still.

After helping you settle in, the packalpha made sure to turn on one of the apps that was recently purchased, a soft and calming music that was meant to imply sleeping sounding through the vehicle.

„Seriously, I'll fall asleep behind the wheel this way.” The second eldest grumbled, looking in the rear view mirror to check if everyone was ready to go. Namjoon only stiffened a laugh next to him, finally being able to take his face mask off.

„Sunnybub, let's take a selca!” Hoseok exclaimed, turning on his phone camera. You leaned from Taehyung after you were looking at his own phone's screen; the alpha was currently showing you one of the new games he downloaded.

„N-Now?” You asked, unsure. You probably looked pretty wrecked. The mask you wore this afternoon was taken off a few minutes ago, and you weren't sure how you looked. You were quite tired after all, but you had a very happy day after the terrible start.

„Of course, sunshine, come here.” He said, pulling you closer to himself softly.

„Oppa, but my hair and—" You went to complain, noticing how messy you looked on the screen. Hobi shushed you softly, his cheek running over the top of your head in a soft motion.

„You are perfect, baby, always.”

The alpha placed his head next to yours, helping you pose for a few quick and cute selfies. Taehyung didn't take too long to take his own camera out, wanting to take photos with you too.

Hoseok might have been the first one to get a picture with you, but he would for sure get the cutest one. And so, Tae posed with you too, both of you laughing, especially after Hoseok took part in the little photoshoot too.

Jin, Jungkook, and Jimin soon noticed, also going into the frame. Yoongi was mumbling about how loud it was from behind the wheel as Namjoon took a whole group photo next to him after they took a stop at the red light.

Soon, after you all calmed down a little, you rested your back fully, your eyes closing for only a second. It felt like the car was much quieter now.

The alphas were used to being quite loud and rowdy most of the time, but after Namjoon noticed your eyes closing, he motioned for them all to quiet down. Your soft breathing was calm and sweet.

It was a very important thing for you to let your guard down with no worries before them like that. The vulnerable, sleepy state you entered made them all just a bit more protective and dominant, as if they weren't that before.

And so the drive home was silent—the soft sound of sleep music with delta waves running through the vehicle—and only a few soft words exchanged between the men. Your scent changed soon; the sweetness was less noticeable.

It was a natural reaction for your body to lessen your normally quite strong scent. If you were asleep, you were of course vulnerable, and if any predator of some sort would look for its prey, you would be less likely to be noticed, the danger level lower.

When the car finally arrived home, it was already dark out, and with how quickly the sun sets during the winter, it was obvious. The snow has started to fall again tonight, the snowflake Christmas everyone always dreamed of coming closer and closer.

Yoongi parked the car, turning off the engine. The alphas piled out slowly, Jungkook climbing for you the fastest, quietly unclipping your seatbelt before he hooked his arms around you, pulling you to his chest.

He climbed back out of the car, making sure your legs were well wrapped around his waist and your head was hidden in the crook of his neck.

Jin had already walked to the entrance; a few bags were dropped by the open door to keep it from shutting as he went to retrieve a few more and help the others.

The eldest couldn't help but coo at you. Seeing how his youngest packmate was so careful and sweet with you, he gently ran his fingers through your hair, letting Jungkook go inside.

The alpha kicked off his shoes, walking bristly to the couch, where he gently placed you down. You whined softly; the gentle scent that was around was suddenly gone, unsettling you from your sweet sleep.

„It's okay, bunbun, you can sleep, baby. I'm here, hm? Alpha is here.” He whispered softly, gently untying your shoes for you. There weren't many girls he would ever kneel for, but he would never hesitate with you.

Carefully unzipping your jacket, you were brought from your sleep for a small second, too drowsy to really realise what was going on. The youngest didn't bother to carry the coat back to the entrance hall, instead letting it lay on the couch as he brought a comfortable blanket that was lying around to himself.

With Jungkook carefully climbing behind you, his arms went around your waist, pulling you close to his chest. The alpha layed on his back with a pillow under his head, gently manoeuvring you so your cheek would rest against his heart, the beat calming.

He has already read quite a few articles and asked one of his friends, Juwon, who was also an alpha and had had a stable pack for about three years about how to best take care of a courted omega.

The man had an omega himself, and after calling with the alpha for an hour or two, he told him some good of advice meant to help you settle in easier.

A good amount of sleep was always a good way to start, and even though you already had a nap today, there would be no harm in having another one.

Juwon had told him that a heartbeat can ensure a long rest, as it reminds them of the alpha's presence even when unconscious and should help with any nightmares and unreasonable waking ups.

Jungkook trusted his friend, and he wanted you to sleep well, so he let you rest up against him while he gently rubbed your back with the blanket over the both of you.

It's not like you would truly need it; the higher temperature the alpha sported was already warming you up quite well. Still, it brought comfort, and so it wasn't to any harm.

The rest of the pack eventually lingered in, with Hoseok softly tutting at the youngest while he took your clothes back to the hangers, making sure everything looked nice and clean.

With Jin, Yoongi, and Hobi all starting the dinner to be as quick as possible, Jimin and Taehyung carried the clothing bags upstairs, planning to surprise you some time soon.

Namjoon relaxed into the couch, his hand gently patting your back in a comforting rhythm, the sleep soon taking over for both the youngest and you.

The pack alpha turned on the TV, making sure to turn off the volume so it wouldn't spook you while watching the news with the subtitles provided.

 

„-has the latest update. Over to you, Min Kyu.

Weather Reporter: Thank you, Sok Ki. Yes, Seoul is experiencing bone-chilling temperatures, and it's only going to get colder. We're expecting a significant snowfall in the upcoming days, which could result in hazardous road conditions and potential travel disruptions. Viewers are advised to take necessary precautions and stay updated on weather advisories.

Anchor: In other news, authorities are continuing their search for escaped criminal Min In-Su. Min In-Su, known for a string of crimes, remains at large, causing concern among citizens. Our correspondent, Sung Yunso-ssi, has the latest details on the manhunt. What's going on, Sung Yunso-ssi?

Correspondent: Thank you, Sok Ki. Despite extensive efforts from law enforcement agencies, Min In-Su continues to evade capture. He is considered dangerous, and authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant. Omegas are advised to stay close to their packs, and the youngest citizens should always be watched over. If you have any information that could assist in his arrest, please contact the local police immediately.

Anchor: Despite these challenging circumstances, there's a glimmer of cheer awaiting Seoul residents. The city is gearing up for the upcoming Christmas festival markets, where visitors can enjoy the festive spirit and engage in various activities. Our reporter, Sam Youn-gi, gives us a sneak peek. Take it away, Youn-gi.

Reporter: Thank you, Sok Ki. The Christmas festival markets in Seoul are set to bring joy and excitement to the city. From delectable food stalls offering traditional Korean delicacies to unique gift shops and mesmerising live performances, these markets promise unforgettable experiences for families and friends. Authorities have taken great care to ensure safety measures are in place for everyone's enjoyment. The markets will be held until the 25th of December, so for the next 10 days Make sure to check them out!

Anchor: Thank you, Youn-gi. We'll definitely be looking forward to those festive Christmas markets. And th-” 

 

Jin walked over to the couch, standing next to it while watching TV for a minute. The alpha always liked the market and would definitely want to check it out this year too.

With Christmas near, they had a calmer schedule, and since they were on hiatus now too, they could make some free time to check it out.

The alpha knew that a lot of the packmembers had already started planning on visiting their families sometimes this upcoming holiday; he himself too, and wanted to take you to see their home cities.

They also wanted to take you skiing sometime soon; they haven't talked about it with you yet, but a nice two- or three-day ski and snowboarding holiday sounded quite fun.

And with how much snow there was, it would for sure be possible, depending, of course, on whether you actually wanted to go.

The eldest brought himself from the thought train he unconsciously entered, gently patting the packalpha's shoulder. „Come on, dinner's ready.” He softly said, noting that you and Jungkook were still sound asleep.

The youngest alpha has been pushing himself for so long, the others realised, and oftentimes he would struggle with getting the right amount of sleep.

It wasn't in their second gender nature to let anyone really pamper them, and so if any of the packmembers would bring it up, Jungkook would just tend to brush them off.

That wasn't truly his fault either; Jin could bet each and every one of them would do the same if it happened to them.

But seeing you and him so closely wrapped up with one another, your scents combining gently, he didn't want his younger packmate to miss out on any more sleep.

„Let them sleep now, Joon-ah. They can eat later.” He said this, smiling softly at you. You were adorable.

And so, as the packalpha only hummed, already knowing that he would very gladly take a seat near the table to keep you two company later today, he stood up to help prepare the table, being mindful not to break anything.

Seokjin leaned over to you, his lips softly pecking your cheek. He smiled gently at you, his eyes fond and soft. The alpha knew then and there that you would be their only one for the rest of their lives.

„Alpha loves you lots and lots, my baby.”

He whispered, letting his lips brush up against your cheek again, before he too quietly stepped away to go eat dinner, leaving you closely wrapped up in Jungkook's arms, the alpha not even thinking for a second to let go.

You were their angel after all, brought in with the gentle patter of snow from outside. You needed to be kept safe, tucked away in their arms, always warm and happy.

⋆·˚ ༘ *ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚˚ ✩‧₊˚⋆·˚ ༘ *

Next:

[manicpixieyandere]

The Leader of a Queer Generation; The Rocky Horror Picture Show

(This is another college essay we are posting for funzies lmao, enjoy!). (Also had to censor it, sorry!).

With the fall of the Hays Code, the queer demographic was finally able to have their own cult classics and media culture. Most prominently was The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Richard O’ Brien) in 1975. For a bit of history. The Hays Code was in effect from 1934-1968. The Hays Code was a rigid set of rules for television and film that stated all delinquent behavior must be punished on screen. If a character did something immoral, they must suffer the consequences, the consequence usually being death. The Hays Code itself outlined what it deemed to be immoral behavior. Among that list was anything remotely queer. This is where many tropes and writing tools were developed such as the “Burry Your Gays” trope or queer coding. The Hays Code was lifted in 1968 and replaced with something similar to our rating system today. So, what did that mean for queer audiences? It meant it was time for them to be the stars!

​For the first time in decades showrunners and movie makers could show queer activity on the small or even big screen! The most notable product of this time period was The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Originally a musical performed onstage in the early 70s that was adapted into a film in 1975. The original musical and movie shared a similar cast, most notably Tim Curry as the main antagonist Frank-N-Furter. Frank was a self described “Sweet Transvestite from Transexual Transylvania” (O’ Brien 1975). The word transvestite was very different than what it means today. In 1975 it was equivalent to Frank telling the characters Brad and Janet (but also the audience) that he was transexual or transgender (as those terms were not in frequent use until much later).

Speaking of Brad and Janet, they are the audience’s “straight man”. To quote David J Getsy “One cannot be queer alone” (Getsy, 2017, para. 2). This is to use the original meaning of the word “queer” as in weird. You cannot be weird if there is no normal, so Brad and Janet are the stand ins for an average American straight couple. Throughout the movie though we see Brad and Janet start to learn things about themselves at Frank’s castle. After Frank has s*x with each of them separately they start to see things differently. Janet becomes more open and lustful with her sexuality making many advances towards titular character Rocky. Janet is also seen making out with another girl, Columbia. Brad while less confident, still learns some preferences he did not know he had that can be considered “out of the norm”. Another popular reading being he was a closeted gay man as well. Brad and Janet learn with the audience that it is ok to explore one’s sexuality and gender identity. While Frank-N-Furter does in fact die, the Hays Code still has no effect here as Brand and Janet get to live out their lives after their newfound discoveries.

Brad and Janet aren’t the only ones who have a good time in the castle. In the “Time Warp” the audience along with Brad and Janet are introduced to Riff Raff and Magenta, a quirky sibling duo. Later in the song the character Columbia introduces herself. She tells the story of how she met Frank-N-Furter and how he changed her life. Later in the movie we are also introduced to Eddie and Rocky. Eddie being a former lover of Frank and Columbia’s. Rocky is the man Frank-N-Furter makes, very Frankenstein esq. In the song “Rose Tint My World” each character performs in a floor show expressing how Frank’s lust and freedom has rubbed off on them. Some like Brad and Columbia have their reservations but choose to wear those rose tinted glasses, while Rocky and Janet are completely accepting of this new found life. Eventually the evening is cut short when Riff Raff kills Frank as well as Rocky and Columbia. Riff Raff does this as he proclaims Frank-N-Furter’s lifestyle was just “too extreme (O’ Brien, 1975).

Just like Brad, Janet, and everyone else in the castle, the real world also has a tradition inspired by Frank-N-Furter (and The Rocky Horror Picture Show). Performance groups acting along side showings of the movie become vastly popular. As did a script of “counterpoint dialogue” the audience would shout during the movie. It was also tradition to throw toilet paper at the screen during certain scenes in the movie (although this one has fallen out of fashion at some theaters, being deemed “rude”). For these events the audience can dress however they want! The idea was to be comfortable and be yourself. This means many people show up in similar fashion to the movie. Gothic, gram rock, corsets, you name it! It is a night of community and fun.

​In 2016 The Rocky Horror Picture Show was remade as a filmed stage musical titled The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do The Time Warp Again (Kenny Ortega, 2016). In this production, actress Laverne Cox was casted as Frank-N-Furter. Cox is a transwoman, marking the first official time Frank-N-Furter was played by an actual transwoman. Laverne Cox is also African American and finally sheds some light on black queers in this production, something sorely lacking in the original production. There are stark differences in the interpretations of the character Curry and Cox portrayed. The outfitting of Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter implies shock value by using feminine clothing to show off a masculine body, while Laverne Cox’s costuming is more feminine in nature. Cox’s Frank-N-Furter is still compared to the “straight men” of Brad and Janet but not in an oppositional nature.

​The influence of The Rocky Horror Picture Show still goes on today. There are still many notable screenings of the movie with live actors and scripted audience responses. The 2016 remake was just one production of many put on through the years. Popular media nowadays even references The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even in places you wouldn’t expect such as kids shows like Phineas and Ferb (Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh, 2007). The Rocky Horror Picture Show introduced an audience to queer culture and continues to be a part of said culture many decades later. The way in which this movie carried itself into queer culture signifies its strong se of rhetorical devices such as; ethos, logos, and pathos. The ethos present in the film is that of Frank (who has experience) showing the characters AND the audience how happy they’d be to give into desire and to simply be themselves. This ties into the logos being that these characters do in fact end up happy in their newfound situation, especially Janet. The pathos plays on the fact that all humans have some sort of desire they push down. The Rocky Horror Picture Show uses these literary devices to tell its queer audience for generations to be themselves and have fun!

[prettyoddfever]

Hi! Do you have a list of ever official PATD DVD out there? I'm looking to collect interviews and concerts on DVD! :]

the ones that I had:

pretty. odd. ones

obvs the AFYCSO box set

this one from Target

However, there were some unofficial ones that I really suggest avoiding. They were so bad that it's literally offensive lol. Ok ugh now I started this tangent so I might as well just explain...

THE THEATRE OF IMAGINATION:

It honestly would take effort to mangle the band's short history as much as this "unauthorized documentary" did. The whole thing is a shitshow. For example, they say that the band's first UK headlining tour included a spot in the Reading festival. Those two totally unrelated events weren't even in the same season.

They continually show pictures & footage from completely different events than what they're talking about too. And what's frustrating is that they obviously have enough content... they just couldn't match it up?? It's seriously a hot mess. It was released around the start of the Pretty. Odd. era and I mostly just remember a lot of fans saying stuff along the lines of like they could tell a better history in 5 minutes off the top of their head. There's also no new info in here that we didn't get from other interviews, personal accounts, articles, etc.

THE LOWDOWN:

They literally just ripped the audio off of common Panic interviews that were on youtube (and still are) for the interview cd.

In the unauthorized biography, a woman drones on & on with background music that sounds like aliens are about to appear at any minute. It's annoyingly hard to listen to. She uses a lot of words to convey very little… and all of it is very basic info even the most casual fan would know because she’s literally just paraphrasing Panic's early interviews and turning every single printed quote from them into some kind of dramatic narrative. Except she somehow manages to confuse herself and absolutely mangles the band's history while spouting nonsense. It's terrible. There’s a big disclaimer on the back that the band had nothing to do with it.

I did think the cd insert with the super pixelated random picture was funny, though:

[megatraven]

This is an invite to yap:

Sell my non-disney-plus ass on watching Moana 2

YIPPEEEE!!!!

okay first i want to lay out the biggest Problems(tm) that aren't hard to look past imo:

moana 2 was originally going to be a tv series, but it got scrapped and turned into a movie. the pacing isn't the Best because of this, and it introduces several new characters without giving them a lot of space to be fleshed out. there are scenes where you can really tell it was meant to be a tv series, but i don't think it's a make-or-break situation. it's still Good.

the animation is slightly different in some ways (ex: moana has larger eyes than in the first movie), BUT this is a sequel that came out 8 years after the original. so. not surprised that there's some change in the style! it's not very noticeable unless someone points it out imo

the songs aren't as memorable as the first movie; they're still really good though, i'm especially fond of the prayer-song at the end, which isn't in english but fucks regardless. (sidenote, none of the non-english songs are given words in closed captioning, but ARE written out in the singalong version of the movie)

the big blobfish thing that just randomly screams during a very emotional part of the movie.... obviously put in to soften the scene for kids, but truly unneeded imo. funny if you like that sort of thing, but i could do without

i WILL say that on my first watch of the movie, i thought it was just ok. but after sitting on it for like a day, i started to really like it more and more as i realized how much it contrasts the first movie and shows growth not just in moana, but in her village. when i watched it a second time, i was sunk. and ever since it came out on disney+, i have been watching it in every moment i can.

now that that's out of the way. ahem.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE MOANA 2 A CHANCE!!!:

the new characters are really fun!!!

you have loto, who's a genius that builds new canoes and is obsessed with figuring out how to make them perform better and better. she's very fun!! very logic-oriented, but also very creative.

then there's moni, who makes fanart of him and maui being best friends. he's a huge maui fanboy, it's hilarious and also sort of charming. he's a history buff, too- he knows his tribe's history and how to read the ancient texts of his people, so to speak.

next up is kele, an old farmer who is Very Ready To Retire. he's against change. can't swim. perfect candidate to be on a canoe! very grouchy, but he still accepted his role to help on moana's journey.

their kakamora buddy, matangi, simea (moana's little sister), and even nalo are all interesting characters, too. i won't rant about all of them for the sake of my fingers, but i will say. that matangi. is GORGEOUS and she can HIT IT!!!!!!!

look at her. look at matangi. she's incredible

i'm like. in lesbians with her.

ahem. anyway.

MOANA AND MAUI'S RELATIONSHIP IS SOOOOO GOOD IN THIS MOVIE!!!!!!! it's acknowledged MULTIPLE TIMES how much they care about one another. moni calls them besties!

since this movie takes place 3-4 years after the first, that makes Moana both older and more Aware of Maui. there's a scene when they meet up where she double-high-fives mini Maui... on Maui's chest.... and she kind of jumps back and is like "oh! sorry! that was weird. was that weird?" and another where they're in the middle of a song and.... idk how to describe it. picture incoming!!

it's. kind of very funny. and im obsessed with them and the progression of their friendship/moana's growth.

ALSO ALSO ALSO. there's a scene where Maui is like. "Look, I could pull up a thousand islands. But if you're not there to land on em...." like. HE CARES ABOUT HER. SO MUCH.

Matangi actually orchestrates things so that Maui can't find the island they're after until Moana shows up to go with him. And Maui had only been trying to go there without her to keep her safe.

Speaking of the island- Moana's goal in this movie is to find Motufetu, an ancient island that was said to connect the people of the sea. She gets a vision from her ancestors about it and knows that it has to be touched by a human to break the curse placed on it by the god Nalo, which will reconnect her people to the rest of them.

Which like.

That fucks????

An angry god separating people in order to weaken them? Prophetic visions granted by the ancient spirits of her people?

That shit is awesome!!!!!!!!

Not to mention the music!!!! Yes, it's not all as memorable as the songs in the original movie. BUT! They're still really good imo, they make me Feel many many emotions. Matangi's song is pretty fun. But my Favorite song in the whole movie is the prayer-song that Maui sings towards the end of the movie. Even during the time that I'd just seen the movie and thought it was Okay(tm), I was OBSESSED with that scene and the song. Some fans have translated it and it wrecks me. It's such an emotional scene, genuinely I think like. the last half hour of the film are the best. that scene makes the whole movie worth it even if one doesn't care for the rest imo. i don't want to spoil anything major but what happens to moana is SO. FUCKING. GOOD. i rewatch the scene multiple times every day.

Also just watching all the main journey characters come together at the end of the day feels good, you know? they didn't get the screentime i wish they did to develop them fully, but i do still love what we got of them, and how they change by the end of the movie.

OVERALL while I agree with most people that it's a weaker movie than the first, it's still a DAMN GOOD ONE!!!!!

and if u need any extra convincing, we learn that mini maui is capable of giving maui a purple nurple. a titty twister, if you will. so. yeah. 10/10 movie.

[godteri-takk]

thoughts on Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen by James Goss

Seriously one of the best sci fi books in that genre I've ever read! Incredible experience and never read anything like it, in the sense that I've never read a book from one media that is based on a book from a DIFFERENT media (or rather, The Krikkitmen was originally a plan for a Doctor Who movie but it never got made and so the story of the Krikkitmen became the base for Life, The Universe and Everything, long story short). It was like a crossover between 2 of my fave sci-fi medias it was awesome! And it felt perfect for a dr who story. The beginning and end was much similar, but everthing in between was very different, so i loved this different version of the Krikkitmen storyline!

It was amazing to read my first dr who book, i've only seen the show so far. I learnt a lot of lore and learnt a lot about the Doctor as a person and character, i love him even more now! And about Romana, she's awesome! I havnt seen the season she's in so idk who she was before reading lol. The universe was set up in an intresting and very chill and enjoyable way, very goofy and very British much like HGTTG. There were some clear differences, like the role and portrayal of religion (might make a seperate post about that idk), everyone drank tea (in HGTTG there is no earth-like tea in the galaxy), and language barriers being dealt with quick and easy. and the roles of human culture! It's intresting, the galazy in both worlds has very few humans innit, theyre mostly on earth, but human culture is everywhere, everyone are kinda .. english, or the very least human. there has not been put much time into developing advanced worlds with unique and brand new cultures, which is ok because chaotic comedy sci fi be like that. the universe is big and small at the same time and the history is long and scattered all over and there are so many planets and everything is possible!

There was lot of critique of different parts of society like capitalism and greed, and sexism and corrupt politics and the bureaucracy and organised religion and so on, very cool and fresh. it's also similar to HGTTG in the sense that the characters can travel around freely in time and space and anything can happen (the TARDIS and Heart of Gold) and theyre never bound to anything.

And holy macarony it was SO funny, i laughed so much! it was written in this incredibly clever and elegant way, it had absurd comparisons, footnotes, suprising and thoughtful formulations and jokes, the pacing was great, it painted hilarious pictures and scenes in my brain, but it was also beautiful. it had serious and deep scenes but even they had a lighthearted and funny frame around them, and i always always wanted to know what happened next. Gotta read more James Goss for SURE! agh i just adore this book, it was brilliant, I love Dr Who so much it's such a great universe with endless possibilites <3

[the-fluff-piece]

Hello! For your event, I would like to request, please! Its a mix of the rules I guess? I got inspired by the prompts, hope that's ok!

Gifting Law a coin he did not have - sweet fluff.

Thank you!

Hello Anon,

It's always ok to get inspired by the prompts, that is a great request, I had a lot of fun with it ❤

This is part of the follower milestone event

If you like this story check out my masterlist

Here's

A coin for your thoughts

You use your alone time with Law to give him your newest find: a very rare coin with a rich history. His infodump can only be stopped with lots of kisses!

Sweet, fluffy, comforting

You found it in an antique shop - a rusty, small coin with peculiar pictures on it. One side showed a single lighthouse and a banner reading "mist island", the other showed various scientific tools engulfed by swirling tendrils of smoke - or mist?

As you looked at it the clerk gave you short information about the heritage of the coin, confirming your suspicion: the island, said to be situated in the new world, is shrouded in a mysterious mist that never lifts. Scientists from the world government tried to research it, a city was built, people moved there.

But after about 10 years, everyone on the island vanished without a trace. This coin was really, really rare. You employed all your skills to check for its authenticity, and went to great lengths to get it at a good price - eventually settling for a trade where you gave up a souvenir from your journeys in exchange.

With a big smile, you returned to the Polar Tang - what would Law say to it? Will he like it? Will he recognise it? His knowledge of the coins and their stories was vast, surely he knew more about it than the clerk.

You waited all day until it was time to retire to your shared room. Law sat down on his desk to "just read a little bit more" as he promised, but he wouldn't get the chance. You had cleaned and polished the coin until it looked brand new and the copper and silver alloy showed its beautiful colours.

Standing behind him, you looked over his shoulder - anatomy. He read the same books again and again and never got sick of them. You watched him trace the line of a muscle on the page with his finger, letting him finish following the inked picture to its end. When he was done, he looked behind and smiled at you, just breathing your name as he always did to tell you he was now there for you.

Without a word, you slipped the small trinket onto the page and prepared for his reaction. His blue eyes widened and his whole face changed to that of a little boy who just got the present of his life. He created a small frame with his thumb and index finger to hold the small coin to the light of his desk lamp.

"Mist island!" His voice was not the deep and sensual velvet you were used to. Instead, he sounded more boyish, his voice a higher pitch and with a vivid inflection of happiness.

Turning around the silvery object in his long, nimble fingers, he watched the light play around the edged lines, his thumb regularly brushing over the surface to feel the smoothness of the coin and follow the small pictures on it. He spent a long time studying the swirling mist, doubtlessly feeling every detail with his sensitive finger tips.

His mouth stood open in a silent smile as you watched him lovingly, seeing how much joy your gift brought him.

"Ah!" A short noise escaped him. "An impurity!" He pointed to the smallest imperfection in the material.

"You know this happens when the temperature changes to fast in production" he explained to you for what must the millionth time. But you didn't mind, he just loved talking about alloys and metal production. It was heralding the spill of information that was to follow.

Law pushed the chair back from the desk and collected you onto his lap, putting his arms around you so that you two were looking at the coin together. He rested his chin on your shoulder and pressed his cheek to your face. His beard tickled you as he spoke:

"The island was a scientific research centre to lift the mystery of the mist!" He explained close to your ear in his best nerd-voice, leaving a second to chuckle at his expert joke. He held up the side of the coin with the curling mist.

"Because the mist never lifted, it never even got thinner, the island was shrouded in darkness all day, all year. It was unusually thick. The lighthouse" - he turned the coin around - "was the strongest the marine ever built, but it could hardly penetrate the thick soup. Many ships broke on the perilous coast. The great marine scientist Prof Voltan tried to get to the bottom of it all and he vanished alongside his crew of scientists and all the inhabitants of the island in one night. The speculations are outlandish!" He laughed.

"There were even rumours about pre-existing structures on the island, full of unknown symbols and pictures..." his voice trailed off.

"But that's all nonsense!" He concluded, although he couldn't hide a bit of excitement in his voice. He was so adorable when he nerded about his interests. You couldn't help but to kiss his cheek and he smiled, but he didn't stop talking.

"You know they used a special tool to catch and analyse the mist" he explained, not letting your kisses down his jaw distract him. You turned around on his lap to straddle him and reach his kissable areas more easily.

He continued his lesson: "they called it the nebuloscope! It sucked in the mist" your mouth made a sucking sound as you worked on the soft skin of his neck " and the great problem was to build a container from where it couldn't..." he couldn't end the sentence, since you nibbled at the soft patch of skin on his neck that made him loose his mind without fail.

"It couldn't...i mean the couldn't...it wasnt...", he tried to continue a few more times but failed, his speech slurred into a pant.

"Babe stop that..." he panted as you mercilessly held his skin between your lips. However, you were in a good mood and stopped, for him.

He exhaled and shifted beneath you, as his little nerd brain whipped him to tell you even more of the island mystery: "the coin itself is made from ore found on the island, it's not exactly common silver and copper." You let him explain for a short while before kissing trails down his chest as you unbuttoned his shirt.

He leaned back with his brows creased and a whimper, and continued to dump all the info in his head onto you.

"The ore...had strange properties...marine...tried to harvest it...but..." the small movements you made with your hips seemed to steal the blood from his head and you opened his shirt to marvel at your boyfriend's chest. His eyes were pressed close as he struggled for control. He knew he would eventually lose but he held on bravely. He was just trying to get into iron smelting as you pressed soft kisses to his mouth, stopping the flow of words gently.

He put the coin on his desk and wrapped his arms around you, holding you close to carry you to the bed. As he laid you down and came to rest next to you, he began to repay the favour, nibbling on you ear.

"Thank you babe, I love you" he whispered into your ear and stopped talking for the night as he cuddled you happily. The rest of his speech would come tomorrow at breakfast .

__________

This one was really fun and inspiring to me. Maybe Law and y/n will find a misty island one day and have a spooky mystery adventure?

[millennialsarecoolkidz]

Sometimes I would like more clarity from our main characters, not because I'm a nosy bitch (I am but it's not what I'm talking about here) but because the fandom lacks a code of ethics and online behavior.

Nic talks sometimes and we can see it's working, it's not magic but let's remember the "normalize not filming strangers..." and how the fandom helped to clean her tags.

Some things shouldn't even have to be told so I won't extend myself on this too long. Just a quick reminder: don't go under their's or their loved ones sm post to make comments about their private life, their bodies, their sexuality,... Don't troll or harass anyone, and if you're a big account with a lot of visibility, be clear about the fact that what you share will never be an excuse to go trolling or harassing real people. Yes everybody can have an opinion but freedom of speech knows limits.

Now I'll address some messages that I think they have sent to the fandom:

-Focus on their craft, their achievement, her charities and not their personal life. Yes I'm the biggest of the hypocrites saying that as I'm engaging in the shipping side of their fandom. But in my defense, on my other accounts, I only like and share these aspects of their public activities. And I think that this is what matters, give engagement to their achievement and not to gossip pages, don't worry if something pops there, you'll know it on Twitter, TikTok, reddit or Tumblr. Because engagement is money and money is given to paparazzi or used to keep those pages and mags that pressurize them. Don't call me naïve, oc it's a system and they are tools that celebrities can use too. But too much engagement in their private life leads to a level of scrutiny that is really toxic. So let's keep it quiet so they're not privileged targets anymore.

-Stop speculating publicly about someone's sexuality, Nic has liked a few posts about it. Again, I'm the first one making jokes about Nic's gay bestie in private but I'm not doing it publicly. Jake makes it clear that he's not straight, that's the only thing he wants to be known publicly (plus, for the dummies here: sexuality is a spectrum and can be fluid). And sure, gay isn't an insult but it's not a valid argument. You can't erase history or be blind to actual discrimination that this community is facing. And talking about sexuality isn't like talking about your favorite vegetables, I would be really pissed if I was in Jake's shoes. Again let's be empathetic, joking and gossiping privately about someone who wants to be a public figure is fair game, acting as the mental health of another human being doesn't matter will never be ok.

-Stop speculating publicly about pregnancy. It's a sensitive topic for millions of reasons. I really hope that Nic isn't aware of this narrative but I doubt it. Even if you think that she's hiding it with clothes, corsets, non alcoholic beers and cocktails, respect it.

-They're more than ok with the Lukola shipping, they even fuel it. Nic brings Luke a lot on her sm and interviews. Yes she uses the word friendship but it's buried under a discourse about their unique relationship/love or with pictures couple coded. Luke is less present online but the Lukola content (not even really polin if you think about it) is, proportionally to his online activity, loud. You can see it as you want: as a professional obligation or at least because they are pushed to do it by shondaland, because they find it cute and as a compliment to their acting skills, because they are secretly together, because it gives positive engagement on their sm, because they are obsessed with each other and hope that one day lukolas will be right (wink wink), because they enjoy to showcase their unique friendship,... Or it's a combination of more than one of these reasons. The fact is that they are ok with this shipping and only this one. BUT it's not an excuse to be unhinged or disrespectful, let's keep it to celebrate their cuteness and unique bond.

Now I'm going to address more speculative topics but that's how I read their "message" about Jake and Antonia. I regularly joke about how Nic is copying the way Luke has "launched" Antonia but in reality I think those two situations are handled very differently.

-Antonia is Luke's girlfriend. Around the world tour he let us know that she was his girlfriend. It wasn't really loud, but clear enough to that the invested fandom, especially the shippers, can know that he was in a relationship. And since that, he keeps reminding us of her "status" in his life. He shares nothing else, he just likes every post on her grid and coordinates posts (or at least agrees with her posting just before or after that we know his location) to let us know that they haven't broken up. Again you can think that this relationship isn't real, that it's a cover for his relationship with Nic; that they are not endgame and it's an insecure relationship; that he uses her to annoy Nic when she shows Jake; or that they are hot and heavy and a modern version of Cinderella. The fact is that Luke has said that he is not a "big romantic gesture" guy but he wants us to acknowledge Antonia as his girlfriend, and the ones making her the villain, who is lying to us when she shows they are together, need to explain me why Luke would tolerate that and keep liking her posts. Again I'm really aware of some of her posts that were a little cringe, but girl, I would have endured half the hate she got, at her age, I would have been the worst troll you would have ever seen.

-Nic doesn't want, for now, to label her relationship with Jake. Her behavior even hints at denying a romantic one (I've already said it in another post, the jakolas should keep it really quiet imo) but she's really loud about the fact that she cares A LOT about him and that he is the best. She doesn't hide their closeness even if she gets a lot of criticism for that. Again you can think that he's just a friend, that he's a rebound, that she uses him to make Luke jealous or that they are so in love, the fact is she's clear that she loves him.

So two strategies, one labelling the relationship without sharing anything more, the other showing the deep bond without labelling it, but it should lead to the same behavior from the fandom: leave the significant others alone, they care about them and they are accepted by their entourage (and that even if you don't believe that the public narrative corresponds to reality).

I think all of this is basic decency but as it seems as there is a championship about who is the better fan, we could start to follow those rules. Because... Yeah... If you can't be kind, at least be vague. IYKYK

[hrryp0thead]

I made a character based off of myself for obx because i don’t see much representation (also this is intended as plus size latina reader)

✨raccoon girlfriend✨

She can really be anyone’s girlfriend, but I mainly picture her with JJ and Topper. She’s not necessarily a pogue, but she’s from the cut, and she’s short and chubby. When I say she’s chubby, I mean she has a big stomach—not just big boobs and a butt, but she does have those too. When you first meet her, she's very outspoken and social, and once you get to talking, she never shuts the fuck up unless you're a hot guy, then she's very meek. She's very friendly but a bit of a loser, if we're being honest, so she doesn't actually have lots of friends. She’s a really weird history/anime nerd, but it’s ok because she's cute. She's not athletic, and that's why she doesn't really hang with the pogues because she cannot keep up with all their running around.

This is all I've got so far, but if you'll like it, let me know, and I'll write some more. 

[terrabatriss]

I know it's late, and it's not proof read, but here's the first chapter of my SCP-Trigun fanfic!!! I hope you like it! This chapter is 2852 words long and I miiiight have lost my head and just started typing the story as it came to me. I personally don't think I did too bad, but I haven't written many fanfics on my own so if you have any tips or tricks to help me improve my writing style, I'm all ears!

Oh! I also ended up deciding to write in Meryl's POV. Take note that this story takes elements from 98, Trimax, and Tristamp. If you haven't seen one or the other, that's ok! I won't be spoiling too much about each but I do highly suggest checking out the ones you haven't seen yet! Especially the Trimax manga!

And if ur unfamiliar with the SCP Foundation, never fear! It's Meryl's first day too and I do intend on making this educational for the Foundation and entertaining for Trigun fans!

And with that, I hope you enjoy!

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Ch.1, Newbie

How did I get here?

That's a question I've been replaying in my mind for the past few days.

I'm not too sure what's happening, but it had something to do with an anomaly and several men in heavily armed suits with high-tech guns. I was a simple reporter and journalist, organizing my next headline for the Bernardelli News Agency. Who would've thought that just after submitting my report and preparing for bed that those strange men would appear at my doorstep?

They didn't explain much of anything and jumped straight to shooting me with what I can only assume was a tranquilizer dart.

The next thing I know I'm sitting in a white room with a clean white table separating me from this strange woman. Her thick raven hair is pulled into a messy bun and her fluffy bangs hang over her forehead. She's staring at me coldly and I can't shake how her amber eyes seem to pierce right through me…

She's dressed in what I can only describe as a lab coat and stiff office get up. She has an orange necktie tucked under her white collar, a gray pencil skirt, black heels, and an orange name tag with a strange logo on it and the name C. Hewley typed onto it.

On the table between us is a paper with my picture on it. My shorter, midnight hair is much more tame in the picture than the currently disheveled state it's in now. My name is printed in big bold letters alongside my general information;

Name; Meryl Stryfe

Age; 23

Height; 149cm

Gender; F

D.O.B; 02/14/XXXX

P.O.B; December, [REDACTED]

Below that is information about my personal history. Essentially the story of my entire life all squeezed into a three page packet.

Nervous, I start to fidget with the hem of my skirt. My white tunic falls snugly to my mid thigh which is covered with indigo leggings. I have a comfortable pair of white zip up heeled boots to match. It's my typical work outfit, and actually helps me feel less out of place in this environment of clean white walls and this woman who's only colors are monochrome and shades of orange. My grayish lavender eyes do not dare look away from this woman's stare…

Eventually, she looks down at my information booklet and sighs.

“Miss Stryfe. Allow me to apologize for the sudden intrusion of your home and unwanted transportation to this facility.”

She starts calmly, but I can hear the irritation in her voice. Her accent is a clear yet strong British that almost demands respect with every hard word.

“I am Director Clarice Hewley, the site director of Site 52. You are here due to a recent interaction with an SCP. Normally we'd give you an anesthetic and force you to forget the interaction, but an 05 member vouched for you after seeing your academic accomplishments. With that said, we'd like to offer you a job.”

She pulls out another packet and slides it over to me with a pen. It's an NDA agreement as well as what seems to be a job description. From what I'm reading, I'll essentially be made a researcher of anomalous objects and my experience as a reporter will be an asset in questioning some of the creatures. This is insane…

I'm about to decline the offer when I turned the page and saw the pay and benefits. Holy crap…

Safe to say it didn't take me long to read the packet and try to better understand my situation. I signed it and Miss Hewley seemed pleased enough, so she arranged for me to begin my training.

So that's what landed me here. They let me stay in my usual outfit, but have forced me to wear a white lab coat like what Miss Hewley had on. My name tag sits on my right shoulder just as hers did. I'm standing outside Site 47, having just returned from quitting my previous job. I was told to wait here for my instructor who will be giving me a short tour of what I'll have access to and generally explaining more of my job. He should be here soon…

“Hey, newbie. Wake up.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard the voice of a gruff man and spun around to face him. He's a tall middle-aged man with messy brown hair and tired green eyes. A baibo-styled beard and dark mustache add to his tired uncle vibe and he's holding a small canteen in his left hand. His right hand is tucked away into the pocket of his own lab coat. Unlike Miss Hewley, his outfit is less out together and more disheveled. His light brown button up shirt is half tucked into black khakis and his orange tie is loose.

Either I'm staring at him funny or he's lost his patience, because I watch him take a swig of whatever's in his canteen and grunt.

“The name's Roberto. Are you the kid I'm supposed to be tutoring?”

I get he's my mentor, but being called a kid just strikes an irritating cord in me. I straighten up, not that it does much for my height, and stand as proudly as I can with a confident expression.

“Yes, sir. I am Meryl Stryfe, a new employee at this facility. I'm pleased to meet you, Doctor Roberto.”

I feel quite smug with this tone. I used it often when talking to authority figures back at Bernardelli, and it often helped me make it clear I was to be respected.

Roberto grunts and turns on his heel towards the facility. “Yeah, yeah. Just keep up, newbie.” He says as he walks away.

I silently glare at his back before following him inside.

We walk through some security gates and halls before entering a large room filled with computers, filing cabinets, and research equipment. Various people in lab coats are present and don't bother looking up when we enter. A purely professional environment, I see. At least compared to my mentor who looks like he just woke up with a hangover…

“This facility is more of a checkpoint for SCP transportation. You'll see all kinds coming and going, so be careful. Right now, we're holding some of the worst anomalies until they can be transported to their new containment sites. That said, be sure to keep a steady count on how many you see today. Do you know why I say that, kid?” Roberto explains as he walks up to what looks like a metal box big enough to fit an adult human.

I nod “It was mentioned in my contract. I can turn back on my decision to work here, but that option is void if I see a total of five anomalies. Right?” So glad I read the packet…

Roberto grunts in response “That's right, newbie. You can start your count with this one. Meet SCP-8153, otherwise known as Kuroneko.” He introduced before pressing a button on a side panel. A metal panel lifts, revealing a small black cat. It stirs and wakes up yawning and looking at us with its big green eyes. A cat. A black house cat. Is he serious?

Kuroneko sits up and licks its paw as I turn to Roberto with an unimpressed expression. “Um, sir? Mind telling me what's abnormal about this cat? Or is this really just a house cat and you just enjoy messing with new employees?” I ask him, very much unamused with this.

He smirks and picks up the cat by the scruff of its neck. He hands the cat to me who purrs in my arms as I hold it. “Didn't your contract tell you not to underestimate an SCP’s appearance? Kuroneko here has been alive for several centuries. We found him after a guy brought him to a vet claiming he shot the poor thing and it healed itself. The vet didn't believe him, so the guy shot the cat again to prove it and got arrested. We swooped in after the police report and contained SCP-8153.” He explains.

I guess my skepticism is painted on my face, because Roberto sighs and takes the cat from me. He sets it back into the metal capsule and pulls out a .41 caliber Derringer. I, of course, panic. Especially when he points it at the cat that just stares at him like it's used to having a gun barrel pointed at it!

“Whoa, hey! I get it! You don't have to prove it! Why are you carrying that?! I thought only the MTF were allowed to carry firearms!” I say, making a grab for the gun which he swiftly pulls out of my reach with a wheezing chuckle.

“Calm down, newbie. It's not loaded. You'll quickly find that in this line of work you can't rely on some oaf with a big gun to protect you at all times. We're supposed to protect SCPs, but we can't do that if they kill us first. Consider arming yourself in the future. But I'll admit your reaction was priceless.” He mocks me before putting the gun back in its hiding place, a specially made holster sewn into the underside of his lab coat.

I let out a relieved sigh and glare at him “that was just foul. And my name isn't newbie! It's Meryl Stryfe.” I remind him, crossing my arms as he laughs at me.

“Until I see you've grown up, you'll always be a newbie to me. A kid stuck with an old bag of drunk bones as a mentor.” He says before taking a swig as if to make a point.

I shake my head “On another note, you said this facility is a transportation checkpoint. Where is Kuroneko going?” I question, changing the subject.

Roberto grunts and looks at the cat who's gone back to sleep. “That information is above your clearance, I'm afraid. Your job here is to monitor the SCPs and ensure any new discoveries are documented and given to the team responsible for transporting them. Keep an eye on the anomalies until their designated truck arrives and give the departing team any new documents they might not already have. It's not your job to know where the anomalies are headed.”

I slowly nod and am about to ask another question when an MTF guard suddenly bursts into the room, startling the hard at work researchers. All eyes turn to the guard, including the curious eyes of Kuroneko. He's out of breath and panicked. One of the scientists seems to recognize him and grows upset “Where's your charge? Why is he not with you?!” Wow… no regard for the poor guard at all. Strait to scolding. Yikes…

The guard tried to catch his breath “We were… separated. Something's happening on a lower floor… he wanted to investigate… he told me to come here and alert Doctor Roberto!”

Roberto’s face turns serious with alarm and raises his canteen, signaling the guard. He walks over with myself in tow and places his free hand on the guard's shoulder. “Calm down, kid. What's so urgent your charge told you to get me? He never gives orders unless the situation is dire and he knows the penalties for going off on his own.” He tries to calm the guard down enough to speak like a father telling his son to take a breath and explain a new broken window.

The guard takes a deep breath before he begins “apparently a researcher got tied up with SCP-035 and has attempted to break containment. Doc wanted to go help try to save the researcher before it's too late and told me to alert you…” he says, still panicked but calm enough to speak clearly.

It's then that an alarm starts blaring, coating the white room in flashing red light. A robotic voice calls CONTAINMENT BREACH - CONTAINMENT BREACH - AN SCP HAS BROKEN CONTAINMENT - CONTAINMENT BREACH - its loud and frightens everyone present. People have begun to panic and Roberto hollars at everyone to stay calm. He turns to me, his body tense “Newbie, don't leave my side. And you,” he turns to the guard “What's your name, son?” He questions.

The guard flinches “G-Gabriel Luster, sir!”

Roberto nods “Gabe, you're with us. Your new job is to protect us until the breach is contained, do you understand?”

“Y-yes sir!”

Roberto grunts and takes a swig from his canteen “great, just what I needed. Two kids, a missing idiot, and a containment breach. C'mon, let's get to the communications room and send out an SOS.” He orders and leads me and Gabriel down the hall. Kuroneko seems to have decided to join us too, because it's following at our heels like a normal house cat following its owner.

A couple corners later and we approach a set of double doors that are slightly ajar. Roberto pauses a few feet from it and signals to Gabriel “Stand in front and be ready for anything. That door shouldn't be open…” he instructs.

Clearly scared, Gabriel holds his large gun ready and slowly approaches the door he nudges it open and the sight nearly makes me vomit…

Looks like the communications room was compromised, because all I see are several bodies with snapped necks. I see Roberto go pale even in the flashing red lights. “Doctor…? What happened here…?” I question carefully, trying to distract myself from looking at the dead researchers and guards.

Roberto takes a deep breath “173…” he mutters in horror. I look at Gabriel who shrugs at me before finally removing his helmet. He's a man in his early 20s with a slight stubble and fluffy ginger hair. His eyes are green and his freckles dot his nose and cheeks.

Roberto groans in frustration and pinches the bridge of his nose “Great. Just great. SCP-173 is the damn statue. Think of a weeping angel from one of those games kids play today but shaped like a concrete peanut and ugly enough to make a naked mole rat look pretty. If you see it, don't blink or take your eyes off it unless you wanna end up like them.” He says, gesturing to the dead people.

Gabriel fails to hide his snicker at the crude description and I just sigh “Awesome. An SCP that kills anything with eyes.” I say sarcastically. Roberto pushes past us and steps over a dead researcher and typing on a keyboard.

“I'm sending the SOS and informing them about 173. If I remember right, 035 is two floors down from us. We need to find that idiot and evacuate while the MTF soldiers work to contain the escaped anomalies. Normally, an evacuation wouldn't be allowed. But you two are clearly inexperienced and I'm not gonna let you die so young.” Roberto clicks the send button and launches the SOS, praying it's answered soon enough. “First, let's get back to the main lab. We'll also need a weapon for this kid and we need to gather as many surviving researchers as possible. The more that survive, the better.” He instructs us, already pushing past and down the hall. Gabriel and I share a glance before rushing after him, Kuroneko bounding ahead at Roberto's heels.

When we return, I give in and turn towards a small nearby trashcan before throwing my lunch back up. The entire room which was previously filled with living researchers are now corpses with snapped necks. Gabriel and Roberto are stuff next to me and I look up and freeze at the hideous peanut SCP Roberto told us about.

I've officially seen two SCPs… and I'm certain this will be my last.

SCP-173 stands perfectly still in the center of the fresh chaos. Roberto gulps “Ok, kids… slowly back away and don't you dare blink… Gabe, when the kid and I are through the door, I want you to close it and break the lock panel to keep it locked shut. We can at least contain this bastard…” he orders the shaking guard who slowly nods.

On Roberto's cue, we all slowly back away while keeping our eyes unblinking on the statue. My eyes are begging to sting and water… I'm about to blink when Roberto says “Now!” And Gabriel shuts the door, breaking the panel to lock it. I nearly scream when loud bangs come from the other side, a sign of the SCP trying to get to us through the reinforced steel door…

I blink and rub my eyes, wiping away my frightened tears “We almost died…” I say out of horror as I try to calm my rapidly beating heart.

Gabriel nods, placing a hand over his own chest and looking like he just met death itself.

Roberto grunts and shakily pulls out a cigarette, lighting it with unsteady hands.

“Don’t complain… it was in your contract… you'll have more near death experiences until one actually kills you. Once you sign that contract and see five anomalies, you become Foundation property… that's what we all agreed to.”

Great…

To Be Continued...