#overnight parts from japan

[mishproductions]

The Fast and the Furious (2001) dir. Rob Cohen

[lightseoul]

cw. worker!reader, prohero!katsuki, aged-up (25), pining (squint harder y'all), a lot of cussing (wouldn't be a bkg fic w/o 'em), reader has an ex-boyfriend, our boy kiri finally makes an appearance

words. 2.7k (i had to stop my head was aching)

masterlist | part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9

If you were to suddenly rise to fame overnight, for what reason would it be?

The answer you’ve always had for these silly icebreaker questions was simple. That one passion you’ve nurtured as a hobby, perhaps? Or the hidden talent—party trick, really—that your friends always goaded you into demonstrating during get-togethers? Or it could be getting recognized for the work that you do and how much of your soul you put into it.

Really, it could have easily been any of the three.

Which is why you couldn’t have seen this reality hurling straight at you even if it was waving a shining red flag at you from a safe distance.

You adjust the face mask that’s snug against your cheeks for the umpteenth time, vaguely aware of the child seated in front of you who’s also staring like he’s trying to make out who you’re supposed to be under the barrier.

Tamping down the annoyance springing in your gut over a kid occupying a precious chair in this crowded subway train during rush hour, you shift on your feet and tug down with your extra hand the hat that you quickly threw on on your way out this morning.

It was the least you could do after unceremoniously finding out through your best friend at 5:37 AM that you’ve become one of the Internet’s sensational hits overnight, now being dubbed as #2 Pro-hero Bakugou Katsuki’s heavy-handed girlfriend, emphasis on the heavy.

Needless to say, the news sent you into panic and you couldn’t go back to sleep no matter how hard you tried. Your emotions and thoughts went into overdrive, and you found yourself at the crack of dawn mulling over the options you had in front of you.

You knew you were grasping for straws when you started thinking about stealing someone else’s identity and moving far, far away from Japan where the concepts of pro-heroes and the World Wide Web were unbeknownst to the living population.

That pipeline got you nowhere.

Which leads you to the present: decked out in a flimsy disguise, horridly sleep-deprived, anxious as hell, squished between late salarymen and chatty high schoolers in a cramped train carriage, and subject to the increasingly scrutinizing stare of this kid in front of you.

To your relief, you arrive at your station before the child can put two and two together and expose you to the rest of the crowd. You quickly shuffle out and expertly weave yourself through the sea of people, desperate to get out of the public space and into the safety of Ground Riot agency.

Though your imagined bubble of safety is immediately popped the moment you enter the building and feel what has to be dozens of pairs of eyes on you.

You hurriedly scan your employee ID and head for the elevators, heaving a relieved sigh when no one follows you into the space.

It’s barely 8 AM, and you’re already drenched in sweat. You’re in the middle of wondering if you’re already sporting a fucking pit stain when your phone chimes its familiar tune, signifying a text message.

You peek at the notification banner to see Bakugou’s name, alongside a short directive.

(7:51 AM) Bakugou (Dynamight): Conference Room A—be there in 10. PR and the rest want to see both of us.

Fuck.

The room’s not empty by the time you stumble in seven minutes later. Hiramasa Hikari, your direct subordinate in charge of employee relations, is seated on one of the comfy office chairs circling the long, oval table, looking indubitably harrowed as she thumbs through an all-too-familiar booklet.

Wordlessly, you walk towards where she is and plop yourself down on the seat across from her, right on the side of the end-of-the-table throne where Bakugou usually plants his butt during meetings.

You might have moved a little too silently because she startles when she looks up and sees you looking at her like you don’t know what to say.

Because you don’t.

Instead, you flash her an uneasy smile, which she returns right back. Although it morphs into a frown, “I’m guessing we both recognize how comical the situation is right now?”

At that, both of your gazes drift to the said document, conveniently titled ‘Workplace Relationships: Policies and Protocols,’ with your name written underneath as one of the principal authors.

You purse your lips into a tight line, suddenly feeling the tiniest bit of shame spurring in your gut.

You wouldn’t call yourself militant when it comes to carrying out rules and regulations related to your job, but being on the receiving end of a lecture regarding workplace relationships is—for the lack of a better term—humbling.

Even if the whole thing that led you here is fake.

Before you can stutter out an appropriately vague enough response to your colleague, the glass doors open like flood gates and in comes Bakugou in his hero costume, followed by Mikuri (the PR head you’ve talked about during your meltdown), and a group of coworkers who you’ve identified as a portion of the agency’s legal team.

You and Hikari stand up at their arrival, and sure enough, Bakugou pulls out the seat to your right, barely sparing you a glance as he situates himself.

The rest quickly follow suit, the atmosphere so tense you could cut it with a meat cleaver.

Nobody says anything for a while before Hikari clears her throat awkwardly, evidently feeling self-conscious over speaking in front of her higher-ups. “I guess I can start, then?”

You give her an encouraging nod as if you’re not about to be roasted by the very same girl you’ve been training directly since she got recruited two years ago.

Hikari clears her throat again before fixing her firm gaze on you. “It has come to our attention that multiple news articles have been circulating since last night,” she pauses as her eyes dart between you and Bakugou, “about the two of you.”

A pregnant pause.

“…Care to explain?”

You can’t believe it. You’re about to expose yourself and this embarrassing stunt you pulled. And you can’t help the dread that courses through your system at the thought of admitting out loud how you roped in your boss, of all people, to pretend as your date so that you could hide from the ex who dumped you over the phone how much of a loser you are.

How much a loser you’ve become, the present moment in mind.

It couldn’t get any more pitiful than that.

But you have to face the truth, and you realize that time is running out fast as you survey the expectant looks directed at you one by one as if everything’s in slow motion.

Finally, you open your mouth to blurt it out and get it over with, but Bakugou beats you to it.

In fact, he doesn’t miss a beat.

Which is fucking astounding, because what he’s about to say next quite literally causes your jaw to drop.

“We’re dating,” he states, voice even. “There’s your explanation.”

The exact moment he says that outright, blatant lie, it’s like all the air in the conference room gets sucked into a vacuum. You find yourself feeling lightheaded and it takes everything in you not to collapse like a boneless heap on the lawyer beside you. You think Bakugou notices because his eyes shift to look at you, and his eyebrows furrow so minutely as if he’s telepathically saying ‘Get it together.’

And so you do.

You don’t know what the fuck he’s thinking, lying like this to the very people who need to know the truth to effectively clean up the mess you’ve inadvertently made in just one Sunday, but at this point, you know better than to contradict Bakugou’s words.

“We’re dating,” you parrot, voice wobbly, “…yes.”

You will yourself to look up from the clasped hands on your lap, only to immediately regret it. Some of the members of the legal team are staring at either Bakugou and you with straight-up disbelief, while the others toss you a playful wink. Hikari, Mikuri, and Sawamura, the lead lawyer, however, look unsettled at best.

“Since when,” Sawamura starts, although he sort of chokes on his spit. He clears his throat, “—since when has this been happening?”

The pro-hero’s reply is almost instantaneous. “Why the fuck would I tell you that?”

Ignoring Bakugou’s defensive retort, you instead jump in to respond as calmly as you can. “Around two months ago. When we worked late nights on that issue under Hikari’s unit. We, uh—” you chance a glance at Bakugou, who’s looking at you intently, “—we were actually planning to disclose it to HR today, if you can believe that.”

“And you punching the groom at the wedding you attended,” Mikuri suddenly adds, voice pointed. “Was that part of the plan, too?”

At the reminder of your act of sin, you visibly cringe in front of your colleagues. You hear Hikari hold back a snort, and you flush further in embarrassment.

To your surprise, Bakugou speaks up. “That was her dickhead of an ex, and he was being an asshole to her.” He grunts, “She was only defending her name.”

Despite yourself, you can’t help but gawk at the man. The last thing you expected was for him to defend you. And so sincerely, at that. He could be a great actor.

“Well, regardless of the intentions, we have to deal with the act and its resulting consequences,” Sawamura sighs, before turning to face you. “We already briefed Bakugou on the way here but the guy and his family are threatening to sue for damages.”

“S-sue?” you choke out.

Mikuri nods solemnly in response. “I know Bakugou here wants to fight fire with fire by exposing the guy’s character but we believe it’s best to keep things as hush-hush as possible to prevent any more repercussions on his general popularity rating.” She gives you a once-over, “Would that be okay with you?”

You barely manage a nod, although she seemingly finds it more than enough.

“We’ve since been in contact with their lawyer and are on our way to a settlement,” the head lawyer packs on. “We’re scheduled to meet them in,” he checks his sports watch, “two hours.”

“In the meantime,” Mikuri interjects, “we might suggest you stay off your non-essential social media sites as we wait for the issue to die down.”

You nod again, failing to repress a weak laugh at the belated advice. “Don’t worry, I’m already on that.”

“In fact,” you quickly add before anyone else can interrupt you, “So much so that I don’t know what the hell is going on out there. How is Bakugou fairing in the ranks right now?”

Again, you feel the said man eyeing your side profile.

Mikuri cocks her head to the side in reflection, “Surprisingly, he’s holding up okay. We’ve had a marked increase in activity from the adolescent to young adult female demographic especially, but they’re all mixed reviews.”

At that, Bakugou sneers. “What am I, a fucking movie for these extras to rate?”

You snort, and now you see Bakugou side-eye you, although there’s no bite to it.

“Anyway,” Sawamura interjects, “That’s more or less it from us and PR as well, I believe. We’ll keep you both posted.” The man glances at Hikari, “Hiramasa-san, anything else from your department?”

“Oh, yes,” she quickly riffles through her documents before settling on the booklet from earlier and timidly handing it to Bakugou, who accepts it gingerly. “My supervisor here knows the guidebook by heart so you two should be good in keeping yourselves in check.”

Her eyes quickly dart to you as if to watch your reaction before they just as quickly dart back to Bakugou. “But just to reiterate, we strive to keep everything professional here at Ground Riot agency, so that means drawing a clear boundary between your work and personal lives. That also means no inappropriate PDA.”

“Tch.”

You gulp, feeling all sorts of weird all of a sudden. Accidentally demonstrating PDA with Bakugou should be the least of your worries but there’s no denying the pulse of anxiety that resonates at the mention of it.

After you and Bakugou begrudgingly agree to the terms and conditions, the meeting finally gets adjourned and your workmates pile out of the room one by one. You don’t realize how tense your shoulders are until you’re left alone with Bakugou, and you allow yourself one deep exhale.

Your boss, who’s still sporting a sour expression on his face, shifts his attention to you at the sound. You feel yourself shrink in a bit under his penetrating gaze, although you try to straighten your spine soon thereafter.

You take a few steps towards the doorway and peek through the hall for any bystanders. Once sure that you’re most definitely alone, you turn to Bakugou. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”

He’s not looking at you but his eyebrows furrow still, revealing his listening. He doesn’t say anything, though.

You continue. “It’s obviously bothering you that we’re keeping up this charade. Never mind your ranking potentially slipping, what about the stress of having to pretend and hearing people talk? You don’t need that on top of—”

“I don’t give a single fuck what people say about me.”

You knew that, yet you still frown at his tone. “But you give a fuck about being number one.”

At that, Bakugou finally moves to face you. “Look, I hate that I have to say this, but even if I had no dating scandal affecting my popularity rating, good or bad, all this doesn’t make a difference in helping me get past shitty De– Izuku, at least in a way that matters.”

He huffs before looking away to the floor-to-ceiling windows. “That popularity shit’s out of my control and has nothing to do with my abilities. The other metrics are.”

As you gaze at his back, you think about how image is in fact important when it comes to being the ultimate hero—mind drifting back to All Might and how he served as the pinnacle of safety with his powers and impactful symbolism. But then it gravitates to Endeavor and how, despite his far from amiable personality akin to that of Bakugou’s, he earned the people’s trust in his own way as the new #1 upon All Might’s retirement.

“Okay,” you exhale again, “I believe you. Still doesn’t explain why you seem so bothered, though.”

Bakugou immediately whips around to look at you, frustration etched on his pretty features. “Why did that jackass even invite you in the first place?”

That’s what’s bothering him?

You chuckle, although what you’re about to say probably isn’t a laughing matter. “I think it’s because he saw me as a charity case,” you pause, debating whether or not to tell him the embarrassing truth, eventually opting to do so. “He always made me feel like I should thank my lucky stars I scored him, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought he was doing me a favor by inviting me to his wedding.”

“…You know you can do better than that dipshit, right?”

You smile despite yourself, “I know… That’s why I’m dating you, right?”

You only meant to lighten the mood after what has been a grueling, impromptu meeting, but you didn’t expect Bakugou to redden in what you think is annoyance at the innocent quip.

You immediately backtrack. “I was just—trying to, uh—’m just joking around…”

Bakugou doesn’t get the chance to potentially snap at you in irritation because Kirishima, Red Riot, waltzes in with a big, toothy grin on his face.

He beams at you then turns to regard his best friend, grin growing even more in size as if that was still possible.

And what he says next confuses the shit out of you and grants him a hard shove from your now fake boyfriend.

“Congrats, Bakubro! Freaking finally!”

tagging. @kitthepurplepotato @chelbyisbord @lovra974 @katsukis1wife @brunnetteiwik @bunnysaursushii @k0z3me @meeeepsworld @asura-rose @dragonscribble @moonz33 @citrustsuki @deadhands69

˖⁺‧₊ as always, reblogs, replies, and tags are much appreciated <3 they really do make a difference! have a lovely day~

[conkreetmonkey]

Splatoon 3 is wild because imagine if you were living in Japan due to a recent economic and cultural boom, and suddenly a space shuttle with a mutant house-sized T-rex riding it suddenly burst from the center of Mt. Fuji and disappeared into space without explanation, and all you ever find out about what the fuck that was about is that Zuckerburg mysteriously disappeared the same day and was never seen again, but still "officially" ran Meta through an open secret Queen-Elizabeth-being-in-good-health gaslighting campaign, and everybody kind of suspected he may have been connected but never figured out anything conclusive.

Also the T-rex is now orbiting the earth in the fetal position like the guy from Jojo, and there are rumors of a substance that, if touched, turns you into a half-dinosaur monster. Nobody understands any of this but Meta employees just keep going to work and pretending Zuck still exists. The same 12 prerecorded voicelines constantly squak from the PA system.

Oddly, the statue in front of Meta HQ of a T-rex eating a human changes overnight into one of a giant human eating a tiny T-rex. Nobody noticed the switch, despite the statue being in a constantly bustling area. It happened shortly after the shuttle incident.

Jack Black's tiny clone, Lil' Jack, now wears a headset at all times and has been acting really shady since the incident. Also they're both hyperintelligent, immortal velociraptors found in an ancient cryogenic chamber who spend their days judging college football and eating the legally harvested flesh of hillbillies. Lil' Jack is probably plotting to kill Big Jack, but Big Jack doesn't seem to care, growing fat and lazy, sleeping on public benches in a bed of throw pillows. Also, he's very open about the fact that, as a velociraptor, humans look delicious, but he hasn't actually eaten anybody aside from the aforementioned hillbillies because he's civil.

Everyone is just expected to move on with their lives after this. This is normal to you.

The local art school was recently attacked by giant sea serpents, which were actually hideously bioengineered hillbillies, fulfilling a biblical doomsday prophecy, and they were driven back by Meta's army of minimum wage, part time child soldiers armed with warcrimey jury-rigged weaponry. The sea serpents had giant frying pans grafted into their mouths, which launched primitive tactical nukes made by filling garbage bags with their explosive blood. They still exist, and occasionally defend their comrades, but spend most of their time in the deep sea.

The local homeless emo twink everyone's attracted to is a closet millionaire who sells bootleg clothing in exchange for live rats, which he messily devours behind closed doors. He's also 8 feet tall and British and only has one eye.

North Korean refugees now flood the western world, after a greasy 14 year old hipster, under the guidance of Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, beat Kim Jong Un in a mech battle, and the EDM remix of the Japanese national anthem they performed caused like half the soldiers to immediately realize North Korea sucks ass and defect. One of these individuals, 7 foot tall hypergenius, becomes a newscaster alongside a nepo baby rapper with dwarfism who likes to eat entire jars of mayo, and also they're a popular band. Also also, they may or may not be gay. Almost the entire population is gay, so this isn't a huge deal.

The new local newscasters are a famous Japanese lion tamer, an Indian girl with a bloodline trait allowing her to control snakes, and a Brazillian man the size of a smart car who exclusively communicates via grunts.

Gods, souls and zombies are objectively real, and you're effectively immortal because real-life respawning was invented a while ago. It works like a Keurig, but with mucus instead of coffee. Submersion in water kills you.

A good deal of the population is a hivemind. They pretend to be individuals for no reason.

Almost all men are now femboys.

Despite all this, you still have to go to work at 9 tomorrow.

[tokidokitokyo]

富山県

Japanese Prefectures: Chūbu - Toyama

都道府県 (とどうふけん) - Prefectures of Japan

Learning the kanji and a little bit about each of Japan’s 47 prefectures!

Kanji・漢字

富　と(む)、とみ、フ、フウ　wealth, enrich, abundant

山　やま、サン、セン　mountain

県　ケン　prefecture

中部　ちゅうぶ　Chūbu, Central Japan, the central region of Japan

Prefectural Capital (県庁所在地) : Toyama (富山市)

Toyama Prefecture is a part of the central region of Japan, also known as Hokuriku (北陸). Takaoka city is the birthplace of Fujiko F. Fujio, the creator of Doraemon, with many Doraemon-themed delights for visitors. Toyama lies along the Sea of Japan and includes part of the spectacular Northern Japan Alps. Gourmet seafood, idyllic scenery, cultural attractions, and a slower pace are all easily accessible by shinkansen from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Toyama is an important rice-producing area, as well as sourcing hydroelectric power and minerals from the nearby mountains that serve as a basis for chemical, textile, machinery, pulp and paper, and steel industries. The capital city of Toyama and Takaoka have long been the chief center for the production of patent medicine and drugs.

Recommended Tourist Spot・おすすめ観光スポット Gokayama Ainokura Village - 相倉合掌造り集落

Gokayama Ainokura Village (source)

The Gokayama region is an area within the city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its traditional gassho-zukuri houses (similar to Shirakawa-go in Gifu). The region is secluded within the mountains in the upper reaches of the Shogawa River, thus preserving this unique traditional architectural style. Gokayama's lifestyle and culture remained very traditional for many years after the modernization of the majority of the country, and many of the houses here are over 300 years old.

Ainokura is the largest of these villages, with nearly 20 gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Many are still private residences, although some have been converted into restaurants, museums, and minshuku, where you can stay overnight at a farm house. With less development and more difficulty to reach this secluded village, there is less tourist traffic than some of the other villages. There are visiting hours attached to the village to avoid disturbing the residents (8:30-17:00), thus helping to preserve the quiet life in this village.

Folk dances, music utilizing unique, traditional instruments, and special washi paper techniques characterize this area. You can listen to the sasara, an instrument made of over a hundred wooden clappers strung together, which is symbolic of the region and a popular souvenir. There are also washi paper workshops where you can try your hand at making washi paper.

Regional Cuisine - 郷土料理 Kombujime - 昆布締め

Kombujime (source)

Kombujime (also kobujime) is a local Toyama dish made by sandwiching light-tasting foods such as whitefish (most commonly marlin) and wild vegetables between sheets of kelp (or kombu). Other popular fillings include other whitefish, shrimp, tofu, and beef. The prefecture boasts the highest kelp consumption, and thus kombu is also widely available at supermarkets.

The technique used to make kombujime (which means "kombu curing") enhances the taste of the sashimi through aging the fish between two sheets of kombu. This technique softens the fish texture and the glutamates from the kelp transfer over to the fish, accentuating its flavor.

Toyama Dialect・Toyama-ben・富山弁

Toyama-ben is also called Etchu-ben (越中弁), and consists of West (Gosei, 呉西), East (Gotō, 呉東), and Gokayama (五箇山) dialects. The dialect is a combination of sounds and features close to Kansai and Tohoku dialects, but still quite different from the other dialects in the Hokuriku area.

うい　ui

Standard Japanese: いっぱい 、満足、胸やお腹が苦しい (ippai, mune ya onaka ga kurushii) English: I'm stuffed; my chest or stomach feels tight

食べ過ぎて、はらういわ。 tabesugite, hara ui wa

食べ過ぎて、はらいっぱい。 tabesugite, hara ippai

I ate too much, I'm stuffed.

2. きどくな　kidokuna

Standard Japanese: ありがとう (arigatou) English: thank you

あら、きどくな。 ara, kidokuna

あら、ありがとう。 ara, arigatou

Oh my, thank you.

3. じゃまない　(jyamanai)

Standard Japanese: 大丈夫、問題ない (daijyoubu, mondai nai) English: I'm OK, no problem

A: 体調、いかがですか？ B: じゃまない、じゃまない！ A: taichou, ikaga desu ka? B: jamanai, jamanai!

A: 体調、いかがですか？ B: 大丈夫、大丈夫！ A: taichou, ikaga desu ka? B: daijyoubu, daijyoubu

A: How are you feeling? B: I'm doing well!

4. こわい　(kowai)

Standard Japanese: かたい (katai) English: firm, tough

このご飯、こわいわ。 kono gohan, kowai wa.

このご飯、かたいなあ。 kono gohan, katai naa.

This rice is really hard.

5. つかえん　(tsukaen) (also, なん nan、つけん tsuken)

Standard Japanese: かまわない、問題ない (kamawanai, mondai nai) English: it's fine, it's no problem

A: もう少し、待っていただけますか？ B: つかえんちゃ！ A: mou sukoshi, matte itadakemasu ka? B: tsukaen cha!

A: もう少し、待っていただけますか？ B: 問題ない！ A: mou sukoshi, matte itadakemasu ka? B: mondai nai!

A: Can you please wait a little longer? B: No problem!

More Toyama dialect here (JP with EN).

[choke-me-joey]

Ch1/Ch2

Summary: As Joe's long-term girlfriend, you reflect on your relationship over the last 4 years.

Content warning: 18+ so minors are not welcome, real person fiction (don't like, don't read, don't bitch), smut, fluff, angst, probably inaccurate timelines and processes but does anyone really care?, alcohol use, smoking...if I've missed anything please let me know!!

Author's note: when I was deep in my Dan and Phil phase I wrote this, published it on AO3 and then took it down so before anyone says "Hey this looks familiar" don't panic, I'm not stealing anyone's work and I can prove it lmao. Thanks to @harrys-four-nipples for reading this first chapter and telling me it wasn't as shit as I thought. Love you girl 🥰 feedback is always appreciated, let me know if you'd like me to continue this!

Paris

December 2022

After the craziest year anyone could ever imagine, exploring and staying in a variety of hotels across the globe, the last convention of 2022 was finally happening. You had been by your boyfriend's side the entire time; your job as a freelance photographer/social media specialist pretty much allowed you to travel anywhere and everywhere and luckily Joe's team were on board with you providing his official con photos and managing his social media. But as ideal as that sounds, it hadnt been easy.

It had been one of the best experiences of your life, watching the man that you love so, so much bring so much joy to the millions of people around the world who adored him. Despite being at every convention, watching all the fan interactions and all the panels, you were never bored. It hadn't all been perfect though, in fact it had been extremely trying at times, what with Joe being so damn exhausted there was barely any 'you' time, or fans getting a little bit too crazy at the meet and greets, but you wouldn't have traded it for the world.

You'd think that being cooped up on planes, in hotel rooms and travelling constatnly for months on end, spending almost every waking minute of the day together would have seriously damaged your relationship, but in all honesty, it brought you and Joe closer together. Sure, there have been times where you’ve wanted to smother each other with the shitty hotel pillows, but what couple doesn't argue? Without the option of slamming the bedroom door shut and sulking, you've learnt to just talk it out, and move on, and things have just gotten better and better. You had just celebrated our 4 year anniversary in Tokyo last month, and Jamie was constantly teasing you, telling you if you didn't get a ring this Christmas, you two could just run away together instead.

Of course, Joe had gotten super salty at the joke, seemingly never being able to escape the never ending question from his family and friends of when he was finally going to pop the question. He didn't need it from Jamie now too. He was going to do it, he just didn't want to rush it after all.

As it was the last con of 2022, Joe's team had given you some time off to just enjoy the convention, acknowledging that you had worked through your anniversary in Japan. This meant you could actually walk around the con and hang out with some of your friends, and enjoy the panels, which you were grateful for. You had some time to chat with Joe's dad too, which was always a good time, you got on so well with him and it was nice to see just how proud he was of his son.

Although you had been together for 4 years now, you and Joe weren't quite comfortable with going public with your relationship just yet. Joe had sky rocketed to fame overnight and his fanbase could be a little...intense. They went into a frenzy if he was spotted within 5 feet of another girl, and said girls were always stalked and harassed online and Joe didn't want that for you. You'd been pretty good at hiding it so far, most fans just thinking you were part of Joe's management team always there to keep him on schedule. It was a bit shit not being able to hold his hand or give him a hug in public but when the time was right, you both agreed you would go public.

You had headed back to the hotel a little before the con was over, Joe would no doubt get waylaid by fans outside the convention centre and you'd said you would order you both some food and run a bath for him so he could just relax now he was done for the Christmas period. New Orleans was a little after New Years so you'd have time to explore Paris, get home for Christmas and see in the New Year together.

Joe practically collapses through the door and you run to hug him, you were both desperate to touch each other after a long day of pretending to be work friends.

"Hi," you mumbled into his neck. "Last one for this year done, babe. I'm so proud of you."

He doesn't respond, he's holding onto you as if someone was threatening to take you away from him. "Babe, what's wrong?"

"I love you so much," he whispers. "Thank you."

"Joe, you don't need to thank-"

"Yeah, I do. I just thought that you've been there from the very start, and you've worked so hard, putting up with all my shit and you've been so supportive. I couldn't have done it without you." He sniffs, looking a little emotional. "Tonight was the first night I've actually been able to see you and not your camera, and knowing you were actually there, right in front of me, like, everything from the past 4 years went through my head and I could see you smiling at me, and the fans and I just..." he trails off, at a loss for words. You kiss his cheek, your own eyes welling up.

"You're such a soppy git, Joe." You tease him, but he knows you're joking.

"Shut up, you're just as soppy. " He laughs, poking you in the side gently. You poke my tongue out at him and he crosses his eyes in response, before my phone buzzes to let me know our food has been delivered to the hotel lobby. You break away from Joe, kissing his cheek and heading downstairs to grab your food.

You both scoff down your food, both of you having been way too busy to really eat a proper meal today, and then Joe gets into the bath. He tries to persuade you to join him, but honestly the bathtub here was smaller than the one at home, and even that could be a struggle to fit the both of you in, so you decline, changing into your pyjamas and watching some random show on TV and scrolling through your phone, replying to messages in the Quinn family group chat and your own family group chat.

You can't help but bite your lip in appreciation as Joe comes back into the bedroom, a towel around his waist and his curls dripping. He makes his way over to his suitcase in search for a pair of clean boxers. Your eyes scan over his bare torso, his broad shoulders, sharp collarbones, toned arms and his perfect stomach with a dusting of dark hair disappearing into the towel. He feels your eyes on him, standing up and turning around.

"What?" He smirks, stifling a yawn. You return his smirk, stretching a little.

"Nothing, just admiring my boyfriend. That alright with you?"

"Depends, can I ogle you like a pervert the next time you come out in just a towel?" Joe jokes, quickly pulling his boxers on under his towel, pulling it off and hanging it back up in the bathroom, before crawling on the bed and collapsing on his stomach, sighing heavily.

"You do anyway, I'm just more subtle about my staring, Quinn."

"You're just as pervy as me, Y/N, dont even try and pretend you're not. " he laughs, turning onto his side, pulling you down and wrapping his arm around you. You cuddle into him, burying your face in his neck.

"Difference is, Joseph, the whole Internet can see what a flirt you are, nobody has dirt on me."

"M'too tired for your smart arse right now."

"You like my smart arse." You grin into his skin, and he chuckles, the sound rumbling in his throat.

"I like your smart everything," he mumbles, kissing the top of your head. You sigh in response, enjoying the feeling of him cuddled up to you. "M'so tired. And my back is killing me."

"Did you twinge it again?"

"Mm. Hurts."

You untangle myself from him and roll off the bed, rummaging through your suitcases until you find the baby oil you always use to keep your skin moisturised after a shower. You shake it up as you walk towards the bed. "On your stomach, babe."

"That is the most terrifying thing you could say to me whilst holding baby oil." He eyes the bottle in your hands suspiciously, but does what you've said anyway.

"I believe that would actually be 'face down, ass up and just relax'." You smirk, climbing back on the bed, straddling his legs. He groans dramatically, making you roll your eyes and laugh. "You're such a drama queen, babe."

"Making a living off of it, aren't I?"

"Yeah, yeah, shut up Mr Man of the Year." You quip, opening the bottle and pour some of the oil into your hands, rubbing them together to warm it up before pressing your palms against his shoulder blades. You apply just the amount of pressure that you know he likes, rubbing his flawless skin. "That okay?"

He responds by letting out a quiet moan of approval.

"How did I get so lucky?" Joe groans into the pillow as you continue to rub his shoulders and upper back, trying your best to work out the knots in his muscles. You smile, placing a kiss to the back of his neck that makes him shiver slightly.

"You elbowed me in the tits on the Underground and made me spill my coffee all over myself." You chuckle, adjusting your position on his legs so you could massage further down.

"The one time in my whole life that me being a clumsy twat has actually worked out in my favour." Joe's voice is muffled by the pillow, but you can tell he's smiling. He grunts in pleasure as you knead his lower back gently.

"Meh, you're just lucky I thought you were hot." You teased, gently poking him in the sides. He chuckles softly. "And you were, and still can be, so socially awkward, it was endearing."

"Mm, love you." He mumbles, and you know he's slowly falling asleep by the way his body is relaxing beneath you.

"Love you too, babe." You whisper back, moving off of his back and into bed next to him, pulling the covers over both of you. Ypu push his curls back from over his face. "Always have, always will." You kiss his temple and turn off the bedside lamp, letting him sleep off the post convention exhaustion whilst you take advantage of the good selection of TV channels the hotel has.

A few hours later, you're still awake and on your phone, scrolling through Instagram, the TV long turned off. You're laid on your side facing away from your currently snoring boyfriend. Joe grumbles in his sleep and rolls over, moulding his body around yours and spooning you. You feel something poking you in your bum and smirk to yourself, wiggling your butt back against him.

"Hmm, you still awake?" Joe whispers, his voice rough with sleep and exhaustion, one of his hands running over your thigh.

"Mm, I didn't wake you up, did I?" You reply, shivering in delight as his lips graze your neck. You roll over to face him, and he moves your leg on top of his, moving your bodies closer together as he kisses you hard, his hands wandering around to your ass and squeezing it.

Oh.

You see where this is going.

"Are you sure you're up to this, Joe? You're exhausted." You say quietly, trying your best to control your breathing after you break away. Thanks to your busy schedules, it been at least two weeks since you'd last had sex. You snuck in whatever you could, but mostly it was just heavy make out sessions or occasionally a hand and/or blow job to help with Joe's anxiety levels. You were practically soaked already and he'd barely touched you.

"Never too tired for you," he mumbles, pecking your lips softly, and slowly lifting up the hem of your (his) shirt. "Off?"

You nod, and you both work together to rid you of the oversized shirt. "C'mere," he grunts, rolling you on top of him, his hands on your hips as he looks up at me.

"Lazy," you tease, your skin feeling like it's on fire as he runs his hands up your sides.

"Beautiful." He responds, giving you that little smile that makes your heart melt every time. It's a smile that only you get to see, and it's during your intimate moments like this that he smiles like that, and you fall in love with him all over again. You hum and lean down, kissing him passionately, your tongues dancing around each other. His hands return to your hips, pushing them down against his crotch as he lifts his hips up, and the friction and heat makes you both moan. You nibble on his bottom lip, which you know drives him crazy, before moving to kiss his jawline and neck, a somewhat external G-spot for him. "Fuck..."

"Well, if you want, I mean, I was just gonna suck you off and then take care of myself," you grin against his skin, and he responds by slapping your ass lightly. In return, you bite gently on his collarbone, and he grunts, the noise going straight in between your legs. "What do you want, Joe? Tell me."

"Wanna fuck you," he growls, turning his head and capturing your bottom lip between his teeth and tugging gently. "Wanna be inside you so bad, baby, please."

You whimper, nodding. Foreplay would have to wait for tonight.

You sit up and awkwardly peel off your underwear, throwing it somewhere in the room, deciding you'd find it in the morning. You gently palm Joe's cock through his boxers, making him grunt and moan your name loudly, before pulling them down his legs, and he kicks them off his feet. You take his cock into your hand, squeezing gently and stroking him a few times. "Please, baby, m'not gonna last long..." You'll let him off for that, it really has been forever since you last fucked. You reach across to the bedside table, grabbing a condom from your makeup bag (damn your birth control prescription running out before you'd realised) and tearing it open. He holds his hands out to put it on himself, but you slap them away, rolling it on him as slowly as possible, making him grit his teeth, grunt and buck his hips slightly.

Deciding to be a bit more of a tease, you hover above him for a few seconds, grinding down ever so slightly. He grips your hips so tight there will definitely be bruises in the morning, and he bites his lip, whimpering and cursing. You decide to let him off, because you want this just as much as he does, and you place the head of his cock at your dripping pussy, slowly sinking down onto him. He throws his head back and moans, a little too loudly, as do you. "God, I missed this...missed you."

"I missed you too," you sigh, placing your hands on his chest, giving yourself a bit of leverage before you start to move your hips. "Fuck, Joe, you feel so fucking good..." as much as you want this to last, you know it won't. You can already feel your orgasm growing as you grind down against him. He bucks his hips up, his cock brushing my g-spot. "Oh my god, Joe!"

"Fuck," he growls, his breathing heavy. "Faster, baby, please, I-" he cuts himself off with a moan as you obey. "Shit, fuck!"

"You're so loud," you giggle breathlessly, gasping as he places his thumb on your clit and rubs in time with your thrusts. "We're gonna get noise complai-AH, FUCK, JOE!"

"I'm the loud one, am I?" Fucking asshole.

"Shut up," You gasp, as he sits up, wrapping your legs around him and attaches his lips to your collarbone, sucking and biting as you move together. You can tell he's getting close from the way his breath is coming out in pants, and his moans are getting more desperate sounding. He rests his forehead against your shoulder, and you run your fingers through his curly hair, and he looks up at you.

"Kiss me," he whispers, and of course, you do. "M'getting close."

"Me too," you whisper back, and he reaches between you to stroke your clit. "Joe, I-"

"I know."

The room is filled with your moans, and heavy breathing as you both get closer and closer to the edge. Joe moves his hand and lies you down on the bed, so he's on top. He winks at you, and smirks as he puts your legs around his waist, and his hands either side of your head. He ducks down and kisses you softly before moving his hips, fucking you hard and fast, the way he knows you like it.

"Oh,my god Joe, I'm gonna cum!" You moan, digging your nails into his back.

"Do it, wanna feel you cum for me," he groans, and all it takes is him angling his hips just right, and you're coming, moaning his name probably way too loud, your whole body shaking. Joe curses and stills, pushing his cock inside you one last time as he cums into the condom, hard, his head dropping onto your shoulder as he whispers your name, telling you he loves you. You say it back, stroking his neck gently as he collapses on top of you, his head on your chest. "You're amazing."

"I think you'll find that's you, babe." You say breathlessly, grinning like a fool.

"I am pretty fucking good in bed, aren't I?" Joe grins, a teasing lilt to his voice.

"You always know what to say...so romantic," you roll your eyes, poking him in the tummy.

"Mhmm, you're very lucky. I mean, I even make sure you cum every single time we fuck, if that's not true love, I don't know what is." He pulls off the condom, tying it and throwing it into the bedside bin.

"Be still my beating heart!" You laugh and kiss the top of his head, rolling out from underneath him. He pouts, reaching out for you with grabby hands. "Joe, as much as I'd love to cuddle right now, I seriously need to shower after that. Wanna come with?"

"Depends, you might have to roll me, you've worn me out." he yawns, sitting up on the bed. "Besides, I already had a bath. Can't you just give me a sponge bath or something so I don't have to move?"

"Again, lazy. And I know you already showered, but if you think I'm cuddling with you when you smell like sweat and sex, you can fuck right off." You tease, grinning with your tongue poking between your teeth. You turn around, heading into the bathroom and turning on the shower. After waiting for the water to warm up, you step in, relishing the warmth cascading over you. A few minute later, you feel Joe's arms wrap around your waist and his body pressing up against yours. You stand in silence for a few moments, letting water fall down over you both. He then turns you around in his arms so you're facing him, your arms around his neck.

"Y'know, we could have just done it in here, that way we could be in bed right now." He says, flicking his wet hair out of his eyes. You run your fingers over the short hairs at the back of his neck as he leans his forehead against yours.

"Hey, I'm not the one who fell asleep before we'd even had a chance to do anything."

His face falls a little. "I'm sorry, I've been kind of a shitty boyfriend recently, haven't I?"

"What are you talking about?" You frown up at him, his beautiful brown eyes avoiding yours.

"Well, just with conventions and appearances and everything, and how busy we've been, I haven't had time to just...be with you, y'know?"

"Joe, we live together, we travel together, we're with each other every day almost-"

"That's not what I mean, we haven't been on a date in literally forever, I was at the con in Tokyo the entire day of our anniversary, and my dad was with us all day before that, for fucks sake!"

"Your dad is pretty much with us all the time, babe. It doesnt bother me, you know how much I love him. Turn around." You say, squirting some shampoo into your hand and massaging his scalp. He sighs.

"See, this is what I mean. You do all this nice stuff for me, like the back rubs, the food runs, the surprise blowies-"

"Which I do because I want to, not because I feel like I have to." You take the shower head off the wall and rinse his hair out, before running some conditioner through it. "I love you, and I know exactly what being with you entails. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I got salty about everything?"

"A normal one." Joe retorts, turning back around and gesturing for you to turn your back to him so he can wash your hair for you. "And I'm glad you're not, I just feel bad. You do everything for me and I can't even give you five minutes recently."

You don't respond, revelling in the feel of his fingers on your scalp, massaging in the shampoo. You hum appreciatively. He rinses out the shampoo and runs conditioner through your hair, making sure to cover every inch. "When we get home, I promise I'll make it up to you."

"Joe-"

"Please? We can go out and celebrate our anniversary properly, dinner, drinks, a movie, whatever you want."

You turn back around to face him. "What I want, is to stay in, order Chinese, shag and then fall asleep on the sofa with you. Joe you don't have to take me out, or buy me shit to make me feel like you love me. I know you love me, without all the materialistic crap, okay?"

He said nothing, instead he looked at you his eyes looking a little misty. He was an emotional mess tonight, but you couldn't really blame him. He blinked a couple of times, and kissed you on the nose.

"Turn around, you sap." He mumbled, giving you a small smile. He basically meant 'stop before you make me cry' in fewer words. You laughed softly, before turning back around so he could rinse your hair and his. Once you're clean, you step out and dry yourselves off, and you put on Joe's shirt again, this time pairing it with some pyjama shorts. You quickly dry my hair before getting back into bed, settling down with your head on his chest and his arms around you. "See, isn't this better than standing up and actually moving?"

"Mm," you sigh, already feeling your eyes getting heavy. "I miss our bed though."

"Me too, when we get home we are gonna spoon so fucking hard in bed for like a week." He mumbles into your hair.

"What about food and stuff?" You look up at him, raising an eyebrow. He laughs.

"Of all the things you're worried about, I love how food is at the top of that list. I fucking love you." He kisses the top of your head and switches off the bedside light. "Maybe we can persuade Wes to bring us breakfast in bed."

"Oh yeah, I can totally see him being okay with that," you laugh, my hand resting on Joe's stomach. "If anything, you owe me breakfast in bed after all these bloody photos I've taken of you. Know how hard it is to make you look good mid sentence?"

"Ouch, low blow, babe."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. You know I love looking at you, chocolate button eyes." You tease, laughing as he groans into his pillow.

"I need to learn to think before I divulge all this stuff. I'm never shaking that am I?"

"Never ever."

[xxscarletxrosexx]

Addressing Watermarks on Official Merch Scans -- A Post Made to EDUCATE

I never thought this would need to be addressed, but I think to ignore this would do me injustice as someone who works in education. This message, at its core, is to educate, not attack anyone in particular.

I used to think how silly it was that people used watermarks on pictures and art, but after spending decades in multiple fandom groups, I learned that people are simply too lazy to find the source and credit accordingly and/or want the glory/validation that comes from claiming that particular art/picture as theirs.

I've had a picture stolen once, too. It was a picture of a mannequin that reminded me of Slender Man. I posted it on a public social media app just for laughs, and somehow, that picture ended up becoming a small meme. It WASN'T a huge meme, but it made its way to a niche of Slender Man memes. I haven't received credit for that picture and probably never will. The reason is that this picture was taken over a decade ago, so finding the source would be difficult for me to scroll through the app. Furthermore, I can't show proof that I have the original picture since it was from an old phone that I no longer owned. I had the picture backed up on an external hard drive, but it was deleted when the memory got wiped when I was dealing with a virus. Ultimately, I'm not here to air out my grievance for this picture, but I take it as a lesson to myself that I should be careful next time if I want to post a picture on the internet.

This now brings me to the present-day issue: why did I watermark my scans?

As you read from my previous experience, it's because people DON'T credit or share the source.

I am very much aware that this particular design of the Forgers is very rare to come by. The official art was posted by the official website, but it was never addressed again (I know because I am dying to have acrylic stands of this design). As of today, I tried to look for this specific design and the following images showed up when I spent the past 10 minutes scrolling:

If you were to click the link for the merch (middle image), you would find that the website is unavailable. So, yes, to find this design on a merch was INCREDIBLY lucky on my part. Now, I wasn't expecting to find this at Waku Waku Park, nor was it my mission to find this specific art during the duration of my trip. It just so happened to be at the shop. To my knowledge, other official SxF merch--other than the Waku Waku Park merch--supposedly changes. I compared my experience with two SxF moots who went in December (Ikebukuro/Tokyo location) and 1 week (Osaka location) before me, and they both don't recall finding this design during their visits to Waku Waku Park (I mean, justified because it's been ages ago). As a result, this makes this merch all the more difficult to find.

Technically, I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the merchandise when I was at the shop. I was approached by a store clerk after I had already completed taking pictures of every merch available at the shop. She was limited in her English but crossed her index fingers and told me: "Pictures prohibited." I have not, nor do I plan to, share merch pictures, hence why I edited to the clear file folders to show proof that I was there.

The reason why I am so hell-bent on having my watermark on MY PICTURES and MY SCANS is because of the amount of time, effort, and money I invested into getting it.

Just to give you guys an idea of how expensive it was:

$1,500 was spent on a 9-day round-trip ticket to Japan.

$180 was lost to an overnight night bus from Tokyo to Osaka that I didn't end up riding due to rushing and booking the wrong date. I was not allowed to cancel or refund.

$100 was spent on an airplane ticket from Tokyo to Osaka.

$90 was spent on a shinkansen (bullet train) from Kyoto to Tokyo (we took a fast metro ride from Osaka to Kyoto).

$100 was spent on a last-minute B&B in Osaka.

$50 was spent on Waku Waku Park tickets that came with merchandise (I paid for my friend's ticket as well as my own).

$12 (est.) was spent on purchasing this clear file folder.

Over $350 was spent on purchasing merch from Waku Waku Park alone.

$60 was invested in purchasing a scanner just to scan a high-quality image of this clear file for my friend, and anyone else who'd appreciate seeing this product.

To share how much time and effort it took to get to purchasing this:

My friend and I weren't able to book events for the trip despite purchasing our tickets 2 months in advance. Our jobs and schedules prevented us from meeting up and planning out places where we'd like to visit. As a result, many of our planned trips were booked days before we went, such was the case with Waku Waku Park. We literally bought the tickets the night before.

The flight, night bus, and shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Osaka and from Kyoto to Tokyo were purchased the day before we bought the tickets, which was during our bus ride trip to Mount Fuji.

When purchasing tickets for Waku Waku Park, my SxF moots recommended I purchase online or at Lawson--I did the latter. For whatever reason, I just couldn't purchase the tickets online, so I went to Lawson and found a machine that sells general tickets to the public. I recall this experience being so frustrating because they did have an English translation option for the homepage ONLY. Once I clicked the platform that sold Waku Waku Park tickets, all text went back to Japanese. I couldn't read it, so I had to contact my SxF moot (who was fortunately still in Japan and went through this experience like me AND could read and speak in Japanese) explain to me what I was looking at. I also used Google Lens to help make sense of whatever I was reading. I probably spent over 10 minutes trying to figure that shit out until the shop clerk finally came over to see if he can help me complete the form and check out my purchase (poor kid didn't know English but we somehow managed).

When my friend and I arrived in Osaka, we had forgotten to book a B&B since we knew that there was a high likelihood that we'd stay overnight. I purchased a 1-day Osaka trip pass, assuming that we'd be able to go to every place offered on the list, but nope, my friend crashed after Waku Waku Park. As a result of booking so early in the morning, we were fortunate to have found a B&B that was ready by 1 PM (?) maybe 3 PM (?). I can't remember other than the fact that when I requested if we could come early, they told me we couldn't come until check-in time. So, we went to ATC Gallery (Waku Waku Park) with our luggages (fortunately, they were light but it was a nuisance to have carried it around). We were also fortunate that ATC Gallery, when arriving to the building via metro station, had a locker that could fit our luggage--so thank goodness we didn't have to carry it during the exhibit.

We learned that once you exit the exhibit--which means you exit the merch shop--you are NOT allowed to come back in. Even, when your companion was still inside, you couldn't go back in. My friend left the merch shop since there were no places for her to sit and wait for me. So she stepped out of the shop. Apparently, there are gates with workers preventing people from re-entering. And so, when I experienced problems with my card, I called my friend to have her lend me her credit card. That's when we experienced that problem. The officer was kind enough to allow my friend to hand me her card so that I could pay for my haul of merch. But imagine, if we both left the shop to go to a store to withdraw money? There was no Lawson store nearby so we'd have to take the metro and find one, buy a ticket, return to the venue, go through the exhibit AGAIN (I probably would have to repeat playing the minigames, collecting stamps, and having my photo taken out of courtesy rather than rushing through the exhibit), and then finally arrive at the merch shop. But considering the time we entered the park around 1:30 PM and spent 2 hours in the park, I believe that it would have ended with a very tight schedule (the park closes at 6:00 PM) and a very unhappy companion.

In conclusion, removing my watermarks means you (the watermark remover) discredit me and disrespect all of my time, effort, and money I invested just to get a high-quality scan of this clear file just for you to enjoy looking at and most likely saving it to your collection of SxF images. You are also a THIEF for not only stealing my scanned image and re-uploading my scan with a horrible cut and my watermarks removed with AI, but also for the fact that you DID NOT pay for a round-trip ticket to Japan, you DID NOT pay for your own ticket to Waku Waku Park, you DID NOT purchase this clear file yourself, and you DID NOT spend money on a scanner to get this high-quality image to post on the internet.

I know that this is MY SCANNED image of the official art because I can see ghost texts of my watermark between Loid and Yor and near Anya's finger and Bond's forehead. I can see the residual cut off of the weird light-blue scan found near Loid's head. The most obvious is that the red leaf between Yor and Loid was horribly "removed" by AI (dear, I use AI to edit out people from my photos, it doesn't take a trained and perfectionist eye to notice something looks fucked up).

Below is an example of me using AI, and this is not how it should look without people. There was a clear pathway behind the people but AI decided to cover it with grass. Keep in mind that to arrive to THIS AI edit, it took me over an hour to repeat the removal process since AI's edit is RANDOM every time. I am an extreme perfectionist, so I tend to waste hours on end to find AI edits that look convincing (I'm not gonna bother putting a watermark on this because my face is there).

Furthermore, as far as I'm aware (at this current time), I know that my scan is the only one that has resurfaced this image. The official merch image of this design is quite difficult to find and reference. I would've sourced it by now if I had already found it, but I've spent 6 hours writing this entire post as is and still couldn't find it.

The person who shared the removal of my watermark on Twitter/X was unaware of the importance for watermarking scans and had been cooperative by taking down her original post. I have provided a post to my scans on Twitter/X here, and a link to the original source found on my Ko-Fi shop. I currently have no beef with her, nor am I attacking her with this post. What she had presented to me was an opportunity to educate.

If you're looking for official merch that do not have watermarks slashed across their products, then your best bet is to find them from official merch websites and/or official merch images. Obviously, they want you to purchase their products. Second, they have the legal rights and trademark (TM) to flex that they own it, so I highly doubt anyone would go out of their way to edit an official work and claim it as their image.

My experience alone confirms that had I not put a watermark on my scan, I would have definitely gotten this scan stolen. As far as I'm aware, my scan is the ONLY ONE (at this current moment) that pops up in Google searches. It pops up via Tumblr from @yumeka-sxf Spy x Family miscellaneous collab scans - part 3 post.

I'm so grateful to have received advice from @yumeka-sxf because she encouraged me to protect my scans having experienced multiple thefts from her oldest scanned images in the past.

TLDR; Don't remove people's watermarks on scanned pictures (especially if they're put on official merch). We have the right to post watermarks on our pictures/scans because we spent ungodly time and effort to find them, spent money to purchase them, scanned/took high-quality pictures of them, and kindly shared our collection(s) FOR FREE for people to enjoy, share the experience, and/or inspire them to purchase one themselves. Unfortunately, the decision to put watermarks over purchased merch is because there are people who are willing to do whatever it takes to edit out credit and watermarks found in corners or in open spaces to claim ownership of the image. I have also seen merchants' product pictures being stolen by other sellers who just happen to have the same product (yes, I'm calling Ebay and Mercari out). That's why there are sellers who take pictures of their products next to their usernames.

If you have read everything until the very end, you have my gratitude. I hope that this post has been educational in helping everyone become aware that watermarks are used to credit people's time, effort, and money to share high-quality scans/pictures of official merch that they purchased. The reason you can see it is because of their efforts to share it.

[ilovespec]

SPEC NSWF ALPHABET + LITTLE FIC IN THE END

by order of another respected fan of this divine Waifu, named @turtle-boris , I'm sorry if I didn't meet your expectations, pookie :<

A - aftercare.

He would just fall asleep holding you against his 🔥boobs🔥 , but this way he can take a shower with you if you want <3

B - body part.

loves your ass and thighs. You can't change my mind about that.

C - cum.

He only cums in a condom. He is 97 years old ! You don't need kids.

D - dirty secret.

Bruh, he is absolutely honest with you, he has no secrets ;) (well, or there is, but if I call it , then I will be banned here and put in prison for life)

E - experience.

Babe....He's 97 years old. He has more experience than Retsu or Baki fans, LOL

F - Favorite position.

Doggy style. He likes to hear your hips slap against his .

G - Goofy.

100% during sex, he can sometimes chuckles or joke , this is Spec ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

H - hair.

...I think it 's already clear, but both the top and bottom are completely smooth , LOL :^

I - intimacy.

For him, sex is a way to relax, So don't expect much romance.

J - jerk off.

He doesn't need to jerk off, because he has you !:3

K - kink.

When you try to be dominant.

L - location.

Most often your bed, but sometimes you have sex in the shower, and other places that your brain can only think of.

M - motivation.

Spec turns on your moans, sobs, etc... In short, he gets turned on by the sounds that leave your mouth in excitement .

N - no.

He won't share you with anyone. You're only his . He's against quickly sex. AND HE'S AGAINST THE GOLDEN RAIN!!

O - oral.

He likes to give and receive. He doesn't care ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

P - pace.

He has a rough and fast pace. But , Sometimes if you ask well, it can slow down :)

Q - quickly.

No. He likes to enjoy you to the fullest, and not in one round.

R - risk.

Yes , yes , and YES again ! With a 200% probability, you often had sex in public places (like toilets, in the bushes of the park, etc..)

S - stamina.

VERY HIGH !!!! Like, babe, he arrived from Florida to Japan overnight. DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH STAMINA HE HAS?!

T - toys.

Bruh, babe, don't you have enough of his cock and fingers? And so, if you want, then he can try ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

U - unfair.

Is he teasing you? Sure. He can strongly overemulate you , and then not let you cum until you almost beg for it.

V - volume.

He is quite quiet, at most you hear from him his chuckles, his words when he says something to you and rare sighs .

X - x ray.

I'll buy you a wheelchair. 13'39 inches. He'll tear you up babe, be strong ✊😮‍💨

Y- yearning.

If he's not in jail, then you have sex almost every night .

Z - zzz.

He won't sleep for a long time, watching your sweet sleeping face, and then he'll pass out with you in his arms.

+ THE PROMISED NSWF FIC

You're somehow standing on your feet, because behind you, your "babygirl" named Spec is hammering into your poor ass like a jackhammer...stifled moans and sobs leave your mouth, because of his fast and rough pace, and in the meantime he bends over and leaves a couple more hickeys on your already bitten neck, and on your shoulders covered with bites and hickeys. Your walls are clamped around him, and for the umpteenth time this evening you come in such a way that everything turns white in your eyes, tears flow from your eyes once again, and you almost fall. But the powerful grip of your "babygirl" does not let you fall. Fortunately. And you can hear the familiar chuckle and voice above your ear.

Heh, baby, apparently you won't be able to walk tomorrow because of me... But, I'll help you, don't worry.

And he ends his words by leaving a kiss on your face wet with sweat and tears, looking into your already reddened eyes (your eye color) with a grin, continuing to hammer into you. Soon his thrusts somehow became even stronger , apparently bruises will appear on your poor thighs because of him. His face fell on your forearm, and after a couple more strong and deep thrusts, he cums (in a condom, of course, you both don't need children) biting your forearm, with a quiet sigh. And then, with a chuckle, he pulls away , still holding you . After all, he doesn't want you to fall to the floor here and now, takes off the condom , tying and throwing it away, and after admiring what he did to you a little, says.

Bhahah ! Dear, I see you can barely stand on your feet, I'll help you a little ;)

And then , your beloved BIG WAIFU helps you wash up , and then wipes you off and goes to sleep with you , hugging you to him >3

BRUH , sorry for this cringe , babes, this is the first time I've written something in this format 😅😮‍💨

[nowoyas]

Koi no Yokan 8: a change of scenery might help (Nishinoya Yuu/Reader)

First - Prev - Next - M.list - Ao3

Summary: Training camp season starts with an overnight weekend trip to Nekoma high school.

Warnings: blanket series warnings, very slight suggestiveness

Words: ~2800

Look, it's not that you don't try to sleep. It's just that—I mean, moving bus, too quiet, you can't exactly lay down or get comfortable, and that's not to mention the scenery out the window. You completely disregard your book two pages in—admittedly because the bus is too dark to read comfortably, something you probably should have expected and planned for, but also because once you start moving, it's the perfect environment to rest your forehead against the glass and watch Japan pass you by.

Like this, bus hoodie on and pulled up, you'll look asleep to anyone actually awake on the bus, which you're pretty sure is just Takeda-sensei and Coach Ukai, speaking to each other in low voices two rows ahead of you.

Like this, it's easy to let your mind wander. First to generic fantasizing, wondering how the book you've set aside will continue and where the plot's going, then, inevitably, to the idea you've been avoiding eye contact with:

How do you know whether your dad comes home tonight?

~

You must have fallen asleep at some point in spite of everything, because you wake up to a gentle hand on your shoulder, shaking you just enough to pull you out of sleep.

"[name]-sannn," a familiar voice sings, uncharacteristically quiet.

"Mmgh," you reply.

"C'mon, we're almost at Nekoma! We're in Tokyo, you gotta wake up!"

You let out a whine of complaint, but it does not sway him, not even when it breaks off into a poorly-timed yawn.

"You're very cute, and I do need you to marry me after that, but you still gotta get up."

You groan, refusing to open your eyes. "Stop makin' fun of me and ask nine hundred sixty-eight more times."

An offended gasp. "You don't remember? It's nine hundred sixty-seven. You were half asleep for the last one."

A single eye opens. You must have missed whatever shuffle went on, because Yachi (who had been in the seat across the aisle from you with Shimizu) is now one row back, Noya perched on the end of the seat to shake you awake. "If I don't remember it, you need proof or it doesn't count."

"Ryu! I proposed to [name]-san when she wouldn't wake up at the rest stop, right?"

"He did," Tanaka's voice confirms from further back in the bus.

Narita pipes up: "Sorry, [surname]-chan, but I can confirm this one."

"See? Nine hundred and sixty-seven to go."

One final groan of complaint as you sit up. "Fine. I'm up." A slow, languid stretch, a move to put your book away and fold your bus hoodie into your bag so you can be presentable for the Tokyo guys. Noya is pulled back a few rows on the bus by a stern Sawamura, allowing Yachi to rejoin you in the designated girls' row as you get yourself together.

The bus erupts in a loud buzz of distinctly athletic excitement as the corner is turned into the Nekoma High School parking lot. Noya and Tanaka are really doing their best to maintain the same club volume as usual without the usual perpetrators, but there's even a decent level of excitement from the others—Shimizu had informed you the other day about Nekoma, about a rekindled rivalry between the schools. It's all beyond you, but again, you never were the athletic type.

The guys hurry off the bus. You, for your part, take your time, let the others file off while you get your bag organized. As you join the others in the parking lot, legs stiff from hours in a bus seat, the usual duo shouts.

"It's the Skytree!" Noya says, pointing at… a transmission tower.

You stifle a laugh. "It's not, but lend me some of that enthusiasm."

Several guys have come out to meet the lot of you—black shirts, red pants. You remember from what Shimizu told you that there's several schools at this camp, but the host school is the one that your club has any previous connections with. Logic follows: this would be guys from Nekoma.

You let Shimizu split your little group off from the guys, follow a few steps behind them as you take in the school. Honestly, nothing looks… that different. Flatter, maybe, and the school is definitely a little nicer than Karasuno.

It's a cry of anguish that snaps you out of your thoughts. You catch up to Shimizu and Yachi, peer around Shimizu curiously to spot the Nekoma guy who's fallen to his knees before them. He's got a Mohawk. Sick.

At the sight of you, he appears to burst into tears, Tanaka laughing over him.

"You got three managers? What the hell, man? Hot one… cute one… pretty one…"

A laugh from behind you. A hand on your shoulder.

"The pretty one's off-limits, though," Noya says smugly. "She'll be marrying me."

You roll your eyes, smile flicking to your lips. "Is that you asking me?"

"Yes!"

"And you're really not giving up?"

"Of course I won't! Who do you take me for?"

"Let's go," Shimizu whispers to you.

You nod to her, brush Noya's hand off your shoulder. "Nine hundred sixty-six. Don't get into trouble this weekend."

Shimizu leads you away. You're off to meet the other managers at the camp, which is sure to involve moving less men to tears than walking through the gates did.

"Tokyo's intense," Yachi whispers as you make some distance between you and Mohawk Guy.

You nod. "Those two weren't kidding about us making them cooler just by being here."

Yachi frowns. "I still really don't know that that's true, but…"

"You got assigned 'the cute one'. Be proud of it, y'know?"

She grips the straps of her backpack, watching her feet as she walks. "I guess."

~

There are four other managers at this camp. You meet them in rapid succession: two third-years at Fukurodani (a small comfort to you as one of two first-years at Karasuno; at least two managers in the same year isn't completely unheard of), a second-year from Ubugawa, and a third-year from Shinzen.¹⁶ In other words, you and Yachi are the youngest ones here. They're all very friendly, at least; Ubugawa's manager (Miyanoshita) leads the three of you to where you'll be sleeping that night to set your bags down, chattering the whole way about the different teams here. You do your best to absorb, do your best not to lose the rundowns she's given you.

Fukurodani has one of the best aces in the country and is considered a top-four team in Japan. Shinzen is really good at combination plays. Nekoma focuses on defense. Ubugawa focuses on heavy serves. Their members have to serve a hundred times at the end of each normal practice.

"How do their arms not rip off serving like that?" Yachi whispers.

"They're a rich kid school," you whisper back, "they just put the arms back on afterward."

"Eep! C-can you imagine?"

"They have to surgically reinforce their joints to play good volleyball. They're all secretly cyborgs. That's why athletes act so weird; they're slowly becoming robots."

Shimizu nods solemnly. "That would explain a lot about our own boys."

"I haven't actually gotten to hear a lot about Karasuno!" Miyanoshita says. "I guess your school is closer tied to Nekoma, but they don't have a manager, so I couldn't ask anyone about it…"

"Ah, Karasuno is more of an offensive team," Shimizu says, launching into a more detailed explanation that you quickly tune out. You're more than happy to let the other girls handle the social angle.

It's like a sleepover. Spend the night sleeping on the floor with a bunch of girls talking about, like, boys or whatever. You've never been on a sleepover and you've never particularly wanted to be.

The gym where the actual training camp is taking place is not only huge, but packed with guys. You took enough time getting your things put down that Karasuno's already warmed up and been given their jerseys, waiting to join the rotation.

The setup is simple enough. Four teams play at once—one versus another—and the team that loses a set has to do a penalty lap of something called 'diving drills' around the gym. Karasuno will jump in the play the winner of whatever set finishes next and join the rotation accordingly.

Intimidated as Yachi is about how intense the other four schools here are, you're just tired already. Maybe you didn't sleep enough on the bus, maybe it's just the weather, but you're tired.

Karasuno lines up to play their first set, you stand in position to observe, and you hope they play well enough to let you stay awake for the day.

~

Alright, so you'd sort of had the impression from the one practice match you've seen and how serious everyone in the volleyball club is that they were, like, reasonably pretty good. Shimizu even told you as much—some of the best offense in the prefecture rings a bell. But then, you're not in Miyagi prefecture, and these are some of the proven best schools in a much larger region.

So you shouldn't be too surprised to watch your boys get their asses handed to them, repeatedly.

Of course, some of this is partially the distinct lack of Kageyama and Hinata, who really do appear to be the core of the team's play style, but even when the two rush in three hours late and trailed by a tall blonde woman who's much less out of breath, it only improves a little bit. They do penalty lap after penalty lap, and you busy yourself with making drinks, passing out towels, and counting how many diving drills it takes for a single boy to do one lap around the gym. As usual, you find yourself picking one player and following him. And as usual, it ends up being Noya.

After a long day of watching your boys lose and growing progressively more frustrated (the comment you overhear from one of the guys on another team is they're just sort of… normal?) you once again pass out drinks, resolved to be a comfort, if nothing else, to the guys after a rather spectacular losing streak.

"Otsukare,"¹⁷ you chirp as Noya takes a bottle from you.

"Marry me," he groans.

You laugh. "That's not how you say thank you, I think."

He shoots you a pitiful look. "I'm starving."

"I promise you'll live. You've just gotta survive the half hour until dinner."

"I can't, [name]-san. I need you to fuel me—"

You flick his forehead gently. "Keep your sweat off me," you tease. "You're all gross."

"But [name]-san—"

"Don't you but me. Drink your water and sit down for a little bit so you can make it to the cafeteria without collapsing."

He groans, sits plaintively on the floor beside you. "We're getting our asses kicked," he complains. "How am I supposed to look cool in front of pretty girls if we're getting our asses kicked?"

"I think maybe if you tried winning instead of looking cool in front of pretty girls, that might work. Shimizu-senpai doesn't respond well to overt attempts to get her attention, anyway."

"It's cute that you think I'm talking about Kiyoko-san."

"Yachi-san gets stressed out if you address her directly, so she's even worse."

He glares heatlessly at you. "You do respond well to overt attempts to get your attention, so I'm gonna keep it up, thanks."

A moment of brief insanity leads you to ruffle his hair, completely ruining the barely-intact spikes. "I appreciate the initiative, Senpai. See you at dinner."

~

That night, you return to the room from the shower, towel draped over your head, and find yourself enthusiastically greeted by Suzumeda (Fukurodani manager #1). "[name]-chan! Glad you could join us!"

"Join you?" You furrow your brow. "…I gotta sleep here."

She laughs, guides you to sit on one of the futons laid out in a circle. At the center is a plate piled with snack cakes, which Otaki—Shinzen's manager—is very deliberately pushing the other Fukurodani manager's hand away from like she's a cat. There's drinks from the vending machine downstairs, too.

"It's Miyanoshita's birthday! We're doing a tiny little celebration."

That would explain the piece of paper someone's taped in a cone shape currently balancing precariously on Miyanoshita's head.

"Oh, you don't have to, like, include me in it, that's—"

"Nonsense! Come on, sit down, we've already gotten enough for everyone. Yacchan said you liked the banana yogurts, so that's what we got you."

Great. More guilt.

"Well, if you're sure… Uh, happy birthday, Miyanoshita-san."

She smiles, clearly embarrassed. "I had no idea they were setting this up."

"Your fault for mentioning your birthday last year!" Otaki cuts in. "Yuki-chan, quit that. You get your snacks after everyone else."

Shirofuku pouts. "But—"

"No buts. I've seen you eat more snack cakes than this in one shot."

You glance helplessly to Yachi. She's more swept up than you are, but she doesn't seem to want an out, so you have no way to get out while using her comfort as an excuse.

So you sit cross-legged on your futon, eat snack cakes, and drink yogurt in a circle, listening to the others talk until it's your turn, where you inevitably make some noncommittal, polite reply so they feel good for having included you.

That night, you lay awake long after the other girls, tired out from an impromptu birthday party, have passed out. The window curtains are drawn shut, but you stare at the windows anyway, hoping to catch a glimpse of the night sky. When you're too frustrated to keep trying, you reach for your phone, pouting.

[name] to Noya at 23:57

[name]: soba?

Noya: [image attached. Image description: Soba the cat wearing a cowboy hat. She appears extremely disgruntled, her lower half blurred from motion as her mouth opens, as though screaming in the arms of whoever (not pictured) is holding her up.]

Noya: Satsuki insists on dressing her up for Halloween every year. She hasn't gotten used to it.

[name]: why are you awake?

Noya: why are you?

[name]: shut up is why

Noya: wanna talk about it?

You pause. Tap out a message. Wipe it and start over.

[name]: it's just hard to sleep away from home I guess

[name]: I expect to see soba's halloween costume in person this year, jsyk

Noya: yes ma'am

Noya: [image attached. Image description: Soba curled up in Noya's arms. She is asleep, a content look on her face. Noya's face is not pictured, but his arms and chest are bare, arms littered with bruises from volleyball.]

…fuck. He really does have nice arms.

You bury your face in your pillow, feeling your cheeks grow hot as the full scope of the picture sets in.

Fuck. Him.

Noya: more soba for your soba needs

[name]: are you thirst trapping me with your cat right now

Noya: what?

Noya: OH MY GOD I FORGOT I'M NOT WEARING A SHIRT IN THAT PICTURE

Noya: I'M SORRY I REALLY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT

Noya: IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE FELL ASLEEP IN MY ARMS I WOULD BE WAY MORE DELIBERATE WITH A THIRST TRAP I SWEAR

Noya: WILL YOU STILL MARRY ME

[name]: I'll sleep on it. 964.

[name]: and senpai?

Noya: ?

[name]: thanks

If anyone asks, you do not save the photo.

Footnotes

16. I can't actually find any source on what year each of the Fukurodani Group managers are in, save for Suzumeda and Shirofuku from Fukurodani. However, we do get Miyanoshita's age and, uh, what Otaki looks like. Miyanoshita is listed as 17 on the wiki, without an age range, so I've placed her as an early July birthday second year. Otaki from Shinzen does not even have a canonical age, apparently, so I did what I want. She looks kinda older and has responsible vibes, so I've labeled her a third year.

17. お疲れ. Tl. "Good work, thanks for the hard work". This one felt ubiquitous enough to leave untranslated in the original text. It's generally standard both as a greeting to someone in an environment where they would theoretically be working eg. greeting your coworker in the office or, say, talking to someone who you've just watched repeatedly get his ass beat at volleyball during a training camp, and as a farewell after a long day of working.

Tags: @deeplightgarden @idonthaveanameideayet @dusstory @kazunish

[kitasuno]

kag kita suna — who are u marrying who are u making out with who are u pushing off ze cliff ?

oh god. i’m not going to lie i let this stew in my inbox overnight because i was THINKING SO HARD. and then i was going to ignore it and say im marrying ALL OF THEM (but u wouldn’t like that…) so here IT IS:

okay so obviously. the top choice is to marry kita right? right….? right..? because he’s a rice farmer and he probably has extra muscles from being in the field all day and maybe he comes back home a little tan and a little sun kissed after the day is over and then he will send me to pound town👍 BUT. here’s the thing: i do NOT like japan countryside. way too hot in the summer and way too cold in the winter and oh my god i think a part of me dies when im in the countryside and only nature so i’m SORRY kita but i am NOT THE GIRL FOR U!!!! and i remember standing in a rice field in kyoto and it was like 1000 million degrees and i almost KILLED MYeld.

AND THE BUGS… THE BUGS…. THE BUGZ!!!! remember that fuckinh cicada huge thing in the train station in the countryside

and kita would definitely. Hate me just a little bit. (we are star crossed lovers i swear but only in thought)

SO ANYWAYS WE R KISSING KITA!!! and we are kissing him HARD!!!!

i am a tokyo girl through and through and if im living in japan i am living in SHIBUYA. so..

suna and kageyama are the next choices.

and let me tell u.

kageyama is maybe just a tiny bit hotter. and he looks really really delicious in his adlers jersey. and he has been through so much that i feel like i couldn’t push him off a cliff. (suna, however… i will PUNT that little shit)

but SUNA is maybe more my type? isn’t kageyama off to italy? and would kageyama play super bunny man with me? …….and would kageyama play valorant with me…? would kageyama duet love is an open door with me and drink melon soda with me in the karaoke booth…(actually i would make him) (maybe if he loved me)

but i always say i want an idgaf boyfriend and SUNA please he would fuck with me so hard so I DONT KNOW. I DONT KNOW.

I DONT KNOW!!!!!! can i kiss all of them and we all live together in a mansion

but also Idk kageyama might give me stability.. I DONT KNOWWWWW aauughhhhh

[lunas-nargle]

↳four

chapter four of "meddle about" series brian o'conner x reader

iv. the shitty, yet perfect car

"What about parts and service?" Mia asked as she held a folder full of papers in her hands. Y/n and Letty stood by a car, fixing it up. 

"Hold off on that." Dom answered.

"But, Dom, I don't know what to do with--" Mia cut herself off as a nasty, old wrecked, car was backed into the garage. 

"All right, what the hell is this?" Dom asked Brian, coming closer. Everyone else came closer as well, wanting to know what the hell that thing was. "What do you got there?"

"This is your car." Brian said, proudly.

"My car?" Dom pointed to himself as Jesse hit on the side of it with his fist. "I said a ten-second car, not a ten-minute car."

"You could push this across the finish line, or tow it." Y/n said making Letty laugh. 

"You couldn't even tow that across the finish line." Dom said.

"No faith." Brian shook his head a little with a smile, as the group laughed.

"Oh, I have faith in you, but this isn't a junkyard." Dom said, gesturing to the car. "This is a garage."

"Hey, pop the hood." Brian told Jesse

"Pop the hood?"

"Pop the hood." Brian grinned at Dom. The team moved the car into the garage where Jesse opened the hood, making it fall completely off. 

"Two J.Z. engine. No shit." Jesse said. 

"Goddamn, look at that thing." Y/n leaned closer to inspect it. 

"And what did I tell you?" Brian smiled, crossing his arms.

"I retract my previous statement." Dom said, a little impressed.

"You know what?" Jesse said holding onto the crowbar he used to open the hood. "This will decimate all after you put about fifteen grand in it or more, if we have to overnight parts from Japan."

"We'll put it on my tab at Harry's." Dom said. 

"Yes!" 

"I gotta get you racing again so I can make some money off your ass." Dom said to Brian. "There's a show down in the desert called Race Wars and that's where you'll do it." Dom started to walk away but stopped and turned to Brian. I'll tell you what. When you're not workin' at Harry's, you're workin' here. If you can't find the right tool in this garage, Mr. Arizona, you don't belong near a car." 

Y/n walked closer to Brian with a smirk, she got close enough to feel his breath on her face, "Guess your his bitch now." She chuckled at her comment before going working on her car.

The next day after a morning at the garage, the Toretto family decided to make the team a family dinner. 

"Mia! Y/n! Come on, the chicken's dry already." Dom called out to them as Monty and himself grilled the chicken. 

"Oh, shut it, we're coming!" Y/n called back to him, as she, Mia, Jesse, and Brian walked out the door bringing the things to set the table. Once the table was set and the food was placed onto it, they sat down, ready to eat. 

"Wait. Hold up." Dom said, as Jesse grabbed a piece of chicken. "Because you were the first out of everyone here to reach in to get the chicken, you say grace."

Everyone bowed their heads, and locked their hands.

"Dear heavenly, uh--" Jesse blanked for a moment, making Y/n want to burst out laughing. 

"Spirit." Leon finished for him.

"Spirit. Thank you." Jesse continued. "Uh, thank you for providing us with a direct port nitrous, uh, injection," Y/n let out a quiet snort making Brian nudge her side in amusement. "Four-core intercoolers and ball-bearing turbos, and, um, titanium valve springs. Thank you."

"Amen!" Leon said, as the rest of them clapped.  

"He was prayin' to the car gods, man." Letty said, amused.  

"If he's not the best--" Dom said with a smile, as he passed the plate of chicken around.

"Look who it is." Leon said. Y/n turned her head to see Vince walking towards them. "Old Coyotes 'R' Us. I thought you we're hungry, pumpkin."

Y/n's face dropped from joy to annoyance. Brian saw this and placed a comforting hand on her thigh. She looked at him and then down at his hand. He quickly pulled it away and before he could apologize, she put it back, placing hers on top of it. 

"You know, I gotta eat." Vince said. 

"He's always hungry." Letty said, blankly.

"All right, sit down." Dom waved him over. As Vince passed, he rubbed Dom's head inaudibly saying thank you. Vince greeted Mia before patting his brother's shoulder. His eyes fell onto Y/n as he sat down but she converted hers to Brian, who smiled at her making her smile back. 

After dinner, the team went to the living room to watch a movie. Y/n decided to wash the dishes, opting to do it then rather than later. 

"You need a hand with anything else?" Brian asked, bringing in the rest of the plates. 

"No, I'm good." Y/n said, focusing on the dishes. "You can go join the boys watchin' the movie."

"No, you see, the cook doesn't clean where I come from." Brian said, slipped beside her. He took a towel and started drying the already clean plates and cutlery. 

"Yeah?" Y/n questioned, glancing at him. "I'd love to go there." She then remembered something from a few days ago. "Hey, you remember you were gonna ask me something the day of the race?" She asked after a beat of silence. She stopped and turned, leaning her back against the sink. "What was it?"

Brian sighed and sat the plate he was drying down, "I was gonna ask you out. Which reminds me, do you wanna go out with me?"

Y/n tapped her lips in thought, "Hmmm, I don't know. I don't really date my cousin's friends."

"Oh, well, I guess I'll have to kick his ass then."

Y/n tried to hid her smile as she nodded her head, "Oh, yeah, I'd love to see that one. I would even pay to see it."

"Okay, but seriously. Am I gonna have to get on my knees and beg you or?" 

Y/n smile grew even more, her heart bursting with adoration. "I don't know. You on your knees sounds like a good sight to see."

Y/n's head turned at the sound of the microwave opening. Vince let out a wheeze as he popped in a bag of popcorn. 

"Wash my car when you get done." he said, laughing.

"Excuse me?" Y/n glared at him. 

"No, Y/n, I'm talking to the punk. And wear your favorite dress, 'cause when you're done, I'm puttin' you on the street where you belong, cutie." Y/n bit her tongue so hard she could taste blood. Vince laughed before looking back at the microwave. He pushed some buttons and hit the side. "Is this thing broken? What's wrong with this thing?"

She couldn't stay quiet anymore. "V?" She walked closer, grabbing his attention. "V, what was that Cuban restaurant you wanted to take me to? The one with the picadillo and the--"

"Little red candles and the wooden table?" Vince grinned.

"Yeah," Y/n said, coming a bit closer. "the plantain too. I see it all over the place, what's it called?"

"Cha Cha Cha." Vince said, still grinning. Y/n grinned back and she turned to Brian, walking closer to him. "Well, you can take me there. Does Friday night at 10 sound good to you?"

"Yeah, it's perfect." Brian said. 

"Good." Y/n said, looking down at his lips before going back up to his eyes. The two of them looked at Vince, who was backing out of the kitchen. He hit the door as he walked, angry.

"Make your own goddamn popcorn!" they heard Vince shout. Y/n placed a hand over her mouth to keep in her giggles. Brian smiled, not believing he's got a date with the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. 

[saintsir4n]

4. COOK OUT

"WHAT about parts and service?" Mia asked as she held a folder in her hands.

Letty stood by a car, fixing it up, just as Carson came over, gleeful that she found the right paint to apply to her car.

Now she had excess money for the designs, rims and the stereo, soon she would drop by Harry's to get it and in turn, she would see Brian. She hoped he would be by with the 10-second car he promised, if not the car the parts, good, shiny, glistening parts that would send Jesse into a frenzy.

"Hold off on that," Dom answered.

"But, Dom, I don't know what to do with--" Mia cut herself off, eyes doubling in size at the sight of a nasty, old wrecked car, backing into the garage.

Carson's mouth gaped open.

"All right, what the hell is this?" Dom asked Brian, coming closer as did everyone else, wanting to know what the hell that thing was. "What do you got there?"

"This is your car," Brian said, proudly, earning a deadpanned look from Carson.

She blinked, "Brian, why are you tryin' me today?"

"Her car?" Dom pointed to himself as Jesse hit on the side of it with his fist. "I told you, she's a brat and one accepts nothin' less than a said a 10-second car, not a 10-minute car."

"Can you even imagine me near this thing? Respect me please," Carson said, making Letty laugh.

"Maybe you could push this across the finish line, or tow it." Jesse chuckled, staring at his friend who flipped him off.

"You couldn't even tow that across the finish line," Dom said. "Not with those nails anyway."

Carson motioned to her throat and grazed it with her acrylic nails, making Mia and Letty laugh.

"No faith." Brian shook his head a little with a smile, as the group laughed.

"Oh, I have faith in you, but this isn't a junkyard," Dom said, gesturing to the car. "This is a garage."

"Hey, pop the hood," Brian told Jesse.

Dom chuckled, "Pop the hood?"

"Pop the hood." Brian grinned at Dom. The team moved the car into the garage where Jesse opened the hood, making it fall completely off.

"Two J.Z. engine. No shit." Jesse said.

"Goddamn, look at that thing." Carson leaned closer to inspect it. "So pretty."

"And what did I tell you?" Brian smiled, crossing his arms.

"I retract my previous statement," Dom said, a little impressed.

"The car's still busted though," Carson mumbled, and Brian snorted.

"You know what?" Jesse said holding onto the crowbar he used to open the hood. "This will decimate all after you put about fifteen grand in it or more if we have to overnight parts from Japan."

"We'll put it on my tab at Harry's," Dom said.

"Yes!" Jesse sprinted off.

"I want the turbine and compressor," Carson said definitively.

Dom pondered, knowing she had every right to it and nodded.

"Jesse will be able to replicate the J.Z. but let him work his magic first."

Carson agreed, turning back to the engine, smiling at how shiny it looked.

"Now, I gotta get you racing again so I can make some money off your ass," Dom said to smiling Brian. "There's a showdown in the desert called Race Wars and that's where you'll do it." Mia and Carson exchanged an apprehensive look, "I'll tell you what. When you're not workin' at Harry's, you're workin' here. If you can't find the right tool in this garage, Mr. Arizona, you don't belong near a car."

Brian faced Carson with a smirk.

"What?" She waited for an answer, strolling over to him as everyone went back to their work.

His expression didn't falter which made her laugh.

"Boy, you're so stupid," she said, shaking her head.

"Yeah, text me that tonight," Brain quipped.

"Don't sweat it, you know I will."

__

The next day after a morning at the garage, it was time for an old-fashioned cookout or what other people called the Toretto family BQQ.

"Mia! Carson! Come on, the chicken's dry already." Dom called out to them as he grilled the chicken.

"Oh, shut it, we're coming!" Mia called back to him, as she, Jesse, and Brian walked out, some with food in hand, whilst the others set the table.

Dom greeted Mia, with a warm embrace just before everything was set and they sat down, ready to dig in.

Dom looked around, "Where's Summer?"

"Glued to the mirror," Mia replied, sitting down.

Carson finally emerged from the kitchen after checking her outfit, she wanted to look on point, for herself obviously, but maybe, just maybe a small part of her wanted Brian's attention.

The blonde had a double take when she came out of the house wearing a sheer pink two-piece that clung to all the right places. Her hair was up in a ponytail and silver earrings swung with every step. Her cross necklace settled above her cleavage and her glossy lips shone brighter than the sun.

"Damn," Leon muttered, shaking his head then turning back to the food before receiving a scolding lecture from Dom.

"You gotta little drool from your face, man, gonna ruin the grub," Jesse joked, snapping his fingers in Brian's face whilst Letty and Mia snickered to themselves.

Dom smiled at Carson, "Dressin' up for the family huh?"

She innocently smiled, "You know I always liked to look nice."

"And it's all for me," Letty winked at her, then innocently shrugged her shoulders after Dom playfully glared.

When Carson finally sat down next to Brian, it was clear to everyone that he was extremely happy about it.

He shot her subtle glances, even leaning over to say, "I still wanna see if it's true."

"What's true?" She said just as quietly as he did.

"The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice," he teased correctly this time.

She shook her head with a smile matching his, and when her head snapped up, Mia and Letty from opposite them were mimicking them.

Just as Leon went to sip on his corona, a familiar voice was heard.

"Sorry I'm late y'all," they all welcomed Keelie when she jogged over.

She closed the nail salon slightly early so she could attend one of Dom's family BBQs. In the past couple of years she'd known the man, he'd passed the invitation to her three or four times which she appreciated and made sure never to turn down.

"Almost missed Jesse crackin' his head open," Carson filled her in, as Keelie went around the table dapping up the guys and kissing the girl's cheeks.

Jesse craned his neck to the side, "You're lame for lyin', I was balancin' when I did that handstand."

"Failin' at it," Leon commented.

"Badly," Letty laughed, "Very badly. Still got any brain cells brother?"

"Doubt it," Carson stuck out her tongue when Jesse pretended to try and jump around Brian who playfully pushed him back down, despite the seriousness of his actions.

"Hey! Stop, sit down," Dom instructed and Jesse reluctantly did so.

Keelie finally reached her chair, next to Mia, who surprisingly greeted her with a kiss, much to everyone's surprise.

"Woah," Leon choked on his beer.

Jesse looked to the sky, "There is a God."

"Don't be creepy," Carson hissed, then immediately squealed at the sight of her two blushing friends.

"Cats finally out of the bag," Brian murmured just before they all turned to a calm Dom.

"About time," he spoke up, grinning at the two women.

"You knew?" They said in unison.

"Torettos ain't known for subtlety," he replied, pointing his finger toward Mia, who laughed, "Plus you need to start puttin' a sock on your door."

"Gettin' busy in Casa Toretto," Letty nudged her friend.

"You can't say anythin', Leticia," Keelie shut her down.

Dom smirked and Letty narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing at all," Carson added, then looked at Mia, "Hey girl, if KeKe screws you over, my doors always open."

"Shut up," Keelie chucked a piece of bread at her.

Mia snorted, "I'll keep that in mind."

Keelie's eyes darted towards Brian, "Blondie, control your girl."

Brian seemed to like that term.

"I'm not his girl," Carson said melodically, and no one took it seriously.

"Not yet," Brian said, promisingly, creeping his hand onto her lower bare thigh, before she slapped it away, despite wanting it to remain there.

"Wait. Hold up." Dom said as Jesse grabbed a piece of chicken amid all the commotion. "Because you were the first out of everyone here to reach in to get the chicken, you say grace."

Everyone bowed their heads and held hands.

Brian's thumb trailed over the back of Carson's hand, extracting a soft smile from her. He was really sending her heartbeat levels into a craze.

"Dear heavenly, uh--" Jesse blanked for a moment, amusing everyone.

"Spirit." Leon finished for him.

"Spirit. Thank you." Jesse continued. "Uh, thank you for providing us with a direct port nitrous, uh, injection," Carson held back a shriek when Brian pinched her side for laughing. "Four-core intercoolers and ball-bearing turbos, and, um, titanium valve springs. Thank you."

"Amen!" Leon said and the rest of them clapped.

"He was prayin' to the car gods, man." Letty praised, ready to dig in.

"If he's not the best," Dom said smiling, as he passed the plate of chicken around.

Carson tried her best not to make a mess; one, not to ruin her outfit and makeup and two, because she knew if Brain wasn't here, she would tear up the table.

"Look who it is," Leon said. They all turned their heads to see Vince walking towards them after calming down from his earlier strop. Keelie's mood faltered. "Old Coyotes 'R' Us. I thought you were hungry, pumpkin."

Carson could tell her closest friend wasn't excited by Vince's presence nor was Brian. So she blew a kiss to Keelie and allowed Brian to rest his hand on her thigh, for comfort of course.

"You know, I gotta eat." Vince shrugged off any insults thrown his way.

"He's always hungry," Letty said, blankly.

"All right, sit down." Dom waved him over. As Vince passed, he rubbed Dom's head, saying thank you. Vince greeted Mia, Letty and even Keelie before nodding at the rest of them. His eyes found a smiling Carson, and just as he was about to mirror her expression, he saw Brian sitting there.

"Sup Vincent," Carson tried drawing his attention.

"Summer, lookin' good," Vince complimented.

"Feelin' it too."

Brian almost scoffed when his drink was snatched by Vince but Carson's nails trailed along his thigh, making some of the tension filling his body deflate.

As they started digging into the food, Dom softly asked Vince, "So how's your mom?..."

__

After dinner, the team went to the living room to watch a movie. Carson lost rock paper and scissors and had to do the dishes. She hated it – getting water all up her arms and gunk in her nails – even when she used gloves she hated it, which is why everyone took in so much pleasure in seeing her do it. Jesse picked the movie: Scream 3, which she would be missing out on the beginning all because of a bunch of dirty dishes.

"Need a hand?" Brian chuckled when he walked into the kitchen, Carson hadn't begun and didn't look like she was about to.

"You gonna do it for me?" she asked, pouting slightly and he nodded, coming over. "Thanks."

"But you're gonna have to stay in the room, you know, to keep me company," he explained, slipping beside her and picking up a plate.

She nodded, more enthusiastically than she should, "Of course."

"You had a good time?" Brian asked, placing the rest of the plates in the sink.

"When I eat somethin' I don't have to cook, I always have a good time," she told him.

"Good to know, at least I know what to plan for our date," Brain wasn't joking at all.

"You wanna take me out so bad," she said through her laughter.

He hummed, "I do."

Carson's eyes darted between him and the plate he was drying up before a mischievous smile started to form on her face.

"Okay, I'll go out with you," Brian literally almost dropped the plate out of shock drawing a giggle from her, "but as a pity date since you lost against me."

"A pity date?" his excitement didn't falter.

"Yeah, a pity date, take it or leave it," Carson teased, folding her arms and suddenly all the dishes were forgotten.

He wiped his hands, turning to face her, "I'd be a fool to leave it wouldn't I?"

"The biggest," she agreed, beaming up at him. Brain neared closer, extending an arm around her, caging her against the counter. "So, where are we goin'?"

His eyes dropped to her chest, seeing how quickly it rose and fell, no doubt due to their proximity.

"Where did you want me to take you?" his voice sounded huskier than she expected, which made her hands reach out to his forearms, "You wanna eat right?" she slowly nodded gaze moving between his lips and eyes, "I'll make sure you do."

Damn, this man made her mouth water.

But before he could say anything else, the sound of the microwave roughly opening had them jumping apart.

Vince had been glaring the moment he stumbled into the kitchen, grossed out by the fact Brian was all over his surrogate sister.

He chucked in a bag of popcorn, drunkenly glancing around.

"Wash my car when you get done," he said, bitterly laughing.

"I know you're not talkin' to me." Carson glared at him, annoyed that he ruined their little moment.

"No, Summer, I'm talking to the punk. And wear your favourite dress, 'cause when you're done, I'm puttin' you on the street where you belong cutie." Carson looked up at Brian, seeing how hard his jaw was clenched. Vince snickered to himself, turning to face the microwave. He pushed some buttons and hit the side. "Is this thing broken? What's wrong with this thing?"

Carson rolled her eyes, shuffling closer to the macho man, "V?" she exclaimed, getting his attention. "Vincent, what was that Cuban restaurant you rave about? The one with the picadillo and the --"

"Little red candles and the wooden table?" Vince answered, slightly confused.

"Yeah," Carson hummed, coming to stand in front of him. "The plantain too. You know I love that stuff, what's it called?"

"Cha Cha Cha," Vince said, raising a brow.

Carson clapped, clasping her hands together and turned back to Brian, walking a little closer over.

"Well, you can take me there, for our date. Pick me up Friday night at 10. Cool?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's cool," Brian nodded, trying to suppress his excitement. Their date would be in 5 days. "For a pity date."

"Yeah, for a pity," Carson grinned.

The two turned around when Vince angrily backed out of the room, hitting the door when he stormed out.

They heard him yell, "Make your own goddamn popcorn!"

"Christ," Carson laughed as Brian started washing up again, side-eying her outfit.

"I forgot to tell you somethin'," He said.

"Keepin' secrets already?" she teased, earning a nervous chuckle, "What's up?"

"You look amazin' today," he cheekily smiled at her.

Carson just rolled her eyes but muttered a small thank you before she started talking about all the changes she was going to make to her car. She ranted and stammered occasionally and yet he listened intently, nodding along and sliding in his input when needed.

He couldn't wait for their date, he was going out with the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.

And to him, that made him a winner.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

what I've realised is that this movie took place over at least a month or three weeks, nothing more. it feels like less time but i can't tell. all i know is that you can catch feelings in one setting just depends on the person. so if carson and brian seem like they're going very quickly its because they are.

how are you liking the story? (btw I've started posting it on tumblr as well).

[grammarrrrrr]

Healing Curses and Trauma

This is part 2 to a previous pokemon story I have written. Part 1 is found here:

https://www.tumblr.com/grammarrrrrr/710129194484613120?source=share

And, just as with the first part, this idea came from a particular tumblingdowntheway2019, so any credit should go to them! And with all that done, let's get into it!

Ever since the Bellace Incident- which they had taken to calling it- Goh had been fine mentally. And Cinderace was, too, physically; quickly it was starting to walk properly again and soon after that acting just like always.

Doctor Cerise had put him in therapy following the incident and, talking to Miss Halloway, he realized he couldn't be blamed for what a wild Pokemon did. It was stupid, really. (His words, not hers.)

Goh was fine, in short.

Until that day's news report, that is:

As he and Ash- Drizzile, Cinderace and Pikachu, too, by default- stepped into the lab room that morning, both already dressed in their regular clothes, everybody gave him worried glances as they sat down to watch the news.

Chloe muttered a shaky ’good morning’ but Goh barely noticed as his attention turned to the news, where a concerned news reporter was in front of a Thievul, purple in the face, and a crying pokemon trainer next to it. (a ’Cinder-Cinderace!’ came from Cinderace as Goh's face paled.)

”Today a pokemon trainer and their pokemon were ambushed on their way to the grocery store! By a pokemon, according to the witnesses!” and Goh found himself shaking, ”This pokemon poisoned the Thievul and has an appearance that doesn't match with any other! The police will be putting up a poster shortly.”

Their eyes all turned to him, sympathy clear.

”Just a coincidence?” he said, without really believing it himself.

Goh had hoped, from deep inside himself, that it was a coincidence. That it was instead another new Pokemon, with a poison move, and not Bellace.

But then he saw the poster of the pokemon and it was, undoubtedly, Bellace.

Goh had cried himself to sleep that night.

The next day, there was another news report.

”Overnight, some teenagers and their pokemon were ambushed by the same pokemon as yesterday! We have no more information at this time but the symptoms of the four poisoned pokemon match with the Thievul!”

Goh had refused to meet any of their eyes, even Cinderace's.

Thankfully, the next news report came a week later- but Goh did not forget and neither, he doubted, did the others- ”Right now we are at the hospital because another Pokemon got poisoned by the new Pokemon!” the news reporter said, ”And the pokemon trainer- the sole witness- said it heard it call ’Bellace’. Police have put out an official poster now, with a warning to only go out if you really need to.”

Goh was inconsolable for days, refusing to look at reason; Ash had tried to comfort him, even Pikachu but he didn't listen. Chloe had tried, too, but she gave up as it seemed he hadn't even heard her. He hadn't, not really.

Only Cinderace hadn't tried to comfort him as it was very upset itself.

Cynthia has had enough; for days now there has been reports of a new Pokemon, apparently called Bellace, which has been attacking other pokemon. And despite that this was solely happening in Vermillion City, seemingly all the citizens of Japan were growing restless, scared they one day would be attacked.

She was sick of it.

Therefore she had booked a meeting with Doctor Cerise (a pokemon professor who lived in Vermillion City) in hope he had certain knowledge she could use of.

”Well hello, Cynthia,” he said, grinning, ”It's nice to meet you. I read from your email you wanted to talk about the recent news reports? About the pokemon Bellace?”

She nodded, ”Yes, I've seen people concerned everywhere and I want to ease their worries,” and Doctor Cerise nodded approvingly, ”What information do you have?”

”One of my research fellows had an encounter with Bellace,” replied Doctor Cerise, ”before the news reports about it started. You could try and ask him about it, though I warn you it's still a tough spot for him; his first pokemon almost died then and these news reports have been stressing him.”

Cynthia smiled- it wasn't often a pokemon professor cared about their research fellows and how they were feeling after all- and said, ”Yes, that should work. Hopefully he tells me something we could use. Thank you, where is he then?”

”He's probably in the Pokemon Park, I believe it's feeding time,” Doctor Cerise replied, ”I'll show you there.”

When they arrived, however, there was no sign of Goh (the research fellow she had guessed it was); only Ash, who was indeed feeding the pokemon. Doctor Cerise had talked to the boy, asking of Goh's whereabouts, and Ash told them that Goh was lying in their bedroom. As apparently, he had been in no fit state to go out, Ash presuming it had something to do with Bellace.

Once entering the small room- really it had no size for even a double bed- and there she saw Goh, lying on the top bunk, staring at the wall opposite him as if he had no soul. Quite weird, she thought.

”Goh,” said Doctor Cerise, carefully, ”Cynthia is here. She has questions about the Bellace Incident.”

Goh- as if someone had flicked a switch in him- sat up directly and hence, bumped his head on the ceiling, to which he groaned out in pain; ”I'd be happy to!” he said, after having climbed down, ”What do you want to know?”

Soon they were sitting on a bence in the pokemon park, where she was interviewing him, asking every question she could think of.

”I found Bellace in an abandoned house, kind of haunted,” Goh quickly told her, ”It's probably still residing there. And I remember it was always upstairs when I came... Those two times... Recently I've started thinking that, maybe, it was protecting something. That we were invading its territory, maybe, but maybe I'm just trying to excuse what it did...”

She nodded in understanding ( she was trying to hold Goh's tears at bay) and said, ”Maybe. I'll go there later. But right now I'm most interested in how Cinderace survived; you said it was poisoned but I've seen Cinderace and it seems well and in top shape.”

”Oh, Chloe- my friend- has an Eevee and it healed it,” said Goh and, upon seeing her shocked face, added, ”Nurse Joy said it because it had a dominant Sylveon gene, I think, so maybe only Heal Pulse can cure Bellace's curse? Or just that specific Eevee?”

So fairy types were effective against Bellace then...

Cynthia knew what she had to do now; she would go to that haunted house and try to find Bellace, hopefully catching the Pokemon and preferably managing to get all her pokemons out not poisoned. Fortunately, Garchomp was a ground-type.

”I know what I have to do,” she announced, breaking the silence, ”I am going to fight Bellace myself.”

At this, Goh stood up quickly, ”You can't! Bellace is powerful, i-it could kill Garchomp! I know it's a ground-type and that's super effective against poison but Bellace isn't like regular pokemon! We don't know if it'll work!” though, upon realizing nothing he could say would change her mind- she had to do this, after all, for the safety of everyone- his eyes quickly glazed over with tears, ”Please,” he choked out, ”Bellace has already done enough damage to me, I don't want it to do anything to you or Garchomp! It isn't like regular pokemon, it's okay with hurting us humans. That's how it got Cinderace!”

He sat down again in defeat, quickly growing helpless to his own sobs; and there he sat, continuously wiping his own tears as he sniffled and made gulping noises. It was such a sad scene that should never come from a kid, no exceptions.

”Cinder-Cinderace,” called a Cinderace, presumably Goh's. The one that almost died, her mind supplied, ”Cinderace!”

Goh let out a particularly loud sob as he pulled it in, hugging the pokemon tightly, ”Acey,” he choked, ”S-sorry. Shit. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, shit, I'm sorry.”

Just as Goh countinued spewing apology after apology, a worried voice called, ”Goh!” and Ash ran forward, panting as he placed a hand on the crying boy's shoulder, Pikachu running down across his arm, ”What's wrong? Is it Bellace?” he then turned to her, and added, hotly, ”What did you do?!”

”Don't get mad at me!” she yelled back, suddenly feeling the need to defend herself, ”I have to fight Bellace, that might be the only way it's stopped! This could save the whole of Japan!”

Ash was now turned completely to her, while Pikachu rested on the shoulder of a crying Goh; ”All by yourself?! That's how Cinderace almost died, you know, by Goh being by himself! You'll need back-up! Garchomp isn't enough!” Pikachu called out ’Pikachu!’ in agreement, ”At least take me with you!”

”I will not!” she said, now trying to calm herself down. No need to yell at the kid, she reminded herself, ”What if Pikachu is poisoned? I can't risk that.”

Ash protested- of course- and they continued to argue until, a voice determined yet held shakiness to it, said, ”I'll go with you!” and Goh was now standing up, to the shock of everyone, ”I'm the only one who's faced Bellace before! While you don't even know where the haunted house is! You need me! And Ash, and Chloe too!”

”Absolutely not!” she called out in shock, ”You're kids; I'm not sending you on anything that could end up harming your pokemon!” she turned to Cinderace and added, ”And especially not you, Cinderace. It's already been hurt by Bellace. I can't risk that happening again.”

Cinderace called out ”Cinderace,” sadly.

Goh wiped his tears and determinedly said, ”Then why risk Garchomp by being stubborn? You need us, we're the only ones who's actually faced Bellace! We know its moves!”

”Yeah!” said Ash, joining in as Pikachu made a noise of agreement, ”You can't just go off all on your own! We're the only ones who've fought against Bellace! And won!” Goh gave a look that said he wouldn't call it ’won’, ”So you'll need our help! We can do it!”

No you can't, she thought, you're just kids.

She, eventually, had no choice but to let them (she didn't have all day, after all); so, begrudgingly, she had agreed to get the Chloe girl along with the Eevee and they took a taxi to the haunted house.

It looked scary, as expected of a haunted house; with its sloping, breaking roof; its broken, run-down windows with more holes than it had a full pane; its door which seemed unable to close; and a large balcony that would surely fall down soon. Why was it still up, she wondered?

With her was; Goh, of course; Ash; the girl with a ponytail named Chloe; Goh's Cinderace; Goh's shy, almost-depressed looking Drizzile; Goh's Misdrevous, as its moves would be effective; Ash's determined Pikachu; and the Eevee, which seemed very determined; and of course Garchomp.

Goh, standing next to her, was shaking and muttered, ”It- it looks just as always...”

Cynthia sighed, ”If you can't do this,” she started off, ”then you don't have to. It can be hard to face trauma.”

I understand, she thought but didn't say it.

Goh, just as she had expected, shook his head, a determined look on his face though hiding behind it was a look of doubt and fear. He didn't want to do this- she could tell- but he was doing it anyway.

”I can do it,” but he couldn't.

Did she really have to force this upon him? She didn't want to. It seemed vile, almost, to do that. But what choice did she have? He would keep insisting.

It was silent for a while until she said; ”Well then,” their eyes turned to her, waiting for instructions, but for once she did not feel important, ”Let's go inside. We should make as much ruckus we can, maybe it'll lure Bellace down. Then we should overwhelm it and all attack it once. It won't know who to hit. And if one of us are poisoned, Eevee can heal them, right?”

Eevee called out ”Eevee!” happily which she chose to take as a yes.

”Alright,” she said, ”Let's do this!”

She hoped the chirpiness in her tone would hype them up- and with that, encourage them- but it seemed she had underestimated their worry the uncertainty that would come with that.

It was not going well.

They had gone into the house, made a ruckus- Ash loudly talking about whatever; Goh outright yelling nothing; and Chloe was, loudly, telling them to lower it down while nodding; and all the pokemon loudly calling out- which did lead down a long, thin pokemon with horns spiraled with black and purple. Bellace, based on a shaking Cinderace's ’Cin-Cinderace’ and Goh's sob.

It called ”Bell-Bellace!” it called and managed to sound irritated.

She decided to start, in hope to catch it off-guard; ”Garchomp, use Dragon Rush!”

And Garchomp jumped up, spinning in the air as she powered up, the blue aura all around her. And after it was done, she yelled ”Now use Draco Meteor!” as Ash got Pikachu to use Quick Attack.

Goh, on the other hand, seemed too scared to use any pokemon despite that she and Ash had already started (Bellace proving to be a tough opponent) while the Chloe girl seemed quite inexperienced. Though perhaps she would grow confidence, watching them fight. Perhaps Goh would, too!

She and Ash fought in tandem; Garchomp attacking then Pikachu, all in hopes to overthrow Bellace.

But the pokemon seemed to be going strong and Cynthia assesed it to have Quick Attack, Confuse Ray (after a minor incident with Pikachu, which was solved quickly), a new move which consisted of a purple aura shooting out of its horn, and then the poisoning which she has not yet seen. Perhaps if Goh could chime in and get Misdrevous to use Confuse Ray on Bellace...

But it seemed very unfair to push the boy as he was evidently very scared to be face-to-face with the pokemon that had almost caused the death of his first pokemon (which he, of course, had a close relationship with.) And what would that prove of her, if she did that?

But the thing was that she had a plan, which could be a success if Misdrevous used Confuse Ray... Yes, what did she do? That was the question; push Goh to get Misdrevous to use Confuse Ray? (which could damage him in a completely different way) or wait it out (which could, if too long, cause damage to the others.)

The first option was obviously the right one yet she was reluctant, as pushing him could lead him to not help anyways!

”Goh!” (it seemed Ash was not that considerate) ”Help us! Get Misdrevous to use Confuse Ray!”

It was as if Goh had woken from a trance- though it was fully in his thoughts as if the fear had frozen him in a way- but then he flinched, his eyes still firmly stuck on Bellace for a while. Then, tears glazed in his eyes, he yelled ”I can't!”

And, ignoring the eyes of everyone of them, he ran outside.

It was, as the saying said, the straw that broke the Numel's back (as the famous story- told to every kid as a bedtime story- said.)

Cynthia ran after him, ignoring the calls of Chloe and Ash (of begging him to come back, probably) and out there was Goh, sitting and shaking on the ground. He looked as if he didn't really know where he was.

”Goh,” she said, trying not to sound stressed but failing miserably, ”I know you're upset and-”

A BANG interrupted her and upon both of them running to the window, they saw something they definitely did not want to see; Pikachu and Eevee, lying on the ground with beat expressions on their face; Ash and the Chloe Girl, holding their defeated Pokemon; and Bellace over them, standing proudly as if daring them to challenge it.

Had Eevee and Pikachu been poisoned, she wondered? Could the Eevee even heal itself, if they were? Or Pikachu?

Goh let out a loud sob, ”This is all my fault!” he cried, dropping himself onto the ground, she bet, ”I'm the reason Pikachu and Eevee are hurt! Because I thought, stupidly, that I could handle it. That I could handle seeing Bellace again. But I can't. I really can't!”

She didn't really have a choice but to tell him, did she?

She sighed, trying to delay it as much as she could (it wasn't a fun story at all); ”Goh, when I was 8 my grandmother had a Snorlax- to research why they slept so much- and I absolutely loved that Snorlax. I used to sleep on its stomach and once it protected me from a group of Raticates. We were so very close, you know,” she said, refusing to look at him for the next part, ”But then a new Pokemon was discovered and Grandmother got it; it was a Seviper. And it poisoned Snorlax, with a new move. It died.”

She tried not to sob. (It was still a rough subject.)

”I'm sorry,” Goh said.

She nodded in response, ”It was hard. I was... inconsolable for weeks, I've never cried that much in my life. When Sepivers started to grow in population, I was terrified another one of my pokemon would be hurt. Even today, I don't have a Sepiver and I fear fighting one,” she said and Goh moved closer, ”Snorlax and I were very close, like you're close with Cinderace. That's why I was hesitant to let you join this; I don't want you to lose Cinderace like I lost Snorlax. I want to make sure of that, you understand?”

”Yeah, yeah I do,” said Goh, sniffling now, ”I've always been scared ever since, you know, that Bellace would come back and finish the job. Of killing Cinderace and- well, I just don't know what to do with it all. I literally went to a therapist yet I'm still scared. And upset. And worried. I shouldn't be but she never fixed me. Or not fixed me but she never fixed how I feel and that's what I'd like,” he looked up then, determination clear in his eyes, ”I need to fight Bellace.”

She nodded excitedly and responded quickly, ”Yes! You do! And you can, I'm sure of it! This is your right, Goh!”

He ran inside immediately without a response and she followed him, just in time to hear him call ”Misdrevous, use Confuse Ray!”

Bellace, having let its guard down, was hit and stood there confused for a bit. While it was, Goh ordered ”Now use Hex!”

And Misdrevous, seeming quite determined, did so. Bellace, being stuck in the trance left from Confuse Ray, could not duck and was hit straight in the chest. And this, it seemed, was the only damage having been done; Bellace now had scratches, a feat neither she or Ash had been able to achieve, and had now woken up from its trance.

Bellace, angry now, performed a new move, one not offensive for once (showing Goh had gotten under its skin); it started dancing, spinning around while it hit the floor with its hooves, and purple aura- clearly its signature color, just as with many poison pokemon- started surrounding it and Bellace seemed to get new energy.

This was a power-up move, then.

”Mis-misdrevous!” called Misdrevous, seemingly panicking just as they were.

Goh was sweating- she could see it, though he tried to wipe it away-  and yelled ”No reason to panic!” even though he himself was, ”Use Psybeam now!”

”Garchomp, use Earthquake!”

The ground shook beneath Bellace- clearly catching the pokemon off guard- and it screeched; a loud, piercing sort of screech and when Garchomp kneeled, she realized it was a move. Another new one!

But before she could counteract this at all, Goh did it for her (seemingly without really thinking); ”Misdrevous, use Confuse Ray again! And Garchomp, use Dragon Claw!” he yelled and the pokemon obliged but when he realized- ”Sorry, Cynthia! I wasn't thinking!”

It was, of course, considered an offense to instruct another's pokemon what to do in a Pokemon battle.

”It's okay Goh!” she yelled back as she watched Misdrevous use Confuse Ray. Bellace was hit and stood there, once again confused. This meant that it could not duck Garchomp's Dragon Claw and damage was made.

It called ”Be-Bellace!” and then the pokemon ran towards Garchomp, using Quick Attack, but before it could hit-

”Drizzile, use Mud Shot!” yelled the voice of one particular Ash Ketchum and Bellace was shot with a multitude of mud, coming from the depressed-looking Drizzile, which was now looking very determined.

Bellace, now with scratches all over its long body and continuous calls of ’Bellace’, looked as if it could be finished off with just a few more moves.

And it seemed as if Bellace knew this itself, as it looked around the room- probably deciding which one of them to attack and they all braced themselves- and when it had decided, it summoned the purple aura out of its horn again and shot it towards-

Cinderace! (The pokemon she had forgotten was currently present, if honest.)

It called ’Cin-Cinderace!’ as it ducked, leaving Drizzile in position to be hit which, upon Goh's command of- ”Drizzile, use Reflect now!”- reflected the move, leaving Bellace feeling rather hopeless, judging by the look in its eyes, and Goh yelled, ”Good job Drizzile!” as the two, human and pokemon, high-fived.

For a brief second she felt envious of their close friendship.

All three of them were about to use a move- her, personally; Dragon Claw- but the command of; ”Eevee, use Sand Attack!” coming from one Chloe Cerise, who was properly joining the battle at last!

”Good job, Chloe!” Goh called out cheerfully, ”Way to go! Now, Drizz-” he was about to call out the name of his water Pokemon before Cinderace stepped closer to its trainer and called out ’Cin-Cinder-Cinderace! Cinderace!’ ”Oh, you wanna do the final blow, Acey? Well okay then; Cinderace, use Agility!”

And this move was, just as predicted, the final move; as, upon getting hit, Bellace fell to the ground, looking completely and utterly defeated complete with its multiple scratches. And it seemed that Goh wasn't even thinking- but he probably was. Goh was very intelligent, as she'd come to learn- as he took a Pokéball from his pocket and, while yelling out ”Pokéball, go!” threw it at the defeated Pokemon, which was too tired for an attempt to duck.

It was very silent indeed as they waited in uncomfortable silence, the only noise being the moving of the Pokéball, until they heard a PING.

”Today we are with Goh- who refused to give out his last name, for some reason- Ash Ketchum, Chloe Cerise, and Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, the ones who defeated the town's torturer, pokemon Bellace!” the news reporter said cheerfully into the microphone, her grin quite real, ”Yes, you heard me right! Yesterday, these people and of course their pokemon,” the camera shifted to the pokemon, ”defeated Bellace, the pokemon that has been poisoning multiple others!”

The group nodded to the camera nervously except Cynthia (who had of course been on camera multiple times and was used to it) and the news reporter continued, ”I've heard there is a story behind this, too! Would you care to tell me, Goh?”

”Oh, uh,” the young boy said awkwardly into the microphone as it was practically shoved into his face, ”Around a year ago, I walked into a haunted house with uh, my pokemon- Cinderace-” he was off camera for a while as he got the Cinderace to stand next to him, ”and this is where Bellace was living. With a few pokemon it was protecting, as we later found out. I fought with Bellace, to try and catch it, but it poisoned Cinderace here. It-it almost di-died and I had to go back to beg B-Bellace to heal it. It wouldn't. Until my friend Chloe's pokemon, Eevee, healed it!”

The news reporter took back the microphone- much, visibly, to the young boy's relief- and added; ”And that Eevee was at the hospital earlier today, healing the other attacked pokemon! Round of applause, please! So yes, we are free of its torture and can sleep easier at night! I know I will!” but she then shoved the microphone back into his face, much to the boy's chagrin, ”Tell me, Goh; what has happened to Bellace? Please tell the audience!”

Despite that the word ’audience’ clearly added to his nerves, he replied, ”I have caught it and sent it to the police, where they will be watching over Bellace and making sure it does no more harm to me- God knows it’s done enough-” he muttered that part to himself, ”or anybody else. And the pokemon it was protecting, I have caught too, to take care of personally at Cerise Park.”

”Oh, that is even more amazing!” the News Reporter said, almost jumping up and down now, ”Thank you, truly, for stopping Bellace! Many of us are very thankful for you!” she then added; ”Do you have anything you would like to say, Goh? You, or your pokemon? Or anybody else, for that matter?”

Everybody shook their heads except the young boy, who had to take the microphone from the woman- because of her not seeing his nod- and said, ”Yeah, I do,” he took a deep breath, looking down and when he looked up again there was a sad smile present, ”I'm really glad this whole situation is over.”

[starryknight-dragonarts]

Captain Kinoko the Oni Pirate

A brief tangent on Japanese mythology: In the famous story of Momotaro the village where he is from is frequently raided by a marauding band of Oni from the Island of Oni. Though not specific to this story, in some versions their leader is the infamous Oni King Shuten Doji.

According to legend Shuten Doji was the child of a human woman and the many headed serpent Orochi. He was born with Teeth and Hair, was able to walk and talk at the level of a 5-6 year old, and had the strength of a 16 year old! He was a prodigy and yet he was still shunned, his mother told him he should be ashamed of his giftedness, and try to fit in with everybody else. At age 6 his mother abandoned him and he lived in a monastery with Buddhist Monks, where he underwent monk training but would sneak off with other less devout monks and drink Sake which was forbidden, and despite being just a child he was able to drink grown men under the table, but soon he was hated by everybody in the monastery. One day at a religious festival he got his hands on an Oni mask and decided to go around scaring people and making mischief while wearing the mask, but by daybreak he tried to take the mask off but it would not loosen or budge, it had become permanently fixed onto his face! He had acted so much like an Oni that he turned into one overnight and fled the village in fear no longer being able to be accepted by society, though he never was accepted by anybody anyway, now he just looked on the outside what everybody already thought of him.

Sometime in his many years of exile, Shuten Doji became the most powerful Oni in Japan who threatened the Emperor himself before eventually being slain by a Samurai.

According to recent studies of Japanese history and mythology, people are starting to see Oni in a new and more humanized light. Real Oni were not Demons and Ogres, but Outsiders: Foreigners, ethnic and religious minorities in Japan, and people who refused to submit to the imperial court or conform to traditional Imperial Japanese customs.

Electivire is partially based on the Oni, specifically the Thunder God in Shintoism Raijin and given it's shaggy Ape-like appearance it may also be based on a specific type of Oni called the Namahage who wear Masks and a straw cape. They are part of a New year's ritual where they would go door to door in groups of three asking if there are "any naughty children around" and scare kids into good behavior.

I imagine Captain Kinoko's backstory is basically the same as Shuten Doji, except instead of literally turning into an Oni he's just has the reputation of an Oni. He was Born a Prodigy, shamed for his giftedness, grew to resent conformity, and eventually decided if pokemon were going to hate him then why bother being anything but a monster.

[rainchyna]

𓆩♡𓆪 episode five: WRESTLING WAR I.

i fought for my life so that y’all can see this so y’all better like it because we will fight >:( this ep is pretty uneventful apart from the promo but it’s kinda boring so i don’t blame y’all if you don’t like it LMAO we could’ve had FOUR EPISODES by now but tumblr stay being the biggest mf opp

6:47 am, training.

the nWo formed two days ago.

it’s been a really long time since you’ve last seen producers, writers, Vince and others be so panicked. it all happened so quickly too, the last thing anyone expected was for Hulk to be the the third man of the faction. it’s not like they can change anything now.

a day that has training usually starts at five for you and Bret. when you both arrived, Randy was there too. the place was a mess. there were a lot of employees running by, paperwork for upcoming storylines was being thrown around, rooms being turned into meeting halls. Randy explained that Vince, apparently, had trapped some people with him since last night and they’ve been writing and rewriting Raw for hours.

“I’ve never seen him so stressed” Bret said as he laced up his boots again, “it’s like his whole head of hair turned white overnight”. you hum, laid out on the ring mat. this meant a lot for you, you had to reinvent your character. introduce new moves, come up with some catchphrases, design some proper ring gear. last thing you need right now is for the audience to get bored of you.

“y’know” you sat up, “back in Japan, when I was in a mixed team with Shinya, we used to do this move where he’d power bomb someone then set them up on the turnbuckle, then I’d hit a running frankensteiner out in the concrete. do you think that would be too much if i do it here?” you ask.

“you worked with Shinya Hashimoto?!” Randy asked, “yeah?” you answer, “didn’t you know that?” you ask. Randy shrugged, “mixed matches are basically unheard of here” he says. can’t blame him, he’s right.

“I don’t think it’ll be too much, considering what will happen for this next period of time. I think Vince will be open to any type of exciting change” Bret says.

you began thinking of new things to add to your character and ways to introduce yourself to the fans, because up until now your gimmick just seems to be a shell of who you were in Japan. maybe you should just use your first name? or talk a certain way? maybe a major gimmick change! hm…

“Y/n?!” Bret called out for you, “huh?” you were zoned out. you look at him and there suddenly was a wild Vince Mcmahon standing outside the ring. his appearance made you jump a little, his hair was an absolute mess, his under eyes were dark and his eyes were red. his button up was wrinkly and the stress of work was showing on him.

“are you okay?” you ask, he nods with a hum as he rubs his temples. “I need all three of you in the office” he says, voice raspier than usual.

as you four walk towards the office you feared the worse, it was obvious that Vince was not in a great in mood at all. you were scared he’d ask you to do something stupid, or to change your gimmick and make a joke out of you.

you exhale, it was Vince McMahon. only so much can go wrong.

Vince begins scrambling for some papers as soon as you enter the office, you, Bret and Randy cram into a random couch in the room. it was something you guys always unconsciously did, cramming in one spot when there’s plenty of room around you.

“here” Vince hands you a paper, you quickly grab it and both men lean in with you to read as well. you frown, the paper was split into two parts, and names were arranged in columns and rows. Vince had picked out the teams for you and Taker.

“I thought you were going to let us pick out our own teammates..?” you half ask, it’s not like you hated your teammates, but you would’ve liked to have picked them out yourself.

“well, they’ve already been selected.” Vince said. you wanted to make him let you pick, but you didn’t want to argue with him today. “okay” you respond.

“why is my name on there?” Randy asked, “wouldn’t that be unfair to the other team?”

“don’t worry, I have a plan for you” Vince said.

please let this go well.

“for tonight’s Raw, I wanna see if you can do an unscripted promo. Taker’s part has been printed out but we left your lines out of his version.” Vince says sitting behind his desk.

“are you sure?” you ask, he nods. “I wanna see if you’re as reliable on a mic as you are in the ring” he explains.

please let this go well.

“okay”

10:22 am, y/n’s locker room.

“which one goes better with my shorts?” you ask holding up two tops in front of your mirror, both strapless, one is red leather and the other black denim.

“hello?” you look behind you, Steve had passed out on the couch while Owen was trying to shove what looked like a pen up his nose. “guys!”

Steve loudly snores himself awake while Owen immediately tries to look innocent. “you’re really not helping” you put the clothes down. “w-what? no, no, I am” Steve sits up, you roll your eyes. “you fell asleep” Owen says, “and you were trying to put a pen up his nose!” you flip on a chair near you.

Steve turns to smack Owen but you quickly jump between them, “you touch my baby, and I’ll smack the accent out of your speech” you threaten while Owen sticks his tongue out at Steve. “whaddya need help with anyway?” Steve asked.

“I wanted to know what I should wear for tonight’s segment” you say, “hasn’t your official gear come in yet?” Owen asks and you shake your head. “that red shirt looks alright” Steve points to your pile of clothes that was almost on the floor. “this one?” you pick it up.

“yeah” he nods, “what do you think Owen?” you ask the blond, “yeah, I think it’ll look cool, wear it with dark pants” he suggests.

“should I wear heels?” you ask, “high heels?” they both ask. “aren’t they a bit impractical?” Steve asks, “yeah, but we’re only doing a promo later, I’m not wrestling tonight” you reason. they both shrug, “go for it” Steve says.

you put on the outfit and your shoes, then unintentionally started an argument about cowboy hats between a texan and a canadian. Steve was raging about how you should wear a white one because it’s ‘classic’ and Owen wanted you to wear a red one to match your shoes.

never in your life did you ever think you’d hear Steve call Owen ‘maple syrup boy’.

“and what the hell do you know about cowboy hats, boy?!” Steve spat, “more than ya fuckin’ do!” Owen faked a southern accent. “guys?” you interrupt, “a red one would look better!” Owen said, “the hell it ain’t” Steve crossed his arms.

“guys!” you yell, they finally pay attention to you. “there’s hats of all colours in the dressing room” you explain. Owen gets up and grabs your arm, “then we’ll go and see which one looks better” he says.

hilariously, they’re both angrily stomping their way to the dressing room with you following closely behind them.

the door flies open and thank god there’s only two people in the room, it was Bret and Randy. y’all would’ve looked crazy in anyone else’s eyes.

as both men continue to argue while pulling out random hats from the accessories’ closet, Bret and Randy look at them confused, as if you could explain anything without them giving you their ‘really?’ faces.

you go and stand next to them, “Vince rewrote Raw” Bret said, your eyes widen as you look at him. “what do you mean he rewrote it?” you ask. you were supposed to be improvising, you weren’t worried that much, but you still wanted to know. “he printed you a promo I think” he added.

now you needed to know.

“when did he do that?” you ask, “like an hour ago” Randy said, “and why didn’t he tell me?” you sigh. “you should talk to him, me and Steve have a match later and he rescheduled it like five or six times so far” Bret explained.

you groan, head falling into the palm of your hand. “no I insist!” Steve’s voice bellowed behind you, a white cowboy hat was suddenly placed aggressively on your head. “not now, Austin” you mumble. “he rescheduled our match again” Bret told him, “jeez, what’s going on with him today?” Steve asks.

you leave the dressing room and head towards the office, heels clicking against the floor. the place was quite, it was still relatively early, only staff in sight. you knock the office’s door before entering. Vince, Pat and a producer were in the room, papers were scattered everywhere, and the atmosphere was tense.

“am I interrupting something?” you close the door behind you, the staff member excuses himself before walking past you and exiting the room. “no, not really” Pat said.

“I heard you changed tonight’s episode” you began, “ah, right. I forgot to tell you” Vince said as he shut his eyes and rubbed his temples. he picked up a paper and held it out in your direction.

you grab the paper examining it, “keep it with you” Pat began, “we still don’t know if we should let you improvise just yet” he adds. you sigh once more, “the decision is still not set though” Vince says. what the hell?

do they want you to improvise or not?

“I guess..”

you didn’t want to start anything with Vince today, the man seems to be going through it. you began walking back towards the door, “y/n” Vince stopped you, “please do your best tonight”, you raise an eyebrow before quickly nodding. “of course” you smile. “nice hat by the way”.

you wanted to grab some coffee to rehearse your lines with since you were feeling a bit tired. you immediately notice Chyna and Lita sitting at a table having breakfast. “where have you two been?” you ask as you sit at their table.

“we just arrived” Lita explained, “and I heard Vince is not having a good day” she adds as she pokes around her pancakes. “oh trust me, he not” you chuckle as you begin reading your lines.

it was generic promo, nothing too crazy, apart from making fun of Taker every now and then. “love the outfit by the way, especially the hat” Chyna said as she drank some orange juice, “you should’ve seen the war that happened for me to wear it” you respond.

“war?” Lita laughs, you nod.

you three just continue chatting and talking about your day, which was a bit hectic so far. “y’all wanna go out later?” you ask, “I don’t really have anything later”. Lita hums with a mouthful, nodding her head. “yeah, this day’s been quite something” Chyna says, “true honestly, Vince is going off of rage autopilot” Lita adds.

the man is clearly trying to get rid of the kiddy, family friendly taste the WWF has to counter the nWo’s renegade antics. every once in a while you could hear him yelling about something being ‘not controversial enough!’.

poor Vince, someone get him an ice cream.

“so a bar later?” Chyna asks, “yeah” you all agree.

3:21 pm, dressing room.

what was it with you and Shawn always being the dressing room together? it felt like you were destined to meet every time here.

“are you following me?” Shawn asked, you slowly turn to him giving him a mean side eye. “I came here first..?” you say putting down your blush palette. you did a plain look today, basic base and some highlight. you added three red rhinestones to the outer corner of your eyes.

“you’re always here when I’m here” he said, brushing his hair. “coincidences happen” you spray your face with setting spray. “nah, I think you’re following me” he reassures and you roll your eyes.

“why would I follow you?” you ask, “’cause you want me” he smirks as he flexes in front of the mirror, ‘I swear my eyes will fall out of my head’ you think. how many times do you have to go over this conversation?

you groan loudly then breath out, calming down. “for the last time Shawn, I don’t want you” you explain. “eeehhh, they all say that at first” he laughs. “annoying ass bitch” you mumble.

you grab a random hairbrush and before you can touch your hair, Shawn immediately grabs it out of your hand. you groan, “give that back! why do you always take my stuff, man?!” you try to swat it away from him, but fail.

“I wanna brush my hair!” he laughs, “you just did your hair!” you pull on his arms, “Shawn give it back!”

he grabs one of your arms and pulls it behind your back, “Michaels, I swear to god-” you begin, he chuckled. “what are you gonna do, hm?” you wriggle in his hold.

“just give me the fucking brush back” you push against him, “or what?” he asks. you roll your eyes,

“Shawn” you warn, “pretty girl” he taunts.

you manage to break away from him and hit with a half assed upper cut. he quickly lets go of the brush and you grab it away from him. “stop with this highschool jock shit, I will break your fucking nose” you threaten.

“I’d love if you do that” he smirks, you stare at his stupidly punchable face, you raise your finger to say some smart shit but stay quite.

“you’re really fucking annoying” you mutter, he steps closer to you and pushes some hair behind your ear, “and you’re really fucking pretty” he says.

pushing him away, you roll your eyes again.

10:28 pm, RAW <Live>

you were in the main event tonight, the last half hour is all yours. the segment tonight was to determine you and Taker’s groups. simple.

you were rightfully very excited, this was your first feud and you were going up against the big leagues, this was going to be fun. everyone was crammed in gorilla, you look back at the men and women and you slightly cringe. get nice and cozy in there guys and pray that each one of you showered, because they’re about to be here for a long time.

you felt giddy, the type of happiness that had you giggling to yourself. Taker clearly noticed, your energy was quite infectious and he couldn’t help but crack a smile himself. “well, someone’s happy” he crossed his arms. “dude, this is gonna be cool as fuck” you smile, there’s a sudden tug on your arm and you’re yanked to side.

“y/n listen” it was Vince, he startled the hell out of you. “fuckin’ hell, Vince” you place a hand over your chest. “the promo we gave you earlier? forget about it” he said, and you look at him wide eyed, “what?” you ask. he nods, “I want you to improvise” he explains.

your mind immediately felt like that fuzzy, black and white screen that a t.v displays when he it’s disconnected. you had came up with some lines when were still going to improvise earlier in the day but you threw out most of them, not thinking much of what will happen.

“and you’re telling me this now?!” you ask, “I know, I know, but pass it off for tonight. I’ll pay you back” he apologetically says. you sigh.

and just like a switch had been turned, and of your excitement suddenly fizzled out.

this was your first feud and you were going up against the big leagues, hopefully this is fun.

you stood by the ramp and a staff member counted you down until your music hit, you fixed your hat and threw your championship over your shoulder as the crowd popped for you. you get in between the ropes and into the middle of the ring, holding your championship up high. a ring side staff member handed you microphone and the crowd settled down quietly.

“so everyone knows about my little situation with The Undertaker. we’re both backstage, he thinks i’m being rude, we almost fight, and all that, you know what happened, whatever, right?” you begin, “but me personally, I really wanna fight that guy, like what’s not good enough about this?” you ask pointing to yourself and the crowds cheers.

“exactly!” you smile fixing your hat, “okay, now everyone listen” and the crowd quite down again. “I wanna issue a challenge to The Undertaker, Taker, I know you’re back there and I know you can hear me. I want you to listen, so listen carefully - actually, why don’t you come out here?” you ask and the crowds pops.

you wait, everyone waits - and waits, you begin getting nervous, yeah you’ve been trying your best to keep the crowd invested in what you were saying, but this wasn’t supposed to happen. scripted or not, he was supposed to come out immediately.

everyone is waiting, still waiting and commentary are starting to question whether or not The Undertaker is coming out.

“look man, I get you walk slowly but hurry up now.” you say. you lean against the ropes and begin chatting with the people at the front row, damn where is he?

“he’s scared of you!” the girl you were talking to yells, “yeah! he sold out!” they guy next to her agrees.

they both begin chanting ‘YOU SOLD OUT!” and those around them follow suit. it took away the nervous smile you had one and replaced it with a genuine one.

the lights dimmed down and first dong in Taker’s theme song was heard. however, he didn’t get the cheers he usually got, instead, he was drowned in the “YOU SOLD OUT!” chants.

one couldn’t tell by the Deadman’s face but he was raging on the inside, not only were management backstage siding with you, but now the fans were too.

he steps into the ring and is handed a microphone as well, “whatever it is that you want to say, or challenge me for, do it now. you’re wasting my time” he said, and the boos he was met by were unimaginable.

“oh, i’m the one wasting your time?” you spat, “so I was the one who took one hundred years to get to the ring?” and crowd cheers so for you. “don’t get smart with me now, little girl” he orders and you shrug.

“just stating the obvious” you say, “now, as I was saying. my challenge for you is that we form our individual teams, people to fight each other. obviously because we can’t wrestle since that’s banned or .. something like that, but our teams can go through something like a tournament to see who comes out on top” you were immediately getting into the details of it all, this segment was already dragging.

the crowd listened closely to every word you said, interested in your offer. Taker raises the microphone to his mouth, “go on” he says.

“we’ll pick out our teams, men and women in both so that it’s fair, and we’ll go at it” you explain. “and what does the winner get?” Taker asks.

“the winner will be in Survivor Series as the main event!” Randy exclaims.

everyone’s attention and cheers are now diverted to the announcer’s desk, Randy tips his hat at both of you and you smile. “you heard the Macho man, is that a deal for you?” you ask.

Taker doesn’t answer you. he’s silent for a while and once again, the crowd is annoyed at his slowness. “oh brother” you groan.

you heard it when it began, the “YOU’RE SCARED OF Y/N!” chants. they almost make you break character, but you tilt your hat and pretend to admire your championship to hide the grin on your face.

“is that what you think?!” Taker yells at the crowd, “yes, you have a deal, Y/l/n!” he bellows and you push your hat back with a smile. the crowds pops.

“how about we pick our teams now?” you ask looking the crowd who cheer again. “Randy?”, Randy pulls out what looks like a bowl from under the table and jumps into the ring with you two.

“the bowl has papers that have wrestlers names in them, each of you gets to pick four. Y/n, you get two women and two men. Undertaker, you get two women and two men, both teams will consist of five members, are we clear?” Randy asks and you both nod.

the crowd didn’t even question how Randy knew about your challenge, they didn’t even care that he knew that there will teams and that he prepared. they wanted to know who was in the teams.

you dig in the bowl, mixing the paper around a bit before picking one out and unfolding it.

“Chyna” you smile, and the crowd cheers, they cheer even louder when she comes out to stand with you in the ring.

Taker picks out a paper and quickly unfolds it, “Luna Vachon” he reads and the crowd cheers again.

you pick, “Sensational Sherri”.

Taker picks, “Lita”

you pick, “Owen Hart”

Taker picks, “Shawn Michaels”

you pick, “Bret Hart”

last pick goes to Taker, “Steve Austin”.

the ring was now filled with wrestlers, Chyna, Sherri, Owen and Bret on your side, while Luna, Lita, Shawn and Steve were on Taker’s side.

“all is fair in love and war, including this one if that’s what we’re calling it.” Randy began, “now I’m gonna ask you two to shake hands. to vow on professionalism in the name of wrestling, no tricks, no lying, no cheating, no stealing. can you?”

you and Taker glare at each other, an intense stare down. you stick your hand out, he stares at it then takes it in his.

“call it wrestling war one then” he says.

little did he know that the reason your team was giggling among themselves and why crowd behind you were chanting your name was because you had crossed your fingers behind your back.

it’s on.

still there was one thing left.

the bowl had one last paper in it, you noticed it. Taker noticed, the crowd did to.

“who’s remaining in there?” Taker asks as he points to the bowl. you grab the paper and unfold it, your brows furrowed with confusion.

“Macho Man Randy Savage” you read and the crowd goes wild, while everyone in the ring looks at each other confused.

“now hold on, hold on, hold on. who’s side are you on?” you ask, and Randy laughs as he begins to exit the ring.

“can’t spoil the fun now, can I?” he smiles.

[clothyume]

Astraea's Atelier: Ally of Justice Part Two

Ally of Justice: Part Two

Summer

(Several hours later. Shu’s boarding house in Paris) 

Shu: (I’m home.) 

(Yes, yes, I told you earlier but it’s about to become quite lively for a little while.) 

(Huh? They’re my companions from my home country, but they’re here on account of work…)

(I thought they could stay in a hotel, I don’t know why they feel the need to cause trouble in my space.) 

(Yes. Ah, no… I’m sorry. Thank you very much, we won’t cause any more trouble.) 

Chiaki: Itsuki’s chanting incantations.

Kurou: That’s French. Aside from speaking a foreign language so naturally, I’m more concerned about his uncharacteristic politeness. 

Chiaki: True, this is the first time I’ve seen Itsuki bow his head so low. 

Kurou: Haha. Maybe he grew up with experience. Or maybe, he just can’t behave disrespectfully in France, the place he’s always admired. 

If the people from the country you admire hate you, you can’t regret it even if you do regret it. 

Chiaki: Hahaha! Dis-re-spect-ful! You’ve been using a lot of four-syllable words lately, Kiryu! 

Kurou: Says you, stop speaking so triangularly. 

Shu: Non! You’re being too loud! Can’t you two keep your mouths shut!? You’re going to embarrass me in front of the boarding house owner!  

Kurou: So this is your boarding house, Itsuki. 

I’m quite surprised. I wouldn’t be able to sleep in a place that wasn’t surrounded by the things I like. 

Shu: Hmph. I was also unwilling to board in another person’s house, but the homeowner of this house is one of my grandfather’s old acquaintances. 

He’s a wealthy man, and has servants that look after him. 

What’s more, he has kindly let me use his old atelier. 

There are rarely such favourable conditions, so instead of searching properties on my own, I reluctantly accepted his hospitality. 

Frankly, I didn’t want to live like a poor person in a student apartment. 

It makes me happy to think that I’m no different from that freeloader, Kagehira, that stayed in my home before. 

With this, I feel like I can understand that boy’s feelings a little more. 

Kurou: There, there. You’ve decided to understand the feelings of another person, you’ve really grown up— Icchan ♪

Shu: Don’t pat me. 

Kurou: Haha. I’m grateful for that Kagehira. He’s changed you for the better. 

Shu: I suppose. In that case, I also have to lead that boy in the right direction, even if just a little. To return the favour, that is what it means to be “equal”, is it not? 

Kurou: …♪

Shu: Why are you laughing at me with that unpleasant grin on your face, Kiryu!? 

Kurou: No, I just thought I’d seen something good. Something worth coming all the way to France so suddenly for. 

Shu: You can see my face in Japan, too. …Whatever, I’m going to prepare lunch, so you two can just relax. 

Chiaki: Ah, want some help? Since we’re staying here for free, we’ll do anything in exchange for the rent. 

Shu: Your consideration is unnecessary. I can cook for you, so you don’t need to think about it, Morisawa. 

~…♪

Kurou: Haha. He’s humming a tune. That guy really has changed. 

Chiaki: Yup. He’s living the life he wanted overseas, which means it's having a good influence on Itsuki.

I’m a little relieved. Because of the conflict, it seemed like he was having trouble breathing back home. 

Kurou: True. It’s not really for me to say, but I haven’t seen him so relaxed since he was a kid. 

Chiaki: I’m kinda curious for that exact reason. Don’t you think Itsuki seems distant, he keeps spacing out in thought and sighing. 

Kurou: That’s right. Even though he should be fulfilling the life he’s always dreamed of, I wonder why he feels the need to sigh.

Chiaki: Well… If we can find a solution, I want to do something about it. As gratitude for our overnight lodgings and meal. 

Kurou: You have a strong sense of justice. Because it's Itsuki, it’s probably some ridiculous worry that doesn’t matter to anyone else. 

Something like the angle of furniture, or that the water doesn’t taste right on his tongue. 

Chiaki: I think the latter seems really serious… I think the water here doesn’t sit right with me, my stomach has been gurgling since earlier. 

Kurou: Woah, woah, are you okay? Don’t worry about other people when you’re in such a state. 

Come on, go lie on that bed over there and rest. You guys aren’t that close, so you can just apologise to Itsuki later for using his bed. 

Chiaki: Uh. Sorry but, can I really just do that…

Hm? Hmm? 

Kurou: What’s up? Are you really okay, Morisawa? 

Chiaki: No, It’s just… I kinda can’t believe it. 

A porn mag just slipped out from under Itsuki’s bed. 

[mrmcwigglyman]

A letter to ENdless

For E-Sekai's first anniversary, I wrote an open letter to all 5 members talking about how they brought me out of hard times and how much they all mean to me. So I'm doing the same today for the second Idol EN generation, ENdless.

Endless was the first full generation of Idol that I was able to watch the debuts of live. It was one day before I left for a family vacation, so I was sitting in my room with my stuff all packed and ready to go, watching the debuts on my phone and the watchalongs on my laptop. And for the past year, I was able to watch all of these wonderful talents go on to do amazing things.

Roca: When you began your debut with an opera song I was already impressed, but the transition into "Highway to Hell" had me absolutely floored. I normally don't watch karaoke streams, but your singing is too good to pass up on, and I love how you do encores like a true rock star. Your voice is as addictive as your personality, and I always have so much fun whenever I catch your streams, even when your screams nearly blow out my phone speaker. The huge amount of music you listen to inspires me to check out more bands that I either haven't listened to in a while, or haven't heard of before. Thank you for being as smart, funny, talented, and just downright amazing as you are. Rock on!

Poko: You are such a silly little guy and I love it. I love when you do your late-night marathons, especially the Minecraft ones, since they would keep me company as I was working on my own Minecraft projects. You were actually the one who gave me the idea of working night-shift jobs, since I realized that I'm an overnight kind of person. I always love tuning into your streams and hearing you talk, and you're also really good with talking to other people-- you fit right into every collab you're a part of. You even got to go to Japan for an off-collab which is amazing to think about! I hope you know how awesome you are, and I look forward to seeing what you get up to in the future.

Kai: I've never seen a community quite like yours. Despite how much we like to tease you, you inspire us to do so many things to show how much you mean to us. Your content is so inspiring, and you always try and include the Kamisitos in the creative streams you do. You always encourage us to do so many creative things, and I've seen so many Kai-inspired works that are unlike anything else I've seen a VTuber's community create. I've written my first fanfiction-- and my first completed short story since high school-- because of you. I even sort of owe the creation of "Golden Age vGH" to you, because I never would have finished it and released it as a present for Rin's birthday if I hadn't made a short birthday song and video for you first. I love the energy you have, your ability to banter with the Kamisitos, and all the goofy stuff you do. I mentioned before that I don't normally watch karaoke streams, but the way you inject Kai energy into yours is so captivating, and the way you sing "Creep" is just... well... godly. Your community is where I feel the most comfortable blurting out some of my dumbest quips whenever something silly happens. And you are probably the hardest worker of your gen. You work so hard on stuff, like your diss track, the Trolls model, and of course, Idol Alert, which always brightens my week. I have so much more to say, but I'll leave it at this: You are the best Kami Broshi I could ever ask for.

Momo: While it is a shame that things have been so busy for you since even before the half-year anniversary, I'm always glad to join into your streams, and I know you've been working hard on things. I think it's really cool that you're studying biology, and you seem really knowledgeable about it. I was always glad to join your short late-night streams before I went to sleep, and you really gel well with all of the other members. I hope to see more from you soon, especially as the school season is winding down. Keep working hard on both Idol- and non-Idol-related things!

Coni: You are the most genuine of the group to me, and I really love just talking about stuff with you and the Carnies. You stream so frequently, and you usually start your streams 5 to 10 minutes early, which I love. You are really curious about many things, and you find some really interesting stuff to share with us. I love how you can have a grounded, down-to-earth conversation and then immediately start talking about something batshit insane. One thing about you that sticks out to me is your taste in music. Music, especially sharing music with others, is really important to me, and honestly, you seem like the kind of person that I could show songs of the deepest, most esoteric songs I know, and you'd enjoy them. You're so energetic, yet so chill at the same time. Your sense of humor is so sincere, yet so surreal. You are really one-of-a-kind, and I'm glad we Carnies could get to know you throughout this past year. I look forward to the future!

I had a lot more to say this time around wow. Being there for the debuts was amazing, as was watching everyone's first few streams in my hotel room while on vacation. Happy one year to ENDLESS! I hope this coming year is even better!

Before I close out this letter, I also want to write something for Yuko and Pochi.

Pochi: While it's sad it had to happen in the first place, I'm glad she and the company were able to resolve the misunderstanding somewhat amicably. It feels weird to wish her well on her future endeavors since I'm still watching her, but I will anyway, especially because of the big things happening in the future. Thank you Pochi, for introducing me and all the other fans to you.

Yuko: This one still hits me really hard. At first, I was really glad to see her streaming again, but then when I realized, it was really difficult for me. I wanted to be there during those last 5 days, but I just couldn't bring myself to watch. I have a feeling it was a near-impossible decision for her to make, and it's sad to see her go. I won't dwell on the reason too much, but I just wanted to say how excited I was to see all the things she'd get up to after the change of content. One thing that I didn't mention in "A Letter to E-Sekai" is how Yuko was the one who reintroduced me to Sayu. I of course had known about her since the beginning of the year, but if she hadn't collabed with Yuko on one of the first few days of her subathon, I never would have returned to one of the nicest communities of the VTubing sphere. So I really want to thank Yuko for honestly changing my life once again. I hope to cross paths with you again, Yuko.

Since I don't have any other social media accounts, I don't expect any of them to see this post, but still, everyone at Idol means so much to me, and I'm glad to have been with them since the very first Spongtember.