#played this game years ago and just got back to it. I dunno what I’m doing

[sinners-respite]

got inspired by that one days of love hair in the beta. Hatsune Miku in Sky when

[tsuutarr]

Pairing: Hop x GN! reader

Word count: 8.5K

Content: fluff, growing up, a Hop character study, kind of a fix it fic (basically I feel bad for constantly beating Hop in the game and had to write this LOL)

Summary: From a young age, Hop knew that he wanted to be the next Champion, just like his older brother. But as he goes on his journey, he's not sure what he really wants. Despite all that, though, he's grateful you're by his side.

From a young age, Hop was introduced to a path paved of gold, lying in front of him with a polished glimmer. His older brother was the Champion of Galar! It was only right that Hop would take on that mantle, too. In fact, Hop knew he’d be even greater than his brother– he’d make sure of it. After all, that was what everyone expected of him, right?

When asked what he wanted to be when he was older, Hop confidently proclaimed that he’d be the next Champion. His statement wasn’t met with scorn because people were aware of who his brother was. Since his brother was the Champion, Hop would obviously be an excellent trainer, too. That was what everyone said, so it had to be true, right?

“So, what do you want to be when you’re older?” Hop asked you as you made flower crowns. You were  his new neighbor that moved to Postwick about a year or two ago, but with how often you played with each other, Hop felt like he has known you for years and years.

“I dunno. I think I’d like to go on a journey, though. See the world, you know?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Hop responded, watching as the wind tousled your hair. “If you wanna go on a journey, maybe you should go on a Pokémon journey! A rival would be good for me, just like Sonia and Lee.”

You blinked at him curiously. “Sonia and Lee?”

“Yeah, I guess you haven’t met them yet, huh? Lee’s – or Leon, I guess – my older brother and Sonia’s his childhood friend.”

“Wow, they are like us, then,” you laughed, placing a flower crown on Hop’s Wooloo. Seeing Wooloo bleat at you made Hop’s heart warm. There was a sense of peace whenever he was with you. Unlike the rest of Galar, you didn’t place much stock in him being the Champion’s brother. You just saw him as Hop.

Hop’s eyebrows furrowed.

When did being known as Leon’s brother bother him? He was proud to be Leon’s little brother! The Champion’s brother! But… maybe it did sting a little when that was what he was referred to as constantly. Sometimes, he felt like he didn’t have an identity outside of his brother–

“Hop?” you called, making Hop turn to you in surprise. Wooloo bleated at you, ordering you to continue brushing its fur. You laughed, but obliged anyway. “You looked lost in thought. What’s on your mind?”

“I got that Wooloo from Lee,” Hop responded, making you hum in acknowledgement.

“Wow, how lucky!”

“Yeah, lucky.” Hop knew that he was lucky. Not a lot of people had a brother like him, he knew that. But sometimes he wondered if he’d be able to reach the throne his brother sat on and live up to his brother's name. Everyone said Hop would be good, just like his brother. So he had to be. He had to–

“Hop?” you called out again, and this time, when Hop snapped out of his thoughts, he came face to face with yours, looking at him with concern.

He gulped. “Yeah, mate?”

Gently, you placed a hand on his forehead, checking his temperature. “You’re no warmer than you should be…”

“I’m fine,” he huffed, though he didn’t make any moves to remove your hand from his forehead. “I was just… thinking.”

“Be careful there,” you teased. “Don’t want to blow a fuse, eh?”

“Oi, stop that,” he grumbled without any bite. “...Are you leaving today?”

“Ah, yeah,” you nodded, finally pulling your hand away from his forehead. He kind of missed it.

“Shame, you could’ve met Lee.”

“Oh, he’s coming back today?”

“Well,” Hop huffed out a laugh. “If he doesn’t get lost, then yeah.”

“Aw, that’s a shame. I wanted to meet him.” You scratched behind Wooloo’s ear with a pout on your lips. “Send him my regards?”

“Of course I will,” Hop agreed. “And you’ll see him eventually.”

“Eventually,” you nodded, before standing up at your name being called by your mother. “Well, that's my cue.”

“See you. Have a good spring break!”

“You too, Hop!”

He didn’t know why, but he kind of wished you could’ve stayed for the spring break.

--

Hop’s meals with his family were always boisterous, even when his older brother wasn’t there. His family would always turn on the TV to watch Leon’s matches. Hop always loved watching Leon’s matches, but having his brother there, right beside him, was even better.

“Leon, your match was fantastic!” Hop’s mother beamed, clasping her hands together in glee. “You’re such a talented trainer.”

“Charizard and the rest of my team are the ones that deserve all the praise,” Leon said, modestly, eyeing his Pokémon lingering outside his house. His house was too small to fit his large Pokémon inside – sometimes, he envied how small Sonia’s Yamper was!

“One day I’ll have a team as awesome as yours!” Hop grinned, his Wooloo bleating next to him. “Watch out, Lee!”

Leon laughed loudly at his little brother’s eagerness. “You don’t understand how excited I am for that, Hop. I can’t wait to battle you!”

“I’m sure you’ll be as good as Lee,” Hop’s mom agreed. “After all, Leon’s already done it himself, so he can help you.”

There was a weird pang of bitterness that stung Hop at the insinuation that he couldn’t be a brilliant Pokémon trainer by himself, but he crushed it down. “I wanna earn my place,” Hop said, patting Wooloo’s head. “I’ll get to the top where Lee is without his help. That way, we can truly be equals!”

“There’s nothing wrong about asking for help, Hop,” Leon said, gently. “And besides, you don’t want the Pokémon I’ve been reserving for you?”

Hop’s eyes grew wide as Wooloo bleated in protest.

“I’m not trying to get rid of you, Wooloo!” Leon laughed, tossing the sheep Pokémon a piece of lettuce. “Just, when it’s time for you to take on the Gym Challenge, I’ve got a Pokémon for you.”

“Wow, thanks, Lee!” Hop said, eyes wide with excitement, “But I can't do the Gym Challenge for another few years.”

“Hah, I know,” Leon responded with a laugh. “It’ll come soon enough.”

Anticipation thrummed through Hop’s veins. It couldn’t come fast enough.

--

Now, four years later, at age sixteen, he’s sitting in a train that is leaving Postwick. It all still feels so surreal to him. He has waited for this moment – the moment he’d get to go on his own Pokémon journey – for years. Changes seem to be happening so quickly, and despite his confident demeanor, he’s still nervous. But when he sees you, he feels better, like there’s still something consistent in his life. His eyes linger away from the window, instead opting to look at you. You sit in front of him, idly watching the scenery pass by.

“Exciting, isn’t it?” you ask, suddenly turning to him. It makes him jolt in surprise, before his face eases into a grin.

“Exciting,” he agrees, feeling nervous at how your knees brush against each other. “You know, I wonder what that Pokémon was – the one we saw at Slumbering Weald.”

You hum thoughtfully, your fingers tapping against the wooden table between you two. “Whatever it is, it must be powerful. I’m glad you were there with me.”

“I couldn’t do anything, though,” Hop says, but you only shrug in response.

“Neither could I. But your presence was good enough to keep me grounded.”

“Heh.” Talking to you always eases Hop’s nerves. He wonders if you’re aware of that, but decides you probably aren’t as you shove a cookie in your mouth.

“Want one?” you offer, making Hop nod.

“Thanks, mate.”

You nod, eyes going back to the scenery outside. Hop’s eyes stay on you, though, because he wants to burn you into his memory. After all, he won’t be able to see you in a while and you’re kinda like… his good luck charm. He thinks he’ll be able to do better when he thinks of you.

--

With all the excitement thrumming in his veins, the events prior to arriving at Budew Drop Inn feels like a blur. Still, you both managed to sign up for the Gym Challenge, so he thinks of that as a win. He’s ready to kick back and relax, but when he sees Sonia staring at the statue in Budew Drop Inn, Hop is surprised. 

 As Sonia explains her reason for being here, Hop can’t help but be intrigued. He’s still set on being Champion, but… Sonia’s research is just fascinating. Not to mention the events that had occurred in Slumbering Weald – a part of Hop is curious if the Hero in the legends wielded a Pokémon like that.

Maybe it’s Hop’s curiosity that prompts him to say, “If we hear anything about the hero or whatnot, we’ll tell you!”

“You will? That’d be fantastic!” Sonia responds, clapping her hands together.

“Sure, I’d be happy to,” you agree, eying Hop out of the corner of your eye. Hop looks at you curiously.

“What is it?”

“You just seem really excited,” you give him an easy grin, “it’s a good thing we left for our journey, after all.”

“Well, I’ll be the new Champion, you know,” he responds, easily, but inside his heart is running laps in his chest. The implication that his happiness is why you’re so excited to be on a journey makes him feel oddly warm. He doesn’t dwell on it, though, because Sonia is shooting the two of you a cheeky look. “You better do your best to keep up, mate! A good Champion always needs a good rival.”

You nod with a laugh, “You’ll see, Hop. I’ll be the best rival the world’s ever seen.”

--

And a good rival you are – Hop still hasn’t been able to beat you. There’s a lingering frustration that rattles him as he withdraws his fallen Pokémon, but there’s also this sense of… freedom. Sure, losing sucked, but it was exhilarating thinking about how Pokémon can use their moves and abilities to fight.

“Good match, Hop,” you say, approaching him.

“Good match,” he agrees. “Looks like I better keep my guard up! You’re excellent at using type match ups to your advantage, you know. I didn’t realize your Pokémon had that ability, either – that was awesome to see in battle.” Hop continues his little tangent about your battle, before shifting to the Pokédex you two had obtained from Professor Magnolia. “And not to mention – did you know that Wooloo’s wool is so strong that it could roll down a cliff and not get injured? Maybe that’s why our Wooloo are so rambunctious! They don’t think they can ever get hurt.”

“Wow, no wonder that one Wooloo rolled into Slumbering Weald, then. It probably should’ve been protecting us,” you laugh, making Hop grin.

“Probably!” he crosses his arms, letting out a hum. “I’ve had Wooloo for years and I’ve never known this – I’d have probably never known if I didn’t go on this journey. It’s fascinating to know how broad our world is. Now I’m curious about how dynamaxing fits into all of this, you know? It’s such an interesting concept.”

“Yeah, it really is!”

 “Isn’t it?” Hop continues talking about his findings, spurred on by your attention. You’ve always been the sort to look at him and only him when he talks, so it's easy for Hop to talk about his newest fixation. You always listen to him when no one else does, which he appreciates. Especially since Hop isn’t really sure why, but he’s been very into researching Pokémon lately. Sure, in part it’s because researching leads to understanding Pokémon better, which leads to being a better Pokémon trainer, which then leads to helping him become a Pokémon Champion… But sometimes he’ll sit down and read pages and pages of Pokémon facts just because he finds it interesting. 

“You’ll be a fine Champion with all that knowledge,” you say, and Hop feels kind of off when he hears that statement. He’s not sure why, but he just nods.

“Yeah, I will be.”

--

Going on a journey is a lot more fun than Hop anticipated. It helps that he runs into you frequently and that he’s won all his gym battles so far (the grass, water, and fire badges he’s spent hours shining proving that). But what really makes him love traveling is learning. He’s found out so much and he continues to find out even more. The world is so much more vast than he ever imagined and it's all fascinating. Not to mention the fact that he’s picked up bits and pieces of knowledge to help Sonia and well…

Hop sometimes wonders if being a Champion is what he really wants. Sometimes, he’ll be so entrenched in his research that he won’t notice time slipping by. Of course, he still trains and battles and enjoys it, but there’s another form of enjoyment that comes with research.

But he’s set out to be the Champion – it’s what he’s always wanted. It’s what he thought he’d always want. It’s what everyone else expects of him as the Champion’s brother…

“The Champion really must have been off his rocker to endorse the likes of you,” Bede says, looking awfully smug as he always does. Hop has never really liked the guy.

“Rubbish. More like you don't know enough to recognize greatness when you see it. My throws are the greatest, and my bro is the finest Champion the world has ever seen! I'm not gonna listen to you insulting him!” Hop yells, readying his Poké Ball.

“How tiresome... Fine. I'll battle you over there. Maybe that will help you finally understand just how weak you are.”

The corners of Hop’s lips dip down further, displeased. “You’re on then!” Hop turns to you and motions for you to go. “Let's meet up in Hammerlocke when I'm through with him!”

You look hesitant to leave, but say, “Good luck, I’ll see you in Hammerlocke,” to Hop, before leaving.

Bede watches Hop, chin held high and pose nonchalant. “All this prattle about your friend and the Champion and whatnot... Do you not have anything of your own to show?”

Hop’s lips purse. He’ll show Bede.

--

The fire flickers, lighting up Hop’s face with shades of gold and amber. His Pokémon lay around him, sleeping soundly by the campfire after the battle with Bede.

There isn’t a lot to say, really. Hop lost – he lost badly.

“You’re just dragging the Champion’s name through the mud,” Bede had said, haughtily, and Hop couldn’t come up with any response because Bede was right.

“What am I supposed to do now?” he murmurs, eyes trained to the flickering fire in front of him. Leon’s always been Hop’s role model – Hop has always wanted to be Champion because that’s what Leon is. But did Hop actually want to become Champion, or was it all just because of Leon’s inspiration? Does Hop’s dream really belong to him? But even if his dream doesn’t belong to him, what else can he do…?

Is he having doubts because he has other avenues he wants to explore or is he having doubts because he lost? Is someone like him, who is dragging his brother’s name through the mud even able to become Champion?

Hop thinks and thinks, unsure of what to do. He kind of wishes he could see you – you’d be able to talk him through some things, to encourage him. But you’ve always been strong, Hop realizes. Unlike him, your dream is your own – it’s something that you’ve crafted and you’re certain of. Hop envies that. 

A bleat to his side draws his attention, his Dubwool nudging him. Hop looks over, noticing the book in his Dubwool’s mouth. 

“Ah, thanks…” he says, and Dubwool nudges him. “What, you want me to read this? To you?”

Dubwool bleats again, looking at Hop with its big eyes. Despite evolving, Dubwool’s eyes are the same as they were when it was a Wooloo.

Hop wants to say, “Not now,” but seeing his partner Pokémon’s curious look, Hop decides to oblige, settling into his warm jacket. He flips open the book, reading the various mythologies he’d been reading up on. Initially, he’d read this book to help find some information for Sonia, but the book itself fascinated Hop. While his bitter defeat still lingered in his mind, somehow, reading the book with Dubwool’s head in his lap helped make the fire in front of him feel cozier.

--

When he sees you again, your reunion is interrupted by some Team Yell grunts that you ceremoniously destroy in a Pokémon battle. Hop would’ve joined in, but he can’t seem to get himself to battle just yet, Poké Balls feeling heavy in his pockets.

You turn to him, “Hop–”

“Wow, you and your Pokémon were brilliant together!” he interrupts, making you blink in surprise.

“Ah, yeah, thank you…” you chew your bottom lip. “But that aside, are you okay?”

“Ah? Yeah, I’m fine as always.”

You give him a flat look, knowing his tells and when he’s lying. To be fair, Hop has always been pretty bad at lying.

“...See, Bede really wiped the floor with me the last time we battled… And don't get me wrong—I can take a loss! Battling means you've got to lose sometimes,” Hop says, though he doubts you’ve ever lost. Or that Leon has ever lost. He’s just not… good enough. “...But he said that I was dragging Lee’s good name through the mud, being so rubbish like I was… And I just can’t get those words out of my head!”

There’s a conflict in Hop – his desire to not mar Leon’s name, his doubts of who he is and what he wants, his envy towards you… It all muddles inside of him in some incomprehensible ball of self-loathing. Hop just isn’t sure what to do. He feels lost.

“...Hop,” you say, gently, “Can we… hang out for a bit?”

“Huh?”

“Just. I feel like when we’re on this journey, we’re so busy battling and trying to get stronger that we haven’t really had time to hang out, y’know. I want to catch up, if you’re okay with it.”

At first, Hop wants to say he’s not in the mood, self-loathing clutching him like a vice, but he realizes that you’re asking to hang out because of him. You’re worried, and it’s because you care about him. The thought makes Hop’s self-loathing deteriorate slightly. “Okay, I’d like that.”

You sleep soundly beside him, cozied up in your sleeping bag. Hop can’t really seem to sleep, though. Talking to you had abated some of his worries, especially with how patient you were. You also listened to him ramble about Pokémon research again, which made him feel a lot better.

He turns, looking at your sleeping face. You’ve always been someone he treasured, but nowadays, you’re more than that. You’re someone he admires, too. Someone he envies. Someone he wants to be closer to.

Hop closes his eyes, remembering how you looked by the campfire, how your eyes lit up when you two ate your curries together. He remembers you affectionately cuddling his Dubwool as if it were still a Wooloo. He remembers you making flower crowns for all his Pokémon and even him. 

“A crown looks good on you, I think,” you said, making him huff a laugh. You bow, saying, “Your wish is my command.”

“Then I command you to eat your dinner,” he responded, grinning. You’d always find a way to make him laugh.

“Ah, is it done?” 

Of course, food was something that always drew you in, making you drop your role immediately.

“It is, now c’mon, it’ll get cold,” Hop said, “Or I’ll eat it, if you don’t want it!”

You gasped in mock horror. “Don’t you dare!”

Hop snickers at the memory, before he remembers another memory with you. Different memories of you play inside his head like a movie, lulling him to sleep, shoulders lighter than before.

After talking with you, Hop feels a little better, though his doubts still linger. When you part ways, it’s hard not to let him sink back into his negative thoughts. Still… Hop decides that he’s not going to lay there without doing anything – sure, he may not know what he wants to do exactly, but he’ll figure it out. He’ll get stronger.

--

So he battles and he researches and repeats the same thing over and over again. He switches out his Pokémon and experiments with different team compositions. It’s tough having to train so many Pokémon, but researching different strategies is fun. He likes learning about more Pokémon. Besides, battling… It’s fun, too. Slowly, as the wins stack up, he’s gaining a bit of confidence in himself again. He’s not sure if his strategies are working fully, but at least it seems like he’s winning consistently… Until he battles you. When he battles you, he can see that chasm that forms between your skills and it’s hard to crush the doubts that arise again.

“Good match, Hop,” you say, approaching him with an extended hand. He gives your hand a firm shake.

“Yeah, good match, mate.” He hesitates, before he inhales deeply. He’s still a mess of emotions, but you’ve always been willing to listen. Talking to you has helped him a lot before. “Before we ever started out on this journey... I remember watching Lee on the telly. He was like a bright star, so strong I could hardly bear to look right at him. But now, I can tell just how strong he really is... And what he's got that I haven't…” He looks at you, not sure what to expect – disappointment, maybe.

But instead, you look at him kindly, encouraging him to continue.

“But I’m getting stronger, too. Maybe not as fast as you, but fine. Whatever! Thanks for letting me battle you again. And here. I'll heal up your team for you, too!”

“...Yeah, thanks, Hop.”

Hop waves off your thanks, instead focusing on your Pokémon. While healing them, he says, “...I still don’t know what I want fully. It’s like I’m torn between different sides of me. I like battling because it's fun, but I also want to win. I like research, but I also want to battle. It’s odd because I thought being Champion was what mattered to me, but now I don’t know.” Hop inhales. “But what I do know is that I want to battle Leon – I want to take on my bro. But not just that; I want to beat him! And I'm going to! My mind's made up! You and me are going to have another battle once I get my Gym Badge in Circhester!”

You grin at him. “I’m looking forward to it, Hop.”

There’s still a heaviness that lingers on Hop’s shoulders, but he feels a little better now that he’s more intune with what he plans to do and wants to do. He wants to battle, he wants to improve. He wants to beat Leon and he wants to beat you. He wants to research and learn about Pokémon. He wants to do it all and while he may not be able to do it all at once, he’ll take things step by step.

--

When Hop sees you again, he tries to battle by following Leon’s strategies, but somehow, that still doesn’t help him win against you. He just doesn’t know what he’s doing wrong. It’s frustrating, but he’s made up his mind to research as much as he can and train as much as he can, so he’ll just have to see what works best for him. It won’t be a quick process, but Hop is motivated enough to keep going. Step by step, he’ll surely get to where he wants to be.

“I know you probably don’t want to hear this from me,” you say, softly, snapping Hop out of his thoughts. There’s a frown on your face and for the first time, Hop sees the guilt that lingers in your eyes. “But I… don’t think you should be battling like Leon. That is, I think it’s best to find out how you work best, Hop. And most importantly… You’ve ought to stop doubting yourself.”

“Huh?”

“I saw that last move, you know. If you had just went through with your plan, you could’ve knocked my Pokémon out, but you were too focused on what you thought I might do that you doubted at the last second.” You shake your head. “Sorry, I know I’m overstepping. I’ll see you later, Hop.”

“Wait–”

But you’ve run off before he can get a word out. Hop can’t help but stare at your retreating figure, stunned at what you’d just said to him. 

Oh…

He was so focused on himself that he had never realized what you might’ve been going through. Now that he thinks about it… What is your dream, anyway?

--

When he sees you again, he expects stiffness, but you greet him kindly and warmly. You’ve always been supportive and friendly to him, he’s realized, regardless of his flaws. But he's also very acutely aware about how worn out you look. The best thing he can do right now is to talk to you like he always would – that somehow seems to pep you back up. It makes him smile at how much kindness you hold for him, patiently waiting for him to reach out when needed.

He wonders if he needs to wait for you to reach out when you need him, or if he can take the first step and offer you his hand first. He’s not even really sure if he can support himself, but he wants to be there for you. After all, your words from before helped puzzle pieces snap in place for him. His self doubt, his hesitation – those were holding him back. 

He realizes now that he needs a proper balance in his life of battling, researching, and having fun, but he was so focused on winning that he’d forgotten why he wanted to win in the first place. Winning to him isn’t just a sign of his competence as a battler – winning also signaled how much effort he had put into training and research.

That effort is why he liked battling so much – he would put in the work and get rewarded. And he believes he’ll continue to get rewarded if he continues to try hard. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean he can’t sit down and relax for a bit, chattering with you and Sonia about the Legendary Heroes. It’s all so interesting, and Sonia seems to agree. For the first time, seeing Sonia’s passion for her work, Hop thinks that being a professor might not be a bad idea at all.

Of course, battling is still his number one priority, so he challenges you to a battle at the Hero's Bath. You, again, wipe the floor with him, but this time, he doesn’t feel as heavy as he did before. This time, he battled like he would, not how Leon would. His strategy and battle style aren't perfect yet, but he feels like he's getting there. 

“I still can’t even beat you, my true rival… But I think I’m starting to see the light!” he says and this time, he means it.

The smile you give him at his words is brighter than any light. It draws him in and makes him want to burn that smile in his memories forever.

“I’m glad.”

--

Finally, as he watches Raihan’s last Pokémon go down for the count, there’s a feeling of ease that settles inside him. Hop still doesn’t have all the answers, but he feels like he’s closer than he’s ever been. As he does his best to catch up with you, he realizes that you’ve always been patiently waiting for him.

As you two ride the train to Wyndon, both of you with eight shiny badges, Hop realizes that the journey’s changed you a lot. You’re more assured, more confident. But you’ve always remained just the way you are in some ways, too. You’re kind, you’re wonderful.

“We’re finally headed for Wyndon, huh?” he says, making you look up from your book.

“Yeah.” You place a bookmark between the pages of your book, and Hop recognizes it as the Wooloo shaped one he gifted you years ago. “It’s kinda unbelievable, huh?”

“You think?” Hop says, earnestly.

You huff out a laugh. “You’re right, I guess it might not be for you. I always did think you’d make it this far.”

At your words, Hop’s heart throbs with affection. He wonders if he knows what you mean to him, what you’ve meant to him throughout this journey.

“I knew you’d get this far too, y’know,” he grins. “Sure, I reckon I’m still the favorite to win, but… You’re my true rival, mate.”

You snort. “I’m glad because I won't let someone else have that spot, y’know.”

“No one else can take it,” he says, watching as you give him a smile he’s never seen more. It’s… more bashful, a little more soft. It’s not a smile you give to your Pokémon nor is it one you give to your mom. Heck, it’s not even one you’ve given to him yet. It’s hard to explain, but the way your lips flit upwards slightly, the way your eyes crinkle – it makes him feel like time is stopping.

“Hop?” you call out, your smile turning into a look of concern.

Hop inwardly curses, embarrassed that he was caught staring. “There’s a lot I want to check out at Wyndon, actually. There’s that big tower… and the monorail… And Wyndon Stadium– it’s where the whole world’s gonna be watching us!”

You exhale softly, fingers lightly tapping against the hardcover of your book. “Nerve wracking, honestly.”

“You’ll do great!” Hop encourages. He wonders if his words will mean anything to you like your words mean to him. “You and me are gonna make our match the greatest match that ever was!”

You blink at him, before a small smile curls at your lips. “Yeah, you’re right,” you give him a grin. “You and I… We’re gonna show the entirety of Galar!”

Hop beams back at you, knowing in his gut that you two will surely make history.

--

Hop’s heart thuds in his chest as he watches you on the television, commanding your Pokémon with so much power that he can’t look away. You blaze so brilliantly that Hop doesn’t know how you haven’t consumed everything whole. But there’s something else he notices – something he knows no one else but him sees. The way your hand trembles, the way you close your eyes and breathe to calm yourself. Whenever you’re on the battlefield, it’s not just your Pokémon that you command, it’s your emotions.

Hop realizes that you have your own doubts, your own fears – it’s just that, unlike him, your dream is crafted by you. It wasn’t crafted like his where he wanted to be Champion because it was all he knew. It wasn’t crafted like his where it felt like his dreams were being crushed by his doubts. Instead, your dream is crafted like his new one – built slowly and lovingly over the course of his adventure. As he finds himself, his dream shifts and molds into something that grows with him. He no longer wants to be Champion because it was all he knew or because he wanted to be like his brother – no, it’s because he wants to win and prove himself. It’s because he wants to showcase that his strategies, that his research, is meaningful. 

More than anything, he wants to battle you. He wants to battle you so you can see that he finally knows what he wants – so that you can finally see that he’s no longer doubting who he is.

“After seeing the way you battled, I can’t accept any outcome besides winning this match,” Hop says, meeting you in the locker room. You grin at him, offering him a hand to shake, which he does gladly. Your warmth alights adrenaline in his blood but it also comforts him.

“I’m not going to take defeat laying down, you know,” you say, making him laugh.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

You both stare at each other, a mutual understanding passing through you two. As the intercom calls for you two, you two smile at each other, before getting to your spots to battle. As you two meet on the field with millions of eyes on the two of you, Hop is suddenly hit with the realization of just how far the two of you had come.

“I just had this sort of flashback, you know. Remember? Back when we were still in Postwick,” he says, making you huff out a laugh. 

“I’d never forget.”

He smiles, before inhaling deeply. “When we got our Pokémon from Lee that day, I never would’ve dreamed that I’d end up standing here… facing you. But I’m glad it’s you.” Before you can respond, he smacks his cheeks lightly to get himself into the proper mindset. “But it’s time I finish what I started that day… Got it? The one who’ll win is me!”

--

The one that wins is you. After the intense battle, the one that claims victory is you. Somehow, Hop knew this would happen. You had something about you that was similar to Leon. Yeah, he knew you’d win…

But that didn’t mean it didn’t sting when he lost.

Still… Hop watches your shoulders heave in exertion. He watches as your Pokémon runs to you, proud. He watches as the crowd cheers madly, the match you two held having a lasting impact on all that watched.

He watches and he sees the unshed tears in your eyes as yours meet his. He watches as you open your mouth to speak, but close it, teeth clenching in uncertainty of what to say. You don’t pity him – that’s not the type of person you are – but he knows you feel guilty. He knows that his dreams weigh heavy on your own shoulders. He knows, and he wishes you knew that he’ll be okay.

He wishes you could know that somehow, despite losing, he doesn’t mind. He tried his best, his Pokémon tried their best, and that’s what matters to him now. He’s not going to take this loss as him losing an opportunity to become Champion. Instead, he’ll take it as a new start where he can dedicate himself to combining his love for battling and research. He wants you to know all of this and more – so, so much more.

“Thanks, mate,” he says, approaching you. He gives your Pokémon a sitrus berry, earning a delighted purr from it. He smiles at it, before he grins at you. “I’m really glad you were the one here with me.”

“Hop… I–” you swallow the lump in your throat, your voice wobbling. He sees himself reflected in your eyes so clearly that he wonders if you see your reflection reflected in his. “I’m… glad I could battle you. You’ll always be my greatest rival, for the end of time.”

“Good,” he says. “I’m not letting anyone take that from me.” With a grin, he offers his hand for a handshake, which you just look at.

Hesitantly, you reach out. Hop shakes your hand firmly, trying to emphasize everything he wants to say with his actions. But he knows he can’t so he decides to say everything instead.

“You know, even when Sonia was saying that you and me looked like we could become heroes, I never really felt like one…” he says, “But you, mate! I think maybe you really could do all sorts of great things! Good on you and all the rest of your team!”

“I think you can do all sorts of great things, too, Hop,” you say with so much passion that it blows Hop away. Your lip wobbles as you hold his hand with both of yours. “Hop – you don’t see what I see, that much I can tell, but I want you to know that you’re amazing. Your passion, your knowledge, all of it. I’m so grateful that you’re the one that’s my rival. I could have never asked for anyone better.”

Hop is stunned into silence, unsure of what to say. But what he does know is that your words are close to bringing him to tears. He’s already decided not to doubt himself, he already knows what his real dream is, but hearing words of encouragement just makes everything in the world shine differently.

Hop wishes that he could see how you look at him. He wishes that you could see how he looks at you. 

“...Thanks, mate,” he says, voice cracking in the middle. “I– just, thanks.”

“Yeah,” your murmur softly, the guilt in your eyes clearing away slowly. You squeeze his hand and Hop wonders if you’d be willing to hold his hand forever and ever. He wonders if you’d be willing to talk to him on lazy mornings and listen to his ramblings. He wonders if you’d travel with him, camping and having Pokémon battles together. He wonders if you’d be willing to–

Oh.

Oh.

Arceus.

He thinks he’s in love with you.

--

Hop has little time to revel in the realization that he loves you, what with Director Rose acting odd as well as your final battle with Leon coming up. You’re the one that’s fighting, but for some reason, he’s the one that’s more nervous. Still, he decides to greet you brightly.

“All right? The big moment’s here, eh? I came just to cheer you on, you know!”

When the nervousness eases from your face, Hop doesn’t know why that makes his heart soar. “Hop,” you say, softly. “You came.”

“Yeah, ‘course I did,” he says, sitting next to you. “Mate, you feeling all right?”

“Not really,” you admit, sheepish. “It’s just… So much.”

“Yeah, it is,” Hop agrees easily, placing a kind hand on your back. He rubs soothing circles, feeling the tenseness in your back. “I’m cheering for you, you know.”

“Thank you,” you say, and Hop grins.

“Still, it’s not easy picking sides… After all, it’s the showdown between my big brother and my rival… Who should I really want to win more?”

“Hey!”

“I’m joshing you!” he laughs. “I’ll be cheering for you, promise. After all, we did start this thing out together, way back in Postwick.”

“Yeah.” You breathe in deeply, before nodding. “Yeah, we did.”

“Yup, so you better beat Lee, you hear? If anyone can beat him, it’s you.”

“...Hop, can I ask you for something?”

“Hm?” he looks at you, feeling the nervousness roll off your shoulders.

“Can you hug me?”

Hop almost chokes in surprise, but opens his arms silently, not trusting himself to speak. He hopes you can’t hear the way his heart thuds so strongly against his chest. Oh Arceus, did he smell okay? Maybe he shouldn’t have agreed to his hug – he’s not sure what to do with himself and the nerves are about to kill him. Still, as he feels you squeeze him tightly, his embarrassment ebbs away slowly. He hugs you back, cradling you close to him.

There’s not much he can do for you, but he hopes that, at the very least, you’re aware that he’ll always stand by you. That he’ll always be there to support you.

--

Hop’s head is a mess. He was supposed to watch you and his brother’s battle, but Director Rose had interrupted the fight, going on about the Darkest Day or some other baloney that Hop could care less about. Currently, Hop’s more worried about his brother who has run off to stop Rose. 

“I want to help my brother,” he mutters, watching Leon leave on his Charizard. He’s feeling so useless that he’s not sure what to do. All the doubts from months ago come crashing back into him, Bede’s words ringing harshly in his ears. “I’ve got to!”

“You can help!” you encourage, tugging at his sleeve. “Let’s go, Hop!”

“That’s easy for you to say,” he snaps, frustrated. “ I can’t even manage to beat you, so what sort of help could I ever be…?”

As soon as the words leave Hop’s mouth, he freezes, knowing that he messed up.

“I mean–”

“You’re right,” you say, face perfectly neutral. “With that attitude, you can’t do anything!” Your tone is heated, “But– Leon needs you, Hop. I need you. We need to help Leon and I won’t be able to do it on my own. You might think you’re not good enough or that I can do everything on my own, but I can’t!” Your shoulders heave as you try to catch your breath, your tears wetting your cheeks. “Arceus, Hop… Can’t you see? I need you. I–”

“You’re right,” Hop says quickly, guilt settling into his brain. He tries to think back to his epiphany. He thinks back to what his real dream and goal are. He thinks back to why he wanted to battle, to why he wanted to beat you. He thinks about how you mean the world to him and that he wants you to know that he has your back like you have his. He wants you to know that he’ll always support you. 

Shame overwhelms him as his head gets clearer, his worry for his older brother being replaced with determination to help him. “You're right, I was saying rubbish. I’m sorry.”

“You were saying rubbish,” you snip, sniffling. 

Hop wipes off your tears with his thumb, saying, “Sorry.”

“If you are, you better help me.”

Hop nods at you, determined to make things right. “Let’s first start with how we can help Lee. Director Rose said something about the Darkest Day, didn’t he…?” The gears in Hop’s head turn, making him gasp as you come to the same realization. 

The statue of the hero, the tapestries, Slumbering Weald…

You and Hop nod at each other, determination settling in both of your bones.

--

As you two enter Slumbering Weald, Hop can’t help but remember the first time you visited the place together. Thick fog hung over the place like a shield, trying to block out any intruders that may dare to step into the holy ground. Back then, Hop was terrified. Now, though, Hop is surprised with how safe he feels with his Pokémon and you by his side.

“Ready for this?” he asks you, and you nod.

“I’ve got you and my Pokémon by my side. I’m not scared of anything.”

Your words make Hop’s heart flutter in his chest and he wants to wheeze physically at how you knock the breath out of him with your words. Instead, he says, “Going into the forest after Wooloo that day... That was the start of everything, wasn't it? A legendary beginning, really…”

“That’s true,” you nod, “and I’m glad we had such a legendary beginning.”

“I reckon whatever we're about to see will be pretty legendary itself!” he beams, “Well, let’s head in and add another page to our tale!”

His heart almost stops when you grab his hand, but he doesn’t say anything in fear that you’ll pull away. Instead, he squeezes your hand back.

--

Hop feels like he’s going to die. Everything before this moment, finding the rusted sword and shield, going up the Energy Plant, reaching the Tower summit… all of it feels like a blur, hazy in his mind as he stares at the beast in front of him. Leon does his best to hold his own, but the new Pokémon – Eternatus – is too strong. 

But he can’t give up here. He wants to protect Galar, his mom, Leon, and you. He’s put in so much effort to be strong. He’s put in so much effort to find out what he really wants. You’ve put in so much effort to get this far. You’ve put in so much effort to pull him out of his own doubts.

Yeah. He’s not going to let the Darkest Day come. There’s no way.

With a deep breath, he stands up, extending a hand to you. “All right. Let’s take it on together!”

“Gladly!” you say, grasping his hand to stand up yourself. You two stand side by side, rusted sword and shield in your hands, looking like the heroes from the tales of old.

--

After all that excitement, Hop’s not really sure how things will return to normalcy, but they do. After dinner with his family, he’s reading in his bedroom, Dubwool resting its head on his lap. There’s a knock at his door, causing Hop to look up in curiosity.

“Come in,” he says, and the door opens to reveal his older brother.

“Hey, Hop,” Leon says, closing the door behind him. “Got your nose in a book, eh?”

“Yeah,” Hop says, putting his book down as Leon makes his way over. “...How are you feeling, Lee?”

“Ah?” Leon looks surprised, before he laughs. “Fair question. I’m not entirely sure. I’m kind of frustrated, I think, but… I also feel exhilarated. Your friend truly battles like no other.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Hop says, feeling a sense of happiness at Leon acknowledging you. Yeah, you are strong.

“...How about you, Hop? Feeling all right?”

“Yeah!” Hop responds, genuinely feeling lighter than before, like another pathway has opened up for him. “It’s kind of like a new path has opened up for me, you know?”

“Hah, I get that!” Leon claps his hand on Hop’s back, bellowing out a loud laugh. When Hop looks into Leon’s eyes, he can see the pride his older brother carries for him. “Look at my brother – strong and smart. I’d have expected nothing less.” With a grin, Leon musses up Hop’s hair, making Hop laugh as he tries to get out of his older brother’s headlock.

“You messed up my hair, Lee!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Leon says, letting Hop go. “...But seriously. I’m glad you seem to know what you want to do. I have things I want to do that I’m no longer Champion, too. Looks like we’ll both be busy.”

“Yup, sounds like it!”

Leon grins, before stretching and falling back on Hop’s bed. “Man! Time sure flies quickly, huh? I feel like it was only yesterday that I was losing battles and getting helped as a child.”

Hop blinks, looking at Leon curiously. “You… Lost battles before?”

“Yeah, when I was starting out.” Leon lets out a small hum in thought. “I also refused to get help because I was kind of overconfident, too. Once I started getting help from people like Master Mustard, though, well… I guess I kind of unlocked a hidden potential in me and I stopped losing. Well, until now, that is.”

“Oh,” Hop says, looking surprised. His older brother, who he thought was the pinnacle of strength, had struggled too. His brother needed help, too. His brother is human, too. “...Thanks, Lee,” Hop decides to say, finally.

Leon lays on Hop’s bed for a few more beats, before he tackles Hop into another headlock, making Hop’s hair even messier than before.

“Hey!” Hop laughs, pushing Leon off of him.

“I’m proud of you, Hop,” Leon says, once Hop escapes the headlock. “I hope you know that.”

Without missing a beat, Hop responds with, “Yeah, I know.”

--

The next day, Hop finds himself back in Slumbering Weald, taking in the mystical atmosphere. He looks at how the trees reflect against the lake, clear and bright. 

“Hop?” At your voice, Hop turns around, looking at you curiously.

“Huh? What’re you doing out here in the woods?”

“Well… I just felt like something was calling me here, I guess?” you say. “And it’s quiet.”

“Hah, yeah, I guess it must be loud around you, huh?” Hop pauses, looking at the lake that’s as clear as his heart. “Congrats on the Championship, by the way! You’re amazing, I hope you know that.”

“Thank you,” you say, eyes trained on the lake before you. You watch as leaves leave ripples on the surface of the water.

“I should be thanking you,” Hop responds, making you turn to him curiously. “I… Have something to confess.”

“What is it?”

“I actually stopped wanting to be Champion a while ago.” Hop put up a hand. “Wait, let me rephrase – it was more like… I found out that becoming Champion wasn’t my end goal. Sure, it’d have been nice to be Champion, but more than that, I wanted to win and be strong. Being Champion would just signify my strength.” Hop skips a flat stone across the lake, causing ripples to form. “I also realized that while I loved battling, I loved research, too. The stuff Sonia’s doing? It fascinates me.”

He looks at you, and you look at him, patiently waiting for him to continue.

“...The reason I was able to find myself and stop doubting myself so much is because of you.” His voice is so quiet that he doubts you heard him. But the softness in your eyes tell him otherwise. “So, yeah, thank you.”

“You’re so silly, Hop,” you laugh. “You’re the one that’s done that, you know? Sure, maybe I gave you a push here and there, but you’re the one who discovered all of this. You’re the one who decided to take the steps to meet your goals. You’re– you’re amazing, you know that?”

Hop wonders briefly how you can make him love you even more than he already does. He wonders briefly if he’s loved you long before he even realized it because how could he not? He briefly wonders, but then he realizes he doesn’t care because he loves you now and that’s what matters to him.

“I have one more confession,” he says. He can feel his heart about to jump out of his throat but he feels like his heart will stop entirely if he doesn’t tell you his feelings. “I like you. I’ve liked you for a while now, actually. I know I can be a pain sometimes, and I’m not trying to force my feelings on you, but if you’re okay with it, can you give me a chance?” Hop’s eyes are closed during his confession, scared of what expression you’ll have on your face.

When you’re silent, he feels himself sweat, unsure of what to do with himself. Taking a chance, he cracks an eye open to at least assess what expression you might have on your face. What Hop sees takes his breath away – you, underneath the dappled sunlight, the wind in your hair. You, with a bright smile, all the affection you can muster in your eyes. You, who is looking at him with so much emotion that he’s not sure what to do with it all.

“I’ll give you as many chances as you want,” you say, reaching out to grab his hands. “So, will you give me a chance?”

“Arceus, yes,” he laughs, relief flooding the adrenaline out of his veins. Arceus, he loves you. He really, really loves you. And with the way you look at him he can tell you love him too.

[lesbicosmos-writes]

@deadboyween day 11

the day we've all been waiting for!!

day 11 prompt: halloween

summary: the girls wonder if the boys have ever done anything for halloween. they convince them to have a mini party at the office - including costumes.

notes: this fic brought to you by my love of comic!crystal being a nerdy cosplayer <333

also on ao3!

the case of the halloween party

“Do you think Charles and Edwin celebrate Halloween?” Niko asked, lounging on the floor of the office while Crystal was on the sofa, her laptop propped open on her lap.

The boys had gone out ‘to the library’ to do what they called ‘private ghost research’ – but both Crystal and Niko knew that was just their code phrase for a date – leaving the girls to their own devices back at the office. Niko had been reading but her attention span had depleted several minutes ago, while Crystal was trying to win a bid for a cursed teacup someone was trying to sell on eBay.

“I dunno. Wouldn’t that be a bit weird? Spooky supernatural beings celebrating a human-made spooky supernatural holiday?”

“I think it would be even better as a ghost,” Niko commented. “You could actually, properly scare people.”

“True. I wouldn’t exactly have taken Edwin for a Halloween kind of guy though.”

“Maybe we can try and do something with them! We’ve only got two weeks left! I think we can convince them to dress up, at least.”

“Good luck with that,” Crystal chuckled.

“Oh my god! We could go as Mystery Inc.!” Niko sat upright, clearly already making plans.

“Ah, um…I’d love to Niko, but I kind of already had my costume planned.”

“Oh. Do you already have plans for the day?”

“Not really. A lot of the clubs around here do Halloween nights so I was probably just gonna go to one of those if we weren’t busy. I’d rather do something with you guys though, clubs are no fun on your own.”

“What’s your costume plan, then?” Niko asked.

“Well, I used to be really into cosplay and-”

Niko cut her off.

“You were into cosplay?” she asked incredulously.

“Yeah?” Crystal shrugged.

“I thought you were like…a typical mean girl?”

“Well, I was a typical mean girl who happened to love cosplaying characters from video games.”

Niko stared at her girlfriend open-mouthed, her eyes wide.

“I’m in love with you,” she said simply.

Crystal laughed.

“I think you’ve mentioned that before.”

“How have you never told me you used to cosplay?”

“It just never came up, I guess,” Crystal chuckled.

“So, who are you dressing as?”

“Oh, just this character from a pretty niche game.”

“What game?”

“Yonda.”

“You play Yonda? I love that game!” Niko had moved forwards and was sitting beside Crystal on the tiny sofa.

“Really?”

“Yes!” Niko replied excitedly. “Ayumi was like...my lesbian awakening!”

Crystal’s face morphed into a smirk. “Well…”

“No. You’re not.”

“Mhm,” Crystal hummed, teasingly.

“Oh my god Crystal I need to see this right now,” Niko all but shrieked.

“You’ll just have to wait til Halloween babe,” Crystal said, leaning forward to press a kiss to Niko’s lips.

“Ughhhh,” Niko groaned, just as the mirror rippled and Charles and Edwin stepped through it.

“What’s going on?” Charles asked, perching himself on the arm of the sofa next to Niko.

“Oh, Crystal and I were just discussing Halloween costumes.”

“Costumes?” Edwin asked, the tone of his voice somewhere between confused and ever so slightly judging.

“Yeah? Don’t tell me you’ve never dressed up for Halloween!” Niko sat upright on the sofa.

“I’ve been trying to get him to for years but he just refuses,” Charles complained, shaking his head slightly.

Niko jumped up from the sofa and stepped towards Edwin.

“Edwin, you have to!”

“I was under the impression that this strange tradition of dressing up was only for events like parties. I’m afraid I don’t see the point of it when we have no party to attend,” Edwin explained.

“We can have our own!” Niko waved her arms in the air a little, turning to face the others to see their reactions.

Crystal had a smile on her face but reluctantly asked, “Who would we even invite, Niko?”

“Jenny!” Niko said, pointing to one finger as though counting.

Everyone looked at her expectantly, waiting for the rest of the hypothetical guest list. Jenny had moved her shop to London but she was still about the only person any of the group really knew.

“Okay I guess it’s just Jenny but still! I could bake! We could decorate the office! It’d be fun!”

Who could resist Niko Sasaki when she looked so excited and full of joy? Sure, it wouldn’t be much of a typical party, but it could be a celebration in their own way, so everyone eventually agreed that they would have a gathering on Halloween night. Edwin still insisted they kept the agency open just in case – there never had been a Halloween without a strange new case to crack in the many years they had been working together.

As expected, Niko got very into the party planning. She was planning on baking enough snacks to feed a small army – including finding a recipe and enchantment for biscuits and sweets ghosts could eat thanks to Tragic Mick. She and Edwin had been crafting decorations while Charles and Crystal went out to buy supplies.

“So what do you want to dress as?” Niko asked, cutting out skull-shaped bunting.

“I’m not sure. I don’t think I want to dress too differently, if possible. The idea is still a little silly to me, I must admit.”

“Everyone dresses up on Halloween, Edwin. It’s the one day a year where cosplaying is normalised – expected, even! But if you want to keep your style as much as you can, I think I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“That’s a surprise,” Niko grinned. “You trust me, yeah?”

“Of course,” Edwin replied sincerely.

The surprise didn’t last very long. Merely one day later, Niko returned to the office with inspiration for Edwin’s outfit to show him, and he wasn’t as against the idea as she expected him to be. Crystal was there too, and was as excited about the costume as Niko was. But they all agreed to keep it as a secret from Charles – who was being very secretive over his own idea anyway.

Soon enough, Halloween arrived. The office was decorated with a mixture of lovingly crafted handmade decorations and ornaments bought from shops. Niko’s paper skull bunting hung across the doorframe and across the blank wall between the games closet and the desk. She had also made bats to hang from the ceiling by string. The four of them had carved pumpkins the day prior, to varying degrees of precision, which all sat along the windowsill. Edwin had intricately folded several little origami pumpkins and placed them on the bookshelves, while tiny plastic ornaments of skulls and bats and witches’ hats sat amongst them. A string of brightly coloured lights shaped like skulls were suspended across the window.

The largest of the decorations were two plastic hanging skeletons, which hung either side of the door. They had been plain when Crystal bought them, but she and Niko had crafted a tiny bow tie and book for one of them, and an earring, backpack and cricket bat for the other. Edwin seemed sceptical about the mini him-and-Charles, but grew fond of them after seeing Charles’s grin when Crystal hung them up.

The office looked different, but somehow the atmosphere hadn’t really changed – after all, it was the permanent residence of two ghosts in the first place.

It was 5pm, and the girls were currently both in the bathroom getting into their costumes, while the boys waited in the main room of the office, both still in their usual outfits.

“So like, you really never did anything?” Charles asked.

“Charles, I’ve told you several times over the years. When I was alive, Halloween wasn’t as much of a deal as it was now. It was a childish holiday. A few of the boys at school would sneak out to the cemetery at night, or play games in the dormitories, but people rarely dressed up or had parties like you do now.”

“Right. Sorry. I mean, it wasn’t like a huge thing when I was alive – not for my family, anyway. My dad thought it was stupid, so even if my friends did have a party I could never go. It always looked so much cooler in America, like it is in films and stuff.”

“Hmm,” Edwin hummed.

“So…what’s your costume?” Charles asked.

He’d been trying to get Edwin to tell him for a week, but he didn’t budge, insisting it was a surprise.

“I’m not telling you,” Edwin replied, a smug smirk on his face.

“You’re evil.”

“Oh really? Because I seem to remember you saying something different when you were kissing me ten minutes ago.”

“Oi!” Charles grinned.

The sound of giggling echoed through the bathroom door, and both ghosts turned towards it.

“Seriously, what are they doing in there?” Edwin asked, folding his arms.

“I dunno, mate. Girls and bathrooms, innit? They always go in pairs and take forever and come out giggling like maniacs.”

“So strange.”

“Yup.”

“How long does it take to change clothes? They’ve been in there for nearly an hour.”

Charles stepped forwards and knocked on the door.

“Hey, uh, are you two good in there? You’ve been in there ages,” he said.

“We’re fine,” Niko laughed.

“You better not be snogging!”

“Charles you can’t say anything, we know you were making out with Edwin like ten minutes ago.”

Charles opened his mouth to argue but ultimately gave up. “Okay fine, shut up,” he said instead.

More laughter erupted from the door, and Charles gave up, walking back over to the desk.

It was several minutes later when the door to the tiny bathroom finally opened. Charles and Edwin stood up straight, ready to see the girls’ outfits…

…only to find the two of them standing there with white sheets over their heads, holes cut out of the faces so their eyes could be seen.

Charles snorted, but Edwin didn’t seem as amused. Perhaps if you looked closer though…maybe there was a slight smirk hidden there on his face. Maybe.

“Very funny,” he said sarcastically.

“We’re ghosts!” Niko said, giggling.

“Yes, I can see that, Niko.”

“Come on, it’s a little funny!” Crystal argued.

“Fine,” Edwin gave in, letting that tiny smirk be more obvious on his face.

“Anyway, these aren’t our real costumes. Don’t worry,” Niko said, and both she and Crystal pulled the sheets from their heads and threw them onto the sofa.

Niko had the more recognisable costume of the two – a bright orange turtleneck and matching socks, along with a short red skirt. What with her usual bright monochromatic wardrobe choices, the other three had seen every main part of the outfit before many times. What they hadn’t seen before were the large-rimmed glasses that rested on her nose, or the short brown wig she wore that seemed to conceal her bright white hair so well, it was as if it wasn’t even there beneath it.

“Velma!” Edwin said, smiling.

“Yeah!”

Then the boys turned to Crystal, and both of their faces morphed into confusion.

“You guys have no idea who I am do you?” she laughed.

“I’m afraid we don’t.”

“Wasn’t expecting you to, don’t worry. I’m Ayumi from Yonda.”

“Are those words?” Edwin asked, one eyebrow raised.

“It’s a video game,” Niko explained.

“Oh, nice! Well, you look great. Both of you,” Charles said.

“Thank you,” Niko smiled.

“Right, now it’s your turn,” Crystal turned to the boys, a smile on her face.

“Do we really have to?” Edwin complained.

“Yes!” Niko exclaimed, ushering him into the bathroom and closing the door behind them.

Since the boys didn’t exactly get changed into their costumes, each had one of the girls there to help them alter their appearances, especially since they also didn’t have reflections. So, Niko joined Edwin in the bathroom whilst Crystal helped Charles in the office.

Edwin managed to get his costume right fairly quickly – Niko had made him practise whenever they got the chance and were away from the other two. Niko looked him up and down, smiling to herself.

“Perfect!” she grinned.

He was dressed as a traditional vampire, and thanks to some convincing from the girls (otherwise known as Niko’s puppy eyes – Edwin really ought to learn to say no to her), he’d also manifested a pair of fangs. He couldn’t alter his own body, but he’d managed to create a pair of plastic ones that fitted perfectly to his canine teeth.

“Oh my god you look so good!” Niko said, using a finger to dab some fake blood onto the corner of his mouth, so it dripped down his chin.

“Niko, is this strange sticky concoction really necessary?”

“Yes! How will anyone know you’re a spooky vampire without fake blood?”

“I think it’s fairly obvious from the rest of the outfit. And the fangs,” Edwin chuckled.

“Oh well. It looks cooler.”

Edwin wasn’t going to argue with her. Niko shuffled around him in the tiny bathroom before she reached the door. She knocked on it a couple of times.

“Hey, is Charles ready?”

“Nearly, just finishing up his…nearly!” Crystal replied from the other side of the door.

“Yay!” Niko grinned, placing her hands together in front of her like she was running some evil scheme. Edwin had come to fear that look.

“Ready!” Crystal called.

Niko opened the bathroom door, and both of them stepped out.

Edwin froze when he saw Charles. Charles seemed to freeze too, the two of them just staring at one another open-mouthed.

“Pick your jaws up off the floor, you two,” Crystal said, her arms folded in front of her.

“Shh let them ogle,” Niko said, that grin still plastered across her face.

In terms of style, Edwin’s costume wasn’t too dissimilar from what he usually wore; the blue sweater vest was replaced by a red waistcoat, and a frilly collar took the place of his bow tie. His trousers were black instead of pinstripe grey, and his brown coat was now black and had a higher, upturned collar. It was different enough to be considered a costume, but similar enough that it wasn’t too uncomfortable, and he wasn’t revealing any more skin than usual.

The same could not be said for Charles’s costume. He wore what appeared to be a teal surgical gown, only unlike actual surgical gowns, this one cut off halfway down his thighs. Under it, he wore fishnet tights and boots that resembled the ones Edwin usually wore. He had a pearl necklace around his neck, and bright pink rubber gloves on. And that wasn’t even mentioning the make-up. Of course, Charles always wore eyeliner, but this was different. His eyelids were painted the same teal as his outfit all the way up to his eyebrows, and he wore lipstick.

“He wouldn’t wear the heels,” Crystal tutted, shaking her head at him in disappointment.

Edwin recognised the costume from a movie Crystal had made them watch a few weeks prior. Charles had already seen it, had snuck into the cinema to watch it with a girl when it was playing on Halloween the year before he died. It hadn’t been a date; Charles was sure to tell them. They were just the only ones who wanted to watch it - all their other friends had claimed it was for queers. Charles had brushed it off at the time, but now saw the ironic truth in their claim, given both his recent revelations and the fact he knew that girl he snuck out with was now happily married to a woman.

“Mate, you look…” Charles began.

“Charles…” Edwin breathed, unable to tear his eyes away from Charles’s legs.

He’d seen Charles’s legs many times by now, but never like this and never in this context. It was overwhelming and he couldn’t figure out how to look anywhere else.

“His face is further up, Edwin,” Crystal teased. “Jeez, now I’m glad we didn’t go for the corset,” she muttered to Niko.

“Do you guys want us to leave you alone?” Niko smirked.

Edwin cleared his throat, finally managing to look somewhere other than his boyfriend’s legs in those fishnets.

“No, that won’t be necessary. Besides, Jenny will be here soon,” he said, hoping no one noticed the way his voice cracked a little.

Everyone noticed.

As Edwin and Niko headed over to the desk to lay out the food, Crystal stepped towards Charles – who was still silent and staring.

“Are you okay there, buddy?” she asked, the amusement clear in her voice.

Charles snapped out of it, turning to face her.

“Yeah. Aces, why?”

“Hmm…sure,” Crystal smirked.

It was nearly twenty minutes later when Jenny arrived. She was also dressed as a vampire, wearing a dark red corset top over a flowy white long-sleeved shirt with black trousers and a collared cloak. The shirt had several small bloodstains on it. She brought in a tray of pastries that were made to resemble severed fingers.

Niko came running over to her and took the tray from her hands.

“Oh my god! You and Edwin match!” she exclaimed, pointing between the two of them.

Jenny looked up to Edwin, who appeared to be looking for a book on their many shelves.

“Dracula. Neat,” she said.

“Just a generic vampire, I’m afraid,” Edwin corrected. “Although, I suppose it could be Count Dracula.”

“Right, okay.”

“Are you a specific one?” Crystal asked before biting into one of Niko’s decorated cookies.

“Yeah, I’m meant to be Carmilla.”

Everyone looked at her blankly.

“Carmilla Karnstein? From the book Carmilla? Like one of the first pieces of vampire literature?” Jenny asked, bewildered.

“I cannot say I have ever read it,” Edwin apologised.

“Well, you should. It’s a classic. And it’s really gay, so…”

Jenny turned around once more, taking one of the skull-emblazoned paper plates Crystal had found in a shop and moving onto the food.

“Is that blood…real?” Charles asked her, pointing out the stains on her shirt.

Jenny just raised her eyebrows and took a bite out of one of Niko’s cookies. Charles didn’t want to think about that too hard.

“Nice Frank-N-Furter costume,” she said. “Good to know you’re not entirely uncultured.”

“Thanks,” Charles replied. “So, what food is enchanted?” he asked excitedly, practically bouncing over to Edwin.

Edwin and Niko had successfully baked some foods that the ghosts could eat, and Charles had been incredibly excited about it for days. He really missed food.

“Aptly enough, the cookies shaped like ghosts. And also, the white marshmallows. Not the orange ones, though,” said Edwin.

“Brills,” Charles said, already reaching across the desk to take one of the cookies.

He took a bite, and the satisfied sound he made gave Edwin flashbacks he’d rather not be thinking about with other people in the room.

“These are so good, Niko,” he said, giving her a playful punch to the arm. “God, I missed food. Can you do this to anything?” he asked Edwin.

“I believe the enchantment will need a few tweaks depending on what item it is, but yes. Don’t worry Charles, you’ll get your enchanted spaghetti,” Edwin laughed, practically reading Charles’s mind.

“I love you, you know that right?”

“I do believe you’ve mentioned it once or twice before.”

“Are you guys just gonna keep flirting all night or are we gonna do more party things?” Crystal asked from where she was sitting in Edwin’s usual chair.

“We can multitask,” Charles argued, throwing an arm around Edwin’s shoulders and kissing him on the cheek.

Crystal was beginning to regret her involvement in getting them together. Niko walked over and perched on the arm of the chair beside her, leaning in to kiss her. Okay, maybe she could multitask too.

“Wow you guys, way to make a woman feel single,” Jenny said from the other side of the room. “You two are literally dead and you’ve got more game than me,” she looked over at the boys.

“Don’t worry Jenny, we’ll find you someone!” Niko reassured.

“Preferably someone who isn’t a psycho murderer who stalks me this time.”

Niko nodded, looking at the ground. Enough time had passed now that they could make light-hearted jokes about the Maxine situation, but it still left as much trauma as expected for Jenny. Niko still felt guilty, even though she’d been mostly forgiven.

The vague tension in the room was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Do we really have to take a case?” Niko groaned.

“I don’t think it is a case, Niko, don’t worry,” Edwin said, walking to the door while Charles reached into the games cupboard and pulled out a large green bowl, filled with what looked like tiny little trinkets.

Edwin opened the door.

“Trick or treat!” came the small voices from outside.

There were three small children: a young girl around nine years old dressed as a witch, a boy around the same age with a werewolf mask, and another girl who looked no older than about two wearing a pumpkin outfit. All three of them had similar burn scars on their faces and arms.

“Hey, you three! Happy Halloween!” Charles said, offering the bowl out to them.

They all took two tiny curios each. A green feather, an engraved brass ring, a chunk of amethyst, a tiny brooch with a leaf design, a small bag of pink dust, and a wishbone. All small harmless items the boys had picked up over the years but had no use for – but always brought joy to the faces of the young ghosts in the neighbourhood.

“You’re dressed up!” the older girl said, surprised.

“Yeah, thought we’d give it a go this year,” Charles said.

“What are you meant to be?” the boy asked him.

“Uhhh,” Charles stammered.

“Shouldn’t you three be running along? The night won’t last forever, you know. I heard the fortune teller down the road is giving out magical coins!” Edwin cut in.

All three children gasped.

“Really?”

“Yes, but they won’t be there forever so you’d better go quick!”

“Thanks Edwin!” said the girl.

“Bye Charles!” said the boy.

Charles gave the youngest a high five before all three of them leapt down the staircase excitedly.

When they closed the door and turned back around to face the room, they were met with looks of confusion from Crystal, Niko and Jenny.

“What-” Crystal began.

“The ghost children in the area come around every year, we always make sure we have trinkets to give them since they can’t eat sweets.”

“Hey maybe next year we can actually give them enchanted sweets!” Charles suggested.

“Wait, those three were ghosts? Did they all-” Jenny trailed off.

“The James siblings. They all died in a housefire a couple of years ago. Their parents were out shopping so they had a babysitter, but none of them survived the fire. Death came for the babysitter, but the children were all hiding in the rubble,” Edwin explained.

“Shit, those poor kids. I bet their parents feel horrific, oh my god.”

“That is precisely why we haven’t reported them to the Lost and Found Department,” Edwin said sternly. “The parents got into a terrible car accident upon getting the phone call about the children. They both survived, but only barely. They can see ghosts now, so the family is reunited.”

As Edwin spoke, Charles walked over to the window.

“Their dads are just outside, look,” he pointed across the road.

Everyone gathered around him and looked down. They saw the three children running over to two men stood on the opposite side of the road. They all showed their buckets to their parents excitedly, then pointed down the road. Their parents laughed, and the family all headed off down the road together.

“That’s sweet,” said Niko. “They’re still all together.”

“Precisely. It’s nice to know tragedy doesn’t always end in entirely pain.”

The others didn’t miss the way Edwin looked towards Charles as he spoke.

Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long before the boys insisted on a game of Cluedo.

“Not fair, you guys always win!” Crystal argued.

“Well, we’ve got thirty-four years on you, Crystal.”

“Also, it’s more a game of luck than one of skill. If you get a good hand of cards to mark things off, you’re already further ahead than other players.”

“Yeah, yeah, fine whatever. But if you guys win, you owe me, like, the entirety of the payment for the next case.”

“Deal,” Edwin agreed, and they shook on it.

“Hey! What about me?” Niko pouted.

“You win almost as often as they do, babe.”

“I keep telling you! You should watch more Scooby Doo,” Niko shrugged, leaning her head on Crystal’s shoulder.

The deal however, never got resolved. Halfway through the game, there was another knock on the door, and this time it wasn’t ghostly trick-or-treaters; it was a case. And surprisingly, it was a real one. Usually on Halloween, their cases were less often genuine supernatural encounters and more often paranoid older ghosts misunderstanding typical Halloween living-people things. But this one was real. It wasn’t difficult, and only took them an hour or so to solve, but it was real.

Someone nearby had been having their own ghostly Halloween party, but their decorations had all been possessed by mischievous imps that had begun causing havoc. But the Dead Boy Detectives had dealt with imps dozens of times before; they arrived, set a few traps, Edwin cast a few spells, Charles swung his bat a few times, and the job was successfully jobbed.

By the time they got back to the office, Niko had already beaten Crystal and Jenny at Cluedo twice, and they were currently tied one-all in a very intense Uno tournament. When Crystal won the fourth game, they decided to wrap it up.

Then, Niko suggested – well, insisted, but no one can resist her puppy eyes – that they play Monopoly. Her argument was that it was thematically relevant since the box they had was Beetlejuice themed.

The game was as loud and chaotic as anyone would expect, and Crystal and Jenny both nearly flipped the board twice each in the first half an hour. Charles was the first to go bankrupt, closely followed by Edwin. The other three swore they planned it in advance, since they used it to their advantage, sneaking off into the games cupboard for a snog and locking the door whilst Jenny was in the bathroom, Crystal was clearing away the empty food trays and Niko was distracted watching fireworks outside the window. They were in there for the entire last ninety minutes of the game, and when they finally stepped back into the room, both had incredibly messy hair, and both Charles’s lipstick and Edwin’s fake blood were smudged over both of their chins. Crystal had never been happier that they put a silencing spell on the cupboard a few months prior. But then again, it meant they had an excuse to disappear into there whenever they felt like it. God, she and Niko needed to get payback at some point.

“Could you guys not have waited until after everyone else left?” Crystal asked, her eyebrows raised at them.

“Hey, don’t look at me,” Charles put his hands up in defence. “It’s not my fault this one couldn’t keep his eyes off my legs.”

“It absolutely is your fault for wearing those tights.”

“And on that note, I’m leaving,” Jenny butted in, standing up from the sofa. “This was great, but it’s nearly midnight and unlike you guys who don’t seem to have a schedule, I have a shop to open at nine o’clock tomorrow.”

“Understandable. Goodnight, Jenny,” Edwin said, reaching to readjust his bow tie only to remember he wasn’t wearing one.

“Yeah, Niko and I should probably head off, too,” Crystal said.

“Do we have to?” Niko complained, but her face changed when she turned and saw that Crystal was giving her a look. “Oh. Yes. Definitely. We should go.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?” Charles said.

“Yep. ‘Night guys! Great party, we should definitely do that every year!”

“I must admit it was…much more enjoyable than I anticipated,” Edwin admitted.

“See! Told you you’d like it.”

Niko hugged Edwin before she was practically dragged out of the room by Crystal.

“Oh! I forgot my jacket,” Niko realised when she and Crystal were halfway down the road, and she had begun to shiver.

“Here, take mine,” Crystal said, taking hers off and placing it around Niko’s shoulders. “I highly doubt we would wanna go back in there.”

Niko snickered, locking her arm with Crystal’s.

“Seriously, they’re insatiable! At least we’re more subtle about it.”

“Give them some slack, they’ve got over thirty years of built-up sexual tension to resolve!”

“I really don’t wanna think about those two resolving their tension,” Crystal practically gagged.

“Maybe you wanna think about me in this turtleneck instead?” Niko said suggestively.

“I-” Crystal stammered.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you staring at my chest all night,” she teased.

“Okay, shut up.”

“Hey, it’s allowed. I’ve been staring at you all night, too. I told you Ayumi was my gay awakening, and I was not kidding.”

“Glad you thought my costume was a success, then.”

“I think tonight was a success! I don’t think we’ll have any trouble convincing the boys to properly celebrate dress up again next year. Maybe we can even get Charles to do the full corset look!”

“I’d rather not be in the room, or even anywhere near the room, when Edwin sees that.”

“Fair,” Niko giggled.

Illuminated by streetlamps and the soft glow of pumpkins and decorative lights from nearby apartment buildings, the two of them walked back to their flat.

Maybe it was a little strange that two supernatural beings began celebrating a holiday that turned them into novelty ornaments or silly stories. Or maybe it made perfect sense: two ghosts, their psychic best friend, their other best friend who had literally died once, and reluctant older sister figure who just happened to have been possessed by Crystal’s demon ex-boyfriend one time and got herself involved with everything – celebrating Halloween as a strange little family.

[twilightknight17]

Today on P3R

LOOK AT HIM

LOOK AT HIS BOXING GLOVES, OMG, I DIDN’T REALIZE THEY’D BE LITERAL JACKS.

Also we take exams I guess.

Turns out Ikutsuki is not going to help me study alone, he’s going to wrangle everyone into one big study group. Dunno how effective the studying is when he and Junpei get into a pun-off, but whatever. It’s nice to have everyone together and not fighting.

...This is on my exam? For real? This school, man…

Once exams are over, we make plans to go do something fun. While Yukari leaves to get Fuuka, Junpei and I have a little chat.

I love that you can play Minato as a completely oblivious airhead. But I do not.

On our way outside, Ikutsuki introduces us to our new dorm-mate, Ken, who will be staying with us over the summer. He has potential, so he might be a good candidate for joining SEES!

...Ikutsuki, recruiting teenagers with attitude is one thing, but you’re crossing the line towards “child soldiers”, my guy. I know Wild Cards have awakened at age 7, but they didn’t actually have to do stuff til they were 16 or 17!

He’s gonna be staying in the dorm, so we’re not allowed to mention shadows or fighting or whatever in front of him. Even though Ikutsuki just mentioned “the potential” in front of him. Akihiko also looked really uncomfortable around him, and it’s clear he knows Ken somehow, so… Yeah.

Ikutsuki sends me off to the antique shop that’s now open, because the antique shop can help me. The same way the police officer helps, apparently.

This lady runs the weapon fusion menu, and also where I can exchange all my gemstones I’ve been getting. She knows Officer Kurosawa, and ALSO explicitly knows about shadows?? What has Ikutsuki told you, ma’am? Were you involved ten years ago? Do you know about Tarta--

Oh I want that megidolaon skill card so bad. God. Don’t show me that when I know I won’t be able to afford it for ages.

Anyway, we are off to Yakushima, and Mitsuru’s vacation home is enormous. I wish we got to actually run around in it, but what we do see is pretty nice.

(Wait, wasn’t Ken moving in? Did we just leave him at the dorm alone??)

Mitsuru I didn’t realize your dad was Big Bos-- *shot*

Junpei wants to go to the beach right away, so we put our stuff in our rooms and book it down there. It’s gorgeous.

...

...Akihiko, uh…

Thank you, Junpei.

Akihiko doesn’t get it. He just wore them because they’re “better” for swimming. Because of course he’s gonna train on vacation. *sigh*

Why is Mitsuru so pretty I’m gonna die

Yakushima really is beautiful and I’m kinda sad I couldn’t cut off the UI for a minute.

Elizabeth asked me to bring her back something from the beach. I found a pretty shell, some driftwood, a piece of weird seaweed, and…

...she will LOVE this crab. I have to.

Mitsuru talks to her dad, and I have made an exciting discovery: A living, onscreen parent who does not suck!

He wants her to open up to others more and work together, because…

That’s a pretty good motto, actually. It would help if people playing this game knew what the Nanjo Group was. And despite being in green, meaning it has a definition in the glossary, the glossary just explains the motto again. X’D

The Nanjo Group is where the Kirijo Group got all it’s psience tech from, because they bought out SEBEC after Kandori tried to become god back in 1996. SEBEC had the original prototypes for anti-shadow suppression weapons, and PROBABLY also the teleporter technology from the DEVA System. I think I mentioned before that I think that’s what the teleporters in Tartarus are based on.

Plus, the Nanjo family is all about being Number One, so “two in harmony” is a pretty good shot at them. And that’s definitely lost if you don’t know anything about them. X’’’D

Mr. Kirijo gathers everyone together, because he’s going to tell us the truth. And the truth is, his father was trying to create a time manipulation machine. So it makes sense that their research fucked up time so badly that there’s an extra hour of the day now. But apparently, that attempt to create time manipulation warped into something worse over the course of the project, and Yukari’s dad caused the explosion to stop him.

Yukari is completely freaked out by this realization, because she’d always maintained that the accident wasn’t her dad’s fault. So hearing that he caused it on purpose sends her reeling, and she runs off. Minato follows her to the beach to talk, and it’s a good conversation, actually.

Thanks, it’s the trauma. ^_^

Thank you, P3R, for actually letting me hug people when they’re upset. Looking at you, P5, as Futaba and Sumi just cry in front of me and I can’t do anything.

The next day, the girls are on an awkward nature hike (because Mitsuru and Yukari aren’t speaking), when they get a call from Ikutsuki.

“Vehicle”????

There’s a lab on this island?

Sir you have one job how are you so bad at it??

The boys, meanwhile, are once again at the beach for Operation Ba--

Oh. Are we not calling it Operation Babe Watch? Okay.

It’s playing the Tartarus music. I’m trying to lead my team into the ocean and it’s not working.

We manage nothing but failure all the way across the beach. We’ve got girls who aren’t interested, girls who are pissy that high-schoolers are at the island resort (who then get even more pissy when they find out we’re at a friend’s summer home, because THEY had to save up to come here), girls who humor us for like ten minutes before revealing they have boyfriends…

And then one last lady, who has been observing, and reads us all to absolute filth about how our tactics are all wrong.

She might be interested, though. And she wants us to help put on sunscreen!

...300K yen-a-bottle sunscreen.

To protect from artificial sun rays…

Because…

Time for a tactical retreat. Thank god the last girl on the beach is so pretty.

She doesn’t want to talk to anyone, though. Except Minato. And runs off when the others approach. They seem to think she ran away because I said something to her, and want me to follow her and apologize. Which, guys, I don’t think chasing girls you don’t know into the woods is the right answer here, but okay. Here we go.

There’s a waterfall up here and I can’t go near it. :(

...believe me, Yukari, I have no idea what’s happening either.

Apparently this is the “vehicle” Ikutsuki lost.

I’m okay with bringing her home with us. XD

Speaking of home, back at home, Shinji is trading information with those three weirdo assassins in exchange for some kind of pills, which can’t be a good sign because he looks like he’s in actual pain. Weirdo Squad is angry that we want to destroy the Dark Hour because they like having special powers.

They also call Tartarus the “Tower of Demise”, though, so like obviously they realize this is a bad thing.

After we get back from Yakushima, Aigis tries to stay in my room, including waking me up five minutes before my alarm. Which. No. You cannot stay in here. Oh god. My new robot has separation anxiety.

My social links may not be deals for things that can help in battle, but they do make me feel warm and fuzzy.

I go out with Akihiko again because he still owes me food for last time, and we get accosted by the punks from before, who have returned with an even bigger group, because apparently the best way to win is by fighting a guy eight-on-one. Are you proud of yourself, dude? Does that make you feel cool?

We didn’t actually fight because we distracted them long enough to get out of there, so no police this time. But I did learn that Akihiko does have parents! He has foster parents that love him and send him enough expensive snacks to share with the whole dorm. It’s nice. ^_^

My online friend in my MMO is definitely a teacher at my school, based on her complaining about "Mr. E". Which, you and me both lady. Dude thinks he's a wizard or something.

Speaking of Mr. Edogawa, he mentioned Carl Jung in class! While talking about alchemists, because school is still insane. Literally we’re going on summer break tomorrow, give it a rest.

Which I guess is why Ken hadn’t moved in yet, but… Did we miss like a week of school while we were in Yakushima? Hot damn.

Ken is officially moved in now, though, and despite not being able to discuss shadows or the Dark Hour around him, he apparently knows Aigis is a robot. So… Uh… How secretive are we supposed to be being?

And it FINALLY let me go back to Tartarus and check out the new area, which is very industrial. It’s cool. Very different vibe from the big faces. I actually like it.

New portal doors that lead to Grand Clocks now have a chance to show up, so I can boost teammates’ levels to match Minato’s? Which is interesting. And more importantly, new “Monad” doors are appearing that lead to stronger fights.

Calling it Monad makes me a little weirded out, but hey, it's not a mandala and there’s good treasure in here. So we’re probably going in headfirst every time they show up. XDD

Saved back at the Tartarus entrance, so next time is probably just going to be some more fighting. We’ll see. ^_^

[melandrops]

I am sick af and miserable so i would love to see some goldenpunk sickfic or hurt/comfort if you're still willing to write them <3

For you, avi, of course <3

Pavitr slides into their apartment through the window, his book bag hanging off his shoulder. He tugs his shoes off and sets them where all the other shoes go. Miles left one of his sneakers there. How he managed to leave with just one shoe on, Pavitr didn’t know. Sometimes Miles was a mystery best left unsolved.

He finds Hobie on the couch playing Assassin’s Creed, slumped in the way he always is. Pavitr raps his knuckles against the walls to get his boyfriend’s attention. Hobie looks up at him with such pitiful eyes it almost pulls a laugh out of Pavitr’s lips.

“You okay?” He asks, and Hobie presses a button to pause his game.

“I’m sick,” Hobie replies.

Worry floods Pavitr, but he reasons that if Hobie had really been feeling ill he could have messaged him. He approaches his boyfriend and kneels beside him, already pressing the back of his hand to Hobie’s forehead. “Symptoms?”

“Uh,” Hobie pauses, furrowing his brow, “Sore throat, ‘ve got the chills like nothin’ else, and bit of congestion.”

Pavitr frowns, and leans in. “Poor Hobie,” he drawls, a little bit playful and a little bit sincere, “You woke up feeling like this?”

Hobie leans into the touch at his cheek, and nods. “Dunno what happened.”

“Probably just picked up a bug. No need to worry too much.” Pavitr leans in to kiss Hobie, soft and warm. Hobie makes a small noise in the back of his throat. Pavitr rubs a thumb along Hobie’s pronounced cheekbone. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Don’t suppose I could convince you to lay with me,” Hobie mumbles, his voice raspy. He clears it with a grimace.

Pavitr shouldn’t. He’s got classes he can’t really afford to skip if he gets sick. But Maya Auntie had always said that love makes a man weak, and Hobie looks like he’s been put through the ringer. “I can arrange that,” he replies, pressing another light kiss to Hobie’s forehead. “Let me get you some ginger tea. I think we still have some lying around. And I’ll start you up on some soup.”

“Soup,” Hobie says with a scowl.

Pavitr smiles at that, and pats Hobie’s cheek. “Yes, I know, soup is essentially hot cereal and cereal is disgusting cold, let alone hot. We’ve heard the routine before. You need to get your strength up, though. I’ll just make you some broth with chicken and some veggies in it.”

Hobie’s scowl deepens, but he doesn’t argue. Pavitr can’t resist another kiss, and so he goes in for one. “Let me get you some tea, and then we can watch something.”

Pavitr busies himself with the tea, though the slight ache in his ankles begs him to rest. He’d broken it a week ago, and superhealing is superhealing but apparently it doesn’t resolve every day aches and pains. Quite an annoyance.

He returns to see an episode of Hoarders loaded up, and the sight makes him smile. Hobie’s taste in movies will be erratic and inexplicable today, tomorrow and three years down the line.

“Alright, come here you big baby,” Pavitr says, sitting on the couch with a mug of tea. He gestures with his free hand, prompting Hobie to crawl forward and lean into his side. He pushes the tea into Hobie’s hands, and the poor dear burrows even deeper into Pavitr’s side. Unable to resist, Pavitr turns his head to plant a kiss on Hobie’s head. “I expect the same treatment when I inevitably catch your germs.”

Hobie hums in assent. Pavitr grins and starts the show.

[808snfastbreaks]

DISCLAIMER: Episode One was recorded November 10th, shortly before the Boston Celtics faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The camera pans to the podcast setting, where two men come into frame. On the right is Zaire Wilson, one of the co-hosts of the 808s and Fastbreaks podcast, and to his left is the other co-host MJ, Zaire’s college roommate and teammate from his time at Duke University.

MJ: “And we’re live! Welcome to the 808s and Fastbreaks podcast, I’m MJ, and you to my right is reigning NBA Champion, Zaire Wilson! Zaire, I dunno about you, but I’m feeling amazing. How are you feeling today?”

ZW: “I’m pumped, honestly. Today is a great day for multiple reasons, it’s game day and we’re recording the first episode of this here podcast. I actually am excited for this than I am the game today, so let’s get to it.”

MJ: “Alright, alright. Let’s start off with the most obvious question here, how do you feel after winning your first championship this summer?”

ZW: “Like a heavy weight was lifted off my shoulders, no joke, I feel no pressure coming into the season. To know that I’m stamped as a champion is good enough for me really, but it hits differently doing it for Boston, like bro… Having shared that moment with my teammates meant a lot to me, being there with the guys you went to war with— Jaylen, Kristaps, Jrue, Derrick, Al, the rest of the team, from the bench to the coaching staff to the guys that get us right for every game, they deserve the recognition, man. I think right next to ring night, the parade in Boston was amazing. It’s really an honor to get that elusive 18th banner for this team specifically, knowing that the goal for next season is to repeat and get some more. That’s what the city of Boston and fans of the Celtics deserve.”

MJ: “I’m proud of you man, it’s well deserved. You became stamped, not only as one of the all time greats, but a legend in Boston. Shortly after winning the championship, you signed a hefty extension to stay in Boston for the next couple years. What does the city of Boston mean to you?”

ZW: “It means a lot, really.. they took a chance on a 19 year old 8 years ago and ever since then they’ve treated me like I’m one of their own. This is the place I’ve always wanted to be, and the Celtics taking a chance on giving me that extension just shows that they want me to be here for a very long time.”

MJ: “To be honest bro, I don’t see you in anything but a Celtics jersey. MJ chuckles. But let’s keep on talking about the summer of Zaire, yeah? You also won the gold medal in the Olympics but it wasn’t in the way that you wanted, you didn’t play as much minutes to the point where the media turned it into a big story where you were complaining about not getting minutes, care to clear the air on that?”

ZW: zaire pauses for a moment, before shaking his head with a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “Maaaaan, I won’t lie I never been through no shit like that in my life. Imagine coming off a championship, getting a super max deal, making All-NBA only to barely see playing time in the Olympics. It pissed me off at the time, but I used it as motivation for the upcoming season, I’m out for blood. As I look back on it though, I appreciate the experience and the opportunity to suit up with those guys. We got a gold medal out of it so I ain’t complaining, man. Enough about my offseason though, let’s talk about the NBA.”

MJ: “Crashing out over getting benched ain’t you bro, I’m glad you realized that early and didn’t do anything crazy. But anyway, the offseason was a busy one for a lot of teams, especially for the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers loaded up and got some depth as well as all star Paul George while the New York Knicks traded for both Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns. I feel like they’ve vastly improved as a team on paper, but you’re the basketball player not me. Do you feel like they’re a bigger threat to you in the Eastern Conference?”

ZW: “On paper, those teams definitely did get better. Paul George adds an interesting element to a Philly team that has a lot of depth, he’s proven to be a consistent second option, sometimes you can rely on him to be a first option but now since you have the big fella Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, that team complicates things for opposing teams. Only issue I would say they have is their ability to get healthy, I’d say they’d have a good shot at making the Eastern Conference finals against us. So do the Knicks actually, pairing Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns along with Jalen Brunson and those guys is lethal, let’s hope they don’t get hurt or get gassed by the playoffs. But to answer your question, nah, I don’t think they’re a threat.”

MJ: “So I agree with everything you said, besides Philly making an Eastern Conference Finals. It’s a running joke that Embiid is the only MVP that hasn’t made one, which sucks for him but I don’t think this roster has the tools to get the job done, they have to show me when it comes to the playoffs. I do think it’s going to be a Celtics and Knicks Eastern Conference finals if everyone is healthy.” 

ZW: “Besides those teams, you could make a case for Milwaukee making it but we’re 10 games in and they’ve been abysmal to start the season, which is crazy to me.”

MJ: “That brings me to my next question, the first ten games of the season have passed, who do you feel have been the most surprising teams from both conferences to start out the season and the most disappointing? For me, the most surprising team for me is Cleveland, undefeated, those guys gel together on the court and have been beating the competition with ease and the Golden State Warriors in the western conference. You would think with the loss of Klay Thompson they would drop off just a bit, but it looks like they didn’t miss him at all. Stephen Curry is doing Stephen Curry things, while his supporting cast know their roles and play at a very fast pace, ranking top 5 in pace overall in the league.

In terms of the most disappointing out East, come on Milwaukee, you have Dame and Giannis.. two players that are top 5 in their positions respectively, you’ve had a season together to gel, you gotta make it work. If they don’t make it far in the playoffs, I think you can chalk them as being cooked.. and for the West, it’s gotta be Minnesota. This was a team that came off a Western Conference Finals berth, obviously they made a huge change in trading KAT for both Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, but I think it’ll be a matter of time before they start gelling together.”

ZW: “Cleveland’s off to a great start, that’s for sure. To start off that hot and keep rolling is impressive. We play them on the 19th, so it’ll be fun if they keep their streak til then, because I want the Celtics to be their first L of the season. Golden State, we played them and I won’t lie they beat us on our own floor fair and square, salute to them. They’ve been elite to start the season. I would say for me.. the team in the east that’s surprised me thus far has to be the Brooklyn Nets. This is a team that’s very different from the laughing stock that they were last year. When we played them they were hella competitive, while I believe this is a team that won’t make the playoffs when it’s the end of the season, they will give playoff teams a hard time. For the Western Conference, I gotta say it’s the Houston Rockets. The tandem of Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green is finally working wonders, you can’t forget the intensity they have coming from Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks. This looks like the season where they may actually break through and make the playoffs.

For the most disappointing teams… I gotta agree with you on Milwaukee for the same exact reasons you said. It just seems like they lost that edge that they had, hopefully when Khris Middleton comes back they get it going but so far it’s looking ugly. In the Western Conference side of things, the Dallas Mavericks have been disappointing. They made the finals against us last season, added Klay Thompson and some depth—ultimately having us thinking that they would get better but it seems like they still need to take that next step. Only time will tell though.”

MJ: “Well said, Z. Let’s talk about the playoffs, it’s too early to tell but who do you think will be a dark horse team from each conference to make noise in the playoffs?”

ZW: “I would say the Orlando Magic is a team people are sleeping on, the combination of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner is lethal as hell. Not to mention they’re a really good defensive team which makes it tough for offensive heavy teams. Wait til they’re all healthy, they have a shot at making a run. For the west. It’s the Memphis Grizzlies. Do you see what they’re doing with most of the roster coming in and out of injuries? I believe Ja Morant and co have something to prove after missing the playoffs last season, they’re my pick.”

MJ: “Good choices. Both teams have real potential to surprise people. I say in future episodes, we make predictions for each round as the playoffs happen.”

ZW: “Definitely. Speaking of predictions, who do you have for MVP? And why is it me?” Zaire laughs.

MJ: “You’re going to hate this, Z, but I’m going with Nikola Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. You’re in the conversation, though!”

ZW: “If I knew you’d say that, I’d have you kicked off this set. But honestly, those guys deserve consideration. Just don’t sleep on me. I’ve got those games circled for a reason, and maybe then the MVP narrative will shift in my favor.”

MJ: “I believe you can win it, Z. You’re leading the league in points, and while it’s early, you’ve silenced the critics from the summer. We’ll revisit this when we have special guests on the pod. One last question before we wrap up—what’s your Finals prediction? For me, it’s Celtics and Thunder. It’s early, but you and Shai are competing to be the face of the league, and the NBA needs that matchup.”

ZW: “That’s a solid pick, but I’m thinking Celtics and Nuggets. That series would bring back that classic feeling of real basketball.”

MJ: “There you have it, everyone. Thanks for tuning in to the first episode of the 808s and Fastbreaks podcast. We hope you’ll keep supporting as we release more episodes. Any final words, Z?”

ZW: “Just show love, always. I appreciate everyone supporting us, and I hope we can make this a regular thing for everyone to enjoy. Peace.”

[esotheria-sims]

Sims Tag

Got tagged by the fabulous @deedee-sims - thank you! 🤗 Throwing in a random in-game pic because I can.

1. What’s your favourite sims death?

Hum, tough one. I guess being struck by lighting is pretty cool, not that I get to see it that often. Also being hit by a satellite, but I’ve literally never seen it happen in my game unless I cheat.

2. Alpha CC or Maxis Match?

Alpha, obviously. Although I prefer to call my style ‘semi-realistic’.

3. Do you cheat when your sims gain weight?

I used to, but now I’m like, nah. Let those sims have some meat on their bones!

4. Do you use move objects?

All the time, bruh.

5. Favorite mod?

If I only had to pick one, then Gunmod’s radiance lighting. Picked based on the fact that it’s always the first mod I get whenever I have to reinstall.

6. First expansion/game/stuff pack you got?

I think it was Nightlife? But my PC from back then was so weak that I couldn’t get the EP to work at all, save for a couple outfits that were randomly showing up in CAS.

7. Do you pronounce “live mode” like aLIVE or LIVing?

Been pronouncing it ‘aLive mode’ ever since I started simming. I never even knew there was a debate about it until I saw a post on simblr some years ago.

8. Who’s your favorite sim that you’ve made?

What, just one? D: I have a bunch of faves, and you can probably tell who they are by the fact that they crop up in every new iteration of my game.

9. Have you made a simself?

Never, nor do I plan to! Having a sim version of myself in the game would just feel weird.

10. What sim traits do you give yourself?

I don’t know them all by heart and I’m too lazy to google 'em, so pass. xD

11. Which is your favorite EA hair color?

I wouldn’t say that I necessarily have a favorite, but I noticed a lot of my sims tend to have black hair.

12. Favorite EA hair?

Imma go with hairshortcombed solely based on the fact that I don’t have a burning urge to replace it the second I see it in my game.

13. Favorite life stage?

Adults, duh. And teens. They’re pretty fun too.

14. Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay?

I do a bit of everything, but I definitely lean more towards gameplay, especially since starting my BaCC.

15. Are you a CC creator?

Yep! Got my own cc tag and everything! 🙂

16. Do you have any simblr friends/a sim squad?

I want to think so! ^^

17. What’s your favorite game? (1, 2, 3, or 4)

Sims 2 all the way, babey!

18. Do you have any sims merch?

Nah

19. Do you have a YouTube for sims?

Nah

20. How has your “sim style” changed throughout your years of playing?

I think it’s gotten more consistent? I’ve been trying to find a balance between realistic and cartoony cc to maintain that elusive ‘semi-realistic’ look that I’m so fond of, and I like to think that I have a pretty good grasp on it now, after so many years of simming.

21. What’s your Origin ID?

Never had one, lol.

22. Who’s your favorite CC creator?

One favorite cc creator? BRUH. I have a 10GB downloads folder, and you better believe every creator whose cc is in there is my favorite! 🤣

23. How long have you had a simblr?

11 years! Golly, has it really been that long?

24. How do you edit your pictures?

By offering a blood sacrifice on a full moon. Nah, kidding. No blood is spilled during my editing process, though it does feel that way sometimes, considering how effin' long it takes me to iron out all the small kinks that annoy me about my screenshots. I kinda hoped having a dedicated photoshop action would help, but it only speeds up the process so much, unfortunately. :(

25. What expansion/game/stuff pack do you want next?

For Sims 2? Dunno man. Maybe a higher-res remake with all existing EPs/SPs and all known issues ironed out. Which is probably never gonna happen, but a girl can dream, right?

25. What expansion/game/stuff pack is your favorite so far?

I’m partial to Apartment Life because it introduced witches, one of my favorite supernatural life states!

I’m tagging: @blackswan-sims @eleysims @episims @rudhira @ho3sferatu @analog-mothman @nervosims @frauhupfner @mrs-mquve-cc and @gphoenixsims! But feel free to ignore! ^^

[blindrapture]

SATURDAY JULY 9TH, 2011 (School Bus)

8:05 AM Had another one of those pretty surreal dreams. We were in a house. Typical little small house in England somewhere. It was my house; Donnie was a friend who was coming over for the day. She was standing with me at first, occasionally speaking, but as the conversation went on, she’d be more and more quiet. By the end of the conversation, she was still there, but.. she was standing so far away that she went through the wall. It’s like noclip but I could still see her. I dunno. Then church bells rang. Then Legsteps marched down the street outside, turning the church bells into a dubstep remix of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Then there was a car chase and Batman, but that all doesn’t matter; that was just typical dream fare! Anyway, I’m somewhere now. It feels familiar. Getting up. I’m in a bed.

8:09 AM This is a house, a fancy house covered in much dust. It feels really fucking familiar, though.

8:10 AM I hear running water. Fuck, I hear a shower! Upstairs!

8:11 AM I knocked on the door. Donnie replied, says she woke up half an hour ago and decided to see what works.

8:35 AM I showered too. This was our first time getting clean in a really long time, wasn’t it? Feels nice.

8:40 AM Hey, this house has a basement.

8:41 AM Oh my god. I know this place now. We’re in Bones’ house. Derek Taylor, my best friend from back when I had life in Georgia. That feels like it was decades ago now. It’s been almost a year. I met Derek in Band Camp as a rising 9th grader. We were prepping for marching band. He was wearing a brown fedora, and that’s what got us talking for the first time, we were the hat boys. We spent our 9th grade year hanging out every school morning, and every Friday football game we’d talk and laugh about everything we could think of. Hell, for the first half of the school year, I’d hang out with Derek at our friend Josh’s house. There, I introduced Derek to a little game called Rock Band. I watched him speed through the difficulties until he was a decent Expert bassist. Around the last month of school that year, I found out my family was moving back to England. It was my home country, but I was finally in various established circles of friends, for the first time in my life I could say I really had friends, and that’s all I wanted. That’s all I’d been trying to make all my life. But we had to move, and I was gonna lose all that. But I still had a couple months, so that summer, I hung out with a lot of friends as much as I could. I wound up hanging out with Derek the most. We did so much. We played so much Rock Band, and then there was the time Paul Botsford took us to downtown Atlanta, and we listened to Octavarium in his car. And that homeless person said Derek and I looked like the Blues Brothers.Come to think of it, I’m not entirely sure why I call him “Bones.” I think it was his nickname during Band Camp, but as the school year actually started, people just started calling him by his initials. I was one of the few people who stuck to “Bones.” But the dude was always thinner than me. I was taller, but he was thinner. That might be why he was called it. I dunno! You gotta admit, though. “Bones” is a more badass name than “Derek.” …hey, his Xbox is still here. No guitar controllers, though. No Rock Band. No nothing. What, did the zombies suddenly decide to take his good games?

8:53 AM Donnie’s in the kitchen, looking through the cupboards for supplies. There’s some canned goods, but not much has lasted the month and a half of apocalypse.

8:54 AM ..is that what I think it is? :DDDD Yes. Oh my god yes. And are these its YES We’ve hit the jackpot. Derek’s parents left a car and keys in the garage.

8:58 AM We do have one little problem. I haven’t been in this area in almost a year, and I never exactly learned the layout of Derek’s neighbourhoods and surrounding areas. Oh well! When has that ever stopped me?

9:00 AM On the road again! We're a long way away from New York, but considering how deep we went into the rabbit hole, that's not unheard of.

9:18 AM I know this area now. This is the Sandy Springs that I grew up with. In fact, my old high school should be somewhere over here.

9:25 AM Oh my god. The school is covered in a fresh paint of blood, and anything that’s not covered in that already had dry blood on it. And that’s just the outside. There’s graffiti up the cornholio out here. “SOUF SPRANG IS DEAD” “THE FOOTBALL TEAM WILL NEVER WIN A GAME NOW” “IT NEVER EVEN HAD A CHANCE.” “THE BAND’S BACK IN TOWN.”

9:26 AM Front door works. Memories, oh goodness. But now it looks considerably altered. The grey and blue floor is a notably darker hue, with skid marks and blood stains everywhere. The white-and-blue walls follow suit. The ceiling is the most notable, with rotting corpses hanging from the lights. …hello, person. Goodbye, person who is now running down the E hall. Funnily enough, that’s where I was going.

9:30 AM E108 is the room I wanted. The door’s barricaded. I intend on entering, though. I intend on it. Donnie’s looking at me with curiosity. Don’t worry, boss. You’ll find out soon enough. Now then. I know all too well that there’s more than one entrance to this room.

9:32 AM The connecting hall from the commons to the cafeteria looks… daunting, to say the least. There’s a cheerful little fold-out sign above the doors to the cafeteria that reads “Sparta Cafe!” However, all the doors have been bolted shut and surrounded with barbed wire. There’s stakes in front of the doors with zombie and spidercat heads on them. But the cafeteria’s not where I was trying to go. There’s a convenient little door here on the side of the hallway; that’s what I want. …and some poor bastard left it unlocked. Lucky us.

9:34 AM Band room. Oh my god, the band room. It’s been far too long. This large room looks virtually unchanged. Someone’s been keeping it clean, from the looks of it. Wait the band director’s office door is open It just closed WAIT

9:35 AM Holy fuck. It’s Minor. He’s still alive. He’s surprised I am, too. He’s surprised I actually managed to make it here. What’s he doing?He needs concentration. I’m taking Donnie back into the main room. Minor was a sophomore when Bones and I were freshmen. Actually, Minor was one of the first high school band kids I met. He visited my middle school when I was in 8th grade to try to get kids to sign up for marching band. Since my brother was the Nathan Dooling, I was definitely in. As my freshman year went on, Minor remained one of the kids I always wound up remembering. He was always chilling with Mister Brown, cracking jokes and playing his brass really well. I’d tell you what instrument he played, but it’s been over a year, man. I can’t remember.

9:56 AM He's calling us back into the office.

9:57 AM Oh shit, I see what he’s been doing. He’s been fixing a radio. He says I came at a good time. He’s turning the radio on.

9:58 AM It’s static. “Mephistophelectro to Bandwagon, do you read me, over?” Static. “Mephistophelectro to Bandwagon, we have an old friend, please come in, over.” Static. “Bandwagon, do you read, over?” …noise. Coughing. “What is it, Minor?” “We have an old friend.” Silence. “Which old friend?” “Nathan’s little brother.” Silence. Static. “Could you repeat that?” “I thought he was in England.” “So did I.” Silence. Minor “Should I just send him down to see you?” Silence. “…yeah, go ahead. You come down too.” “Kay, see you soon.”

10:05 AM Minor says we’re going down to Thermopylae. Donnie asked what that is. Why, it’s the football field! What better name for the Spartan battlefield?

10:11 AM I asked Minor where in particular we’re going. Apparently, we’re going up to the box. The box, journal, is that room way up at the very top of homeside stands in football stadiums. I’ve never actually been in it before.

10:13 AM We’re in. Ooh, cozy in h MISTER BROWN FUCK YES "Man, you can't contain that grin, can you?" I never thought I'd see you again! I never thought I'd see Georgia again. "You look really British." looking at my getup Thanks! Trilbies are cool. "So who are you?" "Donnie. You're.. Mr. Brown?" "Mitchell Brown." handshake "I was a band teacher." "Ah, this is all starting to make sense." "Can you fight, Donnie?" Can she ever!

10:15 AM He's gone to check on something. Mister Brown was our band teacher. He helped make things just that much more pleasant, even when outside influences made it harder to focus on schoolwork. I’m really excited to get to see him again because.. well, that’s how I imagine anyone would get with a teacher they really loved, right? I mean, this is the guy who doesn’t play realistic video games, and if he wanted to play a zombie game, he’d “grab a shotgun and go to downtown Atlanta.” It’s hard not to love a man with philosophies like that. …come to think of it, that joke used to be funny for its absurdity.

10:17 AM Brown came back. Says the trap is set. Asked him what trap he meant. Says he’ll show us.

10:19 AM We’re at the bottom of the stands now. In the middle of the football field is a tuba. “We can’t stay in South Springs for much longer. The zombies are coming. We got a visit last night from a monster in a gas mask. He was driving a school bus filled with the undead. JT– you wouldn’t know him– got on the bus, almost like he was in some kind of trance. The masked thing told us the bus would be back today at noon. Then he drove off.” Noon. That’s an hour and a half from now. Okay, so what about this trap you’ve made? “You let me worry about that.” What do we do for now, then? “I dunno, go crazy in the school, swing from the lights and pretend you’re the principal or something. Be back here before noon, okay?”

11:51 AM We wound up passing the time talking about random stuff. School complaints and whatnot, and laughing at how we don’t have to worry about it anymore. I expected things to be a lot more exciting, having complete freedom to wander my old school, but.. I guess nostalgia paints things differently. The Loop of Unhappiness Effect. Now we’re heading back to the football field.

11:58 AM Hey, we’re just in time for the show. Minor’s here, but Brown’s gone. Minor says to stand on the back field and be ready to ‘march in.’ Well, I do have Tiger Stripes on me. Guess I’m marching the guitar controller this year.

12:00 PM Materializing on the field is he who we met yesterday. The Archangel... uh.. the Archway... uh... Arch... Archie. He’s standing at the endzone. His gaze is fixed on me. Minor’s standing in the center of the field, wearing the tuba. Shit, the tuba was never his instrument as long as I’ve known him. I hope he knows what he’s doing. And I hope Mister Brown shows up soon.

12:01 PM I hear a lot of running footsteps nearby. Sounds like the front of the school. And a lot of unpleasant screams. I take it the zombies are here.

12:02 PM Good god, you can see a huge mass of colors just charging down the hill, coming to the football field at an incredible velocity. Donnie's ready to stand her ground. Minor’s just staring at the mass patiently.

12:03 PM I recognize some of those zombies a lot of the What the fuck, they’re all dead high schoolers. Teachers and students alike. Don’t get too attached, Jordan. They’re not your friends anymore. …but wow, I’m really gonna be leaving all of them behind. again No. They’re already gone. No remorse. …please. ._.;

12:04 PM They went straight for Minor, fuck! Prepping Tiger Stripes. WHACK-A-MOLE TIME

12:13 PM Shit, Minor can really fight with that tuba. It gives his body a lot of top-heavy force.

12:15 PM What’s that noise? It sounds an awful lot like… SCHOOOOOL BUUUUUUUUS It’s running over plenty of zombies and coming our way. Now it’s stopping. …Minor says that’s JT driving! o_o

12:16 PM JT’s urging us to get in. But Mister Brown’s not here yet! D: Minor got on, says Brown’ll catch up. Well, okay wait Mister Brown’s catching up with us. He’s asking what the hell just happened. JT just happened, man. ”Don’t get on that bus! What are you doing?!“ DOOR CLOSED DRIVING OFF MINOR’S IN IT FUCK

12:21 PM We’re up at the main street. All the zombies have suddenly vanished. There’s not a hint of a bus anywhere. Not even the faint roar of its engine. What the fuck.

12:24 PM Donnie says to look at a gas station nearby. It’s Archie. Staring at us. Arms outstretched, as if expecting us to come up.

12:45 PM We went back to the band room and sat in Mister Brown’s office in silence for a while. Then he looked at us. "What the hell happened to the plan?" You never told us the plan. "I was coming out with a cart full of weapons. Some hammers and drills and things left over from the janitor's closet, but a shit-ton of instruments too. They'd have lasted us a good few days at the least." I don't think this would have done much good. That guy out there was a Fear, and one in charge of the dead. He just wanted a show. "'Fear,' what's, what's a 'Fear?'" Uh. Very, very powerful monsters. donnie "you have those essays that rogers made" Yeah, uh. Hang on, these might help. These were written by someone we met in Liverpool.

12:49 PM He read them, doubling back sometimes, and muttering. Then he gave them back. "Okay, that read like a knockoff Doctor Who episode; I take it your friend wasn't a writer. But point taken, there are monsters now that we've got to share our planet with." He's getting up. "I think another one's been with us for a while."

12:50 PM Led us to the cafeteria. It's utterly trashed. "I don't like going in here anymore. Spending too long in here, I'd start hearing things. Sometimes I'd swear I was seeing things too. Things I've seen before, old memories, things that can't be here now. One night I was in here, by myself. The whole school was empty, I knew this for a fact, as I'd just done a sweep with Minor before he left for the night. And I was here, in the cafeteria, in the dead of night, with two men I'd never seen before." Two men… "Black suits and hats, much like yours. Skin pale as ghosts, all I could make out of their faces were two black beady eyes. My vision couldn't focus so long as I was looking at them. I tried to speak to them, but my fucking voice wouldn't come out. Instead, I sounded like a saxophone." Did they say anything to you? "Yeah. They said it so loud I was deaf for a few days." What did they say? "'This is the place.'" Like. Like they were scoping this building out? donnie "When was this?" "A while ago. Start of June." looking at this cafeteria... I do keep thinking I can see mushrooms on the tables. red, cartoonish mushrooms. "This is another Fear, right?" I think so. I think they're called the Musicians. "Great, we're competing with another band. C'mon, let's get out of this haunted moldy room."

6:05 PM We spent the rest of our time just idling, talking about old times, comparing notes on the apocalypse. He thinks it's silly to call it the apocalypse, but.. he's coming around. I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but we’re all pretty sure Minor and JT are gone. We’re in Derek's house. All three of us, Mister Brown came along too. We all agreed it wasn’t a good idea to stay in South Springs for much longer. I’m.. I’m gonna go to bed. Donnie wants to go with me. Mister Brown says he’ll stay up for a while. Says he has a lot of things to figure out.

11:00 PM Some films rely on our fear of the familiar becoming the unknown, or in other words, our fear of death. This is often a very difficult fear to represent in media, but the fear of death is a very justified and real one. It’s the fear of the end, or of the knowledge that everything’s coming to an end, and it goes hand-in-hand with worries about blame. Body horror is often used in horror, disgusting things done to our bodies, especially when feral animals are used. The same feral animals, usually dogs, are often used as omens, much like vague illnesses. This is a fear of body horror and dogs. Newborns in horror are used to refer to the fear of the future, for the newborns that cause fear are the ones who look terribly off. This provokes the fear in viewers that this newborn will grow up to be something terrifying. Eyes are the symbol of judgement. Humans have a natural fear of being judged. Horror tends to make the most use of this. Fear is not limited to just creatures. We humans also greatly fear alien architecture, incomprehensible landscapes, and the concept of being whisked away into an alternate world by as comfortable a trap as a door. The inability to escape is another popular fear. Fear the day the Fears fall from their thrones.

(Attached: ”Jordan's background, since he's not here to discuss it, is that of a British immigrant raised in America. His father was a managerial IT guru who lavished his family with money to make up for the fact he was never home, which he made sure of by drinking his evenings away. The times he was home, he brought his work with him and did not like being interrupted. His mother was a housewife with aspirations to act in Hollywood, but was instead saddled with three boys when what she wanted was a daughter. The boys had video games, lots of video games, and a computer to each of them. The mother had television and medication. Jordan was the youngest of the three boys. One brother was The Bad One, spreading toxicity and violence at a moment's notice, usually when the parents weren't around. The other brother was The Good One, the one to look up to, who preached responsibility and the middle path and prioritizing the comfort of those around him. The Good One was very popular at school. Jordan dreamed of the day he'd get his chance. The thing is, Jordan was a big source of affection for that whole household. He hugged his parents goodnight every night, he stuck up for his brothers, he believed in doing the right thing and telling the truth and loving his life. But he was still left alone, left in the care of people who didn't want to raise kids, and an older brother who definitely had no purpose being in that position. The finer details of what happened in that house are not my story to tell, and Jordan isn't here to give me permission. But the facts stand: Jordan is scared of knives, preoccupied with sex, willing to stare into the face of scary men, and pathologically convinced he can make sense of a chaotic world. And here we see him.. something like happy. When the father lost his American job and the family had to move back to an England Jordan did not know, Jordan fell through the system and never went to school again, crying himself to sleep at night. And he ended his 2010 with a loved one's hands around his neck. That's Jordan's background. The apocalypse is pressure, but Jordan already had an idea of how to operate under pressure. It's friends that he wasn't used to.“)

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[rhonuscorner]

That moment when you think you’re finally fully satisfied with your canon DAI worldstate, when suddenly, LI doubts

Ugh I need to rant 😂

So I finished my Bullmance playthrough yesterday, I updated the keep and figured I’m fully ready for DAD now.

During that last scene with Solas in Trespasser yesterday I was really feeling the Solas feels again, but no. Not happening. I did his romance with Tae once years ago, I enjoyed it, but ultimately I prefer him in a good trusted friend and mentor role. I went back to Bull, who was my first choice for Tae way back on release day and figured not even Dorian could change my mind.

I’ve done a Dorianmance too and I love him, but ultimately, I prefer him as one of Tae’s closest friends as well.

And I do really love Bull, I always considered him a really good fit for Taerel (no pun intended) and he’s still one of my favorite characters... but there was this nagging feeling in the back of my mind during this playthrough that I couldn’t really put my finger on and was difficult to ignore. I knew it was related to the romance because I got the option to lock in a romance with Dorian before Bull and I agonized over it before I told myself no, stick with the plan.

It’s been almost 10 years since I first settled on Bull for Tae, and Tae’s grown so much as a character even to this day, especially recently now that I’ve started working on his story again and I always figured... if not Dorian and Solas, who else is there for Tae to romance? As in, characters that I like as well?

I was on AO3 just now and somehow I ended on the Male Lavellan/Cullen tag aaaaaaaaaaaand here we are. Doubting.

And I don’t need this right now! 🤣 I’ve done three different romances with Tae but Cullen was never a real part of that picture and neither was Blackwall. Yet I just took a moment to envision what it would be like if Cullen and Tae were close in that manner and... it actually has potential. And I dunno how I feel about that.

I never much cared for Cullen before, I didn’t dislike him, I was just... neutral about his character. But I really enjoyed him this time around, and maybe it’s because I’m older too compared to the last time I played this game (2016). I guess that makes sense.

Just the whole... Elven mage who is an important religious figure and actually converts to Andrastianism one day... plus disgruntled ex Templar who is very religious and also has massive magic related PTSD. I could really do a lot with that and my brain is trying to run away with it.

So now I am very conflicted lol. I know there’s a bi Cullen mod on nexus, I don’t know if it still works (the comments on the mod page make me question) but I kinda wanna try it out, even though I JUST finished a playthrough.

On the other hand I’m like NO. STICK WITH BULL.

On the other other hand... I could have Adoribull in my game >3>

I dunno what to dooooooooo. I NEVER for ONE second since I first played DAO waaaaaaay back when... that one day I’d be considering Cullen as an LI. What the fuck lol

I’m gonna sleep on it and give it some more thought tomorrow but... yeah, I may actually try it out and see if I really like it or if I can really rule it out. >>;

[teacherintransition]

High School

Wait …what?

Wasn’t that like forty years ago?

I graduated from high school in 1984. Even at the tender age of eighteen, I was into transitioning. I transitioned to college life, fatherhood, marriage, career, multiple fatherhood, home ownership, parenting kids through college, middle age, retirement (current teacher in transition), world and country traveler to …uh, now! High school? That thirty nine years, three sons, one wife, eight dogs, two diplomas, a mortgage and four grandchildren ago. WTF? Why does it matter so much? It’s such a brief period in our lives yet it carries such tremendous, emotional baggage. Some of it I get; if you married your high school sweetheart or were an athletic or academic superstar. I wasn’t. I carried books home five times …literally five times in four years. By the beginning of my junior year, I had quit all athletics and committed myself to the high Art of being a sophomoric, immature, n’er do well class clown. I engaged in nothing socially redeeming while in high school and played a PG-13/R rated “Animal House” or more likely a “Dazed and Confused” homage. Fun times, but not glorious.

Three members of the Great Quadrumvirate celebrated their 40th high school reunion last week. (They are a year or two older than me) They did all the usual: salute to fallen classmates; attended the high school football game, gave out cheesy awards; took pics and drank just enough to remind them that they are no longer eighteen. I myself never attended my 10th, 20th, 25th or 30th reunions and I’m certain I won’t go next year to our 40th. I dunno why. I did create an alternative soirée: The Low Class, No Class Anti-reunion for the 20th, 25th. The real deal just didn’t appeal to me. I literally talk to three people from those years (five if you count my wife and twin brother) Several classmates are persona non gratia and other close friends have moved on from this realm. But even with all that, the feelings and emotions of that era sneak back into my psyche. I’m at a loss.

Why is it that these four years can be so idyllic and emotionally crippling at the same time? Some guys can never grow past it, some guys don’t survive it, some …me …have been past it for decades. Life changed quickly and dramatically for me and I became insta-adult. That circumstance and disappearance of my friends probably has a place into why I got past it so quickly; yet the memories can be quite vivid. All leading back to the conundrum …why the powerful emotional bond?

I taught junior high and high school for thirty years and looking back, perhaps the answer is a bit clear. Putting aside the obvious situations of high school sweethearts and special friends …there was/is a dreamlike sense of being stronger than reality. It is the last time we are safe from the struggles of the real world, the last time we are protected from consequence, and the last time we are free to dream without the encumbrance of the reality. We could be anything. Every student athlete was sure they were going pro; every bookworm was going to be a writer; we were all going to be rich and marry beautiful people! It was all ripe for the taking. Disappointment and discouragement were foreign languages. We could dream anything. We had a classmate who was going to design Rock album covers …and he did, for our junior year book. He was gonna do it! I was going to photograph for National Geographic, I had a helluva 35mm SLR rig …it was gonna happen! My brother was going to be a truck driver, several buddies were going to be rock stars. We planned with unrestricted vigor and had very, very little understanding of how tragedy, failure and disappointment were and are regular features of living.

I’m not implying at all that life since then has been less than wonderful; I’ve had a great life thus far and will go forward making dreams come true; but I have wisdom now. I like wisdom, I still like being a smart ass, but do I want to relive those years? No, well, …no, not not at all. But sometimes, that mindset of magic possibilities creeps back in and you think, maybe …why not? I can still dream …can’t I ?

Just for a moment, I was back at school

And felt that old familiar pain

And as I turned to make my way back home

The snow turned into rain*

*Fogleberg, Dan; “Same Old Lang Syne;” The Innocent Age; Full Moon Records; November, 1980

[youngerfrankenstein]

Tag game under the cut!

tagged by @happiighost ! Thank you!

Are you named after anyone? - First name no! Though it actually is the same as one of the names of a family member, other parent was not happy about this when they found out despite it not being the reason. Middle name is after a friend of my mother’s.

When was the last time you cried? - I dunno. In the last year or so it feels like I’ll tear up on a dime. Teared up like a few days ago posting the dinosaur comic :\ Which is weird to me because I basically never cried as a kid. I hate crying. Always makes me feel even more like shit.

Do you have kids? - No, and I don’t want any. I like kids for the most part! But I would hate being a parent.

Do you use sarcasm a lot? - All the damn time. Mostly with family. Actually been trying to break myself of the habit a bit over the last few years because I’ve come to realise it actually might have been affecting said family’s ability to connect :\

What sports do you play/have you played? - I have basically always hated sports. Loved swimming and biking as a kid! Probably would still enjoy it if I got back into it but that’s unlikely. Suppose I also like some winter sports, skating etc. just… team sports have never gone well for me and I find them dull to watch. If I ever start golfing shoot me.

What's the first thing you notice about other people? - Boring answer but their face. I’m also one of those people who does think you can tell a lot by a handshake.

Eye colour? - Brown!

Scary movies or happy endings? - Largely just not a horror person. I like monster movies! And a bunch of classic horror, but I find a lot of the more recent trends just don’t do it for me. And I do not understand the appeal of actually being scared. So while I do have scary movies I like I guess happy endings tend to hold more appeal.

Any special talents? - I don’t… think so?

Where were you born? - Not far south of the arctic circle actually.

What are your hobbies? - Gaming, I guess I can say reading again (yay!). I’d say writing but honestly I don’t do enough of that to count. Trying to at least not completely lose it by getting together with a friend for 15 minutes twice a week to write. Truth be told I was always one of those people who looked at something, thought “cool!”, half-finished a project and never picked it up again. It’s made me less likely to try new hobbies.

Do you have any pets? - Nope! But I hang around with my sister’s cats a lot. Honestly not sure I’d be a great pet owner 😅

How tall are you? - Average height but feel short.

Fave subject in school? - In elementary school it was math. Though I was always dogshit at the mental math part. While in college (at a course I’ve finally admitted I’m never going to finish) it was anatomy! Found it fascinating and our teacher was great!

Dream job? - I honestly wish I knew. There’s nothing I really… want to do? Just want something that pays the bills comfortably I guess. Which does make the future feel a little bleaker. I think I actually would enjoy media journalism funnily enough! But alsoI just, have no discipline which would make me suck at it lol.

Not going to personally tag anyone, but anyone who wants to should go ahead!

[spinningbuster98]

Mega Man X7 Ending

Ladies and gentlemen: it’s July 17th.

Today officially marks Mega Man X7′s 20th anniversary, as the game originally came out in Japan exactly 20 years ago today!

And what better way to celebrate than to finally put an end to this trainwreck of a game!

The first of the final stages, Palace Road, is one of the slowest, most awkward autoscrollers you’ll ever play!

Not only is it slow due to X7′s natural sluggishness, but the camera also does a miserable job at showing you incoming obstacles, enemies and bottomless pits, meaning that you pretty much have to avoid dashing otherwise you  ight just find yourself falling off a cliff and even then you will ram into enemies coming from offscreen more times than you can count. So we’re off to a great start already!

And then we have the final stage: The Crimson Palace

I dunno if you have noticed but this video is almost an hour long

About 90% of that time is spent in the Crimson Palace

It’s not that the level design is particularily awful, Sure it’s bad but nothing too out of the ordinary for this game

It’s just that it keeps going on

And on

And on

And OOOOOOOOOON

This level has the same issue as Gate’s second stage in X6 in that it keeps going even after the first boss battle

The fight against Red is one of the worst, if not THE worst boss fight in Mega Man history

You have to keep track of him as he teleports around this arena made up of platforms over a bottomless pit, as the camera makes no attempt at focusing on him, while you have to deal with X7′s controls and hit detection/boxes, making jumping precisely on those platforms a goddamn chore AND you also have to avoid his fake clones.

This fight is absolutely shit (and it’s shit that drags too, he’s got a lot of health) because you’re not actually fighting Red, you’re effectively fighting the camera and the controls.

The only boss fights that come close are those from Legends 1, and even then I’m generally more forgiving to those because

1) It’s an early PS1 game and issues with the camera and controls in 3D games were standard back then

2) Mega Man Juno may be a piece of shit but he’s not a piece of shit that you have to fight over a fucking bottomless pit!

And then the level keeps going through another series of boring and awkward platforming sections

Then we reach the boss rush

Credit where it’s due: the room is very creepy and atmospheric and the fact that the teleporters look like graves is really apt for this context

But fucking hell man!

I spent 20 minutes on this boss rush alone!

20 MINUTES!

All because X7′s bosses are just so fucking tanky and their weaknesses are mostly worthless against them!

This is the absolute worst boss rush I have ever seen

20 minutes!

I could probably beat Eggmanland in less time! And that’s a whole stinking level!!!

And then we get to Sigma and every time he says “That’s right, folks!” and “Fellas” I’m expecting the Loony Toones logo to pop up around him

His first phase is nothing fancy

His second phase is another travesty due to, again, forcing you to platform in 3D over a bottomless pit with these controls

Luckily even if you get a game over here you just restart the second phase

I used to rage hard here but then I discovered on the Internet that he’s really weak to the charged version of Splash Warfly’s weapon. Whatever, so long as it gets the job done

The final cutscene changes depending on the character that dealt the final blow to Sigma

In X’s ending we can see that he hasn’t learned a goddamn thing and he’s still bitching about Axl using violence to deal with Mavericks, he even sounds arrogant when he says that “You can’t train someone to become a hunter like me”. Wonderful

Axl’s ending is a continuation of X’s in a way:

Zero’s ending on the other end is just a shallow tie-in with the Zero series (which was a thing by this point)

Was he just...napping while standing up...? Do robots need to sleep? I mean in X4′s intro he’s also sleeping and dreaming but he’s in a capsule so I assumed he was also charging up his batteries or maybe undergoing light maintenance or something. Then again in the Zero series we do see that Reploids have normal beds in their rooms so.... meh who gives a shit, certainly not the developers at this point

Happy Birthday Mega Man X7!!!

[svcredveins]

Gonna do this since I’m bored and not many are active. Also gonna avoid using those emojis because I just like my recent emojis in order lol)

1. Two things - the love of Porsche and the love of hearts, hence “Heart for Porsche” because it both shows my passion for Porsche and becoming their factory driver mixed in with being a cardiophile.

2. I’ve had this account for three years but for two and a half it’s been MIA because I was shy about sharing my own heartbeat with the cardiophile community until this April haha. Didn’t realize there was an actual community on here so that’s why I began this year and became more comfortable since I just saw it only on YouTube three years ago haha

3. Not sure! I love my music so many, but probably NF songs though if I had to really be specific

4. Honestly any song, especially cinematic songs. I love my music!

5. Honestly not sure. Probably nostalgic songs from playing Forza Horizon 3 that came out in 2016. Great game…great game

6. The beauty of nature. Seriously. The trees, the smell of the forest, wildlife, I love it!

7. I admit currently this one’s a tough one, but I will say though my love for Porsche and racing. I will give myself kudos for being different

8. Literally wish I was at Fuji right now watching 6 Hours of Fuji in WEC in person because I’m currently watching it on the broadcast. Track looks super friendly for spectators! Also would love to go to my first WEC race

9. Not sure! Water or orange juice…or Bubly

10. Spring, Summer, and fall. Mainly summer

11. “Driven by dreams”, “do what makes you happy”, “if you got a dream you got to follow your dream”

12. Not sure lol

13. Not to take people personally and don’t get entirely attached to people instigating every single detail about them (ah that got too deep lmao, let’s just say back then me was so cringe lmao)

14. Germany. I would love to live there! Nürburgring Nordschleife please (no that’s not a house, that is the best track in the world that’s 25.3 km long and I dream of always driving on that track)

15. Well, I’d say my race (sim racing) at Laguna Seca but I recently got slapped with a +10 second penalty…but I did have a damn good battle on the final minute of the race there again. Also my video and photo edits I’ve heavily improved on

16. Dunno. Nothing really if we’re talking actual routines so basically just anything I get around to like gaming or something, preferably sim racing

17. Uhhh…racing? Porsche? I don’t care, that’s my aesthetic, I’m calling it an aesthetic

18. A “WIP”? Wha- how do I share something like that in this? But technically I do, some photo editing for social media and should be working on my race recap video from Laguna Seca. Also, should be continuing redoing my Loki fanfic that I was on a roll on before I left for vacation

19. Kind, caring, empathetic, loyal, can be timid, as honest as I can be, can be insecure though…

20. Lmao absolutely cringe and was obsessed with a YouTuber, thinking all of these fantasies and only just that, not even what I wanted to do with myself.

21. My aunt and uncle

Handwritten asks

(send me an emoji, I'll write the answer for you!)

🤳 what does your url mean?

💻 what pushed you to make this blog in the first place?

🌧 go to song when you’re feeling depresso?

☀️ go to song when you’re feeling on top of the world?

🧁 favorite memory with a specific song/album?

🍃 favorite part of nature?

💖 something you love about yourself?

🌋 one thing you wish you could be doing right now?

🥤 go-to drink (doesn’t have to be alcoholic!)

🎄 favorite season of the year?

🍀 meaningful life-lesson or quote you vibe to?

🥘 what is the best meal you make? or bake?

💬 something you wish you knew 5 years ago?

🏡 where is your dream house?

🐻 do you have a comfort object? what is it?

🌟 what is something you’ve been proud of recently?

🌅 what does your evening routine look like?

🌺 describe your aesthetic (even if it’s just what you’re wearing now)

📝 do you have a WIP (work in progress)? share a piece of it!

🍄 what is your personality like?

🔥 what kind of kid were you in high school?

🍇 who are you closest to in your family?

(reblog this and let your followers get to know you!)

[prettyboysnuffilm]

well despite my insane obsession with a lot of fucked up stuff, i’m shy so thank you for offering the anons! may i ask what made you get into scream?

no worries ! and sure :) well, i watched the first Scream movie many many years ago when i was getting into watching some of the horror classics, i watched Texas chainsaw massacre, Halloween... etc and ofc i had to watch Scream. Tbh i loved the movie but i was hyperfixated on other stuff back then so i didn't join the fandom per se, i was simply like "Oh, okay cool gay slasher". Last November the fnaf movie came out and i watched it with my closest friends because they've been fans of the games since the first one came out so i was like "Hey, you know that the dude who plays William Afton is also in Scream? He's like this twink serial killer." We watched Scream together like the next week and i got... curious about Billy and Stu again. I was in another fandom when that happened but i was definitely chronically online and burnt out as fuck so Scream was like a breath of fresh air. My best friend was really invested with Stuilly and we went kind of crazy about Billy and Stu from 0 to 100. Then we all binged the whole franchise and a lot of Matthew movies as well lol. I have to say that i only truly enjoy the first 3 Scream movies, the fourth one is ... okay i guess? But Scream 5 and 6 ... yikes, i don't like them at all. Now it's just me who's still hyperfixated on Scream and Stuilly because they are living in my brain from free and not intending on moving at all. So yeah, that's the story lol! I'm also obsessed, like really obsessed with the horror genre and i'm a major horror movie freak. Also, I dunno why it happened but Billy is like. kind of my comfort character rn (which sounds like me being a big fat redflag but istg i'm not) maybe it's just some hints of his personality and the horror movie obsession and holding grudges. He helps me to cope a lot so maybe that's another reason why Scream and Stuilly are impaled into my brain

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #650

Top Ten Songs by Ex-Beatles

Have you heard of this sweet band called The Beatles? Turns out they were really big a few years ago. They had a bunch of hits and then broke up and then were never heard of again.

I kid, I kid. I do wonder sometimes what it must be like to be a Beatle. If you’re like, Paul McCartney; you must walk around with this knowledge that, on balance, you’ve probably had more direct influence on Western popular culture than anyone else currently alive. Who else is there? George Lucas? In terms of sheer number of people touched (not like that). You can absolutely draw a dividing line in music between “before the Beatles” and “after the Beatles”, and whilst I’m sure that does a huge disservice to all the influences the Beatles had, and similar bands that came both before and after, let’s face it – it’s true. They’re, like, the band, just like Wolverine is the X-Man (I don’t think George Lucas is the director, to be fair, but Star Wars is probably the blockbuster; Spielberg is probably the director, if you’re talking about mass appeal, but he’s “just” a guy who’s top of his game and redefined Hollywood moviemaking fifty years ago, but there are other phenomenally successful and talented directors, just as there are other phenomenally successful and talented musicians and writers and artists and, I dunno, pastry chefs. But right now we’re talking about the Beatles).

Because the Beatles were around as a proper group for a surprisingly short amount of time, and because all four of them were Very Good, they’ve had quite a while to build up a collection of solo hits. And that’s what I’m celebrating this week, for no particular reason: the various post-Beatles Beatles songs. I’m gonna come right out the gate and say, I don’t think – generally speaking – any of their solo efforts eclipsed the best of the group’s output; but still, there are some proper bangers here as I’m sure you’re aware. Soulful ballads, love songs, hymns to peace, arguably the best Bond theme, and some frogs. What more do you want out of a legacy?

Now, I’m calling these “solo” songs, when some of these are technically from post-Beatles bands – specifically I’ve got a couple of Wings songs on the list (“the band the Beatles could have been”, A. Partridge). But let’s be honest, Wings is basically Paul and his mates. As, I suppose, the Beatles was, to be fair; but for the sake of this list, as much as it may unfairly underestimate the contributions of his bandmates, I’m just calling Wings songs “Paul McCartney” songs for the time being.

I said there’s no real reason why this list is happening this week – it’s one of those that I’ve been meaning to get around to for a while – but funnily enough I did see something recently that I’ve never seen before. You may or may not be aware, but about a decade or so ago, Robert Zemeckis was going to remake Yellow Submarine. This was when he was deep in his mocap phase; you remember, when the Oscar-winning writer and director of Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit decided to sack off live action and just make those freakishly uncanny mannequin movies like The Polar Express. Anyway, he’d assembled a cast and got to work, and then the film was cancelled – probably because these performance capture movies are very expensive to make, generally turned poorly, and more often than not bombed at the box office. As much as I’m not really a fan of the photo-real approach Zemeckis usually went for (like I said, it gives the characters an odd, uncanny look; the same is true, I’d argue, of the human characters in the Shrek movies, which have dated a lot more than, say, the cartoonish Incredibles), I’ve always thought this was a bit of a shame. Zemeckis is a huge Beatles fan, the guys playing the band were really good, and the wackiness of Yellow Submarine meant he might have been able to do some funky shit. And lo and behold, some test footage has emerged. Yes, it’s still a bit weird and uncanny, but it’s also exaggerated and strange; it would have been nice to see if it had held up across an entire film. C’est la vie.

Anyway! Where were we? Oh yeah. A list. Here you go: have at it.

My Sweet Lord (George Harrison, 1970): Harrison wrote a number of songs that are really spiritualistic peans to peace, and this is the greatest. An evocation to the almighty, a striving quest for spiritual understanding, but also something that feels greater, feels allegorical, feels like it’s about more than just God. The Hindi chorus and other eastern influences add flavour and complexity to the sixties-style folk rock, and Harrison’s voice is beautiful. There’s a sadness to it, too, like it’s someone reaching for something they know they can never possess.

Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney, 1973): surely a shoe-in for best Bond song, this is a multifaceted number that I adore for its eccentricities. From the vaguely seventies-folk-rock stylings of the opening, to the almost disco-flavoured instrumental section, to the weird jaunty bits (“When you’ve got a job to do,” sounds like it could be the title song from “Oh James!”, a cheesy sixties sitcom about James Bond), it really runs the gamut. It’s strange, it’s funny, it’s cool, it’s badass. Perfect Bond.

Jealous Guy (John Lennon, 1971): there are, funnily enough, a couple of songs here that seem to express a similar sentiment: a bloke who’s in love with someone and sort of feels he doesn’t deserve them. This is an interesting and complex song, a man apologising for his misdeeds, but presented as an absolute love song. Lennon – arguably the best voice of the band? What do we think? – is on top form here, with a pained, haunted, but ultimately beautiful vocal.

What is Life (George Harrison, 1971): an incredibly upbeat, propulsive love song, and – vaguely similar to Jealous Guy and Maybe I’m Amazed – another one that sees a bloke basically saying he’s nothing without his love. What is life without you by my side? Whether this question is passionate or even metaphysical, the song itself is so beautifully cheery, so optimistic, so jaunty, it makes you feel only good things.

Maybe I’m Amazed (Paul McCartney, 1970): here’s McCartney circling similar topics to his mates; a tender song of a man just flabbergasted that he’s got this woman in his life, attributing all these good things to this one other person. There's a fantastic juxtaposition, too, between the beautiful piano ballad and the throaty, stadium rock register in which McCartney sings; like the love is bursting out in explosive fashion, even in a tender love song.

Band on the Run (Paul McCartney, 1973): this is just so delightfully weird; a bonkers hymn to, well, I don’t really know what. The number of different styles and genres it explores, the multiple types of musicality, the different vocals and instrumentations, all telling a story that frankly defies explanation. There’s a touch of the Seargent Pepper to it, but with the oddness dialled all the way up to nearly Walrus proportions.

Gimme Some Truth (John Lennon, 1971): Lennon is perhaps most famous, post-Beatles, for his songs about peace and love. This, though, is an angry tirade at “short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics”; a howl of fury at The Man and all he has wrought. It’s also got some fantastic wordplay and stunning lyrical work – “son of Tricky Dicky”, the use of “Mother Hubbard” as a euphemism. Plus Harrison making magic on guitar.

Give Me Love (George Harrison, 1973): another one of Harrison’s songs of love, peace, and tranquillity that can either be seen as resolutely spiritual – asking god for love – or just, well, a song about someone he fancies, wanting love with this one person. It's beautiful and optimistic, a quest for eternal happiness, with some great lyrics. He just made you feel happy, by George.

We All Stand Together (Paul McCartney, 1984): I’m being deadly serious. Macca comes in for some stick for some of his, er, weirder songs – Mull of Kintyre also nearly made the list – but outside of me flat-out loving this song as a kid, it’s a very well-constructed harmony and is a masterpiece for its target audience. The dude’s got range is what I’m saying.

It Don’t Come Easy (Ringo Starr, 1971): now I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I’ve just stuck this sole Ringo song here at the end of the list because I felt bad that the star of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends didn’t write anything as good as his former bandmates. To which I say: what’s that over there?! Seriously, though, whilst I don’t think anyone would try to claim that Mr. Starkey is quite the solo artist his fab friends are, this song is still a nice chunky bop that sounds like something from the Beatles’ heyday and also has an appealing bit of edge to it.

So this list, right; this was incredibly hard. In fact, it’s basically arbitrary; there were at least another five or six songs (Beautiful Boy, Silly Love Songs, All Things Must Pass) that could have been on this list – just as good, really, as the songs I’ve chosen. And the placements of most of the songs could easily be swapped almost entirely. It turns out that the Beatles are very good at music. Who knew? Cilla, probably.

Something else I’m just going to say quickly, is whilst the achievements of the Beatles are phenomenal in and of themselves, I can never get over how George Harrison more or less did the same thing all over again by effectively saving the British film industry in the 1980s. Honestly, the guy wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and got everything from Life of Brian to Withnail and I to Mona Lisa made. Genius.

[fyodoro]

𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 - 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐢

-> You can’t help but wonder if you’d be holding him back in his soccer career this whole time

Angst to comfort, anxiety, overthinking, crying, breakdowns(?), this was meant to be pure fluff with multiple characters but then my draft crashed and got deleted so i got petty, short, not proofread, post U-20 match

In all your years of knowing Nagi, you’ve never seen him so serious when it came to anything.

Living a lazy life where he doesn’t have to do anything? Sure, he was pretty serious about that. But that seriousness didn’t have any passion behind it. At least, not the passion you’ve been watching him put into soccer lately.

The man you were seeing on TV the day of the U-20 match felt surreal to you. Right before he left for Blue Lock, all he did was complain about how much work he had to do. No one could deny his talent was raw and natural, not even Nagi. But he could deny how much he enjoyed using that talent.

But who you saw on screen depicted a Nagi who’s passion was filled to the brim. A Nagi you’ve never seen before.

And you just couldn’t help but wonder if that seriousness has always been there.

Which is why you lie next to him now, trying to focus on anything but your racing thoughts.

He’s tapping away at his phone playing the usual first person shooter he’s always played with his leg swung over yours, keeping you aware of his presence.

You keep holding back words, words that’d reveal you’ve cracked. Nagi wouldn’t listen, would he? Maybe he’d pretend to be listening, or maybe he wouldn’t care enough to offer any words of reassurance like you wanted, needed right now.

Is this what others meant when they said they’ve never felt more alone next to their lover?

No, you didn’t feel alone. You weren’t alone. Were you? This was all in your head.

This was all in your head, and it should stay in your head.

“(Name)?”

“Huh?” You turned your head to the voice’s owner, eyes feeling awfully dry compared to a few moments ago.

“You’ve kinda just been… staring at that wall over there for a while now. Is there some kind of ghost there?” Nagi asked lazily, averting his eyes from his phone, to you, and then the wall you’ve supposedly been staring at.

“Staring, ghost?” You asked quietly. “There’s no ghost. I was just sleeping… with my eyes open?”

“You only do that during class, not with your boyfriend.” He ‘corrected.’

There’s the word… boyfriend. Nagi is your boyfriend, isn’t he? He has been for months now. But do those months with you matter to him as much as his months training in Blue Lock?

You look at him again, and his eyes are focussed on his phone once again. Anyone else in this position would probably be annoyed, but why aren’t you? Why was the thought of him paying extra attention to his calling more nerve wrecking than the thought of him ignoring you for video games?

“You’re staring again,” he peered back up at you. “At me this time.”

“Sorry…” you mumbled.

Nagi isn’t an idiot, most would go as far as to call in a genius. But sometimes…

“What’s wrong?” He said, finally closing his game and turning his phone off, giving you his full attention.

Sometimes, you wish he was somewhat of an idiot.

“Don’t you ever feel like… restrained?” You finally let go of some of the words you’ve been holding back

“Restrained…? That doesn’t make any sense… why would I-“

“I feel like I’m holding you back, no.” You’re voice cracks. “I know I’m holding you back.”

Nagi’s eyes widen a bit in confusion, not sure where this was going. He couldn’t think of a single time he felt like you were holding him back, so where was this coming from?

“If what you’re trying to say is that you’re burdening me, then you’re wrong.” He stated. “I dunno where this is coming from… but you aren’t holding me back.”

“But you were so serious during the U-20 match! And you looked so focussed and like you were enjoying yourself and…” words flew off your tongue faster than you could catch them, and before you knew it, Nagi’s hand made its way to yours.

“(Name).” You’re vision was blurry, and all you could make out was Nagi’s lazy eyes fixated on yours. “(Name), need you to look at me.”

“I’m looking- I’m trying to look- Nagi…” tears spilt out the corner of your eyes, and broken sobs made their way past your lips.

Your racing thoughts, his voice, your anxiety, his touch… it was too much to keep up with. The overwhelming feeling in your mind and chest felt like it was about to burst.

And even then, you still felt like you were burdening him. Even as he held your hand and gently rubbed circles along your back, trying to give you all the reassurance he could, it still felt like you were holding him back.

“You aren’t a burden… and you aren’t holding me back. You aren’t one of those bitchy lovers that don’t want their partner to leave the house without them. You’re (Name), my (Name). I love you for a reason.” He said quietly into your ear, patting your back as you sobbed into his shoulder.

For a moment after he said that, you still felt like a burden. But the more he soothed you and whispered sweet nothings into your ear, the slower your racing thoughts became.

“You swear I’m not holding you back?” You asked quietly.

“I swear.” Nagi replied softly.

His voice sounded sincere, maybe even serious. And everyone knows that once Nagi gets serious he’s not playing games.

While your mind told you there’s a difference between sincerity and being serious, your heart yearned too much to care about any differences between the meanings.

As long as Nagi caressed you in his arms, sincerity and seriousness were all the same to you.