#so i just reset it the next time i visited it on switch so I could start in the ruins

[illdothehotvoice]

ANYWAYS can't wait for my nintendo to say Undertale is my most played switch game even though that's a whole ass lie again

[pankowcrumbs]

Little Sister X Drew Starkey (requested)

The air was electric with the buzz of activity on set. I wasn’t used to it—the endless movement, the energy—but I couldn’t help but feel a little exhilarated. My brother, Rudy, had begged me to come visit while he was filming his new show, and after weeks of saying no, I finally gave in.

Standing just out of the camera’s view, I watched the cast and crew work together seamlessly. It was fascinating to see everyone in their element, the actors snapping in and out of character like flipping a switch. That’s when I first noticed him—Drew Starkey.

He was standing a few feet away, chatting with someone near the lighting rig. His laugh was easy, genuine, and it carried just enough to catch my attention. I didn’t want to seem like I was staring, so I quickly looked away, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

To my surprise, it wasn’t long before he wandered over, probably assuming I was part of the crew. “Hey,” he greeted, a warm smile on his face. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Drew.”

“Hi,” I said, slightly caught off guard. “I’m Y/N.”

His smile didn’t falter, and I couldn’t help but notice how genuine it seemed. He was taller than I’d expected, his presence easygoing but commanding at the same time.

“First day on set?” he asked, gesturing to the chaos around us.

“Something like that,” I replied with a small laugh. “I’m just here visiting.”

“Oh, nice. You’ve picked an interesting day. This scene’s been giving us trouble all morning.” He ran a hand through his hair, motioning toward the actors and crew scrambling to reset the shot.

“Looks intense,” I said, glancing back at the scene. “You guys make it look effortless, though.”

He chuckled. “That’s generous of you. Trust me, it’s far from effortless. But I guess that’s the magic of television.”

Before I could say anything else, someone called his name. He gave me a quick smile. “Duty calls. Nice meeting you, Y/N.”

“You too,” I replied, watching him walk back onto the set.

It was a brief conversation, but it left me curious. There was something about him—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Over the next few days, I couldn’t seem to avoid him—not that I minded. Drew had a way of appearing out of nowhere, always with a quick comment or a friendly smile.

One afternoon, I was sitting near the catering table, debating whether I wanted another cup of coffee. Drew appeared seemingly out of thin air, a coffee cup in hand.

“Careful with that stuff,” he said, nodding toward the coffee pot. “It’s stronger than it looks.”

I laughed. “Noted. But I think I need it if I’m going to survive another day of watching Rudy in his natural habitat.”

“Rudy?” Drew tilted his head, intrigued.

I froze for a moment, realizing I might have said too much. “Uh, yeah. Rudy. He’s kind of the reason I’m here.”

Drew didn’t press further, and I was grateful. “Well, if you’re sticking around, you’ll get used to the chaos. And the bad coffee.”

“Good to know,” I said with a grin.

The following day, I was wandering near the trailers when I almost collided with him.

“Whoa,” Drew said, steadying me with a hand on my arm. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sorry,” I said, feeling my cheeks flush. “Wasn’t paying attention.”

“No harm done,” he said, letting his hand fall away. “But you might want to watch where you’re going. Some of these guys don’t stop for anything.”

I laughed, feeling more at ease. “Noted.”

“Good.” He glanced down at his phone. “Anyway, I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you around, Y/N.”

“See you,” I replied, watching him walk away.

By the time the cast and crew dinner rolled around, I felt like I’d fallen into a rhythm with the set. I hadn’t seen Drew that day, but I figured he’d be at the dinner.

Rudy and I arrived together, and the restaurant was already buzzing with conversation. People waved us over to a large table, and as we approached, I spotted Drew sitting toward the middle.

“Y/N, over here!” someone called, and I turned to see Madison waving me over.

“Go ahead,” Rudy said. “I’ll catch up with you in a sec.”

I made my way toward Madison, but before I could sit down, Drew’s eyes landed on me. He looked pleasantly surprised.

“Y/N,” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Before I could respond, Rudy appeared behind me. “Hey, Starkey,” he said, clapping a hand on Drew’s shoulder.

Drew turned, grinning. “Pankow. What’s up, man?”

“Not much,” Rudy replied. Then, motioning to me, he added, “By the way, have you met my sister?”

For a moment, Drew looked completely stunned. “Wait—what?” He looked between us, clearly trying to piece it together.

Rudy laughed. “Yeah, Y/N’s my sister. She’s been hanging around set this week.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Drew said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“Didn’t think I needed to,” Rudy replied, shrugging.

I couldn’t help but laugh at Drew’s reaction. “Surprise,” I said, giving him a playful smile.

Drew shook his head, a smile creeping back onto his face. “You’ve been holding out on me, Pankow.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Rudy said. “Just don’t get any ideas.”

Drew raised his hands in mock surrender. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

As the night went on, the conversation flowed easily, and I found myself sitting near Drew at the table. Despite Rudy’s teasing warnings, Drew was just as friendly as ever, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the easy banter we shared.

Maybe it was the laughter, the shared glances, or the fact that I finally felt like I belonged here.

The dinner was lively, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. People moved about, swapping seats and chatting with everyone at the long table. I ended up across from Drew, much to Rudy's chagrin, though he seemed to let it go when Carlacia pulled him into a spirited debate about pineapple on pizza.

“So,” Drew began, leaning slightly toward me. “You’ve been here all week, huh? How’d I miss the sibling connection?”

I shrugged, smiling. “I guess I wanted to keep a low profile. Rudy didn’t exactly announce it to the world.”

He smirked. “Low profile? You’ve managed to show up everywhere I’ve been. Feels like fate.”

“Oh, is that what we’re calling it?” I teased, resting my chin on my hand. “I think it’s more likely that you just have a radar for coffee and near collisions.”

Drew laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Guilty as charged. But seriously, it’s cool that you came to support Rudy. He talks about you a lot, you know.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh, does he? What kind of things is he saying?”

“Nothing too embarrassing,” Drew assured me. “Just that you’re the smart one in the family, the voice of reason. Though, judging by the look on your face, I’m guessing you don’t fully agree.”

I laughed softly. “Let’s just say Rudy and I have very different definitions of reason.”

Drew chuckled, nodding. “Fair enough. Siblings are like that, huh?”

We kept talking, the conversation flowing effortlessly. He told me stories about growing up in North Carolina, about the odd jobs he’d worked before acting, and about how surreal it was to be part of a show like Outer Banks.

“It’s wild,” he said, gesturing around the table. “Being here with everyone, knowing that what we’re making might actually mean something to people. It’s a lot to take in.”

“You seem like you’re handling it well,” I said, meaning it.

He smiled, a little softer this time. “Thanks. It helps having a good group of people around. And apparently, surprise siblings showing up to keep things interesting.”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Glad I could add some spice to your week.”

Later in the evening, as the group settled into a more relaxed vibe, Drew slid into the seat next to me.

“Mind if I sit here?” he asked, though he was already halfway down.

“Not at all,” I said, scooting over slightly to make room.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the hum of conversation around us. Drew leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting across the room before landing on me.

“So, what’s your deal, Y/N?” he asked, his tone light but curious.

“My deal?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. What do you do when you’re not hanging out on chaotic TV sets?”

“Well,” I began, pretending to think. “I’m a professional sibling, a coffee enthusiast, and an amateur avoider of small talk.”

Drew laughed, shaking his head. “You’re good at this, you know.”

“At what?”

“Deflecting,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

I tilted my head, considering him for a moment. “Fine. I’m studying art history, and I work part-time at a museum. It’s not as glamorous as what you guys do, but it’s my thing.”

“That’s awesome,” he said, and he sounded like he meant it. “I bet Rudy’s proud of you.”

I smiled, the warmth in his voice catching me off guard. “Thanks. And what about you? Is this show your thing?”

“For now,” he said with a shrug. “But who knows? I’m just trying to enjoy it while it lasts.”

Before I could reply, Rudy appeared behind Drew, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “What’s going on here?” he asked, narrowing his eyes playfully.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Drew said smoothly, a teasing edge in his voice.

Rudy groaned. “Seriously, Y/N, don’t let this guy charm you. He’s trouble.”

“Relax, Rudy,” I said, grinning. “I think I can handle myself.”

Rudy shook his head, muttering something about protective instincts, but he eventually wandered off, leaving Drew and me to share a quiet laugh.

As the night wound down, Drew walked me out to the parking lot. The cool night air was a refreshing change from the warm, crowded restaurant.

“Thanks for letting me crash your dinner,” I said, hugging my arms against the breeze.

“Crash? You were the highlight,” Drew said, his voice teasing but sincere.

I smiled, unsure of what to say. The week had been a whirlwind, and meeting Drew had been an unexpected, but welcome, surprise.

“So, are you sticking around?” he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“For a bit,” I said. “Rudy wants me to stay through the weekend.”

“Good,” he said, his smile widening. “It’d be a shame if you left before I got the chance to bump into you a few more times.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

“Yeah,” he said, grinning. “But it seems to be working.”

With that, we said our goodbyes, and I couldn’t help but feel like the week had taken a turn for the better.

[charlottesbookclub]

time after time – chapter seven (part one) (armitage hux x reader)

time after time masterlist

Summary: Hux's expectations are altered, but he takes the opportunity to spend more time with you

Warnings/Tags: gn!reader; set pre-TFA; descriptions of eating; as always, let me know if I've missed anything!

Words: 5364

Author’s Note: as I mentioned in my notes on chapter six, that was the chapter that convinced me I needed to take the story in a little bit of a new direction. chapter seven is where I start doing that! this was a really fun one to write, and I hope it will be equally as fun to read! 🥰

Hux awoke slowly this time, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The sight that met him was not the dark, clinical ceiling of medical, but rather the cheery surroundings of your quarters. He must have woken up before the cycle switched. He scrambled for his datapad. A thick, cold feeling slid down his throat and settled in his stomach. The digital display dispassionately informed him that it was already the next cycle. He should have felt relieved – he had finally broken through whatever strange curse had held him trapped for the past week. But those feelings were overshadowed by the idea that he didn’t get to try this again. All the thoughts of practicing and perfecting himself slid through his hands. You would remember, you would know. Every awkward question and ungainly phrase, every foolish thing he had done and said. His hands were shaking as he turned off the datapad and returned to the couch feeling dazed.

He needed some kind of warning, some sort of preparation. What he needed was a new plan. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all – you had asked him to stay, hadn’t you? You wouldn’t have done that if he had made himself completely abhorrent to you. He scrubbed his hands across his face as though in an effort to jumpstart his thoughts. They came to him in rush. Kriff – he had responsibilities again! He couldn’t just write off his work knowing it would all be reset. In a flurry he reached for his datapad once more. He couldn’t even remember what he was supposed to be doing today. He pulled up his packed schedule and breathed a small sigh of relief upon seeing one large block of color filling up most of the cycle. It was labeled ‘Project Starkiller Planetary Inspection.’ He relaxed against the couch, closing his eyes and counting out a few breaths to calm his racing pulse. 

The project on Ilum was just in its beginning stages – Hux simply needed to visit the planet and see what progress was being made on updating the old Imperial infrastructure. Compared to many of his other responsibilities, it was relatively easy. It was quiet. His eyes snapped open. The thought echoed again: it was quiet – almost private. He could take you. Excitement bubbled up in his chest. He felt like a silly child, but even that thought couldn’t dampen his sudden good spirits. Maneuvering easily through a series of highly confidential access portals, he cleared your schedule and granted you the required permissions to visit the base. Only a select few knew of the actual plans for the planet, but he reasoned you didn’t need to know that restricted information to simply tour the base with him. Plenty of personnel staffed the limited facilities there without knowing the true purpose of the planet.

Nearly bursting with newfound energy, Hux found he could no longer sit still, even though it was still quite early in the cycle. As quietly as he could, he collected his fresh uniform, thanking the stars that he had thought to request one, and slipped into the refresher. Not even chancing a glance in the mirror while still in his sleep clothes, he pulled on his uniform, adjusting it to perfection. Then there was the considerable problem of his hair. He felt wrong using any of your products, but he had to do something with the orange mess that had grown even more unruly with sleep. He cast about the small room, looking for anything he might use. A tidy stack of little black boxes in the corner caught his eye: your unused First Order-issued products. Knowing instinctively which one contained the necessary gel, he carefully took just as much as he needed before meticulously replacing everything as he had found it. After a couple passes of his gelled hands through his hair, he finally looked in the mirror. Given the stark contrast from the night before, he was reasonably pleased with how he had turned himself out. He hoped you would be too.

Sitting back on your couch, your blankets now neatly folded beside him, Hux waited for you to awaken. He responded to messages, filed reports, and signed documents, trying to get ahead on as much as possible. He had never thought to try and give himself free time before, but if it meant he could spend it with you, then he was willing to at least make an attempt.

Faintly, he heard the chime of an alarm followed by shuffling footsteps. He tried to keep himself focused on his work and not think about how you might look right now, completely unguarded and disheveled from sleep. If he woke up next to you, he would know. That sudden thought, a blaster shot from the darkness, sent him reeling. He tried to swallow the idea, but it lingered as he listened to you move quietly about your quarters, just out of his view. 

Eventually, you emerged into the main space, dressed in your uniform, appearance meeting and exceeding regulation. The only thing out of place on the perfect model of a First Order officer was the warm smile that you offered him. But he wouldn’t have changed that for all the core worlds. It didn’t seem fair that just looking at you would rob him of his breath, yet he found himself returning your smile despite his difficulties with moving air through his lungs.

“Good morning, General,” you snapped him a little salute, but the lilt in your voice and the teasing smile that you seemed unable – or unwilling – to chase from your lips made the whole greeting seem much less martial and much more congenial. Was Hux smiling again? The corners of his mouth felt a little odd, like they weren’t used to making that shape as often as you seemed to be able to bring it out of him.

“Good morning, Captain,” he returned your salute happily. You beamed. 

“I’m afraid all I have to offer you this morning are nutrition bars,” you revealed your other hand, which held two of the wrapped bars, and handed one to him.

“Not to worry – these are my usual fare after all,” Hux received the bar and began to unwrap it. You moved as though to sit. Expecting you to take up the same place on the floor that you had occupied last night, Hux nearly dropped his bar as you rounded the table and perched on the corner of it. The toes of your polished boots were almost touching his. He swallowed his bite of the bar thickly and attempted to divert his attention from the fractional space that separated you from him. You planted your elbows on your knees casually as you unwrapped your own bar. This was such a different version of you than what he had seen in his first glimpses in the dining hall with your back straight and shoulders upright. It was so different from everything he had ever known, but he found he preferred this version by far. You made things feel easy, light.

“I see there’s been a change to my schedule,” you mused as you ate, watching his reaction from the corner of your eye.

“Yes, I’m realizing now that I should have asked you first…” In his haste to spend more time with you, Hux had failed to plan for a scenario where you didn’t want to go with him. Or perhaps he didn’t even want to consider that such a scenario was possible. You waved away his concerns and he breathed a private sigh of relief.

“Not at all – anything that gets me off bridge duty is more than welcome.” Your tone was joking, but he could tell there was a heft of sincerity behind your words. He recalled your interactions with Ernstead, momentarily allowing the memory to make him clench his fist. He’d need to address that. But not now.

“I thought I could use your expertise from the field,” he measured his words as he monitored your reaction, one of your brows raising in interest, “seeing as I’ll be going planetside to make an inspection of a new base.” Your whole face lit up. Hux felt his chest fill with warmth.

“I’m far from an expert,” you responded, excitement inflecting each of your words, “but I’ll do the best I can.” You pushed yourself up from the table, a motion that Hux echoed.

“I fear I won’t be able to tell you much – the project is classified,” he apologized as he collected his greatcoat and swung it onto his shoulders.

“Not a problem,” you confirmed happily as the two of you made your way to the door. During the short walk, Hux watched as you subtly adjusted your posture – straightening your back, squaring your shoulders, stiffening your limbs, dimming your smile. By the time you were walking side by side in the hallways, you were perfectly at attention. The posture was so natural to him, but watching the process on you, lamenting what it had taken from you, he began to wonder: had he ever not been at attention?

You both slipped into a vacant turbolift. Hux selected the level for the proper flight bay and switched on private mode; it was a considerable trip to the ship you would be using, and he would rather not have anyone interrupt. Your lips quirked up in a little smile as he did so.

“You know, General, I have it on good authority that many officers aboard this ship abuse the privilege of private lifts,” you informed him, a glimmer of a laugh in your voice.

“Unfortunately I am aware of this,” he responded ruefully, wondering what had caused the amusement in your voice, “I have heard a number of reports of officers using private mode simply to go on caf runs during their off shifts.”

“Oh!” You let out the exclamation as though you were expecting him to say something else entirely. “That’s quite tame compared to the stories I’ve heard.” You both stood professionally facing the doors of the lift, but Hux was watching you intently from his periphery. The small smile did not leave your lips. What had you heard?

“And these stories involved…” he prompted as he watched your mouth work slightly as though you were debating how best to phrase your response.

“Usually a pair of officers engaged in… shall we say… highly unprofessional interpersonal contact.”

Hux’s entire body stiffened as he froze in place at your words. Heat seeped up the back of his neck.

“Primarily kissing, I’m told,” you continued, the bemused lilt in your voice never fading, “I doubt the average length of a lift ride leaves time for anything… further.”

Despite the fact that he was still standing as still as if he were carved from stone, he was utterly flustered. He swallowed and tried to remind himself to breathe. He had fixed his eyes completely on the polished black doors in front of him, but he still thought he saw you chance a glance at him. Kriff, he hoped you didn’t notice the incriminating blush that was blossoming onto his face. Certain images were taking shape in his mind. He thought of your cheek under his hand, the warmth of your body as he pulled you close to him, the press of your lips— He cleared his throat and tried to banish these thoughts, but was less successful than he had hoped.

“Right, well…” he cleared his throat a second time when his words came out thickly and slightly strangled on the first go. “I shall have someone look into these reports.” Kriff, he needed to change the subject before he abused the privilege of a private lift in just the manner that you had described. 

“Captain, I assume you are able to pilot a vessel?” He tried to keep his words as professional as possible while still fighting with the images his mind had conjured for him. If you were surprised at the abrupt change of subject, you didn’t show it.

“Absolutely, General. I graduated the academy with top marks in all my flight classes.” Hux could still hear the smile in your voice. 

“Excellent, since I have opted to forgo an assigned pilot for this trip. I thought it would allow us more…” his words faded as he noticed that you had turned slightly to face him. Your expression was frustratingly unreadable, though he thought you might be puzzling through something internally.

“Is that… alright?” He asked, suddenly nervous that he had presumed too much. “If you are uncomfortable with that arrangement, I’m happy to make the necessary adjustments—”

“No, no – that’s completely fine,” your smile had returned as you reassured him, “in fact, I’m looking forward to it.”

Hux was about to respond when the lift pinged to indicate that the selected floor had been reached. As though on cue, your smile flattened into a neutral mask, and the doors slid open to reveal a flight bay bustling with well-ordered activity. Hux strode out of the lift with you just a pace behind him. After conferring with the flight coordinators, you both made your way to your assigned ship. Hux was hyperconscious of your presence beside him, watching the faces of the passing personnel for any indication that they could sense his desire to be near you, but most of them barely looked up. Of course it was completely natural that a captain might accompany him on an off-ship mission, but what they didn’t know was that it wasn’t just any captain, it was you. 

“I’ll make sure everything in the cockpit is in order, General,” you stated as a flight coordinator accosted him to confirm the last-minute details of the trip. Hux had difficulty paying attention to the coordinator as he watched you confidently board the ship and disappear from his view. What he gleaned from the conversation was that a small squad of stormtroopers would accompany the two of you on the trip – Hux knew it would be too much of a risk to go completely alone – but they would travel in the transport section of the ship, near the back. You and Hux would be alone in the cockpit. He reaffirmed the planned departure and arrival times, ensuring that the ship would be expected on both ends. When everything had been satisfactorily arranged, he dismissed the coordinator with a salute and tried not to hurry too obviously to join you in the ship.

He found you sitting in the chief pilot’s chair of the two-seated cockpit, adjusting some of the settings and checking the pre-flight read-outs that were being displayed on the screens. Not wanting to disrupt your work, Hux tried to slip into the neighboring seat quietly, but you still threw him a small smile as he entered. Travel through the Unknown Regions was hardly safe or predictable, and as he watched you make the necessary adjustments, your concentration totally focused on the task in front of you, Hux was captivated. Your movements were sure and precise, despite the relaxed casualness he knew you were capable of. You were fast and responsive, reacting to the read-outs, the ship’s internal systems, and the chatter on the coms channels all at once. Buckling himself into the seat, he didn’t dare to interrupt, but he couldn’t help but notice the way the red and blue lights played over your features, setting your profile off against the banks of buttons and blinking lights. Finally, you flipped one last switch and addressed him.

“Thank you for your patience, General. I think we’re ready for takeoff if you are.” Your words were professional, but you didn’t bother to hide the excitement on your face when it was just the two of you in the small cockpit.

“Of course, Captain. You have my approval to launch the flight.” You answered his words with one flash of a smile before switching on your headset and requesting permission for takeoff. You exchanged words with the controllers, making some more adjustments on the ship’s flight array. Your attention was once again completely absorbed with piloting the craft as you gained permission to leave the hanger and maneuvered expertly out of the busy flight bay. Hux didn’t mind at all; he was fascinated with watching you work. There was an impressive professionalism about you, but not the self-conscious kind that he noticed when you were walking the halls or on the bridge. Here, you seemed to be in your element, engaged and confident. You made a few more communications to the Finalizer’s controllers as the ship zoomed from the hangar and into the vast field of space beyond. Eventually, you were able to set the auto-pilot feature and replace your headset on its stand, easily within arm’s reach in case of an emergency. Shifting to a more comfortable position in your seat, you looked over at him.

“What?” you half-laughed, almost embarrassed. Kriff, you had caught him staring. Hux quickly fixed his gaze out into the net of stars outside the ship.

“Nothing – it’s just…”

“What?” You repeated your question again, almost nervously, like you weren’t sure if you had done something wrong. Hux spoke as quickly as he could to disabuse you of that notion; you had done everything perfectly.

“You seem more… comfortable here. Than you do on the Finalizer, that is.” You shrugged lightly. Hux wanted to know more. “Did you do a lot of flying when you were in the field?”

“Some,” you responded, looking over at him. He took this as permission to return his gaze to you as well. “Why are you asking?” You seemed guarded suddenly, and the thought that he had said something wrong made Hux’s stomach churn. You seemed to value honesty – you had proven that to him last cycle. Maybe it would be better to just ask? Something about being there alone with you was making him feel brave. He sighed, changing his tone slightly, lowering his voice.

“I know – well, I’ve heard – that you’ve been struggling with transitioning to the Finalizer from field work.” You reaction was instant. You returned your gaze out of the large viewport, your posture stiffened, and your grip tightened on the controls, even though you weren’t actively flying the ship. You swallowed, possibly trying to keep down tears.

“It’s that obvious?” Your voice carried none of its usual brightness. Hux’s chest seized.

“No – it’s not – not to me. I just—” 

“But it is to others.” Somehow it felt like the statement was meant to be a question, but instead you uttered it as a dismal fact. Your eyes were still fixed far beyond the ship. How had he made such a mess of this? He couldn’t even help you when he truly wanted to. He longed to place a comforting hand on your arm, but his many calculations came back confused, and he couldn’t determine how you would receive the gesture. His arms remained stiffly situated on the armrests. 

“I promise you, I don’t mean this as any kind of judgement of you or your performance. I want…” Hux wanted a lot of things, a lot more things than he felt he should want when it came to you. He voiced just one of those desires: “I want to help you.” You let out a deep sigh and slumped back slightly in your chair. After a beat of silence, you turned to him, a half-smile on your face.

“Thank you, Armitage.” Your use of his first name in this professional space caught him off-guard, momentarily stealing his breath. Despite the shock, he found he liked it. It seemed… intimate. There was that word again. A welcoming warmth buzzed in his chest.

“Actually, it’s sort of funny that you should offer,” you continued, “since you’re actually the first person who has helped me.” You took one look at his suddenly blank face, and he knew that you knew that he had no idea what you meant. You let out a small laugh, as though it was obvious how he had helped you. It wasn’t obvious to him. It wasn’t obvious at all. You had caught him when he nearly passed out, opened your quarters to him, cooked him food, let him stay with you, and never thought less of him despite his many failures. Clearly, you had been doing all the helping.

“You were nice to me – you are nice to me,” you said at last when it must have become clear that Hux truly didn’t know what you were talking about. “Nobody else has really done that. Well, except Lieutenant Mitaka I guess, but I already knew him, so that’s different. But like I said last cycle, you didn’t judge me for all my weird shit— sorry, stuff,” you quickly corrected yourself with a little laugh, and Hux couldn’t help but find himself smiling along at the small slip, “and you listened to me.” You fixed him in the weight of your gaze then, serious once more. Hux found himself entirely entranced by your eyes, probably lingering a moment too long before speaking.

“I’d like to do some more listening – if you’d let me.” Your lips lifted up at the corners at his words; not a full smile yet, but he was getting there.

“Sure – what would you like to know?” You made a sweeping gesture with your hand to indicate the expansive nature of the questions you were allowing him to ask. Hux wanted to know everything, but he desperately did not want to abuse the privilege. He started simple.

“You worked recruitment in the field, right?”

“Did you look me up, General?” A small, teasing smile fluttered its way onto your face.

“Lieutenant Mitaka told me,” he responded, knowing full well that he had looked you up. But Mitaka truly was the first to tell him about your previous assignment, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

“Right – that makes sense.” You hummed thoughtfully a cast your eyes back outside the cockpit, this time though, it felt less like you were avoiding him and more like you were thinking. Hux didn’t press as he watched the faint starlight flicker over your features. He half wished the ship never had to land. After a long moment, you turned to him again, your answer ready.

“Technically, yes, I fell under field recruitment for the navy, but I feel that what I did was more like ‘building community trust’ – not that that would ever pass as a First Order department name,” you snorted and Hux found himself unable to keep from chuckling a little himself. You seemed to notice this, pausing momentarily before continuing, your expression brightening a little at his evident amusement. “I didn’t directly conscript any personnel – I worked primarily with local leaders who held sway in the areas where I was stationed. I found that I made a lot more headway by explaining what we’re trying to do rather than just… I don’t know, shoving recruitment papers down people’s throats like some of my colleagues seemed content to do.” You rolled your eyes at some past memory, and Hux had to keep from laughing again at the endearing expression of annoyance. He wanted you to keep talking forever. Kriff, he was ready to promote you to the top of recruitment immediately. “There are just so many planets and systems and people who are disadvantaged by the New Republic’s policies, and when you’re able to walk them through why they’re experiencing resource deficits or economic downturn or whatever else, they tend to listen.”

You concluded your remarks with a little gesture that seemed to indicate that everything you just said should be obvious. It was obvious to Hux. He was a hair’s breadth of his self-control away from unbuckling himself from his seat and kissing you until he couldn’t breathe. You were kind and capable and you could see his vision perfectly. It took every ounce of energy in his body to remain sitting where he was, fingers nearly making dents in the armrests from the force it took to contain himself. He hoped that his enthusiastic nods of agreement would assure you of his complete support of your ideas. He didn’t stop thinking about kissing you though. 

Just when he thought he could finally speak relatively calmly, your headset buzzed. You snapped it up instantly, confirming with the controller on the other end that you understood the message. After switching a few more toggles and adjusting the flight path slightly, you signed off with the controller and clicked the headset back into place.

“Potential for asteroids in the area,” you said by way of explanation, “we have our early warning systems on though, so if any get close, we’ll know.” You paused for a moment, thinking. “I’m so sorry, General – what were we discussing?”

“Your work in the field,” Hux considered leaving it there, but he was still wrestling with his self-control and let his unusual impulsivity go further: “your excellent understanding of the First Order’s mission and your admirable trust-building efforts.”

“Ah yes, thank you!” Hux was hyperaware of the way you bit your lip a little in embarrassment, eyes angled back toward the control panel and away from his admiring gaze. “You’re very kind to say that.” Hux merely hummed in response, another question floating through his mind.

“May I ask you something else, Captain? Something unrelated?”

“Of course,” you returned your focus to him, watching him with expectation to see what he would ask. Hux himself was wondering how best to frame his inquiry so it came off as casual.

“Our scheduled meeting from last cycle – when Lieutenant and Captain Mitaka proposed that and set it up, how did they frame it to you? What did they call it?” You seemed to suddenly find the control panels in front of you very interesting, despite a lack of new alerts.

“Oh, just that: a meeting or a meet-up or something of that sort.” Your words felt intentionally nonchalant, almost too much so. “Why do you ask? Did they frame it differently for you?” You cast a furtive glance in his direction before returning your attention to the flight array. There was something in the look that Hux couldn’t quite read, but he thought it might be a flicker of hope, though he wasn’t sure. He stayed the course and kept to the safe answer.

“Oh no, something very similar: meeting, meet-up, rendezvous, something of that nature,” he lied, also trying to keep his tone light and casual. He recalled Mitaka’s increasingly complex and obscure names for the meeting after Hux had steadfastly refused the term ‘date.’ You nodded at his response, your flash of nervousness seemingly fading upon hearing his answer. You flicked your gaze to him again. Kriff, would there ever be a time when just your eyes on him wouldn’t make the skin under his collar start to heat up?

“Why did you want to know?”

“I was just hoping that after my unfortunate incident last cycle which disrupted said meeting, that you would be gracious enough to allow me to consider this an extension of that initial appointment. I fear it will be something of a working meeting – my schedule can’t be helped – but perhaps it could still serve a similar function?” Hux intentionally left the proposed ‘function’ vague, hoping you might interpret it in a more generous manner.

“Of course, General.” Hux felt you might have been about to use his first name again, but then opted against it. How he wished you had. “I’m so grateful that you’re willing to spend this time with me. I can only imagine how full you schedule is.” Kriff, if you only knew he wished he had all the time in the galaxy to spend with you. Any attempt at endeavoring to somehow compress that thought into words that he could actually utter to you was interrupted by a notification on the control panel. Your hands flitted over the array of buttons and screens, flipping switches and adjusting toggles as you responded to the blinking lights. Then you leaned back again.

“The autopilot notified me that we’re close to coming in for a landing. I’ve set the flight path accordingly. There shouldn’t be any issues, but I might have to take the controls if things get… bumpy.”

Indeed, Hux could see Ilum coming into view through the large windows of the cockpit, the greyish planet growing larger as the ship angled in preparation for landing. The two of you sat in companionable silence then, Hux watching as you continued to make minute adjustments to the controls every so often. He couldn’t help but think about how nice it would be to just be with you like this. Doing work late in his quarters or sitting on the couch with you just there, comfortably beside him. He clenched his teeth slightly as the exquisite softness of the thought slowly pressed the air from his lungs. After a while, you spoke again, your eyes still fixed outside of the ship.

“I hope this doesn’t come off as impertinent,” you seemed to take a deep breath before continuing, “but you’re very different than I thought you would be.” You flicked one nervous glance at him as the word ‘different’ fell from your lips. The sentence was barely above a whisper, as though you hadn’t decided whether you should say it aloud or not. Hux’s body stiffened instinctively, heat growing from his chest and rising toward his ears. A slight queasiness began to build in his stomach.

“What—” he cleared his throat when the word came out thin and reedy, “what do you mean by that?”

“It’s just— well, Lieutenant Mitaka praised you very highly. He lauded your commitment to the First Order. He said you were loyal and intelligent and responsible – that you were someone he looked up to.” 

Mitaka had said those things about him? Hux sat in stunned silence, puzzling through how your experience differed from the way the lieutenant had described him. Did you not find him to be those things? Did you not find him praise-worthy? The sick feeling in his stomach intensified, but you weren’t done.

“But he also told me to be careful.” You sighed deeply, almost as though you had decided something within yourself. You turned fully to look at him then, and Hux had significant difficulty breathing under the soft but weighty intensity of your gaze. “He said you could be… prickly. Hard to get to know. That you don’t… trust others easily.” Hux was completely pinned. He knew the words were true. He had a thousand reasons for this, of course – betrayals and humiliation and more uncertainty that he could stand. He was trying to stammer out some excuse to this effect when he realized you still hadn’t finished. “But I don’t find that to be true at all.”

You looked down for a minute, then back at him, your eyes so warm he thought he was going to melt right there. You didn’t find it true at all. Your words reverberated through his suddenly thoughtless mind, causing a gentle hum to rise in his chest and spread in little shivers throughout his body. He didn’t recall even deciding speak when the words stumbled their way out of his mouth:

“You make it easy.” His voice was hoarse and the phrase was inelegant, but when he saw your face light up like a sun, he didn’t care at all.

“Thank you, Armitage,” you beamed at him, the sound of his name on your lips rendering him even more nonfunctional than he already was, “I only hope I can be worthy of such high praise.” With that, you needed to turn your attention back to the ship, flipping off the autopilot as the planet’s atmosphere neared and taking the controls into your hands. Hux sat dazed, basking in the glow of you and trying to figure out how he was ever going to force himself to leave that cockpit and conduct a professional inspection of the base. 

[goosecorp]

My Pokémon SwSh game is bugged.

I am a big fan of the Pokémon series, and pretty much been here for awhile, however, despite that, my first Pokémon game that I ever got to play was Pokémon Sword & Shield, and even then, that was on my friend’s switch at school, so when I finally got my own switch with my own copy of Pokémon Shield, I was hyped. Unlike with the save on my friend’s switch, I took my time lovingly crafting all of my Pokémon team, and including my favorites such as Yamask, Slowpoke, and the most recent ones at the time such as the Galarian Zigzagoon evolution line and the Grookey evolution line, however the Pokémon of interest in this story is this Low Key Toxtricity named “TOXIC MIST!!”

Yeah, yeah, spooky Pokémon in the game next thing I’m gonna tell ya is Missingno. appeared and deleted my save, but no, up at this point the game played as normal, beating the gyms, beating other trainers, and then going camping, I favored the Toxtricity the most during camping, I really liked it’s design, despite how simple it was in actuality, it definitely climbed the ranks of my favorites fast, and it was definitely my most used pokemon, or at least second most used, first place went to my Rillaboom, since he was a Grade-A tank.

But I beat the game, facing minor bumps (Rose literally sucks, screw steel-types forever), and I decided as celebration for my pretty clean playthrough of the game, I spin a wheel and release a random Pokémon on my main team, y’know, give them freedom away from my character (silly I know, let me be happy ok), I put every-Pokémon on my team on an online wheel website, and spun it, it ended up landing on Toxic Mist, of course her being one of my favorites I re-spun, again, and again, and again, but every time it landed right back on Toxic Mist, I felt awful letting go of one of my favorites but I just soothed myself imagining that Toxic Mist would run off into it’s own habitat and be happy, maybe even visit my trainer character sometimes, I remember this bit clearly since I drew doodles of this scenario later.

I released Toxic Mist and then moved on, I think ended up getting bored after I finished the story-mode and moved onto other things since I didn’t have the DLC, I ended up resetting my save to redo the story mode a couple months later with a different batch of Pokémon.

This is where the game started acting up, and things felt…weird, I felt like I was being watched, I even ending up taping my curtains to block any gaps, but that feeling never left, in-fact, it got worse by the time I found myself at the Giant’s Mirror part of the Northern Wild Area, thats when I found a Low Key Toxtricity, but something about it was off to me, something about it paired with the fact I felt watched made me deeply afraid of this specific Toxtricity, I approached it anyway, because it’s just a Pokémon character, nothing it could do could effect me in real life, plus it was just standing there doing nothing even after I got close enough to the point it should of reacted so I assume it was a bugged Pokémon.

I was proven wrong as soon as I engaged battle with it, for some reason the encounter played as if I was battling a trainer, it also let out this ear-piercing ringing sound, it was so loud I turned my switch’s volume down to mute, before I continued I looked at the Pokémon but couldn’t see anything but it’s back due to the camera angle, but thats when I noticed the name “TOXIC MIST!!” spelt the exact same way I named my own Toxicity from my previous save, I thought it definitely had to be some bug at managed to save bits of my previous data to the game and loaded it where it didn’t belong, which was strange since I didn’t encounter any other bugs before this point.

Bug or not, I was immediately proven wrong when I proceeded and it finally showed it’s face, but the way it did it was it curled backwards like that one clip from The Exorcist, and when I saw it’s front I was immediately stunned by a mixture of shock and fear, mainly shock, It’s front was a messed up slurry of textures that I’ve never seen the game, but the part I focused on the most was it’s neck, for some reason it’s neck had been entirely split open like someone slit it, instead of blood like you would expect it was just foamy, I didn’t know how to respond to this, so I tried attacking it, after my turn was done I felt my switch start to heat up quickly, I immediately turned off my switch and the heat died down almost immediately.

After a couple tests my switch turned out to be fine and so was the data of the other games on it, but just to be safe I’ve deleted Pokémon Shield off of my switch, that moment still stresses me out whenever I try to figure out what happened to my game during that moment, but the only thing I do know is that I’m not risking my hands nor my switch to test something that only effects one game that was on it.

Authors note time!

I realized I never posted this so I decided to post it for the spooky season! This is based off a TikTok clip of a glitchy Toxtricity.

This was my first attempt at a Pokepasta and I pulled a lot of specific info from my own experience with Sword and Shield, real fun to do to be honest!

I got nothing else to say so uh…thanks for reading!!

[lluminary0]

Why Do AirPods Pro 2 Chirp? Common Causes and Easy Fixes

The AirPods Pro 2—Apple’s flagship earbuds known for immersive sound, active noise cancellation, and a snug, high-tech design. So why are they chirping like a misfiring smoke alarm? Random chirps, squeals, or persistent high-pitched noises don’t just break your focus; they frustrate your nerves. Is it a glitch? A firmware hiccup? Or is it time to call in Apple Support?

From noise-cancellation gremlins to firmware phantom glitches and Bluetooth misbehavior, this guide dissects every possible cause and solution. You’ll find actionable fixes, surprising culprits, and answers to lingering questions you’ve probably already Googled (unsuccessfully). Ready to crush the chirping chaos? Let’s jump in.

Top Reasons Your AirPods Pro 2 Are Chirping

1. The Firmware Update Gremlin

Apple’s firmware updates can be both a blessing and a curse. Picture this: You just updated your AirPods Pro 2, and instead of seamless perfection, you get chirps. Why? Bugs. Firmware patches sometimes include compatibility hiccups that trigger noise anomalies.

Fix It Fast:

Re-seat: Put your AirPods back in the charging case. Wait for a couple of minutes.

Force Update: Keep them connected to your iPhone with a strong Wi-Fi connection overnight. Firmware updates are often automatic.

Latest Check: Verify the firmware version under Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods Info. The most recent version as of June 2024 is 6A321.

2. Bluetooth Interruptions & Weak Signals

Bluetooth 5.3 (the tech powering AirPods Pro 2) is robust, but it’s not invincible. If you wander too far or your device competes with other nearby signals, that’s your chirping culprit right there.

Real-World Example: Ever walked through a crowded airport with dozens of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections clashing? That’s prime chirp territory.

The Fix:

Stay within 30 feet of your device for optimal connection.

Re-Pair: Open Bluetooth settings, unpair, and re-connect.

Turn off other Bluetooth peripherals that might compete.

3. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Overload

The AirPods Pro 2 ANC technology processes external noise in real-time. Sometimes, the microphones (those tiny, sensitive audio gateways) pick up unexpected frequencies or bugs that result in—you guessed it—chirps.

Test for This Issue:

Switch to Transparency Mode. If the chirp stops, ANC is the issue.

Restart noise cancellation by toggling it off and on via Control Center.

Quick Fix:

Remove the AirPods and clean the mic grills gently using a dry microfiber cloth.

Apple Support recommends avoiding liquids or sharp tools.

4. Hardware Issues: Are Your AirPods Damaged?

While Apple’s build quality is next-level, defects happen. Chirping that’s repetitive and localized to one earbud may indicate hardware failure.

Signs to Watch For:

Constant noise, regardless of connected devices.

Chirping persists after resets and updates.

Case Damage: Physical cracks, moisture exposure, or worn-out battery cells.

ProductFeaturesApprox. PriceApple AirPods Pro 2Spatial Audio, ANC, H2 Chip$249AppleCare+ Protection PlanHardware repairs/replacement for 2 yrs$29 (per instance)

If these signs scream “defect,” visit Apple Support for diagnostics or a warranty replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Airpods Pro 2 Why do they Cirp during calls?

Bluetooth congestion or microphone interference can disrupt audio streams. Try resetting your Bluetooth connection and keeping your device close.

How do I update AirPods Pro 2 firmware manually?

You can’t force manual updates. Keep your AirPods in the case, connect them to a charger, and ensure your device remains nearby with active Wi-Fi overnight.

Is chirping covered under AppleCare+?

Yes, hardware faults like chirping fall under AppleCare+ coverage. Apple typically provides a free replacement if no liquid or external damage is detected.

Troubleshooting Guide: Quick Steps to Silence the Noise

If you’re scrambling for immediate results, this is your go-to fix kit:

Reset Your AirPods:

Hold the setup button for 15 seconds until the light flashes orange, then white.

Update Firmware:

Ensure you’re running the latest iOS version, which will automatically update connected AirPods.

Clean Thoroughly:

Focus on speaker grills, microphone openings, and the charging case interior.

Re-Pair & Reboot:

Forget AirPods from Bluetooth settings, then reconnect as a new device.

Test Noise Modes:

Toggle between ANC and Transparency Mode to check for feature-specific issues.

When All Else Fails: Replacement Time?

Not every chirp can be squashed with DIY solutions. If the noise persists after resets, firmware updates, and cleaning, hardware malfunction is likely.

Apple Replacement Policy: AirPods Pro 2 are covered under a 1-year warranty. AppleCare+ extends protection up to 2 years for accidental damages or defects.

Third-Party Repair Risks: Avoid unauthorized repairs; they often void warranties and worsen the problem.

Conclusion

Chirping AirPods Pro 2 aren’t just an inconvenience—they’re a puzzle. Whether it’s Bluetooth hiccups, firmware bugs, or noisy hardware faults, identifying the root cause determines the solution. From resetting your earbuds to replacing defective components, these fixes ensure your audio experience stays seamless and chirp-free.

Don’t let random noises ruin premium sound. Take control with the tips shared, and when all else fails, trust Apple Support for a solution.

[loveylo]

rottmnt!Raphael gets the comfort he deserves

hey gang i’m not feeling so great, so here’s me projecting onto my favorite turtles again!!!

(i am totally avoiding hw rn but shhhhh raph (me) needs the comfort)

TCEST DNI THIS IS FAMILIAL LOVE/AFFECTION!!! I HAVE A BAT!!!

No tws from what i can tell? Maybe just cws for depression and such. If any of yall think i need to add one, please tell me, ty!

Headcanons/Tags for this oneshot:

He/She Raphael

They/It Donnie

She/Her Mikey

He/Him Leo

They are all the big neurodivergent cuz idk how to write neurotypical people :skull:

Raph is 100% burnt out/depressed autism but she has the best support system ever frfr

FLUFF AND COMFORT SO SO SO MUCH FLUFF AND COMFORT

So it was one of these days huh?

Raph grumbles into his pillow, brows furrowing at the rough texture. He shakes out his heavy arms before flipping the pillow over. This does absolutely nothing to help alleviate the uncomfortable scratching.

She huffs, pushing the pillow away entirely, planning on using her arms as a replacement. They work decently (despite the spikey nature).

The lack of energy finally catches up, and he falls asleep.

.

..

...

..

.

And when he wakes up, there’s a warmth at his side. It’s warmer then his plushies, but still cold. It seems to have scales as well and- oh.

“So from there, I’ll finally be able to reset the router-” the warmth was Donnie, “and connect the files to, welcome to consciousness by the way, my device.”

It was a quick greeting, spoken under a hushed tone. From there Donnie continues to info dump, and Raph continues to listen.

She is lulled to sleep by Donnie’s voice, while it continues to explain it’s “Major Awesome Cool Particle Accelerator.”

.

..

...

..

.

The next time he comes to, the warmth has moved to the top of his shell.

Mikey.

Shockingly enough, the room is not filled with noise. There’s just a comforting blanket of silence that covers the room, with the only real noise coming from the switch in Mikey’s hands. It’s soft and fluffy, kind of like ice cream.

Raph’s stomach growls at the thought, and Mikey’s head shoots up from it’s resting spot. She smiles in understanding, before reaching at the bedside drawer. Raph raises a non-existent eyebrow in confusion, however, the feeling is smothered by the smell of butter on toast.

An easy texture to handle, and an even easier taste. Not too overwhelming, not too bland.

Raph tears up at all the thought that went into her meal. Mikey pretends not to notice, sliding off the spiked shell and landing criss-cross next to her. Raph doesn’t sit up, she doesn’t have the full strength to do so. Mikey’s smile softens, and she glances between Raph and the toast before them, a question.

He eats it all, before promptly passing out, holding Mikey in his arms.

.

..

...

..

.

She realizes that the plush in her arms isn’t Mikey first.

Consciousness flows back to her brain like an hourglass tilted sideways. When the top is finally free of sand, she feels a hand slowly scritching the back of her head. Based on the previous visits, she can assume it’s Leo.

Raph finally processes the soft flipping of pages, knowing Leo, it’s a Jupiter Jim comic that he’s read about 100 times by now. She huffs in amusement, throwing her arms around the turtle and pulling him down. He yelps in shock, clearly unaware of her awakening.

“So, what time is it?” The words jumble out of her mouth. Soft and quiet.

“Around dinner time,” Leo giggles out, shuffling closer to her plastron, “I’m pretty sure Mikey’s gonna come in with food soon.”

That sounds nice, Raph thinks to herself.

“That sounds nice,” Raph says aloud.

And it is.

He finally sits up when Mikey walks in. He eats the noodles laid out in front of him. He stretches, gets up, walks to the couch.

He got up today, and his sibling’s eyes grow wide and fluffy and soft and caring and loving.

He got up today, and it’s progress.

He got up today, and that’s enough.

That’s enough.

Raphael Hamato is loved, no matter what time of day she gets out of bed (if she even gets up at all).

He is not alone. He will never be alone.

Not when he has his amazing family by his side.

[squib-2006]

Next

I am going to rewatch one episode of ninjago a day until I ether give up or finish

I will put my thoughts down as I watch it and rate each episode out of ten.

Day 1

Ep 1 rise of the snakes

The old monastery was so empty

Those controllers are huge

I want to play what they are playing why can’t this be a real game

Not cool sensei wu you didn’t even let them save

Cole talks with Kai’s voice wow he is magic

Yes the tornado of creation the super op move that will only be used three(I think it’s three might be wrong) times throughout the intire series, but seriously so my situations could have been solved if they just made the tornado

The game magically didn’t reset and erase there progress

The people that “spotted lord garmadon” need to get glasses. How do you confuse an adult dark warlord, with a literal 10 year old

The ninja bumping into eachother looks so awkward but is still somehow funny

Jay being awkward around nya is always good for my Jaya heart

Really Kai you could have killed someone with opening the door with out checking if someone was under it

Also did the monastery always have a dragon stable or did they have to add it

Jay falling=peek Comedy

Kai stop being sexist to your sister

I miss the dragons they were so cool

Rocky and Cole friendship my beloved

Jays voice was so much lower in the first season it sounds weird to me cuz I’m used to him screeching every five seconds

Dragon acrobatics are cool

Jamanakai village the og village I wish we could go visit it in the newer seasons because I love how it looks

BABY LLOYD MY BELOVED
YOUR LAUGH GIVES ME JOY

You get ur candy baby

Cole saying that he escaped again implies this isn’t the first time they have delt with him

Wow these adults are a-holes. They gust throw rotten fruit at a child

Kai your parents literally fought in the serpentine wars your telling me they never mentioned anything about the serpentine ever

Why are they carrying Lloyd like that

Oh my god I remember them putting Lloyd up on the sign and finding it funny as a kid but now this just seems cruel

Zane paid for all that candy with a single coin

Mucacho, kai just called Lloyd muchacho. Why

Now they’re just bullying Lloyd with candy

“Kai about to get on his dragon” top ten moments before disaster

Why does wu have a dragon saddle bag

And you cannot tell me wu didn’t put that there on purpose to motivate them

What is it with kai and Cole steeling each other’s voices.

If it’s the “ancient language of our ancestors” how do you know how to read it. Like I know your a robot but still Zane I don’t think doctor Julian programed that in

This prophecy is incorrect because Lloyd is the green ninja

This competition is so stupid

I should just start a counter for how many times kai and Cole switch voices (3)

Setting up Kai’s obsession with the green ninja

How did Lloyd get to a snowy tundra wasn’t he just on a mountain village

Why is it so easy to open the tombs I think it should be a bit harder to release vengeful snake people

This Ice is so pretty

How is the snake now under Lloyds control if he hypnotized him self. Shouldn’t he be under his own control

Sneks

Any time baby Lloyd laughs I want to grab him and jut hug him so hard he screams because it is so cute

Any time jay gets hit by something I giggle I don’t know why it’s so funny to me

The kendo suits look so weird to me for some reason

Rip Cole

The combat here seems so clunky compared to modern day ninjago

Baby fire ball is adorable

Jay looks so sad poor bean

Rip pole

Where did the other Shuriken of ice go?

Oh there it is

And then the one underneath coles foot magically goes back to Zane despite it being trapped in the ice

Cole could have chopped Zane’s legs off

Wow petty much jay

When Cole smashes down the scythe of quakes the grounds textures glitch

Sword of fire gets to hot for Kai to control because he is getting to angry more evidence that the golden weapons are sentient

How does the stone light on fire and in a perfect circle around kai

Sparkles are pretty

Lean ninja. They knew what they were doing

Wu gets mad at them for training yet he is the one who wanted them to train

Why are those watermelons so tiny like the cucumbers are larger then them

Baby Lloyd is so cute even when terrorizing villagers

Wu be smoking the good stuff

Kai doesn’t care until he remembers that nya is there. He really loves his little sister doesn’t he

Jays voice was really low when he said “that leaves us with one choice” and then the “run” broke my eardrums

Stealth 100

Not all of them have tails nya

Jay stop being sexist to nya

Kai shaking his head at jay gives me life

Kai ignores his sisters advise and looks the snakes in the eyes

Kai’s whole body flattened when he hit the wall

Also physical Comedy = peek comedy

Always look where your going Lloyd

Also Lloyd is somehow need the fountain now

No one listens to nyas advice they all stare at the snakes

By golly made me cringe

Maybe if you hadn’t strung Lloyd up like a piñata and taken him to wu so much of this whole show could have been avoided

Wu never teaches them anything they ask him to

Patience nya you just have to wait thirteen seasons and you can become a dragon

Why didn’t the anti venom cure Cole

Final thoughts

This is a good intro into the season but it drags on a bit with the green ninja tournament and without watching the pilots you might be a bit confused. Lloyd was as cute as I remembered. The ninja go the other hand were a bit boring. I liked the set up they did and the animation was good if not a bit clunky. Over all I give this episode a 7/10

[babytaes]

reaction to playing video games | tbz- ─ ot11 ˎˊ˗

𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐: a few curse words, quite lengthy 

requested (anon)

✧ sangyeon∘*

Not only did whining get you places, but it also warmed your boyfriends' stone cold heart. It's a perk.

“Baby...I'm dying to play. You and the others never let me play.” You moped over to his setup and pouted as you sat at the edge.

“All right, I'll let you play once, but if you lose. So, please-.” You winked at him as you pressed your finger to his lips and grabbed a remote, settling in for the game.

“What the fuck was that, Y/N? You never told me how good you were.” He exhaled deeply and lowered his headphones. You strode out the door laughing, pushing his chair away and saying.

“See, should let me play more."

✧ jacob∘*

“DID YOU SEE MY CONTROLLER, Y/N?” As he rummaged through his room looking for it, Jacob yelled out to you.

Hearing his shouts from the living room, you swiftly grabbed the controller from the stone table and laughed your way to his man cave.

“You always leave it by the living room set up,” You say. He chuckled and kissed your forehead, thanking you as he pulled the controller from your grip.

Jacob called out to you just as you were about to walk out the door.

“Hey, want to play with me? Today, the boys are offline.” You rushed over to the chair and snuggled up close to him as you grabbed your red controller, smiling at his request.

“Mr. Bae, are you ready to be demolished?”

✧ younghoon∘*

Over the facetime call, he whispered something and pointed the iPad at your screen, tapping it to make it clearer.

“I need help with this level; I've literally asked the guys and they haven't been able to assist me. So I figured I'd consult the master.”

You let out a gasp and shook your head.

“Not sure why you didn't ask me FIRST,” you remarked, rolling your eyes, “but I guess I'll help you.”

He finally made it to the boss level after minutes of discussing the level and advising him where to go. Before kissing the screen, he turned to you and smiled broadly.

"Thank you, Y/N."

"Anytime Younghoon"

✧ hyunjae∘*

As you sat your headset down and spoke into the mic beside you, you heard a knock on the door.

“Hey guys, I'll be right back. Leave some suggestions for places to visit in the game in the chat.”

You walked out and unlocked the door after turning off your microphone and camera. Hyunjae stood in front of you, holding some containers, much to your astonishment. He strolled in with a joyful smile on his face.

“My mum insisted on me bringing some food over since you know how they are.”

You kissed his temple and went to get some chopsticks and bowls while putting some food on the table for him.

“I only have a few more rounds on my server before I can leave. You are more than welcome to observe; you may certainly benefit from it.

As he scoffed, he glanced up with a wide mouth and noodles in his mouth.

“Wow.. some sort of friend you are.”

✧ juyeon∘*

“So you're a gamer,  Not like those people who do "games" online."

Before displaying your Twitch, you pushed Juyeon and laughed. He appeared intrigued as he scanned through the videos before selecting one.

He leaned back,  head resting on your lap. As the demon rushed toward the screen, he was already dying from your reaction. You asked him a question while rolling your eyes at his state.

“Hey, do you want to be a part of my broadcast one day?” I'd be happy to show you some things.”

Before returning to his comfortable position, he glanced up from his seat and nodded his head.

“I'm thinking about subscribing because this is high-quality content.”

✧ kevin ∘*

“Have you played Animal Crossing: New Horizon?” Kevin poked your side from his laying down position, waiting for your answer.

Your eyes widened as you lowered your phone and slowly turned to face him, jaw wide open.

"Don't tell me you play Animal Crossing too?"

He showed you his Switch with a laugh and a nod of his head.

You sprung off your couch and dashed to your bag, returning with your Switch.

“You should have told me earlier; you must see my house!”

✧ new∘*

“Why don't you stop being so bad, then we can talk about my techniques.” As you scoffed, you turned your head sideways to look at New.

“Says the person who recently finished last in our team's tournament. Do you want me to check the scoreboard one more time, or are you finished?”

Sunwoo shook his head as he walked back to his room, looking at the two kids arguing.

“This is the 20th time the kids have fought this week, Sangeyon. If you don't want to do anything, I'll do it for you.”

You both turned around to see an agitated Kevin with twitching eyes.

“Forgive me, Kevin, but I'll be more mature and quiet.” As you pushed the play button on the game, you laughed.

“Bitch” New whispered under his breath as he “accidentally” killed your character off.

“OH NOW IT'S ON.”

✧ q∘*

“Please let me play one more time, Y/N. I'll do better. “I will vanquish the Evil.” Not amused by his confidence, you rolled your eyes and crossed your arms.

“All right, but don't injure my ears for the 4th time today. I will smack you."  He gave you a wink and walked up to your game set. As he watched you set up everything, including the Oculus, Changmin tapped his legs. That dreadful thing.

As you finished prepping everything, you switched off the lights and set your LED's to purple. You took his hand in yours and kissed it many times while rubbing the back of your neck.

“I'm sure you'll be fine.” Changmin turned to face you and said "fighting" before putting on the headphones.

As you observed him, you noticed that he was doing fairly well; he was approaching a new area of the level as he frantically looked around. As his scream echoed throughout the house, you clenched your hand and squeezed your eyes.

You quickly grabbed the Oculus and yanked it off, only to be confronted by a frightened boy.

“At the very least, you made it past the first section. I'm proud.”

✧ juhaknyeon∘*

“You're killing me, Love; it's not fair.” You tossed the controller on the couch and pouted at him with your arms folded.

He laughed and walked over to your side, pausing the game.

“How about a hug and a kiss as an apology?” Next round, I'll take it easy on you.” He smiled and drew the two of you closer together. As your eyes opened, he held onto you. Grabbing your controller, you tossed a knife at his character as he collapsed to the ground. 

“BABE... “What was the point of that?”

You returned his controller to him, smirking.

“You always gotta be ready, learn from the best.”

✧ sunwoo∘*

“Babe, it's only a simple tap, hit, and swing,”  Sunwoo fought to breathe as he rested his hands on his knees.

“Wait..I-..just give me like 10 minutes,”   As you stood over his large figure, laughing at his antics, he dropped to the carpet.

“So you can dance for hours at a concert, but you can't get past the first two levels of Just Dance? Sunwoo, make it make sense.”

You watched as his face lit up with a smile and his chest rose and fell as he chuckled.

“That's different; these dances are crack. Who comes up with it?

You looked up at the TV, shaking your head, and chuckled at the title song.

*The Stealer* 

“What an ass.”

✧ eric∘*

“So, according to your buddies, you're a Mario Kart "master,” is that correct?” Eric spun around and clasped his hands together in his fancy gaming chair, cocking his head to the side.

“It depends on your willingness to face him.” He chuckled and sat you down in front of one of the monitors.

You strolled up to his setup and sat down, laughing. You took the controller and customized your bike while choosing your character, Pink Toad.

“First and foremost, ladies, I'll let you choose the level.” You chose Rainbow Road and started your engines, smirking at his arrogant face. As you thought about how this was going to be the ride of a lifetime, he winked at you.

“FINISH... AND THE CROWD GOES CRAZY. What's the number on the scoreboard? PINK TOAD TAKES FIRST PLACE AGAIN!!”

Before resetting his controller, he rolled his eyes.

“Rematch?”

“Will you be able to handle the Master for the second time now...?” you smirked.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

➳ Navigate to the Maze

[maxismatchccworld]

Patch Notes

PC: 1.76.81.1020 / Mac: 1.76.81.1220 Console: Version 1.43

Happy Summer everyone! We hope you are well wherever you are in the World. We have a Game Update that we hope you enjoy and some bug fixes.

Thanks again for your continued support and feedback! Stay cool and hydrated and if you are not in a warm season, stay warm and cozy.

Chau Chau!

-SimGuruRusskii

What’s New?

Continuing our Summer of Sims, nothing says Summer like a music festival doesn’t it? Now you can experience them in The Sims! We welcome you to

Sims Sessions

with this update, a music festival where some of your favorite artists come together to entertain and to delight us with some of their most iconic songs. And we sure have a fantastic lineup for all of you!

Drumroll please…

Headlining the event, we have the award winning and critically acclaimed, two-time Grammy nominee,

Bebe Rexha

! She will be performing a magical, acoustic rendition of her song Sabotage.

Also performing we have

Glass Animals

, with their alternative, experimental sound that has captivated audiences across the globe. They will perform their top of the charts single Heat Waves.

Last but by no means least, is the soulful sound of

Joy Oladokun

! Recently deemed “2021 Artist to watch” by Amazon Music and NPR, Joy Oladokun’s words will stir all emotions and take you on a musical journey with the song breathe again.

Now that we have told you about our lineup, you must definitely NOT miss this event, I mean… Why would you? So let me tell you how to get there…

Sims Sessions will be hosted in

Magnolia Blossom Park in Willow Creek

on every Sunday (that is In Game Sunday), starting June 29 (TODAY) 10 a.m. PT to July 7 at 10 p.m. PT. Once Simmers load their game today (after updating the game of course) your Sims will get a message telling them about Sims Sessions (this will happen on in game Sunday in a new Save, but if you are not in a new save you will need to wait for it to be Sunday in your game after the Game Update), they will also receive a ticket in their inventory that they can view for more information and they will be able to travel to the location of the festival.

However, if your Sim is curious and absolutely cannot wait for the message, Sims can see the Sims Sessions pop up in the game in Willow Creek’s neighborhood map.

The festival venue will have vendors from which your Sims can buy merch and spots to relax and unwind while listening to amazing music.

We hope you enjoy this event! If you want to know more about Sims Sessions, you can visit the

Sims Sessions website

.

And with that we move on to the bug fixes...

Bug Fixes

Sims 4

Our master gardeners treated a few of our plants so they no longer reset to a previous growth stage randomly. If only life worked that way…

We fixed an issue where selected Create a Sim outfit parts on Sims were not showing up appropriately highlighted on the right side menu.

Teens generated with the Play with Genetics options in Create a Sim will no longer have Crow’s feet.

We have fixed an issue where Sims could not use stairs when Simmers deleted the floor of a fence block that was built around the stairs in the upper landing. It sounds like a mouthful, doesn’t it?

Some of our new hair colors (Neutral Black, Warm Brown, Neutral Blonde, and Light Blonde specially) were creating some issues in some Create a Sim hairstyles when applied, making Sims’ teeth disappear (?????) or turn grey in some cases.

Your Sims just LOVED their new hair colors, but noticed it also changed their eyelids and eyebrows instantly? I mean instant eyeliner is something I truly desire but we know that we needed to fix this one everyone, so indeed your Sims can no longer get automatic eyeliner and eyebrow colors from choosing a hair color.

Fixed an issue where when Sims learned about the Likes and Dislikes of other Sims their Sim Profile became blank. I mean, unless they like or dislike nothing, that is… troubling.

Get Together

Invited NPC will now leave… eventually. You know that saying that some visitors start smelling like rotten fish after a certain amount of time? We had to tell the NPCs that well, they were a problem so now they should be leaving appropriately.

Snowy Escape

I see a little silhouetto of a Sim, Skiing next to me - Omg, Omg, this is not a ghost tho? All the snow activities were really frightening me! All fixed now? Fixed now? MAGNIFICO OOOO.

If you had noticed invisible Sims doing snow activities in your game because they switched boots on the slopes… worry not, it should be fixed.

Bust the Dust

Sims with the Slob Trait can now complete the Fabulously Filthy Aspiration goal of Letting at least one floor level of your home become dirty! #goals?

[still-rolling]

The burnt city, shows 13-15

After Friday’s triumphant Persephone loop, Hades was the logical choice for the Saturday early. I was possibly a little late finding him - coming down the stairs from the greenhouse, and wasn’t selected for the 1st 1:1. I hung around the square for a bit and was lucky to be plucked out for the second. A fellow WM tried to sneak in front of me to get it - but Sam gently pushed her back and beckoned me forth.

I’ve felt a connection with Sam’s characterisations since TDM - and his (extended) loop was just brilliant. He’s got a way of being both terrifying and captivating and finally after 13 shows - I felt like I’ve got a grip on the story of the city. Sure the fall of Troy is the basis of the show - but I don’t think it was until after this visit that I really got the punchdrunk re-telling.

After the near perfection of shows 12 & 13, I was concerned Saturday night was going to be a disappointment, so I decided for 14 to go without too much of a plan. I fancied seeing Nicks Polymestor, but wasn’t committed. So started with a familiar face, following Emily’s Hecuba for loop 1. I’ve seen most of the loop previously but haven’t followed her before. The flower shop solo was raw and beautiful and the boudoir anger that followed was so intense.

The kinky PolyM scene also sealed by my decision to follow Nick for loop 2. And boy was it worth it. We became friends on the balcony - and I firmly switched my allegiance from the distraught mother to the bad boy.

Loop 3 was decided for me. I walked through the boudoir to find Andrea’s Aegisthus almost alone - how could I leave him??? By the time we left for the flower shop it was just me and him, and the flower shop strop dance was purely for me. It was gorgeous and it felt like I had the Mona Lisa to myself. We had company by the time we reached the party, but I was fortunate to get the 1:1 and completed the loop feeling very special.

I knew the Sunday show (show 15) was going to be busy, so again didn’t want to set expectations. Jonathan was playing Kronos, and given he’s new, I thought it may be quiet. It was indeed a quiet loop - just 3 WMs, but I wasn’t the lucky one at reset time. I wandered upstairs to klub and then to Mycenae but there were so many people about, I decided it was time for a Peep loop (not a poop leap). I’m so unbelievably glad I made that choice! Nick and Carl were hosting - and it was AMAZING! Kampe’s (Andrea) performances made my mind up that I’d do a Kampe loop for loop 3, and once again he was the incredible performer we expect. I danced with him in the square, praying that a restraining order isn’t going to be landing on my doorstep next week.

My love for TBC continues to blossom - back next month for show 16!

[s4rainbows]

Back at it again with this whole challenge stuff.

This Challenge is half “Survive this”, half Legacy, and based around the various stages the main group in the TV Show “The Walking Dead” went through. You don’t need to have watched it to play this challenge, but many requirements will feel arbitrary if you haven’t. Since these aren’t really, uh, generations, I will refer to the individual parts of this challenge as “Stages” Packs required: Outdoor Retreat, Seasons, Eco Lifestyle, Get Together, City Living, Discover University, Get to Work

The Setup:

- You will need either Triplis’ “Kids Quit School” mod ot MCCC to make quitting school possible. - Create your founder and any number of other survivors in CAS, Two of these additional survivors need to be children. - Use your own physical dice or find an online dice roller, you will need that!

General Rules:

- It’s the Apocalypse, so buy mode is heavily restricted. You can’t just go to Ikea and buy  new couch! You will need to use the fabrication and handiness skills to make furniture! Some Random Events and generational rules may allow you to get stuff otherwise

- You may only cook with ingredients you have! If you play this after the release of Cottage Living, use the Lot Challenge!

- You will always play off the grid!

- The monetary cost of crafting is considered “materials”. You can "barter” for materials by using the selling table from City Living, or sell furniture and stuff you scavenged, thus “dismantling” it and salvaging it.

- Any children you have aside from the two you create in CAS automatically suffer a -2 penalty to all rolls they perform, on account of being children. 

- Randomized townies you encounter are generally considered zombies. (or WaLkErS of you don’t wanna use the evil Z word). If they engage you in conversation, consider it an attack and roll a d20, adding 1 for every two levels of fitness the Sim in question has. Below a 15, they get injured in the scuffle and are out of comission for the rest of the day. Below a 10, they get infected and die

- Pregnant and elderly Sims cannot perform any chores or other survival tasks and suffer the same -2 penalty as children!

- Every ingame week, roll on the random events table!

- Play with normal lifespan!

Stage 1: The Atlanta Survivors Camp You just survived the Apocalypse’s initial outbreak and you are settling with a small group outside a large city. However, calamity soon threatens your little sanctuary.

- Move your household anywhere with freerealestate, then take a vacation on the campground lot in Granite Falls.  - Set your money to 5k and start your grind. When you can no longer extend your vacation, your camp gets overrun and you are forced to flee. Roll Fitness checks for each member of your group and disable/kill accordingly. - If your founder dies in this, appoint a new one from the surviving sims

Stage 2: Hershel’s Farm After getting out of the overrun camp and having a little happening at the CDC, you are back on the road and lose one of your two kids in a run-in with a horde. Worse, even, your other kid gets shot and is badly injured! Thankfully, you are offered help by a small family on a nearby farm.

- Kill of one of your two CAS-created kids. Sorry, Sophia! - The other CAS-created kid is now injured for the rest of thi stage and can’t help you out or build skills. - Move your sims to one of the lots south of the Chalet in Windernburg (Or Henford on Bagley if Cottage Living is out!)  and build a little farmhouse big enough to accommodate four sims, with a small vegetable garden and 2 power generating and 3 water generating items. -Create four Sims that “own” the farm and help you out. One of them has to be an elder! - Two weeks into this stage, the farm will, unfortunately, get overrun and also set on fire. Do your fitness rolls for everyone and run for your life.

Stage 3: The Prison Again, you are on the run, but there’s a little shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel - an abandoned prison! Now, you just need to like... reclaim it.

- Build a Prison, or download one from the gallery! - Cheat one of your sim pregnant, if you don’t have a pregnancy yet. - Reclaim the prison! Make Fitness rolls for each level + the outside. - After your pregnant Sim gives birth, kill her. Sorry, Lori! - Create a rival 8-sim household and put your sims in a club, and their rivals in one too. Have  “fight (other club)” as one of the activities, then have them visit you and... start... a gathering... ;)

Stage 4 The Prison 2, Electric Boogaloo You defeated Woodbury! ... or did you? Well, you don’t really have time to deal with it right now, because there is a deadly strain of influenza wrecking your community. 

- Start placing ads for roommates. Those are the former Woodbury people you took in! - Every Time someone gets one of the GTW illnesses, roll your d20. Below a 10, they die to the sickness. Kill them, and roll fitness for one of your household sims, since the dead turn into walkers! - Three weeks into this stage, your friend, the Governor of Woodbury, comes back with a fresh new group he roped into his nonsense. Roll Fitness checks and book it. (also kill the Governor. RIP in pieces)

Stage 5: Terminus From bad to worse, you’re on the run again, and split up this time. Divided we fall, huh? Good thing there’s this totally not ominous set of markers leading you to a place called Terminus. I’m sure nothing bad will happen there.

- Split your Household and surviving roommates and pop them all into different empty lots. Play a week with each of them (aging off here, this is meant to happen simultaneously!) and roll on the random events table until you have eight sims left in total. Hope you weren’t attached to any of them. - Put them back into the same household again, and create yet another rival club to beat up. That rival club is Terminus. Surprise, the group with the name meaning “Death” was bad! - Switch to your Terminus household and “invite” your sims over, then lock them in the basement, true sims style. Go downstairs and start a club gathering. Keep an eye on them, every time someone loses a fight, kill them. Do this until you have either 5 good guys left or all of Terminus is dead.

Stage 6: Alexandria and The other blokes You got away from the humanitarians and were invited into the community of Alexandria. Thing are finally looking up again!

- Move to a 50x50 lot and build a little “village” with gardens, energy production and everything you might need. - Create two more 8-sim-households on similar situations and create clubs for them, with the activity to be friendly with yours! These two households will be Hilltop and The Kingdom. - Make one of the Evergreen Harbor Community Spaces a marketplace and frequent it! - Stay in this stage for four weeks!

Stage 7: The Saviour War Things just couldn’t stay okay, could they? You ticked off a horrible cult-of-personality-type organization called the Saviours, who now start their reign of terror against you.

- Create another household and club meant to be mean to you, Hilltop and the kingdom. Make their Leader a magnificent bastard and give that one plot armor. Narrative Immunity! - Host a little multi-club gathering and roll a d8 twice. Look at your own household portrait lineup and kill two of your sims whose portrait position corresponds to your rolls. - Take your strongest fighter, aka the highst fitness stat, aka Daryl Dixon and put them into their own household, to take them out of the equation for a while. They’re the Saviours’ prisoner now! - Congrats, you have been promoted to vassal state. The Saviours demand five of every crop you produce. Don’t hav enough to feed your people? Sucks to be you! - Stay in this stage for 4 weeks, then bring back your poor fighter, and kill off half of the Saviours, add the rest to your household and Kingdom & Hilltop. Their Leader must survive! Keep them in your basement from now on and visit them regularly to gloat.

Stage 8: The Whisperer War Finally, some stability. Oh, whats that? New enemy faction, and this one of even worse? Fantastic.

- Cease communication and trade with Hilltop & Kingdom for two weeks, Then hold a big party! - ...during said party,  kill 12 total sims from each faction. - Create a new rival faction called the Whisperers. Make their two leaders, Alpha & Beta, level 10 in fitness. - Hold weekly brawls with the whisperers. Kill every fight loser, but replenish the Whisperers losses. There’s no end to their forces! - Give Alpha a daughter and take her in after your first clash with them. - When you resume trade, roll a D20 every time you travel away from your lot. Below a 10, your travel party gets attacked by the Whisperers! Roll Fitness checks for every Siim traveling. - Remember the Saviour leader? Yeah, they’re doing better. Have them befried one of your household’s children, and gradually integrate them into your community. - After an additional 4 weeks of this, send your redeemed Saviour leader over to the Whisperers and befriend them. They’re a spy now! - Survive another week, then ply s the Whisperers and attack Hilltop! Move the survivors into your main household. - After this attack, your spy strikes and kills Alpha. Put them back into your household, then gear up for a big fight! - Cheat “Roughhousing ecouraged” in your NAPs, then gather all surviving characters along with the Whisperers and fight!

Did you survive this? Well, until season 11 comes out, that’s as far as we go. You can continue playing with the Random Events and general ruleset!

RANDOM EVENTS:

D20: 1.  There’s a drought. Sell all your stored water and reset your money back down 2. Zombie Attack! Roll Fitness and kill accoridngly! 3. Electric whoopsie-doopsie. Sell your stored electricty and set your money bck down 4. Roving bandits! The next time travel, all your traveling sims lose their inventory contents! If they had none, kill one of them! 5. Baby Boom! Get one fo your Sims pregnant 6. Other Survivors! Roll a d4 and add the resulting nuber of sims to your household! 7. Tragic accident! Kill a random sim 8. Extra Ammo! Every Sim gets a +1 to their next fitness roll! 9. Thunderstorm! Your Sims may not leave their lot for this week! 10: Supply thief! select a random sim and hoard food for this week. At the end of the week they get found out nd either killed or exiled! 11. Breach! Your wall has a breach! Reduce your funds by 150 to fix it. If you don’t have that much, kill a random sim in the resulting zombie incusrsion! 12. Illness! There’s a flareup of the deadly flu from the prison! Play with this Stage’s rules (regarding the illness) for this week! 13: Re-roll! 14. Sabotage! Your fabricator and woodworking table cannot be used this week! 15. Zombie Attack! Roll Fitness and kill accordingly! 16. Lost Child! You find a random child, adopt one! (cheat the money for the adoption) 17: Feast! Your Sims make the poorly informed decision to par-tay! Delete all the stored crops you have. 18. Horde! It’s too dangerous to leave the fortifications right now! Suspend all travel this week. 19. Foraging! Cheat yourself enough money and buy a seasonal seed packet that corresponds to this season! 20. Re-Roll!

[goosecorp]

Released

This is something that happened around the time Sword And Shield was still the latest game in the Pokémon series, so this is a pretty old story and my memory isn’t the greatest, but I’ll try to tell it as truthfully as possible, also, I’m writing this on my phone so I’m sorry for any formatting issues.

I am a big fan of the Pokémon series, and pretty much been here for awhile, however, despite that, my first Pokémon game that I ever got to play was Pokémon Sword & Shield, and even then, that was on my friend’s switch at school, so when I finally got my own switch with my own copy of Pokémon Shield, I was hyped. Unlike with the save on my friend’s switch, I took my time lovingly crafting all of my Pokémon team, and including my favorites such as Yamask, Slowpoke, and the most recent ones at the time such as the Galarian Zigzagoon evolution line and the Grookey evolution line, however the Pokémon of interest in this story is this Low Key Toxtricity named “TOXIC MIST!!”

Yeah, yeah, spooky Pokémon in the game next thing I’m gonna tell ya is Missingno. appeared and deleted my save, but no, up at this point the game played as normal, beating the gyms, beating other trainers, and then going camping, I favored the Toxtricity the most during camping, I really liked it’s design, despite how simple it was in actuality, it definitely climbed the ranks of my favorites fast, and  it was definitely my most used pokemon, or at least second most used, first place went to my Rillaboom, since he was a Grade-A tank.

But I beat the game, facing minor bumps (Rose literally sucks, screw steel-types forever), and I decided as celebration for my pretty clean playthrough of the game, I spin a wheel and release a random Pokémon on my main team, y’know, give them freedom away from my character (silly I know, let me be happy ok), I put every-Pokémon on my team on an online wheel website, and spun it, it ended up landing on Toxic Mist, of course her being one of my favorites I re-spun, again, and again, and again, but every time it landed right back on Toxic Mist, I felt awful letting go of one of my favorites but I just soothed myself imagining that Toxic Mist would run off into it’s own habitat and be happy, maybe even visit my trainer character sometimes, I remember this bit clearly since I drew doodles of this scenario later.

I released Toxic Mist and then moved on, I think ended up getting bored after I finished the story-mode and moved onto other things since I didn’t have the DLC, I ended up resetting my save to redo the story mode a couple months later with a different batch of Pokémon.

This is where the game started acting up, and things felt…weird, I felt like I was being watched, I even ending up taping my curtains to block any gaps, but that feeling never left, in-fact, it got worse by the time I found myself at the Giant’s Mirror part of the Northern Wild Area, thats when I found a Low Key Toxtricity, but something about it was off to me, something about it paired with the fact I felt watched made me deeply afraid of this specific Toxtricity, I approached it anyway, because it’s just a Pokémon character, nothing it could do could effect me in real life, plus it was just standing there doing nothing even after I got close enough to the point it should of reacted so I assume it was a bugged Pokémon.

I was proven wrong as soon as I engaged battle with it, for some reason the encounter played as if I was battling a trainer, it also let out this ear-piercing ringing sound, it was so loud I turned my switch’s volume down to mute, before I continued I looked at the Pokémon but couldn’t see anything but it’s back due to the camera angle, but thats when I noticed the name “TOXIC MIST!!” spelt the exact same way I named my own Toxicity from my previous save, I thought it definitely had to be some bug at managed to save bits of my previous data to the game and loaded it where it didn’t belong, which was strange since I didn’t encounter  any other bugs before this point.

Bug or not, I was immediately proven wrong when I proceeded and it finally showed it’s face, but the way it did it was it  curled backwards like that one clip from The Exorcist, and when I saw it’s front I was immediately stunned by a mixture of shock and fear, mainly shock, It’s front was a messed up slurry of textures that I’ve never seen the game, but the part I focused on the most was it’s neck, for some reason it’s neck had been entirely split open like someone slit it, instead of blood like you would expect it was just foamy, I didn’t know how to respond to this, so I tried attacking it, after my turn was done I felt my switch start to heat up quickly, I immediately turned off my switch and the heat died down almost immediately.

After a couple tests my switch turned out to be fine and so was the data of the other games on it, but just to be safe I’ve deleted Pokémon Shield off of my switch, that moment still stresses me out whenever I try to figure out what happened to my game during that moment, but the only thing I do know is that I’m not risking my hands nor my switch to test something that only affects one game that was on it.

[[End-Post Author's Note: This was based off a TikTok clip by oslith, check out the clip here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRVARULN/ or don't...I don't really care.]]

[wesimpforxiao]

Say My Name and I’ll Be There: 9.2

"Oh my god!"  Your shriek nearly deafened the yaksha while your nails dug into his shoulder and back.  The wind whipped your hair into both of your faces, much to his dismay as he struggled to keep track of his footing.  "This is crazy! This is awesome!" Another leap and your heart dropped to your stomach in a fashion that sucked the breath out of your lungs.  "W-wait this is terrifying!  Xiao!  Slow down!"  

You asked for this yet have the audacity to panic?  Xiao tensed under the increasing grip around his body and made another leap.  Well, a 'leap' is a bit of an understatement; whether he was teleporting or zipping through the air, you couldn't tell--it happened so fast your mind couldn't keep up.  The two of you were nearing the top of Mount Tianheng, and with every 'jump' he took you'd look down to find another fifty or so feet added to the distance between you two and the ground.

Just as Xiao was beginning to think you wanted him to stop, an exasperated laugh left your lips.  "This is awesome!"

The yaksha clicked his tongue at the myriad of sounds you were making.  First you were screaming with excitement, then terror, then laughing, and now you're gasping?  Will you just make up your mind? Are you scared or not scared?  He couldn't keep up with your quick switches just as you couldn't keep up with his speed.

And then there was the fact that you asked him specifically to carry you up the mountain, not climb up with you or merely teleport to the top.  Was this the duty of a boy friend?  He didn't recall you ordering Aether to carry you at all during your travels.  Minus the time you had your leg clawed by that lawachurl, but that doesn't really count--

His feet lightly landed onto the grass at the top of the mountain and he stilled, stealing a glance at your profile.  "We're here."  Archons, your grip finally relaxed against his stinging skin.  He was expecting that classic dumbfounded look on your face, but you pulled away with the widest--and dumbest--grin once your feet lowered to the ground.

"That was amazing-!" You nearly lost your balance from the vertigo of travelling so quickly, but Xiao grabbed your arm before you could stumble over the edge of the cliff.  "Can we do that again?"

"You can't be serious," his eyes narrowed in disdain.  

"One hundred percent! Come on, please?"

Wha-What is this all of a sudden?!  Xiao averted his eyes the second your pleading ones took hold.  He let go of your arm as his gaze fell to the grass.  

You couldn't contain the gasp within your lips, "You're...blushing?"  You don't remember if it's happened before, but the very tips of his ears were pink and it was painfully obvious in the sunlight of late morning.  "Xiao, the Vigilant Yaksha, BLUSHING?!"

"I suggest you keep your quips to a minimum unless you--"

"I can't believe this is happening! What did I do to make you blush? You're ears are bright red!"  Your hands cupped the sides of your face as you freaked out.  He was so neutral when it came to emotion, but the past sixteen hours or so he's shown you more of his vulnerable side.  But the adeptus was visibly showing emotion! "This never happened before!"

"There's nothing timid about you, having the courage to mock me.  So fight me," he started to raise his glare from the ground.  "How long do you think your body will last against my blows?"

"Rex Lapis must've blessed me-!"  

In your excitement, you failed to remember that the ledge was right behind you.  One second you were laughing your ass off with a face as bright red as Xiao's, and the next you were flailing breathlessly in the air attempting to find solid ground.  Xiao's figure shrunk at the top of the cliff as you plummeted.  The shock rendered you unable to scream and instead you gasped for breath as the wind whistled in your ears.

Xiao lifted his gaze in time to watch you fall over, and he simply moved so that his gaze could still follow your shrinking figure.  "It's a wonder humans survived this long," he muttered with a slightly amused expression.  Does she not realize she has her wind glider?  He failed to notice the corner of his lips curling upward.  

He had no intention of letting you plummet to your death.  But after the stunt you just pulled on him, he figured it wouldn't hurt to tease you a bit too.  You were by no means anywhere near the ground or any other hazardous objects; his enhanced vision and depth perception confirmed it.  Why not let you fall a bit?  Maybe your wits would return to you and you'd actually remember the glider attached to your back.

Three...four...five...Xiao counted the seconds.  You were nearly half-way down the cliffside.  ...Six...She's not going to remember, is she?  Seven..."Tch." He prepared to jump.

I-I'm going to die!  You finally managed to inhale a reasonable amount of air, not daring to peek behind you at the ground that was closing in.  Your thoughts were racing with nothing but panic.  Think, think! Think of something! You wanted to smack yourself when you remembered who accompanied you.  He wouldn't just let you die like this, it was stupid of you to even forget that much!  You involuntarily reached for the cliffside where Xiao was now nothing but a miniscule dot in the distance.  

"Xiao!"

Warm arms wrapped themselves around you the instant his name fell from your lips, and the familiar sensation of teleporting enveloped you.  You spun around and hugged him as tightly as you could the second your feet touched the ground.  He didn't even tense up this time--

"You didn't remember your glider," he pointed out nonchalantly.  Almost teasingly.

"That's why you just stood there?!"  He grumbled something you couldn't hear and returned your embrace with his head buried at the crook of your neck.  His ears were still red.  Are you telling me this is how he acts when he's shy?!  

The two of you stayed in that position for awhile, never quite loosening your hold on the other as if to ensure they wouldn't float away like an anemo slime or a bloaty floaty.  A cool breeze slid across your skin--an intimate gesture Xiao wouldn't dare outright commit, much less think of.  And yet the wind entangled itself in your hair much like his hand would clasp around your nape.  It seemed to embody the long-lost gentleness of the yaksha.  It was subtle.  Soft.  An indirect display of affection.  Maybe it was just your imagination.

Just awhile longer, Xiao's heart yearned as he held you close until rational thought returned to power.  Your absence would sting more now that he's seen you, but that didn't take away from the fact that this visit allowed the sealing of your bond, and therefore saved you from a painful demise for the time being.  The last thing he wanted was for you to return to Childe, but maybe this is what would prevent his karma from touching you.  The farther you are from him, the safer you'd be.

But for right now, just awhile longer, he'll allow himself to drown in your warmth.

...................

"You seem more than eager to get back to work, Mezzetin," Childe teased as he led you through the halls of the palace.  The two of you had just returned to Snezhnaya, but the Tsaritsa had apparently no intentions of letting either of you rest after your long journey.  

"Don't mistake my happiness for the Lantern Rite as happiness for the Tsaritsa's operations.  I'm only cooperating to keep the peace in Teyvat."  

"So, when are you going to tell me what you and Xiao did?"

"Excuse me?  Since when is my private life any of your business?"

"I have the right to know since you so blatantly disobeyed my orders not to leave the harbor."  Childe grabbed the door handle and faced you.  "I expected more professionalism from you, but honestly, I'm not at all surprised," he baited with narrowed eyes.  "I could tell the Tsaritsa, you know."

Your heart seemed to skip a beat at the thought of facing her again.  Something about that nightmare you had when you were with Xiao ignited a vague fear of her that you didn't really have before.  You swallowed hard before jutting your chin up at the harbinger.  "Do it."

"Oh?"  Childe squinted as he towered over you.  

"Do it," you repeated.  "Who do you think she'll discipline more, since it was a certain harbinger's idea to bring me along and didn't properly watch me?"  Childe stared at you for a few silent seconds before twisting the door handle and entering Dottore's lab without another word.  Yeah, that's what I thought.

"GAHHHHH!"  A deafening, sickening cry of pain snapped you out of your gloating session.  It was much like the rest that you've heard; the test subjects of Dottore were often strangers to mercy.  But unlike the trials before, there were no piles of bodies lying in the middle of the arena.

"Did he just start for the day?"  You forcefully peeled your eyes away from the suffering man and kept them on Childe.  It would be unusual if he did; he started in the early morning hours, but you and Childe had arrived in mid-afternoon.  

"Dunno," he shrugged slightly.  

"Ah! Childe."  Dottore noticed your presences and gave a signature manic grin, his arms spreading wide.  "We have made a breakthrough!"

"This doesn't look like a breakthrough to me," you muttered loud enough for him to hear.  Anger flickered across the masked man's face before he reset his eyes on his fellow harbinger.

"This is the fifth subject of the day."  The man's cold stare eyed the suffering Fatui agent with something similar to a sadistic excitement.  "It appears your idea to bring that brat with you succeeded."

You didn't hear Dottore, intent on watching the Fatui agent closely.  He had finally stopped shrieking, and he pushed himself to his feet rather unsteadily while wiping the sweat away from his forehead.  He was healthy despite being drenched in sweat and breathing heavily while he recovered from the subsiding pain.  You let out a sigh of relief you didn't know you were holding in.  You didn't have to watch another person die at your feet--

Wait a minute.  He wasn't dying.

A cool shiver crawled down your spine at the realization, and you flinched when a manic laugh escaped Dottore.  "That was the original serum at work.  How's that for a breakthrough, brat?"

"That's...impossible," you uttered with wide eyes.

"Thank your superior for making it possible."

Your attention slid to Childe, who didn't bother to look you in the eye.  His expression was unreadable, and it remained that way when he escorted you to your room in silence.  His presence couldn't feel more hostile in that moment.

"You...my bond...," you choked when the two of you were at the door of your room.  "You lied.  You used me! You used our bond for your own selfish purposes!  How could you?"

"Don't start this, Mezzetin," a weary sigh left him as he turned to you.  His allegedly guilty appearance only infuriated you.  

"Outside, now."

The second the two of you were outside the palace walls, you let yourself snap into a fit of rage.  Childe had barely started to turn around when an ice shard shot at his face, slicing across his cheek.  His blood splattered onto the snow, and he wiped at his face to examine his blood on his fingers.  "Mezzetin--"

"Don't 'Mezzetin' me!"  Hundreds more icicles shot at him in a flurry until he had no choice but to defend himself and summon his hydro blades to parry the blows.  "This was the last straw!  I'll kill you!"

"Then I'll be more than happy to give you a fight."  Despite his usual excitement when it came to battle, he was calm and collected, even so much as cold and distant.  He lacked the usual spark fighting always gave him.  His eyes were empty and lacking of enthusiasm.

"Tch."  Your vision glinted in the sunlight as the temperature surrounding you dropped below zero.  Snow whipped through the air to create a barricade that caged the two of you in a small arena.  The blizzard made the snowflakes like needles that could cut through skin if one got too close to the edge.  Your own powers seldom hurt you, but in your anger, a few rogue icicles cut across your forehead, arms, and your back.

At the pace you were going at, it was self-destructive.

Childe noted this as he parried your every attack despite his blades turning frozen solid now.  "Mezzetin!  Keep this up, and I won't hold back!"  His warning fell on deaf ears.

"What makes you think I want you to hold back?  I'm settling this here and NOW!"  The snow beneath his feet erupted, sending him spiraling out of the eye of the storm and into the blizzard's rage.  You summoned your polearm without hesitation and began to walk towards him.  

His arms were stuck to his blades, which were stuck in the ground.  He must've attempted to summon a new set and accidentally froze his limbs.  He watched you approach, hunched over to shield himself from the blizzard.

"You said visiting him would be good for me!"  Your screams were carried away by the wind.  "That you realized your own selfishness!  This was nothing but more manipulation, wasn't it? You're NOTHING but a lying monster!"  The wind grew harsher.  Your blade grew sharper once you were a few feet from him.

Cold eyes looked down upon the Tsaritsa's war dog.  What a pathetic site it was; an esteemed harbinger on his knees before you.  A harsh kick to his jaw dislodged his hands from the ice they were trapped in, and more blood was splattered onto the snow.

"That's it," a smile of satisfaction spread across Childe's lips, making your eyes narrow in disgust.  "You're finally showing potential."  He sat up with his back to you.  "If you constantly fight like this, I'd listen to you more carefully."

"Shut up--!"  Your lance stabbed at his figure, but in one fluid motion he swung around and deflected your blade with his hand.  A sudden burst of electricity sent you flying several feet backwards.  "Ngh!"

"But unfortunately for you, ojou-chan, you misinterpreted the entire situation."  Your clearing vision settled on the electro delusion that glinted at his hip.  His figure stood over you and a sharp, hot pain tore through your side.

"Gah!"  

"I have the right to discipline my subordinates as I see fit," he twisted his blade and dug it deeper into you, completely uncaring that you were squirming around and twitching from the electric shocks pulsing through your body.  "Listen closely, girlie, because I won't say it again."  You desperately clawed at his weapon, but he held it firmly in place and refused to remove it.  "You needn't tell me what you learned from Mr. Zhongli or your adeptus boyfriend.  I don't care for that information.

"My bringing you back to Liyue was truly for your own benefit, and it just so happens it was for the Tsaritsa's benefit as well.  Make no mistake Mezzetin, I am on your side when it comes to private life.  But when it comes to work and the Tsaritsa, my loyalty lies with Snezhnaya.

"I don't care if you don't believe me.  If you so badly want to escape the Tsaritsa's grasp, you have much to learn.  Patience, for starters."  He ripped his blade out of you.  "Don't take this too personally, ojou-chan.  I don't condone disorderly conduct from anyone under my supervision."

[kasienda]

The Five Minute Adventures of Snake Noir: Ch 6 - Miraculous Abuse

Chapter 1: I Want It To Be You

Chapter 2: Best Friends

Chapter 3: Best Laid Plans

Chapter 4: A Thank You

Chapter 5: Unwanted Revelations

Chapter 6: Miraculous Abuse

If Adrien had avoided using the snake before, he now was operating on the other extreme. Ladybug had told him to abuse it, and he’s not sure she would have meant it quite so literally, but well… he and Nino had come up with a list. 

It had started with his homework. If he could finish his homework in far less time, he’d  have more time to visit Nino and Marinette. Not that it took a lot of time to visit Marinette as it was usually a loop, so even if he spent hours with her, it never took longer than ten minutes as far as the rest of the world was concerned. 

He unfortunately couldn’t do all of his homework in a time loop because that would leave whatever he had completed in the last five minutes erased. But he could do all the reading, researching, planning, and studying in a loop. Anything that didn’t require him to write anything down. 

Nathalie had only walked on him transformed once. 

“Yes, Nathalie?” he had asked, without looking up from his textbook. He hadn’t even thought about it. 

She stood stock still and was dead silent. He glanced towards her with a frown - her eyes were comically wide, but that was the only sign that she was shocked. He glanced down, and remembered he was transformed at Aspik. 

Read on Ao3

“Oh shit!” 

But it had been easy enough to fix. He just reset, destranformed, waited for Nathalie to come in and deliver his schedule changes for the week and leave, and then he transformed again. 

And then Nino had realized if he could pack all of his studying into the space of five minutes, Adrien could surely squeeze in some well deserved leisure time as well. 

It only took 71 loops to read a hundred thousand words, and Adrien had long ago discovered the joys of fanfiction, but he had never really had time to read more than a bit here or there. Now? With unlimited time and an entire endless library of things to read based on his favorite games and anime? Let’s just say his current power set brought a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Just One More Chapter.” 

And a season of anime was only 119 loops. Hell, he had gotten through all 981 episodes of One Piece in 4532 loops, which was still nothing compared to his time as Aspik, and honestly, far less traumatizing. 

He had felt slightly guilty about it. He was literally using the powers of time travel to watch anime. 

But when he mentioned it to Nino, his friend had just rolled his eyes. “Dude! You’re thinking about this all wrong. You’re a hero and we need you to be okay. This is about avoiding burnout as much as it is about having a good time. It’s so you get enough of a break and enough sleep to be a competent hero that we all need!”

But eventually the stories and shows hadn’t been enough to hold his attention. And he took another of Nino’s ideas and started paying visits to several of his friends. 

He had gone to Kagami first. He had no expectations of healing things with her, but he had always wanted to be able to explain so that his apologies might mean something.

“Chat Noir? Is there an akuma?” she asked by way of greeting. 

He rubbed the back of his neck. 

“Ah, no. I wanted to talk to you about something, but I also have to erase your memory after the fact to protect identities. Are you okay with that?”

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “You have piqued my curiosity. You may proceed.” 

He nodded. He had already activated his power before he had landed in her bedroom that was definitely as lavish as his own if not quite as spacious. 

“So… more than anything I wanted to apologize to you?”

She frowned. “I’m unaware of anything that you have done that would require an apology.”

“Kagami, I’m Adrien.”

Her eyes went wide for a second. “Ah, I see.” Then, she nodded. 

“That’s it?” 

“No, it makes a lot of sense.” And then she did something he never would have expected. She smiled. And most of his tension released. 

“I just wanted to explain now that I had the ability to. That I wasn’t ever lying to you or running from our dates because I wanted to.” 

“You had to sacrifice your own desires for a higher calling.”

“Yeah, that’s it exactly.”

She smiled at him again. “I appreciate you coming to explain and I understand completely why I can’t remember. May I ask you a question?” 

“Of course!” 

“Were you never in love with Marinette?”

“Well, I… uh… it was hard to see Marinette when I was completely enamored with Ladybug, but…”

She shook her head. “Are you in love with both of them now?” 

“I mean, sortve?” He knew Kagami hated when he ended every sentence as if it was a question. “They’re the same person.”

Kagami sighed. “How disappointing.” 

“Disappointing?! She’s amazing!” 

“I know, but if she’s Ladybug and you’re Chat Noir, I have never had a chance with either of you.” 

He felt like he had been thrown off a cliff. “What? You had feelings for Marinette?” 

She grinned. “Well, she is amazing, as you always say. At least I know that I have really good taste.”

“Well, I’m sorry to have ruined all your prospects.” 

“I will survive. Neither of you define me as a person.” 

“You’re pretty amazing, too, you know,” he told her sincerely. 

She nodded. “You honor me.” 

He laughed. “Kagami, please don’t get all formal on me. I’m still just me.” 

“Well, I hope you know that I appreciate all that you and Ladybug do for the city,” Kagami told him, ignoring his request.

“Thank you, Kagami. That means a lot coming from you.” 

She nodded in acknowledgment and he knew he was being dismissed, and then he slid the switch on his bracelet and he was on the roof of her family’s manor once again his heart a little lighter.

He had gone to Alya after that. He had been nervous since she was the one who tended to push him aside as Chat Noir. But his fears proved to be completely unfounded as for the most part she could never stop laughing whenever he revealed himself.

“Wait! You’re Adrien?!”

She burst into cackles immediately. 

“Why is that so funny?!” He has demanded the first time. 

She had just grinned, shaking her head and still chuckling. “I wish I could explain it to you, sunshine.” 

“I already know Marinette is Ladybug,” he said.

“Oh good! Then I don’t have to be panicked about accidentally slipping!” And she went back to rolling on the floor laughing. 

“You wouldn’t happen to already know Marinette’s other secret would you?” she asked.

His eyebrows scrunched together under his mask. “Umm… that she’s in love with me as Adrien?” 

Her face lit up. “Oh see!! You do get it!” 

He shook his head. “I do not get it.” 

“The two of you managed to get yourself in a love square. You’ve been chasing each other around like two cute little hamsters in hamster balls.” 

He sighed, far less amused than Alya at the current state of his Marinette’s relationship. “I’m really glad someone is getting some joy out of this.” 

“Hey!” she objected. “I’m only going to know this for another three minutes! Let me have my fun!”

He held up his hands in surrender, and he was smiling in spite of himself. Maybe some time in the future, after he and Marinette could be together, it would be funny to him, too.

“God! This is why it feels like I’m third-wheeling during akuma fights,” she exclaimed.

“You feel like a third wheel?!” he repeated in disbelief. “Have you seen the chaotic energy that is you and Marinette coming up with a plan together? I am definitely the third wheel in that situation.”

And then she was cackling again. “I’m sorry,” she wheezed. “Nino says I can be a bit of a bulldozer when I’m trying to find a solution to something.” 

“That’s putting it mildly,” he said dryly.

All the mirth fled her face and she looked at him in concern. “Hey, you okay?”

He nodded. “It’s not like I’m allowed to be anything else.” 

“No, don’t say that! You’re allowed to be upset with me! I deserve it sometimes.”

He shook his head. “I’m never going to hold your ability to defeat an akuma against you. I just… have felt a little unneeded lately,” he admitted.

She stared at him for a second and then she burst into laughter again. 

And despite still not getting it, he found himself chuckling, too. Her laughter was just that infectious. “Why do you find this so funny?” he asked. 

“Because you’re a literal superhero and a model with more money than god, and a heart of absolute gold. You work with her as Ladybug so well I have to deal with crazy conspiracy theorists on the Ladyblog  who think the two of you must be telepathic aliens!” 

“What? People don’t think that.” 

“They do! And it’s annoying. But my point is you’re the real deal, Agreste, and she’s crazy about you, and you know it, and yet you still manage to doubt yourself.” 

“I’m glad my struggles and hang ups are so amusing to you,” he said with a pout. 

She sat up and fist bumped his shoulder. “Aww! Sunshine! I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant, your insecurity makes you seem sweeter and cuter. And it makes you seem more human. I don’t mean to mock you in any way.”

He searched her face and only found open sincerity.

“Thanks, Alya.” 

“So, does she know that you know?” 

“I mean, she doesn’t right now. But I’ve told her. Many many times, but it was just like this and she doesn’t remember.” 

She softened. “That sounds difficult.” 

“It’s apparently better than the alternative,” he said, going for nonchalance, but he didn’t fool her if her scooching to sit right next to him was anything to go by.  

“I wish we could all fix it for you, Adrien.” 

“Yeah, me too.” 

“How are you?” 

He shrugged. “I’m okay at the moment. Some days are worse than others. Nino… Nino has been a godsend.” 

She smiled. “He is pretty amazing. He knows outside of a loop?” 

“He does.” 

“I’m glad you have that, Adrien. Marinette was falling apart at the seams before she told me.” 

“Does he know about Marinette?” Adrien asked. Sometimes, it seemed like Nino knew more than he was letting on. But maybe his friend was just really respectful of secrets and didn’t ask questions.

“Not from me! And he hasn’t told me about you being Chat Noir either.” 

Adrien glanced toward the window. 

“Does it bother you that there are secrets between the two of you?” he finally asked.

“No, not these ones. They’re not our secrets. They’re yours, and they’re Marinette’s, so they’re not ours to share.”

“I'm jealous,” he admitted.

She offered him a sympathetic smile. “Someday, you won’t have to be anymore.”

The Snake beeped it’s first warning. “Time’s just about up.”

She offered him a fist bump and then a hug. He reciprocated both. “I’m glad you stopped by, Sunshine. You’re always welcome any time you think my particular brand of company is something that would help you.” 

He grinned. “Thank you, Alya.” 

“I look forward to the day when all four of us can just be open about everything,” she said. 

He snorted. “You and me both.” 

His went to his bodyguard next. 

“I just wanted to apologize to you for always running off. I don’t mean to make your job harder or get you into trouble. I am literally running away to save the city.”

His bodyguard didn’t say anything. He never said anything. He had just let out a resigned sigh and then patted Adrien’s shoulder. 

Adrien took that as forgiveness and reset the loop. There was no sense in sitting there in awkward silence for another four and a half minutes. 

When he had told Nathalie one afternoon at her desk outside her office, she looked horrified - frozen as still as a statue trapped in Medusa’s gaze. 

“Nathalie?” 

“I… all this time?” she whispered.

“Yeah. I know it’s a lot. I know it causes you a bit of grief when I disappear.” 

She waved away his concern. “Right now, we’re in some kind of time loop and I won’t remember?” 

“But you will,” she said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” he confirmed anyway. 

“Adrien, I need you to listen to me.”

He nodded. 

“I can never find out. Your father can’t either. If you need something because you’re hurt or cornered, or…” she trailed off.

Was she crying? 

She cleared her throat. 

“Go to your friends. Their parents. Just… not your father, okay? Or me, because I’d have to inform him.”

His brows furrowed together in confusion. “Okay?” It wasn’t hard to to agree despite how weird she was being. He knew Paris needed him and he also knew that his father would never let him continue. Especially if he was seeking help due to an injury or something.

That’s what Nathalie was referring to, right? 

She patted him on the shoulder. It was even more awkward than when his bodyguard had done it. 

“Adrien, you’re quite impressive as a hero.” 

“Thank you,” he said with a smile.

And then there was Marinette. He had learned that it was impossible to tell her he was Adrien without making her cry, which was frustrating because she was also so much more open and affectionate once she knew. 

“How do I get you to not breakdown when I tell you this?” he asked her seriously.

She laughed through her tears. “I’m sorry, kitty. I have no idea. It’s just… it’s not fair.” 

He smiled. “That’s what Ladybug always says,” he told her casually. She didn’t know that he knew this go around.

“She’s right! You deserve so much, and life… it’s not fair!”

He turned to her seriously. “I don’t need life to be fair, Mari. I just… don’t want to have to wear a mask all the time.” And then he smiled. “I’m glad that you’re okay with me doing this.” 

She nodded tearfully. “Anytime, Kitty. Anytime.”  

Then during a regular patrol at one point. He had just realized he wanted to make her laugh. So he spent another few hundred loops figuring out which jokes made her laugh the hardest and which ones were absolute duds. Then, on a day when she was having a hard time, he showed up on her balcony and gave her the best one hour comedy of her life. 

Her unrestrained laughter was so explosive she had literally fallen out of her chair. Totally worth it. 

“Thank you, kitty,” she said wiping the tears induced by her laughter. “You have no idea how much I needed this.” 

He hadn’t argued. “Of course, princess. I am always at your service!”

Then, he started working on the perfect confession. He was trying to see if he could get her to kiss him as Chat Noir without revealing his identity because, you know, that always made her cry. 

“Can I use the snake to ask you a very important question?” He has asked Ladybug on patrol. 

She nodded, and he activated it. 

“What do you think it would take to get you to kiss me?” 

She laughed. “Are you serious right now? That is your very important question?” 

“It is,” he nodded, but offered her a huge grin so she could take it as a joke if she wanted.

“Why? You haven’t been able to be successful yet?” she teased.

“Oh no! I’ve been super successful. All I really have to do is tell you my name.”

She scoffed.

“No, I’m serious!” he boasted with a huge grin splitting his face knowing she only half believed him.

“So, why don’t you just do that?” she asked seriously. 

“Because you always cry! And I don’t want to kiss away your tears. I want to make you smile.” 

She got quiet. “You know, we can’t be together right?” 

“Yeah Marinette,” he whispered. “I know that really well.”

 It was silent.

“How long have you known?” she asked softly.

He had no idea how to answer that question. Because time was now very weird for him. In one sense he had only known for a few weeks, on the other he had literally spent so much time in loops that it had to have been at least twice that at this point. Maybe more.

“A while,” he said. “But we’ve already talked about that to death. I’d much rather figure out how to get you to fall desperately in love with this half of me.” 

She raised her eyebrows. “You want me to fall desperately in love with you in five minutes?” 

He shrugged. “We have a solid foundation of trust and friendship. I’m not starting from nothing. Plus, I’ve fallen in love in less than five minutes before.” With her. He didn’t think he needed to say that though.  

She actually smiled. “Yeah, I’ve fallen in love pretty fast before, too.” 

And it occurred to him that he had no idea what had made her fall in love with Adrien. He probably could ask her, but that was one more memory that he wanted her to remember having told him. 

He could probably just show up on her balcony as regular old Chat Noir and just say something like, “So, Adrien Agreste, huh?” She’d probably tell him, and she’d even remember it. But she wouldn’t know that it was him she was telling. 

How the hell had his life gotten so complicated? 

“There’s no way I would start crying just from knowing your name though,” she said. “You have to be making that up.”

He just turned to her and raised his eyebrows. 

The expression probably didn’t work as well with his transformation covering them. 

But she still hesitated. “There’s no way!” she exclaimed, but then she got a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Unless…” 

And then her eyes started welling with tears.

And he almost laughed. But he managed to hold it back.

“Oh, come here, bug,” he said instead, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her to him. And he just held her as she shook silently. 

“It’s not fair,” she whispered. 

“I know,” he said, and then kissed the top of her head. “I know.”

“Do you see my problem now?” he said after another pause. 

And she laughed through her tears, which had been his intention, and he smiled.

She pulled away. “I’ve thought about it before, you know.”

“Thought about what?”

“Letting myself fall for Chat Noir?”

He hugged her tighter. “Yeah?” 

“It never seemed like it would be that hard. I think if it hadn’t been for Chat Blanc, it would have happened after New York.”

He laughed. “Really? New York was when I thought maybe I should ask out Marinette.” 

She looked up at him in horror. “Oh my god! We’re just perpetually screwed, aren’t we? We’re just going to keep missing each other over and over!”

He kissed her hand. “No m’lady,” he assured. “That can’t happen because now I know, and I can’t forget.” 

And then she was crying again, harder. “I don’t want to forget either.”

“I know,” he told her, kissing her hand again. “I promise it won’t be forever.” 

“I love you, Adrien.” 

“I love you, too.”

And that time, of the two of them, it was he who was stronger and able to slide his fingers across the reset. 

And he might have stayed in that loop far longer than he should have trying to figure out the way to the heart he had apparently already won.

He learned that she did enjoy his flirting whatever she said to the contrary, but the moments where he was vulnerable and genuine were the ones that seemed to move her the most.

But none of it was quite enough. If he wanted a kiss, he always had to tell her his name. 

But despite his failure, pulling himself out of that loop was the hardest thing he had ever done.

And that’s how he knew he was in trouble. 

… 

“Nino, you have to take this away from me,” Adrien said, holding out the snake miraculous. He had just arrived and released both his transformations. 

Nino took it, his eyebrows pinched together. “What? Why?” 

“Because I’m scared I’m going to go into a loop and I’m never going to come out of it.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Look! Being here with you, with you knowing everything, is amazing. It’s the only time I feel like myself, unless,” he held up the bracelet, “I’m using this and… it’s getting harder to pull myself out of the loops.” 

“Your visits to Ladybug?” 

“Yeah,” Adrien admitted. “She told me to go every single day so I would remember what it was like to be loved,” he paused for a second, trying to swallow the sudden lump in his throat. “The problem is I really really like being loved.” 

And then he couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. 

Nino pulled him by the arm down to the ground and sat right next to him shoulder to shoulder.

Adrien buried his face in his hands. 

“For the record, dude,” Nino whispered. “You are loved even outside a loop with Ladybug.” 

Adrien threw his arms around Nino. “I honestly don’t know why you put up with me at this point. I feel like you have to put up with a lot.”

Nino grinned. “Hey! I happen to like hanging out with you! This shift has been awesome because I get to see you way more often.” 

“And I’m not like messing up date night with Alya or anything, am I?” 

“Nah!” Nino waves away his concern. “Alya and I hangout in the mornings and during lunch. Lately Marinette has monopolized her evenings.” 

Adrien managed to keep a straight face at that. “If you and her ever do need a day away from the children, I’m sure Marinette and I can figure out a way to take care of ourselves for a day.” 

Nino burst out laughing. 

“What?! I’m a big boy and Marientte’s a big girl. We can take care of ourselves.” 

Nino just shook his head, still snickering. 

“Maybe all four of us could do something some time,” Nino suggested, his eyes sparkling.

Adrien narrowed his eyes. Did Nino know? He knew he couldn’t ask without giving it away, and he had just handed over the snake. 

“That sounds really nice,” Adrien said, knowing he wouldn’t be able to handle going on a double date that he had to pretend wasn’t a double date. But someday. 

He wanted to cry again, but his eyes remained dry. 

“So, you just want me to keep it?” Nino asked, holding up the bracelet. “Should I hide it here in the room? Or wear it?” 

“Wear it,” Adrien said. That was the only way Nino would know where it was at all times. “But don’t use it. Not even for an akuma.”

He didn’t want Nino to ever experience a loop on the battlefield. Not if he could help it. 

“I reserve the right to come save your ass if necessary,” Nino said as he slipped the miraculous around his wrist. 

Adrien laughed. “Okay, but please don’t unless you absolutely have to. I don’t need Ladybug pissed at me for giving away a miraculous.” 

Nino frowned at him then. “Why are you giving this to me, instead of back to her?” 

Adrien’s answer to that was complicated. Partly because he didn’t want Marinette to know that his loops with her were hurting him even as they gave him hope, and he definitely didn’t want her to know that he had fallen to the point of being borderline addicted. 

But there was also a strategic element to his choice. He could approach Nino in either form, and Nino would know to trust him. 

“You know who I am,” Adrien finally said. 

“Will you be okay without it?” Nino asked.

Adrien shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m definitely not okay with it right now.” He paused, then looked at Nino. “I might be texting and calling you a lot over the next few days.” 

Nino laughed. “I can’t promise to answer right away all the time, but you can always do that, man. Always.” 

Adrien let his head fall onto Nino’s shoulder. “Have I ever told you that you’re the absolute best?” 

“I could stand to hear it a few more times,” Nino said. 

Adrien grinned. “Noted.”

…

Chapter 7: The Five Minute Adventures of Ananta

[thesims4blogger]

The Sims 4: New Game Patch (June 29th, 2021)

There’s a new Sims 4 update available for PC/Mac and Consoles. 

PC: 1.76.81.1020 / Mac: 1.76.81.1220 / Console: Version 1.43

Remove all MODS and Custom Content before updating your game

Happy Summer everyone! We hope you are well wherever you are in the World. We have a Game Update that we hope you enjoy and some bug fixes.

Thanks again for your continued support and feedback! Stay cool and hydrated and if you are not in a warm season, stay warm and cozy.

Chau Chau!

-SimGuruRusskii

What’s New? Continuing our Summer of Sims, nothing says Summer like a music festival doesn’t it? Now you can experience them in The Sims! We welcome you to Sims Sessions with this update, a music festival where some of your favorite artists come together to entertain and to delight us with some of their most iconic songs. And we sure have a fantastic lineup for all of you!

Drumroll please…

Headlining the event, we have the award winning and critically acclaimed, two-time Grammy nominee, Bebe Rexha! She will be performing a magical, acoustic rendition of her song Sabotage.

Also performing we have Glass Animals, with their alternative, experimental sound that has captivated audiences across the globe. They will perform their top of the charts single Heat Waves.

Last but by no means least, is the soulful sound of Joy Oladokun! Recently deemed “2021 Artist to watch” by Amazon Music and NPR, Joy Oladokun’s words will stir all emotions and take you on a musical journey with the song breathe again.

Now that we have told you about our lineup, you must definitely NOT miss this event, I mean… Why would you? So let me tell you how to get there…

Sims Sessions will be hosted in Magnolia Blossom Park in Willow Creek on every Sunday (that is In Game Sunday), starting June 29 (TODAY) 10 a.m. PT to July 7 at 10 p.m. PT. Once Simmers load their game today (after updating the game of course) your Sims will get a message telling them about Sims Sessions (this will happen on in game Sunday in a new Save, but if you are not in a new save you will need to wait for it to be Sunday in your game after the Game Update), they will also receive a ticket in their inventory that they can view for more information and they will be able to travel to the location of the festival.

However, if your Sim is curious and absolutely cannot wait for the message, Sims can see the Sims Sessions pop up in the game in Willow Creek’s neighborhood map.

The festival venue will have vendors from which your Sims can buy merch and spots to relax and unwind while listening to amazing music.

We hope you enjoy this event! If you want to know more about Sims Sessions, you can visit the Sims Sessions website.

And with that we move on to the bug fixes…

Bug Fixes

Sims 4

Our master gardeners treated a few of our plants so they no longer reset to a previous growth stage randomly. If only life worked that way…

We fixed an issue where selected Create a Sim outfit parts on Sims were not showing up appropriately highlighted on the right side menu.

Teens generated with the Play with Genetics options in Create a Sim will no longer have Crow’s feet.

We have fixed an issue where Sims could not use stairs when Simmers deleted the floor of a fence block that was built around the stairs in the upper landing. It sounds like a mouthful, doesn’t it?

Some of our new hair colors (Neutral Black, Warm Brown, Neutral Blonde, and Light Blonde specially) were creating some issues in some Create a Sim hairstyles when applied, making Sims’ teeth disappear (?????) or turn grey in some cases.

Your Sims just LOVED their new hair colors, but noticed it also changed their eyelids and eyebrows instantly? I mean instant eyeliner is something I truly desire but we know that we needed to fix this one everyone, so indeed your Sims can no longer get automatic eyeliner and eyebrow colors from choosing a hair color.

Fixed an issue where when Sims learned about the Likes and Dislikes of other Sims their Sim Profile became blank. I mean, unless they like or dislike nothing, that is… troubling.

Get Together

Invited NPC will now leave… eventually. You know that saying that some visitors start smelling like rotten fish after a certain amount of time? We had to tell the NPCs that well, they were a problem so now they should be leaving appropriately.

Snowy Escape

I see a little silhouetto of a Sim, Skiing next to me – Omg, Omg, this is not a ghost tho? All the snow activities were really frightening me! All fixed now? Fixed now? MAGNIFICO OOOO.

If you had noticed invisible Sims doing snow activities in your game because they switched boots on the slopes… worry not, it should be fixed.

Bust the Dust

Sims with the Slob Trait can now complete the Fabulously Filthy Aspiration goal of Letting at least one floor level of your home become dirty! #goals?