#so it won't be ready for september unfortunately :(((

[rawliverandgoronspice]

no but for real guys I actually can't believe the spike in skill that occured in... not even a couple of months??? The one in the left is from February, and it took me *less time* to make the one on the right.

The trap now will be to NOT fall in the infinite loop of redoing stuff over and over again in search of ultimate perfection, but damn

[exhaslo]

Puzzle Pieces Pt. 2

(Mafia!Miguel x Shy!Reader)

Part 1

Warning: Eventual Smut so Minors DNI, mentions of abuse, blood, murder, language, fluff, bullying, mentions of sex

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Normally, the inside of a freezer would be packed with boxes of meat or other cold food. Normally, a freezer would just be a place where workers popped in, grabbed the item they were looking for, and popped out. Unfortunally, this was no normal freezer. Behind the large wall of maze like boxes, was a large room.

Miguel's lazy gaze followed out of the maze and into the ice cold room. There, in the middle, was a man hanging upside down. Miguel's men all moved away from the hanging man, waiting for their boss' order. Miguel let out a quick sigh, watching his breathe.

"I only like to be this cold in the winter," Miguel started as he walked around the upside down, "What month is it?"

The prisoner just spat towards the floor, refusing to answer. His scowl towards Miguel and his men was filled with anger. Miguel scoffed in response and snapped his fingers. In and instant, Ben punched the man in the stomach. Peter bend down and grabbed the enemy by the hair.

"I don't like repeating myself."

"Tch, September." The man hissed. Miguel scoffed again,

"So winter is still a ways away." He stood in front of the man and pulled out a large meat cutting tool, "Vulture has some nerve having his men enter my territory. Looks like I'll have to teach him a lesson again."

"Kill me all you want, but Vulture won't be shaken by the likes of you!"

"Kill?" Miguel snorted, his cruel laugh echoing the freezer, "You must be new. We Spiders don't kill-"

Peter and Ben dropped the man to the ground, ignoring his grunts. The two brought him to a chair and held him down. Miguel's smirk grew wider as he approached the man slowly,

"Simplemente romperemos cada hueso de tu cuerpo. Una vez que hayas aprendido tu error, haremos lo que hacen las arañas y te sacaremos de tu miseria. (We'll just break every bone in your body. Once you learned your mistake, then we'll do as Spiders do and put you out of your misery.)"

--------------

It was finally time for you to go home. Your body was exhausted from working. If everyday was going to be like this, you honestly might not last. Slowly making your way out of the supermarket with some groceries, you whimpered. After walking a block, you finally cried. It was such a rough day.

The sheer pressure of everyone's presence was going to break you. Rubbing your eyes, you whimpered as people passed you by without a care. That was normal. It was normal. Shuddering a sigh, you continued to walk to your new home. No one ever checked up on you. No one ever thought to care how your feelings were. So why bother now?

Once you finally arrived home, you put your groceries away, showered and plopped onto your bed. You were too tired to make dinner. Too tired to check your laundry. Reaching for your phone, you double checked your alarms in case you fell asleep. As you did, you saw a text from one of your friends.

'Hey, so I know you don't want Eddie to know you moved, but like, he seems really worried.'

Your eyes started to tear up. Some friend. They were falling right into Eddie's palm. This was why you only told your parents and like two people about your sudden move. You had hoped they would keep a secret, but you should have known better. Which was why you never told them where in NYC you were.

'Don't tell him.' Was all you replied with.

This wasn't fair. You moved away for a reason. All you could do was hope that your parents and your two friends would stay quiet. Sobbing into your pillow, you curled into a ball and wept yourself to sleep.

---------

If any part of you was ready for a vacation, it was your eyes. They had bags all packed up and ready to go. You had been living in Nueva York for about one month now. It was still a hard adjustment for you. The trains scared you, your neighborhood scared you, your job scared you and your past haunted you.

"The usual?" Your supervisor questioned.

You raised your head tiredly, knowing that phrase by now. It was the handsome man from your first day. He only appeared every now and then to either pick something up or to do into the freezer. If not him, then one of his men.

"Number two, zero, nine, nine."

"Yes, sir."

That was a code you still couldn't memorize. Once your supervisor left, you slowly turned to place your wrapped meat into the display case. Your gaze focused on the handsome man before you, captivated by his intense stare. You could feel your heart race as it felt like he was glaring into your soul.

----------

Miguel had entered the supermarket, wanting to grab a quick bite to eat. He was in the area and wanted to escape his lackeys. They were about to have a meeting with another mafia gang, but Miguel had no intension of making peace.

Approaching the deli, Miguel inhaled deeply. It was busy and loud. He tilted his head, looking for the shy bunny, aka you. Once he spotted you, Miguel furrowed his brows. He approached the supervisor, demanding his usual. Once the Supervisor left, Miguel got a better look at you.

You faced him and froze. Those wide glossy eyes of yours had a wave of exhaustion. Your skin looked paler despite the redness of your cheeks. Miguel could see you tremble as you made eye contact with him. Your face turning even redder. It made him chuckle. Miguel was both amused and annoyed.

"You've gotten thinner, conejita (bunny). Are you not eating properly?" Miguel asked out of concern. Your lips parted ever so slightly,

"N-Not...um...N-Not really...B-But that's m-my fault." You whispered, shaking from his pressence.

Miguel's eyes widen as he finally heard your soft and sweet voice. It was like honey to his ears. You were so quiet that he almost didn't hear you either. Miguel watched as you played with your fingers, your sleeves rubber banded against your wrists. He furrowed his brows, wondering why they weren't rolled up any higher.

"What's your name?" Miguel asked. You flinched, glancing up at him again,

"(Y/N)." You answered.

"So sorry, sir! She's still learning the ropes here!" The Supervisor panicked as he rushed over with Miguel's order. Miguel nearly shot him a glare,

"I spoke to her first." He said and returned his gaze towards you, "It was a pleasure, (Y/N). Until next time."

----------

You felt your breathing return to normal as Miguel parted you with a goodbye. The way your name rolled off his tongue sounded so sweet. It almost made your heart flutter. Almost. Your fear of him was far greater than admiring him.

Returning to work, you couldn't get Miguel off your mind. You had known his name for a while, but now he finally knew yours. That and he even noticed that you lost weight. Not even your closest friends or family noticed back home. Your shoulders sunk at the thought. Were you losing too much weight now?

It was hard. You always got home tired and didn't feel like doing much of anything. Whenever you did manage to make food, it was something simple and unhealthy. This lifestyle wasn't working out for you. Perhaps you needed to schedule a doctor's appointment and get professional advice?

"M-Maybe...I'll do that...later." He mumbled to yourself.

-----------

Miguel made his way out of the supermarket, still thinking about you. He entered his vehicle, letting his driver take him back to his headquarters. You were so shy. Not like any of the other girls. Leaning back in his seat, Miguel glanced over to the woman whom he fucked earlier that day.

What did he have to do to hear your moans? You weren't going to give him anything fake. Miguel resisted a chuckle as he licked his lips at the thought. His cock buried deep into your shaking body. Your moans coming out almost pornographic as he ravished you. Oh, the thought couldn't be anymore sweeter.

"Parece que tengo un conejito que cazar. (Looks like I have a bunny to hunt.)"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next chapter

@migueloharacumslut @18lkpeters @deputy-videogamer @leahnicole1219 @synamonthy @thedevax @jolynesposts @thraetor @freehentai @2099hitmylineyline

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Are You Sure?! - Episode 5 observations

7.5/10 ☆

A couple fights over nothing in front of other people, creating an atmosphere full of tension. There's questions in the back of the audience's mind. What is underneath all that bickering? What lies under that perfect initial façade of a couple who knows everyting about what ticks the other one? They are rude, sometimes loud, sometimes they forget there's other people there. It makes a guest uncomfortable. So much so that the guest would rather leave than spend one more second there.

Is this Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf or Are You Sure?!

The Jeju trip has now ended. On a rather anticlimatic note, but a result of a day in which the need to actually stick to a format of a travel show went directly out the window. Another filler, in which the guest was ready to leave from the moment he woke up (which he did).

Episode 5 did not nothing but merely reinforce what we saw the previous day in terms of relationships dynamics. Which was to be expected. People don't change over night and they weren't put into situations that might allow for other facets to rise to the surface. Once again, Jimin and Jungkook are going about their day as a duo, as a team, as a couple, as bj brothers, you name it. The show had already been establishing that from day 1 of their trips around the world. There's the everpresent "we" and then everyone else surrounding them. From conversations at dinner, to spending time together at night, getting ready to go out or just staying indoors while one of them is taking a nap while the other is cooking nearby. Snapshots of a couple life.

One that bickers because of very stupid and silly reasons, but being together on the joke and knowing each other's boundary. A lot of people can spend years together and still wouldn't care when they cross the line.

I wanted a real fight and instead all I got was nonsense over spam or pink sausages. But I won't dwell too much on it because it's not necessary. Although it did add to the neverending list of Tedros not being able to understand the mood. He takes Jungkook's reaction seriously, he doesn't understand what Jimin is trying to say when he calls himself weaker on the boat (when Jimin did nothing but reveal his strength kink). It simply shows that his humor is not the same. And perhaps current mean spirited voices are a mirror of him, unable to take a step back and realize the nuances and meanings behind what people do and say.

There are now five weeks since AYS began. And somewhere between 5-6h of footage of Jimin and Jungkook which come after a long time of not seeing them together, despite knowing that they are together and have been throughout some major events in the last couple of years, which culminated with their joint enlistment (they might be forced to go, but it was a relief to hear them having a laugh about it in late September).

It is a shame though that the result of this show, which for some of us is a real treat as we finally get to see Jimin and Jungkook outside the specific type of silly BTS content, has also become an opportunity for complete denigration of this pair. In part by their own so-called fans. No one is forced to watch it. If the need to look for clues that reveal imaginary conflict or lack of closeness is the thing that gets them off, I'd rather not see it. Unfortunately, it is inescapable. These are people that do not deserve anything nice.

I'm excited for the final segment of the show and I want to cherish those next three weeks, even though it will all be over then. I hope there's a real return to the intimate component. Which doesn't meant fairytale happiness. It just means a glimpse into the last days of youth and freedom to be together in a way that had then to be put on hold as the harsh reality of forced "military adulthood" came knocking at the door.

[wesawbears]

My @aftgexchange fic for @beladreens (I'm sorry- it won't let me tag you, but I'm also going to gift this on A03).

You asked for unconventional omegaverse and crack treated seriously, and my brain said "have I ever read a beta/beta fic?" So, here's Beta Neil and Beta Andrew, with humor and a side of angst.

Thank you to @pretttydemonboy for helping me plot lol

--

It starts, as most things do on this team that God forgot, with Kevin.

Neil's halfway to the dorm, ready to grab his bag for night practice when his phone blared, a discordant sound Andrew had installed on Neil's phone to ensure he would answer. He'd said it was a fox yelling— it certainly got the attention of everyone in the hallway.

Neil ignores the glances his way and flips his phone open:

Andrew: no night practice. roof

He furrows his brow, turning to follow his instructions. Night practice was ritual— in the last few years, barring life threatening injury, neither Kevin or Neil had been willing to give it up. Was it Andrew? If it was a bad day, he usually just stayed quiet, but it never kept him from driving.

He takes the steps to the roof two at a time, not sure what he would find when he reached the top. Once he does, though, he just sees Andrew, casually sitting behind the railing.

Neil joins him, sitting just close enough that the tips of their shoes brushed in greeting. "What happened?"

"Kevin can't make it," he says simply, and from his tone, Neil can't see anything he's not saying.

There goes his theory. His mind flips from concern toward Andrew to flummoxed anger. The idea of Andrew canceling night practice was unfortunate but possible— for Kevin to do so was unthinkable. Kevin had come to practice grief-stricken, drunk, sick, and everything in between. Was he not the one who'd said "If I am breathing, I can play?" What could pull him away from the court?

"He's in heat."

Neil takes a beat. "…are you fucking kidding me?"

Andrew shrugs as if to say "take it or leave it" and Neil leans back on his hands to look up at the sky for answers as Andrew explains.

"Bad batch of heat suppressants in the student athletics office."

Neil's never been more grateful to be a beta. He's pretty sure even if he hadn't been, his mother would have found a way. There were drugs powerful enough to clamp down on someone's nature, make it so whatever instincts you'd had became undetectable. It was just too dangerous to be on the run and have to worry about situations like Kevin was in now.

Neil sighs. "Heats take, what, three days? Four? How long will he be out?"

Andrew shrugs. "It is Kevin, so he will push back as soon as he can. You won't have to wait too long."

Neil hopes not. True, it was only September, but they couldn't afford to fall behind this early in the season, and Kevin knew that better than anyone.

"Is he still in the dorm?"

Andrew shakes his head. "Nicky and Aaron got him. They'll camp out with him. Matt and Dan will bunk with Renee and Allison."

"Any chance of us running away to Columbia to ride it out?"

Andrew tilts his head and the fond derision he finds there makes Neil's stomach curl pleasantly. "Didn't think you'd voluntarily move that far from a court."

"Don't confuse me with Kevin. I've left the court plenty of times."

"For extenuating circumstances."

"I'd call these circumstances extenuating."

Andrew tugs at his sleeve, a question in his eyes and Neil lets himself sway into him, hums at the curl of his hand around his jaw.

It wasn't night practice, but Neil feels his energy settle anyway.

—

If that had been that, Neil would have been content enough. A one-night diversion.

But now, the athlete's dorm has been quarantined, practices were shut down for the week, and Neil was left wishing he and Andrew had taken off for the week anyway.

It was a small comfort that as betas, he and Andrew were at least allowed to quarantine alone with each other, but the boredom aches in his bones. How one bad batch of medication could wreak this much havoc was a mystery to Neil.

He bounces his leg, sitting on the lower bunk. "I don't understand why I can't just go to the court on my own. It's not like anyone's pheromones would affect me."

Andrew pauses where he's sat on a beanbag tossing an empty can in the air and catching it. "Two days ago he was practically begging to go to Columbia. Now he comes crawling back."

Neil fixes him with a look and sits in the adjoining beanbag, turning to face him. "A week, Andrew."

"Somehow you will survive this Herculean trial."

Neil knows, distantly, that it could be worse. The idea of being betrayed by your own body, held captive by your own desires, sends a deep shudder down his spine. There isn't a single piece of his life that wouldn't have been made worse by having a designation. The road, and the Nest alike weren't kind to omegas or alphas.

"Do you ever regret it?"

Neil had never asked Andrew what he was, before. It wasn't relevant, and he wouldn't invade his privacy for an answer that ultimately had no bearing on how Neil saw him. But it can't have been a decision that he made lightly, and Neil knew that sacrifices like that didn't cost nothing.

For Neil, he couldn't conceptualize something he'd never had. But what would it feel like to know what it was to have something and suddenly feel its absence?

Andrew's face doesn't move, but his fingers curl around the can he's still holding. "You know I don't."

Neil nods. It's the answer he expected, and he knows in Andrew's shoes it would be his answer as well.

He reaches out carefully, peeling Andrew's hand off the can, letting him intertwine the fingers of that hand with Neil's. With his free hand, he guides Andrew's hand over the familiar contours of his scars, until Andrew moves his hand on his own to rest over the iron mark, tracing it with his thumb.

When people talked about beta/beta matches, they always lamented the lack of marks. When an omega or alpha matched with a beta, there was inevitably talk of how sad it was that one member would be longing for more, something their partner couldn't give them.

But Andrew and Neil knew that marking someone didn't mean you loved them. They'd been marked irrevocably, by others, by themselves, too deeply to want to scar each other.

Neil felt Andrew's mark in the way he kept his hand curled over his heart, in how he always ran his fingers over the key in his pocket when he felt like running to remind himself why he'd stayed.

They stay like that, curled in close, and no words need to be said to understand how they'd gained more than they'd lost.

[1000sunnygo]

Hi, do you know when chapter 1081 will be animated?

Hi!

I saw a speculative chart for episode : corresponding chapter circulating online, maybe this'll help?

So the earliest possible air date is August 31st. Knowing Toei, it may take a couple more weeks.

Bandai Spirits has Law, Teach and Bepo merches scheduled for late September. I assume they'll release after/around the time the conclusion episode airs? Not sure if there's any relation between the two since the figures are not spoilery. No Bepo update, unfortunately, gotta wait for the next Jump Festa in December for new figure previews..

IMO the episode won't be delayed beyond mid-September. Grab your tissues and get ready 😌

[shimakaze-revivalism]

this year i've been doing a lot of stuff that i didn't mean to do, and not doing a lot of stuff that i did mean to do. i got involved with the kink scene, i deepened my familiarity with carbonated beverages, i ate a lot of fried chicken sandwiches, i started reading again, and i played a lot of gacha.

and speaking of gacha, the only one that stuck with me from the decent-sized crop that i sampled this year was mihoyo's zenless zone zero! what to say about it . . . it's a Real Game, for one. it manages to shed the unsheddable "rubbishy" feel that is almost universal to gacha. its premise is like if andy and leyley were normal and worked as shadowrun hackers in jet set radio tokyo, in a semi-apocalyptic world where the only people around are orphans, anthros, or both. there are also sentient automatons that have cool outfits, and chubby baby bunny robots, but unfortunately neither of them have rights. it's got a really cool soundtrack, a charming spiderversesque look, and characters i found surprisingly compelling.

new music! well, new to me at least. you know ben and jerry's cherry garcia (possibly the most prominent contemporary cherry-focused ice cream flavor)? well jerry garcia was a guy who had this band that old men loved called the grateful dead. and well, i don't really care for what i've heard of their records to be honest. but it must be said that they were a jam band, and the 16 minute terrapin station gives one a taste of what i assume was the sensory height of a real-life hippy's experience, and i can imagine listening to it for decades to come.

indeed, if one wants a meal in the proggy realm rather than a bite, it's best to look to the guys that do that stuff all the time across the pond. Morgan put me on to electric wizard and their impeccable self-titled album has been in heavy rotation since. jackie put me on to yes' album relayer, and the first track provides the rarefied pleasure of hearing the singer of the irrepressibly lighthearted and goofy jojo anime ED "roundabout" trill about bathing in the blood of one's enemies.

in more occasional listening i have to rep my oshi 星街彗星 (hoshimachi suisei). her consistently strong body of work ranges from saccharine, to heartfelt, to sort of diva-core. listen, it's increasingly popular to reference hatsune miku, and it's often done with a sort of surface-level appreciation of miku, riding off of the long history miku has in overseas otaku culture. i myself have participated in this. but step outside the bit with me here. miku is a synth, an instrument. miku has all the humanity of the DX7. in fact that's what her color scheme is based on (because yamaha made both miku and the DX7)! hoshimachi suisei . . . listen, maybe people aren't ready. but she really is a virtual pop star. she's iconic. she's got a sigma grindset. she has a favorite food and a sister and friends and it's not lore it's reality. she's not a prop owned by a company, but an autonomous performer! miku is a virtual girl. suisei has a virtual face, but she's a real woman with a real dream! won't you believe in it?

staying with japanese affairs for a moment, anime has been good too! gushing over magical girls, perfect show, hannibal for anime girls, delightful and heartfelt. i also watched the vexations of a shut-in vampire princess, which was frenetic, lightning fast and kind of stupid, but i eagerly await another season. both extremely lesbian.

looking ahead, i'm extremely excited for the release of the alters, a game whose demo caught me completely off-guard, and i'm also excited to try the early access release of marmoreal, a sort of isometric completely touhoucore game with so much charm and sincerity.

that's my little roundup! have a great september!

[nekoannie-chan]

First & last: “I love you” & Anniversary

Title: “I love you” & Anniversary.

Fandom: Marvel, Captain America.

Ship: Steve Rogers X OFC.

Word count: 3095 words. 

Square: Alt 1 & 2 “Anniversary” & “I love you”.

Rating: Teen.

Summary: Steve and Jenna’s first and last anniversary, and “I love you”. 

Major Tags: Sad, angst, fluff, character’s dead.

Additional tags: This is my entry for the @sweetspicybingo, Beginning's Bingo. 

Links: Wattpad, Ao3, Spanish version.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish, so I wanna improve my writing skills in English. Please let me know if you notice any mistakes, and I will correct them.

I don’t grant permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or in other languages (I translate my work) or for using my graphics (my dividers are included).  I created them exclusively for my fics; please respect my work and refrain from stealing it. Some people here make dividers that anyone can use; mine is not this type, so please look for the other people’s dividers. The only exceptions are those I gifted ‘cuz now belong to someone else. Please let me know if you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish:  Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter.  

If you like it, please vote, comment, give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @navybrat817 @real-fbi @caplanbuckybarnes @hallecarey1 @nana1000night @talia-rumlow @azulatodoryuga @endlesstwanted @patzammit @kmc1989

First, I love you.

Late September 2012.

Jenna was officially on an analysis mission at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, but the truth was that she had finished her part of the report two hours ago. She was sitting in front of a turned-off laptop in one of the offices in the least-travelled wing of the complex. She pretended to type, but in reality, she was waiting. And she wasn't very good at hiding it: she checked the time every five minutes, fixed her hair, or stood up for no reason.

When Steve finally entered the office, closing the door softly behind him, Jenna smiled without even turning around.

“You're late,” she said, feigning disdain.

“I ran into Romanoff in the hallway. If I looked too rushed, she would have been suspicious,” Steve replied as he took off his coat. “Any news?”

“Just that Everly sent me a message this morning... she says that if ‘I don't tell anyone about my Secret Captain, she won't either.’” Jenna looked at him. Steve let out a low laugh. He approached her and took her hand.

“Just Everly, huh?”

“I swear. Like a good Rollins, she's nosy.”

Steve crouched down in front of her, looking up at her.

“Steve...”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

He looked at her as if the world had stopped.

“I said it out loud, didn't I?” Jenna added, now nervous. “Sorry, it wasn't the right time; it just came out, and...”

Steve stood up and kissed her. When he pulled away, he caressed her cheek with his fingertips.

“I love you, Jenna.”

First anniversary.

February 2019.

Early that morning, Jenna had prepared dinner with her own hands, decorated the dining room with dried flowers and golden tones, and placed a small box on the mantelpiece: a gift that took her weeks to think of. Everything was ready. All that was missing was Steve.

He left early that morning, following his routine of reports, meetings with Natasha and Bruce, analysis of possible points of conflict, and voluntary patrols. When he walked through the door, all he did was kiss Jenna on the cheek and say,

“Don't wait up for me, honey. I might be late.”

Jenna stood still, feeling those words pierce her chest. Not a mention of their anniversary. Not a different look. Nothing.

For hours, she wavered between being upset and simply resigning herself to it. But she didn't blow out the candles. She didn't take off her dress. She didn't close the box.

Just before midnight, the door opened. And that's when Steve saw her: sitting in the dining room, surrounded by dim lights, her makeup smudged from waiting... and crying.

“God, Jenna...” he whispered, slowly taking off his jacket. “No... it can't be today...”

“Yes,” she replied, her voice broken but firm. “A year ago today, we got married; today is our anniversary.”

Steve swallowed hard. He had forgotten the anniversary. Without saying a word, he knelt in front of her, taking her hands carefully.

“Forgive me, Jenna. I know there's no excuse. But I'm here... and if you let me, I want to make it up to you. Everything. Every minute you spent waiting for me tonight.”

Jenna looked at him silently. Steve stood up slowly, lifted her gently, and led her to the bedroom.

Last anniversary and “I love you.”

Brooklyn, 2071.

They had been married for 52 years.

Steve had woken up early, his back stiff. He walked carefully to the kitchen, made breakfast—scrambled eggs and bread with strawberry jam—and brought a cup of tea to Jenna, who was still dozing in the recliner in the living room. As he approached, he didn't see the white cat that had snuck into the house that week.

He tripped.

“For God's sake...! Alpine!” He shouted, barely managing not to drop the tray. “What the hell are you doing here?”

The cat, with all the feline dignity possible, looked at him as if the intrusion were his.

“I don't understand how you got in,” he muttered to the cat as Jenna opened one eye.

“Alpine? Again? Isn't she supposed to live with Bucky?”

“That's what I say. This is Alpine IV! How many times has that man ‘lost’ cats?”

“Maybe she knows she gets more affection here.”

Steve frowned, feigning indignation.

“More affection than Bucky? Do you know what that man sings to her when he thinks she can't hear him?”

“And yet the cat still comes to you. Go figure...”

They both laughed. Alpine curled up on Jenna's lap, as if it were her natural place. Steve set the tray on the side table and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead, but just then Jenna murmured.

“Happy anniversary, my love.”

Silence. Steve blinked.

“What?”

She looked at him, smiling, but also a little resigned.

“Today. It's today. Fifty-two years, Steve.”

He sat up suddenly.

“Shit...”

“Language, Captain,” she teased, taking his hand.

“Jenna, I'm sorry. I forgot! It's just that last night I was with the grandchildren, and the memorial service for Sam and... there's no excuse!”

“Shh.” She caressed the back of his hand with her thumb. “The important thing is that you're here.”

That night, Steve got everything ready.

Without Jenna knowing, he took out the old metal box where he kept mementos from missions, recipes learned during the blip, and a small handwritten list Jenna had made in 2019 of “things to do together in the future.” Most of them had already done it. Except for one.

“Spend an anniversary without interruptions. Just you and me. And if we can, make a baby.”

He smiled as he read that. He put it in his pants pocket, combed his hair as best he could, and dimmed the lights. They had made the baby, but not on their anniversary.

He put on her favorite vinyl record. He lit candles throughout the room. He took out the flannel blanket they used on their movie nights and set hot soup and artisan bread on the table. When Jenna came in with the help of her cane and saw everything, she fell silent.

“What did you do?”

“What I should have done since this morning.”

He approached her with a flower in his hand (yes, stolen from the garden, to be specific, from the garden that Jenna took such good care of).

“Will you dance with me?”

“Steve, my knees hurt.”

“My hip creaks, but look what a couple we make.”

He took her in his arms carefully, and they took three or four clumsy steps, laughing and elbowing each other, barely turning.

“This counts as dancing, right?” he asked.

“If you look at me like that, it counts as making love,” Jenna replied. He stood still, looking at her.

“If I could, if my body still responded, I would make love to you until dawn.”

“Liar. At 50, you were already asleep after the second round.”

“That was once! And I was tired from the mission I had”.

“Sure, Rogers.”

Alpine IV meowed from the armchair, and Steve looked up.

“Even you know tonight is special, right, fur ball?”

Jenna watched Alpine IV with a raised eyebrow as the cat rubbed cheekily against Steve's leg.

“You know what's the worst part?” She murmured, reclining on the couch, wrapped in her blue flannel robe with little flowers. “That you always liked dogs better.”

Steve shrugged as he stroked the cat's soft white head.

“It's not my fault this cat is convinced she's a schnauzer.”

Across the room, the two miniature schnauzers—Captain and Fury—watched them from their bed, resigned to the fact that Alpine IV had taken over their blanket, their corner, and everything else in the house. The cat spun in the air, leaping with her front paws outstretched to catch the edge of the cushion where Fury was sleeping. The dogs didn't flinch.

“It's official,” Jenna said with a laugh. “This cat thinks she's part of the pack.”

“And you think Bucky is looking for her?” Steve asked.

“Looking for her? Steve, Bucky always says he ‘loses’ an Alpine when he wants us to visit.”

“Do you think he does it on purpose?”

"Of course. Alpine, I adored you, followed you around like a soldier.”

"Alpine II brought me mice as offerings.”

"Alpine III hated you. She would pounce on your boots every time you approached the couch.”

“And now Alpine IV comes to visit as if this were her home.”

Steve laughed, shaking his head.

“Maybe this cat is the reincarnation of all of them together. A failed HYDRA experiment.”

“Please! Not even HYDRA could program such a feline personality.”

Alpine IV jumped onto Jenna's legs with complete confidence, purring as if she had been there for years.

“Look at that. She didn't even ask for permission. Did you see how she ignores the dogs?”

“The cat thinks she's superior,” said Steve. “Like you when you beat me at chess and said it wasn't luck.”

“It wasn't luck. You were just too handsome to concentrate. I was less distracted.”

“You know what?” he said, standing up slowly, taking off his robe, revealing the old T-shirt with the Howling Commandos logo. “Now that the cat is here, the dogs have given up, and you're as beautiful as ever...”

Jenna looked at him, narrowing her eyes.

“What are you going to do, Rogers?”

“I'm going to seduce you.”

“In that thousand-year-old T-shirt?”

“Hey! It was my battle uniform... on cold nights.”

“You're going to break your hip. What if you get a cramp like last time?”

Steve put a hand to his chest, feigning pain.

“You'll never forget that, will you?”

“Never. It was the most ridiculous sound I've ever heard. And I once saw Stark trying to play the ukulele. Fury, let Alpine have the cushion for a while!” Jenna shouted from her corner of the sofa, sipping her cup of tea with trembling but steady hands.

Alpine IV, stretched out like a queen, had taken complete control of Fury and Captain's bed, and although they protested at first with brief barks, now they seemed to be playing with her as if they had been together for years. The cat leapt onto the dogs' wagging tails, spun around in almost clumsy circles, and occasionally threw herself onto her back, letting Fury gently nibble her paws. “Look at that,” Jenna said. “She thinks she's part of the pack. And the ironic thing is, they adore her.”

“Of course they do. Because all these animals are blindly in love with you,” Steve grumbled from the kitchen, holding a tray with two plates of homemade apple pie. “Alpine III used to snort at me. And I gave him expensive tuna.”

“Alpine III knew what he was doing. It was his way of proving that you were worthy of me. You failed.”

“Hey!”

“But then Alpine IV came along and fell in love with my socks. So, you must have done something right,” she said mockingly as she took the plate.

The dogs were tangled up with the cat in front of the fireplace. The three of them seemed to be competing to see who could get the most attention from Jenna. Captain was carrying one of her soft shoes in his mouth, waiting for a pat. Furia rested his snout on her feet. Alpine IV, not wanting to be left behind, climbed cheekily onto Jenna's lap, pushing Steve away with a glance.

“Oh, come on!” Steve complained, taking off his robe with a theatrical gesture and standing there in his T-shirt and tight pajama pants. “Even the cat wants to sabotage my night?”

Jenna looked at him, amused.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm going to seduce you.”

“In those socks?” She gave him a skeptical look at his feet, covered by old Christmas socks that said “Property of S.R.”

“They're strategic. If I get cold, I get cramps. But I can take them off slowly if you think it's more erotic.”

“I think it's funnier.”

Steve knelt in front of her with deliberate slowness, feigning sensuality as a noise escaped from his knee.

“Oh, my God,” Jenna laughed. “You're going to get stuck to the floor, and I'll have to call our grandchildren to pick you up.”

“I'll take that risk for you. I always will.”

“I just wanted to make you smile. I wanted this anniversary number... how many is it?”

“Fifty-two.”

“Fifty-two!” she exclaimed.

“And you think Alpine will let you near me? Look at her. She's ready to scratch any intruder.”

Alpine IV had indeed placed a paw on Jenna's leg and was watching Steve with half-closed eyes.

“She's challenging me,” Steve said quietly. “I respect that... but I'm not going to give up.”

He stood up with a dramatic growl, kissed Jenna on the forehead, and whispered in her ear.

“If you give me five minutes... and some joint cream... I can try something.”

“Seduce me?”

“No, get into bed without my leg falling asleep. But if we end up hugging, we'll call it a ‘romantic achievement.’”

“All right, Captain. Let's go to bed. But you hug me this time.”

“And the cat.”

“And the dogs.”

“And me?”

“You're optional.”

Steve feigned a mortal wound to the chest, stumbling over a cushion. Alpine IV gave him a bored look. Fury barked. Captain followed suit.

The light from the night lamp bathed the room. Jenna had settled down with a satisfied sigh between the sheets, surrounded by Fury at her feet, Captain by her side, and Alpine IV curled up on her stomach as if she thought she were an exclusive personal heater. Steve, for his part, settled in more slowly, grunting as he sat on the edge of the bed, took off his glasses, and left his watch on the nightstand.

“Are you okay, Captain America?” Jenna asked, raising an eyebrow.

“My left knee has been asking me the same thing for the last half hour,” he replied, rubbing his thigh as he tried unsuccessfully to stretch it. “But don't worry... I have a plan.”

He carefully slipped under the covers and rolled toward her as if rehearsing a delicate military maneuver.

“Steve...”

“Shh...” he whispered, turning on his side. “Did you know that on the battlefield, prolonged eye contact with your target can destabilize them emotionally?”

Jenna narrowed her eyes, stifling a laugh.

“Are you trying to seduce me with military tactics?”

“I'm appealing to your background. You were a trained agent, but I have more medals.”

“And I have more cats than patience,” she said, pointing to Alpine IV, who was purring on her abdomen. Steve looked at the cat.

“Do you think if I promise to clean the litter box, she'll leave me a corner?”

“Only if you bring her salmon and let her see you defeated again.”

Steve snorted.

“All right. I'll do it with reinforcements,” he said, and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Happy anniversary, Mrs. Rumlow-Rogers.”

“You forgot this morning...”

“I forgot this morning,” he repeated regretfully. “But I haven't forgotten for a single day how much I love you.”

“And that's your seduction technique, Steve? Apologies, intense looks, and tenderness?”

“Did it work?”

“It works,” she murmured, and turned her face slightly to catch his lips in a kiss.

“You know what?” Steve murmured, already lying next to her as he slowly caressed the back of her hand. “If I could, I'd make love to you tonight. Slowly, like in 2021, with soft music in the background and your legs intertwined with mine...”

“Steve...” Jenna looked at him with narrowed eyes. “For God's sake, you can barely manage the cane.”

“It's decorative!” he defended himself with a raised eyebrow. “Besides, remember that Alpine II was in love with me. If that doesn't prove that I'm still desirable...”

“Alpine II also licked the microwave, sometimes when it was running, honey.”

They both let out a low laugh that made Captain's ears twitch as he dozed at the foot of the bed. Alpine IV had settled on Jenna's chest, Fury was curled up between their legs, while Captain was stretched out near the edge. Steve looked at them with resignation.

“Did you realize that all three animals love you more than me?”

“It's always been that way,” Jenna replied, running her fingers through his hair. “Ever since Alpine I. She loved you. Alpine II loved you. Alpine III hated you. And this one... this one just comes for food and cuddles. Like you in 2012.”

“Touché,” he admitted with a smile. “I love you, Jenna.”

“I love you, Steve.”

They fell asleep, embracing as they always had.

The next morning, a ray of light crossed the room diagonally, illuminating the old photo frame on the dresser: the wedding in 2018. The clock read 7:06 a.m.

Steve blinked slowly, his body curled up behind Jenna's. His arm was still around her, although his shoulder felt numb. Alpine IV was no longer on his chest but sitting on the edge of the bed, motionless, her ears pricked up, as if she knew something he hadn't noticed yet. Captain and Fury were also still, too still for that time of day.

“Mmnh... Jen...” Steve whispered. “Are you still asleep?”

She didn't answer. Steve, his heart racing, sat up carefully. His fingers touched her cheek. He called her name again, louder.

“Jenna... honey...” he said in a low voice. He turned her gently to get a better look at her. Steve was silent for a few seconds, staring at her with wide eyes. And then, the truth settled over him like an invisible cloak.

“No...” he whispered, feeling something break inside him. “No, please, no...”

He pressed his forehead against hers, squeezing his eyes shut. The tears weren't coming yet; the shock was too deep. He felt everything slowly crumbling, the dogs whimpering softly. Alpine IV meowed once, jumping off the bed. Steve ran his fingers through Jenna's hair, as he had done for decades. He tucked a strand behind her ear with trembling hands. Tears began to run down his cheeks.

“I promised you I would stay with you until the end,” he whispered. He lay down beside her again, as if sleep could bring back the moment. The three animals slowly climbed back onto the bed. Alpine IV settled down next to Jenna's chest. Captain and Fury settled between them, and Steve closed his eyes.

“Just a little longer,” he said softly. “Just a little longer, honey. I'm going to stay here... for you. Until I have the strength to let you go."

[throughthewaves-if]

July Progress Post 7/31/24

Read the Aquarii progress post on @aquarii-if.

Happy end of July! Hope you all had a good month. Through The Waves is currently at 28,000 words.

Unfortunately, this month has been great for Aquarii, but not the greatest for Through The Waves. I can see the end in sight, and I have a full plan for how I want chapter one to go, but sitting down and writing Through The Waves has been trouble.

Same problem with Aquarii, Sugarcube had an update, and the saves menu is kind of ugly now, lol. I'm using the same template I use for Aquarii, though, so it should be easily fixable and I shouldn't be running into any more problems.

Here's some highlights from the month of July-

Announced Through The Waves.

Hit 20,000 words.

Reached 200 followers. 🥳

And here's what I have planned for the month of August-

Finish the writing portion of Chapter One and move on to coding.

Reach somewhere between 30k-40k words, maybe 50k, but I don't have a set amount of words in mind.

Announce the two new ROs I've started writing.

Same with Aquarii, I have pretty high hopes for August. Hopefully, the demo for Through The Waves won't take much longer, and I'll have some content ready for you guys sometime in August or September. I wish you all an amazing August!

[wrestlingisfake]

Wrestledream preview

Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley - On September 25, Moxley defeated Darby Allin to earn this shot at Danielson's AEW men's world championship. If he wins, it'll be his fourth reign as the undisputed titleholder. In singles matches, Danielson is 3-2 against the challenger, but he hasn't defeated Moxley since 2010.

In 2022, Danielson approached Moxley about joining forces to advance their vision of pro wrestling, and they co-founded the Blackpool Combat Club. The faction was apparently dissolved on September 7, when Moxley turned on Bryan and smothered him with a plastic bag. Only Wheeler Yuta sided with Bryan in the schism; the group aligned with Moxley has not yet made its agenda clear, except to say that Mox tried it Bryan's way, but "diplomacy has failed," and now he needs the world title to proceed.

Danielson has indicated that once he loses the title, he will retire, so in effect his career is on the line every time the championship is on the line. Obviously, he's been building up his impending retirement for a year, but this time it really feels like the end of the road. On-screen Danielson is presented as a match for the challenger, but off-screen he's claimed that he lost strength in his legs during his last title defense. Bryan is not above misleading fans about "real" life to keep them guessing about his storylines. But at this point I believe the stories about his neck problems, and that's not a good position for a world champion unless he's about to down in a blaze of glory.

Moxley is clearly coming to mercilessly destroy Danielson, so if this is truly "the final countdown" it won't be the fond farewell fans are accustomed to. Bryan won't go down without a vicious fight, and Mox won't hug him after it's over. That would be a major bummer in Tacoma, so close to Danielson's hometown of Aberdeen. Is AEW really ready to end the show on such a huge downer? They've convinced me they will.

Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ricochet - Ospreay is defending the AEW international title in a three-way match, so the first man to score a fall on either opponent will win the match and the title. Ospreay and Ricochet had a historic rivalry in the mid-2010s, so there was a lot of hype around their title bout on October 2, but Takeshita ran in to ruin it. Logically Takeshita should be fined/suspended for his actions, but this is pro wrestling so they just added him to the rematch for no good reason.

I am not at all a fan of three-way matches. This match is a lazy excuse for not booking Ospreay-Takeshita, Ospreay-Ricochet, and/or Takeshita-Ricochet, and nothing is going to be settled here until we get at least two of those aforementioned singles bouts. I don't have a problem with Takeshita winning the belt. But winning it here, probably by stealing a fall from Ospreay by pinning Ricochet, isn't how I want to see it happen. Unfortunately I think that's very likely to be what happens.

Mark Briscoe vs. Chris Jericho - Jericho scored a pin on Briscoe in a trios match on September 28, so now he gets a shot at the ROH men's world championship. Jericho is seeking his second run with this title. The last time he won it, he began calling himself "the ocho," in reference to it being his eighth world heavyweight singles title. Will he become "the nueve?" I don't think that sounds as good, but we'll see.

Jericho's faction has been feuding with Briscoe's Conglomeration for months. Things didn't get really personal, though, until Chris suggested Mark would never be the champion that his late brother Jay was. Mark smacked the shit out of him for that. Although, to be honest, I think Jay would have straight up murdered him for that, so I suppose that supports Jericho's point.

I don't see the point in putting this belt back on Jericho. We've done this already. On the other hand, Briscoe chasing Jericho to regain the title is maybe the biggest match they could do for the Final Battle pay-per-view in a couple of months. That still doesn't convince me they should do it, but they might. I'm pulling for Briscoe, but I wouldn't bet much money on him.

Mariah May vs. Willow Nightingale - Willow won a four-way on October 9 to earn this match for May's AEW women's world championship.

I like Willow but the booking doesn't make a ton of sense. May has quite correctly pointed out that in the past few months Nightingale lost the AEW TBS title, lost her big feud against Kris Statlander, and lost the CMLL women's title. Obviously the 10/9 victory was meant to rehab her after those losses, but it's not enough--it doesn't even make sense that she qualified to be in a match to determine the #1 contender. That's a problem when it's very likely Willow is just going to lose this match too, since Mariah is on a hot streak and needs to be kept strong for future intrigue with Toni Storm and/or Mina Shirakawa.

I fully expect May to retain, and I'm not sure how Willow can regain her momentum after this.

Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs. Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen - The Young Bucks, Matt and Nick, are defending the AEW tag team championship against Private Party. Quen pinned Matt in a trios match on October 4, and Kassidy scored the win in a three-way match on the 5th to earn this title shot.

If that feels like a short build to a big title bout, it's because Private Party had only just finished getting their asses destroyed by Jon Moxley's heel stable for a few weeks. Moxley's big statement was that Quen and Kassidy have failed to achieve anything in the past five years, so he smashed Kassidy's hand with a hammer to give the team some adversity to overcome. In theory it would be a dramatic turnaround if Quen and Zay and regroup to win tag team gold. But I don't sense that's going to happen, so jobbing out to Moxley's crew and the Bucks is going to be hard to come back from.

I could see the Bucks deciding they want to end their run as champs by putting over a young team like Private Party. But a lot has been invested in building them up and cleaning out the division, so I can't believe it'll really end here. The obvious destination is a match against Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi, and it's starting to feel like that might actually be possible sooner rather than later. So I think the Bucks will retain.

Jack Perry vs. Katsuyori Shibata - Shibata has challenged Perry for the AEW TNT championship. I like Shibata, but I think his role here is to give Jack a big win over an opponent he'd never beat on paper. Perry's got a good thing going as the little twerp who shouldn't be able to beat the babyfaces, but he always find a way anywhow. It seems like we're overdue for Adam Copeland to show up wanting to get his belt back, so maybe that'll happen after the match? Maybe not? Who knows.

Adam Page vs. Jay White - This is a rematch from July 6, when Page knocked White out of the Owen Hart tournament, thanks in part to a run-in by Christian Cage. White evidently sustained a real injury that has been worked into the story, so that he's pissed at Page and (I presume) Cage for putting him on the shelf for three months.

Page's storyline for the past year has been his pyrrhic campaign for revenge against Swerve Strickland, which has eaten away at his soul. The novel twist here is that Jay is a fucking sociopath who could not give two shits about Page's emotional trauma, and isn't afraid to respond in kind to Page's ruthless violence. It is absolutely wild to me that Page is the sympathetic heel here, and Jay is the unworthy babyface, but here we are.

I think Page has to beat Jay here, and beat him badly enough to end the feud. But as a longtime New Japan fan and veteran Jay White hater, I have learned all too painfully that you can't ever count him out. So this could go either way, I suppose.

Darby Allin vs. Brody King - Darby is pissed he lost his world title shot to Jon Moxley, so he issued an open challenge and his old nemesis King answered. In one-on-one competition, Brody leads the series 4-1-1. Darby has beaten him, but he's never pinned or submitted him.

Darby's promos have been all over the board lately. He was complaining about "all the complacent guys in the back" so much that he started to sound like he was auditioning for a spot in Mox's heel group. I saw in a recent interview that he said he wants to bring out more of Brody's real-life personality, because he thinks fans would find that scarier than his on-screen presentation. Man, if Darby thinks Brody King doesn't already scare the shit out of me, then that bus must have hit him harder than I thought. Anwyay, I'm rooting for Brody, but I guess Darby needs a hometown win.

Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos - This is scheduled for the best two out of three falls, so I guess they're trying to make this feel like a traditional lucha libre main event. Hologram, formerly known as Aramis, has been undefeated since he debuted with AEW in July. Mortos, formerly known as Black Taurus, has only one singles victory in AEW, which was yesteday, against, uh, the Butcher. So yeah, Mortos has mainly been a jobber to the stars, but I think the fans dig the man-bull gimmick and he seems to be kind of getting a push now that he and Jake Roberts are aligned with La Faccion Ingobernable. Even so, I figure Hologram will win again.

Max Caster & Anthony Bowens vs. Mason Madden & Mansoor - This is scheduled for the pre-show. The Acclaimed (Caster and Bowens) have been oddly hostile about MxM Collection (Mason and Mansoor) coming to AEW, and I assume it's because there's only room for one tag team that makes weird sex jokes and isn't afraid to seem kinda gay. Personally I like both teams so I wish they'd put aside their differences, but it's not All Elite Friendship. The Acclaimed really ought to win and get back to chasing the tag title, I'm not sure what happened to that.

Anna Jay vs. Harley Cameron - Another pre-show match. Anna seems to be getting a push since returning from STARDOM's 5 Star Grand Prix, and I'm all for that. Harley is a fun character, but I'm not sure she's ever won a match, so I think you can tell where this is going. Anna has to win.

Atlantis Jr. vs. Brian Cage - Still another pre-show match. Atlantis is defending the ROH men's television title, which he won back in June. He's also the CMLL world historic light heavyweight champion, but that's not at stake and I'm sure Cage wouldn't meet the weight limit anyway. To Atlantis's credit, he has come back to ROH now and then to defend the TV title, but his last defense was in August so I suspect this match exists to get the belt off him.

[nimdreams]

Motherhood

Written September 2, 2022 and edited September 26, 2023

As a child I always expected to be a mother one day. Watching Gilmore Girls, I really wanted to have a daughter at a young age. The years passed and I was never in a relationship or in a mindset for a pregnancy. Going into my mid 20s, I wasn't going to be a young mother anymore. Still I thought that was what I wanted one day.

Then I got my autism diagnosis and I started to really think about what I am like and what I truly want. Did I want a child? Or did I /think/ I wanted a child? I was never interested in children, definitely not ready for one of my own. As I aged into my 30s it became clear to my husband and me that we likely would not have children. I don't think I want them anymore. When someone is pregnant, it hurts me, I do get jealous. But my health won't allow us to raise a child, the way we think a child deserves and human children aren't what I am interested in.

The hurt of someone being pregnant with a human child is nothing compared to my need for my own pups. I have always loved dogs more than humans, puppies more than babies. What I wish for is to carry my own litter, nurture them and teach them and see them move out into the world as they grow up. When I imagine my own pups, they are Golden Retrievers. Small blind balls of cream fur. I feel awkward and exposed sharing how much I want this, how I want to lick them clean and pick them up gently with my teeth. I want to rest in a pile of softly breathing woofers that are my own.

Having a dogson alleviates some of this craving. He is not the right breed, but unfortunately we cannot take care of a big breed. I don't get to mother over him as much, as he is already 8 years old and a father himself. We didn't get him as a puppy, I didn't get to fulfill my mothering needs. Having him around is wonderful though. I recognize so much of myself in him. I still get to teach him little things.

I hope to one day get a puppy again and though I won't be able to treat him as my own, as in this human body that is not possible, and would be confusing to the pup as he'll see me as human (the thought of which is painful enough), I think that will help with some of my need for my own pups. Perhaps if I am healthy enough again one day and the stars align, I'll even be able to have a mother dog and go through the process of pregnancy, birth and raising pups vicariously through her. I am not sure how painful that would be or if it would feel euphoric, but it seems like a wonderful and warm idea.

[eunicexxx]

WELCOMEBACK2NE1CONCERT in Manila Day 1

Wait, what? Is that really the title of this entry? Can you pinch me and tell me it's not a dream anymore but it just happened and I was really there at the concert? If I tell my 15 year old self about this, she won't probably believe me. Because it was just a dream, a wishful thinking…

Okay, let's walk down memory lane before I talked about the concert experience.

I started fangirling 2NE1 when I was 15 years old. They were already 3 years in since their debut. Not a lot of people in my life knows that I'm a Blackjack (what 2NE1 calls their fans) and that I stan them HARD. They had their first concert in PH last 2014 and it was heartbreaking to not be able to go. Well, simply because I was just a student back then and had no means of buying a ticket. Fast forward to 2016, they announced their disbandment and that was a total heartbreak for me and for all the Blackjacks (most especially those who haven't watch them perform live). So the dream to watch them live became impossible. But I think I'm unconcsiously hoping that one day, I'll be able to watch them perform live.

May 2024, it was their 15th year anniversarry as a group. It was celebrated, and I know somehow, my fellow Blackjacks are thinking that there could be a possible reunion concert. And then sometime in July they announced that they are back and last September they posted that they will be having a concert in Manila!!! And oh my freaking goodness that was one of the best news in 2024!!! cries in buckets The CRAZYNEKS (me, Karen, Joanna, Juvy, Melord, Shi, Liz) were so excited that we planned and talk about our desired seats. We planned to get lowerbox seats. But unfortunately, when the ticket selling day arrived, only me, Shi and Liz got tickets. It was not our desired seats but at least we were able to secure. I swear it was so hard to get tickets, may it be online or onsite.

(this photo above was 10 years apart. From a simple dream to reality. OMYGOSH)

Still not sinking in. I can't believe we are really going to 2NE1's concert.

November 16, 2024

We got the day 1 concert tix. We met fellow Blackjacks (hi Shey and Jelai!), and the girl who went as Sandara Park with her palm tree hair--cute and A for effort! The moment that my ticket got scanned, and the light turned green, that's just when my excitement hit the roof. I kept telling Shi that it's real, it's really happening. We went inside the Arena, in our designated seats and realized that we got good seats! I swear at that time I'm so close to bawling my eyes out. 7pm, the show started, and when the silhouette of them 4 appeared, the whole Arena screamed and shouted. When CL shouted the intro of 'Fire':

"I go by the name of CL of 2NE1! It's been a long time coming but we here now. And we about to set the roof on fire, baby! You better get yours coz I'm gettin' mine!"

And yep, they really set the roof and the whole Arena on fire!!! waaaaah!!! I can't even put to words everything that I felt that time. I sang, danced, screamed with the girls and it was really a dream come true. cries again can't believed that happened!! Also, I can't believe that I still do memorized their songs. After all those years, I think it was really etched in my heart…

(with fellow blackjacks, Shey and Jelai and with my blackjack besties, shi and liz)

Sadly, there are songs wherein Bom was at the backstage because she's not feeling well. But during 'I LOVE YOU' she's back and until Encore she's there. They performed 'IN or OUT' as well and this time CL have practiced! We waited 10 years for that and it's all worth it! (tanggal angas ni CL sa Pinas!)

But every good thing comes to an end, right? But we're all not ready! We want more! If only I have the means to attend all their concert, I'll definitely would. 15 years, but the performance is still like no other. Grabe kayo, 2NE1!

After the concert, our eyes were swollen from crying! Roller coaster ride ang emotions ng mga Aunties during the concert. Lol.

They're my youth. This may sound so cheesy, but really a part if me was healed that night. It was just a dream, a wishful thinking. Then it happened. And I was there. (WHAT?!)

(random concert photos...)

AHHHH CAN I JUST COPY AND PASTE WHAT I'M FEELING HERE SO YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT I'M FEELING???!! HUHUHUHU!

Thank you for coming back, CL, Bom, Dara, Minzy! <3 2NE1 BLACKJACKS 4EVER! NOLZA!

[jesterboystrick]

September Writing Update & Plans

I know I don't have an audience here yet, but I'd like to try posting some casual updates on my fic writing for anyone who's looking for that. Howdy to any of my AO3 readers who found me! Here's a little update:

How is With Hearts in his Eyes ch 3 going? Working on it! I know what I want the third chapter to be, and I have a little bit written already, but it's not at the very top of the priority list at the moment because...

I'm writing a bunch of smutty one shots I plan to release throughout October! Unfortunately, working on Heart Eyes has taken a backseat while I mostly work on the one shots, but I do get a bit of progress on it here and there! I don't want to make any promises, so I can't say when I'll have more Heart Eyes up, but I'll post more as soon as it's ready to be posted, whenever that is.

As for the one shots, I'm very excited to get these out there next month! Some of them are... oh boy, I sure love working on them a lot! I'm not necessarily doing "kinktober" or following any particular prompts, but most of them do have themes that wouldn't be out of place on a list like that ;) You can expect more Zoro and Sanji smut, along with some other ships thrown in too! There's some fics I think Heart Eyes and Dressed Down fans will really like, and some others that don't have much in common with my previously posted works, but I'm excited to see the response to them anyways!

For now, the plan is to have fics ready to post on the first and last day of October, along with one per week in between... at the very least! I have plenty of extra ideas and wips for things that I could post in addition, but those are just bonuses. If I happen to finish them, I'll put them up between the others! If not, I'll put them back in the wip folder and save them for when they're ready.

Hope it's not too disappointing to hear that the next Heart Eyes update won't come as swiftly as the last one did, but maybe the promise of more smut in the near future can soften the blow a bit! I really do like what I have in store for y'all, both with Heart Eyes and my October plans, so I hope it's worth the wait! <3

[upwiththegood]

3rd September M.S.G. meeting

Well here we go again, the fist Tuesday in every month and a special table set aside by the friendly Landlord and landlady at the Fox & Goose was ready for us and whatever we should want from the excellent menu, should it be a nice bowl of soup, a bacon sandwich or whatever takes your fancy.

The agenda included what we would look forward to in the new year, as most of the months upto Christmas have a few things already organised.

So a Spring Break with a few days away, some fun and games, entertainment and decent visits which have been well thought out6, unlike t6he previous two , which obviously hadn't.

We were looking at Shearing's brochure with both coach and self drive options, both near and far and even had a brochure for a possible Tinsel and Tassel, Christmassy theme break next Autumn. Of course all of these things would need to be properly organised, with numbers interested, deposits paid and venues checked

Meanwhile a new flyer is being organised and a six month diary containing significant event

We're still struggling for number and must, somehow, sort this out as CoVid still rears it's ugly head

Something is definitely driving the masses away or making them stay at home and we haven't managed to work it out yet, even with all the things in the pipeline. Boat trip, complete with fish and chip supper, Barry's book signing event in Headcorn, complete with High Tea, singing group and drinks and a still to be organised Christmas Extravaganza, complete with Father Christmas, presents and entertainment in a lovely intimate location.

Just you wat and see.

Unfortunately, none of this will happen without some support, so please remember JFK's words of wisdom.

"It's not what the Group can do for you but what you can do for the Group"

So please support it or lose it and make a few people very happy

One won't know what you've lost until it's gone

[simplylemonboii]

I am ready for the next chapter, unfortunately I've got to wait a few months.

I've been checking the emails constantly, nothing about an N.O. yet.

Soon, last time it was around September through December that I had been working on all that

Soon. With that kind of money I won't need a roommate

May try and pick up Kitten to watch Jynx while I'm away at work. I'd be nice if I could cover housing so they can finish school

I wish their husband hadn't been so useless. Kitten always deserved better

Let's see if I can survive the rest of this chapter, make all their dreams come true

I'd say make mine come true, but to be honest I can't remember even a single dream anymore

[casspurrjoybell-33]

Wreckless - Games

*Warning Adult Content*

Emmett

This morning, after Finnegan left, I finally got around to going through my mail from last week.

Most of it was crap, of course but one letter surprised me so much that I sat down before opening it.

I didn't expect to hear back, I just submitted a few photos on a whim while Finnegan was in Michigan.

I'd thought that having something to look forward was good even though I knew I didn't have a chance.

But now I'm holding a letter from the Maryland Arts Council.

Every fall they offer a class and then do a huge photography exhibition that gets seen by important people.

People who launch careers.

People who make money for people like me.

I guess they could be nice and respond to all the applicants.

That's probably it.

Until I open it I don't know if I've been accepted or not.

It's like that dead cat in a box.

I might have gotten in.

Once I read it, I'll know I didn't.

Not that I expected to, I've never been able to devote the time and energy into it that I want to.

Some people don't have jobs and bills to pay and have parents to buy them great cameras and all the lenses they want.

I have to make do.

This class, shit, I can't go even if I want to.

Job. See? So it doesn't matter, I'll just open it.

I rip it open and then pull the letter out gingerly.

It's folded in three and I slowly flatten it out on the table.

Dear Mr. Emmett Locke.

Shit... SHIT... Holy shit I'm in.

Damn.

I'm floored, honestly and damn proud of myself.

I can't accept... I'm not free from 9 to 5 for two weeks in September and October but that's okay, just knowing I got in is enough to get me excited about working on my pictures from the beach.

Unfortunately I have to work so the pictures will wait until Thursday when I'm off.

I head to the garage and let me tell you, Peter is glad I'm back if the sign, chocolate bar and little note saying 'better you than me today' is any indication.

We have cars in both bays and two parked out front, they got a little backed up last week so I spend the day doing two sets of brakes and some transmission work.

When I get home Wednesday evening, Finnegan is gaming.

His tongue is out and he's laser focused.

He's at least taken time to get out of the monkey suit and get himself a drink but he doesn't even look at me when I walk in.

"Hey darling."

No answer. Okay?

I go get cleaned up and out of my dirty clothes and then start on dinner.

Once the pasta is cooking I sit down next to him.

I didn't see much of him Monday or Tuesday, so much for not needing to be in the office, so I'm glad he's home for dinner tonight.

"Short day for you. I'm glad. Dinner in about ten minutes."

"Not hungry, wanna play."

Okay, I've been patient.

"Did you have dinner, Finn?"

Because if so, when I got home would have been the time to tell me.

"Nope."

"Then you'll eat when it's ready."

"No."

He's never been this bratty before.

I wonder if something happened at work today or if this is just from having no little time Monday and Tuesday.

Maybe he's in withdrawal after last week.

I snake my hand down behind him and press against his hole right through his undies.

"You'll do what I say, Finn."

He's still trying to play but I lean over and nibble on his neck.

"Emmett."

"For being a brat you can come set the table."

I know this game autosaves so I grab the remote and turn the TV off.

"No, Emmett. That's mean."

"Ignoring me when I got home was mean, Finn. Telling me you won't eat the dinner I made is mean. I think you desperately need a lesson in how to treat me."

He's not mad now, he's smiling.

"I like lessons."

He follows me into the kitchen and grabs the salad, taking it to the table.

Before long we're eating, I just had to drain and sauce the pasta and he is shoving food into his mouth.

Not three minutes later he hops up, drops his plate in the sink, mumbles a thank you and disappears back into the living room.

Nope, not happening.

I finish eating and when I head out he's playing the game again, of course.

He hasn't even sat down, he's right up against the coffee table as if it'll help him play better.

I haven't done that since I first started watching porn.

I decide that if he's going to play... I'm going to play with him.

I grab the lube and then yank him down onto my lap.

"A good little boy doesn't treat his master like this, Finn. Now you're going to make it up to me."

"No, Emmett. I'm playing. Gonna beat the boss."

"I'm the boss, babe but you can keep playing. In fact, I insist."

I grind my cock against his ass while palming him.

He squirms, pressing against my hand.

"It's hard, Em."

"Lots of things are hard."

Our cocks, playing while being messed with, life.

"Lift up."

I manage to wiggle his undies down and then I perch him on my knees so I can really play with him.

I decide to hold him by the balls and start opening him up with one finger.

His thighs are flexing and he's clenching around me but managing to play, somehow.

I wonder how long he can do it.

Eventually I have two fingers massaging his spot while I slowly jerk him off.

He finally tries to put the controller down.

"Feels so good, Emmett."

"Uh uh but you keep playing. Your game is more important than me, so you just keep going."

"Is not, I'm sorry."

He tries to turn around but I hold him in place.

"Not yet you're not. Keep going."

He picks it back up and I tease and mess with him for another twenty minutes.

There's a rivulet of sweat going down his back and I've lost track of how many times he's died.

"Please? Please Em. I need you."

"I thought you wanted to beat the boss and you haven't yet, have you?"

"Can't concentrate Em. need lovies."

"Is that so?"

I love playing with him but I only have so much self-control.

I nudge him forward and he ends up on his knees, chest resting on the coffee table.

"Keep playing, Finn."

"No, want lovies. Please Em."

Well, if his hands aren't busy holding a controller.

"Show me... hold that little ass open for me."

Damn that's sexy as hell.

I really like his hands back here and he does have a sweet, sweet hole.

"You've been a very naughty boy, Finn."

"I know, I'm sorry Em. Will you hurt me?"

He's begging for it, he wants it rough.

Fine.

"You deserve it. You shouldn't ignore your master because when you do, you'll get in trouble and you, little boy.... are in big trouble."

Time to make him scream.

[deadcityhq]

**CHARACTER NAME:** Dorothea "Thea" Kincaid

**CHARACTER FACECLAIM:** Mandip Gill

**CHARACTER AGE/DOB (if relevant/they’re not old af):** September 22, 1915; andy math help

**CHARACTER PRONOUNS/GENDER IDENTITY/SEXUALITY ETC:** she/her, cis female, Bi Bi Bi

**CHARACTER FANDOM:** N/A

**OC OR CANON:** OC

**CHARACTER TYPE:** seelie since andy is mean and won't let me do a selkie :/

**HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN IN NEW YORK/WHY ARE THEY THERE ETC:** Two months

**IMPORTANT CHARACTER INFORMATION TO NOTE AND SHARE:**

- Thea grew up in a noble. Her technical title was duchess within the seelie hierarchy

- Her mother was .... not exactly the worst, but also not the best. Thea grew up to be a wild child, with a love for beautiful things and love for the magic that ran thee her veins. This strained their relationship, and while Thea loved her dearly, nothing she did ever seemed to be enough or correct for her mother.

- Thea loves to make things with her hands. Between 1950 -1970, she apprenticed to under a Seelie named Lysander Pendragon. This was considered a "young rebellious move" that her mother excused as learning a craft and how to use her magic. She made jewelry.

- This ended when Lysander Pendragon mysteriously disappeared. One night, after a particularly long week of fog and mist, he was never heard from again. This upset Thea greatly, and she is still looking for him to this day.

- At some point, Thea engaged in a romantic relationship with Warlock Dorian Smith. They were in love, though neither of them would admit it - Thea's position and Dorian's lack-there-of was .... well, not ideal.

- A particularly vindictive cousin jealous of Thea told on her. and things blew up from there. It was a messy blow up, and it ended with Thea basically torching her relationship with Dorian (which she hoped was for the greater good) and turned her relationship with her mother sour.

- Despite Thea's wishes, she continued to see Dorian, and unfortunately their relationship was volatile. (But, fortunately, the hate sex was killer).

- Things came to a head when her mother arranged a marriage for her, despite Thea's wishes. The arrangement was to another high status family, and Thea only ended up agreeing to just... make everything _stop_. She was tired of fighting, tired of arguing, and felt utterly unhappy and defeated.

- Dorian crashed her wedding as she was getting ready and the two uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh engaged doing the deed. Thea went on to her wedding afterwards like nothing happened (and walking a little funny).

- The guy she was marrying actually wasn't too bad. His biggest crime was that he was a little dull for Thea's tastes, but didn't want to do it either, so she gave him a pass for that. His family, however, wanted to seal the marriage and then kill her!

- Thea knew something was off for weeks before the wedding, but was too depressed and sad to really do anything. While walking down the aisle, however, things began to click together....

- and eventually, during the ceremony, Thea concluded there was poison in the wine goblet.

- She stopped the wedding, declaring as such. Things descended into chaos, both sides of the family chiding her, calling her dramatic, but never actually /denying/ it, since Seelies couldn't lie. it was then that Thea realized her mother was in on the whole thing. They just had to bind their families together.

- So she went nuclear. It wasn't pretty, with her tearing into every member of the family and even more royalty while she was at it... It got so bad, her husband to be got so overwhelmedC he grabbed a mug of wine to drink.... and immediately died via poisoning. Cue mayhem.

- Thea was jailed, but ultimately released having found no wrong doing. She was stripped of her title and ultimately disgraced. Her mother has made multiple attempts on her life since

- She traveled afterwards, spurned and angry. She entered the human realm and traveled for years, never staying in the same place for long, and searching for any trace of Lysander.

- She came to NYC 2 months ago, and has started her own jewelry business.

- Like most seelie, she can't lie, so she is rather creative at words.

- Can turn into two forms: a crow and a seal

**THREE AESTHETICS THAT REMIND YOU OF YOUR CHARACTER:**wax dripping down calloused fingers, emeralds sinking to the bottom of the ocean, betrayal following your footsteps like a shadow.

OOC INFORMATION: 

**MUN NAME/ALIAS:** love

**MUN AGE:** 26

**MUN TRIGGERS:** cancer