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[krazyyyyyy]

Forever Longing Solivan Brugmansia /Reader

Synopsis: A small glimpse into Sol's elementary life, where he abruptly meets the single most important person in his life...You

Warnings: Mentions of violence

Words: 2553

Notes: Don't know how many more of these I'll write, but I'm hoping to get around three more done if not a few more.

Hope you enjoy this short story <3

Children’s happy laughter echoed loudly throughout the playground, as they began to spill out of the school building; marking the beginning of their cherished recess time. Kids ran freely playing around with friends, swinging giddily on the swing sets, and continuously going up and down the slide.

Well, all the kids but one…

A young, small, and quiet Solivan stood far away from the other kids, staring at the ground at his feet, avoiding any eye contact with anybody within the area. He knew he didn’t fit in with the others, given his introverted nature, he was considered an outcast amongst his classmates. People tended to overlook him, barely acknowledging his presence even when they were standing right next to him.

He was used to it, though…. He had his drawing supplies and stuffed animals, the only things that really made him feel anything close to happiness. The stuffed animals would never judge him, and, they’d always be around to listen to him when he needed it, an idiosyncratic concept to him growing up in a loveless household.

A soft tap on his shoulder causes him to lift his amber gaze from the ground and into the familiar brown orbs of his teacher, Mrs. Baker. A woman with a skinny frame and curly auburn hair that just slightly exceeded her shoulders. It took everything within him not to scoff at her arrival. She was keen on pushing him towards being more sociable with the other kids, a goal that would always fail in his favor. So why couldn’t she just leave him alone?

 She crouched down to his height and spoke to him in her usual soft and steady voice, “Solivan, Why don’t you play with the others today? It seems they're playing a little game of freeze tag, doesn’t that sound like fun?” 

Solivan spared a short glance toward where the kids were running wildly at each other, while some others stayed frozen in place, showing signs of annoyance at being frozen; he retracted his gaze back to the ground shaking his head, mumbling a small “No”

Mrs. Baker smiled understandingly at the timid young boy before her, “I know it might seem scary, but give it a chance, you might like it more than you think.” She attempted one last time to try to convince the boy to open up, even if it was just a little.

The boy remained silent, having lost interest in the conversation completely and hoping that his teacher would simply give up and leave him alone for the rest of the recess period.

Thankfully, it seemed fate was on his side, as he heard his teacher sigh next to him before standing up and walking away to a different part of the playground to supervise a group of rather exuberant children. Leaving him alone at last.

The little raven-haired boy sat on the ground, back pressed against the steel fence that separated the playground from the busy streets that lay not far behind. Settling down, Sol pulled out a small sketchpad from his back pocket; a notebook that was filled page to page in his numerous doodles, which he usually did during class time to pass the time.

Pulling out a pencil, Sol began to doodle, head buried in the notebook; heavily embarked on the mini sketches that required his utmost attention. After a while, he finally cranes his head back to admire his work; his sketch was that of a small horse with a small sketched figure of him seated cheerfully on its back.

He beamed at the drawing, proud of his work. While marveling at the sketch, the notepad is quickly ripped from his grasp. Startled and confused, Sol snaps his head up to look at the culprits. Standing above him, were three kids, obviously much older than he was, possibly four grades above him.

Sol was quick to spring up to his feet to try to get the notebook back, but to no avail, as the blond boy who held the item towered over him. He held the sketchbook high above his head, so even if the little boy tried to jump for it, it would prove pointless in the end

“Give it back!” Sol shouted at the kids as he continued to try to reach for what he considered to be one of his only sources of comfort. All three of the boys laughed at him, “Aww, is the little weirdo gonna cry.” a boy with red hair teased, pointing at him.

“You drew yourself riding a horse? What are you, some kind of girl?” The blond boy jokingly flipped through the pages of the book, briefly observing its contents.

“Stop it!” When Sol tried to reach for his sketchbook once again, the blond boy laughed, before tossing the book over to another boy; then that boy proceeded to also flip through the book and laugh before also tossing it to the next boy. Sol found himself playing in this miserable game of monkey in the middle; a game where he could only watch as his book flew through the air above him, out of reach, with no hopes of ever reaching it.

Eventually, Sol got the courage to defend himself from these bullies, and with all the strength he could muster with his tiny form, he tried to shove the bully who had the sketchbook in his possession. But, the shove proved unhelpful, as the bully didn’t even move an inch.

Sol could barely catch his breath before he was harshly shoved to the ground. A sharp pain pulsed through his body as his back was met with the hard ground; Sol opened his eyes to notice that his sketchbook had fallen next to his body, the bully had more than likely dropped it in outrage at Sol’s sudden rebuke. Sol swiftly snatched the book off the ground and held it close to his chest, shielding it from the bullies.

Sol lay on the ground in a fetal position, with his back facing his bullies, arms still tightly wrapped around his sketchbook. There was a sudden sharp pain on his side as a bully directed a fierce kick toward the young boy; another boy directed a kick, of similar intensity, toward his other side, leaving the little boy only to whimper in pain.

The group of bullies continued to relentlessly kick the defenseless boy, not showing any hint of mercy toward him. Tears ran down Sol’s cheeks as he could only endure the endless kicks that the bullies threw at him. He closed his eyes and hoped the boys would soon grow bored with this and walk away, or maybe a teacher would notice this assault and interfere.

It felt like an eternity that the kicking would continue, he almost thought it would never end…

Until a loud voice rang out and suddenly the kick stopped.

“Hey! Leave him alone!” Sol heard the unknown voice shout at the group of boys. He peeked from his position to glance at where the shouting came from; upon opening his eyes, he was met with his saviors back facing him as they spread their arms out wide to shield him away from the sight of the bullies.

“Get outta the way Pipsqueak! Or you're gonna be next!” He heard one of the bullies shout at the person before him. Sol noticed the stranger's visible shakiness as they stayed rooted in their spot in front of him; they were just as scared of these bullies as he was, yet they still chose to throw themselves in the middle just to protect him. He felt a surge of admiration for the stranger; this had been the first and only time someone stood up for him… his heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

“No! I-I won't l-let you!” The stranger's words came out shuddered and breathy as if they were holding back tears. Luckily, their voice had been loud enough to possibly draw the attention of others nearby.

The twisted grins on the bullies' faces faded at the realization, and they looked around the area to see if anyone had caught the drift of what was happening.

“Shit!”  Was the last thing Sol heard from them, followed by the frantic pattering of feet in the grass as the bullies quickly fled the scene. Leaving behind two frightened kids as a result. 

Sol, who was still lying on the ground, breathed heavily, the fear coursing through his veins still running wild. He flinched when a blurry object suddenly came into his vision. As his vision slowly cleared, he noticed that the object was the outstretched hand of his savior; they looked down at him with a concerned expression, tears still lingering in the corner of their eyes.

Hesitantly, Sol took the hand, which helped pull him to his feet. He stumbled a bit but managed to regain his balance with a bit of effort and help from the person next to him.

“Are you okay?” The stranger asked him, their voice a bit hoarse from all the yelling yet still holding a subtle gentleness to it. Sol looked at them for a second, before shyly shifting his gaze off somewhere else and slightly nodding his head.

They smiled, their gaze landing on the item that Sol continued to hold tightly to his chest. “What’s that?” They pointed out the sketchbook, which, unknowingly to them, had caused the whole ruckus that just happened moments ago.

“... It’s my sketchbook,” Sol murmured under his breath, keeping his gaze away from the person in front of him. He never did well talking to people, never mind kids his age, this person wouldn’t be any different.

Their eyes lit up as he spoke, “You draw?! I wanna see it! Can I see pretty, please?!”

 Sol was taken aback by their sudden interest in his sketchbook, his eyes were blown wide at them; he had never shown anyone his work before, nor had anyone ever asked to see it… this person was achieving a lot of firsts for him. He supposed he could show them, considering they had just saved him from a harsh beating.

“Umm… Okay.” Sol pulled the sketchbook from where it rested on his chest to hold it out between him and the stranger. He slowly navigated through the pages, properly allowing the person next to him to take in each piece of art. They were a bundle of excitement, commenting excitedly on almost every single little doodle in the book; it brought a small smile to Sol’s face, knowing that someone enjoyed his drawings just as much as he did.

“These are so good! You're so talented! Do you think maybe you can draw me something?” Sol felt his cheeks flush with an odd, unfamiliar warmth. They wanted him to draw something for them. Him? Out of all the people they could have asked? They wanted him to draw for them…

He fidgeted with the pages of the notebook in his hands, keeping his eyes glued to the ground, nervously. “Sure–”

“Wait! Before I forget, my name is Y/N!” They cheerfully cut him off, “What’s yours?” They talked a million words per second, which was a bit overwhelming, but Sol still found himself intrigued by them.

“My name is Solivan…” He spoke quietly, but loud enough for their newfound acquaintance to hear. “Solivan?” They tested his name out, “Well, Solivan from this day forward you are now my friend!” Sol stared at them dumbfounded. He never had a friend before, but didn’t think it would ever be this simple, yet here he was.

He didn’t get a chance to respond to their declaration when they continued to speak, “I’m thinking maybe a butterfly–No wait! A gecko… no…” They continued to list through a variety of animals, as Sol would stand and watch them in awe. He didn’t know what it was, but he felt some sort of connection to his new friend, it wasn’t unwelcome, but it was still strange.

“Oh, I got it! How about a dove? Mom says those are her favorite!” 

Sol raises an eyebrow at them.“Like the bird? Are you sure?”

“Yeah!” They cheer.

Sol only nods his head in response, but a smile remains on his face at their jubilation. He sees the opportunity to speak after your moment of triumph and takes it, “I-um… thank you… for helping me. Not many would’ve done the same.”

They shake their head at him with a smile,“ Don’t mention it. You needed help…so I helped!”, the sincerity in their tone set Sol at ease. He wondered if had truly been missing out. If other kids acted just like Y/N, then maybe talking to others wouldn’t be so bad.

A mature voice suddenly rang out through the playground, catching everyone's attention, “Kids, recess is over! Start lining up with your class!”

“Aww man!” The child next to Sol groans, “Just when we were having fun, too!”. If their definition of fun was getting nearly trampled by a couple of older students, then Sol supposes he had the time of his life… Not really, though, but meeting Y/N was a nice surprise.

Children from all around the playground started to depart, moving to their designated class lines. Y/N started to make their way toward their line before they stopped to turn around to look at Sol one more time. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Solivan! Can’t wait to see the drawing!” And with that, the energetic second-grader gave him one last wave before running over to their class.

Sol gave them a little wave in return, watching as their figure got further and further away. It wasn’t long before he himself started making his way toward his own class, to continue the rest of his day. Of course, his attention wasn’t drawn toward that of his classwork, but rather that of the little dove drawing he spent the rest of the day drawing for that special someone he met.

~

Sol paid no mind as his art teacher rambled on and on about the importance of elements in art; his focus mainly on the small, worn-out sketch pad that lay open on his desk. He lazily drew his fingers along the delicate pencil marks of his old drawing from way back then.

Out of the drawings he had created during his entire childhood, that little dove that he drew for you in the second grade always held a special place in his heart. He remembers how bright your face lit up when he showed it to you the very next day; you insisted that he kept it in his sketchbook, under the circumstance that you get to view it anytime you want–which you would do on the daily.

He shifted his gaze from the paper to where you sat near the front of the classroom, trying your best not to fall asleep during the lecture. His heart ached for you to look at him the way you did when you were kids, now it was like he was a total stranger to you; another student who simply attended the same art class as you.

But with time, you’d eventually grow aware of his existence, you’d have too.

After all, you were his soulmate, just as he was yours.

[runningfrom2am]

cold nights // part thirty-two

summary: the end.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 2.9k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: tribute!reader and mentor!coriolanus, r is very sweet (too kind for this world. literally.), sunshine x grumpy trope kinda, he falls first, violence typical for the source material, depictions of mental illness, also she's is very smart (as she should), district twelve!reader.

a/n:

the end!! omg!!guys thank you so much for being here through this whole story and this was LONG!! over 110k words of a lot of nonsense but to anyone who's made it this far,, ilysm. i'm gonna miss them!! stop they were everything to me :(

ANYWAY same with LTPF if you've read that, there will be an epilogue coming soon and also definitely more oneshots and maybe bonus content that i wish i included in the original series but just didn't make the cut. so stay tuned for that!!

if you liked this series, i'm obligated as well to plug my NEXT series that's coming soon, 'requiem'!! i am so excited about it so please follow me for updates on when that will be posted!! def soon!!

just one more time i wanted to say ily, and thank you :')

see you soon!

my asks are also open to talk about this series! (i do have emoji anons open now too!)

send me any and all of your thoughts! here!

series masterlist // playlist // pinterest board

You keep your books tucked firmly to your chest as you walk into your first class, wearing the spare clothes you brought to Sejanus's house on Friday just in case you had to change. In case you spilled something on your white dress, or just felt the need to change- ironically enough.

Your normal seat in the front centre of the room is obviously free, considering also that you were quite early this morning. You had some readings you needed to catch up on anyway, in order to be prepared for midterms which were apparently coming up quickly.

It isn't long after you open your book before others begin to shuffle in, and much to your surprise, you feel the chair next to you pull back and see someone sit down. "Hi, Victor." The boy's voice says, forcing you to look up from your book.

Dark hair and dark eyes, you think you remember his name was Cancor. "Oh, my name is Y/N." You correct him kindly, adjusting nervously in your seat.

"I know that." He says, eyes merely slits as he seems to look past your own eyes and into your soul.

"You're... You're Cancor, correct? I don't believe we've properly met." You add, sitting up straighter.

"Crane." He states. "My last name is Crane."

"That's... yes that's a lovely name." You smile nervously, unsure what to say but still wanting to fill the silence he seemed so comfortable with. "Alliteration is such a fun thing to consider when naming a child..."

"It means spider." He states. "Did you ever meet my sister?" He asks, ignoring your nervous ramblings.

"No, no I don't believe I have. What is her name?" You ask.

"Arachne." The boy says, raising an eyebrow at you expectantly while you take a moment to wrack your mind to place it. He's acting as if you should know her, and suddenly you feel like you do.

You tilt your head slightly, allowing the memory to hit you like a freight train.

The funeral.

All you really remembered until now was being chained to a truck and paraded down the street you now recognize as the Corso, the body of his sister's tribute swinging above you while people screamed and cursed at you. Then, Coryo sang the national anthem.

"Oh, yes. Of course." You nod slightly, a frown settling over your features. "I am so sorry for your loss. Truly."

"No, you're not." He spits. "You don't care, and the fact that you're pretending to is just vile. She meant less than nothing to you and those animals- otherwise, she would still be here!"

You stammer, pushing yourself back in your seat as you grip the bottom of the chair. "No, no- I am sorry, I am. That should not have happened. It- It was horrible."

"Cancor." You silently thank the universe for your professor's quick intervention. "If you wouldn't mind returning to your usual seat and leaving Miss Y/L/N alone."

"We were just talking." Cancor replies, suddenly sweet as honey- cool and collected as if he wasn't just berating you over your faults in his sister's death.

"Go." Dr. Nero tells him again, nodding up toward the back of the lecture hall. "Before I am forced to ask you to leave."

The boy sighs in quiet frustration, slightly aggressive about his movements as he grabs his bag and stomps up the stairs.

You look up to your professor who greets the look with a curt nod and the smallest of sympathetic smiles.

It does nothing to quell the lightness you feel that usually signifies the trembling of your hands, which would soon spread. You close your eyes trying to take deep breaths that wouldn't come, but all you can see is the bodies of Arachne Crane and her tribute by the bars that had separated them. You have to open your eyes to remind yourself you aren't standing in the street, wrists still shackled to a truck. You can feel the chains weighing your wrists down to the desk as you think about it. You had almost entirely forgotten about the whole event- and the guilt of that was suddenly clawing its way up your throat. Cancor had never had the privilege of forgetting the way you had.

Quickly, you shove your books into your bag and stand, heading for the door. "Y/N." Dr. Nero's voice forces you to stop and you just turn to look at him, knowing full well you're unable to speak. "It's 8:58."

You nod slightly, looking down at the marble flooring that lay between you. "Start without me." You mumble, not giving him the chance to respond before you're leaving, accidentally bumping shoulders with some of the final students to enter.

You hadn't missed a single class yet, attendance was important, but right now you couldn't care less. Why should you even have the privilege of attending classes at the university in place of some of the academy's brightest minds who never got the chance? Like Arachne, and the three other mentors who were killed because of the games. You knew it wasn't necessarily your fault, but you understood Cancor's anger being directed at you. In a twisted way, you felt like you deserved it. They were meant to survive, you never were. Yet, here you were- a walking reminder to those students' friends and families that for some reason, they had to lose someone they shouldn't have.

You quickly pace down the nearly empty hall, trying to hold back your tears as long as you could. Feeling like you can't breathe is making it exponentially harder, and you wonder how you even walked out of the arena as it was. Adrenaline is a crazy beast- and you wished you had some leftover now. Sometimes, in moments like this, you wonder if you had used up your life's supply of the chemical the last time you were here in the Capitol.

Coryo was already running late after spending probably far too long conversing with your brother in the car, but he couldn't resist taking a detour into the arts building. He would just pass through, past your room just to glance inside and see if you were really there. Just to get a look at you.

He doesn't need to, though, turning a corner and just catching a glimpse of your hair as you disappear with a left turn at the end of the corridor. He was sure it was you.

Walking past your classroom he looks anyway, just to double-check, and as he suspected, you were gone.

He quickens his pace, taking advantage of his height difference over you to try and catch up with more rushed steps. "Y/N?" He calls out as he turns the same corner, but you're already hidden from view and the door at the far end of the hall is slamming shut.

As he continues down the corridor, a furrow knits its way into his brow. You must be headed to where you normally eat lunch, that is all that would make sense.

Without thinking, he follows. The courtyard is almost empty, aside from your frame curled up on the grass, knees tucked to your chest and bag discarded halfheartedly beside you on the damp grass. The sun casts a shadowed glow where it isn't blocked by trees or buildings in its path of rising, the grass is wet under his shoes as he quickly approaches you.

"Hey- hey, Y/N/N, it's me." He calls out as he walks up behind you. You turn your head, and then stand quickly.

"It- It's okay. I'm fine." You stammer, wiping your cheeks frantically. "You should g-go, you're already late."

"I'm not leaving you like this." He shakes his head, holding a hand out toward you as you avoid his eyes. "Tell me what happened, love. Talk to me."

You shake your head, shoulders backed to an invisible wall as you hold your palms over your face. You can't look at him right now- especially right now, when all you want is for him to hold you.

"You're okay. I'm not gonna hurt you." He whispers, taking a hesitant step closer. By now, you know full well he wouldn't hurt you. Not in the way he's saying, at least.

"You should go." You choke over the words that feel heavy in your mouth.

"Y/N, love, I told you, I'm not going anywhere." He repeats calmly.

"I want to go home." You sob. "I shouldn't have won, I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't even be alive!" You say, voice picking up in frustration. "It's not fair. Nothing is fair, nothing."

He frowns as you lower your hands, clenching your fists at your sides. "Of course, you should be here."

"You don't get it!" You snap, and you hardly even sound like yourself.

This was it. This was your breaking point.

Coryo is taken back by your outburst, almost flinching at the abruptness of your shift. He had never seen you angry- he didn't even know it was possible. Of course it was. He'd spent all this time, all this energy trying to convince people that you were human. Anger comes with that, hand in hand like your cat and the fur that's clinging to his clothes at this very moment. You couldn't have one without the other. "Then explain it to me." He urges you, trying to sound anything other than defensive.

Your eyes soften, as if you're suddenly realizing that your anger was not entirely placed on him. You shake your head. "It's not... I cannot explain it and that is the worst part." You sigh, but the rage flashes in your eyes again as you look down. "Why was it me and not any of them? Why did so many of your classmates have to die? Why did Marcus escape only to face a worse fate than the rest of us, when he tried to help me too? Why am I enrolled at this stuffy university when my spot belongs to Arachne Crane in rights?"

"Arachne Crane?" Coryo mutters, eyes widening with confusion while he wonders where on earth that came from. He shakes his head quickly to dismiss the thought. "Marcus tried to save you, yes, that could have been you who escaped, that's true- but you were too busy trying to save me. And you did." He knows better than to accuse you of regretting that. He knows you don't.

When you don't reply, just staring at him head on now, frustrated and confused, he continues. "If we're going by this unexplainable logic of the universe, I think that it was you because instead of saving yourself, you saved me. And you did it again in the arena, when you went back for Jessup when I was looking at the screen and begging you silently to just ditch him. Same exact thing when you tried to get little Wovey up into the rafters with you, and hell! When you stared down the barrel of my gun, shaking head to toe from fear just to save the life of the Mayor's daughter, who was nothing but awful to everyone!" He says, gesticulating wildly to get his point across. "I've been trying to tell you for months, Y/N. It was you because you are the only person in this whole damn country who cares about someone other than themselves."

You just shake your head, and it's frustrating to him that you're unwilling to accept what he knows to be true. "It didn't work." You sniff. "You're the only one who survived me."

"Listen to me," Coryo says, reaching out and holding your face in his hands- throwing caution to the wind regarding how he knows to handle your panic attacks. "I survived because I had to learn how to love you."

You look into his eyes, flitting your own back and forth between them in an attempt to place any signs of deception. Blue, baby blue. You find none.

"And I did. And I'll love you every day for the rest of our lives. I don't want you to think for a minute that I'm embarrassed by that fact." Your eyes are squeezed shut by the time he finishes speaking, his thumbs swiping over the tear stains left down your cheeks by anger.

"It's not your fault." You mumble, shaking your head under his hold. "I do not fault you for being embarrassed."

"I'm not." He says again. "Look at me, please, love."

You pry your eyes open to face him.

"I've... I've had all this pressure my whole life to be perfect, and now it's worse than ever and I should have never let that get pushed onto you. I want you to be happy, that's all. I want you to be free to do whatever you want, and right now, the cost of that comes with who we are in public. Do you understand?"

"Yes." You say softly, but he can see that's not fully true.

"Here, in the Capitol, everything is a social ladder. We cannot marry who we wish, we marry who we should. Rarely ever do kids here date for fun."

"Like Lucy Gray and the silly mistakes she made over and over again with Billy Taupe." You comment, trying to lighten the tension you feel radiating off his body.

"Yes." He chuckles, smiling hopefully at you, relieved that you understood. "But I want nothing more on this earth than for you to be the one I spend my life with. I want to make you happy, but first, in order to do that, you have to be someone that they will accept. And I am so, so sorry I didn't explain this to you sooner, but I want you to know I've never wanted you to change."

"We don't need them to like me to be happy. That will be an endless uphill battle, Coryo." You shake your head slightly, placing your hands over his as they slide down onto your neck.

"It will be uphill but we can do it." He assures you quickly. "You're already well-liked, we're-"

"Were you not happy in Twelve?" You ask, a sad look in your eyes.

He stops, tilting his head slightly at you. He was happy in Twelve, now that he considers it. He hadn't thought about it, he was so focused on hating everything but you that he just assumed it was awful, but really, it wasn't. Not in hindsight."Is that what you want?"

You smile in response. No one had asked in months what you wanted. What you really wanted.

"What do you want, love? I'll pack up and move us back to Twelve tomorrow if that's what you really want." He says again, nothing short of desperation in his tone.

Faced with the option, you're really not sure. Yes, of course, you'd like to go home. It was very tempting. But Coryo was right, this education was important. You imagine for a moment the life you could have back home if you stuck it out a few more years. And maybe by then, you'll be better accepted here. Maybe by then, the Capitol will be a different place, and you'll be truly happy here. With him, and he will have the power to make the games go away.

"No, no." You shake your head. "I want to do something splendid...something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday." You say, and he can tell from your change in notation that the words are not your own. It was something new, unlike what he had heard from you before. He smiles. "I want to be with you, first and foremost."

"You'll always be with me. Where you go, I follow." He assures you. "I was happy in Twelve, if only because I had you."

"That should not be enough, though." You insist.

"It has been for you, hasn't it?" He asks, and you nod, biting your tongue.

He grins. "Then I promise, love, that would be more than enough for me."

"O-okay." You agree, suddenly flushed by his stare. Coryo smiles, looking briefly at your lips as you speak. To him, they seemed more tempting now than ever.

He starts to lean in and you move your head back quickly, a worried look crossing your face and you look around. "Coryo, we-"

"I don't care." He says quickly, gently pulling you back to him and pressing his lips to yours. Consequences are the last thing on his mind right now.

You take hold of the front of his delicately pressed shirt, pulling him closer with his hands on your neck. Here, in the middle of the university courtyard with the sun shining down on your back, everything is okay and at least for now, the cold night has given way to a warm, sunny morning.

taglist: @soulessjourney , @that-veela-girl ,  @dreamyysouls , @rockstarbfs , @maysileeewrites , @baybieruth , @kitscutie ,  @fratboyharrysgf0201 , @totallynotkaibiased , @stelleduarte , @secretsicanthideanymore , @bejeweledreverie , @drewsandsebastianswife , @niicole-87 , @queenofshinigamis , @innercreationflower , @nallasstuff , @iovemoonyy , @thatmarvelchick19 , @wearemadeofstardust0 , @regulusblackcore , @puredreamagination , @fantasticchaosthing , @becauseseaotters , @secretsicanthideanymore , @cascadingbliss

okay suddenly tumblr isn't letting me tag more people than this so i just made some cuts unfortunately :') i just left the max amount of people i could whose users i recognized and see in my notifs all the time :) if you're not on here and you should be i'm so sorry!

also this taglist is closed now!! if you’d like to get a notification when i update, turn on my post notifications!! i promise i won’t spam y'all :,)

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

Blessed Heir of the Abyss (Abyssal Prince Childe x Reader)

Synopsis: After centuries of conflict, Teyvat and the Abyss are attempting to make peace with one another. To solidify new alliances and let go of past grudges, the Abyssal Prince Tartaglia will choose a spouse from the people above to rule over the Abyss with him.

That spouse happens to be you, an ordinary, Visionless citizen of Liyue.

Prologue: His Royal Highness

Next

Warnings: Mentions of panicking, Zhongli being protective, Childe doesn’t care about you in the beginning, Hu Tao cries, an Abyss Herald calls you “it” at one point, SLOW BURN

~ * ~ Once upon a time, a shining kingdom was constructed under the earth. Lit by starlight and shrouded in darkness, it became known as the Abyss, and was ruled by whoever the monsters favored. In an effort to end the eternal conflict, the Heir shall travel to the land above to witness the sea, and join hands with the sun. Liyue is beautiful today. You’ve never seen such a blue sky, nor such a brilliant sun- it beckons you outside for errands and chores, things you normally loathe to do but now you step outside with a smile, squinting happily up at the light. It’s the weekend- shopping day- and you’re looking for sunsettias and spices at the market. In the distance you can see Zhongli, a friend and family, and he lifts a hand in greeting before falling in step beside you. An ageless soul, the funeral parlor consultant always has a new story to amaze you with, and today is no exception as he weaves the tale of Azhdaha the Geovishap Lord as you walk the streets. Hu Tao’s waiting at the market, her perpetual grin only widening as she darts over and snags your hand, swinging it back and forth with a bubbling laugh. It draws a chuckle from you as well, and Zhongli smiles fondly at your antics with the young director. She practically drags you down the street, leaving Zhongli in the dust as she talks a mile a minute- rumors and gossip, gossip and rumors, there’s seemingly nothing that she doesn’t know or hasn’t heard of. “Sooo? Are you coming tonight?” She looks at you with an impish twinkle in her eye and you simply shrug. “Aw, come on! It’s not everyday I get to have a poetry battle with Xingqiu! Yanfei is the judge!” Hu Tao giggles in mischievous delight and eventually you can’t keep your own smile from blooming across your face, the parlor director’s joy contagious. Zhongli’s caught up to you by now, tapping lightly on Hu Tao’s hand clasped around your wrist with a stern look. “Director Hu, you’re going to injure them, pulling like that.” With a pout she releases you from her bruising grip and skips on ahead, you and Zhongli following close at her heels, a tender look shining in his golden eyes- ah, he adores the parlor director like a daughter, despite how he chastises her, and with one glance you know the sentiment is extended to you as well. You incline your head with a small smile, but it quickly fades when the oppressing sound of silence hits your ears, the streets backed up by people yet making no noise, no small talk about the weather or trade commerce or anything else that might catch their interest. The only sounds are frightened whispers, and you crane your neck in an attempt to see what’s going on, glancing at Hu Tao in confusion. Heavy footsteps, metallic and foreboding, march down the street, and immediately you feel goosebumps rise on the back of your neck as inhumanly tall figures come into view. An Abyssal entourage parts the crowd like a sea, the people of Liyue edging away in fear. The Lady Ningguang stands to the side, looking small and dainty compared to the height of Abyss Heralds and Lectors, and stares resolutely ahead, not daring to spare a single glance towards anyone but the distant horizon as a tense hush settles over the city. Hu Tao encircles your arm in a vice grip, scarlet eyes blown wide and Vision aglow, ready for battle despite her lack of a weapon while Zhongli holds a comforting hand to your back, normally calm demeanor betrayed by his stiff shoulders, as even he cannot feel safe when creatures from the Abyss are near. No one in Teyvat feels safe in the presence of the Abyss, despite the best efforts of the nations to set aside their differences after centuries of war. Even the late Geo Archon had returned, you’ve heard, having faked his death at the last Rite of Descension, and yet still relations remained tense or worse. You’ve heard that people used to go missing wherever the Abyss would begin creeping into Teyvat, and would crawl back out tainted and warped. You shiver, and Zhongli’s palm pushes against your spine in reassurance. From the midst of the monstrous ambassadors a young man emerges, strikingly human in comparison to the Lectors and Heralds who step aside and bow to him, surveying the gathered citizens with boredom. He’s certainly handsome, with copper-colored hair and fine clothing, but his brilliant blue eyes are so lightless and dim that it feels like you’re outside in the dead of night, not a moon or star in the sky. For a split second, his eyes lock onto yours, and you dig your nails into your palm. It’s like you’re staring at a corpse. An elegant hand extends from his richly-made cloak and points, at random, into the crowd. “That one.” Your blood turns to ice and your body goes rigid as Hu Tao lets out a horrified shriek, because he’s pointing at you. “No!” Zhongli steps forward, rage alight in his eyes and glaring furiously at the strange man, shoving you and Hu Tao behind him. His gaze snaps to Ningguang, “Lady Tianquan, what is the meaning of this?” But she doesn’t speak, merely averting her gaze towards the ground, shame finally showing through the cracks in her facade. A Herald approaches, surveying your shell-shocked figure with distaste but nodding anyway. “It’ll do,” With a single, swift motion the Abyss Herald snatches your wrist and pulls you away from Hu Tao, nearly dislocating your shoulder in the process when you struggle desperately against his grip. He brings you to stand beside the ginger-haired man, sharp claws leaving tears in the sleeves of your shirt. With a dry throat you gulp down your fear, trying to steady your shaking voice, “What do you want?” The mysterious man looks at you, eyes flat and lifeless, “You’re my spouse.” The world goes silent around you. “...What?” “My spouse. It’s part of the agreement,” he says, turning away. “Agreement…?” You twist your head to Ningguang, and she closes her eyes, as if to confirm what he said. You blink, mouth open in shock, and stumble backwards a few steps. Your vision begins to blur and swim, tension tightening in your chest and turning everything into vague smears of color as the concept of safety begins to slip through your fingers like sand. “No. I won’t allow it,” Zhongli’s deep voice cuts through your daze like a knife and brings you back to reality. He’s nearly snarling at the strangers, looking more enraged than you’ve ever seen him with his polearm already in hand. Hu Tao’s slightly behind him, torn between seeming annoyed or confused and settling on a middle ground of both, hands on her hips. A low, snakelike hiss rises in one of the Lector’s throats, “Show more respect to Prince Tartaglia, lest you desire to break the contract between Liyue and the Abyss.” Zhongli grits his teeth hard enough to crack, and you swear the tips of his hair glow bright gold, then he exhales slowly and crosses his arms, fury simmering just beneath the surface, “And why was this not discussed with the Harbor beforehand?” The Lector simply levels Zhongli with a chilly stare. “It’s His Royal Highness’s right.” And with that you’re pushed into a walk, the Abyss surrounding you as you trip over your own feet, ripping you away from your peaceful life, away from your little house with its sunlit rooms and vases on the windowsill, away from the city you were born and raised in. Away from friends and family; the people you love. You cast a silent, pleading glance towards the man- the Prince Tartaglia, begging for him to let you go. But he simply stares back at you, azure blue eyes blank and unfeeling, and involuntarily you shiver. He feels nothing towards you- not happiness, curiosity, disgust, hatred- nothing, and somehow that’s more frightening than if he did despise you. The Prince feels nothing towards you, because you’re just a pawn in a celestial game. Zhongli and Hu Tao can only watch in despair, paying no mind to the people in the streets beginning to resume their daily activities, simply grateful that it wasn’t them who was chosen. Ningguang steps closer, regret laced in her voice. “My Lord, I’m sorry-” “Don’t,” Zhongli says sharply, eyes flaring with hardened grief. “An apology means nothing.” And he’s right, for only he has seen what the Abyss does to people, corroding their sense of being and mind until they give in and become one with the starlit waves. “Zhongli…” Hu Tao looks up, scarlet eyes swimming with tears. “They’ll… they’ll be okay, right? I mean,” she lets out a humorless laugh, “I might be a funeral parlor director, but…” she shakes her head to clear it and scrubs her cheeks. “Director, I do not lie. For your own sake, perhaps that question should remain unanswered,” Zhongli lets out a sigh, giving the young director’s hat a few pats as she mourns the loss of her best friend. His own unease settles, hanging in the air like a sickly haze, the answer to Hu Tao’s question ringing clear despite his refusal. I don’t know.

[totally-not-here-for-the-smut]

This stuff is LONG and complex, and I’m not a native speaker. Which means, it’s hell, WHY BRAIN GOT NO RIGHT WORDS DAMMIT, but it’s also cool bc I can’t really understand HOW bad it actually is, so I’m less self-demanding about the actual style quality than in my own stupidly demanding language. Let’s get to the content then. I’m so very sorry for my children’s book language-level.

Pls believe that I am, in fact, not a child.

Tw:death, sickness, angst

and this is-

Loved & Lost

A The Arcana prequel fanfic - part 1

When the plague came, it started robbing you right away- it took your aunt and, before eventually claiming your own life, your love.

The wise woman who had been your magic mentor was one of the first to fall ill, as if the pestilence were trying to thin out the ranks of those who could stop it. She felt right away this was not a normal illness. The sickness got slowly the best of her body, as if it wanted to seep unnoticed into the city. Your aunt's body withered a little bit each day, her skin slowly tinging red by the engorged veins, but it never managed to steal her wits until the very end. When she was at last bedridden, she had Asra call for you.

You didn't recall where you were at that time. Your magical training was long completed, and you were travelling the world, scavenging for rare spell components, old scrolls and lost magic to bring home to her and to her new apprentice. You got home just in time.

The woman who was a little sore as you kissed her goodbye all those weeks ago now seemed barely more tangible than a ghost - pale and trembling, her clothes hanging empty from her once proud and graceful shoulder. But her eyes, although now tinted in red, were sharp and stern as they had always been.

You did not show any pity for her -she would never have allowed you to-, but when she took you hand in hers her gentle touch unveiled her deepest nature.

"I'm leaving, child", she told you. "But I need the two of you to stay as much as you can".

She called Asra by her side with a nod.

"I have lived a long life. The time I gave it back has long passed, but now death is catching up to me. Spare your tears and magic for the victims to come" she turn her head to face your friend. His purple eyes were veiled in tears.

"Asra, you're a mage now, your training is almost done. In fact, my nephew took my place as your master some time ago already. She'll be more than capable to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. Soon, you'll be a mage, but" - her eyes went narrow- "I want you to remember that you were took from the streets. Someone cared for you, listened to you, taught you everyone you know. You will have to pass your care on to whoever will need it. This is why I taught you magic". Asra couldn't do anything but nod. His lips parted, pronouncing a promise so feeble you couldn't hear -but your aunt did, and a faint smile showed on her chapped lips.

"Believe me, soon many will need it. But I know you'll both live up the cause. Now leave, I need to rest".

You didn't even take your travelling clothes off - you threw yourself into Asra's arms -now your apprentice's arms- to hold each other through the sorrowful night.

She died shortly after. Many vesuvian would have come to salute her, but you and Asra decided to do hold a more private gathering - you, him, and Faust. The snake was so torn that even her scales seemed to grey. She squeezed one last time your aunt's familiar, a pitch black crane called Hermes, who took flight as soon as the mage's funeral pyre was lit.

You kept your head high and your eyes on the flames, resisting the urge to bury your face on Asra's chest and cry your heart out. Instead, you held his hand tight, grounding yourself into the two things that mattered in that moment: Asra's love, and the promise you both made her - to stay and care for the city.

So, when the plague erupted in Vesuvia and Asra began insisting to leave, your fights became vicious.

✧

I want to really thank @wilson-artisan and @lovely-dove69 for their help as proofreaders. They un-dorked my writing a lot.

I feel that I must pay credit to various writers as well who inspired me: check bakuliwriter's "Hurt", that set ablaze my drama thirst. I can totally see it in the same timeline as this thing.

The other parts will be in te reblogs!

Navigate it from my masterlist

[linkspooky]

You know, you should talk about your DC comic passion anyway. I’ve seen examples of when you tie it into other media in your metas and I really enjoyed it. If it helps I’d love to hear your thoughts in general about it.

Okay, so here is something I have been dying to talk about for awhile.

There's this weird sentiment in the MHA fandom that if you like the heroes, you're not allowed to sympathize with the villains or even enjoy them. This is not really the case in western comics, and in the case of DC's most popular superhero, batman IS his rogue's gallery.

Batman works well because he has such well-written, effective and sympathetic villains. The relationship between Batman and his rogues is the story. This is going to be brief but all the major rogues have a core character trait of batman.

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Sometimes, I think the asylum is a head. We're inside a huge head that dreams us all into being. Perhaps it's your head, Batman. Arkham is a looking glass. And we are you.

HARVEY DENT

What could a guy who has a case of disassociatoive identity disorder that splits him right down the middle into two personalities, who began as a prosecutor trying to clean up Gotham's Streets and then after a traumatic incident turned into a violent masked rogue out for revenge possibly have in common with Batman? We just don't know.

Two Face Year One.

In most continuities Bruce and Harvey are friends long before Harvey became Two-Face. Harvey and Bruce both represent the way your life can take a completely different turn after one traumatic incident. They both have a dual identity, but Harvey's has entirely collapsed as there is no balance between himself and Two-Face. He can't control his own life and decides everything on the flip of a coin. Bruce Wayne's future was permanently changed, and Batman is continually insecure if he could just give up Batman permanently and live only as Bruce Wayne just as post scarring Harvey feels like he can't go to his former self either but Batman at least strikes a balance between these different aspects of his life.

Batman and Harvey also represent the balance between revenge and justice, Batman is already working outside the law, there's really no checks and balances on what he's doing besides the one he sets for himself so he's walking a dangerous line between fighting for what's good for the city or punishing crimminals out of personal revenge.

SCARECROW

Scarecrow: Year One

Scarecrow represents the part of Batman that was created with the intention of striking fear into the hearts of criminals as a crime deterrent. I tend to go with Jonathan Crane's year one origin, Scarecrow was terrified throughout his entire childhood and now he seeks to control fear through his studies of psychology and fear toxin. Bruce's ideas of safety, a home, family love were all ripped away from him in that alleyway by a mugger's bullet, and Bruce is on some level that same scared little boy who watched his parents die that night.

Batman and Scarecrow both put on halloween costumes and make others feel fear, because it gives them a sense of control. Batman is literally using it to control the crimminal element of Gotham. When Juxtaposed to Scarecrow who uses fear to strike terror in the hearts of whoever he chooses, it questions Batman's own methods. Is scaring criminals really the best way of fighting crime? Does fear as a tool even work, or is it just a blunt instrument that causes more pain than it helps spare innocent people? After all batman has been striking fear into the hearts of crimminals for years now, and crime still happens.

Ra's Al Ghul

"Your parent's death is not your fault. It was your father's. Anger does not change the fact that your father failed to act." "The man had a gun?" "Did that stop you?" "I've had training." "Training! The will is everything! The will to act." -BATMAN BEGINS

Ra's canonically trained Bruce and tried to make him his heir, but the differences don't really stop there. They are both extremely wealthy men who inhabit positions of power, who use all of that money and influence they have, and leverage it in order to make the world a better place.

Ra's strongest quality is his nobility. Noblesse obliged, the inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility towards those less privileged. I believe the best versions of Ra's 100% believe that their cause will make the world a better place. While Batman and Ra's can both be noble, Ra's takes a lot of Batman's good traits and twists them. Batman is determined to see Gotham CIty one of the most corrupt and crime ridden cities saved even though he will probably never win that battle. Ra'as is six hundred years old, and literally will not ever die or give up on his ambitions and will keep dunking himself in the lazarus pit.

They both seek to use their resources to try to make the world into a better place, they both have families who they wish to pass down their ideals onto (the batfamily and the demon's head) but Ra's once again will never give up control, not only will he never die and simply let the title pass on but he also twists his daughters and grandson around his finger and doesn't let them be their own people. Bruce is also a huge control freak there's a famous storyline called "Tower of Babel" where Ra's steals a bunch of plans that Bruce made to take down members of the Justice League if they ever went rogue and then uses them against them. All because Batman was too paranoid to trust his teammates.

Harley Quinn

"I had a bad day too, once." BTAS.

I probably do not need to tell you Harley's backstory, because she is one of the most popular comic book characters ever but a lot of Batman villains start out well-intentioned gone wrong. The thing about Arkham Asylum is that it does not function as it should, a lot of the crimminals sent their aren't prisoners, they are patients, and they are meant to be treated. If a lot of them don't show any improvement then obviously there is something wrong there.

Harley Quinn is one of the few doctors who came to Arkham actually interested in the idea of making these patients better (depending on the story, in the original mad love she wanted to write a book but you know characters change over time), and like yes she's been suckered by the joker but if Joker is sent to the asylum for treatment then his doctors are supposed to try to you know... treat him. Not just go "Well, he's evil so there's nothing we can do about it."

Harley represents Bruce's desire that these costumed crimminals can reform, which is what a lot of people miss about Batman. Bruce acknowledges that the line between him and his rogues gallery is so thin that 1) he never kills any of them because it is his job to stop them from hurting people, but it's not his job to decide whether or not they are worthy of redemption. 2) In a lot of cases Batman reaches out to those same crimminals, because he wants them to get treatment and be better. In the animated series alone Bruce continually believes in people like Harvey and their chance at recovery.

JOKER

The Killing Joke

Joker's different from a lot of these rogues because rather than having one of Bruce's character traits he is his ridiculous and absurd opposite. In a way, Bruce and the Joker kind of represent the tug of war between costumed crooks and costumed heroes in Gotham.

"And you're wearing a mask, jumping off rooftops. Tkae this guy. Armed robbery, double Homicide. Got a taste for the theatrical like you. Leaves a calling card." Batman Begins

The Joker isn't really meant to be redeemable like some of the other rogues, or even have noble character traits like Ra's, but the connection between the two is undeniable. The Joker ties most closely to Batman as his shadow.

On the surface, it is easy to suppose that the JOker himself is the personification of the Shadow archetype: Lustful and aggressive, he is a mass murderer who relishes the macabre. These are impulses that Batman generally rejects for himself. At the time Batman matures, he gains more awareness of these SHadow elements within himself, eventually facing the shadow that lives within his personal unconscious. Alfred drives this point home when he says "Death and chance stole yourparents. But rather than become a victim, you have done everything in your power to control the fates. For what is Batman if not an effort to master the chaos that sweeps our world? An effort to control death itself." (Batman #3) (THE JOKER PSYCHOLOGY) Travis Langley

If Batman is trying to control death by saving lives in Gotham, then Joker is the embodiment of death, and lack of control that Batman himself is fighting against.

If batman rejects chaos, then what can the joker do but "introduce a little anarchy, upset the established order." (THE JOKER PSYCHOLOGY) Travis Langley

That's the Jungian perspective, but if you were to take a Freudian perspective then you could say Batman represents the life drive. This is why I put such an emphasis in Harley's section on batman wanting to reform his rogues, and see to their healing not kill them. Batman's ultimate mission is the preservation of life, he is an idealistic as superman he's just goth. The life drive represents the drive of people to live, heal, grow, fall in love, have children, it's generally our positive urges. It's no coinidence batman frequently adopts children and has a big interconnected Bat Family he works with. Then, there is Joker who represents the death drive, generally our self destructive urges. In a way Joker is death himself, he has killed batman's allies (even one of his children) he kills his own henchmen, if Batman is trying to heal Gotham, than Joker is trying to hasten it's death.

If you're curious for more, send me more asks because I could literally go on all day long.

[darkspine10]

GF Fanfic - We Fought a Zoo

Dipper and Mabel Vs. The Past (34,006 words) by darkspine10

Chapters: 7/9

Fandom: Gravity Falls

Rating: Teen and Up

Zera was fighting to stay awake. Her wife had never learned how to teleport, and with her brother-in-law’s party taking the only car they were reduced to the horrors of public transport. They’d been lucky to squeeze past a throng into spare seats on the Muni bus heading into the city centre. Despite her tiredness, Zera found the connecting wires above the bus strangely fascinating - she’d never seen a vehicle restricted to one strict path side-by-side with free moving traffic before. Pressed in a line beside her father-in-law, she craned her neck like an eager child to catch a glimpse through bleary eyes.

Meanwhile Mabel grimaced at her father from across the way between strangers’ bodies rocking back and forth. In the packed bus it was all she could do to show she was sorry for the deceptions. He had his arms crossed and a neutral expression, which for him meant a resting gruffness much like his grandfather’s.

Mabel tried to ignore the unceasing gaze and plan for what lay ahead. Between them they had Journals 3, 6, and Stan and Ford’s combined tome, but Mabel wasn’t about to put her full trust in the books. Relying on the journal to find weaknesses in the heat of a fight was all well and good in theory, so Dipper assumed, but Mabel preferred a more practical approach. The journals had led to ruin as many times as success, and she lacked her brother’s unflinching reverence for knowledge for its own sake. No, she was readying to face the tulpa with sheer pluck and her own skills. Before leaving the house she’d equipped herself, strapping on her grapple gauntlet, the adapted invention she’d crafted from her old grappling hook. The black bracer was strapped to her left wrist. Beneath, in the adjacent launch tube, she’d loaded a multipurpose tranquiliser. It was enough to take down most possible threats.

Mabel wished she’d brought her motorbike, shaking in her seat as the bus turned a corner and made its way down another sloping street. Zera slid into Mr Pines’ side and held the nearby bar to stay upright in her seat. For his part, Mr Pines seemed vaguely uncomfortable at her touch - probably unnerved now he knew the woman next to him was not East Indian, but was in fact an ET with iridescent scales, tendrils rather than hair, and pale eyes like a shark’s. Still, Mabel mused, he was putting up with all this, so it wasn’t a total failure of first contact.

They were passing through the densest part of San Francisco, not far from where Errata had made his initial rampage. The people walking the streets seemed unperturbed, although the news had reported that the tulpa - resembling a horde of zombies at the time - had travelled in this direction. Maybe that was the reaction most people had to encountering the unknown, to bury their heads and forget in a collective effort to stay sane. It worked in Gravity Falls after all. She wondered what that meant for her family’s particular brand of relative madness, that they endeavoured to discover and chronicle every last shred of evidence of the paranormal.

“That’s where I work,” Mr Pines said awkwardly, pointing Zera’s eye towards one of the anonymous skyscrapers. It was obvious to her that he was faintly embarrassed. He was divided between his upset confusion at the events of the past day and his duties as a host to his daughter-in-law.

“As a… computer expert?” she offered, trying to open him up to conversation, though she had to yell somewhat in the cramped car. With the perception filter masking Zera’s alien features, Mabel could almost imagine this was a perfectly ordinary family outing.

“Yeah, I’m a back-end techie in a big software developer. You’d be surprised how satisfying editing lines of code to get rid of bugs can be.”

“Uh huh,” Zera said, and Mabel facepalmed. Her dad’s work was hardly the most thrilling to talk about. At least they were making an effort to get along.

The Muni led them through the Sunset District, an endless expanse of squat, square buildings, laid out in a gridlike pattern, then south, heading towards the coast. “I’m sad we didn’t stop in Haight-Ashbury,” Mabel yelled across the aisle, drawing annoyed looks from the other commuters.

“Probably best not to get high on a mission,” Zera said with a smile, though her father didn’t like the joke and merely deepened his scowl.

Finally they reached their stop and shuffled past the crowd to get off. They stood in a large parking lot leading to a boulevard of tended trees and shrubs that ended in a ticket office. Zera read a flag posted on a lamppost. “San Francisco Zoo. This is the place?” As far as the three of them could see there was no sign of panic. No people running or screaming. Families and kids lined up at the entrance to buy their tickets so they could gawk at the variety of exotic animals.

“You sure your construct thingy is here?” Mr Pines said doubtfully. He had Journal 6 open and was shaking his head at something in Dipper’s young-adult jottings.

“Gimme a sec.” Mabel pressed her palms together and closed her eyes. Her father looked at her quizzically while she concentrated for a few seconds. A gentle ripple flew out from her and raced across the zoo.

“Well, I’ll be-” Mr Pines was cut off when a rebounding wave passed over him and back to Mabel.

She opened her eyes and grinned. “Oh, it’s here alright.” She had used an aura detection spell, her and Zera’s alternative to Dipper’s technological solution. It had bounced off the tulpa’s mystical field like echolocation. “Can’t narrow it down though. Too many living things messing up the feed.”

“The zoo’s hardly small,” Zera said, peering at the ticket office and coming up with ways to avoid paying for three admissions. She kicked at the concrete. “That thing’s clever though, most cryptids won’t have a hard time blending in here. Without your brother’s tracker we’ll never find it. Like a needle in a haystack.”

“Do they have haystacks in space?” Mr Pines asked, genuinely curious.

Mabel slapped her forehead .”Ugh, I’m a dummy, before we left I should’ve…” She snapped her fingers. “Z, can you open another portal quickly?”

“Not really, transporting another person-“

“Not for me, just a little one,” she whispered her intent and put her palms together. “Pretty please? I’ll buy you a new fish tank for you to snack on when we get home?”

Zera relented and lifted her hands to enact the spell. She visibly strained with the effort, moaning as well, until a small hole opened up in the air, replacing a section of blue sky with floral wallpaper. A coiled rope tumbled out of the portal into Mabel’s arms. Zera dropped her hands and the portal closed with a pop.

“Thank you babe, you’re the best,” Mabel said. Zera, bent double, waved her off like it was nothing.

Mr Pines leant in to figure out Mabel’s plan and examine the rope. At least, he’d thought it was a rope. On closer inspection the rope writhed. “Holy Moses, is that Apep?”

“Yeppers!” Mabel said with a toothy grin. “She’s perfect!”

“Perfect? Are you a total mushuganah?! What good is that lazy reptile gonna be in a massive zoo?”

“She’s got homing instincts.” Both Mr Pines and Zera gave her looks of complete disbelief. “No, really. Apep may not seem like an active, go-getter snake, but she’s got this knack for sniffing out trouble.”

“Isn’t she also a total wimp who bolts at the first sign of risk to her fat, slimy body?” Zera pointed out. She tickled the snake’s chin. The animal wasn’t pleased to be roused from yet another nap today and coiled languorously around Mabel’s arms.

“We just need to give her something to sniff out, trust me.” Mabel held out Journal 3 in front of Apep’s nose. “C’mon girl, smell the scent of conspiracy and musty paper. The tulpas come from the journals, right? So they must have some things in common.”

Apep unexpectedly wriggled to the ground and slithered away. They heard a series of screams vanishing into the distance as she went. Mabel proudly put her hands on her hips and went towards the zoo. “Onwards, Aoshima!”

Zera shrugged at Mr Pines, as if to say, ‘ah, what the hell’, and followed Mabel. Mr Pines waited a moment, shook his head, then quickly walked to catch up with the girls. In the end they managed to achieve entry to the zoo using the flimsy excuse of being expert snake handlers, here to recapture a rare specimen. From the amount of unsettled visitors around the entrance, the ticket sellers were willing to believe the story.

The trio quickly became lost in the sights and sounds of the zoo. Lemurs and Monkeys swung on vines all around them. Across the savannah Zebras and Giraffes idly chewed on grass, while predators hungered greedily a short distance beyond. Each direction led to another great kingdom of animal life and it wasn’t hard to get overwhelmed by the sounds and smells of the rare animals. Despite the chaos of Apep’s release, as well as the possible lurking tulpa, the zoo remained calm, with people merrily going about their way, ignorant of any danger. Mabel had to send out another aura spell to try and pick up Apep’s trail.

Her father raised an eyebrow. “Wait, I thought there was too much biodiversity in here for that kind of magic mumbo jumbo?”

“It’s different with Apep,” Mabel patiently explained. “She’s like my familiar, I know her essence.”

“If you say so.” He shrugged, desiring nothing more than to be done with this adventure.

The spell’s trace led them to one of the smaller parts of the zoo, a white-brick building on the north side with a central circular window. It sat next to an anteater enclosure and a small ‘prehistoric garden’. Unknowingly, both twins’ parties ended up running into plastic dinosaurs that day. Mabel put on her glasses and examined a sign by the building her spell had bounced off of. “South American Tropical Rainforest and Aviary. Guess we found ‘tulpy’.”

She pushed the door open and the three of them tensed. Mabel made sure her gauntlet was ready for either grappling or darting, while Zera reluctantly whispered protection chants under her breath. She was already exhausted enough, let alone if she had to start making wards and firing offensive spells left and right. Mr Pines raised his fists in a weak show of defiance, but flinched on entering the humid greenhouse. A plumed basilisk lounging on a branch had spooked him with its wide-open eyes.

“That one’s just a regular animal, Dad,” Mabel teased. “Here Apep! Come to momma!” Against the walls of the room were rocky cliffs, and, above their heads, a large fallen tree trunk to add to the jungle-like atmosphere. So did the heat, making the two humans in the room instantly start to sweat.

“Over here.” Zera tiptoed over a low stone wall into a tropical oasis. Lying sunning among the pebbles was one very ‘pleased with herself’ snake. “Oh Apep, you useless desert noodle. Some hunting dog you turned out to be.”

“Aw, maybe she made a mistake.” Mabel said, kneeling on the wall. Apep didn’t resist, lying there waiting to be picked up again without a single thought behind her slitted eyes. Zera edged closer to her pet, pushing past a fern and trying to crouch down. A massive lizard hefted itself out of the foliage and Mabel cried out. “Woah, take it slow.”

“That’s a Komodo dragon!” Her father added, impressed by the size of the thing. The wrinkled creature was 10 feet across and dragging its bulk along the pebbled beach towards Zera. She froze in place, unsure what the best move would be.

“They’re venomous,” Mabel whispered, “back away and- wait a second.” She cocked her head to one side. “Komodo dragons aren’t from South America.”

“So, so what?” Mr Pines said frantically. “You can regale us with reptile trivia later.”

But Mabel had a point. Zera’s eyes widened as a curving sail crest unfurled itself on the back of the ‘dragon’. A small spark of noxious flame shot from the lizard’s nostrils. Zera swallowed and held her ground. She was inches from Apep but didn’t dare move a muscle closer. “Pyrosaur,” she stated. “Apep found our tulpa after all.”

“A juvenile, judging by the pint-size,” Mabel said. “They disappear in moonlight. Don’t suppose anyone thought to bring a full moon in their back pocket? No? Thought not.”

The tulpa-pyrosaur gave no warning as it leapt towards Zera, spewing fire in a spray ahead of itself. She dived for Apep then twirled to jump out of the way just as the fire singed her back. Steam rose from her skin, which had already been unreasonably dry. Zera rolled over, unable to stand and dropped Apep.

Mabel reflexively fired her grapple gauntlet - not aiming the tranquiliser at the pyrosaur, but sending a line to her partner. Zera feebly held on and let the cable drag her upright and out of range of the pyrosaur’s lunging teeth.

“Jehosophat!” Mr Pines cursed. He bundled Mabel towards the exit. Zera wobbled on her feet but managed to stay upright, while Apep serpentined out into daylight at a speed that outran all of them.

By now the tulpa had changed forms, going from a convincing reptilian to starkly technological. A floating cube launched itself past the group into the sky before dropping down towards a nearby exhibit. Mabel watched it descend and come down with a splash. She traced it and saw its destination was a new attraction at the zoo. “A Wonderland of Snow and Sea,” she intoned. “More Christmas theming.”

The area was decorated with large blue and white plastic approximating ice sheets. On rocky platforms around a meandering river sat polar bears on one island and a flock of emperor penguins on the other. Powerful air conditioners operating at full blast plummeted the temperature down. Mabel and her father soon forgot the sweat from the reptile house. Snow machines added a final touch of ambience, sprinkling them with fake paper chunks.

Supporting Zera on one arm, Mabel held a hand to block the sun glinting off the white plastic and scanned the new area. It must be a recent exhibition, full of transfers from zoos in colder climes. There wasn’t any trace of their wayward tulpa.

“No sign of it. Nothing. Bupkis.” Mr Pines had summed it up quite well. Mabel slumped down beside the riverbank and pursed her lips.

Only Zera’s spirits were lifted. “This is more like it. I’m going for a swim!” She pecked Mabel on the cheek, then ran towards the freezing water. Mr Pines watched amazed as she leapt in headfirst without even stopping to take her clothes off.

“She needs to rehydrate,” Mabel quietly explained. Apep slithered up next to her on the bank and stared into her eyes as if pleading to be sent back home through the same witchcraft that had whisked her out of comfort. Mabel stroked the animal, wishing she could provide for its wants. “You did good, girl,” she whispered, “sorry we blew your lead.”

Mr Pines looked around the enclosure and sat himself next to his daughter. “At least she did better than the blasted pig ever could.”

“Waddles is special too, in his own unique, piggy way.” Mabel pulled her legs in tight and slumped her head on her knees. “It’s not fair. You shouldn’t have to be thrown in the deep end like this.” Mr Pines realised she was talking about himself and the sudden discoveries he and his wife had made. “I didn’t get a chance to say it before, we were in such a rush to fix things. Dipper even had this whole ‘slow reveal’ plan with the journals.” Mabel placed Journal 3 on the shingle.

Mr Pines opened the book to a page near the back. Mabel’s own handwriting was scrawled on the page in pastel crayon, talking about unicorns and protective shield enchantments. The cartoonish doodles she’d drawn were a reminder of how very young his children had been when they started all of this. When they’d started lying. He sighed. “I know why Dipper lied. Boy’s the most anxious kid known to mankind. But why you, Mabel? Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

“I wanted to,” she said, looking away and picking up handfuls of pebbles to slip through her fingers. “I wrote you a letter and everything during our first summer away. But we passed it off as my wacky imagination.” She threw away the rocks so they splashed in the river. “Then Dipper got talking about hiding the truth, and I was only supporting him at first. Eventually I got thinking that what he said made sense. I didn’t want to lose out on our amazing lives chasing monsters either, I mean, what teenager would! It got hidden the same way I hid all my boyfriends and girlfriends. I’ve always had trouble adjusting to change, especially when it’s in my hands to decide.” Her shoulders tensed. “Dad, do you or Mom know what I’ve been up to the past few years?”

“Oh, you mean the ‘activism’.” Mr Pines made quote marks with his fingers. “Sure, we know all about that?”

“But, like, how much do you know? I’ve not exactly been following the law 100% of the time.”

Mr Pines snorted. “Come on, you can say it. You’ve been a notorious criminal.” Mabel seemed surprised but he shook his head. “Heck May, it’s not like we could avoid seeing your name and face crop up on the news every few months. All those protests and strikes across the country, and there was our little girl, every time.”

“Trying to make the world a better place one step at a time. If you knew, why didn’t you bring it up before now?”

“And ruin the Christmas mood? We didn’t want to cause a scene.”

He seemed appalled by the idea and Mabel couldn’t help but laugh. “Man, our family is crap at direct communication.”

“Mabel!” he admonished. “That was certainly direct language.”

She was still grinning. “No, but it’s true. Stan and Ford, me’n Dipper, we can’t help but be stupid about talking to each other. We bury our real feelings until we fall apart. Maybe we should all stop caring so much about nebulous future consequences and live a little, you know?”

“Can I ask, what about Zera? Is she… like you?”

“What do you mean, Dad? Is she an expert knitter, does she like cute kittens, is she equally hot and sexy?”

He shoved her away playfully. “You know what I mean pumpkin. Does she go out of her way to help people and cause trouble with the police like you’re always getting up to?”

“Well, she does the latter. I’m working on the former; she’s very keen.” Mabel spied her wife swimming backstroke by a pair of bemused polar bears. “Zera’s been along for the ride on a lot of our recent adventures. I trust her fully with my life. Though not necessarily my wallet. Do you wanna know how we really met? Zera tried to scam me out of a giant crystal in Japan. She pretended to be the last of her kind.”

“And, that wasn’t true?”

“Heck no, far from it. All lies. But she cared about me, and we bonded, and now everything’s amazing. Maybe we can forget all the lying between us, too?” Mabel stared imploringly at her father.

He grinned. “Hey, I’m just sad how much I missed out on. You’ve been to space, saved the world, had all these insane things happen. Most of all I missed getting to walk my little girl down the aisle.” Mabel hugged him tight, burying her head in the crook of his neck. “I suppose this is all my fault, when you think about it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was the one who suggested that you and Dipper should spend a summer up north. I remembered all the fun I had in Gravity Falls - swimming in the lake, wandering the forest trails - and figured you’d get something out of it too. I thought it would be character building, sending you all alone and having you work for Uncle Stan like I did, with no technology to rely on.”

Mabel gave a small laugh. “You realise we had smartphones back then, dad?”

“Yeah yeah, I know, stardust. I thought the trip would be one big adventure. I guess I underestimated quite how big. I mean, it makes sense. My job is so boring, anything outside my comfort zone feels like a major step.”

“You’re not doing so bad so far,” Mabel said, pleased to have made some small way towards repairing their rift.

“Your mother might take longer to come around though. Mary doesn’t change her mind swiftly.”

“Nor does Dipper,” Mabel said, chuckling.

At that moment, Zera swam up to them. She rested her arms on the riverbank and flashed them a smile. “Well well, what exotic animals do we have here? Primates from the southwest USA if I’m not mistaken?” Her clothes, from her pullover vest to her plaid skirt and boots, were all soaking wet. Zera didn’t seem to mind. She was about to climb onto the bank when she suddenly jerked backwards.

Mabel shot to her feet as Zera felt another tug and splashed under the water. She emerged again, waving her arms and spluttering. Her perception filter flickered on and off, flashing between human and alien. With one hand she clung onto the beach. “My leg!” She closed her eyes and pulled with all her might but it was no use. She was dragged inexorably under the water.

“Can she breathe under there?” Mr Pines said, jumping to his feet and searching wildly for a life preserver.

“I’m not waiting to find out.” Mabel gulped in a breath of air and dived in after Zera. The water chilled her skin and the extra weight absorbed by her clothes began to weigh heavily. Zera was reaching for the surface and being continuously pulled down. The water was clear enough for Mabel to make out a long, slimy tentacle wrapped around one of her legs. She let out a stream of bubbles as she gasped in shock. An octopus-like mass resided on the riverbed. It had a golden sheen.

Pressed for time, Mabel aimed her wrist at the creature and flicked her wrist. The tranquiliser dart moved slowly through the water towards the lovecraftian abomination, striking lucky and causing the beast to flail its tentacles. Zera was freed from its grip but a stray tentacle hit her on the forehead. Stunned, she floated lifelessly in the murk. Mabel launched her grappling hook and tied it around Zera’s arms. She kicked out and broke the surface. Sucking in air, she slapped her arms in the water to swim towards the bank. She was grateful when her father pulled her, and Zera tangled in the cable, out onto dry land.

“Oh man, that’s not gonna do much for my headache,” Zera said wearily, rolling onto her back. “It was bad enough before.”

“I’m just glad you’re alright,” Mabel said, squeezing her hand.

“Look out!” Mr Pines cried. Tentacles heaved the massive dripping body of the tulpa out of the water. They picked themselves up and cleared the beach. The octopus’ movements were clumsy, wobbling and unsteady out of the water Mabel saw her dart sticking out of the flank and knew that the sedative inside was getting to work, sapping the tulpa of its energy. They only had to hold out until it finally relented.

The tulpa glowed and shrunk considerably, turning into a human-sized waffle with a face and beefy arms. “Hey, that’s a Mabel-copyrighted design!” Zera and her father remained baffled by the sight. It didn’t stay in this form for long. After using its arms to pull itself upright, the tulpa dissolved into a swarm of small dome-shaped shells which scattered and darted past their legs. Mabel tried to grab one of the components but it vibrated and sank a few inches into the ground to slip past. The swarm coalesced once it had passed them, choosing a form suited for escape - a winged griffin.

“Oh no you don’t!” Mabel yelled, firing another grappling line at the tulpa’s lion rear. She fell onto her face and was pulled uncomfortably along. Zera leaped beside her and also clutched the trailing cable. Mabel fiddled with her wrist gauntlet until they were suddenly yanked forwards by the mechanism. They managed to land on the tulpa’s back, riding it like an ungainly mount and keeping it grounded for now.

A wooden structure loomed ahead of them. “Watch out for the earthquake shack!” Mr Pines called. The shack that had stood since 1906 toppled over onto its side and the creature thundered past. Mr Pines jogged after them, Apep tangled up in his arms and hissing at him.

Mabel and Zera clung to the griffin, at the part where fur turned to feathers. The wings flapped, sending them gliding over the heads of tourists who were only now aware of the chaos that had been unleashed. With the extra weight from the couple the griffin could barely stay airborne. It adjusted its thrust, flapping its wings harder to achieve a clean lift.

“No, bad griffin! Bad tulpa! Bad ‘sketch from Ford’s journal’! Stop struggling!” Mabel pulled on the feathery head of the creature to no effect. She tried punching the beast with heavy blows, courtesy of her boxing training with Stan, but to no reaction. The sedative was already making the tulpa sluggish and it shrugged off any feeling of pain. It lurched onwards, cresting over the edge of the zoo’s boundary and heading towards the open sea. The setting sun cast an orange glare in their eyes.

“Hold your breath again!” Zera shouted over the rush of air. The griffin dived at the water and carried them both under. It submerged for only a moment before launching back out. Mabel coughed up salt water and rubbed her stinging eyes, while Zera didn’t seem to suffer compared to fresh water. “That’s enough!” Zera bent over and sank her teeth into the griffin’s flank, right above the lion’s tail. Mabel had learnt from close experience that her wife sported a pair of retractable fangs - she’d only found that fact out at the climax of one of their first dates.

Their flight peeled off, following the coast north. The two of them gasped as the imposing might of the Golden Gate Bridge came into view. Zera panicked, but Mabel made what seemed like an insane move. She gripped the tulpa’s head and steered it towards the looming red support beam. “Get ready to jump!”

Zera’s muscles tensed. A moment before the tulpa struck metal she launched herself backwards, doing a pirouette in the air before diving into the ocean. Zera stuck her head out of the water just in time to see Mabel going the opposite way. She fired her grappling hook upwards and swung off the back of the griffin. Out of control, the dazed beast flew headfirst into the support beam. It crumpled against the metal, warping and shifting as most of its body mass melted away. It ended up taking the shape of a small key. Mabel knew this was the President’s Key, able to open locks across the country.

Up above she perched on the edge of a tiny ledge jutting out of the metal. She launched one last shot downwards, grabbing the key in mid air before it was lost in the ocean. She retracted the line and held the tulpa’s inanimate form triumphantly in the air. She cheered down at Zera and began laughing hysterically. “Did you see that? We nearly got killed by a bridge. Woah, this is higher than I realised.” Mabel began to wobble on the platform, slowly falling over. “Vertigo, vertigoing, vertigone.” She held a hand to her forehead and theatrically fell off the ledge.

Zera rolled her eyes down below and aimed an outstretched hand and her over-dramatic wife. “Razzamafoo!” she said, aiming a beam of light at Mabel, who vanished and reappeared in the water next to her in a puff of smoke.

“I knew you’d save me,” Mabel said, grinning like a loon.

Zera touched her forehead with the back of her palm. “The adrenaline’s gone to your head. That’s the last time I use any teleportation magic around you. You’re a menace, May Pines.”

“You know you love me for it.” Despite the cold and wet they kissed while floating in the ocean. Mabel wrapped her arms around Zera, afraid to let go. “I mean it. I love you, Zera.” Mabel didn’t want to be anywhere other than alone in the wide ocean, wrapped in that embrace with the woman she’d married. “So,” she said almost deliriously. “Can you breathe underwater or what?” Zera just burst into giggles.

Atop the bridge a small crowd of onlookers were watching the two of them. Mr Pines pushed his way to the front of the crowd. “Oh thank goodness!”

The two of them in the water turned their heads. “Hey Dad!” Mabel shouted and waved.

“Are you two going to get out?”

Mabel looked Zera in the eye. “I don’t know about you, but a cup of hot cocoa on dry land sounds so good right about now.”

A few minutes later they’d swum to the shoreline, mostly thanks to Zera’s powerful kicks through the water. She was much better adapted for swimming than Mabel, who clung to her wife and let her do most of the work. They rendezvoused with Mr Pines, who’d found some towels for them to dry off. Mabel had even got her precious cocoa, provided by the zoo.

Mr Pines didn’t seem happy with himself, pacing around the parking lot while the girls watched the sunset over the ocean. “I wasn’t much help. I could hardly save the day with bug reports or hacking skills,” he scoffed. “Maybe I’m not cut out for this hero business.”

“No-one’s asking you to be,” Mabel said cheerily. “We only wanted you know what our crazy lives are like. You don’t have to become a full-time participant.”

“I think he did an admirable job at least,” Zera confirmed. She shook his hand and raised a small smile at least.

Mabel examined the golden key she’d retrieved, feeling its weight in her palm. A few tiny particles of golden light floated above its surface. “If the others have caught their tulpa, then it’s two down, one to go.”

[bluenpinkcastle]

20230105: today’s rebuild was 6390: Main Street with 528 pieces from 1980. this seems like it should have been a very simple build but one of the issues I continue to have with older sets is matching the BrickLink inventory with the actual instructions. some of the older sets such as this one often included extra parts which would be used for some of the alternate builds located either later in the instructions or on the back of the box. this box is also very interesting, as it came with three large plastic sorting bins inside the box itself. there are stickers with this set, including a large 2x14 yellow sticker with blue “Legoland Hotel” text, a yellow steering wheel, and a white sticker with a yellow car, as well as a white flag with a yellow and blue “Legoland Hotel” sticker I could not find in my spare parts bins. Lego OSHA: poor, poor blue worker. once placed in the crane to move the construction materials including the next blue all and eventually the last wall and roof, the blue worker’s only option to exit the crane was to jump, as the crane contains zero control mechanisms and no ability to move up or down. safety experts suggest the blue worker climbed into the crane cab alone, as there are no witnesses. additionally, the other members of the main street found no methods of getting to the second floor of either building, except to have the blue worker use the crane to haul them up and down. the crane, however, has to be operated by a secondary person on the ground in order to move up and down and this caused some problems when the gold necklace person “accidentally” dropped the black cowboy hat person. the police officer was not paying attention (and didn’t really like the black cowboy hat person anyway, but internal affairs doesn’t need to know about that). the popcorn chef doesn’t care about any of the drama and just wants to sell popcorn to the other blue shirt worker and the red shirt workers. though, it’s a good thing the red shirt workers here aren’t as expendable as they might be in other fandoms ;-P

[arkhampsych]

@pistoiet | “i thought it was part of the act.”

“ there is no act. ” He sighed dryly, “ I said, I am interested in you — as a subject. I’m not taking you home. ” Miss. Andreyeva was the perfect combination of guile and persistence. No matter how laconic or dismissive he was, Crane’s indifference was countered by the unfortunate convenience of their synchronized availability.

Whenever The Good Doctor had time to spare, Vinicia was free. When he found himself walking down a deserted street alone, she happened to approach from the opposite direction. It would be an audacious assumption to say she was stalking him, but he remained skeptical of her suspiciously opportune schedule. Crane suspected she viewed their exchanges as a sort of game — a concept that both irritated and thwarted him. And in an attempt to somehow brush off her play he, somehow, managed to entertain the idea of meeting again.

So there he sat, at a table draped in white cloth, foolishly attempting to lay to rest the opposing party’s theory that he “ liked ” them. He didn’t. That wasn’t to say The Doctor found her motive intriguing — a fact of which she had to have been aware. Vinicia Andreyeva had a perplexingly astute read on another’s character. If he wanted to keep the secrets that composed him, the lies that made him whole, he needed to engage her attention with caution.

[sparticlem]

Shinko Crane Pte Ltd - Crane Spare Parts Pricing Factors | Save Costs Wisely

In the world of cranes, construction, and pinching pennies, every cent counts. When dealing with crane spare parts, grasping the pricing intricacies can be the difference between a wallet as light as a helium balloon and one as stuffed as a Singaporean hawker center at lunchtime. In this article, we're going to dismantle the mysteries of crane spare part pricing and share some clever tactics to prevent your budget from soaring higher than a crane on a caffeine high.

Quality Quandaries: Real Deal vs. Aftermarket Adventures

Imagine you're erecting the next Singaporean skyscraper, and you require a fresh hook block for your crane. You've got two options: genuine parts from the manufacturer or aftermarket alternatives. It's like choosing between a fancy Michelin-starred dinner or a quick street food bite. Genuine parts might cost a bit more, but they promise quality and compatibility. Aftermarket parts may save you some cash upfront, but they could leave you with a repair bill that feels like a Michelin-starred meal.

Supply and Demand: The Rollercoaster Ride of Crane Parts

Crane spare part prices can be as unpredictable as a sudden tropical downpour in Singapore. Market dynamics and fluctuations play a pivotal role. When demand skyrockets, prices follow suit, much like buying an umbrella during a monsoon—you'll pay a premium. But when supply overshadows demand, you might score a deal as sweet as a kaya toast breakfast.

Branding Matters: Reputation vs. Your Wallet's Well-being

In the world of crane spares reputation reigns supreme. Just as Singapore flaunts its immaculate gardens and stunning skyline, certain manufacturers are known for top-notch quality. These premium brands come with a price tag, but you're investing in the peace of mind that your crane won't bail on you when it counts.

Complexity Conundrums: Custom-made vs. Off-the-Rack

Crane spare parts come in all shapes and sizes. Some are custom-made, while others are off-the-rack standard. Custom parts are like bespoke suits, tailored for your crane's unique needs, but they often come with a hefty price tag. On the flip side, standardised parts are like ready-to-wear clothing, more budget-friendly but may not fit your crane as snugly.

Budget-Boosting Strategies in Crane-Land

Now that we've unraveled the pricing mysteries of crane spare parts, let's plunge into some cost-saving strategies:

Preventive Maintenance: Your Wallet's Workout Buddy

Regular maintenance is to your crane what hitting the gym is to your physique—it keeps it in peak condition and saves you money down the road. Simple checks and minor fixes can stave off costly breakdowns. Think of it as doing push-ups to dodge a hefty medical bill.

Inventory Management: Timing is Everything

Imagine your crane spare parts inventory as a beautifully choreographed dance. Just-in-time inventory ensures you have the right parts at the right time, without excess stock gathering dust. It's like running a super-efficient Singaporean hawker center where every dish is served piping hot, and nothing goes to waste.

Conclusion: Navigating the Crane Spare Parts Pricing Maze

In the realm of cranes, construction, and cost-cutting, understanding pricing factors is your secret weapon. Whether you're building the next iconic Singaporean marvel or managing a crane fleet, savvy choices can keep your budget from flying away. So, remember, it's not about spending less; it's about spending smarter.

Are you prepared to elevate your crane operations to new heights while keeping costs under control? Delve deeper into resources, seek counsel from industry experts, and make informed decisions. Your crane—and your budget—will tip their hardhats to you. For further inquiries or assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our team. Your crane's triumph is our mission, and we're here to help you soar without breaking the bank. Contact Shinko Crane today!

Read More: https://www.popularvirals.com/crane-spare-parts-pricing-factors-save-costs-wisely/

[indef1]

Empowering Industries: The Role of Electric Chain Hoist Manufacturers

In the realm of industrial machinery, where efficiency, safety, and reliability are paramount, electric chain hoists stand out as essential tools for material handling. These devices, manufactured by specialized companies around the globe, play a crucial role in diverse sectors ranging from manufacturing and construction to logistics and heavy engineering.

Let's delve into the world of electric chain hoist manufacturers, exploring their significance, innovations, and contributions to industrial operations worldwide.

Understanding Electric Chain Hoists

What are Electric Chain Hoists? Electric chain hoists are motorized devices designed for lifting and lowering heavy loads vertically. They consist of a durable chain mechanism, a motorized unit for lifting, and controls for precise operation. These hoists are powered by electricity, offering consistent performance and ease of operation compared to manual alternatives.

The Role of Manufacturers

Electric chain hoist manufacturers are instrumental in developing, producing, and distributing these essential industrial tools. They cater to a wide range of lifting capacities and operational needs, ensuring that industries can efficiently handle materials while maintaining high safety standards. Here’s why these manufacturers are pivotal in industrial settings:

1. Innovation and Engineering Excellence

Leading manufacturers invest heavily in research and development to innovate their products continually. They incorporate advanced technologies such as precision motors, ergonomic designs, and digital controls to enhance efficiency and ease of use. This commitment to innovation allows industries to optimize their material handling processes while minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

2. Customization and Flexibility

Electric chain hoist manufacturers recognize that different industries have unique requirements. They offer customizable solutions, such as varying lifting capacities, lifting speeds, and operational controls, tailored to specific applications. This flexibility ensures that industries can find hoists that meet their exact operational needs, whether for light-duty tasks or heavy-duty industrial environments.

3. Quality and Compliance

Manufacturers adhere to stringent quality standards and certifications to ensure their electric chain hoists meet international safety and performance regulations. Certifications such as ISO, CE, and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) validate the reliability and safety of these hoists, providing reassurance to customers regarding product durability and operational safety.

4. Global Reach and Support

Electric chain hoist manufacturers operate on a global scale, serving diverse markets across continents. They establish robust distribution networks and provide comprehensive after-sales support, including maintenance services and spare parts availability. This global presence enables industries worldwide to access high-quality hoisting solutions backed by reliable customer service.

Leading Electric Chain Hoist Manufacturers

Several renowned manufacturers excel in producing electric chain hoists, setting industry standards through their innovation and commitment to quality:

Konecranes: Known for their advanced electric chain hoists designed for industrial applications, ensuring high performance and reliability.

Demag Cranes: Offers a comprehensive range of electric chain hoists tailored for various lifting capacities and operational environments, emphasizing safety and efficiency.

Columbus McKinnon: Provides a wide selection of electric chain hoists featuring ergonomic designs and cutting-edge technologies to enhance operational efficiency and safety.

Street Crane Company: Specializes in manufacturing electric chain hoists that combine robust construction with user-friendly controls for optimal lifting performance.

Conclusion

Electric chain hoist manufacturers play a pivotal role in modern industrial operations, providing indispensable tools for efficient and safe material handling. Their commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction ensures that industries can achieve operational excellence while adhering to stringent safety standards.

As industries evolve and demand for reliable lifting solutions grows, electric chain hoist manufacturers continue to innovate and expand their capabilities. They remain at the forefront of industrial technology, empowering businesses worldwide to elevate their efficiency, productivity, and safety in material handling operations.

[thecranesservices]

Street Crane Spare Parts In Dubai, UAE - Al Waha Crane

Al Waha Crane is a leading supplier of all types of crane spare parts in Dubai, UAE. Our products are available for sale all over the world.

For more info please visit us at:

https://www.alwahacranes.com/spare-parts.aspx

[mhebazar]

MHE Bazar is your ultimate destination for all your material handling equipment needs. As an online platform, we offer a comprehensive range of solutions to cater to both B2B and B2C customers. Whether you're in search of new or used equipment, spare parts, services, or even equipment rentals, MHE Bazar has got you covered.

Our platform features an extensive array of offerings, including new material handling equipment, refurbished options, and convenient equipment rentals. Additionally, we provide top-quality lithium-ion batteries, forklift attachments, spare parts from all major brands, and comprehensive service options for all your material handling equipment.

MHE Bazar is proud to be a part of Greentech India Material Handling LLP (GTIMH), a company dedicated to delivering exceptional material handling solutions across various industries. Our standout product, the Lithium-Ion Conversion Kit for Lead-Acid Batteries, allows you to upgrade your existing lead-acid batteries to highly efficient and cost-effective lithium-ion batteries. With superior performance, extended lifespan, fast charging capabilities, enhanced productivity, and reduced maintenance requirements, this conversion kit is a game-changer.

In addition to the conversion kit, we offer an extensive range of high-quality lithium-ion batteries specifically optimised for a variety of material handling equipment. Our batteries are perfect for forklifts, scissors lifts, reach trucks, BOPTs, stackers, golf carts, cranes, and electric street sweepers. With a proven track record, MHE Bazar has successfully converted and installed Li-ion conversion kits for various brands, covering all types of material handling equipment.

At MHE Bazar, our commitment lies in helping our customers save costs and enhance operational efficiency through advanced technology solutions. Our lithium-ion offerings play a pivotal role in supporting India's ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Join us at MHE Bazar and embrace the future of material handling with confidence.

[mhebazar012]

Material Handling Equipment Manufacturer and Supplier in India | MHE Bazar

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[z34l0t]

"An old Rilke poem describes the pacing of a caged animal as a ritual dance of “powerful soft strides … around a center / in which a mighty will stands paralyzed.” Depression is the word we use to describe a paralysis of will, and captivity inflicts a special form of it on animals, which we call “zoochosis.” Those suffering from it sometimes pluck their own fur compulsively, and may even mutilate themselves. These are obvious signs that something is amiss with an animal, but a fox may be attuned to others that are less legible to us."

"At the back of Bird House, the fox may have noted the way the 74 flamingos ambled across their nearly 10,000-square-foot enclosure. Something about their movements may have struck him as curious. Great hunters of birds, foxes have cognitive processes that may contain an algorithm alerting them when an animal’s wings aren’t working. In the wild, some flamingos power up to Andean peaks or glide, pelicanlike, for miles along the coast. But not these flamingos. They were permanently grounded when zoo staffers removed their flight feathers three days after they were born, to make sure they wouldn’t escape their enclosure."

"Wing clipping is cruel in part because it shrinks a bird’s world: A land animal’s range is a two-dimensional shape on a map, but a flying being can explore a truly voluminous chunk of the Earth’s atmosphere. Grounded birds are also more vulnerable to mass slaughter. If a fox came upon a flamingo flock in the wild, he’d be lucky to get his teeth into one before the rest flew away. But the zoo’s flamingos would never fly away, even under direct attack. They couldn’t. They were trapped like hens in a coop."

[...] ✂️

"Sara Hallager arrived at the Bird House just after 6 o’clock that morning. As the zoo’s head curator for birds, Hallager makes sure to check on the animals first thing when she works the early shift, methodically looking in on the cranes and herons. When she reached the flamingo enclosure, she was alarmed to find herself eye to eye with the fox. Not all foxes react skittishly upon spotting a human, but this one seemed to have consciousness of guilt. “As soon as he saw me, he ran away through the hole in the fence that he had created,” Hallager told me. Any hopes that the fox had just arrived were dashed when she saw that pink-feathered mayhem was strewn across the enclosure’s bare soil and in its shallow pool. “I could already see a large number of dead flamingos,” Hallager said."

[...] ✂️

"I asked Amaral whether there was any internal dissent about killing the fox. He told me that no one had lodged any objections, so far as he could recall. This unanimity among the staff surprised me. It struck me as contrary to the zoo’s spirit. At the very least, it seemed like a failure of imagination. Surely an institution devoted to caring for animals should have found a way to spare the fox. Why not relocate him to a forest across the Anacostia River?"

[...] ✂️

"I left the zoo unsettled. I couldn’t shake the sense that the fox had been wronged. The very next night, I experienced a visitation. In the predawn hours, I awoke to a sudden, high-pitched scream. For 30 seconds, I laid still in bed, thinking that the sound was a remnant of an unremembered dream. When I heard it again, I leapt up to my window and swept the curtains aside. To my astonishment, a fox was sitting on the sidewalk directly in front of my house, screeching into the dark wintry air, trying desperately to summon a mate. This went on for several minutes until headlights beamed down the street and he fled."

[jellifysh]

college au drabble: part ♡

in which the boys celebrate valentine's day with you

--

Valentine's day, you sighed. Such a drag. Confessions left and right, people's displays of affection taking up space on all the paths. It was so annoying to have to walk around them blocking the way. But it was fun to don heart covered clothes without it being out of place one day per year. If there was one thing about you, it's that you dressed for the occasion.

One more look in the mirror, eyeliner with pink accents, tights with hearts woven into the mesh, heart shaped earrings. You sighed in contentment, your appearance being perfect with a capital P. But, you frowned, for someone so cute, you really were so single.

Part of that was by choice. You could have a boyfriend by now, but it wouldn't be right, not when you were still reeling over Jungkook's rejection. Your eyes glazed over as you thought about that freak night you confessed. You were watching a movie, the lights down low, cuddled under the same blanket. It was so perfect you almost forgot Jungkook was one of the school's top fuckboys.

But, at least you were still friends. You still had movie nights and you had one later, where you could snuggle up all close on the couch and pretend for just a second that he had said yes all those nights ago.

You opened your the door of your apartment heading out to classes.

Or you would've headed out to classes, had there not been a five foot stuffed animal in front of your door.

"Happy valentine's day, gorgeous!" Jimin stood behind it, leaning on its head as he held out a giant bouquet of roses towards you. You blinked, dumbfounded at the giant pink bunny, hardly sparing him a glance.

"How did you even get this up here? I live on the third floor."

"Elevator, duh. And it's not that heavy." He shook the bouquet. "Aren't you going to take it, pretty? I'm asking you to be my valentine today!"

"Don't accept it, Y/nie!" You heard a yell from down the hall, craning your neck around the plushie to see Taehyung dragging a bigger stuffed animal towards you.

Jimin gasped in betrayal. You stole my idea!"

"I came up with it first!"

You watched them bicker for a second, then pulled the stuffed animals into your house and walked off, them still arguing in front of your door. They probably wouldn't even notice you were gone until you were sitting in class.

You walked out of your apartment building, seeing Jungkook leaning against his car on the curb waiting for you. "Hey," he smiled, big and charming and you supressed the flutter in you chest.

"Hey," you smiled back. "We're still on for later?"

"Oh, I don't know." He scratched the back of his neck. "Chrissie might call, she said she wanted to hang out tonight." He shrugged, then seeing your crestfallen face, he added, "But if she doesn't, we can hang."

Oh, Jeon Jungkook. How incredibly stupid you are sometimes. You deflated a bit, previous good mood gone.

"Right. Well, are we going to class then?" You pulled open the passenger side door and he nodded, going around to drive. You watched the cool confident way he navigated the streets, checking him out while he couldn't tell you were looking.

If past you could see you now, she'd be so disappointed. You swore to yourself you'd never be one to chase or pine after a man, but Jungkook was different. He treated you differently, you were his best friend, he had told you things he had never told anyone, and yet... maybe you read the signs wrong. But it didn't matter because you will get over him and move on. There were lots more guys you knew that would do anything to be with you, if Jungkook can't see you for what you were that was his loss.

You strutted into the school with Jungkook by your side, listening to him blather on about some gaming thing, probably his busted the aiming mechanics for Valorant were or whatever his latest obsession was.

"Kookiebun!" The most annoying voice in the world squealed, jumping onto the boy at your side. Chrissie, you rolled your eyes. Jungkook turned you down, but this glitter personification gets his attention.

You breathed in and out, calming yourself. Girls support girls, you said to yourself in your head. She's just a another girl Jungkook's dating, no problem.

Chrissie looked over at you, eyes open wide in faux surprise. "Oh, sorry I didn't see you there... I forgot your name! What was it again?"

"Nunya Business." You smiled venomously.

Jungkook gave you a pleading look, imploring you to be nice and you looked away. "I'm gonna be late to class. See you around, I guess." You walked away, ignoring Jungkook calling your name, once, twice, and then not again.

You shook your head. The one person who treated you like a priority, the one person you allowed yourself to get close to and feelings had to complicate the whole thing.

"Wifey!"

You stopped in your tracks, your vision clearing from the haze of thoughts and focusing on the man before you. Kim Seokjin. You smiled, genuinely happy to see him. He was a complete dork, but he was pretty and he always brought you--

"I have cookies! I made your favorites for Valentine's day. I also made these little cheesecake bites and some brownies and cupcakes, and I bought these caramel filled chocolate bars because I now you said that you liked those best--"

"Thank you, Jin." You cut him off, taking the box from him. He was pretty, but man, did he talk. "This looks amazing."

"Of course, only the best for my wife." He boasted loudly, garnering weird looks from people nearby in the hall. "You want me to walk you to class?"

"You don't have to." You shook your head, walking past him and he followed, falling in step with you.

"I want to." He leaned over, trying to get a better look at your face. "Are you okay? I don't see your beautiful smile." He teased you with cheesy

"I'm smiling right now. See?" You turned to him and did a big smile, then dropped it.

He rolled his eyes in amusement. "No, that's the fake smile you do for your Instagram posts. Your real smile is prettier."

You shook your head, focusing on the path in front of you. "I'm fine Jin."

"Sure." He replied dubiously as you approached your lecture hall. He grabbed your hand and pulled you aside, saying, "Before you go to class, I wanted to talk to you."

"Aren't we talking now?"

He rolled his eyes again, smiling anyways, moving in closer and moving his hands to your back as he held you. "I wanted to tell you Happy Valentine's day, and you are the most beautiful, sweetest, smartest, coolest, most fashionable girl in the world," you started giggling at the cheesy speech, and he pushed on, struggling not to succumb to your contagious laughter. "And I'm glad that we've gotten closer this year. I don't know what would've happened if I hadn't met you." He smiled softly as you looked up at him.

You calmed your laughter as his speech took on a more serious heartfelt tone, replying smartly, "You'd probably still have some of your sanity."

"Right. Because you drive me crazy." He joked, planting lots of light kisses on your cheek, making you giggle again and push him away. "There's my beautiful smile. Have a good day, Y/n."

"You too." You smiled, watching aa he started to walk away-- backwards, so he could keep his eyes on you longer-- and walked into your class. A couple minute before class was set to start, you sitting with your notes spread in front of you and nibbling in some of the sweets Jin made you, Jimin and Taehyung burst in the front door dramatically, pointing at you in the back of the class. "There she is!"

You rolled your eyes and they rushed up the stairs towards you, making a such a mess that everyone turned their heads to watch the two idiots scramble towards you. "You left us!"

"You're causing a scene." You replied with contradicting calm, taking a bite out of the brownies.

"Ooh, those are the treats Jin made." Taehyung said, slipping into a seat beside you. He took a brownie out of the box without asking.

"He made a mess of our kitchen to make all of these." Jimin said, sitting and eating out of the box as well.

"It's not like you guys ever go in there yourselves." You commented, dusting your hands off as you resigned yourself to letting them devour the sweets you had left over.

"Jin yells at us when we do!" Taehyung whined in defense, chocolate smeared on his lip.

"Because you mess everything up." You countered, wiping the smudge off and he shrugged unapologetically.

"Can we have the rest of these?" Jimin pointed at the half eaten box and you shrugged in agreement. You had already eaten most of it and taken a picture to post later. "Awesome! Are you free for lunch?" He asked, pulling the box more towards him.

"Yeah." You responded, and Taehyung wrapped an arm around your shoulder.

"Good. We're taking you out." He announced with a proud smile.

You shook your head, your curls brushing against his arm. "I can't be out long. I reserved a private study room in the library for one."

"We can do an hour."

After your boring lecture, Jimin and Taehyung immediately pulled you up from your seat, picking up your things for you and escorting you out the door before the professor could even finish his lame joke. You all went out to the parking lot, them pulling you over to Taehyung's slick black convertible.

"Y/n!" Someone called your name. You would know that voice anywhere.

You whipped your head around. Jungkook. He was climbing out of his car a few yards across the lot. He looked at Jimin and Taehyung flanking your sides and narrowed his eyes. "Where are you headed?" He asked suspiciously.

"We're going on a Valentine's day date, Jeon." Jimin bragged, opening the door for you.

Jungkook's eyes widened in shock then narrowed again. "Seriously?" He asked you, a conflicted look in his eye. You opened your mouth to explain, then saw Chrissie getting out of the passenger's side of Jungkook's car.

"Thanks for the donuts, Kookiebun, they were delicious." She kissed him on the cheek, grabbing her bag out of his backseat. "Walk me to class?" She asked, totally ignoring the tense conversation being had.

Your eyes narrowed, and you got in Taehyung's car without responding, no longer looking at Jungkook. "Let's go." You said to Taehyung.

He shared a look with Jimin and shrugged, the two of them hopping in and you peeled out of the parking lot.

You sulked, the wind whipping your hair around your face and glared at the swirl of your surroundings as Taehyung zoomed down the street. A hand brushed your leg and you looked up to see Jimin in the passenger seat turned towards you, reaching for your hand. You placed your hand in his and he squeezed it, understanding in his eyes. "It's okay." He mouthed, and you felt your lip wobble.

"Here we are!" Taehyung said finally, parking in the lot of a cute upscale cafe. "We know how you like eating fancy every once in a while."

You blinked up at the building with awestruck eyes. "I've been wanting to go here for ages!" You gasped. Your door was pulled open for you by Jimin who smiled warmly at you.

"We know." He said, holding a hand out to help you out the backseat. "You won't shut up about it." He teased, and you slapped his hand playfully.

You were seated at a table and had your food brought to you in record time. Jimin and Taehyung must've somehow communicated the time crunch to the kitchen, because everything you ordered came out quick, the waiters constantly moving to and from your table.

"This is so amazing, thank you!" You gushed and they both gushed at how adorable you were, pasta sauce smeared on your lips. Taehyung wiped the spot off your cheek and gave the spot a peck, "The food isn't all, princess."

Jimin revealed a bag from under the table, the label Tiffany's printed in elegant font. "For you." He smiled warmly, passing it to you over the table.

"Oh my god," you practically tore open the bag, tossing the tissue paper aside and pulling out a Tiffany blue box. A bracelet and a ring were nestled atop black velvet, the stunning diamonds shining in contrast. "You guys... you didn't have to do this..." You gasped, awestruck, as you felt your eyes get wet.

"You deserve it," Jimin replied, looking you right in the eyes to show how much he meant it.

You laughed, looking up to hold back your tears. "Aren't you guys supposed to be fuckboys? What's with all the sappy stuff suddenly?"

"I don't why you talking to us about being fuck boys, it's not like you're any better." Taehyung chuckled, tossing a balled up napkin at you.

"Excuse me, I have standards." You flicked it back, hitting Jimin right on the nose.

"So do we." He responded, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you think we always hang around you?"

You scoffed at that, getting flustereed and looking away, not sure what to say to the indirectly direct compliment. Your hand fidgeting, picking up your phone and checking the time, dampening your good mood. "I gotta go. It's almost one."

Jimin and Taehyung paid for everything and dropped you off near the library. "Hey," Taehyung called after you from the driver's seat as you hopped out. You looked back at him, smiling warmly with the wind blowing at his and Jimin's hair, somehow still looking perfect. "Don't let that asshole Jungkook get to you, you're perfect, okay?" He winked and you smiled.

"Nothing gets to me," You said back. "I'm cold as ice, remember?" And with that they drove off, you heading into the library by yourself.

About half an hour into studying you slumped forward on your desk. This is a nightmare, you thought. Half a page of notes, and whole unit to review and you were stuck on lesson one.

You picked up your phone, taking a picture of the ring and bracelet to brag on Instagram, deciding to distract yourself with posting all your Valentine's day gifts so far. Loving valentine's day so far, but I would kill for a Vanilla Bean Cream Frappuccino. And post.

After scrolling for a while, you decided you had distracted yourself enough and tried to get back to studying, to no avail. Just as you were about to start looking up video lessons, your phone buzzed with a text.

Nerd: where are you rn?

You: in the library, in a study room

Nerd: which one?

You: 216

You: why???

No response. You rolled your eyes and put your phone down, picking up a different colored pen in hopes that it'd inspire your brain. A few minutes and the words later, a knock sounded on the door. You stood making your way to the window, peeking through the blinds and just barely making out Kim Namjoon, looking down at his phone. Your phone buzzed on the table again and you opened the door.

He looked up, smiling as soon as he saw you open the door. "Hey," he held out a cup practicality overflowing with whipped cream, his dimples coming out making him look absolutely adorable. "I got your drink."

You took the cup slowly, surprised. "I was just complaining. You didn't actually have to bring me one." He shrugged, and you noticed another bag in his hand. "What's that?"

"Why?" He smirked. "Looking for more presents?"

"Maybe." You opened the door wider, letting him come in. He walked over to the desk.

"Oof, less than a page of notes." He shook his head. "Having a tough time?"

"Yes! This lesson makes no sense, I don't understand this example at all. How would replacing the standard hydrogen cell with zinc make the electrode values for copper completely different? Wouldn't it just functuon like a regular Zinc-Copper battery?" You huffed, dropping into your seat unceremoniously. Chemistry was kicking your ass.

He looked at it over your shoulder, his arm caging you in on one side as he leaned down, studying it for a few moments. "Because the universal standard isn't zero anymore. You solve as if the zero is the electrode value of zinc, which means you add copper to zinc and that's your new value."

"Of course you understand it in five seconds." You lean back in your chair, fully pouting.

"It helps that I also took this class last year." He shrugged, kissing you on the cheek, and sitting in the chair on your left side. "I'll help you study if you need it, but you're doing great."

"Again, half a page of notes." You waved your notebook around, turning it so he could see it.

"Hey, some people in my class didn't take notes at all. Come on, you got this." His encouraging smile made you feel at ease and you studied, easier now that he was talking with you and walking you through it. You even finished studying the unit even earlier then you expected, flingung your arms around him in a hug.

"Thank you so much, oppa, you're the best!" You cheered.

He brought his arms up around you, squeezing you tight to his chest. "You're brilliant all on your own, baby girl." When you pulled back, he stroked your cheek softly, leaning in to kiss you slowly, almost reverently, like you were a gift he was trying to savor. Your lips disconnected with a soft pop as he sucked your bottom lip into his mouth before pulling back fully. He pulled the bag in his hand again, handing it to you. "Here, open it."

Once again digging past tissue paper, you pulled out a small box. When you opened it, a gold necklace was inside with a pendant in the shape of an elephant with diamonds encrusted in it. "Namjoon," you breathed in awe. "This is beautiful."

"I know," his deep voice rumbled into your ear, his arms pulling you closer into his chest. "When I saw it, it reminded me of you." You looked up at him and smiled, him kissing you on the forehead. "I have to go now. Have a good day, y/n."

"You too." You replied, reluctantly letting go of him and watching him walk out.

Carrying on with your day, you were going to head back to your dorm and crash after the taxing study session, until you got another text.

danceypants: you free rn?

You: yea why?

danceypants: meet me at the studio 💕💕💕

You quickly changed into something more comfortable before heading over to the arts department. Hoseok was in his usual dance studio, talking with a crowd of three or four girls who had stopped by to flirt with him. He looked over, noticing you at the door and immediately stood, coming over to you with a big smile.

"Hey babe," He jogged over to you, pulling you close by the arms and kissing you on the lips. "Happy Valentine's Day."

You scrunched up your nose. "I've heard that too many times today." Not that you were actually sick of it. This was one of the best valentine's days you had ever had, but that was more because of the people you were spending it with.

"That's your fault for messing around with six people." He teased back, crossing his toned arms as he gazed down at you.

"I didn't expect you all to get sappy on me. I thought you were professionals." You raised a mocking eyebrow smugly. Professionals. It was something he had said to you once, at the start of your agreement. You had asked if he was the type to get attached and he told you no.

"Well," he started, looking you up and down with a intense glint in his eye. "You're something special."

"And you're a simp." You scoffed playfully. He chuckled, going to gather his things and wave goodbye to the girls still in the room as he led you out. "Only for you angel. I've got something planned too."

"Oh, really? This late?" You asked. It was almost sunset, usually he had plans at night.

"It's never too late for a date."

"That's not true. What if I called you up at 3am for a date?"

"I'd put on my shoes and meet you wherever you wanted."

"That's because you're crazy."

"If you wanted to have a date at 3 am I think you'd be the insane one." He joked. The both of you reached his old pickup truck, brat up and mud caked on the wheels, but he loved the thing anyway. "If we hurry we can watch the sunset at our spot." He said, helping lift you into the passenger seat.

"Our spot." You rolled your eyes. The phrase sounded so cheesy. "It's a public park."

"Yeah. But it's ours." He smiled at you, turning the ignition and the truck purred to life. By the time you reached the park, it was just about sundown, Hoseok driving a little further in for some seclusion from the other people milling about the fields. The two of you climbed into the truck bed, laying on a fluffy blanket Hoseok kept in his backseat for nights like this.

"How's your day going?" He asked, an arm around you as you laid your head on top of his chest.

You gazed up at the clouds, watching them turn cotton candy pink. "Fine, I guess. Grades are good, classes are boring as always, although I am taking a mythology class that's pretty engaging."

He pinched your waist lightly. "You know that's not what I meant."

You rolled your eyes. "I'm fine, seriously."

"Have you talked to Jungkook at all today?"

"Yeah, but not for long. He had to meet up with Chrissie."

"Have you told him about your feelings like we talked about?" He asked.

"No, because the last time I did that, it ruined everything. I decided it doesn't how I feel because it obviously doesn't change anything."

"It does matter how you feel. And if he cares about you, he'll understand that the distance he's putting between you is hurting you."

"You're too nice, Hobi." You said, looking up at him, noses an inch apart. "How are you?" You asked, giving him the space to share as well.

He grinned wide and you knew he was about to say something cheesy. "I'm fantastic. I'm here, gazing up at the sky with my favorite girl." He sighed in contentment, pressing a kiss to your hairline, his lips staying pressed to your head as he spoke again. "I don't usually celebrate, you know."

"No? I would've thought you always had a girl hanging off your arm."

"Yeah, but beside giving them flowers or something, I never really did much. Nothing like this anyway." He squeezed you a bit closer, bringing his other arm to wrap around you.

The two of you stayed there, warm and comfortable in silence, until a refill rolled across, the day officially becoming night and clouds blowing across the stars. Your phone buzzed in your pocket.

"Got other plans?" Hoseok asked, letting you pull back and check. You sat up, reading the message again to make sure you read it right.

"Jungkook said his date is canceled." You said in disbelief. "He wants to have movie night."

"Great! Now you can tell him how you feel," he teased tickling your sides. You laughed swatting his hands away.

"I'll think about it, but don't count on it."

"Come on, let's take a picture to remember this night." He whipped his phone out. "The first Valentine's day I've actually had a date on." He mused, snapping it as you smiled.

He sent it to you, climbing out the truck bed, "I'll drive you back." He said, sweeping you into his arms and carrying you into the passenger seat.

You both headed back to campus, him dropping you off with a wave and heading to his own place, and as you were about to head to Jungkook's place, your phone buzzed again.

d-boy: come to the observatory.

You: why?

d-boy: why can't anything ever be easy with you

You: go text ur other hoes

d-boy: what other hoes??

d-boy: your the one with hoes

d-boy: my only hoe is you

You: shut up, omw

There was some time left before you had to meet with Jungkook, so you made your way to the observatory. Yoongi's not the type to waste people's time so he must have something to say to you.

The observatory doubled as an assembly hall, rows and rows of seats rising towards the back of the room facing a stage and a platform to view the telescope on. You could see Yoongi in the front, legs kicked up over the seat in front of him as he leaned back looking up at the stars. You walked up to him, him only glancing in your direction to address you.

"You gonna sit down or what?"

You sat, and waited for him to say something. After a while of just gazing up the stars together through the observatory open roof, you asked, "Are you going to get all sappy on me too?"

He snickered, shaking his head. "Nah. I'm just going to say I'm happy to know you." He reached over, grabbing your hand and squeezing it gently. "I'm surprised tweedle dee and tweedle dum didn't smother you to death." He joked, referring to Jimin and Taehyung and their overwhelming nature.

"No, no, everyone was actually pretty chill today. Jin gave me his usual bucket load of kisses, Jimin and Taehyung kept their hands to themselves for once, and Namjoon helped me study."

"Mm." He hummed, nodding. "Did Joon give you the necklace?"

"The elephant one? Yeah, how'd you know?"

"He's had it for a while. Didn't know when you give it to you." He was weirdly silent after he said that, biting his lip and fingers fidgeting.

You waited to see if he'd say anything then said, "Did you want to give me something?"

He shifted once, then pulled a USB out of his other pocket. "I made a couple tracks. I didn't know which one to go with. None of them felt right. All of them felt right." And with that he placed it in your waiting palm, a heart scribbled onto the black case in white marker.

"Thank you. I'll listen to it as soon as possible." He smiled, a real genuine smile and leaned in to kiss you, soft and slow as opposed to the usual hungry way he kissed you. Everything about his behavior was uncharacteristic. Usually he was teasing and cool. His quietness wasn't usually accompanied by nervousness or gentleness. After pulling back, he had that same smile on his face.

"I think Jungkook's waiting on you." He said, and you checked the time. 7:51 pm. The time flew by while you were sitting in quietness with him and before you stood you opened the camera.

"I've been taking pictures all day. You wanna take one?"

He rolled his eyes but leaned in, pulling the mask up to cover his face. You snapped a picture posting that and the one with Hoseok, telling him to have a good night and leaving him to sit and brood.

You walked back to your room with a bounce in your step, today was incredible and you had been treated like you mattered. Valentine's day was usually filled with lazy presents, people you barely knew telling you that you were pretty and that you should hook up, but you've never actually found someone worth spending your time with like you have recently. It almost makes you feel better about Jungkook.

Who was leaning against your front door looking pissed.

"You're late."

You raised an eyebrow, confused at his attitude. "I was with Yoongi."

He scoffed, "I know." He pulled out hisphone, your Instagram page with all the stuff you've been doing today on the screen. "You've had a busy day today, huh?"

"I don't know why you're upset about what I do. Weren't you spending your day with Chrissie?"

"Just because you're jealous of Chrissie doesn't mean you need to flaunt you relationship with my friends to everybody, or go on a date with Jimin and Taehyung--"

"I'm not doing this because of you! I have my own life! It's not my fault your friends are interested on what you missed out on."

He took a sharp breath in, then closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, calming down. "I didn't-- I don't want to argue with you. I just..." Jungkook sighed, looking up at and you could see that he seemed sad. "I canceled the date I had with Chrissie so we could hang out, and then you weren't even here, I just... I'm sorry."

"You canceled your date?" You asked quietly, a bit surprised.

"Yeah," he shrugged. "We always have movie nights today, and it was wrong of me to try and change that. Just because things are... different doesn't mean we have to be weird about it." He smiled at you, albeit a bit awkwardly.

"Right." You nodded, unlocking your door. "But you can't expect me to sit around and wait for and then get upset when you have towards wait for once."

"I'm just... not ready to be what you want from me." He mumbled, walking in behind you.

"And that's okay." You said, resolve and dismissal in your tone, ending the conversation. It was clear now. You and Jungkook were friends and nothing more. You were not going to wait around for someone who couldn't reciprocate you energy. All today showed you was that you had other options who were happy to put you first.

It was time for a change.