#starts crashing out hardcore on the floor

[unnamednight]

wild women don't get the blues, but I find that lately,

I've been crying like a tall child. so PLEASE,

HURRY, leave ME, I cant BREATHE.

PLEASE don't say YOU love ME.

胸がはち切れそうで.

♪ ♪ ♪

ONE word from YOU and

I would jump of this ledge I'm ON, BABY.

tell ME 'don't' SO I can crawl BACK IN.

♪ ♪ ♪

and I was so young when I BEHAVED 25,

yet now, I find I've grown into a TALL CHILD, and

I DON'T wanna go HOME. let ME walk

to the top of the big NIGHT sky.

PLEASE, hurry, leave ME, I can't BREATHE.

PLEASE don't say YOU love ME.

胸がはち切れそうで.

[slashingdisneypasta]

Imagine: Scar turning human so he can seduce you.

*set in the House of Villains universe. Ursula turned him.

Also don't ask me how this works with Lion vs human lifespans, I don't know. Just ignore it 😅

Scar turns into a very dashing older gentleman, of course. Long pitch-black hair he either leaves down in a fluffy dead mess or even ties up in a high ponytail after some-time in the new human body, sharp green eyes made brighter by gorgeous dark skin, and lanky. -And, being his wicked self, he absolutely notices how the new appearance effects one little... old... you. Even if he doesnt particularly care for the odd look, your reactions to just him standing a little too close to you- make it all too worth it.

Scar starts immediately making your life hell, as soon as he gets used to walking up on two legs. Popping up anywhere you are needing help (somehow he always knows when you're in dire straights?? I mean- of course he does), offering his assistance and a few flirty little comments. First to make you aware what he wanted, and then to convince you. Entice you.

Scar fucking up basic tasks like carrying trays (letting the tray tilt so food and drinks slip off and crash to the ground) and opening clipboards (letting all the paper slip out onto the floor), because he's not used to thumbs. It's endearing as fuck and somehow he manages to make an 'oops' look charming with too-wide, too-pretty green eyes and the ease of an older man who knows a little bit of clumsy can be cute.

Scar gracefully scaring off mean villains who decide to get nasty with you because they're in a bad mood. No, his teeth may not be as sharp as they were but he'll still use them. It'll be a shame to get blood on this shirt but he will. 'Keep that in mind, old woman.'

Scar finally winning you over and guess what? He may look like a man but he's still affectionate like a lion. He does not give a flying fuck who's around, who's watching, when he comes up behind you. When the old man draws your body back against his too-snuggly and licks the flat of his tongue over your shoulder, and neck, your pressure point. He loves to taste your skin and feel your pulse point jump. Why should he care? Your stuffy idea of what he can and cannot do to his mate when he wants are of no consequence to him. So pathetically human. Far too human for him. 'Sc- Scar! Frollo is- ' 'Let the little man shriek. I truly could not care even a slither less, Y/N.'

Scar truly not noticing it if anyone else takes interest in him in his new, Hot, human form. He only has eyes for you. Medusa could be hardcore flirting with him across the table and Scar's busy listening to you talk to Hades and Rourke, and fingering the edge of your top between his fingers. She could throw herself at him and he'd conveniently side step her just in time. Okay. Maybe he notices; he's a smart man. But he absolutely acts like he doesn't XD

Scar paying Ursula back for the transformation by delivering to her poor Edgar, who is now her servant. 'Hmm- I take it this means you won the girl over??' 'Mhmm, take the old butler now. I have a young woman to mate. Sorry, Edgar, business and all that.'

[carionto]

Hardcore Space Parkour

Some Humans are worryingly agile. And stupidly driven to endanger themselves. For no reason we can understand.

________________________

Within the Coalition governing station of the segment of the Galaxy where the Sol system is are countless embassies for each member civilization. Each is designed to accommodate their respective species (or multiple in certain cases) to the fullest while also being able to host guests from any other member.

Then there are the communal areas, set for a galactic standard that is viable for the majority - gravity at 0.6 Earth, far less of that dangerous oxygen, and slightly more humid and cooler than what Humans are normally comfortable with. In fact, Humans technically fall outside the Galactic standards and are all equipped with a partial breathing assistance unit and pressurized clothing to stimulate their circulation. While they can function reasonably well despite what we assumed would be too draining without assistance, most Humans do make use of these gadgets.

Some, however, prefer to "stimulate" themselves a bit differently.

There is a small group of individual Humans many have dubbed "Leaping Cortix" after an infamous invasive fuzzy gelatinous centipede-like pest species that always manages to make a hive on any sufficiently large space station or vessel given enough time. Everybody swears they're some kind of magic, and it's hard to dissuade such a notion when there are fairly common reports of ships on deep isolation missions, without making contact with anyone or anything else for years at a time, still one day find themselves with a pack of Cortix skittering about near their nutrition supplies!

This group of Humans, found the title amusing and have embraced it. One of them even made a hooded sweater with the name and a stylized Cortix jumping off the letter x.

The reason for the name is simple - despite becoming integrated into the Coalition just around a year ago, Humans seem to appear everywhere within this segment of the Galaxy. Mostly in small groups for tourism reasons, but the point still stands. And these Humans in particular appear to make it a habit to appear out of the most unexpected places.

The leaping portion comes from how this group tends to move around the communal areas. Most Humans adapt to the lower gravity and eventually (rather quickly actually) change how they move around when outside their embassy - the movements seem more relaxed, fluid, some even appear to exert almost no effort at all in their steps. This group on the other hand utilizes the full force of their incredibly dense musculature.

First, they jump good. Real good. Then they bounce and pivot, real fast. After a few days they started a game - get to any place without touching the floor. Not even a day later they managed to always be in the air.

At first it was impressive and quite mesmerizing. Quite a sight to behold as they got better and quicker at chaining their jumps and bounds together into one smooth motion that took them from one part of the station to the other in mere moments.

Then they started getting bored. And one of them had an idea. An "awesome" idea.

Add flying robots and moving obstacles.

Chaos ensued. Naturally.

As the Humans leapt off of one of the maintenance machines they programmed to hover between several distant structures, it could not compensate for the sudden recoil from the movement and crashed down on the floor. Thankfully it was above a small garden and only some artificial plants were damaged, as well as itself, but that was enough to call in the peacekeeping units to put a halt to their antics.

We deliberately brought a Human peacekeeper along to make the reprimand stick. The Leaping Cortix, most of whom are junior staffers and one is a retired military veteran now serving as a consultant, looked ashamed, but also sad. At least they seemed to understand the gravity of the situation (though perhaps not as well as the physics of gravity) as the wreckage was cleared in clear sight of everyone.

After the offending member was issued a token fine (as it was their first offense), the group as a whole became less active. Initially, most people felt relieved, but as the incident grew more distant in memory, the sight of the flying Humans started to become missed by quite a few.

Some from the more physically able races were even inspired to try this "parkour" the Humans had demonstrated and found it quite thrilling. When done in a lower than their normal gravity that is. Trying it at their standard caused a few broken bones and cracked shells.

There is currently a petition by the permanent residents to dedicate a large open indoor field for such extreme physical sports as well as to commission the design of a variety of machines to facilitate, as written in the official documentation - "stimulating courses to improve the physical well being and readiness of all participants".

I.E. - Humans introduced a new sport to us and many are hooked.

[diagonal-queen]

The ADA as your roommates

♡ characters: Atsushi Nakajima, Dazai Osamu, Kunikida Doppo, Yosano Akiko, Jun'ichiro Tanizaki, Naomi Tanizaki, Ranpo Edogawa, Yukichi Fukuzawa

♡ synopsis: How good are the ADA at being roommates?

♡ cw: This is a post born out of medication-induced sleeplessness and months of pent up unfiltered fury directed at my shitty, shitty housemates. Some of that resentment may shine through in the headcanons. Also naughty words, NSFW themes with Dazai

note: hey y'all. i know it's not a request but it's the best i've got right now. law school and depression are kicking my ass. y'know that meme with the tiny man, and then the two buff dudes start beating the shit out of him? that's law school and depression with me. as always apologies for errors and i hope you enjoy x

Atsushi:

Help he's so sweet and awkward all the time?? Always gives you a little wave or a smile and nod when you pass each other in the halls

He buys candies and chocolates and things and leave them in a bowl on the table for people to take if they want :')

When his roommates feels sad he takes the time to hang out with them and help them through whatever problem they're having

In the morning when he comes into the kitchen to make breakfast he's all yawny and has a scruffy bedhead and it's SO cute

He doesn't do it consciously, but on occasion Atsushi will fall asleep on the couch, and even more occasionally he'll transform into Byakko in his sleep. You get used to it after a while, but you can't really invite friends over unless you know Atsushi is in his room or out of the house T-T

But he really is so sweet. If you bring someone over they develop a crush on him immediately, but of course he's oblivious. After they leave he turns to you and is like 'aw your friend is nice' (they were hardcore flirting with him)

If he ever has an issue with you or the house, he gets very nervous when bringing it up because he doesn't wanna cause any conflict (you could be smashing the plates on the ground every day and he'd be like 'hey so i'm super duper sorry to bother you like i really hate to nag but-')

My mans. Is doing. His BEST

Dazai:

Screw you.

Holy shit this guy is an absolute nightmare to live with. he'll drive you crazy within the week just because of how *little* he does around the house

He doesn't clean his dishes. He doesn't buy stuff for the house. He doesn't do a DAMN thing.

Preferably, if you're gonna be living with him, you'll also wanna bring Kunikida. He has his own issues but at least then there's a balance between a chore-driven man and the embodiment of sloth, the deadly sin

He will stumble through the front door at 3am with unkempt clothes and the stink of alcohol on him. and he won't bother trying to be subtle or quiet either. Just crashes around until he pukes on the floor and falls asleep on the couch

At least he flushes (more than I can say for my housemates /gen)

He drinks in the house, and leaves bottles everywhere. The entire place is damn near bordering a safety hazard because of all the glass

Tries to cook but absolutely can't do it- he sets fires, ruins the kitchen, etc etc. It wouldn't be unreasonable for you to assume that all takeout packaging and pizza boxes you find strewn around the house belongs to him

He's fully up for a secret hookup if you're into that, though. Just give his door a knock after 11pm and you're in

Kunikida:

This guy is both a saint and a total pain in the arse

On one hand, he does his chores and he does them literally perfectly. Is there even a perfect way to wash the dishes? There is now. Kunikida is here

On the other hand you can kiss your hopes of getting out of your own chores goodbye. This man makes a schedule. a chore chart. a system. he pulls out the whole nine yards

Thanks a lot DAZAI

Anyway, he has his merits. Kunikida brings it upon himself to bring up the slack (even if he doesn't want to) because he can't stand living in a messy space, so your home is always spick and span

He organises weekly or monthly meetings to discuss home affairs (he's a real Louis Moriarty, he will also make you omelettes)

Kunikida is also kind of a walking talking alarm clock- he wakes you up in the morning if you're not up by a certain time, and also gives you a lights out time at night when he deems it bedtime

He pretends that this is just a part of routine and etiquette and whatever- in reality, he just really cares about your health and wants you to get enough sleep and keep a consistent routine

He also encourages you to go out if you're an introvert because "staying inside all the time is bad for you". Damnit Kunikida

Yosano:

Oh she's so great to live with

Every time you run into her you two always end up bitching to each other about something. She's the ultimate bitch buddy

If you get sick she takes on the role of home doctor, quarantines you in your room, and tends to you until you're well again. Or, if she doesn't like you, she just chops you up and gets it over with lmao

Yosano drinks a lot though. You eventually get used to falling asleep to the sounds of crashing, whirring chainsaws and maniacal laughter from the next room over

She takes AGES in the bathroom, so you really ought to keep a bucket on hand or something just in case. Like this woman will be in there for hours on end (RIP your water bill)

She also always takes up the phone line because she's a lil social butterfly (RIP your phone bill) but she'll also take your phone calls for you if you don't like talking on the phone so there's that

Yosano is really sweet but she always leaves her stuff laying around. Like there'll just be patient portfolios and medical tools in the living room?? Girl

Some nights she comes home with a bigass pizza in her hand and a bottle of wine in the other, and you know you're in for a GOOD time

If you ever need some spare cash she'll give it to you but if you take too long to pay her back she WILL chop you up so beware

Tanizaki:

He's a perfectly adequate roommate.

In all honesty there's barely anything to say about Tanizaki. He does his chores, respects his roommates, helps them if they need help, etc etc. He's just a real stand up guy!

Though I HC that Tanizaki gets sick pretty easily, so he can sometimes be seen wandering the house with a pale face wrapped in a blanket making sad boy noises

He gives you lifts as long as you're able to provide gas money (or McDonalds, either works as payment)

He doesn't usually accept invitations to go out drinking, but he's more than happy to grab a coffee with you if time permits it. He's just a responsible guy 😌 (if you don't have time he'll also bring you a coffee because he's just that nice)

Tanizaki always has backup stuff in case you guys run out of anything. This man basically has a bunker's worth of extra supplies for literally no reason, but hey free stuff!

He likes to make dinner for you sometimes, and you guys eat together and chat (it's something he grew used to while living with Naomi)

He's always happy to lend you his stuff if you ever run out of things (because of Naomi he even keeps backup menstrual stuff on hand, so you vagina owners are all safe)

You guys definitely do face masks and manicures together too

Naomi:

Naomi might, literally, be the roommate ever

She does her chores, she keeps quiet at night, she lets you know if she's bringing people over. Her only flaw is that she's always talking about her brother. Naomi please

She's also very vocal whenever her brother's in the house. What are they doing ffs

She bakes cupcakes and cookies and stuff each week for her roommates

She also brings around her friends sometimes for movie nights, and if you come into the living room she invites you to watch movies with her and her friends

Naomi honestly invites you to everything. Parties, gatherings, hanging out with friends- she's a true extrovert and will adopt you if you're an introvert, you have no choice sry :/

She also decorates the place really well- in all honesty she really did miss her calling as an interior designer because miss girl makes your home look CLASS

Naomi is the roommate you go to when you're preparing for a date and you need help with your outfit or nerves. She's like the ultimate wingwoman fr

She also buys incense and air freshener so your house smells nice as FUCK

Ranpo:

He's almost as bad as Dazai, aside from the fact that he can respect rules, and so (although begrudgingly and with a lot of whining) he actually does his chores

If you all live together he steals all of the candy Atsushi left out for everyone :(

Basically lives in his pyjamas. He gets home from work and immediately gets changed into his jammies

He also hogs the TV and won't let you watch Netflix until his own shows are finished :( and he also judges you for your taste in TV regardless of what it is

Ranpo never cooks for himself or you, but he LOVES when you cook for him. It makes him feel so special

You guys also get takeout all the time. You make a tradition of it and get different stuff on different days. It becomes a part of the autism routine and now you're stuck wasting your money (haha)

You also have to take him places and accompany him everywhere because he knows fuck all about taking the train. You basically live life around Ranpo's (annoying spontaneous) schedule

He uses too much soap in the shower and gets bubbles all over the bathroom, but at least he smells nice?

He does all the house paperwork, so silver lining and all

Fukuzawa:

He's lowkey kind of scary 😔

Like, he's a really respectful roommate who does his chores and pays mind to his living companions, but he also just like barely comes out of his room or talks to anyone.

Plus, detective daddy kinda has a massive case of RBF which really isn't helping

That being said, he will make tea for you if you feel blue, and he'll sit in your room and silently listen to you complain about your issues for hours. The PATIENCE of this man

He randomly does really sweet stuff for you without saying a word about it. Replaces broken stuff, makes you pancakes in the morning etc.

Fukuzawa tends to work late hours so he's often awake late in the night. He enjoys when you keep him company on your sleepless nights, and will give you a blanket if you end up falling asleep in his bed or on the couch

He's also super neat and never touches your stuff without asking <3

He knocks on your bedroom door and the bathroom door every single time, just in case, and he never enters unless you give him the heads up

His own door is never locked in case you need him too. Or in case there's a break-in. Good luck to that person fr

taglist~ ♡ @gettinshiggywithit, @fyodorhatr, @flower-of-darkness, @bejeweledgirl, @kokoenjiandco, @pinkiipeachiikeen, @call-me-albie, @sayyestoheaven00

[astaroth1357]

Flipping the Script: Leviathan Meet-Cute (Human World AU)

So what if you met the demon boys in the human world instead? You’re not magic. You’re not special. You’re an average little human that came crashing into some demons one day. Good luck!

Contents: Pretty new format for me, second person (you), forgive any wonkiness

Part One (You are here), Part Two, Part Three (Coming Soon...)

~♡♡♡~

You’re a hardcore otaku influencer with a niche in creating and sharing cosplay. You’ve befriended a lot of other enthusiasts pursuing your passions, but there was one guy that you met at a recent convention that stood out from all of the rest.

The Seven Lords was just having yet another milestone anniversary, so several friends in your circle all decided to get together and do a group cosplay for the fans, you all were even offered space for a panel and locations for meet-and-greets! Your whole fanbase was ecstatic, and so were you, but there was just one problem…

The friend that agreed to be your Third Lord backed out at the last minute! His baggage was totally lost on the flight there and suddenly your whole group was without a member to complete the set. Though you knew it wasn’t a huge deal, you hated to disappoint your fans who were looking for a full group photo-op…

But then you saw this guy waiting around your hotel lobby-

“I can't believe Wess had to cancel on us…!” You thought to yourself while tapping your foot furiously against the hotel's linoleum floor. You were waiting for check-in last night when your collaborator sent his text to everyone, and your team still hadn’t found a suitable replacement… How could you guys have a TSL photo event without a Lord of Shadows?? Especially when you're the one dressed as Henry! What self-respecting group TSL cosplay doesn’t have those two together?? They're the closest pair in the show! The Sun and Shadow shippers were going to start a riot…

You were all still double-checking your gear and supplies down in the lobby. Months of work had gone into planning and prepping for this event… Your friends were trying to calm you down as best as they could, but your nerves weren’t on your side… You hated letting down your fans, even if it was entirely out of your control. But without a replacement, what exactly could you do? Just as you were about to throw in the towel and get dressed, a bunch of shouting from the hallway entrance caught your attention.

“Why the hell am I stuck carryin’ all your crap, huh Levi?! Ya got two working hands!”

“Because this outfit is heavy, Mam-er-Malcom! I need help, or else I'll get sweaty and gross!”

“You're already gross, so what's it matter?”

“Shut up, scumbag!!”

'Yeesh, what a loud pair...' You turned to look their way with a visible frown to show your annoyance only for your jaw hit the floor. Two men walked out of the hall and into the lobby, one being a dark-skinned male with the whitest hair you'd ever seen, and the other… Sweet kami-sama above, the other guy…!!

He. Was. Perfect!! The dark, shadowy armor, constructed fron what you could only guess was EVA foam and faux furs, combined with his violet hair made him look like the spitting image of the Third Lord! It was almost like the character himself had climbed off the page!! You had to cover your mouth to contain an audible gasp of shock while glancing at the others in your team. Only a few of your friends had noticed the man's arrival, but those who had all shot you back the same kind of look, “Go get that guy. NOW!” Who were you to refuse?

The god-tier Third Lord cosplayer was still arguing with his companion when you first made your approach, allowing you to sneak up pretty close without getting noticed. By the time you were in speaking distance, you were already marveling at the craftsmanship of his cosplay up close. The foam pieces looked flawlessly metallic and there were no patches of hot glue mishaps, frayed stitching, or painting mistakes. It was truly something else!

“Hey, what'cha gawkin’ at??”

The white-haired male caught you red-handed, leading the cosplayer in his company to turn in your direction. Though, amusingly, the moment your eyes met he seemed just as star struck as you were. You wasted no time thrusting your hand out towards him with your most “camera-winning” smile.

“Hi! Uhm, I’m Y/n L/n and I'm-"

“-the most popular cosplay model on Instagram, three-time champion of the WCS competitions, and the host of the ‘TSL Today’ fan podcast-!”

You froze from surprise as the cosplayer slapped his mouth shut with his own hand in a bid to stop rambling. His cheeks instantly tinged pink as he must have realized that he was spitting your own resume at you in excitement. It was hard not to feel a bit flattered at the sudden eruption of joy, so you smiled back more genuinely.

“That’s right! You've heard of me?”

You waited for his response with a patient, maybe even endeared, gaze. Seeing that you weren’t immediately weirded out by his hyped babbling, he uncovered his mouth to respond shyly.

“Y-yeah, of course I do…! I uh… came here to see your meet-and-greet today…”

He winced, face getting hotter, and looked like he wanted to double over from embarrassment, but honestly, you couldn’t have been happier. A creator of THIS caliber was one of YOUR fans?? Talk about a “diamond in the rough” moment!

“Really? That’s awesome!! Because I couldn’t help but notice that cosplay you're wearing… Did you make it yourself?”

How his face recalibrated from flustered to ecstatic in just a few seconds could have made your heart melt. After he confirmed that his cosplay was his own handiwork you began to gush about the design, asking rapid-fire questions about the materials he bought, what patterns he found, and his different sewing techniques. You both were so caught up in each other's passion that you hardly even registered the other guy standing next to him until he finally cleared his throat insistently.

“Yo Levi… This crap’s gettin’ heavy. Are we going or what?”

The cosplayer, who you guessed was Levi, turned to the man reluctantly, which sent a surge of panic through you as you still hadn’t asked him to stay.

“Wait!!”

Both men flinched a bit at your sudden exclamation, making your cheeks flush with color, but you pressed on regardless,

“Um, Levi right? My team and I could use your help… Our Third Lord just dropped out on us today because of baggage troubles and we really need a replacement for the shoot. Your outfit is fantastic! Do you think that you could step into the role for us? I have early access badges to the vendors room, so we can take a look together if that uh… if that…? Um. Levi...?”

The man in front of you looked like he was moments away from breaking down in tears, but somehow holding them back through sheer force of will… and his closed eyelids making a decent dam.

“H-hold on… I think I need to pinch myself because this can’t be happening. Is this actually happening?”

His voice wobbled while the man next to him, Malcolm(?), rolled his eyes behind his gold-tinted glasses.

“Hey, that doesn’t answer their questions, ya know?” He elbowed Levi while looking at you with a serious expression, “Are ya willin’ to take him AND his stuff with ya?”

“Of course! It’s important to have everything while yo-”

“Great. You can have’em.”

You were taken aback just a bit by the speed of his response, but not as much as Levi because he quickly leapt back into the conscious world in a panic!

“Wha-wh-Whaah?? You can’t just answer for me!!”

Malcolm shrugged his shoulders, letting several bags he had on slide to the ground but cushioning the fall a bit with his foot.

“Why not? It’s clear ya wanna go with them. Unless you wanna leave them hangin'…”

“N-No!! I mean, yes! No-er UGH!”

You watched Levi cover his face in frustration feeling a twinge of sympathy. Does he get tongue-tied like this often? After a few seconds to compose himself, he finally straightened up to give his true response.

“Y-yes, I want to go with you…! Being able to help one of your online idols is like a dream come true for any fan! What can I do to help?”

You could feel your smile grow twice as wide from the combination of relief and gratitude. Maybe the shoot would go alright after all…

“Give me your hand.”

Levi stuttered watching you reach your hand out towards his, using your other one to pull out a black marker that you always kept on your person for fans. His skin was soft, but strangely cold, when he rested his knuckles into your upturned palm. The icy jolt even made you jump a bit. Holy crap, was he cold-blooded or something?? When he flashed you a concerned glance, you quickly recovered uncapped the marker between your fingers. With years of built up practice, you ran the black ink over his pale skin, but instead of a signature, you left one of your burner numbers that you used for interacting with collaborators.

“Here. We still need a bit of time to get ready, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the con. Text me your name and I'll send you back where to meet up once we're ready to go.”

Levi was staring at the black marks on his hand like you'd just handed him a key item in a video game when one of your team shouted back from behind you.

“Y/n! Why aren’t you dressed yet?? We gotta go!”

“Shit, I’m coming!” You turned to head back, but you spared just a second to smile at Levi over your shoulder. “Thank you so much, Levi, you're going to be a huge help! Don't forget to text.”

“I won’t!”

Levi's promise made you grin lift even higher. With a wink and a wave, you made your way back to the others with a brand new pep in your step. Mission, saved!!

Meanwhile…

“… Did ya seriously just score a number in that getup?”

“I swear, I’ll never wash this hand again...!!”

“Fuck's sake, Levi, stop being so gross! At least put it in your phone before your sweaty palms wipe it off!”

“Gah, you're right!!”

[frannyzooey]

On The Green: 1

Ezra x f!reader

Rating: Mature (violence, slight gore, killing - typical Ezra 😌 — will be explicit in later chapters)

Summary: Two strangers meet.

a/n: New series alert! Man alive first chapters are hard, and so I am going to yeet this into the universe before looking at it anymore. I owe everything to @bageldaddy for educating me hardcore and for being so extremely kind and thorough, and to @the-ginger-hedge-witch for her Ezra eyes and inspiration and to @familyvideostevie for her support and enthusiasm and notes. It took a VILLAGE to get through this one. Enjoy meeting our stranger. :)

--

You come to surrounded by unnatural stillness.

An absence felt in the air surrounding you, there is something about it that tugs at the foggy corners of your brain, beckoning you closer to the surface. You try to listen for anything beyond the ringing in your ears, and there is…something.

A beeping sound emerging through the fog, its incessant chirping grows clearer. You blink slowly, your limbs made of lead when you try to turn your head. Instead of trying to investigate, you let yourself slip slowly back into the lush darkness, closing your eyes.  

But the strangeness of the silence tugs at you, and the beeping gets louder. 

Splices of memory come through in sharp flashes: 

The deep, bone-shaking tremble of turbulence. 

The grating sound of tearing metal. 

Beeping - so much fucking beeping, every sensor in the transport pod going off - and the whole cabin jerking to the left, your body weight pushing against the fabric restraints, your dad’s voice raw with hoarseness as he screams orders at you and –

Oh shit. Your dad. 

Your eyes pop open, and you sit up - or rather, you try to, but every muscle resists. Battered and bruised, you fumble at your harness with clumsy, shaking fingers. Looking up as it finally clicks open, you’re about to leap from the chair when you freeze. 

He’s there next to you, unmoving. 

Dead. 

“Dad?” you whisper. 

You can see without even checking for a pulse that he’s gone. That’s the feeling that pulled you awake, the vibration of life gone from the air. The stillness weighs heavy in the small space, and the beeping gets shriller somehow, more noticeable in the utter silence. 

The pod shrinks to a claustrophobic dome, and your breathing starts to come fast. Harsh, rapid exhales out of your open mouth and then you’re vomiting, right onto the floor. A cold sweat breaks out under your thermals, and you swallow hard against more bile that threatens to come up. 

There is blood splattered on the dash, pooled around the buttons. A deep gash gouged across his temple, his left eye already swollen beyond recognition. You stare at the dark, pulpy wound that runs with blood and with a heave, lose the remaining contents of your stomach. 

To have hit his head like that, he must have unbuckled and tried to fix something mid-crash, but why? Why the fuck would he do that? He knew better than that. You try to think about the sequence of events, but there is only a blur. A foggy, black spot in your memory, hazy images obscured by panic. 

You remember pieces: watching Puggart Bench grow smaller as you ascended through the atmosphere. The vague details of your father’s latest scheme, along with promises that this would be your last job. The frustration you felt at those words – ones you’ve heard a million times. 

You remember rolling your eyes and slipping on your headphones, and then scolding you for not paying attention after he jabbed you in the shoulder to take them off, and then…this. Somehow this. Guilt settles deep in your gut. 

Keeping your dazed eyes glued to the floor, you ignore the blood and beeping and the dead fucking body. You crouch low in the safety of your chair, winding your grip around the harness strap as an anchor and you sit for a moment, trying to steady your breathing. 

You sit. 

And sit. 

–

“Think she’s got anything left?”

The words spread condensation across the lower half of his visor, and Ezra listens for an answer he already knows isn’t coming. 

He always asks anyway: a constant dangling bait, in hopes his partner will bite. 

He hasn’t yet. 

Ezra bends back over the rough dug pit, his fingers splaying through the loose dirt. Anything worth digging for is sealed in his case already, but he stalls, thinking. 

He had watched the pod streak across the sky; the sight not unusual on the Green. Mercs and prospectors landed here every day to try their luck on the uninhabitable planet, but the speed in which the pod broke through the sky was unusual. Ezra could tell it was going too fast, even from the ground. His dark eyes had tracked the potential opportunity’s descent from behind the shield of his visor, and when the ground shuddered with the impact, he felt it through his gloves. 

If it had landed safety, protocol would be to keep his distance – no use needlessly engaging in a potential threat. However, he doubted that was the case after watching it fall to the earth like a stone. If he had to guess, the occupants were probably dead, and therefore, in his favor. 

His old pod flashes through his mind; nonfunctional and by now, probably stripped bare. If he doesn’t get there quickly to stake his claim, this one could fall to the same fate. It didn’t look sizeable by any stretch of the imagination, but he doesn’t need big. 

He just needs enough to fit one man, and his case. 

Ezra keeps his voice light and conversational. 

“Did you feel that?”

He looks up at his silent partner, and is met with a blank stare. Or at least Ezra assumes it’s a blank stare, with the man’s visor blackened. He can’t see his face, and has never been able to. He’s had many offers of partnership while on the Green - some out of desperation, some through coercion, some forced upon him – and though his current partner is one of the latter, he had been secretly pleased at the sheer size of him. Brute strength a valuable commodity; the hulking man is more of a utility than a partner. 

“Think it’s worthy of our time to investigate, or do you suppose there won’t be much left after a landing like that? If you want, I can go it alone?”

Met with more silence, both from his partner and from the unforgiving atmosphere of the Green, Ezra grimaces with annoyance when his partner starts to walk in the direction of the site without him. 

“Hang on now. We approach together.” Climbing out of the pit, the loose soil slips under his boots. He scrambles up as quickly as he can, unwilling to see his chance at the remains slip through his dirt-crusted fingers. 

“Now then,” he breathes heavily. “I think it would be befitting of us to use caution in our approach. The passengers may still be alive, and feeling panicked enough to pose a risk. I think –”

The hulk appears to listen to half of what Ezra says, and then turns abruptly mid-sentence, walking away. 

Snatching up his case, Ezra switches off the comm link in his helmet and his expression falls from tactful to annoyance. His eyes narrow on the man’s broad back, his fingers itching for his thrower. 

Grumbling, he follows. 

“Fucking idiot.”

–

You’re going to have to touch it. 

You wonder what it will feel like – stiff with rigor? Still pliant with traces of warmth? Heavy and impossible to move?

In all the ways you imagined you’d probably find your father dead, you somehow hadn’t thought about the logistics of actually moving his body. You imagined someone else would be the one responsible for it. Medical staff, most likely, who were used to the clammy skin and the stiff weight of death. 

Not you. 

Yet another thing you’ll have to do unwillingly for him. 

The reason you’re on this godforsaken planet in the first place, he’d forced you along to help him pay a debt owed for those fucking drops he relied on to get through his days. Days that bled into nights spent waiting for him, more his parent than his child. A freefall into the nomad life since your mother died, you’d been trailing behind him for years - an afterthought, only remembered when he needed something. 

A reluctant digging partner when he forced you to be, but also a navigator, a cook, a laundress, a caretaker. You were a lot of things to him, but never the one you wanted to be the most. 

Never a daughter. 

Your eyes slowly scan the disarray of the cabin, taking in the damage. For all the things he asked you to do, he had kept you in the dark when it came to any actual useful skills that might help you in this situation. Prospecting, digging, self-defense – anything that would have afforded you a glimpse at the possibility of independence – all of those were kept from your reach. 

Never a mechanic either, unfortunately for you. How the fuck you’re going to fix this thing, you have no idea. The manuals for it were tucked away somewhere, but they required at least a basic understanding, and you have barely that. 

You could stick with the harvesting plan he had vaguely outlined to you on the way here (assuming you could even find the gems, let alone dig them up), try to come back and fix your pod during the evenings (assuming you could even figure it out) and then try to catch the next slingback home (assuming you could even get off this planet). 

Your other option would be…none. There are no other options. 

The entire situation expands into something overwhelming, each step far outside your base of knowledge and your breathing starts to come fast again. You scold yourself, willing it to slow. 

Panicking again isn’t going to help shit. 

Wrestling with your emotions, you take a deep inhale and close your eyes, focusing on the first step. 

Before anything else, you have to move him. 

–

Through the edges of lush greenery, a pod. 

Ezra tries to tamp down his excitement, kicking his senses into high alert to scan for whomever it belongs to - but there is nothing. 

Fucking silence, the bane of his existence. 

Though in this case, a good sign. 

His own pod taken from him months ago in a standoff between himself and his former crew, this off-white piece of rubbish appears as treasure to him. It’s banged up for sure: one of the engines loose from the frame and the metal surrounding the bottom crumpled from hard impact. Unlikely that anyone survived the crash, anticipation thrums through him at the harvest in front of him. 

Keeping his expression measured, he beckons his partner to approach with him, silently advising caution. 

The idiot doesn’t though. Instead, he stomps forward and punches at the hatch button with force. 

Ezra frowns deeply, anger slipping into his tone. “Hey,” he reprimands sharply. 

The man pays Ezra no mind as the ramp slowly opens. 

–

One hand extended towards your dad’s shoulder, it hangs hesitantly in the air for a moment. Inching forward, you try to summon every ounce of bravery that you have and just when it’s about to touch— 

A loud thump sounds outside the pod, and your hand jerks back. Crouching low along the side of the pod, you crawl through the ship's scattered contents all over the floor and grab the thrower, trying to desperately wind a sufficient charge for a shot or two. The rummaging outside grows louder, and you crouch behind your chair, gripping the weapon in your sweat slick hands. Panic floods through your veins, the sharp stink of fear oozing from your pores as your body shivers with adrenaline, and you flex your hold on your weapon.

The door to the pod opens with a hiss, and two men emerge. 

One slighter than the other, which isn’t saying much—anyone would be slight compared to the size of the second man. You aren’t even sure how he managed to get into the pod, between the width of his body and his height. 

Rising swiftly, you point the weapon at them. 

“Stop,” you force out, trying to mask the tremble in your voice. 

The lithe man freezes, surprise showing on his face for a split second before disappearing. Tilting his helmet in thought, he speaks. 

“Now this is something I’ve never seen in all my time in the Green,” he muses with a drawl. “A little girl.” 

A statement, not a question, and you bristle while he continues to study you curiously. 

“Leave, or I’ll shoot.” 

Your finger flexes on the trigger, and he raises his hands in front of him. 

“Calm down, little bird. My partner and I merely ventured this way to see if all was okay after that crash we heard.” His eyes scan the cabin, a scattered mess. “Seems it was quite the landing.”

Shuffling your stance a fraction closer, you keep the thrower trained on them. “I’m fine. Now please. Go.”

“Doesn’t look like you’re fine.” He sounds completely unbothered, like you aren’t pointing a weapon directly at him. Taking a slow step forward, he peers around you. “Your partner sure doesn’t seem fine.”

“He’s not my partner. It’s my –” You freeze, scolding yourself for immediately volunteering information and his gaze drops down to your father’s lifeless form. The stranger's face sobers, and he looks back at you. 

His jaw shifting in thought, his partner seems to grow bored of the conversation and takes a heavy step forward, advancing on you. 

“Stop,” you try to order, panic creeping into the command, but he doesn’t. He keeps going, his large arm reaching towards your thrower. His massive grip choking the barrel, he rips it clean from your hands before you can even think about stopping him, and you crouch back behind your chair, trembling.

“My apologies for my partner, little one. He’s not keen on having weapons pointed at him. You can understand, I’m sure. Why don’t you come out from behind that chair and let’s talk. A deal, if you’re open to it.”

You don’t want to strike a deal with them. You know that any deal you attempt to broker on your behalf is going to be in their favor no matter what the conditions are. Your father never taught you the skills of negotiation – those were always done out of sight. Your mouth dries, sweat beading along your nape. What fucking deal could there even be to make that doesn’t end up with you dead? Or worse?

With so much happening in the last two hours, it’s hard to process anything, let alone a negotiation with deadly strangers on a hostile planet. How you handle this situation could be literally life or death for you, and you beg your brain to pick up pace. 

Please. Please. Come on, think.

Your mind still struggling but knowing you’re running out of time, you force yourself back up. 

“The deal was leave, and I won’t shoot.”

He only grins at that, and rage at the unfairness of it all flares bright through you.

“Besides, why should I believe anything you say? You’ll probably just kill me the first chance you get.”

“Why would you assume I intend harm?”

You don’t have anything to say to that, instead looking at his partner. Fear at his sheer size displays clearly on your face no matter how hard to try to mask it. “Why else would he steal my gun? Shoot me first before I can shoot, right?”

“If that was the case, he would have shot you already.” He lets a beat pass, his eyes narrowing in their focus on you. “Still could though, I guess.”

There is something behind the indifference in his voice, something in his eyes that begs you silently to listen to him — but then his partner raises his thrower, and several things happen at once.

You whimper, dunking behind the tattered chair. 

The smaller man whips his railgun from his hip, pulling the trigger.

You scream, and the bullet hits his partner square in the chest. 

The larger man stumbles forward as if to grab him but the smaller one shoots him again, the second shot landing in his gut. The force of the close shot pushes the larger man backwards, his heavy body slamming into the pod wall. 

He slumps down, collapsing into a lifeless heap.

There is a beat of weighted silence; your form frozen. 

The roguish man’s profile faces you: dark features partially obscured by the dome of his helmet, you can see closely shorn brown hair in matted disarray with a shock of white that smears just above his temple. Black eyes that glimmer in the fluorescent light, the edges lined with age. Tanned skin, a strong nose, plush lips under a mustache. 

He stares at his dead partner with something akin to satisfaction, and it turns your stomach to think of not only how quickly he resorted to violence, but also how much he seems to enjoy it. 

“Well would you look at that. Now we have two to move.” 

Still in shock, the violent scene in front of you startles you just as much as his nonchalance does. You watch as he turns to face you; a hooked scar marring the skin under his eye. 

“Now little one,” he says with seeming politeness. “You ready to hear that deal?”

[weebsinstash]

I wanna be best buds with Lucifer. All my brain cells r now fixated on the short munchkin dressed like a haunted puppet with depression who CLEARLY needs a new passion project in his life.

Depressed Dad is clearly in need of something or someONE to kick him out of his depression funk. Y/N could be just the ESA he needs. The hell equivalent of those little marimo moss balls parents buy for kids who are too irresponsible to remember to feed fish.

What I'm saying is, the platonic yandere potential is off the charts. We go to Valentino to get hungover and fucked, but we go to Luci for a hangover cure and a comfy couch to crash on.

Honestly I was thinking of something, like

Lucifer just wants to assume everyone down there is the worst, but imagine he comes to the Hotel to see Charlie and Reader is there as a guest and, SOMETHING happens

Like I was imagining it would be really cute if Lucifer's first visit to the Hotel went significantly worse and Charlie and him are arguing and Reader is the one who tries to help them make amends. Constantly fighting the feminine urge to put musicals in these fucking fics or posts but you wind up singing a tune about how WAIT, please don't go, the two of them have to make up, and clearly he's a good person and an even better dad because CHARLIE is like rhe nicest sweetest bestest person you've ever met

and then after you're done Charlie is like BAWLING like when Angel forgave her, just grabbing you and her Dad, "this is the first time they've saaaaang, they've been too shy and they did it for US, that's so beautiful!!!" just like HARD CRYING and you're basically like Honorary Child 2 at that point

I can just. mmm, imagine if you knew Val first and then befriended the Morningstars. Valentino tries to force you to do something one day and you're just like, picking up your phone, staring Val dead in the face as you text someone. FIVE MINUTES LATER, there's a knock to the door of the set, and you rush to open it, and everyone starts losing their fucking MIIIINDS as LUCIFER HIMSELF walks in

You give Valentino a grin that would have made a demon proud as if to say "fucking try me bitch" before turning back to Lucifer, "heeeeeey short king! I'm sorry for messaging out of the blue but I missed you! Hey, i think my friend Mr Valentino was about to like, give me a job or something?"

Lucifer's just all, "oh, you mean like working the lights or, helping mop the floors cause, I don't think that suits a young lady/man/whatever like yourself!"

Like can you imagine Val was having you read some AWFUL like NAAAAASTY script before Luci came in and it's still in his hand and you point at it, "hey isn't that it right there?" And Valentino and potentially even Vox have to SCRAMBLE, "No no not at all, this is, uh, my laundromat receipt!" *shoves the entire booklet into a nearby shark demon's mouth

Lucifer is standing there being, kinda judgy like he was with Charlie's hotel but otherwise being friendly and YOURE the one being the "silent" menace. Valentino is GRINDING his teeth, "soooo, Mr Morningstar, sir, big fan, excellent work, uh, what can we do for you?" And you're just slinging an arm around THE DEVIL "oh, me and him were gonna go grab lunch and I was maybe gonna crash at his daughter's new place where Mr Lucifer here is gonna be visiting all the time. You don't mind right?" and Vox has to step in and answer "yeah, sure no problem!!!" because Valentino is about to devolve into nothing but furious squeaking

This is an idea I'm prolly gonna wind up using for a platonic Husker thing but, Reader having an abusive childhood and Lucifer becomes aware that YOUR dad was a mean piece of shit, definitely down in Hell too or previously exterminated, and Lucifer just finds you like DRUNK IN THE GUTTER, "I'm a looooooser just like my dad". Like. Yandad Luci here is probably the type where he sees you having ONE bad hangover and he's concrete convinced you're a hardcore alcoholic and need rehab STAT. Which may be true but what I'm saying is is that, he sees you at your weakest ONCE and he's suddenly like "Oh no, duckling! cmon, let, uh, let ... Daaaaaad help you? 🥺" and you find out his idea of help is like. Extremely well intentioned but horribly well executed as he's over here, "you know what helps MY depression? Inventing things in my workshop" and you look around to 4000 versions of the same rubber duck and you're like "s so.... is it working" and he just emphatically declares "No! :D but I think it's getting a little better with you here!" and your fate is fucking sealed and wait until Lilith moseys on back into town and finds the "savior" of her goofy little husband and best bud of her daughter and now you've got every Morningstar on your side in totally The Most Normal Ways Possible :)

[gerbfukc]

Boiling Rock au focusing intensely on Maizulee bond

Excerpt/prompt thingy:

She should be fighting already. Ending Mai's life if not paralyzing her. But for all of her strengths, all of her training, a weakness slips out and down her cheeks.

Why is everything so blurry? And…this pain that radiates from her chest. This wretched pain making it agonizingly difficult to control her breath. She must've been poisoned some time earlier. Perhaps she got nicked by a coated blade by one of the prisoners in their escape. Yes, that must be why her body is not listening to her, why it is disgustingly out of control. She's been poisoned. Of course.

It can't be because she cared for such a foolish girl.

(Extra notes: Azula thinks she's been poisoned, but is actually crying hardcore because of Mai's words; even her stance is off and she's shaking in that way no one really notices except for Mai and Ty Lee; Ty Lee doesn't even have the chance to chi block Azula bc the princess straight up dissociates from emotional overload and goes limp, collapsing to the floor; Ty Lee catches her before her head hits the ground; Mai and Ty Lee are conflicted on what to do, but time is ticking, and the guards are starting to close in on them; they end up using Azula as a hostage to get out the prison; they argue whether to leave her behind bc she's technically dead-weight and susceptible to flipping on them; but on the other hand, some remnants of their childhood carry over; even though their old friend is years in the past, they can't seem to let her ghost go; maybe this will ruin them, maybe everybody will die; but maybe, just maybe, there is a future where all three of them can exist together; Ty Lee and Mai decide to take her; the three of them escape the same way off the gondolas and fly off on an extra airship; I don't think there was an extra airship in canon, but work with me here;

from there, they just travel the world; they eventually end up crashing in Hi'ra one day and befriend the locals after they've been there for months; Ty Lee joins the acting troupe and rakes in an absurd amount of revenue for all the new stuff she brings to the shows; it's odd to have adoring fans that are either incredibly young or old instead of the usual admirers, but Ty Lee finds it oddly nice; Mai takes this time to explore possibly new hobbies now that there's no expectation hinging on her and finds that she quite likes hunting because it emphasizes on a talent that she actually takes pride in; Azula immediately seeks out an apprenticeship to some grouchy toymaker; at first it was because she needed something to take her mind off of how drastically everything had changed, but then she unintentionally gets deeply into the whole toymaking thing and its intricacies; the three share a house, super important detail (to me); when they share a day off, they scour the Forgotten Forest for cool stuff like nice rocks or the occasional spirit sightings; meanwhile, post-war Zuko is losing his mind because last he heard, the guards said Mai and Ty Lee kidnapped Azula lmao)

[rocknrolldisaster]

kurty Cobain with a best friend reader who's helping him deal with his depression?

sure here’s my best try to not sound cringe lmao

~~~~~~~~~~

Post-Gig Blues

trigger warnings: mention of drugs,angst, fluff, that’s about it really lol

September 1989

You worked a 11-6 shift at a record store in the center of Seattle every Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. It was boring. The only things happening in that shop were teenagers stealing items, being loud, trying to flirt with you or couples making out in the corner, where the posters were. Your roommate, Kurt was in a hardcore punk rock band called Nirvana. And they just released their first record three months ago, and at the moment, they’re the “Most popular rising band in Seattle”

Hell, even the store’s tapes, CDs and vinyls of Bleach are on a low stock.

You’ve supported Kurt with his band ever since you moved in, five months ago. You’re best buddies, and you always feel safe when he walks with you in the dark.

23:16pm. Friday.

You sit at your desk, drawing a flower pot which stands at your desk while watching television. You’re the only one home, since Nirvana are playing a gig late tonight.

*knock knock* *sigh* “it’s me..” -you hear his tired and groggy voice outside the front door. He sounds fed up.

Your head snaps to the door, before you get up and approach the door, unlocking it and opening it.

“Hey Kurt, how was the show?” - you ask, with a polite smile, standing aside so he can walk in. His long, greasy blonde hair is drenched by the rain.

“oh- yeah, yeah we killed it.” - he says, his voice slurred, not sounding like it. He closes the door and locks it, shoving his hands into his coat pockets to hide how shaky and pale they are.

“doesn’t sound like it..” - you respond, looking at him with a raised eyebrow before you walk back to your desk.

“yeah, yeah I’m just tired.” - he grumbles, his hand reaching out to gently scratch the bridge of his nose then going back in his pocket.

“huh, me too dude.” - you say with a small chuckle, attempting to light up the conversation.

“…yeah.” - he murmurs. just staring at the floor for a moment. eventually he sighs and takes his shoes off, setting them aside, then coat off, hanging it up.

You continue drawing, but often glancing at him at the corner of your eye. He’s like this a lot. friendly, bubbly, creative and energetic for a few days, then some days it just crashes in when he’s lazy, stubborn, exhausted and fed up. And you know he shoots up on heroin every few weeks, thinking it’ll help with his intense stomach pains, and his moodiness.

He rubs his temples with a deep sigh, then swings his guitar case in the corner with no cares, and plopping onto the bed.

“god.” - he grumbles.

“What?” - you turn your head to him

“I don’t know.” - he rubs his eyes.

Your expression softens, you hum softly.

“Something happened at the show?”

“no it was great, genuinely.” -he replies.

“crowd loved it.” - he adds after a moment, looking over at you, his expression blank.

“then what?”

he rolls his eyes.

you tilt your head.

“tell me? you can always talk to me, kurt. I won’t judge.” -you softly tell him.

he scoffs.

“yeah right.” - he replies sarcastically, resting his chin on his hand and looking at the wall in front of his bed.

“i mean it, kurt. i never judged, never will.”

he stays unresponsive for a moment or two, before turning to look at you. You look at him back.

“you ever just…go out, and have the time of your life, but after…” -he starts, but his voice trails off. He looks back at the wall.

“Mhm?” - you wait for him to continue.

“you just hate the party life…it’s not for you..?” - he looks back at you.

“yeah, sometimes..” - you nod, looking back at the television then looking back at him.

“huh, thank god I don’t live in L.A.” - he chuckles bitterly, before sighing again.

“so what’s the main problem?” -you tilt your head.

his expression falters.

“it feels weird..im not the biggest fan of being famous ‘round here.”

“i get that.” -you nod.

“…im getting approached on the streets cause everyone knows me..I d…don’t like i…it..” -he stutters on his last words, his voice starting to sound more shaky.

You immediately pay close attention to his face, noticing his eyes are watery, you quickly get up and walk to him, sitting next to him on the edge of his bed.

“fuck, I’m sorry for this.” - he grumbles, his palm on his head.

“No it’s okay..you can cry..” - you reassure him.

“if it’s a good thing then your record is selling out at work..” - you raise your eyebrows, but he doesn’t answer.

You take his hands off his head and gently take them in yours, warming them up. He’s not fine, and he doesn’t want to admit it to you, since you’re the friend who he prefers emotionally supporting.

“you’re drenched.” - you softly say, looking at his wet hair and his clothes covered in raindrops.

“yeah, i knoww.”

You look into his eyes.

“You should take care of yourself.”

He looks back into yours.

“Don’t have the time to anymore.”

You roll your eyes at his response.

“Kurt, you need a break, you deserve it.”

“how..? i can’t, I got all this band shit. how could i take a break with everyone eagerly wanting to see me everyday?” - he gets more worked up, a tear rolling down his face.

“don’t listen to the people, just do whatever you want. i get paid on sunday, so I’ll take you to a spa on monday, maybe also have some lunch out” - you gently wipe his tears.

“pff, guess so.” - he rolls his eyes and sniffles, starting to quietly cry.

“shit, no it’s okay..” - you frown and pull him into a gentle hug.

“shut up.” - he grumbles.

“no let it all out..”

he eventually feels comfortable enough to let it out in front of you, he sighs and slowly rests his head on your shoulder, quietly crying into it.

“i’m here..it’s gonna get better.”

~~~~~~~~

[helloiamadrawer]

Wanna Make Out? (U-4989 x F! Reader)

Warnings: nothing too intense just a heated make out session with 4989 😳 enjoy!!

It was daytime in the artery, the world was bright, and full of hard-working cells and ordinary cells are receiving nutrients or having good fun with others. Today was actually peaceful for once, you and your neutrophil boyfriend 4989 planned to relax together. Its not often but this time, its gonna count over all the times its been interrupted every five seconds.

Minutes later, you both were sitting on a bench. 4989 laid on his back with his head in your lap finally content, watching you check your phone for alerts, while your free hand was petting his fluffy white hair. Putting your phone down, your boyfriend is smiling at you, you smile back and then start to ponder

How long will this last? Its only been a whole two minutes and nothing has happened yet.

"...wanna go make out?"

That seemed to snap you back to reality..who the hell said that? Then, you feel a tug on your shirtlooking down again at that same cute face. Your hand now just sat still on his head before you place it back on your side.

"Did..did you say that?" you ask in a hushed tone, making sure you're not hearing things. Instantly, you got your answer when 4989 flushed pink and begins to fidget with his hands, his voice shrinking a little as he repeats himself.

"Y-yeah, do you..wanna go make out?"

You had no idea where he got the nerve to ask that question but god if he does not look adorable when he's flustered.

"Someone's eager today." you giggled.

Soon enough that small pout turns into a smirk...

Next thing you know, the neutrophil has you shoved up against the door in a storage room,crashing his lips onto yours. It was fiery and full of ambition. Sparks appeared when you closed your eyes its been that long. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears a little and it made you feel more alive than you ever have as a cell. Fully melting into the kiss, your hands pull him by the shoulders of his uniform harshly, deepening the kiss more. Arms wrap around your waist as you feel 4989 press his body against you, warm by the touch. Hands scanning up and down one or the others bodies

Screw worrying about what could happen, this feels way too good right now its even causing your legs to tremble, knees trying to buckle so you could drop down on the floor to him. You pull back, panting, you felt your boyfriend nibble at your bottom lip dragging a content sigh from you before letting go. Hardcore blushing, you open your eyes looking into 4989's grey ones, you can hardly see it but his black pupils are dilated in heavy anticipation and a sprinkle of excitement.

"Further?"

"Yeah."

The neutrophil then hoists up your legs and entwnies them around his waist before his warm tongue snaked its way into your mouth. You swore you felt your eyes roll to the back of your head as you tried to fight back for dominance in the much more intricate kiss but the more you did, he always found a way to make you submit faster and not to mention intensifying the dull ache in your lower extremities.

Even though he has one more move that is far beyond what he said he intended to do, but he just admires you so much. But you know...

You're always in for a ride when it comes to 4989.

Things got heated pretty quickly from what was a make out session was now a make out and a grind session. Which was mainly 49 grinding his clothed hard-on against your shorts languidly. Examining your reactions with hungry, lust ridden eyes while giving your pretty neck love bites and kisses, marking you as his. Your breathing hitched with every move he made as it set your nerves aflame. His fingers were tracing little patterns whilst keeping your legs glued to his waist. It wouldn't be a wonder if what he was planning was to make you soaking fucking wet even though he's doing a damn good job of it. After all the cutie of a white blood cell does have a freaky side behind closed doors.

"Ah..ah, 4-9.. fuck.." you pant, cursing quietly, threading your digits through his fluffy white locks as your boyfriends' heavy breathing fans in your ear.

"Yeah?~You like that?" The neutrophil asks, his voice full of sin as he licks up your neck drawing out a moan from you, revealing his answer.

"Good...Cause we're not done yet baby, so don't be afraid to scream my number when I take you, cause you're all mine for the day got that?"

[pyrajanison]

Midnight Snack - Short Story

Felt compelled to write a little story that's been banging around in my head, courtesy of @smellyvampirez's vampire Loboto artwork. Plus got some little sketches to go along with it. Hope you enjoy.

Support me on Ko-Fi so I can do more stuff like this. LINK HERE.

*Warning* Contains blood, and hardcore vampire stuff, plus generally angsty vibes. Reader discretion advised. Full story below cut.

It had been a while now. PJ couldn't be sure of the exact days, as time was hard for her to keep track of, but she could tell it had been a while due to the scabs.

There was a routine that she followed with the checkups the doctor preformed weekly. Examination, full physical assessment, a small test of her psychic abilities, and finally, a blood test. This part was always fuzzy, he'd take a bit of blood from the crook in her arm every time, the loss of it must exacerbate her memory loss. She could never remember the end of the tests, only to find herself being escorted back to her room by either Sheegor or Crispin.

PJ peaked under the bandage. Usually, the frequency of the these tests left her arm scabby. She wasn't sure how many times he'd taken her blood, but it was enough for her to know what the wound should look like by the time the next exam day came around.

Now it was almost healed over, which could only mean she hadn't given blood in a long time.

It was hard for PJ to trust her memory, she didn't have any memories most of the time, but there did seem to be a feeling of routine break, that something was out of rhythm. It could just be that there were no more blood tests, but she couldn't recall a change in that pattern.

She hadn't been called for exam at all. In a long while it would seem.

She couldn't even recall when she had seen Loboto last... where was he?

The amnesiac patient absentmindedly thumbed the rusty red bandage on her forearm, worn now with extended wear. The action sparked a small memory.

She was thumbing the bandage, following Sheegor, her hunchback caretaker, as they went around inspecting the asylum's integrity. It was something that was done periodically. But something was amiss.

"Hey, Sheegor?"

"Hmm?" The older woman peaked down an elevator shaft they were passing.

"Where is Loboto?"

After a pause, Sheegor let out a sigh, looking her way with a tired expression.

"He's gone away for a bit," She said, trying to cover up the exhaustion of having to say this for who knows how many times, but PJ heard the suppressed annoyance, and instantly felt bad.

"Oh..." The next question hung in her throat for a few minutes, the embarrassment of knowing she'd unknowingly repeated herself made her keep her mouth shut, but as they got to one of the upper floors, close to the lab now, she felt his absence through the walls, and that weight finally un-cagged it. "When is he coming back?"

This pause was different. The wrinkles on Sheegor's face were of deep concern and something else unsaid. Quickly, she tried to hide it, giving PJ a weak smile. "Oh, um, soon, very soon!" Her voice squeaked with false reassurance.

PJ blinked, how long ago was that? A thin layer of sweat formed on the back of her neck, and PJ felt the pricks of anxiety start to effect her insides. Where was the doctor? Was he ok?

Overwhelmed, she hugged her legs close, forehead resting on her knees as if in prayer. She knew it would give her a headache, but she couldn't help it if it meant knowing he was well. He was everything, the only thing that PJ felt was constant enough, that one memory she could not forget, would not forget. Like the support beam of a house, she feared that his removal meant the entirety of her mind would come crashing down, and it scared her to no end.

So, against better judgement, she reached out with her psychic abilities, branching out like ectoplasmic worms through the ether, roots searching for a trace of him and his essence, to know if he was ok, somewhere out there in the world.

Please be ok, please be ok, please be ok, please-

Suddenly, much sooner than she expected, she found him.

But something was wrong.

Like feeling she had touched a hot stove, PJ stood up with a jolt, head snapping up. Her gaze met the ceiling of her padded room, but she was looking, feeling, beyond it.

He was up in the lab! He was back, she was sure of it! Only something, like a cloud, was swirling up there. An emotion of some kind, she wasn't sure what. Felt like trouble.

Without thinking, she got out of her cell and was soon racing up the towers. The night air whistled in her ears as she ascended the crumbling building. It was late, by which that meant it was approaching dawn. That made her nervous, as the sun was too bright for her eyes. But that worry was pushed down as she finally made it to the elevator.

As the birdcage-like lift reached the lab, it felt like PJ had entered into a dark storm cloud. There was a dangerous feeling in the air.

Go back said a voice in her head, a voice she always ignored.

PJ approached the ladder to the lab, noting the crow that was always there. It must have sensed it too, as it was flatted on the floor of it's cage, shrinking away from a commotion that was now audible from above.

Don't said the voice, as she climbed up the ladder and entered the lab.

It was dark. The only light was the paling sky coming through the windows. PJ's eyes were slow the adjust, but she could vaguely make out what was going on.

It was the doctor, no question, she'd recognize his silhouette anywhere. Though at first it was a little hard to see it was him given how fast he was moving. The crashing and shattering commotion was definitely him, and him alone. He was throwing things, upturning equipment, a shrill vocal peal of his voice was one of desperation. PJ felt it on him in waves; fear, need to find it, where is it, out of, no more, where, where is, need, need, NEED-

"Doctor!"

All at once, the shape in the dark froze. Two lights appeared, his eyes snapping to look at her. PJ felt her chest tighten with alarm, but as to why, she didn't know.

".. I-I'm glad you're back. Are you ok?"

There was no movement other than a very slight tilt of the head.

"Do," PJ's eyes flicked to the debris of empty plastic bags on the ground, "Do you need help finding something?" Wait, her eyes went back to the bags, they were familiar... stained.

Her eyes flicked up just as his did as well, and they held gaze for a moment before she heard a soft chuckle from him.

"No," her doctor giggled, his teeth flashing, "I found it." Something in PJ's stomach dropped as a wave of something else hit her, something hungry.

RUN the voice yelled, and this time PJ heeded it. But it was all too late.

What happened next was too fast.

Unsteady, PJ glanced away, stepping toward the ladder, tripping and falling toward the opening. Only she didn't fall, as a large rubber hand gripped her arm and pulled her back. The relief at being saved from the fall was soon replaced with confusion as she found herself hoisted off the ground, the grip on her arm tightening like a vise. She felt the metal next, pulling at her, then cold air hitting her shoulder as her straightjacket gave way, buckle snapping and zipper tearing. Alarm mounted, the removal to her was like something pulling off her skin. What was going on!? A frantic attempt to pull away was met with a steel grip, metal claws closing her throat, the prosthetic elbow pining her wrist as she blindly tried to get way. Then, the claws tugged her head, and something pieced her shoulder.

A surprised shriek left her lungs as the bolt of pain shot through her. She could feel muscles and tendons being parted, then hot wetness. Animalistically, she struggled, bleating and kicking like a trapped fawn, but the form that held her was like mahogany.

Then came the slurping.

It was loud in her ear, the sound of wet, desperate gulps.

But what was worse was the new waves of emotion that she felt emanating from him. They didn't have words, only the feeling of satiation, satisfaction, and the need for more. And more. MORE!

And he kept going, and going. He seemed deaf to her cries, weak from the grip on her throat. It was when she couldn't moved her legs, when the cold began to creep in, when the dots started to dance in her vision, she remembered where she had felt this before.

"I just need a little more, PJ dear."

The needle in her arm hurt, and she did her best to look away. Seeing the red moved through the tube, into the little pouches, was sickening. If she watched, she'd faint faster.

"Why... why do you need so much?"

A playful giggle tickled her ear, "Well, I'm going to be gone a bit. Business trip, meeting with client, you know how it is."

PJ didn't understand. "What.. Where... are you... going to..." Her head swam and she sagged forward, almost falling off the chair. A rubber palm caught her.

"Ah, ah, careful there, don't want you falling over and breaking that egg of yours!"

The palm cupped her cheek and through the growing soft darkness, she saw the red and green lights.

"I gets so peckish on the road!" Without a care, he flashed his teeth, "And your blood is the perfect pick-me-up. My favorite little midnight snack!"

That brought things back into focus, confusion and revelation filling her, "Wh-what?"

But it was too late, and Loboto knew it. He grinned, his sharp teeth bared with a knowing confidence. "Oh, don't you fret dearie." With his claw, he popped the tube out of the last blood bag and brought the dripping end to his lips. "You won't remember this," like a straw he sipped, and PJ could feel the suction pull in her veins as consciousness left, a chuckle the last thing she heard, "You never do..."

And she was going limp now, falling away into shadow. He was taking too much. He was too hungry, too hungry to stop.

Soon, she'll be nothing.

Just an empty plastic pouch.

But then the voice again. It shouted in defiance.

NO!

There was a sudden cry, and she feel to the ground. Through the swirling black, she could make out the doctor clutching the side of his head. What just happened?

"Argh! You abhorrent little abomination!" He snarled, fangs baring, and lunged.

There was a sudden pull, like being tugged on a string, and she was suddenly flying across the floor, dodging the pounce. She watched as she was pulled away backwards, leaving a red trail behind, and the last thing she saw of him was two fiery eyes and a bloody maw twisted in rage before she was flung out the lab and over the catwalk railing.

And she was falling.

Falling.

falling...

...

WAKE UP!

PJ snapped awake just in time to see the ground speeding towards her. Out of instinct, she caught herself, and levitated a moment before collapsing onto the ground.

She was on a landing near the middle of the tower.

She had to hide.

With the last of her strength, she pulled herself into the building, finding an empty room with a cot. She crawled underneath it and curled into a little ball.

Her shoulder was wet, she could smell blood. Touching it, she found fresh wounds. Light was starting to come in through the windows. She felt a wave of fear.

With her straightjacket and stuffing from the mattress above, she dressed the wound as best she could. She felt herself retreating into sleep.

As the sun began to rise, PJ shut her eyes. The light was always too bright. It felt more so now... it almost hurt...

...What was going on?

END

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[unnamednight]

um. i had to go home early cause i had a fever of 40 celsius

art dumps i guess

yay! meet my oc alioth (yeah, thx google for that name...)

[kyros-tha-soldier]

chapter 1103 SPOILERS

I've gotten a bit lazy lately, I'm basically burnt out to the BONE from work so sorry for not bringing the previous leaks earlier:

we've got big news for my beloved bonbon and her bear papa:

The chapter's title is "I'm sorry, daddy" (GOOOOOOOOD WHY!) And we have a beautiful color spread of the straw hats and our beloved wano warrior YAMATO, they're all riding momo in his dragon form (😏) since it's the year of the dragon

We start where we finished in the mini flashback, where bonney is standing in the memory bubble room, she turns back to her original child form and apologizes to vegapunk since she used to think HE was the one behind her dad's death

Vegapunk understands and gives her something Kuma was planning on handing her on her 10th birthday, it's a sun necklace made of sapphire

UAAAAAAAGHHHH NOOOOOO HOW DARE YOU SATURN!! HOW DARE YOU KILL SOMEONE AS SWEET AS KUMA

Speak of the devil (literally!) We go back to the present time confrontation between saturn, the remaining vegapunks, the cp0 and the rest. Bonney uses her attack "Nika-ish future" to attack saturn but she fails. NOW THIS IS WHERE IT'S ABOUT TO GET ABSOLUTELY BONKERS!

Saturn thinks to himself that this form of Bonney's Nika is much more different than the Nika God since she can only replicate the rubber power

This mf Saturn has his power over everybody that they can't budge a single inch, suddenly he notices that Luffy is eating some food from the floor (somebody must've snuck it at the beginning of the confrontation or smtn) of course Saturn is like "how fucking dare you eat while I'm in the middle of my epic fit of rage" and orders someone to chain him with kairoseki (what a vibe killer)

Like oooooooh calm down big man he's not gonna bite you ffs

It's revealed that thw Toshi Toshi no mi power was given to bonney by saturn, now underline the word "POWER" because this is where it's about to get REALLY messed up

Saturn has been experimenting on people to extract devil fruit powers and then give them to other people. And of course, as fucked up as it sounds, Saturn gave the disease to Ginny (probably while she was pregnant) and the poor woman ended up developing the rare sapphire scale disease

i swear on god, if Saturn's bitchass doesn't get absolutely wrecked then I'm dropping OP, do NOT DISAPPOINT ME ODA I AM SERIOUS!

also is it just me, or is this aj attempt from Oda to clarify that the sapphire scale disease is a sideffect and not an STD? Because I've ssen A LOT of fans speculating about that and i have NEVER EVER in my life thought I'd see the day where I'll hear the words STD and ONE PIECE in one sentence until this very arc!

anyways, Saturn's stupid-ass gave the toshi toshi effect to ginny and somehow she passed it to bonney during her pregnancy, this comes as a surprise to him since this has never happened

According to Saturn, the more bonney starts to learn about Nika's true form and tries to copy it, the weaker she becomes. bonney is seen crying in despair and fear, she apologizes to her father about how despite how far he went to ensure she'd make it out alive, she will end up dead anyways

NO BONBON DON'T CRY PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU PAPA WOULD ALWAYS PROTECT YOU!!!

Speaking of her papi, Kuma crashes right into egghead and gets attacked by some marine soldiers who were shooting at him with grenade launchers (taht's hardcore as fuck, I AM DROPPING THE PANELS NOW just so you can see how cold Kuma looks!)

he gets injured once again in his head but is able to reach Saturn just in time (who had thrown bonney to the ground and was about to squash her with his spider legs) just for Kuma to come and shield her with his body, and have the long nail at the end of Saturn's leg punture his back and chest

Kuma grabs him by the leg and turs around, readying a punch as his face grimaces in rage, and saturn looks at him in absolute shock

and now, DRUM ROLL FOR THE LEAAAAAAAAAKS

oh boy, we eating GOOD tonight!

[slocumjoe]

companions start a minecraft server. how do they play? who lives with who? who starts a war over their dog dying?

Companions play Minecraft

Cait; hardcore mode speedrunner who looks for increasingly difficult and mindfuck ways to kill the Elder Dragon. Why? Success is a kind of high you'll get from nothing else. Especially when you kill the final boss with nothing but eggs and slime pistons. When playing on Hancock's server, functions as a bodyguard during less-safe builds, like underground, or at the edge of the forest. The first line of defense during a raid. Does busywork for Codsworth in exchange for throwing eggs. Piper built a traditional Irish pub for her to live in and you can occasionally see her just staring at it in wonder. Is the one with the pack of wolves. The town graveyard is filled with her fallen pups. Also has a parrot, just to watch it dance to the pub's jukebox.

Codsworth; Does the busywork around the town Hancock and the others have built. Town is probably called Goodneighbor, let's be real. Tends the farms, the animals, makes food, etc. Does a little bit of everything. Takes care of Curie's zoo, goes fishing with Danse, gives opinions on building materials...pure chilling. Refuses to slaughter farm animals for meat, he's too attached. Fish, bread, and vegetables are on the menu in Goodneighbor. Lives in a quaint little birch cottage by the river, where he keeps flowers, bees, and chickens. All of them have nametags. Second line of defense during a raid—touch his potato fields, and enjoy eggs for your last meal.

Curie; Spends all of her time following and studying the more fantastical creatures, like Endermen. Keeps real notes in a notebook as she plays, theorizing on their biology. Endlessly fascinated with the convergent evolution between Villagers and Pillagers. Will often join Preston's archeology expeditions to discover the lore hints in the environment. Dies a lot, usually has nothing but seeds and dirt in her inventory. Keeps an area filled with specimens in appropriate pens. Puts bounties out for new creatures. Favors the axolotls and fish, though. Lives in the second floor of the zoo's visitor center.

Danse; Minecraft has a powerful aura of sad nostalgia, and I don't think he could handle it. Will help out in Goodneighbor by going and getting materials for building. Enjoys fishing more than anything, though. Gets very attached to his orange cat that sits on his bed. His dirt hut is on the outskirts of Goodneighbor, but is covered in flowers, paintings, and whatever else decor the others have put up. Nick dyed his cat's collar pink. Accompanies X6 on Curie's specimen bounties. Will sometimes stop moving. Don't worry, he's just enraptured by the music and is enjoying it. Or is being made very sad by it. Same thing, right?

Deacon; Pays money to change his username to look like someone else's every week. Changes to their skin, too, but edited to have sunglasses. Otherwise, Herobrine wannabe. If you don't know what that is, you are too young to be reading this blog. Deacon will make small, uniform tunnels, fill them with oddities like bone and paper. He'll leave structures reminiscent of crosses. He'll use armor stands and elaborate Redstone mechanisms, make it look like someone's watching you from the trees, only for you to step on a hidden pressure plate, and the figure vanishes. Adds to the lore of the world. Has a rainbow wool house filled with so many rabbits, the game crashes when he approaches.

Gage; You think Gage is playing a kids game? He has shit to do. Like pirate it and sell copies for dirt cheap. Not even to make money, he just does it for the principle. The principle of fuck you, I will make as many copies of this shit as I damn well please. Probably has his face hung up in Mojang HQ, with darts stuck in the one good eye. Would play if he could join the side of the Pillagers. Yeah, sure. He could just set villages on fire himself...but where's the community in that?

Hancock; Owns the server. Keeps it on harder difficulties for the challenge, but not so much of a...whatever you call Cait's type of player. Avid builder, Goodneighbor is a massive project recreating Boston. It's not quite 1 to 1, but still damn impressive. But, hey, if Bobby wants to build places from Grognak, that's chill. Doesn't care about aesthetic or accuracy, just wants to relax and let the creative juices flow. Hancock himself lives in a giant mushroom he made out of mushroom blocks, wool, and mycelium. Pet of choice? Mushroom cow, obviously, courtesy of X6.

MacCready; Got sick for a week. Built the entire Ux-Ron galaxy on the other side of the river. Doesn't remember it, was hopped up on Nyquil and chicken broth in hot water. The resident hunter, when he isn't on a grape-chicken-liquid diet. He's good at building, but can get bored quickly. Aim is...frightening. Can kill a chicken across any gulf. Takes the nightshift guard duty to shoot down Phantoms. His house is a crashed UFO. Even got Deacon to do his redstone trickery, so it lights up all blinky when you trigger a plate at the door. Has a parrot for a pet.

Nick; One of the more adventurous ones. Goes off with Preston, X6, and Cait to explore the different biomes. The resident potion master. It's just a puzzlegame, but for cocktails that can make you jump real high. Keeps a garden with various ingredients, often ventures into the Nether for blaze powder and rods. Has a spawner caged up, so he just smacks them through the door. Writes down all potion or poison recipes in an in-game book and quill. The trial-and-error- failed recipes are also listed, so it's 200+ pages long. His potion hut is built like a speakeasy, and he lives in the basement with a black cat. Would fill the place with ravens, if they weren't in the spin-off game. Third line of defense in town—keeps a chest full of splash poisons. Occasionally opens it and stares at them, like he's not sure if he's willing to commit such an act.

Piper; Obsessed with the underwater update. Always diving for treasure and sunken ships and temples. Keeps all of the knickknacks in a chest back at Goodneighbor, not even for use. Piper isn't even an ocean kinda gal in real life, but...it's so pretty! And the dolphins are so cute! Trades resources for water-breathing potions from Nick. Fills out so many maps, keeps them framed on a massive wall on the Goodneighbor docks. Also keeps a book-and-quill with coordinates and traveling notes, it's longer than Nick's recipe book. Lives in an underwater bubble habitat off the coast of Goodneighbor. Keeps a pink dolphin in a massive glass habitat outside.

Preston; Resident archeologist. Excavates ruins and structures to study them. Spent a month in real life sponging up an underwater temple. Even longer digging out an End fortress. Goes into mineshafts and renovates them entirely, puts signs and maps up. Takes X6 most often on his expeditions, has his own wall of land-maps. Preston spends a lot of time studying the builds left in the world and pondering the historical implications. Real theorist over here. He's fascinated with the subtle story telling and clues. The End keeps him up at night. His house is the huge community library. Also keeps books, writes down his notes and theories. Has a llama for traveling. If anything happened to it, would be very distraught.

X6-88; Resident mercenary. Nick accidentally summoned the Wither? There's a baby zombie running around? Deacon's rabbits have broken out the windows, and the server is in legitimate danger if the horde grows any larger? Get X6-88. Appears with a clap of thunder on his black warhorse, wielding only the most enchanted of weapons, wearing the most enchanted of armor. He does all the hard, dangerous work. Clears out the Nether, the End, Dark Forests, Pillager encampments...X6 is the hard hitter that goes out into danger, whereas Cait stays behind to defend. Is the one who leashes animals and painstakingly brings them back to Goodneighbor, occasionally with Danse's help. He lost his mind, looking for pandas for Curie. Keeps one as a pet in his house, which is the castle in the graveyard.

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Scripting: Harsh Reality

PREVIOUS POST

During One More Hero's seventh (and final) chapter, EX!Alice backflipped into the living room of Rosie and Chuck's house, the repaired goober in hand.

OMT!Mina: Has anyone heard from Tails in the last hour? I'm starting to get worried...

CR!Sonic: Look, he's just clearing his head for a bit. I know the kid, and he's got what it takes. In fact, I'll bet you he'll be back through that door shortly with Uncle Chuck recharged and ready to fight!

She just stared at him, not exactly believing him, when...

Tails stumbled into the living room, out of breath and scared out of his wits as Chuck followed behind.

OMT!Tails: M-My sister-in-law!

CR!Sonic: Hey. Where have you been? We-

OMT!Mina: U-Uma Arachnis, she- she- she's the Shadow Emerl!

CR!Sonic headed towards him and hugged him gently to help him cool off.

CR!Sonic: H-Hey. Slow down, Tails. Take some deep breaths, alright?

OMT!Tails: She's working for Nega. S-She tried to kill me and Chuck!

Mr. Needlemouse: Well, this is one hardcore origin story.

EX!Alice slapped his face in annoyance.

EX!Alice: Dude, not funny!

OMT!Tails was fighting tears, as the others looked to CR!Sonic, who was struggling with his words.

OMT!Chuck: It's okay, Sonny. We'll figure it out, somehow.

OMT!Mina: Were you guys followed?

OMT!Tails: I... I really hope not...

However, they all heard rumbling outside, with a doorbell signalling an arrival. On cue, the six heroes got themselves ready as Zeena knocked the door down, knocking a tea tray out of OMT!Rosie's hands.

Zeena: Cute place! Real homey.

OMT!Rosie: Oh, great. It's Green Z.

OMT!Tails (heartbroken): I... I guess we were followed...

OMT!Mina: Oh no...

CR!Sonic: Tails, get out of here. We'll handle this.

He tried to leave out the back door, but that was blocked off by Johnny in the doorway.

Johnny: Sure messed up big time, haven't you, pipsqueak?

He pushed OMT!Tails to one side as Surge showed up behind him.

Surge: So, this is where you've all been hiding at, huh? I've been itching to get you back for humiliating me earlier!

CR!Sonic: Surge, huh? You do realise there's, like, six of us, and, erm, four of you lot, including the Shadow Emerl behind Zeena there.

OMT!Chuck: Oh, boy... Would you kids mind taking the fight outside, please?

Mini Sonic: Sorry, pops, but we don't pick the ballroom around here. We just dance!

Zeena spotted the goober being held by CR!Sonic.

Zeena: I think I'll be taking that.

She tried to reach for it, leading the hexad of heroes to spring right into action. It's a ten-person fight in a fairly-small living room! Surge quickly cornered OMT!Tails, who was blocking her blows with cushions that had rubber pieces inside.

Surge: Give up, kid! You know trying to defend yourself ain't gonna help you!

OMT!Tails: How about YOU just give up first?!

Thankfully, EX!Alice leapt in to help him by smacking Surge across the face with her hammer, while Zeena pinned CR!Sonic to the ceiling. Seeing all the chaos going on, OMT!Rosie pulled out her baseball bat and charged at Surge and Johnny, whacking them and throwing them back outside the house.

OMT!Rosie: We said take it outside!

The goober came loose from CR!Sonic's waist and tumbled to the floor.

OMT!Tails: I got it!

He made a leap to grab the key. He finally caught it after enough chaos, before noticing Shadow Emerl smashing through one of the walls, right in front of the fox boy. On cue, CR!Sonic swiped the goober out of his hand before attacking the suited crook.

CR!Sonic: Leave the little guy alone!

Sonic and Shadow Emerl fought in a struggle for the goober.

OMT!Tails (fearful): NO NO NO NO NO!!!

He threw the key to OMT!Tails.

CR!Sonic: Tails, get out of here!

Zeena and EX!Alice crashed into him, sending them all out onto the street as OMT!Tails ran, scared that he was about to lose five newfound friends in one night, with Shadow Emerl in full pursuit. Knowing she needed to help by cutting some of Nega's group off, OMT!Mina sped off as Surge and Johnny went in pursuit.

Surge: We're on the right tracking! She's headed for the far end of the cliffs!

Johnny: Surge, shut up and turn left!

Surge: We JUST turned right towards the west end of the island. Are you forgetting who we're after?!

OMT!Mina had an idea, speeding to their left and heading for the edge.

Johnny: Turn left here! COME ON!

Surge (annoyed): Have it your way, tin-can!

They did so, chasing OMT!Mina to the edge. She bounded backwards at the last second, leaving their vehicle to hover in the air for a moment before plummeting down...

Johnny: GAAAAAAAAAAH! SUUUUUUUUUUURGE!

...into the ocean close to the shore, leaving them both waterlogged.

Johnny: Surge, this is all your fault!

Surge: My-?! I turned left when you told me to turn left! How's this situation MY fault?!

Johnny: Give me a minute. I'll figure out how.

She growled while planning to drive them back out of the water. Across Dust Hill, OMT!Tails raced away with the goober in hand, though Shadow Emerl charged at him and attempted to grab him. No matter how much Tails dodged, he couldn't shake her.

Shadow Emerl: Give me that thing!

Tails sighted the Oil Ocean nearby, hoping that could be his best bet of losing her, so he went full-speed ahead there, of which OMT!Knuckles and OMT!Sally saw what was going on and hurried over there. Once in the area, Tails continued avoiding Shadow Emerl's blasts, one of which hit a petroleum container and set it ablaze.

Shadow Emerl: Don't be stupid, kid! Hand it over, now!

Once he made it high enough up, the robot leapt in front of him, blocking his way out.

Shadow Emerl: Nowhere to run now.

She began her advance as OMT!Tails shakily aimed his arm cannon... and shot at the helmet, blowing it off and exposing Uma's face while tearing off the mouth part of her ninja mask.

Uma: ...T-Tails?

OMT!Tails: U-Uma...

She was horrified, realising she was hunting her own brother-in-law the entire time.

Uma: No no no no no...

OMT!Tails (barely a whisper): P-Please, Uma...

She heard Eggman Nega hovering above.

Eggman Nega: What are you waiting for, you imbecile? Finish him, now!

She contemplated about it... before backing away and holding her arms up, smiling softly to Tails.

Uma: I... I surrender.

OMT!Tails: Uma, I...

They smiled softly to each other.

OMT!Tails: T-Thank you.

However, the moment couldn't last. Uma heard a gunshot as her eyes widened, one that came from Eggman Nega that severely injured her. As she fell to the ground, the Shadow Emerl suit finally gave way and shattered, exposing her real body. The mad doctor aimed at Tails next with pure sadism in his eyes, before he got kicked backwards by CR!Sonic, who had followed him to the spot.

CR!Sonic: Tails, run for it! The place is gonna blow soon!

Tails hesitantly nodded, grabbing Uma in his arms and racing out of there with her as the factory caught ablaze. As he sped off, OMT!Knuckles and OMT!Sally saw him headed for Central City's hospital with Uma in his arms.

Uma: T-Tails...

OMT!Tails: I'm sorry, Uma... This is my fault...

Uma: N-No, Tails, I'm sorry... I wanted you to look up to me. I... I've let you down horribly...

OMT!Tails: Just hang in there, alright? I'm getting you to the hospital for treatment.

He sped it up as Uma put one of her hands on his shoulder.

Uma: Y-You're the best of all of us, Tails. You're on your way.

He nodded sadly, managing to get her to the hospital in good time. She was put in a hospital bed a couple of minutes later and on life support as Tails held her hand.

OMT!Tails: I s-should've done better for you, Uma... I'm sorry...

He left her ward and departed from the hospital as OMT!Amy and OMT!Sally saw him go by.

OMT!Sally: Tails? What happened?

OMT!Tails: Uma got hurt, b-because of me...

OMT!Amy: T-Tails, what happened out there isn't your fault.

OMT!Tails (saddened): ...I wish I could say the same...

He left the hospital as his adoptive sisters looked on in worry. Back at Dust Hill, Surge and Johnny managed to get back out of the water onto the desert land.

Surge: Phew. Thought we'd never get out. (on the phone) We're on our way back now, boss.

Johnny: Erm, Surge, we should really-.

Surge: Shut up. The call's more important. (to Nega) Sorry about that, Nega.

Eggman Nega had arrived back at the Death Egg where Zeena was finishing preparing the interdimensional energiser.

Eggman Nega: There's only a couple of hours left before that ceremony is due to start. I need you two back here very soon so that we can get things going.

Back at Dust Hill...

Surge: We'll do our best, Nega.

Johnny: Surge, we really need to pick up the pace-!

Surge: Will you shut up?!

Eggman Nega: So, as I was saying…

Surge: Yes, yes. Nice to talk to you, boss. (to Johnny) What is so important that you have to interrupt my important yet boring business call?!

Johnny: I've been trying to tell you that our vehicle's sinking into a quicksand area!

And as it happened, he was right. Their vehicle was parked in a quicksand area and was starting to sink.

Surge: Quicksand? Quicksand isn't dangerous. Nobody in the WORLD is stupid enough to sink into quick-!

She soon realised they WERE in danger, jumping out of the vehicle and trying to leg it, only to sink in much quicker.

Surge: MMPH! JOHNNY! YOU IDIOT! YOU MORON!

She ended up throwing the phone out of range of the quicksand pit, and Nega was still on the line.

Eggman Nega (on that phone): Urgh… Can't those two imbeciles do ANYTHING right nowadays?!

Back at Bumper High School, OMT!Tails climbed back into his dorm, brushing several books aside in his anger and frustration, throwing his sketchbook on the floor in the process. As he went through this, Bobby and Naksh opened the door to the room and saw Tails wasn't in the best state.

Bobby: Tails...?

He didn't respond, deeply ashamed as she gave him a cooldown hug, with Naksh following suit.

Bobby: Hey. Whatever happened, we're here for you. I promise.

OMT!Tails: I... Nobody's gonna understand what I've been through...

Naksh hugged him as well, understanding all too well what Tails had been through. The moment was slightly interrupted as CR!Sonic peeped through the window, with Naksh hurriedly hiding behind the door frame as the blue blur and the other multiversal heroes came in.

CR!Sonic: Tails, you... are you alright?

He was fighting back tears, his heart broken from all he had been through in one night. This prompted CR!Sonic and OMT!Mina to hug him close as well.

OMT!Mina: I'm sorry you had to go through all that, Tails...

Mr. Needlemouse, for all his smugness, genuinely couldn't help but feel sorry for OMT!Tails, knowing mental pain was a whole different story.

Mini Sonic: Not gonna make one of your quips?

Mr. NM: You kidding, right? The only way I'd hurt someone is if it's actually funny, and this isn't in the slightest. The heart's a whole different story, dude.

OMT!Tails: I-It was my fault... Nobody will understand...

CR!Sonic: Tails, I feel the five of us are the main ones who do understand.

Naksh signalled to Bobby before he dashed off.

Bobby: Someone's coming.

CR!Sonic: Uh oh.

A few seconds later, Danny entered the room while wearing his headphones.

Danny: Hopefully that should do it! Well, might as well read something before going to bed.

He didn't notice Tails, Bobby and the other heroes hiding on the wall across from him, as he put on his headphones and turned their way, albeit with the comic blocking his view.

CR!Sonic (whispering): That way, that way!

They hopped to the other side, with Bobby and EX!Alice especially confused. Danny turned around in his seat again.

CR!Sonic (whispering): Other way, other way!

They slipped back to where they were, finally being spotted after Danny lowered the comic and heard the sounds in the room. All of them were huddled together in a tight spot, with Bobby and EX!Alice the most blushy about it.

Danny: Huh?

OMT!Tails: Er, hehe...

Bobby: Hey, Danny!

Mr. Needlemouse: Do cartoons talk in this dimension? 'Cause I don't wanna freak him out!

Danny, shocked from seeing them all in one spot, ended up fainting from shock. A couple of minutes later, OMT!Tails tucked him in bed. When he and Bobby turned around, only CR!Sonic was left in the room, with OMT!Mina in the middle of leaving.

OMT!Tails: What's going on?

OMT!Mina: Goodbye, Tails.

CR!Sonic: I came to say goodbye, buddy.

OMT!Tails: We can say goodbye at the energiser, Sonic.

CR!Sonic: You don't get it, dude. You're staying here.

OMT!Tails: Look, I need to be there, to ensure you can all go home.

He picked the goober up from the desk.

CR!Sonic: They are going home, Tails. I'm the only one staying.

OMT!Tails: Y-You're taking my place?

Bobby: Tails said that if you stay here, you're gonna end up dying if the device isn't stopped.

CR!Sonic: I'm doing what needs to be done. I... just wanted you to hear it from me.

OMT!Tails: What about Sally? O-Or your Tails? Have you thought about how they'd feel if you weren't there for them?

CR!Sonic: *sigh* I said not everything can work out, Tails. I need the goober.

Tails stepped back a bit.

CR!Sonic: Tails, don't make me take it from you.

He stepped forward, but Tails, furious at him, held it back and glared at the alternate version of his friend.

OMT!Tails: This isn't fair, Sonic! You've gotta tell them that I can do this!

CR!Sonic: It's not their decision, little buddy.

OMT!Tails: Stop it, Sonic! Nega has to pay for what he's done and is doing! Let me tag along!

CR!Sonic: Dude, you're gonna get yourself killed!

OMT!Tails: I am ready! I promise!

CR!Sonic tackled him, grabbing him by the arm outside.

CR!Sonic: Then pull that electric hand thing on me, or turn invisible right away so you can get past me.

OMT!Tails's hand crackled, but he couldn't bring himself to actually hurt the alternate version of his hero, despite standing up to him seconds prior. Down below, the others heard the conversation.

CR!Sonic: Look, I know how much you want this, kid.

Mini Sonic: Poor dude...

He brought Tails back into the room.

CR!Sonic: But you don't have it yet.

He tried dashing out, but Sonic shot some web fluid at him and Bobby to keep them from getting loose, before swiping the key.

CR!Sonic: I'm sorry.

He couldn't bring himself to look at the alternate version of his sidekick as he began to leave.

CR!Sonic: ...Now you don't have to put yourself in danger anymore...

He left as Tails teared up a little. Half an hour later, he and Bobby were still there, his nuzzle stained with his tears.

OMT!Tails: I... I guess I really am a burden after all...

Bobby: Tails, don't say that. I know you'll be able to pull this off.

OMT!Tails: H-How...?

They heard a knock on the door.

OMT!Knuckles: Tails? Tails, it's me. Can you open up?

Tails struggled to get out of the webs as Knuckles continued speaking.

OMT!Knuckles: Is... it okay if we can talk? S-Something happened...

On the other side, Knuckles struggled with what to say.

OMT!Knuckles: L-Look. Sometimes, people drift apart, but... I don't want that to happen to us, little bro. I know I don't always do what you need me to do or say what you need me to say, but... I see this... spark in you. It's amazing, you know? It's why I've been gently pushing you along the way. But it's yours, and whatever you choose to do with it, you'll be great!

Tails's eyes widened in awe and soulfulness. His low mood was fading thanks to Knuckles's words of encouragement.

OMT!Knuckles: We can get together whenever you're ready to, okay? I love you, little bro. You... You don't have to say it back, though.

OMT!Tails: Knuckles?

Tails shimmied loose from the webs a bit.

OMT!Tails: I... I love you as family, Knuckles.

They both smiled between the door as he departed. Tails closed his eyes, relaxing his hands as they crackled stronger with electricity. Using this was how he could learn to control his innate powers. He performed a mini jolt to break himself and Bobby free from the webs. Danny jolted up after hearing something, but could only see Bobby in the room.

Danny: Bobby?

Bobby: Uh, hey!

Danny: You saw all that, right?

Bobby: Hmm?

Tails slipped out the window while invisible. He was in control now!

Later, at the Gimme Shelter, he was gathering technology he could use as OMT!Robotnik spotted him.

OMT!Robotnik: Tails? What are you doing in here?

OMT!Tails: Gathering stuff I can use to stop your alternate counterpart.

OMT!Robotnik: So I heard.

OMT!Tails: I know I'm not Sonic, but I'll-.

OMT!Robotnik: No... You're not Sonic. You could never truly be like Sonic.

Tails looked at the doctor sadly upon hearing that.

OMT!Robotnik: He... Like you, he was my greatest enemy to fight against. A best friend... and he was a mess. He second-guessed everything he did, he was all over the place! But the one thing he did not second-guess... was to pick you as his successor.

OMT!Tails: You... You mean that?

Ivo nodded.

OMT!Robotnik: You know, I don't think he would've done what he did... if he knew you weren't gonna be here after he was gone. Now, five different heroes from their respective worlds are in danger. OUR dimension is in danger, and our friends will be in trouble in only 4 hours. What are you gonna do about it?

Tails nodded to him.

OMT!Tails: What Sonic did best.

He headed out as the doctor watched, temporarily bound back to the underground base where Chuck and Rosie awaited his return.

OMT!Rosie: Ah, Tails!

OMT!Chuck (with a smile): Took you long enough, son.

Tails got to preparing his nanomachine suit with a new metallic sheen, adding some visors to it as well that lit up with a blue glow as he smirked. Chuck then passed him his own enerbeam bracelet to use.

OMT!Chuck: Heh, it fits perfectly!

Finally, he headed to the Titan residence, knocking on the door as Kaede answered.

Kaede: Tails? You okay?

OMT!Tails: I'd like to be taught the rest of the ropes, like we agreed between us before. I want to be ready to pull this off, and we've only 3 and a half hours before Nega activates that energiser again.

She nodded with a smile.

Kaede: Alright, then. Come on in!

A training montage is shown with Kaede helping ensure Tails can pull it off, before it finishes with them up high and on the roof of one of the city's skyscrapers.

OMT!Knuckles: I see this... spark in you. It's amazing, you know? Whatever you choose to do with it, you'll be great!

Uma: You're the best of all of us, Tails. You're on your way.

OMT!Amy: Since when did we run from things, little bro?

The duo were close to the edge as OMT!Tails backed up a bit.

Kaede/Detective Ghost: You okay?

OMT!Tails: Yeah! Just getting ready for a boost.

He took some deep breaths...

Nine: The way you know you're ready is to find that courage in yourself. And to do that, all you need is the will to take that first step.

...before running to the edge and making a mighty leap, somersaulting in the air as Kaede followed, suiting up in the process. As they were about to impact with the ground, Tails grabbed her hand and activated the enerbeam bracelet, resulting in them swinging along the buildings as spectators watched from below.

Bystander 1: Yo! Look at that!

Bystander 2: Our heroes! They're going strong!

They both smiled, performing awesome manoeuvres across traffic and flawlessly pulling off their acrobatics; swinging through the streets, flipping off a flagpole, jumping across two buildings... all accompanied by wall-running and flight to especially boost it. At the very end of this lengthy montage, the two arrived by the Emerald Coast hotel, seeing the Death Egg decorated in lights nearby.

On the pile, OMT!Tails's PC game box finally joined the pile of goodies, signifying that he was finally ready to be the hero his world needed. And yes, there's no introduction needed. You know the rest, because we've seen his origin story all throughout this point! But now?

IT'S TIME FOR THE FINAL BATTLE TO BEGIN!

[ramalbumclub]

20 Years of Almost Killed Me

Let me quickly run through the biography.

Craig Finn, future leader of The Hold Steady, was THAT kid in school - neither the first to be picked for the sports team, nor the last. A bespectacled adolescent navigating the school corridors, aware that there’s an “in-crowd” and he’s on the outs. 

He's the kid in-between - like most of us. Like me.

So what's the plan? How does he get from there to here?

Does he settle or does he aspire?

He does neither, he retreats into a world of books and music and becomes an expert in HIS field. He learns how to play guitar, becomes a fan of local Minneapolis bands like The Replacements and Husker Du, and, even though he's still a kid, he goes to see them at the "all ages hardcore matinee shows" in town.

Just a quick aside here but "hardcore matinee shows" sound like the most fun in the world - something to really build a day around. I'd basically vote for any political party that introduced them into the U.K.

But back to the story....

In his early '20s, Finn forms a band called Lifter Puller who are simultaneously pretty good but also not quite right. What works, spectacularly, is Finn's lyrics about drugs and the shady characters that surround them but "the not quite right" bit is the music - a sort of '80s inspired synth overdose that, at its worst, sounds like the soundtrack to a Brian De Palma movie and, at its best, sounds like the soundtrack to a Brian De Palma movie.

After a few albums, a modicum of success, Lifter Puller split up and Finn becomes a financial broker for American Express before moving to New York to get a job at a digital webcasting company. At this stage in Finn's life it would appear that his brief flirtation with a career in music had ended and he was now on a course for a series of jobs in tech and finance. In fact, he doesn't do anything related to music for two whole years. He's just the guy at work, the one who used to be in a band called Lifter Puller.

And then it happens.

Craig Finn is watching Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz, the film of The Band's final concert, and he turns to his friend Tad Kubler, and says "Dude, why aren't there any bands like this anymore?"

Finn's observation is correct - there are no bands like that and I'm not sure there ever will be. But that's obvious, that's the bit we can all see. Even I've watched The Last Waltz and said to my mate Dan (I don't have a mate called Tad, I wish I did) - "Dude, why aren't there any bands like this anymore?"

No, what I love about this moment is what they did next. Finn and Kubler, there and then, decide to form a band like that. They took the completely mad decision in 2003, when everyone was still floored by that Neutral Milk Hotel album and everything it spawned, of creating a band with just guitar, bass, and drums.

They called themselves The Hold Steady and there wasn't a singing saw, a zanzithophone, or a wandering genie organ in sight.

What started out as an excuse for a bunch of guys in their '30s to hang out, drink, and play the occasional show, then becomes something of a going concern. Finn's lyrics, framed by Kubler's big riffs, created an unlikely breath of fresh air, a sense of celebration. Before long they're signed to Frenchkiss, the best name for a record label ever, and they release their first album - Almost Killed Me.

The album, in fact their career, opens with A Positive Jam, a song which tells the history of 20th Century America in 171 words. In the background, a lazy guitar struggles to wake up as the events are passed like road signs. It's their first song, on their first album, and after 90 seconds there's been a stock market crash, a World War, and 3 Kennedys are dead. The lyrical economy is remarkable, the way he deals with each decade precisely and definitively in one sentence. 

This is how he nails the '50s -

"We got shiftless in the '50s, holding hands and going steady, twisting into dark parts of the large Midwestern cities"

No need for the white picket fence trope, no need for Ike or Truman to co-star. Post war America perfectly reduced to "Holding hands and going steady". And then The Twist tells you the ‘60s are coming.  I got it straight away.

And this is how he nails the '70s -

"We woke up on bloody carpets, got tangled up in gas lines and I guess that's where it started"

He rhymed "carpets" with "started" and reduced the long term economic and political effects of the 1973 Oil Crisis to a line. What's not to like? I can still vividly remember my first listen now - the time, the place, and an album cover of blacked out faces. It was immediate. I was in.

And I didn't even know then what I know now, that he was providing context - that he was explicitly saying "We have shared history." Because at the end of the song, he brings us up to date, the guitar does wake up and the band kicks in. It's then that he tells us that he was bored so he started a band, it's then that he tells us that he wants to start it off with a positive jam.

The first time I heard Almost Killed Me I rewound the opening song again and again. I guess the "positive jam" that the song was trailing was The Swish, the second song on the album. But I couldn't get to it, I couldn't get past how good the opener was. I listened to it five times on the spin – by the time I was finished 15 Kennedys had died.

But then I did I get past it. I got to The Swish and my head fell off. Honestly, I stood there laughing, air riffing and dancing, in thrall to my new favourite band after just two songs. The bridge from A Positive Jam to The Swish is one of THE moments in music for me. It simultaneously comes out of nowhere yet evokes a memory. I made it through the rest of the album, breathless and giddy.

I'd never heard anything like it, despite having heard things like it.

Does that make sense? That bit really needs to make sense.

You know when The Sopranos came out and you thought "Jesus, not another story about Italian American Gangsters. Surely not THAT again." But then you watched it and saw that the characters were immersed in that culture as much as the viewer. They existed within their own context and couldn't move without referencing it.

And that was the difference. It was derivative but it was spun, from an angle so it wasn't head on.

That's The Hold Steady. That's Almost Killed Me.

It would be easy to say it's my favourite album of the 21st Century if only it didn't have to compete with what they did next - Separation Sunday, Boys and Girls in America and, finally, the hangover, Stay Positive. Finn had done it, with his friends they'd made one of the greatest runs of albums ever - an aggregate score of at least 36 out of 40.

At least.

Yes, there were comparisons to things you'd heard before, a familiarity, but for me it was almost entirely different. People screamed Springsteen, people screamed The E Street Band but I never really knew why. These weren't stories about open roads, about making love to the interstate. These were stories about the claustrophobia of community, about the kids in between - confined by drugs and religion. And you know what? Springsteen never swished through the city centre to do a couple of favours for some guys who looked like Tusken Raiders did he? No he didn't, he was probably driving somewhere.

The Hold Steady wore their influences on their sleeve but they spun them. They humoured them. They said "Tramps like us and we like Tramps" and told stories about people who looked like people -  people who looked like Rocco Siffredi, Elisabeth Shue, Izzy Stradlin, Alice Cooper, Mickey Mantle, and, of course, Tusken Raiders. They were doing that thing again - they were saying "We know you know. Because we have shared history"

But this analysis, my attempt at explanation, is nothing compared to the visceral triumph and joy of a Hold Steady show - the pleasure of watching this band that had been plucked from their own lives and were creating anew. I used to spend hours looking at the bass player, I'd never seen anyone work so hard whilst standing still - a man who started the night dry and ended it dripping in sweat and smiles.

And then there was Finn - the inbetweener, the most generous of front men. He was always so warm and inclusive to his audience, so glad that they're there with him. Yet he never forgets the band. Never. And for someone so wordy it's remarkable the gaps he leaves for them - the gaps for them to play and for him to admire. Often he’d be clapping, dancing, and having so much fun in admiration, that I’d worry he’d forget to join in again – that he’d forget that the moment after the gaps were his.

But he never did.

Fast forward to 2014 - to the Holiday Inn, in Brighton, a few hours after a Hold Steady show.

I'd probably had my back to him for about 10 minutes, having a night cap at the hotel bar and thinking about what had come before. But then I turned around and there he was - Craig Finn, sitting alone, a hero rather than a star. I decided to say hello and he gestured for me to sit down. We talked about The Last Waltz. I asked him if it was true, whether that's really how it started, and he said it was. We talked about the rest of the film, all those conversations, you know where they go - Joni Mitchell and all her chords; Van Morrison and that ridiculous high kick. And somewhere in the drink and The Last Waltz I lost the memory of the night, other than to say he was good company and he paid his way.

And if I met him now?

If I met him now, I'd probably get lost down another rabbit hole - about how we're the same age and how I wasn't picked first for the sports team either. I'd ask him how he feels now, at 44, about the start he gave himself at 33 - whether that still surprises him, whether it ever did. Whether he knows, REALLY knows, that for about four years The Hold Steady were the best band in the world. But more than that I'd tell him about how HE influenced, how HE inspired, about how Ruth and I always used to say this album club was about spinning familiar stories, about telling them from an angle rather than head on - just like The Hold Steady.

Because that's what we used to say. When we wanted to avoid nostalgia and reheating the past , we used to say it should be "JUST LIKE THE HOLD STEADY".

And before I lost another evening, and its fluid memory, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank him for that.

Martin Fitzgerald (2014)