#stepping on a Lego: the ultimate pain

[cryokina]

Nezarec, Final God of Pain

"He is that which is end. That which covets sin. The final god of pain—the purest light, the darkest hour. And He shall rise again." Passage from Of Hated Nezarec, a pre-Golden Age text

An ancient psionic nightmare, Nezarec's corpse lay dormant on Earth's moon for centuries. Even split into dozens of morbid relics by scavengers, each piece still radiated hate. His head was ultimately caught in a cosmic beam of growth and regeneration, refocusing his malevolence into a new body. While he was finally killed by Guardians in the Root of Nightmares raid, he has survived death before...

Nezarec was a challenge, to put it mildly. His body is a freshly-grown reddish hulk, studded with nail-like spines, with his older head grafted to the neck, a gigantic scythe over one shoulder, and fourteen shimmering tendrils sprouting like foul wings from his back. His scythe, Night Terror, was the worst part. It should actually be even bigger than it is, and it already stretches the limits of what Lego ball joints can support. He should have a ring of seven multicoloured eyes, which I've chosen to side-step by using the One Ring as they're far too small to show without a custom printed tile.

The tendrils on his back are a kind of milky, shimmery colour which is impossible to represent, so I've just used alternating shades of silver. You can make the connectors (62462) whichever colour you like, I've just used what I had available. I'm proud of the spiralling segments of the scythe. I came up with a method to let each segment sit one-eighth of a rotation along from the previous one.

Have fun building Nezarec, but don't let him get into your head... Instructions are available on my Rebrickable.

[sailforvalinor]

One of my favorite things to say to people when I’m angry with them (not to their face, and 90% of the time it’s about fictional people who are not real) is “I hope you step on a LEGO.” Excruciatingly painful. Acutely emotionally distressing. Ultimately harmless.

[proffesionalalpaca]

This is just some notes on my fire Na’vi/ ash people, it’s a long post but with more detailed notes on not only the physical traits of the ash people but their culture as well.

Physical:

Ears:

The ears of the ash people are the largest proportionally of any Na’vi, evolved to be incredibly sensitive to sub-sonic frequencies and infrasound wavelengths due to their unstable volcanic biome. Fire Na’vi are able to hear the deep sounds of shifting tectonics and volcanism before the activity above ground begins, giving them the precious moments of preparation before disaster strikes.

But the size is due to their ability to sense changes in air pressure and temperature, useful when crossing land filled with geysers that spur deadly volcanic gases and boiling water. This also enables them to cross lava flows by being able to sense where the lava has cooled enough that it is safe to walk across.

The children of the ash people possess almost comically large ears that they eventually grow into, though compared to most Na’vi sub-species these are still enormous. Mother’s warn that an eavesdropping child’s ears will remain that size if they spread gossip from home.

Feet:

The fire Na’vi have evolved extremely tough skin upon the soles of there feet that makes walking through fields of sharp volcanic rock and burning hot earth a literal walk in the park. The skin is toughened even more over the life of a fire Na’vi, so much so that even obsidian blades have difficulty causing anything more than superficial/cosmetic damage, it would be very unlikely one would notice if they stepped on a pile of broken glass or Lego piece.

The feet can still sense pressure and temperature but the pain receptors within the sole of the foot are buried a ways beneath the skin, the pain would more likely be registered higher up the foot and ankle before that pain would register on the sole. This is how many Na’vi who are unfortunate enough to step into hot lava can withstand the pain long enough to make a break for safety, though there can be several disabled clan members at any time who are usually the eldest members.

Claws and teeth:

The fire Na’vi are among the few Na’vi to evolve claws, though these ‘claws’ are naturally not as sharp as the ash people prefer them through usage of abrasive volcanic minerals to sharpen and file their nails, both a practical and aesthetic practice.

Their teeth share a similar origin, as the remote region that the ash people reside is sparser in edible vegetation than most of the biomes of Pandora. This encouraged a primarily carnivorous diet and a high dependence on hunting culture, though they have begun to develop agricultural practices similar to those of early humans maintaining and keeping groups of animals for various uses (though ultimately all to be eaten once any other value has been exhausted). These include their giant tortoise-like companions - the Ku’tarūn- that, much like the Yak’s of Himalayan communities, act as beasts of burden alongside smaller creatures including the - Víltabä - a goose/turkey-ish animal prized for their impressively coloured, soft plumages and delicate sweet flesh.

Skin and tails:

The Ash people have a dulled purple toned skin with dark sharp stripes that cover them completely, these stripes can also sometimes form crude spiral shapes which are considered very attractive and are used by the Tsahìk to interpret Eywa’s will/intentions for that person. For example: a Spiral over their heart signifies a strong and a deep loyalty to their clan & family, a spiral on their face signifies knowledge & desire for clarity, and finally a spiral on the hands or forearm signifies dexterity and a steady hand; this being the mark of master-craftsman and healers.

The tails of the ash people are evolved from the forest Na’vi tail tufts, the Keratin of the hair forming into hard plates that run along the length of the tail and cluster into a club-like structure at the end. This makes the end of the tail quite heavy but also makes it a very powerful weapon to stun and kill prey, as the muscles are well developed, as a result the tail is nearly 3-4 times thicker than an Omaticayan’s. Though this has made the tails less useful as emotive displays, as the tail is not dexterous enough to curl like a forest na’vi’s would, the stiffness more akin to the tails of the Metkayina and Ta’unui clans, but such limitations have been made up by their emotive display provided by their ears.

Culture notes:

Tsahìk:

The fire Na’vi do not possess a Tsahìk the same way that other clans do. Instead there are 3 Na’vi who share the title in different levels of authority and responsibility; an ‘Elder’, an ‘Adult’ and a ‘Child’, these three individuals interpret the will of Eywa together, each adding a piece to determine the overall bigger picture. Primarily their roles are of a medicinal nature, keepers of knowledge and traditions of the community, often this role is more respected to have the final say over the clan’s Olo’Eyktan/Eykte who is expected to seek counsel with all 3 before any important decision such as relocation and rallying war cry. No Tsahìk is expected to be be the mate of the Olo’Eyktan, such only occurring once of twice in the ash people’s long history.

The volatile nature of their home has made having more than one Tsahìk a necessity as there have been catastrophic events wherein all but one of the three have died, leaving the clan’s well-being to one. Because of this all three Tsahìk being together at once is an uncommon occurrence, except during confluences with Eywa, consultations with the Olo’Eyktan and clan wide announcements such as a change of Olo’Eyktan. It is their responsibility to chose who the future Olo’Eyktan to be trained will be based upon the will of Eywa, but unforeseen challengers may come to defy/interrupt their decision.

The roles of the three Tsahìk are:

Elder: To Teach

- the Elder is charged with passing on their knowledge to the next generation and ensure that the guidance of the other Tsahìk are being enacted correctly, when the Adult ascends to the position of elder they take a step back from the clan and frequently make more pilgrimages to the heart of Eywa (their tree of souls), but will also travel alone on a spiritual journey if needed for several months. The Elder is charged with teaching the Child everything they need to know about becoming the Adult when they pass. When this time grows near the Elder and Adult will take pilgrimages together to solidify the transfer of knowledge that the Adult needs to become the elder.

Adult: To Heal

- the job of doctor and spiritual guide lies with the middle Tsahìk, they are the most hands on within the clan and are the one who is responsible for not only the physical but for the spiritual well-being of the clan. The Adult remains with the majority of the clan at all times but the pilgrimages to the heart of Eywa. They comfort and prepare the elderly, dying and sick to be ready to join Eywa, essentially becoming the mother figure within the clan (regardless of gender) who will care for and serve the tribe any way they can.

Child: To See

- their role is to become immersed in their environment and learn to listen to Eywa’s voice, often it is the child who offers the clearest view of Eywa’s will, at this time the youngest Tsahìk is there to listen and observe the world and the people. The Child will learn how to care for the bodies of the clan from the Adult (medicine) and the learn spiritual side from the Elder.

An important note is that many Tsahìk never have children of their own, especially the females, though it is not forbidden to take a mate and have a family. It is just extremely difficult as the Tsahìk’s entire purpose & duty is to the clan as a whole, they must never prioritise their own family over the clan who is ultimately the Tsahìk’s ‘true’ family. The Elder, Adult and Child are almost never related, even as cousins but they operate their relationships together like a grandparent, parent and child would despite this.

The Child will remain being called so until they ascend to the position of the Adult, even if they are physically an adult and have been recognised by the clan as one, due to the Elder refusing to kick the bucket and staying alive preventing the transfer of titles.

Olo’Eyktan:

The role of Olo’Eyktan is determined by right of combat, the current head of the clan may be challenged at anytime for the position and the winner of the fight may decide the losers fate (often death if they have not perished already). The transfer of power is often more orderly however as a future Olo’Eyktan is often chosen for many years through the ruling of the 3 Tsahìk, wherein a trial of combat is performed more ceremonially but remains as a real fight for the new leader to prove their right to take the title.

Being the child of Olo’Eyktan does not mean the position is guaranteed, their children are often passed over for someone else so as not to create lineages of inherited power in the hands of those that may not be the best to handle it. There have been short lineages but no more than a 4 generation streak but, after many generations old lines may regain their authority again as they are called by Eywa to lead.

The Eyktan/Chief is the moral core and father (regardless of gender) of the clan, they are the protector and shoulders who bear the burdens and woes of the clan. Its up to them to keep the clan moving and safe, to ensure that they have enough food and that the 3 Tsahìk are well and performing their duties.

The Heart of Eywa:

The fire Na’vi make a once a year pilgrimage to their tree of souls, which they call ‘the heart of Eywa’ which lies within ancient stone ruins in the most dangerously volcanic area of the region. This is why they visit very infrequently due to the risks associated, there is always at least one death either on the way or returning. Half of the clan will travel during the summer, this being the elderly and weakest of the clan as there is more light and food available to make the trip easier on them, being lead by the Elder Tsahìk. The other and larger half is lead in the winter by the adult, a harsher journey that ultimately is believed to incur a greater connection with Eywa, the harsher the trip the deeper the connection. The child may chose to accompany either party but is encouraged to travel with the winter group more as they draw closer to becoming ‘the adult’.

The ash people possess no ‘lesser’ site to connect with Eywa like the Omatikaya’s tree of voices, the tress are unable to grow to the size needed to have an established site before they are destroyed by the shifting flows of lava and shaking ground. It is considered a great sign of favour and blessing by Eywa to find even one of these trees that are old enough to establish Tsaheylu, often such things are tales from lone hunters separated from their hunting parties who claim to have been given sanctuary by Eywa, when on the verge of death.

Blacksmithing and glass work:

The fire Na’vi believe that the 3 laws of Eywa do not apply to them in the same way of other Na’vi. The mountains that spew forth the metals of the earth are interpreted as Eywa’s gifts to use and refining that metal into weapons & tools is their way of showing the great mother that her gifts are being used to enrich their lives.

They do not dig quarries or mine in any capacity but drift among many volcanic lava flows to harvest their materials, this includes metals, sands and glass that are found most commonly along the shorelines. The glass is melted into many shapes and most often into glass beads that the ash people wear alongside bones of hunts and war won by right of the victor, as well as the plentiful obsidian used for both weapons and decoration.

As such the ash people are in between their bronze and Iron Age, having fashion many tools and weapons, being among the few Na’vi to eat using a two pronged fork and spoon as opposed to just their hands (though they still do it plenty). They have basic long swords about the length of a tall human as well as several iterations of spears, halberds and pikes, though most importantly are their shields that combine wood, animal hide and metal that can even withstand gunfire from an AMP suit.

In the ash people’s territory there are several permanent structures made of stone, on the edges of volcanic faults with access to lava, which are the homes and workshops of the Ash clan Blacksmiths. These master craftsmen Na’vi live solitary and dangerous lives as they are located far from any one clan’s position for the majority of their time there, they are affiliated with no particular tribe and are regarded as having no allegiance but to the ash people as a whole. Na’vi children will make pilgrimages to these locations for one of their adulthood rites, which is to craft a weapon or object of their choice to aid them in their roles in the clan as adults. Because of their close proximity to the volcanoes these Na’vi are both the most knowledgable of and at the highest risk to them, that makes Na’vi who want to become Tsyokx’Layompin- ‘blackened hands’ a rarity but at least one pursues the path each generations and leaves their home tribe to become a clanless Na’vi who will provide their services to anyone with something to trade for it.

Disabilities and illness:

The dangers of their lifestyle as war-waging warriors and the innate dangers of the land they call home, leave many with disfiguring scars and altered bodies. Lost limbs, gas/ash burnt eyes and blown out eardrums are amongst the most common injuries seen in the clans. These Na’vi are seen as no lesser by their tribesmen, they are cared for; even if they cannot move much, they are given tasks that are manageable despite any handicap they may have. Some of their best weavers are among the blind who have lost their sight to hot ash and boiling geyser gases and many amputees still go on hunting parties from the backs of their mounts. Though many chose to become aids to the Tsahik, many become storytellers or singers/musicians finding new purpose in bringing joy to their clan.

Deafness is something the clans are most familiar with, the ear splitting eruptions all around them often leaves their elderly very hard of hearing, and entire clans have gone deaf from being too close to an eruption at the wrong time. So the ash people possess their own dialect of sign language, completely separate and distinct from the underwater hand signals of the reef people. If the two tried talking it would be like a French person speaking to a Japanese person, no linguistic similarities or cultural overlap to be found.

Birth:

When a baby is born the parents will write and sing a song to them, acting as a guiding light for the rest of their lives to be sung in times of hardship or desiring comfort, it’s called their ‘soul song’. This process is a very private affair but the Child Tsahìk will be brought in to take a spiritual measure of the newborn which will aid in establishing their song’s theme. This could be a reading of a warrior, fighter, a guide, mischief-maker, healer or any number of things. This initial reading is also often used to help determine the child’s name which is announced at the end of their soul song, to be sung by both parents in front of the clan when officially introducing the baby.

The mother and father will be expected to remain in the family’s hut for a month to write the song and then introduce the baby at the end of that period, the clan is as such expected to provide for the new family by way of food, water and other gifts like materials to make baby clothes and beads for all of their songcords. Family may stay in the hut but non-related members of the clan are not allowed to linger in their space, only staying long enough to give their good wishes and drop off any offerings. The amount of goodwill a family receives will range from basic necessities like food and water to lavish offerings of many gifts depending upon how well liked and valued the parents are within the clan. For the ash people actions speak far louder than any words ever could.

Death:

When the Ash people die the body is bound in woven grass, decorated in the beads and any significant possessions of the person. The funeral ceremony is held within the centre of the village for the whole clan to gather and mourn, once the ceremony is over the family members or close friends will carry the body and lead by a Tsahìk to the nearest lake of lava, where the body will be returned to Eywa by laying them into the flow (if possible). Once the body is laid, the family will sing their song cord as the body is burned and returned to Eywa.

When the body can’t be recovered a ceremony will still take place within the village but a binding of their possessions wrapped around a block of obsidian will be carried to the lake in lieu of a body. The obsidian being used as it refers to the fire na’vi’s creation story, wherein Eywa placed a piece of her own fire inside a block of obsidian which she then carved into their form and sent it to the surface through the eruptions of the mountains.

Toruk Makto and the ruin of the ash people:

Amongst the first songs of the ash people that they were once a thriving and grand people, before their nomadic ways they possessed a village that surpassed all other upon Eywa’eveng, grand structures of stone erected by the people, the most important of which was the temple built around their spirit tree as a monument to Eywa. The land was lush and green with abundance, though not all natural, forged into shape by the ash people to feed their people. Unlike the clans of today, who number at 300 in a flux with the balance, the ash people numbered in the hundreds of thousands, their lives enriched by the land.

To give thanks to Eywa, they sacrificed the captured warriors of conflicts - their lives now forfeit - to the great mother, taking them to the temple and using their blood to water their tree of souls. The effect of communing with the tree during these rituals was said to give visions of immense clarity and provide a greater avenue to their speak with their ancestor’s at far greater length. This extended into raiding more and more villages, taking non-warriors and sacrificing them to Eywa, a relentless torrent of blood and death followed the fire clans and left nothing but ashes in their wake.

But then, as if hearing the call of the dead whose blood watered the tree, the first Toruk Makto arose and United all other clans to destroy the ash people, nearly all of whom were wiped from the world and their cities left in ruins to be reclaimed by the great mother in a long stretch of violent volcanic activity that goes on to this day. The ruins of the once grand city have been nearly all reclaimed by Eywa’s fire except for the temple and a few of its surrounding structures, including two enormous Na’vi statues around the entrance, though they have been immensely eroded in the millennia since their destruction.

The ash people of today still sing these songs and their contempt for the one who carries the mantle of Toruk Makto. Their songs singing of the one who will eventually get their revenge upon Toruk Makto as the ‘Bringer of Toruk’s Head’, though this has yet to have happened. The ash people still practice these ritual blood sacrifices & offerings with captured warriors, which is performed during the winter pilgrimage to the Heart of Eywa, though of course the scale pales in comparison to the height of the ash people’s power.

Other Na’vi clans remember the song of the first Toruk Makto as the uniting of the clans to stop a volcano from erupting, but fail to remember that it was not literal and was instead the clan of the volcanoes that was defeated. But the ash people never forgot.

[michellemisfit]

TAG GAME TUESDAY

Thank you for the tag @energievie <3

***

Relationship status: Single

Your ultimate OTP: Merlin/Arthur (BBC Merlin)

Favourite trope: Urgh! ALL OF THEM!!! Slow burn, probably? Like, I want them to kiss/shag/confess their feelings SO BADLY, but at the same I don’t ever want them to, because the pay off is going to be SO GOOD!!!

Favourite candy: Can I say ‘Urgh! ALL OF THEM!!!’ again? lol

Oh! Loop hole! Pick ‘n’ Mix! Hah!! :D

Favourite flower: Stargazer lilies, motherfu— Nah. Just kidding. I’m not a fan of lilies, actually lol erm… Wildflowers.

A song you love:

A movie you adore: The Last Unicorn

Red or pink: Red

Breakfast in bed or brunch at a cafe? Brunch! Maybe it’s because none of my beds have ever had a headboard, but I just don’t understand the breakfast in bed thing…

Romantic comedy or angsty drama? Romantic comedy

and finally, in the spirit of love, leave some kind words for your followers & friends: I wish you all a beautiful life, and I hope that none of you ever experience the pain of stepping on a Lego. <3

***

I’m late, and my brain is soup, so… if you haven’t been tagged already, consider yourself tagged!!

[starseedfxofficial]

European Equities Slip, JPY Surges: Hidden Moves Today Choppy Waters Ahead: How Forex Traders Can Ride Out the Rollercoaster Imagine this: you've carefully set up your trade like an artist crafting a masterpiece. Everything looks perfect—and then BAM—a hawkish ECB comment feels like you've just stepped on a Lego piece barefoot. Painful? Absolutely. But let’s break down what’s happening without the drama. ECB Throws a Hawkish Wrench: EUR Reaction Schnabel, one of the key voices at the European Central Bank, delivered hawkish comments, and the market responded like it had just been splashed with cold water. European equities ended up in the red, as traders recalculated their positions. The EUR, meanwhile, got a little lift, as hawkishness generally spells good news for a currency. It's like finding out the dress code is "business formal" after all—unexpected, but you'll look sharp if you adjust. In times like these, the secret isn’t about predicting every word coming from central bank speeches—no, it’s about adaptability. The EUR's lift reflects that adaptability. If you see these moments as opportunities to find less obvious trades—like exploring cross-currency pairs instead of getting bogged down with EUR/USD—you might find better potential. But here’s where the real magic happens: instead of betting on the big moves, look for small discrepancies—like when EUR/JPY might be trailing EUR/USD's momentum. It’s the kind of Forex "insider play" that’ll keep you ahead of the game. USD in Mixed Territory: The Rollercoaster Continues U.S. futures are all over the place today, probably because of an upcoming data docket that’s got traders guessing more than a round of charades. Initial jobless claims, GDP estimates, and PCE data are all lined up like dominoes waiting to topple. The dollar index (DXY) is feeling the pressure, and traders are struggling to make sense of it all—which, let’s be honest, is a bit like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the manual. So, what’s the secret to staying sane in this kind of market? It’s all about identifying which pieces of data actually matter. Are durable goods orders coming in hot? That could signal stronger consumer demand, ultimately benefiting USD. Jobless claims down? Expect more bullishness. But, here’s the twist: the game isn’t about being right 100% of the time; it’s about identifying the trends that everyone else is too confused to see. Recognize this trend: bad news often gets baked into the price long before the headlines hit. Watch for reaction opportunities — where the market sentiment turns overly sour, it’s your cue to go against the herd. JPY & NZD Lead: A Currency Sprint You Didn't See Coming If you bet that the JPY and NZD would outperform today, you probably also regularly find four-leaf clovers. The JPY is outperforming despite persistent yield gap pressures, as risk aversion takes over. NZD also caught a break after the RBNZ's move (because it always pays to be close second to the JPY, apparently). Advanced traders might already see an opportunity to arbitrage the psychological element at play here. With the JPY surprising traders, don’t be shocked if it continues its move as more stop-losses are triggered and traders start scrambling to reprice risk. How do you turn this into gold dust? Trail with small positions. The JPY’s sprint today could turn into a marathon if risk aversion keeps creeping into market sentiment—after all, fear is a powerful motivator. Crude Oil Moves in the Shadows Crude benchmarks remain in narrow ranges, modestly firmer, but it’s like waiting for your coffee to brew: you can smell something’s cooking, but it’s not quite ready yet. Traders are waiting on developments around ceasefire negotiations, US data releases, and whispers from OPEC+. Meanwhile, metals are shining—moving higher as traders brace for uncertainty. For those keen on commodities, the real hidden gem is to keep tabs on related asset classes that nobody's paying attention to—such as energy ETFs or even natural gas prices. These can often move first, giving early warning signs about where crude may go next. It’s all about catching the waves before they turn into a tsunami of news coverage. The Big Picture: All Eyes on U.S. Data Here’s the bottom line: market volatility is inevitable, especially when you have such a packed docket of U.S. economic data. The PCE price index (the Fed’s favorite inflation gauge) could sway not just USD but also investor confidence across other major currencies. So be ready: know your calendar, hedge your positions, and remember—if everyone else is scared, it’s often time to be a little brave. Bonus Thought—Avoid the Herd Mentality If you’re like most traders, you’ve probably found yourself following the herd at least once. You’re not alone. But today’s chaotic action should serve as a reminder: the herd is right until it isn’t. The most reliable gains often come from spotting where the herd might be wrong—like a contrarian bet on data-driven currencies, or reading between the lines of central bank comments. Why not take a contrarian view on those initial jobless claims numbers? Instead of taking them at face value, consider their hidden implications for consumer spending power. It’s all about turning the complex into the competitive advantage—something that most people just don't bother doing. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[real-jaune-isms]

A little something for the folks still clinging to their Irondaddy thirst. He just wants to show how much he cares, Winter, don’t you see that?

And for those of us who aren’t so inclined to hold on to hope for him, something relatable.

You just try not to yell with one of those plastic weapons underfoot.

[gagedraws]

Happy Mario Day 🍄🌻⭐️🍂

Also excited for the Mario series finally getting the LEGO treatment.

[crazycookiecrumbles]

Pho (Epilogue)

Masterlist

A/N:  THE END, THE EPILOGUE, THE FINAL INSTALLMENT

Pairings/Characters:  Frank Castle x Reader

Warnings: fluff, cursing, Peter being easily embarrassed and nervous all the time this poor kid

Summary:  It’s been a couple of months since Frank’s issues with Ares. Now, you’re all just trying to live your lives the way they used to be, but things are about to change. (Epilogue)

Frank Castle was a broken man. He beat death so many times, a part of him wondered if he was death, because just about everyone in his life seemed to meet an untimely end. Death didn’t discriminate in Frank’s life; his wife, his children, friends, it didn’t matter who they were to him. Ultimately, everyone died.

Then there was you.

Wow, you were such a pain in his ass. The mouth on you really was jarring, sometimes. The things you said, the way you spoke, how you teased and taunted him relentlessly? You were an utter thorn in his side, a lego under his foot, a splinter in his thumb, and yet, he absolutely loved you for it. 

That fire was a breath of fresh air for Frank. Not putting up with his bullshit, calling him out on his ‘brooding’ days and rationalizing things with him, you were kicking Frank in the ass every step of the way, and it was the push that he needed in order to move on with his life.

It left him where he was today, leaning against the kitchen wall, watching you talk to May Parker with a grin on your face as the two of you waited excitedly to see Peter join you guys after getting dressed for his junior prom. The boy had finally gotten the courage to ask out MJ, and now the two were going as dates to the end-of-year event.

Although, Frank had a feeling that the two of you waiting so eagerly with your phones out for pictures was making the kid nervous. He was thinking that the kid was planning to make an Irish exit and go out without having to stop for an endless amount of pictures that the two of you would surely bestow upon him.

While Frank smirked to himself at the thought, he heard a single tap on the wall. It was so quiet, he’d have missed it if he wasn’t already leaning on the wall near the kitchen. Frank turned his head and saw Peter’s finger pointing to the bathroom from the tiniest crack of his bedroom door. Confused, Frank excused himself and walked to the bathroom wondering what the hell he was supposed to be looking for.

The bathroom window opened and Peter climbed in with a huff. He was already dressed and clearly ready to go, and seemed to be stalling for time.

Frank raised an eyebrow and decided to mess with him in that moment, “Kid, how the hell did you do that?”

Peter paled, “What?”

“How did you just climb in through this here window? Oh, shit. Are you, are you Spider-Man!?”

Peter thought he was going to vomit, “Oh, oh shoot. Oh, my god. You don’t remember, do you? Oh, my god, I thought you knew. Oh, oh shit! You can’t tell anyone, okay? You can’t — “

“Kid, I know. I’m just messing with you.”

Peter frowned after a moment, “Well, that is actually pretty shitty.”

Frank snorted, “What’s going on? They’re dying to take pictures of you.”

Peter whined and sat down on the toilet, “They’re making such a big deal out of it!”

“Yeah. It’s what the women in your life do when they care.”

“They’re going to embarrass me in front of MJ!” Peter whined. “She’s going to think I’m, like, such a dorky loser and —“

“Didn’t she already think that?”

“That’s besides the point!”

Frank chuckled and rested his hand on his shoulder, “Look, kid. You’re just nervous, all right? It’s easy. You run around shooting webs and fighting off criminals, but you don’t want to take pictures with your girl?”

Peter stared at Frank, “Yeah, duh.”

Frank snickered and shook his head, “Take the pictures. I’ll get them to ease off you a little bit. May driving you or you’re meeting up with them?”

“Ms. Stark rented a limo for all of us.”

Frank smiled, “Knowing her, it’s got the works in it, right?”

“Ned texted and said there’s so much soda in there that it puts supermarkets to shame.”

Frank laughed and gave his shoulder a squeeze before letting go, “All right. Go on. Take the pictures. They’ll go downstairs with you to take more when the limo comes, and I’ll keep them back.”

Peter exhaled slowly and nodded, “Okay. Thanks Mr. Castle —“

“Frank. We’ve been through this, it’s just Frank.”

“Right, Frank. Uh, one question.”

“Shoot.”

“So, like, May showed me how to dance and stuff, but, uh,” Peter scratched his neck and frowned. “Like, what do I say?”

“…You ask if she wants to dance, kid.”

“No, I mean, like, slow dances are quiet. Right? And I’m just staring at her face and what if my staring gets creepy and I need to look away but the awkward silence is just super loud and awkward and —“

“Kid,” Frank interrupted him and tried not to laugh at the pained look on his face. “When you two are dancing, you’re gonna lean in real close, right? You’re gonna whisper in her ear how beautiful she looks, and she’ll be putty in your hand. Got it?”

“Right, yeah, got it. I got it.”

“And don’t stare TOO hard either and freak her out.”

“Okay. Right. I got this!”

“Attaboy, you got this,” Frank opened the bathroom door and pointed for him to get out. “Go on, now. Take those pictures.”

With some newfound confidence, Peter stepped out of the bathroom to the shrieking and cooing of you and his Aunt May. The two of you took so many pictures of him, even catching glances of him looking to Frank for help, while the man just stood in the corner grinning at his pain.

This was one of those moments where Frank was smiling through his own pain. The things he’d do to get his family back, to be able to help his own son through these milestones in childhood. As Frank watched May fix Peter’s tie and give him more words of encouragement and wisdom, Frank pictured that it was he and his own son in that moment. He wished his son was running to him with girl problems or watching him run to his mother with those issues. He’d kill to be there for his daughter at her first prom, warning the boy that dared to take her out that he’d take him out if he got fresh with her.

In the middle of Frank’s daydreaming, you stepped in front of him and placed your hand on his shoulder. Frank smiled at you and shot you a wink. Sure, he didn’t have his family, per se, but he had a new one, one with you, and he was loving this quirky, eclectic found family just as much.

You clearly looked to Peter like a little sibling that you’d smother. Tony was your father, but, if anything, Steve was this brother figure in your life trying to tame the waters between the two of you. While he hadn’t caught a ton of it, Natasha seemed to be like a sister to you with how often he’d hear you say, ‘So last week, Natasha and I…’ The other Avengers were left to fill other quirky family member roles in your life, and slowly but surely, you were sucking Frank into it.

“Do I want to know why you were in the bathroom with a teenage boy?”

“Don’t make it weird, princess,” Frank cringed. “He’s just nervous about you ladies when his date gets here.”

“We are angels.”

“He’s a teenage boy and you take pictures like he’s being shipped off to war,” Frank pointed out. “Go a little easy when they get here, okay?”

You sighed and rolled your eyes, “Fine. Only if…”

“If what?”

You stuck out your bottom lip and stared up at him, “We’re in Queens, so, you should take me to that really good pho spot you keep telling me about.”

He hummed and leaned over to kiss you gently on the lips before mumbling, “Yes, ma’am, whatever you want.”

The limo arrived with Peter’s friends inside. May made everyone get out of the limo so she could take pictures of everyone. You were taking a ton of pictures as well, even though Frank told you Peter was nervous and embarrassed, you got a little carried away with it. You eventually stopped, but May kept it going beyond the boy’s comfort. Peter looked to Frank for help when May climbed into the limo to take more pictures of everything as she told them to call if they needed anything that night.

Frank chewed on his bottom lip and looked to you. You stared for a moment before remembering what Frank had said, and then you were dashing over to coax May out of the car. You shut the door and bid them farewell, watching the limo take off with them to prom.

You and Frank invited May to join you both for dinner, but she declined, citing that she had a hot date herself that night, but didn’t disclose who it was. So, with grins on your faces, you left her to get ready while the two of you went to get soup.

~*~

During dinner, you were fixing your hot bowl of pho to your liking while Frank simply watched you. His own bowl was there sitting in front of him completely untouched while one hand was gripping his drink and the other rested on his thigh.

“Why aren’t you eating?” You asked him as you grabbed your chopsticks.

“Letting it cool a bit,” he lied as he watched you eat with a soft smile on his face. “Crazy, isn’t it?”

“What is?” You inquired before slurping up the noodles and, possibly, spraying a little broth on your own face.

Frank held back a laugh as he shrugged his shoulders and looked around, “All this, you know. Who knew me saving some damsel in distress and losing my bomb-ass slice of pizza was gonna leave me here having dinner with Princess Stark.”

“Ugh, you and that name,” you groaned while he smirked at you. “I know. To think you wanted to get rid of all of this because you’re so edgy and broody.”

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes at your comments. Frank adjusted himself in his seat a little bit as he leaned forward on his elbow. “I’m just saying, you know, I never thought we’d make it this far. I mean, we’ve got two very, very different lives. I mean, who you are, your family —“

“Your inability to allow yourself to be happy or love again, your whole ‘possessed by a god’ thing, yeah,  I get it,” you trailed off as you set your utensils down and leaned on the table as well to smile at him. “But I’m glad we’re here. I couldn’t imagine anyone else sitting across from me right now.”

“I feel the same,” Frank muttered. “Even though you’re a big pain in my ass and clearly don’t know good pizza.”

“Wow, same to you, fucko,” you replied while he chuckled. “You okay? You’re acting a little differently. I’m a little suspicious right now.”

Frank nodded. He slowed his breathing and sat up tall. He steeled his nerves. He cleared his throat and removed his hand from his thigh, slapping his hand palm side down on the table. Your heart started to race as he removed his hand and showed one bronze key on the table.

“I think I’m ready to take the next step with you, Princess.”

Your eyes flew open as you stared at the new key, “Wait. Is that the key to your janky ass hideout that you keep saying I’m going to be kidnapped or murdered when I go see you?”

“No,” he scratched the back of his head. “Actually, it’s uh, it’s a new place, kind of between both our neighborhoods. The uh, the building’s owner owed me a favor, so, uh. Maybe with some security system of yours, some bulletproof windows —“

“Frank,” You reached over to cover his hand with yours and pull it closer to you. “Are you asking me to move in?”

Frank nodded hesitantly, “If, you know, that’s what you want.”

“Is that what you want?”

His throat was dry and his back was dripping with sweat. Frank could look at a bomb and try to disarm it with two seconds left. Frank could shoot a man point-blank in between his eyes. Frank could steer a truck into a river and escape in record time, but Frank could barely speak to you about something as life-changing as this.

“Yes,” Frank said quietly before clearing his throat, “Yes, yeah. Yeah, I want you to live with me.”

“I’ve invited you to move into the tower, you know, but you said no, and went ahead and got a place for the two of us,” you mumbled as you studied the key.

Frank wondered if he was in trouble, “I just — you know, I want something for us. I know you’ll still be there a lot, I know you’re basically running the show for their missions now, but I, I want us to have somewhere —“

“Yeah,” you nodded with a big grin on your face. “Of course I’ll move in with you.”

His shoulders sunk in relief, “Shit. I mean, really?”

“Yes, really!”

Frank whooped, gathering the attention of the restaurant and disturbing many patrons, but he didn’t care. He got up out of his seat and dragged you out of yours. With both hands cupping your face, Frank pressed his lips against yours. You were out of breath by the time you pulled away while Frank was grinning from ear to ear.

“Here’s to us, princess,” Frank cooed as he hugged you tightly. 

Little did you know, behind your back, there was the slightest flash of red in Frank’s eyes as he smiled and held you closer. 

[jotarothekidsmissyou]

Ok this is a long shot but primal kink with jotaro? Chase meeeee

ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ʀᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ɪꜱ|ᴊᴏᴛᴀʀᴏ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ|18+

Chest heaving up and down at a rapid pace, you tried to control you breathing. Your throat burned from the cold air infiltrate from your nose. Staying quiet as possible was your ultimate goal. One single fuck up would have you back there. Not fully aware of your actions your profusely shook your head. Now wasn’t the time to ponder on the mishaps that happened before hand. Escaping was top priority, if not that an absolute must.

“Quit running from me,” Looking over your shoulder your pupils widen. His silhouette bounced off the night sky has he blindly walked in your direction. You couldn’t help to feel weak in the knees. Gathering all the courage you had left you decided to make a run for it. Yes, there was a strong possibility of him catching you. However, if you keep the same speed and maneuver just right then you might have a chance of escaping. And so you did, as fast as you body allowed you ran. Taking off no less an a millisecond after you, your predator followed. You heard his gruffness in his voice, you weren’t sure if it intimidated you further or created a wet spot in your underwear. 

Tears leaking from your eyes you never looked back. From the thigh muscles to sides of your torso, your body screamed in agony���. Badly you wanted to stop; surrender beneath him. But who knows what he wanted to do with your body. Just as that thought seeped through your mind, a force pulled you back by your neck. It was too strong to ease out of its grip or fight back. Instead you helplessly choke while your head bumped against the truck of a oak tree. Tightly you shut your eyes as your legs gradually open. This was all his doing. Against your aching clit Jotaro rubbed his muscular thigh, creating wet unholy sounds. Your face  scrunched in pleasure especially since you didn’t want to be vocal.

“This isn’t normal Joot,” You uttered lowly not making direct eye contact. Your innocent voice is what weakens him. Petite and fragile, just like your body. Completely stripping his grasp from your neck he, instead, lifted up your chin.

“Never run away when I’m fucking you. I don’t care how rough it is,” He growled showcasing a hint of his fangs. Your lips quivered as Jotaro began hiking up your burgundy nightgown. Standing there naked, revealed the love marks in which he carved on your soft skin. You were a fine diamond awaiting to be plucked, by him and only him. For what to come next you turned around; the front of your temple pressed up against the tree, while your back side faced Jotaro. Locking eyes with him, in unison you both raised up your left leg. As for Jotaro’s hand, it was helping unloosing himself from his pants. From pass experience you recalled the unwavering amount of pleasure caused by your sexual encounters with Jotaro. Like a stepping on a lego you hissed at the unexpected pain, however a intense of feel good sensational tingles filtrated your body.

“Mmh~ You like that?” He growled, breath ticking your ear. Limited to your broaden vocabulary you let out a high pitched moan which only encouraged his rough nature he displayed upon you. “Ride it!” He uttered forcefully rubbing your nipple between his fingers. Addicted to his touch and infatuated with the rapture the both of you created when joined together you rode him. The juices of your cunt covered his shaft which allowed for those sweet spots to hit just right.“If only you weren’t getting off to the tip,”

Losing your concentration to Jotaro sudden words, you stopped. Which allowed him to swiftly put you in a new position. Not fully adjusted he slammed you down..all the way this time.

Eyes rolled to the back of your head Jotaro continuously slid in and out of you. If someone would have caught the two of you it would have seem as you were his rag doll. Just a way to jerk himself off. You tried to reach out of something to grab ahold of, you didn’t care. The trunk of the tree, a branch, anything at this point. Instead, Jotaro placed his hand on top of yours, squeezing tight each time he thrusted inside of you.

“Too much to handle?”

[pixxyofice]

PAIN

the ULTIMATE lego to step on to RUIN your feet

[ifeellikeameowster]

Lego Ninjago Movie Theory: Lloyd does have an elemental power and it's different than in the show. He just hasn't unlocked it yet.

~~~~~~~

"Green is the power of Life. It connects all living things. Just like how I connect the ninja" - Movie!Lloyd

~~~~~~~

Okay, let me explain! In the movie, after Sensei Wu demonstrates all of the other Ninja's elemental powers one by one, Lloyd realizes that he's been skipped over and left out. (As if he doesn't already feel this way on a daily basis jeez someone give this kid a break and a therapist please.) But after asking Sensei Wu what his power is, Wu simply says...

"Green."

Which, okay, definitely doesn't answer his question. And even after Lloyd lists other elements that he could be, Wu's answer remains the same: "Green."

What does that mean? How can a color be an elemental power? It doesn't make sense. Not yet. But it will.

Later in the movie, when the ninja (along with Garmadon) find the Ultimate Ultimate Weapons, they are all in the shape of their element.

Zane's is shaped like an ice crystal, Cole's is shaped like a rock, Jay's is shaped like a lightening bolt, Kai's is shaped like a flame, and Nya's is shaped like a water splash. And then we get to Lloyd's. Lloyd's is shaped like...

A branch? Or a tree? Yes, it's obviously designed to hold all of the other elements, but the shape itself is so similar to a plant that it's hard to dismiss. It feels intentional.

Could it be, perhaps, a reference to the Tree of Life?

Which would make Lloyd's element Life itself. Life works well in so many ways for movie!Lloyd. Life not only connects all of the other elements, but it also creates and supports them. Plus the color green is often associated with Life, especially plant life, aka 'greenery'. And in Lloyd's promotional photo for the movie-

He's shown amongst plant life. All of the other Ninja's promotional photos show them with their element, so it stands to reason that Lloyd is shown here with his.

This means that when Lloyd does eventually unlock his elemental power, he'll be able to control plant life!

But Life is more than just plant life. And Lloyd's Life powers are more than that too. In fact, he might have already displayed other cool powers related to Life right under our noses.

And one of those instances is when his arm ripped off and when it was put back it was completely fine afterwards.

But that's just because they're Legos! You say. That probably happens to everyone all of the time.

Well if that's really the case, then why did everyone freak out as much as they did? Some of them were even close to throwing up... which must mean the scene was gory at least to them. And when Garmadon put his arm back into place, he told Lloyd that'd it'd be excruciating pain. But Lloyd didn't seem to feel any pain at all...in fact he didn't even scream or say "ow" or anything like that. But why is that?

It's because Lloyd unconsciously used the element of Life to automatically start healing his wound.

Life is also in relation to Life force, so it stands to reason that someone with the power of Life could heal using life force. One example of this in other media, in the webcomic Homestuck, Jane who was a Maid of Life was able to heal both herself and fellow players from wounds that would have killed them otherwise.

Jane using her Life powers to revive herself after a fatal wound.

So it stands to reason that once Lloyd unlocks his elemental power he should be able to heal not only himself, but also his fellow ninja!

Another aspect of Life is animal life. It just so happens that we also have a scene where Lloyd displays some connection and even control of animal life. And that's when he was the only one able to calm down and tame Meowthra.

So he might also have at least some influence over animals as well with his Life powers, not just plants!

But if all of this is true, then why didn't he unlock his Life elemental power along with the other ninja?

Well, I think the simple answer to that is that he hadn't yet overcome his mental blocks.

The other ninja had already overcame theirs. Their first mental block was that they were too dependent on the mechs and had grown lazy because of it. That mental block was taken care of when their mechs were broken by Meowthra. But due to that they experienced a second mental block- feeling inadequate and useless without their mechs. This was solved when Lloyd assured them that they had the power inside of them and didn't need the mechs or even the Ultimate Ultimate Weapons.

But Lloyd's mental block was something entirely different.

Lloyd's mental block was his relationship with his father.

All throughout the film he struggles with his relationship to Garmadon. And at that point in time, when the other ninja where unlocking their elemental powers, Garmadon had just betrayed him by stealing the Ultimate Ultimate Weapons for himself.

It isn't until the very end of the movie that Lloyd had reached catharsis with the relationship with his father and they have both taken the first steps to repairing it. It's likely that sometime after the events of the movie, now that this mental block has finally been resolved, that Lloyd unlocks his elemental power of Life.

And he becomes able to summon plants the same way the other ninja summon their elements, along with a couple of bonuses (healing and animal handling). I mean, he is the leader and connection between all of the ninja after all! It's reasonable he'd get a couple of bonus powers to put him ahead of the rest.

~~~~~~~

And yes, yes. I know in the show that Lloyd's element is just Power itself, or "Energy". But this is a theory specifically for the movie!verse. Besides, fan theories are all about just having some speculative fun!

[floorbe]

Can I get some good ole sdr2 boys with and an s/o who barely notices major pain? Like, that paper cut was a nightmare, but they could take a sledge hammer to the knee and they'd hardly react?

Yes absolutely! SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT//

~

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu

-Very concerned. He’s worried that someone is going to try and hurt you and you won’t even notice until it’s too late

-Which isn’t too far fetched considering his ultimate

-He teaches you about safety and self defense, training you how to use some weapons and also kick ass

-Becomes more protective over you. He starts making sure you’re okay each time you see him. A little annoying, but he has good intentions

-Offers to take you to a doctor to see if there’s something wrong with your pain receptors

-If you come home majorly injured and he’s the first to notice it, he will kind of freak out

-Depending on whether it’s life threatening or not, he may call an ambulance or just get someone to drive you two to urgent care

-Kind of blames himself whenever you get majorly injured. Even when it’s not his fault. You have to reassure him that you’re okay, even if you do have to wear this new dumb cast for a while 

Gundham Tanaka

-At first he thinks you just mean you have really high pain tolerance, and he respects and admires that

-“How did you acquire such strength?!” Lowkey he wants to learn to have that much pain tolerance as well

-Then one day you scream out in pain and nearly collapse on the floor, and he is terrified. What could possibly hurt so bad for someone like you?!

-Turns out one of his hamsters just bit you on the finger... now he’s officially worried

-He tries to cast some spells to help with how your body sends pain signals, but they don’t work

-He settles for taking you to a “lower being”, AKA a doctor

-He becomes a bit more protective over you, gently tugging you out of the way of an upcoming pothole while walking, reminding you of a step that you could trip on, etc.

-Enlists his Four Dark Devas of Destruction to protect you! He needs all the help he can get

Hajime Hinata

-He’s kind of baffled by it. How is it that you’re so apathetic to major injuries but cry because of a paper cut?

-“Y-Y/N! What happened to your leg?!” “Wha-? Oh. Huh, I dunno, must’ve scraped it on something?” “There’s a hole in it!”

-Tries to think come to a logical solution behind it but he honestly is lost. He tries researching it and ends up lost there, too

-He’s worried there’s something wrong with your nerves, so he takes you to see a doctor

-He tries to be with you whenever you’re doing something potentially dangerous, like cooking

-Is always kinda worried when you go out alone. He just doesn’t want you to come back with a fatal injury and not realize it until it’s too late to fix

-He nearly dislocates his shoulder busting into your room when you scream... only to find out you’d just accidentally stepped on a lego

-He sighs, rubbing your back as you try and soothe your foot

Kazuichi Souda 

-The first time you come back with a major injury you hadn’t noticed just yet, he screams louder than you have ever heard him scream before

-He almost passes out, too. “Y/N, holy fuck! You- your-!”

-Once he settles down a bit and realizes that you’re not reacting whatsoever, he’s really confused. Was this a prank on him? 

-You explain that you just don’t really feel major pain. And then he gets really eager all of the sudden

-“Really?! Wow, that’s so cool! Can I hit you?!” He’s so interested in this that it’s almost weird. Almost. He just likes learning how things work, so you’re not that surprised

-He’s really curious about it, always asking questions. But he’s also secretly really worried, which is another reason he asks so many questions

-One day he sees you crying on the floor out of pain and almost calls an ambulance. And then you admit that you just stubbed your toe, and he’s back to being really confused about your pain tolerance

-Makes excuses to go places with you that you would usually go to alone. “Oh, you’re going to the store? Th-that’s great, I need to go there too, a-actually!”

Nagito Komaeda

-Doesn’t think much of it until you come home with, like, a stab wound after being mugged or something and hadn’t noticed it bc it was somewhere you couldn’t see

-THEN he starts to worry. How many times had you been majorly injured and just didn’t realize? You, his precious Y/N?? 

-No, no. This will not do. He is not risking losing you! 

-So then he takes you to about every doctor he can think of, getting second opinions, etc. 

-You have to sit him down and soothe him, but he’s still a little shaky about it. He eventually returns back to normal, just a little more openly protective than before

-“Hey, Y/N! Welcome home! How’s your body?” 

-Worries that his bad luck will impact you, too. He may distance himself a bit after learning this

-You’re able to rope him back in after a lot of reassurances

Nekomaru Nidai

-Luckily for you, he’s very skilled in knowing when people are hurt, even they themselves don’t realize it! As the Ultimate Team Manager he’s gotten very in tune with people’s bodies

-Still worries how you don’t feel much pain when it’s severe, though

-What if something happens and you don’t even realize before it’s too late?

-He tries to help. He offers to take you to a doctor, maybe he try and massage your pain receptors?? (It doesn’t work, but you appreciate it)

-Then one day you’re writhing in pain, and he’s in immediate protection injury mode

-“Where does it hurt, Y/N? Let me take a look at it. Let’s move you to a resting position.” 

-And then he finds out you just hit your elbow on the wall and he lets out a huge sigh in relief

-He tries to be more wary about your injuries, and definitely makes you go to your yearly check up

Teruteru Hanamura

-Very worried about you. How can you not feel severe pain?! What if something happens to you?!

-“Y-Y-Y/N! Your arm!” “Huh? Oh, I didn’t even notice.” Meanwhile your arm is broken

-He tries to keep you away from the cutlery in his kitchen. He will not let you help him cook unless there is no chance you will get badly hurt

-So then one day, he hears you scream louder than he’s ever heard, and he’s positive his soul left his body. He’s never run so fast in his life

-When he sees you just have a paper cut he’s so relieved. And also frustrated. He was worried you actually died or something!!

-He has a habit where he just. Subtly checks your body to make sure you’re okay whenever you see him

-He’s nearly passed out so many times from fright when you come back with a major injury. He’s faint of heart, please be careful

-Always insists on taking you to a doctor whenever you say something “isn’t that bad”. Because that usually means it’s very bad

Byakuya Twogami

-Very worried. Very, very worried. Even if he doesn’t outright state it

-Insists you tell him whenever you feel even the slightest amount of pain

-You’ll catch his eyes roaming over your body multiple times a day to check over your wellbeing

-Will try to remind you to be more careful of your surroundings, especially if you two are in a place where it’s easier to get injured

-Will take you to the doctors, and even get a second opinion. He tries a lot of methods to help you out

-He nearly breaks your door off it’s hinges when he hears you yell in pain

-And then sighs in relief when he realizes you just jabbed your hip on the corner of a desk

-He holds your hand more often than before so he can pull you out of the way if necessary. It also just comforts him 

[mistymorningwritings]

Sink or Swim (Chapter 30)

So this is the final chapter of my fanfic Sink or Swim.

You can read it in its entirety under the cut or on ff.net.

Whatever you you prefer, I hope you still head over there to leave a review.

Have fun reading!

A couple of days later Alex picked Jo up from Dr. Wyatt's office on the fourth floor.

Jo was happy about the pleasant surprise. "Well, if that isn't my boyfriend picking me up from the shrink?" she said as she gave him a little kiss.

"Boyfriend? Excuse me?" Alex inquired a little offended as he drew back.

"Oh right, we get to use the fancy French words now. My fiancé is picking me up from the shrink," she corrected herself. "And this time we're both in on the engagement. That's progress." She laughed, remembering the proposal at Kepner's wedding.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Very funny."

On their way through the hospital hallways to the elevator, Jo noticed that the hospital seemed particularly quiet that evening. The corridors were only dimly lit. A nurse was sitting at the station, typing something into a computer. An elderly patient was going for a little walk, propped on a crutch. Other than that they didn't meet anyone else. In between medical emergencies and occasional crazy catastrophes even Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital could get a bit of rest sometimes.

"This place is weird when it's that quiet," Alex remarked. "It's like you can't trust it. Reminds me of a freaking haunted house."

Jo pushed the button to call the elevator. "Nah, you need to just embrace the fact that we got to finish on time today and that we were spared of any disasters."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Alex looped his arm around her shoulder and hugged her to him.

"Fffiiiaaannncccééé." Once they'd stepped into the elevator and the doors started closing behind them, Jo tried the word again, drawing out every single letter. Alex shot her a weird glance, which she ignored. "I think I like the sound of it," she announced. She reached for Alex's hand - the one that was dangling over her shoulder - and laced her fingers through his. "Fiancé, fiance, fiancé."

With a quiet chuckle Alex shook his head at her.

Jo was in a good mood today. That was not always the case after therapy. Counseling sessions could be pretty draining and sometimes Jo found herself bristling against physical contact afterwards, even from Alex. On those days she was taciturn and withdrawn and wanted nothing more than to be left alone. Alex had learned to deal with that, which Jo appreciated.

Then there were days when she was feeling exactly the opposite. Then she was desperately craving physical affection and touch. This often happened when she spoke with Dr. Wyatt about how lonely and abandoned she had felt for most of her life. Only Alex's solid arms enveloping her into a tight embrace could chase that nasty feeling away and make her feel loved and safe again.

But today was neither one of those days. Jo was not angry, not sad, not drained. She actually felt pretty lighthearted as they left the building through the main entrance, arm in arm, their fingers still entwined.

This was still who she was. She could still be silly and carefree and happy. And she could still get excited about fixing bones or pulling unlikely objects out of people's bodys. She could even have a fun night out drinking beer and playing baseball with the attendings. She'd thought that that would all go away as soon as she really started to face her trauma. She'd thought she'd lose herself to all the sadness and the pain. But her fear had not come true. She was still the same person as before, only now she'd started to actually heal.

And, she thought, flashing a mischievous grin at Alex, she was still the girl who was bringing her boyfriend - fiancé - a fruit present, when he didn't take care proper of himself. Today she'd seen him eat a chocolate muffin for breakfast. So it was time to feed him some vitamins.

"By the way, I got something for you," she said as soon as they'd reached Alex's car.

Alex regarded her with a curious frown as she searched her baggy satchel. "Here you go." She pulled out a crunchy red apple and a medium-sized banana.

"For me?" At first Alex didn't get it. Then it dawned on him. "Oh come on! This is because of the muffin?"

"Yeah. It's time you start taking better care of yourself. You're not that young, you know." With her arms on her hips and a stern look she scolded him. Her tone was oozing of fake exasperation, though.

Still Alex played along, grimacing like he'd stepped on lego. "Ouch. That's rude."

Jo tried to maintain a serious expression, but ultimately neither of them was able to contain their laughter.

"Well, if that means there are actually powdered sugar donuts waiting for me at home, then I'll gladly take 'em." He started peeling the banana and took a bite. Then he wrapped it up again. "Satisfied? Now, let's go home."

But Jo didn't move. A word he'd just used so casually was echoing in her mind. Home. She understood it now. As a foster child she had lived in half a dozen different places. She had lived in houses, apartments, trailers, and a literal car. She had lived in cities, suburbs and small towns. But not a single one of those places had ever felt like home to her. She realized now that a home wasn't made of four walls and a roof. It was about the people. And the people who were supposed to take care of her and love her - the foster parents and families she had been placed with - none of them had bothered to stick with her in the end, not even the ones who treated her decently. But Alex had. He was still here. He knew her darkest secret, the thing she was most ashamed of and he still stuck around. More than that, he had stopped her when she had wanted to run from everything.

He had fought for her like no one else had before. And for the first time she felt perfectly safe. But it wasn't because she knew he would defend her to the death, it was because Jo knew when something bad happened, she didn't have to bear it alone anymore. Now she had someone she could count on, a shoulder to lean on, someone who was willing to carry some of her weight.

She looked at him as he unwrapped the banana with a sigh and ate it all up this time. "So can we go home now?" he asked, a little irritated. But Jo still didn't react. She just looked at him and looked at him and looked at him. Even in his annoyance she loved him completely.

"Hey. Jo." Alex snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Did you fall asleep with your eyes open or something? I said, let's go home."

A tender smile blossomed across Jo's face as she finally pulled herself out of her epiphany or whatever it was, she'd just had. She brought her hand to his face and stroked his cheek, feeling the familiar prickle of his stubble on her palm.

"You know," she said, gazing into his eyes, "I think I already am."

[moonbeambucky]

Oh $#!t

Pairing: Lance Tucker x Reader Word Count: 1040 Warnings: fluff

Summary: The Tuckers are not thankful for their Thanksgiving surprise.

The grocery store was a nightmare the day before Thanksgiving and you really regretted having to go there. You should have gone the day before but life tends to get in the way sometimes especially with children so you’ve learned to go with the flow. Your morning was spent working on an article whose deadline was coming up and you really, really wanted to get it done so you could enjoy the next few days with your family.

The checkout line was moving extraordinarily slow but the handsome little man in your shopping cart giving you a happy smile made everything better. 

Theodore was a few months shy of two and he reminded you so much of Lance. It was all in his eyes and the way they crinkled when he saw you, lighting up with loving adoration.

Theo was the sweetest boy, he loved to color, proudly handing you different splotches of crayon scribbles that you and Lance praised. His vocabulary was growing, repeating new words he’s learned over and over again.

He and Ariel would play together but he didn’t like sharing. If Ariel wanted to trade toys Theo would hug them to his chest and shake his head. Instead of calling for her parents, Ariel would try to rip the toy from his hands. Theo screams, Ariel cries, they both shove each other and in the end you were left with two children that needed a reminder on respect. Parenthood, the ultimate work in progress.

After putting the bags in the trunk and securing Theo in his car seat you were on your way to pick up Ariel from preschool and then head home. There was still a lot to do before tomorrow. Your parents were coming up and even though you saw them last month for Ariel’s fourth birthday you were looking forward to seeing them again.

After unpacking the groceries with Ariel’s help you looked around the house, having your little helpers assist you with what needing to be cleaned, with Theo swiping a cloth back and forth over the same spot on the floor, and Ariel picking up some of her toys that were strewn around the living room.

When Lance came home the kids ran to the door, with Theo waddling quickly behind his sister. Lance bent down so Ariel could throw her arms around him and cling to his side and he scooped up Theo with his other arm giving his kids a kiss hello. Ariel began to tell him about everything she did in preschool that day as Lance found his way towards you, preparing dinner in the kitchen. He leaned in to press his lips to yours when Ariel interrupted.

“Daddy are you listening?” she questioned, after he lingered by your face.

“Yes Starfish of course, you may continue.”

He flashed you a cheeky grin and you smiled back, watching him plop on the couch with the kids. You knew he would be back to assist you shortly but usually you didn’t mind if he spent more time with them.

After dinner the four of you settled in to watch a movie, tonight’s pick was Aladdin. Halfway through, Lance got up to use the bathroom. Taking a few steps he felt something sharp dig in to the bottom of his foot.

“Shit!” he hissed, limping off the rug.

Ariel gasped. “Daddy said a bad word!”

“Daddy didn’t mean it,” you tried to reason, hoping Theodore’s growing mind was focused on the movie and not his father.

Lance bent down, using his fingers to scan for the item he had stepped on, holding up a black Lego.

“Ariel, I told you no Lego’s in the living room. They’re too small, your brother could choke on them,” he sternly warned.

“I’m sorry Daddy. I won’t do it again.”

Lance kissed the top of her head to reassure her she wasn’t in trouble.

The next day, your parents arrived early to watch the kids, allowing you and Lance to prepare the food without distractions. Everyone sat in the dining room with a spread of food laid on the table. Ariel’s little finger was snaking its way across the harvest patterned tablecloth, looming closer to the mashed potatoes before you saw her. You flashed your “mom eyes” and she stopped, immediately pulling back her arm and giggling.

Lance raised a glass as he began to talk about how thankful he was, first thanking your parents for moving across the street from him in 1990, with your father interjecting a joke about the real estate market at the time. Lance continued, thanking ESPN and your insistent boss Susan Treston, who reunited you through the article. The adults chuckled, sharing a knowing look, remembering all the ups and downs you had been through.

“And to my beautiful family. Y/N, you know the greatest gold I’ve ever earned is the band I wear around my finger.”

Your heart grew at his words and your mom couldn’t help the aww that slipped past her lips. You took over to say how thankful you were for Lance, your beautiful children, and your parents.

When you were finished you clinked your glass against Lance’s as Ariel looked on curiously.

“Like this,” Lance showed Ariel how to lift up her cup of juice as everyone reached over to gently tap their glasses with hers.

As your father went to place his glass back down on the table he didn’t realize the end of a serving spoon was right underneath, causing the glass and the wine inside to spill over. He hissed out of concern while scrambling for the napkin on his lap, a pained look on his face as he hoped not to have ruined the table beneath the fabric.

Seeing the scrunched up face of his Grandpa reminded Theodore of his father the night before, and his sponge-like mind repeated the newest word he learned.

“Shit.”

Everyone turned their heads to face the smiling boy in his booster seat, with Ariel dramatically covering her mouth with her hands.

“No Theodore, we don’t say that word,” you said.

“Shit,” he repeated again with bubbly innocence.

You sighed, staring at Lance, wordlessly blaming him for starting this. Your son curses now. Shit!

[ridiculousyoungicarus]

Is that ZANDER DRISKELL? Wow, they do look a lot like DOMINIC SHERWOOD. I hear HE is a NINETEEN year old FRESHMEN who are studying AEROSPACE ENGINEERING at Luxor University. Word is they are a REGULAR student. You should watch out because they can be CYNICAL and RESERVED, but on the bright side they can also be RESPONSIBLE and PERSISTENT. Ultimately, you’ll get to see it all for yourself.

the basics //

Full Name: Alekzander “Zander” Kane Driskell

Preferred Name: Zander Driskell

Age: 19 (okay he’s only 18 til the 21st but I don’t want to edit this again in a couple weeks so if you’re reading this after his birthday - he’s 19. Before? Well, we all know how birthdays work). 

Birthday: March 21st

Zodiac: Aries

Gender & Pronouns: Man (He/His)

Sexuality: Bisexual

Occupation: Tutor

Relationship Status: Single

Place of Birth: Rochester, New York

Hometown: Saratoga Springs, New York

Country of Citizenship: United States

Languages Spoken: English (first), Spanish, and a teeny bit of French

deeper dive //

Hobbies and Talents:

○ Reading

○ Photography

○ Stargazing

○ Taking long rides on his motorcycle

○ Programming

○ Baseball

○ Robotics

○ Motorcycle Repair and Restoration

○ Playing with Legos

○ Judging the entirety of Luxor 24/7

Favorites:

○ Color:  Black (even though it’s the absence of all color. I’m totally not judging him, totally)

○ Food: Crab Cakes

○ Animal: Lemon Sharks

○ Drink: Coffee, he really loves his coffee

○ Flower: Anemone

○ Book: The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

○ Holiday: New Years, he’s not a fan of drinking but he likes the hope of new beginnings and the resolutions

○ Movie: Blade Runner (which version? The world may never know)

○ Scent: That smell after a rainstorm

○ Place: In all honesty, he doesn't have a specific favorite, but he has a fondness for any place quiet where he can read in peace.

○ Quote:

“If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough.” -Oprah Winfrey

Bêtes Noires:

○ Color: Lemon Yellow

○ Food: Tiramisu

○ Animal: Rats

○ Drink: Grape Soda

○ Flower: Lilacs

○ Book: Oliver Twist

○ Holiday: Valentine’s Day

○ Movie: The Wizard of Oz

○ Scent: Grapefruit and Vanilla Sugar candles

○ Place: Anyplace his parents are

health //  

Conditions:

         ○ occasional issues with his shoulder / arm (pain, getting stiff) following a surgery

        ○ undiagnosed mental health issues because he refuses to try therapy

Allergies: Pollen, penicillin

Sleeping Habits: What is sleep? Zander is an insomniac. It would probably be manageable with medication, but he refuses to to try. He gets a couple hours a night, but it’s not uncommon to get a response if you text him at 3 am either.

Exercise Habits: Zander works goes to the gym once or twice a week, but usually his exercise is really just running back and forth to class.

Addictions: Tobacco

Drug Use: He smokes cigarettes multiple times a day, and dependent on them to function.

Alcohol Use: Rarely, next to never.

personality //  

MBTI: INTJ

Enneagram: 5w6 (The Investigator with The Loyalist wing)

Alignment: True Neutral

Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw

Percy Jackson Parent: Hecate

Pokémon Type: Fighting

Pokémon Subtype: Steel

Winx: Ice

appearance //  

Height:  5′11”

Tattoos: One, Two

Scars: One, Two

Piercings: None

Hair: Brown

Eyes: 1 pure blue, 1 blue and brown (sectoral heterochromia)

Fashion:

○ link to zander’s closet

life at luxor //  

Major:

○ Aerospace Engineering

Clubs and Activities:

○ Book Club (President)

○ Baseball Team (Pitcher)

○   National Honor Society

fun facts //  

○ Luxor Academy Alumni, he attended the high school from Freshmen year until graduation.

○ Zander really doesn’t trust easily, and he constantly is questioning people’s motives, he doesn’t think most people do things for him without wanting something in return.

○ That doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about people however, he does feel empathy for others and it’s very possible for him to care about someone and not trust him. (Example: he can think of you as a friend but still be wary about your motives).

○ He doesn’t really like discussing his feelings, he expresses them; he feels them, but he doesn’t want to talk about them. He has to really trust you if he’s willing to actually tell you how he’s feeling when he’s upset/hurt instead of lashing out.

○ His sisters are very important to him, he’s in constant contact with Grace (just like Balo - is) and he tries to monitor Balo when he can, intervening in ways she won’t find out about if he feels like he needs to. His parents? Not so much. As for William? It’s complicated. (Family page here for more info on the Driskells)

○ He likes his motorcycle more than you, I’m sorry but it’s true.

○  Zander’s always willing to tutor if he knows a subject and you have a way of paying him. Something needs to pay for that motorcycle.

○ Extremely into space, he loves it even more than he loves his motorcycle and coffee. He’s always dreamed of creating spaceships and satellites, and his dream job is astronautical engineering (a subfield of aerospace, which he’s majoring in)

○ A few centimeters shorter than Balo much to his chagrin.

○ He may or may not get offended every time someone reminds him he’s not actually related to Lucy.

○ Loathes the word sorry even more than he wants to fight Jack.

○ Don’t ask Zander for his opinion unless you want it unfiltered. He will tell you to your face he hates everything about you if you give the platform to, and he doesn’t care if it’s offensive. Because as he sees it, you shouldn’t have asked a question you didn’t want the answer to.

○ The #1 LEGO stan at Luxor. Who needs therapy when you have plastic bricks?

○ I’m always willing to discuss my muses, so feel free to hit me up if you have any questions at any point.

a tl;dr history  //  

○ The Driskells come from an extremely abusive household. Their father is an alcoholic, and their mother tends to work the hours he’s home, leaving the children to fend for themselves. In turn, Zander resents both his parents

○ Zander has always felt like it was his job to take care of his younger sister, Balo, even since they were children. If she needed anything, if their father was going after her, etc etc, he was the one to step in to do what was best for her. This is a habit he still hasn’t broken.

○ This job became easier when their older brother, William, was adopted. Even if the boy was adopted to better appearances after Balo almost caused a social service investigation.

○ Zander is very antisocial and for his first year at Luxor, he mostly only talked to the baseball team and the book club. This eased slightly after Balo also came to Luxor, although he’s still not really one for socialization.

○ When he was home during summer break after his sophomore year, his father stabbed him. This caused some serious damage to his deltoid and the long head of his left bicep that needed surgical repair. After the surgery, however, he thankfully made a full recovery.

○ Zander has been at Luxor since he started high school, other than an occasional school break and having to go home during the summer of 2019.

○ I strongly recommend skimming Zander’s timeline page before interacting with him. These are just the bare minimum basics, and there're more things your muse may know on there.

wanted connections //  

○ Enemies, because Zander really needs more people who can’t stand his shit

○ People that Zander tutors

○ People from the baseball team or bookclub

○ People who hire Zander for his photography

○ Photography Friends

[baeshijima]

NOOOOOO MY LEGS ARE TINGLING STOP DBDJSJJS

Stepping on Lego and wacking your ankles with a scooter was the ultimate pain for me when I was younger ;-; the other two not as much but scooter and Lego???

Aha

I cri ;-;