#summer snaps photo contest

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Pete Mauney’s photograph of a long exposure of fireflies, airplanes in and out of Albany International Airport, and the rotation of the Earth in Greenport, New York.

Summer Snaps Photo Contest

[orphancookie69]

Nintendo Switch: DDL V Update 4!

So the last update for this game, man-some really good stuff. But the end is always a beginning for better and newer things. The next update coming is the Summer Update! 

What we know from update 3, is that the summer update has “a new villager races into the valley”...which was debated in the Facebook Group community as to whether that was Cinderella or Venelope. While Cinderella would of made sense for Fairy God Mother, I really was hoping for Venelope. The other thing that we knew was “Flex your creativity with a new feature and win in-game prizes”. Based on a recent post from the game creators themselves...this is submit a photo based on weekly challenges, vote on your favorites, and earn moonstones. If you don’t follow the game developers on Facebook, I would highly suggest doing so. 

Before anything comes out, I know the camera got a lot of upgrades in the last update plus pets and all that creativity. The game has talked about doing multiplayer but in late 2023, so does the photo submission contest being in game and not social media based start the multiplayer? Also, I know with the game getting closer to free and more microtransactions happening, players have been heavily complaining about it. So this ability to make more moonstones is quite nice. There is a lot the moonstones get you extra houses, new tools, character outfits. 

There is talk in my Facebook group of the mountain above the forgotten land being a racetrack for Venellope. Also, I think someone cracked a code for games in the summer update photo and when people played it, they said the numbers 713, so today’s date. And that’s when the developers make a teasing post. They play a good cookie crumble game. 

The Update: Well, I started to play it and found Vanellope in my castle! They are using her to introduce the dream snaps challenges. Weirdly enough though, I could not get that to work. While I could at least open my game, my sister could not. Like there are “tags” they want me to achieve but I am not friends enough with her to get her to hang out with me so I can move her to achieve that. I will say no more on that. I will try it again. I get that after a big update a smaller update is not bad, but it has to work. What do you guys think of the update? 

[asprintaday]

The first time it happens, you come back to yourself laying in bed, wearing a Speedo.

There's a trophy clutched to your bare chest—a bronze flexing arm—and a picture clenched in your fist: a blonde bikini-clad woman hanging onto the bicep of someone who wears all your physical features but in the wrong way. Eyes too fiery. Jaw too taut. Limbs too bulging.

Your phone buzzes on the nightstand and your muscles burn as you reach over. Blearily, you answer the call.

"Where were you last night?" your friend demands on the other end. "I looked like an idiot, showing up alone to our joint personal training session."

"Uh," you supply.

"Take your 'uh' and shove it up your ass," he replies. "We've been talking about this all week."

"I know, I know, it's just—"

"We were s'posed to get yoked together, man. This was your idea, ever since that guy jumped you. I had to cover for you and say you had an 'emergency—'"

"Oh my god, shut up for a moment. I have to send you a photo."

You snap a pic. Rare silence from the other end. Then:

"Do you have a secret jacked twin that you forgot to tell me about?"

You groan.

He comes over, begrudgingly. He dominates the conversation, as usual, but even in the mere half-sentences you spit out, you can see the puzzle pieces start to come together in his head. "So you just... went dark last night? Don't remember anything?"

You shake your head.

"I mean... for all we know, this is a one-off thing. I wouldn't be too worried."

X

It was not, in fact, a one-off thing.

Forgetting about the whole debacle is pretty easy, actually. You may share features with the stranger in the photo, but know in your bones that you move through the world in different ways. You mumble hello's to your coworkers at the water cooler and move out of the way of people on the sidewalk.

Your new-found interest in boxing helps you forget, as well. The personal trainer was fine, but after your first session you know it isn't what you're after. No, it turns out building muscle wasn't what your psyche wanted: it wanted to throw punches. You join a local gym and throw your focus into learning new moves. You suck, but at least it makes you feel more secure when walking home.

One session goes overtime. The sun has set. You set foot into the cool summer evening and look up at the moon.

Your spine pops. You black out.

You're in bed again. Your fists are bruised and there's a horrible twinge in your neck, but a heavy golden belt rests on your hips.

You grab your phone and call. Your friend immediately picks up.

Spluttering for a moment, you finally manage: "I... we may have a problem."

X

Your friend does not see this as a problem.

"Are you kidding me? This is fucking great," he cheers, pouring himself a morning glass of whiskey from your shelf. "Once a month you get goddamn superpowers. Count on you to complain about it."

You ignore the ribbing. "I can't... control what I'm doing. Sorry, but that makes me nervous about—"

"It's following your interests, man." He tilts his glass with a smirk. "You get into working out, it enters you into a bodybuilding contest. You find a passion for boxing, it goes and makes you a champion."

You blink.

He leans over the counter. "Give. It. Something. To. Do."

X

You start biking, running, and swimming and wake up to see you've won an Iron Man. You watch a debate series on YouTube and wake up to see you've won a national debate competition. You try a restaurant's burger challenge and wake up to see you've won a competitive eating contest.

You make yourself watch Shark Tank. You wake up with funding for the speed-brew coffee machine you've had patented forever, and can now quit your corporate job.

Some of these events have videos. You watch them and your stomach crawls. This thing that borrows your face and your name is...

Well, he's scary. He's volatile and rude and nothing like you. He spits at other contestants. Leers at judges. Threatens the staff and jeers at the audience. But he still wins. You take his winnings and you grimace.

Your friend, without fail, calls you every morning to see how things went. Sometimes he watches the streams and laughs at things that Other You said. He always has a new plan.

So you go the next few months, stumbling your way into prosperity. You upgrade your apartment. You work your own hours. You buy a car and no longer have to walk home at night.

And although Other You disgusts you... Your alter-ego can do anything he puts his mind to and soon you find yourself wondering why You, Proper can't do that, too.

So you grow a backbone. You make other people move around you on sidewalks and you scold people for cutting in front of you in line and you tell people to shut up in movie theaters and you tell your friend to let you finish talking.

His brow furrows and you can't help but be proud.

XXX

You wake up the morning after a base-jumping competition to find your friend is already there. Yelping, you yank your sheets up. "How... how'd you—"

"You let me in," he says. "Remember?" His voice is flat.

You give a fake haha, then start getting dressed. "So what's the special occasion? Why are you here in person?"

"Wanted to make sure you weren't dead," he says. "I was watching last night's livestream and things were getting dicey."

"Appreciate the thought, but I think it'd take nothing less than a nuke to take the other guy out," you joke, sitting on a barstool and pouring yourself a drink.

Your friend smiles but his eyes don't match it. "How're you liking the new place?"

"S'nice. Spacious." You swirl your drink. "Plenty of space, if you ever want to spend the night after a bar crawl or something."

Finally, he gives up the charade. He sneers, turning to look at the rest of the living room.

"You've got all this money. Power." He gestures at the improved appliances, the fancy furniture. "You take my ideas and get everything you want, but you're still playing pretend."

"What are you talking about?"

He clicks his tongue. "Let's just say that the other guy has no qualms saying what he really thinks about me."

Only now does he turn his head to display the fresh bruise over his eye. You wince.

"Look, man, you know that's not really—"

"Do I know? I thought the entire point was that he's you, unfiltered. No inhibitions."

"He's the cruel parts of me, unfiltered," you clarify. "He's not very good at friendship or niceties or empathy. You can't judge me based on his actions."

"But you're starting to look more and more like him every day."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're just so... ugh," he says, turning to face the wall. "You're different. You're so different. I can't explain it."

"I can explain it," you say coldly. "I started sticking up for myself."

"Sticking up for yourself or just being a dickhead?"

"Asks the dickhead, himself."

"You're such a tool now," your friend says, clawing his hand over his face. "You used to be so nice. Now it's all gone to your head."

"I used to be a pushover," you spit back. "I'm sorry I won't let you bulldoze over me anymore."

He knocks his glass off the table, leaning over the counter to lock eyes with you. "Maybe I was doing a society a favor, taking you down a few pegs."

He grabs his coat and leaves. You throw your own glass at the door.

X

You don't talk to him. You try not to think about him.

But you know what's coming. You try to throw yourself into other pursuits, give the other guy something else to sniff. But you can't. You're consumed by fire and fury.

You don't know exactly when it happened. Maybe it started as fear when that stranger bared his teeth at you on the subway, or frustration at your willingness to let the world walk over you, or even jealousy for your friend and his willingness to fight his way through the world. But whatever its roots were, it's mutated into anger and metastasized its way into your marrow.

Anger is who you are. Why fight it?

You go to bed knowing exactly what will happen. You don't really give a fuck.

X

You wake up in jail. Your clothes are tattered and bloody, with tissue wedged under your nails. An in-depth inspection reveals that none of it is yours. The cop announces you get one phone call, with all the ceremony of announcing you can go to the bathroom.

You could call anyone. You could call your mom. Your sister. Your priest.

But you don't. You dial your friend's number.

He doesn't answer. It tells you everything you need to know.

You are a werehuman. But you are not a wolf that turn into a human on full moon. You are a regular human who, on a full moon, turns into a way stronger, very angry and hyper-aggressive version of yourself. It is even harder to explain than being a werewolf.

[naturecoaster]

Florida State Parks Announces Winners of 2023 Photo Contest

Winners will receive prize packages including outdoor gear and Florida State Parks merchandise. Florida State Parks Announces Winners of 2023 Photo Contest John Hootman's photo "Morning Glow" shows a man on a boardwalk overlooking the peaceful spring at Manatee Springs State Park, earning him the top prize in the Professional/Hobbyist Division. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is proud to announce the winners of the 2023 Florida State Parks Photo Contest, “Capture the Real Florida.”  This year’s contest had three competition divisions – Professional/Hobbyist, Student and Mobile Phone. Winners in the Professional/Hobbyist division are listed below, and winners for the other divisions may be viewed on the Photo Contest webpage.  - First-Place Winner: John Hootman’s photo titled “Morning Glow” was taken at Manatee Springs State Park near Chiefland. Hootman won a $2,500 B&H Photo gift card, Florida State Parks’ stand-up paddleboard, hammock and promotional package as well as a Family Annual Entrance Pass.  - Second-Place Winner: Curt Mason’s photo titled “Blue Grace” was taken at Ichetucknee Springs State Park near Fort White. Mason won a Florida State Parks’ stand-up paddleboard, hammock and promotional package.  - Third-Place Winner: Beverly Eaton’s photo titled “American Alligator Chill” was taken at Myakka River State Park near Sarasota. Eaton won a Florida State Parks’ stand-up paddleboard, hammock and promotional package.  “We received thousands of outstanding photos this year, making it challenging to select just three winners. What makes Florida State Parks so special, our diversity of wildlife, flora and geography, has been captured perfectly in these photos,” said Chuck Hatcher, director of the Florida Park Service. “Thank you to everyone who submitted their photos, and we offer a big congratulations to this year’s winners. We’re excited to see what you come up with this summer for the 2024 contest.”  Florida’s 175 state parks, trails and historic sites offer beautiful backdrops for recreational and nature-based photos. The 2023 Florida State Parks Photo Contest asked residents and visitors to “Capture the Real Florida” and nearly 3,800 high-quality submissions were received.   The contest provides an opportunity for people to explore their favorite parks and win prizes for future adventures as well as create memories in Florida’s state parks. Numerous submissions from talented photographers captured jaw-dropping moments and made judging difficult.   Semifinalists were selected within three photography divisions — Professional/Hobbyist, Student and Mobile Phone — that included 12 photo contest categories: Landscape, Wildlife, Birds, Waterscapes, Night Skies, Details and Small Things, Park Experiences, Park Adventures, Plants and Flowers, Camping, Trails and Sightseeing.  This contest was administered in collaboration with Tyler Technologies, which provides the point-of-sale reservation platform that allows visitors to securely book overnight stays across the Florida state park system.   The 2024 Photo Contest will open this summer, so get outdoors, explore Florida’s state parks and snap some iconic images. We look forward to seeing them!  Curt Mason's photo "Blue Grace" at Ichetucknee Springs State Park earned second place in the Professional/Hobbyist Division. Beverly Eaton's photo "American Alligator Chill" at Myakka River State Park captured third place in the Professional/Hobbyist Division. Read the full article

[ninacarstairss]

THOMAS HEADCANONS

THOMASTAIR WEEK — day 2, thomas appreciation day @youngreckless

thomas always loved to tape his friends. he captures all the moments he's sure he wants to remember and his phone is filled with videos and photos he snaps when they're all together. he loves to be in the moment and enjoy it as fully as possible, but he also wants to have the memories pinned firmly in his camera roll so that he can get lost in the feeling again in moments of loneliness or sadness.

he always seems very put together and organized on the outside but he can never make a coherent plan to follow and his room, his computer screen, the backpack he uses for uni are always a complete mess and he can never remember where the stuff he's looking for is.

no one has ever beaten him at monopoly. no one has either figured out his strategy, he's just unbeatable.

he’s watched every single cooking show out there. masterchef? binged every series twice. the great british bake off? could probably reenact it. all the gordon ramsay shows? knows them by heart. it's eugenia who got him into these competitions: she’s been dragging him out of bed to watch cooking shows with her at 3am for years and thomas hated it at first, but soon he got used to it and the adrenaline of the competition kept him on the edge of his seat. more than once gideon or sophie walked into the living room, hair a mess and a big frown on their faces, because thomas and genia were shouting at this or that contestant doing something stupid or unfair in the middle of the night.

despite this, thomas can't cook to save his life. both genia and barbara tried to teach him the basics to make sure he didn't starve when he was home alone, but somehow every dish turned out burned, overcooked, entirely raw or, well, on fire — to be fair, it only happened once, but neither his sisters nor his parents will ever let him live that down. the only thing he ever managed to learn how to cook was pisto, a spanish dish gideon had prepared multiple times and taught the girls how to make, and that thomas himself had tasted often during his year in spain.

the first time he tried cooking for alastair on a date they ended up ordering chinese after thomas had somehow managed to break two pans.

because genia made him watch so many cooking shows, he's always wanted one of those lavish, elaborated cakes with frosting and fondant decorations, so, on his twentieth birthday, alastair and thomas’s sisters team up to get him one of those: it's a giant cup of tea on a silver tray with teaspoon and saucer included and a side of fig rolls, thomas's favorite cookies, all in fondant and sponge cake. it's the best birthday thomas has ever had.

barbara adopted a stray cat years ago and named him sir fluffypaws meowton. when he was younger, thomas never gave him much attention but the cat always liked him better than anyone else and he constantly sneaked in his room. barbara was always a little bitter that her cat liked thomas more, but whenever she found thomas asleep on the couch and sir fluffypaws curled up in his laps she just smiled and let them happily sleep.

his starbucks order is always a caramel macchiato tall and a double chocolate cookie on rainy days and a iced matcha tea latte and blueberry muffin on the rare hot summer days.

he was class president in high school and to this day he still has no clue how he ended up there.

he was one of the most popular guys in school, together with the rest of the merry thieves, and he always found himself embarrassed when someone told him they had a crush on him or hoped to ask him out on a date when instead he only had eyes for the cute black haired boy with six rings per hand and the most beautiful dark eyes he'd ever seen.

after years of wondering he chose to study engineering in college but he never gave up on his love for languages and still finds time to teach himself.

he binged all the scandinavian shows on netflix and eventually started teaching himself the languages of his favorite ones so that he could rewatch them and truly understand them instead of just reading the subtitles.

gideon and sophie loved to travel a lot so thomas, genia and barbara were hauled all around the world for years when they were younger. as they grew up these travels became less frequent but the habit always stuck with thomas and he keeps on going around the world whenever he can.

lucie is the first person he comes out to and she is obviously more than supportive; she's enthusiastic and wants to know everything about this mysterious boy he likes.

next in line are genia and barbara that find out by chance when they enter his room without knocking and find him kissing alastair carstairs – thomas turns bright red and starts muttering nonsense until the girls grin and barbara says “i was wondering how long it would take you to stop giving alastair longing glances and ask him out”. alastair grins back at her and that's how thomas finds out alastair had a crush on him all along and his sisters both knew

the person he was less scared to come out to was gideon. he knew his father would love him no matter what and the day he told him and sophie he cried when they pulled him into a hug and spent an hour telling him how much they loved him and how happy they were he told them

Tag list: @cordaisya @im-not-ruined-im-ruination @surrounded-by-exquisite-clutter @stxr-thxif @icycoolslushie (let me know if you want to be added or removed!)

[sadhoglet]

More AmberField moments:

Rachel shows up at Max's dorm room and doesn't say a single word. They sit on her bed and Rachel curls up in her lap and moves Max's hand to her head to signal for pets. She falls asleep like that.

Rachel and Max go to the woods and see where the fire once swept through a few years ago. Max finds a tiny flower growing from a burnt out tree stump and picks it and tucks it behind Rachel's hair. When she gets home, Rachel keeps it in her diary, pressing it between the pages.

Rachel likes to leave hickeys on Max in the most visible spots possible. Lots of them. Chloe teases her about it at every possible opportunity. Warren gives Max a high five and Max asks what for. When Warren tells her, she blushes and runs away.

One night in the junkyard, Rachel says she's cold, so Max lends her her hoodie. In the following days, Rachel says over and over that she'll return it, that she keeps forgetting it at home, but by the third week Max is starting to suspect that Rachel is keeping it on purpose. Rachel eventually fesses up and buys Max a new hoodie that looks exactly the same.

Rachel gets bored in class so she's always doodling on Max's hand. She leaves deer in a different outfit every day. A top hat and cane, a hipster deer, a flannel lumberjack deer, a Chloe deer, etc.

One night in Rachel's room, Rachel is painting Max's nails when she suddenly notices how nice Max's hands are. She's overcome with a desire to kiss them, but in doing so, she knocks over the bottle of nail polish on the floor. She goes in for a kiss on the lips, which only gets the mess all over them both when they cant help but make out.

Max wakes up in the middle of the night to go pee and she gives a sleepy Rachel The Captain in her absence. When she gets back, she finds Rachel talking to the stuffed bear in her sleep, as if it's Max.

Max and Rachel are woken up in the middle of the night by a weird rustling sound in Max's room. They eventually hunt down the source and end up catching a mouse. They decide to keep it as a pet. Kate thinks it's the cutest thing ever after Alice.

Max flies away for the Everyday Heroes contest with Principal Wells, and Rachel, who knows exactly who is sitting next to Max, sends Max dirty pictures before takeoff to drive her crazy. Rachel forgets that Max doesn't have reception in the air, though, so when the plane lands Max's phone suddenly blows up with a shit ton of pictures and teasing text messages. Max, surprised, fumbles her phone and drops it. Principal Wells picks it up but he doesn't look at it, thankfully. He tells a flushed Max to not be nervous or afraid, and that everyone will love her work. Max thanks him, cursing Rachel the whole time.

Max is constantly taking pictures, and Rachel is always asking to keep them. Eventually, Rachel's room has its own wall of photos.

Rachel and Chloe plan a surprise for Max's birthday: they blindfold her, drive her in Chloe's truck somewhere unknown, and after she gets out they set her hands on something soft and furry. It's a deer. It's a petting zoo with deer. Max looks so happy and serene, Rachel snaps a picture of her and it's her favorite one yet.

Max watches Madoka Magica the summer before she goes to Blackwell and she becomes obsessed with it. She starts writing PMMM fanfiction and reading it, too, with her favorite pairing being the rarer ship of Madoka and Mami. Her favorite fic with the pair is written by someone with the username AmbearableLeo. She sends them a message, and they begin a correspondence which quickly turns romantic. Then, when she's moving in the first day, she notices a Kyubey keychain on Rachel's backpack...

[cosplayinamerica]

Summer & Snuffles from Rick & Morty // Cosplayers: eileen.chase & aachase1401

So, how did you come up with Snuffles exo-suit?

SNUFFLES IS MY SLAVE NAME!  YOU MAY CALL ME SNOWBALL BECAUSE MY FUR IS PRETTY AND WHITE!.......It's a pretty awesome character and one of my favorite TV shows.  I always loved Snowball, probably because I love dogs so much. 

Coming up with the logistics of a costume that isn't really proportional to a human person was a challenge. I figured the best way was with a black puppeteer suit and to create the illusion of a non humanoid.  The LION KING Broadway show did this really well with the animal puppets.  So that really helped inspire me to go that route.  

Luckily, cosplayers before me have come up with great builds that served as source material to chose from.  I had lots of cosplays to reference when it came to the over sized hand puppets.  Keegan Sommer and his dad did a Liberty Prime cosplay last year and were kind enough to send me some build photos of the arms.  For the legs I used various Velociraptor costumes as inspiration.  The head was tricky, I got lucky that my idea worked.......barely worked.  I finally got it to work the morning of Con!

That exo suit looks like it took time to put together! Could you talk about it?

I started with a base.  A cardboard box for the torso with arm and leg holes, and jumped off from there.  I did a small mock up of the legs to try out joint movements, and get the positions correct before I put together the PVC skeleton. 

The joints were made of PVC....fun fact, when making a pin for joints...USE A BOLT!  the wire i used initially snapped under the weight 20 min before contest judging.  THANK THE STARS FOR MEGACON COSPITAL! 

They were a godsend and helped me fix the foot joint with a much thicker Pin. The structure around was expandable foam from the hardware store.  I covered the PVC in it and carved the foam down into the foot and calf shapes.The Hands were balsa wood and Insulation foam.  I made a base/grip for the glove that worked the outer fingers. 

The puppet fingers were made in three parts, with balsa wood, fishing line on the inside, and elastic on the outer side.  I put thimbles in the fingertips of the gloves to lessen the "give" of the string as it pulled. 

This part took a lot of tweaking to get the desired result.LEDs:  I had never worked with a soldering iron before, so I was worried about getting the lights to properly work.  So i took shortcuts where possible. lol.  The light in Snowballs Helmet is a twisty Tea light that people use for decor.  

The LEDs in the hands were strip LEDs that are used to decorate bedrooms and even came with a remote so i could change the color and pulse if I wanted too.  But I did end up doing some custom soldering that I'm very proud of.  The lights in both shoulders and collar are ones I put together.SNOWBALL: This was the most fun.  The centerpiece of the costume is what needed to be right.  Everything else could suck, but this had to be good. 

I've never needlefelted before, but I knew it was the best way to create a custom animal.  I really have to say, it's my new favorite hobby!  Seriously, it was an absolute blast creating this piece.   If you're looking to add a cute animal or felted piece to your cosplay, take up needlefelting!

 I've become a huge fan of the medium and was surprised at how easy it was to get used to, especially if you're already a sculptor.   Normally you can't really felt onto a piece of Styrofoam because the wool will just fall out.  But i needed the base to be solid for the puppetry to work, so what i did was glue felt pieces onto the styrafoam base and then felted a base layer of wool onto that felt.  It worked pretty well. 

The fur will never be as solid as if the entire piece was felted, but it worked well for this cosplay.   I build the face up the most, added glass eyes and a nose sculpted from thermoplastics.  The arms and legs were wire with wool wrapped around them. 

The helmet was an upside down bowl I found at Party City.  It was the size and color I needed, so i cut away until it looked like a visor attached to a shorter helmet, painted the non visor parts, added foam and then glued on some Dixie cups.  The light is just a party cup I thought looked cool.It's easier to describe the build process when i have the accompanying photos.  So i'll be creating a step by step guide on Instructables.com like I did with my Power Loader.  Hopefully it will make more sense, and other people who love the character can see my successes and mistakes and improve on the design.

Any interesting or funny response from congoers while walking around Megacon in the exo-suit?

Well, i made a child cry.......so there was that.   It was actually kind of cute.  He was fine until the head moved.  That spooked him.  Another funny thing was when my sister and I were filming a recreation of the "where are my testicals" scene and I accidentally hit her in the face because my vision is limited in the suit.

How has cosplay impacted your life since you’ve started cosplaying?

There's a great line in the book "The subtle art of not giving a f***"  That says we are happiest when we are setting goals for ourself and overcoming obstacles to achieve them.  It's a great feeling and I think if you have the chance to challenge yourself, go for it.  It's a great feeling that lasts well past Con even when all the attention has worn off.

 It's also great to learn new skills.  I learned how to work with electronics this time around, LEDs and many more that I'll continue to use outside cosplay.  The other ways it's affected me is by severely limiting the amount of closet space I have available..  Big cosplays take up big space. I'll probably need to get a storage unit at some point.

https://www.allisonchasemakeup.com/

________________________

Rick & Morty on Amazon https://amzn.to/3s1tsa8

[nakasumi-sims]

Welcome to Plume Magazine! Naka here with part 1 of the May 2021 edition is here featuring our newest model, Abraham Barbosa! Abe is also using his magazine debut as an opportunity to sign up as a contestant for @poetic-falls​ Bachelorette Challenge. Extra facts about Abe and his interview below the cut! 

Abraham has been learning guitar from Jae Hwan on the side and is picking it up nicely. 

He enjoys fishing and free diving. They relax him and he feels more at one with nature. Sometimes he’ll play with the dolphins and catch some extra fish to feed them. Sometimes the sharks too, but he knows he needs to do it rarely to avoid attacks.

Abe is the middle child and he’s 25 years old. Since he’s always been busy fishing with his father and older brother, usually the cooking is left up to his mother and younger sister so he doesn’t have much experience in the kitchen. He’s always willing to learn. 

Abe can occasionally get a bit reckless on his adventures and may need someone who can reel him back in.

Even though he’s all about his adventures, this island boy knows how to relax and take it slow too.

Traits: Loves Outdoors - Adventurous - Maker

Fresh Off The Beaches of Sulani

While scouting the islands off to the south of Sulani for our Summer collection, we came across a small fishing village and a father and son fishing duo casting their nets into the water. We asked them if they had any spots they could recommend for the photo shoot. During the conversation, another man jumped out of the ocean and ran over to us and the duo holding a netted bag full of abalone. The way the sun glistened off his wet skin, his contagious smile, and his gorgeous bod! He was hotter than air around us. His father and brother asked him to show us around the area. The photographer was snapping pictures left and right of him during the tour, we knew we had to sign him.

Interview with Abraham Barbosa

Hello, everyone! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity you have given me here at this magazine. I never thought I would be a model and it is a job I hadn’t considered until I was approached by the team. Currently, I live with four of the other models in a house in Sulani. It’s been great traveling the world for photo shoots and fashion shows, but it’s also great to be back in Sulani and an hour boat ride away from my family. I grew up in a small fishing village with my parents and my older brother and younger sister. I had always thought I would work with my father and brother running our fishing business, but I absolutely love where my life has taken me. Even though they say I had a humble start, I can’t say I went from ‘having nothing to having it all’. I have my supportive family and I appreciate that I can help them out with this job while I get to have adventures around the world. 

I signed up to be a contestant on The Bachelorette because I feel like I am ready for the next step in my journey. In my line of work, there aren’t as many who I felt like I connect with on a romantic level. I know I am taking a big chance signing up for a dating show and I like that it feels like a whole new adventure to experience. 

What intrigued me about Cristina was her introduction video. She seems to dream of adventure by taking her chances on all of us on the show and her dreams of a big family. We’re both looking for someone to challenge us and to share life with. I would hope she wouldn’t mind me being gone for a week or two at a time for modeling jobs for the time being if she wasn’t able to come along. Later on though in life, if my looks fail me since they likely aren’t forever, I would like to do things like travel together and maybe explore the lands of Salvadorada or climb Mt. Komorobi. I would love to pick up my old hobbies again since I haven’t had time while modeling. I love to make things with my hands and I used to sell the drinks, candles, and trinkets I made in my family’s shop. We both grew up with the salt water air on different shores and I can’t wait to meet you. May this journey we take be one that changes us all for the better!

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Katie Steig’s photograph of the Milky Way with an Iridium satellite flare over The Rock at Lake Superior in Hovland, Minnesota.

Summer Snaps Photo Contest

[sweetestlamb]

I Still Get Jealous

Summary: Gang-tae comes to terms with his feelings for Mun-yeong and acknowledges that feeling he tries so hard to suppress, jealousy. 

Author's notes: Just a little jealous GT drabble that popped in my head that become something longer, I've been very busy with real life so writing has been difficult. Hope you enjoy, it's not too deep just a cute little story about an adorable jealous boy lol.

Turning in the bed, he pounds at the pillow supporting his head remembering his talk with Mun-yeong, even mentally and privately he couldn't admit that the possessive anger betrayed feeling that churned in his stomach was....jealousy.

Why would he be jealous? He didn't own her and they weren't anything. Just housemates, he was merely someone she knew. But hearing that dismissive title leave her mouth in front of someone that was visibly interested in her made him..uneasy. If a little protective. That was a much better word, he cared for Mun-yeong so it was natural to be protective of her, it had nothing to do with his potential feelings for her. Those didn't exist. At all.

He would act the same way with anyone, if an unknown man was trying to harass Ju-Ri, he would do the same because she was an acquaintance that he cared about.

That's all it was.

With a resolute nod, he turns once more finding a comfortable position before drifting off to sleep.

Meet me at the pizza shop.

He stares at Jae-su's message, as he walks through the hospital doors, hopping into the car and driving off to the pizza shop.

Walking through those doors with a smile, he searches for his best friend only to feel cold chill roll through his body at the sight before him.

She had informed him this morning that she'd be out, demanding that he meet her for lunch but he had declined, brushing her off. It was easier that way, he was still wrestling to get his wayward emotions under control.

But he feels the ropes loosening as he watches her smile that enigmatic smile across the table, glossy hair lightly brushing her creamy collar. She looked beautiful in a short green summer dress, her bare legs peeking out from the table.

Across from her sat a man he's never seen before, tall with thick brown hair dressed in a pressed navy suit. Outlandish in the casual setting of the shop, they both looked too expensive for the space.

The man leaned closer to her, stretching himself across the table although the shop was quiet and it was hardly a struggle to converse easily. His jaw tightened as those hands stopped mere inches away from Mun-yeong's which were folded primly on the table.

She smiled at his words, head tilting slightly showcasing her beautiful neck line. He could only imagine those hungry eyes devouring her and it made him feel.... protective.

Was this another fan that she was forced to entertain because of Sang-in's incompetence? Did she need him to save her? How long had they been sitting there?

"There you are! I thought you weren't coming." Jae-su claps a hand on his shoulder forcing his eyes away from the table. He turns around trying to exude nonchalance, forcing himself not to look over.

"Why are you just standing there with that sour face? Let's get you some pizza!" Pulling him to a table that perfectly aligned with hers, before Jae-su was blocking his view. His friend already has the pizza on the table, warm and delicious and he begins to feed Gang-tae spewing out complaints of how Gang-tae had abandoned him and he should be his number one.

He chews at the pizza thoughtlessly, Jae-su's voice droning away in the background, nothing more than white noise, eyes locked on Mun-yeong and her companion.

They are chatting animatedly, all hands and smiles, before the stranger glances down at his watch and looks back up. He begins to collect their garbage, before offering a hand to her. She lets herself be pulled up and that hand slides into a subtle grasp on her waist. He waits for her to push the hand away.

That moment never arrives, instead they leave the shop as his eyes pierce into the side of her face.

Dashing out of the chair, he hastily chases after them with a loud goodbye to Jae-su who sputters after him, whine in his voice as he actually abandons him the very thing he had been complaining about.

Bursting outside he whips his head around searching for that familiar figure, before finally landing on her. The man chats as he escorts her to his car, racing forward he runs around the lot so he can accidentally run into them, just to make sure Mun-yeong is not being coerced.

Mun-yeong sees him almost immediately and his heart soars as he waits for the blinding smile he'll receive. Waits for her to pull away from that unwanted touch and run over and cling to him as she often does, linking arms despite his protests.

Instead she she looks away as if their eyes never met, as if he's the stranger and not this man invading her personal space. Anger burns his sensibilities away and with a glare he stomps over, blocking their path.

"Mun-yeong, is that you?" He calls out, refusing to let her ignore him although he doesn't know why her doing so makes him so infuriated. It's just rude, that's all he tries to convince himself.

The man answers for her, "Ah you must be a fan. I'm sorry, we're in a bit of a rush right now. She can't take any photos." His blood boils at the gall of this asshole, a fan?

Ignoring him he stares at Mun-yeong, taking in her passive gaze and that hand so boldly settled on her hip.

"Do you need a ride? I drive our car here." He doesn't know what possesses him to say that, our, such a small word but the implications it carries are massive.

Shifting uncomfortably the man turns to look at her, "Mun-yeong ah do you know this man?"

"Yes we live together." He answers, satisfied with the grimace that runs across the man's face.

"He's a housemate, his older brother also lives there. He's my illustrator and he-" she juts a thumb in his direction, "is his caretaker. They were a packaged deal."

His heart thuds at those words that wedge an unimaginable distance between them, limiting their roles in each other's lives. He blisters at her callousness, at times he was her destiny and they were a set but now he was simply a housemate.

The sound of a phone ringing breaks the uncomfortable silence, with an apologetic glance the man answers his phone. It becomes clear that he's being called away, trying to contain his glee he stares at the ground, smile itching to come out.

"Mun-yeong ah I'm being called on business, so we'll have to cut this date short."

He bristles at the word date, jaw clenched so tight he fears lockjaw.

"But I'll call you and we can keep discussing what you mentioned earlier. It was brilliant seeing you, you're as gorgeous as the day I first met you. I'll drop you of--"

"No. I can drop her off."

The man jolts as if he'd forgotten he was there. Pompous imbecile.

Their eyes narrow as they both stare the other down. Mun-yeong's cough pulls them away from each other before she finally speaks, "As much as I'm enjoying this dick measuring contest, I don't intend to stand here all day."

With a furious blush, he jumps at her words, turning away wholly ashamed of himself.

"Joo-young oppa, thank you for the meal. Thank you for meeting me. Drive safely."

He watches in horror as she's pulled into a hug, her arms remain at her side but his larger frame almost swallows her entirely, gently squeezing her into him before he releases her.

With a smug look and a cheesy smile, he finally leaves and Gang-tae can breathe easily once more.

She walks away, striding to the car not parked too far from where they're standing. He rouses himself from his anger and trails after her.

Once they are safely buckled up and driving he sneaks glances over at her, but her eyes are peering outside the window oblivious to his turmoil.

He coughs loudly but that doesn't garner her attention. He clears his throat, but still nothing. Finally he snaps, "So who was that? He seemed very familiar with you." He can't tamper the bite in his voice, emotions far too close to the surface.

Those piercing eyes land on him, penetrating into his soul, curiously fills them to the brim. With a rye smile she speaks, "An old friend."

He waits to see if she will continue, but that's all she deigns him worthy of knowing.

Protectiveness pushes him on, "Why were you having lunch with him?

"Why do you care? I asked you to meet me, you didn't answer. So I ate with someone else, is that a crime?"

He knows he's behaving irrationally, he has no right to question her or get this riled up because she was dining with someone else but his heart doesn't want to hear reason. He just wants to lash out.

"What about his hand on your hip? How many men are you letting hold you? Are you two meant to be as well?"

He can't stop pushing, so furious with her for being on a date, for making his heart ache this way, for smiling at someone else and allowing them to touch her, was this thing between them just another one of her games?

He pulls up to the castle, parking the car with a deep sigh.

Unbuckling her seat belt she opens the door, pausing for a moment to stare at him, "Are you.... jealous?" Something soft flashes in her eyes, a glint of hope before a familiar smirk slides across her face.

It raises his hackles and defensively he cries, "No! Why would I be jealous? I don't care who you talk to!"

With those vicious words he rips the warmth from her eyes leaving behind cold lifeless pools of darkness. Those eyes that haunted him when they were kids.

"You're such a coward. Get out of my sight before you piss me off more." She opens the car door slamming it close in a thunderous bang. He watches her storm away from him with his heart in his throat.

He yearns to follow her, to finally actualize those feelings that percolate when she's in his presence. However fear renders him motionless.

He drives back to work with a frown etched on his handsome face. Absently nodding in apology when he's reprimanded for his tardiness. Head heavy with thoughts of her.

Nothing comes of their disagreement, Mun-yeong is tight lipped about exactly who that man was and he lets his feelings fester, pushing them down until they are buried deep beneath the surface.

He learns from Sang-in after accosting politely asking him about Joo-young Oppa that they are old friends, business friend and one of Mun-yeong's biggest investors. He'd exploded at the manager when he admitted that he's insisted that Mun-yeong meet with him because he knew the man had a crush on her. She would be able to secure his investment into her newest book.

How dare he use Mun-yeong like that? She wasn't a bargaining chip. Damn incompetent idiot.

Jae-su invites him out for drinks and he agrees after a moment's hesitation. He hasn't seen much of Mun-yeong lately and he'd been planning on talking to her, try to move past this awkwardness that still plagued their interactions. In all actuality, she seemed to be fine and was as assertive and distracting as usual, but he couldn't help picking at her, lashing out when she claimed he was what she wanted. Rejecting her love.

But thoughts of her with that man made his skin crawl and his fist tighten.

What he needed was a night of drunken disregard to firmly push those emotions down.

As if the universe is conspiring against him, he's greeted by a horrifying sight. Jae-su laughing at the table, guffawing as he slams back a shot of soju. Across the table Ju-ri giggles cheeks already flushed red and her eyes glossy. But it's the dark figure beside that renders him speechless, Mun-yeong looks at them at them from the corner of her eye, exasperation rolling off her in waves.

Since when were they all friends, close enough to go drinking together? From his knowledge Mun-yeong didn't particularly like either of them, calling Jae-su an idiot most of time and declaring Ju-ri as a two faced bitch.

Yet, there they were laughing and drinking, Mun-yeong picked up her glass with dainty hands pouring the liquor down her throat in a fluid motion.

"Oh Moon Gang-tae!! What are you doing? Come sit down we started without you." Jae-su waves him over, flailing in his seat as he gestures to the empty chair beside him.

His eyes flutter over to Mun-yeong sidetracking Ju-ri's wide eyes and her welcoming wave, she looked surprised to see him-had this not been planned?- and with a small mysterious grin she turns back to her drink.

Sliding into the empty chair he quietly greets everyone accepting the glass that Jae-su eagerly presses into his hand.

Needing it now more than ever, slamming it back then hissing at the burn that erupts in its wake.

Biting the bullet he turns to his friend, "I didn't know you invited anyone else..." He glances over at the girls, who are both too focused on eating to hear his comment.

Jae-su nods before replying, "I ran into Ju-ri and then Mun-yeong text her saying she was bored so we invited her to come with us. She's...not so bad."

He stares at him blankly, all of the rants and warnings playing back through his head.

"Yeah, yeah. I know what I said. But she's okay when she's not stabbing my best friend. Plus she's paying for everything, so I think she's great!"

Mun-yeong perks up at the last of the sentence watching them suspiciously and Jae-su shoots her a blinding grin and a thumbs up, "Cheers to Mun-yeong for paying!"

Ju-ri surges up drunkenly shouting a little too loudly, "To Mun-yeong ah!"

She glares at them both snidely replying, "I didn't think you'd order so much you damn mooches. Last time I try to do something nice."

But he can read her like a book, she's having fun, the relaxed lines of her body curving into the chair.

He can't help his answering grin.

"Well I better order something too before your graciousness warns out."

"Aish! You little...!"

They are melt into comfortable conversations, discussing their days and swallowing shot after shot until endless bottles litter the table's surface.

When he pours the last drop of soju, he watches Jae-su waving someone over. It has to be the waitress.

A new voice enters the fray, decidedly male voice, the timber low and flirtatious. Despite Jae-su's outstretched hand the waiter makes a clear bee line for Mun-yeong. Focusing all his attention on her, eyes trailing down her neck before settling on her face.

"What can I get for you?" His tone is far too suggestive for such an Innocuous question.

Mun-yeong bites her lip thoughtfully and he watches as the waiter's eyes fixate on her mouth.

He coughs loudly, answering with a frown "We need more soju. And I want noodles."

Without breaking his intense gaze on Mun-yeong he nods at Gang-tae, "If you need anything else, anything at all. Let me know. " He stresses the words before stalking off with a smile.

He glares at the retreating figure, unaware of the Jae-su's knowing gaze at his clenched jaw.

It takes all of his willpower not to shout in frustration when the waiter turns around, making his way back over to their table.

"I don't mean to bother but could I ask your name? I can't keep calling you gorgeous customer in my head." Once again his eyes are unwavering as they latch on Mun-yeong as though she is the only occupant of the table.

His anger flares up, who was this punk and why was he so unprofessional? He didn't need to get a customer's name to serve them and why did he only want Mun-yeong's name? Gorgeous customer? He shouldn't be thinking of her at all! His only job was to get their food not flirt with his.....

His what?

What was she to him? He was the very one who'd been adamant that were nothing. So what was wrong with him? Why did he want to leap across the table and punch the waiter in his smug mouth?

"Gorgeous huh? Do you flatter all your customers like this or am I special?" He bristles at the playfulness in her voice, glaring at the small coy smile on her lips.

"You're special. I've never seen anyone like you."

Gang-tae's knuckles burn from his punishing grip on the chair.

"And you probably never will. What will I get if I give you my name?"

Ju-ri admonishes at her question, lightly shoving at her shoulder as her eyes dart over to him. He grips his chopsticks in his hand, tempted to stab the man in front of him. 

Mun-yeong shrugs, staring up from under her dark long lashes.

"Anything you want."

She licks her lips in response and he can't take anymore, his frustration erupts like a dormant volcano, pushing his chair back in a loud screech he ignores Jae-su's calls as he stomps to the bathroom.

Splashing cold water on his hot face and taking deep breaths to combat the rapid beat of his heart.

When he eventually makes his way back, Mun-yeong is the only one at the table. Aimlessly scrolling on her phone, when he sits down she looks up. That same infuriating smirk on her face.

"Are you done with your jealous tantrum?"

"I'm not jealous! I just needed to use the bathro--"

She cuts him off with a dismissive wave of her hand, "Save the lies. Chicken boy left and took the two faced bitch. I already paid the bill so we can go."

He follows after her as she leaves the restaurant the clicks of her heels deafening in his ear drums.

"Good night Mun-yeong ah, please come back very soon." She winks at the waiter before striding out the door.

He makes a mental note to never return to this restaurant. Glaring at the waiter, accidentally knocking his shoulder as he passes him to the door.

The drive home is tense, both quietly staring out the window. Surprisingly he's the first to break the thick silence.

"Why did you flirt with him?" Anxiety fills his heart as he glances at her from the corner of his eye.

Those eyes fill his vision again, "Why wouldn't I?"

He grips the steering wheel tighter, no rebuttal.

She staggers to her room on wobbly legs, waving good night over her shoulder.

Sleep doesn't find him easily.

There are men everywhere, approaching her at all times, while they're on line waiting for their coffee order, as they walk down the street, even at the hospital, there is no escape from the men who want to sweep her off her feet. All looking at her with hunger eyes and beckoning grins.

He doesn't know if this was always the norm, if men were always bombarding her and he simply never noticed but now he's hyper aware of every instance. His teeth hurt from how much he's been clenching his jaw.

And she doesn't do anything to deter them, none of her usual prickliness or abrasiveness, no threats or assaults. Instead she smiles mysteriously, dancing out of their reach but never outright shutting down the flirtations. It's driving him crazy.

She was still adamant that they were destined, sending him teasing smiles when they were alone, constantly asking him, "Are you jealous?"

He denied her at very turn, rejecting that there was anything more to their relationship and loudly denouncing his supposed jealous.

Admitting it would be too real. Too vulnerable.

In a turn of fate that nobody would predict it's Cha-young who wakes him from his willful oblivion.

He's changing in the locker room when he overhears the lazy nurse on his cellphone, he's supposed to be searching the patients beds for dangerous contraband and Gang-tae stalks over to reprimand him. Irritated already, as he'd seen one of the hospitals donors chatting up Mun-yeong.

He'd stormed off and ended up here in his fit.

"You're supposed to be--"

Cha-young's frustrated yell cuts him off, "What do you mean why am I upset? You were flirting right in front of me!"

He stops short, air vacuumed from his lungs as he molds himself into the wall, eavesdropping.

"But you didn't tell him you had a boyfriend. That's all you had to say and he would have stopped."

He watches him pace around the room, arms flailing as he shouts into the phone, "Well you are! We've been going on all these dates, you know I like you! It drove me crazy to see you with him."

"Yes! Okay, I was jealous. How could I not be? I thought you only acted like that with me. I want to make this official."

Then in a much softer tone, almost a whisper, "Do you want to be my girlfriend?..."

The victorious pump and whoop that he lets out makes the answer on the other line more than apparent.

"Good so now we belong to each other. No more smiles, you have a boyfriend. No, it's fine I can talk, I'm just at work I'm not busy."

In a daze, he leaves the room. Leaving him to his phone call, avoiding the nurses in the hallway who are inquiring about Cha-young's whereabouts. He has a lot to think about.

He doesn't get an abundance of time to ponder what he overheard before he turns a corner and sees Mun-yeong and the wealthy donor. The man in question, smiling and pressing into her space.

Instinctively he walks over catching their conversation, "You're even more beautiful in person. When the director told me you'd be here I thought he was bluffing. What would a best-selling author want with a psychiatric hospital but here you are, as selfless as you are gorgeous."

Gang-tae saddles up to Mun-yeong, shoulder to shoulder, internally smirking at the look of confusion that mars the man's face as he unexpectedly joins them.

"Yes?... Can I help you? We're having a private conversation." The donor looks at him in annoyance, reaching out to grab Mun-yeong's arm.

And he doesn't know what comes over him, but he's been suppressing himself for weeks now, swallowing his anger and frustration and...hurt. And it all comes crashing out as he watches yet another man encroach on his... Mun-yeong.

"Actually I do mind, you don't need to have private conversations with hospital staff. " He slaps the land away, prepared to fight now.

He scoffs at Gang-tae rolling his eyes, rubbing his hand, "How is this any of your business, huh? What are you two together?" He says the word like it's impossible, unfathomable that a mere caretaker would get someone like Mun-yeong.

But confidence swells in his chest. She wants him, has been vocal about their destiny despite suitors pouring in from all directions.

We're a set, a bomb and its safety pin.

He finally stops deceiving himself, stops suppressing his emotions and says what he knows to be true. The one thing he's been running from.

"Yes. We're together."

He hears the small gasp fall from her lips, in his peripheral he sees her head whip around to face him.

That smug smile falters minutely on the man's face but he regains his composure spitefully biting out, "You? With her? Why would she want a caretaker? You aren't on her level."

Ugly shame festers in his bone, he knows the picture they make when they're together. She is so far out of his reach it's laughable, he has nothing to offer her. Penniless and barely cognizant of his own emotions with too much baggage for one person.

She steps in front of him, shielding him with her slighter body, her voice cold and chilling, "Watch your tongue before I remove it. He doesn't need to overcompensate for anything. His face alone is worth more than anything you've have to offer."

He blushes at her words, shuffling behind her stupidly smiling at the man stands baffled and sputtering.

"Excuse me!"

"You heard him, we're together. So stop pestering me already." Grabbing his hand Mun-yeong struts off, never taking a second look back, but he does and in a childish move he sticks out his tongue, grinning at the searing glare he receives. The donor’s face angry red as he fumes behind them. 

"Gosh took you long enough." Mun-yeong sighs pulling him to a bench outside, dragging him down to sit with her.

He stares wordlessly at her. She's so gorgeous, all smooth skin and plush lips.

"How long did you know?"

"Since the beginning, you hide your emotions very good. But not jealousy, that one was obvious."

He sighs hiding his face, burning scarlet cheeks.

She pries his face away, smiling sweetly at him, "Did you mean it?"

Without a doubt he knows that is hope in her voice, the seeds of hope planting themselves in her skin as she looks steadfast at him, demanding his honesty.

He couldn't fight this if he wanted to.

"Yes. I meant it. You're mine and I'm yours, it's just like you said we're a set."

Her radiant smile eclipses the sun in the sky.

Suddenly she jolts up breaking their hold, starting to race off, but he grabs her wrists holding her in place, "Wait where are you going?"

"To tell everyone, everyone needs to know that you're mine. I saw one of the new nurses looking at you. I need to tell her you're off limits and Ju-ri and I are better but I still see her looking at you, I'll just remind her."

Catching him off guard she slips into his lap, pressing a hard kiss to his lips, short circuiting his brain functions.

Caressing his cheeks she smirks at him, wiping at her lipstick now branding his mouth, "Mine."

Warmth blossoms throughout his body and his arms tighten on her waist.

Mine.

[ddaengyoonmin]

Genre: smut, a bit of fluff

Warnings: public sex, riding, slightly dom!reader, lots of talk of stuff in a sex store.

Word count: 3.6k

A/n: this is co-written by my bestest bud @kingsuckjin ! She wrote the smut part, so if you love this story make sure to send her some asks to let her know 💖

Summary: You work in a sex store, and a customer comes in that needs a bit of extra assistance...

——————

The store smelled a lot like plastic.  It was masked by the heavy perfume that the store owner instructed you to spray around in the lingerie section.  

Rows and rows of bright colored panties and bras hung, now likely permanently coated in the cheap perfume that misted down on it daily.

It was only you at the store, as it was most days.  The amount of customers that felt like stopping by a small town sex store in the middle of the day was next to none.  

You sat on the large counter, your legs dangling off the edge as you let out a loud sigh.  Your last customer had been about three hours ago right when your store had opened, and you weren’t sure if you could even call them a customer, they hadn’t bought anything, they merely asked far too many questions about getting the length on their dildo they were going to purchase juuuust right.  

Then there was Yoongi, the boy who worked next door who would come over and chat with you occasionally.  It was nice to have things to pass the time, there was only so much you could do on your phone when the wifi in the shop was shit.

You were just about to go to the computer and check if any of the new nipple tassels that you’d requested to be ordered in were in transit when you heard the familiar but rare ding of the front door opening.

Your head shot over to see a tall brown haired man awkwardly stumbling in.  You had worked here for a few years and had a pretty good eye for when a customer was in a sex shop for the first time.

“Hello and welcome to Magic Desires.  What brings ya in today?” you chimed cheerfully from where you sat at the counter.  Not wanting to scare him off by running up to him right away.

“Ah” He choked out as he disappeared behind a row of lingerie.

There was silence for a few moments before he spoke again.

“Actually can I ask you something?” He yelled out.  

You slid off the counter slowly and tucked your phone that had been in your hand into your back pocket of your jeans and put on your customer service smile.

When you got to the man you had to hold back a  slight gasp when you realized how attractive he was.  He had a dreamy look on his face, lost in thought as he fingered through a row of pink bras.

“How can I help you?” you chirped.

“What…” He bit down on his lip, thinking hard on how to phrase his question. “What kind of lingerie do women like?” you could see his embarrassment displayed on all of his features, he looked like he wanted to jump back behind another row.

“Oh?” You giggled “Um...everyone is different? That's why we have so many different ones…”

The young man looked to the floor and cursed quietly under his breath.

“Looking for your girlfriend I’m guessing?”

He shook his head and pulled another bra off the rack, a blue one this time, he looked at it with a confused face, the way one might look at a math problem.

You laughed again and he put it back quickly.

“I’m a photographer.  I’ve just got ahead of myself and made a post on my page that I was going to be offering some more...sensual photography sessions if you know what I mean.  And I figured I should buy my first some outfits for the shoots they’ve booked…” he sighed and looked down to the ground. “But I have no idea what women would want to wear.”

“Well what would you like to see a woman in? I’m sure these women are taking their photos for someone else no? What do you think their partner would want to see them in?” you asked, raising an eyebrow up.

Like a lightbulb shone in his head his eyes lit up and he nodded.

“Okay, I think that could help.” He bit down on his lip again.  It was cute how he did that, you couldn’t help but notice that his eyes flicked up and down your figure this time as he rolled his lip between his teeth.

“I think…” He turned around to the rack behind him and flipped through a few hangers until he pulled one out.  A lace red bra and pantie set dangling from the hanger was now being held out in front of you.  “I think I need help seeing what it would look like on someone before I buy it.  Would you?” You could tell that he was growing hot with embarrassment, yet he continued to stand by his bold request, holding the set out in front of himself and out to you.

“I think this looks like your size? Don’t hit me if I’m wrong in a bad way, this obviously isn’t my thing.” His eyes twinkled a bit as he smirked at you slightly.

Your mouth hung open, and you started to become a stuttering mess of nonsense.

“I-I guess maybe?” Finally got out.  

Of all of the things that you could’ve finally come up with, that was it?  Was that what you really meant to say?

Maybe a part of you really did mean it…

It was boring here, and it wouldn’t be the worst way to pass the time.  Fuck it.  He’s cute.

You smiled shyly and grabbed the set out of his hand and checked the size.

“You were right.” you chuckled softly.

The man in front of you did a tiny fist pump to celebrate and laughed at his goofiness, getting shy once again.

“Go on then.” He nodded his head in the direction of your store’s fitting room.

“I’m gonna lock up first, this is weird.” you decided and walked over to the front doors, taking the key from around your  neck and using it to lock them.

You could hear amused noise coming from the man in your store as you did this.

Damn it why were you such a sucker for a cute face.  

You quickly walked into the dressing rooms, trying to avoid him as you passed but he followed close behind, standing outside of the curtain that you were now behind.

“I’m Taehyung by the way.  You may have heard of me?” you heard his voice from behind the red cloth as you slipped your jeans off of your ankles.

“Um...Should I have?” you unclipped your white worn bra and started to exchange it for the red one that you can't deny was about to make your tits look amazing.

“I won the art contest downtown this past summer.” He replied, “It was kind of a big deal.”

You checked yourself over in the mirror, adjusting the cloth on the back of the panties so that they weren’t folded over awkwardly in any places.

“If you’re into that” you spoke back.

“What?” you heard him reply in a slightly surprised tone.

You pulled back the curtains quickly to see him standing far too close to where the cloth had been.

“If you’re into that it's a big deal I guess.” You shrugged.

Your comment seemed to go ignored as Taehyung’s eyes roamed up and down your body.

“Damn.” He whispered. “Yeah, I’ll take that.” he breathed out.

“Okay, that was easy.” you chuckled and spun around to head back into the changing room.

“C-can I take your picture.” He quickly stammered.   You turned back around in  just enough time to see his eyes quickly try to pretend they weren’t just staring at your ass when you were turned around.

“I just wanna see how it’d look with my camera.” he patted the bulky pack that hung on his shoulder.

“Really?” you raised an eyebrow with a smirk, “It’s not so you can have some new pictures to get off to at home?” you winked, “We’ve got plenty of porn in the back.”

His jaw tightened at that and he stepped away from you for a moment.

“I’m sorry.” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”

You shook your hands out in front of you quickly. “No, I’m just joking around.  Actually...sure.  I don’t mind.  Fuck it.” you shrugged.  God, the things you were doing for this boy, simply because he asked.  You were acting whipped and he was a complete stranger, you wanted to smack yourself and get some sense back.  Though, what would be the harm in seeing where this goes...you really were quite bored…

“Oh?” His eyes widened again, he was not really expecting you to say yes, it was a longshot.

You nodded.

“Right here?”

Taehyung looked around your shop to decide on a better spot.  

“There.” he pointed to the couch that you had a manikin laying on modeling a set of lingerie and thigh high socks.

“Um...Occupied?”

“You can’t move her boss?” he winked at you.

You groaned and rolled your eyes.  “You better buy more than just a pantie and bra set for all the quality customer service you’re getting.” you teased as you walked across the store to move the manikin from the red lounge sofa to the floor.

Taehyung had followed, adjusting some settings on his camera now standing next to the couch.

“Just...model, it doesn’t matter too much, I really just need to see how to colors show up.”

“Mhmm.” you hummed sarcastically, teasing him again.

“Ah shut up.” He shied away from you, pulling out his camera and snapping a few quick shots once you got sitting on the couch, moving from laying on your side to showing him your backside.

He continued to mutter curses as you posed for him.

You were guilty of trying to be as sexy as you could be, but you couldn’t help wanting to show off for a man bold enough to ask to take pictures of you like this.

“Okay yeah. I’m taking it.” His eyes seemed to have a hard time looking anywhere but the hem of the lace red panties you were wearing.

“Alright I’ll go change out then.”

“Or…” He muttered, scanning your body that had been obviously teasing him.

“Or?” Your eyes twinkled now meeting his directly.

“You wear it well, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to unsee anyone else wearing that without thinking of how much better it looks on you…I-” he seemed to need to take a few breaths before being able to finish his next thought. “I’d hate myself for not at least trying…” His eyes flickered over from you to the sofa quickly.  His intentions are perfectly clear to you.

“You wanna fuck me Taehyung?” both eyebrows now raised in mock surprise.  You knew he wanted to fuck you, you’d been putting on your best show and his erection could probably be seen from across the street.

He nodded slowly, setting his camera down on a nearby shelf and taking a step near you.

“You wanna fuck me baby?” He smirked at you, now stepping forward again, this time so close that his chest was pressed against your own.

One of his hands reached out and grabbed your side, pulling you close so that your hips were now pressed against him as well.

You breathed in sharply flashing him a quick smile as you took the next step, leaning in to him and pressing your lips to his.

He quickly brought a hand to the back of your head, moving his fingers gently through your hair as he gave you soft and shy kisses that somehow managed to turn deep and bold before you even realized what was happening.  Much like a lot of how this man Taehyung behaved.

It was sexy, so fucking sexy how you couldn’t quite pin him down.

And that's where the thought popped into your head of how fun it would be to do just that, literally.

You pushed against him, using a grip on his hips to spin him around and throw him down onto the couch where you’d just been laying.

You stared down at him as he looked up at you with an animalistic look of pure lust in his eyes, a look that made your blood rush.

You climbed onto his lap facing him, setting a leg on each side of his hips. You didn't let your body make contact with his cock hard in his pants under you just to tease him.

"Do I want to fuck you?" You raised a brow as you placed a hand on his shoulder and ran it through his hair. His eyes stayed on you as if entranced by you. "What do you think? Do you think I would've put this lingerie on and let you take pictures of me to touch yourself to later if I didn't want to fuck you?"

"Fair enough" He muttered, eyes now fixation on your lips as his hands went to your hips that had yet to lower onto his.

Your lips drifted closer to his but before closing the distance you spoke again.

"I believe I asked if you wanted to fuck me first, it seems like you do."

"Oh god yes." His breathless whisper sounded like a plead.

You lowered your hips finally onto his clothed, hard cock as he leaned in to kiss you hungrily. His hands urged your hips to grind down onto his to try to gain some kind of pleasure for the both of you. The excitement felt wild to you, like two young strangers making out at a college party, a feeling you hadn't had since, well, college.

You abruptly got off of his lap and got to your feet and wordlessly walked off towards the cash register counter. You could already feel the damp lacy fabric beginning to stick to the inside of your thighs as you walked.

"Wait, where are you going? I thought we were going to…" He seemed utterly confused until you reached into the candy bowl full of condoms on the counter and held it up between your thumb and index finger to show him as you sauntered back over to him and took your former spot back on his lap.

"Gotta be safe, you know?" You threw the condom in the empty spot beside you before grinding back down on his still solid erection.

"Can- can I fuck you in- will you leave the lingerie on?" He seemed nervous about asking but the way his eyes stared at how good your cleavage looked in the bra and how sexy you felt in it made you agree.

"Sure, why not." You shrugged. "So," You leaned into his ear noticing the sharp but tantalizing scent of his cologne "You have a hot girl on your lap in sexy lingerie. What do you want to do to me Taehyung?"

He let out a moan that sounded more like a growl as you rubbed against his cock once more and placed a few slow kisses on his neck.

"Anything you'll let me do." You felt him squeeze your ass hard in his hands. "I want to cram every inch of my cock inside of you, baby. Would you like that? You want me to fuck you right here with all of these windows where anyone could walk by and see you taking my cock?"

What felt like adrenaline coursed through you as you grabbed his right arm and guided his hand until it touched the sticky material between your legs.

"Do you feel how wet I am just for you? Does that tell you how badly I want it? Put on the condom and fuck me." You demanded and scooted back so he could have space to do as you asked.

He scrambled to get his pants undone and down just enough for his stiff cock to be let loose.

Being the kind lady you were, you opened the condom wrapper and put it on for him before going back to your spot hovering over him, this time feeling him at your entrance as you pushed the thigh hole of your panties aside.

You took him but the shirt collar and pulled his face into yours, kissing him as you took him slowly inside of you.

He moaned against your lips as he kissed you back and took another hand full of your ass in his hand.

"Bounce." He demanded into your lips but you pulled away.

"Ask me nicely." You teased.

"Baby please bounce on my cock. Please let me see you fuck yourself on it."

You tightened your muscles around him and slowly began to move up and ram yourself down onto him hard. It felt so good that you wanted to speed up, but stopped yourself as you saw how much he seemed to be enjoying it.

"Oh fuck." He groaned as he threw his head back.

His dick fit so well inside of you, hitting all the right places inside of you every time you came back down on him, but it still wasn't enough and his deep moans were driving you crazy.

You stuck your hand down the front of the panties and began to rub fast circles on your clit.

When he noticed what you were doing he began to buck his hips up into you, using the grip on your ass to have your hips meet his harder and faster.

Now it almost felt too much for you, there was no holding in your impending orgasm or stopping it as it hit hard and fast. Each time he bucked up into you it sent wave after wave of bliss running through you leaving you gripping his shirt.

"Fuck you're so hot." He panted "gonna cum."

You bounced faster to not only drag out the last milliseconds of your orgasm but to also help him with his.

"You feel so fucking good Taehyung." You whined and that seemed to throw him over the edge. He quickly pulled out of you and you watched as he jerked himself hard and fast until his cum filled the condom. Heavy breathing was the only noise in the store for a moment as you both regained your composure.

“Damn.” Taehyung muttered, staring up at you, his body still slightly shaking as he came down from his high.

“Yeah.” You chuckled and shot him a large grin as you slid yourself sideways off of him and off of the couch.  “Not bad.” you winked.

Taehyung laughed a single loud ‘ha’ and sat up, reaching out and tickling your side. “Not bad huh?” he smirked at you.

You flinched away at his touch giggling.

“I need to get the shop back open.” you had forgotten for a moment that you were still at work, rushing back to the changing room and throwing your clothes back on.

When you got back out onto the shop floor Taehyung was flipping through lingerie sets again, a couple in his hands now.

“I don’t think I can try on anymore.” you yelled out to him as you walked behind the counter after unlocking the front doors. “But bring up another set of the ones I had on.  I don’t really know if the first set is really...sellable now.” you laughed, though your pockets hurt slightly, knowing you’d be buying that bra and panty set for yourself.  At least you looked good in it.

Taehyung quietly looked for a few more minutes and returned to the counter with a total of four sets, mostly just variations of the ones you’d been wearing, just in different colors.

“Good picks.” you winked at him as you scanned them.

He smiled shyly at you as if he suddenly forgot how to talk to you.

He paid and you were putting the bras and panties in a bag when Taehyung finally spoke up again.

“Hey.  Thanks.  That was…” He smiled and shook his head to himself, already replaying the image of you riding him in his head.

“It really was.” You handed him the bag. “Thank you for shopping at Magic Desires.” you chimed in your best customer service voice.

“If you ever wanna…” he mumbled quietly, rummaging through his pockets.  “If you ever wanna book a session with me here's my card.” he handed you a small white rectangle with Kim Taehyung and all of his information on it.

You smiled widely, imagining the trouble you could get into with him if you were to use this number to contact him again.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” You winked at him biting down on your lower lip lightly.

He nodded nervously, leaning forward to go in for a kiss on your cheek, you leaned forward to receive it, giggling quietly and feeling your cheeks grow slightly hot right where his lips had met your skin.

He walked out the door without looking back at you.

You sighed and smiled to yourself, lingering butterflies in your stomach fluttered around wildly.

You watched him get into his car that was pulled up right in front of the window of the store.  He shot over one last smile and pulled away.

There were a lot of phantom feelings of his hands on you, of being filled up by him.  You spun around in a small circle and jumped back up on the counter.

You pulled out your phone and the card that Taehyung had given you and typed in the phone number on the card.  You put “Photographer.” next to his name and saved the contact.

That could come in handy again later.

[strangeinternetwasteland]

 Still Frame- Fem! Reader

A/N: Fluff fluff fluff

WC: 1.5K

  Growing up you knew you were different from all the others. The other kids bullied you since you didn’t have a quirk. It didn’t bother you much, you knew that you’d be okay. One day at school, while the other kids were picking and teasing you, another kid came along. He was happy, and smiling, and towered over the rest of the kids.

    “Hello! What’s going on here?” This bright boy spoke to everyone. The group of kids that were picking on you scattered in fear. His smile never faltered.

    “Hey, my name is Togata Mirio.” He seemed to glow. You smiled back at him. From that day on the two of you were inseparable. You hung out nearly every day after school. You both went to the same middle school, but when high school came, He was accepted into UA. You didn’t even apply. You had fallen for the boy. It was obvious, but you’d never tell him.

    After a few months, you two went from talking every day to every other day.  A few months after that it was every other day down to once a week. Before the end of the first year, the two of you were barely seeing each other. You knew that he was destined to be a great hero, like All Might. Even though you missed the closeness of your friendship, you knew he was going to be okay. 

    By the beginning of your third year, you had barely seen one another in two years. He was fighting villains, and you were figuring out what you wanted to do with your life. It was easier this way, or at least that is what you told yourself. 

It was between the second year in high school and the last year that you found your niche in life. Photography. When you were younger you’d take pictures here and there, and usually of Mirio, but it was never anything you ever took seriously. Until you entered a photography contest during summer break, you had won first place for capturing a photograph of a fight between a villain and All Might.

    The last year of school had flown by in an instant. You had graduated and were recruited by a photography studio and in your spare time, you freelanced. The first year you were happy with life and took every opportunity to photograph anything you found interesting, but that didn’t last for more than a year. The following year was met with dread, and you had longed for a change of pace. 

    The final straw came a week ago, after having a terrible morning. Waking up late, and spilling coffee all over your shirt, to having the bus be late due to villain activity, and getting yelled at by your boss for being late. You were ready to quit right then and there.

    “Okay, Everyone! I sent you all an email about a very important upcoming photoshoot. Y/N, I need you in my office immediately.” Your boss snapped at you. Your stomach dropped. You knew he was about to fire you. As you walked into his office you felt your anxiety climb. 

    “Close the door, and take a seat.” The nonchalance in his voice put you more on edge. You did as he asked and nervously blew your breath out.

    “Do you know why you’re here?” He asked with an impassive attitude. 

    “Yes. You’re going to fire me. I have no excuse for being late. I am sorry. If you give me-” He held up one hand to stop you.

    “No, I don’t care about that. We got a call about doing a photo session for a Hero. I am not sure how well you know him.” Your boss started. Your stomach did flips, and your eyes widened. You wondered what he was even talking about.

    “He goes by the name of Lemillion. He specifically asked for this studio to photograph him. Which wouldn't be an issue, but he specifically asked for you, by name.” He continued giving you an incredulous look.

    “I am not sure who he is or why he would request me, but I promise that I will not let you or this studio down.” You promised. 

    “Good. Now get out of my office.” Your boss stated to you, not looking up from his computer screen.

    The next week went by in a blur. You went over every detail you could. Lighting options, backdrops, and ideas for outdoor photos. You barely slept due to the excitement of being able to photograph a hero. When the day came you arrived to work extra early to set up snacks for the hero. There was a hushed excitement felt throughout the studio as everyone trickled in. After a few hours, Lemillion entered the studio. You took one look at him and were awestruck.

There he was. Your old friend Mirio. The literal epitome of sunshine. Happy, smiling, outgoing, confident. You’d be lying if you said you weren’t excited about this opportunity of photographing him again.

“Hello, Y/N.” Mirio greeted you, his smile a little brighter than before. You felt your face warm up. The words couldn’t come to your mind. You just stared at him.

“How have you been? Life has been treating you kindly.” He remarked with a tinge of pink on his cheeks. All you could do is nod your head. You didn’t expect Lemillion to be Mirio, and now that you thought about it, you probably should’ve looked it up. After clearing your throat you smiled at him.

“Hello, Lemillion. If you’d like to follow me I can take you back to the studio.” You said as professionally as you could muster. He nodded and followed you as you led the way. 

The walk to the back of the studio was short and silent. Your mind raced with questions you wanted to but couldn’t bring yourself to ask.

“Well, here is the studio we’ll be working in today. I was thinking if you wanted, we could also get some pictures outside.” You said as you walked around setting the lights up just right.

“I trust you and your vision,” Mirio said happily. A few more moments of silence lingered heavily between you two.

“I’m sorry,” Mirio whispered so quietly you almost didn’t hear it. You gave him a questioning look.

“Uh, what? Why?” You asked him.

“I let this, all of this get between us,” Mirio admitted gesturing to the whole room. “The whole UA, becoming a hero, letting it become a priority before our friendship.”

“Mirio, I don’t blame you for following your dream. You always talked about being a hero. I support that, I always have, and always will. Life gets busy and complicated, our friendship was one of those things that were never going to last.” You explained feeling a weight come off your shoulders.

“Anyway, let’s do this photoshoot, and then you can continue your life as a wonderful hero.” You continued. 

The next half hour was awkward and heavy. You knew Mirio well enough that what you had said had burdened him. His smile wasn’t as brilliant as it was when he entered the studio just a bit ago. 

“Let’s take a break. There are some snacks and water over there if you’d like.” You announced.

“Thank you, Y/N.” Mirio was staring at you. You felt his eyes on you. You continued fixing and fidgeting with the lighting and camera for a few seconds. You knew what the weight of his stare meant.

“I feel you staring at me. Tell me what it is you want to say.” You said aloud. You felt his strong arms wrap around you. You felt his warmth. It brought you back to the days when you were inseparable. Mirio placed his head on your shoulder. 

“I’m sorry. I should’ve been a better friend.” He whispered to you. You turned around to face him. You were angry.

“How dare you?! Why are you sorry? You’re not to blame for this. For the ending of our friendship. I could’ve tried harder but I didn’t. I know it is like you take all the blame. I am just as much to blame for this. You should be angry, sad, or upset with me!” You felt the tears stinging your eyes and streaming down your face. You weren’t really angry with him, how could you be? You were angry with yourself.

“Please, Y/N, don’t blame yourself.” He pleaded with you. He hugged you tightly. All the feelings came crashing down on you. The love you had for him when you were younger. The happiness you felt when you two were in your own little bubble. All you could do was cry because you were the one who pushed him away in the end. You started sobbing into Mirio’s chest. Just as he had done before he rubbed your back to calm you down. He held you close. After a few minutes, you pulled away and looked up at him.

“I am so-” You were cut off with a kiss. His large hands cupped your small face and warmth spread all over your body. 

“I came here for you. I won’t leave without you.” Mirio whispered against your lips as he wiped away the last of your tears. With that, everything in the world felt right. The only thing that could make it better is if the moment was caught on camera, but it would be a still frame that stayed forever in your mind. 

[tagsecretsanta]

From @Psychoseal

to @avengedbiologist Secret santa does not won this fic, full credit to the author above

Scott is exhausted. Running his hand through his prematurely greying hair as he exits Thunderbird One, the only thing running through his mind is the thought of a long hot shower and the largest pot of coffee on the Island. 

All Scott has ever known in his life is responsibility. He doesn’t even remember the peaceful years before Virgil was born and his life flipped upside down. Before Virgil was born, he had a number of names. Sunshine, Sweetheart, Darling, Scooter are just a small sample. But then everything changed. And his name became “Scott don’t” “Scott don’t put the stickers on the baby. Scott don’t feed the baby your broccoli. Scott don’t climb the furniture.” 

But he learned to love Virgil, and by the time his youngest brother was born his new nickname was smother hen! 

Scott can even remember his first grey hair. He was nineteen and had just gotten witnessed his thirteen-year-old brother fall from the barn roof in a dare gone wrong. That first grey hair he named Gordon! 

Once he has escaped to the safety of his room, Scott quickly strips off his clothes before climbing under stream of fresh almost boiling water. He is so tired he doesn’t even realise that the water is dying his skin blue as he lathers shower gel into his hair, his eyes closed happily as the water helps him to relax. Finally. 

Flicking the water off, he strings a large fluffy towel around his hips. 

Then screams. 

A scream so loud it brings Grandma running up two flights of stairs from the kitchen and barging into his room. “Scott?” she gasps, struggling to catch her breath. The rolling pin she was using to make the pie crust still in the hand. “What happened?” 

“Gordon!” Scott growls. “Where is he?” 

“London with Lady Penelope on vacation and has been all week, I don’t think this is one of his” Grandma reminds him gently. 

“Never jump to conclusions Smurf” Virgil says having also heard the screams, and come running, stopping short when he spots his big brother and bursting into laughter. “Think, who have you annoyed recently, then follow the trail to the culprit” 

“Annoyed? I never annoy anyone” Scott splutters in protest. “I am going to borrow your bathroom to get rid of this ridiculous dye” 

“Sure Smurf just let me do something really important first” Virgil says, and before Scott has the time to run, Virgil snaps a photo of him and runs away laughing. 

“Grandma!” Scott protests, he can feel a new grey hair emerging. 

“Go and get a shower, I will have a word with Virgil” Grandma replies leaving him to his thoughts.

Scott’s thoughts are not pleasant, and involve drowning the responsible brother in boiling oil, or tarring and feathering them while he films their humiliation. Googling cruel and unusual punishment ideas once he is back to normal and hiding out in his own room, Scott smiles at some of the ideas and regrets the vote he lost to build an island jail for his wayward siblings. 

Lying back on his bed, his head resting on the pillow, Scott stares at the ceiling in the ever-increasing gloom of the early evening, but he doesn’t get up to put the light on, but he can’t sleep. The frustration with his brothers isn’t receding the longer he lies here. Revenge is the only thing he wants! 

*TB*

Gordon is back from leave the following morning. Carrying a bag full of gifts for his family. All neatly wrapped. 

“Where is everyone?” he asks Virgil who is the only one in the kitchen. 

Virgil doesn’t answer him while he focuses on draining his coffee instead. “Mmm, that is better! What did you ask Squid legs?” 

“Where is everyone?” Gordon repeats. Rolling his eyes and pouring himself a coffee.

“Alan and Scott are still in bed. You need to apologise to Scott. He didn’t think your prank was a good idea!” Virgil says. 

“What prank?” Gordon asks. His eyes wide and innocent.

“The dye in his shower head. How did you pull that off anyway? You weren’t even here” Virgil asks, he is impressed despite himself. If Gordon has evolved to pulling pranks remotely, then the whole island is doomed! 

“Oh that. I just gave Alan the instructions and told him where the joke kit is hidden. Alan is the guilty party, not me” Gordon insists.

“IT DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT!” A voice booms from behind him, causing Gordon to startle and almost drop his coffee. 

“Smurf, hi” Virgil says, trying to dissipate the tension building between his two brothers. 

“I KNEW YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS” Scott roars at Gordon.

Gordon rolls his eyes picks up one of Grandma’s scented candles and throws it at Scott’s head. “Lighten up Smurf” he says before running from the room, Scott on his heels determined more than ever to pound the brat! 

Gordon runs up the stairs and out the main doors to the pool.

“No running by the pool Fish” Scott shouts at him, that thing in his brain telling him to protect his younger brothers kicking in again. 

Gordon once again is one step ahead of him as he dives into the pool, and swims across to the other side, before climbing up and continuing to run down to the beach still pursued by Scott, who can’t outswim him and he knows he can’t break an important safety rule. Gordon is fast, but Scott is angry and determined, and he catches up to him, tackling him to the ground. 

“What on earth?” Jeff asks in exasperation. “Gordon you only had one job!” 

Gordon struggles under Scott’s weight, as his eldest brother is now sitting on his chest, pinning his shoulders to the ground with his arms. “I got him here didn’t I?” 

“Let him up Scott please” Jeff asks.

“What’s the magic word?” Scott asks Gordon. 

“Abracadabra” Gordon replies. 

“Scott” Jeff asks again.

And Scott knows that this is the best he can hope for as he rolls off his brother and allows him to stand. “Why are you here?” he asks his dad. “And what did you mean when you said you got me here?” he asks Gordon, now thoroughly confused by the whole matter. 

“Come with me, and you will find out” Jeff replies cryptically. 

Scott follows his father and brother along the sandy pathway leading to a small cove Gordon discovered during his first summer on the island, before he stops in his tracks at the scene in front of him. 

All his favourite people in one place. something that rarely happens in his family. His brothers, even John, are all sitting on the floor around the preparations for a bonfire, yet to be lit. 

“Scott come and sit down” Grandma calls him over. There is a smile on her face, as she pats a spare piece of sand next to her. Scott does as he is told, even though he is confused by what is happening. 

He hasn’t even noticed a large pile of gifts, all neatly wrapped nearby where Alan is sat chatting to Colonel Casey. 

“Why is everyone here?” he finally asks, unable to resist the temptation any longer. 

“I TOLD YOU HE FORGOT!” Gordon cries gleefully. 

“Forgot what?” Scott asks, racking his brains desperately for anything he might have missed. It definitely isn’t Christmas as the villa’s not been decorated. And it isn’t one of his brother’s birthdays as there is no way he would be allowed to forget those. Alan still drops gift hints for months before the big day.

“Hand it over John” Gordon says holding his hand out for his winnings. John reluctantly hands over a twenty dollar bill. 

“Will someone please tell me what the heck is going on?” Scott asks. Unable to take the laughter any longer. 

“What day is it?” Virgil asks, trying to help him out. 

“Erm Wednesday?” Scott replies. 

“It is Saturday Scott” Virgil replies rolling his eyes. “How about the month?” 

Scott knows this one. As it was Alan’s birthday recently. “March” Scott says this time confidently. 

“It’s April” Virgil says. 

“No it isn’t. Alan’s birthday was the other day” Scott insists. 

Virgil takes pity on his eldest brother. “Scott it’s the fourth of April. This is your birthday party!” 

“It can’t be. I would know if it was April already. Gordon is this an April fools’ joke?” Scott asks, turning his attention to Gordon, who is sitting on Lady Penelope’s lap while she hand feeds him grapes. “And can’t you do that in private?” 

“Nota April foolsh joke” Gordon confirms, his mouth full of half chewed grape.

“Ugh swallow first” Scott tells him disgusted, and still not convinced that it really is his birthday. 

“Scott, it really is April. And it really is your birthday. I am sorry I gave Gordon the job if getting you down to the beach, but happy birthday son” Jeff tells him. “We are worried about you though. You have been working far too hard recently. You missed Gordon’s April fools’ day prank because you were on Mars with Alan. it was a good one this year too” he adds.

“What did he do?” Scott asks. Remembering that this is Jeff’s first April fools’ since he got back from the Oort cloud. 

“Snuck into the GDF headquarters and left a notice on the board advising on a Chewbacca Roaring contest and to call my phone and leave a voicemail with their best effort and that I will judge them tomorrow. He even managed to set my phone to go straight to voicemail and put a message on it repeating the contest instructions.” Jeff tells him grinning. 

“And you found that funny?” Scott asks. 

“I did. And I have picked a winner already. Gordon will be paying the fifty-dollar reward though!” Jeff says. 

“Worth it” Gordon says with a shrug. “But Scott, seriously open your presents already!” 

Scott is still sceptical but he also knows that Colonel Casey and his father wouldn’t play a practical joke on him, maybe it really is his birthday.

Picking up the first gift from the pile. Scott knows without looking at it that this was wrapped by Gordon. It is wrapped in bright yellow paper and covered in so much tape he knows that it will take him hours to get in to! Sure enough the label reads “Yo scotty. Have fun getting into this. Love your favourite brother” 

“Hey look, he’s picked your gift Gords” Alan says with a grin, grabbing his phone and loading up the timing app. “Ready Scott?” he asks. 

“Ready for what?” Scott asks.

“Our party game; let’s see how long it takes you to get into the present. My guess is thirty-five minutes” Alan replies. 

Scott knows that he should play along, this has always been one of their favourite traditions. An invention of Gordon’s the first year he was old enough to wrap gifts. “Fine. Start the count” he says. 

“GO!” Alan calls. 

Scott tries to slide his nail under the tape but it is impossible. He can’t deny that Gordon is the master. Turning the badly wrapped gift over in his hands, looking for a way in Scott gets more and more frustrated as the minutes tick by, and starts to chew his way in, finally biting a hole through the tape and into the paper. 

“How long?” Gordon asks the official timekeeper.

“Six minutes, thirty-five seconds” Alan replies. “Dad and Colonel Casey have been eliminated from the game” 

“You all had bets?” Scott asks, he is laughing now though. Finally starting to relax.

“Of course” Jeff tells him. “We have been planning this for weeks” 

Scott is now working on making the hole bigger, sticking his thumb in and wriggling it about. the contents are confusing, as whatever is in here feels slimy. 

Pulling out a piece of still wet seaweed Scott is confused. “Seaweed?” he asks Gordon. 

Gordon grins at him. “Yep and there is something else in there too” 

Scott pulls out the rest of his gift. A book. 

“Stop the clock Al” Gordon says. 

“Eleven minutes, twenty-two seconds” Alan announces, checking the contest list for the closest. “Hey Virg, you won!” 

Virgil jumps up from the floor to do his victory dance, pumping his fist in the air and twirling around until he falls over his own feet. Picking himself up and spitting out sand, he turns to Scott. “What is the book Scott? I don’t think Gordon has ever even opened a book let alone bought one for someone else!” 

Scott examines the books cover. “1001 of the weirdest laws in the world” he realises that one of the pages is bookmarked. Opening the book Scott reads the highlighted passage “In New Hampshire, it is illegal to collect and carry away seaweed at the beach, but only at night.” 

“You didn’t?!” Scott asks, eyeing up his brother. “You went to New Hampshire in the middle of the night to get seaweed even though it is illegal?” 

Unrepentant, Gordon nods. “Yeah I even borrowed thunderbird one. Do you like it?” 

“Like it?!” Scott asks spluttering with laughter. “Only you Gords. Come here” 

Gordon scrambles to his feet from Lady Penelope’s lap and runs over to Scott, who grabs him by the waist and tackles him to the ground. “Of course I like it! Who doesn’t love gifts that have been gathered illegally?” 

The rest of Scott’s presents are more normal. A painting of Thunderbird One over the Island from Virgil, which will look great above his bed. “Thanks Virg. I love it” He says, now with genuine enthusiasm. 

“The cavern quest expansion pack” Scott says opening up his gift from Alan. 

“Yeah, I am going to need that back once you are done” Alan says. 

“Sure” Scott replies, handing it over. He does not have the time to play mindless video games. 

Alan rolls his eyes. “Scott. You have to play it first. Come and see me tomorrow and Kayo and I will teach you” 

“You know I don’t have the time” Scott reminds them. 

“You do, we cleared your schedule for the rest of the week. You are on vacation and we are going to teach you to have fun!” Alan insists.

“I know how to have fun” Scott insists. 

“Scott, your idea of fun is doing paperwork, nagging me and cleaning your room” Gordon tells him. 

Making the only decision that will allow him to keep his dignity, Scott ignores Gordon and goes back to his presents. This one is from Grandma and turns out to be vouchers for an evening out at his favourite restaurant. “Thanks Grandma, but can I leave Gordon and Alan here to eat your lasagne, they really like the way you leave it frozen in the middle but burn the top layer.” 

“Scoooooo-oooooott!” Gordon and Alan whinge in unison. 

“Call it big brother’s revenge!” Scott replies with a grin. 

Their pouting doesn’t last long as Scott unwraps his gift from his father. 

Shocked by the contents, Scott just stares at him. 

“Well?” Jeff asks.

“I can’t” Scott insists. “International Rescue needs me. They need me” 

Scott has been raising his younger brothers for so long, he has not had a proper vacation in years. But this states he can have a whole month away from all the worry and stress. 

“We can cope. The GDF are going to take care of some of the simple rescues. The hood and the Chaos Crew are all safely locked away in the newly rebuilt Hex prison. I don’t think they liked the irony of being locked up in a prison they blew up!” Jeff says. “It is okay to admit you need a break Scott” 

Scott can feel tears welling up in his eyes, and it his father who makes the first move, wrapping his arms around his eldest son, who has been so strong for so long. 

“We love you Scooter” Jeff says. “You have held this family together beautifully, but please let me help you” 

Scott nods. His head still buried on Jeff’s shoulder. 

“If I do, please don’t let Gordon have Thunderbird one!” Scott says, trying to inject some humour into the situation. 

“Oh I don’t know; he did a g-g-great job while you were on Mars. A-a-apart from the unauthorised t-t-trip to New Hampshire” Brains says.

“Oh don’t forget the drone he crashed into the Eiffel tower” John says. 

“And the flood in the hangar when he was trying to clean off the mud off after he had to rescue the three explorers from a mudslide in Italy” Virgil says.

“Stop it, or he will never agree to leave” Jeff says. 

“Where am I going to go?” Scott asks. 

“Anywhere you want son” Jeff replies. Still holding him in his embrace. “We can talk about it after the party. Now how about you open some more presents, then we can get the bonfire started and grill some breakfast” 

Scott doesn’t make an effort to move from Jeff’s side, but happily opens the rest of his presents. Finally realising that they are right, he has been so wrapped up in the problems of the world that he has been carrying that weight on his soul, and it is slowly crushing the life out of him. Maybe, just maybe he can take a vacation. 

*TB*

The party lasts all day, thank you to the organisational skills of his family there are no emergency call outs, as Eos is forwarding the calls to local authorities and the GDF. The sun is starting to set, but the party is still going strong. Gordon and Lady Penelope have disappeared somewhere more private, but everyone else is there.

Alan is in charge of the music. Having set up a playlist and letting it go.

“GUYS COME ON! THIS IS MY FAVOURITE” Alan calls when the introduction to his favourite some comes on. “LINE UP” 

No one moves as the opening lines of the macarena start up. 

Alan grabs Jeff’s hands and pulls him into a standing position. “Come on dad, pleeeeeeaaaaassssssse!” he begs, giving his father the wide doe eyed start that no one, not even the great Jeff Tracy. 

“Okay fine show me what to do” Jeff replies. 

“Great! Okay Scott, Virgil, John, Grandma, Kayo, Parker, Brains, Colonel Casey” Alan calls while he starts going through the movements of the dance.

Virgil is the first to join in. knowing that Alan needs this just as much as Scott does. Taking his phone, he tries to contact Gordon. A family macarena isn’t the same without the family fish. 

“Hey Virg, what’s up?” Gordon asks. 

“Where are you?” Virgil asks. 

“Thunderbird one with Pen” Gordon replies. 

“Please tell me you’re just giving her a tour” Virgil asks facepalming. 

“Sure” Gordon replies with a shrug.

“Anyway stop it, and get back to the beach, we are having a family dance off” Virgil says. 

“You know I am going to win right?” Gordon asks, ringing off without giving Virgil a response. Pulling his shirt back on, he helps Lady Penelope zip back up her dress before they hop down from the pilots seat and exit Scott’s plane before running hand in hand back to the beach. 

“The macarena?” Gordon says with a grin. “Put it back to the beginning Al” 

Alan skips the track back to the start, and Gordon takes centre stage. Wriggling his hips before jumping up into the air crying “HEY MACARENA!” every single time. 

Even Parker and Grandma join in. the move on to the cha cha slide and the YMCA before collapsing into a heap on the floor laughing. 

“What song next DJ Allie?” Kayo asks. Even she has relaxed, her hair no longer in its customary tight pony tail but falling loosely around her shoulders. 

Alan grins before jumping up to his feet and skipping over to his phone. 

“No way. This I draw the line too!” Kayo says as the opening to baby shark starts to blare through the speakers. 

“SCOTTY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO! Gordon starts. “SCOTTY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO” 

John is the first to join in. “SCOTTY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO” 

Jeff joins in too “SCOTTY SHARK!” 

Kayo groans, but she knows when she is defeated.  “VIRGY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO VIRGY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO VIRGY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO VIRGY SHARK!” 

This is the version of the song Jeff would sing to Alan and Gordon to get them to sleep after their mom died. It never got them to agree to go to sleep but became a family tradition along with their bedtime stories. 

“JOHNNY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO JOHNNY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO JOHNNY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO JOHNNY SHARK! 

Lady Penelope is looking at the boys and Jeff like she has never seen them before while they do the baby shark song dance like the madmen, she always suspected they are. But she can’t help but join in. 

“GORDY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO GORDY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO GORDY SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO GORDY SHARK!” 

“ALLIE SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO ALLIE SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO ALLIE SHARK DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO ALLIE SHARK!” 

Lady Penelope stops there she has no idea what will come next, as there is no way they will hunt prey! 

“TRAPPED IN A CAVE DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO TRAPPED IN A CAVE DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO TRAPPED IN A CAVE DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO TRAPPED IN A CAVE” 

“LET’S GO SAVE DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO LET’S GO SAVE DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO LET’S GO SAVE DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO LET’S GO SAVE!”

“SAFE AT LAST DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO SAFE AT LAST DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO SAFE AT LAST DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO SAFE AT LAST!” 

“You guys are too adorable” Lady Penelope says. 

Night has fully fallen now, and with it the boys’ inhibitions and dignity have evaporated with the daylight and they are now dancing their way through whatever song that comes on. Wild songs that see them dancing round the fire all holding hands and laughing. Slow songs which Lady Penelope and Gordon take centre stage for, dancing like their the only two people in the world. Fast songs they dance wildly too. 

“Is anyone going to bed?” Jeff asks, just after four o’clock. The fire is starting to die down now, and with it the temperature is dropping. He is starting to feel the chill in the air and he can tell by looking at Alan who is standing over the dying fire, rubbing his hands together to keep them warm that he is not the only one. 

No one protests, as they tiredly march back to the house, Scott and Virgil taking the time to make sure the fire is out. 

*TB*

“So, Gordy Shark” Lady Penelope says once they are alone in Gordon’s room. “Want round two of what we got up to in Thunderbird One?” 

Gordon grins before he strips his shirt off and jumps into the bed. 

*TB*

Scott leaves for his vacation the following afternoon, carrying one rucksack full of everything he is going to need for his trip, after forcing all four of his brother’s sign a contract that they will tell him immediately if he is needed. 

There is an immense feeling of relief as he gets settled in the cabin he has rented, looking out of the window at the sun glittered lake. This is the perfect place, miles away from civilisation and the problems he deals with every day. 

The only issue he faces here, is will he want to return to that chaos when his dream holiday is over?

[killjoyhistoryarchive]

“Conventional Weapons” and the Rocky Road to “Danger Days”

In 2009, My Chemical Romance was buzzing with activity. The band performed several shows and festivals (including Summer Sonic in Japan), Gerard and Mikey Way attended San Diego Comic Con, and The Umbrella Academy was named one of Amazon’s top comics of 2009. Ray Toro held a Whopper eating contest on the official MCR website (no joke), while a certain comic series written by Gerard Way and Shaun Simon was announced in August. And at a show at the Roxy in Los Angeles, MCR performed three new songs from their upcoming album.

But while their next album seemed easily slated for an early 2010 release, MCR was about to hit a series of hurdles that would leave them with a scrapped album, a lost drummer, and a totally new outlook on where their music was headed.

On July 31st, 2009, MCR performed a set at the Roxy that included three new songs–“Kiss The Ring,” “The Drugs,” and “Death Before Disco.” Gerard was enthusiastic about the new tracks, even telling Rolling Stone that “Death Before Disco” was “the greatest song we’ve ever written.” Videos of the tracks soon appeared online, where fans eagerly devoured what they thought would be the follow-up to 2006’s The Black Parade.

As the days and weeks went on, the media blitz kicked into high-gear. While Ray Toro posted short studio clips on MCR’s website, the band gave several interviews where they gushed about producer Brendan O'Brien, discussed their new stripped-down style, and claimed that this would be their best record yet. In an interview with MTV, Gerard described the still-untitled album as a “true love letter to rock and roll,” adding:

“There’s something about being an American rock-and-roll band that we’ve kind of grown into and we’re very proud of. And I think that’s what we’re celebrating with this record. There’s no agenda, there’s no mission; it’s just about rock and roll.”

Meanwhile, Gerard Way and close friend Shaun Simon had another surprise in store: a comic series called "Killjoys.” Dark Horse Comics announced the release at San Diego Comic Con. Jeremy Atkins, the Dark Horse Director of Public Relations, described “Killjoys” as “a psychedelic rock-and-roll road trip adventure geared toward both fans of The Umbrella Academy and My Chemical Romance.” But not much else was said about the comic, as MCR’s upcoming album had become Gerard’s top priority.

As the album drew closer to completion, MCR gave fans more glimpses of what lay in store. They shared the titles of various tracks, including “Still Alive,” “Trans Am,” “Hail To The King,” “Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back," “L.A. Heavy,” "The Only Hope For Me Is You,” and “Black Dragon Fighting Society.” They cited a variety of influences, including Queen, Judas Priest, Bruce Springsteen, The Killers, and Blade Runner. By all accounts, this was going to be MCR’s defining album.

In December, MCR previewed seven tracks for SPIN magazine. A month later, in January of 2010, the album–which was still untitled–was rumored to be released on March 30th. As they continued to rework the songs, they realized that the stripped-down sound wasn’t working. As NME reported in January:

Things turned around with a song called “Trans Am,” now renamed "Bullet Proof Heart,” the likely first single. And perversely, they did it by returning to fiction. Broadly, it’s about a boy in New Jersey, dressed in a Judas Priest T-shirt, called Johnny. And a girl called Jenny who might be his girlfriend, but who also (honk the pop fact sirens!) might also be the missing girl from “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine” by The Killers.

But in the same interview, Gerard restated that the album would give "the purest, best version of the band you could ever hope for.” And in early February, MCR finally started to wrap up production, telling Big Cheese that the album would probably be released in spring or summer.

“Killjoys” also looked promising–back in January, Scott Allie had reported in a blog post that Shaun Simon and Becky Cloonan were ready to get started. Once Gerard wrapped up the album and finished working on the Umbrella Academy movie screenplay, it seemed like he’d be ready to dive in.

But February was also when the band publicly stumbled for the first time.

Before the Big Cheese interview, MCR had abruptly cancelled their appearance at the Soundwave festival in Australia. In a blog post on MCR’s website, Frank claimed that Gerard was having voice problems (he jokingly implied that it was due to coffee and cigarettes) and required treatment to make a full recovery.

Fans were disappointed, but most understood that it couldn’t be helped. But a month later, the fandom received another shock: MCR’s drummer Bob Bryar had departed the band. In another blog post, Frank told fans:

As of 4 weeks ago, My Chemical Romance and Bob Bryar parted ways. This was a painful decision for all of us to make and was not taken lightly. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and expect you all to do the same. We also wanted to give you all a quick heads up on how the record is progressing. We have been writing some very powerful new songs so this week the four of us entered the studio once again, and what has been ending up on tape each night is some of the most exciting and honest work we have ever created.

The fandom was stunned. Clearly, MCR had been experiencing some behind-the-scenes turmoil, suggesting that the process wasn’t going as smoothly as fans had thought. While it wasn’t known at the time, they also parted ways with producer Brendan O'Brien, who had been hired specifically to channel their raw, back-to-basics sound. Where would MCR go from here? And when would fans hear the latest album–which was apparently undergoing rewrites once again?

It wasn’t until late 2010 that fans would finally learn what had happened to this unreleased album.

This moment, says frontman Gerard Way, looking back on what went wrong, “was the hardest part”. Guitarist Ray Toro was “home dealing with some family things”, leaving Way, his bassist brother Mikey, and guitarist Frank Iero alone in the mixing studio. “The sinking feeling was really starting to become loud that it wasn’t right - that the record wasn’t finished, I couldn’t even put them in a track order … "Thinking about it now, it’s kind of upsetting, because I just felt so lost,” Gerard says.

This was discussed in an interview with Herald Sun, where they talked about the process of starting again after the departure of their drummer and producer. Speaking to Music Radar, Ray Toro talked about the struggles the band had with original producer Brendan O'Brien, admitting that it hadn’t gone as well as they once thought:

“He was really trying; he did the best he could with us. He knew things weren’t clicking, and he’d try to rally us. I remember he said, ‘Hey, on some songs, I’d love to hear you do what you did on The Black Parade.’ Because there wasn’t any of the harmonized guitar parts or the stacking that I usually do. He was trying to get us to make one record, and we wanted to make something totally different.

Musically, we wanted to go back to our basement. But just because we wanted to do something different didn’t make it easy. In many ways, we felt as though we were holding ourselves back creatively. We were going through the motions. Some of the songs were good, but we weren’t happy with all of them.”

Needing a break, Gerard took a vacation to the desert that surrounded Los Angeles. There, as he told Terminal 5, he realized “I had started the band after 9/11 when I hated art. Black Parade had been about hiding and punishment. I couldn’t tell the truth so I’d talk about cancer instead. I had to put on a mask to show people who I really was. But now it was time to own it. To be who I was before this band started. And I had something in my back pocket: this song, ‘Na Na Na.’”

Reunited with producer Rob Cavallo, who had worked on The Black Parade, the band kicked things off with “Na Na Na.” Gerard and Shaun Simon’s comic “Killjoys,” once a separate side project that had nothing to do with the band, suddenly became the concept that they formed the album around. Fueled by fresh creative energy, the band wrote and re-wrote tracks, came up with concepts and characters like Dr. Death Defying, and shredded the limitations that had confined them. At one point, Gerard turned to his brother Mikey and said “Danger Days, here we come again!”

Not everything from the previous record was scrapped. “Trans Am” became “Bulletproof Heart”; “Death Before Disco” became “Party Poison.” A few new versions of old tracks appeared on the record, as well as the Mad Gear and Missile Kid EP that came later. But MCR’s fourth album had gone from a rock and roll record that deliberately avoided ambitious storylines, to a vividly realized concept album that invited fans into the world of post-apocalyptic California. In many ways, it was the opposite of what they had originally planned. And it seemed to be exactly what they had been looking for.

During this time, Frank snapped in-studio photos that he sold on MCR’s official website, offering one-of-a-kind peeks into the recording process. In March, Mikey Way stated in a blog post that “One day you will wake up, and nothing will ever be the same again, but it’ll feel like an old friend.” He was talking about upcoming changes to the MCR website, but in a way that statement reflected the band’s process at the time–they had completely reinvented themselves, and yet there was still a certain familiarity in the old tracks they had revamped.

The band completed the album with fresh energy, offering sporadic updates in the coming months. Fans waited with some skepticism to see what MCR had in store. And finally, one day in early September, MCR’s website disappeared and was replaced with a mysterious transmitter. The Danger Days era had begun.

But was the scrapped album hidden away, never to be heard again? Not quite.

In 2012, in a blog post on MCR’s website, Frank talked about the feelings of depression that he had faced after The Black Parade. He felt like MCR had done it all, leaving them with nothing left to accomplish. In November 2008, Gerard called him up to talk about the band. As new ideas took shape, they prepared to start recording the album that would eventually be scrapped after months of work.

Frank pointed out that while the band had limited themselves during the recording of this album, the songs weren’t inherently bad–in fact, some of them were among his favorites that the band had produced. As time passed, he developed a greater appreciation for the tracks. And when the band met up and listened to those songs, they decided to release a selection of tracks to the public–two tracks a month for the next five months, for a total of ten.

After all this time, the album finally had a title: Conventional Weapons. Tracks included “Kiss The Ring,” “The World Is Ugly,” “Surrender The Night,” and the fan-favorite “The Light Behind Your Eyes.” Listening to the tracks, it was clear that MCR had aimed for a rock album with a pure American sound–no ambitious concepts or storylines, just a set of killer tracks. Whether they succeeded is up to the listener to decide, but they provided some insight into what came before Danger Days.

Due to its unconventional release, and the fact that the album was a series of random tracks and not a finished product, Conventional Weapons is not considered an “official” MCR album. But while Danger Days was the final album, Conventional Weapons was the final release before MCR broke up in 2013. Since the split, the release of CW has caused many fans to wonder–will My Chemical Romance’s fifth (and unreleased) album ever be shared in a similar fashion? Or will it be locked away forever, like the other CW tracks that were never released?

Only time will tell. But for now, Conventional Weapons serves as an intriguing part of MCR’s history–a time when the band set out to make one type of album, and ended up making the complete opposite.

(Picture credits: 1 2 3. Other in-studio photos by Frank Iero.)

[Originally published 07.09.2017]

[lihikainanea]

I'm really missing state/county fairs this summer - I'm assuming you have something similar in Canada..? So I'm imagining Bill taking tiger to a local fair, but being absolutely horrified at how death trap-y the rides are (of course she'd still ride them all while Bill bites his nails on the ground). She'd challenge him to a strength contest, get their fortunes told by one of those creepy animatronic ladies, eat waaay too much cotton candy, and cry at all the baby animals...

oh my god, I have such a deep, deep love for really tacky, corny small town fairs. I purposely seek them out every summer, I drive hours away to the small countryside and I am just so happy. It’s everything, you know? The deep fried Oreos. The cotton candy. The games, the whack-a-mole, the darts, the water gun game.The arm wrestle machine. The corn dogs, popcorn in paper containers. It’s dudes on stilts, (one cute kid pointed to Bill and said “Mama how come his stilts aren’t as big as the others?” and tiger fucking died of laughter). It’s the baby goats. The llamas.

One llama spit in tiger’s hair and Bill had to help her clean it out as she shrieked, then had to stop her from fighting the llama. (”Tiger it’s just an alpaca!” “ALPACA PUNCH TO ITS FUCKING FACE”)

And what gets me is once again, tiger is just kind of dumbstruck by her big dude you know? Because here they are in the weirdest, grungy surroundings--bales of hay everywhere, scarecrows, weird carnival people, the house of mirrors, clowns (shudder), and tiger is once again struck by just how beautiful Bill is in situations like this. In surroundings like this. And she wants to be angry at him, but he’s got that little lopsided smile on his face and his eyes are so kind as he looks at her and asks if she’d like another corndog, after she inhaled both of hers in a total of 3 bites.

She gets her face painted. She’s the only adult in line, but she doesn’t care. A big, beautiful butterfly--butterflies were granny’s favourite--across half of her face, sparkles and all. Bill snaps a cute picture of her beaming at the camera. They sneak into a photobooth, her on his lap and god he barely fits in there. His knees are probably so scrunched up, that they’re in the photo. One is a goofy shot. One is a sweet shot of both of them smiling big at the camera. One is a shot of when she grabbed his cheeks, squishing them together as he reaches around and pulls her eyebrows up. And the last one--because you know I’m a sap--the last one he just pulls her in for a sweet kiss, and like idiots, they lose themselves in it. It’s only when a couple on the outside--ones who have been waiting for a full five minutes since the last flash went off--knock hesitantly on the booth and pull the curtain back just a tad, that they jump apart. Tiger turns red, blushes, scrambles off of him.

When the photos drop Bill snatches them, holds them high above his head so he can get the first look while tiger jumps and practically climbs him. He smiles when he sees the last one, ripping it off and tucking it into his jacket pocket before handing her the rest.

“Hey!” she says, “I want to see that one!”

“What one?” he plays dumb.

“The one you just ripped off,” she cries, “Give it!”

She goes to smack him but he just pushes her away lightly.

“No idea what you’re talking about kid,” he smirks.

The ride the Scrambler. They ride the tilt a whirl. The tea cups (The smartass carnival dude made a comment about how they don’t have a maximum height limit but that he also didn’t have the Jaws of Life if Bill got stuck. Bill has to stop tiger from fighting that guy, too.)

They get cotton candy and caramel corn for the ride home, but it’s a lot cause. Tiger does up her seatbelt and as soon as Bill reaches over for some popcorn, she grabs his hand and shoves his thumb in her mouth, promptly falling asleep for the entire drive.

[dise7se]

you can’t make a mistake (on these kind of ice skates)

by spideysforce

It begins like this: MJ and Ned show up to his and May’s apartment first thing in the morning, their incessant knocking on the front door with ushered whispers, “Peter!” followed by even more knocking. HIs heart is beating fast and he gets out of bed, whispering-shouting back at his friends to not wake Aunt May up.

Regrettably, they do wake Aunt May up at 7AM on her Saturday morning off after working 9 shifts in a row at the hospital. May still pulls Ned and MJ into the apartment, telling them she missed them, hugging them good morning and giving Peter the glare for not opening the door sooner. She may be allowing the squad to venture off on their own the winter break of their senior year, but she lays down the ground rules for their trip to the mountains outside of the city, streaked with frozen lakes they’ll venture out to skate in; She expects no blood, no blunt traumas, death, or ice all over the floor of the car. 

He felt like a little kid ten years ago, a couple of years living with Aunt May and Uncle Ben. He had recently become accustomed to living with them, they began their own traditions. After celebrating Hanukkah and when Peter got out of school for the new year, they would drive out to the mountains to sit in scenic view parking lots, an early morning radio playing exclusive MET players in winter leagues content from their practices. May would set up the trunk, and they’d all squeeze in with the door propped open, huddling close and watching the trees sway. It was breathtaking; Ben usually stood too close to rocky cliffs to capture the perfect photo, propping him up on his shoulders to get the higher angle he couldn’t score himself. The same excited feeling from the night before, the excitement and him not being able to sleep, his stomach does leaps while he watches his friends tow their bags in. It was a meteorshower visible in the night sky, digging his fingers into fresh dirt in the spring, the first snowfall of the season.

    “May, are you sure you can’t come with?” Peter asks once more, slouching and pouting his lips. He needs to raise the dramatics, she’s the best ice skater he knows. 

“Sorry, baby. It’s my day off, and you three deserve your own fun little trip.” She fastens his puffy jacket on, zipping it up to the top, yet never snagging his chin. He groans once he catches MJ hiding a laugh behind her hand. 

“You two are next,” May smiles in a knowing way, “don’t you think I’m going to let my kids go outside in the freezing cold with their jackets unzipped.”

“Of course, Aunt May,” Ned replies with his manners by the Leeds family never failing, standing happily besides Peter and chewing on his morning bagel. MJ sips on her coffee, grabbing Peter’s blue and white snowflake-knitted hat with a pom pom on the top. 

“Please, no, MJ,” Peter complains, shaking his head to dodge the hat in her hand, May turning her gaze to Ned and huffing about kids, when Ned shrugs in agreement. “Seriously, you’re messing up my hair that I work so hard to naturally stay this luscious and wavy.”

“You know who you sound like?” 

May turns to Peter to give him a very pointed look with a raised eyebrow, and he knows exactly where this is going. “Just like Tony. Always worrying about the hair, the sunglasses, how muscular you look in the Spidey suit.”

“May,” Peter shrieks, his face turning scarlet red while the room erupts into laughter from his friends who are totally betraying him right now. “That was one time in front of the mirror! Don’t get me wrong, I am very muscular in the suit, but you can’t just--”

“Can you just finish putting your hat on and get out of here already, go take your film photos for your photography project,” May presses a kiss to his forehead, gasping and taking a step once she realizes she needs to stay on the tip of her toes to reach him. 

“Yes, May,” he says mildly, “ice skating, photos, and back home. No shenanigans.”

With that, she ushers the three of them to the door, reminding them no web fluid experiments in the middle of the woods, skating where they aren’t allowed, or no fighting unsolicited sea monsters, or any monsters at all  like last summer. She exhales, her shoulders slumping and she’s giving him the same look that Happy and Tony give him before their spontaneous lectures, notorious anecdotes included. She says more ‘love you’s, sending them on their way.

---

MJ, Peter, and Ned drive May’s 1989 Revolvo outside of the city, taking the open highway to the mountains about an hour out. Peter took the driver’s seat, Ned in the front, and MJ opting to sit in the back with all their skating equipment. The car is full of laughter, music, and chattering in their ears on the drive to the lake, in true Peter Parker ADHD style, MJ and Ned Facetiming Flash and Betty, asking them to meet them on their hike.

The first thing he notices that gives him butterflies is MJ rolling the window down the second they reach the George Washington bridge, letting her curly hair- that usually smells like coconut oil and shea butter- sweep through the wind. His stomach flutters, watching her through the rearview mirror with a wide grin splat across his face, a laughter probably bubbling in her chest like his and Ned’s are full of. 

As if his big, doey heart eyes aren’t big enough, he finds Uncle Ben’s old film camera he gifted to Peter secure around her neck, snapping photos across the moving bridge. Of the sky, of him, of Ned, the car besides them on the right that honks angrily at them. He hastily laughs, asking her to get back inside the car before her face freezes.

Why is his heart beating so fast? Why is he beaming so hard at his best friend beside him, pretending to reprimand his best friend in the back of the car?

Once they’re outside of the city, Ned passes a stick of gum to each of them the moment their ears pop from the change in pressure. They argued the entire way about their school advisors, not really knowing what to do next on their way to college. They all remind him of himself in their own way, and he’s starting to miss them already. MJ wants to study law and criminology, with a forensic biology minor. After Ned graduates he wants to study computer engineering, and Peter wishes he was so sure of himself like they were.

He doesn’t offer much.

It’s fine, because his friends have been helping him figure it out, hence them pushing him to apply to this photography scholarship and contest. Every time he dares to bring up a double major in STEM and photography, his advisors laugh in his face and shut him down. They make it nearly impossible to talk, but his friends are there for him and remind him he can go at his own pace, reminding him he has his alter-ego to worry about.

Peter pulls the car off into a dirt road, surprised he even knows how to drive as a Queens dweller. They follow a path, Ned gripping onto his door handle. “Oh, G-d, Peter. Be careful! Look, there’s a squirrel!”

“Ned,” he gulps, Michelle smirking at their cowardice from the backseat of the car.

“Come on, it’s just dirt,” she suggests, and quirks her brow from an idea. Once the car is silent besides the lowered music, she jumps out and yells in Ned’s ear to watch out.

He jumps, yelling, “that isn’t cool!” and throws something back at her while Peter finds a spot on the side of the mountain. He slams on the brakes to shut them up, their petulant arguing coming to an end once they see the scenic rest stop.

As promised, his friends let him push them around and guide them like cattle to get the perfect shots. He crouches across the parking lot away from them, hearing their hushed whispers and laughters about how ridiculous he looks. “It’s for the aesthetic, okay!”

He opts for the colored film, replacing the entire roll of 50 they used just on the drive here. He shuts the back of the film camera, reeling the film roll until it catches, and finds the perfect shot of his friends whispering and slowly becomes entranced by the actual scenic view. He captures the sky from a new perspective, blocking out all of his surroundings.

He shows his friends the sky, he shows them the car headlights shining on their hearts, and the sun shining on their faces. He captures the muddled sunshine through Michelle’s curls, a blush forming on her face from the camera being too close along with Peter holding it.

His heart skips a beat every time he photographs Michelle, finding a new beautiful thing about her to be lovestruck over.

He takes portraits of the both of his best friends, planning on printing all of these photos 100 times to hang them in his room, to give to them, and to place all over the photography critique and display wall. He sat on the cold gravel road and his friends had to dust him off. His photos look how he feels swinging off of buildings at night, finding one billboard sign, like outside of Matt’s apartment that illuminates the entire block in oversaturated neons. There weren’t iron bars and concrete filling the frame like his photos from the city, it was green trees with branches draping above them, brushing across their faces, a palette of turquoise, grays, and greens.

Peter brought color into the achromatic, washed out world.

There was a photograph he knew he was going to print to become poster-sized, the subject blown up huge because he wanted to reach out into the photo itself, not yet developed. He imagines his hands in the chemical infested waters, bleach and fixer pouring down his hands. 

Ned and MJ both hang their abdomens off of the large metal railing, rockfall barriers they wrap around, the mountains blurred horizontally in the back. MJ���s hair carefully drapes over the edge of the railing, blowing in the wind. Ned stares past him, suspended in air right behind Michelle. The bars are set impossibly straight, but MJ and Ned’s body destroy the thirds in a beautiful, alluring way. Their arms dared to swing over the edge of the mountainside, throwing them into the flesh if the barred metal wasn’t holding them. Too close to the edge, too close to the sky.

“I got it,” he pants, unbelievably bashed at the one click of the shutter. The focal point is always set to 50mm and an aperture of 1.8. 

It was like chemistry, physics, it was Murphy’s Law; Whatever can happen in his film roll, will happen. 

He lowers the camera down from his face, MJ and Ned already out of there poses, he finds them smiling at him.

---

As promised in an unsaid way, MJ, Ned, and Peter cling onto each other to get the hang of skating. They each hurt themselves at least once quickly leaning over to lace their own skates leaning out of the car, parking nearby the lake and hiking across the icy-snow to get to the icy lake. The area is empty, and the mountains hover above them through the trees, sending a chill their way.

Not before long after testing the ice themselves and deeming it safe by the signs, they’re gliding along the icy lake and pulling each other down in each desperate tug to stay upright.

Ned points out, “I thought you were good at ice-skating! You’re Spider-Man!”

“Exactly!” he shrieks back, his left leg gliding in front of him causing him to flail his arms to find balance. “I web-swing! I don’t ice skate for a reason.”

Peter clears his throat, gliding over to MJ who watches Ned with a relaxed smile while he skates around the perimeter. Out of the three of them, he picks skating up the quickest, naturally fleeting over the ice with precision. “It’s not nice to hover, you know.”

He whips his head to the side to look at her, his ADHD brain reminding him it’s a joke and she’s messing with him before he falls into his own spiral of self-doubt. He smiles at her, her beige puffy coat covering her chin and she smiles into the enclosed space, looking up at him. Her hands are in her pocket, and he reaches playfully to warm his own hands up in the jacket.

“Uh, so--” he clears his throat, “it’s so cold out, right? I mean, the temperature is around freezing and we spent an hour in the mountains--”

“Yep, cold.”

“I had a lot of fun, like, I know we’re best friends and all and I’d do anything for you guys, but what you both did-- I got the perfect shot. I really did it,” he talks lamely, wondering how he still stumbles over his words around his crush he kissed in Europe. “You know, I’m probably just.. I think I’ll go take more pictures? I’ve never felt so alive and nostalgic taking pictures, and like Uncle Ben used to tell me-- Okay, I can’t take you looking at me like this.”

Amused, MJ smiles with his face too close to hers while they share body heat, hitching her shoulders. “You know I can hear your inner monologue, right?”

“It’s just-- you know, we’re hanging out. It’s not totally lame with me ruining it, we can forget this happened..”

She leans forward, leaning her forehead to his. “Do we have a reason not to?”

Right, yeah. They can do this, he thinks.

The feelings between them are confusing, and even though they’ve kissed, that was probably just a spur-of-the-moment thing, right? He did save her life and their friends, they were scared. And holding hands? That’s what all friends do-- 

His brain almost can’t process this all at once, and he thinks his cheeks can’t redden even more despite the cold and he’s sure she can see the tip of his ears burning pink-- 

He scrambles, nearly reeling back in the ice when she plants a kiss on his cheek. Her grin is huge, and she gently takes his hands out of her pockets and skates away, his heart rate struggles and he thinks this is how he’ll faint. From tachycardia. 

Ned’s voice fills overhead, and he grabs his camera from the side of the frozen lake to join them again. Persistent chills run down his spine, the misty freeze coming from the ground. They let Peter stand in the middle, lacing their hands together to skate in a chain, disastrously. It was at this moment the teenagers truly regretted not taking skating in Central Park seriously until last year, their skills unabashedly catastrophic, giving it up after they realized they can celebrate winter break inside, baking for everyone in the apartment building. 

The three of them realized Peter has his web-shooters equipped to their wrists when Ned clung onto him, nearly slipping and he tugged him up, and in their laughter released a web that shot into the snow across the lake. They stoof, starstruck, and could anyone blame them and their impulsivity? And so, what had started as simple skating to shoot film, documenting their lives beyond a surface-level way.

Ned retreats back to the sidelines, sitting a few feet away in the car on the side after skating for nearly an hour. The three of them pant in exhaustion, massaging their own limbs and stretching. Michelle attempted a jump on the ice while he went to go check on Ned, screeching and landing in an almost-split. 

He decided to keep quiet about the slight buzz that begins forming at the back of his head, crediting it to nearly slipping every five seconds on the ice. 

“Come take a break with me, I’m about to eat one of our many junk-food snacks until we can get lunch,” Ned offers after, he thinks he noticed the concern on his face from the haywire senses and doesn’t want to alert Michelle. He must suspect the way he starts shivering, too, so he sits in the passenger seat that faces the lake, besides Ned.

Ned looks at Peter, and he simply smiles back because he doesn’t want to worry his best friend. He chucks off his gloves, cleaning the camera from where it sat in ice and says he’ll be right back to take pictures in the smaller icy lake away from them.

He drags himself along the snow, taking big steps to account for the heavy skates on his feet towards the tiny icy lake besides them. He sees Ned and MJ gesture to each other, Michelle nodding her head towards him in concern, who makes eye contact with him and crosses her arms and makes a shivering motion in question. He shakes his head, sending a thumbs-up that he’s okay.

He’s reached the other side of the lake, taking pictures of Michelle skating from another angle in a snow covered patch. He shivers, the incessant cold gripping him. He feels it - a hitch, but it isn’t a shiver from the cold. He’s immediately retreating back when he hears a crunch, a kr, gripping his camera a bit tighter before throwing it to the side and he turns frantically, trying to locate the alert from his legs--

Closing his eyes, he listens to the noise of small ice particles separating, deciding where the safest spot to jump to is, letting his sense direct him somewhere else. He knew he was away from the mini lake, the frozen pond for this reason. It’s technically off the lake, but there must be a small terrain of water and he stumbles around the ice.

His skates are heavy on his aching feet, the snow seeping in from the sides that’s a few inches high, his heart racing in pure adrenaline. “MJ. Get off the ice now. Get off.”

“Peter, what--”

The glaze, icy surfaces are cracking beneath him, atoms shaking. His senses won’t stop screaming at him frantically, not guiding him except for up, and it might be too late to send his web-shooters above him, the shooters in the car with his gloves. He doesn’t have enough time to warn them to grab his web shooters for him before he’s crashing into the ground, through ice and water.

He suspends in the water, the cold engulfing his entire body, it’s unlike any cold he’s felt before, even after being trapped in snow after a fight with Mysterio. It’s unthinkable, striking his entire body. He blindly panics, pitch black in his vision and his throat burns raw as he screams. 

Get up, get up, get up-- swim, swim-- 

His body is being carved out by millions of pinpricks, the cold seeping into his body and chilling his bones and the shock gouges his brain. The skates cause him to be less buoyant, his heavy legs scraping ice and getting stuck with each desperate kick and flutter to get to the surface.

He watches the bubbles rise up in the water from his mouth, screaming he can’t hear himself underwater. He didn’t have the chance to suck in a breath, his exhalation running out and twisting and tearing at his lungs. Each cell screams breathe--

He can’t hear anymore. 

Loud ringing replaces his senses, he reaches blindly upwards and his heart rattles in his chest. The freezing temperature below the ice seizes his body. He jackknifes upwards, realizing his movement is clumsy and unreflexive.

His left skate becomes stuck in a chunk of ice, and he’s back in Europe for a moment. Heat blindly covers his face, the sensation all lost. Behind his closed eyes, a hot summer heat casts over him, but he’s being burned from Mysterio sending fire his way. He’s on Titan again, cells ripping to shreds again.

He lets himself succumb to the drowsiness, reaching up once last time to feel around as the opening of the ice flees. Even if he did make it out, his lungs feel too full in his chest, he’d need to get rid of all the liquid from his lungs fast, hoping he doesn’t asphyxiate.

He thinks he sees shadows dancing above him in the water, he’s hopeful his friends would dare reach inside for him, but it wouldn’t be fair for him. He’s drifting, he slowly diminishes away and he’s so far away from them, a dizzying sunlight blinding him and allowing him to close his eyes once more. His brain shuts off, and his senses stop screaming and allow him to let go - the panic leaves him.

He thinks he’s dreaming when he feels a hand in his, another grabbing his wrist. This can’t be right, he’s about to fall asleep into the world of unconsciousness. He’s too weak to fight the tug upwards, seeing stars all in front of him. A black canvas streaked with colors, twinkling in the night sky. He thinks he hits the air again, but he can’t take a breath in so it must not be real. He feels his body being tossed down onto the ground like a ragdoll, dragging through the snow that feels hot, lava on his skin. Is he eulogizing himself, a cynical last vision that he truly did live?

His vision comes back, he thinks, unable to cough and his legs feel ready to burst inside his body. He’s turned to his side, snowflakes falling from the sky. He thinks he can see very single snowflake in front of him, dancing for him, he thinks behind the ringing he can hear shouting, wake up! 

He wants to listen to each voice, millions of seconds passing between each frantic shout. He.. he must be allowed to close his eyes.. He wants to be taken back to the lake after succumbing to rest. He falls, stars accompanying him.

---

MJ’s boots begin to slip on the edge of the ice, bits of icicles falling into the water where Peter thrashes. “Shit, shit, shit,” she cries out, perching herself safely to grab onto his hand in the water with Ned searching frantically for his web-shooters and anything else they can use to pull Peter out of the water with.

After a minute, she’s dragging him out of the water with newfound strength, watching his blue body retreat from the water and she screams out, sobbing now. She won’t give up. She won’t give up on him, Aunt May, or on them.

“Hang off, babe, I’ve got you,” she says, looking down at him as he desperately tries to gasp for air. She begins chest compressions, unable to think. She never thought she’d be fast on the spot for an emergency, but she thinks she screams at Ned to call 911, forgetting he’s still on the line with them.

Once she gets a pulse, she and Ned carry Peter to the car. They frantically cover his body in every coat and blanket they find, thanking G-d May has spares in the trunk in case of an emergency. She shrugs her coat off, leaving her sweater on. She springs herself into the backseat, Ned doing the same in the front with the heat already blasting. She’s frantically explaining to whoever is on the other end of the phone, voice breaking as she begs for help. “He’s- he’s breathing on his own now, but he’s blinking at us. What do I do--”

A few minutes pass, she’s not sure how she hasn’t passed out yet. May’s murmuring in her ear through the phone, that Tony is talking to Ned while he drives and that he’s going to talk to her next. She’s pretty sure she agrees, but she’s curled up around Peter, his body on her lap. She gives him warmth, listening to Tony spew medical terminology at her and how to treat hypothermia. 

“You’re gonna be okay. I promise. You can’t die on us,” she whispers into the air, the car engine roaring.

--

Once Peter returns, he wonders if he’s dead when he’s conscious again. His brain registers warmth and lumps beneath him. He blearily opens his eyes, the action too much, his head is in someone’s lap. They run their hands gently through his cold hair. He feels hands around his socked-feet, and he furrows his brows in confusion. He begins to shift a little, feeling a gentle pressure on his arm and leg. There’s warmth all around his body, which is heavy but safe, it's as safe as May’s arms, Ben’s arms during a thunderstorm that shook the building, Tony’s arms after Titan. He closes his eyes, moaning and he’s ready to drift--

“Peter Benjamin Parker,” May sighs above him.

His first thought is to gasp for air, coughing and feeling his lungs clattering in his chest, his sternum erupting in pain. It feels like a hacksaw to his sternum when he breathes. 

He whimpers quietly, hearing soft shushing above him. It’s a different sound from the constant headache of the ringing, but he hears the familiar whirr of the refrigerator and picks up four familiar heartbeats. His heart feels surmounted by grief, over the sea, left far away.

He blinks his eyes open past tears, recognizing the bookcase in front of him in the living room of the apartment, with a warm body at his feet on the couch. He’s in May’s lap, “Peter, hey,” May says softly, grounding him by placing a hand on his back. “You’re okay. I’m right here.”

She places her chin to his hair, sighing, and he sags into her arms. He thinks his feet are in Tony’s lap, his foot catching his side.

“Oh, kiddo,” Tony soothes, squeezing his foot gently. 

“MJ? Ned?” He rasps out, no voice there and he turns frantically.

“Don’t worry, baby,” May says softly, he almost didn’t catch it. “MJ’s asleep in the chair besides Tony, Ned’s asleep in the other. We’re all crashing from adrenaline.

His head pounds at his movements, his arms feel sluggish, but he pushes himself off of May to find his friends, safe. “Oh-- fuck. Thank, G-d.”

“Language,” May admonishes kindly, settling him further into the couch comfortably by shifting pillows. “How are you feeling?”

Noticing hers and Tony’s eyes on him, searching, both their phones to the side of them and the window allowing pink and purple streaks inside, painting the furniture and the gold illustrating each facial feature of theirs. His friends sleep in the shadows, covered in soft blankets.He switches gazes between them. Tony moves him gently, wrapping his blankets tightly around him.

He’s guessing May removed some of his soaking clothes, exchanging his clothes and he notices the fresh white cotton t-shirt on his body, smelling of fresh fabric softener. 

“Kid, you’re going to give me an aneurysm one of these days. Or, better yet, you’re going to burst my arteries yourself.” He fixed Peter with a pointed look, sighing. “I mean, you’re almost in college. I shouldn’t still be doing this.”

Everything he says comes off lightheartedly, but every word is laced with concern. He desperately wants to get argue back, but he knows today is his fault. He ignored his senses, and he doesn’t have a good enough excuse. Would he have been able to save his friends if it happened to them?

Like Tony can sense exactly what he’s thinking, he continues to assure him. “You’re hypothermic. You were blue, Pete, but your dislocated knee mixed in isn’t the worst you’ve done..”

He sighs, looking away from Tony and opting to listen to the kettle in the kitchen, May shifting his head off of her lap and into the couch cushion to it off and stares at Tony’s phone on the table.

“It was stupid, I know. I’m so sorry, everyone,” he finally says, none of the words being announced like he wants, his throat tender and unhealed, lifting his head off the pillow and moans in pain. He’s able to sit up, leaning heavily against a pillow with his elbow propping him up. He ignores the piercing pain in his ribs. ”I checked the water. I-- I wasn’t thinking, I guess.”

Tony sounded as frantic as he did back when he first yelled at him after the nearly-disastrous ferry incident. “That’s part of the problem. You are thinking, kid. You’d never do this willfully. You always jump the gun, which is something also great about you.. It can also be a great flaw.”

“Did they get hurt?” he whispers, turning back to the two teens on the smaller one-person couches.

“Nobody except for you, kiddo,” May reassures him, walking back in with a steaming mug in her hands. He takes this moment to redirect his gaze to his arm when he grabs it, his stiff elbow poked with a needle. “IV, baby. Needed to warm you up with warm saline.”

She sighs, sitting on the glass coffee table in front of him and not bothering to move the newspaper. “We’re worried, Peter. I can’t protect you like I need to, want to.” 

He collapses back down into the pillow, oblivious to May and Tony’s secret communication with each other. May, nodding for Tony to sit beside her and in front of Peter. It probably isn’t comfortable for him, but he looks over to May for answers. She furrows her brows, her mouth set in a line.

He almost smiles, seeing the two of them in front of him again when he’s not dying. The relief quickly turns to worry when he remembers what happened, guilt refusing to subside. He’s huddled in the couch, like a cold, rejected dog, signs of frostbite all over him. It’s his own fault - he didn’t listen to his sense. The dark, insidious fear of death looms over his head once more, he really scared his friends today. And himself.

Murphy’s Law comes back to his head, an anxiety swirling in his stomach. It’s an ugly, black hurricane feeling, especially seeing the dejection and defeat written on both their faces. 

“I--” he can’t manage, but the two of them see hesitation flicker across his face, voice too quiet and broken. “I’m just- I messed up. T’ny ta-taught me so much, I didn’t listen--” he cuts himself off, his voice unrecognizable, eyes widening in surprise, a realization.

“It was all my f’ult. I sc’red them, badly.” Pressing himself deeper into the corner of the pillow, tears overflow his eyes, hot streaks across his face he doesn’t expect. A shiver racks through him, not from the cold.

Tony leans over closer to him, his breath warm even through the blankets and on his exposed arm, his own hand hovering above him in hesitation, the inhibition set across his face. His mentor takes a deep breath in, gently grabbing the back of the couch and placing a kiss to the top of his head. He must’ve really fucked up today, he thinks.

He watches the fear streak across Tony’s eyes, too familiar to Titan. Peter feels deeply rooted in the couch, frozen solid from his core. He doesn’t know what the end of the story is, fear ebbing away, and he really looks at Peter face on. “I’m sorry.”

Peter feels frustrated again, just like the morning when half the world that died was brought back, feeling alone. 

He lets his tears take over him, letting May hold him on the couch, feeling too weak to do anything else. She ends up pulling Peter into her lap again, rubbing circles on her shoulder and letting her own tears escape from her eyes, some falling onto his white t-shirt. He trembles under her, Tony reaching over to squeeze his hand, the arm with an IV. He soothes small circles with his thumb, drawing patterns on his skin and turns to May with owlishly wide eyes.

“It’s alright, kiddo,” Tony whispers. “We’ve got you. May’s got you. Your friends are right here. You’re right here.”

It takes some time, but eventually Peter falls asleep like that, May and Tony’s vice-like grip never once loosening on him.