#surprisingly not piracy

[eightopals]

So Photopea is astonishingly good for what you have to pay for it, which is …nothing. Nada. Zilch. Bupkis. I have had trouble with it with large files, and it is very sensitive to whatever else is sucking up your browser resources, once you get past a small project size, so I recommend using it as the only thing you have open in that browser.

But if you need something to put together some labelled photos for a piece of documentation or usericons for Dreamwidth or photoedits or stuff like that, it can be your best buddy.

So uh….some dude apparently recreated Adobe Photoshop feature-for-feature, for FREE, and it runs in your browser.

Anyway, fuck Adobe, and enjoy!

[devilofthehounds]

[image id: An edited version of the "McDonald's Alignment Chart" meme. Written at the top is "Children Yelling: McDonalds! McDonalds! McDonalds!" To the left and below the text is chibi art of the Caligula Effect Overdose protagonists. The main part of the meme features a triangle with the three corners labelled, each featuring a character from Devil Survivor 2. The top corner is labelled "We have food at home" and features Io Nitta. The bottom left corner is labelled "*Pulls into the drive through as children cheer* *Orders a single black coffee and leaves*" and features the Devil Survivor 2 protagonist. The bottom right corner is labelled "McDonalds! McDonalds! McDonalds!" and features Daichi Shijima. /end id]

Bought Caligula Effect Overdose on sale, so have a niche crossover meme featuring an OT3 and a dream headcanon.

[spearxwind]

Dude did you see that season 2 of Prehistoric Planet is out?!?😍😍😍😍😍

I DIDNT SEE IT YET I REALLY NEED TO GOSH

[transarsonist]

law idea: products that are not currently and will not be purchasable from the parent company for the foreseeable future are not counted as "copywritten" in regard to the sharing, reproduction, and other "piracy" claims in court of law.

if you aren't selling them your customer doesn't have to buy

this is in regards to all copyright, if someone starts a factory producing clones of iPhone and iMac chips for the purpose of repairing devices, that's not copyright infringement, because apple does not sell those chips :)

if they want to keep their copyright they can put their repair chips on the public market, continue matinance of old products, etc

Nintendo will hate this law the most I'm sure.

widows is surprisingly robust to this law as you can actually buy every copy of windows ever produced right now on windows website, albeit you might have a hard time finding it because they'd PERfer you didn't.

streaming companies dropping original content from their service for tax purposes can expect to find it on YouTube the next day for free no ads

I think you all will be able to see how this will have a hotting effect on the market, where as now copyright holders have the power to delete content from the legal sphere, under this law they cannot do that. they can sell it themselves or they can give it away for free.

no more manufactured scarcity for the sake of inflating already inflated prices

[constant-state-of-self-discovery]

Be warned tho pirated games take longer to update

[cringe-butfreee]

so true. tru dat.

[axeeglitter]

Melorius's shop: Piracy in the blood

Ethan stood on the bustling street corner, peering into the dusty window of a small costume shop he had never noticed before. The worn wooden sign and faded paint suggested the shop had been there for decades, yet it was the first time Ethan had seen it. Desperate to find something unique for Halloween, he decided to step inside.

The moment he crossed the threshold, a bell jingled, and a thick wave of musty air hit him. Inside, the shop was crammed with racks of elaborate costumes. Everything from Victorian attire to knight's armor hung on the walls. The dim lighting gave the place an eerie, antique feel.

At the back of the shop, behind an old wooden counter, stood a man with silver hair and a long beard. His deep-set eyes watched Ethan with a knowing smile, though he said nothing.

Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine, but he brushed it off. He needed a costume, and this shop seemed to have exactly what he was looking for. Approaching the counter, he caught sight of an ornamented portrait painting, covered in dust, hanging on a nearby wall. The portrait looked ancient, almost as though it had been forgotten for centuries and neglected. Ethan was intrigued by it but before his brain could really focus on it, the owner appeared in front of him. “Good morning, sir, how can I help you today?” said Mister Melorius in a kind, peaceful voice.

"Hello, I was wondering if you had any costumes for a Halloween party I’m going to tonight? It’s not really my thing so I don’t really know what to wear, I know that some of my friends go as Super Heroes, other into officer. I simply have no idea what to get that could fit me." Ethan said, his voice wavering slightly.

The shopkeeper’s smile widened, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he went in the storage and came back a couple seconds after holding a box and placed it in front of Ethan. “Trust me son, this is exactly what you need!” No words were exchanged, just a simple gesture for him to take it.

Ethan, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and apprehension, picked up the box. It was surprisingly heavy. He didn’t ask any more questions, simply nodding in thanks before heading to the small dressing room tucked away in the corner of the shop.

The dressing room was cramped, with an old mirror hanging crookedly on the wall. Setting the box down on a rickety chair, Ethan carefully opened it, revealing the contents: black trousers, a white, billowing shirt with a deep V-neck, a thick leather belt, knee-high boots, and a weathered coat. An ancient looking leather harness and a couple of weapons sat neatly on top. “A pirate costume?” he thought out loud. “I mean, it could work, Julia always said she had a thing for Will Turner so maybe wearing this I’ll have a chance to approach her and finally invite for a dinner date.”

Ethan stood there in the cabin holding the clothes between his fingers, there was something undeniably authentic about the outfit. Ethan couldn’t help but feel a strange pull toward it. He removed his own clothes and began to dress, starting with the shirt. The fabric felt soft but heavy against his skin, the deep V exposing more of his chest than he was used to. Next, he pulled on the black trousers, which fit snugly against his legs.

As he tightened the leather belt around his waist, something shifted within him. His breathing grew heavier, his heart pounding in his chest. "What... what the hell?" he muttered, glancing at his reflection.

The moment he slipped into the boots, a sudden surge of heat coursed through his body, like an electric shock radiating from his feet to the top of his head. He staggered, gripping the chair for support. His reflection blurred, the mirror rippling as though it were water.

He gasped, watching in disbelief as his body began to change.

His shoulders started to broaden, muscle bulging under the fabric of the shirt. His chest heaved as it expanded, growing thicker, more defined. Hair sprouted between his pecs, the once-smooth skin now covered in coarse, dark fur. The hair spread quickly, forming a dense mat that stretched down his abdomen and forming a happy trail, stopping just above his groin.

"What’s happening to me?" Ethan’s voice trembled, but it was already deeper, rougher. He tried to pull the shirt off, but his arms wouldn’t obey. His muscles flexed against his will, as though they had a mind of their own. He could feel the power growing in his biceps, his forearms bulging with veins that snaked across his skin like ropes.

A strange anger began bubbling up from deep within him, replacing the fear he initially felt. His usual calm, quiet demeanor was slipping away, replaced by something far more aggressive, primal.

His hands, once soft and delicate, now looked like they belonged to a man who had spent years working under the sun, gripping ropes, handling weapons. The calluses formed almost instantly, thickening his palms, making them rough and unyielding.

"No... no, stop this!" Ethan’s thoughts raced, but his body continued to morph. He watched helplessly as his legs lengthened, growing taller, more imposing. His thighs swelled, pressing against the fabric of the trousers, the muscles there thick and corded. His calves, too, became more defined, the boots now fitting perfectly around his larger frame.

Then, he felt it, a sharp prickling sensation on his face. His jawline, once clean-shaven, began to darken as bristles of hair pushed through his skin. Within seconds, a thick, wild beard sprouted, covering his face. His reflection showed a man he didn’t recognize, a man far older than his 25 years.

The muscles in his face hardened, his boyish features replaced by a rugged, weathered look. His nose seemed to grow more prominent, his cheekbones higher, more angular. His lips twisted into a sneer, a cocky, arrogant grin that didn’t match the terror screaming in his mind.

"No! This isn’t me!" Ethan’s thoughts screamed, but his body didn’t care. His hands reached down on the chair, grabbing the leather harness and securing it around his chest, making sure his heavy muscled hairy pecs were pushed even higher, almost slipping out of his V line shirt. Then he grabbed the weapons before securing them too inside the harness.

He stared at his reflection, feeling the heat rising in his groin. His cock, which had always been average and uncut, now strained against the fabric of his trousers. It grew bigger and thicker with every beat of his heart. Like if his blood was transporting inches and girth with them. Then as he saw his bulge growing heavier and heavier inside his well-used pants, he started to feel a rush of sensations around his cock head. Suddenly he felt an awful pain around his girth as his foreskin disappeared in dust. His cockhead started to rub against his pants again and again. The sensation was growing duller and duller, and soon, it was something his new dick was used to. The sensitivity in his dick head dulled as though it had endured years of rough handling. His groin felt foreign to him, yet powerful. It belonged to this new body, a pirate’s body. Ethan tilted his head back up only to be met with a cocky grin plastered on his face. Suddenly, the tingling sensation started again, this time in his arm pits, legs, and most particularly around his new huge cock. From the corner of his eyes, he could see millions of hair follicles starting to grow, faster and faster, thicker and thicker, curlier and curlier. Ethan wanted to scratch, to get this itch to stop, but the only reaction he could summon from this new foreign body was to scratch his pubes before his hands automatically rise to his nose where his lungs took a deep breath. His brain was assaulted by a new sensation, his potent musk.

The smell hit him hard, an overwhelming musk of sweat, rum, and saltwater. He reeked of the sea; his skin slick with a sheen of sweat that only added to the intense masculinity radiating from him.

"No, please... I’m not this man..." Ethan thought desperately, but the man staring back at him in the mirror was no longer Ethan. He was someone else entirely. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power in his grip, the authority in his posture. He was no longer the shy, soft-spoken young man who had entered the shop.

A sinister voice echoed in his mind, low and gravelly, as his reflection smirked. "Ye be Captain Blackstorm now, lad. No turnin’ back."

The room around him shimmered and dissolved. Ethan’s heart raced, his mind spinning as he tried to comprehend what was happening. But the harder he tried to hold on to his old life, the faster it slipped away.

Ethan blinked. Darkness swallowed him for a couple of seconds and suddenly, he was no longer in the dressing room.

The creaking of wood, the crashing of waves, and the scent of saltwater overwhelmed his senses. He found himself standing on the deck of a massive pirate ship, the Blackstorm, surrounded by a rough-looking crew of only men going from 20 to 45.

Ethan tried to scream, tried to move, but his body no longer obeyed him. His mouth opened, but the words that came out weren’t his own.

"ALL HANDS ON DECK! RAISE THE BLOODY SAILS, YE SCURVY DOGS!"

His deep voice boomed across the ship, the crew scrambling to follow his orders. His body moved with the confidence and swagger of a man who had been a pirate captain for years, barking commands left and right.

"No! I’m not Captain Blackstorm! I’m Ethan! Stop this!" His mind screamed, but his body didn’t listen. The pirate captain’s cocky grin was plastered on his face as he stood at the helm of the ship, guiding it through the turbulent seas. …………..

As the days passed, Ethan’s soul became trapped inside his own head, a prisoner in a body that was no longer his. He could still think, still feel, but he had no control. Every time Captain Blackstorm laughed, every time he bellowed orders, Ethan was forced to watch, helpless and horrified, wondering if he would ever go back to his college life and see his friends and family again.

His thoughts grew darker, more confused, as Blackstorm’s memories began to replace his own. He couldn’t remember his last name anymore, or what his life had been like before the transformation. The more he tried to hold on to his identity, the more it faded.

Soon, even his name felt foreign. He wasn’t Ethan. He was Captain Blackstorm.

One night, after a particularly brutal raid on a coastal town, Blackstorm stood on the deck of his ship, surveying the spoils. Among the prisoners was a young man, dressed in fine clothes, clearly a young officer from the Spanish Marina. The man was elegant, his sharp features framed by short, curly hair. Blackstorm’s eyes locked onto him.

"Bring ‘im to me," Blackstorm growled, his voice dripping with hunger.

Blackstorm’s eyes locked onto the sailor’s terrified expression, and a predatory grin spread across his face. Ethan, trapped deep inside, recoiled in horror, not knowing what was coming but powerless to stop it.

“Tell me son, what is your name?” “My name is Paulo sir.” Said the young men with fear in his voice. He knew that he wanted a chance to survive, he had to do what this captain wanted. “And tell me, Paulo. What were you doing out there? You look around 22, a bit old to be a cabin boy.” “I was just promoted as an officer, sir. Please don’t hurt me, I’ll do anything. Please.” Paulo broke almost in tears as he remembers the legend of the captain of the Blackstorm.

"Ye look soft, lad," Blackstorm sneered, his breath hot and reeking of rum. "But ye’ll toughen up. I’ll make a proper sailor outta ye."

Ethan’s thoughts screamed in protest, but the words coming from his mouth weren’t his. "No! Stop this! I’m not him!" But the pirate captain’s voice continued to fill the air as if Ethan's consciousness no longer mattered.

Paulo, trembling in Blackstorm's grip, whimpered, "Please, sir, I’m no pirate. I, I’m just an officer."

Blackstorm chuckled darkly, his grip tightening on the young man’s shirt. "For now! Ye’ll learn soon enough, lad. Now get below deck. I’ll see to yer trainin’ myself."

Ethan’s body moved of its own accord, dragging Paulo down to the captain’s quarters, where the room was dimly lit by the soft glow of lanterns. It smelled of sweat, rum, and the salty sea air, Blackstorm’s natural musk now, deeply embedded in the walls and furniture. Ethan wanted to gag at the overwhelming odor, but instead, his body breathed it in like it was the sweetest scent.

Ethan watched helplessly as Blackstorm tossed the young officer onto the bed, his powerful muscles flexing with every movement. The younger man looked terrified, eyes darting to the door as if considering an escape, but Blackstorm was faster. He pinned the young men down, a dark hunger in his eyes.

Paulo struggled beneath him, but Blackstorm’s calloused hands, worn from years at sea, held him firmly in place. "I’ve had my eye on ye since we boarded yer commander’s ship, lad," Blackstorm growled, his voice low and gravelly. "Now, ye belong to me."

"No! I can’t let this happen! This isn’t me!" Ethan’s thoughts were frantic, but the captain’s grin only widened as he leaned closer to the young men, inhaling his scent. The fear radiating off the man seemed to excite Blackstorm, fueling his dominance.

"I’ll make ye a man of the sea, lad," Blackstorm whispered, his hands roaming over the butler’s body, feeling the smooth, uncalloused skin beneath his fingers. "You see, what makes a great captain is not the fear he inspires in his enemies; Noooooo… It’s the respect he inspires in his crew. If you have a crew devoted to you, then nothing is impossible. And I make sure that each and every one of my men are the best versions of themselves. And in exchange, they are devoted to me. Now, you have a great potential, lad, let’s see what’s hidden under the surface. We’ll start with rum, but soon enough, ye’ll learn there’s more to bein’ a pirate than just sailin’."

Ethan screamed internally, but his body reveled in the power and control Blackstorm wielded over Paulo. The pirate captain’s beard brushed against Paulo’s neck, and Ethan could feel the younger man’s pulse quicken in fear.

As Blackstorm grabbed a bottle of rum from the bedside table, uncorking it with his teeth, he forced the officer to drink. "Take it, lad. Ye’ll need this to survive aboard the Blackstorm."

Paulo sputtered, coughing as the harsh liquid burned down his throat, but Blackstorm gave him no respite. He shoved the bottle back into his hands, forcing him to drink more, the warmth of the rum spreading through his body.

With every gulp forced down his throat, Paulo could feel the heat rising in his body. Drops of sweat started to appear on his forehead as his legs started to shake and tense with pression. Soon a crack was heard as his pants started to tear at the seam. The same started to occur on his chest, then his feet. His short brown hair started to grow longer and curlier, his face sharpened a bit, his cock lengthened and lost his foreskin and the sensitivity that goes with it and his body hair started to grow under his pits, and around his cock. Soon Paulo’s body was totally transformed. A perfect specimen of a young manly men devoted to his new life style of pirate.

"Now, lad," he growled, his hands unbuttoning his new crew member’s torn shirt and pants, exposing the smooth, tanned skin beneath. "Let’s see what ye’re made of."

Ethan’s mind fought desperately to regain control, but his body didn’t listen. His hands—Blackstorm’s hands—caressed Paulo’s body with rough, experienced strokes, exploring every inch of his skin. Paulo gasped, his body responding despite himself, a mixture of fear and arousal flashing in his eyes.

Ethan’s thoughts screamed as he realized what his body was about to do. He wasn’t even attracted to men. All he wanted was to get to the party to ask Julia on a date. Ethan could feel his thought getting muted, they were growing weaker, drowned out by the sensations overwhelming his body.

Blackstorm’s cock stirred in his trousers, hardening as he pressed against Paulo’s thigh. The once-shy, soft-spoken Ethan was gone, replaced entirely by the pirate captain who reveled in his dominance, who craved the control he had over his captive.

Paulo, now panting under Blackstorm’s touch, whimpered, "Please... sir… I need … you” Blackstorm silenced him with a rough kiss, his beard scraping against his chin as the pirate’s tongue claimed his mouth.

The taste of rum lingered on the Paulo’s lips, and Blackstorm groaned, his hands gripping the man’s hips tightly as he ground against him. His cock, thick and heavy, strained against the leather of his trousers, begging to be freed.

With a swift motion, Blackstorm yanked down his trousers, exposing his throbbing length. The pirate captain wasted no time, positioning himself between Paulo’s legs, his rough hands forcing them apart.

Ethan’s mind was a swirling storm of panic and confusion, but it was drowned out by the primal lust consuming Blackstorm. His cock brushed against the ass, and with one rough thrust, he entered the younger man, groaning as he buried himself deep inside.

Paulo gasped in pain, his body tensing beneath Blackstorm, but the pirate captain didn’t stop. His thrusts were hard, brutal, and unrelenting, his cock stretching the ass in ways he had never experienced before.

"Take it, lad," Blackstorm growled, his voice thick with lust. "Ye belong to me now."

Ethan, trapped in the pirate’s mind, could only watch in horror as Blackstorm claimed the young men with each powerful thrust. The pirate’s body was drenched in sweat, his muscles flexing as he moved, the scent of musk and sea growing heavier in the small cabin.

Paulo, now whimpering beneath him, began to relax, his body slowly adjusting to the brutal rhythm. His soft cries turned to moans as Blackstorm’s cock filled him over and over again, stretching him until there was nothing but pleasure.

The captain grinned wickedly, leaning down to whisper in his new lover’s ear. "Yer mine now, lad. Ye’ll be beggin’ for more soon enough. Now cum for me, Esteban"

Ethan’s thoughts were fading, his sense of self slipping away with every thrust, every groan of pleasure that escaped his lips. He could feel himself being absorbed into Blackstorm’s mind, his old life nothing but a distant memory. Paulo could feel every thrust going deeper and deeper, he was moaning in pure pleasure not remembering what just happened to his body. As he heard Blackstorm, he felt his body tense. Suddenly, a rush of feelings opened in his brain and he fainted in pure bliss as he started to shoot his cum and his old life. He couldn’t remember where he grew up, what was his work, what was his name. All he could see were Blackstorm, the sea, and the name Esteban flashing in his eyes.

Finally, with one last powerful thrust, Blackstorm came inside Paulo, filling him with his seed and cementing his dominance over his new crew member. The pirate groaned, his body shuddering with release as he collapsed on top of the younger man, his chest heaving with each breath. Ethan screamed one last time as he felt himself being totally assimilated in this new life that was given to him.

For a moment, there was silence. The only sound was the soft creaking of the ship and the distant crash of waves against the hull.

Blackstorm rose from the bed, pulling on his trousers and adjusting his belt. He glanced back at Esteban, who lay panting on the bed, his body trembling from the intensity of their encounter. He went to his personal clothes and grabbed a white shirt, a crimson red sleeveless coat, a black leather trouser and a pair of leather boots before putting them next to Esteban.

" Your name, your life and your future are mine now," Blackstorm growled, his voice dripping with satisfaction. " Get some rest, lad, ye’ll need yer strength for tomorrow’s session."

As he left the cabin, Esteban’s soft, exhausted moans followed him and after a couple of hours, Esteban got up and dressed himself before walking on the deck of the ship as a new men. Blackstorm grinned to himself as he saw his new devoted crew member smiling at him while groping his manhood to adjust it.

Ethan was gone, lost forever in the depths of the pirate’s mind. Only Captain Blackstorm remained, cocky, ruthless, and forever bound to the sea. ............ Mister Melorius was walking back to his counter when he heard a tingling resonating in his left ear. As he turned back, he saw the portrait behind him start to vibrate as the golden plaque under it shone while a new text appeared on it: “Captain Blackstorm, commandant of the Blackstorm. Respected and beloved by his whole crew, adventurer of the seven seas and beyond. 1718” Melorius smiled, knowing Ethan, or Blackstorm, was on for a great adventure and will remain in history as the greatest captain of them all.

______________________________________________________________ Hey guys! Hope you'll enjoy this story created from @tf-vigilante's prompt: "A shy and soft college student enters Mister Melorius's shop looking for a costume. Even though that kind of costume is not like his personnality at all, he is weirdly compelled to ask for a pirate costume. What will happen to him ? How will his Halloween night turn out to be ? Maybe this will be truely life changing…" Hope you guys enjoyed it and as always, feel free to send me asks if you want to pick a costume from Melorius's shop! See you soon!

[lilacgaby]

𝟎𝟏 | serenity

~2.3k

chapter select!

katsuki bakugo had a secret.

a secret that'd undo everything he did in his power to build. his reputation would be gone,

his ego destroyed, his life ruined.

at least in his mind.

and that was his obsession with 'serenity.'

serenity was the top manga of the year, surprisingly dominating the shoujo category along with the overall for its recent release. even beating longtime shounen manga with pure sales.

and he was a die hard fan since its creation.

he had randomly scrolled upon it on a piracy manga website, clicking on it becausethe art style was pretty, and the protagonist was even prettier.

it had spiraled from one thing to another, and before he knew it he had become such a longtime supporter, that he and the creator themselves were mutuals on twitter, with katsuki's account being among the biggest fan accounts for [name].

in his room where nobody was allowed, he had a shelf directly under allmights dedicated to the manga, and a corner just for the protagonist,

[name].

small trinkets, shitty attempts at fanart, official figures, and stickers littered the corner, with the biggest piece being a rare limited-edition figure that he was sent for being a longtime fan.

[name] was loved in both her manga and in his japan. she was written to be oblivious to just how many people at her school were enamored with her, and was even being pursued by two guys in a love triangle.

the manga was still ongoing, though talks of an anime adaptation were in place, a possible stage play (though katsuki doubted they could find a gorgeous enough actor), and lines of merch were all in the near future.

every sunday, a new volume would be released.

he shouldn't have to waste precious hours that he could spend training on walking down to the store to buy it, but he'd mistakenly made the mistake to wait for the next week and double up on manga volumes once. the entire twist was spoiled by dunce-face and racoon eyes during lunch. he had told them to shut up and avoided hearing any more spoilers from word of mouth but..

he got spoiled on twitter anyways.

so from then on, he opted to take the half-hour trip into town and get it himself.

with a black hoodie covering his face and sunglasses for his eyes, he looked suspicious. not like bakugo katsuki though so, it was good enough.

because he was going out on his own, he knew someone would be tailing him. a security measure.

he took several odd turns and confusing routes to lose them, and lose them he did.

he let out a satisfied laugh, before disappearing into a crowd.

his favorite manga store that always had every issue out on time was pretty busy, thankfully he only noticed people crowding the shounen sections.

he went up and grabbed one of the only latest issues left on the shelf. he smiled at the pretty cover art, though it just looked intimidating due to his strange appearance.

he also grabbed a blind bag, feeling around to try and make sure it wasn't the annoying love interest that he hated, who luckily had a character design with distinguishable hair.

after he was satisfied, he also grabbed a 'serenity' themed pen that had a small chibi figure of [name] on it.

he purchased it, noting how the popularity of the manga was starting to make everything more expensive.

he grumbled angrily to himself as he took a turn into an alley, the fastest way back to the main path to U-A.

a mugger jumped out from behind the trash can. "give me everything you've got kid."

bakugo's face scrunched up distastefully. "no way loser."

he clutched his manga in his hands, the blind bag and pen safely in his pocket.

he instinctually chucked the manga at the guy when the mugger suddenly jerked forward.

the man shot a ray of energy at the book, making

an almost comedic 'poof' sound came out, accompanied by a puff of smoke.

"what the-"

a girl.. not just any girl.

[name] was sitting there in the flesh, looking scared and confused as she took in the scenery around her. her eyes darted between his assaulter and him, perplexity evident in her glassy eyes.

the book was splayed out on the other side of her, the pages now fully blank.

katsuki was shocked, so shocked that he didn't even notice that his sunglasses had fallen, and that his hair was now exposed.

"oh, no shit! you're that crazy U-A kid! i'm out."

the mugger ran away as katsuki was left alone with [name].

"no way.. just-- no way."

"it can't be you!"

she slowly got up, still observing the world around them.

"where am i?"

"um.. you're. you're not in your world anymore [name]."

her face twisted in confusion. "what? what do you mean my world, and-- how do you know my name?"

"this is gonna sound crazy so, ugh..

come with me."

he held his hand out towards her, still not fully believing that this was happening right now.

as she took it, and he felt the solidity of her skin, the physicality of her body, it all set in.

the fact that her beauty was unmatched, the fact that was here, alive, speaking and--

scared.

he guided her to a bench, along the main path so they wouldn't be too far from U-A.

they were holding hands until she let go, he was glad though, because his hands were getting extremely sweaty.

he decided to just rip off the bandaid.

"this is going to be hard to hear, but you're not.. real."

"what?!" tears popped into her eyes, she was already on edge, and that was definitely not the right thing to say.

okay bad start.

"well, you are real, just not in this world. in this world you're an anime character."

"...you're not funny."

"im not joking around." he sighed and took out his phone.

he opened it to his fanpage dedicated to her, '[name]thinker.'

he clicked on the media tab and let her scroll through.

her eyes were wide as she saw scenes of her life drawn out in comic form, her friends, family, and even enemies were depicted so beautifully, and it captured all of her core memories.

"so.. you were serious."

"i am."

".. what do i do?" tears finally spilled over as she sunk into the park bench, her hands were gripping the skirt of her school uniform tightly as the fabric began to soak her tears.

"how'd i even get here?"

bakugo awkwardly stood by as she fought her tears.

"uh.. i can um- explain if you want."

she sniffled, and wiped away her tears before nodding, not trusting her voice at the moment.

"so, in this world, there are like-- superpowers. we call them quirks."

she honestly found it hard to believe, but there really would be no other explanation for her existence right now so, she nodded along.

"like, i have the ability to made explosions from my hands because i sweat nitroglycerin. see?"

he set off tiny explosions from his hands, smirking at the way her eyes go wide.

"that's really cool.. um?"

"bakugo. katsuki bakugo."

"oh okay i'm [name], but i guess you already know that."

so, since you all have superpowers, you think that guys had a power to bring me here?"

"that's the only thing it could've been, really. unless something odd happened to you?"

"no, i was just walking to school when i passed out suddenly."

"[name], i think you should come with me."

"okay. where to?"

"my school."

"why would we go to school?"

he gently grabbed her hand and internally fanboyed as they started walking towards U-A.

"we have dorms there, i need to talk to my teacher in the morning, so you can stay with me tonight."

"why would your teacher be able to help? is this a superhero school or something?" she joked.

"yes, it is."

"oh...

your world is kinda weird."

"yeah."

he resisted the urge to question her thoughts about scenes that he thought were very impactful, and instead explained the simplicities of his world to her. things like the hero system, quirk prejudice, rankings, and specialty schools like U-A.

"so, are you any good then?" she asked, genuinely.

if it was anyone else he would've flipped out, but instead he just answered. "yeah, i know so. some may say im the next number one."

"who's some?"

"me."

"oh? i'll have to see you fight then."

they finally made it to U-A, but now came the issue of sneaking [name] in.

"this is a pretty fancy school."

"it's the number one hero school in the country."

"seriously? wow, cool."

"yeah but, we're not really supposed to bring anyone in so..

stay here for a second."

"um, okay."

bakugo went inside, it was still early afternoon, so everyone was out.

more importantly, iida was out. nobody else would snitch if they saw her so.

"coast is clear, come on." he yelled at her.

"got it!"

he shielded her from view as he walked her up to his dorm. before she could go in, he covered the corner of her memorabilia with a random box he had laying around.

"um.. make yourself comfortable [name]."

"thanks bakugo." she said, sitting down on his bed.

once he got over the surrealness of her actually being in his room, he choked out

"katsuki."

"what?"

"call me katsuki, it's only fair."

"hm. okay, thank you katsuki."

his heart did somersaults, she didn't have an official voice actor because none of the characters from her anime were confirmed yet,

but her voice was better than the one he had in his head.

"yeah um.. no problem. by the way, uh.. my teacher is off duty today so we'll have to wait for tomorrow to see what's up."

"oh, i see.

so, if im really an anime character, how am i supposed to like-- even walk out this room?"

"what do you mean?"

"unless im super unpopular, aren't people gonna notice?"

oh, she was right. she looked like she was pulled right out of the papers, because she was, and people would have to question her about it eventually.

"well, you are like really popular. your manga is literally fucking number one everywhere right now."

"really? yes!" she fist-pumped in happiness. hey, if she was gonna be an anime character she might as well be a popular one.

"so, i guess you'd have to say you're a cosplayer, that the author based the character of you, or something. if people knew you were the actual [name].."

"they just wouldn't believe it right?"

"well i mean.. in this world everything is pretty plausible."

"i guess."

she laid back in his bed, staring around his room. there were a couple of posters hanging around of a strange man with a pearly white smile. there was figures and even.. a book about him on the shelf.

"uh.. who's that?" she said, as she pointed to the largest photo with the strange man posing in the middle, 'I AM HERE' in bold, bright yellow letters as he stood proudly.

"oh him? that's all might. he's the best hero in existence, the world will never have another hero like him.

at least until i graduate." he said, nonchalantly leaning into the back of his chair.

"ah, that's really cool katsuki! so even in this hero school you're unmatched? are other quirks significantly weaker than yours?"

"it's not that i'm unmatched, it's that im destined to be at the top. even if someone managed to have a stronger quirk than me, id still be the best."

she let out a soft 'oh' as she got up. "you have anything fun to do?"

he thought about it for a second. in the manga she really liked puzzles so..

"got it, i'll be right back."

he darted out the room, leaving her alone.

he knocked on midoriya's door before barging in, midoriya taking notes at his desk.

"ah- kacchan? what do you need--"

"borrowing this." katsuki walked straight into the room, grabbed a five-hundred piece allmight puzzle, and turned to walk out.

"be careful with that! it's gold edition!"

"got it, deku."

he stormed back to his room, closed the door behind him, and handed [name] the puzzle.

"this should keep you busy. it's double-sided. also don't fuck it up, it's important to some idiot."

"uh, okay. thanks katsuki."

she spent the day completing one side of the puzzle, katsuki helping a bit occasionally as he viewed the manga leaks on twitter, since his version of the new issue of the manga was now fully blank.

he handed her clothes to sleep in, after changing she came out in his signature skull t-shirt and basketball shorts that did not fit her style

at all.

he stifled a laugh at the sight.

"what are you laughing at?"

"nothing, just go to bed loser."

"whatever." she laid on the far side of the bed, closest to the wall.

"uh.. there's no other place to sleep so, i'll just stay over here."

"okay."

he shoved a blanket down the middle of the bed, laying down right after.

"g'night katsuki." she said, already half-asleep.

"good night [name]."

he couldn't fall asleep for a little while. the character that plagued his dreams was now physically next to him, in his own bed.

the feeling of her body flipping around and grabbing at him pulled him out of his thoughts completely, leaving him speechless.

still not believing this was real, he held her closely, not wanting his 'dream' to end.

| next!

[softlypaintedseafoam]

🍓ー thank you for your patronage at the strawberry witch’s bakery! here’s your order!

requested by: @loganwritesprobably 🍓 -> buggy + strawberry lemonade (secret relationship)

For a pirate, Buggy's hair is surprisingly soft. It's something you wouldn't expect for a sea-faring scoundrel. Regardless of the circumstances, the Emperor always makes sure that his hair is meticulously taken care of. No split ends, always perfectly trimmed and almost with a natural shine.

I wonder how long he's been growing it out? Long enough you can't imagine it ever being short. Nor do you foresee him ever deciding to do so.

"If your followers knew your hair routine, I can only imagine how they'd react," you chuckle, playing with a few loose strands. The Buggy Glazers, as you've taken to calling them, would certainly make a ruckus. How can our glorious king Buggy become King of the Pirates if he isn't presentable?! Glorious king Buggy, please tell us your preferred shampoo and conditioner! "Master Buggy, our glorious king, we'd be honored to do your hair maintenance for you."

Buggy shudders at even the thought of it. "Don't give them any ideas," he grumbles, leaning into your touch. His room is surprisingly sparse, a shocking contrast to what it looked like before he officially moved in. "I'm never trusting them to decorate anything without my supervision again," Buggy told you while he took down all the wallpapers and plush toys in his image. "I'll never hear the end of it."

"You know they'd dye their hair blue if you asked, right?" You fail to stifle your laughter. It's too easy imagining them making a trend out of it. The one with the hair closest to Buggy's own color would be declared the winner. I'm surprised-

"I'm surprised they haven't already," Buggy voices your thoughts with a snort of his own. He stretches, releasing an audible sigh. "That'd be more than enough blue for me." For one raised on the seas, you doubt Buggy will ever have enough blue. If he truly had his fill, he would have quit piracy years ago. Here he is, though, still embracing the terrifyingly beautiful might of it.

You kiss his forehead, "I like being the one doing your hair anyway."

Buggy presses his lips to yours chastely and you smile instinctively. Me too, you hear him say wordlessly.

Here in this room, he gets a break from the position he failed successfully into having. There can finally be a pause from the idolization from his followers and the trouble that worship often lands him in. He can simply be 'Buggy'. That's why you don't mind being his best kept secret.

[dceasesd]

Do you pirate comics? And if you do please gimme your piracy site mine isn't working😞

And could you give me asshole Bruce and Jason fic recs but specifically "I'm a selfish controlling man child and I love my family and will go to hell and back for them and will do anything to keep them safe" Bruce not "I'm an unfeeling man child who only cares for his narrow views of justice"Bruce

If you don't have any fics like this specifically I would gladly take any Bruce and Jason fics that doesn't bash either of the characters or their idles

i gotcha man i gotcha

i personally pirate all my comics on readcomiconline.li, which i find by typing the title of the comic and issue im looking for followed by ‘read’. usually it’s the first option!! it might depend on what country you’re in, though— i’m in the u.s. and it works for me but i’ve heard of people from other places having trouble with it :P

(also, be warned, readcomiconline.li has so. many. pop-ups. use at your own risk)

and oh my god i have so many thank u so much for asking i love giving recs so much (under the cut!!!!)

alrighty bruce and jay fics pls enjoy!!!

Clearly Calm and Keeping Terrorized by Batbirdies

this is one of my favorite fics of all time it’s so good!! it’s literally exactly what you’re looking for. i’d recommend reading the entire series for full affect, but a very basic summary of the plot is bruce goes to therapy and tries to unruin his familial relationships :-) this fic focuses on his attempts w jason. so great!

This Place we Built with Grace and Guilt by Cerusee

yeeowch this one hurts!! another one of my favorite authors, definitely also check out the rest of cerusee’s works, they’re great!! if i had to describe this fic in one word it would be GUILT

The Penny Drops, The Penny Dreads by Batbirdies

omg second batbirdies fic on this list they just get bruce and jay like no one else what can i say!!! this is the only wip on this list but it is very good and i can’t wait for more!! jason and bruce trying to figure out how to have a relationship w their contrasting class backgrounds

The Distance Between Us by AutumnHobbit

this is the one i instantly thought of when i saw ur ask— autumnhobbit is so good! bruce is traumatized and trying his best and that’s what matters

the city carries ruin in its hearts by nex_et_nox

outsider pov of bruce and jason’s relationship!! an interesting perspective, jim gordon is a surprisingly fun character to read!!

borderline by TheResurrectionist

this isn’t specifically jason and bruce and more bruce and everyone in the family, but there is some good jason&bruce dynamic. control freak bruce tries to stop being a control freak

Come Alive by captainozone

this is a young justice fic so if you haven’t seen the show you might be a tiny bit confused, but it’s essentially just a ‘jason comes home’ fic!! one of my all time favorites!

THIS ISN’T PUNISHMENT (I LOVE YOU.) by orphenusaki

orphenusaki i love you all your fics are amazing pls never stop writing!! this author is so great so id recommend checking out their other stuff as well, but this one features a long-needed convo between bruce and jason prompted by truth serum.

hope you like these!!!! thanks again for the ask <333 happy reading!!!!

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

One of the tropes about Ed that I still see surprisingly frequently and has only been bothering me more as time goes on is a characterization of Ed as overly flaky, capricious, and flighty in relationships.

And I get that 99% of the time this characterization is just in service of allowing a framing of Izzy as a jilted spouse. But this is the same guy who was "all in" with Stede pretty much from the jump. The two times he tried to leave that relationship, once was after someone who knew Ed very well had arrived with the exprese purpose of driving him and Stede apart, and the other was prompted by his fear that Stede would leave him, first, again, when all he really knew was that he didn't want to be a pirate anymore and he was terrified Stede would choose piracy instead of him. He responds very normally to severe high-pressure situations.

Ed is never shown to be a flaky person. He clearly communicates his desire to leave piracy, a profession that he's been in for so long that it's become mind-numbingly boring at the same time as it's deeply triggering for him, from the episode he was introduced onwards. And this guy fucking loves commitment, honestly. He was ready to commit entirely to his bf back in s1e9. He doesn't flinch when it's hard, either; he's more than happy to try and make amends with the crew in s2e5 even when they're still upset with him. One of his deepest desires is to get married to the man he loves.

Ed is better at clearly communicating his wants and needs than most other characters on the show, and he's shown to be extremely consistent with what he wants. I just really hate the trope that he'd be constantly getting bored of relationships and being flaky to the point where he habitually hurts other people without a couple white men to keep him in line.

[not-wholly-unheroic]

A Comparative Analysis of Hook's Ship and Cabin in Popular Media Portrayals

They say a man's home is his castle, and that is perhaps more true for Captain James Hook than most. Amid all the wildness and chaos of Neverland, the ship (and particularly the captain's cabin) is the one space where Hook exerts any real control over his environment, and upon close inspection, it reveals a great deal about who he is, what motivates him, his time period, and perhaps even whether or not any given "Hook" is intended to be "real" or a figure of the children's imagination. In this series of posts, I will be examining the Jolly Roger in five of the most well-known adaptations of Peter Pan: Disney's 1953 animated classic, Fox's Peter Pan & the Pirates (1990), Spielberg's Hook (1991), P.J. Hogan's Peter Pan (2003), and Disney's recent live-action remake, Peter Pan & Wendy (2023).

Part 1: Disney’s 1953 Animated Film

The Jolly Roger herself in the ‘53 film appears to be a Spanish galleon. This type of ship, though perhaps the “stereotypical” pirate ship that immediately comes to mind when we think of pirates in film, would have been highly impractical for any actual pirate. A good pirate ship needed to be sleek and fast, whereas galleons were great for carrying a lot of goods but unfortunately also very slow…and a large target for an enemy attack. Still, Hook has a tendency to prefer aesthetic beauty over function, so perhaps we can merely chalk this part up to the captain’s personal tastes.

On the other hand, Disney Hook has a ship that pretty blatantly screams “pirate” to anyone who might see it coming between the skull and crossbones you can see carved into the woodwork and the skull figurehead…which is definitely something that would seem more at home in a child’s imagined version of a pirate ship than any actual vessel.

For all the fancy, over-the-top outward style of the Jolly Roger in the ‘53 film, Hook’s cabin is surprisingly modest. His bed, which can be seen in the background during the “sick scene” post-Skull Rock, is the standard sort you might expect on a ship—a small bunk built into the side of the ship for practical reasons. There are, of course, chests of treasure (less practical/realistic) too, but aside from that, the cabin space seems nice but not excessive. We can see a sword lying against one of the treasure chests as well as a gun rack near the door over what looks like a large globe. (We see a closer, brighter version of this gun rack a few scenes later as the captain is switching out his usual hook for a golden one.)

There appear to be some nice silver plates in the background of the image with Smee, and there are a few other frivolities that Hook allows himself, such as the piano, a small table with fruit and wine set out, and several nice rugs on the cabin floor. But his desk appears to be rather small and simple, cluttered only with maps of Neverland, pens and an inkwell, some useful measuring tools, a few books, and what would appear to be a jeweled set of binoculars.

Overall, Disney’s Hook does a nice job of balancing the luxurious and fanciful with the more practical and mundane in his personal space. It might be a stretch to imagine this Jolly Roger in the real-life Golden Age of Piracy, but it’s not totally out of place. Thus, Disney’s Hook straddles that line between reality and fiction that leaves us wondering—as Wendy and her parents do at the end of the film as they watch a cloud formation that looks remarkably like a ship pass in front of the moon—whether it was all a dream or perhaps there is more to it.

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

I mentioned Maslow’s hierarchy of needs* in this post regarding Ed and the gravy basket. His needs are lower rung and basic. But Ed does demonstrate an intuitive understanding of self-actualisation and self-esteem which rests at the top of the pyramid.

The show is so careful not to suggest Ed is ‘cured’ by Stede. Stede isn’t mentioned by name at all in the gravy basket. He is alluded to as things get ugly later on and shown in flashback, is strongly linked to Ed’s reasons to live, and is probably there symbolically as Ruthie.

But when Ed is trying to think of a potential life outside of piracy, it involves self-fulfilling work regarding what is likely a long-term dream: the innkeeper. It’s taken other forms, such as Blackbeard’s bar and grill, but it’s something that Ed aspires to which is his dream before it becomes something he wants to share with Stede.

*I know Maslow isn’t the be all and end all. It’s familiar and useful.

In the gravy basket, Ed is focusing upon both the bottom and top of Maslow. It’s the middle of the pyramid, Love and Belonging, Ed tries to ignore for as long as he can until it breaks through his consciousness in the diatribe during the innkeeper skit, followed by his beach confession, ‘I don’t think anyone’s waiting for me.’

It’s important that Ed’s vision of Stede triggered by Stede’s presence, mirrors Ed and gives him space; the vision seems to say, I’m here for you to share a life with, not to be your life. You are safe to be yourself with me. Part of that ‘self’ is the innkeeper dream, and Ed thinks he can actualise that dream with Stede. Both are part of what a happy life looks like for Ed. It’s a surprisingly healthy iteration of what love should be - freeing.

Outside of the gravy basket, Ed doesn’t let go of the need for self-actualisation and self-esteem. He reasserts in 206 that Stede and he are innkeepers even though they aren’t at this stage. It’s as if he’s trying desperately to manifest it, whilst also reinforcing to Stede how important this dream is to him.

In 207, perhaps thinking the innkeeper dream is a stretch without Stede (whom he thinks he is losing to piracy), Ed panics and grabs at the nearest thing - becoming a ‘fisherman’. It’s not optimal, but he is trying to keep the self-actualisation flame alive, even though he might need to do it alone. For Ed at this point, it probably feels like a matter of life and death, physically and spiritually. That the flame dies quickly is because it was a false attempt at self-actualisation which we see parodied in the ‘majesty in fish-scales’ montage.

When Zheng asks Ed to team up to destroy the British, Ed’s lack of enthusiasm for the task couldn’t be more apparent (I’m surprised when I see people say they’re blindsided here by Ed being at the inn at the end, because Ed ‘agreed’ to team up with Zheng. He agreed with less enthusiasm than Stede did to the China plan. His body language screams not gonna happen). It’s not enough that Stede and he will be together in joining Zheng. Ed does not want to be a pirate anymore. He wants and needs at least a crack at the innkeeper dream.

The final scene is Ed’s at least having a shot at true self-actualisation, and in the process, giving Stede a go at it too. Stede has proven people skills, and has shown himself adept at customer service whilst working at Jackie’z. Stede could never even begin to self-actualise in Bridgetown, and the parts of piracy that allowed him to - creativity and purpose - he can do just as well, if not better, as an innkeeper. Both now have Love and Belonging, plus intercourse with orgasms. Whether they will have good food and warmth in their love-shack… well, we trust the OFMD-verse will provide.

[hannahbarberra162]

hOrnithology for Beginners, Chapter 3

18+ MDNI Previous Chapter Next Chapter

on Ao3

Sorry I couldn’t help myself. Also Ace would have been on Jackass.

You’d had your fair share of bad dates - Marco wasn’t the worst person you’d ever been set up with. There was one where the guy had gotten arrested by the Marines during dinner, and another where you had to shoot the guy with a blow dart to keep him from poaching. So comparatively, Marco wasn’t that bad. At least he was good looking, aside from the hairstyle and general proclivity to piracy. 

After general introductions, you were ready to begin the beetle quest. You had already reined yourself in from launching into a speech about beetles that were invasive on the island. You needed to be chill for Etta’s sake. It was difficult for you to be calm and relaxed about anything related to your interests. You’d try and tone it down but sometimes your desire to share information was a little…strong.

“OK, so if we want to find beetles we’re going to need to think like birds.” Ace looked over to Marco deviously. You couldn’t care less what was going on between them - let them play their stupid games. 

“So we’re going to need to find secluded, dark, and dry places,” you continued. “Beetles are actually found in almost every habitat in the world. They are a dominant form of life and scientists have found beetle fossils way down in the ocean, indicating that they have lived on earth for millions of years. Interestingly, the fossils they found from a little under a thousand years ago were of land dwelling beetles, not water dwelling beetles. Like most islands, we have some beetles that are endemic just to this location, which is what we are going to try to find. Though since this island has a large number of rare birds and bird migrations, there are also an extremely large variety of beetles. Birds are frequent carriers of beetle eggs and larvae which they bring to the island on their travels via their guano. You’d think that the guano would destroy the eggs but actually…” you took a breath and looked at your small audience. You could tell Etta and Ace had zoned out and weren’t listening. It was OK, you were used to this kind of reception. Not everyone cared about these things as much as you. Surprisingly, Marco was paying attention, seemingly waiting for you to finish your sentence. One point in the pirate’s favor.

“- but that’s actually not what happens. Let’s start walking and I’ll show you some likely spots.” You finished your rant and moved along. Marco kept up with you, leaving Ace and Etta chatting in the rear. 

“You know a lot about beetles yoi,” Marco said conversationally.

“Not really. It’s more like supplemental information for me. I’m trying to become a published ornithologist,” you told him. “So really birds are more my thing, and since birds eat beetles, I learned a little.”

“I’m also into birds,” he supplied “but definitely not at your level. I’m not a scientist by any means yoi.” You hummed. You could hear Ace and Etta having a pleasant conversation in the back, making you smile slightly. Etta was a sweetheart, anyone would be lucky to go on a date with her.

“Science and piracy don’t usually go hand in hand,” you replied, remembering your own date.

“Mm, they can. I’m the doctor on board so I know a little about science.”

“That’s nice.” You wanted to end that line of conversation. You did not care about pirates or their health or how their stupid crews worked. As your group walked along, you were scanning the area for phoenix feathers. Just because you hadn’t seen one yet didn’t mean there weren’t any on the island.

“What are you looking for yoi?” your persistent date asked.

“Bird feathers,” you said, still scanning the area.

“I thought we were looking for beetles today,” he replied.

You sighed. Some scientist. “We are, but I’m always looking for feathers. It can help me track which species are currently on the island.”

“I see. Anything unusual here right now?” Marco said with a calculated look. 

“Nothing out of the ordinary.” Like you would tell him about the phoenix that his captain had already hurt. What if the phoenix had escaped and was waiting for them to leave!? You’d see if the phoenix needed help - if you ever saw it again.

“Nothing rare?” Marco prodded.

“Nope,” you said, popping your p. 

“Are there ever rare birds on the island yoi? Anything mythical?” What was this guy’s deal? Was he looking for you to help him poach birds?

“Rare birds, sometimes. Mythical birds, no. I’ve never seen one here.” You didn’t like to lie but in this case it seemed like the right choice. You’d finally reached your destination, a small series of caves that the Peel Rhinoceros beetle favored for its habitat. They were damp, moist, and pretty gross but they usually had a lot of bugs. You started nudging rocks over with your shoe trying to find some examples for the group.

“Like I said, there are some beetles that are only found on this island. What’s notable about the beetles here is that they are large and their horns look like orange peels with legs. They’re called Peel Rhinoceros beetles and don’t touch them. Like most things in nature that are brightly colored, the orange is telling you not to touch it. It won’t kill you but it will sure mess up your day.” You made sure Ace and Marco were listening - Etta had already heard this from you a million times over and wasn’t going to mess with them.

You kicked over a large stone and saw a yellowish orange beetle with a shovel shaped horn. You stooped down and picked it up. “Look here, this is actually not a Peel Rhinoceros beetle. It’s a Lemon beetle, which you can tell because it looks mostly yellow with some orange elements. It lacks a true horn, having instead the shovel shaped one at the top and has no pronotal horn. It’s a Batesian mimic, completely harmless.” You put the little guy back down and covered him up again with the rock.

You meandered a little farther, spotting a Peel Rhino a few feet into the cave. 

“Here’s a Peel Rhinoceros Beetle,” you said, pointing to it with a stick you’d found. “See how it kind of looks like an orange peel from far away? And see how I’m not touching it? Those are the two most important facts about this beetle.” 

Ace and Etta looked suitably impressed. Ace took out his notebook and drew a rough sketch of the bug, along with writing the name.

“It doesn’t look quite right,” Ace said, squinting at the drawing.

“Let me see,” you said, offering to take the notebook. He handed it to you and you took the pencil out of his hand. “Oh, this is pretty good. You’re just missing some tibial teeth and the separation between the front and middle tibia. I can adjust the drawing if you’d like.” 

“Sure, thanks!” Ace said and you started changing his drawing. It really wasn’t bad for a pirate, you thought. A few strokes of the pencil and it was looking more like the beetle in front of you.  You took the liberty of drawing it again from a side profile and including the scientific name above the pictures. 

“Wow! You’re really good!” Ace exclaimed as you handed back the notebook. 

“Oh yeah, she’s the best realistic artist on the island, you should see her bird drawings,” Etta replied, praising you. 

“Oh? Would I be able to see some of your work yoi?” Marco inquired. 

“No. It’s private.” You were a little annoyed at Etta for bringing it up. Time to get this show on the road.

“So those are two beetles found only on this island. I’m sure you guys can take it from here. There are plenty of other beetles here, you can definitely find some attractive specimens if you look. I’m actually going to check for wire snares in the area since I don’t normally come this way.” 

“Sounds good, enjoy! We’re gonna go deeper in the cave.” Etta and Ace were holding hands. 

“Do you need a lamp dial?” you asked. You had a spare you could lend them.

“No, I’ve got this covered,” Ace said with a smirk. He held up his index finger and it turned into flames. Your eyes widened - he was a devil fruit user? You hadn’t met any in person before.

“You really don’t know who we are?” Ace asked, tilting his head. “Not to be cocky, but people usually know on sight. They call me Fire Fist Ace.” He made his whole arm turn into fire. You shrugged. 

“Not my interest,” you said. “You can’t fly and don’t have feathers, so I don’t really care. No offense.” Ace coughed to cover a laugh. 

“Do you have a nickname too?” you asked Marco. You’d like to know what you were dealing with.

“Yes, but people usually call me Marco yoi. Can I come with you to check the traps?” You blinked slowly. You wanted some time to recharge yourself alone but didn’t want to be rude. Ella and Ace had already retreated further into the cave.

“Sure, but just so you know if there’s any wildlife that’s caught, I release them.” He wasn’t going to get a free dinner off of the traps. You and Marco set off into the woods while Ace and Etta went into the caves. During the walk Marco kept trying to initiate conversation with you, which was not productive to finding birds or saving wildlife. 

“So, how did you get into bird watching yoi?” Marco asked while smiling at you. 

“By watching birds, please be quiet,” you shushed him. “I’m always looking and being loud is counter productive.” He took the hint and walked alongside you in silence. You were checking for wire traps and any sight of the phoenix. You came across a wire trap that had ensnared a sea raccoon. You held up a hand indicating for Marco to stop. 

The poor animal was covered in sweat and blood. It had its hind paw caught in the trap and was too exhausted to transform. It watched you approach and trembled, probably expecting to be killed. You knelt down in front of it and slowly took wire cutters out of your pack. You snipped the wire around its hind paw and immediately the tension in the wire went slack. You didn’t move as the sea racoon took stock of the change. It looked at you, rubbed its hind paw, nodded, and scurried off into the underbrush. You smiled, put the cutters back in your pack and stood back up. You turned towards Marco and indicated that he could continue to follow you.

“Those sea raccoons are worth a lot of money,” he said to you. Ugh. Once a pirate, always a pirate.

“I’m not interested in money,” you replied. As if you would ever sell a live animal, much less one caught in the wild.

“Still, it’s nice that you go around freeing them yoi.”

“I would like to hope that if I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, someone would help me out too.” Marco looked contemplative but didn’t reply. 

~~~

Marco POV

What a strange woman you were. You seemed to have infinite patience and care for animals and insects, and a never ending amount of disdain for pirates. You had so much knowledge and wisdom, but almost no people skills. You weren’t lying - he could tell you hadn’t known who Ace was by your shocked face when he showed his power. He wanted to understand you more, so he followed you around, admiring your perky butt from behind while you freed a few animals that had been caught in traps. You were quick, attentive, and compassionate for the captured animals. In another life, he thought you would have made a good doctor. 

You had made your way back to the main trail when you could hear Etta yelling your name as well as Marco’s in the distance. You perked your head up and immediately started jogging back towards the sound. Marco kept up easily and wasn’t worried in the slightest. Whatever was wrong could be fixed between the two of you. You jogged faster the closer you got to your friend’s voice. He would have offered to take your pack but he didn’t think you would be receptive. 

You finally reached your friend, who had been standing on a rock for better visibility. She got off the rock and was speaking to you hurriedly. She pointed a finger towards a sick looking Ace who was sitting and leaning against the opening of the cave. You laughed uproariously. For quite a while. Etta was frowning. Marco came up to find out what happened but had a fairly good guess. 

“Ace picked up a Peel Rhino beetle and it sprayed him with venom,” you said to Marco, wiping a tear from your eye. 

“It’s not funny!” Ace yelled from his seated position. He was sweating profusely which was uncommon since he didn’t get hot or cold. “It wasn’t on purpose! I thought it was a Lemon Peel beetle or whatever.”

“It absolutely is funny! That’s like one of two things I told you today! What a fuckin’ idiot!” you laughed again. Marco wasn’t laughing on the outside but he didn’t feel much sympathy for Ace. He had been warned after all. 

Etta looked worried. “What are the effects of touching the beetle again?” You smiled impishly.

“Ace is going to be intensely horny until he has sex and orgasms. Likely a few times based on the dose of the venom he got. Won't subside if he just masturbates. If he doesn’t he’s going to be in severe pain for a few hours. I did warn you it would mess up your day.” You smirked at Ace.

Marco frowned. “Ace, can’t you turn into fire and burn it off yoi?”

Ace scowled at him, “don’t you think I tried that already? No, it didn’t work.”

“Aren’t you the Whitebeard doctor? Can you give him anything as an antidote?” Etta fretted.

Marco looked at his crewmate and shrugged. “Unfortunately when it comes to things like this, antidotes aren’t really made yoi. It’s got to work its way out of his system one way or another.” You quirked your eyebrow at him. He knew he was correct - there wasn’t really anything to do other than ride it out. You looked impressed with his knowledge.

“He’s going to need help getting back to wherever you’re staying,” you supplied. Marco sighed - they were staying on the Moby, which was pretty far away. Marco thought about changing into his Pheonix form and flying Ace back to the infirmary, but that would ruin the little game he had going. But before he could offer, Etta piped up.

“Ace can come back to my house,” she said timidly. You and Marco’s eyebrows hiked up. 

“One moment, please,” you said, pulling your friend aside. Marco couldn’t hear the entire conversation but he saw you trying to give your blow gun to your friend for protection, which Etta wouldn’t take. You seemed like a very loyal and giving friend. Turned out you did like some people, just not pirates. You gave up trying to give your friend weaponry and walked back to a groaning Ace. You crouched down in front of his face.

“Whatever lucky star you were born under has granted you a wish. Etta’s taking you back to her house. If I find out anything unsavory happened, you’ll wish you’d only been sprayed by a thousand beetles.” You got up and turned to Marco. 

“I think you’re going to need to help him get to Etta’s house. The pain he’s in is compounding quickly and Etta’s place is at the top of a hill.” Marco nodded. He knew you were right, but what a bad end to a date.

“Thank you for the lovely expedition today, even though it ended early yoi.” Marco was intrigued by you. As soon as he dropped off Ace, he was going to catch up with you again. 

“Ah, yeah. It wasn’t bad. We’re not kissing though.” You crossed your arms and Marco laughed lightly. 

 Etta thanked you as well while Marco hauled Ace off the ground and the trio started trudging towards town. He could feel your gaze on his back as he retreated with the moaning Ace. 

~~~

Your POV

What a long ordeal that was. You chuckled to yourself thinking about Ace picking up the Peel Rhino. What an idiot. Though, you mused, Etta might be in for a fun night. Ace seemed like he would be pretty good in bed. You’d heard Peel sex was intense and euphoric, but you’d never had it yourself. You never met anyone you’d felt strongly enough about to do something like that. Tourists, Marines and occasional pirates propositioned you but you always turned them down. You were by no means a virgin, but the list of people you liked to spend time with was short. 

You made sure everyone was gone before you picked your way through the forest to your hideout. It was the early evening - hottest part of the day on the island. You were soaked with sweat from jogging to Etta and rucking with your pack all day. One of the best features of your secret base was the waterfall. After sitting and drinking water for a few minutes, you started shucking off your clothes and laying them on sunny rocks to dry. You had gotten down to your boring bra and panties when you saw the flickering blue you’d been waiting for. You watched the phoenix soar in the sky, making circles above. What you would give to be able to fly with it just once. You watched it until it came to perch in a tree near the waterfall. You broke into a huge smile.

“I’m so glad you’re back! Every time I see you it’s like a present from the gods.” The phoenix, of course, said nothing. But you knew that it had preternatural intelligence and could understand you. Or you were completely delusional. Either way, you enjoyed your one sided conversations. 

“I’m going to swim and cool off for a bit. Would you like some fruit?” You opened your pack and took out some dried pineapple you’d brought with you. You set it on a rock near the phoenix and backed away. The phoenix didn’t move but also didn’t leave. You reached behind you to take off your bra and the phoenix startled. 

“Are you offended by naked humans?” you asked worriedly. You’d never do anything to upset your phoenix. The phoenix shook its head. You clapped your hands once and laughed.

“I knew you could understand me! If I rattle on too long, let me know. I really treasure your company.” With that, you unhooked your bra and threw it on a rock. You hooked your thumbs into your panties, pulled them down and did the same. You went to the deep end of the pool and jumped in all at once, making a splash. You came up and swam to the shallow part of the pool, where you could stand and lean so you were half submerged in the water. Jumping in the pool felt divine, you were so happy you could enjoy it with the phoenix. You looked over at the phoenix, who was watching you with unabashed interest. 

Next Chapter

[quatregats]

This is just an idea that I toss around for fun but I think in a Hornblower Goes Rogue situation it would be very interesting to have him defect to Algiers. He can't defect to most European states because they all want him dead for one reason or another; Algiers is close - he'd only have to make it past Gibraltar and he'd be clear. He'd be a good asset for them so could maybe get command of a vessel after a few years (though I'm not sure - he might have to turn his ship into a merchant vessel or something which I think would make him really mad so yayay), and he'd have more stability without the gallows hanging over him all the time (not sure what the state of piracy was in the Caribbean at this time, but I don't think it was doing well). But more importantly I think it would give him such massive amounts of cognitive dissonance about literally everything and I want to see him squirm. I think he would find things were in some ways better and also several ways in which Britain was just being hypocritical, and I think it would fuck him up. I think he'd get really into politics and the stock market and being surprisingly normal because no one has any expectations for him and that would make him hate himself even more. And most importantly, when Pellew shows up in 1816, I really want to see what he'd do.

[aesethewitch]

Kitchen Witchery: Cocktail Magic

It's that season when I find myself in Drinking Situations. Between Thanksgiving gatherings, Christmas parties, beat the blues days with friends, and the Winter Solstice, late fall and winter are prime times for a little beverage. Whether you're spiking your hot cocoa or crafting a special cocktail, there's an opportunity for magic.

First, the basics.

Alcohol Correspondences

Yeah, yeah, I'm not a big fan of correspondence lists. I know. But as I was making my own correspondence list for spirits (the alcoholic kind) earlier this year, I did refer to the good ol' internet for ideas. What I found was... surprisingly sparse? So, here you go. Note that these are my correspondences that correlate to the base ingredients/crafting method of the alcohol, personal associations, and trial and error. Think critically before just writing all this down. If you disagree with something, that's fine! Great, even!

Anyhow:

Whisky. Fire, heat, spirit work (offerings), warming, courage, blessings, deal-making.

Vodka. Courage, cleansing, grounding, absorbing, infusions.

Rum. Love, sweetening, uplifting, lust. (*cough* piracy *cough*)

Tequila. Decisions (good or bad), hard work, celebration, energy.

Gin. Cleansing, clarity, love, prosperity, protection.

Absinthe. Fire, cleansing, warding, spirit work, meditation, relaxation.

Moonshine. Freedom, strength, spirit work, courage, community.

Wine (properties can differ based on color, flavor, etc.). Love, lust, sex, romance, friendship, celebration, stress relief, health, grief.

Beer. Home, family, abundance, prosperity, ancestor work.

Cider. Harvest, abundance, love, friendship, celebration, success.

There are a huge number of alcohol variants in the world, but these are the ones that live in my bar cart most often, so these are the ones I work with frequently.

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