#teens aren’t supposed to think you’re cool

[awkwardandeccentric]

Stolas is such a fucking girl dad

[seravphs]

棠 —

ੈ♡˳·˖✶ — TEEN DAD! GOJO x FEM READER

Gojo has something to tell you. Megumi is unfortunately still a member of the male species. Tsumiki just wants to watch the sunset. 

wc — 1.5k

cw — interlude between tried to live in a softer way and stockholm (coming soon), 棠 means "wild plums", Megumi’s a good boy but he’s still a boy (gross), part of teen dad gojoverse, in which you and Gojo raise Megumi together, I lowkey forgot Tsumiki existed when I first started writing Teen Dad! Gojo so now I have to retcon her in 

Megumi’s mouth is smeared with purple pulp. 

“You better have washed that,” you warn him as you carefully cut Tsumiki’s fruit for her. Your knives drip juice onto the ground, requiring careful attention to make sure the sugar won’t rust them. 

Some cursed weapons are durable, outlasting generation after generation of the sorcerers that wielded them. Yours are more delicate. Like flowers, they require great care.

Tsumiki takes the slice you hand her with gratitude and pops it into her mouth with a little shiver of happiness. Her fingertips are turning purple to match Megumi’s lips. You pour a little water from your bottle over them, and place another slice into her mouth yourself. 

“A little dirt is good for him,” Gojo calls from where he’s wedged halfway inside the trunk, fighting for the folding chairs he threw in haphazardly. Now they’re stuck. You told him they would be, and he hadn’t listened. 

You make an unconvinced noise in the back of your throat, pursing your lips. He can’t see you, of course. 

“Germs are gonna make his immune system stronger. Eat up, Megumi!” 

Megumi wrinkles his nose and unhappily swallows his bite. The next time Tsumiki hands him a slice of her (washed) plums, he takes it. Nothing ever works as well on him like Gojo and inadvertent reverse psychology. 

After another minute of letting Gojo struggle to prove a point, you reach over and tug on a latch. The chair Gojo is struggling with snaps shut so you can effortlessly pull it out of the trunk. Gojo smiles sheepishly. 

“What did we learn from this?”

“Wife is always right?” He says cheekily. 

“Can I help?” Tsumiki pops up underneath your elbow. 

“It’s okay,” Gojo ruffles her hair. “We got it.” 

He pushes you gently away when you try to take a chair, carrying three singlehandedly to the spot where Megumi and Tsumiki are waiting with the picnic basket. You know he wants you to gush over him, but you don’t want to give him the satisfaction. 

You purposefully turn away to start setting out the food, only for him to saunter over as soon as Tsumiki and Megumi are sitting in their newly placed chairs. 

“Did you see that?” 

“You are the strongest, Satoru.” This is easy work for him. 

“Okay, but it’s still cool, right?” 

Sometimes you want to ignore him and sometimes you want to give in. Gojo, like Megumi is predictable. He needs the carrot and the stick. 

“Yeah,” you smile. “It was cool. You know what would be cooler?” 

He’s setting out the dishes before you even have to ask. 

You’re not fooled even though Gojo’s acting completely normal. As lighthearted and nonchalant as he is, anyone who didn’t know better would think there’s nothing in the world that could phase him, but you do know better. 

He’s not the type to share his issues, especially not when he thinks he can solve them on his own, which is what you think is going on here. It’s fine. 

You don’t press. He’ll tell you when he’s ready. 

“Someone’s coming,” Megumi announces. 

Gojo raises an eyebrow. “And how do you know that?” 

He looks away, eyes shifty. 

“You know you’re not supposed to be summoning your dogs in public!” You scold him. 

Technically, he’s not supposed to know anything about his technique yet. Young sorcerers aren’t allowed to use their technique if they’re not enrolled at Jujutsu High. Of course, it’s different for clans, especially big clans. None of the elders who sit on the council are going to punish one of their own for getting ahead of the game. In fact, they’re quite willing to turn a blind eye to anything that makes their clan more powerful, even if it means starting their young off early. Too early, in your opinion. 

Gojo disagrees with this judgement, as he disagrees with everything the elders say. He’s been training Megumi in secret, slowly getting him used to the Ten Shadows. The dogs, which Megumi’s manifested since he was young, were the first to become tamed. They’re the easiest for him to control, so he looses them more often than he should. Regardless of what Gojo thinks, it’s simply not safe. You don’t want to give the Zenins any reason to take Megumi and Tsumiki. 

Megumi calls his shikigami back. They evaporate into shadow just as an old couple hobble up the dirt path. 

“Oy, granny!” Gojo calls, ignoring you as you smack his arm. “You need a hand?” 

“I’m okay,” she calls back. “Don’t worry about me! Just taking my daily walk.” 

Gojo gives you an aghast look. 

“Why are they hiking up here? One of them is going to break a leg,” he hisses. 

“Are you sure?” You ask them hesitantly. 

“My, aren’t you sweet! I’m alright, hon. The fresh air will do these old bones some good.” 

Beside her, her husband nods in agreement. He seems like the silent type to her extrovert. 

“What’re you two doing up here?” She says, picking her way over. 

Tsumiki holds up her plate. “Picnicking!” 

“How cute,” the old woman coos as she pinches her cheek. 

“And you! Why, I could just eat you up,” she tells Megumi, who looks mildly alarmed, not at her words, but at her attention. He squirms in his seat. 

“Your little brother?” The couple smiles as you stiffen. It’s not their fault. They have no idea. 

“My son,” Gojo says, his own smile turning unpleasant. 

“Oh!” She seems to sense she’s made a mistake of some sort, taking her husband’s arm once more. “I’m sorry, you seemed so young. Well, I’m sure you want to get back to your picnic without these old folk. Be careful not to stay out too late! I hear there’s a storm brewing.” 

Her husband helps her carefully over the grass back on to the dirt path. She turns back to wave, just once. 

“That wasn’t nice,” you say, watching them leave. “They didn’t know.” 

Gojo rolls his eyes. “Whatever.” 

“Look!” Tsumiki jostles Megumi, who’s still focused on his food instead of the sky. “The sun is setting!”

Gojo picked a good spot. No trees obstruct your view of a sky stretching as far as the eye can see. As someone who’s lived in the city for so long, it’s almost a miracle to witness. 

The sky is awash in floral hues. Burnt orange, ashy lavender, and muted links spread throughout the clouds. You’re smiling, awestruck at the sight, when you hear a click. You turn back just in time to see Gojo shove his phone in his pocket. 

“Did you just take a picture of me?” 

“Nope! Why don’t you sit tight while I repack everything?” 

Even when you try to help, Gojo pushes you back in your chair. His little helpers dash back and forth from the makeshift campsite to the car until everything is safely packed away. 

When you finally get up and brush your lap off, Gojo offers you his arm. 

You laugh at him. “Come on, I don’t need that.” 

He pushes his arm in your direction again, insistent. He’s being such a baby today, but you can’t help spoiling him. You take it as he escorts you to the car and opens the door for you with a flourish. 

The kids don’t want to go home, but Gojo distracts them with promises of McDonald’s on the long, winding trip down the mountain. Megumi’s at that age where he knew better than to trust the strange white haired sixteen year old who offered to take him in but still gullible enough not to understand there are no McDonald’s on mountains. 

He and Tsumiki fall asleep in the back seat as the rain patters rhythmically on the windows. All around you, the earth is lush and verdant. You’re in Eden before the fall. It’s hard to stay mad when the forest is putting on such a show for you outside. The earth is blooming, beckoning. 

Gojo rolls down the sun roof so the warmth of weak sun beams shines into the car. If you look up, the rain beads on the glass like crystals on a backdrop of dove grey storm clouds. 

It’s still raining when you get home. 

Gojo carries Megumi and Tsumiki inside, one in each arm. It’s a testament to their sleepiness that neither protest. You drop a kiss on each cherubic little cheek as you tuck them into bed, pressing the covers down around them. 

Gojo’s waiting in the kitchen when you quietly close their bedroom door. 

“I have something to tell you,” he says almost half-heartedly, looking out the window. “But you have to promise not to be mad.” 

You knew it. 

Whatever it is, you’re sure you can take it. You and Gojo have been through the worst of everything together, from a bullet in the shoulder to whiney, feverish children. There’s nothing you can’t handle to keep your little family together. 

“The Zenins want to take Megumi away,” he blurts out. 

Okay, maybe that wasn’t what you were expecting, but it’s fine. You can make it work. 

“They’re coming tomorrow.” 

You’re going to kill him.

[cloveroctobers]

OCTOBER PROMPTS 🎃 — 2. Willie Jack

A/N: okay y’all lured me in to write anotha one about our girl! Can’t believe the show is over, idk why I expected at least 4-6 seasons smh. Show will be missed and I’m open to seeing where the cast further take their careers fr. I’m not speaking on that supposed relationship between two certain characters because it wasn’t really executed to me while watching? We all know if there was going to be a relationship between the teens who it really should have focused on. So whatever they hinted at this time doesn’t actually exist and it’s not canon to me! Anyways, would definitely recommend a rewatch for myself lol.

WARNINGS: language + awkwardness when it comes to crushes?

PROMPTS are from here + I’m using: blackberry picking, “do you want some hot chocolate?” and “I don’t like scary movies.” “I’ll keep you safe.”

🕸️𖤐༘⋆/ᐠ - ˕ -マ༘⋆𖤐🕸️ 🕸️𖤐༘⋆/ᐠ - ˕ -マ༘⋆𖤐🕸️ 🕸️𖤐༘⋆/

Willie Jack is still in disbelief that she’s back.

Well…not really back she thought. Mika was simply visiting temporarily from Nebraska—of all fucken places!!! which she moved to with her house full of family a few years back. She didn’t get the chance to visit much (at least Elora did being a whole college student and shit) but it seemed like she kept up with mostly everybody else, except for Willie Jack who was still being closed off with Mika’s departure.

“What’s up with you? Why aren’t you over there chopping it up with Mika? You know she’s outta here on Sunday right?” Bear says from beside Willie Jack, who quickly turns her attention back to her friend on the field.

Willie Jack shrugs, “don’t be in my business bro.”

“Yeah Cheese is right, you’re vibe is giving preternaturalness.”

Immediately Willie Jack jerks her head back with a frown, “fuck did you just call me?”

“I don’t know but i know it fits.” Bear grins at Willie Jack, slapping his hands down on her shoulders before leaving her at the plants to join the rest.

Yes it was unusual for Willie Jack to ever distance herself from her friends. She was a social butterfly amongst her friends majority of the time but having Mika back after all this time made her feel off and that’s something she hardly allows herself to feel.

“Sup,” another familiar voice catches Willie Jack off guard from behind the shrubs, her fists going up ready to defend herself but she realizes it’s just Elora staring at her strangely.

Elora lifts her chin, “what’s up with you?”

“I really wish everyone would stop saying that shit to me. I’m cool, having a grand time with my buddy, bart the blackberry tree.” Willie Jack is waving her hands at the dark fruit.

Elora stares hard at her friend before flicking her eyes off to the group where Mika has her head thrown back in laughter at something Jackie says.

Which also doesn’t sit right with Willie Jack.

“Jackie ain’t funny, so fuck is she laughing at?” Willie Jack mutters making Elora slowly nod her head and cross her arms as she gets closer to the girl.

Elora states, “Mika’s still that giggly person we’ve always known and love. That hasn’t changed.”

“Yo, You’re supposed to be on my side here.”

“Why does there need to be sides when it comes to Mika, she’s our homie no?”

Willie Jack rolls her eyes and says nothing more at that. She did consider Mika a friend once upon a time and it’s not like she didn’t consider her as such but things did change the night that she left. And Willie Jack never told anyone about it and still wasn’t sure how she felt.

“I guess but like…it’s different now.”

“But why?” Elora pressed, “to me it seems like you’re the one making it an issue when it didn’t seem like she had a problem since she hugged you when we met up earlier.”

Willie Jack messes with her beaded earrings now, briefly thinking about that encounter hours ago. Mika was all deep dimple smiles and although Willie Jack was the last person she hugged, Mika still acknowledged her like they haven’t stopped talking.

“If I tell you, you got to promise me you won’t make it a big deal.”

Elora nods, “okay…go on.”

Willie jack looks around to make sure everyone is still out of ear shot, she scratches at the back of her neck in nervousness. She’s been holding onto this for so long now and she knows there’ll be some relief telling somebody about what went down.

“Alright so I’m just gonna come right out with it,” Willie Jack exhales, “the night Mika left to shitty Nebraska…she came over to the crib and we were out in my backyard having a bit of a heart to heart you know? And she kissed me, bro.”

“What?!” Elora yells gaining the attention of everyone and Willie Jack goes to slam her hands on top of her cap covered hair in embarrassment.

Willie Jack glares at Elora who covers her mouth trying to hide her laughs, leaving Willie Jack to turn to Jackie, Bear, cheese, and of course Mika. She gives them a commercialized thumbs up before turning back to Elora, yanking on her shoulders to shove her further away between the shrubs.

“Fuck did I just say,” Willie Jack hisses at Elora who’s grinning at the younger girl now after stumbling a bit, “you’re the one making it worse now.”

Elora rolls her eyes, “please, they have no clue what we’re even talking about.”

“Maybe not or maybe! with you sounding like a fucken surround sound.”

Elora chuckles, “my bad, bro. But this explains so much!”

“Does it?”

“Yeah! she’s been asking me about you whenever we catch up with me at school and her all the way in Nebraska.” Elora informs Willie Jack who lifts her brows at bit at the news until Elora then sighs, “I was the only one that figured out that something went on without her really saying anything about it.”

“Wait…Mika’s asked about me?” Willie Jack is rocking on her toes now and Elora sends her a knowing smile.

“Uh yeah bro, it’s not like she ever forgot about you. You’re the one who stopped sending letters and picking up the phone.”

Willie Jack lifts her chin inquiring, “How you know that?”

“Mika told me, shit ass!” Elora lightly shoves Willie Jack’s shoulders.

“So…I’ve been a shit ass all this time when Mika’s been worried about me?”

Willie Jack’s never been the type of friend to just leave you hanging. If there was a issue, she would be quick to tell you to, “not be like that!” Wanting to figure it out, even if it was only keeping each other company until you were ready to speak on it. However with Mika, things change and she wasn’t sure if it was for the better.

“Well…I wouldn’t say worried but she cares and I don’t think she ever stopped being your friend, you’re the one who stopped.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Willie Jack feels the weight of that statement and she didn’t enjoy the sinking feeling in her tummy right now.

“Then fix it.” Elora orders, “Stop hovering in the corner by yourself like a fucken weirdo and just talk to her! So maybe you guys can be something if that’s what y’all want.”

Willie Jack scowls, “who said all that? I still don’t even know how I feel about it all. It happened forever ago anyways. Maybe she forgot? Plus she could be seeing somebody and we live hours away now so I doubt that will ever work.”

“Stop doubting yourself and you won’t know unless you try.”

Plus they could always look at Elora as a prime example. Although she wasn’t that far away from Okern, Elora still put in the effort to still be around now that their lives were slowly but surely changing.

“…Mvto, Elora.”

“Don’t mention it,” Elora pushes Willie Jack’s shoulder, “can’t believe you’re growing up on me, making out and shit.”

“Ah, yeah, shut up.”

“Let’s go!”

“Alright man, don’t rush me! Let me get my thoughts together first.”

“If you think too much, you’re gonna fuck it up…more than you already have.”

“Wow, it’s like that?

“Yeah, kinda.” Elora snickers.

Elora ends up leaving Willie Jack for a few moments to gather herself, gradually directing the rest away from Mika as she sees Willie Jack making her way over.

She’s swinging her hands behind her back awkwardly as the crisp air blows. Mika’s dressed in a jet black off the shoulder baggy sweater paired with a patterned pleated skirt, ripped up stockings, and gummy bear earrings.

She’s gorgeous and it’s not fair.

“How much blackberries you think you got?” Willie Jack starts from behind Mika, who’s on her tippy toes.

She sets back down, tossing some into a picnic basket she brought along, which Bear and Jackie teased her about but she shrugged it off with a smile and middle finger.

“You know…I was trash at probability in school right?” Mika’s sunset eyes glance at Willie Jack over her shoulder, “I never guessed right or got the prizes and it definitely pissed me off to no end.”

Willie Jack leans forward, peeking at her basket but Mika playfully steps in front of it, “I’m not sharing.”

“What?” Willie Jack blows a raspberry, “I’m sure I got more than you back in my own stash. These hands are the quickest ones here.”

Mika stares off at the spot Willie Jack was once at and dips her head, almost pointing, “are you faster than a Prairie dog?”

Willie Jack whips around, locating the chunky animal running off with her sack of blackberries. “Hey you oversized chicken nugget, that shit ain’t yours!”

The animal stops in the middle on its run, dropping the bag to bare its teeth at Willie Jack who jumps back with her hands raised in the air, leaving the dog to pick the sack up with its teeth and carry on its way.

“Even the fucken animals tryin’ to tear a hard working woman down, that ain’t right! Imma tell the ancestors about your bullshit too!” Willie Jack yells as the prairie dog continues fleeing.

Mika’s laughing before softly placing her hands on Willie Jack’s shoulders, “I think that was his way of telling me to share, although you’re the one who ghosted me.”

“Don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” Willie Jack is poking her lips out.

Mika gives the long haired girl a look before turning to put her basket on her wrist, leading the way through the rows of blackberry shrubs.

Letting out a long sigh Mika replies, “the dogs never told me you ended up with amnesia.”

“I don’t think I have that,” Willie Jack said walking beside her, “…I just don’t want to make it awkward for you.”

Mika glances at the braided girl, “For me or for you? I don’t have any regrets if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“…are we talking about the same thing? The thing that happened a couple years ago in my backyard?”

“Oh you mean: me kissing you and you kissing me back?”

“Is that how it went?” Willie Jack’s eyes were in slits now.

Mika laughs, “hell yeah, shit ass and I didn’t forget! I couldn’t, which is why I wrote to you.”

“But you never brought it up?”

“I couldn’t get the best read on you when it happened. I knew you were caught off guard but…did you like it?”

Willie Jack stares at the floor, twisting her lips around in thought. How it felt to have Mika’s always covered bracelet arms locked softly around her shoulders, and her natural scent of patchouli, apples, and brown sugar was already intoxicating before she even put her lips on Willie Jack’s. Of course she was caught off guard with Mika taking the lead, Mika’s focus only on Willie Jack’s lips as she stopped thinking about it and just did it. There was only one chance and she waited a long time to take it so why not go forth with the risk?

“I mean…I didn’t not like it.” Willie Jack peeks at Mika who nods with a small smile, “it’s just shitty that you pulled that that same night you were leaving though. Didn’t really have a chance to talk about it or process it really.”

Mika understands that, “sorry about that, the not talking about it but not the actual kissing part. guess I kinda had to process myself…since I been wanted to kiss you but I did panic when you didn’t say much after.”

“It was something…but a good something.” Willie jack bumps her shoulder with the girl who smirks at her.

Soon they’re walking in silence, fingertips brushing against each others as the make their way back to Elora’s car where everyone else is standing near it talking themselves.

“Hey guys!” Cheese waves, “we’re gonna have enough berries to last us to new years!”

Willie Jack announces, “I got the most though!”

“Where?” Jackie asks.

Willie Jack kisses her teeth, “fucken prairie—it doesn’t matter, I just do and you’ll have to take my word for it.”

“I’d rather not.”

Willie jack rolls her eyes.

Elora laughs as she gazes at Mika and Willie Jack, “you two ready to go? It’s getting dark and we got a hour drive back home.”

Her eyes meet Willie Jack’s silently hinting that she hoped they got somewhere with their talk but Wille Jack just shrugs her shoulders.

“I’ll help if you get tired, Elora.” Mika speaks up.

Willie Jack raises her brows, “you got a license?”

Mika was a year older than Willie Jack.

“Yup not long before my family and I traveled back here. Think that’s why my ma really wanted me to do it in the first place since they took my granny’s license away. She’s losing her sight and thinks my hair is on fire instead of pink.”

“Orange would look sick on you though,” Jackie comments, making Willie Jack flick her eyes over to the once bleached girl.

Willie jack adds, “you want Meeks to look like fucken child’s play? She’s wearing the pink well, better than I’ve ever seen. True queen shit, which you wouldn’t know a thing about.”

Jackie sends a look to Elora and Bear, unsure what was going on here.

Mika bumps her hip with Willie Jack’s, “we’re cool again, I think.”

“Must be with how hard Willie Jack just went for you,” Bear grins before glancing at the girl on his right, “got Jackie here speechless.”

“Fuck off,” Jackie shoves Bear while looking at the hat wearing girl, “…glad whatever you two went through is over but…do we got a problem Willie?”

Willie Jack is nonchalant, “we don’t got no beef…just chill out.”

Which definitely sounded like a warning in Jackie’s eyes.

“It was a compliment or suggestion. Don’t see Mika getting tight about it.”

“Okay! Let’s get going.” Elora steers the conversation away, “Jackie, ride up front with me.”

“Sure,” Jackie eyes Willie Jack who huffs at her, circling around to the passenger side.

Cheese gets in the middle of the backseat while Bear runs around to the other side of the car to sit behind Jackie. Willie jack is awkwardly looking at the space in the car.

“I’ll hold your basket for you, Mika.” Cheese offers, while she thanks the young boy.

Bear sees The dilemma and also offers, “You can squeeze in Mika or sit on my lap if you want?”

“Oh god,” Elora mutters, pressing her forehead against the steering wheel, making Jackie frown at her.

Willie jack shakes her head, quickly moving to sit right beside cheese, strapping herself into the car before holding out her hand, “C’mon on then, you heard Elora. We got a long way to go.”

“Ohhh are you—

Willie Jack dips her head silently making Mika smile to herself, while the rest await the scene that plays out in front of them. Mika doesn’t further question it, entering the car and sitting right on Willie Jack’s lap before closing the door behind her.

“Aw but Mika doesn’t have a seat belt.”

Willie jack carefully slips her hands around Mika’s waist, “I got her.”

“That works for now!” Cheese beams, not reading into it too much like the rest in the car are.

Bear is smirking now after it dawns on him what is happening as Mika leans back into Willie Jack’s embrace so Elora can better see out the back window but also because it was a nice place to be.

“Is this okay?” Willie Jack whispers to Mika who’s made herself comfortable, head resting back in the space between Willie Jack’s neck and shoulder.

Mika says, “yup! Long as you got me.”

“I do.” Willie Jack meets Mika’s eyes, squeezing her a bit tighter.

“Good, then we have nothing to worry about. Let’s enjoy the ride.”

“Word.” Willie jack concludes, almost snapping her eyes shut at how annoying she probably sounded but Mika just presses her forehead into the side of Willie Jack’s head.

Elora drops Willie Jack off first with Mika having to exit the car. She asks Mika if she’ll walk her to her door and she agrees with a yawn along with a stretch of her arms up into the autumn air.

“So…” Willie Jack is back to swinging her hands in front of her as she stands face to face with Mika on her stoop.

Mika laughs, “yes Mena?”

“Do you want some hot chocolate?”

“I’d love some!” She bounces on her toes, “I’ll just tell the guys that I’m staying here.”

“Yeah, okay. Nice!”

Willie Jack silently curses to herself again while she just knows her friends are in the car talking shit. She watches Mika lean against the door of the window, talking to their friends in the car, waving at them before she steps back. Skirt spinning with her as she walks back to Willie Jack and fuck she’s so pretty!

Which almost distracts her from Bear smashing his lips on the car window as Elora pulls off from the curb with a honk of her horn.

“After you my lady,” Willie Jack holds her hands out after pushing the front door open.

Mika curtesy’s before entering the home, peeking around as she steps into the first space, which happens to be the living room. “Everything still looks the same.”

“Yeah?”

“Uh huh.” Mika plops down on the couch while Willie Jack enters the kitchen, turning the stove on before opening the fridge to get the leftover homemade hot chocolate she made at midnight.

It’s quiet but it’s not awkward as Mika makes herself comfortable, folding her legs underneath her on the couch. It’s not long before Willie Jack enters the living room with steaming mugs.

“Thanks,” Mika takes the mug with a smile while Willie Jack places her’s on the coffee table.

She takes off her hat, tossing it on the arm of the couch before digging her fingers into her braid to let her hair run free. Mika watches Willie Jack as she sips on the just right hot beverage, admiring just how beautiful her “friend” is.

“Your hair’s gotten longer,” Mika observes, “it’s still stunning.”

Willie jack fans her hand about, “thanks girl, I grew it myself.”

“Hell yeah! Love it just the way it is.”

And the way Mika is looking at Willie Jack makes her heart thud in her chest. The damn girl’s only been here for a day and she’s already got her feeling a way.

“We should watch a scary movie!” Willie jack jumps to her feet, heading over to the collection of dvd’s.

Mika rests one hand in the crease of her other arm, “I don’t like scary movies.”

Willie jack looks back at Mika from her squatting position, picking up on her unease. She was aware that Willie Jack’s parents weren’t home as the house was too hushed and she didn’t see her dad’s truck in the driveway. Night time has definitely fallen and they were alone, dancing around what they could be and now this girl was trying to put on a horror movie?!

“Really?” Willie jack asks, “any particular reason or…?”

“I don’t think it’s never really been my thing,” Mika murmurs while she looks at the front door, “every time you or bear would suggest sneaking into the outdoor movie night by lake crow I wanted to stick my head in the dirt and never come out.”

“Shit…guess I gotta pay more attention.”

“Nah, who wants to be the odd one out when everyone else was down? I just dealt with it…plus you two were always so excited although I lost sleep for a few nights because of all those movies but…you get over it you know?”

“If we do this…you think you’re gonna have any nightmares?”

“Hard to say honestly.”

“Then…I’ll keep you safe.” Willie Jack strongly said, “but that’s only if you want to. I’ll even pick the least scary one out of the batch.”

Mika sips at the hot chocolate, thinking about it, “I’m gonna hold you to it.”

Willie Jack makes a offering motion with a imaginary hot chip before taking the time to go through the collection. She finds one that she thinks will be alright before shoving it into the dvd player. Once she’s seated back next to Mika, she tosses one arm along the top of the couch allowing Mika to fill in that space.

She does, shuffling closer as a long suspenseful intro starts after Willie jack fumbled with the remote. Willie jack tries her hardest to keep her eyes on the screen but it’s the heat radiating off from Mika that makes it hard.

“Hey…you’re not drinking your chocolate?” Mika points out, pulling her head back to look at Willie Jack who fails to hide her staring.

She scratches at her ear, “oh right, it’s still piping hot. Imma let it rest for a bit you know?”

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those iced hot chocolate people?”

Willie jack scrunches up her lips, “I’m not. Don’t even think I ever tried that before.”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“Your face did though.”

“What’s wrong with my face?” Mika leans back to give Willie Jack the side eye.

Now they’re looking at each other and Willie Jack is silently counting the beauty marks that’s on Mika’s diamond shaped face while Mika’s peering at Willie’s side profile.

“Nothing,” Willie Jack fully turns now gripping Mika’s chin and she almost forgets to breathe correctly, “nothing at all,” before she leans forward to press her lips right against Mika’s.

Willie Jack hears her squeal a bit but Mika knows she has to hold on tighter to the mug now while Willie Jack holds her in place. Mika tastes just like chocolate and cherries while her lips feel like fresh petals. Look at that, Willie Jack could be poetic or corny when it comes to romance too! Mika’s unfortunately not Willie Jack’s first kiss but this kiss definitely makes her forget all about what’s their face. The only thing that’s on her mind is how her heart basically skips a beat with her lips right on Mika’s.

And a kiss like this has never made Mika’s toes curl before.

When she pulls back, Mika is curling Willie Jack’s hair back behind her ear. She bits down on her lips to hide her dimpled smile (which doesn’t work in her favor really, Willie Jack was so tempted to poke them) as Willie Jack slowly opens her eyes to meet Mika’s sunset.

Willie Jack remembers to breathe, “What?”

“You kissed me, you really like me.” Mika sings into Willie Jack’s face, while the girl claps her hands against her face hoping her skin isn’t warming up but knows it probably is.

Mika reaches for Willie Jack’s wrist while laying her head back on the couch, “don’t be shy now, that was glorious!”

“Glorious? Oh my god.”

“That a great thing! Marvelous! Splendid even!”

“You sound like one of those teachers who thinks the sun shines out of their ass, bro.”

Mika pauses,“I don’t think you can call me bro anymore.”

“Why not?”

“‘Cause we kissed, twice?” Mika holds up the deuces, laughing as Willie Jack shakes her head, trying to wrap her head around the fact that she initiated this kiss.

Willie Jack nods her head at her own thinking, “You’ll always be my bro…just a different type. More meaningful, a higher level.”

“Oooh so I get perks?”

“Yeah…as soon as we figure out what to do about us?”

Mika goes quiet then, knowing their time was limited. She was only here for a week, mainly to visit and go to the state fair but that thought made her depressed since she was also building a life after graduating high school…all the way in Nebraska…and that’s not something she wanted to dwell on right now.

She peers at Willie Jack from underneath her lengthy eyelashes, “We could always just make out some more until we do?”

Willie jack scoffs, “I see, you only want me for my lips.”

“And your heart,” Mika leans into Willie Jack who licks her lips, feeling those butterflies in her stomach.

Willie jack throws her head back, “the rizz is killing me!”

“You love it.”

“I think I do.” Willie Jack nods.

“Yeaaah! So kiss me.”

“I’ll do more of that after we finish the movie, I know you’ll need it.”

“So you’re the one plotting on me then.”

“Noooo.” Wille jack fails to hide her smile although this wasn’t originally her plan…it doesn’t sound half bad now.

Mika pokes the long haired girl, “Now I don’t believe you!”

“Well I hope you have it in your heart not to hold nothing else against me. I made you hot chocolate, I gave you my love—

Mika laughs a bit, “that you did, that you did.”

They briefly place their foreheads against each other until Mika moves to rest her head on Willie Jack’s shoulder. It’s not long that they turn their attention back to the screen, both confused on this grainy yet clearly dated horror film.

“I think we need edibles to enjoy this.”

That would make the most logical sense and why Willie Jack’s dad even owned this film: House (1977).

“Damn,” Willie Jack snaps her finger, “and it would be even better if we at least had the blackberries. All that work we put in, we should at least be able to enjoy them.”

Mika gasps, “I can’t believe I left them in elora’s car.”

“That blows…hopefully cheese holds them down for you or else we’ll have to kick somebody’s ass. And by somebody, I mean bear and probably Jackie’s Wednesday Addams lookin’ ass.”

Mika snorts, missing this friend dynamic, “Meeks and Mena, doing what we do best.”

“Fuck yeah, thriving and Survivin’.”

“Real shit,” Mika grins as Willie Jack slips her hand to intertwine with Mika’s.

And she enjoys how Mika’s hand fits just right in her own, although a little shaky, which reminded Wille Jack of Mika’s old fear of bodies of water when they were much younger, Willie Jack gives Mika’s a quick squeeze to ease any form of anxiety her body maybe experiencing.

Whether it be the wonders of the world or the wonders of their relationship.

They didn’t have to always search for the answers, at least not right away. So for the present they could settle into the excitement of what’s happening in the now…

To just live with the guidance of one another.

With Meeks and Mena holding on no longer tiptoeing…then perhaps that could be more than enough.

🕸️𖤐༘⋆/ᐠ - ˕ -マ༘⋆𖤐🕸️ 🕸️𖤐༘⋆/ᐠ - ˕ -マ༘⋆𖤐🕸️ 🕸️𖤐༘⋆/

Continue with my October anthology prompts here.

[none-ofthisnonsense]

Merlin liveblog (partly for @thisisjustmefangirling )

Season 1 Episode 1:

I’m halfway through the first episode, and so far HOW IS MERLIN SO LUCKY ALL THE TIME. (Also, why has everyone been in Doctor Who?!)

I’m coming into this with some background - I think I watched the first 5 episodes a few years ago? But I don’t really remember them well. Apart from being shot in the heart by Katie McGrath’s beautiful outfits. And also, being on tumblr, I have some mutuals who are fans of it, or I’ve seen gifsets when scrolling through some blogs. And I also do know basic Arthuriana, so I can guess in what position some characters are meant to end up. I’ve got a little background knowledge but not that much. Onto the liveblog!

Merlin you’re behaving like a dramatic teen. Which I guess you are, I don’t really know how old you are.

“Look, I’ve told you you’re an ass, I just didn’t realise you were a royal one.” BEST BOY MERLIN but also he can definitely hurt you and holds power maybe don’t challenge your social superiors too much Merlin mmk?

Merlin. Don’t challenge him. You won’t win.

Yeah tbh if I were Arthur I’d probably laugh too.

Merlin he’s been training his whole life and has power and has weapons and has armour WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN YOU AREN’T ALLOWED MAGIC

“Wow. And how long have you been training to be a prat?” See Merlin gets the best lines but that’s dangerous for him.

Slight discrepancy: how does Arthur know Merlin’s name?

Yeah if I were Gaius I’d have that reaction too. Merlin has NO self-preservation instinct.

I like the music. (Also apparently this was filmed at Pierrefonds, so that’s cool!)

YEAH “OH GOD” WHAT DID YOU THINK MERLIN??? That you’d win??!

(Let’s just pause for a moment and appreciate all those historical inaccuracies. They’re painful but also there are so many it almost warms my heart. They’ve COMMITTED to being historically inaccurate. Though I suppose this is fantasy anyway.)

I like both leads’ actors.

And of course he sees Gaius and loses.

“He may be an idiot, but he’s a brave one.” Merlin summarised in one sentence. This boy is DUMB.

“There’s something about you, Merlin. I can’t quite put my finger on it.” See I’m starting to get why this was explained to me as Destiel before Destiel.

“How could you be so foolish?” We are all, at heart, Gaius.

See Merlin’s problem is he wants to be special. Not to be that person but you’re a servant in the (fantasy) Middle Ages you were always going to be a nobody. Being special is very 2000s not so much 1300s.

Aaaand he’s a dramatic emo boy.

Gaius we love you. You’re so kind and honestly the most relatable character. Gaius is great I love him.

OUCH that looks like it hurts.

Oh fantasy medieval painkillers! That’s cool.

It’s not that I don’t like Eve Myles but I specifically chose Merlin to avoid seeing her and John Barrowman all the time. So. I’ve been seeing her pretty much nonstop for a few weeks. I was sort of hoping to catch a break.

Uther is realistic. (As much as a fantasy character from the fictional Middle Ages playing a mythological king from a fictional kingdom can be realistic, but he is!) Both as a father and as a king. I don’t necessarily agree with him, but he’s definitely the most fleshed out character so far.

That voice is creepy and after watching Torchwood CoE it reminds me of the 456.

Merlin come on. Really?

The camera work on this series is………interesting.

Y a un couvre-feu ou quoi? Pourquoi y a personne dans la cour?

Merlin you’re having too much fun with those dice.

Ohhhh is this the dragon Gaius told him about?

OKAY YEAH IT IS DEFINITELY I didn’t expect us to see the dragon so quickly.

So he has a destiny. Great. We already knew that. But I guess this is establishing characters.

Merlin not understanding is me. Yeah I’m confused too don’t worry.

“If anyone wants to kill him, they can go ahead, in fact I’ll lend them a hand.” At least Merlin is coherent, and funny. If extremely dumb and foolish.

“No. No. There must be another Arthur, because this one’s an idiot.” BAHAHA OKAY THAT’S FUNNY

Oh we get the theme music again when Merlin is asking all his questions.

Yeah again Gaius I get you. Also that’s the bedroom of a teenage boy what did you expect, did you want it to be clean? Gaius you’re aiming too high. I have a 15-year-old brother the most I can wish for is for him to open the window once in a while.

One thing I do like is how well-lit the castle is. It’s nice for once.

Oh please tell me he isn’t getting a crush on Morgana. Noooooo please why does every character always have a crush in these shows can my aroace heart be soothed for a while instead of crushed at every occasion

Merlin is a teenage boy with hormones okay. Check.

Okay Merlin just squeaking to imitate Gwen is funny.

Gwen where are you though?

And she arrives! Gwen and Gaius are easily the most relatable people.

I loooove candle lighting.

OHHHHH I FORGOT ABOUT THE REFLECTION THING NOOOO WHY IS SHE DYING

Oh so Merlin and Arthur have spotted each other- nope that’s just Katie McGrath in an incredible dress that won’t be invented for centuries but since when is accuracy the point of this show. The inaccuracies make it better

Isn’t she your cousin or something Arthur?

Gwen is so sweet! But also. The foreshadowing is starting. “Not that I’d want to marry Arthur.” WELL YOUR NAME IS GUINEVERE. SO I GUESS YOU’RE HEADING THERE ANYWAY GWEN I really hope he improves.

“No, I like much more ordinary men like you.” Gwen is realistic! She doesn’t have ideas above her social station! Finally a character who has some knowledge of where they stand! But also no Gwen please don’t fall in love with Merlin that’s just a bad idea

Gwen deserves better than this world. She’s so sweet and nice and frankly dealing with stuff she isn’t paid for enough. #GiveGwenARaise

Oh phew thank god it’s established she doesn’t like him I don’t think I could have borne it.

Merlin is very much a self-centred emo teenager while Gwen is reasonable and sweet and dealing with so much bullshit I promise Gwen you deserve so much better than dealing with him.

Guys believing the female characters for once would have made a nice change. I guess not, huh?

I love Uther’s voice.

I almost expected her to start singing Memory from Cats but no it makes sense that she’s singing something else actually

I’m 95% sure Eve Myles is dubbed here but also medieval music had lyrics.

OH IT’S A SPELL

The darkening as the spell takes effect is well-done and a touch I wouldn’t have imagined. But also what in the Sleeping Beauty

Merlin I thought you said you’d help anyone trying to kill Arthur? Apparently not, huh?

Those cobwebs look sticky.

How has Merlin not gotten caught yet?!

So he saved Arthur’s life huh. Quite a different reaction to twenty minutes ago. Is this character growth? Or is it him realising how bad it would be if A died? (Or am I just having fun interpreting his joke too literally)

“You shall be Prince Arthur’s manservant.” BAHAHA I LOVE UTHER

the absolute DESPAIR on M and A’s faces

Gaius is having fun.

Oooh a magic book! This’ll be interesting!

Aaand the episode ends.

[nani-nonny]

The Request snippet

Context: uh… I don’t have much. I wrote all this spontaneously but I suppose Frida as Big Mama’s Assistant. Snippet takes place post-movie and post-season 2, so I suppose think of this as season 3 snippet? The Hamato brothers are in the Hidden City exploring when Big Mama’s Assistant makes an appearance.

(Temporary They/Them pronouns for BMA until reveal)

Word count: 2.4k

Big Mama’s assistant lands before the turtles suddenly, making them flinch as They rise to Their feet.

The aura They exude is intense, one that demands the turtles’ full attention without any room for jokes. They seem tall, overwhelming in stature despite being no taller than Leo and Donnie. The mask alone seems to glare at them, sneering down at them like nobility to the common folk. Even Their stance alone seems to be on a higher level than them.

They stand with hands behind Their back akin to a commanding officer of some sort. It’s almost too intimidating for the teen turtles before Them. The turtles don’t remember their last encounter with Them being like this. Sure, the turtles met this assistant in passing but a brief meeting was nothing like this.

Big Mama’s Assistant speaks with a stern and commanding voice, muffled slightly from the mask and making it harder to deduce whether Big Mama’s assistant is alive or the perfect robot. “You are the Hamatos?”

The question almost sounds judgemental rather than looking for confirmation. A hint of disbelief in Their tone like they aren’t what the Assistant thought they’d be.

Leo, despite the intimidating factor the Assistant builds on his shoulders, plays a cool role, unaffected by the intensity of the sudden atmosphere. He steps forward, taking the lead for his brothers as he preens, “Oh ho, hear that guys? We’re famous!”

Leo leans in the Assistant’s direction, grinning cheek to cheek as he asks, “What did you hear? That the devilishly handsome one is the bravest, coolest leader that saved the world multiple times?”

The Assistant’s head tilts back slightly, but not a single sound comes out. It only seems like They’re not entertained by Leo’s antics. The mask itself seems to be hardening its glare at Leo.

So, Raph chimes in, pushing Leo behind him as he greets the Assistant properly. “Uh, sorry about Leo. Yeah, we’re the Hamatos. Why’re you asking?”

The Assistant hums in response before visibly studying the turtles’ appearance.

Donnie fixes his goggles in turn, leaning forward for a better look at the Assistant. Under his breath he mumbles, “Can’t get a reading…”

The Assistant speaks again, but this time Their tone is clearly filled with disappointment. “You’re less than I… expected... It’s a shame.”

Donnie scoffs dramatically, “Wha—huh? Less?” The softshell is about to give the Assistant a piece of his mind but Leo steps in front of him.

“Then you gotta be at your wit’s end to be asking for our help, huh?” Leo’s smiling like he has won the battle on remarks but Donnie sighs.

The softshell’s hand meets his face in defeat as he grumbles, “Not the best comeback, Nardo.”

The Assistant fixes their gloves, bringing attention to the claws attached to the fingertips. “No, no, the Blue One is right. Unfortunately, I lack the manpower to accomplish this mission I have for you lot.”

Mikey pipes up from behind Raph, “Does everyone in the Hidden City talk like you? Because Draxum kinda talks like you do. I don’t think anyone else calls Leo ‘Blue One’, other than Draxum.”

Raph narrows his eyes at the Assistant, ignorant of the blatant threat seconds prior. “Yeah, you know Draxum or what? Did he send you to us?”

The Assistant’s claws find purchase behind Their back once again, but the impatient tick, tick, tick from metal on metal resounds behind Them. “I’d rather be caught dead than ever find company with that old goat.”

“Yeesh, Draxum’s the pits but he’s not that bad,” Leo jokes then leans on Raph. He asks nonchalantly, “So you’re not with Draxum but you want something, what is it?”

The Assistant’s full attention closes in on Leo, all intimidation silencing the other three turtles. “I need your help.”

“Obviously,” Donnie mumbles but doesn’t speak more when the Assistant’s head snaps in his direction.

“There is someone far out of reach, and I believe you are my best bet on reuniting with them,” the Assistant reiterates.

“Is it a friend?” Mikey asks quietly, not wanting to make any bad blood between himself and the frightening, masked assistant.

“That is disclosed. At least, until you accept my request,” the Assistant answers briefly.

“So… you want our help, but you won’t tell us anything about it without getting our guarantee to help,” Donnie asks with a hint of annoyance.

“Why us?” Raph interrupts, confusion evident in the furrowing of his brows.

The Assistance waits a second, silence behind the mask but not indication for what the silence is for. Could They be thinking? Or could They be plotting? It can’t be discerned. Not even Leo can spot a hint of response from Their body language, as Their stature remains still.

When the Assistant responds, there’s a sudden change in tone. It’s minuscule, but barely—just barely—noticeable. Their tone is… hopeful.

“I witnessed your glory against the Krang’s invasion. Watched as you defeated those aliens by the breadth of a hair—mind you. But that win alone tells me you’re the only ones I know can pull this rescue mission off without failure.”

Leo grins with his brothers, preening delightfully at the high praise. But his brothers seem to have taken the praise otherwise.

“You’re saying this ‘rescue mission’ is on par with the Krang invasion?” Donnie asks with air quotes and annoyance resurging with a newfound source.

Raph takes an intimidating step forward, standing tall and wide to glare down at the Assistant. “We’re not taking it if it means life or death. We’re not taking any risks.”

Raph doesn’t wait another second as he picks up Mikey and Donnie to set them on his back. He tucks Leo under his arm like a newspaper and starts to walk away as he says, “Sorry, but find someone else.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” the Assistant’s furious voice tells them from behind.

Raph is about to look over his shoulder when a dark blur passes him and Leo’s suddenly missing from his hold. He doesn’t have time to react when Donnie is knocked off his back and Mikey is thrown to the sky. He is barely able to catch a fist aimed for his face, taking a step back from the sheer force behind the punch.

“Wha—,” Raph begins, astonished, but the Assistant doesn’t give him time to react.

The Assistant manages to slither out of reach, moving like a shadow. They land a solid punch to the thin wall of his shell’s side, making him feel winded for the first time in his life. This time, Raph is quick to act. He summons his power and expands a clone from his body, pushing the Assistant away.

The Assistant is unphased by Raph’s defensive maneuver, turning Their attention to Mikey who makes a sudden appearance.

The Assistant manages to catch the end of Mikey’s chains, but finds Their forearm in the coil of orange chains. They tug sharply, sending Mikey flying toward Them.

Mikey smirks and suddenly phases out of existence in a flash of red light, leaving behind the chains on Their forearm. Emerging from the red light is Donnie, landing a solid swing of his TechBo directly on the Assistant’s temple. The Assistant reels back, reflexes working faster than Donnie’s second swing of his TechBo. They pull on the Bo, only to be caught off guard when the Bo extends and reveals a flame thrower.

“Ha hah! Combustion! How—,” Donnie cackles when the first wave of flames erupts, but his victory stops short when burning, golden claws reach through the fire to grab the upper lip of his plastron.

A sharp squeak leaves Donnie’s mouth when he’s suddenly flung into Raph’s clone’s awaiting arms.

Leo suddenly appears in front of the Assistant, a downward swing of his sword meeting the heated claws. His expression winces with the effort of trying to complete his katana’s attack, but he smiles nonetheless. “Fancy moves, Terminator,” he jokes and unsheathes his twin katana in another downward swing.

The Assistant is quick to block the second attack with Mikey’s chains on Their forearm. The metal blade scrapes against the chains, creating a skin crawling screech until the katana finishes its stroke. The Assistant kicks Leo’s torso, sending the slider flying backward and leaving a katana in Their hand.

The Assistant pivots around just in time to block Mikey’s chain whip that snatches Leo’s sword from Their grip. Raph takes over immediately, numerous replicas spawning from him to surround the Assistant.

“Give it up, Masky, you can’t win this,” Raph’s voice echoes throughout each clone.

The Assistant is surrounded but doesn’t show signs of surrendering. Instead, They grab hold of Mikey’s chains and unravels it from Their forearm. They make a sharp tug and the chains extend from Mikey’s grip, revealing the box turtle as one of Raph’s clones.

The Assistant doesn’t stop there as They swing the chains around and around until they meet with the clones. Each clone dissipates upon contact with the chains, until the real Raph and Mikey are revealed. But the Assistant can’t react as Leo spawns behind Them.

The Assistant pivots to land a punch on Leo, but he creates a portal in time to redirect Their hit to Their own back. The punch sends the Assistant flying through the portal and out the portal originally behind Them. Unable to catch Themself in time, They find Themself stuck in an endless loop of portals.

Leo smiles triumphantly as throws his hands behind his back, standing nonchalantly beside his brothers that meet his side. Although the fight seems to be over, he has yet to sheath his twin katanas. “Pretty good fight, if I do say so,” he announces to his brothers.

Mikey watches as the Assistant falls through the portals, getting dizzier by the second until Donnie turns him around.

“Should we leave Masky there?” Mikey asks, unable to make a second glance as Donnie’s hand on his head keeps him still.

Leo hums in response, feigning thinking on it, “Hmmm, I dunno… Masky was kind of a jerk.”

“Yeah, I think they’ll be fine. This shouldn’t be different from Big Mama’s roundabout way of speech,” Donnie says with a roll of his eyes and pulls out his phone to take a picture.

“Leo, maybe you should stop—in a few hours, Donnie, take my pic,” Raph says and poses in front of the Assistant’s portal paradox.

Mikey jumps where he stands, raising his hand frantically, “Oo! Me next!”

But Mikey doesn’t get his chance for a photo op when the sound of the Assistant going through the infinite loop suddenly stops. Power and energy glitch and spark loudly, alerting the Hamato brothers and making Mikey flinch as he retreats to his brothers’ sides. Leo stands in the forefront, twin katanas out in a defensive stance.

The Hamato brothers make the frightening realization that the Assistant’s hands are aglow in a raging green fire. The green flames flicker as They grip the edges of Leo’s portal ring, claws somehow managing to pierce the blue energy as if it were a physical object to grab. With trembling grip, the Assistant has caught Themself from trailing endlessly through Leo’s portal loop. Straining to pull Themself out of the portal like a higher being unable to be contained.

“Omigosh, what do we do?” Mikey panics, unable to move from his spot next to his brothers.

“Oh, that is a new kind of freaky,” Raph exclaims with a shiver.

“Eugh, that is not what you want to see,” Donnie remarks as he grips tighter to his TechBo.

Leo glances over his shoulder at Donnie, hoping for some kind of answer as he asks in a panicked tone, “Is that supposed to happen?!”

“Not really! The speed at which the prisoner was traveling should’ve ripped limbs off if they tried to grab anything!” Donnie explains with an equally panicked tone.

They watch in horror as the Assistant pulls Their body out of the portal, tearing the portal in the process until it disintegrates in green flames. Landing softly on the ground, the Assistant flexes Their hand as They marvel at the green flames that extinguish to nothing. They look up at the turtles, making them flinch upon sight.

“Would you like to try again?”

“Okay, not gonna lie, but that’s a really cool line,” Leo admits before spinning his swords in hand. He forces a smile and challenges, “Your move.”

“Hm,” the Assistant hums before snapping into action. They lunge forward, claws reigniting in that green flame once again.

Leo flinches back at the sight of the flames, “Oh, unfair!”

The Assistant swipes at Leo’s leg like an animal, ferocious and deadly. Green flames meet air when Leo dodges backwards, missing contact by a hair.

Raph aims a right hook with tonfa in hand at the Assistant’s head—or at least, where it used to be. The Assistant redirects Raph’s punch in Mikey’s direction as They duck, and lands a swift punch directly into the thin walling of shell again. Raph stops his punch short of making contact with Mikey, allowing the box turtle to climb over using his arm as a bridge.

Mikey’s hands glow as he blows flickers of ash into the Assistant’s mask’s eyes, and amidst the confusion. The flickers of ash coagulate and gather together to create a cloud that blocks the Assistant’s sight completely, giving Donnie his opportunity. Donnie lands a perfect slam of his TechBo directly to the side of the Assistant’s, creating a heavy sound that reverberates throughout the entire area. The sound of a large crack is accompanied by a significant split in the Assistant’s mask.

And in seconds, the mask splits apart in a symphony of cracks and breakages that fall to the ground.

“You’re—you’re like us,” Leo stammers as his eyes widen and stops the swing of his blade short of meeting with the Assistant’s armored shoulders.

Orange, flame-like markings parallel Leo’s red stripes across his eyes. The Assistant’s eyes glare up at Leo as a green, flaming claw reaches for the blade aimed for her shoulder.

In the same stern tone, no longer muffled by the mask and more human than moments prior, she corrects, “I’m better.”

In one swift movement, the Assistant snaps Leo’s blade in half with a flaming claw. She sweeps her leg under Donnie and knocks him off-balance. She lands a hard punch on the side of Raph’s knee, forcing the snapper to his knees in the process. She lunges for Mikey and flips the box turtle over her shoulder into Raph’s arms.

She slips out of the circle of enemies and stops a few steps away from the Hamato brothers. She fixes her glove, extinguishing the green flames in the process. She flexes her hands again, bringing attention back to clawed fingertips. She asks calmly, a challenge in her tone, “Would you like to hear me out this time?”

:D

Nonny: Frida’s flame hands remind me of Tai Lung hehe vvvv

[corporatefrog]

꒦‧₊ ꒷ Team Stan w/ a reader who can shapeshift into animals! [Headcannons] ✧.*

✧.* tags: college au, superhero au,

✧.* Charactions: kyle broflovski, stan marsh, kenny mccormick, butters scotch

a/n: this is an old request but i think i was able to get pretty silly with it

masterlist

Kyle

FLYING TOGETHER PLEASE

Imagine soaring through the sky with fucking human kite

And being such a better flyer than him

Literally cliche flying through the clouds and kyle traces his hands through them 

“Stop going so high! I can’t gain altitude that fast!”

“Uh… lame power? Get better? Don’t be a human kite?”

“I fucking hate you.”

“SORRY CAN'T HEAR YOU AIR PRESSURE TOO LOUD”

Yall probably fight really well together 

He thinks up the plans and you shapeshift and attack

Dynamic duo vibes fr

DROPPING IN ON A VILLAIN FROM ABOVE 

BLOCKING OUT THE SUN OR SOME SHIT

Coolest duo 

Stan

“Dude I TOLD YOU not to go in the radioactive lake”

“Oh… I thought that was code for go into the radioactive lake”

“In what world is telling you not to do something code for doing it?”

“Uh- YOU CANT CONTROL ME I CAN TURN INTO A BIRD NOW”

Tries to not be impressed because he’s supposed to be annoyed 

But he thinks its so fucking cool

Lowkey wanted that to be his power if he could choose anything

After the veal thing he volunteered at animal shelters 

This is real because I said so let me be delusional 

Asks you to turn into a cat and talk to the other cats to make sure they don’t hate him

Because ferguson always glares at him from the corner and he is NOT interested in being attacked by a bunch of pissed cats

Convinced they’re scheming against him

Still mad at you for going into the radioactive lake though

Kenny

He cannot comprehend it

Like you try explaining it to him and it is just NOT clicking

The only thing that works is telling him it’s like Beast Boy from Teen Titans

“Oh so you can shapeshift into animals while still regaining your consciousness?”

“I literally said that fifteen times- You anger me so much every day.”

Wants to make the teen titans

He is robin (obviously)

Probably has the costume from halloween a few years back

PLEASE turn into a bear and pretend to fight him

He wants to say he fought a bear

And cartman bet him $100 that he couldn’t 

Choreographs an entire battles scene in the middle of town

Because it’s not like south park animal control actually does anything

Kenny now owes you 10 favors that can be cashed in whenever needed

Butters

Turning into a tiger whenever he gets bullied and scaring the shit out of whoever is bothering him

(usually it's eric)

Or turning into a little puppy whenever he’s sad 

“Everything alright, butters?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“So you don’t want me to turn into a husky and play with a frisbee?”

“Well you didn’t mention that. That changes everything!”

Just being his lil animal buddy

Turning into an elephant walking to a doctors appointment to get there in like 2 seconds

If he’s professor chaos, he refuses to attack when you’re an animal

It’s animal abuse 🙁

He’ll punch you in the face as a person but he REFUSES to hit a cat

Even if you’re a mountain lion lunging at him

Heart of gold fr

Overall

NO ONE TELLS CARTMAN

A rat got into his sock drawer and ripped holes in all of them?

What a shame :( so sorry that happened to you

Suddenly all of his clothes have cat piss on them

How could that have happened??? Poor poor eric

What do you mean you’ve found spider webs everywhere but no spiders? Hopefully there aren’t spider eggs everywhere. That would be terrible.

Really just looking for excuses to ruin cartman’s day

[echofromtheabyss]

There is a certain assumption made about women who AREN’T “cool girl,” “not like other girls,” and or what we assume about a neurotypical middle class white woman

basically the problem is that we’re being mapped to a platonic ideal of girlhood and womanhood that’s upheld as normal by many women, especially in the professional world (even and especially middle class white feminists) and it assumes that every woman got to be one of the popular girls in high school and has groups of women friends they do brunch with and who will be at their bachelorette party.

the group you’re supposed to “fit in with” to be “like the other girls” is actually very very specific. It’s even very class-coded, but the thing is, in the 80s and 90s when we talked about this, we were more honest about the class of girls who got to be among the Pretty People

There are even massive assumptions about upbringing and trajectory of development. In order to be one of the Pretty People, you have to have been raised right. Or at least have gotten into a good school and fallen in with a group of women friends that way. You have to be the kind of person who would make a good bureaucrat or good at a higher status female dominated job (NOT “pink collar.”) You have to be the kind of woman who would get invited to normie weddings and normie baby showers to begin with

Girls who come up in this pipeline were raised in a way that brought them into contact with groups of girls that they were supposed to “fit in with.” They had girl friends at school and they had extracurricular groups that brought them around other girls. A ton of the “unwritten rules of girlhood” are things you learn *around other girls your age.*

The thing is, I am pretty sure - from growing up in multicultural areas, blue collar areas, poor areas, and then, even knowing some rich girls - that the picture of girlhood and womanhood we’re talking about, is very very specific to… a specific culture set of women.

I think that for lots of girls, girlhood is very solitary. I am always stunned when I talk to the most socially nerfed women and I find out that the reason they never had friends as a child, isn’t necessarily even bioessential to whatever neurodivergence they might have, it’s because they weren’t ALLOWED to have friends. Or they were kept inside during off-school hours because they lived in a region where boys roamed the streets in packs (this IS why I didn’t have girl friends; girls in my neighborhood were sealed up tight in their homes. I started befriending boys as early as age 6.) Or they were already responsible for siblings, elders, and chores at a very very young age.

it is also very VERY common that girls in this situation, end up focusing more on boyfriends in their teens because boys are their only access to a social life. It’s really possible to even wrongly assume you’re heterosexual because of the social availability of boys compared to girls - I never figured out I was attracted to women because I was simply never AROUND any unrelated women my own age, to any degree, before being out on my own.

It’s very very possible that what you’ve all been sold as a “normal girlhood” is actually a very very specific artifact of culture and social class

“Cool Girls” are actually just. Most girls

[jackfrombaskinrobbins]

daredevil fam x teen!intern!reader [pt. 1]

CLICK HERE FOR PT. 2

type of writing: headcanons / scenario

word count: 1.5k

request: yes / no

original request: DYING over your matt post– i'm a sucker for casual family hcs with teen readers, it's always the cutest !! could i request something similar like the whole team (nelson, murdock, & page) taking care of an intern? just a teen who usually takes care of filing ends up wandering into the whole found family dynamic they have set up? thanks !

dynamic: daredevil fam (nelson murdock & page) x teen!intern!reader

characters: reader, matt murdock, foggy nelson, karen page

a/n: hiii tysm for this request!!! i love found family hc's too -- especially with daredevil bc i feel like i haven't seen many :( if y'all ever have more daredevil requests like this i would be more than happy to write them!!

taglist: @nutellani @thecloudedmind

(fill out this form if you'd like to be on my taglist!!)

-----------------------✰----------------------

your school had an internship program.

basically, during the last few weeks of the year, everyone in your grade was matched up with a company to go be interns!

and sometimes that led to summer jobs which was cool

anyways so you were pretty excited

you had been looking forward to getting your assignment for a while now.

you had told the people who assigned the internships that you were interested in law, and you were holding out for a good assignment

but you were kind of worried because a lot of people were interested in law as well

so finally the day came

and you were confused to see someplace called “nelson, murdock, and page” listed there

like who the heck were these people

even worse, a couple of the really egocentric & mean kids got internships at landman & zack.

LANDMAN & ZACK

and they were really rubbing it in.

“y/n, where did you get assigned?”

“uh.. nelson, murdock, and page.”

“huh, never heard of them. i got assigned to landman and zack!!! aren’t you happy for me?”

blech

anyway the first day that you were supposed to go came finally

the one upside to being assigned to nelson, murdock, and page was that it was fairly close to where you lived

like only a block or two!!

you honestly weren’t sure what to bring so you kind of overpacked

well not crazy but still

you probably wouldn’t need three packs of pencils AND two staplers

but hey, this was new york! anything could happen.

you took a deep breath as you walked in, and as you approached the door, you could hear what sounded like an argument inside.

“listen karen, i’m not gonna take it anymore! the shamrock shake is gross!!”

btw i agree with that statement not that it’s relevant but still its nasty spearmint is blech

oop back to what i was writing

“foggy, you’re wrong. it’s what really makes spring for me!!”

“hey, you two. there’s someone outside.”

and just like that, the two who were arguing turned to face the door. 

you gave a sheepish wave, embarrassed that you hadn’t just walked in.

“aw, no way!! are you the intern? uhm… your name… uh..” said the shamrock shake hater

“y/n.” said another man, the peacekeeper, it seemed. 

you had remembered the internship assigner telling you one of the lawyers was blind

and judging by the red glasses, this was the one.

“yeah, that’s me. you must be murdock… i think.”

“call me matt.” he said, extending a hand for you to shake.

then the woman, (shamrock shake lover), also extended her hand.

“i’m karen. it’ll be nice to have someone new around here!!”

“yeah”, said the shamrock shake hater, “nice to have someone to do all the filing!”

“oh.. filing?” you asked, brow furrowing. 

you could feel yourself deflating a little bit.

“don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of interesting stuff for you to do y/n.” matt spoke, a small smile on his face.

“foggy, how about you show them how to do it?” karen said right after, pointing at shamrock shake hater.

foggy, now.

“aw, karen!! you know i’m no good at filing!!”

“that’s a lie. you just pretend to be bad at it to get out of doing it.” karen replied, and matt nodded.

a big dramatic sigh from foggy

“al-RIGHT, al-RIGHT! jeez. c’mon y/n. seems like we have work to do!!”

you couldn’t help but laugh bc these people were ridiculous

in a good way

at least for now!

turns out foggy WAS good at filing

and apparently you were too!!

he made a game out of it to see who could unlock the cabinet & put the folder in the right spot first

and not to brag, but you always won :) 

he even bet his lunch that you couldn’t beat his time!

“don’t mess with them, foggy. i think they’ve shown they can run circles around you.” karen laughed as he challenged you

and yet he still did it!!!

and you won!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!

so you had a delicious sandwich & chips for lunch courtesy of foggy nelson :D 

the rest of the day was pretty nice too

like most of it was filing but matt told you about some of the cases they were working on

and karen was so sweet like y’all were gossiping fr

she told you about all the crazy stuff that happened at the firm

and honestly, you were so glad you had been assigned to this firm

because were the people at landman & zack having this much fun???

no i don’t think so!!!

plus it helped that they all hated landman and zack too

foggy told you all about how stuffy and uptight everyone was there

so it was kind of a relief!

-----------------------✰----------------------

I HAD TO DO THIS IN TWO PARTS SO HERE'S THE SECOND ONE

CLICK THIS FOR PT. 2

[specialagentlokitty]

Saul Silva x Teen!reader - a better life

Hi, do you think you can write a part five of a better life? 😊 - Anon💜

Part five:

You had been slowly adjusting to life at Alfea, but you still refused to talk or interact with any other students, you didn’t want anything to do with them.

You stuck to your dorm, sometimes you would leave with Farah or Silva, but that was it.

Sitting in Farah’s office, you looked at the book in your hands and held it out to her.

“You finished it?” She smiled.

“Yeah, it was good.”

Farah smiled and took the book, setting it on her desk.

“You’re getting better, are you still struggling?”

You slowly nodded your head.

“Maybe I’m just not supposed to read.”

“You have dyslexia, there’s nothing wrong with that. You’ll get there.”

You frowned a little bit.

“What if I don’t..?”

The door was opened and closed and you looked up.

“Then that’s okay, you don’t have to be an expert. I struggle to read sometimes.”

“That’s because you’re old. You’re an old man your eyes aren’t what they used to be.”

Silva rolled his eyes at you and sat next to you.

“Ouch, words can hurt you know. That’s mean.”

“It’s true, and you were supposed to have lunch with me.”

He raised a bag in his hand.

“That’s why I’m here, you ready to go?”

Silva took you to different parts of the school every now and then for lunch, as a way to get you outside and used to the school grounds.

Today he took you by the river and you looked at the water.

“Can you swim?”

You looked at him and shook your head.

“No.”

Silva smiled and set a blanket on the ground, and pulled out some food and towels and set them aside.

You started eating, telling him about the book you had finished reading.

Silva happily sat there and listened to you, eating his own lunch while you talked but you soon got distracted.

You stopped eating and turned to the river again and watched a couple of ducks swim across.

“I think being a duck would be cool.”

Silva chocked on his drink and laughed.

“Why’s that (Y/N)?” He asked.

You pointed to them.

“Look at those funky little birds, just living their lives floating all day. They’re like little boats with wings!”

“Little.. little boats with wings?”

Silva couldn’t help but laugh again as you started to go in depth about how ducks were just little boats with wings.

You had come out with some strange things over time, and he was always shocked and entertained when you came out with something new.

Getting up, you wondered into some tall grass and started looking around in it before you dropped to the ground.

You waved your hand through the dirt and pulled out what you had found and came back to sit back down.

“What’s that?” He asked.

“A stone.”

You showed it to him.

“Here, you can have it, I’ll find another one.”

Handing Silva the stone you wondered away and he smiled, looking at the little stone

To him it didn’t seem important or special, but it must have been important for you to pick it up and bring it back over so he put it next to his phone.

You came back with two more stones and you set them next to your jacket and wondered away again.

“What’re you up to now?” Silva called.

You didn’t reply and he turned around to see you climbing one of the trees and he chuckled, walking over and he stood at the bottom of the tree as you stood on one of the branches.

“I can see the school from up here! It looks so tiny!”

Silva jumped up, pulling himself up into the tree and he stood on the branch next to you.

“Wow it really does look small doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, but it’s huge. Bet you could see it from space.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works.”

You shrugged a little and sat down, swinging your legs back and forth, and he sat next to you.

“It’s not so bad at Alfea. I like watching the fairies practice, it’s pretty cool. Are you are fairy?”

“No, I’m a specialist. Just a specialist, not as cool as the fairies.”

You glanced at him and looked back at the school.

“I still think that’s pretty cool. You know some cool stuff, you have trained fighting. I know street fighting. I wonder if I could beat you in a fight.”

“We’ll never know.” He replied.

“I think I would. I’ll knock you on your ass in no time.”

Silva laughed a little.

“You keep believing that, I’ve been doing this since before I was your age.”

“Yeah but you don’t know my tricks.”

“Oh so you’ve got tricks now do you?”

“Yup! And you’ll never know when it’s coming.” You grinned.

You looked at the ground, swinging your legs still and you smiled softly to yourself.

“It feels weird here sometimes…”

Silva looked down at you.

“Why’s that?” He asked softly.

You shrugged a little. Kicking the back of his foot lightly.

“I guess.. I got really used to my life and how it was. I didn’t really expect it to chance, I was okay with my life being like that.”

“You didn’t know anything else, I’m sure it seemed like the best life.” He sighed.

You nodded.

“It did. But even if I miss it sometimes I like it here more.”

“I’m glad you do, what makes you like it more?”

You didn’t reply, instead you looked up at him.

“Can you swim?”

“I can.”

You nodded and climbed down the tree and Silva followed you, down to the edge of the river where you crouched down, putting your hand in the water.

“I asked my step dad if I could learn once. He wouldn’t let me, said if I drowned it would be my own fault.”

Silva frowned as he looked at you.

Then an idea hit him, he took his shoes off and his jacket off and he walked into the water until it was waist high and he turned to look at you.

“Come on.” He smiled.

You titled your head a little.

“But I can’t swim?”

“I’m not gonna let anything happen I promise. Take your shoes off.”

You sat down, taking your shoes off and setting them aside and he walked a little closer, holding his hands out to you.

Silva looked at you and smiled.

“It’s alright.”

You reached your hands out, taking his hands and he helped you walk into the water.

“Crap that’s cold!” You yelled.

“You’ll get used to it in a minute, a little further.”

He kept going back until the water was up to your knees and he stopped.

You stood there for a minute, and a wide smile spread across your face as you kicked one of your legs, splashing the water and you did it again.

You tried to act all big and tough, but sometimes, like now, you had moments of childish happiness and that’s what he wanted to bring out.

You let go of his hands and reached them down, splashing water at him and you laughed loudly.

A real laugh, and it made him smile even more because that was the first time he’d heard you laugh like that.

You kept splashing and you stopped looking at him.

Reaching out, you put your hand on your chest and pushed him.

“Oh no, you’ve knocked me over.”

Silva dropped himself into the water, creating a large splash and you closed your eyes as it hit your face and you opened them again, looking at him laying on his back.

“You’re a duck!”

“I’m not a duck!”

He moved upright again.

“I want to be a duck. Can I be a duck? How do I do that?”

“I’ll show you, but you need to trust me okay?”

You nodded and he walked over, and he explained to you what you had to do, but when you went to lay down you panicked and stood back up.

“Hey, hey it’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you, I’ll hold you okay?”

You looked at him a little scared.

“I’m not going to let go until you tell me too.”

“Promise me?”

You held out your pinky to him.

“I promise you.”

He linked his pinky with yours and you nodded your head.

He placed his hand on the back of your head.

“Okay, now crouch down, until the water reaches your chin.”

You did as he said and he smiled.

“Amazing, now just let your feet come up. I’ve got you.”

You closed your eyes tight and did as he said, and he held your legs up.

“Open your eyes, you’re doing it.”

You peaked an eye open, and you looked at yourself laying on the water and you laughed, a huge smile on your face.

“Now to stay floating, you just need to move your arms in the water, sometimes your legs, go ahead.”

You did as he said and he stayed holding your there.

“I’m like a duck. I can just float down the river.”

“Well unfortunately for you, I’m not letting you float down the river.”

“But I must be with my people Saul! My people need me!”

He rolled his eyes at you.

“You’re people are perfectly fine.”

You grinned a little and he shook his head.

“If you let me go you’ll catch me if I sink right?”

“Of course, I’ll catch you before you sink.”

You nodded and took a deep breath.

“Okay. Okay let go.”

Silva carefully let you go, keeping his hands under the water in case you needed him, but after a few minutes of doing it on your own he took them out the clap.

“Yes! You’ve got it!”

You beamed to yourself.

“I’m a true duck, no I’m a jellyfish!”

Silva laughed, standing there with his arms crossed as he watched you just float in the water with a happy smile on your face.

It was relaxing feeling the small waves hit you, gently pushing you, but when you felt like you were going to far you held your hand out to him.

Silva took your hand, gently pulling you back over and he let go again.

This went on maybe another hour until you decided you wanted to go back.

He picked everything up, and wrapped a towel around you before wrapping one around him and grabbing the bag.

He grabbed his phone and the stone you gave him, and you grabbed your jacket and the other two, holding them tightly.

You were tired by the time you got back, and you couldn’t stop yawning.

“Let’s get you back to your dorm.” He said softly.

“Wait.. I need to go somewhere..”

He nodded and followed you to Farah’s office and let yourself in.

She was talking with a few students and she looked up at you.

You walked over without a word and set one of the stones on her desk.

“Merry Easter.” You yawned.

Farah smiled and picked it up, looking at it.

“Thank you (Y/N).”

You nodded your head and walked away without a word and Farah turned to Silva.

“It’s been a productive day. Sorry for the interruption girls.”

“Is that (Y/N)?” Terra asked.

“Yeah, it is.” He nodded.

“I’m glad they seem to be doing better.”

He smiled.

“Me too.”

Silva turned around to follow you back to your room, and you laid down on the sofa, holding out a book to him.

“Go get changed first, I’ll be back in a minute.”

You nodded and he left to go quickly change clothes and put everything in his room.

Making his way back to your dorm, he knocked lightly before walking in, and you were on the sofa covered in a blanket and you seemed to be fast asleep.

Laughing softly, he walked over and gently shook your shoulder.

“Come on, sleep in your bed.”

You weakly nodded and stood up, padding to your room and he took your jacket from your bed, hanging it on the back of the door while you crawled into bed.

He closed your blinds and turned on the light for you.

“I’ll wake you up for dinner.” He said.

He went to leave but stopped when you softly called his name.

He walked over and crouched down.

“I like it here more.. because you’re here.. you’re safe.. you’re nice to me.. Farah’s nice too.. I like her..”

Silva smiled.

“Get some sleep..” he whispered.

With that, he made his way to his room and sat at his desk, picking up the little stone you gave him, and he set it next to his framed pictures with a smile on his

[sun-lit-roses]

Brief Candle

I’m back! The holidays kinda took me out of the mood to watch new things rather than binge Star Trek for the eleven billionth time, but new year, new Stargate episodes! Booyah! Here we go, Season 1, Episode 9:

Okay I’m thinking Greek this time?

Yay, so is Daniel! I feel so smart.

Well, childbirth is something new for the series, sure.

Love everyone automatically looking at Sam. Just because she has the same parts doesn’t mean she knows what the hell to do 😂 Same, Sam.

I’ve missed the intro music 💗

Of course Daniel knows what to do! He’s our hero!

Well. Theoretically, he knows what to do. But they aren’t going to kill off a baby in the first ten minutes of the show, so I have high hopes.

Jack and Teal’c have noped out of that situation. Mood.

Aw, a baby! That is clearly not a newborn. But a baby!

Everyone is young and pretty - what is this, a teen drama?

Wow, this lady is not subtle at all.

And yet Jack is somehow startled by ‘the cake is only for you.’

Sam is definitely not surprised. Is laughing at your CO against regulations?

Also, all I can think of is ‘the cake is a lie.’ Wrong decade. But still.

Ma’am, you’re supposed to wait until your crush can’t see you before you trade high fives with your besties.

Oh good, the time honored tradition of tormenting your teammates is alive and well in Stargate. Always my favorite part 😁

Okay, judging by that last look Jack gave Sam for giggling, laughing at your CO might not be against regulations, but it is definitely not recommended if you want to stay out of the dog house. Or KP duty. Whatever.

Oh no, his vision’s going all fuzzy! WAS THE CAKE A LIE

She drugged him and is now... dancing for him? Oh and now dragging him away, that’s a little more what I expected.

Um, shouldn’t the team be fighting a little harder to intervene? This seems out of character? He just got dragged off by an alien stranger?

So the roofie wore off, Jack has no idea what happened, and he may have killed a woman with sex? This episode took a left.

Oh, everyone is just asleep. But then why does Jack look so freaked out? I mean, other than the roofie thing.

Ooooo awkward.

Bet there’s not training in ‘how to greet your team while wearing a sheet.’ I also bet that Jack wishes there was.

I can’t tell if Sam is accusatory or concerned.

Well, definitely concern all around now. Passing out will do that. What all is up with that cake?? Roofie *and* universe’s best sleeping medication?

 Poor Jack. He is not having a good time.

Wait, the other people aren’t hungover. So is it not the cake that makes them pass out?

T’ealc’s ‘You never before inquired’ when Daniel asks why he didn’t tell him he knew what the temple symbols meant. He’s not wrong. 😂

Teal’c just casually opening up the statue while Daniel rambles. King.

That is a *really* cool tablet.

Aha! That’s why they made a big deal out of the birth mark! So we could identify this kid who’s growing up WAY too fast.

Wait, the original dude. He said 100 days of celebration or something. What if it’s not a festival, but some kind of sped up time thing? Sped up lives? Or is the planet sped up, and our intrepid heros are going to return home and find a year passed or something?

Looks like the former! So does each day equal one year for these people?

I’d make a joke about cradle robbing, but since Jack was drugged and not consenting, I’ll refrain. Also, if it’s 1 day = 1 year, then 31 years seems respectable.

A virus?

Oh no, that means Jack only has 100 days to live?! Or less, maybe? Not sure how that translates if they start out older. He was growing on me!

Whoa that sunset came on fast.

Yay, it’s the Cool Doc again! I’m glad she came back. She better not die like Kowalsky did after two episodes. I’ve got trust issues with this show now.

Floppy disks. Now there’s a throwback.

OH great, starting out older sounds like it accelerates this? So how much time does he have??

Holy receding hairline, Batman.

TWO WEEKS?!

I mean, he’s right to send them away, best to be on the safe side and they can make trips for info that they need. I’m glad their disease protocols are improving! Although considering they let Carter traipse back and forth... still not great.

Nanotech? Will that be easier to destroy than a normal virus? Just wave a big EMP in Jack’s direction, see what happens?

Pretty sure arguing with the statue isn’t a *great* use of your time, Jack, but I can’t really blame you.

MARRIAGE cake?

I’m not sure yelling at the woman about the only culture she’s ever known is really going to help matters here.

How does their aging work anyway - everyone looks young. Where are the people who are 70 or 80 days old? Or do they not visibly age after a certain point? But they don’t seem surprised by Jack’s appearance, so that doesn’t make sense.

Also, is there just like a *massive* graveyard somewhere if people are dying off so quickly?

I really need to stop trying to figure out the internal logic of a planet that, based on how the show has gone so far, we’re never going to see again.

How does Jack know that there isn’t like a forcefield or laser grid to keep the Chosen from leaving? I guess they probably scanned the area for things like that.

This is... possibly very sweet? I know Kynthia is trying to be nice, but sex really can’t solve everything, honey.

Also, are they going to have sex right in front of the Stargate? What if someone comes through. All ‘We have a cure!... OH.’

Could we have a Jack episode that *doesn’t* make me want to cry? Please?

Well, that’s taking de-throning a god very seriously.

Okay, this has been bugging me the whole time, WHERE do I know the blonde female alien from? The actress, I mean. I’m going to have to look her up after the episode, aren’t I.

They’re going to run into some sort of forcefield by leaving the village aren’t they?

There is some sort of... something? They’re awake? Jack isn’t younger, though.

The statue! Has a blinky thing!

Our team to the rescue!

They fixed everyone and Jack gets to live. Love a happy ending.

Aw. Maybe Kynthia can fall for someone new with all the years she has now. Maybe without drugging them first this time.

[combatfaerie]

Ficlet: Subscription

Title: Subscription

Word count: 979

Rating: Teen (nothing explicit, but.. well, it's about dick pics)

Characters: Becky Lynch & Dean Ambrose (minor appearances by Seth Rollins and Triple H)

Prompt 04: Asking permission to send a dick pic.

Tagged: @wrestleprompts

"Hey Becks? Got a minute?"

Becky turns to see Dean walking up to her, tapping his phone against his thigh. Jon, she reminds herself. He isn't renewing his contract with WWE and he'll be gone in a matter of weeks, so she'll have to get used to using his real name again. "Hey. What's up?" She does her best not to glance at the closed office where Seth is meeting with Hunter. By now pretty much everyone backstage knows she and Seth are dating, but some opinions matter more to her than others, and Dean's is one of them. Roman seems delighted that his youngest Shield brother is in love again, but she can't quite figure out Dean's take on the relationship.

When he starts glancing around, Becky's heart sinks a bit. Dean is twitchy by nature, but he looks like he's making sure no one else is in earshot. "Got a question for you," he says at last, hopping up on the nearest equipment trunk and patting the spot beside him, staring at her until she joins him.

"Okay. Shoot." She's never been one of those girls who doesn't want to go anywhere without her boyfriend, but she can't help wishing Seth's meeting would finish up quickly.

"You cool if I keep sending Seth dick pics?"

There's enough to unpack there that Becky feels like her brain has gone on a whirlwind world tour. Her mouth opens and closes over and over, but the only word she can manage to squeak out is "What?"

Dean taps the back of his phone. "Are you cool if I keep sending Seth dick pics?" Apparently the addition of a formal verb is supposed to make the question clearer.

"Keep sending?" Becky echoes, still trying to find some sensible footing in this surreal conversation. "You mean you've been sending him dick pics already?"

To her surprise, Dean doesn't look surprised at all. "Yeah. Of course. It's a whole thing. You know, like those flip animation books...."

That unleashes a torrent of images in Becky's head that she really doesn't want to be contemplating, especially since she's next in line to talk to Hunter. "That's really up to Seth, isn't it?" she hedges. A strange sense of relief relaxes her shoulders. The reaction to their relationship has been so positive overall that she's just been waiting for someone to try tearing them down and if it had been Dean, she's not sure if she would have had the heart to tell Seth. It's hard enough knowing that his Shield brother is going to be leaving the company; if Dean disapproved of their relationship—or just her—it could drive a wedge between them that had nothing to do with distance. "I mean, it's his phone and—"

But Dean waves away her concerns like stale smoke. "Nah. I know he's good with it. I just want to make sure you are. I mean, you two are probably going to be married before my birthday at the rate you're going, so I want to keep everything cool, you know? Galina was okay with it for a while, but now with the kids...."

It's another rollercoaster ride for Becky's heart, but at least this loop sends her soaring. Dean's birthday is in December—she's too flustered to remember the exact day—so if he thinks they'll be married by then, clearly he thinks they have staying power. Or that we're stupid, Becky thinks. To Dean, though, those probably aren't mutually exclusive. "Oh. Okay. Well, I mean, if it's cool with him, I'm fine with it."

"Good." Dean is still speaking as he flips over his phone, taps an app icon, and pecks out a few words before hitting the send button.

It's quiet enough backstage that Becky hears the notification tone from Seth's phone and the low rumble of his voice. Even if there was the bustle of a live event, though, she would have been able to hear the sharp sudden curse. "I didn't think you meant right now," Becky hisses. "He's in a meeting with Hunter!"

"Oh." Dean hops down to his feet and quickly shoves his phone in his back pocket. "Well, not like Trips hasn't seen it too. If he wants a subscription, he can ask." Then he plants a sloppy kiss on the top of Becky's head and saunters off. "You're good for him, Lynch!" he hollers back. "Don't let him screw this up!"

"DEAN!" The exclamation bursts out of the office before Seth does, eyes wide. When he notices Becky, he takes a deep breath. "I thought I heard Dean. That bastard—"

"Leave it, Seth." Hunter's beleaguered fatherly tone may sound weary, but Becky knows the power behind it all too well. "Let's finish up here and then you can go yell at him."

Becky manages to shoot Seth an apologetic look before he goes back in the office, but it still feels like an eternity before the door opens again. "Not your fault," he says quickly, coming over to give Becky a kiss. "I want to talk to him before we leave, though, so...."

"Go ahead. I'll let you know when I'm done with Hunter." She takes her time closing the office door behind her, though, and she's not quite sure how to read Hunter's expression. "Sorry about that—"

Hunter shakes his head. "Was it your dick?" The question is almost absurd as Dean's had been. "No. Then you have nothing to apologize for." He clears his throat and loosens his tie, clearly eager to get the last of the evening's work done. "Let's talk about some scenarios for Money in the Bank...."

"Sounds good."

And then Becky's phone dings, and she sets it on Hunter's desk very carefully, face down. Whatever it is, she doesn't want to know. She's had enough surprises for one day.

[turmoilcity]

New Fic who dis?

mthppgauxoc

A story i probably will not finish because I never finish any story

mthppgau stands for more than human Powerpuff Girls alternate universe. In this setting, the characters are based on more of the characterizaion in more than humans, rather than the canon show.

So, I thought of this funny scenario of a crossover between my story and mth, and I wanted to share it. Here it is.

rating:M

sorry for any grammar and spelling errors

---

Justin had always had a knack for these… weird concepts.

A time and space teleporter was what this thing was supposed to be, and Brick couldn’t help but think that had to be illegal in some law of the universe.

Which actually made the little guy a little dope in his book.

“Alright,” Justin said over the teens. It was Brick, his brothers, the Powerpuff Girls, GAME’s team, and Mitch. Floyd, Lloyd, and Harry. 

“This machine can only handle two trips. One to the time era and one back-"

Lillian raised her hand excitedly. Justin sighed.

“What?”

“If we don’t make it back in time, are we stuck in another universe?!” She gasped.

Justin blinked, “That’s actually a good question. But no. You aren’t gonna be stuck in time. You see, with this baby? I already thought ahead. You’ll just teleport because of the magnetic field you have to the machine, so virtually anywhere you are, you should make it back, buuuut, just to be safe, stay together. I wouldn’t jinx time travel if I were any of you.”

“You aren’t going?” Bella said.

Justin shrugged, he sat some robot on a table, “I’ve got more important things to do than ‘time travel’.” he mocks.

Bella teases him, “Oh yeah, because you’re too cool to hang out with us.”

“Damn right.”

She snorts and nudges him. “Whatever. Come on guys, lets load up,” she says to the crowd, joining them in the tight machine.

Dylan frowned, “Who are you ordering, exactly?”

She sneers.

Dylan rolls his eyes, “Okay everyone, here’s the thing. We’re going to a time when Lillian is an adult. No goofing off, and like Justin said, let’s stay together.”

“You’ll follow Justin's orders and not mines,” Bella says under her breath. Butch chuckles and nudges her.

“Heard that,” Dylan continues. “Justin made the machine so I trust his word. Remember, we’re going to ask Lillian questions about Who this "Enrique" man is and why he’s threatening the company. He’s gotten really good at keeping anonymous, and although this seems like a far fetched route to unveil his identity, I’m willing to take that chance.”

“That sneaky bastard,” Savannah muttered, a determined look in her eye.

Dylan looked to her, “Yeah. You see that energy, let’s be like that.”

The group roared in agreement. 

Dylan nodded, “Okay,” he exhaled, deliberately. He looked just the slightest tense.

“Are you good?” Jenna asked. 

“I’m fine. But it’s been a long time since I’ve teleported like this,” he said finally opening his eyes, and pressing a button beside him. The machine they were in began to rumble. The kids looked around in shared excitement and anxiousness.

“This might just be the dumbest thing we’ve ever gotten ourselves into,” Brick grumbled.

A female, voice came over the craft.

Welcome, to Justin’s Time Rocket. Please make sure to keep all hands and feet inside the ride. If you are in Justin’s Time Rocket without his permission, he is not responsible for any lost or damaged parts. This includes body parts. 

Remember, all scenes experienced at your destination, are within a different timeline and universe, meaning the outcome of such result has little to do with you and your experiences on your homeland. Enjoy your ride. Bye, bye! 

Brick spared a look outside of the glass window, where Justin stood, cooly waving at them before they were gone in a flash of light.

-----

Brick held his arms out as the inertia subsided.

“I’ve totally gotta let Justin know to work on the speed of that thing,” Bella panted hollowly behind him.

Theres the sound of gagging, and then a wet splatter. Several voices retch and disgust, and Brick flings the door open allowing everyone to step outside. 

“Hey! You are the one responsible for cleaning that shit up before we get back in there!”

“Dude, give me a break! We just traveled 1 million lightyears in the flash of a second.”

“Dylan calm down.”

“I’m not traveling back in a machine full of puke. If that’s your thing then….”

Brick tuned them out, taking in the landscape. A vast rural land, with a house a few yards away. This was far different from the city. He peered around curiously, wondering whose land they arrived on, and what time period it was. 

Boomer came up beside him, “Dude, where did we land? The 1800’s? Where is everything?” There was still distant arguing behind them.

Brick spotted a car that looked remarkarbly modern, “Couldn’t be. Check out the ride.”

Boomer made a “hmm” noise. Bubbles suddenly rushed him, wrapping around his arm.

“Hey. Where are we? Does this place look familiar to either of you.”

“No, does it look familiar to you?” Brick asked. 

Bubbles looked strangely into the distance and tilted her head, “I don’t know… I think I saw this place maybe in my dreams once.”

“Ugh. A compass would be so useful right now,” Blossom could be heard saying approaching them. She dusted herself down before catching eyes with Brick. Her eyes went soft, “What?”

“Nothing,” he instantly turned ignoring the fizz in his stomach,

“Country living, whoo!” Butch whooped, dragging the rest of the crowd with him, particularly an annoyed Buttercup (although Dylan also looked annoyed, but when didn’t he look that way?) “Where the hoes at?” he pumped his arms in the air. Blossom whacked him.

“Watch your mouth!”

“I meant like a garden hoe!” he then sneered “get it? Garden hoe?”

Bubbles pressed her lip into a thin line, “We get it, but no one’s laughing, Butch.”

“I’m laughing.” he said.

“Enough,” Dylan said over stepping them to the front, he had his phone in his hands looking at the screen. “Let’s just get these answers and get out of here. I don’t wanna waste any time on that arrogant, "Enrique" bitch. Anybody got service?” he asks.

Before anyone can respond there’s a little, “I do!” behind Dylan. He steps aside and turns revealing a young girl, brown skinned, curly red hair, and vibrant hazel eyes. 

Dylan blinks, “Um-”

She wraps her arms around him, “Uncle! I knew you would come back sooner than you said you would!” She drops her arms and points at his phone, “Why do ya still got that old piece of junk? The state doesn’t even sell them anymore. “

Bella snorts. 

The girls eyes brightened. She flies to Bella and hugs her, “Aunty Bella! Where’s Skid and Destiny at?”

Bella looks around confused, “I got kids?”

Meghan steps out, mouth dropped, “Wait, if you’re aunty Bella… and Dylan isn’t related to you, but he’s her uncle-”

Bella’s mouth dropped.

“NOPE. NO. THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. NOT EVEN ON ANOTHER PLANET.”

Bella went smug, “Oh come on Dylan. You heard the machine.” she imitated a robot. “Nothing in the future is real. Except maybe in another life.” The girl unwound herself, stupefied. Bella smirked at Dylan, “I knew you always had the hots for me."

Dylan rushed the girl, clasping her shoulders, “Who’s kid are you!”

The girl blinked, then giggled, “You’re so silly uncle-”

“WHO’S KID ARE YOU?”

She blinks again. “Um, Lillian’s. Duh.”

tbc...

[driftward]

Title: A Deep Discussion Characters: Zoissette Vauban, Klynt Gohtawyn, Y'shtola Rhul, Yda Hext, Papalymo Totolymo Rating: Teen Summary: Despite her military training, Zoissette finds herself deftly outmaneuvered, pinned, and left in a tight spot. Notes: The Karasawa story I had planned for today is not ready yet, so here, have some other flavor of nonsense.

Zoissette sat in the Rising Stones. It was late morning, and she was deep in her books. She was sitting at her usual spot, a cup of tea slowly cooling near her elbow, her legs kicked far out in front of her under the table. She glanced up as Y'shtola approached with a book and a cup of tea of her own.

"Is this seat taken?" Y'shtola asked, indicating the seat across from her. Zoissette shook her head.

"Need me to make space?" asked Zoissette as she turned her attention back to her books.

"No need. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, I am the one taking up half the undertable."

"Indeed," said Y'shtola, as she carefully sat down in the chair across from Zoissette, placing her feet on the outside legs of her chair so that Zoissette could keep her legs under it.

Zoissette ignored her, other than shifting in her chair a bit to make space. After a short bit, the two were settled in, and the only sound in the space was of pages turning, tea cups being placed gently back upon saucers, and quills scribbling against parchment.

The quiet was interrupted by the sound of a door being opened rather too roughly, followed by heavy footsteps.

"Zo! Zoie Zo-zo, what are you up tooooo?" Klynt sang as she came up to the two. She glanced under the table. "...Oh ho! Aren't we cozy."

"I am occupied, Klynt. Do you need something?" Said Zoissette, not looking up from her book.

"Just wonderin' whatcha doin'?"

Zoissette shook her head. "There are a couple of holes in the information we have collected to date about the recent primal summonings, and I would like to fill them in."

"Why, Zo!" Klynt protested, her hand to her chest. "I didn't think you cared about that sort of thing. If there's holes you're interested in filling, all you had to do was ask."

Y'shtola watched the exchange with interest. Zoissette looked up from her book with a flat expression on her face while Klynt cackled.

"And as it turns out, I need some corrupted crystal samples to help with some experiments later. I was going to send Nyx after them, but I have not seen her," said Zoissette. She held out a sheet of paper to Klynt. "Perhaps you could discharge some of that boredom of yours and help me out at the same time."

"Aw, you're no fun."

"I did say I was occupied."

"Alright, alright, fine," said Klynt, plucking the paper out of Zoissette's grasp. She looked it over for a bit, made a few humming noises, and walked out the door.

Y'shtola watched Zoissette's face carefully as the other woman returned to work. She made a small 'hmm' noise to herself, and then reached for her tea.

"Interesting," said Y'shtola dryly. "Usually I find you more than willing to engage in a little forward and back banter, exploring words and other matters with a partner. I must mark my surprise that you did not rise up to the challenge on this occasion."

She closed her eyes gently, cupping her tea with both hands to take a sip. Zoissette slowly rotated her head up to look across the table at Y'shtola incredulously.

"I am certain," said Zoissette, extremely slowly, enunciating every syllable, "That an upstanding member of the Scions such as yourself would be firmly against such wordplay."

"Why, whatsoever gave you that impression? I am a proper scholar of Sharlayan, as you know. I must needs have a well-rounded mastery of the language. I need not tell you that some of Eorzea's most cunning linguists have indeed hailed from the cavernous halls of Sharlayan study."

Zoissette narrowed her eyes at Y'shtola, who looked back at her with a lazy half-lidded expression.

"...oh? And while you were deep in said cavernous halls, I suppose you demonstrated a firm grasp of the subject matter," said Zoissette.

"Quite. I can assure you, in fact, that my oratory skills left few unsatisfied," said Y'shtola.

Y'shtola took another lazy sip of her tea, while Zoissette just frowned across the table. She opened her mouth and closed it several times, while Y'shtola set her tea down and picked her book, seeming to return her attention to her reading.

She was certain this was not happening.

She should leave well enough alone and return to her reading.

"I feel like I should point out that I did serve as a knight of Ishgard. There is no depth of language that we did not penetrate in the quiet of night, and I think you will find that I am certainly able to climb on top of any challenge," said Zoissette.

Y'shtola allowed herself a small smile, as she lowered her book just a little to look at Zoissette over top of it.

"You seem full eager to dive right into the heart of the matter. I was rather hoping for some more interlocution before we got to the climax. I find a slower approach to be more enjoyable for all involved, allowing the exploration of the topic to slowly fill the recesses of the mind, and truly plumb the cracks and crevasses that one might find."

Y'shtola set her book aside and picked her tea back up, looking at Zoissette with a coy expression despite being anything but.

-*-

Thancred found F'lhaminn and Higiri standing behind the bar, both women seeming transfixed by something. F'lhaminn was slowly cleaning out a glass that looked like it had been polished to a fine shine some time ago, while Higiri appeared to be stunned by something.

"Why, hello, ladies," said Thancred. "Something the matter?"

Higiri gestured, and Thancred looked over to see Zoissette and Y'shtola, apparently deep in some kind of conversation. He leaned against the bar, and listened in for a moment.

"...well then," he said, his eyes widening.

-*-

Zoissette gripped her head in her hand, staring at the table in front of her, not quite certain when her day had gotten so out of hand. "I feel like this entire conversation has taken an unfortunate tumble," she tried lamely.

Y'shtola, however, continued to be the very picture of serenity. "Come now. Do you so quickly concede to such base imagery? I was certain that you would find such beneath you. Did you not just proclaim that a knight of Ishgard could always rise to the occasion?"

Zoissette took a deep breath, and blew it out slowly. She tried to capture in her mind's eye one of the many more put together women she had seen at various banquets and fêtes in Ishgard. And this was wordplay. She understood words. After a moment, she sat up in her chair, and turned her head up slightly, running a hand through her hair to smooth it out.

That would probably have worked out better with a different haircut, she thought.

"Why, I believe you have mentioned rising up once already," said Zoissette. "Perhaps now we are just going forward and back, and moving forward... and back, on this matter, without increasing the depth with which we are exploring the topic, to say nothing of ignoring the breadth available to our ready selves."

Y'shtola gave Zoissette an appraising look before leaning back in her chair, draping one arm over the back, and stretching every so slightly.

Zoissette felt a hot, squirmy feeling at that, but was careful to keep her expression neutral, resolving to not show her fear, and she was certain it was fear, in front of the other woman. She silently marveled at how Y'shtola could be so imposing.

"Well, I feel that repetition can certainly engage a particular kind of audience. You are correct, however," replied Y'shtola. "Might I suggest some variation in technique? After all, it would not do to try to force a turn of phrase past the point of it being pleasurable. Indeed, I think we should pace ourselves, lest we mete out the discussion too soon. If such were to happen, we would find ourselves with quite an unsightly mess upon both of our faces, would you not agree?"

Zoissette was determined now. Her mind raced as she watched Y'shtola lazily take another sip of tea. She reached for her own tea, and held it primly in the loop of her thumb and finger, and tipped it up daintily, as a proper lady should, and taking the time to gather her thoughts.

"Variations are welcome, I agree. Staying in one place for too long is a sign of inexperience, even if it is necessary to sometimes really wrap your hands around the subject. I know there is some debate over whether length can substitute for technique in such matters, but I think we can achieve both. Perhaps we can explore more, establish a steady rhythm, and see whether or not our ideas can enter the deep recesses of the other's mind," said Zoissette.

Y'shtola smirked, and Zoissette could feel herself starting to sweat.

-*-

Aenor dragged Clemence over to stand next to Thancred, who had his arms crossed and appeared to be deeply interested in the conversation happening nearby.

"What's going on?" protested Clemence.

"Hush!" hissed Aenor quietly at her sister. "Listen."

Clemence frowned. Everyone's attention seemed to be on Y'shtola and Zoissette, the former of which appeared to be completely filling the space somehow, and the latter of which seemed to be completely oblivious to the growing crowd.

Clemence listened for a bit, and turned pink.

-*-

"I must concur with your approach, though if I may, I would build upon your technique some. I think, perhaps, a decent orator should be able to make several disjunctions in succession, starting slow and eventually building up, increasing depth over the course of matters until they notice their audience has finally really felt the thrust of the point they are trying to make. These should be pleasing to the recipient, and result not merely in singular satisfaction, but perhaps multiple moments of such, leading to a gentle afterglow of blissful understanding," said Y'shtola.

Zoissette's head swam, even as she watched Y'shtola calmly take another sip of tea. Y'shtola's movements were lazy, languish, and smooth. She was unhurried and calm, her posture showing a relaxed casualness, her fingers playing gently in the air even as her arm was dangled over the back of it. She gifted Zoissette with an expression of serene coquettishness.

Zoissette realized that the mental image she was trying to project was perhaps a bit too matronly for the task at hand. She quickly flipped through her memories of other ladies she had met at various functions in Ishgard. Less house matron, more debutante, she decided. She leaned forward across the table, and smiled sweetly at Y'shtola, eyes half-lidded, now. Y'shtola watched with seemingly detached interest as Zoissette settled into a new posture, resting her head against one of her hands, pursing her lips slightly, and squeezing the sides of her upper arms against the sides of her bosom, to push out a little bit.

Well, trying to, anyroad, given with what she had to work with. She tried not to think too hard about that, and instead to focus on the matter at hand.

Her mind raced. Conversations around campfires and at balls filled her mind, but she realized that to delay too long would be to give up the game, and she was not going to do that. Not now. She felt her heart racing, even as she decided to improvise as she went along, and attempt to adopt the other woman's more eloquent language.

"Well," she began, giving herself some space to speak, and as she spoke, her words came out slowly, considered, as she tried to string together a coherence she did not fully feel. "You've made a couple of points, and I must say, I find the base upon which you have made them to be pleasantly well-rounded, but while you rely on a clever tongue to explore from the base to the tip of a given point, I find that a curious tongue is perhaps better. It is more exploratory, to ask questions of the flower of knowledge, as a more involved member of the discussion, thinking not only of itself but of its audience, that we may, through inquisitive nature, probing questions, and delicate segue, finally and fully peel back the gentle petals we find at the very core of our discussion. Thus having laid our minds bare upon the bedrock, exposing our self-ignorance in our inquisitive natures, we can form a new foundation for deeper truths, finding the true heart at the core of the matter, of our very selves. So positioned, we might build up to stronger and more powerful conclusions, not only for ourselves, but for those who would find themselves our partners in the seeking the depths of truths, and the patterns of our body of work."

-*-

Zoissette looked across the table at Y'shtola, keeping her eyes lazy and half-lidded, but a triumphant smile on her face. To be certain, Y'shtola had a broad vocabulary and perhaps more oratorial experience - argh, now it was in her thoughts as well - but there were few tongues as filthy as those that could be found amongst the Ishgardian nobility elite. Tempered with many a conversation she had had while she was in the military, and she was certain that this last exchange would cement her as triumphant in their little challenge.

"ZO!" she heard from behind her.

Klynt had returned at some point, and Zoissette had not heard her come in. She suddenly shot straight up in her seat and turned as the Roegadyn strode across the room to put her hands over Clemence's ears. "There are CHILDREN present," said Klynt.

Zoissette stared.

And then, slowly, she heard clapping.

"Bra-vo. Bravo, I must say," said Thancred. "I have not heard such -scintillating- conversation in quite some time. As your resident bard and supposed master of words, I must say, I am singularly impressed, ladies."

Zoissette slowly turned her head around and noticed, for the first time, that she and Y'shtola were apparently the center of attention. Most of the Scions were standing in a circle around her table, a respectful distance away, but not so respectful that there was any doubt that they would have heard every word of what had been said.

Her pulse was up, her face was hot, and her stomach twisted. She quickly snapped her books shut and swept up the work that was in front of her in one arm sweep.

Well, most of it, but she quickly decided that whatever she didn't get at first she did not need.

"IjustrememberedIamneededelsewhereokaythankyougoodbye," she said, as she bolted for the door.

"Oh, Zooo~oooo." she heard from behind her just before she cleared the threshold. She stopped, and turned, slowly, somehow just knowing she was going to regret it.

Klynt held up a good sized piece of crystal whose shape was rather suggestive.

"I thought you wanted me to get you some corrupted crystals? This one seems t' be just about right for you!" said Klynt with a cheeky grin.

-*-

Y'shtola watched as the door to the Rising Stones slammed shut behind Zoissette, and off to her side, she heard Klynt erupt into laughter.

She glanced over to see Aenor as she edged closer to look at Klynt's 'corrupted crystal' with no small measure of awe.

"Is that really..." Aenor asked.

"Nah, it's just somethin' fun for a, how do you say, dear friend," said Klynt with a grin. "I actually came back to ask her where she wanted the stuff from, but I guess I'll have to find out later."

Papalymo shook his head and walked over to where Y'shtola was still at, even as she placidly sipped at her tea.

"That was rather uncalled for, I think," he said primly. Yda practically danced around him as she circled around to be on the other side of Y'shtola from Papalymo.

"Please, Papalymo. Just a little friendly banter between friends, nothing more." said Y'shtola.

"Those were some -fancy- words you were sharing with Zoissette just a moment ago! Can I get you to teach me how you talk like that?" asked Yda excitedly.

"No," said Y'shtola.

"Awwwww, come -on-, Y'shtola, you can't keep all the fun for yourself!"

"Now, now, Yda, leave her be. I think we had best go see after ser Vauban. I am certain the poor woman is embarrassed half to death and also halfway across Mor Dhona by now," said Papalymo.

"Aw, you're no fun, Papalymo. Oh, wait! Perhaps Zoissette will tell me what some of them meant! She's a good sport about that sort of thing," said Yda.

Papalymo just sighed, and headed for the door. Y'shtola watched as Yda trailed after him.

She reached for her teacup, but paused to level a look at the rest of the Scions who were still watching her in the aftermath of the little competition.

"Do not all of you have more important matters to attend to?" she said, and watched, satisfied, as they scattered.

Y'shtola at last brought her teacup to her lips, and allowed herself an ever so small smirk over it before taking a sip, feeling a supreme sense of satisfaction as she swirled the liquid across her tongue.

It tasted like victory.

[starlight-time-machine]

Week in Review

08/25/2024 – 08/31/2024

Sunday

Week 29 of missing Cipher Academy

UNDEAD UNLUCK CONTINUES TO BE PEAKKKKKKKKKKK ALL THE CALLBACKS IN THIS CHAPTER WERE AMAZING AND AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ANDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY THE UNDEAD UNLUCK DUO ARE FINALLY BACK TOGETHERRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Monday

Felt like reading mid again so I continued World Trigger. Admittedly it’s gotten better/I’ve gotten more invested now that Chika’s been introduced (she’s sooooooo cute) and Yuma’s been allowed to join Border (the political struggle between the factions is mildly interesting), but the foundational problems of the manga keep nagging at me. For being such a battle strategy manga, the fights themselves aren’t that dynamic (maybe I’ve been spoiled by Dandadan…), and the character designs are so basic that it can be hard to remember what the significance/goal of each character is. They all just become cannon fodder as they swing their laser swords and shoot their stupid little cubes around. I also wish there was some more pathos injected into the characters (another Dandadan and One Piece strength) – it’s assumed that most of them have the basic “Neighbours killed my grandma okay” reasoning, but there’s never been enough focus on any one character to really make them and their motivations stand out (Chainsaw Man could have very well had this same problem with the Devils, but we’ve seen how Fujimoto gives his characters crazy pathos). I just wish I had stronger incentive to root for the characters and be actually invested in the outcomes and stakes of these battles (since that’s basically the entire manga). Also I think the points system is lame and is just there for when a new guy enters the scene and you’re like WOAHHH HE HAS 8000 POINTS WOWWW

It feels like everything in this manga is geared towards facilitating these fights, but they’re missing the sauce that actually makes fights compelling. It’s gesturing at the power struggle within Border, sure, but it doesn’t feel like the mangaka really considered how Border fits into society at large. Why don’t we see Chika’s parents’ reaction to her joining Border? Are people just okay with all of these teens basically joining the army? Joining Border is treated with all the gravitas of joining the Cadets, even though Border agents face genuine warfare and danger (even despite their Trion bodies). It just seems like all of these worldbuilding questions that would actually make things interesting are tossed aside to make room for more fights. It’s all the boyish romanticism of cool guys fighting monsters and other cool guys with none of the realities of war. I’m sure things will be expanded upon later, especially if they go to the Other Side and participate in the Neighbours’ wars, but right now we’re just barrelling through a training arc and into the recruitment arc and leaving all those unanswered questions behind… (One thing I do appreciate about World Trigger is how it doesn’t do the “only pair girls with girls during fights” thing. There’s that bare minimum, at least.) (And you know what, I hope some genuine romances form amongst these kids like Undead Unluck instead of just one-sided crushes, because THEN we’d finally get some more emotional stakes and personalities coming through.) (Also I thought = 3 = face thing was cute at first, but they use it so much that it’s just getting annoying at this point.) Man they weren’t kidding when they said you can only talk about peak for so long, but you can talk about mid forever.

So far, Jin is the most interesting character to me simply because he’s the only one making interesting strategic plays both on and off the battlefield. But other than being a chill cool guy, he has as much personality as everyone else… UGHHHH EVERYONE JUST DOES THE SAME EXPRESSIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN THERE’S HARDLY ANY STRONG EMOTION IN ANY OF THEM…YOU CAN’T ALL BE KUUDERES OR COOL SMIRKY GUYS IN A MIDDLE OF WAR, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY WHEN YOU’RE STILL = 3 = WHILE YOU HEAR ABOUT YOUR FRIEND POSSIBLY DYING Once you start noticing it, the incessant repetition of the same facial expressions just drives you absolutely mad. Okay. Okay. The final moments of the Neighbour Invasion arc were good. Finally we had some real stakes and a life or death situation, and a real loss in the form of Replica. Jesus Christ why am I begging for real stakes from a BATTLE MANGA.

I finally read up to where the character I wanted to see was introduced, and now I can finally stop reading this manga. I’ve never felt more relief in my life – World Trigger was just an absolute slog from start to where I finished. How is it that I can read 150 whole chapters of manga and yet still feel absolutely nothing for 99% of the cast? The worldbuilding is poorly considered, the characters are boring, and this coupled with the uninspired character designs (how many more short cropped hair guys are we going to get??) made it really difficult to tell people apart, and despite being a manga about fighting, the actual fights are so basic and mediocre that they’re a pain to read through. I don’t care for the main three triggers – the fight compositions aren’t dynamic enough for the sword fights, the gun fights are just people unloading on each other, and while the sniper shots are hype, they can only happen a few times a fight. People were calling World Trigger a high-minded strategy manga, but the writing really doesn’t live up to that designation at all. Unless you can get to Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant levels of real time strategy, I don’t want to hear it, and World Trigger certainly falls short of that plateau. Hell, World Trigger doesn’t even reach Law of Ueki’s level of tournament writing! This series is really just for people who like doing war simulators and throwing soldiers with different weapons at each other without caring about the grander implications of war and what each of these soldiers have going on in their lives – basically like, any semblance of a compelling narrative. Chika was definitely the highlight of the manga for me, being the only one of the main three to have an understandable and emotionally charged motivation to join Border (both Osamu and Yuma’s motives are way too vague without a real end goal, and they end up just riding Chika’s coattails). Her design is super cute (even though I got tired of her static :< face after a while), and the moments where she does a world shattering sniper blast are both funny and hype. Unfortunately she’s not enough for me to keep reading…I honestly wish I’d never read this. It was so bad that I’m not even going to go to the stage play adaptation to see my favourite actress, which was the whole reason I started reading this manga in the first place. It’s just that bad… For pissing me off and wasting my time, I’m giving it a 2/10. And now I’m free!!!!!!

Tuesday

Work

Wednesday

Work

Thursday

Watched the Make Some Noise episode with Ross, Paul, and Chris, and while it had a few rough patches, the highs were really really really high. I think they had some trouble with finding a good moment to end bits on for that perfect cap off, but when the three of them were working together it was really magical. For that reason, I think the minigame portions were actually better than the main gameplay section, but the whole episode was pretty fun.  

Friday

Work

Saturday

I’m a robot that just does work

[noahschnappinfs]

I'm always so surprised when I see people in their 20s or 30s hating on noah, tbh. or not even hating but saying or implying that he's a shitty human being. because like, I can get why teens are behaving this way towards him, but I can't for the life of me to understand why adults are being like that too. I mean even if he had done something wrong and all those claims about him had been true, wouldn't it have been explained by his age? he's so young, he's 19 when this all happened, it's so normal to make mistakes, hasty decisions, etc. at this age. and if you're in your mid- or late 20s or 30s, you surely have to know what it's like. I'm not saying you don't have to take teens seriously or always excuse their behaviour, but like, a little empathy maybe?? have you never made mistakes? have you never had shitty opinions on something?

idk if all of this makes sense, but I just saw another mutual of mine implying that noah is shitty human being and I'm so confused because they're in their mid-20s and they always seemed so smart to me and seeing this behaviour towards noah from them is just. not cool.

sorry for my bad English! I just needed to ramble about this, and this blog is like the safest place for noah fans rn.

something i’ve notice about the current culture online is that there’s just this mentality where people outright put you directly in baskets of good or evil with no anknowledge of the existence of grey areas. obviously there’s some instances where it’s understandable to pull that move like when people commit real crimes but this killswitch mentality where somebody makes an honest mistake and people end up prosecuting you for the rest of your life right away is insane. the problem with this is that even if you’re technically in the right side of the argument, there needs to be some pragmatism, how are you supposed to show the other person that they should listen to you and change their views as well. if you are always in attack mode, you will just make the other side close down and that’s how polarisation happens. obviously i also think there’s a limit in trying to build a bridge with other people but the internet is just so cutthroat that there’s not even proper conversations anymore.

it’s also interesting like you mentioned when grown adults act that way about noah because it’s so easy to just move on and just stop talking about him, why are you implying that a teenager is evil? if you genuinely think he’s in the wrong, why wouldn’t you root for him to learn or something like that? that’s why i feel it’s all just an excuse to hate other people at this point, how does this hatred even help the cause you’re supporting? there’s no even empathy anymore because most people online are straight up wishing for noah to drop dead which is such an interesting position to take when you’re supposed to be rooting for peace. it’s also disheartening that grown adults aren’t able to take an stand and at least try to convince their friends that bullying is wrong.

btw thank you for that comment, i made this blog trying to make a safe space so we can all talk about noah so i’m glad you’re enjoying it.

[edge-oftheworld]

the thing that gets me about benny is like. it’s so hard to truly be yourself in your teens and even early 20s and just. you’re trying to survive your childhood not understanding the things you don’t vibe with and why you can’t escape them but need to, even more so if you’re neurodivergent, and then your siblings are just kinda in it with you, all doing the same thing, simultaneously masking and also just having no knowledge of yourself as an individual most of the time until you get out and have that freedom. and then you do and you both kinda surprise each other but sometimes you have to let go to let that happen? I’ve stayed in spaces much longer than I should that aren’t good for me because I’m trying to connect with my sisters, I’m the eldest, only for them to not feel safe for me to be myself in so I’m trying not to leave them, but knowing the real me is never really there.

what if I never even knew you ari? see I feel like and I’ve felt this for a while, my sisters deserve better. and thankfully they’re getting to the age where we can start this, but they don’t know half of what I get up to even if they’ll be cool with it if they did—because that’s not what they do?? and if my sister left the country right now at 16 what would she say about my middle sister and I? that she never got to know the real us, all having spread our wings a little, if in 10 years she still was overseas?

anyway it’s gonna get me thinking how I can be safe to be the real me around my sisters. they weren’t the adults unintentionally creating an unsafe environment growing up, but they were collateral damage in it even though it was definitely a mild discomfort—even more so because our childhood was mostly good. because we could mask and be everything we were supposed to be without having to rely on each other to keep the facade. we could almost convince ourselves it was real and—yes they deserve better, but I’m not sure how to take the leadership and show that to them when I’m not sure they’ve really denounced the status quo that so traumatised me.