#the kids: road works ahead i sure hope it does

[viktors-check-engine-light]

I need a modern AU Zaun Dads + the kids + Ekko roadtrip fic so badly I may be forced to write it. Like Silco and Vander are still on strained terms (whether they are divorced or Silco is just the weird uncle they don’t speak to anymore is up to you) but that will not stand in the way of A Fun Family Roadtrip.

I need to see Vander and Silco fight over directions

I need to see Silco struggling to parallel park, getting pissed off, then forcing Vander to do it if he’s so good (he isn’t)

I need to see the kids realising the best way to get anything is to get Powder/Jinx to ask for it because Silco immediately folds. Vander’s like ‘you can’t give her what she wants all the time’ and Silco is like ‘bite me’

The kids learn several new, incredibly rude turns of phrase

Maybe Sevika is even there

[devondespresso]

WIP Wednes-eekend: Summer Challenge Edition 

tagged by @stobinesque​ 💕💖💞 Im not sure if the summer challege edition is like. specific to your fics or not so oopsies if it is

The Rules

Post the file names of up to 5 of your WIPs for people to send you asks

Post a snippet of one of those WIPs

When people send you an ask with the name of one of your WIPs, write 3 lines of that WIP.

(Optional) Post the lines you wrote.

You can send multiple requests especially since this is going on through the weekend!

Also feel free to send as many as you want, im gonna devote my free time to this anyway so your just directing the adhd energy to a specific section

WIPs

Since I’m planning on just going wild on my Steve Henderson AU for the foreseeable future and I’m doing a lot of jumping around in it, I figured i’d list different chapters I’m working on as the wips (I also just really wanted to share chapter titles early because i put a lot of effort into making these meme references relevant and i think theyre funny) So in no particular order but definitely chronological because this is just chapters 3-6.5:

1. Get yo fucking dog, bitch (It don’t bite) (YES IT DO)

2. What the fuck kinda dog is that? (Bitch an interdimensional dog)

3. “Lab Work Ahead?” Uh, yeah, I sure hope it does

4. There’s one thing worse than a demodog (Boom) A Billy Hargrove (Actually yes)

5. ✨Bonus Chapter (Dustin pov): Can we go to the tunnels (*slamming*) Can we please go to the tunnels

Snippet

this ones from chapter 3 aka Get Yo Fucking Dog, Bitch

They pulled up to Steve’s again, this time into Steve’s garage connected to the front of the house. Steve hopped out, running over to unlock the door and crack it open. Dustin was still in his seat, looking around the room. Impressed with the house: a reaction that King Steve usually found validating but now made Just Steve uneasy.

Steve went over and knocked on his window before crossing back to the other side and opening the backseat door. Dustin turned around.

“You have your own garage?”

He nodded, putting two bags in one arm and grabbing a third.

“C’mon, are we in a rush or not?” he joked. Dustin climbed out, still distracted.

Steve pushed through the door, catching it with his foot before it could bump into the wall and waited for Dustin who was balancing three bags of his own.

They turned the corner and he set the bags on the kitchen island, Dustin still absently taking everything in. It took a few trips, but eventually they got all the meat on the counter, leaving the pasta and dry groceries in the car to save time.

“Alright, you start unloading stuff and I’ll find us some buckets or something.” he said, setting the last bag down and heading back to his garage, “And do not touch the knives until I’m back.”

“Dude, I’m twelve, I can hold a knife.”

“Just don't start without me, okay?"

"Five minutes and then I'm raiding your knife block."

Tags

hiding the tags down here because i definitely rambled too much up top so (no pressure ofc) @blushweddinggowns @spicysix @wuffgang-ameowdeus-moozart @lets-try-to-be-normal-otakus @eriquin @marvel-ous-m 💃🪩🕺

[braveryhearted]

Reluctant Dad Gintoki is my jam. lol

[silverynight]

The long way home

Based on the mha final volume leaks. Contains spoilers

Angst with happy ending

It doesn't occur to Katsuki that he's losing Izuku until Kirishima says something that hurts him deep inside.

"It looks like Bakugo is getting rejected!" He says it as it's something funny because he has no idea how much it pains Katsuki to hear it; he doesn't know all the things the pro hero has realized at that exact moment.

Katsuki grips the steering wheel tighter until his knuckles turn white; nobody notices his distress because Izuku is in the back seat, and Kirishima is too busy looking at the young teacher who's blinking in confusion.

Izuku has always been quite dense when it comes to feelings, but Katsuki didn't know how bad it was until now.

"Huh?"

"He wants you to work at his hero agency, dude."

Kirishima is not wrong, but he's not exactly right either; Katsuki's offer is just another way to remind Izuku all the things they dreamed of as kids. They had always wanted to work together; kicking villain's asses side by side. But Katsuki also wants an excuse to see him every single day.

He hoped Izuku could understand that, but he either doesn't or maybe he simply refuses to acknowledge it.

Either way. It hurts.

"Alright." He mumbles then because he doesn't know what to say. Then, after a while, it occurs to him that his job offer could be interpreted another way. "Shit! Uhh... I didn't mean it like a sidekick! We can... it can be our agency if you want to."

Katsuki catches a glimpse of Izuku's smile through the rear view mirror, and he regrets looking at it in the first place because he's always loved that smile.

"Sorry, Kacchan, but I still want to be a teacher, so I don't think I'll have too much time for that."

He can't help but grimace at that, but he tries to focus on the road ahead.

"I understand," he says after a while.

Finally, Kirishima senses that something's wrong because he starts talking about the party.

Maybe he can have another opportunity later that night.

He sits as close to Izuku as possible and drinks as much as he does, leaning his body closer and closer, mostly because his childhood friend doesn't protest.

Katsuki is glad to see the other losers, he has missed them, and he knows he should try to spend more time with them because he hasn't seen them in ages, and he makes sure to see his nerd regularly, but he still wants to be with Izuku even more.

However, since he's constantly looking at the nerd closely, he notices that Izuku's eyes are focused elsewhere.

He's looking at Uraraka.

Katsuki feels a second stab of pain that night; his mind is a bit too clouded with alcohol to try to behave like a fucking adult so he does something the high-school version of himself would.

"Oi, nerd!"

"Huh?" Izuku blinks his pretty green eyes at him, and even though he's clearly distracted thinking about something else, Katsuki feels a bit better because he's no longer looking at Round cheeks.

"Keep your eyes on me."

"Oh, right!" Izuku mumbles, face turning slightly pink. "I'm sorry! We're you saying something?"

Katsuki wasn't saying anything, but he comes up with something on the spot because he can't stand Izuku paying too much attention to anyone that's not him.

After a few hours, Uraraka leaves first, and Katsuki feels a bit relieved until he notices that Izuku is looking at the entrance too.

"Someone special on your mind?" Aoyama gets closer to their table and puts a hand around Izuku's shoulders; he's a bit drunk too.

"Everyone is special to me!" Izuku says immediately, and even though Katsuki knows why he says that (he's always acting like a selfless idiot), this time, it pisses him off more than ever.

"That's like saying nobody is!" He hisses. "It's okay to have special people in your life, even though you always want to save everyone! I have someone special too!"

Izuku must know, he has to. Katsuki spent years working to buy that suit for him so they could be pro heroes together.

Ask me about it. Please. Let me tell you how special you are to me.

"I don't know, Kacchan... maybe you're right. But that's not how I see things at the moment."

"I can't take you home tonight," he says, only because he's bitter now. He regrets it almost immediately. "I... have to wake up early to meet with Edgeshot tomorrow."

"It's okay, Kacchan. I can take the bus."

When they're outside the stablishment, Katsuki is already thinking about telling Izuku he was wrong and that he won't have to see Edgeshot until the day after tomorrow, but Izuku is already walking away from him.

"I'll see if I can catch up with Uraraka! I have to tell her something important!"

That's when it hits him again, the sensation that he's losing Izuku.

When Katsuki goes back to his apartment, one that's too big for one person, he collapses on the couch and drinks even more. He tears up a bit, but that's something he won't ever tell anyone.

Katsuki narrows his eyes at the All Might statue that can be seen from the window, and he suddenly has the certainty that Izuku will reject his offer to live together, even though he fucking bought that apartment for him.

***

He finds out three days after that, and even though he was expecting it, it still hurts like fucking hell when Izuku tells him he's dating Uraraka now.

He doesn't know what to say, and frankly, he doesn't trust his voice at the moment, so he nods and drives Izuku to the UA as he usually does.

"Are you okay, Kacchan?"

Apparently he's doing a shitty job at hiding his true feeling because even the most oblivious person alive can tell there's something wrong with him.

Katsuki nods again, looking away from Izuku, as his friend gets out the car.

"You don't look fine, you should take the day off."

"I'm fucking amazing. Shut up."

"O-Okay, Kacchan." Izuku takes a few steps back, but he doesn't smile because he's clearly worried about him.

By noon he realizes the nerd was right after all; he should've taken the day off. He's so distracted he's making the same stupid mistakes an intern makes on their first day at work.

Since he can't risk civilian lives, he decides to go back to his fucking big apartment alone.

He knows Pinky would've told him that the best thing to cure heartbreak is time, that he should walk away, avoid contacting Izuku for a while, maybe go to another place for a few weeks and move on.

But Katsuki is not sure he can do that. He's spent most of his life wanting to be by Izuku's side, and even though in his dream they were more than friends, that doesn't mean he'll walk away just because Izuku doesn't love him the way he does.

But it fucking hurts.

It doesn't get better after a few weeks, but at least Katsuki learns to control his emotions better; he gets to teach a few things to Izuku's students, and see his nerd in action, wearing the suit Katsuki gave him.

When things like that happen, Katsuki almost forgets how painful his heartbeat gets sometimes.

But then Izuku talks about her. And it's not like he hates Round cheeks; she's a great hero and a reliable former classmate, but Katsuki can't help but feel awful every time the nerd mentions her name.

He doesn't hate her, but he really wants something she has.

Even though they don't have been dating for long, Katsuki's worst nightmare turns into an irrational fear and he wonders if it's too early to tell Izuku he doesn't want to go to his fucking wedding; he hasn't said anything about that, but Katsuki wants to make sure Izuku is aware that he doesn't want to go through that.

Whenever they hang out together, Izuku asks for relationship advice, and Katsuki almost laughs at the absurdity of the situation; he's sure Izuku has no idea how much he's hurting him.

He fucking tries to be mature abou it, but sometimes his old self takes control and says things Katsuki has promised to keep inside his head and his stupid broken heart.

"Break up with her."

"Kacchan! We only had a minor argument!"

Katsuki shrugs, like he's not dying to yell at Izuku for not noticing what's in front of him.

"I have no idea what you should do then. Why do you keep asking me? I don't have a clue how relationships work!"

"You haven't dated anyone?"

"No."

"Why not?" Izuku looks confused, and Katsuki wants nothing more than to throw his beer at him, so he stops looking stupidly cute when he's breaking his heart all over again.

Because the love of my life is in love with someone else, that's fucking why!

"Mind your own business."

"Right. Sorry, Kacchan!" Izuku pouts before Katsuki can look away. He feels bad immediately, and allows himself to take the nerd's hand for a moment.

"I just don't want to talk about it, alright?" He says, more kindly.

"It's okay, Kacchan."

***

At first, when he realizes what woke him up is his phone, Katsuki thinks it's something to do with a villain attack, but then he actually sees the screen, and the contact reads: Izuku.

He answers immediately, thinking something happened to him, but after a few seconds he figures out Izuku is fine; he just wants to talk to him.

It must be about Uraraka.

Katsuki is aware that he can tell Izuku it's his day off and he wants to fucking sleep for once, but he also knows that won't happen.

It doesn't matter what Izuku feels, he's still the love of Katsuki's life, and he'll always be there for him.

"Do you want me to pick you up?"

"No, but... can I go to your apartment?"

Katsuki agrees, and he's quickly hiding the picture of Izuku wearing his hero suit that he decided to print and put in a frame.

He makes coffee for himself and tea for the nerd; by the time he arrives there's a cup for him waiting on the counter.

"We decided to end things."

Katsuki is not prepared for the news, and he honestly thinks he's dreaming for a moment, until he notices that Izuku is not crying.

"Why?" He manages to ask, trying not to feel hopeful or let the relief he feels show on his face.

"We realized it was not what we truly wanted," he mumbles, looking down at his cup. "But we're still friends!"

"I'm glad," he doesn't mind to hide the sincerity in his voice. "So you came all the way here to tell me that?"

Izuku shakes his head, smile coming back to his lips; Katsuki missed that smile, he wonders why he hadn't seen it in a long time.

He wants to kiss that smile, but he doesn't move because he's afraid of ruining everything between them.

"I... Being with Uraraka made me realize a lot of things," he says, almost in a whisper, looking flustered. "I've spent so many years teaching and convincing myself that was what I truly wanted, that I started believing it. I just... I think I'm afraid of something else happening and forcing me to quit my dreams again. But I can't let fear stop me from doing something I wanted since I was a child. So, if there's still a place in your agency for me, I'd like to work there... with you."

Katsuki is tempted to pinch himself to make sure he's not dreaming, but instead he pulls Izuku into his arms, and breathes in his green curls.

"It's our agency. It has always been ours."

***

Working with the nerd has its many benefits, but it has a few drawbacks, like the fact that Katsuki can't stop himself from smiling like and idiot every time Izuku is around. His fans online have started to find his behavior suspicious, and there are so many pictures of him looking like a besotted idiot he thanks the forces of the universe that the nerd is not that active on social media.

His friends know what's going on, although he suspects Kirishima knew for a very long time, and they have tried to encourage him to confess. Even Uraraka has talked to him about it (she's dating a very good-looking woman now) and told him it was time to get his head off his ass.

But Katsuki doesn't want to ruin the amazing bond he has with Izuku now, even though he yearns for more.

He's thinking about this as they spend their day off at Katsuki's place, eating pizza and watching a very inaccurate All Might documentary. They like to point out all the things they got wrong about their mentor.

Suddenly, the smile on Izuku's face vanishes and he goes quiet for a moment.

"I want to tell you something important, Kacchan."

Katsuki grimaces immediately, thinking his nerd is about to tell him he's dating someone else.

"I think... I'm in love with you."

The words don't seem real, even though he knows they are, in his dreams, Izuku is always in his arms when he confesses, and in the others, he confesses first with a very intense kiss on the lips.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. I... hope this doesn't ruin our friendship or makes it difficult to work together. I know you don't feel the same, but-"

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?" He doesn't mean to yell, but the fact that Izuku is still oblivious is something Katsuki can't believe.

Izuku visibly recoils from him, and Katsuki feels like an asshole immediately.

"I still want to be your friend, Kacchan! I'm sorry if it made you mad!"

"Idiot," Katsuki says in the most kind, soft voice he's heard himself use to address someone else. It's ridiculous, and yet he knows he's going to be like this for the rest of his life, but he doesn't care. He pulls the nerd into his arms. "How could you not see that I've been in love with you this whole time?"

"Really?"

This time, Katsuki kisses him, and even though it's messy and desperate it feels like coming home after a long journey.

When they're lying on Katsuki's bed, facing each other, Izuku grabs his hand and intertwines their fingers together. Katsuki takes his eyes off a very nice mark he left on his nerd's neck, so he can look directly at him instead.

"Kacchan."

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry it took me so long to... get home."

"It's alright," Katsuki pulls him into his arms again, feeling Izuku's hearbeat against his chest. "I wasn't going anywhere. I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here for you."

"I love you too, Kacchan."

***

Patreon

[rabbitinashell]

Scene: The crew is hanging out in the garage, waiting for Dom and Letty to finish up some business. Tej is working on a car, Roman is lounging with his phone, Han is snacking, and Fem!Reader is leaning against the wall, scrolling through her own phone. The vibe is chill, and they’re just killing time.

Tej (without looking up from the car):

“Y’all ever heard of the Vine where the dude just yells ‘WHAT ARE THOSE?’ at some shoes?”

Roman (smirking, already on board):

“Oh, you mean like this?” (Pointing dramatically at Han’s shoes)

“WHAT ARE THOSE?”

Han (glances down, unfazed):

“They’re called style, Roman. Look it up.”

(Takes a bite of chips, totally unbothered)

Fem!Reader (laughs, joining in):

“Oh, I got one! Remember the Vine with the kid who’s like, ‘I’m a bad bleep... you can’t kill me?’”

(Looks straight at Roman with mock intensity)

“I’m a bad bleep, you can’t kill me!”

Roman (throwing his hands up):

“Oh, okay, okay! You think you’re bad, huh? Let me hit y’all with a classic. Ready?”

(Stands up dramatically and says in a deep voice)

“Road work ahead? Uh, yeah, I sure hope it does!”

Tej (snickers, wiping grease off his hands):

“Man, I can’t believe you’re still on that one. How about this…”

(Turns to Han, pretending to hold an imaginary phone)

“Hey, my name’s Jared, I’m 19, and I never learned how to read!”

Han (deadpan, not missing a beat):

“That’s real cute, Tej, but...” (pauses, then dramatically points at Roman)

“Look at all those chickens!”

Fem!Reader (laughing, almost crying from the randomness):

“Okay, okay, one more before I lose it. Ready?”

(Stands up, arms outstretched)

“It’s an avocado! Thaaaanks!”

Roman (pretending to wipe a tear):

“Man, I forgot how stupid these were. But that was gold!”

Tej (smirking as he stands up):

“Y’all are nuts. We really quoting Vines out here in 2024?”

Han (shrugs, still snacking):

“Some things never get old.”

Fem!Reader (grinning):

“Just like you and your snacks, huh?”

Han (smirking):

“Exactly.”

[dancingdonatello]

hi guys i wanted to share some of my favorite ongoing tmnt x reader fanfics on ao3 ❤️

Not a Fan of Mystics by DoodleBiscuit

- soulmates au!!! ITS SO GOOD … possessive don. possessive don.

- rise donatello x reader

Mirage by TemmTamm

- 2012. leo. x male. reader AND karai. x resder.

- need i say more? …. yes VILLAIN READER 🎉

Everyone Hates Geology by nhachi

- so fun… so… soft… at recent chapters..

-rise donatello x reader

Contract in Wax by TheJudiciousNeurotic

- don’t even get me started. oh my god !

- bayverse leo x reader. shut up. ‼️

Road Work Ahead? I Sure Hope it Does by darn_eggs

- this absolutely sucked me in. love

- rise leo x reader

Under Streetlights by Spoopyblues214

- all rise turtles x reader

- LOVE ! FLUFF there is sm I HEART

alternate allure by Spill_da_Tea_TvT

- 2012 don x reader

- reader switches placed with april CUTE !!!!!!!!!! gives me sm inspo to write

raising your world from the ashes by misou_soup

- 2018 leo x reader

-KID OID KID KID KID KID KID!!!!!!!! KID FIC ! 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 did i mention… KID !

Passion and Pastries by FunkyFrogFridays

- 2018 don x reader

- casually hot don. oh let me just… catch you. casually !

there are much more but some have updated in a HOT minute,,, just go through my bookmarks 😭😭

did u know commenting makes people update more. do it. send love. (so that i can read more turtle fanfic pls pls pls pls pls pls pls )

if anyone wants me to tag their tumblr too (i put ao3 account names) lmk 😋

[jelsah27]

TWST Vines extended addition because why not Part 1

spoiler warning Books 1-6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MC: I was thinking of doing some magic

Ace: You? Magic? MC, it says ✨TALENT✨ show.

Deuce: Do you know how terrible you are or are you numb to it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deuce: *driving a magicycle* Road work ahead? Uh, yeah. I sure hope it does.

MC: *holding on* I might just throw myself off this bike

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Idia: *pointing to a camera feed of Grimm at the Isle* Even the babies are one of the most dangerous animals in the world so I built this cage to keep him secure, so there's no possible-

MC: *breaks though wall grabs Grimm and runs away*

Idia: -oh my Sevens-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Study session

MC: What's 9+10?

Grimm: 21

*angry silence*

MC: THIS IS WHY AZUL GOT A CONTRACT OUT OF YOU!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MC: after explaining the plan to everyone in book 3 So any questions?

Grimm: Um yes. Are you going to finish that croissant?

MC: Knock yourself out, kid. tosses it to him

Grimm: Consumes

MC: Now let me assure you-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leona: We play Magift. You all shall participate.

MC: Hi, I'm MC. I'm 19 and I never learned how to f***ing do magic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neige: talking to Vil after the SDC How do you keep your pants up? It's incredible!

Vil: looking like he's about to strangle a person… Belt

Rook: *drags MC and Vil away so murder isn't committed*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MC: *at Deuce and Ace's room banging pots at 3 am after the expelling debacle* I didn't get no sleep cause of y'all! Y'all not gonna get no sleep cause of me! *runs from Riddle chasing them down a hallway*

[dramaticallytotal]

TDWT Headcanons Pt. 8

Idea Post Part One Last Part

• Chris did provide jackets for everyone in the Yukon. Just because he didn't want to be sued again and he knew Courtney was itching to do so. Definitely not for his anemic kid- anemic assistant.

• Chris and Chef also provided board and card games for the kids for downtime or in between shoots as they know bored kids and dangerous kids. Plus, Izzy makes up most of that danger if bored, which means they have to include Monopoly since that is her favorite game.

• Noah's not allowed to play blackjack since he can count cards.

• Clue is a popular game to play amongst the kids, and because there are so many of them, they tend to team up. Noah and Izzy aren't allowed to team up anymore. Neither are Heather and Leshawna.

• Alejandro doesn't want to admit that he loves game days because it was something he never got to do in his family, but he really loves it. He's was only allowed to play chess, checkers, go, and the like. (He gets really excited to know Noah, Heather, and Cody play go they also play chess along with Courtney).

• Hide and Seek is another popular game they all play, and though Courtney and Heather like to pretend they're too mature for it, they end up the most competitive on finding people and hiding. Izzy, Noah, Leshawna, and Cody are almost always the last ones to be found. Alejandro loves the game but also has a hard time with it because José used to pretend they were playing hide and seek and then just leave Alejandro hiding for hours.

• Harold has hosted DnD campaigns for some of the cast between Action and World Tour. The common players are Noah, Cody, Owen, Leshawna, Heather, Beth, Lindsay, and Trent.

• Lindsay carries emergency lip gloss and chapstick with her at all times. Not just for herself! For everyone. No one knows where she hides them all. She even assigned specific scents/flavors to people. Everyone found this out in Yukon when she screamed about chapped lips.

• Even though she is pretending to not know who Tyler is, she makes sure to give him his favorite chapstick: Cake Batter.

• The kids are constantly quoting vines, and it leaves Chris and Chef really confused and done.

• Example:

Cody, seeing a road work ahead sign when they are staying at a hotel: "Road work ahead?"

All the contestants' heads popped up from their seats of the bus they rented.

Chef driving looks at Chris who looks baffled: "Uh yeah."

Chris: "Have you guys seriously never seen those signs before? It means-"

All the contestants in perfect unison: "Uh, yeah. I sure hope it does."

Chris and Chef looking at the contestants then at each other: -_-

• The contestants are allowed to change up their outfits in episodes as long as they consist of the pieces of clothing they were wearing when they got introduced. So, for example, Noah can take off any of his shirts as long as he's wearing at least one that everyone knows is part of his signature outfit. Izzy sometimes uses her skirt wrap as a shawl. Lindsay has convertible boots where she can switch out the height of her heel/different style of heel.

• Gwen makes sure to get a postcard everywhere they stop to give to her Nana after the show is over.

• Ezekiel has a room in the crew part of the ship, but there's a camera pointed at the cargo hold door with a motion sensor alarm for him to know if someone goes in. It's so he can sneak down and make some noise to freak someone out and to sell the whole "feral" plot.

• Tyler, despite being basically supernaturally clumsy, is actually a really good cheer leader. In fact, he is on his school's cheer team.

• In the London challenge, Noah was the one to distract the corgis....well more like they distracted him and everyone watching is baffled when Noah pulls out a bag of dog treats that should not have fit in his utility belt. The corgis fell in love with him, and instead of Owen putting them in a sack, they followed Noah out like ducklings.

• Owen, being more of a little shit when Duncan starts being buddy buddy with him, convinces the punk that if they want to stay on Alejandro's good side to call him Al. Later in the confessional, Owen just smiled maniacally and cackled.

• When Noah was eliminated, he did fall into the lake like in canon kind of. Each time a contestant jumps out, there is almost always a body of water, a landing pad, or something to help break their fall with or without a parachute. They always make it seem like they fell from higher up if it's a stunt with no parachute. So, thankfully, Noah hit the mat, but he hit the side and promptly slipped off into the eel infested lake.

• Luckily, he wasn't fully submerged and quickly got but not before he was attacked by one eel. It leaped out of the water and hit his leg. It was more of a graze, really, considering he was actively getting out of the lake. It wasn't terrible, but he still had to go to the hospital

• The kids also hella quote SpongeBob.

• First class does have a TV. But there are so many parental locks on that thing.

• Heather is getting really sick and tired of Alejandro's big obvious crush on Noah. She's trying her best to keep him focused on getting...ew...aleheather to happen for the cameras. She wants her promised bonus for it. But she also wants her friend back. So she wants this whole thing to be a speed run because it's breaking her that Noah won't even look at her anymore. She knows why, god she knows, but she hates it.

• If you have a deal with Chris or the network, you are not allowed to reveal it under any circumstances during the duration of the show with the penalty of doing so being immediate disqualification and a penalty fee.

• Which is why she can't tell Noah about her deal, but the distance between them hurts. It started when he confessed to Heather that he may have had a small, very small crush on Alejandro. Then, she had been told the producers wanted the flirting between her and Alejandro more present in the next episode. She did it, but she saw how betrayed Noah looked at her.

• Next thing she knew, he was eliminated.

• Gwen started to hide her sketchbook because she started drawing Trent a lot more like when they were dating, and she's afraid someone will see it and start to think they'd start throwing challenges again for something as simple as her still liking her ex.

• The fake "pregnancy" scandal Blaineley announced about Tyler was actually him trying on the 9-month baby belly they have for health class to see if he could bend down and sit down with as much ease as his buddies thought. (His parents sued Celebrity Manhunt for spreading false and demeaning information about him).

• And someone did die after cooking a recipe from DJ and his Momma's show, "Momma's Heaping Healthy," but it wasn't because of the calories, carbs, or cholesterol, or anything like that. It was because the person who made it didn't substitute an ingredient that someone from their family was allergic to, and the person ate the food at a family reunion. The person who served it tried to blame DJ and his Momma's recipe, but that didn't hold up, so he tried to sue them for not including substitute options. It's a very messy situation since some saw what was going on and decided to sue the mother & son duo for their excessive weight gain. Then, more people jumped on the smoking train and started claiming their food was the cause of multiple problems.

• DJ and his Momma used a lot of money to pay lawyers. They're not homeless, just a little low on funds at the moment. DJ wants to win to get them back the money they spent on lawyers but to also open a restaurant with his mom instead of the show. With a restaurant, they would have more insurance with bogus claims like the ones they were dealing with.

• Owen's ad for the Bellybuster 5000 was a satire commercial he did for a comedy show.

• The only true things Blainley reported were the raccoon adoption between Courtney and Duncan, Heather's weight gain, and the subsequent back and forth she and Gwen went through, and the Total Drama Brothers' split.

• It was because of the lies and the angry parents suing her and Celebrity Manhunt about them, plus the treatment of the interns was real, and they sued too. Also it was aired on live TV... Everyone saw it, and a lot of people were appalled. This is some of the reasons she was fired from Celebrity Manhunt.

• Leshawna didn't actually knock a tooth out of Heather, but they did fight in Germany, which resulted in them getting into each other's faces and Leshawna slapping Heather hard. She hadn't meant to do it so hard, but Chris took her aside and said the majority of the viewers missed her and Heather fighting, and he would pay her a large sum to amp up any fight they had. They had had small spats here and there because of Alejandro, but the one in Germany was the worst because Heather brought up something she had told her in confidence, which resulted in the slap.

• Alejandro is so whipped. He practically melts when he's the chosen cuddle buddy for the night. He secretly wishes that he was the only cuddle buddy, I mean, it makes sense! They fit so well together, and plus he runs hot and Noah is always cold, and they help regulate each other.

• Noah gave up trying not to cuddle with anyone once Izzy let it out that he's already been filmed cuddling almost everyone. He wasn't happy at all, but he knew it would keep happening, so he made a list of those he is okay cuddling.

• Him adding Alejandro is purely strategic shut up.

Next Part

[lowkeyrobin]

Hello! I was wondering (totally okay if not) if I could request a quackity x reader where there playing minwcraft or smth with a few other people and its just like moments of them annoying eachother (as a way of love if that makes sense)

Thank you 💜💜

AH YES OF COURSEEE!! ; did my best w this one, had to quote a lot of vines for this bc I'm not naturally funny and it made sense in a way

QUACKITY ; vinecraft

summary ; annoying each other while playing minecraft with some friends

warnings ; language

genre ; fluff

word count ; 711

masterlist

You and Alex were playing on a Minecraft survival world with Bad and Niki. It wasn't a role-play SMP or anything, just a simple survival world with the Better Minecraft mod.

"Hurricane Katrina? More like Hurricane Tortilla!"

y/u/n was shot by a skeleton

"Y/n did you just willingly give yourself up to those skeletons?" Quackity laughs

"in my defense, they all have chainmail and gold armour, and I have an unbreaking one iron sword and a dream"

"Language! Stop talking about that!" Bad yells

"Yeah, stop talking about pussies, Quackity!"

"Y/n!" Bad and Quackity both exclaim in different tones while Niki laughs

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FORRRR?" Quackity yells, referring to the Vine as he almost breaks his voice a bit

"I'm waiting for those creepers to kill you," you answer, clicking your mouse to swing your hand as to point behind his character

"OH MY GOD NO-"

quackity was exploded by a creeper

"MY SHIT! Y/N, NIKI, GET IT PLEASE, I HAD AN AWESOME DIAMOND HELMET"

"It's Wednesday my dudes-"

"Shut the fuck up I'm fighting a warden, I can't do this right now, Alex!"

"I wanted to be a cowboyyyy baybyyyy" quackity speaks with a shit southern accent

"please stop fucking quoting that" you snicker, "I'm on the edge of this fuckin thing, if I fall I'll die and lose the teleporting thing and your shit"

"No off topic questions. because I don't want to. no. no. you've been stopped"

"PLEASE, I JUST WANNA MAKE THE PENIS, STOP DESTROYING IT Y/N/N"

quackity keeps trying to shoot you off the ledge of the mountain where you were trying to build the base on the side of

"I said whoever keeps shooting me, your moms a hoe!"

"language!"

"you're a hoe, motherfucker!"

"quackity, watch out!"

quackity was exploded by a creeper

"AGAIN!?"

yknow that vine of that kid playing simple piano notes and the other kid getting down to it? that's like the halftime show of the stream

quackitys playing guitar and you're busting it down in game next to niki who can't stop laughing, and bad is totally silent because of all the foul language

I mean the song slapped

then quackity got absolutely sniped by a skeleton while he was on two hearts

"What the fuck is up Kyle? no, what did you say? what the fuck, dude? step the fuck up kyle!"

quackity gets all up close with the mic to literally inhale it, "y/n i love you but my names not Kyle"

"WHATRE THOSE???"

"They are my crocs."

"Actually why do you own crocs? red flag, we're breaking up and I'm dating niki now"

"You move on quickly" quackity mumbles and rolls his eyes

nicki smiles before speaking, "because I'm better than you, quackity"

"Road work ahead? Uh, yeah, I sure hope it does"

"Y/n you've spent 85% of this stream quoting Vines"

"Yeah I know, it's because I hate you"

"Wait what?"

when quackity brings up how he lived in the southern hemisphere and talks about living in Mexico, he pauses to breathe and you take the opportunity while you have it

"country boy I love youuuuuuuu. ah"

"WHAT THE FUCK?"

"BAHAHHAH"

"I can't be here anymore"

we've all seen the "Hey ron" "Hey billy" meme I think

you'll break into the base through the ceiling to get back in because you're working on a tunnel trailing through the inside of the cliff up to the top as the entrance

"Hey quackity" you say as you land next to quackity trying to sort through chests

"Hey y/n"

you scream as quackity sits down with some pizza in the middle of stream

he screams, "stop, you almost made me drop my pizza!"

yk that meme w the kid w the broomstick doing some anime pose battle shit? here's that one

you'll be swinging your sword around and spamming emotes "don't fuck with me! I have the power of God and anime on my side! AHHHH"

"who gave you the right to speak? You're on trial for breaking Bad's space bar!" Quackity exclaims

"I got it working again!!"

"let's do the fork in the garbage disposal!"

cue spamming emotes and lagging your games til they crash 💀💀💀

"love yourself! accept yourself!"

you became a positivity priest while quackity became a drug dealer

really splitting this world into two sides now LMFAO

[anticapitalistclown]

Jake Kim

NSFW hc’s

Jake Kim x reader first kiss hc’s

Smoking w**d hc’s

Surviving a zombie apocalypse hc’s

First kiss hc’s  

Finding out s/o has nipple piercings

s/o has insomnia hc’s

s/o has parasomnia hc’s

Reacting to you sending them nudes hc’s

Racer Jake x reader hc’s

Jake x reader: not a happy end scenario

Reader praising his manly tiddies

Angst scenario

Jakemuel x reader polyamorous scenario

When reader is on her period hc’s

Taking his daughter to a daycare for the first time hc’s

Walking on him naked hc’s

Best friends scenario (trans women reader)

Joining them in the shower and slapping their ass hc’s.

Pregnancy hc’s

Watching a horror film

Asking for more kisses hc’s

Using the safe word on him

Jake as a househusband

Reacting to reader holding his face hc’s

Jake x archaeologist reader hc’s

reacting to reader giving the “fuck me eyes” hc’s

smut: I wanna be a cowgirl baby

trying their girlfriend’s clothes hc’s

How would he react when his baby girl cries hc’s

Jake Kim nsfw scenario: making reader squirt for the first time

“hide, my boyfriend is coming” prank

reacting to being the little spoon hc’s

breaking the bed (nsfw)

Doing the Kabedon 

reacting to reader having wiggly legs after sex.

reacting to reader sleeping with plushies 

getting interrupted by their child

reacting to reader being pregnant hc’s

smut scenario “sitting on his face”

the morning after, scenario

Jake Kim x reader: "road work ahead? Ah yeah, I sure hope it does" smut scenario

coming home to wife and kids, scenario

holding hands, scenario

helping reader on their period, scenario

[chasingshadowsblog]

"I am Tetsuo." - Youth vs. Adulthood in 'Akira'

"School kids these days!" Throughout its high-speed opening sequence Akira wastes no time in establishing a distinct line between the young people and the adults of its city, Neo-Tokyo. The adults include politicians and police officers, a resistance movement, the military and a group of scientists working alongside them; the youths are represented by Kaneda and his biker gang, the strange, sad children whose minds and bodies have been manipulated and damaged by the very people they believe are looking out for them, and, most importantly, Tetsuo. A shadow of blame, misunderstanding and fear has been cast over the various youth factions by the adult world, only for them to then be surprised later on when the children retaliate. A mistake frequently made by the adults in Akira is the underestimation of these groups thought stupider, weaker and more vulnerable than them. It is a mistake that will inevitably result in the destruction of the adult world and the creation of a new universe by the small hands and great minds of those same children.

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to, moron?!" As well as establishing this theme, the opening battle between Kaneda's gang and the rival Clown gang also gives us a brief but clear glimpse of the relationship between the movie's two main characters, Kaneda and Tetsuo, the nature of which remains unchanged throughout the movie despite the rapidly moving events. Kaneda is a great character to look at in this context as not only is he a part of the childrens' world of juvenile delinquency, schools that offer no help or hope, "if you screw up here, it's the end of the road!" and vulnerability in the face of authority figures, he is also the adult foil to Tetsuo's child. Tetsuo is introduced to us playing with Kaneda's bike, listing in awe all of its special features, Kaneda bursts onto the street, catches him in the act and makes fun of him "…it's too loud, you couldn't handle it." The other guys follow his example, teasing Tetsuo as they hop on their bikes and take off after the Clowns, leaving Tetsuo to catch up, but, by the end of this sequence, Kaneda changes his tune. When the gang first leaves the alley he takes the lead, not looking back to see who follows. Later on, however, when the police join the chase, he is once again the first to get going, except this time he singles Tetsuo out, making sure he's following, "Let's go, Tetsuo!" Finally, after Tetsuo jets ahead of the gang and crashes into Takashi, causing an explosion, the entire group gathers around his body in panic and concern, even wanting to get him to a hospital. When the military shows up instead and takes his body away, Kaneda, pinned to the ground by a police officer, yells at them to stop, "You can't take him away like that!" Kaneda constantly flip-flops between hurting Tetsuo and caring for him deeply. We learn through flashbacks that the two boys have been friends since they were kids, with Kaneda having taken Tetsuo under his wing, creating the imbalance in their relationship that only grew with time - so much so that Kaneda believes that he can treat Tetsuo this way without any consequences. There is no indication that Kaneda is older than Tetsuo - if he is it can only be by a few months - but he certainly acts as if he is, an attitude that Tetsuo has cultivated a hatred for. It isn't so much the fact that Kaneda makes fun of him that drives Tetsuo over the edge, but that his friend, his best and oldest friend, treats him like a child. And, much as he tries to prove otherwise, Tetsuo is a child. He recognises this in himself, knowing Kaneda does too, and hates himself for it.

After escaping the hospital the first time, Tetsuo steals Kaneda's bike and goes looking for his girlfriend, Kaori, so they can run away together. He finds Kaori being assaulted by members of the Clown gang and in an attempt to rescue her (and be the hero for once) he ends up being attacked himself then saved moments later by Kaneda. Afterwards, Tetsuo beats up one of the thugs while Kaneda stands behind him and watches, as if he is letting Tetsuo do this in response to the attack on Kaori. Which is exactly what he's doing since, a moment later, he orders Tetsuo to stop and blames him for the fight happening in the first place, "Just knock it off now! This whole thing happened just because you took my bike for a spin." This, naturally, upsets Tetsuo, who responds in rage, "Shut up! Don't order me around!" then frustration and tears. Tetsuo wants desperately for people to see him as tough and competent, and Kaneda is surprised by this reaction. Saving Tetsuo has always been his job, that Tetsuo would be mad at him for it never occured to him.

Kaori is another significant relationship in Tetsuo's life. Like him she is on the younger side of their teen years; the other girls that follow the gang around are all dressed up and wearing make-up whereas Kaori appears without make-up in a simple tank-top and shorts. Kaori is well-matched to Tetsuo; he can relate to her youthfulness but her shyness and vulnerability allow him to feel like he is the strong one in their relationship, and Kaori shows genuine concern and love for Tetsuo, unlike Kaneda's inconsistent love-hate. However, Tetsuo often responds to her feelings as Kaneda has taught him, by needing her then brushing her off as it suits him. By the final sequence in the Olympic stadium, she is the first person Tetuso reaches out to for help as he loses control of his powers, inadvertently engulfing her in whatever is happening there, his childish grasping and carelessness killing the last person who cared about him.

Mentally and emotionally, Tetsuo is behind the other younger characters in Akira; even the ESPers are more mature than him, for all that they are trapped in the bodies of children. Tetsuo is sensitive but unable to control his feelings, when he gains his powers he prefers to threaten and intimidate those who have frightened and wronged him, and rejects all offers of help, as he has learned to do from the adult world. His childishness is evident to everyone around him, not just his friends but even people who have just met him. The second time he is confined to the hospital the children attack him mentally with a parade of toys that grow bigger and bigger, surrounding him in his bed. A giant teddy bear appears to bleed milk, a rabbit topples over, almost crushing Tetsuo under its weight, a toy car vomits milk, causing a flood in the hospital room and when he tries to escape through the door, the walls turn into plastic bricks and crash down around him. These images, traditionally of childhood and innocence, are exaggerated until they are grotesque; what should warm and comfort Tetsuo instead terrifies him. It is only when he breaks a glass in the reality of the hospital room, cutting his foot on the shards, that the children are thwarted (scared themselves by the sight of blood, an all too real concept in their otherwise safe and isolated nursery). In attempting to intimidate Tetsuo, the kids knew exactly which nerve to hit. Although these images initially frighten Tetsuo, by the end of the scene his fright turns into anger - at the attack, at being frightened in the first place, and at the reminders of his true nature. This anger is what drives Tetsuo throughout the rest of the movie and causes his powers to grow. The first thing he does immediately after this incident is kill two hospital workers, an action emulative of the violent grown-up world. Tetsuo is no longer going to be scared or controlled by other people, from now on, he is the one who will intimidate. Anger is a fuel for Tetsuo's powers and it is always after a spell of rage that he experiences them. After Kaneda orders him to stop beating up the Clown biker, Tetsuo explodes,"Why do you always have to try to save me? I could handle it on my own… I won't always be on the receiving end, you hear that?!" Tetsuo is enraged, and embarrassed by his tears in front of Kaori, prompting a slew of scary hallucinations he doesn't understand. If it is anger that causes his powers to expand, it is an anger at himself, his fear, his uselessness and his need to be taken care of. The conclusion of this scene encapsulates the vulnerability of the younger characters in the face of the adult world; as the military arrives on the scene to take Tetsuo away, Kaneda, Kaori and the boys can only stand by and watch it happen.

"They were too scared, so they hid it away from the public. They forgot all shame and honor, cast off the civilization and science we had created, and shut the lid of the Pandora’s Box they themselves had opened." The adult world in Akira, however it is represented, is purely antagonistic. Though Kaneda and the colonel often show concern for their charges, their respective relationships are wholly manipulative and abusive. Kaneda demonstrates power over Tetsuo in order to maintain their imbalanced dynamic; the colonel does so to instil loyalty in the highly destructive (and highly impressionable) children in his employ. However, where the colonel was successful, Kaneda failed; Tetsuo, in his power, became defiant rather than scared and submissive. Despite everything done to them, Kyoko, Takashi and Masaru remain with the military throughout the movie, deciding for themselves, too, that Tetsuo must be destroyed. Although Takashi appears to be fleeing the military with one of Kei's companions, after being tracked down again he returns to their home without a fight. It even appears as if the children are afraid of the outside world and have no wish to be a part of it, "You know we can't survive outside. We belong at home," a further example of the military's manipulation. These children (really adults by now) have known no other world than their nursery and are repelled by reminders of the outside world, "It's blood!" "I'm scared!" Kaneda, on the other hand, completely loses Tetsuo and doesn't get him back until it's too late. Unlike Takashi, or the student protestors we hear battling police in the news, Tetsuo does not try to run from or fight against his personal adult figure, instead he attempts to emulate it. "You see, Kaneda, I won't be needing you to rescue me ever again." After gaining his powers, Tetsuo tries to beat a rival gang member to death, murders members of the hospital and army, kills the bar owner and downs handfuls of capsules; all actions, flauntings of strength, that he has seen performed by adults around him all his life and that he never had the "strength" to do himself. In acting how he thinks a grown-up would act in his situation, Tetsuo ultimately causes his own destruction; he becomes overpowered and, without the knowledge and experience needed to control himself, is overwhelmed by it, killing himself and many others. When Kaneda realises that he won't be able to bully Tetsuo into submission anymore, he readily accepts that the only thing to do is kill him and insists that he must do it, "He's not your friend, he's ours! If somebody's gonna kill him, it should be us!" To Kaneda, Tetsuo is now a lost cause and cannot be reigned in by him or salvaged by him. The colonel's manipulation keeps the ESPers cowed; Kaneda's drives Tetsuo to self-destruction.

"It was too difficult for Tetsuo… of course, too difficult for us. And for Akira." Akira's world is dirty, seedy, ruthless and selfish; it provides no obvious hero for us to root for, so, by the final showdown in the Olympic Stadium, we aren't entirely sure what we want, only that we want it to be over. Akira's world has no room for heroes and villains, but it is a world where the weak (the young and vulnerable) suffer under and by the actions of those in power. And although the conflict in Akira is undoubtedly caused by adult hands it is the child characters who resolve it and it is those same characters who suffer the most by it. Kaori is engulfed by Tetsuo's growing body and dies. Takashi, Kyoko and Masaru, in saving Kaneda, sacrifice their bodies, joining Akira and Tetsuo in a new universe. Tetsuo spends the entire movie fighting the child in himself, turning everyone against him and ultimately killing himself. Still, however bad Tetsuo becomes, it is difficult to truly see him as a villain, even when every other character has a gun trained on his back. Instead we feel sympathy for Tetsuo, who, no stranger to mental abuse, loses his mind over the course of the film. Tetsuo performs actions that are wrong, but so do the colonel, Kaneda and the resistance movement. Yet, at the end of the film, it is Kaneda, Kei, Kai and the colonal who survive while Kaori, the ESPers, Akira and Tetsuo are dead. In this case, however, Tetsuo and the kids have come out on top, with a new universe to shape while back in the old one, the adults are left with the shambles of the bombed out Neo-Tokyo. If there is a positive note in Akira to end on, it is that now, after transcending to a new plane of existence, an uncorrupted world, Tetsuo can finally accept himself for who he is, "I am Tetsuo." It says a lot that he had to leave everything and everyone he knew behind to do so.

[snow-system-wol]

There is a cottage on the outskirts of town, that has been occupied for at least a year or two now. It's also been a while since any stories of the fabled Warrior of Light doing any new heroic deeds have circulated. You have no reason to connect these unrelated facts.

(Maybe ~5+ years after 7.0, no DT spoilers)

Ao3 (~1.7k)

There is a small cottage, just a short foray out of town. You have made the walk before, and surely will again – though you'd hate to ask for too much, as much as he insists it is fine. Even if you wouldn't rush him, the thought of his workload getting too piled up saddens you.

Wait, you are getting ahead of yourself.

There is a small cottage, just a short foray out of town. Two miqo'te men have lived there for a couple winters now – perhaps in their 3rd decade of life, if you had to guess at age. One of them – G'raha – is a clever fellow, often ordering books to be delivered from all corners of the world and into the hands of their local couriers. If describing him to an out-of-towner, you'd likely simply say he's a bit short, red hair down to his shoulders, and visibly besotted with his husband.

Husband? Others have claimed to have seen rings, but you didn't personally look last time you saw either of them. It seems acceptable enough to assume for now, privately.

G'raha's husband is… more of an enigma. He is tall for a miqo'te, pink hair cropped at his jaw, and at times seems to struggle with walking. You've seen him use a cane the uncommon times he comes into town himself. While there is something a bit haunted about G'raha and you couldn't say anything confidently, you are entirely certain that his husband is a veteran of some sort – even with his injuries, he still carries himself like a fighter. Most mysteriously, he introduces himself as Edelweiss, with a knowing smile that says ‘yes, we both know it is a pseudonym’.

None of that is important to your town, though. Edel – as the kids started calling him, and it stuck as a nickname – and G'raha are kind. G'raha always makes friendly chatter and keeps up with people's lives whenever he is in town for groceries and supplies. Their cottage is always open to the injured when they cannot seek other care – allegedly it does not matter which you find at home, as they both seem to be trained healers, interestingly enough.

Most notably is Edel’s established services. He keeps a little box on his porch, where you can leave written requests for crafts or repairs – or G'raha can take verbal messages back to him, if you cannot write. He doesn't like to accept gil, but can be more easily convinced to take non-monetary payment (which almost everyone endeavors to do.)

While you could not say what past Edelweiss may be keeping secret, you could say your town would likely fight for him if it ever caught up with him.

You turn off the main road, onto a smaller path leading to their home. It's pleasantly shaded on the trail, with the whole area wooded, and their cottage is soon in sight. You let yourself into their front yard, taking a moment to look at their garden. Edel seemed to enjoy gardening when he was not working though crafting requests – and you are happy to see several new varieties of flowers and fruits since your last visit, several of which matched the seeds you had gifted him for his help.

You hope G'raha also helps him maintain it, with Edel being disabled. Between that and the crafting, surely it must be a bit much?

You carefully adjust your hands long enough to knock on their door – wouldn't do to drop anything. You hear a distant call of acknowledgement, and then G'raha is opening the door and greeting you with a smile. His eyes flick down in surprise at the basket you carry and you laugh nervously.

“I brought some pastries for you two. I hope that it is to your liking?”

“Of course – please, come in. I shall put tea on. If you would like, we would be glad for you to partake in your pastries as well.”

You enter their home, something you had not done any time before. It is very cozy and pleasant inside – there are some comfortable-looking couches, a small table with a few chairs, and several bookshelves. Based on what you have heard about deliveries, there are surely far more books downstairs as well.

Upon seeing you, Edel’s ears perk up and he gets off the couch with a heavy wince – heading for a doorway until G'raha shoots him a look, at which point he sighs and sits at the table instead. G'raha goes through that door instead and you can hear the thumps of him descending the stairs, into the mysterious realm of what must be their working and sleeping spaces.

That leaves you sitting at their kitchen table, alone with Edel, and not quite sure what to say or where to look. You at least take the moment to observe his face a bit closer in little glances, noting his pale green eyes and scattered scars and faint hint of sunburn on his cheeks. (Would he like a hat, when gardening? Would that be helpful? Perhaps you would suggest that to anyone next looking to barter with him.)

You try not to look at his neck, once you realize the severity of the scarring on his throat. He snorts and gives you a wry smile, and you know immediately that you were not quite subtle – but also that, for a blessing, he doesn't seem to be mad.

“I don't care much if you look. Just don't ask.”

You nod with a polite smile. There are many things you'd like to ask the two of them, friendly questions about where they are from, but that would simply not do in this case. Instead, you settle on something far safer.

“Is work going well for you? I hope you are not overburdened.”

He laughs, looking properly happy in a way puts you at ease.

“No, it's excellent. I'm still learning some skills, and the random requests mean I need to try new things. It's nice.”

“Have you..  not been a craftsman for long?”

He shakes his head. “No, I only started a little while before moving here.”

Immediately, your eyebrows raise. He really is an enigma. “Well, I certainly would not have known that, based on your skill. You must learn fast.”

He looks pleased, but his ears have also started flicking nervously, so you decide against layering any more of your impressed praise. Really though, if you didn't know better, you'd have guessed he'd been at this for at least a decade.

You glance down at his hands, several small scars visible that surely came about from the learning process. Your eyes land on his left hand in particular, and you speak before you can quite help yourself.

“May I ask a question?”

Edelweiss stiffens immediately and you feel guilty for what he may fear you'd ask. “You…may. No answers promised.”

Your eyes focus on the ring again. “Are you and G'raha wed?”

He relaxes with a soft laugh. “Oh, that was all? Yes, though I guess it took us long enough to get ‘round to it.” He smiled, something so warm that it made your own heart feel at peace.

“How did you two meet – ah, nevermind, I suppose.”

His smile turned a touch sad. “I fear that's a harder question to answer without talking about myself, yes.”

“I'm sorry.”

He shook his head. “You didn't mean any harm.”

It is quiet for a long moment.

Any potential awkwardness is diffused by G'raha's return. He puts a small fabric pouch on the table in front of you, and you hear a gentle clink from within.

“This, I believe, should be yours.”

You are suddenly nervous as you lift the bag, picking the tie open so slowly that G'raha places a cup of tea in front of you before you even finish. You pour it out into your palm and – oh.

You will not cry, not in front of these two in their nice little cottage, but… you never thought you'd see this necklace put back to the way you remembered it, and here it is, perfect. You suddenly wish you'd brought something more than just baked goods, even if Edel seemed disinclined to accept much.

“I – thank you. Thank you.”

You manage to keep it to mere tearing up, easy enough to blink away, but your fingers feel clumsy trying to open the clasp on your mother’s necklace.

Edel quietly clears his throat. “Would you like…?”

“Yes, please.”

He carefully stands up from his side of the table, moving around behind you. Some have said that watching Edel makes them feel a bit nervous sometimes, the tells of a trained killer, they say. You can't agree – you feel quite safe even with him fully behind you. You stay very still as he fastens the necklace, with his fingers not even so much as touching your skin. 

You realize that you'd like to know him better, to maybe even be friends, but you don't know if that could fully be possible. Perhaps if he was interested in taking on an apprentice? You'd like that very much, you think.

…Another day you may ask, when you are feeling braver and not quite so emotional.

Edel steps away and you quickly take a sip of tea, the urge to cry passing easily with the warm drink in your hands.

“S-so, how fares the garden? It looks lovely.”

G'raha swallows the mouthful of pastry he'd been eating while you two were busy, brushing crumbs off of his face. “It is lovely – with thanks to your recent gift. They seem to have taken to growing here quite well, and we are always happy to see more flowers bloom and have more fresh food in our kitchen.”

You cannot help the excited smile on your face, the quick rambles spilling from your lips. “I – I can bring more seeds. Next time I visit. I can help with taking care of the garden, too, if you need anything.”

Both of them are looking at you in a way that you'd like to interpret as fond, but it is Edelweiss that speaks first. 

“You're welcome here whenever you want.”

[callsignfate]

Laswell x Chaotic Wife Pt. 3

(Ps. the shelf thing actually happened to me and my poor mother watched me walking out with the shelf and me holding my head. It did bleed a little and I only fell down for a second. Anyways enjoy!)

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

*Laswell busy talking to Price a few feet away*

Soap: Why is there a bump and a small scratch on your head?

R/N Whisper yelling: SHUT THE FUCK UP

Soap: What-

R/N *whispering*: I was trying to put up a shelf, and when I thought I had it all put up and put stuff on it, it fell and hit me on the head.

Soap: Jesus- are you alright?

R/N: I'm fine. I only passed out for a minute, but Kate said one more inconvenience caused by my stupidity will make her explode from stress.

Soap: ...

R/N: So be quiet.

*Kate who was behind her wife the whole time*

Laswell: You said the holes in the walls were from bugs!

R/N: ... I lied?

Laswell: John- you take her for a bit- I have a migraine.

Price: ...fuck.

R/N: Dammit..

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R/N: I love you.

Kate: I love you too.

R/N: You said that with a very heavy sigh..

Kate: it's just that I never thought I'd have field medic skills to be married.

R/N: It's not that bad..

Kate: This is the third time you've almost needed stitches from A TIN CAN LID!

R/N: ... who knew they could be so sharp

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

*R/N standing next to Price while Kate yells at Soap and Gaz for doing something stupid*

R/N: That's why I married her.

Price: ...what?

R/N: Look how pretty she is even when she's yelling.

Price: ...it's a good thing you love that look that much, she yells at you with the same face.

R/N: I know she's perfect.

Price: ...you wanna talk about your relationship with your mother?

R/N: We don't have time for all of that.

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

R/N: So...

Kate: They'll be here soon to rescue us..

R/N: I can't believe we got kidnapped.

Kate: With you, anything is possible.

R/N: At least we get quality time together, it's kinda nice.

Kate: ... I hate and love your optimism.

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

Kidnapper on the phone: We have your wife.

Kate: Oh Jesus Christ- Again?

Kidnapper: agai- Again?

Kate: *Sigh* Give me proof of life.

Kidnapper: Grab he- what do you mean we don't hav- where could she have-

Kate: YOU LOST HER?

Kidnapper: No-no we have her

Kate: Jesus fuck where could she be now?!

R/N: So... this is interesting

Price: HOW IN GODS FUCKING NAME DID YOU GET HERE?! WE'RE NOT EVEN IN OR NEAR AMERICA!

R/N: Funny story...

Price *on the phone with Laswell*: Can you come get her?

Kate: SHES WITH YOU? HOW?

Price: AS IF ID FUCKIN' KNOW KATE!

Kate obviously annoyed: I'm on my way.

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

Kate driving: Fuck- construction work.

R/N: Road work ahead? Yea I sure hope it does.

Soap: Nice.

Kate: What-?

Price: I think they share a brain cell.

Ghost: You think they share it or one has it for one day and then one has it for the other?

Kate and Price at the same time: The second one.

Gaz: I watched them both stick their head out of the window while it was raining and at the same time they both got rain in their eyes.

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R/N: Honestly, I'm glad we got this time together. We're like a family.

Price: The bomb squad will be here soon.

Gaz: At least it has a few hours on it..

Kate: YOU JUST LET THEM PUT IT ON YOU?!

R/N: In hindsight it looked like a weird vest.

Ghost: You've gotta be fuckin' kidding me.

R/N: ...

Soap: What if I just cut a wire?

R/N: I trust yo-

Kate, Price, Ghost, and Gaz all yelling at the same time: NO!

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

[tobyyobyy]

carl grimes headcannons because we lack of anything for him and i can (most, if not all, are just non-apocalypse headcannons):

- autistic (we are starting off strong here)

- vocally stims vines sometimes (“road work ahead? uh yeah i sure hope it does”, “look at all those chickens”, “i wanna be a cowboy baby”) (he does that last one in front of rick a lot and rick never understands it’s from vine)

- judith: “daddy?”

- carl: “DO I LOOK LIKE-?”

- glenn taught him a lot of stupid jokes like “ligma” and “joe mama” (the usual college kid jokes)

- would use the “joe mama” joke on judith a lot

- judith would retaliate with ligma jokes (“we have the same mom idiot”)

- no one knows where she learnt that one

- loved science as a kid

- switched between wanting to become a cop like rick or an astronomer

- thought about being a palaeontologist but couldn’t see himself doing it for the rest of his life

- didn’t have a lot of friends but was still liked by other kids anyways (doesn’t mean he’s popular, people are just neutral about him)

- is on a swim team

- just likes swimming in general

- MOMMA’S BOY!!!!!

- then lori died so he made that transition over to his dad…yeah

- keeps his hair long and went through that teenage grunge phase

- listens to bands like oasis, los campensinos, nirvana, foo fighters, etc etc

- his parents music taste would sneak in sometimes tho like fleetwood mac, abba (lori) bob dylan, johnny cash (rick), any 80’s songs and old country (below the 70’s)

- because of that grunge phase he’d 100% play the electric guitar

- his grandpa taught him a bit of acoustic whenever they’d visit

- he plays the acoustic sometimes for judith, or anyone in his family who asks, but mainly judith

- plays more chill songs like something you’d find in the ‘life is strange’ soundtrack (bright eyes, angus and julia stone, iron & wine) (most of those are from enid’s music taste)

- rick and michonne let him use the garage but it still drives them up the walls when he jams out with friends

- doesn’t understand the superbowl but because his dad likes it he makes an effort to watch it with him because no one else will

- jump scares any unsuspecting victim when they turn the corner of a wall

- to calm down whenever he’s stressed/overwhelmed/overstimulated he’ll either go swimming or ask his grandparents to come over (they own a farm) to ride some horses

- allergic to peanuts (not pecans because they had to eat some when they met Gabriel so)

- hates anything deep fried except for fish

- terrible in any form of skating

- roller skating? keeps slamming into the wall

- ice skating? uses those kid-balance-crutches-thingys

- he just has terrible coordination

- obviously gets worse when he looses his eye

- he’s good at bowling tho

- even tho he’s a moody teenager he’s EXTREMELY kind

- switches from sciences to arts and english in high school

- started making little family portraits drawings

- can actually understand old english/shakespeare

- makes blanket forts with judith 24/7

- actually does have a southern accent it’s just more like loris (less noticeable than ricks)

- would 100% watch minecraft youtubers

- bisexual little shit (duh)

- when he was a kid he didn’t have a fear of needles but as he grew up he just DESPISED them like shaking screaming crying and throwing up type deal

- hums a lot to judith, usually the song “baby mine”

- snapchat user

- embarrassingly so. especially when he uses the filters

- has a diary and calls it a diary not a journal

- drops trauma like it’s nothing, like a silly joke (this is basically canon but i’ll still include it in)

- headphones on 24/7 might as well be glued to his head (his ears are too small for earphones and he likes soundproof headphones anyways)

- an entire shelf in his closet is just for comics (and some comics are thin so you can imagine how many he has)

- likes reading other things too instead of just comics

- refuses to wear elastics/tie his hair up even if it gets in his way a lot

- let’s judith put silly hairclips in it

- sometimes forgets to take them out when he gets to school but he doesn’t care much

- would watch: the office, brooklyn nine-nine, the breakfast club & moral orel

[spacefinch]

Pokemon Incorrect Quotes: Unova Edition

Hugh: *handing out smiley balloons* I have no soul. Have a nice day!

Colress: I don't have one either.

Drayden: Let me see what you have!

Iris: A knife!

Drayden: NO!

Cilan: Fun fact! Blueberries are the only fruit named after a color.

Iris: Star fruit?

Cilan: ♥️ So close! That is a shape ♥️

Colresss: Welcome to physics!

*science project explodes*

*screaming*

Hilda: 🎶 ANNIE ARE YOU OKAY, ANNIE ARE YOU OKAY, ANNIE 🎶

Hilbert: *banging pots and pans*

Hilda: 🎶 ANNIE ARE YOU OKAY, WILL YOU TELL US THAT YOU’RE OKAY 🎶

Teacher: Uh, Cheren, can you read number 23 for the class, please?

Cheren: No, I cannot. What up, I’m Cheren, I’m 19, and I never fricking learned how to read.

Chili: Hi, welcome to Chili's.

Elesa: Hey, I’m lesbian.

Emmet: I thought you were Unovan.

Clay: I wanna be a cowboy, baby!

Alder: Hell yeah!

Clay:  I wanna be a cowboy, baby!

Hilbert: TOMORROW IS HALLOWEEN

Cheren: Why are you guys reblogging this in December?

Hilda: TOMORROW IS HALLOWEEN

Rosa: TOMORROW IS HALLOWEEN

Cheren: It is February, you ANIMALS

Nate: TOMORROW IS HALLOWEEN

Emmet: "Average person eats 8 spiders a year" factoid, actually statistical error. Average person eats 0 spiders per year. Spiders Georg, who lives in cave and eats over 10,000 every day, is an outlier and should not have been counted.

Chili: Oh sorry, I fell asleep while I was waiting on you to make me a sandwich.

Cress: Go back to sleep AND STARVE.

Ingo: Perhaps it is the context in which words are spoken that gives them the power of meaning. *yelling* I LOVE YOU, JOLTIK!

Emmet, banging on pots and pans: I DON'T GET NO SLEEP 'CAUSE OF YOU! Y'ALL NOT GONNA GET NO SLEEP 'CAUSE OF ME!

Hilda: Would you like something to drink? *opens fridge* We have water, milk, juice, Joltiks, Dr. Pepper…

Cheren: Joltiks?

Hilda: Joltiks it is, then.

Cheren: Wait, that’s not what I meant—

But she was already pouring him a brimming glass of Joltiks.

Ingo and Emmet: *in the middle of an intense Pokemon battle*

Hilbert: Can I get a waffle? Can I PLEASE get a waffle?

After said battle:

Hilbert, pointing at the losing Pokemon: He need some milk

Ingo: Road work ahead? Uh, yeah, I sure hope it does!

Rosa (pointing at a flock of Swanna): Look at all those chickens!

Ingo: *filming in selfie mode*

Emmet: (in background) Bop it! Twist it! Pull it!

Colress (grinning): I'M GOING TO JAIL!

Cheren: Tumblr is just talking to yourself but with an audience.

Cilan: That’s called a soliloquy.

Cheren: Found the theater kid. Get em boys.

Iris: Hey OP, how do we know you’re not a theater kid?

Cheren: I’M AN ENGLISH LIT MAJOR, YOUR HONOR

Cilan: Eating chips with chopsticks is unironically galaxy brain. Your fingers don’t get greasy and it lasts for longer.

Chili: Fork

Cilan: Oh, yeah, I’m going to stab my crunchy foods and make them fall apart like an absolute absentminded dunce, fool, clown, jester, like a monstrous moron, an idiot of Shakespearean proportions, a cretin.

Cress: Um, you seem to forget that ‘chips’ can also mean fries. And that’s probably what he was talking about, haha

Cilan: I did not forget anything. I purposely ignore the idea of using British vocabulary to do my part in helping it die out.

Cilan: KNOWLEDGE is knowing that a tomato is technically a fruit.

Cress: WISDOM is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Chili: PHILOSOPHY is wondering if a tomato is a fruit, does that make ketchup a smoothie?

Cheren: COMMON SENSE is knowing that ketchup isn't a smoothie.

Ingo: I went to the store and bought Quick Oats. The next day, my brother came back with Instant Oats. I will not be humiliated like this. I must now find an even sooner oat.

Hilbert: I hope nobody is evil

Ghetsis: >:)

Hilbert: Oh no

Elesa: Don’t post your negativity on a positive post.

Volkner: Electrons

Elesa: I should kick your ass.

Cilan: Being alive is great because there are so many different vegetables you can sauté. But then there are also the horrors.

Cheren: People who say ‘oof’ and people who say ‘bruh’ contribute nothing to a conversation.

Nate: OOF

Hilbert: BRUH

Ingo: Early to bed, early to rise, Burger King burger with Burger King fries

Skyla: Later to rise, later to bed, Burger King burger on Burger King bread

Elesa: Eat at morning, eat at night, I participate in a Burger King fight

Emmet: I slap my knees, I slap my thighs, tonight is the night that Burger King dies

Cheren: I currently have seven empty notebooks and I have no clue what to put in them.

Cilan: Put spaghetti in it.

Cheren: I am currently taking suggestions from everyone except you.

Bianca: Put spaghetti in it.

Cheren: I am currently taking suggestions from everyone except you two.

Nate: Put spaghetti in it.

Cheren: I am no longer taking suggestions.

Roxie: *playing guitar*

*suspicious crashing noises in distance*

Roxie: *plays guitar louder*

Hilbert: Big mood.

Emmet: What does that mean?

Hilbert: Well… it means, me too, I guess.

*the next day*

Ingo: I'm worried about Team Rocket using our subway system.

Emmet: Big mood, brother. Big mood.

Ingo: HILBERT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

Hilbert: Z is just a sideways N

N: Please stop it

Hilbert: Zo

Elesa: I can't find my earbuds and Target is closed. This is a nightmare.

Burgh: Put a Durant in each ear and they will sing to you.

Elesa: Not a half-bad idea actually.

Emmet: I go to Home Depot

Emmet: I eat the tools

Ingo: Stop it

Emmet: Crumch

Roxie: Is it cheating to teach Toxic to every member of my Pokemon team?

Elesa: Not at all, I'd love to hear them sing it.

Clay: None of y’all know what propaganda actually is, do you?

Hilda: It’s when a British person takes a good look at something.

Elesa: What are you guys going to be for Halloween?

Ingo: Sad

Burgh: Gay

Skyla: Sexy

Emmet: Goblin

Ingo: What if I was evil and ran towards you at very fast speeds

Emmet: My arms are strong, I would catch you and hug you

Clay: Children, this is dirt.

Nate, Rosa, and Hugh: dirt? dirt? dirt? dirt? dirt?

Hilda: Shoutout to all the people who started saying “same” as a joke once in a while but now use it for the most random things like a car honking their horn at another car.

Cheren: Yesterday a book fell off my desk but instead of picking it up, I just looked at it for a second and said “same”

Hilbert: LOL same

Bianca: Why are we like this?

Cheren: Is there anything better than pussy?

Cheren: Yes, a really good book

Cheren: *plays the keyboard*

Hilbert: Who’s the hottest Uber driver you’ve ever had?

N: Ummm… I never went to Oovoo Javer.

*HAS NEVER WENT TO OOVOO JAVER*

Looker: Where’s the best place to buy fireworks?

Hugh: Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?

Looker: Where are your parents? Kid’s sketchy, back to you.

Emmet: *screams into jar and then screws on the lid* Everything’s fine.

Cilan: Hi, could I ask how exactly does one accidentally set a lemon on fire?

Nate: Microwave for 40 minutes

Cilan: Why were you microwaving a lemon??

Nate: I read boiling lemons helps cover up bad smells (I wanted to cover up the scent of burnt oranges), but I didn’t own any pots.

Cilan: Did you burn an orange too? How??

Nate: Microwave for 40 minutes

Classroom: *silence*

One of the students: turgle turgle

Cheren: WHO TURGLED

Hilda: Hey everyone, today my brother pushed me, so I'm starting a Kickstarter to put him down. Benefits of killing him would be that I get pushed way less—

Cheren: I get that you're angry, but killing Hilbert is not the solution.

Hilbert: When will Ted himself finally show up to the talk?

Bianca: The final boss

Cheren: Guys, you do realize that TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, right?

Hilda: I will not let Ted hide behind these lies any longer.

Cheren: I love the word methinks. It’s accurate. Me does think. Thinketh me do.

Hilbert: Methinks therefore me am.

Nate (bragging.): I know every digit of pi.

Nate: I don't know what order.

N: He doesn't know what order.

"Hey besties friendly reminder to drink water, feed your lab Rattata, turn off your evil nuclear generator, change out of your dirty lab coat, go for a walk, and take care of yourself!"

“@evilscientist13”

“@evilscientist13”

“@evilscientist13”

“COLRESS WAKE UP”

“@evilscientist13”

“@evilscientist13”

“@evilscientist13”

“COLRESS THE REACTOR”

(during a game of Uno)

Ingo: Brother, please, no.

Emmet: I’m sorry. I have to.

Ingo: Please, I’m begging you, after all we’ve been through?

Emmet: I’m sorry. [places a draw 4 card] Uno.

N: Any questions before I move on?

Porygon: *garbled electric noises*

N: ... Great. I really understood that well.

Elesa: This is camp.

Ingo: What does camp mean?

Emmet: Like when something is so yass and slay

Emmet: Do you think Joltiks take fall damage?

Ingo: Emmet, what the heck?

*at Drayden’s home in Opelucid City*

The Pokemon streaming service profiles read as follows:

Drayden: “Person who pays for the account”

Iris: “Granddaughter (Free pass)”

Ingo: “Parasite 1”

Emmet: “Parasite 2”

Cheren: How long does someone have to be dead before it's considered archaeology and not grave robbing?

Lenora: As an archaeologist, I find this a VERY AWKWARD QUESTION.

Cheren: Answer the question, grave robber.

Elesa: Carpe diem— seize the day

Skyla: Carpe noctem— seize the night

Emmet: Carpe natem— seize the ass

Ingo: Seriously, if you guys don't stop reblogging this, I am going to carpe someone's neck and break it.

Grimsley: Carpe collum— seize the neck

Cheren: Not all math puns are bad.

Cheren: Just sum of them.

Roxie: There is so much panic right now and not nearly enough disco.

Elesa: Where do bad rainbows go?

Skyla: …

Elesa: Prism. It's a light sentence.

Skyla: *groan*

Hilda: If you don't know the difference between "their," "they're", and "there", your a idiot.

Cheren: Well, this is awkward.

Hilbert: I was born ready!

Hilda: You were born in Nuvema Town.

Hilbert: When I was your age… (tells Hilda something he did a few minutes ago)

Nate: A theif

Cheren: Thief?

Nate: Theif

Cheren: I before e, except after c

Nate: Thceif

Cheren: No

Hilda: (singing) A potato flew around my room before you came—

Hilda, Hilbert, Cheren, and Bianca: AAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Hilbert: I'm nuts about these nuts. But you know what I'm also nuts about? My close good friends!

Hilbert: *gestures to Hilda, Cheren, Bianca, Nata, Rosa, Hugh, and N* My close good friends!

Ghetsis: Remember one time I liked you?

N: No.

Ghetsis: Good, because IT NEVER HAPPENED! *evil laugh*

Cilan: Would anyone like some stew? Would anyone like some stew? Would anyone like some stew?

[belovedspector]

Photographs and Memories

Pairing: Joel Miller x gn!reader

Word Count: 1.4k

Content: Angst with a hopeful ending. Pre-outbreak.

A/N: Based on the song of the same name by Jim Croce. Yes, this is my second time writing a Joel fic based on a Jim Croce song. No, I'm not sorry about it. Enjoy! :)

Immersion Notice: I changed one little lyric to make this more inclusive ("Christmas cards you sent to me" became "Birthday cards you sent to me").

Masterlist

“Photographs and memories, Birthday cards you sent to me. All that I have are these, To remember you.”

“You’re doing it again,” Sarah says flatly from Joel’s bedroom doorway.

“Yeah, you caught me,” Joel acquiesces with a sigh. He sets the shoe box full of photographs that he’d been sifting through aside on the bed.

“You could call, you know. Make things right,” she suggests.

“No, I can’t,” he argues, but there’s no bite to it. He’s too tired for that.

It’s been like this for weeks now—Joel glumly looking back on your relationship, trying to figure out where it all went wrong. He keeps going back to the photos, where the two of you look so damn happy, and the birthday cards, where you’d poured your soul into heartfelt notes meant just for him. Where had he gone wrong? What had changed?

“Yes, you can.” His daughter’s voice brings him back to the present.

“Don’t you have homework to do, or something?” he asks gruffly.

“It’s summer, Dad,” she points out with a roll of her eyes.

“Right,” he mutters. He can’t help but take another glance at the open shoe box. The photo on top shows the two of you at the beach, Joel’s arm around your waist, sunglasses perched on top of your head as you smile brightly at the camera.

“Anyway, I’m going over to Stephanie’s house,” she says. “Please don’t still be sitting here when I get back.”

“Be safe!” he calls out to her as she walks away.

With a sigh, Joel puts the lid back on the shoe box and returns it to its spot on the floor of his closet.

“Memories that come at night, Take me to another time, Back to a happier day, When I called you mine.”

Joel’s lying wide awake in bed. He squints at the alarm clock on his bedside table. 2:51, the display reads.

He can’t stop thinking about you—about your smile, your voice, everything. He remembers the way you danced in the kitchen while cooking dinner, the way you laughed unabashedly loudly at his dumb jokes.

Joel sighs deeply as he looks up at the dark ceiling above him. If he closes his eyes, he can almost imagine you beside him in bed, sleeping peacefully. It wasn’t that long ago that that was his reality. Now, the other side of the bed is cold. He’s since washed the sheets, and the scent of your sweet perfume is no longer lingering on the pillowcase.

With a groan, he rolls over, pressing his face into his pillow. He needs to get a grip, move on with his life.

But he can’t. He can’t stop thinking about you, no matter what he does.

He sits up in bed, reaches over to turn on the bedside lamp, and grabs the book he’s been reading, resigning himself to yet another restless night.

“But we sure had a good time, When we started way back when. Morning walks and bedroom talks, Oh, how I loved you then.”

Joel’s staring straight ahead at the road as he drives to work, but his mind is elsewhere. He can’t help but think about you, sitting in the passenger’s seat, fiddling with the radio and sticking your hand out the window to feel the breeze between your fingers.

He thinks back to the beginning of your relationship—the “honeymoon phase,” Sarah had called it. That kid is wise beyond her years.

He thinks about the walks you’d take on weekend mornings. He’d hated it, at first, getting up at the crack of dawn when he could be sleeping in a little while longer, but your joy was infectious. You always admired the little things, took time to acknowledge the beauty of the world around you. You’d point out flowers on your walk, get excited anytime you passed a dog.

He thinks about lying on his side in the dark next to you, face mere inches away from yours, as you talked about everything and nothing, how you’d shared your greatest fears and hopes for the future.

He thinks about—

“Joel!” Tommy practically shouts, snapping him back to the present.

“What?” he snaps, irritated at having been interrupted. “You just drove past the site, dumbass,” Tommy says.

“Shit.”

“Summer skies and lullabies, Nights we couldn’t say goodbye. And of all of the things that we knew, Not a dream survived.”

Crickets chirp as Joel sits on his back porch, nursing a beer and looking up at the stars dotting the cloudless sky.

He can’t help but be transported to the night he’d taken you stargazing. He’d driven you out and away from the city and parked in a beautiful, quiet area. The truck bed was filled with pillows and blankets, allowing the two of you to lay side by side and look up at the sky. Joel had spent more time looking at you, though, at the way the starlight reflected in your wonder-filled eyes.

He takes a sip of his beer and remembers how hard it had been to say goodbye that night—or every night, really. He never wanted to leave your side, never wanted the night to end, and you felt the same.

And now, here he sits, all alone.

He thinks about all the plans he’d had for your future together, the future he was so sure about but now doesn’t exist, will never exist.

He thinks about the ring, still tucked safely away in his sock drawer.

“Photographs and memories, All the love you gave to me, Somehow it just can’t be true, It’s all I’ve left of you.”

It’s a rainy Saturday morning, and Joel is finally tackling the mess that is his desk, precariously stacked piles of paper taking over nearly every inch of its surface. As he picks up a random stack of papers, one falls, fluttering gently to the floor. The pale pink paper immediately catches his eye.

It’s the love letter you’d written for him last Valentine’s Day.

You’d been nearly sick with nerves when you’d given it to him, afraid that it was a stupid idea. He had assured you that he loved it with tears in his eyes. In truth, it was the sweetest gesture he had ever received.

He reads it back now, hearing your voice in his head as he reads your confession of love. It’s nothing he hadn’t heard a hundred times before, but, for some reason, seeing it written out made it more special, more real.

He’d give anything to hear you say you love him one more time.

He tucks the letter away in one of the desk’s drawers and gets back to work.

“But we sure had a good time, When we started way back when. Morning walks and bedroom talks, Oh, how I loved you then.”

It’s been months since you broke up. Joel still thinks about you, about what you had together, constantly. Despite Sarah’s attempts to play matchmaker with the new, single neighbor that moves in down the street, despite Tommy’s incessant teasing, Joel can’t move on.

He’s grocery shopping when it happens.

He sees a silhouette that looks suspiciously like yours. Then, the person turns around, and, sure enough, it’s you, looking as breathtaking as ever.

Joel feels like he can’t breathe. He drops the tomato he’d been inspecting as he watches you put a container of strawberries in your shopping basket from over the rows of produce.

It’s then that you look up, and your eyes meet his.

Joel’s heart skips a beat. He feels like a kid seeing their crush in the schoolyard.

You offer him a soft smile, and Joel feels fireworks exploding in his chest. He manages to give you a small wave back, but he’s sure he looks shell-shocked.

You walk down the aisle, and Joel thinks that that’s it. That would be enough, really, just getting to see your face in person after only having seen it in grainy photographs and in his mind’s eye for so long.

But, you surprise him. You turn down his aisle and approach him.

“Hi,” you say shyly, shifting your weight from foot to foot.

Suddenly, Joel’s mouth is very dry. “Hi,” he gets out after a moment.

“Listen, I—” you start.

“I’m sorry,” Joel blurts at the same time.

“I—what?” You look surprised.

“I’m sorry,” Joel repeats. “I’m sorry about how things ended. I want to make it right. Is there any chance that we could grab a coffee sometime?” He sounds desperate to his own ears, but he can’t help it.

You smile, and he can practically feel his broken heart mending itself back together. “Yes, I’d like that.”

Joel doesn’t know what will happen from here, but he’s thrilled at the prospect of creating new memories with you.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! Please feel free to let me know what you think! :)