#the shrimp life gets lonely

[leatherbookmark]

i got curious and checked how my old babygirls (enstars lads) are doing and. well since the game got its English version and the wiki doesn't have any translations online, i don't know how they're doing, but I looked at their cards and they're so cute. miss them lots (but not enough to play again, Oh No)

[impval]

cinnamon in my teeth pt.2

CaitVi  x fem!reader

You were so used to coming home to an empty, silent house. No parents, no friends, no one to greet you after your shifts at work. Just the soft, solitary hush of an empty house.

The silence sat heavy on your shoulders - that feeling of being alone, and isolated.

You'd spend hours sitting quietly, lost in your head.

You'd go hours without speaking a word to anyone, the only company you had being the sound of your own heartbeat and the voices inside your head.

Life was quiet. Lonely.

But now… now the house was full of sound. Of warmth and laughter and love.

You'd come home to the sound of arguments, of giggles and laughter, of two women who loved you very dearly. You'd be met with smiles instead of loneliness, and you'd be greeted with warm kisses before even finished saying hello.

The silence was still there sometimes, but it was different. Softer. It was a comfort to walk into the house and still feel the presence of your girlfriends, even when they weren't there. Their clothes, their accessories, their distinct scents.

They didn't always come home together, unfortunately. Their jobs often left them both late at night, either one getting home before the other, sometimes both being late. Caitlyn was a workaholic, so often she'd be at her desk well beyond the hours most normal people would consider reasonable.

Caitlyn was an incredibly dedicated person, and while you knew work was important to her, both you and Vi were always happy that she tried to make time for you.

There were times when it was hard, though. When she'd come home in the late hour, looking tired and worn out and stressed. When she'd spend long hours hunched over paperwork, and you'd find her in the middle of the night, still not done.

But overall, it wasn't too bad. You appreciated that she was willing to put work aside for you and Vi.

You can never get excited for Fridays. You love that the end of the week brings a break from work, but at the same time, that Friday energy always seems to bring all the idiots with it. Meetings, last minute reports, and unexpected calls from clients who need their paperwork signed by the end of the week.

You let out a soft sigh, dropping your pen down on the desk. Your back popped as you finally straightened your spine, feeling the knots of pain in your shoulders unknotting.

Your eyes roamed over the rest of the office, eyeing out your coworkers. Just like you, they all had that shrimp-like slouch, slumped over their desks.

Office life was slowly destroying your back.

Your eyes narrowed as you spotted your boss, standing across the office with a cup of tea and another coworker. Your boss is an absolute ass - a massive jerk who thinks that just because you're the younger, he can push every last responsibility onto your shoulders.

But he'd been much quieter lately and seemed to be avoiding you like you had a deadly disease, passing on work to others instead of giving it directly to you. It was a strange change.

And there was something about the glitter on his neck that was familiar… pink and blue, he tried covered it with a scarf but you noticed. The glitter dusted across his skin, plus the hint of a limp he now had, and the fact that someone had spent an entire day cleaning the graffiti from the his office...

You finish the last of the coffee in your mug, unable to help a small smile lifting your mouth.

Caitlyn and Vi hadn't promised to stay out of it, but Jinx… Jinx didn't make such promise.

Jinx was Vi's younger sister, and the relationship between the sisters was… complicated, to say the least. At least they weren't currently fighting, but it was only a matter of time.

She was insane, that was for sure. But you also kind of liked Jinx… when she wasn't kidnapping you or trying to burn down the city, that is. Despite her occasional kidnappings and pranks, Jinx did sort of treat you differently than anyone else. You couldn't quite pin down why.

You were normal. A civilian, no history of violence, no blood on your hands, an average person. Perhaps it was just because you were normal.

It had been an odd encounter when Jinx kidnapped you for first time, but the first thing you'd said to her? "I like your hair."

The clock on the wall finally reached the end of the work day, marking the end of your shift.

You stood from your seat, stretching your stiff back, letting a sigh out of your lips. Your boss looked nervous as you smiled at him, walking past.

The evening air was cool, sending a chill down your spine. With a sigh you tightened your jacket around your shoulders, searching for any sign of Vi.

Suddenly, you felt a pair of hands fall over your eyes, and a familiar voice spoke behind you.

"Guess who?"

Vi leaned her face close to your ear, her smile widening as she heard your comment, her breath warm. You could feel a smile tug at your lips, the familiar scent and warmth of your girlfriend's presence bringing you comfort. The feel of her body next to you was as natural and comforting as breathing.

"A bit predictable, don't you think?" you smirked, a slight hint of sarcasm in your tone.

"Maybe. But it gets you every time."

She moved her hands away from your eyes and instead wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer. The kiss was light and gentle, and you could feel the blush quickly take over your cheeks.

Vi's hair was a bit dirty, a mess of tangled locks, yet somehow it still looked as cool as ever. There was a slight smudge of dirt across her cheek, probably from some sort of grease, and you reached up to wipe it away.

Vi's arm wrapped around your waist as you took slow strides towards your house, your pace relaxed in the cool evening air. The walk wasn't far, only ten minutes from the office.

You still couldn't believe it sometimes, living in a mansion now, a far cry from your small apartment, and you had two girlfriends. Life was weird.

"How was your day?" Vi said softly.

You loved your job for the most part. Yeah, it had endless paperwork and tedious reports, but it paid the bills, and the people you worked with were nice and helpful.

Vi didn't always fully understand what you said, but that never stopped her from paying attention and trying to grasp the concepts. It was one of the things you loved most about her - her unwavering attention and curiosity.

The walk home was filled with you discussing work and venting to Vi, who listened and asked questions in the right spots. She nodded along, making noises of understanding to let you know that she was following along.

The lights of mansion glowed warmly in the windows as you and Vi approached, letting you know that Caitlyn was home. Perfect, since that meant she was probably already cooking dinner.

Vi didn't quite know how to cook, although Caitlyn and you was more than happy to help her. You usually took the lead in the kitchen, but you'd grown tired of it recently, and you couldn't deny the appeal of Caitlyn handling all the cooking.

You and Vi exchanged a knowing look, both of you thinking the same thing. Caitlyn's cooking was that good.

The moment you stepped into the house, the scent of freshly-cooked meat immediately hit your nostrils, your mouth watering at the thought of a proper meal after a day filled only with snacks.

Both you and Vi walk into the kitchen, finding Caitlyn standing by the stove. She looks adorable in the little apron she’s wearing, and you can tell she's a little tired - her forehead is creased with a worried little crease, and her messy hair is pushed back into a bun.

The moment you enter, she turns to you both, a warm smile on her full lips.

"You're home!" Caitlyn exclaims with a pleased sigh.

You watch as Caitlyn leans over to give Vi a swift, affectionate kiss. Vi leans into the kiss, her arms wrapping around Caitlyn waist in a tight little pull.

"I missed you," she murmurs.

It was true that a lot of people didn't understand how three women could be in a relationship with each other. So many people tried to insist it was some sort of twisted experiment - that someone had to be left out, or that everyone was secretly miserable.

You had heard the questions - Don't you feel lonely? Don't you get jealous? - and you usually had just shrugged them off with a wry smile. After all, you were dating both the two most beautiful women in existence.

Jealousy? Loneliness? You feel neither.

Caitlyn then turns her attention to you, her expression softening.

"And I missed you too," she adds, her hand coming up to gently caress your cheek. "Did you have a good day, sweetheart?"

"It was..work as usual." You can't help smiling. It's such a stupid, lovesick, soft expression - like lovestruck puppy.

But you don't care at all.

Caitlyn smiles back, the corners of her eyes crinkling faintly.

"You're all happy like an idiots," Vi teases, an amused scoff in her voice. Her arms are still wrapped around Caitlyn's waist.

"Just work, huh?"

Caitlyn raises a curious eyebrow, her eyes watching you closely. A flicker of something - something you can't quite decipher - crosses over her face. There was something in her expression, like she was expecting a certain answer from you.

Well, someone had to set Jinx on your boss, right? Well, Caitlyn promised not to hurt your boss. Smart decision and no broken promises.

She nod regardless, and simply says, "Dinner's just about ready, so you might want to go wash up before you eat."

"Ugh," Vi groans, her grip growing tight on Caitlyn, as if it's to hold her in place.

Caitlyn simply rolls her eyes and gently bats Vi's hands away from her. "Go," she says, her voice firm. "You can't eat if your hands are all dirty."

You take Vi's hand and start to pull her towards the bathroom, leading her away from Caitlyn.

Vi gives one last, half-hearted protest, but she lets you pull her away without too much fuss. She follows you to the bathroom, and you start to wash at the sink.

It's so stupid how cute Vi can be when she's pouting like this. She's always been so used to getting her own way that she acts like a whiny five-year-old sometimes. It's both adorable and incredibly annoying at once.

You all sit at the table, and Vi is already shoveling food into her mouth like a greedy puppy. She's completely ungraceful, taking large, messy bites.

Caitlyn, on the other hand, is incredibly slow, savoring every bite of her food. She's a woman raised with manners and discipline, after all.

Christmas was on its way, and you now had a beautiful tree in the living room. Vi has never, ever been able to celebrate Christmas properly. Now she was going through all the effort to make her first Christmas "proper," and it was adorable how enthusiastic she was about it.

She was practically vibrating with excitement when you all first got the Christmas tree out. Her eyes lit up so brightly as she excitedly babbled about how much she was looking forward to decorating the tree together.

You all chat. The snow is falling outside, slowly blanketing your home in a layer of white, soft snow that creates a sense of comfort. Vi is so excited that you can't help but laugh at the fact that she didn't even notice the mess she's made of her own face.

Caitlyn has to wipe away some of the sauce from Vi's face, muttering about how she's a mess - but there's an affectionate, amused smile on her face.

You remember the days of instant ramen in a bowl and a quiet, empty apartment - you were always alone. The difference now is incredible, the change in lifestyle so immense that it still feels a little like a dream sometimes.

Christmas has always been a bit of a mixed bag for Caitlyn - she didn't hate it by any means, but there was always a lot of pressure for her to be on her very best behavior.

She would have had to arrange an event for the entire Kiramman family, which meant she would have had to talk to an awful lot of people who she absolutely did not like.

You're aware of this, and you'd make sure that she'd never have to go through it again. So you'd insisted that both of your girlfriends spend Christmas with you - no formality, just three girlfriends together in a happy home. You wanted it to be a peaceful holiday, without the usual stress.

As you pick up the dirty dishes, Vi cracks her knuckles and stretches before heading upstairs to take a shower. You know she'll be waiting in bed for you and Caitlyn later.

Caitlyn follows you, her hands at her sides, looking at you as you start washing the dishes. She watches you for a moment, studying you quietly.

Caitlyn has never been fond of people doing chores in her home. She'd rather do it herself, even though it was never necessary. She'd grown up in a house with servants, and she always hated it - it left her feeling like an outsider in her own home.

There is a time you remember when her gaze scared you. The weight of her stare was almost uncomfortable. She was so strong, so smart, so intimidating. Now you cherish that gaze. Now you love it when she stares at you.

"You know, my boss has been incredibly quiet lately," you say, breaking the silence with a saccharine-sweet voice.

Caitlyn's eyes narrow at your comment, a small frown marring her perfect face. She knew you knew.

Somehow, Caitlyn had convinced Jinx to... prank your boss. You knew Jinx wouldn't have thought to do it on her own - she was currently too busy with Zaun politics to really care about your problems. You hadn't seen her in months.

"He was?" she says, her tone as calm as your own. "I wonder why."

You finish washing the last dish in the sink, and turn off the water.

Caitlyn gives you a towel, and you quickly start to dry your hands. There's something you want to say, but you can't outmaneuver Caitlyn - she grew up with all these little games, and you, for all your effort, can never really match her.

No games, then.

"Jinx? Caitlyn, honey, just how?"

Caitlyn snorts, her head tilting to one side as she pushes some hair out of her face.

"How do you know it's me?" she asks, pretending to be unperturbed by your accusations. "Maybe it was Vi."

You roll your eyes, so hard it almost hurts.

There's no way it was Vi. She never would've thought up something like this on her own - and she would never be able to talk to Jinx without a fight. Those sisters are hopeless, two bickering children. You honestly wish they'd just get therapy or something.

Caitlyn laughs at your reaction, the sound soft and amused. She pulls you closer, wrapping her hands around your waist. She smells of spice and food - but there's that lingering scent of gunpowder there, that was just a part of her now. Always lingering like some sort of phantom.

"It helped that she likes you," she said, voice laced with amusement. She knew Jinx had a soft spot for you, and she'd have used that to her advantage. "And she likes to cause chaos, and i showed her the right direction."

Right. Well, you definitely won't tell Vi about this.

You nuzzle your face into Caitlyn's neck, just like a affectionate cat.

"I should've handled this myself." You murmur against her skin, your voice a little annoyed. You're not sorry for the man getting what he had coming - the jerk deserved it.

Caitlyn lets out a small sigh, your statement coming as no surprise to her. "I know," she murmurs, her voice soft and gentle.

Your girlfriend knew about your insecurities all too well. She could see the way you eyed Vi and her, the way you'd always compare yourself to the two of them. Just a regular person - you worked in an office job and had never stepped foot in combat. Nothing really special.

Caitlyn was particularly attuned to your feelings - she'd known you long enough now to be able to tell when you were feeling especially down on yourself. You were so much more to her than "nothing special."

Because you were a remarkable person. You should have more confidence, and know that you were worthy, special, and desirable in your own way.

She murmurs apology as you nuzzle against her, and you feel her gently running her fingers through your hair. "You know I hate that man for treating you the way he does," she murmurs, her voice soft and caring.

You and Caitlyn press each other close, clinging together. You both know that you can't stay like that for too much longer - Vi probably already waiting in the bedroom for you both, and she's not exactly the most patient person in the world.

Caitlyn presses a soft, final kiss to your forehead, before slowly detaching herself from your embrace.

"We should go to bed," she mumbles. "I'll probably get chewed out if we keep Vi waiting."

Caitlyn leads you up to the bedroom, a soft look in her eyes as you try to stay awake.

A yawn escapes you, and you cover it with your hand. Not only were you glad you didn't have to go anywhere tomorrow, but you were incredibly happy to get to just curl up in bed all morning, with both of your girlfriends still asleep beside you.

You loved those quiet moments. The stolen glances, the walks through the city, the soft touches and easy banter. It just felt so good, so right.

Yes. Life was good.

[tender-rosiey]

pay — itoshi sae x gn!reader

a/n: just exploring the blue lock characters; hope you guys like it <33

sae loves shopping with you.

he especially loves when you guys go into clothing stores and you give him a little fashion show. it makes his stoic heart smile as he watches you enjoy trying on all of the outfits.

the only problem with him is that he is of no help in the slightest in these situations.

you see, sae is in love with every single part of you, even if he doesn’t show it off. however, that same love renders him useless when you ask him for his opinion about what to get or what to wear.

“sooo,” you start off with a smile.

“yeah?”

you grin, holding up the two outfits you just tried on, “which one do I get?”

he looks at both of them for a moment and decides, “get both.”

“I can’t!” you pout and he raises an eyebrow.

“why?”

“I just need one, love,” you pout and he rolls his eyes before getting up.

“just get both; the money I have is solely to spoil you, silly.”

you watch him take the outfits from you and place them in the cart. sighing, you wrap your arms around his neck, “that’s not good business, pretty boy.”

his own hands find their place on your waist, “I don’t really care, plus it makes you happy which is enough.”

“people are going to start thinking you’re my sugar daddy or something,” you laugh lightly and a really faint smirk appears on his face.

“don’t consider it!” you yell, smacking his shoulder lightly.

his face is stoic once again like he didn’t even do anything. what a sneaky boy.

he rests his forehead on yours, “you’re the one with the dirty mind; I didn’t even think about it that way.”

ignoring him, you look to the side and catch a few people looking at you both, “sae, I don’t think your manager will like us displaying affection like this.”

he presses a kiss to your forehead that catches you by surprise, “my manager’s lonely and isolated life has nothing to do with us.”

he pulls back and takes your hand into his. you make it to the cashier and sae pays. that is, after he confiscated your purse so you don’t pull a move and pay instead.

“anywhere else you wanna go?” he says while carrying the bags and you shake your head no.

“let’s go home; I am beat!”

“didn’t you say that there was this necklace that you really liked when we first entered?”

you blink, “well yeah, but we don’t have to get it. plus, I already have a similar one!”

sae furrows his eyebrows and looks at you, “but you said you liked it.”

“I know I did! but we don’t have to get it just cause I like it!” you continue, “like, if I like the house over there, that doesn’t mean I need to buy it.”

“I can buy it for you.”

“sae, you’re missing the whole point!” you huff and you don’t know whether to be frustrated or to kiss his stupid face because of how keen he is on making you happy.

he takes a deep breath then looks at you for a moment before he finally decides what to do next, “jewelry shopping it is then.”

“saeeeeee!”

sae watches you pout and drag your feet. he can’t help but roll his eyes fondly.

he really does love shopping with you.

“sae, I wanna go to the toilet.”

except when you do that.

taglist: @magenta-cat-drawingss @pompompurin1028 @scul-pted @dazaisdeathwish @requiem626k @nameless-shrimp @shinys-bsd-world-1 @sonder-paradise @ravenina14 @jessbeinme15s-notebook @todorokichills @ginneko @missrown @shrynkk @simplyxsinned @beautiful-is-boring @starlostlaiba @izukus-gf @irethepotato @thekaylahub @luciferspen @aeanya @sweetcloudsimp @moon-catto @the-midnightskies

copyright © tender-rosiey

do not copy or plagiarize or i will turn your little sight-seeing trip traumatic

[mochinomnoms]

Lmao poor yuu being the mate of the twins you just woke up crazy stuff happened last night, and you are greeted by the twins in "Lets be productive with this" mode so even if you have the most confused look on your face the twins keep talking about wedding plans and please you just woke up too much information to analyze and come up with an answer to, they are so focused on "What are we going to do with the family introduction" that they forgot that you aren't someone that was raised with mer customs or traditions and maybe they should explain what is happening to you.. Maybe after breakfast you are still a bit cranky

-Vaquita (hkKkaksksmsuiaksbs domestic tweels hehe *blushes like a whore*)

dis u:

The twins are so strange to you sometimes. You like them a lot (like a lot, what's wrong with you), don't get it twisted, but they are weird. How you managed to make it out of their room and into Azul's office is a question within itself. Azul is looking up at you from his desk, fixing up a contact of some sort, with an unsurprised look on his face.

“Oh good, I take it the twins are also finally awake? Can you bring them over so we can discuss—”

“Azul, they're acting strange.”

The octomer blinked at you, raising a brow as if your statement as obvious.

“Okay?”

“Stranger than usual!” You opened the door behind you, peeking out before slamming it shut and covering it with your body.

“They woke me up with things about meeting their parents, about if they want to live on the surface or give me a transformation potion, and Floyd kept talking about wanting to be in charge of the wedding reception. What wedding is he talking about!?”

“Oh, they must have forgotten you wouldn't have known. Eelmers mate for life, and based on the sounds the entire dorm heard last night, the twins, err…mated with you.”

Azul cringed at the thought, shaking his head. “I've taken the liberty of writing an engagement contract for you three.”

“Huh?”

“Of course, Jade and Floyd will take a look through it, as well as Mr. Leech, or your new father-in-law, if I may say.”

“Wait a sec—”

“Don't worry, morays have a low divorce rate, but even then I've written you a solid prenuptial agreement in the case that one of them does something you don't like. This way, you'll be set for life if you have to go off on your own.”

“Hey! I didn't—oh actually that's really nice of you Azul, wait no! I didn't agree to any—”

The door slammed open as you removed your body weight to walk up to Azul's desk. You're positive that if they'd really wanted to, they could've mowed you down to open the door. But you're their mate now, so they have to take care of you!

“There's our little shrimp! I turned away to getcha another snack, and you managed to sneak away, come 'ere!”

You yelped as Floyd scooped you up in his arms and gave you a loud, wet smooch on the cheek, loose shirt hanging so that you could see the bite marks you left during the night. Jade was wearing more form fitting pajamas, but you could see in the way he cautiously shifted his back that the scratches you'd left on his back were still stinging.

“See Floyd? I told you they'd be with Azul, who looks like is working on a new contract. Am I safe to assume that's the marriage contract I asked you to work on last week?”

Jade kissed your other cheek and chuckled at Azul's deadpan face, the latter darting between you, Floyd and Jade as the twins cooed at your distress. Azul cleared his throat right as you opened your mouth to start cussing them out for acting weird(er).

“It's an engagement contact, actually, which now I'm glad I switched to, because I do believe your little mate there isn't aware of the commitment you've both bound them into. Maybe you three should go back to one of your rooms to discuss before they turn you down and leave you lonely and single forever.”

The twins blinked owlishly at you, then at Azul, and then back at you. You gave them an unamused glare. The two shared a look of worry before rushing back to their bedroom to explain and convince you why being their mate was a good idea (and to please accept them, they only want you).

(It took them nearly three hours of explaining and convincing you to accept the proposal for their anxiety to go down. To be honest, it only took them the first 5 minutes of explaining to make you want to stay as their mate, but you needed some petty revenge for the confusion they caused.)

[harzilla]

*slaps hand on table*

Tell me about your Yuusona. Your twst protag. I love seeing people's ideas and concepts. Are they just you? That's awesome! Are they twisted from a Disney character? Sweet! Are they your way to work through your trauma? More power to you!

One of my favorites is @ilmacore 's Maria. Blessed adorable abuelita Yuu.

I have four currently rolling around in my head. Each one is based on a type of genre.

The first is chubby!Yuu, the shoujo/magical girl type. My darling lil chubby gal who is another member of the sunshine team. The best damn support these boys will have. Her nickname from Floyd would be capybara(I originally had it as manatee but capybara fits her more because she's genuinely nice and tries to get along with everybody). I see her wearing a lot of cottage core, florals, etc... soft feminine clothing. Her ending would have her finding a way back home but being able to travel back and forth between Twst and her home world. You can guess which boy(or boys) might have a crush on her based on these pics.

The next one I call punk!Yuu. The one who fits the shonen archetype. Had a shitty life growing up and was a homeless teen. They ended up in Twst after dying from being hit by a car. Most likely to throw hands for pissing them off. Floyd calls them pistol shrimp. Climbed on and smashed the head of an overblot. Threw Jade at Floyd during book 2's investigation. Protective of those they care about. Lots of piercing and punk style clothing. My favorite ship with them is actually Riddle. Very opposites attract situation. But they have a lot in common(Yuu's father was a worse version of Riddle's mother) Yuu teaches Riddle to live life more freely, and Riddle teaches them to be less rebellious. This Yuu stays in Twst when they find out the truth of how they got there because they're genuinely happier then they ever were back home.

The third Yuu is adopted!Yuu. The one from my previous musings. A Yuu that fits the reincarnated! Archetype. This Yuu originally died in the bad ending timeline where Yuu overblots and becomes a calamity class monster who destroys the world. They were given a second chance at life when they finally died in the first timeline. They reincarnated as an infant and was adopted by Crowley. This Yuu is fairly mellow, when asked why they did something the answer is just they felt like it, but is also good at pulling at Crowley's strings to get what they want. They have a preference for loose, casual clothing. Preferring to wear things like oversized t-shirts and hoodies. Their ending is they almost repeat the calamity when their past life memories begin to overtake their current life after all the overblots including Grim's. But the difference is the previous life Yuu has nobody, but this Yuu has their friends, Grim, and Crowley to save them.

The fourth Yuu I call Author!Yuu. They're pretty much a Yuu who gained so much magical power they became the equivalent of a god. Because they were the first anomaly, they don't age at all and have lived thousands of years accumulating magic and knowledge, even out living Malleus. Their life is lonely and they actually don't want to see another person end up like them. Their magic allows them to manipulate the timelines within a certain limitation. They can't rewrite timelines completely, but they figure out a loophole by finding the alternate versions of themselves they think will give the best outcome for the "story" of the world. This Yuu is the one who figured out the precognitive dreams system to help each Yuu out. This version of Yuu exists in a world where ALL the stories of Twst are true. Fanfics, fanart, game, manga, novel, etc... every story is its own world and this Yuu records every one of them within their great library. Every book in the library of their soul is a story somebody has written about the world of Twst.

So, tell me more about your Yuus.

[letterex-fyofm]

hq first years playing basketball hc

Because after that one haikyuu CD drama of class 3 vs class 4, my head has been swarming with ideas and scenarios and I couldn't let another year pass without writing them down.

btw, this is as if they were in P.E class and playing a silly basketball match.

Kageyama

would absolutely try to set the ball into the hoop. He would like, win five points straight by setting until the other team started complaining about how that was illegal

he would still pass the ball as if doing a horizontal set though.

gets a bit thrown off because his opponents are LAUNCHING at him instead of standing two good meters away from him behind the safety of a net

again with passing, he just would be so analytical about who to pass? and his teammates would be like "JUST PASS THE BALL" but it is so difficult for him to focus when the ball is repeatedly trying to get taken away from him that he just passes it to whoever is next

one time, that person was tsukishima (other team) and kageyama almost died of frustration

he is the type to be setting the basketball while in breaks. he will later try to set a volleyball and ricochet it straight up to the ceiling and be surprised at how light it is

Hinata

he's so damn fast. like, he will be on the other side of the court in the blink of an eye.

walks a lot, though. he's teammates both hate him and love him.

soooo good at taking the ball from others. until tsukki calls him a bug that has to crawl to play (kageyama thought it was very funny)

after that, he starts competing with kageyama (who is on his same team) on who can score the most points (kageyama wins and hinata insists his first five points by setting do not count)

when he is on the bench, he will cheer for his team so loudly and have the time of his life.

volunteers to be the one jumping for the ball at the start of each...set? idk the name 😭😭😭. his team doesn't let him, tho.

once, he receives a pass. it hurt him like hell but he said "it was all calculated".

once, he spiked the ball, and it hurt him like hell yet he said "it was all on purpose!" with tears on his eyes.

Tsukki

he's having the time on his life watching hinata and kageyama embarrass themselves over and over again

is forced to do the jumping...and that's like his only contribution to the game.

tries to chat away the time of the game with Yamaguchi, but Yamaguchi gets surprisingly into it so tsukki is kinda standing on a corner like 🧍‍♂️

whenever hinata has the ball, he blocks it and is so annoyingly happy about it. ("try to score, shrimp, let's watch you try it" "TSUKISHIMA, YOU JEKR!")

HE'S JUST SO ANNOYING WITH HIS BLOCKING--like, putting his arms like that

he stops in mortification when yamaguchi says "looks like kageyama and hinata aren't the only ones missing volleyball--wait Tsukki I didn't mean it" (he will never forget nor forgive Yamaguchi for that)

after that, he's pretty useless (doesn't want to run, doesn't want to jump, passes the ball to whoever is closer to him, doesn't try to take it away from anyone) so he gets benched

he has a nice view from the bench though, so it isn't that bad. and with nice view i refer to him watching as Yamaguchi thrives and getting a full-on gay crisis (me too, tsukki, me too)

his peace is ruined after hinata is benched too (because, well, all students need to play and it is just a silly P.E match) he feels less lonely but he will never admit that

Tadashii

he's surprisingly good at the sport because he played it with his cousins before. he is getting way too into it.

he mimics tsukki's blocking in basketball after learning it was legal and indeed a common play.

was so crushed when tsukki got benched ("now I'm going to be all alone" "you didn't even talk to me while I was there" "THAT'S NOT THE POINT")

jokingly told tsukki (mouthed the words) "this ones for you" expecting to absolutely fail. he shockingly managed to score when he was way too far from the hoop. he blushed and died and everything and tsukki just pretended to be cool.

the type to apologize everytime he bumps into someone or does something he things might have hurt anyone.

before tsukki gets benched, he passed the ball to him and tsukki didn't notice it so he got the ball smashed on his stomach. tsukki might have recovered but Yamaguchi will never (very guilty and insisted to take him to the infirmary)

after P.E finished, he would joke and said "it seems that my destiny was basket and not volleyball after all." hinata was not amused. yachi was seriously worried that yamaguchi would leave and gave him a whole stuttered speech. yamaguchi had to assure her like ten times that he would, in fact, not leave the club.

the basketball captain tries to recruit him though. it only makes his rivalry with daichi grow.

Yeah, this whole thing could have been written in fic format, but I was too lazy and too tired and maybe I will someday, but who knows!

[wistfulcynic]

just finished a full rewatch of OFMD season one, which i'd not done for a while, and am now deep in the shrimp emotions. Why is this show so good.

specifically i'm thinking about the beginning of 1x07 when Ed says he's thinking about leaving. On to the next adventure, etc. He says it so casually, like it's no thing at all, and it makes me wonder how that scenario might have played out.

There was a meta i read shortly after the season aired (sorry, can't remember who wrote it) which said basically the plan to leave is Ed's way of protecting himself. By that point Ed knows he's falling for Stede, they've had their almost-kiss in the moonlight, their tender bathtub moment. Ed knows, even if it's only subconsciously, that if he stays he'll just fall deeper and harder and that will leave him vulnerable in a way he's not quite ready for.

so i wonder what would've happened if he had left then. Not with Calico Jack in all the heat of fraught emotions but on his own terms before his feelings for Stede grew beyond his ability to control them. i wonder how he'd have coped with losing Stede then.

because at that point, he's got no real reason to think his feelings are reciprocated. Stede clearly likes him, says flat out that he's Ed's friend, but nothing he's said or done would lead Ed to believe it's anything more than that. And Ed, as we know, is convinced he's unlovable so of course in his mind Stede could never love him.

which means that if he'd left then he wouldn't actually have lost anything. Stede and the Revenge could be kept as a lovely memory of a brief good time in his life. He might pine a bit, maybe give himself the luxury now and then to think about what if, but i don't believe it would ever reach the point of painting cake toppers or even crying in a dressing gown. i think, honestly, that had he left then Ed would've been okay, or at least not significantly worse than he was before. Still bored, still wanting to get out of piracy, still feeling sad and lonely and unloved but at least he'd have the memory of his friend.

what eventually renders that scenario impossible--what makes him leaving on his own plausible while he could never truly have left with Calico Jack ("never left")--is that by the end of episode 7 Ed has started to have hope. He's started to think that maybe his feelings aren't one-sided. Maybe he can actually have Stede. Maybe he can actually be happy.

i've often thought (as ofc have others) that it wasn't the loss of Stede as such that brought on the kraken era. If OFMD had ended with a successful talent show and Ed and the crew deciding to be a sailing theatre troupe instead of pirates, even without Stede, Ed would've been okay. Broken hearts mend. What tipped Ed over the edge was the loss of his hope, and the better life he thought he'd found a way to have.

not quite sure where i'm going with this if i'm going anywhere, just... it's an interesting contrast and imo a quiet turning point that neatly underlines just how important this is happening really was.

[shhh-secret-time]

Star Park AU: Kyle Broflovski Edition

-> Moved back to the Valley after graduating and getting his doctorate. (He's essentially where Harvey is in game.)

-> Couldn't find work out i the city so he moved back to the Valley

-> His parents stayed in the city but they allowed Ike to move back with Kyle as long as he agreed to take good care of him.

-> He has files on everyone's medical history and they're organized based on who's the easiest patient to deal with to who he has to literally drag in to his office. It goes: Karen, Wendy and Nichole, Kenny, Craig, Heidi, Tolkien and Scott, Butters, Ike and Jimmy, Tweek, Sharon, Shelly, Bebe, Stan, Clyde, All of the Goths, Randy, and finally Cartman.

-> He makes monthly walks to the Wizard tower to check on the Goths. They've told him before they don't need it because they have magic but he doesn't believe them.

-> Kyle and Wendy work hard to make things easier for Jimmy around town. The mayor fights them over the funding. Wendy has to practically drag Kyle away from fighting the mayor.

-> He's the only person that Scott trusts with his meds, always making sure to pick his medication up.

-> When he's not working he checks in with Heidi over Ike's education, sometimes he sits in and helps out when he can.

Gift Guide:

Loves: Fire Opal, Pomegrantes, Poppy, Starfruit Wine, Artichoke Dip Likes: All Books, Emerald, Coffee, Magma Cap, Tea leaves Neutral: All Fish (Except Shrimp), Beer, All Eggs Dislikes: Radioactive Ore/Bar, Fertilizer, Escargot, Mudstone Hates: Bananas, Banana Pudding, Shrimp, Bug Meat, Roe (Any)

Loved: "A..Are you serious?! Thank you so much!" Liked: "You thought of me? That's very kind, thank you." Neutral: "Thank...you? It's the thought that counts." Dislikes: "Ugh. I don't want your trash." Hates: "Really? What went through your head when giving me this? God...."

Heart Event @ 2:

Kyle is outside with his brother, one of the rare times he's free from working. He's sitting on the bench at the park reading through his medical files. Ike is playing by himself looking a little lonely. Farmer walks up and sees him sadly rocking on the spring rider. Ike tells the Farmer that he misses playing with his brother, it just seems like he never has time for him anymore. Farmer thinks for a moment before walking over to Kyle, who only notices them when they sit down. He greets them with a smile, quickly going back to his reading. >> Do you ever take a break? How can you be on your laptop right now? It's so nice out! (-) >> Ike looks a little sad, doesn't he? (+) If First Option: Kyle gets slightly annoyed, Farmer should know better than anyone here that he can't just stop working. He notes rather dryly he would have thought he'd be free of their lecturing, seeing as he gets enough of it from Stan.

"I appreciate your concern really, but I'm this towns only doctor last time I checked. I happen to like reading outside."

If Second Option: Kyle looks up from his laptop with concern on his face. He frowns when he realizes that he's been ignoring his brother, and how Ike is rocking back and forth with no care. Turning to the Farmer, he expresses gratitude for bringing it to his attention. He feels back for not seeing it himself, he was just hoping to catch up a little on work before he went home. He closes his laptop, putting it to the side, and stands up. Farmer jumps up with them and offers to play with him and his brother!

"Then I hope you're ready for the longest game of hide-n-seek of your life. You didn't have anything planned for the rest of the day right?"

Heart Event @ 4:

Kyle visits the Farmer early in the morning, greeting them while they're walking to the shipping bin. He apologizes for showing up unannounced. He would have called but he didn't think the Farmer would be able to hear the phone from the fields. Farmer doesn't seem to mind which makes him feel better, physically relaxing. Looking past them, he compliments their hard work on turning the fields into an actual farm. Afterwards he goes on to tell them that their crops have made things better even if they don't realize it. Tells them that the fresh food is better for the townsfolk than Jojo's food. >> I don't actually do that much farming. I'm more into fishing or mining. (/) >> Thanks Kyle! It's nice to get a little appreciation! (/) >> I didn't think of it that way...you really think of everything huh? (/) If First Option: Kyle goes quiet, the longer the silence the more his face turns red. Embarrassment dusting his cheeks. Under his breath he says something about the farm at least looking clean.

"At least your farm looks cleaner then Mr. Marsh's. Smells better too."

If Second Option: Kyle chuckles and tells them there's no reason to thank them! He's in the same boat sometimes and that even now he's here's to do his job. He wonders if anyone else has been out this way yet?

"I just realized you haven't had a checkup with me yet. Swing by the clinic okay? I don't want you to get sick."

If Third Option: Farmer turns the table on them, Kyle gets flustered over the small praise. At least he takes it as praise. He scoffs, telling them to stop being so humble. Being a Farmer is hard work and they should realize the good they do.

"Please. Not just anyone can get Cartman to eat a vegetable. You're good at what you do!"

Heart Event @ 5:

Next time Farmer walks into the clinic they walk back into Kyle's office. He's surprised to actually see them, telling them that he is pleased that he didn't have to drag them in. When Farmer looks at him confused, Kyle tells them that sometimes he has to go and "collect" some of the townsfolk for their appointments. So, it's nice that there's someone else so willing to come in. After a moment he gets a little embarrassed that he started rambling again. Farmer is just easy to talk to, they listen. Before they can comment on the blush on his face, he gets down to business. Kyle opens his laptop and looks up at them, he begins to ask Farmer about themselves, wanting an insight on their medical history.

"Sorry, you didn't come here to listen to me complain. It's just easy to talk to you. A-anyway, before I keep making an ass of myself, lets get started on filling out your medical history!"

Heart Event @ 6:

Farmer is walking from town to the mountains, they can hear faint shouting. Walking closer, they see Kyle and Ike standing next to the mountain lake away from Kenny's house. Ike is sitting on the wooden bridge with his face in his hands, looking more and more upset. When Farmer gets close enough to hear what they're saying clearly, they overhear what the argument is about. Kyle is upset that Ike's grades are slipping, telling him that he needs to put in a little more effort in school. Apparently, he's been blowing off his homework and Heidi is having a hard time getting him to pay attention in class. Ike complains that all Kyle ever talks to him about is how he's doing in school and his stupid job, that he doesn't care to ask Ike about anything else. He asks him when was the last time they did anything fun that didn't require the Farmer having to all but pull him away from work. Ike cuts Kyle off before he can rebuttal. Shouting something about how he's acting just like their mother and he's supposed to be his brother, not his parent! Kyle gets upset and snaps back at him, telling him that he won't apologize for caring about Ike's well being and he wouldn't have to act like their mother if Ike just grew up a little. This makes Ike tear up, he stands up and shouts that he should just go back to the city then. Kyle stands there watching his brother storm off, leaving him alone next to the lake, he looks destroyed. Farmer walks out from where they were hiding, and when Kyle doesn't get upset that Farmer was listening in they know he's really torn up. It takes him some time but he eventually address them, telling them that he never meant to fill the role of a parent. He knows he's hard on Ike, he just wants to see his little brother grow into the best version of himself. The Valley is good to him, better then the city was. He knows it's good for Ike too.

"Am I being that overbearing? I mean...I'm in charge of him. I promised Ma that I'd look after him! I'm not asking for much right? Just for him to apply himself more!"

>> Maybe you're not as right as you think you are. (-) >> Does he know that? Have you told him how you feel? (+) >> I don't think you're really listening to your brother. (+) >> Lighten up Kyle, he's just throwing a tantrum. He'll get over it. (-) If First Option: Kyle looks up with a flash of anger in his eyes, he can't believe what he's hearing. How could Farmer say something like that? He thought they were friends! As Kyle storms off he glares at them.

"Jesus Christ, if you talk to your friends like this then I'd hate to hear how you talk to people you hate!"

If Second Option: Kyle thinks on both Farmer and Ike's words. Like he's replaying the whole thing in his head again. When was the last time he talked to Ike about how he feels? About anything that wasn't him being a hard ass.

"No...I guess I haven't. Ugh I'm an asshole, he deserves to be a kid. I really do sound like our mom. Thanks for listening again Farmer."

If Third Option: Kyle's brows furrow, he wants to be upset but Farmer's right. He makes his frustration known and somehow in the same breath is grateful that Farmer said it. He tells Farmer that this isn't the first time their stubborn attitudes have clashed. Something they both get from their Mother.

"I think if you were anyone else I would be furious but...you're right. It does make me feel a little better to know I'm not the only one who's stubborn. I'll apologize to him in the morning. Goodnight and thank you Farmer."

If Fourth Option: Kyle snaps as that comment strikes a nerve. He goes to yell again but he just stops, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. When he opens his eyes he looks past them and wishes them a good night. Leaving them alone because just the thought of responding to that is exhausting.

Heart Event @ 8:

It's late, later than Farmer realized. As they go to leave the mines, a group of Shadow beasts corner them. It cuts to them limping out of the mines. Beaten down and exhausted, they collapse against the side of the mountain. The last thing they see is Kyle running over to them and the dim light of a flashlight. When they wake up again, they're laying in one of the beds of Kyle's clinic. Their wounds are bandaged and cleaned. Looking over in a daze, Kyle's eyes meet theirs and there's a look of relief. He closes the first aid kid sitting next to them, picks up the medical tools and puts them away. Farmer can hear him breathing deeply, like this is the first time he's able to. Eventually he breaks the silence, speaking as softly as he can. He scolds them for being reckless, and that they're lucky that Ned was nearby to hear that fight. Kyle stops in the middle of his lecture, catching himself doing it again. Lectures are the last thing Farmer needs right now, they need sleep. Farmer just smiles and shakes their head at him and it almost makes Kyle laugh. He can't believe the energy they have, how they're even awake right now. He promises to keep them company, that he'll be right here for them when they wake up. Time passes again as Farmer drifts back to sleep, when they wake up again they see Kyle asleep in the chair next to them.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?! Seeing you bleeding out in the dirt like that! I know you can be more responsible then that, what were you-.... no I'm doing it again. I'm sorry. Look just get some sleep, you need to rest." - "What? I'm not going anywhere, someone has to look over you and make sure you actually get rest. I swear I'll turn my back and you'll try and get out of that bed."

When given the bouquet:

"!! Y-You're not fucking with me right? This isn't just some cruel prank? ...Then of course I will- be your partner that is!"

Heart Event @ 10:

Farmer walks outside of their house to Kyle sitting on their porch. A picnic basket sitting next to him, a bottle of wine sticking out of the basket, and a red-checkered blanket tucked neatly inside. When he hears the doo open he perks up and stands up quickly. With a grin on his face, he greets them with an energetic good morning. He holds up the basket telling them that he wants to take them out. The day is beautiful and he intends to spend as much of it with them. Farmer agrees, leaving the farm going south past Tegridy Farms. Kyle takes them near the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The two sit there enjoying the picnic that Kyle's put together. When he sees how happy Farmer is with the food, he goes on to tell them that he learned how to cook from his Mother. The conversation leads him to ramble about how he was the only one who could cook in the friend group for a while. That Stan used to beg him to make dinner so he didn't have to eat with his family. Farmer continues to just look happy with everything. Good food and getting to listen to him talk about his best friend, watching as he lights up! Then they feel a rain drop hit their forehead. Looking up, the two se as the sky starts to darken and rain clouds begin to roll in. Immediately Kyle throws his jacket over the Farmer and urgently moves them towards the trees. As the rain starts to come down harder, Kyle looks so disappointed. Farmer takes their hand giving it a little squeeze, breaking down that wall of anxiety. He lets out a sigh, expressing his frustration. He tells them that he wanted today to be perfect, now it's ruined because of the rain. Farmer laughs and pulls them down, planting a kiss on their cheek. Kyle's face turns red from the sweet action. He goes to kiss them back, to return the kiss, but as he does water drops down from the top of the trees. They're both soaked now, water clinging to their clothes. Kyle looks down and just laughs. He wraps an arm around them and pulls them in for a kiss. Pulling away, he brushes his fingers across their face and whispers.

"You always find a way to make things better. I don't feel like I have to be perfect all the time, that it's okay to mess up because I know you'll still love me. My worries just seem to melt away. I love you so much."

Heart Event @ 14:

Ever since Kyle moved in he's slowed down, taking better care of himself. No longer piling too much on his plate, so it surprises the Farmer to se him falling back into old habits. Kyle is pacing around the house in a huff. Ike tells the Farmer that their parents called and that they're making a surprise visit soon. Kyle stops his frantic cleaning for just a moment to stress how much he hates this. He's worried that they're going to be mad because he didn't invite them to the wedding, even when they already reassured him that they're not. Farmer questions why they're coming, which Kyle just sighs and tells them that they want to meet his partner. Farmer reassures Kyle that everything will be fine, that they can't wait to meet his parents. He just grumbles and tells them to hold off on that excitement. Once again Farmer calms the man down, Kyle takes a deep breath and watches his beloved partner get to work. Between the two of them and Ike, they're able to get everything together. Just as dinner is finished, Kyle's parents arrive. Kyle introduces the Farmer to his parents who immediately start gushing over them. The dinner table is set and soon the entire family is sitting around the, making small talk. Sheila starts asking Farmer a list of questions, trying to get to know them. Why did they become a Farmer? What drew them to the Valley? >> Honestly? I needed to start over. Grandpa gave me a second chance and I guess I just fell in love with this little town. >> The city life was too loud. I needed something quiet and easy. >> The Valley needed help! I couldn't just ignore it! If First Option: Sheila smiles and puts her hand on her chest. She tells the Farmer that it's incredibly sweet of their grandfather to look after them. She thinks it's great that they love the town that Kyle grew up in! If Second Option: Sheila doesn't agree that the city is that bad, but she goes on to tell the Farmer she grew up a city girl. She does agree that city life can sweep you away if you're not careful, she's glad the Farmer taught Kyle to slow down. If Third Option: Sheila isn't quite sure she understands what Farmer is trying to get at, but if it's what drives them then who is she to argue? She's just happy that Ike's grades have improved and that Kyle is happy. Either way dinner is lively, once they're finished they thank the Farmer for everything. For taking care of their sons and welcoming them into their lovely home. Sheila admits that she was skeptical at first but after seeing how Kyle looks at the Farmer, she's wholeheartedly approves of their marriage. They leave with a quick hug, letting Kyle know that they'll be staying at the tavern for a few days before going home. As they make the trip back to town, Kyle wraps his arm around the Farmer and smiles softly.

"They really like you, not that I had any doubts they wouldn't. You're amazing. I always knew you were, ever since you moved to this town. I'm just glad they love you almost as much as I do."

Random Marriage Quotes!!

"Good morning my love. Yeah... that still feels weird to say but...I kind of like it. Waking up next to you is everything." "Please make sure you're being careful when you go out. I'm not going to stop you, just come home to me. Please." "Look I love you, but please if you have to go to the mines...shower before you come to bed. Shower with you? That-...isn't a bad idea." "Read up on how to take care of crops on my lunch break! I hope you don't mind that I already watered the plants for you!" "Ike really likes all the animals, he actually woke up before to feed them all!" "Do...do you think my hair is stupid? Cartman said something about it today and I know I shouldn't put merit in what he says but...You like my hair? And my nose? But I didn't- God you're too good to me." "I always had this fear of getting married, I was afraid that I'd end up like my parents. They're not bad just...never mind. Just thank you for being my partner." "Hey, take this medicine with you. If you get into trouble it will help. I don't care if it tastes bad! I don't want to find you passed out again!" "I'm taking Ike over to Kenny's today, he wants to hang out with Karen. Feel free to swing by when you're done doing what you need to do! The guys would love to see you." "You know I love you right? And I'll tell you it as many times as you need. You make it so easy to love you that I'm worried I'm not enough."

Tag List: @hunnysnoops

[averycutesalamander]

https://x.com/ziranotzireael/status/1807083208007135503

(Cyborg shark merman Boothill)

IMAGINE, siren Boothill who wants to kill off pirates and etc who stole from innocent people, and meets y/n on the S.S.Astral Express, and falls real hard

—

Alternatively, ruffian cowboy Boots kidnaps Royal y/n to go party on the town.

(here's the link if you're on mobile)

oml that art is SO CUUUUUUUTE !!!!! and it's so funny you mention that because i do actually have a mer au cooking hahaha. here's the summary (haven't put it up on the WIP list because it's already pretty dense up there lol)

You are a mer that lives a rather simple, lonely life at the edge of the reef, farming a variety of algae with your mysid shrimp. Your peace is disturbed when deep sea mer rise from the depths to claim the bounty of the reef for themselves, killing everyone that gets in their way – and the situation only grows more complicated when you find a dying shark mer near your farm.  So much for simplicity. 

he won't be mechanical in this au (kinda tragic but i think it makes more sense with the setup/backstory im giving him) BUT i do imagine him as a thresher shark. they whip prey with their tails to stun them !! and i imagine that if he put spurs on his tail like piercings then he could do some REAL damage with that shit. also, bonus:

THEY'RE FUCKING IRIDESCENT. it's not very visible unless the lighting conditions are just right but i still think it's awesome. also if you're curious about the "mysid shrimp" bit in the summary, tl;dr there is a species of damselfish that "farm" them in the wild!! they protect them from other predators and the shrimp fertilize the algae that the damselfish eat. very cool. milf (man i love fish)

anyway yeah im planning for that fic to be released for mermay (it'll be multichapter) but who knows. my mind is an enigma or whatever.

[sysmedsaresexist]

Are shrimp hard to care for?

Yes and no 😭

FRESHWATER TANKS

Once you understand fish keeping, shrimp are super easy and fun, but goddamn, fish keeping is hard

There's so much more science involved than you think-- shrimp won't survive in an uncycled tank, and cycling can take up to 3 months

Ammonia is deadly to fish and shrimp (moreso shrimp, shrimp are just way more sensitive)

Ammonia gets converted by bacteria that you have to cultivate into nitrates and nitrites

Nitrites are more dangerous than nitrates, equally dangerous as ammonia, and eventually, the bacteria you cultivated will work to convert nitrites to nitrates

Nitrates (from the ammonia and nitrites) are removed through water changes. In high levels, they're deadly.

Until the bacteria is FULLY covering your tank and working to convert nitrites and ammonia effectively (these levels will always be zero in a cycled tank), you... technically shouldn't have anything in the tank

Only certain fish can handle minimal levels of both nitrites and nitrates-- gold fish, bettas, the type kids pick up before they know anything about how to care for fish. They're a bit hardier and can (usually) survive in uncycled water until the cycle establishes itself, without you even realizing what's happening at a microscopic level

The fish won't be happy, though, this water sucks for them ): it's very stressful and they tend to get sick

You can cycle an empty tank and then add your fish, but it takes a long time. You can speed up cycling by getting used filters and tank stuff from friends (must be recent, can't have dried out, if it has, the bacteria is dead). These items are covered and filled with the bacteria you want. The stuff in jars meant to speed it up only work if they're VERY, VERY, VERY new. Like produced within the last month. Don't waste your money otherwise.

Once it's cycled, you can add hardier shrimp, like amano or cherry shrimp

Some types of shrimp are more sensitive to OTHER water parameters-- ph, hardness, carbonation, and those are harder to keep, but it's extremely rewarding if you can get there, but believe me, amano are amazing

Happy fish will make you feel like you're on top of the world. They have such incredible personalities and will interact with you. They have best friends (always check a group size for the type of fish, many get lonely) and play with each other. They're silly and you have to laugh at their antics.

These shrimp are the light of my life

But fish keeping is an involved process that costs a LOT of money

Freshwater is like... beginner, then you get into saltwater, and I'm not there, I'll probably never be there

[boomtastics]

Is this a challenge!? Pt. 2!

Character(s) | Octavianelle

Type |drabble

Oh? Did someone leave their stuffed animal? Of course he'll take care of it!

Azul Ashengrotto

Ohoho! Someone left their stuffed shark I see? Well, you ARE his darling partner so of course he'll take care of it!

It's been two days since your departure, Truly he has never seen himself longing for your touch as much as he is right now.

A letter soon lands on his nightstand, being from Jade or magically appearing there, He doesn't know or remember.

reaching his hand out he grabbed the letter lazily.

"Hey, Azul! I'm so sorry for not sending a letter earlier but I had to fight for my life again, which was pretty time-consuming! whatever getting straight to the point, I left my dear child Edward the shark and Floyd has been trying to take him, and Im NOT about to let him steal my darling son.

so please as soon as you have the chance take him and care for him, Please?"

Oh? So you want Azul to act like a darling father? Well when you get back, (hopefully alive) let's show the world our amazing family!

Jade leech

Ah, your stuffed animal? Well, since he is your significant other. The responsibility to take care of your things when you're not around must fall on him, no?

Locking up the Mostro Lounge, His day will truely end when he makes sure your safe in your bed or in his.

A lone stuffed lion is on your bed as lightning crackles in the background. How...charming? Did you plan this out?

A yellow sticky note is on the side of the door. "Ruggie, I will kick your ass all the way out of the stratosphere if you don't leave Lin alone."

Looks like instead of protecting you, he's protecting a stuffed animal.

Floyd Leech

Ahh? Does shrimpy have a stuffed animal? How cuteee!

Hahaha! Where is shrimpy hiding now!? Oh oh oh! He knows! You must be at your dorm!!

Eh? What is this weird shrimp thing? Did something happen in Alchemy class? OH NOO!!! DID THOSE TWO PUNKS HURT YOU!?

A little ping is faintly heard as his phone lighter up. Scrambling for his phone, a message pops up

"In town with my friends make sure you or grim don't die"

Awwwh...You didn't invite him?

[kkpwnall]

if it wasn’t for bad luck i wouldn’t have luck at all

part one | rated t | 1270 words | cw: parental death

all my thanks and love to my beloved @fragilecapric0rnn for beta-reading 💜 you're a rockstar and your feedback was so so helpful

Eddie was born under a bad sign. That’s what his momma always used to say. Friday the 13th, and in October? He never really stood a chance and neither did anyone else he got close to. He was like a black cat walking across their path. 

[ keep reading below, or read on ao3 ]

His momma was first, of course. Cursed by the fate of Eddie’s birth from the very beginning. And if he hadn’t dawdled on the way home from school that day, if he had gone straight home just like he’d promised, if he hadn’t stopped to pick a bouquet of ditch weed wildflowers for her and got distracted by caterpillars and rollie-pollies— Well, maybe he would’ve been able to tell the 911 operator she was still breathing when he found her.

His daddy was next, not much long after. Eddie worshiped him like a hero in one of his fantasy stories, the charming, devil-may-care, down on his luck protagonist who stole from the rich and gave to the needy. But the first time Floyd brought him out on a real job, just the two of them, when all Eddie had to do was hot wire the getaway car after he heard the signal (three hoots like a barn owl), Eddie panicked. Did he say barn owl or barred owl? Was that two hoots or three? Why did the wires all look the same in the dark?

When the police cars painted him in their flashing red and blue lights, he dropped the wire cutters and ran. Floyd went down in a hail of bullets behind the car Eddie had been trying to steal, and Wayne got his own life sentence when the State dropped Eddie on his doorstep.

Uncle Wayne got the worst of it, obviously. Working himself to the bone, nights and weekends, to put Eddie through school. Not to mention senior year for a second and third goddamn time.

It was too late by the time young Eddie figured it out. By the time he decided to keep everyone at arm’s length.

It’s safer that way, for everyone.

Chrissy was just the latest in a long line. And he’d only lowered his guard an inch, a millimeter, when he saw someone just as lonely and desperate for a friend. He’d only barely started to let himself have an inkling of what an actual friendship with her might be like when—

This is exactly why Eddie doesn’t have friends. He has minions. He has little lost sheepies, he has twerps and shrimps. And that’s it. That’s enough. It has to be enough.

But all that changes the day he dies.

Or maybe it’s the day he finally wakes up. His new birthday, welcomed to the world once again in a cold, bright, sterile hospital room.

And really, the way he sees it, it’s all Henderson’s fault.

The little shit wanders in every day at visiting hours and makes himself right at home. He props his cast up on Eddie’s bed, and steals the remote to change the channel on the ancient, minuscule tv over to cartoons, and then he just… camps out! All day!

The kid will not leave him alone, no matter how cold a shoulder Eddie tries to give him. He even broke down and explained everything to him. How he’s bad luck, he’s bad news. And people who get too close to him end up dead.

But maybe the painkillers they’ve got him on scrambled his brain as bad as the bats scrambled his guts, because Dustin steamrolls right over him.

“If curses were real, which they aren’t,” he posits in his professor voice, “Your dumb curse can’t try to kill me again. It already took a shot and it missed, and the worst I got was a busted ankle.”

Eddie opens his mouth to tell Dustin that’s not how curses work but—

“And what was its goal anyway? To get you alone and friendless, dead in a ditch? Well then, mission accomplished!”

Which is… weirdly comforting when he puts it like that.

Dustin brings with him a rotating cast of the rest of the fellowship. Eddie finally gets to meet Baby Byers and finds out he’s already been recruited to Hellfire before Eddie can even say hello.

More often than not, Steve tags along too since he’s already ferrying them all between the hospital and home. Usually after he’s spent some time with Red and the other kids in her room, he’ll drop by. To check on Dustin of course.

It’s not because he likes Eddie. Don’t be ridiculous. He doesn’t even know him.

All that… before… it was just some harmless flirting to keep himself from completely losing it while he was on the run from homicidal bible-thumpers. And Steve was just humoring him.

So he hides behind stupid flirtatious remarks, easy to brush off when it’s always undercut with sly winks and salacious expressions. Enough to keep everything surface level. Keep him at arms length.

It doesn’t matter that his eyes still seem to linger on Eddie, even when he hasn’t said anything for a while. Or that he brings Eddie extra pudding cups from the cafeteria. It doesn’t mean anything when he stands in the doorway trying to finish one last story or joke, until the kids almost literally have to drag him out when visiting hours are over.

Because it turns out Steve is an incorrigible gossip. And Eddie’s not about to be the one to corrige him. Not when he brings an extra dr. pepper for Eddie every time he stops by the vending machine for a coke and gleefully tells Eddie which of the doctors, nurses, and shady government agents are sleeping together.

A can of coke he taps on the lid with a peculiar rhythm before he cracks it, every time.

“What’s up with that?” Eddie finally has to ask one day, when it’s just the two of them and the Price is Right.

Steve hums this confused little sound at him, tilting his head with furrowed brows as he takes the first sip.

Eddie repeats the pattern, tapping it out on his own can.

Steve blinks a few times, first at Eddie, then at the can in his hand.

“I didn’t even realize I did that,” he huffs out a laugh. “It’s uh… something my grandpa taught me when I was a kid. Y’know just for luck.”

The blood in Eddie’s veins freezes and he’s stuck like that for a painfully long moment. Propped up against the lumpy hospital pillows with his mouth half open, staring at Steve.

“For luck.” he says flatly.

“Yeah, so the fizz doesn’t explode when you open it.”

“And has that ever happened to you?” Aiming for flirty, aiming for scathing, aiming for anything that’s not desperation.

“Well no,” Steve says with an easy shrug and a conspiratorial smile, “that’s why it’s lucky. It’s like picking up a coin that’s face-down on the sidewalk.”

“Uh, I’m pretty sure it’s face-up, darlin,” Eddie says coyly, like every alarm bell in his head isn’t ringing a deafening cacophony.

“Nah see, you gotta leave those ones for someone who really needs the luck.”

“But then you get the bad luck.”

“Nah, doesn’t work that way,” Steve says, and fucking winks at him.

Eddie wants to shake him. What is wrong with him?��He’s got it all backwards and it’s dangerous. How is he walking around like this?

Whatever, it’s not his problem. Steve can do whatever Steve wants. Eddie doesn’t need to protect him from himself. It’s not like they’re friends. And really, that’s the best way to protect him.

[ part two ]

[ also on ao3 ]

[grungelvrr222]

what i think the dps boys each read at the meetings

okay so the poems i picked i wrote the whole poem so its a longggg post (i worked really hard to find a poem i thought suited each of the poets)

neil: When I read the book by Walt Whitman

When I read the book, the biography famous,

And is this then (said I) what the author calls a man’s life?

And so will some one when I am dead and gone write my life?

(As is if any man really knew aught of my life,

Why even I myself I often think know little or nothing of my real life,

Only a few hints, a few diffused faint clews and indirections

I seek for my own use to trace out here.)

todd: A dream by Edgar Allan Poe

In visions of the dark night

I have dreamed of joy departed—

But a waking dream of life and light

Hath left me broken-hearted.

Ah! what is not a dream by day

To him whose eyes are cast

On things around him with a ray of

Turned back upon the past?

That holy dream— that holy dream,

While all the world were chiding,

Hath cheered me a lovely beam

A lonely spirit guiding.

What thought that light, thro’ storm and night,

So trembled from afar—

What could there be more purely bright

In Truth’s day-star?

pitts: The last word by Matthew Arnold

Creep into they narrow bed,

Creep, and let no more be said!

Vain thy onset! all stands;

Thou thyself must break at last.

Let the long conversation cease!

Geese are swans and swans are geese.

Let them have it how they will!

Thou art tired; best be still!

They put-talk’d thee, hiss’d thee, tore thee.

Better men fared thus before thee;

Fired their ringing shot and pass’d ,

Hotly charged— and broke at last.

Charge once more , then, and be dumb!

Let the victors, when they come,

When the forts of folly fall,

Find thy body by the wall.

knox: An explanation by Walter Learned 

Her lips wear so near     That what—else could I do?  You’ll be angry, I fear, But her lips were so near— Well, I can’t make it clear,      Or explain it to you,  But—her lips were so near       That—what else could I do?  charlie: I am he that aches with love by Walt Whitman 

I am he that aches with amorous love; Does the earth gravitate? does not all matter, aching, attract             all matter? So the body of me to all I meet or know. 

meeks: How pleasant to know Mr.Lear by Edward Lear 

“How pleasant to know Mr.Lear!”      Who has written such volumes of stuff! Some think him ill-tempered and queer,       But a few think him pleasant enough. 

His mind is concrete and fastidious,      His nose is remarkably big; His visage is more or less hideous,      His beard it resembles a wig.

He has ears, and two eyes, and ten fingers,           Leastways if you reckon two thumbs; Long ago he was one of the singers,       But now he is one of the dumbs.

He sits in a beautiful parlor,       With hundreds of books on the wall; He drinks a great deal of Marsala,       But never gets tipsy at all.

He has many friends, lay men and clerical,               Old Foss is the name of his cat; His body is perfectly spherical,    He weareth a runcible hat.

When he walks in waterproof white,      The children run after him so! Calling out, "He's come out in his night-              Gown, that crazy old Englishman, oh!"

He weeps by the side of the ocean,      He weeps on the top of the hill; He purchases pancakes and lotion,      And chocolate shrimps from the mill.

He reads, but he cannot speak, Spanish,     He cannot abide ginger beer: Ere the days of his pilgrimage vanish,      How pleasant to know Mr. Lear! cameron: I used to think by Trumbull Stickney

I used to think The mind essential in the body, even As stood the body essential in the mind: Two inseparable things, by nature equal And similar, and in creation’s song Halving the total scale: it is not so. Unlike and cross like driftwood sticks they come Churned in the giddy trough: a chunk of pine, A slab of rosewood: mangled each on each With knocks and friction, or in deadly pain Sheathing each other’s splinters: till at last Without all stuff or shape they ’re jetted up Where in the bluish moisture rot whate’er Was vomited in horror from the sea.

[officerjennie]

Fluff starter prompt, omg please fkbfjff

“I think I love you.”

Greedy panda noises please 🥺❤️

This fic is dedicated to a sweet boy named Sunny that I desperately wanted to take home with me

-

“I think I love you.”

Jaskier smooshed his face against the glass, dancing his fingers in the air, watching the large cat within the enclosure stretch from its tail to its large paws, claws digging into the blanket it had just been lounging on. 

He frowned, and lifted his head just enough to squint over at the piece of paper taped to the outside of the little kitty room. His tail and his large paws. Nose back to the glass, Jaskier cooed at the apparently two year old cat, his heart full to bursting as he stretched up to gently bap at the glass where Jaskier’s fingers were dancing.

“Oh, you’re just the sweetest, aren’t you? Such a good boy, the best boy.” Said best boy was also the largest cat Jaskier had ever seen, and according to his nice little blurb he liked cuddles.

Big, warm cuddles. He really never stood a chance.

“Jaskier.”

The exasperation in that tone made Jaskier pout, which really worked in his favor when he turned to Geralt. For maximum effect, he jutted his lip out a little more (he considered a quiver but thought it would be too much), and didn’t have to try that hard to get his eyes to mist.

“His name is Sunny.”

“No.”

“He’s been here for so long, Geralt!” A strategic step sideways covered up the little kitty blurb, and he hid the movement with a wild gesture. “Just- just look at him! Look at that face! Can you really say no to that face?”

Geralt didn’t look at Sunny, his arms crossed, the betta pellets they’d come for in his hand. 

“In and out, Jaskier. We don’t need anything-”

“He needs us, though.” 

“-but the fish food. Have you even owned a cat before?”

Deflating, Jaskier heaved a sigh, turning to stare wistfully at the sweet baby who was now batting around a crinkle toy behind him. “No. My father was allergic, and even after the divorce my mother couldn’t stand them. She’d apparently owned quail once and had a vendetta ever since one killed a few of them.”

“An impulse fish is one thing,” Geralt said, though not unkindly. And he was right, technically, even if Jaskier wasn’t a fan of the logic. 

Didn’t mean Jaskier was really ready to give up. Especially when Sunny meowed at him - Jaskier gasped, and cooed at him again, letting the sweet ginger boy chase his fingers. 

“He has such a tiny voice for such a big, big man. Isn’t he so sweet though?”

Geralt was quiet standing next to him, and Jaskier studiously ignored his judgment, complimenting the newest love of his life like he’d never get the chance to ever again. 

In the midst of their bonding, Geralt leaned down to read Sunny’s bio, dryly saying “been here so long” when he saw Sunny had only been there for three days. He was still reading it when a worker came by at a brisk walk, holding a dripping mop and pushing their frazzled bangs out of their face.

“He’s up for greetings if you want,” they said quickly, stopping just long enough to point at another worker who was fishing out some cherry shrimp for a mother and her small child. “She’s got the keys.”

“We can meet him?” Jaskier was certain the worker was an angel, albeit an angel barely hanging on to their sanity, and he quickly turned his big, wet eyes to Geralt again before he could try to talk him out of it. “Just a quick meet and greet. A cuddle or two. A hug? It couldn’t hurt anything, and he’s probably lonely.”

Geralt gave up in record time, sighing with a shake of his head as he went to fetch the worker with the keys. And Jaskier did his best to not be a sore winner and hid his fist pump. 

In a matter of minutes, they were let into the back, in a small room where the kitties could meet their prospective adopters. Sunny was plopped down with little fanfare, and he stretched himself out again, reaching up a nice scratching post on the white cat tree that took up a good portion of the room. 

Determined to make the most of their short time together, Jaskier picked through a toy box until he found a nice feather wand, and he did his best to get Sunny’s attention. But Sunny only watched the feather for a few seconds, batted at it once, and decided the tall man that was ignoring him was far more interesting. 

Geralt didn’t even flinch when Sunny launched himself at him, climbing up his leg like he was the cat tree. Up he went until he was standing on Geralt’s shoulders, and he let out a soft mew, bonking his head against Geralt’s hard enough that Jaskier heard it.

“Must have a hollow head,” Jaskier said solemnly, coming up next to them to pat Sunny’s side gently. “Orange cats share a brain cell, I’ve heard.”

For a split second, Geralt frowned. His hand went up to steady the large cat that had decided to sit on his shoulder, Sunny’s weight shifting as he licked a paw and started to clean his face.

“He’s not dumb,” Geralt said decisively, and if Jaskier hadn’t known any better he would have said fondly.

Or, maybe he didn’t know better. He squinted at Geralt, who was not looking at him - rather pointedly not looking at him.

“No, no. Of course he’s not dumb.” Jaskier stroked Sunny’s soft fur, letting his tail flop with a thud against Geralt’s back. “I’d hate for anyone to think he was.”

When Sunny started to purr, Geralt’s expression softened, and Jaskier had to bite back a devious grin. 

“Can you imagine misunderstanding such a sweet boy?” He sighed dramatically, scritching Sunny’s chin - and Geralt had to hold onto him to make sure the poor thing didn’t fall right off his shoulder. “I hope he gets picked by someone who would love him, and who wouldn’t ever dream of insulting him.”

“I know what you’re doing.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jaskier lied, but one look at Geralt’s face and he gave up with a full body slump. “Fine. But I’m not wrong, we could give him the best home.”

“We don’t have anything for cats at home.” 

Jaskier opened his mouth to respond, but snapped it shut, narrowing his eyes at Geralt - because that had not been his ‘we’re absolutely not doing this’ tone. And Jaskier was ever an optimist when it came to getting what he wanted.

So he leaned into his boyfriend, arm wrapped around his waist, and pet the sweet kitty who was hard at work making biscuits out of Geralt’s shoulder. 

“Pet store,” he said, catching Geralt’s gaze and flicking his eyes towards the door. “And if we’re confused, we could always ask for help picking out what he’d need. Look, Geralt, he loves you - could you really say no to that face?”

Sunny took that moment to bonk Geralt on the head rather hard, and Jaskier saw the moment Geralt gave in. 

“Fine,” he grumbled, but Jaskier was already pumping the air before he got the word out. “You’re cleaning the cat box.”

“A fair trade for taking such a sweet, good boy home.” Jaskier reached up to scratch both of Sunny’s cheeks, and teared up when the kitty started to lick his hand. He’d never fallen in love so fast in his life and couldn’t wait to set their place up for Sunny - it was going to take a chunk out of his savings but it was absolutely worth it.

Especially when he caught a glimpse of the soft smile Geralt was trying to hide. He wasn’t the only one who’d fallen in love, after all.

[thornybubbles]

Yandere JoJo Headcanons: What Makes Them Dangerous (Giorno Giovanna)

There are many, many things that make Giorno a dangerous yandere. From the personality traits he gets from his father to him being the leader of Italy’s mafia, Giorno is set up to be a threat no matter what. Once Giorno has set his heart on making you his, there’s not much you can do. If you run, he’ll track you down and use his criminal ties to prevent you from leaving the country. You might evade him for a while, but you won’t get far. 

Is it a previous relationship that keeps you from him? He’ll take care of that, too. Paying a shady pharmacist off to tamper with your lover’s medication should do the trick. Or he could simply have them disappear. He’s had lots of people that cross him "disappear" in the past. He’s become an expert in that sort of thing over the years. And don’t bother going to the police. He owns them too. 

It’s far easier to just give into his charm and let him lock you away to live in luxury for the rest of your life. It’s not so bad. You have a whole island all to yourself. You won’t be lonely either. Even if Giorno is working, Polnareff is there. Poor man may be stuck as a turtle, but he can still be there to listen to you if you want to talk. Trish and Mista will come by to check on you and hang out if you need that. Though, don’t think that you’ll be able to convince any of them to help you escape. Giorno has told them that it isn’t safe for you anywhere else and they are nothing if not loyal to him. This goes double for any of the guards and staff at the villa that serves as your gilded cage. Not only are they loyal to Giorno, but they have a healthy fear of him as well. They know full well what will happen to them if they help you escape. They aren’t risking it for you, no matter how much you beg, plead, threaten, or bargain.  With yandere Giorno after you, you’re trapped with no chance of returning to your old way of life. But there’s pesto shrimp and wine for supper! Or anything else that you want. Fine dining, jewelry, designer clothing, top notch electronics (heavily monitored and with limited range, of course) are at your fingertips. Just snap your fingers, and Giorno will have the whole world at your feet if you want that. So do you really want to leave?

[manicplank]

My Friend, Bruno (Part 2)

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Flashes of light lit up the sky as gunshots echoed throughout The Pig City. Bruno sat on the floor beside his bed. Most people would be afraid during a shootout, but Bruno had grown numb to it. The city was filled with crime as the amount of criminals out numbered the number of police. He sat with his knees to his chest and his arms crossed over them. He rested his head on the side of the bed. Another round of shots fired. There was a shootout between the Shrimps gang and the police. They committed another robbery on an innocent business. Bruno sometimes wondered if a robbery would ever make it's way into his restaurant. He had already planned for it. Hidden in the restaurant was a revolver. It was an unregistered gun, so if someone were to be shot, it wouldn't be traceable. He was considering teaming up with Fake Peppino as part of a secondary security system. Shortly, the shots stopped, and sirens wailed as they faded in the distance. Bruno got up from hiding and looked out the window. A dead shrimp lay curled up in a puddle of his own blood. Bruno felt no fear but some sympathy. The Pig City was the only vacant place in the tower to live, so he couldn't move if he wanted to. Even so, he lived in what was considered the "nicer" part of town.

Bruno considered talking to Pizzahead about potentially moving somewhere else, but he was avoiding him in a way. After talking to John about the outside world, Bruno had grown a bit distant from Pizzahead. The closer they got, the more Pizzahead would pay attention to him despite being super busy in the lab. Apparently, he was creating a plot to destroying the lone pizzeria across from the tower, and Bruno was to play a large part in that plan. Every time Bruno had mentioned the outside world in the past, Pizzahead dismissed it and told him that he wasn't made for it. Pizzahead was supposed to be seen as the all-knowing, undoubted leader of the tower, but Bruno's opinion had started to change. He watched as he slowly began to lose his mind obsessing over destroying someone else's business. Bruno didn't understand it. The tower was filled with other pizzerias, why did he suddenly hate this one so much? Bruno had only heard of the rumored Peppino but never actually knew the man himself. He only knew the apex clone, Fake Peppino.

-

The next morning, Bruno had snuck out nearly in the morning in search for Gerome. He had gone up to the fifth floor to see if John knew where he was. Unfortunately, he bumped into Pizzahead. "Oh, hey Bruno," he said excitedly.

"Oh, Pizzahead," Bruno faked a smile. "Hey."

"What'cha doing up here?"

"Um, truthfully, I'm looking for Gerome. I wanted to talk to him about something."

"Oh? What, you getting tired of cleaning the restaurant?"

"Sort of," Bruno forced a small chuckle, "it can be pretty grating."

"I'm sure he'd do it. Maybe not willingly, though. He'll do most things if you pay him. The Noise pays him to keep the NTV building clean."

"Really? I had no idea. I thought Gerome just kind of... Well, he sort of just floats around."

"Yeah. You want me to call him?"

"That would be nice-"

"GEROOOOME!!!"

Gerome came up through the elevator and sighed, "What?"

Pizzahead tapped Bruno on the head. "You two do your business," he said, "I gotta keep working on something." He headed back down to a lower floor. Bruno and Gerome looked at each other for a minute.

"Okay, Gerome," Bruno spoke softly, "I need to talk to you about something, but please don't say anything to anybody. The only other person who knows about this is John. Oh! By the way," Bruno turned to John who was in the center of the floor. "Hi, John!"

John smiled and waved, "Hiii."

Bruno turn back to Gerome and sighed. He looked nervous. "I don't necessarily need anything from you," he continued, "but... tell me... What is the outside world like?"

Gerome's normal grumpy demeanor suddenly looked a bit sad. "It's wonderful, Bruno. It's full of life and freedom. There's all sorts of beauty out there. It's endless. There's miracles aplenty, so many that you'll never see everything. There's always something new and fascinating. The world out there is so much kinder than the world in here."

Bruno smiled. "It sounds so lovely."

"You're planning something. I know what that something is, but for your safety, I won't say it."

"Thank you. Truthfully, I don't have much of a plan, but the outline is there. No matter what I do, it's life or death."

Gerome looked at John, thinking of the times they had before they were trapped in the tower. "I hope you make it," he vented, "I hope you live to see greatness, happiness, and health."

"I'm sorry I can't save you."

Gerome turned to him. "Don't apologize, Bruno. Only one out of everyone in this tower can escape. I'm not going anywhere without my brother."

-

Bruno had finished his day in the pizzeria. Fake Peppino came into the restaurant as usual. "Hey, buddy," Bruno greeted him. He wasn't as cheerful as he usually was, and Fake Peppino noticed. He whined at Bruno. "I'm sorry, friend," he sighed, "I haven't been feeling right, lately." Fake stared him down intently. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Fake just continued to stare. "Oh! Leftovers! Right, sorry. Today's the best by date for the pepperoni." He headed into the cooler and grabbed a sleeve of uncut pepperoni. He tried to hand it to Fake Peppino, but Fake Peppino didn't move. "Here." He tried holding out further. They made eye contact for a good minute. "Oh, right! Up high!" Bruno tossed the pepperoni up into the air, and Fake Peppino caught it with his sticky, frog-like tongue. Bruno smiled, but it quickly faded. Fake Peppino whined again. "I'm sorry, buddy. I can't tell you why I'm feeling this way. To be honest, I'm not quite sure myself. But I'll be okay, I promise." He reached up and rubbed Fake Peppino's cheek. Fake then went around to scavenge the floor for any crumbs or leftovers.

Bruno went to the back office to count down the register. First came out the money for rent, then the money to support the restaurant, and what was left went into Bruno's savings. He had hundreds of thousands of dollars by then. It had been long since he counted, so it could've been much more. He peeked out to look at Fake Peppino who was still searching for food. The apex clone, Bruno thought, or soon to be.

When he left and locked up the restaurant, he was startled by Pizzahead who had snuck up behind him.

"Hey," Pizzahead yelled.

Bruno screamed, thinking he was being robbed. "Oh," he sighed. "It's just you."

"I wanted to talk to you about something. Will you come up to the lab with me?"

Bruno's heart dropped. He was worried that someone had overheard him talking to John and Gerome. He followed Pizzahead reluctantly up to the Staff Only floor. He looked at John, who had a worried look on his face. They went into the War level and took the long walk down to the lab. Tubes filled with failed clones were permanently sealed shut. Bruno looked at them and figured he was going to be met with the same fate.

"I need your opinion one somthing," Pizzahead spoke.

Bruno chuckled nervously, "Oh, phew! I thought you were going to kill me."

"Nope! I wouldn't dare. You're my proudest creation!" Pizzahead smiled wide. "I've been creating more clones, obviously, but they're having some behavioral issues. Now, I know all clones aren't going to come out as perfect as you... Well, I mean, you're technically not perfect yourself-"

"Wow, thanks."

Pizzahead laughed. "Oh, you know I didn't mean it like that. You should be glad you don't look anything like that fat man. I spliced his DNA with another random one I had sitting around and Voila! Bruno!"

"Yeah, I know you've told me a million times. Your point is?"

"Oh, right. I'm rambling, sorry. Like I said, some of the clones are having extreme behavioral issues. I've been debating putting an alarm in here that would blow the entire level into nonexistence had anyone set it off."

"That... sounds a bit extreme."

"Yes, but if any of them were to escape, it would be even worse. You want to see for yourself? Here, I'll let one out."

"Wait, no no no-"

Pizzahead opened up a small metal box and out of it came a Peppino-looking clone. It was perfect in appearance until it started to move. It lunged itself at Bruno. He flinched and ducked down. A gunshot was heard. Pizzahead was holding out a pistol. The clone lay flat on the floor, bleeding from the head. Bruno stood up in shock.

"See what I mean," Pizzahead continued, "they're completely ravenous."

"Why the fuck did you do that?"

"To prove my point."

"What do you expect me to do?"

"Nothing, really. I mean, if you see one, maybe shoot it. The others aren't as resilient as you or Fake Peppino. I mostly just wanted your opinion."

Bruno rolled his eyes. "To be quite honest, I don't know what you want me to do about the behavioral issues. As for the alarm, I think it's a good idea, but you should make something specific set it off. That way, you're not blowing yourself up... again."

Pizzahead cackled. "There's that smart Bruno I was looking for. I suppose I could put a trigger in, that way I'm not getting injured every time I walk in. I'd also need a code to deactivate the alarm." Pizzahead rubbed his chin in thought.

The two sat there for a minute before Bruno broke the silence. "Is that all you needed?"

"Yes, yes, you can go now! I have to get working on the alarm. Thanks! Get out."

Bruno was slightly relieved as he exited the level. He peeked past the door and saw John smiling. He smiled back. The two knew that Pizzahead was now even more distracted in his plot to take down Peppino's Pizza, leaving Bruno more time to work on his plan, too.