#the stick of truth gt

[hey-there-itskayla]

South park g/t but The Stick of Truth :)

Stan & Kyle :]

(tap on the drawing for better quality)

@cyndrastic :)

[obwjam]

Could we perhaps get 33 with Shawn and Lassy? Psych GT pog 🤙

“What are you hiding behind your back?” 

“…no one – uh – nothing…”

sorry this one took me FOREVER dawg shawn is so hard to write. he's so dumb. it's hard to channel that energy. i love him

from this post

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“Shawn, we CANNOT bring them with us.”

“Oh, c’mon Gus, don’t be the crust of a half-eaten sandwich thrown in the dumpster behind an Applebee's.”

You smiled. You never got tired of their never-ending banter.

See, you had been found by this pure enigma of a human named Shawn Spencer. You weren’t doing anything wrong, either – you had been moving from building to building, trying to find a relatively quiet space to settle into. The Santa Monica weather was like a borrower’s paradise, so you really just needed somewhere slow, but safe.

This building, you discovered, was rarely ever used, except for a handful of humans who would come through every so often. You kept your distance, never made a mess, never left your hiding spot if anyone was there. Just like you had done in the countless other places you had called home.

But this one found you. He set up a trap, too, so even though he was gone for hours, you were stuck under a metal bucket until he lifted it up and gaped at you in total shock. Eventually, he told you he was able to figure you out because he was psychic… whatever that meant. You were fortunate that he was, ultimately, a kind person, if not a little invasive. At least his friend Gus seemed more freaked out by you than you were of him when Shawn introduced you to him against your will. That was a weird day.

Now, you were sitting in Shawn’s hand as Gus piloted their little blue car. You didn’t really like to be carried, but Shawn was overly eager to show you all aspects of human life – and today, that meant the McDonald’s drive-thru. But Jules had just called, urging the pair to get down to this crime scene right away. Gus wanted to drop you back at the Psych office. Shawn did not.

“I will not be held responsible for smuggling a borrower into a crime scene!”

“Woah, Gus, watch your language. It’s offensive to say ‘borrower.’ I believe they prefer the term, ‘tiny person.’”

You shook your head when Gus gave you an exasperated look. “No, Shawn, that’s literally what I am.”

Gus tightened his grip on the wheel. “Shawn, please, if Lassie sees them–”

“Lassie will not see them,” Shawn asserted. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“Oh, now I’m real confident.”

“Shawn, really, I don’t have to come. I’ll be fine here.”

Shawn gave you a look like you had just cursed him out. “I can’t leave you in the car! That’s illegal!”

“It’s illegal for babies and dogs, Shawn, of which Jada is neither.”

You groaned. You had heard horror stories about Lassie – grumpy, mean, generally discontent with Shawn and Gus’s presence at most things. If you understood one thing about Shawn’s life, it’s that he didn’t know how to stay out of trouble, which felt like a disaster waiting to happen whenever you were with him. 

“It’ll be fine,” said Shawn, giving you a sympathetic enough look that you didn't immediately roll your eyes. “I’ll keep you in my hand and you can just peek through my fingers, like you're Jim Halpert.”

You shook your head. “No. No hand. It’s your front pocket or nothing.”

“What’s so wrong with my hand?” Shawn asked, sounding hurt. 

“You are sitting in it right now,” Gus pointed out. 

You sighed. “I dunno, I…” You realized you didn’t actually have to tell them the truth. “It… smells bad.”

Gus let out a laugh while Shawn tried his best to defend his odor, insisting that he showers every day and washes his hands even more often than that. But you wouldn’t relent, and he eventually agreed to stick you in his front pocket when you arrived.

“I still think it’s better if we just dropped you off back at Psych,” Gus said, eyeing you carefully. Shawn was pretending his hand was an elevator as he lifted you to his pocket. “A front pocket’s pretty exposed.”

You happened to agree with Gus on this one, which wasn’t very common, since Gus tended to worry about every single little thing you did. But there was no changing Shawn’s mind when it was made up. 

You hoisted yourself into his pocket. Shawn’s hand gave you a little boost as you pulled yourself up, resulting in you tumbling forward and flipping headfirst into the pocket. Embarrassed, you rubbed your head and tried to play it off.

“Whoops. You alright?” Shawn’s muffled voice came from above you. You just nodded, figuring if he was really a psychic, he would know you just did that. 

After what felt like forever, you finally felt the car come to a halt and the engine shut off. Gus turned to Shawn and made a face.

“How’s it look? Inconspicuous?” Shawn asked.

“It looks like you have a lump in your pocket.”

Shawn peered down, barely making out your sweaty face through the thin pocket opening. “How is it in there?”

You gave him a look of discontent. “Hot.”

Before anyone could reply, Jules was at the window, rapping her knuckles frantically on the glass. You could barely hear her yelling at the pair to get their asses out of the car. Shawn gave you a protective tap, as if he was checking to make sure you were still there, before climbing out.

You knew it would be suicide to peek your head out, but you would be lying if you said you weren’t morbidly curious as to what was going on. It was impossible to understand all the criminal jargon these cops were tossing around.

Gus kept nervously glancing at Shawn’s pocket every time you shifted your weight, and Lassie probably wouldn't have paid any attention to it if Shawn didn’t have his hand hovering just below it. The detective raised his eyebrows, and Gus noticed, making up a silly excuse to drag Shawn to an adjacent room.

“I think Lassie’s onto us, Shawn,” he whispered harshly. “He keeps looking at your pocket.”

“Because you keep staring at it!” Shawn shot back. Without thinking, he plunged his hand into the pocket, causing you to squeal and push yourself back. You tried your best to avoid his fingers, but it was a futile effort. Once he found you, he pinched your waist and slowly pulled you out – despite your uncomfortable wriggling – and plopped you into his palm.

“I hate it when you do that,” you grumbled, swiping your hair out of your face. 

“Gus, I want you to get them out of here,” Shawn instructed, holding his hand out. “Take them outside, anywhere, I don’t care, just–”

“What are you two doing?”

Shawn and Gus yelped, almost a little too comically. Lassie had snuck up behind them. Before you could even register what was going on, Shawn curled his fingers over you and whipped his hand behind his back. He cringed when he felt you slam into his fingers. Your miniscule movements as you pushed yourself up and readjusted made his whole arm twitch. 

“What are you hiding behind your back?” 

“...no one – uh – nothing...”

Your eyes went wide. No, he did not just say that.

Gus smacked his forehead. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me, Shawn.” 

“What are you… just show me your damn hand, Spencer. Now.”

“I told you, this was a bad idea!”

“Can it, Guster,” Lassie snapped. “What could you possibly be hiding that you don’t want to show me?”

In Shawn’s hand, your panic had morphed into desperation. Logically, there was no getting out of this, but that didn’t stop your instincts from taking over. You yanked at Shawn’s fingers like they were prison bars, trying to pry them apart so you could leap to safety. You kicked and punched and yelled in frustration. 

Shawn, of course, felt every little impact, but stayed surprisingly still through the whole ordeal as the thoughts raced in his mind. Aside from taking off and running away – which was his top possibility until he noticed that Lassie was covering their only exit – there was no way out of this one.

Soon, that familiar sinking feeling was back in your stomach. You tried to stand up to gain more strength to escape, but there was no way you would ever be able to overmatch a human. Tears began to stream from your eyes out of frustration. You weren’t even a match for a human’s fingers. How pathetic was that? How could you even think it would be any different?

“No, no, Shawn, please, please don’t do this, please, please…” you begged to yourself, knowing it was useless. You hugged yourself and shut your eyes, trying to squeeze the nauseating feeling away.

Shawn and Gus exchanged a knowing glance before both sets of eyes fixated on the outstretched hand. Even Lassie, who was usually quick to reprimand these idiots, stayed quiet. He could feel that something was off.

“Alright, Lassie, just… just try not to freak out, alright? They’re a little skittish.”

“What the hell are you talking about? What is going… on.” Lassie’s demeanor completely changed the moment he laid eyes on you. His face, once contorted in anger, had now softened to a degree that Shawn and Gus had never seen.

Not that you would know. All you saw was the scrunched-up, confused and downright pissed off looking face of a giant taller than both Gus and Shawn, something you didn’t think was possible. His eyes were blown wide and his mouth hung agape, which was a mirror image of your own expression. You scooted back, and Lassie jumped a bit at the movement. Shawn could feel your trembles, and he didn’t like it.

“What the hell am I looking at, Spencer?”

“This? Well, um, this – them – they, they’re uh –”

“–they’re tiny,” Lassie finished, eyes still fixated on your shaking form. His mind was racing a million miles per hour. What were you? How did something like you exist? More importantly, what on earth were you doing with Shawn and Gus?

Shawn laughed nervously. When was the last time he was nervous? “Woah! They are? I hadn’t noticed!”

Lassie ignored Shawn’s joke and took a tentative step forward and leaned down to get a closer look. He didn’t miss the way your eyes grew even wider as you receded back. “What is it?” 

“That ‘it’ is a person,” Gus said, stepping closer. He would get between you and Lassie if he needed to. “With a name, emotions, thoughts and feelings, just like the rest of us.”

“Huh.” He blinked a few times. “So it – they – can understand us?”

“Don’t be silly, Lassie,” Shawn chided. He was actually getting angry at him. “Think of them as a human being, just… pocket-sized.”

Your quivers only grew stronger the more Lassie maintained eye contact with you. You were gripping onto Shawn’s skin for dear life, so tense that stars started popping in and out of your vision. You felt pinned down underneath three human gazes, all staring at you in fascination and worry. You hadn’t felt this vulnerable since the day Shawn discovered you.

“Where did you find them? Here?”

Shawn shook his head. “I found them at Psych. You know, with my awesome psychic powers and all.”

“And how long ago was that?”

“I dunno,” Shawn shrugged. “A month, maybe two.”

There was a cool silence until Lassie remembered he was supposed to be mad. “What the hell are you doing bringing them to an active crime scene?!” 

You shivered back at the sheer volume of his voice, and the overwhelming sound was enough to get the tears flowing again. Shit. He was pissed. You were really in trouble now.

“Hey! Don’t yell,” Shawn cried. He knew how much you hated when voices were raised. “In our defense, they were in the car with us when Jules demanded we get down here. Ruined a perfectly good trip to Mickey D's.”

“For the record, I didn’t want them coming here,” Gus interjected.

“Why didn’t you just leave them in the car? You really thought bringing them inside was a good idea, with a bunch of cops crawling around?!” Lassie pinched his brow. “Damn it, Spencer.”

Shawn glanced down at you as soon as he felt a miniscule splash of water on his palm, a protective rage bubbling up inside. He hadn’t seen you this upset since he had found you, and it just about killed him to see you like that. “Just, calm down Lassie, alright? You’re freaking them out.”

“Don’t tell me to be calm! You – you brought some, some unauthorized being into a classified location and tried to hide it from me! You’re lucky nobody else saw them! I –”

Lassie locked eyes with you again, and he stopped. Shawn was right – you were freaked out. By him. Even from all the way up here, he could see your heavy breathing and pale face. He wanted to reprimand Shawn and Gus for this, but he felt a pang of guilt each time he looked at you. This wasn’t your fault, and him getting angry was clearly a very scary sight.

“You said they had a name?” Lassie said all of a sudden, voice back to a normal decibel level. Shawn and Gus nodded. “What is it?”

“Why don’t you ask them yourself?”

Slowly, the giant detective turned back to you. You couldn’t quite read his expression – he was mad, for sure, but he was also… curious. Intrigued. You leaned back as he once again bent down, this time farther to be at eye level with you.

“Um… hi there,” he said awkwardly, causing Shawn to snicker. Lassie shot him a look, but didn’t say anything. “What’s, uh, your name?”

You looked at him in utter shock, too scared to say anything. Lassie looked expectantly, but frowned when you didn’t respond. “I thought you said they could understand me.”

“They can!” Shawn protested.

“You obviously just scared the living crap out of them,” Gus added angrily.

Lassie hummed. He could tell you were frightened, but to the point where you couldn’t even speak? He felt awful.

“Look, I, uh, I’m sorry I scared you,” Lassie said sheepishly, surprising you. “I just didn’t expect to meet a tiny person today. Or, well, ever…” He trailed off, unsure of what he could say that would make you feel better. This was uncharted territory, even for him, but it was also fascinating. Shawn and Gus have had this tiny person with them for months. He had to know more.

“You two need to get them out of here. I don’t want to risk anyone else seeing this poor thing, alright?” The pair of friends were taken aback by the concern in Lassie’s voice. “We can talk more back at the station.”

“The station? I thought you said you didn’t want anyone seeing them,” Gus questioned.

Lassie raised his eyebrow. “Don’t think I’m letting you off the hook for this one, Guster. Besides, I have a million things I want to ask them, and this isn’t the place.” You gawked as Lassie stretched back up to his full height, which was still mind-numbingly tall. Lassie shivered when he looked back at you – you were so small in Shawn’s stupid hand.

“I know I must look scary, but don’t worry about me, alright? It’s these two idiots that should scare you.” You sniffed a surprising laugh at his bluntness. “You can always tell me if they’re causing you any trouble.”

Shawn and Gus were too stunned to speak as their boss left the room. Lassie was being gentle with you? Never in a million years would they have expected that reaction.

Shawn broke the silence. “Well, that was weird.”

Gus nodded in agreement. “I am deeply disturbed.”

“Jada? Are you alright?” Shawn asked, cupping you close to his chest. Truthfully, you didn’t quite know the answer. You were expecting the worst in this situation – being picked up, poked, prodded. But Lassie didn’t do any of that. He didn’t even try to touch you. He was… respectful, for the most part, and kind. He was speaking to you like a real person. He seemed to really care.

You turned back to the doorway, peering past Shawn to watch Lassie conferring with all the different people in the other room. Knowing these two, you understood why Lassie might be averse to them, but you couldn’t help but feel strangely calm after your short meeting. There was something about him that left you wanting to know more.

“Yeah, Shawn,” you said after a moment. Your voice was as calm as it’s ever been. “I think I’ll be alright.”

[awkwardgtace]

A Needed Break

Day 30! Self Care. Tbh I wrote this a while ago overwhelmed by my own life. Sooo this is something I know I could use sometimes. Like this is kind of one of the stories I wound up getting written at the start of working on gt july lol

You wake up confused as your phone goes off, but your bed is suddenly massive.

A Needed Break

“Can you help me?”

“Do you have time to talk?”

“I need you.”

“Help me.”

“Will you just stay with me?”

“I know it’s late, but will you talk with me?”

“I can trust you right? You won’t tell anyone else?”

“Thanks, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

The voices continued to echo in my head. I loved them, I was happy to help them. I just… was starting to need a break. I couldn’t walk away, they needed me. The late nights, the busy calls, jumping from person to person. I loved them, they cared about me, I could do it all. The voices just kept going and coalesced with the latest ding from my phone. My eyes snapped open, staring at the dim ceiling while the sun rose.

Blindly I reached for my phone, but all I found was more bed. I shook it off, I just moved in my sleep… even though I never did before. I tried to sit up, but the blanket on my chest was heavy. My phone beeped again, I had to get up. I had to check who needed me. I had to take care of them. I was the only one they could rely on. I flipped on to my back and started to crawl out from the heavy blanket.

The room I had as I crawled had to be from a rough sleep. I was near the edge of my bed. No not the edge, the foot of my bed. I rolled around from hearing everyone call to me and being pulled in all directions that I wrapped myself in my blanket at the foot of my bed. That’s the story I had to stick with. The truth because anything else made no sense.

I pulled my legs free and sat on my knees. I was right where I fell asleep, my pillow sitting in front of me. It was fucking massive. Looking around I saw my phone on the nightstand too high for me to reach. More beeps went off, someone was trying to reach me. I had to answer, but… how in the hell would I reach my phone? How would I even flip it over to answer!? And… who could I call for help?

A loud bang came from the distance. I started shaking, if someone found me like this would I be safe? How would I help everyone? That was why they cared, because I helped. Another bang and a blast of cold air filled the room. I knew that cold air… My door always did that. My room was too close to the door, I liked it like that. I wanted that. My body was shaking as I heard the slam of the door. The cold air wasn’t comforting as I heard someone in my home. Someone… No one should be here. I…

“Hey,” they called. I panicked, the blanket was too heavy. If I hid there I wouldn’t get to run if they decided to lie on it. I started to crawl to the edge of my bed, I had to hide. I… I had to reach my phone. It binged again. It was important. “Where are you? I’ve been messaging you all morning. We were supposed to meet for breakfast today, right?”

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It couldn’t be them. If it was them it was worse. They needed me. I couldn’t be like-like this while they were hurt. All the late nights, all the pain they suffered. I had to be the strong one I couldn’t be… I couldn’t be so small I was trapped on my bed. Another bing from my phone. Stupid alerts, they probably weren’t messages just warnings that I was late. I still had to check. It might not be what I’m thinking.

“This isn’t like you,” the voice was loud. It was too loud. I-I-I-I…. I had no options. I gave up, sitting near the edge of my bed. I hadn’t even tried to look down. I was terrified to see how real this was. The shadow of someone who needed me, who relied on me, stood in the door. I couldn’t make out a thing about them. “You… you aren’t home?”

They walked into my room. It was a mess, I’d been too busy. My whole apartment was a mess. I had to keep helping everyone else, I had to take care of everyone else. They walked closer, a bing just above my head scared me. It was my phone again. They walked over to my nightstand. They didn’t even see me. They would see that I’m not answering and leave. I would figure this out. I would be ok.

“Your phone…” they muttered. I flinched, it was still too loud. I scrambled away when they grabbed it. The light blinded me for a second. After rubbing my eyes I managed to see clear enough to find them reading all my messages. I couldn’t be angry, I was missing wasn’t I? “You… how many people are you killing yourself for? You need a break, we always talk about this. We won’t fall apart if you take a break for one day.”

They fell to their knees. I could see the tears falling down their face. It was ok, I was ok. I could fix this and reassure them just like always. I forced myself to my feet, the uneven ground kept me struggling to walk. I didn’t stop, I had to reach them. They dropped my phone, I’d have to yell at them for that. They knew my phone was important. Those hands that were bigger than me were at their face wiping away tears. 

“What happened? Where are you…” they cried. 

They leaned closer to my bed, it actually knocked me off my feet. I crawled forward until I was almost close enough to touch them. They shuddered and their hair landed in front of me. I reached up and tugged it with all my strength. They jumped up and I was left hanging in front of their face. My whole body shook when I realized just how big they were to me. I was small enough to fit in their hand… and I was too small to help.

“H-hey,” I said. Their eyes widened as they realized just what I was. At least I hoped it was that. They stood while I kept hanging there, I tried to tighten my grip. They had too much product in their hair, I was slipping. I bit my tongue as I started to fall, I didn’t need to scream whatever happened I’d be fine. I landed squarely on a palm, I could feel the lines beneath my back. My friend stared down at me and I couldn’t tell what they were thinking.

“You… you’re ok?” they whispered. I nodded. They were moving before I could think. I was pressed against their chest, a heart pounding loudly beneath me. The racing beat left me stunned. They shouldn’t be that worried… I’m always fine. I’ll always be fine. “You weren’t here and your phone and you missed breakfast… I thought… I was worried you… Thank god you’re alright.”

“I… I just woke up like this, but we can still have breakfast,” I shouted. I wasn’t sure they’d hear me over the loud thumping of their giant heart. The hands didn’t pull away. “We can still talk! You have my phone so we can order and just talk like we wanted to at the cafe. I’ll treat.”

Their fingers curled in to wrap around me. Entire parts of them covered my body. It would be so easy for them to just get rid of me. I wasn’t useful like this, I wasn’t worth it like this. They’d drop me on my bed and I’d be trapped. I was pulled from the loud bathump of their heart to stare into their eyes. Eyes still glistening from fresh tears.

“Are you stupid? This is way more important than whatever else is going on! Besides, how many nights has it been since you really slept? I just saw you had people thanking you for staying up with them until at least five. It’s only seven.”

I turned away from their gaze. I hadn’t been sleeping, even when I did it was nightmares. All the voices of the ones who needed me calling out to me. I couldn’t turn them away… not with what was going on. They didn’t always have someone to talk to and I was there. I could be there. Sleepiness can be countered with caffeine and I always kept plenty on hand.

“I’ve slept.” I whispered. They pulled me closer and my breath caught in my throat. They used their other hand to turn my head to face them. Eyes full of doubt met me. Doubt in my words… Doubt that belonged there. I don’t usually sleep much and lately it’s been worse. It’s just easier not to when I have so much to do.

“Sure you have.” The sarcasm was noted and not needed. I glared at them with all the energy I could muster. They softened, moving to hold me next to their heart again. All my friends were so touchy sometimes… I liked it. At first I hated it, but they taught me how much it meant to be near each other. “Either way I’m taking care of you today. Just the few messages on your lock screen prove you’ve stretched yourself too thin again. You get a day of hanging out with me where we’ll watch whatever you want… even horror movies or worse Hamilton.”

I stared up at them. Without sparing me a glance they started walking. The whole time I was held near their heart. I heard my cabinets and fridge opening, but they covered my head before I could see what they grabbed. I couldn’t understand why this was happening. I woke up a few inches tall, my friend broke in… unless I left the door open again. I was too comfortable in a secure building. 

A yelp escaped me as they fell. I wasn’t prepared for the sudden drop, but the pressure all around me was nice. So was the bathump beneath me. I was allowed to see the world again and they’d decided to lie on my couch. The way they always did. The thumping kept me calm as they moved. A few snacks left in front of me, along with them showing me my favorite iced coffee. They must have bought it for me before this.

“Wait, weren’t you upset? We should talk about that. I don’t-” They put a finger on my face to make me go silent. I got annoyed pulling back to glare at them.

“Nope, today is about you. Enough worrying about us. We won’t disappear if you can’t be there once in a while. Everyone, me included, will be a lot happier knowing you’re taking care of yourself.”

“But-” A finger hovered near my face. I couldn’t really win an argument like this could I? I guess… it was ok to take a break. For a movie or two. Then I would get them to talk to me and give me my phone. I had to make sure everything was going to work like this. Instead I sat down on their chest, the thumping rhythm was relaxing. It reminded me of the deep bass in the music I liked. “Can we… watch that musical I was talking about the other day?”

“Whatever you want.” They grimaced when I had them pause on In the Heights, but hit play before I could stop them. They stayed focused on the movie even singing along sometimes… just like I did. They put on one they knew I loved and slowly I felt safe… safe enough to fall asleep. A nap wouldn’t hurt… we can take care of everything else then. They’d wait… They cared about me. They cared enough to make me take care of myself.

[hirocimacruiser]

Tommykaira R Tuned GTR

full spec

Public road specifications equipped with racing specs as standard.

[Main equipment of Tommykaira R)

●275/35ZR18 tires 9.5J×18 original aluminum wheels Front strut tower bar (with brake master stopper) Original double spring Tension rod Turbine change Multi-cup super intercooler ●Sport air element Engine control unit ●Quick shift gear

(Rear) Original shock absorber (manufactured by Bilstein) Pillow ball type front

Interior (steering wheel, carbon meter panel, combination meter assembly (300km/h

speedometer), triple meter, driving mat, shift knob) full aero (front bumper spoiler, rear wing spoiler, rear under spoiler, side step, rear garnish, aero mirror)

- Side decals, etc.

Easily over 400 horsepower. I get nervous just imagining the numbers of...

truth

Shocking full-spec power! Tommykaira R ¥7,620,000

The price is only for the Kyoto shop front car body. Options, registration fees, consumption tax, etc. are not included.

____________________________________________

TUNED SKYLINE M25

The Tommykaira M25 is positioned at the far right of the Anti GT-R. Let's give the ultimate complete machine to the champion of winding who sticks to FR forever.

[Stage1]

Maximum output 280 horsepower 5-speed manual car ¥3,880,000

[Stage2] Maximum output 300 hp ¥4,280,000

[Stage3] Maximum output 330HP <5M/T only> ¥4,680,000

*A/T specifications are set only for stages I and II

The price is for the vehicle body only. Options, fees, consumption tax, etc. are not included. The maximum output of the A/T car is 5 horsepower down from the manual car.

*Specifications and prices are subject to change. Prices shown are for 5 manual cars.

Recruitment of full-time employees (mechanic sales)!!

[borrowedtimeandspace]

Watching Through Windows

9. Rainy Day

From this list of gt prompts

AU: Time After Time (Twelve AU); set after Caught Up in Circles, before The Drum Beats Out of Time

Note: Am I ever going to stop using lyrics for these titles? lol nope

~~~

Gloomy days tended to make Zepheera introspective, especially when she had the opportunity to spend them in a window. Resting her head against the cool glass, she could feel the distant impact of each and every raindrop.

She didn’t worry too much about being seen through the window. It was at such an angle that no one could look directly inside, and any neighboring buildings were too far away to make out the four and a half inch tall borrower sitting curled up in a windowsill in any significant detail. Zepheera, in the meantime, could watch the clouds roll by, the waves of rain battering against all the roofs and umbrellas below them.

Anyone Zepheera’s size would be washed away in even a light storm. She wondered briefly if she would be the type of human who would enjoy being out in the rain, with that very real and frightening hazard out of the way.

“Do you know him?”

Bill’s blurted question snatched Zepheera out of her wandering thoughts. She turned away from the window to look up at the seated human with whom she’d resigned herself to stay for the weekend. 

All things considered, Bill had been very respectful of the borrower. She hadn’t gone looking for Zepheera when she vanished from sight, trusting that at the very least she would show up again before Bill left for St. Luke’s come Monday, per their agreement. Until now, she hadn’t asked one prying question, which was an impressively long time considering her curious nature.

“Sorry?” Zepheera gave herself a small shake to allow her brain to catch up to the present.

Bill shrugged and set down her pen, through taking notes for the moment. “The Doctor. I’ve been wondering why you were so keen on seeing him. Do you know him?”

Zepheera had thought about how she would answer these questions when Bill inevitably asked them. When she'd  asked for the favor of a lift to the Doctor's office, she hadn't quite counted on him taking Bill under his wing and bringing her around so often. She was nice enough, for a human, but that didn’t automatically make Zepheera feel like sharing. Especially when her history was quite complicated and long.

“Not really,” she said after a moment, deciding on stretching the truth. “He just reminds me of someone I used to know, that’s all.”

“You knew what he was called, though,” Bill countered.

“Saw it on flyers,” said Zepheera without hesitation. 

“Here’s what I don’t get.” Bill leaned forward on her forearms, a small grin forming as she tried to puzzle Zepheera out. “Which is it? If you wanted to see him so badly, why not let him see you? If you’d rather hide, then why find him at all?”

Zepheera could tell that Bill didn’t mean to grill her, that her curiosity was simply getting the better of her now that she’d allowed herself to ask questions. Even so, she’d gotten to the part that Zepheera couldn’t explain away. She could barely explain it to herself. Her shoulders tensed and her gaze wandered back in the direction of the window to avoid meeting Bill's.

Realizing she was overdoing it, Bill leaned back. “Fair play,” she conceded, flipping the page in her book.

Silence fell between the two women once again, split only by the occasional rustling of pages being turned, the scratch of Bill's pen, and patter of raindrops on the glass.

“Why leave?”

This question drew Zepheera’s attention once again. Bill wasn’t prying like before; in fact, she seemed concerned more than anything. 

Once teeny violet eyes met hers, Bill went on: “Guessing that you’ve been sticking around the place all this time. Hiding or not, you must've stayed for a reason. What made you jump ship?”

Zepheera pondered this one. It was just as hard to explain as the others, but considering it led her and Bill here, it felt only fair to try and come up with a reason.

"Suppose I just needed…space."

Bill nodded slowly, but with a thoughtful tilt to her head. "Then…why come here? I mean, you had the whole campus if you just wanted to get away."

Zepheera actually had an answer ready for that one, but a sharp rap at Bill's door stole the opportunity from her. Before she could think twice, she'd slid off the windowsill and ducked behind the stack of books on Bill's desk. 

"I do hope you're not chatting up any boys in there!" Moira, Bill's foster mother, chided through the door.

Rolling her eyes, Bill called back, "I'm not!" She added under her breath, "Never will…"

"I'll find where they live if you are," said Moira as she continued down the hall, seemingly satisfied.

Bill gave a huff and let herself flop onto the desk, head resting on her forearm. She really did love her foster mother, but she could be exhausting at times.

"That's why." Zepheera's voice piped up rather close to Bill's ear, and she rolled her head over to look. There she was, leaning against the stack of books like a wall, standing closer than Bill had seen her since they met. "You kept my secret all this time, and you're still keeping it.”

Bill smiled, shifting to fold her arm under her head for better support. “Yeah, well, wouldn’t do either of us much good if I out ya.”

Zepheera shook her head, quietly amused, as she turned to glance up at the window once more. She could only see the clouds from this new angle, and for a moment thought she spotted an area where the clouds began to thin and a bit of blue sky began to peek through.

“I can’t lie and say it isn’t a bit nice to have someone to chat to,” she admitted.

[slowmissiles]

Back in a former life, I had an addiction that I loved beyond sanity. Here’s the story of it. 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 pt1 2009 pt2 2009 Redux

This is the final spec list for my glorious, insane Brutal Truth.

Nissan Skyline BCNR33 GT-R (Type 2) manufactured in April 1996. JDM non V-Spec vehicle retailed through Osaka Nissan Prince in May/June 1996. Imported to the UK in June 1997. Remained in original JDM spec without speedometer conversion until August 2002. Only the steering wheel & white dial sets were fitted in Japan.

Nismo RB26N1 bare engine: [N1 water pump (improved flow & less cavitation)/Reinforced cylinder block head bolt boss/Increased sump capacity (6L 20w60)/1.2mm oil restrictor]

N1 head with 0.5mm overbore (2598cc)

Cryogenically hardened N1 crankshaft

Wossner forged & cryogenically hardened pistons

Abbey Motorsport reinforced & cryogenically hardened con-rods

ACL Race Series conrod & crankshaft bearings

Tomei sump baffle kit

Tomei high flow (larger drive gears) oil pump

HKS 1.2mm metal head gasket

Tomei Procam Spec 2 cam kit (270 degree inlet & outlet with 10.25mm lift)

HKS V-Cam System Step 1 Type B (variable 248-278 degree inlet; replaces Procam inlet camshaft)

HKS vernier cam pulleys

HKS kevlar reinforced timing belt

Trust metal intake & throttle gaskets

HKS front pipe & decat gaskets

GReddy Iridium 08 Racing sparkplugs

Mocal 19-row oil cooler & Abbey Motorsport remote oil filter assembly

Abbey Motorsport catch tank & washer reservoir with SFS breather hoses

Abbey Motorsport Pro Alloy large radiator

Tomei fuel pump, fuel regulator & 600cc injectors

A’PEXi Power Intake induction kit

A’PEXi GT Spec intercooler (237x610x136mm) & hard pipe kit

HKS GT-SS turbos

HKS twin AFM delete kit

Tomei turbo elbows

HKS downpipes

HKS Silent Hi-Power exhaust

Abbey Motorsport 80mm decat pipe

Mine’s VX-ROM

HKS F-Con V Pro

HKS EVC 6 boost controller (1.6 bar)

AEM wideband lambda sensor

Splitfire DI Super Direct Ignition System

HKS Circle Earth kit

HKS GD Max twin-plate clutch (with lightened flywheel)

Abbey Motorsport rebuilt transfer box

Abbey Motorsport rebuilt gearbox with cryogenically hardened gear set, modified Nissan synchromesh upgrade and OS Giken strengthening plate

Abbey Motorsport rebuilt rear diff

Nismo gearbox mounts

Nismo Solid Shift gear stick (10% short shift)

Omex Shift Light Sequential

Sunsei SE-135 solar panel trickle charger mounted on a custom aluminium riser between the rear parcel shelf speaker enclosures.

Team Dynamics Equinox alloys 19x9.5, ET+15 in silver with polished stainless steel rim.

Falken FK452 265/30/19 Y-rated tyres

Cusco brake master cylinder brace

Cusco rear steering delete kit

Cusco front & rear upper suspension links

AST Sport Line 1 full suspension kit with UK spring setup

Nismo stainless steel braided brake hoses

StopTech 355mm rotor 4 pot caliper front brake kit

StopTech 355mm rotor 2 pot caliper rear brake kit with Abbey Motorsport modified pad retainers

Ferodo DS2500 brake pads front & rear

Bomex AD-390 front splitter

Nismo R34 smoked front indicators in custom aluminium mounting plates finished in crackle black

Nissan Xenon headlamp units

Border Racing Aero Fenders (vented front wings) with silver GT emblems from a R32 Skyline

Nismo smoked side repeaters

Top Mix one-off FRP twin blade rear spoiler on custom aluminium mounting plates

Entire exterior resprayed in BMW black (code 086) base and lacquer

Nissan Motorsport International carbon fibre B-pillar plates

PIAA carbon effect silicon wipers, front pair with spoilers, rear without

Nismo white face dial sets (dashboard & centre console) in carbon fibre panels

AEM AFR gauge mount replaces the lighter socket

HKS EVC display mounted on custom carbon fibre plate replacing the ashtray

Lighter socket relocated to the fog light switch panel

Nissan Momo steering wheel (with airbag)

Dressycar Nismo harness pads

Redline Automotive leather gearstick & handbrake gaiters

Abbey Motorsport carbon fibre door sill trims

Carbon fibre boot sill trim

Inlet plenum and sundry induction pipework finished in powder grey

Trust clear cam pulley cover

HKS Kansai Service carbon fibre spark plug cover

Right hand cam cover finished in crackle black

Nismo radiator & washer reservoir caps

HKS Kansai Service front strut brace finished in high gloss black

GReddy aluminium slam panel finished in crackle black

Tein bonnet dampers with black sleeves

Custom made one-off Cobra Misano Lux front seats: [Alcantara (colour code 9189) outers/Alcantara (colour code 9182) centre panels/One-piece carbon fibre backs/Sidewinder bases on custom subframes adapted by Abbey Motorsport/Cobra logo in silver thread on the headpads/GT-R logo beneath the grommets on seat backs]

JVC KD-AVX2 multi-media DVD/CD receiver with built-in 3.5” widescreen monitor

2x JL Audio Evolution VR600-CXi 6” speakers (front)

2x JL Audio Evolution TR650-CXi 6.5” speakers (rear)

Multiple and interlaced Thatcham rated security systems.

500 bhp. 520 ft/lb.

Ludicrously, hilariously, unbelievably fast.

Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with me. Cheers! JM.

(Photo by N. Liassides.)

[smolghostbot]

GT July: Secret

Rings Out A Single Word

Keeping a secret from the audience counts, right? 😉 Honestly, this started life as something between a vent/personal piece and a potential snippet for Part 5 of the story, but I had to put it somewhere.

Word Count: 600 Character bios in my pinned post CWs for implied transphobia, and also hints of Patch's past.

========

"Ugh… what do you mean those are two different letters! That's the same sound! You're just messing with me at this point, aren't you?"

Patch knew that the comment was lighthearted but still couldn't help but feel nervous as the human spoke. They had been living with her for a while now, but still couldn't help but flinch when her voice rose.

Clearly, Melody noticed the nervous look on his face, and instantly changed her tone. "Sorry, sorry… I'm not mad at you, you know that… I just really want to understand!"

For the last few weeks, Melody had become fascinated with learning more about the written language their tiny roommate used, and teaching Patch about their written language as well. They never gave a reason for this piqued interest, though. Unfortunately, English isn't exactly an easy language to write in, in either script, and the both of them were struggling with basic spelling and grammar in the other's language.

"Okay, okay… Gotta focus. So you said those were different, can you explain why?"

Patch tried to think of how to explain it before pointing at the letters, motioning to the letters around them. One of the symbols was at the end of the word, the other was not.

"Is it… where it is in the word? Why would that matter? Ugh, I'm terrible at this… we've been going over this for weeks and I'm still struggling to understand how to spell my own name! Let alone being closer to learning yours!". The human groaned, leaning her head back in exasperation.

Patch's ears perked up at this. They gently poked the human's hand, to get their attention, and tilted their head curiously. This was the first time since the day they first met that Mel had acknowledged their real name, at least out loud. For the entire time they had been here, they were simply Patch, or a myriad of other nicknames.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" The human seemed to return the sprite's confused expression.

Patch then wrote down that familiar four symbols, the name that they hadn't been called in years. They pointed at their writing and looked at Mel, expectantly.

"Yes, that's… I'm pretty sure that's your name. But… I hardly, I mean, okay, that's… an 'E' sound, I think…" She pointed to one of the letters. In truth, it was a bit softer of a sound, but Patch appreciated that she was at least recognizing some of the symbols.

"I just… I've known you for like two years now… and you've been living in my house for more than half of that time! And I'm still just calling you a cutesy nickname! I feel like a terrible friend… especially after what you've told me about… them." The venom in her voice was clear at that last word. "Honestly, ever since you told me about what that monster did to you, I've wanted to learn your name. I mean… I know how it feels to be called the wrong name for so long…" Melody glanced at the blue, pink, and white flag sticking out of one of the many flowerpots in her apartment. Melody had tried to explain the meaning of it to Patch once, but her explanation had just confused the poor sprite.

"I just kept getting distracted by things until now, you know? But… now that it's June, I was… reminded."

Unbeknownst to Patch, Melody had another, more concrete reminder, a phone call a few weeks back, the first one she had in years with the people she once called her parents. But Patch didn't need to know about that. He had been through too much in his life to worry about some humans he would never meet.

Patch sat on the notebook they were using, processing Melody's words. Now that they knew what the human wanted to learn, it would be far easier to explain. Learning one word is a way faster lesson than an entire language! Struck by motivation, the determined sprite drew a few simple doodles of common items with words underneath them. With this little plan set in motion, the sprite got Melody's attention again by touching her hand. She stared confused at these drawings.

"What are those? I mean, okay, I know what all of them are, but I have no idea why you drew them."

Melody stared closely at the words, noticing that Patch had circled certain letters… the same letters as in his name! Why hadn't either of them thought about just doing this to begin with?! "Patch, that's genius! You're such a clever little guy, you know that?" she exclaimed, chuckling as the little being turned a flustered red at the compliment.

She began pronouncing the name of each object, saying each syllable slowly, and watching as Patch moved to point to each corresponding letter as she spoke it. Eventually, she thought she had it.

"So your name… it's…"

Patch's eyes went wide as she spoke the name they thought they'd never hear again. It was a bit sloppy, and she still mispronounced that E, but their face filled with tears regardless.

[delafiseaseses]

Y'know, it is always important t' not believe everythin' y'read as true. Because people make mistakes, wires get crossed an' sometimes things just ay true.

Oddly specific example

T' give a very oddly specific example, in Grand Theft Auto (the first 'un - GTA 1 y'may say) there's a character known by the name Dumb Kurt (GTA 1's name for 'im not mine) who very briefly appears. In the mission generally called 'Heist Almighty Porka Turbo'. After helpin' a lad wi' a bank job yer boss says this

'An overrated hitman called Dumb Kurt just hit town. Hit him with a rigged car.'

Now, y'don't actually needa kill Kurt wi' a rigged car. You can just shoot his car an' blow it up an' it'll work. As long as Kurt dies yer boss says

'Murdered Dumb Kurt? I'm prouda ya. Now, if only we could get rid of The Man...'

So, Kurt 'as a very, very simple story. Two sentences an' a bloke in a Beast GTS. 'ow much misinformation can there be, 'ey? Well, I've checked out three wikis on GTA (all Fandom, I'm sorry t' say). An' there's some words that aren't true there.

First result on the Google search 'gta 1 dumb kurt' 'as the first quote an' the first paragraph of it is accurate in that it jus' says he's a minor character from GTA 1.

Then things go down'ill as the next paragraph labelled 'Background' says 'No background is given to Dumb Kurt. He is described as an "overrated hitman" and nicknamed "The Man".'

Kurt is never called The Man, The Man brought up in the second line is like the phrase 'stick it to The Man'. The Man is a concept our nameless boss in Bubby's gang is dreamin' of gettin' rid of.

So, that's a shame. Then there's a headin' labelled 'Events of Grand Theft Auto' where it says 'In 1997, the GTA Protagonist is hired by the Vercotti Crime Family contact to kill Dumb Kurt for being a major threat to the family. The protagonist locates the hitman and uses a car bomb to kill him.

Alternatively, the player can simply blow up his blue Beast GTS in northeast Kings with gun shots to complete the mission.'

That's also got some issues. It's got some truth in it an' Kurt's car is indeed a blue Beast GTS an' I appreciate the fact it references the fact that the car jus' needs t' be destroyed, but 'a major threat'? The Contact calls Kurt 'overrated' specifically. Which makes it rather unlikely that that was the motive. There's no real reason given for why Kurt got taken out, as I showed via those game quotes. This wiki also 'as a lista all the named characters killed by the Protagonist on which it says 'Dumb Kurt - Killed for being a threat to the Vercotti Crime Family.' an' I still disagree wi' that extrapolation.

So, that was a wiki, luckily there's two more wikis I've found on this first page. Next 'un first calls Kurt jus' Kurt before sayin' 'better known as Dumb Kurt' in its openin' line an' while its not directly said that his name is just Kurt an' 'Dumb' is a nickname, I think we can all agree its prob'ly a nickname due t', well, the fact that 'Dumb' would be a rather unusual given name an' its an adjective (though its unknown if Kurt calls himself that or its a mean-spirited nickname by our unidentified handler, so I've decided I shall only call 'im Kurt for the most part). So that's fine.

In the brief 'Character history' 'owever it says this 'Dumb Kurt is, in 1997, a Liberty City resident who is killed by the protagonist.'

Now, it might be a bit of a nitpick, but considerin' that our mission-giver explicitly says that Kurt 'just hit town' I don't really agree wi' him bein' a resident of LC. It's not clear if Kurt was there t' stay, there on a job, jus' passin' through, attendin' a wedding or whatever else. There's two sentences.

An' the final Wiki I found on the front page of Google 'as an entry on Kurt as parta a 'Characters in GTA 1' page wi' his entry 'aving his name, the fact he has no known Associations an' the brief description 'Dumb Kurt is a hitman who is killed by the protagonist.' which is accurate an' I 'ave no debate with.

Conclusion

So, yeah, that was a very frivolous example, I'm sure yer'll agree. I don't think this random hitman who gets hit from GTA 1 is very important an' I jus' wrote all that, but it highlights somethin' important.

Not all information out there in the world is accurate. Primary sources am better than somebodies words. I day provide any sources that what I jus' said is true, so I might be misleadin' ya meself. Maybe there's a line if y'some'ow fail the mission where there's a line line "Great job, kid, now Dumb Kurt is going to be a problem for us. I'm gonna hit you with a truck." or somethin' like that. I've not actually checked an' I'm admittin' that.

[sya-reul]

Been dead for nearly two months, but I'm still cooking stuff. Including Believe In Ghosts (LB;MR X GT fanfic)...

And one more thing...

That's right, AA and AvA crossover fanfic is cooked pretty well so far! (I told it into AvG Discord server first tho)

New sticks, new crime, new trial and whole new truths behind all of this, and mastermind are coming soon.

And yes, this will go very slowly due to school and my easy-to-break mental, welp.

Still looking forward what it turns out to be :)

[xtruss]

Gun Violence Sees ‘No Solution In Polarized US’ Amid More Mass Shootings

— GT Staff Reporters | April 17, 2023

Tug of Gun Control. Illustration: Liu Rui/Global Times

Gun Violence is Always a Critical Topic During US Elections, but Chinese experts see little hope in the US political circle to address the issue due to its historical complexity and the extremely polarized stances of Democrats and Republicans, even as gun-related tragedies continue to occur in the country.

In the latest reflection of the miserable situation, over the past weekend, Alabama witnessed another mass shooting tragedy in the US, with four deaths and 28 injuries, while the potential Republican presidential candidates still reportedly rejected the idea of more restrictions that could curb the bloodshed as they spoke at the annual gathering of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The Alabama shooting happened the same day that shots were fired into a crowd at a park in Louisville, Kentucky. Two people were killed and four others were wounded.

That incident was the city's second mass shooting in less than a week. On April 10, a gunman killed five people and injured several others at Louisville's Old National Bank, CNN noted.

Across the US, a total of 157 mass shootings have happened this year as of April 16, indicating an average of 1.48 cases per day during this period, according to data released by the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

These shootings have resulted in 12,358 Deaths - with 413 Aged Under 17 - and 9,600 Injuries, according to data updated on Monday on the website.

But former president Donald Trump still insisted that "this is not a gun problem" in his speech on Friday afternoon during the NRA annual gathering. Mike Pence, Trump's vice president, also toed the line by saying that people should "stop trampling on the God-given rights of the American people every time a tragedy happens," according to a New York Times report on Friday.

Lü Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social, pointed out that the issue has been totally politicalized and become a label of partisan conflict in the US.

"In the US, the Democrats have to call for banning or managing guns, while Republicans will definitely stress freedom in owning guns. It's as if they are not Democrats or Republicans if they do not stick to the party's stance," Lü told the Global Times on Monday.

Such polarized stances have resulted in there being no space for the two parties to negotiate over the issue, which Lü deemed as the main reason why the problem of gun violence in the US cannot be resolved at its root.

The is a typical systemic problem of the US, Lü noted.

During the NRA annual meeting, photos of children handling firearms also made the rounds on US social media platforms over the weekend.

Even though the association said that they had rendered the guns at the exhibitions incapable of being fired, gun control advocates slammed the scene as saying "responsible gun owners and parents would not allow a child to put their finger on a firearm's trigger while pointing it at other people - even if they're props," the Insider reported.

Yuan Zheng, deputy director and a senior fellow of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that even though gun violence is always a critical issue during the US elections, they will not play a decisive role.

Gun violence is a complicated issue combining historical and partisan elements as well as social factors. The current polarized US politics is making it even more difficult to solve the problem, which is actually pathetic and indicates the government's lack of capability, according to Yuan.

The US government's inability to address this "mission impossible" has laid bare the decline of US governance capacity, according to a report China released in February revealing the truth and facts of rampant US gun violence.

In June 2022, US President Joe Biden signed into law what was reportedly the most sweeping legislation aimed at preventing gun violence in 30 years.

Biden called the signing of the legislation a "monumental day" and said it was proof that Democrats and Republicans could find common ground on important issues. "God willing, it's going to save a lot of lives," he said.

However, experts see this so-called gun deal as one that just "scratches the surface", as it falls short of the essence of gun control measures expected by the public, such as prohibiting the manufacture, transfer and possession of semi-automatic assault weapons and the transfer and possession of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices; and a change to the age at which a person needs to be to purchase an assault-style weapon.

They deemed the agreement as being just a joint "political show" put on by the Democrats and Republicans to trick the public and win votes during the midterm elections amid an outcry over gun violence following the killing of at least 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022.

[violetsystems]

#personal

For all intents and purposes, I have not actually seen the 1973 film Goncharov as presented by famed director Martin Scorsese. But from what little I've seen from the film's poster, I get the gist of what it's all about in a near Criterion paragraph or two. Three if you've been here long enough to know the truth. You see, I've been around long enough to know how to judge a book by its cover. There's a ton of them sitting on my shelves unread, waiting for that perfect dead time when I'm not worrying about the crime family sagas playing out on my own streets. Even those dramas that I skim in passing just trying to use the public sidewalks I know too well. My life in America for however long I've lived it seems like three different movies. Sort of like Godfathers one through three, I wager there were a couple of sequels to Goncharov which never got to see outside of the bootleg market. I imagine they would be very reminiscent to some of the memories I had from my own adolescence. Like riding around in a Mustang GT listening to Musto and Bones "Dangerous on the Dancefloor" with two daughters of a mafia boss construction worker from a subdivision called Meadowview. Subdivisions in America are their own little fiefdoms held with the promise of home ownership, shady construction deals and cocaine money laundering. I had a crush on one of the sisters but I remember only because I was slightly embarrassed when they sang along word for word to the aforementioned cassette single. Years later I would take a trip to Frankie Bones' home turf in New York to see the original Concrete Jungle venue. I was invited by a Polish girl I met on an online forum who subsequently drugged my drink. It definitely wasn't the first time over the years someone drugged me. In fact, this is probably a regular occurrence dealing with unsavory types in the Sopranos-esque utopia we call America. But this is Goncharov we're talking about. And one fateful night on my birthday only a few years ago, my boss at the time put me in a cab after inviting me out to a disco club. She had invited me to sit at a table which they called bottle service or the vip, whatever that stood for. I had gotten into a scuffle on my way to the club in a neighborhood they called the "Viagra triangle." Everyone who knows me for my erections knows that that's not really my kind of town. But someone tried to throw a punch that night. And the rest I barely remember other than my boss escorting me out of the club and paying for a cab. These were the people I stopped hanging out with. Pretty much after everyone conveniently forgot I was let go from the job I worked at run by the same powerful and politically connected families that made Goncharov such a wild ride in the first place. So you might forgive me of all people for mistakenly thinking I've already seen this movie and its sequels. I don't get paid to be a writer. I don't get paid to do anything except be stalked by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Because my ex boss is too busy touring the world promoting Morbius, the living vampire. That's when she's not doing coke with MMA fighters on company time.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. What made the original Goncharov so memorable to me wasn't the cameos. In my mind, Action Bronson's role as the pizza guy in Goncharov 2 had more of an impact on me cinematically. A step up thematically from the coffin salesmen in the Irishman to be certain. But really, Harvey Keitel's role as the one eyed banker slash financier sticks in my mind as the crux of the poetry of money and power. He does lose the other eye in the sequel and walks around blindfolded but seems to be gifted with the extrasensory prescience to pick Chinese stocks on the Singapore exchange. But he does so without the violent world around him in view and perhaps leads him to a spiritual clarity which is explored more in the third film which I have not seen. My eyesight isn't the greatest either but thanks to contacts from Canada, I'm able to sell my information on the internet and make social media networks the money they need to survive. Hell, maybe they'll sell the entirety of these three paragraphs and make them into a Goncharov tv show with musical guests that won't include me because I'm too close to the source material. After all, my life is eerily similar to the main character of the first film and his obsession with a beautiful supermodel turned international computer hacker. I know what you are thinking, the first mainframe in Russia was called Урал built in 1956. How could Cybill Shepherd's character communicate with Al Pacino so covertly with such a large footprint? The fax machine was invented in 1964. The first memes were shared along the international spy wire during the coldest of wars which begin to thaw at the beginning of Goncharov's opening sequence at a ski lodge. I only own one ski. I found it in the garbage. Kind of like where I found the unmade script for Goncharov 3 : The quickening. But sometimes, true love speaks through the fog regardless of how ancient the technology is. Just look at us on Tumblr. What speaks to us in this little known film is the fact that we can see through bullshit like Andrey Daddano. We know without knowing in the Dune sense of the word which is a little known fact that David Lynch was so inspired by the film he had to mask it in some bullshit obsession like the wizard of oz. Toto, the band, was secretly running secrets for the American government at the time down in Africa in a town of diamond smugglers which birthed the great Elon Musk. David Lynch was so awestruck by the similarities that he invited them to make the soundtrack and secretly studied their every move on the set. In fact, the original Dune is simply Goncharov in space. The spice as the currency for the underworld and the beauty and tyranny of psychedelic liberation. I prefer reverse cowgirl myself but what do I know?

I know one thing. Some people out there think they know everything about my life when they've never looked past the cover art. And the lesson we learn from Goncharov and its little known sequels is that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. I write about it here all the time. Seven or eight years in fact. Maybe more. I don't have to see the movie. I live it. And write about it on the internet for free in order to confuse people enough to be on a level playing field with the rich and untalented. I'm a cameo in my own life most of the time on a Hollywood backlot of broken dreams and confidence tricks. And yet somehow, I'm as famous as some movie that never got made outside of the Czech Republic. What is that worth these days? Not a lot. I have a company that could be construed as going concern if I didn't have the mob, the police, and the terrorists chasing after me every time I go to the grocery store. I'm a slow walker. To me it's more of a parade on the sidewalks of the world's most walkable city. That is when the County Sheriff isn't parked on the aforementioned sidewalk to get coffee from the local dunkin donuts. They drive their squads on that shit too but don't ask me to confirm it. Shortcut for them to to follow me to the bank. A classic scene in the original Goncharov no doubt. How the police came that day to Harvey Keitel's branch to lay on the heat for a bribe? He laid out a penny on the floor to let Pacino know they were onto him and his frequent visits for quarters to do his laundry. The apparel kind not incidentals that happen off his quickbooks reports. Can you write off the laundromat when your constitutional rights are null and void? I don't really think you can. The lines of fantasy and reality are blurred any way you look at it. And in some ways, the world's most dangerous movie that no one can seem to find on streaming services pales in comparison to the shit I have to deal with on a daily basis. I, too, know what it's like to theoretically exist. And yet I'm fine with living it instead of seeing it dramatized by scam artists on the internet trying to dissemble my entire identity to cover up a scandal so big in proportion that some guy had to buy an entire social media network to drown its memory. Can we go back to the mainframe for one second? How many bots do you think it takes to write off your entire company at a loss before you funnel it into crypto with a furry conspiracy's help? Maybe we should ask Mario Ambrosini his thoughts? I'm too busy sharing memes with the people I love to write any more of this garbage. <3 Tim

[aikoiya]

Ooo! I’ve been tagged!

FAVOURITE …

LITERATURE

Fantasy

C.S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (haven't finished it. Can't remember where I left off either. I know that I got to the end of the book where Eragon has an elven sword made & he names it Brisingr, which is evidently a dumb idea according to the smith.)

The Skinjacker Trilogy by Neal Shusterman (though, I've only read the first in the trilogy so far.)

Medieval & Antique Literature, Myth & Folklore

I mostly just flit around depending on my mood or when I’m using other cultures as a basis for something. I especially enjoy mythology & folklore!

I know the most about Greek & Japanese myth, but that by no means makes me an expert.

some Classics

I honestly haven’t read many classics. Though, I’ve been thinking about:

Journey to the West

The Odyssey

Maybe Little Princess

some fanfiction

Dude, “Shadow of a Doubt” & “Phantom of Truth” by HaiJu are both just so well-written!

biographical books

Not too interested in this category.

interesting non-fiction

Not really interested in this category either. Which is sad, because I’d like to get into things like pharmacognosy or gardening or herbology or something.

SHOWS

Fantasy

Avatar the Last Airbender (I know it’s anime, but seriously, it’s fantasy too)

Danny Phantom

Wednesday (yes, there’s some progressive stuff in it, but the show is still quite entertaining)

Jackie Chan Adventures

I’ve recently gotten into Shadow & Bone, but it’s been a bit.

I used to be into Supernatural, but then they turned God into the enemy & I was just like, “yeah no.” (Had they just kept God as an ambiguous entity of divine good, I would’ve been able to stick with it, but alas!)

GARGOYLES!!! (Like, you have no clue!!)

Arcane. (Dear goodness, the character complexities are amazing!)

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!! (I honestly did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did!)

DnD campaigns & other such tabletop rpg stuff on YouTube. Players can be so freaking unhinged! Haven't gotten through the entirety of Vox Machina OR the Mighty Nein.

Sci-Fi

Doctor Who (though, it’s kinda lost a lot of it’s sparkle lately.)

Steven Universe (yes, it’s very progressive, but it’s also very well written & it doesn’t shove it in your face the way other shows do.)

Stranger Things! (Eddiiiiiieeeee!!! 😭)

some Animé

Avatar - The Last Airbender

Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli!!

Naruto was real fun! (NaruHina 4ever!!)

I literally grew up with Dragonball & Dragonball Z. (Also, I don’t care what anyone says, I loved GT!! The turning Goku back into a kid thing was weird though…)

Princess Tutu (I hated how it ended though.)

Inuyasha (The original, because eff Yashahime! Seriously?? Make Sesshōmaru a pedo???)

Fruits Basket

Superheroes

Spiderman!!! (Loved the 90s show growing up!!)

Teen Titan (the original, not Go!)

Batman the Animated Series

Static Shock

MCU before the MSheU

FANDOM QUESTIONS

DO YOU PREFER REAL-LIFE OR ANIMATED SHOWS?

I honestly prefer animated, but if a show is good, then it honestly doesn’t matter.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FANDOM?

Pokemon, I think… Like, I’ve long since disengaged from that, but way back when, I very much enjoyed it.

WHAT’S THE LONGEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN IN A FANDOM? WHAT FANDOM WAS IT?

Danny Phantom. Like… I’ve been here since the beginning & I literally have not left. Send help… XD

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU EVER CONTRIBUTED TO A FANDOM?

Oh, fudge… I’m honestly not sure! It may have been helping a buddy of mine with her fanfic. I’d really recommend reading it! It’s Turnabout Everlasting by JordanPhoenix! Please, support her! She works very hard!

Warning, there is sex.

A PERSON WHO GOT YOU INTO A FANDOM. WHAT FANDOM DID THEY PULL YOU INTO?

Oh, dang… @kaezerdoodles got me into Arcane. The scenes are beautiful & I adore the complex relationships between characters! I also remember once going over to my cousins’ place & my younger cousin had Kingdom Hearts on. Though, I don’t think it was until high school from seeing a friend’s fanart that I eventually checked it out.

NAME A FANDOM YOU DIDN’T CARE / THINK  ABOUT UNTIL YOU SAW IT ALL OVER TUMBLR.

Hmmm… Undertale & Homestuck??? I’ve mostly disengaged from both by now. Undertale, I still have a passing interest in, as I believe that it has some genuine potential if not for the pacifistic, anti-human hypocrisy inherent in the messaging.

But Homestuck! Oof! I’ve cut myself off from that almost entirely! Like, the idea surrounding the story was interesting, but it was just so damn progressive & honestly extremely toxic in a lot of ways! Like, holy balls! The Trolls are incestuous, polyamorous, & I’m pretty damn convinced that they’re also cannibals. Not to mention the fact that damn near everyone is either gay or bi or something. There is literally a singular confirmed straight character & that’s just… *sigh*

HAS TUMBLR CAUSED YOU TO STOP LIKING ANY FANDOMS? IF SO, WHICH AND WHY?

Nope. If I stop liking a fandom, it’s because I discover that there is something wrong with the source material.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR CURRENT FANDOM(S)?

In-general. Eh. I don’t tend to care much about the general fandom unless that fandom actually tends to be pretty damn welcoming.

5 FAVORITE CHARACTERS FROM 5 DIFFERENT FANDOMS.

Danny Phantom

Danny Fenton, Vlad Masters, Dani Fenton, Dan Phantom, Sam Manson, Jazz Fenton, ect.

Avatar - The last Airbender

Iroh, Zuko, Sokka, Toph, & Aang are my faves, but I enjoy most all of the characters honestly.

Legend of Zelda

Link, Zelda, Midna, Tetra, Sidon, Yona, Dorephan, Urbosa, Ganondorf, Daruk, King Rhoam, King of Red Lions, Ezlo, Hylia, the Fierce Deity, I could go on for quite a while!

Also just got into the Linked Universe & it’s pretty fun, but I’m really upset that Jojo didn’t include Spirit Tracks Link!! Him & WW/PH Link are NOT the same!!

A CHARACTER YOU USED TO DISLIKE BUT EVENTUALLY LIKED

Ooo… Give me a minute. I’ll have to think… I might have to come back to this one...

A CHARACTER YOU USED TO LIKE BUT EVENTUALLY DISLIKED

Fucking Sans the Skeleton! (Good grief, I used to enjoy him because he’s funny, but then I realized just how much of a sack of shit he was!)

THE CHARACTER EVERYONE ELSE LOVES THAT YOU DON'T

Sans motherfucking Skeleton! (See above! There is evidence that he is aware of the RESETs, there is evidence that he helped Alphys with the Secret Lab & the Amalgamates. Yet, despite probably being able to figure out that Frisk, a little kid, is most likely being forced to experience death over & over again, he… really does nothing… Like, he said it himself, he promised his buddy behind the door to the Ruins that he’d look after Frisk, but he takes it to the literal & does the absolute bare minimum.)

Undyne (She chased a freaking kid all through Waterfall, throwing spears at that kid with the obvious intent to kill. She outright hates humans, admittedly for an understandable reason, but this is still a kid. Literally, the only reason that she gave Frisk a chance was because Papyrus used reverse psychology on her. However, it makes the friendship seem ingenuine. Not only that, but her bigotry is complete in that literally nothing you can do will satisfy her. If you’re a total pacifist, she calls you a wimp. If you’re not, she despises you for your cruelty. This bitch tells Frisk that everyone would be happier if Frisk were dead. Then, she has the freaking GALL to say that Frisk was a danger to monsters & humans alike in a Genocide run!!)

Alphys (Oh boy… My main issue with Alphys is mostly the fact that she only seemed in any way regretful of the things she did to the Amalgamates. Never once does she seem in any way guilty for what she did to the human souls. Think about it this way, she was extracting determination from them. Which is in-game acknowledged to be what allows human souls to continue to persist after death. Yet, she was taking it from them. Like, let’s not even get into the fact that those souls most likely came from kids because that’s a whole other can of worms that I’m just not mentally prepared to open again at the moment. What’s worse is that it’s confirmed in the Flowey fight that human souls retain a degree of sapience even in death. So, it’s disturbingly possible that those souls felt everything done to them… And that’s… horrible…)

Damn near every stinkin’ monster in Undertale! (Like, holy frick! There were literally characters chanting “Kill All Humans!”)

I also have some problems with Toriel because why didn't she go with the other humans & protect them or at least tell them the truth about how to get out & if they persisted, then train them to survive, but… well, I think that if this were brought to her attention, that she’d own up to it, which, for me… that’s the major issue.

I just… have a bunch of issues with Undertale’s underlying messaging & the hypocrisy of the idea that monsters are full of love, compassion, & hope, yet they are freaking blind to the fact that the simple fact that they know that they can draw out & absorb humans’ souls & that absorbing 7 will turn one into a godlike being proves that they, at the very least, can be serial killers, okay?

They portray humans as merciless & cruel, but it completely flies over their heads the fact that if this were actually true, then none of them would be there to say as such! They also say that humans can’t use magic, yet in the same breath, they say that 7 magicians or wizards or mages or whatever, placed a magical barrier around the Underground. So, which is it? Do humans have magic or don’t they?

THE CHARACTER THAT YOU LOVE BUT EVERYONE ELSE DISLIKES

Asgoire Dreemur (Dude was the king of an entire society imprisoned underground for anywhere between a couple of hundred to several thousand years. The Underground is stated to be becoming overcrowded & for all we know, they could also be becoming short on food. There is also the fact that monsters can enter into a coma & die simply by losing all hope. Asgore also lost both his beloved children, one having been killed by humans. Which is what sparked this whole issue. Yet, something of note is that he instantly regretted it & only continued for the sake of keeping his people’s hopes alive. That in no way excuses what happened as a result, but it makes it more understandable. There’s also the fact that he owns up to the wrong he committed. When you first meet him, you can see the regret oozing off of him. This is something that if he knew of any other way to save his people, you know without a single doubt that he would freaking jump on it! Not only that, but if you kill Flowey in a neutral run then go back to before fighting Asgore, he will literally offer up his soul to let Frisk get out of there. Now, admittedly, provided that the other humans were also kids like Frisk, then I absolutely think that he should’ve reversed the fuck outta that course immediately. This in no way means that I think Asgore should get off. In fact, I think he should’ve been tried & put in jail. At the same time, everything about him tells me that he would own up to his crimes & take full responsibility for them, which… if nothing else, I’d admire him for that.)

Frisk (Too many fans blame Frisk entirely for the Genocide run, saying that they're just fucking with the monsters' lives, & don’t really think about what it’d be like in their shoes. At least, from an actual story-telling & character perspective. Just because this kid is able to RESET doesn't mean they didn't feel the pain of death. This kid is literally being slaughtered over & over again. Repeatedly. They are being told by damn near everyone that, by proxy of being human, they are evil & at fault. That they deserve to die. Think about that… That would mess up an adult, let alone a child. You’re literally gatekept from getting the best ending by so much as damaging a monster even once. Let alone accidentally killing a Froggit one damn time! Yet, the only monsters held culpable for this are Asgore & Flowey. Like, anyone reading this, I recommend going to YouTube & listening to “All The Ways I’ve Died” & on Ao3, I’d definitely recommend reading “Somebody, Anybody” & “A Pacifist By Default,” both by StaringBack. Like, when you really put into perspective all the ways that Frisk is killed & the fact that you have to do so much, juuuust right in order to get these monsters to be willing to spare you, it starts to become much more clear why they might’ve decided to go on a Genocide run. There's only so much that one person can take before they snap.)

Chara (Seriously, if it isn’t Frisk being blamed for everything that happens in a Genocide run, then it’s Chara & this is damn stupid. I admit, Chara is by no means a good person, but I also don’t think that they’re a literal demon.)

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE / MALE SHIPS?

Ash & Misty (I’m pretty sure that this was my first ship…)

Brock &... any nice girl, really (It’s so sad how desperate he is for someone to love!! He’s just so sweet & a really great dude!! I want him to be happy & have someone who loves him as much as he’ll no doubt love her!!)

Goliath & Elisa Maza

Aang & Katara

Link & Zelda

TeLink

Sometimes ZelGan… But only when they're both of age.

Hades & Persephone

Gomez & Morticia Addams

Harry & Genny

Steven Quartz Universe-DeMayo & Connie Mahashwaren

Greg Universe-DeMayo & Rose Quartz/Pink DIamond

Tom & Sabine Dupain-Cheng

Marinette Dupain-Cheng & Adrien Agreste

Alya Cesaire & Nino Lahiffe

Toru & Kyou Soma (Fruits Basket)

Kagome & Sesshomaru

Kagome & Koga

Amethyst Ocean (Danny Fenton & Sam Manson)

Anger Management (Jazz Fenton & Jason Todd)

Serious Chaos (Dani Fenton & Damien Wayne-al Ghul)

Royal Plasma (Vlad Masters & Talia al Ghul; this one’s a bit of a crack ship, but it works surprisingly well.)

Jack & Maddie Fenton (Those 2 may be obsessed with ghosts, but you must acknowledge that their love for each other is as real as Gomez & Morticia! They are legit crazy for each other!)

BatCat

Clark Kent & Lois Lane

Green Lantern & Hawkwoman

Basically any couple from Encanto.

Phoenix Wright & Maya Fey (but only upon entering the second game in the series.)

David Xanatos & Fox

Robin & Starfire

The Joker & Penelope Spectra (But not because they’d be good for each other. No, no. Because they are horrible for each other!! Like gasoline & a box of matches, levels of bad. An unheard of level of toxic! They are a trainwreck in motion & you can envision it long before it actually takes place & much like an actual trainwreck, you can't look away. You know it’s going to end catastrophically, not just for them, but for everyone around them too! You know that meme? “I could make him worse?” That’s this. They would only exacerbate each other’s… just general awfulness & would make it everyone’s problem. Like, you know Gomez & Morticia? A sweet, if dangerous pair that really, genuinely love each other & it makes them all the better for it? This is the anti-Gomez & Morticia.)

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MALE / MALE OR FEMALE / FEMALE SHIPS?

Garnet or Ruby & Sapphire (Though, technically, they aren’t actually female/female as Gems don’t have sexes due to being inorganic.)

While not necessarily a fan, per se, I don’t exactly mind Bubbline. (What can I say, you could see it coming a mile away & it was admittedly well-written.)

I don’t really ship Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy, but I definitely think that this relationship is a hell of a lot healthier for Harley than the freaking Joker ever was!

I generally don’t care much for same-sex couples as far as story goes either, but if they’re legitimately well-written & have real, genuine chemistry, then you know what? I don’t mind!

I think the only “same sex” couple that I legitimately like & support is Garnet.

DO YOU HAVE ANY 3-WAY SHIPS? IF SO, WHAT?

GanZeLink is kinda my guilty pleasure ship. (Though, only when they’re all of age!!)

I don’t typically like 3-way ships, but in certain situations, I can get behind M/F/M ones. However, any more than that, no. Like, it has to specifically be a throuple & not an open relationship. Because if it’s a throuple, then it’s basically saying “no, we are not accepting any more applications.”

I can’t stand “open relationships” because I just… don’t see the point. It’s not a real relationship, because there are no boundaries or any actual loyalty. Let alone any sort of incentive to remain together & actually build something real & deep & dynamic, so why even claim to be in one?

I need structure & exclusivity in my ships, damnit!

A PAIRING YOU SHIP THAT YOU DON’T THINK ANYONE ELSE SHIPS.

My OCs & canon characters.

WHAT’S A SHIP THAT YOU WANT TO SHIP PUBLICLY, BUT EVERYONE ON TUMBLR HATES IT, SO YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT IT?

Don’t honestly care what a bunch of strangers have to say unless they happen to bring up legitimately good points.

EXAMPLES OF NON-SEXUAL/-ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS THAT YOU LIKE

PARENT & CHILD OR MENTOR/MENTEE

Danny Fenton & Vlad Masters. (The whole “only ones of their kind” thing is pretty cool!)

Zelda & Rhoam (Like, I see so many people shitting on him, but he was literally shoved between a rock & the effing impending apocalypse! And his daughter unlocking her magic was the freaking key to all their survivals! Cut the dude some slack! He hated how he was treating her, but he believed it to be the only way!! His regret followed him into his afterlife!! Admittedly, he was a bad dad, but he was also the king & kings have responsibilities.)

Danny Fenton & Dani Fenton

CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS OR SIBLINGS

Link & Sidon are pretty cool. I like them as bros.

Danny Fenton & Tucker Foley

Phoenix Wright & Miles Edgeworth

Danny Fenton & the Bat Kids

Danny Fenton & Dani Fenton (Dani’s his clone, so depending on how it’s framed, it can go either way.)

Danny Fenton & Jazz Fenton

DARK MIRRORS

Link & Ganondorf

Link & Dark Link

Link & Shadow Link

Zelda & Hilda

Danny Fenton & Vlad Masters

Danny Fenton & Dan Phantom

Fucking Aang & Zuko!!

Just anything where the hero or even the villain looks at their opposite & realizes that they aren’t so different after all. (Or even just the audience while the characters remain clueless! I’m specifically talking about “The Storm” from AtLA.) But, less in a “Mwahaha! We aren’t so different! JOIN ME IN EVIIIILLL!!!” sort of way & more so in an introspective way.

YOUR FAVORITE THEMES / FANDOM TRENDS.

fantastical / mythological elements

I freaking love mythology. Humans come up with some of the most insane stuff!

magical elements

I just generally lean more towards magic than science.

scientifically or logically sound elements and reasoning

Like, if it takes irl science into account, then it sorta itches this spot in my head. :)

Consequences & realistic expectations

There tends to be an issue in certain media where fans & sometimes even creators, don’t honestly sit down & legitimately think about how something would actually work. Things like my rants regarding Undertale.

But for another example, the choice to make the Gerudo a female-only race that chooses to live in a sexually segregated society. I see a ton of fans seeming to think that living in a female only society would somehow magically make that society into some sort of feminist paradise. However, I see it very differently.

If anything, I believe that it would actually cause them to become, like, medieval levels of conservative. Like, think about it. These women get a singular male every hundred years, which forces them to go at this not from a “I’m a girlboss, I don’t need no man,” but rather “if I don’t find a man & have as many kids as possible, I could very well be contributing to the extinction of my people” perspective. There is zero chance that they’d be accepting of homosexuality in other Gerudo because the pressure to go out, find a man, & have kids must be absolutely insane! There is also zero chance that they’d be in any way interested in a transman &, in fact, it is far more likely that they would be extremely bigoted towards one. Because being part of a female only society that still reproduces the same way as any other human means that they are forever on the cusp of extinction & no one seems to truly take this fact in! Realistically speaking, each & every Gerudo woman would need to have at the very least 1 kid bare minimum in order to reliably keep the death rate & birth rate at evens. Because, if they don’t then that means that some other Gerudo has to have more in order to pack up the slack! And ideally, they should have 2, if not 3, each in order to account for unfortunate tragedies like being killed by a Lynel or something!

Yet, despite this, these girls are generally taken from their homes & their fathers at 3-5 years old & barred from interacting with males until they are at the very least 18. It’s no damn wonder they need a freaking required class to teach them how to interact with men, these women are ridiculously ill-socialized!

And let's not even approach how Ganondorf or any other Centrnnial King would most likely be affected by this.

Girls are affected very negatively by not having father figures. Boys... most likely even worse.

I just... *sputters* let's just say that I can see why he turns into a tyrant so often. I'd legitimately loose my damn mind if I were the only chick in an all male society & I had no contact with any other women until 18.

accountability

See rant regarding Undertale above.

sarcasm & dry humor

Witt is wonderful. I especially like banter. I love British humor especially.

depth and complexity in character portrayal & a well thought-out backstory

Fuck yes!! I love this sort of thing! Not to mention character interaction!

complicated, long and well thought-out redemption arcs

Ah, dude! I love this shit. Like, Zuko was peak, but Vegeta was also pretty damn good.

character growth through self-reflection & exposure to loved ones

This is one of my faves. I really freaking enjoy exploring what I think it would take to redeem a villain. Who I think it would take to begin for them to want to be better, not just for their loved one, but for themselves. Playing those characters against each other in an organic way & causing them to grow & develop as people.

villain/anti-hero & (anti-)heroine pairings (or vice versa)

This shit is my Kryptonite. Like I said, redeeming villains (that I actually think can be redeemed) is so freaking fun! There’s just something spicy about a villain & heroine/morally gray anti-hero that is really interesting!

partners that are of equal rank in a relationship - plus healthy relationships, for a change

Dude, you reading my mind or something? 

happy and loving (not to mention enduringly passionate) committed relationships / marriage

It’s honestly a bit disconcerting just how many fave tropes we have in common…

monogamous unions + fidelity

Fuck! YEAH!!! Love this!!

eternal love / twin flames / soulmates / however you want to call it

I’m very weak for this one.

Even in situations where 2 people are eternal enemies, there’s just something about people being bound together on a spiritual level that’s so freaking compelling.

However, it has to be done right!

Twilight is not such an example because it removes something truly crucial from the equation: choice!

If the soulmates aren’t choosing of their own accord to be together, then I just really don’t like it. Especially not the way that Stephanie Meyer did it.

It didn’t matter if one didn’t want to be with the other, didn’t matter if they were with someone else at the time; once they met their soulmate, they were forced to be together & not in the Beauty & the Beast way.

“Are they healthy for each other? Do they have any sort of chemistry? Phhht! Who cares, they’re made for each other, therefore they’re together because I say so! Doesn’t matter if the relationship is toxic or if one abuses the other & never stops. Doesn’t even matter if they’re in love with someone else! I made them for each other & I’m gonna force them to be together!”

Eff that shit!

het content

Preferred! Absolutely preferred!

sexual portrayals of relationships

Depends on how I'm feeling. I'm not opposed to smut, but I want plot & emotions!

And nothing unsanitary! *shutters*

portrayal of female characters where being badass and being feminine isn’t mutually exclusive

THIS MOTHERFUCKER!!! THIS!!! I hate the way that the MCU is going! And I hate that these women aren't allowed to be flawed or make mistakes or be wrong!

Part of what made Disney’s animated Mulan so compelling was the fact that she didn't go into this looking to be Ms. Girlboss. She did it to save her father! She was also allowed to fail & get back up again! Which I love! I don't wanna perfect character! I can have perfect when I get to heaven! Give me the freaking underdog story!

Ooooo! *seethes* I despise what they did to SheHulk… That show was a freaking trashfire…

“I Am” songs & Suspiciously Apropos Music

I've always loved musicals & these tropes work very well with that.

the apotheosis/reincarnation theme

Now, I don’t believe in reincarnation, but I do think it’s really convenient in certain stories if used correctly. Especially in situations like with soulmates.

Twin AU

I don't know why, but I love to take heroes in media & just give them twin sisters.

It's been like this for years! But the key is making that twin sister a fully-fleshed character of her own with her own wants, desires, flaws, & struggles that she has to deal with.

INVENT A RANDOM AU FOR ANY FANDOM (WE ALWAYS NEED MORE IDEAS).

Phantom Frost AU

Where Danny Phantom is the reincarnation of Jack Frost from RotG.

Scooby-Doo & the Hunter’s Life AU

Go here.

LoZ: The Prince of the Gerudo

Just click.

LoZ: War of the Dunes

Clicky-clicky.

Tagging:

@kaezer, @coolestzed, @alasse-earfalas.

Have fun!

Fandom Meme

I guess this here needed an update. It’s been a while ... several years to be precise.

If you want to do this, too, feel welcome to. ^^

Can I tag you guys, @monkey-li, @mikeilo & @aikoiya !?

I'm just curious ...

—

FAVOURITE …

LITERATURE

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, etc.

M.Z. Bradley’s Avalon-Novels & Firebrand

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter

Medieval & Antique Literature, Myth & Folklore

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

The Edda

Nibelungenlied

works of Walther von der Vogelweide

Arthurian Romances - like Erec, Iwein, Parzival, etc.

Gregorius

Aeneasroman

Iliad & Odyssee

Murasaki Shikibu’s “Genji Monogatari” (the language is really beautiful, but I can’t stand the protagonist, old philanderer that he is)

some Classics

Pride & Prejudice

Wuthering Heights

The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

The Picture of Dorian Grey

Dracula

Faust I+II

Macbeth

The Life and Opinions of Tomcat Murr

works of the Brothers Grimm

Siddharta

some “regular” novels

Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist”, “Brida”

Nobara Takemoto’s “Shimotsuma Monogatari”

some fanfiction

“Father’s Heart” & “Process of Elimination” by Fern Withy

“Antiquity’s Corollary” by gonnabefamous

biographical books

Mineko Iwasaki’s “Geisha of Gion”

Paramahansa Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi”

Baird T. Spalding’s “Life and Teachings of the Masters of the East”

interesting non-fiction

such as science-related books / websites

those of a more metaphysical & occult subject matter

or those about more controversial topics, such as Extraterrestrials, so-called “conspiracy theories”, and the like (Problem!? Your loss. I don’t see why I shouldn’t look into these topics. It certainly is interesting, and it’s quite arrogant to assume we have it all figured out. Besides, no one says you have to believe anything you read, but it sure can’t hurt to approach things with a more open mind, and to just look where evidence leads us, when it presents itself.)

SHOWS

Fantasy

Game of Thrones (until D&D started messing things up)

Princess Fantaghiró

Buffy

Wednesday (it`s not too bad, but still quite entertaining)

Sci-Fi

Star Wars - The Clone Wars

The Mandalorian

Star Trek TOS

Doctor Who

some Asian dramas

Gou - Himetachi no Sengoku

Atsu-Hime

Ryomaden

Neko Samurai

some Animé

Avatar - The Last Airbender

several works of Hayao Miyazaki

Leiji Matsumoto’s “Queen Millenia” & “Maetel Legend”

Sailor Moon

Naruto  (not anymore, but I still keep it here, for nostalgia reasons)

FANDOM QUESTIONS

DO YOU PREFER REAL-LIFE OR ANIMATED SHOWS?

Both, although there is a definite bias towards the former.

With the latter it greatly depends on the overall quality of the show, as well as the style in which it is presented.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FANDOM?

As a child I had quite some:

Disney Ducks, Pippi Longstocking, Ronja Rovarsdóttir, Princess Fantaghirò, Queen Millenia, and The Addams Family.

While I never was a gamer myself, I very much loved to watch others play games - especially the classic Sonic games, as well as the Super Mario ones … which you can (somewhat) call a childhood fandom of mine, too.

WHAT’S THE LONGEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN IN A FANDOM? WHAT FANDOM WAS IT?

I'm in the Star Wars fandom since the age of twelve, which, in fact, was some years before the prequels came out.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU EVER CONTRIBUTED TO A FANDOM?

A drawing of Princess Leia, if I remember correctly.

A PERSON WHO GOT YOU INTO A FANDOM. WHAT FANDOM DID THEY PULL YOU INTO?

@mikeilo got me interested in Prince Phobos (W.I.T.C.H.) several years ago, but to say that I was “involved” in the fandom is a bit too much. It was more about this particular character, though.

NAME A FANDOM YOU DIDN’T CARE / THINK  ABOUT UNTIL YOU SAW IT ALL OVER TUMBLR.

No idea.

Tbh, I hardly search for fandom stuff on Tumblr - given experience showed me that the majority here and I don’t get along, taste-wise.

HAS TUMBLR CAUSED YOU TO STOP LIKING ANY FANDOMS? IF SO, WHICH AND WHY?

No, why should I let a community affect my love for a fandom!? It’s not the fandoms’ / characters’ / authors’ fault that some people are just plain disagreeable and obtrusive.

If anything, it has just reinforced my aversion against the things I disliked from the get-go - especially if there is some “activist” fanaticism, connected with aggressive, proselytizing behaviour involved.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR CURRENT FANDOM(S)?

Ambivalent.

There are some obnoxious brats, which should be ignored at best. Drama is a waste of time and energy!

Then again, there are also some very nice people out there.

Most of the time I prefer to have just a few contacts, anyway - i.e. like-minded ones I & my preferences & convictions get along with. Those, I do appreciate greatly, though.

5 FAVOURITE CHARACTERS FROM 5 DIFFERENT FANDOMS.

Star Wars

Darth Vader / Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa, Padmé Amidala, Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade-Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Satine Kryze, Bo-Katan Kryze, Merrin, Asajj Ventress, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Cal Kestis, Arc Trooper Fives, Captain Rex, Hondo Ohnaka, Greez, Firmus Piett, Chewbacca, R2D2

Tolkien

Mairon / Sauron (but only my headcanon version … the canon one is just awful + the popular fanon one is insufferable, sry), Nienna, Aulë, Olórin, Aiwendil, Rúmil of Tirion, Finrod, Maglor, Thranduil, Tauriel, Lúthien, Galadriel, Nerdanel, Haleth, Eowyn, Faramir, Aragorn, Kili, Samwise

Harry Potter

Severus Snape, Luna Lovegood, Fred & George Weasley, Hagrid, Andromeda Tonks, Regulus Black, Leta Lestrange, the genuinely nice Slytherin students that JKR forgot to mention, Queenie Goldstein, Newt Scamander

Avatar - The last Airbender

Ozai, Ursa, Zuko, Iroh, Katara, Toph, Suki, Sokka, Ty Lee, Aang, Kyoshi, Roku, Master Piandao, Cabbage Guy, Appa

Legend of Zelda

Link, Zelda, Midna, Impa, Purah, Robbie, Urbosa, Riju, Patricia, Revali, Teba, Tulin, Kass, Mipha, Sidon, Yona, Dorephan, Daruk, Yunobo, Bludo, Deku Tree, Terrako, Epona, some Koroks & Bokos (they're a bit anoying, but cute)

Only five characters per section, wasn’t it!? … Nevermind.

A CHARACTER YOU USED TO DISLIKE BUT EVENTUALLY LIKED

Jaime Lannister (book version)

A CHARACTER YOU USED TO LIKE BUT EVENTUALLY DISLIKED

Loki

THE CHARACTER EVERYONE ELSE LOVES THAT YOU DON'T

Melkor

James Potter

Sheldon Cooper

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FEMALE / MALE SHIPS?

Mairon & Morvanië (an OC of mine - the “Vani” I happen to mention sometimes)

Finrod Felagund & Amarië

Beren Erchamion & Lúthien Tinúviel

Aragorn Elessar & Arwen Undómiel

Anakin Skywalker & Padmé Amidala

Obi-Wan Kenobi & Satine Kryze

Cal & Merrin

Ivo Robotnik & Adelia Sigrún Sharpe (another OC)

Ozai & Ursa

Zuko & Katara

Link & Zelda

King Boo & Hellen Gravely

Hades & Persephone

Vlad Dracula & Mina Harker

Gomez & Morticia Addams

Rhett Butler & Scarlett O'Hara

Mr. Darcy & Lizzie Bennett

Spike & Buffy Summers

Severus Snape & Lily Evans

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE MALE / MALE OR FEMALE / FEMALE SHIPS?

Albus Dumbledore / Gellert Grindelwald

Willow Rosenberg / Tara Maclay

I can’t say that I’m all that emotionally involved in any of these, though, other than finding them somewhat interesting regarding the dynamic between the characters.

If these weren’t canonical pairings already, I would probably never even have thought of them as a romantic shipping constellation at all, as it’s a theme that neither concerns, nor interests me when it comes to the dynamic between characters of the same sex.

Friendships are an entirely different matter, though. But that wasn’t the subject of this question here, was it!?

DO YOU HAVE ANY 3-WAY SHIPS? IF SO, WHAT?

No! I don’t like this theme at all.

A PAIRING YOU SHIP THAT YOU DON’T THINK ANYONE ELSE SHIPS.

My OC / canon ones … alas. T_T

WHAT’S A SHIP THAT YOU WANT TO SHIP PUBLICLY, BUT EVERYONE ON TUMBLR HATES IT, SO YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT IT?

I’m just doing my thing. If anyone doesn’t like it then that isn’t my problem.

EXAMPLES OF NON-SEXUAL/-ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS THAT YOU LIKE

PARENT & CHILD

Darth Vader & Leia Organa - The father / daughter dynamic between these two has always fascinated me a lot.

Mairon & Alcanis - The "vaniron" kid, also a complicated case. (OC headcanon)

Ozai & Zuko - Dramatic ...

Severus Snape & Harry Potter - I love the snily ship, so I headcanon Snape as Harry's biological father, because why not ... it's interesting.

CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS

Anakin & Obi-Wan & Ahsoka

Luke & Han

Frodo & Sam

Finrod & Beren

Fingon & Maedhros

Ratbag & Ranger (from the Tolkien-based "Shadows of War" game - the only known orc friendship)

YOUR FAVOURITE THEMES / FANDOM TRENDS.

fantastical / mythological elements

As someone who has always been fascinated by ancient myths, I can’t help but love this stuff.

magical elements

Given I am interested in these subjects, I very much like to see (and incorporate) these themes in the fictional universes and characters I like.

anachronistic elements / fusion of different historical period styles

For example, say, Cyber Victorian (garments that combine Victorian era designs with a Matrix style twist, plus futuristic technology, and a setting in a likewise futuristic world)

scientifically sound elements and reasoning

I think this is a quite important aspect, especially in sci-fi.

philosophically & politically inspiring + visionary elements

Such as caste-free social structures & natural law anarchy (not to be confused with the “rule of force” one, let alone the woke version).

scientists, explorers, philosophers & (martial) artists

I just happen to enjoy seeing these types of characters.

sarcasm & dry humour

It certainly adds some “spice” to the mixture.

characters with a scorpionic & virgoan influence

Many of my faves have this, especially the scorpionic one.

depth and complexity in character portrayal & a well thought-out backstory

Should be a given, but unfortunately isn't, more often than not - especially these days. Shame!

complicated, long and well thought-out redemption arcs

If not canon, I’ll do it myself.

I've always been fascinated by the concept of redemption.

In connexion with my favourite villains, it is a theme I am quite obsessed with and can't do without, as I find evil as such not appealing at all. In fact, what makes these characters attractive to me is their power & potential, and not their misuse of it. The process of redemption finally brings said potential out and puts it to good use, which I find deeply satisfying.

Plus there is also the element of defying the forces of darkness, who always twist and pervert - and this is the ultimate solution to it, making everyone and everything whole again.

Imho, redemption arcs are a great "f**k you" to the devil & I love it all the more for that!

happy developments & outcomes for my faves

Because I simply can't have it otherwise.

villain/anti-hero & (anti-)heroine pairings (or vice versa)

It’s a dynamic that I find particularly intriguing - always have - also regarding the redemption theme.

partners that are of equal rank in a relationship - plus healthy relationships, for a change

Especially where you least expect it (see pairing constellation), and where both partners had to work on themselves to achieve it (i.e. realism doesn’t hurt, now does it!?).

happy and loving (not to mention enduringly passionate) committed relationships / marriage

Just like Morticia & Gomez ... *sigh*

monogamous unions + fidelity

Guys as committed as Anakin, Snape, and Gomez are the best!

eternal love / twin flames / soulmates / however you want to call it

Regarding OTPs this theme is an absolute must!

het content

Why yes, that’s just my personal preference, as that is something I can actually relate to.

not overly sexualized portrayals of relationships

I just don't want to see the gross explicit content. It's enough when it's just hinted at.

portrayal of female characters where being badass and being feminine isn’t mutually exclusive

Because it is NOT!

the apotheosis theme

Mortality sucks ... and who wouldn’t want to ditch everything awful that comes with it!? Like diseases, aging - begone!

INVENT A RANDOM AU FOR ANY FANDOM (WE ALWAYS NEED MORE IDEAS).

Star Wars

Darth Vader doesn’t die and gets the chance for an actual redemption arc, atoning for his ill deeds as the Dark Lord - as an act of purification and reclaiming his original, true name - as well as helping the Alliance free the galaxy. (given how powerful he is, his contribution would be immense)

more importantly - he finally has the opportunity to make up with and actually get to know his children - especially Leia. That has always bugged me a great deal. Ani didn’t even get the chance to talk to his daughter. There is just too much focus on the father-son dynamic anyway. Nothing against Luke – love him, but it’s just not right that Leia was being left out of it almost entirely. Plus she is the one that resembles her father more (personality-wise) after all. I’d so have loved to see a confrontation of these two. (not to mention some cute father-daughter moments, eventually)

not a must, but - ideally, Padmé didn’t die, either, and just fell into a coma / was kept in a stasis until after the events of RotJ … I want a Skywalker family reunion! T^T

[gotenandtrunkz]

Consummate post of Truten scenarios

Bc honestly sometimes it just eats me up inside

- they're hanging out as guy friends and bros but then what they thought they could do as a normal encounter ends up registering a bit differently, e.g. they watch porn together and it gets weird rather than they being confident theough to the end, they kiss for fun and for the sensory input but it ends up feeling like a bit more than that, they take a sensual bath and the line between metairony and genuinity gets crossed, they make out, Goten sticks his tongue in Trunks's ear and Trunks actually likes it, etc etc

- they dont see each other for a while (incidentally, they have a falling out, trunks goes into space in GT, etc) and when they reconnect they are very happy to see each other and the consummate (sorry to use that word twice in the same post) affection has no reason to limit itself to the accepted conventions of platonic intimacy. But this is a Truten post so they fall in love as well

- maybe not romantic maybe not sexual but they develop a sensual relationship. I can see that . That's pretty much what I've been saying. Sensual attraction. Goten does love to bite ppl that's true

- The idea that one of them is Not Straight and has some sort of attraction for the other and it probably goes unrecognized for years. Breaks my heart. Then they fall in love ❤

- "just a little bit" by Kids of 88 but with less sex appeal . Trunks is stressed out from work and Goten in his sensory-seeking ways gets him to take a bath with him and there are bubbles and scents and hes rubbing his shoulders and Trunks doesnt know how he got here in life but also hes not surprised bc Goten has always been this way. Domt know where I was going w this one. Well I can see it feeling a bit like, like Goten's lust for strange encounters is insatiable. Like Trunks has no choice and has never had a choice in the matter. But this is a lifetime truth so hes not feeling indignant or defensive, hes just resigned to this weird back rub with no thoughts or feelings in his head. And it feels almost selfish and scary in that sense, like bonding with someone who needs you rather than who loves you; like Goten just needs to have this sensory bathtub adventure and it has nothing to do with Trunks, and this is going to go on until they die and no satisfaction will be reached for either party. But if Trunks were to express any of this in words then Goten would be like "Trunks what the fuck are you talking about." And honestly yeah that was some weird shit to say tbh. Trunks isnt a sensory seeker in the same way but he does have a certain relationship with the senses (his sense of smell is very particular and sensitive I think for example) (it's the family autism) (Tarble is the same way btw) and having been reared alongside Goten has only made that more true. But Goten doesn't think of it like that and he honestly finds fulfillment in sensory adventures. He loves to be able to do this. And he loves being helpful tbh. Hes glad that Trunks is willing to try to relax and let him do this. Like honestly "dont worry abt nothing" type of relaxation. Align-your-chakras-and-come-back-to-yourself relaxation. The one thing tho is that Goten has put on some "mood music" that is Rob Zombie playing on low. But then they fall in love anyway

- smth abt the back of Goten's neck in GT. His clean hairline. Something abt Trunks coming back from space a changed man and he and Goten catch up and end up at the skatepark after dark like old times and they share a hug. Something abt the gentle scent of Goten's neck, the exposed skin and clean hairline. Smth abt comfort and familiarity and titillation all the same. Something about "Dude did you just sniff my hair." Anyway

- idk smth the pain and frustration of falling in love w someone you're already sick of but having a knot in your chest to contend w anyway really gets to me. It strikes fear in my heart I think

- FROOT OLIVER NELSON MIX. Young love and all that. The majesty of what predates language. The ardent mystery of love and sex and the winds that you cant see but drive you nonetheless. Thoroughly distressing yet inexorable. Your very necessary mind is meant to just accept that it cant understand what it cant put into words. Really gets to me sometimes

- Oh yeah and of course the idea that Trunks is the president of capsule corp and he lets that slag Goten waltz up into his office and sit on all of his furniture

- Goten is NOT a slag but a very caring soul <3

- Trunks is honestly a very chill dude. And Goten doesnt really give a shit about anything. Therefore the objectively correct way to portray Truten is that theres no drama or feeling but they just like start dating or whagever. But this post is for the things that really get to me sometimes so we're not gonna include that stuff

- Goten Shows Off His Gay4Pay Skillz and slonks silly-sloppy on his shit WITH the scallywag swag. And then they fall in love

- the idea that there are some real constrained emotions present. Teen angst and "I hate you so much" by Anarbor. Whatever

- Oh I forgot about the one wjere Trunks has to wear braces for his janked up city-boy teeth and Goten finds it disturbing and irresistible that he has metal in his mouth ("it's not natural....") and he keeps trying to lick his braces and he keeps trying to get Trunks to eat gummy things so that he can clean his braces with his tongue like a fun scavanger hunt. And literally Goten is the one who keeps putting his mouth on his but he keeps reeling back and with genuine fear saying "DUDE STOP TRYING TO KISS ME! IM JUST TRYING TO LICK YOUR BRACES.." and Trunks is literally not doing anything hes just trying to keep his eyes on his video game and hes angry about this. And Goten keeps kissing him anyway. I'm sorry this was suppsoed to be a serious post let me try again. Ok how about Goten is self-assured in this and keeps trying to tempt him with gummy worms and the such and he knows on some level that hes being funny but honestly he doesnt know what this is doing to his buddy Trunks. Like this is the most action thag Trunks has ever had and idk hes saving face but sometimes he plants bags of gummy worms where Goten will see them just to put the idea in his head. And he does this with shameful and desperate fervor. And he plays it so cool and is like "Goten that is SICK I'm not gonna let you do that again.." and he means it and the disgust is real. But on some level he craves the intimacy of having someone lick his braces. It's fucked up

I think that's pretty much it thanks for listening lol... Post originally drafted on 8.31.22

[dballzposting]

Dear Diary. I think that Goten and Palace-chan and Trunks could do a throuple or polycule or whatever. I think they could do it FOR LIFE. Truth is Trunks has nothing else going on. After a certain point hes just not interested in the hassle of meeting new people and trying to nail down a date. He doesnt care. He doesnt care about having a girlfriend and it's not like hes especially attracted to guys in any discernible way either. (Saying this bc GT Trunks still gives me those light aroace vibes..). When it comes to a lifelong partner, he feels he needs one, but it doesnt need to be "romantic" by any social definition, there just needs to be intimacy and security and support. This is where Goten, whom he already knows and is well-bonded with, comes in. Trunks is just not interested in taking the time to forge a deep connection with somebody else .. he already did that. Theres really no reason to do it again.

Goten however always thought that hed have a wife and kids someday and he cant shake that desire and shouodnt have to. What's more he NEEEDS a gf like he LOVES having a gf. He loves having romance with sweet women. Fuck yeah. If he and his buddy Trunks started dating it would be really easy bc they already love eachother and the affection comes naturally but it would be hard too becasue even though it's fulfilling in the moment, Goten worries about his maidenless future ...

And so eventually Trunks would cut him loose becasue he knows what's good for him and it's sad becasue remmeber Trunks has nothing else going on except for Goten but it's actually not sad becasue theyre still best friends so what is he actually losing? It feels bitter and scary in the moment however, when you start trying to push or pull the people in your life to fit into roles that may or may not even involve you in the end.

However Palace-chan would love to have two boyfriends if they were cute. And I think she'd think that Trunks is cute becasue why wouldnt she .. all the other ladies do. I think that theyd get along really well..!!!! I always thought that and maybe it's just because shes his BFF's GF so they have to get along but think about it ... Think about it.

Trunks didnt want to take the time to meet new people so he just sticks with who he has and that was a great investment becasue now Goten has introduced him to a lovely lady whom he gets along really well with. They talk candidly, and in all of her airheadedness, shes used to adapting to things she didnt know before; whether it's the existence of ice cream or the existence of aliens, she'll respond to and readily accept all sorts of info . And she's great to talk to for that reason bc she'll be surprised by what you're saying and then she'll ask for more details and now you get to talk abt yourself and she'll listen and be like "wow I didnt know that" and like Literally nobody has EVER let Trunks talk about robot shit for an hour and a half before but by god Palace did. Both parties compromising to reach an understanding between the broad disparity of their knowledge. Sorry I'm just musing uselessly let's get back to the post

So they all get along really well and they all like each other a lot and they all feel loved and theres support and care between them all. Palace-chan is like Trunks's other BFF. Goten is his actual BFF whom he thinks is cute (but he wont say that to anyone but Goten and Palace). He thinks Palace-chan is adorable too becasue that is an objective fact. Trunks and Palace are like Goten's girlfriends (this is what Goten says and Trunks always jabs him for this.) Palace is Goten's darling and they will wed one day and when they do Trunks will live with them. And one day Trunks asked "am I going to help you raise the kids? Are they going to be, like, my kids? Am I going to be another dad or am I just going to be, like, some guy?" and Goten responds "you'll be like a Piccolo to them" and they have a sensible chuckle but it doesnt really answer the question. The true question of course being, what does Trunks want to be in this equation? It takes a while to occur to any of them but eventually Palace brings up that if she has a kid with Goten, could she have a kid with Trunks too? And Trunks is thrown by this and is like, "dude, Goten, then our kids would be siblings, man" and Goten is like "I know thatd be so weird like, our fathers are rivals and their grandkids are siblings? That's crazy man" and Trunks is like "DUDE. Our fathers are the only true-blooded saiyans left , shouldnt you and I consider it our duty to stop their bloodlines from running into eachother and fizzling out? Or, alternatively, shoukdnt we have kids of our own who dont share a mother so that they can potentially copulate and keep the saiyan blood strong?" to which Goten responds "You want our kids to not be siblings so thag they can copulate? That's fucked up man. Why dont we just skip the middleman and have you and I copulate." and here Palace interrupts and says almost sadly "oh, is there another woman you want to be the mother of your children...?" and they're both like "No no no this is all hypothetical..." and that's when Trunks realizes that theres really nothing he can do to stop Vegeta's bloodline from ending with Kakarot's at just the third generation down. It's up to Bra to keep the bloodlines separate and thriving now ....

Trunks isnt Palace's BF but he is her BF's BFF and they do all kiss and stuff and she thinks hes cute and she loves him. And if they're hanging out just the two of them and people mistake them to be a couple they absolutely go with it. Trunks isnt her boyfriend and she isnt his girlfriend but they are eachother's Sweetheart. She admires him a lot and probably defaults to "-san" (while with her beloved Goten shes comfortable using -kun or really -senpai) and Trunks always tells her that she doesnt need to use a suffix at all but she thinks that's strange. And he probably calls her -kun in public and -chan when theyre all hanging out together. Goten will call them both -chan becasue thats the kind of guy he is.

And they all love each other the end....

[spirit-small]

This is part TWOOOO of Phoenix Wright: Ratattorney in: The Tiniest Turnabout so don’t read this is you haven’t read part one. Don’t read this if you haven’t read @sa-gt-tarrius​ ‘s The Tiniest Turnabout either. Actually don’t read anything if you haven’t read The Tiniest Turnabout because clearly you don’t have taste. Although to be fair at this point it’s very much diverged from canon (fanon?) to a point that it’s almost unrecognizable and will only continue to do so. So like. Maybe this is enjoyable in a vacuum to some extent. I don’t know. Follow your heart, Ratattorney Nation. You know yourself and your taste better than I could ever pretend to. We all wear a mask and the only one that can truly know our true selves is ourselves. What a lonely existence, and yet one we all share. Hauntingly beautiful, in a way.

Phoenix approaches the edge of safety, watching Edgeworth intently but desperately avoiding his gaze. He’s drawn to the machine, the very one that shrunk Maya. It's smoking. Probably damaged.

"Hrmmm..." Edgeworth inspects it thoroughly. "Someone was in here. Detective? Has anyone else accessed this room since I left?"

"Ummm..." Phoenix can't see the detective but he can hear him shuffling papers around. "Just the defense attorney, Ms. Fey, sir!"

Edgeworth grumbles and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Of course it was her. Is she still in the vicinity? I have some choice words for that amateur about tampering with my crime scene."

Maya comes up behind Phoenix, watching the beans investigate as well. "I'll show him tampering..." Maya sticks her tongue out at him.

"Don't." Phoenix pushes Maya back a little bit. Edgeworth turns and walks back, past them, his step shaking the floor and knocking Maya off balance and crashing to the floor.

She makes a little noise when she falls, and Edgeworth pauses, thinking he heard something. He listens for it again, and Phoenix and Maya stand perfectly still, staring at him, just hoping he doesn't look down.

For a moment that feels like an eternity, the three of them are still and silent. Edgeworth listening for a sound Phoenix and Maya refuse to make. Edgeworth makes a little "hm" sound, and leaves the room. Phoenix and Maya don't dare make a noise, they don't dare relax.

Phoenix helps Maya up to her feet and she immediately pulls him in for a hug. They stay like that, for a minute, until Phoenix breaks the silence.

"It's okay. You're gonna be fine. Come on, let's go check out that machine before anyone else shows up." Phoenix pats her back and Maya puts her fists up near her head in a show of determination.

Phoenix steps out from cover, making sure the coast is really as clear as it seems. He signals for Maya to follow, and they approach the floor beneath the machine.

"Alright, so walk me through it. What, exactly, did you do to this thing?" Phoenix rubs his finger on his chin, examining the area.

"Nothing! It just started beeping and talking about overheating or whatever and... Shpew! I was tiny." Maya stretches her arms out wide when she says shpew.

"Shpew?"

"That's the noise it made! Y'know like... Krakaboom, or pchoo!"

"You we're just, standing here, didn't touch anything, and then it just... Shpewed?"

"Yep!"

"Maya... Don't lie to me. I'm not mad at you, I just want to get you back to normal so we can continue our investigation. So come on, tell me what button you pressed."

"I'm telling the truth! I never touched it!"

"Hmmm..." Phoenix looks up at the machine. "Let's get a closer look." He jumps and grasps onto a bundle of wires, climbing up to the machine.

Maya tries to follow him, but can't manage to climb past the first couple of inches. She slides down and falls to her knees on the floor.

“How do you even do that?!” she calls up to him.

“Do what?” Phoenix shows no sign of slowing down and pulls himself up onto the platform.

“What do you mean ‘do what’?! That! Where did you get these insane climbing skills?! Were you raised in the circus?!?”

“What? This? This is just like, basic borrower stuff. Why are you struggling so much?”

Maya pouts and crosses her arms. “I’m pretty average for a human I think...” she grumbles.

“Just stay down there, that’s probably better anyway. Stand right where you were when this thing got you the first time, I’m gonna try hitting some buttons at random and see where that gets us.”

“Great idea!” Maya jumps to her feet. Phoenix presses a button, and...

Nothing happens.

Phoenix presses another button, and...

Nothing happens.

“I wish this thing had a manual...” he mutters to himself. Then he presses a third button, and... nothing happens.

“I think you broke it!” Maya yells.

“If anybody broke it, it was you. I mean look at this thing, there’s still smoke coming out of it! You really did a number on this thing for someone who didn’t even touch it.” Phoenix rolls his eyes and climbs back down to the floor.

“Hold it! There is zero evidence that I had anything to do with it!” Maya points an index finger at him.

“Nice lawyer talk, kid. You’re really getting the hang of this.” He pats her head as he walks past, motioning for her to follow. “Come on. If we can’t fix this just yet we’re gonna have to get on some borrowing.”

“And me without my needle sword.”

Phoenix makes a little sarcastic laugh and approaches a vent near the floor. He pulls on it and it doesn’t give even a millimeter. “Alright, now, see here, this is a perfect learning experience."

"Ohhh you're really enjoying this rope-showing, aren't you. Fffuuuuunnnnn." Maya looks at Phoenix with an exasperated expression.

"Yes. I am. Now pay attention this is life or death stuff as a borrower." Phoenix grips the screw on the bottom corner of the vent. "We got lucky here, these are rounded head screws, we can get a decent grip with just our hands. If they were flat we'd need some kinda tool. Now, full size, normal bean tools can be cumbersome to use and really hard to get, so for a situation like this I'd try to find a coin. Dimes work best, they're the thinnest, but a penny or even a nickel can do in a pinch."

"Nick I mean this in the nicest way possible. You are killing me right now. Literally murdering me with boredom. I'm going to die here if you keep going on about this." Maya grips him by the shoulders and shakes him a little bit.

"You're gonna die if I don't go on about this! I know you think being a borrower is easy, just a big joke. Like every day is nothing but quirky little adventures- but it's hell. Every day is peril. Everything can kill you, and most of it wants to. If you're not prepared, you won't last a week."

"Psssh, like I'm really gonna be stuck like this a whole week. This is gonna wear off on its own I bet. There's no way I'm really gonna be tiny forever." Maya waves her hand dismissively.

Phoenix twists off the screws and climbs into the vent wordlessly.

"Nick... I-I'm not really gonna be stuck like this... Right?" Maya asks, her voice dripping with concern.

"I... I don't know. The machine that did this to you... It seemed really, really broken. And I... I don't know who we can trust, or if there's even anybody that could possibly fix it with Dr. Roscope dead." Phoenix continues on into the vent, his hand on the wall to guide him in the dark. "Stay close, Maya. We don't know where this thing goes and we can't afford to get separated."

"W-w-w-wait, wait, wait, Nick, no, wait, what, what do we do if I'm stuck like this? Are we... Just gonna stay here?! Borrow? For the rest of my life?!"

"What choice do we have? It might be our only hope for survival. Unless you have someone you trust and could contact to help us..."

Maya thinks for a moment and droops her entire body. "No... I really don't..."

"Then this is what we gotta do, at least for now." The vent they're walking through comes to an end, and Phoenix inspects the grate. He kicks it, and slams his entire body against it. He tries to fit his arm through to unscrew it from the front but can't quite reach.

"Come on, Nicky boy, I believe in you!" Maya pushes him to try and get just a little bit more reach.

"Hey, wh- Maya! Stop, stop, stop, this hurts!" Maya lets go and Phoenix pulls himself back inside, leaning back against the grate and rubbing his arm. He looks over at her, thinking. "Hey, uh... Maya? I think you have to do it."

"...do... What... Exactly...?" She squints her eyes at him distrustfully.

"Reach your arm out there and unscrew the grate."

Maya sighs. "This is what I get for being scrawny I guess. How am I actually smaller than you now?!"

"Oh like you've never made me use my size like this."

Maya sticks her tongue out at him and reaches her arm through the grate. She grabs onto the screw, and twists it with all her strength. She grunts, and groans, and it doesn't budge.

"It's not working!"

"Did you maybe try the other way?"

Maya twists it the other way. It comes off fairly easily.

"Ohhh, see, it's righty fighty, lefty bestie. I knew that." She twists the other side off and kicks the vent open, jumping down to the floor and looking around.

"Shhh sh sh sh shhhh!!! Maya, you can't just go cling-clanging around like that, or jumping out into the open without checking! What if there was a bean in here? Or a cat? Or poisonous frogs?!"

"I don't think we're gonna find any poisonous frogs in... What is this, a janitor closet?"

"Well, you never know. They probably do all kinds of questionable science in this building. I bet there's frogs aplenty. Actually, yeah, that's an important borrower rule to remember. Avoid science people. They like to dissect borrowers, it's really gross." Phoenix shudders.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure that happened." Maya waves a hand dismissively. "So what are we stealing here?"

"Borrowing. In here? Hmm..." Phoenix looks around the room. "Well, a lot of this stuff might be useful later...”

“What use would we have for... jugs of cleaning products bigger than we are?”

“Well, I have heard stories of some borrowers using that sort of thing pretty effectively as a chemical weapon- but what we really need right now is food and water... Maybe there's some garbage we can dig through..."

"Garbage? Nick. I want a burger. No, I need a burger. I have never needed a burger more in my life than I do right now."

Phoenix makes a face and inhales through his teeth. "Welllll... I don't know how to tell you this, but, uh..."

"...no more burgers. No more... Steaks... No more ramen..."

"We're at the whim of fate, really. Those foods aren't exactly easy borrowing. I'd never even tasted ramen before I met you."

"But it's so good though! How can you live like this?!" Maya drops to her knees and holds her head in her hands.

Phoenix kneels down and rubs her back. "That's just how it is. The life of a borrower is rather... Humble, I'd say."

"Humble means no burgers I guess..." Maya grumbles.

Phoenix laughs and sits down against the wall, patting the floor next to him and motioning to her. She sits down and crosses her arms, pouting a little bit.

"No. Seriously though. How did you live like this before?!"

"It's all I ever knew. I guess... I guess maybe sometimes you don't realize how bad something is, until you have something better to compare it to."

"...I'm sorry, Nick... You're back to borrowing, all because of me..."

"Come on, it's not your fault. I figured something like this was gonna happen soon enough anyway. Phoenix shrugs.

"What... What do you mean?"

"You think Mia was the first bean I'd ever met? The first time I thought I could get out of this life? She was like... The third or fourth time. I always wind up right back here, borrowing again. I expected you to be a temporary part of my life from the start."

"If only you could be so lucky.” She pokes his head. “What happened to the others?"

"Oh, different things. The first one, his dad died and he moved far away... One was just insufferable to live with. Another, well... Let's just say I may have misjudged her character a little..."

"And then Mia..."

"Yep."

"Oh... Well, I'm not going anywhere."

"What?"

"I mean it. You're stuck with me. Whether I get back to normal, or not."

Phoenix laughs.

"I guess fate's never had to deal with the stubbornness of Maya Fey, huh?"

"Mmhmm!" Maya punches into the air.

"Still though..." Phoenix leans his head back against the wall and looks up. "I can't imagine how you feel right now. Being a borrower sucks if you were born as one. But at least you don't know what you're missing. I mean, you might never see your family again."

Maya thinks for a moment. "Huh... Yeah... I didn't really think about that."

Phoenix turns to look at her. "You... Seem to be taking that rather well?"

Maya shrugs. "I don't think they'll really miss me. I don't have much left anyway."

"...Your friends, then?"

Maya shrugs again. "You're the only person I know. Maybe..." She laughs a little. "Maybe things woulda been better if I was this size the whole time. And you were human! Then you could follow your dreams of being a lawyer, and I could follow my dreams of eating really really big food!"

Phoenix laughs. "Maybe I should go get us some really really big food then? I think it'd be best if you stay here where it's safe, we have no idea how many beans or other dangers might be out there."

"Ohh, I see, you're just gonna leave the poor, defenseless, newly-borrowerized girl all alone to fend for herself." Maya smirks at him.

"Hey, you got teeth. Use 'em. If you hear any footsteps approaching, just hide behind something. You'll be fine." Phoenix puts his hand on her shoulder, nods, and leaves the safety of the janitor's closet. Maya, now left alone with nothing but her thoughts, decides instead to run from them, and simply lets herself drift off to sleep. Still out in the open. Still exposed.

Perhaps she should have expected to be awoken by the sudden movement of being lifted into the air. And perhaps, if she’d thought about it, she’d have had a plan of escape. But as it stands now, as she opens her eyes to an all-encompassing view of Miles Edgeworth’s face... she’s frozen.

[bittykimmy13]

Let It Snow (GT Fluff)

Ramona is plagued with troubled thoughts on a snowy winter's day. Will may not be the best with words of comfort, but he is determined to cheer her up.

A gift for my wonderful friend, @marydublin5 / @little-miss-maggie​ ! <3 (who also made the lovely header image!)

Will made it perfectly clear to Ramona that she was going to love what he was working on in the kitchen. The fact that she was so impatient made it more fun for him, if he was being honest. 

He left her in the living room with the TV on to keep her company while he worked—making sure she had her warmest blankets too, considering snow had started falling that morning.

When he paused to check on her, he expected to find her hugging the baseboards on the way to the kitchen to spoil the surprise. But she was exactly where he left her. She wasn’t even looking at the TV, and she didn’t seem to notice he was there, either. Her eyes were fixed at the front window, where snow was falling even more steadily and adding to the white landscape.

By the third time he spotted her like that, he was concerned.

“Ramona?”

She turned to him with a flinch, sitting up straighter on the sofa’s armrest. Blinking, she seemed to come out of a trance. “Oh, hey. What’s up? Is it ready yet?”

“Not even close,” he said.

Normally, she would have groaned and demanded to know exactly how much time until she could eat—and whether he had any snacks for her while she waited. Instead, she offered a distracted smile and a weak attempt to complain.

“Then what are you bothering me for?” She pointed at the kitchen half-heartedly. “Get back to it, chef.”

Will lingered at the doorway, then took careful strides into the living room until he could kneel by the sofa. He folded his arms on the cushion and cocked his head at her. “What’s on your mind?” he asked.

She looked down at her fidgeting hands. “Nothing.”

Sinking into thought, he glanced at the window, where she had been so fixated each time he came to check on her. “Did it snow where you’re from? Do you want to go outside once it settles?”

“No!”

Although he didn’t react outwardly with anything other than a deepened frown, his insides lurched. He tried to catch her eye, leaning closer to the armrest, though she shied away.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

Ramona pursed her lips, looking from him to the window. “I would’ve died,” she said in a small voice.

Her admission didn’t help his puzzlement, but he remained patient. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… out there. In this weather. I would have died, no matter what. If that thunderstorm hadn’t happened and you hadn’t brought me in, I would have been out there during this.” Her minuscule fingers dug into the fabric of her pants. “I’m so stupid. I thought I was getting the hang of things out there, such a survivalist, and I never stopped to think about snow. If I were still out there, I’d be dead by morning.”

Will let the words sink in. Truth be told, he hadn’t given any thought to what life would be like for either of them if he hadn’t brought her in. “You’re right,” he murmured. “You wouldn’t have made it.”

She snorted a laugh, looking ready to cry. “Geez, Will, you should’ve been a therapist,” she said derisively. “You always know just what to say.”

“What? It’s true.”

But she seemed to have had enough of the truth. She rubbed her eyes and cast another haunted glance out the window. A distant sort of fear etched itself onto her face, as though part of her was actually still out there, tortured by the cold. She even shivered.

Will offered his hand—she looked smaller than ever next to it. “Why don’t you come and help me in the kitchen?”

 “Because you’re super mean and won’t let me see what you’re doing.”

He curled his finger invitingly. “I’ll make an exception today.”

Her shoulders fell with a sigh, and she shook her head. “I think I’ll just take a nap.” Her eyes drifted back over to the frosted window.

His hand inched closer so he could gingerly guide her chin back his way with a fingertip. “I don’t think it’ll be a very good nap if you keep looking out there.” His other hand swept in to scoop her out of her blankets without warning.

“Hey!” She gave a kick at his fingers and scowled up at him as he stood. “Let me mope in peace!”

“Fine. But could you at least do it where you’re not torturing yourself with the window?” He ferried her to the edge of his pocket and held it open. He knew better than to tilt her in, at least offering the option to climb down or decline.

She huffed. For a moment, he thought she would turn him down, but then he felt a tiny tug as she grabbed the lip of his pocket and hoisted herself over. “You’re lucky you’re warm,” she grumbled.

A tiny weight dropped to the bottom of his pocket. After she settled, he peered down while still holding the pocket open. In the shadows, he could see her curled up tight, partially covering her face with her hand—perhaps to catch whatever tears had made it out. 

He hesitated, debating on whether to speak any further on the subject. After a moment, he released the edge of the pocket and headed back to the kitchen with his added passenger. He fully expected her to cheer up and peek out at some point while he worked, but she didn’t. Each time he checked on her, she was curled up in the same position at the bottom of his pocket, fast asleep.

Ramona groaned low in her throat when she felt something prod her from outside the pocket. Burying her face in her hands, she hid her eyes from the light that poured in overhead. “M’still sleeping,” she protested.

“I think you’ll want to wake up for this,” Will’s voice rumbled.

That was when she noticed a delightful scent in the air—cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and sugar. She could take a guess at what he had done, and if she was right, then it was very true that she would want to be awake for it. 

“Fine.” She yawned and stretched her arms overhead, allowing Will to reach in and scoop her out. He had gotten quite good at it in their two months together; she was still working on maintaining an unpanicked heart-rate every time his hands surrounded her.

Sure enough, when he brought her out in the open, there was a fully-assembled gingerbread house waiting on the counter. He had cut holes for the door and windows. The house itself was undecorated, but chocolates, peppermints, frosting, and other sweets were scattered over the counter, ready to adorn the walls and roof.

“You know, you do a terrible job of being as scary as you look,” she told him as he lowered her to the counter. “This is adorable.”

“I never wanted to be scary.”

He reached past her to pluck something up between his finger and thumb. Steam curled from the top of the doll mug as he handed it to her—rich brown hot cocoa. She accepted the mug, unable to hide an endeared smile.

“I know,” she said. “Just teasing.”

She sipped from the mug as she strolled up to the gingerbread house, impressed yet unsurprised to see that it was entirely homemade and scaled right to her size. As far as the careful assembly, she wasn’t shocked in the slightest, either. It didn’t look very different than the birdhouses he built regularly. She peeked through the door’s opening.

“Is it safe to go inside?” she asked.

He shrugged. “As safe as frosting cement can be.”

“If it collapses on me, you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

Ramona stepped inside, overwhelmed by the scent of gingerbread. It reminded her of bakeries and sweet shops and cold nights indoors with her friends. Her heart ached and warmed at the same time as she stood in the center of the floor, clutching her drink and looking around.

One of the windows darkened as a single blue eye peeked in at her. “Do you like it?” he asked.

“It looks a little sad,” she said airily. “Let’s make it look as good as it smells.”

He helped her a lot, of course, spreading frosting on the outer walls where she directed him to. She stuck candies and chocolates in careful patterns while Will focused his attention on the roof of the little structure. He got the same intense look in his eyes as when he was crafting something for a client.

“More here,” she said, pointing to a spot by the door. As Will carefully frosted, she ducked under his hand and continued to stick green candies along the base like grass.

When she was satisfied with the outside, she went back into the gingerbread house and gave the interior some much-needed love as well. She moved in and out, calling for Will to leave chocolates and tiny candy canes at the door for her to haul inside. Prematurely, his eye filled the window again to see what she was doing.

She rushed to the window, holding her arms out to block his view. “I’ll tell you when I’m done! Out!”

It was dark outside by the time she had finished framing the windows with colorful candy beads. She paced around to admire her work, then strolled to the door. She could see Will’s shadow moving there, working on something for the front part of the roof.

“Hey, I’m—” Her words cut off in a squeal as a glob of white icing fell on her arm. She looked up to find that Will was making icicles on the edge of the roof. Hurriedly skittering out of the way, she gave him an exasperated look and wiped at the frosting. “If you laugh…”

“I’m not, I’m not.” But a smirk wavered on his lips when he looked right at her, and he needed to avert his eyes.

Gathering the thick glob in one hand, she threw it up at him. It arced in the air and didn’t come close to reaching his face, plopping on the counter a pitiful distance away. She crossed her arms and gave him an expected glare. Taking notice, he diligently swiped the icing on his fingertip and smeared it on his cheek. 

“Happy?” he said, stepping away to tear up a piece of napkin for her.

“Getting there.” 

As she cleaned away the icing, her gaze was drawn to the kitchen window. Though it was dark, the outdoor lights illuminated the snow that was falling even heavier than before. Willow followed her gaze, and then she felt his eyes rest back on her. He folded his arms on the edge of the counter, pulling her attention to him.

“You wouldn’t have died,” he said gently.

She gave a rueful chuckle. “You don’t have to lie. That’s even worse.”

“I’m not lying. You would have lived, I promise.”

“That’s a steep promise. How can you be so sure?”

“Because… I was beginning to suspect there was a trinket out there. Once the snow started falling, I would have gone out to find you. No matter what, you would have ended up safe.”

“What if I had refused?” she asked in a softer voice. “You know how I was at first… I didn’t know what you were like.”

He untucked one arm to reach over and smooth her hair down with a light fingertip. “I would have won you over with the gingerbread house, of course. You wouldn’t have stood a chance the moment you saw it.”

A laugh bubbled up before she could stop it, and against all odds, the shadows that had haunted the corners of her mind that day didn’t feel quite so dark. “Right, nothing to do with you. The only reason I stick around is the food, just so you know.”

“Trust me, I know.”

His hand pulled away from her so that he could break off a piece of gingerbread and pop it into his mouth.

“Hey!” She strode over to put herself between him and house. “I plan to live in this thing until it rots! Stop eating the roof!”

Snickering, he easily reached past her little slapping hands and broke off another piece. Instead of eating it, he offered it to her. “Have a bite, and I don’t think you’ll blame me.”

Begrudgingly, she snatched the piece and took a bite. The flavors that filled her mouth were unlike anything she ever expected to experience as a trinket. Humming happily, she strolled closer to Will to sit with her back against his forearm.

“Fine,” she said. “Keep it coming. Wouldn’t say no to another cup of hot cocoa, either.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.”