#there’s this one couple who always ask me to take the tape off stuff and open boxes for them

[whaleiumsharkspeare]

Me minding my business until I notice that the problem customers have walked in

(Gif by @thisgameissonintendo )

[marlynnofmany]

Cave Space

The mechanic’s shop was the loudest and dirtiest place I’d seen on this space station so far, and somehow that was comforting. All the ritzy retail stores and elaborate restaurants tried to look as fancy as possible, even the cheap ones. But this place felt honest and straightforward. It had bare concrete floors and the kind of shelf displays that didn’t bother with signs to actually explain what you were looking at. A real mechanic would know.

I had no idea, but I was just here to help haul things. Blip and Blop might have been a better choice if the things in question proved to be heavy, but they were off wrangling jumbo tubs of food and medical supplies with Eggskin, and anyways we had the big hoversled this time. It would probably be fine.

Mimi was talking fast with an employee about manifolds and vents and lots of other words, waving a couple green tentacles while he stood on the rest. The employee was the biggest Heatseeker I could remember seeing, which was still only mid-rib-height on me. He reminded me of the short gym guys from back home, able to build muscle in every direction but up.

A box thumped onto a counter near me. “You here to help lift and pull?”

I found an older human woman grinning at me, wearing a tank top covered in grease and long white hair held back in a ponytail. Also the kind of arm muscle that said she yanked engines out of spaceships for fun.

“Something like that,” I said with a smile. “Gotta make sure nothing falls off the sled.”

She waved a hand. “Ah, we’ll strap it down for you. There’s enough ramps around here to cause problems if we don’t.”

“I bet,” I said, thinking back to the last time I’d chased something important down a hill. “Don’t want to risk any explosions or chemical spills.”

“Or slamming a gear shaft into the side of a building,” she agreed. “There was a bit of a mess the last time someone was sure they didn’t need their stuff tied down.”

I winced. “Ouch.”

“Yeah, it’s standard procedure now,” she said, opening the box to pull out multiple smaller boxes, all labeled with arcane terminology and numbers. They rattled as she stocked them on the shelf under the counter. “If they’d asked me, it would have been standard from the start, but what do I know? I’ve only been doing this kind of work for decades, on more planets than I care to count.”

“Sounds exciting,” I said as she finished stocking. “I haven’t been out here all that long by comparison, but there’s always something new to see.” A glance around the shop took in rows of alien technology, a Heatseeker with scales painted silver, and one of those centipede-like people whose species name I didn’t remember. I was pretty sure they were looking at a jetpack display.

“Oh sure, plenty of weirdos out here,” the woman said easily, ripping tape off the box and flattening it. “Though it’s easy to tip over from marveling at the wonders to feeling the kind of intense homesickness that you get when you’re light years away from home.”

“I suppose so.” I’d been pretty lucky on that front, since my alien coworkers were friendly sorts who made me feel welcome. But there were times when the sheer amount of empty space between me and Earth was a little too much to think about.

“You’ve got to find ways to remind yourself of where you come from, and take pride in it,” the older woman said with a pointed finger, like a grandparent giving career advice. “Recreate bits of home while you’re far from it.”

I thought back to the potted plants and sun lamp in my quarters, kept high enough that the cat couldn’t chew on them. “I like to think I do that,” I said. “Do you have a preferred method? Classic Earth songs, googly eyes stuck in funny places?”

She barked a laugh. “Ha! Nothing I’d admit to. But I’ll show you my current favorite touchstone to humanity.” She dug in a pocket.

I stepped closer, curious, as she pulled out something palm-sized. She rested her elbows on the counter and held it up, framed by splayed fingers with appropriate drama.

It was a rock, smooth and shiny like it had been polished by a river and then by a thick layer of varnish, and it was covered in minuscule handprints. All in earthtones, like a cave painting reduced to pocket size: some in silhouettes like tiny hands had pressed mud or ash against the cave wall, and others shadowed by color like the prehistoric artist had chewed charcoal and spat it carefully around their fingers.

(I’d done that in school one day, with one of the cool teachers, who taught us the basics of humanity’s oldest style of airbrushing. It was incredibly messy and trickier than I’d expected. It gave me renewed respect for the artists from eons ago whose artwork had survived into modern times.)

And this was that same thing, made small enough to carry around the galaxy, a tiny reminder of home. “That’s fantastic,” I breathed.

“Isn’t it?” she asked, rubbing at the shine. “I got it from a traveling artist awhile back. If I was in a different line of work, I’d sell clothes with this pattern on them. It’s the kind of thing that makes other Earthlings smile.” She stood up and put it back in her pocket with a wink. “Not like googly eyes, but still good.”

“Yes, still good!” I agreed, smiling. I would have liked to talk more about it, maybe find out where that traveling artist had gone, but Mimi was wrapping up his conversation. A door opened to admit a trio of Heatseekers carrying a huge cylinder that was probably destined for somewhere in the guts of our ship.

“I’ll get the tie-down straps,” said the woman, rummaging under a different section of counter.

“Thanks,” I said, though I don’t think she heard me. The air was full of talk and the sound of clawed feet on concrete. I hurried to take up a position by the controls of the hoversled, making sure it stayed locked in place.

The team worked quickly, and in no time they had it strapped down well enough that it wouldn’t budge even if the gravity cut out completely. (Which had better not happen; I’d had more than enough of that kind of nonsense at the last station.)

Mimi processed the payment, tapping a screen with one tentacle tip and thanking the employees for having this whatsit in stock. I got the impression that it wasn’t the one he’d actually come to get, but it was better in some way or other.

“Thanks again!” I said as we tugged the sled toward the door. I waved at the other human and she waved back, two hands signaling kinship briefly across the room. Then she took her flattened box into the back and I stepped out into the artificial sunlight, looking for signs leading back to the spaceport.

The gravity behaved, and the ramps were no trouble. Blip and Blop were there to help unload the thing. I asked Mimi if he wanted three people to maneuver it into wherever it went, or if I should go put the hoversled away.

He was busy climbing inside of the cylinder with a flashlight, for whatever reason. “Nah, not enough space for everybody,” his gravelly voice echoed. “Let me just — really? Another one?” A faint squeak sounded like he was rubbing a tentacle against the side.

“What is it?” I asked, bending to look inside. Blip and Blop crowded behind me, a jumble of curious muscles and silks.

Mimi grumbled, “This is the third engine part that I’ve gotten with these annoying marks. All from different sources, too. If I ever find out which finger-having species is doing it, we are going to have words.”

Deep inside the cylinder, in a spot that likely would never have been seen by anyone but an agile mechanic, was a patch of handprints. Mimi had already smeared the ones made in grease, but the others looked like they might have been paint. All in earthtones. A cave painting in the depths of a spaceship.

Blip and Blop chorused, “Not it.”

I bit my lip to hide a smile. “It’s a mystery.”

~~~

Inspired by this excellent artwork by @letmeinimafairy! It deserved at least one story, if not several.

~~~

These are the ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book.

Shared early on Patreon! There’s even a free tier to get them on the same day as the rest of the world.

The sequel novel is in progress (and will include characters from these stories. I hadn’t thought all of them up when I wrote the first book, but they’re too much fun to leave out of the second).

[ikkyfics]

Rush to Love

Summary: Things Peter Does for Love

Warnings: just fluffy

Masterlist

Peter always shows up before you even ask for help, saying, "I heard the universe whisper that you needed me."

Peter is terrible at keeping surprises and always delivers your gift before the planned day because he can't wait.

He wears sunglasses to look "cool," but takes them off the moment you laugh and tells you he looks like a cartoon character.

Peter loves to make little bets with you, but he always exaggerates the consequences, like running around the mansion ten times just to make you laugh.

He is extremely competitive at board games, but occasionally lets you win.

When you're cold, he moves fast enough to warm up the room without you noticing.

He watches your favorite movies or shows and asks you questions in real time.

He is always singing, especially to you, even if he is completely off-key.

When you sleep, he watches and tries to imitate the way you breathe, because he finds it fascinating.

He loves to catch you off guard with sudden hugs, saying, “You’ll never see me coming.”

He tries to learn your hobbies, but he always finds a way to speed up the process (and sometimes ruins it along the way).

He loves making up silly dance routines to songs that remind him of you.

He insists on showing you all the “cool stuff” he finds while running around the world.

Peter always says that you’re the one thing in the universe he can never capture fast enough, just to make you smile.

He bombards you with questions about your day, even if you’ve just gotten off a long phone call explaining everything.

He challenges you to races that you can never win, but he makes sure the finish line is always a big hug.

Peter loves it when you wear his clothes, but he feigns indifference to hide how adorable he finds it.

He tries to prove that he can be responsible, but he makes mistakes along the way and uses his charm to fix everything.

Peter buys too much candy to share, but ends up eating most of it because “time flies by too fast.”

He makes mental maps of all your favorite places and takes you there whenever he feels like you need to relax.

When you’re upset, he rushes out to do something ridiculous that ends up making you laugh unintentionally.

He calls you “the only person who makes me want to slow down.”

Sometimes Peter speeds up just to admire your smile for longer.

Peter constantly steals candy from the pantry, leaving funny notes like, “I promise I’ll pay you back… someday (not really).”

He carries an extra Walkman with a personalized cassette tape full of songs that remind him of you.

When you’re busy, he runs to the store to buy something you mentioned once, even if it was months ago.

Peter loves taking candid photos of you and says he wants to capture “natural, epic moments.”

He’s obsessed with winning at arcade games just to impress you.

He gives you funny, over-the-top nicknames, like “my supersonic shooting star.”

Whenever he’s anxious or nervous, he’ll playfully play with your hair or hold your hands to calm you down.

He’ll plan mini movie marathons and insist on starting with his favorites, even if he falls asleep halfway through.

He’ll playfully disappear and reappear behind you just to scare you, then hug you.

When he notices you’re stressed, he’ll run to get your favorite food, even if it’s on the other side of town.

He’ll joke about your speed, saying things like, “I could run around the world, but nowhere is better than here with you.”

He’ll try to walk slowly beside you, but gets distracted and accidentally speeds up, quickly returning with apologies.

He collects tickets from every outing you take together, even random events like local fairs.

He buys you t-shirts from your favorite bands and calls them “official couple clothes.”

When you’re feeling down, he’ll sit quietly next to you for a few minutes, but he’ll quickly try to cheer you up with one of his witty comments.

Peter always shows up before you even ask for help, saying, "I heard the universe whisper that you needed me."

Peter is terrible at keeping surprises and always delivers your gift before the planned day because he can't wait.

He wears sunglasses to look "cool," but takes them off the moment you laugh and tells you he looks like a cartoon character.

Peter loves to make little bets with you, but he always exaggerates the consequences, like running around the mansion ten times just to make you laugh.

He is extremely competitive at board games, but occasionally lets you win.

When you're cold, he moves fast enough to warm up the room without you noticing.

He watches your favorite movies or shows and asks you questions in real time.

He is always singing, especially to you, even if he is completely off-key.

When you sleep, he watches and tries to imitate the way you breathe, because he finds it fascinating.

He loves to catch you off guard with sudden hugs, saying, “You’ll never see me coming.”

He tries to learn your hobbies, but he always finds a way to speed up the process (and sometimes ruins it along the way).

He loves making up silly dance routines to songs that remind him of you.

He insists on showing you all the “cool stuff” he finds while running around the world.

Peter always says that you’re the one thing in the universe he can never capture fast enough, just to make you smile.

He bombards you with questions about your day, even if you’ve just gotten off a long phone call explaining everything.

He challenges you to races that you can never win, but he makes sure the finish line is always a big hug.

Peter loves it when you wear his clothes, but he feigns indifference to hide how adorable he finds it.

He tries to prove that he can be responsible, but he makes mistakes along the way and uses his charm to fix everything.

Peter buys too much candy to share, but ends up eating most of it because “time flies by too fast.”

He makes mental maps of all your favorite places and takes you there whenever he feels like you need to relax.

When you’re upset, he rushes out to do something ridiculous that ends up making you laugh unintentionally.

He calls you “the only person who makes me want to slow down.”

Sometimes Peter speeds up just to admire your smile for longer.

Peter constantly steals candy from the pantry, leaving funny notes like, “I promise I’ll pay you back… someday (not really).”

He carries an extra Walkman with a personalized cassette tape full of songs that remind him of you.

When you’re busy, he runs to the store to buy something you mentioned once, even if it was months ago.

Peter loves taking candid photos of you and says he wants to capture “natural, epic moments.”

He’s obsessed with winning at arcade games just to impress you.

He gives you funny, over-the-top nicknames, like “my supersonic shooting star.”

Whenever he’s anxious or nervous, he’ll playfully play with your hair or hold your hands to calm you down.

He’ll plan mini movie marathons and insist on starting with his favorites, even if he falls asleep halfway through.

He’ll playfully disappear and reappear behind you just to scare you, then hug you.

When he notices you’re stressed, he’ll run to get your favorite food, even if it’s on the other side of town.

He’ll joke about your speed, saying things like, “I could run around the world, but nowhere is better than here with you.”

He’ll try to walk slowly beside you, but gets distracted and accidentally speeds up, quickly returning with apologies.

He collects tickets from every outing you take together, even random events like local fairs.

He buys you t-shirts from your favorite bands and calls them “official couple clothes.”

When you’re feeling down, he’ll sit quietly next to you for a few minutes, but he’ll quickly try to cheer you up with one of his witty comments.

[jymwahuwu]

I said I'm not interested in AU but this is what popped into my head… HSR retro AU. No more space technology.

Basically you are a college student 🙈🙈🙈 Depending on whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, you may go shopping and play with your friends during the holidays, have a party, or stay comfortably at home listening to music with MP3 and cassette tapes, or reading novels on the subway.

You use a bulky computer to click on the Windows XP system, and spend hours downloading music and opening chat software. Your MSN friends list is as follows:

Jing Yuan:

Your mysterious neighbor is much older than you. You have never understood what the Xianzhou Alliance is. It is said that he kept a lion named Mimi in the yard, but every time you passed by, you thought it was just a cute cat. He'll stuff you with sweets and prepare you milk and afternoon tea, giving you advice. Well, he can also write ancient poetry. You shamelessly gave this old man your homework.

(You lie on his lap and sleep, breathing quietly.)

Aventurine & Ratio:

These two live together, are also your neighbors, professors, friends... You are not sure what their relationship is, but they quarrel every day. Aventurine is a high-level executive in IPC. Every time you visit a department store, you will whisper in your heart that this is also an IPC. He takes the bill in your mailbox every month and pays it off, very weird. His car is the most talked about in the community.

Ratio is your college professor...he is very strict about grades and academic performance. You cursed him one time and he heard you and he took you back to the office for an OTK spanking...unfortunately, it was legal. You have since become his target in class...

Sunday & Robin:

They still have halos and wings, share the same MSN account, and even the same pager. They have no privacy from each other. They are well-known brothers and sisters of the Xipe Church. They are very popular and eye-catching, attracting people's attention wherever they go. So if you are an introvert, the difference is even more pronounced haha. But both of them will approach you, in the name of kindness, with a look of concern on their face. Robin picks out clothes for you and lends you homework to copy. In return, you agree to go to church on the weekend… and help her sell cookies at the church charity sale.

Sunday provides insight into your life and schedule in the name of "for your own good". You don't know why you wrote your schedule in a notebook for him… He shows up in front of your house and listens to music with you (using the same MP3 player). You share with him a few things you learned in the sex education class, and he says that he has signed the commitment card (you: ? what is this). Promise to remain chaste until marriage… That card has an inexplicable printed pattern, with a photo of a couple holding hands, leaving you speechless. But you don’t know why you signed this commitment card under his supervision…

Dan Heng:

Your nerdy college classmate, with dragon horns (don't ask me why). He reminds you of class and exam times and lends you notes, leaving you with the last piece of cake. You always tease him until he blushes and gets angry.

Dan Feng:

Dan Heng's brother. He seems to be very traditional. You haven't seen him much and you only added him as an MSN friend.

Blade:

The mysterious old man. He seems to have a grudge against Dan Feng and Dan Heng. One time you were playing cards with Yanqing and Dan Heng. He suddenly broke into the yard, said something incomprehensible and then started fighting with Dan Feng. This scared you to death. Kafka appeared to stop him. You added Kafka friends to avoid being attacked by Blade.

Kafka:

The mysterious woman who can control Blade. You don't know who she is, but she seems to know you well and be gentle to you.

Silver Wolf:

Your college classmate has designed several computer games and won many awards at a young age, and occasionally plays cards with you. For some reason, she is very close to Blade and Kafka.

[247-diaperboy]

Roommate takes control part 5 (The Team)

Jackson met Scott at the local pub which served college kids. Scott was in a tank, cut off shorts, and flip flops - his stained ballcap backwards. They grabbed a beer and took a seat. Scott was a long term bro - he was straight, but was always one of the ring leaders for hazing for the hockey and lacrosse teams.

Jackson didn't waist any time. He walked Scott through the situation. His roomie was a hot gay jock, gymnastics and soccer. He was playful. He had been turned on at being forced to wear diapers, and Jackson had gotten the idea to do an online order for some subluminal hypnosis tapes.

"Let me get this straight: your gay roommate, who's one of our gymnastics and lacrosse players, is now wearing diapers full time?"

"Yeah, dude, I know its wacked. But this guy Mason really gets off on it. And - I thought - he could be a team mascot of sorts, ya know. I also hit on a big time money maker on OnlyFans. I found this ebay seller who provided this submission tapes for kinky gay guys - it has a bunch of chapters, but basically, he claims it'll make Mason want to use the diapers, and through his need to use the diapers, he'll start doing it unconsciously. That's the first couple chapters, after that there are some service options - basically make him cock hungry - and some regression and submission options in later chapters where he'll regress and wanna please other guys he sees as dominant"

"Shiiiiiiiit" Scott intoned while sipping his beer. "And he's going along with this? And what's the OnlyFans about?"

Jackson took a sip of his own beer "Yeah, Mason is cute as fuck. You know I'm mostly into girls, but this guy is hot and sucks dick like a champ. And he's taking to the hypnosis and regression tapes pretty quick. The seller said he must have strong innate interest in this stuff to be adapting so easily." Jackson paused and continued quietly. "And the OnlyFans was set up as a jock-to-sub pay site. Basically, these kinky guys all signed up to watch this guy's regression, which probably means we need to get some baby stuff mixed in. And the money is serious."

Scott whistled as Jackson showed him his phone with the OnlyFans account. "You gonna split that with the team buddy?" Scott asked

"Yes! That's the whole plan. If we can all get this done, I think the team could be set for the playoff trip - fully funded with hotels and everything."

Scott was hooked. Jackson spent the next hour walking him through the plan, and Scott agreed to get the rest of the guys on board. At the end, Scott asked to come back with Jackson to the room to see Mason.

As they walked in, Mason was at his computer, his desk chair pulled back from the desk, and his legs folded indian style. His diaper was the only thing he was wearing. the crotch of the diaper was clearly wet, grayish yellow and sagging slightly. Scott followed Jackson into the room.

"Hiya Mason" Scott said as he walked in

Mason looked up from his laptop. "Uhhh..." he blushed and looked from Jackson to Scott "Who's this Jackson?" he asked

"This is Scott Terrygold, one of co-captains of the soccer team" Jackson said. "Don't worry, buddy, Scott knows all about your situation, with the diapers and he doesn't mind." He looked to Scott, who smiled broadly.

"Of course. Can you stand up for me Mason?" Scott asked. In response Mason unfolded his legs and slowly stood up. Scott took a couple steps forward and slipped the index and middle finger of his right hand into the waist of Mason's diaper. "Yeah, some guys just need a little extra protection" Scott said slowly. "Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I think you'll find that most of my bros will be happy to help" Scott said, grinning broadly.

[collectivecloseness]

Oohh for the spotify thing, how about 20 with Eddie Munson??

Literally a great pick, and again another on my character playlist for this specific person. It’s Cherry Bomb by The Runaways!

Eddie Munson x reader

Eddie always drove you back after school, no matter if you were going to his place, yours, or anywhere else in Hawkins. Walking hand in hand with you through the corridors as you both chucked your bags in his van and managed to leave that shithole behind, and go somewhere for the rest of the day no one would bother Eddie, or the both of you.

Today Eddie had finished taking you out for a milkshake, conveniently the both of you taking long enough to finish that by the time you got back to Eddie’s trailer, you’d both be able to say a quick bye to Wayne before his shift, and it meant you had the entire place to yourselves. As you did most evenings... and nights when you could find an excuse, or sneak out.

Although you had to pick up some stuff from your place before you could go over to Eddie’s, so he was driving there first. Hoping that you’d both stop off at another perfect time, one where there was already food on the table, that your mom always encouraged Eddie to have some of.

He really did like your mom, mostly at first because she always liked him too. She never treated him differently, or bad, even from the start. She literally welcomed Eddie into her home with open arms, giving him a hug that first time she met him, probably because of how much you’d raved about how wonderful Eddie was before.

And Eddie was pestering you about if you knew what your mom was making tonight, and if she might have already made it by the time they get there, when it reminded you of something you forgot to tell Eddie this morning.

“Oh actually, my mom and I were talking about you last night.” You nodded from the passenger seat.

Eddie stopped asking about food, intrigued, turning to you with an expression that was inviting into a full conversation, interested as he let his eyes go back to the road. “Oh yeah? What about? Can your mom not stop complimenting me and going on about how you’ve got such a bitchin’ boyfriend?” Eddie rolled the last couple of words off his tongue, holding it at the base of his open mouth as he beamed at you, head exaggeratedly bent down to tilt up at you, chuckling at your earned laugh.

“No!” You retort smiling. “She said that earlier.”

“Ohhhh, of course!” Eddie beamed, going along with your ‘very serious’ nods. “My apologies. Why were you talking about me?”

“We were listening to a song in the car and she said it remained her of you. And to be honest I totally agree.” You explain, already sensing the eager interest arising in your boyfriend, who would be bouncing in his seat the whole journey if you kept it from him.

“Ooooh, what is it!?” Eddie says excitedly, licking his lips as his eyes flit between you and the road, tapping his fingers on his wheel, almost like a subconscious drumroll. “Holy Diver? Enter Sandman? Please tell me you finally showed her some real Ozzy.”

Instead of answering, you move your hand and eject the tape currently playing Seek & Destroy, letting it fall to his dashboard as you rummage inside your bag by your feet.

Only when you ejected Eddie’s tape, in the middle of a song, a genuine pout spread across Eddie’s poor face. “Heyyy wha- wait.” He whined pitifully, and you looked up at him, raising an eyebrow, at his genuine big brown eyes.

He literally repeated that song twice in the 11 minutes to the milkshake place. “Eddie.” Is all you say, your hand down your bag, just looking at him. And he gets over it real quick. Shuffling up in his seat, attentive as you pulled a blank tape out, and slotted it into place, interested to hear what song was about to start playing.

‘Cherry Bomb’ by The Runaways hadn’t been exactly what he was expecting.

You looked to him as it started playing, noticing he wasn’t shocked, or upset, or ecstatic, he was genuinely thinking about it. His eyes looking up at he tapped his fingers on the wheel to the beat, before looking at you.

“Really?” He says genuinely, taking it in, considering it, and wanting your thoughts on it too, as he thinks more about it, already knowing the song of course. He did like it.

“Yeah actually, I think it does fit your...” you gesture Eddie up and down with your hand, looking at him, and remembering as you listened to the song yesterday you thought all about Eddie Munson “-well, you.”

“Huh.” Eddie nods, nibbling his lip as he nods slightly to the song. “I see it actually.”

“Yeah.” You add quietly, both of you starting to properly nod to the song now. And when Eddie turns to you, cracking a smile, you know he’s about to sing, and knowing him so well, you join in at the exact same time.

“I’m the fox you’ve been waitin’ for!!”

You both burst into laughs, the excited and sudden unison so you two, singing it to each other dramatically, before beginning to rock in your seats. Smiling as you sing the popular song together.

“-Hello mom! I’m your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch- cherry bomb!”

You both exclaim the words, the energy in the van always this high.

“Hello world, I’m your wild girl!”

Eddie rolls his eyes at the ‘wild’ part, and you remember just how ‘him’ this song sometimes feels.

“Yeah. It is you, this song. You’re my wild girl.” You tell Eddie, smiling entrancingly at him, your baby girl, and Eddie very quickly plays along.

“You’re my wild girl.” He says himself leaning in all teasing and mushy to tell you, before you do the exact same thing. Both repeating the words “You’re my wild girl”, “No you’re my wild girl” to each other over and over, until you both pull back from where your lips are extended comically and gushily at each other, laughing too breathlessly from the pose for anyone to repeat the joke.

Before you both end up joining in the song again, quick to make sure you can get to the chorus.

“-ausin’ teenage blues. GET DOWN LADIES, you got nothing to lose!”

You both sing the lyrics loudly and pumped with each other, jamming out together like you often do in his van, and practically anywhere Eddie or you can have music.

“Hello daddy, hello mom!-“

You started the next line, but Eddie instead chose not to ch-ch- with you, and turn to ask you openly. “Hey! Maybe that’s how I should announce myself to your parents when I walk into their home real soon. With the cherry bomb part and everything!” He suggests, a casually serious look on his face as commitment to the bit saying it, but his deep brown eyes sparkling with playfulness.

“Oh yeah. That’ll go over radically.” You both nod in comical agreement, like you’re making fun of middle aged men in a business meeting. And you even manage to throw a thumbs up and a solid wink to Eddie, that he replies with a twisted lipped confident smile, and the okay signal with his free hand. Both throwing out “yeah’s” back and forth to each other, in agreement of this excellent plan.

Although as the next part of the song comes on, one bit is dropped for another for Eddie, as you both listen to the chorus of moans playing in the song.

And as you wonder why Eddie was turning to you yet again, and without singing, he quickly outdid you on the jesting scale.

“Your mom wasn’t reminded of me with the moaning part of the song right?” Eddie asked you, as if he was shocked at the sudden thought she’d overheard anything, but not even bothering to hide his grin.

You slap his shoulder, laughing as he lets one out himself, punching his elbow lightly, just pretending he was ‘saved’ because he was driving, even as you chuckled, shaking your head ‘disapprovingly’ at Eddie with a smile. Which was not a rarity.

Eddie gestured with his hand out as if he had a point, still smirking. “I mean it’s not like anyone’s heard us when you always make us both be so quiet when we’re up there-“ another whack, this time to his knee, cutting him off short.

And you snort laugh first, rolling your eyes at him as Eddie smirks at his suggestive quip. Although beaming with full teeth at you, proud to hear that noise meaning he made you laugh so. And God if you can’t just beam yourself, seeing that stupid smile on his face.

There’s a singular moan before the start of the next verse, and this time Eddie wasn’t quiet listening for it. Instead he leant in close to you, and moaned in time with the song, breathy and sensual and overdramatic in your face.

This time your hand is in his face, pushing him back as Eddie laughs into your palm and spread fingers, his soft skin, pliable lips, and warm breath teasing you, although being teased himself as you pulled away.

Chuckling, you brought your knees up in your seat, feeling your heart race as it so often did, even though you’d been dating Eddie for a while now, he still found ways to make you fall in love over and over. Actually, you don’t think that ever stopped happening.

And at seeing your curled up, excited and chuckling expression, and after he knew his flirting made you feel good, as always, Eddie winks at you, open mouthed smirking, his tongue on his bottom lip.

God your boyfriend was so hot. You admired his body, and hair, and clothes, and his shining personality next to you right now, feeling your blood rush through your body as you let yourself flutter with how extraordinary you knew Eddie was. You were so lucky.

“I’ll give ya something to live for” Eddie sings beautifully to you, before taking your chin with his thumb and forefinger, looking at you for the moment as he sings, shaking your chin lightly. “Have ya and grab ya, till you’re sore!” He squeezes your chin, with his teasing, scrunched smirk.

You giggle in his hold, your whole face lighting up as you love the atmosphere you always have with Eddie. Smirking right back at his perfect face. Not batting him away this time.

Until Eddie lets go himself, leaning over your lap with his arm stretched in his leather jacket, quickly opening the glove compartment by you, to show you his assortment of lollipops he keeps in there just for you. Ever since you two started dating.

You gasp excitedly, mouth open with a beam and thrilled eyes at Eddie! Leaning in to grab a cherry one for him and you, quickly taking off the easy slip wrapping, and popping yours into your mouth, relishing over the cherry flavour gushing over your tastebuds and cheeks.

At the same time leaning Eddie’s cherry lolly over to him, and giggling as he waggles his tongue out, and eventually wraps it around the cherry lollipop, his tongue flicking wetly against the tip of your thumb in amusement.

Taking the sweet red treat into his mouth, lolling it into the corner of his cheek, as he smirks at you. His mouth finally silent, except for breathy laughs that are so Eddie, but his eyes saying it all, glowing and sparkling just so unbelievably in love with you.

Eddie unable to stop stealing glances of you in his passenger seat, as you both speed off down the Hawkins road. Head banging together, especially with Eddie’s shaggy mullet, to the guitar, drums, and last yells of “Cherry bomb! Cherry bomb! Cherry bomb! Cherry bomb! Cherry bomb! Cherry bomb!”

[mins-fins]

LOVER (K.GV)

SUMMARY . . . where they're supposed to be packing but one of them has other plans.

PAIRING . . . kim gyuvin x male!reader

GENRE . . . very fluffy

WARNINGS . . . none!

WORD COUNT . . . 1.2k

NOTES . . . gyuvin is seriously bias wrecking me these days fr.. this is dedicated to zai (@scrrra), he didn't really ask for this but i just wanna make his day!! also were all starving for gyuvin content so take this

"your literally so messy".

"your acting like your any better, dumbass".

gyuvin gasps loudly, as if offended by the words. y/n just chuckles at his display, turning around to stare at his tall boyfriend, who pouts. "i'm just saying, your going to college you don't need all this stuff!"

"yeah, i'm going to college" y/n states like a matter of a fact. "i need everything".

"everything?"

"everything".

gyuvin blinks, narrowing his eyes and giving his partner a judging stare. y/n lightly punches his shoulder, and gyuvin sighs. "okay! okay! you can pack everything".

y/n was originally gonna pack on his own, he didn't really even want help, but gyuvin insisted on helping, and wouldn't take no for an answer. since y/n had procrastinated for super long and now college starts in two weeks and he hasn't even packed half his stuff yet.

he has maybe one box packed, and he was only reminded of it today when hanbin screamed in his ears with a megaphone telling him that he starts college in two weeks.

so now, here y/n is, trying his best to decide what to pack as gyuvin just looks at his stuff, seeing what he could find. "you have so many books! where do you even keep these?"

"in my shelves, obviously".

"your room is the size of a cubicle, what shelves?"

y/n scoffs, still looking away from gyuvin as he sorts his clothes in one box and then his pillows, blankets, and bedsheets in another. his attention quickly moves away from gyuvin, whose actually not helping him pack.

gyuvin had been in y/n's room maybe twice in the whole time they've been dating. to be fair, they're always out, doing couple things like buying ice cream at three am, or shopping for sweaters just so y/n could steal them from him, or running across the beach at night.

they're usually never inside, just always out and about.

gyuvin scrunches his nose, staring specifically hard at a random drawer besides y/n's bed. he blinks, looking over at his partner, whose busy trying to figure out how much stuff he can fit in one box, completely turned away from gyuvin.

he opens the drawer, trying to see what's inside. pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, some more books, and a few post it notes. just boring stuff, gyuvin thinks in his head.

he sighs, packing those things in the box beside him, he notices that there are still other things in that drawer, letters, and he tilts his head, trying to get a better look at them.

wait.. are those the letters i wrote for him?

earlier in the year, gyuvin had written letters for y/n, it was a thing he did when they were in the much earlier stages of their relationship, he really did pout his heart and soul into those letters, but he assumed y/n had forgotten about them.

but he kept them, like the corny loser he is.

gyuvin smiles as he thinks about it, laughing to himself. y/n was pretty much oblivious to what gyuvin had stumbled upon, busy trying to figure out how he's gonna put all his extension cords together without tangling them.

gyuvin's mind drifts off to the situation, college, and it puts a sour taste in his mouth. y/n is on the other side of this small room packing, and he's oblivious to what gyuvin is thinking.

yeah they're going to the same college, but y/n is going to get busier, and they can't just be a silly teenage couple anymore, they can't just go out buying ice cream at three in the morning, or gyuvin giving y/n piggyback rides randomly.

he moves the letters over, and sees other things, keychains, small fans, a tape measure(?), shoe laces, a polaroid camera, and a photo album. gyuvin tilts his head, reaching into the drawer to grab the photo album.

he struggles to take it out without making a lot of noise, he's not trying to alert y/n and distract him. he places it on the floor, getting the letters out of the drawer and placing them on the table beside the bed.

he then moves back to the photo album, he's not snooping, no! he's just curious, that's all! that's why he's flipping through the photo album right now. as gyuvin does that, he can't control his smile, because it's a bunch of photos which show y/n growing up.

gyuvin assumes that these photos were taken by his parents, y/n's father was a photographer after all. gyuvin couldn't contain his giggles, because y/n's childhood photos are so funny and cute that he can't help it.

y/n, who was busy packing, turns around as he hears gyuvin giggling, and all he can see is his boyfriend struggling to contain his laugh, looking like he was about to fall back onto the floor with how hard he was laughing. "what's so funny?"

gyuvin tries his best to catch his breath, clearing his throat as he stares at y/n, who blinks. gyuvin, still laughing, turns the album over and displays the photo of seven year old y/n wearing his roller skating attire.

y/n narrows his eyes, and then they widen. gyuvin is horrible at keeping his giggles in, and he leans back as he laughs, completely enamored by the cute childhood photo of his boyfriend.

"you weren't even helping me pack" y/n goes over to him, looking at the photo album. "you were just going through my stuff".

"hey!" gyuvin yells, literally on the floor. "i wasn't going through your stuff, i did pack some stuff, i just for distracted easily!" he laughs, propping himself up on his elbows.

y/n reaches forward to try and grab the photo album, but gyuvin quickly moves his arm before he can grab it. he pauses, and gyuvin smiles in a mischievous manner, giggling. "give it back".

"no?"

"what do you mean no—"

y/n reaches so forward again, and falls forward, on top of gyuvin. "you are such an.. ass".

"no, you love me" gyuvin says, picking up his head to stare at y/n, smiling. "your so cute, you know that? the roller skates might've been a little big on you but—"

"shut up!" y/n exclaims, flicking gyuvin in his forehead, which makes him yelp. finally, he grabs the photo album out of gyuvin's hand, taking it for himself. "your annoying, i swear".

"i called you cute, your not even gonna say thank you?"

"i'll thank you when you actually help me pack".

"i did! i packed.. that!"

y/n deadpans at him, and gyuvin giggles, making him scoff. "babe! i love you! you know that right?" he calls out as y/n walks over to the other side of the room, placing the photo album on a table.

"you can say that after you pack".

gyuvin stares at y/n, snickering as his partner also flips through the photo album. "you kept those letters i sent you?"

y/n gasps, turning gyuvin's way and seeing the shit-eating grin on his face. "gyuvin!"

"hey! i'm just asking!"

[simslegacy5083]

NSB (Straud Legacy) Gen 9 Ep 102: Happy to Report

After Love Day Noemi entered her third and final trimester and couple returned to Dr. Valasquez’s office for their last therapy session.

Seeing the comfortable maternity ensemble Noemi was wearing and the pair’s attitude of relaxed intimacy filled their therapist with joy and a sense of accomplishment. It looked like some of her advice might have born fruit. She smiled, starting the session with a leading observation.

“The two of you look very happy today.”

Luigi, unable to contain his excitement, kicked things off, exclaiming “we’re getting married!”.

As Noemi shyly held up her hand to show off the ring, he outlined for their therapist the lovely Love Day date his family had orchestrated for them and how after getting engaged he’d finally come to terms with the pregnancy and the new life it represented.

Dr. Velasquez offered congratulations. “I’m so happy for you both. That attitude seems very healthy and will set you up nicely for the birth.”

She next turned to Noemi, who was trying to readjust herself into a more comfortable position on the small sofa.

“You look wonderful. Has the new wardrobe helped you feel better about your pregnant body?”

Noemi sighed. “After a lifetime spent eating healthy and exercising to keep in shape, seeing myself so thick and round in the mirror is still not fun. Lu helps a lot though. He’s always telling me I’m beautiful and desirable, and very good about proving his words through action!”

“Another thing that helped a lot,” She continued, “was hearing that the baby was doing great at my last prenatal appointment. I might not love my new curves, but the most important thing is that my body is doing what it needs to do to nurture my little boy.”

“I could certainly do without the back pain I’ve been having, even if Lu’s a real sport about applying the kinesiology tape the midwife group told us to try.” He jumped in with a grin: “It’s fun. Artsy sort of. I bought extra because that stuff has some even more fun uses in the bedroom.”

Noemi chuckled. “And it’s handy in the robot lab too. Pretty much the only thing I can’t use it for is its original purpose, until I can return to the gym.”

Dr. Velasquez said that was all good to hear, though she cautioned Noemi to work her way back into an exercise routine slowly.

“It will take time for your body to heal and bounce back after birth. For now, you could always get out for a nice walk, if it feels good. With summer right around the corner the weather should be perfect for relaxing strolls around the city.”

She turned back to Luigi “It sounds like you’ve been making good progress on helping and learning to put your loved ones first, do you agree?”

“As much as I can,” he admitted, “although I’m still focused on my finals and the big game. It does feel surprisingly great to take care of Noemi.” He reached over and squeezed her hand, wondering if the secret to Papa Jack’s dedication was his focus on enjoying the happiness of others.

Luigi’s comment about finals led to a discussion of graduation and preparations for the little person that would be joining them shortly thereafter.

The couple told the doctor that they’d picked a name for their son and begun planning for his nursey but hadn’t set anything up yet.

They planned to be settled in Sulani before he was born, and getting ready for finals was taking up most of their spare time these days. After graduation they’d have time to get their ducks in a row, as neither of them intended to start work until after the baby was born.

“Wait, you haven’t nailed down any of the logistics of your actual move yet?” Dr. Velasquez asked.

The sheepish look they both gave answered the question. “We wanted to, but we’ve been too busy to figure out the details.”

“I suggest you start lining up support for your move now.” the therapist said “Noemi will be in the home stretch at that point and not in a position to help as much as she might like. You’ll want to be ready for when the baby arrives, and you have a whole new set of circumstances to adjust to.”

“Your future selves will thank you for every bit of planning you do now.”

With a glance at the clock the doctor continued “It looks like our final session is wrapping up, but please remember that I’m always available if you need to talk through anything in your new life as parents, professionals, and beachside homeowners.”

Luigi helped Noemi to her feet and they both thanked Dr. Velasquez for everything. This unexpected pregnancy had presented them with its fair share of challenges but working through their feelings and concerns with the help of a professional had made a huge difference.

They left her office that day nervous but excited for the future.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[bugeyedfreaks]

Hi! Uhm...I wonder....About the lovely interests of Mojo Jojo and HIM. I mean...I know Mojo was in love with Mono Joko and it seems HIM loves Professor Utonium...but is that true? And they personally take this point clear to us, please?

I’ll answer your question about Him in particular but I’ll also use your ask as an opportunity for me to do a bit of a deep dive into Mojo and Him’s love lives, because……. why not? 😆

So we’ve definitely seen Mojo in love before/knows how he acts when he loves someone. He’s a romantic goofball and absolutely dotes on whoever he likes (which is freakin’ ADORABLE). And he absolutely only had eyes for Moko. You could make some sort of argument that it was for the bit and it was to parallel how the Beatles broke up IRL, but there’s also a whole comic written before that episode where we see Mojo sending in tapes to a dating agency ~for the ladies~. He then gets so desperate because the ladies are afraid of him that he ends up Frankensteining his own bride. So… take all that as you will when it comes to Mojo’s romantic preferences. 😆

Meanwhile, yes, Him definitely has shown, um, interest towards the Professor, which I think is hilarious and great. I think the biggest example of that is the big ol’ wet lick he drags across poor Professor’s cheek in Tough Love. However, did he do it just to antagonize the girls? Is it because he really does think the Prof is a hottie (like any sane person should)? We just don’t know. I feel like with Him being Him, you can see him going aaaaany which way romantically, but how he acts towards the Professor is, like, the only indication in the series of where his romantic interests may lie.

I know I mentioned my dislike of Mojo/Him earlier today, and I feel like I can’t not touch on it while on this subject, so I guess I’ll tack this on because I don’t think I ever explained why I don’t like it. As far as the whole ship between these two… I mean, I get why people ship them. Because, you know, ~they hugged~ that one time. 🙄 They’re both also evil, and people want those evil couple goals. So I get it. But to me, it feels uninspired and just… too obvious, I guess? No real thought behind it aside from surface level stuff like with PPG/RRB. CMC likes to claim Mojo has high respect for Him, and… yeah, Mojo called him “sir” for, uh, ONE EPISODE. Otherwise they’re rivals, often seen sniping at one another, calling each other stupid, maybe occasionally band together to try to defeat the PPGs, and in my perspective? I wouldn’t respect or even love anyone who was lazy enough to just outright steal my evil creations and recolor them (i.e. with the RRB).

That said, I feel like I have to always have a disclaimer whenever I talk about stuff like this, because there’s almost always one person who flips out and screams at me about how, “I can ship what I want!” Yes. I know. You absolutely can. Personally, per my reasoning above, I just don’t vibe with it. But, as evidenced by many things, fandom is an unstoppable force, and I’m not out to stop anything anyway. I just do not dig the thing.

…so, yeah, sorry I went off on a bit of a tangent, but I hope this answered your question! 🤣

[reigningqueenofwords]

Be Nice

Pairing: Bruce x Reader Word count: 2,179

Read on AO3

Part 6 of Without Me

You had never seen Bruce sweat under someone’s gaze before, but your sister was doing a great job of being the first. And it was bad not to lose it. 

“I, uh. I’m not good enough for her.” Bruce finally said. “I admit that.”

She raised her eyebrows further. “Something we agree on. Good. Tell me why.” She gently pinched your arm when you snorted. “Shush.”

“Be nice!” You whispered. “Please?”

She gave you a look and looked back at Bruce. “Well?” She said impatiently. “I’m waiting, Mr. Rich Boy.” It was clear she was teasing him- hardcore.

He huffed. “That’s exactly why I’m not good enough!” He answered with a shrug. “I’m just some rich kid.”

She narrowed his eyes. “Buying her off then?” 

Now it was starting to bother you. “Nichole!” You snapped.

“I’m just checking!” She defended. 

“It’s okay, babe.” Bruce nodded. “I know how I look to the world.” He grimaced. “I’m used to it.” 

You rolled your eyes. “If he was buying me off, he wouldn’t be bringing me to my favorite, cheap, food joint all the time.” You huffed. “We even regularly have date nights at a diner!” You moved to lace your fingers with his. 

“I believe you.” Nicole shrugged at you. “Just making sure .” She smiled. “So, nice to meet you, Brucie.”

He let out a breath. “You’re not going to hunt me down when we leave here right?” He asked, leaning towards you.

She shrugged and went to hug your parents. “Hi.” She grinned, expression completely changing. “I missed you two. Where’s the twirp?”

“I’m here! I wanted to show Bruce my Superman picture!” He burst in, frame in hands. “My favorite picture ever!”

Bruce smiled. “Lemme see that awesomeness.” He sat on the couch, letting your brother get up next to him.

You smiled warmly at the sight, enjoying how excited they both looked. “Where should I put our stuff?” You asked.

“Your old room is fine.” Your mom nodded. “For both of you.” She added at your questioning glance.

“...Really?” You asked in surprise. 

Your father laughed. “You're adults, and you live together. Really .”

You hummed. “Interesting.” You said to yourself. 

Bruce blushed slightly. “Thank you for trusting me.” He said shyly. 

“Don’t let us regret that.” Your mom teased. You blushed and sighed. 

“You’re all here to stress me.” You poked your sister. “I just got the stress of school to go away.”

“How is that going, by the way?” Your father asked. 

“Good. I passed all my classes.” You shrugged. “That’s what matters. And I’m liking them.” You smiled. “Just a couple more years.”

He nodded. “What’re you studying, Bruce?”

Bruce took taken aback a moment that he'd been asked. “Business.” He told him. 

“That’s always a good one.” Your mom provided. “Anything specific you'd like to do?”

“Uh.” Bruce thought. “No, actually. I don’t have a solid plan.” He shrugged. “I won't need to take over for my dad for a long time.”

“What does your father do again?” Your mom asked. 

Nichole sighed. “Wayne Enterprises or whatever!” She reminded her. “He could buy our town and it would be pocket change.”

“I don’t have access to the majority of the funds. I get an allowance.” He was a tiny defensive of that. “Just because my family has money doesn't mean I can spend it.”

“That sounds mature.” Your father complimented. “Though you are expected to take over the business some day?” 

Bruce nodded. “Once my father retires, but he jokes he won't retire until he's 80. Or my mother makes him.” He chuckled. 

You chuckled as well. “They’re really sweet. Not money snobs like some people believe.” You looked at your sister. “We actually went out to eat at the Hole in the Wall I love when I first met them.”

Everyone looked surprised at that except your brother who was just staring at his new gift. “Can someone open the package?!” He finally half whined. “So much tape.”

You snickered and Bruce happily got his Swiss knife out to help. “Sorry, buddy. Didn't think of that.”

“S’okay!” Your brother happily glued to his side. “Wanna play with me?”

“I’d be happy to. Can I take our bags to your sister’s room first?” Bruce asked. “Then we can play, deal?”

“Deal!” He said happily. 

Nichole glanced at your brothers new toy and raised her eyebrows. “It was a mutual buy.” You pointed a finger at her. “It wasn’t like he rushed out to get just anything.”

“Clearly it was something he’d like.” Your mother nodded. “It was thoughtful.”

“Nicole is just paranoid.” You huffed. “And annoying at times.” You added easily. “She’ll get better as the week wears on.” You hoped, at least. 

“We’ll see.” Nicole gently nudged you. “Is that a ring I see?!” She gasped when she finally saw your hand.

You immediately blushed. “It’s a promise ring!” Your automatic response was. “He surprised me with it yesterday. When he just ran out for a camera.” You chuckled.

“That’s so sweet.” Your mother held out her hand for a better look. “It’s gorgeous. You have wonderful taste, Bruce.”

“Thank you. I knew it was the one.” Bruce smiled. “Way different than all the others.” He glanced at you. “The lady who helped was really nice. I had actually been looking for something to bring you guys…” He admitted bashfully.

“Oh, how kind.” Your mother beamed at him. “You’re such a gentleman.” She gushed. “I’m glad you got the ring instead.” 

“What exactly does a promise ring entail?” Your father asked curiously. “I’ve never heard of it.” 

Bruce blushed. “It means I promise she’s it.” He explained. “Kind of a pre-engagement ring…”

“That is nice.” He hummed. “Saying she’s ‘it’ but knowing it is too soon for marriage.” He nodded. “And touching.”

You smiled lovingly at Bruce who rubbed the back of his neck. “Thank you, sir.” He smiled, then looked over at you.  

You blushed happily, making your parents look at each other. 

Lying on Bruce’s chest that night, you were lazily drawing lines on his skin. “Feel better?” You asked. “About this trip?” Your voice was quiet.

“Much. Your sister is still scary though.” He chuckled softly. “I think she’ll always hate me.” He sighed.

“I don’t know why she was being like that.” You matched his sigh. “She’s never been that bad.”

He shrugged. “I’m not mad at her or anything for it.” He told you. “It’s what I’d expect from an older sibling.”

“I guess it bothers me more since I know she could’ve nicer.” You shrugged. “And you mean a lot to me, and she was still like that.”

Bruce gently rubbed your back. “Thanks for defending me.” He said happily. 

“Of course. I love you.” You kissed his chest. “So much. She can deal with it.”

“Hell yeah.” He squeezed the arm that was around you. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Better not.” You giggled. “I’m glad to be ‘stuck’ with you.”

“I’m super happy to hear that, babe.” He smiled against your hair. “I hope you sleep well.”

“You, too.” You said happily, shutting your eyes. It never took long for you to fall asleep when you were with him. He was your home.

Nicole was the only one up when Bruce went down to see if he could get coffee. “Morning, Brucie.”

He winced. “Good morning.” He shuffled. “Uh, is coffee?”

She pointed to the fresh pot. “Mugs are in the cabinet above. Use the red ones. Those are Y/N’s.” She told him.

“Cool.” He quickly did so. He made you a mug, as well, wanting it ready for you. 

After a moment, she spoke up. “You really want to marry my sister? Why?”

“Because I love her with all my heart.” He answered easily. “I'd give up my money for her.”

“All of it?” She asked. There was a tad bit of disbelief in her voice.

“Yep! She’s shown me there’s more to life than money.” He shrugged. “She means more to me than my parent's entire fortune.”

She hummed but was clearly surprised. You walked in, yawning, moments later. “Morning.” You sat tiredly. Bruce held up your coffee, and you melted. “Thanks, Mr. Bond.”

Bruce chuckled and kissed your head. “Anything for my Bond girl.” He smiled. “What's the plan for today?”

“Mm, coffee first.” You groaned. “Then talk.” You sipped the hot liquid.

He shook his head and rubbed your back. “Hungry?” He asked, willing to cook.

You nodded. “I’ll help you, though.” You picked his cheek. 

“Yuck.” Your sister shook her head. 

“Jealous?” You asked. 

She made a face. “No.”

“That’s okay. I know jealousy when I see it.” Bruce chuckled. “Alright, what sounds good?”

“French toast?” You asked. “That's simple, and so good.”

“And my specialty.” He nodded. “If we can, want my fruit syrup, too?”

“Please.” You groaned. You looked at your sister. “Homemade fruit syrup.”

Nicole bit her lip. “That does sound good.” She admitted. “...Can I have some? We have strawberries.”

Bruce just chuckled. “Of course.” He went to get started. “I just need sugar and butter for them.”

She went to help him find ingredients with a soft look. He was winning her over. 

Bruce grinned and got things ready to start as she placed things on the counter. “This is honestly one of the best things Alfred has ever taught me.” He mused.

“Remind me to thank him.” You giggled. “I can't wait to meet him. He sounds great.”

“Who’s that?” Nicole asked. 

“He's our butler, but he's more like an uncle to me. Only person besides your sister to be brave enough to call me a brat.” He chuckled. 

“I believe that.” Nicole laughed. “They're right.”

“Mm, I’m starting to believe that.” He laughed. “Alright, let's melt this butter.”

You snorted. “Never thought I’d hear you say that.” You nudged him.

“Hey, I’m a great breakfast cook. I just haven’t shown you.” He teased. “You always beat me to it.”

“You make breakfast?” Nicole looked at you. 

You nodded. “Yeah. Before we moved in together, sometimes we would have leftovers, but I always do now.”

“Interesting.” She hummed. 

“How so?” Bruce asked.

“She never cooked here at home. I guess mom always did, dad sometimes. News to me that she can cook.” She explained. “That's all.”

“Stop making me sound bad.” You tossed a napkin at her back. “Jerk.”

“Just curious.” She shrugged. As the two of you moved around, she watched Bruce, sipping her coffee. Something about him had grinder her gears, but as he began cooking, it seemed to fade. Soon, the kitchen smelled amazing.

You woke up more once you had your first cup of coffee, so you helped serve plates. As you were, the rest of your family shuffled in.

“Well, isn’t this a nice surprise.” Your mother smiled. “It smells wonderful in here.”

“Y/N found herself a man who could cook.” Nicole smiled at Bruce. You set a plate down in front of her and giggled at her face.

“Well. He’s a winner in my book.” Your father joked. “Let's eat.”

Bruce tried to hide his smug smile as he sat beside you. He was surprised when your mother spoke up after that, however. “Oh, Bruce, your parents contacted me right before you got here. There coming for dinner in a few days.” She smiled. “Your mother sounds like someone I would go out for a girl’s day for!”

“...My...parents? Are coming? Here ?” He raised his eyebrows. He blinked.

You also looked surprised. “Here?” You felt a bit silly for even asking that.

“Here!” Your mother beamed. “I thought we might as well have us all meet.” She explained. “Your father is going to grill up some steaks.”

Bruce shrugged slowly. “Okay…” He said slowly. “I don’t think my parents have ever met a girl’s parents that I was seeing.” He admitted. 

You blushed at that, feeling your chest flutter. “I look forward to seeing them.” You admitted. “They’re very easy to talk to.”

“I’m sure we’ll get along, then.” Your father nodded. 

You were showing Bruce around your hometown that morning when he asked about his parents joining everyone. “Does that mean we’re even more serious? I mean, the parents meeting?”

“I would say, yes. It doesn’t happen that often...right?” You glanced at him.

He shook his head. “Definitely not for me. Have you gone through it?” He asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“No. I’ve met parents and they’ve met mine but this is new.” You shrugged. “It’s never gotten to parents meeting parents.” You told him.

He hummed and nodded, taking your hand and kissing where your ring laid. “I feel honored, then.”

You blushed. “I am, too.” You leaned your head on his shoulder for a moment. “But I’m glad it doesn’t scare you.” You smiled up at him.

“Nah, not at all.” He assured. “Does it scare you?” He glanced over at you. 

“A little. But I’ve always been scared at how much I love you.” You said softly.

[lostusagis]

@jiraipink asked:

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧!!! 🎃

Bzzzzzzt!

"Coming~!" The buzzer sounds off from her apartment and she rushes to the door excited at the thought that it's Kamui who has arrived. Unfortunately, she was in for a trick rather than a treat. When she opens the door, her beaming grin very quickly takes a complete 180. "EEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!" There's a fake spider hanging from her door; the string attached the toy taped at the top of the door frame. Face in horror, she hears a couple of guys laughing their asses off from a distance peeking out from their apartment room with sounds of a party going on in there. Her racing heart slowly calming down now that she knows it's fake after giving it an experimental poke. Namida's blood boils and she yanks the toy off (SQUEAK) and she throws it at one of the guys' stupid face who was holding a cup of alcohol that he ended up spilling on his shoes. She may not be strong, but she has good aim! "ENJOY YOUR WET SOCKS, BITCH!" And a foul mouth! She then closes the door and huffs in annoyance as she tidies up the decorations she put up. She should've looked through the peep hole first. When she hears the buzzer again, THIS TIME she remembers to check and- GASP! She immediately opens the door and embraces her most beloved visitor. "Kamuiiiiiiii~!" She hugs him tightly for a while, before finally letting go and her grin is shining like it always does when Kamui shows up. This time, with pointy fangs! "Happy Halloween, Mui~!" Her mood is very clearly back to being up again. "Eheheh~! How do you like my costume?"

Namida had done a photoshoot advertising an event a while back and she was allowed to keep the outfit as her Halloween costume. Naruko, AKA Nyaruko, was aware of Namida's modeling thing she does for Dark Girly Kei fashion, so she thought it was a good idea to have Namida model for a costume and well she likes Namida! Nyaruko was in charge of a Halloween-themed haunted attraction event based off of the popular horror game franchise "Silent Hill." It's taking place at an anime cosplaying convention. OF COURSE Nyaruko would be into that nerdy stuff. It's really no shocker, considering the way she talks and her favorite cat ears accessory she never seems to take off. She and her friends created their own vision of a story for their haunted house and they absolutely HAVE to add those creepy nurses you'd see in Silent Hill. They're a recurring type of monster and staple to the beloved series, well-known and important, and Nyaruko thought it'd be a cool idea to dress up and scare/invite people to the fright event and invited Namida to be one of the nurse monsters alongside her. The nurses are visually similar across the series and share many common traits, so Nyaruko and her friends came up with their own version. A bloody vampire nurse!

"I was invited by Naruko, you know the cat girl who's also a rental girlfriend, to be one of the nurse monsters in her haunted house thing and I did a photoshoot advertising the event so that's why I have this costume since she let me keep it." She leads Kamui inside and shuts the door behind them. There's Halloween decorations everywhere. The lights were off and the only ones that were keeping her apartment lit in pretty orange and purple colors where the string lights hanged up all around. There's also a My Melody boombox playing Halloween music. "Eheheh. Do you remember when she was the one that caused us to be trapped in a closet together?" Nyaruko was sort of PART of the reason these two got closer. She's also the one that always felt like they liked each other or were perfect for each other. Even now, she continues to show support in her own mischievous/teasing ways. As well as the only coworker she knows that genuinely cares about Namida. She felt bad about turning her down. Usually, she wouldn't feel bad for turning down an invitation to something someone wanted her to attend to, but Nyaruko has slowly made her way into Namida's soft spot. Perhaps maybe... Even thinking about being friends? She fidgeted with her white lacey gloves covered in fake spots of blood. "I ended up telling her I can't go, because well..." A pink shade of blush warms up her cheeks when shyly smiling up at Kamui. "I want to spend my time on Halloween with you and Kagura." Especially Kamui; if the batting of her dreamy googoo eyes at him wasn't obvious enough. Kamui and Kagura are so funny when together though, so she was also looking forward to watching them in amusement, but also looking out for them should she intervene in their spats. She can't help it when her older sister instincts kick in.

There was a delayed reaction to how long she had been staring at Kamui all lovey-dovey, but when she did snap out of it and realized what was happening, Namida quickly turns around to walk towards the kitchen clearing her throat. "U-Um! So I made you and Kagura something!" There were two handmade Halloween gift baskets: one for Kamui and one for Kagura. It included a bunch of chocolates and candy she bought, but there was also a homemade chocolate shaped like a chibi Kamui and chibi Kagura she did herself. "Here ya go~! Some yummy treats for you!... Or maybe it's a trick? Maaaaaybe I added mayonnaise filling inside one of them~" She says with a sly wink, before giggling at her own teasing. "Just kidding!... Or am I?" What is Halloween without a little scare when eating your candy someone gives you? Well, there's nothing to worry about. It IS true she added filling in the homemade chocolates, but it's not mayonnaise. She's not EVIL! For example, Namida had filled Kamui's special chibi chocolate with strawberry filling. "Oh by the way! Did you see Kagura's video on Twitter? The one with the summoning of Beetlejuice, Candyman and Bloody Mary? Even though nothing happened, I still think Bloody Mary would've won that fight.... Oh! Also look at this!"

Namida excitedly hurries into the living room with a big smile on her face. She REALLY wanted him to see what she's done. "Ta-daaaaa~!" She Will Smith poses at the coffee table all proudly. Three pumpkin carvings, each with a candle lit inside of them, of Kamui Namida and Kagura. She still gets a little embarrassed about her artwork, since she knows they tend to look childish, but at least they're cute right?!... Please say they're cute. Her lacey gloved finger scratches at her cheek as she shyly smiles. "I-I did my best and I-I think they look cute! Well, we can always do pumpkin carving together too! I have so much activities we can do here so this party for three doesn't bore you and Kagura. I have to be a good host for my precious guests! I totally forgot that Apple Bobbing was a thing and honestly I'm really curious to see which hungry Yato has the quickest and strongest bite to win~!" There's many things the three of them could do to make this night last and be fun. Like she had set up Apple Bobbing, pumpkin carving/painting, horror movies they could pick and watch, playing Lights On Lights Off, etc. There's a ton of ideas running through her mind to make the Yato siblings happy. She was fixing up Kamui's pumpkin a little with the carving knife until she heard the buzzer... and it caused Namida to accidentally prick her finger. A small drop of blood landing on the Kamui pumpkin; as if it were the final touch of her masterpiece to create an accurate representation. "Ow!" She removes the glove and shakes her head chuckling. "Eheheh. Funny how I have fake blood all over my outfit and now I'm actually bleeding. Geez. Uh! Could you get the door for me, Mui? It must be Kagura! I'll go and wash this off."

The only reason Kamui even dressed up was because of constant pestering from his little sister. So, he just went with a serial killer costume. One, because he could wear blood on his clothes and not be questioned if he had committed actual murder, two, he could carry around a knife. The knife was real. Kamui had also decided to not have his hair braided for tonight either. Although, more importantly, he was dying to see what kind of costume Namida was going to wear.

He'd press the buzzer to her apartment, waiting for her to open up. When Namida does, he was immediately embraced. Kamui wasn't complaining at all, hugging her back tightly. He lets out a happy sigh, feeling all the stress leave his body from her affection alone. ''Glad to see you. ♡'' When she pulled away from the hug, he'd see her costume and it was pretty hard to pry his eyes away. Hues of blue looking her over, seeing her look amazing in her costume. Blood looked really nice on her.

''You look really beautiful, but that's not much of a surprise. I think your costume is the best out of every one I've seen on the way here.'' He smiled, acting like he wasn't completely biased solely because he liked everything about her. ''Hold on... are those fangs real?'' Kamui leaned in close, looking at her fangs curiously. He's seen various amanto with ACTUAL fangs, so... he wasn't sure if by some weird possibility, humans could grow them too. Kamui didn't know them all that well after all, Namida was the only one who actually seemed interesting outside of fighting. ''Hahaha, well you look nice with them!'' He laughs, then goes right inside with Namida.

When he saw all the decorations in her apartment, Kamui looked pretty amazed. She always went above and beyond, ''This looks really cool.'' He couldn't help commenting that when looking at her decorations, like an impressed little boy practically. She was really creative. Although, Namida speaking about Naruko led him to look confused. He hadn't the slightest idea who that was, or rather he hadn't cared enough to remember. He didn't care about any of the rental girlfriends, except Namida. Why would he? Although, it did click who the hell Naruko was once the incident with being trapped in the closet was brought up.

''Oh, her.'' Kamui scowled, sounding just a bit too spiteful. Although, thinking about it now, being trapped in a closet with Namida at this point in time, might end a lot differently. He still didn't like some annoying person doing that out of nowhere though, plus it was when he was feeling weak too, and couldn't just break out. Didn't Namida also get mad at him and stopped talking to him too during that? Well, it was a long time ago. They were best friends now. Actually, now that he thought about it.... that whole situation did kind of lead to them being best friends. Kamui, however, still didn't like that cat girl.

''I remember that yeah. . . .'' Kamui kind of forced a smile while saying that, not too happy reminiscing about that time. He was happy when she admits to wanting to spend with him and his sister on Halloween. His features would brighten up finding her adorable. The way she looked at him definitely made his chest fill with warmth. ''Hey Namida, you're kind of tempting me to kiss you right now, you know? But Kagura might be here soon, so I'm trying to control myself. ♡'' He never actually manages to control himself though, it was all just a farce. The smirk he was wearing proved that much. He easily noticed the lingering stare she was giving him too, and couldn't help but be amused. Kamui didn't really mind, but he'd likely tease her about it.

''Ooooh, always so generous, huh? Maybe I should eat Kagura's before she gets here.'' Was he joking? Likely not. He always went to Gintoki's apartment to eat all the food after all, including stuff Kagura had for herself. Kamui went ahead and took his basket looking through the stuff inside. Immediately he started eating some of the candy. He came across the strawberry filled ones, ''Sooo tasty. Love this. ♡'' Glee fills his face, not the least bit disappointed. Then seeing the chocolate chibi version of himself, he wondered how she was so talented. It was really incredible.

''Although, I hope you're just messing with me about the mayonnaise filled ones. That sounds really gross.'' He gives a bit of a weirded out look, seeing her laugh when teasing him.

Kamui liked different food combinations, and would eat almost anything. But chocolate and mayonnaise was an exception for obvious reasons. He'll just.... leave the rest of the chocolates alone for now. Since, he seemed to have been lucky to not encounter any of the mayonnaise filled ones so far.

''Also yeah, but isn't that stuff fake? It wasn't gonna work anyway, right?'' Kagura posted a lot of stupid videos on twitter, he does occasionally watch them when they seemed interesting. Then makes fun of her in the replies. Kamui looked over at the pumpkins Namida brought to his intention, and looked in awe. ''Wow, this actually... does look really.... cute.''

He couldn't help but chuckle, soon taking out his phone to take a picture of all three of them. It was something to preserve since pumpkins didn't exactly last forever. ''I gotta keep this. ♡'' The flash goes off as he happily snapped his picture. He'd likely post it online later.

''I've actually never done either of those things, since I hadn't been to Earth much until I started visiting Kagura. . . . So, I'd love to try it out with you two.'' He wasn't against learning new things, he wasn't exactly the most knowledgeable on the more minor activities people do during Earth holidays. Namida helped him grow more interested in learning too. He wanted to know about the things she celebrated, and what made her happy. Kamui would be happy sharing those experiences with her.

''Hey actually-'' He goes up to Namida, his arm wrapped around her waist pulling her closer to him as he holds up his phone. ''How about a picture to remember today, with just the two of us? ♡'' He grins then snaps the picture with her. Whether he admits to it or not, he was sentimental, and liked preserving memories with people important to him. They could take one with Kagura too later. Although afterwards, he'd watch as she went to fix up the pumpkin of him and ended up pricking her finger. The pumpkin version of him was definitely more accurate now.

He had stopped her, grabbing her hand. ''Hey, let me see your finger first. Kagura could wait.'' Kamui's hand was gentle when handling her, careful to not be too rough in any way. He had looked at the bead of blood at her fingertip, it wasn't that much thankfully. Although, he hadn't actually thought before his next action which was licking off the blood, also putting just the tip of her finger where the prick was, into his mouth too. Kamui didn't think anything of it, since that's usually what he did when handling slight cuts, and pricks on his own fingers. It wasn't until Kamui was sure the bleeding stopped that he ceased.

''Look at that, the bleeding stopped. Hahaha.''

[ithinkyouhealedmyheart]

30 Days of November

taglist: @myloveforhergoeson @partiallypearl

(the days I missed. sorry, it's a long one)

16. stellar constellation

Although Logan loved going to the planetarium, James loved the stars. More specifically, the brunette loved zodiac signs. His favorite thing was comparing birth charts between his friends. The singer once ranted with Kendall about how his birth chart compares to Ronnie's. The blonde was so close to duct-taping James' mouth shut.

Since Lynette liked homemade gifts, James took it upon himself to paint the stars. His zodiac sign was Cancer, and it took him a couple of months to finally learn that Lynette was a Virgo. The brunette got to work on his perfect homemade gift. At least, to him, it had to be ideal for Lynette. In actuality, the thought mattered, but because of his mother, James expected nothing less than perfection.

"James, are you done yet? I need my laptop," Logan groaned and slumped over on the breakfast bar.

His friend had been frustrated about perfecting his painting for the past two hours. Of course, James wasn't a painter, so he mainly scraped whatever needed to be more wobbly or imperfect.

"Couldn't you take her to the planetarium and point the constellations out to her?"

"No!" James gasped, offended his nerdy friend would suggest that. "I need something meaningful and heartfelt."

"Taking her to the planetarium is heartfelt."

"Stick a sock in it if you're not going to help me,"

Logan rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let me know when you'll give me my laptop back."

"In a minute." Jams waved his hands about.

The door to apartment 2J opened, and Lynette appeared in the doorway. Her curly hair was pulled up into a high ponytail.

"Hey, James!" She waved at him. "Logan, Kat needs help with a rap in one of our songs, and she asked me to come get you."

"The girl who beat me in a rap battle is asking me for my help?" Logan furrowed his brows.

"Uh, yeah?" Lynette shrugged. I promise I'll return him when I'm finished, " she said to James.

She dragged the confused nerd into the hall, leaving the apartment door open when she left. James looked at his painting and frowned. He needed to do better.

17. blanket

Ashlynn's apartment could have had better heating. As much as she complained to her landlord about this, he couldn't do anything. She did her best to keep Carlos and his friends away from her apartment building because it was falling apart at the seams, but today, she wasn't expecting the dark-haired boy to ring her doorbell.

In his arms was a folded, fluffy quilt. The pink snuggie she wore couldn't keep the cold away, but somehow she made it work. Carlos had a bag of stuff, actually. She stepped aside to let him, caught off guard by his sudden appearance.

"I brought hot cocoa and borrowed a bunch of movies from Ronnie, but most importantly, I have a fluffy blanket we can share!" He beamed from ear to ear.

"Oh." I don't- How would we make the cocoa?"

"With a kettle on the stove?" Carlos tilted his head. "Do you not have a kettle?"

"I don't... I don't know."

Ashlynn wandered into the kitchen with Carlos at her heels. She searched through the cabinets, although she was confident she had no kettle. It wasn't something she bought. To her surprise, the kettle was under her sink.

"Oh, here it is."

"Sweet! I can make the hot cocoa the way my dad makes it!"

"He has a certain way to make it?"

"Yeah! He always says if you make hot chocolate with water, then you might as well be a criminal." Carlos shrugged. "Oh, but once you try it, you won't return to hot water in your hot chocolate."

"Okay, then." Ashlynn shrugged. "In that case, the kitchen is all yours."

It didn't take long for Carlos to make the hot chocolate. Ashlynn paused when she looked at the movies. She was curious to know why he would drop by unannounced. Perhaps he thought she was upset? Did she need to remember to answer his texts? She picked Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a classic. Carlos snuggled beside her on the couch, the blanket unfolded, and their hot chocolate steamed on the coffee table.

The opening credits rolled, and the music started. Ashlynn didn't think twice when she leaned her head on his shoulder. Maybe she was down in the dumps, but somehow Carlos knew what to do to help her feel better.

18. rain boots

Natalie wasn't happy she had to bring her youngest son to work because middle school was called a half-day. If her oldest son wasn't in high school, she would have asked Luke to bring Caleb home and watch him until she clocked out. Bitters wasn't happy about it either because he didn't like children much. The brunette with doe eyes was nothing but a snot-nosed germ incubator.

It was raining, which meant the teenage resident was kept inside since their pool was closed. Bitters kept their distance from Caleb but watched him like a hawk. The rain started that morning, so the boy wore rain boots. Surprisingly, the kid had manners, probably because his mother was the vice hotel manager. The ten-year-old was bored and tried his best not to bother the residents. Eventually, the youngest Knight sibling started talking to him, and Bitters feared for his life.

Unfortunately, when Natalie started her job and had to bring her kids in on her first day, Buddha Bob promised he would watch them. Luke enjoyed the inner workings of the plumbing system, and Caleb was amused by Plungy. The brothers liked Buddha Bob better than Bitters.

"Hey, I gotta take some trash outside. Do you want to help me?" Buddha Bob was pushing one of those custodial trash bins on wheels.

"I can go outside?" Caleb's eyes lit up.

"You have a jacket, don't you? But promise me you won't go far and will stay in my line of sight."

"I promise!" Caleb jumped up and forced his arms through the sleeves of his windbreaker.

"Then I don't see why you can't go outside,"

Caleb stayed relatively close to Buddha Bob as he splashed in the puddles. He was bound to get sick since the puddles were soaking his pants as he jumped in deep puddles. Although Buddha Bob wasn't a parent, he couldn't help but feel a little proud.

19. hugs

Ronnie slept on the tour bus—more like she sat on the sofa scrolling on her laptop. Her headphones were plugged in, and she listened to music at full volume. She couldn't sleep. Since the All Over The World tour started, the songwriter has struggled to sleep. Because her heart hurt, she was listening to sad music.

She tried her best not to wake the guys up. Hood pulled over her head, and she held a hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs. It wasn't fair that Curt broke up with her the day she left for tour with BTR. Shadows shifted, and she jumped. Kendall was half asleep. His mouth was moving, but because of the music, she didn't know what he was saying.

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" Ronnie pulled off her headphones and paused her music.

"What? No." Kendall wiped the sleep from his eyes. "I asked why you were awake."

"Can't sleep." Ronnie pushed her laptop off her lap. "Are you sure I didn't wake you up?"

"No, you didn't wake me up." Kendall shook his head. "What's wrong? You can't sleep only when you're upset about something." He sat down beside her.

"It's nothing. I'm fine."

"Okay," Kendall exhaled sharply. "But will a hug make it better?"

"Huh?"

"A hug."

Ronnie hesitated when he opened his arms. She melted into his hug, and the dam holding back her tears broke. Kendall hugged her tightly. He remembered that when it came to hugs, she preferred something similar to bear hugs in pressure. The blonde felt he knew what was happening but didn't ask her. Instead, he sat there and let her cry on his shirt. Because that was what friends do.

26. Thanksgiving

It's corny, but lemme just say I'm thankful for the mutuals and friends I've made in the BTR fandom. <3

[astralwhat]

charlie/aster. tree-hugging animal nerd. enjoyer of sci-fi, fantasy, the paranormal, historical fiction, and everything in between. draws stuff sometimes

other art ▪️ buy my wares ▪️ zine bash

faq ⤵️

can i use your art for [personal thing]?

as long as it wasn't commissioned by someone else, you can use any of my art for your personal icon, profile pic, header, playlist cover, dnd home game, print and tape to your wall, etc etc. please credit/link back to me whenever possible if it's something posted on the internet

can i get a tattoo of your art?

again, for my personal non-commissioned art, sure! i'd appreciate it if you leave a kofi tip or buy a little something from my shop when you can. a shout out is also appreciated if you post a pic to show off the tattoo, partly for design credit and partly because i'd like to see it :)

are you open for commissions?

maybe 👍 please email astralwhat@gmail.com with "commission" in the subject line. tell me what you have in mind and i'll let you know if it's something i can do right now

will you restock [item]?

franklin leg and terror/erebus ship pillows: nah. i might do a new ship pillow eventually, but no immediate plans. feel free to yoink the ideas and make your own; they're not super original concepts lmao

polar explorer shirts: "all well" will have another preorder campaign (probably its last) in december 2024. "make history or die trying" is available through my redbubble (and as of nov '24 has a few still in stock in my etsy) but otherwise i have no plans to do another run

prints and stickers: will probably be restocked (shop updates are usually in april and november ish), and/or is available through my redbubble shop

how do you produce your merch?

prints: i use Catprint (US based) for all of my prints and have done for many years; they're great, lots of options, no minimums, and i highly recommend if you want to get into selling prints. and remember to take advantage of their paper sample pack and free print proofing!!

stickers: i've used Stickerapp (US based) several times; their minimum quantities are higher than i usually want but the prices aren't bad and the quality is nice. mostly now i use Zap! Creatives which has lower minimums and allows for multiple designs in one order, plus i'm already getting other items from them.

pins, charms: i use also Zap! Creatives (UK based) for this; as much as i'd love to produce everything this side of the pond i really haven't found anyone comparable in the US and i've been pretty happy with them.

pillowcases, lanyards, glasses cloths: i've done through a group order organized by another artist; dm me and i will hook you up with the mailing list :)

shirts: for the first couple runs of "make history" i had them made by Huntsville AL-based screenprinter Green Pea Press, who were great to work with and i highly recommend if you're in the area. ordering, storing, and shipping lots of shirts was a bit too much for my one-man-one-room business though so i started using Print Social (UK based) which runs pre-order campaigns and then prints and fulfills everything themselves. very easy to set up, and the shirts look nice!

packaging: i get basically all my mailers from ecoenclose, glassine paper from blick, and otherwise try to reuse brown paper/cardboard/etc for inner packaging as much as possible.

will you draw [fandom] again?

[shrug emoji] it could happen. i'm still fond of everything i've done fanart for in recent years, so there's always a chance i'll return to it if struck with ideas and motivation and energy at the right time

what happened to [various original story things]?

i'm tired dude. i haven't forgotten about them i'm just Tired

----

if you have a question or something to say, you can send a dm or ask here, although my response may be a little slow. for anything time-sensitive or otherwise very important, please email me at astralwhat@gmail.com

[chocolate-teapots]

Kim Taehyung- While It Lasted

     ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗

                 In which you discover how much love truly costs. 

     ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤: sensual Tae, swearing, romance, manipulation, toxic relationship, heartbreak. 

"I mean this is the happiest I've seen you in a long time."

Melanie searched my face for any evidence against this face but she couldn't find it.

It was the honest truth.

I was so happy that I had to concentrate on the restaurant around me just so I wouldn't liquify in my chair- whether it be the people peeping to see what we ordered, the woman complaining about linen charge or the staff flirting behind the bar.

I was so happy that I didn't want to talk too much in case I sounded insane. I had always been the pessimistic one between us both, laughing self-deprecatingly when Melanie stumbled in messily from a hookup but cried when she went to sleep it off.

"Well," I blush and chuckle modestly, grounding myself by gripping the slim stem of the wine glass "I am. He's just- who I am now."

I saw her sisterly cogs turning.

"And before you say don't become too dependent on him I'm not," I point watching her smirk knowingly into the rim of the glass "It's a perfect balance, we're seeing each other casually and being all over each other sometimes."

It doesn't make sense.

This kind of luck didn't exist anymore with people being too awkward to meet face to face or getting carried away behind screens and instantly begging for something more. This was rare and it would take a lot for me to even think about letting it go.

"Well," she raises her glass of wine elegantly by the stem, grinning with dumbfounded pride "fuck you and your perfect life."

I laugh but there were worse things to be sworn at for. I didn't believe in luck or the manifesting stuff I caught on late-night tv sometimes but I owe someone a pretty big favour for having a great job, a fantastic new relationship and a perfect new life in just a couple of months since moving.

"To the perfect man," I toast and the wine sloshes and glasses clink.

I didn't know if it was the sweetness of success or genuinely the taste but as I took a sip it was the best wine I had ever tasted. It was the best pasta I had tasted and we were regulars at this place.

"Are you sure you want to live with him? I know he's a fucking catch but I can cut my hair, tape down my tits and deepen my voice!"

This restaurant is where we'd come to rant when we didn't want to cry since it's unbelievably intimate and public. But this time I had good news. I was doing just fine with nothing to cry about.

"How is it gonna be actually living with the guy? A huge disappointment compared to your previous roommate I know but..." Melanie shrugs sarcastically, wincing at the thought of having to warm her own coffee and pastries in the mornings without me to do it for her.

But he was very eager, almost insistent actually that we move in together. He said it was the answer to all our problems of struggling to make time for each other with our schedules.

"Absolutely but," I shrug still playing around with the linguine on my fork "I really don't know. I've never seen his place."

"What?" she shakes her head for clarity but mostly the drama "You never slept at his? What if he has star wars sheets? Ew, what if he cuts his nails in the kitchen? Kieran used to do that before I threw his ass and his toenails out."

I laughed again but the funniest thing was that I didn't even care. At this point, Tae could attack me in his sleep and it wouldn't stop the bubbling anticipation I have to see him first thing in the morning.

He always made it clear from the beginning that his life was incomprehensibly complicated, not in a worrying my boyfriend is a serial killer way but in a please don't pry and ask too many questions I'll tell you when I'm ready kind of way.

But she's right. It's weird.

"I don't know he always made excuses that his roommate, Jimmie or something, was weird, he hadn't cleaned, he was having the floors done. I know that's the part where you start tailing him after work or going through his Instagram but I chose to respect his privacy. Maybe he was embarrassed about where he lived."

Tae was a host at a prestigious hotel restaurant and the nights were long and hard for him and for me who often waited up for him with a glass of wine until the inevitable 'working late. don't wait up' message.

Then I got out the tequila.

"Well, I hope for your sake Tae isn't a snorer. Has he put down the deposit yet?"

"No, I did."

She drops her fork, eyebrows dropping to her nostrils.

"I thought he said last week that he found the place?"

I shrugged, never liking conversations about money even if it was with my best friend.

"He did but he's still waiting around for someone to take over his tenancy since his contract runs out in April."

Melanie doesn't say anything else.  

By the time the bottle and the conversation had reached its end, we were wincing in heels through the door of our blue apartment for the last time. I was going to miss living with Melanie, we had lived together since we met in the second year of uni and ended up working at the same magazine.

At least we had one thing to keep us together, not that anything could ever keep us apart.

"I'm gonna miss this."

"Me too."

As we sloppily waved each other and walked into our separate doors my phone began to ring in my hand and I dodged a few boxes to the edge of the bed before answering. I waited for a second, a heavy glee pressing down my chest that I was scared would just crush me if I answered too soon.

Get a grip.

I slipped off my heels and picked up.

"You were out late."

His smooth deep voice poured through the speakers and into my spine which was dotted and frozen cold. I half unzipped my dress and flopped onto the bed on my stomach, legs kicking in a stupid girlie rush.

Damn him.

His tone was always firm but playful like he was telling me off and praising me at the same time. It was addictive.

"Yeah, we got a bit carried away with the old stories and the wine," I laughed at how my stomach still hurt from the uncontrollable laughter from a pair of twenty-somethings in a decently respectable restaurant "Are you on break?"

"No just snuck out when Craig wasn't looking, I wanted to catch you before you went to sleep and make sure Mel hadn't changed your mind. She can be very persuasive."

I couldn't help my smile as I rubbed my sore feet, the world suddenly just seems a little bit better. His genuine thoughtfulness was unparalleled and his words were effortless even if they were simple and meant little to nothing. Even when he met Mel for the first time, he was perfect, like an extension of myself.

"I can't believe in less than twenty-four hours I get to have you all to myself, all day, every day," he hummed happily, thinking out loud rather than just stating facts. It made me all the more excited, even the idea of yelling at him for his mess if he was messy or marvelling at his neatness if he wasn't.

I couldn't wait.

"Do you cut your toenails in the kitchen?"

But it was hard to articulate.

Taehyung erupted into unexpected laughter, more like a big splutter. I often carried out conversations in my head in public forgetting that the other person couldn't hear the first half of it.

"That's disgusting. Which one of Melanie's ex-boyfriends did that?" he replies knowingly, still laughing but also keeping quiet to hide from his pushy boss.

"It's just- I don't know..." I struggle "Don't you think it's odd how I've never seen your place? I've never met your roommate, only met one of your friends."

The more I talked about it the more I was talking myself out of this.

"Okay," he takes a deep breath as if he knew this was coming and had prepared something to say "Firstly, Jimin is the one respectable one out of my friends, I think you'd run if you met any of the rest. And second, my roommate was messy and the place was gross. I knew deep down that it wasn't my home because you weren't there, it was temporary."

I bite my lip, impulsively pressing mute so I could squeal into the sheets. I kick the headboard behind me over and over until my toes hurt. My heart was going to explode. God, I'm such a child.

I unmute.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking."

"Don't apologise. I know exactly what you were thinking. Fuck I don't know him, maybe he has pokemon sheets or he has a huge porn box under his bed."

"Do you have a huge porn box under your bed?" I ask playfully with intrigue. Very specific.

"I'm sorry to say I don't. I don't need it when I have a woman who does unspeakable things to me on the bathroom counter..."

The heat from my ears burns the screen of my phone. He hums deeply down the line, hating how he's knowingly ruined my sleep for tonight and he gets to walk away and head back to work as if nothing happened.

"I saw your Instagram story, I know you're wearing that slutty black dress that I love so mu- uh yeah we're still waiting for the 3-piece Piatti plates for the Jones' reception!"

I threw up the air I had been suppressing, bringing myself back into existence as a couple of voices mumbled a different type of adult talk on his side.  

Damn you, Kim Taehyung.

"Sorry," he breathes relieved, I always loved how he did his job with passion  "I have to go, close call."

"That's okay. You know you're getting pretty good at that."

"I have to be, imagine if they found out I was talking to the press," he teased "enjoy your last night of freedom."

"I will, enjoy your dickhead customers," I replied, humming in enjoyment as the cold sheets cool my blushing body.

I thought he'd hung up.

It was quiet for a while.

But I still held the phone.

"Y/N?"

I bite my smile back, disappearing shyly into my shoulders.

"Yes?"

I can hear his smile. He's not doing his wide shy smile but his loving pink pursed lips side grin.

"I can't wait to wake up to you every day sweetheart."

"Me neither Tae."

Me neither.

_______________________________________________________

Kim Taehyung was a complicated man with a complicated personality, a complicatedly stressful job and a complicated way of organising his shoes. However, waking up with Kim Taehyung was anything but complicated.

I was usually awake before him and allowed myself the treat of studying his sleeping form as a morning dose of dopamine. Between Mel and myself, I've seen a number of good-looking handsome men in the past but their features were carefully sculpted and intentional as if they sat down and planned every fibre of their existence with a tiny brush. Taehyung was just naturally that way. His entire charm is his natural beauty, his unintentional charisma, his naïvity to his loveliness but his simultaneous arrogance.

He smells like lavender and fresh fabric softener, not nauseating tan, gel or cologne. The lines in his back are soft, brush-stroke-like and not forcefully chiselled to inspire fear. The only fear I had when I was with him like this was losing him.

"You'll be late."

I'm about to reach his thick eyelashes until he mumbles, making me jump and clutch the sheets to my chest. He's so close his nose almost bumps against mine.

"I'll send my boss a photo of you, she'll understand," I tuck my hands under the side of my head, quite comfortable with the idea of getting the sack just to stare at this man full time. The feminist within me was leaking out of my mouth, disguised as drool.

He groans with a cute pout, stretching out his arms on the other side of the gorgeous well-built bed until they landed beside my head and I was completely engulfed in his shadow. I gulp, nervous laughter disguising itself as I feel his body lower onto mine and his lips kiss the skin of my jaw.

"I thought you said last night you needed a rest?"

I look at him, his dark brown hair curling on his forehead in the morning and completely fucked out in the back. My hands reach out to touch it, curling a strand with my finger and running through it with my other hand. It was still so soft after all the rolling around last night.

"I'm rested."

He breathes against my skin. He loved it when I played with his hair because it soothed him or turned him on I wasn't sure. His kisses got less playful and intentional as he placed my arms against the mattress and muttered:

"Call your boss. Tell her you're a bit tied up and you'll be late."

_______________________________________________________

The office still looked the same.

Life was still pretty simple and I still did the same things every day. I didn't know why having a different place to go home to was going to change that. I still went to the same yummy sandwich truck every day, I still worked with Mel the only difference being I wasn't there to see her pop a huge spot on her butt cheek so she looked forward to telling me about it more the next day.

Yep.

Taehyung had an early shift this morning so he was gone before I woke up. While the sheets were a little colder in the mornings, I wasn't upset and only looked forward to seeing him more and enjoyed the rest. I'd wake up just to feel him kiss me goodbye, then drift back to sleep. We were building a routine.

It was going really great.

I had just walked in and the air was extra crisp, my coffee was extra warm and my hair didn't budge in the January wind. I greeted Ieuan at the front desk with an extra unstoppable smile.

"Hey Ieuan, anything for me this fine Friday morning?" I hand him one of the coffees from my tray, even though it was technically an intern job but I personally loved the way his eyes melted as if he hadn't eaten in a week.

"I love that you're not miserable anymore but it's freaking me out. I'm starting to think that I'm the problem in my life," he deadpans, snatching his coffee and nursing it in both hands.

"We both know your only problem is self-inflicted. He's not gonna call, move on."

"It's only been a year Y/N, we still have time," Ieuan rolls his ice blue eyes all the way back to his stupid brain that's fixated on a co-worker, as insanely hot as he may be, that he had a drink with one time and never called him back a year ago.

"I don't have time, shoot."

"Okay, I've got Austin Butler has agreed to an interview but he won't talk about surgery, Kelly said she won't cover Schiaparelli cause she's vegan, asshole love of my life wants to talk to you about the art page he said the red is too merry and not slutty enough and oh, do you know a Ben Rodgers?"

"Ben Rodgers? No doesn't ring a bell."

"He called like 5 seconds ago asking for you but didn't leave a contact number. He seemed like he was in a hurry. Sexy voice."

"Again? Weird, can't you trace it?" I shrugged, frowning as I rummaged through my bag for my work phone which conveniently began to ring. I heard that ringtone in my nightmares but it was unfamiliar. "Maybe it's some of your Grindr stalkers calling to see where you are."

"Still No Caller ID and my men take their time with me thank you very much."

I laugh at him.

"Forget about it, couldn't have been that important. If it's about a misprint, not much we can do when it's printed and under someone's coffee mug on the nightstand."

_______________________________________________________

There was a disappointment.

"Tae, have you seen my slutty black dress that you love so much?" I call to him from upstairs, confused not to see it when hanging up the laundry.

"Yeah, it's down my trousers! You might want to wash it," he calls back, his filthy mind making me laugh but still not distracting me from the missing garment.

I ponder with a 'hmm' as I follow the amazing smell of pasta down the stairs, pulling a navy jumper over my head as I run.

"Nothing?" Taehyung presses further, looking over his broad shoulders and away from the sizzling pan of wonderfulness to my missing dress matter.

"Nah I'm sure it'll turn up," I pick up the glass of wine and sit down at the table, relishing the feeling of not having to cook tonight and just relaxing until I'm fed. "What's that orgasmic smell coming from the stove?"

"It's my new shampoo rosemary and eucalyptus," he flicks his hair like a Pantene girl until he notices my angry impatient silence, something he knew never to mess with.

"Oh, you mean the food? Well, it's Italian sausage ragu thick tagliatelle with a fresh basil blanket and a sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano."

"I love it when you talk dirty to me."

"Wait until I tell you about dessert," he plays along, bringing my above-average-sized portion over to me with the prettiest presentation I had ever seen. He takes the wine bottle and tops up the glass in my hand before even thinking about his own serving.

I might love this man.

"Awe honey you baked?"

He looks at me mischievously before he sits, lost deep within the filthy part of his brain before uttering:

"Something like that."

I don't say anything and shove a stupid amount of pasta into my mouth to suppress a giggle. I groan at the taste, marvelling at the multiple talents of the god of a man that happened to host my birthday party once at the beautiful hotel.

Mel tolerated Taehyung, why she didn't embrace him as her own as she did with me I'll never know. She was civil, she asked questions, and she came over for movie nights and drinks but there was always something she wasn't saying. I thought it was because I did the same whenever she had a boyfriend. To me, no one would ever be good enough for her and if they were I was willing to turn a blind eye in fear of losing her.

How could she not like him?

"This is stunning! Since when do we buy these sausages?"

He looks up from his meal, lips painted red from the stain of the sauce and the dim lighting of the candle. His eyebrows twitch.

"Oh, I bought them today. Hope you don't mind, they still haven't sent my new card yet so I used your spare to get some bits."

He waits.

"Of course! No complaints, keep them coming."

He seemed relieved.

_______________________________________________________

"Who is it this today?"

"Colin Greene!"

"No fucking idea!"

_______________________________________________________

[kristannafever]

A Sky Full of Sun

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: M  WC: 2032

~This is 1000% self-indulgent and all fluff 

------------

Kristoff smiled at the sundog in the sky.  It was only on the coldest, sunniest of mornings that you got to see such a neat phenomenon.  He hastily fished his phone out of his jacket pocket to take a quick picture for his Ma.   She enjoyed stuff like that.  He did too.  It was breathtaking, and she had always told him growing up that it was a good omen for his day.  

“This fucking cold snap is something else.” Sven came up to him, dramatically rubbing his arms trying to warm up, his breath coming out in white vapour as he talked.

“It certainly sucks to work in.” Kristoff slipped his phone back into his Carhart jacket.  In all honestly the cold wasn’t too big a deal to him. Being a construction framer, they worked in all kinds of weather and he was rarely bothered by it.  Except when frigid temperatures brought nasty wind chills, then it was a nightmare and he would go home and have the hottest of showers and sit on the couch with his big blanket, thick wool socks on, and a blazing fire in the wood stove.

“So… about Mexico-”

“I don’t know, Sven. I’m not really a beach kind of guy.”  They started off trudging trough the deep snow to where a lift sat waiting for them to haul materials onto and get to work. “I don’t like sand and I hate that it gets everywhere.”

“It’s not just the beach though!  There are pools, and a bar, and fishing, and quads, and sunset cruises, and Ixtapa island, and of course Zihua has a lot to offer.”

“Zihua?”

“Zihuantanejo, you know what I mean.  From Shawshank Redemption, like I said.”

“I know, Sven.  I just wasn’t sure you were so familiar all of the sudden.”

Sven made at face at the smirk Kristoff was giving him and the proceeded to load wood onto the lift. His friend had been on it for days on end.  He even went so far as to rent a four-bedroom condo for two weeks and now he was trying to find someone to help with the cost of the place.

“What about Ed, he’ll go with you.”

“Ed?  Fuck you, Kris.  Really.”

Kristoff laughed in his friends face as they loaded the plywood.  Ed was nice and a good worker, but the guy was impossible to take in anything but small doses.  Couple times he tagged a long for a beer after work and most of the guys at the table wanted to tape his mouth shut, he was so crass.  

“It’ll be sunny and thirty-plus degrees every day down there!  Come on, Man.  You’re by BFF.”

Kristoff snorted.  “I know I am, and that means you should know that beach vacations just aren’t my thing.”

Sven pouted at him. The man really pouted, and Kristoff decided he could throw him a bone.  It had been a long time since he’d been anywhere besides camping for a vacation.

“Fine, fine.  You’ve officially worn me down.”  Sven grinned like an idiot and opened his mouth to comment, but Kristoff stuck a finger in his face.  “But I’m bringing a bunch of books and I am doing my own thing, you got that?  If I don’t want to go to the beach, you leave me alone.   If I don’t feel like going out to any night clubs you’ve been talking about taking Liz to, you leave me alone.”  Kristoff resumed loading wood, then added, “I don’t feel like being a third wheel the whole time anyway.”

There was a silence then and Kristoff’s stomach twisted.  Damn Sven.  Damn him, because Kristoff knew was about to come out of his friend’s mouth.

“Well, Liz invited a friend too because there are four bedrooms-”

“For fuck’s sake, Sven!”

“No, no, listen!  It’s actually great because she initially asked this other couple we know, but between you, me and the outhouse, they are insufferable dickheads who always try and one-up ya, you know?  But they dropped out due to some family drama bullshit or whatever so Liz has this new work friend who… you know... could use a friendly group of people-”

“People my ass!” Kristoff felt his cheeks getting hot. “Let me guess, she’s single.”

Sven hesitated. “Well, yes.  But-”

“You’re seriously trying to set me up on my fucking vacation?”

Sven’s hands went up in surrender.  “No, seriously dude!  That’s not what this is.  Not at all! We’re honestly just trying to get people to fill rooms, but we’re having a hard time finding takers to help with the cost.  I don’t even think we’re going to be able to fill the fourth room.  I mean we already paid for the whole thing after all.”

“I’ve never known you to over-commit on something.” Kristoff managed with a serious face.

It took Sven a half a second to recognize the joke and he burst into a huge smile.  “You’re still in then?”

Kristoff looked back up to the sun dog in the frigid air, making his decision final despite his sudden reservations about a stranger joining them.  “Yeah, yeah,” he said through a sigh.  “I’m due for a vacation anyway.”  

They jumped onto the lift and started to bring it up then Kristoff turned to Sven, and gave him a firm look.  

“But I’m not going to play nice if you all try to gang up on me and make me do shit I don’t want to do.”

“Oh, I believe you, you grumpy asshole.”

Kristoff nodded, comment aside and they got to work.

 Two Months Later

A ringing phone woke him up.

Kristoff rolled over to grab his cell of the nightstand, wondering who the hell was calling him at this hour, whatever hour it was, he had no idea.  He went to bed at nine in the anticipation of getting up early to catch his plane to Mexico.

“Yeah?” he groaned, as he sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

All he heard was hacking on the other end.  Kristoff pulled the phone away from his face to look at the screen and realized it was Sven.

“Sven?  You okay?”

After the sound of a flushing toilet and some clearing of a clearly hoarse throat, he spoke.  “I’m sorry Dude, I really am.  I am a as sick as a dog.  Gotta be food poisoning or something.”

Kristoff let his head fall between his shoulders.  “You’re not making this plane, are you?”

“Unless I can stop puking and shitting myself, that would be a no.”

He felt for his friend, he really did, but that meant he now had to board a plane by himself, go to a condo he didn’t rent in his name, and supposedly meet someone who Liz had invited to stay with them.  It was too much, he would have to cancel, money be dammed.  It was too awkward.  

“I told you that gas station sushi was a bad idea,” Kristoff huffed.

Sven groaned in response.

“I’m sorry, dude.  It sucks you’re sick.”  

“I’ll get my ass down there,” he mumbled.  “It just won’t be tomorrow.  Or today? What the fuck time is it?”

Kristoff pulled the phone from his face to look at the time.  “Quarter after three.”

Sven wretched again and Kristoff hung up.  That was something he didn’t want to listen to, so he texted his friend he hoped he felt better and to keep him posted on how he was doing and when he might be able to catch another flight down.

Sleep was impossible after that.  

He had to be up at six anyway, it wasn’t anything to him to kill a couple of hours cleaning his small house for when he got back.   He was a little anxious what it was going to be like without his friends there for a buffer, but he was trying his hardest to take things as they came lately, no matter how much they infringed on his comfort zone.  

*******

Anna could not keep the smile from her face.    She was so excited to head somewhere warm for two weeks with nothing on the agenda but rest and relaxation.   Liz and Sven would have to join them later – poor Sven and his food poisoning – but at least she wouldn’t be alone.  She was going to meet a new friend!

There was no way she figured she be able to pick him out in an airport full of people waiting to board planes, but there he was, right in front of her when she cleared security and walked into the terminal.  Just as described, he was blond, tall, broad chested and ruggedly handsome, although she wasn’t sure why Liz had even added that last little tidbit since she assured Anna this was not a set up or anything like that.  They just needed help paying for the Condo.  

Anna felt a pull to go up and talk to him then, except he was eating breakfast and that was hardly the right time to introduce yourself to someone.  Not only that, she needed to grab some food for herself.  There wasn’t much open in the terminal so early and she had to admit that the sub he was eating looked pretty good.  Anna got in line at Subway to get herself one and by the time she got it with a mind to maybe sit at his table, he was gone.

Not that it bothered her, she was looking forward to fun and sun and getting away from the frigid cold weather.  Even if the guy was a jerk, all the rooms had their own bathrooms and she could put herself in her own space when she was in the condo and not be bothered by anyone. She was no stranger to doing things by herself.

Anna ate her sub and walked around the terminal a bit, stopping at the place to load up on snacks despite the highway robbery prices.  Then she made her way to the gate and happened to see the blond guy again, arms crossed and leaning against a wall nearby, bag tucked between his feet, idly watching people pass by.  

If there was ever a time to introduce oneself before a flight and vacation space they were to share together, now would be it, she figured.  She also liked the idea that he was standing.  Anna decided it would be good for her too to get as much standing in a possible too before being seated on a plane for five hours.  It wasn’t such a big deal for her, she was small, but this guy clearly needed some leg room and would probably be itching to get off that plane by the time it landed.

Anna approached him and his gaze swung towards her direction then stopped when their eyes met.  She wasn’t sure what to make of first impressions based on facial expressions but his lips parted slightly and his eyebrows twitched up as she approached him.

“Hey, are you Kristoff by any chance?”

“I am, yes.”  His demeanor shifted towards being guarded rather than looking bewildered like a moment before.

“I’m, Anna!  Liz’s friend.  I guess we’re headed to the same place!”  She stuck out her hand.

The tall blond looked down at her hand a moment before slowly reaching forward with his own and shook it.  His hand was warm and… so big.  How tall was he anyway?  At least six-two.  Maybe six-three.  

“Nice to meet you,” he mumbled.

“You too!  I’m looking forward to soaking up some sun.  How about you?”

“Um…” His hand came up and rubbed the back of his neck.  “Sure, yeah.”

Well at least he appeared friendly.  If anything, Anna figured he was probably a quiet person, which suited her just fine. As long as he wasn’t a dickhead, she’d be able to enjoy herself.

“Well, it was nice to meet you!  I’m not sure where you’re sitting on the plane but let’s meet up at the cab stand when we get there and split a ride, okay?”

He nodded, ghost of a smile on his lips.  “Sure, sounds great.”

-----

Next 

[commence-screaming]

i can’t believe I haven’t explained to the general public how Bain is an alien. yeah there was that ONE thing I sent AC but that doesn’t count okay 😆

Payday 2 spoilers hahaa

So during the end cutscene, the couple seconds where jacket throws his tape… there’s a weird stone in the background.

It’s written in Kataru! Luckily I know the cipher… though I can’t be bothered to find a higher quality one so wfejvdjd

Okay okay hear me out

Kataru cipher is written from right to left, top to bottom.

BAIN/OURWATCHER/FALLEN

Because this is a tombstone :) if you’re wondering what a Watcher is, it’s explained. ovks had a limited dlc for payday 2 called the “completely overkill pack” and there happened to be a certain mask description for a particular one…

Watchers in the book of Enoch were angels who wanted to be with human women and were punished for that… however we’re not sure if the book of Enoch is canon to payday lore (even though it mentions Nephilim) so I say that Watchers are aliens. Generally. Something very not human.

It makes the meaning of that translation interesting. It gives depth to other weird details that are in the game.

Like in the contact database, Bain says something along the lines of “I am the gatekeeper, or the watchman, if you will.” and “whatever I tell you might be a lie to protect myself. If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t believe me” and if the truth is that Bain is actually the gang’s Watcher, it makes sense.

“I don’t see how it could’ve gone this way, but I’m only human.” I mean, mostly. It’s not technically a lie

Bain is partially human, since he was “born.” He also mentions him having a grandpa who went heisting (big bank stealth) so I would say that the alien stuff is somewhere in his lineage.

He’s very apologetic when a mission fails, by the way. I would speculate that he’s like that because of Hoxton’s arrest but he was like that since the first game. I wonder what he’s trying to make up for :)

All the jokes would have deeper meaning if Bain is an alien of some sort

In the Mega Watcher mask description, it says “they communicate using their minds.” It would fit into how you hear Bain’s voice clearly through even flash bangs, but nobody else’s. There’s actually no official content (that I know of) depicting Bain talking to his crew over earpieces. It’s not like ovks hadn’t modeled earpieces before, look at the guards in the train transport heist! Each time they talk to Bain it’s always over the phone (comic collaboration)

(official Locke and Load comic)

He’s also able to talk to his crew after the EMP bomb goes off in Boiling Point (which took out a whole facility PLUS superhumans)

in that last part he can somehow see what the player is doing as if he has cameras in their masks… except that couldn’t be. Because it shouldn’t be working. If you take the briefcase before Bain asks you to, he has a few different lines like “how did you know I needed that briefcase?” “You read my mind,” and “are you psychic or something?”

and if Bain is a Watcher, these quotes are hilarious. It was right there all along!

“(They) use their large eyes” take a look at the color of the Watcher mask.

Bain’s favorite color is blue. We know it’s true because Crimenet’s color scheme is blue… and Bain’s eyes are blue too. Coincidence? …Maybe. I’m not ruling it out. It would be messed up considering what happens to one of his eyes. My dude got nerfed. and was probably experimented on if what Locke says is anything to go by

“to witness, gather and share information” could they mean the way that the crew can somehow see through walls? How Bain can highlight objectives for you if you can’t find something? Nobody can hide from him.

Bain wears a fleur de lis ring on the pinkie of his right hand. Yes, like the guide of bain

(Something I want to point out, bain is terrible at lying to his team actually. Sooo the detection meter is just future Russian glasses? Yeaahhh sure Bain)

I guess this definitely isn’t mind control or any sort of skill *cough cough* joker *cough* There’s one last thing I want to put down here because it was never explained in canon.

HONESTLY NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS. Could it be the “Watcher of the Star?” is it Bain’s ancestor? or is Bain immortal somehow I don’t know but no normal guy would just have this laying around XD

Bottom line is that if Bain isn’t then he’s definitely SUSPICIOUS. Just putting that out there.