#they don't kid when they say jobs are soul sucking

[lumienn]

Someone yell at me to sleep

[petew21-blog]

Friends for life

This Zack, my best childhood friend. When we were kids, we were basically inspereable. We spent so much time together. We slept over each tohers houses. Even better was the fact that our moms were best frinds. So not only they spend so much time together, but so did we. But that was 6 years ago. Everything changed when my dad died. Zack was there for me, but over time we grew apart. I had to help out my mum with my two sisters and she had to get another job to get enough money for us. Zack's mom on the other hand got divorced and found a new boyfriend. Who I heard didn't really get on well with Zack.

Me and Zack talked from time to time, but it was mainly superficial. Zack was now a very well respected guy in the school. He was always into sports. But now he was a swimmer, basketball and a football player as well. I don't know where he got all that time and energy. Even if we saw each other in the classroom we just smiled or waved at each other. Maybe even this very tiny friendship was the reason why no bullies dared to touch me. Not that Zack would every bully anyone, but if he knew that the other guys bullied someone, he always stood up for that person and ended it. And the bullies even apologized sometimes. That's how respected he was.

So yeah Zack's a jock and I am a classic nerd. Or maybe not classic. I don't really have much time to play games on the computer because of my job, but when I have some spare time I read comic books. So yeah, that makes me a nerd I suppose. And I do quite well at school too. Maybe not the PE, I kinda suck at that, but I get by.

Present time

Me and several other classmates were assigned to start decorating the halls for upcoming prom. Most of my classmates were really excited for that, but not me. I didn't have anyone to go with. Not anyone I wanted to atleast. Ok, I'll say it. I am gay, which complicates things a bit. And the person I would really like to go to prom with is Zack. But that will never happen. Zack is 100% striaght and it would totally ruin his reputation in the school.

But that doesn't stop me from obssessing about him. I saw him a few times in the locker rooms which gave me a pretty consistent image of how he changed over the years. He was pretty much the same Zack I grew up with, but I bet that his junk is much bigger than I remember. Truth be told, Zack was the first (and only) person who I had any sexual experience with. I know it sounds sus, but he only wanted to experiment jerking each other off as most boys do at their younger years. Back then I was really puzzled and didn't know what to do. Now I just wish I could go back to that moment once again.

I was one of the few remaining students. The rest headed to the shops to get their dresses and suits. I told them to leave and that I would finish it by myself, cause I wasn't planning on going anyway.

I entered the gym to get a ladder, to help me set up the last few letters over the door. And there he was, on the other side of the room. Zack was lifting some weights I didn't even know how to name. He noticed me battling with the ladder nd hurried up to help me. I mean... wouldn't you crush about him too?

Zack:"Hey, man. Nobody came to help you with this? It's pretty heavy."

Me:"Hey, no. They all left to get their suits and all. So it's just me now."

Zack:"Oh, that's sad. You need help with something?"

Me:"No, it's fine. It's just final touches. But thanks"

Zack:"All right, man. But if you need, don't hesitate to ask ok?"

He smiled and went back to finish his set.

I was basically drooling, As I was climbing the ladder and trying to reach the letters, I stumbled and grabbed onto a light. I must have been shocked or something cause then I found myself on the floor. But I wasn't on the ground, I was standing. And on the ground was my body, unconcious.

I looked at my hands and they were barely visible. I tried to reach my body but it wouldn't accept my soul. Fuck, am I dying? I tried to call out for Zack but he didn't hear me. I ran to him and saw him lifting his weights. I tried to reach for him, but before I did I felt a force pulling me towards him. And as I was pulled away I felt something being ejected out of his body.

I opened my eyes, looking in front of me. But Zack was gone now. I turned around but he wasn't anywhere. As I looked down, I noticed I was now wearing bright red shorts, and on top of that a very sweaty torso, which definitely wasn't mine. I reached out my hands. Fuck, is this really happening? I searched the pockets and found a phone. In its reflection I saw Zack's face. Oh my god. Did I really just possess Zack's body? And where is he?

The responsible flow of thoughts was now interrupted by the two huge sweaty biceps now in the way where I usually didn't mind them. I flexed and oh my god, the tightness, the strength. I felt amazing.

I knew it was bad, but I just had to give it a try. What if I might never have a chance to do this ever again, I stuck out my new tongue and licked my new shoulder all the way to my biceps. Which also allowed me now to inhale the scent of my sweaty armpit. "This is so amazing!"

I then proceeded to touch my new belly full off abs. "How the hell did he get these?"

"Lot of working out and calorie deficit" a voice called out from the other side of the room, where I was before. And there was my body. Standing.

"Zack? Is that you?"

"Yeah. Would you mind telling me how this happened?"

I wanted to be completely honest, I swear, but I think that he doesn't need to know the part where my soul travelled to his body and was pulled by it.

"So, are we gonna try to reverse it the same way? Cause your body is really hurting from the fall and my body needs to be ready for a game tommorow. So I'm not really sure about that"

"I'm really sorry about that Zack. I mean, you're right that maybe it was my near deth experience that caused this, but I don't know if endangering our lives would allow to swap us back. What if the other one dies and the remaining one will have to keep on living the other ones life?"

"Yeah, you're onto something. Well, we're gonna have to figure out how to pass on as each other."

We spoke some more about how we were gonna live our lives without anyone thinking we have gone crazy.

"Ok, Zack. Just one question. How about... you know. Private stuff?"

"You mean my personal things at home or phone? Well that shouldn't be so bad I think. I don't have many secrets to tell or something, haha"

"No, I mean. Eventually we're gonna have to take a shower or go to a toilet."

"Oh, right. I haven't thought of that. Well, than my body is your body? I mean, I don't really like to think about somebody else using my body like that, but I know you're a good person and all, so I know you'll treat my body well. Maybe just... no sex? Could you do that for me please?"

"Zach, I haven't had sex yet even in my body. I mean, your body is attractive and all so, I know I could get a date in your body or smth, but that's not something I would do."

"Ok, thanks man. Just making sure. And also another thing. I..."

"What is i Zack?"

"Give me a second, it's kind off embarasing for me. I have to jerk off in the evening everyday. If I don't I sometimes have wet dreams the next morning"

"Dude, that's nothing to be ashamed of. That happens, Zack"

"Thanks. I know you mean well, but I just know my body. So I know you'll have to take care of that now or you'll have a very unpleasant morning including the washing of the clothes and bed linens."

I felt Zack dick in my new shorts getting hard just by hearing about this. Not only am I in the body of my crush, but he himself gave me permission to jerk off his dick. How crazy is that?

"Ok, Zack. If that's what needs to be done, I'll do it." I said it in a way to make it sound like I wasn't thrilled to jerk off his dick

"And in exchange I'll get to jerk off your dick. Do you have any other secrets I should know about?"

OH FUCK NO I am not telling him "Well... not really. I think."

"Good, then let's get to it. In case you won't know what to do, just text me and I'll help you"

I was approaching Zack's house. The one where I basically grew up secondary to mine. I knew where all the rooms were. What stuff was placed where. But that was before the death of my dad and before the divorce. Who knows what's different

I entered the house anticipating horrible things. And then a strange man left the restroom. "Hey, dipshit. Back from school already? Jesus fuck. The kids these days. Why don't you get a job kid" he left for the kitchen to grab himself a cold beer and left for the living room.

Now I understand why Zack spent so much time at school doing sports. He didn't want to stay at home longer than necessary.

Anyway, up to Zack's room. His room was not filthy, it was kind of clean, but at the same time it was a but disorganized. Some of his used clothes were lying on the ground. I grabbed one of his boxers and grabbed it to my face. This is my smell now. The smell of my dick. I inhaled and held it to my nose.

As I felt my dick hardening, I didn't waste no time and started undressing myself. Zack's small mirror didn't do the trick for me so I left to the bathroom.

"Ok, modern shower. That's new. Gonna have to give it a go"

I took off all my remaining clothes. I left his necklace on and then just stared at my new reflection in the mirror. How amazing is this?

I touched his jawline, his already growing beard, scratching my hand. His lips, shivering underneath my touch. His beautiful nose. His eyes, that now contained my soul and not his looked a bit different, but same too. I took my right hand and place it on my neck while my left hand was already enjoying the hairtrail blow my stomach.

"Oh Zack, I think you'd be the type to shave. Might do that for you to fully embrace this massive beast" and with that I lowered my right hand that was before resting on my vibrating throat and now started jerking my new dick.

"Just doing what I had been told. Haha"

I jerked faster. I was slightly moaning but not loud enough to cause suspicion with Zack's step dad. I was observing the tense muscles just working hard to get me into the state of pure euphoria.

I was getting close. I couldn't stop myself from moaning. I jerked so hard that the cum flew out of my dick right to the mirror in front of me. Is I stood there, smiling with my semi-hard dick in my hand I just saw the door swung open.

I quickly covered my dick and whole self with a towel, but even the partial view could give the viewer enough information. His step dad was furious

"What the hell you fucker?!? You're jerking off here while you could do some usefull job instead? I will have a very long talk with your mother when she gets here!"

What the hell just happened. Why is he so mad at Zack all the time. He's a student and a busy one at that. I don't know what this guy's problem is

I cleaned up the bathroom and got ready for the next time. Just the fact that I got the privilege to smell Zack's scent all the time and sleep in his bed. But having his body was a whole new level. I never even dreamed of this

The next day was horrible. I started the day with PE at school and let me tell you, that having a great body full of muscles is one thing. But having a weak will to actually do it is another. I was exhausted. I felt like I wouldn't be able to get up again after finishing

I saw Zack aproaching me in my body with a concerned look. I was beggining to worry what was on his mind

Zack:"Hey... umm how was your first night as me?"

Me:"Gotta say that the stepdad you got there is an another level of douchebag. I can't believe how you can live with that"

Zack:"Yeah, he is like that all the time. I don't know what mom sees in him. He's actually super nice to her, but seems to hate me just for breathing"

Me:"Yeah. I'll tell you later. There has been a bit of embarassing encounter"

Zack:"Actually I might ask you about something else first. Last night as I was in the bed I was trying to jerk off your dick, very nice by the way"

Me:"Jesus, don't make it more awkward than it is"

Zack:"Sorry. We'll I was trying to jerk off as I normally would, watching porn and stuff, but I couldn't. Then my mind wandered over to the guy on the video... I have to ask you and don't be afraid to answer. Are you gay?"

Me:"Yeah... I've been meaning to tell you for a long time. Well... since we're already saying everything to each other. I'll just admit it right now. I... I have a crush on you Zack"

Zack:"That was my another question. I have my head filled with thoughts. Very naughty thoughts including my body, so I am happy that you cleared this up and I am not just another self centered weirdo. But the question is. Would you let me suck my dick?"

Oh man

Another story from the inbox: Can you do a classic swap story between a nerd and a straight jock? I always find those to be super hot

Hey guys. Sorry for the great break. I was finishing my exams (I passed them all, yay) and now I am in a different country on an externship trying to figure shit out. But I do have some free time during the day and I get to write a bit about my drafts and the stories in your inbox. And thanks to everyone who texted me all the supportive and kind words :) really appreciate it

[springgirlshowers]

How about the reader and Joost are childhood friends that get split up, but reunite because Joost wants them to be apart of his eurovison team. They realize they miss eachother a lot and confess and happily ever after (⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃

It’s So Sweet

Paring: Joost x GN!Reader (no pronouns used!)

CW: none!

A/N: ahhhhhh this one is so cuuuuuute! i love the childhood friends to lovers trope so much! thank you for the request and i hope you enjoy it <333

masterlist!

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

Joost and you were never seen apart as kids. Always walking in the school hallways together, sitting and partnering up in the classes you had together. Constantly hanging out after school and on the weekends. You two were basically connected at the hip.

Until your family gave you the news you would be moving to Sweden. Something to do with a better job opportunity. You begged for them not to, to move somewhere where you currently were at least. Though you knew your pleas wouldn’t do much.

Before you left, Joost and you exchanged emails. To keep in touch while you two would be apart.

You did for awhile. But as you both got older, your emails to each other took longer. It would be weeks, months, before you replied to each other.

Until they just stopped completely. You two had gotten too caught up into your adulthood. You hadn’t returned to your hometown since you moved away.

Joost fell into a successful career as a musician. You getting yours as a dancer.

It’s been years since you and him talked.

Your heart nearly stopped once you saw the notification when you were on the bus after a rehearsal.

joostklein has requested to follow you.

His profile picture was a picture of him as a toddler. The one you’ve seen so many times before, hanging on the wall in his living room when you went over to hangout after school.

You looked through his account, he almost looked the exact same as he did when he was a preteen. Only his body was scattered in tattoos, he had grown a mustache, much taller, and his hair was dyed into a nearly white color and cut into a mullet.

His most recent posts were a reel revealing how he’d be representing the Netherlands in the next Eurovision competition, and another video revealing the date his song for the event would be released.

Minutes after you accepted the request and followed him back, he messaged you.

It was a simple question, asking if you were the same one he knew as a kid. You responded, telling him you were.

The texts following after that were a little bit awkward. Soon the tension between you both was gone, you told each about what you’ve been doing for the past years, how they’d gone, what you’ve been doing now.

After exchanging phone numbers, the texts turned into calls, then video chats.

You listened to his songs, almost going through every single one of his albums in one night.

You were surprised by a lot of the lyrics, by how the innocent boy with a side swept haircut you once knew, was now singing about having sex with women to a mario kart remixed beat and saying “suck my dick bitch” multiple times in another song.

You honestly found them catchy, however you realized they were better to listen to with earbuds in or alone, rather than in any public place.

However, the lyrics in other songs were more heart breaking. God, soul shattering even.

“Maybe it was wrong. But I miss us, I miss home.”

“My dad who was laying there, seen but no authority. We'll see by the days, we don't say goodbye. My mom who was laying there, I often think about that day.”

“Hey, I have a disease, it's a very specific one. I always panic and they have no therapies.”

“But still it hurts. Am running from myself. Cry the entire day for "help"

Joost would show you his tattoos, the ones he already had and the ones he wanted to get in the future, drawings he made, but he refused to show you the idea concepts for his Eurovision costume.

He told you he wanted it to be a surprise.

The day before he revealed his outfit to the rest of the world. He called you during a work break, telling you he had to show you something.

You opened the video call to see him standing there in a big bright blue suit with extremely pointy shoulders.

You felt bad when you let out a laugh, slapping your hand over your mouth to muffle it.

“You like it?” He asked, posing goofily.

“Yeah. It’s very…silly. Very big.” His grin only grew larger at your words.

“Perfect. That’s exactly what I was aiming for.” He smiled and sat down.

“So, your other friends, one of them is gonna dress up as a bird? And the other is gonna wear a clip on ponytail?”

“Yep!” He pipped. You just laughed and shook your head. He cleared his throat, his face on the screen looking nervous all of the sudden.

“So, you told me you still dance.”

“Yeah! I do group shows and stuff.” You nodded, placing your head on your fist.

“That’s great, very great. Um, do you still hakken?” You were a bit taken aback, confused by why he was asking about that specific dance.

“Uh yeah. But usually jokingly, like when I’m with friends.” You bit at your thumbnail. “Did you ever learn?”

“Yeah! I’ve gotten pretty good at it.” He chuckled, going silent for a minute after. “I’m wondering if you would perform with me, like on the stage. I need another back up dancer. And you’ve always been so talented at it.” His words made you blush, but you were still a bit unsure on what he was asking you.

“So, um, you want me to do the hakken dance with you? At your performance?” You felt nervous, when you did the dance you usually did it after a night of drinking to make your friends laugh.

“Only if you want to! I mean, we could meet up, I’m in Sweden now.”

“What?” You shouted, cringing at how loud it was.

“Yeah, i’ve been here to do interviews and all that stuff.” He scratched at his arms, a bit embarrassed he didn’t tell you earlier about this.

“You really don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He spoke, “Its free of charge for you, you’ll get paid for it. If that persuades you.” He added on, joking.

“I’ll do it for free.” Maybe your answer was a bit too quick, maybe it was impulsive. But you really wanted to see Joost again, you’d jump at any chance you could see him.

The both of you agreed to meet up a few days later at a park not far from where you lived.

The park was quite empty, most likely due to the fact the sun was already going down, an orange gradient filling the sky.

You nervously walked up to him, he was sitting on a bench. He looked so familiar yet so different. It gave you a strange sense of nostalgia.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He immediately grinned as he saw you. You sat down next to him.

The sunset cast a golden glow on his face, making his blue eyes so much more prominent, his face was so gorgeous.

“So you’ll really dance with me?”

“Yeah, why not.” You shrugged, completely unbothered by his question.

“You’ll be on a giant stage in front of thousands of people. You’ll be on TV with the entirety of Europe watching.” Joost felt nervous, he didn’t want to pressure you into doing this, he really wanted you to be there with himz But he wasn’t gonna force you into something you had no interest for.

“I’ve never been one for stage fright.” You smiled, the sweetness in your expression made his worries begin to drift away.

“Perfect.” He looked down at his feet, smiling so hard his cheeks begin to hurt, “I’ll text you the schedules and everything you need to know.”

“Cool.” You looked down at your shoes as well. Enjoying the comfortable silence and soft breeze of the air.

“I really missed you.” He spoke out, added your name to the sentence, making it more impacting. You looked at him, jaw ajar in admiration.

“I missed you too.” You said softly, placing your hand over his. Soon wrapping it around his. You both sat there for a few minutes like that.

“I’ve been thinking of moving back.” You broke the silence. “To the Netherlands, that is.”

“Really?” Joost looked at you, a mixture of amazement and shock in his face.

“Yeah. A company reached out to me, giving me a job opportunity. Really good pay, positive reviews, a safe workplace.” It felt funny, you were thinking about coming back to your hometown for the same reason your family made you leave.

“That’s great! You should take it!”

“I probably will. It seems promising.” You squeezed his hand. “And it’d be nice to be close to you again.” You added on, pursing your lips to try and hold back a smile, it failed.

“Yeah, yeah, that would be nice.” He murmured,“Um, I should get going, early TV interviews tomorrow.”

You nodded, getting up before he did.

“Just text me what channel you’ll be on, i’ll make sure to watch for you.” You said, a little bit too excitedly.

“Yeah, yeah, I will! I’ll see you later.” He chuckled.

“I’ll be in the Netherlands in a month most likely, just so you know. See you, Joost.” You turned, only getting a few steps in before his voice stopped you, causing you look back at him.

“There’s this really great ice cream parlor that opened up there, maybe we could, uh, go there when you’re back, if you’d like?” He cleared his throat.

“I’ll be going back in a month too, just for a little bit before I have to come here again.” He fiddled with his fingers.

“Awesome then, it’s a date.”

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

[oshinohoshi]

Oshi no Ko chapter 166 thoughts - the end of all things

So uh... the only positive thing I can say here besides the beautiful Ai art is that I felt sad reading the page where Miyako was hugging Ruby. Everything else left me completely empty

This chapter is either:

A) A self-aware ending meant to show that life is suffering and the idol industry will suck out your soul if you let it

B) Outsourced to someone who skimmed OnK for 30 seconds on Wikipedia before putting pen to paper

It has to be A, right? You can't tell me that the same author wrote both of these pages without the right being ironic

But I don't think so because big brained Akane is the one clumsily narrating this crappy montage masquerading as a real ending

Aqua died for nothing. His sister is now a soulless cog in the idol machine

Ruby is mimicking Ai's speech - "Lies are an outstanding kind of love... We pile on the lies and no matter how hard things get, we sing and act happy onstage. It's a fun job!" But she forgot the rest of it: "Only, I'd like the 'being happy' part to be real. Nobody notices, but we have hearts and lives of our own. Happiness as a mother. Happiness as an idol. Normally you'd have to pick one, but I want both. Ai Hoshino is a greedy girl"

Ai wasn't only a misunderstood girl who worked hard to please her fans. That was a big part of her story but she also broke the rules to create her own family, her own happiness

Ruby, on the other hand, seems to have no real desires anymore, she's just following a path she believes her mother and Aqua paved for her. Never mind that Aqua only wanted it in the end because she wanted it and Ai just wanted her kids to be happy

You can tell that Akasaka is patting himself on the back for making a cyclical narrative where Ruby becomes Ai 2.0 by being commodified, scrutinized, and idolized like Ai was

But it's such a flimsy parallel when it comes to the theme of lies because lying to hide your grief =/= "lies are love" which was the only way Ai knew how to frame her genuine desire to love

And Ai's "I love you" to her kids was true whereas Ruby has swallowed her own lie that being an idol is fun even when you're just doing it to outrun your pain

What this chapter showed us is that the meaning of Ruby's life is to be Ruby of B Komachi and she was put on Earth to sing pop songs. Because that's what Ai did, right? If I remember correctly, her final words were "I'm so glad I got to be an idol #blessed"

My God was the Dome concert soulless. Miyako and Ichigo crying happy tears is a punch to the gut. Doesn't Miyako know her daughter is still hurting?

The last scene is so fucking depressing

Ruby, are you okay? Blink twice if you still remember your life outside the idol industry!

The last two pages work really well as horror. She has a brilliant smile but you can tell that she's dead inside. She's got more merch on her table than photos. Why doesn't she have a corkboard of family photos? Although I more or less have this Ai plushie and it's pretty cute so I'll give this a pass because it's hilarious

I guess the takeaway here is to live for others and life is painful so just grin and bear it. Oh yeah, and inspire other young women to join an industry where they get to act happy and lose their humanity. Cool

I mean I get that it's supposed to be about moving on with your life even while grieving and that's a good message, sure, but Aka's insistence on using the word "lies" multiple times as if saying it makes it make sense ruins the whole thing

The most insane part is that this chapter is a wholehearted endorsement of the lies sold by the entertainment/idol industry

I haven't even said anything about anyone besides Ruby because what's the point? Aka didn't have time to do justice to any of the characters I grew to love

It's clear something went wrong with the timeline of wrapping up OnK. No artist wants to execute a final chapter like this. I'm convinced the film reel edges are Aka and Mengo's way of telling the reader, "we know this is a shitty clips show so don't @ us on Twitter about it"

But it's so much worse than that. Aka really decided to tear to shreds everything he worked so hard on for 4 years. Damn

This is my favorite manga and I'll always love that it gave me Ai, my most beloved character of all time, but this leaves an extremely bitter aftertaste. It's really hard to believe that the same person who wrote vol 1 wrote this.

OnK has been pretty important to me. Reading weekly, chatting with fans, and reaching dangerous levels of Ai brain rot has actually been a helpful distraction. TBH I've been a little too invested in it but sometimes you need escapism. So it's crazy that I'm kind of glad it's over.

But this is why fanfic, fanart, and your own headcanons exist. In another universe, this manga wrapped up beautifully and I was depressed for weeks because I couldn't look forward to it anymore. In this universe, at least we're all suffering together here at the end of all things.

And at least the little Hoshino family is still adorable. Too bad Ai is dead, Aqua is dead, and Ruby desperately needs grief counseling. But NEVER MIND. Look at Ai's smile and the twins' faces. This was the Oshi no Ko I really loved.

[doubleddenden]

The topic of Palworld is pretty charged, but often times I see people be shamed for liking it because the CEO tweeted stuff about NFTs and the company using AI art in a separate game. Acting as if that's the most damning thing ever for a gaming company in an industry filled with similar people.

Make no mistake, I dislike both AI art and nfts, but do you realize how many gaming companies have involvement with that?

To begin with, Pokémon used AI art in a promotional piece for Pokémon Go in September, and nobody gave a shit because uwu Pikachu. The Pokémon Company also put a job listing some months back seeking an expert in NFTs. That's not quite damning evidence, but if I were a betting man, no "NFT expert" will willingly say "yeah nfts suck are bad for the environment, man, I'll take my paycheck and fuck off now." There's also a strong argument to be made that Pokémon has stolen ideas from fakemon artists (Finizen and Palafin, Scovillain, Dipplin, etc) and other franchises (kaiju movies, Dragon Quest, Megaman, final fantasy, western cartoons and food mascots, etc), a dubious legal statement that claims they own all fan art from the remixes and fakemon made on youtube to the pikachu your kid drew at breakfast; they have yet to apologize for the state of Scarlet and Violet while charging full price to millions of paying customers for a clearly unfinished and barely functioning game (which i did enjoy, but you can't tell me it was finished baking when it struggles not to shit itself just to run), and a bunch of other things people shit on Palworld for, but A. It's Pokémon so people don't care and think it's fine, and B. That's not the point of this post.

You know who else does NFTs and AI art? (Yes I heard Muscle Man from Regular Show in my head just now, too, moving along)

Square Enix sold several of their IPs for NFTs and claims to have used AI art "a minimum amount" in Foam Stars, yet I see nobody yelling for boycotts of Final Fantasy 14, 16, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, Life is Strange, etc etc etc.

Sony has invested in both, they want to implement AI into gaming, and has a patent for nfts to be used in games and consoles, yet there's no movement to throw out your playstations.

Bandai Namco- you know, that company with a hand in pretty much most anime games on the market and popular games such as the Dark Souls games? They have a game called RYU that's essentially a virtual pet game that uses the blockchain, and its AI driven, among other projects. Yet there's no outcry to stop playing the many, MANY games they brand with. This also includes quite a few Nintendo games (btw they just partnered together to form a special studio quite recently) like Smash Wii U/3ds and New Pokémon Snap. Nobody gives a shit though.

Android, Microsoft, Google, Apple- I don't even need to explain those, they have whole teams dedicated to both. Even popular VPN companies accept crypto.

I'm just saying an awful lot of you guys that scream and shit bloody murder about Palworld's company being involved with that shit are either the biggest "It's okay when my favs do it" type of hypocrites, or you're sorely ignorant to just how evil and greedy most corporations are. You'll be hard pressed to find a game company with popular AND fun games that DOESN'T have some interest in either, let alone movie and show studios. That's the awful reality we live in.

You have 2 options

1. You basically stop doing anything involving most modern tech, including throwing out your pc and smart phone. You could probably live a comfortable life with tech circa 2010, but you have to be aware that any thing you buy may go towards a cause you don't like.

2. You accept that people can enjoy a product while not necessarily agreeing with the CEO of said product. Most CEOs tend to be jackasses anyway, that's kind of the shared trait they all have. You can also discourage companies from using them while understanding it is everywhere.

Palworld at the end of the day is just a toy, that's it. From the looks of it, it's not even actually hurting anyone, and it seems like the company at least treats their employees pretty decently- at least according to a few things I've seen here and there that seems rather progressive for a Japanese studio (with room for doubt obviously, it's a company after all and as we've established, they're all evil). At the least its not like when people supported Hogwarts Legacy and directly put money into JKR's wallet so she can openly hurt more Trans women. In fact, the only people seemingly hurt in all of this Palworld drama are obsessed Pokémon stans that can't accept a parody, or the Pokémon Company themselves, who rightly deserve some punching up tbh.

You can just say you dislike the game, that's fine, I totally get that. Even though I personally think The Pokémon Company deserves a few nut shots after the way they've treated fans these last few years with the state of their games (and you know, stealing ideas from fans without credit), I can see why someone would be turned away from a parody that's literally meant to be Pokémon with guns. I can totally understand all of that, personally I'd prefer if the game was MORE like Pokémon with turn based combat.

But if you're going to defend Pokémon because you think its perfectly innocent because of Wooloo or something like that, just be sure you're aware you're defending the World's Richest Franchise and their own attempts at AI and NFTs while calling out an indie company (a real one thats learning as they go, not the fake "We're totally indie" franchise that hasn't been indie since gen 3) for having a ceo that also seems interested in the same stuff. And remember, you don't become number 1 without hurting people somehow (we could dig up receipts about certain partners Pokémon has teamed up with, such as Tencent with Unite, but I'd rather not right now.)

Just saying. I don't think you're an irredeemable person for still liking Pikachu, cuz I do too believe it or not. I've been a life long fan and still have fun with the games despite the clear scummy business practices towards their paying customers. Just maybe extend that courtesy to the millions of players just trying to have fun in this awful, putrid, shithole planet that just keeps getting worse and worse with each passing day.

Plus... you know, think about it. Do you think Pokémon would ever get around to making a gunless Palworld? Probably not. Do you think Palworld would exist if The Pokémon Company and Nintendo were the slightest bit chill about Pokémon fan projects like SEGA is with Sonic? Also probably not. From what I've read, the devs just wanted to make a fun game that happens to mostly be ARK with Pokémon adjacent monsters. That's not really a bad thing, all things considered, and it seems like the worst they've done is reference official Pokémon when making their own models.

Palworld being successful is actually beneficial to Pokémon fans, as well. It'll never really truly compete, but it has outsold Legends Arceus in terms of units sold (not as much financially because Palworld was only $30 plus a sale recently, but still impressive), and it is enough that Game Freak is aware of its existence. Let Palworld light a fire under their ass, and maybe GF will actually finish their next game before releasing it for full price (and no, we're not bringing up the tired imaginary ball and chain game devs, game freak owns 1/3rd lf the franchise and can easily take methods to get more dev time, they just haven't because money). Just saying, at least the Paldevs were honest enough to sell it in early access for half the price.

[prismatica-the-strange]

Graveyard Flowers | A Few Stipulations

Warnings: 18+, horny Bj, death (obv), depression ment., no smut but lots of allusions to sex. Possibly ooc.

"Working" for Beetlejuice isn't exactly what Rosie envisioned, but things aren't always as bad as they seem.

Picrew

"So this is it," Beetlejuice motions to the office, "It ain't much, but the guys are pretty mellow, and I like to keep the atmosphere chill."

She gets a few waves which she awkwardly returns.

"And that brings me to the next order of business," He tugs on his lapels, "Your uniform."

"Uniform?"

"Gotta have one."

"Okay... do I get one of those snazzy yellow blazers or-" He cuts her off with a snap of his finger and she feels a gust of wind. When she looks down her eyes do wide, "Oh, no. No, no, no! Beej what the hell is this?"

(rough sketch)

"That's your uniform."

"This is barely lingerie!"

"Really extenuates your-" She slaps his hands away from her tits.

"I'm not wearing this!" She lifts her arm to try and cover herself.

"Uh, your contract says otherwise," He argues.

He pulls out the document and points to a part of the text she can't even read.

"Give me that," She tears it from his hand, squinting at it until he pulls out supernaturally strong magnifying glass, revealing a tiny illustration of the outfit she's currently wearing.

"See?" He gives her a lopsided grin, "But hey, if you're not feeling it, I can be flexible."

She feels the loose hem of her skirt tighten around her thighs, morphing into a stupidly short pencil silhouette.

"Are you kidding me?"

"You know? I might actually like this better," He palms her ass, suddenly behind her, and she spins around, slapping him.

"I want my clothes back."

"Can't do that," He shrugs, "Guess you're just gonna have to suck it up, buttercup-..."

He gulps when her glaring eyes light up and blood starts to weep from between her stitches.

"You're upset," He says, taking a step back, hands up in front of him, "Why don't we talk this out, I'm sure there's a compromise here."

He jumps when the blood forms and hardens into a straight razor in her hand.

The shrunken heads watch in shock as she strong arm's their boss.

"You want your clothes back?" He snaps his fingers, "There- well... kinda."

She looks down and she's in one of her comfy sweaters and a pair jeans from before she died.

He coughs, leaning back against a table, trying to casually cross his legs to hide his raging hard-on, "'S that better?"

She sighs and nods, the blade in her hand melting back to blood and flowing back into her wound.

"Good. Wouldn't want any little outbursts, now would we?"

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest, "Just tell me what exactly you expect me to do."

He huffs a heavy sight of relief and pops up behind her, one arm slung around her shoulders, and adjusting his junk with the other hand.

"Nothin' much," He admits, "Tidy up here and there, take my calls, do coffee runs, stand there an' look pretty. Pretty standard fare."

"So..." She scowls to herself, "I'm your PA?"

"That a problem?"

"Well, it's not exactly how I pictured spending my afterlife."

"Aw, c'mon darlin' where's that smile?" His finger briefly catches her chin, "At least you're not in lock up anymore."

"I guess," She glances around the office.

She always thought once she died she'd get a little freedom in her existence, but this was worse than her job before she was murdered. She wonders for a moment if there was anyway to get a job haunting a bookstore or something.

"That's my girl," He steers her toward the one empty desk unaware of how that phrase would have her blushing if she could, "You can use my best buddy Bob's old desk, bless his soul- hah!"

His chest ignites in flame at his half-hearted sign of the cross and he quickly pulls away to put it out.

His goofy flailing makes her giggle and a wave of relief washes over him.

He would never- ever speak it into being, but he feels a weird sense of guilt over her death. He'd heard her try and call him that night, felt the urgency behind it, and it thrilled him, knowing his fleshie wanted to see him again, but when she didn't follow through he shrugged it off and went about his business.

Knowing she spent most of the last year in her particular torment makes his unbeating heart ache.

Uh oh...

"Sweetheart," He grunts, tapping her shoulder. She's fallen asleep at her desk with her head on her arms.

She looks incredible sweet and peaceful and... oddly unnerving. He still isn't quite used to her being dead so her still, unbreathing corpse gives him chills.

"Rosie-" He holds her forehead, tilting her head back, but he jumps back when her eyes open, already glowing, and she takes a swing at him with a spectral blade, "Whoa! Hey now!"

She flickers to the other side of the room, her fingers tentatively touching her throat.

It takes him a second but he remembers how her uncle did something similar when he killed her, "Didn't mean to freak ya. Not this time, at least. You fell asleep."

She blinks at him, "I don't know why I'm so tired."

"That'll be the PD's little safety assurance they made me add to your contract."

Her sleepy little confused face is way too cute for a cold-blooded killer.

"To keep you from going off and rampaging the livin' they're insisting you're partially sedated," He explains, "No where near when you were in deep lock-up, but enough to keep you from becoming a problem."

"Well, stop it!"

"Can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Cause if I do they'll put you back in deep freeze."

She runs her hand down her face with a sigh.

"Hey now," He's next to her with his arm slung around her shoulders again, "Don't be so down about it, we can get you a little cot, make it all cozy, whaddaya say?"

She slumps against him with a huff and he stiffens, "Yeah, whatever."

"But until then," He snaps his fingers and suddenly she's straddling lap at his desk chair, "You can always use me."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"I'd like it better if you were wearing this," Another snap of his fingers and she's back in that 'uniform' as he so graciously called it, and his hands grip the back of her thighs, "That's more like it."

"Beej..."

He hasn't seen her this timid around him since the first time they decided to fuck back when she was alive, and he is all for it.

"Someone's horny," He teases in a sing-song voice, hands sliding up to knead the flesh of her ass. He cackles when she slaps him and tries to wiggle off him, "Careful how you move there, you'll get me all excited!"

"Pig!" She wrenches herself out of his grip, and when she looks at him again his nose has morphed into a pig snout.

"You love it," He snorts. She flicks his snout and when it pops back to normal he scrunches his nose a few times, "Rude."

She just scoffs and walks back to her desk, not bothering to argue about her clothes.

A win for him, that's for sure, but when she passes out an hour later, cheek pressed against the musty wood, he pulls a blanket out of nowhere and wraps it around her shoulders.

He's never seen a more ghost-like ghost.

For the past three weeks she's been practically haunting the office with her bad vibes. There's being dead and then there's acting like it, and she's been far too committed to the bit for his liking. She won't even snap at him for his risqué touches!

"Alright!" He hops off his desk where he's been watching her unenthusiastically talk to a potential client, "That's it, you're comin' on a job with me."

She somehow looks even less enthusiastic, "Two things Beej. One, if you think I'd ever let anyone else see me in this get up, you're delusional. And two, I can barely lift a phone I'm so tired, how the hell am I supposed to help you on a haunt?"

"Secondly, you're only sedated so you can't break out of the Netherworld, once you're out I can get rid of that. And first off, I've got a few options for ya," He slaps his hand on the desk and motions for her to stand, rolling his eyes and pulling her to her feet when she doesn't move, "If you could play along for just a few seconds that be great."

"Beej-"

"Shut it," He warns, pressing his finger to her lips, but his playful tone pulls a smile to her face.

"Fine," She chuckles, "What kind of 'options'?"

"So glad you asked. To start, we have an old classic," He snaps his fingers and she's back the vampire hunter costume she died in, "Next up we have this little number."

She's suddenly in a black corset and pants get up that's oddly practical for her new boss.

"And lastly," Another snap and she's sporting a black pinstriped, white powersuit not too unlike his.

"The first one," She says confidently and he pouts, "But..."

He perks up at that.

"But?"

"I would rather wear the second around here its, more practical," She fiddles with the hem of the blazer she's wearing, "You mind?"

"Well, if you insist," He's in front of her now, fingers making quick work of the buttons before pushing the fabric back to reveal the black lace bra he's put her in.

All the shrinkers, who have been trying very hard to ignore this whole exchange, all look over at the loud crack of her slapping him. It's probably the hardest she's ever slapped him and he immediately feels himself start to get hard.

"That is not what I meant, and you know it!" She hisses.

"Mmm... yeah alright," He groans. He changes her back into those tight leather pants and long coat, eyes still fixated on the swell of her breasts, almost like he's hypnotized by them.

"Hey," She grabs his chin and tilts his head up to look at her, "My eyes are up here."

"They sure are, gorgeous," He basically purrs, melting into her hand.

"God, you're pathetic," She scoffs and he almost topples over when she pulls her hand away, "What kind of job did you have in mind?"

"That's it, sweetheart," He murmurs in her ear, his ands holding her hips from behind, "Y'know you're actually pretty good at this."

"Would you shut it?" She snaps, "I'm trying to concentrate."

"Right, right..." He leans slightly closer and nips at her earlobe, making her jump.

The startle cause a a lightbulb down the hall to pop and one of the window panels she'd been frosting to crack.

"Did you just bite me?"

"Wh-who the hell are you?"

"Great," She huffs, "He can see us now. Happy?"

The three of them share a look and Beetlejuice rights himself and straightens his suit, "I'll take care of this, toots."

"What the hell did you just call me?"

(Smut continuation)

"And that's when the chandelier fell?"

Beej and Rosie are sat across the desk from Wolf, their clothes and hair still mussed from their earlier physical exertions.

"Yeah, something like that," Beetlejuice shrugs, trying not to grin too hard.

The detective pauses for a moment.

"On the ceiling?"

"She's a freak, this one," He chuckles and Ro doubles over in her chair to hide her face in her hands, "Took me by surprise too."

"Shut up, Beej!"

Wolf shakes his head slightly, "Hell of a way to die."

"Got a hell of a show."

"Beetlejuice!"

[bitter-limelight]

Time to sound like a cranky old person but,

I am begging gen Z to understand that you live in reality. Begging.

I work management in a job that attracts a lot of teens and young 20 somethings. It's an expected first job, not super hard, not super busy, but more involved than stocking shelves or bagging groceries. And I get some great kids once in a while, some young adults who are learning how to adult.

But I get more kids who are coming out of a post COVID terminally online cocoon who have never been given a realistic image of the world outside their Tik Tok screen and it's horrifying.

I routinely have kids who call out at least once a week because they're stressed, they're anxious, they don't feel good, they overslept, they stayed up too late (note that this is after I try to teach them that they do not need to tell their employer why they are calling out and that it's in their best interest to not share personal or medical information that can be used against them but they think saying they're sick will be a get out of work free card). I've had more than one employee who I find sitting on the floor in front of the customer area because they're tired or "just chilling". Several who tell me after they've been hired that they can't work mornings, can't work evenings, can't work more than 5 hours days or more than 3 days in a row. I've had several talk to me about how they need to prioritize their mental health and take a self care day today, and tomorrow, and two days next week.

And I'm WORRIED for these kids, because the thing is, they are right that capitalism is a soul crusher, that we are overworked, that we are expected to give too much, that we deserve better hours and better pay, that our mental health needs to be our priority. These are all true things, but they think they can step out of mom and dad's house and into a world where they will be given these things and that's just...not the world we live in.

When I get a new hire I tell them about what is expected of them, they sign papers about hours and call outs and attendence and how they can be fired for not following this (I have no power to hire or fire I just manage them at their work). And still I have 22 year olds crying at me in the bathroom because they got fired for calling out 13 days in a month. I have kids who don't understand why they can't just stand there on their phone "vibing." That they should be exempt from talking to customers because they have social anxiety and have to accommodate them (this is a customer service job, there is no accommodations for not interacting with customers ) "They can't fire me for being sick!" But they can. "They can't fire me, I'm disabled and need these accomodations!" But they can, because nobody ever taught you what a reasonable accomodation is. "But we have a union!" A union can't help you after you've been written up four times.

I try to be a good first job and first boss. You need an extra break? Sure, go grab a snack. A customer yelled at you? I'll handle it, go cool off then we will talk about what to do next time. If you have an emergency, talk to me, you can probably leave early. I try to be a buffer between these young people and the corporate machine above me, meeting them where they are while trying bridge the gap between their ideals and the reality they're facing. And I still have employees who quit, telling me they're over worked and this or that is illegal (it isn't, it's just unfair) and they're gonna go find a job where they're appreciated, only to come back a few months later and ask for their job back because everywhere else sucked too.

But sorry. You didn't put in your two weeks like I told you to so now you're non rehireable and banned from ever working at this brand again.

I admire Gen Z's desire for something better. I'm not here to be a corporate bootlicker. I'm here as someone who needs to work my ass off to make ends meet. I'm disabled, my options are limited. I've been fired for my disability, which is legal cause you can't prove that's why and do you have the money for a lawyer to fight them? I don't. I play the game, I get by, and I'm just honestly really worried for these kids who have big dreams of a better world but no idea how to get by in the one they are in. You gotta eat, you gotta pay rent, you gotta have heat and power and water. You have to survive while you work on a world where you can thrive.

This isn't "gen Z lazy, gen Z stupid, Gen z bad", this is gen Z, especially working class gen Z, disabled gen Z and queer gen Z is gonna be totally fucked if they don't learn some entry level work skills and how to not get fired from Costco

[jittyjames]

first wip wed in a while bc i hate my job and needed to step off the floor before i lost my mind 🫡 so preview time for my next fic!!! (some of you have already seen these. roger i’m looking at you)

three snippets tho! same fic! vibes!

The fights between her mother and father weren't always about the big things. Sure, there was no denying that she heard them screaming over money, over infidelity, over her... But that's not always what it was about. Sometimes, it was just about the tiniest, most minuscule things. It could be as simple as her father not liking the type of food her mother made or him not wanting to watch what she had on the television. It was the most diminutive things escalating to something that felt bigger than her. It was a drop of rain turning into a tsunami.

That's what Judas and her arguments put her in mind of sometimes.

~~~

He pushed Jesus’ hands off him, backing away like a cornered, vicious animal. He was all but baring his teeth, hackles raised. Jesus let his hands drop from him obediently, raising them in surrender instead. It was hard to make out what they were saying in the silver light from the buildings, their lips blurred from the distance and the drizzling rain. Yet Mary knew it couldn’t be good. She had seen it first, after all. There was a dark pit growing in her stomach, gnawing and aching. She hadn't felt like this since she was a kid. She hadn't seen someone look the way Judas did since she was a kid.

He looked so much like her mother.

Judas shoved away from Judas, nearly slipping on the wet pavement in his haste. He was shaking his head.

Jesus was left standing helplessly, staring after him. His shoulders slouched, expression confused and worried. Mary felt her feet moving before she realized what she was doing. It almost felt like a death march. A painfully familiar death march.

"What's going on?" Mary asked hollowly.

How many times had she asked her mother the same question, in the same fashion as dread pooled in her stomach? She would always find herself at the doorway, at the foot of her mother's bed when she could feel the tension piling higher and higher. It was always an indication that it was getting ready to boil over and burn them all.

Jesus gave an exhausted sigh, shaking his head as he warmed his hands near the fire. "I don't know. He won't say. I don't think he's going to either."

~~~

His hands were shaking too much. She never in her life thought she would feel sadness tug at her soul while looking at Judas Iscariot, of all people. Yet here they were. He continued to thumb at his lighter, over and over again. Nothing ever came to fruition. She sighed reaching into the pocket of her coat.

Mary flicked her own lighter once she fished it out, the flame igniting in a spark. It reflected in Judas' shining eyes even if there was no hint of his own glow in them at the moment. Her soul sank when he flinched. It was hard, surprised— and his usually cold eyes were so wet and fearful it reminded her of her mother all over again. Tragic and eyeliner smeared. A cataclysm. A disaster ran through by a man who couldn't find it in himself to love the person given to him, the person who needed his affection more than anything, but instead received the polar opposite. It made her jolt a bit to see such a familiar sight on the man she had once had nothing but scorn for. It was making her heart want to snap. It made her suck her lip between her teeth, her lipstick sure to stain them. What a mess the two of them made. She was sure they were textbook for scornful anguish, bitter and used up. She sighed, her expression turning soft, even if she swore when they first met that Judas would never receive any gentleness from her. He didn't deserve it. He didn't need it.

But today, she discovered that maybe he did.

[dreamypurplesky]

So I wrote a letter for my ex best friend who doesn't want to talk to me anymore for reasons best known to him. I never post anything I write because that makes me feel vulnerable and I hate it. But this time I figured that if there's even a slightest chance of this letter reaching him, it's through the internet and not in the depths of my notes app. So I'm baring my soul to strangers by putting this out there, please treat it kindly.

A letter to my dearest friend.

Yes, you heard it right. You're my dearest friend even if we don't talk anymore. Actually, that doesn't change anything at all, nothing can. You'll always be my dearest friend. Suck it up. I'm writing this because I'm starting to forget you and it scares the shit out of me. I was laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, reminiscing our time together - like I've done countless nights so far. More specifically, I was trying to piece together a poem about you in which I needed to list a few things that you like. My mind went blank for a brief moment. That's not good. I used to be able to instantly say that you liked music, making music. You also liked playing basketball and training in jiu-jitsu and programming. You liked looking up at the stars. You liked talking about philosophical stuff and you liked photography. That was what brought us closer in the first place. You liked working out and you liked mangoes. This is just me panicking and noting down everything I remember about you so if it ever starts to fade away, I can come back here to retain my memory. You also liked me. Oh, how could I ever forget that? You were probably the first person who ever actually liked me. I never thought I'd have to try so hard not to forget you. Our memories have claw marks on them from me holding on too tight. But I guess it was stupid of me to expect this to last forever. I mean, the world was in lockdown when we met so we were just two kids who had plenty of time to kill. Looking back, it probably didn't mean anything more than that to you. Or did it? I don't know. The way you moved on so easily tells me my guess is correct. However, it was very real for me. It was more than just a friendship developed out of boredom. You showed me who I really am, taught me how to value myself, and left me with so many beautiful moments to cherish. I've always told everyone I've met after you that there can never be another guy like you. I adore you, I really do. And it has got me fucked up. I'm out here stalking your Linkedin, for fuck's sake, like someone who has lost their goddamn mind. You've got a girlfriend and a big boy job and all, why would you bother to engage with a sad girl you met online who wrote poems about you? I understand your decision. I'll always understand. I promised, remember? Nothing you do will ever be looked down upon by me.

Tumhari narazagi bhi hume qubool hai,

kyuki vo tumhari hai.

Or jo tumhara hai,

vo mujhe sabse pyaara hai.

(Even your abandonment is accepted by me, as it is yours. And what's yours, is the dearest to me)

I wake up in the middle of the night and frantically check my discord to see if, perhaps, a miracle occurred that made you text. I always go back to sleep disheartened. But it's okay, I don't blame any of it on you. In fact, I'm grateful that I even got to know you. And I'm so pissed at myself for letting you go that first time. I am sorry for taking you granted. Your birthday's coming up soon and as much as I want to wish you, I don't want you to think I'm some desperate creep, even though I am. So I'll just write a note on The Unsent Project and console myself. If this message ever reaches you av, know that you can always come back to me. Even if it's 50 years later and the world is ending. I'll always wait to hear from you again.

[thereluctanthousewife]

When the System Works Against You

You know what I want?

For job hunting to be easier.

I don't mean to have less competition.

I mean, for it to be legit.

Headhunters probably need AI now to shift through all the applications they get in a day. I understand. But it makes it so much harder for job seekers.

For me, I feel like everything is stacked against me from the day I first started applying.

Since I'm new to the system, my resume is likely not the best. Resume builders charge hundreds of dollars to "fix" my resume. But with no guarantee of a job, where do they expect me to find the money to shell out for their service?

There are loads of career websites around. But none of them seem to pan out at all. Of the hundreds of applications I've sent, perhaps 50 (and that's being generous) respond with a "We will not be moving forward with your application), 2 respond for next steps, and a hundred more say nothing at all.

I am tired.

It's a relentless, soul-sucking grind that bears no reward.

Honestly, it's depressing. My rationale is telling me perhaps it's time to pivot and find something else to do. I'm getting a lot of emails for insurance agents, and maybe that's something? I honestly don't know. I can't do sales, but perhaps this is the time to give it a go.

I hate not having money, not contributing to the household, not being able to buy something for the kids.

I hate relying on my husband's income. Knowing his past health issues, it's difficult to rely on a single earner for a family with 3 kids.

I used to think the US was the land of opportunity.

It sure as hell isn't that any longer.

You need to study in the United States to be able to secure a job. Your work experience or study qualifications from overseas aren't valid here. Is it how they've rigged the system? Study here and then you up your chances?

What if you have no money and you need to earn so you can actually pay for any further schooling? Well, you can get money from the government - a LOAN. So you start off your professional life with a negative balance.

I used to think LinkedIn was somewhat legit. I stayed off it as long as I could because - argh, another social media site to keep track of? But, I relented in the end. I needed to "network" - at least get my name out there. Fat lot of good it's doing.

Some websites have other companies advertising jobs. I've signed up for so many job alerts, it's jamming up my inbox. Some of them have such bad algorithms, I keep getting matched with nursing jobs when I have zero credentials to be a nurse.

Some of them advertise jobs that are no longer accepting applicants. Others require a master's degree for entry level jobs. Still others say "any other responsibilities asked of you." Everyone knows the latter is a red flag.

None of the jobs that come up give anyone opportunities. The culture wants a new grad to have 20 years' experience off the bat. To have networked and received 20 contacts by the time you graduate.

The most I've ever introduced myself to a stranger is talking to the Uber driver.

I am exhausted.

I am tired of people expressing their opinions of my "potential."

I don't need opinions. I need a job.

I know what I'm capable of.

I just want companies to take a chance and recognize that, too.

[axmoth]

*Ceru looks at Fresh..... who looks at Ceru..... who looks at Fresh....

"..."

*How to explain that Fresh is a soul sucking parisite to a child....

*Fresh kneels down to the kid with a kind smile...

"Well...... have ya ever heard of da circle of life-"

*Ceru slaps his hands on Freshes mouth.

"Yeah. No. Lets don't"

*He growls at Fresh.. threatening him should he continue.

"The swap san's body that we will be taking will already be hurt. Fresh and I will stop the hurt."

*Not technically a lie.. you don't feel anything in death.. plus the sans will just come back when the world resets....

*And as far as the sans hurting..... they've gotta find a sans with enough negativity to support Nightmare for a moment so he can regenerate properly... so probably one mid genocide run.

"Well.... we best be off...."

*Ceru says standing up.

"You have an AU in mind?"

*He asks Fresh.... very causal about the murder they are planing on committing

"Yep! Der's one I'm thinkin of.... Ya might want ta give da Papyrus a talkin to as well... Da broski is super unrad to his bro."

*Ceru nods... with a grin more befitting a member of the murder time trio he rips open a portal and jumps through......

....

*Speak of the devil and they shall appear..... the bad sanses are mid raid in this AU.

*Cascade Doesn't do much killing, She's more so standing, Waiting.*

*Speak of the devil, It seems she spotted her target.*

*She sighs, Raiding aus were her least favorite part of this, but.. They had a job to do.*

"Well hello."

*She says, Her eyelights completly gone, Any flicker of life gone.*

[vermakesthings]

Lopunil

Lopunil is an Elder Mornnu, who neither married nor loved, before Liam time traveled back into the blessed years. Lopunil and Liam became fast friends, though Lopunil had Liam's weapon, which Liam did not reciprocate. It was only a few days before the Fall of the Blessed Years (I'm going to make an in world name for that eventually. As well as a separate post for it. For now just accept that that happened, and it sucked) however that Lopunil asked Liam out, which was rejected, both because Liam genuinely did not reciprocate and also even if she did, a few days before the Fall is NOT a good time to start a relationship, nor time to date.

Lopunil and Liam's friendship became estranged after this, mostly due to Liam reacting far worse than you would expect of rejection. The worst that could be said is not no, when you are asking someone who is already stressing constantly about how in a few days about half of their friends are going to die and they are going to lead a large force for war against what is essentially a god, and they can't tell anyone about it because of prophecies, out on a date. A LOT worse.

After the fall of the blessed years, Liam was completely out of contact with most people as he was part of the small force that fought directly with Thribruthku for a few centuries. During this time, Lopunil was traumatized and pained: at one point he had been captured by Thribruthku's lieutenant, facing that torture for around five full years as they tried to get as much information out of him about Blonicku, of which he was a resident, as they could. They also damaged his soul, beyond normal mental trauma, cursing him with hatred; while normally he may act well, if he is angered he becomes violent to the point of murder extremely quickly. He also became more narcissistic and arrogant due to the curse. After Thribruthku's final defeat, they returned to Blonicku, where they were quite quickly cast out for their actions under this curse. Then, they decided they would try again with Liam; not as friends, but as a partner again: that had never gone from their soul, and now with the curse influencing their arrogance and such they were not willing to take that rejection.

Sidetrack for a minute to Liam and Freya. In the aftermath of Thribruthku's defeat, Aegir had been put to his limbo in the bowels of the earth and they were now traveling together, alone. They had only a few years after his defeat shown eachother that they had had eachothers weapons, and were in love. They never did marry, as Liam did not want to without their family in attendance, yet that was impossible as this was still in from their perspective the past, and Freya would have preferred not to until her siblings awoke from their Limbos. She might have, had Liam been okay with it too, but both together it did not happen.

Nevertheless, they did end up making a mistake, and by that I mean Liam, who is on their first face right now which is a female body, was pregnant. Don't want to marry for lack of family, ends up making family. Good job kid (their both like 700 years by this point).

Some time later this kid, named Averon Lyradonnu Thrinnu (the last two are house names and are interchangeable but that's the usual order, if you say them both. Averon is their first name.)was born. When Lopunil finally found Liam again, Liam was alone, as Freya had gone to hunt for the days meat, and so Lopunil came upon Liam while she held her own daughter. Lopunil's curse filled him with rage, that another had won Liam's heart (or in his thought, had won Liam) without him even being aware. He knew that marriage could not have happened yet, of course, else he would no longer be able to wield Liam's spear: wielding another person's weapon due to your love for them is taken upon that person's marriage, only able to return in the rare case of divorce, assuming you still love them. Even so, he knew that if a child had been born then the only reason marriage would not have happened yet is not because they didn't want to but because they could not yet. He knew then that Liam would never willingly be with him, though that did not deter his rage; he kidnapped the child and fled, hoping that as Liam pursued him he would be able to lure her away from whoever the partner was, and kidnap her too. Some small part of his true mind remained, however, uncorrupted by the curse: he still did not harm the child in any way, barring for the fear of the chase and separation from her mother.

Through their bond, Liam had told Freya, and the skys above darkened. Lighting struck around them, and the wind picked up: not enough to harm, for her fear for Averon, but enough to warn that the Thrinnu of the wind and sky approached, and she was wrathful.

Lopunil had felt this wind many times. It was filled with the presence of one who bore the stone of a Thrinnu. He had only ever felt the the power of Freya's stone in anger, however, when Thribruthku had worn it: and he was now afraid, his memory of his imprisonment reeling. His curse, due to his mind dwelling on his torture, flaired as if to protect him, stronger than before: when it became clear that not even with Averon as hostage could he take Liam, he strangled the child just as Freya entered the clearing.

The gust of wind from Freya was so great it blew him to the sea, which is the only thing that let him survive. The corpse they both picked up, hoping desperately that by some power of their bond and Freya's stone she could be healed, for now in the Dark Years none could be revived from the moon as was before: not even a bearer of the stone could do it, with only one exception, that being the keeper of Nerquam's stone is capable of reviving Nerquam, yet was urged not to by Liam for the consequences it would prophetically bring. No one, not Thrinnu, not Lyradonnu, not bearer, not good or ill, could revive this child if she died.

And their power was not enough. Liam now held the child, and Freya was going to go chase Lopunil down so that he may die as well, before Liam stopped her. For Liam knows many prophecies, and this was one such: that an Elder would claim something from Freya and Liam, though the prophecy did not know what it was, that they held dear, that they would be taken to kill in return. This Elder is then specifically said to be the one to cause the Fall of the Sun, at the end of the Dark Years: something that prophetically needs to happen, since if they choose the other option for the end of the Dark Years, then the Lieutenant of Thribruthku would wake him specifically from his Limbo, Aegir would not wake at all, and Liam would not even be aware that it had happened before all the other three Thrinnu were sent to the moon. The choice of which path to take, it was said in the words on stone, would come here: weather the one who took what was Liam and Freya's would be killed for his crime, or not. Laim recognized that that prophecy had come to pass, and restrained them, though they hated it, telling her why it must be so. In the end, they relented, though only with the knowledge that at the fall of the sun, Liam would be the one to kill Lopunil, unless Lopunil won instead. It is not prophesied which would happen, only the results of each, but the knowledge that if Lopunil should be slain it will be by Liam's hand was what stayed Freya's hand.

They buried Averon in a mound, just a few miles from Blonicku, and placed enchantment over it: that no one could defile it without great effort, and if any even so much as tried Liam would be immediately aware of it.

From here, there is little different in comparison to the original Lopunil post. The main differences are that Lopunil did not join the Thrinninu in their assault on Blonicku, and when the time came for the fall of the sun, he did not do it to serve Thribruthku: he attempted to take the sun so that he would have the power to possess Liam by force, as it clearly was now necessary to do so.

After the end of the final war and the second blessed years, Lopunil's life was spared: the curse in his heart was discovered and he was pardoned of all crime, as he was not the only one with such a curse: around 3/4 of Thribruthku's forces, in fact, were cursed the same, and all of them were given blanket pardon by the Thrinnu (which, remember, Liam is one during the second blessed years: he replaced Thribruthku). Lopunil was no exception to this pardon, though it would be long before he would understand why it was given. He still did not forgive himself.

Averon meanwhile only revived from the moon after the second blessed years, due to the rekindling of the light of the True Sun, though due to her extreme young age it took long for her to be revived: a full year, and it happened a week after Liam and Freya were married. She really does have a wonderful sense of timing.

[traincat]

yeah from what I've heard (I don't have the guts to actually read it) that's what's going on right now other than him fighting other heroes and paul still being a mystery

I'm going to marathon through what I've missed at some point, I'm just trying to get up the urge to care. (I got big back into Fire Emblem so I can't even rely on "this series is the main fiction love of my life and I have to do this" right now.) Most of what I've "read" from the past few issues are pages floating around twitter, and they've all been kind of outraged on the PeterMJ developments, which, like, I get, because they suck, but they've been sucking the whole series now so you'd think I'd hear more about Peter stealing tech from other heroes so he can give it to Norman to build stuff for him??

And I'm not addressing anything directly because again I haven't like actually read it yet and I don't want to be part of the comic book misinformation network, even accidentally, but I did read like at least the first half of what's out of this run and the Norman thing was the biggest deal for me. I can theoretically deal with everyone hating Peter for not established reasons or Peter and MJ having badly contrived relationship drama or Mystery Kids or Ben Reilly Evil Again (Take Two) or Peter not working at the Bugle because Marvel hates me personally or even Peter and Flash reuniting totally off page. What I can't handle is the Norman Was Shot With a Good Ray and Now Everyone Feels Sooooo Bad For Him Because He's Such a Nice Guy (He's Actively Falling Apart Because He's Gonna be Evil Again Ooh) apology hour. I can't handle Peter being willing to put his trust in Norman, whether or not Norman had the evil sucked right out of his soul and lobbed at a clone of Ashley Kafka or not. And I can't handle the downplaying of Peter's kills in favor of Norman's. It's always really weird to me when writers are like "Norman is more of a genius than Peter." Norman is more ruthless than Peter. Norman cares about far less than Peter. Establishing Norman as smarter than Peter flips the script in a really weird way (as opposed to characters like Doc Ock or the Jackal, who are established geniuses) that sort of puts them on this uneven footing. It seems to buy into the myth of the super rich guy as inherently smarter than everyone else, and it's not really present in Norman's original story (his introduction up to his death in ASM #122). Like this is a guy who Goblin'd himself because he blew up a bunch of chemicals in his own face. Even if he said he could build me a super suit, if I had anywhere in the realm of the "rewiring a toaster" skill set, I'd be like, cool thanks I'll do it myself. Which is what Peter should be doing, because the core of Peter's character should be a frightening amount of independence. He shouldn't be relying on Norman for a job or a super suit or subway fare. Good Norman or no, Norman helping to rescue MJ or no, Peter should be telling him to go fuck himself in every panel. It's just a basic characterization issue at this point. And this doesn't have to apply directly to whatever is or isn't going on in the past few issues because it applies to the whole run. (I did read the first few issues of Gold Goblin, which were at least an attempt at nuance with Norman, but between Liz trusting Norman and "Gold Goblin" sounding like the ultimate antisemitic dog whistle, I haven't gotten up the will to finish it yet.)

I think I'm also just like burnt out after two uniquely bad runs in a row. Like Slott was bad, but I was pretty used to the specific ways in which he was bad, and occasionally he busts out a good enough scene that it kind of gets you excited again. Spencer and Wells' runs have both had this deeply unpleasant undercurrent to them (Kindred, whatever's going on with Wells revisiting the plotline he wrote with the blizzard from the early days of Brand New Day) that just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But to say anything more specific I would, you know, actually have to read it.

[purpleandstarlight]

It continues @hateweasel

-I never listened to Fly me to the moon - but I always connect it to a canon kiss between two queer characters in a trilogy I really like bc after it one of them goes back to his room while humming it. Then that arc of yours with the crazy villain dude who sang it came and past me was afraid it would ruin my good memory associated with the song (but I genuinely forgot it until now).

-I wasn't impressed with that arc's villain's intelligence and didn't understand his beef with Ciel since from what I understood back then it was his own fault for touching sacred objects wrong??? Like don't be surprised if you get cursed while playing with ancient magic artifacts dude...(not criticism towards the author, just the character who's being needlesly petty lmao)

-I then said, and i have really no context for it but that just makes it funnier: "Ciel seems unimpressed...Wich is peak Ciel behavior, but this time he's right." I guess it was about the arc's villain?

- Cameron [about Alois, Ciel and Audrey]: They are horrible supernatural creatures that kill people!!!!

Me back then: Bestie, Audrey is just half reaper? He doesn't do a reaper job either??? And reapers don't kill anyway they just collect the souls of the dead???

(I understood that he was manipulated by the villain so he probs got a lot of shit wrong. Before the whole "trying to get back with Kris while he's amnesiac", me and my friend gave him the benefit of the doubt and defended him a bit. But reading this now its still funny to me)

-Me shitting on the arc's villain name with my friend. I didn't even remember the whole name but I was sure it sucked and we were very vocal about it (again, bullying the character, not the author). I just generally had beef with the dude ig, I realized just now that I kept insulting him for everything...

-i was SO hype about the rest of the 7 going around spying Cielois on a date...wich. understandable. It's peak me behavior. I'm there for the funny hijinks. You actually call them "the backseat boys" while they're on a taxi in that chapter, i realize in my first reread, and it always makes me lose it for the giggles since I assume it's a reference to the backstreet boys? I don't know them I just know the name but ITS A FUNNY PUN.

-Oh God DaffyDucks's introduction chapter...The moment he was fighting with the seven to sit next to Alois my gaydar buzzed, no lie. After he started being sleazy with Alois, I was genuinely just creeped out and annoyed by him troughtout the whole arc and never really stopped. I hate him even now. I cheered when Ciel kicked his ass.

-DLTD: By that afternoon, Ciel had rid himself of the rest of the sensational seven

Me: LOL

DLTD: ...(including Alois)

Me: ... :(

Me: NO WAIT I MISREAD!! IT SAYS EXCLUDING!!! :DD

(Genuine Rollercoaster of emotions I had while reading that single sentence)

-Gabriel Bailey saying he would stop being a cop made me so sad. I was like "More power to you but I'm gonna miss you dude" cause I thought we wouldn't see him again?

Then my friend said "You know, cops saying they will stop being cops in fiction is usually a death flag" and I shat myself.

-I genuinely said (and I'm Copypasting) "NHA BC CIEL AND DAFFYDUCK DO BE HAVING SOME TENSION IF U KNOW WHAT I MEAN 💀" and then i followed it with (not Copypasting but translating in english) "Nha I'm kidding. Daffyduck isn't blonde he's got no chance."

-I said this at like 4 am. At 11:31 I then barged into the chatroom after this hours long silence with "Okay so DaffyDuck is an ally now but I still hate his guts".

- I then said "In the end DaffyDuck was working with the bad guys like i thought at the beginning of the arc but he was only being manipulated. I gave him much more importance than what he has." and my friend jokingly pointed out that a lot of people get manipulated in DLTD so I said "To be fair it's a common trope in every story, but not as many stories are so long as to have space for many repetition, so it's understandable that it happens a lot in this"

[imagintheworldaway]

Florida

A/N idk with this one, i just could't stop myself.

Warnings: Drugs, memory loss

Requests: Open

Life hasn't been easy. We both got dealt shitty hands, abusive childhoods, absent parents, people only ever caring when the fame and money followed. But that wasn’t for years. We were both broke kids trying to figure it out, only having each other as a comfort blanket. It's so shitty to think about, we were both just kids, two kids who were never given a real chance. That's where it started. At Least that's my theory. What do you expect, kids learn from the adults that raise them, and when the adults are shitty there is no question that the kid will more than likely also turn out to be shitty. Deep down, somewhere in my soul, I knew I had good in me, but what's the point of being good and decent and nice when the world and everyone in it had only thrown it all back in your face? 

I don't really remember the first time I met Frank. I remember we were kids, well teenagers, we ran in similar crowds, and he always had this smile, this cheeky smile which you just couldn’t say no to. And those eyes. Those emerald green eyes, the way the sunset shone in them when we were lying on top of a building, no cares, no one to answer to, just ourselves. Maybe the silence in knowing that we were both doomed was what comforted me. Maybe it was the fact he was tall and handsome, or maybe because he could do things to me that made my knees weak and screams echo through the city. 

When he suggested, well when he told me he was moving to LA there was no doubt I would follow him. There was nothing holding me down, so why not follow a boy to LA and see how it goes. I think that's when everything truly clicked for the first time. Being homeless, couch surfing, working dodgy jobs just to buy liquor and cigarettes was how we got by. That sunset, nothing really beat the LA sunset, the warm hues and bright rays that glistened in his eyes, illuminating his face reassured me that this was all worth it. 

But LA changed us. Like it does everyone else who gets sucked into the black pit which is the city. As we grew we were able to scrape together some pennies for an apartment. That's when the bug changed. My Frankie was now the sexy Nikki Sixx and I gained the nickname of Florida, or Flo. why? Well I was still as carefree as when I had arrived here. I didn't care where, when or what we did, and everyone we met said I was like a ray of sunshine, meaning I was like Florida. I was also majorly sedated most of the time which only added to the birth of the nickname. Nikki said he always saw Florida as the much more chiller younger cousin to LA, he always wanted to go to Florida, maybe it was the child in him that missed out on such a core memory that so many other kids got to have. So I became his Florida.

We had our own funny little rituals to get by. I would pray for snow and Nikki would produce the white powder that sent shivers down my spine but always brought me a great warmth. Our house was an apartment but our home was on the borderline. We would work these stupid jobs, meet our dealer, then climb on the roof. Heads frazzled in white powder but the same comforting silence that we had as tennagers still there, reassuring us that this was right. 

Sometimes Nikki would hold me so close I could swear that I could hear his thoughts. His hand was always squeezing mine, comforting me, knowing we were at the same place. But bliss cant last forever. 

I was happy that Nikki was finally in a band that made sense. Tommy was such a goofball and always knew the right thing to say, Mick was quiet, but we had a silent understanding, we looked after each other and then there was Vince, he was gorgeous, and always knew how to make my heart flutter and my cheeks red. They would practise and write songs as I would cut the lines. I never got involved with their business and they left me to mine. It was good. So fucking good. Until it wasn’t. 

The more popular the boys got the more money i got a hold of and the more lines, spliffs, pills, tabs and alcohol i consumed. I became the girl always at the show, dancing along on the side, supporting her boys. The music used to create colours, streams of vibrant vibrations would cloud my vision as I swayed and moved to the beat. I couldn’t care about the other girls. Why would i? He always came back to me, no matter what. I was the one in the pictures who he had his arm around, i was the one he brought to the parties, i was the only who kept his supply safe. 

It never stopped. I was the new guy everyone went to. You wanted something, you went and talked to Flo to get it. It was like my own dirty little secret that few people were in on. It was never my intent but it was easy. I kept the gear, he kept me satisfied. What I once thought was love I think was deeper. Nikki and I were the same person, and people knew that, you can't find Nikki? He's with Flo. Need some gear? Florida will be in Nikkis' room. A package deal, two of a kind, dare I say soulmates. 

All good things must come to an end. That's what our first dealer had said to us. How did he know that all the way back then? I don't know, I don't care to know. He always did warn us though. He always said how I was stupid for following a boy because I was in love. Love was only an emotion, so why did I care so much about a silly little feeling? Maybe because, as fucked up as whatever this thing we had was, it was the only form of love either of us had ever felt. 

I was a good girl. The perfect girlfriend, anything he could ever want, but i wasn't enough, i would never be enough. Florida was pretty, Florida was fun, but Florida wasn’t without its demons, it's blotches on its happy go lucky outlook on life, I truly was becoming the worst parts of it all. I took a second to think. When was the last time someone had called me by my real name? What even was my real name?  ‘Hold out your hand’ someone said, easily distracting me from my thoughts. Who was that? I was alone, wasn't i? Maybe not. I felt a light pressure on the back of my head, forcing it down. So that my nose met the white powder that had been lazily sprawled across the side of my hand. I took in the sensation of the powder I had felt so many times before. Don't forget to smile Florida, this is as good as it gets. 

[anotherrosesthatfell]

E.L.A wattpad drafts that I'll never finish it istg

Drunk friendship (poth)

"Seriously Palette? Just tell me, what's up with you!" Goth yelled.

"Nothing, ALRIGHT? Just left me alone. I am busy!" Palette yelled back as he keep on walking away from Goth.

"Wait up! Please, Palette. Why are you acting like this?!" Goth continue to provoke Palette and follow wherever he go.

"If this is your stupid puberty then get over it. You're not a kid anymore—"

"THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!" Palette snapped. "YOU ALWAYS TOLD ME TO SUCK IT UP BECAUSE I'M A BOY!"

"..." She is in disbelief. Palette actually fought back. "But I am not wrong."

He sighed. "Why did I even try..." Palette tear up a little but he quickly wipe it. "Why are you always like this. This world doesn't revolve around you."

"..." Goth sighed, she is very aware of her flaws. "Hey... Let's talk." she tugged on Palette scarf. "You don't look handsome when you're skinny."

Palette always know that Goth is genuine but her ego and pride made him wanting to stay away. He don't want to get hurt again. 

"Palette please, I am worried. Ever since that sleepover, you changed into a different person!" She sighed. "Was this because of me? Are you avoiding me because I rejected you?" she asked. 

"Stop, don't bring that up..." Palette sighed. "Look, it's not like that. You won't understand."

She won't understand. 

Of course she won't understand if you don't tell the truth.

"I am trying to understand." she groaned. "You made yourself looking like you needed help but you don't really want it, do you?" she asked once again. "I'll ask you this. Do you want help or you want to be alone all by yourself." 

"I-I..." Palette sighed. "I'm busy." he said as he walks away. 

Goth was going to chase after him again but Merciless stopped her by grabbing her sleeve. 

"Jeez... Just what's wrong with him...?" Merciless is getting worried for his best  friend. 

"I'm not sure..." she sighed. "Did you asked Drop what's up with Palette?" 

Merciless nodded and say " Yes I did. Drop didn't tell me much though..."

There's a lot of sighing today. Merciless didn't like his friends to fought, he want them to get along until their very last moment. 

"Maybe he is just stressed out about his modeling job?" Guessed Merciless. 

"That could be it.. Well his agent and everyone in the agency are sucks." Goth rolled her eyes in frustration. 

"Yeah I get that." 

"..."

"..."

"Do you want to get some ice cream?" suggest Merciless 

"Yeah that'll be nice, maybe we should buy one for Palette for a surprise!" 

"Oh! That's a good idea!" Merciless smiles and the two of them went to get ice-cream. 

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

Goth and Merciless bought their ice-cream (with using Lux credit card)

"Palette is in the park right now, let's go." Said Goth.

Goth has the ability to recognize people's souls so she easily can know the person she looking for located.

She opened a portal and went inside it as it brought the two of them to the park. 

"Palette!" Goth waves at him. 

"dammit, I just need a rest for a day..." Palette muttered to himself.

A prince for a princess (one sided Mercidrop

[Platonic Mercidrop!!!! Or one sided 💀)

Drop is making a drink for Palette. He woke up from a nightmare so Drop decided a warm hot chocolate can help him.

"Brother, here you go..." She gives the drink to him. "Are you alright?" 

Palette slightly nodded. He sighed and holding the mug. His hands are trembling.

"Hey, hey... Calm down, you're awake from the nightmares." She patted Palette back. "Do you want a hug?" she asked.

"Yes please..." Palette voice was also trembling. 

Something happened in the last timelines, Drop can guessed it. 

Deja Vu (Drop)

"PALETTE NO!" Drop screamed in terror.

She woke up from a nightmare again. This time, Palette was killed by Merciless.

She took a deep breath and look around her. It's a room, her room.

"Again..." She sighed trying not to cry but she can't. It hurts to dream about your love one dying again and again.

"Drop, are you alright?" Dream knocks on her door. "Can I come in?" his voice sounds very concerned.

Drop didn't answer but it's actually a sign for 'Yes'

Dream came in and sat next to her bed.

"Are you having a bad dream, sweetheart?" he ask.

"Yeah..." Drop sniffle into tears and hug Dream to find comfort. "It's all the same, Papa..."

White sheep [Merciless Angst]

Merciless just turned 11 this year. That's right, he gained weight a little and Killer was so happy. 

Today is his birthday, he hopes for his mother to spend time with him like always. Merciless just finished dressing up himself, Lux bought him new clothes to wear since he can't always wear that torn out shirt. 

Merciless quietly walks to the castle hall. The servants are whispering as they are badmouthing him. 

"He's still alive.."

"Yeah because Mistress Killer love him so much.."

"If he died sooner, we wouldn't have to suffer."

Merciless pretending not to hear anything. It's the same... The servants mistreated him for being the white sheep of the family. He can't complain, he admitted it that he is one. He look nothing like Nightmare and he look nothing like Killer.

Killer explained that he got his genetic from his dead uncle, Papyrus but Merciless don't really believe it. 

As Merciless walks, a servant intentionally trip Merciless and stepped on his hand. 

"Whoops, my bad... Useless prince." Said the servant as they rolled their eyes. 

Merciless don't need to cry. It's the same as usual. He were mistreated by his father and his mother are stressed about it. He don't want Killer to cry if she ever finds out that Merciless were mistreated by the servants too. 

"It's alright... It's just an accident." Merciless forgave the servant. He quickly gets up and ran away. He don't want to be there any longer, he can't. If he did, he'll cry. 

Can moon be good? [Old lore E.L.A surprise ending]

{{I am a bad guy... After I tried to kill my little brother.. He forgave me... Right of course he will forgive me. The prophecy is right after all.}}

" Sister lux... Can I come in? " Palette knocked on the door, asking for the permission to enter

" ah yes sure. The door is not locked "

Palette opened the door and peeping before coming in.

He hesitated for a moment but yet let himself calm.

" S-sister! W-well.. I- it have been a few days a-and.. O-our family want to see you! "

He didn't mean to stutter, he was nervous. For the first time in his repeating life, he stuttered to his older sister.

Lux let out a faint smile and stand up from her bed. She walked towards Palette and trying to pat his head but Palette flinched as his eyes showed a horrified expression

Lux clenched her wrist and walk past him

" Merci must miss me alot, "

She walked away leaving Palette alone. It took a minute for him to calm himself down.

He shouldn't be afraid of her. Not anymore... But yet his guts won't allow himself to stay calm

Lux walking through the hall way as she stumble upon Drop. She have tiny plaster on her cheek and her arm is wrapped with bandages.

Drop sweat a bit but bring herself to Lux

" Sister! Even if you are my rival, I still love you! So don't isolated yourself "

" -! "

Drop let an ugly cries and hug Lux as she wiped her face on her dress. Lux only can pat her head and comforted the little one.

She doesn't have the right to say anything after she hurts Drop