#thread 275 .

[ofthefog]

please please please I need bolsonaro to go to a community college on a student visa please he has to study on the minion bed

It's been like a week how does this guy like survive? World's most sickly man.

[ollieinoue]

The Quad sometime early November [ @mari-zuko ]

Ollie sat down on a bench next to Mari, staring at her very intently until she looked over at him, and gave her a smile. "Hi," he said, a little overly sheepish. A little too demure. The way he got when he was about to ask a favor of someone. "I was wondering if you weren't too busy… if we could talk about something. It's kinda important. And like actually important. Not the sort of important where I'm about to ask you to break me into your art classrooms so I can steal some clay because I really want to squish my fingers into it -- like it's actually important." Though he would really like some clay to squish his fingers into, they could address that later. He glanced around, deciding the quad was bustling enough that nobody would be able to really over hear or notice them at the moment. Much better than meeting in some silent secret area. "Do you know anything about the school's security cameras? Like… anything at all?"

[spaceorphan18]

The Rogue and Gambit Project : The Muir Island Saga

The first time we see Rogue and Gambit on the same page together is the cover of Uncanny X-Men #275 - which was one of those VERY SPECIAL ISSUES that put everyone on the cover. No, this is not a part of the Muir Island Saga -- but belongs to the previous arcs (Savage Land and Space Shenanigans). Still, it's pretty cool to see them on the cover together.

So, here's the thing about the Muir Island Saga - the next arc of the comics - despite dealing with the same adversary, and spending time with the same group of people, we never see Rogue and Gambit mix. In fact - (something I'll point out in detail in a minute) - it's almost comical how much they seem to be ships passing in the night. It's almost as if it's done purposely.

I know that years (and years and years and years) later - we'll get a retcon of their first meeting. And I really thought a lot about whether or not I should talk about that here... and, not to disappoint some of you, but I'm not going to (for now). Because I kind of want to tackle this project from a chronological point of view. To experience things as they were happening without the added layers of what we'll get next. And the retcon kind of, gets into a whole lot of issues I don't want to dig into yet. So, I promise, I'll talk about Kelly Thompson's Mini when we get there, we're just... a very long way off from that.

In the meantime, the thing about this arc that's so fascinating is trying to pinpoint how they could meet. And when. And why. And thing I keep coming back to is... comics don't make a whole lot of sense, y'all.

Let's dive in...

Uncanny X-Men #278

The whole premise of The Muir Island Saga is that the Shadow King wants to get out of the Astral Plane and kind of brainwashes the residents of Muir Island (including the X-Men) in order to do it. Don't ask me to make sense of it, I'm just the recapper!

The real purpose of the whole thing is to reshuffle the line, which had been in such flux up until this point. The X-Office was getting ready to launch the new Adjectiveless X-Men book, and Chris Claremont was getting ready to depart after 17 years of being the sole author of X-Men. Things were definitely changing and this saga finally gets all the pieces to where they need to be.

As an aside, I do find it fascinating that the beginning of Rogue and Gambit's relationship coincides with all of these changes. Not only is the decade changing, but X-Men's status quo is about to be really shaken up after being a relatively steady book for a very, very long time. It's just kind of neat that the endings and beginnings happening on an external level are also happening with our characters as well.

Uncanny X-Men #278

For some context, after the destruction of the mansion after the Inferno crossover, and after remaining X-Men all ended up going through the Siege Perilous after the Australian era, Muir Island, home of (brilliant scientist and ex-Xavier lover) Moira MacTaggart became the home of a new (and short lived) group of X-Men. I can only assume that's why Rogue returned here after her little side adventure in the Savage Land.

Though I should point out that Rogue has ZERO idea who is alive and who is dead other than the people who are already on the island. I kind of wonder what her future plans would have been if the other X-Men never showed up. Anyway... though, there really isn't any full explanation as to why Rogue went back to Muir Island other than they had no intention of writing her out of the book, and they needed all the X-Men to be in one place.

How does she feel about the events of the Savage Land? What really happened with her and Magneto? The answer is -- who cares, we're done with that plot now and moving on until another comic book writer decides to tug on that loose plot thread. :P

Uncanny X-Men #278

What is important to know that the Shadow King is mind controlling everyone. And... he does so with Rogue by making out with her after she's been in the shower? What??

Look, I'm not going to claim this stuff makes a whole lot of sense. But I can fanwank it a little...

The Shadow King's whole deal is that he's trying to corrupt everyone and bring them to their most evil (because, you know, that's what evil villains do). And with Rogue - he plays on her sense of touch. Back in the old days, Rogue used kissing as her primary way of stealing people's powers. And on top of that, one of her deepest rooted struggles (as of obvious statement isn't obvious) is the fact that she isn't able to have physical contact. So the Shadow King is tapping into both of those things, and, as the whole 'temptation' quote insinuates - him letting her give into her desires allows him to brainwash her.

Now, do I really believe she'd be enticed this easily? Can the Shadow King have that deep a hold on anyone? That is for you to decide, fair reader.

It's at least my interpretation. Honestly, I think there's a bigger part of me that wonders if they really just wanted to see Rogue making out with someone because because they can.

Meanwhile, on the opposite page, guess who is landing with the rest of the X-Men who just returning from space? That's right, everyone can relax. Gambit has arrived. ;) They're now in the same place... so if we can only get them to the same panel...

Uncanny X-Men #278

Alright guys, time to play the logistics game... these two panels are on opposite pages. Gambit, fresh off his plane, ends up running into Multiple Man - and they have a little fight. Meanwhile, Rogue runs into Wolverine and Jubilee - and they have a little fight. Are you following me? Good! Cause it's going to get crazier from here.

Also, let's keep track of Rogue's clothes because... ooff, yeah, the continuity is worse than the story line.

Uncanny X-Men #279

Before I get into it - I need to state that Uncanny X-Men 279 is the issue where Chris Claremont just up and quit during the middle. He'll be back to wrap up his run in the new X-Men book (that we'll get to after this) but I'm sure the nonsense going on in the X-Office didn't help the clarity of this story...

Anyway, the next time we see either Gambit or Rogue is here... in the next issue. What happened between Rogue and Wolverine/Jubilee? How did Gambit handle Multiple Man? Who knows! But now Gambit is with Wolverine and Jubilee and Rogue is nowhere to be seen.

Also - that's the third 'bang, you dead joke' in, like, five issues. Good lord, Claremont, if this wasn't your final Uncanny issue (for now) I'd say give it a rest. I will say, though, I almost included the entire three pages of Wolverine/Jubilee/Gambit because they are that delicious, and easily the best thing about this entire arc.

Uncanny X-Men #279

On the next page, we see Rogue again - where she is taking on Forge. Note the wardrobe change? Did she have time to add more clothes after her 'fight' with Wolverine? Is any of this making sense yet? No? Okay... onto the X-Factor issue...

X-Factor #69

This is literally the next time we see Rogue - after Forge shoots her with a ray gun that stops the mind control. Did the ray gun just change her outfit as well? Was the previous outfit too evil?? Or was it just that artists Andy Kubert and Whilce Portacio just have zero communication when getting these issues out? (Honestly, I do not blame the artists - I do blame editorial though.)

X-Factor #69

Meanwhile, where is Gambit you ask??

Alright, guys, this is where we're at -- Forge has un-mind controlled Rogue, Wolverine, and Banshee. Meanwhile, Gambit, Psylocke, Jubilee and the Muir Island peeps are still under the Shadow King. And now X-Factor (the original five X-Men - Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Angel, and Beast) are now involved. All of them are running around the island. Only, it's X-Factor who finds the rest of the mind controlled - not Forge and crew...

Also, in case you'd like me to make it more confusing, Mystique has arrived in disguise (with Nick Fury), while all this mind control is doing wonders for Charles Xavier's son, Legion, who is about to go a little crazy.

Uncanny X-Men #280

Classic cover is classic. Also, Rogue still has more of her clothes! Don't grow too attached to them.

Uncanny X-Men #280

See, I told you not to get too attached to Rogue's clothes. Apparently, when Legion went crazy and caused an explosion, it blew off all her clothes. Miraculously, no one else had this issue. I guess Jean just used her telekinetic powers to keep hers on.

Uncanny X-Men #280

And on the other side of this really not very big island is the B-team. B for brainwashed. Yes - the two teams are going to meet! Yes, a big, huge battle is about to ensue!

Uncanny X-Men #280

Gambit is going to take on Wolverine (for the 100th time it seems) while Rogue will take on Strong Guy. Every non-brainwashed X-Man is going to take on every other brainwashed X-Man. Except for Rogue v Gambit. We don't get to see that. They do not share any panels together. Not even in the big group scenes. None. Nothing. Absolutely zero.

They just knew it'd be too much...

(Honestly, I am a little curious as to why this was. It almost does feel intentional at this point.)

Anyway, the battle ends. The Shadow King is vanquished (for now) -- and has the hilariously villain closing line of "No!!! I WAS SO CLOSE!!" And all that's left is to wrap up this little ditty...

Uncanny X-Men #280

I just need to talk about Rogue's clothes again. Her panties are barely hanging on by a thread, but her gloves are perfectly intact. How convenient.

Anyway, the last line of this comic reads: The End, and The Beginning. How appropriate...

Here we are, guys. The first issue where Rogue and Gambit end up on panel together. Are you ready for this??

Let's talk about X-Factor #70

X-Factor #70

Most of the issue revolves around Xavier trying to get into Legion's head while the rest of the group is either waiting around in the hospital room or tying up loose plot threads around the island.

So... how much time has passed? It's unclear - but enough that Rogue's had enough time to find some clothes that have not been ripped to shreds.

Anyway - one of the loose plot threads is dealing with Mystique's "death" that happened ages ago. Turns out she faked it and had been pretending to be Val Cooper for a while now. Rogue had seen news of the "death" and this is their reunion.

Great, now that that's squared away, we get one of my favorite sequences in comics... the chain letting everyone know that Xavier is okay ;)

X-Factor #70

Idk why, but I love this little sequence. I love the random 'no smoking' sign. I love Gambit freaking Polaris out. I love that Jubilee just does not give a shit. And I love that Rogue doesn't seem to either.

Anyway... now to the moment y'all have been patiently waiting for...

I present to you -- Rogue and Gambit's first on panel moment!

X-Factor #70

It's sort of anticlimactic, isn't it?

While Xavier's - what do we do with fourteen X-Men - is rather iconic, the art here is... meh. I'm so glad Jim Lee is going to redesign a lot of the characters. Gambit just does not look good in the yellow costume (also, he does not have his headsock on here for some reason). Meanwhile, even Rogue looks a little off here (though this is the X-Factor book and not Uncanny).

And... we're left with a bunch of open questions. Just how did Rogue and Gambit meet? What was their first interaction like? What is their dynamic at the very beginning? As I said before -- Kelly Thompson will one day answer these questions -- both brilliantly and unbelievably.

If you were looking for any kind of set up going into the relaunch, I'm sorry to say that what I've laid out for you is what we've got. So, introductions are open to interpretation...

My own version...?

Gambit: *speaking flirtations French to Rogue* Rogue: Wolverine - who is this? Wolverine: Storm brought back some Cajun leftovers from her time as a de-aged thief. Gambit: How about a kiss, chere? Rogue: How about I punch you?

And thus a dynamic was born. ;)

Next up: We're finally going to really get into it with X-Men #1-3!

[dhrmonth]

Dramione Month Daily Roundup

Here is the Day 17 roundup of Dramione Month works! ⏳✨ 

AO3 Links:

The star we couldn’t keep by Marijoshi: G, 713 words, 1/1 Chapters

The Tenuous Threads of Friendship and Desire by Tippilo: E, 4,007 words, 1/1 Chapters

Day 12: Fake Dating by Brittles_06: M, 1,629 words, 1/1 Chapters

Day 11: War Opposites by Brittles_06: T, 275 words, 1/1 Chapters

Day 17 - The Hunger Games by Peaches_on_Waffles: G, 426 words, 1/1 Chapters

Day 10: Idiots in Love by Brittles_06: T, 258 words, 1/1 Chapters

Only the Ribs Remain by goldengirlwrites, paigetopage: NR, 8,850 words, 2/? Chapters

12 Fail- Safe Ways to Woo a Witch by Hyemi_28: M, 2,664 words, 1/1 Chapters

The White Rose by Serpent_Sortia: E, 1,825 words, 1/? Chapters

Hold You Through the Night by galaxy_skies: T, 1,205 words, 1/1 Chapters

Day Sixteen - 12 Fail-Safe Ways To Woo A Witch by Peaches_on_Waffles: M, 1,177 words, 1/1 Chapters

Drips and Drabs by augustaoctavia: NR, 8,846 words, 8/? Chapters

Day Fifteen - Advanced Rune Translation by Peaches_on_Waffles: M, 749 words, 1/1 Chapters

Day Fourteen - Romance Tropes Free Day by Peaches_on_Waffles: T, 387 words, 1/1 Chapters

Downfall by Diffindo by dramionelover1997: E, 2,047 words, 1/1 Chapters

Tumblr Posts:

Art by omniluci-estumbra (Also on Twitter and Instagram)

Art by arfisrar (Also on Instagram and Twitter)

Art by sophiesstreet (Also on Twitter and Instagram)

Twitter Posts:

Art by softkombuchart (Also on Instagram and Tumblr)

SocMed by nissasxnotes

Fic by brittan50044144

Fic by helleonore1

Ficlet by brittan50044144

Ficlet by PeachesnWaffles

Art by efaidyiel

Ficlet by Bookish_clf (Also on Instagram)

Ficlet by nottkaro

Ficlet by nothing_devils

Art by aplthree (Also on Instagram and Tumblr)

Drabble by UnaOrion

Ficlet by arborlibrary27

Ficlet by phiasabanana

Fic by MissusBWrites (Also on Instagram)

Ficlet by missmuwrites

Drabble by TheOther_Lore

Ficlet by magicalsydney

Fic by thisisntdd

Ficlet by mspolapotter

Ficlet by grangermalfoy07 (Also on Instagram)

Instagram Posts:

Art by elliemess.art

Art by sisiwako

SocMed by nox.malfoy

Fic by catmintandthyme

Art by mira.sool_art

Fic by hyemi28_fanfictions Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Art by rubleroo

Art by saintmlfy

Art and ficlet by papercranesandapples

Art by sisiwako

Fic by galaxy__skies (x-posted to AO3)

[lou-bonfightme]

"Oh, well, in that case, I suppose we will need to reschedule swimming," Lou said, very seriously, his mouth pinched down in a frown as he caught Hades' eye.

"Nooooooo!" Opal whined. "The appointment is swimming!"

"Ah, I see. Do not worry, the water isn't going anywhere. Sunscreen is important to protect that pretty face of yours."

Opal huffed, but she also smiled at the compliment. "Oookayyy, but hurry!"

"Next time, I believe, suncream should be applied before leaving the house," Lou mused to Hades as Opal wiggled through the rest of the sunscreen application.

"D'accord, are you ready?" Lou asked once Hades finished. He clapped his hands together, then lurched forward to catch Opal across the stomach as she darted for the water. "Remember the rule?"

"Hold hands!" She reached up above her head with both hands so Lou could take one and Hades the other.

"Oui. That is very important, Caillou," he said to her as he took her hand. "You must always go in to the water with an adult, okay? Until we tell you otherwise."

[outfit, minus the cap ofc lou would never be caught dead wearing a baseball cap]

@trip-downtheriverstyx

Under The Sea || Loud+Opal

[aroeddiediaz]

20 questions for fic writers

Tagged by @cal-daisies-and-briars , @jesuiscenseedormir , @diazsdimples

How many works do you have on ao3?

27!

What's your total ao3 word count?

61,537

What fandoms do you write for?

Currently I’m pretty much exclusively a 9-1-1 writer, but in the past I wrote a lot of Flarrowverse (do they still call it that?). I also have published fics for Fantastic Beasts and a few anime (Given, Haikyuu, Saiki K). Given the number of Bnha wips i have locked away in the vault it’s amazing I don’t have anything published for that.

Top 5 fics by kudos:

(I am omitting all the Flarrowverse fics in my top 5 on the basis that they were written in high school and I’ve changed as a person, and they probably only beat out on the numbers due to being up for years longer)

1. Kabe-Do’s and Kabe-Don’ts (Given, 861 kudos)

2. You’re Not Special (Saiki K, 598 kudos)

3. How Eddie Learned To Stop Worrying And Embrace The Kitten Life (9-1-1, 327 kudos)

4. The Boy Formerly Known As Miracle (Haikyuu, 277 kudos)

5. Under The Hood (9-1-1, 275 kudos)

Do you respond to comments?

Yes!! As many as I can!

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

This probably has to be The Crimes of Queenie Goldstein, in which Queenie is put on trial for her actions during the war. Don’t @ me but Queenie turning traitor was bu far the most interesting part of the Crimes of Grindelwald (the only interesting thing, really). There could be such an interesting story between her and Tina if only JKR would let the movies out of her grasp.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Fuck, idk if I have a happiest ending fic, a lot of them tend to not have that much story arc. (A lot of established relationship fluff or smut lmao). I guess if I had to pick one it would probably be How Eddie Learned To Stop Worrying and Embrace The Kitten Life.

Do you get hate on fics?

Not since that one anti-olicity fic that I wrote while deep in the trenches of Flarrowverse discourse, which I totally deserved :/. I have regrets. Also I should probably orphan/delete that one if I haven’t already. In my defense, high school. I have learned.

Do you write smut?

Yea lol. I think my 9-1-1 stuff has been almost exclusively smut. Idk how it happened. (I do know how it happened smut is fun to write)

Craziest crossover?

I haven’t published any of my crossover fics :( none of them have been complete enough. I have many many unfinished RotBTD wips that have never seen the light of day though.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Who would steal my stuff? Lol

Have you ever had a fic translated?

One time someone offered to translate one of my fics into Russian but idk if that ever actually happened.

Have you co-written a fic before?

Nope

All time favorite ship?

Right now definitely Buddie! Percabeth holds a special place in my heart though <3

What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Ok. After the end of the Heroes of Olympus Series, but before Trials of Apollo was announced, I tried my own hand at writing the sequel that was clearly coming based on all the loose threads in the final book. It was going to be a Solangelo quest to save the Oracle of Delphi from Python, while Akhys tries to poison Percy to turn him into an evil god(?). Half the details have been lost and I desperately want to remember them, because I haven’t attempted anything nearly as cool or ambitious since then. The first 5 chapters are posted on my ao3 (Will Solace and the Oracle’s Cry) and I still think high school me had the most interesting characterization of Will out of everyone else on the internet at the time. Even if it is still very 2015.

What are your writing strengths?

I think I’m good at getting into the heads of different characters. Understanding their motives and weaknesses.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Editing.

Lmao I have a lot of weaknesses but I definitely struggle the most with trying to look back on or change things I’ve already written, even when it’s necessary.

Also my tendency to just drop fics if I stop working on them for too long. Rip to my wip graveyard.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

That’s a minefield I’m not willing to play in. Unless it’s Chinese. Very limited amounts of Chinese. Or like, a pet name or phrase that’s already ubiquitous in fandom so I’m not risking anything.

First fandom you wrote in?

Percy Jackson!! That Will Solace quest is the first thing I ever wrote! I definitely had a tendency to jump into the deep end with new hobbies lmao. Like my first ever cosplay that took me 3 years to complete.

Favorite fic you've written?

I think my favorite fic is always going to be the one I’m currently working on writing. But I am very proud of the silly little dramatic ironies in In Hindsight, which I wrote entirely over one long lunch the day after 7x04 broke me. Also I have to shoutout Teacher’s Pet, that one ruler spanking fic nobody ever reads because it’s Eddie/Ana lmao. I enjoyed putting in a bunch of tiny incompatibilities between them. So, uh, I guess my favorite thing in my own writing is dramatic irony?

Tagging: @aspecbuddie @pirrusstuff @jesuisici33 @steadfastsaturnsrings @lemonzestywrites @your-catfish-friend @inkmortal-trash389 @evanbegins s @wildlife4life @eddiebabygirldiaz @epicbuddieficrecs @kitteneddiediaz @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @coatedpanda16 @nicotinewrites @estheticpotaeto @babytrapperdiaz @snowviolettwhite @wikiangela

[curiositasmundi]

[...]

Anche il giornale La Vanguardia di Barcellona (Spagna) ha comunicato che non utilizzerà più i propri account su X, sostanzialmente per gli stessi motivi del Guardian: «Le idee che violano i diritti umani, come l’odio per le minoranze etniche, la misoginia e il razzismo, fanno parte dei contenuti distribuiti su X, dove diventano virali e occupano la maggior parte del tempo degli utenti per guadagnare più soldi dalle inserzioni pubblicitarie».

Mercoledì anche il giornalista statunitense Don Lemon, tra i più seguiti con oltre 1,5 milioni di follower, ha lasciato X segnalando che la piattaforma ha di recente cambiato i propri termini di servizio in modo che eventuali contenziosi legali siano gestiti nei tribunali del Texas, dove c’è una maggiore probabilità che finiscano sotto la responsabilità di giudici di orientamento conservatore. Lemon era stato licenziato dalla CNN lo scorso anno, aveva accettato un’offerta da Musk per fare un programma su X, ma alla fine Musk ci aveva ripensato e Lemon gli aveva fatto causa per non avere rispettato gli accordi del contratto.

Sempre mercoledì l’attrice Jamie Lee Curtis ha disattivato il proprio account X e ha segnalato la propria decisione su Instagram pubblicando un breve messaggio: «Dio, concedimi la serenità di accettare le cose che non posso cambiare. Il coraggio di cambiare le cose che posso. E la saggezza di capire la differenza».

Pochi giorni prima aveva annunciato che non avrebbe più utilizzato X anche il regista messicano Guillermo del Toro, segnalando che avrebbe iniziato a pubblicare con maggiore frequenza sulla piattaforma concorrente Bluesky, dove da qualche tempo si trasferiscono quasi tutti gli utenti che smettono di usare X. Non ci sono stime ufficiali, ma secondo alcune rilevazioni almeno 100mila persone solo negli Stati Uniti hanno disattivato i propri account su X il giorno dopo le elezioni. Bluesky ha invece guadagnato milioni di utenti negli ultimi mesi, molti dei quali provenivano da X ed erano delusi dalla presenza ricorrente di account che facevano propaganda per Trump.

Bluesky ha di recente confermato di avere raccolto oltre un milione di nuovi iscritti dallo scorso 4 novembre negli Stati Uniti e nel Regno Unito. Il social network, che esiste dal 2021, ha per ora più di 14 milioni di utenti, comunque una frazione rispetto agli oltre 200 milioni di iscritti a X e i circa 275 milioni di persone che utilizzano Threads, il social network molto ispirato a X gestito da Meta e collegato a Instagram.

[...]

[tossawary]

I usually grab my AO3 stats for my own personal record-keeping and celebration of achievements on December 31st / January 1st (end of the year) and on August 19th (the day I first started posting), but I was out of town this year on AUG 19 and kept putting it off. (I feel like I've been so, so spacey and busy this year.) So, I'm posting them now! What's a month between me and my blog?

Since my last check-in, I wrote and posted... "Stepping Up" (90,263 words), "First Contact" (7,166 words), and "if words could make wishes" (31,424 words). The "Scum Villain Stories" series is now at 1,216,156 words and 24 fics, which will make "Servant to a Different King" lucky number 25, it seems.

I don't write for the stats and don't track them outside of these little "hey, I should acknowledge the passage of time so it doesn't fall into one big blur" posts, but I think it's neat to take them and hold them up against both specific (SVSSS) and general fandom preferences. (Which fics attract clicks in which fandoms? Why? Why not? It's fun to speculate wildly and possibly wrongly.)

Hm, I really should write more rarepairs so I can broaden and continue my amateur, extremely biased, essentially useless data analysis of these things... (joking) or so I'll say to defend my decision to forcibly drag everyone onto an unusual rarepair ship with me someday (intended humorously, but I am seriously interested in exploring some rare pairings for their own sake). I'll be like a reverse-kraken. Instead of monstrously dragging sailors off the ship and into the depths of the sea, I'll be scooping innocent beach-goers from their swimming and putting them on my boat.

User Subscriptions: 1,924 Kudos: 59,584 Comment Threads: 13,690 Bookmarks: 21,036 Subscriptions: 7,573 Word Count: 1,223,304 Hits: 802,844

pride is not the word I'm looking for (408,395 words) Subscriptions: 1,215 Hits: 230,634 Kudos: 6,410 Comment Threads: 4,439 Bookmarks: 3,165

A Child Once (100,736 words) Subscriptions: 1,214 Hits: 109,140 Kudos: 6,892 Comment Threads: 1,447 Bookmarks: 2,650

Stepping Up (90,263 words) Subscriptions: 1,042 Hits: 61,069 Kudos: 3,987 Comment Threads: 1,516 Bookmarks: 1,704

hey, share the weight a little (70,355 words) Subscriptions: 527 Hits: 46,467 Kudos: 3,616 Comment Threads: 1,537 Bookmarks: 1,689

dreams that had never come true (13,824 words) Subscriptions: 260 Hits: 37,087 Kudos: 4,554 Comment Threads: 314 Bookmarks: 1,498

Babe in the Woods (19,265 words) Subscriptions: 625 Hits: 30,039 Kudos: 4,006 Comment Threads: 328 Bookmarks: 1,423

Catch a Falling Star (121,938 words) Subscriptions: 72 Hits: 29,499 Kudos: 1,876 Comment Threads: 429 Bookmarks: 1,098

Sit With Your Soul (61,447 words) Subscriptions: 836 Hits: 27,528 Kudos: 2,905 Comment Threads: 588 Bookmarks: 1,555

Nothing to Me, Nothing to You (59,893 words) Subscriptions: 267 Hits: 26,823 Kudos: 1,921 Comment Threads: 424 Bookmarks: 779

love to the ones I've never met (82,834 words) Subscriptions: 277 Hits: 25,488 Kudos: 1,768 Comment Threads: 711 Bookmarks: 405

it must follow, as the night the day (26,341 words) Subscriptions: 385 Hits: 25,302 Kudos: 2,375 Comment Threads: 247 Bookmarks: 753

forgiveness for whose sake? (47,712 words) Subscriptions: 164 Hits: 22,299 Kudos: 1,600 Comment Threads: 710 Bookmarks: 274

Horns (11,284 words) Subscriptions: 91 Hits: 19,189 Kudos: 2,814 Comment Threads: 133 Bookmarks: 970

every haircut I've ever had has been a bad haircut (5,689 words) Subscriptions: 33 Hits: 16,013 Kudos: 2,572 Comment Threads: 87 Bookmarks: 540

anxiety and caffeine are having a cockfight in my brain (1,772 words) Subscriptions: 32 Hits: 14,554 Kudos: 2,750 Comment Threads: 71 Bookmarks: 485

if words could make wishes (31,424 words) Subscriptions: 236 Hits: 13,928 Kudos: 1,205 Comment Threads: 275 Bookmarks: 304

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[thesunandhisstar]

To voicemail and back- 275 words

The line rang and rang. James knew there'd be no reply. But he called nonetheless, clinging onto the last threads left like his life depended on it. If only to hear his voice again.

“I cannot take your call right now. If it's urgent, leave a message.”

Beep.

The silence hung thick in the room. Weighing down James' whole body and coating every inch of the dark room in an eerie cold.

James' hand trembled, listening to his own unsteady breathing echoing back at him.

His lungs clenched painfully and the phone fell in slow motion, slipping from his hand. James' chest burned as his hand flew to cover his mouth, muffling the gasp of an inhale that choked his throat. James's shoulders jerked, his throat welling up as he willed himself not to cry.

He feebly attempted to contain the sobs wracking over his shaking body. His body trembled silently, desperately trying not to let tears escape his eyes, a few falling regardless.

James stared into the empty room, his world small and dark as his body silently shook.

~~~~~O~~~~~

The line rang once before a monotone tinny voice droned from the speaker.

“The number you have dialled is no longer in service.”

Icy cold crashed over James' body.

“No”

The strangled word tore from his throat.

“No. No. No.”

He dialled again. And again. And again.

“The number you have called is no longer in service.”

Icy cold tendrils invaded every inch of his trembling body.

“The number you have called is no longer in service.”

James' whole world came crashing down in the dark. It was like losing him all over again.

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 312. brb x oc

a/n: bada bing bada boomccc(comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

/267/268/269/270/271/272/273/274/275/276/277/278/279/280/281/282/283/284/285/286/287/288/289/290/291/292/293/294/295/296/297/298/299/300/301

/302/303/304/305/306/307/308/309/310/311

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

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-

How was he going to do this? Should he talk to Cyclone? No he needed proof or else the vice-admiral would toss this away.He sat alone in his bunk, towel on his shoulders since he just left the shower, allowing the solitude to reach his thoughts.

He needed a plan—something concrete to address the growing tension within the squadron. The encounter with Mark had left Rooster with a gnawing sense of unease, and the need for proof became more apparent. Without tangible evidence, any accusation against Mark might be dismissed, and Rooster couldn't afford to let the internal discord persist.

He opened a drawer beside his bunk, retrieving a small notebook and a pen. As he flipped through the pages, he paused at an empty one. Rooster began jotting down his observations, creating a timeline of the incidents involving Mark.

His mind traced back to the encounters in the locker room, the condescending remarks, and the private conversations. Rooster scrutinized each detail, searching for a way to connect him to the breach.

Fuck he was nervous.

He never dealt with stuff like this before. Annoying pilots? Sure. Possible threat that could ruin a lot of lives? Never.

Rooster continued to document his observations, creating a meticulous record of each incident. His thoughts drifted to the cryptic conversation Mark had with McAllister. It was a potential lead, a thread to pull, but Rooster needed to approach it cautiously. He considered talking to McAllister directly, seeking more information without revealing the gravity of the situation.

But he also wanted to make sure McAllister wouldn’t be harmed if he did talk…he rubs his chin, still thinking about what he should do. How do you prove that a pilot, a Lieutenant just like he was, was involved in such a thing?

Rooster's fingers drummed on the notebook as he mulled over his options. The weight of responsibility bore down on him, and he couldn't afford to make a misstep. 

He decided to start with McAllister, someone he trusted and who had inadvertently given him a glimpse into the mysterious conversations. Rooster closed the notebook with a snap, tucking it away, and made his way to find McAllister.

The squadron's common area was relatively empty as most pilots were still wrapping up post-mission tasks. Rooster spotted McAllister reviewing some mission data on one of the computer terminals. Approaching quietly, Rooster cleared his throat to get McAllister's attention.

"McAllister, can I have a word?" Rooster asked, keeping his tone low-key to avoid unnecessary attention.

McAllister turned toward him, after jumping in surprise a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Sure, sir. What's up?"

“Not here, follow me.”Rooster motioned toward a quieter corner of the room, away from prying ears. Once they were a bit secluded, Rooster leaned in, his expression serious. "You mentioned Mark and the breach,what did you get?"

McAllister's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of nervousness crossing his features. He hesitated before responding, "Well, sir, recruit Haltzman and I were talking after the mission, and he seemed... agitated. He mentioned something about the breach, but he didn't go into specifics. I asked him why and…he said that Mark was bothering him about it."

Rooster's brows furrowed as he absorbed the information. "Did Haltzman mention anything else?" Rooster asked, his voice low and focused.

McAllister shifted uncomfortably, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "He said Mark was pressuring him to share information about the breach. Haltzman seemed spooked, sir, like he didn't want to get involved. At all."

Rooster processed the revelation, his mind racing with the need to connect the dots. "Did he say how Mark approached him? Any specifics about their conversations?"

McAllister nodded, recalling the details. "Haltzman mentioned that Mark cornered him in the locker room after the mission. He wanted to know if Haltzman had overheard anything about the breach, and when Haltzman didn't give him any answers, Mark got... intense."

“Did he hurt him?"

McAllister shook his head. "No, sir. He just scared him. But he didn't want to say too much. I didn't push him, didn't want to make things worse for him."

"You did the right thing, McAllister. It's crucial to handle this delicately. We need to gather more information before taking any action."

Fuck.

McAllister glanced around, ensuring their conversation remained private. "Sir, I don't want to sound paranoid, but do you think Mark might be involved in the breach somehow?"

FUCK

Rooster sighed, rubbing his eyelids. "I don't know, McAllister. But we can't ignore anything. We need to find out more, discreetly, without tipping our hand."

"I'll keep my ears open, sir. If I hear anything else, I'll let you know," McAllister assured.

"Good. Stay vigilant, McAllister. We can't afford to underestimate the gravity of this situation," Rooster emphasized. "And for now, let's keep this between us. We don't want to create unnecessary panic until we have more concrete information."

McAllister nodded in agreement. "Understood, sir. I'll be careful."

As Rooster walked away from the conversation, his mind raced with thoughts and strategies. The need for evidence became even more crucial, and Rooster realized he had to tread carefully to avoid any potential backlash.

He noticed the Daggers sitting together and he beelined over to his friends, leaning down to the table and muttering a ‘a word?’.  Payback and Jake shared a look before standing up, then Phoenix tried to be as subtle as she could, busying herself with her watch while Bob followed behind them, adjusting his glasses.

Rooster led the Daggers to a quieter corner of the hangar, away from the prying eyes and ears of the squadron. He leaned in, his voice low but firm. "Alright, listen up. I need your observations, discreetly. Something's off with Mark, and it might be connected to the breach."

The Daggers exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from casual to alert. Payback, the intuitive one, spoke first. "What happened, Rooster?"

“Too much.”

Rooster quickly briefed them on McAllister's encounter with Haltzman, emphasizing Mark's suspicious behavior and the potential connection to the breach. If they were surprised…they didn’t show it.

Phoenix crossed her arms, snorting. "I knew it."

“You did?”

“Well…I had a feeling.”

Rooster raised an eyebrow at Phoenix. "You had a feeling? Care to share?"

Phoenix leaned against a nearby crate, her expression thoughtful. "Mark's been acting strange for a while now. I thought it was just the stress of the missions, but if there's something more..." she says, “Besides we wouldn’t do that shit.”

Jake chimed in, his voice low and serious. "...what should we do then?”

Bob adjusted his glasses, a glint of determination in his eyes. "I'll discreetly check the network logs, see if there's any unusual activity that might be linked to Mark. If he's involved in the breach, there could be a digital trail."

Payback crossed his arms, his expression grim. "I'll talk to the recruits, see if anyone else has had strange encounters with Mark. We need to gather as much information as possible."

Rooster nodded, appreciating the initiative of his team. "Be discreet, and don't escalate the situation. We need to find out what's going on without causing a panic. Jake and Nix, what will the two of you do?"

Jake glanced at Phoenix before turning his attention back to Rooster. "I'll keep an eye on Mark during the next mission. See if there's anything unusual in his behavior or actions. If he's involved in something shady, I might be able to pick up on it."

Rooster nodded in approval. "Good plan, Jake. Just stay subtle and don't provoke anything. We need evidence, not confrontation."

Phoenix, her arms still crossed, chimed in. "I'll help Bob." and that was it, “What about you,Rooster?”

Rooster sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I'll talk to Vice-Admiral Simpson. Inform him about the situation without revealing our suspicions. We need his backing if we're going to investigate this properly."

The Daggers dispersed, each embarking on their assigned tasks  and Rooster? Rooster made his way to Vice-Admiral Simpson's office, and he had to elaborate on a few things.

-

Beatrice could feel the earth sticking to her gloves as she dug into her garden, digging enough to create a little hole in her front yard so she can plant the newest addition to her plant family: begonias!

It was one of Shells’ gifts…as in the plant she got thinking she’d care for but didn’t, so she gave it to Bea. Shells was still in her house, being a great babysitter for the babies and the dogs by napping on the couch with the twins on her chest and Nicole on her stomach all the while being surrounded by Jack and Eleanor.

Meanwhile, Jolene was lying next to Beatrice’s feet outside, keeping her company.

The sun bathed the garden in a warm afternoon glow as Beatrice continued planting the begonias. She carefully placed each seedling into the soil, patting it gently to secure their place. The occasional chirping of birds, and the distant sound of laughter from down her street made this a perfect day.

Truly.

Rooster was safe while deployed, the kids were safe, she was safe…

Nothing could ruin her day.

“Hello Beatrice.”

Miranda.

Beatrice’s back straightened up like a rod as she kept her eyes forward, clenching the hand trowel tight and not turning around to greet the woman but muttering a “Hello,Miranda.”

Miranda's voice held a peculiar mix of sweetness and a subtle undercurrent that hinted at something unsettling. Beatrice's pulse quickened, but she maintained her composure, focusing on the begonias before her.

"What a lovely garden you have," Miranda commented, her footsteps approaching.

"Thank you," Beatrice replied, her tone polite but distant. She continued to work on the begonias, avoiding direct eye contact.

Miranda, undeterred by Beatrice's reserved demeanor, circled around to face her. Dressed in a flowing, elegant dress that seemed almost out of place for a casual neighborhood encounter, Miranda observed Beatrice with a piercing gaze.

"Begonias,hm?" 

"Yes, begonias," Beatrice replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She could sense Miranda's eyes on her, probing and searching for who knew what. "They're lovely plants."

Miranda smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Lovely indeed. Such delicate flowers, yet resilient. A fitting choice."

Beatrice continued her work, planting the last begonia with a deliberate focus. She saw Jolene move forward and place herself between the two women, with her back against Beatrice’s, keeping her eyes on Miranda.

"How’s Rooster doing in his mission?" Miranda said, her voice carrying a note of feigned concern. "Good?"

“Yep. How’s Mark? Good?”

“Oh, I don’t have to worry about Mark.” Miranda tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. "He’s an amazing pilot,after all."

Beatrice suppressed a sigh, her patience wearing thin. "That's good to hear. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some gardening to finish."

Miranda stepped closer, seemingly unfazed by Beatrice's attempt to create distance. "You know, Beatrice, I've always found gardening to be such a therapeutic activity. A way to nurture and tend to something, watching it grow and flourish."

Beatrice shot her a sidelong glance, her tone cautious. "It is. It helps clear the mind."

Miranda's eyes narrowed, the facade of friendliness slipping for a moment. "Clearing the mind can be a double-edged sword, Beatrice. Sometimes, it's better to confront the things we'd rather avoid."

Beatrice tightened her grip on the hand trowel, her patience fraying. "I'm not avoiding anything, Miranda. Now, please, I'd like to be alone."

Miranda's smile returned, as if she hadn't just veered into unsettling territory. "Of course, dear. I won't keep you. Just remember, should you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. We're neighbors, after all."

Beatrice licked her lips, then tilted her head “...you know Miranda.” she looks up at the woman, Jolene’s head turning to look at Beatrice, “...Rooster is a great pilot too.”

Miranda's expression remained calm, but there was a subtle tension in her posture. "Of course, Beatrice. Rooster is indeed skilled. But sometimes, skill alone isn't enough to navigate the challenges life throws at us."

Beatrice shot her a quizzical look, her suspicions growing. "What challenges are you talking about, Miranda? "

“Well I–’

“Do you know our challenges Miranda?” Bea stood up, placing a hand on Jolene’s head when the pittie tried to move forward “Do you know what me and Rooster went through before?”

Miranda's facade faltered, a flicker of discomfort crossing her features. Beatrice's direct question seemed to catch her off guard, and for a moment, the poised demeanor cracked.

"Beatrice, we all have our struggles," Miranda replied, her voice attempting to regain its previous composure. "I meant no offense. I only offered an ear should you ever need to share your burdens."

Beatrice crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she studied Miranda."I appreciate the offer, Miranda, yet again" Beatrice said, her tone measured. "But I don’t understand what you want here, you think I’m not aware? Do you think I’m dumb?"

Miranda's composed facade wavered further, and a subtle bead of sweat formed on her forehead. Beatrice's direct confrontation seemed to have rattled her, and she took a step back, her eyes momentarily avoiding Beatrice's probing gaze.

"Beatrice, you misunderstand me," Miranda said, her voice a touch strained. "I never implied—"

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, unyielding. "Then what did you imply, Miranda? You come into my garden, talking about challenges, offering an ear. What's your game?"

Miranda took a steadying breath, attempting to regain control of the conversation. "There's no game, Beatrice. I'm merely expressing neighborly concern. We're part of the same community, after all."

‘Are we?”

It was like a vocal slap against Miranda who just stared flabbergasted. “It’s the…fourth time you say stuff like that, and honestly, I don’t buy it. I don’t like how you think I should flaunt Rooster’s abilities against Mark, I know that’s your plan.”

"Beatrice, I assure you, there's no ulterior motive. I'm here as a concerned neighbor," Miranda stammered, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route.

"Concerned neighbor, my foot. I–” she pauses, “...I love Rooster. I love him. And he’s not a trophy I toss around…he’s my husband, he’s the one man I’d break bones for…his happiness and wellbeing are what matter to me…so if you are here trying to…I dunno, be weird, you should go.”

Miranda's attempts at maintaining composure fell apart like a house of cards in a gust of wind. Beatrice's raw honesty, fueled by her love for Rooster, had dismantled any facade Miranda had tried to construct. The air between them crackled with tension, and Miranda, for the second time, seemed genuinely unnerved.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Beatrice. I'm not here to—"

"Don’t lie to me," Beatrice cut in, her eyes unyielding. "I can see through the act. Whatever game you're playing, it won’t work. Rooster and I have been through enough. We don't need someone stirring up trouble."

Miranda's eyes darted around again, searching for a way to salvage the situation. The serene facade she usually wore had crumbled, revealing a woman who was uncomfortably out of her depth.

Beatrice took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "I love my husband, Miranda. He means the world to me. I won't let anyone jeopardize our peace."

Miranda swallowed hard, a nervous tic playing on her features. "Beatrice, you're misunderstanding. I have no intention of causing any trouble. I—"

"Save it," Beatrice interrupted, her tone firm. "I don't know what your game is, but I won't entertain it." Beatrice turned away, focusing her attention back on the begonias. Jolene, sensing the tension, remained vigilant by Beatrice's side, her eyes never leaving Miranda.

Miranda, flustered and off-kilter, struggled to regain control of the narrative. "Beatrice, I assure you, there's no ill will. I'm only here to—"

"You've said enough," Beatrice replied, her voice unwavering. "I think it's best if you leave now."

Miranda hesitated, her eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and anxiety. "I—"

"Now," Beatrice reiterated, her gaze piercing.

Miranda, realizing the futility of the situation, nodded reluctantly. She turned on her heel and made a hasty exit from Beatrice's yard, leaving behind a trail of unresolved tension. Beatrice watched her go, shoulders finally relaxing as she just allowed herself to drop on the soft dirt…and groan out.

She’ll have to talk to Rooster.

[htmljaslene]

gold dust. $275 SINGLE SALE

gold dust is a custom forum skin designed for jcink hosted forums. this skin includes:

light and dark mode toggle

gradient membergroups

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changing forum colors per last poster

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complete profile + post row

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complete site guide + location guide for neighborhoods

a complete set of codes — general templates, thread templates, comm templates, social templates, miscellaneous templates, request templates, and dev templates

with the purchase of the skin, you will receive the following files:

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this skin was optimized for google chrome, but should work just fine on other browsers. please dm me if you are interested in this skin! more previews and sale inquiries will be entertained via dms, or through my support server on discord please check out more previews under the cut!

[theunkn0wn-0]

The Gift of Immortality DRAGON BALL STORY: Insert Reader

GENDER-NEUTRAL READER ✕ DRAGON BALL CHARACTERS

╰➤ ⌈ 𝑰𝑵𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑴𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵… ⌋ ╰┈┈➤ This is a FIRST PERSON POV story for the reader, Y/N, M/C. ╰┈┈➤ Instead of (Y/N), I use [First Name] for your name. ╰┈┈➤ Enjoy the story, have fun.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑼𝑬 — 𝑯𝑼𝑴𝑨𝑵𝑰𝑻𝒀 | 5 FIRST CHAPTER: 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑼𝑬 — 𝑩𝑰𝑹𝑻𝑯 | 1

[TRIGGER] WARNINGS: SELF-HARM, MENTAL ILLNESS THEMES / SCENES!!! Mentions of SUICIDE, MURDER, BLOOD, DEATH/DYING & SWEARING!!!

001 | Hope

❝Do you ever get a little bit tired of life? Like you're not really happy but you don't want to die. Like you're hanging by a thread, but you gotta survive.❞

•◉◓☆◓◉•

YEAR: 2351 ⌋ 275 YEARS LATER | AGE: + 1 MILLION YEARS OLD

        The alleyway was shrouded in darkness, the only illumination coming from flickering streetlights and the moonlight casting long, eerie shadows. My nimble fingers closed around the cold metal of the assault rifle; a weapon recovered from the lifeless grip of a government-hired assassin.

I had been ambushed not moments before; I had just succeeded in dismantling a human trafficking ring as a mission in the city I was in, but I was attacked by those hunters from the government.

They never stopped hunting me. Nor did I stop from helping people even just a bit.

Now, with the assassin's body at my feet, with haste, I rummaged through the assailant's garb, seeking any trace of surveillance or tracking devices. In the dim light, my hand darted into pockets and bags. I took out a small syringe from one of the pockets, its amber, fiery hue catching the glow of distant streetlamps.

It was a drug named Somnus. It is an amber liquid that is injected via a syringe and has the effect of rendering the victim unconscious for long periods of time which are days through a week. It can cause the person to regain consciousness at certain points, but their body is not awake. They are trapped within a prison of immobility, but can hear, smell, and feel everything that is being done to them. When the effects finally wear off, the body remains paralyzed for hours before finally recovering fully.

It bore the insignia of BioThera, a chilling reminder of the power they held over me and those horrible experiments.

They never forgot about me. And I never forgot about them.

With a decisive toss, I sent the syringe colliding against the wall, its fragile vessel shattering into a kaleidoscope of shards, its contents spilling onto the pavement. The acrid scent of its contents mingled with the blood and the lingering stench of the alley, assaulting my senses. The threat was neutralized, I turned my attention to the fallen assailant. No tracking device was found, yet paranoia gnawed at the edges of my mind.

I chose to demolish the entire body.

With resolve, my hand outstretched, I summoned a surge of energy, channeling it into a glowing orb that crackled with power. Its incandescent glow illuminated the dark alleyway; I unleashed its wrath upon the fallen assassin, the resulting explosion sending shockwaves reverberating through the narrow passage.

The force of the blast pushed me back, but I stood firm, adrenaline coursing through my veins, heightening my senses to the looming hazard, and the scent of burning flesh reached my senses. I couldn't linger, not with the authorities surely on their way drawn by the commotion; I propelled myself into motion.

Each footfall echoed against the cobblestones as I sprinted, my muscles coiling with tension as I prepared to take flight; I propelled myself forward. As I ascended into the night sky, the rush of wind whipped against my face, chilling me to the bone.

High above the city, I soared, every heartbeat thundered in my ears as I clutched the rifle tightly, scanning the horizon for any sign of pursuit. Questions gnawed at my mind; doubts clawed at my resolve.

If an assassin managed to find me, how many of them are there in the city? No. This country I was in.

The uncertainty fueled my determination to vanish into the night, to move into another country or continent for another base far from those hunters. Once again.

I was dead wrong to think they would just let me be.

It's been a relentless pursuit, stretching over two and a half centuries. Two hundred and seventy-five years of living like prey, always looking over my shoulder, always on the run.

Since the sealing a way of King Piccolo, the world had moved on, rebuilt itself, and advanced in technology. But for me, it only meant more sophisticated means for them to track me down, leaving me in an endless state of paranoia.

It's nearly impossible to disappear in the world I live in today.

In the aftermath of King Piccolo's destruction, BioThera, the company that once held traces of my DNA and the secrets of my abilities, was reduced to rubble. Yet, somehow, I believed Ethan Kane managed to preserve fragments of my existence, likely preserving some record of me, ensuring my perpetual pursuit enough to tip off the government.

Ethan and Victor Arrenberg were long gone, but their legacy persisted, each generation passing down the knowledge of an immortal being, a freak of nature. Each successor was eager to claim the prize of capturing me. But I eluded them all. I have bases across the globe, like breadcrumbs leading away from the hunter's trap.

Yet, even in my bases, peace was a fleeting illusion and dream.

The night had melted into a luminous blue canvas, stretched endlessly across the horizon. Hours melded into one another, the sun ascending its throne in the sky, casting its radiant warmth upon my weary frame.

I didn't sleep. I couldn't sleep.

I pressed onward, cradling the assault rifle in my clenched fist. With each passing moment, my eyes scanned the landscape below, vigilant against any prying eyes or tracking devices.

My gaze roamed the terrain below, a patchwork of verdant fields, undulating plains, dense forests, and rugged mountains. Islands dotted the coastline, their presence a cunning ruse to confound my pursuers.

Among its verdant landscapes and untamed wilderness, I hoped to find respite, if only for a fleeting moment in this continent I arrived. Into the heavens, I soared, ascending into the wispy embrace of clouds that veiled my movements from prying eyes.

Approaching Mount Paozu, my heart quickened with anticipation; I skirted past the bustling metropolis of East Capital City. Streets below bustled with activity, a symphony of hovercraft and flying cars zipping through the air with effortless grace.

Amidst the towering structures, holographic billboards flicker to life, casting displays of colors onto the polished surfaces. Though the cityscape dazzled with its technological marvels, I remained wary; I knew the risks all too well. Technology was already vastly improving too much for me to completely avoid cities like these. 

With a surge of energy, I propelled myself forward, the rush of wind whipping against my skin as I accelerated toward my destination. Time became a blur, a fleeting whisper in the endless expanse of the sky, as I soared past startled birds, their frantic cries echoing in my wake. Yet, onward, I pressed, driven by a primal instinct to survive.

As I approached my destination, soaring past majestic mountains, their peaks kissed by wisps of cloud while sprawling plains stretched out like an endless tapestry below. I glided through the lush valleys and verdant meadows, the landscape unfurling beneath me like a vibrant tapestry.

I descended into the embrace of a lush forest, the verdant canopy stretching above like a protective cloak. Navigating the dense foliage with practiced ease, I deftly through the dense foliage, weaving between towering trees and elusive wildlife, my senses attuned to the subtlest of movements.

I weaved between the colossal trunks of old trees, their sprawling branches casting intricate patterns of shadow upon the forest floor. The air was thick with the scent of earth and greenery, a heady concoction with a sense of peace as the forest grew denser with each passing moment, stretching into eternity.

The path ahead vanished into a labyrinth of boulders and tangled undergrowth, each step fraught with the risk of stumbling into unseen pitfalls. I skirted past moss-covered boulders and treacherous cliffs, my senses attuned to the subtle shifts in the landscape.

Yet, amidst the encroaching darkness, a beacon of light beckoned me forward. I parted the clinging vines that obscured my path, emerging into a sun-dappled clearing, and a sense of familiarity washed over me. 

Here, nestled in the embrace of nature, stood my base: a humble cabin, weathered and worn with a riot of greenery and blossoms. Nature had reclaimed the structure as its own, vines and flowers weaving around its timeworn walls, camouflaged by the lush vegetation that surrounded it.

Adjacent to the cabin lay a neglected garden, its once-tidy rows now overrun with wild growth. Fruit trees bowed beneath the weight of their harvest, while wildflowers danced in the gentle breeze. Wild animals frolicked the overgrown foliage. Birds flitted among the branches, their pleasant songs filling the air with a symphony of sound.

Here, in Mount Paozu, I found comfort in the simplicity of life, a fleeting reminder of days long past. Memories flooded my mind, a bittersweet reminder of a time before I discovered my immortality and being hunted down by the government, weighed heavy on my shoulders.

With a heavy heart, I acknowledged the truth that had long haunted me: I was truly alone in this world, a solitary figure adrift amidst the currents of time. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor, I couldn't help but wonder if true comfort would ever be within my grasp.

"Kill yourself! It's the only way..." "End this torment [First Name]!" "It would be nice to see our loved ones on the other side."

"End it," the voices whispered and screamed in a relentless chorus that echoed within the depths of my mind, a constant reminder of the torment that plagued me. Yet, I resisted, knowing that death offered no solace in a life bound by immortality.

My mind, a battlefield strewn with the remnants of sanity, with each whispered taunt, I steeled myself against the onslaught, clinging to the fragile threads of sanity that bound me to this world.

My main focus was to survive and keep my sanity intact as long as possible.

Landing before the weathered door of my long-abandoned cabin, retrieving the key from its hiding place, I unlocked the door while lowering my ki energy. With a click, the wooden door creaked open, welcoming me into the shadows of my sanctuary.

A sharp crack shattered the stillness of the forest, a bullet whistling past my ear with deadly intent. I recoiled instinctively, arching my back, my senses on high alert as the acrid scent of gunpowder filled the air.

Fuck. I had forgotten about the trap I had set.

I realized with a grim sense of irony, as the trap I had set to deter unwelcome intruders. Regaining my composure, I retrieved the shotgun nestled within the confines of my cabin.

Gripping the shotgun in one hand and the assault rifle in the other, I stepped cautiously into the dimly lit interior of my cabin, the echoes of my footsteps reverberating off the walls, the floorboards creaking beneath my weight. 

Weeds and wildflowers sprouted through the cracks in the wooden floor, while plastic-shrouded furniture lay dormant, preserved against the ravages of time. Pots of verdant life dotted the room, their fragrant blooms filling the air with a sweet mix of scents.

A soft chirp broke the silence, a lone bird nestled on the rafters, its presence a welcome distraction from the solitude that enveloped me as I made my way to the kitchen.

I might as well pass out from exhaustion for staying up awake for days. But...

Sleep remained a distant dream, a luxury beyond my grasp, as the fear of being attacked and captured loomed large in my mind. Nightmares, cruel and unforgiving, haunted the recesses of my subconscious, each one a harrowing reminder of the horrors I had endured.

I dreaded closing my eyes, surrendering to a world of fear and uncertainty. I dreaded the thought of waking up to find it all had been a dream, that I was still trapped in that sterile lab, subjected to endless experiments and torment.

With a heavy sigh, I set my guns on the dusty dining table, the corners of my old cabin cloaked in cobwebs, making a mental note to clean my base later.

Summoning a flicker of a small sphere of my ki energy within my fingertips, I ignited the lanterns scattered throughout my kitchen, their warm glow casting long shadows upon the worn wooden floors.

Crouching before the hearth, I kindled a modest fire, its crackling flames a beacon of warmth in the chill of the night. With the fire ablaze, I set about preparing my evening meal, getting a pot from my cabin to fill up with water.

As I ventured outside to gather fruits or vegetables from my garden, a sense of unease lingered in the periphery of my thoughts. Loneliness was my constant companion, yet paradoxically, I was never truly alone.

The paranoia that hung heavy on my shoulders, the constant state of fear and alertness of my surroundings, and the raging emotions of my trauma engulfed me inside, the desperation, the longing for peace.

The outside world hunted me while my mind tormented me within the confines of my hideouts. No one could understand the weight of my burden, the tumult of emotions I carried, and the suffocating isolation of being hunted both inside and out.

Still, I fought. 

Pausing by a small pond, I filled my pot with water, though paranoia continued to linger at the edges of my consciousness. Returning to the confines of my cabin, I brewed myself a pot of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air. The pot of water steamed over the flames, its gentle bubbling a soothing melody amidst the quiet solitude.

I clung to what shreds of sanity remained, knowing that to lose them would be to forfeit my humanity. The fear of losing myself entirely, of becoming the monster people perceived me to be, drove me to keep fighting. I refused to become the monster they painted me to be, a creature devoid of humanity, a mere tool to be wielded at their whim.

Gazing out the window, night descended in earnest; I watched as the moon cast its silvery glow upon the forest canopy, a silent sentinel in the night sky. I settled at the dining table, brushing off the dust. I took a sip of my coffee, took a bite of the carrot that I had grabbed from my garden, and cleaned it.

The bitter tang of coffee mixed with the sweetness of the vegetable upon my tongue was an odd combination to eat, yet it didn't matter. It was something to eat to satisfy my thirst and hunger, my eyes lingering on the empty chair opposite me, a silent reminder of the loneliness that plagued my existence.

I cast a glance at my guns as I lifted the cup of coffee to my lips. The world around me seemed to fade into silence, save for the soft rhythm of my breathing. Even the chirping of the lone bird that had taken refuge within my cabin had fallen silent, its gentle snores a lullaby in the stillness of the night.

All I yearned for was not only joy but to be recognized as a human being, to reclaim the dignity that had been stripped away from the day I was captured.

I am human.

Flawed, yes.

Broken, perhaps.

But human, nonetheless.

And as long as that flicker of humanity remained, I would continue to fight. For my freedom. For my sanity. For the right to be seen, not as a monster, a freak, a thing, a tool but as a human. I would continue to save people, to prove them wrong I am not a monster, not a tool even if the government or anyone does not see it or deny it.

"But you're growing tired, aren't you? Why don't you take a rest... forever." "It would be nice to see Lascell and Jiro again." "Your mother, your friends you made along the way," "End this torment! END IT!" "So why don't you end it forever?"

The voices echoed a cacophony of whispers and hollers that tore at the edges of my sanity, each word a dagger to my already fractured mind.

My head throbbed with the weight of their indictments, their relentless onslaught pushing me to the brink of despair. They spoke of death as a release, of surrendering to the void in search of peace.

Yet I was too stubborn enough to not listen to them for a moment. The voices would taunt, their words laced with venom and malice.

"Come on, you know better than death itself is mercy than living." "You will lose everything if you keep doing this, what will you become now?" "A monster."

They hissed, the word echoing in the caverns of my mind. With a frustrated snarl, I gripped my cup of coffee tightly, the ceramic warming my trembling hands.

My gaze fixed upon the guns strewn across the table before me. The voices taunted and jeered, their words a cacophony of self-loathing and doubt.

"Let yourself go and give us peace—"

"I know but are you fucking stup—" I caught myself mid-sentence, the absurdity of arguing with voices that existed only in my mind momentarily grounding me in reality. "Who am I even talking to? There's no one here!" I spat, the sound of my voice ringing hollow in the empty cabin.

The voices grew louder, their cries piercing the fragile veil of my sanity. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the ceaseless racket that threatened to engulf me.

Yet, there was truth behind their words. Emotions long suppressed surged to the surface, a tempest of rage, frustration, and despair threatening to consume me whole.

I seized one of the guns, bringing the cold barrel and pressed it against my temple. My heartbeat thundering in my ears, and my grip tightened on the gun, as my finger hovered over the trigger.

"Shut up!"

With a sudden surge of desperation to get rid of or silence the voices, I pulled the trigger.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

YEAR: 2351⌋ ONE WEEK LATER - MAY 8 ⌊ Papaya Island

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

        With a cautious sip of my drink, I walked out of the market, my features concealed beneath a disguise I wore. The sun beat down upon me, its rays diffused by the tinted lenses of my sunglasses. It had been a tumultuous week since my last breakdown.

Venturing into the heart of a small town, I stride cautiously along the bustling streets. My goal was simple for coming into this town on Papaya Island: get the necessities I needed and vanish without a trace; the last thing I wanted was to draw unwanted attention upon myself.

I needed some items and food for a short time until I fixed my garden and grew more edibles for the long run, as well as purchasing some drinks in my favor, knowing I had been only consuming water from a fresh lake or pond.

It was a very rare circumstance when I ventured into town, a necessity born of survival rather than choice. The prospect of starvation or succumbing to dehydration loomed ever-present, I understood I would go even more insane if I kept killing myself and suffered more.

Just like that incident during those damned Witch Trials. Locked up and dying over and over again.

Navigating through the streets, I wanted to find a secluded corner where I could make my departure unnoticed, my mind racing with the urgency to get out of this island and go back to my base in Mount Paozu.

As I traversed the bustling thoroughfare, the rhythmic hum of passing cars mingled with the cacophony of voices that filled the air. Anxiety gnawed at my insides, yet I maintained a façade of calm not wanting to draw attention as my heart pounded within my chest.

Ahead, a gathering crowd caught my attention, their voices rising in excited chatter. Initially intent on avoiding the commotion, curiosity soon got the better of me as I drew closer, a voice cut through the clamor.

"Come join us for the 23rd World's Martial Arts Tournament! here you get the chance to fight the world's best fighters!"

The very mention of it sent a thrill coursing through my veins, igniting a spark of excitement within me. I paused in my tracks, my gaze drawn towards the source of the commotion; my senses heightened as I surveyed the diverse array of individuals before me.

Memories of battles long past flickered in the recesses of my mind, a primal yearning for the thrill of combat, not just for survival, but for the sheer joy of it, the chance to push me beyond my limits, to reclaim a sense of pride and purpose that had long eluded me.

After all, I have been, beyond, disrespected, tortured, and ripped away from my dignity.

I found myself drawn to the opportunity to fight in the tournament, a glimmer of hope and joy kindling within me; I could not only find some happiness that I longed to have after being hunted down and fighting for survival out of fear.

But an escape from my cruel reality, a fleeting moment. A distraction. A break from the constant struggle for survival, a chance to recover a portion of sanity and find a sense of normalcy, even if just for a moment.

Yet, beneath the surface of my excitement, a gnawing sense of apprehension ground at my resolve, casting doubt upon my decision to partake in the tournament.

What if the government would find me here? What if they had dispatched hunters in this tournament?

"All fighters who wish to enter the tournament must register today! Please be aware that if you fail to register today, you will be unable to participate in tomorrow's qualifying rounds!"

As the announcement echoed through the crowd, I pushed aside the tendrils of fear, clinging instead to the hint of hope that danced just out of reach. It had been a week since I had relocated to a distant continent, to hide and run away from the government and BioThera. There was still time; time to formulate a plan, to take this brief moment of freedom and escape.

Just a moment of rest without fear. Just having a moment of joy, a sense of being a human.

With a deep breath, I joined the queue, my heart pounding in my chest as I wrestled with conflicting emotions. As I inched closer and closer to the registration desk, my mind whirled with possibilities, a maelstrom of hope and dread swirling within me.

Nothing will go wrong, once I have a plan and execute it, and leave.

This is a chance to... escape, a moment of a break, no longer hearing those voices, just forgetting about the fear for a moment, maybe having a portion of peace.

Everything will be fine; nothing will go out of the window.

Right?

•◉◒☆◒◉•

NOTE: THIS TAKES PLACE DURING DRAGON BALL (first series) IN THE Piccolo Jr. Saga.

Finished: March 09, 2024

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑳𝑶𝑮𝑼𝑬 — 𝑯𝑼𝑴𝑨𝑵𝑰𝑻𝒀 | 5 NEXT CHAPTER: 002 | 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳𝑺 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑾𝑨𝑲𝑬𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮

LINK TO THE BOOK [WATTPAD]: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 — 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 If you're interested in stories like these, here is my 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

[devourensarc]

Ajax — Rapture of the Deep

Path: Destruction

Damage Type: Quantum

  Overview:

Combat Skills

Basic — Sword of Torrents: Deals Quantum DMG equal to 50-110% of Ajax’s Attack to a single enemy. Applies one stack of Entropy.

Skill — Flash of Havoc: Deals Quantum DMG equal to 80-176% of Ajax’s Attack to a single enemy, and 30-70% of Ajax’s Attack to enemies adjacent to it. Applies two stacks of Entropy to the target enemy, and one stack to every other enemy hit. 

Ultimate — Whalefall: Summons a large narwhal that deals 50-90% of Ajax’s attack to all enemies, with a 100% base chance to trigger all Entropy stacks on enemies. 

Talent — Threads of Discord: When inflicted with Entropy, damage taken from all sources increases by 30-200% of Ajax’s attack. Each successive stack multiplies this effect by 4.8-13.2%. These stacks will remain until removed with an ability to clear debuffs, or triggered by Ajax’s Whalefall. 

When triggered, Entropy deals 96-275% of Ajax’s Attack as Quantum DoT, with each stack increasing this damage by 5-14%. When Entropy defeats an enemy, it deals Quantum DoT to adjacent enemies for 70-196% of Ajax’s Attack, with a 40-60% base chance of applying one stack of Entropy to that enemy.

Technique — Crescent Tide: Ajax gathers Abyssal energy on his glaive and launches it forward, dealing 50% of his attack and inflicting one stack of Entropy to all enemies.

Major Traces:

1 — Harbinger of Catastrophe: Restores additional 10 energy for every enemy defeated by Entropy.

2  — Raging Tide: When attacking an enemy with its weakness broken with either his basic attack or skill, there is a base 65% chance to apply an extra stack of Entropy on them. 

3 — Annihilation: Increase Ajax’s damage by an amount equal to 60% of Crit Rate, up to a maximum DMG increase of 75%

Eidolons:

1 — The Lonely Voyage Across Stars: Basic Attack additionally inflicts 2 extra stacks of Entropy with each hit.

2 — The Heart of Conflict Beats: While Ajax is on the field, damage dealt by all allies to enemies inflicted by Entropy increases by 25%.

3 — The Blade Honed In Countless Slaughters: Skill Level +2, up to a maximum of Level 15. Talent Level +2, up to a maximum of Level 15.

4 — The Beast Swims Over Celestial Heights: When an enemy is defeated by Entropy, raises the stacks applied to adjacent enemies to 4.

5 — The Hunger Seeks to Devour: Ultimate Level +2, up to a maximum of Level 15. Basic Attack +1, up to a maximum of Level 10.

6 — The Call of the Void: When enemy targets get attacked by Ajax's allies, Ajax has a 65% base chance of inflicting 1 stack of Entropy on the target. Each time Ajax inflicts Entropy on an enemy target, there is a 50% fixed chance to additionally increase the number of Entropy stacks afflicted this time by 1.

[zeldaelmo]

What work of yours has the most hits?

Still Stolen Kisses with ~38k hits. If we're talking about this year, it's The Promise with ~12k hits.

What work of yours got more feedback than you expected?

One Stitch at a Time, I guess. It's not that I didn't expect it to get read, but I didn't expect so many people to comment daily on it. The fic has incredible 275 comment threads, that's the most on all my fics.

A few people also said that my Advent Calendar story has become part of their Christmas routine and I still think daily about that. 🥹

Favorite title you used

Superglue 😅

[skygifs]

PELIN KARAHAN GIF PACK**

find a payhip link in the source to access 275 gifs of pelin karahan as mihrimah sultan in muhteşem yüzyıl (the magnificent century) episodes 139. all gifs were make by me from scratch. please reblog if using

you may edit them, however permission and credit is required for redistributing. do not make into gif icons smaller than 100x100.

do not use to rp as real people (including historical figures) or against them/in groups with them

do not post in gif sets/gif hunts

do not use for smut threads

do not use to rp as/against minors

full rules, ko-fi,& commission information in pinned post. please reblog if using

[ryttu3k]

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