#tomorrows update is getting colored as we speak

[intotheelliwoods]

This update has been planned in the making for over a year... Keep your seatbelts buckled! You guys can trust me, I pinkie promise!

Masterpost

[acowardinmordor]

You Left Me - You Miss Me - Six

Sup, I finally wrote the next part. Mostly because of someone trying to find it via the fic finder blog, which gave me a big ol spike in anxiety about the lack of update.

Part One .... Part Four - Part Five

---

“Rob, no.”

“Don’t you tell me ‘no,’ Steven Dingus Harrington!”

“You can’t drive to Hawkins and kill the guy.”

“Oh yes I can! I'll take your bat with me!”

“Babe, you still don’t know how to drive, and I have work in the morning so I can’t take you.” 

“I’ll figure it out on the way!”

She wouldn’t. She wasn't going to drive to Hawkins. She would definitely, absolutely, one hundred percent kill Munson if she had the chance and Steve didn’t talk her out of it, but Robin wasn’t going to leave him alone when he’d had a breakdown an hour earlier. She wouldn’t let him sleep alone for the next few days, and she would go to work with him in the morning, and she’d probably skip her Stats class so she could stick by him after work too. 

It took Robin about thirty seconds to realize something had happened. 

That was the gap between her opening the car door, and Steve speaking. All he said was “hey, Robs” and she cut off her ramble about chlorofluorocarbons. The same way he could tell by the sound of her stirring soup, or which color eye shadow she wore, she knew immediately something had happened. 

She touched his arm.

And he had a breakdown in the college parking lot. 

Steve updated the tag on the side of the box and put it back on the shelf. He was,technically, working. Robin was ranting and using a tie-dye shirt as a prop. 

“You don’t need to crash our car trying to go kill a guy I’m not even mad at.”

“Ugh,” she flapped the shirt at him and slouched against the edge of the shelving unit. “Why not? Why are you not mad at him? How? I’m mad at him! He took the kids away from you! They’re annoying little shitheads but you loved them and he jus---”

“Rob,” he interrupted softly. He couldn’t get into that side of it right now. 

“Sorry. Sorry. But you’re not this nice, Stevie. You’re wonderfully bitchy and petty and it’s one of my favorite things about you, and I don’t get this. He sucks! This was super shitty! Why aren’t you mad at him for being an asshole?”

“It’s not his fault.”

“He said it was his fault!”

Eddie blamed himself, and maybe it was his fault, but it didn’t matter. Not in comparison.

“Are you going to inventory anything tonight, or is this just going to be me?”

“No! And why are you working?”

Because if he stopped, if he let himself turn his full attention towards it, he was going to fall apart again, and stupid as it was, checking inventory used up just enough of his focus that he couldn’t drown. Steve flicked through the stack of size smalls, and wrote it down on the list. “Uh, because we’re at work?”

“We both work tomorrow tonight and there is no way that Mary or Nick have ever looked at the stock sheets in their life, they aren’t going to look tomorrow either. No one will know.”

“I’ll know.” He glanced up to make eye contact for a second, and she caved with a groan. 

“If you were anyone but my soulmate, buddy…” She folded the shirt terribly, shoved it into the gap between the cardboard and the other shirts, and finally closed the box. 

Letting the silence settle gave Steve a minute to breathe, and reset himself without the rising tension. She knew that, and waited until, unspoken, she knew he was ready to keep going. 

“Steve.”

“I am mad, Robs. I am. You know that it’s.. At the kids, and at Hopper, and at myself for agreeing to this stupid idea, but I’m not mad at him.” 

“Why does he get special treatment?”

Hearing how that sounded, he tried again, “No, uh. I’m mad at him, but, like, the same way you get mad when the grandma in the crosswalk is going really slow and then drops something and goes back, and you end up stuck waiting again even though you should have made it through the light before. Yeah, it sucks, but it’s not like grandma was doing it specifically to fuck with you. She’s just, you know, shopping or whatever. 

“It wasn’t like there was a friendship there that he betrayed. He did something for his own life and it was sorta sucky, and it sucks for me, but he feels really shitty about it, so I don’t think he meant for them to, you know, vanish.”

Robin thumbed down the stack of Levis, whispering the count as she went. Three more sizes got counted before she responded. 

“You carried him out of there. You saved his life.”

Steve hummed absently. “He wasn’t bleeding that bad. His trash lid kept most of them off. I panicked when I saw blood and picked him up.”

“And that doesn’t make you friends?”

“It’s not like I only saved him because it was him. Not like I stopped and thought about whether I should get the bleeding guy to the hospital. Lifeguard, remember?” 

The other half of the thought, he bit back. He’d had nightmares about Billy after Starcourt. Dreams where he could have saved him, and didn’t. Where he could have saved Max from having to see that, having to recover from that. He saw Eddie bleeding, he saw one of his kids screaming, and there wasn’t a thought in his head. Just the need not to let it happen again. Not again. Not Dustin too. 

He kept his eyes on the inventory form so she didn’t see that part. 

“Still think it should have mattered more. Life saving creates friendships.”

“He was unconscious. I know you don’t know much about how guys act with each other, but generally both dudes are awake when they become friends.”

She snorted at his weak joke, throwing her pencil at him. It wasn’t anywhere near her. 

“New record, champ,  that one wasn’t even close enough for me to pretend to dodge it.”

“Ugh, I hate you.”

“Love you too, Robs.”

He got through a full set of kids dress shirts in peace, counted and listed. Then he pulled down the crate of kid’s dresses, next on the list to check. 

The whole can of worms would tear open when, if, when Eddie showed up with something from the kids. There was no version of that day that wouldn’t end with him falling apart. If he skimmed them, if he burned them, if he read them, if he wrote back, if he refused to take them at all, it didn’t matter. He was going to fall to pieces. 

If they wrote and it was real, if it was petty, if it was anger, if it was grief, if it was gloating he was gone, if it was begging him to come back, if it was proof that it was always fake, always a temporary placeholder until they found someone they actually like. The imminent breakdown was going to be bad no matter what. 

Like those safety videos in school about seat belts. 

Like knowing the car crash was coming, knowing it couldn’t be stopped, and knowing that nothing he did was going to make it any easier to bear. Slow motion, watching a car come -- a beat up old van come towards him. No time to put on a seat belt, no way to brace for it, just accept that it was going to happen and hope you survived.  

Robin cleared her throat to get his attention, and Steve blinked back to himself. 

“Did, uh, did you say something?”

Robin watched him for a minute. He let her this time. It was easier to let her see what he was feeling than try to turn it into words, and he needed her to let it go for now.. 

“I’m going to skip my bio lecture on Friday afternoon.”

“Birdie, you don’t--” 

“You are going to call in sick at the skate rink. We are going to make snickerdoodles and brownies and the cracker bark thing, and order pizza, and we’re going to make ourselves sick eating too much, and we’re going to watch some random movie on mute and make up our own story and dialogue. Got it?”

“Got it,” he smiled.

And it wasn’t going to make it all better. Eating two pounds of butter in a day wasn’t going to make it easier when Eddie showed up, but it was like hitting pause on that video. Car crash was still coming, but he could look away for a while. 

***

Steve clung to the pass shelf from the kitchen as the expected car crash hit him on Monday. John, always eager for the chance to throw someone out of the diner, looked over Steve’s shoulder. It was a nice moment. A nice little thought before he had to face what he’d agreed to. If he asked, John would throw Eddie out. Literally. Nice image, but not the one he got to see.

Instead, he declined the offer, and grabbed the plates. 

“Gimme a minute,” he mumbled to Eddie, heading to the sweet elderly couple celebrating the birth of their second granddaughter with a leisurely breakfast. If he spent an extra minute talking to them, complimenting the polaroid of what seemed to be some kind of mashed potato swaddled in white and pink, it was to get a good tip, not because he was stalling. 

Eddie hadn’t moved when he got back. He was a step back from the counter, stiff, holding a paper grocery bag under one arm, eyes trained on the ugly teal of the stool’s seat.

“Well?” Steve asked bitchily, “Did you bring milk and eggs and bread, honey?”

He put it on the counter, clutching the folded top hard, like he was making sure it stayed shut. 

Like it was full of spiders or something. Mutual sentiment.

Steve grabbed it, tossing it onto the shelf where they kept personal belongings and the leftovers they’d called dibs on. He hadn’t expected Eddie Munson to be up to Franklin at eight am on a Monday. Eddie wasn’t a morning person. Steve thought he’d have a few more hours to brace. Now he had to deal with customers while that bag burned a hole in the back of his head. 

Luckily, Rebecca was serious when she said he could get mean with guests if he wanted to. Today wasn’t a want. It was going to be a necessity. 

Eddie was still standing there. 

“You can tell them I got it, or whatever,” he tried to dismiss him.

Something that looked like the tortured remains of a smile flickered on Eddie’s face. He gave up after a second and nodded too many times. “Thanks. Thank you. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, right?”

It took a minute for Steve to catch up to the question. 

“I haven’t said I’m going to answer them. Or open them. Or keep them.”

Eddie was quiet for a minute, still not looking up, and Steve’s Travel-Size-Robin was vibrating with the need to make him so they could guess what the hell he was thinking. 

“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday mornings?” he repeated. 

“Yeah. Sure, yeah,” Steve gave up. 

Eddie left, and Steve did the entire day’s front of house prep before Susan got in, trying to keep his head away from that damn bag. 

***

Steve didn’t open it. 

He fell asleep in Robin’s bed, grateful he didn’t have other work that evening, and doubly grateful when she made him eat some crackers and drink some water before they passed out for the night. 

If he was waiting for the impact the day before, seeing Eddie again the next day was so unexpected that the crash whooshed past him without an impact. He didn’t sit down, and he looked a little rough, probably from driving to Franklin in the early morning twice in two days. 

“Do you have…?”

“No? No,” Steve boggled at him, “How could I have anything for you to even -- No. Man, no.” 

Eddie nodded. 

Eddie left. 

***

Steve stared at the bag instead of taking a nap before their shift in the stockroom. Didn’t open it, that was way, way beyond him, but he did manage to look directly at it, and it was only a few saltines, but he did successfully eat. 

Robin, angel, light of his life, soulmate and perfect person got in the car after class, handed him a kinda gross protein bar that she stole from an athlete in her class who she didn’t like, and made him eat it. 

She didn’t make him talk about the bag shaped elephant in their apartment, and she spent the entire shift explaining the way Ann Carson’s translations of Greek plays had totally shifted how people read them, making them more accessible, and how the push to do the same with Shakespeare was incredible. 

When he went to crawl into his own bed that night, she grumbled, brought her favorite pillow, and climbed in after him. 

***

Eddie walked in at quarter to seven, right after three four tops seated.

“No.”

“Okay. Yeah.” Eddie looked small, probably because he was speaking at a normal volume, sounding like a normal human, which ran opposite to how Eddie was in Hawkins. He also looked like crap. 

“Why are you here, dude? You hate mornings. You don’t have to leave that early, I work until one.”

Eddie scrunched his face, but didn’t answer that. 

“No?” he asked instead.

Someone at table six shouted ‘waiter!’ 

“I’ll bring your coffee in a damn minute!” Steve yelled back, half turning with the carafe in his hand.

“Steve?”

“Look, I don’t have anything for you. Nothing. You don’t need to waste your time. I haven’t opened it.”

“There’s more than one -- oh,” Eddie scrubbed over his face. “Okay. Yeah. Okay. Do-- Are you going to? Open it.”

Thinking about opening it made him want to run away to Canada. 

Thinking about never knowing made him want to puke. 

Whatever weird face Steve made was something Eddie could translate. He only raised his head for a moment, just long enough to look. But then he covered his face with both hands, taking a deep breath that shuddered on the exhale. 

“See you Monday,” he said as a goodbye.

“Where’s my coffee?” the same guy yelled. Steve didn’t have the energy to deal with customers and whatever the fuck was going on with Eddie’s early morning emotional mess. 

“Wait a second,” he complained to both of them at once. Steve grabbed one of the big mugs, the ones they used for the expensive hot chocolate, filled it with coffee, and set the pour jar of sugar next to it. He looked from Eddie to the cup, pointedly. “Don’t crash. Bring the cup back with you.”

The asshole yelled for him again, and Steve turned on the terrifyingly polite smile that Robin had helped him hone. Then he deployed it on the asshole at table six. 

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

We are headed towards Steddie, on a path that will, hopefully, not feel like I brushed off all this to get there. However. Wow, they're hurting right now. You can't have Eddie's pov yet, it would spoil things, but. just. trust me. ow.

Still don't do tag lists. Once I know how many parts it'll be, this will go to Ao3, promise.

[harrywavycurly]

Secret Rendezvous Part 10: Not Red

Masterlist: Here

CW: Language

Tag List: @emma-munson @aol19 @tlclick73 @prestinalove @kailey-firefly @fromasgardandback @therealgothamguardianfr @peaches-roses-sins @hiscrimsonangel @furiousladyking @angelina16torres-blog @sofaritsalrightt @josephquinnsfreckles @starrywhitenight @mrsjellymunson @witchwolflea @jasminelafleur @ohmeg @comeonatmebruh @missmarch-99 @arthurcerverogf

A/N: I love your friendship with Gareth the next update will have some answers to some of y’all’s questions, so enjoy✨

“Are you actually in detention this time or is it more community service?” “Happy to see you too Gare Bear.” “Oh you’re so here for detention…what’d you do?” “Let’s see the paper says….oh this is great it says…reason for detention…using language unbecoming of a cheerleader of Hawkins High…but what they mean is Mr. Springer walked out of his class to me telling Jason to fuck off in the hallway after he made Chrissy upset.” “Sounds about right…” “what do you mean? It sounds about right that Jason made Chrissy upset or that I told him to fuck off?” “Uhm…uh…both?…actually?” “Relax I’m just fucking with you…why are you here?” “Oh I just wait in here on Thursdays until Eddie gets here for Hellfire.” “You…wait in detention for Eddie?” “Saying it out loud makes it sound…dumb but it’s just better than roaming the halls….uhm so…how’s…how’s Stacy?” “You haven’t texted her? Gareth she gave you her number like two days ago what the hell?” “I’m nervous! What if she gave it to me just so I’ll leave her alone?” “She gave it to you so you wouldn’t leave her alone you dingus! Text her right now or I’m never speaking to you again.” “Okay okay…what…what do I say?” “You say hey this is Gareth sorry it took me so long to text you I’m an idiot.” “I’m not saying that…or at least not the part about being an idiot….what are you doing?” “We have a game tomorrow and my nails looks like shit so I’m painting them…what else are you supposed to do in detention while Mrs. Taylor sleeps?” “Oh…you have to paint your nails and stuff for games?” “Yeah? You have to look perfect…you’re representing your school and all that shit so…yeah it’s important to look good…now what color?…just not red.” “Oh that’s a lot of…pressure…but why not red that’s a good color?” “Gareth do you even go here? What are our school colors?” “Oh yeah…not red…go with green then.” “Excellent choice…so I’m sorry again��for leaving you at the party.” “We’ve been over this…it’s fine I was having a good time with Stacy and you were having a good time with Hank-” “you know damn well that’s not his name.” “Shit sorry no need to hit me…but really it’s fine but uh did you have a good time?” “Yeah it was…okay…” “Emerson!” “Looks like your ride to the drama room is here.” “You two still haven’t talked?” “Nope…now go kick some weird fantasy troll or zombie ass.” “It’s been like three days…” “Emerson let’s fucking go!” “Ohh daddy is using his mean voice you better listen to him.” “Don’t say shit like that…but you’re okay though right?” “Gareth!” “Yes Gareth I’m okay…now really go before Eddie walks in here and drags you out and then I’ll have to kick his ass and redo my nails.” “Okay…see you later?” “Yeah I’ll text you when I’m home.” “Okay…enjoy detention!”

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

06/28/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Con O'Neill; Vico Ortiz; Rachel House; AOC's Charity Raffle Update; Articles; Renew As A Crew Donations Update; More Voting; 55th Anniversary of Stonewall; Fan Spotlight: Cast Cards; Big Gay Energy Pod; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Today's Taika;

== Rhys Darby ==

Annnd we're back with more from Final Fantasy XIV shorts!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FINAL FANTASY XIV (@ffxiv)

Source: FFXIV's Instagram

== Con O'Neill ==

"See you tomorrow you beautiful beasts for the f**k you workshops" -Con posted a reminder about his workshop tomorrow! You can still get tickets on https://shopstands.com/!

Source: Con O'Neill's IG

== Vico Ortiz ==

Vico attended the Nalip Media Summit today! They will also be joining Kristian at Rose City Comic Con later this year!

Source: Vico's Instagram Stories

== Rachel House ==

Another interview with Rachel!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Movies, Movies, Movies (@movies_movies_movies_)

Source: Movies Movies Movies & fbiradio Instagram

== Adopt Our Crew Raffle Updates ==

Only a few hours left on the @adoptourcrew Charity Raffle, and they've shot up to over $6,300! We'll see tomorrow how high it went!

Source: AdoptOurCrew Twitter

== Fiber Arts Brigade ==

Speaking of Charity events-- the Fiber Arts Brigade ebay auctions, items made by out lovely fan-crew are going to be ending soon for week 2! You can check out them out below! Fiber Arts Brigade Ebay Auction Page

Source: Fiber Arts Brigade Ebay Page

== Articles ==

OFMD has been nominated for a Dorian Award for Best Unsung TV Show! You can visit the article at awardswatch.com here. Our friends over at @adoptourcrew were kind enough to alert us of the nomination!

https://awardswatch.com/interview-with-the-vampire-shogun-baby-reindeer-and-fellow-travelers-lead-2024-lgbtq-critics-dorian-tv-award-nominations/

https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2024-dorian-galeca-tv-award-nominations/

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Twitter

10 Times TV Got Queer Representation Right

Why we're still thinking about Our Flag Means Death months after its cancellation

== Renew As A Crew Donation Update ==

An update from our old crewmates Renew As a Crew! They've put together a final record of how much money was raised for Rainbow Youth over the past 7 months. Down below the images there are links to receipts, and donation pages!

Breakdown of Final Donation Google Drive

Direct Donation Link to RainbowYouth

Source: Renew As A Crew Twitter / GingerlyVibing's Twitter

== More Voting ==

OFMD is currently at Rank 4! Can we go higher? Ranker: The 600+ Best TV Shows Over the Last 5 Years

Source: AdoptOurCrew's Twitter

== 55th Anniversary of Stonewall Riots ==

On this 55th Anniversary of Stonewall Riots we remember who it was that sparked the stonewall riots and led the fight for queer rights! Pink News put together a very detailed article if you'd like to learn more about the history of Stonewall. Thank you to the Trans Women of Color, and Lesbians (and all others present) at Stonewall for your fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Source: Pink News

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

More cast cards tonight from the darling @melvisik! First up is Mike Berlucchi, "the cinematographer who, according to AdoptOurCrew, 'has been submitted for Outstanding Cinematography in a Comedy Series for Man on Fire'". Next up is Louis Flavell-Birch, a Bluecoat!

Source: @melvisik's Twitter

= Big Gay Energy Pod =

New episode of Big Gay Energy Pod! This time covering Season 2: Episode 4!

Watch on Youtube

Listen on Spotify

Source: Big Gay Energy Podcast Twitter

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies! It's Friday again-- and I'd just like to take a moment to really drive it home how wonderful you are. Did you see how much money has been donated/raised by various groups over the past several months? So many beautiful pieces of artwork, and fiber arts, and writing, and commissions of all sorts have been donated to raise money for such wonderful causes-- and you know who did that? You did! Whether you donated-- or made something to auction/raffle, or reblogged a link, or supported the artists by telling them how amazing their art/writing was--- YOU helped make this happen. One of the things I love about this fandom is just how much you all rally together to make a difference. It's been almost 7 months since the first cancellation notice, and while it's been hard, I constantly get to see just how much your kindness and creativity continues to do. Everything listed above isn't even CLOSE to the amount donated by this fandom. You may never know how your donation impacts someone. Whether that is youth in Aotearoa, or Queer Elders with Sage USA, or just a crew member in the fandom would really needed something you made to give them a smile to keep going. Sometimes just your kind words, or your likes can give that little bit of extra love that someone needs when the world feels veiled in shadow.

You continue to be the light we need -- and that isn't limited to if you can afford to give-- your kindness, and your love, all of it makes a world of difference to someone in this tiny yet somehow vast world. Keep shining lovelies, you're an absolute inspiration.

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

I'm really loving the double gifs lately so that'll probably be a theme for a while. Tonight's gif is coutesy of the dear @ neverswungonswingingstars.

[thedeviltohisangel]

I hope we get an interlude abut the boys “vacation” in Africa since it’s longest (?) Cass and John would be apart since meeting so you know he’s driving the boys crazy talking about her and he won’t shut up until he sees her and the only reason he shuts up then is because he’s too busy kissing her

Ok so a little interlude about what Cass gets up to during this mission, a little bit about what John gets up to and their reunion is here.

I think my favorite part of the Africa mission is going to be him meeting her brother, Bobby.

She gives John a present and some letters and an updated photo of herself to give her brother and he takes the task so seriously. And Gale is like then why are you meeting her brother while you're in a fez?

But that is exactly how John meets his future brother-in-law for the first time. And he tells all the guys it's no big deal and he's got it in the bag and they're like then why are you sweating?

And Bobby does his best to be intimidating. But the last time he saw his sister she was crying because he was getting to escape and do something bigger with his life and she was stuck getting shoved into dresses and dragged around like a lifeless doll by Sidney Landry.

And when John speaks about Cass he can tell he worships her. He is smiling and blushing and hands him the gift like he's just delivered the Ark of the Covenant. And he reads the letter Cass has included and she tells Bobby that she thinks, no she scratches it out and rewrites it then crosses it out again, KNOWS that she loves him. And she prays her brother will too because John Egan has brought the color back to her cheeks and makes her giggle and she has never felt safer than she does in his arms.

Bobby asks around about John Egan and his sister. And the men groan and complain that they are lovesick doves just could stare into each other's eyes and just drift around the world happily. They tell him about John punching the RAF Pilot for even daring to mention her. Tell him about the sleep mumbling of his love.

About the way he held her after Berlin and how he brings her flowers every day.

So the last night in Africa, John summons the courage to ask Bobby if they can talk away from the group.

"I love your sister, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper. I've told her I'm in love with her. Told her I will protect her and provide for her as long as this universe will allow me to. She gives me a reason to live. A reason to fight for tomorrow and every day after because I want all the time in the world to be with her. I can never promise her forever but I can promise her my forever and I...I want to marry Cassandra when the time is right, sir. If that happens before I can meet your father, I'd like to have your blessing."

"My father, John, has been praying for a long time that a man like you would ask for his blessing to marry my sister." Cass had always been a wild thing. Mr. Cooper had been delighted with the way she challenged her mother. But he had lost the battle of preserving her independence any further than the turn of her twenties had brought. "I don't want to take that honor from him but I also want my sister to be happy. She deserves it more than anyone."

"I'll marry her everyday, sir. Your father will get the chance to give me his blessing. I promise."

"You have my blessing, Major. Just promise me you'll never try to cage her." John smiles blissfully.

"There is nothing about her I'd ever want to change."

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Hey there

How are you?

I don't know if you've seen the bts pics of the last two eps but I would loooove to hear your opinion on this

On top of this, Buck seems to be wearing a button up with vertical stripes...

Do you think the brown-ish color means anything?

Would love to hear your thoughts on all of this 😊

Ty!!!!!!!

I am good thanks - recovering from being at and presenting at a conference and therefore not being able to watch 7x08 live (not an experience I want to repeat - I felt so left out having to avoid spoilers!!)

I have indeed seen the bts and you’ll be delighted to know I am literally as we speak in the middle of writing a meta on this very costume!!!

I’ve gone on a bit of a deep dive into Buck and brown and thought I’d update my buck in vertical stripes theory as well!!

Also side eyeing Eddie in his will reveal get up - so that’s getting a look in too!!!

Hoping to have it out either later today or tomorrow - so stand by 😂😎😎😎

[everytaylorswiftsongisaboutcats]

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Swift Streams w Me Miami Night 2

Ladies, Gents, and Non-Binary friends, we have arrived: live updates here we go

If any announcements, new costumes, new collabs, or MAJOR events happen they will be highlighted in red with all caps. If I’m wrong I’ll cross it out😂🤡 heads up probably won’t be as active as last night unless things go CRAZY; heart stamp for closed usually set🩷💛❤️💜🖤🩶🤎🩵🤍💙

Lover:

Classic opening

Gold & Blue bodysuit

Black Man jacket

Typical speech

Usual Lover set🩷

— Does the house always tip forward instead of burn?

Fearless:

Normal dress: black & silver / cacio e peppe

Usual Fearless set💛

Red:

This is NOT Taylor’s Version (clowning me again😂)

New-ish speech like last night addressing this final tour leg

Usual Red set❤️

Speak Now:

NEW DRESS!!! Teal? — almost Swiftbowl for me?😂 Looks like a new version of blue dress mixed with firework starry night but just blue…

lets see what Tay Nation names? It’s giving dare I say… snake scale vibes? I’m liking TEALor Swift (minus the fact it’s not super Teal unless Hq’s prove otherwise?)

Usual set: Enchanted✨💜

Reputation:

Black & Gold again

Usual Rep set so far☑️

Her smile during lwymmd was cute

Happy rain show✨

Usual Rep Set🖤

folkmore/everlore:

Green Folkmore dress

Usual folklore set🩶

Normal Betty & Champagne Problems speeches

Usual evermore set🤎

1989:

Yellow top Pink skirt (nothing new)

Usual 1989 set🩵

TTPD:

Usual TTPD set thus far

Who’s afraid of little old me? dress w Black gloves

Florence has appeared again to perform Florida!

Black suit gold coat

Normal TTPD set🤍

Surprise Songs:

NEW Surprise Song Dress! It’s PURPLE & GORGEOUS! & so pretty it gets a speech addressment (loving the sparkles)

Surprise songs are — Guitar: Should’ve Said No (another debut song?🤡) x I DID SOMETHING BAD (she’s really messing with us🤡🤡) & — Piano: loml x White Horse (HOLY MOTHER NO WORDS) “IM SO SORRY CAUSE YOU SHIT TALKED ME UNDER THE TABLE”

Midnights:

NEW Midnights Tee (Silvery Blue?… lots of Icy vibes)

Normal Bodysuit: Chevron

Normal Karma Jacket: Dark Blue

Normal Midnights set💙

She really said I can do what I want Debutation clowns & dress color debates, and I’m here for it!🫶 See you tomorrow for Night 3

[symptomsofdeceit]

I WAS IN A SLUMP AND HAPPENED TO SEE YOU GAME ON ITCH.IO AND DECIDED TO PLAY IT. Looking at the description I was 100% I was going to favour Thaumo. Went into the game all like "I'mma pick all the choices for Thaumo, IDC about that blond rando-" And then I played the game and Nalis became my absloute favourite and completely stole the entirety of my heart and I'm bAFFLED.

HONESTLY YOUR GAME SO FAR IS AMAZING! IM IN LOVE, THIS GAME IS NOW STUCK ON MY MIND AND MADE IT TO THE TOP OF MY FAVOURITE GAMES LIST!!! It really helped get me out of that slump I was in and get to work!! I absloutely adored the characters and their psyche. The way you have written Nalis's manipulative behaviour is absolutely fantastic and I'm blown away by how well his gaslighting is in his ending route, I sincerely was questioning if it was him or not until it was confirmed. Not to mention your character designs for them is really eyecatching! I love their animal traits! Speaking of that,,, YOUR WORLD BUILDING FOR THE SPECIES, DISEASE, AND SOCIETY HAS ME HOOKED! What an extraordinary concept you've created, it's so imaginative and fuels my brain with excitement and I can't wait see the next update for the game! Another thing which I feel like may be small, but it goes a long way is letting the player choose a colour they like and applying it to the UI, as well as choosing the backstory, it adds more personalization to the whole game and allows one to get more immersed into the story! You have done a wonderful job and made something so creative and unique in my eyes 💕💕💕

EnouGh gUshing from me otherwise I may not stop, but I have a Nalis question cause I crave Nalis content;

Could we possibly get some Nalis HCs? Either SFW or NSFW?

I’m so, so happy that you enjoyed my demo so much!!!! Really this means SO much to me. I’m also really glad you’ve been able to get out of that slump!!!! This entire message has me staring at my phone like (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

I just started learning how to use Ren’Py for this project, it’s been super fun but the color changing UI (& text changing color to fit it) took me the longest to get right out of everything coding wise lol. I’m glad you appreciate it!!

I’d be more than happy to provide you with some Nalis HCs!! I’m almost finished with his nsfw alphabet & there will be a lot of HCs there. I’ll try to prioritize finishing it tonight or tomorrow if I can!! 🫡🫡

[jojosbingsu]

Update -‘๑’-

Hellloooo~! This week has been a little bit busy with work and class but I will be posting again soon! I wanted to give a quick update and share what I'm working on / what you can expect to see from jojosbingsu and onigirijo in the upcoming days~!

As always, requests on both blogs are open if you want to make a request while you wait patiently for these upcoming posts! Things are slow moving but I promise they're getting done. :)

Here's What's Coming...

Jojosbingsu:

Boyfriend Maki

Boyfriend Taki

Nicholas Reacting to your Jealousy

Onigirijo

Boyfriend Euijoo

Vulnerable Jo

&Team (ot8, no Maki) NSFW posting

I am currently working on both Riki requests (they're in my drafts as we speak) and I am expecting to have them posted by this weekend! I will work this morning and then I'm off until tomorrow evening! I'm looking forward to using my free time to write out these prompts and get caught up with the requests from you guys.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to message me privately or submit through the anonymous form~! I'm looking forward to seeing you guys later. :)

-- Ellie

Color code:

Green - Completed (will add links)

Orange - Started, in the drafts

Blue - Next to be started

Pink - Starting soon

[deanthe]

IMPORTANT FLOP SQUAD UPDATES

This is a rather long post, but if you're a fan of Flop Squad, this will be worth it!

First off, I'd like to thank all of you for your support on the series thus far. You gave me the motivation to turn this into an actual thing and not just a quick joke drawing. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the series so far!

Now that that's out of the way, onto the updates.

Now that I know I want to make this a full series, and that I have a decent idea of how long it's gonna be, I'd say it's time we finally get a schedule in. From now on, I will no longer be posting singular page updates. Instead, I will upload an entire chapter all at once at a set date. (Well, once I know when the date is, anyway.) Inbetween I'll post small filler things, like one off pages or even short stories!

Ah, speaking of chapter updates, it looks like we have one right now...

The entirety of chapter 3 will be releasing sometime next month!

After hearing about the still unclear Key abilities, Noiji and Shikaku visit a relaxing village located near Mt. Nantai in hopes of drawing out Noiji's Key.

Next, I'd like to share a pretty convenient announcement: the official Flop Squad Tumblr blog is up!

No longer will Flop Squad content be posted here on my personal blog. z Instead, everything will be set up nicely in one place! It's empty right now, but the posts should be up by tomorrow. You can find it here:

Do you feel spoiled yet? Well that's not all I have to share with you. This next announcement will be the last for this post. Take a gander...

[CW// BRIGHT FLASHING COLORS]

A Flop Squad Parody anime opening is in the works! It will be finished... at some point. I'm not sure yet

I hope you all look foreward for more to come in the future!

[deadmegumi]

Ok here are all my (spoilers!!!!!) tbosas thoughts ... Im seeing it again tomorrow so hopefully we will update

- I think I had the ideal viewing experience which is: read the book beforehand but long enough beforehand that I wasnt worried about any small changes but remembered enough to fill in any broader strokes with more detail 

- coriolanus's dad being named crassus. nut. 

- after snow kills the one tribute and he falls back over the turn gate and the "enjoy the show" automatic message plays... Was it probably too on the nose? Yes. Did it eat? Yes. 

- when burn gormann showed up on his sicko shit I screeched. Every adult in this movie was cast specifically for me 

- rachel zegler is a STARRRRR every tongue that rises against her shall fall

- for the first time in my life I became susceptible to callbacks and franchise references because the snow quote they played over the end had me GAGGEDDDDD 

- tom blyth serving: best teeth acting of 2023. Best shoulder muscles through a wet white tshirt of 2023. Best crazy fucking freak eyes of 2023 you'll know the scene when you see it. Best dick sucking lips of 2023. Best bleach blond buzzcut of 2023. Best screaming crying throwing up of 2023. Best can you get her some contacts please blue eyes of 2023. Best trim little waistline of 2023. Best cheekbones of 2023. best freaky back scars of 2023. Best sweaty anxious face in redblack lighting of 2023. Best "he kisses like he's getting sent off to war in the morning" of 2023. Best microexpressions of 2023. 

- thought it genuinely had some beautiful images/textures/colors! Scenes during the middle third at night utilized darkness and shadow realllly well esp during coriolanus and sejanus's Moment in the arena. the last third in district 12 was quite beautiful as well I thought the scenes in the dancing hall/bar were really lovely and textured and there were a ton of great landscape shots too. Can't tell if it actually utilized close ups well or if I was just mesmerized by tom blyth's bone structure. The general aesthetics and costume design of the capital and districts felt fully realized and interesting in a way the original movies didn't get imo

- music was great! Truly some incredible vibes... rachel got pipes!!!

- whenever peter dinklage showed up he just started chewing the scenery like nobody's business. It was His show. and every jason schwartzman line had my theater on the floor he was great 

- Supreme Twink president snow was truly an inspired choice every time he hit someone with the fluoride stare its like okay calm down troye sivan. Also the toxic teenage boy yaoi was even realer and truer than I thought possible sejanus was in love with him for REAL

- speaking of sejanus... He should've been at the clubbbbb 

- when snow pulled out the "uhhhhh.... My old self" line I was cackling... Lying ass BITCH

[bookscandlesnbts]

Golden Tracklist Thoughts

If you haven’t seen the tracklist, here it is and I do have some thoughts.

I actually am not sharing the same sentiment as a lot of people who are disappointed that JK has no writing credits on this album. Because honestly, I can relate to his burnout. Re: me not updating any of my fanfics in like a year and wanting to start over as a writer. We know Jungkook is talented in both producing and songwriting. I think the only sad part is the complete separation from his roots. All of these producers and writers are western which makes it feel less personal. Written in a language that isn’t his native tongue makes it feel less personal.

However, I am glad to see limited features. I expected them to throw a western artist on every single track, so I’m glad we will just get some JK. But then again, y/n stans especially are going to use this album as fuel for their “JK is straight” fire because I’m sure it’s going to be filled with girl, she, her, woman all over the place. These people will have no critical thinking skills to connect the dots that Jungkook didn’t write these songs, so they aren’t coming from a place of literal experience. See: people already screaming “WHO HURT JUNGKOOK” all over twitter just from the names of the songs. *eye rolling past every post that I’m seeing saying the same tired phrasing* Please. As if Jungkook hasn’t always loved a good ballad, and again, these songs were not written by him!!!

This is why the heteroification of JK as an artist is something I loathe. It’s not Jungkook himself. It’s not because I want him to be like Troye Sivan right now in drag giving a lap dance in a music video. Well, I could dream okay. By the way, Troye’s album is refreshing and amazing, but I digress. If Jungkook wants to sing these songs, fine. It’s the way that these y/n fans react that I can’t stand. It’s the way that it will only increase their rabid, lustful creepy behavior towards him which pisses me off. That’s why I hate this era for him. He’s just a tool for their sexual fantasies not an actual person. A person, I might add, that they don’t pay attention to his words, actions and mannerisms except for his thrusting on stage. 🙄

But make no mistake, I don’t think this is the real JK. I think the real JK loves his bandmate JM and has for years. But they are enlisting soon, so now is not really the time for Jungkook to dump all of his homo feelings for his bandmate on an album, is it? He probably did feel burnt out, lost, and uninspired to write music. With something as daunting as MS looming over your head, that leaves little space for creativity. He was probably a little stubborn too that he couldn’t really put it all out on the table. I personally think Jungkook wants out of the closet, even more so than Jimin and all of his bi colored themed photo shoots. I think JK would declare his love for Jimin tomorrow publicly if he could.

I still stand by my personal belief too that Jungkook was pushed into this western market direction to some extent. Yes, we know he likes western music and always has. Yes, he said he wants to be a big pop star, but we also know that he made no progress towards releasing an album until 🛴 stepped in. And that can’t be ignored from the equation either. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

So, I will keep an open mind, hoping that I like some of the songs. Hoping that some of them feel authentic to the real Jungkook. Hoping that they show off his immense vocal talent. And I’ll be looking forward to seeing Jimin continue to support him. Because that speaks volumes to me. More than songs written in a language foreign to Jungkook by other people.

[afreakingdork]

What's Next?

Hey, everybody! Gosh, I was really hoping I would have polls to make this more interactive, but sadly tumblr said that is not to be! Since Crush Too Much has ended, I was hoping to ask y'all how you wanted it to be posted up on ao3, but without polls I'll just have to decide.

Therefore, starting tomorrow and for the next 22 days I'm going to be throwing up the chapters of Crush Too Much on ao3!

To celebrate the occasion and hopefully make it fun for people who have already read, I'll be doing a daily post here that include bonus content from thoughts to a timeline and whatever notes I had been pouring over when i was writing! I'm also going through and re-editing the fic because I definitely missed a bunch of dumb technical errors. While I can't promise they'll all be totally eradicated (editing 😩), I can hopefully say that it will confidently read a little better in some ways! Sadly, we'll be losing the color with an ao3 posting, but I hope the chapter titles make up for that.

What's next?

I once stated in an ask that my timeline didn't include anymore rottmntxreader fanfiction because I needed to finish my incomplete kacchako fics and start my original story. That is still the plan, but.... well.... since then I... may or may not have.... uh.... written pages and pages and pages for a new donniexreader fic.... Willpower be damned... I'm still putting it together and I am not allowing myself to really get into it without at least STARTING to finish my other fics, but may I present to you:

Weak Spot

A RotTMNT Donatello x Fem!Reader explicit fanfiction that will explore romance and love when your partner just so happens to be a villain.

That's right! it's going to be a villain!Donniexreader fanfic! It's going to be porn with plot and way more freeform than Crush Too Much. To clarify, they are totally unrelated and unlike it's predecessor, it does not have a single overarching story to tell. Instead, as I said, I just want to languidly explore the many facets of love and self when it comes to good and evil. Since I'll be writing it concurrently while finishing my other fanfics, please note that updates will be longer in between and I still have no schedule. I can tell you that I think about it constantly so expect the first chapter starting next month without a doubt.

I also want to address the shift to a fem!reader. I feel like I'm letting down my audience by not continuing to make reader gender neutral. There's been an ongoing discussion of how to write gender neutral sex and though I know I should push myself, I also find myself leaning back into the comfort of what I know. I going to really push to skirt the line as much as possible tthough, so reader will be generic as possible most of the time. I do truly apologize for the shift and will continue to work to improve my writing.

If you're curious about the process, I have a membership tier on my ko-fi where I'll be throwing up WIPs and other details/notes about Weak Spot as I write! Otherwise, all posted chapters will be going up on there/here/ao3 generally as well. If you're curious, a follow is always free~

Speaking of follows...?

I am less than 50 followers away from 1000! I'm still on track to hold that giveaway contest and write that one-shot when we hit it! Thank you so much for following along and I can't wait until we can celebrate!!! 🎉

I think that clears everything up! I'm always open to hearing your thoughts and I'm super excited for what this year seems to be bringing 😃 I seriously cannot thank each and every one of you enough. My life is different now and truly for the better because of all of you!

[hellbubu]

I’m handsome, tall, and rich

Chapter 19

AN: I might not update in a bit. I will probably be busy the next couple of weeks so updates will either slow down or be shorter.

“What happened just now?” Kakashi pulled away. He still kept close to Sasuke, never taking his eyes off him.” Does this mean we’re now together?”

It was almost like time had slowed down. Kakashi could almost hear soft music playing in the background. Sasuke was looking up at him with wide eyes and his mouth was slightly open. Kakashi could just tell that the moment Sasuke regained his bearings he’d say yes.

“No!” Sasuke pushed him away.” No, sir.”

“Huh?”

“This is- uh. This is a mistake.”

“What? A mistake?”

“Can we pretend it never happened?” Kakashi remained silent. He was still as a statue.” I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Sasuke walked away. Sasuke had just made it out the door when Kakashi caught up to him.” Hold on! Wait!”

Sasuke stopped in his tracks. He slowly turned to Kakashi as he spoke.

“So you’re just gonna leave like this?”

“Hey, Sasuke!” Before either of them could speak, Genma showed up.” Where were you? We’ve been looking for you for ages!”

“Let’s go then.” Sasuke walked in the opposite direction to Kakashi.

Kakashi closed the door to his home office and sighed. He touched his lips with his fingertips, he could almost feel Sasuke’s touch and warmth.

“He wanted to kiss me but now it’s a mistake?” Kakashi ran a hand through his hair.” How can he be so good at playing with me?”

Sasuke laid in bed, wide awake, regretting every single decision he had made in his life.

“Maybe I should’ve saved my vacation days.”

He tried his best to think of ways to avoid Kakashi, but none would 100% work, after all, Kakashi could just show up unexpectedly like he did that day.

Subconsciously, his fingers played with his lips as he fell asleep.

“Morning, guys,” Sasuke yawned as he walked into the office. He saw that everyone had crowded around Karin, watching something on her desktop. That let Sasuke know that that day wouldn’t be an easy one.” What’s going on?”

“There he is! The best worker!” Suigetsu exclaimed.

Sasuke walked around to see Karin’s screen. Yesterday’s video was playing.

“You have to focus on the board,” Sasuke read out loud the text that showed on the screen as he chopped the onions while keeping eye contact with Kakashi.

“It’s company policy to never put artificial coloring on our sauces,” the Sasuke from the video said as he whipped at his coat,” this will be easy to get off. It’ll just need some water and soap.”

“Why would they upload that?”

“Chill.” Suigetsu grabbed the mouse and scrolled to the comments.” They love you.”

“He’s really pulling all the weight,” Karin read out loud.

“If his boss is watching, he should give him a bonus.” Juugo pointed at a comment.

“If you receive a bonus you better take us out!”

“As I mentioned yesterday,” Karin said ignoring the previous comment,” I want you all to think of five or more product ideas for the dumplings.”

“We’re marketing overseas, right?”

“Yeah. I want only your best ideas.”

The moment Sasuke sat down at his desk, his phone started buzzing. The screen lit up showing a call from Kakashi. Sasuke quickly declined the call.

“So now you’re not picking up my calls?” Kakashi muttered as he locked his phone. He looked out the window like some sort of drama villain, except he wasn’t on the top floor and this wasn’t his building.

“It’s all ready.” Naruto interrupted his thoughts.

Kakashi sighed and walked towards where the rest were gathered.

“I’ll take the photo now!” The photographer said once everyone was holding the giant check.

“Wait up!” A good-looking middle-aged woman wearing a light blue, v-necked midi dress slowly walked towards them.” Just a moment please.”

The woman placed herself right at the center. She just barely head onto the check and posed for the picture.

“Thank you for letting me be a part of this.” Kakashi shook a man’s hand. Naruto stood behind him and off to the side.

The man faked-laughed in return before excusing himself.

“Excuse me, President Hatake.” The woman from before intercepted him.

“That’s Director Hyuga Ah-lin from the art museum,” Naruto whispered to him.

“Long time no see,” she said as she held a hand to him as though she expected him to kiss it.

“It’s been a while.” Kakashi held her hand.” I don’t think I’ve seen you since the opening ceremony three years ago.”

“You’ve become even more good-looking.” She chuckled.” Maybe it’s because of how long you were in New York.”

She tried to push her hand closer to Kakashi’s face as if to make him kiss it. He let it go once, twice, by the third time he let go of her hand.

“Do you really think so?”

“Let me put it this way,” she started,” your software and your hardware are both good. One could say you’re perfect inside-out.” She looked at him almost smugly before continuing,” It’s no wonder you weren’t happy with Hinata.”

Behind them, Naruto bit his tongue as he gave the woman a nasty look.

“It’s fine.” The woman waved her hands in front of her.” She’s my niece, that’s true, but, objectively speaking, you’re out of her league.”

“President Hatake,” Naruto interrupted before leaning in to whisper something to Kakashi.

“My apologies, but other matters require my attention.”

“Of course. I’ll see you next time.” She watched Kakashi walk away, not letting the opportunity of checking him out escape. Her phone vibrated and she answered the call without even looking at the caller.” Yeoboseyo?”

” Auntie! Do you think you can get me a position at the museum?”

“No.” Her voice was almost stern, almost comforting.” If you quit Hinata will snatch your position. Is that okay with you?”

” I don’t really-”

“No! It’s not okay with you!” She raised her voice slightly.” I can ask father to make you senior manager director instead.”

”Really?”

“I’m still at a meeting, but we can have dinner tonight.” Kakashi overheard Naruto on the phone.” Okay. I’ll see you at home. Bye.”

Kakashi walked towards him just as Naruto turned around.

“You have nothing else scheduled, do you want me to drop you at yours?”

“I have something personal to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”

“Where? I can-”

“No thanks. I’d rather drive myself. You can go home.”

“Huh?”

“Clock out.” Kakashi gave him a stern look.” You’re basically my brother, so take this as a favor. Go and enjoy your evening. But most importantly your dinner.” Kakashi winked at him before walking away.

Sasuke and Kakashi quietly sat in the car. The tension and awkwardness were thick.

“I think we have something to talk about.”

“Talk about?” Sasuke frowned before his eyes widened.” Oh, I thought we were already done talking about it.”

“Who said we were done?”

“I’m pretty sure I told you to pretend it never happened.”

“So, you’re telling me, after initiating the kiss, that it was a simple mistake?” Kakashi turned his head to properly look at Sasuke.” Don’t you think that’s a bit one-sided? Plus, you’ve been ignoring my calls!”

“It’s just that we were standing so close and- and our lips bumped!” Sasuke did a motion like fist bumping himself.” It was kinda like a fender bender.”

“A fender bender?” Kakashi looked at Sasuke indignantly.” Are my lips some sort of parking post?”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Let me get this straight, then. Yesterday was just a mistake you made because of lust and not feelings for me?”

“What do you mean lust? It wasn’t even a heated kiss!” Sasuke took a deep breath to calm himself.” Look, I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I don’t care if was a mistake. The fender-bender was your fault so you’re responsible for the damages.”

“Yeah.” Sasuke closed his eyes and sighed.” I’ll take responsibility and do my best to pay you back for it.”

Kakashi smirked, his head was turned to the side so that Sasuke couldn’t see it.

“Very well.” Kakashi droved away.” To pay me back for the kiss, take me to dinner.”

Sasuke almost choked on air as soon as he opened the menu.” How can someone as rich as you ask me to buy you this!”

“I thought you were going to handle it?”

“The worst thing is that the kiss wasn’t even good,” Sasuke muttered as he tried to find the cheapest things on the menu.

“Did you say something?”

“That I didn’t do it by myself. You kiss me back.”

“You’re saying you were not the only one responsible for it?”

“Indeed I am.”

“I’ll take some responsibility, then.” Kakashi crossed his arms.” I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life as a person cares for their partner.”

“Smooth change of topic.” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“You know how I feel. How did you expect me not to react when the hot, sexy man I like kisses me?”

“ Are we really having this conversation right now? In public?”

“If you don’t want to pay me back with dinner, do it another way.”

“I feel like I don’t want to know what the other way is.” Sasuke had given up on finding something cheap on the menu. He set it down at one end of the table. It was nearly impossible to concentrate with Kakashi saying that kind of thing.

“I think paying back with what one received is acceptable.” Kakashi’s expression was completely serious as he said that.” An eye for an eye or, in this case, a kiss for a kiss.”

“What did you say you were ordering?” Sasuke picked up the menu again.

“Good evening,” the waiter said,” here’s your amuse-bouche.”

“Thanks.” Sasuke watched him set it on the table and tried his best not to think about how much it cost.

Click! Click! Click!

Genma sat behind a long table as a photographer took close-ups of his dishes. The man then backed up to take a picture of him alongside the dishes.

“Chef Shiranui, could you smile more naturally?”

“Sure.”

“One second, please.” Anko told the photographer.” I think he might be nervous.”

“Alright. Let’s take a short break then.”

She walked toward Genma and fixed his hair.

“What are you doing?” Genma looked up at her.” You didn’t ask if I wanted this.”

“Why are you complaining? Others would love to be in your place.” Anko let her hands fall to her sides, she tried to keep on the mask of a happy, dotting girlfriend.” You’ve been acting like this lately.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ever since we came back from Sokcho you’ve been acting like you’re mad at me.”

“I’ve been busy because of work and it never leaves my mind.”

Anko rolled her eyes. Before she could speak the photographer spoke to Genma,” I just wanted to say that you have a great social media presence.”

“I didn’t expect you to have seen that.” Anko responded in Genma’s stead.” Thank you.”

“That part where the researcher talked about the sauce and food coloring was good. It was scripted, right?”

“I think it-”

“It wasn’t,” Genma spoke up,” Sasuke isn’t all that good of an actor to act out and react that quickly.”

Anko walked away. In a corner of the restaurant, she opened the video of Genma and Sasuke. She went to the comments. Most of them seemed to be about how good they seemed to be together and how they must be dating.

“Do you not like the food?”

Sasuke chewed slowly so that he didn’t have to answer immediately. How could he enjoy the food when just thinking about it made his wallet hurt?

“The food’s fine.”

“What’s with all this food?” Kakashi asked as another server brought more food to their table.

“We would like for you to taste-test our newest menu, sir.”

“Asking your customers to do your work?” Kakashi asked in a light, joking tone.

“I’m more than sure your palette is much more delicate than mine, sir.” The man chuckled.” It’d be an honor if you obliged.”

“Alright.”

“Thank you.”

Sasuke adverted his eyes from Kakashi’s mouth because seeing him eat a pastry made him have the type of thoughts he’d rather have in private. The way he licked his lips and the way they moved as he bit the pastry made Sasuke wish Kakashi had something else in his mouth.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“I need to use the restroom.”

Sasuke got up and power walked to the restroom.

“I should probably buy a toy,” Sasuke muttered in front of the mirror. He splashed some water on his face and mentally prepared himself before walking out.

As he walked back toward their table he heard someone playing the piano. He peeked from behind a plant to see Kakashi sitting at the piano. The way Kakashi’s fingers danced caused Sasuke to, once again, have thoughts he’d rather have in private.

Sasuke sat back at their table just before Kakashi finished the song. He clapped alongside the other patrons as Kakashi walked toward him.

“I didn’t know you could play the piano.”

“Didn’t I tell you that I’m good at many things?”

“So you play the piano for every person you meet?” Sasuke’s tone was light but Kakashi turned somewhat serious.

“I won’t answer that question. It is more fitting for people in a relationship.” Kakashi then put a charming smile on his face.” If you want to hear the answer, we can always change our status.”

“You sound so fucking desperate,” Sasuke whispered before raising his voice.” I’d better grab the check.” Sasuke turned to a waiter.” Could you bring us the check, please? My coat and wallet too, if you don’t mind.”

Two waiters walked towards them with their coats.

“The check?” Sasuke asked.

“Your meal’s already been paid for.”

Sasuke looked at Kakashi questioningly. Kakashi just bid the waiters good night and walked away.

“Wait.” Sasuke rushed to catch up with Kakashi.” Why did you do that?”

“I thought about it for a bit.” Kakashi paused” It would be so absurd for this to be payback for a kiss, would it not?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll just have you pay me back with something bigger.”

“What are you trying to get from me?”

“If not–” Kakashi paused. His eyes traveled to Sasuke’s lips.” – you can always pay me back with something else.”

“I’d rather not.” Sasuke took a step back.” Since you already paid there’s nothing I can do. Next time, it’ll be on me.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” He smiled before walking away.” Maybe we should eat steak next time.”

Sasuke just sighed thinking of the bill.

[universeofmuses]

//sorry I missed this update on friday. Hope you all like it!

(A hazed, blurred, vision from the point of view of Dr. O)

"Hey Dr. O, wake up." Trent said looking down on him as Dr. O was starting to come to,

(Back to the omniscient view of the world)

As Dr. O become more aware of his surroundings,

"Trent . . .what happened? Where am I?" Dr. O asked,

"Well you were keeping the Tyrano-drones busy for principal Randall to get away to safety, then I showed up and saved you. Then she-"

"Then I showed up and you introduced us . . .sort of and then passed out when it sunk in that I was really in front of you." Kim said coming from behind the couch and cutting Trent off in mid sentence.

"Kim . . .what are you doing here?" Dr. O asked puzzled,

"Well I moved in to town a few days ago, when I noticed how the black ranger was fighting on a news report as the rangers defended the city. Tommy I thought you said that you retired from being a ranger after high school." Kim said sounding annoyed,

"So did I but this had plans of its own." Dr. O said as he lifted his dino gem up, and then noticed Kim looking at him disapprovingly,

"What? What do you want me to say? You know how it is, when the power calls; you have to answer." Dr. O said,

"I know Tommy, but we all hung it up years ago." Kim said,

"Trust me Kim I haven't forgotten that fact but like I said I perfectly content just supervising the team and pretty much being their Zordon." Dr. O defended,

"Zordon?" Trent asked puzzled,

"He was a mentor to us, someone we could turn to when things got hard." Dr. O responded,

"He was like a father to us." Kim finished,

"Well what happened to him? You guys speak so fondly of him but you guys don't talk about him very much." Trent asked,

"He died quite a few years ago, he sacrificed himself to purify the universe from the Alliance of Evil who at the time almost conquered the entire universe." Dr. O explained, as the last word was uttered he the whole room grew cold as a slight shiver went up Dr. O and Kim's spines, the room grew so quite the sound of a pin dropping would hurt because it was so loud.

"Dr. O? Ms. Hart? You guys ok?" Trent asked, finally breaking the silence,

"Call me Kim" Kim responded as she gave Trent a warm smile,

"Kim what are you doing here?" Dr. O asked

"I came to see if it was true, that you're the black ranger." Kim replied,

"Well I can add another color to my assortment." Dr. O replied,

"How have you been?" Kim asked,

"I've been good, what about you? Are you still with him" Dr. O spat back,

" . . . Tommy, there was no other guy per say . . ." Kim replied,

"Then why the letter?" Dr. O asked clearly hurt,

"I didn't want to ruin your life like I had ruined mine." Kim replied timidly,

"Uh maybe I should go, I'll see you tomorrow in class Dr. O bye." Trent said as he quickly sprinted through front door to give his mentor and ex some time alone to work things out,

"Trent wait!" Dr. O called out but it was too late the teen in white was gone,

"Kim what are you talking about, we would follow the other to the ends of the earth." Dr. O replied,

"Tommy do you remember the one time when you came down to celebrate our anniversary? When we had the best night of our lives?" Kim asked very timidly,

"Yeah . . . what about it?" Dr. O asked as a faint glow of what that day meant to him, but then thought about what she was getting at. Then he grew pale,

"Tommy I got pregnant." Kim said looking at the ground,

"What!?" Dr. O asked with mixed emotions of anger, fear, and pain,

"Tommy I know it was wrong for me to hide your child from you, but I had to. If anyone found out about your son and me we would be used as leverage to get you to destroy the rangers." Kim explained while fighting back tears,

"Kim, how could you do this?" Dr. O asked sounding very hurt

"I did it for you, I gave up my life for you." Kim said now crying at the reaction that she had foreseen Dr. O having.

"Kim I want to meet him, what's his name, I want to be apart of his life." Dr. O replied as he came to her and held her as he had done when they were in high school, which comforted her enough to stop crying,

"Kim, tell me all about him." Dr. O said,

"Well he's very much like his father." Kim said with a weak smile as she started to calm down,

(Mysterious Island Lair)

Zeltrax was pacing back and forth in the main lab very deep in thought,

"I owe my master so much, he gave me new life." Zeltrax thought,

"It should be me executing my master's plan to end the rangers lives, especially Dr. Thomas Oliver. It was because of him that I am now this soulless machine." At this last thought Zeltrax grabbed his sword and started to wildly swing it as if to hit an imaginary foe. After a few minuets of working out his frustration he came a startling realization

"I have to redeem myself in my master's eyes, and to do that I have to find a way to make Elsa fail, but I have to make sure that I don't get caught or allow Dr. Oliver to live." Zeltrax then noticed the device on the lab table in the corner and slowly made his way over to it,

"This is how I will make Elsa fail." Zeltrax thought as he started tinkering with the inner mechanics of the machine.

(Hayley's Cyberspace Café)

For a Monday the café was pretty dead for a lack of words, which left Hayley board to tears. There was just about absolutely nothing for her to do, then she saw Kira walk in and just about jumped with joy that she hade someone there to at least keep her company. Then she noticed the troubled look on the girl's face,

"Hey Kira, a penny for your thoughts?" Hayley asked as she came around the counter to hug the troubled girl,

"Well seeing as there isn't anyone around, it all started last night when I had a weird dream. I saw a dark room with computer consoles, a large blue tube at one end and a globe at the other; I saw a city that was being attacked by a monster, for sure it wasn't Reefside; then I saw Conner lying unconscious within an inch of his life at the mercy of a winged monkey in gold armor. And since then I haven't been able to shake the idea of losing Conner, or the feeling that something really big is about to go down." Kira finished,

"Well if it was someone else I would say, 'I think its time to cut back on the junk food' but the room you described is what Tommy told me was the first ranger's command center." Hayley finished,

"So what does this all mean?" Kira asked looking very confused,

"For the first time in my life, I really don't know; it could mean absolutely nothing, or it could mean everything. But one thing is for sure, the fact that your worried about Conner is a slight peek into your subconscious. Deep down you like him don't you?" Hayley said as she smiled at the last point she made,

"WHAT?!" Kira cried out as she blushed, because her thoughts had betrayed her,

"Kira, I graduated from MIT; I'm not stupid, I've watched you around him." Hayley said,

"That's crazy Hayley, what ever gave you that idea?" Kira asked with a chuckle trying to throw Hayley off,

"Ok well for one, for a dream that could mean absolutely nothing you're worried about never seeing him again." Hayley said with a smile as Kira blushed a deeper shade of red, "oh come on Hayley, he's my friend; wouldn't it be normal to feel something if I have a dream that shows him almost dead." Kira defended,

"Oh really, well in your dream what was he wearing?" Hayley asked still not fully convinced

"It was a red tank top, faded blue jeans, and his white search Nike tennis shoes." Kira said very sure of herself,

"Uhuh, I rest my case." Hayley said as she turned to go back around the counter,

"Look, I may not know all the details . . . yet but what I do know is your crazy about him and even though you don't want to admit it. Deep down in your heart you know he is the one for you." Hayley said looking deep into Kira's eyes as if she was looking deep into the young woman's very soul.

"Hayley thanks for you insight. You know that I value you insight about things like this." Kira said turning to Hayley who had resumed her position behind the counter to continue being board,

"I know Kira, is there anything else you need to get off your chest?" Hayley asked,

"No not at the moment, well I got to go its taco night and I don't want mom to freak out like she did the last time. Oh and Hayley this conversation never happened." Kira replied,

"What conversation this is the first time I've seen you today, take care of yourself and my door is always open to you." Haley said as Kira waked out the door. Not just two minuets later Conner walked in with the same expression on his face that Kira had when she first walked in,

"Um, a penny for your thoughts Conner?" Hayley asked as a sudden feeling déjà vu,

"Well since this place is dead, please don't laugh" Conner said,

"Why would I laugh Conner? If its serious I'm sure I can help you out." Hayley said sympathetically,

"Ok well it all started last night when I had a really weird dream, there were no images just feelings; of abandonment, helplessness, confusion, and intense pain. Then out of no where an image of Kira appeared lifeless on some sort of exam table in the middle of a room with computer consoles and a large blue tube with a floating head in it. And since then I cant shake this feeling of that I have to step up to be more a leader and make sure that no one on the team is taken or killed even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice. Do you have any idea what this could mean?" Conner finished as a cold shiver went up his spine,

"If it was anyone else I would say 'lay off the junk food' but the image you saw was what sounds like the rangers first command center." Hayley finished as she was playing out the same conversation she had moments ago with Kira but with Conner,

"So what does this all mean?" Conner asked,

"For the second time in my life and today I don't know; it could mean nothing or it could mean everything. But one thing is for sure your concern for Kira is a peek into your subconscious, deep down inside you like Kira." Hayley speculated,

"WHAT!" Conner yelled freaking out,

"Conner I graduated from MIT, I'm not stupid. I've seen you around her." Hayley said,

"Hayley, come on me, Kira what ever gave you that crazy idea, you're crazy." Conner said hoping that his charm would work on Hayley so she could drop the line of questioning,

"Well Conner for a dream that could mean absolutely nothing your worried about losing Kira." Hayley replied,

"Kira is like a little sister to me. Of course I care about her." Conner defended,

"Ok if that's the case that what was she wearing in her dream?" Hayley asked,

"A yellow tee shirt with a black fishnet shirt thing over it, her hair was in pig-tails, blue jeans, and black and yellow converse shoes." Conner answered triumphantly,

"Aha . . .got you, I rest my case." Hayley replied, as Conner cursed himself. His thoughts had betrayed him,

"Look Conner I may not know all the details . . .yet but what I do know is that your crazy about her, and deep down in your heart you know she is the one for you." Hayley said looking deep into the young man's eyes almost as if she was looking hard into his very soul.

"Thanks for letting me talk this out with you Hayley, you're the smartest person I know. Even though I'm still confused about the dream I feel like something was done." Conner said,

"No problem Conner, you know my door is always open for you." Hayley responded,

"Well I'd better get going it's getting late and I have a lot of homework to do. Hayley this conversation never happened ok." Conner said as he headed toward the door,

"What conversation Conner this is the first time I've seen you today." Hayley said,

"Conner think about what I said, the sooner you tell Kira about your hidden feelings the better off you both will be. Good night." Hayley said as she saw Conner out so she could lock up for the night.

"They're nice kids but what they don't know is that they share a lot in common." Hayley said to herself.

Next Time of Paradox

(Dr. O's house)

"Kim I want to meet him, get to know him." Dr. O said,

"Tommy you've already met him." Kim replied looking up into his eyes,

"Where? When? How?" Dr. O asked, as the phone rang.

(Split screen Kira's room left, Conner's room right)

Both are sitting in the same exact position on their respective beds with a serious look on their face, thinking about their conversation with Hayley, they both come to the starling realization.

"Hayley may be right but I can't face it just yet." They both said in unison.

(Hayley's place)

Hayley is on the phone with someone asking if she can come over and run some simulations a main computer,

"Thanks Tommy I know it's a bad time but this could be the only warning we get." Hayley said,

"A warning that I'm praying is wrong." She replied at his question.

(close up on Hale's worried expression, then fade to black)

[a-moth-to-the-light]

i hope for a comfortable night at the end of your day (jan 07, 2022)

According to the Tumblr Year in Review thingie, I posted 236 times in 2022--and I didn't even make my account until March-ish! I should either celebrate or go touch grass. Joke's on you, though, because I pet plants all the time when I age-regress. Don't ask about the cactus experiences, please! /lh

OMGOMG LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT

My recent music obsession has been "La Loto" by Tini, Becky G, and Anitta! I can always trust Tini to come out with weirdly replayable songs, (ex: "Fantasi" and "22") and this is no exception. Becky G, especially, sounds great--her flow is a last-minute energy boost, full of unexpected vitriol, that makes me want to go back and see what she's been doing since "Shower" (which was THE middle school song btw). The beat squeaks under the pressure of their dominating presences, and I just feel so good about myself while listening to this one (and maybe, just maybe, pretending I could perform this track the way these three do).

Ily:1, my rookies of the year for 2022, just had a comeback! I did not know it was going to happen, but Spotify let me know the day of. Right now, "Secret Recipe" is taking up most of my attention--I don't mind their hyper-cutesy affectations here, because the chorus is just so precious. I'm sure I'll get around to listening to the title track, "Twinkle, Twinkle," again at some point, though!

I'm only two songs into the Moonbin & Sanha album (I KEEP TELLING Y'ALL I'M SLOW AND THIS IS WHAT I MEAN), but they're both fantastic, sleek and midnight-black in tone. The prechorus of "Madness" inexplicably reminds me of that one song, "Timber," that used to play at every middle school party, and, even more inexplicably, that makes "Madness" quite appealing to me. (Better than "Timber," anyway. That song could use a whole lot less Pitbull.)

Okay, I'll be done with talking about music for now--I'm mostly just catching up on 2021 songs right now, anyway! My brother got me to watch the recent Coffeezilla videos about Jake Paul, which were my introduction to the channel, so my recent YouTube life has mostly been a spiral into the depths of Coffeezilla's videography--I'm learning more than I ever wanted to know about manipulative sales tactics (the "Save the Kids" series, in particular, is fascinating)!

I'm also in the middle of Taejiu's "HIT is the best song you forgot about," only because I was reminded of "Miroh" by Stray Kids while watching and stopped to go listen to that and then couldn't stop listening to "Miroh" and then forgot to come back to finish the video. (Stray Kids does that to a guy!) As someone who has been trying to get into Seventeen for forever, this video is an exciting place to start--maybe I'll be able to check off the "get into astro and/or svt" bingo square only a few days into the new year!

Will I Do Anything Interesting Tomorrow?

I'm taking my youngest sibling out for ice cream--there's a place in our neighborhood that we used to visit all the time back when I lived at home, so I wanted to take them once before I leave the state again for college! Otherwise, I'll just be resting (hoping to get a nap in, since I missed out on naps for both Friday & today) from all the social events I've had in the past few days. I'm so happy to be able to see my friends from home after months of only texts and calls, but it's a lot of pressure for my already-not-great physical state :( I'll plan to spend most of the day curled up in bed, listening to audiobooks, to make up for all the energy expended!

Quote of the Day

Are you sure they're speaking German? Because I could have sworn I just heard them say "hamburger."

-- me

BUT UPDATE HAMBURGER IS ACTUALLY A WORD IN GERMAN

BUT ALSO THAT PERSON WAS JUST SPEAKING GIBBERISH IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY GERMAN

AND ALSO HAMBURGER IN GERMAN DOESN'T MEAN THE SAME THING AS HAMBURGER IN ENGLISH

SO

IDK THAT'S IT

photo journal excerpts

First, we have a pink sky through my car window! Pink is my favorite color :) Second is my cat in his little nest of toys, and third is a snake ring my family bought for me!