#trying to tackle my enemy: texture

[wazzappp]

Ghost rider black and white painting I’ve been having fun with. Still debating if I should color it or not, but if I do I’ll probably post it here :)

[sleepymarimo]

𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫.

summary: law might hate bread, might hate sweets, but if eating them is the only way to show you how much he cares, then so be it. pairing: law x fem!reader cw: none! fluff, awkward law. some descriptions of food and textures if you're sensitive to that! wc: ~3.5k (wow!!)

an: this is for my amazing friend @guilty-sugar ! i recall you saying that you were good at baking, but sad that law probably wouldn't eat any. so, we're gonna make him >:)

i have not posted in soooo long so pls forgive me 🥲 i hope you all enjoy law and making him suffer by eating bread!!

the air is getting warm again, he can feel it. it grows so stuffy that he shrugs off his top layer, leaving him in that buttoned shirt he couldn't stop wearing after the one time you told him it looked good.

his eyes scan the medical papers in front of him, but his mind is annoyingly slow today.

law does a grand job of pretending that he doesn't know your schedule, doesn't know the tell tale signs that point to only one conclusion. the air grows hotter, the crew buzzes with poorly repressed excitement and the sound of clinking metal bowls echoes throughout the entire submarine.

it's baking day.

he's been preparing for this. he's finally going to face his biggest enemy yet, a foe that seemed much more intimidating than any warlord or emperor of the sea.

today, granted the ocean didn't swallow him whole, law was going to try some of the baked goods that you were known for making, including the bread.

the thought alone makes his skin crawl, but it pales in comparison to how small he feels in your presence. it irritates him, especially since your intentions have been nothing short of well meaning.

that's what he thinks, anyway.

law runs his tattooed fingers through the black strands of his hair, deciding to forget about whatever paper he's reading about in a bid to feel a semblance of control. he's overthinking, looking too much into things.

do you really smile at him more than everyone else? do you ask about his coin collection because you actually care or are you being polite?

within the upper quadrants of the polar tang, he can just barely hear the others hound you with questions about what you'll be making. no matter what it was, it was sure to be gone in a snap.

a dull thump shakes the sub, but he doesn't think much of it.

bepo, he thinks, probably slipped trying to gather ingredients for you. his suspicion is confirmed when the laughs of penguin and shachi follow shortly after, but the sound doesn't begin to compare to the one that flows out of your lips.

he represses a groan, his way of ignoring how his heartbeat momentarily diverts from it's usual rhythm.

his knuckles grip the sides of his chair, using it as leverage to push himself into a standing position before grabbing his hat and making his way to the kitchen. the air is almost uncomfortably warm now, but he can't find it in himself to be upset with you.

the submarine had been navigating the undersea currents for a while now. a visit to the surface was just about due.

it's not like he planned it like that. no, of course not!

he didn't even think about how the crew would be eager to hop off the vessel, didn't think about how you'd stay behind to bake while he took on the task of keeping you company.

he steps into the kitchen with curiosity, though his expression gives nothing away. it's that same almost neutral face, his brows slightly furrowed and lips teetering on a frown.

bepo is sitting on the floor of the kitchen, the flour dusting his form barely noticeable against his plush white fur. the bear is half-apologetic and half-embarrassed, the former directed toward you while the latter stemmed from the laughter going his way.

"sorry." he grumbles again, thought it looks like you couldn��t care less. bepo seems to have enough of his crew mates, tackling the other two men and making sure to get them covered with flour.

their complaints mesh with your amused laughs, a soundtrack that the polar tang's captain knows well.

law is blind to the scene before him, everything becoming out of focus as he spots you mixing some ingredients into a bowl. you're laughing, nose crinkling and mouth stretching into a grin that almost makes his stoic expression crumble.

the corner of his lips waver, just a little bit, your joy infectious in a way that makes him believe it's an actual disease.

however, he has work to do and baked goods to stomach.

"and what are you all up to?" he asks, arms crossing as he forces his gaze away from you.

it's almost comical how the four of you straighten up, abandoning whatever you're doing to raise a hand to your foreheads in a mock solute. the "hello captain!" that echoes across the room is practically in perfect sync, or at least enough to make him shake his head.

he sighs, telling you guys to quit it. "that doesn't answer my question."

penguin brings a hand down on bepo's back, a cloud of flour puffing into the air as he does so. "sweets day, cap!"

you affirm penguin's statement, tilting your head with a smile as you give a rundown of what's on the menu for today. some cupcakes, a few cookies and a loaf of sourdough.

just the mention of the bread is enough to make him tense.

bepo laxly nods in agreement with you, his black nose twitching as he catches the scent of vanilla extract. his head is in the clouds, not so much on his captain, so he decides to join you at the counter to mix some ingredients together in a bowl.

at the doorway, law gives penguin and shachi a deadpan look.

shachi chimes in with a grin, nodding his head in your direction. his words are meant to be sly, directed toward the captain, but he's unable to hide his amusement. "sweets day with the sweetest member of the crew, don't you think cap-"

"shut up." law interjects, brows pinching together as he takes in the poorly concealed smugness written all over shachi's face. it's on penguin's too now, while bepo has long since abandoned the conversation to help you instead.

it's only because they've known law for so long that the duo know how much he likes you. no amount of scolding or scoffs can make them think otherwise.

the captain can tell by their smiles that they think they have the upper hand, but he ignores them. law speaks before they have a chance to open their mouths again.

"get the sub ready to surface." he orders, cocking his head in the direction of the control room. "we're stopping at the next island."

that seems to get their attention, their heads perking up at the thought of getting out of the cramped submarine. the duo give law their best salute, scrambling away to make preparations for the sub's surfacing.

law shakes his head and lets out a sigh, taking some strong steps toward you and bepo. your dynamic with the bear is one that melts his heart more than he'd ever admit. the way you can shift from witty and bright to determined and caring makes him want to explore every side of you.

he snaps out of his thoughts when you lightly reprimand bepo for stirring the batter too aggressively, a chuckle threatening to leave him.

an announcement is made throughout the sub to prepare the crew for what's to come.

reluctantly, law makes his leave. he'll have time, he'll have you, but he has to take a couple minutes to brace himself for what will happen once the rest of the crew leaves the submarine.

another half hour passes before the sub's hatch is opened.

the fresh air is much needed, the cool breeze like a balm that quells the unease in law's chest. a series of footsteps echo throughout the submarine as crew members make their way to the exit, smiles plastered on their faces.

this island seems lively, welcoming. the sun casts a bright glow over the town in the distance, a plethora of shops and eateries nestled side by side.

even though law is staying aboard, staying with you, there's a sense of proudness that rushes through him as he takes note of the relief plastered onto the faces of his crew. he doesn't let it show, but clearly their happiness affects him.

he lets them run loose, trusting them enough not to cause too much trouble.

his eyes do narrow at penguin and shachi though, the two men snickering a tad as they walk off with bepo in tow. it's like they see through his plot, his ulterior motive, and the captain gives them a look that serves as a warning.

as the blurb of orange jumpsuits fades out of view, law is left with the sound of crashing waves and a light breeze.

his grip tightens on kikoku's hilt, a gesture that he hopes makes what he's about to do a little more easy.

the scent of baked goods wafts out the door, overpowering the salty sea breeze without issue. he can hear you humming along to some random tune, talking to yourself as you navigate through the kitchen.

he follows the trail like a ship to a lighthouse, drawn in by the warmth and splash of color you add to his life.

upon walking into the kitchen, he takes note of how your back is turned to him. you're washing some dishes, the spoils of your work organized neatly on the counter. just the sight of all the sweets is enough to make his stomach ache, but he persists.

you call out to him first, catching him in those all too common moments when he gets lost in his head. "captain? i thought you were gonna head out with the others."

turning off the sink, you dry your hands off with a towel and focus your attention on him. he doesn't miss the slight tilting of your head, how your eyes glimmer with curiosity.

oh, he was horrible at this. no matter how many times he practiced the script in his head, you found a way to unintentionally mess with his psyche. maybe it was your hair, your eyes, everything.

"needed to finish some work here." he lies, so smooth with his words that you don't even think to question it.

with a nod, you give him that smile, the one that pops up in his head while he's reading and makes him lose focus. "if you finish up, maybe you can meet the others in town. or you can keep me company here."

he takes your words in with a hum of acknowledgement, watching you navigate through the kitchen with a natural ease. for a second, he allows the comfortable silence to stretch. he summons all of his courage, swallowing his pride and nodding toward the delicacies on the table.

"can i…" his jaw tenses, the temperature in the room feeling as though it's rising with every tick of the clock. he squeezes the hilt of his weapon more firmly, his throat feeling dry as he looks between your confused face and the frosted treats.

he gets it together, not asking, but declaring. "i want to try what you made."

your brows rise at his words. it's not like your captain to try your baked goods. you'd never taken offense to his reluctance, as you were well aware of his eating habits, but this is completely out of left field.

one could hear a pin drop, his request lingering in the air.

"you… want to try them?" you echo back, unable to hide your skepticism. your eyes browse the array of treats, including the loaf of bread that was still cooling on its rack. "are you sure? which one?"

law doesn't mean to sound so snappy with his response, but internally he's freaking out. your doubt, the subtle concern in your voice, makes him want to prove himself even more.

"i'm sure." he insists, taking some steps toward you until he's at your side. his eyes scan the table, each morsel seeming to laugh in the face of his uncertainty. "i want to try each one."

your eyes follow his, the table sporting a variety of treats ranging from cookies to cupcakes to the star of the show, your fresh sourdough bread. in your head you prepare for disaster, creating a scene that's as comical as it is mildly concerning.

"if you lost a bet to penguin and shachi…" you start, giving him an apologetic glance.

he's quick to cut your accusation short. there are no bets, no pressure from anyone but himself. "no."

when he looks back at you, expectantly, as if he doesn't know how to approach this hurdle, you grab a plate and start to load it up. there was no way you were going to give him a full serving of anything, so you chop off a piece of each dessert and make what you think is a perfect sampler.

he takes the plate from you with a degree of reluctance, but the brushing of your fingers against his acts as a reminder as to why he's doing this. words aren't his specialty. hell, it's hard for him to show how much he cares in general, but he can do this. for you.

his tattooed fingers pick up a piece of… something. it looks sweet, like something he'd hand off to bepo. those black brows of his furrow a tad, as if he's trying to break down the pastry to an atomic level.

taking note of how he seems to be losing himself in his own thoughts, you speak up with confidence and snatch the remaining portion for yourself. "it's just a chocolate chip cookie." you explain, taking a bite of it yourself to show him how it's done. "flour, sugar, eggs…"

"understood." law sighs, trying and failing to act even remotely excited about what was to come.

his teeth sink into the cookie, only a small quarter piece, and he has to keep from making too much of a reaction. from the chocolate clinging to his tongue to the sweetness practically making his gums ache, he finds each chew to be a struggle.

but when his eyes lift to meet yours, seeing the look of anticipation on your face, he finds that the cookie isn't so hard to swallow.

his tongue peeks out to catch any remaining crumbs, shuddering as the sugary sweet taste lingers in his mouth.

he takes a step toward you, a small one, nodding his head and hoping you can't see the hints of pink starting to form on his cheeks. "it's good." he states, even though from your angle it had looked like he was trying to swallow glass. "what's the next one?"

it seems like eons have passed, perhaps the longest ten minutes law has ever lived through.

he swears his stomach is starting to hurt from the amount of sugar settling in there, and the smile you give him, the appreciation you show, doesn't make it feel any better. your presence makes him more jittery than any dessert, that much was certain.

while you were hesitant at first, not wanting him to strain himself, you can't deny that your sweets-averse captain willingly trying your concoctions was flattering, meaningful.

"okay, last one." you clap your hands together, glancing at the last piece of food on his sampling plate. it's a small chunk, not even worthy of being served as an appetizer, but to law, it might as well have been a death sentence. "the sourdough bread."

hearing the word alone makes law's jaw clench, his eyes narrowing as if he had a personal vendetta against the bread. even when he's picking it up, he can't help but scrutinize it.

"yeah, last one." he echoes back, his eyes finding yours in a sort of stubborn inquiry for support.

understanding what he needs, as usual, you grab a piece of the bread for yourself and hold it up. the nod you give him, allowing him to dictate the pace, seems to give him the confidence he needs to conquer this molehill he's made a mountain of.

after a playful countdown from you, he chucks the bread into his mouth and forces his teeth to bite down on it.

the first taste of it almost has him freezing up, his chest rising and falling slowly in an attempt to not let his nose wrinkle. the texture of the bread is killing him, the roughness of it seeming to scrape against his tongue in a way he's not particularly fond of.

hearing you hum in content, clearly pleased with the taste of your own creation, is almost like a slap to his pride- in a good way. he chews a bit more, it's almost damn painful, but he does it.

finally, when the last few chunks of bread are swallowed, law feels like he can breathe a sigh of relief.

"well, that's everything, captain." you smile, taking the plate from him and lightly placing into the sink. you're aware that this wasn't exactly easy for him, yet you're happy that he tried them. "what do you think? good enough for the crew?"

the answer should be obvious, as your treats were usually devoured within only a couple days of being made. law was confident that you could place ice in a bowl and the crew would eat it up without question.

"it's… good. everything was good." he replies, eyes following your every move. his heart feels a little more heavy in his chest, the lump in his throat harder to swallow than the goods he'd just tried. "the crew is lucky to have you."

i'm lucky to have you.

he inwardly curses himself for being so inexperienced with these matters and he places his hat on a nearby counter so he could run a hand through his hair. law is so caught up with his own inner turmoil that he doesn't notice how you grow a little bashful, how the laugh you give is more nervous than playful.

"thanks, captain." comes your response, the sound of clinking drawers filling the air as you started to properly store some of the goods for later. "that's sweet of you to say."

he hums, his way of telling you that he hears you. at the moment, he doesn't quite trust himself with speaking, his brows furrowing ever so slightly.

there is a comfortable silence for a few minutes, but it's not entirely suffocating. it's comfortable, almost welcoming. there are few people law was content to simply exist with, and you were one of them.

his mouth opens, your head tilting toward him as he states the obvious. "i hate bread."

it seems like a no brainer, your arms crossing while you change your position to face him better. "yeah, i know. what about it?"

law looks at you like he was looking at the desserts earlier. intense, almost scrutinizing, as if he would rather peer into your brain instead of hold a conversation.

"i hate bread." he repeats, the tension in his frame melting away a tad. "but i like it more when it's yours."

you're not sure how to respond to his admission, your jaw tense in a bid to keep it from falling to the floor. your captain is red faced, trying oh so hard not to just blurt out what he's been thinking for the past few months. it would be easy to get it out with a scoff, acting like it's not a big deal, but he knows you deserve better.

"everything has been better since… since you joined." the confession is heavy, the implication clear. this was no simple talk between a captain and their crew member.

while his cheeks get hotter, his brows furrow, his gaze doesn't waver from yours. he's watching for every reaction, anything that he can pick up on to confirm or deny his hopes, hopes which he rarely grants himself to believe to be possible.

your smile is a balm, the relieved laugh you give making him release a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"i can never tell what's going on in your head." your shoulders rise and fall with each chuckle, your chest buzzing at his words, at what can, will, come from this. "you didn't have to try all the food. especially the bread. you know that, right?"

his lips tug upward into a small smirk, his confidence growing upon seeing how you're reacting to him. it's enough to make him take a few steps forward until he's right before you.

"thought it would be a good way to show you that i mean what i'm saying." he answers, the taste and feel of the treats now long forgotten. "besides, i see how disappointed you get when i don't try them."

the way your eyes avert, the small tilt in your head, only highlights your guilt. "yeah, okay, maybe a little, but i wasn't gonna force you to eat bread. and all those sweets…"

"i'll have to get used to it." his shoulders shrug, his expression going back into that more nonchalant one that you're used to seeing on him.

the words have your brows furrowing in confusion. "what do you mean? are you going to start joining us for baking day?"

"no. i'm not eating bread ever again, so consider yourself lucky for being the only one to see it happen." he casually states, silently reveling in how you react, before he allows his smirk to grow a little more wide. "i just have a feeling that you're sweeter, and i'm not planning on giving you up any time soon."

[stxneflxwers]

unpalatable.

⋯⁂ summary. suffering with disordered eating, you try your best to brush it off as being picky (as many others in your life have done before.) but, your beloved doesn't think it's mere pickiness anymore.

⋯⁂ a/n. short and sweet post here; so im not really worried about small grammar errors, word count, formatting, or what have you. i just need to get this icky feeling off my mind, ok? for the record as well: i'm writing all of this on tumblr post editor and not in gdocs like i normally do. so there's gonna be things lacking compared to my normal, "formal" works.

⋯⁂ characters. neuvillette. zhongli. wriothesley. gn reader.

⋯⁂ cw. reader has disordered eating (this is different from eating disorders, pls read further about it online if you want/must!) reader has poor self-esteem. characters being very very sweet. fluff. might be some hurt/comfort and panic. reader's weight is NOT described. there might be occasional OOC moments, but i tried my best to avoid it lol.

neuvillette.

he doesn't think anything of it at first. he understands the life of being..."picky" as some so rudely put it. he prefers his foods very moisturized, any dryness can be too much for his senses at times (most of the time.) the texture when it comes to something dry or even spicy can be very unpleasant; he swears if he ate sandpaper, that's what it'd taste and feel like.

when he starts noticing the worse..."quirks" about your eating habits, he's not sure how to word his concerns to you. he gets around to it and he can only hope he isn't too horribly late about it. he isn't, but he feels like he's late to saying something anyway.

once you both talk it over, he's already helping out. even if he's not quite sure exactly what he's doing. he's the type to fill your head and heart with sweet reassurances and even sweeter praises for doing your best, his smiles are the sweetest treat of all when he tells you these things, though.

even if he's stiff or awkward about the subject and tackling the problem at the root, he's as supportive as he can be. although, don't mistake this support as letting you get away without eating for long periods of time. he can and will pester you frequently about whether you've properly ate (and hydrated) recently. do your best to not damage his lover, alright?

zhongli.

believe it or not, he entirely gets the feeling of uneasiness and the occasional nausea behind a lot of dishes. fish is his worst enemy, for starters. his species doesn't really require tons of food to live off of, unlike your average human. so, when he first started "indulging" in more human dishes, he soon discovered what a gag reflex was. he won't admit to it, but he really hated it back then.

of course, that was so many centuries ago. he's adjusted fine enough to more dishes these days. and when you tell him about your struggles with eating, you initially write it off as you being childish.

he thinks not.

he doesn't let you get away with calling yourself childish—or any sort of derogatory statement that spits out of your mouth.

his hand slides up to yours, giving it a reassuring squeeze. and a promise that he'll do his absolute best to help you conquer these problems with food and eating. even when you start to branch out and eat a bit more than you usually do, he feels so proud of you.

he gives you a shining smile, a peck to the forehead, and holds your sweet, cute face with his big hands; while also filling your mind with praises and affirmations about how well you're doing so far. he loves you so dearly, don't push him away.

wriothesley.

you try your absolute best to hide it from him, the man who is maybe the least bothered by most foods. at least, the one man from fontaine, that is. he really doesn't care too much about what he's eating, as long as it's edible. call it a habit from being an orphan. of course, he has his preferences, but who doesn't?

so, when he catches you eating less or being a little too selective (he's observant enough, don't test him), he brings it up right away in private—he makes sure it's with only you two in the room. he'll ask if you're feeling sick or anything lately, promising you that sigewinne can help out.

when you skirt around the subject, he pouts just a little. it's enough to get you to break down in front of him. you call yourself some nasty things over being rather selective about food, feeling incompetent and weird compared to him.

and he really can't believe what he's hearing at first.

his icy eyes go wide and he blinks on repeat like a broken record. he's still registering what you just said about yourself—his darling cutie. he smiles bittersweetly and shakes his head, it's the most he can muster at first. he's still in disbelief.

your heart sinks into the depths of your gut at the response, burning alive and leaving behind literal heartburn in your throat. before you can leave the room, he scurries up behind you and wraps his arms around you, imprisoning you in the softest way.

he tells you he'll help out if you want it and allow him to, mentioning that he hates to see you suffer. he gives you a loving but tight squeeze (one that's perhaps a little suffocating.) he promises to you to help you suffer, at least, less than before.

he loves you too much to see you in any type of pain, external or internal.

you're a prisoner of your own mind while also a cruel warden to yourself. and if it's the last thing he'll ever do, he swears he'll change at least that much.

[shionxion]

I finished up TTYD Remake on Wednesday. Beat the last secret boss and wow what a game! It feels so nice to come back to TTYD after all these years! (But with QoL changes and other new stuff, of course!) Like, a lot of love was put into this game and I believe that this is the best way to play TTYD! Also, I'm really surprise at how I played TTYD this time! I mainly focused on BP. I got damn near 90 BP in this run! And I don't normally do that because of how nervous I get with HP that's under 50. (Same goes for FP) Also I hit B List star before getting to Chapter 2 because I wanted the strange sack early . I usually hit B list star during Chapter 3. Yeah, I was a bit over powered lol! It was so bad that when I equipped the Bump Attack badge during the last chapter, some enemies just dead! XD

Yeah, too much power and a bit of luck from that Dark Wizzard dropping me my third Power Plus P badge for this final badge setup. Honestly I didn't even need the mega rush, last stand, power rush or close call badges during the last secret boss. I was just a bit paranoid. Then again I don't know if it was RNG since that boss only healed once during my second attempt. Then after that it was smooth sailing. Oh and thanks for that new try again option! It's another good QoL change! (Thought I had to get back to floor 100 again after dying!) I can go on about this game, from the new QoL changes, the new music, the textures, the new expressions! the two new bosses. This game really put a smile on my face. Just smiles all around! :D One of those new bosses is the current holder of the title for my favorite theme in the game! What else?... Oh! little Pyro (Yoshi) is my goat! Carried me so hard in most fights. I was out of practice with the power bounces, so he was the next best thing! (And his stampede attack was very good too! Was spamming it on the final boss lol!) Vivian, Koops, Ms. Mowz and Bobbery help out a lot too! Especially in the Pit of 100 trials! I kept leaving because I got nervous at the lower floors. It was probably for the better since I didn't have my partners ultra ranked yet. Good thing I waited! Especially since I ran into to some amazee dayzees. And I enjoyed charging Vivian to 99+ to punch the hell out of her bitchy sister! (Happy Pride Month!) Okay, now that I'm done with TTYD Remake, the next game that I'm gonna tackle before Dawntrail will be SMTV: Vengeance! Which, literally comes out next week! I'm really hoping that this version of the game will be better and I enjoy it. The vanilla game felt unfinished and just overall meh. I really wanna like this game so we'll see how things go next week!

[liz-trix]

The Revival Begins!

I wasn't expecting to make another post so quickly but I had the motivation to just entirely finish Pipers animation set last night, so here we are! I'll consider this the master post, so let's begin.

This was supposed to be a quick 10-20 minute modeling project cause I wanted to see if Striker would work as a blocky mess and well... one thing led to another. I started with Striker and his model is based off a mixture of his BATIM and BATDR designs, opting for the head and limb structure of BATDR and the overall body shape of BATIM. I also carried this philosophy over to his animations, when not in combat he'll walk on his hind legs and use his 5fth arm as support like in BATIM, but charges on all 5s like in BATDR. I'm super proud of how this came out!

(He also has eye tracking, teehee.)

Up next is Fisher. And... wow, he was not fun. Again his design was a mix of the two designs, he was super fun to rig though! His textures gave me a hard time, with him being the only one of the trio to make me start over a few times. He fights with his fishing Hook, which was newly introduced in BATDR. It's a cute detail I couldn't pass up when making his model. You can even obtain it as a weapon!

And finally, Piper. Piper was the one I was afraid of the most, I was terrified of making his rig. Turns out it wasn't so bad, I worked myself up for nothing. His mouth was a pain but I'm happy with how he came out! Animating him was super fun. He'll be attacking with his wrench, which I haven't modeled yet. When I do it'll be obtainable as a weapon, much like Fisher's hook. I'm considering making it a throw-able projectile, even.

All in all as a trio I'm still working out their A.I, I'd love to have them all have unique attributes such as having Piper give strength to his crew and having Striker climb walls. Working on them was amazing, I got to try and make them all unique but I also tried my hardest to stay as true to the source material as possible, loved it.

Also something fun to note is that all of their voices are sourced from the game, I love their voice acting so-so-so much, they're doofy and creepy at the same time, all very fitting!! I've got some cleaning up, and then I might tackle some other enemies such as Searchers and maybe Slicer (I have no clue how she'd work aaaa) but for now, that's all.

[certifieduruihater]

was rewatching an episode and could not help jotting down some notes for myself 😭 get these turtles out of my brain!!

Season 1 - Episode 4 : New Friend, Old Enemy

Love raph just straight up tackling his brothers when doing that flip over the gap competition thing 😭

All in good fun guys!

Donnie: you didnt do any flips 🤓👆

Leo does tend to repeat Splinter’s lessons, gets defensive when talking to Donnie even though Donnie was agreeing with his previous opinion. Feels like Leo was more trying to convince himself to seek victory, not fairness

Mikey tells April she has to like them because they saved her 

:/

Mikey took the meaning of online friends literally, Raph says to let him go because he has to learn somehow - not super overprotective, has some trust in Mikey that he can take care of himself. ig no one else really pushes

Mikey straight up ditches the guys while on a mission/stakeout thing to go hang out with Chris Bradford - selfish, prioritizes his own needs

One of the first things he mentions to Chris Bradford is how he thinks his brothers don’t respect him

He doesn't talk about their traits, how THEY are, but immediately relates it back to him (he does call them good dudes though)

Seemingly 0 self awareness on why they wouldn't respect him

Braford shows him the Death Dragon, tells him not to show anyone, and then Mikey immediately shows his brothers - loyal to his brothers while being simultaneously disrespectful 😭

Donnie and Leo both seem excited + intrigued to learn it (+raph too, he’s just pretending not to care)

Donnie is not uninterested in ninjutsu! he was actually admiring the efficacy of the move!

Mikey does not hesitate to rub in his brother’s faces that he has a human friend

Does so “casually” and walks away

Takes pride in having a leg up on his brothers in a way?

Why is Bradford built like a Ken doll

who was gonna tell me that bradford and mr krabs share a va

Splinter sees Leo pull off the Death Dragon, reminds him of when Shredder pulled that on him

Remembers Shredder’s evil look as he loomed over Yoshi most of all (emphasis on the look on Saki's face)

Dude suffers from flashbacks (we knew this already though)

Shredder-Leo and Splinter-Raph parallel? Kinda dubious though. feels like the emphasis was more on splinter's trauma/recognition of the move

Raph has been compared to Splinter’s past self before

They are lucky splinter caught them practicing otherwise they wouldn't have realized that Bradford is Shredder’s student + his plan

They would be dead without splinter!!

When xever and bradford (in helmet) ambush mikey, he first thinks that something happened to chris

Partial denial? Also prioritizes friends?

Nvm dude didn’t realize until he took his helmet off

The texturing on their masks is so good??

Wah sad mikey 

:/

Raph and Leo don’t hate each other! They immediately go for this when Leo catches up (Raph does not think he’s too cool for his)

Donnie’s contraption made out of scrap parts, a pencil and gum - he doesn’t really have much to work with; also coincides with tidbit from artbook - when you really look at how they work, his inventions really aren’t super genius level

What makes donnie “smart” to me is the ingenuity of his ideas and how he makes do with what he has

But he’s not a super genius. donnie feels more grounded to me in this sense

Wow they don’t hate mikey! Who would have thought??

How strong are the humans in this gosh dang show man?? Xever and Bradford are nuts

Instead of taking the opening to attack Bradford while he launches Leo, Raph moves to catch Leo 😭

Mikey does not hesitate to take Bradford down once he knows of his alliance to Shredder - looks happy to beat him up actually

They’re so disrespectful they laugh at xever and bradford after they get swept away 😭

They talk so casually to Splinter

Raph checks in on Mikey after and asks how he’s doing

Still says it’s his fault but also says he’s awesome, not to be hard on himself, and that he deserves better friends

Honest! But cares!

Mikey unfriends Bradford in revenge - doesn’t linger in emotions, especially after that pep talk from Raph

[livelovelifeagain]

De-Stress in 10 Minutes: Easy Techniques for Busy People

As a stress relief coach, I help people from all walks of life find healthy ways to manage stress. Here are some of my favorite quick and effective techniques that anyone can do, anywhere:

1. Deep Breathing: This might sound simple, but it's incredibly powerful. When we're stressed, our breath becomes shallow and rapid. Taking slow, deep breaths activates the relaxation response in our body, slowing down the heart rate and calming the nervous system. Here's how to do it:

Find a quiet place where you won't be interrupted.

Sit comfortably with your back straight.

Close your eyes gently, or focus on a soft spot on the wall.

Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4.

Hold your breath for a count of 2.

Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 6.

Repeat for 5-10 minutes.

2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This technique involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in your body, helping to release physical tension that often accompanies stress.

Start by sitting or lying down comfortably.

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

Focus on your toes. Squeeze them tightly for 5 seconds, then release completely and feel the tension melt away.

Repeat this process for different muscle groups: calves, thighs, glutes, stomach, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, face, and scalp.

By the end, you'll feel a deep sense of relaxation throughout your body.

3. The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique: This technique helps to bring your awareness back to the present moment, offering a mental break from stressful thoughts.

Find a quiet spot and take a few deep breaths.

Look around and name 5 things you can see (a chair, a tree, your phone, etc.).

Listen carefully and identify 4 sounds you can hear (traffic, birds chirping, your own breathing).

Focus on your sense of touch and feel 3 things around you (the texture of your clothing, your chair, the floor).

Smell what's around you. Are there any 2 distinct scents?

Finally, taste something, even if it's just a sip of water.

4. Short Guided Meditation: Meditation may seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. A quick guided meditation can be a powerful tool for de-stressing. There are many free guided meditations available online or on meditation apps. Look for one specifically designed for stress relief.

Find a comfortable position and close your eyes, or soften your gaze.

Listen to the guide's instructions, focusing on your breath and letting go of distracting thoughts.

Even 5-10 minutes of guided meditation can make a big difference in your stress levels.

5. Get Moving: Sometimes, the best way to de-stress is to move your body. Even a short burst of physical activity can release endorphins, improve mood, and help you feel more energized.

If you're at work, try some quick stretches at your desk or take a brisk walk around the office.

If you're at home, do some jumping jacks, put on some music and dance freely, or even just walk up and down the stairs a few times.

Conclusion

Remember, even just a few minutes of stress relief can make a big difference in your overall well-being. By incorporating these quick and easy techniques into your daily routine, you can better manage stress, feel calmer, and be more prepared to tackle whatever life throws your way. As a stress relief coach, I'm here to help you find what works best for you. Don't hesitate to reach out for personalized guidance on your stress management journey.

Feeling overwhelmed by deadlines, to-do lists, and the never-ending demands of daily life? You're not alone. In today's fast-paced world, stress is a common enemy. But what if you could hit pause, even for a short while, and find a sense of calm? The good news is, you can! With a few simple techniques, you can de-stress in just 10 minutes, even as a busy bee.

[wysteria-clad]

It's just a game!

paring: Namor x fem! human! reader; established relationship

warnings: none

genre: fluff

a/n:

reader is human, no bpwf spoilers

105% self indulgent

-------

The sand is cool under your barefoot. It is past midnight. The waves hit the shore softly, greeting your feet in periodically spaced rhythm. You dig your feet deeper into the sand, feeling the texture of cool water and the sand between your toes.

Your lover was supposed to meet you in this beach couple hours ago, but there was no signs of him yet. You take a stroll along the shore, your flowy, long dress swayed back and forth in the gentle breeze. Luckily, it is not wet yet. You didn't wanna shiver from soaked clothes.

The loud splash of water few meters deep in front of you got your attention. There he is, your man...sitting on a whale, dramatic as ever. You shake your head playfully at the sight, but your heart leapt up after seeing him. It's ridiculous how just his presence had you feeling fluttery in your chest. Your entire face beamed.

He calls out, beckoning you to come into the water to 'join him for a ride.'

"I'm not getting on that!" instinctively and sub consciously you take a step back at the sight of the whale. You were always scared of huge sea creatures, and that's not gonna change now. He sends it back to the sea, and flies towards you.

"Sorry, I'm late."

"Long day?" your hand automatically reaches out to touch his face, as it did many times before.

He hums in response, and leans into your touch, closing his eyes for a moment. Your other hand rests on his chest.

"But you have to make it up for it," you say playfully.

"Anything you say, In yakunaj."

"Hmm," you pretend to think for a second, "I know how you can make it upto to me, my love," you grin with mischievous glint in your eyes.

The tension on his shoulders vanishes. His lazy, sweet smile is clearly visible under the silver moonlight. He wasn't huge on 'surface dwellers' terms of endearment for their lovers, but the way everytime you addressed him as 'My love,' his eyes softened. What could be more sweeter than that? What could be more delightful then being your love?

.

.

.

You did not think he would get this competitive. You suggested he should play the game of tag with you. A childish game, but a fun one to play with your man nevertheless, especially when he wasn't aware of it before.

When you brought it up, his eyebrow raises slightly, a playful smirk on his lips. Then gets absolutely determined to tag you in your little game.

"Tag, you're it!" you peck his cheek before taking off.

He watches you with a grin, waiting for a couple of minutes, giving you a headstart.

You run, try to, at least on the sand on your barefoot as fast as you can with him hot on your trail. You made a mistake of glancing back to see him.

He doesn't even have to fly, he is already sprinting behind you with a face of hardcore determination.

Shit, is that what his enemies sees? You shake off that thought.

"It's just a game, babe! It's just a game!" you yell, half scared at the adrenaline fueled thrill of the chase, half amused and laughing at his concentration in a childish game. But you are not really scared of him though. You knew he would never hurt you.

You squeals fills the air, mixed with your giggles as he tackles you to the ground. You are pretty sure you hair is dusted with the sand.

He pins you down, trapping you between his arms.

"You cheated!" you pout, your breath still heaving from your little run.

"I didn't even fly, Y/n/n," he chuckles. "I even gave you a headstart."

To that, you smile and your hand reaches out to pull him closer by the back of his neck.

"Still not fair," you grin at him, "but I'm feeling merciful right now, so I'll let you off."

"Oh, you are letting me off?" his laughs reaches his eyes. He looks so beautiful, his jewellery glinting under the cool moon light.

God, he should do that again. You wish you could trap that sound, and keep that in your pocket and listen to it whenever you wished.

"You are still trapped, in amado," he leans in, his whisper and breath hot on your ears. He leans closer, his face next to your yours, your noses almost touching.

"Mm hm," you close your eyes, waiting for him to kiss you.

Your heart rate speeds up. Your eyes darts between his amorous deep brown eyes and his salacious lips. Your thumb strokes the back of his right ear tenderly.

He takes a sharp breath at your touch.

The anticipation kills you. Impatiently, you keep your eyes closed still.

"Tag, you're it," his voice is dangerously low and he lets you do and gets off you in an instant. His mischievous eyes matches the teasing tone in his voice.

"Hey!" you get up after a minute before realising you are not getting your sweet kiss.

"You have to catch me for that, little dove," he walks back, still looking at you. A wide grin plastered on his face.

"Babe! Give me my kiss!" you let out a whine, and run after him.

That cheeky man.

He purposely slows down few moments later, to let you 'catch him.'

And his lips never tasted more sweet.

"I love you," you breathe through the kiss.

He doesn't have to say it back, you knew it. He deepens by the kiss and pulls you closer as much as possible by your neck, his grip is gentle yet firm.

You could not decide which is sweeter, his lips or this moment.

-----

Translation:

I used a translator website, if there is any mistake, I apologise, it wasn't intentional. And please correct me if I'm wrong.

In yakunaj - my darling

in amado - my beloved

[13uswntimagines]

Together (USWNT x Reader)

Request: team x reader where r gets hurt (needs crutches) during practice and the team is of course really worried for her and r stops eating and is upset and takes it out on the team the rest of camp (because she doesn’t think she can make it back in time for Tokyo) but it gets resolved after reader is crying and team is there to comfort her? (maybe some christen x reader) could you also do at the end where the reader either gets named to the roster/ the first game since injury?

You stared unseeingly at the hotel room ceiling, the doctor's words rolling endlessly through your mind. It was an accident, you knew that and you still loved Ali, but the situation fucking sucked. It wicked that her tackle had been late. It sucked that your ankle had gone in the opposite direction of your body. It really sucked that you had needed surgery to fix the compound fracture that had resulted in the collision. And it Really Really fucking sucked that you would “be lucky to walk without a limp for the rest of your life, much less run around on a field,”. 

You were only 22, and the doctor had basically but a death sentence on your career. The only reason you hadn’t been sent home was that your team moms Kelley and Alex hadn’t made the argument that there was no one there to take care of you. It would have been easier if they had let you leave. Then at least you would have more time to figure out how to tell them that you were never going to play soccer again. 

A knock sounded from the hotel room door, and you glanced at it for a few seconds, before retiring your attention to counting the texture in the ceiling, contemplating what the fuck you were supposed to do with the rest of your life. 

The knocking stopped for a second, before starting up louder. Maybe if you didn’t respond, they would think you were asleep and leave you alone. You didn’t want visitors right now anyway. No one else deserved to have the rest of their camp ruined with your sour mood. You needed to make them hate you so it wouldn’t hurt as much when you left. When they stopped talking to you because you weren’t useful anymore. When you lost the only family you had ever had. 

But the telltale click of the door lock told you that the women would not be so easily deterred. You didn’t bother to look at the women as they slid into bed beside you, Kelley on your left and Alex on your right. 

“What ya looking at kiddo?” Kelley asked, nudging your shoulder softly. 

“Just thinking,” You shrugged, your eyes never leaving the ceiling, even as Alex drew circles on your cheeks with her fingers, sharing worried looks with Kelley. Their little ray of sun was even more cloudy than it had been when they left earlier. One of them should have stayed with you. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” Alex asked, brushing a strand of your hair behind your ear, trying to coax you to finally look at her. 

You bite your lip, your eyebrows furrowing as you try to get the words past the lump in your throat. 

“I can’t play,” 

You could practically feel Alex’s eye roll at the statement. And you frowned. She didn’t understand that this wasn’t just a temporary thing. 

“Don’t worry about that right now sweetie. Just worry about getting better,” She murmured, using a careful finger to tilt your head so you were making eye contact with her. You stared into her concerned blue eyes, praying that she couldn’t see just how much pain you were in. She didn’t need that burden. 

“Yeah ducky, just work on getting better and you’ll be tearing up the field with us again in no time,” Kelley added, propping her head on your shoulder. You rolled your eyes, nodding slightly. 

Normally they would have attacked you with tickles to get you to smile, but this time they didn’t. They simply sat up and offered you their hands. Even they had given up on you already, what was going to happen when they found out that you were useless to them now. 

“Now, dinners ready and you already skipped lunch today,” Alex said softly as you stared at their hands in discontent. 

“Wasn’t hungry,” You grumbled. The truth was that you didn’t want to confront your new reality. You wanted to stay in your little bubble and pretend that everything was going to work out fine. 

“Sure you weren’t,” Kelley laughed, growing tired of your resistance to them, and grabbing your shoulder to force you into a sitting position. 

“What we mean is that you’re not getting out of it,” Alex shot Kelley a disapproving look, but helped Kelley hoist you up. Her forehead wrinkled when you didn’t laugh at their antics, and instead just crossed your arms. 

“I hate you guys,” You huffed, pouting. 

“No you don’t, now, up you get,” Kelley laughed, kissing your cheek. 

“I can do it myself,” You hissed once you were sitting upright. You grabbed your crutches and forced yourself to your feet. The crutches rubbed uncomfortably against your ribs, but you ignored it. You didn’t need any more help. You didn’t need to give them any more reason to leave you. 

“Stubborn as always,” Kelley sighed, opening the door for you, and you held in your groan. They probably wouldn’t even miss you. 

The ride to the dining room was spent in uncomfortable silence. Neither woman quite sure how to broach the subject of your foul mood. 

“Hey gimpy, need help with your plate,” Ashlyn smiled, clapping you on the shoulder and nearly knocking you over. Kelley glared at her, reaching out a hand to steady you. 

“I got it,” You grumbled, shrugging off their steadying hands and beginning to maneuver yourself towards the food table. You didn’t want to eat (what was the point) but if you didn’t, they would make an even bigger deal than they already were. 

They watched you struggle for a moment, trying to balance a plate and hobble along the food table. Ali sighed, standing and making her way over to you.

“I’ll help you, this is my fault after all,” she said softly, grabbing the plate before you dumped its contents onto the floor by accident. 

“I said I got it,” You huffed, looking away from the woman, frowning as Christen joined you. God, you weren’t a child. You could get a plate of food by yourself. Ignoring the good intentions of your crush, you ground your teeth toge

“Is this all you’re going to eat? You need to keep your strength up kid,” Kelley scoffed at your choice of three dinosaur nuggets. 

“Like it matters now? I can’t play so what’s the point,” You grumbled, ripping the plate out of Ali’s hand and struggling to the closest seat. Christen sat down heavily beside you, followed by Ali, Ash, Kelley and Alex. 

“I’m sorry Y/n,” Ali whispered. It killed her to see you so distraught. To know that she was the reason you were so upset. 

You glanced up from your nuggets, making eye contact with the woman. You took note of the pained crinkles by her eyes. She didn’t have a right to be in pain. You were the one who just had their future destroyed. 

“I know,” You shrugged halfheartedly, playing with your nuggets rather than eating them. 

“You sound super convincing,” Ashlyn rolled her eyes. 

“Well, what would you like me to say?” You snipped back, quirking your eyebrow up at her. 

“We’re not your enemy babe,” Christen soothed, rubbing you back. 

“I know I’m just-.” You huffed, shaking your head frustratedly. What were you? You were angry, sad, a complete and total washout now. What was the point? You paused, taking a deep breath to steady yourself. To do what needed to be done. It would hurt less in the end. “I’m tired and not hungry and I just wanna go to bed,” You finished, staring down at your untouched nuggets. Your hands fidgeted in your lap for a second before you reached for your crutches. 

Your fingertips brushed the dreaded walking device at the wrong angle, sending it crashing to the ground. Just like your dreams. You shoved your plate away, leaning as far as you could in your chair to retrieve the crutch, only for the other one to join it on the floor. You glared at the items, oblivious to the worried mother hens watching you fall apart over being unable to get them on your own. 

It was Christen who took potty on you, lifting the crutches off the floor and presenting them to you. “Let me help you,” she smiled sadly, and you grit your teeth. Your cheeks flamed red as you grabbed the items. 

“Aw kid, don’t feel bad, we all need a little help sometimes,” Ashlyn smiled kindly. The rage and embarrassment boiled inside you. They didn’t fucking get it. 

“Im not a fucking invalid. I don’t need your fucking help. I don’t need these or anything else,” You growled, throwing your crutch across the room and into the food fable with a crash, the other on suffering the same fate as you forced yourself to stand. Pain shot down your leg, but you ignored it, determined to prove to them all that you could do it yourself. 

The room sat in stunned silence. They knew you were upset, but you had never ever lashed out like this before. 

Christen was the first person to jump into action. She held her hands out as she approached you, as if you were a wounded puppy she needed to show she meant no harm. 

“Babe, don’t, you’ll just make it worse and if you ever wanna come back..-“ she tried softly, wrapping her arm under your armpit in an attempt to prevent you from putting weight on your injured foot. You shrugged her off, taking a bold (and excruciatingly painful step forward). What was the point. You would never see the pitch again anyway. 

“You just don’t fucking get it so you? I’ll never ever get to come back. That sloppy tackle made it so I’ll be lucky to walk normally again, much less kick a fucking ball,” You spat, tears finally making their way down your face. 

You could feel the weight of the teams putting gaze. The heaviness that filled the room, like a wave of realization crashing over them. You kept your eyes on the floor, you hand clenching and unclenching around nothing, eating for them to disown you. For the next logical step to happen. 

“Y/n,” Ali started, tears evident in her voice, but your venomous scowl stopped her. “I’m fucking useless now, so just fucking drop it, alright?!” 

You attempted to take another step, using the chair as support, and forcing yourself forward. You nearly collapsed as your full weight landed on your very injured foot. You were stubborn, and you were determined to give them a reason for you to stay. You wobbled, nearly keeling over from the pain, gritting your teeth to stop the anguished cry from threatening to spill out. 

You pulled yourself back upright, about to take another step away from the chair supporting you, but soft calming hands on your shoulders stopped you. “Y/n Stop. You’re going to hurt yourself, more, and then we’ll have even bigger odds to beat,” Christen murmured into your ear, hugging you back into her chest and supporting your weight as she sat back into a chair and pulled you into her lap.  

“Yeah kid, fuck what the doctors say. You’re amazing and so stubborn that I dare them to try and keep you down,” Kelley added, coming to kneel in front of you, her hand in your knee. 

“Plus you’ve got all of us behind you, no matter what,” Alex said, coming up behind her. A sob ripped from your throat. That was your greatest fear. That they would leave you. Your family only tolerated you when they wanted something when you were successful, so you thought your soccer family would feel the same. 

“You promise?” You asked softly. 

“Absolutely kid,” Alex and Kelley said together firmly. You nodded and allowed the women to hold you as you cried. You would all get through this. Together. 

*****

You bounced lightly on your feet, cracking your neck as you waited for the match to start. There had been a tremendous amount of time and effort put into this moment. Hours upon hours of rehab, soccer training and therapy, but here you were in the starting 11 for the Olympic finals. 

“You ready baby?”  Christen hummed, her arms wrapping around you, kissing your cheek before resting her chin on your shoulder. 

You smiled, grabbing her hand. The woman had been instrumental in your recovery, and though it had taken you an embarrassingly, long time to ask her out, you had sacked up. You loved the woman so much that it scared you, and now she was your girlfriend (bum leg or not). “Always baby,” 

You had come a long way, and you had so much further to go. You would win like you always did. Together. 

[passionate-reply]

This time on Great Albums, we tackle a slightly more obscure artist, but one who’s near and dear to my heart: Frank “Fad Gadget” Tovey, the very first artist signed to Mute Records, and the one behind MUTE 002. Find out what’s so great about him by watching my video, or reading the transcript that follows after the break.

Welcome to Passionate Reply, and welcome to Great Albums! Today, I’m going to be digging into the work of Frank Tovey, better known as “Fad Gadget.” While Tovey was the very first artist signed to Daniel Miller’s Mute Records, his legacy doesn’t seem to be remembered quite as strongly as many of his labelmates. He never achieved the heights of pop stardom that Depeche Mode did, and despite being a daring and experimental artist in his own right, he doesn’t have quite as prominent a cult following as, say, Einstürzende Neubauten. Fad Gadget may not be for everybody, but he’ll always be an important artist to me. As a teenager, he helped me bridge the gap between listening almost exclusively to mainstream synth-pop, and becoming much more interested in underground styles like industrial. And my first love was this album, Tovey’s third: Under the Flag.

Tovey’s first 7” release, featuring the tracks “Back to Nature” and “The Box,” was released on Mute Records in 1979, as MUTE 002, second only to Daniel Miller’s own “Warm Leatherette.” His early singles, as well as his debut album, Fireside Favourites, stuck to a similar sonic template as “Warm Leatherette”: sharp, punkish assaults on common decency, propelled by a harsh synthesised pulse or two. But for his second LP, 1981’s Incontinent, Tovey went in a different direction. He maintained his bile, and impatience with the societal status quo ante, but assumed the guise of a Medieval fool, and incorporated a substantially larger proportion of traditional instruments into his sound.

Music: “Blind Eyes”

For his follow-up to Incontinent, Tovey would straddle the line between gritty, industrial synth lashings and that counter-cultural dark cabaret. And sometimes, he’d even do it within the same track, as on the fearful “The Sheep Look Up.”

Music: “The Sheep Look Up”

On “The Sheep Look Up,” a sparse, piano-driven intro unfurls to reveal a menacing electronic undercurrent. But the piano doesn’t depart from the track--in fact, it keeps up with the pace just fine. As jarring as the synth’s entry feels initially, it’s never the only source of tension in the track. Like a lot of great electronic music, Under the Flag approaches technology with nuance. While it’s one figure in the album’s bleak, dystopian landscape, it’s far from the only one. The lyrics of “The Sheep Look Up” are much more concerned with criticizing mob mentality and mass outrage--not to mention the role of governments in stoking that outrage, peddling jingoistic nationalism and seething hatred of perceived enemies of the state. In a lot of ways, this is a tale as old as time, and one that’s as likely to be told alongside a lute as it is a synthesiser. Sometimes, tradition itself is the target of Tovey’s ire, as on the track “Plainsong”:

Music: “Plainsong”

“Plainsong” is named after one of the earliest forms of music in the Western tradition: the monophonic, Latin-language chants used by the Church in the Early Middle Ages, also called “plainchant.” The track sonically embodies the wearying effect of simplistic, repetitive chanting, with its choir of distorted voices that repeat the main chorus, and refuse to stay in tune or rhythm. The title would seem to lead us to interpret “Plainsong” as an indictment of religious indoctrination, in particular, but I think it can also be read more broadly. Aside from that title, the lyrics don’t actually mention religion in any concrete sense, which makes me inclined to interpret it as also applying to all the other ways society uses music and rhyme to instill its values into people. Who among us wasn’t raised with insipid sayings like “blood is thicker than water” or “curiosity killed the cat,” that reinforce social norms and squash independence of spirit? Religion, like technology, is only one of modern society’s countless rotten pillars. While Tovey doesn’t single out religion in “Plainsong,” he is clear about the victims of such brainwashing being “young ears.” Childhood is invoked several times on Under the Flag, but features most prominently on “Love Parasite.”

Music: “Love Parasite”

The titular “Love Parasite” is, of course, a human infant--though it’s insidiously portrayed as something monstrous. Those of us who dislike children might be inclined to read “Love Parasite” as a brutally honest portrayal of parenthood as a miserable, soul-sucking experience, and hence as a rebuttal of the societal expectation that everyone ought to have children. While I do like that interpretation, I think it’s also important to remember that the “Love Parasite” is a human being, too. The fact that so many unwanted and unloved humans are brought into this world to begin with produces a tremendous resource for those institutions like church and state to exploit. It’s precisely this relationship between vulnerable people and the apparatus of government that defines the narrative of the album’s title track.

Music: “Under the Flag I”

The title track of Under the Flag is actually split into two parts. The first half of it appears as the opening track, and the second half closes out the album. That makes it even more tempting to parse it as a summation of the album’s themes than a title track normally is! Rather than distilling the overarching ideas of the album in a more abstract way, the “Under the Flag” tracks drill down to the level of an individual, struggling to make his way in society. He’s one of those unwanted children who grows up without a stable home life, and ends up working for the government and trying to make a difference in the world...but failing. By giving us this singular protagonist, Tovey centers his focus on human suffering at the most relatable and personal level possible. And with the final line of “Under the Flag II,” and hence, the entire album, he asks us, quite pointedly, “Under what flag?”

Ultimately, “under what flag?” is the central question proposed by the album. It also seems to be the question being asked by its striking sleeve design, featuring a photo of Tovey by the famed Anton Corbijn. The first thing we notice is its bold, black-and-white colour scheme--perhaps a nod to the idea of black-and-white, good-vs.-evil style thinking, often favoured by demagogues and others who seek to mobilize the masses. But after a second or two, we quickly realize that while Tovey is a flesh and blood man, the flag he seems to be holding up is merely painted on the wall behind him. It’s an image that perfectly epitomizes the contrast between the arbitrary, superficial nature of concepts like nations, and the painfully real human suffering that they can cause. Throughout the album, Tovey pits these abstract notions of communal well-being against the plight of the individuals they victimize--as on “Scapegoat,” a track centered around the perspective of the one person who’s saddled with the blame of a whole society.

Music: “Scapegoat”

After the release of Under the Flag, Tovey went on to release one more album under the name Fad Gadget: 1984’s Gag. He then released several albums as Frank Tovey throughout the remainder of the 1980s, first heading in a more synth-pop direction, and ultimately ending up releasing a full album of folk music, 1989’s Tyranny and the Hired Hand. While perhaps initially perplexing, I’ve always thought it was a natural move for Tovey. He was clearly interested in the exploitation of the underclass, and the expression of their fundamental humanity. And those themes are truly timeless.

Music: “Sixteen Tons”

Sadly, Tovey wouldn’t get a chance to re-emerge in the 21st Century, as many of his contemporaries did. He died in 2002, aged just 45, due to a congenital heart defect, while fresh off of releasing a new greatest hits compilation and supporting Mute labelmates Depeche Mode on tour. I can so easily imagine Tovey thriving in the present day, with the rediscovery of so much underground 80s synth in the 00s, and the impact that that had on electronic music--not to mention how he would react to our era’s tumultuous politics. To me, he’ll always be the artist I’d bring back around for one last release if I could.

At any rate, my favourite song on Under the Flag is “For Whom the Bells Toll.” Admittedly, this is a somewhat sentimental pick for me, since it was one of the first Fad Gadget songs I heard and really liked. It’s got clattering mechanical percussion, harsh, textural synth swipes, and, boldly enough, no actual bells. In the context of the album, it stands out for being a bit straightforward, thematically, with a narrator simply pining after a lost love--presumably one who’s deceased, given the title. But what I think really sets it apart is its less-than-conventional vocals. Besides some singing, and a bit of background yipping and howling, we also hear some disgusting, dry retching noises, and even a very hi hat-like sneeze. It’s one of the most memorable instances of Tovey’s artistic preoccupation with our lowliest bodily functions, which, considering the scope of his career, is quite impressive. That’s everything I’ve got today--thanks for listening!

Music: “For Whom the Bells Toll”

[paubari]

the HALO: INFINITE gameplay preview was AMAZING!

*Disclaimer: This blog post is my opinion on the matter. If you have a different opinion on it, I respect it all the same. A large chunk of the screenshots used were from the Halo Infinite Gameplay Trailer*

MABUHAY everyone and welcome to my corner of the internet!

It finally dropped. After a year of waiting in baited breath. Microsoft dropped their Halo: Infinite gameplay. They did it during their XboxGamesShowcase which aired live on 24th July 2020. It wasn’t a surprise that the first thing they featured was Halo. Besides it being a console exclusive. Halo is one of the few games that dropped a trailer that revived my love for the game. If you’re not familiar with the announcement trailer, you can find it here.  

So before I fully geek out on this game, I’ll explain why the announcement trailer was a huge deal. You see after Bungie passed the torch onto 343 Industries, Halo was at it’s peak. (except for the failed MCC launch but we won’t go into that). For the longest time, Bungie was the sole proprietor of Halo and they called the shots. So it was a fond farewell when they announced that they were leaving, making Halo: Reach a heartfelt goodbye. Bungie pulled the cord by leaving us with a masterpiece. A game that goes full circle, a prologue to the entire series. Having played Halo CE (Combat Evolved), 2, and 3, it gave me such chills. I don’t care what people say with the gun design choices, Halo: Reach strikes a chord in my heart like no other game.

This is the reason why a lot of fans were skeptical about 343 industries touching such a precious project. Everyone felt like it was a fitting end but I guess money comes first for Microsoft. A majority of fans were disappointed with Halo 4. They revamped everything, EVERYTHING. From the armor choice to enemy design. It was like they tarnished the IP that Bungie curated so hard to perfect. You can argue that they were trying to make the game theirs but that’s moot. The game already has an established fanbase. If you suddenly change everything just to make it seem like the idea was yours, that’s disrespectful. I don’t even want to talk about Halo 5: Guardians. The lore was just thrown outta the window. Imagine putting the Arbiter in the game AND NOT HAVING HIM MEET CHIEF? Such a wasted opportunity.

If it wasn’t obvious yet, I no longer followed Halo after that abysmal display. I’m sure other people chose to not follow the timeline anymore which in turn would cause for sales to dip. That’s why I’m glad that when they released the Announcement Trailer, they managed to blend their design choices with Bungie’s. What came out was a “Old meets New” type of design and honestly, it brought a tear to my. Especially when the piano chords struck of the Halo CE theme. Plus, seeing that halo ring? CHILLS. I played the Original version of Halo CE so the callback was simply wicked. That’s why I’ll be comparing a lot of the released Halo Infinite gameplay to Halo CE. You’ll understand why soon enough.

“As Chief drops in, he immediately has his trusty Assault Rifle with him”

The Assault Rifle which has the same design as the Halo Reach one. That was a +1 in my book. Oh and this takes place on a Halo Ring so another 1000+ points in my book. 

The gun sounds were okay, they sound pretty standard and I’m fine with them.

“Chief opens a Map showing important locations, upgrades, and database.”

So I was a bit surprised when a map was pulled up. Idk about Halo 5 but the other Halo games had NO maps available. Mostly because the level design previous games had were more of a linear type of story telling. EXCEPT Halo Combat Evolved. I remember playing the first level of Halo CE and I was confused as hell. I mean, I almost kept running around in circles just trying to find where the next objective might be. By the looks of this map, it seems Halo Infinite might be going the same route as it’s ancestor (Halo CE and Halo 3: ODST). A semi-open world map where you can carry out objectives the way as you please. Keep in mind this is speculation my part but if it turns out to be like that then...

“Chief has a grappling apparatus and pulls himself towards an armored Brute.”

“Chief uses his grappling apparatus to reach high places and scale past obstacles like a steep mountain side”

“Chief uses his grappling apparatus to pull an explosive barrel towards himself and proceeds to toss it at a mounted plasma machine gun.”

This grappling apparatus is such a HUGE addition to Chief’s mobility. In partner with armor abilities, this can seriously open up wondrous new avenues at how you can tackle each objective. Not to mention it pushes you to think more outside the box and use the environment as your advantage. Of course, if something like this is added, there’s a possibility for the combat to be more stressful. It doesn’t matter tbh as long as it’s fun!

“Chief equipped with what seems to be a shotgun/bruteshot looking gun while activating an objective ping that alerts the location of objectives onto his HUD.”

The Shotgun/Bruteshot gun looks like a cool gun to play with! From my observation, it fires slugs rather than scatter shots. Making it more precise more precise than the standard UNSC shotgun. Also observed are small marks on the HUD that points where an objective might be accomplished.

“From this shot it seems that Chief activates a modified Z-4190 Temporal Protective Enfolder/Stationary Shield originally found in Halo 3.”

The reason why I speculate it’s a modified “bubble” shield is because of the shape of the device tossed onto the ground. Plus the main enemy of the game are called the “Banished”. Which are basically a covenant group that were shunned from the original crusade. A large portion of their ranks are allegedly Brutes and Brutes were the ones carrying the “bubble” shield in the third game.

“Chief melees a Brute”

I obviously won’t end the blog post without talking about this particular shot. A lot of people were egging on 343 Industries because of this scene right here. They kept talking about how the game is lacking in textures. There are multiple reasons why the insults aren’t justified and here’s some of them:

This gameplay trailer might be a demo reel from an earlier build. That means that 343 is currently developing the game and this is the left over content that they could show at the time. I’m half expecting them to suddenly wow us so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. 

This game needs to run with backwards compatibility and cross-platform AT THE SAME TIME. Aka, it wants to be three things at once; Be available for an older gen of consoles, run on the new gen, and perform well on PC. So I can excuse if the game doesn’t have groundbreaking graphics like TLOU2, RDR2, and Uncharted 4. It needs to be a decent shooter game and that’s what it’s trying to achieve.

As a Halo fan who lost faith in the franchise, I can honestly say Job Well Done to 343 Industries. They’ve managed to bring a spark back into my heart and I will surely play this one. I look forward to see what more they have to offer and I’m genuinely excited for when they release the game.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post! If you like what I do here, feel free to give me a follow to stay up to date with my other blogs.

Always remember to make something amazing~

[ranger-report]

Review (In Progress): THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT (2015)

The third and final (so far) game in The Witcher trilogy is big. Very big. Massive. Supermassive. Maybe I’m just a little intimidated by the depth and width and density of the game, but as of this writing, I’ve clocked in 62.4 hours on the game. That’s compared to the 48.1 hours of The Witcher and 31.5 hours of The Witcher 2. I’m closing in on the point where I’ve played Wild Hunt more than the first two games combined. From where I sit, there’s no end in sight, either; I have yet to complete the story, in addition to multiple sidequests, witcher contracts, and treasure hunts, not to mention the jawdropping expansion quests Hearts of Stone and Blood & Wine, which combined supposedly equal the length of the main story quest itself. Throw everything in a blender and pour it out, and I’ll be surprised if I eventually finish everything I’ve a mind for in under 150 hours. This is a big game. This is a dense game, packed with content every couple of miles or so, in a world where you can’t walk into a town without stumbling onto someone -- or something -- in need, and that’s ignoring the contracts on notice boards. People walk, talk, argue, cough, stumble around drunk, and get into fights with you. Oh yes, run afoul of local gangs, and they will come for you. Meanwhile, the vast open world is teeming with monsters to battle and loot, from the continual presence of drowners to the new griffins and basilisks. An overwhelming amount of content in a series that already packs plenty of content into each game. It would be far, far too much and monotonous if it wasn’t for one thing: developers CD Projekt Red write compelling material, and they know how to write a damn good story.

When the game opened up, it looked just like any other open world game I’ve ever played, and immediately I felt a pang of disappointment. I’ve done Far Cry 3, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Grand Theft Auto V, Assassin’s Creed: Origins, and like many of my gaming generation I get what to do. Seek out loot, checkpoints for fast travel, towns, fight things to get xp, ignore the “pressing” main story in favor of side quests for cool shit, yadda yadda yadda. Considering the first two Witcher games felt like original experiences in what they were trying to do, to walk into such a generic open-world framework was such a let down.

At first.

But then, something strange began to happen: I settled in. Two random quests twisted and convoluted into a connected thread, which was followed by a third main quest which circled back to this thread and elaborated on it. Suddenly a character who just seemed off her rocker was now a fearfully sympathetic human being, now seen in the light of someone else’s story. CD Projeckt Red hooked me, hooked me bad, and now this wide wide world was no longer a series of performances, it was the lives of people in this world and how Geralt affects them -- just like in the previous games. Only here, it’s bigger and wider and seemingly less connected, but it still all comes back together. Choices matter. People matter. The world itself twists and winds according to you, the witcher, and who you side with/fight for. Every other open world game I’ve played has had Things To Do, and this is no exception, but now suddenly it feels like everything matters. Before, everything I did felt like it was to further a progression percentage, to get trophies and upgrade items and simply arcade my way through a sandbox which promised “openness” but really was just all the levels of a video game laid out side-by-side so you could see them all at once instead of having to press through to get to the next one. This is the first time where I’ve really, honestly felt like I was walking through a living world, and to say that it’s captured me is an understatement. Where once I would have rolled my eyes at sidequesting in the face of a main quest where the point is to track someone down or save someone because it is incredibly important, now it feels like the most natural thing because the main quest requires you to go through some shit first. Every contract and quest met along the way furthers the main quest in some way or another, particularly when you open up new quests AFTER helping old friends, friends who now desperately need your help again, and what would happen if you weren’t there? Combine all of this with exceptional voice acting, talented writing, detailed animations, and we have compelling content literally around every corner. And that’s even when you’re just out searching for treasure or diagrams to make better witcher armor! Stories pop up everywhere, all of it interesting, even the slightest of things, and it truly crafts a distracting world to be enveloped by.

A living breathing world would be one thing all on its own, but thankfully Wild Hunt features the best-looking graphics in the series to date. I was genuinely worried that my old rig wouldn’t be able to handle a massive open-world game from 2015 without some tweaks (my desktop is old, shut up), but for the most part I’m running everything on high and it is breathtaking. Weather effects, god rays, BLOOM jesus christ I’m appreciating bloom in a video game for the very first time and I hate that I am but god fuck the first time you see the moon behind clouds in this game with bloom on, and I’m talking a full moon so it is BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL and just. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Detailed textures and character models, the best in the series so far, a wide palette of colors (which sometimes makes the game look like a living painting, in the best of ways), absolutely masterful work. There’s the odd object-poking-through-something-it-really-shouldn’t, or the glitchy human being moving/acting/dying in ways they shouldn’t be, but that’s also a staple of both open world games and this series in general. Jank happens, especially in a game this size. It’s not as breaking as it has been in certain aspects of the first two games, and it’s mostly Bethesda-level charming. What matters though is that it doesn’t kill the experience, nor does it happen so often that it feels like the game is bugged or broken.

Combat, meanwhile, is still not perfect but it’s the best it’s been in the trilogy. Fast and furious, yet rewarding for those who have more patient skills, swordplay is easy and comfortable and versatile. Similar to the second game, one needs only turn the camera towards whichever enemy they want to attack and Geralt automatically goes for whichever monster or human is highlighted. Sometimes this can be fraught as the game will erratically highlight a different character than the one you’re facing, or will transfer the highlight to a different enemy if the one you were facing dances out of sight due to a roll or dodge or other maneuver. But it’s only frustrating sometimes; this was a flaw far more prevalent in the second game than here, and the lock-on mechanic is a godsend when paired against high-level creatures. With patience and tactics I’ve been able to competently square with beasts far too high level for me to tackle, and actually come out the victor, an idea that would be absolute suicide in the first two games. But now strategy versus simple number rolls can prevail, provided you are prepared and/or willing to have the patience to chip away while dodging for your life.

Wild Hunt is one of the few game worlds I’ve entered that feels stunningly alive. Whenever I start up the game, I am transported. Taken away. Breathlessly in awe of how real and vibrant the physical presence of the visuals on screen are. What a strange gift to behold. And, yet, aggravatingly, it frustrates me that most opinions I have encountered are that players don’t need to play through Witcher 1 & 2 in order to play this game. You certainly can, but so much context is lost. Geralt’s relationships with Triss and Yennifer and the struggles between them (that is, should you decide to romance Triss); the nostalgia and heartache of coming back to Kaer Morhen and revisting the other witchers; the friends and former alliances who pop up under vastly different circumstances; the paths taken and decisions made which impact where and how you begin this story. Wild Hunt is the culmination of a near-decade’s worth of storytelling, and the rewards for having played through the previous two games are plentiful. Nilfgaard’s invasion has extra oomph knowing where they were before, and walking through Vizima’s capital now occupied by Emperor Emhyr is especially chilling and devastating. I have no doubt that someone could pick up this game and play it and get the jist of what’s going on without playing the first two games. But will it mean as much? I daresay no. It is absolutely essential to play the first two games to truly feel the depth of impact that this story -- this world -- has to offer.

At this point in time it seems I’m coming upon some kind of resolution to the story. I’m off in search of allies to help combat a vicious foe, meaning it’s time to wrap up any side quests I still have in my ledger. There’s a lot to do. Once I’ve reached the conclusion of this game, this story, I’ll provide a wrap-up review. For now, this deep and still ploughing through, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is not only the best of the trilogy, it makes me want to go all the way back to the first game and play through the whole series again with different choices, for different outcomes, if only to see the roads I did not take and who was left behind. This is an amazing experience with literally hours of content to take in, and I am eager to devour the remainder.

Score (So Far): 9/10

[bensdump]

nervous now? | jjk lifeguard au

∷ Maui Ocean Safety has recently hired a new female lifeguard and Jungkook is beyond determined to become ‘friendly’ with you and check you off the list of his many conquests. You just wanted to do your job.

Jungkook x Reader

Words: 10,206

∵ smut … fluff

∵ Lifeguard AU / Enemies to Lovers AU

One Week and One day until ‘First Dip Of Summer’…

The sound of rolling waves whispered in the briny breeze that kissed your face; screams of children playing, mummers of adults gossip and shouts of surfers. The blazing ivory sand about 2 metres beneath your swinging feet, was glowing. The crunched up stones tempt you in with their silky like texture, but repel you away with the scolding embrace it envelopes you in with one touch; like a beautiful rose with thorns.

You always saw the sand as the protector of the sea, in your opinion, something as beautiful as the ocean should have some sort of protection. It felt undeserving for you, a mere human, to lay your eyes on the afternoon sea. The sun was scattering diamonds and a white reflection on the exterior, distracting you from the mysteries that lay beneath.

This beach in Maui was one of your favourites, not only did you start work as a lifeguard here a month ago; you also lived approximately five minutes away. Sitting up on the lifeguard chair and looking over the beach, and the interactions between people is the part of your day you cherish.

Nothing could ruin it, except…

“From this angle, I can get a perfect view of your double chin… real sexy,” a deep tone was heard from the right side of your chair as you felt a shift of weight in your seat. Peering down, you saw a mass of wet hair and a belittling smirk.

“Oh wow, keep looking down- it just got better,” the smirk wearing red shorts began to a grin when it saw your unamused features.

“Jungkook,” I close my eyes and take a deep breath, preparing myself for what shit is about to come out of this boys mouth, “not in the mood. Let me finish my shift in peace.”

Jeon Jungkook, who is your coworker and shift sharer, is someone you despise. He’s a slacker; he’s always late; he teases you; he can’t hold a normal conversation without an innuendo- no matter how funny it is, it’s still annoying. And the cherry on top is he a huge flirt; he would be able to walk into a bar and point out how many women he had slept with in there. And now, he was forcing his unwanted flirting onto you, and it made you feel weirdly uncomfortable.

“I was complimenting you! Even your double chin is sexy,” you rolled your eyes at him and diverted your attention to anywhere else, not wanting to stare at the cocky smirk that was always present on his face.

Jungkook whacked his palms onto your lifeguard chair and it vibrated up the stems, “well I’m gonna wash off,” he walked away and towards the outdoor showers, leaving his teasing remarks and smirk behind.

It wasn’t long before the usual whispering of girls sounded in front of you, making a commotion of him showering. Jungkook had everyone in the palm of his hand; you were ashamed to admit you were starting to wrap yourself around his pinky finger- only a little.

Curiosity got the better of you, finding the urge to turn your head in the direction of where the girls were pointing, and you immediately regretted it. The uncomfortable feeling was rising and clogged up in your throat as you watched Jungkook shake his hair under the shower. Water was exploring every part of his body and making his skin glisten; hands running through his hair, washing the salt out. Eyes travelling down from his jaw to his chest, you couldn’t deny it, Jungkook was well endowed, but as a lifeguard you guess he had to be.

You managed to tear your eyes away, “god-fucking-dammit,” you clenched your fist- why do assholes have to be so attractive?

“Are you done eye-fucking Jungkook yet?” you jump up and place a hand on your chest, startled by Namjoon, who everyone calls ‘head’ lifeguard, suddenly appearing at the bottom of your chair.

You scowl, “I was not eye-fucking him!” protesting, you glare down at him, trying to assert dominance, which had no effect on Namjoon.

“Convincing,” he rolled his eyes, “you’re done. Get changed and go home,” Namjoon nods his head towards the lifeguard hut that stores our equipment, bags and a toilet. Huffing, you jump down from the chair and grab your yellow top and red shorts, “the uniform is disgusting by the way,” you hold them up to Namjoon and he sighs.

“I have no control over that Y/N,” you throw the top over your swimsuit and just carry the shorts over to the hut. Quickly padding your feet across the sand, the heat tickling the bottom of them.

There was a creak with every step you took up the wooden steps to the small hut; it was old and broken, but you could fit a table big enough for 10 and a toilet in there.

Not feeling the need to change, you slipped on the disgusting shorts and grabbed your backpack.

“Leaving already?”

You turn around and squeal, “Jungkook! Don’t do that!” you punch Jungkook in the arm and realise he still isn’t wearing a shirt, “and put on a shirt! We don’t want the girls on the beach nutting everywhere,” you tried to walk out of the hut, but a chest got in your way.

“Is that really why or do you like staring at me?” You wanted to smack that sneer off his face as Jungkook stepped closer and leaned in, his breath tickling your cheeks, “I can tell you get nervous around me.”

“I don’t get nervous around you idiot,” you step closer to prove it; the height difference was more noticeable as you had to look straight up to stare into his eyes.

“You sure?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow and you felt the frustration bubbling inside you. You were a pot full of boiling water and Jungkook was turning up the heat; the water was spilling over the top and you decided to pinch his bicep and twist, “Ouch! Y/N! Why?!”

Pushing past him, you storm out of the hut and down the creaky stairs. Namjoon spots you walking away in a huff and sees Jungkook standing on the balcony, watching you walk away with a smirk.

He sighs and shouts at him, “Jungkook! Stop gawking at your girlfriend and get up in the chair,” Namjoon beckons him over.

“She’s not my girlfriend and never will be Joon. She loathes me and I resent her, I just want to see if I can get some hot hate sex out of it,” Jungkook walks down the steps and up to a disgusted Namjoon.

“You might regret saying that dude.”

Four days until 'First Dip Of Summer’…

“No! The flag goes there you idiot!” Other than being a foul cock, Jungkook was extremely bossy.

You groan and stab the flag in the wrong space of sand on purpose. Jungkook and you have the same shifts, so doing work as easy as placing flags down as a sign of where people can and can’t swim was somehow the hardest thing to achieve.

“No Y/N! I said here,” Jungkook paced across the sand, anger and the heat of the sand quickening his steps. Grabbing a hold of your hands, he forced the flag and stuck it into the ground, “there.”

Once Jungkook looked up, pleased with his flag placement, his eyes locked with yours. It was like he glitched, the way he tensed up was almost unnoticeable and the darting of the eyes was inconspicuous, but it was hard for you to not notice it.

“Are you,” you paused to look away and cough up a laugh, “nervous?”

Jungkook’s reaction was to do what the guys in those k-drama’s do; look away, an incredulous smile painted on his face as he let out one puff of a laugh and tilted his head back to you, “are you serious?”

If you had a glass of water you would be sipping on it and doubting him.

“I’m dead serious bitch. I make you nervous,” you laughed, digging the flag even deeper so the kids won’t be able to pull them out, “I mean you do call me sexy all the time,” you shrug with a triumphant smile, content with how the tables have turned.

“Being cocky doesn’t make you attractive you know,” the words leaving his lips were serious and laced with hypocrisy, which earned him a glare from you. Jungkook smiled and turned on the balls of his feet to start walking back to the hut, leaving all the equipment for you to carry, “oh shit.”

Jungkook’s constant cursing wasn’t surprising, “what? Did you finally come to your senses and snap out of this douchebag facade,” you joke and turned to look at his face, smirk missing from it. Instead, there was furrowed eyebrows and a slit of his eyes showing as he glowered in the direction before him.

Puzzled, you trailed your eyes across his line of vision and saw a blonde bun in a black bikini approached you, who was in red shorts and a yellow T-shirt that refused to look as flattering on you like that bikini looked on the blonde girl gaining in on you and Jungkook.

Leaning up to Jungkook’s ear while keeping an eye on the girl, you whispered to him, “why do I kind of recognize her?”

“Because she became obsessed with me after I spent a night with her,” Jungkook whispers back and surprisingly grabs your hand, “she’s called Talia and refuses to leave me alone. Also, I’m grabbing your hand because you are my sacrifice to her.”

You looked up to Jungkook with confusion and disgust but was interrupted by a shrill voice, “Jungkook, what are you doing with her?” this girl could not sound any less condescending.

Deciding to speak up, you pull your hand away from Jungkook and take a stand, “working… because that’s what coworkers do,” by the look on her face, she found that unconvincing.

“No, you’re not. You’re totally flirting with him in front of me,” Talia gestured between you two, causing your nose to turn up.

“I would rather be burned alive,” you bend back over and grab the leftover flags, “I don’t know why it is any of your business; you’re just one of those obsessive girls who thinks Jungkook is some kind of object. He’s not and you’re just a bitch,” you huff and try to walk away, missing Jungkook’s amused smile.

“I’m a what?” A split second after you heard this, you were tackled to the ground and the flags flew out of your hands.

Barely clamped fists were thrown your way as you held up your hands in defence. This girl had pinned you on the sand and was trying to scrap you up for whatever reason; the adrenaline pumping through your blood at that moment and was like a shield to any of the pain she inflicted. You had no idea what Jungkook was doing, but it was only when Talia harshly pulled on your hair and you yelped was when she was lifted off you.

Scrambling to your feet and watching Talia try and kick out of Jungkook’s strong grip, you noticed two things: Jungkook was smiling at you and there was more than a few pairs of eyes on you. In fact, the whole beach was looking at you and the commotion you had just caused. One pair of disapproving eyes, in particular, was burning into you- Namjoon’s.

“Y/N! Jungkook!” Namjoon’s booming voice overpowered everyone else’s, “over here. Now.”

Jungkook places down the kicking child as you storm past; you knock the flags into Jungkook’s arms to replace Talia and scoff, “why do you and your cock always get us into so much trouble!”

Two days until 'First Dip Of Summer’…

The window to the lifeguard’s hut was cracked open, night breeze whistling through the crevice and softly singing against your skin, enticing the blood to rush to your skin- red flushing your cheeks. You were sat on the communal table, legs crossed like a child as you were making a start on the decorations.

Insolent curses string from your mouth as you furiously fiddle with the tissue paper, twisting it rigorously- ripping in half. An exasperated grunt vibrated in your throat as you squashed the paper in your hands and lobbed it at the door.

”Are you trying to kill me?” flames light up in your eyes once you see Jungkook standing at the door, holding your discarded tissue paper. A soft ’hopefully’ is heard under your breath and a scoff was sent back from Jungkook as a pathetic reply.

”One. Hour. Late. Jungkook, Namjoon said we both had to help out- not just me!” You scold Jungkook and grab another piece of paper.

”I got caught up!” Jungkook sat up on the table next to you, mirroring your body language and crossing his legs as well.

”In some other girls legs probably,” you mutter and start cutting through the paper, almost pouting to yourself.

The need to smile at your pout was overpowered by the offensive from the judging comment; Jungkook rolled his eyes and threw the filled plastic bag onto the table, ”I was actually buying us food, but it was crowded as it’s a Thursday night!” Last part of the sentence was shouted in your face.

You lean away, uncomfortable with his face being so close to yours; you look back down at the tissue paper rustling in your hands and mumble, ”whatever…”

“What do you want then?” Jungkook peels open the bag to reveal an array of plastic and artificial colours- snacks beyond belief.

”Nothing- help me with this,” no matter how hungry you were, this needed to be finished by tonight and it was already ten o’clock.

“What are we even making?” Jungkook gently lifted the paper in his hands and let it drift down to the table again. You point towards the tassel garland that scattered and snaked around on the floor, the string travelled from the end of the hut all the way to your hands.

”How long is this thing?”

”It has to be long Jungkook, these are going around the whole beach. I’ve only nearly finished one.”

“How many do we need to make?” He ran his fingers through the tassels, taking extra care in handling them.

“Enough to fill the whole beach and decorate the masts they’re putting up,” you start carefully rolling up the paper once you have finished cutting slits into them, whereas Jungkook fell off the table from shock.

“Do you know how many masts are out there! The party is pretty big- you’ve never been to one of these things so i’m sure you don’t know-“

“Hoseok already ran me through everything; you would’ve seen him, but you were late,” you acted supercilious like you had some superiority for being on time.

“Getting you food might I add!” Jungkook stood and looked at you astounded, baffled you can’t even say a proper thank you, ”how are we supposed to make stupid decorations if we can’t even be civil!”

You sigh and look down at the string weaved through your fingers, running every conversation you could have with Jungkook through your head; missed opportunities, different paths. You could ask him to stay, shout at him to leave, ignore him completely.

The breath that leaves your lips was heavy with exhaustion, ”Jungkook, if you want to leave then leave, but if you want to stay- then know, it is much appreciated,” you speak very blasé about it and slide another tassel onto the piece of string, ”I’m not forcing your hand.”

Expecting him to leave, you continued cutting the paper and overlooked Jungkook’s sympathy, thinking there wasn’t an ounce of it for you.

There was a dip in the table; weight shifted, as did your opinion.

”How do we make these things then?” You felt extreme gratitude towards Jungkook when he sat down, but the irritated groan he made as he sat down was not.

You scoot closer towards him and hold out your hands which had tissue paper in it, ”take this, I’ll show you.”

Jungkook carefully takes the paper and waves it around, unsure on what he’s supposed to do. You reach over and grab his hands to stop; you didn’t expect to feel the jolts of electric shoot up your arm at the small contact; you let go of them immediately. Too scared to look up at Jungkook’s eyes, you stare down at the paper and clear your throat, “okay first fold the paper in half lengthways, then in half widthways.”

Surprisingly, Jungkook followed your instructions, trying to concentrate on your voice and not shamelessly sniffing your hair.

“Okay now you need to cut upwards at the unfolded end,” you hand him the scissors and your hands brush against each other again; electric dancing between your touch. Looking up, you half expected to see that smirk you are starting to find incredibly attractive, but were stunned to see Jungkook embodying your dismayed expression.

The secret, awkward message you two were passing through your eyes were delivered and received; you and Jungkook quickly turn away race your eyes to the paper, “well… now you unfold it, twist the middle and roll it up.”

After listening to your instructions intently, Jungkook had finally finished a tassel to lace onto the string, “oh holy shit, would ya’ look at that!”

Jungkook held up the decoration and swung it up and down while gleaming at you, ecstatic he had managed to successfully complete it.

You giggle and smile back for once, “well done… now make another hundred or so,” the change of Jungkook’s expression was faster than light, the curves of his lips dropped like they were attached to weights and you couldn’t help but laugh.

Jungkook hadn’t heard you crack up before; never experiencing your laugh first hand, let alone being the one who forced it out of you. There was a compliment rising up like a sneeze, but like most sneezes, it was interrupted.

“Come on,” you hand Jungkook more tissue paper and kept working on yours, ”I want to finish by 1.”

The most guttural and loud cry passed through your lips as you lay back on the table, surrounded by scrap paper and loose string. It was well past one and you were nowhere near finished. The window was still cracked open, which helped, seeing as things got a little heated in here.

The calm air between you and Jungkook had lifted within the first hour and revealed the dark cloud underneath.

“Stop whining and help me,” Jungkook smacks your leg, ”you’re the one who was complaining about me not doing work!”

”Ouch, that’s abuse!” You sit up and flick his ear.

”That’s retaliation!” Jungkook pushes you.

”An eye for an eye!” You shove scrap tissue paper in his face.

”An eye for an eye and the world will go blind!” Jungkook snatches the scrap paper you threw at him and crams it inside your top.

You let out an agitated squeal and hop off the table, emptying your shirt and watching the crumpled paper fall to the floor to join the others.

Fiery glares were directed across the room, meeting and clashing together as you both had a battle: who would glance away first?

There was a look in his eye, something more than hate; something that made your legs weaken and turn to jelly. Something that made you be the first to cower and look elsewhere, bending down and gathering one of the garlands.

It was more than hate circling around the but now; there was some hardcore sexual tension as well.

Jungkook must’ve seen that something in your eyes and felt the tension too, as he nimbly got off the table and stalked across the tiny room.

Quiet rustling of paper caught your ear and you whipped around to see Jungkook distressfully close; you yelp from shock and drop the garland.

”You ass, what are you doing?” Smacking his arm was ineffective as he just sauntered closer until he had you right where he wanted you: up against the wall. Jungkook’s eyes glowered down at your oblivious ones. He had cornered you literally and figuratively as you saw out your peripherals that Jungkook’s arms were either side of your head.

The oh-so-familiar smirk graced his face, causing frustration to bubble in your stomach, adding to the heat and tension in the room.

”What? Are you nervous?” Jungkook glided the back of his fingers across your cheek and painted a bright pink blush on them; his fingers acting as a paintbrush to tint you with your bright red embarrassment.

”You fucking wish,” you spit back and jolt forwards, closing the space a little more. A sudden urge to get as close as possible while still challenging each other took over.

“Then why are you blushing?” Jungkook retorted as he grazes his fingers on your cheek, trying to get a rise out of you; drifting down to your chin and tilting your face up.

”I’m the one who’s making you nervous,” you rise onto your tiptoes, too wrapped up into the moment you didn’t realize what you were doing, ”your hand is shaking,”

The feeling you got when saw the glint of uneasiness in his eyes was somehow exhilarating. You watched how it transformed into the usual competitive look as his hands flattened and rested gently on either side of your face.

“What are you doing?” Jungkook said nothing to you as he leaned down and connected your lips in the sweetest kiss you’ve ever experienced- something you didn’t expect from him. It only lasted two seconds, which didn’t give you enough time to even close your eyes. You knew it was just to tease, but you weren’t sure why he went so far.

Jungkook pulled away slowly and not far enough, close enough your bottom lip softly grazed his; shaky breaths mixed together as you start to feel your resolve slowly breaking down, “what was that for?”

”Nervous now?”

All it took was those two words for something to snap inside you; your core enlighting and set ablaze. Harshly grabbing the back of Jungkook’s neck, you forced him back to your lips, wanting to taste him once again, but for more than just two seconds.

It was an immediate reaction for Jungkook, never knowing how much he has really wanted to do this. The kiss was like an attack, both of you chased each other’s lips and fought for dominance. His hands travelling everywhere, not wanting to stay in the same place as they could be somewhere else, touching different parts of your skin. They found a home on your back, pulling out your shirt from your shorts so his hands could roam up your bare back and aggressively pull you closer.

You ran your fingers through the back of Jungkook’s hair and start pulling once you happily welcome his tongue inside your mouth, letting it explore all of it.

”Jungkook…” you had found an opening to softly whimper his name when he trails his lips down to your neck.

Something about hearing your voice attached to his name in that manner was like a drug to Jungkook and he was more than willing to get addicted.

You felt a ruthless grip on your right thigh as it was lifted to balance on Jungkook’s hip- an excuse to get closer to you and press his body to yours as he kept pushing you back into the wall, feeling his member press against your leg through his shorts. A gasp boldly fell from your swollen lips from the new contact and Jungkook suddenly biting down on your neck; you could feel the red mark already forming on your neck.

Tugging and yanking at Jungkook’s unbelievably fluffy hair has become your favourite thing to do as his lips go to work on your neck, sucking and biting here and there to force another small mewl out of you.

Just as you were about to fully give yourself to Jungkook here in this hut -not like you haven’t melted under him already- mother nature thought otherwise. The wind picked up and slammed the window shut, snapping both yours and Jungkook’s heads to the direction of the heavy slam.

It was like God telling you to snap out of your shit. And you certainly did.

Heavy breaths and wide eyes were passed between you and Jungkook once you both met eyes once again. Again, it was like something snapped inside you.

Placing two firm hands on Jungkook’s chest you successfully pushed him away, ”what the fuck!”

”You were the one who pulled me back!” Jungkook threw the blame at you.

”You kissed me in the first place!” You countered.

”I was doing it to tease you!” It was like a ball being hit back and forth on a tennis court, but you had just lost a point to a second bounce. That small comment from Jungkook threw you off your game more than you thought it would.

”Whatever,” you ducked away and continued organizing the garlands so you could hang them up tomorrow.

”So you are just going to ignore this?”

”Ignore what?” You stood back up, garlands in your arms and an unbothered look plastered on your face.

Jungkook smirked, looking away and letting a huff of air past his mouth as a pathetic laugh. He stepped closer, softly placing his hands on top of yours, ”you can think nothing happened between us, but that mark on your neck says otherwise,” Jungkook took the garland away from your arms to lay it out on the table, satisfied smile at the shocked expression you held.

You quickly clutched your neck and glared at the back of his head, “Jungkook!” A kick to the back of his leg brought Jungkook to the floor and to silence.

One day until 'First Dip Of Summer’…

”To the left a little,” a glare was shot Jungkook’s way like a missile after he spoke; it sealed his lips and sent those cliché tingles through his spine.

Ignoring the goosebumps, Jungkook handed you more fairy lights, ”isn’t it dangerous to be standing on that?”

“I’m fine! Hop off my dick already!” You snap back at him, stumbling slightly so you can look at him again, ”It’s all sound Charlie brown.”

”Don’t use peanuts rhymes against me!” Jungkook growled back, but with a cheeky smile on his face.

You caught a glimpse of it and just like an infection, it spread to you too. The corners of your mouth perked up for a second and that’s all. It had been approximately 19 hours since your decorating debacle with Jungkook yesterday and things were surprisingly neutral. Neither of you had brought up the kiss, but it was the only thing either of you could think of- the massive red hickey on your neck didn’t help.

After you both got over the awkwardness when you first arrived at the deserted beach -Jungkook miraculously getting here early- things started flowing normally. It was like you two were actually friends, a few spats here and there, but all in all, it was rather pleasant. Comfortable. Maybe that kiss did you two some good.

Jungkook noticed your foot verging closer to the edge of the bannister he told you not to stand on, ”okay Y/N, I’m being serious here, please get down from there,” Jungkook became cautious of your every move seeing as you were standing on the balcony that went around the deck of the lifeguard hut. It was a large drop as the hut was also on stilts.

”Jungkook, you said: ’let’s decorate the hut too’ so that’s exactly what I’m doing,” you shook your head and continued decorating the roof of the hut, dangling fairy lights around the edge.

Jungkook let out a deep sigh, ”just be careful.”

”Careful is my middle name,” you retorted just as you were stretching up to reach that one part of the roof that was far away from your grasp, giving Jungkook a lovely view if your denim shorts riding up your thighs.

Having a sudden change of heart from his usual pervy self, Jungkook, being the sudden gentleman he was, looked away- only blushing a little.

You weren’t sure if it was you reaching to somewhere you were incapable of getting to or Jungkook looking away, but those two factors definitely helped with your fall.

Stumbling forwards, you let out a small ’woah’ which was enough to get Jungkook looking back at you swinging your arms back and forth to stay steady.

A string of curse words left your mouth once you teetered back and fell off the balcony. Sand isn’t exactly the softest thing to land on and you weren’t looking forward to it.

Luckily, Jungkook had some quick reactions and darted underneath you, breaking your fall unbeknownst to you.

Tumbling onto the sand was a little less painful than you thought- a lot more squishy too.

Grumbling, you used your elbows to help sit up, but once you place your elbow into the sand you heard an intense groan like someone was punched in the stomach. Don’t think you’re lying on the sand.

Whipping your head around, you see Jungkook in agonizing pain due to the elbow spearing into his lower abdomen, ”oh shit! Sorry!” You hastily climb off the poor man and stand over him, ”are you alright?”

”Do I look alright!” Jungkook tried to shout, but it came out all in the one breath that he could muster.

You fought off the smile threatening to appear, ”well… no,” it was too hard, you slipped up and let the smile and small giggle fall past.

Once you saw Jungkook smiling back while clutching his stomach you knew it was okay to start laughing.

”Thank you for trying to catch me at least,” you stood over him, offering your hand as service, ”maybe I should’ve listened to you on this one.”

”Maybe you should listen to me all the time,” Jungkook took your offer with a grin and used your hand to help himself up, both of you ignoring that strange tingle you got at the minimal contact.

You giggled lightly, ”who knows where I would be if I did that,” you didn’t plan out the amount of space between the two of you once Jungkook got to his feet, it was extremely close. Uncomfortably close. On the brink close.

Looking down and away, you diverted your attention to the beach; all the decorations were finally hung up and there had been a set area for the ’dance floor’. The DJ scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon and the volunteers for cooking would arrive at the same time- it was good that everything was already set up before they arrived.

”Hobi has really outdone himself this year,” Jungkook approached behind you and followed the path your eyes had already taken.

”Well, everything is ready now anyway. We finished a little earlier than yesterday huh?” You clap your hands together and turn back to him, awkwardly smiling at him, unsure of what to do next and let the uncomfortable silence drag on. You didn’t really want to leave yet; you weren’t exactly hating his company at this moment in time.

”Did you want to stick around for a bit?” It was like he was a mind reader.

“I guess I could stomach you for a few more hours,” you laugh and start walking away from all the decorations, illuminations and the stress that came with it.

“Are you gonna wait!” Jungkook sprinted after you, trailing in your footsteps that followed to the wet sand, just the edge of where the waves were cut off, ”where are we going?”

”Who said anything about we?” Tilting your head to the side, you grin at Jungkook, ”just kidding. There’s just this view from this rock that-”

”-shows how the moon perfectly hits the ocean,” Jungkook nudged your side slightly, ”I was the one who found that spot a while ago. It’s the reason this place is called the ’Reflecting Bay’ you know. Cringey but true.”

You nudge him back a little harder while laughing, ”alright you cocky shit. No need to get so proud over finding a spot,” you tease with a low voice and he retaliates with a shove.

You glare at Jungkook and push back, soon turning it into a competition of who can shove who the hardest.

Obviously, it goes too far and your ass ends up in the sea, ”Jeon Jungkook! How dare you!” You could feel the water seeping into your shorts as Jungkook made a run for it, cackling while he does so.

You got back to your feet with only one thing on your mind: Kill Jungkook. Slithering out behind Jungkook, you planned to Randy Orton RKO his ass. You dashed towards the fleeting figure and gained in on the gimp.

Once he was arm’s length away you leapt onto his back, pulling him back by his neck, ”if I’m going down you’re coming down with me!” It was mostly unintelligible from laughing, but you think Jungkook got the idea as he started screaming.

The takedown was satisfying, managing to be able to get Jungkook to totter backwards and into the deeper part of the sea before you both fell into the cold, but cooling water.

Frosty water surrounded your waist as you sat in your triumph. Jungkook was just about to turn and splash water in your face, but it seems mother nature was on your side again as a rather large wave happened to pass by and thwack him in the face. You erupted into roars of laughter.

"Okay, now what’s your most embarrassing moment then?”

It had been a few hours since you and Jungkook had made it to the ‘special�� rock with the amazing view of the ocean and it was surprising how many things you have found out about each other already. You were lying down in remarkable agony because of the rock sticking into all the uncomfortable parts, but you have been lying next to Jungkook so long it became numb.

“I can’t think of one- a good one anyway,” Jungkook shook his head at you while smiling; stealing the stars from the sky as reflecting into his eyes.

”Then think of a bad one,” you playfully punch his arm.

”Okay,” Jungkook pretended to think, ”probably my interview with Namjoon to become a lifeguard,” he looked over at you, refusing to tell the story and covering it up with a smile.

”Elaborate please!”

”Fine, fine,” Jungkook puts his hands behind his head and sighs, ”the interview went so smoothly, but at the end of it, after we had shaken hands I was about to walk away from the hut… and forgot there were stairs.”

You bite your lip to stop laughing, but is unable to conceal your grin, “you fell down the stairs?” You give in and start giggling.

“Why are you laughing? I broke my leg,” Jungkook was a hypocrite, as he was slowly chuckling while talking.

”I got the job, but I couldn’t work for 11 weeks- Stop laughing!” Jungkook slapped your arm and kept laughing yourself, ”it’s not even that funny!”

”Then stop laughing too!” It was the situation where once one of you start laughing, you just can’t stop. Snorts and snickers were passed in the air until you were face to face and it all ceased.

You saw the stars sparkle in his eyes, or maybe Jungkook just thought they were a reflection of yours. Either way, the tension was still there again and it’s got to a point where you couldn’t ignore it anymore.

But there’s always that wall in front of you from saying anything, the wall is that he’s Jeon Jungkook. A girl has literally tackled you because you said more than four words to him.

“Alright,” you sit up, “we should go back to the hut right?”

Jungkook followed after you, disappointed he didn’t just lean in.

The walk back to the lifeguard hut was more than awkward; you would’ve rather brush your teeth and then drank orange juice.

You walked up the creaky steps and heard them resound again as Jungkook followed suit, the awkward tension following him; it has been stalking you two since you came back from the rock, after the small staring competition.

“You know… if you act like you did today all the time, I don’t think I would hate you that much, ” you spin on the ball of your foot and lean back onto the table, watching how those words caught Jungkook’s attention as he throws a towel into his duffel bag.

”Ditto, but I still hate you,” Jungkook swallowed a lump in his throat and zipped up his bag halfway.

”Oh yeah, I still hate you too,” you moved your eyes down while mumbling, praying not to make eye contact with him, but that was inevitable as he was striding towards you.

”Good. Wouldn’t want you getting the wrong idea,” you were getting that uncomfortable feeling in your stomach again as Jungkook closed the distance.

You followed Jungkook’s eyes that travelled to your lips and eyes again, ”I don’t have the wrong idea, we hate each other.”

”Yeah,” Jungkook let it out as a breath and felt it tickle your nose because of how close he is.

”I hate you so fucking much,” your words dribbled out of your mouth quickly and were caught by Jungkook’s lips, slamming them onto your mouth to stop you from talking any longer.

A soft grunt left Jungkook’s lips once he kissed you and harshly grabbed onto the back of your head, clutching your hair and leading you into the kiss.

You were already weak at the knees at the taste of his lips, the smell of his hair, the heat from his touch and you didn’t even care anymore. You melted into his arms and gladly gave in to him already, which Jungkook was more than happy about.

Whispered whimpers fell from your lips and vibrated onto Jungkook’s and once again, it was like music to his ears. You hopped back onto the table and snaked your arms around his neck, legs around his waist; pulling him even closer than possible.

Jungkook was getting needier, wanting to get rid of the clothes between the two of you, he pulled away from you, a smacking sound once his lips left yours. He pulls his top over his head with one arm, reaching behind him to clutch at it and throw it away. Fascinated as you’ve never been this close to a shirtless Jungkook before, you run your hands up and down his chest, dragging one finger through the crevices in his muscles.

You saw this as an invitation to do the same; crossing your hands over one another as they played with the hem of your top before lifting it over your head, unwrapping yourself like a present.

You revealed yourself to Jungkook, blushing that he’s seeing you like this; it’s not like he hasn’t seen you in your bikini before -seeing as you basically live in it- but you feel more vulnerable now as he rested his forehead on yours and scanned his eyes up and down your body.

Your chest was rising and falling, caught in heavy breaths as Jungkook drifted his hands all over your torso, resting on your back and on the only two ties that were keeping your bikini top attached to you. A look was exchanged between the two of you and Jungkook slowly leaned you back onto the table, kissing your shoulder and untangling your top as he does so.

It happened in a blink of an eye and your bikini was discarded to the side, but Jungkook knew how to take his time; gliding his hand up the curve of your body before landing on your bare chest and massaging your breast, pinching your nipple to get you whimpering. Soft lips trailed down from your shoulder to your neck and felt them curve once they landed on the previous mark, feeling Jungkook give it one small peck before moving down a little to leave an even bigger hickey.

You just laid back on the table, revelling in the pleasure and letting Jungkook work his magic on you, gasping and lifting your back every time he hit that sweet spot on your neck.

The feeling may be amazing, but you were getting tired of it. You grab Jungkook’s face to look him in the eyes, ”can you just fuck me already, you tease,” you didn’t even care if you were begging for it from the Jeon Jungkook anymore; you just wanted him.

Jungkook got the message and smirked- the damn thing has managed to turn you on, even more, feeling your arousal pool in your panties.

You felt a tugging at your shorts and lifted your hips so it was easier to pull them off. The way they were ripped off with your bikini bottoms made you gasp at the cold air touching your newly exposed skin.

What surprised you, even more, was the hot breath tickling your thighs. Jungkook was on his knees before you, who was sitting on the table and spread your legs to reveal your soaking wet cunt, proud of the sight as he smirked and leaned in closer.

”Jung- wait-” you abruptly sit up to stop him; one, because it was a bit embarrassing for him to be that close; two, you were needy for something other than his tongue.

Jungkook disregards your pleas as he pushed your legs further apart so you were exposed and sensitive to his hard, lustful glower. Just as you were to beg for him to stop, Jungkook envelopes your folds with his tongue, slowly dragging it up and flicking it against your clit, lapping up your juices

Jungkook licked his lips, cleaning them of you and smirked, ”you taste amazing baby,” you let out a small squeak and clutch onto Jungkook’s hair at the instant pleasure; nerve endings tingling at the new nickname and the words that came before, dripping with lust.

Lips clamped around your small bud and began furiously sucking, eliciting squeals of pure bliss from you; thighs shuddering under his grip, you clutch onto Jungkook’s hair for support so you don’t fall back.

Hair pulling must’ve been a turn on for Jungkook as he began to growl into your pussy and threaded two fingers inside you, stretching you out and curling them round to hit the right spot. You got lost in moans as Jungkook kept abusing the same spot over and over again while still swirling his tongue around your sensitive clit; the wet squelching sound every time Jungkook pulled his fingers away and slammed the back in was somehow incredibly satisfying to him.

The rope in your stomach was on its last thread as you fall back onto the table, hands still tangled in Jungkook’s hair and pulling harder with every thrust of his fingers, “Jungkook… please I’m c-” it hit you like a truck as the rope snapped and you cum all over Jungkook’s digits, shrieking as you writhe all because of his two fingers; eyes roll back and you see stars and slowly calm down from your high.

The air was thick with hunger as Jungkook stood to his feet and placed his fingers inside his mouth, cleaning your cum off his digits while staring. You were panting uncontrollably, already worn out as your eyelids droop and things become hazy due to the heavy orgasm you have just come down from.

“Y/N,” Jungkook grabs your thighs and pulls you closer to him, leaning over and pressing against you- skin to skin, ”have I ever told you how beautiful I think you are?” You didn’t get a say in before he had silenced you with his lips.

Jungkook was getting as restless as you were, pushing down his shorts and boxers, pulling himself out and pumping his member all while making out with you.

Your lips melded perfectly with Jungkook’s as if they knew exactly what to do as soon as they came in contact and sent shivers down your spine. Jungkook softly moaned into your mouth as he moved his hands to pin you down onto the table, grabbing your wrists.

Being the usual tease he is, Jungkook hoisted his hips forward, softly grazing the tip of his hard-on against your wet folds while biting on your ear.

You struggled in Jungkook’s grip, whimpering at the insolent teasing, ”fucking tease,” you whine in his ear and Jungkook happily turns your constant whines into yelps as he brutally thrusts into you, having to stop for a second to take in the glorious feeling of your throbbing heat wrapped around his cock.

After hearing Jungkook curse under his breath, he starts moving his hips, slowly rolling them as he pushes into you as deep as he can, which earns a hearty moan of his name from you.

“Jungkook.. fucking faster,” you gasp as Jungkook bottomed out in you, completely filling you up sending your eyes rolling to the back of your head and your legs wrapping around Jungkook’s waist, ”holy crap!”

”Faster?” Jungkook smirked at your cries to either stop or give more. He began snapping his hips back and forth, picking up the pace as he fucks you on the table.

Lewd noises erupted in the room, mostly coming from your mouth as moans and whimpers fall so effortlessly as Jungkook pummels into you, setting every part of you on fire. The other noises sound from Jungkook’s hips slamming into your thighs; the sound of wet skin slapping together as Jungkook digs balls deep into you and your juices overspill and surround his cock every time he enters.

The table shook back and forth beneath you from the mere force of how hard Jungkook was pounding into you, desperate for you to cum first and with the pace he’s going at, you weren’t too far off.

You wrap your arms around Jungkook’s neck, hugging him to your chest so you can softly moan into his ear, knowing now how much it gets him going.

You knew this was true as Jungkook grunts and trails his hand down your stomach and to your clit start fiercely circling his digits on it while slamming into you relentlessly.

That was it; that was all it took to get you screaming and convulsing underneath him once again. You had peaked and gone into a daze of wails and moans as you cum around Jungkook.

“Fuck, yes baby,” Jungkook shouts as he goes faster, chasing his high and overstimulating you in the process.

“Jungkook! Wait, please!” You shrill and dig your nails into his back, but thankfully Jungkook has reached the end of the cliff and was about to fall, but pulled out at the very last second and came all over your stomach, shaking and shuddering on top of you.

Silence filled the air but was broken by both of you panting wildly; nothing else was said apart from heavy breaths as Jungkook stared down at your collarbone, recuperating himself so he didn’t say anything stupid.

You kept your eyes away too, looking around the hut and seeing you both had actually steamed up the windows and the room smelled of hot sex.

A few more awkward seconds pass, letting what just happened to sink in. You just had sex with Jeon Jungkook in the lifeguard hut; you had become another one of his conquests, and once you saw it like that, it didn’t sit very well with you.

”Um…” You turn your head to chase after Jungkook’s eyes and successfully catch them. You start softly pushing on his chest to get off and he gets the message.

”Oh! Sorry… um I-I’ll- shit, wait!” Jungkook was a bumbling mess above you, which was more than surprising, knowing this probably isn’t how he acts around girls, ”I can clean you up.”

Jungkook pulls out of you and stumbles to get his shorts back on his hips, surprisingly you gasped quietly at the sudden loss of contact. You sit up and grab your bikini from the chair it landed on, managing to tie it on before Jungkook twisted around with a towel from his duffel bag.

You watched the quiet man gradually approach you with a towel in hand and ready to clean you up. Jungkook handles you like glass as he wipes away the mess from your stomach; he throws the towel back to his duffel bag and picks your shorts off the floor.

Your shorts and panties were held out before you, so you swung your legs into them and jumped off the table and pull them the rest of the way up.

Looking over Jungkook’s shoulder, you saw your top near your backpack, ‘I’ll make my getaway from this excruciating awkwardness by running, grabbing my bag, and dashing out of the hut.’

“Hey Y/N, can we talk about this like adults for once because-“

“Sorry! Got to go!” You pat Jungkook’s chest and dodge around him, grabbing your bag with your top and hastily run out of the hut and across the beach.

Your emotions were all over the place and running away didn’t get rid of them. Why did you do that? Why did you let him do that? Don’t you hate him? No, no I don’t think you do?

You knew for sure that you definitely felt a little more than dislike towards Jungkook and that little sexcapade was more than meaningless hate sex to you. However, once you remember the type of person Jungkook is, all hope it meant something more to him was tossed out the window.

‘Welcome to the First Dip of Summer!’

You read the banner and sigh. You are incredibly sleep-deprived after staying up all night, trying to decipher where you are with your feelings, and unfortunately, you were unsuccessful with even figuring out what to eat for breakfast, so this Jungkook situation was far from being solved in your head.

Thankfully, you didn’t have work today so you had no awkward run-ins with Jungkook so far, but the day had broke and nighttime painted the sky, meaning it was time for the party you were now dreading.

With heavy steps, you hesitantly shuffle into the party. It was already pretty crowded, music at a reasonable sound level, people dancing, drinks being thrown back and forth, but it had a chill atmosphere to it which made it more enjoyable.

You scan over the party and spot the punch almost instantly, knowing there was alcohol in it you stalk over; you were new in this area so being slightly tipsy would help with talking to other people. Carefully pouring it into a plastic cup, you fill it halfway and take a sip, walking away from the drinks and wandered around the beach, knowing you would spend your whole night there if you didn’t.

People were casually mingling between each other as you were stood at the side, watching them interact and just enjoying the cold breeze blowing through your hair, cooling down your cheeks.

Your eyes darted from one person to another, no one is at all recognizable; every pair of eyes was foreign and cold until you landed on a pair that was quite the opposite. Their eyes were all too familiar and… warm. The pair of eyes belonged to Jungkook, and they were staring right at you as they bore past your eyes.

Jungkook was looking for more than your eyes; Jungkook was trying to look for a sign, anything, that tells him that last night meant something, that last night was the start of something; he sure as hell wanted it to be.

Neither of you was looking away; neither of you wanted to, but the wind wasn’t doing you justice as your cheeks were heating up and getting redder by the second and the breeze refused to cool them down. The tingling up your spine and the uncomfortable feeling in your stomach were unyielding, just as much as Jungkook’s gaze was.

Okay… maybe, just maybe, you do have a fat ass crush on this guy.

It looked as if Jungkook was about to take the first step and walk over but- ”what did I say about you eye-fucking him again?”

You jump and turn to see Namjoon next to you, drink in hand.

”And how many times do I have to tell you I wasn’t eye-fucking him!” Namjoon had interrupted your staring competition and you were pouty about it.

”Yeah, you’re right; you went straight to the fucking part,” Namjoon gestures with a cup in hand at the gigantic hickey on your neck, “I’m guessing he got that hate sex he wanted.”

You blush and clutch onto your neck, “what do you mean he ‘got the hate sex he wanted’? Who did?”

”Jungkook. He really wanted to add you to his list of girls or something with some hate sex,” Namjoon absentmindedly shrugged and took another sip of his drink.

”Yeah… that’s all he’s getting though,” you look back and glare at a now confused Jungkook, wondering why your stare had changed so drastically, ”I’m getting another drink.”

You storm off, back to the punch again and notice another person standing there with you, paying no attention and not really caring as they watched you fill your cup all the way to the brim.

”Woah, woah, woah, ” it turned out to be a guy, voice deep and concerned, ”those drink may look harmless, but after a few more sips you could end up like Yoongi,” the stranger points behind him and to the dance floor where Yoongi -your other colleague- is bumbling and stumbling on the dance floor, trying to accomplish what he thought was the sprinkler, but was actually a very strange butter churn.

“Maybe I want to end up like that,” you take a sip of your sweet drink and get a chance to look the stranger up and down- he was quite cute.

The stranger gave you a pointed look and it made you smile.

”I’m Christian.”

”Y/n.”

It has gotten late and Jungkook was still looking at you flirting -or what he thought was flirting- with another guy. Jungkook was fidgety; he was getting this burning in his stomach and he hated it. Knowing exactly what the feeling was what made him fidget worse.

Yesterday he didn’t expect to be getting this jealous over you, but he was.

Jungkook was hoping you were at least interested in him after what happened, but obviously, not after the glare you gave him; it hurt a little more than he let on.

”Jungkook? Are you even listening to me!” The random girl who started talking to Jungkook started waving her hand in front of his eyes that were trained on you.

“Not really,” Jungkook looks over the girl’s hand and watches as the guy gets -what Jungkook thought was- dangerously close to you. He scoffs with a laugh and tilts his head quickly, ”fuck no.”

The conversation with Christian so far was pleasant… but that’s it. To you, he didn’t have any redeeming qualities that interested you. There was no teasing, only a few laughs, no innuendos- you stop yourself from thinking and focus back on the conversation once you realise who you’re thinking of.

“Yeah, you can see her if you like?” Christian leans in closer with his phone, trying to show you his new dog, but it wasn’t even three seconds before the adorable picture was pulled away from your eyes.

Surprised, you look up and see Christian being forced away from you and turned around; you caught a glimpse of the person manhandling Christian and, of course, it was Jungkook.

“You shouldn’t distract a lifeguard sir,” Jungkook spoke matter-of-factly while reeling his arm back. The sound of the punch Christian got square in his face sounded like bones crushing; people were surrounding the scene and gawking once they see Christian get hit by Jungkook.

”Jungkook! You imbecile! What are you doing?” You protect Christian from any more incoming punches and stand in front of him, ”are you insane?” You shouted at Jungkook.

Jungkook felt all these different faces glaring holes into him; if he stayed out here any longer he would burn under the heat of their disapproval.

It was a snap decision for Jungkook to snatch your hand and pull you into the lifeguard’s hut- it wasn’t the best decision, but it got you and him alone.

“God, you are insane,” you chatter behind Jungkook as he opens the door to the hut and pulls you in with him, ”what is your problem?”

This wasn’t the first time Jungkook has shut you up with his lips and pushed you up against the door, but you swore to yourself you wouldn’t let him do it again. One swift push later and Jungkook was a few steps away from you.

”No Jungkook! If you think you can pull me in here for another round of meaningless hate sex you are sorely mistaken!” You crossed your arms over one another and scowled at him.

”Is that what you think it was? Because it definitely wasn’t,” Jungkook stepped a little closer.

“What do you mean?”

Jungkook began scratching the back of his neck, becoming bashful- something you haven’t experienced before, “I may… I may opposite of hate you.”

You raise your eyebrows at Jungkook, ”so that means…”

”I like you… and what we did wasn’t meaningless, neither was the time we spent together before it… you were the one who walked away last night.”

You shuffle, feeling slightly embarrassed so you look down to hide it, ”I was a bit scared. I wasn’t really a fan of becoming another one of your conquests because, I guess, I also opposite of hate you too,” the last part of your sentence was finished in a soft t-shirt, the smell of detergent and the soft feel of it forced your eyes closed.

Jungkook was hugging you and it somehow felt comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. Your stomach was doing backflips, but Jungkook was warm on this cold night so you melted and wrapped your arms around his waist, ”I am still pissed you punched that innocent man.”

Jungkook chuckled lightly, ”I know,” he leaned his chin on the top of your head while petting your hair.

”Christ, you two are actually gross,” you pull away slightly to see Namjoon sitting on the table in the dark, shirt stained for some reason and drink still in hand.

Jungkook was obviously not a fan of the teasing as he retorted with something that had Namjoon hopping off the table while gagging.

“We had sex on that table you’re sitting on.”

[shadowmaat]

ObiMaul, 17?

the one where your soulmate’s name is on one wrist and your enemy’s name is on the other and you have no clue which is which.

Quinlan laughed himself sick when the names finally solidified on Obi-Wan’s wrists. 

“Only you, Obi,” he said, wiping the tears from his eyes.

“Kriff you, Quin.” Obi-Wan frowned down at his wrists. “Something must have gone wrong.”

“It’s the Force, nerf butt, it can’t be wrong.”

Obi-Wan didn’t bother arguing. 

Keeping it from the Temple gossips was impossible, but he managed to endure the jokes, the speculative looks, and the sympathy until some new bit of scandal came along to distract everyone. He kept his wrists covered, but developed a habit of talking to anyone before fighting them. An exasperated Qui-Gon accused him of flirting with his enemies, but Obi-Wan insisted he was just being friendly. And it wasn’t as if he flir- chatted- with everyone who was trying to kill him. The droids who tried to assassinate both of them on their diplomatic mission to Naboo, for instance. He had no qualms about cutting them down or deflecting fire back at them without asking for their names first. 

By that point it was more habit than anticipation that kept him asking. He’d long since given up finding any answers and resigned himself to being some cosmic joke of the Force. That, of course, was when the Force decided to laugh at him.

“And who might you be, small, dark, and broody?” Obi-Wan quipped as the Sith ignited his double-ended saber.

“Now is not the time, Obi-Wan!” Qui-Gon hissed at him.

If he hadn’t been studying the zabrak he might have missed the way those blazing yellow eyes widened at the sound of his name.

“You!” he snarled, and launched into his attack.

Qui-Gon may as well not have been present for all the attention the Sith paid to him. It was all about Obi-Wan, who had a sinking feeling he knew what his opponent’s name was.

“Maul,” he guessed, dodging between the laser gates surrounding the core of the plasma refinery. “You’re Maul, right?” He ducked a saber swing. “It doesn’t have to be like this!”

“My enemy,” Maul said. “I’ve waited so long for this moment!”

There was an unexpected velvety texture to the voice that caught Obi-Wan off guard and raised the hairs on his arms. He deflected another blow and grinned.

“How can you be sure we’re enemies? After all, I have your name on both of my wrists!”

He ignored his Master’s shouts. Ignored, too, the churning of his own gut at what he was suggesting. A Jedi and a Sith? Soulmates? If his Master hadn’t already been set to disown him, this would surely do it.

Maul stepped back, glaring at him. “It’s you or my Master, and my Master is everything to me!”

The fury of the next assault was tempered with an edge of desperation. Fear prickled Obi-Wan’s skin, but it wasn’t just fear for his own life. He blocked and held the next overhead strike long enough to get a look at Maul’s wrists. Like his own, they were bandaged, but the bandages had come loose during their fight, revelaing a mass of scar tissue. His heart plummeted into his boots.

“I can help you,” he said.

“I don’t need your help, Jedi scum!”

Obi-Wan hadn’t had a vision in ages, but in that moment possibilities glittered around him like poisoned razors, each one worse than the last. If he wanted to remain a Jedi he’d have to kill Maul; they’d expel him as Tainted otherwise. Every path ahead seemed murky and strangled by shadows. There were no good choices, only ones less filled with pain and regrets. So he rejected them all.

Maul swung back for the killing blow. Obi-Wan disengaged his saber and tackled him, sending them both over the edge of the pit and into the darkness below. Maul yelled, kneeing him in the groin and attempting to bite his neck.

“You can thank me later!” He refused to let go, sending a silent plea into the Force to let them survive the plummet... and each other.

Whatever the future held for them it wouldn’t be with the Jedi or the Sith. But maybe, just maybe, they could find it together.

[kyndaris]

Freaky Deaky

The third post-apocalyptic game that I decided to play in the year 2019 was not Rage 2. Having never played the original, the latest title from both id Software and Avalanche Studios was never much on my radar. Rather, it was another PlayStation exclusive that had caught my eye - absorbing me for hours on end until I had nabbed the Platinum and had seen all of the interconnected story lines to 100%. Known for the Syphon Filter series as well as the handheld Uncharted adventure on the PlayStation Vita, this time Bend Studios decided to cut their teeth on something a little different. 

Days Gone is an open-world game set in a world where humans have been infected with a virus that turns them all but feral, the protagonist, Deacon St John, tries to navigate the ins and outs of survivor camps as he tries to eke out a living in the Oregon wilderness. A member of a motorcycle club, there’s much more to the gruff drifter that first meets the eye. And it was these story hooks: playing as an outlaw bikie who was married to a botanical research scientist that kept me going through what felt like two to three seasons of a television show. 

I’ll admit, there were moments that I found tedious. Particularly in the first and second act when they were trying to introduce the world. It also seemed as if they were trying to cram in a little too much world building within the actual story lines rather than focusing on Deacon’s immediate wants and needs. This was further exacerbated by my completionist style of play where I would continue to strive and complete all the side quests before moving on with the story.

Because of that, I rode quite a bit through back roads of Oregon instead of fast travelling. It helped that the bike controls handle well, although each subsequent upgrade made it a little less manoeuvrable with its increased focus on speed. Still, that’s what DRIFT is for. And I’d find myself zipping through the mountains and forests with ease.

The one quibble I have with the game is that there’s no way to run and gun. R2 is both melee attack as well as shoot when paired with L2. With the focus on running from huge hordes of freakers, it felt a little counter-intuitive that I could not simply turn around, spray the enemy with bullets and then keep on running. Or have Deacon shoot over his shoulder. Instead, he would slow down simply to aim. It slowed down quite a bit of the action and caused quite a few deaths in my first few attempts at tackling a horde.

Speaking of the zombie-esque enemies in Days Gone, none of them are actually undead. Much like in the Last of Us, these foes are quite alive but infected with a particular virulent virus strain that decimated any children under the age of 12 as well as the elderly. Those that survived became the Freakers - mindless zombie-like creatures that practice cannibalism and act incredibly aggressive to those that are not one of them. 

One of the major things that proved a little confusing in how the virus worked was that none of the survivors camped in what remained of Oregon state seemed worried about infection - even though when the initial outbreak happened, millions of people died or became freakers. Initially, I thought that like rabies, it was passed through saliva (or being bitten). Yet when you uncover when the virus first spread, it seemed much more plausible that it was airborne.

Perhaps after the initial infection, the so-called freakers that the virus created could no longer spread it? For a while, I pored over reddit threads to see if anyone else had a better explanation for why Deacon and many of the other survivors were so cavalier about the entire experience. 

This, too, was a sticking point for me with regards to the game but didn’t quite detract me from going along for the ride.

I also wondered a little about Sarah’s tattoos. Based on the trailers, I had thought she got them after meeting Deacon but she already had them along her arms at their first meeting. Perhaps it was an act of defiance against her parents. I, for one, would have preferred if there had been a bit more backstory for the characters.

As for the overall narrative to Days Gone, all I can say that it takes one for a spin. And even when it could have neatly ended in the second act, it still brought the focus back towards Deacon’s quest to find his wife. Though it seemed to be about Deacon’s death wish and struggle with grief, within two thirds of the game he is rewarded with news that everything he had believed was wrong. Rather than focusing on loss, the developers decided to reward Deacon with a happy ending. 

Like an article I read, it makes Deacon’s arc feel a little cheap. They try to prop him up as finally settling down and taking part in a community of survivors, but it still felt as if he hasn’t truly changed throughout the course of the game.

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed Days Gone. After looking through a couple of reviews, I will admit that I was worried that the game would not entice me as much as it did. Perhaps because I played it a month after release, many of the bugs that had plagued early adopters never bothered me. There was no audio issues besides one time when it didn’t load for a cutscene (which was easily rectified by loading it up again from before it happened) and a few freezes along with texture pop-ins. The promise of a government conspiracy, though, has made me eager for more adventures in this world. 

And perhaps, Sarah might just find a cure for the aggressive virus that has now evolved to a point where it allows those infected to retain their intelligence and reason. Here’s to uncovering more about NERO’s activities and stopping their insidious plans for good!

[niyes-lahiffe]

Soapy Decks and Flying Underwear

Listening to Pirates of the Caribbean while reading is not required but is strongly recommended.

The Jade Crew and the Coral Crew are mortal enemies. It all started when the Coral Crew went to go find an ancient treasure to which they finally discovered the whereabouts, only to find the Jade Crew sailing away from that exact location the moment they got there, taking the prized possessions with them. Now, they always seem to find out about the same treasures at the same time and one crew ALWAYS beats the other, only heating their rivalry. The crews have never actually met each other face to face, but they do indeed recognize one another's flags. With disdain and scorn. 

The Jade Crew: Nino Lahiffe (captain) Adrien Agreste (co-captain) Le Chien Kim (lookout) Rose Lavillant Juleka Couffaine Chloe Bourgeois Sabrina Raincomprix Luka Couffaine

The Coral Crew: Alya Césaire (captain) Marinette Dupain-Cheng (co-captain) Alix Kubdel (lookout) Mylene Harprele Ivan Bruel Nathaniel Kurtzberg Max Kante Kagami Tsurugi

Ao3

Chapter 1: Stormy Seas

The sound of the waves gently lapping against the edge of the boat was one of the most relaxing things in the world, Nino found. He placed his elbows along the trim of his ship and closed his eyes, letting the way it slowly rocked back and forth lull him away from his far-from-unwinding thoughts he had previously. This was definitely his favorite way to calm down after a stressful day.

Still, the back of his head prickled with annoyance and he couldn't stop himself from pondering about the day's earlier events. That blasted Coral Crew...they thought they could just go ahead and steal something his own crew was after for days without punishment! He knew he couldn't just let them off but he was stuck on ideas of what to do.

"Uh, Captain Nino?"

He jumped back slightly, startled enough to have his hand automatically wander to the gun that rested near his waist. He sighed in relief when he realized it was only Luka, his shipmate's ocean blue eyes wide from his captain's sudden threatening movements.

Luka held up his arms with a nervous smile. "Ah, sorry, Cap, didn't mean to startle ya, there!"

Nino noticed his hand still resting on the tip of his weapon and he quickly straightened himself so as not to scare his companion. "It's fine, Luka. I apologize if I startled you." He put on a friendly grin before continuing. "Is there something you needed?"

Luka smiled back before gesturing behind himself. "Yeah, Kim wanted me to warn you that the clouds are darker further in the direction we're going, so there may be a storm up ahead," he replied. "Do you want to change direction or tackle it head-on?"

Nino turned his head to stare at the seas ahead. The water was a beautiful blue as it continued to rush with the wind. The sky ahead was also bluer than Luka's hair, but the ship's captain had learned in the past not to judge what Kim said. He was an expert up in the Crow's Nest, after all, even if there wasn't a cloud in sight.

Nino sighed again. "I'm not feeling risky tonight...tell Kim I'll change the ship's course."

Luka saluted without hesitation, saying, "Right away, Cap!" before running off.

Nino barely had any time to register what he was about to do before a plate of food was shoved into his chest. "Hey there, captain! You look hungry!" That cheerful voice could belong to only one of his crewmates. He looked up to meet the friendly face of Rose Lavillant, her eyes as big and as blue as ever.

A bit thrown off by her sudden interruption, Nino quickly righted himself by grabbing hold of the plate. He smiled at her weakly while trying to push the food back in her direction. "Heh, thanks, Rose, but I'm really not that-"

"Oh, I insist, captain!" she happily interrupted, pushing the plate back towards him a little too harshly, causing Nino to grunt from the force. Bits and pieces of food were starting to fall off from the excessive movements but she persisted nonetheless.

Nino's second in command walked up to the two with an amused expression. He gently grabbed the edge of the plate and pushed it back towards Rose. "How about we don't kill the captain by stabbing him vigorously with a slab of stone, hm?" he teased.

Rose stepped back and giggled. "Sorry!" She used one hand to hold the plate while she played with a strand of her short golden hair with the other. "I just noticed Nino was looking a little down so I thought some food could possibly cheer him up."

"Well, who could say no to that?" Adrien beamed, grabbing Nino's hand so he could lead him to a table once Rose had joyfully walked off.

"Seriously, Adrien, I don't-"

Adrien stopped and grabbed Nino's shoulders, giving his captain a look so stern that he shut his mouth. "Look, sir, I get it. You're disappointed. We're all bummed after what happened today. But should we wallow in pity until the sun falls, hoping that tomorrow we'll have better luck?" Nino opened his mouth to respond but his co-captain continued before he could say anything. "No! The Pearls of Rapum aren't the only treasures to exist! We're pirates, Nino; we don't give up after one measly disappointment. We find the whereabouts to a new treasure and go for that. This isn't the first time the Coral Crew has beaten us and it probably won't be the last, but do you know how many times we've beaten them? More times than we can count. So let's find a new location and go for something of value there. And, of course we need food in our bellies before we can do anything so sit. And eat."

Nino was rendered speechless at his friend's sudden motivation as Adrien grabbed his shoulders and gently but firmly pushed him into a seat.

Adrien had always had that ability and Nino couldn't even be mad about it. They had been best friends since they were toddlers running around half-naked but the captain never got used to Adrien's spontaneous positivity.

Still, Adrien was right. He shouldn't be sulking around all day when there was still tons to find. He smiled as more of his crew came and sat with him at the food-packed table. “Heh...I guess you’re right,” he murmured.

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

Alya yelped as she jumped and clutched onto the main mast. She liked to tell herself she wasn’t afraid of anything but her pet fox running around psychotically with a sword in its mouth was a bit frightening, to say the least. She didn't know how Trixx was able to get his jaws on the extra weapons lying around the ship and yet here he was, pelting through the ship at speed that would rival a cheetah's, everyone leaping out of the way frantically so as not to get unnecessarily chopped into pieces.

This wasn't the first time it's happened, either, but it was always an exhilarating experience.

Alya heard laughing from up above and she looked up to see her lookout guffawing relentlessly, pointing her finger at all her scurrying crewmates.

"Alix Kubdel, if you think this is so funny then you get down and deal with the fox!" Alya yelled angrily.

"Nah, I think I'm good." Only Alix would talk back to the captain without worry.  "He's your fox, why don't you deal with him?"

Alya grunted as she climbed slightly higher, replying, "I'd rather not get sliced into bits of pirate today," as she went.

"Well, same goes here, Cap," Alix said, leaning her arm against the edge of the Crow's Nest as she peered down at Alya.

"I'm more important than you." Alya felt a hint of a smirk appearing on her lips.

"Maybe so, but I am your only lookout," the other pirate playfully argued. "How about we send Nathaniel after Trixx, then?"

"HEY!" an offended voice sounded from below.

Alix and Alya started snickering. After a moment, Alix said, "Uhhh, Cap? You might want to look down."

The captain didn't exactly know what to think of the sight of her fox running circles around the mast she was clutching to. It looked ridiculous and terrifying at the same time.

"Okay, okay, someone's got to deal with this and it might as well be me," Alya mumbled, steadily climbing lower. Trixx noticeably slowed as she got nearer to the ground, looking up at her expectantly with those big and purple eyes of his.

"Trixx," Alya said, trying to keep her voice as firm and demanding as possible. The canine tilted his head. "Put. It. Down."

To her surprise, the fox opened his jaws immediately, sending the weapon to the floor with a loud, metallic clank. He wagged his tail joyfully at Alya as she stared in disbelief as though he expected some sort of reward for his obedient behavior.

"Well, that was easy," Alix's voice said from above.

"Shut up," Alya found herself replying. She picked up the sword and pointed it at Nathaniel, who squeaked in surprise. “Nath, take this-“ She tossed the sword at him and he leaped to the side with a yelp. “-and find anything else lying around that could be dangerous and put it somewhere so my fox can't get his grubby paws all over it." She winked at him to lighten the mood.

As Nath picked up the sword and ran off, Alya heard someone from behind her excitedly yelling, "Captain! Captain!" She turned and smiled at Mylene, who was holding a rolled up piece of paper as she ran up to her captain. She clutched her knees and took a few moments to catch her breath, but when she lifted her head and started talking again, there was a joyful spark in her eye and a beaming smile on her face. "Look what I found!" Mylene handed Alya the piece of paper. It was slightly yellow in color and had a texture resembling that of an old leaf, indicating it's age. She carefully opened it so it wouldn't tear as Mylene continued, "I went downstairs after Trixx started running around rambunctiously. While I was down there, I decided to explore a bit and I found a tiny trapdoor underneath one of our barrels. In it was this!"

Alya first gawked at the map before her eyes, then at her crewmate. She couldn't stop her huge grin that was steadily growing bigger by each passing second. "Wh-was there anything else in that trapdoor?!"

Mylene shook her head. "It was barely big enough to fit that map."

"Mylene, this is AWESOME!" Alya squealed, engulfing her friend in a hug. "I can't believe you found this!" Mylene giggled and Alya pulled back to study the map once more. "First the Pearls of Rapum and now this? This is the greatest day of my life!" After thanking Mylene excessively, the captain ran off to go tell her second in command the news.

Marinette was currently in charge of steering the boat, obviously lost in her own world as Alya peeked through the window. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Alya dramatically kicked the door open.

"ALYA, you scared the living-"

"Look at this!" Alya slammed the map onto the steering wheel and Marinette blinked at it, the bright red parrot sitting on her shoulder squawking quietly. "Go on, look!"

As Marinette examined the ancient piece of paper, her eyes steadily grew wider. "This isn't..."

"It is!" Alya nearly screamed with joy. "It's directions to one of the world's most famous and sought-out jewel: the Jade Turtle!"

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

Nino smiled to himself as he wandered to the back of the boat, feeling pleasant with his now full belly. His crew always found a way to cheer him up.

Juleka was leaning against the edge of the ship, staring at the water as though its every movements were mesmerizing to her eyes.

"He still there?" Nino asked, coming up behind her to peer over the trim. Without glancing away, Juleka nodded, a small smile gracing her lips.

The captain chuckled. "That turtle sure has guts following a pirate boat. He's lucky turtles are my favorite animals." He tilted his head at the green creature as it bobbed back and forth in the water, keeping up with ease. Nino hummed, "Maybe it already knows that."

"That turtle looks smart," Juleka added coolly. "I think it knows something we don't."

Nino felt a raindrop on his hand as he nodded in agreement. A few days ago, Sabrina informed everyone that a large turtle was following the boat. Everyone thought it was a little peculiar, for none of them had experienced anything like that before, but they decided to pay it no mind. What was really odd was when they found it still there a day later, swimming along with them as though the boat was now it's new destination. Everyone had started talking about it, wanting to adopt it and give it a name. Nino hadn't exactly wanted to do that yet because he didn't know how long the animal would be following them and he knew naming it would only get him attached to it.

The boat suddenly lurched sharply, throwing a few people to the side as a surprised grunt escaped from Nino's lips. He turned around and felt another raindrop on his nose as he looked up at the ominously dark clouds. A sense of dread overcame him.

They were about to run into a storm! Hadn't he changed the vessel's course so they could avoid it?

Then he realized he got distracted by his crew before he could do anything. He cursed as the rain began to fall harder, members of his crew already scurrying to their prepared positions for bad weather.

The ship shifted again, this time much harsher than before. Nino ran forward and grabbed the ship's rigging as it wandered into the ever-worsening storm, climbing a bit before he turned and tried finding the easiest way out. He shook his head rigorously and placed his hand above his eyes to avoid more water falling into them as he continued to search.

"CAPTAIN!" a voice cried desperately. He looked down and found both Rose and Luka trying to steady the steering wheel, gritting their teeth in frustration and concentration. Rose looked up at him and wheezed, "It won't budge!"

He leaped down and ran over to them, not hesitating to grab the wheel and help make an attempt to steer it in another direction.

"Which way is the best to go?" Luka asked through clenched teeth.

"I don't know," Nino responded, voice strained. "The clouds are dark in every direction!"

With one final heave, all three of them were able to turn the steering wheel to the right. They huffed successfully, a bit too out of breath to cheer loud and sincerely. Nino grabbed the compass in his pocket and told them what direction they were going. He made sure they were good on their own before he ran off to check on everyone else and make sure everything was alright and well prepared for the storm.

He found Chloe leaning over the edge of the boat. He went up to her and placed his hand on her back, and when she looked up at him, her face was a sickly shade of green. She never did do well whenever the boat decided to do anything but sail smoothly.

"You need to go downstairs," Nino commanded gently yet firmly. He was worried that if she hung around the edge of the boat for too long while the weather was out of control, she might fly overboard. He wasn't going to let that happen to any of his crew. For once, Chloe nodded without arguing, most likely too ill to protest, and she ran in the direction of the door leading to the bottom of the boat.

Nino knew he should've been prepared for when his vessel powerfully tilted once more, but the force of it threw him forward. His stomach rammed into the boat's lining and he wheezed at the pain and sudden loss of air. Before he had a chance to catch his breath, there was another lurch and he flung overboard with a yelp.

He opened his mouth to scream as he fell but the rushing wind grabbed whatever was escaping from his lips and tossed it away. He tried to catch a rope hanging from the side of the boat but his hands wouldn't cooperate properly and before he knew it, he slammed into the dark water with an inaudible splash, excruciating pain flowing throughout his entire body like a river of death. Nino opened his eyes despite himself and found himself sinking lower, farther and farther away from the surface of the water that would grant him the gracious air he was loosing by each passing second. Ignoring his agony, he kicked his legs sharply, trying to swim to the top.

Try as he might, the low light from his destination only grew smaller and blurrier.

Nino knew it was bad when he started to see black in his worsening vision. Okay, saying it was bad was an understatement. He needed air at that moment otherwise he would drown.

His head throbbed painfully and his eyes closed without his consent. His heart was nearly beating right out of his chest and he was sure every creature in the sea could hear it. That was the least of Nino's worries, though, for before he knew it, his consciousness slipped away and everything grew black.