#we have to do a few more next week let's not go red alert for every tiny fucking thing

[mixingpumpkins]

Remembering why I hate flu shots 😭

[apomaro-mellow]

The video began with a far away shot of Eddie and Steve, taken from the crack of the door as Eddie walked out of the school to meet Steve in the parking lot. Dustin’s voice was heard in the background.

“Two members of different species have come into contact with each other. Is cohabitation possible? And if so, what is the potential for crossbreeding?”

“Hey get out here and let’s go!”, Steve shouted towards the school. Dustin and the others gathered their things, waving Eddie goodbye as they got into Steve’s car.

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

The next shot showed Steve and Lucas dribbling down a basketball court. Lucas looked fully attentive as Steve gave him some tips and adjusted his technique. Dustin’s voice was heard again as the camera panned to Eddie, sitting in the bleachers, nose deep in a novel.

“The first species, Jockus Sitterus, attempts to show his worth by exhibiting two desirable traits: his athleticism, and his natural ability with children. But thus far, his target: Metalli Shepardis, seems unimpressed.”

Then some other guys came into the gym and a pick up game happened. The camera looked back between Steve playing and Eddie still reading his book until-

“Oh? What is this?”, Dustin narrated as Eddie began to peek over his pages. “And interest is forming?”

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

Dustin was filming Steve through a crack in the bathroom door. Steve had an array of bottles on the sink as he obsessed over himself in the mirror. This time Dustin was whispering so he wouldn’t be caught.

“And here we find Steve, primping his appearance in order to attract his target. The evening’s proceedings will tell if he is successful.”

Then he started coughing as Steve put on even more hairspray, alerting the older boy to his presence.

“Are you recording me in the bathroom? Dude, what the hell?!”

“You’re gonna treasure these memories one day, Steve!”

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

“A common courtship tactic is the exchanging of gifts”, Dustin narrated when the camera fumbled. “Careful Will!”

“Sorry. Sorry”, Will said from behind the camera.

The view returned to a group around a Christmas tree. Robin had wrestled some antlers onto Eddie’s head. Steve was looking positively paternal in his knit sweater as he handed a cassette with a big red bow on it to Eddie.

“The gift is given....”, Dustin said, anticipation easy to hear in his voice. “And it is well received”, he finished when Eddie smiled and gave Steve a one armed hug.

The camera view shifted again, this time from the living room of the Harrington household, to a view of the backyard from a window. Eddie had brought Steve out there for his gift, saying it wasn’t meant for the eyes of mortals or children. Everyone had taken that as a hint that they were going out to smoke but Dustin had a hunch and so he followed it.

They both sat on pool chairs and Eddie had taken Steve’s acoustic outside. Winter was killer in Indiana, but Dustin had the suspicion that Steve’s blush wasn’t from the cold.

“Often it can take a partner anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to reciprocate. It is rare to see the favor returned on the same day. But could it be? Yes! Yes it is!”

Eddie began strumming and singing to Steve. Behind the window and at this distance, Dustin couldn’t pick up everything, but it was clear in the picture.

“The mating song of this species is rarely heard, if ever, as they are typically a solitary beast, choosing instead to surround itself with other pack members. Eddie’s species are musically gifted, but often don’t use this skill for attracting mates. Unless it’s someone special. But will it be as well received as Steve’s gift?”

When the song was over, Steve reached out and took Eddie’s hands in his own and cupped them, breathing hot air over them.

“A good sign”, Dustin said.

The two outside were doing a whole lot of staring and Dustin feared they’d actually frozen out there before they both started to lean in.

“What the hell are you doing?!”, Erica shouted, causing Dustin to drop the camera, missing anything that came after.

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

Max, Lucas, and Mike were snickering from behind the camera. The view showed Eddie, Dustin, and Steve, cuddled up together on the couch in the Henderson living room. It was past midnight on New Year’s. Steve and Eddie were supposed to take them all home, but that probably wasn’t happening.

Mike cleared his throat. “And here we find a bonded pair with their offspring. One wonders how such a magnificent specimen finds itself with the bottom of the food chain, but that is the wonder of nature.”

“Mmm, shut up Mike”, Eddie groaned without ever opening his eyes. His arm stretched across the back of the couch to find Steve’s hair and bury a hand in it.

“And that dear watchers, is the natural order”, Lucas closed out.

Part 2

[miiilowo]

long post but ive got a story to tell. i do think the funniest/most insane Scary Thing that happened to me was at my parents friends house. me n my brother were friends with Their kids, so we'd come over and stay a couple days to a week every so often. normally, they'd Tell the kids when we were coming, but we wanted to surprise them in the morning. so, my parents went inside, and me, my brother, and their oldest sister all decided to hang outside for a bit. cause yknow. adults tend to have more volume control than kids. harder to alert the littles to our Presence that way

it was a big sorta farmhouse property. nice 2 story building on top of a hill, crops on one side, field behind and on the side. there was a very very VEEEEERRRRYYY steep incline that led to their barn, which you could technically crawl up/down if you tried real hard, but usually you'd just walk down the gravel road that looped around to it. next to the top of this incline was the top of the Overall Hill, a trampoline, and the house. secluded area. generally pretty nice.

all 3 of us were sitting on the trampoline hanging out, waiting for our cue to come inside. it was probably around 10 pm, so not super late, but late enough to be dark. arranged in a Triangle Formation. I was facing the slope that led down to the barn, and my brother and the eldest sister were both facing me. had a steady conversation going. i look out toward the incline and immediately stop talking. because there was . well. a fucking ghost. there was a floating white wispy Thing floating just beyond the edge of the hill, with a single glowing red eye. bobbing in the wind. after i Sort Of understand what im looking at, i start screaming my heart out, and the other two have no idea what the hell my problem is since they aren't facing that direction. so my brother turns. he sees it. he starts screaming. their sister turns. she sees it. SHE starts screaming. after a few seconds she goes "WHY ARE WE SITTING HERE? GO! GO!" and we all scramble inside, leave our shoes by the trampoline, damage our feet on the gravel, so on so forth in the panic

all three of us were absolutely hysterical. so hysterical, in fact, that the adults had grabbed their guns because they genuinely thought we were like. Being Murdered. they eventually managed to calm us down enough to explain what happened, and they immediately got suspicious when we said it was a ghost, but yknow. obviously we had to have seen Something with how freaked out we were. so they go outside to investigate!

our "ghost" was the kid's uncle. he knew we'd be out there, so he had laid down flat on the side of that incline so we couldnt see him, attached an old ratty tshirt to a couple of tied-together wires, and fastened a red flashlight to it. let it sway in the wind. he thought it was hilarious. nobody else thought it was hilarious. every single time i came over past that point i made it my Mission to try and scare him back, but I never once succeeded. They've moved since then, and I don't think I'll ever see them again. The fact that i couldn't seek revenge on that old man will haunt me on my deathbed. It will keep me writhing in my grave

[zwolfgames]

Yandere Draco Malfoy x reader (Part 2)

Requested by: /

Warnings: Slight forced friendship

part one here: Part 1 , Part 3

It's been a week since the accident.

The hallway had been closed of for a few days to investigate but after finding nothing aching to magic traces, they re-opened it so that whatever poor sucker walks in next could aslo get a chandelier on their head!

But thats besides the point. Draco hadn't stopped writing notes to his father, each one more urgent as he didn't want to genuinly die at Hogwarts. Wich you found reasonable, you weren't that invested into the student life either.

Obviously Harry Potter and his gang had to investigate behind the teachers' backs. because 'Oh it could have been Voldemort trying to distract Harry!'. You'd like to tell Potter to wake up and show him that not everythings about him, but essentially it is, so you'd just shut up.

After about two weeks, Draco had promtly decided that because you saved his ass, you two were now friends.

Not an arrangement you agreed with, as the biy just wouldn't leave you alone! Or worse, he'd scare your other friends away!

"C'mon Y/N. You can't be friends with such.. lowly people... I'm better for you in every possible way." Draco boasted after he had glared at the girl you were talking too. You were littarly only talking about homework and he still intervened.

"Malfoy, I am one of those." You dead panned and looked at him in annoyance.

"I told you to call me Draco." He glares slightly. You're unfazed by his nasty snarls by now.

"Yea, I know. i'm just ignoring your requests." You shrugged and simply walked on to class. The blonde followed suit tugging you back by your robes' hood so you'd be next to him.

You simply rolled your eyes, slowing your pace so he wouldn't tug at you again like the attention seeker he is.

Luckily, he didn't share this class with you, so he had to pout and walk off when you arrived at your door.

Sure it was nice that he wasn't an asshole anymore, atleas tto you... But the constant intrusion of your day was getting annoying. You had friends, you had a life and he wasn't able to just worm himself in, no he wanted all of your time and it showed.

Who could have tought someone would go that deep with trauma bonding...

And then, for absolute no reason, it happened again. You were walking in the halls, too secluded for your liking.

Draco was chatting your ear off about potions and how everyone else does it worse then you two.... he doesn't even let you do anything... so at this point he's just boasting about his own skills.

But a quick flash of red alerts you as it pelt straight at Draco's face. You tug him towards you in a quick motion, the fired spell blasts against the wall and ignites a fire.

A flash of a silhoutte speeds away from the other end of the hall and before you know it you're speeding after them.

Draco shouts for you to stop but catching who-ever almost killed the blonde twice was way more important.

Your robes ruffles due to your fast sprint. You keep catching glances of this person fleeng behind corners. Finally, you think you've managed to catch them in a dead end!

But no, this sumb castle has to play favourites with the attempted murderers and open the wall just to troll you.

You bang your fist on the wall in anger as you failed to catch the mystery person.

After a few minutes Draco comes running up behind you, visibly exhausted.

"It's a student." You huff with a cold look.

"A student? Trying to kill me? Don't they know who my father-"

"They do. Why do you think they want you dead? Either they hate you or they hate your dad." You scoff and pat your robes back down.

"Well if I'm being targeted then so are you. We come as a pair." Draco announces proudly.

"We don't. Who said that?" You frown in distaste.

"I decided it." Draco smirks and wraps his arm around your shoulder.

Expensive cologne penetrates your sense of smell.

"If thats so then I think it's better we part ways so I'm no longer a target." You shake your head. Draco visibly stiffens and his eyes darken slightly.

"Not happening. I need you close to keep you safe." He explains as if even a single word of that was true.

"... Draco, I'm the one keeping you safe." You scowl and the blonde bites his lip.

"You're scared..." You narrow your eyes, voice now a whisper.

Draco looks offended and doesn't say anything back, thats more then enough of an answer for you.

"Fine. I'll stick around." You sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose in annoyance.

"Good." Draco simply smirks and lowers his arm to your waist.

"You'll be staying in my dorm then, to keep me safe." He smiles smugly. You deadpann at the idea alone. One, that would never be approved, and two, no thanks.

"Not happening." You shake your head again. (h/c) hair swaying in the motion.

"I'll make it happen." Draco's expression tightens as he walks away from the wall with you in his hold.

You're starting to get creeped out by both the mystery person and your... friend.

And just like he said, it would happen, it did.

You don't know how he convinced Snape and your house's teacher to make this move happen, but it did. He must have paid them off... there's no other way.

So here you were, being glared at by other Slytherins as you moved your trunk to Draco's dorm.

Where did he throw his other roomates? Not a clue. 

Was this even safer for both of you? Especially for you?

You gulp as Draco opens the door for you. He seems too overjoyed at this move.

You drop your trunk by one of the beds, a bit weirded out by the absolute lack if windows in the Slytherin dungeon. What's wrong with sunlight, huh?

Ans just like that, you've found yourself a new roomate....

Couldn't get it done in two parts either, but It's gonna be one chpater on Wattpad instead of in parts like its here so it doens't matter.

taglist: @maggiecc

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Bateman Begins Part 41

Previous Part | Masterlist | Next Part Notes: We haven't had Nathan's perspective in a while, so. Enjoy! 🦇🖤 Pairing: Nathan Bateman x Reader Rating: M Warnings: Angst?

It isn't the first time that Nathan has disappeared, but that doesn't make the experience any more pleasant.

He glances over, doing a double-take as Alfred rouses on his charging pad.

"Good, you're up," Nathan mutters.

"Where are we?"

"The facility where I created you."

"Why are we here?"

Nathan grits his teeth, gaze set on the computer screen in front of him as he fights off a wave of irritation.

"Did something go wrong?" Alfred prods, and damnit—what hadn't gone wrong?

The last year and a half has been hell.

You had left, Vicki Vale had gotten a little too close to his secret, and a clown gang had begun to wreak havoc in Gotham City.

Whatever intel Vale had was somehow passed to the clowns and to whoever they were working for, which had sent them right to Bateman Manor

The only way Nathan could get out of there in time had been to suit up and ditch, but the police had been alerted to the situation

Nathan knew he was screwed when he was seen leaping out of the window

It had all been downhill from there

Nathan wasn't sure how he was going to spin this one to the press. He hadn't returned as himself or as Batman—not for two weeks.

To make matters worse, the facility's power had been winking on and off since they had arrived.

There was a faulty switch that he couldn't identify that was constantly sending them on lock down.

Alfred needed a significant amount of power to charge, and he had only just managed to flip back on after losing power during the drive.

Nathan had spent six solitary days trying to track down the faulty spoke in the system, and failing to log in to the Manor's security system.

He had no way of seeing what was happening. The cops were surely picking over everything.

What if they found their way into the cave? What if they found his gear?

What if they found your scrapped designs? There was still a wastebasket full of them in the blue room.

Alfred had tried to throw them out over and over again, but Nathan wouldn't let him.

He didn't know why he was holding on to them, anyway.

You were clearly never coming back, and it wasn't as if you'd need them.

Still, you had some great ideas in there.

He hadn't been surprised by that. You always had great ideas.

"Approximately how long have we been here, sir?"

The question shakes Nathan from his thoughts. He keeps his gaze trained on the screens in front of him as he hears Alfred shifting to stand behind him.

"Few days."

"And how long shall we be here for?"

"Look, just—Cut it with the fucking questions, alright?" Nathan pulls his glasses off, dropping them onto the desk before scrubbing his tired eyes with his palms. "I'm trying to think."

Alfred falls silent obediently, and Nathan feels a pang of regret for his tone.

"Keep charging," Nathan orders as he stands, putting his glasses back on. "I need you full power if I decide to go back."

"What's the alternative?"

"I'm working on it."

--

"FUCK!"

The yell leaves him roughly as the power on the stove switches off, plunging the kitchen into red light.

Nathan slams his fist roughly on the counter, drawing in a deep breath as he fought to steady himself.

Calm down, you big baby.

He can't help but hear your admonishment in his head.

He sighs softly, straightening up and reaching for the kettle. It's just hot enough for a mug's worth.

He pours some into his mug, watching the steam rise.

Where are you right now?

Nathan has spent the last year and a half wondering.

His mind has drifted to you over and over, whether he wanted it to or not:

At Giselle's parties—

At the office—

Driving the tumbler—

Sliding out of bed, careful not to rouse Vicki as he removed his arm from beneath her shoulders—

And now, alone in a locked-down kitchen, he tries to picture where you could possibly be.

Probably in some run-down, cruddy little shack in Metropolis, hunched over your laptop with some grass-green avocados waiting to go ripe in your basket on the counter.

Did you still have the avocado pendant? Did you still wear it?

The thought stabs at a tender part of his chest, and he forces it away.

You may not have ended things amicably, but Nathan is certain that you had at least kept the necklace, even if you don't wear it anymore.

You're too sentimental to pawn your memories.

Nathan reaches into his pocket, drawing his phone out and eyeing the lack of cell reception before unlocking his phone.

He opens the photos, scrolling through them until he finally finds what he's looking for.

He smiles. He can't help it.

You would probably be mortified if you knew that he'd taken a photo of you while you were sleeping.

But you'd just looked so damn peaceful.

He remembers taking the photo: snapping it quickly for fear of rousing you.

And then he'd watched your face twist in fear as you slept, saw your face twist into a mask of fear as you'd awoken from a nightmare.

Nathan's stomach churns at the memory of your eyes opening, then widening as you'd scrambled back at the sight of him.

He'd wanted a memento. He'd given you a panic.

Nathan's eyes skate over your face again before he tucks his phone away.

Wherever you are, he can only hope that you're alright, and keeping out of trouble.

That you're healthy, and comfortable...And goddamn, he hopes you're happy.

When you'd left, he'd been certain that you'd be back fin a month, two, tops

But you hadn't crawled back like he'd expected, and he couldn't bring himself to chase you down.

He'd hated you for a few months, but over time, that anger had melted to resignation.

Fat lot of good letting you go had done him.

He's in the middle of nowhere, struggling to hide his identity, and the media has perpetrated a rumor that he's been kidnapped—by himself.

Nathan glances up as the lights flicker back to normal.

He tucks his phone away, picking up the mug of tea.

He has to figure out a cover story, plan his covert return, send Vicki Vale on a wild goose chase, and work out who's been behind the deadly clown attacks—in that order.

Nathan makes it as far as the hallway before the lights flicker to red again.

He pitches the mug, letting out a frustrated yell loud enough to staunch the sound of it shattering against the wall.

Tag list: @blueeyesatnight ; @revolution-starter ; @massivecolorspygiant ; @foxilayde @danniburgh ; @brandyllyn ; @missredherring ; @the-feckless-wonder ; @ew-erin ; @xocalliexo ; @youngkenobilove ; @chattychell ; @lorecraft  ; @thembosapphicclown ; @emotionalsupportbatfamily ; @buckybarneshairpullingkink

[lordmartiya]

Day 3 for the Lilanette Week... And the moment their relationship starts getting "interesting". Also featuring someone with common sense and Adrien's darker side.

Day 3: Bodyswap

Lila couldn’t complain of her new “romantic situation”. Sure, quite a few classmates believing their enmity had been just pigtail pulling was irritating, and she should have seen Luka getting Akumatized (though that one had immediately changed targets thanks to the Gorilla showing her a chat of the fan club where they had been planning to kidnap Marinette and her until their relationships became public. Ladybug and Chat Noir took their sweet time intervening), but now she had peace. And attention for all the right reasons, without needing to lie her ass off. And somehow she had ACTUALLY become friends with Marinette. And was starting to consider that maybe Ladybug was actually sincere in her regret for their first encounter and wasn’t stalking her by passing over her roof every other day (though it was a week since she last passed there, right the day she had told Marinette about that).

“I had never been at this cafè.” Marinette admitted as she enjoyed the place she had brought her to for their date.

“Of course. We live in Place des Vosges, and I myself wouldn’t come often as far as Rue de Varenne if I didn’t have.” Lila replied. “Maybe next time you’ll show me some place in the Triangle or Belleville?”

Before Marinette could answer they heard a weird laugh and saw a blue light, and suddenly Lila was looking at herself sporting Marinette’s weirded out face. As the other her started freaking out with Marinette’s body language, Lila looked down, saw Marinette’s shirt for the date (a yellow Tang suit with white frog buttons. Lila would never admit it, but she was jealous of her date’s variety. Or everyone else’s), and realized that yes, the latest Akuma just body swapped them.

“Oh. Could you pass me my phones?” Lila said, taking the change in stride. “It’s not like I don’t trust you, but one of them is embassy issued and I’m not legally allowed to let anyone else have it outside emergency situations.”

“How can you be so CALM?!” Marinette exclaimed.

“Because it’s going to be back to normal in minutes? I mean, all that guy can do is swap bodies, so when Ladybug and Chat Noir arrive they’ll get swapped, maybe Chat Noir will make a tasteless joke, then he’ll summon a Lucky Charm, Ladybug will come up with something to make Rube Goldberg proud and defeat the Akuma, and everyone will be back in their bodies wondering why our local terrorist thought it was a good idea.”

Marinette looked at her even MORE spooked, for some reason. Clearly she didn’t expect her to have such faith in Ladybug’s victory, as if the defeater of Volpina and Chameleon could lose against such an Akuma. Whatever, Lila needed her embassy-issued phone and couldn’t wait. Thus she put her hand into Marinette’s purse to exchange phones and- What the hell was that? It looked like some weird plushie, but the consistency of the cloth and filling was wrong. And it looked like the magic surveillance drones she had spotted surveilling the school for Ladybug and Chat Noir to alert them of the next Akumatization. Or maybe it wasn’t a drone?

Not expecting much, Lila removed Marinette’s earrings, the ones she always wore… And the red thing flew into them, turning them red with five black dots each.

“Well, this explains a lot.” Lila said as she forced herself to not act rashly.

It was a good choice, as it allowed her to realize that yes, Ladybug had meant the apology, and no, she wasn’t stalking her. With that in mind, she left the Miraculous on the table and rose up.

“We should talk about this once we’re back in our bodies. I’ll wait you at your home.” She said as she stood up.

As she waited to get her body back tied up to a chair, Lila at least enjoyed the show. As expected Marinette had taken some precautions, namely warn Alya (who had recently been told of Ladybug’s secret), resulting in Rena FURTIVE patrolling the city for her and her sister Anansi (Nora Cesaire on her ID, but she knew Muay Thai culture well enough to use the ring name) waiting for her at Chemin Vert station and marching her to an unused massage parlor before calling for her sister.

And confiscating the Fox Miraculous as soon as she arrived, resulting in a hilarious discussion that only ended when Ladybug arrived in Lila’s body (and Lila didn’t know what was more embarrassing seeing herself into, a suit that was basically painted on or one so PLAIN) and restored everyone to their body, timing it for the transformation to drop.

“Sit there, Red.” Anansi told Lila pointing to the nearby empty chair, and then tied her up. Then turned to Marinette, still tied up, and said: “Baguette, what were you THINKING?! Already you gave a Miraculous to my reckless little sister-“

“Hey!”

“-and now you do it again with her identity exposed?! You benched that closeted cosplayer for the same reason!”

“Who?” Marinette asked. So she didn’t know.

“Chloè Bourgeois, most of her outfits are actually copied from Spiderman characters.” Lila explained. “And I may be wrong, but from what I’ve heard the trigger for Miracle Queen was you benching her for having her identity known and then going and getting Ryuko back into battle after she TOLD her identity to the enemy like some stereotypical samu-she’s Kagami-kun, isn’t she?”

Marinette blushed. Alya pinched her forehead. Anansi facepalmed, and Lila would have done the same if she could.

“That’s it, you’re reworking the team with me and Red, we’ve got the most common sense here.” Anansi demanded. “And you’re giving her the Fox Miraculous, with all her gaslighting she’ll be better that li’ sis’.”

“WHAT!” came Alya’s protest.

“How can I trust her? There’s hints she’s working with Hawk Moth.” Marinette replied as she stood up – when did she untie herself?

“Only occasionally, based on the idea I could get my clearly misplaced revenge and knowing it would end with him begging for death.” Lila admitted.

“How? He’s got superpowers and could revoke the Akumatization in a moment.”

“Look in my purse, there’s what I call the Agony Spray.”

Alya grabbed the purse, took out the spray can, and then, with a look of pure horror mirrored on the others after they saw what was written on it, demanded to know what was Lila thinking.

“It was my dad’s idea. He’s a major asshole.” was the explanation.

“Still no reason to give you a Miraculous.” Marinette said.

“You mean aside having renounced all her set up?” Anansi pointed out.

“The what?” asked both Marinette and Alya, with Lila smirking at how Alya would take being apparently outsmarted by her not so astute sister (who, as a martial artist, happened to have the knowledge to realize what Lila had done).

“You think I can just roundhouse kick my opponents? Nope. Those are powerful but slow, and if I were stupid enough to try I’d get punched in the mouth and deserve it. No, it needs to be set up, I need to get the other gal in a position where she can’t punch me, or move away and make me look like an idiot, where she can only take it. THEN I can kick and make them realize their blocks are useless. Same with Red’s ability to use Baguette’s secret identity: Baguette knew she knew, and Red knew that, so she only had until the Akuma fight ended to expose the secret and run to the embassy to escape retaliation… And instead she took the metro and went exactly where she said she’d go, throwing away any chance to pull it off. She can be trusted.”

“Fine. But on one condition.” Marinette said. “We come up with something to convince Chat Noir I shouldn’t have a Miraculous, he’s been quite insistent since I was Multimouse.”

“Just tell him you’re slated for the Butterfly.” That was what Lila believed was the reason Marinette hadn’t received a Miraculous.

Apparently Chat Noir had been more than insistent on giving Marinette a Miraculous, as Lila’s solution made her hug the still tied Italian girl. For some reason, Lila thought the hug was pleasant enough to more than compensate them being toppled…

[summ3rg4l]

May I request a platonic x reader for Kyle and Ike (or just Kyle) with a cousin reader who has Chunibyo but is still very loving and kind?

I had to look up what that was so I apologize if it’s not what you wanted. But it’s givinggg kaidou (I think) so I based reader off that also you didn’t specify the gender so I made reader a girl

CW: swearing and racist jokes (Jewish)

Kyle is nine in this, reader is in high school and Ike is 5

I was originally gonna add more of Ike but I had already wrote most of it (at literary 1 AM) and the copy and past was being a little bitch

Your aunt Sheila drops you off at her house to stay for the week since your parents are busy. You get out the car to be greeted by your little cousins Kyle and Ike running up to you hugging your legs “Why hello there my minions.” You say confidently making your voice a bit deeper to sound more intimidating while smirking. The laugh at you not taking you seriously “What are you laughing at! If you don’t stop now I’ll have to use my secret power on you two.”

You put your arm up to scare them into submission showing off where your power is hiden. You laugh ‘evilly’ “Oh (name) dear, I hate to interrupt you playing with the boys but can you help me with dinner? Gerald isn’t here right now.” Sheila walks outside with a few groceries in her hands “Ye-yes mam.” You give Ike and Kyle one last look before you walk into the house.

“Minions! Dinner is ready.” You bust into Kyles room to alert them of the food being done. They get up from the spot they were playing in and walk downstairs to the table. “Hey (name) can you walk with me to the bus stop tomorrow?” Kyle asks you with his mouth of knishes some of it falling out. “Sure min— Kyle I’d love to walk you to school.” You smile as innocently as possible to get Aunt Sheila off your trail ‘Whew I almost let my secret identity out.’ You think to yourself mentally sweating.

The next day you hold Kyles hand as you walk down the road to drop him off at the bus stop. You see three other boys standing there, one of them has a blue hat with red poof ball and black hair, another one is fat and has a teal hat with a yellow poof ball, the last one is wearing an orange parka. ‘Hm what an interesting group of kids..they better not mess with my minion or they’ll live to regret it.’ You stare at the boys suspiciously “Uh (name) why did you stop walking..?” Kyle looks up at you confused. You just stand there in silence having internal dialogue. Kyle lets go of your hand and walks over to his friends.

It takes a while for you to actually notice. Your eyes widen once you do and you run over to where Kyle went “Minion! You shouldn’t run off like that, what if I’m not there to protect you!” You look at Kyle angrily. The fat kid starts to laugh  hysterically “BAHAHAH MINION!? GOD JEWS ARE SO WEIRD DUDE!” You stare at the kid for a second absolutely shocked that he said that. You’ve never encountered a person that was this openly racist. “Shut up fat ass!” Kyle yells at the fat boy angrily. His voice brings you back to reality.

The boy continues to laugh loudly “Hey little fat ass boy.” Your voice stops sounding so ‘anime’ like when you talk now. The kid stops laughing and looks at you “If I hear one more thing like that from you, your mom won’t be able to recognize you and you won’t be able to eat solid foods ever again. I bet that makes you real sad huh, you won’t be able to eat all those cheese puffs and fried chicken. How sad.” The boys (including Kyle) look at you silently. You obviously shocked and maybe scared them a little bit.

The school bus pulls up to where we all are “That’s for you guys. Have a nice day at school minion.” The boys silently get on the bus and you hear the fat boy mutter s quiet ‘weak’ before the doors close.

…

…

…

Waiting for something to happen?

[ariannadi]

Bait and Release

Can also be read on Ao3

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻ੈ✩‧₊˚

After encountering two of his six siblings at the flophouse near Wyrm's Crossing, and knowing quite well it would not be the last time they crossed paths, Astarion remained on high alert whenever he and their ragtag group happened to retire. The fact that their party currently occupied the Elfsong Tavern's upstairs suite, which stood mere meters away from Szarr Palace, only made it all the more inevitable.

He was curled up against Sitri, who, after his confession in the Shadow-Cursed Lands a few weeks prior, had made it her personal mission to snuggle with him every night after she had finished her studies for the evening (something he made a point to gripe about but absolutely adored in reality). That's when he heard faint footsteps approaching their shared bed. Immediately he shot up, jostling his half-elf lover in the process, and reached for the dagger stashed under his pillow.

"Astarion?" Sitri asked drowsily, still coming to. Once she noticed what he had, she too reached for her glaive, which was propped up against the wall. Two pairs of practically glowing red eyes stared at them both in the dim light of the suite, another set idling a few paces behind them. It only took a second for Astarion to be able to identify who they belonged to.

Leon, Violet, Aurelia, and Yousen. 

"Get the hells away from me!" he shouted at them all, and scurried to his feet, holding the dagger out towards them.

Aurelia held her hands up, pleading to his good graces. "Peace, brother. We've come to bring you home," she said soothingly.

"The master needs all seven of us for the ceremony. Come with us and be reborn. We'll live again," Leon calmly followed.

"How in the hells did you find us?" Sitri demanded as she took her place next to Astarion, looking rightfully peeved at having been disturbed. At this point, the others could be heard tumbling out of bed from their various spots around the apartment.

"Master Cazador knew where Astarion was all along," Aurelia scoffed. "He knew that he would return. The Rite... the master needs him. He must attend."

"Oh, I'm well aware of what the master needs," Astarion spat in response. "But don't we deserve better?"

"'Better'? What do you mean, 'better'?" Leon demanded, fangs twisted in a confused scowl.

"After these centuries of torment, I know what you all want," Astarion was all-too-happy to clarify. "More than power. More than the ability to walk in the sun without turning to cinders. You want to see him dead." When both Leon and Aurelia looked at each other in uncertainty, he knew he had struck a nerve with them.

"Astarion?" Sitri quietly inquired. The man in question let her prodding go unanswered; he couldn't regard those watery, sapphire eyes in that moment, or else he would risk his façade crumbling on the spot.

"The Rite of Profane Ascension will be mine, and he won't see a scrap of its glory," Astarion continued, his every word radiating a certain confidence. "I am going to complete the ritual as the Ascendant, and then I am going to kill him. This is your chance. Stand with me. Name me your new master. We will get our revenge, and you will all live again."

"Astarion! What has gotten into you?" Sitri demanded of him, her voice rising in pitch. "You're asking your siblings to die for you in the ritual."

I thought you were better than this?

"Don't look at me like that. With the sweet little 'disappointed I'm not getting cuddly Astarion' pout. I can't take it. I can't be what you want to see in me," he told her despite not being entirely convinced, his heart aching at the way her entire face fell.

"'Die' in the ritual? Whatsoever are you speaking of?" Aurelia asked. "We are going to cheat undeath."

"Please think for a moment," Sitri, ignoring Astarion's look of disapproval, pleaded with the tiefling, throwing out her hands in exasperation. "Surely you've seen the ins and outs of the process—the ritual is a sacrifice and all of you the lambs for slaughter. The scars on your back should be evidence enough."

"The master doesn't need to lie to us; he controls us fully. Why go through the trouble of giving us hope?" Aurelia rebutted, still not convinced.

However, Leon was. "Because it's more cruel... shit." he spat as realization dawned on him. "We're doomed. All right - what do you need from us? We'll help you."

But before Sitri could make another peep, all four spawn began to groan in agony as their eyes blazed with the telltale glow of compulsion. Cazador had caught wind of their slip-up and was now yanking the leash.

"The master’s hold—we have no choice! We must... obey!" Aurelia shrieked, clutching at her head. "Get out of here, Astarion! Before—!"

In the blink of an eye, the countenance of all four spawn changed; their somewhat collected demeanor giving way to mere beasts that gnashed their fangs and brandished sharpened claws. By then the rest of the party had gathered in the center of the room, obviously confused as to what was going on but ready to fight nonetheless.

"Figures your past would come back to disrupt our temporary reprieve," a disheveled Lae'zel hissed at Astarion, who sent an equally dirty look her way.

"I didn't ask for them to come here!" he shot back in retaliation, only to dodge an incoming attack from Violet.

"Less bickering, more getting rid of this lot, guys," Karlach chided them both amidst swinging her axe.

As the battle escalated, the words from the Gur they had encountered in the Hag's swamp made their useless resurgence in Astarion's mind. You will not find a more deadly quarry. That was an understatement if there ever was one. Had he ever been this vicious in a fight on behalf of Cazador?

Thinking he’d finally gotten a grasp on the tactics involved, the elf was blindsided when three of his siblings shifted their focus to Sitri; quickly cornering and downing her. No one in their party was within reach to assist, and whatever was organic within Astarion’s body quickly turned to ice.

The half-elf groaned as she reached for her glaive with what little strength she had, but Leon, who casually sauntered up to her, beat her to the punch. He kicked the weapon away, only to slice his claws through Sitri's back a final time.

"Sitri!" Shadowheart exclaimed in a panic, watching as the now-unconscious woman was lifted into her assailant's arms. Astarion just stared in horror, somehow avidly aware of what his sibling intended to do.

"He will come for her," Leon, in a voice unlike his own, addressed the other spawn in the room, who stopped their ambush and quickly vanished into puffs of smoke. Leon then turned to stare Astarion in the eyes as he readied himself to follow suit - Sitri in tow.

"NO!" Astarion cried, and attempted to dive towards the plume before it dissipated, though the elf knew quite well that the point was moot. As the reality of the situation set in, the room was all at once spinning and his heart nearly plummeted into his stomach. Before he could even register what he was doing, he was sprinting to where he kept his armor and practically throwing it onto his person.

"What the fuck are you all staring at?" he hissed at the others as they gazed at him warily. "Go get your fucking armor on!"

"Astarion, I understand your wanting to hurry, but shouldn't we strategize before marching directly into a vampire lord's lair?" Gale attempted to reason, only for the elf's nostrils to start flaring in anger.

"No. No, you complete and utter imbecile! Have you not processed a word of what I've said before? We. Do. Not. Have. Time!" Astarion lashed out, enough so that Gale visibly recoiled. "Cazador will maim her alive while he waits for me to make my appearance. He'll strip her down and flog her into a pulp; he'll throw acid on her flesh and leave her for the rats to digest. You cannot fathom what that monster is capable of. He will do anything and everything to ensure I suffer as much as possible. And now that he has Sitri... oh, gods... he has Sitri." he practically sobbed as he sank to his knees, running a hand over his face.

If Cazador had truly been spying on him from the shadows all this time, then there was no question that the vampire lord was avidly aware of the depths of affection Astarion held for the rose-haired wizard. Perhaps the bastard could even feel it through what little remained of their bond; of just how much she had helped Astarion see his worth as an individual from the time he'd encountered her on that beach.

And to think I was about to decorate the ground with your innards. Apologies.

I see you. I’ll be your mirror.

This is a gift, you know. I won’t forget it.

I care about you. Deeply.

The desperation in his voice must have been enough for the party to change their tune, because all at once he could hear them hurrying to where their gear was stashed. They were a group that had little in common aside from their shared affliction, but if there was one thing they could all agree on, it was that they needed Sitri. She was the glue that held them together most days, after all.

"Alright, Astarion. How do we get into the palace?" Wyll asked once they'd regrouped, now battle-ready. Astarion blinked up at them, breathed a habitual sigh of relief, and straightened his back.

Thank you, he voiced to them all in their shared mind, the words like thick molasses on his tongue.

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

    Everything that happened the moment they entered the palace Astarion processed in a blur—Werewolves, seven-thousand spawn (consisting of conquests he'd once believed dead), a vampire lord's skull that predated Cazador himself—as his only focus was rescuing Sitri before Cazador could get his filthy clutches on her.

Though, he couldn’t deny that potentially capturing the power the Rite of Profane Ascension offered consistently hovered in his peripheral. Especially now that he had failed to protect Sitri.

If only I’d been more powerful. If only I’d been more powerful. If only I’d been more…!

As they descended the staircase leading down into the ritual chamber he spotted his beloved, laying directly in front of where Cazador stood and looking no worse for wear than when she'd been abducted. He wanted to cry out in relief, but he settled for rushing further into the inner sanctum, the rest of the party following close behind him.

"Ah-ah! Take another step and she dies!" Cazador threatened once Astarion was barely within reach of her. "The nerve of you, boy. To come crawling back to your family like this. You should be ashamed!"

"Shut the fuck up!" Astarion barked, fangs bared. "She has nothing to do with this! This is between you and I!"

"Oh-ho-ho! And yet you came here! Would you have done so had I not taken such extreme measures?" Cazador taunted, prompting Astarion's fury to rise. "Look at you… you’re just as pathetic as you were before. Perhaps even more so, now that you've sullied whatever dignity you possessed under the digression of this wench. Now... be a good little ungrateful spawn and take your spot amongst your siblings so that the ritual may commence.”

The vampire lord gestured behind him, where the six spawn he’d come to know as family were dangling in the air—bound by their scars through some hellish magic. One spot was vacant, and Astarion could only presume it was meant to be his.

"You son-of-a-bitch..." Astarion seethed, practically frothing with each syllable—to Cazador's evident satisfaction.

Hold, Astarion, came the voice of Shadowheart in his mind just as he was about to lunge. I think I can catch him off-guard using Daylight - he'll be vulnerable for short time. While he falters, it will give us the opportunity to grab Sitri and get her out of harm's way.

Yes. Yes. But we have to be swift, Astarion agreed, all the while ensuring the anticipation wasn't showing on his features.

On the count of three, Shadowheart's voice began again, One... Two... Three!

"Daylight!" the cleric shouted vocally, and a sphere of brilliant sunlight came streaming down into the vicinity. Cazador immediately recoiled, sheltering his face from the ensuing burns, and Astarion took his chance in dashing forward and scooping Sitri into his arms. 

"I've got you, my love. I'm so sorry," he told her unconscious self in a whoosh of breath, then he and the others quickly turned heel and retreated towards the staircase.

"Oh no you don't, you little brat! I've worked far too long for this!" Cazador practically screeched, and with the wave of his staff Astarion was being held in place by the very same magic that rendered his siblings immobile. 

"Quick! Take her!" he called to Karlach, holding Sitri out towards the tiefling. Just as Karlach had her safely secured in her arms, Astarion was ripped away from them all - towards his dedicated spot along the ritual ring. The instant he was in place, his armor was torn from his body like wet paper so that the rune carved into his back was glowing in plain view.

"No! Stop him! And get me out of this!" he begged, thrashing against his bonds but remaining in place.

"Karlach, I'll take care of her!" Shadowheart said, motioning for the taller woman to place Sitri on the ground. "The rest of you, help Astarion!"

The party did just that, letting out battle cries as they charged towards the horde of ghouls and werewolves surrounding Cazador with their weapons raised. 

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

  When all was said and done, Astarion, dagger in hand, loomed over a groveling Cazador who had been brought to heel. The power that the Rite of Profane Ascension offered was right there at his grasp, and a voice in the back of his mind that feared being controlled, being subjected to someone else's whims for an infinite amount of lifetimes, whispered that it was his right to take Cazador's place after everything he had endured.

He could protect himself. He could protect Sitri. None of this would ever have to happen again.

But then he looked over at his lover; barely awake and leaning against Shadowheart, and saw the sadness that permeated her sapphire eyes as she stared directly into what little remained of his soul. 

"Astarion..." she uttered, almost inaudibly. "I know you fear your freedom being stripped from you once again, as well as our future—but going through with this ritual... killing all of those people... that power will only trap you—just as Cazador’s trapped him. I want you to be someone you can be proud of. You can't be proud of this."

"I..." he croaked, and swallowed as her heavy words lay like a compress over his intoxicated senses. "You're right. I can be better than him."

The visible relief, which was quickly followed by pride on Sitri's features was worth more than any power in that moment - knowing that someone like her could care so much for a mess like him… saw something in him worth saving. But he had one more task to accomplish before reveling in such emotions, and that was to put an end to the being who had caused him so much torment; the one who had had the gall to abduct and threaten the only person who had ever truly mattered to him as a last resort.

“But I’m not above enjoying this.”

He lifted the dagger and grabbed Cazador by the hair, hauling him upward as he began to stab and stab and stab. He stabbed until blood was gurgling from the vampire lord's lips; he stabbed until he went limp in Astarion's grasp. Even when Cazador was in a heap on the stone floor, he still stabbed, before his rage finally depleted and he fell to his knees with a harsh cry.

And finally... he was free.

The others looked on in silence as the elf’s broken sobs reverberated off the walls of the stone chamber, only for Sitri to pull away from Shadowheart, to the latter’s protest. With visible pain on her face, the rose-haired woman limped over and collapsed at Astarion’s side just as his cries subsided into whimpers, and then she lifted a hand, before quickly snatching it back.

“It’s… it’s alright,” he managed, and Sitri nodded, weakly wrapping him up in her arms. His head fell into the crook of her neck as he turned in her embrace; blood-stained curls streaking her flesh, but the half-elf wasn’t fazed in the slightest.

“I’m so proud of you, my love,” she whispered for his ears alone, her own tears slipping forth and sweeping Cazador’s blood from his skin, and he clutched at her like she might disappear should he loosen his hold even the slightest bit.

[clickoly]

Starboys, part vi

Characters belong to @lumosinlove. Read it on Ao3 here 🏎️

•••

All the small things you do

There were only five laps to go before the end of what could have been the perfect race weekend—capping off an even more perfect week. Great practices, an amazing qualifying session, and an electric, flawless race. Logan had been on fire—unbeatable, flying in his Silver Arrow and making it look like a space rocket ship. Still, Leo remained more than alert, ready for any eventuality that might arise on such an unpredictable track. 

"Oops," Logan's voice burst out in Leo’s ears. "Fuck, I almost touched the wall."

Leo's frantic slap to his forehead made Sirius and the other strategists in the pitwall laugh. Such a casual reaction for someone who almost smashed the car into a wall at 200 kph. Oops.

"I would ask you to be considerate enough to bring the car home in one piece, please and thank you," Leo said, and released the radio button.

Logan's panting breaths came back immediately. "I said I almost crashed! I am being considerate."

Leo shook his head in defeat. "Try to do it within the white lines, thank you."

"Car okay?" Logan checked.

"Everything's fine on our end."

Ha! That was our race leader having a little chat with his engineer Knut. And also a very close call for him with the barriers.

Indeed, Mike. These corners are merciless. There's no margin for error here in Singapore. And we know how perfectly Tremblay can master a street circuit.

Could it be a little bit of pressure? O'Hara is looking relentless today, with Winter and Potter close behind. He's really going all out for that first place. The gap is now down to seven tenths, and we know that the chances of overtaking on this track are slim, but– ooh! There's a yellow flag in sector 3!

Two marshals appeared from behind the safety barriers, raising and waving the warning flags. Then the trackside lights began flashing bright yellow and Logan switched the engine mode just as Leo's voice echoed in his ears, "Yellow flag right behind you."

"What happened?" Logan rasped, risking a quick glance in his rearview mirror. There was only one red car behind him and he couldn't make out the number. Finn.

"Logan, the safety car is going to–"

"What happened?"

"Logan," Leo's tone grew more urgent. "The safety car is being deployed. Listen to me, okay? I need you to focus."

Logan hit the small SC button on the steering wheel and began to slow down. "Leo..." he tried again.

"It's Kasey," Leo said calmly. "He crashed into the wall, but he's okay, he's already out." 

O'Hara has a good chance out there. Race control has instructed the lapped cars to overtake the safety car, and now he's closing the gap to just a few hundredths of a second.

We're in for some exciting racing, Paul. I expect Potter and Kuznetsov to push hard during their final stints from third and fourth place, but the real battle will be up front between these two unstoppable champions.

Winter is being taken to his box by the medical car. It looks like there could be an issue with his left hand, though we’re still waiting on official word from the team. 

Fingers crossed we get some positive news soon. Meanwhile, his car is being cleared from the track, and the safety car is coming in with just two laps to go.

Logan had practiced this move plenty of times over the years. Distract. As simple as it came. He waited for the green flag and set the pace—slow, nerve-wracking. The start line, the short pit straight, full braking into Turn 1, then a slight left-hand kink.

Don't let them know your next move.

He braked into Turn 3, a tight left-hander, crucial to get the right exit speed for the next straight. There, mid-corner, Logan accelerated, using the sharp angle to gain an advantage over the others.

Or so he thought. 

What a tricky move by Tremblay!

Even better, Mike, it looks like O'Hara didn't buy it at all!

"Now or never, Harz," was Remus' radio message to Finn. "Come on man, you can do this."

Here they come out of Turn 5, almost wheel to wheel! O'Hara tries to dive down the inside, but there's no room for him! Now he has the best chance to overtake—onto the main straight, full speed, using all of Tremblay's slipstream and—oh my!! He’s done it! O'Hara takes the lead!

"You got this, Lo," Leo's voice encouraged him. "One more lap. Push to the end."

The crowd is going wild! Everyone in the stands is on their feet for this exciting final lap!

Tremblay makes one last attempt. Down to Sector 2, the DRS is open, and he's moving to the outside, but O'Hara is not giving up, and closes the way into Turn 14. They only have one straight left.

Knut is telling Tremblay not to take any unnecessary risks in these last few corners. Let's see what he can do.

What a race! What. A. Race. O'Hara's team is buzzing behind the barriers! And here it comes, the car number Seventeen, with Tremblay on his tail—one last push to the checkered flag! Finn O'Hara wins the Singapore Grand Prix!! 

Fireworks lit up the night sky. Logan could hear the loud bangs between the chants roaring from the stands. It took him a long moment to slow down, move to one side of the track and blink away the built-up tension. He almost missed Leo's voice in his ears, thin, forcedly upbeat. "That was a hell of a fight, Logan. Not the outcome we were hoping for, but still an incredible race."

"I'm sorry," Logan said, because he couldn't think of anything else right then. He drove to the pit lane where Finn and James' cars were already parked. He shut off the engine, unbuckled the seatbelts and slid through the halo to jump out of the car. Once he removed the helmet and balaclava, Logan took a deep breath and felt the tightness in his chest ease. He saw his team waiting for him with open arms and threw himself at them, letting Sirius' words soothe the ache, the fear of having lost control.

A hand on his shoulder brought him back to the loud cheers and madness of a post-race celebration. He found those eyes, filled with pride, exhaustion, and bitter happiness. Finn managed an apologetic grin before he was shoved away to the press. Logan was left to watch his lean figure walk away, the dark red suit swallowed by too many people and cameras at once.

"Go up there and enjoy this," Leo's voice sounded real this time, not a static echo from somewhere too far away. Logan wheeled around to see his confident smile, brighter than any of the dazzling lights surrounding them. "I want a podium ceremony in full Tremblay-O'Hara style. Nothing less."

The American anthem was played to celebrate the winner, the Italian to honor his team. Logan had taken a sip from Finn's bottle of champagne, their eyes locking in an unspoken acknowledgment—to the winner, until the next one—a long-standing tradition that was just theirs.

Finn's hands around him, the tight grip on his back—holding him close as the crowd chanted their names—were resonances of a warming sensation, a contrast to the biting, ice-cold water Logan was about to plunge into.

The room was all too quiet now, compared to the bustle of people walking around the Silver hospitality. Logan wished he had someone to distract himself with, to keep his mind from wandering too much. But the mess around him was a clear hint that James had already been there—a towel left on the handlebars of the bike, the half-empty bottle of blue Gatorade, the foam mat on the floor.

As if summoned by his thoughts alone, Leo soon appeared from the doorframe, carrying a bottle of Logan's favorite electrolyte water—red berries flavored, sweet and refreshing.

"Just for your information," Leo handed him the drink and Logan immediately took a big gulp, "I'm not getting paid enough."

"You mean to babysit me?" 

"Yep," Leo confirmed. He accepted the plastic bottle back and screwed the cap on.

"You got that right," Logan smirked, splashing him with cold water and throwing in a bunch of ice cubes for good measure.

"Tremblay."

"Ooops," Logan playfully teased him.

"No, no, don't even get me started on that one," Leo said, shooting Logan a stern, ridiculous look that made both of them laugh. He sat cross-legged on the floor—blue eyes still glaring threateningly at him with a barely suppressed grin—and Logan felt guilt gnawing at his stomach all over again.

"Knutty..." he forced his ashamed eyes to stay on him. "I'm so sorry." 

Leo didn't look surprised, as if he had somehow expected it. "Wanna talk about it?" He asked in a gentle voice.

"I don't know. I..." Logan ducked his head to watch his fingers draw tiny circles in the water. "I shouldn't have snapped like that. I thought... for a moment I was..." He broke off, swallowing that mental image again.

"You thought it was Finn. I get it," Leo nodded understandingly.

"But I fucked up the race," Logan admitted.

Leo promptly nodded in disagreement. "That's not true," he said just as the timer went off. Logan reached out to stop it, but didn't move further.

"I did," he met Leo's careful eyes again. "I shouldn't be scared of things like that. We're athletes, we know the risks. My job is to focus on my race and my team's success." 

Logan took a moment to get out of the tub. The chilly air made him shiver, and Leo reached up to hand him the clean towel he had thrown on the floor earlier. Once he was wrapped in the soft cotton warmth, Logan sat down next to him. 

"Okay, first of all," Leo began, turning just enough to face him, "you didn't do anything wrong. Strategically speaking, that is. The restart was good, and your reaction time was impeccable."

"But then..."

"But so was Finn's," Leo pointed out. "And his strategy and his car. We're talking milliseconds here, Tremz."

"I know…"

"Besides," Leo continued, holding Logan's gaze firmly, "you can't blame yourself for being scared. Just because y’all are... used to this," he gestured vaguely around, "to dashing along at unthinkable speeds every other day... doesn't mean you're not allowed to be worried about it. About people who are important to you."

Logan let Leo's fierce voice sink in. Every time an incident happened on track, it was only natural to ask if the driver was okay. They were all aware of the risks, and hard training and safety measures never seemed to be enough. Racing was as dangerous as it was thrilling, an intoxicating feeling. 

"I bet Finn feels the same way about you," Leo said quietly. "This is what everyone wants to see, what racing should always be. Talent, action, dedication. And respect." He was so unbearably calm, so gentle." People out there support you because they see more than just a brave driver," Leo tilted his head a little and smiled. "They see the person behind the wheel. And I'm sure we don't even know the half of what's behind that hard shell you carry around." 

Logan thought he had overreacted, but he knew Leo was right. There wasn't a single version of his life in which he wouldn't care about Finn. 

"Thanks, Peanut," he murmured, grinning at Leo's annoyed look. "Aw, shut up. I know you like it."

Leo's dimpled smile betrayed whatever menacing expression he was trying to force. 

"I really, really needed this. Thank you," Logan said again, not willing to look away.

"Come on, Tremblay," Leo stood up and held out his hand, steady and surprisingly comforting. "It's debrief time."

Logan took it and pulled himself up. "It's fucking midnight," he groaned loudly.

"Yeah, like you're not planning on hitting the after party," Leo shot him a pointed look that Logan ignored with a roll of his eyes. 

"Ouais." He halted on his way to the door to look back at Leo. "And you're coming with me.”

—

Two days later, Logan and Finn landed on an overcast, somber coast. It was one of those late September days that typically heralded the coming fall season—the first glimpse of its timeless combination of colors and scents.

The flight from Singapore had lasted ages, and Logan was feeling tired and a little edgy. He let Finn drive them from the airport to his place, trying to push aside the insistent buzzing in his head and let the view of a rough, dull sea lull his weary mind. He had a week off to spend at home in Monaco, and then he would fly to Silverstone for the next two weeks before leaving for the States. And yet, all he wanted right now was to snuggle into Finn's safe arms and never move again.

"Here we are," Finn broke the silence with a long sigh as they pulled the car into the garage.

Logan flashed him a tired half-smile and reached out to cradle his cheek. "Let's get home."

It felt different now—after a week of hiding, pretending, and carefully sneaking from one hotel room to the other—walking past the front door of Finn's attic with their hands clasped tightly together.

Logan had always loved spending time here. The apartment was warm, lovingly lived in, if not a little chaotic—with Finn's shoes carelessly tossed by the door, always a book or two on the coffee table, and dozens more spread out on the wooden shelves around the living room, among a few nicely framed family pictures. There were certain small details that Logan associated only with Finn, like the unbelievable number of dorky bookmarks strewn all over the place, the always-empty kitchen cupboard—except for a jar of coffee beans and a box of Logan's favorite mint tea—and the cozy, soft blanket draped untidily over one side of the couch, no matter the season. Logan had fallen asleep in it so many times with Finn by his side. And now they could have so much more.

When the door finally clicked shut behind them, Logan threw his backpack onto the nearest surface and sank straight into Finn's chest, bathed in the scent of home.

"Hi, baby," Finn whispered in his ear. His hands smoothed soothingly over Logan's back and he laughed at his contented hum. "You happy?"

Logan pulled back with a quick nod. "Shower?" he asked between bursts of soft kisses.

"Got to call Alex first," Finn murmured, pressing his gentle lips to Logan's forehead—a featherlight touch. "Go ahead, hm? Then I'm all yours.”

When Logan re-emerged from the steaming shower, his mind felt clearer. Leo's words from Sunday night had chased him ever since, then washed over him with the hot water. 

You're allowed to be worried about people you care about.

There was still something Logan couldn't let go of, a strange knot in his stomach that wouldn't loosen—and only one person who could easily untie those tight, pressing cords. 

I bet Finn feels the same way about you.

Finn was in his bedroom. Logan had left the bathroom door open and could hear his voice, softer now, humming slightly, adorably off-key over the notes of a slow song playing in the background…

When we're done

Making love

And you look up

And give me those eyes

Logan tried in vain to bite back his embarrassing, lovesick grin. He caught a glimpse of his burning blush in the misty mirror and shook his head. It was Finn. It had always been Finn. And Logan was free to tell him anything.

With a towel draped around his waist, he leaned against the doorframe between the two rooms to admire Finn's distracted face, gorgeous—barely illuminated by the phone’s screen lights and the glow of a cloudy sky filtering through the half-drawn curtains.

"Feeling sappy?" Logan called from the doorway. 

Finn pushed himself up on his elbows from where he was slumped between too many pillows on his bed. The music stopped, and he tossed his phone over the nightstand with a questioning look. "What?" 

"You were singing."

"Oh." Finn smiled Logan's favorite smile. "That's because that song reminds me of you," he said almost shyly. "Always kinda did." 

Logan had to surrender to the battle with his flushing cheeks. With Finn's eyes on him, he padded silently to the walk-in closet. Once his back was turned, he slowly slid the towel from his bare hips and rubbed it over his damp hair before disappearing into the small room. 

"And you are a menace," Finn said too loudly. Logan could picture the smirk curling his lips. He grabbed a pair of Finn's underwear and a t-shirt from the nearest drawer, slipped them on quickly, and casually walked out of the closet, barefoot on the warm hardwood floor. 

Finn had settled into a sitting position, his back against a pile of plush pillows. "C'mere," he said, holding out a hand to Logan. He had this mesmerized look on his face that Logan could barely stand, as if he couldn’t quite believe that this was all real and not just a longed for, fading dream. Logan was there in the flash of an instant, straddling Finn's lap and leaving a small peck on his chapped lips. "How's Alex?" he asked. 

"He's fine," Finn wrapped his arms around Logan's waist. "He's flying in with Kasey, at least for a couple of days..." he sighed. "Kasey's wrist needs surgery."

Logan cursed. "Is it that bad?"

"Nothing permanent," Finn explained what Alex had told him over the phone. "But he'll be out for a while and... He didn't take it well."

You thought it was Finn, I get it.

Outside, the wind had begun to whistle almost hauntingly, hiding the first drops of rain that Logan saw hitting the window. In the distance, caught in the storm, the palm trees swayed dissonantly with the high waves of a raging sea. 

"Lo," Finn said softly, drawing his attention back. "Are you okay? You've been all quiet since we left Singapore." 

Logan didn't want to hesitate. He needed the right words to untangle the mess that was his mind and let Finn in, as he always did. He closed his eyes and focused on the pattering of the rain against the glass, then on Finn's even breathing.  

"The race..." he paused only to take Finn's hands in his. "After the podium, I was... upset, I guess." Logan laced their fingers together and finally met his brown eyes. "So I talked to Leo," he said, letting out a deep breath that faded into a disbelieving laugh. "Well, to be fair, he did most of the talking."

Finn's smile slowly dimmed. Logan saw a shadow of worry cross his face.

“It's not because you won," he hurried to explain. "I just... I got really scared." Logan ran a hand through Finn's soft hair. He was there, real and safe. "When the flag came out and I couldn't see you behind me..."

"Lo..." Finn squeezed his hands tightly.

“And I know I've been told that I lost because apparently my archnemesis is almost as good as me," Logan kissed the wry smirk forming on Finn's lips. “But I'm not sure how to... make those two things work together."

Finn was quiet for a long minute. He kept his eyes on him, biting his own lips absentmindedly. The intense ticking of the rain matched Logan's racing pulse, but he didn't need Finn to react or to put an answer into so many words. Whatever truth Logan was looking for, he could always find it in those wonder-full golden eyes.

"I know," Finn nodded. "Trust me." He looked down at their joined hands. "I keep telling myself it's just our job, but... it sounds so unfair." Logan brushed his thumbs over Finn’s knuckles. "Waking up next to you in the morning, kissing you good luck before a race... but then I have to actually fight you for... a fucking lifetime achievement." Finn laughed, a humorless huff of breath. "For something one of us will end up taking from the other."

Logan cupped Finn's chin to tilt his head up. He didn't want to look anywhere else but into his kind, sparkling eyes—a guiding light in the darkest of hours.

"If you were in danger," Finn's voice was determined, his eyes solemn, "I wouldn't think twice. Remember last year in Belgium?" 

Logan's worst memory, the only time he had completely lost control of the car on a wet—most likely flooded—track. Qualifying had been canceled after his crash. 

"It took me every single bit of willpower to stay in the car when I saw you in the barriers." He watched Finn tense at the memory. "And I only did it because Remus told me you were fine, because you could talk on the radio." 

Logan had to lean down and kiss him, a healing attempt for the past hurt. 

"Lo," Finn took Logan's face between his firm hands. They were burning and so was the fire inside him. "Every fucking life dream would be meaningless if I couldn't share it with you," Finn's voice wavered between slow breaths. "I'm fighting for something I've wanted all my life and you know I won't give up until the end." And of course, Logan did know. "But fuck anyone who thinks I'd be stone cold if something happened to you."

Logan couldn't hold back the tearful, rising smile on his lips. Finn's hands slid down to his chest, over his thundering heart. "This is our job and it is hard. Fuck, sometimes I even feel sorry for Leo... Like, how incredible would it be for him to start his career with a world title?"

Logan kissed him again, and again. The freckles on his nose, his cheeks, then his lips—hard and lingering. Was he even real?

"But I will never, ever put any of this before your safety," Finn said, and then he deflated, frowning, eyes going sad all of a sudden. Logan reached out to smooth the deep lines between his eyebrows. "And I..." Finn tried. He looked almost terrified. "I'd understand if you wanted to... you know. Take a step back—"

"Non," Logan fired back. 

"You deserve—" Finn pressed on, but Logan cut him off without a second thought. 

"Non, non, no." Finn needed to know. Logan slid closer and cupped the back of his neck with a shaky hand. "Please," he whispered. "That's not what I meant. It's not what I want. Finn..." he took a slow breath. Everything. "D'accord, listen. Do I like this... situation? No, no, I don't,” he blurted out. “I don't want people to even think we could hurt each other. Hate each other."

There it was, a life in the hands of public opinion, strangers weighing down his shoulders with unsustainable pressure.

"And I hate that I get to have you only behind closed doors." Finn's pupils were blown, his dark eyes widened. "You deserve better than that. We both do." 

Finn looked stunned, just holding on to Logan's touch. "But I want you with me in this. I... maybe we can win and lose this together... Mon amour," he said against Finn's lips, "I want you to have everything you've ever dreamed of." 

Just like that, the light was back in Finn's filling eyes. "I guess I already do," Finn said, the corners of his mouth lifting. Logan's next breath caught in his chest. “It is right here in front of me." 

Logan knew it would be tough. It already was. Facing two realities that, like magnets, attracted and repelled each other relentlessly. But together, they could be opponents and enjoy the journey, every emotion that came with it. They could push each other to their highest limits and be there to heal the bruises left behind. They could keep this secret until the end of the season, until the dust would have settled and there would be no room for slanderous rumors and spiteful speculation. They had a goal, a dream, and time—a future Logan couldn't imagine not sharing with Finn.

The words spilled out before he could stop them. "I love you," he said in a hurried breath—the purest of truths. Logan loved him, he had for a long time. So he said it again, "I love you, mon cœur."

Never in a thousand years would Logan forget the way Finn's hopeful, glowing eyes lit up the entire room, the tear that slipped down his freckled cheek. Nor the soft, incredulous I love you that Finn whispered in the sweetest, most tender voice Logan had ever heard.

They met in a sealing, magnetic kiss, the very one Logan had wished for countless times. One, two, three hundred shooting stars on those endless August nights—I want to be his, I wish he could be mine. And now here they were, on this random, gloomy afternoon, warming each other with just the touch of their bodies. 

Finn's kisses quickly became needy, biting, leaving goosebumps on Logan's skin as his lips trailed from Logan's mouth to his jaw, down to his bare throat—marked. Logan clung to him, feeling not close enough, hands running all over Finn's back, his broad shoulders, the wild red hair, holding on like a lifeline. He wanted more, he yearned to feel Finn all over him, the scent of his cologne on his bare skin—to take him apart until they couldn't breathe, until they were sated with love. 

Logan urged that closeness with a slow roll of his hips, teasing, sparking a wave of pleasure that made Finn moan his name. 

"Have I told you you're a menace?" Finn panted for breath. 

"Hm," Logan bit his rough jaw and pushed him onto the mattress. "How about..."

"What?" Finn grinned wildly and pulled him down until he fell on top of his chest. 

Logan brushed their lips together, lingering on the way Finn's breath hitched, the way his hand tangled in Logan's still damp hair, tugging not so gently at the roots. "I think you should make up for that last lap overtake," Logan said in a poor attempt at nonchalance.

Finn choked back a laugh. "You want a runner-up prize, baby? Silver trophy wasn't enough?" 

"Ouais." Logan slipped a hand under the fabric of Finn's shirt, and let his restless fingers skim the curves of his marbled abs. "I also might have a request or two."

"I see," Finn's laughter was breathless and delightful—beautiful, just like him. "I'm very open to suggestions," he said, and rolled them over until he could fully wrap Logan in his arms. 

Logan let it all go. The tight knot, the pressure, the worry. Everything that wasn't Finn's panting breath on his skin, his bruising, maddening touch, and the melody of I love yous that he kept whispering in his ears.

[nicolesainz]

Pretty cute, if you ask me (LN 4)

Lando Norris x reader

Warnings: extreme fluff

Special dedication @freedaxf1 !! I hope you like it. This one’s for ya! If you have any other requests lmk. Love you!

Summary: Hints everywhere. Cheeks flushed and heart beating. Everyone has picked up on your feelings towards Lando, but do they know the truth yet?

“I sometimes regret having you around. I enjoy my peace and quiet during the weekends” I let out a defeated sigh as I remove my headsets.

“You only enjoy it because you get to be alone with mister McLaren” Fertwell comments as he nudges me playfully.

“Truly wrong judgement here, Max. Try again maybe” i roll my eyes

“Oh no she’s lying. They are both attached to each other, I still don’t understand how he managed to even do a few proper laps during free practices” the former McLaren driver, Daniel Ricciardo, adds, fueling the interest of my other friends.

“We should definitely attend the races more often. We are being excluded from the best moments” Ria smirks lustily at me, making my cheeks flush

“It’s the first time I’ve head a driver sing so much during free practices on the radio to his friend. He’s the only one who’s done it and probably will continue to be” the Australian drops another hint, sparks amongst the group being lighten.

“Since Y/N, refuses to tell us the truth, please Daniel, give us more details. What is my adorable baby sis doing around Norris, when we aren’t in sight” my older sister almost begs ex McLaren driver to be a inside source.

“There’s nothing to say for the love of god!” I shout at the same time as the mechanics work on Oscar’s car, getting it ready for another session.

“It will be the first time I’ll believe anyone else but you sis, sorry!”

“How do you explain the multiple pictures and stories then? Your gallery has more pictures of Lando than anyone else!” Daniel keeps pushing my buttons as if he’s doing it on purpose, which he is

“That’s not true! I just like to share things.” I shrug my shoulders as Max scrolls through his phone and shoves it on my face

“It’s the 5th story you’ve posted with Lando this week. I’m not buying it, Y/N”

“I don’t get why I have to alert you about anything that happens in my life”

that’s wrong! I tell them everything that happens in my life. Everything except one thing.

“Fine! Don’t tell us. I’ll ask Oscar. Rookie will be too much under pressure not to blurt anything.” My sister is almost threatening me to the point it scares

“And what if he doesn’t? You’ll go to Zak? Or his race engineer? They say curiosity killed the cat!”

I’m trying to hide the fact that nervousness runs through my entire body. Oscar is easily persuaded and knowing my sister, he’ll tell her whatever she desires to find.

“Hey Y/N, have you seen that Ma-“ I grab Oscar’s arm and move us somewhere farther away from my friends who were now occupied talking to Daniel.

“No need to be aggressive. Are you alright?” The new Aussie asked me, worried about my anxious presence.

“If my sister asks you anything about Lando, I beg you to not say anything. Even if she bribes you.”

“I wasn’t planning on saying anything but sure! I won’t tell a soul.”

“Thank you! You’re the best” I give him a quick hug before letting him go and running off to the group I left behind

As I was approaching them, I saw Lando moving towards them as well. Oh fuck.

“Hey guys, hey baby” he welcomes everyone and lands a soft kiss on my cheek, while wrapping his arm around my waist. I could feel my whole face turning red

“I KNEW IT!” My sister exclaims loudly

“You’re a very bad liar Y/N” Max continues

“Hey, leave my girlfriend alone. She’s a shy one” Lando bites back playfully and gives me the sweetest look of comfort.

“Now you know why I post about Lando regularly. And why I want my peace.”

“Yeah, I will agree to the second one. Someone had forgotten their mic on and I could hear the whole conversation. Try to be more discreet next time” Lando tries to hold back a laugh, as a look of horror covers my whole face to the idea that everyone could have heard this

“Aww, don’t worry love. I only heard it. No one else. Our little secret is safe. Also I found it pretty cute if you ask me”

[dangraccoon]

Oyuba’din - Chapter 15: Control

Summary: The Batch learns a little more about Jaine as they wait for her

Warnings: mentions of death

Author's Note: just to let you all know, I’m going to go on a short hiatus after this week; work has been running me ragged and I need to catch up! Love you all so much!

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Jaine, Obi Wan bellowed, fighting to step closer to her. She hovered a few inches from the ground in the center of a tornado of red energy, crimson eyes burning with tears. You must overcome this; you must regain your control.

Control? she lamented, her voice hollow. What control have I ever had? What control has ever been granted to me?

I’ve seen you, Jainera, he shouted over the wind. I’ve seen the powerful young woman you have become. You’ve far surpassed the frightened teenager I met all those years ago. You’ve grown, and you’ve grown past those who have controlled you in the past.

Jaine’s hands shook at her sides, balled into tight fists, the sanguine electricity sparking around them.

You can be in control of this. You are in control. Finally reaching her, he took her hand in his, despite the way his hand burned as it made contact with the power radiating from her hand.

I- I’m sorry, she whispered. The winds began to die down, her feet hit the ground, and she practically collapsed into Obi Wan’s arms.

It’s going to be alright, Jainera.

-

“Cody,” Echo said, alerting the Commander to the general beginning to stir.

Obi Wan’s eyes fluttered open as he sat up, removing his hand from Jaine’s forehead. His head was pounding and he was sure the crick in his neck would be bothering him for the next few days.

“General,” Cody spoke softly, his voice flooded with relief. “Are you alright?”

“Don’t be silly, dear,” Obi Wan tsked, waving off Cody’s concern. “Of course I am.”

Echo looked between the men. “General, is Jaine-”

“She needs rest, but she will recover,” Obi Wan replied, looking up at the other members of the crew.

“Wrecker, isn’t it?” he asked, looking at the largest, who nodded. “Please take Jaine to her quarters. The rest of your squad will accompany you.”

He then turned to Tech. “Keep an eye on her vitals. You must monitor them manually; the scanners will not read accurately while her powers are still uncontrolled. Just be careful not to touch the energy. Neither Sinya nor I know what it can do.”

Tech scowled but nodded, turning to join his brothers. Wrecker had scooped Jaine up from the floor, one arm around her back and one under her legs, cradling her gently to his chest.

As the squad left the room, they encountered Sinya, who was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, and Hunter, who was pacing nervously, clearly lost in thought.

“Hunter,” Echo said, stopping the sergeant in his tracks.

“I-is she okay?” Hunter worried, his eyes focused on the red smoke still trailing from her hands.

“General Kenobi said she’ll be alright once she gets some rest. We’re taking her back to the barracks.”

“What the hell happened? Is she hurt?” Hunter’s hand began to fidget against his side, a rare nervous tick Echo had noticed.

“She’s okay,” Sinya answered. “I’ll fill you all in as much as I can when we get to your barracks.”

-

Whenever Jaine would stir a little or the pattern of her breathing would shift, Hunter’s eyes would snap towards her, watching her carefully.

“How could she know if she’s forgotten things?” Wrecker asked, again.

Sinya sighed a little. “She doesn’t, not really. That’s what Obi Wan and I are for. When he was looking for her after we left the Agricorps, he found me instead. We talked a little and found out she had gaps in her memory. She didn’t know how she’d gotten off of that makerforsaken moon of a homeplanet, let alone who Obi Wan even was.”

“So, Jaine is not from Naboo,” Tech concluded.

“Is that what she told you?” Sinya asked, her eyes darting over towards Jaine’s unconscious form.

“That is what she told the GAR,” Tech clarified. “I asked her for the truth, but she did not tell me.”

“She told me,” Crosshair mumbled from his spot at Jaine’s side; the spot that he hadn’t left for hours.

The rest of the Batch looked at him, similar expressions across all of their faces. He knew they were waiting for him to continue, but Crosshair ignored them, turning his attention back to Jaine.

She looked so peaceful like this, nothing like the empty, almost droid-like attitude she’d sported just a few hours ago. Crosshair longed to take her hand in his, to let her know that he was here - tiny wisps of red smoke be damned - the ache so strong that his hand almost itched.

“She doesn’t want to think about her homeplanet,” Sinya filled in. “It all reminds her about this. She just wants to put it all behind her.”

Crosshair remembered how quiet she’d been when she told her about Qoljak. The information was minimal; just that the moon was decimated by meteors and she’d escaped. He expected that the blame she’d placed on herself was misplaced, maybe survivor’s guilt.

“Is…this going to happen often?” Echo asked, unsure what label he could put on the situation.

“I don’t know,” Sinya frowned. She began mumbling to herself as though going through a difficult calculation in her head, but Hunter heard her.

“Repeat that,” he said, moving towards Sinya, the expression on his face indecipherable, even to his brothers, who knew him best.

“Repeat what?” Sinya asked, mouth forming a tight line.

“‘How many times she’s’ what?”

Sinya swallowed and shook her head vigorously. “I said too much, I can’t-”

“Tell us…now,” Hunter growled, coming face to face with the twi'lek.

Her breathing was shallow, her heart beating faster now, and Hunter could practically smell her fear. He shouldn’t be intimidating her like this- and he’d hate to think how Jaine would feel about it - but he needed to know he didn’t imagine what she’d said.

“How many times she’s died.”

-

Jaine had a strong headache. In her half-asleep state, she felt like she was floating.

Jaine? Someone was calling her.

She suddenly came crashing down into reality, jolting upright. It was nearly pitch black wherever she was, and she could hear a voice making quiet shushing sounds at her.

“Hey, it’s alright,” the voice soothed, soft and familiar.

“Cross?” she asked, her voice shaky and hoarse.

“Yeah, cyare, I’m here,” he said, his hand finding hers in the darkness.

Jaine felt a spark when he touched her hand, and she almost pulled away, worried that she still had some residual energy, but this was unfamiliar.

“I’ve got you,” Crosshair whispered, pulling her hand up, planting a soft kiss across her knuckles. “I’ve got you.”

Thanks for reading! - Dang

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[desertfangs]

Armand/Daniel 1632 words Daniel has unfortunately taught Armand how to play Scrabble. Yeah, he knows. He regrets it, too.

This is just a short little ficlet. I've started a document over on AO3 to put little ficlets and bits into. Stuff I'm dashing off and not overthinking, like this (and the Daylight Savings thing)! Full ficlet is under the cut here but you can go there to read it if you prefer.

______________

Daniel stared at the tile letters on his rack. He had too many vowels and the board in front of him was sparse with options. Armand sat across from him, with his elbows on the table, watching Daniel study the Scrabble board.

There was a N near a triple word score but all Daniel could do with it was spell ‘tan,’ and that wouldn’t quite hit the red tile for those extra points. 

“There should be a little hourglass with this game,” Armand said impatiently. Armand had been on a board game kick. Last week they’d played Boggle, which did have a timer, and he’d taken great pleasure in alerting Daniel every time the last grain of sand fell and his time was up. 

“Just let me think,” Daniel said.

“Thinking won’t change your tiles. You can use your turn to swap them out for new ones.” 

Daniel glared at him. Armand’s expression was impassive, intentionally blank, his red curls dancing around his pale face as he picked up the bag of tiles and shook it. 

“I’m not swapping my tiles,” Daniel insisted. He was determined to get some points this turn, even if it killed him. He studied the rest of the board. Armand set the tiles down. Daniel could feel his gaze on him, heavy and weighted. He ignored it.

He spotted an opportunity in the top corner of the board and used an existing H to place tiles and make the word “What.” 

“There, eleven points because of the double letter score on the A.” 

Armand stood, bending over the board and doing the math himself, as if he hadn’t already done it in his head, and as if Daniel might possibly be wrong. He sat back down and wrote the points on the notepad he was using to keep score. “Another four letter word. Here I thought you were well-read, Daniel.” 

“What does that have to do with anything? There’s an element of chance to this, you know.” Daniel rose up and leaned over the table to snatch the bag of tiles and replace the three he’d used. Once he set them on his rack, he pulled the box of cigarettes from the pocket of his shirt and slid one out. He barely had it lit when Armand set his tiles on the board, spelling the word “abound” with the n Daniel had been staring at, getting the triple word score. 

Again, he made a show of counting the points on his tiles—a double letter score on the “B” and the triple word score, giving him a total of 36 points. He grinned and wrote down the number, repeating it as he did.

Daniel sighed. He looked back at the board, which felt stacked against him, and his tiles weren’t helping. Why did the game have so many E tiles anyway? He tried to find a good place to score some decent points but the more he stared at the board and his letters, the more it felt like his options were only short words for too few points to ever catch up to Armand. 

 “Don’t you have a good vocabulary, Daniel?” Armand’s expression was completely sincere, as if it were an actual question. “Perhaps we should sign you up for some classes.” 

Daniel took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “What kind of classes would those even be? They don’t teach Scrabble in night school.”

Armand lifted his chin. “Perhaps they should.” 

“You’re unbelievable,” Daniel muttered, ashing his cigarette in the ashtray they’d pilfered from a neighborhood bar after Daniel’s old one broke when they accidentally knocked it off the coffee table during a passionate make out session on the couch. 

Remembering that lowered his hackles a little and he glanced up at Armand, who was looking at the board, probably planning his next diabolic move. His expression was unguarded, his auburn hair falling into one of his eyes. He swept the hair back in a casual gesture, parting his lips slightly as he looked over the board, just a hint of tongue touching his top lip. He looked so much like any other young man absorbed in a game that it made Daniel’s heart swell. 

Armand froze and then met Daniel’s eyes, his own gaze intense and full of desire. Daniel immediately thought about all the other things they could be doing, rather than arguing over a board game. His mouth went slack as he thought about how fast he could get Armand’s clothes off—a collared shirt and khakis, easy enough, and easier still if he didn’t care about keeping the buttons in tact. 

“You’re getting ash on the board,” Armand said, standing to dust off the ash that had landed on it from Daniel’s cigarette, which was now more ash than solid. Armand pulled it from his mouth and ground it out in the ashtray. 

“Why the hell are you so cranky?” Daniel demanded. “You’re winning by a gazillion points.” 

“Yes, and you have little chance of catching up.” 

Frustration bubbled up as he looked at the board and his own paltry titles. Armand was right. Barring some real luck, he was going to lose. There weren’t that many tiles left and even fewer spaces on the board, and he was stuck with an R, too many E’s and very few good places to play a word.

“Why don’t we call this one for you? I give up.” 

Armand frowned. “You can’t quit.” 

Daniel huffed. “You just said I don’t have a prayer of winning.” 

Armand considered, looking from the board to Daniel and back again. “Fine. We’ll start over.” 

Daniel groaned. That was already their third game tonight and he could feel a headache forming behind his eyes from staring at the little tile letters. 

Armand swept the tiles from the board into the tile bag and then held out a hand. Daniel obediently gathered the tiles from his rack and put them in Armand’s outstretched palm. Armand shook the tile bag, mixing them around, and then held it out to him.  

Daniel didn’t take it. “How about we take a break?” 

Armand’s expression remained impassive but he turned slowly to look at the clock on the wall. It was past two in the morning. They’d been playing for hours. “And do what?” 

“I don’t know. Go for a walk. Fool around on the couch.” Throw the Scrabble board off the fire escape and pretend I never walked into the game section of a toy store with you on my heels and asked, ‘Hey, have you ever played a board game?’ 

He didn’t say the last part out loud but he was sure Armand caught it in his thoughts.

Armand set the tile bag down. “You’re still upset that ‘groovin’ is not a real word.” 

“It’s slang, it should count, even without the g.” That had been their first game of the night, and Daniel had been pretty proud of that one until Armand argued it down and he had to take it off the board. “Look, it’s not about winning or losing. Games like this are fun but they’re not meant to be marathons. You play them on occasion and then put on the shelf for a while.” 

Armand tapped his fingers on the table, his rings catching the light. His expression was still blank but Daniel could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. 

Daniel stood and pulled the Scrabble box from the kitchen counter. He folded up the board and gathered the pieces together, putting it all back in the box. He set it on the shelf with Boggle and their as-of-yet-unplayed copy of Monopoly. 

“Come on, let’s go for a walk. I think the pizza place over on Front Street is still serving slices.” Daniel had had nothing but coffee, cigarettes, and a few bites of left over fried rice that was in the fridge, since he hadn’t gotten a chance to leave the apartment. Armand had been determined to start Scrabble as soon as he could get Daniel out of bed. 

Daniel went to the door. Armand’s chair scrapped against the floor and a second later, he was in the entryway, too. Daniel pulled on his coat and Armand did the same, wrapping a blue knit scarf around his own neck before handing Daniel a gray one.

He reached for the door handle and Armand stopped him. He put his hand on Daniel’s cheek and smoothed his skin. Then he kissed him. His lips were soft against Daniel’s, which were a little chapped from him chewing on them. Armand’s tongue slid into mouth, still a little warm from whatever blood he’d drank earlier in the evening. Daniel melted into him, the world vanishing around them until nothing was left but their mouths moving together

Daniel’s arms wound around him and pulled him close, kissing him harder. He thought maybe they wouldn’t make it out the door after all. But then Armand pulled away, leaving Daniel breathless.

“What was that for?” he asked, panting.

“It was a kiss, Daniel,” Armand said, and opened the door. 

Daniel rolled his eyes but followed him out into the hall and down the stairs to the street. Armand hooked his arm through his and they walked down the block. 

“Tomorrow night, you can teach me Monopoly,” Armand said. 

Daniel looked over at him. The streetlights glinted off his pale face and he looked like he was deep in thought, maybe wondering what a game called Monopoly could possibly entail. It wasn’t as exciting sounding as Boggle.

“Yeah, okay, but I get to be the banker,” Daniel said. 

His eyes went wide and excitement danced over his expression. “There’s a banker?” 

Daniel laughed. “Trust me, you’re going to love it.” 

______ [AO3]

[acaplaya-musings]

Voiceplay-adjacent Visuals: Unshaken

Geoff's cover of the song Unshaken from the videogame Red Dead Redemption 2 was uploaded on the 10th of March, 2024, i.e. a month ago for you reading this. I wasn't quite sure at first if I was going to make a Voiceplay-adjacent Visuals post for this video or not, but I waited a couple-ish days (it released on a Sunday morning, and I'm currently typing this on the following Tuesday night), had a think about it (and watched it about half a dozen times, 5 of those just in its first day of release), and decided "yeah, I can talk about this!"

So let's get into this!

Ho boy, that's one hell of an opening shot (and yes I know I said the same thing about Jack's Lament), and we linger on it for like 5 seconds as well!

(Howdy there, Daryl!)

Original thumbnail/Spotify image alert! (And this was the image Geoff posted a week earlier on his Community tab as a little sneak peek, like he really gave nothing else away ahead of time)

For a red hot second (hah) when I first watched this video I thought there was gonna be a red tint to the visuals the whole time, but thankfully no

Did you notice how the screen expands at the same time as the lighting changes? Very neat!

Also interesting that the lighting on Goff, Daryl, Jeoph, and Jeff (more on them in a minute) is not just plain white or yellow; it's almost definitely green. The red lighting has not disappeared, as you can tell from the background, but it gets (mostly) cancelled out in the foreground by the green lighting, because red and green are of course complementary (opposite) colours. But also, red can be associated with danger and warnings (and it's in the title of the videogame of course), and green can sometimes be a "spooky"/"eerie" colour, particularly the bright neon kind. Things to think about!

(And of course, the credit for lighting automation goes to none other than Eli. Thanks Eli! (though I assume Geoff had a fair hand in coming up with ideas for lighting design as well).

If you're reading this, you almost definitely know that this video is technically a prequel to Geoff's video for Ghost Riders In The Sky - here, we see Goff, Daryl, Jeoph, and Jeff as living human cowboys, before they became ghost cowboys. I made a side-by-side comparison post not long after this video dropped, which you can find here

I am of course, quite pleased to see the return of the "Geoffettes", and if you've been following my Voiceplay-adjacent Visuals posts (the last of which was written at least a few weeks before this), you'll know I was keenly anticipating their next feature in a Geoff video. What I wasn't expecting, however, was to have a video that was in fact, just them! Jeff, Jeoph, Goff, and Daryl, but no Geoff! A bold move, to let them do a video all by themselves, but hey, I'm not complaining! 😁😉

Jeoph takes lead vocals for most of this one (technically a primarily-visual observation, for obvious reasons), which is interesting, as he was the only one of the four "brothers" in Ghost Riders to get a proper solo part (the "cowboy change your ways today" line). I wonder if the connection is deliberate/intentional?

(Also Jeoph's got charm, I'll give him that)

I'm assuming that is in fact the same coat that Daryl wore in Ghost Riders In The Sky, since all the other costume pieces match up, but because of the lighting, it looks like a different colour. In Ghost Riders, it seems to have a bit more of a reddish tinge to it, but with the green lighting here, it looks more like a regular brown.

Also because I didn't mention it in my Ghost Riders post, I'll mention it here instead: Thanks to the leather coat (and a bit of extra clothing layering underneath I believe), Daryl looks like he's got a bit of extra "heft" (weight/muscle) on him compared to the other three riders, as pointed out by someone in the comments section of the Ghost Riders video

Oh yeah and there's this golden light backdrop as well, which is quite nice, and I feel like there's some sort of meaning/intention behind this as well, but I haven't quite figured it out yet, rip

Also if Daryl's the largest of the group, at least by a small margin, then I'm saying that Jeff is the thinnest, at least a little bit.

Back to the harsh red lighting for the chorus!

Oh yeah and then we get more of a cool green lighting backdrop for the second chorus - sorta fitting for the lyrics about the whispering pines.

Also I just realized I haven't yet said a word about the set design, which is honestly criminal of me because it is on point. All the props are so cool, like the lanterns and the horse saddle on the far left side, and it definitely nails the Old West theme!

(This was of course filmed at Pattycake Productions Studios, so shoutout to them for their help/collaboration!)

(This shot is more representative of how Daryl's coat appears in the Ghost Riders video in reagards to colour)

Interestingly, Goff doesn't get any solo/lead parts in this one, and also I can't figure out whether he's left-handed in this video too or not. He's holding a large gun (rifle? musket? idk I'm Australian) in his right hand, but I can't see a gun holster on his right hip, so I'm assuming he has a holster on his left hip like in Ghost Riders (and I know Jeff kept his underarm holster in this video)

If I may step "out-of-universe" and talk reality for a hot second, I love the fact that even when Geoff is portraying 4 different cowboy characters, the rings stay on the whole time, for every single one, and so does The Necklace (you can only see part of the necklace chain in shots of Jeff, Jeoph, and Goff here though). Like truly, his jewelry (all of which is a symbol/representation of his love for his wife <3 ) only comes off in the most exceptional of circumstances (like having your hands and chest spray-painted to turn you into a skeleton, for example)

On a completely different Doylian note, how the frick does Geoff Castellucci's hair work? Watch this video, and look at the colour/shade of his hair. Then go watch Wicked Game, the video released just last month, and do the same. And as a bonus, go watch Sleeping In The Cold Below. Seriously, is lighting more powerful/influential than I thought, or does he use colouring products sometimes? I swear I'm gonna be talking about this in many posts to come this year, lol rip.

Jeff is my favourite in this video, though I can't help but love them all 😁

And peep the underarm gun holster I mentioned!

Handsome pretty boy <3

Also love the fact that since Jeff's shirt didn't have any buttons on it to leave undone, he left a button undone on his vest instead (Geoff and his "Clones" are nothing if not consistent 😆)

Lighting change!

"Will the hunter be hunted by the smoking gun?"

Jeoph removes his hat, which in a lot of media is often associated with acknowledgement of death, and the way he holds/looks at his gun here makes me think that Cowboy Jeoph has in fact killed somebody (in this essay I will...)

(Also Matthew "Bucky" Buckner is credited as "special consultant" for this video. Did he help out with the use of the gun props or something? (they are just props, right?))

"Amidst the crash of the-"

Love the sudden light flash to match with the sudden line pause, like a flash of lightning, and it kinda sounded like there was a subtle thunderclap there too!

You know I love a good passionate belt from Geoff (or one of the Geoffettes) in a video 😄💜

It's quite different tone-wise, but this bit reminds me of Geoff's Shenandoah video, with two of the Geoff clones seemingly conducting with each other at one point. Go rewatch that video after this, you'll see what I mean.

Also either it's just me, or for most of this, the self-conducting hand movements are kept quite minimal/subtle, only increasing moreso here at the big climax of the song/video. I'm gonna have to watch this video a few more times to confirm, but it adds to the more sombre vibe of the video imo (like obviously we know how the story ends for the four of them here, and it's not exactly a happy ending)

Go off Jeoph!

I also wish to know if there's any particular meaning/significance behind Jeff taking off his hat early on in the video and then putting it back on at the end (other than the thought that only just came to me right now, in that it's very similar to Jeff in Folsom Prison Blues, removing his glasses early on in the video, and then putting them back on at the end.)

Honestly love this final shot, it's very cool 👌

There is one thing missing though: the gramophone logo at the end! It's not there! The video just goes straight to the Patrons list! It's not even at the very very end! Did Geoff just forget? Is it some subtle symbolism connected to how "Main Geoff" isn't in this video? I guess we'll just have to wait and see whether or not it shows up at the end of the next one!

And here I was wondering whether or not I'd have a lot to say about this video or a lot of screenshots to take! Guess I had no need to worry after all! Geoff once again knocked it out the park, and yes, as I said at the start, I watched this 5 times in one day! The arrangement is very impressive, as we've come to expect from Geoff, and though I predicted this would be a Low Bass Cover the moment I realized this would be a Western-style song/video, this was still ridiculously low. Geoff pulled out all the stops for this one, and I love it!

[ozma914]

A Look Back, Or: I was always Allergic To Everything

 Just for fun, I looked up the blog about my original allergy testing, to see how it compared to this time. I'm reprinting part of it here, partially because I needed to be working on the Haunted Noble County, Indiana manuscript instead of writing blogs.

But also because I went through that first testing in early 2013, well over ten years ago. What has changed since then? Basically nothing:

           The allergy tester looked away (after injecting numerous allergens under my skin), and when she looked back my forearm had swelled so much I resembled Popeye right after taking the spinach.

           To her credit, her eyes bulged out only for a moment. Then she calmly opened the door and called to the medical staff:

           “Red alert! I need 50 cc’s of all our antihistamines, a gallon of decongestant, hydrocodone, ice, oxygen, codeine, epi-pens, and an extra copy of that release form he signed, in triplicate. Also, cancel lunch.”

           From the next room I heard a puzzled voice: “Just how many patients do you have in there?”

If there's a flower, there's a good chance it makes me sneeze. But if you look really closely you can see a bee--and since the allergist doesn't test for that, bees worry me more.

           Then the tester lady put twice as many pokes into my other forearm.

           A little card, with round holes in it of different sizes, measured my reaction. After a few tries she tilted her head and said, “I think we’re going to need a bigger card.”

           Then she started poking single needles into my shoulder, one by one. Those reactions, by the way, held on for over a week.

           “What’s the verdict?” my wife asked, while I huddled, slobbering and shaking, in a fetal position on the floor.

           The tester shook her head. “Do you have any plastic bubbles?”

           “Um, we have bubble wrap.”

           “I’m not sure you can sterilize bubble wrap.”

           It turns out I’m what they call severely allergic, which is a medical term meaning … well, I guess it’s pretty straightforward. I’m seriously allergic to … let me take a breath:

           Dogs, cats, indoor mold, outdoor mold, dust, grasses, ragweed, pollen, politicians, insects, dust mites, urushiol, fungus, feathers, and cottonwood.

           Here’s a fun irony: Standing by the entrance to the allergy doctor’s office are two big cottonwood trees.

I LIKE trees. But I also like birds, and I'm allergic to feathers, too. This one was making fun of me right by the front porch.

           Oh, Urushiol? Poison ivy. I already knew about, through sad experience.

           The tester explained that, while medications might mask some symptoms, my body was still fighting the allergens every moment, every day. Imagine, she said, being in a boxing match in which you’re hitting at an opponent constantly, without a break, for years. How would that make you feel?

           That explained a lot. Not just the typical allergy symptoms, but sleep problems, depression, headaches, irritability, itchiness. I'd been sick my entire life, constantly, and because I had no period of wellness to compare it to I thought it was normal.

           When we met with the ENT doc again, I asked what treatment we could try. Anything, I said – anything to give me a chance to feel awake and alive for the first time in my life.

           “Since you have so many allergies, we can’t fit all the treatment into one dose. So, you’ll have to have two allergy shots, one in each arm every week, for the rest of your life … or at least, it will seem like the rest of your life.”

           I nodded, and pretended to consider it. Then I said, “On the other hand, I don’t know what I’m missing, so it’s not really that bad, is it?”

           But my wife encouraged me to try the shots, anyway.

           By encourage, I mean “made me”.

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4898846.Mark_R_Hunter

Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/

Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter

Substack:  https://substack.com/@markrhunter

Tumblr:  https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914

Remember: Every several dozen books we sell pays for an allergy shot. Save the Kleenex.

[pick-em-pool]

WEEK 13

LADIES. GENTLEMEN. ROCKY. ENZO. TAYLOR. TRAVIS. It's officially the HOME STRETCH 🏁🏁🏁 As we have a mere 5 weeks left until a champion is crowned 👑 Who will take home the big bucks 💲 and who will have the ignominy of LAST PLACE this year?!?!

RUSTY - 10 POINTS

The top performer of the week moves himself into 6th place 📈 Does Rusty have what it takes to claw himself into the top 3 this year? I HOPE so 🙏 because I heard he's going to donate any winnings to the Sorry-Maguire-But-Logan-Is-My-Favorite-Son-And-Also-Better-Looking-Than-You fund. It's a charity group for handsome youths, please consider donating to such a worthy cause everyone 😎

PEYTON - 9 POINTS

A great week with 9 points is not QUITE enough for Peyton to escape the current 3-way tie for 3rd place 3️⃣ He'll have to be laser focused in these last few weeks to grab some of the money 💰 Hopefully he can spend it on installing more closet space in the apartment so he won't have to live out of his suitcase like a wandering hobo 😭

ABBY - 9 POINTS

Despite having never watched a game of professional football in her entire life, Abby is firmly in the mix for some moolah this year 💳 🤷‍♂️ It seems like her backflip of doom didn't scramble her brain TOO badly. Unfortunately the sheer embarrassment of it also meant she had to move out of Florida, block all her friends, and assume a new name of Billy-Bob Jones in Mississippi. Prayers up for Billy-Bob 😢😢😢

VAL - 9 POINTS

It's an absolute BRAWL in 3rd place right now, with Val fighting it out for a top place and some top dollars 💰💲💸 She had a chance to breakout but her faith in the Steelers once again let her down 😫 Before anyone picks the Steelers again, just know that this is a real tweet from their new quarterback:

Obviously, the Steelers are finishing 5-0 🏆

JULIETTE - 9 POINTS

The solid 9 points isn't enough to dig JuJu out of last place just yet 😪 This poor performance is ruining her Reputation 😑 After a Fearless start, she's on Red alert 🚨🚨 can she turn it around and make a comeback worthy of Folklore? or with she be remembered as a loser Evermore!!!

JANIE - 9 POINTS

The two-time champion is having a one-time TERRIBLE season for sure! 😭😭😭 I'm rather worried about what we're all walking into in Arizona, I don't think the Scottsdale regional paddleball tournament WINNER is used to being seventh place 👿👿👿

JJ - 8 POINTS

Truly the most difficult spot to be, JJ is in 4th place and juuust barely out of the money for now 🏃‍♂️ Can he lock-in and finish with some cash? 🤑 I can see the determination on his face, and it's NOT A LOOK, IT'S AN EMOTION 😤😤😤 No one knows what it means but it's provocative - IT GETS THE PEOPLE GOING 💯💯💯

LISA - 8 POINTS

She's been #1 for 13 Weeks, can she hold on for 5 more?!?! 🧗‍♂️🧗‍♂️🧗‍♂️ Lisa had had the most dominate performance of ANYONE in ANY of the season's we have done the pick-em pool 🥇🥇🥇 and yet despite that she's on in the lead by SIX points 📏 will she be able to hold and make HISTORY 📜 and MONEY 💲 but mostly MONEY 💲💲

GABBY - 8 POINTS

Lisa left the door OPEN 🚪 this week with only 8 points but Gabby wasn't able to capitalize on it 👎 And so she stays in second place for now 🥈 She's also responsible for the delayed update today, as I had to take a nap after I woke up. LAST time Gabby and I wake up together!!!

6:30 AM

Gabby: I'm going to make a coffee, what do you want, tea? do you like tea? what's your favorite tea? Me personally I like coffee

Me: (silence)

Gabby: Is that jacket going to be warm enough? Maybe you need a new jacket? I'm going to get you a new jacket, what color do you want?

Me: (silence)

Gabby: I saw this video on Instagram - would you still love me if I turned into a worm? You better take care of me if I turn into a worm

Me: OK let's play the quiet game

ALRIGHT EVERYONE ITS TIME TO LOCK IN AND FINISH STRONG! SEE YOU NEXT WEEK 😎

[raisingresponsiblecitizens]

Are you kids going to live in a world as you know it

A possible vision of 2050Z:

Your now adult child puts on her air filtration mask. The smog alert is red again. She then hurries to get into her air-conditioned, self-driving car. She spends less than 60 minutes outdoors a week. Her cross country running days are clearly over. It wasn’t this bad just a few years ago.

You are trying to book a family vacation. Unfortunately you had to stop the summer beach vacation tradition 5 years ago because many of the ocean front houses haven’t been repaired from the last hurricane. Plus there is a 50/50 chance a toxic algal bloom will hit and make it impossible to swim again…

As you grow nostalgic, you tell your grandkids how you spent most of your childhood summer outdoors. They ask how you tolerated it, as it was above 105 most of days last summer.

Changing our behaviors today is the only way prevent that future

Sustainability is not just environmentalism, while the environment is what we most immediately think about when we consider sustainability, the concept actually includes ideas about social equity and economic development too. A more holistic view of sustainability would include ecology; keeping all of the earth’s environmental systems in balance and only using natural resources at the same rate as they are able to be replaced, economic sustainability; human communities being able to access the resources they require to meet their needs, and social sustainability which encapsulates idea about human rights, protection from discrimination and fair, just leadership.

Why is it important?

To put it simply, concerns about sustainability are centered around the kind of the world we are leaving to the next generation. This is especially important to parents who are thinking about the world that their children, and grandchildren will inherit and have to deal with. Our current environmental situation has been created not only by the choices of governments and big corporations but also by the sum of small everyday choices by individuals, so the sum of small everyday choices by individuals can also move us towards a more sustainable future.

Top sustainability tips for parents

As parents, making steps towards sustainability is important because it both impacts upon the kind of world that we leave for our children and it provides a role model for their actions as well. It can be really easy to get overwhelmed when it comes to the idea of sustainability but it’s important to remember that rather than a few individuals doing everything perfectly the world actually needs everyone doing something. Like most habit changes, adding one new practice into our routines at a time is more likely to succeed than trying to change everything at once. So, here’s a few ideas of ways that we can move towards sustainability.

Get inspired

Following influencers has many pitfalls but can also be inspiring so long as we are careful about who we choose to follow. Check out sustainable living enthusiasts like @olworldnew @solittletodo @zerowastenerd @sweetpotatosoul or @readtealeaves.

Say no to stuff

With babies and kids come a whole heap of “stuff.” Whether it’s toys, clothes or the latest gadget it can be easy to fill our home with things, but take a moment to consider whether we really need to buy all of those things. Reducing our consumption is the single most important step we can take towards sustainability.

One way to reduce wasteful buying and gifting is by creating registry lists or asking for money towards something you really need. Loads of cute baby jeans? Not really necessary, but a safe carseat? Definitely. Letting people buy things you actually need for your baby or older child lets them contribute but ensures you don’t end up with lots of duplicates or things you won’t use / don’t really need. The next time you’re planning a baby shower or birthday party you could explain that you’d prefer second-hand items, or for everyone to chip in toward a gift certificate for something to do verses something to own. Experience gifts can be bought for babies or for older children; instead of buying gifts you could request that family members buy your children dance classes, pottery painting days, a trip to the zoo or a gift card for the cinema.

Many people are uncomfortable asking for what they want specifically. It can help to explain to people in advance that we will be grateful for anything they choose to give, just for their presence if they choose not to give at all, and that our suggestions are only aimed at reducing unneeded “stuff”. You may find that there are a lot of others feeling the same way.

Go for reusable stuff

Cloth diapers and wipes save tons of waste from landfills. Literally tons! It’s estimated that each child will use 5000 diapers all of which end up in landfill and take 500 years to break down. Cloth diapers are a great way to reduce environmental impact, especially if they are used for subsequent children. The same is true for all of the “disposable” items we use.

Look for water bottles that will last a decent amount of time, and preferably are not made from plastic. Stainless steel cups and bottles are a fantastic way to cut down on plastic usage while also being durable enough to stand up to the rigors of a child’s day to day lifestyle. If you’re using bottles to feed a baby then consider glass instead of plastic, which is much more easily recycled. Packing lunches filled with ziplock bags? Why not try reusable, treated fabric ones? You can find them easily on line.

Buy second-hand

The zero-waste economy focuses on the idea of keeping products in circulation longer and children’s clothes and gadgets are ideal for this. Babies and children grow fast — they may wear outfits just a handful of times before they are outgrown so it’s easy to pick up very nice clothing second hand. Not only is this more sustainable, it’s smart too! Buying second hand saves lots of money, and what’s more once you’re done you can usually sell clothes on again and make back some of what you paid. Similarly, many toys quickly lose interest or outgrown and can be resold or passed on.

Teach respect for the environment

Teaching children respect for the environment lays down the foundations for sustainable practices in their own lives. Observing animal habitats, and seasonal change or setting up a bird bath / bird feeders are good ways for children to learn about the environment at home. We can also plant a garden, or even just a food plant or two in a pot, and have children help to take care of it and ultimately harvest the crops, teaching them a bit more about where food comes from.

Involve kids in protecting the environment

Whether it’s putting veggie scraps in a compost bin, reusing times and not purchasing new when possible, choosing glass or aluminum over plastic, recycling, simply watching the garbage collectors at work or actually taking a trip to the landfill, any of these activities help children to understand that waste doesn’t simply disappear and lays the foundation for them taking care with their own consumption habits.

Conserve energy

Teach kids the importance of conserving energy by switching off lights, using energy efficient appliances, unplugging items not in use and keeping showers short.

Cut down car usage

Set an example and use your car less, carpool, or try walking or cycling to school or to nearby shops or friends and relative’s house. Make sure to explain to children why you are doing this and how it helps our planet.

As we make moves towards sustainability ourselves the most important thing is to include our kids in what you’re doing; not only does this get them on board in the here and now but it builds their understanding ready for the future too. Kids will often follow in their parents’ footsteps so teaching them about sustainability now is also actually working towards long term sustainability!

RRC is dedicated to sustainability. We are parents too and we know it’s hard to find time for all the suggestions thrown at us these days. For us building a platform for parent sharing of resources doesn’t just make parenting easier and less expensive, it helps protect our world.