#well i’m flattered by your kindness boy but you are an enigma of a person

[goldensunset]

what

[sickadelia]

hi im now throwing my pessimistic city dweller hat into the adult eds ring. please excuse the shitty drawing, i havent been able to draw The Boys well since i was 12. 

lore that i wrote 10 months ago while i had the stomach flu under the cut!

I can’t really see them in a tiny town or a huge city, so I was thinking that they end up somewhere in the middle, something that’s a city but isn’t too overpopulated- maybe like 600k to 1m people. 

Ed People often seem to struggle with a career for Ed, and deservedly so, because he’s kind of an enigma. A common career choice for him is being a self-made popular comic artist or someone who works in horror movies, but I don’t think he would last very long in any creative industry, because he would probably have trouble changing his ideas to accommodate others. Sure, he takes directions from Eddy pretty easily, but once the task has emotional significance to him, he kinda shuts down and digs his heels in. To be successful in these kinds of industries, you need to work really hard to show that you’re willing to change your ideas and take criticism for the greater good of the project. So because of that, I don’t think he would have that much success in that field. Therefore, I present to you: freelance artist/record store Ed!

I’m a record collector, and I feel like that scene is very Ed. It’s all about falling down deep rabbit holes and discovering bizarre artifacts that may have otherwise been lost to time, and Ed is the kind of person I can see absolutely loving researching random things and then infodumping to anyone who will listen. So, I decided he should be the “mascot” of a record store in the hipster-y part of town: people go there specifically to hear his recommendations and learn from his infinite knowledge. This is also the only thing keeping him employed, since I can otherwise see him being confused as to what to do, like skipping out on sweeping or sorting through records. He just sits at the till and blabs, which does make the business more appealing, however he’s otherwise no use to the owner.

As for the freelance artist part, I can imagine him trying to self-publish a comic or gain a cult following online. Though, as I mentioned, he is probably unwilling to sacrifice his vision for others, making the comic basically unintelligible. He’s a good artist, sure, but his comics are impossible to follow and are filled with inconsistencies, plot holes, etc… it’s style without substance. The only successful work he’s gotten doing art specifically is posters for Eddy’s band, which I’ll get into later.

Edd Oh, Edd. He always gets the long end of the stick in terms of careers, either in STEM or as a university professor (I’ve noticed that his actual careers are always pretty vague… he’s just “a scientist”). However, while I do think science and inventing will remain one of his most prominent hobbies, I wanted to delve more into the obscure territory and make him a journalist. Though his apparent interest in journalism is only present in one episode, “Truth or Ed”, I honestly think it is a pretty fitting career for him; he has a flair for the dramatics, is very passionate about vocabulary and language, and usually takes the moral high ground and stays very committed to his standings in any situation. So I thought it would be cool if he was an opinion journalist for some dying academic dinosaur paper, which has made an unsuccessful jump to online news and now mostly reports the lowest hanging fruit, like celebrity pregnancies. Edd was probably a fan of the paper during the glory days, and though he is absolutely flattered by the opportunity to work for them, he’s stuck writing articles about meaningless drivel rather than topics of any real worth, which probably messes with his deep life philosophies or whatever.

Another trait that often gets ignored is Edd’s pretentiousness, biting sarcasm, and assholeish tendencies. He’s probably THAT kind of hipster journalist who wears oversized trench coats, owns a typewriter but never uses it, sits in cafes and stares wistfully out the window waiting for some attractive person to compliment him or recognize him, and will completely cut you off if you have an opinion that conflicts with his own, no matter how pressing they actually are. While I don’t think romance would be of any particular interest to him, I think he’d still go on several dates in an attempt to gain approval and acceptance from others, and blame them when he acts like a total jerk. 

Eddy I have never seen someone do adult eds without struggling to come up with a career for Eddy. Used car salesman or telemarketer is a common choice, which are funny and fitting, but they don't have very much depth to them. And besides, those are jobs he’d actually be good at, and most of the show’s humour comes from Eddy failing to get what he wants. I don’t think he would be an interesting character to follow if he was satisfied with his life. So like Ed, he has his aspiring career that he’s bad at and a job he hates that he’s good at: so he’s a line cook AND a metal head. 

I’ve worked in restaurants for a long time, and every single line cook I’ve met has been screwed up in some way. They either terrorize everyone for their own amusement or selectively pick who they’re nice to, and usually end up being very awkward and making every situation uncomfortable. Eddy is probably the restaurant’s top line guy, so close to being the kitchen manager, but no one can stand him enough to totally put him in charge. Throughout the show we see that eddy has an interest in cooking and baking, such as making pizza, and I definitely think he could capitalize on that for a career. But as good as he is at his job, he’s an absolute terror to work with and controls and manipulates situations to give himself power that he may not otherwise have. For example, I can see him kinda screwing around new employees or the dishwasher, and the new guy is too terrified to stand up to him (this is me projecting LOL)

Now, for the metal head portion. Eddy is probably super pretentious about music, however he fakes being into certain bands to look cool and impressive. He claims his favourite band is Tool, but if you asked him to name more than five of their songs, he’d get stuck pretty quick. He fronts his own metal band called The Hunks (the original name was “Eddy and the Hunks”... that didn’t last very long), where he sings and plays the guitar, both very poorly. However, the other guys can’t survive without him, since he brought them all together, writes all the songs, books the gigs, etc… so despite him being the only thing holding them back from success, they’re practically useless without him.

[fruggo]

Hi hi can I req Danny, Leon and Steve with a male s/o who's a real goofy guy? Cracks jokes during chases, just can't take things too seriously, laid back and chill guy who prioritizes having fun

absolutely, thanks for requesting!! :D this is cute haha. i hope you like it!

danny, leon, and steve with goofy m!s/o

𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐘 𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐍

danny would consider himself a pretty fun guy, though perhaps his idea of fun would not be the same as a normal person's. so i wouldn't take his word for it if i were you.

honestly? he thinks you're the shit. he genuinely likes your bad dad jokes great puns, will banter back and forth with you, and he might even give you the hatch instead of a mori. although he would love to have your picture, it can wait until the next trial. or the next if he still doesn't feel like it. who knows?

he likes that you're not too serious about everything. since danny is the entity's golden boy, he never has to worry about anything! he likes it here! and it's cool that someone else has a similar mindset about things. although he might have misunderstood "making the best of the situation and just being a goofy person" for "liking it here". you never really clarified which one it was, and why should he ask?

when danny finds out that you act basically the same way with all the killers, cracking jokes and laughing things off in chases, he gets all pouty. he thought he was special. well, looks like you're getting that mori now.

he still likes you though, and he gives you even more special attention now in the form of tunneling and camping! he means well <3 (no he doesn't he is a little bitch and a loser)

but then he hears stories from the other killers about you, and is pleased to find that you are significantly more fun with him, and, dare i say, flirty!

but he still wants to tunnel and camp you.

when you realize what he's doing, you don't get mad about it. what's the point? in fact you think it's really funny.

the first time danny proximity-camped you, you found it rewarding to just talk and talk and talk until he finally talked back. it took a while, but he did finally respond.

you would just say dumb shit, and then you would say more dumb shit, and then it got annoying and danny had to tell you to shut up. and then you would just dramatically whisper something like "okay, pissbaby."

and danny thought maybe he should be angry with you, but he just wasn't. he couldn't be mad at you, because even if he was, you wouldn't care. you weren't scared of him.

so when he finally left and you got unhooked, he tunneled you obviously. it makes sense, okay?

"wow, am i that handsome and gorgeous and attractive?" you monologued while smashing a pallet onto danny's head. "i'm really just so irresistible that you want to tunnel me? honestly, danny, i'm flattered. i'm touched."

danny couldn't remember since when you were on a first name basis, but he let it slide. just because maybe he thinks you are that handsome and gorgeous and attractive.

dude danny is kinda fucked up but like. he's funny. and charming. and he also let you take off his mask once, and so now you know he's also hot. he has a few things going for him as long as you ignore the part where he chases you with a knife.

𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐘

leon, our favorite rookie :D he's so cute!!! sorry im gushing i just cant resist i love him !!

and you love him too, so much. that's why you accidentally distract him during trials by goofing off and almost getting him killed

it's out of love. leon knows that. you don't really mean to.

while leon's doing a generator, you are probably somewhere nearby trying to find something even remotely interesting to do. and that might involve climbing a tree, then falling out of the tree. but it wasnt your fault! you swore the crows were attacking you, they didn't want you up in that tree because they knew you were just so cool up there and the Entity couldn't have somebody being better and hotter and funnier than itself so high in the sky.

leon could only smile and shake his head, inspecting you for the wounds you inevitably had. when you said you were fine, he was very skeptical, because your version of fine was never the same as his.

the killer knew where you were now because of your very loud "FUCK!" as the crows supposedly attacked you and forced you out of the tree, so you immediately put on your game face and got ready to command some attention.

leon said no, you were not in the right headspace to get chased. you only shrugged at him, slapped his ass, and ran towards the killer yelling, "HEY YOU WANNA HEAR AN AGGIE JOKE?"

leon was used to this by now, and he found it rather endearing. you were an enigma to him, really. how you could be so laid back about this whole murder-die-sacrifice thing was beyond him, but it was refreshing. he liked your enthusiasm.

since he had just come from raccoon city, he was still in his "i have to do the right thing and save everybody because it's my duty" kind of mood. you made sure to lighten up that burden and remind him that it's okay to chill sometimes, and he can't save everybody, especially not here. if you were in a particularly bad trial, you always made sure to get him to crack a smile.

likewise, leon wasn't always too jazzed about your "funny guy gets killed so the team can live" complex. he knew you didn't care, or at least you said you didn't, but he still hated that you constantly sacrificed yourself and acted like it was no big deal. to him, it was. he hated going back to the campfire alone and waiting forever for you to show up again; he cared about you and it hurt to see you sacrifice yourself so much even if he knew you would return.

leon didn't have a stick up his ass or anything--he had his fair share of humorous moments (i mean have you seen infinite darkness ashdjshdf that man just wants love and food). he just wants to save everybody, you included. it's frustrating to come to terms with the fact that he can't.

he loves it when he can hear you yelling at the killer mid-chase from afar, be it a pun or a swear or both. you've even influenced him to crack his own jokes while being chased sometimes--it comes out more often if he's being tunneled. if you ever happened to see him do it, you would wipe a fake tear from your face and start clapping. you were very proud of your rookie.

𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍

the killers hated you and steve, and i mean like despised you

you were so chill. and for what???? why do you have chill???? nobody else has chill, what makes you think you deserve to have chill????

they could never make you angry and that made them super angry

you and steve would quip back and forth between chases, sometimes going so far as to pretend the killer is not there and talk about something like what kind of cheese you missed eating the most. let me tell you, that did not make the trickster happy.

he was a star!! a star, and here you two little shits were, ignoring him to talk about cheese. honestly, the audacity.

you and steve ran to the killer shack with the trickster on your heels, still talking about cheese. how the conversation had gone on this long was a mystery, and it continued to be a mystery while the two of you shared a chase in the shack.

steve was very happy to have found someone to share his sentiments with. everybody was so serious all the time, and while he was similar to leon with his altruistic streaks, he was slightly less responsible and occasionally enjoyed doing dumb stunts just for shits and giggles.

you can bet that whenever you are in a trial together, it's a competition to see who can hold the killer's attention longer. your teammates don't mind--all they have to do is complete gens, so their job is fairly easy. and it's always entertaining to catch sight of one of you sprinting with a new flashlight in your hand to go annoy the crap out of the killer.

there's no question that steve would die for you a hundred times over, and you would do the same for him. you didn't see it as a very big deal--you didn't see anything here as a very big deal. steve was the only important thing you had, really, and you cared for him a lot. saving him? kapeesh. no sweat.

scenario: steve is being chased, you throw yourself in front of him, the killer has noed, you are hooked, you give him a thumbs up as you die, he flips you off because why the fuck would you die for him what is wrong with you he's supposed to die for you and you know that?? why would you do that???? great, now steve gets to escape and it's all your fault.

you would simply smile. he was so cute sometimes.

[chickensarentcheap]

I Found (chapter 14)

Warnings: fluffy but angsty Tyler

Tagging: @alievans007 (even though she asked where her chapter was and knew this was coming ;) ) @c-a-v-a-l-r-y  @hemmyworthy

He watches her as she sits on a bench  in the hotel courtyard,  the hood of the sweater pulled over her head, eyes riveted on the cellphone in her hand as her fingers composed a text message.  Tyler has his work cut out for him; recognizing his own faults and his own mistakes has always been a struggle, never mind actually apologizing for them. He had learned a lot over the past year. Specifically the last eight months; having to get used to domestic bliss and worrying about someone other than himself. It had been a long time since he'd had to take someone else's feelings into consideration, and even now he struggled with. Easily reverting back to old adults and an old life where he only had himself, a dog, and a chicken to take care of.

In his mind, he had made the right decision for his family. The most feasible and logical option. The safest. Lure the bad guys away from Ovi and effectively Esme and the baby. He hadn't stopped to take into consideration that she needed him. That he was the only who who has ever made her feel safe. Secure. Protected.

He moves towards the door, only to have Jason step through it and effectively block his way. There's something he doesn't like about the kid. Something he just can't quite put a finger on. Normally he could read others feel; able to easily see through their bullshit, identify their weakness, exploit them if he had to. But this kid remains an enigma. A puzzle to crack. Something more sinister and untrustworthy hiding under those boy next door looks and his polite, almost naive down south persona.

“Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?” Tyler asks. He isn't a man that plays games. And this kid was well on his way to playing a very dangerous one.

“She said she needed some fresh air. A chance to be alone. Think.”

“Are you honestly trying to stop me from going to see my own wife?  You need to take about two steps back. Before I drop you on your ass.”

The younger man moves to block his way once again. Using those wide shoulders to effectively bar Tyler's entrance into the courtyard.

“I just think it's best if you leave her alone,” he suggests. “Let her catch her breath. Clear her head a little.”

A smirk tugs at the corners of Tyler's mouth and his eyes narrow and his voice drops.  The way it always did when the bad guys tried to play their mind games and pull their bullshit.  When they didn't know just exactly who he was, what he did, and how dangerous he could be. Like that day back in Dhaka, when he gone into that squalid apartment, surrounded by hostiles, and laid eyes on Ovi Mahajan Junior for the first time.

“You've been here for what? Two days? Forty eight hours and suddenly you're an expert on what is best for her? For my wife?”

“Well someone has to think what's best for her,” he bravely retorts.

Tyler gives a derisive snort. Fists clenching. Jaw tightening. “I think you better take those steps back, mate. I've dealt with bigger and better than you. I won't hesitate when it comes to putting a foot up your ass.”

“I just think that everyone needs to calm down. Look at this all rationally. Take a breath and...”

Before he can finish, Tyler has his forearm in a vice like grip; twisting it painfully behind his back and then propelling him forward, slamming him face first into the plate glass window.

“I don't know exactly who you are or who the hell you think you are or what games you're playing. But if you ever get in my way again. I will fuck you up so badly your own mother won't be able to recognize you. If you so as much look at me the wrong way, if you so as much even think of trying to get between me and my wife, if you so as much as even go near my daughter, I promise you that I will make what guys like Asif to do people look tame. You understand me?”

A brisk tap on the glass next to them captures Tyler's attention. Nik stands behind it, watching the altercation through the window.  And when she and Tyler make eye contact, her gaze hardens and her brow furrows and she shakes her head with the utmost disdain.

He relents. Giving the kid one last shove before stepping backwards, hands held up in surrender.

The kid shows no emotion. Not a hint of fear playing on his face or glittering in his eyes.  Whether it was an act or he truly was cold as ice, Tyler didn't know, but it was unsettling. Troubling. Like the moments before an ally turns out to be an enemy and they strike.  The only outward sign of uneasiness is the sweat that beads across his forehead and the bobbing of his Adam's apple as he swallows noisily. His eyes never leaving Tyler's as he simply straightens his suit jacket and his tie.

“Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe it's you that needs to worry?” he speaks, no shakiness or trepidation in his voice. “That maybe you're the one that needs to step back and watch yourself?”

It's a threat. Tyler knows it is.  And now he is the one that's feeling uneasy.  Uncharacteristically frazzled by the tone in the younger man's voice and that icy cool demeanour.  “I don't want to see you around her again,” he warns. “Unless I'm the one that tells you to be. You hear me? Now walk away.”

Jason takes a step forward, then hesitates when he notices the fiery in Tyler's eyes and the way his arms are tense as they hang by his side, hands clenched tightly into fists.  He'd heard the stories. He'd seen the numbers. The aftermath of what one single man...this man...could do.  Tyler Rake was fearless. Savage. Merciless.

“Walk...away...” Tyler's voice is low, menacing. Nostrils flaring as he fights to control his temper.  He had promised he wouldn't be that man again. The one that could smile at someone one minute and rip them apart the next.   But old habits do truly die hard.

Jason finally cracks.  With nothing more than a simple nod as he turns on his heel. His gait slow. Unhurried.  Purposeful. The message he is sending loud and clear.

****

Esme looks up briefly as he approaches.  She's been crying; eyes rimmed with red, swollen and puffy. That sad, heartbreaking glitter  that he hates seeing. And hates himself for causing.

“Very smooth, Tyler,” she looks back down at her phone  “Beating up the help.”

“Nothing's more hurt than his pride. You know, there's something about that kid I don't like. He's too eager. Too willing. Especially when it comes to you.”

“That's called jealousy, Tyler. I know you're usually incapable of feeling other emotions outside of intense anger and astonishing self loathing, but I'm actually quite flattered that you feel that strongly about something. About someone. All over little old me.”

“I deserved that,” he says in response, and she gives a little snort, refusing to make eye contact with him.

For what seems like an eternity, neither of them speak. The kind of silence that hangs so thick in the air, you can hear the rushing of the blood through your body or a pin drop in a room on the other side of the house, on an entirely different level.  One that is so deafening that you would do anything to quell the agony.

He stands in front of her, hands on his hips, watching her.  The gun seeming impossibly heavy as it sits in its holster, clipped to the waist band of his pants.  It's a weight that he had hoped to never bear again.  A life that he had hoped was well and truly behind him. Naive, he supposed. As once you were in the game, you never were truly out of it.

Unless you were dead.  

He's the first to break.   “What are you doing?”

“Texting.”

The one word answer aggravates him.  “Who?”

“My other husband,” she huffs, and heaves a sigh of exasperation. “My mother. I've been trying to get a hold of her since last night. I don't know if my texts aren't going through or if there might be something wrong or if she's just given up on me and is just completely ignoring me...”

“I'm sure she's just busy. I doubt she's given up on you. She's your mom. Moms don't give up on their kids.”  He'd only had a short time with his own mother. But in the time that they had had together, he discovered that it was true.  No matter the distance or the issues between them, a mothers love for their child never stops.  Nor does their desire to nurture them. Or protect them at all costs.

“I just wanted to let her know that we had to go away for a while.  Not to bother calling the apartment because we wouldn't be there. And not to panic or worry if she can't get a hold for me for a little bit. I just wanted to...I don't know...”  another sigh. This one shaky and sad. “...I just wanted her to know that I love her. That I miss her. She needs to hear that.”

He nods. “I think she deserves to hear that.”

“Just in case,” Esme says, and flips the phone case closed. “Just in case.”

He drops to his knees in front of her, grimacing at the pain that shoots through his right leg. Gently pushing the hood off of her head.  His hands rest on her thighs. The weight of them heavy. Familiar. The familiarity that comes with the things that you love the most.  The smell that lingers on the belongings of the person you love,  the sound of their voice over the phone when it's the dead of the night and they can't sleep and need to call you,  the feeling of their body alongside of you.  The little things that you take for granted but would miss if one day you woke up and they were no longer there.

“Everything's going to be okay,” he assures her. “We're going to be okay.”

She shakes her head. Wanting to believe him. Needing to believe him. But not knowing where to start.  “What if all goes wrong? What if shit just hits the fan and things end up worse than before. What if...”

“Stop,” he implores. “Just stop.  This isn't like before. This is nothing like that. What happened in Dhaka was almost a year ago. Almost twelve whole months. You need to let it go. You need to put it behind you. Leave it in the past.”

The tears that escape are hot, unrelenting. Huge droplets that linger on the tips of her eyelashes before rolling down her cheeks.  He hates seeing her like this. Struggling with her own demons and the things she'd seen and heard. While his life had nearly ended on that bridge, her new one had just begun.  A life that only two short weeks before hadn't involved him.  Neither of them had even known that the other existed. Two people on the same planet, at the same time, oblivious to the wheels that were already turning. Completely unaware that fate would soon drop them in one anothers paths.  

And he wonders...not for the first time...just what would have happened if he had have just walked away. If he hadn't let her rile him up and get the best of them  that day in their motel room. If he'd just fought that unbridled lust and the overwhelming need and want to feel alive again. The desperate hunger of needing to feel as  if he mattered to someone and had something to live for.

“I can't,” she whispers. “I don't know why. I just can't.  I was the one that was there, Tyler. With you. Not just on that bridge. But in all those moments afterwards. In that hospital. In a country on the other side of the world, thousands of miles from my home. In a life that I never asked for. That I definitely wasn't prepared for. A person that I didn't even recognize any more. I gave up everything for you, only to have you completely betray me. To turn on me the very second you got a chance.”

He feels like an asshole. A complete and utter fucking asshole. And he thinks of how he should have just walked away. That he never should have given into that temptation. No matter how hard she tested him. And he can see her. Standing there in front of him in that dark, filthy motel room. Looking up at him with those huge dark eyes full of desperation.

The ghost of a lost little girl lingering under the shell of a grown woman.

She had needed to feel something. Anything. And she had  wanted him to be the one that helped her feel it.  Two people damaged beyond all repair. Finding a way to escape from their pasts. Needing to silence the tortured voices inside of their heads. Needing to feel something other than emptiness and the bitter sting of loss and bad decisions.

“That wasn't my intention. I didn't betray you. I didn't do it to hurt you. I did it because I thought it was for the best.  I did it to protect you. To protect our daughter. Not to hurt you. I would never hurt you. I told you that a year ago. When you said that you were scared. Not of me but what you were feeling towards me. And I asked you what you were scared of. Do you remember?”

She nods. And she finally touches him. Those small hands resting atop of his.

“You told me that you were afraid of being hurt. That I'd hurt you. And do you remember what I told you? Do you?”

Another nod.

“I said I would never hurt you. And I meant that. I meant that right to my very soul.  Even then.”

“But you did.  Hurt me. Whether you meant to or not. Why would you do that? Why would you make all those promises to me about never leaving unless you had to? Unless you had no other choice? You have  a choice, Tyler. And you decide to just leave me there.  Why? Why would you do that? We're stronger together than we are apart. We always have been. I've put everything I have into you. Right from day one. All my love and all my trust and you turn around and make a decision like that.”

“I didn't do it to hurt you. Or betray you. I did it to keep you safe. To protect you.”

“The only time I've ever felt safe and protected is when I'm with you. I didn't even know that was something I wanted. Or a hole that needed to be filled. Until you came along and did it.”

He reaches up to take her face in his hands. Thumbs gentle as they brush away her tears.

“Don't leave me,” she begs. A far cry from the girl she was a year ago. The one that took no shit, who never let her guard down, who refused to let anyone past the walls that she'd built around her heart. Years of being let down by the men that she had let into her life. Trusting them and giving them her all, only to be left broken and battered when it all fell apart.  She's a shell of that former woman. And he blames himself.

  “Please. Don't leave me there. Don't run off on some goddamn suicide mission. Promise me. Promise me you won't do that.”

“Esme...”

“Promise me, Tyler. Promise me that I won't wake up one morning and find you gone. You don't have to fight this battle alone. This isn't just yours to fight.”

“But it should be.”

“But it doesn't have to be. Please don't do this.  Don't drop me there and then just disappear. Don't walk away from me. From our daughter. From us.”

“I'm not walking away from anything. Not from you Not from us. Not from our baby.  I made the decision that I thought was best for both of you. To protect my family.”

“I'm scared,” she admits. “I'm scared that you're going to just disappear on us in the middle of the night. That you'll just take off and that I'll never see you again. Promise me you'll stay.  Promise me you won't do that.”

She cradles his face in her hands. Thumbs brushing against his beard, the pads grazing over his lips.  Those tortured and desperate eyes never leaving his.

“I promise,” he says. “No running off in the middle of the night. No walking away.”

“Tell me we're in this together. That you're all in.”

“We're in this together,  I'm all in. I've been all in from the start. Wasn't that obvious? When I let you seduce me in that hotel room?”

She manages a laugh, sniffling through the remnants of her break down. “You and I remember that day very differently.”

“I remember what you what you were wearing.  A black tank top and jean shorts. The ones with the hole in the left leg and a tear in the ass. I remember that your hair was damp  and you had it had it up in a ponytail. And I remember that I could taste strawberries when I kissed you.”

There was more. So much more. The little things from that day. From that moment.  The sound of the traffic on the street outside; the clamouring of cars and the blaring of horns and the chattering and shouting of pedestrians. Loud music coming from the room upstairs. The sickly heat and humidity that hung in that little room and coated their bodies in a thin a sheen of sweat. The way his blood rushed through his veins and his heart hammered in his chest and his throat tightened.  The way she stood there looking up at him, challenging him to do something. Anything.  Looking impossibly small; desperation, want, need, all visible in those eyes. There was no fear in them. Even with his hand wrapped tightly around her throat.

And when she'd touched him, the brief brush of her chest against him, every nerve felt as if it were on fire.

Things that he'd hadn't felt in a long time. Things he'd never felt that intensely.

And he could remember...clear as day...how they lay in that in that mess of rumpled sheets and sweaty, tangled limbs, utterly spent from the intensity of the sex. How his hand was in her hair as she rested with her face against his chest, her breath warm and soft against his chest.  And that he'd thought how he didn't want it to end. That he didn't want her to walk away when the job ended. That he'd hoped she saw him  as more than just some conquest and a way of filling an empty bed and an empty heart.  And how he'd worried he wouldn't be the man that she needed.

That she deserved.

No. He wasn't brave. Regardless of what she thought. Or what Ovi said. He wasn't immortal. He was just a man that tried very hard not to show the world that he was human.

“I remember being scared,” she confesses.

“Of me?”

“No. Not of you.  I was scared of what was happening. How quick it was happening.  The things I was feeling. How screwed up it seemed that it was happening where it was happening. I mean, it wasn't exactly the ideal place. Or the time.”

He agreed with that.  But even when his brain had been telling him how just how wrong it was, his heart had been telling him the exact opposite. And for once he'd followed the latter.

“But no. I wasn't scared of you. Never of you.”

He smiles, turning his face into her hand as it rests on his cheek, pressing his lips to her palm.

“I can't lose you, Tyler. I already came close. Way too close. I don't want it crossing that line this time.”

“It won't,” he promises, and places a kiss to the inside of her wrist. “I have something for you,” he says, and digs a hand into the pocket of his hoodie. “I found it. In that little box you keep in the table by your side of the bed.”

By traditional standards, it isn't much. A simple leather bracelet. Intricately braided, with one small lapis stone in the middle. She'd spied it at the market that fateful day in Dhaka; when they allowed themselves to cross over that line. And it had been what driven him to loose his temper in the the first place: the fact that she had wandered off alone when he had distinctly told her to stay by his side at all times.  And when suddenly she wasn't beside him any longer and he couldn't spy here in the sea of people, he'd become frantic. The first time in his life that he'd felt genuine panic. Nik had entrusted him with the job of keeping Esme safe. And he'd failed.

He'd lost it on her. Practically dragging her back to the hotel and then just unloading on her once the door closed behind them. The next day...while she was still sleeping and recovering from a late night of numerous rounds of incredible sex...he'd went back to the market. Searching for that same vendor so he could find out just what had captured her attention.  It was the first thing he'd ever given. Aside from a baby in her belly.  And she'd looked at that inexpensive and simple bracelet as it if were the most priceless piece of jewellery in the entire world.

It had broken on that bridge. Where he'd nearly lost his life. And she'd still hung on to it; cleaning it the best she could and tucking it away into that little box that held various other mementos of her life that she'd squirrelled away.  He didn't have much to give her. And that had never mattered to her.  But that bracelet held more value than anything else in the world.

She smiles as she sees it. Resting there in the palm of his hand.

“I fixed it for you.  And I cleaned it. The best I could.”  There are still remnants of blood.  His blood. Clinging to leather, discolouring it in places. But she still doing it.  Sidelong glances he'd give when she was feeding or cuddling their daughter. Or when she'd be sitting on the couch with her legs tucked under her, top teeth resting on her bottom lip as she immersed herself in a novel.  Or when she'd laugh at one of his stupid jokes or she played along with his teasing, the way her eyes sparkled and the corners crinkled.

His fingers are gentle against the inside of her inside of her wrist as he secures the newly repaired clasp, and she places that hand on the side of his face and leans into him. Covering his mouth with hers in a kiss that ,while soft and so sweet, still manages to take his breath away.

[toonstarterz]

BECAUSE I’M NOT POPULAR, I’LL READ WATAMOTE: CHAPTER #164

Hey, not dropping the ball actually worked!

We’re just a hair’s length away from summer vacation, but unlike last year when Tomoko approached summer with not much consideration, she’s now taking a proactive role in deciding how to spend her last summer in high school. At first glance, Tomoko appears to have become a responsible, young lady. But as we soon will see, that can-do attitude may not be as refined as it looks on the surface.

Chapter 164: Because I’m Not Popular, I’ll Do My Best Starting From Summer Break 

There’s that time period during the day when most students have already left but school hasn't quite closed up. It’s pretty creepy, even more so before summer break when you’re expected not to stick around.

Have I mentioned Itou is a cute? ‘Cause she is.

It’s usually her looking after Komiyama, so it’s really sweet to see the dynamic flipped around like this. Despite, well, everything, Komiyama is a good friend.

Assuming that cheering for the baseball teams is optional, it’s endearing to see Itou go through with it. Even though baseball isn’t her thing, she’s likely doing it to support her bestie, which I can 110% get behind.

Ah, right. Dude’s in the manga club. That said, I wonder if their plans are for just being attendees, or if they’ll actually be manning a booth and selling their work. With his skills and, er, preferences, I think Hatsushiba could do the latter.

Don’t be so modest, Tomoko. There’s no slouching either when you’re a three-year veteran of the Going-Home Club. 

Studying during summer break? Outrageous!!

It’s intriguing to see just how Tomoko’s study habits have evolved throughout the series. The early days would see her spend summer goofing off on her hobbies, with bare minimum concern for academics. But now, Tomoko is actually considering studying on her own accord. Sure, it’s more-or-less a fallback when she has nothing else planned, but the thought itself is still worth mentioning.

Is that one of those mini-fans that you can carry around in your bag? I love those things.

Study camp, huh? Any other day, Tomoko would be apathetic to the idea, leaning more on the side of brushing it off. But having Katou bring it up makes all the difference, ‘cause let’s be real. Katou could ask her to sign up for a hostess bar at the Red Light District and Tomoko would still seriously consider it.

Miss you, Yuu-chan.

I second that, Komi. Fourteen hours of studying a day is brutal, even if that’s to be expected in what is essentially a boot camp. I’ve always questioned the efficiency of cram schools and the like, mostly because they seem to prepare more for short-term memorization than long-term understanding. But even it actually works in principle...

...I’m not sure Tomoko will be able to handle it.

Perhaps it’s just me, but it feels like Tomoko is overestimating her discipline for studying. She already struggled with Katou’s flashcards and study sessions that a whole training camp feels like it would have a more detrimental effect on Tomoko than a positive one. “Work hard, play hard” was never meant to be that extreme, Tomoko.

That’s...genuinely uplighting. Tomoko has missed out on several of the key “memorable” high school moments, and she usually lets it go with only mild regrets. But here, Tomoko’s actively trying to gain what she once lost. Sure, she’s trying to “game the social system” a little, but what did you expect? She’s a person, not a saint.

This was Yuu’s only line in this entire chapter. My girl deserves more than this.

Will the 2% of Tomoko’s personality that is tsundere ever realize that if you really “didn’t care either way”, then you wouldn’t have asked the question to begin with? Doubt it.  

That romaji tho.

It comes to the surprise of absolutely no one that Komiyama has some pretty...vivid fantasies about Tomoki. But what stands out to me is how deep into the relationship her thoughts go. Most people fantasize about their crush first in their sexual attractiveness, but only a few ever dream beyond that. Ironically, you know your crushing has gone off the deep end if you start thinking about them in domestic, SFW ways. Least Komi’s committed, yeah?

Gee, I wonder what’s that “and stuff” Tomoko’s talking about?masturbating

Nothing like a fresh bowl of Grossi-Os and Gross Juice to start the day!

If what Yuri says is true, then that would mean that she and Ucchi have probably walked to school together several times before–more than the couple of times we’ve seen, at least. And even so, it doesn’t look like they haven’t gotten much closer as friends, if at all. Some people just don’t click, I suppose.

Not sure how blind Ucchi is because anybody with a pair of eyes (beady or not) would see that Yuri has friends, even if you only count Mako. Poor girl just can’t accept the truth even when it's right in front of her face.

Ah, Yuri. Why can’t you just drop the “savior” act and just admit you want to spend time with her?

I’m inclined to agree about Yoshida, but who knows? She’s surprised us before. Mako's a safe bet, though. Especially if the former’s going. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Boy, does that take me back. It still blows my mind that all of Ucchi’s problems originated from one night of misunderstandings. The art nerd in me really appreciates the subtle improvement in Niko’s art style. The character models feel “weightier” and more consistent without compromising the stylization. 

You don’t see it in the previous panel, but Ucchi was totally blushing at the prospect of reliving her trauma/dream. Perhaps she was also looking to live out that ping pong match she never got.

I’m not sure if there was some kind of wordplay in the original text. Either way, it kind of sucks for Yuu-chan that she got such a “flattering” nickname when she wasn’t involved in that scenario whatsoever. Though it sure is a tad classier than Miss Akari “Dick Sister Jr.’ Iguchi.

It’s kind of (read: absolutely) frightening how Katou’s envy towards Yuu feels a lot more intense than Yuri’s. Perhaps it’s because Yuri’s so transparent that you know how to deal with her. But with Katou, that air of secrecy feels like a nuclear bomb about to go off. 

I always wondered where girls picked up that thing where they intertwine their fingers as a sign of affection. It’s precious.

Praise modern technology for convenient storytelling.

Wow, Fuuka’s already made her mark on Tomoko’s “bitch” list. Though exactly why she’s on that list now is kind of odd. I mean, yeah, she asked Tomoko about the whole fondling thing, and she unintentionally presented herself as a pervert for the whole “hair” thing, but Fuuka hasn’t really done anything all that terrible. If anything, Tomoko is probably expressing a rare bit of jealousy towards someone else supposedly perving on Katou besides her.

The most striking part about Fuuka’s inevitably failed plan is that she describes Tomoko’s appearance as “sudden”. It was touched on before, but it further emphasizes that Tomoko’s friendship with Katou was just as unexpectedly quick in-universe as it was for the readers. And in doing so, it brings us one step closer to the real mystery over why Katou is so enamored with Tomoko in the first place. 

Ya’ll know Sayaka’s got her homegirl’s back on this one. Let’s see (hopefully) how Akari screws it up. 

Chapter 58, mothereffers!

I don’t know whether I’d say Nico Tanigawa has been playing the long game, or if they just found a convenient throwaway to capitalize on. But the acknowledgment itself is very much appreciated. Tomoko may have forgotten, naturally, but us overzealous fans certainly never did! 

The chills, man. Chill’s right up the spine.

It’s certainly true that Tomoko’s words can be interpreted in a good or bad way, so it’s pretty telling that Katou’s gut reaction went for the latter. It suggests that Katou may actually have some insecurities that can easily set her off. Then again, a defining part of Katou’s personality is that she takes everything Tomoko says at completely face value, so maybe she’s starting to see Tomoko’s negativity even if it’s not there. Just more of the enigma that is Asuka Katou.  

Not a bad save, Tomoko. Countless battles with shame have made her quick on the fly. Unfortunately, while she’s improved at starting a save...

...she still doesn’t know how to end it.

It would’ve been a clean getaway if Tomoko had just ended about half-way in the above panel. But because Tomoko’s anxiety causes her to try and cover all the bases, she ends up rambling suspiciously. The part about Nemo isn’t even that relevant, but in her burst of defensiveness, Tomoko ends up saying things that could just exacerbate the problem even further.

Fucking shit, Katou is damn scary.

The one fortunate thing about Tomoko’s defensive rambles is that once she starts to cool down, her honesty starts coming out more organically. Self-deprecation becomes self-reflection, and brings to the forefront Tomoko’s endearing side.

Only Tomoko could spout such a cliché moe line and sound so pure of heart. Must be the irony. 

Aha. Ahaha. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

–that totally didn’t happen.

Tomoko, girl, you’re in the CLEAR! Stop trying to fan flames that have already been put out.

But on that note, it does affirm that while Tomoko is honest with Katou about certain things (perversion, laziness), she isn’t quite ready to be honest on anything that would paint Katou in a bad light. I’d say tha’st about 85% due to fear.

Death Flags raised all around.

I had a feeling that Nemo would take the plunge this time and invite Tomoko out somewhere during the summer. It seems like such an insignificant gesture, but considering that this is the very first time a classmate has asked to hang out with her during the summer, it warms my heart.

Hey now, Tomoko. Don’t get cocky when you’re maximizing your own goof-off time by taking a study camp.

The easy guess is that Nemo wants to go to Comiket. But really, it could be anything that Tomoko would have an interest in. And because it’s implied that Nemo is going for research purposes, it could be anything from a seiyuu panel (the last one went so well) to a hot spring to a hentai game company. Hope they bring Okada along...

Mama senses her daughter’s giving in to peer pressure.

Not gonna lie. This hand gesturing from Rena made me think that she was thinking about doing...something else.

Damn mind-in-the-gutter.

Even though Anna doesn’t appear to be the studious type, it’s pretty cool to see that she can respect people who are. Also, I dig the way she wears her tie (or is that a ribbon?). 

Emoji II really has become an honorary delinquent and it fits her perfectly. 

I guess no matter how much more grounded Tomoko becomes, she still thinks reading manga is legitimate practice for playing in real-life (though tabletop games may actually allow for some truth).  

Sub!Tomoko confirmed.

What a way to end a chapter. For the longest, Katou had always viewed Tomoko through a pair of rose-tinted glasses, always seeing the girl’s faults as endearing “quirks”. But as her soul-piercing gaze seems to indicate, Katou has reached a revelation about Tomoko that she can actually disapprove of. Whether or not it’ll shatter her illusion of Tomoko is still unclear, but how she treats Tomoko from here on out may finally give us a deeper look into Katou’s psyche. 

160+ chapters we’ve followed Tomoko, and we’re still learning new things about her. The very extent of Tomoko’s agency has always been a tad murky. She’s good at (poorly) executing short-term ideas, but hardly does she plan out and follow up on her long-term goals. Even her greatest milestone of making friends involved a lot of pushing from outsiders (Ogino, the most obvious case). That said, having to take charge of herself for once is inescapable with college on the horizon. How she goes about it amongst her various mom-friends may end up being Tomoko’s biggest personal challenge yet.  

[sylvainthebeautiful-blog]

   OH MAN, OH MAN, where can he even start. there’s ten different sorts of emotions coursing through his veins, all of which relate to some varying forms of excitement. how could he not ! the most lovely, the most gracious, the most beautiful and gorgeous-- ( there simply are not enough words of  he could use to describe, her, her ) and might he add, the highest and most wanted lady of monastery, had just requested to see him, privately, personally??? oh how his hands sweat at the thought !!! 

   being the ladies’ man he is, knew the signs, and this was just the culmination of it all. oh dear professor ! he’s never been subtle with her, but now, he has no more reason to let her small advances go unheard, he will be more than glad, more, than glad, to meet her half way. first his tests results...... how she calls on his name during lessons......... just the memories are enough to make his heart skip, sylvain wants to close his eyes-- he can just see his beloved professor and her pursed lips curving around the syllables of his name, it’s more more more than enough to make anyone, any right hormonal boy-- (he is a man, although)’s chest and under below tighten. and to think that their beloved professor would shine a light to him ? 

   granted, he knew it was just about time that she did, who of course, could resist him-- it’s not like any of the other girls did, and the professor mayhaps be just like them. perhaps it’s the forbidden taboo of pursuing a relationship of power imbalances, or maybe the simple thrill of being the one the professor has chosen pumps another kind of adrenaline through him-- he knows how his highness glances at their beloved professor, how the other house leaders turn green. he would usually care not about such held ill wills, but since it does regard the beloved professor, he lets himself feel prideful. 

   he knows her, well enough, from having watched her mannerisms (outwardly he would never admit to boldly state that he... ogles,) and what she prefers-- she truly is an enigma, a continuous unraveling mystery. she had reprimanded him for his treatment of some lady folk downtown (who’s names are already flushed out of his mind), and had turned him down instantaneously. after that, he had been passing attempts at her, every so often, but now, oh he knew it was about time that she caved. he was going to unravel this line of hers ! pridefully, knowing that he was going to win her over with this-- tightens the wrap of paper around the array of fish bait in a makeshift bouquet (that he knows she’ll love), flashes his most dashing of smile, and knocks the door frame of their empty classroom with a little wave in his other hand.

   « hey there professor, might i say that your beauty is absolutely ethereal in the light of the setting sun, » for all the unfortunate drama he’s never signed up for in his life, he sure is glad that the goddess decided to bless him with a smoking hot professor. he isn’t really looking at her face-- but he’s quick to redirect (can you really blame him, when she dresses like that, she’s a buffet for his eyes to feast, he can’t help himself).  « i must say professor, that was pretty bold of you, here i was thinking i came off strong, but frankly, i’m flattered. » sylvain saunters towards her, offering her the bouquet of bait with a smile, hiding the mild disdain he has of holding this for the past ten minutes, the little sufferings he does for love

    « first i realized the way you call my name, then i catch the way that you look at me... and now this recent test professor? giving me a sixty-nine percent... what are you trying to say? » truly there was only one explanation!  « and asking me to see me after class what surely the boldest of moves... i usually like to make moves on the ladies first, but i’m willing to change it up for you, professor. » he runs a dramatic hand through his hair, seemingly perfect bangs shuffle in a perfect tumble, a classic move that’s sure to work, a ninety nine percent, fool proof tactic, 

   « how about we take pour some tea for this lovely night ahead, eh professor? » he can just see it now, professor knows his favorite bergamot tea, they’ll talk over some biscuits, and... and...

@bylethit

[hotcocosharing]

History Repeats Part 5 (IM RP)

After playing sly fox Shun in both Second Chance and Glory Days, here I am role playing as our playboy doctor Maki who’s bumped into an ex, desperately trying to avoid history repeating itself again. Well, I’ll say both of them should try harder if that’s what they want but WHAT do they WANT?

That’s the ultimate question for everyone, isn’t it?

Me as Yukihisa Maki x amixofmidori as Midori Page

❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ ❥ Midori’s POV

Was what I heard meant to be some kind of test? Vindictive to provoke some kind of answer I wasn’t sure I wanted him to hear, or know - more the latter rather than former. My shoulders dropping heavily with what felt like the expectations of the word suddenly falling onto them, I stopped still, near frozen in the half stride I was in and brought my bottom lip tightly up between my teeth in order to give myself a short time waster; possibly over thinking the response i was half ready to spit out, even if my voice communicated the thoughts I had tumbling around inside my head rather weakly.

“Top draw in the bathroom vanity for the blow dryer; everything else, if you’re actually being serious still lives in the bottom drawer of the dresser in the bedroom like it always did. I’m sure you’re a big boy and can manage to find your way there yourself – yes? Or do you need me to hold your hand and walk you there?”

While I don’t particularly want it to, I can’t stop the gratifying smirk which pulls at my lips when my eyes deceive what I actually expect them to do - dropping down to admire still - how tempting, attractive and irresistible Yukihisa after all these years; shirtless, still is. Wondering if there’s any underlying enigma or paradox to why he’s so easily (or so it seems) accepted my desire for company.

“Stop me if I’m being too bold with my insinuations - but it seems like we both are after something which could be ‘ideally’ fixed with a simple solution. You want to dry off and I’m after 15 minutes of distraction, if you haven’t already noticed, to haul myself out of the boredom of hell of which I’ve been dragged deep into”, I explain; stepping forward half cautiously to close the gap between us, “You up for some fun? It won’t take long – I mean, in the past, it ever use to.”

When I’m close enough - a mere few centimeters enforcing lack of personal space; I find that without thinking, my fingers are already lingering at Yukihisa’s hips. Lazily, they dance and draw patterns of swirls and stripes up his chest until they become comfortable around the back of his neck and without any warning, I’ve jumped up and wrapped my legs around his waist forcing the young doctor to catch me.

“…… mhmmm”, I mumble quietly before adding a semi-honest, “I’ve missed you.”

Yukihisa‘s POV

Fun- was the only word that caught my attention though I would guess the one she prefers me to hear was she’s missed me which didn’t seem relevant when it comes to fun, it sounded flattering nevertheless.

With my hands giving a firm squeeze on her round bum, I crushed my lips onto hers and stumbled across the corridor to finally making my way to her bedroom. Slamming the door closed with one foot, her body warmth was firing me up through the thin soft fabric but the soaked pants confining my growing twitch underneath was still very uncomfortable.

I lifted up her right leg and held her in place, lips still deeply connected and exploring her cavern. One hand impatiently getting rid of the sticky undergarments before my fingers found their ways to the hem of hers and pulled them down without a second delay.

Neither of us spoke. No words were needed to express what we wanted- FUN, that’s what we’re both after, were we? A quickie, a harmless, mind-blowing distraction.

Lowering my attention to her breasts while my hand had sneaked onto her thigh and spread her wider. Her sharp gasp and arched back were good signs, tempting me to taste more of her. I flickered my tongue once I had pushed her bra up and sucked harder when the first whimper escaped her juicy lips. Grinning wickedly, I pulled away and waited for her eyes to open. Once her mischievous beautiful eyes met mine again, they were now twinkling with lust.

Positioning myself at her entrance and brushing my manhood against her wet folds ever so lightly before slamming it into her. The empty room was soon filled with slapping moist flesh sounds surrounded by heavy lustful panting, satisfying groans and moans in pleasurable ecstasy.

The familiar feeling of her tightening around me was strangely exciting and comforting, she’s closed. Her signs were the same, people could change their appearances and even personalities but the fundamentals remained the same, as long as it came to human bodies. I pumped harder, faster but pulled out just in time, “Well, it looks like your fifteen minutes is up.”

The moment the words slipped my mouth, I could feel the corners of my lips curl into a smirk. God, I’m such a cruel jerk but then again, her expression- watching her high and low was still worth it. Whether she’s about to beg or slap me next didn’t matter, the fun we I just had was enough to entertain me for the rest of the evening. The phone rang at the perfect time as I pulled up my trousers and looked decent again, “Hi Shun, the service was fine. No, of course, I didn’t forget. I … just bumped into an old acquaintance. Yes, Bar Lupin, on my way now.”

I quickly hung up and thanked her like I planned before leaving the apartment and woman I had left years ago all over again.

[am-flying-solo]

OOC Week: Day Four

When and how did you get into Harry Potter? I was in fourth grade, and an older friend told me about it - I was already an avid reader by then, and he wasn’t exactly good in conveying what the book was all about. For some reason, he focused solely on the house points. I thought the plot sounded dumb (what kind of villain is called Voldemort anyway? In portuguese, it sounds like Voldedeath, so I thought it was too freaking obvious. Why, ten year old Nate was a bit of an ass, yes). When they announced the movie would come out, I finally decided to give it a chance, and unsurprisingly, fell in love with it, in time to watch it premier on the theater.

Favourite HP movie? Why? Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! For me, the movie’s tone sets it apart from all others in the series. There’s something quietly dark about it, as we peek into Draco’s journey and his slowly descent into despair. It shows a lot of his humanity to me, and the slight change of focus from Harry was an interesting surprise. The bathroom fight scene is still one of my favorites in the series. Fun fact: In Brazil, the title was translated as “Harry Potter and the Prince’s Enigma”, because the term “half-blood” in Portuguese is only ever applied to animals. JK was given three options to choose from, and that was the one she chose. “The Mestizo Prince” probably didn’t sound so flattering.

Favourite HP book? Why? Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Because it’s Sirius’ amazing introduction, and the first peek we get into the Marauders. I still re-read it from time to time. 

Favourite HP character? Why? Sirius Black, first and foremost. What, after all this time? Yep, always. I used to re-read all the parts he was in. Just his parts, or the ones where he was mentioned. I’m into both the Black boys actually - Regulus deserve some love too, he gave his life so someone, someday, could maybe take Voldemort down, and he gets too little respect for it. Also, James Potter and the Weasley Twins. I got over Sirius’ death (after a couple of years), I got over Lupin’s and Dobby’s and Colin fucking Creevey’s. But separating the twins? What kind of heartless bastard would do that???

Least favourite HP character, plot, or ship (or all three)? Percy Weasley (who doesn’t deserve half of my hate, I know) and Severus “Friendzone Prince” Snape. My least favorite plot may be the actual final battle. I still wish Harry would have died, or that Neville turned out to be the actual child from the prophecy. I just felt it was sort of a cop-out ending, the easy path we all expected from Book 1. Plus the actual cringeworthy epilogue. WHY WOULD GINNY LET HARRY NAME ALL THOSE POOR CHILDREN. My least favorite ship is probably Snape/Lily, though shoehorned Lupin/Tonks comes quite close. We could’ve had it all.

What’s your favourite HP-related memory? So many. The long lines at midnight when every new movie premiered, the excitement in the air, running to get a good seat. The long wait for the next book and the passionate discussions we had about it. The long hours of reading a brand new book and unraveling the mysteries (I’m still not over that Rita Skeeter plot twist!) The initial excitement about Pottermore. I actually met my partner through Harry Potter - we roleplayed on the same board some ten years ago.  

Why did you decide to start roleplaying HP-related stuff? To make the long wait for a new book more bearable. I started out by (unsurprisingly) roleplaying Sirius. Bellatrix/Sirius was still a big ship back then. Oh, the irony.

Most interesting part of the HP world? I’m fascinated by the history of the universe JK has created, the wars, the political intrigue. I’m a sucker for history.

Your wand: Dragon heartstring, flexible and large. Can’t remember the wood for the life of me.

Your patronus: Pottermore says it’s an eagle.

Your boggart (if you’re okay sharing!): A giant squid. The thought alone terrifies me.

What classes would you be best at in Hogwarts? I like to think I’d be good at DADA and Charms, or Transfiguration.

What classes would you be the worst at? Arithmancy and Herbology. 

Your favourite thing to do if you were at Hogwarts: Dueling club, hexing people, trying to sneak into the Forbidden Forest.

Favourite supernatural creature from the HP world? Thestrals!

Death Eaters or the Order? Both are pretty interesting choices, as far as narrative goes. Personally, I’d join the Order. Many of my characters go the other way.

Marauders era or Next Gen? Marauders all the way (plus, their names don’t suck).

Would you join the quidditch team or cheer from the sidelines? I would not only join, but fight tooth and nail for the position of beater. 

If the Triwizard Tournament were allowed, would you put your name in? I did all sorts of impulsive, dumb shit when I was in school, so it’s entirely possible. 

Dorm life: good or bad? I like to think it would be good to live and get to grow up with friends like that.

From canon HP, who would be your favourite teacher? Firenze. He was a literal centaur. How cool is that?

If you could make J.K Rowling write another series (and write it well), would you? And if so, what would you have it focus on? The Marauders series we’ve been waiting for so long. Alternatively, since they’re doing Fantastic Beasts now, she could write a screenplay for Quidditch Through the Ages, telling the story of the worst Quidditch team of all times.