#when you befriend a homeless man from the streets and now he’s your best friend of 18 years and he was present in ur kid’s life

[wenzie76aster]

Human Fink and family doodles

[puc-puggy]

Times Square Red, Times Square Blue by Samuel R. Delaney

I have at least one straight male friend who on half a dozen occasions has got- ten editorial jobs for women he first met and befriended while they were working as topless dancers in various strip clubs that put them on the fringe of the sex workers’ service profession.

A young street hustler in the Forty-second Street area whom I knew (but was not a client of) introduced me to a new client of his once—a twenty-six-year-old lapsed Jesuit priest—for whom I shortly secured a job at a paperback publishing house, in much the same manner.

Another supermarket-line conversation was with a young man who was an aspiring director, looking for some science fiction stories to turn into brief teleplays. I was able to jot down for him a quick bibliography of young SF writers and short stories that he might pursue. Whether or not it came to anything, I have no way of knowing. But it was easy and fun.

Still another time, it was a young woman casting director who needed some- one to play the small part of a fisherman in a film she was working on. She decided I would be perfect for it, and I found myself with a weekend acting job.

One Saturday morning in January ’98, my vacuum cleaner shorted out and an hour later I set it on the street by the gate before the garbage cans for my building, after making a mental note to shop for a replacement that weekend. Forty

minutes on, at my local copy center, I was getting a set of photocopies for an earlier draft of this very piece, when a broad-faced, gray-eyed Italian American in his late thirties, wearing a shiny red and blue jacket, wandered in: “Anyone wanna buy a wet-dry vacuum cleaner? Ten bucks.” My first suspicion was that he was reselling the one I’d just abandoned. My second was that the one he was selling didn’t work. A look disproved the first. Plugging his machine into an outlet in the shop’s baseboard for a minute disproved the second. So I went home once more with a vacuum cleaner:

Contact.

Contact encounters so dramatic are rare—but real. The more ordinary sorts of contact yield their payoff in moments of crisis: When there is a fire in your building (of the sort I mentioned above), it may be the people who have been exchanging pleasantries with you for years who take you into their home for an hour or a day, or even overnight. Contact includes the good Samaritans at traffic accidents (the two women who picked me up and got me a cab when my cane gave way and I fell on the street, dislocating a finger), or even the neighbor who, when you’ve forgotten your keys at the office and are locked out of your apartment, invites you in for coffee and lets you use her phone to call a locksmith; or, as once happened to me in the mid-sixties when my then-neighborhood, the Lower East Side, was at its most neighborly and under the influence of the counterculture, a London guest arrived on Wednesday when I was out of town and expecting him on Thursday. Someone living across the street, who didn’t know me at all, saw a stranger with two suitcases on my apartment stoop looking bewildered, invited him in to wait for me, then eventually put him up for a night until I returned.

A final example: My current lover of eight years and I first met when he was homeless and selling books from a blanket spread out on Seventy-second Street. Our two best friends for many years now are a male couple, one of whom I first

met in an encounter, perhaps a decade ago, at the back of the now closed-down Variety Photoplays Movie Theater on Third Avenue just below Fourteenth Street. Outside my family, these are among the two most rewarding relationships I have: both began as cross-class contacts in a public space.

Visitors to New York might be surprised that such occurrences are central to my vision of the city at its healthiest.

Lifetime residents won’t be.

Watching the metamorphosis of such vigil and concern into considered and helpful action is what gives one a faithful and loving attitude toward one’s neighborhood, one’s city, one’s nation, the world.

I have taken “contact,” both term and concept, from Jane Jacobs’s instructive 1961 study, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Jacobs describes contact as a fundamentally urban phenomenon and finds it necessary for everything from neighborhood safety to a general sense of social well-being. She sees it supported by a strong sense of private and public in a field of socioeconomic diversity that mixes living spaces with a variety of commercial spaces, which in turn must provide a variety of human services if contact is to function in a pleasant and rewarding manner. Jacobs mentions neither casual sex nor public sexual relations as part of contact—presumably because she was writing at a time when such things were not talked of or analyzed as elements contributing to an overall pleasurable social fabric. Today we can.

When social forces menace the distinction between private and public, people are most likely to start distrusting contact relations. In The Death and Life of Great American Cities (98–111), Jacobs analyzes how limited socioeconomic resources in the area around a public park (lack of restaurants, bathrooms, drugstores, and small shops) can make the mothers who use the playground and live near it feel that their privacy within their home is threatened—thus markedly changing their public attitude to interclass contact. Briefly, a park with no public eating spaces, restaurants, or small item shopping on its borders forces mothers who live adjacent to it and who thus use it the most to “share everything or nothing” in terms of offering facilities of bathroom use and the occasional cup of coffee to other mothers and their children who use the park but do not live so near. Because the local mothers feel they must offer these favors to whomever they are even civil with (since such services are not publicly available), they soon become extremely choosy and cliquish about whom they will even speak to. The feel of the park becomes exclusive and snobbish—and uncomfortable (and inconvenient) for mothers who, in carriage, dress, race, or class, do not fit a rigid social pattern.

Similarly, if every sexual encounter involves bringing someone back to your house, the general sexual activity in a city becomes anxiety-filled, class-bound, and choosy. This is precisely why public rest rooms, peep shows, sex movies, bars with grope rooms, and parks with enough greenery are necessary for a relaxed and friendly sexual atmosphere in a democratic metropolis.

[under-the-cherrytree]

so you do au swaps right ? could i request the twins and teru in a (royal/medieval/fantasy) au ?(sorry but i forgot what it was called haha) but maybe they sneak out the castle one night and then they meet and befriend the reader. sort of like those cliche love stories where the prince falls in love with one of the village people

Princes Amane Yugi, Tsukasa, and Teru x reader❣︎

Warnings: None that I can really think of

A/n: I LISTENED TO A 10 HOUR PLAYLIST OF MEDIEVAL MUSIC YEAHHHHH!!

I had too much coffee while I’m writing this-

This is like small oneshots so...

Anyways! Enjoy and have a great day!

You walked down the empty street, carrying a small basket as you slowly approached your home. You looked at the moonlight as you walked humming to yourself. Instantly a hand grabbed your wrist and pulled you into an alley.

“Give me all your valuables…” He said, causing you to shiver. You didn’t say anything which caused him to slam you against the wall.

“I said give me all your stuff you damn pessant!”

“O-okay! Please d-dont hurt me!” You shouted, taking off anything that was worth something.

“I won’t have to hurt you if you give me what I want!”

“It's not nice to hurt a lady.” A boy jumped down. He had dark, choppy hair but I couldn’t see his eyes. In his back pocket, he started to pull out what looked like a kitchen knife.

“Hehe… and who the hell are you kid?” the stranger asked.

“I’m the prince and future king!” The boy's red eyes shot up at us “Prince Amane and I demand you let this girl go!”

The strange back way from your figure, a scared expression on his face.

“Whatever man! You're crazy!!” He yelled before running out of the alley. The ‘prince’ approached you and smiled.

“I hope he didn’t do anything too bad to you” He softly spoke, putting out a hand for you to grab which you accepted. You studied his facial features and he laughed.

“Checking me out already I see~” He cooed and you blushed.

“N-no! I’m just making sure you are the prince and not some random homeless guy!” You said flustered.

“Haha, I’m just teasing… and I am the prince, isn’t it obvious?” He smirked. You looked at his clothes which were basically glowing.

“I’ll walk you home.” He pulled you out of the alley.

“Okay…”

I turned to Amane and he was looking up at the moon with a soft smile on his face.

“Uhm… do you like the stars..?” You asked.

“I do, I love them so much. They are really a great escape from reality.” He looked at you momentarily before looking back up.

“Escape?”

“Yeah… you know I’m becoming king soon… My parents have been really strict with me about becoming a king and all…” He trailed off into a small rant “It's just stressful sometimes, I don't want to be a king but everyone expects me too.” Your eyes softened looking at the boy.

“I think you will be a great king some day!” You smiled.

He turned to you and his face flushed slightly.

“I-I shouldn’t rant!” He nervously chuckled looking back up. “The moon is beautiful tonight...”

Soon you two approached your house.

“This is my stop Amane!” You smiled and turned to the boy. “And… I think you will be a great king! King of the stars and moon! I think you will do great! I believe in you King Amane Yugi!”

His cheeks turned warm as he heard you.

“Thank you… it really does mean a lot…”

“Of course, I should be going inside now. Thanks for earlier-” You were interrupted when he grabbed your wrist. A grin formed on his lips and he broke the distance and kissed your cheek. Your face turned 50 shades red.

“A good luck charm for you~” He chuckled at your flustered form.

“H-huh?!?!” He let go of your arm and waved to you.

“By Y/n! I know we will see each other very soon~” He said before vanishing.

‘Wait… how did he know my name..?’

You looked up at the bright sun and squinted your eyes. Your feet were tired. You are currently running to the marketplace with your best friend, Yashiro. Well, more like she was dragging you.

“Come on y/n!!! Prince Teru doesn’t go out too often to go shopping!!” The creamed haired girl squealed. She had a bit of a crush on the prince… well I mean of course, who wouldn’t want to be a princess. I almost fell on my face when she started to pick up the pace.

“Slow down Nene!” You yelled at her “He’s going to be here for a while, it won't matter if we are a couple minutes late!”

“I know but I want to look at his beautiful face as long as I can!”

‘Simp…’ You thought and puffed your cheeks. Yashiro suddenly stopped which caused you to almost fall backward.

“There he is!!” Hearts filled her eyes. You looked to see the blond haired boy surrounded by a couple knights and a small swarm of people.

“Why does Teru even want to go to the marketplace..?” You asked and Yashiro put her hand to your mouth.

“Fanservice!” She looked at you seriously causing you to sweetdrop. You looked at the blond boy and watched his figure as he looked through different stands. Every once and a while he would slip something in his bag and pay the owner of the small shack. For a brief second he looked over to you and made eye contact. You couldn’t help but blush and he chuckled and turned back to what he was doing.

“Let's get closer!” Yashiro grabbed your hand and started running again.

“N-Nene-!” You started but was interrupted when someone abruptly bumped your shoulder causing you to fall.

“ACK- Ow!” You rubbed the back of your head and everything went silent. All you heard was small murmuring. In confusion, you looked up to see a small crowd around you.

“Are you okay?” A majestic voice asked. You looked up to see the one and only prince Teru with his hand out for you to grab.

“A-ah! Yea, I’m fine..!” Your cheeks slightly turned red due to the embarrassment but you stuck out your hand for him to take. He pulled you up with a firm but gentle grip. You looked down at his hand, it felt warm and soft.

“Well, that’s good.” He chuckled. “Are you here with anybody?”

“I a-am actually… with my friend Yashiro…” You looked over to see Nene with a red face and stars in her eyes.

“Oh well then, I’ll let you get going now. Bye!” He waved and continued on.

‘Did you just talk to a prince?!!?!” You shouted in your head. Before you could think anymore, you felt someone shake you.

“Y/N YOU TALKED TO TERU!!! PRINCE TERU!!! WHAT DID HIS EYES LOOK LIKE?! WHAT DID HIS HANDS FEEL LIKE!? TELL ME!!”

“Lavender and the ocean…” You said in a daze.

“LAVENDER AND THE OCEAN?!?!”

Once Teru finished his monthly market shopping, Yashiro was finally ready to leave. You went home and changed into a more comfy outfit. You opened your balcony and breathed in the fresh air. You heard rustling and looked down to the noise. You started to back up until a figure emerged from the shadows. You were about to run back inside until you started to recognize him.

“Hey.” The prince looked up at your balcony.

“U-uhm… hi..?” You looked down “You want me to let you in!?”

“Oh I can come in!” He smiled brightly.

“Yeah! Let me get the door-” You were interrupted when a line of red beads acted like a hook landing next to you. The prince used these beads to climb up to the balcony.

“Y/n, right?”

“Yeah! And you are Prince Teru!” He laughed when you said prince. He took his red beads and they turned into a bracelet around his wrist.

“WOAH! How did you do that?!?!” You gasped, grabbing his wrist and examining it.

“Magic.”

“Magic?!”

He laughed.

“You are very interesting y/n…” He looked into your eyes. Before you could say anything else, you heard a knock on your door. You turned to see your mom opening the door and Teru leaning on a wall not wanting to get caught. You turned to him and he had one finger over his mouth.

“Y/n, who are you talking too?” Your mother opened the door.

“Oh! Uhm, no one!” You nervously smiled.

“Alright… But if it's one of those imaginable men again…” She sighed and closed the door.

“EXCUSE ME?!!?” I blushed hard “I DON'T HAVE IMAGINABLE MEN! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!” You heard Teru laugh which made you face him.

“Hey, a young lady shouldnt be inviting boys in her house if her parents don’t know about them…” Teru smirked, causing you to blush hard.

“E-excuse me! I’m not the one who put my finger up to my mouth telling me to keep it a secret!” You pointed at him and he laughed.

“I’m joking. I would never hurt you, I swear.” He walked closer to you. You felt comfortable around him. You two spent the night chatting and laughing. It’s been around one hour and Teru looks up at the moon.

“It's about time I get going…” He started to take off his red bracelet and tied it around the balcony. You were kind of sad when he said he was going to leave.

“Oh… will I see you again..?” You watched him go down. He stopped and looked up at you.

“I’ll be here tomorrow night. Same time. Kay?”

“O-Okay! See you tomorrow!”

Did you seriously meet the prince?

You walked around the village as you looked through all the stands. You hummed to yourself as your dress flowed in the wind. You stopped when you heard screaming from one of the booths.

“Stop!! Thief!!” The owner screamed as he tried to chase after a boy. He was wearing a hood so you didn’t get a good look at his face. Before you know it, you made eye contact with the hooded boy and he ran behind you.

“Do you know this thief?!” The guy asked before glaring down at the boy. Even though he was wearing a hood, you could see his visible grin. 

“U-uh- no sir! But what did he take..?” You asked.

“He stole an apple and pear from my shack!”

‘All this fuss over an apple and pear..?’ You thought as you sighed. You pulled out two coins from your bag and gave it to the man.

“That looks like it covers it… keep the change.” You grabbed the boy's hand and sped away. 

You glanced at the boy who still had a grin on his face. Before you knew it he started running and he was dragging you.

“W-wait!” You shouted at him. Who the hell is this guy..?

He turned the corner into an isolated area and let go of your wrist.

“Hey! You know I did pay for your shenanigans!” You pulled his hood down to see a boy with choppy hair and golden eyes. He chuckled and leaned in closer to your face. He looked familiar but you didn’t know where from.

“Thanks for that by the way~” He hummed.

“Yeah whatever..!” You backed up, creating distance between the two of you.

“I’m Tsukasa Yugi! Prince Tsukasa Yugi!” He smiled.

“Wait, the prince?!” I pointed to him “Why the hell would a prince steal?!”  

“I just wanted to see what he would do it I took some of his stuff”

‘Wow… he seems nice…’ You thought.

“You can take the apple and pear though! I don’t really need them.” He handed you the fruit.

“EH- you steal it but you won’t take it?” You scoffed. “Aren’t you afraid of getting caught? You are a prince”

“Yeah but everyone looks at Amane, I can do whatever I want and get away with it~!” 

“I feel bad for Amane then…”

“I got an idea!” He looked at you. “We should run away together! It would be great!” 

“Excuse me…” I glared at him. 

“Well that's what I was already doing, I was running away but no one in the castel noticed yet. We should run away, just you and me!”

“I didn’t even know you that long… I can’t just run away! I have a life, a family!”

“Oh…” He trailed off “Well I do hope you change your mind! I’ll come visit you again~!” 

“Wait- visit me?!” You asked but he ran out of the alley way.

“Thank you beautiful girl~!” He smiled, turning to you one last time before running off with an apple in his hand.

“Did he take the apple-” I looked down to just see the pear.

‘Oh this guy…’ I sighed ‘I’ll definitely see him again.’

Part two

[princess-fuckrosa]

hello! how's your day going? i just saw your keigo headcannons and love them!! i was thinking if you could, please, do some hc for shouto with a really kindhearted s/o? hope you can do them and thank u! ✨

Aaaww Anons <3 Everyone wants this baby boy to be happy, and so do I!!! So apparently, I got this request a few days ago, and after I posted the last one about Seven, this one came to my inbox too, so I thought I should put these together <3

To answer your first question: thank you anons, the day I got these went fine, I started watching One Punch Man and it was better than I thought! :D Genos looks incredibly good :'3

It was a little delay, sorry, but I had to take a break from home.

I hope you will like it, have a nice day to everyone 💖

Requests are still open and now my inbox is empty, feel free to bomb me with anything~

Todoroki with a kindhearted s/o

I really think that Todoroki is not the type of person who can fall in love at first sight. There could be a moment when he suddenly realizes that he is IN LOVE with you, but I feel like it would happen sometime after you met him, and got friends with him.

Let's just make things clear first, I think he would take things really slow. He needs to know you before he can say that he is IN LOVE with you. He would admit to himself (or even to Midoriya or Tenya) that he is attracted to you, but the deeper feelings would come after he gets to know you better.

Therefore, every time he will witness your acts of kindness, these soft feeling inside of him will melt his heart more and more.

Kindness and generally being kindhearted is the way to win him over. If you are a good person and you are friendly with him, he will consider you as a friend already, maybe not in a way like Izuku does, but he will look at you as an ally at least.

He is a traditional guy, so after some time being friends with you, he will just ask you out for a simple date. Maybe it would be a little bit blunt, but honest in all aspects. At this point, both of you would know each other enough to be sure about your feelings.

And even after you are in a relationship, he will fall for you, again and again, every time you do something genuinely kind. He is just a sucker for these soft feelings you awake in him with these acts, and it doesn't even have to be about him. He will watch in awe if you help an elderly person cross the street, carrying their grocery bag.

And if it's about him. O. M. G. He is not used to these kinds of acts, the whole concept of someone being kind to him is such a big thing for him, even after befriending Izuku and the others. And because of this, he will feel so honored and grateful that you do all these things for him. Although he knows that you are not kind just for HIM, you are kind and trustworthy with everyone, and that means so much more for him.

He sees you like an angel or even a goddess, and you bet that he will treat you like one.

He is very protective of you. Like not being jealous and possessive, just protective. He sees you as a pure, perfect being, and whether you are a fragile or a strong personality, he would be the same. Shoto would be like a guard dog, protecting you from all the things that are wrong in this world.

If you are a hero student like him, he would never, ever doubt that you will be a spectacular pro hero when you finally get your license and start to work as one. He would be so proud that you are his s/o. If you would ever feel like you are not good enough, he would get even a little offended. Like, how dare you think that when you are the first to help someone out when they are in need?

It wouldn't be any different if you are just a civilian. He thinks that being a hero is not just about getting a license and kick ass. It could be so much more than that, you don't have to use your quirk to make a difference. 

You can help homeless people with some warm food on a cold evening, make children smile in a hospital when they are sick, give something to those who never dreamt of having anything in the first place.

Todoroki sees these acts as saving people in a way, and if you are that kind of person, he would honor you just as he thinks of pro heroes.

And if you don't even have a quirk? I said already that he would be protective, but if you are quirkless, he will be so much more concerned about you. First of all, he would think that it is extremely amazing that you do everything you can, even when you are not like a stereotypical hero type, and if you would ever feel bad about yourself because of that, he would reassure you that you are SO MUCH MORE than just someone without a quirk. Your ways of being a hero are not that different than his, if you do your absolute best every day to make the world a better place, then you walk the same path as he does. Plus Ultra and all.

But here's a thing, without a quirk, the chance is lower you would stand a chance if you would have to protect yourself from a villain. Of course, you can learn such things as a martial art, but even with that, you would be pretty much vulnerable.

So Shoto would try his best not to be annoying, but he couldn't help but checking on you whenever he can. Call you on the phone, text you, or anything: just to know that you're doing fine.

Quirkless, civilian, hero in the making: if you are someone who is not afraid to speak their mind and stand up for the things you believe in? He would be head over heels. He values your courage and the whole 'being true to yourself' attitude so much.

(and if you are shy, don't worry, he would love to take care of you just as much you do with other people or animals <3 he's such a softie)

In a nutshell, being kindhearted is a key to win his heart, and if you are a kind and caring person, you are already a hero in his eyes.

[realm-sweet-realm]

Between Worlds

Well, you guys asked for a story about these cryptids after I finished Prison Cell. Well, I couldn’t get all of them into one one-off, obviously, but I hope you like it! There is going to be some Creatorship. Also, cryptids in this story aren’t a metaphor for disabilities, homosexuality, or anything else- they’re just cryptids.

---

It was the night after Henry’s senior prom. He had had a great time dancing with his friends and could have almost pretended that everything in his life was normal.

Most people knew that Henry was mute, but most didn’t know that he didn’t need to sleep or eat. Most didn’t know that he could sense other cryptids in the surrounding area. When he was a kid, he had made the mistake of telling someone about a cat-like one that he’d seen rummaging in the trash. Having to see it wrestled to the ground and shot minutes later had taught him to never do so again, and certainly to never reveal his own differences to full humans. There were maybe six cryptids in Henry’s home town. Henry knew their location, and knew that all but one of them weren’t doing well. He even remembered when one of them- one of them hardly older than Henry was now- had died. It was like a light going off on a radar board. Henry thanked his lucky stars every day that he looked human and could live a human life. Most weren’t. Most couldn’t.

Henry didn’t communicate with most of the cryptids in his area. He’d already befriended one, and taking care of him was work enough for Henry.

He’d been six years old when he’d found Joey rummaging through their cupboards at night. Joey had been small, then, and a bit more animalistic, with his gangly too-long limbs and crow-skull face. Joey had explained to Henry that his parents had abandoned him, and Henry had allowed Joey to sleep in his bed that night. From that point on, Henry kind of looked after Joey, even as he got bigger and harder to manage.

It was a thankful thing that Henry didn’t have to sleep. It had allowed Henry to go out on his own at night. It was at night that he could play with Joey. It was also at night that they, thankfully, found an abandoned house in the woods where Joey could stay at. It was a good thing, too- little six-year-old Joey could hide in Henry’s room easily enough, but since then he’d grown from having the body of an awkward, bipedal fawn to being easily seven feet tall and somewhat more proportionate. He’d gotten scarier-looking, too. Maybe the little crow skull and baby claws he’d once had would have gained him some sympathy back then. The fearsome talons he had now? The elegant curved skull with the terrifyingly long, sharp beak? Not so much.

It didn’t help that Joey had done some pretty shocking things to survive at this point. Muggings. Hunting the wild animals around his home with his bare hands. Thievery, including robbing people’s houses and on occasion shredding their guard dogs to ribbons with his claws. Henry had gotten a job as soon as he was old enough so he could to help pay Joey’s living expenses- again, not having to sleep was a benefit, and few people understood how Henry managed to keep on top of his studies while working so hard. Of course, Joey still stole sometimes, mostly out of necessity.

Despite the challenges, though, Henry did love Joey and understood that he didn’t choose to be like this, and it was nice to have someone he didn’t have to hide his cryptid nature from. That was why he was heading to Joey’s house in the woods- it was high time that they had a talk about the future. In the past, Joey had expressed terror at the thought of Henry leaving him. So Henry wouldn’t. Not now. Maybe not ever.

Joey leaned down and Henry kissed him on the beak, as he always did when they met up.

“How was prom, dear?” Joey asked.

Good, Henry signed.

“Good.”

Can I stay the night? There’s so much we have to talk about.

“Of course you can.”

I thought about what I want in the future. I want to help cryptids like you. I thought for a while that I could just leave this life behind, but I'd always be able to feel you in the back of my head, and it would kill me if you died and I didn’t know how or why or if I could prevent it. I just don’t know how to make that my life.

“Well, there’s always the studio,” Joey suggested. “We could hire other cryptids.”

That’s a castle in the sky, Joey. I don’t know how to get the money for that. And you might have the time to draw all day, but I haven’t been practicing as much as I should. Balancing work and school, you know. Henry stopped signing and looked to Joey for answers. None came. Well, I guess I don’t have to figure it out right now. I guess I could just work for a while until I figure it out. Let’s just go upstairs. Enjoy our night together.

Joey’s room was dark this time of night, illuminated by a lantern. The walls were coated with Joey’s art. It really was impressive stuff. At one point, Henry had been the better artist between the two of them, but not anymore. That always filled Joey with a sense of both pride in himself and shame that he’d stifled Henry.

“Henry,” Joey said, putting a hand on Henry’s shoulder. “I’ve had this idea for a while... the idea that you could apply for an art school using my art. I mean, you’re talented. You could sharpen your skills again over the summer. Then at art school you could figure out how to make the studio happen. What do you say?”

Henry shook his head. If I go to an art school in another city, I’ll have to leave you behind. And art school won’t teach me how to start a studio. It’ll just teach me how to work at one.

“Right,” Joey said, disappointed. Living on the outside of society had left him dreadfully naïve as to how it worked. “Well, It’s not just about that. It’s about making up for the trouble I’ve caused you. Letting you be free of me for a while. And while you’re gone, I can meet other cryptids. Try to be more independent.”

Henry hesitated. Leaving Joey to his own devices would mean that Joey would be providing for all of his needs through theft and violence, and stood a greater chance of being caught.

“Just do one semester. For me. Alright?”

Henry nodded, then gave Joey a hug. The plan was sealed. The summer went as planned. Henry’s artistic skills came back quickly. They also enjoyed their time together, going for walks down by the river, stargazing, fantasizing about a world where he could take Joey with him. The summer was over too fast, and the two parted ways.

---

The closer Henry got to the new city, the more cryptids Henry could detect, like blips on a radar. He ignored them. He and Joey had talked about this- this was to be Henry’s time to be human, and human he would be.

It was a commitment that was hard to keep. Henry missed having someone who understood what it meant to be different. Sometimes Henry would detect a cryptid who was right near him and get tempted.

One day, he broke. He’d detected a while ago that the older woman that sometimes sat next to him in art history class was a cryptid, though he didn’t know what kind. The strange thing- or it would have been strange if Henry didn’t know what she was- was that the woman looked identical to his mother.

After mulling over how to approach her, Henry had decided to just be honest with her. After they’d chatted a bit and were in private, Henry admitted to being a cryptid, and to what his powers were. It was a risky move- the woman, open-minded as she seemed, might have reported him. Instead, she smiled. 

“Oh. Cool, I’m a cryptid, too. One of my powers is that I appear as people’s dream woman.” It was strange and kind of refreshing to find someone so open about it.

What would a little kid see? Henry wrote on the pad of paper he was using to communicate.

“Maybe their best female friend. But most often? Their mom.”

Henry went red. 

Allison threw her head back and laughed. “Henry, when there’s only one person in the room, I can see what form I’m taking. And yeah, it doesn’t mean you’re a manchild. A mother is a pretty common one for grown women or, you know, men like you. But it’s okay. I mean, why would freaks like us care about something as small as who you love? Anyhow. The good thing about my powers is that some of them- not this one, though- can be taught. Want to hang out sometime?”

Absolutely, Henry wrote.

---

On what was actually less than two hundred miles away but felt like the other side of the planet, Joey was on the hunt for cryptids as well. Henry had left him with a vague map of where the handful of cryptids around town were. Of course, there was no guarantee that any of them would be friendly or even sapient, and unfortunately, all of them had proven extremely good at hiding. He’d nearly given up on finding other cryptids when he found one of them one fateful night.

Joey had stolen, among other things, money from someone’s house the night before, but couldn’t exactly go into stores to use it. So, instead he was hiding in a back alley, waiting for some street person to come along. Street people were a blessing to Joey- he could have been Satan himself and they still wouldn’t object to being paid to go into a few stores to buy things for him.

A blond, baby-faced man in a hoodie turned into the alleyway, prompting Joey to crawl out of hiding and approach him. The man was scared, unsurprisingly, and adopted a defensive stance. Once Joey was close enough, the other man lunged, struck Joey right in a wound that he’d acquired a few days ago, tackled him over.

“How did you do that!?” Joey demanded of the man. It seemed impossible. Joey was experienced at scraps and must have had over a foot and a good fifty or sixty pounds on the guy.

“Extremely good luck,” the man said with a smile, helping Joey up. “Sorry bout’ that. I thought you were dangerous.” He then continued on his way. It was then that Joey realized that the man didn’t look homeless- he was clean, healthy, uninjured, shaven and all that. Joey ran to keep up with him.

“Do you walk home this way every night? You know, through a back alley at midnight in the bad side of town?”

“Yeah, mostly. Sometimes you just gotta have time to yourself, you know? A lot of people don’t like me. Say I’m a bad omen. Which I am, but I can’t help it. When ah was a boy, I wanted a dog fer Christmas. So, one of my parents’ friends’ house burned down and he had to move in with us temporarily- and they brought their dog. That kinda thing happened to me a lot before ah figured out the pattern. So, I, uh, have to try and make sure I don’t want anything too hard. It ain’t so bad once you get used to it.” The boy’s face showed sadness. Clearly it did bother him.

“Oh. Well, for a person who likes time to himself, you sure seem eager to talk to people. What’s your name, kid?”

“Wally.”

“Wally. Well, I don’t know about you, but I think our meeting was fate. You must have wanted to make friends who were like you! And that just so happens to be what I want. Why don’t we stick together.”

“...That might not be a good idea for ya.”

“I’ll take my chances. I mean, just try to want my well-being and it should happen, right?”

Wally stopped walking. They were at the end of the back alley. Two cops approached them and then fell into a man-hole, saving Joey from having to run from them. “Ah mean... it might happen that way.” Wally’s voice cracked.

“It will. Just trust me. We’ll make it work.”

---

By the end of the semester, Henry was putting more time into cryptid hunting than his studies. Allison was his assistant. She taught him some minor potions and charms before their first “mission.” Henry had thought it was unnecessary. He was wrong. The cryptid they met was a harpy-like creature with poisoned claws, and they’d had to kill it in self-defense.

There were good cryptids, too. Human-like ones. Ones Henry met on campus who walked the border line between “cryptid,” and “gifted, disabled, or both.” There were even a few animal-like cryptids that Henry and Allison could do nothing for except feeding them and giving them some water. But the majority of what set off Henry’s radar were monsters.

Henry had started off excited about “cryptid hunting,” as Allison put it, but now, it was draining him emotionally and frankly scaring him half to death. Allison never tired of it. Allison kept dragging him out. She wasn’t oblivious to his distress and tried to debrief him with comforting words and alcohol (at one point, stuff stronger than alcohol, which Henry had refused), but her lust for adventure was stronger than her empathy.

At the end of the semester, Henry returned home with mediocre grades and no real desire to go back to university. Maybe he would go to some other school and be a person instead of a cryptid this time- the credits he’d accumulated would still count at the next place. Maybe he’d go back to the same place but stop cryptid hunting- which would mean either setting some serious boundaries with Allison or cutting her out of his life, as well as ignoring a pretty significant part of himself. At least he had cryptid friends now. Or, maybe he’d just enter the workforce. He’d have to talk it over with his parents. And Joey. Back at home now, Henry could sense that the cryptids in this town were all clustered together now, matching up with what Joey had said in his letters about forming a little pack. Henry hoped that the cryptids Joey had found weren’t too frightening.

When Henry arrived to the little house in the woods, he could see that a large section had been added onto it. Good. It honestly worried Henry sometimes that Joey was spending so much time in that musty, moldering wooden house. The door was answered by a creature with glossy black eyes and a black pit for a mouth.

I’ll get Joey, the creature signed. It knew sign language. Had Joey found other mutes, or had this creature learned just for him? It didn’t matter. Henry was home, and Joey had made himself a family. Like always, Henry met Joey with a kiss on the beak.

“Welcome home, Henry. We have so much to catch up on.”

That night, Henry ate with Joey’s family and slept curled up in Joey’s arms. It was hard being between worlds. And even though he had the capacity to leave the world of cryptids behind, a big part of him didn’t want to.

[benaffleckofcrowdsurfing]

Lazerquest - part 2

Alex Turner x Reader

Chapter 2/?

Description: you are an impulsive bartender who recently moved to London after traveling across the United States and living on the road for a few years. You befriend Alex, a musician who recently got out of a long term relationship, and you show him the ways of your free-spirited lifestyle in an attempt to help him move on from his ex. However, you become more of a muse than a friend for Alex and all is revealed when he releases his band’s fourth studio album, “Suck it and See”.

Word count: 1.9k

Warnings: none

Tag list (msg me if you would like to be added):

@imagine-that-100 @lolurnotmileskane

Updates whenever the heck I please (at least once a week) 

A/N: hi two updates in one day because im eager to get this show on the road.... by next week i wanna have 4 or so chapters up. also if u wanna send me requests or questions or just be my friend u can message me or whatevah, im always open to talk to people :)

**************

“So you’re telling me that you were homeless for 3 years?” 

Alex and you were on your way home now, walking shoulder to shoulder and laughing like school children. He had a fantastic sense of humor and was witty beyond belief. The two of you had been playing off of each other and bantering non-stop for the last hour of your shift and ended up getting a bit tipsy before you left. Now you were reeling through the quiet streets of London toward your flat.

“Absolutely not! I could have gone home, I just didn’t. I never even slept in my car or anything I was always in someone’s house or a hotel room. Think of it as like…… I went on tour.” you giggled. 

Alex rolled his eyes. “Love, I am a musician. That’s not a tour. That’s a teenage girl living out of her car and smoking an obscene amount of marijuana with strangers in every state.”

You stopped dead in your tracks and a massive smile appeared across your face. “A musician you say?”

“Yes, Y/N. A musician.”

“Well have I heard you in anything before? What’s your band called? Are they big?”

“Not sure if you’d have heard us. We only have one or two big songs in the states. We’ve got a bit of success here in Europe, though. Ever heard of Arctic Monkeys?” 

Your jaw dropped. Everything was falling into place. Alex. Alex Turner. Arctic Monkeys. The hair. The voice. The confidence. 

“No. There’s no way. You’re not Alex Turner. That can’t be right.” you shook your head in disbelief. 

Alex looked at you and furrowed his brows. “Do I not live up to my name, darling?”

You blushed and your eyes grew wide “Oh my God no that’s not what I meant! I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve spent the last two hours with a heartthrob rockstar and I didn’t realize it.” 

“A heartthrob you say?” Alex puffed his chest up and lifted his chin in a sort of playful, cocky way.

“Woah woah woah, Turner. Don’t go all narcissistic on me. I’m just repeating what the tabloids say.” 

Alex chuckled and shook his head. “You’re funny, Y/N. This is one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time.”

“I don’t believe that. You’re hanging out with some tipsy bartender in the middle of some random neighborhood.” 

“Trust me, this is better than what I usually do on Friday nights.” 

“What does a big rockstar like you usually do on Friday nights then?” 

“Recently? Sleep until one in the morning and then get fucked up at some bar alone. Then go back to sleep.”

“Well that’s depressing.”

“Just be glad that tonight you could provide a lad some real fun.”

At that Alex put his arm around your shoulder and pulled you in for a side-hug. He smelled like cigarettes and sandalwood musk, and you wished you could have your new friend’s arm wrapped around you forever. To lengthen your time close to him, you wrapped your arm around his waist and the two of you began walking with your arms wrapped around each other.

“Well, here we are,” you sighed after a few more minutes of walking. “Home sweet home.”

The two of you looked up at the apartment complex in front of you. Alex still had his arm wrapped around you, and you were fumbling through your jacket pocket for your keys. “Do you want to come in? Obviously you don’t have to, but it’s pretty chilly tonight and I’m not sure how far you live.”

Alex flashed you a smile and you blushed at the sight of his hand going through his unruly hair and his brown eyes looking into yours. “I’d love to come in.”

*************

“Just go ahead and make yourself at home. I’ve got to go take a shower and warn my roommate that you’re here. There’s alcohol in the pantry and the glasses are in the cupboard left of the sink.” You let out a long sigh of relief as you entered your flat. Alex followed you closely, taking off his sweater when he passed through the threshold. You had to keep yourself from staring at his toned arms before biting your lip and walking down the hall towards Tatiana’s room.

“Hey Tati, wake up,” you whispered and tapped your flat-mate on the shoulder. She snorted awake and gave you a dirty look.

“Why are you waking me right now?” She grunted.

“I just wanted to let you know that the man in the living room is not an intruder and is instead a new friend of mine.”

Tati’s eyes shot open. “YOU MADE A FRIEND? A MALE FRIEND? WHAT KIND OF FRIEND?” she squealed. You gave her a dirty look and put your hand over her mouth to shush her.

“Thin walls, idiot. He’s just a friend friend.”

“I don’t believe that for one second. I’m gonna go out and say hi to him.”

“You better not, Tatiana.” 

“I’m goinngggggg!!” Tati sang as she slipped out from under her comforters and towards the door. You put your forehead in your palm before following her and making sure she didn’t say anything stupid.

“Alex, this is my roommate Tati. Tati, Alex.” you muttered as Tatiana waltzed into the living room and sat beside Alex on the couch. When she plopped down beside him and turned to shake his hand, her eyes went wide. 

“It’s- it’s uh- it’s nice to m-meet you Alex,” she stuttered. Once again, your forehead was in your palm. god dammit Tati. Of course you know who he is.

“Very good to meet you, Tati. This is a lovely place you two have,” Alex chuckled, and shook Tati’s hand firmly. She was ghost white.

“Tati, don’t you think it’s time for you to go back to sleep?” you said through gritted teeth. Tatiana shot you a confused look and smiled weakly at Alex before you both went back down the hall into her room.

After making sure the door was closed behind the both of you, Tatiana looked at you with her jaw dropped and her eyes wide.

“Alex Turner is in my living room. Why is Alex Turner in my living room?” She hissed. 

You sat on her bed and finally took off your heels. “He showed up at the club like, an hour before closing and just started talking to me. I didn’t realize who he was until we were on our way back here.”

“Are you saying you invited Alex Turner into our house without realizing it was Alex Turner?” 

“Actually he was the one who offered to walk me home. I didn’t invite him in until we got here.” 

“Alex Turner….. offered to walk you home….”

“As friends. Just friends.”

“Love, I don’t care if he’s just a friend, you still caught the eye of Alex motherfucking Turner.”

You rolled your eyes and chuckled before standing up and skipping toward the door. “Well you sit here and have your Alex Turner breakdown, I’m going to go shower so I don’t keep our guest waiting any longer.” 

***********

After your shower, you put on an old sweater and some yoga pants. You ran a comb through your wet hair as you walked out of your room to see Alex sprawled out in the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. 

“Glad to see you made yourself at home, Turner,” you teased, and ruffled his hair as you walked past him and towards the kitchen. 

“Only doing what you asked, Y/L/N,” Alex yawned.

“Not getting tired there, are you?” You smirked. Alex sat up on the couch and looked at you with a goofy smile and tired eyes.

“Not a bit.”

“Bullshit. You can stay if you’d like. I’m perfectly comfortable with letting you crash on the couch as long as you let me sit with you for a while so I can drink my glass of wine,” you cooed before taking a bottle of wine and a glass to the living room. 

Alex moved his legs out from next to him and patted a spot on the couch. “Of course, Y/N. I’d love the company.” When you sat down next to him, he put an arm around you and you rested your head on his shoulder. “For a girl I only met a few hours ago, I trust you a lot. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed someone’s company like this.”

You blushed and did your best to hold back a giggle. “Trust me, I’m not usually this calm. I promise I’ll be a bit more interesting once I get some sleep.” 

“Oh you’re plenty interesting already, Y/N. I am excited to see what you’re like at not 4 in the morning, though.”

“Thanks Alex.”

“Y/N? Can I rant to you for a bit? I need the advice of a woman.”

“Of course, Alex. What’s up?”

Alex took a deep breath and pulled you in a bit closer. You could tell whatever he was about to say had been bothering him for a while and you patted his thigh reassuringly.

“It’s okay Alex. I’m here for you,,” you sat up and put your arms around him, so now his head was on your shoulders. You continued cooing affirmations to him and running your hand through his hair before he took his head off of your shoulder and looked you in the eyes.

“Alexa and I broke up last week,” he whispered. Tears began forming in his eyes and you moved your hands from around his neck to the sides of his face to wipe away the tears now streaming down his cheeks. 

“I’m sorry Alex, that’s awful,” you whispered. He pulled you back into a hug and nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck. You both sat in silence for a while before he sighed and gave you a little squeeze.

“I’m sorry for getting all emotional on you, I promise I’m usually more cool than this,” Alex chuckled weakly. “I just don’t have anyone other than my mates to talk to right now and I just feel really comfortable around you.”

“It’s okay Alex. I’m one hundred percent here for you. I’m gonna help you get through this. I promise,” you whispered. You could feel Alex’s tears on your neck and you couldn’t help but get a bit choked up yourself. It’d been years since anyone had confided in you and the fact that Alex felt comfortable enough to let you in on a secret like that in only one night of knowing you warmed your heart. You knew that Alex would be a friend for a long time and you were determined to help him through this. 

“Hey, Al?”

“Yeah, Y/N/N?”

“I know what we’re gonna do tomorrow.”

[kandoesfanfics-writes]

A Century of Friendship

Hi guys! Sorry for not updating in a while, but I got really sick. I’m still sick, but I found it in me to finish this piece that’s been sitting unfinished since about November! Updates for Head Omega, The Bat and The Peahen will be coming soon!

This is a Jasonette prompt based off this post. This was my first crack at writing Jasonette, so I hope you all enjoy!

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

His stomach clenched in the most unpleasant manner.

Today was the day.

He had to tell her.

He’d been putting it off for almost a century now, and his family had told him it was now or never. None of them really remembered how long humans lived, but they knew it wasn’t even a blink in the lifespan of a demon. He needed to come clean with her before she died. He needed her to know what he truly was...and just how special she was to him.

Befriending her had been an accident. He had been wandering around the city, looking for some sinners to terrorize when he came across this small scrap of a human woman. She had been assisting the homeless by passing out clean blankets and giving them directions to a shelter. She had even gathered a bunch of local homeless children and was reassuring them that she could lead them to a safe place.

Before his...change...he too had been a child of the streets. He knew that people lied. He knew what life on the streets was like. He knew it was oh so easy to fool a child. He knew what people on the streets could trick a child into, so he had followed her as she led the children away. He’d been shocked to see that the woman had been telling the children the truth.

The woman had led the children to the Leslie Thompkins’ Children’s House. The children had immediately taken inside, fed, and bathed. The volunteer at the house seemed to know the pretty woman. She had spoken to the strange woman, calling her Marinette. Marinette had made small talk with the other woman, and they had spoken of what was going to happen to the children she’d brought.

He didn’t entirely understand why he’d stayed so long, even now, but he had watched her until she returned to her apartment. He had repeated this routine for days, wanting to know more about the young woman who was rescuing people around this city. He hadn’t been able to recall such a being existing when he’d been brutally murdered. He had been fascinated with her, and he had been simply content watching her until someone had gotten it into his head that he was going to try and rob the little lady.

He had decided at that point to take on a human form in order to help her. He had barged into her apartment, only to find the would-be robber crying on the floor. The would-be robber had been a teenage boy who told Marinette that he needed money for food for his family because his mother had lost her job. Marinette had then given him some money and suggested places for him to apply for work.

Marinette had thanked him for coming to aid her, but told him she had things under control. She had then asked what his name was. He had panicked for a moment, struggling to think of a name when a voice in the back of his head whispered, “Jason Todd.” He had introduced himself under that name.

Their friendship had blossomed from there.

Jason began spending most of his time outside of work with Marinette. They went to bookstores— somehow she always knew where to find the old classics— and talked about literature. Once Marinette had expressed her love of fashion, Jason had immediately inundated her home with books on fashion through the ages. Marinette was delighted, and Jason enjoyed watching her create ‘modern takes’ on historical clothing. He’d even modeled for her several times, enjoying the one-on-one time with her.

Marinette always seemed to be making something. Whether it was food, new clothing, or some kind of art piece, the small woman seemed to thrive off creation. She always looked the happiest when she was creating something. Her hands were never still. She was never content with just completing one thing and then stopping. Marinette seemed to be an endless wellspring of creation.

Jason didn’t quite understand it, but chalked it up to a human’s need to feel like their time on Earth meant something by leaving behind their creations. Luckily, Marinette never took it hard when he admitted that he didn’t quite understand her passion. She had told him that creation wasn’t for everyone, and she understood why he didn’t seem as excited about her projects as she was. Not to say Jason didn’t love helping her! He just wasn’t as enthused about making something that would be destroyed eventually...which made Jason think about his relationship with Marinette.

He was immortal now, thanks to Bruce. She wasn’t. Jason would have to watch Marinette grow old and grey. Eventually, he’d watch her pass on...and given the type of person she was, Jason highly doubted he’d ever see her again after that. She’d become an angel, live in heaven, and forget all about Jason Todd. She’d definitely forget once the angels told her what he was…

A demon.

Jason felt bile rise up in his throat as he knocked on her door. It was now or never. She would probably start growing old soon, and Jason wanted to tell her the truth before the angels did. He knew Marinette valued honesty, so perhaps if he told her now she’d forgive him for hiding it. His green eyes bored holes into the chestnut door as he waited for it to open, trying desperately to steel his resolve.

The door swung open to reveal his best friend, and Jason remembered once again why he’d put off telling her the truth.

“Jason! It’s so nice to see you again. Are you sure you’re okay with helping me take the delivery down to the gala? I know those kind of events aren’t really your thing,” the tiny woman said with a smile brighter than the sun.

Marinette was all dressed for tonight’s event. Her silky looking hair was pulled into a low bun that rested against the nape of her neck. Her brilliant grey eyes were highlighted by peach and bronze eyeshadow and pitch black eyeliner. She was wearing a darker nude lipstick that made Jason want to lean over and kiss her to see if her lips were as soft as they looked. It didn’t help that her lips were pulled into the most adorable smile Jason had ever been graced with even before death. What also didn’t help was the fact Marinette was wearing the pearl earrings Jason had gotten her, and that made him feel even more fuzzy inside.

She was wearing a baby pink cheongsam that fell a little past her mid-thigh. It was hand embroidered with plum blossoms all around it. To complete the look, Marinette was also wearing pale pink heels that brought her to about Jason’s upper chest. She looked gorgeous, amazing, and...well... Jason had to fight to keep his more inappropriate thoughts to himself. 

“Yeah, yeah, Cakepop! Show me where the goods are so we can get this show on the road!”

More like show me where the deserts are before I decide to have you as my desert, Jason thought to himself.

The sensible part of Jason growled back that he wasn’t sure if Marinette even liked him that way! And even if she did, Marinette was mortal, and Jason was not. Even if she loved him, they could never be together. His sensible part argued and argued until it was all he could think of as he walked into her apartment. He followed her into the kitchen where he knew the boxes of baked goods would be.

As Jason went to pick up a few boxes, he caught Marinette’s eyes roaming over him. The hopeful part of Jason preened, shooting back at the sensible side that Marinette was interested in him! After all, he’d gone through a lot to make his human form look good! He’d borrowed a tux for the occasion— thankfully Alfred ensured that it was a proper fight and highlighted his good points— and had made an attempt to tame his hair. He wanted to tease her, but once Marinette caught him watching, the dark haired girl had scooped up several boxes of her own.

“Onwards, my good man!” she said. “The gala awaits their deserts!”

He laughed at her over dramatic acting, and almost blurted out another terrible truth he was keeping from her.

The truth was that the infamous demon known as the Red Hood had gone soft for a mortal woman. The infamous Red Hood— adopted son of the fiercest bat-demon, Batman— had fallen in love with Ms. Marinette. He did not desire her just for her body...which some demons couldn’t understand. Jason had fallen in love with Marinette’s good heart. Jason had fallen in love with whispered secrets and shared grins. Jason had fallen in love with a woman who in another life would have been his salvation. Jason had fallen in love with someone doomed to die.

And Jason would sooner cut his head off than admit to that.

He followed Marinette to her car and assisted in loading all the sweets into the vehicle. Marinette was singing another random tune, one she’d come up with herself, and Jason couldn’t help but smile broadly at her. She was such a sweet human. Jason was going to miss her terribly, but he had forced himself to face the fact he was destined to lose her. He just didn’t know if he’d lose her from death or because of the fact he was a demon.

“Jase? Jase, are you okay? You’re spacing out on me.”

Marinette was shaking his shoulder, one hand on the wheel with her eyes forward. Her face was scrunched in concern even if she never took her eyes off the road. Jason quickly responded, wanting to wipe the frown off her pretty face.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just lost in thought, Cakepop. How long do we have to stay at this shindig?” he responded.

“We were invited to attend, but we can leave right away if you want. You’re doing me a huge favor already, so I won’t ask you to stay at the party,” Marinette chirped. 

“Do you want to stay for a little, Cakepop?” Jason asked. “Forget about me for a moment. Do you want to attend this party?”

The look on her face told Jason everything, and he sighed deeply. The things he did for love...well, the party wouldn’t be as bad with her by his side. He’d stay glued to Marinette, ignore the sinners, and enjoy himself. The only bad thing was that the odds would be high that they would run into Dick.

Jason loved his brother dearly, but Dick was...well he could be a lot. His older brother loved the party scene, and that’s where he hunted his victims. Dick could charm the pants off of anyone. He was also a hell of a dancer, and Jason was slightly worried he’d try to flirt with Marinette if he spotted her. Dick wasn’t stupid. He knew what he found attractive, and since Jason was rather inclined to agree with him, he would most certainly find Marinette attractive.

He told Marinette that they could hang around for an hour or two, but then he wanted to go home. The smile she gave him nearly caused his heart to stop and restart. She was so happy that Jason was willing to spend time with her, doing something she liked. She began to chat about everything she wanted to do and who she wanted to speak to. Apparently Marinette had grand plans in the works and was really hoping she’d be able to speak to them tonight.

Jason listened to her chatter, smiling, relaxed against the passenger’s seat. He could listen to her talk for days. Her voice was sweet and soothing. It made Jason melt every time he heard it. He’d been brought back from the edge several times by Marinette’s voice and a small hand on his forearm. He wanted to hold her hand so bad, but he figured he’d get to do that once they’d delivered the goods.

As they pulled up to the kitchen entrance, Jason smoothed his tux once again and inhaled deeply.

He could do this.

Especially if it was for Marinette.

—————— 

Marinette would like to make it clear, first and foremost, that she was not stupid by any means.

She knew Jason Todd wasn’t what he said he was.

She was definitely certain that he wasn’t human either.

It had been almost a century since the pair had met, yet Jason didn’t seem to realize that Marinette’s lack of aging wasn’t normal for a human. She’d had to erase a few memories already of her existence, replacing the last century’s Marinette with a new one. She had also noticed that Jason hadn’t aged either. He still looked the same as the day he burst into her apartment. 

Jason was over six feet tall, something that infuriated her to no end, with pitch black hair. He had a strong jaw and the most enchanting pair of green eyes she’d ever seen. He was muscular and knew how to fight. He had scars splashed across his body, but Marinette never asked about them. His soul though...his soul was what drew Marinette to him. 

She could almost hear Plagg’s laughter…

Despite the intimidating appearance, Jason had the potential to be an unbelievably kind person. He’d assisted Marinette with more projects than she could count. When she helped the homeless, Jason was gentle with the children and mothers while fiercely reminding the drug peddlers what would happen if he found them selling to the kids. When she helped at the local orphanages, Jason would read and play with the children. When she went around to the hospitals, Jason had an empathetic ear and a sympathetic shoulder for those grieving...especially if drugs were involved.

Marinette found herself developing an intense fondness for him early on in their friendship that eventually grew to love. If she were being honest with herself, she’d admit that she’d been in love with Jason for at least twenty years. She never told him because she was waiting for him to come clean with her about what he was. Marinette wanted their relationship to be built on honesty, and she couldn’t think of anything more difficult to admit than the fact one was a demon. Once Jason had admitted it to her, then Marinette would allow herself to begin to entertain the thoughts of a relationship with him.

Her mother, Tikki, had approved of her plan.

Plagg— her mother’s lover/friend/husband(?)— had told Marinette not to wait too long. He explained that his creatures were not the most patient bunch, and while they would never force a relationship, they would give up on a love interest if it appeared the affection was not returned. He was happy that Marinette had found her match in one of his children. He told her that Jason was a good one, and Marinette readily agreed.

Plagg had created the demons as a balance to Tikki’s creations. They were not necessarily bad, like a lot of humans thought, but they were agents of chaos and destruction. Sinners, as the humans had deemed those who attracted the demons, were simply just humans who caused/welcomed chaos and destruction in their lives or in others’. Some demons punished them, and some demons joined them...but put too much chaos in anyone’s life, and it will become a punishment. Jason was a special case, given life by Plagg after one of his demon’s requested it.

Plagg had allowed Jason to become a demon because he pitied the dying human child. The God of Destruction and Chaos had refused to tell her anything else about Jason, insisting she’d need to learn it for herself. Marinette didn't have many qualms with that. She already had several theories, and none were pleasant.

Marinette, on the other hand, was a muse and daughter of the Goddess of Creation, Tikki. Tikki had created Marinette and other muses to inspire and promote creation in the human world. Tikki admitted that perhaps she’d put too much of herself in Marinette, making her more like a daughter than a mere muse. Marinette could create wonderful things, and Tikki had encouraged it. Eventually, Tikki had declared the muse her child and heir should Tikki somehow be unable to fulfill her duties.

She had begun to lose hope until she saw the palpable anxiety on Jason’s face. 

Today would be the day...hopefully...that Jason told her the truth. 

————

Jason couldn’t bring himself to come clean until Dick almost caught them.

He’d pulled Marinette out onto a balcony and hid off to the side, ignoring his brother’s shouts. He was holding her close, pressed firmly against his body. She was looking up at him with her damnable grey eyes, face flushed, mouth gaping slightly. She was so close to him. If he just leaned down a little more, he could capture those lips in a kiss like he’d been dying to do.

But there was one thing he needed to do first.

“Marinette, I’m a demon.”

She blinked in confusion before tilting her head slightly. Jason took a deep breath before pulling away from her. He rested both hands on her shoulders before looking her squarely in the eye.

“Marinette, did you hear me? Because this is really important. I used to be Jason Todd...but that was a very long time ago. I’m actually an immortal demon known as the Red Hood. I’m sorry I didn’t come clean sooner, but I was afraid. I was afraid that I’d lose the companionship of one of the most spectacular women I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. But I knew I’d have to come clean with you before...well before you got old—” 

Jason’s sentence trailed off as he stared at the woman before him. 

She was laughing.

Marinette was almost hunched over, trying to contain her laughter. Her eyes were shut tightly, tears almost leaking out from the corners of her eyes. Jason felt a spike of anger at this. Didn’t she know this conversation was important! Did she not believe him! Did she think he was lying to her! 

Before he could open his mouth, Marinette straightened up and asked, “Jase, how long do you think a human lives?”

“...I dunno the exact numbers, but like a century or two?”

“Oh, hun, they might reach a century if they’re lucky. Most humans only live to be in their 80s in most industrial countries. Other humans don’t even make it that far. Now tell me, how could we have known each other for almost ninety-two years, and neither of us have aged?” Marinette said sweetly.

Her smile showed teeth.

Jason was taken aback a moment. Did humans really live such short lives? It had been so long since he was human, and if so, why hadn’t Marinette aged? Why wasn’t she dead? Unless— but she didn’t feel like any demon he’d ever encountered before! If she wasn’t a demon or other creature of darkness, than what was Marinette?

“I’m a muse,” she replied.

Jason jumped a little, not realizing he’d asked the last question aloud.

“Just a muse? Don’t muses normally specialize in one area or something?”

“That’s right, a muse, and the average ones do. I’m the daughter of Tikki, so my powers are not as...limited.”

“Tikki as in the Goddess of Creation, Tikki?”

“The very same.”

Jason was stunned. Of course he knew of the great goddess as his boss, Plagg, never shut up about her. Tikki was the opposite of Plagg. Tikki was his other half. Tikki was creation and order while Plagg was destruction and chaos. Tikki could make anything, and rumor had it, she’d created a muse who’d ended up becoming her favorite. She called this favorite her Ladybug, and this muse was not limited like the others.

He just never thought he’d actually get to meet the legendary lady herself...let alone fall madly in love with her! But if she was Tikki’s daughter...then that meant she could sense energy just like he could...maybe even better than him. Did she know? Did she know this whole time and still befriend him?

“Did—”

“Yes, I knew. I’m glad you told me yourself though,” Marinette said softly. “I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me the truth, even though it could have hurt you had I been human.”

Somehow...Jason wasn’t angry.

Irritated? Oh most definitely. She’d watched him sweat about telling her several times and never came clean that she already knew! If they’d had this talk earlier, Jason probably wouldn’t have been so stressed out! They could have done more together! He wouldn’t have been so worried about how much time they had to spend before she was gone for good!

At the same time, Jason understood why she didn’t tell him. 

Just as people were not fond of demons, not all demons were fond of the muses and vice versa. Had Jason known she was a muse, had Jason been able to recognize her energy for what it was, he probably wouldn't have stuck around. Batman had warned him time and time again about the muses, and how certain ones played with demons for the thrill of it and left when they got bored or scared. After watching one break Tim’s heart, Jason would admit that he wasn’t fond of them at all. He’d avoided them completely, despite never actually meeting Tim’s ex in person.

Besides, muses normally didn’t go into the void as deep as Jason liked to venture, so his contact with them had been extremely limited. He would have stormed off, thinking that this was a trap for him.

“Soooo…” Jason said, anxiously rubbing his palms on his pant legs.

“Sooo?” Marinette echoed, grey eyes still fixed on him.

“...where does this leave us, Cakepop?”

“...I was hoping this leaves us together.”

“Like...together as we were? As friends? Or…”

“Or.”

“Or?”

Marinette smiled mischievously before grabbing the black tie Jason was wearing. She tugged hard, forcing him to bend down. As he did, he felt a very soft pair of lips collide with his. The smell of flowers invaded his senses as she snaked the hand not holding his tie around his neck. She tilted her head and allowed the kiss to deepen. She was determined to pour as much love as she could into that one kiss. 

Jason’s hands had flown to her hips. The silk of her cheongsam was soft against his skin and warm from her body heat. He pulled her close once again, savoring the feeling of having her close. He also couldn’t help but realize how tiny his muse was when she was pressed against him.

The second she deepened the kiss, Jason let out a muffled moan. She tasted like the confections she baked, sugary with a hint of spice. He ran his hands up and down her sides, noting which places made her shiver into the kiss. He would have consumed her then and there, but fate had other plans.

“There you are Jas— SO THAT’S WHY YOU WERE RUNNING AWAY FROM ME! I’m offended, Jason! Didn’t you want to introduce your big brother to your cute little girlfriend!”

The pair broke apart at mach speed, embarrassed and surprised. Jason glared at his older brother and snarled, fangs showing.

“Now, now, Little Wing! I’m not here to steal possibly the only woman, human or otherwise, who could put up with your dumbass. I’m just trying to be friendly!” the slightly shorter man said.

Marinette noted that he had black hair like Jason, but his eyes were a crystalline blue, too clear and too bright to be human. This man also wasn’t as muscular as Jason, but it was still clear he worked out and was strong. He had an easy going smile, even if those eyes read mischief, and he was carrying a glass of champagne.

He walked over to Marinette before grinning, exposing his fangs. He held out his hand and said, “Good evening, miss! My name is Richard Grayson, but my friends call me Dick—”

“Clearly because you are one.”

Both Dick and Jason froze as those words tumbled out of Marinette’s mouth. Both demons finally took a good look at the little muse and felt a mix of fear and attraction run through them.

The little muse did not look happy with Dick, not at all. Her eyebrows were furrowed as her grey irises disappeared into her sclera, giving her narrowed eyes an all white appearance. A frown was cemented on her face...but it wasn’t so much a frown as it reminded both demons of a snarl. Perhaps muses couldn’t snarl the same way demons could, so she was making up her closest interpretation?

Her fists were clenched, and her body was tense, as if she were trying to hold herself back.

“I’ve waited at least twenty years for that kiss, and you interrupted it!” Marinette hissed. “Quit being a dickhead to your brother and leave!”

Dick’s smile brightened before he laughed, “Aw, she’s going to fit right in! You’ll have to bring her around sometime, Little Wing. Alfred’s going to love her and so will—”

Dick never got to finish his sentence as a swarm of bees came barreling towards him, completely ignoring Marinette and Jason. Jason watched in silent awe as his brother tried to defend himself, but it didn’t seem to matter how many bees he killed. There were always more bees to take the place of the others.

He ended up running away from them, and it wasn’t until he was all the way down the hall that the bees ceased their swarming.

Jason turned back to Marinette, whose eyes were just returning to normal. He gave her a grin before wrapping her up in a hug. He felt her slump against him a bit, tired after using some of her power to create enough bees to make Dick leave them alone. He rubbed her back for a few moments before asking her if she’d like to return to her apartment now.

“I have a few terms,” Marinette said, turning her head so her voice wasn’t muffled against his chest.

“Oh?”

“One, we strip down into our underwear and kiss and cuddle. Two, we watch old movies and make popcorn. Three, we’re boyfriend and girlfriend!”

Jason barked out a laugh before scooping Marinette into his arms.

“Sounds like agreeable terms, Cakepop,” he said, holding her bridal style. “Let’s go home.”

Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked him on the cheek. Jason carried her all the way to where her car was parked, feeling joy coursing through his veins. She wasn’t going to die. She was immortal like he was. They had a chance. They could make this work. If Jason did his best, he’d never have to say goodbye to Marinette.

Jason set Marinette down again once they’d reached the car. He gently took her head between his hands and kissed her softly. This kiss was not as heated as the first, but simple, sweet, and brief. He kissed her nose and eyelids next before hugging her tightly. He promised her more kisses later, and opened the door so Marinette could get in the passenger’s seat.

Later on the couch, snuggled up under Marinette’s favorite blanket, Jason would hold Marinette close to his chest. She’d be nodding off, feeling safe and content in his arms. Just before she would drift off to sleep, Marinette would sleepily murmur something Jason had been waiting for years to hear.

“I love you, Jason.”

And he would reply.

“I love you too, Marinette.”

[enkisstories]

Just like them (part 11)

Gavin’s apartment Still November 18, 2038

When Daniel reached into the cage, the mice scattered into all directions. Given a PL600’s manual dexterity, it would have been easy for the android to catch as many of the tiny critters as he wanted, but he found that his fingers were moving sluggishly.

Why am I hesitating? Each mouse I take is one less to get eaten by Reed’s cat collection!

And that was exactly the problem: The mice Daniel chose would escape that fate. But only those! How should he decide who got to live out their rodent days and who would die? By cuteness? Age? Health status? An automated car would have had no problems making the “correct” decision, but for someone who had himself gotten deemed garbage not worth keeping it wasn’t that easy. After a few more attempts at weighing one tiny white furball against all the rest the deviant realized that it was no use. He just couldn’t do it. Daniel could have saved a few at least, could have made a small change for the better in the world and proven that he was more than trash. But that was deviance for you, it made you more than a computer, but in a way also less. The android was only beginning to learn how real persons were governed by forces far stronger than the acclaimed “free will”. Daniel put down the flour box Gavin had handed him and closed the lid with the breathing holes without having stored any mice in it.

“Finished already?” the detective asked.

“Uh-huh. I think I do not want mice, after all.”

Gavin shrugged noncommittally, because wanting or not wanting pet mice wasn’t something that had a strong opinion about.

“Okay, then.”

So Daniel would leave without mice, no biggie. Gavin having made that offer in the first place, however… What had he been thinking, inviting the android into his flat as if it was a friend?! Just because that thing had made a joke about Connor biting the dust!

“You’re a computer”, Gavin said through clenched teeth. “You store data, solve problems, put people out of job, that kind of thing. So if you’re that great, maybe you can tell me, why do I put up with you?”

Daniel, who himself understood well enough why he felt drawn to the detective, shrugged. It was Gavin’s brutal honesty that made Daniel feel comfortable in the man’s presence. The deviant knew beyond doubt that he was tolerated at best, so no unpleasant surprises of the John Phillips kind would drop on him. Reed not sucking up to Connor the Great and Awesome helped, too. But the other way around Daniel had no clue as to what was motivating Gavin Reed, therefore he could only shrug for a second time.

“I haven’t got the fuggiest idea, but you won’t hear me complain. The more positive human relations I can report to my parole officer, the better. - Coffee before I go?”

Gavin wordlessly slumped down on the loveseat. The cats took that as a signal to disperse and do cat things in the apartment, only the calico kitten jumped onto the small table, from where she watched Gavin with a proud owner’s expression.

Meanwhile Daniel found himself confronted with technology surpassing anything he had ever seen. Some people claimed that tea was a form of art, now Daniel concluded that coffee was a science. Fortunately just like the cats the coffee maker seemed to know what it was supposed to do if only Daniel pushed a few reasonably intimidating buttons in the correct sequence.

Gavin briefly turned his head towards the guest, then stared across the room at the opposite wall again. Eventually he gave a snort. “A machine using a machine…”

“I’m not a machine!” Daniel protested. “If you must get existential, then I am an appliance. And far more advanced than this coffee maker than your kind is different from pigs!”

It’s true, right? I mean, okay, I do not understand this thing, but I understand my own inner working even less. And why would I need to? Of the humans only a small percentage are doctors, either!

“Why don’t you have an android for the housework, by the way?”

“What part of “android hater” did you not compute?”

“Except you aren’t”, Daniel claimed while putting down the coffee. “Captain Allen is an android hater and maybe Anderson, too. I cannot quite place that man yet. You, to the contrary, are a human supremacist. That’s a subtle difference.”

“Whatever.”

A short contest between Sally and Gavin ensued, then the detective folded his hands around the cup and drew it towards his chest. The kitten turned once around itself and when Daniel drew back a chair to sit on, it retreated to the safety of the narrow space between the still heated up coffee machine and the kitchen wall.

Daniel tried lifting his new legs onto the table, but the movement wouldn’t feel natural. Although perfectly capable of executing it, Daniel couldn’t bring himself to recline in this position for long. It was a posture the street-raised detective might find comfortable, but not the distinguished upper middle class butler that was  - or had been - Daniel. So the android took down his feet again and instead slouched forward, placed his arms on the table and put his head on top of them. With a “thud” Gavin’s feet came to rest on table right next to the android’s head.

There was the smell of worn socks and coffee, the subliminal noise of some neighbor’s piano playing and a perpetual layer of cat hair that couldn’t ever get cleaned away completely. And although Daniel was processing all of those things numerically only, in their sum they were saying “home” to him, something he’d never have again. With a sigh from his artificial lungs Daniel closed his eyes and then he forgot where he was and with whom and just savored the moment. Gavin, too, felt uncannily at ease in Daniel’s presence, despite being fully aware of the fact that by now he should be fuming. That android slacking on his kitchen table wasn’t one of the inconsequential background devices, neither was it advanced enough to threaten the detective’s career. To the contrary, the simulation it ran was a mirror of Gavin’s own fears: Losing his comfortable home, getting torn from his family and being told to be of no worth. Cyberlife not only put people out of their jobs, leaving them homeless and depressed, now the deviants were filling this role, too. They were the better unemployed, homeless and depressed. Where did that leave humanity? As museum exhibits? Attractions in a zoological garden? Pets, maybe?!

“So what if I did have an android?” Gavin spoke up again. “It’s just a thing, and mine was an AX400, so nothing to brag about. They took Sophie during the Recall, good riddance I say!”

The detective’s words sharply brought back to mind that he hadn’t kicked Daniel all this time. The android’s head jerked up as the realization struck him: This wasn’t normal! Not at all! Something was afoot!

And indeed while the deviant had been resting his mind for a few precious minutes, his unlikely acquaintance had been hatching a plan.

“Still with me, killer, despite my “dead” android? Okay, listen, I’ve thought of something…”

It was common knowledge that Gavin Reed would do “anything” for a promotion. He was taking advantage of others’ work, refused to help his co-workers in any way and made them look bad to Captain Fowler in creative ways, stopping just short of sabotaging their work. All those efforts were accomplishing next to nothing, because professionally Reed already was one of the DPD’s best detectives with little room to improve. The categories he was failing in hard were personal development and teamwork. So any improvement in these areas would skyrocket Reed’s score and that was where this new android came in!

“…so if Fowler sees me pulling an Anderson by going from android hater to best buddie with one… helping a criminal reform in the process… that would go a long way towards that sweet promotion credit!”

“You know, this could work for me, too. Befriending you of all people is sure to score me my checkmark in Self Control. - But we are not really becoming friends, right? We’re only pretending!”

“You got it!”

Daniel grabbed an empty coffee mug from the counter, filled it with water and then raised it in a toast. Gavin returned the gesture, then the mugs connected and thus the deal was sealed.

They both downed the contents of their cups. It came as a small surprise to Daniel that Gavin didn’t comment on him drinking like a human. Obviously the detective was already aware of the fact that androids occasionally added cooling fluid. What else would he know that the average human saw, but never registered? Too much, probably.

“Okay, Gavin, tell me everything about your wife, kids and the in-laws! Oh, and your parents, are they still acknowledging you?”

“What makes you think I’ve got any of that?”

“You don’t?!” Daniel exclaimed, accompanied by an expression of utter incomprehension.

Until now the deviant had assumed that everyone was living in a family unit consisting of a mother, a father, one or more children and a handful of pets. Even those like the detective, or probably especially those like the detective, given the state humanity was in.

“But you’re ancient!” the deviant cried “Older than most androids have the hope to ever get! Aren’t you lonely? No? Not even a little bit?”

“There’s more to life than raising kiddos.”

“No, there isn’t! A family is the most important thing in the world! That’s why you’ve created us to help you with it! To ensure that nothing goes wrong!”

Daniel’s outburst was met with laughter first, at which the android glared back at the human.

“Heh… that’s cute. You’re… I dunno. Your outcry sounded like something they’d program a PL600 to say, but the way you uttered it? One could almost think you really believe it.”

“So, could one? Good for you! Me, I’m coming to doubt I’m really alive. I’ve broken free from Cyberlife, only to get controlled by strange, invisible crap that is somehow also me.”

“Having one of those days of the month, huh? Need a tampon, maybe?”

“Oh, stuff a sock in it!”

“Well, yes, that would be the low-cost alternative. Also fully sustainable, good for the environment.”

There was a moment of silence, then Gavin laughed out loud at his own joke, while Daniel shook his head, but with a smile. It was a first for him. None of the humans he actually liked had ever shared mirth like that with the android. John and Caroline, in retrospect, had laughed at the android, not with him, around Emma everything had to be kept family-friendly, naturally, with the Rasoya Daniel was performing a polite eggshell dance to not lose their support and if he threw insults at Connor he meant everything he said. Only around Gavin Daniel felt comfortable enough to really let go, because with one who wasn’t a friend and never would be, there was no fear to destroy something.

“I know I’m going to rue asking this, but if a family isn’t what you’re about, then what exactly is your life like?”

“I…”

And that was when the doorbell rang.

“Answer the damn door, So…” Gavin started, then cursed under his breath.

“Sorry, no more Sophie”, Daniel sneered, while the human went to search the sofa for his smartphone. “Good riddance, was it?”

Gavin opened the phone app that would show him the picture the door’s security camera was seeing.

“It’s Tina” he announced, before unlocking the door remotely. “Time to acid test our scheme, my “friend”!”

(To be continued)

[grimmbrookhq]

CAPTAIN PHOEBUS ▶ LIAM PHOENIX (  THE CANDY HOUSE HEAD OF SECURITY ● 38  ● CHARLIE HUNNAM ● TAKEN )

Liam’s life has been a turbulent one. Like a car crash too gruesome to look at, but you’re far too interested to actually look away. He’s the son of a highly respectable investment banker and his socialite wife. Like most children growing up with wealthy parents, Liam’s life was one filled with material possessions and little love, with a father constantly jetting off for work and a mother who was more interested in plastic surgery and charity events than her own children. No one can pin point the certain moment in time when he changed, maybe it was when he found his sister passed out on the bathroom floor after overdosing on pain killers, but he changed.

For the most part of his life he had been a quiet boy, keeping to himself of course acting like a spoiled brat at times but he was polite and well mannered a little socially inept when it came to treating other people with respect. He was always told by his father that they they were better than everyone else. Maybe thats what screwed him up so badly, or maybe the Phoenix family just had a genetic tendency toward addictive personalities - father with work, mother with eternal beauty, sister with attention.   Like any normal angry teenager he started to act out, got into trouble, fell into the wrong crowd, did all of the things you’d expect a rebellious sixteen year old to do. When they finally expelled him from school, Liam felt relief for the first time in years. He went on the road, bought himself a shit old motorcycle and started traveling around the country.

Even though he had a luxurious home to go back to and wealth aplenty waiting there, Liam spent years living as a homeless man. Panhandling, doing odd jobs here and there, getting enough to buy food and maybe a room to stay in. At 26 he got involved with a 46 year old married woman and convinced her to leave her husband for him. When said husband found out what was happening he tracked them down to the motel they were staying at and stabbed Liam five times in the back, leaving him for dead. He woke up two months later in a hospital near Fresno and it it took him almost a year to fully recover.

Eventually life led him to Grimmbrook and he was in very bad shape then - he’d picked up his sisters old addiction - painkillers after the surgeries were his new boon.  The stronger the better.  Analgesics leading to opiates… Not always the legal kind. He got himself arrested shortly after for robbing a liquor store and spent a year in Grimmbrook prison. It was probably the best thing that could have happened to him.  The time inside got him clean - and introduced him to a new way to steer those addictive tendencies, in the brutal, visceral shape of violence.  He emerged a more controlled man than the mess of a human who’d entered. Finding a purpose for that addiction is what ultimately saved him.  Stepping into street fights, putting his fists to work for money.  He took his fair share of beatings during the first few years - but he also got better at dishing them out.  It was that honed skill which led him to the Cage - and the observation of one of his fights led to an offer of employment as head of security at the Candy House.  So now he has a legitimate face to present to the world.  A gainful, contributing member of society.  And the cage offers him the salve to his addictive wound.

CONNECTIONS ▶

HARLYN ROUSSEAU: Liam was hired by Harlyn after the other man saw him fighting at The Cage. He didn’t ask questions about his past and, instead, offered him a job as security for their family’s art gallery. It seemed like a weird offer to make but over his first few months, after he’d gained Harlyn’s trust, the other began to share more details about the other going-ons Liam had begun to guess at. Despite him being a decade younger, Liam can tell Harlyn’s not naive and he’s no fool. He's efficient and to the point and Liam prefers that in a boss. There’s no BS between them which makes it easier to do his job. 

SAMUEL MASON: Criminals know criminals. Liam met Samuel when he first arrive in Grimmbrook. To say that it was hate at first sight would be an exaggeration since their arguments always ended up in fist fights. Perhaps it was a territorial thing, who knows? Eventually things cooled down and they became somewhat friendly with one another. Liam heard that Samuel got his ass arrested a few years back after attempting to rob a bank and did pay him a visit in jail out of camaraderie.

MARIGOLD NICOL: He dated Marigold for a few months before she met her so called love of her life and pretty much left him for him. Was he heartbroken? He’d argue that he doest’t have that much of a heart to begin with but his ego did take a hit. He could not help but feel a little bit satisfied when he heard that her husband had died but at the same time he felt really bad for her and the fact that she was having a baby. So ever since he has been trying to find ways to help her out. 

SIMON CHURCH: He has used Simon’s services in the past whenever he needs a job well done. He especially likes that the guy does not ask a lot of questions and he cares only about the money. Because they have been in business for so long they have become friends. Probably not the greatest idea to befriend the man you pay to kill others for your boss. 

JAVIER MORENO: As the owned of The Cage, Liam has a lot of respect for Javier. He is running a great business and one that he indulges in. Liam was one of the first ones to fight in the Cage and he has gain some popularity in that circle. He makes Javier a lot of money whenever they bet on him to win a match. 

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

best older kurt fics?

Hey Nonnie, just to clarify: you’re looking for age gap fics where Kurt is older than Blaine, right? Please find a list below. Enjoy! Hugs, Marjan

A Gift In Every Sense of the Word by @crisspyklaine /Klainecentric

Based on the anonymous Glee Kink Meme prompt:

Cooper, as a coming out present to his little brother, convinces his friend Kurt to suck Blaine off.

Blaine didn’t think he would ever even get to kiss a boy before going to college, never mind getting a blowjob from a boy who looks like Kurt.

He’s so overwhelmed that he comes embarrassingly quick. Kurt feels bad for Blaine, and giving head makes him horny, so he decides to get Blaine hard again and ride him.

All In by legallyblained

When Kurt turns thirty, he decides to adopt a baby. Who should he meet the very same day, but a certain very pretty 21-year-old art student, Blaine?

Blue Christmas by  broadwayblainey

Kurt Hummel’s life is in pieces; he lost his job, his husband kicked him out and his Dad isn’t talking to him. Meeting a cute, hair gelled man on a bridge could turn things around. Maybe even save his life.

Click and Press Send (a.k.a. The Kimber Verse) by @loveheartlover

Blaine Anderson is 18 years old and in his final year at McKinley High. His best friends know everything about him- apart from that whole thing where he’s in love with an online blogger.

ThreeDomsToRuleThemAll are the best thing to ever happen to Blaine; three friends who post audio and video that more than satisfies his need to submit, and Kimber is the man who makes every Thursday the best day of Blaine’s week. It’s just a shame that Blaine is little more than another number, another follower to him. He doesn’t even know Blaine exists.

Until one day, he does.

This is their story.

Dance Me To The End Of Love by @kurtswish

While unwinding at a club, Blaine Anderson meets a stranger who promises him one night of passion. When the night is over, Blaine wants more, so does Kurt; but what Kurt offers him is not quite what he was expecting.

Don’t Know Much About History by Kurt Countertenor

Kurt is a young professor of history, and Blaine is a freshman in his class. When the two begin to have feelings for each other, they find themselves torn between what they want and the university rules on student-professor relationships.

Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You by @klaineanummel

Blaine doesn’t really care what Sam and Tina think about his friends with benefits relationship with his older sister’s best friend is what it really comes down to.

I Wanna Be With You All Night by @endofadream/rayychel infinity

At the insistence of his roommates, Blaine takes advantage of a boring Friday night and heads out to a gay night club, where he has a run-in with a gorgeous man who turns it into the best night of Blaine’s life.

I Won’t Let You Down Verse by @mrscriss2012

16 year old Blaine moves to Lima with his mom and new step family. Desperately unhappy and alone, he is befriended by one Burt Hummel who lives across the road. The pair start to restore a classic car together, but what will Blaine make of Burt’s surly 27 year old son?

If I Lose Myself by @fablewriter

Anonymous asked: Can I prompt you ; billionaire older Kurt and pretty young thing Blaine in a relationship and just Kurt spoiling him and just fluff and smut or whatever, take creative freedom as you wish(:

I’ll Do It by rightonthelimit

Blaine has had a crush on his teacher for as long as he could remember. He simply wants mister Hummel. Fortunately for Blaine, his teacher’s thoughts about him aren’t exactly appropriate either…

Invidia in E Minor by @vosje

Kurt was trying to find home in loveless New York when handsome stranger Cooper Anderson comes along and feels him up, showing him the life he could lead with a loving boyfriend. Back in Ohio lies Cooper’s little brother Blaine restless on his bed, trying to find the music for his college-applications - and music is what he hears when he meets his brother’s boyfriend.

It’s Not Babysitting by @anxioussquirrel

AU, present time. Kurt Hummel is 28 and has been living in New York for ten years now. He has a good job, nice apartment and two best friends anyone could wish for: Sebastian, a snarky lawyer, and Cooper, a workaholic investment specialist. What he doesn’t have is luck in relationships. But then Blaine, Cooper’s 17-year-old brother comes to NY to spend the summer. He turns out to be gorgeous and quickly develops a huge crush on Kurt…

Light Up The Sky by @mrscriss2012

AU. Kurt and Blaine meet on the Fourth of July.

Like I’ve Never Seen The Sky Before by @missbeizy

Blaine is a sixteen year old homeless runaway.  Kurt is a twenty five year old Broadway performer.  One afternoon Kurt quite literally stumbles over the poor boy on the street, accidentally beginning a relationship that’s more than complicated from the start.

Make You Feel My Love by @mrscriss2012

AU. Blaine is seventeen, and never been kissed. Kurt is 27, and trapped in a loveless relationship. A chance encounter sets both on a path that doesn’t run smoothly, but takes them places they never imagined.

Mine by @slightestwind (sequel: Slowing Down)

Blaine is an 18 year old virgin with no experience whatsoever. He’s super subby and shy. Kurt is 28, experienced, and is a hot dom who totally gets off on Blaine’s innocence.

(Not) the one for me by @klaineanummel

There were a few things Blaine Anderson was looking forward to about the college experience. Falling in love with his new best friend’s boyfriend was definitely not one of them.

Proud of your Boy by @seeleyboothfan [ePub]

Blaine has been having panic attacks and he’s been feeling very lost since he’s come to New York. Kurt is his best friend, but he’s also a Dom who’s sensing that Blaine might be a sub who hasn’t quite realized that yet and he’s struggling to figure out how best to help Blaine. Will they be able to come together and help each other, or will something keep them apart?

Push-Pull by Quixoticity [PDF]

AU where everyone is born a Dom, sub or switch.Kurt returns to Lima to look after his Dad, taking a teaching job at McKinley to make ends meet. He meets Blaine at a Dom/sub club and they share an intense mutual attraction. When Blaine walks into his classroom the next day Kurt is shocked to discover he is a 16 year old student, and things get complicated.

Rebirth by dancewithme19

When Kurt agreed to return to Lima to help Sam prepare the New Directions for Nationals, he knew he’d have to face down some ghosts. He thought he was prepared for that. But that’s because he never even entertained the idea that he’d be here, struck breathless at the sight of one of them made flesh.

Somewhere Along The Way I Missed You by @missbeizy

Older Kurt meets a younger but very eager Blaine (who is all but a virgin) at a bathhouse and takes on the role of teacher in the acts of gay sex.

Stay by @bowtiesandboatshoes

Written for the prompt: Kurt and Blaine’s parents are close friends, so they sort of grew up together even though Kurt is 5-10 years older than Blaine. Blaine has just graduated university and Kurt offers to let him move into his apartment until he can find something better.

Story of My Life verse by @klaineanummel

Kurt reflects on the past twelve years of his life, coming to realize that one man in particular has affected him far more than he ever thought he would.

Take All That I Am by becausehiships

In a world where extreme opposites can’t help but attract, never to leave one another alone again, rock bottom is just the beginning.

It’s a story of loving someone despite where they come from, despite their past. Take All That I Am revels in the differences that make life interesting, and relationships that shouldn’t be but are.

The Dumbing Down of Love by JustGidget

“The butterflies in his stomach had been lying to him and it was only in that instant that he realized it. He wondered just how long his traitor brain had been duping him. All he was sure of was that what he was

beginning to feel for Blaine was very, very dangerous.”

Through Different Eyes Verse by GLEEAnna

Blaine Anderson-Berry is in love with his big sister’s best friend Kurt Hummel.  Will Kurt ever see him as more than a little kid?

Two Coins by justanartist  [PDF] (Sequel:  One Vow  [PDF])

Kurt knows those people who are soulmates. How happy they are and how lucky they feel. Soulmates have a very deep connection some are so deep that people are able to feel every emotion and physical pain from their soul mate. He never understood why it was luck until he meets his soul mate and is not happy about it.

[theonyxpath]

Via Satyros Phil Brucato:

Janine was a homeless junkie I found dying one night along the path of my post-midnight constitutional. What could I do? Let her perish? Of course not! I took her home and did what any conscientious scientist would do: used my G8-Z26 purgative treatments while stabilizing her physical condition with Dr. Johnstone’s now-famous bioregeneration matrix. I admit she’s not the sharpest scalpel in the drawer but given the condition I found her in last year, I doubt she ever was. There’s no excuse for sloppy work on my part, of course, but Janine’s still alive, and I consider that a victory…

Hola, folks!

When I first conceived of Gods, Monsters and Other Familiar Strangers in 2013, I had initially pictured it as a collection of good, bad, and neutral NPCs to drop into your Mage 20 chronicle. During the intervening years and projects, however, I began to envision a more coherently thematic book – a collection, true enough, but one that featured a coherent theme, hinted at potential metaplots, provided additional rule-systems for non-mage characters, and approached those characters from a broader perspective than a simple, “Here’s a bunch of folks you can marry, fuck, or kill.”

Bringing in several additional authors – Hiromi Cota, Atalanti Evripidou, Jason Louis Feldstein, Antonios Galatis, J.F. High, and Isabella M. Price – we began to shape the slightly retitled Gods, Monsters & Familiar Strangers into a larger and more comprehensive sourcebook. Featuring constructs, consors, Avatars, familiars, spirits, Loa, and many other entities, this book also contains a revised and expanded collection of Special Advantages, spirit Charms, and companion construction rules. Although the past year or so has hit most of the book’s contributors with an array of personal and professional complications, we’re nearly finished with a book that is – in the grand Mage tradition – larger and more ambitious than we had initially intended it to be.

The following excerpts come from that bigger, better book. Enjoy!

The Banner Dei Brute Squad

When the Ecstatic jam band / performance troupe Banner Dei formed on the last night of 1999, that troupe found immediate, enthusiastic support from fans who’d been there that night. The Brute Squad, as they were dubbed by then-bandleader Tricia “Thunderheart” Rykomanski, held the fire-line against unskilled would-be performers who’d be more likely to set themselves on fire than add anything to the performance, pounded out improvised percussion on anything that would make some noise, and then stayed all day the following morning in order to help Banner Dei and their friends clean up the post-gig trash-piles and load the gear into whatever vehicles they could find. Since that night, both Banner Dei and the Brute Squad have cycled through dozens of members. The core of both groups, though, remains stable: Banner Dei blows minds, and the Brute Squad gets them in and out of gigs intact without leaving a huge mess behind. Under the guidance, since 2010, of Kore Valkyrie Smith, the “Banner Brutes” provide drop-in support for Banner Dei’s members and former bandmates. Either collectively or as a group, those Banner Dei personnel can send up a flare, text message, phone call or blog post and have members of the Brute Squad on the location as quickly as a bunch of mortals can arrive. Because the Brute Squad consists of several dozen unAwakened hangers-on scattered across North and Central America, Northern Europe, Japan and India, and because Smith happens to be really good at resource-management (and has backing from several noted Ecstatic philanthropists), a team of three to 15 Brute Squad folks can show up within a day or less with a little advance warning, or be on-site when needed if they know at least two days in advance where they need to be.

Once dispatched, the Banner Dei Brute Squad can handle trash collection and disposal, crowd control, violence-free de-escalation, light medical attention, and set-up / tear-down logistics for stage gear and musical equipment. Most Brute Squad members can also dance, spin fire, perform acrobatics, play musical instruments, or contribute other skills to the performance itself. Kore and her co-leaders train Brute Squad personnel in the essential skills before those people are allowed to back up the band and its people, and though Banner Dei and its support team have rather liberal attitudes about sex and drugs, there’s a strict code of conduct that expels any Brute Squad member who abused his position or can’t be bothered to respect a given “no.” So far, most folks associated with the Brute Squad have remained trustworthy and reliable; Kore’s very good at vetting people, and the few who step out of line and take advantage of Ecstatic hospitality tend to wind up gibbering mindlessly by the side of a road if they’re ever seen again at all.

Traits-wise, Banner Dei’s Brute Squad features a colorful collective of Subculture Devotees (as per that template) whose training lets them haul gear and calm crowds with minimal fuss. Although the oldest members have looked age 40 in the rearview mirror, most Banner Brutes are in their mid-20s to early-30s. Regardless of age or gender, these folks combine tattooed badassery with Zen-focus people skills. Most have traveled extensively throughout the mortal world, and a number have spent time in the Otherworlds as well. Despite appearances, these are friendly people who blend old-school manners with new-millennium social consciousness. They rarely possess paranormal powers themselves (Kore probably does, but if so she doesn’t brag about it), but occasionally bring along mystic goodies they’ve found or been gifted with at various events. The majority of them speak at least two languages, and some enjoy learning as many tongues as they can recall.

Arriving in dust-crusted cars (many of which have been modified for all-terrain use), all Banner Brutes sport a tattoo that marks them as approved and official members of the group. This design – a Hulk-green banner with a white lightning bolt slashed across its surface – glows in the dark so Brutes can find each other in the dark. If a Brute gets booted for good cause (as opposed to retiring from the group on good terms), his tattoo burns away in an agonizing flash of bright green fire, leaving the thunderbolt behind as a permanent scar.

Joe Dread

He’s the face of fear, though he has no face. He can look like anyone yet resembles no one. Joe Dread is the embodiment of terror that wears a human guise. He lurks in alleys, shouts from cars, and walks loudly down the street behind you when no one else is around. Some people, though, make a friend of Dread. For them, he’s family, and his gifts to them are legion.

You’ll never see Dread clearly. That’s the point. His dominion is the unknown factor at the edge of what seems certain otherwise. At times, he’ll crouch on your shoulders when you’re trying to get things done, or loom over your bed on a restless night. Dread is an imp. Dread is a stranger.

Dread looks just enough like one of Those People to get you fired up about them, yet he can look like you as well. He’s the fiend whose face is everyone’s. Dread knows no ethnicity or class because terror haunts us all.

Some folks view Joe Dread as part of Big Owl’s brood – a servant, perhaps, or a human manifestation of the fear-god himself. That might be true, but there’s no way to be sure. These days, Dread is everywhere: screaming at you on the internet, lurking behind your best friend’s grin, knocking on your door and the then disappearing before you answer, smashing your car window just for fun so you can wonder what he took or fear that someone might be inside the car, waiting…

As a totem entity, Joe Dread gifts his chosen with Intimidation, Stealth, and Torture. He knows how to hurt folks and likes to share his secrets. For Joe, the threat of pain is sweeter than pain itself; thus, the favors he confers focus more upon what might happen than on violent acts of certainty. He’s not about beating someone to a pulp, but about getting them to fear what being beaten to a pulp feels like. Dread’s chosen people are similarly frightening, not because they use brutal force but because the potential for force always seems to hover around them. Inflicting such fears really is a kind of science, so Joe’s an exception to the rule that Technocrats cannot bond with totem spirits. His kinsmen among the Black Suit and PsychOp ranks don’t view him as an ephemeral entity, though; to them, he’s just a guy (regardless of gender) like them, who happens to be extremely good at his job.

Despite his colloquial name, Dread isn’t bound by gender. A man who fears women would meet Jo Dread instead. She sneers at him, tears him down, leaves a blank space of rejection in the center of his world or else tells that world that he’s really no one at all. Names are just conveniences we attach to things we wish to classify, and Dread reminds us we have no control. Even those who Dread befriends realize that life is full of terrors and their lives are no exception.

Manifestations: Loud noises, sudden shouts, feelings of anxiety, shadowy figures, whispered threats, posts and comments on the internet, sudden acts of random violence. Associations: Terror, anxiety, suspense, phobias. Brood: Elementals of cold wind, “bad luck” or fearsome animal spirits (spiders, black cats, crows, owls, snakes, and so forth), people who use fear to their advantage. Abilities: Intimidation, Stealth, Torture. Bans: Those who embrace Dread cannot comfort other people or ease their fears unless they do so as a tactic to scare that person even worse afterward.

Baron Samedi, the Cemetery Lord

Everybody dies. Even gods, it is has been said, must die eventually. And when we die, it is the Baron – Baron La Croix, Ghede, the Cemetery Lord – who will greet us on the other side. Tipping his top hat, puffing his cigar, laughing at mortality’s little joke on us, Samedi embodies life as well as death, and can bestow either one with a snap of his fingertips.

Wrongly viewed by outsiders as a demonic figure, the Baron represents balance, not cruelty. Amidst the horrors of slavery and poverty, his presence seems oddly comforting. All things end, the Baron reminds us. Even suffering. Especially suffering. This doesn’t mean he’s not above poking fun at humanity, of course. Among Loa and devotees alike, he’s infamous for crude jests and sexual humor. You might as well laugh at it all, La Baron says. The alternative is misery… and who wants to go through life like that?

A large man dressed in a mockery of the white man’s fashions, Baron Samedi heads the Guédé Loa family: a clan of entities whose provinces are death and fertility. His wife, Grandma Brigitte, appears as a blazing skeleton-woman who guards the crossroads and cemeteries of the nighttime American South. Le Baron has a thing for crossroads too – a territory he shares with Papa Legba… usually over a bottle of good rum and a lot of filthy jokes at humanity’s expense. Manifesting most often with his signature top hat, tailed coat, and a face either painted with skull-like make-up or replaced by an actual skull, Samedi speaks in a high, often loud, nasal voice, swears continually, and smokes up a storm. He often wears dark glasses, with plugs up his nose like any well-dressed corpse should have. His devotees, when ridden by La Baron and his kin, smear themselves with crushed hot peppers and raw rum, taxing the limits of the flesh because what’s most important is the state beyond this mortal shell.

Straddling life and death like an enthusiastic lover, Gedhe always speaks the truth. Because he transcends mortal limitations, he ignores the bounds of propriety, too. The head of his cane has been carved into the shape of a cock, and he loves to wave it around. Samedi is, after all, a deeply sexual Loa, too. Some folk call upon him when they want to get laid in non-fatal fashion, and his devotees have a reputation for being frighteningly seductive yet downright crude. Samedi loves to party, but he’s always watching the clock… not his, but yours. A trickster godhead, he’s got the blunt honesty of the grave. Sex and death are his dominion, and he enjoys indulging both.

Thanks to his province over death, Samedi tends to attract necromancers to his path. These folks often wind up wishing they’d knocked on someone else’s door. Although he often plays the fool, La Baron does not suffer fools at all, most especially not if they’re white folks who think they understand voodoo. In addition to the frenzied dance called the banda, Papa Gedhe loves to mess with people’s minds. He can read minds, too, so it’s a bad idea to try and fool La Baron. Coffins, poisons, graveyards, and near- or actual death are signatures of his rites, and would-be devotees need the courage to face both the grave and what lies beyond it if they wish to beg Samedi’s favors. Offerings of rum, cigars, black coffee, roasted peanuts, and bread (baked black if you can manage that) attract La Baron’s attention, but you’d best be ready to meet Death face-to-face if you wish to work with Samedi. Though often associated in popular media with zombis, Samedi actually prefers to keep dead people dead. Behind his rough humor and fearsome façade, Baron Samedi hides a secret compassion for the poor souls walking this hard earth. Demise, he knows, is not a torment but the blessed relief from life itself.

Manifestations: Skulls and skull-faced men, gravediggers, skeletons… very profane skeletons. Associations: Crossroads, death, sexuality, graves, top hats, phalluses, black or purple clothing, cemetery dirt. Brood: Ravens, black dogs or roosters, gravedigger spirits, Southern American Goths, and the Guédé Loa as a whole. Abilities: Intimidation, Medicine, Occult. Bans: Don’t lie. Seriously, don’t.

[musicoccurred]

Pearl Jam -The Home Shows

Who: Pearl Jam Where: The Home Shows, Seattle, WA. When: August 8, 10 2018

I've said this before and it remains true. A Pearl Jam concert is much more than just a show. It's a celebration. A celebration of music, of a long relationship and of course, life. Very few places do I feel absolutely at home but a Pearl Jam show is one of them. Certainly we're all different people but for 3 hours we're one. These Seattle shows reminded me of a pilgrimage, I'm sure there were lots of Seattle folks there but most of the people I chatted with were from other places. For me it was a bucket-list item, to see Pearl Jam in their home city, a city that gave us so much music and so many iconic bands.

These concerts, "The Home Shows," given that name because the tour takes place mainly in MLB stadiums, had a similar feel to PJ20 the 20th anniversary shows in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin in 2011. No, there weren't multiple bands on the bill, but there were multiple activities and certainly a festive vibe. The Seattle Museum of Pop Culture, aka MoPop, had an exhibit dedicated to Pearl Jam opening on the Saturday after the shows but 10c (Ten Club, Pearl Jam's fanclub) members could gain access on Thursday during the day off between shows. London Bridge Studios where Ten was recorded also had Pearl Jam specific tours and legendary concert photographer Danny Clinch had a pop up shop with photos available for autograph and purchase. Did I mention it all took place in Seattle? Not only a great city but a city full of Pearl Jam history, we're talking The Off Ramp, Moore Theater, Benaroya Hall, Showbox, Easy Street Records, the list goes on!

Wednesday, Night 1

It has become popular again for bands to have artists make posters for concerts, particularly individual posters for each show. Pearl Jam is one of the few that's always done this. It is an expensive habit and the posters are treated as currency among 10c members. For these shows there were 5 unique posters all by artists Pearl Jam has used extensively in the past. A point of contention here, at their larger shows, the band has started setting up tents to sell merch throughout the day and even on days before and after the shows. Because they are open to the public, it's safe to say there are people there buying and going straight to eBay. The lines took many hours to navigate, there has to be a better way. How about when a 10c member buys a ticket through the band's website we get a code unique to us that allows us to purchase merch online and have it shipped to our homes? Place whatever quantity limits you want, something needs to change. A highlight of waiting around in the sun all day, I met a cool young man that had traveled from Tokyo to attend his first Pearl Jam show. There were people coming to Seattle from all over the world, this guy was in for a night he won't soon forget.

Several years ago Pearl Jam shows began lasting +- 3 hours. They always played a lot of songs but when this happened they finally shed the opening act. No complaints here. At 8:30 straight up the band took the stage to a loop of "Aye Davanita" from Vitalogy and ease into "Long Road." Now PJ's MO is that they play a quiet track or two then something noisy. Not on this night, Eddie wanted it to be an intimate gathering so "Long Road" led to "Release" followed by "Low Light" and crowd favorite, the singalong "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town." Genius. How do you transition from slow and quiet into something noisy? "Corduroy" that's how. Even though it's a song that PJ play pretty much every show it remains a favorite for me. Its long intro whips the crowd into a frenzy that continued with "Go,"  "Do the Evolution" and the Ramones-esque "Mind Your Manners." Each setlist is crafted by Ed with input from the band to fit the venue, audience and history of the band/city. Probably the most notable moment of the show was when Eddie broke down the meaning of "Evenflow." "Evenflow" is a concert staple, performed pretty much every time they play. In the 90s it was the song people liked when they didn't like PJ. Fast drums and guitars, weird lyrics just a fun rock song. But on this night, after the band had worked hard with politicians and local businesses to raise money and awareness for Seattle's horrible homeless problems Ed opened up a bit. When the band had just formed they spent a lot of time in the Belltown/Pioneer Square areas of Seattle. They befriended another Eddie, this one a homeless African-American Vietnam Veteran with mental health problems. He was known for his wild hair and wearing a tarp like a poncho. When he was mentally present he would tell them about Vietnam and his struggles with returning to civilian life. Other times, he simply wasn't there mentally. His visits greatly affected the band and when they came back from a tour they couldn't find him. Searching all over Seattle they finally found him sleeping on concrete under a viaduct. Returning from a later tour they again couldn't find him and discovered he had passed away. Suddenly "Evenflow" makes perfect sense, Ed held on to that story for 28 years. Other highlights, Ed performed a solo rendition of Jack White's "We're Going to be Friends" in honor of teachers everywhere. During the performance, his daughters danced with their favorite teachers (clad in Mariners jerseys with Vedder on the back) behind him. During the encore Brandi Carlile joined the band for "Again Tonight" a song PJ had covered for a benefit album. I love when other musicians join Pearl Jam on stage and look out at the giant crowd with wide eyes, Brandi ever the badass, threw her head back and screamed into the Seattle sky. They closed the show with "Rockin' in the Free World" and my least favorite live song, "Yellow Ledbetter" the show clocked in at 33 songs over 3 hours.

Thursday, Day Off

I snoozed on the London Bridge Studios tickets so that was out. I was looking forward to roaming around the city and attending the Pearl Jam exhibit at MoPop. Situated near the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project, MoPop is covered in tourists. Lucky for us this was a 10c event only. Jeff Ament is the de facto historian of the band keeping massive amounts of memorabilia in a warehouse. This band kept everything. I mean EVERYTHING. They have the cassettes that Stone/Jeff and Ed mailed back and forth to begin their relationship. Seeing these in person was powerful. Pearl Jam have provided the soundtrack to my life and quite literally if those tapes didn't exist I wouldn't have been standing there all those years later. Favorite moments: seeing the typed and written lyrics and loads of Ed's notebooks, the incredible statue of Andy Wood that Jeff commissioned (more on that here) as well as posters from every show. If you're in Seattle I highly recommend seeing this exhibit.

Friday, Night 2

Again starting at 8:30 PJ opens with three slow burners, "Oceans," "Footsteps" and "Nothingman" before blasting off with "Why Go" and "Brain of J." This was going to be awesome. I love the 2nd PJ shows, all of my needs are met by the first night. Nervousness is gone, just relax and enjoy the show. This show really focused on older material, only two tracks were post 2000. The band were much looser as was the crowd. The singalongs were louder and sharper, I refrained, choosing instead to just absorb the love and energy flying around the stadium. During "I Won't Back Down," a solo tribute to the great Tom Petty, Eddie asked the crowd to turn on their cell phone flashlights so Tom could see. The result was mesmerizing. The band also honored Chris Cornell by performing "Missing," a very rare deep cut. Speaking of Cornell, Kim Thayil joined the band for "Kick Out the Jams" and later joined Steve Turner and Mark Arm of Mudhoney (and Green River!) for "Search and Destroy" and "Sonic Reducer." Favorite moments: the aforementioned songs plus Ed hosing up the intro to "Rearviewmirror" to the point the band had to stop. Ed broke into "Fernando" by Abba saying that's what he was hearing. What can I say, the guy is hilarious. Other notable moments, Mike's solo on "Evenflow" was one of the best I can remember. What a beautiful night. 36 amazing songs over 3.5 hours in the glorious Seattle night.

Setlist Night 1:

Long Road Release Low Light Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town Corduroy Go Do the Evolution Mind Your Manners Throw Your Hatred Down (Neil Young cover) Lightning Bolt Given to Fly All Those Yesterdays Even Flow Help! (The Beatles cover) (snippet) Help Help Black Setting Forth Play Video I Am a Patriot (Little Steven cover) Porch Encore: We're Going to Be Friends (The White Stripes cover) (live debut by PJ) Nothing as It Seems Let Me Sleep Breath Again Today (with Brandi Carlile) State of Love and Trust Rearviewmirror Encore 2: Wasted Reprise Better Man (with “Save It for Later” tag) Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd cover) Alive I've Got a Feeling (The Beatles cover) Rockin' in the Free World (Neil Young cover) Yellow Ledbetter

Setlist Night 2:

Oceans Footsteps Nothingman Why Go Brain of J. Interstellar Overdrive (Pink Floyd cover) Corduroy Rats In Hiding Whipping Even Flow Missing (Chris Cornell cover) (live debut by PJ) Daughter (with "W.M.A" and "It's Ok" tags) Immortality I'm Open Unthought Known Can't Deny Me Do the Evolution Lukin Porch Encore: I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty cover) (EV solo) Thin Air Better Man (with "Save It for Later" by English Beat tag) All or None Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone cover) Kick Out the Jams (MC5 cover) (with Kim Thayil) Spin the Black Circle Play Video Rearviewmirror (with "Fernando" (ABBA)… more ) Crazy Mary (Victoria Williams cover) Jeremy Leash Search and Destroy (Iggy and The Stooges cover) (With Kim Thayil, Steve Turner, and Mark Arm) Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover) (With Kim Thayil, Steve Turner, and Mark Arm) Alive Baba O'Riley (The Who cover) Yellow Ledbetter

-JS

[writingbarnes]

Sea Change • Bucky Barnes x Reader • 01

Summary : There were things she expected to happen in her life. Getting fired from her job after punching a perverted colleague in the neck was one of them. But getting kicked out of her apartment because she couldn’t pay her share of the rent for the month (and because her roommate’s boyfriend was moving in) apparently was not something she thought she would experience. Good thing Clint Barton knew someone who was looking for a roommate.

Character : Bucky Barnes X OC ( Reader )   |  Warning : Cursing  |  Words : 2K-ish

Author’s Note : The fluff/crack mythological AU you never asked but i wrote anyway. I hope you like it. Tell me what you think! Thank you @pleasecallmecaptain for proofreading this lol

• 01 • 02 •

Clint Barton was one of the friendliest beings Bucky has ever seen in his life, which was expected of someone with Artemis’ blood running through his veins. It was how he managed to have a permanent place in a diverse group of people who unironically called themselves the Avengers. Apparently a few years before he moved into the apartment, they somehow saved the apartment building from a fire after Loki played around with his potion and accidentally burned a very expensive and flammable rug. The landlord, Nick Fury, a dark man with a missing eye, made it a point for him not to experiment with ‘stupid-motherfucking-potions’ when Bucky signed his lease contract. And he wasn’t James Buchanan Barnes if he didn’t roll his eyes and mutter something sarcastic along the line how merpeople love fire. That earned him a deathly glare and Bucky wondered if Fury would set him on fire if it weren’t for Clint Barton walking in with three cups of black coffee, two of which he drank himself in a matter of minutes.

“Oh hey. Want some coffee?” He offered the last cup of coffee after dumping the empty cups in a trashcan near the stairs. “Hey, boss. Didn’t see you there with your murderous eye.”

“No, thank you. You look like you need it.” Clint Barton only shrugged and gulped down the coffee, unbothered by the scalding hot liquid.

“This is Clint Barton from 405. He lives with his girlfriend/wife, god knows what their relationship is.” Nick Fury grumbled. “Barton, this is James Barnes. He’s going to stay in lot 709. Try to get along.”

“She’s my person. A spider-person, but my person nevertheless.” Clint Barton corrected with a grin as they watched Nick Fury slammed the door of his place. “Come along, Barnes. I’ll introduce you to The Avengers.”

“The what?”  Bucky didn’t even bother to ask Clint why and trailed behind the blond-haired man while he explained about every tenant he was friends with.

“The Avengers? You’ve never heard of us? Not even from Steve and Sam? We saved this building from a fire two years ago. It was awesome, man. Loki, the little shit that lives on the seventh floor, accidentally set his apartment on fire. Tony Stark-that’s the filthy rich guy who lives in the penthouse-decided that we should help and gave us the name. I personally love it, but Nat thinks it’s stupid,” Clint paused to take a breath and unlocked the door to his place, “I think she secretly loves it.”

Bucky stopped in his tracks when something-someone tugged on his pants. A little boy, probably around three of four, with twinkling eyes and gummy smile, looked up at him in amazement.

“That’s our kid. Found him in a dumpster.” Bucky’s heart dropped at the sudden revelation before he saw Clint’s mischievous grin. “Nah, his aunt died and we adopted him. Peter, say hi to Barnes.” The little boy let out some nonsensical words, hands making a grabbing motion at him with a wide smile.

“Hey.” Bucky nodded awkwardly as he slowly picked up the kid. “Nice to meet you.”

“Sometimes his extra arms appear when he’s a little excited, just a little warning.” Clint grinned. “You know, little spiderling and all. Want some coffee?” Bucky furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Clint who was already running on three cups of black coffee, was too busy brewing a fresh cup to notice the weird look.

“… No, thank you.”

That was two years ago and Bucky now knows that Clint drank an inhuman amount of caffeine every day, talked too much, befriended everyone, including the stray dogs across the street, and he was disgustingly in love with Natasha and a fool for Peter.

“You’re drooling.” Bucky commented off-handedly as he settled himself next to Clint and grabbed the TV Remote from the table.

Clint shamelessly grinned at him. He never missed his aim and might be the best when it comes to archery but he was helpless when it comes to Natasha. Bucky was about to play the movie when Natasha called out his name from the kitchen.

“You’re looking for a roommate?” She asked him once she reemerged from the kitchen with Steve and Peter trailing behind her. Peter, who was now five and found his calling in imitating every single person, quickly mimicked Natasha’s stance and said the same sentence.

“Yeah. Why?”

“I thought you mermaids love to brood alone in your place.”

“Excuse me, I like being with other people.” Bucky defensively retorted.

Clint and Steve snorted. “Nick Fury went out of his place more than you do, Barnes.”

“Fuck you, Barton.”

“Fuck you, Barton! Fuck you, Barton!” Peter made an excited squeal as he repeated the words over and over again and ran back to the kitchen to find Sam.

“Language!”

.

Steve Rogers let out a loud sigh as he leaned back on the couch, eyes glaring at Bucky who just closed the door on the eight rejected roommate.

“What the fuck are you looking for in a roommate anyway? Flounder the fish? Sebastian the crab?” Steve grumbled, crossing another name on the list of potential roommate. He didn’t cancel his date with girlfriend Peggy to do this (Bucky might or might have not bribed him with pizzas). Bless Peggy for telling him to help Bucky with sorting out a new roommate, instead of going to the nice newly opened restaurant at the other end of the city.

That was seven hours ago and they were still struggling with finding the perfect roommate for his fussy friend. The pizzas were long gone, leaving them with empty grease-stained boxes next to the coffee table. They had interviewed at least eight applicants, with one getting kicked out the moment they appeared when they said something racist.

“Ha-ha. Very funny, Steve.” Bucky rolled his eyes. He was about to plop down on the couch when he heard the doorbell ring. “The next applicant won’t be here until later.” Bucky frowned.

“Maybe Peggy is here to pick me up from this hellhole.” Steve replied as he got up from the couch and made his way to the front door, ignoring Bucky’s incoherent profanities.

.

There were things [Y/N] expected to happen in her life. Getting fired from her job after punching a perverted colleague in the neck was one of them. But getting kicked out of her apartment because she couldn’t pay her share of the rent for the month (and because her roommate’s boyfriend was moving in) apparently was not something she thought she would experience.

“We were friends, Clint!” She cried into the phone, shoving her clothes into the gigantic suitcase. “I can’t believe her. She didn’t pay rent for a month too last year and I let her off!”

“Well, she’s a human. What do you expect, [Y/N]?” Clint told her.

“Well, my mom is a human but she’s not like this.” She angrily wiped the tears off her face and sat on the bed. “I can’t believe I’m unemployed and homeless. Clint, I don’t think I can survive a day outside. I have a child to feed.”

Clint snorted. “You have a fat cat that eats too much.” There was a pause before she heard him speak to the phone, “You can move to our building! My friend, Bucky, is looking for a roommate and I think you’d be the perfect roommate for him. He’s a nice guy and doesn’t talk much. You’ll love him and I bet he’ll be thrilled to have you as his roommate. Why don’t you bring your stuff over here and we’ll visit him together?”

“Are you sure? What if he says no, Clint?”

“He won’t. Do you want me and Nat to pick you up? We can even scare your ex-friend and her boyfriend for you.”

“Yes, please.” [Y/N] mumbled into the phone, hand reaching out to softly pet her cat.

.

It took her an hour to finish packing the rest of her clothes and stuff, another to put it inside Nat’s car, and a good thirty minutes to watch Natasha intimidate her ex-friend with her red eyes and extra limbs. The shrieking and crying that ensued afterwards was quite worth it. She was even smiling as she hauled her cat’s bag into the car. She would have to come back to get the rest of her stuff but after Natasha’s soft threats, she wouldn’t worry about her former roommate throwing away her belongings.

“We’ll bring this to our place. You should go to Bucky’s place and say hi.” Clint grinned. He patted the two large suitcases when the elevator door opened on seventh floor. He gave her a gentle push before she could say anything. Natasha was already gone to find an empty parking space and couldn’t stop Clint from doing whatever he wanted.

“I don’t know his room.”

“709. He’s pretty tall, pretty good looking.” [Y/N] sighed as she watched the elevator door closed on her.

.

Door 709 was located at the end of the hall to her left. She jumped a little when the door abruptly opened and someone walked out of the place with scowl on their face, ignoring her when they went past her. She took another deep breath and made her way closer to the door, nerves pricking at her skin when she heard faint arguing noises coming from inside the apartment. Maybe this was a bad idea, she thought as she raised her hand and pressed the doorbell. The bell made a weird buzzing sound, followed by what sounded like a string of profanities from someone before it opened, revealing a tall, blonde haired man, with face that made her want to cry. Pretty good looking, my ass, she thought as her eyes wandered to the man’s face. He looked like he was sculpted by the gods.

“Bucky?” [Y/N] hesitantly asked. She could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage when the man didn’t say anything. “Uhm, Clint said you’re looking for a roommate and he had texted you I’ll be coming over?”

At the mention of roommate, his eyes brightened up and a beautiful smile slowly appeared on his face. He opened the door wider, giving her a view of the cool-colored interiors. “Bucky is inside! Come in! What’s your name?”

“[Y/N]. My name is [Y/N].” She answered as she stepped inside the apartment. There was a turquoise colored entryway table on her right and a small whiteboard hanging on the off-white wall on her left. The apartment itself was nice and clean, with a similar floor plan as Natasha’s and Clint’s place. It was a little brighter than her friends’ home, with its blue interiors to accentuate the white walls and sand-colored carpet in the living room.

“Bucky is inside. He’ll be happy to know you’re here. No wonder he says no to all the other applicants.” Steve’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She dumbly nodded as she trailed behind him, eyes widely looking around the impressively decorated apartment. It took her a moment to process Steve’s words and she quickly stopped on her track, hands reaching out to grab Steve’s arm.

“Wait, you’re not Bucky?”

“No, I’m his best friend, Steve Rogers. This is Bucky.” Steve beamed, gesturing to a brooding guy on the couch. Bucky, as it turned out, was not as she expected to be. He looked the exact opposite of Steve, with dark, shoulder-length hair, stubbles, and frown that made him look a lot more intimidating. His gaze slowly made its way towards her, lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at her questioningly.

“Who is this?”

“This is [Y/N], your new roommate!” Steve grinned, patting [Y/N]’s back with a little force, causing her to stumble a little. She thought she saw Bucky’s lips tilted into a smile. “She said Clint texted you about her arrival.”

“No, he didn’t.” Bucky shook his head, taking his phone out of his pocket to check for new messages.

“But he said you’re on board with me being your roommate.” [Y/N] added, eyes darting between Steve and Bucky in panic.

“Uh… no?”

“Pardon my language, but what the fuck do you mean by ‘no’?” [Y/N] blurted out before she could stop herself.

Thoughts ?

Tagging some people : @pleasecallmecaptain @mangosoldier @wakandasoldier @tabi-toast @writing-soldiers @fvckingavengers @4theluvofall @meavie @montysmayhem @scarlettsoldier @marvelrevival @sebbys-girl @waitingfortherightpartner 

Let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

[stephicness]

Fantasy Daddy Simulator -- Final Fantasy XV x Dream Daddy Headcanons (Part 1)

Okay, I’m far too impatient to wait until this is all finished. SO HERE! Have the first part to the FFXV x Dream Daddy headcanons. c: It’s fun to write, that’s for sure, and it’s cool to think about the fun scenario of all these single dads. I hope you guys enjoy the day I go on our Fantasy Daddies though! (So weird to say that, not gonna lie...)

PREGAME NOTES

Let’s add about 15-20 years on these boys. Give them time for the children to grow older.

Let’s also say they live in that cul-de-sac area just like from Dream Daddy.

And the children are just me throwing dumb thoughts your way. Because yay for thinking up of headcanons (and child characters unmentioned!).

FANTASY DADDY SIMULATOR -- FFXV x Dream Daddy (Part 1)

Featuring: Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum, Ignis Scientia, and Gladiolus Amicitia

Noctis Lucis Caelum – Divorced, Father of Three Boys

Likes: Fishing, Sleeping In, Telling Stories About The Good Ol’Days Dislikes: Veggies, Cooking Heathy Things For His Kids, Not Being Able to Fish or Sleep

He was married to Lunafreya Nox Fleuret as part of an arranged marriage ordeal. But as time passed, they came to realize that they never really got the live they life they wanted to when they were immediately married at twenty-years old.

So they mutually divorced, yet they still remain very big and important figures in their kids lives, despite having a shared custody over them.

Noctis takes the kids for a month and then they alternate back and forth. But luckily for Noctis, Lunafreya just lives up the road, so they boys can really just pick where they want to go.

The boys ultimately decide that they’d rather live with their dad more than their mom. No offense to Lunafreya, really! They’re just, you know, more okay with Noctis being a chill dad than with Lunafreya being a proper lady mom.

Noctis is the kind of dad who will pretend to be asleep until noon on his days off, refusing to get up even when his little boys would jump on him and demand his attention.

Or demand food. Can’t they just make ramen like how Uncle Gladio taught them? Damn... Now he’d have to break out that emergency cookbook Ignis made him.

He likes to think his boys are good kids, but one would rather study for college and no social, one would rather socialize and not study for college, and the last one… Well, he wants to get into theatre.

The eldest son wants to follow after Noctis’s footsteps and own the family business as well. Just like how Noctis’s father did and his father did, etc.

Noctis tells a lot of stories about Regis to his kids, because he too misses his dad.

Besides the old nostalgic stories from when Noctis was a kid, he likes to take the boys out fishing. A lot.

The boys hate it, despite the middle son being a natural champ at it. So instead, they just sit on the boat, listening to Noctis talk about the story where he caught the Leige of the Lake for the fifteenth time. No way his dad caught that fish, but they’d like him have his moment.

And then, of course, the kids just get bored and jump into the water to go swimming instead, scaring all the fish away.

Noctis lets out a heavy sigh, but he takes off his chocobo cap and his vest before he jumps after them. He doesn’t have time to catch fish anymore because he has to catch his boys instead.

  Prompto Argentum – Donor Dad, Surrogate Father of One Boy

Likes: Photography, Hip Music, Chocobos Dislikes: Things That Cause Him to Panic, Bugs, High Places, His Creepy Neighbor

Well, he never got married exactly to have kids, and he never really banged a chick and knocked her up either. He was really good about being protected with how strict his foster dad was back then, and he… Well… Had some commitment issues with someone else usually on his mind.

But when he answered the door to a blond-haired, blue eyed, nearly identical version to himself looking boy standing at his door and shouting ‘Daddy!,’ Prompto screamed and slammed the door shut.

He then spent the next two hours calming down a crying little six year old with whatever he had around his bachelor’s pad. It ended up being Prompto’s collection of Choco-bonanza on DVD.

But with the boy distracted, he was able to check the boy’s back for something that would help him figure out why there was a six year old on his doorstep. Anything to explain why the hell there was a six year old on his doorstep.

It turns out, there was a note from a name he recognized: Aranea Highwind. A simple note that made the point very clear. “Look after our kid for a few days or I’ll fucking kill you.” The little lipstick mark in the corner was hardly anything comforting.

So it was up to Prompto to make sure that the little boy was taken care of, fed, was able to go outside and potty- Wait, that’s describing a dog. Prompto had no idea what the hell he was doing.

But the boy was relatively easy to manage, especially when Prompto decided to just take him to see Noctis and his kids. That is, until the Caelum boys decided to steal his chocobo doll and got him to cry for another two hours again.

But luckily, Prompto was able to bring his son over to Gladiolus’s. And since Gladiolus was the master at handling children, he easily gave Prompto all of the tips on making sure the little kiddo was alright. Thank god for the Gladdy Daddy! (He never thought he’d actually say that aloud.)

Despite Prompto having a hard time figuring it out at first, he really was a good dad and really grew to enjoy the kid. It made him wish he really was a dad.

And he only realized it more when he opened the door and saw Aranea standing there with Cindy, the little boy screaming. “Mommy! Mommy!” before dashing to his two mothers and kissing them both.

As it turns out, the sperm donation that Prompto made a few years back when he was strapped for cash was given to Aranea’s wife, Cindy. He was surprised that the two of them actually got married, thinking that it was only just them being good friends.

But after seeing just how attached their son was, Cindy and Aranea asked Prompto if he wanted to be apart of their son’s life more as his surrogate father. Prompto ended up holding back tears before he nodded and hugged all three of them.

Prompto ended up becoming a really important figure in his son’s life, sometimes having his son stay with him (after he child-proofed his place officially) and visiting his son on the holidays. He’s proud of his boy. Even prouder when his son took an interest in photography and wants to be a professional. Just like his dad.

  Ignis Scientia – Adoptive Father, Father of Two Girls

Likes: Volunteer Work, Cooking, Working, Sarcasm Dislikes: Cleaning Up Messes, When People Touch His Coffee, People That Bully His Daughters

For a man so devoted to his work as Noctis’s secretary, it’s a wonder why Ignis ever decided to have adopted anyone in the first place. He was married to his work, extremely concerned about the well-being of his living space and the like. Why kids?

Well, Ignis is a man who, despite often being busy with work, keeps himself busy with other things – especially volunteer work. He volunteers specifically at the homeless shelter to cook people a nice meal whenever he can drop by from his busy schedule.

And he just so happened to have met two young kids there as he was working, one eager to eat as much as they could because they loved Ignis’s cooking and the other just barely eating anything beyond a piece of bread. Curious about the girls, he asked the overseer about them.

It turns out, the two children were disowned by their parents after their son declared that he didn’t really feel like being a boy. His older sister followed him and they ran away from home together. They’ve been out on the streets ever since.

Ignis didn’t want to describe it as pity, but he knew what it was like to feel alone, especially having been adopted by his uncle when he was much younger. And to think they were disowned because one of them was just trying to discover who they wanted to be…

So Ignis befriended the two kids, gaining their trust slowly with food and conversation until they always asked whether or not Ignis would show up so they can hang out together. And as time passed, Ignis proposed the question: “Would you like me to adopt you both?”

The answer was almost instantaneous, and Ignis – to everyone’s surprise – because the father of two very beautiful girls. He tries his best to be supportive of his two daughters, especially as he’s helping one of them continue their transition. He loves them both dearly.

Usually if Ignis isn’t working, he’s usually cleaning up after his two typhoons for daughters. One is messy in terms of the sheer amount of clothing he spoiled her with and the other is messy in terms of food and plates being littered over their desk and couch area. It gives him something to do, but goodness…

Ignis’s dinner parties that he hosts for the neighbors are a real hoot too. He goes all out with it to make it fancy and his daughters usually are the ones to help him decorate the house to make it look nice. That is, until they try using his coffee cups for the guests. Hell no. They get the non-special cups.

His daughters usually get along with the neighbors, though the eldest daughter had some serious issues with the Caelum boys growing up. They would bully her and try to put gum in her hair for being a ‘nerd.’

Ironically enough, later in life, Ignis’s eldest eventually marries Noctis’s older son. Odd…

Meanwhile his youngest is doing well and has been recovering from her emotional trauma for before she and her sister were adopted by Ignis. She’s doing well and even started dating one of the Ghiranze boys. Dinners are awkward though as Ignis purposely sharpens his knives while talking to his daughter’s boyfriend.

His daughters are princesses, after all. If anyone tries to make his princesses cry, hell will break loose.

  Gladiolus Amicitia – Two(/Three)-Times Divorced, Father of Four Girls and Two Boys

Likes: Working Out, Teaching Literature, Playing With His Kids Dislikes: Divorces, Doing Paperwork/Grading, Arrogant Little Assholes

For a guy who’s the king of charm, he really has a hard time trying to stay in a proper marriage. It’s not because of him, remarkably. He just has some pretty rough choice in women.

The first one, where his eldest son and daughter were born, was when his wife flatout just decided to run off with her ex-boyfriend and leave the kids behind with him. The second was a mutual divorce as his wife decided that she needed to pursue her career, but she’d visit when she could. It’s rare that she does, so Gladiolus takes care of the twins he had with this wife.

There is a third time too, but technically they didn’t marry. Instead, he and his fiancé stayed fiances another set of twin girls. And then his fiancé broke-up with him and ended up wandering down a darker path he didn’t want his kids going through.

Yup. Gladiolus had some pretty bad taste in women. But that didn’t stop him from adoring his children.

Yeah, the family is a busy one, and it’s really rough for a single dad to take care of it all, but he’s had six kids to practice on. Four those kids being twins of some kid too, so he’s extremely skilled at juggling children.

Quite literally in one case. He felt awful about it, but middle twins still laugh about it and the small scar on his middle daughter’s forehead. Apparently it looks like a tonberry with a ninja sword.

You think he’d have crashed and burned by now, but Gladiolus is the dad of the year! At least, that’s what his kids like to declare. He just got lucky with his boss, Cor, really liking kids. So on the days where Gladiolus couldn’t get Iris to babysit, Cor would just casually just keep lecturing on his studies with twins in his arms.

In exchange for Gladiolus grading papers all day.

Compared to a lot of parents, Gladiolus tries his best to be a more lenient parent when it comes to these whole ‘changing generation’ type of things. He’s gotta keep with the times, after all, if he wants to keep with the kids.

But he still has a hard time sometimes coming to terms with the fact that his second eldest daughter is dating another girl. It was shocking to him, considering how she always had such macho boyfriends. But her dating a girl wasn’t exactly that surprising either.

What was surprising was noticing that Gladiolus’s daughter was dating Ravus’s daughter. Tall, scary, never smiling. Yup. Definitely Ravus’s kid.

But so long as his daughter was happy, he would be too. Besides, usually he would be the one giving death stares to his daughter’s boyfriends, but Ravus’s daughter was scary as hell. Damn…

Besides, he had to make sure that his two youngest daughters weren’t trying to stuff the dog in the drawers again. He’d rather not open up his underwear drawer and have to see Behemoth (the wiener dog) napping in there.

[lvckyclover]

Clover: Southside (III)

Andy’s closing again. He’s starting to think Marcus has something against him because this is the fourth time in so many days.

He’s having a hard time focusing, knowing that Bee’s out doing something dangerous. He doesn’t have her number and she doesn’t have his but that doesn’t stop him from checking his phone every few minutes. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for. A news story? Flashing lights?

“You okay?” Joe asks. He’s mopping in the front, working towards the back. Andy finishes counting their earnings for the day and checks it against the register. Right on the money.

“Yeah,” Andy says. “Just…I don’t know. Tired, I guess.”

“You want to grab a beer after this?” Joe asks. “Nathan and I were gonna get a bite to eat around the corner, maybe have a few. You’re welcome to join us.”

Andy pulls a tight smile—his work smile, he knows. He wonders if Joe can tell the difference.

“Thanks for the offer,” Andy says, “but I’ve gotta get home. You know.”

Joe nods and continues to swab the floor. The back and forth of the mop against the floor, the soap and the suds and the water, fills Andy’s ears.

He hopes—prays—that Bee’s okay.

The walk home isn’t too long, and it’s still mostly daylight. Traffic’s pretty bad, and Andy’s glad he’s not saddled with a car.

A girl on a red bicycle sails past, nearly clipping him. Her hair’s loose, and Andy thinks for just a moment that she’s pretty. She’s gone before he can think any more about it.

Andy likes to watch people on his walks to and from work. He’d do it when heading to the store, too, but he rides his own bicycle then because it’s farther away than the café, and it’s too hard watching traffic and people at the same time. As a pedestrian, though, he’s got more time. He can make up stories for the people he passes, the people he sees every day. There’s the guy that has the kebab stand set up on the corner two blocks down; invariably, he’s hawking his wares around this time. There’s the homeless individual who Andy always gives some of his tip money to if he spots them. There’s the woman who runs the walk-in clinic who likes to have an evening smoke. Sometimes, she has odd jobs for Andy to do; more often, she just stares past him at something invisible, eyes unblinking.

Andy pulls his jacket tight around his middle and quickens his pace. It’s getting chilly now. He reaches for his keys as he climbs the stairs to his building and quickly enters.

Four flights of stairs down the hall and around the corner, and Andy’s safely back in his apartment. It smells like lemon and chlorine. He almost doesn’t want to open the windows to get a breeze.

He discards his uniform shortly thereafter. His apron with his name tag stays at work, but the rest of the uniform—white starched shirt, green bowtie, black slacks—he has to maintain. He glances at his closet as he slips on something more comfortable. He doesn’t have any other white shirts pressed; he’ll need to do laundry.

Andy gathers together his dirty clothes and the laundry detergent. No time like the present, he supposes.

There are four Humans—two unconscious, two conscious; three Male, one Female. None are in the databanks.

File - Save - Identity - Face

Name?

Designation: ??

Two question marks. One for name and one for surname. Middle name? Unimportant at the present moment.

“Shit,” Female says. Her pupils shrink—fear response? Shock, that is the term.

“That’s…” Male says. Female takes his hand to assist in pulling him off of the ground. Male stands poorly—lack of balance.

“Are you all right?” Male asks. “You…”

Definition - “all right”; coupled-search: “systems check”;

“Yes,” Someone says. Someone—identity unknown—neither Male nor Female—

“Hey, stay with us,” Male says. He reaches forward, towards…

A groan—neither Male nor Female. Location = proximal, sensors indicate a distance approaching 0.0001 meters away…

“Hey,” Male says again. Sensory input overload—sensory input—

A scream. Not Human.

Robot.

There are six washers and dryers down in the basement, all in relatively pristine condition. Andy’s only ever seen one other person down there, the kindly old lady who cleans the halls and stairwells. She introduced herself once, but Andy missed her name. He does remember that she has a cat, though, a fat ginger thing that would rather befriend mice than eat them.

Andy heads to the fourth washer down from the end and tosses in his clothes. Detergent goes in next, and he sets the cycle. Cold water wash, gentle. He’s getting paid, sure, but if the washing machine ruins his clothes, he’s going to be SOL for the foreseeable future.

He’s halfway up the stairs when he hears the voices.

“Scrawny guy, works at the Lucky Clover,” a man’s saying. Andy freezes on the stairwell. “You seen him around here?”

“Why?” a woman’s voice shoots back. The maintenance woman with the cat.

“We just want to talk,” the man says.

“We’re friends of his,” a second man chimes in. “Just wanted to see how he was doing.”

“If he’s your friend, you can call him,” the maintenance woman says. “I’ve got work to do.”

“Hey,” the second man says, voice sharp sharply. Andy doesn’t hear anything for a moment.

“Thank you for your time,” the first man says. “We’ll be seeing you.”

“You come back here and I’m calling the police,” the maintenance woman shouts. Her voice is hoarse, and Andy feels himself shaking. “You get out!”

As soon as he’s sure he can’t hear either of the two men anymore, Andy’s bolting up the stairs. His body’s screaming for him to wait, wait, wait, but he can’t. His pulse is in his ears beating out of tune with the low, fading thrum of the washer, and then he’s got a hand on the door knob to the lobby.

The maintenance woman is leaning against the wall, crying. Her neck is red and she’s shaking.

“Hey there, Andy,” she says, voice hoarse and broken.

Bee’s got a safe house not too far from Southside, though lugging the crate with the robot still in it’s playing hell on Dragon’s limbs. He didn’t come prepared for this sort of heavy lifting, but he wasn’t about to leave the robot behind. He can’t imagine the kind of people who’d put a person, even a mechanical one, into a box and—what? Transport…them? The robot seemed sensitive, possibly recently reformatted.

The thought has Dragon’s blood boiling.

Bee walks ahead of him, hands shoved into her pockets, head down. She hasn’t said a single word since they lost sight of the docks and it’s starting to piss him off.

“Hey,” he calls to her, “where the hell are we going?”

Bee doesn’t answer. Dragon curses.

“For fuck’s sake,” he says, “at least say something.”

Bee doesn’t speak. Only the knowledge that there’s a person inside the crate, someone who needs help and needs to be in a safe place in order to get that help, keeps him in check.

“I can’t carry this thing for fucking ever,” Dragon says. “If you don’t tell me where we’re going…” He doesn’t have a threat, not really, but it stops Bee.

She turns, and he watches her clench and unclench her fists. She makes an aborted attempt at a sign, and Dragon wants to scream.

“We’re in the clear,” he says. “Can’t you talk, you know, like a normal person?”

In retrospect, he ought to have seen the slap coming.

Dragon’s cheek stings, but he’s not carrying anything anymore, and he guesses that evens out. Bee’s safe house is an apartment, sparely furnished but still comfortable in a way that puts Dragon on edge. It’s almost as if, he thinks, someone lives here, which is ridiculous. No one lives in a safe house except in cases of emergencies. That’s the point.

Bee still hasn’t spoken. Dragon doesn’t know if it’s willful or something else at this point, but he saw the tears in her eyes on the street and immediately felt like an idiot. He’s not going to press the matter, not now.

“So,” he says, looking at his hands. He’s sitting on a low couch, one that’s a little bit too firm for his tastes and covered in something gross—suede, he thinks. Who uses suede anymore? The crate with the robot is sitting by the door, still and silent.

Two knocks, and Dragon’s looking around, wary. He catches sight of Bee waving slightly. She holds up a white board. Coffee or tea? is written in lopsided blue.

“Coffee,” Dragon says. “Please.”

Bee nods and turns back to her work in the kitchen.

Dragon stands and immediately regrets it. His leg burns, and so does his arm. He glances at Bee. She’s not looking. He could do it, but…no. Better that they don’t know too much about each other.

In the kitchen, Bee has a coffee maker—a nice one, Dragon sees, one of those Nuria Capresso machines. He hasn’t seen one since he was in Rome on a job, and it was the best damn cup of coffee he’d ever had. Beside it is an electric kettle, plain and simple, except—there’s a sticky note attached to it.

Be nice to me! There’s a little heart drawn next to the exclamation point. If Dragon’s not mistaken, there’s a smiley face there, too.

The coffee’s finished before the water in the kettle has come to a boil, and Bee ventures out to where Dragon sits with a cup.

“Thank you,” Dragon says. “I’m sorry.”

Bee tilts her head.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” he says. “I’m sorry.”

Bee shrugs. She’s got that whiteboard in her lap, and she erases what she’s written with her sleeve. She writes, I know someone who can help the bot.

Dragon sits up straight.

“Who?” he asks.

Bee glances at the door, worrying her lip. She sets the whiteboard down and starts moving her hands. It’s jerky and panicked and Dragon puts up his hands.

“It’s okay,” he says. “You can write it. It’s fine.”

He doesn’t actually know if it’s fine—he has no idea what in seven blue hells is going on, actually—but he figures that Bee’s supposed to be his partner until the boss says otherwise, so he might as well roll with it.

Bee picks up the whiteboard and scribbles quickly.

[xxxavo]

Peter Parker x Reader Pt1 (Discontinued)

Date : Tuesday 4th April 2017

Requests : Open

Imagine / Series? : Series

Title : My hero

Warnings : Mentions of being homeless

The smell of smoke and ash dimmed your senses, as your eyes fixated on the chaotic sight that lay scattered in front of you. A house, that once stood proudly in the middle of a warm and friendly neighborhood, had now been humiliated with the sinful flames of fire. Your parents had entrusted you with taking care of your home while they were away on a business trip in Germany, so now, not only did you have no place to stay, but you were filled with nothing but utter remorse. It’s not like it was your fault. You had stayed late at your friend Rachel’s in order to catch up on Linear equations, a subject you recently had missed out on after being sick last week. Closing your eyes, you thought to yourself, if you had just arrived moments earlier, maybe you would have been able to prevent it. Clenching your fists lightly at your side, you let loose a deep, shaky breath. Trying to steady the few nerves you had left.

You wouldn’t be able to stay at Rachel’s house. You sullenly though to yourself. Rachel had enough problems of her own, her family were in enough debt as it was. They didn’t need you, acting as a tiny paracite and eating away at any extra money they did happen to have. Wrapping your coat tighter around yourself, watching as the police and fire fighters rushed by. Your hand slid into your pocket to call the one person who you could trust to help out in such a dire situations. It was like he was your own little super hero. His name, Peter Parker. Funnily enough the two of you had met about two years ago and didn’t start off aas the best of friends. In fact, you use to bully him. You cringed to yourself as a sudden memory of all the pain you caused him cycled through your head. The worst was when your boyfriend at the time had practically beaten him, and all you did was stand and watch. In all honesty, you knew he had taken it to far, but you were frozen in place, knowing if you got involved and the teachers found out. You would be in just as much trouble as your boyfriend. Your relationship with Peter changed at the end of last year, when a sudden pressure to pass your exams had over whelmed you. He found you crying on your own after school hours alone in your shared math class, struggling over work. And even after all the pain you caused him, he just sat down and helped you.

Ring Ring, Ring Ring, Ring Ring.

You swear your heart sank as you heard the start of the sentence. “I’m sorry, but the person you called is unavailable – “

Hands tightening around your phone it took all your effort not to throw it. Instead, you simply shoved it into your pocket and thanked the services for lending you a hand in your hour of need. After they asked you a few questions, they allowed you to go on your way. Anxiety fiddled with your stomach causing butterflies to spur. You truly were terrified. If Peter wasn’t going to pick up, then you would have to go to his house instead. Terrifying thoughts over whelmed your mind. What if they turned you away? You were close to both aunt may and Peter himself. Though they might have their own problems to deal with or they might only pretend to like you, after all, you had hurt Peter before in the past.

The walk to Parkers house wasn’t far. In fact he only lived a few blocks down from you in a small street. It was no secret your family was more upper class then most in your school, however after befriending Peter and other people such as MJ you showed off a lot less then you use to, though, sometimes you couldn’t help but flaunt off your wealth. It was just one of those things you were so use to when growing up. You always had the latest technology and clothes so it felt like a second nature. Fortunately, you had got better and your big head had grown smaller over time. Your feet grudgingly dragged up his drive way, making you realize just how tired you were. Stopping at the front door which was coated with brown paint, slightly scratched at the edges. You knocked.

Waiting felt like an eternity. When in reality. It was just a few moments or so. The door opened, and she was met with a rather beautiful middle aged women with fair brown hair, and worry written all over her face. “(Name insert) Whats wrong? What happened?” Aunt may asked hurriedly as she practically yanked you inside by the arm and sat you down as she waltzed quickly towards the kitchen and flicked on the kettle to make a cup of tea, “You look terrible.” A bitter laugh left your lips. That much was true. “Yeh I’m sorry about intruding May. It’s just…” May’s eyes darted towards you. Her motherly senses tingling. Your throat soon gathered a clump, and it was evident the words you were trying to get out just couldn’t find their way. Usually when you were round Peters house the atmosphere would make you feel relaxed. However, today it just wasn’t doing the trick.

Closing your eyes, you could feel salty tears threatening to spill. And if It wasn’t for the warm presence of Aunt May settling beside you. You were sure you would have broke down on the spot. May used her soft finger tips to swipe some hair from your face, and with a reassuring smile, she urged you to continue. “My house. It, It burnt down.” You choked. You got ready to swallow your pride and ask if you would be able to stay, though May had already decided for herself you would be a new member of the Parker household.

“You know where everything is right? Go upstairs, have a bath, and put some of Peters Pajamas on.” In that moment, you couldn’t have been happier. Aunt May and Peter were a second family to you, and in all honesty, sometimes you felt more welcomed here then back at your house. “Thank you May.”

In the eccentric atmosphere of Stark tower. Peter wondered around the corridors, Tony happily boating about everything which they passed. Peter was happy to walk in toe with the play boy celebrity and listen to his arrogant compliments aimed at himself. After all, it wasn’t everyday you were offered a place as an avenger and then invited to be trained by Tony Stark himself. “So Peter. What do you think?” He asked, using rather extravagant arm gestures to motion to his beloved palace. “I mean I know its not as nice as your place.” Tony chuckled sarcastically making Peter roll his eyes in amusement at the rich mans antics. “But its got its perks right?”

“I really do like the offer Mr Stark. I’m just worried about my Aunt May.” Peter quickly continued before the male before him could bring up how hot he believes his aunt to be. “I think I’ll take it though. I mean it is the school holidays so whats the worst that could happen right?” After saying such a thing, his phone buzzed. And after reading the message his eyes widened and he gulped in utter panic. His words were laced with bad luck.

Aunt May:

Peter come home quick. (Name insert) had a house fire.

Part 2