#happy halloween folks! have fun and relax

[mostwantedpotato404]

Something cozy and comforting for Halloween, they're almost ready. Are you? :3

#baldurs gate 3 #baldurs gate fanart #gale of waterdeep #wyll ravengard #shadowheart #lae'zel #karlach #astarion #halsin #i went thour all grief stages while drawing it #and lost all braincells #happy halloween folks! have fun and relax #we all deserve it

[m0dernwh0refare]

Roofies and Camo

!!TW!! Heavy references to drugging and drink tampering

Ch. 1: A night at the club to clear the head

Party season runs rampant this time of year. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, it seems like everyone is using the impending festivities and reunions as an excuse to drink until they can't remember their own names. And you join them. It's not like you had anything better to do, considering you were back in town for two reasons and two reasons only. You came to visit your folks and reminisce on old memories with your fiancee. Except your folks took a surprise trip out of town and won't be back for three days, and your high school sweetheart fiancee decided to toss out the marriage for a waitress with fewer years and fewer grey hairs than you. So, here you are, newly single after a five-year-long relationship, falling back into the chaotic embrace of the downtown nightlife scene. 

Flashing, pulsing LED lights, blaring remixes of the top 100 hits and club classics, and outfits far too revealing to see the light of day, the atmosphere makes the unwavering waterfall of tears stop, even if it's just for a night. You find yourself amongst the hoards of inebriated dancers in a club you don't remember the name of. All you remember is it was something edgy like Vortex or Blacklight, and there was a thirty-five-dollar cover fee that was almost enough to turn you right back around and push you into the comfort of a cheap motel and an even cheaper tub of ice cream. But getting over him is worth the thirty-five dollar entry. Maybe even the thirteen-dollar drinks. Ok, maybe not that far, but you're still here.

Bodies push up against one another. Perfect strangers sloppily lock lips as if it's the last time they'll ever get the chance. You have to practically swim through the writhing crowd to make it back to the bar for your third, maybe fifth, or sixth drink. The number doesn't really matter as long as the tears stay gone and you can't feel a thing. Is it unhealthy? Yes. Does it mean you're going to go home and do something better like yoga or journaling? Hell no.

Another fourteen dollars and a vodka soda later, the world blurs together when you turn your head too quickly, and nothing matters. You're loose, you're relaxed, you're having fun, and you're happy. Everything is ok. 

It's better, you decide after an internal debate, to hang back by the bar for now. The drinks have a strong hold on you and you're not sure you can trust your legs to fully support you and function enough to walk at the moment. Not quite drunk, you can see drunk from here and it's maybe half a drink off. Yeah, walking is a bad idea right now. 

Truth be told, it's equally as entertaining to people-watch as it is to be out on the dancefloor. Seeing women laughing with their friends, seeing men cheer each other on as they race to see who can take down the most shots, seeing folks who know nothing about each other exchange numbers along with flirty winks and drunken promises. Dancing or holding yourself up on the bar, it's better than a room at a questionably cleaned Great Western and a tub of Great Value chocolate ice cream. People having fun and enjoying life. It's what you need. A reminder that things get better and life is fun.

You're not watching for more than five or ten minutes when a man, who you hadn't even noticed had taken up the spot next to you at the bar, taps you on the shoulder, and slides you a drink. He has to lean close to your ear and speak rather loudly to be heard over the blaring music.

"Out by yourself?" The man asks. He's maybe 5' 9", maybe 5' 10" (175-177cm by the rest of the world's measure), wearing an unremarkable outfit of sneakers, jeans, and a dark-colored hoodie (the true color undiscernible because of the club's colored, moving and flashing LEDs and the alcohol doesn't help). His hair is cut tight, sealing his overall uninteresting appearance which could belong to just about any man you'd see out on the streets.

"Yeah... that obvious?" You say back to him, the words not coming out the clearest. The drink he slid you is something dark. "What's this?"

"Rum and Coke. I didn't know what you'd had before so I figured it was a safe enough bet. You seem like you need it, no offense." While he was otherwise uninteresting, he was giving you a free drink and he wasn't the worst person in the world to talk to, so you smile a bit and take the drink. Between the other five or six (or was it seven?) drinks and the loose, party atmosphere, your inhibitions are low and your trust is higher. You sip from the drink as you continue the exchange.

"Fianceé cheated. My options were clubs and bars or crying over some telenovela or romcom. So..." You gesture to the happy-go-lucky hedonists occupying the club. The drink he gave you is heavy on the rum, so much so that you can hardly tell there's coke in there at all. Free is free, you remind yourself as you take another drink. 

"Yikes. Well, here's to rebounding then." He taps his drink against yours and drinks it down in one go. You do the same. You two continue to converse over the club remixes and others' equally loud conversations. The seventh (eight...?) drink hits hard. Very hard. The world feels like it's spinning, and the flashing lights and loud music are fueling a budding headache. You're having even more trouble staying upright, your muscles seemingly refusing to hold any weight. "You alright there?" The man asks, looking you in the eye.

" I... um..." It's hard to breathe, like there's a weight pushing on your lungs. Your eyes are having trouble staying open as a wave of exhaustion washes over you. "Think... I need to go home..." You start feeling your pockets for your wallet when the man puts his hand over yours. 

"I've got you, don't worry." He gestures for the bartender and hands them his card. After a few moments, both you and the man's tabs are closed and he's putting your arm around his shoulder and his arm around your waist. He helps support your weight as he starts moving you both to the exit.

You're out of it, bad. It's not lost on you that your eyelids start to stay closed more than they're open and your head is equally as cooperative, lulling to the side as your neck just doesn't want to provide any support now. Sounds jumble together as the lights make images of kaleidoscopes flash in your mind. Words seem impossible now, coming out as half-hearted mumbles and grunts that don't sound like any discernable words.

Both of you are halfway between the bar and the exit when a couple of men step in front of you and the man. You're hardly cognisant but catch a flash of camo as your head slumps back again. There's a conversation that you can't make out, you're far too out of it to understand, save for a few snippets.

"We're just headed back home --- too much to drink." The man holding you speaks to the ones blocking the path.

"--- know her?"

"--- came in --- else with her" Two voices you don't recognise.

"--- dating for a few --- likes to party a bit too ---" The man holding you says, shuffling his hold on you so it's a bit more solid and you're pressed closer to his side.

There's a new hand that's firmly but gently sits on your arm. You can make out a guy, maybe in his mid-twenties, with darker skin and a cap that has a flag on it. He speaks to you directly. You don't catch everything he says but it's clearer than the previous conversation. 

"--- alright? Do --- know this man?" His eyes, which you catch a glimpse of as your eyes shut involuntarily again, seem soft and concerned. 

You can't really pull yourself together to respond, ending up with a jumbled "...hmm?" The man who gave you the drink tries to walk you both forward and around the men but the other man's hand hooks more under your arm and pulls you back closer to him, gently but without room for resistance. You catch a glimpse of the others in the way, two men, one with facial hair and another with a short mohawk. The one in the cap speaks to you again, slowly and heavily pronunciated so you can understand.

"Do. you. know. this. man?" 

You muster all your energy and consciousness into shaking your head no. That seems to spring the men into action. The one speaking to you pulls you closer to him and a fourth man joins from behind, prying the man and you apart, pulling his arms off you and pushing you to the capped man and pushing the other away from you. His hands are gloved and his face is obscured. The man with the facial hair grabs the collar of the man with you, pulling him away as well and fully separating the two of you.

The man with the mohawk works with the other to hold you up and bring you to the club exit. A commotion breaks out behind you three but you're rapidly losing consciousness at this point. They get you outside and the cool air wakes you up just a little but not by much. They move you over to a window ledge and help you sit there as they hold you upright and the one with the mohawk pats you on the cheek, trying to jog your consciousness

"--- need to --- just --- awake, ok?" He says, and you catch a hint of accent in your haze. You hum and nod a little, though unconsciousness is creeping in quickly. The other is on the phone as Mr. Mohawk opens up your eyes, shining a light in them that makes you try and pull your head back with a discomforted groan. "I know, I know. Just --- and then --- feel better, ok?" He holds his fingers up in front of you and does a few other things as reality slips away, you don't know what he's doing or if you're supposed to be doing something, but you don't. 

An ambulance and police cars come screaming up, sirens and lights blaring. Several EMTs come up to you and start doing this or that, all of which you can't discern as your eyes shut fully and stay shut as you drift into unconsciousness. 

#modern warfare 2 #modern warfare ii #modern warfare x reader #taskforce 141 x reader #platonic #platonic! taskforce 141 x reader #captain john price #captain price #captain price x reader #kyle gaz garrick #kyle garrick #kyle gaz garrick x reader #john soap mactavish #john soap mctavish x reader #simon ghost riley #simon riley x reader #ghost x reader

[jack-o-chica-the-spooky-chick]

The sun has set and the porch lights are on-

Welcome to Jack-O-Treat 2022: A Tumblr Trick-or-Treat Event!!!

Don your costumes and set out into our neighborhood of participating ‘house’ blogs for a night of trick-or-treating that lasts until the clock strikes midnight on October 31st and November calls all the ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties home!

🎃

As a trick-or-treater, you can visit the following blogs through the end of the month, send an ask/message/submit-a-post saying ‘trick or treat,’ and wait to see what treats –or tricks- they share! And hey, check all the blogs out and consider giving them a follow!!

Here’s our delightfully frightful neighborhood of current ‘house’ blogs as of October 15th, 2022:

@askfnafcast

@ask-the-second-chance-frights

@askvannybunny (New 10/16!)

@chaospenelope

@cuttletavioshipper

@diabolical-purple-devil (New 10/16!)

@eldritchdemonfox

@hekcle

@jack-o-chica-the-spooky-chick

@lonelyfreddyafton

@moondrop-official

@nightmarebonnie-official

@nyx-fnaf

@oliviackaotix-blog

@pizzaplexquest

@springledongle *

@springlockedfoxy

@the-feral-one

@the-night-trio

@toonfanstars

@weird-fnafaus-askblog

* NSFW/18+ blogs

🎃

It isn’t too late to sign up to be a house, either! Just send me an ask or message me and I’ll confirm your addition to the list! I’ll keep this post pinned to the top of my page, which will have the most up-to-date list of participating house blogs, as well as notices of any of the blogs that need to bow out early and put up the ‘out of candy’ sign (hey, life happens)! As a reminder, we’re going to try to keep the event PG-13. However, 18+ and NSFW blogs are welcome to sign up to be houses, just let me know so I can note it on our house list- still need the treats to be PG-13 though. Treats/tricks can be photos of a handful of candy, pre-made/on-the-fly art, short literary pieces, poems, or whatever the ‘house’ wants to give out as long as it sticks with the basic PG-13 rule. Oh, and no jump-scares as tricks/treats please!

Houses have anytime before Nov. 1st to respond to a knock at their door, so please be patient with the lovely folks who signed up to be our houses (though that deadline is pretty flexible because, again, life/delays happen). If you can, send your trick-or-treat greetings well before the end of the month to make sure the houses have time to get their treats ready.

This is a pretty relaxed event and there’s no sense in getting stressed out over something that’s supposed to be fun, so if anything comes up or you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.

A few additional notes:

You don’t have to be a FNAF blog to participate, nor do your tricks/treats have to be FNAF themed.

‘House’ blogs can also trick or treat!

All fandom/non-fandom blogs are welcome to join in!

You don’t need a muse to participate. You can just be your lovely offline self if you like!

Please only visit each ‘house’ once (unless the houses specifically encourage repeat visits, but that’s totally up to them).

🎃

Thank you everyone who joins us on our long Halloween night! Have fun, spread a little Halloween-y mischief if you want, be good to each other, and of course, happy haunting!!!

-The Poultrygeist 🧡

#Jack-O-Treat 2022 #Jack-O-Treat #Halloween #Trick or treat #FNAF #Reblogs are appreciated! #LET’S GOOOO!! #I’ll be slow getting treats out but I’ll do my best to reply to housekeeping inquiries as quickly as I can! #If you messaged me to join & I was a dingus & didn’t get you on here please let me know!

[jonahxrivas]

Jonah’s Holiday Gifts (since he’s environmentally conscious and all about sustainability, most of these gifts were found in shops across town/holiday markets. there are a few where he had to stray but for the most part he kept it local) 

•  Anna ( @msannadonnelly ) - Bottle of wine + A box of macarons  ↪ note reads: Thank you again for not drowning me. Hope I haven’t been too much of a bother in your life with my never-ending questions, maybe one day I’ll run of things to ask you.

• Anya ( @dvsconocvdo ) - A gift box containing: a succulent, a scented candle (lavender and sage), and a pack of organic chocolate almonds  ↪ note reads: I might not win the world’s best tour guide award, but it was fun showing you around town. We have to explore together again!

• Bella ( @cantfightmoonlight ) - Team Edward t-shirt + Serotonin molecule necklace + $50 gift voucher at New Leaf bookstore (not pictured) ↪ note reads: Do you know how many times I’ve started and re-written this? Too many. But more importantly do you know how hilarious it is that you’re a vampire named Bella? I hope you enjoy the shirt. On a serious note, you coming back was in all sense a miracle, even if it was in such such unfortunate circumstances, I’m so glad you’re here. Serotonin has other properties but it’s mostly known to be the ‘happiness’ chemical, and it’s what I wish for you always.

• Jasmine ( @cantfightmoonlight ) - A regular journal + A smaller ‘Field Notes’ journal ↪ note reads: For on and off the field, here’s a little something for you. I’ll be a better side-kick next time.

• Reese ( @crescentcrowd ) - A set of mini candles ( he was going to include a pack of reese’s pieces but chickened out last minute ) ↪ note reads: I hope this is not too weird, just wanted to properly say thanks for not burning my suit, or me in the process. Maybe you can burn these candles instead?

• Leyla ( @cantfightmoonlight​ ) - A big lavender candle + Mini diffuser  ↪ note reads: I hope you’ve had the chance to relax and get some proper rest since Halloween. If in case you’re still having trouble, I heard Lavender helps.  

• Nico ( @nicocastillo ) - Beer infused hot sauce + Apron ↪ note reads: Hey, Mr. Whole Milk, my mother promised to send over a cookbook, but till then you’ll have to make do with this and hope it’ll prepare you for the spice. 

• Poppy ( @moonglowmagic ) - Levitating Moon lamp ↪ note reads: I saw this and thought of you. A bit silly but also funny when you think about it. You have magic that can make things float, and I can use electromagnets, but one is cooler than the other. We have to hang out more, I need a chance to prove that I can be cool too. 

• Rohan ( @rohanxpersaudx ) - Elements of musical theatre poster + A cool box he found at the local antique store which he promptly filled with vials of things the folks at The Poison Room said he should buy ↪ note reads: I’m still not good with words but a million thank yous would not be enough for all that you’ve done since my arrival here. Things haven’t been easy on you or for you, but at least we can hope and look to better things together.

• Tony ( @antonioalvarez ) - Physics formula Rubik’s cube + T-shirt ↪ note reads: If you solve the cube before the year ends, I’ll buy you food (of your choice) once a day for an entire week.

#lunarcoveevent4 #holiday gifts #( sorry this is long! my bad! ) #( but it's finally done at least!! i can rest now lol )

[deviija]

Red Bear’s Annual Skyhold Spooktacular Celebration

(This is a twitter thread adventure that I did for Twitter, but am reposting it here to save it for posterity, and for folks to enjoy.)

Happy All Hallows' Eve, friends of Thedas! 

The moon is rising, the costumed guests are arriving, and the stars have come out to watch the spirits play. Welcome to Red Bear's Annual Skyhold Spooktacular Celebration Day   

 Come inside and enjoy the festivities!

(Come one and all, share your OCs’ costumes for this years’ special spooky day! Whether it is art, moodboards, photos of what they’d wear, moody screenarchery, prose writing descriptions, all is welcome! Share them here and let us all enjoy the creativity and festivities.)

Lace Harding is standing beside the stairs leading up to the entryway, dressed up in a replica of Cassandra’s Seeker attire and a black feathered domino mask over her face. 

She checks your invitations and cheerfully welcomes you inside.

The faint sounds of laughter, glasses clinking, and the murmuring melody of music grows louder as you ascend the steps. Decorations lining the railings and hanging from the rafters. 

 When you pass through the sunburst doors, you are to be greeted by a warm, booming voice.

“My friend! You made it!” Red Bear proceeds to crush you in tight hug that lifts you off your feet, then quickly sets you back down and looks sheepish for his overexcitement. “Come in, come in! We have just started serving the food and refreshments!”

Off to your left, there is a desk with an open guestbook to sign your name in, and even leave a message for the host if you wish.

Dressed up as Grand Duke Reynaud, complete with festering poison wound, is Grim of Bull’s Chargers. You can tell by how talkative he is when serving drinks and taking drink orders.

  *Grunts*

He hands you a tiny menu of drinks and desserts.

There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to choose from, along with some deliciously rich cupcakes and devilishly sweet cakes. 

You can have a seat with your refreshments at one of the nearby tables.

There is also plenty of food cooked and set out upon the rows of tables lining the hall. From roasted vegetable platters, savory soup bisques, to minced meat pies. All prepared by the Spirit Healer himself and his kitchen staff helpers.

As you sit and eat, or drink, or rest and just take in the sights of the decorated hall, the bards entertain with a collection of jaunty thrilling and chilling seasonal songs. Please, relax and enjoy yourself before the costume event begins.

Some couples dance to the festive music, while others merge into clusters of animated silhouettes, gossiping and merrily chatting among themselves. Red Bear’s unmistakable belly laugh can be heard in the background.

With the moonlight streaming through the stained glass windows, the Qunari host clinks his glass to get the room's attention. It is time to share costumed looks! One by one, everyone has a chance to come up and introduce themselves and share their costume and inspiration.

Red Bear introduces himself as Lord Vampire Corram of Grand Forest Villa, Siren of the Hinterlands, Handyman of Redcliffe (but you know, in a spooky way), and a pretty good hobbyist whittler.

After everyone has a chance to share, the time comes for the final tally. Josie, in ornate phoenix gown and masque, hands over a card with a written name upon it. The bards all drum their hands on their lutes. 

 And the winner of this year's annual Spooktacular is... 

 You!

Everyone is welcome to retire to the Herald’s Rest to continue the night’s jubilations and celebrations, with even more dancing and refreshments. 

Stay for the night, stay for the hour, stay as long as you desire! Thank you for attending this year’s Skyhold Spooktacular!

(Hope you enjoyed this silly little adventure thread. I just wanted to do something cute for  friends and the community at my favorite time of year. We could all use some thrilling celebration and spoopy enjoyment. Be safe out there, have lots of fun! Happy Halloween!)

~ F I N 

#Red Bear #Dragon Age #Dragon Age Inquisition #DAI #Skyhold #Halloween #All Hallows Eve #Spooktacular #2022 Events #Reposting this from twitter #I wanted to make a fun POV Halloween event for people to bring their OCs to #cw: food #virtual photography

[tyoshi9]

Tetsuox confessing and wanting to date with him to MC4 during the end of Tetsuox's Jiangishi Secret Quest. Just like Tsathoggua and Wakan during the Fashionista Event, Tetsuox also accidentally let's it slip that he wants to marry him.

Jiangshi End

A/N: Thanks for the request!

Tetsuox stood there, naked with only a fundoshi on. Makoto was blushing a little from the sight, though his thoughts was pulled away from his body and onto the big package below. "Hey, Tetsuox what's this package here?" Tetsuox looked down as he grabbed and package and unwrapped it whole. "Oh this?" The package opened and sweets was revealed to be inside.

"Oh yeah, I have some sweets to give ya, I musta forgotten it!" He picked from the huge arrays of sweets and gave it to your lanky hands. "This Halloween thing is a holiday when you dress up and scare some folks to givin' ya some candy and stuff right?" He chuckled. You nodded in response.

"Yeah, well I kinda scared everybody off with this little costume, and look at all the spoils that I got!" He remembers what happened earlier with him trick or treating in the festival.

"Oh and here take as much as you want by the way!" He grabs more as he puts in on your hands again. You blushed a bit from how much he was giving you. "Aw, thanks for the sweets Tetsuox." He smiled ear to ear from your response. "Anyways, we're all done doing costumes and tricking kids right?" You nodded. "Yep, we are." He chuckled a bit, recalling the happy things that happened today. "It's the first time I've done this sorta stuff y'know." The time of his voice softened a bit, and you noticed.

"And it's real fun gettin' to hang out with you and have fun." You smiled, you haven't seen him this soft spoken before. "I had a blast too Tetsuox." He smiled. "I'm happy you're happy too." He chuckled from all the emotions that was pouring out of him. "I bet you have a lot of fun days like these, y'know, I skip a lot of classes, but if you were a student here, maybe I'll even go to school."

You didn't know that you had that kind of effect on him. "Sharing the same dorms, sharing the happy memories, and the sad ones too." His hands was trembling, as he looks down with a bit of a disappointed face. "I could've gone to Umamichi." Tetsuox was surprised from what he said. "Wh-What, wait were you taking me seriously?" You thought about it, and nodded. "Well it could've happened you know." You scratched your nape.

"Hey, you know, even if there really is a world like that, then it wouldn't be us." You shakes your head in denial. "No Tetsuox, I know that world exists." You held his rough hands in yours. "Wh-What do you mean and why are you so sure?" His face was a bit pink now, but you smiled even so. "Because that world, is this one!" You declared to him. It felt like time stopped for the both of you. Tetsuox processed what you just said, and that made his entire body tremble. He couldn't take it anymore.

He hugged you tightly, you hugging as well. "Makoto, will you, will you go out with me! And marry me!" He shouted. You were astonished by his words, he hugged you even tighter, with you reciprocating the hug even more. After a while, you had your answer. "Of course I'll go out with you." You said in his ear. The moment he heard that sentence, it felt like a miracle happened for him. He was so happy. Though the hug didn't last long as Makoto seemed to struggle in Tetsuox's grip. "Oh, uh I'm sorry." He apologizes as Makoto dismisses it. "N-No, it's ok."

The both of you relaxed and breathed, Tetsuox rubbed the back of his neck as he asks you again. "So, how about that restaurant just the other side of the school." Makoto nodded. "That's fine by me." Tetsuox smiled as he smiled from ear to ear again. This was the best day for him, and Makoto felt the same as well.

#housamo #tokyo afterschool summoners #i did this instead of sleeping #tetsuox x reader #mc4 #first request omg thanks #this was worth staying up in the night for

[twstarchives]

Scary Dress・Voice Lines

● Event: Scary Monsters (October 14 - November 26, 2020) ● Exclusive Cards: Deuce, Kalim, Epel, Idia, Malleus, Lilia, Azul, Jack, Jade, Vil, Cater

Deuce Spade - R

Unlock Card “This school event is meant for everyone to have fun. I’m going to make sure this Halloween’s a success!”

Groovy “You’re not getting away from me... I’ll scare you till you're trembling to the bone!”

Home Setting “I’m a skeleton ghost that’s risen from the grave! BOO!”

Home Transitions “These are our special costumes, so make sure you’re careful with them. Grim, that means don’t claw on the lace.”

“When I was a kid, there were times when I used to start sobbing because I thought there was a monster outside. But it was actually just the laundry drying out there... Oi, stop laughing!”

“I got some treats from Epel. There’s a lot of them, so I thought I’d share with you. You know the secret code, right?”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Happy Halloween! You just can’t help but get excited around this time of year.”

Home Taps “I saw Draconia a while ago. Seeing him walk around in that serpentine dragon costume so valiantly made him look cooler than ever.”

“I got a text from my mom—she said she wants to see my costume. I don’t mind sending her one, but I don’t know how I feel about taking a selfie... Prefect, could you take one of me?”

“I’m used to seeing the ghosts on campus, so they’re not that scary. Our terrifying dorm leader Rosehearts, on the other hand...”

“Viper fixed the lace on my hat for me. I feel like the vice leaders in every dorm are really caring.”

“Hey, you! You want me to bury you!? S-Sorry. I was practicing my scares; I didn’t mean to say that to you, Prefect.”

Kalim Al-Asim - R

Unlock Card “Are you all ready to have some fun? Alright! Come on and follow my lead! One, two—Happy Halloween!”

Groovy “Grr... Pain shoots through my body whenever I look at the full moon. You better watch your back if you start to hear some howling.”

Home Setting “Growl! I’m a werewolf now.”

Home Transitions “Rook knows a lot about wildlife, and he told me all kinds of things about wolves. It was really useful.”

“I always carry around candies this time of year. This way anyone can tell me ‘Trick or treat’ anytime!”

“My magic carpet seems pretty excited for Halloween too. I’m competing with it to see who’s the scariest!”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “A party that everyone’s stoked about—that’s what Halloween is! Let’s have fun together! Growl! Growl!”

Home Taps Whine! Grrrrr! Bark! *cough!* “It’s hard trying to sound like a wolf...”

“I feel like it’d be so much more exciting if Cater, Lilia, and I dressed up for our band performances. Don’t you think so?”

“Jade said his costume is a mummy. If you wore clothes like that in the Scalding Sands, you’d get so hot that you might actually turn into one.”

“I like this costume; its design is really reminiscent of the Scalding Sands. Plus it’s easy to move in. It fits for dressing up as a werewolf.”

“Hm? You want to try scaring me? Spare me from any tricks, though. Ahaha!”

Epel Felmier - R

Unlock Card “Boo! Did I spook you? Hehe. I’ll come scare you again if you let down your guard.”

Groovy “Struggling against me is useless... I think. You won’t get away from me.”

Home Setting “Now, Halloween has begun!”

Home Transitions “Wah! Oh, crap!¹ I stepped all over my cloak. If Vil saw me, he’d get mad and say ‘It’s not proper to run around like that.’”

“I carved some of the pumpkins that are decorating the school. Mine have ghosts and our dorm’s emblem on them. Try to find them, okay?”

“Hey, have you seen the decorations on Main Street? They’re all so pretty, and really marvy².”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “I think this is the first time I’ve celebrated such a festive Halloween. In my town, the festivals feel a lot more scaled down.”

Home Taps “Halloween celebrations in my hometown are never this big, but I can promise you the food’s always delicious. I want you all to come see it someday.”

“Riddle got really passionate when we were talking about the treats for Halloween earlier. Sweets are just amazing, aren’t they?”

“I’m a first-year just like Deuce and Jack, but I wish I could scare as well as they do. But only practice makes perfect!”

“Tremble in fear! ...No. That’s not menacing enough... Ah! What if I put ketchup around my mouth?”

“Huh!? A treat? Sorry. I finished handing all mine out. But I’ll peel an apple for you later, so don’t give me a trick or anything... Okay?”

Idia Shroud - R

Unlock Card “E-E-Even I get excited for events sometimes... Is that bad!?”

Groovy “Anyone who sees what’s beneath my helmet won’t be leaving here unharmed... Hehehe!”

Home Setting “Wahaha! The Pumpkin Knight has arrived!”

Home Transitions “Every time Ortho tells me ‘Trick or treat,’ I give him some candy, but earlier he got mad and said ‘Let me have a trick too.’”

“You need to know your etiquette to have fun with events. That’s true no matter what world you’re in.”

“This time of year, they’re always having tons of huge events in gacha games. I’ve got an overwhelming lack of free time.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Weheehee~... Happy Halloween. Huh? Why are you making that face? Is it that weird to see me pumped up?”

Home Taps “Hiding my face under a helmet really lets me relax. The downside is it’s a little hard to breathe, though.”

“Wh-What are you dressing up as? Don’t tell me you’re just going to throw on something basic like a headband or a hat and call it a day?”

“They say lions are members of the cat family, but... Sir Leona is not soothing in the slightest. Hah~ I wanna nuzzle a cat...”

“You can say it. There’s no such thing as a nerd that hates Halloween!”

“Weheehee! I made this using a 3D printer, so it’s got really nice durability. ‘How much did it all cost’? Well, if you want to know, it was on sale.”

Malleus Draconia - SR

Unlock Card “Halloween is a festival observed by both the living and the dead, regardless of one’s race. You, too, should enjoy yourself as much as you can.”

Groovy “I’d make anyone tremble in fear with a single breath of fire. Watch me.”

Home Setting “I’m not dressed up as a dragon. It’s a serpentine dragon.”

Home Transitions “The students in our dorm seem very pleased with our costumes. They were all cheering with joy. This was well-worth the trouble.”

“Lilia knows a lot about many nations’ versions of Halloween. He told me stories about them instead of his usual lullabies. That was a long time ago, though.”

“I saw two pumpkin knights around campus. The smaller one was floating, so I’m assuming they were the Shroud brothers.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “I’ve experienced many Halloweens, but this year seems especially chaotic.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Trick or treat!... wasn’t it? If you don’t give me a treat, I’ll have to trick you. What will you do?”

Home Taps “The red serpentine dragons from the Far East, which our costumes were based on, could even play folk instruments. Hm... How very interesting.”

“I caught Asim practicing his wolf howls. He’s lacking on the impact, but it does have a charm to it. Heheh.��

“Halloween in the Valley of Thorns is especially grand. It’s a different take on it than other countries have, but you should come see it someday. It’s beautiful.”

“If you hear a strange noise, don’t automatically assume it’s the work of a ghost. Faeries love playing tricks all year round.”

“This tail? Mine is not an accessory; it’s real. As curious as you might be, don’t get too close. You’d be easily flicked aside if you got hit by it.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “I’ll set fire to anyone that harms your dorm, just like a serpentine dragon would. I’m fond of that place.”

Lilia Vanrouge - SR

Unlock Card “Halloween is my home ground ♪ I can’t wait to see the surprise on everyone’s faces.”

Groovy “Do not underestimate me. You might end up finding yourself trembling and unable to sleep all night long.”

Home Setting “Growl! How was that? Did I sound like a dragon?”

Home Transitions “On Halloween Night, the goblins who served the Fairy of Thorns would gather around a fire and dance all night long. You probably wouldn’t expect them to be party animals!”

“I remember the day I met a real-life serpentine dragon in the East like it was yesterday. Its crimson scales were truly a sight to behold.”

“I like eating most sweets, but marshmallows are the only ones I can’t do. It doesn’t feel like I’m eating anything; they aren’t satisfying.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Trick or treat... What? You’re already used to my tricks? Then I’ll have to bring out my trump card.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “If I were a real dragon, I could give you a ride on my back. But instead, why don’t I give you a piggy back ride?”

Home Taps “Hnn... The decorative horns on my cap are so heavy. Malleus really has these on his head at all times?”

“Aren’t my red nails cute? Vil painted them for me. He told me these were called gel nails—long-lasting nail polish.”

“Silver and Sebek used to be such crybabies. The mornings after Halloween, I’d have to spend the whole day doing laundry.”

“Have you seen Ace anywhere? He’s always eating Trey’s sweets like he really likes them, so I made some for him as well.”

“Oh, oh! It’s dangerous for someone of my stature to have a tail almost touching the ground. Try not to step on it either.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “Achoo! Sorry, sorry. This peacock feather tickled my nose.”

Azul Ashengrotto - SR

Unlock Card “The Mostro Lounge is currently offering a special Halloween menu. You must come and see!”

Groovy “Let’s have all the fun we want tonight. Now, let me hear you scream all the way up to the moon!”

Home Setting “How do I look? It’s very stylish with the way it revisits the old-fashioned sort of mummy, isn’t it?”

Home Transitions “If these were my own tentacles, I could move them freely at will, but that’s not true with these bandage wraps. I have to pay close attention to my movements.”

“Of course we have Halloween celebrations under the sea. Although, unlike on land, merpeople don’t exactly wear costumes.”

“I ran into Silver with this costume on, and he yelled ‘The enemy!’ before pulling out a baton. ...He must’ve been half-asleep.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Halloween only happens once a year. Let’s have the time of our lives together.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Did I hear you say ‘Trick or treat’ just now? Offering me of all people a deal is quite bold of you.”

Home Taps “I have an affinity for the costumes Jack and the other Savanaclaw students are wearing. They look like ghosts you’d find at sea, don’t they?”

“I referenced dishes that my family serves for the Lounge’s limited edition menu... Oh, my family runs a ristorante.”

“I’ll hold back on the treats, thank you. Accepting more and more of them will only increase my calorie intake for the day.”

“The reason we chose mummies for our costumes? I’m very unfamiliar with them, which made me all the more curious. After all, you can’t have anything dry under the sea.”

“What are you in such a rush for? I understand feeling excited, but you must be discreet when getting ready to scare someone.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “You must come see Halloween under the sea sometime! It’s just as fun as the academy’s.”

Jack Howl - SR

Unlock Card “Dressing up as pirates fits for Savanaclaw, since the guys here are all brutes. When you want something, you take it!”

Groovy “On Halloween, it’s ghost territory. Make sure you be careful when walking around at night. Grr...”

Home Setting “My scares aren’t just for show.”

Home Transitions “Scarabia dressed up as werewolf ghosts. They really nailed the ears and tails.”

“When we were making jack o’ lanterns, Ruggie kept eating the pumpkin seeds. Do those taste good...?”

“The pirate costume fits Leona really well. He’s lazy and vulgar—ahem! He comes off as strong and powerful.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Happy Halloween! It’s nice with all these decorations and festive energy. Wanna walk around together later?”

Home Transition (Groovy) “I was getting tired of all these sweets, so I got some jerky. Want any?”

Home Taps “Ace and the others swear that anything Trey bakes is to die for. I wonder how his pear compote would... N-No, nevermind.”

“I used to want to be a pirate when I was little. I remember making treasure chests by myself and filling them with coins and sparkling jewels. Those were the days.”

“Pirates have to aim their cannons and do a lot of heavy lifting while onboard. They’ve got to train hard.”

“I almost never wear rings, so I’m scared these might fly off at any moment. Plus it’s hard to move my fingers.”

“Oi! Stop prodding at my costume! What’re you going to do if one of the seashells breaks off?”

Home Tap (Groovy) “You haven’t put on your costume yet? The ghosts will come to kidnap you if you don’t hurry and change.”

Jade Leech - SSR

Unlock Card “I’ve been expecting you. Today I have a most wonderful scare prepared for you.”

“We’ve been working hard to ensure that everyone can spend a wonderful Halloween.”

Groovy “The sight of you screaming as you try to hurry away... It’s irresistible. I cannot hold myself back from chasing after you!”

Home Setting “Who would like to be tied up in fear?”

Home Transitions “You want to see me when I’m frightened? Heheh. I wouldn’t mind you scaring me anytime you’d like.”

“There is no such thing as using pumpkins as lanterns under the sea. I was very shocked learning about culture on land when I was a freshman.”

“Have you had a chance to try out the Mostro Lounge’s limited edition Halloween menu? I contributed a recipe to it.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Trick or treat! Heheh. There’s no need to look so frightened; I won’t bite.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Oh, my. Were you hoping to play a trick on me? I have a treat on hand, so please spare me today.”

Home Taps “I helped Ruggie with making jack o’ lanterns. They’re very quick, cheap, and beautiful. How fitting.”

“Dryness is fatal for merpeople. If we were dried up like a mummy... Just the thought is horrifying.”

“Floyd, don’t eat too many sweets. It’s different while we’re in the water, but here we have a high risk of tooth decay.”

“The draping wraps on our costumes resemble jellyfish tentacles. They’re pretty, aren’t they? I like their asymmetrical design.”

“You seem to have a wish to join the world of mummies. First, I will wrap your whole body in bandages, and then dry you out... I’m only joking.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “Halloween under the sea? If you’re interested, I will show you around one day.”

Duo Magic Jade: Azul, we cannot waste any more time. Azul: Let’s be efficient about this, Jade.

Vil Schoenheit - SSR

Unlock Card “Are you prepared to pledge yourself to me? It’s a great honor to be the sustenance of my beauty.”

“If I’m participating in this, then I’m going to aim for quality that transcends all previous Halloweens. Please keep up with me.”

Groovy “How unfortunate; there’s nowhere left for you to run. Yield yourself to me and become my slave.”

Home Setting “You will be a victim to my fangs.”

Home Transitions “Vampires, who possess eternal beauty... This is a perfect theme for me, isn’t it?”

“It would be difficult to check my appearance if I couldn’t see my reflection in the mirror. Perhaps I’d have to check with Rook between every class.”

“The other day, I was drinking tomato juice in the evening, and Epel screamed at me. How rude.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Trick or treat. Although, I don’t need any sweet treats. I’m sure you can guess what a vampire would want... Heheh.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Have you flipped your sleep schedule like a vampire’s because it’s Halloween? Make sure you don’t stay up too late.”

Home Taps “I don’t usually carry around treats with me, so last year I fell victim to Lilia’s tricks. That was honestly unpleasant.”

“You should carefully deliberate over your parasol and choose one that has strong protection from the sun. Don’t forget sunblock either.”

“Floyd’s skin is very beautiful. Makeup sits exceptionally well on moisturized skin, too. Always remember to moisturize.”

“My father is an actor, and for every Halloween he would come home in a costume with special effects makeup. I wonder if perfectionism runs in the family.”

“Even a single strand of hair out of place is something to pay mind to. Could you fix my hair for me?”

Home Tap (Groovy) “My cloak has enough cloth to wrap around a person. Should I hide you inside it if any scary ghosts come by?”

Duo Magic Vil: Let’s end this nonsense right here, Lilia. Lilia: Leave it to me to guard you from behind, Vil.

Cater Diamond - SSR

Unlock Card “I’ll fill you all the way to the bone... with fear, of course ♪”

“Aha! Are you surprised with how off things feel now? Let me show you Cay’s charm, now that I’m a touch different for Halloween~”

Groovy “You’re not thinking you’ll be able to get home safely now that you’ve dug me up, are you?”

Home Setting “Don’t you think my costume’s super aesthetic!?”

Home Transitions “The pumpkin pie Trey always makes this time of year... Mm, it’s not too sweet, and it’s sooo good~!”

“Did you see Lucius today!? He was wearing a super adorable pumpkin hat... I can’t believe Professor Trein~!”

“Sebek-kins really loves Malleus~ He’s got a reputation among the third-years for being the passionate Draconian.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Happy Halloween! How about we take a picture to commemorate?”

Home Transition (Groovy) “I have a feeling this year’s going to be the funnest Halloween we’ve ever had. You should be excited too, Prefect!”

Home Taps “I really like how our skeleton-looking laces are so elegant. Our dorm uniforms give off more cutesy vibes; it’s super different.”

“A black veil holds many mysteries... Heheh. You’re always free to lift it up anytime you want, Prefect! Just kidding.”

“Heartslabyul’s costumes last year? We were pirates! Wish you could see Cay as a pirate~?”

“The whole campus gets super festive and exciting around Halloween! And all the decorations are so photogenic.”

“Black makeup smudges easily, so you kind of need to have advanced skills to use it. Does it look okay right now? It’s not smudged?”

Home Tap (Groovy) “What are you dressing up as, Prefect? Come let me know when you have it ready. I wanna take a pic~”

Duo Magic Cater: “Jack, lend me some of your aesthetic support!” Jack: “This’ll be a breeze, Cater!”

#twisted wonderland #scary monsters #events

[snarkywrites]

October Horoscopes: Feeling Empowered

October is a very important month. It is filled with Cardinal energy that begins with the Full Moon in Aries on the very first day and ends with the Full Moon in Taurus on the 31st. Changes are on the horizon and although the year has been filled with changes, now we really get to see them begin. Those old chapters are closing, with this Aries energy pushing us to be brave in our choices. Venus enters Virgo on the 2nd, and this planet will be comfortable with Saturn as a powerful trine forms on October 24th. If you are in a committed relationship, this can be a great period for you. The month will initiate the final Mercury Retrograde of the year beginning on the 13th in Scorpio and it will re-enter Libra on the 27th. Mercury will oppose Uranus on the 7th, so expect the unexpected around this transit. We will experience that New Moon in Libra on the 16th which will oppose Mars, there will be frustrating moments here. A reminder to take it easy. The Sun enters Scorpio on the 22nd, allowing us to enter another Water Season filled with the drive and energy that Mars in Aries is delivering. Scorpio’s traditional ruler is Mars, so this is another surprise awaiting us. Finally, the big star of this show is the Full Moon in Taurus on the 31st. It will oppose Uranus and it will add more of that instability. But by now we should all know to keep calm and be patient while we look onward to November.

Aries – The month begins with a Full Moon in your sign on the first. This is an enlightening period for you, where you fearlessly face challenges with a little more courage and strength. Your card for the month is Judgement, making this even more profound as it will represent your awakening and your moment to shine brighter than before. Venus enters Virgo on October 2nd, another perfect transit for you, since it will continue with the Full Moon’s theme, which is to get back to basics and finding that drive within you. Pluto goes direct on the 4th, once more allowing you to see your path without any fear. The energy of this transit will uplift you (believe it or not) because you now understand the path you will take and are more confident in your career choices. Mercury goes retrograde on the 13th, making you experience some nostalgic memories from relationships in the past. However, this New Moon in Libra on the 16th, is a time that will once more have you focusing on you. Let your independent spirit shine this month as it closes with the Full Moon in Taurus, providing you grounding energies that will help you feel powerful and ready to take on the world.

Taurus – Stepping into October you are going to enjoy the Venusian energy with one of the more interesting events, the Full Moon in your sign happening at the end of the month. But the month starts with a Full Moon in Aries which keeps you at pace with work and creativity. Your ruler, Venus changes signs to Virgo on the 2nd, boosting more of your creative energy and fueling more inspiration. This transit has you feeling in your element since it is in a fellow Earth sign. With the Page of Pentacles Reversed this month, you have the vision, the plans but might be lacking in confidence. Do not fret because things look favorable for you especially with Saturn now direct and ready to change signs in the next few months. On the 4th, we will all experience Pluto goes direct, making you more aware of your ideologies and experiences this year. On the 13th, Mercury goes retrograde, making the focal point on relationships for you. Take this time to create peace and not chaos since you might discover some things that relate to your partnerships. On the 16th, the New Moon in Libra will have you focusing on making career moves and changes. The Sun changes signs to Scorpio on the 22nd, another moment that will be highlighting relationships and this transit can be intense. Patience is a virtue this month for you.

Gemini – Many Geminis will want to get their focus back, especially with Saturn currently direct and ready to make its way out of the sign of Capricorn later this year. The benefits of the October transits are that they will have you in your air element. The Emperor Reversed is your card for the month, a sign you are ready to reclaim your power and this Full Moon in Aries on October 1st, is your sign that you are ready and you’ve got this. The transit will have you feeling unstoppable for the next several weeks, your only concern will be to watch what you have to say. Venus enters Virgo on the 2nd, allowing you to get more of that grounding energy at home and to reflect on things. On the 16th, this New Moon in Libra will bring joy and excitement to your life and will make you brave enough to seek a new relationship (if you have been looking). Mercury goes retrograde on the 13th but it will retrograde back in Libra on the 27th, so expect to deal with folks from the past during this transit. But on the same day, Venus enters Libra, boosting your courage and making you more charming to everyone around you. Your card for the month will be reflected here as well, as you reclaim power and control in relationships. The month ends with a powerful Full Moon on the 31st, prompting you to get rest and get prepared for the next month.

Cancer – The Cardinal signs are really going to feel this energy during the month of October. On the 1st day, the Full Moon in Aries is a wakeup call for all of us to make changes, to be fearless and hopeful. Whatever we initiated earlier this year will start to manifest now, so for you this might involve career and your future purpose. The Six of Swords fits perfectly with this transition that you will be going through this month as you look towards the culmination of the year. Venus enters Virgo on the 2nd, allowing you to plan for the next phase with a lot of meticulousness. You will be able to juggle a lot of responsibilities now and your creative energy will be magnified. Pluto direct on the 4th sets the tone with how you approach relationships. What you learned during the retrograde may or may not be applied now. Remember to control your anger since Mars is still wreaking havoc and to think before you speak, especially with Mercury Retrograde beginning on the 13th and it will retrograde back in Libra on the 27th, the same day Venus changes signs. A lot of your focus this month will be on home, so try to maintain the peace and not argue with your partner or friends over irrelevant things. That square to your sign is still present and will persist towards November. The month has us leaping for joy on the 31st, which is Halloween and when the Full Moon enters the sign of Taurus. This will be a doozy, but it will present a favorable sextile to your sign, bringing you closer to friends and enjoying the day as you reconnect and allow yourself some fun with those who care for you.

Leo – This Full Moon in Aries on the 1st will have you amped up since it is in fire and you need that recharge. If you have been in a slump, this energy has you going with ferocity and drive to meet with Mars currently in the same sign. Venus enters Virgo on the 2nd, adding a little boost to finances or you might see an awakening in your self-care routine. Make sure not to splurge this month, but thankfully, the trine Venus will make to Saturn will have us second guessing any impulsive methods. With the New Moon in Libra on the 16th, you have the eye of many and what you say will bring some attention towards you. Be careful not to be too impulsive with Mars in opposition to the Moon and Mercury Retrograding back into Libra on the 27th might make you want to bite your tongue. When the Sun enters Scorpio on the 22nd, you will feel settled at home and relaxed but expect some surprises around the second week of this transit. The Eight of Cups appears in your reading showing a very nostalgic vibe that might be brought up during the Full Moon in Taurus on the 31st. This is your month to find the courage to make changes and find strength within. Your friends might help you overcome whatever doubt you feel. Happy Halloween!

Virgo – Strength is your card for the month and after this Full Moon transit in Aries, you will be on your way to getting it. This Full Moon will be a reminder of the past and an important moment to confront those fears and pain. Libra Season is a great opportunity to let go, especially with Mars in Aries, making those changes for you, even if it feels uncomfortable. On the 2nd, Venus enters your sign which is a very favorable transit. You will be able to step into the light and feel a little more confident in yourself through all the Aries transits. More of the impact of your past relationships will be highlighted with Pluto going direct on the 4th. A time to move forward and with that Aries impact, finding the strength to cut those ties that bound you. One of the interesting things that this Mercury Retrograde has in store for you on the 13th, will involve reconnecting with friends and family. You might enjoy this transit but there will still be some conflicts with the Mercury opposition to Uranus. Get ready because it will be a bumpy ride. The New Moon in Libra on the 16th has a lighter feel but still stressful. However, this is your moment to truly find yourself through setting goals for a greater foundation in the next six months. It all comes to focus when the Full Moon graces us on the 31st, bringing you enlightenment and optimism for the journey ahead.

Libra – Its finally your birthday season and there are a lot of changes this month for you. October kicks off with a Full Moon in Aries on the 1st, illuminating your house of partnerships and allowing yourself to make those drastic changes you need to bring some inner peace. Relationships that are not serving you might end and those that are stable will be stronger. On the 2nd, Venus enters the sign of Virgo, allowing you to take a relaxing moment to yourself. If you have been working hard, here is a good time to take things easier so you can plan for the future. With the Two of Wands in your reading for the month, you are excited and on the verge of creating new things and abandoning any sense of fear. This will tie in perfectly with the New Moon in your sign on the 16th, a time to set your sights on greater things. Mars is helping you evolve, find your independence and this month will have you in that transformative period. Saturn is direct and Pluto will be joining it on the 4th, a good time to feel stronger since the square to your sign will be alleviated just a bit now that this planet can move on (if only for a bit). Mercury will go retrograde back in your sign on the 27th and Venus also enters your sign that day. Prepare for a lot of communication mishaps, but with Venus there, you might experience a moment of glam and moments of fame (if only temporarily).

Scorpio – We are just a few weeks away from Scorpio season! For now, we will begin this month with the Full Moon in Aries on the 1st, get ready to show everyone once again who is boss. You can handle this as the transit pushes you more into the spotlight and gives you an additional drive to get things done. The benefic Venus transit on the 2nd is a lot more favorable for you since you have the time now to chill with friends, family and even get some positive feedback on social media. Your card for the month is the Seven of Swords Reversed. Remember to be wary of those around you, be careful with what you are handling and to always be on the lookout. You just never know who might be shady around you. Nevertheless, things continue to look up for you this month with Pluto going direct on the 4th, no more tension between you and others. This is great since you will have the insight to properly communicate with others without creating unintentional drama. The Full Moon in your sister sign Taurus appears towards the end of the month on the 31st, a time to let go of people who are not fulfilling your emotional needs or this is a time to change the dynamic in relationships for the better. Expect to level up in friendships or romantic relationships after this transit.

Sagittarius – In a month, we will be entering Scorpio and your season. How time flies. The month begins with a huge Full Moon on the 1st, which is beneficial for you since it is in fellow fire sign Aries. This is a time for you to relax, rejoice and maybe even pursue some romance. With the Two of Pentacles as your card for the month, you re gearing towards making some very important choices that will impact your personal life and perhaps, even your career. Venus enters Virgo on the 2nd and the energy of the card for the month syncs nicely with this transit. It is a favorable and pleasing transit to have amidst all of this air and fire. You will be prompted to be more careful with your work, as you will focus your energy on creating perfection. The New Moon in Libra on the 16th is an important one since it will reflect the fruits of your labor. Stay that extra step ahead, plan, focus and wait. This is not the month for impatience. The month ends with a powerful Full Moon in Taurus, which ties once more to work, career, or school. Many fruitful things can happen now, as a chapter closes. Expect some surprises since it will be conjunct Uranus.

Capricorn – A month riddled with those challenges you are already used to. Your card for the month is the Ten of Wands Reversed, showing that you are going to come out of this with more strength. On the 1st, the Full Moon in Aries will serve as a wakeup call, getting you ready to take charge as the home and career houses are highlighted for you. Try to strike a balance and although it is challenging with Mars bringing some drastic changes to your home dynamics, you are still in command. When Venus enters Virgo on the 2nd, you will adore this grounding energy as it brings you some peace in the Cardinal party. This is a time to get focused, perfect your craft because people will take notice next month. The New Moon in Libra on the 16th is huge for you. Set your intentions, get your work done and refined because this can prove to be a groundbreaking transit for you that will persist until 2021. When Mercury Retrogrades back into the sign of Libra on the 27th (the same day Venus enters Libra), you will do best to treat this transit as a meditative one. If you are filled with frustration, take it easy because it can be brutal for you. Practice patience and keep working hard this month because you will see a lot of successes in November.

Aquarius – With the Full Moon in Aries on the 1st, you are radiating with lots of compassion, devotion, and mental stimulation. This Full Moon transit will put things in perspective as you feel appreciated by both friends and family. Things start to get interesting when Venus enters Virgo on the 2nd. You will be hyper focused on your relationships as well as your own stability. It can be a great transit to heal and confront any pain that has been haunting you. Venus brings a calming and grounding energy that will allow you to let go and feel stronger than before. Pluto direct on the 4th welcomes new focus and purpose. You feel enlightened and more compelled to connect with a higher being. This can be a spiritual transit for you, providing you with more clarity and focus. The New Moon in Libra on the 16th is a time for you to rejoice since it is in fellow air sign. The perfect time to consider learning new things and to explore topics or places you have been curious to see. Venus enters Libra on the 27th, adding the feel of the Seven of Cups energy. Be wary of who is providing you with those beautiful cups or gifts. Stay grounded, be vigilant and enjoy the excitement Libra season will bring you.

Pisces – Graceful Venus will be in your sister sign, Virgo on the 2nd and she will stay there until the 27th. This will be a time filled with excitement for you because Mercury goes retrograde on the 13th in Scorpio. All these transits point that there could be moments where you are pushed to think on the past relationships and if you have struggled to let go, things are looking up in your favor. Pluto goes direct on the 4th and this planet, along with the other three in Capricorn, will contributing to your evolution for the remainder of the year. These are moments to let go of the past and step forward. Your card for the month is the Three of Cups Reversed, again, adding to the theme of letting go and healing. You are in a stage of empowerment especially with this Full Moon in Aries on the first, setting the tone for the next few months. Towards the end of the month, on the 31st, we will witness the Full Moon in Taurus which will be another powerful transit that offers you clarity, momentum, and courage.

#Astrology #Aries #Taurus #Gemini #Cancer #Leo #Virgo #Libra #Scorpio #Sagittarius #Capricorn #Aquarius #Pisces

[earthstellar]

MTMTE HALLOWEEN 2020 FIC: Costume Party

SUMMARY: 

Rodimus sets up an Earth style Halloween costume party at Swerve’s to help boost the crew’s morale. Things get a little... weird, when they start to behave like the creatures their costumes represent. 

PAIRINGS: 

Rodimus/Megatron and Drift/Ratchet 

WARNINGS: 

It’s spooky, there is some talk regarding Drift’s traumas, and there is bloodshed/violence in a very creepy way. Please be careful and do not read if you are potentially upset by suggestive violence, blood, etc. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

I was unable to finish or edit this on time for Halloween; I’ll post the final version to AO3 when it’s ready, but for now, here’s what I have! Enjoy the preview! 

Rodimus was happy to let Swerve host a Human Halloween event in the bar. 

Swerve had wanted to do it for a while, but evidently had to wait for the right Earth season despite the Lost Light being absolutely nowhere near Earth. Rodimus agreed that they could use something fun and distracting to lift the spirits of the crew after a somewhat bad supply pickup had gone south and resulted in a thankfully brief dry spell as they'd had to go without their usual ship wide energon supply, resulting in the bar being shuttered for the duration until they were able to stop at Hedra Nine for a full restocking. 

Ultra Magnus had been the only one pleased at the brief closure of Swerve's bar, as it certainly cut down on his workload, but it was unfortunately Ultra Magnus that had to be convinced of the idea. Hence the emergency command meeting currently underway.

"So explain to me again the purpose of this holiday." Delivered in a flat tone, Ultra Magnus never failed to intimidate. 

As usual, Ultra Magnus loomed over the relatively small table positioned in the centre of the room, where Rodimus, Drift, and Megatron sat with some research in hand on various data pads, as well as some footage from Rewind and Swerve's collection of human media. 

Rodimus, undaunted, continued his pitch. 

"It originally started as a folk religious practice around appeasing the spirits of the dead and keeping ghosts, the spirits of deceased humans, from haunting homes and towns. Essentially. But in modern Earth context, it's all about having fun, dressing up as scary or silly characters and getting to relax a bit during a time of year that Earth people relate with darkness, bad weather, that kind of thing. It makes people happy during what were traditionally difficult times. I think we could use something interesting and fun to get the crew back into better spirits after that mess we had to deal with in the Astreus System. See? Fun can have a logical purpose: To improve crew morale. It’s… fun, Mags. People tend to enjoy it. I think it'll be fine." 

Rodimus leaned back in his chair and grinned, sure that he had made a strong case. Megatron was absorbed in a data pad featuring a collection of human myths and tales about the holiday, centred around the origins of the modern practice as it was the most relevant information, although he was interested in the older history of the celebration and where such practices may have come from. 

Megatron was surprised by the depth and complexity of the human holiday. He was still getting over some of his lingering prejudice towards organics; Reading up on their cultures and history was one way to root out what was left of his more harmful mindset. The best cure for ignorance was often simple research, after all… Orion Pax would be proud. He nearly laughed at the thought. 

But he found himself looking forward to Swerve’s little seasonal party, even if there were no seasons per se to celebrate out in open space. Rodimus had made a good point; The crew could certainly use the distraction, and Rung had advised him to try new things that had no associations with any past memories or experiences as part of something they were trying in therapy. He wasn’t exactly excited for it, but it could tolerate it. Especially with Rodimus also in attendance; Undoubtedly most of the attention would be drawn away from him, at least. 

Ultra Magnus was completely still, a telltale sign that he was considering something, running through his extensive memory storage of ship protocols and broader applicable legislation in the hopes of finding something that could possibly mitigate any poor outcomes— Rodimus had won, it would certainly help crew morale and such intentions were covered by rules regarding health and safety of passengers and crew members. Fair play.

--

The bulletin from Swerve, once approved, had been sent out to everyone on board. The event was fairly simple, a marathon of various Halloween themed human movies, followed by a costume party at the bar. Teams of three were allowed to submit group costumes for judgement by a panel led by Ultra Magnus, partially because it was the only way to get him to participate and partially because it was the only way to have a judged competition without anyone complaining of unfairness. 

The mood had immediately improved, with the Lost Light buzzing about costume design ideas and speculating on who was joining whose team and what the chances of winning might be. 

Rodimus beamed, happy for all the chatter and gossip. His crew was happy, so he was happy. And Megatron was invested as well, glad to go along with it, enjoying the literature about it. He couldn't be more excited for the event; He trusted Swerve to make it as extravagant as possible, despite the limitations of their supplies on board and what little in the way of textile fabrics they could find and pick up from smaller stop-overs at various stations operated by organics along the way prior to the day.

Rodimus had been concerned about the cost, but Drift was enamoured with the spiritual background of the holiday, and seemed all too willing to provide the spare shanix for anything they could find for the crew. 

So far, it had been going incredibly well. Rodimus was excited himself, as he couldn't wait to see everyone's final costumes, but the idea of Megatron getting a break to genuinely enjoy something with him brought warmth to his spark, making it spin even faster in its casing. 

--

 "Okay, everybody! We had a lot of interest in the costume aspect of this whole thing, but it seems only three teams actually came together to participate in the judged competition. However, most of you have turned up in costume anyway, so it all works out! The judging will go faster and you can all guzzle down some of the special drinks on the menu for tonight only. Welcome to Swerve's, and Happy Human Halloween!" 

Leave it to Swerve to kick off the night in style; The doors were thrown open and bots rushed in, claiming booths and seats at the bar, some mild squabbling already starting but quickly dialled back under the watchful eye of Ultra Magnus, who had refused to wear a costume and was fully on duty as usual from his judge's perch near a makeshift stage Perceptor and Brainstorm had thrown together from spare lab materials. 

Nobody had seen anyone's costumes prior to the night, so there was a significant amount of ooing and ahhing over the most successful looks, providing a great distraction for the costume contest participants to slip mostly unnoticed behind the stage setup, preparing for the reveal to the judging panel: Ultra Magnus, Chromedome, and Cyclonus. 

As the bar continued to fill up and the noise levels increased, Swerve put on a specially composed mix tape for the ambient music that his extensive research had stated was sure to be a success: 

Something called the "Munsters Theme" kicked off the night, and things still appeared to be moving ahead as planned, all in attendance having a good night, and the Lost Light hummed with friendly chatter. 

--

The three costume competition teams ended up being 

There was the Command Coven, consisting of Rodimus, Megatron, and Drift with witch themed costumes. Drift was more than happy to provide crystal necklaces and little wands for each of them, each designed to replicate gemstones found on Earth, with Megatron's being amethyst, Rodimus adorned in carnelian, and Drift himself wearing amazonite. 

He had chosen the colours and designs in accordance with his Spectralist beliefs, as well as something Swerve had shown him called "mood boards" from Earth social data nets, which had kept him up well past his usual recharging hours. It seemed to not have impacted him at all for how thrilled he was at the excuse to dive into human spiritual practices, although he faltered somewhat at the sight of the next team's arrival...

The Medbay had submitted a team, largely thanks to Drift constantly bothering Ratchet about it, with Ratchet himself as well as First Aid and Velocity appearing in vampire themed costumes. They had no team name because Ratchet couldn't be bothered, and was more concerned about the medbay being largely unattended during the event... Although begrudgingly, he did admit to Drift that having the central medical staff immediately on hand in the bar probably wasn't all that bad of an idea.

And the final team, the Minibot Monsters, consisted of Tailgate as a swamp monster, Rewind as a mummy, and Swerve himself, wearing the world's least convincing werewolf costume. 

Swerve was the only person with two costumes, so as not to reveal his "true" costume too early in the night; What he was wearing while manning the bar and letting people in was something inspired by Gomez from the Addams Family, although nobody else on board got the reference save for Rewind, who was suddenly upset they hadn't picked that as their group theme. Tailgate was just thrilled to have shiny scales temporarily detailed over his paint job, lending a shimmering effect to his every move. 

-

Back stage, the teams began to intermingle a bit, although mindful of not violating any of Ultra Magnus' rules about potentially spoiling the integrity of the judging process by helping other teams with costumes and so on for about fifty pages. 

Drift took in Ratchet's costume, approaching a bit too tenderly for it to be the effect of any engex he may have consumed before hand. It set off Ratchet's diagnostics coding, returning a reading of increased anxiety indicated by signs of  ever so slightly rising energon consumption levels as Drift's fuel pump started to rev at a slightly elevated rate, as well as a touch of fatigue from Drift's lack of recharge time beforehand. 

"What's wrong? Are you afraid of losing?" Ratchet teased him, but only gently, probing to see where Drift was mentally at the moment. Did dressing up have bad connotations on Rodion? Was Drift relating this to some disguise or situation from his past that was potentially upsetting? Ratchet was ready to leave at any time, stress over an unmanned medbay lingering in the back of his processor; He'd be happy to grab Drift and go if need be.

"I uh, you just did a really good job with your costumes is all. I mean I expected the cloaks and all that stuff, it looks good on you by the way! But the denta..." 

Ah. 

Ratchet shuffled a bit. "Yes, apparently Velocity found in her preparatory reading that human vampire lore emphasises pointed denta. They--" 

Drift interrupted, looking at the ground, looking anywhere but Ratchet's face. "They siphon their energon, or whatever human stuff, blood, from living people. They're siphonists. Like I used to be, way back, when I needed to get fuel, and... And they're evil." 

Immediately, Ratchet realised that of course, Drift would associate the vampire fangs with so much suffering from his own past, with cruel comments and judgements forced on him by bots who had no idea what it was like to starve or have to turn to any viable alternative to survive, including taking energon directly from the fuel lines of others. 

He raised up his hands towards Drift, testing to see if he'd be welcome for a hug. Drift looked up a bit and smiled, stepping into Ratchet's arms and accepting a brief embrace before Ratchet pulled back to look him in the eyes, hands still lingering on his upper arms. 

"Listen, Drift. If this is too much for you, we can go. I can go, you don't have to miss anything. I can take this all off and it's an easy fix; It's a minor procedure to numb and file them back down, and of course we were going to do it afterwards anyway. Velocity thought it would be more realistic if we just went ahead and altered our denta for the sake of it, but I should have thought more about how that might affect you. I--"

Drift leaned up to quickly kiss Ratchet, immediately jerking his head back with eyes wide, seemingly having not fully registered the fangs that met his until they physically pressed against one another, before giving a shakey smile. 

"No, it's okay. I just wasn't ready for it. The thought of you having to resort to... Anything like that, it makes my spark hurt. It reminds me of a lot of things I don't like about how I had to get through some hard times, you know? But I don't want you to go. I want you here. Plus... Now we match, right?" 

Leave it to Drift to try to power through something so significantly distressing to him. Ratchet appreciated the effort, but saw right through it. 

"I mean it, if this bothers you, I'm ready to get back to the medbay, undo it, and we can hit the bar again together later once things have eased up a bit, no problem. The humans might think vampires are evil, and a lot of bots might think siphonists are... Frightening, but I need you to know that they're not the same thing. People are often wrong about what they don't understand, and you only did what you had to in order to survive. And I'm glad you did it. If you hadn't, you wouldn't be here. With me, at a party that will be fun if you still want to go through with all this." 

Drift optics gradually returned to their usual brightness, his signs of anxiety slowly disappearing on Ratchet's constant scans, putting him at ease as well. 

"Thank you, Ratchet. I'll be okay once the shock wears off. I think it's a good costume choice, and you really do look good in the cloak. The black makes your white paint look brighter! And it's fun to think of all the spooky human stories... And some of our own too, I guess. Imagine, a siphonst medic! You would't have any patients, that's for sure." Drift smiled, making a point to flash his own fangs. Clearly he'd recovered from the initial shock, although Ratchet decided he might try to talk it out with him at some point when they weren’t caught up in all this. He didn't want Drift to suffer any blows to his self-esteem, or fall back into a trauma related depression, even a relatively minor one. He was glad Rung had a positive policy for booking short notice sessions, which reassured him a bit. Any problems, they could all work it out together.

"Well, I think anyone who needs a doctor badly enough is willing to go to whatever doctor happens to be around, in my experience. Siphonist or not. And are you calling my paint job dull? I'll have you know I polished my armour for this. Or First Aid did, at least. He was insistent that we represent the medical team as best as possible." 

"Seems like he's learning some things from you about professionalism, Mister No Crystals in the Medbay." 

"Hey, Ultra Magnus agreed with me. It violates... Some rule." 

"Sure it does." 

--

It was finally time for the costume contest, and 

--

"What happened? What happened? Hey! Someone else get up already!" Rodimus wasn't one to panic, but he was maybe actually slightly panicking. A little bit. 

After the Great Sword had reacted to Drift's incantation, everyone had experienced simultaneous processor reset from the energy surge, and it was taking some time for people to come around from the harsh and unexpected reboot. 

It seemed everyone in the bar had been affected by the wave, not dissimilar to an electromagnetic pulse, with bots slumped over their tables, a few leaning precariously over the bar, and others laying on top of each other where there had been only standing room left. 

Rodimus had been the first to wake, having fallen into a draped position half over Megatron and half pressed into the makeshift stage curtain, briefly tangled in his distress over waking up and feeling... Odd. 

He felt like his spark was super charged, like he had ingested far too much high grade energon and was borderline frying his own circuits. It was like his fuses had been blown, but a quick self-diagnostic came back completely normal, nothing out of the ordinary, everything working fine. 

His sensory input felt magnified somehow, like he was feeling the EM fields of everyone in the bar at a hundred fold. 

It wasn't bad. Just very, very odd. Which was never a good indicator of anything, the way things tended to go on the Lost Light.

He briefly considered paging the medbay, when he caught the passed out shaped of Ratchet and Drift together in the centre of the stage; Ratchet must have picked up on whatever was happening and had made a dive for Drift, resulting in both of them clattering to the ground on top of each other. 

Everyone he would turn to for help had also been affected; There was no 

"Megatron, wake up!" 

—-

"Ratchet, oh Primus, please, are you okay?" Drift had finally woken up, exhausted by his lack of recharge on top of the huge surge of energy that had burst forth from the Great Sword, which was connected somehow to his spark energy... He was drained, but determined to get a response out of Ratchet before he could even consider his own wellbeing.  

"Ratchet! Get up! Something's happened with the sword, and it's my fault, and I don't know what happened!" Genuine fear started to seep into his vocaliser, which was likely what finally jarred Ratchet back into awareness.

"...Drift? Are you alright?" Ratchet's voice was low and rough, still drowsy from the forced reboot. Drift knelt further down to help get a grip under Ratchet's shoulders to keep him from slumping over again, being careful of anywhere that may have been injured as he collapsed. 

"My scans are showing me you’re fine, but I think I need to run a diagnostic on myself... I feel like I haven't refuelled in Primus knows how long. My fuel tank was reasonably topped up before this, is anyone else experiencing similar symptoms...?" Ratchet was slowly regaining his bearings, relying less on Drift for balance once being sat upright, although they both remained seated with their legs tucked under them in the middle of the stage. Drift felt he could relax ever so slightly now that Ratchet was responsive enough to be engaging his medical protocols. 

"We all feel a bit strange. Me and Roddy feel overcharged almost, like having two sparks in one frame. It’s… intense, but manageable. Megatron is still out, and Roddy seems to be more charged up than I am. It might be a Matrix thing with him, we don't know. My fuel levels are good, feeling the opposite of drained right now. Our internal diagnostics are coming back normal, but that's clearly wrong. Any ideas?" 

Ratchet was slow to reply. He was never slow to reply, not when it came to medical matters.

"Ratchet?" Drift grabbed Ratchet's shoulders, preparing to brace him and lay him out gently in case he lost consciousness again. 

"Drift, I need you to listen to me carefully. I don't know what happened. I don't know what's happening now. I can't identify any apparent problems in my own self-diagnostics, aside from the erroneous fuel tank level discrepancy. I'm not leaking fuel from anywhere, I'm not burning it off any faster than usual. I'd need access to the medbay for more in-depth scans, but I don't think it's a good idea to be wandering the halls right now. We should keep this contained to the incident area as much as we can..." As he continued to speak, Ratchet looked more and more stressed, more concerned. And that concerned Drift. 

"What are you getting at, why are the halls unsafe? Do you think this is some kind of attack? It originated from my Great Sword, it was... I think it was the incantation. It had to be. Ultra Magnus made sure the threat level was at a minimum--" 

"No. I think that if we went out there, we'd be making the halls dangerous ourselves. Don't you feel that?" 

Drift felt his spark grind to a halt.

"What are you talking about? I feel fine, I feel suspiciously better than fine. Are you okay? Are you dizzy?"

"...No. I'm energy depleted. I need fuel." Ratchet leaned forward until they were pressed flush against each other, their knees touching in their kneeled position on the stage, chests touching right over their spark chambers. Drift kept his hands rested on Ratchet's shoulders, grip light, unsure of what to do. 

When suddenly, and with all the strength of a field medic frame, Ratchet leaned in and closed the rest of the distance, pushing Drift backwards to the floor so his knees lifted from their bent position and his legs splayed out under Ratchet, who was now so close to laying across the top of him that it nearly took Drift's breath away.

Ratchet whispered directly against Drift's neck cables, close enough to his audials that it made Drift's spinal strut shiver and lock up. "I need warm fuel. I need your fuel.”

Drift immediately froze. This didn't sound like Ratchet. This couldn't be Ratchet. Because Ratchet would never make him feel this vulnerable, he would never do this. Ratchet isn't a siphonist...

...Or he wasn't before whatever just happened, happened. 

"Don't do this!" Drift had intended to scream it, but it came out as a whimper that only Ratchet could hear as his breath was taken away by the pointed denta scrapping gently along the central fuel lines in the side of his neck, just above his collar plating and below the corner of his tilted helm, as Ratchet’s glossa searched for the most medically sound place to puncture the lines and begin to siphon fuel. 

Imagining Ratchet's mouth full of his energon, still hot from being cycled through his systems, Ratchet’s face swirling the fuel around his fangs and smiling at him in sick contentment the way Drift knew he himself had done to others in his past filled him with a level of dread and distress that he didn't know he was still capable of feeling. 

He tried to roll to knock Ratchet off balance, but he was now pinned beneath the medic, whose wider frame was made for detaining unruly patients and built to cope with such resistance. The moment had only caused Ratchet to get a better glimpse at his central fuel lines, Drift's neck having flexed in the process, encouraging a small thrilled hum from Ratchet that terrified Drift straight to the spark. 

He couldn't let Ratchet do this. He wouldn't let him become a siphonist. Ratchet is a good mech, a kind-hearted mech, and Drift refused to imagine what would happen if Ratchet drained him of fuel and snapped out of whatever this was and hated himself the way Drift had hated himself...

...But at the same time, they were in a room full of vulnerable and disoriented bots. Many of whom had still not fully rebooted and had no chance of putting up any defence at all. If Ratchet was under some spell, or whatever was happening, then there was no guarantee that he would be able to be restrained, or that he could restrain himself, from simply going after someone else. 

Drift realised in horror that if Ratchet didn't get his fuel fix from him, right now, he would likely just hurt someone else while in this trance-like state, focused solely on satisfying a feral hunger... Drift could at least relate, and was awake enough to consent as much as possible under the circumstances, and it didn't take all that much effort for Drift to talk himself into going limp. 

As he rested back flat against the stage floor, Ratchet briefly froze, giving Drift a flash of hope that he was coming to his senses, that his medical protocols were overriding whatever this was and that he would immediately jump off and apologise and demand another systems check before they started working out whatever was going on. 

But instead, Ratchet made some awful little low trilling noise, lowering more of the weight of his frame against Drift's chest, and whispered into his neck: "Your vents are spewing out so much heat. Your fuel will be so warm in my mouth. Listen to my voice, Drift. You know how much you mean to me. I won't hurt you, I'll never hurt you. I'm a medic. I want you to feel good, be healthy. Forever. I want you to feel the way I do." 

Drift was caught between old traumas and the trauma currently unfolding. He had no response, cleansing fluid building up behind his optics, threatening to cloud his vision and steam up his lenses from the inside from all the heat his rapidly spinning spark was generating throughout his systems. 

He vaguely became aware of some almighty commotion happening somewhere in the bar, but he didn't dare attempt to move. He couldn't have even if he tried. It was painful hearing Ratchet like this, the kind voice worn by age that he was familiar with tainted by something rough and sinister, for all the friendliness it still contained. 

"Did you read all the human myths, or just about the crystals? It seems the Earth vampires can turn another human into one by sharing blood, their energon. After I take a sip from you, would you bite into me? Or would you prefer if I clean cut one of my fuel lines for you to suck on? Would you do that for me? We match, after all.” Drift could feel Ratchet flash a wide smile into the side of his neck. 

Ratchet's voice was starting to have some kind of cognitive effect on Drift's processor, numbing him to the waves of anxiety and making the noises in the bar seem even further away, sinking him into Ratchet's grip, making it impossible to activate his own vocaliser. 

"We could be together forever, Drift. No more flitting in and out of each others lives. Security. Safety. Stability." 

With Drift completely flattened beneath him, helm lolled to the side and central fuel line finally exposing the medically ideal spot to place a bite, Ratchet was satisfied. He leaned in and sunk his pointed denta into the perfect centre of the line, immediately creating a suction and drawing a swift stream of warm energon into his mouth, a deep moan from Drift weakly rising from beneath his grasp--

--And at that moment, Rodimus with immense precision drew down a bar stool leg directly into Ratchet's helm, the metallic clang echoing through the room as Ratchet’s head was forced away from Drift’s neck, a pool of energon steaming up from the tear in the central fuel line, ripped open further by Ratchet’s pointed denta never having had the chance to loosen the bite first. 

Rodimus quickly put himself between Drift and Ratchet, kicking Ratchet in the shoulder to create more distance while avoiding harming him as much as possible before turning to face Drift. 

“Primus, Drift, we shouldn’t have left you two alone, some of the others started waking up and Megatron’s still struggling a little with the hard reboot, are you okay? Drift?” 

Drift barely registered what Rodimus was panicking about as he was only gradually coming out of whatever state Ratchet had put him in. He felt like his temperature regulator has to be malfunctioning now, or perhaps he had just lost too much heat from pushing himself too hard and venting off too much of the heated air that speedster frames tended to build up. 

Setting himself upright, he relied on Rodimus for support, immediately showing the tear in his fuel line, optics slightly foggy and looking off to the side. “I need to wrap this up… It’s not as bad as it could be, but it really is, isn’t it? What’s wrong with Ratchet, Roddy?” It was hard to hear Drift’s voice, usually so lively and firm, take a low and demure tone made rough by the damage to his neck. 

They both looked over to where Ratchet had been unceremoniously kicked on his back, Rodimus continuing to stay tensed and alert in front of Drift in case Ratchet tried to make another move.

Cautiously, Rodimus spoke up as his right hand helped Drift hold the fuel line edges together; Rodimus winced at how much it must hurt, but Drift was making no complaints as it was slowly and carefully wrapped by some previously subspaced tape. In fact, Drift seemed… Sad, more than scared. He was being too quiet, moving too little even considering his injury, and his EM field was full of exhaustion and distress. 

“What the hell happened? Ratchet, you… I didn’t hit you that hard, did I? Can you answer me? What were you doing?”  He wanted to ask why, but one thing at a time. He suspected that Ratchet didn’t know the answer to that last one, and Rodimus didn’t want to press someone who was potentially unstable and clearly dangerous at the moment. He pressed his back closer to Drift, fully ready to defend him if needed. 

Rodimus took in Ratchet’s crumpled pose, still laid out where he had been kicked back, a look of absolute shock and strain on his face as his fists curled tightly against the stage floor, steaming energon dipping from around his slightly open mouth in small pools as he ex-vented heavily. 

As Ratchet shook his helm a bit, he replied with an absolutely wrecked voice, as if it had been his vocaliser nearly ripped out instead of Drift’s. “I, Rodimus, I don’t know how long I’ll be lucid for. My fuel tank levels are registering within perfectly normal levels, but it feels like I’m being constantly drained, like I’m losing fuel from a leak that doesn’t exist—“

“So you put a leak in Drift?” Rodimus knew he shouldn’t have said anything as Ratchet’s head whipped up and stared him directly in the optics, the shattered look on his face so unfamiliar on Ratchet’s features that it startled Rodimus to see it. 

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. My scans are coming back fine, all of them, I can’t find what’s wrong.” Real panic was seeping into Ratchet’s vocaliser, a bizarre and awful contrast to his usual calm steadiness even in the worst of situations. “You don’t understand, Rodimus, whatever energy the Great Sword released has altered my systems, perhaps everyone’s systems… Drift said you both felt overcharged, but I feel energy depleted, and it’s doing something to my processor. I feel so strange and— And Drift.” 

The entire time he spoke, without his knowledge, his glossa lightly flicked out here and there to catch some spare flecks of Drift’s energon that had settled around his mouth. It set off a sick feeling in Rodimus’ spark, as it was clear Ratchet genuinely couldn’t help it, as if his coding had gone severely wrong somewhere. It reminded him of a cyberfox licking its paws after a hunt. It was too unrefined and subtly animalistic for a bot like Ratchet. It looked wrong, it felt wrong, and he could feel a surge of concerned sadness burst forth from Drift’s EM field behind him. Evidently he’d finished wrapping his fuel line and was now focused on Ratchet. 

Ratchet noticed and finally moved, only slightly to avoid startling Rodimus into unnecessary action, as he picked up on Drift’s distressed EM signals. 

“Drift, Primus, are—“ Ratchet’s optics went wide and he jerked back oddly, not moving from his place lest Rodimus make a move, but as though he were torn so completely that he couldn’t move. “—My medical protocols demand your neck be examined. If I do it, I don’t know what I’ll do. Where’s Velocity and First Aid?” 

—-

Megatron bellowed across the bar, “They’re behaving oddly, get ready to fight them off!” 

—-

"Drift, we're medics. We know where to bite to take the most energon straight from the central fuel line the fastest. I just did it to you, and being ripped free like that can rip the cable lining and weaken the integrity of the fuel line under pressure. It ruptures and causes a major bleed. It can kill someone. It will kill someone. If at any point we start failing to restrain ourselves, you have to incapacitate us. Tie us up. Do whatever. We are officially dangerous until this is resolved. I can't say my behaviour will be predictable, or sensible."

He then turned abruptly to Rodimus and Megatron, Ultra Magnus off to his opposite side, ready to intervene if needed. 

"One of you, or both of you, I am asking you to do whatever you need to do if I go after Drift again. If I go for his central fuel lines again, he's already damaged. Another bite will weaken the line structure, its integrity will fail, and he will lose too much energon to be within safe levels. His nanites will take far too long to repair a gash that size. Please." 

Ratchet hung his head, avoiding everyone's optics. 

"I am a medic. I heal bots. I don't kill them. 

---

AND THAT’S AS FAR AS I GOT, I hope to finish this up and edit it for AO3 soon, Happy Halloween! 

#Halloween #MTMTE #transformers fic #ll #maccadam #maccadams #dratchet #megarod

[blackbirdmuses]

Storm || Monologue

Heavy, black clouds hung over the skeletal trees at the edge of Halloween Town. Darkness swiftly descended and the first roll of thunder boomed in the distance. Storm sat on the roof of the treehouse, watching the horizon with expectant green eyes. There had always been something about encroaching tempests that had relaxed him. While his mother jolted at every flash of lightning, Storm stared up, wide eyed as the sky filled with jagged light. Perhaps it was because he was born during a colossal, raging storm, or maybe it was his namesake, but he’d always held an affinity with gloomy weather. He would nestle himself among the broken slates, pressing himself to the hollow base of the dead tree, then, he’d wait patiently for the first droplets of rain to fall from the weighted heavens.

However, something more than an anticipated downpour had coaxed Storm to his perch on the roof today. He’d had an argument with his twin brother, Thorn. It seemed as though, in their ten years of living, neither of them had ever had a very serious disagreement; until today. The boys had got into trouble over a piece of graffiti on the back wall of the Town Hall (a drawing that Storm had concocted) and, instead of taking his share of the blame in encouraging Storm, Thorn had placed all the blame on Storm and managed to escape punishment. Now, Storm would have to spend his entire weekend cleaning the wall by himself. The twins had fought, loudly shouting at one another and stomping around until Thorn had retreated to their bedroom and Storm had run for the rooftop. 

With his knees up at his chest and his hood firmly hooked over his head, Storm watched a bright flash illuminate the billowing clouds on the horizon.  “Stupid Thorn,” he muttered. “Wasn’t even my idea. Always getting me into trouble for nothin’.” 

He kicked a slate from the roof, watching it slide down the edge until it smashed on the ground below. With a huff, he heard a gentle scuffing sound behind him. It was probably Thorn, so he ignored it.

“Thought I might find ya out here,” That wasn’t Thorn’s voice. Storm turned around and looked up to face his father. The shadows dropped away from his sides and he leaned one arm against the dead tree. “Mind if I join you?”

Storm licked his lips and shook his head, shuffling aside to allow him to sit next to him. Now he was in for it. His father hadn’t been around when the Mayor had berated the twins for their graffiti, but he had assured the twins that he would tell him all about it when he saw him. Thorn hadn’t taken the threat seriously, but Storm had. Look who was right, he thought.

Oogie lowered himself into a seated position next to Storm, casting a glance towards him. “Ah,” he breathed, pointing at his hood. “Probably a good idea.”  Storm blinked, watching as his father scooped a hand down towards the shadow of the dead tree and swept it over his shoulders like a cape. When the darkness parted, a dark green hood appeared over his brown curls and covered his shoulders.

Against himself, Storm couldn’t help but smile. “Cool,” he muttered. Oogie looked towards their view. “Won’t be long ‘til that storm hits us, huh?” he commented. “Your mother will pro’ly want us to come inside before it starts gettin’ too close, though.”

Storm sighed, scratching at his hands. “I don’t wanna go back inside.” He could feel his father looking at him again. “That ‘cause of your fight with Thorn?” he asked him earnestly. Storm didn’t answer. “I heard ‘bout what happened today. You ain’t in trouble.” Storm blinked, turning back to him. “I’m not?”

Oogie shook his head. “I thought your drawin’ was pretty gruesome, actually,” he admitted. “Although, you pro’ly shoulda picked a different wall-” Storm shifted around. “That’s what I said! But Thorn wouldn’t listen! He said that wall looked too boring and needed kickin’ up a notch!” Oogie chuckled under his breath. “Well, it’s certainly a lot more vibrant now, that’s for sure. I like the colours you chose, neon green an’ red? An’ that skull with the snake comin’ out of it? You got a real gift, Storm.”

Storm smiled. He’d always hidden his artwork in sketchbooks before, just doodling in the margins of writing pages or on the corner of napkins. It had been Thorn that had noticed his talents and suggested the idea of street art, but after the Mayor and some of the townsfolks’ reaction, it had felt as if Thorn had encouraged him just to get him into trouble. Thorn had insisted that wasn’t the case, but Storm couldn’t help but feel betrayed nevertheless. “Does that mean I don’t have to clean it off the wall?” he had to ask.

Oogie heaved a sigh. “Afraid not, fella,” he confessed. “You kinda covered up an important notice board with ‘Boogie’s Boys’ an’ some folks ain’t very happy about that, but...I guess y’know that already.” Storm looked at his feet dejectedly. Off in the distance, the thunder continued to ominously rumble and lightning cracked through the clouds.  “I wish Thorn would listen to me,” he muttered. “I told him it was a bad idea...and now everybody hates me.”

“Hates you?” scoffed Oogie. “Storm, nobody hates you. All you did was upset a couple ghouls, but forget about ‘em! The Mayor changes moods as quickly as he changes faces an’ the other ghouls will have forgotten all about it in a week.” Storm sniffed. “I thought you’d hate me.” Oogie’s gaze softened. “Me? Why?” Storm buried his face in his knees. “Because...you’re friends with the Mayor and Uncle Jack and they were mad at me and that’d make you mad and then you’d hate me-”

Storm looked up as he felt an arm wrap around him, pulling him closer to his father. “Stormy, kiddo...” he breathed. “...I could never hate ya, okay? Never. You’re my son an’ I love you. One li’l’ badly placed wall doodle ain’t gonna change that.”

Swallowing thickly, Storm wiped his eyes and rested his head on the side of his father’s chest. Storm had almost expected his father to lose his temper and lecture him about how disappointed he was, as he had done on the couple of occasions where he and Thorn had almost fallen into the acidic vat of sewage or played among the - mostly - dismantled sharp instruments in the Lair. It had seemed as serious as that when the Mayor was huffing and puffing at him in town. 

“An’ you know someone else who could never hate you?” asked Oogie. “Thorn.” Storm pursed his lips and sat up straight, looking into his father’s eyes. “But, he deliberally got me in trouble, Dad!” Oogie hummed and shook his head. “I don’t think he did. I figure that Thorn really thought his idea was a good one, an’ when he saw you gettin’ in trouble...he panicked.” Storm frowned. “Thorn? Panic?”

Oogie leaned in, looking left and right before he whispered: “Wanna know a secret? Somethin’ that even Thorn’ll never tell ya?” Storm blinked, nodding enthusiastically. “He’s real scared of bein’ caught red handed when you guys set up pranks.” Storm’s eyes widened. “He is?” “Oh, you bet! An’ I should know, because I’m the-” “Boogieman!” hissed Storm, amazed. It suddenly made sense why Thorn was eager to ensure their pranks were quick, concise and failproof every time they set them up. Storm had always assumed that he was just being efficient, but this made a lot more sense.

“An’ I’ll betcha anythin’ that he was just as scared of gettin’ in trouble as you,” continued Oogie. “An’ I know for a fact that he’s real sorry ‘bout it, too.” Storm made a face, looking off onto the horizon. Rain was beginning to fall in the distance, making dark spots on the ridged grass at the edge of the moors. Against his frustration at his twin, Storm had to admit to himself that he was missing his brother. They were rarely ever apart for longer than a few hours, and it felt like much longer than that today. 

“I guess I could talk to him,” sighed Storm, watching the rain getting closer.  “Atta boy!” breathed Oogie, ruffling his hood and looking into the distance. ���We should get inside real soon, huh?” Storm looked up at his father. “Think Mom’ll mind if we stay in the rain for a little bit?” Oogie returned his gaze to the approaching rain. “As long as neither of us catches a cold an’ we dry off when we get inside, I don’t see why not.”

“Thanks Dad.” replied Storm, lifting his face as the rain came thundering down upon the roof, soaking the two of them within seconds.  Storm broke into a peal of laughter and he could hear his father join him. Rain cut through his jacket and onto his t-shirt, weighing him down as the thunder roared above them. “Okay, let’s go!” shouted Oogie, wrapping an arm around him. Darkness covered them both in a blanket, and the next thing he knew, he was flopping into the sofa with his father sitting next to him, the sound of the storm far above them.

“That was fun.”

#| monologue: twins #[A quick monologue from when the twins were younger :3]

[jack-o-chica-the-spooky-chick]

The sun has set and the porch lights are on-

Welcome to Jack-O-Treat 2021: A Tumblr Trick-or-Treat Event!!!

Don your costumes and set out into our neighborhood of participating ‘house’ blogs for a night of trick-or-treating that lasts until the clock strikes midnight on October 31st and November calls all the ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties home!

🎃

As a trick-or-treater, you can visit the following blogs through the end of the month, send an ask/message/submit-a-post saying ‘trick or treat,’ and wait to see what treats –or tricks- they share! And hey, check all the blogs out and consider giving them a follow!!

Here’s our delightfully frightful neighborhood of current ‘house’ blogs as of October 23rd, 2021:

@askfazbearfrights

@askfnafcast

@askfnafcrew

@ask-springsecurity

@ask-the-second-chance-frights (New as of Oct. 14th!)

@casinokitten

@chaospenelope

@diabolical-purple-devil

@fazbear-ent-official

@funtimespringscare101 (New as of Oct. 14th!)

@hekcle

@i-love-freddy-fazbears-pizza

@jack-o-chica-the-spooky-chick

@official-michael-afton

@overly-affectionate-animatronics

@pizzaplexquest (New as of Oct. 13th!)

@sals-corner

@springledongle (violent content warning)

@springlockedfoxy

@the-feral-one

@the-night-trio

@toonfanstars

@weird-au-askblog (New as of Oct. 17th!)

@wolfy-58

@xfnafweirdox

Thank you all for signing up and bringing this monstrous creation to life - you peeps are AWESOME, I appreciate every one of you and I hope you all have a spooktacular haunting season!!!

🎃

It isn’t too late to sign up to be a house, either! Just send me an ask or message me and I’ll confirm your addition to the list! I’ll keep this post pinned to the top of my page, which will have the most up-to-date list of participating house blogs, as well as notices of any of the blogs that need to bow out early and put up the ‘out of candy’ sign (hey, life happens)! As a reminder, we’re going to try to keep the event PG-13. However, 18+ and NSFW blogs are welcome to sign up to be houses, just let me know so I can note it on our house list- still need the treats to be PG-13 though. Treats/tricks can be photos of a handful of candy, pre-made/on-the-fly art, short literary pieces, poems, or whatever the ‘house’ wants to give out as long as it sticks with the basic PG-13 rule. Oh, and no jump-scares as tricks/treats please!

Houses have anytime before Nov. 1st to respond to a knock at their door, so please be patient with the lovely folks who signed up to be our houses (though that deadline is pretty flexible because, again, life/delays happen). If you can, send your trick-or-treat greetings well before the end of the month to make sure the houses have time to get their treats ready.

This is a pretty relaxed event and there’s no sense in getting stressed out over something that’s supposed to be fun, so if anything comes up or you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.

A few additional notes:

You don’t have to be a FNAF blog to participate, nor do your tricks/treats have to be FNAF themed.

‘House’ blogs can also trick or treat!

All fandom/non-fandom blogs are welcome to join in!

You don’t need a muse to participate. You can just be your lovely offline self if you like!

Please only visit each ‘house’ once (unless the houses specifically encourage repeat visits, but that’s totally up to them).

🎃

Thank you everyone who joins us on our (nearly) month-long Halloween night! Have fun, spread a little Halloween-y mischief if you want, be good to each other, and of course, happy haunting!!!

-The Poultrygeist 🧡

#FYI ​I’ll be a little delayed with my treats as I have a couple things I’m trying to finish up by the end of the weekend #Jack-O-Treat 2021 #jack-o-treat #halloween event #trick-or-treat event #SPOOKY TIME NOW!!! 👻🎃💀🦇

[lunermagick-sims4]

Griselda’s Story Part 15

  Caleb was just leaving after spending a night. Griselda was comfy laying there with him and she did not want him to leave but she knew he had to go to work. They kissed goodbye and he was off out the door. She was relaxing in her chair when she started to remember Caleb touch and Ren touch and her body started to feel tingly. She was actually thinking of having them both at the same time. What a crazy though but the two of them satisfying her needs and wants. She started to have fun with herself she was alone she though and she was enjoying herself till she noticed someone in the window. She gaps. “Oh my god! It Tom Peeping!” Griselda was so upset he ruined her moment. When she got out the door she found his pants were down and he had a boner. He hurried and got his pants up. She was horrified. “How dare you!” She went right to him and kicked hard in the balls. He cried and went down to the ground. He slowly got up and started to get away walking like he had to pee. Griselda laughed and went back into the house. Her mood was ruined to finish herself off so she figured she better get ready for the day and have a shower.

Griselda got out of the shower her curls were back. She put some hair gel in her hair to help her curls, she got her make up on and found her green star dress. She found tights with stars and moons on them. Plus her cute new laced up pumps. She was madly in love with these shoes. She got a notification on her phone telling her there was a Romance Festival going on in the City. She text Caleb. He text back and said he could not get away for work long enough on break. Griselda had no one else to go with but she wanted to go anyway. “Storm.” She looked around he was not there. “Oh right. I let him out today.” Storm was on adventure going around the neighbourhood. If he exploring I am as well to the city for the Festival. Griselda got onto her broom and started off to the city.

Griselda landed where the Festival was taken place. Smells from the food canteen smelled delicious and the place seemed fancy. Music was playing all around. She saw many people with drinks in their hands so she looked around and there was a fountain running with a pinkish liquid. She grabbed a cup and filled it up with the pink liquid. She was sipping away when she saw a guru, she went over to her. “What my future love life?” The guru looked at her and gave her a weird quote about love. Griselda was disappointed she was hoping maybe she tell her something but she was a phony. Griselda was starting to get hungry now. The drink was kicking in fast by the time she got to the canteen. She felt all romantic and wanted to tell everyone she loved them. She was throwing petals till the sim from the canteen brought her out of her spell. That almost like a love potion that drink she shook herself out of its. “What you like to order?” She looked at the menu all that looked good was ramen. “Ramen be nice.” The girl nodded. It was not long and they had a bowl of ramen and chop sticks waiting for her.

She was sitting and taking in the festival when she saw her alien friend Brittani Daniel  “hey!” She came over she looked happy to see her. “I was about to call you. How odd we be right in the same place.” Griselda knew what she wanted. She wanted some weed. “I got the goods all the time.” She smiled at her. “Here the money.” She passed her the money and Griselda gave her some Ak-47. “Promise you will like this.” They chatted for a bit and then she was off. Griselda decided to walk around to work off the food. She found some bird of paradised flower she harvest some so she could use in her wash tub and to plant later on. She got a call from Grace wondering if she wanted to duel at the duelling grounds in the Realm. Griselda accepted and went off for a duel. She went to the duelling grounds and she actually won against her. They shook hands and Griselda was proud of herself. She wish she had someone to tell but he does not want to talk to her right now. She started for home to do some laundry.

  Today is Autumn Equinox an other name is Mabon. It just like the ritual Harvest fest to pagan sims. Griselda got onto her laptop doing some research about crystals and different Wicca stuff. She read and learned new crystal but she was getting bored. She decided as one of the traditions was to carve a pumpkin. She needed to get dressed for the day and get cleaned up. She found a cute green crop top and washed out jeans. She thought the pants showed off her curves nicely. She grabbed her pumpkin and started to clean it out. She had a idea what she wanted to carve into it. Once the insides were all cleaned out. She started to carve, with all the hard work she carved a owl into it. She was pretty proud of her pumpkin she sat it outside. She will need to make another by Halloween.

Griselda wanted to go back to Strangerville again and go through some more papers to find evidence she went through a lot pieces of paper the other day but not enough to get what she looking for. Griselda flew on her broom to Strangerville thinking how am I suppose to get a key card to that door. Once she arrived she went back into the lab and went through some more paper. She took a break to smoke out of her bong. It seem to help calm her. This place did give her the creeps. She worked away till she got everything she needed. Now she need to make friends with military personnel to get a key card.

Griselda was about to leave when she heard something. She got off her broom and she found a baby ferret. She costed it in and let the little brown ferret smell her hand. She gave it a treat figured the poor thing hungry living out here in this desert. The ferret seem to be not scared of her anymore so Griselda decided to pick up the little one and the ferret let her. “Your a cutie. What are you?” Griselda checked to see what gender the little one was. “Your a girls. If you like to come home with me. I will call you Luna.” Luna looked up at Griselda and seemed to say yes in her own way. Griselda wondered what Storm will think of having a new roommate.

Once they landed home Griselda showed Luna the bowl and she started eating right away and drinking lots of water. “Poor thing.” Storm had not come back yet. His special food had not been touched. Griselda found a pumpkin bed for Luna. Next time she in town she will need to get another water bowl for Luna. Griselda bought a new food dish a while ago and she likes that it hold a lot more food. She heard knock at the door. She walked over to the door and it was Gemma she opened the door. She invite her in and there came Storm. He went right to his bowl and ignored Luna. Poor Luna, she looked kinda sad. “Hey Gemma! Guess what I found today!” Gemma looked down. “Oh my gosh it so cute.” Griselda looked at Storm and Luna she loved her pets and she really hoped they get along. “Her name is Luna” Gemma smiled. “I love it.” Another knock came to the door. Griselda opened it and it was Miko Ojo “I like to buy some weed, Griselda.” Griselda nodded and gave her purple haze. “Come in.” She came in and said hello to Gemma. Griselda was chatting with the girls when she heard another knock. To her surprised it was Ren! “Ren ahh hello.” He smiled at her and they went to her inside garden to talk. “Hey Ren!” Gemma said perky. “Hi” they went into the green house. “I am surprised to see you.” Ren touched her arm. “I know it odd for me to just show up but it is Autumn equinox and I need to see everyone. But I really wanted to come see you.”

Griselda nodded and her heart fluttered. Luna came into the green house. “Meet Luna!” He looked down and petted her. “She so cute. A ferret.” They agreed it was time to go face everyone they did not want to stay away for to long. When they came out Minerva was there. “Hey everyone! So nice of you all to come visit.” Everyone was chatting away. Gemma came over and started talking away to Ren. Miko came over. “I think I will be leaving. Have a good holiday.” Griselda said goodbye and she left. Minerva, Gemma and Ren went over and sat down in the living room. Griselda tidy up some dishes and then went over to chat with everyone. They were talking about the ceremony and everyone was bringing a bunch of food. “Do I need to bring anything?” Griselda asked. “Oh no dear. Just us older folks.” Minerva said smiling sweetly. Griselda was happy she did not have to bring anything. Gemma was talking the ear off Ren and it bother her more then it should. Ren eyed Griselda and he must of known how she felt. “I am going to go get ready for the ceremony.” He went over to Griselda and hugged her. “I am sorry I made you feel weird.” He whispered in her ear. His touch still made her feel chills. “It okay. I am okay.” He pulled back and smiled at her and left. She did not want to let him go but people were watching and she had to let him go. Was not long and Gemma and Minerva agreed with Ren idea. “Dear we will see you at the ceremony. It starts in a hour and you need to get ready too.” Griselda nodded and hugged them both goodbye. Once everyone was gone she petted her fur babies and went to find something for autumn equinox.

#simblr #sims 4 #sim 4 story

[rebelminxy]

Now or Never-Chapter 1

Pairing: Jared Padalecki x Reader

Rating: Teen (only this chapter will have this rating)

Word Count: 2561

Summary: Jared Padalecki is a star on a hit series Supernatural and has dedicated his life to the show and his family. And now that the show has aired its final season and his kids are older, he is realizing there are a few things in life he could get back. Especially a certain someone he met a few years ago. Now that she is back in his life, he plans on not missing his second chance with her and hopefully gets the girl that took his heart that one Halloween night.

A/N: This story is written with the line that Jared and Gen are divorced and best friends. This is in no way to disrespect the Padalecki family and I send so much positive love to them and their children. This is only written for fictional purposes only and hopefully, you will enjoy it. And no, there won���t be any spoilers involving season 15! And the costume the reader wears is the same bodysuit Shakira wore in her music video She Wolf but I gave it a bit of a twist. That song gave me the inspiration for this chapter.

Series Masterlist

SPNKinkBingo

     Jared walked out of his trailer, still dressed in his “Sam” outfit from earlier that day. He waved over to a few crew members who were making their way over to the studio building where they had been filming earlier. He walked a bit behind them, the music growing louder the closer he got. Once he was standing at the open doorway, he searched through the crowd until he found them. He made his way through the crowd towards Jensen and Danneel, who were talking to the new actress on set Genevieve. Jensen was dressed in the costume Dee brought him, a plastic Gladiator suit and she was dressed in a white toga. Since both women went costume shopping for the Halloween party that was thrown together last minute, it seemed like Gen decided to go along with the toga decision. 

“Looks like I missed the costume memo,” Jared joked as he greeted the trio. 

“Dee did offer to get you a costume,” Jensen chuckled, looking at Jared’s attire.

“Hey, this counts as a costume. I’m dressed up as a character.”

“Yeah,” Dee interjected. “But you would have been a great gladiator too.”

“I’m not much for costumes, but thanks Dee for offering,” Jared chuckled as he looked over at Gen, eyeing her up and down in her toga. It wasn’t as body forming as Dee’s but Jared couldn’t help but notice how pretty Gen looked. 

     The four stood there talking and laughing, watching the rest of the party members have fun and dance. Dee and Jensen had gone out on the dance floor a couple of times, Jared and Gen joining them for two dances, but they mostly stood back by the punch bowl table and conversed with each other. Jared did notice how often Gen was checking her phone, constantly looking up at the entrance.

“Hey Dee,” Jared whispered as he leaned in closer to her. “You sure Gen is having fun? She keeps looking at her phone.”

“Oh, she’s waiting on a friend that is taking her to a party after this one. Gen is just worried about her friend getting lost since it's her first time in Canada.”

     Jared responded with an ‘ahh’ and turned his attention back to Gen, now curious who this friend could be. After another 30 minutes, Gen smiled widely as she looked to her right, waving towards a girl that was walking straight towards them. Jared’s eyes went wide and felt his breath hitch as he watched the beautiful woman swaying her hips towards them.

     She was wearing a skin-tight brown bodysuit that did nothing to hide her curves. But the suit was cut off at her right shoulder, her left hip and a curved opening that exposed the skin under her right breast down to her belly button. The edges of each cutoff were torn and smaller random areas exposing bits of skin as if claws ripped through the cloth. She wore high heel boots, a brown on the right foot and a cream-colored one on the left. A furry tail that reached the back of her knees swung behind her, various shades of brown and white. She also wore a gold chain around her waist like a belt, probably holding the tail in place. Her hair was curled all wild and in disarray, on purpose most definitely. There were tufts of fur along her neck and the edges of her face, the same color as the tail. Her makeup was done to give her a wolf-like face and long black nails in the shape of claws finished the entire look. 

     Once she reached Gen, she gave her a wide smile and a hug, the girls giggling as they greeted each other.

“I thought you got lost!” Gen exclaimed.

“Nah, just took longer on my costume than planned.”

“It looks awesome, but you really had to go with showing so much skin?” Gen groaned.

“Hey, it's Halloween and this is the only time I can get away with this!”

“And your cosplay events,” Gen noted. “But let me introduce my new friends. Jensen, Danneel, and Jared meet (Y/N) (Y/L/N). We’ve known each other since middle school.”

     (Y/N) greeted Jensen and Dee with a handshake but when she turned to greet Jared, he felt his breath get taken from him once again. Her (Y/C/E) eyes drew him in so easily, and when their skin touched for the handshake, he felt an electric shock go through his body. This was a first for him, never feeling this much for someone in such a short time. There was something about this girl that caught his attention and it wasn’t just the revealing costume.

     But he couldn’t ignore how sexy she was.

“Nice to meet you, (Y/N),” he said softly.

“Pleasure is all mine,” she responded with a purr to her tone, her long lashes fluttering as she blinked repeatedly. She quickly turned to face Gen and gave her a big smile. “Ready to go? The party has already started and we still have a 30-minute drive.”

“Sure, but would it be ok with you if we brought them along? They live in the area so we won’t have to drive around.” Gen begged as she gave (Y/N) a puppy look.

“Fine, the more the merrier,” (Y/N) giggled as she grabbed Gen’s arm and pulled her through the crowd. The trio followed the two girls, saying goodbye to whom they passed by.

     By the time they left the building, Gen and (Y/N) were in the car waiting. The trio piled in the back and (Y/N) pulled off, speeding down the road once she was off the lot. 

“She tends to drive fast but has thankfully never gotten into an accident,” Gen laughed at everyone in the back, Thriller by Michael Jackson playing on the radio.

“Yet,” (Y/N) added, causing Gen to laugh even more.

     They finally reached their destination, which surprised Jared since it was the same apartment complex he and Jensen lived in.

“So this is why you said you wouldn’t need a ride home,” exclaimed Dee.

“Yeah, the party is all along the top floor,” answered (Y/N). “A friend of mine has a cousin that lives on that floor and since everyone was thinking of throwing a Halloween party, they all decided to make it one giant party. Access to all the apartments and certain bedrooms for folks that want to, get it on if you know what I mean.” (Y/N) wiggled her eyebrows in the rearview mirror at everyone in the back.

“It’s invite-only and since (Y/N/N) here knows the cousin, I got invited. And since you two live in the building, I imagine they will be ok with you three joining,” Gen added with a giggle as (Y/N) drove into the private parking garage, taking the spot next to Gen’s car.

     They all got out of the car and rode the elevator up to the top floor, the base of the music getting louder as they got closer. Once the elevator doors opened, the five got out to find many couples making out in the hallway. 

“Party ends at midnight by order of the complex owner so we got two hours to have fun!” (Y/N) exclaimed as she ran down the hall. She suddenly jumped onto a guy’s back and her giggles could be heard as he carried her into one of the open doors.

“Well, let’s enjoy!” Gen exclaimed as she walked down the hall, Dee right beside her.

     As Jared and Jensen walked behind the girls, Jensen leaned in to whisper.

“So, who is going home with you tonight, greek goddess or she wolf?”

“Dude, seriously!”

“Jare, I saw how you were checking out (Y/N) earlier and you made it obvious you weren’t too happy with her on that guy just now.”

“Dude, I just met her tonight.”

“Doesn’t mean she didn’t leave a big impression on ya. Just curious if its the costume.”

“I don’t plan on taking either home, plus Gen and I are trying to give ‘us’ a go. I don’t want to ruin that, especially with her best friend.”

     Jared walked away from Jensen, catching up with Gen. The four walked around the party floor, watching the craziness from one apartment to the other. They danced and enjoyed a few too many drinks. Eventually, Jensen had to say goodbye, Dee drunk to the point that she could barely walk. Jared and Gen were stumbling around, laughing at each other when they finally reached an apartment that was slightly quiet. They landed on a couch and Gen quickly fell asleep at the far end, Jared sitting in the middle as sipped his beer. He was lost in his drunken thoughts when he felt the couch dip beside him. He turned to see (Y/N) sitting next to him, a little too close for comfort. She looked over at Gen and smiled.

“Finally she had fun,” (Y/N) muttered. “She is always busy working, never takes time to relax.”

“That’s our lives as actors,” Jared replied with a slur.

“Looks like you had fun as well, too drunk to get home?”

“Nope, just relaxing before I take Gen home.”

“Don’t worry, you can head home, I got Gen. She did give me her apartment key in case this happened.”

“Why aren’t you drunk?” Jared asked suddenly.

“Because I don’t drink.”

“Why?” he slurred out again, squinting his eyes.

“Long story. Now let’s get you and Gen home alright.”

     Before Jared could argue back, he felt a pair of hand pull him up from the couch. Through his drunken haze, he could see it was the same guy (Y/N) had pounced earlier. Jared didn’t fight as the guy wrapped an arm around his waist and guided him out of the apartment and to the elevator, (Y/N) not far behind with Gen in her arms. The ride down the elevator was quiet, Jared still lost to his drunken haze. He didn’t realize when they reached Gen’s place when the guy gently placed him on the couch. The guy looked down at Jared and huffed, a cocky smile on his face. Jared then closed his eyes, sleep pulling him in but he fought against it.

“So this giant was the one that made you feel weak in the knees?”

“Shut up asshole or Gen will hear you.”

“It’s not like they are official!”

“Yeah but she did say she was going to try,” (Y/N) responded, the edge of the couch dipping next to Jared.

“Well, you always did put her first in everything.”

“She’s my best friend, she deserves the best. And if this kid is who she is always babbling about, then she deserves him.”

     Jared opened his eyes slightly and saw (Y/N) looking down at him, her hand reaching to caress his cheek. He saw as the guy walked away, yelling something about a flight.

“Don’t worry, my cab is downstairs,” (Y/N) replied, her eyes still on Jared. “Damn, Gen is one lucky woman if things work out between you two.”

     Jared groaned and tried to raise his hand, but couldn’t from how heavy his body felt. He made a mental note to never drink like he did ever again. 

“Sleep and hopefully in the morning you don’t remember this.”

     Jared closed his eyes as he felt soft lips against his. It was a quick, chaste kiss, but he felt it vibrate through his entire body. 

“You be good to my girl now. Don’t make me regret not snatching you away.”

=======

     Jared woke up to the delicious smell of coffee and the sunlight beaming down on his face. He opened his eyes, confused by his surroundings until it hit him that he was still in Gen’s apartment. He got up and looked over to the open kitchen to see Gen standing by the coffee maker, mug in hand smiling at him, still in her toga. He got up and walked over, rubbing his forehead from the headache he had.

“Hungover?” Gen asked softly.

“Yeah, remind me never to drink that much ever again.”

     Gen giggled as she handed him a mug. Jared poured himself some coffee and stood next to her, silence as their company. He then noticed a note on the kitchen island, with (Y/N)’s name on it.

“Going to see her again later?” Jared asked curiously.

“No, she left on a red-eye to Japan.”

     Jared’s eyes grew wide at the news.

“Wait, without saying goodbye?”

“Last night was our goodbye. Made me promise to have fun before she left.”

“When is she coming back?”

“Don’t know. She is going out there to live with her sister-in-law. She graduated in May, getting her business degree to go help her sister out. But her sister gave her these past few months to ‘enjoy life’ since it's all business once she gets there.”

“But she will still keep in touch with you, right? I mean you guys are best friends.”

“Maybe, she made it clear that she will be super busy. Not only does she have to learn all about the business, but prove herself to her sister and her family so she can be the next CEO. So I told her to just call me when she has time.”

     Gen looked down at her mug with a weak smile. 

“I understand what she is heading towards is rough, she did explain to me how the Asaka family is and what they are expecting from her. But even with the separation, she will always be my best friend and we will always have each other’s backs.”

     Gen looked up at Jared and gave him such a big smile.

“Anyways, last night was her getting to see that I am in great hands when it comes to you, Dee and Jensen. That’s what she said in her note.”

     Gen grabbed the piece of paper and handed it to Jared. He took it from her and read the note.

‘Hey darling, sorry I couldn’t really say goodbye but will promise to call you the moment I land. Glad to see you had an awesome time, especially with your new friends. They seem like cool people, especially Jared so don’t let that one go. Going to miss you, darling! Don’t have too much fun without me.’

     Jared handed the note back to Gen before she walked away from her spot, talking about having to get ready to go see Dee. Jared yelled behind her that he was heading to his apartment, exiting her place. As he made his way towards his apartment, he recalled last night.

‘You be good to my girl now. Don’t make me regret not snatching you away.’

     Jared entered his apartment and leaned against his closed door, remembering how her lips felt against his. But he quickly opened his eyes and mentally slapped himself.

“She is gone and I have a possibility with Gen,” Jared whispered to himself. 

     Jared moved to his bedroom to grab a towel to shower, pushing the memory to the back of his mind. He had to focus on what was in front of him, focus on reality, not a one night fantasy.

#supernatural #supernatural fanfiction #Jared Padalecki #jared padalecki x reader #jared padalecki x you #Jared x You #Supernatural RPF

[crazy-talk]

As promised, here’s a little large compilation sort of thing of little moments and memories from SBFP that you folks have submitted. I really appreciate everything that you’ve all submitted, it’s pretty clear that SBFP helped and entertained a whole lot of people - in equal amounts.

Here’s some SBFP moments:

Grand Wizard Wakka

The Shitstorm VII Woolie haunting plan

“What a mysterious game.”

MY HOUSE

“Wait, what’s my objectives?” “You don’t haaave any objectives!”

Qui Gon Chi

“Whah happuh?” “das whah happuh!”

“No, shut up though.”

The Baby

“Shut the fuck up about Face/Off!”

“Bleetzboll...”

The Sadness Trilogy

“KIDS LOVE THE FOCKIN’ DEVIL!”

Pat thinking he’s dying because he sat on a chocolate bar

Kenpachi Ramasama

Shit-kids

“Whut deh fuhk? Is he using duh bät room?”

Mr. Shakedown/Kenny/Quint/Eric Sparrow

TAR-KUS! TAR-KUS! TAR-KUS!

“Love is just chemicals.”

Pat eating candy alone in a closet

Matt throwing the fire axe

“Oh no, I make’da bad game!”

“Hey, is that the script?”

“JAAASON!”

“It’s fine.”

The RE2 valve noise

“Yeyeyeye!”

Woolie’s atomic purple Gameboy

“Eyy, what’s goin’ on, man? You ready to play?”

And some SBFP memories. Some of these may be a bit emotionally heavy so feel free to skip this part:

the sbfp lp of yakuza 0 got me and my best friend into the yakuza series. we watched it together and we still laugh about matt falling to pieces over "never-before-seen results" - Anon

the best friends have had such an influence on my speech patterns that i've infected people who've never watched them before. half of my friend group says super big [x] and porked up now - Anon

SBFP introduced me to so many games that ended up becoming personal favorites of mine, like Deadly Premonition and the Silent Hill series. Their videos became a way for me to spend time with some of my own best friends as well! -  captainofthestars

theres one particular moment that will always resonate with me - in their devil may cry lets play, i cant remember if it was 1 or 3, they talk about someone in the comments who mentioned that they had to beat devil may cry with items due to having a physical disability of some kind, i cant remember which. they talked about how it was awesome that he managed to even beat the game like that, and, personally, as someone who struggles with motorskills issues this made me very happy, as a devil may cry fan. theres a lot of other great moments from the tbfp, both funny and genuine that made me happy, but this one in particular stuck with me a lot. -  krillfingers

I'll never stop making "pull out king" jokes thanks to sbfp - venerabledreadnought

I remember the first Shitstorm that made me actually have to get up and sit in a brightly lit room with other people in it, Anatomy. It's become a Halloween tradition to watch it every year since, though watching a whole bunch of Shitstorm also became one. As someone who started watching at their second machinma ep, it's not a lie to say that they made up the entirety of my teenage years. I will miss the channel dearly, but I look forward to the future. -  duke-nitro

My friends and I have been watching The Zaibatsu for so long that we have accidentally adopted a bunch of their phrases like going “yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah” or saying someone “go down.” Also, despite us not knowing each other when we became fans, we all somehow began with their Man vs Wild let’s play and I even made friends with one of them because I quoted something from it at work. Favorite moment probably has to be the entire Omikron playthrough, I can’t pick a single moment. It was a beautiful trainwreck start to finish and I still put on the playlist from time to time while I’m doing other things. I swear I could gently fall asleep to the sounds of Pat screaming about the shooter segments. shogun-ceanataur

Persona 4 and Kenpachi Ramasama were my favourite. I found the name itself hilarious, but how they kept on referring to him as the full name in different little bits and tones never failed to make me laugh. That “See you later, fuckers!” part from when you see Yosuke was also hilarious. I’m not sure if that video is the oeigin, but it’s why I’ve integrated that phrase into my everyday life. Goddamn what a fun, memorable episode. - whatthehellisthisevenfor

tbfp got me through being homeless in my car twice. every time that I wanted to give up, to just stop trying, i'd turn on whatever new video they had out and it brightened up my life. my mom, who was with me, came to love them to, she used to wait to hear them to relax. i have so many memories of that time, and i don't fully relax or even eat on long days until I've turned their videos on. my favorite quote is still "mistakes into miracles". its a rly motivating quote imo. -  c0l0c4k3s

I always loved the Silent Hill 2 LP. I never played it when it came out - all I knew was that it was a horror game, and I hated horror at the time. But when the LP came around, I knew a bit more about the game and I was intrigued. Seeing the game, meeting the characters, hearing Pat disect the story and themes for Matt, I loved it all. I was fascinated, and still am. I will still watch the LP every few months, and I call SH2 one of my favorite games, even though I still haven’t played it.Thanks, SBFP, for all the great moments and the great memories. I wish you all well. - iamthewanderingbard

The best friends are what got me so invested in the Dark souls games, and what motivated me to get through DS2. Even if I say 'You see what i mean' unironically a lot, and go 'You. Did it.' -  awkwardmuses

I got into Super Best Friends from a post on the Twin Perfect forum, that linked to the Silent Hill Downpour lp, and never looked back. Their let's plays brought me so much joy back when I wasn't in the best living or health situation, and continue to do so. My favourite let's plays have to be Eternal Darkness and the Shitstorms; I always go back to those when depression hits, or for any reasons. I'll miss them together, but I'll always have those delicious delicious memories. -  mrjaffesxeldritchtwin

The Best Friends Play are the reason I end so many sentences with "though". I first found them when a friend recommended the Best Sisters Play MLP animations, and I've loved them ever since. I know it's used as a joke, but I really believe they've earned the title of HYPEST GAMEPLAY ON YOUTUBE. I love all of their David Cage playthroughs, and I adore how many plot-points they guess during Beyond: Two Souls. I love how, when they play a game they really love, they show so much knowledge and care. -  mads-in-zero

It was incredibly amusing and oddly touching that the Zaibatsu created this hate circle of David Cage and his godawful games. Even before Detroit’s release, the best friends AND the fanbase were ready to hate it because as a collective, we just latched onto that one thing to hate/make fun of. And we go all out on it together like some fucked up family, and I love it. -  missinghmmingbird

I can’t help but shrug off every minor inconvenience and major issue in my life with “it’s fine” thanks to Gun Jumper Liam. Thanks to Matt and Woolie supporting Skullgirls like no one else on the internet, I really got into it and fighting games as a whole. I’m not good at them, but oh boy do I love them.And if it wasn’t for Pat, I don’t think I’d ever have touched a Yakuza or Persona game.These guys affected my life more than any other individual or group on the internet ever really has. -  dklordg

The first Best Friends video I ever watched was Portal 2. That short LP had me in stitches. I'd never laughed so hard. I've been a huge fan since then. These guys where the ones that introduced me to LPs and made me realize that you can have fun watching other people bumble through games. TheSw1tcher has been one of my favorite channels on YouTube since I began watching. It gave me something to look forward to. I got through high school, and essentially grew up, watching these videos. There are so many catchphrases and memes I will never forget and will always make me smile. I absolutely say stuff like “whah happun?” and “shit-kids” all the time. The Deadly Premonition and Detroit: Become Human playthroughs are wonderful gems in my eyes. It’s amazing how a group of guys can get so many people to collectively love and bash certain games. We’re all on the same page, having a blast like a huge group of friends at a slumber party. Matt, Pat, Woolie, Liam, Billy, and everyone who involved themselves with the Super Best Friends are the absolute best. They gave me a chance to relax and laugh along with some familiar voices. Although it's sad they are going their separate ways, I totally respect that fact. They have my love and support. I wish them nothing but success and happiness moving forward. I'll be watching! And a note to my fellow fans: This has been a wild ride. I'm glad I got to enjoy it with you. You are all fantastic people. -  fablesamongus

#Text post #Comp post #super best friends play #SBFP #Two Best Friends Play #TBFP

[girlsguidetopowertools]

30 days - 30 ideas

i have so many ideas of little things to include in animal crossing games (new horizons and the future), so i wrote one a day on twitter counting down to new horizons’ release, and i thought i’d compile them all here for easy reading now that the list is complete and new horizons is only hours away. (note that some of these were posted before the direct/other information was released, so they may be a little outdated, but what can you do.) let’s go!

day 30: observatory. (i said little but this is the biggest one.) i want the observatory back. but more: imagine if we could learn about real world stars, planets, and constellations like we do bugs, fish, etc. in the museum. & visiting opposite hemisphere towns would teach more!

day 29: combining villager personalities & essences/natures (pocket camp) to create more varied villagers and dialogue. also species' traits. a peppy, natural bunny (dotty) would be very different from a peppy, cute squirrel (peanut).

day 28: be able to combine certain fish or bugs into one container in your house, so you can have a personal mini aquarium or habitat. also, please let us change the type of container (and give fish more space in theirs so it's not so depressing).

day 27: let us refurbish (almost) all items. i'm willing to give a pass on event/gracie items because they're supposed to be special, but otherwise. i hate having a piece that fits the theme but doesn't match and you can't refurbish. (this includes rugs, flooring, wallpaper.)

day 26: different wrapping papers for presents. the wrapping paper in pocket camp is so cute, much cuter than the yellow sacks we get to buy in new leaf. i'd send so many wrapped presents to my neighbors!

day 25: let us build big pwps/amenities that we and the villagers can interact with. bonus if they're seasonal: an ice skating rink in winter, swimming pool in summer, ferris wheel in the spring... riding a ferris wheel with cherry blossoms blowing? sign me up.

day 24: (another big one) a way to change gender, and a nonbinary gender option. in new leaf, i had a lot of friends stop playing entirely because their avatar no longer matched them after coming out as trans, but they didn't want to delete their whole town, so they felt stuck.

day 23: let villagers catch fish and bugs instead of just perpetually trying with no reward. while it's cute to watch them stalk bugs in the bug off, never seeing them catch any makes me feel sad for them!

day 22: choose held items in dream towns (dream towns better still be a thing). a small detail, but most of my characters carry wands or balloons but can't in dream towns. and when your dream is set on a rainy day, you always default to a red umbrella no matter what.

day 21: sound configuration options. (apparently you can change the volume of kk slider songs playing but i wrote this before that, okay?) not just those, but being able to turn up/down/off hourly music, ambient noises, effects, etc. i'd love to turn up the sound of the ocean!

day 20: SUNFLOWERS. well, new flowers in general, but specifically sunflowers! they're my favorite, and we need tall flowers in the game. plus everyone went wild over the sunflower event in pocket camp.

day 19: more things to do with villagers together. not just going to each other's houses, but inviting to the roost, bug hunting, apple picking, etc. would be SO cute! and that *we* can invite *them*, not just wait for a random ping.

day 18: combine “traditional” events and holidays with wild world events for a fuller calendar. i LOVE the unique wild world events, but taking out toy day, halloween, etc. was also a mistake. the wild world events would fill in those months where major holidays don't happen.

day 17: multiplayer islands to live on with friends. now, nintendo is FAR behind the times with multiplayer, so i don't expect this if ever, but i want it. i want to make a town with my online friends, like a minecraft server. please.

day 16: side jobs. no obligation to do them at a given time or at all, but something extra and fun. working at the roost is a great example, and i'd love to see more: villager home designer, shopkeeper, restaurant chef... these would especially be great later in the game.

day 15: diagonal furniture. please. i like putting things kitty corner and some items, like the basket chair, just don't look right without that.

day 14: let villagers write random posts on the bulletin board again! it was one of my favorite things about wild world.

day 13: more interactive items, for both players and villagers. we've seen villagers reading books and eating ice cream, which is great, but it bothered me that they couldn't play on the jungle gym pwp and stuff!

day 12: let us layer small, tabletop items. PLEASE. clutter looks so much better and realistic when layering is an option, like in the sims.

day 11: remove restrictions on where we can plant palm trees and cedar trees. it never even made sense that cedar trees could only be planted on the top half of the town, but nothing we've seen so far hints at this changing.

day 10: customizable community buildings. one of my favorite parts of happy home designer was designing our own shops, hotel, concert hall, etc. they really made my main street feel unique, especially compared to new leaf's main street where everything's the same (minus unlocks).

day 9: let villagers swim! i want to have cute beach days with my villagers but not if they're stuck on the land.

day 8: ceiling items. please don't take away our ceiling items. we saw a pinata that could potentially be, but that's it (even the hanging plant was converted to a wall item). and, while they were a great addition in HHD, there were very few ceiling items. i'd love a LOT more!

day 7: minigames! at the very least, bring desert island escape back, but i'd love to see much more. a mix of amiibo festival minigames and the one in nintendoland would be great, as well as some new ones. especially if they're multiplayer to play with friends!

day 6: create-a-villager! i don't expect them to be villagers actually in the game, but it could be neat as a little side thing. when hacking new leaf was big, there were a ton of cute and creative fan-made villagers just made with retextures, and i'd love to see more.

day 5: nocturnal villagers and activities. i LOVE nighttime, it's so relaxing, but you also run out of things to do (or, pocket space, if you like nighttime fishing like me). at least residential services will let you sell your fish 24 hours a day, but i'd like a bit more to do.

day 4: something to replace streetpass/the HHA showcase. i loved seeing people's houses, and being able to order from them in new leaf was a nice bonus. i'd love something similar with our friends list, a mix between that and what we had in city folk.

day 3: deeper lore on special NPCs. we have a lot on the able sisters and the nooks, even some on brewster and blathers, but i want to know more about the others! what's pascal's story? we know nothing about him, he just... pops up randomly.

day 2: more weather events/phenomena. red moons, eclipses, blizzards, hail, MOONBOWS... there are so many neat weather things in the world!

day 1 (WE MADE IT!): biome DLC. i've been asking for different terrains/biomes since before happy home designer, where we got to choose those. even though new horizons is set on an island, it's still a standard biome with four equal seasons. i'd LOVE dlc that allows us to make a snowy mountainside home, or a home like the PNW where it mostly rains and snow is uncommon. or a tropical town with sunshine and palm trees abound. bonus if the DLC means we can have more than one town per console. please, i need it.

#animal crossing #new horizons #animal crossing new horizons #idea list #ideas

[thestudyfeels]

How To NOT Be Depressed.

(Or If You Prefer — How to Be Substantially Happy About Life.) 

WARNING: This is one rollercoaster ride of a post. Proceed with extreme caution. For some, the staggering levels of insight may induce true purpose and re-establish their warrior spirit. For others, side effects may include grammatically incorrect hate or aloof eyerolls. We advise exiting if the said group includes you, for we're very tired of cleaning vomit off the seats.

Step aboard at your own risk.

If you’re one of the brave souls who stayed back to join us, I congratulate you for even I am scared of how crazy this post truly is. Alrighty then, kick back and relax folks, today we’re having a mature, adult conversation. Merely another cheery afternoon spent talking about life and its realities. Not too bad, eh?

Before we begin, spoiler alert! For those of you already turned off by the mention of 'depression’ and packing their bunnies to leave, sit tight. This ISN'T really about depression. This is about HAPPINESS. No clickbait. That got your attention, right butterfly? Nice, now stay.

A welcoming, maybe demanding A/N: Do me a favor and read this in one go. Maybe even plug in those headphones and listen to the songs dedicated to each part as you read. It's long, you have the new Riverdale episode to catch up on, but don't hop away just yet because (I had a couple moments writing this, alright) it's life changing. You'll prolly cry a few tears of realization, nod all nod-able body parts in agreement, beat your chest at random instants 'cause the hype’s too real, and perhaps, if it isn’t too much to hope for, finally go change your life for the better. In case you've forgotten, this'll remind you that there’s always hope, that you're a born conqueror, and you were made to THRIVE, not survive. Convinced? Kay, roll the cams.

   To clarify first-hand, no, I'm not depressed although I’ve experienced mild depression for a period before. Glad to say I'm out of it but I still struggle with tackling what I'm about to detail next.

Insert bitter voice, it’s this: My life is nowhere near I want it to be. Though I know vaguely what I wanna do, I haven't yet figured out how the hell I’m supposed to get there, or how my dream life is to be sketched out. It’s all a blurry mess. Which, to put it bluntly, hurts. I HATE feeling powerless and worthless, roaming about aimlessly.

There are many such moments where I hit the brakes to wonder why I’m not living THE Life already. There have been several times when I curl up and cry a frickin’ Amazon. There are horrible nights where I'm shaking with emotions, but they won't release, leaving me choked. (…not in that way, you hoes. Um, just ruined the dramatic mood with a lame dirty joke, sorry.)

   They say talking helps and that's why I figured I'd drop in. But perhaps more importantly, I wanted to hang because no matter how unfocused the lens may seem at my future, I don't consider myself a dopey loser incapable of the crazy dreams or wild bucket lists I fantasize about– and I thought I'd skip along to remind you that neither should you. (Or maybe I just came to sniff the new appetizers, who knows?)

PS: I also broke a sweat listing six ways to get outta depression– alternatively, to be more of a conqueror– because y'all are always pestering me with asks that go “how do I conquer omg send supplies” (Like, imagine a conqueror saying that! Oh, the crime, the atrocity!)

So yes, you're welcome. Have a feast with this litness.  

The main reason behind people being so frightfully sad, I’ve found, is a huge lack of fulfillment. We don't do what we love, for either— [ 1 ] we aren’t living life the way we want to (since we keep doing things we feel we're supposed to do) OR [ 2 ] because Mama, Papa and Mrs. Carter next door feel that struggling is the only way, and project their traditional beliefs onto us. Either way, whether or not we consciously realize this, subconsciously, we're all hurting because of it. Badly.

That lingering feeling of emptiness never seems to leave. You feel drained every night when you drop into bed, not because you gave it your all, but because you couldn't. And so, we do the next best thing. Drugs. Maybe not literally, but figuratively. We numb out this subconscious pain by binge watching Netflix shows. We deaden ourselves to that discomfort by reading smut in the bathroom or by playing dumb video games all day. We try (and fail) to extinguish this feeling of not ‘being enough’ by having silly flings or fake friendships.

And ultimately, we NUMB ourselves out to LIFE for we can't bear to live the way we're living. There's a reason why “How to Stop Procrastinating” posts are so popular (they’re a blogger’s most foolproof way of paying the month’s rent, and yes, even I'm guilty of a couple). We’re constantly having FOMO and tuning into others' highlights on social media– completely missing out on our own lives in the process. We fail to realize that the culprit is lack of genuine purpose more than zero self-control (or maybe it’s both, but that’s a tale for another day).

[On a side note, obviously I did generalize a bit– video games can be a passion for you, watching shows a way of winding down. But for most, they’re only DISTRACTIONS, just another way of ignoring the calls of life by hanging up the phone.]

   And here's the bitter truth about depression: The longer you wait to start living authentically, the more you start tuning out the inner cries wanting change, the faster your dreams start to ebb away, and the more you'll want to become insignificant. And to me, that's the scariest part of this journey to my dream life.

Nothing frightens me more than knowing that the moment I stop pushing, the very moment I give in to distractions and fears, my goals will stop manifesting themselves and I'll be stuck in this small town with its small people eternally. And THAT, I'm certain, won't be any more fun than working your way through a soggy ham sandwich, ironic as soggy is what life has become. (Yes, I have a thing against soggy sandwiches. They were a kid's worst lunch nightmare.)

   If you relate, and I’m sure you do (it’s probably why you stopped scrolling through cheesy fanfic for ten minutes to read this, I know you amigo) — here are six ways to NOT be depressed. Or more accurately, to gift wrap yourself some sweet ol’ happiness.

You're a Samurai and the Following Be Your Katanas —

Hol’ up. The second you reach the End Card, I want you to drop your Cheerios and implement at least THREE of these six strategies. Just follow the Takeaways, I've made this really simple. And as a rule, one of them has to be this one. (Look, don't whine. If you wanna climb outta that dark hole, you gotta put in some effort. So pop that booty, and let’s get down to business!)

Here’s the most truthful, though cheesy thing I’ll ever say: I would be nowhere I am today without this blog. If not for it, I would most likely be weeping in a dug-out hole somewhere, drowning in my salty little pond of tears and chiming every loser’s favorite words (“there's no point”). Creating this blog gave me a definite purpose – putting out fiery content, dipping myself deep into my newly found passion for writing and influencing, and connecting with other conquerors on the platform.  

I meet a lot of folks, whether at Sad School, Mouldy Mall, or Boring Bus stop, who always seem to be in a state of death-inducing boredom. When asked about their favorite thing to do, they’ll mumble “sleep” or “food” like Siri narrating your cat’s evening routine. And then you see adults, dragging through life mindlessly. Utterly clueless, floating like a piece of driftwood in an ocean bubbling with life. My sympathy quota gets overdosed everytime I think about it.

   To spell it out, find something to do. Anything! Learn a language, try some ballet, take pictures of your neighbor's rose garden, make an art piece and show it to your mom, stitch buttons onto shirts for fun, heck, make an entire shirt out of buttons, take a break from reading smut to write your own, frutify your farts, WHATEVER, just get up and move.

And here’s why – nay, not to keep you engaged or make you feel less worthless, not that bullcrap. It’s to put in gear the journey of figuring out what is the shite that you love doing. Too often we get stuck thinking about what our oh-so-great passion is. Get this, passion is energy. A spark for something. A magical fortune cookie which, when cracked, seems to explain everything, gives you the very reason for being alive. You can only feel that fire, that wild love, when you actually do it. So get cracking is all I’ll say!

Takeaway:

Attempt something. Nah, scratch that, imagine you’re in a sweet shop with shelves lined with free samples and try everything. Pick up that Polaroid cam, take that dreaded history course, buy that children’s cooking kit– in short, start working. Pull out all the stops, get curious, and get creative. In the process, if you promise to try hard enough, you WILL (money back guarantee) find out what makes your little heart burst with mad happiness and would willingly do for free, if needed, because you really are that crazy about it. And that, my dear, will be your oh-so-great-indeed passion. Have no doubt, you’ll never be “bored” again.

Real talk, having a dream is a big deal. And unfortunately, I’ve witnessed, rarely anyone has one to begin with. They’re either more dead than the cheap skeleton I bought for Halloween or believe they have a dream, but in reality, it belongs to mom, dad, or Uncle Sammy. Listen, doing something for someone you love (my Uncle Sammy used to supply me with cold cash whenever he came around, loved that guy) is great! YET, if you’re willing to throw away your life to fulfill others’ expectations, convincing yourself it's because they love you, even when YOUR lonely heart craves bigger things than just a marketing job, then you, my friend? Are the biggest fool. Don’t get offended, we both know it, this girl needn't ramble.

Recently, my relatives were over (nope, sadly not Uncle Sammy) and my cousin and I had a chat about life (correct, I grab every opportunity to do so). It wasn't very exciting I must say, he kept staring off into the distance (I wonder why), but what he SAID is what I'll talk about. After I’d gushed about my dreams, he asked skeptically if being an influencer would still be an ambition two years from now when I graduate. I raised my eyebrows, mock hurt, like eff you son, I ain’t giving up on my dreams! But that question got me thinking.

Life is wild. Unpredictable. An unexpected call, a single person, a random BLOG POST (cough) – can turn your life upside down, sometimes in the affirmative, other times not. This variability of life isn’t uncommon, and everyone experiences some part of it– unpaid student loans, failing startups, talent and art going unnoticed in industries dominated by wealth and connections, you name it. If all of that doesn’t make you run for the Himalayas and abandon any dreams, throw in a quick side dish of dysfunctionale famiglia with a sprinkle of self-image issues.

It ain’t easy, darling. The world is one cruel headmistress; it loves slapping awake the daydreamers and wishful thinkers. That hasn't ever actually stopped the dropouts and class clowns from building castles in the air though. And the common blueprint you notice they follow? Let me introduce you to…  Madness. Obsession. Maniacal obsession, to say. (Yes, I'm done playing with my words.)

   I struggled writing this point. A pestering voice in my head kept mumbling – They'll go back to doing the same sad shit anyway. Um, does anyone even read your posts? Lol, call yourself an influencer, hun. Hesitation started creeping in. Then the irony of the situation struck me. I laughed, shook my head and got back to typing.

We ran out of juicy gossip weeks ago, so here’s your tea served cold: insecurities and self doubt WILL get in the way. That whiny voice was just a mild version of what you face when you go all in. Fear traps you in its cage, and those who prattled behind your back now progress to talking shit in your face. Criticism and self doubt resurfaces, so unless your defenses are strong, you'll be crushed. Destroyed REAL quick.

When hell breaks loose (oh honey, and it WILL), your self defense comprising of maniacal obsession must be well learnt. Let them attack, mock, heck, drag you away from the desk and hurl you at the top of a damn mountain, but you better STILL hike back down, show them the middle finger, and continue working. That's how bulletproof you've gotta be. That's how madly do you have to love your dreams. And if you really think this will be a cake walk or want to continue complaining about Stuart being born with a silver spoon, hop off the train already. Your destination isn't on the tour list.

Look, my dreams terrify me. But they certainly make me feel more alive than complying with what every parent said about getting good grades and holding together a roof on my head. My ambitions set me free, give me a reason to fucking live. And yet, every now and then, something makes me question them. A fear engulfs me, some doubter proclaims I suck, someone I love is so blinded they can't see my vision. And that's okay. My defenses are way stronger. The next day rolls round, and you'll find me hustling again, thriving again. All because I know that even if no one reads my posts (the worst case scenario, I know y'all love me lol), someday in the future, someone will. I know that even if I’m not an influencer yet, if just one reader becomes a conqueror because of my words, it would be a win. A big win. I'd have done my job. All because I’m wildly, yes maniacally, obsessed with my dreams.

So hey, cousin? This influencer thing? This will be my dream long after I've graduated. Till the day I die, and maybe even then I'll rise from my grave to give a dead pal a lively pep talk. My watchtower has just been upgraded, so thank u, next.

Takeaway: 

“General, we've arrived!” Finally! Position those cannons, Martha, let’s talk them through the defenses. All aboard? AHOY MATEY! (wait, that was one for the pirates). Step one, dare to create a dream in your mind’s eye. The bigger, the crazier, and the scarier, the better. Doesn’t matter how impossible it is, don’t care how many voice their opinion against it, just imagine, keep a million possibilities in mind.

Once you see the life you truly want (you’ll know, everything will seem to zing)— have a sip. Become OBSESSED for that life. Thirst after that vision, itch to manifest it, and pine for the satisfaction that’ll come to your soul once it’s made a reality. Fall madly in love with the process and how magical it feel when you do it. And THEN, bellow a loud war cry and charge headfirst into battle, shields held high at all the criticisms. We conquerors never cared much for them anyway.

(play ♬) Picture this: forehead stamped with beads of sweat. Calloused hands working their fingers to the bone and eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration. Conjure an image where powerful beats are pulsing hard in your ears, synced with your own elevated heartbeats, and you’re thriving. Performing. Winning. Guess the secret to that? Preparation. Champions prepare. You can’t throw anything to the winds or rely on ‘luck’ or chance to conquer.

Tough days are in everyone’s calendar, be it your extra cheerful neighbor, Sally, or lone wolf classmate, Derrick. We’ve all found ourselves sulking over an awful situation, scooping into mint ice cream to forget mistakes, errands, and ghosting exes. Yet guess what? The solution isn’t the proclaimed “be positive!” or “It all happens for a reason, don’t you worry” - the key is coming up with a method to dodge the discouraging effect these hiccups have on us.   

So every bad day, I bring out a mason jar containing a knot of chits and one secret letter which is, on most days, kept hidden on the top shelf of my cupboard. I make myself comfortable on the bed, read all my bits of paper carefully, including the letter addressed to yours truly, close my eyes, and mentally fight back whatever’s bringing me down.

A short while later, I get up, now a warrior, and go slay the rest of the day like it was my last one on this planet. That jar is my jar. A Conqueror’s jar. One look at those powerful reminders, and I’m grounded once again, the beast within me now unleashed to kill.

Takeaway:

Honey, go get yourself a jar. Along with some papyrus and ink. Then start jotting down. Document past victories, future visions, fears that mean zilch to the person you’re about to become, batty goals you’ve still gotta chase, reminders that the majority will never understand what it is you’re tryna do here, and how that’s perfectly alright 'cause you'll find your conquerors, your squad one day. Create your victory jar. And then go knock ‘em down dead. Bad days stand no chance against you. You’re a winner, a fucking rebel. Go take what’s yours.

Y’know, I’m perfectly aware that many muggles reading this will whine that dealing with depression ain’t no piece o’ pie and it’s hella hard to get up and take the crown when you feel like a pile of dino dung.

Stop it. Get some help. (See what I did? Like Michael- ok ok, calm thyself.) For real though, and I’m tired of repeating this with my kitten stamped microphone (but I’ll keep at it ‘cause it’s that significant) – whining is WORTHLESS. It saps up precious energy that could be used to make life a scrumptious smoothie. (Loothie? As in life + smoothie? Right, yes, I’m shutting up.)

And even THEN, we find denizens complaining about slow WiFis and thin crust pizzas and how the market’s down and the government’s incompetent. Because blabbering makes us feel important. Heard. But keeping yo’ trap shut and actually doing stuff? Hustling for your dreams when nobody’s watching? Actually walking the talk? C’mon, Emma, don't be naive, ain’t nobody getting recognition for that.

Trust me, I get it. The world is yet to become a feminist, turns out your boyfriend was cheating on you while you were looking up wedding dresses, mommy’s a drunk loser, and idiots are being voted into office. It’s a lot to handle. But thanks to our immense and ever increasing population (we folks really love our rumpy pumpy, can you tell) — there will surely be one chum, facing exactly the same misfortunes as you, but still turning up at every party and bulk-spamming his friends with puppy pictures while you sit and wail. (One Moaning Myrtle is enough, thank you very much.)

Look, I’m not undermining your worries or obstacles. I’m only reminding that you have the marvelous choice of positivity. To CHOOSE hope and a better future when others won't. To FIND (and it's always possible) something to look forward to even when the to-do’s a big snore. To KNOW, deep inside, that you're a magnificent conqueror, no matter what mess you’re in at the moment, and that the world dances to your rhythm. Realise that it's up to you to let yourself be happy. At any moment, you have the very say-so to get up and start rocking. Dumbledore said it himself, “It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” So choose better, and you’ll unconsciously do better as well. And yes, that being said, this is the last HP reference, don't fret. Be positive instead. (Edit: Ha, look at these quips, the girl's all grown up now.)

Takeaway: 

Your new occupation is to be a sunflower. If you think back, you'll probably recall Miss Honey rattling on about phototropic movement in AP biology. No? Me neither. Point is, sunflowers always face the sun. Put them ANYWHERE, hide them in the dungeons, throw them in a trash bag and shoot it off to the moon, they’ll still turn around and face the sun. No matter what. And taking inspo from that, you too can stop scripting creative soliloquies for being depressed. Happiness is YOUR right, YOUR priority, don't let anyone take it away from you or diminish its importance. DON’T let sadness ruin your vibe, do what you've gotta do to protect yourself. Track happiness in yo’ journal, set 84 reminders on your phone, and tattoo “Long as you’re beaming up at the sun, all the shadows will be left behind” on your boobs. Do whatever, just don’t turn the corners of your mouth down. You’re so pretty this way.

The other day, I was doing the deathly Plié Alternative Heel Lifts (these names, I swear) and my legs felt dead. Gone. Put to sleep like the Wicked Witch of the East. Now obviously, the timer wasn’t not even halfway done yet, but my cheeks were already flushing red like dear Santa, and NOT because I was high on choco chip cookies. I sighed, and at that point, I was so over giving up. All this while, I’d been whining and protesting because my muscles felt sore, but in that moment, I made up my mind. I bit my lip and kept going. On and on. Keep pulsing, you got it, don't stop, was the mantra I kept chanting.

   Won’t sugarcoat it, I honestly hadn’t died this much since that time Miss Honey buried me alive with trig assignments. My legs were now basically Play-doh and I was shaking, fighting for balance. A few seconds in though, something crazy happened. My legs went numb. My grumbling mind quietened and the pain vanished. That evening, I had the upper hand, not my physical perceptions of myself. I was powerful. Flawless. (Hey Santa, do you even lift bro?) Real talk, I was in the Zone, bitches.

I’m not sure if that was the result of excessive pain or because Wonder Woman’s spirit possessed ma bod, but staying loyal to my love for metaphors, I’ll use the experience to explain what I’m tryna get at here.

   Look, here’s the real deal — if all of the greats gave up the second things got frowny, we probably would have no one to worship. Nix role models, nix inspirations, none to stalk on Insta - we’d all be bumbling about like Sad from the even sadder Emoji movie (no shade, emojis be lit).

And that'd be very sad (pun definitely intended). Hence, cue some tangible ways to boosting your grit, so that you can be your own superhero:

1) Get yo’self a goddamn motto,

2) Know your “Why,”

3) Repeat the cycle till it’s in your blood. Btw, Shawn, if you here, I’m still a single pringl—HEY PAL I SEE YOU, DON'T SCROLL.

Seriously, don't brush these prime steps aside. We're always going for the advanced modes, and deeming these basic levels a waste of time. Well guess what, compadre, YOUR LIFE IS A GODDAMN WASTE O’ TIME IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR BASICS RIGHT. Excuse my outburst, but listen. You can’t do a hundred bicep curls on your first workout if you haven't lifted anything more than a crisps packet. Likewise, if you simply jump into Life one day, and decide “ok, here it is, 12 habits to build, sleep schedule to fix, man to ask out, let's go,” you ain't getting nowhere, chum. Start small. Take baby steps. It's clearly not as fun (definitely negates the bragging on Facebook part of it) but it'll stick. You’ll create a consistency that not even Grandma's cake batter can achieve.

1. Talking mottos — For context, a motto that I always mutter (my mom thinks I'm cursing, oh what a bad child) every time I spill milk while making coffee is “Do more. Give more. BE more.” Not only does it help me stay right on track for the rest of the day but it helps me clean up my mess, figuratively and otherwise, or I’d just be sitting in a puddle of spilt milk, cursing adulting for real this time and with more laundry to do.

2. Why you need the Big Why — Owning up, I’m guilty of attempting to learn Welsh for less than 48 hours because I hadn't a single reason to speak the language. A similar thing happened with half of my 2018 resolutions, which had a bunch of rubbish like “Floss daily”, something my eyes got trained to skip because, um, who the hell flosses every day?

Lame humor aside, I still workout almost daily because I have my Why straight. 1) I want to feel good about my body and get closer to the confident badass I envision my future self to be, 2) I simply HAVE to sustain my health to live to build my legacy and fulfill my dreams of opening a bakery at 90 and 3) Because I’m an influencer, and want to walk my talk and be the inspiration people need. Those are the reasons as to why I turn up to my yoga mat everyday, shut my jabbering mind, and keep on pulsing. This “Why” strategy applies to everything. Wanna get outta depression? Why? Wanna lose 20 pounds? Why? Wanna listen to your dentist’s desperate pleadings and floss already? WHY EH? Unless you know your intentions, you’ll give up at the first chance you get to not act on your goals. And watch out, because there'll be a LOT of those.

For me, leaving a legacy behind means more than having a slice of cake or missing a workout because there’s a fun movie playing. Find what's important to YOU, make it your why, and go marry your goals.

3. And then, Repeat — Bear in mind, if you're not living your best life yet, there are NO weekends. NO work-shy days. No weak days, no pick-me-up days, no eat-candy-do-nothing days. Everyday is a damn Monday. EVERYDAY is life or death. Every holy day you wake up is a chance to push your limits, challenge your mindset, and see how far you can go. And every 24 hours, when the cycle starts again, it’s your mission to race to build a stronger, wiser and crazier you.

And who knows, perhaps one day, you and I will just be casually sipping tea in our dream home, laughing at how the milk is still being spilt but knowing, proudly, fiercely, that we’ve come so far, even though there’s still more left to do, more to give and so much more to be.

Takeaway: 

Quit quitting. You're, guaranteed, 20x stronger than you think. I doubted I could go through with the workout, it seemed beyond my present physical capabilities. But I did, because I treated it as life or death. Understand this, the second you start making excuses, for being depressed, for taking an unnecessary day off - you give away your power. You are a very powerful being. You're limitless, capable of everything.

I'm not throwing these words around to make you feel cute, I actually mean AND believe them. There’s so much that's been done already— the iconic four minute mile by Roger Bannister, invention of the light bulb, cars, toothpaste and other junk, people who lost both legs and climbed Mt. Everest, we sent a man to moon in frickin’ 1969 (50 YEARS ago), some ran a 26 mile marathon with zero training, love and hope is still strong in this world, oh let's also add coffee and motivational music— and YOU think you can't finish a workout or get outta depression or meet your idols or marry the man of your dreams or become the artist you wanna be? Ridiculous. Don't give away your power that easily, this ain't no charity shop.

(play ♬) Having personally dealt with unwelcome yet familiar feelings of emptiness quite often, I’ve now reached a point where each bad day is simply a reminder of how long my journey ahead is, and just how badly I want to reach my destination.

We finally near the end of this novel of a post (thanks for sticking around, bud), and my best advice would be this: Rather than wallowing in self pity and throwing one-man parties because your life is so awfully dreadful, know that even when life throws you to the floor, long as you can look up, long as you can read an entire book about defeating depression (cough)– you can GET UP too. Let those emotions of sorrow and frustration blaze up into a roaring, crackling fire that doesn’t consume you, but instead, urges you, fuels you.

Lately, no matter how much shit I go through, how many arguments I tumble into, or how barren my dreams look sometimes, I don’t break down. And no, it wasn't always like this. I never even had aspirations to name two years ago. Six months back, it had become a night routine to cry. Not anymore.

Now, every setback and every failure only pushes me to be stronger and give more than I ever gave. The day I made the decision to Conquer (truly, madly, deeply, with all of my heart) was also the day I said a big, loud ‘fuck you’ to every resistance that was to cross my path. I had finally understood that life was nothing but a battle of WILLS, that it was all in or nothing, and I made up my mind once and for all to NEVER give in to depression, or to society, or to anyone who tells me I cannot make it.

I had conquered depression. There was no looking back now.

Takeaway: 

Here’s something no one will tell you: the key to bringing depression to its knees is seeing it positively. Pretend that it's a friend continuously sending strong, aggressive signals urging you to be happy. And what do you do when a caring friend throws some holy light? You listen, push past your ego, and follow accordingly.

And if that parallel seems unconvincing, here's another one (sup, DJ Khaled. This post is turning musical, sorry): it's scared of you. Depression is scared shit of you. Y'know how bullies are, right? Majorly insecure, self-loathing too perhaps, hardly fans of self love, and always trying to numb all that subconscious pain by inflicting pain on others. Depression has the same instruction manual. Your fears and doubts are your (pathetic) bullies, and depression is the big ol’ crony who does the dirty work for 'em.

Whenever you decide shit this is it, I'm going for it, they go paranoid and try stopping you because they've seen no better. And if they succeed, BOOM, you're depressed, paralyzed, your qualms reigning over you again. Don't let them in. I'll say it a thousand times if I gotta because I want (HAVE) to see you conquer – you're so much stronger than you think you are. You can do so much more than you think. It's all in your head! Don't just sit there, click away, and go back to living a sad life. You’re better than that. DO better than that. You’re meant to freaking CONQUER, straight-up dominate, my pal. Pay heed to that voice craving freedom. You got this. And you better know it.

One thing’s fixed like the (beloved by all) proportionality constants in Physics, you will come across depressing mornings and sluggish evenings even in the future. I assure you. Lots o’ bad hair days in the calendar, sis. But here's what you’ll do: you'll deactivate the miserable thoughts, keep a cool head, remind yourself that this is yet another test (better, rap your new mantra) and USE that hurt, pain, and anger to create a fervor and passion that wreaks havoc on its obstacles and drives you to accomplish EVERYTHING you've ever wanted to do. The easy choice would be to just give up, bellyache about the situation, and want sympathy for your worries. Yet, what you'll never do is… exactly that.

Rule 1) NEVER give up. Stand your ground. Have faith in your strength. Know that you'll have your way soon enough anyway. Rule 2) NEVER complain. All it does is drain your energy, that precious fire you could to high jump your way into the clouds. Makes you a pathetic wimp too, definitely not something you want on a warrior’s resume. Lastly, Rule 3) NEVER seek validation. From anyone. It sure feels nice to be acknowledged and encouraged, but grasp this— this is your journey. YOUR life and YOUR vision. Validation won't get you anywhere, for there'll never be enough of it.

Cuz Marty, if you're tryna bring something new, different, and authentic into this world – you'll most likely be hated on badly, before you'll be loved madly (hi, me a rapper). Learn to invite hate instead—IMPORTANT: hate from others, not yourself. Sounds counterintuitive, but this is the real tea: hate is good. It means you're standing up for something, refusing to fit like a puzzle piece in society, and being UNAPOLOGETICALLY yourself. And it’s certainly a sign that you’re on the right path if you can ignore that hate and stick your tongue out at it.  

Yet another reason to never seek validation is simply this: you have to fight for yourself. In order to meet your own expectations, reach the doorstep of the best version of you, and transform this world, you'll have to go wildly IN. Toil and hammer away. Shut out all the haters and non-believers, listening only to your gut. Importantly, learn to accept the rejection slips, validating yourself not with what Molly says about it being okay, but with the reminder that your time is coming soon. Depend on yourself. Validation will NEVER be enough.

I get it, it's a lot of homework, but perhaps you already realize that it’s THIS work that'll change your life forever. Not “how to not procrastinate, Jesus take the wheel” or “HELLO, life's a mess so here are ten things to do (you won't believe number four!)”. Clickbaits don't work, stop believing that a fancy planner is going to be your savior. There is no rule to making your life a masterpiece. You'll have to get to know yourself and your dreams (journaling, meditation, silent pondering), build the work ethics and the mentality needed (lots of work in this one, yet no strict framework to go about it) and GET GOING.

AND with that firework, I'll begin to slip away now. Again, I won’t say it’s easy, that’s cock and bull. Life’s no fairytale. You will never feel ready to start bringing your dreams to fruition. But, my darling (I’m being so nice yo, follow me), you must. You must force yourself to work for the future you want till it becomes a habit, an obsession. The world badly needs heroes; confident people who can stand for themselves so that others can stare at first, maybe even hate a little, but then follow because they seem unstoppable and are, truthfully, having the most fun at life. YOU'RE one of them. No validation, just plain facts.

You see, conquering is a LOT of blood and sweat (K-pop, anyone? BTS? Lmao, this is me tryna clickbait y'all to read). Even getting up will seem huge when you're just starting out, and this is one long road, dear pal. Still then, I have enough faith in you to hope you don't give into your fears, I hope you willingly chase discomfort, and I hope you find the courage to do all that you want to do, while that heart's still beating.

I hope you conquer. I'll do too, and I'd really like to see some familiar faces during the ride.

Peace, amigo.

A loud ass A/N: And now, we come the most important part of this post. WAKE UP Luke, stop snoring, and take some notes. Remember kids, I won't accept anything but an A.

   If you couldn’t identify yourself throughout this post and currently are scoffing like um woman, that's not really why I'm depressed, hang in there a sec. Yes, you can stop singing It Ain’t Me now. You've a very nice voice by the way.

I'm not a doctor, and I don't have enough exposure to know why so many earthlings are depressed today. HOWEVER, by talking to many, following their stories, watching and reading stuff – I do know with firm conviction that a majority suffers from severe unfulfillment. Don't believe me? A study shows 85% of the working class worldwide hate their jobs. Do you realize what that actually means? EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT of the THREE BILLION PEOPLE employed today, hate being employed in the first place! They do it for prime survival, to sustain themselves. And that's just jobs. I won't scare you, but 50% (yes, HALF, you heard that right) of students HATE going to school. Kids waste SEVEN hours of their life every day going somewhere they dislike, doing something they hate. Who's singing now?

People find themselves trapped in golden handcuffs, taking the paycheck despite the passionless job. They push aside the art and business they love, to become a slave of good ol’ cash. Several surround themselves with negativity and get frustrated when unable to escape the choking (no, not THAT kind again, hello someone pour holy water over this post) atmosphere. An innumerable are forced into taking up courses that they don't care about under parental pressure. The reasons are endless, and I don't think I'll amuse myself listing all the sad excuses.

This has always been the story. Hundreds of influencers have preached the same words I’m tryna put into your head here and you’ll yourself say you’ve heard this a million times. YET, you’re dissatisfied. YET, you feel like crap everyday, feeding yourself the same lie that the next day will be better, that you’ll get up tomorrow– while you let life beat the shit out of you.

That’s why, all of my words, everything you’ve read today - all of that boils down to just one single question. A difficult but necessary choice. Will you let this happen to YOU? Will you, seriously, even after this wild ride together, go back to doing nothing and being nothing? Will you, for real, continue deceiving yourself, sacrifice your happiness for the sake of pleasing everyone else, and remain a statistic on a website?

   (play ♬) If you’re not sure of your answer, read: Look, making you feel guilty is not my intention, because that’s not how this works. I need you to understand instead. Guilt wears off, it’s only understanding that brings about change. So, just for old times’ sake, I’ll rant a bit more (ik, just can’t seem to leave y’all).

You’re so, so young right now. More than half of your life is yet to be experienced. None of this probably makes much impact right now but it will the day you die. Remember, on your deathbed, you won't EVER look back and say, “Damn, wish I'd spent more time at the office. Saved up just one more dollar. Could’ve got that promotion before Amy.” Nay, it won’t even be on the calendar. That day, one foot in the grave, you'll reflect and wonder why the heck you didn’t let yourself be happier. Why you took up that lacklustre, soul-sucking architect job when all you've ever wanted to do is keep laughing. Why you didn't ask your crush out, why you were so afraid to walk up to that audition, because dammit, you could’ve been running your own comedy show by now. Why you dragged around a karaoke machine all this time instead of singing your own song. Why you couldn’t love yourself. Why you submitted. Why.

And the moment you realize that you hadn't lived a life for you, you’ll be crushed. Broken. The arthritis in your grannie joints won't even compare and neither will the mild dissatisfaction you’re feeling right now. Those whys will haunt you, they'll terrorize you, break you. It'll hurt tremendously to know that there isn't a single thing in your long life that you could call completely your own.

 With every death today so many dreams are left unachieved, crazy things left unchecked on the bucket list, and unique potential left unexpressed.

DON'T let that be you. Please. I'm still a mess myself, struggling to reach class on time and studying subjects that aren't exactly fun, when all I want to do is create content (read: fireworks) that is at a level of insanity, influence folks to do better, hold crazy world tours and meet-and-greets to give hugs, and get an adorable puppy so I can create a dogstagram (yes, I'm that mom). Sure, I could declare it's too hard, hang onto small-minded and negative people who whine endlessly, and follow the crowd, getting lost in it, with ease.

But I won’t because I can’t take the burden of those regrets. That painful unrest and discontent that nothing could cure, not drugs, alcohol, buddies, not even true love. For then I’d be just another drone, my controller in the hands of society, forcing me to see the world through its eyes. I can’t give in because I’m scared, terrified even, of wasting away this one life doing the bidding of others- folks who won't even notice when I’m gone.

It’s easy to be depressed and crib your entire life. It’s easy to think you’re worthless and that trying is pointless since nothing ever goes your way.

But perhaps, if you rise, if you simply DECIDE to have the audacity to fight for what you believe in, if you work and focus on becoming better, things will go your way. Life will bend to you, in awe, at your incredible relentlessness. Life will take one look at you, wonder who the fuck is this person? How the fuck are they so incapable of giving up? And back right away. And then perhaps, life will be such a blast for you that depression would become the past you never had.

   I know you can get there, conqueror. It’s time you knew it too.

🌚🌝 Further reading? 🌝🌚

Last Post :— How To Get Back Into The Creative Process – For you, if you're in a creative rut. Get outta it and go create magic!

5 Reasons Why You're Unhappy — To help you identify & cut out CURRENT sources of sadness so that you can spice up yo’ life with some happiness instead. Definitely recommend reading AND implementing.

The Bubble Trap & How To Get Out Of It — One of my classics. Everyone is in one of these 'bubbles’ till they consciously do something about it; that's just how it is. Are you still in one? (Someone teach me marketing, lmao.)

The 5 Biggest Regrets of The Dying (from Greatist) — I LOVED reading this. Pretty much all you need to cut the crap and do meaningful stuff. Read it, memorize it, work it.

++ Want to request a blog post? Leave your request in my ask box! I'll get back to you with a reply, along with the average time I'll need to birth that magical idea.

Thanks for dropping by! It was a pleasure to have you around. If you wish to stick for a bit, I'd suggest picking one of the related posts mentioned above.

If you wanna check out my blog, here's a little something about me (y'all know I love the attention). What do I write about? Three arenas I dominate, Work, Lifestyle and Life, they are, my mate! Take your pick!

I post new blog posts bi-weekly, and my wins, & journal entries throughout the week, so follow me if you're into conquering life, leaving a legacy and being the baddest badass you can possibly be. I'll be your side pal, cheering you along.✨

And that was it, it's a wrap! Martha, shut the cams, Henry, pause the audio, and Nandita, I know you're pretending to be deaf, but Mom's yelling something about doing the dishes. Better skip along.

And you, fellow conqueror? Keep slaying life, doing the work and making it count. I hope you're well, stay strong and go conquer life. ✧

I'm sending you so much love, see you soon.

— Nandini 💌 (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

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