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yourfavapocalypse · 2 years

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Hey there

I feel kind of lost and uncertain of many things. I am trying to cry but I really can’t. My body hurts but sometimes it is okay. Maybe if I had a self-centered time with my self things would be easier.

I don’t know what is happening around me. I feel like I’m the only one concerned about things that aren’t mine. This feeling of responsibility is doing her thing again. I have dreams of resolution of some unresolved issues. I can’t talk to anyone. Things aren’t easy and I am not happy. Now I’m hurting myself again. Alshaytan is playing his game bad and I want to cut his cycle of. If only I know how to get rid of all of this.

Today I told my mum that I’m not looking for a long life, I am looking for a happy full of peace life. If it is here I can go for it, but if it’s only in Jannah then I’m not interested in here. Don’t get me wrong. Even if I found out that my life here would be a sweet dream, I’ll forever be looking forward to reaching the same thing. Al Jannah will still be my thing I’m looking for. The best that can ever happen. Anyway, I’m not sure that this is the best thing a person can ever say to a mother because she got hurt by this. That I don’t want to live long or that’s not my priority in dreams. But this is the truth, Al dunya or “the low thing” isn’t what I am interested in, no one should be i guess. It’s a losing game.

Things are looking well now. The phone is still missing but I do know it will be back. My sister doesn’t look interested. Still the same acting wealthy girl all the way. She’s waiting for us to forget and only blaming herself and “I’m never getting a phone again” thingy where she’s desperate and only crying to make us beg her to go easier on herself. And then she goes like: KK and forget about it.

My mental health isn’t in its best state. I’m overwhelmed and I don’t know why (probably a burnout?). I need a super long rest and don’t know what will make me better. Just looking at random stuff all along. Mum has told me to meditate. She has a point. I really can’t get my shit together. But I still can’t. I can’t sit in silence and breath in and out over and over with a pretty surreal scenery in mind. For some reason I want to be in this scenery. Like right now. I want to have a strong body where I’m confident and feeling loved by myself (the right way). And just to go out there exploring the world. She told me that not everyone live the life they desire. And imagining won’t hurt. Manifesting won’t go bad and the power of attraction is real. You can get it in life or in the afterlife’s. I know she’s right, but for some reason I’m still internally unconvinced. And I want it so badly like it is going to happen.

I have tried to find myself an escapism. A concert for my favorite singer is going in a month in The North Coast. It’s kind of an expensive one but its price will go higher and I need to book the ticket as quick as possible. I told Mohamed (a friend of mine) about it. Actually he was the one who asked about it when I posted asking for companions and Ya Allah I never thought he’d be such a bummer. “It’s so expensive”, “So far away don’t you think?”, “you wouldn’t find a way to go back home in the middle of the night”, and “I know that type of concerts, you’ll sleep in the streets in the middle of nowhere”. And Wowza how a person can be just like those he really hates their opinions. His father has that same “why” mindset. A mindset that made Mohamed himself depressed and wants to get independence from his family. The same mindset he hates so much, he projects and use against other people. He uses it again to bum others just like he gets bummed. Not intentionally, never was. He’s a nice person either way. But wow seeing my own Father doing the same thing he hated in his father, seeing Atef saying the words he hates to hear from his family and friends, and now Mohamad? This gives me many thoughts about what I do say to people and what I like and don’t like. If I’m imitating my parents toxic traits without noticing. I really wish I don’t and I really pray to be a cycle breaker. And it shows me how important the effect of families is. Especially the things the person I deal with hates. The human brain really is a wonder.

I really got out of topic here. So he told me that it is not a wise idea. The same man who wants to travel the world with 6.000 EGP. The very same man who was bothered when his father told him that he won’t be able to make it and that he’s not helping him covering the expenses. Any ways it happened and it hurt me. I felt that: Yes. I wouldn’t be able to make it. No one will be interested in paying that much in such a faraway place. Transportation will be an impossible quest. Nothing will work, I should give up.

I really was about to. But No. I’ve asked the organizers of the concert so many times about how the transportation will go. They assured me that they won’t leave us stranded. I am willing to keep going for this. And the money? They’ll be back. But I’ll never be 22 in a Sahel concert in Faouzia’s first world tour ever again. And I’m probably going to go by myself. Aha yes, F*** it.

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twistedmusings · 3 years

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Vil Schoenheit: After VDC Results

“I’m going to ask again, Prefect.”

“Are you going to walk me out?”

A/N: Only thing I learned from this Chapter is to not trust a Stan kids, because they will ruin the even for the rest of us.

Needless to say I have now officially began to simp for Vil, happy to find myself among you, Vil stans.

If you haven’t read part one, here it is!

Warnings: Chapter 5 spoilers, Lime soda (implied sexy times!) and de-stressing makeout session for Vil.

Vil had almost tried to kill someone today.

It seemed strange to say, since it was somebody’s life at stake, but he had come to terms that he had shown everybody in his team a side of himself he hoped they would never see.

He had shown you a side of himself he hoped you would never see.

After the ‘incident’, you two had barely talked. You weren’t necessarily avoiding him and he wasn’t avoiding you either. There were just a few moments before the VDC officially started and despite the pain in his body telling him to at least sit down, the need to make it to the end of the stage triumphed as he gave it his all out there.

Blood, sweat and tears. He had shed them all with no regrets.

So as he stood there, confetti raining down as the people cheered in the grand coliseum for Neige’s song and not his, he was slowly coming to terms with another realization.

That he wouldn’t let Rook participate in anything he ever did again…ever.

Two years. Two YEARS he had known this mysterious man and yet there was NOTHING that had tipped him off to Rook being a fan of Neige. Oh no, not just a fan.

An extremely devoted fan.

“...Roi de Neige...it really is such an honor!”

Neige’s laugh was still like metal against a chalkboard to Vil’s ears, smiling as he held Rook’s hand as the other waxed poetic about his performance. He had to turn away, tears still pricking at the corners of his eyes as he wiped them away with Rook’s handkerchief. His life was just one ironic twist after another, wasn’t it? And how frustrating, to be so close to standing first and to be betrayed by someone who he thought he could trust--!

“Stand proud and say that you are the fairest of them all, Vil! And I am sure that even the Magic Mirror wouldn’t be able to deny it!”

He chuckles as the fanfare continues, looking down at the offending piece of cloth before shaking his head and going over to his friend, handing him back the handkerchief.

“Go on, wipe your tears. It is your handkerchief after all.”

Rook’s surprised face was a sight for sore eyes as he dried his tears. “Thank you, Roi de Poison.”

“Hehe~ There is Vi-kun’s usual smile~!”

Enjoy it while it lasts, bastard. The moment we get back to Pomefiore you are going to regret not drinking that juice and melting from the inside out because I am going to make you WISH that you were nothing but a puddle of boiling goop after I am done with you, you son of a bit--

“Vil-senpai!”

His head turns around slowly, watching you run towards the stage before flashing your staff pass at the bodyguards trying to stop you, just like how he taught you. He clears his throat as he straightens himself out, turning his whole body towards you as the stadium quiets down around him.

Or maybe he was just paying attention to your voice only.

“One vote.” you give him a forced smile, “Just by one vote, huh?”

Vil points a thumb at Rook, “The guilty party is over there.”

You peek behind him, eyebrows shooting up when you see your other upperclassman holding the hand of the team’s supposed rival and silently crying.

“...that...the VDC really is full of surprises…”

You both look at each other before smiling as you share a giggle, your hand going to Vil’s arm and giving it a soft squeeze before letting go.

He doesn’t want to think about what he would have done if you had been the one deciding vote. For a brief moment while the announcement was being made he thought that you had been that person, the one person he wished to curse and hate. Vil tried to imagine it, imagine directing all his anger towards you and promising you that every single day you remained at Night Raven College would be hell because of what you had taken from him.

Would he have gone through with it? Who knows?

Vil is a lot more relieved about the fact that you placed your trust in the team he had created and voted for him.

“How annoying.”

“Truly.”

“There goes our heater money.”

“I agree--what?”

You turn to him, smiling as you gesture down to the hiccuping Grimm in your arms. He had tired himself out from crying and the headache that followed after had kept him glued to your arms.

“I know he said that he was going to buy tuna with the money we would have gotten but I was thinking of buying a heater for Ramshackle.” you pout, “You guys were all complaining about how cold it was before using magic to make the entire dorm room cold proof. For a brief moment my dream of having heated floors came true.”

Vil catches you staring at Neige, your stare not one of admiration but of clear frustration and annoyance.

“And it wasn’t like his song was that good. It was catchy. Catchy turns straight up annoying in a few days. Watch people complain about how they wish it wasn’t stuck in their heads all the time, I give it a week.”

Maybe it was the strong emotions he was feeling right now, or the fact that he had come to terms with another set of emotions that were directed towards you a long time ago but Vil immediately grabs your hand and holds it close to his heart, your eyes turning to look at him as he stares at you with fierce intensity.

He wanted you to feel it. Could you feel how fast his heart was beating?

“Potato, no, Prefect--”

Your eyes widened, it was the first time he had referred you with that title.

“I want you to know that I--”

“Vi-kun!”

The Pomefiore dorm leader can feel the vein in his head beginning to throb as he hears his rival’s voice, the Royal Sword Academy student smiling as he came up to him and grabbed his hand.

“Let’s sing together! If we all sing together I’m sure it would be a lot more fun!”

Neige smiles as he grabs Vil’s hand, quickly interlocking their fingers together as the other complains about the distance. His eyes meet yours before he grins and gives you a peace sign.

“I’m going to steal him away real quick, I hope you don’t mind!”

“Neige!”

You blink before smiling as you wave goodbye, hugging Grimm close to you as you watch Vil be dragged away by Neige to the center of the stage. The small familiar in your arms groans as he hears the music start up again. “Not agaaaaain. Make it stoooop. My tunaaaaaaa!”

With a giggle, you scratch the top of his head as he buries his face in the crook of your arm.

“Go back to sleep, Grimmy. Let’s go back home.”

The music blares behind you as you hum along to the song, bobbing your head to the beat as Vil’s voice comes through loud and clear despite the cheers and the fanfare.

“See you guys again!”

You smile and hug Grimm close, walking towards the exit of the Coliseum.

What a bummer. Guess you couldn’t work up the courage to tell him after all.

--------

“You guys got everything?”

“Ah wait!” Kalim rushes back into Ramshackle as Jalim pinches the bridge of his nose, “I forgot Vil’s face stuff!”

You smile at Jalim, “You always seem to have your hands full.”

“Isn’t that an understatement.” he smiles, “Are you that eager to get us out of here, Prefect?”

“Not at all. I’ll be really lonely once you guys leave.”

Jalim stares at you before looking back at the Ramshackle door, his actions making you laugh as you pat his back and head inside. Guy wasn’t used to people being that honest, was he? You smile when Kalim meets you at the bottom of the stairs, hugging you close and saying quick goodbyes as Jamil called out to him for the second time.

“There they go…”

You whistle a low tune as you head upstairs, letting out a huge sigh as you flop down on your bed.

It was the most perfect opportunity...and you blew it.

Vil had been living with you for almost a whole MONTH and you only managed to have a decent conversation with him maybe three times. And you weren’t going to count that awkward moment you two shared that night.

Probably the reason he didn’t talk to you at all after that!

He had been concentrating so hard to win this competition and all you needed to do was just give him some good words of support, not go off about how you thought he was the ‘fairest’ in all of the school! What kind of STUPID confession was that! You wanted to be smooth about it and maybe ask him if he wanted to come with you to the Monstro Lounge after all of this was over.

At least you had gotten some decent words through. It had been inspiring to watch him work. You didn’t really have an opinion on him when you two first met but watching him put his everything into this one competition made you want to put everything into finding a way back home.

And like always, feelings of admirations grew to something else.

Something annoying and unnecessary.

Vil probably saw right through you, the way you would wake up early to catch him humming in the showers as you brushed your teeth. No, he probably caught on when you complimented every single meal he made when it was his turn to cook. Or maybe he caught on when you straight up admitted that you thought he was the most beautiful person on campus.

You laugh as you sling your arm over your eyes.

“I’m so messy.”

A knock on your door bolts you up from your bed. You knew it wasn’t Grimm since he had taken dibs on the bath first and was probably enjoying the hot water you wish you could enjoy as well. Amethyst eyes meet yours as Vil stares at you, bag on the floor by his side as you two stare each other down.

“...should I just leave?”

“No!” you immediately get up and walk over to him, “Let me walk you out. It is the duty of a Prefect to see all the guests out, after all~”

“You only have one other member living in your dorm, potato.”

“Doesn’t mean I should ignore the title given to me. That’s what Riddle taught me.”

You make a move to walk out into the hallway but his arm stops you, blocking your way as your eyes look into the deep purple linen. It must be really soft to touch-- “Oi.”

Whoops, lost in thought again.

“You say something?”

Vil sighs and you were expecting the usual disappointed look but your heart nearly beat out of your chest when you saw him smile, your hands clenching into tight fists as you step back two steps.

“You were talking about responsibilities of a dorm leader, so I’m doing my responsibility as well. I’m thanking you.”

“Ha! Vil-senpai you shouldn’t be thanking me, it was the Headmaster’s decision after all.”

Even then he shouldn’t be thanking you, if anything you should be thanking him.

“So you’re just going to refuse my gratitude?” his fingers brush away some strands of your hair, “Did Riddle only teach you one thing?”

You try to count by 5’s in your head as your face heats up, how were you still standing up?

“Sorry. You’re right.” you take a deep breathe, “You’re welcome. I’m glad my dorm could be of some service.”

It was a good idea to leave out the ‘to you’, it would probably creep him out.

Silence hung heavy in the room as the two of you heard the clock tick away at the minutes, Vil’s arm still blocking your exit to the hallway.

“Uhm...Vil-senpai?”

“I want to have no regrets for this VDC, potato. As frustrating as it is...I gave it my all and I lost.”

You open your mouth to try and console him but he stops you with just a stare. “But I have no regrets on how I approached this. The method was perfect and the song was perfect. I even managed to shape some rough looking potatoes into decent enough students.”

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes and picking his words carefully.

“But I intend to leave this experience with no regrets whatsoever. Both on and off the stage.”

You tilt your head, “As in?”

The ticking of the clock stops for a moment as your chin is tilted upwards, starts up again when you feel a hand on your cheek pull you close and stops entirely when a pair of lips press against your own.

Your arms hang uselessly at your sides as Vil kisses you, his lips unmoving while the hand holding your cheek slithers all the way down to your waist. A shiver runs all the way from the soles of your feet to the top of your head, the sudden rush of warmth making you pull away.

Yet he selfishly clung to you.

“Are you going to walk me out, Prefect?”

The answer is quick as you wrap your arms around his neck, quickly pulling him down for another kiss. His heels click harshly against the wooden flooring as you two walk backwards and fall on your bed, the purple linen you had admired earlier now caressing your arms as you pull away for a quick breather.

“Vil--”

He takes advantage of your open mouth, tongue pushing inside and pressing against yours as he pulls your arms away from his neck and pins them to the bedding. You want to keep your eyes open, want to see Vil in ways you hoped nobody else had seen before. The circlet on his head probably disheveled from the rough tumble you two had, the eyeliner pressed so neatly against his eyelid, the way his fingers so delicately kept you from moving as his thumb caressed your wrist.

You can’t help but whine as he pulls away, trying to follow his lips but being kept in place by those hands on his. Vil watches you take deep gulps of air, his hands squeezing your wrists to keep you in place before moving away to take off the circle on top of his head as he laid it gingerly on the pillow next to your head.

“I’m going to ask again, Prefect.”

Vil presses a kiss to your eyelid, moving down to your cheek and finally your chin as his fingers toy with the first button of your pajama shirt.

“Are you going to walk me out?”

He smiles when you hold out your arms open for him, your eyes begging him to not leave you alone.

Tongues meet before lips as Vil shrugs off his robe and makes himself comfortable in your arms, grabbing his magic pen and flicking his wrist in order to shut the door to your room and locking it.

Obviously he would have to leave before the raccoon was done with his bath, but he was intending to finish this VDC with no regrets.

So the little furball could wait.

--------

Omake:

“Oi!!! Why did you lock the door!”

“Grimm don’t come in here!”

“Hah? You know this is my room too!”

“I know but right now I’m-ah!-busy! I’m busy!”

“With what--!”

“Grimm I’m just busy! Ace left a bunch of his snacks down in the kitchen! I’ll let you take dibs on whatever you want!”

“....no take backsies?”

“No--oh Great Sevens--no take backsies!”

“Fgnaa! I’ll dig in then~!”

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twst #twst x reader #vil schoenheit #vil schoenheit x reader #pomefiore #vil x reader #twst mc #chapter 5 spoilers #available books

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mittensmorgul · 3 years

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it’s a bummer to see you can’t enjoy the ending. I hope someday you can come around it it. It wasn’t perfect but it didn’t nuke its integrity. i think the heart of the show really shines through and it’s a shame that it’s not being appreciated bc there’s so much shipping drama 😣

Hi there!

I... first of, I really need people to understand this... the travesty of the finale for me has almost nothing to do with “shipping drama.”

Yes, I see the wild conspiracy theories flying around, and I’m honestly concerned for some of those folks and hope they can find a way to make peace with this in whatever way they can, because we aren’t likely to ever get a better answer than that this is legitimately the ending that Dabb thought was best, despite years of us seeing the best of his writing choices and guiding Sam, Dean, and Cas to grow past the roles that Chuck would’ve forced them to fulfill, and that at the end it fell flat because he couldn’t actually come up with a better ending than “this was always their destiny, free will is a lie, and these characters had nothing outside of the revenge quest they’d been raised for since birth and manipulated into over and over for the entertainment of a vengeful god.”

I can see how “surface level” viewers would feel that this one basic narrative point was satisfying, that Sam and Dean had grown beyond their own hopeless cycle of self-sacrifice that had driven the narrative for so many years. The fact that they both acknowledged that they should allow their stories to end in that way was satisfying... but only in the shallowest and most detached read of the narrative. Like, is this really the ONLY thing these two characters learned in the last 15 years? If so, that is BEYOND depressing af.

And even THAT message lost all narrative weight when the two of them were once again reunited in death, as if nothing else had ever mattered in their lives. As if neither of them had ever outgrown the codependency that had driven so many of those previous self-sacrifices and refusals to let go of each other even in death.

So yeah, in the absolute most basic sense, I suppose I can see how casual viewers or people who aren’t actually invested in these characters could find that at least narratively coming back to a starting point.

But narratives don’t actually work that way, and that’s not the point of watching fifteen years of story develop in between.

This story wasn’t JUST about Sam and Dean needing to accept that death might be okay actually.

This story was also about free will, fighting for humanity as a whole but also their OWN humanity and self-identities. In Dean’s case, the absolutely transformative growth from feeling like nothing but a hammer, a killer, a tool to be used. And then less than an episode and a half later, after finally accepting that truth into his heart and using it to defeat the original creator and reclaim the story of his own life for himself... he gets pied in the face after flippantly talking about his destiny and having no choice, and then three scenes later he literally dies impaled on a great big nail... like a hammer...

So I would kindly ask folks who feel satisfied by that shallowest possible takeaway of this episode, and maybe invite folks to look just under that surface. Try to understand why loads of us will NEVER feel satisfied with this ending, and why it truly does feel like the most hopeless version of the story. Like even in defeating Chuck, they could never be allowed to own their own stories and what happened to them after that point was just a twisted version of the “destiny” that drove Chuck’s entire plotline for them anyway.

Please understand where we’re seeing this as horrifically painful irony rather than some beautiful circular narrative about letting go.

For a lot of us, the shipping stuff would’ve been the cherry on top of the sundae. We would’ve been happy with a scoop of plain vanilla, though. We would’ve been happy for anything that honored the journey to freedom, and the choice at any sort of a different life of their own making than literally falling back on a nail fighting off one of John’s unresolved hunts and a vampire who had literally never been named in canon before, yet who Dean instantly recognized somehow...

but sure, for those of us who felt that “the heart of the show” was all the stuff that the finale actually erased-- that “family don’t end in blood,” and that this was actually not a show about just two brothers but the love of their found family and coming to terms with the choices they actually HAD made for themselves versus the narrative that Chuck kept centering them in DESPITE what they would choose for themselves, the finale basically told us no, everything you ever found of value in this story actually meant nothing. It told us that Chuck’s story for them was their only truth in the end, and their only freedom was to be found in death.

Please, I am begging people, stop trying to gaslight us that this was some beautiful ending. Maybe think for a second that “your read” of the narrative that allows you to find peace with the ending is not what we saw and loved about this story for the 326 episodes leading up to this finale.

And please try to understand that we were not wrong to see the entire narrative through this lens. Because we were literally validated IN CANON, and told that we understood the depth of the story and the characters just fine, actually. There’s literally ONE episode of the entire series that burns it all down in a bewildering pile of wtf. And that’s #327. That throws that entire read out the window to well actually us all back into Chuck’s literal ending... This was literally the ending Chuck wanted to force them to enact for him, and it’s what ended up happening even after they defeated him-- the ultimate Big Bad of the entire series should’ve been defeated, but instead he pulled off one final victory over the entire story.

Becky: No. You can't-- Chuck: I did. Becky: Y- This is just an ending. Chuck: Yeah. I don't know how I'm gonna get there, but I know where I'm goin'. Becky: B-But it's so... dark. Chuck: But great, right? I can see it now -- "Supernatural: The End". And the cover is just a gravestone that says "Winchester". The fans are gonna love it. Well? Becky: It's awful! Horrible. It's hopeless. You can't do this to the fans. What you did to Dean? What you did to Sam? Chuck: There, see? It's making you feel something. That's good, right?

and

Dean: Well, what now? You're not gonna dust us. Chuck: Oh, yeah? Why not? Dean: Because you're holding out. For your big finish. Yeah, we know about your galaxy-brained idea, how you think this story is gonna go. Sam got a little look into your draft folder. Chuck: Sam's visions -- they weren't drafts. They were memories. My memories. Other Sams and other Deans in other worlds. But guess what. Just like you, they didn't think they'd do it, either. But they did. And you will, too. Dean: No. Not this Sam. And not this Dean. So you go back to Earth 2 and play with your other toys. Because we will never give you the ending that you want. Chuck: We'll see.

And even in DEFEAT Chuck thought he understood these characters, thought that having rendered him powerless they would finally take their revenge and kill him, but they didn’t, because he never actually understood these characters at all. And the story he tried to force them into from day one was never about THEM, it was about HIM.

And then Dean gets like two whole days of freedom and choice and is apparently incapable of making any of the choices that don’t throw him immediately back into Chuck’s favorite story. Like none of that resolution in the previous episode meant anything at all. He even SAYS it in the finale:

Dean: Yeah, no. I think about 'em, too. You know what? That pain's not gonna go away. Right? But if we don't keep living, then all that sacrifice is gonna be for nothing.

And then two scenes later the show gives us the Nelson Muntz HA HA and Dean is no longer living, and Sam is left to carry on as a shell of himself and wander off into Blurry Wife Land to devote any even remotely content moment of the rest of his years to raising a Replacement Dean to fill the void, and is never able to pick up the pen to write anything better of his own life than Chuck would’ve dealt him in the first place.

So I’m glad that top-layer takeaway is sustaining and enough for you. It wasn’t, and will never be enough for the rest of us.

What was actually real in all of this? We were.

Until we weren’t.

And that’s honestly a shit message to be pushing on people in the wake of it all. So please stop.

I should actually thank you for the kind intent with which your message is phrased, but that doesn’t make it feel less hilariously awful. Though I chose this one to reply to as the least insulting of all the messages currently in my inbox on this subject. So thanks for that, at least.

#spn 15.20 #aka that one episode of supernatural that doesn't really exist #because you either get to have the first 326 or the finale #they're literally narratively incompatible in all but the shallowest possible takeaway here #i chose the other 326 because those are where the actual heart of the show lies #it was set on fire and buried in 327 #Anonymous

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broadstflyers · 3 years

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A/N: Alright, here it is! Chapter two. Thanks for the support on the first chapter! As always, you can add yourself to the tag list for this series or give constructive feedback here. This chapter is still in the past tense. This one is a longer chapter, sorry! Although I have a feeling most chapters will be this long. If you like this series and want to read more, give it a like or reblog or pop into my asks, it encourages me to continue. any feedback is appreciated :)

Word Count: 3.4k

Warnings: None

Summary: They say at fourteen you’re too young to know you’re in love. But what if you aren’t?

Navigation: chapter one

October

Grade: 9

Age: 14

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

Ever since that class, you and Joel became inseparable whenever you were within talking distance. You just seemed to gravitate towards him, and he seemed to do just the same. When you needed a pep-talk before a big test, he was there. Whenever you needed a laugh, he was there. He seemed to just always be there. He even noticed when your hands started to slightly shake before a quiz or test. How would he respond? He’d do what any nice, respectful, and caring teenage boy would do: goof off. The way he did so was completely up to how rambunctious he was feeling that day.

Would he throw crumpled up paper at his friends and just smile as the teacher yelled at him?

Or try and balance the close by meter-stick on his head (that was soon taken away after)?

Or would he possibly take a different turn and re-explain a topic you were still shaky on?

He was just unpredictable in that sense.

Now how were you feeling about this newly kind Joel?

“Your face is the reddest I think I’ve ever seen it,” Luna teased while you both walked out of the classroom after the bell rang, “and if I held up my bright red backpack to it, I don’t know which one would be redder.” She was on a roll that day.

You scratched your eyebrow in a lame attempt to hide your glowing cheeks. See, on that day, Joel decided to calm your nerves by drawing a star on your hand. Yes, your hand. It went sort of like this:

Your right hand was resting on the table so the back of your hand was facing Joel, who was also on your right. He was messing around with an orange marker, threatening to draw it on his friend just a table over.

“Draw one on y/n,” the friend slyly suggested with a devilish smirk. Joel’s eyes widened to the size of hockey pucks and he whipped his head around to look at you. He glanced down at the marker and then regained his cool facial expression.

Meanwhile your blood ran cold and your head started to pound uncontrollably. You glance at Luna and she nods vigorously. You ball your hand into a fist and shakily stick it out, the adrenaline causing your hearing to slightly go. He offers a light smile, and you swear you can see him slightly exhale from relief. He positions the marker in his hand to get a good grip on it, because if he was going to draw on your hand, it had to be perfect.

He rested his hand under yours to hold it steady. Yes, his hand. He cleanly knocked the breath out of your lungs. You could feel the warmth radiate from his hand. He carefully and neatly (well as neat as a fourteen year old boy can) draws an orange star on the center of your balled up fist.

When his hand finally let go of yours, the touch felt too brief but also like forever.

You literally wanted to jump out of your skin. A mix of different colors felt as though they were swirling around your head in an intense blur. You wanted to throw up color and those sickeningly sweet feelings.

At this point, unlike the first time you guys were civil to each other, you surpassed the point of being screwed.

No. As soon as he touched your hand, you knew one thing for certain: you were in love with Joel Farabee.

“Now that’s one perfect good luck charm,” he says with a smirk.

Man, you just wanted to kiss that stupid smirk. That stupid yet adorable smirk….

And that’s how you ended up almost falling over in the hallway with Luna. In the hallway, she takes your hand and looks at the perfectly messy star.

“You’ve got that boy head over heels for you,” she sassed and laughed.

You playfully shoved her, but your heart skipped a beat.

You couldn’t help but wonder, did you really?

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

“LOVE?” Luna practically yelled in your room. Your parents let you guys hang out after school that very same day because it was yet another Friday. Which is how you ended up with Luna screaming at you on your bedroom floor.

“SHHHHH,” you aggressively said as you tried to calm her down. You pointed downstairs to your parents. You had told them earlier that Luna drew the star on, not Joel. They didn’t even know Joel existed.

“Sorry,” she whispered, “but LOVE? You’re in love with him? Are you sure? Aren’t we too young for that? At least, that’s what my mom says.”

You sigh deeply. “Look, I know, Luna. But there’s just something so different about him. Something I can’t explain.”

“Okay, but you also haven’t liked more than two people,” Luna counters, “and we’re fourteen.”

“But have you looked into someone’s eyes before and felt safe? Have you wanted to cling onto them and never let go? You’ve got to listen to me, these feelings are so intense that I want to throw them up in a glittery mess. He runs in circles around my mind 24/7. I wonder how his hugs feel, I wonder how I would act if I met his parents.” You pause for a moment and stare her in the eyes.

“I barely understand how I feel, myself,” you whisper. “I am so screwed, Luna, but I don’t care.”

Her face relaxes and she slowly nods her head. She breaks out into a smile.

“I hear you,” she calmly states as she takes one of your hands. “I will be here with you while we figure this out, okay?”

“Okay,” you nod in a soft whisper tone.

Maybe it was the cumulation of him constantly caring for you in his own way. Maybe it was the way he never made dumb jokes at the expense of your feelings. Maybe it was the way talking to him came so easily and naturally to you, like you’ve known him for lifetimes. Or maybe it was just the fact that you were young, like Luna said.

But you knew deep down you couldn’t wholeheartedly buy into that logic.

Because in the end, you knew you were right.

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

You turned fifteen on November 25, so you’re always exactly three months older than Joel, which he definitely did not appreciate. He found out when the teacher wished you a premature Happy Birthday the day before Thanksgiving Break.

“I cannot believe you,” he said in a mockingly defensive manner.

“Joel, I can’t exactly control when I was born you know,” you jokingly shot back. The playful banter was your favorite part of the day. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t look forward to it now.

“Well, how am I supposed to wish you a happy birthday when we won’t be in class?” He dramatically pouted.

I could give you my number, you thought. You’d never actually say that, though.

Suddenly, he turned and snatched a random piece of paper from one of his friends, and judging by the sharp “Hey!” that came out of the friend’s mouth, it probably was of some sort of importance. He grabbed your pencil and borderline slammed them down in front of you.

“Here, write down your number and all of our problems will be solved.”

Did he just? Did what you think just...happen? Fourteen year old you was absolutely dumbfounded.

“Sure,” you said as nonchalantly as possible, when in reality you were about to black out.

You scribbled down your number and handed it to him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the bell rang, and you both scrambled for your things in the midst of chaos.

“I will be looking forward to that birthday wish,” you called out as he headed for the door. At first, you didn’t think he heard you, but at the last moment, he turned around and winked before stepping out the door.

You would have melted onto the floor if it wasn’t for Luna squealing in your ear like it was a holiday morning.

November 25 couldn’t come soon enough. Yes, you were excited to turn fifteen, but now you had another reason.

The question was, was that a good thing?

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

November 25

Age: 15

Grade: 9

You woke up on your birthday morning with adrenaline coursing through your veins. After a fun Thanksgiving with family the day before, you were excited to finally celebrate your birthday with just your mom and dad, like you always did.

You’d be lying if you said the first thing you checked was not your phone. But, It was the first thing you reached for on your nightstand. Not your glasses, like normal.

You quickly scrolled through your notifications looking for an unknown number. There’s a text from your aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, cousins. Your heart sank when you reached the end. Nothing from him.

You placed your phone down and shook your head to clear out the negative energy that engulfed your body.

It was your birthday, you weren’t going to let anyone ruin this day for you. Even him.

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

It was after dinner, which was your absolute favorite meal. You had gone to the mall with your mom and dad for some birthday shopping, a tradition you were very grateful for.

On the way home, you were happily thinking about the new outfits you were gifted, until your phone buzzed. Your heart quickened.

Luna!!: did he text you yet?

You exhaled sharply.

You: no, he hasnt :(

Thanks for the reminder, Luna.

Luna!!: bummer. i’m sure he will soon.

Luna!!: he’d be an idiot not to, don’t worry, love!

You mindlessly stared out the window of the back seat, hoping the blur of the trees would take your mind off of him.

You could sense your dad glancing at you using the rearview mirror.

You turned to look at him. “What?”

“Everything okay?” He asked.

You plaster a huge smile on your face and say yes, of course, because your parents have done so much for you that day that you should have been fluttering from happiness. You mean, you were happy. You couldn’t have been more thankful. Your heart just yearned for him to fulfill his promise.

Because you didn’t know what school was going to be like if he didn’t, and you weren’t ready to face that reality.

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

That night, you brushed your teeth and got ready for bed. Your heart felt heavier each time you checked your phone and “No Older Notifications” was displayed instead of seeing the one you longed for. You glanced at your clock on your nightstand. The bright red numbers glared at you. It was close to 11:00.

You sighed and spun your phone around in your hands as you thought. Call it delusion, but you refused to put your phone down. You knew he was going to follow through.

Did you know why you knew? Not a clue.

Without warning, your phone vibrated in your hands. You couldn’t have flipped it upright faster if you tried.

Maybe: Joel

Maybe WHO?

Maybe: Joel: Happy birthday math partner 🥳

Maybe: Joel: This is Joel by the way, that’s probably important to add

Maybe: Joel: Although you do only have one amazing math partner

You really thought you died there for a second. They were, like, a handful of words (excluding the Joel part) but they were enough to make you hug your pillow from overload.

You spastically texted Luna.

You: JESFEUN You: HE IFHUHF You: HE TEXTED ME LUNA

She must have been waiting for this text all day, just like you. She responded right away.

Luna!!: YAYAYA WHAT DID HE SAY?

You: Happy birthday math partner with the 🥳 emoji and he forgot to say his name until the second text lmaooo

Luna!!: aww thats so cute! he sounds like he has an empty head but you go hon!!

Luna!!: now text him back idiot before you forget or he goes to bed

You: yep one sec

Your thumbs circled aimlessly around the keyboard. You wanted to say so many things. You settled on this:

You: thanks, math partner :)

You hit send on that, hesitated for a moment, then typed:

You: and yes you’re a pretty great one

You took a deep breath and pressed send. You changed his contact to “Math Partner”

You wanted to throw up, but in a good way? You sighed into your pillow. Almost as quick as you sent it, you felt another buzz.

Your hand shot out to grab your phone.

Math Partner: Hey, anytime you need a star, I’m here

You glanced down at your hand, where the orange star was just a few short days ago. It was gone. You wished it didn’t fade.

You: the orange one has already faded :(

Math Partner: Well, to make up for the late birthday wish, I can give you another one once we go back to school since we have another big test

You nodded vigorously, as if he could see that through the screen.

You: maybe in red this time? it’s my favorite color

Math Partner: Whatever you want, birthday girl

What a simp, you thought. Also, you were surprised you still had a pulse at that point. Birthday girl?

Math Partner: I have to go now, I have hockey super early tomorrow. Goodnight 😁

“Hockey?” you whispered to yourself.

You: yay, thanks :) and goodnight!!

He plays hockey? you thought. Shouldn’t you have known that?

You frantically Facetimed Luna and whisper-yelled every word you two exchanged. Luna beamed with so much happiness that you could have sworn she was getting the guy.

“This is literally the best thing EVER,” she quietly exclaimed.

You just laughed a giddy yet nervous laugh. You still had no clue what was happening, but you were ready to embrace it.

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

January 25

Age: 15

Grade: 9

When the teacher switched around the seating charts during the year, she mostly kept you and Joel within talking distance each time. If that thing about teachers sensing when kids like each other was thought to be true, she definitely proved it to be so.

Thankfully, she kept this trend going when she switched the seats around on Joel’s birthday. She moved you guys back next to each other for the next quarter. Before, she briefly separated you guys for about two weeks (when Joel wouldn’t stop yelling to his other friend who was near him). During that time apart, you both were noticeably droopier and mopier than normal. He still joked with his friends, but you only heard his loud laugh a handful of times instead of….too many.

As for you, some kid you’ve never even talked to asked you if you were okay. The answer was of course no, but you couldn’t say that.

So when the brown haired boy sat down next to you for the first time in two weeks, it felt like the day he drew the star on your hand all over again. You wanted to reach out and hug him so he’d never leave you, much less say something, anything, but you just couldn’t still. Thankfully, he did the talking for you.

“Miss me?” he joked with his trademark smile.

“Very much so,” you said with a balance of sarcasm and lightheartedness. “Happy birthday, by the way.” You lightly shoved him, not entirely knowing where the guts to do that came from.

“Thank you, thank you. Did you get me anything?” he teased. He lightly shoved you back.

Your heart beated frantically. Your impulsivity urged you to do something you never would have a few months ago.

“Actually…” you paused for a moment. He raised his eyebrows. You reached for an orange marker and uncapped it with a pop.

“May I?”

He could hardly believe it.

“Do what?”

You playfully rolled your eyes. “Draw a star, dummy.”

“Ohhhhh,” he said as he connected the dots. He stuck out his clenched fist as he fought back a huge grin.

You couldn’t believe you were actually doing that.

You tucked your hand under his to keep it steady, just like he did with your hand a few months back. You took your time making sure each corner was connected precisely. You also didn’t want to let go of his hand, like, ever.

You finished way too soon for both your likings. You pulled away and closed the cap.

“Happy birthday, Math Partner.”

“Thanks,” he said. He had his eyes glued on the star you just drew. He didn’t even try to fight the grin that was creeping on his face.

Now you were the cause of his smile. Warmth flowed through your body. You just wanted to keep him that happy forever.

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

That night, Luna called you on Facetime because apparently talking about those events in the hallway afterschool wasn’t enough.

“What’s up?” you calmly asked, as if you didn’t know why she was calling.

“What’s up? What do you mean what’s up? I mean, first you lightly shoved him. Yes, I saw that. But then you draw a star on him? I don’t know where this confident you came from, but I am living for it. I am so proud of you,” she sincerely said through a smile.

“Aw thank you, I appreciate it. Yeah, I don’t know either, honestly. He just brings out this good side of me now.”

“I can see that, and I love it. So...” She dragged out the “so,” and that was never a good sign.

“So?” you asked.

“What are you going to do about it?”

“About what?” You played dumb as best you could.

She didn’t buy it. “Oh come on, y/n. You know you love him, why don’t you tell him?”

You shuttered at that idea. By doing that, you risked losing what you’ve created so far. You were texting him roughly once or twice a week at that point about random stuff and talking to him in class every chance you got. Losing that was just something you were not prepared to face. And you told Luna that.

She (mostly) understood.

“I respect that,” she said. “But if you guys don’t hang out in the summer and keep this going, I will kill him.”

You snorted. “Me too, honestly.”

Could you guys keep this going for that long?

Only time would tell, you told yourself.

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

April

Grade: 9

Age: 15

Every time you saw Joel, you came home with a pep in your step. It was like clockwork. You would bounce into the house with a grandiose “Hello Mother” and hum a song stuck in your head. Today it was “Love Story” by Taylor Swift.

“How was your day?” your mom asked with a hint of suspicion. After months of letting your intriguing happiness spell go, it was too obvious for her to ignore.

“Good,” you said. You didn’t really want to tell her much about Joel because you knew she wouldn’t believe you if you told her how you really felt about him. Those strong feelings didn’t waiver once over the last few months. Okay, maybe once on the day that he accidentally spilled water on your homework. But you couldn’t stay mad at him after he willingly placed his own homework in the same water.

“You’re very happy today. Anything happen in particular?” She prodded.

“Nope,” you pop the letter “p”.

“Who’s the boy?”

You froze. “Boy?”

“There has to be, you haven’t been this happy to go to school pretty much ever.”

You sighed. It was your mom after all. Maybe she would believe you if you told her.

“His name’s Joel, he’s in my Algebra class,” you mumbled.

“Is he nice? Is he smart? Does he play hockey?” The questions flew from left and right.

“Yes, he’s nice. He’s really sweet to me. He is way better at math than me. Yes he does,” you rattled off the answers to her bombardment.

“Excellent,” she smiled. “You like this boy?”

“Yeah, I really do. A lot actually.”

She raised an eyebrow. “A lot?”

“Yeah, honestly, I might love him.”

That confession froze the kitchen over. She paused.

“Honey, you’re too young to know that,” she tried to reason.

Your chest stung. “What if I’m not?” You questioned.

“You’re fifteen.”

“I know Mom, I know.” She opened her mouth to talk, but you said, “I have to go start homework.” You charged up the stairs and crashed on your bed.

So what if you were fifteen? You didn’t care how old you were. Call it being naive, but you were sure you knew everything when you were young.

You just had to wait for timing to fall into place to prove everyone wrong.

tagging: @teamcanadasimp :)

#joel farabee #joel farabee x reader #joel farabee imagine #joel farabee fic #okay i caved and posted it because i miss them all very much #read chapter one if you haven't already!

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deniigi · 3 years

Note

Hi ❤️ I've been sitting on this a while because I wasn't sure what to say. I want to tell you that you matter as you and while I'm not sure who or what was said to discourage you I hope it hasn't kept you from the enjoyment you get from writing- in whatever form (published, unpublished, written in the notes of your phone etc.) I hope you are able to reap the kindness and love you have poured out to this community. Thank you for being you in all ways of being. Thank you ❤️ Love, Anon

Hi Anon,

I wanted to address this the other day but every time I wrote it out, it felt sort of wrong and self-centered, so thank you for giving me the opportunity to essentially lay it all out.

So a few things to start.

1) I’m not dead. No one is hurt. I’m not even really angry anymore about the stuff that had put me off originally. I’m just disappointed.

2) I’ve started a fulltime job which is very demanding of both my time and emotional labor, and so I’m at a point where I’m not really able to do the same kind of lifting for folks online (since I’m more or less, doing that work in person with people)

3) I’m interested in storylines in the Mandalorian fandom space rn, so that has been taking up more of my attention.

So, just so we’re all clear, that is where I am at in life in general.

But now can we just talk about fandom? Can we talk about the Marvel fandoms and fandom culture more broadly for just a second?

So like, as a whole, the Marvel fandom is undeniably uncaring about making fandom space welcoming. It is not interested in uplifting marginalized voices. It is not interested in challenging preconceived notions of characters and fostering an environment in which new, fresh characterizations and ideas can flourish.

I have worked very VERY hard in my fics to work against the grain of larger fandom. I’ve worked hard in trying to make my fandom presence one which is considerate of others and I try to write stories and create works which are similarly interested in challenging certain fandom and life conventions, largely through humor.

I write what I do to help people feel less alone in their struggles, in their silliness, and in their development as human beings.

But you know, there comes a time with any kind of efforts like this where people take your work for granted and fail to see or ignore the broader points that you are trying to make.

This isn’t about just me doing this in the Marvel fandom, but about people flagrantly ignoring marginalized voices when they speak up and say that they want to explore X characterization of these characters. They ignore or dismiss people who ask them to think critically about how representations of characters can/do affect the universes (both real and imagined) around them.

Like, flat out? The Marvel fandom would rather dig its own grave than sit back and reflect on itself, on its privilege, on the harm that it does, and so on.

But here’s the real thing that bothers the living fuck out of me, anon.

In these fandoms, it’s like people are discouraged from growing. Growing as people. Exploring new ideas. Thinking differently about characters.

It’s all HIGHLY selfish. And I’m just a little fucking burnt out tbh on tranformative works that don’t make me sit back and go ‘huh, maybe I should think differently about this thing?’

The negativity that happens in Marvel spaces, DD and SM and the Avengers etc, is just a huge fucking bummer, man, and I, the eternal optimist, am just a little burnt out on it.

So tl;dr: I put LOADS of emotional labor into my works and people are missing the point of it over and over again, while no one is taking the torch from me, so I’m burnt out.

So I’m still around, but just busy and tired and spending my time working on projects and with people who I think share my personal values.

#fic

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deltaengineering · 3 years

Text

that was the winter anime 2021 that was

Still not quite ready for a dozen posts about how terrible the likes of Combatants Will Be Dispatched are, sorry. Watch Vivy though, it owns. Here’s some more things that are (mostly) good. As always, worst to best.

Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki S3

Yatogame has long run out of hot Nagoya facts and its ensemble comedy never amounted to much, so now it seems mostly content to just spam more and more wacky character designs. About the only thing that it has left going for it is that 3 minutes a week are more effort to drop than to watch, so I expect them to make a movie next. 4/10

Go-toubun no Hanayome S2

Quints is a weird one. S1 was a barely good enough (i.e., well above average) implementation of the ages old harem chestnut. S2 is actually better at the core of its appeal, since it gives all the characters a sharper profile (things like taking Nino from joke to badass and making Ichika a villain are no mean feat), but it does pay a steep price for it. You see, to deliver a steady drip feed of meaningful character moments it apparently has to rush through the source material at a breakneck pace, which completely wrecks the "story" part of this story and makes every episode seem like a recap. And it still keeps wasting precious time on vestigial nonsense like its framing device and the Kyoto flashback scenario that was already the worst part of S1. But by far the most annoying aspect is its insistence on keeping all the options valid, since it prevents any real progress and makes everything seem arbitrary and pointless. So sure enough, after a season of much ado we still don't end up anywhere — you can't really raise the stakes if all at stake was "who wins" to begin with. It's watchable and even enjoyable scene-for-scene but it's getting harder and harder to call it a solid show overall. 5/10

Skate Leading Stars

I was watching this primarily because I didn't like Yuri on Ice much and wanted to see if something that is a blatant attempt to cash in on it would be better — because while YoI delivers on one aspect (being hella gay), it really is an absolute shambles of a sports show. And sure enough, Skate Leading has none of the auteur appeal of YoI, but it just works much better. In particular I appreciate how it managed to make me care even a little about a cast of assholes, which is a nice contrast to the nauseatingly ingratiating way YoI tries to make you love its characters. Also, Skate Leading is just generally cheap and unambitious, so not susceptible to trying hard and painfully flaming out on the presentation side like YoI is. But at some point you gotta let go of these comparisons and on its own Skate Leading is... just fine, I guess? Competent, mildly engaging, not very memorable. And that's probably where it loses to Yuri on Ice in the end after all, even if I think it's "better". 6/10

Idoly Pride

Idoly Pride sold itself on me with a really good (and hilarious/tragic) first episode that was just too bizarre to ignore — I mean, how can you ignore GHOST IDOL MANAGERS. Well, the majority of the show isn't like that. It's a competent and solid version of the idol franchise show, yes, but it really had more potential than that. Especially midseason, it gets lost in these dozens of characters, and while they're all likeable, it does seem like a waste of a good story just centered on Mana/Kotona/Sakura. By the end it comes back around to the heart of the matter with a Maeda-style sob story, which could be a disaster but seasoned veteran Jukki Hanada makes it work anyway. Overall, there's quite a bit of ridiculous hacky melodrama in this, but quite honestly that's the best part and I wish it would concentrate more on it. The rest is just okay. 6/10

Yuru Camp S2

Yuru Camp is still likely the best pure iyashikei show when it gets down to business. Compared to S1 though, this seems to happen less and less. At its peaks (i.e., basically any quiet moment with Rin) it's at least as good as ever, and there's some good cast additions like Mini-Inuko, but it appears that Yuru Camp simply has run out of things you can do with camping and it fills up the time with other... stuff. This stuff includes the generic school club shenanigans it was never particularly good at, and a gigantic helping of crass consumerism. Yeah, I would say the majority of Yuru Camp is just a straight up infomercial at this point, which itself ranges from the perfectly acceptable (which cute anime isn't about food constantly), to the sketchy (I don't know whether the Izu tourism board cut this production a fat check, but if they didn't, Yuru Camp still gives its best effort to make it seem that way) to the highly irritating – I am aware that camping requires gear and you can't just ignore that, but you most definitely do not require whole arcs dedicated to talking about raising funds for the purposes of acquiring the Lamp of Comfy Happiness at your friendly local Caribou™ either. Not to mention an arc where the aforementioned lame school club does the same, for double irritation. Make no mistake, this show is so riddled with scenes that beg for a solution to embed affiliate links in video files that it makes me wish I was watching something as anticapitalist and underground as Love Live. And irritating really is the last thing a show with this core concept, as stellar as it is at that, can afford to be. Bummer. 6/10

SKOO the Infinity

Skoo has one really huge asset: ADAM, its magnificent villain. It also has one really huge liability: Reki, its not magnificent protagonist. To be more specific, it's very good at anything outrageous, physics-defying and silly, such as most scenes ADAM is in, and quite bad at anything serious, dramatic (in a serious way) and down to earth, such as most scenes Reki is in. So, what's the verdict? Well, the rest of the cast is more ADAM-like, and Reki's co-protagonist Langa is fine as the straight (yeah, right) man. The tedious buddy drama is a comparatively small part of this show, and at least it pays off quite well in the end. Seriously, I was ready to give this a 6, but the final episode is probably the best one of the show, in all of its aspects. That's really not something you see often. Skoo's a great time. Except when it's not. 7/10

Non Non Biyori Nonstop

Speaking of the rare good ending, what about we gave one of those to a slim and inconsequential slice-of-life show? NNB has always been solid, comfy and amusing quality with a couple of standout moments (usually something with Renge), and Nonstop has that plus an ending as conclusive as any show of this type is ever going to have. Besides, it does a lot of things right by focusing on more characters than the central 4 (especially Konomi has great material in S3), it expands the universe just enough to not get stale, and it moves things forward — It's definitely a lot better than the movie, is what I'm saying. Apart from that, well, we're three seasons in, if you have any interest in this you probably don't need me to explain what's good about NNB at this point. Bonus points for being nothing but an ad for the manga. 7/10

Wonder Egg Priority

Oh boy, so here's the big one. Wonder Egg is the rare Meaningful Arthouse Show About Real Issues You Guys, as you might have heard. And well, the long and short of it is that it's a very good show with quite a few glaring problems (besides not actually being finished due to production issues, but what we have is enough of an ending to be able to meaningfully talk about it). In particular, one problem: WEP is, at its core, one of these metaphorical Magical Girl-ish series that are just a thin layer of abstraction over coming-of-age or societal problems. The issue is that "metaphorical" in this case means "literal" and "thin" means "basically nonexistent". This show is not subtle regarding what it's about, at all. This is a double-edged sword — on the positive side, some things really should just be said aloud, and I'm really, really fucking tired of the Ikuhara style of "here's some wacky things, maybe a blog post will eventually tell you how it's actually about the most important thing ever" obfuscation — if it's really so important, just spell it out. On the other hand, there are limits to this and when a second, different Ai appears I don't really need a voiceover line telling me that yep, this show is about parallel universes now. WEP spells out many important things, but it also spells out many things that are implicitly clear or better left vague. Not to mention that with being so obvious up front, the show's tendency to leave figuring out what it's actually saying about it up to the viewer can leave the wrong impression. Again, I settled on the opinion that it's subtle after all where it counts the most, but you might easily get the impression that it pulls its punches (Ikuhara does this the exact other way around — once you figure out what the fuck he's talking about it's abundantly clear what he's saying about it).

In fact, this show is so good at subtle, quiet character moments that it calls into question the need for big huge fighting fantasy layer in the first place, especially since I'm not a fan of the fantasy designs and the fights aren't great. Sure, they look impressive on a technical level (this show is very good looking in general), but the lack of actual impact or rhythm makes me think this is not made by people who are very familiar with action and maybe they should have asked some seasoned shounen veterans for this — or just, you know, not do it. They can (and do) impress with character acting in quiet scenes just the same. And while Ai's character story actually does pay off quite nicely by the end we got, and Momoe and Rika are also handled well, Neiru's backstory is significantly less good, not to mention the whole Frill subplot regarding the show's mythology that they introduced just before (and that's the part to be resolved at a later date), which is a huge can of worms. We'll see how well they handle that, I suppose, but as it is it's a weird and vestigial detour that doesn't add much besides thematic headaches.

But yeah, apart from all that — I like it, a lot. Great character writing in the details, cool looks for the most part, tons of ambition, and a message that I consider to be appropriately handled — for the most part, and for now. Not quite ambitious arthouse anime at its finest, but also not a pretentious disaster like Sarazanmai, Monogatari et al. 8/10

#anime #review #winter2021 #Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki #Go-toubun no Hanayome #Skate Leading Stars #Idoly Pride #Yuru Camp #sk8 the infinity #Non Non Biyori #wonder egg priority

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rottenappleheart · 3 years

Text

I finished “Heaven’s Vault,” that archaeology/alien translation game that everyone was so excited about before it came out, and then I never heard of again. I think I know why.

Short version: it seems as though it was made by people who were very good at the worldbuilding/linguistics parts, and not very good at making a video game.

Long version: I did enjoy the game, eventually. Beat it in just under 20 hours, feeling fairly good that I hadn’t missed anything major and had done everything I could find to do before the end. I also see now that there’s a New Game+ which gives the opportunity to spin things out again in a different manner, with more information, and this really neat article (spoilers ahoy) talks about how the mere concept of a NG+ is part of the worldbuilding (the Loop religion centers around the idea that everything that has happened will happen again.)

The learning curve was very steep at the beginning, because of the aforementioned gameplay problems getting in the way of the “meat” of the game. Some low points:

The controls are extremely janky and remained frustrating throughout. I had to turn the mouse sensitivity to its very lowest setting to avoid spinning like a top, and the restricted camera angles often send you walking off in a direction you never meant, leaping back and forth through doorways when you just wanted to enter (or exit) a room, etc.

The mandatory and constant “sailing” minigame, while beautiful, is aggravating and not as fun as I assume the developers thought it would be, given how much you have to do it. Whereas Wind Waker’s equally mandatory and equally constant sailing is a feature of the game, here it was mostly a lengthy interruption between the snippets of actual content. Except that bits of the story are also spun out in conversations between Aliya and the robot Six on these sailing interludes, so you’re encouraged not to skip them, the few times you are even given that option.

The graphics are... odd and awkward, unfortunately. The developers tried a very neat thing with (beautiful and detailed) 3D rendered environments, populated by (also beautiful, but jarringly animated) 2D hand-drawn characters. Who don’t have feet, but kind of fade into invisibility just below the knees, so as to avoid rendering walking animations, I guess. It’s very strange. There’s also no “collision sensor,” so your 2D player character is constantly clipping through other 2D NPCs, which sometimes interrupt everything you’re doing for a 15 second animated scene where they greet you, then walk away. There’s no way to avoid this. And when that happens, it overrides and cancels any ambient but plot-relevant discussion you were having with Six, which was deeply frustrating.

Speaking of which - there are a lot of strange, time-consuming transitions. Walking out of one section of the Elboreth marketplace into another takes another 10 second scene triggered by you entering a doorway, just to show you walking through a side alley. Every single time. When you show artifacts to a colleague, he will walk all the way to the other side of his office and walk all the way back before offering the same dialogue as every time before. Realistic, to grant him time to check his data? Yes. Extremely frustrating as an element of gameplay? Also yes.

Also, my game glitched multiple times, everything slowing to an infinite limbo as a triggering event failed to trigger, requiring a full reset. Any interaction with Oroi, for whatever reason, had a 33% chance of glitching.

All of this adds up to a game that creaks and clunks, and is deeply frustrating to play. These are all things which seem fueled by bad design/poor planning, and it takes away from the GOOD parts of the game. Namely:

It’s really beautiful (once you get over the 2D/3D intersection.) The music is lovely, and all the designs are top notch. I really enjoyed spending time in these various worlds and discovering their history. (Actually WALKING through the worlds, less enjoyable, but...)

The development of the story and the character interactions is mostly organic and nuanced. Like a Bioware game (I’m sorry to reference them but it’s the easiest comparison), your responses to different plot events and side characters, and the order in which you discover things (or even what conclusions you draw! there isn’t necessarily a single right answer!) shapes the narrative. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes obvious when the NPCs have run out of interactions for you... such as when you take a twenty-minute sail to revisit your home planet, suffer through endless clipping issues and mandatory transitions, only for your contacts there to have zero dialogue options. (Whoops, this was supposed to be the “good” section.)

The translations, which are the heart of the game, become really fun after the first few. Initially, you have ZERO information when you are given your first line of text to interpret, and have to guess blindly. In a little bit, you are given more information to determine whether that first guess was right or wrong. It’s a little frustrating, but I think what the developers were going for is that Aliya is already roughly familiar with Ancient script, and whatever initial guess she makes is about 50/50 correct. Each new line of text you uncover builds on the glyphs you already know. It became very fun to make more educated guesses - ah, I recognize the symbol we identified as “Gods,” so maybe combined with this other symbol, it might be “Prayer” or “Temple” - something related. Or when you start breaking down the “me/you/we/my/your/our” glyphs, it all makes SENSE. That was the fun part I eventually couldn’t get enough of - parsing out what Ancient meant, and piecing together the story behind the Nebula.

I genuinely did gasp when I figured out A Big Thing about the world story.

I really love stories about robots. Long-suffering, mildly sarcastic robots who are trying very hard to keep you alive while you do stupid things like climb down cliffs they can’t follow. I am very glad I was warned about the risk of losing Six forever and could avoid that particular path, because I think the last third of the game would have been a real bummer without Six as a companion.

Do I recommend it? Yes... mostly. Yes, with the caveats above about how clunky and frustrating the gameplay is. I probably will replay it in a while, taking advantage of the NG+, but not right away - I need to play something less inherently frustrating.

I wish there were more games like this, but I also wish it had been better developed, so that the good parts of it could really shine.

#heaven's vault

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nerdy-bits · 3 years

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The Unspoken Rules of Stealth Games

I love stealth games. They are my absolute jam. I’ve been an Assassin’s Creed acolyte from the beginning and Splinter Cell rests firmly atop my list of favorite franchises. The industry isn’t flooded by this genre, but there are a fair number of quality contenders. The Dishonored games are a tour de force, I love the critically mixed Deus Ex prequels deeply, I only play Far Cry with my knife and bow, Ghost Recon is a kind of comfort food, even in Uncharted 4 I avoided combat in favor of being a sneak. In fact, really the only thing I like more than stealth gameplay is cooperative stealth gameplay (though I am a sucker for tactics games). There is just something about clearing a room with a friend, no enemy wise to your presence. Splinter Cell has brilliant co-op. Far Cry is at its best when your crew chooses the silent approach, one friend getting dirty up close with a blade while a ranger picks off sentries, putting arrows between armor plates.

Most stealth games though, avoid multiplayer completely. I frequently lament that I can’t take out targets as agents 47 and 46. Most of these games, to me, feel like they would be better with a friend. Now a part of that is certainly because most things are better with friends but, secondarily, these games are difficult. Having a friend to help could both ease the game of chess you play in every encounter or allow creators to add differing levels of complexity.

I could talk about the possibilities for, maybe literally, days. But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. At least not today. If very few stealth franchises build out co-op experiences, a fraction of those games create adversarial multiplayer. Splinter Cell has tried it. Spies vs Mercs, a mode that pitches Splinter Cell agents against NPC-esque mercenaries, leverages darkness and verticality against mercs with flashlights. It’s, as I previously described, brilliant. By pitting factions against each other with different abilities to navigate the gamespace, adhering to the stealth game loop is the only thing that gives the spies an advantage.

Assassin’s Creed also dabbled in multiplayer. Both PvP and PvE. The latter, while promising, fell victim to the extremely buggy launch of Assassin’s Creed Unity. Network issues, net code issues, strange pop-in, the experience was fractured from the start. The former, PvP variant, was introduced with the release of AC Brotherhood. Across a handful of game modes, and choosing between an impressive lineup of characters, players hunted each other down across crowded maps utilizing a number of distractive, offensive, and defensive abilities.

The Brotherhood multiplayer was great in the first few weeks, but as time progressed players became savvy to the underlying systems and within months of release the idea of “Stealth” all but disappeared. The reasons, I believe, are perhaps why so many stealth games leave this feature off of the list: Balance and participation.

A few weeks ago Hood: Outlaws and Legends came out and a group of friends and I grabbed it up. At only thirty dollars it was kinda hard not to just grab it and give it a shot. Hood takes place in the Robin Hood universe (mythos?) and tasks players to cooperatively - stealthily - infiltrate an area, track down the Sheriff, pickpocket a vault key from him, and then abscond with the loot in said vault. It’s like Payday with a bow and arrow.

Pulling off these heists is actually pretty fun. The PvE (versus AI only) mode allows you to dig into the mechanics of the game while working out the kinks in your team communication. Before long we were complimenting well placed shots and perfect dual takedowns as we carved our way to our prize. The formula is solid, if a bit repetitious. The requirements don’t change at all between maps. The location of the vault chest will move around from heist to heist, but that is really it; and after a few rounds we had grown a bit too familiar with the process. The game also randomly chooses the maps in this mode, so we ended up playing two maps in three games, which was a bit of a bummer. Also your XP gain is dramatically limited in this AI centered mode, which pushed us quickly into the game’s core mode: heists against competing human players.

The formula doesn’t really change for this PvPvE mode, save the fact that at the same time you are hunting for the Sheriff, his key, and then the vault, another team is as well. Initially the prospect of this dynamic was interesting, but pretty quickly it devolved.

This was when I realized multiplayer stealth is critically dependent on its players participating in the right way. Now some games incentivize this participation or choose to restrict your abilities altogether. Think AC: Brotherhoods scoring system for kills which took points from you for being loud or conspicuous. Spies vs Mercs restricts teams abilities based on their faction. Mercs literally cannot hide in the dark. Spies will not win a gunfight.

Hood doesn’t really build any advantage or disadvantages into its gameplay loop. We started our first round of PvPvE and began to sneak around the map the same way we were in the PvE mode. Being seen by guards locks the area you are in down. They close all the gates and begin hunting for you. Against AI this was a paradigm shift. The whole group has to go into ghost mode or just shelter in place until the heightened awareness drips away with the invisible clock. In multiplayer you get notified if your opponents incur a lockdown. This is done presumably to give you a brief jolt of encouragement. Thoughts dart across your mind, “They are locked down, they got caught, we have a few minutes to creep ahead and really gain an advantage.

Only that wasn’t the case.

Ryan and I stopped playing the Brotherhood multiplayer a few months in. It was nearly impossible to play the game by its own rules. Shooting a target with your wrist mounted pistol was always the worst way to pull off a kill, but useful if your target just kept evading you. You received a meager serving of points and would move back into the crowd in an attempt to reestablish yourself as an agent of stealth. By the end of the first month people were sprinting across rooftops, shooting down into the crowd, and then running off to do it again. They had discovered that if you ran around on the rooftops it didn’t raise your profile and that picking off a target from a rooftop with a gun, the penalty wouldn’t be enforced unless you killed a second target. First kills in this method would rack around 1800 points, the second kill a measly 300 (the numbers may be way off here, its been years. It’s the proportion that’s important.

The second kill was the system working, discouraging loud tactics with point penalties. But if you went and hid, let the system time out, and then did it again, you could farm high point value kills in perhaps the least clandestine way possible. Brotherhood became a shooting gallery. It was absolutely untenable. Assassin’s Creed would get away from adversarial multiplayer after Black Flag. I barely returned for Revelations.

As we were creeping through the bushes in a castle courtyard, our band of merry thieves, we got the first notification that our opponents had triggered an alarm. A wave of relief hit the crew. We’ve got some time. Then the second notification came, then the third, then a fourth. Our relief was subsumed by a revelation: they are just ignoring the stealth altogether. What followed was a painfully reminiscent race to the objectives ignoring area guards altogether (If a gate got dropped each team had a character that could just lift the gate). Our opponents got the key first, found the vault first, and moved the prize first. Each time we got close we were either picked off by a camping Robin, thatching us through the reeds with pinpoint accuracy, or we got bodied by the two melee characters Tooke and John.

Dying, spawning, and running back to the objective is a drag in any game. In a game where you have to make a getaway, every second you have to run back to the last place you saw the objective is a second of distance they get to make. Combat felt clunky and secondary to a stealth system that had been completely abandoned. Knowing that your opponent trips an alarm is incredibly useful, but knowing when they got the key, that they had found the vault, and having a tracker for how far the chest was moving was a bit much. I kept thinking about how much cooler it would have been if we had found the Sheriff only to discover the key was already gone. Imagine coming across a vault that had been looted already, your team scrambling desperately to find out how far their opponents had gotten.

Still, none of this works players don’t abide by an invisible set of rules, therefore relying on those rules just ends up feeling like a mistake. A private lobby with eight people, all who agree to be stealthy is one thing, hoping that the community at large adopts that mindset is, ever more clearly, dependent on systems. The question is, in an industry that builds to player’s fantasies of power, how do you implement these systems and simultaneously empower players while also guiding their play-style along the path you desire?

How do you penalize running around like Rambo adequately? How do you incentivize stealth to make it the only way players want to engage?

@LubWub ~Caleb

#stealth #stealth games #far cry #assassin's creed #multiplayer #asymmetrical multiplayer #splinter cell #hood outlaws and legends #article #blog

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cosmiclatte28 · 3 years

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#2 Miracles in December (Kai x you)

Second day of Christmas

Miracles in December (Kai x you)

I do not own the pictures, but I own the stories :) hope you enjoy this

“Closed,” you grunt in defeat when the last café on the street you’re strolling in also placed a closed sign on their door.

You turn your head to check if you missed any stores or not, but well you didn’t miss any! Every shop just decided to close earlier, and this was totally unexpected. It’s your first Christmas in Seoul and you did not know the shops always close earlier on Christmas week. Great what a good friend Baekhyun is for forgetting to mention this! The cold wind gushes and you shudder from the cold wind. It’s cold but not really freezing. Your coat and thermal sweater are enough to at least keep you warm until you find maybe a small market or just a place to sit and warm your body.

You glance to see not much people are roaming in this street, funny that you remember last week this place was crowded but now there is only you and some strangers who happen to also be looking for a place to take shelter.

The bus stop is on the other block and the MRT is also quiet a long walk, you don’t feel safe walking to the MRT station by yourself in the cold and empty road. You take out your phone and type to look up the closest store that is open here, but the internet shows you all stores are closed.

“Great! Now I am going to freeze as I walk my way to the station.” Your shoulder slump and you sadly go back to walk on the road that took you here.

“Looks like everything is closed here!” A man yelled in defeat and your ear perks up.

You turn your body around to see someone in long coat also slouching his shoulder when he read the “closed” sign on every door.

You laugh and it caught his attention, “Yeah it was a bummer I was walking around looking for café to sit by and turns out everything is closed already!”

He squints his eyes to see you but failed, so he walks to you.

“Ah you’re also by yourself! Yeah I did not know they always close up earlier in Christmas week.” He sways on his feet. He suddenly reaches out his hand from his pocket, “My name is Kai, I am not going to hurt you.” He giggles when you grab his hand and shake it, “I’m (y/n) and I am also not a baddie. I was just stranded here cold and surprised no stores are open.”

“Oh you’re also new here?” he sounds interested.

You know you shouldn’t be telling a stranger your stories, but here you are the cold winter night makes you blurt everything out.

“Yeah I just moved two weeks ago, and my friend did not mention this. I was planning to see-“ he cuts you in “See the lights?” his eyes twinkle and you stop to shake your head in disbelief

“Sorry I cut you!” he runs a hand over his neck, suddenly feeling shy for losing his manners.

You shake your head, “No need to be sorry! Yes I want to see the Christmas lights.”

He frowns, “Why are you here then? It’s in the middle of the city!”

You give out a huff, “I took the wrong MRT route!”

He checks his watch, “Actually it’s not too late yet to catch the bus and reach the center of the city. Do you want to go with me? I know the route.”

You can’t say how grateful you are to meet him and happen to have the same destination.

“That’s very nice of you, Kai.” You clap eagerly and he starts walking ahead of you. You copy his long strides and you tighten your jacket when the wind blows harder. The two of you start talking to one another, getting to know your favorite music, films, where you work at and basically talking about how a warm red bean bun will taste so good right now. You were laughing when the two of you meet a busier street and more people can be seen walking to a bus station.

The wind blows again and you know you’re going to have an aching throat because the wind can reach your neck. You forgot your scarf and now you regret not taking it.

“Here, you look like you need it more.” Kai suddenly stops and you stop too. He unwinds the scarf on his neck and carefully place it over your neck. He wraps it securely over your neck and you blush.

“Thank you, but what about you?” you feel bad for him.

He shakes his head and just puts on the hoodie of his coat “The bus station is near and you’re freezing there.”

You cannot explain how nice he is, as the two of you reach the bus stop, it is right on time that your bus arrives.

“let’s go, it’s this one number 87 going to the central park.” Kai pulls you into the bus and with that the two of you find your seats.

The ride was quiet long, so you spend the time by sharing music from your earphone. This is such a cliché but you never expect this to happen to you in real life with a stranger who you chose to trust and believe.

After ten songs, you begin to see the lights of the sky scraper and the advertising boards. It’s totally different! The vibes here really scream Christmas and you cannot take your eyes off the window like a kid.

“So pretty!” you point to the lights and Kai plays along, he chuckles but lets you scream and squeal when you see how the lights twinkle in the dark.

“Oh it’s starting to snow! There’s a café there, I think we can sit inside and see the lights.” Kai guards your shoulder because the area is a bit crowded and he didn’t want to lose you.

You follow his lead and reach a comfortable warm café. You buy him a cup of hot drink and sit by the window.

“You’re right the snow is falling and glad we’re already here!” you sip on your cocoa and he smiles.

“I’m always sitting here when I go to see the light show. Oh did you know they will put a light show on the Christmas tree every 9 pm? It’s just 2 minutes away.” Kai also sounds like a kid who cannot hold back his excitement.

You gasp in surprise, “Really? Wow!”

He was not lying, when your phone clock turns to 09.00 pm the streets are crowded with people but you can still see the big Christmas tree starting to do a light show.

You cannot take your eyes off from the mesmerizing lights and so does Kai. If someone took a picture of both of you right now, you’ll see two big kids glued on the lights like moth when they see lights!

“Pretty right? Quite fascinating… even better because this year I did not watch this by myself.” Kai speaks up after the last light goes back to normal.

You almost choke on your drink, are you hearing him correctly?

“I know it may sound too fast, but you’re making my heart flip.” Kai admits and looks away from you.

You throw him a smile and reach out for his hand on the table, “Well we can take this slowly. You can walk with me home and take your scarf back tomorrow after I wash it.”

He huffs and looks around only to freeze when he sees that actually above the two of you a mistletoe was hung. His hand was slumped, and you let it go, confused by his action.

You follow his gaze and your jaw hung open. “Um not too fast.” You chuckle nervously and he looks relaxed “Yep I was afraid when I saw that too!”

Both of you burst into a laugh and you boldly grab his hand on the table “Well Kai, it was good knowing you! Shall we go back? It’s running a bit late, and if our direction is the same we can take the bus. If not then I’ll see you around here tomorrow.” You ask him and he thinks for a while.

“My house is north, where are you going?”

You point the other way, “South. Guess my second option works better.”

He nods “Sure, take a good care of that scarf, it’s from my father. His last gift for me.”

You touch it and hold back your tear, really he trust you this much?

“I will, don’t worry! Okay then thank you Kai! I’ll see you here tomorrow?”

He steps outside of the café and stands beside you.

He glances to you one more time, “Yes by mid-day sharp. Have a great night.”

You turn your heel and wave him goodbye, after you’re gone from his peripheral view Kai squeals in delight when he finally find someone to spend the end of year with.

“(y/n)… what an interesting sweetheart! Thanks dad, your scarf really brings love and warmth.” He smiles to the stars on the sky and walks home with light heart and feet.

Turns out miracle in December is not a myth.

see you tomorrow!

Christmas masterlist

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queerbutstillhere-writes · 4 years

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Day 5: Quarantine

- You can't come over tomorrow.

~ what do you mean? "Can't"?

- Gotham is on quarantine. Mandatory. Only medical personel allowed out. Hell, even the JL grounded us.

• I'm seeing can't, but hearing "help me please"

- guys. This is serious.

• for you, maybe. Timmie, we can't get sick from Covid. Kon is alien, and my metabolism is just too fast for it.

- Bart..

~ he's right, Tim.

- Do not encourage him, Kon.

- you two are not allowed to come.

Tim sighed, staring at his laptop monitor. He’d been stuck in quarantine for several days now. Alone in his apartment. He could probably suit up and hightail it across town to get to the manor if he wanted, but being quarantined alone sounded far more appealing then bring quarantined in the manor with his siblings. Dick would probably drag him into nightly board (read: bored) games, Bruce would be constantly trying to bond, Damian would probably never stop insulting him. Duke and Cass would probably be fine, but Duke was easily roped into Dick's shenanigans, and Cass had that habit of creeping up on you.

No. Tim would survive being stuck alone, working on case files and reading news headlines. Today's news was singing the praises of Wayne Enterprises for their massive donations to research centers, the city, and for them paying for housing and healthcare for homeless. They were also praising Bruce for personally paying for the Covid testing and for paying for food and housing costs for those who couldn't afford it. Bruce had enough money to do so, so he might as well, right?

Amusingly, Tim had seen a headline from Star City about Red Hood and Arsenal highjacking a supply truck full of toilet paper and medical supplies and redistributing it among the poor and homeless, as well as stealing from some stores and making care packages for the homeless.

But now, his idiot boyfriends, severely upsetted by the fact that their Thursday date night had been cancelled, were texting and calling him non-stop, trying to convince him to let them come, finding out if he needed anything ("do you have food?" "Yes, Kon." "I'm talking real food, Tim. Not some Rice Krispies and a few boxes of cereal." "Conner."), and constantly fretting over him. Did he mention they kept whining about missing date night? Well they did. Even the suggestion that they could still hang out with each other didn't appease them. ("But we need our Robin! Our birdie!")

Tim Drake was a smart man. He was a good detective. If he had been at the manor, he'd probably be working with Bruce to develop faster testing, or figure out cures. But what Tim forgot, is how truly, truly, dumb his boyfriends are.

So he really shouldn't have been surprised to hear his door open on Thursday evening.

But yet, he was.

He shot up off his sofa, spinning towards the door. He hadn't changed in a day, and probably hadn't showered in three. His apartment was a mess and honestly he didn't remember what he had for breakfast that day. But yet he grabbed the nearest thing to him, an empty metal waterbottle, and brandished it as a weapon.

"Oh, I'm so scared," a chipper voice said, with a laugh.

"Bart?!" Tim exclaimed, half in shock and anger.

Standing in the entry way of his apartment was Bart Allen and Conner Kent. Conner was carrying several bags of groceries, and Bart had a couple jugs of milk and juice.

"What are you two doing?!" Tim hissed, glaring.

"Uh, visiting, duh?"

Bart zipped to the fridge, putting up his jugs, and then dumping a backpack that Tim hadn't noticed earlier onto the floor.

"Bart," Tim said, his tone dropping to his more commanding, Robin voice.

He noted Kon was also carrying a duffel bag. The man just smiled and then turned to walk into the kitchen.

"Nonono, I know what's going on here, you two aren't staying."

"Why not? We can't get it, and you're just gonna . . ." Bart motioned at the messy living room. "Besides, what if we quarantine ourselves with you."

"Well, because! Because. . . " Tim scowled at him.

He was starting to lose his energy to argue. And he was getting pretty lonely. And this . . . He wasn't wrong either. They could just quarantine together. . .

"And also, now if you need something, one of us can just zip over to metropolis and pick it up, or go do laundry at Clark and Lo's," Kon called from the kitchen.

"And if you do get sick! You'll have us to look after you!" Bart exclaimed, zipping over and kissing Tim before he could protest.

Tim glared at him from just a few inches away, then at Conner, who had moved to the doorway. They both just grinned at him.

"Fine. Fine! You can stay!" He exclaimed, defeated.

Bart whooped and kissed Tim again.

"Okay, first things first. You need to take a shower, man," Bart told him, wrinkling his nose. "Or else no cuddles."

Tim, touch starved as always, found himself immediately hating that idea.

"Also, we need to clean this place up. So, you go shower and brush your teeth and shave and stuff - or don't shave - and Kon and I will clean up and start supper!"

Tim huffed at him, but obeyed, heading towards the bathroom, stopping by Conner first to give him a quick kiss. Kon just grinned and pulled him in close, tweaking Tim's nose before kissing him. Then he shoved Tim towards the bathroom.

He went through the bedroom first, snagging some clean clothes, and then went into the bathroom. He quickly stripped and showered, making sure to clean his hair thoroughly, he shaved when he got out, and quickly brushed his teeth as instructed, because frankly, he didn't remember the last time he had done that and didn't want to make his boyfriends deal with that.

When he got back out, admittedly feeling a little better, he noted Bart and Kon's bags on his bed. He just sighed and shook his head, walking back to the main room. He could already smell the tomatoey scents of Italian food, and wondered what all those two had actually brought with them. There was some form of pop music playing, and he could hear Bart happily singing along to it, Kon chiming in occasionally with the choruses. Tim chuckled and looked around the living room.

They had cleaned up trash and dishes and fixed the pillows on the sofa. The curtains had been opened, and a candle was burning on the coffee table and all the glasses and mugs and plates had been removed. Tim walked over and leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Bart dart around and cook, while Kon washed dishes.

"This that hot girl bummer anthem. Turn it up and throw a tantrum~" Bart sang, doing a little dance as he darted from the fridge back to the stove, throwing a few things into a sauce.

"What are you making?" Tim asked softly, but they both heard him.

"Hey! He's clean!" Bart announced cheerfully. "And I am making lasagna! Max's special recipe."

Tim hummed in response, grinning back at the speedster.

"So are you two going to eat me out of house and home by the end of tomorrow, or?"

Kon shot Tim a smirk. "Depends."

"Ugh, Kent! I meant food!"

Conner laughed, rinsing one last dish before drying his hands, walking over and pulling Tim up against his front.

"I never said that wasn't what I meant, did I?"

"No. . . But with you there's always some kind of innuendo."

Kon huffed in mock annoyance, before ducking his head and gently kissing Tim a few times. Tim tilted his face up and obliged, wrapping his arms around Kon's neck.

"I missed you," Kon mumbled lightly, his hands sneaking up Tim's soft cotton shirt that may or may not have belonged to Kon at some point.

"I missed you too," Tim responded instinctually, not really realizing exactly how true that was.

"Then why didn't you let us come sooner?" Bart's voice asked and then he was slipping between their arms, sandwiching himself between them.

Tim laughed, giving the pouting Bart a few kisses, turning him from pouty Bart to smiley Bart.

"Because I didn't want you guys getting sick."

"Tim we literally can't."

"Did you confirm that?"

"Yeah. I called Lex and asked. And you know as well as I do that Bart can't get sick from these things."

Tim sighed, looking down at Bart, then up at Kon. "Well either way, it's too late now."

Once the lasagna was in the oven, Bart made Tim help him finish cleaning, sweeping floors and dusting things, meanwhile Kon just sat by and gave unhelpful commentary and got occasionally whacked with cleaning supplies. Once the apartment was properly cleaned, and feeling much better, they decided to properly move Bart and Kon into Tim's room, even though they had stated they'd probably be leaving to get more clothes and such. And probably their dogs.

Tim sat on his bed and watched them unpack bathroom supplies and clothes and other various personal items. Phone chargers got plugged in his few remaining wall outlets and things got shoved into previously neat areas.

"Were you really gonna stay here all by your lonesome?" Bart asked, flopping down onto the bed next to Tim and idly bumping his thigh with his knee.

"It wouldn't have been forever, Bart. I was probably gonna go to the manor eventually."

"Ew, and be around your brothers?"

"They are my family, Bart."

"I know but still. . . "

Tim chuckled and shook his head fondly, moving to lay partially over Bart and softly kiss him.

"Wait, is Keystone even in quarantine yet?"

"Uhhh." Bart grinned sheepishly.

"Bartholomew!"

Bart just giggled a little. "I'm sorry, but I wanted to come too!"

Tim just shook his head and then dropped it to Bart's chest, laying on him and listening to his breathing.

"Hey, this looks like a cuddle pile in the making."

Both of them groaned when Kon flopped - gently - on top of Tim.

"Kon you big lug! Get off!" Tim whined, pushing up on his hands and knees, trying to dislodge Kon, who didn't move.

"Why, I thought you liked cuddle piles?" Kon giggled out, nuzzling at Tim's neck and causing him to squeak.

"Not when I'm being squished!"

Kon gave an over dramatic groan, but moved, rolling and pulling them both on top of him. It took a bit of squirming before they were comfortable, one on either side of Kon, heads on his shoulder, hands clasped on top of his stomach. They laid there and chatted idly, with no concern for anything that might interrupt their lives.

"Bart the oven is going off."

And just like that, Bart was gone. A couple seconds passed, then he was back, snuggling right up against Kon again.

"Where were we?"

Both Kon and Tim just started laughing.

Once dinner was ready, they sat on the sofa and binged a couple episodes of Broadchurch before settling into another cuddle pile. Their default form was cuddle pile. Then eventually Bart got bored with sitting still, so they turned on Mario Kart, played a few normal rounds to watch Kon and Bart suffer, then Tim turned on the mod he had made to make the game go super fast.

He had learned not to watch the screen while this was happening. That's how you got eye damage.

"I'm gonna go do a little patrolling," Kon said, standing after Bart had beat him, again.

"Oh. Okay. Be careful, give a call if you need any help," Tim said, looking up from his laptop.

"Yeah, if I need anything, I'll call Bart."

"Kon."

"Hey, you're grounded, remember?"

Tim sighed, stretching up so Kon could kiss him. Kon chuckled and did so, then bent over the back of the sofa to kiss Bart, before disappearing into the bedroom to change. Then he called a goodbye on the way out the window. Tim and Bart looked at each other.

"So what are we doing then?"

Tim shrugged vaguely and looked back at his laptop.

"Well I'm gonna keep playing my game then."

"Okay."

Bart left him alone for a solid twenty minutes, which was a bit of a record for him, then he was tugging on Tim's laptop, trying to steal it.

"Yes, Bart?"

"I wanna cuddle."

"Cuddle?"

Bart's silence cause Tim to look over, and found he was pouting. Tim chuckled and saved his files, setting the laptop on the floor, then moving so his back was on an armrest, and opened his arms for Bart. Bart practically dove forwards, laying between Tim's legs, head on his chest, arms around his stomach. Tim chuckled and adjusted a bit for his own comfort, then let himself relax with Bart.

Eventually they turned on a movie and just laid together, idly chatting. There would be plenty of time for work later, Tim decided. But for now, he'd spend time with Bart. He may be stuck with these two for months before restrictions laxed, but he would take every moment he could, just to spend time with them while he could.

Kon got back after a few hours, stumbling back through the window, and giving them a grin, but he didn't come over, just walked away into the bathroom, leaving the scent of soot and acid in his wake.

"He's stinky," Bart remarked, still laying on Tim's chest.

"Hmmn, stinky boy."

Bart sniggered. Tim had, at some point, set his laptop on Bart's ass and was still working. Was it the most effective or romantic? No. But Bart didn't mind and it was keeping Tim from getting bored.

Then his phone started ringing.

"Bart, grab that for me please?"

Bart quickly grabbed the phone from the coffee table before immediately settling back into place.

"Yello?"

"Hey, Timmy."

"Hi Dick, what's up?"

"Nothing, just wanted to check in and see how things were going with you."

Tim glanced down at Bart.

"I'm okay."

"Yeah? Just hanging out and working on cases, I assume?"

"Yeah, I'm working on that March case."

Dick hummed from across the line.

"Well, are you sure you don't want to come to the manor?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Honestly I'm surprised you're there. I thought you'd be with Wally?"

There was a pause.

"I was going to, but he got directly exposed the day before he was supposed to come down, and he didn't want to risk it until he discovered if speedsters could actually catch it."

"Hmmn, I have it on good authority they can't."

"Is that so?"

"Yup."

"They're there with you, aren't they?"

Tim just grinned, even though Dick couldn't see it. His brother laughed.

"Tim, you scoundrel."

"Listen, I told them no, they wouldn't listen to me, and then when they showed up, it was too late because Bart like, immediately kissed me."

"Hell yeah I did."

Dick just laughed again. Tim could envision him fondly shaking his head.

"So, I'll let you go then, I'm sure you guys have some catching up to do, if you know what I mean."

"Oh my god, shut up," Tim laughed out, even as he started playing with Bart's hair.

"Just speaking the truth!"

"Goodbye, Dick."

"Bye, Timmy! Love you, stay safe!"

"You too!"

Tim hung up the phone and let it fall to the ground beside the sofa.

"Oh good, you're off. I didn't want to come do this with your brother still on the phone."

Tim tilted his head back to see a shirtless Kon standing over him, grinning, hair still dripping slightly from his shower. He bent down and deeply kissed Tim. Tim gave a surprised noise and reached a hand up, resting it on Kon's jaw. When he pulled away, leaving Tim breathless, he just grinned mischievously, then moved so he was closer to Bart.

"Bartie."

"Hmmn?" When the ginger picked his head up, Kon kissed him the same.

Bart just grinned at him after, and put his head back on Tim's chest.

"Do you guys want a snack, because I'm starving."

Tim watched Kon walk away, and just had to laugh.

It was lucky the three of them were huge cuddlers, because otherwise they would not have fit in Tim's queen sized bed. Not with Kon's huge shoulders. After their snacks, Bart had to literally steal Tim's laptop, and then Kon decided to carry him to the bathroom to get ready for bed, instead of just letting him walk.

As the three of them laid in bed, a few minutes later, more focused on lazily kissing then actually sleeping, Tim decided that if he was going to be quarantined anywhere, being in his apartment with his amazing, dumb, loving boyfriends couldn't be the worst solution. And it was, by far, preferable over going to the manor. So he would happily keep his mouth shut and let them fret over him. Because he loved them. And they loved him.

@core-disaster-week-2020 originally written for @unknownunseenunheard !!

#timkonbart week #core disaster week #core disaster #timkonbart #tim drake #conner kent #bart allen #covid #covid 19 #pandemic #covid pandemic #covid quarantine #dick grayson #queerbutstillhere writes

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

Text

Survey #466

“she is the butcher, she wants the air / she hides the scars under her hair”

Who do you think cares the most about you? My mom. What do you do when you’re pissed off? Isolate and cry. Have you ever had unprotected sex? Good luck catchin' me do that. What did your mother study at university? Social work. What was the last thing you took a video of? I have zero idea. What is your least favorite kind of weather? Hot and humid weather can actually fuck off. What was the last housework you did? Does changing my cat's litter count? Have you ever had famous neighbors? Not to my knowledge. Have you ever lived in a small community where everyone knew each other? Nope. Have you ever actually drank warm milk? NO EW EW EW EW EW Do you talk to your pets? If you don't, are you REALLY a pet parent??????? Who is a famous person you could see yourself reading a biography about? He's always said he doesn't want to but I really hope Mark writes an autobiography one day alskdjklafjw;ejr Are there any numbers you dislike for any reason? No. What skill that you have do you make most use of? idk man Have you ever done something sexual that you regret? Nah. Have you ever said anything to the last person you kissed that you regret? No. Have you ever ate so much you puked? No. Do you care about what others think of your physical appearance? Sometimes/some places yes, other times/places, no. Would you rather eat cookies or brownies? It would probably change with what I'm feeling, but I lean towards a nice center piece brownie. :^) If you’re out late, where are you likely to be? This literally never happens. Do you ever visit your mall’s arcade (if it has one)? Our mall is lame as fuck. It definitely doesn't have one. What’s your absolute favorite topic to discuss? Mark, lmao. What is your least favorite topic to discuss? Politics. Have you ever been confined to a wheelchair? "Confined" seems like a strong word, but a nurse did give me one at the doctor's office when I massively tore a ligament in my foot and could barely walk at all. If you have a job, who’s your closest friend at work? Don't remind me that I don't have a job. Have you told anyone you love them today? Not yet, but I'm sure I will later. Have you ever worked in an office? No, but I guess that's what I'm going to wind up going for once I'm ready to job-hunt again... It feels sad that I'm actually aiming for the cubicle life now just because my interaction with people would be much more limited than with most other jobs. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? My mom. Do you prefer margarine or butter, and why? I don't even know if I'd recognize the taste difference. Have you ever been in serious trouble at work or school? No. Do you have any strange fears or phobias that you’re embarrassed of? That I'm embarrassed of, no. Can you smell anything right now? No. Have you ever tried coconut water? No. Which Asian country would you like to visit the most? Idk. Maybe Japan? How old were your parents when they got engaged? I have no idea. Have you ever done a first aid course? No. If so, would you be prepared to perform CPR if necessary? No. Have you ever ‘done it’ in a hotel room? No. Just the idea grosses me out. Where is your next vacation? Couldn't tell ya, buddy. Which are better black or green olives? I'm not a fan of black olives, and I won't even TRY green ones. They just look so fucking disgusting to me. Does your car have a backup camera? Mom's doesn't. Have either of your parents ever been in trouble with the law? No. Do you have a preferred brand of bottled water? Essentia. Is your skin more oily, dry, or combination? It's a combination depending on the location. Where did you meet your current significant other? High school band. What kind of house do you wish you lived in? One that's in the woods. What was the last compliment you received from an old lady? I don't have a clue. Do you know how to cut hair? Properly, no. Have you ever had a classmate die? I believe maybe once? If you have a song stuck in your head, what is it? I recently discovered "Foxy, Foxy" by Rob Zombie and it's Good Stuff. Do you tend to space out a lot? Very much so. What people have changed your life for the better? My parents, my psychiatrist, a PHP therapist, Sara, debatably Jason... Have you ever had any kind of dangerous addiction? What’s this addiction? Caffeine, I guess. Are your parents still married, divorced, or split up? Like this decision? They're divorced, and while it sucks for your parents to split up, it's a decision that I definitely approve of given all they ever did was fight when I was growing up. Them staying together would've been very destructive. Have you ever heard of Hollywood Undead? Do you like them? Well yeah, and I like a large number of songs to where I'd consider myself a fan. I actually had a shirt in high school. Has anyone ever called you a coward before? Who called you that? I don't believe so. Are you a Jeffree Star fan? Or no? Do you think he’s awesome/dumb? Honestly, yes. Like he's done dumb shit, but has more than sufficiently apologized for it in my opinion and changed his behavior for the better. I also - astonishingly - like his music quite a bit. As well, his work ethic is fucking INCREDIBLE, like extremely admirable. Has your grandmother ever made you anything? Not including cookies. I don't think so. I don't even think she ever liked me. Do you disgust anyone? Did they tell you that? Why is this, anyways? Not that I know of. When was the last time you cried, and why (if you want to share)? I don't remember, actually. Probably just about life. Who was the last person who was rude to you? *shrug* Do you have a relationship with God? lol no, and even if I believed in him, I wouldn't have a remotely decent opinion of that entity. Is weed legal in your state? No. Have you ever thrown up in class? In kindergarten, yes. What is something that you used to be ashamed of, but now you’re not? As a kid, being a girl, I was so embarrassed by liking Pokemon. Now, I am literally wearing an Eeveelutions shirt and went out in public lmao. I couldn't care less about loving them cuties. Have you ever walked outside in below zero weather? No; I've never experienced those temperatures. Have you ever held a newborn baby? Yes, but I was sitting down. I would be WAY too scared of dropping a baby otherwise. Are a ton of your Facebook friends getting married and having kids now? I legitimately think most of my friends on there already have kids and/or are married/engaged. It's triggering sometimes and was a massive motivator for me taking a break from there. What’s something you believe in that most people don’t? So uh, I hope this doesn't sound insensitive given how it just passed, but I 100% believe the U.S. government was to some extent involved in 9/11. There is an incredible amount of evidence when you do the research. Is there anyone who’s dear in your heart who’s going down the wrong path? I worry about one of my good friends quite a bit. She is horribly addicted to pot (like, she admits it) in a state where it's not legal, and I'm concerned she'll face legal repercussions eventually. She also dates an absolute lowlife asshole, but they've been together for a very long time, and I just worry about how that might damage her later down the road. Do you get enough sleep? God, it never feels like it. What’s something you wish you would have known sooner? That college wouldn't work for me. Like, I dropped out of three. I do NOT want to know the debt I'm in. What’s the next big project you plan to start? Idk. Possibly something for Girt's birthday because Mom really pissed me off and doesn't want to spend *any*thing to help me get something for him. Is that bad on my end? Like she pointed out he knows I don't work, but like... come on. He's my bf, one of my greatest friends ever, and you can't spare anything? I really don't know if that's selfish or not; it's just that if I get him nothing, I will feel like ACTUAL garbage. So making something may just be my only option. I just dunno what... Do you think you were cute in your baby pictures? omg yes, idk what happened Do you remember pre-school? A lot of it, yes. My long-term memory is pretty damn amazing. Would you allow your children to date prior to 16? Yes. Does your town have a farmer’s market? I think so? Which app on your phone do you tend to get the most notifications from? Pokemon GO, lol. How old were you when you met your current best friend? Around 11. What is something you gave up on after many failed attempts? Photography is coming real fuckin close. I've been trying to go somewhere with that for YEARS. Would you rather read a book, or listen to the audiobook? Physically read. I think my attention would stray listening to an audiobook. Do you think tomorrow will be a better day than today? It's possible, idk. I had a doctor's appointment today that absolutely slaughtered my mood, so I feel fucking horrific, but Girt is also coming over today, and I'm sure he'll cheer me up. I won't see him tomorrow, so that's a bummer. With which friend are you most likely to share a secret? Sara. What is the last thing you complained about? It's hot as shit outside. Is there a show you swear that you will never watch? 13 Reasons Why. What was the last topic that you ranted about? Anti-vax bullshit. Who is the most sensitive person that you know? Bitch, me. Have you ever had a tooth (or teeth) pulled? No. What did you do last Halloween? Literally nothing on the actual holiday. :/ Fire drills: Did you ever wish they were real… just once? ... To get out of school, yes. :x What was the last thing that you felt strongly about? I am still positively livid about Texas' "heartbeat bill." Fuck that place and fuck that law. What is one insecurity you have about your body? Um, everything???? What is one part of your body that you are proud of? Nothing????

#survey #surveys #random questions #lyrics: ''foxy foxy'' by rob zombie

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k7l4d4 · 3 years

Text

Midnight Striga: Fairy Tail/Owl House Cross Fic Episode 3 Final

Hello all, here comes the conclusion to Episode 3 of Midnight Striga! Everybody Clap Your Hands!!

Light flashed before her eyes.

‘Ugh, what’s happening?’ She groaned.

“... think she’s waking up..”

‘Where am I?’

“...ting some water…”

“Oh Titan, my head is pounding!” Boscha moaned, clutching her throbbing head. “Just what happened?”

“Maybe you could tell us that?” A voice said to her side, an angry note to it. Turning to look, Boscha was mildly surprised to see Skara’s one friend that wasn’t part of their usual group, what was it again, Bo? Bo, standing next to her, holding a clipboard and an incredibly pissed off expression. “From what the girl who brought you in had to say,” She began, furiously scribbling at the paper before her, “You somehow got your hands on a crystal that boosted your magic, and was also negatively impacting your thought process.”

Blinking, Boscha laid her head back, trying to process. “I think, maybe? I can’t really remember.”

Bo scoffed. “Oh, how convenient.” She muttered something else under her breath.

Feeling her temper spark, Boscha bit out. “What was that?”

Bo gave a harsh glare, something that surprised Boscha. “Just that’s it typical you somehow gained amnesia after what you did.”

“What did I even do!?” Boscha demanded, throwing her hands up. At the bolt of pain rushing through her arms, she quickly realized that was a mistake.

Bo shoved her head forward, looming over Boscha as best she could. “Are you telling me you don’t remember what you did to her?” She slammed a hand against the wall. “Are you!?”

“I don’t know what, or who, you’re talking about.” Boscha growled. “Mind enlightening me?”

“Skara.” Bo said, her voice deadly still. “I’m talking about what you did to Skara.”

Boscha blinked again, bewildered. “What? That’s crazy.” She scoffed. “I would never do something to-.” She paused, her brow scrunching up. “I didn’t… what?” Boscha let out a groan, clutching the sides of her head, images and sounds slowly pouring in.

“Maybe we could find something else to do, you know?”

“STAY OUT OF THIS!!”

“You maimed your friend!”

“I burned Skara.” Boscha uttered, feeling numb.

Bo let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah. You did. And as one of her friends, I’m obligated to be mad at you, not that I wouldn’t be anyway with what you’ve been up to the last few days.”

“I don’t-” Boscha started, only to cut off as memories started flowing in. Sickening memories. Memories of Demons, many of them kids, quite a lot from right here at Hexside, brutalized and bloody, cowering at her feet. Boscha felt sick. Now, by no means was she a particularly empathetic person, and she was very cognizant of that, but even Boscha had limits on what she would do to someone, and she would never attack someone who hadn’t crossed her (whether they crossed her intentionally or not was irrelevant, a voice whispered). She certainly wouldn’t have brutalized random strangers and kids on the street so bad they needed serious healing! ...Right?

“You don’t what?” Bo asked caustically. “You don’t know? You don’t understand? You don’t CARE!?” She was almost screaming at the end. “YOU BURNED HER!! YOU BURNED HER THROAT!!! What in the Titan’s name is wrong with you?” Her voice dropped, tears starting to pool in her eyes. “Why would you do that to her? Out of everyone, she cared about you the most. Why?”

“I don’t know.” Boscha said blankly, her mind lost in a haze. She had burned Skara, and attacked random people in the streets. She was broken, that was the only thing that made sense. Ever since that day, when she saw just how small she really was, something inside her had broken. What good was there in giving excuses? Better to be honest.

“I should’ve expected that.” Bo bitterly remarked. She paused, a complicated look crossing her face. “You’re lucky you know.”

“I am aware, but I don’t know what you mean in this case.” Boscha stated. She was incredibly lucky, it was the only explanation for how something like her had managed to last this long.

Bo gave her a scowl, clearly debating sharing what she knew, before her conscience won her over. “Ugh. That jewel you had?” She started, getting a nod from Boscha, before continuing, “It was unstable, or at least the connection it had to you was.” Boscha gave an uncertain nod, mostly following along, prompting a grim smile from Bo. “Basically, the connection you had to it was unsustainable; you were liable to blow up and take the entire school with you at any time. The fact that you’re alive is a Titan’s true miracle.”

“Huh.” Boscha muttered, looking at the pale scar centered in the palm of her hand. “So what happened to it?”

“Oh, it fused with your Heart and Bile-sack.” Bo blithely stated, relishing the look of shock that came over Boscha. “Yeah, there was no way to remove the crystal without it destabilizing and sending the school up in flames, so it had to be implanted in you to complete the process you accidentally started with it.” As she drank in the sight of Boscha’s shock, muted as it was, Bo’s face scrunched up in grudging concern. “However.”

Boscha’s eyes snapped to the girl.

“We noticed something… concerning while looking you over.” Bo said, a genuinely worried frown on her face. “From what we can tell, that jewel is basically permanently boosting your power, but it’s also interfering with your magic at the same time.”

Time seemed to stand still for a moment before Boscha found her voice. “What?” She croaked out.

Bo gave a solemn nod. “I’m afraid so. Whatever process it uses to enhance you is interfering with your bile, and your bile has partially corroded the jewel.” She gave the ceiling a contemplative look. “You’ll basically have to partially relearn how to use magic altogether.”

Boscha nodded, feeling hollow. Even her magic was changed, warped. How fitting.

Bo’s face cleared, her eyes sharpening. “I really don’t want to do this.” She bit out. “But since you’re well enough for it, and she keeps insisting, you have a visitor. Though I don’t get why she wants to see you.” With that said, she turned on her heel and made for the door.

Boscha wondered who was here to see her. Maybe it was the girl who had brought her in, who she knew in her gut was that same human girl who had shown her the truth? Maybe it was Amity, though Boscha felt it was unlike her to do such a thing. As she tried and failed to figure out who it could be, deliberately ignoring the most likely answer, she heard the sharp footfalls of someone approaching.

“Boscha!”

Turning her head towards the voice, eyes widening in shock, Boscha offered no resistance to the flying hug that crashed against her chest. She froze up, uncomprehending. ‘Why?’ She thought. ‘Why are you here?’

“Oh my Titan, I’m so glad you're okay!” Skara cried, pulling back from Boscha. Physically, she looked none the worse for wear from her ordeal, even sporting a nice looking scarf. A scarf that only barely concealed the hand-shaped burn seared into her neck. Noticing the sight of Boscha’s gaze, Skara piped up, sounding far too cheerful. “Oh, you noticed, huh? Yeah, for some reason the healers couldn’t get rid of the scar all the way. I mean, they fixed most of the damage to my throat and all.” She continued, voice holding an almost rambling edge to it. “My voice is fine and all, but I get this cough when I raise it too high. Nothing serious. They think the scar might stick around for a while. It’s a bummer and all, but at least I got this cute scarf!” She finished, beaming, deliberately ignoring the sad, slow shake of Bo’s head.

“STAY OUT OF THIS!!”

“Please leave.” Boscha whispered.

Skara blinked. “I’m sorry? I couldn’t catch that.”

The smell of seared flesh. The choked cough that should’ve been a scream.

“Get out.” Boscha said, desperately trying not to let herself shake.

“W-what?” Skara stuttered, confused. “But Boscha, it’s okay! I don’t blame you-”

The shocked look of hurt in warm, brown eyes.

“You maimed your friend!”

“LEAVE!!” Boscha screamed, lashing her hand out at Skara, flames sparking. With a frightened yelp, Skara leapt back. “GET AWAY FROM ME!”

“B-Boscha, it’s okay!” Skara said, holding her hands placatingly. “It’s just me, Skara!”

“I KNOW!” Boscha yelled.

“Then why are you pushing me away!” Skara pleaded.

“Because you shouldn’t be here!”

Skara stilled. “What? But Boscha-”

“But nothing!” Boscha cried. “Just stay away from me!”

“I’m just trying to help!”

“I don’t need your help!”

Skara winced, edging away from the still burning flames in Boscha’s hands. “Boscha, please, we’re friends, right?” She tried.

Boscha froze, almost paralyzed. “No. We aren’t.”

Skara paused, unable, or unwilling, to process what she said. “W-what?”

Boscha turned away from Skara, eyes fixed firmly out her window. “Just beat it, Skara.” She said, making an effort to sound like she used to. “I don’t want you around me, or you to have anything to do with me. I’m perfectly fine without you, and I definitely didn’t need you barging into my room while I’m healing.”

You could’ve heard a pin drop in the room. Bo stared at the two girls before her in horror; the sheer coldness in Boscha’s words was every bit as brutal as the injuries she had seen the girl inflict on Demon students over the past three days. Skara stood there, rooted in place, tears softly streaming down her face, a plastic grin stuck in place. Without a word, she turned to the door, slowly walking towards it, her pace gradually building, until she broke out into a run, sobs rocking her body.

Bo whirled on Boscha, spitting venom. “You are so lucky healers aren’t allowed to attack their patients.” She spat. She turned, preparing to chase after her distraught friend, before pausing, remembering something. Turning back to Boscha, she pulled out a card. “Here.” She said, flipping the card over onto the windowsill. “The girl who brought you in asked us to give that to you.” She scoffed. “I don’t see why she bothered.” With that said, she took off, heedless of any repercussions abandoning her patient may have in the future.

Without a word, Boscha slowly brought the card to her face, reading it.

For whenever you decide you want help with making the world make sense again, just look me up. Sincerely, Luz Noceda.

And, without making a sound, Boscha cried.

Bump sighed, unsure of how to deal with the situation before him.

“This entire ordeal is ridiculous! Our daughter has always held herself to the most stringent standards of decorum! Isn’t that right, Alador?”

“Hmm? Oh, right right? Now, you said the Abomination was coiled?”

“Alador!!”

Bump sighed again. Odalia and Alador Blight. While they now had some measure of influence over him as the heads of the Parent Creature Association, they were still the same impetuous children they were when they left; Odalia was still an opportunist who would look for any avenue to thrive, whereas Alador was a cold, disconnected fellow whose head was constantly in the clouds, searching for new inspiration, the only uniting factor in the two being their ambition and their pride in their honor. He would need to handle this carefully.

“Mr. and Mrs. Blight, I am afraid the subject of your daughter’s guilt in this scenario is without question, seeing as it occurred in my own presence.” Bump firmly stated, not willing to budge on this. Alador was always the easier of the two to deal with; while always liable to reach for an advantage, he preferred to wait and see, biding his time while indulging his curiosity. In this case, he was eagerly detailing notes on the Abomination Miss Park had presented as her last project before her switch. Bump would admit to being curious himself, but even he found Alador’s… zealous pursuit of his curiosity occasionally off-putting.

“Tsk. And why would my daughter do such a thing?” Odalia demanded imperiously, as if the very idea was such an impossibility that even mentioning it was reprehensible. Bump sighed internally. She always was a difficult one. Proud, dramatic, a natural saleswoman, and fierce rival to Eda Clawthorne, Odalia Blight was as unyielding as she was prone to recklessness. Oh, now that sparked an idea.

“I believe she may have lost sight of her surroundings in her fervor for the truth.” Bump said. He grinned. “Much like a certain other Witch that attended this school, who stormed the Potions Classroom to demand her rival return her prized bookbag, only for it to be revealed her boyfriend borrowed it in order to make improvements to it as a gift?” He grinned at the vibrant flush that overcame Odalia, who loudly cleared her throat at the embarrassing history he had revealed in front of her daughter.

Speaking of which, Bump glanced down, catching sight of Miss Amity Blight, doing her best to seem unphased but clearly miserable. Once again, Bump felt a sigh build up. He regretted how harsh he was with the girl earlier, but, on a smaller level, something to its effect needed to be said. The girl was brilliant, dedicated, and, if the reports from the Library were accurate, unerringly compassionate. Hearing her say such cruelty to a fellow student was shocking.

Bump was well aware of the girl’s intense loathing for cheaters and shortcuts, but he hadn’t thought she would behave so impulsively. Perhaps she had had a different plan and felt compelled to change it? As Bump glanced at the one-sided bickering of Odalia attempting to gain Alador’s attention, he believed it was very likely.

“If I may speak again?” He asked, gaining the two “adults” attention. “Amity is in no trouble beyond what you deem necessary. The confrontation was fairly private, and none of those present will speak of it, myself included.”

“You are sure of this?” Odalia asked, eyes gleaming in calculation, a similar look tucked into the recesses of Alador’s.

“Completely.” Bump affirmed.

“Excellent!” Odalia cheerfully stated, clapping her hands. “We will have a more in depth discussion with Amity in our own time. Rest assured, such an incident will not occur again.” With that said, the three Blights rose to leave.

“If I may have a word with Amity before you leave?” Bump requested.

Odalia pursed her lips, before nodding. “You may, but please be quick. Alador and myself will be waiting outside the door.” With her piece said, Odalia dragged husband along as he fiddled with the sample of Willow’s Abomination he had somehow managed to obtain.

“Do you have anything to say, Miss Blight?” Bump inquired, now alone with his scholastic charge.

“Indeed, Principal Bump.” Amity stated, as prim and poised as always, much to Bump’s mild chagrin. Her parents had certainly done their best to mold her into a proper socialite. “What I said to Willow was… unacceptable. I allowed my own disbelief and feelings of resentment to goad me into a foolish action. When I next encounter the human, I will apologize for my conduct.” She bowed. “However, I do not believe I can bring myself to apologize to Willow without receiving one in turn.”

“And that is perfectly alright.” Bump reassured, much to Amity’s apparent shock if the way she started tipping over was any indication. “I had a discussion with Miss Park after Boscha and Miss Skara were taken to the healers.” He idly noted how Amity tensed up at the mention of her friends. “She will be required to repair all the damage that resulted from her… outburst, as it were, without the use of magic. She genuinely regrets losing control of herself to such an extent, and is willing to offer you an apology in an official capacity.”

“That is… good to hear, sir.” Amity shakily stood, a look of shock, confusion, and… something else crossing her face. “When next we meet, I will attempt to exchange apologies with her.”

“Good, good.” Bump said, a look of content.

Amity gave another bow. “Will that be all, sir?”

“Indeed, Miss Blight. That will be all.”

As Luz awkwardly stumbled through the door of the Owl House, she was greeted to the sight of Eda attempting to strangle what looked like some kind of land-adapted sea monster, with Hooty and King tag teaming another, her Workers long gone.

“Hey kid! Glad you made it back!” Eda cheered, turning to get a better look after her foe finally gave up the ghost. “So, did everything go okaaaaaayyyyyyyyyOOOOHHHH MY TITAN!!!! What happened to you?!?” She demanded, taking in the sight of the plethora of bandages, healing coven glyph stickers, and scorch marks that coated Luz’s body.

Luz grinned sheepishly. “I got a job.” She shrugged. “Surprise?” And with that, she pitched over.

#the owl house #fairy tail #owl house au #fairy tail au #owl house crossover #fairy tail crossover #luz noceda #boscha the owl house #bo the owl house #skara the owl house #amity blight #odalia blight #alador blight #hieronymus bump #king the owl house #eda clawthorne #hooty the owl house #magic

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queerbutstillhere · 4 years

Text

For @unknownunseenunheard

- You can't come over tomorrow.

~ what do you mean? "Can't"?

- Gotham is on quarantine. Mandatory. Only medical personel allowed out. Hell, even the JL grounded us.

• I'm seeing can't, but hearing "help me please"

- guys. This is serious.

• for you, maybe. Timmie, we can't get sick from Covid. Kon is alien, and my metabolism is just too fast for it.

- Bart..

~ he's right, Tim.

- Do not encourage him, Kon.

- you two are not allowed to come.

Tim sighed, staring at his laptop monitor. He had been stuck in quarantine for three days now. Alone in his apartment. He could probably suit up and hightail it across town to get to the manor if he wanted, but bring quarantined alone sounded far more appealing then bring quarantined in the manor with his siblings. Dick would probably drag him into nightly board (read: bored) games, Bruce would be constantly trying to bond, Damian would probably never stop insulting him. Duke and Cass would probably be fine, but Duke was easily roped into Dick's shenanigans, and Cass had that habit of creeping up on you.

Amusingly, Tim had seen a headline from Star City about Red Hood and Arsenal highjacking a supply truck full of toliet paper and medical supplies and redistributing it among the poor and homeless, as well as stealing from some stores and making care packages for the homeless.

But now, his idiot boyfriends, severly upsetted by the fact that their Thursday date night had been cancelled, were texting and calling him non-stop, trying to convince him to let them come, finding out if he needed anything ("do you have food?" "Yes, Kon." "I'm talking real food, Tim. Not some Rice Krispies and a few boxes of cereal." "Conner."), and constantly fretting over him. Did he mention they kept whining about missing date night? Well they did. Even the suggestion that they could still hang out with each other didn't appease them. ("But we need our Robin! Our birdie!")

So he really shouldn't of been surprised to hear his door open on Thursday evening.

But yet, he was.

"Oh, I'm so scared," a chipper voice said, with a laugh.

"Bart?!" Tim exclaimed, half in shock and anger.

Standing in the entry way of his apartment was Bart Allen and Conner Kent. Conner was carrying several bags of groceries, and Bart had a couple jugs of milk and juice.

"What are you two doing?!" Tim hissed, glaring.

"Uh, visiting, duh?"

Bart zipped to the fridge, putting up his jugs, and then dumping a backpack that Tim hadn't noticed earlier onto the floor.

"Bart," Tim said, his tone dropping.

He noted Kon was also carrying a duffel bag. The man just smiled and then turned to walk into the kitchen.

"Nonono, I know what's going on here, you two aren't staying."

"Why not? We can't get it, and you're just gonna . . ." Bart motioned at the messy living room. "Besides, what if we quarantine ourselves with you."

"Well, because! Because. . . " Tim scowled at him.

He was starting to lose his energy to argue. And he was getting pretty lonely.

"And also, now if you need something, one of us can just zip over to metropolis and pick it up, or go do laundry at Clark and Lo's," Kon called from the kitchen.

"And if you do get sick! You'll have us to look after you!" Bart exclaimed, zipping over and kissing Tim before he could protest.

Tim glared at him, then at Conner, who had moved to the doorway. They both just grinned at him.

"Fine. Fine! You can stay!"

Bart whooped and kissed Tim again.

"Okay, first things first. You need to take a shower, man," Bart told him, wrinkling his nose. "Or else no cuddles."

Tim, touch starved as always, found himself immediately hating that idea.

"Also, we need to clean this place up. So, you go shower and brush your teeth and stuff, Kon and I will clean up and start supper!"

Tim huffed at him, but obeyed, heading towards the bathroom, stopping by Conner first to give him a quick kiss.

He went through the bedroom first, snagging some clean clothes, and then went into the bathroom, he quickly stripped and showered, making sure to clean his hair throughly, he shaved when he got out, and quickly brushed his teeth as instructed, because frankly, he didn't remember the last time he had done that. When he got back out, admittedly feeling a little better, he noted Bart and Kon's bags on his bed. He just sighed and shook his head, walking back to the main room. He could already smell the tomatoey scents of Italian food, and wondered what all those two had actually brought with them. There was some form of pop music playing, and he could hear Bart happily singing along to it, Kon chiming in occasionally with the choruses. Tim chuckled and looked around the living room. They had cleaned up trash and dishes and fixed the pillows on the sofa. The curtains had been opened, and a candle was burning on the coffee table. Tim walked over and leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Bart dart around and cook, while Kon washed dishes.

"This that hot girl bummer anthem. Turn it up and throw a tantrum~" Bart sang, doing a little dance as he darted from the fridge back to the stove, throwing a few things into a sauce.

"What are you making?" Tim asked softly, but they both heard him.

"Hey! He's clean!" Bart announced cheerfully. "And I am making lasagna! Max's special recipe."

Tim hummed in response.

"So are you two going to eat me out of house and home by the end of tomorrow, or?"

Kon shot Tim a smirk. "Depends."

"Ugh, Kent! I meant food!"

Conner laughed, rinsing one last dish before drying his hands, walking over and pulling Tim up against him.

"I never said that wasn't what I meant, did I?"

"No. . . But with you there's always some kind of innuendo."

Kon huffed in mock annoyance, before ducking his head and gently kissing Tim a few times.

"I missed you," Kon mumbled lightly, his hands sneaking up Tim's soft cotton shirt that may or may not have belonged to Kon at some point.

"I missed you too," Tim responded instinctually, not really realizing exactly how true that was.

"Then why didn't you let us come sooner?" Bart's voice asked and then he was slipping between their arms, sandwiching himself between them.

Tim laughed, giving the pouting Bart a few kisses.

"Because I didn't want you guys getting sick."

"Tim we literally can't."

"Did you confirm that?"

"Yeah. I called Lex and asked. And you know as well as I do that Bart can't get sick from these things."

Tim sighed, looking down at Bart, then up at Kon. "Well either way, it's too late now."

While their dinner was cooking, they finished cleaning up the apartment, got the two of them moved into the bedroom properly, and then fell in a tangled mess on the sofa to wait for dinner. They ate while watching a movie, and Tim did have to admit, the lasagna was really good. After their movie, they played some video games, and then Kon left to do a little patrolling for Tim while he worked on some cases and Bart just did whatever it was Bart did.

It was lucky the three of them were huge cuddlers, because otherwise they would not have fit in Tim's queen sized bed. Not with Kon's huge shoulders. After Kon got back and showered, Bart had to literally steal Tim's laptop, and then Kon had to carry him to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

#i cant believe you got me to write a corona thing #curses #the things i do for family #timkonbart #tim drake #conner kent #bart allen #corona quarantine #quarantine fics #omg they were quarantined #queerbutstillhere #queerbutstillhere writes

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fossadeileonixv · 3 years

Text

Inter 3 Milan 0

Oh boy.....

Some thoughts on each player and ramblings at the end.

DONNARUMMA was not at his best today. Could easily have come off his line to make a play on Lukaku’s cross on the first goal. Just wasn’t very aggressive all day to be honest. Very quiet as well. I’m used to hearing his voice on the telecast. Nothing today.

I haven’t seen CALABRIA get spun around like he did on the second goal today in a really long time. The threat of Perisic kept him at bay.

KJAER looks like all the games over the summer and straight into this season are catching up to him. Looked slow but also very frustrated. When it comes to a CB partnership usually one is the ball carrier and the other is more of a stay at home guy or stopper. It’s never been clear how that dynamic works with Kjaer and R13. Hard to tell which is which, especially in a game like today. Those 2 jut don’t seem right. Something is definitely ‘rotten in the state of Denmark’.

And ROMAGNOLI might be what’s rotten. I think we can all agree that he’s not exactly world class but at this rate i’m not sure he’s even making the bench for the Euros. At 26 he should be hitting his peak as a CB and instead he seems to be backsliding. Him man marking Lukaku today was akin to a horsefly marking a stallion. The sight of him backing up and backing up without ever challenging Lukaku on the run for that third goal was embarassing. that was the kind of weak spined stuff DeSciglio used to do. You’re the captain man. Make a challenge.

I would love to have a sit down with Pioli and find out exactly what THEO is supposed to be doing. Does he want him to sit high all game while other players take turn covering for him? Or is he supposed to defend at least a little bit? What happened to the defense first guy that looked near world class last summer? You know, the guy that picked his spots to make opponents pay? Whatever is going on over there it’s becoming a big problem. Teams know attacking down his side is where they will find tons of joy. Somehow Pioli doesn’t.

AC MILAN FACT OF THE DAY

Theo Hernandez has played the most minutes of any Milan field player this season and the most minutes of any field player in Serie A including all competitions.

Dude is tired.

I thought TONALI played good today. He was decisive and made some things happen going forward. We are starting to see some glimpses of what he might become. Giving him MOTM on a day like today feels like a backhanded compliment. MOTM nonetheless.

KESSIE really looks tired.

SAELEMAEKERS played. I guess. Had a couple nice crosses right after the half but that was it. It’s great that very little happens in his area for the other team. It’s also a problem that nothing happens in his area for our team. When we go down and need to score he’s a massive liability.

HAKAN, REBIC, IBRA were all so bad I’m honestly not sure where to start. A bad touch here, an extra touch there it’s really hard to tell what the plan was to score. I guess just stand around hope someone else did? Looked like 3 guys making dumb mistakes and blaming the other guy.

Subs

Pretty sure the only reason LEAO was brought on was to.... actually I’m not sure why he was brought on. He’s not the guy that’s gonna come on and make an impact, especially down. Did his standard walk about. Maybe just for rest and rotation? Bummer because some of his best games have come against better teams. After his cameos at AM and striker I wanna see him more in the center of the park.

MEITE played.

So did SAMU. Both were white flags.

Coach

PIOLI got most everything wrong today. This was yet another game where our tactics got eaten alive by teams that play 352. It’s kryptonite to our Theo-centric 4231. I understand fans that don’t see it. They’re fans. What I don’t get is Pioli not adjusting. Can’t keep repeating these same performances. Inter want you to attack them early so they can get a quick goal and then counter all day long. Pioli and his Theo first scheme fell right into that. We start the game like this:

Ibra

Rebic Hakan Saele

Kessie Tonali

Theo R13 Kjaer Calabria

but for some reason that quickly becomes something like this as we aggressively press early:

Ibra

Theo Rebic Hakan Saele

Tonali

Kessie R13 Kjaer Calabria

Kessie ending up all the way to the left is bad enough. Toss in R13 man marking Lukaku which drags him all over the place. Also consider that entire front five can’t be bothered to help. So you end up with Tonali Kjaer and Calabria to track 5 mids and Lautaro. Sprinkle in Donna being rooted to his line far too often today and it’s a recipe for disaster.

So now you are down 1-0 to a perfect counter attacking machine. Great.

RAMBLINGS

- For God’s sake just rotate the whole lineup for the Europa League game Wednesday. No one cares.

- As our frustrations build keep in mind we do have one of the youngest teams in all of Europe and probably still have more starts by players under the age of 25 than anyone.

- My crazy plan B fantasy lineup (3-5-2) R13 Kjaer Tomori; Theo Benna kessie Tonali Calabria; Leao Ibra

- Many times over the years on here I’ve talked about a team and their identity. Usually it was Milan and our lack of identity. Right now I’m not sure there is a team in Italy that knows who they are more than Inter.

- If you wanted to see what happens when a well rested really good team plays a decent team that had to play mid week this is it. Milan were on fumes while Inter were rested and ready.

- Somehow we had 10 ‘key passes’ and 12 ‘successful dribbles’. Supposedly these are good thing that lead to ‘expected goals’. You tell me guys. Did you really EXPECT any goals today?

FORZA

Lisi

PS: We are still 6 points clear of the last CL spot. All is not lost.

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justatiredghost · 4 years

Text

Living for the Moment Chapter 2 A series of glimpses at Klaus’ life if he’d met Dave in his mid 20s. His life isn’t magically transformed, love can’t fix either of them when they’re both homeless and in a bad place. They’re not even really ready for a relationship yet. But maybe a supportive friendship can set them on a better path, the two of them inspiring each other to take care of themselves. It’s going to be a long and bumpy ride, and the question is, when will they actually admit to themselves that they have feelings for each other?

Klaus rarely slept well. The most he could hope for most nights was a few hours of unconsciousness by getting blackout drunk or high, which unfortunately wasn’t known for being all that refreshing. This morning was no exception; what he’d taken the night before did the trick, but could only last so long and as it wore off, the voices of the ghosts always waiting at the edge of his mind slowly rose to the full force of their screaming and wailing. It jolted him awake with a start and he scrambled out of bed, breathing heavily, searching for his things and, most importantly, any drugs that he might have hidden away.

“What a beautiful morning,” Ben said, taking Klaus’ spot on the bed

Klaus muttered a curse under his breath as he tried to ignore the concerned or irritated looks of the others trying to sleep at the shelter. He only had a few pills left, that would have to do for now. He flipped Ben off as subtly as he could before heading for the exit. He needed a cigarette. Desperately.

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that,” Ben said, suddenly at his side. “You’re so grouchy in the morning. Let’s go do something fun for a change.”

“How about you take your ‘fun’ and--”

Before he could come up with some sort of colorful finish, he nearly walked directly into another man. Looking up, he completely lost his train of thought as he found Dave staring at him in equal surprise. Considering Dave had taken center stage in some of his half-remembered restless dreams, he had a second of wondering if he was just really high or still dreaming. He wished he was high.

“Hey,” Dave said with a smile. “Small world. Good to see you again.”

“Is it?” Klaus asked, legitimately curious as he lit up a cigarette in the doorway. “That’s not usually the reaction I get after standing someone up.”

“That was just kind of a line,” Dave admitted like he was sharing a secret, opening the door so they could both move outside, and probably so Klaus wouldn’t get yelled at for smoking indoors. “But now that you mention it, I had a good time otherwise so it’s not like I can be too annoyed.”

“Sure you can,” Klaus said. “I believe the appropriate reaction is usually anger.”

“Is it? If I had to pick, I’d say a little bummed, maybe,” Dave said with a shrug, pulling out his own cigarette. Klaus whipped out his lighter and held it out for him before he could go looking for his own. “We all got lives, man. You gotta go, you gotta go.”

Ben coughed, only half disguising the word ‘pushover,’ in the middle of it. Klaus ignored him.

“Can’t blame you for enjoying the ‘Klaus Experience,’” Klaus said with a wink. “Although, maybe you’ll get a kick out of this. I actually thought you’d stood me up.”

“Really? Does this mean you’re mad?” Dave asked.

“Hey man, anyone stands me up, it’s their loss,” Klaus said emphatically

“That’s the spirit,” Dave laughed.

“That’s the truth.”

“It certainly is,” Dave said with a much too sincere smile. “But I gotta know, how exactly does that work? You thinking I’d stood you up?”

“Eh, I got a bit high, lost track of time,” Klaus said with a shrug, taking a drag. “You know how it is.”

“I sure do,” Dave said, nodding sagely, although Klaus wasn’t sure if he actually agreed or was just humoring him. “If it wasn’t intentional, any chance you’d let me make it up to you? Promise I won’t stand you up this time.”

“What?” Klaus said in surprise, barely stopping himself from choking on smoke. He hadn’t expected Dave to want anything to do with him after, well, everything.

“Yeah, let me by you a--” he dug around in his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins. “A coffee?” He sounded much too hopeful and Klaus was irritated with himself for finding it endearing.

“Well, how can I say no to coffee?” Klaus said, ignoring Ben’s disappointed sigh. Someone who wasn’t likely to get too angry at his antics was definitely someone worth keeping around, he reasoned.

“So,” Klaus said, making himself comfortable on his side of the booth, stretching his legs out. “Do you usually buy coffee for people who stand you up?”

“Depends,” Dave said, immediately pulling out the little sugar packets and making a game out of stacking them, building a little sugar packet house. “Can these people make me laugh so hard alcohol comes out of my nose?

“You have strange standards, but I am hilarious, so I’ll give you that.”

“Besides,” Dave said, handing a sugar packet to Klaus, inviting him to join in. “I had to apologize for making you think I’d stood you up.”

“And yet I’m the one who should be apologizing for actually, if unintentionally, standing you up,” Klaus said, gesturing with the packet before building onto Dave’s little house.

“So? Are you?”

“Am I what?

“Going to apologize.”

“Yeah, sure, I guess I should,” Klaus said, clearing his throat like he was about to give a speech, hand over his heart. “I’m so sorry for standing you up. And for depriving you of all of this.” He gestured to all of himself, winking yet again.

“I’m not sure how I survived,” Dave laughed. “But really, it’s cool. Who hasn’t gotten high and lost track of time before? But what about you? Do you usually go on dates after standing people up?”

“I mean, I did have fun last night, so—” Klaus admitted, because he couldn’t deny that he was a flake and, really, it was probably better that Dave knew that up front.

“I knew it,” Dave exclaimed, apparently missing the point, but Klaus wasn’t going to correct him if he wanted to take the ego boost and leave the rest on the table.

“Don’t get all full of yourself, every party I attend is a good one, so really you can only take half credit.”

“That’s more than enough for me.”

“Hi, Dave,” the waitress said, coming over to their table. “The usual?”

“Yeah, two coffees this time, Cheryl. Thanks.”

“You got it.”

“Come here often, then?” Klaus asked once the waitress left.

“Well, my work is right across the street,” he said, gesturing to a construction yard they could see from their seats. “We’re almost done with this job, though, so it’ll be a bummer to find a new place that won’t kick me out for drinking endless free refills.”

“Pretty face like yours, I’m sure you’ll manage.”

And he actually blushed at that. It was adorable and he would have liked to dwell on it and tease him, but the waitress was back. Dave seemed a bit relieved at the distraction.

“I got some fries for you both, on the house,” she said, setting it down in front of them.

“Oh, wow, thank you,” Dave said, smiling at her.

“I think she has a thing for you,” Klaus whispered across the table to him once they were alone again.

“She’s not really my type,” Dave chuckled. “And to be honest, she’s probably just glad I’m not here alone for a change. I think she was beginning to think I don’t have a social life”

“Well, either way, I’m completely happy to take advantage of your good fortune.”

“All jokes aside, thanks for getting coffee with me,” Dave said, holding his mug up like he was gonna toast him.

“Yeah, apparently I should stand you up more often,” Klaus said with a whink, taking his own drink in hand.

“Or,” Dave said, drawing the word out like he was trying to get his courage up enough to actually finish the sentence. “You could find out how things go if you stick around.”

“Hmm,” Klaus said, acting like he was considering, like he hadn’t already made up his mind the moment he agreed to coffee. “Sure, I’d be willing to see how it goes”

“Are you going out again tonight? We can meet up at the same place. And hopefully we can avoid standing each other up this time.”

“Sure,” Klaus said. “So long as we can skip the preamble. Flirting across the dance floor was fun and all, but I’m pretty sure our night could be better spent.”

Last night, they’d continually gotten distracted from the main reason people usually meet up at clubs. While it had still been fun and another night of the same would have still been enjoyable, Klaus wanted to make sure there was no doubt where he’d like the night to end up even if it was obvious neither of them had a place they could go home to together. There were other ways to have a little fun, after all, and Klaus certainly wasn’t above back alley or bathroom escapades.

He decided that the easiest way to get this across was to reach his foot out, running it along Dave’s ankle and up his calf. Dave’s eyes widened in surprise, but he grinned back, a blush creeping across his face, and attempted to surreptitiously reply in kind. Instead, he misjudged the distance and accidentally kicked his leg, causing Klaus to gasp mock-accusingly and kick back.

From there, things quickly devolved into some sort of competitive game of footsy, the rules unclear. All Klaus knew was that it was taking everything they had to not laugh out loud and disturb the other tables. He wasn’t sure why things with Dave always turned out so ridiculous, but he was having more fun than he had in a long time so it wasn’t like he was going to complain.

The game ended abruptly when Dave banged his knee on the table, nearly spilling their coffee. They both stopped, trying to look innocent, until they made eye contact and immediately descended into giggling, Dave rubbing his tender knee. They got a few glares, but really that only caused them to laugh more, leaning close together conspiratorially.

When Dave eventually announced that he had to get to work, Klaus was once again struck by how easy it was to lose track of time when they were together. And it was strange how disappointed he felt as he headed down the sidewalk after saying his goodbyes. Then again, he’d gotten coffee and had eaten more than he usually did, so maybe that was the only reason he felt so reluctant.

“So, you’re going out again tonight,” Ben said, clearly disappointed as he fell into step beside him.

“I thought you said you liked the guy?” Klaus asked.

“‘Like’ is a strong word. I’d like it more if you didn’t go to clubs at all.”

“Well, we both know that’s not gonna happen,” Klaus said, pulling out another cigarette and grinning at his brother.

“You said you’d take me to that free art gallery,” Ben persisted. “We should go there instead.”

“Sorry, it’ll have to wait,” Klaus said and he really did feel a bit guilty for putting it off for so long. “I gotta resupply. We’ll go another day, okay? Now, help me figure out which dealer might actually give me an advance until I can get my hands on some cash.”

Ben sighed heavily, but at least he didn’t disappear.

#klaus hargreeves #dave katz #klave #the umbrella academy #klaus x dave #umbrella academy #fanfic #living for the moment #my fic

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