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#my little cheese master general
purrrcrastination · 11 months
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just a smol cheesy shepherd, herding his lorg hairless sheep
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darby-rowe · 5 months
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୨⎯ "inches of snow" ⎯୧
young!coriolanus snow ☓ fem!reader summary your boyfriend, coriolanus snow, joins you and your family for christmas dinner, but of course it's nothing short of an insufferable experience. but don't worry, because coryo is there to take care of you!
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18+ | nsfw | mdni word count 2,298 cw modern au, coryo & reader are in grad school, it's christmas!!, mentions of food, implied body shaming by family, uh oh grandma and grandpa are being bigoted again, bathroom sex, mirror sex, anal, praise, degradation, sex on the bathroom sink, it's a very anal christmas, coryo has a big dick, ooc(?) coryo, y/n usage, petnames, unprotected sex, spit play, cum play, dirty talk notes i know the title is corny as fuck LMFAO but it made me giggle. also imagine reader in ellen griswold's outift from national lampoon's christmas vacation like the one w the blouse and the green skirt bc mmmmm that fit is FIRE. this fic was slightly based off of this post bc i thought it was just too hot to ignore. this is also NOT proofread so any mistakes you find in this fic... dont talk about it
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Sitting down at the pleasantly decorated dining room table, your mother insisted on saying grace before you and the rest of your family could dig in on the splendid feast you and the rest of the women in your family worked so hard on. Your mouth watered at the thought of savoring the sweet potato casserole, the baked macaroni and cheese, the ham, everything at the table was extremely decadent. And it was all displayed out in front of you, and right under your nose.
You were a bit greedy, you had to admit, as your hands were the first to get a generous scoop of the fluffy mashed potatoes, earning a scoff from your ever-so lovely paternal grandmother. Say something, you old bat, you thought to yourself, but a pleasant hand came running to rescue you from your angry thoughts. A slight squeeze on your left thigh made you blush, and you turned your head to grin at your lovely boyfriend, Coriolanus Snow. He gave you a reassuring nod, and you went back to indulging in your Christmas feast.
“So, Y/N,” your grandmother piped up, pretentiously swishing her glass of wine. “Anything interesting as of late?”
You swallowed your forkful of mashed potatoes and peas. “My third year of med school is kicking my butt,” you said, trying to lighten the hostility between you and your grandmother. “I’m definitely finding myself to have less and less free time–”
“And how do you feel about that?” your grandmother interjected right in the middle of your response, causing your brows to furrow. Her attention was now fully on Coriolanus, which you turned your head to see what his response would be.
Coriolanus huffed amusingly. “I don’t necessarily have an opinion on it,” he said. “I am also quite busy with my master’s degree. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, or however that saying goes,”
“We’re just busy little bees,” you said in a light manner, albeit a bit awkwardly. “It’ll all be worth it in the end. All this hard work will pay off,”
Your grandfather motioned his glass towards Coriolanus. “Busy little bees, eh? Bet it’s harder on you than her,” This statement made you nearly choke on your champagne. The crudeness of that man! Oh, if you didn’t know any better, you would reach across the table and slap the wrinkles off that smug face–
“It’s actually not really that hard to endure,” Coriolanus spoke up. “We both know we’ll see each other again after our busy spells and that thought keeps us going,”
You smiled bitterly at your grandfather. “Exactly,”
The table got quiet after that, and you spent a good few minutes awkwardly sipping your champagne and eating your generous plate. You felt your appetite unfortunately begin to dissipate as the unpleasantness of the evening began sinking underneath your skin.
“You know, mother,” your father chimed in. “My wife and I both met during our residency, and you know firsthand exactly how busy I was during that time. The 100 hour work weeks, the skills labs, the exams, my boards. It was hard! But my beloved and I made it through, and I’m sure Y/N and Coryo will also make it,”
“I just don’t see the need in investing this much time in such a demanding career when your husband is already planning on pursuing a career that would help the both of you,” grandmother said to you, making your face contort into one of immense displeasure.
“Coryo is not my husband, first off,” you retorted. “At least not yet, but I’m also not going to be a stay-at-home mom who spends her days dealing with the dog, the baby, and the garden. I want a fulfilling career, too! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against stay-at-home mothers, but that life is not for me,”
“Why not?” grandmother knitted her eyebrows together. “Look at you, dear, with that revealing blouse and that pretty face, you don’t need to be pushing yourself like this,”
“Oh my god!” you cried, throwing your hands up. You finally decided you had enough, and with bitterness deep within your soul, you abruptly pushed your chair away from the table and stormed off.
“Watch your mouth, young lady!” your grandmother called out after you. “You weren’t excused!”
“I’m twenty-five years old, grandma, I can excuse myself,” you replied angrily as you traversed upstairs, your heels clicking on the hardwood material.
Slamming the door to the bathroom, you made your way to the bathtub where you sat down on the cold tiles with your knees folded up against your chest. You buried your face in your hands as you breathed in and out. In… and out…
God, you really hated your father’s parents. So judgy and crude, you were only left to wonder why they kept getting invited over to these dinners. Your parents knew how they chastised you, and even with their efforts to put a stop to their bigoted comments, they just kept going and going and going.
You were proud of yourself. You were proud of the life you were building for yourself. Sure, you still had eight years of school left, but at the end of the road you were going to be a kick-ass trauma surgeon. And Coryo was on the fast track to earning his master’s in political science. Soon, he would be running for congress, and the two of you would be unstoppable.
But here you were, practicing breathing exercises on the cold tiles of your parents’ bathroom. You needed to move out of there. Anywhere but there.
Your thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door and the sweet sound of a familiar voice on the other side. Coriolanus, looking as handsome as ever as he gently let himself into the bathroom, joining you on the floor.
“Hey, bunny,” he cooed, taking your hands in his. “Are you okay?”
You grinned dreamily. “Now that you’re here,” this remark elicited a chuckle from Coriolanus, which made you swoon. “Listen, I have to apologize for my family,”
Coriolanus shook his head. “There’s no need to apologize,” he reassured. “You do not have to say anything. You’re not responsible for their actions, not now, not anytime,” he took your hand and kissed the back of it. “Now, how may I make my sweet girl feel better?”
It didn’t take long before the two of you were on each other like two cannibals competing to see who ripped off the other’s flesh first. Your lips crashed and molded into each other as your warm, wet tongues shoved down each other’s throats in desperate attempts to taste the other’s mouths. Coriolanus tasted like the champagne you planned on indulging yourself with later that night, feeling your mind buzz on the remnants of the alcohol. It ignited your nerves on fire.
It took your breath away when Coriolanus spun you around and pressed you against the bathroom sink, forced to look at the reflection. “Look at you, baby,” he panted, his lips red and swollen from the intense kiss he shared with you just seconds ago. “So fuckin’ pretty and fuckable. I’ll take care of you, don’t worry,”
You looked at your reflection in the mirror, your eyes scanning the pathetic, needy look on your face. You gasped slightly as Coriolanus grabbed your jaw, preventing you from looking away. “I want you to look while I fuck you,” he said, pressing his hardened bulge into your backside which made your eyes slightly roll back into your head. “I know that pussy of yours is throbbing for me, hm? Is it, bunny?”
You opened your eyes and looked at the blush that was beginning to appear on your cheeks. “Mmm’yes,” you whined. “Want you so bad, please. But we have to be quiet. Can’t let my family hear us,”
Before you could say anything else, Coriolanus’s hand slapped onto your mouth making your gasps and breaths all muffled. “There’s a solution for you, my dove,” he murmured into your ear. “Now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to remove my hand and pull up that pretty little skirt of yours. Then, I’m going take off your panties, then fuck you in the ass. Am I clear?”
You and Coriolanus have indulged in anal before. It wasn’t a common occurrence, but it surely wasn’t unwelcome. Your pussy throbbed with anticipation at the thought of Coryo’s throbbing, hard cock in your tight asshole. You nodded, and he removed his hand from your mouth and cupped it in front of your lips. “Spit in my hand,” he ordered, and you drooled a generous amount of saliva into the palm of his hand.
You could hear his wet hand stroke himself in prep to enter you. With your skirt hiked up and your panties gone, you made sure to relax and breathe as you felt Coriolanus push the tip of his cock into your ass. Your efforts to stay quiet flew out the window as a primal, low groan escaped your throat as your ass became full of his dick.
“Fuuuck…” you groaned, hiking your leg up on the bathroom sink to allow Coriolanus to go deeper. God, it felt so fucking good having his dick deep in your ass. So dirty, and so fucking hot.
In a matter of moments, Coriolanus was thrusting his hips hard and deep inside you, making your mouth fall open in a silent cry of pleasure. You resorted to quiet curses and panting to help you express how good you were feeling in that moment. Goosebumps erupted on your skin. There was a slight sting to being penetrated in the ass, but it wasn’t painful to you. In fact, it only added to the overwhelming pleasure building in your nether regions.
“Such a tight fuckin’ ass,” Coriolanus murmured, grabbing your jaw once again. “Look at you, bunny, so fuckin’ needy for this cock in your ass, yeah?”
You had to be quiet. You needed too. But by god, the sound of Coriolanus speaking pure filth in your ears was insatiable. “Yes,” you growled through gritted teeth, your eyes flicking between your face and Coriolanus’s. “Fuckin’ love your cock in my ass, fuck,”
“Such a naughty girl,” he teased, taking a look down to watch his dick pump in and out of your hole. The sound of your panting and groaning mixed with Coriolanus’s grunts, slightly echoing throughout the bathroom.
You whined as you felt him withdraw from your hole, only for him to spin you around once again and help you on top of the bathroom counter. You willingly spread your legs and watched as Coriolanus re-entered your ass before withdrawing completely once more, and then he repeated these actions again, and again, and again.
“Stop teasing,” you whined, reaching a hand down to play with your pussy only for Coriolanus to swat your hand away, much to your dismay.
Coriolanus pinned both of your hands behind your back. “No touching. You’re going to come from my cock in your ass or you won’t come at all,”
You nodded obediently, your body rocking back and forth in time with his thrusts. You could feel your pussy drooling its juices from how unbelievably aroused you were. It was almost uncomfortable how badly your clit ached to be touched, but you wanted to obey your boyfriend’s orders, so you held back.
“My naughty bunny,” Coriolanus moaned. “Your ass is so tight around my cock. Feels so good. You’re making me feel so – fuck – so fucking good,”
Your mouth fell open as your panting grew more frequent. “Yes, fuck my ass,” you whispered. “Make me come from my ass, baby, please,”
“Are you close, love?”
“Yes, yes – fuck,” you threw your head back as moans threatened to escape your throat, your pleasure only heightened as Coriolanus pressed open-mouthed kisses all along your neck. You were about to come undone from just having his cock in your ass, and it was going to feel so, so good.
“Coming,” you mewled, your legs beginning to shake and the familiar feeling of an itching pulsation deep within your pussy. “Oh god, I’m coming from my ass. Fuck… fuck…!”
In an explosion of pleasure that made you see stars, your orgasm hit you like a truck as your juices gushed out of your pussy. You squeezed your eyes shut and gritted your teeth as it took every fiber of your being to not scream out in pure ecstasy. You continued to squirt all over yourself and Coriolanus’s cock. There was no doubt in your mind that your skirt was ruined.
Coriolanus withdrew from your hole to pump on his own cock until thick, white ropes hit your hole. The sound of his moans and groans pleasantly filled your ears. Your legs were still shaking, and you felt your breath nearly get knocked out of your lungs as you felt his shaft re-enter your ass, fucking his cum into you.
It took a good five minutes before the haze of your orgasm left your brain and you were able to think clearly again. You still sat on the kitchen counter as Coriolanus softly kissed your lips, praising you and telling you how good of a job you did.
“I love you,” you mumbled against his lips, holding his face with your hands.
You felt Coriolanus’s lips tug into a smile. “I know you do, my dove,”
It impressed you how well you cleaned yourself up as you prepared to join your family once again, but as you opened the door of the bathroom, your blood ran cold as you found your older sister waiting outside with a disappointed look on her face.
“Really?” she asked. “During dinner?”
God damnit.
don't be shy, let's talk. ♡
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inf3ct3dd · 3 months
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loser!ellie headcanons pt.6
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summary: ellieeee my chiquitita my baby my love
warnings: none :3
authors note: ik yall missed herrrr
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masterlist. help palestine.🇵🇸
- ellie tries to be soooo cool and wear her cool people jackets (leather jackets, canvas, those carhartt hoodie jackets etc) but they’re very not helpful against the cold and you’ll be out with her and shes just SHIVERING the whole time…
- she’s obsessed w those “general knowledge quizzes” on tiktok. that girl is a hoe for trivia she’s sitting on her bed at three in the morning saying her answers OUT LOUD while she watches them. she gets so upset when she gets literally any wrong… “man…im not a quiz master 🙁”
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- ik in the games she walks around with her little journal and shit but i feel like shes definitely jus constantly typing shit in her notes app… random thoughts and jokes and shit that she most definitely shows you at the end of the day
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- she barely ever baby talks to babies… she’ll go up to a baby and just be like “wassup dude” and have a full blown conversation with him while the babies just sitting there babbling and giggling at her
- thinks those “im nothing like yall” slideshows r so hilarious…. like you’ll be on the couch and she’s just giggling at her phone at paracetamol 😞
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- references the most niche memes ever constantly and literally googles them to explain herself. you guys went camping and she said “boy you want hot dog” and you were like ????
- so strangely particular about how her stuff is arranged 😭 her desk looks like an absolute hot mess 90% of the time but SHE UNDERSTANDS IT and if u try and organize it for her she just puts it back how it was
- always says “guys” and “yall” when she’s talking to literally one person. and CHAT. she just constantly adds it into conversation like “chat how are you today”
- loves asking if things are “fire.” she’ll cook you something and you take a bite and shes like “is that shit fire???” she has to know
- obsessed with “i barely know her” jokes. the second someone says something ending in er shes like “rider??? i barely know her!!” and she’s laughing her ass off
- that girl will go HAM on some mac and cheese. but it can only be really good baked mac or the shitty kraft mac and cheese. she puts like- hella pepper and red chili flakes in it and eats it straight out of the pot 🔥 its always at like three in the morning and you just walk in the kitchen to her with a pot in her lap watching glee or some shit
- SPEAKING. OF. glee is most definitely one of her guilty pleasure shows…like shes rewatched it a million times and glee cast was one of her top artists on apple music wrapped
- shes an apple music user. send tweet.
- got yelled at by an old lady once cuz she picked her flowers out of her front yard and gave them to you
- when i tell you that girl goes ham on those tiny clementines… she’ll eat like 10 in one day and theres just PEELS. EVERYWHERE.
- also she fw grapes heavy. especially green grapes (shes a weird little freak red grapes are so much better)
- OBSESSED WITH THOSE BLIND BAG SHITS. especially mini brands oh my god she definitely has the whole lil grocery store set and she’s so obsessed with it.
- her house slippers are definitely just a pair of crocs with the fur inside and a bunch of stupid ass jibbits. she buys the mega packs off amazon and changes them whenever shes bored
- has SO MANY drafts on tiktok and they’re all her trying filters staring at the screen like 😯
- most annoying person to sleep next to ever . snoring, sleep talking, moving around CONSTANTLY and hitting you accidentally, the only way she sleeps peacefully is if you’re holding her or she’s holding you, otherwise shes insane
- weirdly into linguistics…that girl is using humongous words for no good reason just for fun and half the time she has no idea what they mean and when she googles them and shes right about the definition she does that little fist pump and “fuck yes”
- speaking of. that girl is SPEEDRUNNING DUOLINGO . she’s fluent in (bad spaniard) spanish from it, and just learns random languages for fun. you speak a different language? she’s learning it immediately. definitely leaves notes for you in random languages she learned and you have to pull out a translator to understand wtf shes talking about… she also sleep talks in spanish sometimes and its so funny
- loves trying out different recipes…like i said my girl is a CHEF she will be at home fucking up a salmon bake she made and making you homemade pho for dinner
- had a phase when she was younger when she was really into the la bamba movie and dressed like richie valens for two years
- also cried so hard when she watched selena with you…that girl was devastated 💔 every time she hears “dreaming of you” she almost sheds a tear
“when that yolanda bitch gets out of prison….im shooting someone . its obvious who its gonna be.”
- she definitely begged joel to buy her a gun for christmas and he would take her to the range all the time so she can SHOOT. that girl is goated at lazer tag she gets down…does not play
- thought that candy cigarettes were the coolest thing ever when she was little… everywhere she went she had one hanging out of the side of her mouth and shed hold them between her fingers like they do in movies. if you two go to a candy shop shes for sure buying a pack
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astarions-darling · 6 months
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Your Eyes Can Be So Cruel
Raphael x GN!Reader I hate how there is no cutscene whether you win or lose against Raphael. Anyway, this is just a little drabble for if you lose (part of it was inspired by Labyrinth and I've borrowed some dialogue and altered it a bit) no real warnings but he is a Villain™
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“And now down here comes the claw.”
You stares at the devil, his face twisted in glee as he stands above you. Lying on your stomach, you try to push yourself up on your elbows even though every muscle in your body screams in protest. Everything aches. Your skin is scorched and bleeding but the little strength you have left is used to sit up, your legs splayed to one as a hand stay firmly planted on the cold marble ground. Exhausted and bone-weary you sigh. It had been a long battle—a battle that has now been lost.
“What a clever mouse you thought you were,” says Raphael as his body shifts, the human disguise returning—not a hair out of place as he smooths down the front of his doublet. How you despise it when he appears so, and you feels he knows this. It makes him too soft and appealing, trustworthy. It’s harder to remember the devil he is with those warm eyes and soft lips. And those lips are dangerous, for his honeyed words spill so effortlessly from them and it’s all too easy to believe them. “But this is my house you’ve been scurrying around in and I’m afraid you aren’t leaving with my cheese. In fact, you will not be leaving at all.”
“Please, Raphael, I need the hammer! A deal—“
His face contorts, the unbridled rage from earlier returning, how it twists his handsome face. “No deals! I’ve been more than generous up until now.”
“Generous?” You can barely speak through a bloodied lip but you manage it. There is still the desire to fight burning low in your belly. You will not lie down like some obedient dog waiting for its master's forgiveness. Your words come out in a hiss between your teeth. “What have you done that’s generous?”
“Everything!” he roars, his eyes burning like the hells. You know his grip on control can only be held for so long, you feel the power radiating off of him. “Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that I help you with your tentacle problem and I did. You demanded that I translate your little vampling’s scars. I did. I have offered numerous times to help you. I gave you an easy and painless solution, and yet you decide to come into my home and steal from me—destroying my house in the process." He sucks in a shuddering breath through his nose, eyes hard as he stares down his nose at you. "I have not crushed you like the ungrateful vermin you are. Isn’t that generous?”
“Please, let my friends go.” There is only desperation now and you are begging. It hurts you, more than the pain inflicted against you from his earlier wrath.
“Oh, I shall let them go,” The sudden change in his voice, from sneering rage to eerie calm is more terrifying than anything else. You feels your stomach turn to knots. “Even better, I'll return them to their masters.” There is something pressing against your sides and then suddenly your body is hoisted up. You can't move your body, arms pinned to your side. The cambion slithers up behind you silently before his hand is under your chin, forcing you to look at your fallen friends before you. Your back is pressed against his and your body yearns to fall against it, you are grateful that you are frozen in place and can't submit to the whims of your weak mortal flesh.
Raphael's other hand extends before you and you watch his long fingers snap, fire and magic uncoiling from their tips. There is nothing you can do but watch, horrified, as Karlach disappears in a flurry of ash. You had promised Karlach that she would be free. You had promised.
“Zariel will be happy to have our dear Karlach back.” The words are felt against your neck and they make you shudder. His fingers click again and you watch as Shadowheart disappears as well. “I hear Shar can be quite unforgiving but I’m sure the girl will survive.” You know what is next and your eyes land on Astarion as he lies crumpled and bleeding on the floor, his pale hand outstretched toward you. “And our little vampling—“
“Don’t!” you beg. You try to break free of his hold but the pain is insurmountable when you attempt it. “Please, don’t!”
A slight squeeze at your throat. “Perhaps this can be a valuable lesson.”
The third snap of his fingers rings in your ears, the smell burning your nostrils as the vampire disappears in a cloud of ash. You know you’ll never see him again, knows that he will die. There is a yearning chasm deep in your chest as your despair eats away at you. Astarion had escaped once, you tell yourself…maybe he will escape again. Maybe they all will. But you have little hope, in fact, you have none. Your tired eyes fall on Hope, her body lifeless and face blank.
“How sad it is for our adventurer when Hope is gone.” Raphael sighs, his face now coming to rest next yours. His voice is low and tender, and his cheek is pressed against yours, how it burns your skin. “Luckily for you, my little mouse, your master will be much more forgiving than those of your rabble." The spells suddenly ends and you collapse to the ground, limbs smaching against the hard floor as tears fall down your grimy cheeks. The devil circles you slowly, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous room, until he is standing before you.
Your glance up at him, and how you wish to fall into the blackness that lingers behind your eyes. His sneering face regards you. "Yes, I have been more than generous with you. But I can be cruel." The only sound is your laboured breathing as you scowl at the devil. His lips twitch into a smile. "Now kneel.”
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piived · 4 months
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Justice is Swift (Vengeance is Sweet) — a DPxDC Dead on Main Fic
chapter two is officially here!
master post || <- ch.1 || ch.2 shitposts || ch.3 ->
CHAPTER TWO — KISS AND TELL
Summary —
Danny starts classes, meets a new friend, makes a trip to the Realms, and has some surprise visitors. Jason and Tim have MUCH to think about and research. So much research…
chapter word count — 9,148
full chapter under the cut, but for the best experience read on ao3 and consider leaving kudos/comments as they fuel me :)
𓆩⟡𓆪
CHAPTER TWO — KISS AND TELL
The first week of classes flew by for Danny and suddenly it was already Thursday and time for his scheduled meeting with Bernard and his mysterious boyfriend at the campus cafe in the two hours before their last lecture of the day.
He was running late, the notes from his last lecture still clutched in his hands and threatening to fly away as he booked his way across the quad towards the central student center building. He managed to slide past the closing door from another student entering and glanced around in search of Bernard’s blonde hair. He had texted Danny that they were there nearly ten minutes ago and sure enough, he spotted Bernard at a table in the corner, sitting across someone with a dark red hoodie and black hair.
He beelined for them and matched Bernard’s friendly grin, plopping down on the seat next to him and across from the guy who looked vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place.
“Hey, you made it!” Bernard laughed at Danny’s disheveled state, scooting a cup of what was hopefully very strong coffee towards him. “I thought Professor Montgomery was gonna try holding you all hostage or something.”
Danny huffed a laugh and started organizing his notes to put them in his bag correctly. “Sure felt like it,” Danny groaned, “man, that guy is the slowest talker I’ve ever heard, it’s excruciating.”
The guy across from him hummed in amusement, eyeing Danny’s sketches and notes, “Advanced Mechanical Engineering?”
Danny sighed, “Yeah, unfortunately.”
The guy hummed again, “You gotta be pretty clever to take that class as a freshman, did you test out or transfer credits from elsewhere?”
Danny shrugged and flushed a little bit, “I tested out but also did my generals online and transferred the credits so I can take more advanced classes earlier. My parents were scientists and I could probably pass intro and beginner mech engineering in my sleep.” He finally managed to get everything in his backpack sorted and turned fully towards him, holding out his hand. “Hi, sorry for being rude. I’m Danny Nightingale.”
The guy smirked a bit and grabbed his hand in a firm grip, “Timothy Drake, pleasure to meet you, Danny.”
Danny’s eyes widened and he glanced from Timothy Fucking Drake to Bernard who’s shit eating grin was growing by the second.
“You wouldn’t happen to be Timothy Drake-Wayne, would you?”
Timothy shrugged. “I prefer to go by Tim.”
Danny barked a laugh and shoved his elbow into Bernard’s side who grunted and shoved him back without much luck. Danny was solid when he wanted to be, thank you very much. “Well, my friend Tucker is going to absolutely lose it when I rub it in his face that I sat at the same table as his idol and had an actual conversation.”
Tim rested his chin in his hand and looked amused. “Oh yeah? Well, make his day and tell him I said hi.”
Danny cackled at that, “I don’t want to be that annoying guy but would you mind taking a selfie for proof? He’s the type to call bullshit without supporting evidence.”
Tim’s eyes actually twinkled at that, “Sounds like a smart guy. Sure.”
Danny grinned and pulled out his Tucker-modified phone, spinning in his seat and pulling Bernard with him so they were facing away from Tim and towards his camera, effectively getting them all in. “Say cheese!”
Tim put on a very obviously media trained smile that Danny now recognized from articles and paparazzi photos, and Bernard held up a peace sign while Danny classily flipped the camera off with a shit eating grin. He laughed and quickly sent it to Tucker with a cheeky ‘my new good friend Tim says hi.’
“Thanks, he’ll probably faint.”
“Well, anything for a fan,” Tim waved it off only half sarcastically, eyes locked on Danny’s phone that was now on the table. “What model is that?”
Bernard sighed ruefully and Danny shot him an amused look before answering Tim. “It was originally an old Wayne Tech, I think. Until Tuck got his hands on it and did whatever magic he does.” Danny gave the dog a bone and slid it over to Tim to inspect. “I don’t know exactly what he did but I think I have the detailed manual he lovingly and painstakingly crafted somewhere if you’re interested. Or I can send you his information and you can absolutely make his life by complimenting his handiwork,” Danny not so subtly suggested. He was a fantastic friend and wing man and if Tucker ever said otherwise he was a dirty rotten liar.
Tim hummed as he fiddled with the hardware and poked around on the lock screen. “Do you have a carrier?” He frowned, poking some more.
Danny shrugged, “I don’t think so? Tucker’s always ranting about them robbing the public blind so I think he made a way around it. Unless someone is mysteriously paying a bill I don’t know about, but I doubt it.” Plus the small fact that he had signal even in the Realms, a feat Danny was positive no regular carrier company could pull off.
“Huh,” Tim stated, fascinated.
Bernard groaned, “Great, now you have him hooked. Make sure you get that thing back from him or he’ll steal it and spend all night reverse engineering it and I’ll have to call Con to help me lure him out of his cave.”
Tim spared a glance to glare at his boyfriend and not so subtly kicked him under the table and Danny laughed, amused at their antics and reminded of his friends. “Who’s Con?”
Bernard lit up and Tim’s face got a little softer around the edges. Danny liked whoever this Con was already. “Our boyfriend! He doesn’t take classes here and is busy with work or else I’d have dragged him along but you’d like him!”
Danny laughed in disbelief and groaned into his hands. “You’re kidding me.”
He could practically feel Tim and Bernard stiffen and looked up quickly to see their stony expressions, a far cry from the light and openness from moments before and Danny kicked himself for ruining it. “You got a problem with that?” Tim asked flatly, eyes narrowed. Danny sensed the underlying danger in it all and held his hands up, blanching.
“No, no! Literally not at all,” he stammered in a rush, trying to bring back the happy feelings from before. “I’m just somehow doomed to be surrounded by poly relationships while my love life continues to be very much a disaster.”
Tim and Bernard shared a look and relaxed minutely but were still guarded so Danny slid his phone back to himself and pulled up his album dedicated solely to his favorite group of lovable idiots. “Here they are,” he said with a fond grin, showing the other two the latest picture of Sam, Val, and Tucker hugging and laughing at some diner or other, clearly lovesick and giddy (even Sam who rarely showed true emotion in photos). Bernard let out a loud, “Aww,” hand over his heart and Tim relaxed fully again, smile back, thank the Ancients.
Danny pointed to Tucker in the middle with fries sticking out of his mouth like fangs (Tucker was absolutely going to murder him—again—for showing Timothy Drake this particular picture, but Danny thought it was worth it). “That’s Tucker Foley, tech extraordinaire and my best friend since we were in diapers,” Tim cocked his head to take in the picture better, assessing, now that he could put a face to the tech. “He’s going to CalTech for Compsci and Engineering and Sam and Val,” he pointed to the two respectively, “are at UCLA for Environmental Sciences and Bio Engineering.”
Bernard let out an appreciative noise, “Tim, I love them already. Enviro Sci and Bio and Tech! They’re basically alternate us! Damn, I wish Con was here,” he pouted and pulled out his phone to presumably text said boyfriend. Danny laughed, and took his phone back, scrolling past other pictures with a smile. Oh how he missed his friends.
Tim slid his phone over and Danny took a look at a picture of the three of them, Bernard and Tim pressed to either side of who Danny presumed to be Con, a tall punk looking guy with circle sunglasses and artfully spiked up black hair. “That’s Conner,” Tim supplied with a smile edging towards fond.
Danny smiled back, “Damn, you guys are adorable.”
Bernard swooned against him and Tim flushed a bit and snatched his phone back. “I know, right,” Bernard cooed, and Danny laughed, shoving him back upright. “I’m like the luckiest guy in the world, somehow snagging a rich genius and a hot punk rocker. My life is like, the best,” Danny fake gagged and Tim rolled his eyes but took his boyfriend’s offered hand across the table.
“Fuck, I really thought I would be free of insufferably sappy trios that make me feel oh so insufferably single,” Danny sighed, thunking his head on the table.
Bernard patted his back in sympathy, “There, there,” he hummed, “I’m sure we can find you your very own harem in no time.”
Danny groaned, “Yeah, no thank you, I could barely handle one person at a time which is why I didn’t join their group in the first place despite their insistence that a ‘polycule’ has a better ring than a ‘tripoly’.”
“Well, then that makes it even easier. I think Tim has a couple spare siblings we can hook you up with — ow! Kidding!”
Tim glared and pointed a stern finger at his boyfriend, “Don’t even joke. Danny doesn’t deserve to be subjected to any of those heathens and you know it. He’d get eaten alive.”
“Hey!” Danny exclaimed, offended. “I’m tougher than I look!”
“No, no,” Bernard patted his shoulder in sympathy, “he’s totally right. I wouldn’t subject you to that realm of chaos.”
Oh, if only they knew that Danny literally ruled over an infinite realm of chaos. He just shook his head in amusement. “Yeah, well, I’ve seen pictures of you Waynes and let’s just say that if any of them made a pass I’d give them the green light, chaos be damned.”
Tim made a sound of disgust as Bernard cackled. “I knew I liked you for a reason, Danny.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Tim shook his head. “Though if you stick around long enough one of them is bound to bite. Or Bruce will take one look at you and try to adopt you, so I hope you’re not too attached to your parents.”
Danny dimmed a bit at the mention of his parents but managed a laugh. “Well he’s welcome to try, I’m sure they wouldn’t put up much of a fuss but he might have to fight my sister, and my money is on her.” Not to mention the fact that Vlad would have a total conniption if another billionaire got their hooks in him — but, on second thought, maybe Jazz's wrath would be worth it to see the fruit loop's expression when he showed up at the next gala that Vlad was always trying to trick him into attending as a Wayne... But no. He wouldn't want to risk Vlad doing something drastic like overshadowing poor Bruce Wayne just because Danny wanted to be an annoying little shit. Damn.
Bernard slung an arm over his shoulder and Tim gave him a calculating look which Danny ignored in favor of taking a sip of his neglected coffee, desperate for a change of subject. “Thanks for this, by the way,” he wiggled the cup. “What do I owe you?”
Bernard waved him off, “Don���t worry about it. Perks of dating a Wayne, they tend to get things for free around here.”
Tim shrugged and Danny wasn’t going to argue about free coffee so he let it drop.
Conversation flowed to lighter topics and soon enough Danny and Bernard had to leave for their Physics lecture. Tim pressed a kiss to Bernard’s cheek and waved goodbye to them both. Danny waved back and waited until he was out of sight before spinning around on Bernard.
“Dude! Timothy Drake-Wayne‽”
Bernard laughed, eyes twinkling, “Please, I knew him long before he got the Wayne name and he’s still as much of a nerd. Now he’s just a rich nerd with a better family.”
Danny blinked at that and huffed out an incredulous laugh, “Okay yeah, I get that. Sam is totally loaded too and she’s like the most unhinged person I know. But still, there’s rich and then there’s Wayne rich.”
Bernard shrugged, “Yeah but in the end it’s the person who matters, and Tim? He’s my best friend. He’s always been my best friend even when we didn’t talk for years and he’ll probably, hopefully, be my best friend forever. And he’s the reason I met Conner, too, and now I have both of them,” he got that stupidly sappy look in his eyes and Danny shoved him playfully.
“Yeah you guys are solid, I can tell. I’m glad I met you, Bernard,” Danny grinned.
Bernard rolled his eyes, “You can call me Berny or Benny or something if you want. Bernard is such a mouthful.”
“Yeah, okay Benny Boo Boo, Boo Boo Bear,” Danny teased, eyes alight with mischief.
“Did you just How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days me, Nightingale?” Benny laughed in shock and Danny cackled. “No way that’s sticking! I take it back, your nickname privilege is revoked, Danny! Danny!” Danny jogged further away, still laughing. “Call me Bernard, I beg! Daniel!”
Yeah, Danny liked his new friends a lot.
Saturday morning had Danny prepping for a quick trip to the Realms to check in on things when his phone rang with an incoming video call.
“Hello?” He answered absently around the pen cap he had in between his teeth.
“Danny, you’ve completely fried Tucker’s brain with your Timothy Drake stunt,” Sam glowered back at him and Danny laughed.
“Good to see you too Sam, I hope your first week back to classes have been going well, how’s Val?” Danny teased.
“Classes are as awful as ever and Val is ready to smother Tucker in his sleep if he doesn’t stop gushing over how Timothy Drake-Wayne said hello to him via you, you jerk. Now he’s looking for flights and trying to convince us that he can somehow miraculously miss a week of classes to go on a stalker fanboy trip and it’s all your fault!”
Danny cackled, “Oh that’s even better than I thought! Has he really looked for flights?”
Sam glared, “Yes. We had to hide his credit card. You better tell him not to be an idiot and fly across the country just to try and catch a glimpse of your little friend.”
Danny held his hands up in surrender, “Okay okay, I’ll give him a call and tell him how irresponsible he’d be to ditch his favorite place and people in the world for week to hang out with his literal icon and boy crush that I can most definitely get him in contact with.”
“You’re loving this, aren’t you?” Sam whined.
Danny grinned, “Yep,” popping the P. “But seriously, I’ll tell him to wait until fall break at least. No promises past that.”
“That works for us. We were already talking about hopefully making a trip back home for Thanksgiving so we can probably stop by Gotham without too much hassle.”
“Please do, I miss you guys,” Danny frowned. Sam smiled softly.
“Yeah we miss you too, loser. Whaddya got planned for today?”
Danny sighed, “A trip to the GZ, I gotta make sure everything’s still running and I’ve got a couple scheduled brawls to handle. It’ll be good, I’m getting antsy without the constant barrage of duels. I’m understanding why they visited me in Amity so frequently now.”
Sam laughed, “Ghosts are so weird. Have fun duking it out. Call tomorrow?”
Danny nodded, “Yep, Tucker made sure to put it on my schedule and I still get an annoying amount of reminders for it throughout the week.”
“Good, I’ll see you tomorrow then, stay out of trouble.” He managed to not laugh at the familiar words. Stay safe, Trouble. He so did not need to be thinking of Red Hood right now. The whole vigilante situation was a conversation to bring up when they were all together during their scheduled group call.
“Yeah, yeah, you too. Good luck with Tucker’s obsession and try to remember that you love him and would be devastated if Val actually killed him!”
Sam flipped him off before hanging up and Danny laughed.
He checked over his notes to make sure he wasn’t missing anything important that he had to prepare for and made sure his curtains were closed before transforming and ripping open a portal.
It’d gotten easier and easier over the years with practice and now that he was officially Prince Regent it was almost second nature. He slipped through and flew around leisurely, checking on things as he went until he finally made it to the council hall where the representatives were meeting.
It was a quick session, more to just keep him in the loop of things and keep in touch with his council friends, updating them on his mortal living and showing that he still took his responsibility as Prince Regent and Future King seriously. He wanted to do right by the Realms and he was insistent on proving himself worthy. It helped that he enjoyed spending time among the ghosts, not having to worry about hiding any part of himself and able to show off all of his abilities freely as needed. No carefully pulled punches necessary.
He parted ways with the council after the meeting had long dissolved into more gossip and light conversation than actual business and found Ember already waiting outside the building, leaning against a tree and idly strumming her guitar.
“Hey, Ember, how’s it been?”
Ember smiled at him and nodded, “Not too bad. A bit boring with the main Amity portal gone and our favorite punching bag in a city he banned us from, but we make do.”
Danny winced a little at her words. He knew the decisions to disable the portal and cut them off from Gotham sounded harsh, but he had talked it through with the Council and had all come to the agreement that it would be best. He didn’t want his parents or some other ghost hunting fanatics to go too crazy while he was gone and end up destroying the city or Ancients forbid actually capturing one of his ghosts, and he had no idea how Gotham would handle seeing his ghosts or what the Bat Clan might try and do to them. Until things had settled and he was sure it was safe, it was best to keep things contained to the Realms as much as possible.
“Well, I can help make things a bit more interesting now,” he smirked and she got the hint and swung her guitar at his head. He cackled, ducked, and the brawl began.
The best thing about fighting in the Infinite Realms was that he didn’t have to worry about any collateral damage or civilians getting hurt. He didn’t have to carefully direct the fight to more secluded areas or yell at stupid passerby’s to stop gawking and run. It was so much more fun on equal turf. He should have been doing this for years, really.
After a decent while of back and forth Ember finally called it quits, effectively worn out and seemingly pleased with the sparring. Danny felt better having been able to get some pent up energy out on a being that wouldn’t be completely disfigured by him punching with his full strength and shook out his arms in satisfaction.
“Don’t be a stranger, Phantom! Track me down next time you’re here,” Ember flicked him on the ear and left with him grumbling about normal ways to show affection.
He did track down a few other ghosts, checking in and getting the latest scoop (Elastica and Kitty) or having miniature brawls (Boxy and Johnny) to help relieve the buzzing burn of energy.
He left feeling satisfied and spent, muscles aching in the good, I-just-worked-out kinda way and core humming pleasantly in his chest.
Danny could tell someone was following him.
He had gotten pretty good at sensing prying eyes and his hackles were effectively raised, internal warning bells going haywire as he made the walk home from campus.
His last lecture had gotten out later than usual which meant Danny was walking in the dark, the sun setting earlier and earlier already and the dim, gloomy atmosphere of Gotham only enhancing the shadows even as the sun was still setting.
Danny made sure to look all around him, trying to figure out where the eyes were coming from. He debated skipping his normal alleyway shortcuts, seeing as how the last three days he’d had to step in to stop various muggings and drug deals, but he really just wanted to get home.
He toyed with the idea of a ghost being the one who was tracking him, but he knew he would have sensed it if it was. Which left a human or meta, and Danny didn’t like the thought of either.
Maybe it’s just a cute, stray alley cat. He tried to think positively but knew he wasn’t fooling anyone, especially not himself, a known liar.
He sighed and walked through the first alley without any incidents but still felt the eyes pinning him down. His hands were clenched in his hoodie pocket and his feet threatened to leave the ground to just fly him away faster than he could run, but he tamped down the urge. The last thing he needed was attention on him like that.
After making it through the third alley without a confrontation he debated not leading whoever was following him to his apartment, but figured it would be as good a place to kick someone’s ass as any and with a lesser chance of being seen using his powers if needed.
He skipped the elevator and trudged up the three flights of stairs and by the time he got to his apartment door, he knew someone was already inside. He debated turning intangible to see who exactly was waiting, but he didn’t know if they had cameras around and didn’t want to risk it. He took a steadying breath and unlocked his door quickly, flipping on the lights as soon as he got the door open and quickly shutting and locking it behind him.
He blinked at the guy standing in his living room, and then blinked again. “Red Robin?” He asked in shock. Of all the people he expected, one of Batman’s Squad of Vigilantes wasn’t one of them. Which, he really shouldn’t have been that surprised considering his encounter with Red Hood.
“Daniel Fenton,” Red Robin said and Danny flinched at the name.
“Nightingale, actually. I got it changed. And I prefer Danny,” He slowly toed off his sneakers and set his bag on the table. It was only then that he saw Red Hood leaning against his kitchen counter. He sighed resentfully.
“Really? I thought you said you wouldn’t tell your buddies about me,” Danny folded his arms and glared at the masked Vigilante who held up his hands.
“Hey, I don’t kiss and tell.” Danny could swear the guy was smirking under his mask and Red Robin spluttered.
“Kiss? Hood, please tell me you did not kiss a civilian,” he sounded exasperated.
Danny was a little miffed himself. “I don’t think we kissed. I think I would have definitely remembered that happening.”
“Oh trust me, you’ll know when I kiss you,” Red Hood said, voice low and deep, and Red Robin pinched the bridge of his nose as Danny's gut did a little flip.
Huh. He'd have to unpack that later.
“Okay, no more talking about kissing. Ignoring the fact that you somehow already know each other, and yes, Hood, we will be having words about that,” he glared and pointed accusingly at the still-pleased-with-himself vigilante, “I’m here to talk about you, Nightingale. Primarily, why you’re linked to over thirteen mysteriously stopped muggings and drug deals, all of which took place on your routes home from school.”
“Wow, okay, stalker much?” Danny scoffed, crossing his arms and internally panicking. He’d been caught. Somehow. Play it cool, play it cool. “What do you mean, ‘mysteriously stopped'?”
Red Robin sighed, pulling out a folder of something and setting it down beside Danny’s bag, gesturing for him to look through. He did so, flipping through images of what had to be some sort of surveillance videos of what were indeed, very familiar muggers and victims. Danny looked up at Red Robin with an eyebrow raised.
“Aaand,” he drew the word out, “am I supposed to be seeing something here besides some vaguely disturbing crime scene photos? None of these guys are dead, are they? That’d be a kinda fucked up thing to show me, dude.” Not that he was any stranger to death, and he knew for a fact that none of them were dead, but if he was actually a civilian? Yeah, that’d be fucked up.
Red Robin scoffed, “No, none of them are dead. And that’s exactly the point. All of these guys were caught in the act of mugging someone but the person or thing that stopped them never shows up on the cameras. That shouldn’t be possible.”
Danny shrugged for real that time, “And what do I have to do with this? That sounds like a meta with invisibility or something to me and last I checked, I’m definitely not a meta.”
Red Robin pulled out another folder, and Danny was hesitant to flip it open, but forced himself to anyways. He saw pictures of himself walking on the street or down the familiar alleyways. “Holy shit,” he said bluntly, “You really are a fucking stalker. What the hell are you taking pictures of me for?”
Red Robin tapped the top picture of him walking on the street, clearly coming back from school. “Surveillance caught you walking towards the alleyways right around the time of each incident,” Red Robin explained, “You’re seen going in, but never seen coming out on either side, and the muggings all somehow get stopped at the same time.”
Danny’s heart sped up a little bit. Fuck.
“You can see how that looks a little bit suspicious?”
Danny rolled his eyes.
“You don’t think I’ve ever seen something shady happening and gotten the fuck out of dodge? It happens way more often than you think and I try the alleys everyday because it’s so much faster, but sometimes I have to take the long way around instead and leave the crime fighting to creepy assholes like yourself,” Red Hood snorted at that and Red Robin sent him a glare, “If you’re saying that none of you or your little swarm of Bats stopped these guys, maybe you should take that as a sign that you’re not doing your jobs very well and when you find whoever did stop them maybe consider a nice thank you card or a gift basket instead of invading their home and privacy.”
Red Robin sighed in frustration and ignored everything but the first part of Danny’s speech, “See, we’ve checked literally every single angle. We know you couldn’t have left any other way without us seeing you, even with the blind spots! There’s no way for you to not be somehow involved.”
Well, time to do some better bullshitting, then. The mention of blind spots eased some of his worries. It seemed that at least they fortunately hadn’t seen him actively transform, and if Red Hood really hadn’t mentioned what he had seen… Danny sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face as he decided which route he wanted to take with this. Maybe he could clear himself of both instances if he played this right. “You clearly did enough research to figure out my given last name. Did you happen to check out my parents at all?”
Red Robin seemed taken aback by the question. “Drs. Jack and Madeline Fenton. Most of their work and research has been either heavily redacted or taken down completely, but from my understanding they’ve been rather dedicated to the research of the paranormal, correct?” His tone suggested exactly what the thought of that line of research.
Danny shrugged and laughed derisively, “Yeah that’s one way of putting it. I’d just call them rabid ghost hunters and be done with the fancy talk, though.”
Red Robin cocked his head, “Ghost hunters?” He asked, skepticism clear in his voice.
“Yep,” Danny said, popping the P. “Completely obsessed with it since college. Spend their entire lives dedicated to proving the existence of ghosts and planning out experiments they’d do if they ever successfully caught one.” Danny had to take a deep breath and blink away the memories of exactly the type of experiments they had done when they caught him. “I practically grew up in the lab they set up in our basement, surrounded by ghost finders, ghost gloves, ghost vacuums, you name it.”
“Okay,” Red Robin drew out, clearly trying to figure out why Danny was telling them this.
“How much research did you do on Amity Park itself?”
Red Robin shrugged, “Not much, I’ll admit, but nothing of substance stood out to merit further digging.”
Danny scoffed, “You should try again. I think you’ll find it very enlightening if you’re as good as they say. I know they tried their best to bury all the shit with the Guys In White, but they can’t have gotten everything. Try there first.”
“Guys In White?” Red Hood finally chimed in, curious.
Danny shrugged. “Some half-baked government agency. Tried enforcing martial law in Amity for a while, didn’t really stick,” he smirked at the memory, “I think their official agency name was Ghost Investigation Ward or some bullshit, but they dressed in all white and high schoolers are so very creative. I’ll let you figure the rest out, Detective.”
Red Robin was typing furiously on his wrist cuff and Danny assumed it was a list of things to research. “Now, are you guys done with the entering part of the breaking and entering or do you want to steal my leftovers as well, in for a penny and all that?”
“Well, if you’re offering to have me over for dinner,” Red Hood crooned but Red Robin interrupted, rudely. Danny shared a look with Red Hood as his partner paced around Danny’s small living room. Danny noticed the uncomfortable swirling was back in his gut and frowned, trying to pin point when it had started and why.
“Wait, wait, wait! Are you insinuating what I think you are?” Red Robin asked, voice higher than it was a minute ago. Danny turned his attention back to him and shrugged.
“Depends on what you think that is; you know what they say about assuming. But if it’s about getting the fuck out of my apartment, yes, I thought I made that clear enough.”
Red Robin stopped pacing and stared wide-eyed at Danny. “Ghosts. You’re insinuating that there are actual ghosts and that one might be what, lurking around the area, stopping muggings conveniently at the same time you’re walking home from school?”
“I think the correct term is haunt, not lurk,” Danny helpfully corrected.
Red Robin stared at him for a long moment before blinking, “Holy shit you’re serious.”
“Deadly,” Danny joked to himself. Red Hood snorted. Score.
“But! That can’t be it. Ghosts aren’t—“
“What? They aren’t real? The good old JL doesn’t have any files or databases on the subject?” Danny’s voice dripped with venom. He had his opinions on the Justice League and none of them were very flattering.
“They do, but they’re so sparse and the sources are so old they’re hardly credible,” Red Robin resumed pacing, seeming more and more frantic.
“Yeah okay, that sucks for you. Maybe do some more research and get those files updated. Have fun with that.” Danny was done being subtle. He glanced at Red Hood who seemed to catch his vibe.
“Red, time to go.”
Red Robin stopped and stared at them incredulously, “Seriously? Nightingale, I know you have more information. Why not just share it so we can figure out who this person or ghost or whatever is?”
Danny shrugged, “Maybe I don’t kiss and tell either. Maybe this ‘person-ghost-thing’,” he quoted Red’s earlier word when talking about whatever was stopping the muggings, “doesn’t want to be found. I’ve given you plenty to chew on so go have fun and don’t bother me for a while. Maybe learn to knock or call like civilized people while you’re at it.”
“Yep, we’re going. Red, grab your files or lose them,” Red Robin grumbled but reluctantly swiped the photos back into the files and followed Hood to the window they clearly came in through.
Hood made sure Red got all the way out before turning to Danny and giving a two finger salute, “Always a pleasure, Trouble.”
Danny shook his head with a rueful grin, “Likewise, Hood,” and then took a chance, “Does the League keep logs of distress calls?”
Hood’s head cocked to the side but after a moment’s hesitation he nodded, “Yeah. Extensively.”
Danny nodded and then requested, “Look into any calls sent from Amity starting about six years ago. See why no one came to help.”
Hood sucked in a little breath, seemingly surprised, and nodded again. “Will do. I’ll let you know what I find?”
Danny was a bit surprised by the offer, it was more of a concession than he expected from the vigilante with how secure and classified he was sure the League kept their records. His stomach lurched and he swallowed thickly. “Thanks,” and as the vigilante turned to leave he surprised both of them by saying, “Hood?”
The vigilante stopped and turned to him once again. Danny would guess his eyebrow would be raised if he could see it. “The offer for dinner stands if you want it, anytime.”
He didn’t know where the words came from but found himself not regretting them. There was something about the guy that drew Danny in. The swirling intensified.
Danny could have sworn Hood was smiling under his mask when he said, “I’ll make sure to knock, all civilized like.”
Danny laughed as the window shut behind them and he was finally left alone in his apartment.
“Finally! I thought they were going to be here foreverrr,” well, almost alone.
“Hey squirt,” Danny grinned down at the teenager currently hugging him. “How you doing, Ellie? And what took you so long? I told you I was moving weeks ago and you promised to stop by sooner! I had to ask around the GZ to see when the last time anyone saw you semi-alive and well or if I had to track you down in some lab or something.” The words were light, but they both knew they held more serious meaning. After all, ending up in a lab was a genuine concern and possibility for them.
Ellie pulled back and grinned sheepishly, “I know, sorry! I got distracted in Japan and then I lost track of time in the Zone, you know how it is.”
Danny sighed and pulled her back in for a short hug, “Yeah, I know.” Time was a little wonky in the Realms. You had to be careful not to spend too much time or before you know it a week could pass by in the mortal plane. “I’m glad you’re here now, though your timing kind of sucked. How much of all that did you see?”
Ellie snorted, “Oh, all of it. I was here before they decided to break in but I knew you were coming up so I wanted to see what you’d do first when they didn’t start stealing or tearing the place apart. I’m surprised you didn’t sense me.”
Danny shrugged, “I did eventually but I was a bit distracted with them stalking me and all that I didn’t notice at first. I’m not nearly as sensitive to you as I am others unless I’m focusing.”
“Yeah, yeah, shared DNA, yada yada,” she flopped down on his couch and he went to his fridge to pull out a couple containers of leftovers. He was starving. And tired. He paused when he saw a large container with a note on it.
You dropped yours. Forgive me for being rude? — RH
It was from the diner he’d been at before his mugging and first Red Hood encounter. He was oddly touched and chose to ignore the fact that the vigilante had either been observant enough to note the diner’s name on the spilled container or had gone back to check. He was too hungry to care. He pulled another container out for Ellie and grabbed some forks.
He gave the food to Ellie who took it gratefully, not even asking what it was before shoveling it into her mouth. He sat down next to her and she asked him questions while she chewed. He loved the disgusting little gremlin, he reminded himself. A lot. “Soooo,” she drew out, “who were those guys and what was all that about?”
Danny sighed and explained everything that had been going on. She nodded along and by the end she was laughing. “You’re trying to get them to believe that you have a ghost helping you out?”
Danny nodded, “Or that I’m helping Phantom out. Maybe I let him tag along to Gotham to get away from Amity’s ghost hunters,” he shrugged. “I’ll decide depending on what conclusions Red Robin scrounges up I guess.”
“And this Red Hood guy?” She wagged her eyebrows and Danny shoved her over.
“It’s not like that!”
“You invited him for dinner!” She cried, laughter clear in her voice. “And he was obviously flirting with you like every time he spoke! He liiiikes you,” she sang and jumped away as Danny tried to poke her in the side.
“Hey! No he doesn’t! I’m sure he’s like that with everyone!” He tried to defend himself. She stared at him like he was stupid. “What?” He asked defensively.
“You’re joking. Red Hood? The Red Hood? He’s definitely not like that with everybody. I think he’s more prone to murder and shooting first asking questions later, not flirty banter and inviting himself to dinners.”
“Oh yeah?” Danny asked, “And how do you know so much about him? Isn’t this your first time in Gotham?”
Ellie shrugged, “Word spreads around and the internet is very useful.”
Danny had to give that to her. “Fine, but still. I don’t see how he’s serious. Like you said, he’s The Red Hood. Capital ‘The’ and everything.”
“So? You’re The Phantom. Badasses are drawn to each other I guess,” Ellie shrugged all casual like as if the words didn’t make Danny want to cry. His little sister thought he was a badass.
“So how long are you staying?” He deflected, even if it was the answer he was dreading most. Ellie hadn’t stayed anywhere for very long since she escaped from Vlad. Danny and Jazz refused to try and force her to stick around anywhere, letting her have her freedom, but it was hard to let her go sometimes. Okay, every time.
Ellie darted her eyes around and bit her lip. Nervous. Danny braced himself for her to drop the bomb that she was leaving right then, not even staying the night. It wouldn’t be the first time but they always crushed him the most.
“Uh, I was actually hoping to maybe stay with you long-term?” Her voice was small and hopeful and Danny melted.
“Of course, pipsqueak,” he tried not to sound too eager. “You can stay as long as you want.”
She relaxed a little bit but kept fidgeting, “Okay but I’ve been thinking,” she hedged and Danny patted the seat next to him for her to sit down. She did, “I’ve been thinking about school.” She said it in a rush and Danny blinked.
“Okay,” he said easily. It’s not as if he and Jazz hadn’t considered it a possibility before but they hadn’t wanted to try and force her into it.
“Okay?” She asked, eyes large and waiting.
“Okay,” Danny repeated with a smile, “We have all of your documents and we can make either Jazz or I your legal guardian at any time, we were just waiting to see if we’d need to do it. I can get everything ready and we can find somewhere to enroll you in whenever you want.”
She flung her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder, “Thank you.”
He held onto her back just as tightly. “Of course, Ellie. Whatever you need.” He looked around his tiny studio apartment and cringed a little bit. “We might need to go apartment hunting again though, I don’t want you sleeping on the couch forever.”
Ellie shrugged, still not letting go. “I don’t mind,” she said and Danny laughed.
“Sure, but I do. If we’re doing this I want to do it right and give you the best you deserve.”
She pulled back slightly and opted for leaning against him, drawing his arm around her shoulder. He tucked her against his side. “Okay. But you really don’t need to move just for me.”
“Yeah, yeah, let me and Jazz worry about that. We’ll make it all work. I’m just happy to have you around, it was getting kinda lonely here without any other ghosts.”
She smiled and nestled closer, “Yeah, it gets kinda lonely without you or Jazz.”
Danny closed his eyes and willed away the building tears. He wondered how long she’d been feeling like that, but decided not to dwell on it. She was here now, and that’s all that mattered.
𓆩⟡𓆪
Tim frowned, pressed against the bricks outside the window as he waited for Hood, ready to hash out what they had just learned. Danny’s question about the logs made him curious and then his heart had dropped at the insinuation that something bad enough had happened in Amity to warrant the Justice League’s help. Even more concerning that the plea for help had seemingly gone unanswered.
“See why no one came to help.“
He itched to search the logs that very moment, but he focused back on Danny as he stopped Hood again, only this time his words had Tim nearly scoffing in surprise, settling instead on rolling his eyes and wanting to gag. He had been worried about Danny’s involvement in the muggings and possibly being a meta before, but now he was worried for the guy’s sanity. Honestly, inviting Red Hood to dinner, ‘anytime.’
Tim made a mental note to somehow work a discussion about basic safety and stranger danger and maybe not inviting crime lords into your house during their next cafe session.
Tim was absolutely hounding Jason for his apparent already established history with Danny if they were comfortable enough to flirt in front of his face and make plans for a date. (Really, why’d it have to be Jason of all possible vigilantes? What had Tim done to deserve this? Bernard and Con were going to be absolutely insufferable about this. Bart, Jaime, and Cassie were never allowed to know.)
He leveled Hood with a piercing glare as the infuriating vigilante finally swung out of the window, closing it aptly behind him. Before Tim could say anything (primarily: ‘What the fuck?’), Jason had tossed him a mocking salute and grappled away. Tim sighed in frustration and pursued, recognizing immediately that they were not headed to the Cave.
Fine by him, he’d be getting his answers one way or another and if Jason tried to stop him he’d have to face the disappointment of losing because Tim was not in the mood to beat around the bush and play their regular game of cat and mouse (and if Jason ever found out that he viewed him as the mouse Tim would probably be shot somewhere sensitive).
He followed Jason through the city and was a little surprised that they were headed to what Tim knew as his main apartment and not one of his many safe houses that he normally preferred to have any vigilante business talks (not that they had very many anyway, with how much of a point Jason made of not wanting to work with them).
He steeled himself for an aggravating conversation and a sleepless few nights ahead of him and swung through the window that Hood had even had the decency to leave open behind him.
𓆩⟡𓆪
Jason had no intention of following Tim to the Cave but he made no attempt to stop Tim from following him back to his apartment. He knew the conversation was inevitable so may as well bite the bullet and get it over with now and not have to deal with passive aggressive or heaven fucking forbid whiny Tim. Jason shuddered at the thought. No, much better to get it over with then, while it was still fresh.
He crawled through his own window, not wanting to walk through the halls in his suit (not that anyone would be surprised in this particular residence, but still, principles and all that). He almost entertained the idea of slamming the window shut and making Tim work to get himself in but figured the bastard might be in the mood to just break the window to speed things up. Tim was truly no fun like this.
“What the fuck‽” Tim immediately rounded on Jason when the window was firmly closed and the curtains drawn. “You didn’t think to tell me you knew my suspect? Is that why you came along?” It was exactly why Jason went with Tim when he heard about the investigation he and Oracle were doing. It wasn’t his fault Tim didn’t ask better questions before letting him tag along.
Jason shrugged, “Oh, I definitely thought to tell you. But then I thought ‘eh, better not’. Much more fun that way.”
“How do you know him?” Suspicious bastard. “And why didn’t he want you to tell your ‘buddies’ about him?” Jason matched Tim’s disdain for the descriptor, wrinkling his nose before sighing and discarding his helmet and settling in at the island bar.
“I saw him getting mugged,” Jason shrugged. Tim narrowed his eyes.
“And?” He prompted when Jason made no attempt to continue.
“And he took the fucker three times his size down with one well placed hit so I accused him of being a meta, which he didn’t take very well,” he omitted the part about the intangibility or phasing or whatever he'd seen, or thought he'd seen, and he wasn't entirely sure why. Maybe he wanted to protect Danny from the full Bat Battalion if the guy did end up having some extra skill sets that B would see as a potential threat. (Maybe Danny's accusations from their first meeting still stung and he wasn't eager to piss off the possible meta anymore than he already had by spreading the information and therefore breaching his privacy even more.) If Tim was as good of a detective as they all claimed, he'd find out soon enough anyway. No need for Jason to be a snitch about it. He wasn't a fucking cop, after all.
Tim’s eyes widened a bit, clearly surprised at that piece of information but Jason continued before he could interrupt with more useless questions. “Look, I barely had a conversation with the guy,” which, was true. “I recognized him when Babs had his info pulled up and wanted to know what it was all about. Now, what do you have on him?”
Tim looked like he wanted to keep fighting but he deflated and leaned against the wall, “Just— don’t play around with him, Jay.”
Oh, Little Timmy was serious about this. Jason narrowed his eyes. “Why?” Not that he was planning on ‘playing’ with Danny, but he wanted to know why Tim of all people was invested. After all, Danny was his suspect.
Tim sighed dejectedly, as if he was suddenly bone tired. “He’s friends with Berny. They met at orientation and they share some classes. I talked with him for like two hours the other day and he’s —“ Tim ran a hand through his hair, “fuck, he’s nice. He’s funny, he talks about his friends like they’re his whole world and is smart enough to have the best full ride we offer and is taking advanced classes as a freshman. I just — I’m really hoping he’s not actually tied up in something messy that B is gonna have to get involved with and possibly ruin an actual, normal, friendship for Berny. I just don’t know.”
The admission caught Jason a bit off guard. For Tim to admit that he 'didn't know' something was rare and a clear indication that this situation was more serious than Jason had originally anticipated. Mixing personal life and business — how fun. But Jason stared at his replacement brother in a bit of concern. Tim was really, really invested in this kid. And Jason found himself right there with him. Something about Danny just drew him in and kept him there, and with all the new information he was only more intrigued. He sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face.
“Replacement,” Tim scowled at the name but they both knew it didn’t hold the same weight it used to. They had come a long way since Jason had first come back and while there was still the shadow of tension looming over them nearly all the time, they were steadily making progress. That didn’t mean Jason wanted to stop being an asshole (just maybe not a murderous asshole). “I’m not going to fuck around with him. I’ll help ya out, figure out what’s going on with him and try to keep him out of trouble and off of B’s radar for as long as possible.”
Tim looked at him with a bit of hope and bit like he expected Jason to jump out and say ‘Psych! Gotcha!’. It shouldn’t bother Jason as much as it did. “Really?” Tim asked and then immediately seemed to regret it. But Jason just nodded, dead serious (ha).
“Really.”
Tim finally let himself show a ghost of a smile. (Ha. Ghost. Imagine that, ghosts being real all this time. Right under their noses. The Justice League would pitch a fit if it ended up being true, Jason could imagine it now.)
“Okay, then,” he pulled out his files once again and set them in front of Jason to peruse. “I ran a basic background check on him before I knew he was tied up in the muggings case, y’know, since he was hanging out with Bernard so much.”
Jason nodded. They were all paranoid as shit, thanks to both their very public lives and their side work and all knew to run background checks on anyone they’d be spending any amount of time with.
“I clearly need to do more digging and find out more about these ‘Guys in White’ but nothing substantial came up on my first search to raise any red flags besides the name change and his parents' strange research,” Tim sounded troubled and Jason agreed. From the concerns that Danny had brought up with the call logs and his hints at researching the town more, there was clearly something Tim had missed, which raised alarm bells in itself. Tim rarely missed something, especially something as big as Danny insinuated, which either meant things were purposefully buried (concerning) or Tim had been blinded by his personal connection to Danny (unlikely). “Which I clearly need to find the complete versions of. I want to know what exactly has been redacted and why.”
Jason nodded, flipping through the printed research that was indeed heavily blacked out. It all sounded like cooky bullshit to him, but he found himself believing Danny when he said that there was truth behind it and he knew Tim would find out exactly what was hiding in the reports.
“Start with the call logs?” It had been disturbing Jason since Danny had asked about it and he knew Tim had heard the whole thing from outside the window. They shared a serious look about it now.
'See why no one came to help.’ What the fuck happened in Amity?
“Yeah, I’m starting there and looking deeper into Amity as a whole while I’m at it now that I know not to disregard any mention of ghosts as like, a tourist ploy or nut jobs,” Tim confirmed and Jason nodded.
“Keep me updated?”
“Yeah, and if you decide to do any digging yourself we can compare notes.”
“Sure thing, Timberina,” Jason said with a smirk, reveling in the way Tim rolled his eyes.
“Still fucking terrible, you know,” he grouched.
Jason gave him a shit-eating grin, “Oh, I know. Now get the fuck out of here, don’t you have investigating to do or boyfriends to smooch?”
Tim flipped him off before making a swift exit, even closing the window behind him. Maybe there was hope for them yet.
‘The offer for dinner stands if you want it, anytime.’
And there was what he really wanted to think about. Because. Holy fuck. Danny had invited him to have dinner with him. Anytime. He hadn’t even seen his apology leftover note and had already been willing to give Red Hood another chance.
Jesus Christ, what was he, a thirteen year old girl? His heart did not need to be skipping a beat at the thought, thank you very fucking much.
He didn’t even know he could trust the guy yet. Especially with all the information Tim had supplied — Jason had a sneaking suspicion Danny was way more involved in everything then he had let on despite his insistence and deflections. Now with the whole added ghost aspect…
Jason wasn’t the type to trust or take people at their word alone. He was the type to shoot first and contingency plan around possible lies and deception. And yet… Danny was somehow slipping past all of Jason’s defenses and he somehow found himself wanting to trust the man despite it all.
Danny was a mystery wrapped up in an enigma and Jason couldn’t wait to figure him out. He just hoped no one would get burned in the process.
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visceravalentines · 2 years
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Sinclair Household HCs
My brain...it’s rotting....  
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COOKING
Vincent cannot cook for shit.  Not only that, but he puts milk in his bowl before he pours in the cereal.  Unforgivable.  Vinny does like to bake, but his success rate is wildly variable.  Sometimes his cookies are weapons.  
Vinny gets so wrapped up in his work he forgets to eat for hours.  Bo will sometimes call him from the station to tell him to go upstairs and eat something. He genuinely likes fruits and vegetables, but he’s not picky and will munch just about anything.  
Bo is a survivalist cook. He spent some time parenting his brothers, particularly Lester, and Trudy liked to withhold food as punishment, so he became adept at throwing together something quick.  
Processed food is this man’s fuel.  Boxed mac & cheese, canned soup, frozen dinners.  Can toast a waffle.  Can grill a cheese.  Can make a pretty damn good sandwich.  Has been known to eat the pieces of a thing rather than assembling the thing.  
Lester is the chef! You can hand this man a dead skunk, like really dead, and he will present you with the most decadent burgoo you’ve ever had.  Also quite the connoisseur of wine.  He makes his own and it’s damn good.  
Lester has a garbage disposal stomach and appetite.  He’s never heard of food poisoning.  He’s never met a food he doesn’t like.  He’s a particular fan of gas station fare though, stopping on his route for chips, beef jerky, pork rinds, you name it.  
Spice tolerance?  Vin is the master.  Lester is Cajun through-and-through.  Bo will insist he is fine even though his face is red and he is pouring sweat.  To be fair, he’s got a tolerance above average, but he’s nothing compared to his little brothers.  
CLEANING
Lester, it’s Lester.  
The man doesn’t mind a little grime.  We’ve all seen his truck and his self.  But that’s work.  He’s got too much to do to worry about a little blood, especially when it spills as fast as he can clean it.  When it comes to his living space, having things neat and orderly is like a mental separation for him between work and home.  
Makes his bed every goddamn day (when he sleeps in a bed, that is).
Lester takes showers until the hot water runs out and revels in that squeaky clean, guts-less feeling. If you catch him outside the workweek, mans smells delicious, kind of tobacco-y and leathery and woodsy.  He does love him some chew, but he’s not gross about it.  
Unfortunately for him, his brothers are disasters.  
Vinny is the most single-minded person in the state of Louisiana.  The project in front of him is all he can see or think about.  He leaves tools everywhere.  He sets candles down, forgets about them, leaves them burning until someone blows them out before they light something on fire.  He genuinely does not see the mess (same tbh).  
His workshop looks like a bomb went off, but it all makes perfect sense to him.  He can find you anything in two seconds.  If you put it “where it goes,” he will never find it again.  
Vincent has wax lodged permanently beneath his fingernails and there’s always a microscopic film of it on his skin.  His hands are very soft from it though.  Sometimes he goes for a while without showering because art.  He also has a solid skincare routine pressed upon him by Mother Trudy.  Wax does not breathe, so he has to keep his face clean and moisturized.
The other thing he is meticulous about is his hair.  We never see it in the movie, but I like to think he keeps it pulled back a lot of the time while working.  He doesn’t mind it in his face, but getting wax out of it is a nightmare.  Lester isn’t often around to help him, and Bo told him if he ever made him do it again he’d shave his head.  Vinny smells generally like art supplies, kind of sweet and woody, but his hair smells like nice shampoo.  
Bo is the opposite of Lester.  He is neat at work and a slob at home.  His garage is always swept, every little screw and gear organized and accounted for, his truck washed once a week like clockwork.  At the house though, man’s leaving dishes in the same place for weeks, crumbs galore, dirty and clean laundry all over the floor.  
Every so often, the mess gets to him and he goes on a cleaning tirade.  It gets the work done, but he’s a nightmare to deal with if you get in his way.
Bo himself is pretty well-kept.  He wears clean underwear every day goddammit.  Despite being a mechanic, he hates having dirty nails, so he will give himself a manicure on Sundays.  Don’t you fucking dare look at him like that.  Smells like motor oil, leather, cigarettes, and that good sweat.  Only wears cologne on special occasions, like funerals.
 HOME LIFE, ESP. WEEKENDS
Bo is the one who makes runs into town for supplies.  Vincent would rather die than leave Ambrose, and Lester attracts too much attention between the smell, the slight lack of social skills, and his tendency to describe the innards of animals at the slightest provocation.  Bo attracts his own kind of attention, but he’s adept at deflecting it.  
Lester doesn’t often sleep at the house.  He has a bedroom, but he also has a neat little shack in the woods, and that’s where he spends most of the week.  It’s not that he doesn’t love his brothers; it’s that he likes his space, his freedom.
He comes home on the weekends, sometimes early on Fridays.  This is when most of the housekeeping gets done, but he doesn’t mind a bit.  
Friday night is boys’ night. Isn’t every night boys’ night? Yes.  Does this matter?  No.  
All three of them are wicked good at pool.  Like, stupid good.  Games between the brothers are either over fast, or last an hour.  There’s also a fair bit of poker.  The currency at stake takes the form of small bones (animal, human, whatever), nuts from the garage, matches, or loser shots.
Speaking of which, the Sinclairs can hold their booze.  In addition to his wine endeavors, Lester makes some facefucking moonshine and rotgut whisky.  The night usually starts with cheap beer and ends with Bo talking REALLY LOUD, LIKE SO LOUD. HE’S NOT YELLING, HE’S JUST LIKE THIS.
Vincent gets everyone water and stops drinking hours before the other two because he’s smart, although he can absolutely drink you under the table if given the chance.  Lester gets loopy and ends up falling asleep in uncomfortable positions.  
Bo doesn’t typically get belligerent, but it is a possibility.  He usually gets uncharacteristically sentimental.  He smiles a lot more.  Sometimes he gets real quiet.  When this happens, his brothers put on music or start telling stories about happy memories to keep him out of the dark places in his head.  
Saturday mornings are often bleak and silent affairs.  
In a longtime tradition, Saturdays are spent on yardwork.  There are a lot of yards in Ambrose, lots of planter boxes, and they all need to be kept presentable.  Picture all three Sinclairs mowing lawns with or without white t-shirts.  Yeah.  
Sunday is for putting the house back into a reasonable state of affairs.  The amount of laundry these men generate is abominable.  No one likes dusting, hence all the cobwebs.  
Attendance at Sunday dinners is non-negotiable.  Shirts tucked in, all three of them.  Bo and Vincent will often help Lester cook.  This is not, in fact, helpful.  None of the brothers are particularly religious anymore, but they alternate saying grace before they eat.  
When Monday morning comes, Bo always has coffee made before Lester leaves at the ass crack of dawn. It happens to be decent.  Lester takes a thermos for the road, Bo has a cup before he leaves the house, and he brings Vinny an insulated cup in his workshop, so that even when he forgets it’s there, it’s warm for him when he remembers.
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Note
Hello ! After searching for answers on my own but English not being my first language so I wasn’t sure of the tone, I’m at a loss so I’m here ! I’d like to find some nicknames that an older character calls a younger one but not as a cutesy way, more as teasy but at the same time not falling into being mean, stuff like "pipsqeak". If you have anything I’d be very happy ^^.
Non-Cutesy Nicknames for Younger Characters
I see where you're going with cute but not mean, so it's important to note that "pipsqueak" means "one who is small or insignificant," so it's mocking the young character's smaller size. Along those same lines would be: shrimp, squirt, half-pint, twerp, munchkin, sprout, small fry, junior, shortie, and whippersnapper. Also: Little Brother/Sister/Bro/Sis
General nicknames, which aren't size-related (but which are sometimes used snarkily toward other adults):
-- Kid -- Kiddo -- Bud/Buddy -- Pal -- Lad/Laddie/Lass/Lassie
More often than not based on the older character's first impression of the younger character due to appearance, behavior, actions, abilities, or situation.
For a young character who is/appears to be bossy, assertive, or a strong leader:
-- Chief -- Captain -- Boss -- Major -- General -- Commander -- Big Cheese -- Top Dog -- Kingpin -- Big Shot -- Big Wig -- Sheriff
For a young character who is/appears to be bold or high-spirited: -- Firecracker -- Tiger -- Sparky -- Spark Plug -- Turbo -- Fireball -- Flash For a young character who is/appears to be courageous/brave: -- Hero -- Braveheart -- Lionheart -- Dare Devil For a young character who is/appears to be a troublemaker:
-- Mischief -- Rascal -- Rebel -- Wildcat -- Menace -- Trouble
For a young person who is/appears to be tough, fierce, a fighter: -- Buster -- Bruiser -- Slugger -- Wrecker -- Chainsaw -- Hulk -- Spike For a young person who is/appears to be strong/athletic: -- Champ -- Slugger -- Sport -- Muscles For a young person with a strong ability or skill:
-- Ace -- Champ -- Genius -- Wizard -- Crackerjack -- Hotshot -- Maverick -- Superstar -- Whiz -- Hot Stuff -- Old Hand
Nicknames can also be based on other things about the young character, their situation, or how they met: Blue Eyes, Red (for a redhead), Chatterbox (talkative, or ironically for someone who's quiet), Apple Thief (they met when youngster was stealing an apple), NYC (the youngster came from New York), Dinner Plate (the initially alarmed youngster threw a dinner plate at them), Soda Pop (the youngster is wearing a Coca-Cola t-shirt)...
In other words, don't be afraid to brainstorm a bit and see if you can find something that is unique to the characters and situation.
I hope that helps!
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faeriefrolic · 15 days
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Generation One of the Minnow Lepacy is coming to a close, and with that, we have scoreboard! 🐟
It's been a suuuuper long gen. I misread the initial rules and had Sable be both an angler and farmer, but she really only needed to be one of them. She did a lot this generation! Though if I'm being honest, if I did another lepacy, I would do one of the other base game career choices since I've already done the angler route with Pewter. Also, ngl a little sad Sable didn't get to have a ghost baby or marry an npc. In my first initial test run of the generation she had tried to date the repairman and woman (both of them were outdoorsy) but it never worked out and that run was cursed anyway. It was still really fun though to finally play in Sunset Valley with all of it's iconic townies and be able to meet and marry one of them. Connor Frio is an absolute sweetheart and he will be one of my fav sims forever.
Scoreboards and more are under the cut!
🐟Minnow Lepacy Scorecard Doc
🖤Gen 1: Black - BASE GAME
-✅ Start/Move to Sunset Valley +2 points-
    a. Living off the Land [Farmer/Fisher] 👨‍🌾🎣
• ✅ Have the Green Thumb or Angler Trait +0.5 point
• ✅ Date/Marry sim with Loves Outdoors and/or Green Thumb and/or Angler +0.5 point 
(Connor - Loves the Outdoors, Nerd trait)
• ✅ No Woohoo before Marriage +0.5 point
•✅ Have both Boy and Girl (You can adopt after the first child) +0.5 point
• ✅No Watermelons/Apples to sway gender of child +0.5 point
• ✅Take the Gardening Skill Class +0.5 point
•✅ Master Gardening Skill +1 point
•✅ Plant Every Plant from Grocery Store +1 point
•✅ Obtain all (or just all BG) Plants/Seeds +1 point
•✅ If you get a call for learning Steak, Egg, Cheese, Omni plant, complete it. +1 point
Completed egg and cheese plants, didn't get omni plant
• ✅Take the Fishing Skill Class +1 point
• ✅Master Fishing Skill +1 point
• ✅Catch All (or all BG) Fish +1 point
• ❌Reach level 10 self-employed farmer/fisher +1 point
Got to level 7 - Local Ahab
• ✅Complete the LTW 'Presenting the Perfect Private Aquarium' +1 point
+Gain points for+:
•✅ Heir completing their LTW: +5 points.
• ✅Heir completes a Skill Challenge +1 x10
Amateur Ichthyologist  Menu Maven Consignment Store Rep/Sales/Profit Master Planter Commercial Fisherman Master Farmer Personable Celebrity
• ✅Heir having more than two children: +1 points per child. x4
+Rainbowcy Points🌈+:
• ✅Founder with custom multicoloured parts: +1 per eyes, hair, skin tone, make-up, clothes. (5 points for founder possible) x4
•✅ Child matching their generation namesake with body parts when born: +3 points
-Lose points for-:
• ❌ Not achieving a generation objective: -0.5 points
🖤GEN 1 TOTAL POINTS: 38.5 ✨
Some more extras including Sable and Connor's skill journals!
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redstringraven · 10 months
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in wake of the "don can't cook" post, here're my personal hcs on the boys and cooking (with also @plantdonutwrites addition of why mikey got into cooking lmao).
don: generally not great with cooking due to being spacey/easily distracted/losing track of time. can easily follow a recipe up until it's time to put something in the oven, leave it on the stove, or otherwise let the thing idle for a given amount of time. that's when we enter the danger zone. will forget to take meat out of the freezer to defrost. might set a timer for something, the timer goes off but he's in the middle of working, turns the timer off, says "i'll get it in a minute" and then a half hour later the food is harder than bricks. doesn't "burn water" but will forget he prepped water to boil and return to find that it's all evaporated and he has to start over. might do it a second time.
leo: great cook (sorry, fanon, i can't side with you on this one) and enjoys cooking/general meal-making, especially for his family. finds the process kind of therapeutic and very rewarding. this is one of the bonding activities he does with mikey, actually, and the two of them will often cook together. is the person who might wander around asking "hey, i'm about to make [insert meal] do you want any?" because he prefers cooking for more than just himself. especially enjoys discovering new 'family' recipes, perhaps passed down to him by april, angel, master splinter, or even usagi if earth 2 and 3 ingredients are similar enough to be substituted for. wouldn't surprise me if he asked about recipes during christmas aliens, from the folks who brought food.
mikey: excellent cook. has always been a bit of a foodie but, per jenn: 'he woke up one morning and chose Petty Violence and got really into cooking because he realized humans sometimes have 'a thing' where the people who cook don't have to do the dishes afterward, and doing the dishes is mikey's least favorite chore. so, if he cooks, he doesn't have to do dishes. wound up genuinely loving to cook. i like to think s1 mikey was like "i can scramble eggs!" and post s4 mikey is like "check out this souffle that i set on fire to caramelize and i made homemade mousse whipped cream enjoy".' as previously stated, cooking's become a bonding activity between him and leo, with leo preferring to stick to the recipe and keeping on task/track but mikey being a little more adventurous and willing to experiment and cook intuitively--especially during the times they might be a bit more limited on ingredients. they can make a mean meal together.
raph: can cook, prefers not to. rarely cooks for himself, and when he does cook he dabbles heavily in the "comfort food" and savory foods. when raph cooks, it's usually because someone needs the warm meal. maybe he has a sick brother, a sad friend who needs an old classic pick-me-up, or just senses the vibes are off in the studio today. so, here's the best grilled cheese and tomato soup combo you've ever had. don't ask him how he did it or how he knew what you needed. it's not important. just shut up and eat. you're welcome.
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prismaticpichu · 10 months
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Updated Master List!
Howdy!!! Hope you’re having an awesome day! I thought it was high-time to do an updated Masterlist of all my little thingies! If y’all don’t know who I am and wondering wtf is on your dash, I’ma little gremlin who loves to write FF7: Crisis Core-centric stories :33 If you do know who I am, you know that Zack & Sephiroth dominate almost every individual sentence that my keyboard produces. Either way, I’m shoving this in your face!
Thank you so much forever and always for giving me a safe place to share my stuff!! <33
~~~
✨ Pichu’s Writing ✨
The Bonds That Kept Me Sane Universe - A universe revolving around the unbreakable friendship between Sephiroth & Zack Fair! Stories are extremely floofy and filled with a lot of heart! You will find a needle or two in there, but for the most part, this is the safe side of town <33
1. Blazes & Bullets (10 chap/10) - Zack refuses to accept that his friend has gone insane, and instead decides to try and break through rather than fight against him (later rewritten as Candle in the Rain- really recommend reading that instead xD).
2. Wish - Sephiroth doesn’t know it’s his birthday.
3. Procedure - Sephiroth’s brutal memories of getting his wing.
4. Surrogate - Zack is homesick; Sephiroth remedies this.
5. Snow Angel - Snowball fight!
6. Guard Dog - Zack retrieves his sick friend from Hojo’s lab.
7. From My Eyes - Zack is mourning over Angeal
8. Movie Night - It’s literally a movie night, mate.
9. A Silver Veil - Sephiroth doesn’t like Halloween; Zack absolutely does.
10. Daylight - Sephiroth accompanies Zack to visit Aerith.
11. I’ll Name the Dogs - Zack comes home from a solo mission.
12. Green-Eyed Reindeer - Sephiroth goes home with Zack to spend Christmas in Gongaga.
13. Let Sleeping Puppies Lie - Sephiroth wonders why Zack left his favorite toy behind on a mission.
14. The Art of Distraction - Zack doodles during working hours.
15. Purify - Following the events of Nibelheim, Zack solaces his broken best friend.
16. Enter the Plush Dragon - It’s Zack’s birthday! Sephiroth needs to find a present stat.
17. Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee - Early in their friendship, a small mistakes causes a small fight.
18. Shedding Coats - Zack & Sephiroth swap clothes for the fun of it!
19. You Ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog! (2 chaps/?) - Zack is turned into an actual puppy, and now he and Sephiroth have to fix that little pickle.
20. On Pins and Needles - Zack walks in on an unexpected hobby.
21. Scissors - Zack discovers his friend’s wing, and what it symbolizes to him.
22. It’s the Best Medicine - Zack remembers the first time he heard Sephiroth laugh.
23. How to Save a Life - Zack finally thanks his friend for saving him from Ifrit.
24. The Zack & Sephiroth Safe Haven - A collection of originally-deleted works I put together because I regretted taking them down; all of these take place in the same universe, consisting of:
Just Your General Soup - Sephiroth gets the sniffles
Irreplaceable - A misunderstanding breaks Sephiroth’s heart.
Songs of Silence - Zack is away in Junon, and things are too quiet in the office.
The Cozy Caretaker - Zack’s a little sick; fic is bite-sized.
The Bright Side of White - Angeal comes to visit his old puppy in his sleep.
Cereal Killer - A 7-yo Zack discovers his hero on the back of a cereal box.
Dream Catcher - Zack & Sephiroth share nightmares about the other.
Candle in the Rain - This is what I was talking about! An updated version of Blazes & Bullets that ACTUALLY takes “Sephiroth not being too happy about the Jenova Project” into account; same plot and outcome, with Zack trying to break through to a mind-controlled evil Sephiroth.
Say Cheese! - Zack accidentally gets Sephiroth’s coat dirty.
Paths Ahead - Sephiroth is thinking about the future; Zack assures him they’ll always be together.
Under My Wing - Following the events of Modeoheim, Sephiroth vows to take care of the broken puppy left behind.
Sandwiched Between Society - Sephiroth eats Oreos wrong.
Palentines Day - Zack celebrates Valentine’s Day with his very platonic pal.
Cat’s in the Cradle - Sephiroth thinks his slitted eyes make him a monster; Zack is there to assure him otherwise.
25. Catch You Letter - Sephiroth goes into panic mode after finding a love letter written by Zack
26. Are You For Teal? - (An AU of this universe) - Zack develops a little something in his heart while taking a magazine quiz with Sephiroth
27. Lightning - Zack comforts his rattled friend after Sephiroth relives a horrible memory
Traffic Cones on the Highway to Arson - Disjointed fics that revolve around the sole purpose of keeping Nibelheim flame-free!!
1. Fragments - Before Sephiroth can reach the library, Zack stops him right in the Nibelheim mountains.
2. To Soothe the Savage Beast - Zack has a clever solution to get Sephiroth to fall asleep in the manor.
3. Sephiroth’s Pet Rock - Sephiroth gets a pet rock. This cures his depression.
4. Call to Action - All it took was one single phone call to save the day
5. The Inns and Outs of Things - A last-minute confession at the Nibelheim inn changes the course of history.
Miscellaneous, uncategorized fics! - Fics that don’t fall into either category and are purely just Ideas™️ brought to life!
1. Angeal and the Kitty Crisis - Hollander’s clone machine malfunctions.
2. Paw-Padded Calamity (10 chap/10) - Zack finds a lost little Pichu in the slums. May revive the sequel if I decide to continue!
3. Treasure - Masamune breaks.
4. Study Buddy - A time traveling Zack warns his younger self not to leave Him alone in the library.
5. The Thirst for Knowledge - Sephiroth passes out from dehydration and wakes up in Cloud’s childhood bed.
6. Take Your Best (Mug) Shot - J-cell purging coffee!
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wellthebardsdead · 7 months
Text
Clockwork heart pt34
Part 33 here
———
Nerevar: *looking down from his horse at Wyrm as the younger elf happily walks along side the horses with their newest companion* Wyrm youre going to get worn out. Riftens a full days travel from here.
Wyrm: *smiles up at him* I’ll be fine ata neht! I don’t want Lucien to be left behind.
Lucien: *the newest addition to the group after befriending Wyrm in the dead man’s drink* Oh it’s no trouble really! I can just- jog along side.
Inigo: no offence julien but you look like the sort to get winded tying your shoes.
Lucien: and you look like the sort to carry fleas. Indigo.
Inigo: hehehehehe~ I like you!
Lucien: the feelings much the same for me. But seriously my friend don’t- AWWW A PUPPY!!!
Wyrm: huh- *turns in time to see a large dog running directly for him, his entire body freezing in utter fear watching the strangely red eyed creature bound towards him* n-no-
Taliesin: *suddenly yanks Wyrm up by his robes and onto naomis saddle with him only for the dog to reach up putting his paws on the horse* DOWN! BAD DOG! GET AWAY FROM HI-
The dog: *ignores Taliesin and bites onto Wyrms boot tugging at it* you are just what I’ve been looking f-… Sotha Sil?
Taliesin: did… did this mutt just talk?
Kaidan: never focking mind that how does it know his name?!
Nerevar: *gets off his horse, hand on his blade as he stares down the hound* Hello, Barbas.
Barbas: … *slowly turns his head to face the Gahmerdohn and Hortator* Oh… Boy, you sure look different.
Wyrm: *simply faints, his crippling fear of dogs getting the better of him*
Taliesin: WYRM?!
Voryn: HLA KHES!? (Little gem)
*several hours later*
Wyrm: *staring at the pile of cheese he’d turned a vampire into as he reluctantly helps Barbas find his master* whew this things got all sorts of weird features- Noooo get away! *whimpers backing up against the icy wall of the cave as barbas approaches sniffing at him*
Barbas: *sniffs his robes and skin ignoring the wabbajack in the dunmers hands* So if you’re not sotha sil, then you’re his reincarnation? Huh he must’ve really been running low on power when he put you together.
Wyrm: I-I don’t know why he made m-me o-or why he made me like this n-now get back! I mean it! I-I’ll turn you into a chicken!
Barbas: Does this form really scare you that badly? Aren’t you supposed to be the dragonborn?
Wyrm: I-I can’t help my fear of- *goes quiet watching the daedra shift and warp his appearance before suddenly looming over him as a red eyed, antlered high elf* dogs-
Barbas: *leans down smirking* How can you defeat the dragons when you’re afraid of a little puppy do- GAHH-
Nerevar: *grabs him roughly by his ear yanking him back and holding his head close to his so only he can hear* I’m being lenient with you because your master and lady Mephala are still on good terms but know this now. I do not care what transpired between you and sotha sil, if you keep frightening Wyrm when he’s so generously agreed to help you. I will hand feed you to Boethia myself.
Barbas: *looking visibly intimidated and failing miserably at hiding it* okay okay I’m sorry! I’ll behave.
Nerevar: *lets him go* good.
Taliesin: *walks in followed by inigo & kaidan* all clear, the last of the vampires have been killed- who in oblivion are you?
Nerevar: Barbas.
Barbas: Nerevar?
Taliesin: Barbas?
Barbas: Taliesin?
Taliesin: Wyrm?
Wyrm: Taliesin-
Inigo: INIGO!
Kaidan: *face palms*
???: “Wyrm? What an odd name… hm. Fitting I suppose if the power I sense from him is what I think it is.”
Wyrm: *blinks and walks to taliesins side, gripping onto him nervously for a moment before following the voice into the main chamber, the others tailing close behind*
Voryn: *standing before a large statue of clavicus vile, staring up at him with an indifferent expression* You harbour no ill will to him then?…
Clavicus Vile: Why would I? He’s not Sotha Sil. And he helped me fulfil my followers last wish~
Voryn: he did? How?
Clavicus Vile: They begged me for a cure for their vampirism. And you came through and killed them all! I couldn’t have planned it better myself!
Wyrm: how awful…
Voryn: *looks up at the stairs leading down to him* Wyrm, to me. *holds out his hand reassuringly, showing no fear before the daedra*
Wyrm: *steps forward hesitating still despite voryns comforting presence*
Barbas: *walks by him patting his shoulder* don’t worry just let me handle this, you helped me, now I help you.
Wyrm: *looks up at him before looking back as Taliesin takes him around the waist, cooing softly to him to let him know it’s okay* teacup…
Taliesin: shhh, You’re safe, I’m here… *smiles reassuringly, masking the concern and uncertainty behind his eyes*
Wyrm: *shakily grips onto his robes and nods, walking down the ramp with him and standing beside voryn at the statue* u-um- hello? C-can you take your- friend? Back now please?
Clavicus Vile: Hmph! That insufferable pup?! No way! No deal-
Wyrm: p-please?
Nerevar: *steps forward to intervene* Wyrm you shouldnt say that it’ll sound like you’re beg-
Voryn: shhh. *looks back at nerevar then at wyrm with a reassuring smile*
Clavicus Vile: *silent for a moment, the air around his statue still for a brief second before suddenly shifting and warping into an explosion of fire and sparks as the stone gives way to the prince himself, staring down at them in all his glory* Hm… *reaches down slowly, offering his hand to the dunmer*
Wyrm: *climbs on without a hint of fear, ignoring how everyone steps forward with panic evident on their faces as the prince of wishes lifts him up to be eye level with him*
Clavicus Vile: After the court of bedlam incident, Id expected old sil to have transferred his hatred of the daedra into you. His caution at least but- you are a strange little thing aren’t you?…
Wyrm: you know about sotha sil? Can you tell me what he was like?
Clavicus Vile: *grins suddenly seeing a bargain to be made* Of course, but you have to do something for me in return~ just tell me your wish and I’ll make it happen.
Wyrm: okay.
Nerevar: Wyrm don’t!!
Voryn: *now showing visible concern* little scrib hold on a moment-
Wyrm: I wish to know why I was made.
Clavicus Vile: *smirks thinking he’s got him where he wants him* of course~ just let me- *reaches his other hand up to touch his head, to see into his mind and grasp his soul and find the tethers that made him. Only to be met with an agony only paralleled by that of umbra as the force of the clockwork god pushes him back out, nearly splitting him in two a second time* UGHHHH!!! *staggers back, dropping wyrm as he grabs his head in pain*
Wyrm: *screams and flails in a panic as he plummets to the ground*
Taliesin: *dives and catches him, shielding his fall with his body as he hits the ground with a thud* Oof! Ughh- *sighs holding wyrm tight* shhh I’ve got you-
Clavicus Vile: AARGHHH YOU HORRIBLE LITTLE-
Taliesin: *gets up holding Wyrm tight* Watch your tongue!! Don’t you dare insult him you horrid beast!
Clavicus Vile: Him? *pauses realising he thinks he’s talking about wyrm* no not him… Sotha Sil, he- stopped me?… but how?
Barbas: Master?
Clavicus Vile: *looks at him perplexed, the two seemingly sharing a conversation only they can hear* … *turns his gaze back to Wyrm* I- can’t grant you your wish. Perhaps there’s something else you might want?…
Wyrm: *feeling unsettled at the princes bewildered expression* c-can you make me bigger? Stronger?… I’m supposed to be the dragonborn but… Im useless on my own…
Nerevar: Wy-wyrm I don’t think that’s a good idea-
Voryn: *gently takes nerevars hand, his concern giving way to intrigue and confusion* shhh, I don’t think… I don’t think he can actually do anything to him.
Clavicus Vile: *no longer appearing confident or cocky with his powers, now just a mix of confusion and mild fear as he tries again* Okay- let’s see if this will work-
Wyrm: *gently pushes away from taliesins arms and stands pretty, waiting for the prince to work his magic*
Clavicus Vile: *holds his hand over him, suddenly surrounding Wyrm in a sphere of energy, his magic pulling at his body, his skin, his bones, his muscles, trying to make him bigger, to grow, to change in any way he can, only to release him as he ultimately fails, leaving him there staring at the unchanged mer, horrified at how untouchable he is* I… I don’t know what he made you with or how but- I-I don’t even think Boethia could change you!
Wyrm: *standing there looking crestfallen, simply just drops down to the floor and hugs his knees to his chest* okay… can you take your friend back now at least?…
Clavicus Vile: *visibly rattled trying to figure out just what exactly Wyrm is, why he feels so familiar in a way beyond just that of the clockwork god* y-Yeah, b-barbas come here.
Barbas: *smiles looking up at him then at Wyrm* Thank you, don’t worry I won’t let you leave here empty handed! *hurries to his masters side, both of them turning into stone statues once more as he reaches him, only now the mask once in Viles hand, now seated in front of Wyrm*
Wyrm: *picks the mask up quietly* thank you…
Clavicus Vile: I don’t know how it’s possible, I’ve never encountered a mortal like you, but I can’t help you change yourself… If you ever need a wish though involving, anything else, you have my boon. It’s the least I can do seeing as you’ve restored me back to my full power! You forget what that’s like when you’ve been stuck in a cave for 3 years!!
Voryn: *opens his third eye scanning the statue as silence fills the space once again* they’re gone.
Taliesin: *leans down gently helping Wyrm up to his feet* are you okay?…
Wyrm: *staring at the mask* … I don’t know anymore…
Lucien: …Okay so I knew things were already beyond interesting given who you guys are- *gestures to the whole group* But he just crippled a daedric prince by doing nothing and you’re all just- not freaking out over it?!
Inigo: oh yes it’s quite normal for us at this point.
Caryalind: my first day with this group I travelled through the sewers beneath solitude to find it had been merged with the shivering isles all because Wyrm went sleep walking after a sword and a chunk of amber that we handed over to the captain of sheogoraths guard.
Taliesin: I met him after he absorbed the soul of lorkhan and our second day together he imploded a dragon just by looking at it.
Kaidan: he nearly levelled all of winterhold and almost murdered a bunch of psijic monks.
Inigo: he shares sugar cookies and gossip with a floating mass of energy called the augur of Dunlain.
Nerevar: he’s the reincarnation of sotha sil, at least, we think he is, we’re not sure anymore.
Voryn: He is and he isn’t. He witnessed the birth of creation and achieved chim in his own right.
Lucien: And you were just going to keep this hidden from me?! I have so many questions!
Wyrm: so do I… and no answers to show for them… *sighs hiding his face in taliesins robes* how am I going to defeat alduin?… what if Esbern can’t help?…
Taliesin: … *picks him up holding him close as he rests his head on his shoulder* shhh, you will, we’ll find a way. If he’s of no help then I’ll do everything I can to find you your answers… *kisses his cheek softly* I promise…
*that evening*
Wyrm: *sitting in his and taliesins tent, braiding his hair as he stares at the pages of his book, watching the patterns swirl* what are you hiding from me?… why am I not allowed to know?… *scowls* this is my life, why do you keep trying to ruin it?… *blinks watching as a monarch butterfly suddenly lands on the page, flitting its wings open and closed slowly, revealing a different colour each time* … *looks down to the wabbajack & sword of jyggalag by his bed roll* …You want… to talk to me?… *looks back at the butterfly*
The butterfly: *flits it’s wings and flies up, landing on his forehead, knocking him out cold with a feathery touch*
Taliesin: *peers into the tent to see no butterfly, only Wyrm sleeping. Seemingly haven fallen asleep trying to read his book* oh love… *picks up the book and stares at it for a moment before scowling as he closes it and tosses it aside* Blasted thing… *huffs and leans down pressing his lips to Wyrms forehead* sleep tight love… I’ll try my best to help you… even if it’s not enough… *sighs and climbs back out of the tent to join the others in keeping watch. All of them unaware of the two masked groups, eyeing both them, and each other up from beyond the treeline*
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neoyi · 1 year
Text
Sooooooo, obvious Pizza Tower spoilers for the final boss and stuff.
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I finished Pizza Tower the other day. The game was already plenty good using anxiety and anger as a vehicle for Peppino's motivation and the situation he's been placed in. It's not just his animation, where left idle, he will nervously gesture (teeth-clattering, biting his hand, etc.); it's also the music which draws the line between smooth techno backdrops to FRANTIC FRANTIC FRANTIC, the fact that everything is literally out to get him, and the brilliant escape sequences per level that forces Peppino to haul ass or he'll DIE.
Normally, I can't stand games where you're forced to escape with a timer, but Pizza Tower feels so appropriate because it's suppose to be anxious and heart-pounding. It also helps that the game has such tight, well-defined controls. Peppino is fast, so you get a sense of speed that helps defy the clock when you're on the move, but he can also stop on a dime, so you never feel hindered from what could be a costly mistake if Peppino was a bit more loose. Not to mention the timer is often generous. Once I got a groove on the game's control schemes, the time you had to get the heck out felt marginal enough while juuuuuust a tad left over that it still left you feeling wrecked, but never frustrating.
All of this is a great, great tool to teach you for the upcoming final boss and oh my god, OH MY GOD, so rarely do I feel anything could get me pumped up as Pizza Tower does with Pizzaface.
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The whole ass fight is a great demonstration of what happens when you push a man to his limits. We've seen Peppino mad, but never has he been filled with SO MUCH WRATH until now. By the time Pizzaface (quickly revealed to be Pizzahead) started bringing in the other bosses for a rush, it felt so justified when Peppino started SCREAMING with rage. He's had it, this is the fucking straw. This motherfucker and his minions had fucked with him for the
LAST. GODDAMN. TIME.
I tend to dread boss rushes (it depends), but Pizza Tower knows it. It knows because Peppino was also dreading it. No, none of this bullshit. No more. He's DONE. Other than each of the main four being truncated to a manageable level, Peppino straight up BEATS THE CRAP OUT OF THEM when he physically contacts them. FUCK THIS SHIT, FUCK EVERYTHING, he's probably thinking.
Then he proceeds to CREAM the fuck out of Pizzahead.
Pizzahead, who had the audacity to mess with his restaurant; Pizzahead, who sent wave after wave of enemies to stop this pissed off Italian; Pizzahead, who dares to put on a smile and pull off silly little pranks and other misfits during the boss fight because he's NOT taking Peppino seriously, a mistake he's paid for with several broken (cheese???) bones.
And a lot of this wouldn't have worked if the music didn't go hard. But they went hard. I'm gonna upload a Youtube link where someone compiled all three songs into one, because it just feels like the kind you have to listen to back-to-back.
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This is like right up there with Final Fantasy VI's final bosses, where it had four major phases, each with their own songs, but you had to listen to all sixteen minutes of it because it just wouldn't feel right otherwise.
"Unexpectancy" is in the same boat.
The guitar riff, the rise in tension, the goddamn sampling of an old 1920s public domain song, "After You Get What You Want, You Don't Want It" by Van & Schenck (which seem appropriate given the lyrics talk about someone who can never be satisfied even after getting everything they want) - the whole ass thing is so. Damn. EPIC. And after the final fight, you have to get the hell out of the tower before it crumbles. Not just one level's worth, but the WHOLE ASS tower. Everything you've learned and hopefully mastered by this point will be tested as Peppino dashes like Sonic on drugs.
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And it's so cool because you can pick up both your friends and the bosses (who, I guess, learned their lesson or something) to get the hell out (I guess the pig citizens are dead now cuz' they don't count.)
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Like by the time you're outta there, you feel an IMMENSE sense of relief and satisfaction. Peppino won. YOU won. He can rest now and save his restaurant from debt (and maybe take his amlodipine while he's at it.)
Maybe because I'm so prone to anxiety myself, Pizza Tower - this silly little game - somehow ended up being not only relatable, but absolutely CATHARTIC.
It left me feeling so good by the time I finished. That a man like Peppino, where everything feels like it's out to get him (which, fair, they are), still decided that he's not going to put up with this bullshit, so he goes out and FIGHTS.
I don't think I have the strength to get all P-ranks in this game, but I'm so glad I played Pizza Tower. It was an incredibly fun, satisfying, validating experience.
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raddocwrites · 5 months
Text
SNW drabbles
Little is as little does
Una couldn’t see the others in the room due to the blanket fort but she finally registered their voices. They were speaking quietly about what pelia had found. Una knew she should care, but at the moment she just didn’t.
She brushed another kiss to la’ans forehead and continued stroking her hair. spock and uhura were whispering to la’an but it was either a language una wasn’t familiar with or some communication unique to children. Until there was one word that una did recognize; ice cream.
She smiled and waited another five minutes before she felt tiny uhura and spock shift. The little boys serious eyes bored into hers. “My sisters and I would like some ice cream.”
Una hid her smile. “I’m sure captain pike has some. Why don’t you go ask him?”
Tiny uhura giggled, squeezed la’ans arm excitedly, slid off the couch and darted out of the blanket fort. Spock nodded and after a final glance to la’an, slipped out after uhura.
Una could hear when baby uhura practically bowled the adults over in her delight. She danced around and clapped her enthusiasm. Spocks musical voice soon joined in.
La’an finally shifted in unas lap. “You want ice cream?” una asked softly. la’an gave a shy smile and nodded. “Okay, sweet pea,” una agreed. She shifted slowly but when una tried to put the girl down, she resisted.
So una just scrambled, only half awkwardly, from the blanket fort with la’an on her hip. She went to the table, where tiny spock and uhura already sat. They had bowls in front of them and there was another set out for la’an. The captain had his apron on and looked overjoyed at being able to feed his kids again. He looked more determined than ever, after the rocky start with Spock earlier.
There were several different flavors already replicated and sitting on the table. As well as a truly impressive amount of toppings. Some of the things, una didn’t even recognize.
Una sat as she shifted the little girl on her hip so she was standing between unas legs and able to see/reach all the delicious options on the table. La’an stiffened for a moment but then spock nodded to her and baby uhura excitedly pointed out the hot fudge.
Captain pike held a big ice cream scoop and brandished it with the skill and mastery of an ancient sword master. He quickly dished up tiny uhuras toffee and pecan icecream. The little communications officer wasted no time in drowning it in hot fudge and brownie bits.
Spock requested, and received, plain vanilla. But he acquiesced to some rainbow sprinkles after encouragement from chapel.
La’an eyed her options methodically, like a general heading into battle. She peered at them closely and even sniffed a couple of them. But finally, she pulled back and pointed to the strawberry icecream. It hadn’t even been a question really. Captain pike dished her up a healthy helping with a massive grin and watched as she added strawberry sauce to it.
That completed, la’an sat back onto unas lap once more and looked up at her, almost as if for approval. Una smiled and nodded. “Looks delicious,” she murmured.
An hour later they were gathered around the table again, but this time making home made pizza. The captain had insisted it would be fun and had only been encouraged when Dr Mbenga had stated that it would be an interesting way to observe the childrens fine motor skills. Which had earned an irritated huff from spock as well as la’ans eyes narrowing suspiciously.
But, despite that, captain pike, the three tiny crew and the rest of his senior officers all huddled around the table adding ingredients to their pizza dough. Sauce was spattered everywhere around uhura and toppings trailed around her like bread crumbs.
Spock had measured his sauce out precisely and now carefully added a spoonful of cheese at a time.
La’an stood between unas legs again, leaning over her masterpiece. She already had a pile of cheese on it and now looked over the available toppings. At uhura urging, she took a tiny bite of pineapple, eyed it for a moment then started adding it to her pizza.
Captain pike looked horrified. “You cant put pineapple on pizza!”
“Who says?” chapel challenged with a smirk.
“Yeah,” ortegas quickly chimed in. She tilted her head. “Some of us like the sweeter things in life.” She winked at uhura who giggled and dumped more pineapple onto the plethora of other ingredients she already had.
“The combination between salty and sweet can be quite pleasing,” Mbenga noted as he watched la’an scatter peperoni onto her creation.
La’an watched spock out of the corner of her eye as he delicately added slightly more cheese to one corner of his pizza. The corners of her lips tugged up minutely. She took a chunk of pineapple and slipped it deliberately onto his little mound of cheese.
Unas eyebrows shot up in surprise. She, along with everyone else, waited for baby spocks reaction. He looked at the offending piece of fruit and then glared at la’an. Uhura leaned over and seemed to whisper in la’ans ear. Then they both giggled. Well, tiny uhura giggled. La’an just smirked.
La’an looked smug as she met spocks eyes. Her own seemed to dance. Spock saw her amusement and he crossed his arms over his chest with a glower.
Una cleared her throat. “La’an,” she said lightly. “If you want to add something to spocks pizza, you should ask him first.”
La’an frowned. She looked up to una, to spock, to the pineapple, then back to spock then una again. She pursed her lips but then she blew out a sigh and retrieved the offending pineapple. Una swore she could feel little la’an roll her eyes at spock even though she couldn’t see it.
Uhura giggled again and la’an smiled at her. Then she tilted her head at spock in apology and slid more cheese over to him. He only hesitated a moment before he accepted with a Vulcan version of a smile.
Una suppressed her own smile and squeezed la’ans leg in approval. The little girl beamed up at her. una tried not to let her heart melt. And probably-definitely-failed.
Luckily the captain had a huge oven which could bake all the personal sized pizzas of his senior staff at one time. How he had gotten approval for it, una had no idea. But it was no time at all before everyone was able to enjoy their culinary creations.
Una made sure to cut la’ans into pieces for her. she smiled as Mbenga helped tiny uhura and captain pike cautioned spock to wait until it had cooled before he ate his. The little boy looked unimpressed with this advice.
Ortegas tapped a slice of her olive covered pizza with baby uhuras in a mock salute and they both laughed.
La’an did better eating this time. But una still had to encourage her periodically.
When the meal was finally over, the three kids were covered in a hilarious amount of pizza and had to be wrangled (mostly uhura, who had scampered at the first sight of the washcloth) for the indignity of wiping their hands and faces clean.
When captain pike looked at the disastrous state of his kitchen, una raised an eyebrow at him in an ‘I told you so gesture’. He just looked at his kids/crew laughing and smiling together and shrugged happily.
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ofallthingsnasty · 2 years
Note
Imagine of Fatgum successfully bred you and it had unseen benefits that his babies were huge making it much harder for you to move around then in a normal pregnancy but more moody luckily he doesn't mind holding you close to him till you relax or pass out
hjsd big man = big babies. I like how you think anon 😂💕 god, I inherited my mom's terrible hips, so a big baby would rip me apart 😭 Please no-
tw. pregnancy, yandere, emotional manipulation, minors dni Oh, he'd love that. Absolutely cherishes this time, in fact. He's such a caretaker, no other word for it. And when you're pregnant with his baby, he's gonna bend over backward to make you happy. It's a mix of him being so incredibly happy that you're expanding your little family and being obsessed with how dependent you become. He'll probably cry more than you will, just randomly staring at you waddling around, with your bump growing every day. He just loves you so, so much and knows you'll create something beautiful together. Got any weird cravings? Wake him up during the night with newfound worries and anxieties about this whole... kids-thing? Need your hair held while puking, feet rubbed, a nice massage? He's 100% there and ready. He'll treat you like royalty for those nine-ish months - and does so with a smile.
But he's also... overly cautious. The moment that pregnancy test is even faintly positive, say bye-bye to lunch meats, soft cheese, caffeine, and a dozen other tiny things you've never thought about- He's subtle about it, too. He'd never tell you to lay off your daily coffee, but he won't buy a new pack of your favorite roast. If you ask for some, he'll make that weird, wistful face at you and say something about how too much caffeine isn't good for the baby. Of course, you follow the general recommendations, no alcohol, no smoking... But some things just seem a little too much, don't they? Then again, you're in this together and he just wants what's best for your baby. Then he gets antsy about you lifting anything heavy, staying up too late, even you working. You need rest, can't you see? Growing a baby is hard work, you don't need that stupid office job anyway, especially not when he earns well enough to support the three of you. You'll probably fight over this - or at least you try to confront him about it, but he just gets that teary-eyed look and acts so hurt, it immediately shuts you up. You should be grateful he cares so much, shouldn't you? You'll be doubting yourself every time those unpleasant feelings bubble up. Maybe it's really the hormones, the unknown whirl of feelings you have for that little thing in your body, that you feed with every ounce of yourself. He's a master at manipulating you, make no mistake. And when the baby gets big - so big you can feel your hips every time you walk, so big you could swear you're stretched to your limits, so big that even your bones ache under the strain - it plays right into his hands. You on bedrest would be heaven for him. Needing him, depending on him, only him. You'll never see him more lovestruck than when he coos over you, when he caters to every whim possible, when he gets to play nurse. And post-partum. Difficult, yes. But just another side of the same coin to him... He really shines when you need him most.
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dickensdaily · 4 months
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A reminder and a preface all about ravens
Master Humphrey’s Clock is ticking…
This is merely a reminder that Dickens Daily will be returning to your inboxes next month with our second novel, Barnaby Rudge. Originally serialised in 1841, instalments will be sent out from 13th February 2024 until the end of November. As with Great Expectations, chapters will be sent out either once or twice per week depending on what was included in the relevant 1841 instalment of Master Humphrey’s Clock for that week.
There is a slight complication this time, due to 2024 being a leap year when 1841 was not. This means that the weekdays for the emails will change after a couple of weeks to keep in line with the correct dates, but after that they will remain steady. Thus, Chapters 1-5 will be sent out on Tuesdays and Fridays, then from Chapter 6 (6th March) onwards they will be sent out on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so at dickensdaily.substack.com!
Get excited!
To whet your appetite, we’ve included below the preface Dickens wrote for the 1849 cheap edition of Barnaby Rudge. This did not appear when originally serialised, so this is just a little extra! Get ready to learn all about ravens…
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Dickens’ raven Grip, taxidermied
Preface to Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
The late Mr Waterton having, some time ago, expressed his opinion that ravens are gradually becoming extinct in England, I offered the few following words about my experience of these birds.
The raven in this story is a compound of two great originals, of whom I was, at different times, the proud possessor. The first was in the bloom of his youth, when he was discovered in a modest retirement in London, by a friend of mine, and given to me. He had from the first, as Sir Hugh Evans says of Anne Page, ‘good gifts’, which he improved by study and attention in a most exemplary manner. He slept in a stable—generally on horseback—and so terrified a Newfoundland dog by his preternatural sagacity, that he has been known, by the mere superiority of his genius, to walk off unmolested with the dog’s dinner, from before his face. He was rapidly rising in acquirements and virtues, when, in an evil hour, his stable was newly painted. He observed the workmen closely, saw that they were careful of the paint, and immediately burned to possess it. On their going to dinner, he ate up all they had left behind, consisting of a pound or two of white lead; and this youthful indiscretion terminated in death.
While I was yet inconsolable for his loss, another friend of mine in Yorkshire discovered an older and more gifted raven at a village public-house, which he prevailed upon the landlord to part with for a consideration, and sent up to me. The first act of this Sage, was, to administer to the effects of his predecessor, by disinterring all the cheese and halfpence he had buried in the garden—a work of immense labour and research, to which he devoted all the energies of his mind. When he had achieved this task, he applied himself to the acquisition of stable language, in which he soon became such an adept, that he would perch outside my window and drive imaginary horses with great skill, all day. Perhaps even I never saw him at his best, for his former master sent his duty with him, ‘and if I wished the bird to come out very strong, would I be so good as to show him a drunken man’—which I never did, having (unfortunately) none but sober people at hand.
But I could hardly have respected him more, whatever the stimulating influences of this sight might have been. He had not the least respect, I am sorry to say, for me in return, or for anybody but the cook; to whom he was attached—but only, I fear, as a Policeman might have been. Once, I met him unexpectedly, about half-a-mile from my house, walking down the middle of a public street, attended by a pretty large crowd, and spontaneously exhibiting the whole of his accomplishments. His gravity under those trying circumstances, I can never forget, nor the extraordinary gallantry with which, refusing to be brought home, he defended himself behind a pump, until overpowered by numbers. It may have been that he was too bright a genius to live long, or it may have been that he took some pernicious substance into his bill, and thence into his maw—which is not improbable, seeing that he new-pointed the greater part of the garden-wall by digging out the mortar, broke countless squares of glass by scraping away the putty all round the frames, and tore up and swallowed, in splinters, the greater part of a wooden staircase of six steps and a landing—but after some three years he too was taken ill, and died before the kitchen fire. He kept his eye to the last upon the meat as it roasted, and suddenly turned over on his back with a sepulchral cry of ‘Cuckoo!’ Since then I have been ravenless.*
Of the story of BARNABY RUDGE itself, I do not think I can say anything here, more to the purpose than the following passages from the original Preface.
‘No account of the Gordon Riots having been to my knowledge introduced into any Work of Fiction, and the subject presenting very extraordinary and remarkable features, I was led to project this Tale.
‘It is unnecessary to say, that those shameful tumults, while they reflect indelible disgrace upon the time in which they occurred, and all who had act or part in them, teach a good lesson. That what we falsely call a religious cry is easily raised by men who have no religion, and who in their daily practice set at nought the commonest principles of right and wrong; that it is begotten of intolerance and persecution; that it is senseless, besotted, inveterate and unmerciful; all History teaches us. But perhaps we do not know it in our hearts too well, to profit by even so humble an example as the ‘No Popery’ riots of Seventeen Hundred and Eighty. ‘However imperfectly those disturbances are set forth in the following pages, they are impartially painted by one who has no sympathy with the Romish Church, though he acknowledges, as most men do, some esteemed friends among the followers of its creed. ‘It may be observed that, in the description of the principal outrages, reference has been had to the best authorities of that time, such as they are; the account given in this Tale, of all the main features of the Riots, is substantially correct. ‘It may be further remarked, that Mr Dennis’s allusions to the flourishing condition of his trade in those days, have their foundation in Truth, and not in the Author’s fancy. Any file of old Newspapers, or odd volume of the Annual Register, will prove this with terrible ease. ‘Even the case of Mary Jones, dwelt upon with so much pleasure by the same character, is no effort of invention. The facts were stated, exactly as they are stated here, in the House of Commons. Whether they afforded as much entertainment to the merry gentlemen assembled there, as some other most affecting circumstances of a similar nature mentioned by Sir Samuel Romilly, is not recorded.’
That the case of Mary Jones may speak the more emphatically for itself, I subjoin it, as related by SIR WILLIAM MEREDITH in a speech in Parliament, ‘on Frequent Executions’, made in 1777.
‘Under this act,’ the Shop-lifting Act, ‘one Mary Jones was executed, whose case I shall just mention; it was at the time when press warrants were issued, on the alarm about Falkland Islands. The woman’s husband was pressed, their goods seized for some debts of his, and she, with two small children, turned into the streets a-begging. It is a circumstance not to be forgotten, that she was very young (under nineteen), and most remarkably handsome. She went to a linen-draper’s shop, took some coarse linen off the counter, and slipped it under her cloak; the shopman saw her, and she laid it down: for this she was hanged. Her defence was (I have the trial in my pocket), “that she had lived in credit, and wanted for nothing, till a press-gang came and stole her husband from her; but since then, she had no bed to lie on; nothing to give her children to eat; and they were almost naked; and perhaps she might have done something wrong, for she hardly knew what she did.” The parish officers testified the truth of this story; but it seems, there had been a good deal of shop-lifting about Ludgate; an example was thought necessary; and this woman was hanged for the comfort and satisfaction of shopkeepers in Ludgate Street. When brought to receive sentence, she behaved in such a frantic manner, as proved her mind to be in a distracted and desponding state; and the child was sucking at her breast when she set out for Tyburn.’
LONDON, March 1849
* This was later updated to the below for the 1858 Library Edition:
After this mournful deprivation, I was, for a long time, ravenless. The kindness of another friend at length provided me with another raven; but he is not a genius. He leads the life of a hermit, in my little orchard, on the summit of SHAKESPEARE’S Gad’s Hill; he has no relish for society; he gives no evidence of ever cultivating his mind; and he has picked up nothing but meat since I have known him – except the faculty of barking like a dog.
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pure-vanilla-lilies · 11 months
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Cookie Run Kingdom & Oven break Master List Part 3
Master List (1)
Master List (2)
Requesting Information
Ships I Won’t Write
Color Codes:
Pink Is Fluff
Red Is Smut
Blue Is Angst
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Dating Wildberry Cookie HeadCanons
Rye Cookie With An Autistic S/O
White Lily Cookie NSFW Headcanons
Royal Margarine Cookie With An Pregnant Dragon S/O
A Mother’s Scheme
An Pure Flower
My Dearest Moon
A Snake Shouldn’t Be Trusted
Prune Juice Cookie NSFW HeadCanons
A Father’s Tale
A Fae’s Little Treat
Shadow Milk Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
ShadowOrchid HeadCanons
PureLily & ShadowOrchid HeadCanons
Shadow Milk Cookie NSFW HeadCanons
ShadowOrchid NSFW HeadCanons
Elder Faerie Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
Matcha Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
PureLily NSFW HeadCanons
Elder Faerie Cookie NSFW HeadCanons
Matcha Cookie NSFW Headcanons
Dad Shadow Milk Cookie HeadCanons
Mom White Lily Cookie HeadCanons
Shadow Milk Cookie NSFW HeadCanons 2
Pure Vanilla Cookie NSFW HeadCanons
ShadowOrchid Headcanons 2
The Priestress Of The Coffee Snake Clan
Affogato Cookie With An Dragon S/O
An Helping Hand
PureLily Family HeadCanons
Rose Milk Cookie HeadCanons
MillennialFaerie NSFW HeadCanons
Longan Dragon Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
Eternal Sugar Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
Pitaya Dragon Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
Shadow Milk Cookie Family HeadCanons
ShadowLily HeadCanons
ShadowVanilla HeadCanons
SnakeFruit Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
Midnight Love~
Sugar Swan Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
ShadowFaerie HeadCanons
ElderRuby NSFW HeadCanons
ButterRoll With Curse Liar Magic
ShadowOrchid HeadCanons 3
Sweets & Love
ShadowLongan HeadCanons
The Sheep & The Dragon
Teaching His Daughter About Being A Jester
Smoked Cheese Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
Their Treasure, Her Nightmare
Ananas Dragon Cookie General Dating HeadCanons
Shadow Milk Cookie Smut Alphabets
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