#this good scrungy man

[sleepdepravity]

“As the days that I squandered/recede in the distance/how frequent I pondered/the joys of existence” just gleefully turning these lyrics over and over in my head

#happiness #*grabby hands* is that the sweet stench of psychological despair I smell #the lyricist has an official webpage actually #do you think if I just. emailed him #he would willingly let me know the full lyrics of this show #the lyrics immediately after this are good too by the way #the entire song is so good #it’s very jaunty and also bitter #the other thing that adds to his charm is his voice actually #good scrungy man voice #personal malkylife

[leathfaic]

Ghost is a man who never needed to do much to draw attention when he goes clubbing. His impressive frame ensures he gets plenty of attention. That natural air of authority honed over years as a commanding officer ensuring he has his space if he wants it, unwanted approaches stopped before they even begin.

Still lots of eyes stick to him casually leaning against the bar. Always had an easy pick of those brave enough to approach him. Even before the scars in his face he attracted a certain type, the twinks that wanted to be thrown around, bears wanting to play with someone in their own weight class they weren't sure they could out-wrestle and everyone in between who just likes tall, strong blondes. Ever since the scars that has only intensified, might be that he loses out on some vain types, but the daredevils flock to him even more now.

So really he can't complain. He's not the biggest fan of the places, avoids scrungy punky ones altogether for very personal reasons, but they serve their purpose. Finding a quick lay mostly. Sometimes just enjoying a space where he's not the only gay man for miles and miles.

When he starts to go clubs with Soap though, it becomes a very different experience.

First of all he's not looking to take anyone home or to a convenient dark corner.

No, he's here because Johnny likes dancing and what Johnny wants he usually gets. Simon could never deny him anything.

So there is no one Ghost is looking at but Soap. And bloody fucking hell it is worth looking.

Johnny's easy confidence bleeds off of him and mixed with his natural charm he commands the entire rooms attention. His body helps, sure, sculpted muscles barely hidden by a mesh shirt and jeans so tight there's nothing left to the imagination, but there's plenty of good looking men around.

None of them carry themselves like Soap does though.

He watches as Soap enters the dance floor, seeming to melt into the beat. Dancing as effortlessly as he cleans an entire building of hostiles. A fucking vision in strobing lights as he let's the rhythm dictate his movements. Wide fucking smile painted on his face.

People flock to him, wind themselves around him in more or less proficient dance moves, probably hoping to leave an impression over the gaggle of obvious suitors.

Soap toys with them, dancing with those he finds entertaining, neatly sidestepping those he doesn't. Bathing in the attention of wandering hands and lips.

Ghost wonders if they can feel how dangerous of a man he really is. If they can smell the slight hint of sulfur from the demolitions workshop he's been crammed in all day. If they can see the edge in his eyes, that predatory glint of a man trained to kill walking through a crowd of unaware civilians.

Most probably can't.

Some who can probably find it exciting.

In the end none of it matters anyways.

Because it is Ghost's gaze that Johnny seeks when another man winds around him, littering his neck with kisses. And it's on Ghost's wordless command that he abandons the crowd of hopefuls. Meandering over to him, well aware of all the looks following him as he sprawls himself in Simon's lap unabashedly.

It's a unique rush of power having the man they all want at his beck and call. To take a sip of whisky and shamelessly kiss it into his mouth. Making sure just a little spills over painting a golden line for him to lick up.

Keeping his eyes on the crowd and bathing in their envy, their hunger and their shock.

He indulges for a few minutes, let's Soap shower him in affection while keeping him and the room in check with his dominance over the situation.

It's a game they both know Ghost will lose down the line, will drag Soap out of the club like his life depends on it. Maybe throw him over his shoulder just to make a point.

But not yet. Now he makes sure Soap drinks some water and sends him off again with a well aimed slap to his arse.

And Johnny smiles bright and wide. Drifting into the crowd, the crowd that is apprehensive at first but before long they can't help themselves. There's some wary glances shot at Simon, but his ongoing indifference seems to embolden them. Crowding Soap like moths would a light.

And Ghost finds himself suddenly enjoying clubs a whole lot more. Revelling in Soap's obvious bliss and the knowledge that the man who drives the whole dance floor senseless will follow him in the blink of an eye.

Let them get their hopes up, he's got nothing to fear, to be jealous over because he knows the only thing that matters:

Soap commands the whole room without even trying, but Ghost is the only one who commands his attention.

#ghost has a fucking ego about this #and they both would be the kinds of arseholes toying with a crowd like that #only to go home and fuck about it #their power dynamics are deliciously screwed between ghosts worship & adherence to johnnys every wish and soaps devotion bordering on fealt #they are so very much in love #in all the healthy and unhealthy ways #ghostsoap #simon ghost riley #soapghost #cod mwii #john soap mactavish #johnny soap mactavish #cod mw2 #cod #cod hc #my stuff #ghoap

[kaladinkholins]

Blue Eye Samurai characters as animals

First of all, let me just reassert my dog Taigen agenda.

Like I keep talking about it but this man really growls and barks like a dog, and yaps and follows Mizu around like a puppy.

I don't know much about dog breeds but my first thought was German Shepherd for Taigen. Typical guard dog you know? Fierce, aggressive, loyal, and very disciplined when trained.

Or maybe he'd be an Akita? Since that's a Japanese dog breed, and they're also large and powerful. They're quite similar to German Shepherds, not only in appearance, but they're also good as guard dogs and hunting dogs, though they're less predictable and not as family-friendly.

Also in Japanese folklore, dogs tend to be seen as auspicious guides and protectors that have the power to resist evil spirits and demons. Dog statues are often placed at city gates to ward off thieves and robbers. Ties back to guard dog behaviour lmao, and brings to mind how the Shogun praised Taigen's loyalty and specifically requested that Taigen be one of the people guarding him at his side.

Okay next, moving on, let's talk about cat Mizu, which I've also talked about before, but okay. Just look at this.

Neko Mizu my beloved.....!!! Scrunkly and scrungy. Graceful predators, introverted and mysterious, but feisty, unassuming little creatures of chaos. WILL scratch you without hesitation.

Also I think she'd specifically be a black cat, because of the prejudice towards black cats as "unlucky." Similar to how Mizu is discriminated against as people believe she's a "monster."

It's also interesting to note that cats have several different forms within Japanese folklore, from the deadly and malevolent nekomata, to shapeshifting bakeneko, to the waving figurine of the maneki-neko placed in shops to bring in prosperity. Some theorise that the diverse range of folklore stories regarding cats is related to how the species is not indigenous to Japan, which is also interesting when you recall that Mizu is mixed race.

I feel that she could honestly be any domestic black cat, but if I had to choose a specific breed, then I think she'd suit a Bombay. Very glossy black coats. Muscular but lean. Very panther-like. Only thing is that Bombays are known for their special copper eyes, but the fact that eye colour is a notable thing about their breed is also a very interesting parallel.

And I know I said in my previous post (linked above) that Ringo is the exhausted but loving caretaker of the two of them, but Ringo has an animal form too! He's a tanuki, also known as Japanese raccoon dogs! In folklore, they're silly little guys, happy and mischievous, a little absent-minded and goofy, but they're shapeshifting masters of disguise.

Also, in canon, Ringo literally lived with a family of tanuki during winter at some point in his life! He talks about this when he meets Mizu in the first episode. Image below is a concept of a deleted scene, courtesy of Brian Kesinger, the show's head of story.

Next, Akemi. Now, I know she has all that bird symbolism going on, but Mizu also had horse symbolism (due to her connection with her horse Kai). So, personality and design-wise, I don't think the symbolism has to necessarily match up. And with that said, I would like to propose another idea: I think Akemi is more like a fox!

Like I'm convinced she is in fact a beautiful kitsune in disguise. Because kitsunes in Japanese folklore are known to shapeshift into beautiful women, and are very elegant, cunning and intelligent, which seems a lot like Akemi to me!

So yeah that's it. They're a bunch of cute animals. The end.

#blue eye samurai #mizu blue eye samurai #taigen blue eye samurai #ringo blue eye samurai #akemi blue eye samurai #there should be a tag for all 4 of them like as a squad or a found family ykwim #i cant think of a name for that rn though please reply or put in the tags if yall have ideas for that #more silly posts from me as i procrastinate wheeeeee #fandom.rtf #shut up haydar

[kirby-the-gorb]

reply roundup!

boy howdy I love being medicated

other news:

reminder that stickers and prints left over from kirb2k are finally available on [kofi], only shipping to north america without tracking rn to keep it simple

my wife fiiiinally matched into a residency program in her specialty of choice after 3 years, she'll be moving out of state starting this summer while my partner and I stay here and hold down the fort

also thank you for all the boops at the beginning of the month! and all the support and enthusiasm for finally getting better medical treatment. and even more yeehaws still coming in for [cowboy kirby] too :')

on [rare disease day] @ragefilledmunchkin said: happy rare disease day! my mom has MCAS/POTS/EDS and I’m getting tested for the trio this month

oh man I hope it went well! it's very not a fun thing to have but it's definitely way better to know than to just be afflicted by Mysterious Horrors. (although if you're lucky enough to genuinely not have it that would probably be the ideal lol)

anonymous asked: My fiancee absolutely loves your Kirbys and goes into hysterics every time I show her. Thank you for making very good kirbs!

aww how sweet! I love drawing things to make my wife laugh so I'm glad it's working for someone else too lol

on [lichen] @joekingv1 said: *has been subscribed to baby since the start*

it's true, you've been around for quite a while! (several of you have in fact! it always makes me happy to see urls that have been around since the reply roundups were so short they didn't need readmores lol)

(also thanks as always for all your little replies, you offer up so many cute ideas I don't have the energy to draw >n< )

on [lichen] @ceylonsilvergirl said: ok, so as someone who makes this joke A LOT and her kids don’t get it and her husband doesn’t think it’s as funny as she does (me. I’m the she) this is HILARIOUS!! I have a lichen growing around the door handle of my pickup truck. yes I suppose I don’t wash it enough. But it is an almost 25 year old beat up ford ranger. but I can’t remove it, it’s my lichen subscribe

lichens are precious little friends and I wholeheartedly understand preserving your little truck friend. take every harmless little joy you can get!

on [pacman] @nexus-nebulae said: i wonder if kirby and pacman are related. round. little to no limbs. infinitely consumes. chased by funny lookin but kinda cute little guys constantly. consumes Fruit for power

hmmmmm you may be onto something there...

on [normal] @graycoin said: Ooogh. Sorry you're going through normal. It looks krunkly.

it was so scrungy dude -_- (thank you as always for the supportive replies <3)

on [normal] @paperstarwriters said: sending hugs your way op I really hope you get through this and get the treatment you need

thank you! it seems like I finally am!

on [normal] @the-halo-of-my-memory said: get well soon op, and you too kirbs

thank you <3 dunno that I'll ever be well, but I'm certainly better than I have been.

on [taped] @journey-within said: i will sing for you in the car on my way to work

waaah that's so sweet, thank you ;n;

#reply roundup #asks answered #text #title text #long post #readmore #ragefilledmunchkin #anonymous #joekingv1 #ceylonsilvergirl #nexus-nebulae #graycoin #paperstarwriters #the-halo-of-my-memory #journey-within

[voidspace-bubble]

Grox: end game creatures who guard the centre of the galaxy, and main enemy of the entire galaxy Reasons provided: “my blorbo blingus. th e absolute scrungy beasts. They’re evil and they kill things and they’re literally the most gender fucking things known to man. the fucking things of all time. My poor little meow meows. Pathetic wet fucking cats.”, “LOVE GROX”, “beloved”, “idk they’re pathetic little guys” Creatures extincted: Knot The Grawx, Steve, BatBoy

Wobble D Wobble: midgame creature, second most votes Reasons Provided: “idk they’re pathetic little guys”, “I saw these guys in creature stage once and fell in love. they’re so silly and so small. they’re a joy to see and they’re always really good allies (if you’re a social species that is). they are full of love and joy.”, “he”, “hes looking at me with that tbh stare…” Creatures extincted: Dorky, Spitoon, Pip

#kikis rambles #spore #spore (2008) #spore creatures tournament #grox #wobble d wobble #polls

[jellybeanium124]

I gotta be honest I was rooting for an Izzy redemption arc. as fun and funny as a villain breakdown would've been, I always leaned towards "Izzy gets better." I think the best show of all time is The Good Place, of course that's how I feel. the thesis of that show is: “people improve when they get external love and support. how can we hold it against them, when they don’t?” Izzy finding himself and community should be great.

The problem is they didn't fucking bother to write the damn thing.

Idc about how dinghies are portals in this show. or why Anne and Mary were on this random island Ed was dropped off at. or how Buttons knows what country a "wee black dot" is from. or how Ed and Stede have magical healing abilities. because none of those things fuck with the internal logic of the characters. but Izzy's sudden behavior does fuck with the character writing!!! they fucking replaced him!!! they replaced my little garbage rat man with a new guy and thought I wouldn't notice!! I feel like my dog died while I was off at sleep-away camp and my parents got me a new dog and thought I wouldn't be able to tell!! this isn't my scrungy little bastard! it's a different guy!!!

And it's not like I'm opposed to s2 Izzy, just, in general. I'd be fine if he logically got here! Izzy crying when receiving a gift from the crew should be a big deal but it isn't because I still don't know why they bothered to make it. I've literally read fics where Izzy getting gifts gave me a bigger emotional reaction because the writer bothered to write how Izzy softened up a bit. Izzy confessing his love for Ed should be a big deal but I don't fucking know how he realized it!!!

Part of me is hoping/wishing for some kind of flashback later on. We've all caught that there's a shot in the trailer from the kraken era that hasn't happened yet. But I really don't think we will. I think the writers were happy to just give us this imperfect Izzy clone that's similar enough to feel like the same guy, more or less, but is very clearly different.

Our Flag feels like fanfic in a lot of ways. The anachronisms, several of the plot points, the way characters speak with 21st century slang. And that's fine! It's funny! It's whatever! But I don't want it to feel like fanfic, when "feeling like fanfic" means "replacing a character with a different guy."

It didn't bother me one ounce when they gave up on explaining how Stede got everyone to the republic of pirates. That's not character writing. But when you give up on character writing? Man, that hurts. It's not good. You can't make giving up on character writing good.

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd s2 spoilers

[bigbighouse]

15 questions 15 friends!!

tagged by sweet beautiful hannah @aforeffortenjolras

Are you named after anyone? if you ask my dad it's elizabeth like john the baptist's mama. if you ask my mama it's elizabeth bennet. i'm inclined to believe the latter

When was the last time you cried? today 🤝

Do you have kids? not physically. spiritually i cannot describe 2 you the amount of kids i have

What sports do you play/have you played? tragically as the only non jock in an entirely jock family i never played any formal sports growing up. just one-off games of basically anything here and there.. i was in both taekwondo and irish dance for most of my childhood though

Do you use sarcasm? yeah but i dream of being sweet and straightforward and abandoning it completely

What is the first thing you notice about people? body language. and smell and the texture of their clothes

What's your eye color? my drivers license says hazel but that's mostly cause i could never nail it down. some people i know say my eyes are brown with yellow in them?

Scary movies or happy endings? enormous fan of both. at the same time

Any talents? i give a massage so good it has laid multiple of my friends out on the floor dead asleep nonfunctional and i mean that.

Where were you born? scrungy little town in the pnw

What are your hobbies? singing the riverdance soundtrack loud af. long walks where i leave my phone and watch at home and get totally turned around and lose track of time. doing the dishes with extreme tenderness. swimming whenever i possibly can. i love to dance. as of late i've been looking up the most random 45 minute workout videos i can find and doing one a day just to re-find the joy of moving. i mean like old man qigong and early 2000's zumba and scary buff lady workouts where you just get yelled at the whole time lol

Do you have any pets? not yet </3 someday my dog will come

How tall are you? five six? i think

Favorite subject in school? english and art by a mileeeeee. i also loved gymnastics

Dream job? to keep the big big house alive and happy like calcifer in howl's fireplace

ngl i follow like 20 people and everyone i would tag has already been tagged by someone else at least twice. so if somebody's reading this and you secretly wanna do it but nobody's tagged you let me know and i'll edit the post like i tagged you in it the whole time

#thank you for tagging me love youuuuu

[offantasiesandreams]

Batter, Zacharie and The Queen with a Tsundere Reader

Tsuntsuns are good! I've already written some White Hank and Skittles content for that on my other blog yesterday, so I knew I had to write for the scrungies today!

Batter

As he has never watched anime before, much less even knows what it is, he will simply think of you as a rather foul-mouthed Player, who likes to cuss him out for no apparent reason, all the while patching him up and feeding him an orange. Socially inept as he already is, he’ll have no clue whatsoever what to actually think, or rather, how you think. Do you like him? Do you hate him? Still, he won’t waste too much time with his broken heart and simply moves on, focusing on his mission and keeping you safe instead.

It’s not until Zacharie gets a good chuckle out of the situation and having the merchant explain everything to Batter that things clear up ever so slightly. He still doesn’t understand why you’re acting the way you are, but at least he is more confident that his beloved Player doesn’t actually hate him and is just rather odd when it comes to showing affection.

Due to him not knowing how to properly show he loves you either, it’ll just be awkward between the two of you. Tensions will be high, without anything actually happening. He’s not one to take advantage of your being tsundere and tease you, at least not on purpose. Having to patch him up, all the while scolding him about how much of an idiot he is for getting hurt like that does mean you’ll have to get physically close to him.

However, when you’re not being “mean” towards him and just sit down with him, too tired to protest, he will be worried for you at first. Empty insults are basically your love language, so when he doesn’t hear them, he’ll simply look over to you and see what’s wrong. If he sees that you’re asleep, he’ll give you a small smile, possibly even positioning you to rest on his shoulder, but only if you’re in an awkward position that will leave your back sore otherwise. He’s ready for the onslaught of stuttering and insults.

Zacharie

Whilst Zacharie might not be a weeb, he has watched some anime here and there, making him all too familiar with the trope of being a tsundere. It has always been a funny one to him, and he never would have thought he’d get to meet one in person, until you came along. Naturally, at first he thought you simply were a tough customer, but once he saw you coming back over and over again, he got kind of curious, going as far as even calling you out on it. You, of course, did not react kindly to that.

Because he’s being a funnyman, he likes to tease you on purpose. Compliments, pick-up lines, flirting, anything to rile you up and get you to become a stuttering mess, falling over your own words and getting even more flustered, until you can’t even form a coherent sentence anymore. And if you like to turn away from him or hide behind your hands, he will either follow suit, or take your hands in his, just so you would look at him again and he can see you grin like a goof.

Despite knowing that you like him, with Zacharie reciprocating, he’ll wait until you confess first, just so he can tell you he already knew from the very beginning and see you throw insults at him again. But starting from then on, he’ll also get physically closer to you. Holding your hand, placing his forehead against yours and, his favourite, giving you quick pecks to watch your soul leave your body again.

During the calmer times, when the two of you are simply cuddling, for example, he’ll also go quiet. He knows when to push your buttons, and when to leave it. Plus he’s got to cherish the times where you can actually admit to liking him without calling him the world’s worst awful man in existence. That’s when he’ll likely just hold you close and, depending on whether you’re standing or not, rock you in his arms a bit too.

Vader Eloha

The first thing she notices is how rude you are, despite her having nothing done to personally offend you. But then again, perhaps you were simply someone unhappy with her reigning. That’s one of the reasons why she’ll invite you over for some tea, coffee, or any other beverage of your choice. Her intention wouldn’t be to change your mind, but to see how she can change and become a better person.

Another one who has no idea what an anime even is, but she does get curious as to why you keep returning to her. Eventually, she figures you simply like her company and that’s just how you are. Eloha will invite you over more often so you can spend more time together. Naturally, she’ll be as kind as she always has been towards you and, as a friend, offer you anything you wish. She’ll come to quite enjoy your company, after all.

Once you confess to her, she’ll be shocked as she didn’t see that sort of thing coming at all, but she won’t mind either. Though, in hindsight, she’ll think she should have expected such a thing. As she’s quite motherly and affectionate, she’ll fluster you quite a lot, but not on purpose. If you ask her to stop, she’ll oblige, your comfort comes before anything else, after all. Even so, she’ll take your hands in hers and gently stroke them with her thumb, that’s a habit that dies hard.

When it’s quiet she’ll start humming you a soft lullaby as she holds you close to her chest. It’s another habit of hers that she can’t seem to get rid of, but as long as you react positively to it, Eloha will keep doing it. Rubbing your back gently, giving you a small kiss on your forehead or the crown of your head, she’ll do anything to get you to sleep. You must be tired, so it’s what you deserve.

#off (game) #off x reader #batter x reader #batter x player #zacharie x player #zacharie x reader #queen x reader #vader eloha x player #vader eloha x reader #I used to be really tsun towards Spy and Sniper from TF2 #Scout was just so pathetic how could I not love him? #pathetic and stupid men are my favourite which is why I still love TF2 so dearly #plus it has Miss Pauling in it and I am a major simp! #anyway these three are such a good trio to write for #you've got: awkward. flirt. mother #it's so much fun to write for these three!

[viciouslyfilthy]

My homie Jeremiah 👀 (for the 10 fact thing)

From this prompt !

JEREMIAH.

He is a transgender man! His top surgery scars are actually one of the first scars he ever had; having managed to make a deal with a good surgeon that has no issues with removing his breasts, he had his operation done when he had just recently entered his 20's. He died when he was around his 50's so, those old scars are the least visible since they've healed up quite well.

Before his career as a salesman actually took off he kind of had to play the part of 'fake it 'til you make it' when it came to money so...he sort of had to steal and scam. (And weasel his way around the law)

Don't be fooled though- he may have become a genuinely great salesman now but he's still a thief; he could still steal from you if he so wished- his skills have only improved with time. Basically he can play dirty still if he wants to.

Unlike Rotgut and Claude, Jeremiah can't actually control his symbolic animal- raccoons- nor can he turn people into them, but he CAN talk to and befriend them. He usual has them around for 'business purposes'. (his favourite kind since raccoons have no use/interest for money, they just want food, the perfect trade!)

He's allergic to pollen. Hates the Spring season and it's spirit since Sr. Primavera is the type of asshole to purposefully blow pollen in the face of people that are specifically allergic to it, if you come across him.

He's extremely repulsed and slightly scared of wasps since they used to sting him a lot when he was a child.

To add to that: he's also developed a bit of tripophobia, so- anytime he sees a wasp's neast near his home he does not hesitate to set it ablaze.

He's kind of a bully- because sometimes he just feels like smashing some rotten eggs in the head of some poor soul. Or tie their shoelaces together.

LOVES play-fighting, even more so when he's in his raccoon form (I hope you like wrestling with a grizzly bear because it's exactly what it feels like to play-fight with Jeremiah in his raccoon form since he's massive, and fluffy)

In his raccoon form, he can make the scrungy cat face perfectly. King of scrunge

#greed has no limit ( jeremiah ) #roots from the past ( oc info/backstory )

[mushrooms-and-blooms]

My favorite artfights this year!!! a couple friends joined this year I was so excited to do their characters  c:  ty @rottendan and @paranoidkid!!!!!

the other two were also very very fun, Bug is so sweet, and making the nasty man for a character design trade was very good

character credits!! x / x / x / x

#artfight #artfight 2021 #artfight team steampunk

[ceph-the-ghost-writer]

<<Prev | Next>>

Ao3 Link

Phagophobia Pt. 7

Summary: Isaac considers his options in Denver.

Words: 1,943

Warnings: Trigger of traumatic memory

Just under two hours until dawn, they drove within range of Denver’s grid signal. Isaac breathed easier when no red violation rectangles popped up in the windshield display—he wouldn’t have put it past Kinslayer to have dumped a stolen car on them as a final jab. New anxieties rushed in to fill the vacuum, piling one on top of another the closer to the city they got. Towering buildings glowed with countless pinpricks of light, like the stars had come down to roost on sills and ledges, but Isaac didn’t find comfort in the sight. Steel and solar-glass promised no safety. Instead, it harbored a creature out for his blood. Hundreds of thousands of humans could unknowingly provide Renato Faria Dimas with camouflage—or worse, pawns. At least on the vast stretches between settlements out in the territories there’d been a higher chance of spotting danger as it crept in.

On the other hand, Isaac had been cooped up in a car long enough for death to become an acceptable risk for a hot shower and a bed to stretch out on. He kept his head on a swivel each time Yi braked at a stop light or sign, but his mind had already started compiling a list of supplies he could order later. Of the handful of people up and about before the Saturday sunrise most were joggers, the rest dogwalkers, and one who qualified as both. A few freighters glided whisper-quiet alongside them on magrails, bound for municipal distribution centers, until they entered the heart of downtown.

Their new accommodations sat in the commercial and social hub, empty for the moment. Craning his neck back to take in all fifteen or so stories of the hotel before they dove into its underground parking, Isaac could already tell it would win the distinction of the cushiest place he’d ever stayed.

They had no bags to lug with them as they took an elevator up to the main floor. The lobby they stepped into had Isaac feeling more scrungy than ever. His still damp sneakers squeaked with each step on the marble tiles. He refused to look at himself in either of the mirrored walls running parallel down the length of the room and stretching all the way to the cathedral-height ceiling. Confirming how flyaway his hair had gotten, or seeing the exhaustion stained beneath his eyes wouldn’t do him any favors. Instead, he focused on Curry’s back as he led them across the cavernous lobby to a wide, open doorway. Isaac spotted small tables and tall chairs beyond. Relaxed when he caught a whiff of fresh coffee and baking bread. At a spot in the far corner, watching the steadily lightening street through the immense windows, sat the man they’d come to meet. He heard their footsteps before they’d crossed half the distance, turning. A smile broke out across his face, stretching the thin ritual scars zigzagging the deep, cool brown of his cheeks.

“Knew it’d take more than weather and weirdness to stop you three. Go grab a bite or some coffee. It’s on the company’s dollar anyway.”

“You two want anything?” asked Curry. “I’ll punch your orders in.”

Yi shrugged. “Something without a whole lot of sugar or grease. And whatever coffee they have that isn’t decaf or full of whip cream.”

“I’m good,” Isaac said.

While the sergeant ambled away, the captain swept a look over them. “Been having a hell of a road trip so far, I hear.”

“Who’re you telling?” Likely sick of sitting after eight hours of it, Yi perched on the edge of a tall chair, one leg partially dangling. “It’s been one thing after another since we left the coast.”

Isaac copied her posture as he studied the bits of metal, glass, and stone peeking out of Watt’s locs. Given they draped over his boulder shoulders all the way down to his waist, he had quite a collection. Beads, rings, woven wire, pendants. Decoration? Magical talismans? Both? Isaac suddenly wished he’d specialized in magic. If nothing else, he could’ve looked as cool as Yi and her captain.

“Khang mentioned something about us digging our heels in here,” he said to get his mind back on track.

Watt’s smile wilted at the edges. “Not much of a choice. You taken a look at the forecasts for the Midlands lately? Mama Nature’s taking no prisoners this year. Wouldn’t be surprised if we’re stuck with rations come October from floods drowning too many bunker farms.”

Maybe if the Central States lent more support instead of interfering in the territories’ management of everyone’s food supply they wouldn’t have to worry. But it wasn’t the time to have Opinions. Instead, Isaac frowned and picked at the edges of the slate tile mosaic making up the tabletop.

“This bloodborn knew every move we made so far. How are we supposed to trap him if he can see us coming?”

“We don’t give him anything to see over our networks until we figure out how he’s operating. Nothing honest anyway. Everything we plan for real is word of mouth only. We’ll catch on to his tricks and cut him off eventually, or he’ll swallow the bait we dangle online. Either way, he’s ours.”

Under the table, Isaac bunched two fistfuls of his jacket in cold fingers. “Am I going to be the bait?”

Watts blinked, then rocked back in his chair, laughing. “Tina, what’ve you and Curry been telling this guy? He’s out here thinking we about to stick an apple in his mouth and ring the dinner bell.”

“Haven’t been able to tell him much of anything,” Yi replied, saving Isaac from snapping something he’d regret. “The only objective Khang gave us was making it here. And, well…” She spread her arms in a ta-da pose.

“Not much of a plan to share yet, tell you the truth. I’ve got people talking to a local researcher, working on getting some leads for places a bloodborn might bed down in around town. As for that message our mysterious friend sent about meeting up, you better believe I’ll have eyes on that hotel and the perimeter. I doubt he’ll put in an appearance, but that’ll at least confirm he’s got an ear on company chatter. And if he does have the guts to show…makes our job easier, right?”

Isaac sat up straighter. “There’s a researcher stationed here?”

“Oh, sure. Fresh out of the packaging, though. Only been with us, what, a couple years? Still worth checking in with them, though.”

“What’s their contact code? I’d like to ask them a few things myself.”

Watts leaned forward to drop a hand onto Isaac’s forearm. Though the touch and pressure had been nothing but gentle, it earned a jump.

“Relax, Soto. We got you covered. Let us worry about the details. Shit. Think of this as a kind of vacation, at least during the day, if you want. You just focus on keeping your head down and your guard up. We’ll take care of the rest.”

The emotional slurry that had built up in Isaac’s gut combusted. Verbal shrapnel ricocheted in a dozen mental directions only to lodge in a stinging jumble in his throat. Did these enforcers really think patting his head and telling him not to worry would work on him? That he’d wag his tail and stare at the door until they returned? Information was his best weapon. His only one, at the moment. How could they expect him to sit meekly and let his fate be decided by others?

“Order up. Coffee and croissant.”

A mug plonked down by Isaac’s elbow. He pulled his arm away, sucking in a breath and adding rude to his complaints against enforcers.

The aroma rising from the coffee hit him like a knife slipped through the ribs. Syrupy sweetness of piloncillo. A dusting of earthy cinnamon. Just how his dad used to make it, especially on camping trips. Mama Lucia had liked to add orange peel and anise too, but his dad had insisted those masked the flavor of the coffee too much. Isaac had stayed a neutral party in the debate until ten years ago. Now whenever he drank the stuff he made sure to drown it in creamer so it’d coat and wash away the phantom taste of pennies in his mouth.

“Soto.”

Isaac crash landed back in the present with a hypnogogic jerk. Three sets of stares aimed at him finished what being dragged down memory lane had started. His thin skin sprung a leak, letting all the fight sputter out of him. Looking at Watt’s hand still resting on his forearm, he deflated in his chair.

“Sorry. Just feel like a zombie.” Watch one of those things crawl through his window for opening his big mouth.

Watt’s gaze measured him for several seconds more. Though the worst he’d done was indulge in some pissy thoughts, Isaac struggled not to flex his shoulder blades or scratch the tingling scars there.

“The hotel has parcel lockers down on this floor.” The low-key scrutiny lifted along with the hand. “Order yourself whatever you need—again, it’s on the company’s tab. Toothbrush, clothes, all that good stuff. Then, get some rest. Yi’s suite’s connected to yours. Curry’s on your other side. My team and I are right across the hall. Nothing’s getting through us.”

“I…Thanks.” No real sense of security settled over Isaac, but the thought did count. He just wished he’d had some say in shaping it.

After getting the room number from Watts, he checked in at the data console out in the lobby. Sure enough, he found a reservation waiting to be activated. Identity code confirmed, Isaac took the elevator to the fifth floor. A door a quarter way down the hall unlocked at the touch of his thumbprint on the handle’s reader.

He checked the windows first. When he didn’t find a balcony, Isaac breathed a little easier. The view showed him the layout of the entertainment complex across the street. The diamonds of red, white, and gray paving stones of its main promenade wound through it like the back of a giant rattlesnake. A clocktower loomed at one end. Swaths of green suggested a park spread out at the other. No tall buildings came close enough to the hotel to allow jumping from roof to roof. He left the curtains open to the morning sun while he went to order some essentials on the grid interface. Messages and reports could wait.

Within twenty minutes, Isaac made a trip back to the lobby and retrieved three paper- and twine-wrapped packages from one of the delivery lockers. After lingering under the spray of a hot shower, letting the physical and emotional grime wash down the drain, Isaac allowed a cautious optimism to peek out of its mental burrow. He’d made it this far. Maybe Watts had a point. Maybe it was best if he stayed out of the way and let the enforcers handle the hunt. Let them do their jobs, one might say. He could find plenty of ways to occupy his time in Denver that had nothing to do with bloodborn, killing, or danger. When was the last time he’d gone somewhere for something other than an assignment? So long it’d taken nearly being eaten alive to slow him down, apparently. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to suck in his ego and let somebody else take care of the problem. Just this once.

By the time Isaac crawled into the suite’s queen-sized bed, clean, with new clothes, and in one piece, he dared to consider himself lucky.

#dysthanasia #story series #vampire fiction #vampire story #vampires #writing #vampire whump #vampire series

[boghermit]

Sebastian Lacroix for the ask game

Oh man, I’m really sorry in advance for the wall of text but he’s one of my favorite characters. Here goes!

Favorite thing about them:

He’s just a hot mess. (Almost all of my favorite characters fall into that category.) He’s petulant, uppity, and throws some of the best villain tantrums known to video games. The most played VTMB ending (my favorite ending in ANY video game) has him laughing hysterically five seconds before he accidentally blows himself up. He fought tooth and nail for that stupidass sarcophagus and then, oops! There’s no body in there! It’s been booby trapped! Oops! Whoopsie!

But even with all of those amazing cartoon villain moments, you know he’s at least SOMEWHAT competent or he wouldn’t be here. He drops all these juicy tidbits of lore that get you wondering what he was like before being Embraced, or how he got this far, but he doesn’t give you the whole story. He’s a good example of “show, don’t tell” in a villain.

Least favorite thing about them:

How he treats / refers to the sheriff in canon, which I think a lot of us ignore in our fanfic and art because it just straight up fucking sucks and no one likes that shit. To be fair he’s not the only one who acts like that towards the Sheriff, but that doesn’t excuse it.

Favorite line:

I love every line where he hints at some bigger story that we don’t know about. The reluctance telling about his Embrace. The excessive hate for the Sabbat. The whole “Did you know what it takes to get as far as I have?” thing. It’s just *mwah mwah* delicioso! But if I had to pick ONE it would probably be “Stolen? Stolen??? HOW…WHO…..Gary. Gary you TREASONOUS MAGGOT. I should have anticipated your treachery SEWER RAT.”

BROTP:

The Sheriff for sure, especially in fanon where (for the most part) people write the Sheriff as them being close friends or partners in crime. Also, Mercurio.

OTP:

For non-canon, him and my friend’s character Nick. For canon characters, I’m not sure, but there’s this one fic by @iravaid called "We Don't Have To Like Each Other To Survive" that BY ITSELF converted me to Nines / LaCroix. It’s just done really well, as opposed to a lot of fics I see where the relationship is very abusive and not particularly fun to read.

NOTP:

Probably an unpopular opinion because this is actual canon but the whole Jeanette thing. I thought it was funny at first to be fair (JEANETTE???), but at this point it’s just kind of annoying for reasons I can’t quite place. I could TRY to be fake deep about it, but I don’t think that’s called for. I just don’t care for it as a ship.

Random Headcanon:

God I have SO many but I’ll try to keep it short. He had to claw his way to the top, both in life and unlife. He wasn’t born into wealth, but claims to be nobility. In truth he started out as lower middle class at most, and in the Grande Armee he was promoted by merit and not by wealth (as was the custom in Napoleonic France). After Waterloo he was forcefully Embraced by the Sabbat, hated it, and escaped several decades later while burning every bridge behind him. This is one of his biggest secrets, and one that he feels would bring him great shame if it were to become common knowledge.

Unrelated to anything in-game, another headcanon I have is that he is probably nonbinary or GNC, alongside being bisexual. He isn’t very open about being bisexual and is even less open about his gender. Public LGBTQ+ acceptance in the Western world is still a very recent development and he hasn’t adjusted to it yet. (Not to mention that LGBTQ+ acceptance isn’t as standard as we’d like it to be, and a lot of us still face frequent prejudice in the modern world.) It doesn’t help that a lot of his contemporaries seem to hold a lot of old timey prejudice against these kinds of things.

Unpopular opinion:

IDK if this is unpopular or not but regardless of how cute he is in the face, he dresses like shit. Girl what is this? What is this fit? Is that corduroy? Is that fucking corduroy? What is that tie? I’m going to puke.

Song I associate with them:

HARD TO ANSWER BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT AND I HAVE A SEVEN HOUR PLAYLIST FOR THIS FUCKER BECAUSE I CAN’T LIKE ANYTHING NORMALLY AND okay okay hold up.

*Smacks the top of Fever Ray's If I Had A Heart.* This badboy can fit so many characters in it.

Favorite picture of them:

Scrungy LaCroix

#thank you for the ask <3

[goron-king-darunia]

Annon-Guy: I hope this doesn't sound perverted, but would the 14 Symphonia Characters prefer a bath or a shower?

Actually, I don't consider bathing to be inherently erotic so I actually don't consider this perverse. Lloyd seems like he doesn't like wasting time. Lloyd is the guy who invented 5 minute showers. Lloyd is the only guy on the entire planet of Aselia that can cram a shower into 5 minutes. Colette seems like a bubble bath kind of person, but as someone literally primed to be a vessel for Martel and having to go on all those journeys, she's probably more flexible and will take what she can get. Raine showers. Can't have even 6 inches of standing water. Logically she knows she can't drown in that small amount of water but... nah. She's taking no chances. She's not going to risk slipping and cracking her head open and drowning in 6 inches of water, even though their washtubs probably aren't even porcelain (maybe in Tethe'alla they are?) so she has no reason to even worry about slipping. But she does worry. Because trauma is evil and it lies to you about probability. Genis bathes. This is purely a joke about him being unable to reach the showerhead, even though I'm not sure if they even have plumbing in Sylvarant, ergo, the showerhead would just be, essentially, a specialized sort of watering can like a camp shower. But Genis is small. Genis can bathe in a teacup. (I'm sorry Genis, you're a short king and I love you but if you tried to shower with modern plumbing you'd be struggling.) Sheena's hard to pin down on this. On the one hand, Tethe'alla. On the other hand, Ninja in a hidden village. My brain says shower but my heart says traditional japanese bathing. Shower first then soak in hot water. But my tiny heart says she's also a bubble bath person somehow. Sheena is difficult indeed. Zelos has, like, a 12 step skincare routine. This guy will shower if he has to but if you put a tub with even lukewarm water in it, he will use it. Depressed bean sits in the tub until he's pruney. If the water's cold, he's not touching it. Because snow trauma but also something something "cold showers shock your system" old wive's tales. I don't think they make tubs Regal can cram all his muscle into. But the OVA did show him doing laps in a pool once, I think? So hypothetically they could have a big enough tub at the Bryant estate. I feel like Regal could also go either way, honestly. Weekday shower, weekend bath kind of dude. Presea seems like, even if she's recovering, she's still the sort of person that if you put sufficient water in front of her, she'll just walk into it, take, like, 10 minutes to clean off, and then just walk out of it. Tub of ice water? Yep. Waterfall? Yep. Hot Springs? Yep. Rain? Yep yep. Preference wise, Presea probably likes warm showers the best. Kratos, like Lloyd, is probably a 5 minute shower kind of guy. Get in, get clean, get out. Richter seems like he changes preference depending on utility? Too warm? Cold shower. Too cold? Hot shower. A little scrungy? Wet towel. Stanky? Fast warm shower, soap and rinse twice, extra deodorant. Achy muscles? Cold rinse, hot bath, no soap. Stress? 2 hour bubble bath with a good book and tea. (He would never admit to it but I bet he does.) Skincare? Saltwater rinse, exfoliate, warm shower with mild soap. This guy is a water elemental and despite what the Rays summer event said, I guarantee if you put a beach in front of this man and no one is looking, he will go and dip his toes in. Emil showers. Ratatosk probably doesn't. XD "I'm a summon spirit, if it rains that's one thing, but why would I go around getting wet?" And then Ratatosk would realize "Oh. Mortals produce excretions. Smelly ones. I understand now." Ratatosk seems like a whore's bath kind of guy. Wash the important bits and not much else. Emil probably takes his time. That's a pretty well established dynamic. Ratatosk is all about getting results, getting to the point. Emil actually enjoys the process so he takes his time. Marta would see a bath bomb from Lush and go ballistic. 10/10 a bubble bath kind of girl. Probably thinks an oil drum camp bath is romantic because it would require Emil to sit by and

manage the water temperature by keeping an eye on the fire but would actually probably not enjoy an actual oil drum bath. Alice and Decus just for fun. Alice is a hot shower girl and she takes it when she can, but isn't opposed to just putting on whatever perfume she can and roughing it for a bit. Though with Decus around, she probably just has to snap her fingers and he'll materialize hot water for her. Decus has a 24 step skin care routine and artisanal soaps but also thinks that "You stink" means "add more Eau de Seduction." Showers frequently but still smells like ass because he has garbage taste in perfume and believes faulty marketing claims. AKA, this is the dude who gets out of the shower smelling fine but puts on so much Axe body spray that you wish he went back to smelling like body odor because that would at least not be as strong and pervasive.

#DotNW #Tales of Symphonia #Letters from Annon Guy #opinions #headcanons #bathing

[gluku-pikron]

🍫📕❌

🍫 - dark or milk chocolate?

m agaricales has convinced me of the superiority of dark chocolate, but i am still not as powerful as they are... they can eat like 95% dark chocolate and think it’s amazing meanwhile i eat 80% and im makin’ a face like a scrungy cat

📕 - what’s your favorite book?

s-should i talk about... autobiography of red again? no... i should have some self-control and talk about something different sjdflsk

let’s see... of the things i’ve been working my way through so far this month is The O. Henry Prize Stories 2018, and I was incredibly impressed with two stories in particular: Inversion of Marcia by Thomas Bolt and Why Were They Throwing Bricks by Jenny Zhang.  They’re both coming-of-age stories, and they’re both about young people coming to the realization that not everything is clear-cut good-or-bad, particularly when it comes to their relationships with others. 

❌ - what’s an unpopular opinion you have?

oh... man, uh... my Snooty Book Opinion is that A Lot of the YA out there isn’t anywhere near as good as it’s hyped to be. on the other hand, neither is a lot of the adult lit, but i find the Hype Machine for YA tends to be Extensive, probably just by virtue of how popular of a genre it is. if it has an interesting concept i’ll still give it a try, but my track record with enjoying it has been shabby. to be fair to YA, though, i am no longer the Target Audience in the same way that I’m never going to be the target audience of straight white Christian romance novels, so... my opinion matters very little in those arenas, i suppose. i’ll leave it to the people who are passionate about it.

#feeshies

[nuka-rockit]

Ah man gage is hella smart, anyone who says otherwise hasn’t listened to the scrungy man talk. When I play he’s the fuckin brains of the op while my sosu is the fuckin brawn since she has too much compassion for her own good and would probably run into death for a puppy

mhffhmffhfhm seconded

I mean it’s pretty much canon he is the brains behind whoever he’s working with at the time, right? first Connor - sorry, i mean THE HARVESTER - and then Colter (+ potentially the new Nuka World Overboss). 

Plus a dumbass would never have been able to get the Pack, Disciples & Operators working alongside each other without getting his spine torn out & used like a balloon animal by one or more of the factions, lets be honest

#risking death for a puppy is also a perfectly acceptable way to go #also i dont know anything about your sosu but she sounds like a badass who could crush me #answer #anonymous #porter gage

[sansregret]

👀 Would your younger self be proud of you?

Have you seen my house?  It’s lovely, simply lovely.  We have all this nice dark wood and we just put in new wallpaper in the guestroom.  You have to replace the wallpaper every once and awhile to fresh things up and besides that, you can clean it all you want but after a certain point, it’s going to get a bit scrungy.  I bought a new rug for my boudoir.  It’s plush.  Soft.  It took the man hours upon hours to make it for me. 

I have a boudoir.  It’s this room off the bedroom where I do the business of beautification where I won’t be interrupted by anyone else.  I have a vanity with this very nice mirror, very nice and I keep everything there I need to maintain my appearance: my brushes, my cold cream, my antiseptic, hair tonics, and so on and so on.  I have a chair I sit in that’s more cushion than anything else and I sit there every day when I brush my hair out.  I have a fainting couch that I read on sometimes and a little side table where I often put my brandy and I have this set-up where I keep all of my ties and pocket squares.  The wall sconces aren’t real gold but they’re pre-war and in pristine condition, so really, they may as well be.

I own multiple pairs of shoes now.  Good shoes really make a difference in your quality of life, I’m telling you.  I have multiple pairs of shoes and multiple pairs of pants and it’s no longer a crisis if someone rips my shirt a little.  I have a whole space in my closet dedicated just to hats, mine and my husband’s.  I have a closet.  I have a husband.  He’s a good one.  Loyal.  He puts up with my shit.  I’m well aware that I’m not the easiest to deal with sometimes.  I’m histrionic.  I have tantrums over nothing.  I scream and I cry and I get so angry that I hit things until I hurt myself, but it hasn’t scared away Vladimir yet.  I think he understands.  The two of us are both fucked up people.  Whenever I’m injured, he treats my wounds for me.  It’s embarrassing but…I do appreciate it.  I appreciate it.

When I was a boy, I lived in a room with my boyfriend, a girl, and two other boys.  It was cramped and at night when we rolled out the sleeping mats (these awful, lumpy things we put together out of straw and bags), there was barely enough room to maneuver around without tripping over someone’s legs.  It was cramped and all of us fought constantly and in the warm months, bugs would get into the room, but it was better than before.  It’s better to be inside than out, even if inside is terrible.  Outside is worse.

When I was an older boy, I broke up with my boyfriend, so I moved into this dilated apartment and the landlord got every cap out of me and then some.  I didn’t have any furniture for a very, very long time except a bed and a chair.  I didn’t have any way to cook for myself and I couldn’t always afford to heat the place up.  In summer, it was hell.  There was no ventilation.  I sweated and I roasted.

All of my caps went into rent or they went into the rooms I’d rent at the Rexford to entertain my clients or they went into fees and fines to the people running the show so that I wouldn’t be harassed.  Hancock has cleaned Goodneighbor up a little but it’s always been a very rough town and, I imagine, will be for quite awhile.  I was a rent boy at the time and independent, not affiliated with any brothel or whatnot, and Goodneighbor being Goodneighbor, there were people who preyed on that, who made life difficult for the working girls and boys.  You had to pay protection fees to the local gangs or else they’d run you off or worse, and you had to pay your respects to the more established of your lot or else they’d make life difficult.  And on top of that, you have to contend with the people who are awfully judgemental of boys like me considering that we all lived in Goodneighbor.  I’m not ashamed of myself and if anyone has a problem with that, then they can get acquainted with the business end of my knife. I don’t care.

I got into a lot of fights.  I fought people more than I should have.  I fought and I stole whatever I could and I broke into people’s houses and carried off their chems and caps.  Me and my friends mugged a Minuteman when I was thirteen and he could have killed us.

My younger self was stressed and poor and half-starved and a little lacking in the comfort and respect that you all take for granted, so yes, I think he’d be a little proud that he grows up to have a stupidly nice boudoir and two cats, no matter what he did to get it.  The only way to get anything nice in this city is if you fight tooth and claw for it and never look back. 

Never look back at anything, darling.

#Anonymous