#we’ll I mean if you didn’t get disqualified for cheating

[tokiro07]

Cipher Academy ch.16 thoughts

[Joey Finds a New Favorite Character]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you - The Drop

I was expecting to talk about how Iroha won the elimination round this week, as evidenced by how much importance I put on it last week, but in retrospect I was overestimating how much weight this moment had. This game was never treated with any more reverence than a simple game; Iroha never seemed worried about the possibility of losing and being knocked out of the running for class leading private, and the other players never seemed particularly antagonistic towards him. Karigane and Koshibai were treating it as a game from the start, and Mokumokuren and Mamushihishimeki were pretty quiet outside of the game itself. The conclusion of the game was fun and exciting as the solution to a murder mystery, but not a climactic battle that decides Iroha’s fate going forward; and that’s all it’s meant to be

But NOW!!! Nooow we have a definitive antagonist for the arc. Now we have a thematic foil for Iroha

I don’t remember if I’ve already mentioned this, but my main metric for assessing Jump manga is Jump’s three values: Friendship, Effort and Victory. Cipher Academy, with Iroha as its lead refusing to use the Glasses Weapon as a way to take shortcuts, is definitively an Effort series. Iroha’s entire character is centered around self-improvement through hard work and perseverance

And now, Anonymity’s first words are tantamount to “I cheated. What, you didn’t?” Anonymity establishes herself immediately as someone who does not value effort, at least not in the sense that anyone typically would. If she does, her sense of effort is more akin to “do whatever it takes” rather than “do it properly”

You may remember in chapter 8 when Toshusai said “it would be nice if disqualifications happened in real wars;” I believe this was meant to be a sort of thesis statement leading into this conflict. Anonymity won’t be disqualified for betraying the spirit of the game or for bad sportsmanship; she produced results that allowed her to surpass four other cipher soldiers by proving that she had the skill to covertly gather information quickly and efficiently, even being able to decipher ten codes of varying difficulty at a glance. Sure, she’s a jerk, but she won the battle with the skills that she was trained to use, making her an ideal soldier

Her argument is so sound, I can’t even say that she’s going to be proven wholly wrong by the end. For anyone who read Medaka Box, this is almost a perfect thematic parallel to the Flask Plan - Medaka and Hitoyoshi always took the hardest route they could to reach the end goal so that they could feel that they earned their results, so they could proud of who they were and crystalize their experiences for the future, but the Flask Plan was meant to create a shortcut for those whose efforts never seem to pan out, for the people whose bodies or minds prevent them from putting in the effort in the first place. Ultimately, Medaka couldn’t dismantle the Flask Plan’s goal or logic for being morally disagreeable, because objectively its goal was noble and would improve the world; the problem wasn’t the goal, but the means, as the experiments were willing to kill countless students in the school to achieve that goal. Medaka ultimately sanctioned and supported the Flask Plan, but only after ensuring that it would be carried out ethically and safely, after she knew that the end wasn’t being used to justify horrible means

Anonymity is absolutely right to have cheated in this scenario: the entire premise of this school is to cultivate information-gathering skills, and she undoubtedly thought that the rest of her group would do the same. She’s legitimately surprised that the other winners didn’t do what she did, because to her that was the game. I’m sure we’ll get more context for why her mentality is wrong and why fighting Iroha will be necessary to reform her, but in the end, I’m confident she’s going to be the same overall person with the same values, she’ll just change her approach slightly

All of Medaka’s enemies only really changed how they treated people or themselves, not who they were fundamentally, which is honestly a very Nisio Isin approach to character development; whatever happens with Anonymity, I’m willing to bet that she’s still going to value results over methods, but she’ll likely start being more respectful of others’ methods and learn that there is value in an honest, straight forward approach. Meanwhile, she’s probably also going to teach Iroha to be more willing to use what he has available to him when he needs it; this fight is probably going to be an analysis of the pros and cons of both approaches, and both will learn how to apply the lessons that the other teaches them in their own methods

But most importantly: Anonymity may well be the Kumagawa of the cast, using the exact opposite approach to the protagonist to fight enemies that the protagonist can’t use their normal methods to face in order to support the protagonist. Hopefully while saying buckwild shit to make her fun and interesting!

Also, I just want to thank Iwasaki for their art; Anonymity’s intro card is so intimidating while also being a fun subversion of the usual puzzle panels. She’s being framed as a puzzle, a problem to be solved, but one that can’t simply be gauged with the normal ranking system because she’s not going to play fair and she’s going to fight back. She crushes the star-rating system entirely in her bare hands, almost as if to say she’s a problem that can’t be solved

I also appreciate the call-back to “Class 1-A’s only X”, as it’s a great way to establish how much weight her introduction carries while also giving us a good gauge of her personality; “Class 1-A’s only ‘anything goes’ student.” I would have translated it as “sole wild card” myself, and I’d like to think Kumar would have too, but hey, Dan Luffey is doing a fine job so far, so I won’t knock points for simple word choice

I’m not claiming that it will be one-to-one, but the fight between Anonymity and Iroha is going to be the equivalent of Medaka vs. Unzen where everything gets a lot more serious and the themes of the story are put into stark, undeniable perspective, even if only for the moment and things calm down before the next conflict. How Toshusai and Yosaimura are going to impact the battle, I can’t say, but if I had to guess, Anonymity is going to prove just how much of a threat she really is by taking out Toshusai, as Iroha has already had a code battle with her and we have no context for Yosaimura’s capabilities as a code soldier, so it would make more sense for Iroha to face off against Yosaimura first

Of course, it could end up being a battle royale and we see how all four interact with each other at once, but I’m confident it will come down to Iroha and Anonymity

Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Iroha will beat Anonymity to gain the right to face Toshusai, the easy favorite for class leading private, bookending this introductory arc with Iroha proving that he no longer needs the Glasses Weapon to match Toshusai

This chapter filled me with so much excitement, I really hope that other readers feel the same and this build up helps elevate Cipher Academy’s standing in the polls. It’s been at the back of the magazine for a while now, but this might be exactly what it needs to turn that around. I’m sure we’ll get to see this fight reach its conclusion at least, but if it goes well, this will be what helps the series continue

To wrap up, I want to take the opportunity to go over the remaining cosplays, just because I think they’re fun.

Yugata lets her hair down and wears her coat over her shoulders to play Toshusai, riffing on her “you’ll be my manservant” threat from chapter 1

Oboro carries a little stuffed tiger (which is presumably hers) to play Mokumokuren, and even hides behind it to stifle her laughter. She’s so cute

Nohime styles her hair to cover her eye to resemble Hahakura

Umitsubame takes off her jacket entirely and puts on simple sunglasses to resemble Koshibai

Yosaimura borrows Mamushihishimeki’s bandana, presumably borrowing it from her since she’s wearing a hat instead at the moment

Nutaba wears Yosaimura’s goggles, which she took off to put on the bandana, but I’m willing to bet that playing in the ball basket is wholly a Nutaba thing

Kasuri holds up a chocolate bar to hide her eyes like Anonymity, PROVING that the censor bar is diegetic

Omomuro’s wearing Umitsubame’s (or rather, Oboro’s) star-glasses, which she definitely borrowed from her since Umitsubame is clearly wearing different glasses at the moment

Hahakura borrows Namasu’s mask, while Namasu manages to continue to cover her mouth because she’s playing Nohime and is able to borrow one of her poses

Yorokawa lets her hair down and wears glasses, which is kind of subtle, but can only really be Karigane

Anonymity and Botayama are a little hard to pin down because their cosplays are the most subtle, but they have to be Omomuro and Kasuri. I think that Botayama is Kasuri with her hair down, but she isn’t covering her face with it, so she might be just making the barest effort to resemble Omomuro’s short hair. Anonymity is covering her face, so this could be an extremely roundabout method of cosplaying Kasuri, but she’s specifically covering her face with bicycle chains, Omomuro’s signature weapon from chapter 1, implying that this is an overblown parody of Omomuro. But why she would do it that way when it’s so over the top and difficult to recognize, I have no idea. It’s not super important, but it compels me

I also think it’s worth noting that every group is laughing or having fun except for Group A, who are all looking at Anonymity with shock or disgust, which is pretty subtle foreshadowing that she was going to be the one to win from her group and that she was going to be a major threat going forward

I’m impressed I managed to finish this a few days early for once, but honestly I was so excited about this chapter that I just couldn’t wait any longer. And also I’m procrastinating on more important things, but that’s not important. This is the most excited I’ve been for a new chapter since the series began, so I’m expecting that the payoff will give me even more to say

Look forward to it!

#cipher academy #fouryearsandananime #4y1a reviews

[dragonwinga535]

Can you still be considered a genius if you win a Rubik’s cube competition by rearranging all the little colour stickers on the cube?

#im a dumb fuck #am i cool yet #am i smart #dumb of ass #we’ll I mean if you didn’t get disqualified for cheating #i’m so funny #that one meme #WHAT ARE YOU #an idiot sandwich #😭 #big brain time

[lis-likes-fics]

The Cullen Games

Pairing: Carlisle Cullen x Reader (but it has a lot of Cullen Family x Cullen!Reader) Word Count: 3189 words, I know Warnings: None. :P Author’s Note: I literally just thought about how fun it would be to have a piggy back ride with Emmett and then proceeded to concoct this beauty. Enjoy, pfft-

The moment the sun was high enough to make the light reflect beautifully off of the water in the streams, Y/N had a wicked grin on her face. It was officially the first day of spring and it was time for the seasonal Cullen Games.

She burst into the living room where a few of the family members had settled, Carlisle came in the door behind her with a silent smile on his face as she announced, "Cullens, it's that time of year. You love it, you live it. It's the Cullen Games!"

"The Cullen Games?" Bella asked, looking up from her book where Renesmee was sitting with her on the couch. "What's that?"

Carlisle wrapped his arm around his wife's waist as he smiled, "We usually have it four times a year, the first day of each season. It's our little taste of the mundane."

Alice clapped, "We have the most fun with it. We just haven't been able to do it in the past couple of years for...reasons."

Bella knew those reasons, they were quite obvious. They hadn't been able to do it in the past couple of years because she was there with a new problem every few months. But that wasn't the point. The point was, it was time for the Cullen Games.

Esme smiled, "Alice and Y/N have an intense rivalry every time. They're always trying to figure out whose team will win. I think they're at a tie this time."

"Yep," Carlisle sighed, "Which means this time around will be extra competitive."

Y/N nodded, "And we have a few new members to help up with the games this time."

Rosalie looked up with narrow eyes, "Who?"

She smiled wickedly, "Jacob, Seth, and Leah. They're part of the obstacle course. We're spicing things up this time. Plus, Seth really wanted to join."

Esme flipped through her book as she asked, "Have you chosen your teams yet?"

Y/N shrugged, "We don't pick until the day of, so no. But I know my team."

"Ah-ah-ah!" Alice exclaimed, "Not yet! We have to set up the course."

"Yes, I know, I know," Y/N sighed, "We're getting there."

Emmett cracked his knuckles, "This is gonna be great."

Y/N smiled wickedly once again, she did it a lot this time of year. She loved the Cullen Games, she was part of the reason they existed. It would start with the explaining of the courses, the choosing of the teams, and then the setting up of the courses. Once the teams were chosen, they would chose their roles and the game would start. Whoever's team won the games would chose a team member to kick off the first hunt of the season. No one really cared about the hunting part really, it was just a fun prize.

Y/N and Alice, however, did care a lot about who won. They've been doing this for forever, trying to beat one another in the games. After winning and losing and winning and losing, they were finally at a tie. There was no special prize in it, they just really wanted to see who won.

Everyone loved their competition, it was one of their favorite things about being a Cullen - getting to watch Alice and Y/N battle to find out who could do the games better.

Y/N grabbed the whiteboard she and Alice had been writing on for the past week to figure out what the games would consist of. She wheeled it into the room with a red marker and started explaining.

"The Station One is 'Tree Climb'. The team leaders -- spring season is me and Alice -- start the races this way. We will climb up the starting trees, travel on tree top, and then drop down when we see our next team members."

Alice explained the next bit, "Then there's Station Two, 'Piggy Back'. After getting down, you climb on your partner's back and they carry you to the halfway point. Once you reach the halfway, you switch to your next partner's back and they carry you to the endpoint."

Y/N nodded, "Right. Station Three is 'Hole In Three'. There will be three hoops. Once you get off your partner's back after reaching the endpoint line, you tag your next member. The other two members will get to their next positions during this station. The team member will pick up one ball and have to score it in each hoop in only one throw. You will only be able to see two hoops, you will have no clue where the third hoop is. If you miss a hoop, your team loses points. The wolves will howl for how many you got. After the throw, that member will tag the rider back in and they go to Station Four."

Alice rubbed her hands together as she started explaining the next station, Smacking her ruler on the board to the purposefully terrible drawing of a wolf. "Station Four is 'Wolf Chase'. After tagging your member back in, you'll both go to the next checkpoint where Jacob, Leah, and Seth will be waiting as wolves. They'll be chasing after you, you have to avoid them. If they get you, you lose points. Once out of bounds, you will grab your team flag."

"And there, you'll start Station Five," Y/N took over, "Station Five is a three-legged race. You'll grab the partner that took the second piggy back in the second station and tie your legs together. The flag must be wedged in between your legs and secure. If the flag falls, you lose points."

Alice nodded, "Once your couple reaches the checkpoint to start Station Six, 'Finish Line', you hand your flag to the member who started the piggy back and they will take it to the finish line where Renesmee will take the winning flag and wave the victory."

They took it all in as they thought over the games. Just then, the three wolves walked up the stairs and stared at the board in confusion and slight concern. "What'd we miss?" Jacob asked.

"You'll get a brief summary later," Alice explained, "Right now we pick teams! Since Y/N got the most points last games, she gets to pick her first member." Alice sighed at the last bit, mumbling to herself about how she won last games so she didn't even care.

Y/N smiled triumphantly and looked over the room. She looked at Carlisle, "I love you, but I'm choosing Emmett first. Come on, himbo bro."

Emmett stood, cracking his knuckles again as he laughed, "Nice." He high fived her and Alice looked over the room. "Edward," she smiled.

"But you get him every time!" Y/N whined.

"No, I don't! You had him last games and the games before that," Alice complained. Y/N mumbled under her breath before breathing out a laugh. She looked at them again and immediately picked Carlisle. "I love you," she mouthed to him. He smiled and chuckled silently, kissing her forehead and standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Jasper," Alice said.

"Bella."

"Rosalie."

"Seth, Jacob, and Leah are their own team," Y/N explained. She turned to Bella and smiled, "Welcome to the winning team." Bella chuckled, "Happy to be here." Alice scoffed and glanced at her team.

"Loser- I mean, Alice, what's your team name?" Y/N asked her with a smile.

Alice rolled her eyes, "Gone with the Win."

Y/N stuck her tongue out and put a thumbs down, "That's lame, terrible name."

"That's a great name, Y/N, I don't know what you're talking about," Rosalie commented with a laugh.

Y/N stood next to Emmett as she smiled, "Well, we're Blood Bath and Beyond." She high-fived Emmett proudly and Carlisle commented, "I don't know how to feel about that name."

She turned to her husband, "Well, you can join the loser's side. No one will judge you."

Emmett whispered, "Everyone will judge him."

Carlisle rolled his eyes with a smile and a laugh, "I'm okay, thank you." Y/N clapped her hands together with a proud smile, "Top that name, Alice. Bet you can't."

Alice rolled her eyes, "Whatever, discuss your team roles."

Y/N chuckled and they left the room to go to the next one and discuss - even if that didn't stop the others from listening in. The only reason they didn't was because it was cheating, they would be disqualified if they eavesdropped. Esme usually narrated the games or posed as a referee, so they would be in line. She had a little helper this season.

Y/N looked over her team as she assessed them, "Alright, maggots - just kidding, I love you - this season is going to be tough. It's the tiebreaker between me and Alice. We gotta show what real winners look like. Emmett, you'll start off the Station Two with the Piggy Back and you'll switch with Carlisle. You'll carry me to Station Three, where I'll tag Bella. I hope you have a good arm, because Esme will not be kind when she sets those hoops up. Once you hear the howls, you tag me back in and we'll head into the trees. When we get there, Carlisle and I will do the race. You'll stick the flag, securely, into the tie. When he get to the end of the race, I'll hand the flag to Emmett, who will carry us to victory, both literally and figuratively. Good?"

They all somehow understood her game plan and went with it. They gave her a single nod and she answered any questions they had. Once they finished, they picked their team colors. Naturally, red for Blood Bath and Beyond. Gone with the Win chose the color blue. They got their flags set at the checkpoints, then they set the lines down. After another hour, the hoops were set up, as well as the ties for the race, and Renesmee's podium at the finish line.

They went over the stations one more time, even if it was only slightly unnecessary, and everyone got in their positions. They gave their signal and Y/N turned to Alice, "Remember, you can't use your powers."

"I know, I know," she rolled her eyes. She smiled, "I'm still gonna make you take that 'L'."

"In your dreams, buttercup," Y/N scoffed.

"I don't dream," Alice said as they got to the two trees they would start the games at. Esme stood with Renesmee at her side. They started counting. "Three." "Two." "One." "Go!"

Alice and Y/N took off up the trees like bullets, moving in a blur to human eyes as they reached the top of their two trees in no time. When they reached the top, they carefully searched for their partners, locking with their targets and racing on treetop.

When she reached the last tree, Y/N completely skipped climbing down and just dropped down to the ground. Emmett knelt and she climbed on his back, her legs over his shoulders. He took off, racing through the trees and avoiding any that would knock them down. She looked behind her and saw Alice and Jasper gaining up on them on their side of the course.

Y/N silently cursed and patted Emmett, "Don't go around this one."

"But-"

"Trust me," she told him. They headed straight for a tree, the branch extended out and threatening to knock her off his shoulders. She steadied herself to her feet, still on his shoulders, and jumped over the branch. He had his hands held out for her. She did a flip before extending her body, he grabbed her in the air, placing her back on his shoulders. "You're crazy," he commented.

"Crazy wins the race," she commented with a smile.

When they finally reached the halfway point, instead of climbing off of Emmett's shoulders, she placed her hands on Carlisle's and jumped over Emmett's head and onto Carlisle. She glanced over and saw that Edward was waiting for Alice and Jasper impatiently.

Smart. Edward was the fastest.

Carlisle rushed to the next endpoint. Whatever had affected Jasper before, definitely wasn't affecting Edward as he darted through the woods. "Step on it, Carlisle!" Y/N exclaimed.

He told her, "Edward's faster."

She shrugged, "But can he throw better than you?"

"What?"

"When we get close to the line, throw me," Y/N instructed him. Carlisle sighed heavily, a smile playing on his lips at the ridiculousness of her plan, but nodded.

As expected, Edward passed them at some point as the finish line got closer. Carlisle took a hold of Y/N's waist as he reached up for her, gripping them in his hands before chucking her over the line from who knows how far. She shot like a bullet over the line, immediately tagging Bella.

"And Y/N comes flying to the third station, tagging Bella into the game!" Esme exclaimed as Bella picked up her red ball and aimed carefully. Carlisle went to his next station to wait. Alice finally got off of Edward's back, tagging Rosalie. "Here comes Alice in second, tagging Rose in for a chance at redemption," Esme continued to announce, as if they had an actual audience. Bella threw her ball and, after a moment, the sound of three wolves howling broke the silence of the distant air.

"Yes!" Bella exclaimed, tagging Y/N back in. Rosalie threw her ball and only received two howls. "Dammit!" Rosalie muttered, tagging Alice back in.

They darted to the boundary that the wolves were waiting in, treading carefully and silently through the trees. It was so silent, a snapping twig would disturb everything there. When Y/N heard a soft growl from where Bella was headed, she crouched and lunged forward, shoving her out of the way as Leah leapt from the trees, Jacob and Seth coming out as well as they lunged for the vampires. Leah knocked Y/N off her feet as Bella turned around momentarily. Y/N scrambled to her feet and dodged Seth and Jacob, dodging Leah's second attack.

Rosalie and Alice whizzed by her and Y/N motioned for Bella to keep going. They both darted out of the trees, seeing Alice and Edward putting their legs together as Rosalie began to tie them. Y/N cursed silently, rushing to Carlisle and getting herself ready.

Bella quickly tied their inside legs together and intertwined the flag in their ties. Y/N and Carlisle nodded, intertwining their inside hands before carefully rushing to the endpoint where Emmett was waiting to take the flag from them.

Y/N smiled when Alice and Edward's flag fell over and they had to call for Rosalie to fix it. Y/N and Carlisle reached their endpoint and tagged Emmett, who grabbed their flag and darted for the finish line.

When Jasper finally got their flag, it seemed as though he was going to win. But when they reached Renesmee with their arms extended and their flags waving in the air, everything seemed to stop as they tried to look as see whose flag was going to wave first, both flags were in her hands. It happened so quickly that no one but Renesmee would tell who won.

Esme looked to the girl as she asked, "Who's the winner?"

Renesmee smiled and raised an arm, waving the red flag in the air excitedly. Y/N and her team smiled and cheered as Esme announced, "And the winner of this season's Cullen Games is Blood Bath and Beyond!"

Emmett and Bella high fived and he brought her into a bear hug as they celebrated. Y/N looked to Carlisle with a large smile, hugging him tightly before finally kissing him. When they pulled back, she exclaimed, "We did it!"

"We did!" Carlisle replied, "But, next time, I pick the name."

"Oh, alright," she smirked, "You're a summer leader anyway." She turned to Bella, "Oh, that reminds me. Bella, you're joining Emmett as a Fall Leader. You'll have your own team for Fall Games."

She cheered to herself and then turned to Edward to rub her victory in his face. Y/N walked over to Alice, taking Carlisle with her since they were still tied together. Alice also had to haul Edward with her, they were also still tied together.

Y/N held out her hand and Alice shook it as they congratulated each other for a good game. Esme then talked with Renesmee as they rounded up the results. "Okay, we have the points added up. Gone with the Win had six points total. You received two points for making only two hoops, and you won three for successfully avoiding the wolves. You won one more point for getting to the Three-Legged race first, but you lost that point when you dropped your flag. You won an additional point when you managed to get your flag to Renesmee so quickly," Esme explained.

Renesmee spoke in her small voice, "Blood Bath and Beyond won seven points total, so Gramps will be choosing the first member for summer's games."

Alice's team cheered again and Esme smiled, "You won two points for finishing station one first and starting station two first. You got three points for making all three hoops - good job, Bella. You lost three points when you were attacked by the wolves and lost another point for starting second for the race. You got one more point back when you managed to keep your flag straight, and you won five additional points for winning."

"Who's starting the Spring Hunt?" Jasper asked Y/N since she was the leader of her team. She smiled at Carlisle, "Why don't we have our leader kick it off this season?" Carlisle bent down and kissed her gently and everyone agreed.

~

Later that evening, they sat around the fire they made outside with the addition of Seth and Jacob - Leah didn't really want to join. They laughed and talked for a while as the sun officially set and it got dark. After another short while, Seth went back to his home and left the Cullens to themselves. Jacob went into the house with Renesmee so she could sleep.

Right before they got ready for the hunt, Carlisle stood and look around at the faces of each member of his family. He smiled, "This season's games were fun. It was nice to be able to have those again after a handful of seasons away from them. Let's welcome our newest members of the games, Bella and Renesmee."

The family clapped for them before turning back to Carlisle. Y/N smiled up at him warmly as he continued, "May this spring be as good as any other as we welcome it this year."

There was a light whoop around the fire and he looked down at Y/N, her eyes sparkling as she gazed up at him. He smiled softly to her and then turned to the rest of the family. "Good hunting, everyone."

"Good hunting" was scattered around the fire and they took it as their rightful cues to begin. They left into the wood and Y/N stood with Carlisle, a hand in his as she smiled at him. "I love you," she muttered happily.

Carlisle kissed her gently, "I love you."

~~~~~

Dr. Cullen taglist: @libellule2001​

#carlisle cullen #carlisle cullen x reader #carlisle cullen x you #carlisle cullen x fem!reader #carlisle x reader #twilight #twilight fanfiction #twilight series #twilight x you #cullen x female reader #female reader #cullen x reader

[starryevermore]

long story short: the healing (23) ✧ sam and colby

long story short ✧ a parallel universe snc au | ao3

disclaimer: i do not own any aspect of the karate kid universe. does not *totally* follow the karate kid canon (i’ve taken a few creative liberties). 

summary: daniel decides he wants to continue.

word count: 772

warning(s): this is another short chapter buuuut we’re almost done!!

This…this couldn’t be how it ended, right? Had Arden said something about Bobby taking Daniel out of commission? Doing something to get his disqualified? Was this supposed to happen? This…this wasn’t Colby’s fault, was it? This was supposed to be what happened, right? But…But why did Daniel need to be injured? What did that prove? Fuck, where was Arden when Colby needed all of these questions answered? 

The doctor finished wrapping up Daniel’s knee, saying, “I’ll inform the judges. You did well out there, young man.” 

Colby almost felt heartbroken as he looked over at Daniel. Colby knew how much winning this meant to the kid. How much being able to show his tormentors that he wouldn’t just roll over and take a beating. That he could stand up for himself, and that he would. He wasn’t going to just be someone that could be pushed around. And Colby admired that about Daniel. Colby almost wished he was like that, too. 

Too often, Colby would run from fights. He wasn’t a confrontational person. It just wasn’t in his nature. He was the type of guy to just let things slide. He fucking hated fights. Even if someone hurt him, he likely wouldn’t say anything. The most he would ever do was be passive-aggressive, but even then, that was few and far between. But now? Now he almost felt like he could fight—if he wanted to. At least now he had a better idea about how to find that balance of sticking up for himself and not letting others get hurt.

And honestly? That was a lesson he so desperately needed. 

“Damn it!” Daniel cursed after the doctor left. 

“Honey, forget it,” Lucille comforted him as she ran her fingers through his hair. “You were great. I couldn’t be prouder. It was just bad luck.”

“Daniel, you would’ve won if they hadn’t cheated,” Ali added. 

Daniel almost sounded near tears when he asked, “Just leave me alone for a minute, okay?”

“We’ll be outside,” Lucille said, kissing his forehead before she and Ali left the locker room.

Mr. Miyagi and Colby were the only ones left, now. Colby, who’d been hanging in the corner of the room, walked over to Daniel and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, brother, you did great out there. You did so much better than I would’ve ever thought possible,” Colby said. “You played by the rules, and you showed them that you weren’t someone to be messed with. You should be proud of that.” 

“Do you think I could’ve won?” Daniel asked. “There’s not a doubt in my mind.” 

He looked over to Mr. Miyagi and asked the same question. “Mr. Miyagi…Do you think I had a chance of winning?”  

“Win, lose, no matter.”

But that wasn’t what Daniel meant. He didn’t really care about winning, and Colby could see that. He just wanted to prove himself. To prove that the scrawny kid from Jersey was capable of doing something, of standing up for himself.

“That’s not what I meant,” Daniel mumbled.

Reluctantly, Mr. Miyagi said, “Had good chance.” 

“Well, can you fix my leg? I mean, with that thing you do?” 

“No need fight anymore.” 

But that wasn’t the point. Could Mr. Miyagi not see that? Did he think Daniel only cared about winning? 

Daniel looked over to Colby and asked, “Colby, if you were me…Would you fight?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t even have to think about it. Yes, Colby was against fighting, but he’d also made it this far. He’d gotten to this point. If he could show people what he was capable of, he’d jump at the first opportunity to do so. 

“Why?” Daniel asked.

Colby knew that, by him explaining his own reasoning, Daniel was hoping that it would get through to Mr. Miyagi. To show that more was at stake than a title and a trophy. That this meant something to Daniel. So, he chose his next words carefully, and he explained, “…because I’d never have balance if my tormentors knew they got the best of me.” 

Daniel nodded, then looked to Mr. Miyagi. “Every time I see those guys, they’ll know that they beat me. That they played dirty and I let it happen. I’ll never have balance that way. Not with them, not with Ali…Not with me.” 

Mr. Miyagi was silent for a moment, thinking about what the boys had said, before telling Daniel, “Close eye.”

And now, with his knee partially fixed, it was time for Daniel LaRusso to show everyone just what he could do, and show them he did. 

#long story short: a parallel universe snc au #sam and colby #sam golbach #colby brock #snc #xplr #traphouse #traphouse 2.0 #trap house #trap house 2.0 #sam and colby fanfic #sam and colby imagine #sam and colby fanfiction #sam and colby fic #sam and colby fan fiction #sam and colby fan fic #sam golbach fanfic #sam golbach imagine #sam golbach fanfiction #sam golbach fic #sam golbach fan fiction #sam golbach fan fic #colby brock fanfic #colby brock imagine #colby brock fanfiction #colby brock fic #colby brock fan fiction #*written by: me #starrybrock

[microcos-pod]

Micro-Cosmos S1E4: Looking Up Transcript

(The crew celebrates an afternoon of well-deserved downtime. Transcript begins below break.)

[sfx: forest ambiance, running footsteps]

FELIX BIIIIIIRD!

That... is nineteen! Almost... at... victory.

[sfx: running footsteps]

MILES That... was not... fair... you tripped me!

FELIX Did... not.

MILES Did too!

FELIX Did not!

MILES Totally did.

FELIX The point is mine, fair and square. You did not set eyes upon that bird, first, thus-

MILES Because you cheated!

FELIX What would you have me do, forfeit the point?

MILES Yes.

FELIX Well I'm not going to do that.

MILES I know. Ya lousy-

[sfx: a bird caws]

MILES BIRD!

FELIX Bird? Ah yes, Bird. Ah, damn. Bird.

MILES Haha, that's a nineteen-nineteen tie, next points the winner.

FELIX Yes. And that point belongs to me.

MILES Yeah, right. Tell you what, then. Let's have a wager. I'll even let you pick the terms.

FELIX Okay. The loser has to carry Athena's birthday present around in their bag for a week.

MILES Athena doesn't want to carry it?

FELIX No one wants to carry it, my friend.

MILES Fine! That's fine! It's not like I worked super hard on it or anything-

FELIX

Shh. I'm sensing... an avian presence.

[sfx: birdsong, running footsteps taking off]

FELIX ALLONS-Y!

[sfx: running footsteps taking off]

MILES WAIT UP!

FELIX Where... are... you...

[sfx: a whack]

[Felix yelps.]

MILES Ha! You-

[sfx: a similar whack]

MILES (CONT'D) AA! MY EYE!

***

[THEME MUSIC FADES IN]

ANNOUNCERFuturistic Trail Mix Productions presents Micro-Cosmos: A Science Fiction Podcast.

[THEME MUSIC FADES OUT]

***

[sfx: forest ambiance, running water, a click]

MILES Oww.

ATHENA This is-

MILES Owww.

ATHENA This is-

MILE OWWW!

ALEX Dude, just hold still. You took quite the fall out there.

ATHENA Athena Romero... recording. Hi. It's Day 28, and we're stationed at approximate position North 57 degrees West 105 degrees, still enroute to our equipment dropoff point and making good time at that. We've had to stop for a little, uh, first aid. Miles and Felix got hit in the face with a tree branch playing their new game. It's called Bird... I hate it.

FELIX Hey, Bird is- ow - Bird is fun!

ALEX Until the forest pokes your eye out along the way, Doc.

FELIX I'd call it an occupational hazard.

ATHENA Thankfully, Headquarters, no one actually lost an eye. By some miracle.

[C41′s BOOT-UP JINGLE PLAYS]

C41 Oh, the odds of them losing an eye aren't as high as you'd hope. I ran the calculations.

MILES Yeah? Let me check your math on that one.

C41 No.

ATHENA Anyways. We thought it'd be a good time to take a walking break. Maybe have some lunch.

[sfx: rummaging]

ALEX Aw, shoot. Looks like we're lacking in antibiotics to get this one on your knee cleaned up, Miles. Cal, any chance we're getting more of that with the shipment?

C41 I do have "additional first aid supplies" on the roster, Commander. So... probably!

ALEX I will take a "probably" for all that it's worth as far as HQ is concerned, kid. And hey, we're almost to the drop-off point. Speaking of which, Starshine, did you get the memo to them that we're ahead of schedule?

ATHENA Oh, uh, oh! Yeah, I did get the relay to them last night, and they came back with an acknowledgement. I think we're just going to have to wait it out though.

ALEX Aces. Cal, how much longer do we have on the walking?

C41 Eh, not much! About another...

[sfx: mechanical whirring]

C41 (CONT'D) Hour!

MILES An hour?

ALEX Hey, I like the sound of that.

FELIX Just think. All of that extra time to play Bird.

ATHENA And, sorry to ask, but, Bird is fun... because?

ALEX Because I think all this walking has made the doctor go a bit batty.

FELIX Perhaps. More like... bird-y. If you will.

[Miles groans.]

MILES You set him up for that one, you know- Ow!

ALEX Just a sanitising wipe. I know, I know, it stings. It's the best we're gonna do to keep it clean for now.

[C41 giggles.]

MILES What are you laughing at?

C41 Aw, nothing. Just like... you guys are so funny, with your 'physical pain' thing.

MILES Hilarious.

C41 Precisely my point.

MILES Well, somebody's chipper today.

C41 I am! It's almost time for me to get to like, actual work. As soon as we can set up camp at the rendezvous to make it our base? Watch me go, baby.

ALEX Wait a minute. You, Cal, are excited about doing work?

C41 Sure I am! I'm excited for work that's not super boring and lame and leaves me wanting to tie up my code in particularly pretty bows. Establishing our infrastructure, our inventory, our food sources, and oh, ooh! Getting started on actual research? They sour.I hope I just don't lose out on sleep.

MILES Yeah, sure. We wouldn't want that.

C41 And, and, Miles, while I'm busy doing important things, you can be off doing... whatever little tasks you're supposed to do.

MILES First of all, excuse you, I'm the engineering specialist too, not your friggin nanny, so like, I'm going to have plenty to do that is very important. And second of all, maybe I'll get to sleep instead of clacking away at fixing your code all night like a monkey at a typewriter, alright?

C41 Sure, sure. Now, are everyone's booboos in order? I'm sure Athena and Alex are getting antsy.

ATHENA Oh guys, no, it's fine. Take your time, we're not in a rush.

MILES No, you know what, my booboos- I mean my uh, my scrapes and stuff, are fantastic. Let's go.

FELIX But... I'm so weak.

MILES Nope. Up ya go.

C41 Something to prove, much?

ALEX You'll be fine Felix. Have some trail mix, and we'll be motoring, alright?

FELIX (chewing) Way ahead of you, sir.

ATHENA Alright. Off we go.

[sfx: a click]

***

[sfx: forest ambiance, a click]

ATHENA Recording from the drop-off point, at long last, this is Officer Athena Romero with Omnitarian Establishment Crew #0137-F. It's only been just over an hour since my last log, but we're here. We're here, and now we just have to camp out, and wait for the rest of our supplies. It'll be some downtime well-earned, I think.

ALEX I'd say so.

[sfx: walking footsteps, stopping, setting a bag down]

ATHENA Oh, hey Alex! Let me guess, the others are-

ALEX Competitive birdwatching? Yeah. I don't even think that they realise that that's what they've invented.

ATHENA Aw, jeez, even Cal? Or did you put them on babysitting duty?

ALEX Cal is... keeping score, apparently. Look, you didn't hear it from me, but sometimes I think that they miss Miles when I'm carrying their projector.

ATHENA Really?

ALEX Nah. They're babysitting.

[Athena laughs.]

ATHENA Well played, Commander.

ALEX Peace and quiet is probably one of the best sounds in the world. Second only to good conversation and blaring rock 'n' roll.

ATHENA Sounds like something I should write down.

[Alex laughs.]

ALEX Dude, no, I'm just rambling. And besides, you're recording this, aren't you?

ATHENA Yeah. I mean, I can turn it off, if you want.

ALEX It's fine with me. Kinda nice actually, to think we'll be able to look back on whatever it is we talked about on this mission when we're all old.

ATHENA I never thought about it like that. Guess I thought I was just doing my job.

ALEX Really?

ATHENA ... Yeah, why?

ALEX I don't know, I hear you every once in a while, when you're recording, and... you know how to talk. You a poet in your spare time, by chance?

[Athena laughs.]

ATHENA No, no, I'm... I don't know, I'm not anything in particular. I was corp security, for a while, and then I got into communications and chronicling protocol through that, and... yeah, that's me, if they didn't already tell you as part of the whole 'Commander' thing.beatI'm certainly not, uh, 'recogalex', though.

ALEX Okay, so you uh... know about that whole thing?

ATHENA 'Whole thing'? You mean when you were like... one of the biggest names in sporting sim gaming for years, plural? Yeah, I figured it out. Me and the others in the forces, we didn't really have anything else to keep up with, so we got very much into keeping up with those tournaments.

ALEX Alright, alright. Just thought I'd be able to keep my nerdiness a secret from my crew for a little while longer.

ATHENA Why bother? I mean, if I was as good as you at that stuff, I...realizing as she says itI never would've stopped.

ALEX I guess I just... the same as you. I thought of it as my job, after a while. It started as a way to help me cope with my anxiety, and then, I guess it turned out that I was good at it, and liked it. I liked it a lot.

But I got married, and then we were gonna have a kid, and-

ATHENA Wait, you're married?

ALEX I was. Me and Gabriel split up, a little while after our son, Orion, was born.

ATHENA Oh... that's too bad.

ALEX Oh, it's fine, really. Gabe's amazing, honestly, we both just... wanted different things out of life. It just wasn't working for us to be married anymore. Now we're friends. We're friends that used to be married, and friends that have a son that we love more than anything in the world. And I can't say I mind it, as long as I know they're both waiting for me back home.

ATHENA Wow. I mean, that sounds... that sounds like all you could hope for.

ALEX Yeah... yeah, I guess it is.

***

[sfx: forest ambiance]

MILES This is stupid. We haven't seen anything fly overhead since we got here.

FELIX Hey, hello, uh, you know the decree of the Game of Bird.

[C41′s BOOT UP JINGLE PLAYS]

C41 "They who question the sanctity of Bird will be disqualified from all future matches of Bird on the basis of disloyalty and heathendom," Miles.

FELIX And don't you forget it.

MILES I know, I know, for the millionth time, I know.

C41 Then don't go getting yourself disqualified.

MILES Hold on, was that... an encouragement?

C41 Of course not. I just like to see a good match-

MILES Okay, cause for a second there, it sorta sounded like a-

[sfx: bird caws]

FELIX BIRD! 

[sfx: a bell dinging cue]

C41 That's one point to the distinguished Couvillion gentleman.

MILES Please tell me you're not going to do that every time someone gets a point.

C41 Don't be silly! I'm not going to do it for you!

MILES Why do I even bother? It's not like-

C41 Shh. Eyes on the prize, er, sky. Whatever. Bird now, talk later.

MILES Fine.There's a long silence. 

[sfx: forest ambiance for a prolonged period]

[The three of them sigh at varying points.]

[sfx: bird song, a glitch, static]

FELIX Bir- rd?

MILES What are you talking about, there's nothing there!

C41 I mean, I'll still give you the point.

FELIX Sorry, sorry, I... eyes were playing a trick on me there.

[sfx: prolonged forest ambiance]

MILES Sooo... uh, this is getting boring fast.

C41 "They who question the sanctity of Bird-"

MILES Not what I meant! I just meant...

FELIX There does seem to be a disturbing lack of birds.

MILES Well... uh... we could play 'I Spy'.

FELIX No, no. We can't allow the shine to wear off that quickly.

[sfx: retrieving from a bag, clicks]

MILES I feel like binoculars are cheating.

FELIX Eh. Using available resources.

C41 Does it count as cheating if there aren't any birds to see?

MILES Okay, but if there were.

C41 But there aren't.

MILES Okay, but if one shows, he can like-

FELIX And it may not end up being worth the hypothetical, if our luck continues.

MILES Just making conversation.

[sfx: prolonged ambiance]

MILES So... how about this weather?

C41 Really?

MILES What? It's called small talk, ever heard of it?

C41 Sure I have. My sources tell me that it's nothing remarkable. In fact, that seems to be the whole point of it, yes?

MILES Well, I guess... not everything needs to seem 'remarkable' to be... worthwhile.

C41 Sure. Take yourself for example.

MILES You know what-

FELIX You know, I believe that might be a backhanded compliment, Officer Abbott.

C41 How dare you.

FELIX Meant nothing by it, my voltaic friend.

C41 Then you know what's good for you.

[Felix chuckles.]

MILES Yeah, right, tough guy.

C41 I'm sure I don't know what you mean. I can be intimidating, that is, when I'm not asleep in my-

FELIX Nest!

C41 What?

FELIX Nest. Up there, on your left, riiiight- There.The group's eyes land on a large nest in a nearby tree.

MILES You think there's any in there?

FELIX According to what I've learned, the season would be right for quite a few baby birds.

So, I mean, if there were... to be... lots of baby birds... I should probably get a closer look. For... research.

MILES And I could help with your research. I mean... I could help you count.

FELIX Oh, no, I mean that's uh...

It'll be quite the climb to get there, so I wouldn't ask you to-

MILES Pssh. What are friends for? You said earlier you weren't feeling so good, anyways, so like... I can go check on those birds. For science.

FELIX Oh, no, I feel fine, thank you. I think a climb might actually do me some-

MILES Here, you hold Cally. I'm climbing.

FELIX Good.

C41 Wait, what? Also, it's Cal.

MILES I'm gonna go see those birds.

[sfx: footsteps running off]

FELIX HEY! NOT FAIR.

You stay right here, Cal. I've got a tree to climb.

[sfx: footsteps running off]

C41 Well, it's not like I'm going anywhere- Wait, wait! Doctor Couvillion? Officer Abbott?! Felix? Miles? Oh, the Commander is going to be so mad at you!beat, meek...Guys?

[C41′s BOOT-DOWN JINGLE PLAYS]

***

[Alex and Athena laugh.]

ALEX No, no, you're kidding me. Stuck?

ATHENA Completely! Okay, okay, so you have to understand, Patroclus C? It's a freezing cold rock. A moon.

ALEX Nothing homey about it?

ATHENA No! No redeeming qualities! We used to call it the Snowball. So, so, so: there I am, and my sister is just screaming bloody murder with her tongue stuck to the side of the transport.

ALEX And did someone lose a tongue that day?

ATHENA Somehow, no! I had to run back to the house for hot water and leave her there, and I swear her tears were frozen to her cheeks by the time I got back and we managed to get her off the thing! God, it was awful. So the chilly mornings around here? They're nice.

ALEX And you've got the charming anecdotes to prove it, starshine.

Oh, is... is that okay? If I call you that? It's just... it came to me, and I thought it suited you. But if you don't like it-

ATHENA Oh! Oh, no, I... it's fine. I like it. It's sweet.

ALEX Okay. Okay, good.

I just figured, you know, it might... we're gonna be out here for a long time. I want to be friends with you guys, with... you. If that's what you... all want too.

ATHENA I think I'd like that, Alex. 

Can I ask you something?

ALEX Sure, if I can ask you something after.

ATHENA Oh?

ALEX Yeah, no, I had like... a question or whatever for you too, but you totally, uh, you go first.

ATHENA Okay. Sure. So, uh... here's the thing. How do you... how do you know how to find the course?

ALEX ... What?

ATHENA How do you know where we're going?

ALEX I thought you were military. They don't teach you the way-

ATHENA Not exactly. How do you know where we need to go?

ALEX Oh. Oh I... okay. I think I get it. Well, I... it started off as trial and error, right? Even when I was just picking up the patterns in my games, or anywhere else, I just would have to take what I saw and turn that inward into something I could say was the truth.

So when I had to start figuring out how pieces of the world and their patterns sorta... fit with other pieces of the world into a bigger conversation, it... I mean it wasn't easy. I don't even wanna say it was comfortable. But it was something I could be confident in, at least.

And, these days, if I don't feel confident in it... I mean, I don't feel confident in it all the time, that's actually what I should've led with. Because, like, how could I be? When things, patterns, don't add up sometimes, it feels like something is lying to me. But at least I've been doing this long enough, that I know that I don't have to trek back and learn the patterns from square one anymore. I can... take it in backwards steps.

I can seem like I'm confident in what needs to happen, and then maybe some part of me can take that little signal boost and make me feel confident. And then, if I feel confident, maybe I'll find the pattern I didn't know in the first place, and that'll feel enough like the truth to me. It'll be enough to get us by. To get me by.

But... that's just me. Sometimes I think everyone has a different way of listening for the truth, you know?

Is... is that what you were asking?

ATHENA Uh-huh. Your turn.

ALEX Okay, now, tell me the truth on this one, Romero: do you actually need to record all of those logs?

ATHENA I'm sorry?

ALEX Dude, do you have to actually do them, or is it just like your diary?

[Athena laughs.]

ATHENA Hey! What's that supposed to mean?

ALEX I mean, no judging-

ATHENA I'm the chronicler, sir, that's my job.

ALEX Alright, Officer, alright. I'll take your word for it. But if you ever wanna try out some new monologue material on something, or someone who isn't a comms, you know where to find me-

ATHENA Yeah, yeah, I'll keep that in-

[sfx: a tree branch breaking]

[Miles and Felix scream]

[sfx: a thud]

ATHENA (CONT'D) Mind. Should we be... running about this?

ALEX Running fast, Romero.

***

[sfx: forest ambiance, a campfire]

FELIX, MILES (in unison) Owwwwwww.

ALEX You two... are going... to be.. the death of me.

FELIX, MILES (in unison) Owwwwwwwwwwwww.

C41 Yeah, yeah 'ow'. Traitors.

ALEXHold still... for just a second.

FELIX Once more, with feeling?

MILES Sure. Why not?

FELIX, MILES (in unison) Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

ATHENA Officer Athena Romero recording. Still Day 28. Second first aid stop of the day. We had a tree incident. Or a gravity incident, involving a tree, I guess.

C41 You two are lucky you didn't break a leg. Or that I didn't get carried off by some dinosaur, leaving me there like that, Felix! How could you?

FELIX I... I... I'm sorry, I'm so weak-

ALEX Ah, save it, Couvillion. Not like you need your strength for much else. Speaking of which-

I'd like to propose a toast. To some time off, to finally making it to the rendezvous point where we await our booty, and to... I don't know, to no more falling out of trees, and no more backwards steps.

FELIX Here, here!

ATHENA Cheers!

MILES Cheers.

C41 Bon appetit.

ATHENA So, Cal, when can we expect for the shipment to get here?

C41 Oh, in about... three-

(distorted and ragged)

Four- three, three,- expect, no, three, seven, no, no, no expect, no, three, two, two- ERROR, retrieval denied, ERROR- ERROR, no, two three-

ATHENA Miles? Are they okay?

MILES Cally? Cal? What's wrong? Come on buddy, hello?

FELIX What is this?

MILES I don't know, they've never done this before, I-

[C41′s BOOT UP JINGLE PLAYS]

C41 Bon appetit! Sorry, you were saying? Oh, right, the shipment. Should be around three days.

MILES ... Cal? You... you okay? You weren't messing with your code again, were you?

C41 And if I was?

MILES Cal-

C41 Kidding, kidding. Joke, funny, haha. No, I wasn't, I swear. Probably just a brief malfunction, whatever it is you're talking about. I feel great!

MILES Okay. If... if you say so.

C41 But I am, like, suuuper tired, gee, I think I need some rest, okayeveryonegoodnightbutnotthetraitorswhoabandonedme! Kisses!

[C41′s BOOT DOWN JINGLE PLAYS]

ALEX I think that's the cue for everyone got some rest, huh? Sleep in tomorrow?

FELIX Oh, I'll drink to that.

ALEX Then let's go for lights out, booboo crew.

[sfx: retreating footsteps]

ALEX If you need to do a log, starshine, just make sure to put the fire out when you're finished, alright?

ATHENA Always do, Alex.

ALEX Yeah, you're right. You always do. Goodnight.

ATHENA

Goodnight.

[sfx: retreating footsteps]

ATHENA (CONT'D) You know, I... I don't even know if I have something I need to talk about tonight. I'm exhausted from the journey, and you already know all about that, HQ.

I don't know. Seems like trouble follows us wherever we go, but at least that's something to count on.

But like I said, I think I'm going to try something new tonight. I'm feeling inspired. Tonight, I'm just going to look up at the sky, and I think... I think I'm going to look for a pattern that feels true.

From Ophiuchus-22, this is Officer Romero, looking up, and signing off.

[sfx: bird song, a glitch]

***

ANNOUNCER Micro-Cosmos: A Science Fiction Podcast.

This episode, Looking Up, was written by Lauren Tucker, edited by Luka Miller, and directed by Jesse Smith, Zyrel Thompson and Lauren Tucker. It starred Jesse Smith as the voice of Athena Romero, Jackson Rossman as the voice of Miles Abbott, Luka Miller as the voice of Alex de la Cruz, Kaleb Piper as the voice of Felix Couvillion, and Pippa van Beek-Paterson as the voice of Cal. Original music by Julia Barnes, and sound editing by Tobias Friedman. Be sure to stay tuned to our feed for upcoming episodes from the new backpacking intergalactic adventure from Futuristic Trail Mix Productions. Enjoying the show, and want to give us a boost? You can support us by rating and reviewing us on iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts, or telling a friend about us.

To follow the show and find transcripts, you can find us on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram as @MicroCosPod. Questions, comments, and concerns can be emailed to us via [email protected]. Thank you for listening.

#Microcosmos #micro-cosmos #microcospod #microcos pod #micro-cosmos podcast #science fiction #sci fi #scifi #science fiction podcast #new podcast #podcast #podcasts #podcast reccomendation #audio drama

[emperorsfoot]

So, in case you missed the two tiny ship posts I made about it, my father died yesterday. 

(Thank you for your sympathy. That’s very kind, but I don’t want your condolences.)

My feelings about my father are complicated. 

He was not a bad father. He never mistreated me or my sister. 

But he was also just sort of... not... there...

Back when my parents were married, my father’s job made him travel a lot. So he was rarely almost ever home. When he did come home, he would bring back all kinds of toys, and clothing, and gifts for my sister and I and at the time that was really cool. (Looking back as an adult, I realize this was him trying to buy our love.)

He also used these business trips to cheat on my mom. (I did not find that out until years later.) 

After he left that job he was home a lot more and one would think that’d be great. But now that he was home, all he did was fight with my mom. Loudly. A lot. He never physically hurt her. Once again, my father never actually mistreated any of us. He was just never there during my formative years, then always argued with my mother -very loudly, and with slurs- and didn’t bother with censoring himself around my sister and I. 

I found out he hadn’t “left” his job, but was “fired”. And had not found a new job to replace it. 

I found this out when cops showed up at our house telling us we no longer lived there. Apparently, my father had stopped paying the mortgage and the bank repossessed our house. (I was the one who answered the door, BTW. It was terrifying for an eleven-year-old.)

Needless to say, after that my parents marital problems got worse. 

My sister moved in with her best friend’s family for the latter half of her senior year, then into the dorms at her collage. She was taken care of in terms of housing. 

My parens and I bounced around a couple different hotel rooms before we found an affordable apartment. (Yes, I was homeless for a couple months between 5th grade and 6th grade.) We were in one apartment for three years. It was not rent controlled and when my parents became unable to afford the increased rent costs we were hard pressed to move again. 

By the time we got to the second apartment, my parents were so done with each other that they weren’t even sleeping in the same room together. My father had his own room, and my mother bunked with me. 

This lasted for a few years until one day when I was seventeen, they were having one of their many, many, many fights in the kitchen and I wanted a snack but their argument was in my way. So I just up and snarled at them to get a divorce already! Why were they even staying together? Not “for the children”. My sister had been living on her own for six years now and didn’t need them. I was certainly getting no benefit from them cohabitation with me. So why were they even bothering?

So, they finally got divorced. 

My mother and I kept the apartment and my father moved out. 

I did not see or hear from him for several years. 

He sent me a birthday card once. He got a date right, but forgot my age. After that, I would get random phone calls asking me about my life, or just my day at odd times (usually while I was at work and coulee not answer). He was trying to form a connection of some kind. He was just going about it badly. 

Finally, he decided to transition from “unemployed” to “retired”, and asked me to help him move. 

He had been living somewhere down near San Diego at the time (it’s cheaper than LA, I have lived in LA my whole life) and wanted to move out of state to some place with a lower cost of living. Before contacting me, he sent out to realtors all over the country for listing packets (or whatever) and there was this one realtor who included her photo on her business card. She was in her late thirties, blond, and showing some shoulder. So my father decided she was gonna be his realtor. 

I don’t know why I agreed to go with him, but I did. We piled into his car and went on a road trip to a place called Hickman Country, Tennessee. 

The trip was four days off cheap motels, bad food, and misadventures that eventually became hilarious stories I brought back to my friends. 

Finally, we get to Hickman Country and meet the realtor he thought was pretty enough to drive 2000 mils to meet. 

Turns out, that picture was 20 years old. The realtor was almost sixty, ...and dying of cancer. Joy.

We were instead helped by another realtor who was splitting her commissions with the first one. 

This was also happening either a year after, or only a couple of months after those huge floods that devastated Nashville and the surrounding area back in 2010. (Hickman County is about an hour [depending on speed limits] south of Nashville, and was hit just as hard by the floods.) Every house we were shown was dirt-cheap and super affordable (the same acreage in LA would have been in the billions, these houses barely broke the hundred-thousands), but was also covered in a layer of fresh damp mold. Sometimes the line on the wall was well above my head indicating that this house was almost completely submerged under water. 

I didn’t want my father to buy any of these. 

But, he drove all this way and already liquified all his assets. He was not going back to LA. He was determined to buy a house here. So, we expanded the search area a little and the realtor showed him a little nothing of a town called “Cable Unincorporated” (if you look it up, you will find it on the map, but back then is was not even on the map). Coble was located within the borders of Hickman County, but not legally considered part of it, hence the use of “Unincorporated” into the name. 

The “two square” consisted of a church on one side, and a restaurant/general store/gas station on the other side. If you were on the road just passing through Coble, you wouldn’t even realize it was a town. You’d think it was an abandoned gas station. But, you wouldn’t be passing it on the road anyway because it was so far out of the way, even if you got lost, you wouldn’t even stumble upon it by accident. You had to be looking for Coble in order to find it. 

But, it was above the flood plane, and so all of the houses were dry. 

My father bought 11 acres of land with a 2-bedroom house on it for 35k. Eleven acres and a livable dwelling for $35,000. Do you understand that!?

I’m now gonna skip over a few years to 2018 when he had his stoke.

Remember how I said Coble was “out of the way”? 

Well, in January of 2018, my father had a stroke. His closest neighbor was the one who found him. We don’t know how long after the stoke it was. She just said she saw him laying on the floor and called 911. 

Even with a helicopter, it took 3 hours to get him to anything resembling a hospital. 

Thing about that for a second. 

Air lift helicopter. 

Three hours to get to a hospital. 

That’s how far out of the way, and in the middle of nowhere he chose to live. 

Anyway, after the stroke he could not go back to living alone. So, my sister and I flew out there to try and figure things out. It was too expensive to bring him back to California with us. Even if we pooled our resources we would not have been able to pay for his care. So, he had to stay in Tennessee. We found a home that was affordable and had an opening and we arranged for him to live there. This one was in a real town with a deal hospital. 

He fought us at every step of the way. 

He wanted to go back to his house in the middle of “in the middle of nowhere”, and die there. 

In retrospect, we should have just let him do that. My sister and I spent the net two years slowly being dragged down in debt paying for his care. 

Yeah, I said Tennessee was “more affordable” but being “more affordable” does not mean that it was actually “affordable”. And, because he owned that absurdly large piece of land, it disqualified him for any kind of state assistance. 

We tried to sell the property, but -amazingly- no one wants to buy large tracks of land in an area that’s so out of the way it might as well be a mythical fae land only accessible through a mushroom ring. 

Anyway, that was two years ago. It’s April 2020.

He’s finally dead now. 

My sister and I are both in debt so deep we’ll never be able to pull ourselves out of it. 

And there’s a global pandemic going on so I can’t even collect his ashes. 

So, that’s the deal with me and my father. 

[crowkingwrites]

Battle of the Bands (Ch.10)

Pairing: Robb Stark x Reader, Jon Snow x Reader, Viserys Targaryen x Reader, Ramsay Bolton X Reader

Summary: You just moved into the city for the first tie all by yourself. After you get your dream summer job working for a small magazine, you find yourself in the middle of the city’s rock festival: Battle of the Bands. Local rock bands throughout the city compete to win a record deal that could change their lives. Your job? Get close to them and write about them online.A single girl in the city surrounded by rocker boys during the summertime. What could possibly go wrong?

Words: 2664 // AO3 Link

Chapter One // Chapter Two // Chapter Three // Chapter Four // Chapter Five // Chapter Six // Chapter Seven // Chapter Eight // Chapter Nine

The first time you ever heard My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade live, you had a nervous chill crawl down your back. It brought you a secret kind of joy that you couldn’t articulate to anyone. Robb Stark offering you a sweet, fried food and asking to talk also gave you a nervous chill down your back, but it brought you no joy.

“Alright,” you nodded. “I guess.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Let’s…talk,” you said. Robb smiled gratefully and sighed with relief. You both walked in silence until you reached a secluded part of the festival: the historic section. Outdoor panels were set up with plaques and pictures from the past. The Battle of the band festival dated all the way back to the 1930’s when people had so little, but came to the park in flocks to listen to music and maybe feel a little bit happier. Both of you had polished off the elephant ear. You licked off the remaining cinnamon sugar off of your fingers.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking these past few days,” Robb broke the silence. “And I’ve made up my mind on a lot of things. And I want to say I’m sorry. Jon told me what happened. I didn’t realize all of this would affect you so greatly. I thought you didn’t care, and I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you have panic attacks often?”

“Yeah. I-uh, well yeah I do,” you admitted. You touched the back of your neck. “I know I’m confident and extroverted, but I have my moments. I get scared. I get really, really wound up and it feels like everything’s falling apart. Jon told you about that day?”

“Yes and no. He yelled at me about it. He was pissed. Jon wanted me to go apologize to you immediately and tore me up about it. I’ve always been quick to anger. Sansa and Jon have always humbled me when I get out of hand. Both of them have bad anxiety.”

You thought of the pretty, rich Sansa with thousands of Instagram followers and a cute youtube channel. You thought of her lovely figure and her flawless skin. Her smile could light up an entire city. She didn’t need to rely on family money when she made so much of her own. She was an IT girl and she had anxiety.

“Sometimes, I wish I could turn back time and change things,” Robb said.

“Like with Robyn?”

“No. I don’t regret what happened with Robyn. She was a mess. I was a mess. We both made mistakes and it happened. If I regretted it, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

“And you regret what happened with me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want Robyn in my life anymore. I wanted her gone. I regret what happened with you because I want you around. I have feelings for you, Y/N. Real romantic feelings.”

If you were till eating the elephant ear, you would’ve choked. Luckily, you weren’t eating anything. Still, you choked on the air round you, making an awkward seas creature noise. Robb touched your arm and looked over you concerned.

“Are you ok? Do you need water? What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine!” you said. That was a lie. You were not fine. You just lied to your boss. Good job.

“I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have—

“No, no. It’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting that.”

Robb looked away from you a bit. He turned back to meet your eyes with his own. “So, how do you feel about me?”

The thought was occurred to you since you met him. There an immediate attraction to him. He was your equal in every way. He loved creativity and his small magazine thrived in the city. He was quick-tempered, but he apologized for his actions. He was kind, protective, and the way he smiled at you made you swoon.

Could you date Robb? Did you want to? After what he said and how he held your job over your head, it was hard to decide. Robb still waited while you stare off into space.

“I’m attracted to you. I think you know that,” you smiled, feeling a rush of color coming to your cheeks. “I like being around you. You make me happy.”

“So if I asked you out on a date?” Robb was tip-toeing and you knew it.

“I would have to say no.” You touched Robb’s chest. “What you said and did really hurt. I’ve lost—

“You lost your trust in me,” Robb completed the sentence. He let out a few mumbled cuss words and dug his hands in his pockets.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re right. You have every right. I fucked up, but I’d like to make it up to you. I’m not sorry for how I feel. I like you. Oh, I like you so much. If I can change your mind, would you consider me then?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I would,” you nodded. Robb smiled wide and took your hand. He kissed the back of it softly. Your heart leaped high above you free to touch the sky and kiss the birds.

“I won’t let you down. I promise.”

Robb’s words left you warm and fuzzy inside. You remembered Jon and his kind words and actions. Feeling generous, you called him, wanting to thank him for everything’s he’s done. You heard a slight fumble and then a sleepy voice.

“Hello?”

“Jon, did I wake you? I’m so sorry,” you giggled to yourself.

“What? Oh, I was only napping. Don’t worry. What’s up?” Jon’s slow drawl made it hard to focus. You secretly wished you could wake up to his sleepy voice.

“Uh, Robb came to me. We talked about things.”

“Did he say he was sorry? I told him to say he was sorry. I swear his anger gets the better of him.”

“He did! He did. I just wanted to thank you for everything.”

“You didn’t have to say that.”

“But I want to. You’ve been so nice to me since I got here. What did I do to deserve you?”

“You have no idea,” Jon laughed awkwardly. “I’m really happy you and Robb are getting along.”

“Why do I sense there’s a ‘but’?”

“There’s no ‘but’.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah! So, did he ask you out?”

“He did.”

“And what did you say?”

“I told him no,” you told Jon. You heard some shuffling around and then a more alert voice.

“You turned him down? Why?”

“Because I don’t trust him. Not like before. I don’t trust him like I trust you.” You realized what you said right after you said it. The realization hit both of you at the same time. What you said was true. Robb may have been kind to you, but Jon was kinder. Robb gave you a job, but Jon gave you what you needed: understanding and a hug. You had almost forgotten you were on the phone with him. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“It’s alright,” Jon reassured you. “I was thinking too. Could I see you?”

“Yeah,” you nodded. “Yeah, you can.”

The next day you found yourself looking in a mirror. You put so much effort into your outfit that you started to doubt yourself. Maybe your shorts were too short or your t-shirt wasn’t clever enough. Margie hugged you from behind.

“And why does the cutest girl look so sad in front of a mirror?”

“Because I’m just confused,” you admitted, relaxing under her touch. “I told Robb that I would give him another chance. He wants to be with me, but I trust Jon more.”

“What about Viz and Ramsay? You fucked them. You trust them too, right?”

“No,” You shook your head. “Viz and I aren’t talking anymore. He doesn’t want to chase me. He wants to be chased. As for Ramsay, well…” Your voice trailed off.

“Viz dumped you?” Margie said.

“You can’t dump someone you were never dating, Margie.” You let your shoulders slump. Margie turn you to her.

“Do you remember how we met?” she smiled.

“Online? Or real life?”

“Online, silly billy,” Margie opened your bedroom window. Sun streamed through with a gentle wind blowing air through. “Ben was cheating. He couldn’t make up his mind about who he liked more. You’re confused. Just like Ben was.”

“You’re comparing me and Ben? Ben was a piece of shit.”

“Ben wanted all the girls to himself. You don’t.”

“What? You don’t think I want girls to myself?” you played with Margie’s hair. She rolled her eyes.

“I mean, you’re caught up in four—three guys. You want love, not some guy for fucking. You’ve always wanted love. The great adventure of it all. The glory and the swooning of it all. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with you.” Margie hugged you tightly.

“Thank you.” Margaery was your best friend. When you had doubt, she was there supporting your angelic wings and your devilish horns. Both of you felt constant vibrations in your pockets.

“Loras?” Margie looked at her phone.

Loras: [I need you both to come down here. At sunspot.] Loras: [Ramsay’s going nuts.] Loras: [Jesusss he’s drunk. Get over here now.] You stood outside the Sunspot, next to Margaery, watching an angry young man rage inside. Ramsay threw down and entire table, food and all. He screamed at Loras when you stepped inside.

“Fuck you!” He said. “Fuck your fucking boyfriend! Fuck!” You exchanged a look with Margie. Margie looked to her brother. Loras stood there frozen with his hands up, shrugging at both of you.

“Ramsay,” you held your hands up and approached the raging bull. Ramsay turned to look at you. His eyes raged, but then softened when he saw you. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve been disqualified,” Ramsay told you. “Some bands thought my band was too inappropriate to compete.” Ramsay looked hard at Loras as if he meant to burn him with just a look. You turned Ramsay’s face back to you.

“Calm down, we’ll get to the bottom of this, ok? Loras didn’t do anything. Let’s go home.”

“Go home? Go home? Are you fucking—I know it was him! Him and Renly!” Ramsay lunged Loras’ way. You had to think of something quick.

“I’ll go home with you. We can go for round two if you want,” you winked at him. Ramsay’s dark chuckle echoed through the restaurant. You reached for his hand and he happily took it. You guided a drunk and horny boy out of the restaurant and left Margaery to deal with the mess. One uber ride later and you found yourself in the same apartment you left only days earlier.

You eyed the same dog leash, classic rock posters, and guitar nestle in the corner. Ramsay’s apartment seemed to be a clean bachelor pad with horror and historic memorabilia displayed everywhere. A small beagle puppy yelped at your feet when you stepped into the kitchen.

“Audrey!’ Ramsay snapped. The sall pup stopped barking and smiled at you with her tongue out.

“I didn’t know you had a puppy! She’s so precious!” You bent down and gave the good girl lots of love. You obsessed over her big brown eyes and big ears.

“I just got her. Haven’t gotten around to telling everyone yet. So, round two?” Ramsay’s hands played with your hips. He pulled you to him and closed the space between you.

“What happened back there?”

“Are you going to make me talk about my feelings? I don’t do that.”

“Ramsay, your band got cut.”

“No, we were disqualified. Band cuts are tomorrow. We had the fucking votes.”

“So what happened?”

Ramsay backed off of you. His fists clenched at his sides. Ramsay pulled out another bottle of liquor and poured himself a little. He tossed it back and sniffed sharply.

“You weren’t at our last show. It was wild. The mosh pit was insane. People screamed my name like they were worshipping a god. I had this idea that on one of our songs, we would sacrifice a goat on stage.”

“What?” you reacted, stepping back.

“It wasn’t a real fucking goat. It was only a prop, but someone thought it was real.”

“But why did you think it was Loras?”

“Not Loras, Renly. I know his band doesn’t have the votes to go through the next two weeks, but my band did. If my band didn’t make it, his band would.”

“That’s…wrong.”

“People play dirty here. This happened last year too. Bands would sabotage each other and steal fans. When I do something creative on stage, it’s seen as obscene. But, other great bands have done the same as me. Doesn’t make much sense, does it?”

“Is there anything we can do?” your eyebrows knitted together. “Could we report this?”

“No, it’s done. Straight from the judge’s mouth. We’re out, and I’ll have to report to my father tomorrow.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, my father and I cut a deal. If my band didn’t win and get this record deal, then I have to clean up my act,” Ramsay tossed another drink back. You felt a vibration in your shorts. You wanted to ignore it, but the last time you ignored your phone it got you in trouble. You peeked to see a text from Jon.

Jon: [Were you still down to hang today? I wanted to see you.]

“You can’t help me. Not even if you tried,” Ramsay said. A part of you felt bad for him. It rooted inside like a growing plant. Ramsay was rough, wild, and awful. He liked himself that way. You did too. He wasn’t gentle or romantic like Jon or Robb, and he had a hold on you. You didn’t want to let go of him easily.

You weren’t sure why you did it. You remembered watching the Phantom of the Opera for the first time. In the finale, the music swelled as Christine kissed the Phantom for the first time. You heard the chorus in your head. In that moment, you always thought that Christine saved the Phantom. You placed your hands on Ramsay’s face and kissed him softly just as Christine kissed the Phantom. Maybe you cared for him more than you thought. Maybe you wanted to save him.

The moment was quiet and gentle. Ramsay didn’t bite you. He didn’t grab your ass. He just stood there and kissed you back. When you broke the kiss, Ramsay tugged on you and kept you close. Your forehead touched his.

“Why are you so nice to me?” Ramsay asked. “You know I don’t deserve it.”

“I don’t know,” you said. Ramsay’s eyes narrowed on you. You caught a whiff of the alcohol from his breath.

“What are you doing here?”

“I want to help you.”

“And kissing me softly is going to get me a record deal?”

You took a few steps back and looked down from him. Ramsay pulled you into him again for the third time. His hand interlocked with yours.

“Just say it.”

“Say what?” you asked. Ramsay kissed your cheek. His nose brushed by yours and he started laughing. You felt another vibration in your shorts. It had to be Jon.

“I like you too, stupid,” Ramsay said.

You peeked at your phone to see Jon’s text.

Jon: [Where did you want to meet up?]

“Oh, you’re meeting up with him,” Ramsay caught a peek at your phone.

“What? No. I mean—

“You’re not my girlfriend, Y/N,” Ramsay winked. “You can kiss whoever you please. I do like competition. I mean, I already knocked out Viserys. What’s another guy? It won’t matter in the end. You’re going to mine either way.”

You left Ramsay’s apartment dialing Jon on his cell. You weren’t sure what just happened. In two days, you were dumped. Forgiven. Asked out by two boys. And one already thought of you as his girlfriend.

Note to Self: Looking at memes isn’t going to solve your boy issues.

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#battle of the bands #batb #Robb Stark #robb stark imagine #robb stark x reader #robb stark/reader #viserys targaryen #viserys targaryen imagine #viserys targaryen x reader #viserys targaryen/reader #jon snow #jon snow imagine #jon snow x reader #jon snow/reader #ramsay bolton #ramsay bolton imagine #ramsay bolton x reader #game of thrones #game of thrones fanfic

[sagethewolfblooded]

Fool’s Walk- The Arcana ch.1

also i hope the read more works, because i have never implemented it before in my life

Fandom: The Arcana

Rating: General audiences (will change later)

Warnings: None (yet)

Word count: 4470 words

Characters: Asra, Nadia, Julian, Original Characters

It was a quiet night, a soft snow falling to the ground. The moon left little light. Amongst the hollow, one large, black dog stood. To his sides were two other canines, one much larger than the other. They talked among themselves quietly, not wishing to disturb the peace. Near the edge of the hollow, a shape the same color of the snow appeared. The black dog’s claws slightly pierced the frozen earth. His short cropped ears perked high, golden eyes stared down the newcomer with intrigue. His companions went silent, intrigued.

The white canine approached quickly, his enormous paws scraping snow from the ground as he dragged his paws. His own companions kept a few feet away from him. His white fur, lightly dusted in cold snow, was thick and pristine. He had clearly prepared for this moment. His head held high, his dark eyes filled with intent, he returned the stare. With every crunch of his paws on the snow, the black dog could feel his companion’s worry growing.

The hollow filled with a fear-scent, radiating from the four accomplices. Both leaders held their heads high and let nothing distract them. Finally, the smaller white dog came to a stop. The two continued to stare until the lighter male lowered his head to the ground. He bowed, and it seemed to pain him to do so. The black male stood and returned the gesture.

“I supposed you’ve come to challenge my leadership, Stone?” Asked the larger canine. Both of his companions edged further away from him.

“Why even ask? Why the hell else would I be out here in the cold, to play in the snow?” He shot back. A deep sneer tugged his lips to reveal pristine white fangs. “I’m not a pup anymore, Walker.”

Stone flicked his tail and his two companions dispersed from his sides. Walker’s did the same, joining the others on the sidelines. The four conversed silently, their worried eyes doing the talking.

“If you’re going to do it, then do it. I assume you remember the words, yes?”

Hatred flooded his eyes for just a moment before it dissipated. Stone blew air through his nostrils, causing a plume of vapor to conceal his face. Silence followed the noise, everything seeming to hold its breath.

“I, the White-Stone, Son of the Dark-Sky, challenge you.” Walker dipped his head forward enough for Stone to notice, who quickly caught himself with a sigh.

“I, the White-Stone, Son of the Dark-Sky…and the Bare-Moor, challenge you. I understand that if I lose, you may wish to exile me. You understand that if I win, I may wish to exile you. If these terms are satisfactory to us both, then announce so to the pack.”

“I, the Night-Walker, Child of the Great-Burrow and the Sun-Runner, accept your challenge. We will regroup in the meeting glade with the pack.”

With one last glare, Stone turned and stalked back to the entrance. Without asking to follow, his two companions leapt to their paws to follow. They kept their heads down and made little sound. Walker’s own companions rejoined his side.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Walker. If…if he becomes the new Alpha, nothing will be the same.”

He hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Nothing can stay the same forever, Springer.” A sigh escaped his jaws and he let his head fall. “Even so…his heart is filled with hate and anger. Who knows what he’ll do to gain power.”

Springer paused for a moment before filling the heavy silence.

“I mean…look at his father, what he did. He cheated and payed the price. Stone can’t possibly still be upset over that it’s-..it’s been years! And Faethon didn’t even care about him that much. Or any of his other bastards for that matter…” He shook his red-tinted coat, sending out several small flurries of snow.

Closing his eyes, the alpha tried not to think back to his last challenger, Faethon. A blood-thirsty beast, he had attempted to tear open Walker’s throat during their battle. When he had been disqualified for going against the rules, he later attempted to assassinate Walker while he slept. His punishment was an execution done by public pit. One of his many offspring, Stone witnessed the entire affair and has since kept his anger contained. Until now. It pained Walker to think about.

Both companions enveloped their leader, pushing up gently on his sides in a comforting gesture. Walker allowed himself to enjoy the feeling of warmth for just a moment before he separated from the two. He paced back and forth, kicking up the snow as he walked.

“We’ll be here for you. You know that.” His larger companion murmured. Love shone in Walker’s eyes.

“And I’m glad of it, Bull. The two of you have been by my side for a long time, and I can never tell you two enough how grateful I am for you. Now,” He exclaimed, turning to Bull and Springer. “We can’t wait any longer. Let’s call the pack and get this over with.”

–

Canines of all sizes and colors poured from their warm homes into the cold valley of the meeting glade, some in their human forms with blankets still wrapped tightly around their less-protected skin. Most idly chatted about anything and everything, but a heavy layer of nervousness coated everything in its path. Stone, his bright white coat stark against the shadows he hid himself in, paced angrily.

“Stop stalling, you murderer.” He mumbled under his breath. Each word dripped with poison. “Let’s do it already.”

After what felt like lifetimes, a solo howl split the noise of the pack, silencing everyone. Stone lifted his head with a grin. Anticipation filling his paws, he rippled his muscles and bared his teeth towards the howl. Without waiting another second, he shot from his containment area before coming to a halt at the edge of the gathering circle.

The pack members there moved out of his way, their curious eyes boring into him. He paid them no mind, taking his place marked with an ‘X’ in the snow. Ahead, he could see Walker clear as day. The large dark body of the current alpha threatened to grip his heart with fear, but he waved it off. He had come here to do one thing. Excitement and anticipation flowed through his veins, warming him against the cold of the winter dusk. His two right hands, Bull and Springer approached Stone to face him directly.

“Challenger. We are the-”

“I know damn well who and what you are.” He cut Bull off with a deep growl. “Just tell me the rules so I can get this over with.”

The two exchanged irritated glances before Bull continued.

“Areas that are not allowed to be bitten are: the throat, the stomach, the genitals, and the eyes. Doing so will require an automatic disqualification. You may not leave the ring, doing so is an automatic disqualification. In the event of a disqualification, the current alpha may decide your punishment as they wish, no matter how lax or violent it may be. The fight will be over once an opponent has defaced the other’s pack tattoo, or unless one party is no longer able to fight. If you still wish to continue, please state so. If you do not, there is no shame in turning back.”

Stone could feel the hope pricking the edges of his statement, hoping to intimidate the younger dog into stepping down, but he had come too far now to back down. Puffing out his chest, he stared deep into both of their eyes.

“I accept the challenge.”

“Then, by our call, you may begin.”

–

Everything had happened so quickly. Once Springer and Bull retreated to the sidelines and given the signal, the ring was alive with the sounds of guttural barks and howls, fur flying in all directions. Snow was kicked up in the daze, giving the two fighters the illusion of disappearing. Blood splashed the ground and tainted the snow that was left. Everyone in attendance to the battle for dominance held their breath. They all know how it went the last time.

Time slowed as Walker was slammed to the ground on his back. Stone gripped his chest with his fangs, clearly with no intent to release him. Blood pooled at his paws from a deep wound in his shoulder. Part of his ear had been torn, but he took no notice. Walker’s jaws were widened in an animalistic screech, showing who the clear winner was. His chest glowed brightly under his dark fur, then faded until it no longer shone. Instead, Stone’s chest inherited the glow.

The white dog dropped his opponent, letting him fall to the blood tainted ground. He had won.

“I told you, I TOLD you I would win. I did it. I’m the alpha now.” He growled through gasps of air. “I’m the alpha..”

Walker’s chest heaved in pain as he turned over and pulled himself out from under the victor. He couldn’t look up. He couldn’t meet anyone’s eye. Didn’t need to, he could feel the fear from every angle. Deep in his stomach, he could feel a sharp pain that became more agonizing with each breath. His whole body ached. He refused to turn around, to face Stone.

“I’m the alpha now.” Stone’ voice rung throughout the clearing as he repeated himself for all to hear. “I’m the alpha now, so you know what that means?”

He had lowered his voice so that only he and Walker could hear his next words.

“You’d better run, bitch. I’ll even give you a head start.”

Despite the crying of his body to stop, fear fueled his limbs to run. He looked no one in the eye, said nothing. The further he ran, the tighter he could feel his body becoming. The tight pain of a beast being thrown from the pack. His heart felt full of lead, as if it would fall out of his chest at any moment. Though he couldn’t hear Stone or any of the others giving chase, he knew he shouldn’t- couldn’t- stop.

After hours of fleeing, knowing of only one place to go, Walker found himself at the mouth of a cave. The cavern gave off a heavy wave of magic. This was the only place he could go. Without a second thought, the exiled dog pushed onward into his only hope for safety.

————

My name is Temba, and I’m an apprentice to a wonderful Magician. Who…just so happens to be leaving. Again. To go off to wherever it is that he wanders on nights like this. He’s packing his bag as I close the curtains of the shop, making sure to tuck them neatly together so that it would look neat.

“Do you have to go, Asra?” I ask my master once the curtains are finished. “I don’t feel confident being left by myself.”

He shook his head and shouldered his bag.

“You’re more than ready now Temba. Here, I’ll even give you this.”

I watch curiously as he fishes to the bottom of his bag. Finally, he pulls out a tarot deck, his deck. I can feel the energy coming off of it in waves, comforting my nerves. He held it out to me with a gentle smile on his face as he leaned back on the counter behind him.

“Asra, that’s your tarot deck.”

“Yes it is. And I’m leaving it with you.” He replied, matter-of-factly.

“I can’t take your deck Master- I won’t.”

“You’re still calling me that…” He mumbled. Pulling away from the counter, he started walking to the backroom before turning around and waiting for me. “Why don’t we let the cards decide, then, if they wish to stay?”

He pulled out the closest chair for me then went around the table to take a seat. The deck was sitting in front of my place, so I sat down and started shuffling nervously. Doing readings wasn’t the easiest thing for me to do, but Asra’s kind gaze helped. I laid the cards out on the table in front of him.

He reached forward and tapped a card, asking me to flip it over. I did and was met with the familiar sight of a beautiful fish with wispy fins, joined by three cups. However, it was reversed. The Three of Cups. Asra seemed surprised to see it, but nonetheless looked between me and the card, flicking his hand in an open gesture as if asking me to continue. I focused on the card and could hear- could feel- the meaning tickling the base of my neck.

“Someone from your past will be coming, someone you regret losing. It’s not too late to fix the rift.”

“It’s..not?” Asra said aloud. This is one of the few times I’ve seen him genuinely confused.

“Rejoice with your loved ones.”

I looked down at the card, waiting for more. Nothing came. Instead of dwelling, I look up at Asra to see him contemplating. His mess of white hair covered most of his face as he leaned forward on his hands.

“Asra?”

He started, his purple eyes widened as if he remembered that I was there. Before he could speak, there was a loud and frantic knocking at the door. With that, he rose from the table and picked up his scarf and hat. From her hiding spot, Faust slithered over to him and climbed up his leg to rest on his shoulder.

“Just as well, I can’t stay any longer. I’ll be back. Soon. I promise.”

His hand felt heavy on my shoulder as he left through the back door. Just then, I was reminded of the guest at the door by another round of hurried knocking.

Rushing to me feet, I approach the door and ponder for a moment who would be at our door this time of night. At first I thought I had forgotten to turn out the light, but the voice behind the wood snuffed it out.

“I know you’re in there, magician!”

It sounded so familiar, so commanding. Hurriedly I yank the door open, only to be greeted by a sight I’ve only ever heard whispers of. A beautiful woman with dark skin entered the shop, pulling back her purple scarf to reveal a face that I would have never thought would be seen this side of Vesuvia. It was the Countess.

“Forgive me for the lateness, but I could not bare another sleepless night.”

I take it that my face must have betrayed my feelings, for the Countess laughed. It was a light, heavenly sound. The dark blush that flooded my face surely would have been teased by Asra had he still been here. Composing myself, I straighten up and gave a smile.

“Countess! I…would be lying if I said I had expected you to come to the shop. What could I possibly do for you, tonight?”

“As I said, I could not take one more night without proper rest.” She walked with such grace the rest of the way inside, the click of the door as it closed was lost to me. “Funny, you look different than I had imagined in my dreams.”

Her…what? Dreams? I guess my mouth must have made me look like a fish the way I kept opening and closing it without a sound, for she gave another small laugh.

“I know what the people believe I think of those in your line of work, but something about you feels different.” She hesitated on ‘different’ as if it wasn’t the word she wanted to use. “But nonetheless. I would like to propose something to you. However, in return, I have questions for your cards. I would like a reading, and after that…I will discuss my end.”

She wanted a reading? A reading, of all things? Shaking my head of any other thought I may have had, I sweep my arm gently through the air to gesture to the back room.

“I can do that for you, Countess. This way please.”

As she passed me to enter the room, I got a hint of jasmine. She took the seat I had sat in moments before, and I took Asra’s. I again grabbed the deck and began shuffling, trying to keep my eyes anywhere but on the Countess. Reading the cards was far from my strong suit, but something so simple as shuffling them was the bane of my existence. If I even looked at the Countess, I was afraid I’d drop every single card. Her eyes were on me, I knew even without looking. But they didn’t feel scrutinizing as I had expected, rather they felt curious. Searching. It was almost comforting.

With the deck properly shuffled, I laid the cards before her. As my fingers slid over each card, I could feel their familiar hint of magic pulse underneath. I waited for her to pick a card, sparing a glance at her. Red eyes were concentrating on the cards, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. Suddenly her eyes flickered up to me, glistening with silent laughter as I quickly looked away. A slender arm rose to gently tap a card.

I slipped it over and was greeted by the sleek face of The Magician. I felt my shoulders sag in relief, though I don’t know why.

“How appropriate. And what might they hold for me?” Her lips rose at the edges in a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

I swallowed thickly and focused on the card. The Magician’s voice was and wasn’t in my head, in my ears. I could see the words in my head along with a voice, but it was in a language unheard.

“You have a plan. One that’s important to you.”

Before I could say much more, the Countess interrupted me.

“And? Should I set it in motion?” She leaned forward on her hands, like a perched bird watching its prey. I wriggled in my seat.

“Yes. Now is the time to act. Everything has fallen into place.”

“Say no more.”

Abruptly she stood and left the parlor, striding into the main room of the shop. I cleaned the cards up as best I could- leaving them a mess, really, but I’d clean it up later anyway- and followed her into the front. Wringing my hands nervously, I looked up at her as she covered her head once again in her shawl.

“I would appreciate it if you were to join me tomorrow at the palace. You will be my guest of highest honor, anything you need will be provided. All I require after that is your continued cooperation.”

She stood for just a moment longer before I realized I should probably open the door. Nervously, I skittered past her to pull on the handle, using its size to conceal me from the Countess and any further embarrassment. Another smile lifts the Countess’s lips, but this one is clearly genuine.

“I thank you, shopkeep. One again, I apologize for the lateness of my intrusion. I will see you tomorrow.”

And with that, she was gone. I weakly pushed on the door and let out a heavy sigh. It never felt so awkward to do a reading for someone, let alone someone of such high status. I leave the front room to retreat back to the parlor once more only to be greeted by an elongated shape. A flash of auburn hair topped the shape, pulling it together as a human shape.

I must have gasped or made my presence known in some way because the person turned around. Based on his expression, he must have been just as surprised as I was to see someone in the back room. His shock was quickly replaced with a dashing smirk as he leaned forward on the table. His right hand sat atop a plague doctor’s mask with red glass covering the eye holes.

“Ah, hello there, witch. Where is your master?”

I took a shaky step back and licked my dry lips. The man rose and took one step towards me. Because of his long stride, he was almost right in front of me. My hands instinctively searched for something to protect myself with. Nothing was within range, causing my mind to race. I had to think of something, and fast.

“Now, now, no need to be so hasty-”

I kick out a leg to catch at his knee. It connected and dragged him down like a falling tree. The cough that came out of him when he finally fell to the ground almost made me feel bad. In his moment of pain, I searched frantically for something, anything, to use as a weapon. I grabbed an empty bottle that once held a tonic and pointed it at the man. His face was familiar, but I couldn’t recall where I had known him. It tickled my brain trying to think of it.

“You sure do have some fight in you, huh? Well lucky for you, I’m not here for any of this.”

He stood up confidently, moving his mask around in his hands. Long fingers fiddled with the straps on the back while others tapped along the beak. Like a bird, his predatory gaze watched me.

“I’m here for the cards.”

His voice sounded familiar, too. The way his mouth moved when he pronounced words was familiar, why was it so familiar-wait. The cards?

“The…cards? You want them?”

‘Of course he doesn’t want them. If he did, he would have snatched them while we were busy with the Countess.’

“A reading, I mean. You can do that, can’t you?” He tilted his head to the side, almost like a cat.

I lowered the bottle and squinted my eyes, trying to remember anything I knew about this man. The way he looked at me asked if I had heard a thing he said.

“Who exactly are you?” I asked, choosing my words carefully and slowly. The way he blinks at me shows that he hadn’t anticipated me asking it.

“Why do you need to know, shopkeep?”

“I have to know in order to read the cards for you.”

His facial expression was priceless, as if he hadn’t expected me to seriously read the cards for him. I’m curious to see what happens. If I do what he says, he may leave without causing any harm for either of us. I could see the hesitation in his eyes, debating on telling me or not.

“Julian Devorak.”

The way he said it and tensed up as he did made me think that he had expected me to react to it, but I didn’t. Instead, I waved a hand for him to enter the back room. Confusion overtook his features before he waved it off. Pushing aside the curtain to the parlor once more, he bowed low and mocking.

“Magicians first~”

“What a gentleman.” I deadpanned as I past, causing a grin to spread on his face.

He took a seat across from me and watched with curiosity as I gathered the cards up from the previous reading and reshuffled them. My limbs felt tired and heavy from doing so many readings this quickly- it was normally Asra who did them for customers- but I kept on. Occasionally I would look up at Julian while I shuffled, only to catch him staring at me. He’d give a cheeky grin and would continue staring until I finally finished shuffling. Nervously, I spread the cards out in front of us.

“Pick a card.”

“Any card?” His eyebrows raised in jest, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“No, you can only choose a certain pattern- yes any card!”

His amusement was contagious, as was his laugh. I felt more at ease now, sinking into the plush chair as I waited for his pick. Black gloved fingers hovered over several cards before he finally stopped on two, side-by-side. He would hesitate over one before switching to the other, then would hesitate on it and go to its neighbor again instead. His other hand was clutching the headpiece of his outfit, the mask, and was rhythmically tapping on one of the glass eyes. I wondered if he could feel my impatience, because he glanced up only to stare back at the cards immediately once he noticed I was watching.

Finally, he chose a card. I reached forward to flip it over. Death. Its horse skull centerpiece looked oddly bright tonight, but I brushed it off.

“Death.”

I could feel the beginning of its words tickle my head, but it was cut off by Julian’s eruptuous laughter. I was startled as he stood, suddenly towering over me. It wasn’t long before he stormed out the curtain door to the front room. He was saying something, but I couldn’t catch most of it until I was standing in the room with him.

“She has no interest in an abomination like me.”

It seemed like it was the end of whatever little tangent he went on. He reattached his mask with a flourish, strapping the bands and buckles around his tousled red head. Gripping the door handle, he turned to me one last time.

“You’ve been hospitable, so I’ll let you in on a secret. Your witch friend will be back for you. He’s taught you his tricks. You may even say that he cares for you. But when he returns…” He hesitated on his words. Even without seeing his eyes, I could tell he was tossing his next words around in his head. “Seek me out. For your own sake. That creature is far more dangerous than you know.”

He lept into the street, and I followed. I stood on the shop’s steps and stared after him.

“Well, the time is late and it would appear that I’ve overstayed my welcome. Adieu!”

Then he was gone. I’m not even sure where he went, he just…vanished. I take another moment before shaking my head and checking the lantern to be sure it’s off. It’s too late for this. I reenter the shop and make my way to the back room one last time- hopefully- to clean up the cards. Luckily, no one is there and no one began pounding on the door. After the cards are cleaned up and stored in a safe space, I climb the stairs to the living area above.

I have never been so happy to see the bed. Sleepily, I drop onto the plush mattress and melt into the dozens of pillows and blankets. Anything else that had to be done can be done tomorrow. Without any sort of hesitation, I drift right off to sleep.

#the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana julian #the arcana nadia #the arcana asra #the arcana apprentice #fan apprentice #wolf #werewolf #weredog #dog #beast #oc #writing #the arcana headcanons #the arcana writing #the arcana story

[idolobsessed]

Lonely Without You

Word Count: 1,025

Warnings: Alcohol?

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Hyungwon x Reader

Authors Note: I’m sorry for any mistakes I missed during editing. This was a quick piece I threw together for a friend. I hope you enjoy!

It all started with a dare. And alcohol of course. Hyungwon and you had gathered with the other boys. Not for any special reason, just to spend time together and have fun. You thought that it was a great idea. Hyungwon had been acting a little strange all day. Surely a get together with all of his friends would make him feel better right?

"No, Hyungwon, Y/N  cannot be on your team!" By now you'd all had quite a few drinks. Enough that everyone was somehow roped into Minhyuk's dare of playing the pepero game.

"Jooheon's right. You two are dating!"

"So? What does that have to do with anything?" your boyfriend has been trying to convince everyone else to have you on his team for the past half hour.

"So you two could kiss and it wouldn't be a big deal. That defeats the whole point of the game-"

"Yea! Get as close as you can but don't let your lips touch." Everyone starts to throw in their opinions, which don't vary much from each other.

"We won't cheat! I told you already." You try not to giggle at his uncharacteristic whiny tone.

"Babe," You place a hand on his arm to draw his attention to you. "it'll be fine. I trust you." with a smile you step away from him. "I'll play with Wonho."

"Okay! Everyone ready?" Minhyuk, ever the MC instructs everyone to stand with their partners and get ready for their turn.

"We'll go first. Changkyun!" At the call of his name, he steps up to the older boy wasting no time, and no space.

"Ha! Look at how short that is. We're gonna win!" If you'd learned anything about Minhyuk, it's that he's much louder when under the influence.

"Next!" Kihyun and Jooheon, also much louder when under the influence, break away too soon thanks to Changkyun 'slipping'.

"Again! He pushed me!"

"Jooheon you can't there aren't any more pieces."

"Did you just shove them in your mouth?"

"No!"

Hyungwon, eager to get the game over with goes on in the chaos; but with everyone's attention still on Jooheon and Changkyun, he gets disqualified.

"Y/N," Jooheon calls out. "It's up to you. Don't let him win. He'll become a monster."

Behind you, someone whispers "Fighting!"

"Alright Wonho, let's do this." you can see that he's nervous and honestly you are too. The only person you're ever this close with is Hyungwon. It's weird to see someone else at such a personal distance. And the only way your alcohol infected brain can think to cope is to laugh.

"Y/N, I can't play if you're laughing this hard. You'll spit on me." The thought makes you laugh harder.

"Maybe she shouldn't play, it looks like she's had too much to drink." Hyungwon starts to reach for you, but Minhyuk stops him.

"No, that wouldn't be fair to you all. Like Jooheon said. It's up to her and Wonho to win." Through your Laughing fit, you fail to notice the mischievous look he shoots to his partner in crime.

"Okay," you wipe a stray tear from your cheek. "I can do this." You place the stick between your teeth but as soon as Wonho starts to move in, you're shaking with more laughter. However, it stops almost as soon as it starts. Wonho grabs both sides of your face, tilts his head, and moves in.

Everything seems to be moving too fast yet too slow at the same time, and that's when it happens.

Changkyun once again 'slips' pushing Wonho forward. on one hand, it doesn't seem too bad because out of everyone, Wonho has had the least to drink. This allows him the dexterity and speed he needs to dodge your mouth. On the other hand, it's still kinda bad. Even though his lips missed yours, it's only by a hair. And to top it all off he stumbles forward, trying to brace himself and you from crashing into the wall leaving you trapped between the two with one of his arms by your head and the other wrapped around you.

"You lose! Your lips totally touched!" and chaos ensues. Wonho jumps away from you as soon as he recovers from the shock and the boys all start arguing about whether or not your lips touched.

"No, they didn't. Right Y/N?"

"Yes, they did. Don't lie!"

"Guys-" You try to gather their attention.

"You pushed Wonho, you should be disqualified-"

"I can't be disqualified I'm the MC."

"Guys."

"We're not on TV it doesn't work that way!"

"Guys!" At last, they all look your way. "Our lips didn't touch. But look." You hold your chocolate covered wafer next to Minhyuks. "Minhyuk wins anyway." You're not sure if you've ever seen him so happy. But you also think you've never seen Hyungwon so upset. Once everything settles down again you announce your's and Hyungwon's leave to the group.

The entire walk back to your shared apartment is quiet. Even when you get to your room, Hyungwon says nothing and just crawls into bed.

"Hyungwon, I promise I wasn't lying." you crawl in after him. "Our lips didn't touch." no response. "You know I wouldn't lie to you." Still no response. "Hyungwon-ah," you pause hoping he'll react in some way, but he doesn't "I'll get you some water." you start to get up but his hand pulls you back down.

"Don't leave me..." He sounds as if he's on the verge of crying.

"Oh Honey...Talk to me. You've been acting strange all day. What's the matter? What's bothering you?"

"It's just...It's lonely here without you."

"What do you mean? I live here with you. How much did you drink?" at this he finally looks up at you.

"That's not what I mean. I just...I had a nightmare last night and you-" He pauses for a moment but you get the idea of where this is going. "You left...for good."

"Baby, you know I wouldn't leave you. Not for Wonho, not for anyone."

"Y/N...Hold me, and never let go. Okay?"

You quickly pull him into you. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

#Monsta X #hyungwon #chae hyungwon #monsta x drabble #hyungwon drabble #monsta x scenario #hyungwon scenario #monsta x fluff #hyungwon fluff #monsta x fanfiction #hyungwon fanfiction #monsta x fanfic #hyungwon fanfic #mine

[kira-the-cat]

Sing Your Heart Out

Oh look, I’m back again with more fanfiction. This time its actually not sad! Kinda. Look, just trust me on this one its not as sad as the other two I did (one of which I scheduled wrong, I thought today was wednesday not tuesday so you’ll see the second fic tomorrow.) In all seriousness, this one is a bit more lighthearted. I’m posting here first to give a buffer between what goes up on my AO3. I’m churning fics out way too fast at this point. In any case, fic under the cut. Enjoy!

"I still don't know how you managed to talk me into going along with this, Gary." Avocato said as he and the rest of the Galaxy One crew headed to a karaoke bar Gary hadn't been able to shut up about for the last few days. With the breach to Final Space closed and Earth becoming moderately populated again they felt they had more than earned an extended break. As the entered the establishment they grabbed an adequate table up near the front stage.

"Come on Avocato, you know you wanna belt out some tunes." Gary said, flagging down a waitress so they could order drinks. "Or do you have stage fright?"

"Are you hearing this Quinn?" The Ventrexian asked the ex-Infinity Guard member.

"I dunno, Avo. Gary has a point. Only someone with stage fright would dread coming here." She said.

"So what does that make you then? You didn't wanna come." Little Cato said with a smirk.

"Oh I know you aren't lecturing me shortstop, you didn't want to come either." She said.

"Guys, guys! Save your vocal cords for the stage!" Gary said. "Let's make this a bit more interesting. Why don't we make a bet. Person that gets the crowd the most excited with their singing won't have to do chores for two months."

"No chores? Count me in!" Little Cato said eagerly. Like a typical teenager he was always looking for an excuse to get out of chores and if he had to sing some rock music to do it then he definitely would.

"Hey if it means that I don't have to wash the ship every weekend I'm down." Avocato said. Karaoke wasn't really his thing but with a voice as deep as his he could easily win this by picking a good R&B song.

"Two months of just relaxing without having to vacuum up KVN's cookie crumbs? Sounds like heaven to me, I'm in." Quinn said with a smirk, determined to win. Unbeknownst to her crewmates, Quinn was a semi-professionally trained singer and had been a choir girl for years before her stint in the Infinity Guard. They didn't stand a chance.

"Then its settled! We'll draw straws to see who will be the first victim." He said, going to grab a handful of straws. The four of them drew one by one with Gary going last. "Alright, so Quinn is first, LC's second, Avocato you're third which leaves the best for last, me."

"You guys are going down." Quinn said, getting up to talk with the DJ. They all performed to varying levels of success. Quinn won the ladies over with her rendition of Broken Clocks by Sza, Little Cato got everyone headbanging with System of a Down's Chop Suey, and Avocato came to make the panties drop with Careless Whisper by Wham. All of them won over the crowd in their own ways and it seemed like there wouldn't be a clear cut winner. Gary was a bit nervous, especially since his song wasn't something flashy like the others. He also had another reason to be nervous but he pushed that aside in favor of his usual cocky facade to conceal things.

"Well you all did your best, but your best is about to be not good enough." He said as he got up from the table to head over to the DJ booth. He took a deep breath as he told the DJ what he wanted to sing, cheeks just a bit red in embarrassment. The DJ raised an eyebrow but he'd gotten weirder requests before and confirmed that he could do that for Gary. He took the mic handed to him and headed up to the stage. He could hear his pulse racing in his ears and part of him thought this was an incredibly bad idea, that he should just go pick a different song. But another, stronger part of him wanted to do it.

He stood in the center of the stage, watching the teleprompter so he wouldn't have to stare out into the crowd and panic. A hush fell over the patrons as the lights dimmed and a spotlight fell on Gary. He brought the mic up to his lips and nodded at the DJ, who started the track. A gentle piano intro started, light yet soulful at the same time before he began.

"If I could begin to be, half of what you think of me. I could do about anything, I could even learn how to love...."

He looked out into the crowd, eyes locking with Avocato's and suddenly, all doubt and anxiety washed away as he sang.

"When I see the way you act, wondering when I'm coming back. I could do about anything, I could even learn how to love like you. Love like you."

Avocato, as well as Quinn and Little Cato, were completely stunned by not only Gary's song choice, but also the fact that he could actually sing. The emotions Gary was holding onto couldn't be contained any longer and he couldn't stop them from pouring into the song lyrics as he sang.

"I always thought I might be bad now I'm sure that its true. 'Cause I think you're so good, and I'm nothing like you. Look at you go! I just adore you I wish that I knew.....what makes you think I'm so special....."

He didn't even realize when he stood up and walked over to the stage, all he knew was that suddenly he was face to face, eyes locked to his as he continued singing.

"If I could begin to do, something that does right by you. I would do about anything, I would even learn how to love.....When I see the way you look, shaken by how long it took I could do about anything I could even learn how to love like you. Love me, like you."

He finished softly, the piano slowly closing out as the crowd watched in silence. Gary's cheeks burned bright red as Avocato stared at him.

"Did you....did you do that for me?" He asked carefully. Gary simply nodded, mouth dry as he felt all eyes on them. He didn't even have time to react as Avocato pulled him into a kiss, the crowd erupting into cheers as they watched. When he pulled away Gary had the most delightfully dazed look on his face.

"I...take it you liked the song?" He asked, still a bit hesitant despite having just been smooched in a crowded karaoke bar by the man he spent the last three minutes serenading.

"I loved it." He said, kissing him again. After finally getting down off the stage and being bought several rounds of drinks by some very moved patrons in the bar, they headed back home. "I swear, if I knew this was what you were willing to go through just to ask me out I'd have said yes to coming sooner. You coulda just asked without going through such an elaborate set up."

"Yeah but then you wouldn't have heard me blow the minds of everyone in the crowd, win the bet, and get us free drinks." Gary boasted, full of liquid courage and feeling a bit sassy. "Which reminds me, I in fact won the bet. I got the crowd the most pumped and moved which means I don't have to do jack for the next two months."

"Hey wait, that's cheating!" Little Cato declared. "I didn't know the bet was just part of your plan to ask my dad out!"

"And since it was your plan shouldn't that automatically disqualify you from the bet?" Quinn added.

"She's got you there, babe." Avocato chimed in.

"Hey, I'm the captain of this crew! And I say the bet was still valid even though it was all part of my grand and elaborate scheme to get Avocato to go out with me!" He said. "Therefore, I still win because I said so."

"That's not at all how it works. Not even remotely."

"We should see what H.U.E has to say about your idea."

"Tough titty whompahs. And H.U.E has no say in this, I'm the captain after all!" Avocato just chuckled and shook his head, slinging his arm over Gary's shoulders.

"Whatever you say, captain. At least your plan worked." He said, kissing his new boyfriend on the cheek. Gary blushed, rather happy with how this situation turned out. Yeah they were fighting about a dumb bet he definitely, without a doubt won, but it was still a good feeling and he couldn't be happier.

So a bit of an afternote; this started as something for my Forces AU stuff but I couldn’t work the idea in because it felt too rushed for the pairing I’m trying to slow burn. But I didn’t want the idea to go to waste so I figured I’d put out another Final Space fic while the idea was still fresh. The song choices also have some importance as well. I gave Broken Clocks to Quinn because it fit her personality and Sza is bae. Chop Suey fit Lil C’s looks and personality greatly and I just wanted an excuse to have Avocato singing Careless Whisper. I also kept the song choice Love Like You for Gary because the lyrics fit his less boisterous personality and insecurities so well. Plus its one of my favorite songs from Steven Universe.

#Final Space #fanfiction #song fic #lucky you you guys get the fic first #garycato #forgot about that

[innuendostudios]

Smash Favorite Polls

Over the summer I did a series of Twitter polls asking people who their favorite players of different characters were. Not the best, their favorites. This is a thing I did out of pure curiosity, because I sometimes think of what my answers would be and wonder how abnormal my preferences are. (Turns out they are, but not always where I expected.)

Some people have asked if I could do a post discussing the results, so here’s that.

Caveat: This is not hard science. These polls did not have significant sample sizes, and the self-selected population “Ian’s Twitter Followers” isn’t likely to represent the whole Smash community. (I have a statistically high number of SJW HBox fans, because that’s part of my brand.)

Criteria: I ran polls on half the tier list starting with Marth (#3) and ending with with Mario (#15). I didn’t bother with anyone below that because there aren’t many truly low-tier mains to choose between, and, well, I can’t say I’m that curious who the three favorite Roy players are. I skipped Fox and Falco because fuck space animals. I also threw in a few extra questions I was curious about, which we’ll get to.

Anyhoo, here are the results.

Marth

Winner: Mew2King Total Votes: 82 Correct Answer: PPMD Write-Ins: Ken Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/870316744925208577

I was very surprised by the lack of love for PewPewU in this one. PPMD had been inactive for almost two years at the time of the poll and still wildly outperformed PewPewU. I can’t really blame folks, as I like PewPewU a lot but would still pick both PPMD and M2K before him. I wonder if PewPewU, being the perennial 9th place finisher, is also the perennial second-favorite Marth; he might do better in a runoff vote where he would get points for being a second favorite. As it stands, you only get points for being first, and he’s not many peoples’ fave.

Sheik

Winner: Plup Total Votes: 50 Correct Answer: Kirbykaze Write-Ins: Amsah Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/870756094435622913

Plup took first, but another strong showing for M2K. I figured if we were asking for favorite players, not best players, that we’d see greater preference for flashiness, but M2K’s defensive, optimized play keeps performing well. Then again, it’s my theory that M2K is the beating heart of the Melee scene, so maybe personality trumps play style. (The write in for Amsah was from me; he’ll always be #1 in my heart but there wasn’t room for him in the poll.)

Jigglypuff

Winner: Hungrybox Total Votes: 95 Correct Answer: Hungrybox Write-Ins: Zasa, Tekk, s0ft Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/871189445038546945

HBox took first place, and “I’m a jerk who hates Puff” took second, with Prince Abu and 4% tying for third with only 9% each. If you like Puff at all, there’s no reason you wouldn’t like HBox the most, and I’m frankly surprised “Hates Puff” didn’t win by a landslide. My followers are good like that. Notably, one of the highest voter turnouts of the whole endeavor, which will become a theme.

Peach

Winner: Armada Total Votes: 59 Correct Answer: Armada Write-Ins: Freeze Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/872079889326886914

In my heart of hearts, the correct answer is Milktea, but far more for admiring the person than for her play style. (There aren’t many surviving videos of Milktea in her prime, so I’m not even familiar with her style.) Of the people who actually made the poll, there wasn’t really a contest. (I think the write-in “Freeze” is a “freeze peach” joke. Right? I’m right, aren’t I?)

Ice Climbers

Winner: Wobbles Total Votes: 105 Correct Answer: Wobbles Write-Ins: Drunksloth Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/872870056581111809

Between this and the Jigglypuff poll, I notice that the characters who are “ruining Smash“ tend to get the highest voter turnout, and the players most associated with that character won both polls. Fly Amanita’s rep for being the “only cool IC” didn’t rescue him from fourth place, getting outranked by noted pariah Nintendude, who nearly tied with fan favorite ChuDat. Not sure if my followers are just weirdos or if the idea that Chu is beloved and ICs are otherwise despised is somewhat distorted.

Captain Falcon

Winner: S2J Total Votes: 61 Correct Answer: Jeapie Write-Ins: Isai, Hax, Scar Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/872870056581111809

One of the tighter races, S2J only barely edging out Wizzrobe. (So, again, a solid performance from a player who’s supposedly making the game not fun.) Jeapie getting only 6% is a goddamn travesty. Thought n0ne would do better here, he’s supposed to be the fan favorite. Anyway, West Coast wins out over 20GX, but not by much.

Mid-Tier Mains (Pikachu vs. Yoshi)

Winner: aMSa Total Votes: 69 (nice) Correct Answer: Axe Write-Ins: Leffen’s MewTwo Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/873306882550763521

There aren’t enough noteworthy Pikachu or Yoshi mains to make either poll worth doing, so I just pitted aMSa and Axe against each other. I’m punching my chad for Axe, but I feel like death about it. This is a poll where the only correct move is not to play. For write-ins, people tried to vote Abate and A Rookie, but I’m disqualifying them because they appear in the Luigi and Mario polls later on. Should technically disqualify Leffen as well, but there wasn’t room for him in the Pocket Low-Tier poll downthread so I'm letting him hang out here.

Samus

Winner: Plup Total Votes: 55 Correct Answer: ESAM Write-Ins: none (not n0ne, just... no write-ins) Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/873674261701033984

Plup wins again! First person to win two polls. Duck and Hugs dead-even at 2nd with 27% each. ESAM comes in last because people have no souls. Some debate in the comments about whether or not Samus is fun to watch. (Someone says she isn’t, but they are wrong.)

Luigi

Winner: Abate Total Votes: 39 Correct Answer: Eddy Mexico Write-Ins: Ka-master, Luigikid Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/874040581311352833

Only put two players on this poll, since I knew one or the other would win. Maybe I’m just being contrarian by stumping for Eddy Mexico over Abate, as both are excellent players and I root for either one easily. Abate only one by a small margin, anyway, so seems people are about as split as I am. Starting to see a drop-off in voter turnout as we get lower in the tier list.

Ganon

Winner: Bizarro Flame Total Votes: 38 Correct Answer: Bizarro Flame Write-Ins: n0ne, Lythero Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/874672698194046978

This, at least, makes sense to me. Bizz won in a landslide. I mean, that’s how I would vote as well, though I wish Kage had made a stronger showing in second. Eikelmann manages the only 0% of all the polls. Someone in the comments argued that n0ne’s Ganon secondary is arguably the best Ganon, period, calling him “a more toned down version of everything bizz wants to do.” I don’t really disagree, though it seemed like cheating throw secondaries in against mains. That said, Kage still consistently beats n0ne in Ganon dittos, so n0ne having the best play style is still theoretical.

Mario

Winner: Scorpion Master Total Votes: 60 Correct Answer: A Rookie Write-Ins: none (again, not n0ne, even though his Mario is very good) Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/875146202827849728

The only appearance of Mango in this entire endeavor and he beats out A Rookie. I expected better of you people.

Pocket Low-Tiers

Winner: Plup Total Votes: 57 Correct Answer: Axe Write-Ins: Westballz, Leffen Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/875834490404392960

OK, I’m sorry, but this is nonsense. Plup decided to main Luigi at CEO Dreamland in April (probably as a joke) and took 5th place, above PewPewU, Axe, Duck, The Moon, n0ne, and MacD. The highest ranking actual Luigi main was in 25th. And that’s impressive, I’m not denying that. But did anyone even know he had a Luigi before that? And already you like his Luigi more than Axe’s Young Link, Hungrybox’s Ness, and n0ne’s Ganon? Are you serious with this shit? I wanna re-run this poll when Plup’s Luigi isn’t The New Hotness and see how he stacks up, because this is silly. I mean, have you seen Axe’s Young Link??? Have you seen HBox’s Ness??? People wrote in Westballz’ Donkey Kong and even that makes more sense. Anyway, hooray, Plup wins three polls and is clearly the hands-down fan favorite who isn’t Mango. You’re all on notice.

Main You Miss The Most

Winner: Hax Total Votes: 63 Correct Answer: Hax Write-Ins: Plup’s Samus (disqualified) Link to Poll: https://twitter.com/InnuendoStudios/status/876440529021566976

Hax’s Captain Falcon is the right answer here, though the few random times he’s brought out the Falcon in tournament have not gone well for him. I think, at this point, people just wanna see Hax play anyone. Mango’s Jigglypuff outperformed Shroomed’s Dr. Mario, which... again... what is wrong with people?

#super smash bros #super smash bros melee #esports #data #writings

[doineedastone]

Goody Witch

This was just supposed to be a little stop. I was to enter this competition, win it, go home and sleep this week away. That isn’t what happened though.

Now here i am, stuck under a boulder blocked on all four sides while the other contestants proceed towards the finish line. It’s been three days now, so I guess no one is coming to get me. I’m fine with that though. Death isn’t the part that bothers me. What bothers me really, is what i’d leave behind...

“Hey! Are you okay? I’m here to rescue you!” A young boy’s voice echoed behind the stone walls. I was taken aback. I thought for sure I had been forgotten.

“Please tell me that’s a voice i’m hearing, and i’m not just talking to a boulder. If I only lasted three days before going mad, i’m getting bent out of shape.” I responded, a hint of humor in my tone. I heard the grazing of metal against of rock. I walked closer to the sound, and moving shadows waved across the small opening in the wall.

“O-oh no, ma’am. I’m real! I’m contestant fifty-two. You’re twenty-nine, right?” So, this kid knew who I was. Interesting.

“That’s me! Though i’m surprised someone actually cared enough to come back for me. This was supposed to be a live or die competition. Why the change of heart?” There was a pause in his movement. I could practically hear the hesitation in his thoughts.

“T..to be honest ma’am, everyone else is either dead, disqualified, or stuck on their paths. I can’t continue on my path, because my teammates were disqualified. So, I was hoping, you would be on a team with me. I only found that you were here because of the announcement yesterday. When I heard you were here at the beginning I-”

“That’s enough kid, you don’t need to spout out an essay,” I interrupted. This was too good to be true, a kid this naive and compulsive wanted to ally with me? This was just the break I needed. Though, this could easily be a trap. But it’s not like I was gonna lose anything I wasn’t already prepared to lose to begin with. I could work with this. I just needed a little bait...

”Sure, i’ll be your partner. It probably won’t do any good though,” I stated, a droned sigh melting into the end of my sentence

“What, what do you mean by that?” He asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. I smiled widely.

“Oh, you know, over these three days i’ve weakened more than I care to admit. If I were to guess i’d say i’m down my strength about forty -maybe fifty percent. Plus, if ya haven’t noticed, we’re kind of at the starting line. A freaking long way from where the finish line is.”

“I, I know that -it’s just…” his voice trailed off, but I didn’t have the heartstrings to stop there.

“We don’t really have a chance at winning. Maybe we do at surviving. Maybe. But, we both know it’s more likely we’ll die here before we even reach the first checkpoint. However...that is if we play it fair.” I practically heard him stiffen on the other side, and although he was nervous I knew his ears begged to hear more.

“What?” he inquired. A grin spread on my lips. I loved it when things just fall into place, one after another.

“Oh yeah, I’ll be honest with you. I know we’re not supposed to reveal our factions, but I think I should tell ya -I specialize in witchcraft. Us witches aren’t really known for playing it fair, are we? I can do spells, wonders, wishes -you name it. All I don’t have superhuman strength -I mean, if you haven’t noticed already! Lemme invite you in on a little secret, kid -If you do just a few itty bitty little things for me, I can have us not just survive, but even win this thing.” This time his pause was followed by incoherent babbling, “I-I don’t want to win if it means cheating-” he tried to protest.

“Aw, that’s cute. You’re a noble boy, I respect that. But what good is your loyalty to the rules if it just means you’ll end up dead? Come on, let’s think realistically here.” I tried rationalizing with him to consider my idea. Usually it didn’t take much for me to get into someone’s head and turn their perspectives around, but to my surprise his demeanor took a rash turn.

“I can’t! I made a promise that I was going to use everything i’ve learned into this compettion. If I cheat, then i’m dishonoring my teacher, the person that believed in me most! I know where your trying to go with this. About witchcraft. I don’t care that you’re a witch. Witches are actually a good omen from where i’m from. They care for the forests and seas, and nurture our fields with their spells. I didn’t come back for you so I could take advantage of you. I came back for you because-”

“Because you were to the point of no return?”

“No! Because -because I trusted you! You were the one in the Crystal Hall right? Who talked to that old man and kid.” I tensed up a moment recalling the memory.

“Oh, you saw that?” My voice grew unintentionally lower than I wanted it to.

“Yes. Everyone here is fighting for themselves, but I want to fight for the people I care about. My mother, my father, my sister -right now, they’re all rooting for me! I've sworn to the arts that I'd never lose sight of what's important. It's a sacred oath I've carry on my shoulders with each step I-”

“What are you doing? Are you having a monologue right now? You’re talking to a lady through a rock. If I wanted to listen to some loony peach I would have gone back to the trials.” I snickered lightly

“You know, you’re the first to ever answer my proposal like that. Not to mention, first to live...” An idea ran through my head. Yeah. This might work out after all.

“W-what was that?” The boy stuttered, a surprised choke caught in his throat.

“Tell me your name, kid.”

“My name? I-it’s, Jackson Hale.”

“Of course it is,” I grinned.

“I’m Goody.”

#witch #writeblr #story prompt #story #writing #salem

[whatwouldfrogsdo]

⛄

A little fic for Day 2 of the @omgcpwinterextravaganza, the prompt being a SMH Snowman Building Competition.

AO3

Holster strode between the entries, clipboard in hand. Chowder suspected that he was only pretending to make notes, but he and Ransom had been so keen to come to Samwell and judge the Annual SMH Snowman Competition, that nobody could turn them down. Despite the fact that Bitty had looked like a shoo-in to win before they even started gathering their snow, simply for the amount of baked goods he had given them, and the announcement that he was going to attempt a Snow Tater.

Holster stopped next to Chowder’s creation. “Snow man, Chowder. What part of man don’t you understand?”

“Also, it’s totes cheating to have your girlfriend help,” Nursey added from where he was trying to patch up the hole he had accidently pushed into his snowman.

“Why would it have to be a man?” Caitlin asked. “Don’t be so sexist, Birkholtz.”

“That would be a great argument, Farms, if you weren’t there building a castle.”

“It’s not just going to be a castle,” Chowder told Holster. “Just wait until we’re done. Cait and I won the Sandcastle Competition at my local beach this summer. We have a plan. The castle is just the kingdom.”

“Well... As long as you don’t get a chisel out or anything.” Holster threw a dirty look at Dex, who scowled back from where he was sat on the porch steps, having already been disqualified.

“It wasn’t a fucking chisel. It was just my pocketknife.”

“No tools, Poindexter! You know the rules.”

“Okay, well what about the help issue? If I’m disqualified, C is definitely disqualified. Cait’s not even on the hockey team!”

“We’ll add it to the rules for next year, but unfortunately, they found a loophole because Farmer’s not on the hockey team,” Ransom explained. Chowder threw Dex a smug grin from behind Holster’s back, and held his fist out for Caitlin to bump.

*

“TIME!” Holster and Ransom shouted, in unison, an hour later.

“Everyone, step away from your snow people. Oliver Lucas O’Meara, stop that.”

Ollie dropped his hand hastily from his snowman and moved away.

Chowder sat down next to their grass-moat, made from clearing all the snow around their snowcastle. Caitlin snapped a picture of him, with the sculpture, on her phone before joining him, and the two waited as Ransom and Holster looked at each entry in turn.

“Nice and traditional, Whiskey. Good effort. It’s easily the biggest here, so ten points for that, but it has to be a C minus for originality.”

“What’s the scoring system?” Tango asked. Ransom ignored him.

“It’s only biggest height wise,” Caitlin pointed out.

“We’ll get to you two,” Holster said dryly. He cast an eye over their work, rolled his eyes and moved onto Ollie and Wicky. “Now, I have to say, despite the whole, no team members work together rule, you two have somehow managed to end up with identical snowmen and there’s something a little suspect about that.”

“Then there’s the way they’re looking at each other and the gloves are clearly reaching out for a fist bump,” Ransom added. “We couldn’t judge these individually because they work as a joint piece and there’s no way of distinguishing between them, but if we judged them together then they would clearly be in breach of the rules.”

“My fellow judge and I will have to discuss this after seeing all the entries,” Holster decided.

“What do you mean you’ll discuss it later? That’s a disqualification!” Dex grumbled.

They carried on looking at the team’s snowmen in turn, praising Ford for her creativity in dressing an otherwise mundane snowwoman and commiserating with Tango for how his snowman ended up slanted. They were full of advice for the new frogs about what they could do in future years to make their work stand out, and to prepare for the competition beforehand. They laughed in Nursey’s face for his.

“It’s not my fault!” Nursey said, when Holster gently nudged the gaping hole in the snowman’s stomach.

“It’s completely his fault. He fell over. He’s a walking disaster.” Dex punctuated his statement with a snowball, which hit Nursey’s snowman in the nose. The celery stick Nursey had used for the nose snapped in half and fell to the ground.

“Hey! Sabotage!” Nursey ducked down to gather some snow to throw back at Dex.

“You’d already lost, Nurse,” Ransom pointed out. “Dex, stop heckling.”

When they came to stand next to Chowder and Caitlin’s snow sculpture, the two juniors bounced to their feet and grinned at each other. Okay, there were two of them, but they had done the most. Theirs was the most complicated and the most creative and given another half hour they could have finished refining it into perfection. Even how they had left it, their mini snowmen were the only things which didn’t quite have the detail they wanted.

“It’s very nice. A good castle, and wow that shark... But the competition was for building a snowman.”

“We have thirty-two snowmen,” Chowder said.

“Those tiny little balls of snow?” Holster asked.

“They are clearly snowmen!” Caitlin argued. “Two balls of snow on top of each other, that’s what makes a snowman. If we had a bit more time-”

“You didn’t have to build a castle,” Ransom pointed out.

“You said the castle was good.”

“Okay, okay, full marks for originality and creativity and the snow shark, but you’re not in the competition for the best snowman. If it was snow sculpting, you’d win, but your snowmen... How are we supposed to judge them if they’re only two inches tall?”

“Size doesn’t matter,” Chowder said. When Nursey snorted, he grabbed a handful of snow, and chucked it in his direction, but it broke apart in mid-air and ended up showering Nursey with snow instead.

Holster had crouched on the ground to look at the snowmen. “Is this one Pavelski?”

“It is!” Chowder said.

“How did you put the C on his chest?”

“Caitlin used her fingernail.”

“I like the goalie pads, too.”

“Thank-you!”

“You still haven’t won.”

Chowder’s face fell, and he and Caitlin sat back down again while they moved onto Bitty’s Snow Tater - the last to be judged.

“Ours is the best, though,” Caitlin said into his ear, in that stage whisper she used whenever she was trying to be subtle. Chowder had to nod in agreement as he looked at Bitty’s. It was a standard snowman, shorter than Bitty, with a large strawberry for a nose, a blueberry mouth, milk chocolate cookies for eyes, and the number 7 drawn into its back. There was nothing special about it.

“Results are in!” Holster announced. He and Ransom had taken their place on the top of the porch steps to declare the winner, and Dex reluctantly moved out the way, to stand by his own abandoned snowman between Nursey and Chowder. “In third place, we have Whiskey with his traditional Frosty. In second place, Ford, with Mrs Scrooge. And the winner is Bitty for his Snow Tater.”

“It’s a total set-up,” Dex muttered. Chowder hadn’t noticed him or Nursey creep closer to them, but now he looked down as Dex placed a snowball in his gloved hand.

Chowder turned the snowball over and grinned. Caitlin had prepped her own snowball on his other side, and the four of them didn’t need a countdown to aim their shots and fire the snowballs at Ransom and Holster.

“Bros, seriously?” Ransom asked, already scooping up some snow to retaliate.

“That’s for being biased,” Nursey told him.

“Nursey? Are you kidding me? Your snowman is terrible.”

“But Bitty’s is better than Chowder’s?”

“Hey!” Bitty said. “No need to be a sore loser.”

Dex turned and aimed his next snowball at Bitty, who shrieked and ducked behind Tango’s snowman. A well aimed shot from Ford hit him in the back, and the next moment, snowballs were flying all over the yard, as Bitty darted to the Haus.

“Aw, come on Bitty!” Ransom called when Bitty had barricaded himself inside. Five snowballs splattered against the kitchen window, and then Whiskey managed to hit Holster in the back of the head and war broke out.

“No! Fuck. Nursey, stop!”

Chowder turned to see what Dex was yelling about and was greeted by a faceful of snow. He wiped it off and narrowed his eyes at Caitlin. They tumbled to the ground when he tackled her. Her hand slid around his neck and she giggled into his chest.

“It’s like how we first met.”

Chowder grinned back at her. “Except that time we weren’t lying on a castle.”

“Oh no! We ruined it.” She twisted her head back to look in disappointment. “Is SJ Sharkie okay?”

“He’s okay, but I think we’ve massacred the defensemen,” Chowder said, poking at a lump which used to be Brent Burns in miniature.

“That’s so rude, Chow,” Nursey said. Chowder turned to see him and Dex lying in the snow a couple of feet away, both panting heavily. Dex had snow poking out the top of his pants, and Nursey’s jacket had come undone. Nursey’s snowman was also ruined, and its head seemed to have exploded over Dex’s chest.

“Well those lasted long,” Caitlin said dryly. “Maybe Bitty did deserve to win, after all.”

Sure enough, when Chowder sat up he could see that the Snow Tater was the only snowman still standing.

#omgcpwinterextravaganza #omgcp #omgcp fanfic #chris chow #caitlin farmer #derek nurse #william poindexter #check please frogs #justin oluransi #adam birkholtz #eric bittle #smh #check please! #prev; whatwouldlilydo #but still WhatWouldLilyDo on ao3 where i will post this in a bit! #tis the season to be jolly #unedited; unbetad; etc

[dragmedowntobeaconhills]

Mario Kart || Alex Standall

Pairing: Alex Standall x Fem!Reader

Plot: You verse each other in Mario Kart.

Warnings: A little swearing, A very happy Alex 😏❤

Word Count: 944

"I'm here to kick your ass!" You walked into his house, shutting the door behind you.

Upon turning around, you saw Alex standing in the kitchen looking at you with an amused smile as his father stood by him, seizing his actions to look over as he raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, hi Mr. Standall." You smiled, walking over to lean on the counter.

"Hi Y/N." He chuckled, "Why do you want to kick my son's ass?"

You laughed, "Not physically. Just at Mario Kart."

"Which she sucks at." Alex smirked, taking a sip of his water.

"Shut up, Standall." You playfully hit him in his chest as he laughed.

Officer Standall shook his head, turning his attention back to what he was doing prior to your entrance, "... that supposed to mean?" He heard you counter his son's comment that he didn't catch.

"I'm better than you." Alex replied, laughing when you playfully tackled him.

His father looked over, smiling as he watched the two of you. He couldn't be happier that his son found someone like you. There was never a day that Alex didn't smile and that was all thanks to you.

"We'll be in my room!" He called to his father as the two of you raced up the stairs, trying to beat the other.

"Careful on the stairs!" Officer Standall answered, amusement in his voice.

Once the two of you were up the stairs, you raced down the hall and barged into his room, quickly losing direction and falling onto his bed in a fit of laughter.

"I definitely won that." Alex turned his head to look at you as he spoke.

"What? No way." You protested.

"You cheated, therefore, you were disqualified." He smirked, getting up to set up the game.

"How did I cheat?" You asked as he hooked the play-station up to the TV before moving to the controllers.

"You pushed me into the wall 4 times on our way down the hall." He stopped what he was doing to look over at you with a playful glare.

"They were accidents!" You smiled, trying to be as innocent as possible.

You erupted into a fit of giggles when he continued to look at you and it caused him to break out into a wide smile as he shook his head, returning his attention back to the electronics in front of him. Once everything was set up and he put the disc into the game station, he picked up both controllers and began to make his way back to the bed to sit on the floor at the foot of it. You rolled over to get to your feet to join him but hadn't realized how close you were to the edge and fell right over it, hitting the floor with a thud right at his feet, making him stop short to avoid stepping on you.

"Are you okay?" He asked but it was full of amusement as he tried to keep from laughing, looking down at you.

"I think I broke something." You answered dramatically.

"You're fine, Y/N. Move your fat ass." He laughed.

You playfully glared up at him, gently kicking his leg. Before you knew it, he was on top of you, hands at your sides.

"No! Alex! Stop it!" You protested through your laughter, trying desperately to push him off of you.

"Give me one good reason why I should." He smiled.

You leaned up, capturing his lips with your own. His actions seized almost immediately, his hands moving to rest on the floor on either side of you as he leaned down more.

"That's a very good reason." He smirked against your lips, causing a giggle to climb up your throat.

"You're cheating!" You laughed, moving over to lean on Alex, trying to distract him.

"I don't need to cheat, you're horrible at this." He smirked, laughing at your actions as you were now behind him, leaning against his back with a forearm on each shoulder, pressing the buttons as you tried to block his vision with your controller, "Now look who's cheating."

"I would never!" You defended, "I'm just trying to get a better view."

Your player, Yoshi, caught up to Alex's player, Luigi, but once he noticed he slowed down then slammed into Yoshi, sending him across the track and into the water.

"Alex! You did that on purpose, you asshole!" He erupted into laughter, the two of you pressing 'X' to begin a new race.

As soon as the countdown hit '1', you took off ahead of him, trying to stay on the road.

"Its a good thing you don't actually drive like this." He taunted, passing you with ease when you collided with the wall.

"Trash talking, is this what we're doing?"

"I'm just stating a fact."

You scoffed, "Your hair is ridiculous."

"Excuse me?" He raised an eyebrow, amused

"I'm just stating a fact." You mocked him playfully, his adorable laughter filling the room.

It wasn't a surprise that Alex won again, earning a tackle to the floor from you as the two of you laughed loudly, his father chuckling to himself as he set the table. You successfully pinned the blonde to the floor as you straddled his hips, "I always forget how much I love it when you're on top." He smirked, staring up at you as he licked his lips.

"Hm, me too." You played along, making him laugh before you leaned down and kissed him.

"Dinner's ready!" Officer Standall called up the stairs.

"We'll be down in a minute!" Alex answered then was caught in another kiss when you leaned back down.

All rights reserved @dragmedowntobeaconhills2017

Thank you for reading!

Masterlist | Fandom List

#alex standall #miles heizer #13 reasons why #imagine

[spnife]

91 question tag

Tagged by @vanillabeanniall​ and then @uswntinharmony​

More below the cut bc that’s how I roll

the last – 

1. drink: Arizona Tea

2. phone call: my mom

3. text message: my mom - she sent me two climbing videos. Or I sent them to me, from her phone

4. song i listened to: What a feeling, but I was asleep (i checked the music app just now), so the last song I remember hearing is Ray of Light by Madonna

5. time you cried: wednesday. First day of school was today so it was some stress

have you ever – 6. dated someone twice: yeah

7. been cheated on: yeah. I became friends with the guy though. Similar tastes I guess???  (( Actually I blocked him on snapchat last year bc he was talking some bs on his story but in eigth grade he wasn’t awful))  She lied abt it though and then talked to me two years later and still lied like okay

8. kissed someone and regretted it: no ragrets

9. lost someone special: not really

10. been depressed: fuck hell yep

11. gotten drunk and thrown up: no. I had like a sip of beer on a trip but it was just to mess with a dude while he was in the porta potty

list 3 favorite colors – 12. light blue

13. orangish pink

14. dark purple

in the last year have you – 15. made new friends: heck yeah. I switched schools and found a really good group of people there already. It’s been alright

16. fallen out of love: not in the last year. gotta be in love first

17. laughed until you cried: probably but I don’t remember rn

18. found out someone was talking about you: I think? I found out parents were saying nice things about me. Mean wise maybe? I’m not really sure. Probably

19. met someone who changed you: at least one. a teacher last year

20. found out who your true friends were: i think? 

more –  21. kissed someone on your facebook? alas, i do not have a facebook

22. how many of your facebook friends do you know in real life? see 21

23. do you have any pets? A super sweet black lab named FeeBee, a kitten named Mulder and a cat named Milo, and a hedgehog named Wembly

24. do you want to change your name? i like my name. My last name bothers me sometimes bc dad stuff but it’s gotten better

25. what did you do on your last birthday? I had a chill day at school, got a nice car, got a card from all of the kids on the climbing team. One of them said “Wow Coach Ella, you only have two more years til you can drink,” like i’m sorry kid I’m only 16

26. what time did you wake up? 7. first day of school

27. what were you doing at midnight? crying and putting school stuff in my backpack and watching VEEP

28. name something you can’t wait for: to keep getting better at climbing, the Harry Styles concert on oct 11, my birthday on oct 13 bc it should be fun and I hope I’ll get another card from the climbing team bc they’re all lovely

29. when was the last time you saw your mother? today

30. what is one thing you wish you could change about your life? i want to know that I’ll be able to be happy

31. what are you listening to right now? watching Raising Hope

32. have you ever talked to a person named tom? yep

33. something that is getting on your nerves? I keep getting anxiety while I’m at climbing practice and that’s one of my most comfortable places. it feels like im going downhill with climbing even though I know im getting better

34. most visited site: netflix

school –  35. elementary: i loved my elementary school. every teacher i had was amazing, small school in austin and a good community and i still talk to my friends from there. so when i moved to the new school in fifth grade and depression was already showing up, the differences made it literally hell. it was awful. i didnt like my teachers and i didnt know people

36. middle: 6th grade was hell, 7th grade was even fuckin worse, 8th was still pretty bad. All the worst years of my life so far, and tbh it’s gonna be hard to top them

37. high: better than middle school but thats a really fucking low bar. like incredibly low.

38. college: planning for ACC for two years to get base courses, dream school UT in an engineering major. I love the school and the program there, but I worry if I could barely get through middle school, how tf am I supposed to survive college. Also it didn’t feel great when I was talking to a friend and I was like “yeah ut is tbh my dream school, if I can get in” and she was like “oh that’s one my last choice colleges” like fucking okay love you thanks for telling me that makes me feel real good about my intelligence and how you view me

me –  39. hair color: brown

40. long or short hair? shoulder length

41. do you have a crush on someone? yep. according to a friend i am “so gone for this girl” but um. oka y what if she doesn’t like me? I feel good around her though and she likes being around me and we work well together I think. She’s lovely and I wouldn’t want to make things weird by asking her out if I don’t know she feels that way too.

42. what do you like about yourself? I am able to figure things out and I work with kids really well. I’ve also been getting better at climbing again so I’m proud of myself for that

43. piercings? just my ears

44. blood type: lol yeah like i know?

45. nickname: ellallalala is something I’m getting from people at the new school, and I’ve had some climbing nicknames over the years but Coachella is sticking. I coach and my name is Ella it’s great

46. relationship status: nope

47. zodiac sign: libra

48. pronouns: she/her

49. favorite tv show(s): always sunny, parks and rec, my name is earl, curious george

50. tattoos: soon

51. right, ambidextrous, or left-handed? right

first –  52. surgery: i had one on my pelvis in 2013? i was in preschool and it was for this weird group of veins on the side of my leg. We’d always called it a birthmark and after the surgery the scar looked like a sunset over water but the sun is purple (still looks like that it’s rad) and the first time someone showed me a birthmark i was like??? Um no thats just a little dark bit of skin?? my birthmark is purple what is this shit

53. piercing: ears

54. sport: rock climbing. found it early and still love it

55. vacation: no idea

56. pair of trainers: first i remember are a PAIR OF DORA LIGHT UP SHOES

current –  57. eating: nothing

58. drinking: arizona tea

59. i’m about to: finish my arizona tea

60. listening to: the episode ended so me typing and the clock my great grandmother gave is

future –  61. waiting for: me to feel alright

62. want: to like what i’m doing and to know i’m able to be happy doing it. I wish I could just skip to being married with kids and a dog and everything.

63. married: oh for sure

64. career: astronaut has always been my dream career but with this level of anxiety it’s probably a no go. I am not over it. I’m def gonna cry abt it in a couple of minutes bc thats how it goes, ya know. The last astronaut I talked to though said “the biggest disqualifier is not applying” so i’m still going to try my hardest. I also love engineering and physics and space and science and education and would love to be a librarian, so we’ll see

your type – 
 65. hugs or kisses? depends

66. lips or eyes? eyes, i guess. There’s more character there

67. shorter or taller? in my head i’m always like oh taller but really it doesn’t matter. as long as i can be little spoon im good to go

68. older or younger? doesn’t matter

69. nice arms or nice stomach? tummies are cute i guess. 

70. sensitive or loud? i don’t know

71. hook-up or relationship? right now relationship and at some point relationship but ask me a couple months ago and it would have been different

72. troublemaker or hesitant? both. troublemaker with a lot of decisions but in fun ways, but hesitant when it comes to talking to new people that i want to be good friends with. and asking people out

73. kissed a stranger? yep. on a bet

74. drank hard liquor? had some jack daniels mixed with coffee and it tasted like cinnamon toast crunch

75. lost contact lenses/glasses? my glasses always turn up

76. turned someone down? yeah. accidentally on a few though lol. As i had a crush on someone i went out with for a little while last yeah legit three other people liked me and i guess im oblivious bc i had no fucking idea

77. sex on first date? depends

78. broken someone’s heart? i don’t think so

79. had your heart broken? yes but in a friendship way along with the relationship. it goes back to the you should kill yourself stuff

80. been arrested? nope

81. cried when someone died? no one i’ve known closely has died. My great-great grandmother died when i was fiveish but she was really old. There have been a few suicides at my old school (i switched 2 months before end of last year) and those hit hard, just knowing that there are so many people here dealing with that stuff and me relating to it. I didn’t know the people well but we’d spoken and I knew them some, but I had some friends who were much closer and really affected

82. fallen for a friend? yeah

do you believe in –  83. yourself? i try

84. miracles? shit happens, and sometimes it’s good

85. love at first sight? who am i to say tbh

86. santa claus? no

87. kiss on first date? if i like them

88. angels? no

other –  89. current best friend’s name: skip

90. eye color: hazel

91. favorite movie: i dont know im tired and want to cry sort of so maybe i shouldnt think about this stuff as much when im already stressed im going to go drink more tea and eat some soup

Anway

I’m tagging anyone who reads this far. gotcha

#about me #mine

[jimlingss]

Student Council Prez [5]

Episode 4 - Episode 5 - Episode 6 Words: 5.9k Genre: Fluff, Slice of Life, High School!Au

“WOO! I AM SO EXCITED!” Taehyung suddenly slams his hands down on the table and Namjoon shakes his head with a smile.

“Settle down, settle down.” Yoongi clears his throat and clasps his hands together. He turns to a nervous Jungkook, staring down at his lap. “How are the funds this time around?”

“Oh-uh, um..” Jungkook frantically flips open the files and then stares blankly at them. Yoongi slides it over to take a look himself, huffing out tiredly and Jungkook shoots an apologetical look for not understanding the calculations.

“Well?” Jin’s brow lifts.

“Good. Better.” Yoongi looks to Jungkook, nodding his head. “We’ll probably be able to supply everyone with snacks and water…”

“Is that it?” Taehyung pouts.

“What’s the prize going to be?” Hoseok inquires.

Jin hums for a moment, contemplating. “How about a picture with the Student Council members?”

Jimin scoffs. “Don’t think of yourself so highly. Do you really think anyone wants that?”

“Hey. People love us!” Jin defends exasperatedly.

“Ooh! Ooh!” Taehyung’s eyes flicker and everyone turns to him. “How about a retreat day? With just their class out to a summer villa? That would be so nice, like the ocean and the beach and the stars at night and a barbecue an-”

“That’s too much.” Yoongi interjects.

“Well….” Namjoon tilts his head and slides over the accounting records that are in front of Yoongi, pulling out a calculator from his bag. He stares at it for a moment, punching in some numbers. “Actually……..it’s possible.”

“Actually?” Jimin’s eyes double in size. “A retreat to a summer villa?”

“Hm...I mean why not? It’ll get the students excited and participation will be higher, our sponsors will grant us more funds if they see our results, morale will be high and we might make even more profit from our booths.” Namjoon tosses the calculator onto the table and turns to Yoongi. “It’s your call…”

“Can we, can we?” Taehyung grins, leaning towards said Student Council President.

“It sounds pretty awesome…” Hoseok glances at Yoongi and he sighs.

“Fine.”

//

The teacher approaches the whiteboard with a big smile, the students rambunctious behind her. “Quiet down everyone! Quiet!” She calls out and a few seconds later, the chatter simmers to a few murmurs. “As everyone knows, the sports day is coming up and this year it seems as though the prize will be…..drum roll please!”

The excited students begin to pound their desks with their fists and you roll your eyes, staring out the window. “A two day and one night retreat to a summer villa!”

“Woooah!” The kids gasp, turning to their friends instantly and babbling off.

The teacher proceeds to write down the events on the board, the kids raising their hands and shouting out what they want to do or who should do what. The sport team members are the most popular, their names being called the most but unfortunately by rules, there’s a maximum amount of how many one can participate in. “Now who wants to be part of the relay race?”

A few of the smiles fall and those who are standing, sit immediately. The relay race is the worst, the one where all the nerds and unathletic go to, the joke of all the sports; unwanted and childish compared to the other ones. Running around on a track field with a baton isn’t the most entertaining or intense to watch after all. Hardly anyone shows up when they’d rather watch the swim team, shirtless guys and all (at least that’s where the girls flock to and wherever there are girls, there are guys).

“Minah, you should do it.” Hara nudges her and she shys away.

“No…” She whispers softly. “I don’t really want t-”

“Mrs!” Hara suddenly shoots out her arm in the air, gaining the attention of the teacher. “Minah says she’ll do it!”

“Oh that’s good!” The teacher scribbles down her name and Minah manages a small smile.

“See, it’s good.” Hara snickers.

Hyeri shoots Hara a dirty look, scowling at the manipulation and taking advantage of the timid girl, but she unfortunately misses it. “I’ll do it too.” Hyeri raises her hand and Minah instantly smiles brighter, thanking her with her eyes.

The teacher nods and writes down her name. Suddenly she turns to you, quieter and the class slowly cranes their neck over. “Y-Y/N...is there something you’d like to do?”

Ever since the whole ordeal with Hara having drugs in her bag, most people became afraid of you. There wasn’t any concrete evidence that it was you but rumours quickly passed around and they weren’t far from the truth. No one bothered you though and you didn’t care about the dirty looks that Hara’s group shot when you walked past or the whispers that carried behind your back. Everyone knew better than to mess with you, teachers included. And you liked it that way.

“No.” You answer shortly and she opens her mouth to protest but shuts it a moment later.

She clears her throat awkwardly, moving onto a different topic and you stare out the window again.

Once more, your hands are wrapped around a mop’s handle and you’re relentlessly scrubbing away at the tiled floors. Yoongi, on the other hand, is lying on his stomach on the couch, chin perched in his hands as he watches you intently with a disinterested expression - as if he were a cat and you were an uninteresting toy.

Clicking your tongue with annoyance, you swivel your head up at him with a scowl.

“Do you have nothing better to do?”

“Nope.” He quips with a growing smirk. You shoot him a sharp glare before focusing back on mopping and after a long drawn out silence, he calls your name.

You hate how you like the way he says it.

“Y/N…”

“What?”

“What are you doing at the Sports Day Festival?”

“Nothing.” You slosh the mop back into the bucket, staring daggers into his eyes. “I’m skipping.”

He scoffs. “You can’t do that.”

You freeze and this time you’re the one who scoffs. “Are you really going to tell me what to do?” You jab your finger at him. “Listen Min Yoongi. I, L/N Y/N, don’t do sports or take orders from anybody.”

He’s silent, the both of you holding a long staring contest. “I’ll give you an extra two thousand.”

It takes only three heartbeats for you to answer.

“Deal.” He smirks again and you roll your eyes at him. Dignity or not, money was still money. “But why do you even care?”

“Well…” He sits up, stretching his limbs with a grunt. “You are our precious scholarship student...” He exaggerates with a small smile. “...so it would look pretty bad but...we also need another student to run the relay race in your class. They’re short one.”

“Relay race?”

“Yup.”

“No thanks.”

“.......two thousand dollars...” He reminds you in a light voice.

You groan out, tilting your head to the ceiling. “Fine! Fine!”

“Fine?” He lifts a brow.

You grimace, narrowing your eyes at him. “Yes, okay? Yes.”

He moves out his hand, gesturing for you to continue. When you stare at him blankly, he whispers. “Master.”

You turn back to the bucket, sloshing the solution so much that it spills all over the floor. “The day I call you master is the day when we’re in hell, Yoongi.”

He chuckles, back falling onto the couch and his eyes flutter shut. “I’ll be waiting then.”

//

The week rolls by quickly and before you know it, you’re at the back of the gymnasium, cursing under your breath as the principal says some kind of inspirational (shitty) speech. The students cheer enthusiastically, some crouching down to tie their shoelaces again, others tightening their team headbands. Everyone is wearing different coloured shirts, each grade split into two teams and when you look down at your own shirt, the bright yellow burns your eyes.

The moment Jin steps up to the podium, the chatter ceases; girls fawning over his handsome looks and the both boys admiring and envious. He hypes the crowd up, vocalizing on how it’s the first sports festival for many and the last for others; how important creating unforgettable memories are and that victories aren’t everything, encouraging everyone that anything is possible.

You yawn, looking out at the exit door and if you could quietly step away, find a tree somewhere to take a nap under. “To the Academy’s twenty-seventh Sports Festival...” A husky voice rings over the speakers and instantly your ears perk, turning your head to the stage.

Yoongi’s there with a bright smile, that you know is all too fake, leaning over to speak in the microphone. “Pride, honour, victory and embracing challenges - these are all fundamental core values within our prestigious Academy. With that being said…” He leans in closer, lips falling in a line and voice falling a pitch. “We will not tolerate any cheating or manipulation of scores. Consequences will be dire and entire teams will be disqualified…” He smiles again. “So please play fairly and have fun.”

You roll your eyes when the boys around whisper how cool he is and the girls gush over how angelic and puppy-like he looks. It’s ironic.

Maybe they’re blind.

Jimin steps up to the podium shyly, holding a piece of paper in his hand and raising his hand, reading out the athlete’s pledge while everyone happily recites after him. Bored, your eyes trail away and they ‘accidentally’ land on Yoongi...only to find him already staring right at you.

The both of you hold eye contact for a long time and you wonder why no one’s noticed. As a full minute passes by, you curse when your cheeks begin to burn but that’s only because you’re in a gymnasium full of sweaty teenagers….there’s absolutely no other reason. Obviously.

Nonetheless, you don’t give up without a fight even when his eyes are burning holes into your skin. You tilt your head, wearing a blank expression and matching his, emotionless - that is until his lips tilt up into a smirk and you roll your eyes, finally tearing your head away.

“Let the games begin!” Jimin’s voice echos suddenly over the speakers, nearly making you flinch. Everyone cheers, fist pumping the air and you waste no time rushing out the doors.

The other side of Yoongi’s lip tugs upwards as he watches you leave.

Hoseok wonders why he’s grinning like an idiot.

//

You’re resting against a tree trunk, the leaves rustling in the wind and providing a cooling shade. Every so often, you have to flick off some ants that manage to crawl up your arms and you grimace at the loud noises. Though the school was a good distance away, the track field was pretty close and you could still hear the cheerleaders and shouting of students.

You’re slightly surprised at how athletic the rich kids are, everyone abandoning their pristine uniforms for coloured shirts and gym shorts but you guess that Jin and Hoseok did a fairly good job at promoting the event, firing the natural competitiveness in the wealthy kids. After all most of them grew up with ambitious, business oriented parents who nurtured them in order to fight the competition of the real world.

Judging from the announcer's voice that booms over the speakers, the teams are all neck and neck. Long distance running, high jump, baseball and fencing victories have been distributed equally amongst the classes.

You do open an eye to watch the archery game since they set up the range fairly close to where you’re resting. Taehyung (who’s on your team) completely misses the target and Jimin (who’s on the opposite team, wearing a red shirt) bursts out into laughter. But he, himself, only manages to score two points in three rounds. 

The sound of footsteps coming closer and closer makes your eyes open again. “What are you doing here?” Yoongi asks with a lifted brow and slightly amused glint in his eyes.

“I don’t know…” You nag sarcastically. “Take a guess.”

He scoffs, plopping down next to you and it only makes you frown. “What are you doing here?”

“I don’t know.” He quips with a shrug. “Take a guess.”

You sneer at him. “What? Were you looking for me?”

“No.” He says simply. “I’m here for the shade. It’s too hot. I hate the sun.”

You look at him for a second, somehow not believing his words. “Uh huh...sure.”

Yoongi doesn’t respond and just uncaps the fresh, new bottle of water that he brought with him. When you feel a sudden coolness against your skin, your eyes open again and you shoot him a suspicious look. He’s holding the lid in his hand, arm extended to you with the water bottle and his eyes are casually looking out at the field.

You stare down at the water bottle and he clears his throat. “Drink it.”

“Why?”

“It’ll be a pain in the ass if you faint from dehydration.” He says lightly, eyes still avoiding yours.

Your lips twitch, wanting to lift but you take the bottle, quickly lifting it to your mouth, holding back. The water quenches your dry throat and you never realized you were even thirsty. Yoongi watches in slight amusement as you down half of it.

“Thanks...I guess.” You chirp out nonchalantly while wiping your mouth with the back of your hand. He smirks and hands you the cap of the bottle. As you twist it back on, your brows lift at his bold shirt.

“Nice red.” You nod your head to it and he follows your eyes.

“You have a nice yellow yourself. It really does the job of hurting my eyes.”

You scoff. “At least I’m not a damn stop sign.”

“Well, I’m not a school bus.” He surveys you closely and you roll your own eyes, not being able to suppress the giggle that slips through your lips.

Yoongi thinks it's slightly cute. He doesn’t say anything though.....just staring at you with a soft yet blank expression.  

“Who even chose these stupid colours?” You grumble, pinching the cotton fabric.

“Taehyung and Hoseok. They’re actually the colours of the rainbow...all six teams. They thought that bold colours would be more….encouraging and bright.”

“Oh yeah...it’s bright all right.”

“Hey, at least this way if you decide to run away, I can spot you and catch you.” He smirks and you narrow your eyes at him.

“Demon…” You curse under your breath and he laughs. “What makes you think you can outrun me?”

He does a quick sweep of you from head to toe. “I can definitely outrun you.”

You scoff. “Keep being blindly confident Yoongi….it’s almost attractive.” You tilt your head at him and his smirk returns.

“Are you running the relay race?”

“Yeah.” You lean in closer, voice dropping a tone. “...for two thousand of course.”

“Everything’s just money with you, isn’t it?”

You shift back into your comfortable spot. “You bet it is.” After a moment, you turn to him again. “What about you? I don’t see you getting off your lazy ass.”

“I’m playing basketball after your relay race.”

You tilt your head at him with a smirk. “Are you gonna win?”

“Maybe.” He shrugs with a repressed grin. “Don’t come though. If you come, you’ll curse me and bring me bad luck.”

Your brows quirk and a small smile takes hold on your mouth. “You’ve tempted me now...but we’ll see...maybe.”

Yoongi grins and you shut your eyes, resting more under the cool shade as the announcer's voice booms over the intercom again.

//

The two girls watch as the swim team emerges from their locker rooms, tight shirts sticking to their skin and they sigh helplessly at their visible muscles. Seungkwan huffs out and rolls his eyes. “You wanna go watch the relay race after?” He asks, trying to draw away their attention.

Minzy scrunches her face up in distaste. “But it’s so boring. I’d rather get a head start on lunch break. The concession stands are always busy and the lines are always long.”

“Oh.” Hina finally peels her eyes away from the boys to look at her friend. “Isn’t that scholarship girl participating though?”

Seungkwan’s eyes twinkle and he leans in closer with a laugh. “Isn’t she the one who nearly got Hara arrested?”

Minzy rolls her eyes at his sudden excitement. “She’s also the reason why Choa and Yura have bald spots now.” Hina whispers quietly and the three can’t help but giggle together. “Have you seen their wigs?”

“It’s just rumours.” Minzy shushes her but then smirks. “They’re bitches though, so they deserve it.”

“Anyways, you wanna go to the relay race?” Seungkwan asks the two again and Hina shrugs.

“Sure, I mean why not?”

Just then the boys stand on their platforms, peeling off their shirts to reveal muscles and washboard abs. Hina and Minzy dart their eyes over instantly, following the rest of the girls with their shrieks. Sungkwan, like the other boys, sigh helplessly at the crowd of girls.

//

You jolt suddenly the moment ‘relay race’ gets called over the booming intercom and you’re violently shaken awake from your nap. When you look over, Yoongi’s obviously gone but...whatever. It’s not like you care.

You pick yourself up and head towards the track field but to your surprise, the bleachers and benches are all full of students, divided up by their teams and holding bright signs while shouting enthusiastically. It’s annoying but only because they’re too loud and you’ve just woken up.

You head towards the front where all the other participants are.

Minah’s head is downcasted and her hands are trembling. “Wh-why are there so many people?”

Hyeri frowns, looking around. “Yeah...everyone told me it’s suppose to be really empty…” The moment she sees you coming, she smiles softly. “Hey…”

You don’t get to respond before a hand suddenly slaps your shoulder and you almost turn around, pummeling whoever’s face with your fist. But instead you’re met with Taehyung’s boxy grin. “You’re pretty infamous.” He quips and scans the crowd.

“What?”

“I think they’re all here to watch you.” He hums and you frown. “For you to fail, trip, fall...or maybe win. You’re a wild card!”

“Uh huh. Thanks?” You nod and he turns to the other three.

“Have you guys all decided your order yet?”

“Umm…” Hyeri looks at you, glances at Chan, a shy boy who’s standing behind her and then to Minah who’s still staring at the ground. “No...not really…”

She turns to you. “I don’t care.” You immediately answer.

“I’ll go first then.” She decides with some hesitance. “Chan can go second, Minah third and..”

“I’ll go last.” You sigh out.

“Okay!” Taehyung grins and then scribbles something on his clipboard. “Make sure to pass the baton! Good luck!” He flashes you another smile and a pat on the shoulder before marching up to another team.

“Good luck.” Chan speaks up.

“G-good luck.” Minah stutters with a tiny smile.

Hyeri returns it, patting her back comfortingly before turning to you and Chan. “We can do it! ...let’s at least try not to make last place!”

You almost let out a snort at how unconfident they all are. “Yeah sure. Good luck.”

Everyone’s cheering, clapping as the first runners get into stance, exhaling and inhaling evenly. You lift a hand over your eyes when the piercing sun is too blinding. “Get ready...get set....GO!” The whistle blows and instantly they’re launching off.

Hyeri’s not too shabby, making it third place consistently through the entire run. Chan quickly gets into position and after a minute and a half, everyone’s pushing their legs for the last dash. The minute Hyeri hands him the baton, he’s off and she collapses onto the grass, Minah passing her a water bottle and complimenting her. She flashes a thumbs up, too breathless to speak and then Minah gets into position. She’s far too nervous, the way she’s visibly shaking and biting her lips. You wonder if you should say something….you don’t.

It would be generous to say Chan is a good runner, he lags behind a bit and falls to fourth place but no sooner he’s looping back around and hands the baton over.

The cheers become more intense as the second and third place are head to head. Minah is slow, becoming fifth place and you sigh out before getting into position.

Your shoelaces are tied, team fabric headband is wrapped around your arm instead of your head and your ponytail is tight. You kneel into position with the others, looking behind you to see Minah’s closed eyes and scrunched up face, pushing herself for the last stretch. You bring out your arm behind you, ready to take the baton but just then, over her own shoe, she trips and faceplants the ground.

There are some gasps in the audience, others pointing at the girl who just fell on her face. Hyeri and Chan shout encouragements from the stand and you curse under your breath. “GET UP!” You shout at her as the other teams pass their batons and fly past you.

She listens and a second later, she’s up again with her nose trickling blood. With a grunted scream, she hands you the baton, cool to your fingertips and you’re off.

You’re in last place. But you could give less shits, casually jogging - that is until you see a familiar face in the crowd.

He’s wearing a bold red shirt, arms crossed and one side of his lips are tugged in a familiar smug smirk that you hate so much. Time slows down. You hold his stare. And maybe you’re really going crazy because you can almost hear him inside your head; taunting you, provoking you, ridiculing you.

Fast, huh?

I can definitely outrun you.

The last straw is when he subtly but so clearly sticks out the tip of his tongue at you.

The three seconds end and you’re sprinting off, as hard and fast that your legs can possibly carry without collapsing. Your eyes narrow and you see nothing but the track, your heartbeat pounding in your ears and the beads of sweat forming at your forehead.

The cheering hushes down several notches, people pointing and sitting on the edges of their seats as they watch you pass, fifth place...fourth place...third place...second place.

You’ve ran from the police, from psychotic addicts and you’ve chased down those who stole from you. Just two months ago, if someone were to tell you that your talent of running away would one day be put to good use, you’d probably swear at them.

But now your lungs are on fire and your arms swiftly move back and forth in motion as your sneakers pummel against the ground. The last stretch comes into sight and you hitch a breath as you’re nose to nose parallel with a tall, blue shirted guy. Your eyes shut and you grit your teeth, tearing a scream through your throat as you pass him by a single centimeter and the red ribbon tugs against your abdomen.

Cheers erupt from the stands and when you fall to the ground, the entire yellow team comes stumbling off the bleachers. Your vision is blurs but you can still hear the loud cheers of your name, Chan gaping at you with disbelief, Minah bursting into tears of happiness while mumbling apologies and Hyeri shaking you with a huge grin.

“You just beat a member of the varsity team!”

“Holy shit! Holy shit! We won!”

“From sixth place to first?! OH MY GOD.”

“That was amazing!”

You’re dragged up by some students, others happily patting you in the back roughly. A water bottle is shoved into your hands, another person wiping off your sweat but you shift your head upwards, still breathless but trying to search for the red shirt boy. Unfortunately, there are too many people crowding around and too many wearing red.

The intercom booms from above. Taehyung’s voice rings and you can even hear his grinning. “Year one, yellow team’s victory in relay race.”

//

People you don’t recognize flash you thumbs up, the others on your team grinning from ear to ear and the boy who won second place even praises you, offering a position on the track and field team, to which you politely decline.

You’ve finally found a moment to yourself after lunch officially begins.

You’re at the back of the school, drinking water. “There you are.” A familiar voice calls from behind you and you almost spit out the liquid.

“What the…” You wipe your mouth, turning on your heel. “Yoongi.”

He smirks and you notice his black jersey, the letters of his name in a contrasting white. He looks good….really good. “I’ll admit…” He sighs out with a smile. “You’re good. Maybe you’d be able to outrun me.”

You scoff, rolling your eyes.

“What made you run so hard? I thought you didn’t care.”

“I don’t….” You answer nonchalantly, closing your water bottle. “Just wanted to prove you wrong.”

“Are you playing next?” You ask.

“Yeah.”

“I hope you lose.” This time you’re the one who smirks and he scoffs.

“I know we’re on opposite teams but you can’t even wish me a ‘good luck’?” He raises a brow, amused.

“I hope you don’t fall on your face.” You sass him and he chuckles, shaking his head. “Don’t break your legs.”

“Why does it sound like you want me to? Are you using reverse psychology? Some sort of new witchcraft to curse me?”

This time you can’t help but let your smile slip and you shrug. “I don’t know. Think what you want to think.”

He grins. “You better hope I won’t break my legs or else you’re going to pay and really become my slave.”

“Hey! It wouldn’t be my fault.”

“You just jinxed me.” He says seriously despite his gummy smile. “I’m your responsibility now.”

You roll your eyes, cheeks numb from smiling but just then someone comes stumbling from the corner of the school. “Yoongi w-” Jimin stops in his tracks when he sees the both of you together. “Uhhh……..” He nervously begins to step backwards. “Am I interruptin-”

“Nope.” “No.” You both answer simultaneously without even a glance at each other.

Jimin lets a long second pass, staring at the both of you before nodding his head. “Okay...Yoongi, they’re calling you down a-”

“Okay.” He interrupts before needing to hear more and starts walking away. Your lips fall into a straight line, watching his backside for just a mere moment.

“Good luck.” You mutter but he manages to catch it.

“Don’t need it.” He answers sharply and you scoff before turning away, walking off yourself.

Nonetheless, there’s still a smile on his lips.

//

The moment you shuffle into the gymnasium, you notice the serious atmosphere. There’s not a lot of cheering but rather muffled chatter and whispers. The crowd on the benches are mixed with boys and girls, all of them watching as the basketball team finishes up their warm up.

You’re standing at the very back row, behind everyone else when you notice Yoongi shooting some hoops and getting them in perfectly.

“MIN YOONGI! MIN YOONGI!” Jimin’s voice rings and you laugh at how the boy is across the gym from you, leaning over the railings and holding an obnoxious, neon sign with Yoongi’s face glued to it.

He passes the ball to his teammate and then slowly treads up to Jimin, doing some kind of hand motion, maybe telling him to get down or stop. For a second Jimin’s lips fall but then he - “MIN YOONGI!” - shouts even louder and holds the sign up higher with a mischievous smile.

A moment later, a whistle blows and the team gathers up. Much to Yoongi’s dismay, he rips his eyes off of Jimin and jogs up to the other students with matching jerseys. The game starts soon after, a loud sound emitting from the score board.

You’ll admit it. He’s good...really good.

You can’t tear your eyes away.

Yoongi steals the ball swiftly from the other team, his sneakers squeaking against the floor with every turn. His passes are flawless, shoots are perfect and not one misses, always landing in the basket. The crowd seems to think so too and though they’re not screaming obnoxiously with cheers, they’re all on the edges of their seats, gasps and anticipation letting them hang off the edge. They follow the basketball with their heads and eyes in synchronization, like pigeons, only some of them whispering to their friends briefly. When someone scores, they clap and cheer before the game starts again.

Yoongi however, doesn’t seem to mind the crowd or the murmurs of ‘how cool he is’, praises being showered from left to right. He is purely focused on the game, lips tight together and eyes narrowed. But you can’t help but swear through the game he notices you and steals a glance; his lips raising to a smile for a split second; gone when you’ve blinked again.

Maybe your eyes are playing tricks for you.

BEEEP. The scoreboard blares, signaling that it was down to the last minute. The red team was still in the lead and he didn’t even let the other team take a last shot, stealing the ball and avoiding the players. As merciless as Yoongi is, he shoots from half across the court and as the scoreboard blares once more, signaling the end of the game, the ball shoots through the hoop with ease.

The crowd erupts into cheers and standing ovations. Jimin runs onto the court, grabbing a breathless Yoongi in a hug. He’s squeezed to death but still too tired to push the boy away and when he looks over at the back of the stands, he sees you with a tiny smile, tilting your head at him with interest.

Suddenly your hand lifts and you’re giving him a thumbs up but after a second, your hand dramatically flips downwards to a thumbs down. You scrunch your face up, sticking out your tongue briefly.

And as he watches you leave, behind the rambunctious crowds where no one notices, he chuckles breathlessly.

//

“Hey….did you hear?” Choa leans over to Hara who’s stretching.

The both of them are participating in the gymnastics match and afterwards, the volleyball game with Yura. Said girl is beside them, fixing her makeup in the practice room mirrors. “What?”

“Apparently Y/N won the relay match.”

“Ugh.” Yura rolls her eyes. “She’s such an- UGH!”

Hara pouts her lips. “Hmph. She’s not our problem anymore.” With any other human, Hara would’ve cursed them to death or tattled to her overprotective father. But for reasons she’d rather die than admit - she’s petrified of you, intimidated and scared shitless. “I don’t care.”

“But apparently she’s going to play in the soccer match.” Choa frowns at Hara’s odd indifference. “One of their team members got injured so they replaced them with her.”

Hara turns to her with a huge frown. “I said I don’t care about her!” She yells out and Choa takes a step back.

“Oka- okay.”

All the way on the other side of the school, you’re tightening your shoelaces.

When some kids you didn’t recognize approached you and pleaded with you to replace their teammate, you declined. But they begged you knowing full well your running capabilities and when Jungkook stepped in; with his big doe eyes, you couldn’t reject the plea.

You hated how these rich kids got so close, so quickly. It seemed like they completely forgot about your social status or about scorning you. They offer bright smiles instead, pats on the backs, words of encouragement and thumbs up whenever you pass. Perhaps they pushed all the differences aside for the sake of victory but you preferred it when they feared you. It was much less….feely.

The whistle blows and you’re off in the field.

You’re not a pro at soccer by any means but you do know you’re way around the game. Excluding the ten minutes where Jungkook was explaining to you frantically of what to do (his sudden competitiveness startling you), Sungjae really liked soccer and would get you to play with him. So, from previous experiences, you aren’t shabby in the least bit.

You make a couple passes, score once and the game goes by smoothly. By the end of the match, your team’s won yet again and you detest the way you’re dragged into a huge group hug, sweaty kids jumping up and down simultaneously.

“She’s getting along with everyone pretty well, huh?” Jin turns to Yoongi who’s standing a distance away.

“Yup.”

Jin hesitates before asking curiously. “Are you jealous?”

Yoongi turns to him with a disgusted expression. “What?”

“I mean...it seems like you two have gotten pretty close.”

“She’s just the scholarship student. I was assigned to watch her closely.”

“Uh huh.” Jin nods.

“She’s psychotic, a brute and all she does is curse me.” He grumbles, turning on his heel to walk away. “Stop wasting your time thinking meaningless things. Focus on making the event a success.”

Jin sighs, following Yoongi and teasing him. “Yes president.”

//

You step up onto the stage by the time the last students have filtered out of the gymnasium. Yoongi’s at the podium, shuffling the papers.

He had just announced the winners and unfortunately for you but fortunately for them, the seniors stole the victory. It was pretty close, neck and neck, counted to the last scores but being the last year and last chance of being as one class, the seniors were like beasts; absolutely determined to win and they did. They obliterated people, intimidated their underclassmen and competed like they were at the Olympics. It was a well deserved victory.

“So…” You cross your arms. No one’s around but the custodian sweeping the floors, still meters away and out of earshot distance. “Am I still coming over?”

He scoffs. “My house is still dirty. Just because today wasn’t a regular school day, doesn’t mean you get to skip out on your duties, slave.”

You narrow your eyes at him, leaning on one foot. “You know I’ve been wondering...if you live alone why is it that your house is a mess every single day? Don’t tell me that you make a mess on purpo- what?”

You interrupt yourself when he suddenly scans you from head to toe. You quickly glance downwards to see if there was something wrong. You had changed back into your uniform but everything was in perfect place.

He holds your stare for a second and then mumble something under his breath. “Jealous?Jealousofwhat?I’mnotjealous.”

“What?” You frown, not able to make out what he’s saying.

He suddenly sharply inhales and then turns, striding off. “Let’s go slave.”

“I’m not your slave!”

“Yes. You are.”

“Fuck off Yoongi.”

“It’s in section two of the contract. I can call you my slave.”

“Since when?! I never saw anything like that!”

“Yes, it’s there. Do you really want proof?”

“Yes I want proof!”

As your voices fade away, the custodian can’t help but laugh tiredly. He wasn’t eavesdropping - you two were just being too loud.

Somehow he’s reminded of his relationship with his wife.

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