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#But we’re gonna ignore the fact that this was supposed to be posted in October ☺️💗
sunsetsandsunshine · 6 months
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~ 𝙲𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝚙𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 ~
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·̩̩̥͙**•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝚆𝙰𝚂𝚂𝚄𝙿 𝚈’𝙰𝙻𝙻 🔥⁉️ 𝙵𝙸𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚈 𝙱𝙰𝙲𝙺 𝙸𝙽 𝙱𝚄𝙸𝚂𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝚆𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙰𝙶𝙰𝙸𝙽— 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙴𝙲𝚃 𝙰 𝙻𝙾𝚃𝚃𝚃𝚃 𝙾𝙵 𝙵𝙸𝙲𝚂 𝙱𝙲 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙷 𝙸𝚂 𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚁𝙽˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*·̩̩̥͙
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙵𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏
𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜: 𝟻,𝟽𝟶𝟿
𝙻𝚎𝚎: 𝙼𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚢 🐢🧡 (𝚂𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚁𝚊𝚙𝚑 🐢❤️)
𝙻𝚎𝚛: 𝚁𝚊𝚙𝚑 🐢❤️ (𝚂𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚢 🐢🧡)
𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝙼𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜, 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚁𝚊𝚙𝚑’𝚜 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖.
(𝙰/𝙽: 𝚃*𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙳𝙽𝙸 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜— 𝚢’𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚢 <𝟹)
𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚜 𝚋𝚌 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝: @tiggleebug @tmnt-th1ngs @creativecutie @veryblushyswitch @snugglyfluffle @kanene-yaaay @someone1348 @vxlepop @what-youd-expect @turtletimewriting @ziipzeepzop-eez @my-l0v3r-v3rse @skye-minecraftyt-blog @augonot @soft--dragon @titters-and-tingles
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐— 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚓𝚊𝚖, 𝚙𝚕𝚣 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 ❤️🧡
·̩̩̥͙**•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙷𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢!˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*·̩̩̥͙
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“No.”
“But Raph—”
“No.”
“But Raphie—”
“No.”
“But—”
“I literally just said no, Mikey.”
“But Raaaaaaphhhh, I’m bored!” The youngest groaned, flopping onto the second oldest’s bed dramatically. The second oldest in question raised an unamused brow, looking up from his comic where his little brother laid in front of him. The red banded turtle sighed, going back to reading his novel calmly and ignoring the younger turtle completely. 
Now, if you couldn’t tell by Mikey’s whole demeanor, or the fact that he just stated so…he was bored. VERY bored. EXTREMELY bored. 
TREMENDOUSLY bored if you will.
And if the youngest was bored, you’d best believe you’d hear him complaining all day in and all day out until he found something to occupy himself with. And Raph? Well, the young teen personally did not have the time nor patience to deal with all of that today. 
Or any day really.
“For the millionth time, Mike— I’m busy. Go bother Don or somethin'.” The hot-head grumbled, flipping through the pages of the comic book he was currently reading. The other rolled his eyes, turning his head to his older brother, “Don’t you think I already did that?” Raph chuckled at the statement. “Oh really? And how’d that go?”
“He threw a beaker at me…but I think it had acid in it—“
Raph visibly shuddered, “Okie-dokie then. Another reason for you to get out of my room. Buh-bye. Sayonara. Thanks for stopping by. Adios amigo.” He demanded, pushing Mikey’s face with his foot but the youngest stubbornly stood his ground. He pushed back with his head until the other eventually gave up, throwing his comic book at him in frustration. 
Mikey got up from the bed, annoyingly whining again.
“Just do an activity with me or something…! He huffed, shaking Raph by the shoulders back and forth. “I can show you the way out of my room! That can be an activity we can do together!” The red banded teen smiled with a fake sweet tone, which only caused the other’s frown to deepen. 
“I’ll never ask you for anything ever agaiiiiinnn! Just do something with meeee! Pleeaseee?!” Raph had to bite back a grin when he heard that bargain. In the next 5 minutes, Mikey would probably ask him to do the hokey-pokey or some shit like that. The second oldest let out a long yet playful sigh, rubbing his temples before crossing his arms. “Fine fine…what do you wanna do?” 
The youngest blinked, rubbing the back of his head and looking away for a bit. Well…Raph was surprisingly easy to convince today. It usually took him a solid 2 hours and 30 minutes (he’s counted) until he cracked. Usually 1 hour and 15 minutes on a good day…
“That’s…a very good question…I’ll get back to you on that…” The smaller turtle muttered. Raph tilted his head in complete and utter disbelief. “You came in here harassing me for, like, an hour straight talking about how you wanna spend time with me and now you don’t even know what you wanna do?!”
“I’m thinking, okay?! Don’t get your tits in a twist!” Mikey huffed at his older brother. 
“Don’t get my what in a what???”
The youngest then suddenly snapped his fingers, smiling brightly and turning to the second oldest, “We should play a video game!”
“Like…Fall Guys or something? Dude, I’ve beat you anytime we’ve played two player. Just accept your many MANY losses.” The green eyed mutant teased, laughing at the offended expression Mikey was giving him now.
“I think you might have hit your head a bit too hard when we came from the ooze, my dear friend. Because I clearly remember you losing when we were playing last weekend.” The orange banded teen challenged, sticking his tongue out at Raph who only scoffed in amusement, resting his hand on his hip. 
“I was being a good big brother and let you win.” He retorted. Mikey rolled his eyes, knowing full damn well Raph just sucked absolute ass and didn’t want to admit it. “Yeah yeah, whatever. But, no. I have an even better thing in mind. And it’s a board game.”
A pause.
“…so are you gonna tell me what the board game is?” Raph asked impatiently. 
“I’m pausing for emphasis! I request a drumroll, please.” 
…oh for the love of…
Raph sighed, drumming his hands on his bed for a couple seconds before stopping, waiting for Mikey to tell him the name of this soooo special game that he couldn’t just tell him already.
Because emphasis or whatever.
“Twister!” Mikey smiled, clapping his hands excitedly. “Twister.” Raph repeated, his eye-ridges (is that what they’re called—? Idk…) raising in surprise as he scratched the top of his head confused. “Why Twister of all things? We haven’t played that game since we were, like, 7.”
The blue-eyed mutant shrugged, leaning against his big brother’s beside and lazily checking his nails. “Eh. No reason. Just what first came to mind. What? Afraid you’ll lose, Raphie boy~?” He smirked, looking up at the taller green eyed mutant who only chuckled at his taunt. 
“Oh please. That game is so easy I could play it in my sleep.” He smirked, looking down at Mikey who only had a satisfied grin plastered on his face.
Raph was lying— lying right through his teeth in fact. He wasn’t good at Twister— he wasn’t even semi-good. He didn’t even qualify anywhere near semi-good when it came to Twister. Raph wasn’t the most…flexible turtle of the bunch, which made it hard to do some, if not most of the poses Twister had conjured up for you. 
And usually, he wouldn’t care so much about losing a game. Heck, it was Twister for crying out loud. But Raphael grew up with a family of competitors.
And so, he was competitive. Very competitive.
He didn’t like to lose— in fact, he hated losing. He’d rather beat up Kraang droids all day than lose. 
Well…he’d beat up Kraang droids any day but that’s beside the point! 
Point was, he absolutely sucked at Twister, period. And personally? It wouldn’t be so bad if he was going against Leo, heck— even Casey Goongala Jones himself would be a better opponent than Mikey.
If Mikey won (which he always did), he would make sure you knew all day in and all day out that he beat you. It was annoying as hell and that would only fuel Mikey more into reminding you that you lost against him. 
And like stated before…Raph did not like losing. He didn’t like it one bit. 
The elder straightened up his slouched posture, extending his hand to do a hand shake, which the youngest gladly accepted. “I accept your offer. But don’t be disappointed when I completely annihilate you.”  
“We’ll see about that.” Mikey chirped, grabbing Raph’s arm and almost soaring out of the room with him. 
Aaaaand so that’s where the two were now; spreading the well known dotted mat onto the floor carefully in front of the TV. The two spun a couple times already, the positions that were being requested weren’t hard. At first…just subtle movements here and there. Until Raph had his whole arm underneath Mikey and Mikey had his whole arm under Raph’s…
And by 12 turn’s, they were intertwining each other like a bunch of yarn. Raph, surprisingly, was doing really well. His stance being something along the lines of a downwards dog and a corpse pose— if that makes sense. Which it doesn’t. Because it’s Twister. Twister doesn’t make any sense in the slightest. 
Mikey on the other hand, was not doing so hot. His stance was just basically the Family Guy dead pose but just slightly standing. With every spin of that darn evil plastic wheel, the younger teen seemed to be getting more and more difficult adjustments, while Raph barely had to move a finger. Or…limb in this case. 
The turtle gods were on his big brother’s side today and Mikey was not having it. 
“Doing alright, bro?” The hot-head smugly asked, his voice a little strained due to the odd positing but a teasing grin was on his face nonetheless. “You’re shaking a bit there…” He mused at his little brother, whose limbs were shaking like a bunch of conjoined jello conjoined.
The smaller mutant then fixed his footing, not shaking anymore as he looked up at Raph, smirking smugly right back at him. “Oh I’m fine, big bro. Just. Fine.” The orange banded turtle gritted out.
Now, Mikey wasn’t going to lie, but this whole Twister thing was starting to not seem like such a good idea. His older brother was a complete abomination when it came to Twister! But apparently, he seemed like he was getting every single easy position, and he was doing a pretty decent job at it— and Raph…Raphael has NEVER done decent! 
Mikey, on the other hand, was struggling. He might as well become the actual mascot for the game or something because his arms and legs were getting twisted like actual Twizzlers. It’s probably not even normal for his body to twist like this, but hey! He’s not losing and that’s all that matters, right? 
But he couldn’t keep this act on forever. He was going to fall sooner or later if he didn’t do something fast. 
The younger tried to move to spin the wheel but almost fell in the process; catching himself at the last second. “Yeah…I won’t be able to reach it…” The elder hummed in acknowledgement, also attempting to spin the wheel but ultimately failing as well.
Conveniently, a couple seconds later, the eldest turtle of the four quadruplets walked out of his room, walking into the lounge area where the two were playing Twister. Leo looked the two up and down before sighing, rubbing his face tiredly.
“It’s too early for this…” He grumbled, going to the kitchen to refill his tea cup. Raph and Mikey shared a confused glance with each other, before looking at the other turtle with even more confusion.
“It’s 4 in the afternoon…” The youngest giggled. Leo turned around, glaring at the both of them. And if looks could kill…Mikey would’ve been nothing but a bare shell.
“Yeah. And my statement still stands. It’s too early for this…” The blue banded turtle repeated, taking a sip of a now full tea cup. “Now. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go read some Captain Ryan x reader fanfiction…” He grumbled with the most deadpanned face and voice ever, but you could tell by the sparkle in his eyes that he was genuinely excited.
The young leader was probably too tired to acknowledge what he just said…oh well. More blackmail for Mikey then.
“Leo, wait! We need you to spin the spinny thingie!” The second oldest yelled in impatience. This stance was starting to hurt like shell! And losing is not an option here!
Leo turned around, looking his brother up and down again before sipping his tea again. “Do it yourself.” 
“I can’t, wise guy! The spinny whatchamacallit is all the way over there! If I try to spin it, I’ll lose!” Raph explained which only resulted in Leo blinking once before rolling his eyes.
“Then lose.” And with that, the young leader walked to his room, chuckling a bit to himself as he closed his door. “Smug bastard…” The red banded turtle grumbled under his breath.
After a few moments of thinking, Mikey decided he needed to do something to try and get an advantage in this game. That’s when he reached up with one hand and jabbed Raph in the side lightly.
The elder flinched violently, drawing out a surprised and loud shriek, but stubbornly staying in the same position he was before. The second oldest glared at his younger brother, who had the most innocent smile plastered on his face.
“Michelangelo. Hamato.” He warned, his glare hardening. “Poke me again and see what happens.” He said threateningly, which only caused the younger in question to innocently bat his eyes at him, continuously poking around his side.
“Mihihike— shihihit!” Raph cursed, trying to squirm out of reach of the poking with the little room he had. Mikey continued to tickle him, now moving his fingers to scribble on his stomach, which obviously made Raph shriek louder.
“MIHIHIKEY!” 
“Aw…there’s that smile!” The youngest grinned. And finally, to the smaller turtle’s delight, the older fell down on his shell, officially concluding the game and granting Mikey his 100% hard earned victory. 
“I won!” The menace giggled, doing a small little victory dance on the mat before he made eye contact with Raph— who looked like he was ready to KILL.
Victory dance over. Victory dance WAY WAY over. 
The younger got up almost immediately, quickly backing away as the other turtle scaringly followed right behind him. “W-Wait wahait…dude, bro, my man…we can talk about this! We can talk this out like the civilized mature mutants we are! There’s noho need to doohoo anything drahastic…” He rambled, taking multiple upon multiple steps back as Raph inched closer and closer towards him, game obviously loooong forgotten at this point.
The elder cracked his knuckles, an evil smirk spreading across his face almost like a wildfire. And that, ladies and gentleman, was enough evidence for Mikey to know that he was absolutely in for it.
The youngest bolted for Donnie’s lab, running as fast as his little legs could carry him, only to be hoisted onto his big brother’s shoulder as the red banded turtle walked back to the lounge area.
Nervous giggles escaped Mikey’s mouth as he tried to get out of his older brother’s grip, squirming, pushing, kicking— basically all the things he could do in this oh-so-horrible-situation-that-he-definitely-did-not-plan-out-what-so-ever!
Raph put Mikey on the ground, sitting on his legs. “Mihike, I haven’t even done anything yet...” He commented at the squirmy giggly mess that was his youngest brother. Mikey snickered, a small blush creeping to his face. “Shuhut it!“ He squeaked as he felt three fingers on his sides, not moving but just resting there in anticipation. 
The youngest helplessly held the taller turtle’s wrists, shaking his head back and forth while sputtering out giggly pleases as his eyes were closed shut. “What’s gotten you so giggly?” Raph asked innocently, smirking down at his baby brother who was currently losing his mind.
“Just gehehet it oveheher wihith already!” He giggled desperately. If getting absolutely wrecked wasn’t gonna kill him…then the anticipation definitely would.
“Get whahat over with, Mike? I genuinely have no idea what you’re talking about…” The orange banded turtle lightly smacked at Raph’s arm, loving and hating every single second of this. Mikey looked to the side, hiding his head in his shell a tiny bit out of embarrassment. 
“Is there…something specific you’re talking about? Something oh-so embarrassing that you apparently can’t even say it out loud?” Raph grinned, his fingers clamping lightly on his sides as the other giggly whined in annoyance and desperation. 
“Will yohou plehease juhust tihihickle me already???” The smallest turtle squeaked; the last part barely audible to the turtle ear and of course Raph felt the need to comment on it. 
“Hm? What was that~? I couldn’t quite hear you…” He smirked, his fingers twitching against the other’s sides. 
“Rahaph!!”
“You gotta speak louder, bud. I can hardly hear you.”
“Rahahaphie plehease!”
“Well since you asked so nicely…” Raphael smiled, starting to actually tickle Mikey’s sides now.
“You know, you could have just…told me you wanted me to tickle you, instead of doing the whole ‘let’s play Twister’ bullshit.” The taller turtle stated calmly, only causing Mikey’s blush to deepen. 
Was he seriously that easy to read? Well that’s embarrassing…he honestly thought he had his older brother fooled with the whole ‘Let’s play Twister bullshit.’
Random fun fact, one of the best and worst things about being tickled by Raph was that he could just casually say the t-word as if it was an everyday word as you can see.
Well…in retrospect it is an everyday word.
But it’s a very embarrassing everyday word.
A very VERY embarrassing everyday word.
And you best believe he always used it as an advantage to gain the upper hand in every situation. Whether he was tickling one of his brothers or not…you bet he would randomly use it in a sentence.
“Literally what are you talking aboHOUT?” Mikey screeched as Raph prodded and poked his lower ribs. “Oh, don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean.” The second oldest smirked. “Playing duhumb is not my forte— thahat was yohou duhuhuring Twister.” Mikey managed to giggle out.
Raph sent daggers to Mikey as he pinned one of his hands to the carpeted floor, digging his free hand into his exposed underarm. 
The blue eyed mutant automatically squawked at the sudden sensation, trying desperately to pull his arm back down. The other let out a satisfied huff from the noise, “You were saying~?”
 “ScREHEHEW YOHOU!” He squawked. Raph flinched slightly at the turtle belle’s sudden yell but chuckled at it nonetheless. Oh this is gonna be so so easy…
Mikey’s feet helplessly kicked behind Raph, his legs going up into the air every so slightly every now and again. “Your gonna break the sound barrier with all that screaming, baby brother...” Raph commented.
“But, you okay? You’re voice raised a bit there…” He asked as he heard Mikey’s laughter spike up suddenly. The youngest wiped a couple happy tears from his eyes, giggling still. “Yeah, yeah…I’m okay…”
Raph nodded at the response, rubbing some of the ghost tickles away before going back to tickling him, now squeezing his hip area.
The freckled turtle’s eyes completely shot out of his sockets as and of course his big brother had to make a smart remark.
“Uh oh…did I happen to find a bad spot?” Raph smirked, raising a brow as the younger shook his head back and forth. “NOHO! NAHAT THEHERE! RAHAPH! PLEHEASE!” The teenager cackled loudly, grabbing the other’s wrists but making no attempt to push them away of course.
“Not there?? Whaddya mean not there~? You mean right…here?” Raph giggled, “Right here? Is this a bad spot, Mike?” He questioned innocently.
“RAHAPH *squeak* PLEHEASE!” Mikey squealed. “Please what? I can’t understand you because of my little brother’s mouse squeaks. Sorry man…” Raph said as he dramatically wiped a tear from his eye, before going back to tickling Mikey’s hip area.
“SHUHU— *squeak* SHUHUT UHUP!”
At times like this, you would not question the fact that Mikey’s Dad is a 6'2 rat mutant. Just listening to his laugh you could hear the resemblance.
“My gahaHAHASH! JuhUST STAHAP!” He whined throughout his laughter as Raph continued to knead his hip bones, causing Mikey’s laughter to rise in volume tremendously now and again.
The youngest arched his back with a loud squeal, pushing on his older brother’s wrists again as he tried to turn himself so his shell was facing upward.
“Now where do you think your goin'?” Raph snickered, now using both his hands to tickle Mikey’s underarms now, instead of just tickling one.
“WAHAHAIT! WAHA— *squeal* WAHAIT! IHIHIT TIHI— *squeak* NAHAHAH!” The youngest stammered through his laughter, his bandana long gone off of his face due to how much he was squirming around.
“It tickles? Ya don’t say.” Raph deadpanned, snickering at the small squeal the turtle below him let out after the comment. “Can Dr. Name-Einstein not take what he dishes out~?” He continued, digging deeper in Mikey’s underarms.
“Tickle tickle tickle~!”
“NoHOH—!”
“Tickle tickle~! Kitchie kitchie coo~!”
“SHUHUT— *squeak* SHUHUT YOUR MOHOUTH!”
“Aww…well, that’s not very nice, now is it?” The green eyed teen fake pouted, continuing to tickle Mikey’s underarms, but slipping his hands out every now and again to poke the other’s neck lightly before going back in.
“Ahh tkltkltkl….ahh tkltkltkl— what? I’m abbreviating it for you because you hate that word soooo much, see? Ahh tkltkltkl…”
“IHI’M GOHONNA MUHUHURDER YOHOU!” The youngest shrieked, banging his heels on the floor in a futile attempt to escape his big brother’s VERY mean comments. “Oh yeah? You and with what hands, little man~?” Raph grinned, grabbing both of Mikey’s wrists to put above his head, scribbling all over his stomach.
Mikey’s hyena cackling only raised in volume after that. Raph evil laughed at the reaction, chuckling to himself as he tickled the younger to pieces.
“Woah. I think I hit the jackpot…what do you think, Mike?”
Mikey squeaked.
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Behind all the evil laughing and teasing, Raph took glances at his baby brother’s face every now and again to make sure that he was actually enjoying himself; and that he wasn’t uncomfortable in any way.
…And before you even think of calling him a softie for thinking this, being a softie and being caring are two completely different things.
Don’t get them twisted.
Anyways, even if Raph never openly says so or displays so…he genuinely cares about his brothers, and if he ever hurt them in any way, physically or mentally…just know that he’s taking that with him to the grave. No further questions asked.
Unfortunately for the youngest, this didn’t mean Raph would be merciful while tickling him in any way, shape, or form right now…
But Raph didn’t want his baby brother’s voice disappearing all the way to Timbuktu, so stopping right now would suffice.
The older turtle ceased his tickling onslaught, crossing his arms across his plastron to glance at the flustered and oh-so giggly mess he created.
“Yohou…suhuck…” The maskless turtle giggled, refusing to look at his big brother who just snickered at the purely adorable behavior.
“Yohou okay?” The elder turtle asked, “Like seriously, I didn’t hurt you or anything, right?” He asked genuinely. And now wasn’t that sweet? Asking if someone was okay after almost committing a first degree murder to said person. Yeah. Reeeeaaal sweet alright.
“Mhm…yeah I’m okahay…” He nodded, sitting up slightly to look for his mask that flew over to who knows where.
”I don’t remember your stomach being that ticklish, Mike.” Raph teased, snickering softly at his comment which Mikey only rolled his eyes to. “Whehell, my neck isn’t embarrassingly sehensitive. Especially the bahahack ohof ihihit. I don’t thihink yohou can relate, but I’m juhust putting thahat out there…”
…Remember how I said Raph loved his brother very dearly? Well…forget it. Stopping right now would not suffice. It would do anything but suffice.
The hot-head simply gave his little brother a look that would be known as the look of ‘You are getting your shell HANDED to you.’ Now Leonardo was the turtle who invented this scary yet effective gaze (because of course he did…)
And so naturally, the look got passed down to Raph. Then to Donnie. And even Splinter found a way how to.
The youngest on the other hand, never really had any reason to learn the look, as he had wonderful looks of his own. Obviously.
But now…he was kinda wishing he did, so that the look didn’t look so scary (see what I did there? I’m hilarious, I know)
“I-Ihi’m sohorry?” Mikey giggled out meekly, immediately going to grab Raph’s wrists again for, like, the hundredth time in the past hour.
Sometimes it’s best to keep your comments to yourself…even if you are spitting straight up facts…
“Oho you will be sorry.” The elder effortlessly grabbed his baby brother’s wrists, slowly bringing his head down towards the other’s stomach. Mikey kicked his knees into Raph’s shell, hoping to at least faze him, but all his attempts to stop his brother were in vain as the other took in a deep breath and lowered his head at an agonizingly slow pace to his plastron...
“W-WAHAIT! RAHAH— *squeal* PLEHEASE!!!” However, even if you’re a strong, cool and fast mutant like Mikey himself here, you would never be able to go up against the power of an older sibling in a tickle fight (a very one-sided tickle fight but a tickle fight nonetheless…)
Raph had to stop to chuckle at the wriggly mess that was his baby brother— the dude was wriggling and giggling like he planted some drug in him! And he hasn’t even done anything to him!
Yet, anyway…
“SHUHUT UP! STAHAP LAHAUGHING AHAT MEEHEE!” The youngest screeched as he felt his mind going on an anticipatory rollercoaster, thrashing in his big brother’s hold which he knew he was never getting out of. Well…acceptance is the first step to anything right?
“PLEHEASE! IHI’M— *squeak* SOHORRY!” Mikey cried, now frantically trying to get out of the hold. Screw acceptance. Mikey didn’t want to see heaven’s gates early. And besides, he has a slice of pizza in the fridge that he’s been dying to eat. So dying right here, right now, isn’t an option.
Raph hummed in amusement, “Oho yeheah? Where were all these apologizes when you made me lose in Twister?” Mikey giggled, “Ihit’s nahat MYHY fault YOHOU suhuck at gahames! Ehespecially board games. Ahahand video gahames…dohoo I have to go ohon?”
Raph was shocked as he was impressed. The pure nerve of this teen. Mikey definitely got that attitude from him…that’s for sure. “Okahay that’s it. No more mister nice turtle…”
“Sihince whEHEN were yOHOU NIHICE?”
Instead of making another sassy remark back, Raph tightened the grip of his hands on Mikey’s wrists slightly, lowering his head to his little brother’s stomach and taking a huge breath…
“RAHAPH— nohoHO— WAHAIT! RAHaph dUHUDE PLEHEASE!” Mikey rambled through his laughter, shaking his head back and forth with his eyes shut. Oh…this was gonna tickle so freaking bad. Maybe instead of provoking Raph he should of just tickled himself— because Michelangelo would not come out of the lounge area ALIVE after this. 
With one last evil chuckle, the elder lowered his head to the center of Mikey’s plastron and…well, let’s just say all of New York City presumably heard the high-pitched shriek that ascended out of the youngest’s mouth.
Raph was mean. He was the definition of mean. He might as well be cast as the next Regina George if Mean Girls gets another reboot because this. was. mean.
Because not only was this smug dunderhead blowing raspberries on his stomach without barely taking any breath’s (kinda impressive honestly), but he also was using one hand to squeeze directly on Mikey’s knee.
Evil. Pure evil.
And you would think that it was pretty nice of Raph to let one of his hands go so he could at least attempt to escape, right? Well the youngest’s free hand was too busy happy stimming in order to do said task…so he’s kinda-sorta-maybe-possibly stuck
“I don’t remember you being this sensitive to raspberries when we were little…” The elder teen commented in between his breaths. Because…honestly. Did Donnie make Mikey one of his nerd concoctions to make the youngest embarrassingly ticklish or has he always been like this? Because there’s no way he should be giggling and wriggling this much.
“IHIT’S NAHAT MY FAHAULT!” And it wasn’t! It’s not Mikey’s fault he’s a literal walking talking tickle spot! Besides, you haven’t met walking talking tickle spot until you’ve met Leo.
“It tickles that bad, huh?” Raph laughed at the inhuman screeches coming from the teen below him. “SHUHUT— *squeak* SHUHUT UHUHAHAHA—!” The youngest cackled loudly, still kicking Raph at the back of his shell with his knees.
Now, was kicking Raph in the shell going to do him any favors in the long run? Most likely not. He’s still getting tickled to pieces and no matter how much he bucked, wriggled, writhed, or squirmed from side to side, Raph’s grip would remain the same until he felt like letting go. His hold was scaringingly better than his nunchucks— and that’s saying a LOT. 
The smaller turtle just helplessly kicked behind him, just laying there and laughing his heart out. Raph took a glance at his younger brother and his snarky, evil smirk turned into a fond smile, he shook his head, laughing to himself. 
“Y'know…Leo is just a couple steps away. I’m sure he’d loooove helping me turn you into a more giggly puddle than you already are…”
“NAHAH— *squeal* DAHA— DOHOHON’T—!”
“Or…what if I got Donnie? I bet he has some tools that would help me…”
“NOHOH—!”
“What about Dad? I’m positive he would just record the whole thing and coo you all day long about you’re adorable giggles—”
“RAHAPHIE!!!” Mikey screeched, kicking Raph in the shell extra hard this time which only made the elder huff out a laugh in amusement.
“OW! Okay okahay! No need to shout!” He chuckled, getting off of the other turtle and helping him up. Raph sat down on the couch, soon followed by Michelangelo who dramatically collapsed into his lap.
He giggled tiredly, sitting up and flopping on the other’s plastron. The elder laughed at the theatrical gesture, rubbing his shell comfortingly. “You okay, bud?” 
“Nohoho. I’m lihihiterally dying.” Mikey giggled tiredly. Raph hummed in acknowledgment, resting his chin on Mikey’s left shoulder, causing the youngest to let out a subtle squeak.
The two made eye contact as Raph’s signature smirk spread across his face again.
“Huh. Which reminds me…” The elder turtle mused, wrapping Mikey in a hug with his one arm while the other was free. He shook his head, anticipatory giggles pouring out of his mouth more than ever before. “Raphie— Rahaphie nohoho don’t you dahare!”
Now, you’re probably wondering why Mikey is freaking out so much right now…let me explain.
As you know, Mikey has freckles. A lot of freckles. It was something he’s always been insecure about ever since he was a turtle tot. He used to absolutely loathe his freckles with a burning passion…and he tried to keep that fact a secret.
But sadly, when you live with 3 other brothers and you’re the youngest, there’s no such thing as secrecy.
The brothers had this whole talk about how his freckles made him, well, him. How it signified his uniqueness, adorableness, and blah blah blah sappy stuff. And that talk actually made Mikey love his freckles a lot…which he really needed.
Point being, his older brother’s created this game where they would count and poke how many freckles he had— because he had a whole LOT and they wanted to point out each adorable individual one; his freckles mainly being on his shoulders, face and neck.
But the thing was, the pokes to said spots tickled. A lot. Mikey was able to hide his reactions at first, but then a squeak went to a squeal, and a squeal went to a giggle…if you catch my drift.
And ever since then, it’s been a friendly competition on who could poke and count the most freckles on his face without him squirming out of reach (the highest score was 23 by the one and only Donatello).
“Hm. I forgot how many freckles you have…did you get any more? Seems like you got more…” Raph hummed again.
“NohOH I diHID NAHAT—”
“I think I should check just to make sure…” And with that, the poking and counting began…or as Mikey likes to call it: his complete and utter demise.
Speaking of which, Mikey might be competing with Leo for the Most Ticklish Turtle award because these pokes to his shoulders and face tickled like absolute SHELL. And Raph was barely touching him! Like…barely.
“1…2…3…4–! Mike! Stop moving! You made me lose count!” The older tried to sternly say, but it was really hard due to how much his little brother was laughing his shell off at the slightest of touches to the face and shoulders.
“PLEHEHEASE! RAHA— *squeak*! IHI’M GOHONNA DIHIE!!!”
“You’ve said that, like, 3 times. And you’re still here, aren’t you?” Raph mused, continuing to poke and prod.
“And a seven, and an eight, and a nine— wait. What comes after nine…?” He fake pondered, poking on the exact same freckle on Mikey’s shoulder to keep him a squeaky giggly blob.
“Seriously…I can’t think of the number. What comes after nine?” The hot-head asked again, going after Mikey’s neck now— causing the younger to scrunch his shoulders almost immediately. Though, that maybe wasn’t the best idea because Raph’s fingers were now stuck.
“I honestly think you’re the one with an embarrassingly ticklish neck, little bro.” The elder turtle stated smugly, wriggling his fingers in the crook of Mikey’s neck as the younger laughed even louder (if that’s possible).
Mikey flapped both of his hands, happy tears threatening to fall from his eyes, “RAHAHAPH!!!” He shrieked, his legs kicking the couch as well as the floor.
“Okay! Alright! Okay! No need to shout out me! Heard you loud and clear, giggles.” He drawed his hand away from Mikey’s face and shoulders, resting them on the other’s shell, rubbing it soothingly. The smaller turtle rested the back of his head on Raph’s shoulder, catching his breath slowly but surely.
“Are you done torturing me now?” He giggled tiredly, becoming relaxed and comfy in Raph’s arms due to the shell rubs.
“For now, yeah.” The older winked which only caused the youngest to roll his eyes at. Raph could be such a dork sometimes, but he loves him nonetheless…sometimes anyway.
“Thanks. For, uh…y'know…doing that…” The orange banded turtle mumbled after he calmed down fully, getting his mask that flew up on the couch earlier. “Yeah. No problem.” Raph shrugged nonchalantly, sitting back on the couch before creasing his eyebrows together, looking at Mikey in confusion.
“Wait. Didn’t you tell Leo like a week ago that it was 100% okay to ask for tickles? Why aren’t you taking your own advice?” He asked.
“Wha— you heard that?”
“The sewer walls aren’t that thick, Mike.” The elder explained, rolling his eyes fondly at the new silence he was being wonderfully graced with.
“Freaking hypocrite…” The green-eyed teen sighed, shaking his head and wrapping Mikey in a hug, squeezing him gently. “Again, you didn’t need to come up with an excuse for me to tickle you. You can just ask me.” He smiled softly, making Mikey return the smile tenfold.
“Yeah…I know. But playing Twister made it more fun didn’t it?”
“Pff…yeah. Yeah, I guess it did.”
·̩̩̥͙**•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙵𝙸𝙽˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*·̩̩̥͙
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I’m writing a fic that ends with reference to Jason dying. But he’s gonna come back in the next book. I’m trying to get my timeline straight as much as possible.
Does he come back the same age he died? (Cause i think what im reading is he’s immediately red hood-ie when he returns to Gotham)
Does he like come alive the same age, but is away from Gotham for a bit till he returns to Gotham a bit older and then is red hood-ie. (yes I kinda know the Lazarus and talia and mountains back story).
I’m not sure the Lazarus would work for my story (how would he end up there if he’s buried in Gotham?) so any tips on what I could work with?
-lamb
Hi lamb! Sorry it took me so long to reply.
Okay, so, I’m following canon of New Earth, aka post-Crisis pre- flashpoint, because that’s what I read. So I can’t say this is all still canon in the mainstream comics continuity.
Jason dies when he is fifteen, on April 27th. Thanks to Superboy Prime punching and shattering the timeline in Infinite Crisis, he is resurrected in his grave 6 months after his death. He was decomposing, and Batman Annual #25 literally shows the flesh regrowing on his decomposing corpse. He is still 15, dead boys don’t age, but Jason’s birthday is August 16 so if we’re speaking from a purely chronological point, disregarding the fact that he did die, he’d be 16, as 6 months later would be late October. He breaks out of his grave, walks 12 and a half miles before a couple drives by and calls paramedics ‘cause while he did get brought back to life, he didn’t heal from most his injuries. Jason falls into a coma in the hospital and stays like that for a year because he has serious brain damage, so he’s 16 when he suddenly wakes up, still with severe brain damage, and breaks out of the hospital purely on instinct. Jason lives on the streets with brain damage, surviving only on instinct for another year. He doesn’t talk. Doesn’t seem to know anything. He fights when attacked, eats when there’s food, covers himself when cold, but he’s not really aware. He is 17 when the League finds out he’s alive, and Talia takes him in. He’s with the Al Ghuls another year before he’s thrown into the Lazarus Pit. So he wakes up, physically 18, but mentally he’s only lived 15 years. Jason is on his own immediately afterwards. Ra’s is furious because Talia was not supposed to use the Pit because of the Pit Madness. She gives him a bag and pushes him off a cliff. Good times. That same night Jason finds out he was unavenged and is absolutely pissed. Jason decides to head back to Gotham within 24 hours of coming out of the pit. Jason his planning on killing Bruce, manages to put a bomb in the car and everything, but backs out last minute. He’s in Gotham for about a week. Then he goes back to Talia who agrees to get him training. He trains with various professionals (assassins, snipers, demolition experts, the like. This is where he learned a lot of the skills he uses as the Red Hood) for roughly five months before he learns there’s a new Robin. He keeps going, learning more, taking out criminals lethally. The exact time frame for this is never given. He finds the Joker, has him tied up… and doesn’t kill him at the last minute. Then Talia introduces him to Hush, and he joins Thomas Elliot (Hush) in fucking with Bruce’s head, though Bruce is led to believe that it was Clayface the whole time. It’s shortly after this that Jason returns to Gotham as the Red Hood, roughly 19 years old.
I don’t know exactly how this would fit into your storyline, to be honest. You could have the forces that resurrected Jason leave him without brain damage, and have him seek out training on his own. This might be ooc though, as a lot of his motivation for being the Red Hood and planning his big showdown comes from Pit Madness. You could have the League find him much sooner so he gets thrown in the Pit sooner. You could have him decide to stay in Gotham the first time he returns. Ultimately it’s up to you. Ignore everything I said if you want, it’s your choice. Hope this helps regardless.
Send me the link to your fic when you get a chance, ‘kay? ;)
(Sources: Batman: A Death in the Family, Batman Annual #25, Red Hood: Lost Days, Batman: Hush, Batman: Under the Hood)
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1kook · 4 years
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Hi Everyone, please read
tw// racism
First of all, I just wanna say I’m so grateful for all the nice anons and interactions I get to have with people here everyday. I live in a densely populated city so quarantine regulations were super tough when this all started in March and remain strict even all the way into October. I haven’t been able to see my friends a lot or anyone outside of my family and job, which really sucked, but it was fine because I had my blog! The beginning of September I had two fics that did so amazing and of which I am so thankful for their response, because with that came a lot of new anon friends!
I have been on tumblr since 2012, but I have never received the same amount of interaction as I do now. I’m so happy I can interact with people on here be it anonymous or not. I enjoy hearing ideas and doing my best to fulfill them, hearing about someone’s day, and laughing about stupid jokes. It’s gotten to the point where some have picked names and further fleshed out our friendships because of how close we’ve gotten!! I have had so much fun everyday asking stupid questions and getting equally as silly answers and it’s all because I was able to make people feel comfortable on my blog.
However, people are not always nice. That’s fine! It’s the internet, this will always happen. Rarely do I get hateful anons and rarely do I post the few I do get. Sometimes they’re funny and I laugh and go about my day. Most anons have been about my style as an author, the types of fics I put out, and for the most part, the similarity in all my fics. I’ll address this now. if you feel my fics are all the same then consider this.
1. I write fics FOR MYSELF about ideas I have and want to see, and post them FOR MYSELF. I don’t mean to sound cocky but at the end of the day every fic i have ever posted is just me filling my own imagination in a self indulgent way. They’re all the same because they’re all things I like??? Things I want to read??? No offense, but unless I am filling a requests, you’re GONNA SEE jk college au. jk boyfriend. jk dom/sub. jk this and this. Why? Because it’s my blog and I post what I like.
2. If you don’t like my fics.... don’t read them? I am not holding you at gunpoint to read these fics nor is anyone else. If you appear on my blog to complain about my fics ... okay?? I’m not gonna change them lmao. You’re not the target audience, so move along.
But truthfully speaking, this is not the main reason I am making this post. Do I care what people online think about my fics? Mmm not really. Writing fics is something I do in my free time as a hobby. I’ve never wanted to do this professionally lmao. I do it for fun when I’m bored or procrastinating. I have other hobbies I do too. I journal i paint i play soccer I listen to music. I frankly am not offended when people critique my work, especially not when they chose to do it through an anonymous message.
What DOES offend me is when people abuse the anonymous option to be spiteful and hateful, and use my ethnic background against me... OVER KPOP. OVER FAN FIC ABOUT KPOP.
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Am I offended about the first part of the ask? No I don’t care. What I am disgusted and disturbed by is that you have been blatantly racist and ignorant not only to ME but to ALL OTHER POCS with the second half of your message. Being a POC writing for BTS is bad?? What do you prefer I write about? Shawn Mendes? Niall Horan? I’d rather choke. What do you even mean??? Am I supposed to write Can fic for completely unproblematic people?? Give me an example?? Furthermore, I am not black so for you to come in here and disrespect black people with your last comment is immature, disgusting, and racist. Go to hell.
I deleted the message. I always delete excessively rude messages. I was hoping it was a one time occurrence but nope. A few hours later.
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My status as an undocumented immigrant is something I have shared on tumblr because it is my safe space and somewhere where no one in real life knows me. Did you think this was funny? Did you think I actually laughed? I didn’t. I won’t lie. This ask terrified me. You’re threatening to call ICE on me.... OVER KPOP? OVER FAN FICS OF KPOP? How old are you. How immature do you have to be to take it this far.
I deleted this message and turned off anon. I am not gonna let some anonymous grey sunglasses orb abuse the anonymous option like this. Honestly, I knew another message was bound to follow up and it did 🤗
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thanks for showing me your face, doll. I reported your account and so did a bunch of friends of mine. It’s funny that you mention writing better content but your blog is only ten posts? 9 of which are reblogs of fan fics? What do you write babe? What do you do? Where do you post? As I’ve said before I frankly don’t care for writing advice, this is just a hobby. But if you’re going to claim you’re some modern day Shakespeare maybe have the proof to back it up. Also your first posts says you’re a black woman, but your first ask to me says POC shouldn’t enjoy BTS.... honey all your posts are about BTS. So what’s the truth? Do we enjoy them or not? Next time you feel some type of way towards me as a Mexican woman, don’t start off by hiding behind anon until I force you off, don’t disrespect me or other POCs, and don’t use a burner account like you did. And for the record. I barely believe you’re black, and honestly speaking, everything about your asks have racist undertones only a white person could carry out.
Anyway. I am posting this because I want to highlight just how difficult it is to be a POC in this fandom. Army preach about being this or being that. We love each other. We look out for each other. ARMY is family blah blah blah.
No we’re not.
I have been an ARMY since 2015. The only places I have ever found comfort within this fandom are with other POCs, and even then it is only a few people here and there. This random ass hoe that I have NEVER interacted with before decided to take the fact I am a POC and taunt me, attack me, harass me, whatever you want to call it, and didn’t come off anon until I forced them off.
I am so beyond tired of being a POC in this fandom. When will you all recognize that one “I stand by” post is never enough to support us. “I can’t be racist I support BTS’s message💜” shut the hell up. You kiss these men’s feet for being your woke kings but then turn around and say things like this. Was it fun? Was it cool parading around in your ‘I do whatever BTS does’ cloak? You guys pick and choose when you want to be a model ARMY, and then turn around do things like this. Over kpop. Your allyship means nothing when there are still people like this in fandom who try to bully me OVER KPOP. OVER JUNGKOOK. OVER A MAN WE DONT KNOW AND NEVER WILL KNOW.
Please don’t interact with this person. Please just block and report them.
Anon’s gonna be off for a while, thanks for reading.
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itswildwinters · 4 years
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Hello lovelies and welcome to my October 2020 fic recs. These are the fics that I read these last few months. The main pairing is Louis Tomlinson/Harry Styles.
This is also an appreciation post to all writers out there. Thank you for contributing so much to the fandom, for making all these incredible pieces of work for us all to read!
I’m wishing you all a happy Halloween in advance!
If you check out any of those incredible fics below, don’t forget to leave kudos and comments to show your appreciation!
Enjoy!
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From What I’ve Tasted of Desire by @evilovesyou 
When Louis moves to the small Scottish town of Fortrose to spend some time with his father, he thinks he's come to terms with the fact that the next two years of his life will be rainy and dull. That changes when he meets the ever-elusive Harry Styles in his Biology class and he makes it his goal to find out the big secret surrounding him and his family. Louis unexpectedly finds himself in the eye of a storm of secrecy, age-old myths, friendship and romance.
Twilight AU / Vampires / Werewolves / Slow Burn / Highschool & College AU
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eyes off you by @soldouthaz
“Just promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to keep us all safe while we’re in there,” Liam says.
Through the crack in the door, Louis can just barely make out the broad curve of Harry’s back, the slope of his curls as they tumble down all sleep-soft and lazy, and the sharp twist of his arm - all leading down to where he’s got his pointer and middle finger crossed over each other behind his back.
“I promise,” he tells Liam firmly, “I promise.”
--
or; a charlie’s angels inspired fic where louis is the brains, harry is the charm, liam is the muscle, and niall drives the getaway car - and zayn is there, too. sometimes.
Action / Pining / Assassins (kill bad people)
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Walls by Travis_Crux 
Following his line of sight, he frowned and shook his head, "What's wrong?"
"Wasn't your timer on your ring finger?" Liam asked, at that the Alpha immediately swapped the tumbler and looked down at his finger which sported a string of tiny blue flowers on the underside of his ring finger.
The two of them looked at one another.
"You could've touched nearly fifty people by the time you grew delirious," Liam advocated, always the voice of reason. "Comrades, nurses, doctors."
Sighing, he turned away and continued drinking the water. Literally, the only fucking thing remaining in the middle of a fucking war.
Or
Harry has his soulmate timer stuck at zero from the beginning of time but suddenly the fates show mercy and a lovely forget-me-not takes the place of his timer. In between finding his soulmate in a war camp and solving the puzzle of the charismatic doctor who is treating him, all he can hope for is to live.
ABO / World War I / Soulmates / Angst / Hurt-Comfort
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works like a charm by @falsegoodnight
Ever since Louis joined the team in fifth year, a few facts have become set in stone.
One: Louis is the best chaser in Hogwarts.
Two: Harry is the best beater in Hogwarts.
Three: They do not get along.
So it’s really unfair of Liam to think that forcing them to spend time together as Louis recovers from his injury will make them the best of friends. The last thing Louis would do is get along with that git.
Harry Potter Setting / Porn With Plot / Enemies to Lovers
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(quiet like a fight) fingers laced together by @letthemkissyou
It’s a thin hope, frail and as thin as the silver strands of a spider web, desperate in the way Louis keeps clinging onto it even when he’s already expecting and preparing for the worst. Maybe one day, he’ll have a home, a place where he can feel safe and sound, tucked away safely from the world that has the tendency to treat him horribly and then even worse, that maybe there will be someone in his life who cares for him, even if in the smallest of ways, and does not just use him for whatever they tend to need at the moment.
Or, the one where Harry is gifted a hybrid and it's a whole new world for the both of them.
Hybrid Louis / Past Abuse / Fluff / Angst 
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We’ll Cast Some Light (You’ll Be Alright) by fondleeds 
There’s tense silence, the whole room completely hushed. The other teams on surrounding tables look between each other. Then, Louis pushes himself away from the table noisily, chair scraping. His face is angered and crumpled, red at the ears. The door slams behind him as he rushes out. The surrounding teams look at Harry simultaneously.
“God, Simon is going to kill us if we don’t die on this mission first,” Niall moans into his hands.
-
There’s a standard procedure for this. Scan, track, kill. But with a solar eclipse and a Greater Demon with unfinished business looming, the path to keeping England safe from harm becomes complicated and shadowed by mystery and secrets. For Harry and his team, times have never been harder, especially when a few old friends turned foes show up. Harry is left with just over forty days to overcome the hurdle of tension between them and reconcile their past, and figure out just what Louis is hiding from him before it’s too late.
Demons / Enemies to Lovers / Violence / Angst / Fluff / Demon Hunters / Smut
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Three Days in February by @mercurial-madhouse
“We have to get out of here, outside,” Harry whispered, turning his hand in Louis’s grip to hold on and pull them both to their feet. “And how do we fucking do that?” Louis hissed, carefully rising and pulling Harry to his feet before Harry could do it. His gaze darted to the front then back of the arena. “None of the doors are where they’re supposed to be.” “What?” Harry looked around again too, couldn’t see any doors, only knew that they must be there, somewhere. “How do you know?” Confusion slid over Louis's features. “Because we’ve been here before, Haz. It’s the O2.” The show. It must be the first night of their tour. They were too late; they were out of time.
Louis is cursed after a night out with the lads and the five have just three days to figure out what happened and how to break it before Harry and Louis both lose their sanity and maybe something more. Louis can hear everything Harry thinks and Harry isn’t sure he can keep his feelings for Louis a secret from his own mind.
Ridiculous amounts of banter and angst, a lot of Harry and Louis alone together, a healthy dose of OT5 friendship, and one very magical weekend.
Friends to Lovers / Fluff / Angst / Action / Adventure / Magical Realism / Hurt-Comfort / Slow Burn
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Soaked In The Blood Of Angels by @crazyupsetter
The boy looks drugged, caught between a man who’s almost twice his size and a girl who looks like she wouldn’t even break a sweat snapping him in half despite her small stature, eyes closed and mouth open as he pants, arching up between them almost as if he’s trying to escape.
Normally, Harry would ignore it and continue on his search for someone to drink from, someone who wouldn’t mind his sharp teeth and rough hands. He’s seen plenty of boys like this one, ones who picked the wrong playmates, and if he stopped to rescue every single one of them he would have died from thirst a long time ago.
This one, though. There’s something about this one, the sheen of his bright blue eyes as he blinks slowly, looks around as though he doesn’t know where he is, the weakness of his hands as he tries to push the girl off of him and make his escape.
Explicit Sexual Content / Vampires / Incubus / Dubious Consent / Blood / Violence
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The Compulsion to Find Love by Toomanytears
The most prestigious English third-level institution, Candling University, accepts omega students for the first time and Louis Tomlinson applies with bright eyes and brighter ambitions. There he encounters personal obstacles, traditional mindsets and a beautiful boy who inverts every prejudice Louis has ever known.
ABO / Omega Louis / Alpha Harry / Worldbuilding / Slow Burn / Fluff / Angst
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Just a bit of work by missyoutoosweetscheeks
It was quite painfully pathetic, really. Twenty five, stable job, stable flat, stable mind (well, quite), a painfully non-existent love life with an even more painfully intact virginity.
Marcel didn't think his life was going to get better with his painfully aparent sociopathic tendencies to block anyone who showed interest in him.
Until, of course, he became Louis Tomlinson's next prey.
OR
In which Marcel is a virgin, and becomes his office's amorous co-worker's next big conquest.
Top Harry / Bottom Louis / Office Sex / Dubious Consent / Porn Without Plot 
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Fuck U Betta by @jacaranda-bloom
There’s something about having Louis like this, exposed and desperate, that makes a primal urge bubble up from deep inside Harry’s chest. Desire mixed with something else, something unquantifiable. It’s the thing that makes them want this, need this. Nothing else will satisfy them or quench their thirst.
OR the one where Harry likes the thrill of the chase, Louis likes to be chased, and everyone gets what they need… in the end.
Porn Without Plot / Light BDSM / Top Harry / Bottom Louis
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push you out, pull you back in by @behisoneandonly
Harry grips his head in his hands helplessly, yanking the base of his dark curls and squeezing his eyes shut.
“Fucking hell,” he whispers, knuckles turning white from how hard he’s gripping the strands of his hair.
“Hey, hey,” says the petite stranger in front of him, quickly standing up. “Stop, you’re hurting yourself.”
Or Harry hates feeling vulnerable. Louis is set on breaking through his tough facade.
College/University AU / medical student Harry / Fashion student Louis / Strangers to Lovers / Pining / fluff / slight angst / Hut-Comfort / Anger Management
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might we be stardust stories by ryanreynolds
"It was easier being at war."
In which werewolves and vampires have been fighting each other for a century, and Harry and Louis' marriage is what's gonna bring peace to the realm. Hopefully.
Werewolves / Vampires / Arranged Marriage / Slow Burn / Falling in Love / Pining / Fantasy
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Like Candy In My Veins by littlelouishiccups
“Um…” Harry said slowly after a moment. “Okay. That’s… this is… Let me get this straight.” He lifted up a hand and swallowed. “You told your family that you have a boyfriend… and my name was the first one you thought of?” “Harry Potter was on TV, alright? It wasn’t that much of a stretch.” Louis pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t believe he was explaining himself to Harry fucking Styles. He couldn’t believe he was stooping this low. “Forget it. I’m sorry I even thought about bringing you into this.”
Harry snorted. “What? Did you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend or something?”
(Basically the A/B/O, enemies to lovers, fake relationship, Christmas AU that nobody asked for.)
ABO / Fake-Pretend Relationship
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until this blood runs cold by @soldouthaz
In a town as small as Louis’, everybody knows everybody and gossip spreads faster than the wildfires that rage on just outside their backdoors in the sweltering heat of summer. When something happens here everyone knows about it within seconds. Neighbors call neighbors and notes are left on doorsteps, old telephone lines ringing until there isn’t a single person who is left in the unknown.
So it’s definitely hot gossip when a vampire moves in across the street from him, the very same one who’s just become Louis’ boss.
Vampire Harry / Frottage / Blood Drinking
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call you mine by @falsegoodnight
“I have a request.”
That’s what Louis Tomlinson says to Harry when he opens the front door a bit too aggressively. The latter feels justified after a round of annoyingly incessant knocking that was much too loud in the drowsy sludge of early Saturday morning.
“Zayn’s asleep,” is Harry’s tired, hoarse reply, irritation prickling at his skin. Less than a minute ago he was in bed, feeling perfectly content sprawled out on the mattress with the chilled air from the fan cool against his bare skin. And now he’s leaning up against the wooden door frame in nothing but his briefs because Zayn’s best mate decided that showing up unannounced at seven in the fucking morning was a brilliant idea.
“I’m not here for him,” says Louis curtly.
-
Or, Louis’ curious about how it feels to be bitten. Harry’s going to need more than just one bite.
Plot What Porn / Vampire Harry / Bottom Louis
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your biggest fan by @soldouthaz​
Just like everyone else, Louis has a few habits that he can’t seem to break. Guilty pleasures, rather. His nails are perpetually short because he can’t quit biting them, the bottom of his shoes scuffed from tapping his foot constantly. Sometimes his leg gets a cramp from bouncing it so often underneath his desk. That isn't too bad, he reckons, just some average teenage coping mechanisms.
And also, occasionally, minor instances of theft.
Top Harry / Bottom Louis / Porn What Plot / Nerd Louis / Jock Harry
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give me love by @falsegoodnight​ & @soldouthaz​
Despite being an omega, Louis’ always had a blatant dislike of alphas.
-
Or, Louis doesn't feel like a good omega, Harry doesn't remember how to be an alpha, and they figure it out together.
ABO / Alpha Harry / Omega Louis / Bottom Louis / Past Relationship Trauma / Slow Burn / Angst / Fluff
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The Stars Look Very Different Today by @kingsofeverything​
For Harry Styles, child genius turned glorified spaceship mechanic, rescuing lost or broken down ships is a fairly common occurrence.
There’s nothing common about his latest mission, the ship, or that ship’s captain.
The last thing he expects to find in a distant galaxy is the one thing he’s been missing on Earth.
Space / Time-Travel / Science Fiction & Fantasy / Enemies to Lovers
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The cat is out of the bag by 28sunflowers
Harry somehow gets himself stuck as a black cat on Halloween and needs help from Louis to change back into his human form.
The problem is: Louis doesn’t even know witches exist, much less that Harry is one. And there’s also the fact he thinks Harry is ghosting him after they had sex for the first time.
So the situations isn’t ideal. But it’s okay. Harry will figure something out.
Light angst / Witch Harry / Potions Accident / Fluff and Humour 
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Cuffing Language
*Daveed Diggs x Reader
*Summary: Daveed and Reader have known each other since high school and he invites her to a clipping. concert in Oakland.
*Warnings: Alcohol, swearing. Let me know if I missed anything.
*A/N: This was supposed to be posted back in October when I went to the clipping. show in Oakland but oops.
Outfit
**********
When you first met Daveed Diggs, you were the coaches’ assistant for your high school track team. You were a junior looking to beef up your college applications, and you knew having something to do with sports would make you look at least a little bit impressive, even if you weren’t actually on the team. You tended to just fetch things the team needed, or note down things the coaches were supposed to but didn’t want to. It was pretty easy, and you actually kind of had fun with your job.
You were doing your thing, passing out water bottles to the runners, when you first interacted with him. Even though a lot of the runners didn’t really know you personally, they at least recognized you. “Hey, Diggs, heads up,” you called out to him. He turned, and you tossed the water bottle to him.
“Thanks,” he said, drawing it out just enough so you knew he was searching for your name.
“(Y/n),” you provided.
“(Y/n),” he repeated. “I’d introduce myself, but you already know my name.”
“Yup, it comes with the job. Impressive times, by the way.”
“Thanks. You’re the coaching assistant, right?” You nodded, wanting to keep this conversation going (you couldn’t help it, he was incredibly cute), but then the assistant coach yelled for you to pass out the waters before the team had to get back to practice.
“Work calls,” you explained with a sheepish smile, picking up the box of water bottles. 
“We could talk after practice, if you want,” Daveed immediately offered, ducking his head with a shy smile as he waited for your response. In any other situation, you’d say he’d offered it a bit too quickly, but you didn’t want to get your hopes up like that. 
“Yeah, that’d be nice.” With that, you went back to work before the assistant coach could yell at you again. You didn’t want to overthink things too much; after all, you barely knew the guy. Surely there were completely innocent reasons for him wanting to talk to you a bit after practice. You were the coaches’ assistant, so he probably just reasoned that you’d be around practice a lot so he might as well get on your good side.
Once practice was over and you’d done all the clean up that the coach asked you to, you found Daveed waiting for you on the bleachers. Adjusting your backpack strap over your shoulder, you walked up to him with a smile. Even if it wasn’t a romantic interest, you knew you’d enjoy spending time with him either way.
**********
The two of you ended up clicking instantly. You weren’t necessarily sure if it was in the romantic way or just in a friend way, but you always had a great time when you hung out. The two of you were almost inseparable for the rest of his senior year, but eventually the time came for him to head off to college. You were torn on his last day: you were insanely proud of him for going to Brown, but you were going to miss him more than you’d care to admit. With a promise to stay in touch, the two of you parted ways for the first time.
Fast forward all these years, and you’d actually kept that promise. While you stayed in the Bay for college and work, you watched as Daveed did his own thing all over the country. Whenever he came back to Oakland, you’d drop whatever to hang out with him, and he did the same if you happened to be wherever he was at the moment. It was kind of crazy how you were actually able to keep in touch and stay friends for all these years; there were even friendships you had from college that didn’t keep in touch as well as Daveed.
When Daveed told you clipping. was doing shows again and they were having one in Oakland, you made sure you got the day of and the next day off. You wanted to utilize the time you had with him, especially since you didn’t know when you’d see him next. You absolutely loved the fact that he was successful, and you were insanely proud of him, but sometimes you just missed having your friend around. You’d never complain about it, especially not to Daveed, it was just something you’d dealt with for years.
When the day came, you couldn’t help the excitement that engulfed you. You danced around your apartment, blasting clipping. on the speakers as you went about the process. You’d already had your outfit picked out - with a backup just in case - for days, but as you were getting dressed you couldn’t help but second guess what you wanted to wear. After an hour of going through that mess, you finally decided to just wear the first outfit you’d picked out - a velvet slip dress and black thigh-high boots, with a black leather jacket in case you all decided to go out after the show. Once you dealt with that entire mess, you still had to put on your makeup and style your hair.
A quick Lyft ride over to the venue later and you found yourself on the upper balcony with a drink in hand, looking down over the stage. You recognized a few of Daveed’s other friends around the balcony, but you didn’t really know them well enough to hang out with them. You watched the DJ set, enjoying watching the DJ go through his box of records. You were bobbing along with the music when you heard a familiar voice behind you. “Am I going crazy or did (y/n) finally get a few days off work to come hang?”
When you turned, you couldn’t help your wide smile. Standing there, drink in his hand, was Daveed’s best friend, Rafa. Finally, someone you could hang out with during the show. “Rafa! Shit dude, how long has it been?” You said, immediately walking up and wrapping him in a hug as well as you could without spilling either of your drinks.
“Does Diggs know you came out?” Rafa asked, releasing you from the hug. Rafa had been just as busy as Daveed, and you missed hanging out with him just as much. When it was you and the boys, you always had a ton of fun just screwing around and doing whatever. The last time you had the opportunity to just hang out as a group was nearly a year ago.
“Of course, man, who do you think invited me?” you joked. “Speaking of Diggs, have you seen him yet?”
“Yeah, he’s doing his rounds.” With that, Rafa took your hand to drag you to, you assumed, wherever Daveed was. Sure enough, you spotted Daveed over the crowd. He had that bright smile that you always loved, a second later throwing his head back in laughter at whatever the people talking to him just said. You could feel the little goofy smile growing on your face at the sight of him, and Rafa didn’t miss it. “You still got that little crush on Diggs?”
“Man, shut up,” you laughed. 
“I’ll take that as a yes then,” Rafa teased but dropped the subject. You and Rafa stood off to the side for a bit, waiting for Diggs to finish his conversation. The two of you caught up a bit, talking about your respective work and personal lives. You insisted Rafa should let you watch his dog when he needed a sitter, but for some reason Rafa wasn’t down for it. While you were having this little playful argument, Daveed spotted the two of you. He excused himself from his conversation, making a beeline towards his two best friends.
Before you could argue further about Rafa letting you dogsit Mia, you were lifted off your feet and spun around in a hug. “Daveed, put me down!” you laughed, trying not to get too lost in the feel of being in his arms. It’d really been too long since the last time you’d seen him.
“(Y/n)! Look at you! Wow, babe, you look amazing,” Daveed said when he put you down, holding your hand to twirl you once.
“Babe?” you questioned his word choice with a raised brow. You could immediately see him get a bit shy, looking down and then focusing his attention on Rafa.
“I heard you say it too, Diggs,” Rafa decided to jump in on the teasing. You could have sworn you heard Daveed swear lightly under his breath. He was cornered.
“You know, that’s some cuffing language right there,” you added. 
“Is it?” Daveed asked, replacing his shy smile with a small smirk. He figured he couldn’t win arguing he hadn’t called you babe, but he could bring you down that road with him. You rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the heat rushing to your face at his not-so-subtle flirtation. “You look really nice, (y/n). I mean it.”
“Thanks, Diggs, you don’t look too bad yourself.” You ducked your head, trying to avoid seeing whatever his reaction would be. Rafa looked between the two of you before clearing his throat, drawing the attention back to him.
“So are y’all finally gonna get together or what?” Rafa asked bluntly. Immediately you and Daveed started stuttering out excuses and denials, much to Rafa’s pleasure. It wasn’t until you saw the wicked smirk on Rafael’s face that you finally realized he was just fucking with you guys. Once the realization hit you, you couldn’t help but throw up your middle finger in his direction, which he of course found hilarious.
“So, plots?” You asked, trying to change the topic. You really didn’t need Rafael spilling about the crush you’d had on Diggs since high school, even though you were pretty sure you didn’t do that good of a job of hiding it. If you guys started talking about plans for after the concert, you were sure you’d be able to get Rafael to stop talking about the whole thing. Well, for now at least. 
“I vote we do drinks at (y/n)’s place,” Daveed immediately offered.
“Sounds good to me,” Rafael agreed.
“Wait, excuse me?” You asked, taken off guard by the offering of your place.
“Hey, you asked for plots, we gave them,” Daveed laughed. “Two out of three, we’re doing drinks at your place.”
“We’re gonna have to stop somewhere then, all I have at my place is like two beers and a bottle of wine,” you complained. Your complaints were only half-hearted; you were going to agree to whatever plans they suggested, even though you didn’t have anything in your place to really have a night of drinking. Sure, everyone going to your place wasn’t ideal, but you’d deal with it to be able to hang out with your friends again.
“I’ll cover the alcohol then,” Rafael offered. “We can stop by my place, I know I have some stuff.”
“Why don’t we just go to your place then?”
“No, we already agreed on your place,” Daveed said, shaking his finger. Before anything else could be said, someone came up to Daveed and tapped him on the shoulder before whispering something to him. You could see the flash of worry cross Daveed’s face, and you and Rafael shared a look. The person left your group, and you gave Daveed a questioning look. “One of the openers got sick, so I need to go with the guys to see what we’re gonna do about it.”
“Shit, yeah, go deal with that. Just find us after the show,” you told him.
“Yeah, man, I’ll keep an eye on (y/n),” Rafael joked, throwing an arm around your shoulders. You missed the look that crossed Daveed’s face when he did that, but Rafa didn’t. Once again Rafa had that wicked smile on his face, but this time you had no idea why. Before you could question it, Daveed already began making his way to wherever the openers were at.
**********
As the night continued, you really enjoyed yourself. The DJ ended up playing a double set while Daveed and them tried to figure out what to do, but you liked having the chance to really catch up with Rafa while everything was going on. The second clipping. was on the stage, though, your attention was completely on them. You loved watching Daveed perform: the way the normally shy man was completely in his element made you feel something you couldn’t quite name. It was a mixture of immense pride and attraction, but you couldn’t say that last part out loud.
When the show finally finished, it was already nearing midnight. You silently praised your past self for taking the next day off too, knowing that if you hadn’t, you would’ve had to call in sick instead. With the way the three of you got when you were together, you weren’t expecting to go to sleep until the sun was up. You and Rafa chilled by the bar while Diggs did his final rounds, talking to some fans and other people he knew, talking about the plans for the rest of the night. As far as the two of you were concerned, you’d get some food, get the booze from Rafa’s place, and then head back to your place to really catch up.
As soon as Daveed was done, he herded you and Rafa into the hired car they had for him. You teased him about having that ‘movie money’ now, being too good for that ride share and public transport lifestyle you lived. He took it all in stride, even when Rafa jumped in like he wasn’t getting that Nickelodeon money. The three of you actually followed the plan, getting pizza from a local place and then picking up the alcohol. When Rafa ran out to get the liquor, you and Daveed sat in the car, alone for the first time all night. “You know I’m just teasing, right?” You asked, suddenly feeling bad about your money jokes.
“Yeah, (y/n), I know. So, what’s new in your life? You got a little boyfriend now or something exciting?” Daveed asked, redirecting the conversation.
“Nah, work keeps me busy these days. I’m trying to convince Rafa to let me dog sit Mia and that’s the most exciting thing going on now.” You laughed, though you couldn’t help but internally question Diggs choice of conversation. “How about you? Don’t act like I don’t see you running around with that one girl on your Instagram. What’s going on there?”
You didn’t mean to make it sound accusatory, but it sure came out that way. It was like you were accusing him of running around behind your back, even if you meant for it to be a joke. You knew exactly who ‘that one girl’ was, but you didn’t want to make it seem too obvious you were keeping tabs on him. As far as you knew, they were together but not publicly. It wasn’t like you saw Diggs often enough to actually meet his girlfriend if they weren’t public. You were brought out of your thoughts when Daveed laughed. It wasn’t that full-bodied laughter that you loved, rather a smaller, more nervous one. “Yeah, nah, that’s Emmy. She’s a good friend, but I don’t really see her like that.”
You nodded, not sure where to go with the conversation from here. While you and Daveed had a friendship where comfortable silences happened, this wasn’t one of them. You never really found yourself at a complete loss for words before. Before the quiet could turn unbearable, it was broken by the sound of Rafa smacking his hand on the roof of the car. “Diggs, unlock this shit! It’s cold out here!”
From Rafa’s, the three of you headed back to your place. As soon as you were through the door, you opened the pizza box Daveed was carrying and stole a slice, ignoring the protests from the guys. 
The night continued about as chill as you could be hanging out with your friends. The three of you caught up, even though it was more like you were catching up with what was going on in Daveed and Rafa’s lives than they were with each other. As you all told stories, you knew your voices were getting louder until it reached the point of everyone trying to talk over one another. It wasn’t like anyone was arguing or anything - you all just got loud when you were together, and adding in drinks didn’t help make the situation any quieter.
It was around three in the morning when you all decided to call it a night. Out of the three of you, you were definitely doing the best. While you tried to figure out what to do to get the boys home, you looked over at Daveed and Rafa on the couch. Diggs looked like he was all of three seconds away from passing out where he sat, while Rafa was talking to him, definitely more aware than his friend. You didn’t think Diggs would be okay on his own, so you figured you’d just let him crash on your couch for the night.
“Hey, Rafa,” you called out, getting the man’s attention. He looked up and nodded at you. “Are you good if I call a Lyft for you? Like you think you’ll be able to make it to your place and not die or mess up my rating?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. What’re you gonna do about Diggs though?” Rafa asked, tilting his head towards the other man.
“I’m thinking he’ll just sleep it off here,” you told him. “He seems pretty gone.”
“I’m still right here,” Daveed said, raising his hand slightly. “I can hear what y’all are saying.”
“Yeah but you’re like half asleep already,” you said. “Unless you wanna head back to wherever you’re staying.”
“Nah, I’m good here,” he said, leaning his head back to rest it on the back of the couch. “I’m ready to sleep.”
You rolled your eyes before turning your attention back to Rafa. “Alright, when do you wanna head out?”
“Whenever you order the car for me,” Rafa told you. You nodded, already loading up the Lyft app so you could get him a ride home. As soon as you confirmed his driver, Rafa started grabbing his things, even though he didn’t bring much to begin with. Once he was near you, though, that’s when he took the opportunity to pull you into a conversation. Rafa took one last look at Diggs to make sure he wasn’t paying attention before he started talking. “Trying to get me out of here so you can have Diggs to yourself, huh?”
“What’re you talking about?” You asked, trying to ignore the heat you immediately felt in your face.
“I get it, you can’t make your move while I’m around,” he continued his teasing. Well, you thought it was teasing. You sure hoped it was teasing. “Just make sure you kids are safe. We don’t need little Diggs babies running around.”
“How long until your ride gets here again?” You asked, looking at your phone. The driver was still five minutes away. It was meant to be a joke, but if you actually had to put up with Rafa’s incessant teasing for five more minutes, you might just lose it. He was the only one you’d actually admitted your crush to, and he was really pushing it tonight. “Man can you chill it?” You asked, stealing a look at Daveed.
“Chill, he’s practically asleep. He’s not paying attention to us.” Rafa laughed at your pained look, trying to get you to look back at him. “Listen, I’m just messing with you, dude. But if you and Diggs end up together or something, I’m rooting for you.”
“Nothing’s gonna happen, man. I’ve been into him since high school, if anything would’ve happened, don’t you think it would’ve happened by now?” You asked, keeping your voice low.
“Trust me, (y/n), there are some things you don’t know about him,” Rafa replied. Before you could ask what he meant, your phone lit up with the notification that your driver was approaching soon.
“Alright, I’ll walk you down to the car,” you said, trying to ignore his vagueness. “Diggs, you cool to stay here if I walk Rafa down?” 
Rather than actually answering, Diggs just mumbled something as he proceeded to curl in on himself a little bit. You rolled your eyes and grabbed your keys, nodding to Rafa for the two of you to leave. Getting Rafa into the Lyft with a promise to text you when he was back didn’t take long, and before you knew it, you were back up in your apartment. Diggs was passed out on the couch, but you felt bad looking at him trying to fit his entire body on the small couch. You walked over and shoved his shoulder. “C’mon, Diggs, let’s get you to bed.”
“‘M fine here,” Daveed groaned, slowly blinking awake.
“No, you’re not. You can sleep in my bed and I’ll take the couch,” you said, pulling him to his feet. He stumbled a bit, and you struggled to support him. “C’mon, just walk with me.”
Daveed seemed to be just aware enough to help you out, walking with you as you led him to your room. You helped him to your bed, content to just let him pass out while you went back to clean up before falling asleep on the couch. “Wait,” Daveed called just as you turned to leave.
“Yeah?” You asked, going to stand beside him. Daveed surprised you by tugging you down to lay in bed next to him. “Do you need something?”
“Nah, I just missed you,” Diggs mumbled, pulling you into his hold. If you weren’t sobered up before, you definitely were now. “I don’t like being away from you, never did.”
“Yeah, Diggs, I missed you too,” you said, biting back your hopes and figuring this was platonic.
“No, like, I really missed you. I wanted you with me, sleeping with me like this.” With that, Diggs cuddled himself further into you, which was a little ridiculous considering the size difference. “I kept thinkin’ you’d finally found some guy to keep you busy cuz I was too slow to say anything.”
“What’re you talking about?” You finally decided to ask him. He was half asleep and drunk, and you knew you could actually talk about this tomorrow, but a drunk Diggs was a brutally honest Diggs. You knew that from experience.
“I don’t want you with Rafa or some other dude-“
“Wait, Rafa?” You couldn’t help but cut him off. You were pretty sure you’d never shown any interest in Rafa, especially since you weren’t attracted to him. 
“Yeah, didn’t like the way he had his arm around you. I thought he was gonna make a move on my girl to get me to do something like he said he would,” Diggs whined, pressing his face to the crook of your neck. “Can’t even say you’re my girl, but I want you to be.”
“Daveed, you don’t know what you’re saying,” you tried arguing with him, even though you didn’t do anything to stop the physical contact.
“No, I do. I’ve wanted you to be my girl for a while now.”
“Diggs, go to sleep and we’ll talk about this in the morning when you’re sober, okay?”
Daveed hummed his agreement, but once you moved to get up, he pulled you close once again. “Stay with me, please.”
You wanted to argue, but you knew you couldn’t deny him. So instead, you relaxed into his hold and responded in a near whisper that you weren’t even sure he heard. “I’ll stay.”
**********
When you woke up the next morning, you were immediately aware of the solid weight of Daveed’s arm around your waist. You were still cuddled with him, his chest pressed against your back as he nearly curled around you in his sleep. His breaths were still deep, so you knew he was still out. You moved slowly, trying your hardest not to wake him up. Once you were out of his hold, you made your way to the kitchen, figuring food would help ease the conversation the two of you needed to have.
You were brewing coffee when Daveed finally walked out of your room. You pushed a mug in his direction, and he took it with a grateful smile. “So, you’re awake. You remember anything from last night?”
“I remember pizza and drinks but not much after I started falling asleep,” Daveed admitted. “I kinda remember Rafa leaving?”
“Alright, well that makes this a little bit more difficult,” you said, looking down at your own mug. You decided to turn to your fridge, looking for something to make as you tried to figure out your next words. Once you found something, you turned back around to find Daveed staring at you expectantly.
“Makes what a little bit more difficult?”
“Alright, well, last night you said some stuff when I was putting you to bed. You probably don’t remember, but I feel like we still gotta talk about it,” you explained.
“What did I say?” Daveed asked. If he wasn’t nervous before, he definitely was now. He was avoiding eye contact now, his coffee suddenly becoming the most interesting thing in the world.
“Well, first it started out with you saying you missed me-”
“Yeah, you’re one of my best friends, of course I missed you.”
“Yeah, but do you tell all your friends you want them to be your girl? And you’ve wanted them to be your girl for a while?” You asked. You were even kind of shocked by how forward that was. You were expecting to dance around the subject for a little while until Diggs finally dragged it out of you, but here you were, addressing the issue fully in the form of a half-joke.
“What?”
“You heard what I said.”
“(Y/n), I’m so sorry,” he said after a pause. You felt your heart break a little at the apology. Of course he didn’t mean it; he was drunk, tired, and just saying things. Checking the time on your phone, you wondered how long you could stand this before it wouldn’t be considered rude to ask him to leave. “I didn’t mean to tell you-”
“Yeah, I kinda figured,” you interrupted him.
“Like that,” he continued anyways. Now it was your turn to pause.
“Wait, what?”
“I mean, I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while now, I just didn’t expect it to be like that. You know, so this wouldn’t happen,” he explained. “Yeah, I like you, and I want you to be my girl. I just really hope this doesn’t make things different.”
“Diggs, no matter what this changes things at least a little,” you started. You could feel the heat rising in your face, the change in conversation not something you’d expected. You’d wanted this to happen since high school, and now that it was, it was kind of unbelievable. “But I’d like to be your girl, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It’s not going to be easy, especially since we’re both so busy.”
“I know what I’m getting into. I’ve known you for how many years now?”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Daveed said with a small smile. “Am I allowed to stay for food?”
“Yes, you’re allowed to stay,” you told him, trying not to let him see your own smile. “I think we should talk more about all of this anyways.”
“As long as you’re my girl, I’m fine with whatever we need to talk about,” Daveed said, walking over to you and bringing you into a hug. You stayed there for a second, enjoying the feeling. You didn’t know exactly what the two of you would talk about, but you had a feeling it would involve a lot more cuffing language.
**********
Permanent Tag List: @treatallwithkindness
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Falling for the Holidays Ch. 27
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Title: Falling for the Holidays Ch. 27
Pairing: Dean x Reader AU
Word Count: 3757
Summary: With October ending and the holidays underway, that only meant one thing for Dean Winchester. It meant returning to his childhood home and spending time with his family. It meant listening to his parents, especially his mom, ramble on and on about when he was going to find himself a nice girl, bring her home for the holidays, and then eventually get married and have children.  However, Dean wasn’t ready for that sort of commitment, so in order to get his family off his back, he comes up with an elaborate scheme! But like the saying goes, “sometimes lies become truths.”
Warnings: Fluff, Crack, and Some Angst.
A/N: Forgive me! This took way longer than it was supposed to. I’ve just been going through a tough patch, but I think I’m starting to get back to “normal.” I was originally just going to read over the chapter again before posting, but I ended up changing a few things, so I hope it’s okay, and I hope it was worth the wait. Nothing too dramatic in this chapter. Thanks for sticking with me! You guys are awesome! xx
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The next day you woke up alone. There was no one roaming the halls and things were eerily quiet. Tilting your head, you checked the clock to see it was four in the morning. Letting out a deep sigh of frustration, you knew that there was no going back to sleep. You couldn’t, especially knowing that Dean was hurt and still hadn’t woken up.
With the love of your life in mind, you slipped out of bed, bringing your blanket with you, draping it over your shoulders. Peaking your head out of the room, you checked down the hall making sure it was empty before quietly and swiftly heading over to Dean’s room. If you weren’t going to fall asleep, might as well do something.
You arrived at Dean’s room with ease, slipping in and taking a seat beside him. “Dean, hey. Can you hear me? Sam sad the craziest thing to me last night before he left. He said that if you want to marry me, you will need to wake up.” You laughed to yourself, however your smile didn’t quite reach your eyes. “Can you even imagine it? You and me getting married? Would that be something you’d want? Would you want to marry me? If I’m honest, I’d love nothing more than to be your wife. I love you Dean. If you asked me to marry you, even though we’ve only been a real couple for a week, I’d say yes in a heartbeat. If I knew that you wanted to, I’d ask you to marry me myself. The world is changing after all. Girls can propose now,” you giggled, yawning as you did.
Sleep suddenly pushed to the forefront, but you didn’t want to go back to your room. You wanted to stay with Dean. As carefully as possible, not wanting to get caught in any of the tubes connecting to your boyfriend, you slipped into bed with him. You laid on your side, just watching Dean’s unconscious face. Even in the state that he was in, he was still handsome.
“I love you Dean,” was the last thing you said before falling asleep.
A few hours later you woke up again, this time to the sound of voices. Who ever it was were having a conversation.
“So what happened to Ketch and Lisa?” The deep voice was undoubtedly John’s.
“Don’t worry about him. We’ve got him locked up. He’s going to be spending the rest of his life behind bars, no doubt about that. Lisa is seeing six years in county jail. She confessed to everything. Even how she tried to con Dean into believing the kid was his. Bela, she’s being questioned as we speak,” Rufus informed.
“So it’s been settled. Ben isn’t Dean’s son?” Mary’s voice asked.
“Nope. We ran some tests, and it’s true. Dean’s not the kids dad, and Ketch… the DNA match.”
“I can’t believe it,” Mary sighed. “Poor Ben.”
“What’s going to happen to Ben?” It was Sam talking now. You were going to assume that everyone was outside Dean’s door. “Since both of his parents are going to be locked up, what’s going to happen to him?”
“Well, the lawyers came in and apparently, Lisa made Dean and Bela his guardians if anything were to happen to her, but until Dean wakes up, a decision can’t be made. Dean is first in line, but if he declines, Bela has custody on account that she’s his godmother.”
“Thank you so much, Rufus. We are so grateful for your help,” Mary offered.
“Seriously. We appreciate all you’ve done for our family. Y/N is safe and both of my boys are alive. I don’t know how to repay you,” John added.
“Nah, don’t worry about it. It’s my job. I’m just glad everyone is safe.”
“Good Morning. Good to see the Winchester’s up bright and early, you too Sheriff.” That voice. You knew that voice.
“Doctor Henderson. Good morning, but you’re not Dean’s Doctor. Is everything alright with Y/N?” Mary asked, worry in her slightly high pitched voice.
“No. There isn’t any problem,” he chuckled. “I’m assuming you just got here?” Your doctor asked.
“Yes, we were on our way in when we ran into Rufus,” Mary answered.
“Well, it seems Y/N has gone missing, and well, let’s just say I’m really good at hide and seek.” The door squeaked open and suddenly, the room lit up on the other side of your eyelids. Doctor Henderson turned on the lights.
John laughed, the deep timbre of his voice filling the silent room. “There’s no way in keeping them apart,” he stated.
You couldn’t see it, not when you were trying to pretend that you were asleep, but John looked at the two of you with a wholehearted smile. Despite everything that happened, he was happy to see the love you had for his son. In a short amount of time, the two of you had been through a lot.
With the light seeping through your eyelids, you couldn’t feign sleep any longer. Your eyes fluttered open and over Dean’s chest, you saw Sam and Jess smiling at you. “Merry Christmas Eve. We were wondering when you were gonna cut the act,” Sam teased. “We knew you were awake. Saw your eyes fidgeting.”
“Ever heard of REM sleep,” you groaned.
“Yeah, I have. But I also know what that looks like,” he laughed.
A smile cracked on your lips as Jess giggled. “How was your sleep?” She asked.
“Not that great until I came in here,” you admitted. “I just want him to wake up already.”
“And he will. We just need to be patient,” Sam told you. “Also, we brought over some clothes for you to change in,” Sam informed as Jess handed you a large paper bag.
“Thanks.” You sat up grabbing the bag. Taking a glimpse inside, you notice one of Dean’s hoodie and leggings.
“I figured it would help relax you, since it’s his clothes and it’s covered in his scent. I know it makes me feel better when I wear Sam’s clothes, wrapped up in his smell.” Sam looked over at her with adoration before leaning in to kiss her temple. You smiled at the small exchange of affection.
John and Mary walked in with large smiles on their faces. “Y/N, we’ve got some good news. You’re a free woman! Doc’s given you the OK to check out,” John announced.
“Finally,” you laughed softly.
“C’mon, Y/N. Let’s get you changed, and we’ll head over to the front desk and check you out,” Jess leant you her hand.
“We’ll be waiting here,” Mary smiled at her daughters, at least her soon-to-be daughter, and her hopefully soon-to-be daughter.
You and Jess returned not long after, finding everyone still in Dean’s room, and Dean still unconscious. Mary noticed the forlorn look on your face when you entered the room. She immediately knew it was because of Dean.
“Sam, Jess, Y/N, why don’t you two go to the cafeteria and get some breakfast. I know you three hadn’t eaten yet. Have some normal for now. If Dean wakes up, we’ll let you know.” Mary suggested.
You were a little on the fence about it because you wanted to be there when Dean woke up. But then again, Mary was right. You needed to get your head on straight; you needed to take care of yourself; and normal would be really good for you. A lot of things went down and normal was much needed… for everyone. Jess looked tired and Sam’s eyes were still a little puffy. This wasn’t just hard on you; it was hard on everyone. Everyone loved Dean.
“Okay…” you murmured.
“Okay?” John repeated, a little surprised. He thought you were going to be stubborn about it like all the other times.
“Yeah. Call us right away if he wakes up,” you offered a small smile. If everyone else was trying, you’d have to try too. This wasn’t about you, this was about Dean.
While you, Sam, and Jess were eating in the cafeteria, you noticed a familiar bunch of people walking passed, loud as usual, and not bothering to look around then, because if they did, they would have seen you.
“Cass! Benny! Jo! Guys!” You shouted, jumping out of your seat, startling a few people around you. All of your friends  were there. Even Meg, Donna, Garth, Charlie, and Bess. Some had balloons, other flowers, and Charlie was carrying a stuff bear that was almost the same size as her.
“Y/N! Sammy! Jessica!” Jo shouted back, sparing no time to rush over. She engulfed you in a hug before scanning over you. She frowned at the bandage on your forehead before hugging you again. “When Aunt Mary called, I was so worried! I got the gang together and came straight here.”
“Thanks. But we’re all okay,” you mumbled, holding her tighter.
When the others came, you let go, allowing her to greet her cousin and Jess. Benny greeted you, taking you in his arms comfortingly. Cass patted your head, ruffling your hair before pressing his forehead gently with yours, then wrapping his arms around you in a tight embrace. Donna, Charlie, and Garth squished you in a group hug, making you giggle. Bess just gave you a reassuring smile until she had her chance to give you a hug. Meg was still new to you, so she shook your hand. It was a little awkward, but it was nice of her to be here.
“I can’t believe you guys came. It’s Christmas Eve. Shouldn’t you all be elsewhere around the country?” You asked.
“Do you really think, we’re gonna ignore the fact that two of our own were badly hurt and in the hospital? This is our pack. We take care of each other,” Benny grinned, his southern accent creating the perfect aesthetic for his little speech.
“I love you, you know that?” You giggled.
“Big brother Benny, always happy to be of service.”
“Would you all like to join us for some breakfast?” Jess asked.
After breakfast, everyone went back to Dean’s room, who was still unawake. You introduced everyone to John and Mary, before everyone set their gifs around the room where ever there was space.
“Some of these are for you too,” Cass whispered, handing you the large bouquet of flowers in his arms.
“This is yours too,” Charlie shoved the bear in your arms. You couldn’t help but laugh. The bear was almost bigger than the both of you.
“Thanks,” you beamed, setting your “Get Well” presents where it would be out of the way.
The room was full, and suddenly, things were loud with laughter and conversations about what things were going be like when Dean wakes up seeing everyone in the room. Garth and Bess was talking with John and Mary, the lanky man over enthusiastic with whatever he was talking about, but John and Mary seemed to be thoroughly entertained.
Blanketed by all the chatter and laughter, no one heard Dean groan. “Geez, I’m trying to sleep over here,” Dean’s raspy voice managed to gain everyone’s attention.
“Dean!” You squealed, practically jumping on him. He hisses in pain and you quickly removed yourself from him, backing up into Benny’s much larger frame. He catches you with a low chuckle.
“Don’t worry, Ćher. You didn’t hurt’em. He’s just bein’ a pussy,” Benny teased, causing Sam to chuckle and Cass to smile. Garth held himself together, not thinking it would be polite to be cussing in front of the “adults.”
“Shut up you southern ape,” Dean grunts, throat still dry. Charlie offers him the bottle of water on the table and Dean happily accepts, needing the cool liquid to sooth his pipes. “God, I feel like I got hit by a bus,” Dean grumbled as he set the water bottle down.
“And you look like it too,” Benny continued.
“Benny, I forgot how much I missed you,” Dean laughed, wincing as he clutched his chest.
“Whoa, easy tiger. Don’t want to scare the little lady more than you already have, do ya?” Benny referred to you.
Dean’s eyes landing on your fear-strucken self. You were terrified that you had hurt him and that you would only hurt him again. “Y/N, c’mere,” Dean smiled, but you steadfast, not wanting to hurt him. “I’m fine. You’re not gonna hurt me,” he assured. When you didn’t move, Dean smiled softly. “Sweetheart, you’re breaking my heart. C’mon. I promise you’re not gonna hurt me. Nothing you can do can hurt me, alright?”
This time you nodded in response, accepting the little push Benny gave you. You stood beside him, all eyes on the two of you, but it didn’t bother you. In your eyes, it was just you and Dean with the support of closest friends. You were never one to be embarrassed around your friends. You were usually a strong person, full of personality, but somehow, the person you once were went into hiding ever since the you and Dean started the lie that began this domino effect. And with Dean hurt in front of you—because of you—you weren’t sure how long your old self would be in hiding.
“Dean…” your voice was quiet.
“Hey Sweetheart. Happy to see that you’re okay. I was so worried,” he smiled. An unattractive sob escaped your lips and tears immediately started cascading down your cheeks. Dean chuckled, managing to extend his arm and grab one of your hands in his. “Silly girl, why are you crying?” He asked, his voice lighthearted.
“I’m sorry,” you cried.
“C’mere,” Dean said, tugging you closer so you were standing directly beside him by the bed. “Hey, stop crying. What happened to my crazy best friend? That fearless girl that could stand up to a guy three times her size? You know, she’d be laughing at you right now for being such a cry baby.”
Out of instinct, you swatted him up side the head. “I’m not a cry baby,” you snapped through wet lashes and trembling lips.
Dean and the other’s laughed. “There’s my girl.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” you mumbled before the tears started flowing again.
Dean smiled, pulling on your hand to bring you closer, before his hand rested on your cheek, guiding you even closer. Soon, the two of you were touching foreheads and Dean gave you a lingering kiss. When he pulled away, he let out a deep sigh. “God, I miss you. I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“That should be my line,” you ginned, pressed your lips against his again.
Dean was able to get his time with everyone, but eventually they were all kicked out for his periodical check ups. John and Mary had left just after lunch, Sam and Jess left a few hours later, leaving you and the rest of your friends from Dallas. While you were all waiting in the waiting room for Dean to be done with his check up, you noticed a familiar kid walking with a woman.
“Ben?” You mindlessly called out.
Everyone followed your line of view and immediately, Jo scoffed, rolling her eyes. “What are you doing here?” Jo snapped.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble,” Bela replied. “We just wanted to see how Dean’s doing.”
“That’s funny. Back in high school I recall you hating my cousin. So what gives?” Jo was far from friendly, her tone filled with animosity.
“I know I wasn’t the nicest person back in high school, but I was just young and naïve back then,” Bela defended, unfazed by the others around her.
“And what’s the difference now? You’re still a bitch.” Jo crossed her arms, stepping a few feet in front of Bela, showing her that she didn’t belong here, nor had the right to be here.
“Jo,” Benny warned, “watch your mouth. There’s a child here,” he reminded. Jo clenched her jaw.
“Would you believe me if I told you I was jealous? You know, being the new girl in town, it wasn’t easy. Everyone called me the ‘adopted orphan from England.’ Lisa was the only person who stood up for me, and was the only person who wanted to be my friend. Then Dean came along not long after and he had been nothing but nice, but in my adolescent mind I believed that Dean was going to take her away from me.”
“Well, that’s dumb,” Jo rolled her eyes.
“I know. But that was then and this is now. And I mean it, I’m only here to check on Dean, maybe apologize and give some sort of explanation, I don’t know. I just want to make things right; be on good terms considering that we are both Ben’s guardians, that’s if he agrees to it. I won’t blame with if he doesn’t.”
“You can ask him when he’s done with his check up,” you sent her a friendly smile.
“Or maybe you should get lost—” Jo snapped but was interrupted.
“Jo, that’s enough. She said she’s sorry and she’s here for Dean. Let’s just let go before things get worse all over again. Things are going good right now, and besides, it’s Christmas Eve. Let’s just give her the benefit of the doubt, hmm?” You stepped in.
“Fine. Whatever,” Jo rolled her eyes, moving back to Benny’s side, slipping her hand in his.
“Thank you,” Bela smiled. “I don’t think we’ve properly met. I’m Bela Talbot. I’ve heard a lot about you, all bad unfortunately,” she joked, “but I can tell that Lisa was wrong.”
“Thank you,” you smiled, offering her a seat beside you.
She gladly took a seat, Ben clinging to her. Bela hoisted Ben onto her lap as he shied away from everyone. “Hey there Ben,” you greeted. “You doing okay?” You asked.
“My mommy went to jail,” Ben whimpered, fresh tears started to pool in his eyes.
“Hey, don’t cry. We can always visit her, okay?” Bela assured.
“Yeah, Ben. You and Aunt Bela can visit her, and you know what? Bela is going to take really good care of you,” you told him. “She loves you very much.”
“It’s true, I love you Benny,” Bela promised, kissing his forehead.
“Whoa. I’m sorry but I’ve got a girlfriend,” Benny said out loud, standing beside Jo. Everyone looked over at him before bursting into laughter.
“Benny, you’re an idiot,” Charlie called.
Bela looked up at Benny, shaking her head with a wide smile. “I didn’t know the two of you shared the same name.”
“Benny is the name of manly men, am I right kiddo?” Benny flexed his muscles over at Ben. “Are you a manly man, Ben?” Benny asked. Ben nodded his head timidly. “Oh c’mon. Are you a manly man Ben? Show me,” Benny coaxed, flexing his arms again. Ben gave a small smile, bringing his arm up and bending it as if showing his muscles. “Woo boy! Those are some manly muscles you got there! Why don’t you come on over here and show uncle Benny all your muscles!” Ben grinned from ear to ear, jumping out of Bela’s lap and running over to Benny, flexing both his arms. “That’s my boy! Us Benjamins need to stick together!”
Everyone laughed watching Benny’s antics. He may seem intimidating, but he was nothing but a soft grizzly bear with a heart of gold.
Not long after, Ben was perched on Benny’s shoulders, the two quickly becoming best friends, while Garth tried to weasel his way into the kid’s heart. Garth loved children. Garth was talking to Ben about a special friend he had named Mr. Fizzles when the doctor came out into the waiting room.
“Doctor Reyes!” You quipped, standing up.
“Y/N and friends,” Dean’s Doctor started, “I’ve put him on some medication so he’s going to fall asleep real soon, but you are all more than welcome back into his room,” she smiled, “just keep the noise levels to a minimum.”
“Thank you so much!”
In the room, Ben was sitting on the bed next to Dean, the two of them talking like they were good buddies. Dean and Bela were also able to put the past behind them, and when Benny took Ben to get some Jell-O from the cafeteria, Bela took the opportunity to explain her side of the story and ultimately apologize.
“I’m really sorry for what happened,” Bela spoke to Dean. “After Lisa gave birth, she started to have these mental break downs. The doctors said it was postpartum depression. Things started to get worse when she stopped taking her prescriptions, and whenever she had an episode, I was the one who was always there for Ben. I took care of him when Lisa couldn’t. When she contacted Ketch and came up with that outrageous scheme to make you believe that Ben was yours, I knew this was going to end up bad, but I wasn’t expecting all of this. I told her I didn’t want anything to do with it, and that I’d be here to take care of Ben. I know I should have gone to the police, but Lisa is my only friend. I didn’t have the heart to do it. I felt like I was betraying her. But when she showed up at the house with Y/N unconscious, I freaked out. After that, things just got way out of hand, and we found out that Ketch was a psychopath. He had a gun! I am so sorry about everything. I could have prevented all of this if I just had done the right thing. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, it’s not your fault. You did the right thing to protect Ben. You’re an awesome aunt,” Dean assured.
“He’s right. You did what you had to,” you smiled at her.
Bela’s eyes glossed over with tears, letting out a shaky breath. “You have no idea how much your forgiveness means to me. I never meant to be this terrible person.”
“Bela, we’re good,” Dean stated. “We’re good.”
When Ben and Benny came back, Bela took hold of Ben and were heading out. “Merry Christmas,” she smiled before pulling Ben along.
The room was silent as Benny stood there completely confused. “What’d I miss?”
“Nothing much,” Jo grinned up at him, kissing him on the lips.
After everyone had left, it was just you in the room with a knocked out Dean. You were just laying in bed with him, watching whatever was playing on the television before you fell asleep.
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We’ll Carry On - Chapter Fifty Five
We’ll Carry On Tag
General Content Warnings: Sympathetic Deceit Sanders, Substance Abuse, Abandonment, Minor Character Death, Transphobia, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociation, Bullying, Homophobia
October 27th, 2019
“Hey, Jack,” Logan said, catching his boyfriend’s attention.
“What’s up, baby?” Jack asked.
Logan ignored the way his heart flew into his throat at the pet name. “What do you think we’ll do if we wind up being together for a whole year?”
Jack paused in scrolling his phone and hummed. “Well, I imagine that there’s gonna be a lot of kissing, but outside that I don’t really know. And I don’t really care, either. As long as I get to be with you and celebrate, it’s all good to me.”
Logan turned crimson. “Jack, stop it!”
“Never,” Jack vowed.
September 23rd, 2020
Logan fiddled with the bow tie he was wearing at Dee’s suggestion. He felt a little ridiculous, but he had to admit that a regular tie would have been too formal for his and Jack’s date. He slicked his hair back with a little hair gel, and gave himself a nervous smile. It didn’t seem like it had been a year that he and Jack had been together. It felt like forever and yet no time at all. It felt...right.
The doorbell ringing brought Logan out of his musings, and he hollered through the house, “I’ve got it!” He dashed down the stairs and opened the front door, to find Jack standing there with a small bouquet of duct tape flowers. “Duct tape?” Logan asked.
“They double as pens,” Jack explained, pulling one out of the small container they were in, revealing a pen cap on the bottom.
“I love it,” Logan laughed. “Thank you.”
Jack offered Logan a shy grin as Logan put the flower pens on the small table by the door. “I will tend to those after our date,” he said with a little laugh. His voice had stopped cracking by now for the most part, and his voice wasn’t super deep, but it definitely wasn’t what it used to be. He felt like a guy, and honestly, the fact that he was with Jack just made the experience that much better. Because Jack never ruined the illusion. He didn’t treat it as an illusion at all. “Where are we going, anyway? You never specified. Just that it was dress-casual.”
With a smirk, Jack gestured to the car. “You shall find out when you get in the car, Mister Picani.”
“I hate you sometimes, I hope you realize that,” Logan said with a laugh as he got into Jack’s new-to-him car. “In a joking way, of course.”
“‘Course,” Jack said, getting in the driver’s seat and setting off down the road. “Your clue is in the glove box.”
Logan sent Jack a glance when Jack grinned like he had made a particularly good pun. He opened the glove box and found two tickets for the local theatre’s production of “Clue: On Stage.” Logan was speechless for a good minute. “I...wow. That was a terrible pun, Jack.”
“I know,” Jack said with a grin. “But worth it.”
“If you say so,” Logan replied with an eye roll.
“I do say so!” Jack laughed, grabbing Logan’s hand with his free one. “I love you, I hope you know that. And I know you love me, because you put up with my puns.”
Logan shook his head. “That’s it? That’s all you see that says ‘I love you’?”
“Is there anything else?” Jack asked, glancing at him.
“Well, I always figured that you knew I was saying ‘I love you’ when I sent you pretty pictures of space that I found, or when I found a song that reminded me of you,” Logan said with a shrug. “And then there’s when we send each other selfies, or you’re upset and I send you a meme or three about the situation. Or when we hang out after school in drama club, laughing at all the younger techs who are trying so hard to be cool but have no idea what they’re doing.”
Jack smiled softly. “That’s you saying you love me?”
“Well, yeah,” Logan said. “I’m not much one for words, so I try to do smaller gestures that show you that you matter to me. I thought your love languages might be quality time and gifts? So I sent you stuff and I hang out with you whenever I can.”
“What are your love languages?” Jack asked. “So I can know what I can do to help you?”
“I generally receive love in acts of service or words of affirmation,” Logan said. “But quality time is also important to me, so I’m not sure how to rank them.”
“That’s okay, Lo, you don’t have to, I was just curious,” Jack said. “I guess neither of us are big on physical touch, huh?”
“It can get overwhelming,” Logan said. “And I know you just like to respect people’s space.”
Jack grinned at Logan as they pulled into the parking lot of the theatre. “Here’s some words of affirmation: I love you, and there’s nothing I would rather do than spend the night watching this play with you.”
Logan turned beet red and buried his head in his hands. “Jack, no,” he murmured.
“Jack yes!” Jack said with a laugh, getting out of the car and helping Logan out as well.
The two walked into the building and Jack held Logan’s hand as they showed their tickets and got to their seats. They leaned back and relaxed as the show started. Logan kept his hand intertwined with Jack’s as the characters showed up, one by one.
Slowly, as all the suspects were investigating each other, Logan let his grip on Jack’s hand grow lax, as he was completely sucked into the story. He only came back to himself when Jack stretched and wrapped his arm around Logan’s shoulder. Logan looked at Jack and rolled his eyes, sticking his tongue out. Jack grinned, held a finger to his lips, and pointed to the stage.
When the play ended, with Colonel Mustard using the lead pipe in the observatory to kill Mister Boddy, Logan and Jack clapped along with the rest of the audience as the curtain call came. Logan whistled at the end when they all took a bow, and Jack laughed, nose wrinkling up and all his teeth showing in his pure joy at Logan’s enthusiasm.
They headed out of the theatre as slowly the lights came back on. “That was so much fun!” Logan exclaimed to Jack, once they were outside again. “This was a great night!”
“It’s gonna get greater,” Jack said with a grin. “Because we still have dinner to go to.”
“Oh! Right!” Logan had forgotten about that. He was supposed to come up with a place where they could have dinner. “I know it’s not five-star cuisine, but we can head back to my house for some chicken alfredo? I made sure that Dad and Ami got all the ingredients we’d need.”
“Sounds perfect,” Jack said, kissing Logan’s nose and getting into his car.
Logan squawked indignantly and fell into Jack’s car, going on a rant about how he was a very serious man, and as a very serious man he did not get kissed on the nose.
“You do by me, so suck it up, Buttercup!” Jack said with a grin.
Logan scoffed and crossed his arms with a huff. “I’m a very serious man,” he grumbled.
“Of course you are, baby,” Jack laughed. “But I have to let you know I love and trust you somehow. What better way than that? Doing something that I wouldn’t be caught dead doing otherwise because germs and trust issues and I don’t want to get slugged.”
Logan glanced out the window. “You could just use words of affirmation and acts of service.”
“Kissing your nose isn’t an act of service?” Jack teased.
“Well...no,” Logan said, frowning.
“Really? Because that nose of yours is practically begging to be kissed,” Jack said. “I’m doing a service for every man loving man out there by kissing it.”
Logan groaned. “Stop,” he whined.
“Never,” Jack declared as they pulled up to Logan’s house.
They got inside and Logan promptly picked up the flowers and moved with them into the kitchen. Logan checked the fridge, pulling out chicken breast, before pulling pasta from the pantry, ignoring Jack’s confusion all the while. When he had retrieved all of the ingredients, he said, “Now we’ve entered the cooking part of the challenge.”
“Logan, no,” Jack laughed.
“Logan yes,” Logan retorted. “We’ve gotta figure out how to be domestic with each other eventually, hopefully before we have to worry about moving in together. And after such a fun play, don’t you think it would be fun to cook dinner, and share it, just the two of us, somewhere in this house?”
“I guess...” Jack said hesitantly. “I’m a little worried about your brothers running in on us, though.”
“We’ll be eating chicken, Jack. Not...you know?”
Jack turned cherry red in embarrassment. “Logan! Don’t talk like that!”
Logan winked at Jack before pulling out a pot and filling it with water. “A little innuendo now and again won’t hurt anyone, Jack. We’re seventeen. My dads will understand.”
“It’s not them I’m worried about,” Jack hissed, walking over to Logan and watching him fill the pot with water.
Logan rolled his eyes and put the water on to boil. “Pretty sure my brothers wouldn’t get it, Jack. Only Roman might, and he wouldn’t tell the others.”
Jack glanced around nervously, and Logan rolled his eyes, murmuring, “C’mere, you,” and kissing him softly.
In an instant, Jack was kissing him back, and Logan had to lean against the counter because Jack was making him weak at the knees. He wrapped an arm around Jack’s back to try and help himself stand again, but Jack grabbed Logan by the hips and hoisted him onto the counter. Logan shrieked softly before dissolving into a fit of giggles, Jack kissing all over Logan’s face as the water started to boil. “Okay, so, noodles?” Jack asked.
“Yup,” Logan said, watching as Jack put noodles in the pot with a pinch of salt. “We need a pan for the chicken.”
Jack reached between Logan’s legs to get to the pan...right as Dad and Ami walked in. Logan stiffened as Ami choked and Dad grew red. “This is not what it looks like!” Logan assured.
Hurriedly, Jack pulled out the pan to show to the stunned parents, and began greasing it up. “Just...just needed a pan to cook, nothing untoward was happening, or will happen tonight!”
“I should hope not, considering Logan’s room isn’t soundproof,” Ami deadpanned.
“Logan, off the counter, please,” Dad choked out.
Logan complied and scratched the back of his neck. “...Sorry.”
“Just...don’t let it happen again,” Dad said. “Especially when your brothers are in the house.”
Logan hurried to assure them that wasn’t going to be a problem, and the two adults left quickly. “...That was terrible,” Jack said.
“Agreed,” Logan replied.
They stood in silence for a bit as Jack stirred the noodles and Logan watched the chicken. Then, Jack turned to Logan and kissed his cheek with a chuckle. “This is kinda fun,” he admitted.
“Thank you,” Logan said softly. “I thought you might like it once you actually bothered to try it.”
“Cooking?” Jack asked.
“Domesticity,” Logan said.
“I resent that,” Jack grumbled.
Logan laughed and kissed Jack’s cheek in return. They plated the food once it was done and Logan looked around. “I guess...we can use the dining room? High chance of brothers, though.”
Jack shrugged. “With this kind of messy food, I wouldn’t want to eat anywhere that there’s a risk of making a mess.”
“Fair enough,” Logan conceded, and the two sat down at the table in the next room over to eat.
They ate in semi-silence for a minute, before Logan said, “I think we did a good job.”
“Agreed,” Jack said. “I’d do it again.”
“You mean that?” Logan asked, voice soft and hopeful.
Jack looked at him fondly and nodded. “Of course I mean it. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
Logan smiled. “That’s what I like about you. You know to get to the point with me, even if the point is banter.”
Jack laughed. “And that’s what I like about you. Always looking for a silver lining in the clouds.”
“What can I say?” Logan shrugged. “When I lived under so many clouds all my life, the best part of my day would be finding a silver lining. At this point, it’s just a habit I don’t really feel inclined to kick.”
“I don’t want you to kick it,” Jack said, grabbing Logan’s free hand. “You’re amazing just the way you are, Lo. You don’t have to change anything about yourself if you don’t want to. Not here. Not with me.”
Logan smiled softly. “I know.”
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elliottgish · 3 years
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Things What Have Happened
- I went to New York! My best friend and I snuck in there right before the pandemic (October 2019), and it was a wonderful adventure. We ate delicious bagels and went to the Bronx Zoo and saw the Stonewall Inn (I didn’t cry but it was a close call) and twacked around Central Park and just generally touristed out. Times Square was overrated, and we saw a subway station caked in human excrement, but other than that, 11/10, would go again. Here is a picture of me on the Brooklyn Bridge!
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- I finished a novel! A whole one! For the first time since 2006! It is called Grey Dog, and it is about a spinster schoolmarm in 1901 dealing with spooky things happening in a small town. And also mental illness, kind of. And also lesbianism. And also animal carcasses. And also bad dads. I am currently chugging through revisions and fending off the urge to just pretend it doesn’t exist and start my next project. Revisions are super fun, but there are about five other stories tugging at my sleeve right now.
- I graduated from the SFU Writer’s Studio program! It was a fantastic experience and I cannot recommend the program highly enough. My mentor was a fantastic CanLit author named Jen Sookfong Lee, who is very funny and very smart.
- I started working as Jen’s apprentice for the 2020-2021 iteration of the Writer’s Studio! Mostly what this means is I get to read writers’ work before anyone else does, which makes me feel extremely important. I also get to make increasingly unfunny pop culture references. Sometimes the students laugh politely, sometimes they wonder why I am talking about Rock of Love with Bret Michaels in a literary fiction workshop.*
- I was accepted into the Writer’s Studio post-graduate workshop! This is explicitly for the purpose of keeping on track with Grey Dog revisions, as without the proper supervision I will wander blithely into a field of daffodils and ignore all the restructuring that needs to be done.
- I published more stories! Two of them I have linked to in previous entries, here and here. The others are not available online. One is called “Judas Goat” and is available in Vastarien. One is an excerpt from Grey Dog, and appears in the 2020 emerge anthology. And one is a very, VERY short piece about werewolves called “What Happened When I Met Lucy in the Woods” for the 42 Stories anthology.
- I did my first reading! And then another, and then ANOTHER. The first reading was put on by the Dalhousie Review, and I read my short story “What Brings You Back There,” which TDR published in 2017 (my very first acceptance!). The other two were both virtual readings, one for the end of the Writer’s Studio program and the other for the Vancouver Writers Fest’s launch of emerge. Turns out that readings are TERRIFYING but also exhilarating, just like anything that involves people paying attention to you in public.
- COVID-19 came along and screwed up the whole world! I was laid off from my library job for the summer (which turned out to be a blessing, we’ll get into why in a minute), and although I am back to work now, the library has changed in some huge ways. No more programs, everyone is masked, there are no toys on the children’s floor... it’s all very different. But I am glad to be back to work!
- I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis! Perhaps the exclamation point is a bit misplaced here. Yes, back in May I called 811 about some strange numbness I was experiencing in my tongue and cheek. The responder told me to go to the hospital, which I thought was an overreaction, given that the numbness was probably due to burning my mouth on a cup of hot tea. Two days, a CAT scan, and a few trips to the MRI later, I learned that the numbness was, in fact, due to my immune system attacking my myelin sheaths and making my nerves go BZZT.
As you can probably imagine, this was (and is) pretty devastating. No one wants to hear that they have an incurable disease that lowers their life expectancy, especially if that disease is one of the most frustrating ones. (“We don’t know what causes it! You may be fine or you may be paralyzed! It’s maybe genetic but not always! We have drugs for it but we’re not sure why they work! Wheeeeee!”) Because I had the summer off work, I had a little time to grieve, to cry, to get very very angry at no one in particular because there really isn’t anyone to blame,** and now I am kind of back to normal. Mostly. Except I still get very angry and very sad, and I will occasionally tell people that they can’t get mad at me for doing or not doing something, because I have holes in my brain. I am not sure how long this excuse will be viable, but by God, I am gonna milk the hell out of it.
So, yeah. Worst “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” ever. I am trying not to let this diagnosis become my whole self, because there are so many other parts of me- bad puns, too many opinions about children’s books, a shameful appreciation of the Purge film franchise, et cetera- but some days I wake up and cannot think about anything else but this thing happening in my brain that may take up to a decade off my life.
- I watched I May Destroy You! It was the best.
* It made sense in context.
** Other than my own demographics, I suppose. A Canadian woman of European descent in her thirties? I am basically a walking advertisement for the kind of person who gets MS.
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knightofbalance-13 · 7 years
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http://dudeblade.tumblr.com/post/166148145370/chibi-review-19-21
Please tell me he isn’t doing this crap for Volume 5.
1. I don’t even know what this was. Neptune was complaining that Yang wasn’t acting like a femme woman? I don’t get why we sympathize with Neptune here. Yang punching him was well-justified as there are no real female targets in marketing. You can have dancers, sporty girls, nerdy girls, or - Y’know, just watch the end of Nostalgia Critic’s Sharknado Review to understand why I don’t sympathize with Neptune here.
YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSE TO!
The punchline of the joke WAS Yang punching him! You weren’t suppose to sympathize with Neptune: Otherwise, Neptune would have won. But he didn’t and the joke was right there! You completely missed the joke!
You also forgot to describe what he was saying or what everyone;s reactions are so you even fail THERE!
And PS: Apparently you were too lazy to even give your own explanation.
2. I actually had to go back to rewatch this because it was obvious that Roman and Neo were just pulling a scam. Even if they were trying to go legit, they were failing so spectacularly at it to the point that it just wasn’t that funny.
Didn’t mention how they were spoofing commercials, didn’t describe any of their plans, didn’t eve describe the punchline!
Stop reviewing. You suck at it. It’s at the point I can’t give you anything to improve on because you fail to even DO the basics!
3. I already don’t have a high opinion of Jaune, so I’m not going to review this particular sketch because I will openly admit to not being able to do this professionally. Just know that I think that Jaune has a flimsy grasp on how TV works, and how the real world works. 
And yet you think you should do it else where because...why? You don’t get credit for admitting to something after doing it around fifty times.
1. Goddammit Neptune. You were one of the more likable male characters that actually had yet to do something uncool, and now you ran over a person? Be thankful that this isn’t canon, or that would have sent your likability levels down the drain… Screw it, I’m blaming Jaune for distracting him so that I can keep liking Neptune. It’s healthier for me.
Jesus fucking christ, I’ve seen Mr.Enter handle dark humor better than you. ANd he’s INFAMOUS for not being able to do so. Also, way to say you were gonna be professional do something completely unprofessional.  And finally: WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE SKIT! You described a second of it: That’s not enough to make any sort of evaluation!
2. Figures that this would happen. Gotta make the male gender the idiots huh? Well, actually, the idea of making the girls the ones who would use brute force to escape is actually fairly funny, and making the supposedly more competent males the ones in need of rescue is a nice subversion that should be done more often… But why couldn’t have they eaten Jaune before Yang had busted them out? Just kill the one character that’s the source of 85% of rwde’s anger. He’ll be back next episode. It’s episodic, who needs consistency?
Once againL: Doesn’t explain a single thing. DO YOUR WORK!
Also: there are more males than Qrow, Jaune, SUn and Neptune. Just because there is a series escalation in jokes doesn’t mean it’s sexist. Unlike you, who only liked this because it appeases your misandric ass.
. one: How did that not break Cinder’s heels? two: why is it that Jessica has more emotion here rather than in canon? three: I’m with Cinder on this one, this is idiotic. four: How did Roman get Emerald in on this? five: Neo’s ‘pointness‘ was stolen by the rimshot beowolf. six: why would a cannon help? - One of the characters survived TERMINAL VELOCITY! Not even survived it, she SHRUGGED IT OFF! seven: Why didn’t Cinder fire him earlier? Roman is clearly more incompetent in this world than in anything. eight: Can we just acknowledge that we’re probably getting a battle of the bands between the girls’ band, the boys’ band, and ‘trouble cleft’ at some point in the future? I feel as if that’s actually going to happen.
Rule Of FUnny. Once again, you do not take a joke. I’d give you credit for actually describing the set up...but you purposefully ignore the fact taht comedy doesn’t always follow logic and you fail to actually CRITIQUE it. SO no credit.
1. Remnant has Halloween apparently. And it also celebrates the same traditions we do… So many questions. So little actual jokes. It’s just Floyd the Gheist getting stabbed. One joke. And it’s a dark joke… There’s potential here, I can tell, but I don’t know what it is. If someone has an idea, leave it in the comments or something. I know that this can be improved, but I don’t know how exactly.
DOn’t even try pretending you’re doing criticism now: You failed a long time ago.
Also: It’s a fucking halloween special: They do this shit all teh fucking time. Stop nitpicxking because you are a control freak.
And no: The joke is that was trying to scare people but it backfired on him. You fail for the SEVENTH time.
2. I knew that Nora was making a love potion immediately. I mean, this is the chibified yandare Nora that makes her into a Ren-Obsessed psychopath. If it wasn’t a love potion, it would be a potion to turn Ren into a slave… Well, I just fueled about twenty fanfictions worth of some possible smut fiction… And to be honest, if they had had Pyrrha slip her head back in and ask if Nora could make some for her (for reasons) that would have been a better punchline than Ren being in the cauldron… Or alternatively, it would have added to it.
Took you eight tries but you finally managed to actually describe the entire joke...too bad you just mumbled a bit and moved on so no credit.
3. I looked it up. Lindsay’s birthday is actually September 6. I hope that Ruby’s birthday is actually canonically October 31. That would help out SO many fanfiction writers. And to be honest, I personally think that it would be funnier if Ruby gets to have a costume party every year. The whole “It’s my birthday” thing and making others give her candy feels… out of character for someone like Ruby. I get that it’s her sweet tooth that’s probably doing most of the talking, but the whole abusing it feels so… Not-Ruby. But hey. If they had just added the word “Rosebird” to her costume, that would have been an accurate representation of me.
Fucking comedy spin off. Learn to fucking think. Also, again, not enough description so no points!
The only thing i can say is: PUT EFFORT INTO IT! Reviewing is an extensive and hard art that takes a lot of thought and a lot of effort: Something you put NEITHER into here. Your failings are so epic that it would take an entire post just for you to start out at the level of a BEGINNER
0/9, you fail.
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dipulb3 · 4 years
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The US Wasn't Prepared for Covid-19: Dr. Sanjay Gupta's coronavirus podcast for June 22 | Foxton News
New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/the-us-wasnt-prepared-for-covid-19-dr-sanjay-guptas-coronavirus-podcast-for-june-22-foxton-news/
The US Wasn't Prepared for Covid-19: Dr. Sanjay Gupta's coronavirus podcast for June 22 | Foxton News
You possibly can hear in your favourite podcast app or learn the transcript under.
US President Donald Trump: While you do testing to that extent, you are gonna discover extra individuals, you are gonna discover extra circumstances, so I mentioned to my individuals sluggish the testing down, please.
Temperatures had been taken on the door, and masks and hand sanitizer had been handed out. However as we noticed, only a few individuals had been carrying masks as they stood shoulder to shoulder within the viewers. Positively not bodily distancing.
This occasion additionally occurred on the finish of every week the place a number of states — together with Oklahoma — noticed their highest common of recent day by day Covid-19 circumstances. The best since this pandemic started.
It is worrisome to lots of people. Together with Dr. Zeke Emanuel. I’ve identified Zeke for a very long time. I describe him as a person who wears many hats. He is a health care provider, an oncologist. But additionally a bioethicist. He is the vice provost of worldwide initiatives for the College of Pennsylvania and in addition a former White Home well being coverage advisor underneath former President Barack Obama. Now he is a well being advisor on former Vice President Joe Biden’s marketing campaign staff.
Dr. Emanuel has been very vocal and significant of President Trump for holding a rally this weekend, saying it is simply one other instance of the White Home ignoring the recommendation of public well being specialists.
So on this episode, I’ve determined to sit down down with Zeke to look again on the previous few months of this pandemic. Actually perceive what the federal government’s obligations had been. What they obtained proper, and what they obtained unsuitable. I believe most significantly, we wished to speak about the place will we go from right here? How will we flip issues round?
I am Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Appradab’s chief medical correspondent. And that is “Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction.”
I need to ask about masks. I discover this actually fascinating. I used to be speaking to Governor [of New York state Andrew] Cuomo yesterday and I mentioned, “What’s it about masks? Why is it so contentious?” And he mentioned, “Look, the whole lot’s contentious. Closing down, you understand, companies and shutting down the economic system was contentious. Closing down faculties is contentious. Asking individuals to put on masks is contentious.”
And I used to be pondering to myself, Zeke, that, yeah, closing down faculty’s a giant deal and shutting down enterprise is a giant deal. Asking somebody to go like this and put a masks on over their face. Why is that this so contentious?
Dr. Zeke Emanuel, vice provost of worldwide initiatives and co-director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute on the College of Pennsylvania: Sanjay, I completely agree with you. I do not suppose it must be contentious. The second factor I might say is what is the draw back? What precisely is the issue with carrying a masks? What’s the price? Whereas closing down companies, it is clear what the price is. Carrying a masks. There isn’t any value.
And I believe we obtained it unsuitable. I believe the CDC [US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] obtained it unsuitable. These of us who take heed to the CDC obtained it unsuitable. Sure, it is true. A material masks is not so good as a surgical masks, not so good as an N95 masks, however it’s nonetheless good. And by the way in which, should you put on a nylon stocking round it, it is actually good. However we did not talk to the general public that very useful info.
And I believe it is turn into simply one other certainly one of these political divides. I believe, you understand, the President does not need to put on a masks himself, does not need individuals to put on it as a result of it means that we’re actually coping with this virus. It is actually severe and now we have to alter our habits to it. And I believe he would favor to disclaim it. And should you’re an individual within the public that, you are like, properly, that is how the, our leaders behave. That have to be OK. And the social norming right here is essential. And now we have completely failed on the social norming round face masks.
Gupta: Yeah, it is, it is fairly outstanding. It does not seem to be individuals are simply being ignorant. It looks as if they’re purposely sending out a message that you just need not put on masks. That is OK. We’re, we’re in shut proximity, however it’s OK. Dr. Emanuel, as you’ve got heard, we at the moment are predicting that there could also be some 200,000 individuals who could have died from this coronavirus by October. Is, is that inevitable now in in your thoughts?
Emanuel: Properly, I have been saying 250,000 by the tip of the calendar 12 months. And I, I’ll say that one factor that has stunned me is that medical doctors and hospitals have gotten higher at managing these sufferers. I believe we have realized lots during the last three or 4 months. So I believe that the mortality price goes down, however we’re getting extra circumstances. And so I do suppose there’s one thing inevitable about attending to 200 or previous 200,000 earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
Gupta: You recognize, it is, it is fairly hanging, clearly, to attract the comparability with some nations, that are, that are numbering their deaths within the tons of and even teenagers. And, you understand, with out form of making an attempt to unfairly bash on america, they did not have a drugs or a vaccine, clearly, or one thing that we did not have. Is it actually simply that folks didn’t make selections that wanted to be made after they wanted to be made?
Emanuel: I believe it is a number of components. I do suppose political management, which did not activate and take this significantly is one drawback. And after they did activate, they did not really activate in a really efficient method, as you’ll be able to see from our testing regime.
I believe in Taiwan, you had three components. One, large suspicion of China after the SARS episode. You had two, face masks tradition that wore the face masks. Took it significantly. And three, you had this well being card they’ve, that enables them to truly know in close to actual time, after just a few days, why individuals are going to the physician, what they are going for.
And so they might merge that well being knowledge with immigration and customs knowledge to know who was touring to China. So they might alert the well being care system. This is somebody at excessive threat due to journey. This is somebody at excessive threat due to respiratory signs that examined destructive for influenza. And that allowed them to leap on any circumstances and actually isolate them, check them and isolate them very, in a short time. And that made a giant distinction as you’ll be able to see.
Gupta: When you had been advising within the White Home in January, of this 12 months, since you’ve accomplished that form of work, clearly, prior to now, what would Dr. Emanuel have suggested the President?
Emanuel: Properly, in, in … I believe the third week of February or one thing, I did advise the President, and I did say to the President that you have to do what, say Lyndon Johnson would have accomplished, or Franklin Roosevelt would have accomplished, which is you create a twister of exercise that. … So you’ve got obtained a activity drive that offers with testing. You’ve got obtained a activity drive that offers with PPE [personal protective equipment]. You’ve got obtained a activity drive that offers with ventilators. Obtained a activity drive that offers with contact tracing. And on and on, so that you just’re overlaying the waterfront with competent individuals who know how you can make the forms transfer, can coordinate with states, can coordinate with personal trade.
And so they created a small activity drive on the White Home, which was alleged to do all of that. And that simply was completely insufficient. And I believe it might have made an enormous distinction.
Gupta: There have been lots of people to start with saying, look, this can be a coronavirus. We have heard that time period earlier than, SARS and MERS, to not point out a variety of frequent chilly form of viruses as properly. With SARS and MERS, there was a variety of concern up entrance. However in the long run, should you take SARS, for instance, some 8,000 individuals roughly all over the world turned contaminated and a few 800 individuals died. Very excessive fatality price, however wasn’t significantly an issue, definitely not in america. Was it not affordable for individuals to be pondering, properly, this may most likely be like that. Why ought to we get so apprehensive?
Emanuel: I do not suppose that was unreasonable to have that speculation. However as you understand, in drugs and in public well being, you propose for the, hope for one of the best, however plan for the worst. And this was not planning for the worst. And we rapidly handed the 8,000 circumstances and 800 deaths, in I believe, it was within the fourth week of February, the third week of February worldwide.
And so you need to have hopped on this a lot sooner than what this administration did. And I might say that hopping on it’s one factor, however utilizing that point once you’re flattening the curve to truly get in place an excellent testing routine, get in place good contact tracing. We did not do this and we nonetheless do not have it.
Gupta: I’m curious once more, since you’re a novel individual in having suggested the President, even throughout a earlier pandemic like H1N1. When public well being officers make suggestions to the White Home, to the President on this case, how is that info usually acquired? What was the ambiance like?
Emanuel: I might say the deference to science within the Obama administration was very excessive. We did not win each, you understand, each one of many selections. However I might say we received simply the overwhelming majority, and we didn’t have a hard-push form of resistance like “We do not consider you.” I might say the identical factor — I am advising the Biden marketing campaign. I might say the identical factor in regards to the Biden marketing campaign. They arrive to questionn, can we open up our workplaces? What do we have to do to open up the workplaces? After we lay out, the scientists lay out what we expect is critical, you understand, they’re fairly OK. That is what the scientist have mentioned. There appears to be consensus on this one amongst our scientists. We’ll do this. And the pushback is, you understand, are you positive or inform us what the uncertainties are. Not, “We do not consider you.”
Gupta: You recognize, it is, it appears to me that a part of the explanation I by no means wished to get entangled in electoral politics is as a result of it looks as if there would at all times be competing pursuits. And also you simply talked about you are advising the Biden marketing campaign now. You recognize, in some methods, it clearly is lots simpler should you’re not really the President proper now. You possibly can say, I might do that. I might give cash to all small companies which have been shuttered all through this. It is simpler to say this stuff once you’re not really within the job.
However once more, you are in a novel place since you’ve been within the job and now you are advising somebody who’s operating for the job. Do you suppose that the Biden marketing campaign, they’re listening to you, however would they implement this stuff or would political interferences come up? You recognize, if Vice President Biden turned President?
Emanuel: I really suppose that they might defer to the scientists. I imply, they’d have individuals you understand, the economists weigh in, too, as a result of it’s extremely related. However I believe there’s really a confluence right here. I do not suppose the competitors is the way in which the Trump administration suggests it. As a result of all of the economists I’ve talked to is, look, we’re not going to get the economic system to 90, 95 p.c of the place it was pre-Covid, until we really get the general public well being measures in place and restore client confidence.
The general public well being and the economics are intimately associated. You can’t remedy one with out fixing the opposite. And I do suppose that is vital, understanding it. And I do know that the Biden marketing campaign understands that. I do not suppose the present administration needs to consider that.
Gupta: Yeah, I believe it is actually fascinating. And I believe that the timetable performs a job right here as properly. I imply, I assume even should you say, hey, look, I assume I perceive how it might be higher for the economic system in the long term to remain shut down longer now. However you understand what? November is 5 months away. Proper?
Emanuel: Sanjay, I do not suppose that is the fitting reply. As a result of should you take a look at locations like Italy, like China, should you applied the general public well being measures stringently, they really turned out total to be for a shorter time period. And then you definately had been in a position to get the variety of new circumstances means down, in order that any new case that got here up, you did not have to close the entire economic system down. You possibly can focus your interventions to get to the few small circumstances and do the contact tracing and truly include these particular person circumstances.
So I believe a part of that is they really, the administration, by preserving concentrate on the economic system, shot itself within the foot. Relatively than being stringent, which might have been a shorter time period, they had been much less stringent. And that, as I mentioned, made the general public well being measures much less efficient. And that has extended the quantity, a excessive variety of new circumstances. It isn’t really allowed us to soundly reopen components of the economic system.
Gupta: So a extra stringent lockdown, even perhaps for a shorter time period?
Emanuel: Right.
Gupta: It might have led to aid each on the general public well being aspect in addition to the financial aspect. We did not do it.
Emanuel: I imply, completely. We did not do it.
Gupta: When you’re a health care provider, it is type of like saying, hey, you understand what, let’s simply do the fitting remedy, even when it is extra aggressive, as a result of that may really deal with the issue as a substitute of form of doing a half-baked remedy for an extended time period.
Emanuel: Sanjay, you are speaking to an oncologist, proper? All of us consider, you understand, we’re doing the 4 medicine. We’re not doing two now and two later as a result of we all know, two now two later, it is really not going to treatment you. 4 medicine now, it is gonna be a lot harder. However guess what? We have now a 70 p.c probability of curing you, and that is what we’re going for.
We did not do this in america. We dribbled it out, and dribbling it out is each prolonging it and making it a lot much less efficient when it comes to bringing the circumstances and the whole variety of deaths down.
And I believe that was a vital mistake. You recognize, for an oncologist that is like, the fitting reply is fairly clear right here.
Gupta: And the metaphors is, is fairly direct, it appears, on this case as properly. You recognize, Dr. [Anthony] Fauci [director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases], he mentioned one thing that did not shock me in any respect. My guess is it did not shock you both, which is that he is involved about an anti-science bias in america. I believe that is been clear, frankly, even earlier than this pandemic. When you take a look at issues like vaccines and also you take a look at issues like local weather change.
However I assume there’s an actual urgency to this anti-science bias now, as a result of if a vaccine does come to fruition — and there is nonetheless a variety of ifs round that — but when it occurs and it is accessible by early subsequent 12 months, as some have instructed, some polling now means that 30 p.c of the nation, even 40 p.c in a single research I learn, individuals say that they might be reluctant or hesitant to take it. That will be an issue since you’re not going to get to that herd immunity that everybody’s speaking about.
What do you suppose must be accomplished? Is there something that may be accomplished now, to attempt to stop that drawback later?
Emanuel: Properly, initially, I’ve, I am on the file and I consider that we should always make these type of lifesaving vaccines obligatory, definitely obligatory for youngsters. I believe that is open and shut. And I believe the Supreme Courtroom says you may make them obligatory for adults. And I really suppose until you might have an excellent spiritual cause, it must be obligatory. And we should always not let somebody endanger the remainder of the group for obscure beliefs that aren’t based mostly upon dependable science. I do suppose that there is been an extended interval of assault on experience and science is only one aspect of experience. And I do suppose now we have to reverse that.
You recognize, you and … properly, I grew up within the ’60s and within the ’60s, scientists had been revered. Proper. It is scientists and engineers who put a person on the moon. We thought that investing in science, educating youngsters in science was vital. And it most likely suggests, amongst many different issues, that our academic system, particularly round science, actually must be rethought. We clearly have had this large push for the previous few years round STEM, however I believe we have got to broaden that out.
Gupta: It has been a problem at instances to rejoice the fast progress that is being made on the vaccine. I’ve conversations with NIH [National Institutes of Health] scientists virtually day-after-day, and they’re legitimately excited, Zeke. They will say, “Hey, look, we have been in a position to create proof of neutralizing antibody impact very early. It is, it is early proof, however we hadn’t been in a position to do what we have accomplished right here with HIV in 20, 30 years of analysis on an HIV vaccine.” So there’s some, some reliable celebrations.
And but on the identical time, it appears to boost suspicion. You guys are dashing this vaccine. Look what occurred in 1976. You rushed a vaccine again then and other people obtained this Guillain-Barre syndrome, this ascending paralysis. You recognize, should you’re dashing it, it is certain to have issues. And that raises extra suspicion. So how do you assist craft that message then, to provide individuals the arrogance that, yay, we are able to rejoice the fast tempo of issues and now have some consolation that it is gonna be a protected vaccine?
Emanuel: Properly, I do suppose we most likely have extra mind energy worldwide engaged on this vaccine. You recognize, the equal is both the Human Genome Venture or the Manhattan Venture. And that’s one cause we’re making a lot fast progress.
I do suppose it’s important to persuade folks that the effectiveness trials that we’ll do with 30,000 individuals within the research — 10,000 getting a placebo, 20,000 getting a vaccine — are going to look very significantly at each aspect impact. And going to take a look at it for a interval of months and never, you understand, just some weeks. And we’ll make certain that once we approve the vaccine, it actually does defend individuals from getting contaminated. I believe these standards are important.
And until we are able to very reliably, based mostly upon the information say that, I do suppose individuals have a reliable cause to say, “You rushed the consequence. And it is not likely prepared for prime time.” And that may be a catastrophe that may gasoline the anti-vax motion. And that may be, I believe, very, very dangerous in the long run.
Gupta: Let me, let me simply end at the moment by asking you about your new ebook. I do not know the place you discover the time, initially. The ebook is named “Which Nation Has the World’s Greatest Well being Care?”
When you wished to dwell in a rustic, you, Zeke, that had the world’s finest well being care. For you. The place would you reside? Would you keep right here in america or would you progress someplace else?
Emanuel: Properly, it actually does rely upon what you worth most. And partially, it does rely upon the type of diseases you are anticipating and never. Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and Taiwan. Very low value on the level of care. Good main care. Sensible choice of physician. Low value. There are many benefits. However I might say that, you understand, we should always recognize what now we have within the 21st century. In 1900, the typical life expectancy was within the low 40s. Now we’re within the excessive 70s.
Sure, there are issues with the system. The primary issues are actually exorbitant prices which are affecting each nation, america the worst. We have now a really complicated and inefficient system. There’s lots we are able to do to enhance it over time. And the primary objective of this ebook was to search out out what are different nations doing properly, that we are able to really adapt to our nation.
Gupta: I am actually glad you wrote it. I imply, I believe typically we tend to get provincial in america. But it surely does not imply that we won’t proceed to be taught from locations everywhere in the world. However I actually recognize your time.
Emanuel: Thanks, Sanjay. This has been an amazing interview. Actually recognize it.
Gupta: Dr. Emanuel’s new ebook “Which Nation Has the World’s Greatest Well being Care?” is out now.
I’ve obtained to inform you, specialists like Zeke have been clear about what must be accomplished to finish this pandemic. I believe you’ve got heard this over and over by now. And remember, as I mentioned, all these nations which have accomplished so properly, they do not have a drugs or a vaccine or one thing that we do not have. We’re all coping with the identical assets. We have to do extra testing. We have to do extra contact tracing. We should be extra diligent about bodily distancing and carrying masks.
However the concern is that 4 and a half months into this, we nonetheless do not have the general public well being programs in place to implement these fundamental steps. In consequence, extra individuals will die. Individuals who did not have to die.
There may be hope. When you look all over the world. Locations like Taiwan and New Zealand, they present us that defeating the virus is feasible. And we even have the world’s prime scientists working at file tempo to develop a vaccine.
However we won’t wait till then. Our authorities and all of us have to take heed to the specialists. We have to take a look at the information and we have to right the errors which have already been made. It isn’t too late to avoid wasting lives.
Recently, I’ve heard lots of people say, I need not put on a masks, I am not apprehensive about getting it. I believe we have to change that dialog. When you do not put on a masks since you’re not afraid of getting it, then you need to put on a masks since you’re afraid of giving it.
All of us have to deal with one another. Be sort. Keep in mind, we’re all on this collectively.
We’ll be again tomorrow. Thanks for listening.
If in case you have questions, please file them as a voice memo and e-mail them to [email protected] — we would even embody them in our subsequent podcast.
It’s also possible to head to cnn.com/coronavirus and join our day by day e-newsletter, which options the newest updates on this fast-moving story from Appradab journalists across the globe. For a full itemizing of episodes of “Coronavirus: Truth vs. Fiction,” go to the podcast’s web page here.
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gerardwayisarchive · 6 years
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MSI’S JIMMY URINE ANNOUNCES SOLO LP FEATURING GERARD WAY AND…ROBOTS?
https://gerardwayisalive.tumblr.com/post/176963498454
https://www.altpress.com/features/jimmy-urine-james-euringer-solo-record/
Jason Pettigrew  August 13, 2018
“I wanted it to sound as if Depeche Mode hired J Dilla and DJ Premier to drop loops while Frank Zappa produced—and then I came in and shit all over it.” So says James Euringeraka Little Jimmy Urine of ADD-addled electro-rockers Mindless Self Indulgence when asked to describe his new solo album under the handle Euringer, featuring cameos from folks such as Gerard Way, System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian, Grimes and Chantal Claret.
(Read more: Jimmy Urine talks MSI, Guardians Of The Galaxy role and new album.)
The album—slated for release Oct. 19 by Metropolis Records—is the beginning of a whole new chapter for the multi-instrumentalist and programmer. After visiting New Zealand a few times in the past, Euringer and his wife, Claret, decided to leave their Los Angeles home and move to the other side of the world.
“I totally think New Zealand is the most awesome place in the world,” he says. “It’s like a combination of San Francisco, New York City and Middle Earth. And I’ve always wanted to live in Middle Earth.”  
“We loved [New Zealand] when Obama was president, but now we love it more since it synced up with the world turning to shit!,” he continues. “Awesome! We’re ahead of the curve!’”
Moving is one big step for a whole new reboot. While his previous album The Secret Cinematic Sounds Of Jimmy Urine was primarily an instrumental dive into various synth-laden idioms inspired by such classic electronic composers as Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre, Euringer is a whole new pint glass of piss altogether.
The album’s audio verité vibe is best described as sneaking through Urine’s diary, with diversions of everything from metaphorical politics to wild-assed cover versions to having his buddies and parents (Ma Euringer counts in Spanish on “That’s How Jimmy Gets Down” while Dad assumes the role of disappointed parent on “Two And A Half Years” and a bitter old record producer on the cover of the Doobie Brothers’ “What A Fool Believes”) helping him out on the record.
“This album is kind of a psychedelic, counterculture, avant-garde record with vocals,” he opines. “I’m calling it Euringer because I didn’t want to corrupt any of the other stuff. It’s not Cinematic Sounds. It’s not MSI, which have always been a provocative in-your-face kind of band. [The solo album] allows me to experiment with various BPM speeds, lyrics and tones and try some other avenues.
“It is very personal,” he agrees. “As much as I like being in a crazy shock-rock band, the one thing that gets lost is that people focus on the shock rock and don’t really focus on the fact that I’m a really fucking great programmer, and I’m a deconstructionist and an audio collagist.”
“I sculpt audio and make songs around it,” he continues.“And that’s the first thing that gets lost. [imitates fast-talking industry type.] ‘Awww, Jimmy! You’re crazy and the band’s crazy and they’re great and they do all this provocative amazing stuff,’ and that’s fine—that’s what Mindless are supposed to be. But nobody ever says, ‘I like how you programmed that beat and sampled that stuff backwards.’ [Laughs.] That area is what I went full hog into.”
Urine is thrilled with what his collaborators brought to the proceedings. On “If It Ain’t You Today It’ll Be You Tomorrow,” Urine and Tankian updated Rev. Martin Niemöller’s famous anti-Nazi sermon, “First They Came For The Socialists…” “I always thought that quote was really great,” Urine says. “I wanted to write something a little bit political considering the climate, but not a whole record. Serj was in one of the most amazing politically charged bands of the last 20 years. He went through a whole bunch of lyrics and poetry that he had and screamed stuff for an hour. We had coffee, and I went home and edited [the parts] I liked. The point I’m trying to make [on the song] is that we should all stand up for fringe causes because once they’re gone, you’re next.”
Urine teams up with Claret on “Fuck Everything,” describing it as “our ex-pat song. We kind of wrote it while we were packing up our house and leaving, and then we recorded it in Wellington. She’s a really great songwriter: I’ll be sculpting a song for two months, and she’ll write one in a day. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that was so quick! No wonder I married you!’” [Laughs.]
For “The Medicine Does Not Control Me,” Urine was trying to write a song about alcohol that wasn’t about partying or rehab. “I don’t have an addictive personality. I’m not trying to use alcohol to escape; I use it for time travel,” he explains. “I can pull myself a glass of scotch and then go watch a ton of movies that are based in New York. I can find a movie that was shot in the neighborhood I grew up—‘Oh, there’s the place I went to school. There’s the place where I used to play pinball’—immerse myself in it and then fall asleep. I don’t drink to get crazy. I think there’s a middle ground where people use liquor to get creative, but you never hear songs about it. You only hear the ones where people ‘went too far’ or they’re ‘gonna party!’”
He wanted to work with electronic/hip-hop maven Grimes because of her hands-on work ethic. “She’s DIY like a motherfucker. There aren’t a lot of ladies doing synth work, producing, mastering, editing their own videos, everything. Because she’s so talented, I wanted her to write the track and to produce me singing it, like a reverse Britney Spears thing: I’m the ingenue, and Grimes is the mastermind. We didn’t have enough time to do it that way, so I gave her some tracks and ["Medicine”] was the one she chose.”
Urine has been friends with Way back in the days when My Chemical Romance were opening for MSI in NYC. So having the 21st century polymath appear on the fast-paced “Sailor In A Life Boat” was a complete no-brainer.
“First of all,” he begins to laugh, “Gerard could have sang every song on the record! MCR did a B-side from something off Danger Days [�["Zero Percent”]here the programming was drum-and-bassy, very weird and hard at the same time, like MCR being MSI.”
“This time, I figured we’d go the other way and leave it up to Gerard,” he continues.“I sent him the song, and he obviously knocked it out. The lyrics—“you’re a dogface on the frontline,” “a pilot on a ship that’s going down,” convey that you used to be a sailor in the Navy, but now you’re just some dude sitting in the middle of the fucking ocean. His vocal and lyrical style comes across to me like a Frank Miller comic book from 1981, like Sin Cityand stuff.”
As usual, Urine can’t resist taking a swipe at the scene. And here he is with “Random EMO Top Line Generator,” one of the most heartfelt songs he’s ever written. And the joke is on all of us: Much like the net’s random name generators for everything from porn star names to Wu-Tang handles and other monikers, Urine had the net write lyrics.
“I loaded up, like, a thousand random generators that gave me words,” he explains. “I put in a word, then a random generator would give me a sentence. Than I’d put that sentence into a different random generator, and it would give me a phrase. I wrote this song based on what I’d get out of these random generators, and I made it a very emotional and heartfelt song.”
“So the schtick is people will say, ‘Wow, it’s so deep, look how mature Jimmy is,’” he continues.“Motherfuckers, a robot wrote that song. The robot wrote the lyrics, and you’re lovin’ it! A robot wrote a song that’s so emotionally empowering it could have been written in the last 10 years. And random generators are all over the internet, you could write a whole album that way! We’re really living in a William Gibson cyberpunk reality these days.”
With all the cool collabs with women, men and machines happening on Euringer, it might be easy to ignore the elephant in the room. You know, the one with “MSI” painted in 4-foot DayGlo letters and festooned with crudely rendered drawings of penises. Urine swears that everything is good with his homies in Mindless, and the door is always open.
“That’s not the reason I made a solo album or why I moved to New Zealand. We were all on different coasts. These days, the technology exists so you don’t even have to be in the same room to make a record. MSI are a wonderful art project that never stops.”
And you’re not going to see Euringer on tour to support the new album, either. “I’m not going to tour for it because I’m gonna chill here in New Zealand for a while,” he says. “I’ll make some videos, do press and work on some top secret projects—maybe a Mindless record—down here. Incorporating New Zealand in all the stuff I’m doing is really cool and fun. I like touring with Mindless; I don’t need to put a whole new band together.”
Right now though, he’s enjoying his time in Middle Earth and keeping busy. He’s also working alongside Tankian and the animation house ShadowMachine for an English gangster cartoon called Fuktronic. Expect more, but on his terms, as he steadfastly refuses to reveal if the other projects he’s got rolling are for film, video games or elevators.
“Oh man, I wanna do stuff for elevators really bad!” he beams excitedly, in the same perverse glee that has marked every creative avenue he’s cartwheeled and silly-walked on for decades. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve gotten into an elevator that had music playing in it.” He pauses for a moment. “Damn, we gotta bring Muzak back into elevators. I’m gonna change all the Mindless songs into Muzak. The future is elevators.”
You can preorder Euringer here prior to its mid-October release date. Check out “Problematic” from the LP and the record’s artwork below.
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