#I know it’ll be a couple of months still but if I get stuff done now it will be less overwhelming later

[raeathnos]

.

#anyways #I’m trying to stay sane by making a list of what I need to get working on once I’m better to make moving easier #I know it’ll be a couple of months still but if I get stuff done now it will be less overwhelming later #I had a yard sale last month but I want to go through some stuff I didn’t get through and maybe have one again before the weather turns bad #I want to organize and pack what we already have for the house #wanna make a list of stuff I want to buy since money will be tight after we move #so like I guess make the list then organize and save up for the pricier stuff now and save the cheaper stuff for later #I just organized my bookshelf the other week and today I updated the list of books I’m looking for #trying to make a list of art supplies I need before all this cause that’s pricey too #not gonna post any art till after the new year but I’m going through my accounts and seeing what needs posting/updating #my ko-fi and Art tumblr both never actually got much listed to them so uh #that needs some major fixing #there’s other stuff too but that’s the important stuff

[just-a-torn-up-masterpiece]

a storm and a kiss

part three of home for christmas

natasha romanoff x reader

The hallmark movie inspired Christmas story that nobody asked for.

Natasha Romanoff fell out of love with Christmas, but perhaps a certain someone could help her find the festive magic once again.

Coming home to her small hometown from her life in New York City, the children’s author is reunited with the people of her past; some are happier to see her than others.

But, will rekindled relationships inspire the Christmas story she’s struggling to write? Or will she go home empty handed?

awkward silences, fluff, wanda meddling again, still cringey, snowed in trope kinda, mentions of alcohol

wc: 2.1k | part one | part two | part four

“Wow, this town still goes all out for Christmas, huh?” Natasha spoke, attempting to cut through the uncomfortable quiet between you as you walked.

The layer of snow along the ground and the greyish-white clouds above you only added to the winter feel of the town. The lights strung along each and every building were on most of the time, biting through the dark of winter in Ohio and various festive decorations stood on every street corner. The oversized tree in the town square was your favourite, the one in the heart of the town, surrounded by the goings on of the month-long fair that was always busy.

She used to love it here, how the community always came together at this time of year. Everybody was always included and she felt as much a part of it as anybody. It makes you both wonder back on those years before, when the magic of the season lost its touch on the woman when the warmth that sparked within her turned to something cool and dismissive.

“You’d know that if you came back here, rather than having your family schlep to New York instead.”

“I guess so,” she sighed.

“They always talk about you - how you don’t decorate your apartment, how you don’t make Yelena that hot chocolate you always used to bring us all.”

“I get too busy for all this Christmas stuff,” she shrugged, internalising the frown her lips desperately wished to fall into. “I don’t have time for the ‘Christmas cheer’ anymore, I guess.”

“You used to,” you returned, sparing a look at the side of the face. She peered downwards at her feet, her eyebrows knitted into the thoughtful expression they always had done when you knew she was in quiet contemplation. “Natasha Romanoff was never ‘too busy’ for it all.”

“People change,” she mumbled. You saw the clenching of her jaw poke through her skin and you knew there was more to it. Still, whether you sympathised with the redhead’s clearly deep-rooted dislike for this time of year, her dismissal of the conversation left you with a stinging in your belly that even the chill of the air couldn’t compete with. An explanation is all you want, she owes you that much at least.

“Yeah,” you sighed. “They do.”

Even when you reached her car you were still hoping somebody would take over for you. It’s a certainty that Melina and Wanda - and perhaps various other interfering ‘allies’ - had something to do with this. After all, sending two people to a remote cabin over thirty minutes away is a perfectly reasonable ask. Tasking two people, who have a physically observable discontent between them, with fetching unnecessary Christmas tree ornaments is not strange at all.

You’d tried to get out of it, of course, but with Melina’s irresistible way of charming you into doing just about anything, you found yourself caving into her demands rather quickly. ‘It’ll only be a couple of hours’ you repeated in your head over and over.

–

The car journey couldn’t have been much more awkward if you’d tried. It was clear that both of you had words on the tip of your tongues that you fought away by drowning them out with the radio’s music. You wanted to ask her ‘why?’. You wanted to give her a piece of your mind yet, also, tell her how much you think about her. Positive and negative. You wanted to be honest to somebody about the way she plagues your mind at night with ponderings both wholesome and unsavoury, hot and cold, loving and loathsome.

She wanted to say sorry. She wanted to tell you her love for you was still there - it always had been. But times change, things change, and things that once brought her joy had melted away and taken a part of her with them. She wanted to explain why.

So, it was merely two people with words aching to be set free, sitting in a silence that felt less dangerous. You climbed out of the car as soon as the hum of the engine slowed.

The house brought back memories of all those times before; the wooden roof clothed in snow, a frosted cobweb weaved against the window in the centre of the old front door. The crack in the porch decking, just to the left of the doorstep, was still there and you both smiled to yourselves at the sight. You remember the time that Kate tried to keep up with Carol, carrying the same amount of logs into the house for the fire. She smirked with hubris and you all laughed when she stumbled, dropping it all with a snap beneath their weight. You all decided to use the gaudy gnome Alexei had bought, much to Melina’s distaste, to hide it for as long as possible. It worked until it didn’t, and you all still feign oblivious to the damage.

“Alright, I’ll look down here, you look upstairs?” Natasha asked once you’d walked in.

“Sounds like a plan.”

You made your way upstairs, eyeing the dent in the papered wall where Wanda had playfully pushed you one tipsy evening. She’d been teasing you about the way you’d apparently been ogling Natasha and she only retaliated to the shove you’d given her, chuckling when you almost fell down the staircase.

There were still photos hung in frames along the walls when you reached the top, memories of your group of friends cemented into shots. Smiling faces framed with wood, the glass shielding them gathering dust. You wiped one clean with your sleeve just to be met with Natasha’s smile, her arm draped over your shoulder whilst you grinned all the same. The rosy hue to the apples of her cheeks only served as a reminder of what made her so easy to love.

The drawers you searched through turned up nothing, and the cupboards were just as unsuccessful. Apart from the trips down memory lane, you found nothing, and you only sighed as you descended the stairs once more. It was becoming more clear why you were sent on this excursion - the decorations didn’t exist. You suppose you should have figured it out sooner.

“Anything?”

“No,” you shook your head. “We should probably get on the road - it’s already getting dark.”

“The snow’s pretty bad, I think we’re gonna have to wait it out.”

“Okay, I’m just gonna call Wanda to let her know I’ll be late back.”

You stepped out into the kitchen and grumbled at the obvious smile in her mischievously toned voice when she picked up.

“I hate you,” you groaned.

“How’s it going? You found the ornaments?”

“Wanda,” you sighed. “We all know they don’t exist. You and Melina must despise me, I’m sure of it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she returned, clearly holding back a laugh at your annoyance.

“This isn’t gonna change anything, Wands. My life isn’t some fairytale you can turn into some true love thing.”

“Nobody said anything about ‘true love’,” she answered. “Apart from you.”

“Oh my God-”

“No, you’ve said it now. It’s been spoken into the universe. I can still see it between you, y’know? It’s a bit much if you ask me,” she teased.

“Well, I didn’t ask you,” you mumbled.

“You’re not denying anything, though,” Wanda spoke, her tone softening just as it does when she wants you to know she’s being earnest. “You know I’ve always been on your side with all of this - I am always on your side. So you have to trust me when I tell you that you need to trust your heart with this.”

“I loved her, Wanda. I did. But, things change. It’s a lot to make sense of.”

“Then take your time - I’ll be here. But I can see it in both of you. Sure, things change - people change - but maybe, sometimes, that’s the best thing that can happen.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Yes. You will,” she returned. “And we’ll talk about it later. One more thing, there’s a storm coming tonight so I think you might have to stay there,” Wanda hurried out, clearly hoping to hang up before you could say anything else.

“Oh my God, Wanda.”

“Sorry,” she laughed - clearly not meaning it - before ending the call as quickly as possible.

Natasha was sitting on the sofa when you walked back out, holding up a bottle of vodka she’d found with a smile and gesturing to the space beside her for you to take a seat.

“My mom texted me,” she spoke. “We’re gonna have to wait the storm out here tonight. We should be able to head out first thing in the morning.”

“I’m gonna need a drink then.”

–

You didn’t speak much at first but the uncomfortable silences between you had become such a regular thing that it hardly felt unusual. Natasha had found two shot glasses and filled them rather liberally as the evening drew in, you winced less and less at the sting of liquor in your throat. It seemed the alcohol wore away that tall wall of glass between the pair of you because, as time passed, scatters of conversation turned into recalls of childhood memories. And then you felt comfortable asking her what your mind had begged you to.

“Why’d you leave, Nat?”

“I had to,” she shrugged, taking a sip that emptied her glass. “I got into college, moved to New York.”

“You know what I mean, Natalia,” you breathed. You were leaning close enough to her to see the twitch at the corner of her lips at the use of the name only you are allowed to use. “Why’d you leave me?”

“I didn’t mean for it to all happen like that,” she sighed. “Things changed. The way I wanted things to go didn’t seem possible anymore so I left it all behind.”

“You left me behind, too.”

“I didn’t mean to, sweetheart,” she spoke the pet name for the first time in years and it tasted just as sweet on her tongue, you felt it wash over you like the stroke of a tender hand. “Anyway, I’m here now and we’re having a good night. Reminds me of old times.”

“We had fun, didn’t we?” you smiled, letting your shoulder rest against hers as though the space between you had never been there.

“We did.” Her grin was contagious, it always has been. She let her hand rest on your leg as though it was the most normal thing in the world and you accepted it because you agreed. “Do you remember that time, just like tonight, when we just sat and talked for hours? The others were all asleep-”

“We could hear Yelena’s snoring from down here,” you laughed and Natasha chuckled at the memory, you felt the laugh move her body from where you leaned against her.

“And it was like we were the only people who existed.”

Neither of you mentioned the way you desperately wanted to kiss the other that night - nor the other nights you’d felt the same. But, right now, as though making up for missed opportunities, she cupped her hand around your cheek and swiped a musing thumb against your bottom lip. The skin left your lips tingling and wanting more, you felt a shiver run through your spine as her face drew nearer.

The gap between you vanished with a slow touch of her lips to yours, the bitter taste of vodka lingering on the tongue that pushed past your teeth. It was all you’d wanted since you were young and, at first, it left you dizzied with nothing else on your mind apart from the woman who held your waist.

But, as the saying goes, good things must come to an end. When the haze of Natasha Romanoff’s mouth dancing with yours had settled, you thought back to the unresolved issue you held with her. You still don’t know why she left you, you still don’t know why all of your calls wouldn’t even ring out on her mobile. You don’t know if this is just a drunken thing she’d forget about by morning.

You pulled away as though her kiss had left you burnt and her flushed cheeks stared back at you.

“I can’t do this right now,” you stumbled out. “I still don’t understand what’s happened between us but I can’t just move past it all so quickly.”

“I’m-”

“No, it’s fine,” you sighed, pushing a hand through your hair in an attempt to unravel your mind just the slightest inch. “I’m gonna sleep upstairs. I’ll see you in the morning.”

If you’d found the drive to the cabin uncomfortable, the car ride back home was incomparable.

#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff fanfic #natasha romanoff x fem!reader #au: home for christmas

[samaraannhan20]

Austin Butler: College AU! Hostage Situation

Warnings: age gap, college! reader, I think that's all

inspired by this tik tok

“Are you sure you have to leave tomorrow night?” I ask Austin as I walk back into our bedroom. 

“Yes,” he says with a light chuckle, and I groan, throwing my head back and staring at the ceiling as I walk towards the bed. 

“Really? Can’t you stay just another day?” I say, climbing onto the bed and promptly onto Austin’s lap. 

“I wish. Press starts the afternoon after I get in though. I have to leave on time,” he responds, leaning forward and pressing his lips to mine. 

“Have I ever told you how little I enjoy the press season?” I ask him, and he laughs. 

“Yes, all the time,” he says with a laugh, and then leans forward pressing another peck onto my lips. “However, after this press tour you’ll almost be done with school, and will be able to come with me on the Bikeriders press tour, since it got pushed.”

“That’s true. I know that the strike was awful and it sucked that you couldn’t promote your stuff, but selfishly I was glad to have that extra time with you, especially since it was right around when we started planning our wedding.”

“Yeah we were lucky and we got too used to it. But I’ll only be gone for a month this time, and then I’ll be here and we can keep working on wedding stuff, and you can graduate, and then we can go on vacation and the next press tour together,” he says, squeezing my waist where his hands are resting. 

“I don’t want to go thirty days without you though. That’s forever,” I say, and lay my head down on his chest. 

“It’s not the longest we’ve been apart though,” he responds, and I roll off of him and onto my back on my side of the bed, laying on my back.

“I know. But it’s going to feel like forever. Especially since we’re missingValentines Day, and our anniversary a week later,” I say, rolling onto my side to look at him. He shifts down and lays down on his side as well, reaching a hand out and gently stroking my cheek. 

“It’ll be okay. It won’t be the first holiday we miss, and it probably won’t be the last.” I sigh and lean into his hand, and we fall asleep in exactly that position. 

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

“Good morning honey,” I say as I turn over when I wake up in the morning. Austin just grumbles in response.

Oh, I think to myself. I didn’t think he’d want to sleep in today since he has to leave this evening and he hasn’t even packed. Oh well. I guess I could go wash my face and brush my teeth while I wait. I get out of bed and head to the bathroom. 

When I come back into the room a few minutes later Austin still hasn’t moved, so I decide to walk over to his side of the bed. I squat down on the floor and look at him, trying to decide whether or not I want to wake  him up. I ultimately decide against it, and stand up to leave, before noticing his phone on the bedside table. I quietly grab what I need and head into the closet to get dressed for the day.

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

“Hey darlin?” Austin asks a couple hours later when he walks into the living room, where I’ve been watching tv while he packs.

“What’s up?” I ask, pausing the television and turning to look at him over the back of the couch. “How’s packing going?”

“I’m almost done, but do you know where my phone charger is?” he asks.

“I think I saw it in the kitchen while I was making breakfast,” I respond, turning back to the television and hoping he doesn’t notice the flush on my cheeks. 

“Really? Did you move it there? Because my phone was fully charged on the nightstand when I woke up this morning,” he responds, and I slide down a bit on the couch, focusing all my attention on the tv.

“That’s weird. I didn’t move it. It was just there when I made breakfast. You must have left it there after dinner last night.”

“But I know I plugged it in last night, in the bedroom. So how was it 100% charged when I woke up if I left the charger in the kitchen last night?” he asks, rounding the couch to stand in front of the tv, making me focus on him.

“Um… I plead the fifth?” I say quietly, sliding even further down the couch. 

“Darlin, are you trying to hold me hostage with a phone charger?” he asks, coming towards me and squatting down to look me in the eyes from where I am now laying on the couch. 

“... yes.”

“You do know I’ll be back in about a month, right?” he says, reaching out and taking my hands in his. 

“Yeah, but what if I can’t make it that long? I’m kinda impatient when it comes to spending time with you,” I respond, sitting up a little in order to talk to him easier. 

“Kinda like how you begged me to come back from Ashley’s earlier than I had planned on so we could cuddle the other night?” he asks with a teasing lilt in his voice. 

“Yes. Except now I can’t just ask you to come home early because you can’t. Plus… I have to wait an entire 30 days til I see you again?! That’s like… 720 HOURS!”

“That was… extremely accurate,” he says, trying not to laugh.

“It’s not funny. I did the math when I woke up this morning and you weren’t awake yet. I was bored and lonely,” I say, slinking away from him and back into the couch. 

“You could have woken me up,” he says, reaching out and squeezing my thigh as he places his hand on it. 

“That’s a lot of hours that I’m going to spend missing you.”

“You’re cute when you’re being dramatic, you know that right?” he asks, and I playfully stick my tongue out at him.  “You do know, distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

“I think it just means I don’t get kisses.”

“I don’t either,” he responds, reaching out and placing his hand on my cheek, rubbing it softly. I melt a little, leaning even closer to him, while consciously trying not to knock him over as I lean in. “I know that leaving isn’t ideal. I know I won’t get to give you back rubs. I won’t be able to make you tea in the morning or do your homework with you. But, you know that’ll change at some point, right?”

“Yes…”

“And you know,” he kisses my forehead, “that I’ll message and video call you as much as possible right?”

“Mhm. But that’s 2d. It’s not the same.”

“You’re right. It’s not. That just means I gotta appreciate the little things. Like right now.”

“Seee, you don’t wanna leave either.”

“Lovely, if I wanted to leave already, I would have grabbed the charger from the closet. Where I saw you put it while I was laying down,” he says, and I pull away, standing up and knocking him over in the process.

“YOU FAKED BEING ASLEEP?!”

“YOU HID MY CHARGER?!” he responds, laughing from his spot, sprawled out on the floor. 

“Touche,” I say, holding out a hand to help him off the floor. He takes it, and instead of standing up, yanks me down to the floor. I land on top of him with a groan escaping my lips as he wraps his arms tightly around me. “ I would have given it to you eventually. Like after lunch,” I say when I catch my breath.  He laughs, and shakes his head.

“No you wouldn’t.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“Compromise,” he says, reaching up and tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “I won’t get it out of the closet until after lunch, and until then we can spend some time together watching Dance Moms reruns.”

“JOJO! HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING!” I scream in his face, quickly standing up and running away. He cracks up as he stands up and chases after me. He catches me and pulls me into him, smothering my face and neck in kisses. 

“I take that as a yes?” he says as he peppers kisses up and down my neck. 

“Duh.”

“Touche,” he says, and then turns around and pats my thighs. I laugh and jump onto his back, and he carries me over to the couch, dropping me down on it, and then sitting down next to me and pulling my legs onto his lap. 

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️

“So, what do you want for lunch?” I ask a few episodes of Dance Moms later.

“I’m not sure. But what’s the rush in choosing? We can take our time.” I sigh and curl into his side more than I already was, and press a kiss to his shoulder. 

“I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you too,” he says, and takes my chin in his hand, leaning forward and pressing his lips to mine. When he pulls away he smiles. “One last couch Chipotle date before I leave?”

“When have I ever said no to that? But also I hope you don’t expect me to not have Chipotle the entire time you’re gone. I could never do that,” I say, and he laughs, pulling me back into him for another kiss.

#austin butler fanfiction #austin butler fluff #austin butler x reader #austin butler imagine #austin butler x fem!reader

[sleepyhead0720]

May I request a one-shot with Luffy or Ace where Reader is painting a big portrait of them looking really cool?

Sure! I hope you enjoy<3 (you didn’t specify a lot so I added a couple things! Hope you don’t mind<3)

Masterlist

Woah…that looks like ME!

The crew just returned from a rather peaceful island, it was very calm to take a break and relax and not have to worry about the navy being after your boyfriend

During the small break though, you discovered that you enjoyed drawing! And we’re quite good at it too!

More specifically you liked drawing living things, you had been practicing all month, even after you guys departed from that island

You were planning on painting a portrait of luffy! You didn’t know why you wanted to, there wasn’t any special occasion aside from you wanting to see a big smile on your boyfriends face once you show him the portrait

It was meant to be a surprise for him till the it was ready. But of course, things didn’t go as plannned

You huffed and placed the painting brush down

You were almost done with the portrait, you just needed a a little more shad and it would look better

Maybe the next island will have more painting supplies

You didn’t really have to worry on leaving the portrait unintended since luffy was busy bothering Sanji for food and once you arrive to the next island, he would immediately get off the ship in search for food or something

You started packing your stuff up and put a black blanket over the painting

Once you put all the stuff away, you headed to the front deck to see if any island was in view

“Usopp! Is there anything yet?”

“Yes! It’s still far away but I can still see it, it’ll take a couple hours before we reach it”

He gave you a thumbs up

You smiled and headed to the kitchen expecting luffy to be there trying to eat everything in sight

“Y/n-san! What brings you here? Are you hungry?”

You turned to Sanji was already getting ready to cook something for you

“Yea kind of, where’s Luffy? I thought he was here?”

You started to panic a little considering you haven’t seen him at all

Sanji tilted his head

“I thought he was with you? He did say he was going to look for you,”

You panicked

What if he snuck into the room?

“Uh I gotta go really quick!”

You speed walked outside and started heading towards your room

As you got closer, you heard sounds inside as if something was moving there

You really hoped is was some sorts of animal and not luffy

As you peeked you head you saw luffy fidgeting with one of your paint brushes

“Luffy!”

He jumped and turned towards you

“Why are you snooping through my stuff??”

You crossed your arms while glaring at him slightly

“This is your stuff?”

He said bringing up one of your big paint brushes up to his face eyeing it curiously, he then starting brushing his face with it

“Y/n how come it’s so dirty? Is your face THAT dirty?”

You sighed

“No Luffy, it’s not makeup! And even if it was you don’t use it like that,”

“Oh”

You grabbed it and started organizing your stuff

“Is this yours too?”

You were too busy organizing your stuff to notice Luffy approaching your portrait,

But when you did, it was too late

“WAIT NO LUFFY!”

“Woah…That looks like ME!”

He said yelling excitedly pointing at himself and back at the painting

You sighed

“That IS you lu,”

As you started to pick the blanket up, he smiled eyed the painting in awe

It was him standing on top of a rock admiring the sunset, behind him was his straw hat flowing gently behind his back.

“Woah! I look so cool!! Where’d you buy this y/n? It looks straight out of the museum thingy’s!”

He turned towards you, you smiled at his excitement

“I didn’t, I drew it myself, it’s still not done and I was planning on giving to you once it was done,”

“Wait… YOU DID THIS??”

You nodded to which he grinned wildly

“It looks so cool!! Could you do one where me and you are fighting? Or maybe e two of us eating!! Could you, could you???”

He basically lunged at you with excitement raiding off him

You chuckled at his childish behavior

“Sure lu, but it takes a lot of time and I’m not even done with that one,”

He looked confused at your words

“What do you mean? It looks perfect to me!”

The both of you turned towards the portrait for different reasons

Luff because he was trying to find any imperfections

You because you tried to see all the flaws in it

“Well first of all-“

You cut yourself off, even if you did explain you doubted he would understand at all so you just said,

“I want to add more details,”

He still liked confused but accepted your answer

“Well ok! But you ARE doing more right??”

You smiled at him

“Of course Lu,”

|———————————————————————|

#one piece #one piece x you #one piece x reader #one piece x y/n #one piece oneshots #op luffy #monkey d luffy #luffy x reader #luffy x y/n #luffy x you

[ladykailitha]

If I Rescue You, Will You Rescue Me, Too? Part 20

This is it my lovelies. It is done. I am so happy to have had you on this journey of this little idea that was supposed to be a little one shot that had Eddie being lifted on the stage by Steve and the band to play Master of Puppets and grown into this. This beautiful story of healing.

Thank you so much!

It gets a little spicy but nothing major.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6  Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16  Part 17 Part 18 Part 19

***

Steve liked his new house. He did. But he barely spent any time in it. He was always taking someone somewhere, working or at Eddie’s. Because Eddie’s house felt lived in. Homey.

So he does what he should have done all along. He takes Eddie shopping.

“Are you really sure you want me to help you decorate your new place, babe?” Eddie asked for the millionth time as he slid into the passenger seat of the BMW.

Steve grinned up at him. “Yes, because as much I love Robin and as much as I value Nancy’s opinion they would take over and it would be what colors they would want.”

“As opposed to me, how?” Eddie asked as Steve pulled away from the curb.

Steve smile was incandescent. “You would at least ask for my impute between two things you liked.”

Eddie blinked. “And the girls would just put whatever they wanted and you would end up with something that looked their rooms and not your place.”

Steve nodded. “And I don’t want that. Plus I like your place with Wayne. I want something that feels like home.”

Eddie smiled fondly at him. “I could do that, yeah.”

They pulled up to the department stores and looked around. Eddie asked him questions about what styles he liked and it became more about what he didn’t like. And though Eddie noticed the pattern, he was sure that Steve hadn’t.

It was anything but how his parents had decorated. No blues and no greys. No sad neutral colors. Steve gravitated to reds and yellows, bright browns.

Steve still had a lot of the government hush money, so that wasn’t an issue. It was more about knowing he could could afford to make a life for himself. And he wanted that life with Eddie. The fact that even though they had only been together a short time and Eddie felt the same? That was the dream, no doubt.

They bought furniture and rugs and kitchen stuff. But Steve also wanted to paint the house to match the new things he’d bought. So Eddie took him to the hardware store to look at paint swatches. Eddie had Steve pick out a few colors he liked because the light here at the store isn’t what the light would be like at home.

Home.

God Steve loved how that sounded coming out of Eddie’s mouth. Once they had gotten back to Steve’s car and he was sure no one was looking he whispered, “Say ‘home’ again, sunshine. I loved hearing you say it.”

Eddie smiled fondly. “Let’s go home, Stevie.”

Steve sighed happily and kissed the word from his lips. “Yeah, Eds. Let’s.”

*

That night he and Eddie sorted through the things they had delivered and putting everything where Steve wanted.

They flopped on the big comfy sofa with a laugh.

“Feeling better about the new place?” Eddie asked as Steve snuggled up under his arm.

“Yeah,” he murmured sleepily. “And with the painters coming in on Saturday, it’ll be even better.”

“This is still a pretty big place for one person, beautiful,” Eddie said. “Why did you get a four bedroom?”

Steve blushed deeply. “One room for me, a guest bedroom which I’m sure Max and Robin will fight over and Max will win, and an office.”

“That’s still only three rooms, sweetheart,” Eddie said. “What’s the other room for? Another guest bedroom?”

Steve shook his head. “A studio for you.”

Eddie peered down at Steve in awe. A Steve who was currently avoiding looking him in the eye. “Babe?”

“I know it’s too early,” Steve said, his voice thick with emotion. “We’ve barely been a couple for a couple of months and Wayne’s not going to want you to go so soon after he just got you back. But some day, I will ask you to move in with me and I’d hope you’d say yes.”

Eddie pulled Steve in tighter, holding on for dear life. How did he get so lucky to have this beautiful boy in love with him? He never thought he would have this. That he would get to have this. If he thought of the future, it was always slinking down back alleys with someone who was only there for a good time, but not a long time. Until he moved out of Indiana to some place more tolerant of his kind and then maybe he would settle down with someone.

And that person never looked like someone like Steve. Another metalhead, maybe. Someone with long hair and a penchant for being just as outrageous as Eddie. But by God he couldn’t imagine a life with anyone else. No one else filled his heart with such emotion and tenderness as this beautiful boy.

“Well,” Eddie said after a moment or two, “let me put your mind to rest, as soon as Uncle Wayne gets sick of me, I’m all yours, sweetheart. I’d move in in a heartbeat.”

Steve lifted his head to look Eddie in the eyes. “You mean that?”

Eddie kissed him gently. “Yeah, Stevie. People will probably tell us to slow down, but I think we both know what we want and what we want is each other.”

Steve nodded and settled back down on Eddie’s shoulder.

They learned the sofa was pretty good for naps, too.

*

Once everything was the way he wanted it, he opened his house to the Party like he had his parents’ house. And suddenly it felt like home. Friday nights were for D&D. Saturdays were for movie nights. There was always someone passing through, raiding the kitchen, invading the sofa, and just filling the space with people.

Eddie and the rest of the older kids graduated. Robin and Nancy dragged Eddie and Jonathan through to the finish line. But finish they did. Argyle happily coasted like he always did, with a smile on his face and a 4.0 grade point average.

And then it was summer vacation and there were swim parties that didn’t make Nancy and him sad. The new pool didn’t even look like the old one, and suddenly Steve was back in the water like an otter.

“How do you not burn?” Eddie asked after another successful pool party. He was counting the freckles on Steve’s back as they lay in Steve’s bed.

“Just lucky, I guess,” Steve murmured happily. “We can’t all have strikingly beautiful porcelain skin like yours.”

Eddie kissed the spot between the shoulder blades. “So I’ve been talking to Uncle Wayne...”

Steve hummed. “What about?”

“Me moving in here with you,” Eddie said softly.

It took every ounce of strength Steve had not to jump up and look Eddie in the eye. He wanted to see what his boyfriend’s face looked like, but he knew he had picked this moment deliberately. “What did he say?”

“He likes the idea, actually,” Eddie murmured against Steve’s skin, mouthing kisses along his spine.

Steve was struggling to concentrate on Eddie’s words and not the other thing his mouth was doing.

“When are you moving in then?” Steve asked, as desire pooled deep in his belly.

Eddie got to the tailbone and gripped Steve’s hips tightly. “He thinks we should wait until the six month mark at the very least.”

“So when the kids start up school again?” Steve asked, voice strained, trying not to buck his hips. Steve had kept to his six week rule with an iron will, but even after that they hadn’t really done much besides making out on the sofa.

This was charged and fuck if it didn’t feel amazing.

“Sounds perfect, sweetheart,” Eddie whispered against the elastic band of Steve’s shorts.

Steve couldn’t take it anymore and lifted his hips, allowing Eddie to remove them.

“So beautiful...” Eddie murmured. He stood up and removed his clothes. He settled back down, straddling Steve’s hips.

Steve gripped his pillow tight as Eddie nibbled on his ear and neck. “Eddie...”

“I’m going to make you feel sooo good, sweetheart.”

*

Finally it was move in day. Steve had a special surprised planned for Eddie. He had gotten Wayne and Dustin to pack up all of Eddie’s things and had them bring them over to his house. And then he carefully arranged Eddie’s things so that they melded with his own. He would let Eddie change things up later if he wanted to. This was just to help Eddie deal with the move.

They had talked about it before hand. Steve asked which would be easier for him, to do all the packing himself and bring it over or to have someone he trusted to do it for him so that he could just come home and have it already for him.

Eddie took a couple of weeks deciding before he opted for the latter. He knew he would get distracted by all the memories and trinkets, it would never get done. And he didn’t want to do that to Steve.

But all Eddie knew was that at some point Steve would have all things and he would be living there instead of at Wayne’s. He would still have some of this things there, especially his bed, but everything else would be at theirs.

It was their six month dating anniversary which Eddie wasn’t sure they should celebrate because the point of anniversary is that they happened annually…but Steve managed to convince him that it was special because it meant that they had survived. That they both had.

Eddie walked in the front door and sighed happily. He could smell Steve cooking in the kitchen and followed his nose. The new kitchen already looked better then the old Harrington place, but once Steve had put his spin on it, it became homey. Eddie loved it. Even better, Wayne and Claudia the two home cooks loved it and that made Steve beam with pride.

Eddie wrapped his arms around Steve’s waist and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Hey, babe. Whatcha making?”

Steve grinned and twisted so he could kiss Eddie properly. “Manicotti.”

Eddie hummed happily. “My favorite.”

“I know,” Steve said fondly. “You want to get the wine out the fridge?”

He nodded and went to go grab it, unwinding reluctantly from Steve’s side. Then he popped the cork and began setting the table.

They sat down to eat and chatted happily about their day.

When they were almost done, Eddie poked around the last bit of his food.

“What’s up, sunshine?” Steve asked, as he poured the rest of the wine into their glasses.

“I didn’t think you would ever be able to top how we got together,” Eddie said. “I mean, how do you top drinks with Ozzy and a signed guitar by all of Metallica?”

Steve smiled. “Yeah? So how did I do?”

“This is honestly better,” Eddie said. “That was great. Of course it was. But this is us. The two of us, enjoying a home cooked meal together, and I know you have a great evening planned. You became the best of me, sweetheart. I love you.”

Steve pressed their lips together and hummed contentedly. “You’re right, I do have a great evening planned, so let’s get to it.”

They watched movies until late and then Steve lead him to the bedroom, a bandanna around Eddie’s eyes.

Steve took his hand and gently pulled him into the room and pulled the bandanna off. Eddie gasped to see how the room was decorated with both of their things and that despite their different tastes it blended together really well.

“Stevie!” Eddie breathed. He turned around and gave Steve a big kiss on his lips. “It’s perfect.”

“Just like you, sunshine.”

“I never thought I would have this,” Eddie murmured. “I never thought I would actually graduate. I never thought I would have a boyfriend who adored me as much as I adored him. I never that I would have people who accepted me for who I was. And I have all that with you.”

“I feel the same, Eds,” Steve whispered. “You have no idea. I told Nancy I wanted a Winnebago and six kids, but I realized that that was what my parents wanted for me. Not what actually wanted. I have a lot of kids. Dustin, Will, Mike, Lucas, Erica, El, and Max are all my kids. And the day most of them graduate from high school, we’ll all pile into that Winnebago and travel to the ocean. Although, we might need two.”

Eddie laughed. “That sounds amazing, Steve.”

Steve smiled back. “Doesn’t it just?”

***

Tag List:

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#My writing #stranger things #steddie #season 4 fix it #ladykailtiha writes

[andorerso]

Hi! I'm taking an opportunity you presented and I'm asking for more of your story: let the cat out of the bag. I adore it and would like more of it!

A sequel to this AU with some more adventures of Mimi the Cat! Thanks for the prompt, I hope you like this <3

Summary: Five months after they started dating, Jyn gets cold feet and tries to run from her feelings. Naturally, Mimi is not happy about this.

OR, how Mimi saves this relationship for the second time.

Jyn has prepared a little box with all of Cassian’s things she could find: a pair of socks, two shirts, a toothbrush, a razor, shaving cream, his favorite shampoo, one of his cookbooks… She didn’t realize how much stuff he’d kept at her place, growing roots in her home the same way he’d sneaked into her life. Slowly, steadily, subtly. And so thoroughly, she doesn’t know how to cut him out.

She hesitates when it comes to the blue shirt she loved to sleep in, running her fingers across the soft material like it was his skin.

A clean break would be better, right? No need to torture herself with old memories. This would be hard as it is…

Jyn puts the shirt in the box and slams the lid shut. It sits on the living room table all day, taunting her, while Mimi squats under the couch, unwilling to even look in her direction.

Fair enough. She doesn’t really want to look at herself either right now.

Cassian is stopping by soon to collect his things, and then it’ll be over.

She shouldn’t complain. She’s the one who ended things after all. Still, the finality of it squeezes her lungs so tight that she has to stop and remember to breathe. They dated only for five months; it shouldn’t feel like this. He shouldn’t be such an integral part of her that she can’t go on without him. It was meant to be just some harmless fun. But she’d underestimated how much this would hurt.

Seeing Cassian on her doorstep doesn’t help. The face that once put a smile on her lips now makes her want to curl up in a ball and cry while she eats ice cream out of a box like those women in romantic comedies during the second act fallout.

Except this is no movie. She doesn’t expect a grand reunion at the end of all this.

Jyn leads him to the living room, ignoring the memories of all the times she’s done that only to grab him by the collar and pull him down on the couch to fool around. It’s more or less how their first kiss went, right on that couch with half a dozen notebooks open in front of them and forgotten for the night as her legs wrapped around him and his hands slid under her shirt.

Then, a couple of months of unattached sex, or so they had said until Mimi had meddled in her own strange, brilliant way and made them admit their feelings for each other. And so they’d begun dating, five months of bliss Jyn had never experienced before. Not perfect, no, but imperfect in a way that was just right.

Oh, she remembers thinking one night as she played with Cassian’s hair while he slumbered peacefully next to her. So this is what people write all those poems about.

Looking back now, that realization might have been the beginning of the end. Because this is what she does, she runs. When things get too real, she cuts the cord and disappears. Leaves behind a string of broken hearts, but none of them her own.

Except this time, it feels more like she severed her own hand rather than whatever cord tied them together. Cassian left, but the cord stretched taut and continued to tug her towards him while she slowly bled out from her self-inflicted wound.

Now here they are. All those months, and they can barely stand to look at each other. Pathetic.

A scratching sound interrupts her train of thought as Mimi finally pulls herself out from under the couch. Of course she would, now that he’s here. Little traitor.

With a single, drawn-out meow, she runs to Cassian and greets him by rubbing her small body against his leg while she trots around him in circles. The twitch of his lips as he looks down at her is Jyn’s first glimpse behind the calm mask he donned.

Her heart squeezes. Damn it. He’s always loved her stupid cat to irrationality. Once, she joked that the real love story was not between her and Cassian, but between Mimi and Cassian. Cassian laughed and kissed her forehead while he continued to rub Mimi between her ears.

“It can be both,” he said.

Well, she’s effectively ended both as well.

Cassian leans down to stroke his hand against Mimi’s white fur a couple of times, a sight so familiar that Jyn has to dig her nails into her palm to keep her composure. The cord tugs harder but she digs her heels into the ground and refuses to budge. She can’t go back now.

Cassian doesn’t linger as long as he normally would. He straightens up, despite the displeased yowl Mimi lets out, and gives Jyn a look of apprehension.

She jerks her head towards the box on the table. “That’s all I could find.”

Her voice is strained with things she doesn’t want to admit. Like how much she’s missed him in just the week they’ve been separated, how she isn’t actually sure she’s making the right choice, how scared she is to never see him again…

What would he say if she told him all that?

Cassian picks up the box, ruffling through its contents. He has nothing to give back to her. They spent more time at her apartment because of Mimi, but the realization still gives her pause. Had she really been so closed off that she wouldn’t even bring over a toothbrush? Had she been holding him at arm’s length all this time without knowing it?

“Thanks.” He clears his throat as he closes the lid shut, gives her a fleeting glance. He’s unable to hold her gaze for too long. His face is smooth as marble, but the tension in his posture is obvious. “Well, I should just…” He trails off, gesturing towards the door.

“Right.”

Neither of them moves. They stand in awkward silence, waiting for the other to say something, fix things, be honest. But she can’t make her voice work. If that was so easy, she wouldn’t be here to begin with.

Cassian snaps out of it first. He turns away, heading for the door, and Jyn knows the window has closed. No takebacks now. She follows him with a heavy heart, watches silently as he pulls on his coat and prepares to walk out of her life. Will they go back to strangers now like they’d never known each other? Will he nod at her politely on the street or turn away with a frown? Will it still mean anything to him a year from now?

He pulls the door open, and Jyn loses her composure. “Cassian —”

Before she even finishes saying his name, he’s already stopped and turned to face her again. One hand on the doorknob, he waits, patiently, for her to speak. But with those dark eyes that miss nothing watching her, she loses her nerve again, and the words get stuck in her throat. Whatever those words even were.

Don’t go? I’m sorry? Can we talk about this?

As Jyn hesitates and Cassian waits, Mimi, who’s followed them to the foyer, slips between his legs and runs out the door.

“Shit!” Jyn takes off after her without a second thought, but the little devil is far too fast for her own good and is already sprinting down the stairs at the end of the hallway. “Mimi, stop!”

She can hear Cassian fumble with something in her apartment, but she doesn’t stop, taking stairs two at a time as she tries to catch up with Mimi.

It’s no use. By the time she reaches the ground floor, Mimi is nowhere to be seen, and the single mom from the second floor is blinking at her in surprise, holding the main door open.

“She just ran out, I didn’t see —”

Jyn doesn’t dignify that with a response, tearing out into the street and blinking helplessly at the busy neighborhood. It’s the typical picture: people rushing by on their phones, cars honking, drivers yelling, a baby crying in a stroller, a street musician on the other side playing his guitar… The noise feels oppressive.

Now what? She looks left, she looks right. Mimi could have gone in any direction. And with the amount of traffic they have in this area…

Her heart racing, Jyn takes deep breaths and tries not to panic. Too late. She’s not prepared to deal with this. Sure, she often jokes about Mimi being her heartless little devil cat, but it’s nothing but affectionate teasing. Mimi’s her baby and she can’t imagine her life without her. She’s never run away before; she isn’t an outdoor cat. If something happens… if they can’t find her…

Cassian arrives behind her, but Jyn’s still scanning the crowd, hoping to catch a flash of white fur.

“Is she gone?”

“I…” She can’t finish her words, a ball lodged in her throat.

Cassian grips her shoulders and turns her to face him, but she’s too distraught to even feel the burn of his touch.

“Hey, don’t panic. She must be nearby.” He sounds so sure, but Jyn knows he’s only trying to reassure her. Well, she’s gonna let him. Eyes locked on Cassian, she nods and tries to believe him.

Mimi couldn’t have gotten that far, right? She was just pissed at Jyn for sending Cassian away, a fact she’s already made clear in the past week. She was playing the part of an angry teenager running away from home to piss off her parents. Very dramatic. Very unnecessary. But she’d come back.

She has to.

“I locked your door,” Cassian continues, producing a key from his pocket that he hands to her. “Come on, I’ll help you look.”

“You don’t have to,” Jyn begins feebly, but nothing sounds worse than the thought of doing this on her own. Luckily, Cassian sees right through her bullshit. He sends her a look that says he isn’t willing to argue about this, and Jyn’s heart swells with appreciation.

“We’ll find her, I promise.”

xxx

The sun starts to set, casting the sky in pink and orange hues, and Mimi is still missing.

Jyn is beginning to lose hope of ever seeing her beloved cat again. More and more nefarious possibilities of what might have happened circle her like dark clouds before a storm, and she can’t push them down anymore. What if she was attacked by a dog, what if she was hit by a car, what if someone saw her, thought she was cute, and picked her up to take her home, what if what if what if

Cassian tries to keep her spirits high, but he’s fighting a losing battle.

“She’ll turn up,” he insists, always so determined, as they make their way back to her apartment building. “We can print some posters, post it on social media —” he goes on but Jyn doesn’t want to hear it.

It all begins to build in her chest; breaking up with Cassian, the shitty days at work, the sleepless nights, the endless cycle of repetition… Now this. She can’t lose Mimi too, she just can’t.

She doesn’t know how to survive without both of them.

“Stop!” Jyn bursts out just as they reach her apartment building, then buries her face in her hands. Cassian clams up, but she can feel his worried gaze boring into her. “Everything sucks!”

With that, she dramatically plops down on the front steps, removing her hands from her face to rub at her temples. Everything sucks is an understatement, but she doesn’t have the words to describe the heavy weight sitting on her chest. Tears prick at her eyes, and it takes all her energy to keep them at bay. Crying in public in front of your ex-boyfriend was not on the agenda today.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Cassian hesitating for a second before he joins her.

“You wanna go upstairs? Rest a little?”

“No.”

“Okay. How about those posters then? I can make them if you want.”

“I can make them myself!” she snaps, angrier than she should be.

“Okay. Do you want me to go then?”

“No.”

“Right.” Cassian clears his throat and falls silent. For a while, neither of them speaks as they stare out at the street while the night grows darker around them. Clearly, she’s sending mixed signals here. She should say something. Tell him that he can go, that he’s already done enough. She can handle it from here. But she isn’t sure she can. Selfishly, she doesn’t want to let him go yet — because then, she’ll be truly alone.

No cat, no boyfriend. Just Jyn in her all too empty apartment with nothing but her own thoughts to keep her company.

“Hey…” It’s Cassian’s gentle voice that pulls her back to the present and makes her realize those damn tears leaked from her eyes anyway. And now she can’t stop. She wipes at her face furiously, sniffing, but they keep falling, and when Cassian reaches for her hand and pulls her into his arms, she doesn’t fight it.

She buries her face in his shoulder and lets herself weep for a few seconds. Cassian’s arm circles around her waist, one hand rhythmically stroking her hair. He doesn’t say anything, but she’s glad, preferring his silent but solid presence over meaningless words of reassurance. It doesn’t erase the ache in her chest but calms her down long enough to stop sobbing and pull herself together.

“I’m sorry,” she says when she pulls away, wiping at her eyes. Despite their five-month-long relationship, it’s only the second time she let herself cry around him. She doesn’t think Cassian would judge her or make fun of it, but it’s hard to override two decades worth of self-preservation instincts. Don’t show weakness, don’t show vulnerability, don’t give them ammo to hurt you; it’s always been one of her most important rules.

But it’s also why she broke up with him, isn’t it? She’s never considered that you can’t build a relationship on mistrust because she’s never had any that mattered. Now she has to figure out if she could unlearn those habits and keep Cassian, or let him go for good.

“And not just for sniveling all over you,” Jyn continues, speaking slowly as she thinks about what she wants to tell him and how to say it. “I’m sorry for chasing you away. I was just… I was…”

“You got scared,” Cassian finishes for her, getting to the heart of the matter without preamble. Jyn’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. He lifts a shoulder, a quiet huff on his lips that almost sounds amused. “I know you. Better than you think. Better than you probably want me to.”

“I… That’s not true. I want you to know me.” She can understand how it might not seem that way, but it’s true. Deep in her heart, she wants nothing more than to be seen and understood by him. It’s just all that fear getting in the way, whispering cruel things in her ear and making her question herself. You’re not good enough for him. He doesn’t want you like you want him. He’s not going to stick around forever. It’s better to cut your losses now while you can. Leave him before he can leave you.

Her armor may have protected her for years, but it’s now become the number one enemy working against her.

“But if you knew,” Jyn begins, her mouth pulling into a frown, “why didn’t you say anything?”

Cassian’s gaze drops to his lap. “Jyn, I can’t force you to want to be with me. I can’t force you not to run. You have to figure that out for yourself. I thought… if you’re ready, you’ll come back.”

“And if I’m not?” she asks, a strange tremor in her voice.

“Then you’re not.” He looks up, and his dark brown eyes and long eyelashes mesmerize her for a second. He’s so close, so warm, so pretty; she has to ball her hands into fists to keep from reaching out. Touching him has become natural like breathing. She doesn’t know how to quit it, quit him.

Fuck, it’s not fair. How is she expected to think clearly when he’s watching her like that? Fantasizing about kissing him breathless is not a productive train of thought at the moment.

“I want to be with you, but it has to be your choice to come back.”

So maybe it’s hormones. Maybe it’s the way he looks at her, maybe it’s his smell, his warmth, his magnetism, maybe it’s that she doesn’t want to be stuck behind her castle walls anymore. Safe but alone.

Or maybe it’s the way she’s struggled to sleep at night, kept awake by the memory of their time together and how happy he’s made her, but she tells him, “I think I can try harder.”

“Jyn, is that Mimi?”

Jyn blinks, surprised by his response for a second. Then she remembers. She isn’t even sure Cassian heard what she said, but when she turns and finds Mimi strutting down the sidewalk towards them like nothing was amiss, all thoughts of their relationship issues escape her brain.

Gasping, Jyn shoots up and runs to snatch Mimi into her arms, hardly daring to believe it. She’s come back. She’s okay. A little dirty, and positively grumpy at being held like this, but otherwise unharmed.

Jyn’s almost lost all hope, and the relief that floods her chest now threatens to bring on another wave of tears. Biting down hard on her lip, she tightens her grip around Mimi and breathes in deeply. She’s cried enough today.

“Where have you been?” Jyn demands, but her voice is too high and shaky to sound scolding at all. “We’ve been looking all over for you, young lady!”

“Yeah.” Cassian comes to stand beside her, reaching out a hand to rub Mimi under her chin because, as Jyn knows from experience, he just can’t help it. “You scared us.”

Us, Jyn thinks, sending a small smile his way. A team.

Mimi lets out a belligerent meow and starts wiggling in Jyn’s arms. By the way she wags her tail, Jyn knows she’s getting annoyed at being held like this, but tough luck. She’s not letting go until they’re back safe and sound in her apartment. That’s what you get when you run away from home and scare your parents half to death.

Readjusting her grip on Mimi, she turns to Cassian and gives him a tiny, hopeful smile. “You wanna come up for dinner? We can talk some more.”

“That depends.” His eyes sparkle with playfulness. “Are you cooking?”

Jyn lets a bark of laughter. “I can be convinced to leave the task to you.”

“In that case, I’m right behind you.”

As he always has been.

Hiding her smile, Jyn turns and leads the way back to her apartment. She’s taken the leap, she’s chosen to fight, and she’s never been one to back down from a challenge. So screw the insidious voices whispering in her ear; she’s not going to let them win and cost her something important.

She has her cat, and she has her almost-boyfriend, and she’s ready to give this another shot.

#replies #anonymous #rebelcaptain #my fics #therebelcaptainnetwork #dailyrebelcaptain #mimi the cat #rogue one #mimi deserves a damn gold medal #she's basically their relationship therapist #she's not gonna be a child of divorce not on her watch

[vgperson]

What Did I Do In 2022?

Game Translations That Aren't YTTD: 1. Okay, maybe 1.5.

----

First of all, while I didn't add it until later in the year (not entirely unmotivated by the Stability of Platforms), my site now has an RSS feed for notable updates of any kind! I mention this upfront because I'm mostly just going over the things that are already listed there. It currently retroactively covers everything back to 2020, but I might add more past stuff over time so it can better serve as a general "everything I've ever done" page.

In February, I translated Kenshi Yonezu's POP SONG (and an interview). Noel The Mortal Fate Seasons 1-7 also got a revamped version on consoles (Switch, PS4); the console versions include a new Season 3.5 translated entirely by me, and the rest of the seasons have a revised script which is more thoroughly edited by me than even the redone Steam translation was.

In March, the update adding Kai to Your Time To Shine came out. Yes, he is Kai.

In April, I finally finished up my unofficial Japanese translation patch for Petal Crash. たのしいね、クラッシュ！ It actually just got some extra attention after the Petal Crash run for RTA In Japan about two days ago, which is kind of wild. Is this what it's like to be famous...? (clueless)

In May, I translated Kenshi Yonezu's Shin Ultraman theme song M87 (interview, interview), and the coupling song from the single, ETA. And there was an article about the 10th anniversary of his debut!

Also in May, the Ib remake came out on Steam in English! Told you they'd contact me. It was later announced to be coming to Switch, scheduled for March 2023.

In August, Your Turn To Die was announced to be coming to Steam. It's planned for early 2023, but to be clear, it'll release first in Early Access still with no final part, though with some exclusive mini-episodes and character profile sheets. Apparently once that's out, the actual completion is estimated for 6 to 12 months later... but, you know. Estimates are hard.

In September, I put together a guide for and officially "released" my Custom Translation Engine plugin for RPG Maker MV, the one I made for the Ib remake, and back-implemented into Your Turn To Die shortly after I was contacted about it coming to Steam. It's fancy (in-game language switching!), convenient (minimal direct editing of code!), and you can use it for your own translation projects if you want!

In October... well, I didn't do anything new for it, but I'll take credit for The Witch's House MV coming to consoles. (Switch, PS4, Xbox) I also translated everyone's favorite Chainsaw Man opening KICK BACK, associated interviews, and the single's coupling song Y'all Should Be Ashamed.

Finally, in December, after lots of spending my time elsewhere and indecision about how I should go about returning to doing some dang free game translations, I concluded that what I'd really wanted to do all year was translate Uri's PEDESTAL.

I think some people latched onto specific parts of Uri's original explanation for why it wasn't being translated, such as the cultural aspects (I honestly winced at her blunt remark that the story was "no good at all"), but while Uri indeed had those doubts at the time of release, the only real reason it wasn't translated at the time is that I did a less-than-ideal rushed playthrough that slightly hurt my overall impression of its quality, and I felt too busy at the time to work on something with lots of text that was likely to be divisive. So similarly, me finally feeling up to it was the reason it did get translated. I probably should've come back to it quite a bit sooner (after I was made to give up a certain other translation, say), but as I alluded to in last year's post, I was self-conscious about "my big return to free game translations" being something that might not have wide appeal. Uh, glad to be past that, hopefully.

Oh, and ever since finishing PEDESTAL, I've been working on all sorts of overhauls to my site, but like... not the kind that actually majorly changes any part of the visible design and annoys people (and if something did change in an annoying way, it's probably accidental). Some of it's just better consideration of mobile browsing (stuff like images or tables sticking out of bounds at mobile resolutions), or making things more convenient for myself behind the scenes (did you know I made a program to add "br"s to every line of all lyrics content before considering I could just have the page code do that, and also better?).

Some more major observable changes include general renovations to the lyrics page (bigger font size, buttons that hide individual languages to aid in side-by-side comparison), and more convenient navigation of OSTER's tweets, such that I could actually imagine someone reading through them all the way from the start without it being too much of a hassle.

----

While I'm glad to be over the PEDESTAL hump, I don't... necessarily have any definite plans for upcoming free game translations. I mostly just have some stuff on a list that I may have to make myself check out soon enough. Also, Game Atsumaru (which you may know as The Site That Hosts YTTD's Japanese Version) is ending in June??? So uh, might have to accelerate checking out stuff on there, though I guess it depends on how many creators are able to migrate. (Nankidai does plan to put YTTD's Japanese browser version up somewhere else.)

As I mentioned, Your Turn To Die's Early Access release on Steam should be coming up early next year with those mini-episodes and character profiles, and the game might be completed within the year. No promises. I mean, I don't have anything to promise, it's not my game.

Speaking of my game... also no promises. But I'd really like to release one. We'll see what happens. There's also a different kind of original project I recently returned to trying to make real, which could come early in the year, but who knows. As should be apparent, I'm working on a lot of different fronts here, so I frequently feel bad about neglecting such-and-such type of creative work, which sometimes means nothing actually gets done and released. Ultimately, though, it's probably better to follow what I most feel like doing, rather than force focus on one thing and end up not actually getting much done.

Which is to say: hoping to finish something in the new year!

#vgperson

[iheartgod175]

Some Thoughts!

Man, I haven’t done a post like this in a while! But I figured I might as well before I work on one of my numerous WIPs XD

—So, I’ve been back on a Zula Patrol kick like you wouldn’t believe. Though that should be obvious with all the memes I’ve been making, haha! I promise this won’t become a Zula Patrol only blog, haha!

—I’ll be working on building my graphic design/editing skills so I can properly redesign my blogs ^^ You can expect a few graphics throughout the month! :)

—Chapter 4 of The Zula Patrol: Dreamscape Crusade Remastered is also coming along pretty nicely. I’ve been enjoying adding the layers of mystery and horror to the world that Multo ends up in. Oh, and a couple of new characters are making their appearance, too. And that’s all I’m going to say about the subject!

—I’ve also been steadily working on Love Language for the last couple of months. I thought FOR SURE that I’d be posting its first chapter by the end of the month, but life happened—not to mention that I keep coming up with MORE headcanons for Multo and Zeeter that I just have to write down and put in the story. XD Also, the story’s grown to the point where I had to break it up into FIVE chapters, now, with the fifth being the actual conclusion. This story’s been so fun to work on, and I hope you’ll all enjoy it when I finally publish it.

—That being said, I did have a few insecurities regarding the writing of Love Language. I wondered if anybody would actually read this story since 1. ZP isn’t a very well-known cartoon, and 2. Even for rarepair standards, Multo/Zeeter sure seems like it came out of left field. And for about a few weeks, I did leave it alone, out of worry that nobody would read it. But then I came across posts in my feed that said that it’s important to write the stories that you’d like to read, even if they don’t get any readership, because telling your story is what matters. I’ve dealt with this a lot since writing all of my stories, namely my Zula Patrol series. And while I struggle with it occasionally, I’m not going to let that whole “nobody will probably read this” mentality stop me from writing about these goofy aliens, and my favorite opposites-attract ship, of which I’m the sole captain.

—While I’ve been working on Blazin’ Trails content off and on, I’m having a deuce of a time trying to work on the final chapter of the original BT. I’ll literally sit down and open the document, looking for something to leap out at me and inspire me to work…but nothing’s working. And I really want to get things started with Blazin’ Trails Redux as well…*sigh*

—As for Super Why stuff, I’m looking forward to seeing the new shorts that are debuting next month! I got to see the first short, and it’s adorable. And I also can’t wait to see more of Power Paige in action! I just really hope that Woofster and Alpha Pig aren’t written out of the show :(

—Speaking of PBS Kids stuff…I kinda sorta got back into both WordGirl and Arthur. GOD, I feel old! And now, I’m half-tempted to have WG guest star in SRBA like Santiago will. The SRBA ‘verse? More like Into the Reader-verse, LOL XD

—Sodor Magic Crusaders MAY be getting an update in the near future. I thought about working on it for the first time in months, and I remembered that I only have a few episodes left until I can get to write the second season.

—Slowly but surely getting back into Honkai Impact 3rd. I still haven’t gotten a chance to watch the part 2 trailer, but it looks like it’s gonna be interesting!

—One thing’s for sure. Power Paige will definitely appear in the SRBA ‘verse. I just have to figure out what her backstory would be as well as her powers and what kind of fighting style she’d have. I know for sure it won’t be a sword—we already have four sword fighters in SRBA thus far (Super Why, Presto, Muse and Jackson).

—In Super Why news, I HAVE been working on the fifth chapter bit by bit, and I’d like to say that it’s about 65% finished. I don’t think it’ll be quite as long as the last update, but I don’t want to speak too soon ^^;

—I haven’t drawn anime in ages, not since I first started uploading on DeviantArt. And I admit, the pic that I’m going to post of Usagi isn’t the best..but you know what? Screw it! The only way I can improve is to practice, even if it’s wonky or incorrect! ^^

#hanna-barbera #the zula patrol #super why #sailor moon #pbs kids #ramblings

[seasaltcosmos]

i know some of the fandom may be getting discouraged by the lack of news, but i just want to write this and tell y’all that even if we have yet to get that big “RISE OF THE TMNT RETURNS FOR SEASON 3,” we’re still on that path and our efforts HAVE bore fruit.

1. there’s been more and more attention surrounding rise. youtubers are watching it and talking about how good it is. (one guy in particular who made a really bad video on it admitted he knows it’s bad and said he’ll be making a new one in the future.) saberspark in particular- one of the BIGGEST cartoon youtubers- has admitted to rewatching the show 4 times because he thinks it’s that good. nick itself hasn’t been ignoring rise like i thought they would. they’ve actually given it just as much attention as 2012 and 03, which i have to give props for.

2. shredder’s revenge’s dlc confirmed that it’ll include alt color schemes based on other iterations of the turtles. and one of those schemes is the ones from rise. it isn’t the “weird different tmnt that no one watched” anymore, it’s getting attention even from an officially licensed, highly praised video game.

3. the comics are being rereleased next month in ONE big book. i’m not an expert on comic counterparts, but i don’t think nick or idw would’ve gone out of their way to rerelease a comic for a show “on pause” years later.

4. remember that little “meet n greet raph and leo” event at a london convention back in spring? you’d think for stuff like that, they would resort to the typical 1987 general brand representation designs. but nope, the costumes were specifically rise of the tmnt. an OFFICIAL event, using designs from an iteration considered “obscure and dead?” i can’t believe i haven’t seen more people bring that up tbh

5. there’s been a HUGE influx of rise merch in china. on top of the movie being released in theaters, they’ve also done cross promotion with snack brands, a nickelodeon (wanna say exhibit or park, i don’t remember) having a full display of them alongside other big nick icons, a new MOBILE GAME. and if there’s anything i’ve learned from “first lgbt disney chara” memes, western media companies LOVE china money.

6. again- NICKELODEON has noticed all of the attention on rise. i can’t confirm that it means they’re discussing more seasons right now as i type this, but it still means that all the work we’ve been doing has been worth it and there’s still a reason to keep fighting. the most attention they’ve usually given their short-lived series was an intro upload to youtube and maybe a couple clips. but they’re acknowledging rise as just as much a part of the franchise as their other “””more successful””” iterations, even if there’s no confirmation of more seasons yet.

we’re not at the end goal yet, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t accomplished anything. the show has been getting the attention it deserves. and we shouldn’t take all these little achievements for granted, because they’ll go a LONG way as long as we don’t give up. every art piece, every addition to the tags, every positive mention of the show gets more eyes on it. so don’t give up, keep fighting, don’t burn yourselves out, and let’s save rise of the tmnt! :D

#rise of the tmnt #save rottmnt #save rise of the tmnt #save rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt season 3 #unpause rise of the tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles

[thethistlegirlwrites]

Unconventional Medicine

“I hate cows.” Sierra looks down at her hands with a grimace.

“That’s what the gloves were for,” Shay says, holding them up. 

“It was a two month old calf!” Sierra says. “She was cute!” She sighs. “Until she dragged me ten feet through the pasture and tore my hands up.”

“You really don’t know when to let go.” Shay puts a hand on her shoulder. “Come on, let’s go back to the house and get those cleaned up and treated.”

“It’s not that bad. There’s not even blood,” Sierra objects. 

“You were complaining it hurt two minutes ago.”

“Well it’s going to hurt even more if you use that antiseptic from Abuela’s medicine cabinet on them.” She shrugs. “I’ll just wash them well and it’ll heal.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to mess around with these things. If they heal wrong it’ll curl your fingers right in on themselves.” Shay shakes his head. “Happened to guys on the docks sometimes. They’d hold onto a line too long or let a crate come down on the tackle too fast and the rope would cut through even a glove. Messed a couple guys up for life.”

“Okay, okay. Thanks for the scare tactics,” Sierra mutters, grimacing. “Can I at least take a shower first?” She gestures vaguely to the mud and other grime she doesn’t want to think about on her clothes.

“Probably a good idea. Gonna be hard to do with your hands wrapped,” Shay says. “Just try not to get that mess in the cuts.” 

“Ugh. Yeah.” Sierra frowns. This is going to be harder than she thought. She has no idea how Wren does anything. That woman is in a cast, brace, or has multiple bandages at pretty much any given time. 

Maybe fae have some sort of special injury management skill set, because Tio’s partner Robin is usually in the same situation. 

Whatever it is, Sierra certainly doesn’t have it. It’s hard enough getting the buttons on her shirt (that’s going straight into the trash, the elbows and back of the shoulders are shredded and besides, she’s pretty sure the dirt is ground in and would never come out) undone, let alone the thought of handling soap and trying to work her hands through her hair to get out the dirt and straw and debris that got tangled up in it.

This is just not happening.

She knocks on the door, knowing Shay is waiting outside for her to be done and ready for her hands to be cleaned and bandaged.

He opens the door and frowns, probably at the mud still streaked on her face and caked in her braid.

“I could use a little help,” She mutters.

Between asking for help stinging her pride and Abuela’s homemade soap stinging her hands, she’ll take the former. 

“You sure?” Shay asks, head tilted like a confused puppy.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t.” She raises an eyebrow. “Do you really think I’d be asking you to open the door when I’m standing here in my underwear if I didn’t think this was the best option?”

“Point taken.” He steps in and closes the door behind them, then turns on the water. “Is it the hair you need help with?” he asks, shrugging out of his own t-shirt and folding it up on the top of the laundry hamper.

“Mostly.” She shrugs. “If you can get some of the soap lathered on a washcloth I can do my face without too much trouble, but whatever Abuela puts in that stuff burns any cuts.” 

“Okay. That I can do.” He grabs a washcloth from the teetering stack on the small wall shelf, and the bar of soap hanging in a little string bag. Sierra steps into the shower, tilts her head back, and lets the water run down her face, until she feels the cloth touch her fingertips as Shay hands over the soapy material. Holding the washcloth with her fingers pressed together so it doesn’t touch her palms is awkward, but she can at least manage to scrub the dirt off her face and neck more or less effectively. She’ll worry about her arms when they worry about her hands. 

“Okay. Now the hair.”

She turns around so the water is hitting the back of her head, and feels Shay work the elastic out of the end of her braid and then start combing his fingers through the braid to loosen it. His hand hits a knotty spot, and she takes half a step back at the tug, shoulders bumping into his chest. His skin is cool, and she can’t quite help the little shudder at the odd sensation. It’s easy to forget vampires have no body heat of their own, until touching them reminds you of that fact.

“You okay?” He asks. 

She nods and blinks a few times, opening her eyes and hoping she did a good enough job rinsing the soap off her face. If she can see, she’ll have better balance. “Yeah. Just a snarl.”

She hears a brush clatter off the edge of the sink, and then feels it moving through her hair. He’s gentler than she is, and another shiver runs down her back, but this time at the sensation of a hand other than her own on her scalp. She can’t help it. Ever since she was a kid, every time her mom combed her wet hair, she’d have a weird little shudder in response. 

“Sorry my hands are cold,” Shay apologizes, clearly misinterpreting the source of the shiver. “I can hold them under the water for a bit if that helps.”

“No, we’re good.” Sierra says. She closes her eyes again as she hears the cap of the shampoo bottle click, and leans her head back so as much of the lather as possible avoids her face. Shay rubs the soap in deep, then runs fingers through her hair as he rinses it out again.

“You do anything else to it?”

“We share a shower in the apartment. Have you ever seen anything in it other than the bar soap and generic shampoo?”

“Just figured I’d ask.” He squeezes gently down the length of her hair and puts a hand on her shoulder to turn her around. “Okay, let’s do your arms.”

She grimaces. She wasn’t kidding about how much that soap stings.

Shay lathers another handful of soap from the string bag and rubs it along her forearms, cleaning away what’s left of the dirt and manure stains. When he turns her hands over, and the warm water hits the raw spots, Sierra hisses and jerks back slightly on instinct.

“Sorry.” 

“I’ll manage. Just give me a second to adjust to it.”

“I could lick it, that might help.”

“You know how weird it sounds when you say that, right?” Sierra asks.

“That’s why I do it.” He shrugs.

“You know, it’s kind of weird that ‘kiss it better’ is actually a real thing if it’s a vampire kissing you.”

“It won’t make it better, the saliva doesn’t heal you faster. It just numbs you.”

“You’ve been hanging around Pete too long if you’re that hung up on the details,” Sierra chuckles. “Ah what the hell, why not.” 

It feels really, really weird for the approximately ten seconds before the numbing agent kicks in. But it does make the ensuing cleaning, disinfecting, and then drying and bandaging of her palms a whole lot more bearable.

She’s shivering a little when he’s done, between the wet hair hanging down her back and her now soggy and clammy underwear. Shay wraps a towel around her shoulders and another around her hair, rubbing gently but briskly and very clearly trying to avoid touching her as much as possible. She appreciates it, but he’s got to be even more chilled than she is. His body just doesn’t show it the way a living one does. 

When he moves around to dry the front of her hair, she lets go of the towel she’s been clutching around her shoulders with her fingertips and wraps her arms around him instead. 

He is cold, and the weird lifelessness of his skin makes her shiver all over again, but she leans into him anyway.

“Okay, good enough. Now, both of us need to go get some dry clothes on.” She looks up at him. “And I’m pretty sure Abeula will make us her hot chocolate even if it is seventy degrees in the shade today. She just might never let us live it down.”

Shay smiles, water still dripping off the ends of his short faux-hawk and landing on her face. “That sounds like a good plan to me.”

(You can read this story and others from this universe on my WorldAnvil here!)

@catwingsathena @nade2308 @the-one-and-only-valkyrie @telltaleclerk @ettawritesnstudies  @writeouswriter

#febuwhump #febuwhump2024 #febuwhumpday5 #rope burns #lady whump - mild #tw: nonsexual nudity #or almost at least #sierra aguirre-stoker #shane barrett

[xpeachesncream]

Hi Nikki!

How are the Bands couple doing? Just re-read it, it’s one of my favorite stories ever, and I’ve been thinking about them ever since. I hope they’re doing well, and that Kai is happy too!

💜💜💜

hi there! hehe love the question!! they're doing well, very, very well! 😬💕 even kai! though he's experiencing a bit of a crisis—

drabble 6.5: kai opens up about his crush to jungkook.

word count: 911

warnings: none - just a cute ‘lil bonding moment 🥹

Jungkook gets home from the studio, tossing his eyes onto the counter before catching wind of Kai's bedroom door slightly ajar. Kai came home for the weekend last night, though he's been too quiet— according to Jungkook.

To you, he's fine.

He's probably tired.

He's got exams and stuff.

But Jungkook has an inkling that it could be way more than that, and he's going to find out today o’clock. Man to man.

"Kai?" Jungkook calls out before softly knocking on his door.

"Hey hyung." Kai says as he continues to play on his switch.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure." Jungkook pokes his head in and Kai greets him with a small smile before setting his switch aside. "Is my sister still out?"

"Yeah, she's getting her nails done right now." Jungkook chuckles a bit as he digs his hands into his pockets and sits next to him on the bed. "You doing okay?"

"Yeah, why?" Kai chuckles.

"Your sister said you're stressing over exams and stuff."

"Ah, kinda? You can say that."

"Exams, huh?" Jungkook gives him a look and Kai laughs a bit.

"Seriously, hyung."

"Who is she?"

"What do you mean?"

"I've been there before." The rosy tint grows on Kai's cheeks and suddenly, the room feels 10x hotter than before. His palms are sweaty, his heart is racing. He’s doing that weird thing where he thinks wiping his hands on his sweats will make the nervousness go away.

Yeah, Jungkook knows.

"Her name is Gabriella. Or, Gabby for short. She’s in my watercolor class.”

“How long has it been?”

“We just started getting close over the month. We had to work on a few class exercises together.”

“Cute.” Jungkook laughs a bit. “Why don’t you just ask her out?”

“Because I’m not like you, hyung. I just can’t go for it. I don’t even know if she likes me back, it’s hard to tell.”

“Well you never know if you don’t try, right?”

“Yeah, but to be honest, I’m scared. I like her a lot. She’s pretty, she’s sweet, and she gets along with everyone. I’ve been stressing over how I should tell her and ask her out, but I come up with nothing. Then, I think about how she’ll probably reject me and it’ll suck.”

“It’s scary and a big step. I know. But, the best way to go about it is to just be honest about your feelings. If it doesn’t work out, then fine. You guys can still be friends and move past it. One door closes, another opens. You can at least say you tried. I’d hate to see you regretting not telling her when it’s too late to change things.” Kai slowly nods his head before letting out a big, hefty sigh and laying back on his bed.

“This is stressful. God, I hate it.” Jungkook laughs.

“Yeah, but like I said. Be honest. Easiest way to handle things.”

“So, should I just show up at her door and be like ‘hey, I like you?’”

“I was thinking more along the lines of just taking her out for a casual lunch or dinner together. Hell, grab some snacks and milk tea or something and just spend some time hanging out near the river. It really doesn’t have to be that extravagant. What matters is you communicating your feelings and being able to talk about it comfortably. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it and things will flow how they should. No pressure, nothing forced.”

“You’re so good at this.” Jungkook shrugs and does a slight head tilt.

“Nah. Trust me, I’m probably learning the most now with your sister. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Good thing I just went for it, right?” Jungkook smirks, remembering how he flat out told you he wanted to take you out over Facetime while he was in Japan. Kai remembers it too, and how he endlessly teased you about the date. Now, you two have been the only real image and pure example of genuine love for Kai. Things aren’t always perfect, but Kai sees it as perfect— because you and Jungkook are always willing to be honest, communicate and meet in the middle. Never letting things pass for longer than they should, never going to bed mad at each other because of what the next day could bring.

Jungkook is right.

“You’re right. I should just tell her and stop overthinking.” Kai sits up and looks at him. “I should just go for it.”

“Before it’s too late and you can’t.”

“Thanks, hyung. Seriously. This really helped.”

“You’ll be good. You’re still young, you’ve got time and lots of experiences ahead of you. Besides, you’re handsome as hell, smart and selfless. Who would turn that down?” Kai laughs and nods.

“Got me there.” Jungkook stands, ready to leave Kai to his peace. “Thank you again.”

“I’ll always have your back.” Jungkook gives him a small smile. Just as he turns on his heel, Kai calls for him again—

“Oh, hyung?”

“Yo?” Jungkook turns over his shoulder.

“Can you.. not tell my sister right now? She’s gonna flip and I’ll never hear the end of it.” Jungkook chuckles.

“Yeah, sure. I won’t tell her. This should come from you anyway. But, do it whenever you feel comfortable and ready to, alright?”

“Alright.”

“Want me to make you a good bowl of Loco Moco to help ease your nerves?” Kai smiles.

“I’ll never turn that down.”

#xpeachesncream #anon 💌 #nikki writes: bands the series #bands series #jeon jungkook #jungkook #bands couple #bands drabbles

[zuuriell]

i felt like doing something so imma do this for the month! i’ll put all my answers below the cut because it’ll probably get quite long lol

1. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (aka POTS)

2. well, it’s pretty complicated 😭 i’ve had some symptoms for probably like a year, but around late april/early may this year i couldn’t even shower or stand up too long from how bad it got. the uk healthcare system is absolute shit though, so even tho i’ve been a&e multiple times and tried to explain how much it’s all been affecting me, i still don’t get to see a cardiologist until february 2024 :( but we’ve ruled out other options of what it could be, and my mum’s cardiologist friend agreed when i said i thought i had POTS, and my GP agrees, and my potsie friends agree so i’m kinda like unofficially diagnosed as of now?

3. relating to the last point, i am not officially diagnosed yet because of the slow asf NHS so yeah :,) but i mean to figure out what i was experiencing was POTS, it did take me like 8 months? but probably around 10 for me to accept the fact that i most likely have it too 😭 an official diagnosis unless i can rack up the money to go private is probably gonna take me like another year at this rate, but hopefully it won’t be that long

4. i have to pick just one? LOL uhh probably the blood pooling! it’s so annoying because especially when im out and about, i can’t be with my legs in the air 24/7 so it’s always bound to happen. compression socks help but only to an extent, and it stops me from doing so muchhhh :( it means that queueing for things and standing for more than a couple minutes is so so much harder, and if i have too much blood pooling in one day then my can legs ache for DAYS after that. it’s so painful and annoying and just aaghhh i hate it

5. on a regular day: i wake up, chug water which i leave by my bed for the mornings, get out of bed slowly and walk downstairs to make breakfast. i chug electrolytes and go for a short dog walk, then come home to do schoolwork and my family make lunch/dinner so i don’t have to stand around too long. i’ll make sure i get any chores done that i can, and i’ll try to chill in the evening

on a bad day/flareup: i wake up a lot later, have my electrolytes with water and only get out of bed when i need to. i’ll do schoolwork from my bed (if i feel well enough to concentrate), and have salty snacks rather than proper meals, unless my family make me anything. i stretch from bed to combat deconditioning, and if i feel decent enough i can have a bath

6. i don’t have access to any specific medication unfortunately, so i currently just manage with painkillers when my chronic pain is extra bitchy + anti-nausea meds when i feel sicky

7. salt sachets (the little ones you get at like mcdonald’s and stuff) to shove in my purse/pocket in case symptoms flare while i’m out, compression garments, electrolyte tablets, and a recliner bed so i can raise my legs more when resting

8. electrolyte drinks!! not the tablets though (i hate the taste of all the tablets except like 1 lol) - my fav is making electrolyte drinks from scratch! at the moment i really love iced lemon water with honey and salt. i also saw smth about this fancy coconut water drink to make so i may try that and it may become my favourite :0

9. salty crackers, salt and vinegar/ready salted crisps, mcdonalds fries (stfu i know these aren’t healthy but they’re my favs 😭), pretzels, nuts

+ my fav foods to dump a bunch of salt on: pasta, veggies and dips (SALTED CUCUMBER IS SO GOOD), pizza, chips, soup, risotto, probs almost anything i eat tbh

10. i’ve only got one pair but i love them so shoutout to my knee-length black compression socks <3

11. i don’t have any 🥲 i really wish i could have a cane or maybe even a rollator but my family make fun of me and i can’t afford one lolsies

12. i try to do some stretching in bed so that i can safely work against deconditioning, keeping very hydrated, trying to stay upstairs as much as possible so i don’t have to suffer my staircase, asking family to make food for me so i can save energy, taking pain meds when needed, having a cold bath (if possible), trying to keep preoccupied with work if i can, but if not i’ll watch movies on my ipad and stuff

fun fact: i wrote this on a flare LOL so oddly fitting and now i’ve already made myself a plan for the next few days!

13. the thing that’s helped me most is accepting that something is wrong and remembering to listen to my body. going through life pretending that i’m perfectly abled and don’t have anything wrong causes much more harm to me than letting myself rest a few days. it definitely isn’t easy though - i still find myself getting stressed over work deadlines don’t get me wrong, but i’d like to think i’m getting better at adapting to things and noticing when a flare is coming on so i can be prepared to take the time for my body to rest.

14. chairs are your best friends now. i steal the chairs/stools from the kitchen table whenever i’m doing chores standing up for more than 30 seconds. compression socks also help! OOH and if you’re using hot water/heated stuff and struggle with temperature dysreg, i usually grab myself a cup of ice to munch on or an icepack to hold on my chest so that i don’t overheat :)

15. i’m afraid i don’t have much input for this as i left school for health reasons 😭 but i suppose keeping hydrated, getting accommodations such as not too many stairs + being allowed to take more days off to rest for flares, compression gear where possible, staying high on sodium + electrolytes, and extended deadlines would be good!

16. i’m gonna sound so silly for this but i love rewatching my comfort stuff. i’ve got my fav youtubers + fav films/series all compiled in a list, and i spin a wheel to decide which one i’m gonna watch! other activities i enjoy though are reading, playing video games, doing goofy quizzes online, chatting with friends, and going on pinterest sprees!

17. leading on from the last prompt, my fav is a marvel movie - tbh all of them bring me so much comfort but my favs are avengers, black widow, loki and any of the thor films <3

18. my main support system is my wonderful boyfriend, kurtis @agere-tomhiddleston-imagines 💚💛 he’s helped me through so much and he’s so supportive of me no matter what, and i love him dearly for that (and how awesome he is in general ofc) <3 other than that, my parents are semi-supportive! they still get things wrong sometimes but overall they’ll help if i need things and they handle all the shitty healthcare workers for me so i truly appreciate them for that 😭🙏 ooh and definitely just the general online community of chronically ill people/potsies!! i love y’all so much 🫶

19. okay i don’t know if this counts because she was an orthodontist rather than a doctor/nurse, but when discussing me getting braces she asked about my medical history and i explained it all but said i haven’t been diagnosed so i understand if she can’t accommodate me. then she said to me, “hun.. just because you don’t have a piece of paper with a few words on it, doesn’t mean you aren’t ill. if you’ve got symptoms but no confirmed cause, you’ve still got the symptoms, and i’m not gonna ignore those unless you want me to” - the validation was so relieving after years of fighting for doctors to listen to me and believe me :,) ❤️

(i’ll update this throughout the month! <3)

#vitassium challenge #potsawareness #chronically ill #dysautonomia #potsie #spoonie #chronic illness #pots syndrome #disabled

[freezing-kaiju]

Will you send your sea angels?

Biotober prompt 11: Abyssal

warnings: body horror, brief mention of self-mutilation, religion, thallassal horror, transhumanism or perhaps dehumanization.

---

It’s as clear as the day is long; I don’t belong down here.

 I found out that the second sub was gone today, it’s long since been gone, and I can’t launch it alone anyway. The stuff I found...Jenkins’s watch, Rhys’s horrible little brand of hairgel, Schumacher’s chair, right where everyone leaves everything. Their spare stashes of underwear, too; not much fits, but I’ve made do.

There will be energy still; generators bolted to the vents, gaining and maintaining power for so long as they keep running. Desalination plants, that give me water enough to bathe in and drink, all without my maintenance. I can adjust them, I can make demands, but...

I sit on my heels and I pray for rescue.

---

I sit on my heels as I pray for rescue. I’m getting paler every day; when they haul me up I’ll probably burst into flames from the sun. Swear I can see my veins sometimes. It feels like there’s people out there sometimes. Wish I could just slap on a wetsuit and head out there, but the pressure wouldn’t do me any favors. I’m staying active instead, running sprints, trying to remember what stretches help. Calisthenics, right? Is that what it’s called? Keeping my everything in… in shape. The protein powder’ll help too! Maybe Chase’ll think it’s sick when I show up just completely roided up. Mr. Mechanic, I need to get jacked. Hulk Hogan type body.

Good lord, I’ll never get American Made out of my head now…

Maybe I should try writing my own.

What was that Sherlock Holmes thing, learning new things that aren’t essential shoves old things out of the mind? I forgot my phone number today. Finally remembered which doors lead to the chemical storage straight from my room, though, so that has to be connected. 

---

I sit as I heal and I pray for rescue. No fat to make soap; I've cut off all I care to of my own. The water will do. It’s done enough, it’ll do more, but somehow it got a little sweet. It’s enough. My food’s getting low enough to carry all together, the sixth month has to be up sooner than later. That’s good though! As long as I ration it properly, I can make it two more months.  Exercise’s paying off; I found a spare propeller in one of the crawlspaces earlier and, wouldn’t you know, it’s light enough to use as a baton! I...do need to be careful, though. Scarred the ceiling a couple times. If enough damage happens, the air’ll all get out, and the facility’ll become one big water damage souffle. All the salt’ll kill my plants too.

Humans go insane without plants, so really, I’m lucky I’m alone here. Rhys’d kill the whole crop and put his head through the window by the end of week 1. 

-- 

I sit and this heals and I pray for rescue. I tried drinking the hair gel and, honestly, it helped. I feel crisper. Sleeker! Like a cat. I can get a cat someday, can’t I? It kind of feels like there’s some of them outside. I swear I can hear coyotes out there sometimes, yowling in groups of three that prance around the station. Sometimes, I can see them. But I can cover the portholes and keep them away. It’s not like any light’s getting through anyway. 

---

I sit, and I heel, and I prey for rescue.

---

And I pray, and prey, and pray, and prey, because God will feed me soon. My family will come and feed me soon. I can almost see them out there, in a tin can just like my own, reaching out for me. I wish I knew what it’ll look like. I should greet them. I should swim out and greet them. 

Fuck, I wish I could swim out. When they pull me out of this, I’ll have to go through decompression, and...hell, I’ll be grateful. The pressure down here gets so bad I can barely walk anymore. That’s why nobody’s found me, it has to be, I’m just so close to the earth’s core that gravity’s pulling me down. It’s useful for praying, though. My legs don’t get numb anymore. 

Is god feeding me?

---

I... I looked in the mirror today. I...

My eyes are gone.

---

I’m still human, aren’t I? I....

Something happened to me. Something...happened...to me, but.

But I tried it out. It’s been forever since I spoke to someone else but I can still sing my prayers. So I tried it. Went...went back to a mirror and looked at.

Myself. 

I can still speak.

Hey, how are you, my name is Janet, I’m a human being, just like you. I was left here. Something happened to me. I’m doing alright but I’d like to try...a cupcake. Some apples. Anything edible that wasn’t meat. I... these teeth, the teeth I have left are-- no, looking closely, my molars are still there, it’s just that the front ones got...longer... I. Those....weren’t my hands, though. 

I... I don’t think I want to look in the mirror anymore.

But if I can speak! I can shout, even, I can still manage a great big HIIII HELLOOOO NICE TO SEE YOUUU that echoes through the whole station! So they won’t shoot me! I’ll just...stay a bit away from the front door, and greet them, and ask that they don’t shoot me, and say my name and maybe some identifying characteristics. Like...like cheating at the mile run in the third grade and crying to my parents about it. 

If they do bring guns... I don’t think I can run anymore.

So...so, I kneel, and pray, that they’ll bring me home.

#thallassal horror #body horror #halloween #mutation #deep sea #biotober #creative writing #writers on tumblr #writing #ocean horror #my writing

[justxrandomxlivia]

We won't let you fall again!

Masterlist

Summary: Your day started with oversleeping and ended with an Iraqi lieutenant and an American lieutenant holding your hands? Who would have thought that falling into an ancient temple you've been searching for months would change your entire life?

Warning Sign: Mention of weapons. That's all. No monsters in this story, just an ancient temple and two countries that hate each other.

Word count: 3910 o.O

AN: JASON AND SALIM! Two men I couldn't decide between. I know I'm not the only one, so here you get two wholesome men. I'm struggling with the idea to continue the story in a second chapter, or writing just a little more extended, more romantic/smut ending. I will see if you guys want me to or not ;)

“Ah it’s going to be colder today. Finally.” Mumbling with a sleepy voice, I rolled over in my bed. It’s not comfortable, but It’ll do. Slowly rising from my deep slumber, I realised that the sun was quite high already. “What time it is?!!” I yelled and jumped off the bed, checking my phone. “2 pm? You must be kidding. Why did nobody wake me?” I ran over to my stuff and got dressed quickly, then I left the bedroom. Meeting the owners of the house. “Good morning.” I said while hustling to get my shoes on. The oldest man laughed: “No morning. After noon.” I looked him, he pointed to the table, where was some coffee and bread on a plate. Letting my shoulders drop, I smiled at him. They are all so overly kind, if I would just be better in learning their language. I sighed and took my one shoe off again, then I sat down and thanked him. We are supposed to pay them 20$ the week. But my team and I decided to pay them 50$ per week each. What Is a lot of money for them. And for their kids. It’s never a bad thing to give more. After I was done with my little breakfast, I suddenly heard helicopters. Two I would say. I know the risks, Iraq and the USA are still on a warpath, but this area here should be fine. It’s quite isolated. There is a small town in the near, with some market for local farmers. Nothing to get for the US.

I got my plate cleaned and got back to the main door, taking my shoes on, grabbing my bag and left the house, just to found myself surrounded by soldiers. They were pointing machine guns at me and yelled at me. The helicopters were right above me, then flying into the distance a little bit. My legs got shaky, and I couldn’t say anything, I got on the ground and one man tied my arms, then he led me back into the house. He pushed me down next to few of the house owners. A couple of minutes passed before a woman, wearing sunglasses entered the room, behind her was a man: “Everything clear, ma’am. No violence needed either.” He’s American. From the south I would even say Deep, long, slow words, with an immense rolled sound, must be the south.

The woman kneeled next to the shepherds and talked to them one by one, in Arabic. They answered her one by one, and her face grew more and more annoyed. She then kneeled in front of me: “What about her? Doesn’t look Iraqi to me.” She said and the man briefed her: “She was about to leave the house, hat a bag with many notebooks and various archaeologic books. All English.” She nodded at his words and spoke. “Then I’m sure you understand me girl?” I shook my head and raised an eyebrow: “It’s called racism. Saying somebody doesn’t look like a certain nationality. Girl.” I huffed at her. Her eyes grew big and the man behind her, tried clearly not to laugh. She then looks at the man behind her, “You said books in her bag. A passport too?” he only shook his head in response. “My passport is in my pocket.” I told her and she stood up. “Check her lieutenant.” She told the man, and he put his gun aside, walking to me.

He then pulled me up and patted me down. As he found my passport he chuckled, “British.” He gave the passport to the women. “What’s your business with the house owners?” She asked. I looked her dead in the eyes. “I’m an archaeologist. My team and I stay here, because the location where we work is only couple of miles from here.” She sighed at my response. “This is a waste, those are just shepherds, the activity he was seen, must have been you then. What was Eric thinking. Untie her lieutenant. Sergeant, untie the shepherds.” She said waving at another man and left the room. - “Thanks.” I said as the man untied me.

“So, your name is y/n? That’s a pretty name for a pretty girl.” The lieutenant said as he walked me to the main door. “First, thanks, but second, I’m not a girl, I’m a 29 years old women.” – “Guess I messed up already. No date then?” he stopped and looked back at me. I giggled at him. “Well maybe, mister military, you can come visit me sometimes when I’m back home. But it’s quite a long way from the USA to London.” I gave him a light nudge at the shoulder, without a warning he came two or even three steps closer, looking into my eyes. “To visit a beautiful woman like you, there is no way to far.” He whispered at me. With that he opened the door and signed me to go through. I stepped outside and searched for a little card in my bag. “Here, Lieutenant. Call me.” I offered him a business card, with a big smile, he took it. “University of Oxford. My luck, by the way, It’s Jason. Have a nice day ma’am.” He said waving me off. I waved back and walked to my car.

As I just turned away from Jason, shots fired. “Fuck!” I yelled and jumped in cover of my car. Then all I could realise, was chaos. Shots, bombs, crashing helicopters, yelling and screaming people. I tried to get around the car to hide near the old stable buildings, when suddenly the floor collapsed. “y/n!” Jason yelled from my left as I looked at him, I felt how everything underneath is breaking apart. “NO!” I tried to jump away, but almost lost balance, when a strong hand gabbed my arm and pulled me back up. A man with an Iraq uniform pulled me up “Go this way!” he pointed to the mountains, I didn’t care who he was, he saved me and I started running again, just then. I fell again. And this time for good. Everything turned black.

As I opened my eyes, I felt a sharp pain in my whole body. I looked around and realised right away where I was. “Holy shit. Found it!” I jumped up, just to regret it right away, as my body felt like broken. Stretching and checking for any wounds, I was shocked how lucky I got. A few scratches and bruises. But nothing serious. Then I took my bag and checked for my camera. Still working, great. I took photos of the immense pillars, old statues and Jason. Wait, Jason? “JASON!?” I yelled. – “Y/n! Are you alright?” out of nowhere, Jason appeared and came right away to me. He checked me left, right, up and down. I tried to calm him down, but he seemed nervous. “Jason, I’m fine, really.” – “No, maybe you have some injuries we don’t see right away.” – “Jason, I’m serious!” I yelled at him and pulled him by the shoulders. “I’m just a little cold. But it’s alright.” I tried my best to convince him that I was fine. He let out a deep sigh, and eventually calmed down. “I don’t have anything to warm you up. I could hug you, but that wouldn’t last long.” He smiled at me concerned, but I nudged him at the shoulder, “Yeah yeah, you just want some physical contact. Let’s check if somebody needs help.” He nodded at me and followed me through the darkness.

After quite some time striving through the darkness and me taking pictures from almost everything. We heard a male voice from behind “Put that gun down and turn slowly around.” I didn’t hesitate and lifted my arms up and turned around. “It’s you!” I said, looking at the Iraq soldier who saved me the first time I was falling. He smiled relieved at me, and I took my arms down again “You saved me, thank you.” I said, but then I realised Jason had turned around, but he had his gun aimed tight. “Don’t do anything stupid, boy.” The man said to Jason. “I can say the same to you, old man.” Jason hissed back. I took a deep breath and moved slowly between the two guns. “No one is shooting anyone, if I am here. Please.” My words were trembling. Not sure if I would make it out alive of here. The Iraq soldier lowered his gun and put it back into the holster. “I don’t want to spill anymore blood.” He spoke slowly, approaching me carefully, “You look like you are cold.” He said and took his jacket off.

“Don’t you fucking go any step closer to her. Y/n, get behind me, now!” Jason yelled, slowly approaching me as well, just that he had his damn gun still aimed. “Jason, stop it.” I said, placing my hand on top of his gun, slowly pushing it down. “I trust him. He saved me, not even knowing who I am.” – “I don’t.” Jason cut me off. The man lifted his arms, in one hand holding his jacket. “I know who you are. Your name is y/n l/n. You are an archaeologist. My son, Zain, has been running around your research area, every day for the last two weeks. He talked about you a lot.” He spoke slowly handing his jacket over to me. I took it. “Thank you” I spoke quiet. “Yeah, I know Zain. He’s a smart boy. Wants me to take him back to England.” I giggled at him. “It’s his birthday today. My name is Salim.” He smiled at me. I can’t let Jason harm him. Technically seen, I know Salim. What am I supposed to tell his son. Sorry, your dad died, because he tried to give me his jacket. I shook my head, throwing the jacket over my shoulders, I looked at Jason once more. “Come on. He’s not the enemy.” Jason only looked at Salim, with distrust. Then Salim spoke to Jason, directly. “You want to get out of here, so do I. We must work together. Not shoot each other.”

Jason finally took the gun down. “I’ll keep an eye on you.” He said, pointing at Salim. I nudged Jason slightly against the shoulder. He will have bruise by the end of the day. Then we continued the way to find others. What felt like hours, were actually only a couple of minutes, but the fact that these two were arguing the whole time about military, racism, politics, terrorists and other stuff like lieutenant ranks, was killing every last nerve of me. As walked some ancient stairs up, I heard voices arguing. I pressed each of the two man a finger on the mouth, so they would finally shut up. Then pointed to the big door at the end of the stairs. Salim and Jason both, walked past me with aimed guns. I stayed behind and waited for a sign. It took too long for my taste, so I entered the room quietly and stood next to Salim. In the big room where machine guns, tables, radios, papers and more. It was the heart of this temple. An old archaeologist station. Just as I wanted to check the papers, Salim pulled me back. I looked at him and he looked at me, then around the room. As I followed his view, it was clear the situation was tense. Iraqi soldiers and Americans were with aimed guns standing against each other. Just Salim and Jason didn’t pick a side. “It’s a damn order Kolchek!” A blonde man yelled. “I don’t take orders 200 ft below the surface.” Was Jasons answer. What badass.

“Ehm, excuse me.” I spoke and walked a few steps in front of Jason and Salim. Both men grabbed me by my arms and wanted to pull me back. “I got this, don’t worry.” I spoke, they hesitated but let me go. I took around 3 steps more and spoke softly. “My name is y/n l/n. I’m an archaeologist. And a professor at the University of Oxford. I don’t have anything to do with both of your countries, and honestly not much knowledge about the current issues between you. But technically seen, you are on my research territory. I would really not like to call the local police, or clean your blood from ancient coins, so if you’d be so kind and do not fire a single bullet on MY ground. Would be so wonderful. Thank you.” I looked back and while Jason smiled amused, Salim was shaking his head. I ignored all military personal and made my way to the tables. 10 years of drama class is finally paying out, they have no idea I was terrified to the bones. One by one soldier eventually took their guns down and they made a hand sealed deal, to not shoot a bullet on or near my research territory.

It worked. Good job. As I checked the first papers, I realised, this is like heaven. I took more photos from everything. This time, again from Jason, but also from Salim. Both smiled at the camera. “Come on y/n. We have to get out of here for now.” Jason spoke as he followed the others. “What about all this then? This is the only reason I am in this country at all.” I asked frustrated. Jason chuckled, “You’ll come back. But now we need to go. It’s not safe.” I let out a sigh and started following them, as the most people left the sight, Salim, Jason and I were the last. They talked different this time, more like allies.

As we made it closer to the surface, I could see the sun finally again. It was warmer here than down back there. Different helicopters were heard, people yelling, dogs barking. They must be searching already. Ropes hang down and flashlights were blinding us. I tried to cover my eyes, what was not a good idea, so close next to an underground cliff. With a crack, the ground beneath me broke and I all felt was the heavy forces of gravity. “Y/n!” was the last thing I heard before the heavy impact on a sand pile.

First my back, then my face, then both hands and at last the back again. “Ouch, Fuck!” I cursed with an echo. As I opened my eyes, pain everywhere. Looking around and above, it was almost pitch black. I gave my bag to Jason earlier, so luckily my camera didn’t come down with me. But also, my flashlight was not with me. Slowly I tried to get used to the darkness and to see anything. I touched along the cliff where I have fallen from. I heard echoes, but it was inaudible, what means I’m either deaf or I’m very deep. Following the cliff to the right, it ended in water. With wet shoes, I turned around and walked to the left. My hands along the ice-cold stone, they slowly froze. Luckily, I have Salim’s jacket, my arms would be more bruised. I continued walking along the cliff as I felt that the ground got higher. I might could climb out of here. If the others think I’m dead? Trying to shake that thought away, I pushed myself the higher grounds up and felt how the light slowly came back to me. It seems my eyes were partially blind due to the fall. So, I might have not fallen that deep.

It feels like hours as I finally reached an open area where lights came from ahead. Still far away. To my bad, I started freezing again. This time, it felt more like I was freezing because I was alone. I sat down to the cold ground. “Why does every time go everything wrong. And why does nobody care for me.” I muffled beneath my breath and closed my eyes. “You really thought we wouldn’t care?” A southern accent ripped me out of my thoughts, I opened my eyes and saw Jason above me. “She’s here!” He yelled across the area; it echoed in the entire cave. Jason smiled at me and began stroking my face. Then Salim came from behind him. His face was a mess, a mix of horror, fear, worries, but happiness. “What are you doing here?” I whispered, not believing if I might hallucinate. Salim looked confused and Jason chuckled, then said: “What do you mean? We- ” Salim interrupted him: “We came for you.” At his words, my eyes started tearing up, but my mind was a mess of emotions, incapable to say anything.

Jason helped me up, then he lifted me on Salim’s back. “I’ll be behind you, so you can’t fall off.” Jason spoke softly, rubbing my back. Salim turned his head a little, “We won’t let you fall ever again. I promise.” He whispered to me. As they started climbing towards the surface I started to cry silently. How do I deserve them. My life was all the opposite of support, care and understanding. But these two give me the feeling I’m worthy to be alive. As if they really care. I just met them hours ago, but I have the unbelievable urge, to never let go of them. I wanted to thank them, but no word left my mouth. “We’ll be taking you to a hospital.” Jason said from behind us. I shook my head heavy. “No… They’ll maybe… send me home.” It was so exhausted. Salim spoke a little louder now, “But you need to rest Habibti. No arguing.” – “What you said?” I heard that word before, what I wasn’t sure what it meant. Salim chuckled, “It means ‘my love’.” He called me his love? Was he thinking the same about me as I was thinking about him? Or is this standard kindness in Iraq. Anyway, he was right. I feel more and more like I’m fainting; my body hurts bad. But I know I didn’t break any bones. 

After a while, we finally reached the exit to the surface. Salim let me down slowly, Jason helped, so I won’t fall. “I’m alright. You can stop pretending that every bone of mine is broken.” My voice was angry. I was a little frustrated, they acted as if I have been a small child. Jason took my chin in one hand and whispered. “We will not let go of you anymore, next time you fall, you might break your neck.” He was right, but still. A little less overprotection please. “Let’s get her out of here.” Salim tied a climbing rope around me, from above two people were standing. “Pull her up guys.” Jason yelled above. Then Jason and Salim started climbing themselves. “You know, I grew up in caves, temples, pyramids and castles. I know how to climb.” I crossed my hands in front of my chest and puffed my checks in protest, as they pulled me up slowly. “Y/n stop arguing. You have fallen very deep, you might pass out, let go of the rope and fall again.” Salim spoke concerned. “I promise you, once we made sure you are on solid ground and doctors gives their ok. You are free to do whatever you like.” He said, Jason cut him off. “Except going down here again. First this must secure. I guess the local police will do that?” I nodded at him. “Yes, they usually do. First, I just want to take a shower and then sleep.” Both men laughed and agreed.

Reaching the surface, the sun almost blinded me, then my heart stopped beating. The shepherd’s hut was in bad condition. Parts have fallen into the ground; few smaller buildings were destroyed from bombs and bullets. “The poor people. Their homes. This must have been the worst day of their life.” I sighed and sat on the ground to take in the information, my eyes gave me. Jason stood beside me and laid his hand on my head. “Sorry about that. We will find you another place to stay.” – “No.” I said, “I will of course stay here and help them where I can, just as my team will do, probably.” Then Salim kneeled next to me and laid a hand on my shoulder. “For now, the police have to secure the area.” He spoke softly. “You should come with me. To rest.” His warm smile was so beautiful. I look him in the eyes, ready to speak as Jason’s huffed so loud, few people around us were suddenly looking at him. I looked at him worried and saw how he frowned. “To your place? Yeah, sure.” He shook his head and turned to leave. Salim stood up, “I hoped you’d come with us as well, or maybe join us later, when you get a free from your duty.” As Salim spoke, Jason stopped.

“As if you would want me there. You want to have y/n all for yourself. I’m not blind!” he spoke loud and angry. But also, sad. He didn’t even turn around to face us directly. I got up from the ground and wanted to walk to him, but Salim stopped me. “And I am not blind either. I see how much you care. Just as I do. And I know, you and I care for each other, just as we did, when we worked together to get her back.” Salim was so calm, I doubt I could ever be mad at him, and it seems Jason thought the same. He turned around, his face eventually softer. But before he could speak, I took Salim’s hand and reached out for Jason as well. “How about that date we talked earlier, Marine. I think I owe you two some nice dinner? For getting me out there.” Jason smiled at my offer and took my hand. “Alright, alright, you got me all wrapped around your finger. So, where’s your place? I think I can’t join right away, but I’ll be there for dinner then.” His voice was finally as it was when we met earlier. Not that tense, not worried, just Jason. Salim chuckled and wrote a little note for Jason. He hugged me tight, before he had to return to his team.

Salim and I started walking to my car. “What a miracle that piece of junk didn’t went diving.” I said honestly surprised. Salim and I laughed at my really bad joke and got in the car. He drove, first to my research place, to inform the others about what happened. “They won’t believe it.” I sighed. “Not until they come back to the hut and see with their own eyes.” Salim said and gave me an assuring pat on my shoulder. I nodded, “Yeah, and I can’t wait to put my legs up, everything is sore.” I sighed again. He chuckled and brushed over my arm, “first, you need to take a shower. I will not let you get in my bed or couch that dirty.” I laughed and took his hand in mine. Holding hands, we made our way. I can’t wait to see Jason again. How can you fall for two people. I guess it’s because I have a very big heart. Maybe? Polyamorous it’s called. I’m not sure what future will hold, but I’m thankful for the moments I will have with the two. Every single second.

So what do you think? Second chapter? Or should i just extend the ending a bit? Or is it fine that way? Please let me know ^^

-Livana

#house of ashes #salim othman #jason kolchek #jason x salim #jason x salim x reader #jalim #jalim x reader #fem!reader #the dark pictures house of ashes #salim x reader #jason x reader

[queenofbaws]

these weeks just...just keep comin, huh??? like they don't stop or something ;P

another quick update from queenie hq: things are going to c o n t i n u e to be sporadic and strange on my end for the next couple weeks. i'm going to be hosting family, again, until roughly the end of the month, so alas, i'm not anticipating a ton of writing time. or relaxing time. or time where i'm not gritting my jaw and screaming internally. SUCH IS LIFE!

however, i'm totally psyched to report i fiiinally got to cross one long-running wip off my list (the tale(s) of the champion), and oooh the feeling of seeing a complete checkmark for that baby over on ao3 is fueling the fire for me to wrap some others up too ;P my plan for the time being is still to try and get out a chapter or two of like wringing blood in the near future, but i'm also going to be working on finally wrapping of mummy men & bathtub soup so i can open the door for other CREEPs projects. we shall see.

as always, i've thrown some snippets under the cut - strictly supermassive projects this time, hehe - and i hope you're all doing well <3

of mummy men & bathtub soup

“Uh huh. Look. I’m sure you guys have something hilarious planned for me tonight. Another A+ jumpscare courtesy of Washington Pictures, Inc. And I’m also sure that the more of this crap you get me to gobble up, the antsier all your cloak and daggers bullshit makes me, the funnier it’ll be when I fall into a swoon or whatever, but it’s not happening. Am I the brightest bulb in the lamp? No! I’m not! Am I the sort of moron who gets bit by a dog and tries to pet it a second time? Also no!”

Sam had barely started shaking her head when Fliss joined them, an unspoken question in her eyes. She latched onto her instead. “People keep talking about last night. I've heard someone mention weird stuff happening on at least three separate occasions already, so if anyone could give me just a little context, that would be so great.”

“Weird is…one way to put it,” Fliss said. “It’s not the word I would’ve picked. Freakish, maybe. Terrifying, definitely. It must’ve taken you guys forever to set that up! It was—”

“Oh no,” she breathed, dropping her head into her hands. Conrad almost expected her to sink into a nearby chair or go full-on crisscross-applesauce on the floor, so intense was her reaction. She didn’t: If anything, she set her shoulders and squared herself off, assuming the air of a battle-hardened soldier. “Okay. Okay. Okay. Listen to me. I know you think this is about you because you think everything’s about you, but I am telling you, it's not."

upcoming CREEPs project with a title that 100% spoils ALL the surprise of it and thus will not yet be included asdlkfjalskjfklsjdf

“Any word from our housetergeist?”

“Uh, not unless they suddenly share yours and Josh’s love of absolutely inscrutable inside jokes,” Ashley called back, equal measures relieved and disappointed to see the fridge decorated with the same message the guys had put up before their trip: DO THE BARTMAN. Rolling her eyes, she pulled the door open and rummaged around, making a happy little sound when she spotted what she’d wanted. “Hey,” she called again, “are you gonna be upset with me if I drink the last cream soda?”

“Josh might be!”

“I wasn’t asking about Josh, you dip! I was asking about you!”

“Oh. Then, yeah, heartbroken. I-I-I don’t know how I’ll survive! I might have to reassess this whole relationship thing. Honestly, I can’t believe you’d do something as heinous as drink the last cream soda! I thought I meant something to you!”

She grabbed the can and shut the door, groaning, “Ha ha,” before stopping cold.

The fridge magnets had moved.

a fic that started as a joke post but now has almost 40k words written for it

“Hey,” he said, giving the grate a hard shake. They all winced, pulling even farther away until they pretty much fell on top of each other. “Chill. They’re fuckin’ dead. Shit’s fine. Don’t be weird about it.”

Good deed done, he turned back around to rejoin the guys, and—fuck.

Right away, Bobby knew he didn’t like the way Chris was sizing them up. He didn’t know why he didn’t like it, he just knew it spelled trouble, one way or another.

Jack seemed to agree with him. “No,” he said long before Chris even opened his mouth. “Whatever it is you’re brewing in that snowglobe you call a skull, quit while you’re ahead. Or while you still have a head.”

“Your plan didn’t work.” For someone who usually stayed at base during their hunts on account of ‘not wanting to die the world’s stupidest death,’ Chris sure was sticking his finger awfully close to Jack’s face. That was biting range. And Jack could move quick when he wanted to. “Your plan worked even less,” he continued, moving that finger to Travis’s face instead, and Jesus Christ, that was worse!

Travis didn’t answer him. Not at first. He sucked his teeth, though. Stared at Chris’s finger. Probably thought about breaking it off if he didn’t get it out of his face. “If you don’t get that outta my face, I will break it off, so help me God.”

Yeah. Checked out.

#queenie writes supermassive #ya gurl is already exhausted and the fam hasn't even gotten here yet x_x #the past two weeks have been. so much funeral planning and let me tell you. i am not. looking forward. to the day itself lmfao #it's been. such a time over here y'all. #let me go back to sitting at the kids table i fucking hate being one of the grownups in charge of shit lmaoooooooooooooo

[sammeth]

Okay, I am very stupid and just noticed you already did a similar one where you date Gareth, so I guess make it after you've been dating for a long time, would he be comfortable with you and stuff like that. Again, sorry for requesting something already done!

don’t apologize it’s okay :)

writing for gender neutral reader !

to answer your question: (I think you’re insinuating smut? I’m not sure)

sfw

yes, he’d eventually be comfortable with you. it would take a lot of talking and getting to know each other first. in fact, he seems like the kind of guy to barely hug you until he’s sure that you’re safe.

eventually, you’ll get to a point where hugging is okay. after hugs, it turns into hugs and hand holding. hand holding starts out just when you’re alone, and then it slowly goes into around your friends too. he’s shy about touching in public, but at some point it’ll be okay every once in a while. hand-holding will turn into kisses on the cheek and the forehead. this one will take a long time to get comfortable with because it’s a little more intimate. first, they’re spaced out and quick. a little peck on the cheek, and a week later you’ll get a little peck on the forehead, and then 5 days later a cheek kiss, and then another forehead kiss in 2 days. about a month after he starts this process, it evolves into getting closer and closer to your lips.

eventually he’ll be comfortable giving and receiving cheek/forehead kisses in public and around friends, but he still gets very red in the face when it happens unexpected. most of the time, he’ll ask you before kissing your lips even if you’re alone.

it’s not awkward. he’ll face you and just flat out say “can I kiss you?” and if you say yes, then you’ll get a quick peck.

after that stage, let’s say it’s around 4 months into your relationship, it will eventually evolve into longer kisses. holding it for a few seconds, closing your eyes, holding each other’s faces, caressing their cheeks, you’ll even occasionally wrap your arms around his neck/shoulders, but it takes another few weeks before you start getting really comfortable.

nsfw

let’s talk make out sessions. it’s been about 4 ish months into the relationship and you start out this part with just holding kisses for a long time. maybe some movement, maybe he pulls you close, maybe he’ll bite at your bottom lip and snap it back into place. he’s very cautious, he’s also pretty shy anyway.

this grows into full on make out sessions. sloppy kisses, teeth clashing, tongues pressing together and sliding against each other, muffled whining and moaning against the other’s lips, and tons of needy grabbing with your hands. he definitely can’t take his hands off of your hips and/or waist. he seems like a whiner. even if you don’t view him as a sub, he totally whines instead of groaning and shit.

he’s not comfortable with taking clothes off at first. that’s an even slower process. he’ll eventually get there, but it starts with him asking to undress you. one piece of clothing at a time. your shirt, your jeans, next is your underclothes, and then he starts feeling bad because he’s still fully dressed.

let’s be clear: this man is chubby. and probably insecure about it. It takes a lot of convincing before you’re allowed to undress him. and even then, he doesn’t let you do it until after you’re familiar with him undressed.

as said before, he’s very cautious. the first couple of times you’re undressed together is probably just mutual m@sterbation or oral, then it gets farther, but a while later.

all in all, he’s a shy ish (and very cautious) kinda guy. slowly gets comfortable with you, doesn’t like going fast, and definitely blushes when you touch him (at all.) unannounced.

— sam !

#gareth emerson #gareth stranger things #gwydion lashlee walton #hellfire club #stranger things #banned in boise #gareth #eddie munson #gareth emerson fanfic #i love him