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runningmunson · 2 years

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Like The Movies

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Female!Reader

Word count: 1.6K Summary: Requested- Eddie is your best friend and he reluctantly asks you to prom because you want to go. He is nervous getting ready and almost cancels. However, he takes you and fulfills your lifelong dream of going to prom. Friends to lovers once he finally admits his feelings while you share a dance.

Warning: swearing, fluff

A/N: I loved this request and hope I do it justice!

Masterlist

The sound of a girl squealing and an eruption of cheers brought you out of your thoughts. You draw your gaze from your lunch tray to the table a few down from yours. There was yet another prom proposal. The 5th one in two days to be precise.

“Of course, everyone is getting asked to prom but me…” you mumbled, hoping that the guys couldn’t hear you. However, you weren’t so lucky.

Gareth looked at you, cocking his eyebrows, “You seriously wanna go to prom?”

This drew the attention of everyone at the table to you. You shifted in your seat, avoiding eye contact, “Um, I mean kinda? This is my last year, and I’ve never been. I think you all forget I'm a girl. I do like that stuff sometimes.” You let out an awkward laugh, waving it off and trying to change the subject, “But it’s not a big deal. Anyways how are you all feeling about the new campaign coming up?”

Thankfully they took the bait and shifted the topic to the next Hellfire meeting. Everyone except Eddie, that was. He found it hard not to notice your longing gaze or how your shoulders slumped when someone was asked to prom. He tried to push it aside and forget it, but you’re his best friend, and he hated to see you look like a kicked puppy. Damn it, Eddie thought, I’m gonna have to ask her.

Eddie cleared his throat and took a deep breath before reluctantly opening his mouth, “I guess I’ll take you to prom if you really want.” The table fell silent.

“Would you really?” You asked, your voice suddenly an octave higher than usual. Eddie couldn’t ignore the sparkle in your eyes and how your mouth drew back despite your attempt to stifle a smile.

“Can’t really have you going alone and embarrassing yourself, now can I? Besides, how bad can it be?” Eddie knew exactly how bad it could be. Prom meant dressing up and dancing. Eddie doesn’t like dressing up, and he certainly doesn’t dance. But you want to go, and you always got what you wanted when it came to Eddie.

“Thank you so much, I owe you big time!” You blurt out, not believing he would do that for you. “Oh shit, I need to find a dress and figure out what to do with my hair. I’ll see you later, guys!” You ran out of the cafeteria in a rush.

Dustin looked at Eddie in shock, “Dude, what did you just do?” All Eddie could do was shake his head.

The dreaded day finally arrived, and Eddie was a nervous wreck. He’d already been in the bathroom for hours trying to make sure he looked good. Wayne had to knock several times to make sure he was okay. Why the hell do I care how I look. I never have before, Eddie thought.

He tried to tame his hair, but nothing was working. It was still the same frizzy mess despite his many efforts to make it look good. Wayne’s old tux felt foreign on his body. The red tie that matched your dress wouldn’t stay straight . Eddie felt sick to his stomach. He threw the bathroom door open.

“That’s it, I’m not going! I look ridiculous, and I’m just going to embarrass her. Letting her go to prom with the town freak. What was I thinking?” Eddie said, throwing his hands up.

“Come on now, son. You look fine. And you’re not gonna cancel on her now. You wouldn’t, would you? No, because you’d do anything to see that girl smile.” Wayne rolled his eyes. He walked over to his nephew and helped him fix his tie.

Eddie let out a huff, “You really think I look okay?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you. Now go and get your girl, or else you'll be late.” Wayne said, handing him his keys and your corsage that he picked up for Eddie after work.

“She's not my girl, Wayne. Just friends, remember?” Eddie said over his shoulder, making his way to his van.

Wayne chuckled, “Sure she isn’t. If only you saw how the two of you look at each other. Just friends, my ass.” Eddie ignored his uncle. With shaking hands, he put his van into reverse and made his way to your house.

You were on the other side of town, just as nervous as Eddie. The time it took Eddie to get ready? Yeah, double that for you. It was always your dream to go to prom with Eddie. It might not be under the circumstances you wanted, but you took what you could get. You wanted to look perfect for him. Maybe then he might see you as more than one of the guys.

Your hair was styled perfectly, not a single strand out of place. Your dress hugged you in all the right places. Your mom was helping you with the finishing touches on your makeup.

“You look absolutely gorgeous. Eddie is one lucky guy,” your mom had a smile on her face. She knew how much you wanted to go, especially with Eddie. She was so excited to finally send her daughter off to prom.

“Mom, stop!” You said, dragging it out. The doorbell sounded, making your mom stop fussing with you and leaving to open the door. You took one last look in the mirror, finally happy with what you saw, before making your way downstairs to greet Eddie.

You saw Eddie before he noticed you. He was talking with your mom, and boy, did he look perfect as ever. When Eddie turned his head to look at you, it was like one of those cheesy movies you always made him watch. The ones where time slows down, and it felt like it was just the two of you in the room. Just a girl and a guy madly in love, even though you didn’t admit it to each other.

“You- uh. You look beautiful,” Eddie stuttered. His hands suddenly got sweaty. Your lips curved into a smile going all the way up to your crinkled eyes. Shit, shit, shit. How dare she wear that red dress in your favorite color and that smile. Looking so damn beautiful. You’re in some real trouble now, Eddie. “Um, this is for you,” he continued, thrusting the corsage towards you. You held your hand out and let him put it on your wrist. You shuttered when his fingertips touched your skin.

“Thank you, Eddie. You look pretty good yourself, never thought I’d see you in a tux,” you teased him. You grabbed the boutonniere from your mom, pinning it on the lapel of his tux. Your mom took several photos before you were dragging Eddie out the door, telling your mom that she took plenty and that you couldn’t be late for your first and last prom.

Eddie ran to the passenger side door, holding the door open for you, “Your chariot awaits my fair maiden.”

Your cheeks flush, and you cover your mouth as you softly laugh, “Well, aren’t you ever the gentleman.”

Your drive was short. You and Eddie made small talk until you reached the school, both incredibly nervous. The music blasting inside the decorated gym could be heard from the outside as you made your way in. You had never seen it so decorated, taking all the new sites in. It was amazing, that's for sure.

You grabbed Eddie’s hand, lacing your fingers with his, and pulled him inside toward the bleachers. You sat together, knees touching for half of the prom while you people watched, making fun of outfits and laughing at their dancing. When a slow song came on, you started bouncing your leg. It was one of your favorites, and you really wanted to dance with Eddie but were too chicken to ask him. Eddie wasn’t stupid; he could tell you wanted to dance, so he put aside his pride and stood up.

“C’mon, let’s go dance.” Eddie held his hand out. You grabbed it, and he led you both to the outskirts of the dance floor. “I’m gonna warn you, I don’t know what I’m doing.”

You laughed. “That's okay. You’re gonna place your hands on my hips, and I’ll place them around your neck. Then we just kinda sway, I guess?”

Eddie did just that. You swayed to the beat, with it ending way too soon. You tried to pull away from Eddie’s grasp, but he pulled you in tighter. Your cheeks turn red, turning your face to the side to hide in your hair. “Not so fast, princess. I’m not done with you yet.”

“B-but the song is over,” you struggle to get out.

“So? I like being this close to you, and something tells me you do too,” Eddie smirked, thinking no other night was more perfect than this to let you know how he really felt about you. He gained a boost in confidence, watching you squirm in his arms. “If I were to hypothetically ask if it was okay to kiss you right now, what would you say?”

“I- I would, hypothetically, of course, say it’s more than okay,” you were sure he could hear your heart racing. Your lips desired nothing more than to meet his.

“Well if you say so, I’m going to hypothetically place my lips on yours right now,” and with that, he leaned down and kissed you with such desperation, needing to know the way you felt and tasted.

And just like those movies, you stayed together with your lips locked. Dancing under the twinkling lights and ignoring the world around you.

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson #stranger things imagine #eddie munson oneshot #stranger things

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emisprocrastinatingbywriting · 2 months

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Alone and Forsaken

Chapter Summary:

You wake in a place that you've never been with a handsome stranger asleep in the corner of the room. After an interesting first encounter, you become more acquainted with your host.

Warnings: Angst/comfort, talks of past abuse, religious trauma, Joel is hard on himself as per always, brief mention of smut, A/B/O Dynamics

A/N: Hey guys! Here is chapter 2, as always let me know what you think :) - Side note, if you do ever get the chance to eat babka then please do. That shit is bussin

Chapter 2/20

Chapter 2: First Encounters

- Joel -

When Sarah was a baby Joel remembers standing over her crib for hours each night. She was so small, so delicate, and she only had him. Sarah’s mom split only a couple of months after her birth, Joel didn’t blame her. They were young and dumb, quick fucks sprinkled here and there when the need became too much. Hands pawing desperately at clothes in the dark corner of whatever dingy bar Tommy had dragged him to, late night hookups in the cab of his truck, quickies in the host’s bedroom at some party, frenzied days spent together locked away from the world as need coursed through their veins. Even during his rut, with his mind centered around nothing but pure instinct, he could never bring himself to bite down on that spot on her neck that beckoned him.

Joel never introduced her to his friends or family, and she didn’t introduce him to hers either, that’s not what their relationship was for. So when she went radio silent for a couple months after a sloppy makeout sesh in the garage at Tommy’s SuperBowl party, he didn’t really think anything of it. Imagine Joel’s surprise when his booty call showed up at his door five months later with a rounded belly and bags under her eyes.

He dropped everything. The guilt he felt for not being there for his pup, even in the womb, shredded him to pieces. He did everything he could for the mother of his child, taking out a mortgage to buy a nice house for them to live in as a family, waiting on her hand and foot, even using up all of his sick days so he could be home for if she needed so much as a blanket from the other room. Protect, provide, protect, provide, protect, provide - these words crashed against the inside of his skull, pulling him into a sea of instinct. An instinct that blinded him from seeing what was truly in front of him, until it was too late.

Sarah’s mom had tried, Joel would give her that. She used all the strength she could to connect to the baby that had her hair, her nose, her chin. But this wasn’t the life she wanted and Joel most certainly was not the alpha she had pictured herself with. Slowly, Joel watched her draw into herself, dark circles framing her eyes and a frown morphing her face into something unrecognizable. He felt her slowly begin to detach from them, distancing herself until Joel couldn’t remember the last time she had even been in the same room as Sarah.

The night she left, Joel had woken to the sound of Sarah fussing in her crib. Barely cognitive, he had gotten up and sleepily shuffled down the hall to Sarah’s room, only to come face to face with her mother. Coat and shoes on, with her purse over her shoulder as she turned to look at Joel. With her eyes red rimmed and nose running slightly, she had tried to say something but faltered before looking back down at Sarah again. He knew then, and it didn’t bother him as much as he thought it would have.

“Honey, it’s alright. I’ve got this, I’ve got her,” Joel had said to her softly, feeling the tension in the air break as the words washed over both of them.

And she had left, never to return, which Joel was okay with. He had his sweet girl who he let paint his fingernails despite the ribbing he would get from Tommy over it, the girl that he would read stories to every night - always changing the ending so that she never got bored, the girl who as a preteen somehow dragged him to a Christina Aguilera concert - which led to another round of teasing from his baby brother. He would gladly do it all. Sarah’s mother wasn’t his mate. He had no claim over her and, as much as their beautiful baby was the air that he breathed, the role of mother had sucked the life out of the woman. Joel didn’t wish that on anyone, so he let her go.

Still, being a single parent was no easy task and Joel oftentimes found himself sitting in the rocker in Sarah’s room as she slept, terrified that something would happen to her. Even when she got older and became more independent, some nights he would lie awake in his room for hours before creeping down the hallway, standing in her doorway and watching her breathe as she slept. Joel would let the aroma of strawberries and vanilla wash over him, bathing him in waves of tranquility. His pup was safe and sleeping peacefully, he had provided, he was good. After pulling the blankets up over her shoulder or carefully brushing her curls from her face, needing to fuss over her even in her sleep, Joel would groggily drift down the hallway and fall into a deep sleep every time.

With Ellie it was different, dodging danger for months on end, but the result was the same. After Tess died he found himself sleeping less, staying up while she curled up in her sleeping bag, senses peeled for the first sign of danger. With Ellie, the smell of cinnamon and ginger was like a jolt to his nervous system.

He would pace around as she slept, letting his instincts go into overdrive and mumbling to himself like a madman, “Can’t fuck this up again, she can’t d… FUCK, no shut up. Must protect, must keep my pup safe, can’t let it happen again, I’m going to fuck this up again, I’m going to…”

Joel had never kicked himself harder for the time he had fallen asleep after laughing at one of Ellie’s corny jokes. Sure, Henry and Sam ended up being friendly, but that was no excuse. It had been the first dreamless sleep he had in years. He had never told Ellie that, he’s not sure he ever would have but he wishes he could now. He wishes for a lot of things.

After Salt Lake City, he felt untethered from reality. Joel floated in limbo with nothing but his memories to guide him for four years, memories that he hated to admit; were fading every damn day. Everyday he felt like he was trying to do his best impression of what he thought a normal man would be like. Realistically Joel was just waiting out the clock until his last breath, hoping everyday that it would hurry the hell up. He assumed that he would never cross anyone else’s path again, except for maybe Tommy. He had even hoped for it, but now here you were.

Sleeping peacefully in his bed, hands clasped under your chin as small puffs of air nudge the hair that is stuck to your face. Your scent, smoother now and oh so sweet, soaking into the sheets - HIS sheets. Joel longs to step forward, to softly push your hair back and take a wet cloth to the grime on your face but he refrains. Joel is a stranger to you and, despite his volatile past and general crankiness, he doesn’t want to scare a lost omega. He might be an asshole, but he has never been THAT type of asshole. Plus, he knows this reaction is just a biological response. Your despair has activated a part of his brain that he had thought died with Ell - no. He wouldn’t think about that right now, not when you needed him.

After carrying you from the river he had stood in the entryway for a solid ten minutes, unsure of how to proceed. Joel felt uneasy with leaving you in the living room, wary of the springs in the old couch that always dug into his ass. He couldn’t even think about letting you sleep on the ground. Hell, he would let you use him as a mattress before he did that. Joel thought briefly about putting you in the bunk bed but he quickly shook those thoughts away. He hadn’t opened that door since his first day here and he did not plan on breaking that streak today. The only option was for Joel to put you in his bed but he hesitated, dreading it. He didn’t want you to think he wanted something from you, that he would ever take advantage of your vulnerability. He was also slightly irked at the thought of you invading his space, undoubtedly saturating the space with your scent.

While Joel stood in silent contemplation you were none the wiser, cuddling into his chest and rubbing your nose on his shirt. Unbeknownst to him, you dreamt of lounging in the sun. Tendrils of his musk wrapped around your brain and pulled you deeper into relaxation. Joel was still standing there, wondering if he should just wake you up, when he heard it. Looking down, he watched as you practically smothered yourself with his shirt, pushing your nose into his chest and purring in your sleep. Hearing you flipped a switch in Joel’s brain, the answer becoming as clear as day to him. With a recharged sense of purpose, Joel carries you to his bed and settles you on his comforter. Easing the tattered boots off your feet, he practically swaddles you in his blankets. Besides a small noise of protest as he puts your body down, you remain unconscious while he fusses over you. He leaves the room only for a moment, tearing through the living room for more quilts to throw on top of your already buried frame.

Satisfied for the moment, Joel sits on the armchair by the window in his room. Watching the rise and fall of your chest, his mind is completely blank. He knows that he is going to freak out about this at some point. He can feel the suppressed panic attack stirring behind his ribs but, almost as if you can sense it in your sleep, your sweet aroma ripples out to him and pulls him deeper into the fog. With lavender and peppermint coating the back of his throat, he lets the in and out of your breathing lure him into an almost hypnotic state.

For a moment Joel remembers when he and Tommy were pups and their parents took them to Crystal Beach in Austin. He remembers the sound of the waves and laughing with Tommy as they chased each other along the sand, their mother calling to them to be gentle and cringing as they tackled each other to the ground. Joel remembers his father’s laugh as he wrapped his arms around his wife, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh and swat him away. He also remembers the distraction leaving an opening for Tommy to launch himself into Joel’s side, knocking him into the water. He remembers smiling so hard that day that his face hurt the next morning. Joel huffs out a soft chuckle, realizing that he hasn’t thought about that day for the last twenty years. Feeling almost delirious, he closes his eyes. Listening to the waves in his head from that day, with your presence easing the tension in his aching muscles, Joel drifts off.

-You-

When you were seventeen years old, Miriam had taken you and Jake to the lake near camp to teach you to swim. She had grumbled for years about how ridiculous it was that nobody had ever taught you. Miriam had waited, carefully choosing a time where she knew Josiah would be off on a hunt and your mother would be sullenly kneeling in the chapel, saying prayers that you were beginning to understand meant nothing to her.

With you presenting as an omega a couple years earlier, the noose had tightened around your neck considerably. Although you never really had friends before, Miriam and Rachel barely making the list of people you were allowed to interact with despite the fact that they were both pushing seventy, now you were basically banished to the house. Jake had presented a year before you, another omega, but this didn’t change your parent’s worries. Sure, he couldn’t impregnate you but he could certainly corrupt you in other ways. In a way he did, passing you notes in chapel with drawings of Josiah in compromising positions, smuggling you unapproved books that his aunt had stashed under her bed away from prying eyes, confiding in you whenever he could get you away from your mother about his secret kisses with a red haired omega boy that he thought was handsome, collapsing into your arms sobbing when that boy was forced to bond with the alpha Josiah had chosen for him. In a way they were right to worry about Jake, as he fueled the silent resentment that clawed its way further up your throat with each passing day.

With both of your parents indisposed, Miriam had snuck the two of you out the back gate. You remember Rachel, being on patrol, giving her mate an incredulous look as she approached.

“Are you fucking serious right now Mimi?,” the alpha had hissed as Miriam approached her.

Unfazed, Miriam had sauntered over to her mate and playfully shaken her, “Come on Rach, they’re just pups. Let them have some fun, just this once? Pleeeeeease?”

Scoffing and shaking her head, Rachel had let the three of you through with a strict demand to come back at the first sign of trouble. Although you could tell she was wary of allowing three omegas out completely alone, she knew Miriam could handle herself.

The day was hot, with the sun beating down on your face and causing sweat to drip down your back. Even so, it was the perfect day. The water was cool and Miriam had been patient as she showed you the basics, managing to get a solid doggy paddle out of you before it was time to go back. Jake had spent the day swimming circles around the both of you but you didn’t mind, your dreams of being able to keep your head above water were fulfilled and that was enough for today.

It was only on your way back that you noticed the redness of your skin, the heat radiating from the burn that covered most of your body. Although you had made it back to camp without alerting anyone, your mother immediately noticed the sunburn that stained your features. After giving you a good walloping on your already stinging backside, she had sent you off to bed without any supper. The next morning you had woken up feeling like death itself, with your body aching from the beating, your head pounding and stomach growling, and your sunburn making you feel downright feverish.

“Worth it,” you had said to yourself before hauling yourself out of bed to tend to your chores.

Waking in the bed of the stranger who had lifted you from the riverbank, you felt pretty much the same as you did that morning. Your body was raw, a dull throb present in all of your muscles and head, as well as your stomach panging with hunger. Above all you felt hot, too hot. Rousing yourself further, you felt the sweat pouring down your face and the weight of what felt to be approximately ten blankets swallowing you. Kicking the offending heap off of your frame, you cautiously looked around the room.

The walls were bare, save for a drawing of a pink butterfly that someone had pinned to the wall. There was a worn joke book on the bedside table next to you, along with a pair of chunky reading glasses. Eyes adjusting to soft light shining through the window, you finally see him. You freeze for a moment, heart rising to your throat as you examine him.

He looks… handsome, you think. You have never thought that about someone before, but as you observe how the orange glow of the dying day makes his skin appear almost golden, you decide that he certainly fits the criteria. He has a scar on the side of his face, a strong nose, a mustache that tickles his upper lip and whiskers smattered over his cheeks. His hair is slightly disheveled, graying curls tousled on his head as he slumps in the chair, his deep breaths fanning out over his crossed arms. Arms that threaten to burst out of the confines of the flannel he wears, muscles bulging under the fabric in a way that makes your throat dry and your heart beat a little harder.

You can smell him, his woodsy scent inviting you to relax but you fight against the pull of your instincts. You know that he is an alpha based on his size alone, you know that you are in the middle of nowhere, and you know the position you are in. Steeling yourself, you gently creep out of the bed and tiptoe to the bedroom door. Looking back once more at the gorgeous man, you ease the door open and slip out as quietly as possible.

Moving forward into the space, you find a well lived home. Shelves adorned with books and carvings someone had made, a couch that looks like it has seen better days supplemented with ratty throw pillows, even a guitar sits in the corner. You pause for a moment, unsure of what to do. Quite frankly, you had assumed that he was a part of a larger group of alphas and that you would have to make a mad dash for the front door to escape your fate. You had been warned about groups like those, but you breathe a sigh of relief as you only smell the sandalwood and bergamot that pours off of the stranger in the other room. Looking to the front door for a moment, you begin to weigh your options as a growl comes from your stomach and leaves you groaning. You need food and you need it now. Gliding as quietly as you can into the kitchen, you poke through a few cabinets before finding a hidden treasure.

“Bingo,” you whisper as your shaking hands pull the box of chocolates from behind bottles of pickled vegetables on the bottom shelf.

As you tear into the ancient box, drool threatening to slide out of your mouth with the prospect of sweets, you wonder if chocolate goes bad. Fuck it, you think, I’m gonna find out today aren’t I? Cramming the first piece of chocolate into your mouth, your eyes roll back into your head at the taste. It’s a little chalky with how old it is, but the taste is still the same and it makes you feel like you might cry for a second before you dig in again. You manage to finish most of the box before a voice makes you freeze in place and straightens your spine.

“Whatcha got there sweetheart?,” the voice drawls, a distinct southern twang making your palms sweat for some reason.

You turn cautiously, eyes rounding as you take in the man that had previously been sleeping in the chair, now suddenly right behind you. Asleep, he had seemed a lot more harmless. Awake, he was a wall of muscle that towered over you. His face was no longer softened with sleep, instead now he looked surly and mean. He looked like he could snap you in two without even breaking a sweat, and suddenly you felt nauseous.

As if he can sense the change in your demeanor he steps further back, his hands raised slightly and palms faced outward, “Hey, hey, woah there sweet pea. I ain’t gonna hurt ya. Relax, you’re okay, you’re safe. My name is Joel, what’s yours?”

Your knees wobble slightly as you look at him. “Joel,” you whisper quietly to yourself, almost like a prayer.

“That’s right darling, Joel,” he affirms cautiously, hanging back as he tries to gauge your response and failing. Joel tries to meet your eyes but you keep looking away.

You tell him your name while looking at the wall behind him, saying it so quietly that he almost misses it. You try and fail to stop yourself from crying but tears begin to wet your cheeks as you stand in front of the alpha. You feel like you’re waiting for a judge to hand you a death sentence. Joel moves towards you carefully, hands still up, as if he is one of those bad guys in the cop shows your dad used to watch. As if you are the detective and he’s the criminal about to turn himself in. It would have made you laugh if you weren’t so damn terrified. You expect him to grab you, to drag you down the hall as you kick and scream for him to stop. What you don’t expect is for him to stop in front of you and take off his flannel, holding it out for you to grab. You raise your eyebrows, finally meeting his eyes as you size him up. They are nice eyes, more expressive than you think he would like them to be. While his face seems to be stuck on a grimace, his eyes are brown and remind you of a puppy dog.

“It’s uh, well you don’t have to take it but I’ve heard it helps for omegas when they - I mean, shit honey, I don’t really know what I’m even talking about but uh... Just take the damn thing, would ya?,” Joel says, getting more impatient the longer he stands there holding the fabric out to you.

You step forward and snatch the flannel from his hands, scurrying back even further than before and knocking your backside against the drawers behind you. You look down at the worn green flannel, still warm from his body. Or maybe that was just the warmth you felt holding it, feeling calmness invade your senses with this gift. You lean forward, diving face first into the fabric and drawing long breaths in through your nostrils before putting it on to let the feeling surround you. It feels almost like he is surrounding you, like his big arms are holding you close to his chest, like he’s leaning down and brushing his lips against - STOP. Nope, not gonna do this, definitely not gonna do this now, definitely not going to have these kinds of thoughts around a literal STRANGER, you chastise yourself as you try to pull yourself out of lala land. Looking back up at Joel, he looks a little red in the face as he watches you. Was he… flustered? No, definitely not. He’s probably just uncomfortable with the strange woman nearly foaming at the mouth while snuffling at his sweaty shirt. He crosses his arms over his chest, burly arms now on full display with only a white t-shirt covering him. He cocks his hip, watching you watch him. You realize Joel is waiting for you to say something.

You don’t know why you say it. Maybe because you’re nervous and desperate to cut the tension in the room, but the first thing you manage to say to him clearly is, “I really like chocolate.”

A beat passes. Joel looks at the chocolate smudged on your face, then down at the nearly empty box, then back up at your face.

“I can see that,” he deadpans.

You fidget as you meet his eyeline, trying to discern whether he is angry with you or not. Instead of rage, all you see is curiosity, maybe even a hint of playfulness hidden somewhere in there as well.

“I’m sorry, I was so hungry and I know I shouldn’t steal. Father Josiah would have my head if he knew I had raided your cupboards sir but I haven’t eaten in so long and I -,” you babble until he cuts you off.

“I ain’t mad, keep the rest for all I care. Just don’t be eating all my peanuts, I traded good meat for those,” he says, brushing past you to root through the fridge.

You stand there frozen as you watch him begin to pull stuff out to cook, unsure of what to do with yourself. Do you just leave now? Does he want you to stay? Can you stay? Why is he not saying anything? What does he want from you? Feeling your discomfort, Joel turns back around. He looks at you with a gaze that feels almost reverent, a gaze that has you shifting all of your focus on him immediately.

Joel’s eyes brush over your features as he says, “I’m gonna say this one more time Omega, and I need you to listen this time. You. Are. Safe. We can talk after you’ve had a shower and something more than sugar in your belly, okay?.”

His voice is lower as he speaks, almost a growl, which sends tingles from your core that radiate out to your fingertips. Without even thinking about it, your shoulders relax and you’re nodding at him as he hums in approval.

“Good girl, now go get washed up. There’s soap and towels under the sink in my bathroom. I’ll leave some clothes out for ya on the bed. When you come out we’ll eat and figure this out darling. Don’t worry about nothing. Go on now, get,” Joel commands, turning back to cooking.

Good girl. Those two words hook into the depths of your chest and steer you back down the hall to fulfill the task he had set out for you. Stumbling out of the kitchen, you pause in the hall as you catch a glimpse of another door. Hesitantly, you reach out and grasp the handle before his words yank you back towards the ensuite bathroom.

Grabbing the soap underneath the counter and turning the shower handle, you’re pleasantly surprised to find warm water gracing your filthy hands. The camp you had lived in before didn’t even have warm water. Hell, even the QZ showers were freezing, but that was mainly because the warm water only ever graced the homes of those low enough to work for FEDRA. You don’t even remember the last time you felt warm water like this, but you think maybe it was before the outbreak. A distant memory rises from the depths of your mind of you splashing your father as he tries to get you out of the bath before bed, his laugh bouncing off the walls and frizzy hair weighed down with soapy water.

You use all your strength to push the memory of your dad away and step under the warm spray, sighing as you let the heat soothe your tender muscles. You stand there and try to forget again as other, less kind, memories threaten to come to the surface.

- Joel -

Joel uses all of his energy to focus on the task at hand, cutting the vegetable and slathering the meat with spices, throwing everything into a pan and boiling some rice in the pot beside it. Soon, the air is filled with the aroma of the makeshift stir fry he’s trying to create but it doesn’t make him feel any better. He feels crazy.

Why the hell did Joel give you his flannel? He doesn’t even know. It’s true that he had heard that the smell of an alpha could soothe a distressed omega, a faint recollection from a health class that he would have attended nearly 40 years ago. Still, he definitely didn’t think it through. That much was obvious as he stood there and watched you not only accept his gift, but cherish it so openly in front of him. Joel had to grit his teeth, jaw popping to keep the groan that was threatening to spill out of his mouth. His cock, long since forgotten between his legs, twitched awake in his pants and he wished the ground would swallow him whole. You had looked up at him so sweetly and Joel almost forgot how to breathe. But then, after adorably establishing the fact that you liked the chocolate you had been scarfing down, you began frantically apologizing.

Joel had to stop himself from bounding forward and grabbing your small face in his hands, from commanding you to stop apologizing, from imploring you to never apologize to him ever again for something so trivial. You could have all the chocolate you wanted, you could take everything he owned and then some, he didn’t care. Couldn’t you see that? Joel would happily pluck out his own eyes if that’s what you wanted, if it would make you content. He would - wait what? Fuck, he thought, no, no, no, what the hell is happening to me?

Somehow even more flustered than before, Joel had squared his jaw and commanded you to relax, to go wash up so that you two could talk. Once again, being the idiot he was, Joel had thought that that was a good decision. But as he watched your body relax in response to his words, and more importantly how you reacted when he let those two words slip from his lips, he wanted to find the nearest body of water and walk directly into it. Good girl?! Seriously dude? Come on, get it together.

You were so… jumpy. So much so that it made Joel’s blood itch as he pondered what had made you that way, WHO had made you that way. Nonetheless, you had been soothed by his scent, his command, his words. Now he was making you dinner, trying to pull recipes from far off memories so that you have the best meal possible with what little options he had. You needed real food, you deserved something delicious, he needed to provide that for you, it would make you happy, it would make you feel safe, he would keep you safe, he would - Joel groans as he stops that line of thinking before he gets too deep, before he thinks about how he could make you happy, before he thinks about how he could make you feel good, before he thinks about what you would taste like if he pulled your panties to the side and slid his mouth against your-

“FUCK,” Joel shouts as the water boils over and scalds his hand, pulling him from those thoughts. Serves him right, he thinks to himself as takes the pot off the burner and berrates himself for being such a perv.

Running a hand through his hair and willing the bulge in his jeans to go down, he tries to focus on other things as he strains the rice and leaves the rest to simmer. Moving into the bedroom, he hears the shower running. He can smell your scent mixing with the spiciness of his soap, and he tries to think of anything to keep himself from going insane. The time Tommy accidentally sacked him so hard that he almost threw up during a game of backyard football, the time he watched an eight year old Sarah fall out of a tree head first and thought he might die of a heart attack, the time he got stabbed in front of Ellie, the time he got grilled by Tommy’s terrifying wife after Salt Lake City, anything to keep you off his mind.

Relaxing slightly, Joel tears through the closet to find the clothes he had shoved behind the hangers four years prior. He didn’t think he’d ever need the women’s clothes he had found in the drawers that day, but now he’s grateful he did. Laying out some choices for you, he hears the water stop. Heart beating quicker now, Joel darts out of the bedroom as fast as he can, wanting to give you privacy but also wanting to save himself from a sight that he knew would bring him to his knees.

- You -

Feeling like a brand new person, you dry off before wrapping yourself in a dark towel. Stepping into the bedroom with steam billowing out from behind you, you find a small pile of women’s clothes on the bed. You’re surprised, a pinch of jealousy running through you for a moment before you tamp it down. You have to remind yourself that you have no claim over Joel.

Sifting through the pile, you land on a pair of soft black sweatpants, the side of one leg boasting some women’s volleyball team in thick red letters. After shucking them on, you pick through the shirts for a moment but none of them appeal to you. From the corner of your eye, you spy a hamper filled with unwashed clothes. Creeping up to it, you snatch a soft looking brown t-shirt from the top. Hesitating for a moment, you pull it on over your head. Joel wouldn’t mind, would he? He had been the one to give you that flannel, this isn’t really any different. Right? Shoving your feet into the thick gray socks Joel left for you, you step out into the hall.

The delicious smell of whatever Joel is cooking makes your stomach growl. You feel like one of those cartoon characters being lifted and carried over to a windowsill by the steam billowing off of a freshly baked pie. Turning into the kitchen, you find Joel putting the food into bowls and mumbling to himself.

“It smells good,” you say quietly, wanting to alert him of your presence but he seems unphased, like he already knew you were behind him.

Joel hums, grabbing the bowls and forks before turning towards you. A moment passes between you as he sees you in his shirt. You watch as pink forms on the highs of his cheekbones before splotching down the side of his neck. Is he mad? You almost offer to take it off. Joel swallows audibly before walking towards you.

He stops in front of you, managing to hold your eyes for a moment before he says, “Let’s sit down, ain’t good to eat standing up.”

Joel brushes past you, eliciting a gasp from you at the contact. You follow him but remain in the doorway, watching as he places bowls on opposite ends of the table. Joel looks back and cocks his head, gesturing for you to come sit before he turns and falls into his chair with a groan. You scurry over and sit, finally looking down at the mouthwatering food he prepared for you. You pause and look up, watching Joel as he shovels steaming spoonfuls into his mouth. You suddenly feel slightly overwhelmed. You haven’t been given a meal as good as this in ages. And the size of the portion, he gave you so much?! Surely this is a test of some sort, you didn’t deserve this much food, you were an omega.

Joel looks up, frowning at you before speaking through a mouthful of food, “What? You a vegetarian or something?”

“Veget- what? What’s that?,” you say back.

He huffs out a laugh, shaking his head, “Nevermind, do you not like stir fry? I didn’t really know what else to make but if you want, I can make you something else.”

You sit there confused. Do you not like stir fry? Well first of all, you had never had it so you didn’t even know. Secondly, what did he mean he would make you something else? You could just simply… opt out of eating what he cooked? That was an option? Looking back up at Joel, he looks bewildered as he watches you grapple with your own thoughts.

“ I-I mean, I think I like it. I don’t know, I’ve never had it,” you mumble, looking down as you begin pushing the food around with your fork.

“Then eat it?,” he says incredulously, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

You look him in the eyes, trying to see if he’s tricking you before you ask, “Do I get to eat all of it or will I get in trouble if I do?”

“Troub- what? What the hell are you talking about? I made that for you, you can eat some or all of it. Or fuck, I don’t know, eat none of it if that’s what you want. But ya gotta eat something other than candy or your belly is gonna be achin’ real soon darling,” Joel says, clearly baffled by your words and growing more impatient every second that you don’t eat.

You look down at the food again, sighing before you dig in. Joel watches as you moan around the first bites with a look in his eye that you can’t quite place, a look that makes you feel comforted even though you don’t fully understand it. Seemingly satisfied, he turns his attention back to his food and the two of you eat in silence.

The food is good, like really fucking good. Your mother had cooked, this is true, it was expected of her but she was never good at it. She boiled practically everything and what she didn’t boil, she would inevitably burn. Before the outbreak, you remember it was your father who had cooked all the family meals. You remember him playfully banishing her from touching anything in the kitchen ever again after she had started a small fire. After the outbreak the QZs only had rations, which didn’t really leave much room for culinary creativity.

Once Josiah came into your life your mother had taken up the task of homemaker, as that was the role he expected from her, but she never got any better at it despite the punishments she would get. The only time that you ever got to eat anything good was the rare occasions Josiah would bring candies for the pups, but you started getting left out of that the second that you reached puberty. Besides that, you remember that Miriam would sometimes sneak you pieces of sweet bread that she told you was called babka. You remember her bringing it to you after you had told her a little bit more about your dad. Miriam made you promise you wouldn’t tell anyone that she made it for you, especially not your stepfather, but you never understood why. Now you sat, eating the delicious food Joel made for you, and you wished you could repay the favor to her.

Once you were done Joel collected your plates, shooting you a stern look when you tried to help him before ushering you into the living room. You perched on the far end of the couch while he dropped down on the other end, the springs groaning from the weight of him.

“Okay,” Joel sighs before beginning, “Clearly, you’re a little bit lost. Well… I would say actually very lost because there ain’t a road in sight for damn near 30 miles, but that’s besides the point. You’re in a rough spot is what I’m trying to say, and I wanna help ya out but I need to know a bit more about you. Now, you can spare me the details, I just need to know who to take ya to.”

A beat passes before you say, “There’s… there’s no one.”

“What do you mean there’s no one? Where’s your group?”

You sigh, looking towards the wood carving of a man riding a horse on the bookshelf for a moment before you continue, “ I had a group… We had a leader, my stepdad, he… anyways, we were safe for a while, a really long time actually, but then a swarm of infected came from nowhere and we couldn’t fight them off. I left with a few people and we moved around for about a year before we stopped for gas in a town somewhere that way.”

Joel nods as you point vaguely in the direction you think it might be in, “Yeah, I know that little strip. The one with just a few shops and a gas station? Reckon it used to be a stop for truckers back in the day.”

You nod, hugging your knees to your chest with the tears starting to fall, “We weren’t there for very long but th-those things, they just came out of nowhere and then it was just me and R - … she told me to run so I did. By the time I stopped, I was lost. I didn’t know where to go so I just kept walking. I’d stop for a while but then I’d get scared and keep going. I ran out of food and then water. I thought I was going to d-die but then I heard the river. I was so happy but I p-passed out before I could make it.”

The real tears come now, violent sobs beginning to wrack your body. You had been so tired for so long, battling the elements and trying to stay alive. Fuck, even before the camp had been destroyed, you had been fighting. You choke on your tears, almost gagging at the desperation that feels like it’s clogging the valves of your heart. Suddenly, you’re lifted up and your eyes shoot open as Joel manhandles you onto his lap.

“Hush now sweet pea, s’all right. You’re okay, just breathe,” he murmurs, a large hand pushing the back of your head gently so that your face rests in the junction between his neck and shoulder.

Joel’s other hand comes up to draw circles on your back as you straddle him, feeling the heat of his chest against yours. You sit there frozen, unsure of what to do. What the hell is going on? You’ve never been in a position like this with an alpha before.

“I said, breathe, omega. Do it,” he says into your ear, his words somewhere between a command and a plea.

And so you do, a whine making its way out of your mouth before you even know it’s coming. Normally you’d be embarrassed, but Joel only makes a sympathetic noise and continues to rub your back with one hand while the other scratches at your scalp. You nose at the gland on his neck, drawing a soft growl from him but he doesn’t move to stop you. The smell coming from his neck is so him, so Joel, and you want to figure out a way to bottle it so that you can keep it forever. Slowly your body sags against him as the panic ebbs away. You worry vaguely about being a dead weight on top of him but he doesn’t seem to notice or care.

Gently, Joel pulls your head back, keeping his fingers in your hair as he eyes you. You look back at him with heavy lids, not scared of making direct eye contact with him at this moment for some reason. He removes his hand from your scalp, only to push a few strands behind your ear while his other hand continues to rub your back.

“Pretty girl,” he says quietly as he studies you.

You don’t think Joel even knows that he said it as he continues to dote on you for a moment. Meeting your gaze once more, he sighs and drops his hand away from your face. The other hand on your back stops rubbing circles, but remains there unmoving.

“Better?,” Joel questions, to which you nod, “Good. Now listen sweet pea, I ain’t gonna take you someplace you don’t wanna go but you don’t have a lot of options. My brother, Tommy, he’s a bit of an asshole but a good man. His mate, Maria, she’s the toughest beta I ever met. Scares the fuck out of me actually but don’t say nothing if you ever meet her.”

You giggle, which seems to please him before he continues, “They’ve got a place, Jackson it’s called, a community. It’s real secure, with loads of people and food. I could take you there and I’m sure they’d love to have ya. You’d have everything you need with them.”

You wait for him to continue, wondering when the other shoe will drop but Joel doesn’t say anything else. He just sits there looking at you.

“And?,” you prod, wondering what the catch was.

Joel clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably underneath you before he says, “The thing is darling, winter is about to hit. I’d bring ya there tomorrow if I could but I can’t - I wouldn’t want you out there when it gets real bad, you’d freeze.”

You nod again, raising an eyebrow at him, urging him to continue.

So he does, “I can bring you to Jackson darling, I think that’s your best option, but I can’t bring you there until the end of April. That’s when me and Tommy should be meeting up. I know that you probably don’t want to be stuck out here with an old man like me, I’m not saying that ya have to but I don’t know what else I can - OOF.”

You cut Joel off by launching yourself at him, practically suffocating him as you hug him tightly. He pauses before returning the hug awkwardly, despite the intimate embrace that you two had shared just moments before.

“Thank you Joel,” you whisper into his ear, eliciting a shiver from him.

Joel swallows, nodding before moving you off of him, ignoring your whines as he places you beside him on the couch. He is red in the face when he looks at you, biting his lip as he eyes the shirt that covers you - his shirt.

“Ain’t nothing. Now look, the bed in there can be yours. I’ll stay out here to give ya some space. You can do whatcha like while you’re here. The only thing I ask is don’t go too far, there’s bears in these woods, and don’t go into the room at the end of the hall. Got it?,” he asks.

Curiosity almost makes you question him but you decide against looking the gift horse in the mouth for now. Putting your questions aside for another day, you nod.

“Good girl,” he says, pausing for a second while heat rises to his cheeks once more.

Joel looks out the now blackened window, clearing his throat before looking back at you, “It’s getting late darling and you’ve had a long day. Might wanna head to bed, I’ll be out here if you need anything.”

As much as you want to stay up to soak in Joel’s presence just a little bit longer, you know that he’s right. Exhaustion pulls at your eyelids and injects lead into your limbs. Yawning, you nod and bid him goodnight. Trudging into the bedroom, you flop down on the bed, welcomed by the Joel scented sheets underneath you. Breathing in deeply, you drift off before you have time to even pull the covers up around you.

#joel miller x you #joel miller x fem!reader #joel miller fanfiction #a/b/o dynamics #alpha!joel miller #omega reader #last of us fanfiction #joel miller x reader #angst #comfort #a/b/o verse

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heyclickadee · 6 months

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Okay, here’s the slightly evil, kind of sad, but mostly happy in a somewhat melancholy way (basically just a lot of feelings here) thought I had about Tech and Phee having kids, if that should ever happen:

So, operating under the assumption that Tech comes back, let’s say he and Phee do get together. And let’s say they stay together, and end up more or less space married. Let’s say they both want kids, and, after a lot of discussion about the war going on in the background and how they’re going to raise them and keep them safe, they end up going ahead with it. They don’t really settle down in any one place, but they’ve got their own ship with plenty of room, Pabu (maybe) is a good, stable home base to go back to when needed, and they’ve got a huge family for support. Those kids, if they have more than one, are loved. They have tons of uncles, somebody is always around, maybe some of the other batchers have partners (or not) and also have kids or adopt kids (heck, let’s throw Riyo in there, too, since she and Echo are a popular ship—they end up together but they don’t want kids, but they do a lot of work helping younger clones when they’re not fighting the Empire, Hunter took in several of the clone cadets they rescued from Tantiss, Wrecker is the favorite uncle but Crosshair is the favorite babysitter, they all manage to visit Cut and Suu once in a while, and and both Omega and Lyana are delighted to have little cousins running around (I kind of headcanon that Shep and Lyana kind of adopted Phee into their family after she found Pabu, so even if we’re going with a version of Phee that was formerly a Jedi and and doesn’t really know who her birth parents were, her kids are going to have family on both sides).

And this all exists just as a headcanon for something that could maybe happen after season three, depending on how season three goes, buuuut I like it. It’s just this nice little thought of this big, chaotic family, way bigger than just our six batchers, that’s structured a little weirdly, because clones, and everyone has their problems. but they’re all doing their best for each other and there’s a lot of love in it. And then I started thinking about clone aging.

And we all know clone aging sucks, but: let’s say clones really do age at twice the normal rate once they reach maturity, and let’s say Tech is chronologically, like, twelve but physically in his late twenties. A hard late twenties where he could pass for anything between thirty and fifty, but late twenties all the same. Suppose he gets the best case scenario and manages to live till he’s physically 90. Chronologically, he’ll be around forty-five. So, close to best case scenario, barring dying violently or getting sick, he’s got maybe another thirty-three years in him. That might seem like a lot (and it probably is to a clone), but to put that in perspective, I’m thirty-five. If I die in thirty-three years, I’ll only be sixty-eight—I’ll have died pretty young. And I’ve already been alive almost three times as long as many of the clones have. The clones do not get that much time.

There’s a lot to be explored with that in regards to Phee; I’ll be honest, the potential, “This is going to be over faster than either of us are going to be ready for,” “It is—let’s do it anyway,” is part of why at draws me to the ship, because there’s something a little defiant about two people going into a relationship knowing one of them was built to die faster, and choosing to live their lives how they want despite that. But there’s also a lot to be explored in how Phee and Tech would handle that with their kids. Because—they’d tell them. They’d have to sit down and tell them once they got to a certain age. Tech is going to be lucky to see them hit their twenties. It’s not like they wouldn’t notice their dad and their clone uncles getting old so much faster than their mom, Omega, or their uncle Shep, or anyone else they know. They’d ask questions, and it’s not like Tech wouldn’t be up-front. But I don’t think it’d be an easy conversation for any of them to have.

#the bad batch #techphee #tech bad batch #phee genoa #things I made myself have feelings about #while staring at my computer and not working yesterday #anyway add this to the ever growing list of things I want to draw #very rambly tired thoughts do not take them too seriously

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littleststarfighter · 1 year

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I feel like I don’t want to draw anymore. I had a dream once of being an artist and making money and being happy being an artist. But none of that came true. I’m depressed and stuck in a house surrounded by neighbours that would rather shout, bang, blast music and throw bricks through windows than be decent people. I love my house, or I loved it. It was my home, but no more because of them. I can't move. No job, no car. No car, no job. I live in a village with terrible public transport so I get turned down for work because I can't do shift work or start really early or late. I’ve been my mum's sole carer (she’s disabled) for a long time so I don't have references for recent jobs, and that makes people not want to try me out. My old jobs are now gone so I cant get any from them. I have nothing. My friends have moved away or have stopped talking to me. Mostly because I don't have children like them so they say we have nothing in common anymore. I don't really have fandom friends anymore. I stupidly went on hiatus and I understandably had hardly anyone left who wanted to talk to me when I came back. I’m just so sad lately, and why? Because my neighbours are arseholes and my mum's sick and I’m so alone in it all. I’m going to be hitting 50 in 3 years and I’ve nothing to show for it. Even fandom that was my happy place has been hard as it’s very anti older people and it’s getting worst. My art gets a lot of bad things said about it. I try to ignore it but it gets to you. And I don't feel part of any fandom at all. Even Steddie, especially Steddie. I try to draw but it’s hard knowing I’m wasting my time. And I feel my art's suffering for it.

Sorry I just wanted to get all this out as I’ve been so low all week and I just need to rant somewhere no one will judge me because they don't really know me. I'll probably feel better for just having a rant. Sorry guys.

#I'l delete this tomorrow when I feel like a fool for posting #i'm just feeling very sorry for myself #Sorry for moaning

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psychedelic-ink · 1 year

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Congratulations on 4.5k! that's amazing and very well deserved! I would love a drabble with "I can't pretend anymore" with Dieter, because, ya know, pretends for a living and all that - all-the-way-down-here

thank you so much, love 💜 I really loved writing this, I hope you enjoy!

𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐬

**gif by the amazing @pedrorascal ♡♡

pairing: dieter bravo x gn!reader

genre: hurt/comfort-ish, fluff, romance, friends to lovers

word count: 936

summary: Dieter enjoys his life, but he would enjoy it so much more if you were a part of it.

warnings: alcohol consumption, established friendship

𝑺𝑰𝑳'𝑺 4.5𝑲 𝑭𝑶𝑳𝑳𝑶𝑾𝑬𝑹 𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑰 𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑵𝑻 (open)

Dieter enjoys the fun he has. He’s not going to lie and act like he’s above it all. He enjoys the chaos that pursues unrelated to him, likes the bodies moving and crowding one another as loud music blares from the speakers. He feels two arms snake up his shoulders and around his neck. Looking down he spots manicured, pastel purple nails. A pleasurable tingle rolls up his spine when those same nails gently bite into his chest.

“Come join us, Dieter,” Lyra whispers into his ear. “I have a friend with me, I’ve been telling them all about you,”

His cock twitches at the thought and he’s about to get up, that is until he spots you. You’re mingling, your clothes more than modest compared to the rest but you still seem you belong. You smile and laugh and he recognizes the person across from you as being a model. Someone he never talked to before but recognized from magazine covers. He looks up to Lyra who’s looking down at him with expectant eyes.

“Sorry but I spot a friend. Maybe next time,”

“Your friend can join,” she purrs.

Dieter slowly rises from the couch, he touches the underside of Lyra’s chin and forces her gaze up with a smile. “Next time, sweetheart. Promise.”

She sighs and smiles before moving away.

Now that Lyra is out of the way, Dieter makes his way to you. You meet his gaze when he’s halfway there, your eyebrows lifting with surprise. He notices a smile tugging at your lips and he finds himself starting to smile as well.

“Dieter!” you exclaim, throwing your arms around his shoulders. “How are you?”

His hand moves to your waist on instinct, slightly moving lower when you don’t release him. He buries his face in your neck and takes a whiff of your smell; strawberries.

You introduce him to your model friend, and he learns that her name is Jessica. A polite, albeit slightly forced, conversation proceeds. Dieter finds himself growing impatient, yet what for he’s not sure. Your one arm slides to his waist, holding him close. He’s surprised at how comforting it is. You’re one of those rare people who doesn’t want him to change or ask for anything more of him.

And that fact alone makes him feel shitty for wanting more from you.

It’s not hard acting like he doesn’t crave something more intimate, but it is tiring. It feels as if he’s working around the clock, the acting never stops.

You must’ve noticed his recline from the conversation because you squeeze his hip, drawing his attention back to you.

“Do you want to get some fresh air?” you ask, your gaze slightly clouded from the alcohol but still worried. When he nods, you turn to Jessica with an apologetic smile. “I’ll talk to you later, yeah?”

Jessica nods and waves them off, already starting to speak with someone else before the two are even out of the door.

The cool night air chills his warm skin. Dieter closes his eyes briefly, focusing on the way the wind caresses his skin. It feels nice.

“Wanna go get something to eat?” you say, crossing your arm with his. “I’m starving. That party had nothing to eat,”

“There were chips—”

“Yeah, chips ain’t enough to soak up all I drank tonight.” you rub your stomach, kicking the pavement. “I feel sick,”

“Why did you drink so much anyway?”

“I don’t know,” you say with a small shrug. “I guess I was feeling a bit tense lately. I thought that if I got a bit loose I would feel better, but my calculations were wrong,”

Dieter lets out a low chuckle, “Don’t worry. We’ll get some food in you and you’ll be good as new.”

Silence follows, the only noise being your shoes hitting the pavement. Dieter thinks how nice it would be to just lean in and kiss you. He bets he could taste the gin still coating your tongue.

He’s torn away from his thoughts when you tighten your arm around his.

“Tell me how you’ve been feeling. You didn’t look so good in there,”

“I—” he honestly has no idea how to reply to that. He shakes his head. “I don’t know,”

“Come on, you can tell me anything,”

“I can’t pretend anymore.”

You suddenly stop and give him a confused glance, you tilt your head, which he finds incredibly endearing. “What do you mean?”

“I just— Look, I really enjoy what we have, but I just can’t pretend I don’t want something more. You make me feel good about myself. You make me want to be a better version of myself and every time I see you my heart feels like it might combust.”

A gust of wind blows. You’re staring at him with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. His heart aches at the sight, maybe he misread everything from start to finish, it wouldn’t be the first time.

“I’m sorry,” he mutters, stealing his arm back. “I just really couldn’t hold it back anymore. It was getting exhausting.”

He attempts to move away but before you can he feels your fingers pressing into the hallows of his cheeks, you pull him close, your lips finding his under the yellow glow of the street lamps. You kiss him hungrily, and just as he suspected he testes the gin on your tongue.

You’re the one to break the kiss, panting and lips kiss-swollen. He’s about to dive back in before you press your palm into his chest.

“Food first,”

He grins from ear to ear, “Of course.”

#dieter bravo x reader #dieter bravo x you #dieter bravo #dieter bravo x female reader #4.5k baby #dieter bravo x gn!reader #the bubble dieter #the bubble fanfiction #the bubble x reader #the bubble fic #pedro pascal character #pedro pascal character fic #pedro pascal character fanfiction #pedro pascal characters

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joy-haver · 10 months

Text

What I learned from being sick.

When one thing goes wrong, it’s more likely that another will go wrong. But also, when you start to improve something, itll probably get easier to improve other things.

Everything is everything. Take small steps and big ones. prevent harm where you can. Cause and effect form loops that feedback and build more of what is already built.

This is the best thing and the worst thing. When you are in a position where things are going downhill so hard, it feel’s impossible to ever go up again. And that’s okay, it may be impossible. But what’s almost definitely possible is to slow it down. Remove as many factors from the loop as possible. Those that can’t be removed should be diminished.

What you will find is that you suddenly have all these small, positive feedback loops. Maybe youre eating in a way that makes you feel better, and that gives you more energy to cook, so you can eat a little better again and for a little cheaper. And maybe you are riding your bike a little more, which builds strength and makes injuries less common in your legs, and also means you can ride to pick up your own meds, making it less likely for you to get them late.

These small things add up. But more than that, they continually open up new opportunities for improvement that weren’t there before. This part of it is particularly important, because it means even the little things, the things that don’t amount to much on there own, don’t have to just be valued on their own merit. They are part of a greater push towards positive looping. They are integral steps that make up the whole.

But still, it’s not about “getting there”. There is no place to get too. You can’t go into this stuff hoping to be abled again. As much as possible, I’d advise avoiding specific goals. I really wanted to play guitar again and be able to draw. Those goals made me not see the possibilities of dobro and watercolor, which filled similar needs in my life, but we’re much more achievable with my hand issues.

It is good to know what needs aren’t being filled in your life, and to try and find the most accessible ways to fill them. We all need food, exercise, water, art, joy, time among plants, novelty, community, and deep trusting relationships. A big part of what disability is is not being able to get these needs met in the ways you want to or in ways that are best for you. This sucks. But sometimes, things are out of your control.

In AA, one asks for “The serenity accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

With my disabilities, the courage to change what I can hasn’t been the primary limiter. The main issue I’ve had has been being too close minded on how something can change. I keep imagining narrower possibilities than what exists in reality. And that makes sense. None of us can see the whole of what’s possible at any moment. But that is where open mindedness and novelty can really open up a whole new world of recovery.

because recovery isn’t “I’ll be how I was before.”

It’s not “I’ll be the way I want to be” either.

Recovery is the process of learning how to fill your time. Recovery is the process of learning how to meet your needs. It’s about learning what options are available to you, and letting those lead to more options.

In doing this, start by doing whatever will be the most helpful for the least effort. This isn’t an exact science, and there is trial and error involved. For me, this means drinking enough water, eating within 3 hours of waking up, and putting on my back brace the moment my back reaches a certain pain threshold. Those are the easiest things I can do that will help the most. They form a foundation that allows me to do the next easiest, the next most helpful things, like the dishes, and socializing, and art. Those things help me cook more, thing clearer, and maintain my relationships of support with caregivers. All of that lets me exercise more, and build strength, and do laundry. Essentially, learn to apply the ideology of triage to your own disaiblity.

Okay< i don't have a conclusion to this that ties everything on it together, so ill say this

Everything is everything. Do what you can. Don't wait unless you have to.

#disability #recovery #cpunk #cripple punk #phyiscal disability #text post #long post #rose baker

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amouress16 · 1 year

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My 2022 Animation Overview

This last year was my first year getting into animation. While I’m not fortunate enough to be able to afford college to go the professional route of this kind of art career, I am lucky to have the support to try and push my way in as an amateur anyway. So now here I am, with eleven months of self teaching experience under my belt.

I started back in February with this one here. My first ever animation (and first ever copyright strike, yay for youtube’s auto flagger not knowing how fair use law works ;u;). I’ve been lucky that this one is only one of two of my animatics that I’ve been able to spot a mistake in post upload.

This one was a shorter one that I managed to get done in only a couple weeks, and probably the one I’m least proud of at this point from it’s lack of substance. Still, every bit helps me learn, and it was still cute.

And now to my most popular animation so far! I was very happy so many people liked this one, especially since Vincent is my favorite character in VTSoM, I got to have a lot of fun making it- I’ll definitely be making more Vincent centric ones. Like the one I have in the works right now... ;)

Ye ol classic meme animatic, The Hole. Everyone who watches meme animations for their fandoms has seen some variation of this one. This was mine. This was where I started using more repeat “assets” (read: drawings) for the sake of consistency and saving myself time, for the first time.

And another classic meme approach, vines. I plan on making two more of these for VTSoM in particular, but I will keep them spaced out since they’re a little more exhaustive to make. A lot of unrelated scenes with so many different characters being drawn out over two or three months is, well, a lot!

And finally something from a different fandom! ...listen, I am a fnaf fan on tumblr, Sun and Moon brainrot is par for the course here. This particular animatic was another short one that came after two months of bad art block and life stress and me getting sick back to back. I needed a simple thing to come back with. Not to mention, I got an art tablet as a gift during the holidays, which was a major upgrade for me, so I had to learn (and am still learning) to use a totally new animation program! Thus, this silly little thing.

And that’s all for ‘22!

If you read through this whole thing, thank you! I know I don’t really post my art as often as some folks so it’s harder to tell, but I do work hard and near constantly on creating things. Lately that’s been largely animations, so I don’t have a whole lot of time for other things. And while I’d love to do this all for free, we do live under capitalism and I have to be able to pay for vet bills and groceries. So if you’d like to and are able to yourself, please consider checking out my Patreon! I post weekly updates of my animation progress as well as occasional random WIPs and sketches. Anyway, thanks again, and happy 2023!

#ames rambles #artists on tumblr #digital art #2022 retrospective #I meant to post this before 2022 ended but lo and behold I got sick again. so have it now ig #not gonna add fandom tags on this one cause I don't wanna bother people looking through those tags #should I tag this as a long post? i dont think it is but maybe it will be on mobile. lmk if I need to

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sourkitsch · 2 years

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Introducing myself a little more with a bunch of fun facts!

Tagged by @emiliosandozsequence ! Thank you sorry this took me forever

I’m Ashkenazi on my fathers side & a mix of a lot of things on my moms!

One of my great grandfathers on my mom’s side was a murderer (for real this is not a joke), and my family on my father’s side fled Russian pogroms and came to America in the late 1890s. I’m trying to learn more about them, but I know they came through Ellis Island and our last name before immigration. It’s a bit hard to trace but I think we came here on the SS Cymric! Then … some mystery event happened and my great great grandparents died & their son ended up in an orphanage in Brooklyn (possibly the Hebrew Orphan Asylum? Again research is ongoing & I was never given names when I learned about this as a kid). Anyway then things sucked a bunch & everyone had awful lives and were generally unhappy. A side affect of this is that I am slightly obnoxious about how much I love New York it’s definitely like 50% a cultural heritage thing

My favorite museum in the whole wide world is the American Museum of Natural History. I used to want to be a zoologist as a kid and I went there a lot !! As I grew up & wanted to do art I spent a lot a lot a lot of time drawing the dioramas. My favorite thing there is the blue whale I used to lay under it all the time :)

I’ve actually never been in an art history survey class until now. I went to a weird school before I transferred that only offered specialized art history classes like Dada & Surrealism and Minimalism & Aesthetics. Literally all my knowledge is from independent research & I’m taking a course rn to fill in the gaps bc I haven’t cared to learn about Impressionism before now.

I live like 15 minutes from the beach!! I go there to read or when I’m not feeling too well. Seaside for my health :) I actually lived near the beach when I was a baby too

My favorite book is Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Surprising everyone Frankenstein is only my 2nd favorite!

I really like puzzle + mystery games!! Gamer girl. I’m joking I forgot I had switch for like a year and a half and only recently played on it again. But I like logical thinking and testing myself like that!!

Tigers are my favorite animal hands down and have been since I was a kid! I have 16 tiger stuffed animals including a huge one that was like 75 bucks at target that I got the first time I was severely sick away at college to make me feel better.

I love perfume. smells <3 (my fav notes are patchouli, vanilla, and musk)

I played the piano when I was growing up, but I’ve always wanted to learn the theremin! I saw one for the first time at a museum when I was like 12 and fell in love with them. I listen to Clara Rockmore when I study lmao. They’re really expensive and I don’t have the time to learn, so it remains a dream for future me.

Tagging: @iloveyoumorethangod @shambolicneutral @californiaquail @woundthatswallows @letitbeafairytalethen @blood-and-breath @leatherdaddyteach :) no pressure tho!!

#this took forever I’ve been so busy and also I feel like I’m the most boring person alive

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mykey-and-bobby-koopa · 2 years

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05: Bowsy’s beautiful mind

| Versión en español |

| First | Previous | Next |

_______________

JR.

{{ Being Saturday noon, I was finishing my lessons, so I want to take a break. Stupid Ludwig! Why do you have to turn everything into a competition? Doesn’t he know what fun is? How I wish I could beat him at his own game!

Anyway… hopefully he'll stop bothering me, but I'm still scared. I still remember what Mykey told me: “don't mess up your strategy " and well... now I'm starting to doubt. What if I pretend to be sick? Maybe I can tell that my stomach hurts, so they can't tell me anything. But... then... all that I spent studying... will have been useless...

Uh… no, no, no! How could I fail? Mykey was there when no one else was, he tried so hard with me and I couldn't… I can't. He would be unable to look at him and... -sighs- he will surely think I'm a fool, and perhaps with good reason.

Well, at least I'll face it like a Koopa. I'd better not eat anything that day, to make space to eat my own test. I really don't expect to be able to pull it off, but I'll at least pretend to be cool. }}

He thinks as he watches the landscape, supporting his face in his hand with the railing of his terrace in his room

{{ But… it would be nice if I can pass this test. There's only this left before I have my vacation…I'm supposed to be on it since the summer started, but I'm still stuck on this. I will give everything of me to be able to achieve it. If I'm honest with myself… math isn't that bad. Maybe when I grow up I'll dedicate myself to it, who knows? -laughs- but I don't think so. Someone with a mind as brilliant as Ludwig or Iggy could pull it off more easily, but I...

Now that I think about it, I hadn't asked Iggy for help, but most likely he would have said no and said I'm a basket case. I remember once I messed up one of his mockups and he got really upset. It wasn't so much my fault, he was only six years old, what was I to know that the liquids he had in his little bottles didn't mix? The paint mixes like this and doesn't explode, although luckily I got out of there in time, but after a while he came out chasing me with his Chain Chomp. I was lucky to hide in a pot nearby. Although I later apologized to him, he was still somewhat angry for a week, as I remember. At least later we started talking and he told me to be careful about mixing things without asking and I promised to be more careful, anyway he gave me a smack on the head, it did hurt, but now I only remember it as something funny. Actually, Iggy's sooty face gave me a lot of humor. }}

Before those memories he begins to smile looking at the horizon with some nostalgia.

{{ What memories! He is still in my mind when my brothers played a lot with me, although… all that was when he was younger. Now that I'm 11 years old, others don't seem to take much notice of me. It even seems that I am invisible to them. Well, maybe I like things that they don't like, like drawing or coloring. I would like to ask Wendy about which colors would go best together, or Lemmy if I use the right colors or Roy if I use a good style... but I'm afraid they'll say it's silly.

I've had more or less brotherly time with Larry lately, but we've also gotten into fights with each other. -covering his eyes with his hands- jeez! Why do I act like this? -he discovers- Larry shares his games with me and I end up getting angry for nothing. Perhaps he is right in saying that he is only good at losing his temper. But... that boy Bobby... seems to get along with Larry. He is almost my age and he does not behave capriciously. In a way I feel envy for him, who always seems to be happy. I guess he doesn't have the bunch of siblings where we all fight each other for anything}}

At that moment he goes to his desk and puts away his study material a little and takes out his drawing pad and pencil and then starts to draw a little.

{{ Well, at least this is my thing. I have no talent for other things, but at least I do what I like }}

Without realizing it, from drawing he goes on to write numbers and more fractions, to which the little boy notices and gets scared, dropping his pencil to the ground

Thinking that, he goes to his bed to lie down a bit, resting his face on his pillow, hugging it, and in turn, getting ready to sleep with him face down.

After haunting his thoughts, someone knocks on the door, which makes Bowsy startle a little due to the silence that invaded the room and the resonance of the knock on the door.

Jr.: I'm coming (he gets up and goes to the door, opening it) Who is it?

Roy: hey shorty

His older brother pats him on the head, which seems to annoy the little boy a bit

Jr.: (blushing) what do you want?

Roy: nothing, I just came to see what you were doing

Jr.: I was trying to sleep. I keep thinking about numbers and I want to rest for a while

Roy: Sounds like you're really into it. Is it because of the bet you made?

Bowsy stays in silence for a few moments, staring at her brother until he turns his back on him.

Jr.: (smiling subtly) yes, I'm not denying it, but it's also more fun. Besides… (turning to Roy and looking at him confidently) after this… they won't call me a fool anymore.

Roy arches an eyebrow at him.

Roy: I don't think you're a fool, Jr. I don't know where you got that from.

Bowsy makes a surprised face

Jr.: w-well… I thought so… that all of you thought that

Roy: I just think you're a spoiled crybaby and insufferable, but not fool

Jr.: (with a skeptical face) I don't know whether to take it as a compliment or an insult

Roy: Take it as love from me, you won't always have it, you little weasel.

Jr.: you and your comments… well, since you show me a little about yourself, I also want to show you something

Roy: let's see… (crossing his arms and leaning on the door frame)

Jr. goes through his drawings and shows him one in particular. With that, Roy details it for a few moments, noticing a small blush on his cheeks, almost the same color as his glasses. Given this, he only limits himself to saying...

Roy: He is… very pretty. He fit you

Jr.: Do you really think so?

Roy: Yeah, but don't let anyone know that I told you that, okay?

Jr.: And what if I do?

Roy: Then I'll be forced to take action (cracking his knuckles with a wicked grin)

At that gesture, Bowsy looks at him somewhat scared

Jr.: (nervous) if it's f-for good, yes. You have my word (nervous laugh)

Roy: ok (smiling)

After saying that, Roy pats Jr. on the head again, who closes his eyes thinking that he was going to get hit or something, before leaving the little boy's room. Bowsy closes the door and leans against it, looking at the drawing that he had shown to his brother with dark glasses, whose content was of Roy himself with a red superhero cape. Bowsy looks at the drawing and smiles, remembering Roy's words to him.

Two days later, being Monday and also the day of Jr.'s exam, he is in his room, somewhat nervous and walking in circles without stopping to think about it, so he tries to calm down. However, when looking at the clock, it shows 9:15 in the morning, with only 15 minutes left before the exam begins.

Jr.: Gosh! it's almost there! (he breathes softly) Calm down. Everything will be fine...no need to worry...it's just an exam...an exam you've failed five times...but this time it will be different

As he thinks out loud, someone knocks on the door and then it opens. It's about Mykey, which causes Bowsy to snap out of his thoughts.

Mykey: Jr? I can pass?

Jr.: o-of course!

Upon entering he approaches the little redhead

Mykey: how are you? Do you feel ready?

Jr.: a little... but I'm still nervous

Mykey: it's normal (smiles at him) (...)

Meanwhile, Kamek and Ludwig are in the classroom preparing for the exam.

Kamek: Well, it's almost about time. I hope this time I get through

Ludwig: Nah, he's probably going to be at this forever.

Kamek: You don't have much faith in him, do you?

Ludwig: Well, at least with me he wasn't interested. Let's see if this new teacher will have changed something.

Kamek: Right… Anyway, I'll go look for the young student. I'll be back

In that the magikoopa comes out. While this is happening, Ludwig removes the exam and replaces it with another one, which has different questions. At that he gives a small mischievous smile and then hides the previous exam.

Ludwig: Let's see if you can get through this, little brother.

Back in Jr.'s room, both the latter and Mykey continue to talk for a bit.

Mykey: (...) that's why you shouldn't be afraid. No matter what happens, I will continue to support you

Jr.: Thanks, Mykey.

They both smile at each other while the older Koopa pats Bowsy's head, who, again, begins to wag his tail without noticing. In the middle of that, Kamek arrives

Kamek: well, my children... it's time

After a few moments, the three go to the classroom. Kamek retires to attend to other matters.

Ludwig: welcome, little brother (looking at him seriously) we start in 10 minutes. I hope you have studied this time.

Jr. looks at his brother and greets him

Jr.: g-good morning, Ludwig

Then, Jr. looks carefully at his desk and remembers the words Ludwig said to him at that moment: “Are you a fool? Has what I have taught you not been of any use to you?” Which reverberate in the little boy's mind, so he does not avoid putting on a sad expression. Mykey notices this and leans over a little at Bowsy's height, putting his hand on the little boy's shoulder, which comes out of his trance and looks at the purple-haired Koopa.

Mykey: remember, it's a new opportunity. You can (smiles at him)

Jr.: (smiles and nods) yes!

Slowly, Bowsy walks over to his desk and settles on it, pulling his school supplies out of the small backpack. Ludwig, meanwhile, takes out the exam he prepared and puts it back on the table.

Ludwig: When the time starts you turn it over and start your exam. You have one hour. The bell will ring and there you will stop writing, understood?

Jr. nods, looking shyly at Ludwig, who was still serious.

Ludwig: There are also other details: Mykey, you as his teacher have the right to witness the exam, but you are absolutely prohibited from helping Bowsy, so you will not be able to make gestures of any kind or whisper anything to him. You will only be an observer

Mykey: (nods) I have it clear

Ludwig: Jr., you are prohibited from looking at Mykey under any circumstances. You can only rely on your pencil, eraser and your mind, is that clear?

Jr.: can I request a blank sheet? I have to do the sums

Ludwig: ok, I'll bring it to you right away

As he goes for her, Jr. turns his gaze to Mykey, who gives him a thumbs up with a sympathetic look. That causes Jr. to smile as well and turn back to his examination. Ludwig passes him some sheets and goes to take a seat.

Ludwig: If you like, Mykey, you can sit next to me and wait.

Mykey: right

The eldest of the Koopa-children takes a chair and positions himself to Ludwig's left, settling himself. After the clock strikes 10:00 and the young man in blue sets the timer, the exam begins.

Ludwig: Very good. You can start now, little Koopa.

The youngster grabs the pencil and starts reading the questions. After a few moments he notices that these are somewhat different questions, so he puts on a confused face, leaving the pencil aside and thinks to himself

Jr.: (thinking) what is all this? I don't remember seeing in class

Mykey noticed that something was wrong by how Jr. looked at his exam sheet, and then glanced at Ludwig, who was smiling strangely as he looked with some pride. At that moment Mykey frowns a little and then looks at Bowsy again, closing his fists a little.

Mykey: (thinking) oh no… I do not like this. Lud, did you set a trap for your brother? (he takes a deep, subtle breath, closing his eyes to open them again) I hope you can handle this, Jr.

Jr. did not stop looking at his exam to try to understand, he felt that his hand was trembling and he felt pressure on his belly, for which he puts his left hand there, in addition to being very lightly sweating and his breathing increased progressively.

Jr.: d-damn! What happens to me? (he closes his eyes tightly) this... not again...

With great difficulty he picks up his pencil again and tries to put his name on the test, his hand still shaking. Mykey was still watching intently without worrying, and, without realizing it, his right hand was moving as if trying to put a stop, but he was also watching how Ludwig seemed to enjoy it, which causes Mykey to look at him with some annoyance. However, he can no longer do anything but watch if Jr. is able to complete this test imposed by his older brother.

Mykey: (thinking and looking at his hands) Damn! I did not expect this…

Jr. kept thinking what to do, so he drops the pencil from him once more. In that he puts his hands on the table and accommodates his back in the chair, looking towards the exam. As he does this, Ludwig looks at him with more apathy and almost laughing but holding back.

Ludwig: (thinking) Are you giving up, Bowsy? What a shame! You see what happens for not dedicating yourself to the study

Meanwhile Jr. goes blank, but at that moment he begins to remember what he talked to Mykey before the exam:

FLASHBACK

// Mykey: how are you? Do you feel ready?

Jr.: a little... but I'm still nervous

Mykey: It's normal (smiles at him and leads him to the bed, both sitting down) but you have to stay calm. You have progressed a lot. At least it will be better than the other times

Jr.: but…. What if I go blank and don't know what to answer?

Mykey: If that happens... close your eyes for a moment, rest your hands on the table and take a deep breath... that will clear your clouds in your mind and you'll be able to resume the idea.

Jr.: y-yes!

Mykey: If you don't know what to answer, use your own imagination and imagine your surroundings as if they were numbers or figures. And… if by chance you come across something that appears to be more difficult, just simplify and imagine what you are reading, leaning on your sheets

After saying that, Mykey takes Bowsy's hands.

Mykey: and most importantly... forget you made a bet. This is to level what you have learned; the rest is in the background. You have my support and I'm sure you also believe in yourself. That is why you should not fear. No matter what happens, I will continue to support you

Jr.: T-Thanks, Mykey

END OF FLASHBACK

Jr.: (thinking) very well… it's time…

At that, Jr. closes his eyes and joins his hands supporting them on the table. The words reverberate in the boy's mind: “take a deep breath”, which Bowsy slowly does. Both Ludwig and Mykey watch what the little boy does.

Ludwig: (thinking) what does he do now? It's too late to pray. Nothing can get you out of this anymore, Jr.

Bowsy is still lost in thoughts of him. Little by little he is outlining a smile. He slowly opens his eyes and imagines his surroundings in a different way, to later read the questions, taking the pencil from him again.

Jr.: (thinking) ok… let's see… I don't know what this means but… I'll try… (Looking around)

Given this, Jr. draws some squares on his sheet, which he fills in according to the numbers indicated, the denominator being the total and the numerator being the filled-in ones, trying to improvise and mix as the exercises appear. Among them there are square roots, something that Jr. does not know what they are but that he interprets as V, so even without knowing he tries to fit his operations with the answer, which sometimes works and sometimes does not, so he returns to try until you find an operation that convinces you.

As the hour progresses, Jr. advances with his answers, which does not take away his concentration, showing his tongue pointing upwards, coloring and drawing what he is interpreting, occasionally looking at the elements in the room and imagining them like the colors of his paintings.

Ludwig watches closely and suspiciously, surprised by Jr.'s actions, he really didn't expect something like that. For his part, Mykey is also surprised, as he admires the fact that Bowsy wants to keep going and trying instead of running away and leaving everything blank.

Then, Jr. gets stuck on a question, precisely the last one, so he tries to move forward as he can, but still the little one feels somewhat exhausted from using a lot of energy for the mathematical exercises. The timer has eight minutes left and Jr. notices.

Jr: (thinking) how quickly time passed? (Looks at his exam) I still advanced quite a bit… but… what if they aren't the answers? Well… at least I tried (he puts down his pencil and rests for a few moments, gasping for breath) that question… I guess it won't be answered

When looking at his drawings, he again imagines some figures and circles, which little by little are forming a number, 58, which seems to be shining as if it were a Super Star. Seeing it, Jr. thinks that it is his imagination, but he still decides to put that number in the answer to the last question.

Jr.: (whispering) well… it doesn't matter if it's wrong, I couldn't think of another answer…

After that, he drops the pencil again and the timer bell rings. Ludwig goes for the exam while he heads off with Kamek. Mykey walks over to Jr. and puts his hand on his back, causing Bowsy to turn to him and give him a weary look.

Mykey: well done, Bowsy

Jr. smiles while still putting on a tired expression

Jr.: hehe well… I hope I have achieved it. Then I want to take a nap (yawns)

Mykey: you've earned it (caresses his little face)

Soon Kamek and Ludwig arrive with a machine that measures the exam score, which was dusty from not being used for so long.

Mykey: what is that?

Kamek: With this we will know more quickly if Bowsy approved or not

Mykey: Uh… why does it look like it hasn't been used in a long time?

Ludwig: why do you think? Jr. almost never answered the exams, so it was not very difficult to grade him

Bowsy scratches the back of his neck looking away.

Kamek: well… let's get to work

Ludwig: Ready to swallow your words and your test, you little grasshopper? (smiling arrogantly)

Bowsy didn't say a word despite looking at him with some annoyance. Meanwhile, Kamek turns on the machine and adjusts it to the questions written on the exam. The three boys there await the result, and Bowsy, for his part, is very nervous. He feels that heaviness in his stomach that he felt at first, but he tries to breathe to calm down.

The machine, after a few minutes, delivers the result of the exam by printing it on a sheet, which Kamek picks up and reads. Seeing it, he is a little surprised, staring at it for a long time and covering his mouth. Both Bowsy and Mykey look at each other confused.

Ludwig: What's wrong, Kamek? (walks up to him) let me see that…

He takes the sheet and looks at it. Every moment he spent looking at the result he put on an increasingly puzzled expression until it reached a point where he was almost nothing from losing control. Mykey picks up the sheet and looks at it, surprised too.

Ludwig: no... it can't be...

Mykey: Is this real, Mr. Kamek?

Kamek: Yes, the machine does not fail. It has evaluated results for a long time. It works with magic, so it never goes bad.

Jr.: But… what does the machine say, dad Kamek?

Kamek: the machine says that… you had 100% approval

Jr. is very surprised to hear that, gaping. Mykey confirms the result to Jr. by nodding and looking at him with a smile on his face. Bowsy can't believe it, so he looks at the blade and after seeing it he begins to overflow with tears, holding the blade still surprised. Bowsy can't take it anymore and starts to cry with happiness, still not believing what his little eyes see.

Kamek: Congratulations, Bowsy. You passed!!!

Mykey: Alright, Jr. I knew you could do it!! him (he hugs him and lifts him up)

Jr.: Woah!! Hehe thanks, Mykey. Thank you, dad Kamek

After having him in his arms, Mykey puts Jr. on his feet, but not before being able to pat his head and give him a thumb up and wink at Bowsy, who laughs and wipes away his tears. They are both happy with the result. Despite this, the same cannot be said of Ludwig, who saw how the two of them got along very well, which causes the young man in blue to look at them with some jealousy, but which he tries to hide by looking the other way, for what you decide to interrupt

Ludwig: well… Jr…. You approved. My congratulations for you… (Crossing his arms and looking away from him) although I find it hard to admit it…

Jr.: Thank you… (Saying it with a more serious tone)

Both brothers look at each other with some tension and seriousness, which is noticeable in the environment. At that moment Roy knocks on the door and then opens it, taking some of the tension away from the brothers.

Roy: Hi everyone. How are you doing with that?

Mykey: oh! Roy! What a surprise to see you here!

Roy: Yeah, I just wanted to see how Jr. did on his test. Before he saw him a little worried, but recently he saw him more confident and wanted to know how everything turned out (laughs)

Jr.: Well guess what, bro! I passed and with a perfect note

Ray: really?

Roy looks at Mykey and Kamek, who nod at the same time, arms crossed and smiling with closed eyes.

Ray: wow! Cool! Congratulations, Bowsy!!

In that, the Koopa with pink glasses goes to hug Jr., but he does it so hard that he begins to flap his wings a little. After a few moments he lets go and Bowsy is a bit dizzy from Roy's strength.

Jr.: (giggles) thanks, brother (rejoining) at least your love is sincere (looking sideways at Ludwig)

Ludwig: Alright, alright... stop bragging, little grasshopper. We all know that you did well, even if it was you

Mykey: Well, for a Jr., he did very well, right?

Mykey looks at Bowsy proudly and with a big smile, who also smiles very happily at him. Ludwig manifests his jealousy on his face when he sees that entire scene and Roy notices it.

Roy: What's up, gnocchi head? Does it bother you that you lost at your own game?

Ludwig: (looking down and muttering) Shut up, Roy...

Kamek: Well, well… don't get into an argument, you two. And while we're at it, I'm very pleased to announce that Jr. has finally finished his school year, though it cost him but he did it. Now you can have your well-deserved vacation

Jr.: Yup! At last!

Kamek: I hope this year you don't have so many problems

Jr.: (laughs) No, I promise. I will be more attentive

Kamek: Well, I'm glad to hear that. Well, guys, I hope you enjoy the summer; I'm going to tell King Bowser about this great event. See you!

In that the magikoopa leaves, leaving the four Koopa-children there in the classroom.

Ludwig: Well, if we're done with this show, then I'm out of here, I have things to do.

Jr.: Wait a moment. Didn't you forget something?

Ludwig: What thing?

Bowsy pulls a sheet out of his hamburger backpack; it's about the previous failed exam

Jr.: of this. You said you'd eat it if I got 100%, don't you remember?

Ludwig looked at that exam with some distaste.

Jr.: We made a gentlemen's agreement, didn't we? Well it's time to meet

Roy: Trapped!

Ludwig sighs long and with an annoyed expression. Mykey scratches the back of his neck and gives a look of slight discomfort.

Mykey: You don't need to do this...

Jr.: he started all that

Roy: Well, a bet is a bet; you have to keep it, right?

Mykey: yes, that's true, but...

Ludwig: good! I will do it! (thinking) I will take revenge for this…

Mykey: are you sure?

Ludwig: does it matter, pretty boy? These two won't leave me alone until I do

Mykey: (sighs) as you wish, Lud (thinking) before you competed more healthily, but now...

Ludwig: (looking at Mykey strangely) Lud?

Mykey: eh… I meant “Ludwig” (thinking) I should be more careful with what I say… wait a minute! "pretty boy"? What could he have meant by that?

Roy: (thinking) Did he say "pretty" to Mykey? Well... now that I think about it... it is a bit... uh... I should stop thinking about it, better

Ludwig, losing sight of Mykey, grabs the blade, but before he does anything, Mykey intervenes.

Mikey: wait!

Ludwig: now what do you want?

Mykey: let it to me a little

The older Koopa takes the sheet and takes out a pair of scissors, cutting out the drawing that Jr. had made earlier and putting it in a book that he had nearby, before returning the sheet to him.

Mykey: This is something that needs to be preserved. Very well, you can continue, but I repeat that you do not have to do this

That action causes Jr. to be amazed, since his tutor was valuing his effort in more than one way, which moves the little boy and makes him smile

Ludwig: Anyway… (Thinking) Why do I have to get into these things? Let's just get this over with for a good fucking time

After brooding over his thoughts, Ludwig pops the entire leaf into his mouth and begins chewing on it, putting up an uncomfortable expression. Both Roy and Bowsy seem to be enjoying Ludwig's action, while Mykey puts his hand to his face in annoyance, so he grabs Jr.'s passed exam and reads it, noting that they are slightly more difficult questions. In fact, not even Mykey himself has taken that subject.

Mykey: (thinking) just as I imagined…

Finally, when Ludwig eats the leaf and swallows it, he grimaces in disgust, so he grabs a glass of water and takes a deep breath after drinking it.

Ludwig: There you have it, happy?

Jr.: you can bet it

Roy: I should have recorded video. That was great

Ludwig: You better keep your comments to yourself, you hateful couple.

Mykey: (sighs) anyway…

After that, Bowsy approaches the older Koopa.

Jr.: Mykey… I wanted to thank you for your time; you are a great teacher and a great friend

Mykey: you're welcome, but it was really your own effort, you earned it

Mykey leans down and supports one of his knees on the ground and then goes to hug Bowsy, who returns the hug, closing his eyes and smiling.

Jr.: How I wish you were my brother!

Mykey smiled at the little boy's words, but then he looks at Ludwig, who heard what Jr. just said, having a surprised expression, looking down without moving his head, which Mykey immediately notices and tries to change the subject, separating slightly.

Mykey: ehm… thanks… and well… do you want us to go for an ice cream?

Jr: Sure!

Roy: I want too, if you don't mind.

Mykey: come on everyone. You too Ludwig

Ludwig looks up, rejoining the conversation.

Ludwig: Uh... I'll pass, but have fun, I guess.

Mykey: Well, if you change your mind, you know where we'll be. But first, Roy… do you want to take Jr. in the meantime, please? I have a little matter to attend to

Roy: yes! Come on, Jr!

Both Bowsy and Roy leave the classroom. Ludwig is also about to leave, but Mykey whispers something to him.

Mykey: Ludwig… (He stops, turning his back on him) Can I talk to you in private for a moment, please?

After saying that, Mykey turns to the blue Koopa, who also turns to the indigo Koopa.

- END OF CHAPTER -

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