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twisted-wonderland-shenanigans · 2 years

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Hello everyone, welcome back to the next installment of the deities! Things have been a little busy lately–

“Ya mean these guys have been dragging us around on random adventures again…”

And we’ve been experiencing a lot of chaos, but at this point is it any surprise? Anyway, so this one is going to be special because I’ve asked Ruggie to tell us something about what he does and how he goes about it. Ruggie, you wanna tell us about this?

[Shishishi~! Sure thing, kitten! Well, as you pointed out, I’m the God of Hearths and Fall. The latter’s pretty self-explanatory I think.]

Yeah, so why don’t you tell us something about…what it’s like being the God of Hearths? Like, I remember you telling me before that you embody “family”. What do you mean by that?

[Ah, that. Well…my job is to remind mortals about their family, or rather what makes them a family beyond just being related to them by blood. A lot of them tend to forget what makes them actually part of a family, and in a lot of cases the kids tend to suffer the effects when life gets too stressful for them. So, my job–while I do prioritize the safety of the kids or teens–is to help the family see things more clearly and remember why they loved each other in the first place.]

“Eh? Really? That sounds a bit sappy for someone from the Bananaclaw Pantheon.”

It’s Savanaclaw, Grim. And aww, that sounds great Ruggie! Do you have any success stories you’d like to tell us?

[Hmm…well, there is one that happened not too long ago.]

Ah…do you mean by a few years or a few centuries ago? You guys don’t exactly have the same concept of time as mortals do.

[Oh yeah, right. It was a couple years ago actually. You see, it was almost winter, and…]

////—-----////

They were fighting again.

Even through the closed door Yuu could still hear the screams and bickering of their parents, the walls seeming to echo back to the harsh and hurtful words. What the fighting was about this time the couldn’t be sure–though it felt like they fought over anything and everything. One moment it’s about how one behaved out in public, another it could be an argument over a recent purchase or habit or even just mismanaging money. At this point, Yuu believed it would take a miracle to get them to agree on anything.

Yuu slowly chewed on the cold sandwich they’d managed to make before the fighting started again, only half-listening as they tried to remember happier times. How long had it been since they all sat down to enjoy a home cooked meal? Or watched a movie or show? Played board games? When was the last time this family actually felt like a family? Everything blended together to the point that Yuu couldn’t even remember how or when this whole mess began, but now they could make out certain words amidst threats of divorce:

“Yuu–unfit-!”

“Yuu–irresponsible, useless-!”

Yuu, Yuu, Yuu…were…were they the cause of all this stress and misery? Were their parents mad at them and taking it out on each other? Did…did they do something wrong?

These questions plagued them as Yuu struggled to make sense of this–struggling to understand why. What are they going to do? How are they going to fix this? Would the fighting stop if…they weren’t around?

‘If I leave, will they finally go back to normal?’ they wondered, hearing the loud slam of the door and the angry tromping footsteps before another door slammed shut. ‘If I move out–went somewhere far away and show them I can live on my own–things will get better…right?’

With no other options, Yuu quietly went around their room to gather up what they could carry: a flashlight, some spare batteries, some snacks, a change of clothes and pajamas, a blanket, and whatever form of entertainment they had room for. Once they were satisfied with their selection, Yuu took one last look around their room before quietly making their way outside. The air was cold and brisk as the pulled their jacket tighter around their body. Winter was almost here, and it was supposed to be cold tonight.

‘The bus stop’s not far,’ they thought, armed with their flashlight in the dim light. ‘I can make it before nightfall.’

////~~~~////

Darkness had fallen by the time Yuu realized something was wrong.

When a car was approaching they hid themselves in a few bushes, not wanting someone to catch them and force them to return to that house. Sticking to the trees, however, they somehow lost track of the road with no clue where they were or where they just came from. “Maybe…this way? No, no…that way? No, I just walked past that weird rock.” Releasing an anguished cry of frustration, Yuu sat on the rock and clutched their flashlight closer to ward off the shadows. In the light they could see their breath swirl in the air.

How long have they been out here? It’s gotten even colder than it had been earlier and they have no idea where they are anymore. What was going on? How did they get so far off course from their path?

Their flashlight began to flicker and dim, threatening to throw them into darkness. “No, no, no, no! Come on, please don’t do this now,” they muttered, smacking the flashlight against their palm. “These are new batteries!” With one final smack, the light grew strong and bright again–

And revealed a tall figure standing before them.

“AAH!! Monster!!” Yuu cried out, falling backwards in their panic and scrambling away. “Don’t eat me!”

“Oh my–eat you?” an elderly woman’s voice said before she chuckled, holding up a lantern that filled the area with a warm glow. “I’m afraid you’re far too skinny to fill these old bones, dearie.”

Raising the flashlight higher, they finally saw the woman’s features: a face worn with age bearing a kind smile, body hunched over with a basket on one arm holding a cane, and a pair of large tan-brown ears poking out beneath snow-white hair. A beastman–though not one they recognized.

“I’m sorry, dearie, I didn’t mean to give you such a fright,” the elder said gently, an apologetic look on her face. “I was walking back to my home when I heard you were in trouble and came to help.” Tilting her head curiously, she asked, “What are you doing out here all by yourself? You should be all tucked into your bed back home.”

“I…I’m not going back,” Yuu said. “I’m going to find a new place to stay.”

“Oh? And where pray tell do you plan to go?”

“I dunno…maybe North somewhere?” Yuu said with a shrug, standing and brushing the dirt off of them. They hadn’t thought of that just yet…

“Hm…a little cold to be heading North so close to winter. I hear that the South is much kinder this time of year,” the woman said. “Wouldn’t want ol’ Winter Veil to catch you unawares in his icy wonderland, now would you?”

Yuu said nothing.

“Well, I won’t stop you, little one,” she said gently. “You seem quite serious about your journey. However, it is quite dark out. You are more than welcome to stay with me and my grandson until morning–it would put my heart at ease knowing you were safe and sound.” Gesturing to the side, she said, “My cottage is not far. In fact, you’re standing right on the path.”

Sure enough, they looked and saw the path in question lying right behind the stone they’d been sitting on.

“Of course, if you are still determined to make it to town, you may follow the path that way,” she continued. “Though I must warn you: the path is not easy to maneuver at night, even for my grandson and I. Whatever you decide to do, take care, dear.” Turning away, she began to hobble along the path using her cane, the lantern illuminating the path ahead of her.

“W-Wait!” Yuu called out. When she turned to look at them, they asked, “It’s…just for tonight, right?”

“Just for tonight,” she agreed.

“...okay.” They were silent as they followed along, keeping pace as they watched her easily maneuver the path yet never seeming to get ahead of them. Then, in a quiet voice, they asked, “What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Oh! Goodness me, how could I forget my own manners?” came the startled response as she chuckled. “Everyone calls me Nana Bucchi. What is your name, dearie?”

They told her, adding, “But everyone calls me Yuu.”

“Such a wonderful name. Ah, here we are: home sweet home.”

The cottage was small, surrounded by towering oak trees and several small gardens and one larger garden. The warm glow from the windows illuminated the area to the point Yuu didn’t need their flashlight anymore, following Nana Bucchi to the door and lingering at the entrance. A wall of smells hit them then: warm spices and beef, fresh baked bread, and sweet pastries that made their mouth water and stomach rumble.

“Ruggie, I’m home,” Nana called out, setting down her basket and beginning to shed her coat. “We have a guest.”

“Welcome home, Grammy!” a new voice said, a teenager walking out of the kitchen in a flour covered apron, wiping his hands clean on a dish towel. “So, who’d you bring along this time?”

“This is Yuu,” Nana said, patting them on their shoulder. “They’ll be spending the night with us.”

“Really? Well that’s great timing! Dinner’s almost ready,” he said. Snickering, he added, “I always make extra since she always invites people over.”

At that moment, Yuu’s stomach gave a loud growl.

“Shishishi…especially hungry little kittens like you. Come on! I could use a little help in the kitchen.”

Yuu agreed, feeling at ease around him as he instructed them on how to prepare the dishes. Soon enough they were carrying out a basket of bread loaves while Ruggie carried a large cauldron to the table. Bowls and spoons were set out and Nana Bucchi sat at the head of the table, pouring juice into the cups with a hum. “It smells wonderful, dear,” she said as Yuu cautiously sat in one of the empty seats.

“Thanks, Grammy. Hope you like stew, Yuu,” he replied, filling each bowl with a generous portion before settling down. “Alright everyone, dig in!”

Breathing in the steam, a sense of warmth filled their chest as they examined it. It was a simple beef stew, chunks of meat mixed with vegetables and herbs. On sampling the broth, however, they closed their eyes with a quiet hum. The rich flavor dancing on their tongue reminded them of the home cooked meals their parents used to make.

“I guess someone was hungry,” Ruggie’s voice broke through their thoughts. Looking down, they were stunned to see their bowl empty. “There’s plenty left if you want seconds, ya’know. Just ask.”

Sheepishly holding up their bowl, they asked, “Can I have some more, please?”

“Shishishi, sure thing, kiddo,” he said, filling it with another generous helping of stew. “Try dipping the bread in it–you can soak up all the good flavor in one bite!”

Dinner continued on, Yuu listening to the two talk as they ate and ate…and by the time the stew was gone Yuu had finished four bowls and two loaves of bread–far more than they’d ever had. When was the last time they’d sat down to a home cooked family meal like this? ‘I wonder what they’ll cook together once I’m gone,’ they wondered as they helped clean up.

“So what’s your story?”

“Huh? What story?” they asked in confusion.

“Everyone has a story to tell,” Ruggie told them, scrubbing the now empty cauldron with soap. “I just wanna know how you met Grammy this late at night.”

Yuu said nothing, focusing on drying the bowl in their hands.

“Ah…well, I guess it’s really not any of my business then,” Ruggie said with a shrug. “I’m sure you’ve got your reasons.” Shaking the water off, he grabbed another towel and dried his hands before he said, “C’mon. I’ll show you where the guest room is.”

The room was small, with a single bed, a small table, and a small bookshelf nearby. It wasn’t furnished elaborately, but there was a cozy feel to it. The walls were painted with soft colors, flowers and trees painted on one side while stars that seemed to glow were painted on the ceiling–where they could make out several constellations they recognized while others were unfamiliar to them. On the bed was a large, soft quilt with a savannah like pattern stitched into the cloth.

“It’s not much, but we always keep this place ready in case someone needs a place to stay for a while,” Ruggie commented, setting the lit candle on the table next to the bed. “People usually stay for a day or a week until they get back on their feet. If you need anything, I’m right next door, okay?”

“Okay,” Yuu said. “Um…thank you.”

“Sure thing. Good night!”

Ruggie left the room, leaving Yuu alone with their thoughts as they examined their surroundings before climbing into bed. It was soft, the quilt settling over them with a comfortable weight. Staring up at the ceiling, they thought back to their original goal: to make it to the bus station and find a new place to live. ‘I’ll be gone in the morning,’ they thought, turning to blow the candle out. The room was bathed in darkness, yet before they closed their eyes they could still see the faintly glowing stars on the ceiling twinkling down at them.

////~~~~////

Despite Yuu swearing that they would be on their way right as they woke up the next morning…something compelled them to stay. Nana Bucchi and Ruggie were fine when they said they wanted to stay another night to figure out where they were heading, quoting Nana’s words about the North being too cold.

Soon enough three days had passed and Yuu couldn’t imagine wanting to leave the warm cottage, happy with their new routine of helping Ruggie around the kitchen and listening to Nana’s stories as she knitted something with green and yellow yarn. Each meal they ate was simple, yet each bite filled them with nostalgia and left them feeling content. Warmth and laughter filled every space in the cottage, Ruggie praising them whenever they do something good and playfully teasing them–like a brother. Even Nana’s gentle hugs filled them with a sense of security and peace that they hadn’t felt since…since…

Before the fighting started. When things were happier in that house.

It was out in the gardens when they were helping Ruggie harvest some of the vegetables and covering up some of the vulnerable plants that they got lost in thought.

“Hey. You okay?” Ruggie’s voice broke in, his expression curious yet concerned. “Lookin’ a little spacey there.”

“...I was…just thinking…”

“‘bout what?”

“...my parents…I wonder if they even know I’m not there anymore…”

“Ah. So you ran away from home, huh.” It was a statement rather than a question, yet Ruggie didn’t seem too upset by their words. If anything he looked…sympathetic. “Wanna talk about it?”

At first Yuu wasn’t going to…but slowly the words came out. How their parents would always argue and fight with one another. How the house felt like they were walking on eggshells, worried that one wrong move might somehow trigger another argument between them. How what they heard the other day solidified their desire to run away.

“...I see…” Ruggie looked thoughtful as he leaned against the fence, hands working with dandelions as he twisted them together. Then, he said, “Sounds like your parents were dealing with a lot of stress and didn’t know how to handle it. But…I don’t think they were upset at you.”

“What do you mean?” Yuu asked.

“Well, think about it: if you were really the problem, they wouldn’t have bothered to keep you around, right? Besides, you’re a good kid: you’ve been helping me with my chores and you’ve kept Grammy company whenever I had to run errands around town.” With a casual shrug, he said, “Besides, I think in this case, Yuu, you were probably mishearing your nickname for them just attacking one another in frustration and anger.”

“Huh?”

“You see, most parents want the best for their kids and for each other,” Ruggie explained. “More often than not though, they wind up getting so stressed out and focused on making money to create a living for their family that they just…forget how to live life. They forget that it’s not just some rat-race where it’s survival of the fittest–though the world sure seems to like making it feel that way. Because they don’t let themselves have that time to relax and just breathe…they have nothing to help them feel like it’s all worth it–nothing to help them feel like they can make a living and still enjoy the things that make them happy. And without that buffer to help them decompress, there’s no other place to send that energy but at each other.”

They were silent for a long moment, Yuu mulling over his words. Something flopped down on their head, and when they pulled it off they realized it was the dandelions Ruggie had been playing with fashioned into a flower crown.

“I understand wanting to run away,” Ruggie continued, kneeling in front of them to look them in the eyes. “You feel like it’s the only solution you’ve got when nothing else seems to work. And in some cases, that may be what’s best. For what it’s worth, I think your parents do love and care about you just as much as you do them…otherwise, why would you run away if you didn’t think it would help them get along again?”

“...but…” Yuu paused, not sure what to say. “But…I’ve been gone for days now. Won’t they be furious with me?”

“Mm…they might be upset, but…honestly, I think they’d be more happy and relieved to see you’re safe once the worry is gone.” Placing a hand on their shoulder, he said, “Parents are supposed to listen to their kids when something’s wrong so they can figure out how to make things work or come to a compromise. That’s why communication is so important…okay?” Slowly Yuu nodded, Ruggie giving them his signature grin as he snickered and said, “Great! Now c’mon. Let’s get these veggies inside–we’re making some soup tonight. Wanna help?”

“Y-Yeah. Sure!”

Later that night as the lay in bed–belly full from yet another amazing home cooked meal–they couldn’t sleep, staring up at the fake constellations still twinkling overhead. The flower crown lay on their chest, their fingers brushing over the new green bracelet with dandelion patterns that Nana had finished knitting for them. Ruggie’s words echoed in their mind over and over again, any feeling of defensiveness or determination now faded to emptiness and longing.

‘...I don’t want…to run away anymore,’ they thought, tears blurring their vision. ‘I want to go home…I want to go home…’

“I want to go home,” they whispered to the constellations.

////~~~~////

[...so, you’ve had enough of your adventure, huh? Shishishi…that’s okay though. Being able to go home when things get tough is always part of the adventures of life, whether you’re on a quest…or simply tryin’ to find your place in the world. We all go through it at some point–so why not see where this path will take you?]

/////~~~~////

Sunlight streamed in through their window as Yuu stirred the next morning, opening one eye–and sitting up straight in shock. Their room! How did-? When did they-?

“I’m…I’m home?” they uttered, looking around and patting at their surroundings. Sure enough, it was in fact their room they were seeing. There was no trace of the cottage they had been staying at for the past few days…or…had they? Glancing at the calendar, they saw the date set to the very next day they had left. Had they dreamt that they had run away? All that food and the warmth and comfort they felt from Ruggie and Nana Bucchi…had it been just a dream?

Yet…something was different. The house didn’t feel as tense as it once did, the air feeling…lighter.

It was then that they noticed the sounds of muffled voices downstairs, immediately recognizing the sound of their parents. They were speaking in calm, hushed tones rather than the usual shouting and bickering they once heard nearly every single day.

Stepping out of bed, they paused when they felt something under their foot and looked down, spotting the familiar sight of the flower crown sitting on top of an envelope. A quick glance at their wrist revealed the knitted bracelet, a faint shimmer running along the woven fibers before the effect vanished. Cautiously picking up the paper and the crown, Yuu opened it and read the message written inside:

[Yuu,

Family can become your greatest treasure in this world, whether they are related by blood or by the bonds you create. Find those who love and care for you, and you will always be home. Never forget that.

–Ruggie]

Right before their eyes, the letter vanished in a swirl of yellow dust.

////—--------////

[...and that’s how it happened. Yuu’s parents actually sat down and talked to them, and they agreed to do things one step at a time to make things better for their family. Last I checked, everything was going much better for them since then.]

*sniffle* “I…I…waaaah!”

Awww, Grim! You little softie…

“S-Shut up! I just got something in my eye…”

Well, anyway, it’s really nice to know you kept an eye out for them and everything turned out okay. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Ruggie!

[No problem! And thanks for the donuts~!]

"Hey! That jelly one was mine! Give it back!!"

[Ya snooze, ya lose! Byeeee!]

“Get back here!!”

Well, I can’t say I didn’t expect that to happen now can I?

#twisted wonderland #twst #twisted wonderland deity au #twst deity au #ruggie bucchi #this took me MONTHS to write and was a struggle #but I'm glad I kept at it and I'm pleased with it!

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thecindercrow · 1 year

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The Last of Us (2023, season 1) opening credits

#the last of us #tlou hbo #tlouedit #my gifs #my stuff #long post #I like the shot of the fungus forming the US but it does not cooperate with gifs so oh well #this sequence is gorgeous and I'm so glad they kept the game's theme music for it #I'm not sure what warnings to tag for but please let me know if there's one you'd like included

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villainsidestep · 2 months

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#< i Can confirm cyrus would actually say “im sorry” but the “i didnt know it was you” is implied (@sidesteppostinghours)

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 thank u cyrus for saying sorry

#gideon shut the hell up challenge #you: please for the love of god don't write shit in these tags #me: ..... do you think not knowing it was them made it better or worse for them #that complicated mix of 'he wouldn't have done this to you if he knew' vs 'he would have kept going. he would have killed you.'#had you been anyone else your older brother would have killed you with no remorse. and you're glad he didn't. but you feel sick he would.#that sense of guilt that comes from being relieved you aren't dead. the same guilt of still being alive bc they refused to let you die.#cyrus says I'm sorry. says I didn't know it was you. and you say okay. say he's forgiven. ignore the way they both look at you for that.#you have changed and your brothers have changed but did it ever occur to you just how much until this moment?#how do you forgive him for nearly killing you when you know he would have done the same to your brother?#how do you forgive yourself for knowing that you wouldn't have been there to stop him?#keeping up with the beckers

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bobzora · 12 days

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new pinocchiop the first new one to really vibe with me for a while. banger

#bobtalk #while we're here is this where i admit that i'm not huge on god-ish. it's perfectly fine but i'm not crazy for it #though to be real i haven't kept up with new releases as much as i'd like <-depressed af lol #also not familiar with like anyyyy newer deco*27 songs lmfao. conti new is my deco album of preference btw if u care <3 #besides (not) a devil and rabbit hole (which i will say does in fact go hard) i think the last deco release i paid attention to was #two breaths walking reloaded which wasssss 3 years ago apparently #btw the first animatic i ever made (never posted) was to rachie's cover of two breaths walking. bobzora trivia. would be cute to remake tha #though the oc lore in question Does Not Exist Anymore. at all. there was an utterly pointless time loop involved at the time lmfaoo #for the zero ppl who know my ocs it was luck and kid yuri btw. lol. anyway where was i oh yeah. pinocchiop goated.#im glad youre evil too is my favorite of his btw <- probably basic for this take but well. it is how it is #while you're here peep kanzaki iori's music please please please ple #i hope im not just a personagirl to you but a vocaloidboy as well. love hearts.

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cheekblush · 1 year

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i'll be taking a break from tumblr bc i really need to focus more on my studies 🙈🙊🙉

#i had a panic attack when i woke up this morning my heart was beating so fast #bc it dawned on me how much time i have already wasted and how little time i have left to prepare for my exams #went outside in the cold to breathe some fresh air and calm myself down #my dad was there and as soon as i saw him i started crying..#he embraced me & told me that i don't have to be scared & that everything will be fine he kissed my head & kept holding me #this means the world coming from him bc he's not a man of many words & usually doesn't show a lot of affection #and usually when i complain & whine about my studies he doesn't take me seriously at all & is rather annoyed #but this was obviously very different my heart really hurt from beating so fast & i'm glad he saw that i genuinely needed comfort #i stayed outside in the cold breathing crying looking up in the sky & watching birds until i calmed down a little #and i know i need to delete this app off my phone in order to stop self sabotaging #i waste sooooooo much time on here just endlessly scrolling #this has become somewhat of a safe space for me but i keep neglecting my studies bc of it #like relax the pretty pictures will still be here after you come back not failing your exams is more important!! 😭#i probably should be writing this into my journal instead of here but i haven't been able to find it for months now so 🙃#anyways.. please pray for me that i pass all of my exams at this point i don't even care about my grades anymore i just want to pass!!🙏🏻#stay safe and take care love you all 💗#i might still come on here from time to time to like some posts on desktop but feel free to call me out if you see me on here too much!#☁️

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nullians · 2 years

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Thank you so much @mangoberri for this wonderful commission!

It was a great pleasure to have you inflict feelings on those two guys with me. 10/10, will always recommend >:D

#naruto online #naruto ol #midnight blade #scarlet blaze #I don't know how to thank people in this format/post at all Natalie but please know that I'm so happy I'm tearing up #both bc this is so pretty and well done but also bc you are amazing to work with and generally I'm just glad to know you #aaaaa #Null pls stop being sappy challenge #but fr fr #this was like one of the 3 things that kept me through this year/semester #the ninja kids #midscar #or scarmid. you did flip them XD #pleased to announce that my ninja brainrot is going to bloom full force now that I finally have some time to breathe #tag for edit update

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suave-hogan · 1 year

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What is your opinion on Return to Wherever

Opinion on Return to Wherever? I've got opinions for sure. I'll try to keep it short.

Solid album. I'd recommend it as a good first for new listeners. Definitely one of my top favourite albums of TWRP's

Here is a bit more ↓

I also feel like Return to Wherever was a turning point for TWRP's sound overall. It feels much brighter in comparison to earlier works. Of course they started the change back with Ladyworld and continued it in Together Through Time, but for me they really solidified that new feeling they were putting into their music. Note: I believe Doctor Sung mentioned on stream that RtW was written around the time they relocated to Los Angeles, and it had an effect on their music writing at the time. I'll try to check the vods to cite this, because I don't want to say that he said something without source (thats a lot of hour to go through, so it may be a while, but I did check the years they announced they were moving and it does match up)

I'd also like to talk about the cover art.

Lazerhorse definitely does a good job at emulating styles from the different artists he takes inspiration from, and Hiroshi Nagai is no exception. The beach is lovely, the clouds are fluffy, and the horizon calls back to Ladyworld with those otherworldly crystals. Then there is the rendering style of the boys themselves. It reminds me of that one retro airline poster that Daft Punk used.

Theres also the name stripe that holds the album name, band name, and track list. Its the perfect shade of pink and no one can tell me otherwise. It goes very well with the blue used for the sky and water, and was a good choice to make the text stand out from the artwork. Also, the vinyl release with the pink and blue colouration to match was a great choice as well.

tldr: good album.

#suave asks #suave answered #I talked about the art more than the actual music but for good reason #while i was writing i kept having thoughts like “oh! i should talking about the french horn!” or “oo! that one part in All Night Forever-”#there are nine tracks and i could talk about each one #i needed to stop myself berfore i wrote a whole essay or some sort of thesis statment #unless someone asks for that #ANYWAY i'm glad someone actually sent an ask. like. the ask box is always open #was very excited to get to talk about this album #or just enthuse about Twrp in general #also if anyone remembers the stream i'm thinking of where sung was asked about RtW please let me know.#i can't remember what game he was playing. its going to take forever to search for.

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victorluvsalice · 1 year

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Hello, and welcome to this two-part building update from the Chill Save, entitled “Valicer Haunted Farmhouse Makeover!” Yes, after realizing the gang had some cash, I decided to take a playsession or two and make some upgrades to their farmhouse, and these are the results! Took me a while to get everything the way I wanted (and to get the game to behave itself -- lights kept turning off every time I tried to place things on the wall in the barn first time I tried this), and I’m probably still gonna shuffle some stuff around as time goes on, but right now, it’s looking pretty good, I think. :) This post focuses on the downstairs and the grounds, so let me take you through the changes --

-->Well, first off, I’m sure you’ve noticed all the pet obstacle course stuff tucked into the corner there. ;) Yup, one of my intended goals with this family was to get them some pets (a cat and a dog specifically), so I figured while I was making the house nicer that I could put in all the pet stuff. Downstairs, we have the obstacle course in the front yard; a litter box, natural branch scratching post, outdoor toy bin, and cat teaser on the front porch; a more traditional scratching post and an indoor toy bin (with toys) in the first floor main hall; and automatic pet feeders in the kitchen, complete with mats. :) The pets have not been acquired yet, but you’ll meet our candidates next update.

-->Another major addition -- rugs! I kept meaning to put them down, so I made sure to slap them in now. The downstairs landing has a nice big slightly-worn rug for Sims to cosy their feet on, and the creative study has a rug for everything you can do in there (Alice always had her painter’s tarp rug, but I added a Selvadorada rug under the chess table as that’s where Victor and Alice’s Selvadoradan honeymoon pictures hang, a Granite Falls rug under Smiler’s guitar as that’s where all THOSE vacation photos are, and a standard blue rug under Victor’s piano just because). There are even more rugs upstairs, I assure you!

-->Other decorative changes include moving the egg collection from the last couple of Egg Days to a shelf (from the “Cottage Garden Stuff” fan pack by @plumbobteasociety) that could fit all of them and putting them in a different spot; swapping out one of the MySims statues on the fireplace mantle in the living room -- Alice’s new Elmira Clamp one looked like it belonged near the bookcases, so I put the Hoppy one upstairs in Smiler’s room; updated the “house” shelf Alice’s Simmie from the Festival of Snow sits in so it stands out a bit more; and adding some new pictures and the aprons to the kitchen, along with some pet treats. . .which involved me actually making the whole kitchen one tile longer so I could put in another counter to fit them. XD I suppose I could get rid of the microwave, they don’t really use it, but. . .eh. XD Oh, and I put the special “gives you money” trash bin in the kitchen -- dunno how often it’ll be used, but hey, a few extra simoleons just from cleaning up never hurt!

-->I also made over all the bathrooms! The downstairs bathroom now has a nicer toilet (from Tiny Living, if I recall correctly), plus a better pedestal sink and one of Alice’s most recent paintings on the wall for color. (No, I don’t know WHY the downstairs bathroom is The Beige Bathroom, it just happened.)

-->Outside, I FINALLY got a system I like going for the greenhouse! We have a couple of cute wheelbarrow decorations out front by the door (both official and CC); the flower-arranging bench, the juice fizzer, and a grill for making herbal potions along one wall; and then the plants themselves. From back to front, we have the “orchard” (most of the regular trees Victor is growing); the “unusual plants and mushrooms” line of planters (magical plants, Granite Falls plants, mushrooms, the Tree of Emotions, and the Plasma tree); a line of flowers (either end), veggies, and fruits, with the beehive in the middle; two planters where things overlapped (like fruits with veggies, or flowers with herbs); and the final row of earth where Victor will EVENTUALLY plant the oversized crops. It WILL happen. (Once everything else reverts from “dirt pile” state -- to be fair, I’m not too pissed, as the plasma fruit tree wasn’t actually producing fruit, so this gives it a chance to reset, and they’ve got plenty of other produce and flowers right at the moment.)

-->And over at the barn, I made a little fenced-in area for the chickens, since I didn’t want them running all over and sundry (I WOULD have used the Werewolves picket-style fence, but for some reason that doesn’t have a matching GATE, so StrangerVille picket it is); put the insect collection on the back wall (missing one certain insect that instead is being kept in the house as a “pet”); moved the robot bench and the fabricator to the wall with the woodworking bench and the candle-making bench; and threw in a cauldron for Victor so he can do some alchemy stuff! Plus some of the Tetris-inspired shelving from Cepzid’s “Arcade Room Stuff” fan-pack to show off Smiler’s frog collection. Mostly because I wanted to keep only the cheap frogs in their inventory for plasma-pack-breeding purposes. :P

Okay, so that’s ground-level pretty well covered -- how about the upstairs?

#sims 4 #the lazy save #builds #makeovers #valicer house #this took way longer than it should have because I kept fussing over that damn greenhouse #unsure how I should group things #unsure where stuff should go #fortunately Alice picking up those extra goodies for Victor last episode meant I could have a special 'mushrooms' planter #and then I found a tulip randomly growing by the barn and used that to round out a flower planter #and it finally came together #just ignore the floating ceiling lamps please #they were the ONLY ones that properly lit up the space at night #but yeah overall I'm pretty happy with this #I'm glad I finally remembered to put in rugs!#it actually got to be pretty fun deciding what should go where #I like this house and all the colorful stuff I've put in it #really makes it feel like THEIRS you know?#queued

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wortverlust · 2 years

Note

Jo I swear you are blowing me away with every new piece!

HI V!!!! efhweuhfwewhfwe I...you....WHUT?! Do I? U serious? ehfwehwihfwhf look little me gettin' flustered again >///< fdhfjeijfwifjefwee

#and urgh #ehfoewhfhf #I'm so sorry for the late reply #>_<#SO SORRY!!!#wfhewfdsihfeswoh #I kept your ask way to long for myself #hehe #and and and V?! How are you?!#I hope everything's alrighty (:#I'M SO GLAD YOU ENJOY MY ART!!!#SO FREAKIN' GLAD!!!#<333 #AND I HOPE YOU HAVE/ HAD A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!#PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!!#LOATS OF LOVE TO YOU!!!#ask.V #jo.answers

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pokemonruby · 2 months

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finally wrapped up ff7 rebirth. all in all an absolutely phenomenal game - it is at its heart a beautiful and fulfilling love letter to fans of the original. with the exception of a few nitpicks (mainly some of the minigames just not landing for me, but that's more so personal preference rather than straight criticism. unless you're fort condor. fuck fort condor) made me tear up on more than a few occasions though i do have some minor complaints about how they handled the story, especially toward the climax.

spoilers -

aerith's death doesn't have nearly as much emotional weight as it did in the original and you would think this would've been their golden opportunity to expand on the 1997 version with our unbounded modern technology and the overall improved story-writing our generation can pride itself on but it's instead very watered down (hah) and while i do understand what they're trying to get at (cloud's exceedingly broken mind subconsciously trying to block out what happened) i just feel like they could've still gone with that idea while maintaining the weight of the original scene. i was fully expecting to bawl and instead i just came out of it very confused and a little disoriented because there was just TOO much going on.

#i'm glad they semi-kept the essence of the battle with jenova life-clinger but i would've also preferred had it been the final boss #instead of fifteen different sephiroths. and zack popping up then promptly fucking back off for whatever reason.#i also have some mixed feelings on how they handled ... zack's revival arc in general but i'm gonna wait for the next installment since #he will definitely be back.#but no water burial..... come on square enix. come on #riley rambles #ff7 rebirth spoilers #however you can tell that there was a great surplus of love that was put into this game. an undeniably unforgettable experience #cannot wait for the next installment. please give me playable vincent. please. y'all were teasing me so bad this time around.

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louebel · 9 months

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[ " 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆! " ] — 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠(𝐬): luffy, robin, law, sanji, kidd × gn!reader 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨/𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬: not proofread 'n quick, lots of fluff! they are all babies. (i KNOW kidd's crew raid fashion stores and complain about them if they're lackin. if. if there's a fic like that pls share in the comments. i BEG you.) also some swearing with kidd!! dripping divider by @ benkeibear like always,, i live for these dividers damn.

𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐃. 𝐋𝐔𝐅𝐅𝐘

"you too!!"

you swear his smile widens so much his face is stuck that way.

he is adorable. he smiles every day but hearing you say that? it's exactly what he wants!! he wants people to look at him smiling AND wants them smiling in the process (continuous cycle,,)

it's so easy to notice just how much he loves you saying that. round cheeks tinted pink, eyes shut, and set of teeth shared to the world. he is always so animated with everything he does, and this is no exception.

this little rubber man is immediately engulfing you in his arms!! you are not allowed to leave until he says so.

"i'm gonna make you smile too! forever! that way, we'll both look cute when we smile! shishishi!"

scratch protecting him at all costs. he's gonna protect you at all costs.

if you tell him again, grab his cheeks and shake him as if he were a pupper. if he had a tail it'd be wagging 'till he flies. will probably make all types of noises while you do it.

pat the boi.

𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐎 𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐍

her smile might be tender but she's giggling internally,, she's flattered!!

"is that so? i'm glad to hear that."

robin gained confidence growing up and she knew she was a gorgeous woman — but hearing it from your lips is still a surprise. sure, she gets compliments on the daily, especially by sanji, but... yours felt much more intimate. she's not blushing because she's flustered or anything, it's just because she loves you. and that comforting warmth in her chest propagated to her neck and face.

it's small moments such as this that remind her of saul's words. each day on the sunny is a reminder, but the little things reinforce those feelings. it was such a wonderful sentiment.

you had no idea what she was thinking about, but the way the corners of her lips eased, your heart jumped too.

she really did look cute while smiling.

"you look pretty, too. smile more often, dear."

she's so lucky to have you. and you're so lucky to have her.

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐆𝐀𝐑 𝐃. 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐖

dies

you think he looks... cute?

his eyes widen and he just. stops functioning for a moment. his heart feels lighter and funnier than normal, and his smile returns, a bit more timid than before.

"... really?"

"of course!"

he doesn't even believe it— he did notice from time to time how you suddenly just,, softened when he did it but he didn't think you'd like it that much. he doesn't smile a lot, sure there are definitely various moments where he feels at peace with the crew, but they come easier with you

when he showed you his coin collection, when you both took a stroll or when you simply cuddled. law might look scary to those outside — but inside, he is still the small boy whose curiosity shined above all. he is very fond of those he cares about, even if he has trouble expressing his emotions and thoughts to others. the confidence he wore doubled for you and his loyal crewmates, but he deserved rest every once in a while. years of trauma dulled him, however, when he felt something, it was strong; almost as if breaking out of a cage. he kept them deep inside, only to burst and even tremble when he was pampered. he didn't know how to react, and only with time would he grow used to it.

so,, please be patient and take care of him,, he looks after himself with everything else, but he's a lost puppy with love and physical affection. if it doesn't show on his face, his heart definitely speeds up at every small thing you tell him, casual or not.

"thank you."

you see him smile a bit more now. give him any type of compliment, affection, or anything,, and the "cold" surgeon of death will be nothing but putty in your hands.

"and... you too."

he really does love you.

𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐌𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐈

dies 2.0

"o- oh... my love! you look adorable smiling, too!"

never-ending swarm of compliments. oh and he's hugging you as if his life depends on it.

he's not really used to the sweet words and might think he's undeserving of them. sure, it's a simple smile... but that's exactly why it gets him so much. something so mundane and common yet you see a unique beauty in his and his alone. others can warm your heart too, but he does it in a different way — in a special way.

if you tell him this in the middle of the night and you're both having a calm and peaceful moment he might cry. (if it's daytime and he's feeling a lil sensitive it's tears of joy mixed with laughter,, please hold him)

he's so happy. he'll smile as much as you want him too. if that gets you to do so too, it's a win-win for everyone!

it's usually clear when he feels affectionate,, he is most of the time. but now it DOUBLES. that comment made his day.

he's so giddy and adorable.

"you light my world up, mon rayon de soleil. if i can do so too with a simple smile... then i shall every day."

𝐄𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐃

mf's smile never dropped so fast.

"the fuck do you mean CUTE??"

was about to throw a fit but then he just. stares at you. so genuine...

"why you lookin' at me like that?? stop. 'm not fuckin' cute."

staaaare...

"... zero point one percent cute. happy? now stop looking like a goddamn puppy."

but you end up smiling even more. and no matter what he thought, his heart still beat a little faster. you looked pretty cute, too.

yes. he's a bit mean sometimes but you know he means well. he's your little man. like, he made you a tiny metal butterfly once so that even if he was busy with designing and crafting you had something to remind you of him. (he sputtered profanities and became as red as his hair before storming off walking in a wall but he still peeked from a corner to see if you liked it. when he saw your pleased expression, he smirked like the lil shit he is.)

plus... deep inside, he appreciated it. you and killer always managed to calm him down.

he truly is grateful.

"urgh. c'mere. let's go get killer 'n the others to raid a store."

...

bonus after the raid: he does your makeup and uses a great lipstick he stole found to really make you pop with the looted new clothes he got for you. hyped you up and grinned like an idiot. he's doing your nails next. killer gave you a thumbs up before finding more products himself,, raiding stores sure is fun!

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deadsetobsessions · 4 months

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What Do You Have There?

A knife!

Danny plunked the butter knife in its pedestal of importance. The nice thing about having a billionaire vigilante for a... foster is the amount of money Danny was allowed to drop on his hobbies. For example, his extensive collection of souvenirs.

They're not just any old regular souvenirs. No, no, no. That would be so boring! No, these souvenirs, he obtained from the various muggings, knife fights, and various other situations he's been in ever since he was dropped ungraciously into Gotham.

The butter knife? Damian. Precocious, stabby Damian who he had startled into the stab instinct. A point of pride, really. Danny knew Damian was good at fighting! It was practically, in ghost terms, a super enthusiastic hello! Yes, the butter knife would be kept in the well lit part of the wall. Alfred had told him to stay home today to recuperate. He didn't need it, since the wound would heal in an hour or two, but he'd take staying at home any day.

A couple of hours later, well into the afternoon and right before what Danny knew to be their patrol hours, Danny had a visitor.

"Danny."

"Oh, hey, Damian! What's up?" Danny turned around to see Damian hovering awkwardly near the door.

"I am here to... check upon your wound. It is imperative that it gets proper treatment."

Ancients, Damian was exactly like those alley kids. He just ate a thesaurus instead of the drawling accent the alley kids picked up. Which meant Damian endeared himself to Danny pretty quickly. Like a little ghostling.

"Oh, I'm good. See? No blood is leaking out of the wound." Danny held up spotless bandages.

Danny watched Damian step into his haunt- his room- with a pleased hum. Damian inspected the bandages and stepped back with a sharp nod of approval. His eyes flicked to the wall that Danny was rearranging (again) and did a double take at the butter knife in the middle.

"Is that the butter knife I stabbed you with?"

"Why, yes, it is!" Danny beamed.

"Why on earth would you display that?"

"Because you stabbed me with it?"

"That makes absolutely no sense, you simpleton! When someone stabs you, stab them back!"

"That would be mean!"

Damian spluttered. Danny tugged the kid closer to the wall, cheering inwardly as Damian didn't shove him away. It might be because he was exaggeratedly wincing as he moved his "injured arm" but Danny has learned to take a win where he could find them, especially with ghosts. Not that Damian was a ghost, but he sure acted like one.

"Do you want to see my collection?"

"Your collection?"

"Yeah!" Without giving him time to answer, Danny barreled ahead. "So this is the knife you stabbed me with. Which, by the way, was an awesome show of strength and accuracy."

Damian grimaced. Danny continued blithely, secretly memorizing Damian's reactions to laugh at later.

"And this is the knife those guys stabbed me with that one time Cass found me. And this one is a bullet someone shot at me down by the docks. I think I interrupted some kind of meeting?"

Damian's jaw had a slight tick to it that would have been a baffled frown on anyone else.

"And when was this?"

"Oh, like a week ago."

"What? When did you go to the docks?!"

"At night. I couldn't sleep."

"And you went to the docks?! How did you even get there?!"

"Walked," Danny lied, like a lying liar. He floated, obviously, but none of them knew that. "Anyways, this is a law book! Someone threw it at my head!"

"Hey, guys! What're you doing?"

Danny and Damian turned around.

"Richard? Brown? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, Bruce wanted me to come back for the weekend," Dick said. Danny knew it was code for "something's going down and we need back up." Man, he still couldn't believe they didn't know he knew they were crime fighting vigilantes.

"Same!" Stephanie said. Danny was glad to see that her wounds from "cartwheeling in the manor" were healed.

"I see. Danny was showing me his collection of... objects people have used as weapons against him."

"What?!"

"Yeah!" Danny beamed, completely innocent. "Come on! I'll show you!"

With that, Danny continued to ramble. He just knew that the way Dick's and Stephanie's smiles strained would give him a good laugh for weeks to come. "And this is the glass bottle a drunk tried to shank me with in Crime Alley, and this is a knife the Red Hood himself threw at me."

Dick interrupted, face stiff. "Hood threw a knife at you?!"

"Yeah, but that was because my kids broke into his safe house and I was trying to get them to stop looting the place. And he didn't know I was a kid too, so he aimed a gun at my head. He shot at me too, but I couldn't go back to get the bullet, or else it would have joined my collection." Danny grabbed a box and shook it, metal rattling inside.

Dick smiled sweetly, Stephanie and Damian inching away from it.

"Oh, wow, I see!"

----

In his apartment, Jason shuddered. He grabbed his guns.

"Something's wrong. I just know it," he muttered to himself.

----

Danny smiled innocently as he described the horrific, near death events he got his souvenirs from.

"This is my bullet box! Man, Gotham has a lot of gun fights. I got shot so many times!" Danny complained, shaking the box like a rattling toy.

"Did you know Danny snuck out to go to the bay?" Damian snitched immediately, like a snitch.

"The Bay?! Danny! You know that's where people dump bodies, right?!" Stephanie poked him in the arm.

"Yeah, but like... I wouldn't die. And besides! I missed my friends!"

"You mean the minions you made in Crime Alley?" Steph asked. Danny pouted, eyeing the way Dick's gaze roved over his souvenirs and paling the more he realized how often Danny "got hurt."

Damian bumped a shoulder against Dick's arm. Danny returned to the conversation.

"If anything, I'm their minion." He said, remembering the times the Alley kids sent him on food runs.

"Fear Danny, the overlord of street rats."

Danny snorted. And- "Oh! Yeah, there was like a weird owl looking guy? And then they stabbed me with a finger and I kept it because woah, cool talon looking thing, right? And then they threw a bunch of those tiny knives at me? And then they just kind of vanished? Gotham is so weird."

And now, with all of them pale and stressed out of their minds, Danny swung a devastating blow called guilt trip.

"And that's the batarangs!" Three heads swung over to the line of batarangs. "Those vigilantes kept throwing them at me! One of them even hit me in the arm. Those things are sharp, man."

"Uh. Which ones?" Stephanie asked.

"Hm?" Danny hummed obliviously.

"Do you know which vigilantes?"

"Oh, it was like... the purple one. And the sword one? And like the one with the yellow insignia in the middle. And... all of them, I think? Except for signal. That guy's cool."

Stephanie and Damian had matching veiled looks of guilt. Dick shot them a sharp look. Danny decided to deal the last bit of damage to Dick.

"I'm glad you guys are way less stabby than the general Gotham public though, butter knife incident aside. At least I don't have to worry about you guys getting into danger, right? If you guys got hurt like my family did... I don't know..."

Danny smiled-squinted at them, channeling Cujo at his cutest and saddest: when he doesn't get to eat off of Danny's plate. So, pretty sad and pathetic.

"Uh, yeah." Dick said, guilt splayed all over his face. "Alfred said dinner was almost ready."

"Yes," Damian cleared his throat, looking away. "We shall partake in Pennyworth's hard work."

"Ahaha!" Stephanie laughed, nervously. "Welp, let's go bother Tim!"

Falling into step behind them, Danny grinned.

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navybrat817 · 2 months

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Sergeant Snuggles

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Summary: Bucky wants you to get some much needed rest. Word Count: Over 1.6k Warnings: Fluff, swearing, humor, reader is tired, slight feels (it's me), Bucky Barnes (he's a warning and the best boyfriend, okay?). A/N: I'm tired. I want Bucky to fix my schedule. Again! ❤️Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

You should’ve taken the afternoon off. You knew that. There was no reason for you to remain in the building beyond your earlier debriefing. The mission you completed was successful, but you hardly slept over the last few days because of it. Describing yourself as tired was an understatement.

But you had a tendency to stretch yourself thin at times and were stubborn, a trait Bucky both loved and fought you on.

The beautiful brunette you were lucky enough to call your boyfriend leaned over in his chair as you stifled a yawn. “That’s the fifth time you’ve done that in the last two minutes,” he whispered low enough to not draw attention.

“Glad you’re keeping count,” you whispered back, feeling his steel eyes linger on you as before he turned his focus back to Steve. At least he didn’t say he told you so after you turned down his suggestion this morning to call in.

You glanced at him out of the corner of your eye, the stubble on his strong jawline catching your attention. He hadn’t shaved in a few days. Hardly slept either. Still looked gorgeous.

How was that fair?

“Just take a break,” he urged, tucking a strand of his long hair behind his ear. “It’ll help.”

“No, I’m fine,” you argued, picking up your drink and downing the rest of it, as if it would give you a boost. “We have a busy day. I don’t have time to use one of the pods.”

S.H.I.E.L.D. had recently built a lounge area for agents to rest and recoup during the day and between missions. Some of the pods were large enough for two people to rest comfortably together. Why not cuddle with your soldier for a short time? As nice as it sounded, you had to get through a few more hours of work.

“I love you, but you’re about two seconds away from putting your head on the table,” Bucky whispered, your heart skipping a beat. It did that whenever he professed his love for you. But you were also feeling a bit grouchy, even though he was only trying to help

“And I love you, but I’m about two seconds away from flipping this table,” you hissed before Steve cleared his throat. “Sorry,” you added sheepishly. It wasn’t his fault the mission cost you precious sleep.

The blonde’s brow furrowed. Like Bucky, he knew you pushed yourself too hard some days. You had to though. You weren't a super soldier like they were. “It’s okay,” he said before he continued.

Exhaustion veiled your normally bright and attentive gaze. The Captain had a commanding presence, yet your eyelids drooped as he kept talking. You weren’t sure if you were able to fall asleep sitting up and you didn’t want to find out. With a shake of your head, you had to try and fight the waves of drowsiness that crashed in your mind and washed over your body.

It was a losing battle. You used to laugh at memes that talked about meetings that could’ve been done in an email, but it didn’t seem so humorous now that you were living it. Why didn't you just stay home?

You jolted when your boyfriend suddenly placed his hand on your thigh and you wished you could say you blamed it on his touch. “What? What happened?” You asked. Did you fall asleep or just zone out?

“The meeting’s over,” he replied, nodding to the now empty room. You hadn’t seen anyone walk out. That wasn’t good.

“Shit.” You rubbed your temple, an ache building in your head. You’d have to apologize to Steve later because there was no way you retained anything he stated. “What time is it?”

Bucky checked his watch with a slight frown. “It’s 10:55.”

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck that.

“Yeah.” Bucky’s lip twitched in a smile when you realized you said that out loud. “Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck that.”

You huffed, your head cloudy again before you slumped in your chair. There was no way you’d make it through the day, as much as you wanted to try. You were useless in this condition. “Okay. I may need a nap,” you admitted.

He smiled softly as he pushed his chair back and held out his hand. “I had a feeling. That’s why I booked us one of the pods before we got here,” he said. It shouldn't have come as a surprise. He knew you better than you knew yourself. “Let's go.”

You pouted, but took his outstretched hand. “Are you sure I can't just try and suck it up?” You asked, covering your mouth with your other hand when you yawned yet again. “There’s still work to do.”

“And you're not going to finish it right this second,” he stated firmly, the drop in his voice making your throat go dry. He meant business when he used that tone. “You're going to let everyone else handle it, and they can handle it, and you are going to get some rest.”

You loved this man for putting up with and caring for you. “Yes, Sergeant, but I still don't want a nap,” you grumbled, wondering just how whiny you sounded.

He chuckled, the sound making you giggle. It was infectious. “Just twenty minutes. It’s all I'm asking for to start. You worked hard and deserve a nap,” he said, sneaking a soft kiss in when you pouted again. “If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me? Please?”

Something vulnerable flashed in his eyes before he blinked it away. Nightmares still plagued him and you discovered that he rested easier with you beside him. Your presence didn’t always chase the horrors away, but it helped. Maybe he needed this nap just as much as you did.

What kind of partner would you be if you didn't help?

“Okay, Bucko. For you,” you smiled, leaning into his side as he guided you down the hall. You’d do anything for him. “You know, my caffeine let me down,” you added.

“I know, baby.”

“It’s a betrayal. It was supposed to stimulate me,” you mumbled.

“I know, baby,” he said again, going along with your tired rambling. “But we both know I stimulate better than that ever could.”

“Yeah, you do,” you smiled. He was very good at that. “And this is a good excuse for us to cuddle.”

“As long as you get some sleep, you can have all the cuddles you want,” he promised.

A tired smile touched your lips. “I should call you Sergeant Snuggles.”

It was at that moment that Sam walked by, the smirk on his face telling you that he at least caught the nickname you just came up with. Your gaze flickered to Bucky’s profile, catching the clench in his jaw as he stared at his colleague and friend. It was a sexy look, but now wasn’t the time to think about that. And Sam, the good man he was, didn't say a word. He nodded and went on his way.

Which likely meant he pocketed the nickname to bring up at a later time.

“Sorry,” you whispered, hoping you hadn’t embarrassed him.

Fondness took over Bucky's blue eyes when he swung his gaze back toward you. “Don't be sorry. You can call me whatever you want,” he assured you, taking you into the longue.

The low light created a peaceful atmosphere and you found yourself longing for relaxation as Bucky brought you to the pod furthest in the corner. He helped you in before he climbed in beside you, his massive frame making you feel safe and warm as he held you against him. His fingers moved along your back in a slow and soothing pattern and your breathing began to match his after a minute. It made it easy for your eyes to slip shut.

You still couldn’t believe that you had someone in your life like Bucky. The man did everything in his power to put your needs first and make sure he took care of you. Not because he didn’t think you were strong or capable enough to do so yourself, but because he recognized that you didn’t have to do everything alone. That was why he was your partner.

In work, in love, and in life.

“Thanks, Bucky,” you sighed, wishing you were awake enough to say how much you appreciated him. “Sorry for whining and bitching and being stubborn.”

“You don’t need to thank me and you didn’t whine or bitch. I’ll give you stubborn though,” he said, casually tossing a leg over you before you could move away. If you asked it of him, he’d lay on top of you like a blanket. “Just get some sleep and don’t push yourself today, please. I’ll feel a lot better if you relax.”

You’d feel a lot better, too. “One more question and I will.”

He hummed as he waited for you to speak.

“What's the policy on sex in the pods?” You asked, resting a hand on his chest and feeling his heart start to race. “For future us, for the record. I love you, but we’re not trying somnophilia here today.”

He exhaled a laugh against your forehead before he kissed it, warmth spreading like a balm through your head. “I love you, too,” he whispered. Dragging his lips down to yours. “And I’m sure we can find a way to make it work, but not until you rest, okay? Need you at one hundred percent for that.”

“Yes, Sergeant Snuggles,” you replied, feeling him hold you a little tighter before you finally got some much needed sleep.

I hope this reads well. 🤣 I'm le tired. Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

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