#kids sunscreen is so so important please remember it

[sidekick-hero]

Until I found you

(steddie | 1.5k | mature | AO3 | Collection with wedding fics)

My dearest @thefreakandthehair, you were the first person I really interacted with in this fandom and your Winter Challenge was the reason I wrote my very first ST fanfic. You have a special place in my heart Lex and I am so glad, that I and all the others, were able to show you how much you mean to us with our wedding gifts.

I wish you and Billiam a life filled with love and happiness and the knowledge that you found something special within each other 💜

Most of the time, Eddie doesn’t mind being poor. Hell, he grew up with no money to his name, and as with so many things, you can't really miss what you've never had.

But sometimes he wishes that he wasn't.

Not even for himself, but for Steve. Because Steve? Steve knows what he's missing.

Before he came out to his parents, involuntarily, when they caught them making out on the floor of their living room, and they kicked him out of their house and their family, Steve had money. He could buy anything he wanted and never had to worry about affording rent and groceries.

Now, Eddie and Steve were living together in a small but cozy apartment in Indianapolis with their cats, Merry and Pippin. Steve was studying to be an EMT, and Eddie was working as a bartender where his band played regularly. They got by just fine, even though most of their furniture was second-hand, and they went grocery shopping on a weekly budget.

Their life was good. Perfect, in fact, if you asked Eddie. They had everything they needed, especially each other, which was the most important thing, a fact Steve never tired of reminding him of.

But that never stopped Eddie from wanting to give Steve more. Steve deserved the world and Eddie hated that he couldn't give it to him. He couldn't even give him the honeymoon he deserved.

If he's honest, he still can't believe Steve said yes. Especially after Eddie proposed at the worst possible time. Not during sex, which would have been bad, but not the worst. No, he proposed during a fight.

Steve was yelling at him, probably about something inane because he was tired and frustrated at the time, Eddie doesn’t even remember. And all he could think was that he would do anything to have Steve yell at him and smile at him and kiss him and tease him for the rest of his life.

"If you don't care, fine, but some of us —"

"Marry me."

"What - are you kidding me?"

"No, I have never been more serious in my life. Marry me, Steve."

"Are you asking me to marry you so I’ll stop yelling at you? Because I won't."

"Oh, I know. You don't have to. Just say yes before you go on?"

Steve had stopped yelling at him after that, too busy kissing him. They fucked right there on their kitchen floor, and Steve bitched about it the whole next day when his knees hurt. It was perfect.

Eddie wants their honeymoon to be just as perfect. But even though his uncle pitched in as much as he could, their wedding ate up what little savings they had. So instead of going to a beach somewhere and enjoying the sight of his husband in nothing but his swim trunks and lathering his gorgeous skin in sunscreen, they stayed home.

"Come on, it's not that bad. You know us. We wouldn't have left the hotel room anyway." Steve tries to cheer him up as Eddie sulks on their bed, wiggling his eyebrows in the way he knows makes Eddie laugh every time. It has the desired effect when Eddie snorts, but the thought of letting Steve down still lingers on his mind.

"Seriously, Eds. I know we don't have much right now, but we can always go on vacation together later. Right now, I really want to enjoy some quality time with my husband. So could you please tell him to stop moping?"

It's said with a teasing smile, so Eddie knows that Steve isn't really annoyed with him. But he's right, this is their honeymoon, even if they have to spend it at home. He shouldn't sit around and mope. He's failing at being a husband. He should probably prepare himself for the inevitable moment when Steve realizes that too and asks him for a divorce. Maybe they can at least stay friends. The thought hurts, a pang in his chest that he knows has nothing on how much the real thing would hurt. Like a supernova imploding in his chest, a black hole that would suck the life out of him. But he would try anyway. Not right away, but maybe someday, because Eddie can't imagine a life without Steve in it, even if it won't be the way he hoped it would be —

"I see you spiraling from here, Eddie."

Steve's voice is soft, as is his touch, as he cups Eddie's cheek with the palm of his hand. When Eddie looks up into his eyes, they are soft as well, filled with nothing but love. They look exactly the same as they did when Steve said "I do.” Just before he kissed Eddie with so much tenderness that Eddie could feel it in his toes.

"I just want to make you happy, Stevie. I don't want to disappoint you."

It's painfully honest, but they both worked hard at being honest with each other. Even when they screw up or when they think it might hurt the other. Honesty is the foundation on which they built their relationship, along with trust, respect, and, of course, love. And fantastic sex.

Steve smiles at him, and something about the look on his face actually brings tears to Eddie's eyes and his heart clenches in his chest. Fuck. He never thought you could love someone so much that it physically hurts until he met Steve. "I know, baby. I know. Wanna know a secret?"

Eddie hums and presses a small kiss to Steve's palm. Steve's thumb reaches up to gently stroke his cheekbones, wiping away the wetness that has begun to gather. "You make me happy every day in so many ways."

Steve kisses the tender skin under Eddie's eye, first left, then right. "When I wake up in the morning, way before you, sleepyhead, and you always kiss me, even when you're not awake yet."

He kisses Eddie's nose next, adding a little nip to the tip that makes Eddie smile. "When you text me throughout the day, just to share your thoughts and hear mine. Just to show me you were thinking about me."

Next, Steve's lips find Eddie's forehead, lingering, pressing his love into Eddie's skin, wanting it to get through Eddie's thick skull. "When you come home after a long shift, tiptoeing through the apartment, and making a ruckus anyway because you couldn't be quiet to save your life. And you slide into bed next to me, wrap me up in your arms, kiss the side of my face, and tell me you love me.”

Finally, Steve kisses him on the lips, first taking his upper lip between his own, then his lower, before slowly dragging his tongue along the seam. Eddie opens his mouth and Steve's tongue slips in, just like that, just a tease, not as a prelude to anything, but because he can. Because what's Eddie's is his and what's Steve's is Eddie's. Everything he has and everything he is belongs to Steve. His husband.

"You made me the happiest man in the world when you asked me to marry you. When you said yes in front of our friends, our family." Steve whispers in the minimal space between their lips, and Eddie sniffles, too happy to be embarrassed.

"I love you, Stevie. So goddamn much." Another kiss, as gentle as the last.

Steve pulls away, both hands cupping Eddie's face, his thumbs wiping away the last of the tears. "I love you too. So how about we start with the whole honeymoon business, huh?"

"What do you have in mind?"

Steve's smile is sweet, innocent, but Eddie knows his husband well enough to see the gleam in his eyes. He's in for a treat, his stomach fluttering in anticipation.

"Well," Steve begins, letting go of Eddie's face to tap his chin, "I thought we'd take our mattress into the living room, put it in front of the TV and put on Lord of the Rings. Extended Edition." The words sound like music to his ears, the perfect way to spend the day in his book, but it's hardly a gift for the two of them.

Steve is not finished, however. "That's 686 minutes. Wanna show me how many times you can make me come in 11 hours?"

Standing up so fast he almost knocks Steve over, Eddie pulls Steve into a deep, heated kiss. "Marry me, Steve."

Steve laughs. "I already did, stupid. I take it you like the idea?"

"I love it. Almost as much as you." They kiss again, unable to keep their hands off each other.

Eddie wonders if the impromptu blowjob that follows on their bed can be added to the final count at the end of the day. If so, it's nine times. Not bad at all, if he says so himself.

Steve seems to agree as they cuddle on the couch, both naked, satiated and sleepy, their legs intertwined and Steve's head resting on Eddie's chest, their mattress beyond saving ("Good thing the new one gets delivered tomorrow.").

"Are you happy, Stevie?"

"Never been happier in my life, Mr. Munson-Harrington."

#steddie #steddie ficlet #eddie x steve #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #my writing #check out all the other great ficlets in the AO3 collection everyone outdid themselve for our dearest Lex

[cubicsugar36]

Hair care tips from all over the web and word of mouth

8 months ago I started to lose almost 50% of my hair due to an illness. I’m pleased to say that my hair’s condition currently is probably the best it has ever been. Hence I am going to share all the haircare tips that I have compiled so far. The ones in pink text are the ones that worked for me personally 🩷

My hair profile : oily flaky scalp, straight, low porosity, smooth, small cross section

Inverted head massage 💆‍♀️ - I do this while shampooing and drying, not sure if it increased growth but definitely results in a voluminous look

Avoid hot water for washing🚿 - this is really important but I can’t get myself to do it in the winter 🥶

Hair oiling 🛢️- been doing it all my life but this time I did some research and discovered that it’s not the oil that helps, but the massaging and the stimulating ingredient infused in the oil. I made a diy fenugreek oil and used it twice a week.

Get blood test 🩸- if you notice sudden hair fall with no apparent reason then it’s a good idea to get tested. Since I had been sick so this happened automatically and I have been taking the supplements I require.

Sun protection ☀️ - you can’t really apply sunscreen on your scalp so it’s best to use hats/umbrellas/scarves

Rosemary 🌱 - I used rosemary water and it helped balance oil on my scalp. The compound in rosemary which aids hair growth is oil soluble so you will have to use rosemary oil (mixed with carrier oil) for that purpose. The water isn’t really for growing hair.

Limit heat styling tools 🔥

Use a wide toothed comb 🪮 - I have fine hair so I would always use fine combs as a kid and rip my healthy hair out. Recently got on hair brushes with widely spaced bristles and combing hair has been much more pleasant. Even working with hair tangled by the wind is easier🌬️

Remember, everyone’s hair is unique, so it’s important to find what works best for you. If you’re facing hair loss then take care of your mental health first and be patient as it can take time to improve 🫶

Some additional tips in this image: ⚠️ the first massage tool should not be used on wet hair as it can lead to more damage. Some people use it while shampooing but that’s when our hair is the most fragile. Use it on dry hair or while oiling.

#haircare #natural hair #pinterest #girlblogging #girlblog aesthetic #tumblr girls #girly tumblr #it girl #self care #self love #beauty #becoming that girl #glow up #girly aesthetic #just girly things #pink #pinkcore #clean girl #cleancore #clean girl aesthetic #dark femininity #dark feminine aesthetic #health tips #glow up tips #:3 #; #hairstyle #ulzzang

[yowyowyaoi]

Tobi’s Daily Texts from the Akatsuki

From Sasori

What exactly do you expect me to say to that?

Donuts outside your door. Peace offering.

I’m sure it’s just as scared of you as you are of it.

No it’s three. THREE leaves are bad.

I’ll have Deidara give it to you but from now on if you idiots choose to keep going out without sunscreen I’m no longer treating the burn.

I noticed. But we all have secrets. That one is yours.

I’ve long forgotten the taste of food but if you think you can do a better job than Konan, by all means tell her. I’m sure she’ll take it well.

From Zetsu

What would he even be to you? Uncle? Grandpa? Great-grandpa? 

Patience, sunshine and a lottttttt of sugar.

He wouldn’t be very pleased that you’re letting one immature blonde ruin your focus this way …

No I HAD to eat him. His screaming would have attracted the enemy.

Your eyes look atrocious have you been using the drops??

Don’t kill it until I get there! They make great snacks 😋

I get that but sleep is important too kid.

Pls tell me you’re not the one who ate it all. Please. Please.

From Hidan

I mean maybe if you had a bigger dick but I’m not even sure the puppet has one at all so idk man 🤷‍♂️

Geez I wasn’t that drunk was I? 

You’ve got some balls on you bastard but fuck yes I’m in!! 😈 Funniest shit ever.

So get out of bed and come hang out. Just laying there all day ain’t helping shit.

It’s rated R but only for the sex shit. Don’t worry I know what a little bitch you are about scary movies 🙄

You snitch on me and tomorrow you wake up with your severed hand shoved up your ass 😇

Stop being such a stingy mf you don’t even like ribs asshole!

Not as weird as you think. He’s very flexible for a geezer 

No you’d be perfect for it. Nobody could read your face bc of that fucking mask!

Don’t let Konan see she’d kill both of us and then dig us up to fuck us up again 😓

From Kisame

Itachi insists I ask you to join us, so please come.

There isn’t one in your closet and even if there was, why would you send ME after it?!

God are you and Itachi related or something?! I can’t get either one of you to stop with the damn sweets!

PLEASE stop jumping on the bed I gotta get up in 3 hours I need SLEEP 😡

Stop asking me 1000 questions every time you watch the Discovery Channel 😑

From Nagato

I’m tired of speaking to you three about the same damn issues every single week. You are all grown men and I should not have to babysit you.

If I’m getting complaints from people OUTSIDE of this group? Then, yes, it is a problem.

Do as you see fit but remember your missions take precedence above all.

I’d advise you to keep in mind that he’s only 19 years old, and he already has that hair-trigger temper.

At least on this one point we can agree: white-haired “mentors” are the worst. 

What makes you think Sasori would make a good Pein-body for me? 

From Kakuzu 

You realize every cloak you tear up I’M the one hand sewing the replacement??

You Deidara Hidan all need to clean your rooms you’re making the house smell like a public toilet 😡

Only if YOU want to be the one to go out and catch the bounty to afford that.

I would suggest you stay focused on your missions. This is a serious organization, not a highschool.

I doubt that. I’m rarely surprised, brat.

Be a lot easier to treat it if you took that damn mask off and let me SEE it, kid.

Not complaining about the money but … how did you get it so fast 🤨

Konan says it was you, you say it was Itachi. Wonder what Itachi’s going to tell me.

No. And anyway you’re old enough to know that “love potions” aren’t real.

From Konan

Dinner’s ready!

You know that’s a completely inappropriate question to ask a woman, right?

Come see me later I’ll use the good shampoo and then give you a trim 😊

The other things I don’t mind but everyone is responsible for their own underwear.

Just go play with the one that Itachi absolutely does not have in his room.

Okay but FIVE SEPARATE PEOPLE came to me and told me they saw you playing with it right before it “mysteriously broke”. 😒

Not saying the muscles are impressive. But. 🫣

From Itachi

I’ve found that massaging the lids for half an hour and then resting with a cold cloth over them really helps.

I saw. I couldn’t believe how tall he’s gotten 😢

I’ll let you read it when I’m done. It helps with a lot of the overwhelming feelings.

I’m not scared at all. I just don’t want Kisame to be around to see it happen.

Honestly? I don’t trust that old man and I don’t think you should either, cousin.

A few bad teeth is probably the least of my health concerns, ha ha 🙃

Come walk with me. Give you a chance to breathe for a while.

Yeah but the thing about dreams is at some point, you’ve got to wake up. 

We’re both young and strong. Together with Sasuke we could do it. And be free.

Are you kidding? That movie would have BOTH of them pissing their pants. 🤣

No matter what he’s just going to find an excuse to fine you for it and take it out of your pay.

Ugh I tried but the way he eats everything super rare? And then licks the blood off the plate?? 🤢

From Deidara

Well you know he’s immortal so, never.

A big box of dangos and like half a cherry pie. You can have it but do NOT let me catch you eating everything at once.

We leave in 20 min. Don’t forget your pack this time.

No Kakuzu thinks Hidan did it and I’m not gonna correct him, and NEITHER ARE YOU.

That’s … pretty gay, ngl

Socks first, then shoes. Not sock shoe sock shoe. If there was a fire you’d be running out with one foot naked. Who tf raised you?!

Yeah I made it for you. I know you like turtles. And no it doesn’t explode.

I dare you to say that to him

Heyyyy you got $30 I can borrow 😅

No really DID you hide my clay?!

Me, Hidan and Uchiha. You’re coming too.

The way one loves a *friend*, yes

Did the salmon give you the shits too?? God my asshole feels like it’s melting 😫

#tobi #obito uchiha #texting #the akatsuki #deidara #sasori #hidan #kakuzu #itachi uchiha #zetsu #konan #nagato #kisame hoshigaki #Akatsuki Daily Texts Series #implied tobidei?

[thelastspeecher]

Another Foster Ford AU prompt, Ford bonding with his foster sisters and parents.

Beach episode :) Enjoy!

———————————————————————————————————–

              The Young family minivan stopped perfectly within the lines of a parking spot.

              “Good choice, dear,” Madeline Young, Ford’s foster mother, said to her husband.  Her husband and Ford’s foster father, Wyatt Young, smiled.

              “I wanted to park as close as I could to the sand so the kids can get to playing right away without walking across the hot parking lot.”

              “C’mon, c’mon!” ten-year-old Tina, one of Ford’s four foster sisters, said impatiently.  She was practically vibrating in her seat with excitement.  “I wanna swim!”  Madeline and Wyatt chuckled.

              “You can unload, girls,” Wyatt said.  “We’ll bring everything with us and set up on the beach.”

              “What about Stan?” asked seventeen-year-old Octavia.

              “We’ll bring him, too.  He’s too little to be allowed to run off without proper adult supervision,” Madeline said.  Ford’s foster sisters – Octavia, Tina, twelve-year-old Ashley, and fifteen-year-old Stephanie – eagerly opened the door of the minivan and bolted away.  Ford scowled from his car seat as he watched them sprint towards the ocean, shouting happily.

              For once, I wish Madeline and Wyatt would have been fine with the girls watching me.  I want to swim, too!  In fact, that was why they had come to the beach.  Wyatt took Ford to the neighborhood pool the week before, and when he discovered how much Ford liked to swim, suggested they take a family trip to the beach.  As someone who grew up in a beachside city, Ford was thrilled by the opportunity.

              “All right, Stan, let’s go set up a spot,” Wyatt said, unbuckling Ford from his car seat.  He headed for the beach.  As they walked across the sand, Ford started to squirm.  “What’s wrong?”

              “Put me down,” Ford said.  “Please,” he added quickly.

              “Are you sure?  The sand’s a bit hot and difficult for a little boy like you,” Wyatt said.

              “I’m sure, I’m sure!”

              “Okay.”  Wyatt set Ford down.  Ford promptly dug his tiny toes into the warm sand.  The familiar sensation made him smile.  “Wow, someone’s happy!”

              “I like the beach,” Ford said quietly.

              “You’ve been to one before?” Madeline, who had caught up to them with the rest of the supplies, asked.  Ford nodded.  “Huh.  That’s surprising.  Did your parents take you on vacation?”  Belatedly, Ford remembered that his foster family believed he was born and raised in Gravity Falls, Oregon.  He nodded again.

              “But not this kind of beach,” Ford said, watching the turquoise waves.  That, at least, was true.  The Atlantic Ocean at Glass Shard Beach was a far cry from the Pacific Ocean at San Diego.  Not only was the water a completely different color, but the sand was white, clean, and soft.

              Honestly, this makes the beach I grew up near seem like garbage.  Wyatt took ahold of Ford’s hand.

              “Then I’m happy we’re giving you a new experience,” Wyatt said cheerfully.  They continued to walk down the beach.  Ford stared at the water longingly.

              “I want to swim,” he whined to Wyatt.  Wyatt chuckled.

              “Don’t worry, you’ll get to swim.  But we need to set up first and get your floaties on.”  Ford scowled.  “I know you don’t like your floaties or your life vest, but they’re important to keep you safe.”

              When I was this age before, I had no such safety devices.  Though that might be more of a poor reflection on Mom and Pops than Wyatt and Madeline.  They reached a spot on the beach that Wyatt deemed satisfactory.  Ford sat down on the sand while he waited for Wyatt and Madeline to set up the umbrella and lay down the towels.  Once the umbrella was up, Wyatt scooched Ford underneath the shade.

              “I have sunscreen on, though,” Ford protested.  Before leaving the house, all the children had been thoroughly coated in sunscreen, as the instructions on the bottle said to apply fifteen minutes before sun exposure.  Wyatt ruffled his hair.

              “Yes, but we still want to keep you out of the sun as much as possible.  Your skin is more sensitive than someone older.”

              “I guess,” Ford mumbled.  In truth, he was relieved he wouldn’t be experiencing a repeat of the many sunburnt days of his first childhood.

              Again, not something that reflects well on my parents.  Ford watched his foster parents finish setting things up.  The toys they had packed for playing in the sand, he wouldn’t deny he was excited by.  But the ocean was practically calling to him, getting louder and louder the longer he sat under the umbrella.  After what felt like hours, Madeline finally put Ford’s life vest and arm floaties on him.

              “I’ll watch the things,” Madeline said to Wyatt.  “You take Stan and have some fun in the water.”

              “Will do.”  Wyatt grinned at Ford.  “Want to go swim?”

              “Yes!” Ford enthused.  He jumped to his feet and sprinted towards the ocean, scattering sand.  He could hear Wyatt, Madeline, and a few other beachgoers chuckling at his antics, but didn’t care.  The loose, dry sand became wet and firm as he took his first steps in the Pacific Ocean.  Before he could go into water any deeper than his waist, however, he felt two hands pick him up.  “Hey!”

              “You can’t go past your waist without an adult right next to you,” scolded Wyatt, who had picked him up.  Ford scowled, but nodded.  Wyatt set him down again.  The two slowly walked further into the ocean.  When they got too deep for Ford’s feet to reach the bottom, Wyatt spoke again.  “How are you doing?”

              “Great!” Ford said cheerfully.  Wyatt beamed.

              “Good.  Let me know if the current gets too strong for you.”

              “I’ll be fine,” Ford said dismissively.  He swam happily in the salty water, ignoring his foster father nearby, just enjoying himself.  Much faster than he preferred, he felt himself slow down as he tired.  Wyatt spotted this immediately.

              “I think it’s time to go back to the beach,” he said.

              “But-”

              “There’s plenty of fun to be had other than swimming,” Wyatt said.  He put a hand on Ford’s back and guided him towards the beach.  As they emerged from the ocean, water splashed their backs.  Ford and Wyatt spun around.  Tina and Ashley stood in the shallows, giggling.  “Did you just splash us?”

              “Maybe,” Tina said in a sing-song tone.  Ford took a few steps back into the ocean and splashed his foster sisters.  Tina and Ashley let out shrieks of faux outrage, still giggling.  Ford grinned.

              “Do you girls want to help us make a sandcastle?” Wyatt asked.

              “Sure!” Ashley said.  “I’ll go get the stuff from Mom!”  She sprinted off to Madeline.

              “Sorry, Stan, I just decided for us that we would make a sandcastle together,” Wyatt said to Ford.  “Are you all right with that?”

              “Yeah,” Ford said with a shrug.

              Stan wasn’t much of a sandcastle person, so we didn’t try making them very often.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll find that I enjoy it.  Ashley came back, her arms full of plastic molds.

              “Should we give our sandcastle a moat?” Wyatt asked as they sat down to begin building.

              “Obviously,” Ford, Ashley, and Tina said at the same time.  Tina and Ashley giggled.  To his surprise, so did Ford.  The salty ocean breeze picked up, whisking away the heat of the sun, as Ford and his foster family began construction on their sandcastle.  Ford could feel his happiness increasing by the minute.  After so long in unfamiliar and strange situations, being in one that was so similar to what he’d grown up with, he finally began feeling like he might be at home.

#Foster Ford AU #Stanford Pines #my writing #ask #vulpixen

[new-berry]

The curve of the earth makes a horizon

Martin/ Ben all fiction, future fic 2063? You are wrong about seeing a spelling mistake.

“When you kiss me I feel like it’s going to be like this forever. A better version of forever, that never gets boring.”

Martin looks through the lens of his camera, adjusting the shot by millimetres until the image was perfectly centred on nothing at all important.

There is a lot of rock. “Lots of fucking rock.” He says out loud. Looking around guilty for a second like someone might hear him. That someone might take notice of this old man standing on the lip of the Caynon taking photographs.

A late in life hobby, an excuse to go out into the wilderness. Careful, sanitised, wilderness. Retracing the holidays they took when they were younger.

His kids, their kids, insisting on regular check-ins, and scrutinising his itinerary. Turning into the hectoring nags they accused him of being when they were young. He takes a ridiculous deep satisfaction at this.

Martin knows that people can drown in sand. His kids, their kids, scold him for watching too many grim documentaries. Like he isn’t Nordic. Like every God his people ever had wasnt mostly a warning that the vagaries of fate will screw you over every time.

Kids raised in too much American sun. Playing in the pool with their dad. Martin the one with snacks and sunscreen. The desert lays waiting on the ground and in the air, and you can wake up with a throat like sandpaper and your lungs squeezing pain every time you draw breath.

There is a difference looking into a fjord, a satisfying cool promise. Ben cutting through the water like an otter. The summer of the midnight sun when Martin walked around every day with a ring in his pocket trying to find the perfect moment to propose.

Martin read that you, a younger you he supposes, even younger than his children now. You can see for nearly five kilometres before the curve - like a wine glass held with the stem between the index and middle finger, red wine swirling a little with the hand moving in time to the conversation full bloodied and alive on your tongue - of the earth makes a horizon.

That is a long way to see, longer if it is both behind and ahead of you. Martin turns away from the agonised mouth of the Grand Canyon. It looks, he’s pleased, exactly like he remembers. Exactly like yesterday. Exactly like last week. Exactly like forty years ago.

When they were young and Martin would insist they had to do something utterly different, and then park up on a beach for Ben.

The first time they saw the Victoria Falls and all that water was just too much to process and he and Ben had gone back to the lodge, barely speaking to each other the whole way home, and fucked all night. Hands rolling over each other like white water, faster and faster and dissolving into steam.

How they had missed two days of the safari and could have just stayed in London and fucked in their own bed. How Ben had looked so wide eyed and innoncent and said “a lot of fucking zebras man” whenever people asked about their trip.

He didn’t understand The Falls then, didn’t understand canyons, terrified by their immensity. He needed the thin steel of Ben behind him to back him up. Needed Ben’s breath in his ear and his hands on his hips. Now he gets it. The extent of time, the patience of waiting to cut through the last few layers of rock to the soft belly of the world underneath. Not blooming and fading, patient and enduring.

Love as a dream that someone else had last night. Martin woke up early, still cool enough to walk up to the edge here. Pretty soon the stones will be spiky with heat. He’s here under a sensible beige hat, his face shaded. Trousers with too many pockets and his kids, their kids, unread messages on his phone. An expensive gold watch that he rescued from Ben’s wrist.

He rests his hands on the metal guardrail that will soon be too hot to touch. The phantom of tattooed fingers that used to slide over his rest just outside his vision.

Eventually, the sludge left of the Colorado River still wading through the bottom of the Canyon will cut right through to the other side of the earth. This is how long it would have taken Ben and the boys to dig a hole to China, like they tried to years ago.

Ben’s face so serious, and their faces so intent. Blurred in his memory to little shovels moving as sand was flung around, all their shoulders getting red. The next morning the tide had smoothed the beach flat and they made sandcastles, Martin balancing out the sides where they were uneven, and Ben decorating them with shells. The careful little hands patting sand into place now sending him daily messages reminding him to hydrate properly in the heat.

He couldn’t have coped with that dark plodding river so many miles below his feet alone when he was young. Would have been terrified with the idea of running out of time. So much to achieve, so few winters left.

It is almost dark by the time Martin pulls into the small town he’s been using as a home base. It’s almost time to move on, he can feel it. Too long in the dust, and he’s longing for a damp that can settle in his body and anchor his brittle bones down. But he keeps driving around these small towns with their ordered streets filling in a checkerboard on the map. First street the thickest black line through the centre of the town, cutting second street west off and making it second street east, making order of the desert.

He came here, decades ago, with Ben. They were new to each other then and imagined, he imagined, you could make order by planning. But they didn’t stick to the route, they went off the map. Kept the secrets though, the ones they whispered, the ones they thought.

That trip that was carefully named many things, a vacation, a break, a road trip. A get away. Before the beach. Neither of them willing to admit out loud yet that it was a dress rehearsal for their possible future.

The two of them. A car. Two boys at play, all the weight of London sanded off. When he finally saw the Canyon he understood their trip. The first time he had gone to the desert he was a child and time has wounded his face to grooves but he’s still a boy hopelessly in love. Tripping over his tongue and Ben’s trying to explain what he wanted their future to be.

In his dreams he is young. And Ben is there. Ben drives and Martin has just woken up, woozy and not entirely sober after sleeping in a moving car. And he can smell Ben’s sweat on him, feel the salt and skin itching under his fingernails. Ben isn’t talking, just driving through the black, humming in tune with the white lines, dots and dashes, that appear in the headlights.

A truck appears from nowhere and breaks the spell, and Ben spills out a flood of words and love that chip the first stone face of the canyon away.

He’s told his kids, their kids, he’s travelling around. But he’s never far from a canyon. Every day when he comes back from walking the scrub looking for inconsequential images he can send back - nothing with bones picked clean in the sun, nothing with snakes, nothing with vultures posed on power lines like cartoons - he reminds himself it’s time to go soon.

Propped against the lamp is the last picture he took of Ben, when Ben was only just there. It’s in the sun all day and it’s faded almost away. And Martin holds to the idea for seconds every morning that replacing the past is as possible as replacing a photograph. That last picture that he took as much with his mind as his camera, swept years and travel from Ben’s body. Martin can only see his eyes and the gleam they held.

The smooth ordered bands of his skin with the carefully shaved beard that Martin would run his fingers over. Even now he runs his fingers over the image, Like peeling a sun burnt layer of skin off. The same way he’s brushed frost from a window, cleaned dust from a shelf, and underneath, not another layer, but the gleam of the glass and wood, the round of bones.

He knows that he can’t walk to the edge too many more mornings. That their kids are waiting, messages need to be answered, and the garden they planted needs watering. That no matter how far into the horizon he looks he won’t find that flung apart longing that they left here years and years ago. The earth curves, closes off behind you, no matter how desperately you look back.

#I used to write about grief a lot #and I used to write a lot of future fics #fic #I quite like the last couple of lines #I used to hear a random fact #like how far you could see in the distance and write a story about that fact #I never fact check

[mooounicsss]

6 Smart Jumps That'll Make Your Next Park Visit A True Fun Experience

There’s nothing like a day spent in the great outdoors, is there? Whether you’re out hiking or spending time at the park, there’s just something about being surrounded by nature that feels refreshing. But even if you live in a city, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature without having to leave the comfort of your home. In this blog post, we’ll outline six smart jumps that will make your next park visit a true fun experience. From exploring new trails to meeting new friends, these jumps will have you jumping for joy in no time. So get ready to go wild – without leaving your house!

The ultimate guide to enjoying pools during the summer

Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy pools. Not only are they refreshing, but they're also a great way to spend some quality time with friends and family. If you're looking for ways to have a great time at the pool, then you need to read this guide. We'll show you some of the smartest jumps that will make your next park visit a true fun experience. First, it's important to know the rules of pool etiquette. Make sure to stay hydrated and save those drinks for when it really counts (like during games). And lastly, be respectful of others – don't start arguments or get too rowdy. Now let's get started! Here are six smart jumps that will make your summer pool experiences even better: 1) The Superman Jump: This jump is perfect if you're looking for an adrenaline rush. It's challenging enough to be thrilling but not so difficult that you'll end up injuring yourself. Plus, it looks wicked cool when you pull it off! 2) The Double Back Shuffle: This jump is perfect for beginners who want an easy challenge. It takes a little bit of coordination but is ultimately simple and tons of fun. Plus, everyone loves a good double back shuffle dance party! 3) The Frog Hop: This jump is perfect for kids who love jumping around – and frogs look super cute doing it! You'll need some basic skills (like hops, flaps and Turns

5 tips for making the most of your dog park visit

1. Bring a pal or two! Bringing other dogs to the park helps keep everyone entertained and active. 2. Play loose! Don't be afraid to let your dog run and play without boundaries - they'll have a blast and you'll get some exercise, too. 3. Keep an eye on those treats! Many dogs love a good bribe so make sure you bring some goodies for them to enjoy. 4. Be respectful of other park-goers! Letting your dog run free can be tempting, but please remember that other people are there to enjoy themselves, too. No need to be rude - just follow these tips for a positive experience at the park!

How to keep your kids entertained while you

When you have little ones at home, it can be hard to find ways to keep them entertained. But that doesn't have to be the case! With a little planning and some smart jumps, you can have a fun park visit with your kids that leaves them laughing and wanting more. Before you go, make sure to gather everything you need for the jump: A map of the park, a blanket or lawn chair, snacks, drinks, sunscreen and bug spray. Once you're there, start by picking an area that's close to the entrance but out of the way. Choose a spot where there are few trees or other obstacles in your way. Next, set up your blanket or lawn chair. Make sure it's comfortable for both you and your child so they'll want to stay seated as long as possible! Next, give your child some snacks and drinks. If they're old enough, let them help put these things together. They'll love having some control over their own environment and will enjoy preparing their lunch hour snack! Now it's time for the fun part: The Smart Jumps! There are plenty of different ways to get involved with your park visit, depending on what interests your child. Some ideas include jumping on giant inflatables like the Jumping Pillow or playing games like Tic-Tac-Toe on a large mat. If your child is more into running around than bouncing around, try out one of our interactive playgrounds

[ivy-loves-chocolate]

A/N: Commission done for @basharria. Thank you so much for the positive feedback and for the support!

Plot: "I have really wanted to see something regarding Claire, post-Revelations, at something like a beach or pool--her relaxing, or trying to (and failing) as she sort of ruminates on things, loves lost, etc, until some guy (or girl) decides to flirt with her. At any rate, it ought to end with some night ride on a motorcycle."

Tags: fluff, a little angst, flirting.

Word count: 3k words.

Ko-fi: if you want to support or commission me, please visit this link. Thank you!

It’s been a while since Claire got a chance to relax. She always wanted to go to the beach, but because of her job, he had a hard time booking the trip. Eventually, Claire found a small window between her assignments and was able to prepare a small vacation for herself.

With a cocktail in one hand and a book on the other, she was now lying down on a sun bed that Chris had brought her before the trip. Between occasional sips of her drink, she took deep breaths, filling her lungs with warm air while enjoying the tropical scent of the beach—one of hot sand mixed with sea water. Every breath relaxed her more and more, making her feel as though she succumbed to the bamboo material of the sun bed. Between her body and the wood, there was a BSAA towel protecting her skin. The whole setting was accompanied by the sounds of ocean waves and faint voices in the background, as there were some people who were trying to enjoy the same serenity of the beach as well. 

It was close to noon now, so the sun became hotter. What was once a warm, ticklish sensation turned into a stinging one. 

“I need to apply some sunscreen.” She thought as she put her book and cocktail aside and reached for her bag. Inside were various things, such as sunglasses, books, towels, a sandwich, and the sunscreen she was looking for. 

“There you are…” she grabbed the bottle and poured some of its content on her skin.

These supplies were brought by Chris, who wanted to make sure that Claire has everything she needs during her trip so she wouldn’t worry about a thing. 

Once she laid back down, she grabbed her drink and resumed her sunbathing. Her thoughts inevitably shifted to her brother. There were ones of admiration and compassion for the older sibling, as he was always like a guardian angel to his little sister, ever since they were kids until this very day. 

“Chris…he’s such a good brother.” 

She remembers the first day of college, when he came to inspect the dorm and the campus. 

“Be mindful when you go to parties. Don’t let your drink unsupervised, especially around frat boys!” he said in his usual bossy tone.  

“Oh yeah, you know that type well since you behave like one.” 

“Smart ass.” he chuckled as he patted her head.

"Nerd."

He was always very protective of his little sister. They shared a special bond, and that’s why it hurt so much when he disappeared…

She unconsciously frowned at the memories of Racoon City. If it wasn’t for Chris, who taught her how to wield a gun, maybe she wouldn’t survive. It was a challenge for her, not only because she faced such a big threat, but also because she had to do it alone. Her whole life, it was her and Chris, and suddenly she had to face that danger all by herself. 

"C'mon, Redfield, it’s your free day…” she scolded herself for her inability to calm her mind. 

She dug through those memories in hopes of finding something that would distract her. 

“Leon, Sherry…” a smile appeared on her face. 

Over time, they became two of the most important people in her life. Their presence not only made that experience less lonely, but they also gave her courage and hope to push through. She has kept in touch with them up to this day. 

“Sherry was and still is a very brave girl, and Leon was a handsome rookie with a heart of gold. Who would’ve thought I’d be able to flirt during an apocalypse. Talk about raging hormones.” A soft chuckle escaped her lips. 

She took a deep breath again, trying to think of something else rather than her work life. 

“Maybe a quick swim would help.” 

After a life full of fights and losses, it’s hard to disconnect from the past, but a bath under the warm sun sure does wonders. 

She resumed her lecture when she came back, not before applying more sunscreen. Chris told her repeatedly, almost scolding her, to make sure to protect herself from both the radiating sun and from strangers.

“He's always protecting and rescuing me. I truly believed I had lost him until he found me in Antartica. He gave me such a great scare.” 

She found her dear brother, but she lost a loved one in the process.  

Steve’s mutation is still livid in her mind, as it just happened yesterday. However, she tries not to remember him like that, but as the sweet, brave young man he was. She tries to erase those memories of his mutated, violent form from his final moments and replace them with his final human form and final genuine words. 

“'I love you…’ he faintly whispered to me with all of his strength. In a way, I loved him as well.I was caught up in the same nightmare with monsters and experiments as three months prior. I didn’t have Leon or Sherry, nor Chris until later on, but I had you…Steve. And you were more than enough…”

The book was tossed again on the table near her, as sadness washed over her. 

“At least your feelings were genuine, not unlike…Neil’s.”

If life taught her anything, it was to find reliable people during hard times and also to learn to rely on yourself. Sadly, not everyone she met managed to survive, and not everyone was reliable. 

TerraSave was another stage of her life that she recently ended. Having everything she needed—a well-organized structure, the experience she had gathered over the years, and a good leader in Neil Fisher—she sought to finally put an end to bioterrorism, achieving her life goal. However, Neil had other plans for them. 

Claire blindly trusted him and refused to see the obvious signs of betrayal until it was too late. He was self-assured, brave, and very experienced in the field, giving Claire a nice illusion of reliance and safety. Heartbroken and enraged, she fought his mutated form, putting an end to his lies and to FBC for good. 

“Treacherous bastard…why does every guy I meet have to either mutate or die? Well, there’s Leon, but it’s not like we have deeper feelings for each other. Dating in college was easy. One time, this guy-“

A figure towers above her, blocking the sun and casting a shadow over Claire. She removed her sunglasses to get a better view of this mysterious person. 

"Isn't it a little risky to sunbathe at this hour?” The woman asked. She was about the same height as Clare, and judging by her toned body, she probably worked out a lot. 

“A little, yes, I’ve been in riskier situations, though."

“I believe that. Listen I- I wanted to ask if you had any sunscreen I could use; I ran out of mine.” 

“Sure, actually you can keep it. I was about to go anyway.”

Claire reached for her bag to pull out the sunscreen. 

“Thanks! I’m Elena, by the way.”

"Claire," she says, firmly shaking the woman's hand.

Elena sat on the sun bed at Claire's feet, pouring some lotion on her arms. She could notice the woman’s features better. Her hair was long, black, and thick, and it was styled in a bun. Big, brown eyes were looking at Claire as she spoke, and full lips were curving into gentle, kind smiles when Claire was talking back. Her nose was big and a little sharp, flattering her round face. Her brown skin was glistering in the sun, indicating that she had recently come out of the water.

“So, what brings you to the beach, Claire?”

“Well, I'm trying to relax, but I keep failing.”

“Why so?” 

“I can’t put my mind at ease.” Claire chuckled in an attempt to prevent the conversation from turning serious. 

“Wanna know something?” 

“What?" 

“That’s pretty obvious.”

“H-how?”Claire asked, a little embarrassed, as she didn’t realize how expressive she could be when dealing with her own thoughts. 

"Well… I actually tried to ask you for sunscreen a couple of times, but you kept fidgeting in your seat and frowning, and I didn't want to bother you. "You seemed to have cooled down a little after you returned from the ocean, so I quickly came to ask."

"Oh, Lord, you must think I’m insane.” She avoided eye contact by drawing her knees closer to her chest and resting her head in her palm. For a reason, this woman made Claire very shy. 

“No, not at all. We all have our demons to fight.”

“Mine seem impossible to fight off." 

Elena closed the lid and tossed the tube in the hot sand. 

“You’ll manage eventually. You seem like a strong person, Claire.” The woman’s full lips curved into a smile. Her eyes were staring at her, as if they were examining her features. The woman’s gaze was intense, and if Claire didn’t know any better, she’d say it was a flirtatious one. 

“You have no idea.”

A pause followed, with only the wave sounds being heard in the background. There weren’t as many voices in the background as there used to be, given the hour.

 Elena was the first to speak. 

“Do you want to know something else?” 

“What?”

Elena leaned forward, closing the remaining space between them. 

“The sunscreen wasn’t the only reason I came to you.”

“Oh-how so?” Claire began to be a little paranoid, but regardless, she found the woman attractive. 

“Well, I also thought you were really pretty.” 

Claire blushed instantly. It’s been a while since someone complimented her appearance in a flirtatious manner.

“Thank you. You’re not bad yourself.” 

“…way to go Claire…”

To her relief, Elena chuckled softly.

“Listen, I have to go. If you wanna talk more about your demons, meet me at the bar tonight.”

“The bar from the beach?”

“Yeah, the one that’s right at the entrance. ”

“Alright.” 

While leaving, Elena turned her head to Claire and winked while she waved at her. 

She hadn’t felt such intense butterflies since she met Leon, Steve, and Neil. The woman had a nice vibe. Her eyes were glittering under her thick eyelashes, giving Claire strong signs of flirting. 

“Another reason why I enjoy the hot beach.” She reflected as she threw her belongings into her bag and prepared to leave. She didn’t come back from the beach; she went to the store to buy a dress for tonight. 

The sun was setting, and the resort became crowded with people who left the beach. The laughs, chit-chats, and occasional screams of the children created an audible mess, one that was smoothed out by the music of the bars, which had just opened and welcomed their thirsty guests. 

Claire was sitting on the balcony with nothing but a robe after a nice, warm shower, enjoying the remaining sun rays of the day. The balcony was small, and it could barely fit a chair, a table, and a drying rack. She was eating some chips, and she just got off the phone with her brother. 

There was something serene about sitting outside, inhaling the air, and watching the sunset while hearing the crowd and listening to the music. She needed that serenity because she was anxious to meet Elena. 

“…what is she doesn’t show up…” she thought. She expressed the same disbelief to Chris on the phone, but he assured her that’s only in her head and that Elena seemed like a nice girl. 

“…but they all do seem nice at first…”

She took another chip, focusing on the music and banishing those negative thoughts. 

A floral dress awaited on the couch. She bought it from a souvenir shop at a reasonable price. It’s not like it stood out from the rest, as there were many items with tropical patterns, but she thought it fit her body nicely: not too tight, not too loose, just enough to leave something to the imagination. She took a quick nap after leaving the store and then hopped in the shower.

After she watched the sunset, she started to get ready. She accessorized the dress with brown sandals, a cream purse, and let her hair down.

“…what if I got it all wrong and I make a fool of myself?…” Her insecurities never left her, no matter how hard she tried to cast them away. They followed her until she arrived at the bar from the beach.

It was an open bar, with lots of lights and rattan chairs and tables spread across it. The wood was painted white, and the jazz music could be heard faintly among the voices. Claire scanned the place, looking for Elena, feeling her anxiety grow inside with every second she didn’t spot her. Eventually, all of her worries were finally gone when she saw Elena at the bar, ordering something to drink. Her hair was let out too, and it spread across her back in beautiful waves. She wore a pair of short, black pants and a white tank top. 

“…not bad…” she thought in an admiring manner. 

Claire decided to sneak up on her so she could surprise her. 

“Miss, did you finish ordering?” She said it while she was behind Elena.

“Oh, yeah, sorry- Claire!” Her face lightened up when she saw her. She spread her arms and pulled her into a warm hug. Her perfume was sweet, with floral notes. 

“Hey girl, sup?”

“Oh, I was just getting something to drink. Do you want something?” 

“No thanks, the night is still young.” 

“Suit yourself.” Elena ordered just a bottle of water.

After they found a free table, they started to talk. 

“I thought you’d ditch on me." Elena said.

“Really? What gave you that idea?”

“ Well, you didn’t seem so sure when I asked you out.”

"Oh, no, I- "

“You were still battling your demons?” She said it with a smirk. 

“That too,” Claire chuckled, “but if I’m being honest, it’s been a while since someone asked me out, so it took me by surprise.” 

“I see. I’m sorry if I came across as very direct. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Elena took a sip from her bottle, her smirk fading.

“No, no, you were alright. I really liked your approach. It was fresh and bold, and to be honest, it pulled me out of my own thoughts, something I tried to do since I came here and failed.” She chuckled. “If anything, I should thank you.”  

“Alright, I was starting to get worried.” Her smile reappeared on her face. “So, when did you arrive?” 

“This Wednesday, I wanted to avoid the traffic.”

“Smart move. "I came this Friday, the traffic was hell, but I was lucky because my motorcycle can fit between the cars and lines.

“You have a motorcycle?” 

"Oh, yes, a Harley-Davidson.”

“You're kidding!” she said with enthusiasm.

“Not at all,” Elena replied with the same enthusiasm.

“Oh my God, I own at least five of them.” 

“No way! I can’t believe I met a fellow biker. What were the odds?” 

“Tell me about it.” 

“When did you discover your passion?” Elena asked while waving her hand to a waiter. 

“Well, since I was in college, I bought my first one then, and shortly after, I got the second. They have held up pretty well up until this day. Then I bought the rest as time went by.”

“So you’re a pro in this field.” The waiter approached the table, ready to take the order. “One Aperol please.” 

“I see you’re starting strong.” Claire teased while leaning forward, supporting her elbows on her crossed legs. 

“Oh no, sweetie, that’s for you, I noticed you were drinking it at the beach.” 

“You shouldn’t have.”

“Don’t tell me you want to fight your demons while sober.” 

Claire laughed softly at the joke. 

The drink came, and Claire took a sip. 

“Well, it’s better than the one from the beach.”

“I’m glad you enjoy it.” 

"Maybe it’s because of the soda, or maybe it’s because it was ordered by you, I really don’t know.” 

That line made Elena laugh loudly.

“Oh you” 

“So, back to the subject.”

“Yes”

“How long have you been a biker?”

“I joined recently, I think last April.” 

“What made you take this decision?” 

“I got bored of traffic.” 

“Come on, seriously now." 

“I don’t know, besides being easy to move on the road, it also gives you a sense of freedom. And since I’m traveling alone, it’s one of the best options.”

“But what will you do when you’re not going to be alone anymore?” She said it in a teasing tone, as she took another sip.

“Well, I guess that person would have to fit in the back. But why do you ask? Are you proposing something, Claire?” She leaned forward too, scanning Claire for any reaction. 

“Not now, but after I finish my cocktail, I might.” 

Elena laughed again, her laugh mingling with the rest of the voices and jazz music.

After Claire finished her drink, they headed to the parking lot. Elena was polite and paid for her drink, despite Claire’s protests. 

“You know, I actually wanted to ask you if you wanna come on a ride with me tonight.” She said as she playfully waved her arm next to Claire’s. 

The breeze of the night created a calm atmosphere. The further they would walk away from the resort, the quieter it became. 

“And what stopped you?” Claire asked. 

“I didn’t know if you were into it. Some people are terrified of riding a motorcycle.”

“With that, I agree.”

Elena’s hand found Claire’s eventually, and her fingers gently wrapped around hers.

“This way” 

Claire was pleasantly surprised by this gesture. 

They arrived at the motorcycle. It was a relatively new model, painted red, with a trunk. Elena opened it and pulled out two helmets. 

“Well, this is yours.” She handed one to Claire.

“Thank you very much.” 

Elena turned on the engine and waited for Claire to climb into the back. She placed her feet on the footrests and wrapped her arms tight around Elena. She never sat in the back, with a few exceptions when Leon or Chris drove. 

Elena turned her head to face Claire, her deep brown eyes staring at her through the clear visor as if they silently asked if she was ready. After Claire had nodded, Elena turned on the engine, and they drove into the night.

#resident evil #claire redfield #original female character #claire redfield x oc #fluff #a little angst

[dinersaturn]

Con safety tips

Since more younger kids and tweens are getting into cosplay and are attending their first conventions, here’s some advice from a veteran of the con scene.

Always have your phone

Always wear your badge or band so you can be identified

Buddy system, stay with your friends, parents etc

Put your wallet or money inside a purse, bag, pants with zippers. I understand that carrying a bag can break the illusion of your costume or be annoying but being in a cramped area where everyone is squeezing to get by it’s easy for pickpockets to strike and often you won’t notice something is missing until hours later.

Bring your own water/snacks and do not accept unopened water bottles and only take from the con staff (don’t be afraid to ask to get a closer look at badge ids of staff)

Take breaks, make sure you actually get some sleep, step outside for air, wear sunscreen, wear or pack comfortable shoes

Don’t follow people off the convention centre lot for example to a hotel

Don’t listen to photographers who want to give "free photoshoots" a lot of them are creeps and predators who try and abduct or circulate photos on nsfw sites. Even if the photo itself is not explicit or suggestive, there are a lot of adults who treat underage cosplayers like childp/rnography

Cosplay is not consent if someone touches you even, even who just asking to take a photo with their arm around you, its okay to change your mind and refuse the photo

Please do not lie about your age to try and get into panels, to look at 18+ material like Yaoi, Yuri, h/ntai ect. Security and monitors will often not keep their eye out for children past the doors so it’s important that you remember that you will be exposing yourself to content you are not supposed to see. (Not victim blaming, but you as well as the people running booths can be kicked out or sellers will be in trouble if the convention thinks you were sold nsfw content knowingly) It will also be harder to make a case should anything happens and you want to press charges.

#anime conventions #convention #anime #cosplay #comic con

[welcometohighwater]

i’m a total sun-worshipper, cannot get enough of it this year. possibly in part because i am missing half of my thyroid, so i am always FREEZING indoors and only ever truly warm in direct sun. and it’s mostly great! getting some of that sweet vitamin d into my shriveled rotting brain too!

except i’ve gotten my second sunburn of the year and it’s not even june (let alone actually SUMMER) yet

#kids sunscreen is so so important please remember it

[sage-spice-sage]

How to level up pt.2 - how I did it

Career

I work in tech. In addition to working hard at my job, I am always learning computer science theory, new programming languages, new libraries, etc. to improve my skill set. I network with other women in tech to motivate myself. Work hard and keep learning.

Physique

I exercise Mon-Sat, 40-50 minutes of weightlifting and an hour of treadmill. Yes, I invest almost 2 hours a day, 6 days a week. It pays off.

I eat very very healthy. I only eat not-so-healthy food when a rich man is taking me out to a restaurant. I eat a small amount of brown rice, plenty of tofu for protein, lots and lots of vegetables and mushrooms, and a fruit (or a handful of them if they're like berries) for dessert. I eat the same things every day. Some people would find it dull (in which case you should find creative recipes that are healthy) but I don't mind it at all, as I get to eat gourmet food regularly on dates. It is very inexpensive and convenient as I can buy produce in bulk and prepare them routinely.

Skincare & Makeup

Please keep in mind that drinking lots of water and getting enough sleep will do more for your skin than any product ever will, but it is important to use the right products to take care of your skin as well. I also use fragrance-free products, I just don't think fragrance is necessary in skincare and it may have negative effects on your skin depending on your sensitivity.

My skincare routine is as follows, in order:

Cleansing oil - night only, to remove makeup. If you're wearing sunscreen (which you absolutely should) without makeup, it still needs some cleansing oil to remove.

Facial cleanser - I use a mild one as the cleansing oil does the heavy lifting.

Exfoliating gel - once or twice a week remove the dead skin cells off your skin. It helps smooth your skin and help skincare products absorb better.

Toner - to immediately hydrate my skin after cleansing, as well as restoring the ph level.

Face mask - once or twice a week, it's more of a psychological self care thing, though.

Moisturizing lotion - for moisturizing.

Moisture cream - for extra moisture. My skin is pretty dry and I also live in a climate that's very dry 75% of the time.

Eye cream - even when you're young, you should start taking care of your eye area before you get crow's feet.

Sunscreen - morning only. I use mineral sunscreens as chemical sunscreens tend to cause irritation for me.

Massage in the products well and allow time for each product to absorb.

This is pretty minimal for a Korean woman, but sometimes less is more in my opinion.

I keep my makeup pretty simple as well.

(Not that I look like Jennie but this is the closest photo I could find to my makeup style)

I have naturally strong eyebrows and nice cheeks/cheekbones so I make sure they get the attention.

Fashion

My style is very simple and professional, best described by business casual. I don't own many trendy pieces. I don't wear heels except for special dates or occasions, I just own my shortness. I do what works for me rather than following what I see on Tumblr or Instagram.

Working at a tech startup, dressing very very casually is tolerated and even encouraged, but having a small body and young face, wearing hoodies like my colleagues just has me looking like a kid in school rather than a professional woman.

For dates, I wear very feminine dresses that have the right details.

I always buy clothes at brick-and-mortar stores where I can see and feel the material for myself and try things on. Buying online may be more affordable and convenient, but you don't know for sure how it's going to look just based on photos.

Store-bought clothes will rarely fit perfectly. It's important to buy items that fit right, but sometimes if an item made of high quality fabric is on sale for a really good price but the fit isn't ideal, I will buy them and get them altered.

Remember that good physique is the best fashion statement.

Interests & Hobbies

I consider myself a dilettante; I have varied interests. I frequent the library and the theaters in my city to remain cultured. (Though corona kind of killed the performing arts...) I take one-day classes and online lectures. I listen to podcasts when I'm on the train. I'm always learning new things. I don't have one set hobby that I really stick to, but I'll always be able to say "Oh, these days I'm really into..." when someone asks about it.

Time Management

I use a notebook style planner to keep my schedule and to-do lists in one place. I find that having a paper planner is better for me, using apps on my phone just don't work as well in my experience.

I have a routine that I stick to religiously, but sometimes I have to deviate from my routine; it happens. On such days I plan ahead around it to make sure I get everything done. I plan every moment from waking up to bedtime. I plan planning sessions into my schedule. I plan break and rest times so I don't get burnt out. Being meticulous works for me most of the time, but I've also learned to be flexible as not everything goes as planned.

Socializing

Like I said in the beginning, I network with other women (and men) in the tech industry every chance I get. And since technology is used in pretty much every industry, I come across people who work in other industries, and I make sure to network with them as well. I meet people from my one-day classes and art performances I attend. If you interest yourself in professional and social gatherings, you will find people who are also interested in that sort of events and care enough to attend. That's how you meet people who are on your level.

Dating

If you do socializing right, you will come across men who are eligible. My personal approach with them is numbers game. Engage, politely extract myself when they turn out to not be the kind of man I want, move on to the next.

Do all of the above, so you'll be worthy of a worthy man.

#level up #glow up #hypergamy #hypergamous #high value woman #high value women

[daydreamingatnight209]

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Feedback is always welcome: HATE IS NOT ✨💕

“My Number 19”

Mason Mount x Reader

Warnings - High emotions? Fluff 💞

Prompts- Comforting Mason after the Euros and the song “Marry your Daughter”

1.5k words.

———————————————————————

A  holiday in the sun was exactly what the team needed after their devastating loss in the Euro’s final against Italy. I knew that it hit everyone hard, especially Mason. I remember watching him console his friends on the pitch with tears in my own eyes, as I stood beside his parents, but it wasn’t a time for me to cry. He needed me.

I simply opened my arms to him when he found me in the stands. He wasted no time embracing me, his weight throwing me backwards slightly. I catch myself and wrap my arms around him tightly, tracing small patterns down his back to try and relax him. The tears I caught him holding in on the pitch were now flying freely down his face, as he buries himself into the crook of my neck.

A hand of mine shoots up to his hair as I play with, knowing that it is these small intimate touches that calms him in heated moments like this one.

“You still made history babe; I am so very proud of you” I whisper into his ear as he breathing slow goes back to normal.

He looks up at me and my heart broke from him. I gently wipe away any tears still trapped on his face as he works his way to his parents who go through similar motions to me.

A few days later, we found ourselves in Mykonos. Over the last couple of days Mason has managed to put the loss behind him and thanked the fans for their support as well as addressing that there is no place for racism after virtual attacks appeared online towards some of his teammates. By the time we land his famous smile was back on his face.

A few others join us on the spontaneous get away including Dec who is dating my best friend , Chilly, Jack and Shaw with their partners.

I finish putting my hair up so that it doesn’t receive extensive damage from the pool when Mase enters the room.

“Dec and some of the lads have hired a yacht for the day, do you wanna  join?

He hugs me from behind, humming to himself as I push down any fly away hair strands. I look at him through the mirror with a twinkle in my eye.

“Of course! Do you really need to ask Mase?”

I grab my beach bag and head out the room with my boyfriend.

The day was spent swimming in the sea, sunbathing and the boys playing basketball – all their practice at SGP paying off.

I ensure that Mason is covered in sunscreen after seeing Dec’s burnt arms and my best friend battle with him to put it on. Mase just lays on the deck as I massage the cream into his back, groaning slowly when I undo any knots in his muscles.  This lasts all of five minutes before he is on his feet again answering Dec’s calls to hoop.

I sit to the side with the girls and watch as they pair up to score. The ball swings and hits nothing but net. A clean shot. I cheer out to him and watch as he happily jumps about and gives Dec a quick high five. He looks over to me and for a moment it is like time had stopped.

I take in his lean but muscular posture, his sun kissed skin, while taking in how his jersey fits over his shoulders before looking up to his face again.

Butterflies float around in my stomach as I stare into his deep brown eyes. They were like the window to his soul, showing just how kind and gentle he could be, while protecting those he loves fiercely and from his eyes came a sense of home, of belonging.

The honeymoon period of our relationship never ended and nor would it ever. His love consumed me, forever burning through me. It takes me a moment to realise what the man I am looking at is doing as he drops to one knee.

Time starting moving again but I feel like I am living in slow motion. I was aware of the sudden gasps and quickly following silence that happened around me, but I couldn’t focus on anyone but him. My faces scrunches up as a poor attempt to stop my tears as it finally clicks in me.  He was proposing to me.

I thanked my luck that he waited till I was seated a one hand grips tightly onto the side of the sunbed while the other fly’s to my mouth to stop the loud gasps and cries from spilling out.

I watch as he delivers this beautiful speech, making me cry harder before asking the all important question. It takes me a minute to regain my voice from the shock.

“Oh Mason, look at state of me now. You know I’m an ugly crier!” I protest as he laughs nervously.

“I think you are beautiful” he whispers, using one hand to wipe my tears away and the other to keep a hold of the ring box.

He does his best to clear my face, but I know that he couldn’t do much; turns out my mascara wasn’t as waterproof as it said. That makes me giggle slightly as I open my mouth again. My voice was hoarse but at this point I didn’t care.

“Of course, I will marry you!”

At that, he wastes no time slipping the most gorgeous ring onto my finger, before picking me up and twirling me around as those around us erupt into cheers after that tense silence. Champagne is sprayed all around the deck as music begins to play.

Mason puts me back on my feet, but keeps a tight hold on my waist, unsure if I have recovered from the shock yet.

I lean my forehead against his and soak in memory.

“My Number 19” I whisper just before his lips capture my own, as if to seal the deal.

 ————————————————————————

Mason’s POV-

I have never felt so much relief as I did when Y/N agreed  to my proposal. When she started crying, I panicked like never before, but I couldn’t do anything but wait. Then came the answer I have been waiting for the last 6 months. I wanted to sag in relief, but I had to keep my composure.

I remember that one moment 6 months ago, I had the ring, but I needed one more thing.

My legs felt as if they couldn’t hold me up as I stood before my girlfriends childhood home. I placed  a firm knock on the door and wait until her father answers my call. I give him my best smile (while internally cringing at my actions) and settle instead on a firm handshake.

I force myself to calm down before stepping into the household. I can do this, it’s not like I am the only guy who has asked their girlfriend’s father for his permission to marry his daughter. Its old fashioned sure but not that rare.

I take a seat opposite him and get straight to the point.

“I want to marry your daughter” I blurt out, before adding a quick “sir” on the end.

His eyebrows shoot so far up his face I was actually scared that they would disappear. Not the reaction I would have wanted but there is still hope. I have to hope.

I listen to him intently as he raises his concerns, including our young ages and my career but I didn’t let them dishearten me. I knew that Y/N was the girl I was going to marry when I first met her three years ago. Even at 19 my heart knew that she was the one. I wasn’t going to give up.

“Sir, I hope you don’t mind forwardness but in this box is ring for your oldest, she is my everything and I would really like your blessing. I know that you have your concerns, but you honestly do not have to worry, I will treat her with the upmost respect.” I take a breath before deciding to take the final plunge.

“I’m gonna marry your daughter and make her my wife; I want her to be the only girl that I love for the rest of my life.”

I feel like an eternity passes before her old man looks at me again. I watch as his face breaks into a smile and I have to close my eyes to hide the tears that threaten to spill. He approved.

He stands up and gives me another firm shake of the hand.

“You’ve got backbone kid. I respect that. Go look after my little girl”

I didn’t plan on proposing on the yacht, I had a whole beach proposal planned for that evening instead but when I caught her staring over at me, I was mesmerized. Her smile was so bright, and her eyes shone with constant admiration and love. Stuck in that single moment I knew I had to do it.

I wanted to share this memory with her and the friends we call family; it didn’t matter if it was now or in a fancy setting. I just wanted her to say yes… and she did.

#writing #fluff #fanfic #mason mount angst #Angst #football rpf #football one shot #england football #football stories #football fanfiction #football #england euro 2021 squad list #england euro 2020 #Mason Mount imagines #Mason Mount fluff #Mason Mount x reader #declan rice #ben chilwell #jack grealish #Luke shaw #chelsea fc #premier league fanfics #rpf #word counts #writing prompt #football imagines

[henqtic]

learning- d.m

- summary: one where Draco learns how to do your hair, you being a poc- more specifically a black girl with curly hair :)

- word count: 1.4k

- warnings: mentions of being insecure about your hair

- more works with black/ poc readers → Hat & “just one more hour”

- masterlist | gif creds | taglist form |

——

“Draco I love you but— just not that much,” you said through a grimace, only making him roll his eyes again.

Draco was always one to offer you help on wash days, knowing how much time it took you to do all of that on your own and honestly, you appreciated that.

But today as the conditioner was getting combed through your hair, he brought up the idea of doing it for you— And no he didn’t mean the basic task of combing a product through your hair, but he meant actually doing it.

And it wasn’t that you thought he could... Of course not. And as dramatic as it sounds, you didn’t want to take the risk. What you mean by that is that Draco is someone you would classify as a mom friend.

Being called a mom friend wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, it was one of those good titles that any person would want to have in a friend group. And even though Draco didn’t seem like the type, he was always that person to make sure everyone else was taken care of— even if it was in his own way.

It could vary from making sure everyone’s assignments were done in time to them eating enough and the really surprising one— comforting people.

And you could tell that he wasn’t completely comfortable or familiar with it but he tried his best when he needed to.

You had caught him many times in some corner trying to comfort some first year Slytherins a few days into the school year because they missed their parents and when he did see you, he’d give you a look of ‘this never happened’.

But being a mom wasn’t an easy job, there were times where’d they’d get angry because a kid had the great idea to draw on the walls instead of on the paper right beside them. And to say Draco fit that role perfectly was an understatement.

He once not only scolded Daphne for forgetting her sunscreen when you went on a trip to the beach but he also provided her a lengthy lecture on how she could’ve easily have gotten sunburned and we would’ve had to drive around with a flaky friend.

You couldn’t lie that it was amusing to see an adult get scolded by another adult like a five year old but to be on the receiving end didn’t sound too fun.

——

And you had to admit that sometimes you did miss that routine you had with your mom on early Sunday mornings.

She’d tell you to get the bucket of hair supplies and you’d take your place to sit in between her legs, allowing her to start combing and brushing your hair into whatever style she saw fit for the next few days.

The small conversations that were held between you and her weren’t important in any way— you couldn’t remember half of the words spoken now but it meant a lot to you in the sense that it was a calm- ish period for you and her to talk about mother and daughter things.

But every good thing just had to have a downside and this one was a shared experience amongst many people in your community.

Uncooperative hair.

And it seemed that you had one of the most. You tried, really, but you could never keep your head still or neck at a specific angle for too long, and that only led to hair tugging and you in almost tears.

And maybe thinking was a little flawed. But you were still scared that Draco would do just the same if you allowed him.

And that’s exactly what you voiced and of course, he said that wasn’t a good enough argument and continued to go on and on about all of the reasons you should let him and how it would have benefits for the both of you.

——

“You know, it would show how much I care,” he said, providing yet another reason as to why you should let him do it.

“You’re showing how much you care right now— I promise,” you assured, eyes skimming the bathroom to find the heated shower cap.

“But what if there’s a day where you’re too tired to do it and then I could do it all by myself?”

He was close to convincing you but he failed to remember the fact that there actually were days where you were too tired to do it but you still woke up very early just to do some style that you had set in your mind.

And even then, your eyes were barely opened so if you had to do it now, you would be too phased.

“What about our future kids? What’s supposed to happen when I have no idea how to do their hair?”

Kids. They weren’t something you actively talked about but it was for sure something you wanted to have in the future. And he was right, even if you didn’t want to admit it.

Even if the hair type that he had was far from many black people, it wouldn’t make sense for a child’s own father to not know the basic needs of their hair— including how to do it.

“Fine— but if I feel one tug I won’t hesitate to get up and leave,” you threatened, pointing a comb at him and playfully narrowing your eyes at him to add effect. He only snatched it out of your hand while smiling in success and happiness.

“You won’t regret it.”

Deja vu; it was the only term that could describe what you were feeling at this moment of finding yourself in between someone’s legs, waiting for them to do your hair.

And while Draco was a little clueless, it was cute. You really didn’t mean to laugh when asked what happened to one of the combs that were missing a third of its teeth, but the look of pure shock on his face was too funny for you to resist the laugh that bubbled out.

And telling the truth, the experience wasn’t half as bad as you expected it to be. There weren’t too many snags or tugs along the way or rough actions— it was calm and gentle. And having to assist him on what product to put on your hair and when to do it was rare.

It was heartwarming really, knowing that he had actually been paying attention when he’d sit there and watch you in the bathroom for an hour or so after your hair had been washed.

That he had been listening when you’d rant about how hard it was dealing with your hair and how it would never look the right way even though there is no right way for natural hair to look.

It was the pure knowledge that he actually meant the words he spoke to you that made you so happy; how he’d hold your face in both of his hands and tell how beautiful both you and your hair were and the only reason you should ever think about relaxing it was if you wanted to do it for yourself and not because it would be more accepted by judge full eyes.

It was nice to know that he wasn’t just saying those things because he felt some sort of obligation but that it came from the heart.

——

Nothing could’ve prepared you for what you were looking at now; not only did your hair look moisturized but the style had come out somewhat good.

You were a little surprised and Draco noticed that too. “You look surprised,” he pointed out in a smug tone, eyes finding their way to look into your wide ones through the mirror. “I’m not surprised, I'm just— how did you do so well?” You questioned, body turning to face his.

“Love don’t tell me you— Di- Did you really doubt me?” He gasped, dramatically placing his right hand over his heart to further feign his ‘hurt’.

“Okay, I did doubt you in—”

gasp

“In the beginning, but now that I actually saw how you did, I regret it. And thank you for being willing to learn,” you continued, this time not getting interrupted by his dramatics.

“It was the least I could do for you,” he assured, leaning down to press a quick kiss to your cheek. “Me and your mum weren’t talking about your abnormally sized head for nothing.”

“Hey! My head is a perfectly normal size.” 

“Yeah alright,” he said unconvinced, cracking his knuckles and shaking his hand. “My hands had to pay the price too.”

“You're an idiot Draco—”

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[rosiehunterwolf]

There's Sand Everywhere!

(quick shoutout to @fires-of-ninjago for the title idea and inspiration for this- you remember that ask game where people suggested titles for fics and you had to come up with a story to go along with it? Well, he sent in this title, and I came up with this, and liked it so much that I screenshotted it and- here we are!)

Prompts: Summer and Heist

Word Count: 7,922

Characters: The whole gang (including Pixal) :)

Timeline: Between seasons 12 and 13

Trigger Warnings: none (holy shit that's never happened before-)

Summary: It was just supposed to be a day off. A simple beach day. But when your family consists of six ninja and a samurai, including a nindroid convinced he’s a detective, his reluctant sidekick, an aquaphobe, a girl who can command the sea, an unassuming teen who seems to attract every animal he crosses paths with, and a bunch of argumentative idiots, nothing is ever that easy.

Read on FFN.net

Read on Ao3

Tumblr work under the cut

“We,” Kai proclaimed, surveying the room, “Need a day off.”

Lloyd shrieked at the fire ninja’s sudden outburst, falling out of his chair. Jay broke into snickers, and Lloyd shot him a glare.

“Kai,” Zane sighed, “get off the table.”

Kai stuck his tongue out at the nindroid, but hopped down, anyway. “Look at you guys!” Kai waved his hands at the group for emphasis. Papers fluttered to the ground where Lloyd had knocked them in his fall, Jay and Nya were sitting on the ground, surrounded by stacks of books tall enough to be mistaken for some kind of fort, Pixal was gathering some of the papers that had gone everywhere, while Cole and Zane had only just paused in their task of boxing up and carrying crates to the far side of the room. “Filing documents and organizing? Boooring.”

“Tasks which you’ve been a big help with, by the way,” Lloyd grumbled, as Cole offered him a hand and pulled him to his feet. He turned back to the desk, shuffling papers off of the keyboard of his laptop, the screen filled with lines of script and dozens of files that made Kai's brain hurt just to look at.

Nya pushed her reading glasses up her nose. “Jay and I technically aren’t working. We chose to do this of our own free will.”

Kai rolled his eyes at her. “What kind of psychopaths read for fun?”

Jay kicked his leg out, aiming for Kai’s ankle, but Cole quickly stepped between them, stopping the conflict before it could escalate into anything worse.

“We’re not reading them, we’re sorting them in order from most potentially useful to least so. They’re mechanics and engineering books. You never know when they might come in handy in a pinch.”

“Oh, because that’s so much more interesting. If you guys wanna spend all your free time geeking out, fine, what do I care. But what about the rest of you? C’mon, Lloydster. You don’t really wanna spend your entire day doing this,” he gestured at the laptop and paper-strewn desk- “do you?”

“It’s not about whether or not I want to. This stuff is important, Kai.”

“Lloyd’s right,” Zane agreed. “With all the crazy missions we’ve been on lately, we’ve neglected all our paperwork, and taking care of the Monastery.”

“It’s because we’ve been gone so long that we need a break!” Kai argued. “We just got done saving the entire city from an evil video game AI! If that’s not worth celebrating, I don’t know what is.”

“Technically,” Nya remarked, not even glancing up from the book she was skimming, “That was Jay who did that.”

Kai spluttered, ignoring the smug look on Jay’s face. “Okay, yeah, but we helped! And what about Aspheera? Or the Never Realm? That was all of us. And we didn’t have time to properly recuperate from that before we got launched right into Prime Empire!”

Pixal’s brow furrowed. “Y’know, he has a point…”

A frown flitted across Zane’s face. “I suppose we have been working for a long time…”

“That’s what I’ve been saying! Come on, let’s do something fun.”

“Not video games,” Cole groaned. “Jay and I spent the last three days playing a Lava Zombies tournament, and I’m all gamed-out.”

“No, let’s actually go somewhere. Like the-”

“The library!” Jay pitched.

“Or the museum!” Zane suggested.

“No!” Kai snapped. “Man, you guys are so lame. I meant somewhere fun. We should go to-”

“The beach!” Nya cried suddenly, standing up so quickly that she sent a pile of books toppling over. “Brilliant idea, Kai!”

“Wait, no,” he yelped. “That’s not what I was going to-”

But no one heard him. They were already scrambling to their feet, murmuring excitedly to one another.

“Guys, wait!” he cried. “Why would you want to go to the beach? It’s all sandy, and wet, and-”

“Don’t worry, Kai,” Nya giggled, “we won’t let the ocean hurt you.”

“That’s not-” he felt himself turning red as the others laughed. “That’s not what I meant! I just thought… wouldn’t laser tag or something be a lot more fun?”

The others glanced at each other, uncertain. Zane stepped forward. “Let’s take a vote. All in favor of laser tag, raise your hands.”

Kai lifted his hand, but no one else did. He scowled at them.

“And all in favor of the beach?”

Six hands went up.

“Seems like we have a clear winner. Let’s get going, shall we?���

---

“Do you have the towels?”

“All here!”

“What about the sunscreen?”

“Hold on- Jay, did you grab the sunscreen?”

“What?”

Lloyd cupped his hands around his mouth, yelling louder. “Did you grab the sunscreen?”

“Oh yeah, it’s here! Wait, do you have my-”

“Your what?” Lloyd called, walking over to him, passing Pixal and Zane as they came out of the kitchen. The female nindroid sighed.

“Can’t anything get done around here without everyone making such a racket?”

“Nope,” Nya elbowed her playfully. “When you’ve been with these idiots as long as I have, you get used to it.”

Pixal’s eyes widened. “I can’t imagine ever being used to all this.”

Nya smiled. “Did I mention I’m slightly deaf?”

“We finished making the picnic,” Zane told her, holding out the basket he was carrying. “Is everyone ready to go?”

Nya eyed the guys, who were running around the Monastery, barely avoiding tripping over one another. “‘Ready’ is an overstatement.”

“Hold your horses, we’re almost done,” Cole grunted, heaving the large beach bag over to them. “Have a little faith in us, Nya.”

Nya put her hand on her hip, waiting- and a second later, there was a crashing sound followed by an angry chorus of yells from Kai, Lloyd, and Jay.

Cole grimaced, rubbing the back of his head. “Okay, maybe you’re right to not have any faith in us.”

---

After an intense, fifteen-minute argument about what mode of transportation they would take, they ended up deciding on the city bus, and finally, finally got out the door. The bus ride went off without a hitch, for once, (except for a brief panic about not having the proper change for the bus fare, but luckily Zane had a few extra dollars on him), and before Nya knew it, they were staking out an area on Ninjago City beach. She was beginning to think this could actually work out.

Maybe.

“Check out my abs, dude.”

“They’re the same as last time.”

“Are not! I’m way more shredded than last time we went swimming.”

“Okay, that’s just a straight-up lie. I saw you sneak that extra piece of pie last night.”

“You better not be disrespecting my muscles, Flat Stanley.”

“Hey! I’m way more muscly than I used to be.”

“Are you kidding? We call you ‘green bean’ for a reason, and it’s not just because you’re the green ninja. You’re a twig!”

“I’m a twig? Have you seen Jay?”

“Hey, don’t rope me into this, green machine, and, for your information, I weigh a whole fifteen pounds more than you!”

“Yeah, well, you’re also two years older than me!”

“I think the lesson we need to learn here is that neither of you have abs anywhere near as pronounced as mine-”

Zane sighed, rolling his eyes. “Here, guys,” he held out a pouch to the group, “this is a waterproof pouch, you can store all your valuables in here.”

They quickly filled the pouch with phones, watches, and wallets. However, as Lloyd pulled back, he tripped over Jay’s foot, and half the guys collapsed into a pile, groaning.

“Jay! Get your foot out of my face!”

“Right after you get your elbow out of my ribs!”

Nya turned away from them, shaking her head. Glancing at Pixal, she asked, “Wanna help me get set up?”

The nindroid nodded, and they pulled the large picnic blanket out of the bag, unfolding it to lay it across the sand.

“Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon,” Kai cried, “You get back here right this instant!”

Nya looked up from the blanket to see Kai running through the sand after Lloyd, his feet sinking into the sand with each step, making it difficult for him to retain his balance. He waved a bottle of sunscreen at the green ninja. “It’s sunny out today! And you know how easily you burn!”

“No way!” Lloyd whined. “You always make me stay out of the water for at least twenty minutes to let it set, and it’s way too hot for me to wait that long! I wanna go swimming now.”

Kai lunged for him, and Lloyd yelped, barely dodging out of the way.

“Over here, Lloyd!” Jay cried, already wading into the shallows of the ocean. “He won’t follow you into the water!”

Lloyd hurried after him, splashing up water as he went, accidentally splattering Kai and causing the red ninja to flinch back with a yelp. Sure enough, he froze at the water’s edge, glaring at Jay and Lloyd, where they stood, only about ten feet away, laughing at him.

Zane rubbed a hand over his face, sighing. “They’re both going to get skin cancer, aren’t they?”

“At the very least, they’re going to be bright red tomatoes,” Cole laughed. “Oh, it’s going to be a blast when they take showers.”

Zane stared at him, horrified. “Please don’t let Jay do that again. He had the worst blisters, last time-”

Cole held up his hands. “It was a joke, Zane! A joke!”

Zane narrowed his eyes and didn’t reply.

Nya laughed, grabbing Pixal’s hand. “Come on. Wanna go bodyboarding with me?”

Pixal glanced at her. “I don’t know how.”

“That’s fine.” Nya stepped on the board, flipping it up into her hand and handing it to Pixal, before grabbing a second one for herself. “I can teach you!”

“Thanks, Nya.”

As they walked down towards the shore, they passed Kai and Cole, who had finally managed to get Jay and Lloyd out of the water. Cole had his arms locked around Jay, preventing him from running away as Kai slathered sunscreen across his face. Lloyd was sitting in the sand beside him, pouting, his face already smeared in white.

Nya grinned at him. “Can you guys handle yourselves for twenty minutes if Pix and I go out bodyboarding?”

Lloyd stuck his tongue out at her, and Kai rolled his eyes. “We’ll be fine, Nya. I think you’re forgetting we save the city on a regular basis? We’re perfectly capable.”

Nya put a hand near Pixal’s ear, whispering loudly into it. “Betcha anything the beach will be on fire by the time we get back.”

The two ran off, giggling at the sight of Kai’s smoldering glare, before he could set them on fire.

---

To Kai’s credit, he did not set the beach on fire, or anything, for that matter, but when Nya and Pixal returned, they found him and Cole shoveling sand onto Zane, who was chest-deep by this point.

“Zane!” Pixal exclaimed. “Are you alright?”

“When Kai told me he had something fun to show me, this wasn’t quite what I had imagined.”

“Aww, come on Zane!” Kai grinned. “I’m having a great time.”

Pixal shook her head, and stepped forward, grabbing Zane’s hand and pulling him up, sending sand cascading down everywhere. Cole and Kai groaned.

“Aww, come on, Pix, that took forever!” Cole muttered.

“Yeah, we were gonna shape it into a mermaid tail. Don’t you know how funny that would’ve been?”

“Humor is subjective.” Zane rubbed at his wrists. “Augh, now I’m going to have sand in my gears for weeks.” Shooting a glare at Kai, he added, “I’ll remember this the next time you ditch your swimming lessons.”

“Hey!” Kai yelped. “That’s totally different! Sand is warm, and solid, and most importantly, not dangerous!”

“You could suffocate,” Zane pointed out.

Kai scowled. “You’re a nindroid, you wouldn’t have suffocated.”

“You’re related to an elemental master of water. You won’t drown.”

“Being related to a master of water and being a master of water are two very different things! I control fire, not water, I can’t do anything to protect myself.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “You’re so lame. Remind me again why we brought our friend with aquaphobia to the beach?”

“Technically,” Zane said, raising a finger, “the word you’re looking for is thalassophobia. Kai doesn’t fear water in general, only large bodies, such as-”

“It was his idea,” Nya interrupted. “If it weren’t for him, we’d still be at the Monastery, filing papers.”

“I never suggested the beach!” Kai snapped. “That was your idea!”

“Yeah, well, your suggestions were lame. The beach was the obvious choice.”

“Hey,” Pixal interjected, suddenly realizing they were missing a couple of people. “Where are Jay and Lloyd?”

Cole sighed, pointing up towards their stuff, where Jay and Lloyd were struggling with a large, yellow duck inflatable that was very much not inflated at the moment. Jay had his lips around the mouthpiece, his face red.

“Blow harder, Jay,” Lloyd insisted, hovering by his side. “You’re hardly doing anything!”

Jay pulled his head back, breathing out heavily as the redness faded from his cheeks. “I’d like to see you do better! You’d probably pass out after a minute.”

“Would not!” Lloyd snatched the floaty away from him, blowing hard into the mouthpiece, putting even less air into the floaty than Jay had. His face reddened as he huffed desperately, although he still wasn’t making much progress. After a few moments, Jay pulled it away from him.

“Okay, that’s enough. I don’t want you to actually pass out.”

Lloyd glared at him, panting. “I wasn’t… going to… pass out.”

Jay sighed, grabbing the inflatable and staring at what looked to be the eyes and a very flat, crumpled-looking beak. “At this rate, we’re never going to get Mr. Quackington blown up.”

Lloyd’s nose wrinkled. “Mr. Quackington?”

Jay blinked at him. “Yeah, that’s his name.”

“No, it’s not! His name is Mr. Waddles!”

“Mr. Waddles? What kind of juvenile name is that?”

“Oh, like Mr. Quackington is any better!”

“It is! It’s loads better!”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Is so!”

“It’s not!” Lloyd snapped, green energy sparking between his fingers. Jay glanced down at them thoughtfully. “Hey, what if…”

Lloyd was evidently catching on to Jay’s train of thought, his eyes lighting up. “We can use my powers to inflate Mr. Waddles!”

Jay narrowed his eyes. “Quackington.”

Lloyd bared his teeth, the small fangs glinting. “Waddles.”

Jay sighed. “Okay, whatever. We can use your powers to inflate Mr. Waddles.”

Lloyd grinned widely, whether about the promise of getting his inflated duck or having won the name debate with Jay, Pixal couldn’t tell. He held up a hand and formed a basketball-sized sphere of green energy. Jay’s eyes widened, and he held the mouthpiece up to the energy. Lloyd channeled it inside, watching with glee as the duck puffed up, the yellow plastic slowly tinging green, making the duck look like he was about to be sick.

Zane took a step forward, holding his hand out. “Lloyd, wait-”

There was a sharp snapping noise as the floaty popped, and Lloyd and Jay cried out in horror as the yellow pieces of plastic fluttered to the ground. Lloyd fell to his knees, gripping the busted plastic and wailing, and Jay landed next to him, crying, “No! Mr. Waddles, you were so young!”

“I can’t believe he’s really gone,” Lloyd sniffed. “He was my best friend in the whole world.”

Kai threw up his hands. “Great. You spend the last several years of your life looking out for him only to get replaced by his inflatable plastic duck.”

“Oookay,” Nya said, walking over to Jay and Lloyd and ushering them towards the picnic blanket. “Someone’s obviously been out in the sun too long. Go sit under the umbrella and let’s have something to eat.”

“Good idea,” Zane agreed. “I’m sure we’re all getting hungry. Jay, could you grab the picnic basket? It’s right behind you.”

The lightning ninja grabbed the basket, peering inside briefly as he carried it towards them. “I hope you brought the Pringles. I could really go for some of those right now- augh!”

Before anyone could stop him, Jay was falling to the ground, the basket flying out of his hands and landing sideways in the sand.

“Jay!” Kai cried. “Look what you’ve done to our picnic!”

“Hey! That was totally your fault! Why did you leave your shoes right in the middle of the sand, perfectly positioned for someone to trip over?”

“Why were you clumsy enough to get in the way of my shoes?”

“Guys, guys, it’s okay,” Zane assured. Walking over, he carefully lifted the basket out of the sand. “I’m sure it’s still salvageable.”

“Yeah, but now all our food is going to taste like sand,” Lloyd moaned.

“Lloyd, the food barely touched the sand,” Nya pointed out.

“Doesn’t matter. Every time you go to the beach, if the food gets even remotely close to the sand, it always gets sand in it. Every time. It’s one of the great mysteries of the universe.”

“Well, I think you’ll survive,” she said, passing Lloyd a sandwich and a bag of pretzels. Lloyd took them, but narrowed his eyes.

“Brings a whole new meaning to the word ‘sandwich.’”

“Just eat your food, mister.”

Lloyd shot her a glare, but grudgingly obliged. As Pixal bit into her own sandwich, she realized Lloyd was right, she could feel granules of sand between her teeth as she chewed.

“Hey… at least it adds a little crunch, right?” Cole grinned.

Kai grimaced. “Next time, I elect we don’t let Jay anywhere near the picnic basket.”

Jay chucked a grape at him, but Kai turned at the last second, catching it in his mouth. “Ha!” His gleeful expression faded as he caught sight of something behind Jay. “Um, Lloyd, you have someone you wanna introduce us to?”

The group turned to see a seagull had approached them, tilting its head where it stood only a couple feet away from Lloyd. The green ninja was staring at the bird with wide eyes, an awed expression on his face.

“Lloyd,” Nya sighed, “please don’t tell me you fed it.”

“He’s not an it,” Lloyd snapped. “His name is Scully.”

“Great.” Nya rubbed her hands over her face. “We’re already into name territory.”

“Scully?” Kai’s nose wrinkled. “Isn’t that the name of the seagull from The Little Mermaid?”

“No, that’s Scuttle,” Lloyd sniffed. “They’re completely different.”

“Lloyd,” Pixal scolded, reaching for Lloyd’s wrist just as he tossed another chunk of his sandwich at the seagull, “Feeding wildlife is not a good idea, it can be dangerous-”

Lloyd shrieked suddenly as the bird launched itself at Lloyd’s face. He scrambled to his feet, screaming, and Kai lunged forward, pushing the others out of the way. “Move, move!”

“Get it off me, get it off me!” Lloyd shrieked as the bird’s wings flapped in his face, sending feathers everywhere.

“Blast it with your powers!” Kai called, looking worried but keeping a respectable distance.

“I can’t! He’s on my face!”

“Well, I can’t do it, I’ll set you on fire! Nya, you do it!”

“I’m trying, I’m trying,” the water ninja spat through gritted teeth, globes of water already forming in her hands. “I just need to get a clear shot! For the love of… Lloyd, stop moving so much!”

Lloyd hardly seemed to hear her. “He’s going to claw my eyes out,” he wailed, batting weakly at the creature.

“Nya!”

Nya quickly thrust her hands forward, sending a large ball of water at Lloyd’s head, drenching him and the seagull. The bird squawked angrily, falling to the ground.

“Oh my gosh, are you okay?” Nya and Kai darted over to him, Nya taking his face in her hands as Kai peered over her shoulder. A small red scratch stretched across his left cheek, but apart from that, he appeared unharmed, just frazzled.

“Dude!” Kai cried. “You just got attacked. By a seagull!”

“It owned you!”

Lloyd shot Jay a glare. “Did not.”

“You should have seen your face!” Jay laughed. “Oh wait, you couldn’t- there was a bird in the way!”

Lloyd crossed his arms. “I’d like to remind you how you reacted that time when my uncle set that berserk chicken on us.”

“The chicken had lightning powers. Hardly comparable to a simple seafowl, bud.”

“Ugh, I hope this doesn’t get infected,” Nya muttered, running her finger along the scratch. “We should probably get you checked for rabies when we get home.”

“Nya, I’m fine,” Lloyd groaned, pushing her off. “A seagull isn’t going to give me rabies.”

Nya shrugged. “With your luck, I can never be sure.”

“This is why you don’t give food to wild animals, Lloyd, it makes them bolder-”

“Watch out, Lloyd!” Jay shrieked suddenly, and they whipped around to see the seagull had caught its second wind, squawking as it charged at Lloyd.

Lloyd shrieked, taking off down the beach with the seagull in pursuit. Nya sighed, putting a hand on her head. Kai grinned, walking over to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. “Do you think he’ll learn his lesson?”

“No,” Nya said without hesitation. “Absolutely not. That’s the sad part.”

“Hey,” Cole said, pointing a finger down the beach. “The volleyball court’s just opened up. You guys wanna play?”

“Sure. Tell Lloyd he can join us when he gets that seagull taken care of.”

Nya glanced towards the green ninja, who was currently lobbing balls of energy at the bird and missing by an embarrassingly wide berth. “Looks like it could be a while.”

---

“Great job, team!” Nya cheered, high-fiving Pixal and shooting a grin at Cole. “Although, if I’m being honest, the rest of you didn’t put up much of a competition.”

“Hey, don’t look at me!” Kai snapped. “I was carrying the team! Jay, Lloyd, were you planning on helping me anytime soon?”

“I was trying!” Jay insisted. “But you kept getting in my way!”

“Because every time I let you get the ball, you dropped it!”

“Hey! I never said I was good at volleyball, okay? Why are you attacking me, Lloyd sucked too!”

“It’s not like I ever had time to fit in volleyball practice between all my green ninja training! It wasn’t exactly a top priority!” “Are you telling me you’ve never played before?” Kai spluttered.

“I’ve played!” Lloyd insisted. “Uh… once or twice.”

Kai facepalmed. “Why did I let you come on my team?”

Lloyd grinned widely. “‘Cause you love me.”

Cole elbowed him. “It’s because he lost the coin toss and Nya got to pick first.”

“Hey!” Jay yelped. “Are you telling me you would have picked me last?”

“After I saw you play, yeah,” Cole snorted.

“I’m still not convinced on some of those calls, Zane,” Kai said, walking over to the nindriod. “I don’t think that one play near the third point was a foul.”

“Hey, the ref’s call is law,” Nya smirked. “Stop trying to cheat your way to victory, Kai.”

“I’m not cheating! Zane’s girlfriend is on your team! He’s obviously biased!”

“I’m a nindriod, Kai. I cannot be biased.”

“Stop being a sore loser, Kai.” Behind her, a wave swelled up. She raised her hand- then pointed it forward at Kai.

Her brother shrieked as the seawater drenched him.

“Nya! What’d you do that for?”

“You deserved it, with all the whining you were doing. Besides, you looked hot. I was just doing you a favor.”

“It’s alright,” Lloyd laughed. “You can share my towel, don’t worry.” As he handed Kai the towel, the fire ninja eyed it shrewdly.

“It’s got ducks on it. Of course it does.”

“Hey, you want the towel or not?”

“No, I’m taking the towel.” Kai wrapped the towel around himself, shivering, unfurling the ducks for all to see. Cole snickered, and Kai shot him a glare.

“Should we pack up, then?”

Zane nodded. “If we want to be back in time for dinner, probably.”

The team trudged back to their blanket, wet and sandy, but chatting amiably. They had nearly packed up all their things when Lloyd cried out suddenly.

“Where’s my wallet?”

Zane frowned. “Didn’t you put it in the valuables pouch?”

“I thought I did, but…” he paused. “Oh, wait. I tripped over Jay. I must’ve forgotten to put it in after that.”

“Well, then, it’s gotta be around here somewhere. What color is it, Lloyd?”

“What do you think? Green.”

They spent a good ten minutes searching through their entire bag and the surrounding sand, to no avail. It quickly became clear that if Lloyd’s wallet had ever fallen around here in the first place, it wasn’t here now.

Kai shrugged. “Oh well. It’s not that big of a deal. You don’t have any cards, and I don’t think you were carrying any of the cash. We can get you a new one.”

“No, but I had the things in there!”

Cole frowned. “The things?”

“You know.” Lloyd lowered his voice. “The things. That the mayor gave us?”

“What?!” Jay yelped. “Those were in there?” “You lost them?” Kai cried. “Lloyd, how could you?”

“It’s not like I did it on purpose!” Kai groaned, rubbing his face. “We should’ve never trusted you with them. Or at least split them up, so they weren’t all together.”

“I still do not understand.” Pixal frowned. “What are these things that are so important?”

“They’re a top-secret gift from the mayor,” Jay whispered. “We’re not supposed to tell anyone we have them. Not that telling anyone now would matter anyway, because we don’t have them anymore.”

“It’s not my fault!” Lloyd insisted. “It’s that stupid seagull’s, he’s the one who distracted me-” Lloyd paused, his eyes widening. “That’s it! The seagull must’ve swiped my wallet when it was chasing me!”

“Looks like we have a lead,” Kai growled.

“Wait a minute, does anyone else hear that mysterious music-”

“Oh no,” Pixal muttered, putting a hand on her forehead. “Zane, please don’t tell me you’re going to do this again.”

“It seemed that, after only a few weeks, it was time for me to crack yet another case.” The odd, deep voice rang out, and they turned to see Zane slipping on a fedora.

“Where did that even come from,” Pixal despaired. “I’m positive you didn’t bring that with you. Positive.”

“Again, I was to be accompanied by my trusty assistant, but this time, my highly trained ninja associates would also be coming along, all determined to reclaim what someone had stolen in the heist.”

Jay glanced between Pixal and Zane. “What is happening right now? Am I supposed to know what’s happening?”

Pixal shook her head. “It’s a long story. Just go with it.”

Zane tipped his hat down. “Already, we were off with a very promising lead. I suspected the culprit to be the feathered fiend that had been spotted lurking around at the scene of the crime only an hour prior.”

Kai snorted, placing a hand on Jay’s shoulder. “Oh, this is gold! Did you mess with his voice again, Jay?”

“No, I didn’t touch him! Pixal, you didn’t…”

She shook her head. “Believe me, I wouldn’t do this if you paid me. It was all him.”

Jay grinned. “What do we do next… detective Zane?” He and Kai simultaneously burst into laughter, leaning against each other for support.

Zane side-eyed them. “The primary suspect was as clear as a black bear in a snowstorm, yet the whereabouts of the creature were still unknown. It had vanished into thin air, without leaving so much as a trace in its stead.”

“Hey,” Lloyd said suddenly, leaning down to pick something up off of the sand, “What about this?”

“It appeared to be part of the plumage of a species of avian native to these shores. Could it belong to the specimen we were looking for?”

Kai plucked the feather from Lloyd’s fingers, examining it. “The feather was white with a dark tip, definitely having originated from a seagull- although the spiked, disturbed edges implied that this was from no ordinary gull- it was from one who had recently been in a fight.”

Jay grinned. “It seemed like we had hit the jackpot. Already, we were one step closer to tracking down this culprit.”

Pixal groaned. “Don’t you two start, too. It was bad enough with just Zane.”

Nya grimaced. “Yeah, this is already getting annoying.”

“How is a feather going to tell us where the seagull is now?” Cole asked.

“I could sense the wind was blowing in from the northwest,” Zane narrated. “If we wanted to find the culprit of the caper, we would have to walk upwind, hopefully leading us to the source of the feather.”

“Alright,” Pixal sighed, “let’s get this over with.”

“And so,” Zane grinned, “The Great Gull Caper began.”

The team trudged up the beach for about twenty minutes, to no avail. They passed many other beachgoers, pointing and staring as the ninja passed, but no seagulls were in sight.

“Are you sure about this, Zane?” Pixal asked.

“The feathered suspect had gained an hour’s head start in its escape from the scene, meaning we would have to hasten our pace if we ever hoped to catch up.”

“Oh, I am not walking an hour just to find this thing. Are we sure it’s that important?”

“Yes!” the guys yelped in unison.

“It’s a very important gift from the mayor! It would be rude to lose it,” Jay said. “We have to get it back!”

“Couldn’t you just ask for another… whatever they are?”

“No! They’re one of a kind!” “Well, can we at least hurry this up? Frankly, I’m getting quite tired of Zane’s shenanigans.”

Zane grinned at her. “Although she voiced her disapproval, my assistant knew the efficiency of my methods, as they had gotten us out of a pinch the last time things had been amok.”

“First of all, I was the one who successfully found Dyer last time. You just ended up getting caught.”

“Perhaps, but you used my techniques.”

Pixal huffed. “Second, I don’t appreciate that you keep calling me your assistant. If anything, we’re partners!”

Zane adjusted his fedora. “So it was a promotion she was after, eh? Well, if my assistant could prove her worth by properly complying with my techniques in this case, she may find herself with a loftier position in the future.”

Pixal sighed. “Whatever. Let’s just find the stupid bird, and go.”

The group trekked after Zane again, and Pixal wondered how long they would be here, when Zane suddenly stopped, causing half of the gang to crash into him.

“What?” Jay yelped. “What’s wrong? Why’d we stop?”

Zane pointed near his feet. “It seemed like the culprit had been careless enough to leave behind tracks in the sand.”

Pixal peered over his shoulder. Sure enough, the tracks of some avian species left a trail in the sand- and after consulting her database, it appeared to match the foot of a seagull.

“We’re getting closer!” Cole said. “It has to be around here somewhere.”

Nya’s eyes went wide, and she pointed towards something in the distance. “Look!”

Down the beach, a large group of seagulls was flocking around a half-eaten pretzel, flapping their wings and squawking as they tried to push past each other.

“It could be any of them,” Lloyd despaired. “How are we going to know which one was the one who stole my wallet?”

Jay smirked. “There’s only one way to find out.”

Lloyd eyed him nervously. “How?”

“One seagull, in particular, has come to associate you with food. One seagull has been known to chase you down.”

“Oh,” Lloyd paled, taking a step back and waving his hands. “Oh, no, I do not like where this is heading…”

“Come on, Lloyd, do it for the team,” Cole pleaded.

“You are the one who lost them in the first place,” Kai agreed. “It’s only fair.”

Lloyd groaned. “Why do I let you bully me into these things?”

“Go on,” Nya gave him a gentle shove. “We don’t have all day!”

Sticking his tongue out at her, Lloyd stepped forward, towards the seagulls. Several of them looked his way, a few flapping their wings anxiously and squawking in warning. Lloyd stopped, swallowing.

“Um. Hey. I don’t suppose any of you have seen a green wallet around here?”

Jay rolled his eyes. “They can’t understand you. Get closer!”

“Okay! I’m going, jeez-” he broke off with a yelp as a seagull darted in front of him, nearly tripping him as he stepped on its tail.

The seagull shrieked, and, in a flurry of feathers, the flock broke into a frenzied panic. Lloyd’s eyes widened, and he cried out, running away and frantically ducking swooping seagulls.

He darted behind Kai as a last nervy seagull hopped after him. Kai held up a fist, which burst into flame, scaring the bird off. Kai glanced back at Lloyd, amusement sparkling in his dark eyes. “You okay, bud?”

Lloyd glared. “Don’t look at me like that. These birds are vicious!”

“Look!” Pixal pointed at a gull that had remained behind. With the others out of the way, she could see the small, green wallet between its beak.

“That’s the one!” Cole cried. “After it!”

For ninja, the group was embarrassingly unstealthy as they clamored after the bird, shooting elemental powers at it and screaming as they narrowly avoided each other’s blasts, so that by the time the seagull reached the water, the beach was a mess of crystalized sand, crevices in the ground, and various burn marks from fire, lightning, and energy.

“It’s a seagull!” Nya cried. “We’ve faced giant snakes, lords of darkness, elemental masters, Oni, more criminals and gangsters than I can count, and an evil video game AI, yet we can’t catch one measly seagull? It shouldn’t be this hard, you guys!”

“It’s getting away,” Jay cried, pointing at the bird, who had finally taken flight and was heading out over the ocean.

“No!” Lloyd moaned. “Now we’re never going to get it back!”

“Not on my watch,” Nya growled, racing past them towards the docks. “Come on!” “Oh no,” Kai groaned. “Nya Smith, whatever you are thinking, stop it right now, because I’m not doing it.” “Come on, Kai,” Lloyd insisted, grabbing his wrist and yanking him along. “We have to hurry!”

They raced after Nya, who was running down the dock towards a man who was examining the boats. Kai followed them more slowly, taking careful steps.

“Sir, we need to use a boat, right away! We’ll pay for it, we promise!”

The man shook his head. “Sorry, ma’am, but these are all private boats. The only one we have is that one,” he pointed to a small, worn-looking fishing boat, “and the motor’s broken, so it’s of no use to anyone.”

“It doesn’t matter, I can take care of that. Everyone, get in!”

“W-wait,” the man stuttered, looking flustered.

“We’ll bring it right back, I promise! Now, come on, we don’t have much time!”

“No!” Kai insisted, as everyone else piled in. “Nuh-uh. No way. Not in a million years. You are not bringing me out into the middle of the ocean in a tiny, crowded boat with a busted engine!”

“You don’t need an engine when you’ve got me!” Nya raised her hand, and the water swirled under the boat, rocking it slightly. “Now, come on, we don’t have time for this!” “Y’know what.” Kai took a couple of steps back from the boat. “I’m good. I’ll stay here. You guys have fun finding the wallet. I’ll cheer you on from the beach. The dry, dry beach.”

“Nope.” Cole reached forward, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him in. “This is your gift we’re saving, too. If you want to get part of it, you’re coming with.”

“Finally!” Nya huffed. The water rippled beneath them, and suddenly, it was propelling their boat, and they were off.

“Where’s the bird?” Nya asked. “Does anyone see it?” “Over there!” Cole pointed slightly towards their left, where the seagull was gliding away with surprising speed. Getting into the boat had slowed them down, and it had gotten a large head start.

Nya gritted her teeth. “Hold on.”

“Don’t go faster!” Kai yelped from where he huddled near the middle of the boat, protectively sandwiched between Lloyd and Cole. “If you tip this boat, I will never forgive you.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Nya growled, although the boat slowed slightly as they continued.

“Our team continued to chase the thief, determined to put an end to the Great Gull Caper and put the culprit to justice. Even when our path took us across the raging waters of the ocean, with nothing but a rusty, broken old boat, and deep, swirling waters around us, filled with the dark abyss and the creatures that lurked there…”

“You mean like sharks?” Lloyd perked, peering over the edge. “Did you see any? I wanna see one!”

“Nope,” Kai yelped, pulling himself into a ball as he sat down on the floor of the boat. “Nopety nope nope nope. I’m done. I’m outta here.”

“The prospect of sharks was a dire one, but one we were willing to take. We would get that wallet back, no matter the cost- even if it meant competition from this fierce predator of the sea.”

Kai screamed into his hands. “Just end me now!”

“What Zane means to say,” Pixal said, elbowing Zane sharply, “is that sharks are actually very off-put by the taste of human flesh, and do not go after humans on purpose.”

Kai stared at her. “Oh joy, now a shark can devour my flesh by accident, what a relief.”

“Do not worry, Kai,” she told him. “There is only one estimated death by shark per year in the greater Ninjago City area.”

“Knowing my luck,” Kai grumbled, “I’ll be that one.”

“Did anyone bring their phone with?” Lloyd asked. “I wanna get a good picture when the sharks come for Kai.”

“I call dibs on his katana,” Jay exclaimed. “Y’know, the super flashy one with the flaming dragon carved into the handle?”

Lloyd wrinkled his nose at him. “Why would you want a fire dragon on your katana? You’re the lightning ninja!”

“Hey, just because my element is lightning, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a super dope fire design when I see one-”

“Guys,” Cole sighed, pushing his way between the two arguing boys. “No one is getting eaten. We’re perfectly safe here, on this boat.”

“Cole’s right,” Pixal agreed. “The sharks around this area are smaller, reef dwellers, and won’t come after us. They may, however, come after our seagull friend if he gets too close to the water.”

Kai made a noise in the back of his throat, and Cole scowled at her. “Thanks for the help, Pix.”

“Nya,” Jay whined, “the seagull’s getting further away! We have to go faster!”

“Don’t!” Pixal cried. “This boat has not been manufactured to withstand a lot of weight. With seven people, especially when two of them are titanium, going too fast would be sure to capsize us.”

“I told you I should’ve stayed behind on the shore,” Kai wailed.

Lloyd leaned further over the edge, raising a hand to his forehead to keep the glare off of his face as he peered intently into the water. “Is… is that a shark?”

Kai stared at him. “Shut up. You’re just baiting.”

Lloyd shook his head, his eyes lighting up in a way that was not reassuring in the slightest. “I’m not! It’s a shark! It’s a real, live shark! I’ve never seen one this close before! Except at like, an aquarium!”

Kai closed his eyes, rocking himself gently. “You’re lying. You stupid liar, I hate you.”

Cole peered over, following Lloyd’s gaze, and promptly bit his lip. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“This is a dumb prank, you guys!” Kai was half-yelling by this point.

“Stop being so loud,” Lloyd hissed. “You’ll scare it!”

Kai blinked at him. “I’ll scare it?”

Lloyd crossed his arms. “A scared shark is an aggressive shark.”

Kai’s mouth snapped shut.

“I can’t believe this,” Cole muttered. “Did we really not bring any weapons?”

“No!” Lloyd yelped. “Cole, you wouldn’t!”

“I would if it kept us from being eaten.”

“For the last time, sharks don’t eat humans!”

Cole ignored him. “Well? Did we?”

Nya snorted. “Why would we bring weapons to the beach?”

“Hey, with how often this city gets attacked, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Nya rolled her eyes. “It was supposed to be our day off.”

“It’s fine,” Pixal reported, keeping a careful eye on the shark. “It’s swimming away now. As long as we leave it alone, we’re safe.”

Kai frowned. “Looks like the gull isn’t so convinced, though.”

Pixal glanced up. Sure enough, the seagull was eyeing the shark nervously, pumping its wings as it flew higher and higher above the surface of the water.

“Do something!” Jay shrieked. “If we don’t stop it now, it’s going to get away for good!”

“Lloyd!” Nya cried. “Is your wallet waterproof?”

“What?”

“Just answer the question!” “Yes! Yes, it is!”

Nya gritted her teeth. “Hold on, everyone!”

Suddenly, a vast wave rose out of the water, looming over the seagull.

Kai’s eyes widened. “Nya, be careful, you’ll hit us too-”

But it was already too late, the wave crashing down, downing the seagull, and soaking them in saltwater. The team cried out, and Kai screamed, throwing his arms over his head in a futile attempt to protect himself. As they all tried to lurch away from the spray, the boat rocked precariously, and, for a horrifying moment, they were suspended there, on the point between balance and capsize.

And then that moment was over, and they were all falling into the ocean.

Pixal’s world immediately dimmed as she plunged into the water, quietness enveloping her like a blanket. For a moment, she was too shocked to do anything, until a foot thrashed past her face, snapping her out of her trance as she swam towards the surface.

A couple of feet before she reached it, a metal hand snatched her wrist and pulled her the rest of the way up.

“Pixal!” Zane cried, his detective voice dropped. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. What about everyone else? Are we all here?”

Zane nodded his head behind her, and she turned to see the others all within a couple of feet. Cole had his hands on the now upside-down boat, trying to use his strength to push it over, but it was hard for him to get a good grip and stay afloat at the same time. Just behind him, Jay was spitting out a mouthful of seawater, sending ripples across the surface of the ocean as he treaded water. Lloyd was doing the same a couple of feet away, only the green ninja was struggling a lot more because of the arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

“Don’t let me go, Lloyd!” Kai yelped, although the feat would’ve been impossible even if Lloyd had wanted to- the fire ninja was clinging to him like a barnacle. “I can’t swim!”

Lloyd sighed. “I know that, Kai. It’s the only reason I’m letting you hold on to me like this.”

“I can’t believe this happened,” Kai cried. “We’re going to die out here. This is the worst day off ever.”

“Hey!” Lloyd snapped. “It’s not my fault this happened!”

Nya shot them all a sharp glare from where she was drifting alongside the boat. She didn’t even bother to tread water like the rest of them, instead using her powers to keep herself afloat. “It was going to work until you guys made such a big fuss about getting a little wet and tipped the boat.”

Cole sighed. “We’re not going to die. As soon as I get this right side up again, we’ll climb up and get out of here. Can you give me a hand, Zane?”

As the nindriod moved to help him, Kai suddenly went rigid.

“Lloyd,” he whispered.

“What, Kai?”

“Something just bumped my foot.”

“It’s probably just seaweed, Kai,” Lloyd sighed, looking down- and promptly froze.

“No one. Move.”

Jay squeezed his eyes shut. “Oh no, oh gosh, don’t tell me that’s what I think it is, this is not happening-”

“Jay, shut up,” Nya whispered, her face pale as she watched the dark shape lurking below them in the water.

“Everyone, stay calm,” Pixal murmured. “Don’t make any sudden movements and try to look it in the eyes.”

“Please, the last thing I’m gonna do is look at it,” Kai breathed, burying his face in Lloyd’s hair.

After a moment, the shark slowly swam past, losing interest.

“It doesn’t care about us,” Zane realized. “It wants the seagull.”

Several yards away, the gull was floating on the water, still trying to shake off the moisture from Nya’s wave. Suddenly realizing the danger it was in, the bird raised its wings- and launched itself into the air, just as fierce jaws snapped against empty air where the seagull had been less than a second ago.

Kai’s fingers dug tighter into Lloyd’s shoulders, and Pixal caught Jay biting his lip as he swallowed back a scream, but, its prey lost, the shark was already swimming away.

“Gotcha,” Nya murmured, reaching a hand out and snatching up the wallet, which the seagull had dropped in all the commotion, before it could sink to the bottom of the ocean.

“Okay. That’s great. We got it. Now can we get out of here?” Kai pleaded.

After a minute, they finally got the boat flipped over, and Cole hauled himself aboard before helping to lift the others. Ten minutes later, they were all safely out of the water and on their way back to the dock, and Pixal had never felt more relieved by the fact.

“So,” Jay asked, as the boat glided through the water, leaning closer to Nya. “Did they survive all that?”

“Let’s see,” Nya murmured, opening up Lloyd’s wallet. Pixal leaned forward, anxious to see what all the fuss had been about.

“Yes!” Jay cried, pulling out seven slips of paper. “They’re all here!”

“Wait.” Pixal snatched one from his hand, quickly scanning it. “A summer pass for free all-you-can-eat ice cream from the Dairy Dragon?”

“Yup,” Jay smiled, passing them out to the others. “The mayor gave them to us as a gift after we saved the city from Prime Empire. That’s what we were going to do today, after the beach, actually.”

“You’re telling me,” Pixal deadpanned. “That we just risked our lives. For free ice cream.”

“Free ice cream is free ice cream, Pix.”

“You’ll understand once you’ve tried their butter pecan,” Nya told her. “It’s to die for.”

“Butter pecan?” Jay spluttered. “No way, the Ninjapolitan is best.”

“You heathen, chocolate fudge is obviously the best flavor-”

“What are you guys talking about, mint chocolate chip is superior!”

“You just like it because it’s green.”

“Do not!”

“Do so!” Nya sighed, putting her head in her hands. “Here we go again.”

“Calm down, all of you,” Pixal said. “You can get whatever flavor of ice cream you want. Just do me a favor and try not to end up capsizing us in the middle of the ocean this time.”

Jay hummed. “No promises.”

#ninjago #ninbingo #my fic #rosie writes #ninjago kai #ninjago pixal #ninjago nya #ninjago zane #ninjago lloyd #ninjago jay #ninjago cole #i cant believe i actually wrote something that is 100% fluff #that's never happened before #it feels... weird #but it was a lot of fun #and yes Lloyd loves sharks and I will die on that hill #thanks for reading! #reblogs and comments greatly appreciated!

[supercorpkid]

Red Kryptonite causes drama and trauma – The series.

Part 3 – The old you can’t come to the phone right now.

Supercorp, Kara Danvers x Daughter!Reader, Lena Luthor x Daughter!Reader

Word count: 1933.

Warning: More angst. Like, a lot. But it’s getting better, people.

Previously on the series - part 1, part 2

You open your eyes after you finally sleep a little. The sun is burning your face and you curse yourself for not putting any sunscreen, because Lena is always right and you do burn.

“Hey.” You hear a voice and you startle getting up in one move. You look at Kara sitting a few feet away from you. “Can we talk?”

“No.” You walk further away from her.

“Little one, please. I know I hurt you…” She stands up and you turn to her abruptly.

“Hurt me? You think I’m hurt?” You look at your body, all of your bruises are almost gone by now. “You punched me, and kicked me. You left me suffocating on the ground begging for your help. You didn’t give me your hand.”

“I’m so-“ Her eyes are full of tears, and she doesn’t hold them back.

“Sorry? Yeah. I was sorry too. Don’t you remember?” You interrupt her. You’re angry. You know it wasn’t really her, it wasn’t this scared person in front of you. But you can’t just forgive her like that.

“It wasn’t me. Baby, you have to understand, I had no control over what I was doing.” She shakes her head like she is trying to get rid of the images. “It was horrible.”

“I know, I was there.” You swallow hard. “And I remember you called me weak and soft. You told me I’ll never be Supergirl.”

“Kid, please.” It hits differently. Kid instead of child. You should’ve known from this word alone. “I remember everything I said, and trust me If I could take it back…”

“Why would you take it back? It’s the truth, isn’t it?” You shrug. “I’m half human. I was born on Earth. I’ll never be you.”

“Yes, but you don’t have to be me. You are so smart, so amazing, you can be anything you want.” Kara’s tears keep falling. She looks so broken. “You can be so much more than Supergirl.”

“Right now, I want to be someone who doesn’t get dragged into the mess every single time.” You take off the super watch and throw it at her feet.

“What are you doing? Kid, please.” She kneels to grab the watch.

“I can take punches now.”

“That’s not what the watch is for. Please. Please, just put it on. What if there’s an emergency? What if you get shot again?” She is still on her knees and she reaches out to you with the watch in her hands. You don’t take it.

“I didn’t call you back then. I sure as hell won’t call you now.” That hurt her more than you thought it would. You can see it on her face. You fly away just like she did. You leave her behind with the most hurtful sentence you could think of, and you hope she falls on the ground and stays there unable to move just like you did.

You fly away, and you keep flying. You don’t stop when you pass National City’s limits. You don’t stop when you pass your gramm’s house in Midvale. You, certainly, don’t stop when you pass the Fortress of Solitude. You only stop once you can’t see any familiar place, and you just sit on top of a mountain alone.

Truth is, you didn’t take the watch off because you thought you wouldn’t need it. You took it off because you know there is a way for her to know your exact location with it, and you want to stay away. You know you can’t hide forever, and you don’t want Lena to worry about you anyway, but you need time alone. You need to think, breath, recover. You can’t do that with Kara breathing down your neck.

You’re hurt, more than you’ve ever been your whole life. The kryptonite gun shot? That was nothing. Lena being attacked, and you having a full-on panic attack and destroying her office? Bad, but not this bad. This is worse because everything Kara said was true.

You were supposed to be better at fighting. Why are you so bad? Why don’t you have control over your powers like she does? Is it because you are half human? Is there something wrong with your DNA? Or are you really just weak? Did Kara and Lena’s unconditional support make you soft and weak?

You have a huge brain. Anything you try is a success. Robotics? Piece of cake. Physics? So easy is actually boring. Shouldn’t you be at college? Lena went to college pretty young. You’re not there yet, why? Is it because you are not smart enough or because you’re soft and weak?

Do they really want you to be just 15 or do they feel like they can’t ask you to be more than that because you can’t take it? And, by the way, can you take it?

You’re again filled with so much anger and pain you just want to break something. Your body knows that, aches for that, and you have no control over what happens next.

You’re flying high over the top of the mountain, and then for some reason that your brain cannot fully process right now, your heat vision hits the top of the mountain breaking it off. Then, you’re flying full speed towards the center and you keep breaking rock after rock. Body and heat vision combined completely destroying an entire mountain from within. Fast, hard, painfully.

When you hit the ground, the anger has left your body entirely and you just stay there, surrounded by broken rocks, dirt and destruction.

You are not weak. Is the first thought you have when your brain comes back to work. A weak person cannot destroy an entire mountain. A weak person can’t get shot with Kryptonite and not ask for Supergirl’s help. A weak person can’t save her mom when Supergirl herself was nowhere to be found. You are not a weak person.

You are also not Supergirl. And for the first time in your life, you don’t want to be Supergirl and you don’t care about being a soft person with powers to destroy a freaking mountain. You will never be Supergirl, because you are already Superkid.

This brings you peace you never thought you would find. You’re ready to go back now. So, you fly back and before you realize, you’re home. You sit on the roof of your house and you barely have to use your super hearing to hear your moms talking inside the house.

“Lena, I don’t know what to do. I flew everywhere. She’s not at Alex’s, she’s not in Midvale, she’s not at the Fortress. I-I don’t know where else to look. Can you find her?” You hear Kara’s voice and you look at your phone. 36 missed calls, and 53 texts from them.

“What? Do you think I’ve figured out a way to put a microchip in our daughter even though her skin is impenetrable?” You hear Lena’s voice this time.

“Well, have you?”

“I…” Your breath stops midway. Has she? “Do you remember if she was wearing the necklace?”

“Yeah, she never takes it off.” You hear Kara’s voice again.

You hold your necklace strong in your hand. This is the necklace your grandmother Alura gave Kara before she was sent to Earth. Kara gave it to you when you turned 13, the same age she was when she got it. You haven’t taken it off ever since. And you can’t believe Lena would do something to it.

“Then I can track her.” Lena answers and you close your eyes and let your head fall. You could take the necklace off, throw it in the middle of the ocean, and fly away again. But you’re tired. It’s time to let them come to you. You can’t run forever. “Oh. She’s not wearing it. It says it’s right here.”

“No. I’m sure she was wearing it. She-she is here.” Doesn’t take long until Kara is flying in front of you. She must have used her x-ray vision. She is hovering in front of you and you notice her soft expression, that’s your Kara. “You scared me so much, little one.”

“I guess that makes us even now.” You are not mad anymore, just sad. You know eventually this will go away; things will be normal again. Kara shakes her head agreeing.

“May I?” She points to the place next to you and you nod. She flies to you and sits by your side. “I don’t know what else to say except I’m sorry.”

“I know you are.” You lay your head on your knees and hug your legs close to your body. “Why are there so many kryptonites? I don’t get it. The green one that makes us weak is like, ok, I kind of get why it exists. But then there’s a red one? And the black one that makes an evil version of yourself. And the silver one that makes whatever. I don’t know why Krypton had so many evil rocks.”

“Yeah. And don’t forget about the pink one.” She looks at you and you furrow your brows confused. You’ve never heard about a pink one. “It makes you gay.”

“It makes you whAT?”

“Gay. Totally gay.” She says trying to remain serious. She doesn’t know if you are at a laughing point yet.

“Oh. So, like, were you exposed to it or…?” You ask with a little smile on your lips and she smiles too. “’Cause you are totally gay.”

“Yeah well, I wasn’t infected with it. I was infected with Lenanite.” She says and you burst into laughter.

“Oh Rao, that was so bad. Please never say that again!” You two are laughing together and it feels right. It feels like it always did. “Oh man, mom will kill you if she hears you joined her name with kryptonite.”

“Oh, please don’t tell her. She already tried to kill me twice today.” She is still laughing, but that makes you stop. She notices it. “Not that I didn’t deserve it.”

“Let’s go inside. She’s probably worried.” You fly back home and Lena opens her arms when she sees you. You snuggle inside her embrace and just stay there for a while. “Sorry I got you worried.”

“I’m just glad you’re home, babygirl.” She kisses your forehead and holds your face with both hands looking right into your eyes. “You are the most important thing in my life.”

Kara lands behind you and you take a deep breath. Is time to put this whole thing behind you. You can do it, because you are not weak. Being soft and caring for everyone in your life is not a weakness. Being able to forgive is not weakness. You are stronger than they think. You are stronger than you think.

“C’mere momma.” You ask, turning your head to look at Kara. She looks confused, but she takes small steps towards you. You free one hand and pull her into the hug. The three of you are stiff and awkward, but no one moves away.

“Why are you all covered in dirt?” Lena asks after a while and you laugh slowly and let go of them.

“Yeah, um, about that…” You scratch your head smiling. “If anyone asks who destroyed an entire mountain up North, just say you know nothing about that.”

“What?” Lena furrows her brows and Kara’s mouth drop.

“Ok! Good talk! I’m going to go take a shower.” You leave them behind and smile to yourself. That will prove them you’re not soft and weak.

#kara danvers #lena luthor #supercorp #supercorp fanfic #supercorpfamily #supergirl #supercorp daughter #kara x reader #kara x lena #lena x reader #reader insert #red kryptonite

[heretherebedork]

Why Can is Autistic, the full rewatch turned into a vaguely organized powerpoint. Please enjoy! 

All of the text is also going RIGHT below this, for those who would prefer Walls Of Text

In which I will be rewatching the entire series in one day and putting together all the reasons I headcanon him as autistic, how it affects his relationships, and why I consider it to be one of the most important aspects of his romance with Tin. I just really wanted to try to do a deeper dive on this, okay? Because I find it fascinating and fantastic. Do I think it was deliberate on the part of the writers? Nope. Not in the slightest. I think they genuinely were just writing a 'stupid' character. Did the somehow turn into a fantastic autistic character? Yes. I am as shocked as you! Also, yes, I can easily watch a 13 episode show in one day. Heck, I'll probably watch this AND something else today. Hyperfixations, wheeee.

Autism/ADHD Symptoms and Can

RSD: the reaction to the soccer game, his focus on being 'stupid' and 'ugly' Perserveration: repeats the same statement, especially about emotions. No sense of time: constantly running late Struggles with emotions: especially of others, doesn't 'read the room', often asks for things to be spelled out for him Stimming: Messing his own hair up, shakes his whole body regularly, makes sounds that don't always connect to what he's doing/saying Expresses his emotions with his whole body: often moves or shifts or stands/sits when feeling strongly

Lacks a sense of social norms: Admitting he forgets to shower/brush his teeth, rubbing himself all over Tin and his car Externalizes his internal dialog: always speaks his thoughts and doesn't know when it's appropriate/inappropriate Lacks a sense of personal space Easily frustrated and frustrated that he gets gets easily frustrated Lack of executive function: rarely remembers to eat, regularly forgets important dates/times Black/white thinking: filial piety, love causes pain The worst liar ever, no literally

Struggles to label his own emotions: often admits he doesn't know what he's feeling or doesn't know why he's feeling that way This actually drives a lot of his character and his relationship, especially in later parts. Literal thinker: takes everything at face value and assumes that people are telling the truth, also very direct and straightforward Sensory: hates sunscreen in the last episode and has mixed reactions to being touched Also, the way he squeezes his own arms reminds me of deep pressure that we literally use to help kids with sensory issues Often doesn't recognize his bodily needs until they're at extremes Responds to strong emotions through obsessive actions: practicing for soccer when he's upset about Tin

I Don't Understand/Know

Can uses this phrase all the time. He uses it with feelings, situations, when he's struggling and sometimes just because. It's so important. Please let more characters just not know. This is also huge in his autism/ADHD. It's such a common feeling. He expresses it so openly and so beautifully. It's why many people consider him stupid. They're all wrong. Screw them.

Can and his friends

This is the biggest change from LBC because we lost Good, his closest friend. And that changes all his dynamics with his other friends as well as changing the nature of his friendships. In LBC2, most of his friends are jerks. They make fun of him, ignore him, call him stupid and ugly and generally don't show a lot of caring. PSA: Job is the worst. Honestly, his lack of friends really shows in this version. Most scenes with them involve them mocking him, ignoring him or rejecting him. This does not apply to Ae. Ae is good. He does his best. “Him not understanding it, doesn't mean he doesn't feel it.”

Can and Tin's Love and Autism

I truly think that their relationship would never have progressed if Can hadn't been autistic. They start talking because of Can's clumsiness and inability to let go on an issue. Can's difficulties with emotions forces Tin to be more upfront about his own as well as be more observant about Can's emotions. Can doesn't care about most social norms, doesn't have any real understanding about social class and status and all of that makes it easier for Tin and his relationship in the end. Can's constant honesty and trust is a game changer for Tin in terms of relationships both within his family and with others.

In Conclusion

Can is a surprisingly good and accurate case of an adult autistic character. I still don't think they did all of this on purpose. All credit goes to the actor (Plan) for his fantastic portrayal and interpretation.

#tincan #autistic headcanon #lbc2 #love by chance 2 #a chance to love #a chance to love 2 #can lbc2 #lbc2: can #lbc2 can #love by chance 2 can #autistic can #adhd can #adhd cantaloupe #autistic cantaloupe #tin x can #love by chance #job is the worst #autistic character #adhd character #lbc2 images #lbc2 meta #thaibl #thai bl #thai bl meta #thaibl meta #francis is weird like this okay #can x tin #cantin #i just love this boy so much #i cannot put it into words

[recurring-polynya]

please do them all

I got this early on, but I figured that if I did them all, the quality of the answers would suffer. Anyway, I think this has basically run it’s course, so here’s a speedrun through all the ones I didn’t get to.

2. Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

Usually Rukia, although Renji has a number of Secret Techniques for prying her out of bed when necessary. HOWEVER, if, for some reason, Rukia has to get up and Renji doesn’t have to, he is a gelatinous ooze of trying to make her stay in bed with him.

5. Who falls asleep while watching a movie?

If one of them does, odds are the other isn’t far behind.

6. Who falls asleep last, watching the other with a small affectionate smile?

Rukia, actually.

7. Who comes up with the cheesy pick-up lines?

This is a competitive sport for them and the loser is everyone who has to be around them.

11. Who rearranges the bookshelf/DVD shelf in alphabetical order?

Byakuya.

12. Who does the hands-over-the-eyes “Guess Who” thing?

This is not a thing they do

13. Who points out a dog when they see one?

Whoever sees it first, dogs are very exciting.

14. Who’s prone to road rage?

Renji will shout about it and wave his hands, but get over it quickly. Rukia prefers road revenge.

15. Who’s prone to wearing socks indoor (or to sleep)?

They’re both barefooters, generally, but Renji likes socks in the winter.

16. Who reminds the other to put on sunscreen before going to the beach (or pool)?

With that much ink, Renji is definitely a sunscreen-rememberer.

17. Who carries all the important documents while traveling? 

Rukia.

18. Who gets the window seat?

Rukia, generally, unless they’re going somewhere she’s been before and Renji hasn’t.

21. Who’s clumsier?

Renji

23. Who is better with kids?

Renji

24. Who’s the better cook?

Renji

25. Who mistakes salt for sugar?

Rukia would do this and then drink an entire cup of coffee with a stone face just to prove she didn’t

26. Who puts the fork in the microwave?

Like, for fun? I feel like they have destroyed at least one microwave together in this manner. It would be Rukia’s idea, but Renji would go along with it. It was Ichigo’s microwave.

27. Who cooks at 2 in the morning?

Rukia will heat things up in the middle of the night, but it’s not proper cooking. Renji will stress bake in the wee hours if Rukia’s out late on a mission.

29. Who licks the spoon when they’re baking brownies? 

It gets gross and flirty real fast is all I’ll say.

30. Who likes doing the dishes? 

Renji

32. Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

You would think it would be Renji (and he does), but Rukia likes to quietly file away information about his likes and dislikes and reveal her Deep Knowledge of his Preferences as a romantic flex. It’s super effective.

34. Do they go on dates? What are they like? 

Mostly their dates are lunch at the terrible ramen joint, or Friday nights at the izakaya with the usual suspects. Sometimes, they have to make Appearances for Kuchiki reasons. Rukia used to find these things to be a drag, but Renji really likes to Turn Up for Noble Shit, and has given Rukia a renewed appreciation for it.

36. Which one is the secret snuggler?

Rukia. Renji is the obvious snuggler.

37. Which one offers their jacket to the other when they complain they feel cold?

My stance on this is on record

38. Who reaches for the other one’s hand while driving?

If Renji is driving, Rukia will reach over to hold hands. If Rukia is driving, everyone involved would prefer Rukia to keep two hands on the wheel.

40. Who is the most affectionate?

Renji is affectionate in the traditional sense of the word. Rukia is affectionate in the manner of a mother wolverine. I have often considered a storyline where someone kidnapped Renji, and I cannot emphasize how sorry they would be.

41. Who is the big spoon/little spoon? 

Come on.

45. Who worries the most? Over what? 

Renji works extremely hard to never show any signs of worrying over Rukia, but of course he does, she makes terrible decisions. Prior to them getting together, he worries a lot that he will never be good enough for her, which manifests itself as hesitation more than worry. Rukia does have an ongoing fear that Renji is going to get himself hurt/killed over her, so she frequently makes him promise not interfere in her fights. She also worries a bit that he’s too cool for her, and that one of these days, he’s going to come to his senses and fall in love with someone on his level. She’s kind of an idiot in that regard.

46. Who initiates kisses?

They are equal-opportunity kiss initiators.

47. Who says I love you first? How did it happen?

Renji. He formulates an entire long-range plan for love declaring, with schedule and pre-requisites and then he goofs it up and it slips it out at the worst possible moment.

#otp meme #I did it! #i was not going to do all of them #and then i did #¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #i guess it's time to stop ignoring my fanfic