#work is the best thing that ever happened cause 99% of the time I have nothing to do so I just do my homework and I actually get stuff done

[writingquestionsanswered]

IDK how many people are running the account, but if you or a member of the team running the account has ADHD, do you have any tips for ADHD writers, particularly when trying to get WIPs done? Outlines don't work for me like 99% of the time ;_;

Tips for Writing with ADHD

Here's what works for me, but your mileage may vary...

1 - Know What Outline Works for You - You say outlines don't work for you 90% of the time, but what type of outline are you using? Many people hear the word "outline" and imagine an academic outline with roman numerals and bullet points, but that's not what most fiction writers mean when they talk about using an outline. For fiction writers, outlines can be anything from a beginning to end written summary, to a scene list, to a detailed timeline. My post How to Outline a Plot has some different things you can try. Ultimately, there's no right or wrong way to outline your story. Anything that works as a "road map" to guide you through your story can help.

2 - Pants When You've Got to Pants - Some writers are "pantsers" or in other words, they prefer not to go off an outline. Some don't even plan in advance. They "write by the seat of their pants" and let the story take them where it may. For some writers, it depends on the specific story they're working on. Some stories might require planning, others might work better if you pants them. What works for me is understanding my needs (what type of story I'll usually need to plan/outline ahead of time, and what type of story I can pants) and then planning/pantsing accordingly. If I spent time outlining a story that I could easily pants, it would definitely take the wind out of my writing sails.

3 - Schedule Your Writing Time... Sort Of... - For me, I can't just rely on myself to write when the mood strikes me. If I did that, I'd never get any writing done. So for me, it's important to have a dedicated writing time each day. That doesn't even have to mean my butt's in the chair writing from this time to this time, it just means I'll do my best to write during whatever span of time. So, let's say this week you're home every day from 2pm until 6pm and some of that time is free time. That's going to be a good time to write, so you could say you're going to sit down every day at 3pm to write. Or, you could do 10-minute writing springs every hour, or every other hour. Or you could say you'll write when the mood strikes you, but definitely from 5:30 to 6 if you didn't get it done earlier.

4 - Try Random Writing Sprints - Writing sprints in general can be a good way for people with ADHD to write. You can schedule them or you could do them when the mood strikes. Get a timer and set it to whatever works for you... 5-minutes, 10-minutes, 30-minutes, whatever. Then just set it and go when you have time. Even if you don't feel like writing, getting into that habit will make it easier to write as soon as the timer comes out.

5 - Don't Give Yourself a Hard Time - One of the most profound things I ever heard about writing resistance is that it's often the product of writing feeling stressful. In other words, the idea of writing causes you stress, so your brain says, "Avoid! Avoid!" and you sit down to write and nothing happens. One of the ways we make writing stressful for ourselves is by giving ourselves a hard time when we don't write or don't write as much as we wanted. So, just do the best you can and congratulate yourself on small victories. Find ways to make writing fun and relaxing rather than stressful and like a chore.

Bonus - Sometimes the problem isn't ADHD but something else. My post 5 Reasons You Lost Interest in Your WIP, Plus Fixes! has some other things to consider.

I hope that helps!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[astrophileous]

Love Bugs (Pt. 03)

Pairing: Derek Morgan x Female Reader

Synopsis: You and Derek Morgan have an arrangement. At work, your relationship is strictly business. Under the sheets, it's all about pleasure. Nothing more, nothing less. Until, of course, your feelings start to get involved. Your situation is complicated enough without the unexpexted predicament that suddenly befalls upon you. But with a maniac serial killer on the loose, will you ever get the chance to make everything right?

Warning(s): pregnancy, brief talk of abortion, stalker behavior, kidnapping, curse words (this shouldn't even warrant a warning at this point lol) pls lmk if I miss anything

Word Count: 2000-ish

Author's Note: told ya the pt 3 would be here sooner than you'd expect! as always, LIKE+COMMENT+REBLOG cause these give me the motivation I need to finish the parts sooner and maybe upload more frequently 👀

Love Bugs Masterlist / Criminal Minds Masterlist

You always took pride in your ability to predict things correctly. It was one of the best traits that made you a great profiler.

Not this time, though.

This time, your ability to conjure correct predictions just seemed like a big joke that the universe purposefully played out to torture your ass.

The ringtone of your phone's incoming call snapped you back to reality. Without looking at the caller ID, you pressed the green button and brought the device to your ear.

"(Y/L/N) speaking."

"Hey, Beets. Where are you?" came the voice of one Penelope Garcia. "Hotch is looking for you. Are you coming in today?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm coming in. Sorry, it was an emergency. Tell the others I'll be there shortly."

After ending the call, you rushed through the rest of your morning routine as quickly as possible. The three opened boxes on the bathroom sink were thrown into the garbage can in no time. Their contents sitting on the counter, however, required you to pause and contemplate what course of actions you would want to do to deal with the problem at hand.

Upon realizing that this was not the kind of dilemma you could solve in a matter of minutes, you decided to fuck it before dumping the items into the same garbage can.

The three tests with two little pink lines would have to wait.

You had a serial murder case to solve.

If five months ago someone had told you that you'd someday end up carrying the child of Derek Morgan, you would have ordered a psychological evaluation for them right then and there.

The past few days had been a catastrophic turmoil. At first, the irrational anger had devoured you whole. You were this close to calling the company who produced your pills for claiming that they had 99% chance of preventing exactly the kind of mess you were going through from happening. Granted, they had put the minus 1% up there to save face in case anything like this were to ever happen. But what were the chances of you being one of the outliers in that small percentage?

Apparently, a pretty good one.

Then, the panic quickly had taken control and messed up with your head. The endless anxiety of having to bring a child into such a cruel world and bearing the responsibility of raising it, while having witnessed what kind of evil lurked underneath its facade, almost threw you to the brink of insanity. During those moments of fear, you had even entertained the idea of possibly terminating the pregnancy, even going as far as calling the nearest facility to question more about the procedure.

But once the fog had cleared, and you were able to start thinking rationally again, realization soon dawned upon you.

You wanted to keep the baby.

In some curious plot twist, you discovered that the idea of having this baby wasn't as scary as the knowledge of having to face Derek and inform him of the news.

And that was exactly what had been occupying your entire mind: how to break the news to Derek.

You barely even had the guts to talk to him directly anymore. Yet somehow, you had to find a way to tell him that you were pregnant, right to his face, as if you were bringing the news of a new movie that had just premiered in your nearest local theater.

How the hell were you ever going to do that?

And it wasn't like you were worried that Derek wouldn't be supportive about your decision to keep the baby. Even if he was unsupportive, there was nothing he could do to persuade you to change your mind. But Derek--sweet and kindhearted Derek--would never do such a thing. Having lost his father at a very young age himself, there was no way anyone could keep him from taking care of his child, no matter how they came to be in this world.

So, before you could gather your thoughts--and yourself--you had decided to put off telling Derek about your current condition.

"Still nothing, Garcia?" Hotch asked from his place in front of the board.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I've tried everything, but there was nothing else I could uncover from that tape."

The rest of the team was seated around the round table. It had been two weeks since the BAU received the video tape from the UnSub, and Garcia had finally revealed that there was nothing more to be analyzed from the tape despite having only obtained insignificant details out of it.

It also didn't help that the UnSub had been lying dormant since that video was delivered.

"It just doesn't make sense," Rossi said frustratedly. "Why would he stop now? What is he waiting for? This guy gets off on attention. Stopping his theatrics at a time like this doesn't fit his profile at all."

"He must be looking to get his attention from somewhere else," Derek chimed in.

"Yeah, but the question is where?" Reid interjected.

"And what is he planning to do to make sure he gets it?" Hotch let out a long sigh before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright, we're not going to stop just because this guy has. Emily, JJ, try interviewing the victims' families, friends, and the witnesses again. See if they suddenly have something useful for us. Morgan and Rossi, follow up on our other leads. Reid--"

"The case files. I know." Reid nodded.

"Right. And (Y/L/N)--" Hotch pinned his stare towards you, "--I need to talk to you. Thank you, everyone. Dismissed."

"Are you in trouble?" Emily leaned in as the rest of the team scattered out of the room.

"Not as far as I know," you whispered.

As you walked the path to Hotch's office, your mind began searching for the possibilities behind Hotch's sudden request to see you privately. You didn't get to guess for too long, though, as you finally arrived in front of his door almost in no time at all.

"Come on in, Agent. Close the door behind you," he commanded. You turned around to nudge the door closed. "Have a seat."

You didn't spend any time beating around the bush once you had sat down.

"Can I ask what this is about?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" Hotch looked at you with a raised eyebrow. "I heard you requested a half day off today."

"I, uh... yes. Yes, I did. Is that why I'm here?"

"No. That is not why you're here." Hotch leaned back against his seat. "You've been distracted lately. You're coming late to work, and you can't seem to focus when you're around."

"I-I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."

"You should know that I've received concerns about you from the other members of the team."

What?

"Was it JJ?" you asked. "Because if this is about what happened in the bathroom--"

"It was Garcia, actually."

"Oh."

Hotch looked at you curiously. "What happened with JJ in the bathroom?"

"Nothing, sir. It was nothing."

The next few seconds were drowned in silence. The ticking clock on Hotch's desk became the only sound echoing against the walls. Hotch was examining you as if you were a suspect in the interrogation room, and with how much scrutiny was sizzling inside those eyes, you might as well have been.

"They're not the only ones concerned about you, (Y/L/N)," he spoke carefully. "I've also noticed that you haven't been yourself lately. You seem tired all the time. You look paler every single day." Hotch readjusted his tie before continuing, "I know that what we do here isn't easy. This job, it's not for everyone. Sometimes our limits are much smaller than what we thought it would be, and that's okay. If you'd like to put in a request for a transfer, I'm sure I will be able--"

"Sir," you stopped him before he could go on any further. "I don't want to transfer. I like working here."

"Just because you like working somewhere, it doesn't mean--"

"Hotch," you cut him off once more. "I'm pregnant."

The priceless look on Hotch's face at the sudden drop of your announcement would forever be ingrained in your brain.

"What?"

"I found out two weeks ago." You smiled tentatively. "I've been having severe morning sickness, and my appetite has also not been the best. Probably why I look tired all the time. I didn't mean to let my condition affect my work, I'm sorry."

"No, no. That's... wow. You're pregnant." Hotch started to nod as if the news was just beginning to fully settle upon him. "Congratulations, Agent. That's wonderful news. You are... happy, right?"

You smiled at his considerate question. "I am very much. Yes."

"How far along are you?"

"My guess is eight to ten weeks. I'm not so sure. Today is my first ultrasound, hence why I requested for half a day."

And then, by some unknown piece of miracle, Aaron Hotchner started to laugh. A real, actual laugh that had both of his eyes wrinkling in the corners. You didn't even know that he could do that without Jack around.

"When I called you in here earlier, this isn't exactly how I pictured the conversation would go," he admitted.

"Neither did I."

"Well--" He cleared his throat, "--there's, of course, a few things we need to go over in rumination of your current condition, but I'm sure we can manage that some other time."

"Of course, sir."

"And (Y/L/N)?" You stared at him expectantly. "You can come to me if you ever need anything. You know that, right?"

The sincerity in Hotch's declaration nearly brought you to tears. You immediately tried to blink back the emotions before you could make a mess of yourself in front of your boss.

"Of course, Hotch. Thank you."

You got up from the chair and began walking towards the door. Before your fingers could touch the handle, you decided to turn around once more.

"Hotch?"

"Yes?"

"I would appreciate it if we kept this between us for now."

"Of course, Agent." He nodded. "You have my word."

And with that, you exited Hotch's room before heading back straight to your desk.

A few hours later, you were finally returning home after attending the doctor appointment.

Confirming your earlier prediction, the doctor had put the estimated age of your fetus at around ten weeks. According to the internet, your baby was not larger than the size of a mere apricot. It was nothing more than a tiny blob in the sonogram image, but the sight of it alone somehow made you want to break down in tears.

Before you could turn into a sobbing ball of mess, you decided to put the picture right on the front of your fridge.

"Alright, I think that's--"

Thud.

Your head instinctively whipped around at the mysterious sound.

Without wasting another second, your hand immediately reached for the gun tucked safely in your holster. The tiny footsteps you took sounded deafening in the silence of your apartment. You first checked the bathroom, finding it empty with nothing out of the ordinary. The two bedrooms were pretty much the same. Quiet and a little messy just the way that you had left them that morning.

Sighing, you brushed off your paranoia as a result of your overactive hormons and creeping exhaustion.

When you reemerged from taking a shower nearly an hour later, the feeling of dread once again washed over your entire being.

At first glance, not a single thing in the apartment seemed to be out of place. But somehow, the feeling of another presence in the room was indisputable. Your wet feet slowly moved along the floor, careful as to not make as much sound as possible.

Once you arrived in the kitchen, you took in your surrounding, making sure that things really were staying in the places they should have been in.

You were about to sigh in relief until you saw it.

The sonogram image you previously had glued to the fridge.

It was now lying on the floor.

Before you could have a chance to grab the nearest weapon, the door to the second bedroom behind you suddenly began to creak.

"Boo."

That was the last thing you remembered before everything went dark.

#derek morgan #derek morgan self insert #derek morgan x you #derek morgan x reader #derek morgan x y/n #derek morgan fic #derek morgan fanfiction #derek morgan fluff #derek morgan angst #derek morgan smut #criminal minds #criminal minds fandom #criminal minds x you #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds x y/n #criminal minds fic #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds fluff #criminal minds angst #criminal minds smut #love bugs #shemar moore

[caswarrenart]

I know a lot of artists are antsy about art theft right now (myself included, I literally just had a terrible nightmare about fighting the physical manifestation of AI, The Mitchells vs The Machines style…). I can’t claim that any of these things can prevent it. But here’s a few things I’ve found useful:

Opening a free account on Pixsy.com. This website does a decent job at letting me know when my images have been reposted. 99% of the time, the results are just Tumblr-copying zombie websites that just repost everything that is already here. But, it’s sensitive enough that it alerted me when my old college posted my work. They were harmlessly using my stuff as an example of alumni work- but I was glad to be in the know, AND they had mistakenly credited my deadname, so I was able to reach out and correct that. I would have never have seen it otherwise. The website has subscription options, but you can ignore them and still use the monitoring services it provides.

Reverse image searching my most widely shared pieces on haveibeentrained.com. This website checks to see if your work has been fed to AI.

Looking up legal takedown letters and referencing them to draft a generic letter for my own use. This takes a bit of the stress off what is already a stressful and often time-consuming ordeal. Taking time to craft a Very Scary, Legally Threatening, Yet Coldly Professional Memo has been worth it.

Remaining careful about what and how I post online. My living depends on sharing my work, so I have to post it. I’ve learned through trial and error how to post lower resolution images that still look good, but aren’t easily used for anything beyond the intended post, and of course, strategic watermarking. Never, ever post full res, print quality stuff for the general public. Half the time it ends up looking unflattering on social media anyways, cause the files get crunched for being large. I try to downsize my images, while set to bicubic smoothening, to head that off. Look up the optimal image resolutions and proportions for individual sites before posting your web versions. For some work, cropping the piece, or posting chunks of detail shots instead of a full view, is a more protective measure.

Look out for other artists! Reach out when in doubt. Don’t steal from others. Learn the difference between theft, and a study/master copy/fanart/inspiration. Don’t assume that all posted art has the same intended purpose as a “how to” instructional like 5 Minute Crafts. Ask permission. Artists are often helpful and supportive towards people who want to study their work! And, the best tip-offs I’ve received have all been from other people who were watching my back. Thank you to everybody who keeps an eye out for my work, and who have been thoughtful enough to reach out to me when they see theft happening 💖 y’all are the real MVPs. All we have is each other.

#cas posts #art theft #ai art #art #intellectual property #artificial art #artificial intelligence #artificialart #lensa app #lensa #stable diffusion #laion #laion database #large scale artificial intelligence open network #stolen art

[lalal-99]

of being true {l.f.} | track 5

©June 2023, April 2024 by lalal-99

Lee Felix x Jung Wooyoung | trope: strangers to lovers | word count: 9.2k

Synopsis: The one that's about Felix and other pretty people.

Check Chapter Overview for complete list of warnings

Smut tags: explicit content | porn with plot | first time with the same gender | oral (m. rec.) | body worshipping | teasing | anal sex | top/sub dynamics | top!felix | Felix is whipped | sex under the influence (they're not wasted but definitely tipsy) | soft sex | nothing too spicy, honestly, but so, sooo many emotions

Note: This is an interim chapter. You don't need to read this chapter to understand the rest of the main plot. But I advise you do, because it's just so beautiful. Truly one of the best things I have ever written. (Reposting, cause the first upload tanked...)

Tumblr works on a reblog system. Please consider reblogging this post so that it can reach more people. Thank you :)

Please don't flag as mature or repost this story - Thank You

Felix learned he was gay at the tender age of 7. That was if he were completely honest with himself.

It happened on a beautiful Sunday morning in his suburban Sydney home. He had just prepped himself a bowl of fruit loops, clad in his pyjamas with his favourite blanket in hand. That’s how he made himself a home on the sofa, turning on the TV with the volume on low so his parents wouldn’t wake. Switching through channels his parents had forbidden him to watch, he finally landed on Nickelodeon. And that’s when he saw him.

Danny.

Phantom, if that wasn’t clear already.

All the kids at school had talked about the show for weeks, raving over who they thought Danny would end up with. Sam—the sarcastic best friend—or Jazz—the cutesy love interest. Pretty, beautiful and whitty were some of the words his friends referred to them as. Felix needed to see for himself and make up his mind. If not to admire their animated beauty, at least to determine who he preferred.

Needless to say, all intentions went out the window once he saw the underdog protagonist. His hair as black as the night and his eyes as blue as the ocean minutes away from Felix’s house. And that was only the human form of one Danny Fenton. No one could have prepared Felix for the incredible looks of his super-hero alter-ego. His icy grey hair and green eyes were truly something else, and Felix was soon captivated by the fictitious character. A fabricated figure drawn with pencil, but even so the hero of his childhood.

In hindsight, Felix should have known it right then and there.

While his friends argued the show’s female characters, he fantasised protecting Amity Park alongside his idol. Telling him his deepest secrets and hugging him in glee at the end of each episode.

As he was only a child, Felix didn’t think to investigate the intensity of his affection further. He pushed it to the back of his mind. Argued that he didn’t watch the show for its romantic aspects whenever someone asked him about his prefered love interest.

Despite ignoring the nagging thought for all his childhood—oblivious to a deeper meaning behind it—it caught up with him at some point. And that point came in the form of one Cassidy Miller.

Cassidy was one of Felix’s classmates in Year 8. Upon laying eyes on him on the first day of the year, she made it her main plot point to become his girlfriend. During lunch that first day, she chose the seat next to him in the cafeteria, sharing some of her homemade snacks. As a teenage boy amid a growth spurt, he accepted with not another word of persuasion. He didn’t even consider it to be an advance of sorts. Even when his friend high-fived him after the fact, Felix understood it as an act of kindness. Cassidy was trying to make some friends after moving to town weeks prior. Nothing out of the ordinary.

It took him about three weeks of shared snacks every day and a kiss on his cheek to recognise that, yes. A girl had a crush on him. And everything would have been fine. Hadn’t it been for the slight complication that he didn’t feel the same about her. Cassidy was sweet. He would even agree that she was cute with her bunny nose and blonde locks. Conventionally attractive features for a 14-year-old girl.

Before he could break the truth to her, though, she had already introduced him to her parents. Quick, but Felix didn’t get the chance to intervene. He didn’t even know she wanted to introduce them when she asked him to follow her to the parking lot. Let alone introduce him as her boyfriend, much to her father’s dismay.

So, at the fragile age of 14, Felix found himself in a heterosexual relationship with a girl he barely knew but didn’t have the heart to break up with. As though being an unknowing closeted teenager wasn’t enough already.

That relationship, as innocent as it was, lasted 6 months. At most, it consisted of hand-holding and handwritten notes passed during class. Still, it lasted long for a first relationship Felix had no intention of having in the first place.

When Cassidy revealed that her dad had been relocated for the umpteenth time, Felix was even a little sad. She left after only 7 months, thus ending the relationship as it had begun—completely out of his control.

One should think: A closeted gay teen who just came out of a heterosexual relationship he hadn’t intended having? Definitely won’t do that again in the near future.

And that thought was fair. But wrong.

It took around 2 months after Cassidy left when Emily Wilson came into Felix’s life.

Emily was different from Cassidy in many ways. She was one year Felix’s senior, held back a year for grade-related reasons. She had black hair and a sidecut. Eyelids always painted in a thick layer of dark eyeliner which made her look at least two years older than she was. She had a nose ring her parents hadn’t allowed her to get and wore combat boots like part of a religion. Every word leaving her lips was drenched in sarcasm, which drew Felix to her right from the beginning.

It didn’t take Felix more than a few weeks to accept it. If he were to ever have a relationship with another girl, it would be a girl like Emily.

Fortunately for him, she and Cassidy had one thing in common. They were both pretty much obsessed with him from the moment they first laid eyes on him.

Whatever was drawing them to him, Felix decided that what anyone in his position would do, was make a move on Emily. Everyone in his class was obsessing over who was with whom. All his friends went from relationship to relationship in weekly rhythms. So, getting a girlfriend himself was the logical thing to do.

The 1.5 years he spent with Emily were the most fun but excruciating months of his life. Being with someone that long was hard, as much as he loved getting to know every part of her life.

He liked Emily’s parents, and they thought he had a positive influence on their daughter. But they were uber controlling and burst into her room every few minutes to check on them and what they were doing.

He adored Emily’s love for music and art. Every picture she drew for him and every mixtape she made proudly displayed in his room. But, she didn’t allow any opinions on the topics that didn’t correlate with her own. Felix’s love for Pop music? A slap in the face of a proud anti-capitalist. Felix’s one-year-anniversary plans to visit a special exhibition in the museum? Another penny in the pocket of the rich, making them even wealthier.

He fell apart at the touch of Emily’s hands and mouth. Losing his virginity to her left him breathless and in a sweaty sheen for hours. But, as much as he didn’t mind sleeping with her, he couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling. She always made the first move. And he was not only lying to himself but to her.

Their relationship was a constant back-and-forth. Liking her while not liking her enough to want a serious future. No matter how hard Felix tried, keeping up the facade became more agonising with every I love you. Eventually, Emily could tell something was eating at her boyfriend. And after 18 unforgettable months together, she finally had enough. She left him with usual harsh words and exhausted tears of relief in his eyes.

Even then, as the doubt and exhaustion finally reached the front lobe of his brain, it took him a couple more years and 3 more relationships to come to terms with reality.

Felix was gay and wouldn’t continue lying to everyone around him.

Well, except for his parents, who, despite living in a modern country, had different values. They weren’t particularly homophobic, though they approached the movement with ignorance. That’s other people. That would never happen to us.

Thankfully, by the time Felix realised he would never be content in a heterosexual relationship, he had already set his eyes on further education abroad. And once he finished High School, he was already packed and ready to head overseas to live as his true self.

Never in a million years had Felix expected to live that true self so early in this new chapter of his life. He had barely set foot onto campus when he bumped into a guy on his way out of the physiology building. Felix almost lost balance but the man grabbed his biceps, delicate fingers steadying him against himself. That’s when he met the guy’s gaze. Beautiful mahogany, surrounded by a sheen of gold eyeliner. Which only made them sparkle even further than Felix was sure they already did. His hair died in layers of blonde and black, ears adorned by so many earrings he couldn’t have counted them. And that cheeky smile on his lips made Felix want to taste him right then and there.

Instead, Felix pulled away, smoothing his t-shirt out as he hugged his bag closer to himself. It gave his hands something to do while hiding the semi he sported. From a short-lived, innocent physical contact, but nonetheless.

“You good?” the guy asked, and Felix nodded, eyes wide as though he had seen a ghost. The man swiped his thumb over his plumb bottom lip with a smirk and a wink as he brushed past Felix. “Next time, keep your eyes on what’s important. Alright, Pretty?”

Pretty. Felix subconsciously nodded at the words as the man rounded the corner with another look back. He remained still for approximately minutes before he shook himself to snap out of it.

And that could have been it. A short, embarrassing moment like he had had so many times before. But that wasn’t Felix’s luck.

God screamed You should see your face at Felix when he entered his Psychology 101 class days later. The same boy stood by the entrance, talking to another guy who looked a little too good in his pink hair.

Felix skimmed past him, feeling the man’s gaze trained on his back as he wordlessly sat between two girls. Anything so he wasn’t exposed to the man’s enticing presence. Making his heart race like that of an untouched virgin.

That’s when Felix diagnosed: He might not be as ready to live his true self as he had thought.

The decision to take his time exploring his identity was easily made. Yet, the pledge lasted only 4 days.

“Hi, man! How’s it going?”

The first thing Felix noticed about the man in front of Jisung was the age difference.

Jisung might have been Felix’s age phsyically, but he usually carried himself with a heightened sense of maturity. His long-term girlfriend definitely was the cause for that, so much the countless dirty jokes had told Felix.

Jackson, on the contrary, had a sense of wiseness to him. He must have made many a experience that still awaited Felix and Jisung. What exactly made Felix feel like that, he couldn’t pinpoint. Although it likely wasn’t the baggy clothing or the Gucci snapback. Jackson must have come from money, was all Felix took away from them. And if it weren’t for Jackson’s clothing, the golden earrings and chain around his neck would have said as much.

“I’m alright. The workload already has me in a chokehold. But I’ll manage,” Jisung joked with his old friend before turning to Felix. “Jackson, this is my roommate, Felix. Felix, Jackson.”

“Nice to meet you!” Jackson greeted him as he pulled him into a bro-hug. The first of many, Felix was sure.

“Likewise.”

“So, already swimming in the workload? If it’s too much already, I wouldn’t advise picking Medicine as a Major. I was studying until the second the first guests arrived. And I will continue the moment the house is empty.”

A future doctor? Jackson? Definitely not what Felix had expected, but he didn’t know the guy. All he could go from was the first impression. He knew better than to judge from that alone.

“I’ll keep that in mind. You should tell Y/N before she suggests I also become a doctor.”

“She’s still not giving up on you picking a Major, huh?”

“I swear it’s everything she talked about the past two months.” Felix looked around the place, trying his hardest to ignore the words coming from his friend. It wasn’t like he knew everything about their relationship, nor was he picking sides in this debate. But hearing Jisung talk behind her back like that? It filled him with slight unease. “I love her, but it’s annoying.”

“You probably don’t want to hear it, but she has a point.”

Again, not what Felix had expected from Jackson. Taking Y/N’s side like that.

“There’s nothing wrong with taking a semester to figure things out, but you’ll have to pick one eventually.” Jackson could tell from Jisung’s expression that this wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “But...” Jackson opened three beer bottles from the sink before handing two of them over to Felix and Jisung. “That’s a conversation for tomorrow. Or next week. Right now, we party.”

“Hell, yeah!” Jisung agreed with a cheer before toasting the other two and downing half his bottle.

Felix took a sip, face scrunching at the bitter aftertaste of the liquid. He had never quite grown accustomed to the flavour of beer, his tastebuds preferring vodka or rum. Anything that mixed well with soft drinks.

While Jackson and Jisung chatted away like two estranged friends (which, for as much as Felix had understood, they were), Felix’s gaze wandered through the doorway into the living room. The house gradually filled with young students—some yet sober, some already intoxicated. Felix started appreciating Jisung by his side, so he didn’t have to approach this situation alone. Even if Jisung, right now, was ignoring his presence for his old friend.

Distracted by the loud music, Felix took a few steps out of the kitchen, when suddenly, he got knocked off his feet. Or at least almost.

He would have planted his face straight into the tiled flooring hadn’t it been for a set of delicate fingers coming to his biceps and steadying him. And if it weren’t already a complete recap of his encounter on the first day, Felix met the same mahogany eyes yet again.

Sweet, sweet irony.

The guy recognised him soon enough, a smirk appearing on his beautiful face. How he could be so enticing and cheeky without saying a word was beyond Felix.

“We have to stop meeting like this.”

Invisible strings drew Felix’s eyes to the man’s face, hanging on the way his lips moved whenever he spoke. He was in total awe of how someone could sound so sweet while having the fucking confidence of a... Well, if Felix had to name it, he would have called it fuckboy. Although, he didn’t want to judge a book by its cover. Even if this particular book was extremely easy on the eyes.

“You good?”

“Huh?”

“I asked you if you were alright.”

“Oh, of course. Yes, I’m good.”

“Good.” And there it was again. That stupid smirk made Felix feel things he didn’t know he had the mental capacity to feel. Emotions he had prayed to feel for Cassidy, Emily, Tina and all the others, he instead felt for some stranger the second he laid eyes on him. Like a complete loser. “You’re Felix, right?”

Eyebrows raising at the sound of his name from the stranger’s mouth, Felix swallowed thickly. “Yes. How do you know?”

“We have Psychology 101 together.” The first non-flirtatious words coming from the man, though that didn’t last long. “And I always remember the pretty faces.”

Pretty. That word, again, made Felix’s stomach churn and his pants tighten. Internally, he scolded himself for being so new to this that the simple compliment could affect him like this.

“I’m—You—Erm—” Felix stumbled over his thoughts pathetically. The stranger’s eyes kept running over all Felix’s features and he was very aware of it. He must have thought Felix was an utter basket-case. If he wanted to keep the last bit of pride, he had to get it together. Quick. “What’s your name?”

“Ouch,” the guy said as he placed his hand over a heart in mock hurt. “And here I hoped you had paid as much attention to me as I did you.”

What now? He had paid attention to Felix? When? How long? And why? Was this all part of a play, or was he kidding? Felix didn’t know what to think.

“I—I’m sorry.”

“No worries. I’m messing with you.” A breath of relief escaped Felix’s lips as he hoped the guy didn’t notice. “I’m Wooyoung. Nice to make your acquaintance.”

“You, too,” Felix replied with the first smile in approximately hours.

“So, Felix. Now that I saved your life twice, what do you say we have a drink? It’s on me.”

Felix laughed at the joke as he pushed a strand of his blonde hair behind his ear.

“I already have one,” Felix explained, holding up the beer towards Wooyoung.

“Beer? You’re one of those guys?” Wooyoung asked with a sarcastic undertone, making Felix blush as he eyed the brown bottle.

“Actually, no. I never liked beer.” Placing the almost full bottle on the counter, he let Wooyoung guide him around the counter. A display of countless different liquors met them in a broad array.

“What’s your poison? Vodka? Gin?” Wooyoung questioned as he grabbed two red cups from the stack.

“Rum, actually.” The slight smile on Wooyoung flustered Felix as he hoped he hadn’t somehow made a fool of himself. Again. “What?”

“Nothing,” Wooyoung shrugged as he filled the two cups with a quarter rum before topping them off with coke. “I just know how to pick ‘em.” Felix didn’t know what he was hinting at, so he only smiled once Wooyoung handed him his drink. “To new acquaintances.”

“Yes. Acquaintances.”

With that, they toasted and took a sip each. The mixture of Captain Morgan and Coke gave Felix a sweet aftertaste. Much more comfortable than the beer had done, and he returned the smile Wooyoung sent him.

This whole situation was rather new to Felix. He had never been to a party like this. Single, that was. He never had the chance to meet someone on the go in a similar situation, and that reality filled him with unease. Despite having only met the guy, Felix wanted Wooyoung to like him. Whether that was a like in the we’ll become good friends sense or the give me all of you kinda way.

For a moment, Felix felt he was getting ahead of himself. He had met Wooyoung a few minutes ago. For all he knew, being flirtatious could have been engraved in his personality. Felix had arrived at campus mere days ago and even pledged to ease himself into this new, true identity. He definitely shouldn’t rush it.

As fast as he remembered that pledge he had taken, the memory evaporated. Wooyoung’s hand touched his hip, pulling him slightly closer, in front of everyone. Including his roommate and Jackson—two people he had no idea how they’d react to finding out his deepest secret. A secret he had never told anyone, on top of that.

“So, Felix—” Looking around the room, Felix soon realised that Jisung had left, and so had Jackson. A bunch of random people were running around, albeit ignoring the two guys in the corner, throwing googly eyes at each other. That realisation relaxed him almost entirely. “What’s your deal?”

Felix’s eyes met Wooyoung’s lips as he licked his own, a little nervous in the presence of someone so beautiful still. “What do you mean?”

“Are you, like, single? Hetero? Better tell me now before I fall for another straight guy.”

For someone so—unfamiliar, Felix felt himself drawn to anything Wooyoung did. Much more than he ever had with any of his ex-girlfriends. Sure, Felix was nervous around him, his hands shaking so heavily, he feared he’d spill his drink on the guy. At least some blame laid on his inexperience, blood rushing through his system like it was racing against itself. How was Wooyoung so self-assured and head-on anyways?

“I don’t know what to say.”

That was the truth. Felix had no idea how to answer such a straightforward question. Especially since he hadn’t said the words I am gay out loud, ever. Not even to himself. Expressing his personality to a stranger, out of all people, felt so out of place for him. Although he couldn’t deny the unmistakable magnetism pulling him towards Wooyoung.

“That’s okay. Because I know.”

The fingers at Felix’s hips dug into his flesh a little fiercer as Wooyoung closed in, breath hitting Felix’s cheek. Everything around him slowed in motion as his gaze switched from Wooyoung’s eyes to his lips, unsure of what to do or how to act. Would this be his first kiss with a man? With a stranger? In front of all these people? Tipsy from two unfinished drinks and Wooyoung’s presence alone?

“You do?” It took him a few seconds to finally reply, the tension becoming too much, too fast. “Maybe you can tell me. Because I have no fucking idea.”

Wooyoung laughed out loud at his words; a hearty laugh which sounded much like heaven to Felix. Some of the tension vanished as he took another deep breath and a long sip from his drink.

“And he’s funny, too. Damn, I really do know how to pick ‘em.”

The words made Felix blush as he averted his gaze towards the floor.

“I tell you what,” Wooyoung retracted his hands as his softening gaze met Felix’s anxious one. He must have noticed Felix’s unsure aura, torn between wanting to experience whatever Wooyoung had in mind and taking it slow. Felix had never been this happy about his expressional features. “How about you figure out what your deal is first? And when you do, come find me.”

As much as those words took the pressure off, Felix couldn’t deny the hint of disappointment pulling at his mood. He wanted to try and get him to close the proximity again, feeling cold after Wooyoung had pulled away. Sneakers screeching against the tiles soon captured their attention, rendering the moment gone. Felix recognised the owner as the same guy Wooyoung had been sitting next to in class. How could he have forgotten the bright pink hair and features as sharp as a fox’s?

“Dude, you gotta come watch this,” the guy exclaimed as he came over, dragging Wooyoung away by his hand. “Mingi is trying to do a keg-stand. It’s fucking hilarious. Like a giraffe trying to… well, do a kegstand.”

“No way!” With one last wink that made Felix’s knees weak, Wooyoung ran after his friend and out of Felix’s vision. It took him a few desperate moments to steady himself, hands still trembling from the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Felix turned around, one, to tighten his grip around the counter and regain his balance, and two, conceal the boner which his pants did nothing to hide. His mind kept racing back to the proximity, the touches. The flirtatious words of a guy he barely knew but, at the same time, felt like he wanted to know everything about. The distance allowed him to realised how fast everything had played out. And while he feared it had happened all too fast, he couldn’t help but want to skip forward even further.

Perhaps, it was that he was desperate to finally get a taste of what he had denied himself for years. Crushes, love, passion. Everything his girlfriends had felt, but he never quite managed to. Making mistakes and gaining experience. Anything eventually leading him to alwaysness. With whomever that might be.

Although, right now, he wanted to have a sense of it with one particular person.

Two excruciating hours later, Felix found himself in the living area of the frat house. He had thought back to the moment in the kitchen so many times he could hardly count them. Not to mention how often he had gotten semi-hard thinking about Wooyoung’s breath against his cheek. His hands on his hips. And his words in his ear.

How about you figure out what your deal is first? And when you do, come find me.

But what if there was nothing to figure out? What if Felix already knew what he wanted and what his deal was? What if the only thing keeping him from acting on it was his inexperience?

All those what if’s jogging through Felix’s brain didn’t change anything. All he wanted—truly wanted at the moment—was to drag Wooyoung into the nearest closet and make him feel good. Have Wooyoung make him feel good. Whatever the guy was up for, honestly. Felix had spent the better part of two decades pretending to be someone he wasn’t. Now that he had a fresh start, he desired to finally be his true self.

It took him not 20 minutes longer until he decided that enough was enough.

Y/N, Yuqi and Changbin had left a while ago to play Truth or Drink in the kitchen, leaving Felix with a group of random boys. Sure, it was a group of boys he considered his closest friends on campus, but right now, they appeared so boring. Especially with a much more intriguing person, throwing him suggestive winks from the other end of the room.

How he had even noticed Wooyoung in the sea of drunk students was beyond him. Though Felix had no brain capacity left for the whys and hows. Wooyoung was sipping on his drink, playing with the straw about as suggestively as Felix had seen anyone do. Biting at the short fingernail of his pinky, Felix already felt the excitement nagging at his gut. The combination of clothes, alcohol and arousal ran him so very hot.

Wooyoung’s pink-haired friend didn’t notice he wasn’t paying him the slightest hint of attention. How ever important their conversation was, Felix couldn’t bring himself to care. This whole back and forth went on for a few minutes when Felix finally couldn’t take it anymore.

Without a word to his friends he got up from his seat, eyes drawn to the beautiful tempter at the other side of the room. Once Wooyoung recognised the intention behind Felix’s approach, he left his friend for the stairs.

The sway in his hips had Felix’s whole attention as he followed him upstairs, always a few steps behind to not alert the surrounding couples. As though they weren’t completely immersed in their make-outs and other grindings.

Once at the upper end of the staircase, Felix looked around to find the hallway empty. Someone must have ensured the private rooms remained private, and usually, this would have been the end of his path. Though the confidence in Wooyoung’s step encouraged Felix to push that to the deepest part of his brain.

His movements stayed cautious until he reached the end of the hall, entering the last room on the left. Felix took a deep breath as he closed the door and turned around. Not a second went by until he noticed the man on one of the two beds, drink long forgotten on one of the desks.

“Hi.” With no hint of pressure in his voice, Wooyoung watched Felix fidgeting by the door.

“Hi.”

Silence took over the room as Felix realised why Wooyoung wasn’t being his usual flirty self. Understanding how he had some reservations still, he left every decision up to Felix. It gave him a sense of security, understanding that if he didn’t want anything to happen, nothing would. Even if they were on their own in a small room, veiled in tension thick enough to cut with a spoon.

With that sense of total security in mind, Felix took a shaky step forward.

“So—” His voice broke as he regretted not bringing his drink. He felt the deep desire for something to cool his system, easing the lump in his throat. “I figured out what my deal is. And I’m coming to you, like you said.”

“Good.” The smile on Wooyoung’s face was as non-suggestive as he had ever seen, further soothing his tense body. “Do you mind sharing with me?”

“No. I will.” Taking another deep breath, Felix looked to the ceiling as he brought his hand to his stiff shoulders.

This was the moment. Felix would say the words out loud for the first time. Reality would hit, and there would be no escaping it anymore.

Fortunately, Felix didn’t want to run from it any longer.

“I’m single. And, I’m—”

Say it! He won’t judge. Just spit it out!

“I’m gay.”

“Okay.”

Okay. Okay? Despite the simplicity of the word, pure relief overcame Felix, body slumping as exhaustion blurred his vision. He was gay, and it was okay.

The next breath through a watery veil of happiness and alleviation felt like the first one he had ever taken.

“Oh my God, did I say something wrong?” Wooyoung hurried over to Felix’s trembling body as he wrapped his protective arms around him. Felix’s hands clung to the man’s shirt, face pressed into the crook of his neck as he let himself be held. Nothing more. Just held and accepted.

“No. Nothing wrong.” The whispered words reached Wooyoung’s ear within milliseconds. “All the right words. But—”

He stopped, pondering for a few seconds whether to confide in someone he hardly knew. A man who had nothing but shamelessly flirted with him for all 20 minutes of aggregated conversation. But he was here right now. And Felix needed to let him know how much he had already done for him.

Also, he was bawling into the guy’s shirt. It could hardly get much more intimate than this, anyways.

“I never said it out loud.”

“Oh… Oh!”

The realisation hit Wooyoung like a bus as he further fastened his comforting grip on Felix. It all made sense to him now. The insecurity. The uncomfortable tension whenever he said anything below the belt. The silence following the question of what his deal was. And here Wooyoung was, thinking he was yet again barking up the wrong tree. As it turned out, he had finally found the right tree, though it hadn’t bloomed yet.

“Fuck. I’m sorry I came on so strong. It just… I thought you were cute, but then I wasn’t so sure if you felt the same way. I assumed you might be one of those straight guys who aren’t so straight after a few drinks. So, I went all in to skip all that will-they-won’t-they crap. Wouldn’t have been the first time I was utterly disappointed at the end of the day.”

He had only tried to feel Felix out and learn if he himself could get hurt. Evidently, neither of them was trying nor intending to play games with the other.

“You didn’t come on too strong. I mean, you kinda did. But I liked it.”

As they drew away from each other, light laughter filled the room. Wooyoung’s arms were still circled around Felix’s waist as they stared into each other’s eyes. Their smiles soon faded as they recognised their proximity. When Wooyoung’s hands reclaimed their position on his hip, Felix’s stomach erupted in sheer excitement. The sentimentality of the moment was ultimately broken by his arousal.

“You like this, too. I can feel it,” Wooyoung pointed out with a smile as he squeezed Felix’s sides once, making him jump a little. “Knew it.”

“Fine. I like it.”

“So, you never told anyone you’re gay. Does that mean you just found out yourself? Or did you always know on some level and try to fit into a pair of shoes that weren’t yours?”

“A little of both. Like, I used to crush on Danny Phantom so hard it surprises me my parents never caught on. But then again, I had many girlfriends in Middle and High School.”

Wooyoung explored Felix’s cheeks and nose where freckles decorated him in beautiful patterns.

“You’ve never been with a guy then?”

Felix shook his head as his gaze met Wooyoung’s inviting, plump lips. In his subconscious, he grazed his teeth against them, the intimacy of the moment turning the corners of his mouth upwards. The closer Felix got to him, the sexier he found him to be.

“But you want to be?”

This time, Felix nodded. Never had he been more sure than while looking at the most beautiful man he had ever seen. So close he could almost taste him. And if that wasn’t sign enough already, the prominent tent in his pants at the simple touch of his hips assured him.

He wanted Wooyoung, more than he had ever wanted anyone else.

“I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.”

“That’s good. I can work with that.”

Leaning in their eyes met as Felix took in what was happening. Like the romance novel moment he had always dreamed of, seconds turned minutes, and moments turned into a lifeline. And then, finally, after hours of distant pining, Wooyoung closed the gap between them.

Now, Felix had kissed many people before. Cassidy, at 14, under the old cherry tree in his backyard while reading his favourite anime. Emily at 15 in more places than he could remember. And many others since. Girls, exclusively.

Though right now, as he tasted Wooyoung for the first time it finally dawned on him. The sweetness of his scent, the rum on his lips and the coke in his breath. This was what a kiss should feel like. This was what desire was supposed to feel like.

They deepened the kiss, tongues brushing lips, and Felix reached for Wooyoung’s neck. He ran his hands through the man’s hair, mouths moving in unison as silent whimpers escaped his lips. When Wooyoung pulled away, it was to catch his breath while also searching for a hint of regret in Felix’s features. When he couldn’t find anything but lust, he smirked, reconnecting his lips to the other’s.

Hands clawed at and bodies moved against one another as desperate whines filled the room. Mainly Felix’s, but who could blame him? Every single one of Wooyoung’s movements was the perfect calculation. He knew through and through what he was doing. Wooyoung clawed at Felix, pulling him into his body and providing his aching erection with much-needed friction. Semi-aroused for the better part of the evening, finally, he got relief from the discomfort.

Pulling Felix’s hair and tipping his head back, Wooyoung’s lips moved to the side of his neck. All the while, Felix kept his hands in Wooyoung’s hair, pulling him even closer and not letting him go.

“Fuck…” Felix slurred when the other sucked at his skin, trying to mark him for later. In the past, he hated having hickeys on his neck. Others knowing he had made out with his girlfriend had always made him uncomfortable. With Wooyoung, he couldn’t deny that he loved the thought of people knowing he belonged to someone. Or at least had done so for a brief moment in time.

Wooyoung’s hands fisted Felix’s shirt as he inched it up before checking in with the blonde, “Is this okay?”

“Yes. Please, take it off already.”

“Getting hot?” Wooyoung asked with a smirk, getting his answer once Felix nodded with a thick swallow. “Good.”

Once the fabric landed on the floor, Wooyoung lingered to take in the view. He had expected many things from the closeted nerdy boy, but not this. Not a full-on six-pack, tensing as he let his fingertips wander over his hot skin.

“Damn. Who would have thought?” The thoughts leaving Wooyoung’s brain without a filter made Felix blush. It was one thing, hearing how well-built he was from someone else. But someone he deemed the hottest person he had ever laid eyes on? That did something to him alright. And when Wooyoung leaned down to let his perky tongue run over the bulges, that did a whole other thing to him.

“Fuck… More, please.”

“Patience. I have a lot more to give you,” Wooyoung told him with a smirk as he pushed Felix onto the mattress and sank to his knees. This view was heavenly, straight out of a porno, and Felix felt like he was dreaming again. The whole situation was surreal.

Looking up at the blond, Wooyoung pulled him down for another kiss before focusing on his pecs. He took his sweet time worshipping Felix’s chest, his nipples and abs. Electric shocks rushed straight through Felix’s spine towards the top of his head. Wooyoung couldn’t get enough, spending a few extra seconds kissing his abdominal muscles until a layer of spit and sweat covered them.

“Please…” The silent prayer escaped Felix like a mantra. He’d come in his pants if Wooyoung didn’t do something soon and that was definitely not how he wanted this first time to end. Bad enough his first first time (a few years ago with Emily in the backseat of his father’s Toyota) had ended that way. Another taste of that embarrassment would have been too much to overcome.

“You think you’re ready for this?”

“I was born ready. Just— do something, please.”

“Oh, I’ll be doing much more than just something.”

Wooyoung opened Felix’s pants, dragging them over his thighs and towards the floor. Once the jeans had gone, Felix noticed he was almost entirely naked while Wooyoung was far from it. Without a second thought, he pulled the man’s shirt up, and over his head. To even it out, if you will. Now, not only their bodies but their pure skin was connecting. No restraints, no barriers. Only the two of them.

“I’m gonna go slow, okay? Let me know if you want me to do something different.”

As sweet as Felix identified the assurance to be, it was much unneeded. The second Wooyoung pulled him out of his briefs—tip red and leaking—he licked a thick stripe up the underside. That’s when Felix knew this would be excruciating in the best way immaginable.

Wooyoung worked him with so much knowledge and understanding of the male anatomy. It felt like he was inside Felix’s body, metaphorically. He knew exactly where to lick, where to suck and how to work him so he would fall apart below him. Felix’s eyes stayed glued to the beauty, watching him suck on his length and take him down his throat. As though he had never done anything else.

The past blowjobs Felix had received—which there were quite a few, thanks to his charming personality and sweet looks—had been good. He couldn’t lie that he had enjoyed every one of them, though it had never been this mind-numbing. Wooyoung had a technique to his movements only someone with a dick could come up with. Someone who had experienced many a blowjob first-hand— Felix was sure of that.

Spit slid down his length as Wooyoung navigated him deeper with each thrust, hands pumping what he couldn’t fit. His eyes filled with utter and total lust, gazes meeting when he looked up at Felix with a blurriness to his vision. It was a sight Felix had never seen—so pretty and feral. Enough to make him burst on the spot.

However, he couldn’t let that happen.

Felix’s hand on Wooyoung’s cheek urged him to let him fall from his mouth, cock glistening in a beautiful glow. He leaned down and connected their mouths as he tasted himself on Wooyoung’s tongue. Never had he tasted so delicious.

“Good?” Wooyoung asked as though he hadn’t made Felix see stars. Right now, he wasn’t sure he could ever feel as good again.

“So, so good.”

They shared a short moment of silence while Felix scooted back on the bed until he reached the headboard. Wooyoung situated himself above Felix’s lap as they continued their heated make-out session.

Felix admired Wooyoung’s broad chest and sculptured pecs while he planted wet kisses against his jaw. With as much confidence as Wooyoung presented, Felix wasn’t surprised his beauty continued past his face. Although he was still in awe of the perfect piece of art that was Wooyoung’s body. So chiselled, so muscular, so masculine. A dream come true in the most literal sense.

Delicate fingers ran over Felix’s stomach and snapped him out of his daydream. His abs tightened when he felt Wooyoung reach back and wrap his digits around his length.

“Oh, God.” Wooyoung seemed to enjoy the teasing too much, a triumphant grin on his features at the heightened reactivity in Felix’s expression. “Please. I— God.”

The grunt leaving Felix was nothing short of animalistic as Wooyoung’s thumbed over the head.

“You were saying?”

“I need you. Please.”

Bringing his hands back to his front, Wooyoung ended every direct skin contact to Felix. The loss of the physical component refocused all their senses while the fog in their brains lifted a little.

“You sure you want your first time to be drunk at a frat party?”

Felix appreciated Wooyoung’s caution, heart swelling as he wondered how he had deserved someone so considerate. A stranger, yes, but the most respectful one. However, this was hardly his first time. His body count filled all of one five-fingered hand. And even though this felt different, he was well aware of the vulnerability he exposed himself to.

“First of all, I’m not that drunk. See?” Felix straightened up as he positioned his pointer fingers at the corners of his peripheral vision. Bringing them together to touch right before his nose, he proofed his hypothesis. Much to Wooyoung’s amusement, who giggled at the adorable action. “Second, this isn’t my first time. I’ve done this before. With girls, yes. But I know what I’m getting myself into. And third, I really fucking want you to fuck me. Like yesterday.”

Opening up to Wooyoung seemed so easy after he had literally sucked his cock mere moments earlier. The guy’s sweet personality made it much easier for Felix to voice his wishes. He was sure about this.

Apparently, Wooyoung understood so much.

“Okay. But only under one condition.” Wooyoung’s fingers ran between Felix’s pecs and down his adonis belt. “You are the one doing the fucking this time. I have nothing to prep you with, and you want your first time to be slow, believe me. Ergo, you’re topping.”

“Alright,” Felix gave in with a laugh. If that’s what Wooyoung wanted to do, then Felix was content with being the penetrator rather than the penetrated. He also couldn’t deny the skip of his heartbeat when Wooyoung suggested there would be a second time. “One more thing. What’s topping?”

Eyes widening in amusement, Wooyoung couldn’t help but giggle at the younger’s words. “God, you’re innocent. Good thing you have me to show you everything you need to know.”

Rolling off Felix’s body, Wooyoung rid himself of his remaining clothes— jeans and underwear landing on top of Felix’s pile. With his free hand, Wooyoung reached for the nightstand and rummaged through its content with a hopeful expression.

“Come on, San-ie. Don’t disappoint me right now.” After a few seconds, his face lit up while he pulled lube and a condom from the drawer. “Do I know my best friend or what?”

“San. Is that the pink-haired guy?”

“Yup. I dyed it myself. You like it?” Wooyoung asked as he handed Felix the condom.

“It suits him well.” He rolled the piece of latex over himself with vigour while Wooyoung opened the lube and began spreading it between his cheeks. “So, this is his room? He doesn’t mind us using his bed?”

“Oh, I’m counting on it. San used mine so often, with so many different women, he should be paying half of my rent.” Felix chuckle was dark, eyes focusing on Wooyoung once he was back on top of him. “But enough about him.”

Felix’s eyes ran down Wooyoung’s naked form as he felt himself twitch against thin air. For a few rose-coloured seconds, he let himself enjoy the view of a beautiful man on top of him. His hands roamed over the older’s thighs, feeling the texture of his smooth, sun-kissed skin. He could have spent hours exploring every crevice of Wooyoung’s body.

In the dim lightening of the room, Wooyoung looked ethereal, muscular statue and pretty face only further continued in the shape of his cock. In no porn had Felix ever seen someone so enchanting, mouth watering at the mere sight of his erection. As much as Wooyoung had focused on him within the previous moments, Felix couldn’t shake the need to do the same for him. His own arousal pushed past its limits by the thought of making Wooyoung feel good.

Hands wandering further up his thighs, Felix soon reached the base of his dick. With one questioning look followed by an agreeing hum, Felix finally touched him.

He went slow at first, testing the waters and Wooyoung’s reactions to figure out what he liked. It took him not a minute to do so. Working Wooyoung the same way he worked himself in moments of privacy did the trick. It almost came natural to him as he collected the guy’s pre-cum to smear it over his length, hand pumping from base to tip in short, rhythmic motions.

“Fuck. You’re so pretty.”

The words were as much unsolicited as they were unintentional, though Wooyoung enjoyed the compliment. A blush appeared on his cheeks as he closed the gap, pushing his hungry mouth against Felix’s.

“How about you fuck me and see how much prettier I can become.”

Felix, yet again, felt himself twitch at the crudeness of the words, proving to himself that, yes. He might have a thing for dirty talk. Though that realisation was for another day to explore. With his bottom lip between his teeth, Wooyoung shimmied down his body until he reached his lap. Squirting some of the lube onto his palm, Wooyoung lost no time to massage it into Felix’s length.

“Ready?”

“God, yes.”

As Wooyoung sunk all the way to complete fullness, Felix realised that was a lie. He could have never prepared for the feeling of Wooyoung’s snug hole, so much tighter than anything he had ever felt around himself before. His hands flew to the older’s thighs as he moved up and down and steadied himself by clawing his nails into Felix’s skin.

“Fuck, you’re tight.”

“You have no idea how amazing you feel,” Wooyoung agreed with a moan, hands resting on Felix’s stomach for support. “You think you can move? Meet me in the middle?”

“I don’t even know if I can breathe right now.”

His words were met with a giggle, though despite his inability to think, Felix lifted his hip up to meet him. Moving against gravity was more demanding than he had anticipated, but the look of pure bliss on Wooyoung’s face made it worthwhile.

He definitely hadn’t lied when he said he’d become even prettier while fucked out.

They soon found a rhythm that was comfortable for either. Still, Felix knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Not when Wooyoung caressed all his senses so perfectly, eyes, ears, hands, mouth and mind filled with nothing but him. The world stood still around them, entirely immersed in the moment.

One particularly sharp thrust poked Felix’s attention, tip hitting a spot within Wooyoung that made him throw his head back with a whimper. His body trembled under Felix’s palms, abdominal muscles pulling Wooyoung forward and crouching over the younger. At first, Felix believed whatever he had done had hurt Wooyoung. Once the older opened his eyes—gaze veiled in animalistic hunger—Felix understood it wasn’t a grunt of pain.

“Was that…”

“My prostate? Fuck, yes.” Stilling on top of him, Wooyoung needed to rest for a second. Right when he took up his previous movements, Felix fell back into the same rhythm. Five thrusts in, the same thing happened again, though Wooyoung didn’t stop this time. To say that the sight was divine would have been a crude understatement. “Fuck… Touch me, baby. Please!”

The first time Wooyoung begged him for something—rather than the other way around—Felix identified another new kink. This was all new anyways, and Wooyoung still unleashed underlying desires Felix hadn’t even known existed.

Felix’s hands flew to Wooyoung’s dick, stroking it in unison with his thrusts. And like that, the older fell apart on top of him.

Felix had only ever seen a man cum through the screen of his laptop. It had seemed so fake, the whimpering and grunting way too excessive to be genuine. Or so he thought.

When Wooyoung hit his high, he completely slumped with a groan in Felix’s ear as he released onto his stomach. Hot spurts painted his abs in white, running between the crevices and towards his navel—and there was so much of it. Felix wasn’t quite sure if this was still considered healthy.

Despite being in a state of utter bliss, Wooyoung kept moving, dragging out his orgasm and urging Felix towards his own. The sight and noises would have gotten him there as was. The added pleasure of Wooyoung’s tired hole clenching and his intense eyes eventually launched him into his sweet, sweet release.

Panting beside each other, they tried catching their breaths for a few minutes. It could have been hours, for all Felix cared. He couldn’t have been trusted with anything right now, not even telling the time.

At some point, Felix cleaned himself before reclaiming his position under Wooyoung, with the older’s head propped on his chest.

“That was…”

“Yeah.”

Chuckling filled the room as their gazes fixated on the ceiling. Wooyoung pressed kisses against Felix’s chest on occasion, a sweet gesture that was much appreciated. The longer they remained entangled, listening to each other’s breathing, the faster Felix’s mind spun. The kissing, the tension, the desire. Everything was so fresh in his mind but, at the same time, felt so far away. He couldn’t deny that after finally figuring out why everyone was so obsessed with sex, he couldn’t wait to experience it again.

Wooyoung figured Felix’s mind out with one short look at his lap.

“You’re still hard.”

It wasn’t so much still as it was again, his body visibly not done yet despite having reached a peak minutes ago.

“Because you’re still pretty.”

The explanation forced Wooyoung’s cheeks into another blush as he kissed Felix, softer this time but just as passionate. Climbing back on top of him, Wooyoung nipped at Felix’s bruised neck, making him moan at the mix of pain and pleasure.

“That’s gonna be a bitch to cover up tomorrow,” Wooyoung recognised with a giggle as his gaze met Felix’s. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s alright. I like having a visual reminder for the next few days.”

“Well, if that’s so…”

Trailing off, Wooyoung leaned back down, sucking on Felix’s chest. A red bruise appeared within seconds of him biting and licking over the flesh, Felix holding him close by his hair to keep him going. Any direct skin contact Wooyoung gave him Felix couldn’t get enough of. He wanted to live in this moment for as long as possible.

The fire in his stomach reignited when the older licked over his nipples, swirling the buds between his lips. The shock waves coursing through Felix reached his cock, which twitched in excitement.

Yup, he definitely wasn’t done for today.

While Wooyoung kissed his way all over Felix’s chest, the younger reentered heaven. He couldn’t help but ponder what else there was he hadn’t tried yet. Like giving blowjobs. Or whatever the antonym of topping was. He couldn’t quite wait to figure it out, although some higher power forced patience on him.

Felix wanted to ask Wooyoung if he could taste him, but he didn’t get there. Before anything else could happen, the door to the room opened with a creek, and Felix’s head snapped up. His eyes darted to the entrance, shock written on his face as his gaze met the intruder’s.

He couldn’t quite tell whether you had recognised him. Although the lighting most likely wasn’t dark enough to shield his identity. You must have identified him. But he couldn’t react fast enough. As soon as you had appeared, you muttered a perplexed “I’m sorry” and pulled the door shut. Leaving Felix with only fear and a hard-on he wasn’t so sure would find any true relief for the rest of the night

Next Chapter >>> coming soon

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#strawberries & pineapples #kpop smut #stray kids smut #skz smut #stray kids x reader #stray kids imagines #skz x reader #skz imagines #stray kids scenarios #kpop fanfic #skz scenarios #skz fanfic #felix smut #stray kids fanfic #lee felix smut #felix x reader #lee felix x reader #stray kids angst #skz hard thoughts #skz hard hours #stray kids hard hours #stray kids hard thoughts #stray kids fanfiction

[rice-ppang-art]

Under the Blue Sky

Summary:

Honestly, Momo couldn’t be more shocked to see the familiar looking companion just a few feet away.

His sensors keep adjusting, as if he couldn’t believe the sight in front of him. Afraid that it's all just a fleeting dream…. But it's not.

It's clementine, it's really her….underneath the beautiful blue sky…

The barrier between the slums and midtown is gone now. So too the two long lost companions…

(IM BACK AFTER MY MIDTERM-HIATUS 🤩🤩🤩, ill try my best to keep making art, also i hope you enjoy this tiny clemomo fic)

The eternal darkness of walled City 99 has been replaced by the warmth of the sunlight, and the companions are finally free. Momo the outsider, was not here to gaze at glowing balls made of gas, burning many million kilometers away from his current position anymore. No, he was here with Doc.as they tried to fix the broken elevator that hasn't been operational for god who knows how long.

“You know there's a 0.000275% percentage of this rusted excuse of an elevator to actually be fixed, momo” Doc called out, trying to persuade the straw-hatted companion to give it a rest. 

“Then it's not impossible is it not? I'll take that chance anytime” Momo answers with a tired smile on his screen. Doc has never seen such a rare sight, back in those days when momo is the one to give up on the outsiders grand plan. Here he is, hardworking as ever as he modified the elevator’s platform and adjusted the counterweight.

“Haha, I never thought I would see the sight of you other than your cowardice, momo. No offense” Doc laughed as the other companion made a buzzing noise of disagreement and an angry face on his screen.

“I'm not Doc! It's just that….us outsiders have made sacrifices for our cause. You traveled through the dead city to test the defluxor, Zbaltazaar and Clementine have moved on and keep moving forward to the surface. And yet here I am, remaining down here in the slums. Doubting all our causes just because I was scared…”

“Momo…..” Doc couldn't comprehend any words.

“But all is well now, I feel a lot braver now. Seeing the little furball journeying its way outside, gives me the courage I need. And we will fix this blasted elevator if its the last thing i ******* do” now there's a hint of hope in the obscene tone of momo’s voice. And that's all the reassuring Doc needs to help his fellow companion.

“Well what are we waiting for, let's do this!” Doc exclaims in delight as he brings his wrench and fetches his boy, Seamus for a little support and assistance. Together they work tirelessly through day and night, fixing every single scrap of the main elevator. And those days were not all in vain.

For the first time in forever, the gate between the slums and midtown has been restored. The crowds underneath the elevator couldn't hold back their excitement. 

“We did it momo” Doc couldn't hide the feeling of proudness he has for achieving this impossible task. Momo could only reply with a small smile as he looked upwards to the giant wall that separates the boundaries between the slums and midtown. 

“I'm coming for you clementine”

Chapter 2

Clementine had never thought this day would come, Frankly, she honestly lost all hope after her relentless escape from the Sentinels got her on the edge. Nevertheless, here she was, still standing, shortly after all the ceilings were opened. Finally, she smiled.

As she walked through the streets of midtown, She watched as the companions of the city bustled with activities. They laughed and sang and were shocked. Definitely shocked. It had finally happened. The Outside…the sky… Everyone was happy and free. A few started dancing, a male companion started to swing his woman around after a safe landing on the other side. If they were human, they both would have tears in their eyes.

An old looking man collapsed upon setting foot on the grounds of western Berlin. Hesitantly he started feeling the ground beneath his legs with trembling fingers. Same as Ludwig, he had never dreamt that this day would come.

A few young residents of midtown jumped all together and yelled vividly in delight. She could feel their excitement pulsing through her circuits, their thrill as they pushed through the crowd, looking for their long-lost lovers. Friends… Families…she could feel their overwhelming joy and mesmerization upon them.

They threw themselves at each other and laughed and sang and cried together. What a wonderful sight indeed, Clem would love to share it, if only…

If only she didn't leave them, leave him down in the slums. Because honestly, what is the point of seeing the outside if there isn't anyone to see it with you?

Leaving the cheering crowd, clementine chose to return to her hidden residence, scooting through the bustling crowds in the streets and finally made it to her humble abode. Without any more objectives left in her timetable, she merely rested her metallic body inside her object (junk)-filled bathtub and looked at the shimmering light through her window. She merely sighed and finally realizing, that she is all alone up here….

Minutes passed and now days had gone by, Clementine had lost count if it wasn't for the loud banging in her front door. Honestly, who in their right mind would dare to come near the house of a criminal? As she dragged her sluggish metallic body, armed herself with a desk lamp that she used to defend herself against the small companion back then, she gently opened the door and saw a magenta coloured companion.

Bonobot, that’s his name. You might know him as one of the poetic companions that lives behind the beyond-fixed elevator, one of the midtown companions who’s nice enough to befriend the female outsider. But due to her “criminal activities” they rarely hang out anymore.

“What are you doing here?” Clementine quickly puts down her lamp, and suddenly her voice box was hushed down by the other companion’s index finger. Honestly, that makes her want to punch the ridiculous companion down, almost anyway.

“Shhh, hear that? That ebb, that flow” and of course that poetic nonsense she heard tirelessly from the magenta coloured companion.

“What in midtown are you talking about?” clementine asked, as she rolled her sensors. But she immediately dragged by hand as she confusedly walked through the same old streets and finally made it to the elevator.

“Okay now would you please tell me why we're here in the first place?” but again, it's not an answer she gets, but another index finger shushing her up, she swore she really wants to punch him.

“Do you hear that down below?” Clementine was this close to smack the companion’s head if she suddenly hears the distant rustling of metal. That foreign sound comes from down below, it feels like the whole elevator platform is shaking soundly, clementine could only hold onto the railing and tighten her grip on the rusted metal.

“It- it can't be…” she senses the elevator rising up and finally, Finally reaches up successfully. As it stopped, the dust and debris fell through the road, as other companions from the city approached the small elevator, some of their expressions were filled with confusion, and some full of glistening hope, including clementine. 

But then she realized, the elevator door isn't opening (why hasn't it opened yet?). But her questions was answered as she heard the door being forcefully opened, by a single companion. There’s only one companion in all of the slums (besides guardian) who has that kind of hidden strength.

 A Grunting voice with a slight undertone of nervousness and subtlety. A warm voice, full of hope and joy. A familiar voice. So painfully familiar, she had to clutch her chest.

 “Its….”

Chapter 3 

“Darn it, out of all the things that you forgot to inspect earlier, it had to be the front door” Doc grumbles in annoyance as he struggles trying to open the door while momo just chuckles nervously behind. 

“It's no use papa, the door’s seals shut” pants seamus, his energy were all used up trying to open the stupid door, but to no avail.

“Perhaps i could give it a try” 

“No offense momo, but I don't think you're strong enough to even open a can of..”

Not allowing Doc to finish that sentence, Momo scoots to the front and uses both of his hands to forcefully stretch each end of the door with his (hidden) brute strength alone. And with that, the door finally opened.

“.....oil” Doc could only finish that single word, if he had a jaw, it would've dropped by now. And seamus could only muffled his laughter silently until he got a slight tap on the head. But all was silent when the three companions saw the peeping light through the door.

Momo was the first to come out, as he checked the surroundings looking for the one he's been searching for, he only saw the confusing sight of countless sea of companions. His grip on the door loosened when he finally found the familiar sight.

Honestly, Momo couldn’t be more shocked to see the familiar looking companion just a few feet away.

His sensors keep adjusting, as if he couldn’t believe the sight in front of him. Afraid that it's all just a fleeting dream…. But it's not.

It's clementine, it's really her….underneath the beautiful blue sky…

She stood out against the crowd, standing next to Bonobot. Her Gray newsboy hat, orange scarf, black pants and her eyes were blue, bluer than the color of the sky in all its glory. Her Hand grasped the fabric of her pants as she hugged her lanky arms around herself.

She tried to speak but no words came out. All she can do is flashed a little smile to him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clementine could feel something caught her attention and as she turned her monitor towards whoever it was inside, her mind went blank. Sure, she had expected many things, However, she was not prepared for those eyes she felt herself captured by. She was not prepared to face her and it all seemed to shatter as soon as she locked her eyes with momo.

"Clem?" He moved towards her, hesitantly, wondering, hoping, he was filled with a sense of belonging and a feeling that was the word finally in all its entirety, something that he hadn't known in too long. Out reached his hand, a question mark rising up out of his monitor  and towards the stilled companion.

Her sensors widened again at his familiar voice, Clementine took in the other companions’ appearance; slightly sweaty on the monitor, his Long jacket with tropical pattern are still trashy as ever, but most importantly, he looked different. Not as much of a scaredy “cat” since the last day they saw each other, and not as sad as she remembers. He looked much calmer, content and… cool.

Momo noticed how her entire body had started trembling, that her shoulders had slumped. Despite all this, he could feel his legs moving, approaching her. Faster and faster, until he literally jumped and threw himself into her wide-open arms. He clasped his arms around Clementine, mentally swearing to himself to never let her go again. Simultaneously, she could feel arms closing around her neck and hugging her so tightly like a precious gem. Not that clementine minded it one bit.

“momo…” she laughed, she heard Momo laughing as well, soft tremors rocking through their metallic body. And as Gilbert mustered the courage to finally look at Ludwig’s face, if they were human. she could probably see tears, dripping and running down his monitor. But she knew she herself would be crying as well.

"Took you long enough."

They stayed on the ground, embracing each other for what it felt like eternity, every second to make up for every year they were apart. “You are really here” Momo breathed, then tightened his grip around Clementine and hid his face in her shoulder, if he was afraid that the female companion would suddenly disappear from his sight again. And to let out all the emotions that he had buried inside for those long long years that he had watched and waited and hoped and eventually gave up on her.

“Yes I'm here….”

“I'm so sorr-”

“Hush, not now. Let me enjoy this moment”

“....alright”

Doc could only sigh and smile on his monitor. He places his arm on his son’s shoulder, seamus smiles at him back and returns the favor. The two long lost companions finally reunite as the warmth of the sun shines down upon them. Followed by the beautiful blue sky and the distance birds chirping melodiously.

Truly an unforgettable sight.

#stray fanart #stray 2022 #stray momo #stray clementine #stray bonobot #momo x clementine #clementine x momo #stray art #stray game

[bloodpen-to-paper]

Review Blurbs: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

General Thoughts:

-From what I've seen the animation had like "how are the animators not in a psych ward" insane levels of attention to detail so go look into that cause there's always some new amazing tidbit of info circulating about the movie-making process

-Music score was fantastic, it always did well setting the atmosphere of the scenes and bringing you into the moment (my favorite sequences was Gwen's intro and the Mumbattan segments)

-I'm obsessed with how they choreographed the fight styles, especially for Gwen and Pavitr who had very stylized movements (Gwen's is based off ballet and Pavitr fights using Kalaripayattu)

-I liked how Miles' theme song (What's Up Danger) felt a bit more fitting. In ITSV, Miles was very new to everything and questioning if the hero lifestyle was what he wanted. Now, not only was he so committed to doing things his way that he derailed the entire Spider Society with success, but we also meet Earth-42 Miles who is seemingly very fearsome. To the Spider Society, potentially to the entire multiverse even, they face a danger in the form of Miles Morales.

-This movie was Gwen's movie, full stop. Her and Miles shared the spotlight, she wasn't just a side character this time. I haven't seen people talk about this as much and they should cause Gwen's story was so beautifully crafted and that intro/final scene were some of the best parallel sequences I've ever seen in a movie. Her story and even the storytelling in the music and her "starting a band" were so well done, people have been doing analyses on the music change in the intro vs the final scene and how the music correlates to Gwen's personal growth and just ugh. More Gwen appreciation please (this isn't even getting into the trans allegory literally there was so much to her story so pay tf attention please and thank you)

-Adding on, part of the reason I loved the above point was also cause not only is ITSV's main female character given a big spotlight to shine in, but it served an important narrative purpose of giving the movie a hopeful and satisfying ending, because right now Miles' story is in its sort of Rising/Climax stage. The final act of Miles Morales' story has only just begun, and the movie set it up so damn well cause I know me and everyone alive are dying to know what's gonna happen next with him and Earth-42 Miles. Gwen's arc wrapped up and gave us hope as Miles' story was taking a dark turn, and that hope is what's gonna lead us forward until its his turn to shine in the light once again.

-Loved the new characters, I enjoyed Miguel having layers to his methodology and morals (some people pointed out possible reasons for him acting as aggressive as he did and it makes a lot of sense, but at the time it was just like "why tf is Miguel slamming Miles into a train and screaming at him for not wanting his dad to die papi chill💀")

-Jessica is underrated and I love how they did her character. She's very responsible and definitely has a tough love approach, but she's very human. I laughed out loud when she said she wasn't bothered by being pregnant in this line of work cause the guy she screwed was hot like she is so fucking real omg. Jessica also had a similar attitude to Miguel, but she has a personal connection with Gwen that I think grounds her more. I wish we had more of her mentorship towards Gwen and I hope to see it in the next movie (maybe even a baby reveal👀)

-I don't think anyone mentioned it but Spider-Byte always looked a bit different/off in all her frames and I'm like 99% sure that's cause they used a different animation style to give her that glitched/cyber punk effect which is just so damn cool

-Honestly all the female characters deserve more recognition, fandom still has a huge male bias and it shows cause Gwen, Jessica, Spider-Byte and Lila deserve way more love

-Hobie was without a doubt my favorite character this movie. He's a real punk and I cannot be grateful enough cause I am fucking done with people who ain't actually punk using it as an aesthetic, he's here to show how its done (others have made plenty of observations on him so go check those out cause they're very good)

-Not much to say about Pavitr personally but I adore his character design, definitely my favorite next to Gwen's (he also taught me that chai tea does not exist and is in fact just "tea tea" I'M SORRY I DIDN'T KNOW I'M SOUTH AMERICAN NOT SOUTH ASIAN😭)

-I'm surprised by how engaging Spider-Verse continues to make their villains. Doc Ock was fantastic, and this time around The Spot was a great subversion of expectations. He's silly and from the trailer release to the beginning of the movie, you think he's a joke character to set the mood. Then he starts to become actually sinister and you're sitting there thinking "the movie literally called me out for this and I still managed to fall into expectations". Very good job making a villain character not only feel like a threat, but by doing so in an unexpected way that really rips the rug out from under you. I want to study the story writers' minds like I'm being tested on it

-The return of the OGs was so nice, I wasn't as invested in Into the Spider-Verse admittedly but I felt it when Peni made a reappearance to tell Miles his dad had to die. Shit hit me in the soul (I'm also obsessed with Noir so very happy to see them both back)

-I saw people saying that Spider-Verse was copaganda and I'd like to withhold any definitive stances until Beyond comes out, but it definitely felt like they were holding back when it came to criticisms of Gwen's dad. Remember, it could very well be that the writer's behind Hobie "hate the AM and PM"/wears blue fucking laces Brown were told by higher-ups to cool it or the movie wouldn't get released so don't immediately go after them, learn from the writer's strike to use critical thinking and wait for more info. Hopefully they can address that more after audience reviews come in so we'll see.

-All the scenes where Miles would almost reveal he's Spider-Man to his parents/did reveal it had me stressed lmao, they did a great job making the audience feel the weight and tension of the moment

-The ending was the hypest shit like it was so good I couldn't even be mad about the cliffhanger I was just in awe

-I actually thought towards the end that they might do a two-parter but then I was like "nahhhhh they wouldn't" and then they did that. We very much entered a "final stage" towards the end so I'm wondering how the creators will space it out and what they'll do for the next movie. Either way I am "beyond" hyped

Criticisms:

I only have like two criticisms cause this movie was pretty fucking good, but its never bad to look at what even a masterpiece like Spider-Verse could do better so future projects can take note. Having said that:

-I understand it was for authenticity's sake, but the live-action segments were a bit jarring after being in animation for so long. I would've animated those segments as well or done some form of 3D so it blended in. Every other character was animated so it felt weird when suddenly Andrew Garfield and Donald Glover were on screen (even Tom Holland's spidey was animated). A minor nitpick, but I can respect the boldness in really committing to the meta-mindfuckery of the multiverse

-Gwiles as a ship was never really my thing, so you can understand my surprise when I felt like they actually kinda improved on it since the first movie ("boy has crush on girl because she's pretty and a girl and we're supposed to root for it" is my least favorite trope [*cough cough* cause its what straight dudes like *cough cough*] so its no surprise when Gwiles in ITSV did absolutely nothing for me). Having said that, the movie pushed a tad too hard for it imo. Pavitr was the classic "shipper" character made to push the ship forward and make it super obvious to the audience that its what the movie wants you to root for, and I and many people are not about that. If you need to tell your audience to support a romance then you're not doing it right.

-As sort of an add-on to the above, I think Hobie and Gwen were hinted as having dated during Gwen's time working under Miguel? Which like... why? Literally why. It made no sense and did nothing for the characters or their relationship, they could easily just be friends and nothing would change. This plot point was also never mentioned again after its initial reveal (from Pavitr to cause "drama" for Miles I think) and quite literally nothing came of it. No drama (thank fuck cause that was not what I or anyone went to this movie for), no development, nothing. It was just thrown in and never used. So uh... yeah, don't do that. Thanks.

Final Thoughts:

Across the Spider-Verse was definitely a step-up from the first movie, I was far more engaged and I found very little to criticize from it. Animation, music score, characters, all 10/10, and above all, its action sequences kicked ass and restored the good name of the superhero genre. Watch this movie, and I highly recommend doing so in theaters because it is a perfect example of how movies are not just entertainment, but an experience to remember.

#let me know any cool details you liked #honest to god cannot remember the last movie I saw where the pacing hit so well for me #obsessed with this franchise and I will be so annoying when Beyond drops #review blurbs #spiderman: across the spiderverse #across the spiderverse #across the spiderverse spoilers #atsp #atsp spoilers #miles morales #gwen stacy #miguel o'hara #jessica drew #pavitr prabhakar #hobie brown #margo kess

[eerna]

Anytime I see a book recommendation i be like :) and go to goodreads to add it to my list then I see your 1 star with a review on it and I become oh :( it’s not really that “I can like a book she doesn’t like” but more like a “I’ve hated every book she hated and loved every book she loved” basically I trust your taste if you know what I mean. Ok to put it together what I wanna ask is DO YOU HAVE ANY IMMACULATE SERIES REC?? Cause every damn time I trust people’s taste and read a popular thing it turns out to be a shitty book that was trying to be dystopian or smth I read this shatter me series the other week cause it was soooooooooo big on social media and I HATED IT I wanted to burn the book but the thing is I was reading it on iPad so that wasn’t a choice to heal my anger. Cause like everytime I wanted to drop it they convinced me that it gets better by the next book and I just dropped it with a hard review after reading the third book. It’s sad cause popular things aren’t even good anymore. I remember back in time popular stuff was like LOTR, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, hunger games idk stuff that was worth your time y’know. Now either the art is fucking dead or people just became tasteless over time

FJKBjkvsbkjavbdkja glad to be saving you from bad recs! And sorry for your bad experiences, I relate :((( After a couple situations where a summary sounded fantastic when given in a tiktok video and then the book was shit, I just completely gave up on trusting any of the Internet's faves nowadays. I mean, not that popularity was ever a quality guarantee, but at least I used to enjoy SOME trendy stuff, even if it wasn't the best writing ever. The shift happened with tiktok, that app rotted everyone's brains and now 99% of the most popular media just don't work for me. I def suggest branching out and not relying on bestsellers, there's a lot of gems to find in the wild! I use Scribd and browse whatever is available at the time, but libraries and youtubers who don't rely only on what's popular are also a good source (usually it's the smaller channels, but some bigger ones might work as well).

As for an immaculate rec, I am so sorry but I simply don't have anything, there's fault in everything I love and that's totally cool! But I'll still rec the closest thing, The Locked Tomb, which you probably read already and I am sorry for that but honestly no other fantasy series comes close for me dbjsavbakj.

Hope you have fun~~

#eernask #eernanon

[gingersnapwolves]

so I got tagged by @cinematicnomad to pick my top 5 fics, and I thought, this is an outrage! I’ve got 99 fics on AO3 alone! though granted I wouldn’t pick anything not on AO3 since my old stuff is ... not great ... but anyway how I could pick 5? So since I missed fanfic writer’s appreciation day yesterday I decided to appreciate myself, bend the rule, and change the prompt to .... give your favorite fics awards! 

Best Epic:

The Sum of its Parts (1.2 million | T | Teen Wolf | Sterek, Scallison)

What started as a simple "fork in the road" AU became a series and ate my life.  

This obviously had to be on the list somewhere but it’s barely a fanfic anymore, it strayed so far from the source material! I adore every word. Well, most of the words. 

Best Smut:

Get Off (Me) (77K | E | Teen Wolf | Steter)

Stiles hates being left behind with Peter while the pack is fighting monsters, because he never knows exactly what Peter will get up to.

Boy did I have fun with this one. Dubcon smut turns to consensual-but-not-safe-or-sane smut turns to ‘wait did we catch feelings wtf’ smut.

Funniest:

The Lost Cause (18K | T | The Untamed | NHS + JGY)

AU in which Nie Huaisang and Jin Guangyao work together to take down Jin Guangshan from the beginning.

Or: the story in which Nie Huaisang just wants to paint fans and feed birds and he doesn't understand why this is so much to ask.

I may live to be a hundred and never write anything funnier than “you have a praise kink!”

Best Roast of the Source Material:

Adult Wolf (232K | T | Teen Wolf | Sheriff/Peter, Sterek)

As if Sheriff Stilinski doesn't have enough to deal with, now he's been attacked by some enormous dog in the forest, and that's normal compared to what happens next...

Re-telling of seasons 1-3B with Sheriff Stilinski being bitten instead of Scott.

230K words of me writing a strongly worded letter to the writers of Teen Wolf on all the things they could’ve done better. I enjoyed it.

Best Tearjerker:

picking up the pieces (111K | M | The Untamed | LWJ + JYL, WWX/LWJ)

The AU where Jiang Cheng dies at Nightless City instead of Jiang Yanli and she takes her son to raise at Lotus Pier. She and Lan Wangji bond over losing Wei Wuxian and raising their children, and over time, they start to have suspicions about what happened at Qiongqi Way....

This is probably the most poignant thing I have ever written. The whole thing is woven with grief and love. The scenes between Lan Wangji and A-Yuan still make me a little teary-eyed when I think of them.

Best Romance:

An Atypical Courtship (48K | M | The Untamed | LXC/JGY, WWX, LWJ)

Meng Shi dies with her debt to the brothel unpaid, and the madam decides Meng Yao needs to work it off for her. Eight years later, Lan Xichen meets him at Koi Tower.

I generally don’t write a lot of pure “romance”, so I’m really proud of how this one came out. The whole fic is just so soft and loving.

Best Post-Canon:

you’ll never walk alone (21K | T | Not Me | Black + White, Sean/White)

If Black got his way, he would never go back to Gumpa’s garage.

Spoiler alert: Black does not get his way.

Sometimes I finish watching a series and so desperately crave more that I just write a couple more episodes for them, free of charge. This one is probably my favorite of that variety. I just want Black to be happy, damn it!

Best Overall:

What Goes Around (71K | M | Teen Wolf | Sterek, but the relationship at the heart of the story is the father-son relationship between Peter and Stiles)

“Well,” Stiles says, “if they’re going to hunt werewolves, I’m going to hunt them.”

It’s a ridiculous statement from a ten-year-old, but he’s obviously one hundred percent sincere. For the first time since the fire, Peter feels life stir inside him, feels purpose. It’s kismet, clearly. He’ll never meet the child he would have had with Olivia. Instead he’s met this boy, this brilliant, determined, cynical child with a world of potential.

Peter kneels down in front of him so they’re at eye level. “How do you feel about doing that together?”

This might be the best fic I’ve ever written. It’s probably better than most of my original work. I love everything about it, especially the way I used outside sources like news articles and forum posts to show the passage of time. It’s just really good and I’m very proud of it.

Who else wants to give themselves some awards? I don’t really like tagging people but anyone else is welcome to steal the format and shower love upon themselves!

#fic stuff

[teaandinanity]

Edgy OC ask meme: for your BG 3 character(s) of choice or Valya and Calanthia >:D 4, 6, 14

:D :D :D THANK YOUUUUU (link to questions if anyone's curious)

I'm um. Gonna put this under a cut because we all know I cannot shut up. And also because I'm just gonna do everyone WHEEE~

4. When scared, does your OC fight, flee, freeze or fawn?

Veldrin's instinct is 100% Fight but he also questions his first thoughts because heeding them unquestioningly is, shall we say, inadvisable for a DUrge character who is not Chaotic Evil. That means that practically, he can often end up freezing.

Valeriya is natively a Freeze-er but is now entirely capable of switching to whichever will be most effective, because she has been afraid A WHOLE LOT; after about one second she will Do Something About It. Due to her skill set, this means Flee and Fawn are most likely but that a lot of people would be very surprised by her willingness to Fight if she is in a situation where she thinks she could win the confrontation.

Calanthia is absolutely 100% Fawn. Her mouth opens and things come out and usually they make her listeners well-disposed towards her; it is one of her best skills and it has saved her life multiple times.

6. How easily could your OC be convinced to do something that goes against their moral compass?

Veldrin is, unsurprisingly for a Paladin, not super-flexible on this and canonically requires blackout mind-control to do something he genuinely things is wrong. Edge cases where he's uncomfy but not necessarily staunchly opposed are more difficult - he can be persuaded to tolerate a lot of Uncomfy for people he loves. But the Hard Stop still applies at a certain point because he's a Paladin and encoded the 'some things are Fuck No Not Ever Actually' in his soul and so far that emergency brake actually works pretty well.

Valeriya's moral compass mostly points Lyon-wards. Like. Her own morals will encompass some VERY shady shit and also sometimes murder. It's just that now she can only be made to do things Lyon would disapprove of if the alternative would be letting him die, so it's usually not a problem for people because that LOOKS like having a very strong moral compass 99% of the time. :D

Calanthia is one of nature's cinnamon buns. She feels kind of bad for saying mean things about people who deserve it. She could probably be persuaded to cause property damage, but I think she'd mostly rather die than cause harm to others unless they were really repugnantly horrible people.

14. How does your OC want to be seen by other characters?

Poor Veldrin WANTS to be seen as worthy and good because that’s what he’s trying so hard to be. He thinks he DESERVES to be treated with fear and disgust and suspicion by everyone he likes or admires but it would hurt his feelings VERY MUCH if that actually happened. :D

Valeriya honestly mostly wants people to think she is terrifying and amazing and then be too intimidated to talk to her because people are exhausting.

Calanthia wants to be seen as a competent badass who can be trusted to solve problems. She mostly tries to achieve this by making sure the only person who sees how much WORK her accomplishments are is Jasper.

#OC: Calanthia (Ambitious Widow) #OC: Valeriya (Ambitious Widow) #OC: Veldrin (Dark Urge) #my boy has a TAG NOWWWWW #poor bastard I was already filling this out for him and going 'damn bitch you live like this' while he gave me long-suffering looks #ask meme #answered #thank you for playing meme games with me!

[starwarstbbfan]

THE BAD BATCH: THE RUNAWAY

Chapter 55 - A Distant Echo

Hunter was on his way back to the Marauder after the debriefing when he passed Skywalker and Rex, seeming to be in a heated discussion when the latter flagged the Sergeant down. His antisocialness kicked in and Hunter had half a mind to pretend he didn't see the reg, but that wasn't reasonable, so he sucked it up, forcing a tiny smile on his face as he joined the pair.

"I was going to ask that your squad stick around for the rescue mission." Rex said hopefully, having been impressed with Clone Force 99's work and now feeling they'd be imperative to the rescue of Echo, whom he wholeheartedly believed was alive.

"Word is the Council isn't completely behind this mission." Hunter commented and Rex huffed but remained hopeful.

"I admit the idea that Echo is still alive is a long shot." The captain admitted, doing his best to keep his eagerness under check over the fact that one of his most beloved brothers might actually be alive! "I'm sure the Council will approve the mission." Rex said with certainty shortly after, though Hunter could hear just the slightest doubt in his tone, and the Sergeant felt a little bad for the reg Captain.

"Just remember the primary goal is to learn how the Separatists are predicting our strategy, whether it's Echo behind it or not." Skywalker reminded Rex, and the reg pursed his lips but nodded in understanding.

"Well, if you want my opinion, it sounds like a trap," Hunter admitted before letting a tiny smirk grace his features as he added playfully,"- but me and the boys will tag along anyway, if only to say, "I told you so.""

"Just make sure you're ready if we get the go-ahead from General Kenobi." Anakin told the Sergeant, who nodded.

"If you're certain he'll approve the mission, why wait?" Rex asked, some of his impatience slipping through his calm facade, "Let's get going." Rex looked ready to burst, yet the General cleared his throat, making the captain look at him questionably.

"First, we have that thing to do." Skywalker said vaguely, and Rex now looked more confused, as did Hunter, who raised an eyebrow at the General.

"Uh, what "thing?"" The reg repeated, not following.

" You know..." Anakin's eyes flitted towards the barracks then back at Rex. Realization dawned on the reg's features, then he coughed awkwardly.

"We don't have time for-for that, sir." Rex tried saying, and Anakin turned to face him fully and stare him down with his arms crossed.

"Yes, we do." The General insisted stubbornly. Hunter could sense an argument was imminent and decided now was a good time to escape.

"Well, I'll just let you two sort this out." He stated, taking a step back while pointing his thumb behind him, "I'll be waiting on the ship with the rest of the team." Looks like Calli is gonna get what she wants.

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When Tech commed Calli and told her they'd be joining General Skywalker and Rex on the rescue mission, Calli had to suppress a shout of triumph, lest she draw attention to herself from the regs. She'd wandered around a bit after her and Hunter's disagreement, and found herself by the barracks, being partially hidden from passersby as she sat against some barrels adjacent to the reg's sleeping quarters.

Despite doing her best to occupy her mind on other things, Calli's mind kept going back to Hunter and their disagreement, then by default the cause of it: Jace. She kept telling herself that their relationship was strictly platonic, and they had absolutely no romantic feelings whatsoever. She'd nor Jace had ever brought up what happened on Naboo - er almost at least and Calli preferred it never be spoken of. She thought it was for the better and that it wouldn't cause any problems. But now that they were in each other's presence in person again, the event was at the forefront of her mind, especially after her and Hunter's argument.

I don't care what Hunter said, I don't like Jace like that!

Just before Calli could get into an argument with herself - no she didn't have multiple personalities regardless of what Crosshair said (he liked to joke that she did) - she heard the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi and it made her shift so she could peer over the barrels, finding him standing in front of Rex who was guarding the barracks it seemed. The captain looked extremely nervous for some reason.

"Rex, where's Anakin? I need to speak to him about this mission." To Calli, Rex looked like a mynock caught in headlights - and she didn't know why. You could definitely say her interest was piqued as she chose to eavesdrop on the conversation. Even though they were a distance away, Calli could hear them clear as a bell.

"Well, General, he's, um..." The words died on the captain's tongue, and Obi-Wan raised his eyebrow at him and gestured to the building behind Rex.

"Well, he's inside your barracks, isn't he?"

"Yes, sir." Rex confirmed, being very hesitant to reveal this but he couldn't bring himself to lie to his superior. Obi-Wan could feel the anxiety radiating off of Rex yet was more suspicious than worried.

"What's going on here?" Call it intuition by the force or because Obi-Wan knew his former padawan so well, but he knew Anakin was up to something and had dragged his poor Captain into the middle of it.

"Oh. Nothing, sir. I was just waiting for the General... uh, General." Rex tried saying, yet his reassurance didn't sound very... well... reassuring - if anything it just made Obi-Wan more suspicious, and Calli more curious.

"You'll have to do better than that, Captain." Calli watched with mirth as the pair went back and forth like this for the next couple minutes. Obi-Wan would press for information and Rex would stutter out a vague answer, doing his best to not betray his general by revealing what he was doing inside the barracks. Obi-Wan, beyond exasperated now, asked the question that Calli had also been thinking throughout this whole ordeal.

"Then what is Anakin doing in there?" Obi-Wan questioned, beyond exasperated at this point with the conversation that has been going in circles.

"Ah, he's spot-checking my gear, sir." Obi-Wan's arms crossed as he gave Rex a look of skepticism.

"Really? Without you?" Rex began massaging the back of his neck anxiously, visibly sweating at this point.

"W-Well..." Suddenly the door behind him swooshed open, revealing Anakin and Rex breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his General who appeared at just the right time, saving him from further questioning.

"Here you go, Rex." Anakin said cheerfully, tossing the captain's helmet to him as he walked past the pair, pausing to briefly wave his pointer finger at Rex, "And try not to break it again." Calli had to admit she was disappointed that Skywalker showed up, enjoying watching the show. Fortunately, Kenobi didn't seem to be willing to let his padawan go so easily.

"Anakin. About this mission, the Council thinks..."

"That it's a good idea?" Anakin interrupted cheerfully before nodding, "I agree. Let's get moving, Rex." Obi-wan shook his head as they walked past him.

"No, wait. That's not...".

"No time." Anakin interrupted again with a shrug, and even Calli had to admit he was being a bit rude. It was obvious Obi-Wan was frustrated at Anakin's behavior and it prompted him to say what he did next.

"I hope you at least told Padmé I said hello." This made Anakin stop in his tracks and the look he gave Obi-wan was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine - and it did for Calli. Kenobi knew about Anakin and Padme? Calli was still having some trouble processing the fact that a respected Jedi General was married to a Senator and yet Kenobi seemed to be less shocked by it than she. In fact, he didn't seem surprised at all.

Before Calli could ponder this any further, her comm went off and she didn't even have to look at it to know it was one of her brothers and such began making her way back to the Havoc Marauder.

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

Usually when the Bad Batch worked with other people, it tended to get awkward - if the recent mission with Cody, Rex, Jesse, and Kix was any indication. But now that they'd gotten to know Rex, it was easier for the usually closed off and tight knit group to relax and actually put an effort into getting along with him. Plus, they'd met Skywalker on Taris (that mission seemed like a lifetime ago), so again, it made things easier.

Everyone except Tech, who was piloting the ship, hung out in the main hold, taking advantage of the five hours they'd be in hyperspace to relax before they landed on Skako Minor. Wrecker took the time to work his arm muscles by using the single power droid owned by Clone Force 99 as a weight - affectionately called 'Gonky' by the siblings. Sometimes he'd even have Calli sit on top of Gonky to add more weight, and with his enhanced strength it still might as well have been a leaf. This time however Calli refused when he asked, choosing to instead occupy herself by watching holovids on her datapad, situating herself as far away from Hunter as possible, still very much upset with him and doing everything in her power to make sure he knew that, as the second they reached the mission site she'd have to pretend everything was ok. When he tried talking to her once, she simply hmphed and gave him the cold shoulder, thus making things even more tense.

You know the saying that parents say? 'If you're going to act like a child, then I'm going to treat you like a child? Well, Calli was doing a reversal of that. If he's gonna treat me like a child, then I'm going to simply act like one. Calli was too upset to even care about the fact that her behavior might make the Sergeant look bad and embarrass him. In fact, Calli took her pettiness one step further, and pulled some strings last minute to have Jace join them on the mission, knowing it would bug Hunter.

~Earlier~

After witnessing the little altercation with Skywalker, Rex, and Obi-Wan, Calli suddenly thought of a way to get under Hunter's skin and chased after the Jedi and clone, as they were a few yards ahead of her and both were heading to the same destination. With some clever manipulation on the girl's part, she convinced the General that it would be a good idea to bring Jace along.

"We need all the help we can get and Jace works well with our squad. With him and a great Jedi like yourself, plus our squad and the Captain, those Seppies won't stand a chance." She said, appealing to Skywalker's vanity and it surprisingly worked, the General telling her to go get Jace and hurry back so they could leave. Calli had noticed that Skywalker's heart rate sped up and he seemed nervous when she chased them down, and it made Calli want to assure him that she'd keep his secret which might not actually be that big of a secret if General Kenobi and Rex knew (who else for that matter knew then?) but she chickened out.

Imagine Jace's surprise when he answered the door and saw Calli standing there, thinking she had left already. Calli didn't give him a chance to voice his shock though and grinned widely up at him, immediately putting butterflies in his stomach.

"Pack your bags, we're going on a field trip!" Calli exclaimed with enthusiasm that he'd never seen before (he of course didn't know exactly why she was so cheerful).

"Wha-?" Calli didn't give him time to process her declaration and walked past him into the smallish quarters, doing a quick scan with her eyes. It was nothing special. Two beds on opposite sides of the room with little nightstands next to each and a small lamp on both. Jace's lightsabers were resting next to it and Calli promptly went over and plucked them from the nightstand, half turning to toss them at Jace before picking up the satchel sitting on his bed next to his pillow, figuring it would have important things in there for him to bring. Calli threw that at Jace as well, and he barely had time to catch it before his cloak that had been neatly folded at the foot of the bed was also hurled his way, unfolding in midair and landing on his head, temporarily engulfing him in darkness. Again, Calli doesn't wait for him to get a word in, wrapping her non-robotic hand around one of his wrists and tugging him along, though she was quick to switch to the other when her real hand felt like it had burst into flames where it had made contact with Jace's skin, even though she'd been wearing gloves.

Jace at first willingly let Calli lead him, until it finally registered what she had said and done. He was quick to dig his heels into the ground and force the pair to stop. Calli looked back at him with faux innocence, like she wasn't aware of what was wrong.

"Ok, I need an explanation please." He said and Calli sighed like the young Jedi had asked her to do something strenuous but complied.

"You're coming with us on the mission." She explained simply, yet that answer didn't satisfy Jace, who shook his head while still looking confused.

"Master Windu didn't inform me of this." Calli shifted her weight from one foot to the other, debating whether or not to take the easy way out and lie. Despite being told that Jedi can't read minds, Calli still found herself skeptical about the fact and that prompted her to spill her guts.

"Well... He technically doesn't know yet," She revealed with a sigh, "- but Skyguy said he'd let him know... once we're in hyperspace."

"What's with all the suddenness and rush?" Jace couldn't help but ask, and when Calli didn't offer an answer his eyes narrowed in suspicion, "What's going on, Cal?"

"Nothing's going on." Calli insisted to which Jace gave her a deadpanned look, "Ok, look, would you rather sit around here bored and waiting for some action or come with me and help us take down clankers and whatever else stands in our path? I mean, we make a pretty good team." Jace had hesitated still, but when she said that last sentence, he found himself unable to deny her request to join, despite the nagging feeling at the back of his mind that there was more to this than just going to extinguish boredom. He had been dealing with boredom since they'd arrived, his Master was busy half the time so they couldn't train - well he could by himself but again that tended to get boring -and the normal daily list of tasks he had to complete each day had become tedious rather quickly as well. Slicing droids with his lightsabers actually sounded FUN. Calli was really rubbing off on him and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Jace chose to believe that his boredom is the reason he agreed to come along, and not because of Calli's statement that they made a good team.

~Present~

A part of Jace wishes he had stayed behind when he witnessed the tension between Calli and Hunter and the former's harsh treatment of her brother. He tried asking Calli what the problem was, but she didn't give him any details other than they had a disagreement about something. It's not like Calli could tell him what they were arguing about after all, since it involved the young Jedi. Although Jace couldn't help but notice a certain Sergeant's dirty look when he boarded the ship.

It remained relatively silent for a majority of the trip, but eventually Rex broke it.

"So, how many missions has your team been on, Sergeant?" He asked in an attempt to find out more about how the squad operated. The recent mission with the ragtag group of clones and watching how they worked made Rex curious to learn more about the team. Anakin looked up from Crosshair's fire puncher which he had been admiring to hear the enhanced clone's answer. Hunter chuckled, turning away from the computer screen to look at the captain.

"Honestly, sir, I've lost count." He admitted, waving his hand lazily, "All the action sort of blurs together."

"97." Callista piped in without looking up from her data pad, making everyone look at her briefly but she didn't provide any further detail. Of course, this included the missions they'd done before Calli joined the team, and she knew how many from the wall in their barracks on Kamino where Wrecker made sure to add tallies every time they traveled back there. Plus, Calli kept count of the missions since she joined by putting tallies on her shoulder pads. She has completed 23 missions so far.

"I know you work with Cody sometimes, but who do you guys' report to?" Rex questioned soon after.

"Hmm good question. Can't say I've got an answer." Hunter said, and Rex made a hmph sound, not satisfied with these answers but he didn't press any further. He didn't have a chance to anyways. Everyone was almost knocked off their feet when the Havoc Marauder suddenly lurched to one side. Tech's voice came through the intercom.

"We've reached Skako Minor, but it looks like it'll be a rough landing! Scar I could use your assistance at the moment!" Calli didn't need to be told twice, shoving her data pad into the nearest person's hands (Jace) and running to the cockpit. She took the co-pilot's seat and the pair worked in perfect sync, bringing their ship into Skako Minor's stormy atmosphere (it reminded Calli of Kamino if she was being honest, save for there was no rain, just thick orange clouds that lit up with each crack of lightning followed by a deafening roar of thunder that made everyone's ears ring (more so with Calli and Hunter) and the ship shudder. Even then, Calli didn't let it stumble her ability to copilot the Marauder and in no time, they landed on the surface with zero trouble.

Everyone piled into the cockpit while Tech and Calli powered down the ship.

"Rex, what do we know about this place?" Anakin asked the Captain.

"On this part of Skako, there's a race of locals, the Poletecs." Rex answered promptly, then adding with a small frown, "All we know is they're very primitive."

""Primitive" is being kind. My intel says the Poletecs worship flying reptiles." Tech inputted, having done research on the five hour flight here, not surprising to his squad. Calli had joined him a while, wanting to be prepared, more so than usual and despite her telling herself it wasn't because of Jace- of course it was because of him! She didn't want to mess up, the last mission they went on together still fresh in her mind.

Suddenly the room is engulfed in darkness when something landed on the front of the ship, causing everyone to jolt in fright as it - it being an animal with large talons, gigantic wings and a very ugly face - let out a vehement roar at the group who could only look at the animal with equal parts shock and slight fear.. Its claws dug into the viewport, and when the talons scratched the glass it resulted in an ear splitting shriek that made Calli's already sensitive ears hurt even more, plus the noise caused a chill to crawl down her spine and set her teeth on edge.

Just as soon as the animal appeared, it flew off, and Calli could just barely make out another figure riding atop it.

"What the heck was that?!" Wrecker exclaimed, leaning over the control panel to try and see if he could spot the creature again. Tech and Calli of course were the only ones with the answer. They weren't sure of the exact name of the species, as their sources of information didn't provide one.

"It's one of those reptiles." Tech said simply just as more sounds of the reptile crawling atop the ship could be heard. Two seconds later it began jumping up and down and shaking the ship, no doubt attempting to open it somehow.

"I want that thing off my ship." Hunter declared and he didn't have to say anything else, his siblings all jumping up and running into the lounge area where the rest of their gear had been left. Instead of her backpack, Calli strapped on the jetpack, something telling her she might need it if they were dealing with flying reptiles.

The two Jedi and Rex had followed the Bad Batch through the ship and looked at all the clones like they were crazy - and they were.

"Hold on! Hold on! Don't just run out there!" Rex told the group, yet his objections fell on deaf ears as the boys and Calli headed for the off ramp, the latter being the only one to reply, stopping at the threshold of the door leading to the exit to give Rex her signature crazy smirk.

"Oh Rexy, haven't you learned already that we don't let danger come to us? We go to it." With that said, Calli slipped on her helmet and continued the journey outside. The captain - and his companions - could only look at her retreating form with bafflement.

"Hey! Get off of there!" Calli heard Wrecker shout at the creature and its rider as she exited the ship and joined her brothers with the two Jedi and Rex closely behind. While Skywalker and Jace ignited their lightsabers Calli took out one of her DC-17's, and fired a couple warning shots at the reptile, hoping it would spook and fly off, yet it didn't.

"Hey, calm down!" Skywalker ordered after Calli had shot at the reptile, yet none of the Bad Batchers lowered their weapons, "We need to talk to them." Now that they were face to face with the beast, they also got a better look at its rider. Calli didn't know what the thin, lanky humanoid with vermillion colored skin, two beady eyes and a long narrow face that rivaled Crosshair's.

"Why?" Hunter questioned, this being one of the few times he preferred to shoot first and ask questions later. After all, the Havoc Marauder was more than just a ship, it was their home - their sanctuary from judging eyes. He wasn't about to let some animal tear it apart, and his siblings shared that same sentiment.

"The General's right." Rex said, backing him up. Just before an argument could ensue, two more of those reptiles with riders emerged from the haze, heading directly towards the group, Rex being the nearest to them.

"Look out, Rex!" Skywalker shouted, though it seemed pointless since he ended up pushing the clone out of the way before he could be snatched up. The two creatures circled back around, creating a distraction so the group no longer paid attention to the one on the ship, which had consequences. Taking the opportunity, the leader had his reptile jump off the ship and they made a beeline for the group, specifically the two with lightsabers. It succeeded in getting a hold of Skywalker, but just before Jace was also captured, Calli shoved him out of the way and large talons wrapped around her small figure and she was plucked off the ground so fast that it made her stomach lurch and if she hadn't grabbed onto her helmet, it might have flown off.

"Calli!" Jace and Hunter shouted at the same time, then looking at each other, the latter glaring at Jace even though it couldn't be seen underneath the helmet, and then looking away with a childish 'hmph'.

Tech, not the least bit panicked, flipped down his visor and used the thermal scanner to pick up the heat signatures of his sister, Skywalker, and the reptiles.

"I have a thermal reading." He informed, turning to face his brothers and looking knowingly at Crosshair, "Point-two-five east, elevation 175." To anyone who wasn't part of the Bad Batch, (i.e., Rex and Jace) this would have been pointless information, after all they can't chase the flying reptiles on foot!

"What are we going to do?" Jace asks in a panic, and Crosshair nudges him aside while walking over to Tech's side.

"Relax. I'll handle this." He told the teen coolly as he takes the blaster barrel off his fire puncher and replaces it with the grappling hook attachment, proceeding to lay the gun on Tech's shoulder, using it to steady his weapon as he flipped down the rangefinder on his helmet to pick up the heat signatures. Soon a grappling hook is fired and flies through the air, and Crosshair smirks triumphantly when the device attaches itself to the reptile's leg connected to the foot currently carrying Calli in its grasp. Before the ascension cable runs out, Crosshair hands the other end containing a hook to Hunter, and the Sergeant hooks it to his belt.

"What are you doing?" Rex demanded, though he had a pretty good idea and all he could think was that Hunter was insane!

"Going for a ride." Hunter replied in a smooth voice, his hands leaving his belt and grasping the cable just in time as he's lifted from his spot on the ground, leaving behind a baffled Rex and Jace, who could only watch with jaws dropped as the Sergeant disappeared into the orange haze.

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

Up with the reptile, Calli saw the hook embedded itself in the reptile's leg and she could care less if it hurt him. Before now Calli had never had a problem with motion sickness but as they climbed higher and higher and the claw holding her hostage jerked her body this way and that, Calli's last meal threatened to make a reappearance, which wouldn't be ideal with her helmet still being on.

She struggled against the claws restraining her, trying desperately to reach for her knife or second blaster (the first one had been dropped when she'd been grabbed). Calli only managed to wrench her right arm free, but her entire person was outfitted with weapons. She hit the vambrace against her helmet to press the button that activated the flame projector, aiming it so the flames licked the reptile's leg.

The attack had the desired effect and the reptile let out a roar of pain. Calli is suddenly in a free fall as the flying creature released her from its grasp, and she could hear both Anakin and Hunter call out to her as she rapidly descended for the ground.

As she fell Calli maneuvered herself, so her body was right side up and just before she slammed into the rocky floor, she activated the jet pack that dramatically slowed her descent. Her boots just barely touched the ground and then she pushed off at full speed, making a steady incline back towards the reptile and her squad mate who was still dangling on the grappling hook. The fire had made the creature fly more erratically, which wasn't good for Hunter as he began swinging uncontrollably, just barely avoiding the steep, jagged rock formations as he fired a few blasts at the reptile, which only succeeded in making it more agitated.

Calli flew as close to Hunter as possible while also dodging the large rocks, being ready to catch him when he fell, which the Sergeant eventually did, as the reptile's erratic flying made the grappling hook become loose then fall off all together. Before Hunter could even press his fingers to the side of his helmet to comm Calli, whom he'd seen catching up to them, Calli had already swooped in and grabbed him by his backpack before he fell to his death.

"Woah! Don't drop me!" Hunter shouted, being slightly fearful that Calli might do just that since she was mad at him. After smiling to herself because of this, Calli assured him she wouldn't, and they continued following their assailants that still had the General in its grasp.

Eventually they reached a small village, and instead of making themselves known Calli stopped just before they entered the settlement, instead going over to one of the rock formations that gave them a bird's eye view of the area and where they wouldn't be spotted.

Calli stopped roughly twenty feet over the rock and without warning let Hunter go and he hit the stone in an inglorious heap, not having the time to maneuver himself to where he could do a barrel roll and wound up on his feet with his dignity intact. So, he laid splayed out on his stomach while Calli elegantly landed on her own two feet next to the Sergeant who lifted the upper half of his body to glare daggers at his sister through his visor.

"I thought you said you wouldn't drop me!" He hissed and Calli hummed thoughtfully.

"Did I? I can't remember." She replied, and Hunter grumbled under his breath before comming the others, telling Tech to follow his comm signal. Not two minutes later the Havoc Marauder appeared and landed next to the rock formation Hunter and Calli were on, and the rest of the Bad Batch plus Rex and Jace climbed up, joining the pair as they looked down at the village.

Rex flipped his rangefinder down and found Anakin still wedged underneath the animal's claws. "That creature still has a hold of the General." He told everyone and Calli gave Rex a deadpanned look from beneath her visor.

"Way to point out the obvious." Calli thought, or at least she meant to only think this, but apparently, she said it out loud because she now had six pairs of eyes looking at her. Calli could only shrug in response. Thankfully Rex drew everyone's attention back to him when he spoke.

"We're going in - but remember what the General said. No casualties, disarm only."

"We're on it, Captain." Hunter assured before pointing to the two strongest members of the team then to the round boulder that was nearby, "Wrecker, Crosshair, rockslide!" He ordered and the pair nodded, heading over to the decent sized rock. Everyone else slid down the rock as the boulder was pushed by Wrecker from its spot and sent rolling into the village while Calli chose to jump off the edge and using her jetpack to fly around, making sure that no one was really hurt by the boulder, which included picking up a couple of the aliens out of its path before they became pancakes.

Apparently, her efforts weren't appreciated by one of the sentients she saved, because one of them punched her helmet with the arm Calli wasn't holding and she shouted in surprise while also accidentally releasing her hold on the pair of them - thankfully they weren't that high up in the air, so the drop wasn't fatal. Once Calli gained her bearings and steadied her flying, she glared down at the one who'd punched her while crossing her arms.

"Rude! I just saved your life and that's how you repay me?!" She yelled down at him, even though it was likely her protests wouldn't be understood by the alien species. Instead of getting an "I'm sorry" or "oops my bad", Calli had arrows shot at her. She avoided the first wave of arrows and while they reloaded, she pulled out a blaster and shot the crude wooden weapons from the aliens before they could attempt to fire another round of arrows. While they fled away in fear Calli also left and went to join the others who'd succeeded in freeing the General and were now being yelled at by what Calli assumed was the leader of the village. Calli landed beside Wrecker, who alongside everyone else had blasters aimed at the Chief who raised his hands in surrender before saying something in a language that none of them understood.

"Tech, translate what he said." Hunter ordered his brother, who stepped closer while tapping something on his wrist gauntlet before flipping down his visor. Words appeared in both red and blue, the former being the words spoken by the alien and its translation into basic.

"He says he does not want our war on his planet." Tech explained, the words disappearing so he could look at the General while finishing, "That is why he took our leader."

"We didn't bring the war here. It was Wat Tambor and the Separatists." Anakin said and Tech didn't need to be told to translate this to the Chief, and he did. The way Tech spoke the language sounded average at best, and besides the word, "Separatists", though it was spoken with a heavy accent, Calli didn't understand a thing. The Chief looked at the clone with his head tilted, most likely surprised that a human was speaking to him in their unique dialect. Once Tech finished, Rex stepped forward and gave Tech more sentences to translate, taking the opportunity that the villagers were calm and willing to listen to them.

"Tell him we apologize for what's happened. But tell him the enemy is holding one of our men prisoners in Purkoll. As soon as we rescue him, we'll leave his planet, for good." More blue words appeared on the left side of Tech's visor, and soon after a full translation was provided, and he spoke again to the Chief. He had a harder time talking this time around, tripping over a couple words and at one point he sounded like he was choking, yet he pulled through. The Chief was even more intrigued and took two large steps with his long, gangly legs, putting him right in front of Tech, who's voice drifted off as the Chief peered down at him, specifically the visor with wonderment, getting into the clone's personal space bubble. Tech remained stock still so as not to spook the sentient, allowing him to examine his helmet.

A few tense and uncomfortable seconds went by before the Chief stepped back, then turned to face the villagers that surrounded the clones and Jedi, and he said something to them. Calli stiffened when they all began talking and her hand itched for her blaster yet waited for Tech to translate.

"The Chief says he will provide us with scouts and lead us to Tambor's city. From there, we're on our own." He informed, and everyone turned to General Skywalker to see what he'd say to this offer.

"Any help is better than no help." He said with a shrug.

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Like the Chief promised, he sent a couple scouts with the group and they led them up to a cliff, and beyond that you could see the outline of multiple towers, which one of the scouts pointed to while saying something that again no one but Tech could understand. The General nodded to the scout anyways and they left.

"Took you guys long enough," Calli commented from her perch on the top of part of the rock that stuck out from the cliff and roughly fifty feet above the others. She'd flown up ahead on her jetpack as opposed to climbing up like the others and had been waiting for twenty minutes for the others.

Her brothers simply rolled their eyes while Skywalker ignored her and looked towards the city with determination.

"Hope nobody's scared of heights." He said and one by one Hunter, Crosshair, then Calli all turned their heads to Wrecker, knowing that the gentle giant had trouble with high altitudes yet keeping their mouths shut. Wrecker puffed his chest out haughtily.

"Well, I'm not scared of nothing." He claimed, though when he looked at the edge of the cliff, his confidence waned the slightest, "I jus' - When I'm up real high, I got a problem with gravity." His teammates, minus Tech who was tapping away on his datapad, held back snickers and Crosshair would have verbally teased him if their genius brother hadn't interjected with bad news.

"Speaking of problems, I am no longer picking up Echo's signal."

"I - I don't understand. You said it was coming from this city." Rex said, sounding extremely agitated and Calli felt bad for the Captain.

"I can only speculate, but it is possible there's a latency issue with the frequency caused by all these," Tech waved a hand towards the sky, "-atmospheric disturbances."

"Or maybe they sent the signal to lure us into a trap. And maybe your friend's actually dead." Everyone looked at Hunter, who crossed his arms, "Well, I can't be the only one thinking of that." He spoke. The other male members of the Bad Batch seemed to agree with the Sergeant, and Calli couldn't believe it.

"Look, every mission could be a trap." Rex retorted heatedly while jabbing a finger at Hunter, and Calli could hear his heart rate increase as he grew more and more upset at the doubt of his companions, "This one is no different. I'm telling you - that signal is being sent by Echo himself! He's alive!"

"I think you're letting your personal feelings get in the way because you left him for dead at the Citadel." Crosshair said in his usual cynical way and Calli said his name as a warning for him to shut up, as his words would only make things worse.

"I had no choice. You hear me?" Crosshair just shrugged, remaining calm while Rex was basically ready to explode.

"Oh, I don't blame you. I would've left him for dead too." Crosshair remarked casually, and he turned away from the captain, but not before throwing another cruel remark over his shoulder, "Besides, he's just another reg." This comment was what made Rex snap. He lunged forwards and when Crosshair turned back around, he was met with Rex's fist. The captain unleashed all his fury on the sniper into that punch, but it wasn't enough, and while Crosshair stumbled back Rex didn't give him a second to collect himself, landing another blow that made Crosshair fall backwards and hit the ground.

Even though Calli had been the closest to Crosshair, she made no move to defend him, because his words not only hurt Rex, but her as well as it brought up some memories

"Hey!" It was Wrecker who stepped in, picking up Rex by the scruff of his neck and yanking him away from his brother before he could land any more punches. "Why don't you pick on someone not your size?" the bug clone said tauntingly while dropping the captain on his feet not-so-nicely. But Rex was not intimidated by Wrecker's size, and stepped up to him, glowering at the enhanced clone underneath his visor.

"You'll be a whole lot smaller when I'm through with you." Rex threatened coolly, shifting his fury from Crosshair to the one who'd stopped his attack. The two Jedi could sense an array of intense emotions radiating off the captain, while Calli didn't need the force to be able to tell that Rex was in great distress over the possibility of his former comrade actually being dead. It made her feel even more sorrow for him, and angrier at her brothers for adding to his torment by expressing doubt.

"That's enough!" Anakin barked, thankfully putting an end to the fight before it got any uglier, though in all honesty Calli herself was considering giving Crosshair, Wrecker, and Hunter each a punch herself. "Sergeant, take your men and scout the area for a tower entrance. Jace, go with them. I want to talk to my Captain alone." Hunter nodded and motioned for his squad to follow him with Jace bringing up the rear.

As they slowly made their way down the rock, Crosshair took off his helmet and clicked his tongue in annoyance when he saw the scratches on the visor from Rex's punches, the armor plate protecting the top of his hand leaving marks on the transparisteel.

"Can you believe that reg? Getting so worked up over nothing." Calli, who'd been walking behind Hunter towards the front, stopped in her tracks and faced Crosshair, her hands balling into fists. She spoke in a low, clipped tone, just barely keeping her cool as she was still seething from his earlier comments and the urge to punch him was still there.

"You call being hopeful over someone he cares about being alive and getting upset when someone says cruel things about the friend nothing?" Without his helmet on, Calli could see Crosshair when his eyes rolled.

"Don't tell me you actually care about this whole rescue mission." By now everyone else had stopped, Wrecker, Tech and Jace being behind them and having to, so they didn't run into the pair, while it took Hunter a few seconds to realize his squad had stopped. He rejoined the group and asked what the problem was, but Calli and Crosshair tuned him out. Calli took off her own helmet so her scowl could be seen as she responded.

"And if I do, why is that a bad thing?" Crosshair scoffed, only further adding to Calli's frustration.

"Please, he's one of a million regs."

"And?"

"And he's nothing special and isn't worth all this fuss. The Republic couldn't care less about one lost reg so why should we?" Calli could only stare at Crosshair in disbelief. And then the others began sharing their opinions, Tech being the first, looking up from his datapad briefly.

"While I don't quite agree with Crosshair's rather harsh sentiments, I also feel the need to point out that it's likely this reg is dead and like Hunter said before, this could all be a trap." Calli shook her head, refusing to accept it, but Tech wasn't finished, "And if he is alive, who's to say we can trust him?"

"I agree with Tech. The reg could be working for the Seppies." Wrecker added, voicing the other obvious reason since no one else was going to. Calli could only chuckle wryly while shaking her head.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing. If you all feel this way, then why even bother coming on this mission?"

"Because we were ordered to, and we always complete our missions." Tech said matter-of-factly, like it should have been obvious.

"And you would have given us hell if we didn't." Hunter 'muttered' under his breath, though Calli heard him just fine.

"Well excuse me for caring more about people than just about missions. I can't believe how cold and unfeeling you're all being. I expect this from Crosshair," Crosshair looked downright offended by this statement, "- but the rest of you? I'm-I'm embarrassed to even be related to you right now!" Crosshair made a noise of exasperation.

"Why does this even matter so much to you?" He asked, not understanding why Calli cared so much about this reg they didn't even know.

"Because it's just hitting me, with the way you're acting about Echo, that you probably didn't want to come rescue me when I was captured by the Separatists. In fact, if the Senator hadn't been with me, you probably wouldn't have come at all!" Calli knew she was right when Crosshair looked away and there was a slightly guilty look in his eyes that she caught before he hid his face from her view. Tech and Hunter looked uncomfortable as well, while Wrecker spoke up.

"That's not true Scar," Wrecker exclaimed, trying to diffuse the argument and reassure her, "- the rest of us wanted to come rescue you! Crosshair got outvoted."

"Oh, how touching!" Calli retorted, and Wrecker deflated a little at this, not liking it when Calli was angry at him, but Calli was too fired up to feel bad. She turned back to Crosshair and jabbed a finger at him, "You wanna know why I'm so bent on saving Echo? Because when I was locked up in a cell, all alone and being tortured, I didn't think that anyone was going to come get me." Calli's expression softened a little as she said the next part, "But you guys did. I've never expressed how much that meant to me." It was weird to talk about it, Calli admitted to herself. Even more weird to think about how much time has passed and how much has changed. Several emotions welled up inside her at bringing that time up. She felt tears appear in her eyes and wasn't sure if they were tears of frustration or just from being emotional as she relived the experiences and what she felt when the boys came to her rescue. Calli shook her head and forced herself to calm down before saying one final thing. "And yeah, maybe this whole thing is a wild bantha chase, but if it'll help give Rex some closure then it's worth it and I don't care what you guys think or feel about it."

The boys just stood there in silence, unsure of what to say or do. Calli didn't want them to anyways, and Jace seemed to pick up on this and suggested they get moving. They all reluctantly agreed, but the awkwardness between the boys and Calli was undeniable.

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

Eventually the Bad Batch plus Jace followed Echo's signal which had started transmitting again and it led them to the bottom of what appeared to be a tower of sorts. It was hard to tell how big or how tall the building was with the sandstorm that never seemed to end.

Calli stood off to the side and contacted the General per Hunter's order to tell them their coordinates, then leaned against the metal wall, keeping an eye out for the pair. Just as Tech connected his data pad to the control panel and began having it to allow them entrance, Anakin and Rex rejoined the group.

"We're in business, General. Tech regained Echo's signal." Hunter informed the general and he pointed to the building, "It's coming from this tower." Skywalker nodded, turning to the goggled clone. "How's it going, Tech?" Tech didn't respond, being focused on his datapad. A few seconds went by, then the doors finally opened, and Tech stood up.

"Sorry it took so long." He apologized, and Anakin and Jace were surprised at this, as it only took Tech less than a minute to hack which is a shorter time than most can achieve. Hunter told Crosshair to go check out the interior. The sniper creeped in while holding his rifle up, ready to shoot if necessary. When he made it all the way in with no trouble, he lowered the rifle.

"Yeah, it's a lift." Calli couldn't hold back a scoff as she pushed herself off the wall and headed for the inside along with the others.

"Well, we already knew that." She said in a snippy tone, to which Crosshair glowered but remained silent as everyone piled into the lift. Except for Wrecker, who stopped at the threshold when it hit him what they were about to do.

"Wait, wait, wait. A lift?" He said before taking a step back and straining his neck as he looked up at the tall building, suddenly feeling queasy to his stomach, "How-How far up are we going?" Despite being angry at her brothers, Calli felt bad for Wrecker.

"Don't worry, Wrecker." Hunter simpered, "I'll hold your hand." Wrecker huffed and nudged his brother's arm playfully.

"Hey! Cut it out, Sarge. Just give me some droids to crush." Wrecker said as he stepped into the lift. Now it was already a tight fit with seven people inside, and four of them were in bulky armor which made it more uncomfortable. Still, they at least had some moving room. But once Wrecker was inside, everyone else was forced to squish together to make his bulky figure fit in the tiny space.

The doors closed and the lift began heading upwards. It was a quiet, awkward ride as everyone was uncomfortable with their close proximity to one another. Calli was smushed between Jace on her right, Tech on her left, and Crosshair was behind her, forced to be in a corner.

Crosshair didn't like having Calli's jetpack pushing against him and crowding him. He let out a frustrated growl when the lift jerked, and the force made Calli stumble backwards and further push him into the corner.

"Quit crowding me!" He hissed over Calli's shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry, why don't I move?" Calli offered with obvious sarcasm, not bothering to even look back at her squadmate.

"Ha ha." Crosshair retorted dryly, "The smallest of us should be in the corner!" He then declared. Calli's head turned sharply at him, her anger flaring.

"Make one more crack about my size and I swear I'll take out my knife and cut off your -"

"Knock it off, the both of you!" Hunter barked sternly, effectively shutting them up before either could say anything that would embarrass the rest of them. When those two were angry at each other, they could say things that would make even a sith lord blush.

Skywalker backed Hunter up by focusing the attention back on the present task. "Remember, this is a stealth mission. No blasting, no blowing things up. Nobody knows we're here."

"Yeah yeah, we get it, General Buzzkill." Calli remarked without thinking, and when Skywalker looked at her with an annoyed expression, she could feel Crosshair facepalm behind her, and then tried to back track, "Er, I-I mean sir, yes sir...uh...General?"

"Nice save." Crosshair remarked, thus furthering Calli's embarrassment. She was saved however when the lift doors opened, and they were met by multiple D-1 Series droids that turned to face them.

"Intruders!" One of the droids said in a monotone voice, and all the droids began aiming their built-in blasters at the group that had yet to react, "Attack!"

Wrecker didn't think twice to act, letting out a battle cry as he barreled out of the lift towards the droids as they began firing, grabbing one of the offenders and flinging it to the other end of the room where it took out two others in its crash landing behind some containers.

"So much for stealth." Calli said dryly as Wrecker grabbed another droid, swinging it around to hit multiple other droids, sending them flinging off the landing pad they'd stumbled upon, then proceeding to dump that droid and shoot multiple rounds into the head, when really only one shot was needed. Despite her comment, when the other Bad Batchers ran out to help their brother, Calli didn't hesitate to follow, save for stopping to turn to Jace and pointing to one of his lightsabers.

"Hey, are you going to be using that?" She asked, wanting to use it since she didn't have her electrostaff and Skywalker had said to be stealthy and in ways a lightsaber was quieter than a blaster. Calli's question though was more rhetorical, as she grabbed one of them anyways. She at least had enough manners to thank Jace before bolting out into the open, igniting the blade just in time to swipe it in front of her and cut off the heads of two droids that had attempted to attack her. Calli grinned as she watched the heads and bodies clatter onto the floor, sparks flying from them and the metal melting where the blade made contact.

Heh, I really like this thing.

While Calli wasn't whooping and hollering like Wrecker as he fought droids, she was definitely getting an adrenaline rush from using the lightsaber instead of a boring blaster to take down droids left and right. Jace could only watch alongside Anakin and Rex as Calli swung the lightsaber to take out three more unfortunate victims before barrel rolling to another to avoid being shot before striking right in the center of its chest plate.

"Uh... Is she allowed to do that, sir?" Rex asked the General, yet Anakin didn't really have an answer. He was mildly impressed by how Calli (or he only knew her as Scar) utilized the weapon, not showing any hesitation at all. Most people were weary around lightsabers, heck in the beginning he'd been nervous to use it, being raised to use a blaster. While Calli's form was bad - horrendous even - she still managed to effectively take down numerous droids without barely breaking a sweat.

Wrecker had just finished blasting holes in the final droid and let out an almost maniacal laugh while pumping his fists.

"YEAH! WHOO!!" Calli let the blade retreat back into the hilt and looked at Wrecker along with the others, though she could understand as she felt a similar high. Wrecker laughed again, quieter and more sheepish this time, massaging the back of his neck, "Uh sorry. I just got excited."

"I've still got a lock on Echo's signal." Tech announced to break the awkward silence that followed as Wrecker finally calmed down.

"All right, men. Let's hunt some droids." Hunter said and this got Wrecker all excited again.

"Now you're talking! Yeah!"

Everyone headed for the doors that would lead them further into the building. Jace fell into step next to Calli on her left and held his hand out expectantly. With a nervous chuckle she gave the lightsaber back.

"Heh, sorry. Guess I got a little carried away." She admitted while wringing her hands. Thankfully Jace wasn't annoyed.

"No harm done - except to the droids." Calli visibly relaxed, yet Jace couldn't help but make a comment about how Calli fought with the lightsaber, "Your form was terrible, though." Calli made a noise of surprise, then punched his shoulder playfully, temporarily forgetting about her enhanced strength and that Wrecker was the only one who could handle her punches, even the "playful" ones could cause serious damage. Jace let out a pained grunt as his shoulder exploded in pain and went to grip his shoulder while Calli's eyes bugged out when she realized what she'd done.

"Holy kriff, I'm- I'm so sorry!!" Calli whisper-shouted so the others wouldn't hear her as she freaked out over the possibility that Jace's shoulder might either be broken or at the very least dislocated. Is injuring your Commander who's also a Jedi illegal? Great, I'm going to jail!

"It's fine." Jace assured her through gritted teeth as the pain became more of a dull throb. He rotated his shoulder a few times to show that no permanent damage was done. Calli went from being mortified to embarrassed and chose to increase her speed to go join the adults just as Skywalker suggested they split up, as apparently Tech had lost Echo's signal and now, they had no way of knowing where he was.

"Okay, we're splitting up. Search every door. If someone finds Echo, contact the others. We go in together, just in case there's trouble." Everyone nodded before heading in different directions. Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, and Rex headed left while the rest went right.

They ran down the curved hallway that had multiple doors spaced out on the right side while the left had a half wall, the top being a window that looked out to the rest of the city. Skywalker took the first door they came across; Crosshair did the next while Calli and Jace continued jogging until they reached another door and Calli said she'd take this one. Jace nodded and told her to be careful before running off.

After punching the control panel that opened the door, Calli took out one of her blasters and held it with both hands in front of her as she began creeping into the section of the chamber this door opened up to. It appeared to be a room full of generators and machinery that powered the building, separated into sections that created a sort of maze. There was minimal lighting, and Calli quickly slipped off her helmet and clipped it to her belt, opting to rely on her enhanced senses to detect any droids that would try and sneak up on her in the darkness. At every junction she stopped and listened, and when nothing jumped out and fired, she would move forward.

Eventually her ears picked up the sound of creaking metal from above and two seconds later a droid dropped to the floor in front of the girl.

"Drop your weapon-" Calli shot the droid through the head before it could say anything else. Then a sound came from behind and Calli was quick to unsheath her vibro blade and without turning jabbed it into the droid that crept up behind her in an attempted sneak attack, twisting the blade to ensure it did maximum damage. Just then another dropped down near the first droid and this one began shooting without any hesitation. One of the blasts just barely grazed Calli's ear and she pulled the second droid that still had the vibroblade embedded in its chest in front before kicking it forward with her boot to slam into the shooting droid, and they collided and fell into a heap on the ground.

Calli quickly made her way over to the heap and wrenched the vibroblade from the second droid in order to stab the third one before it could regain its bearings, only she didn't stop after one. She repeated the action, unleashing all the pent-up anger this mission has brought upon her. Everything that she's kept bottled up just came crashing down on her and this time she couldn't just push it away. As the blade pierced the metal body of the droid over and over, flashes of everything that was wrong in her life right now came to mind.

STAB. Her frustration with how her team didn't care about a reg being potentially held captive and even worse saying cruel things about him.

STAB. She was angry at the fact she was angry over something that on a broader scale of things maybe wasn't something to be so worked up about. But this had been building up for a while, to where now Calli took offense to even the smallest offense.

STAB. One of the built-up frustrations was how Hunter kept making passive aggressive comments about her relationship with Jace, as did Crosshair.

Thinking about Jace brought on a whole new set of intense emotions and Calli's stabs became more aggressive and with less time in between each one. The fact that Hunter didn't trust her or believe her when she said there was nothing going on between them. That he kept giving her a hard time about it and just not letting it go just infuriated Calli. She was glad at least that Hunter didn't know about the kiss she and Jace almost shared back on Naboo. It was hard enough that Jace tried to bring it up the first few times they corresponded. Calli would immediately brush it off and promptly change the subject, wanting to simply forget about it and move on. Eventually Jace seemed to get the hint and stopped, Calli was relieved that they could continue being friends and not worry about ruining it with some itty-bitty romantic feelings that tried to get in the way.

Calli's temper flared again thinking about that last part. She tried to deny it, both to herself and everyone else; she didn't like Jace in that way. But, deep down, Calli knew the bitter truth and she hated it with a passion. Most people wouldn't be so bothered over the fact that they like someone, but Calli was. She didn't know how it happened, one moment they were barely acquaintances, then that vacation on Naboo happened and suddenly these weird fuzzy, bubbly feelings emerged and Calli wanted nothing more than to turn them off!

Calli wasn't sure how many times the blade pierced the upper metal body of the droid, all she knew was that by the time she finally stopped her breathing had become heavy, her jaw was clenched, teeth were gritted and all she wanted to do was scream at the top of her lungs. She didn't feel better in the slightest, and that added to her frustration.

Before Calli could wallow in her despair any further, she got a comm call from Jace, saying that Tech regained Echo's signal and gave her the location to meet them at. After quickly wiping her eyes that had become misty without her noticing, Calli went to free her vibroblade, only for the handle and blade to separate and the latter was left embedded in the droid. Her lips formed a pitiful little pout,

Aw man, this was my favorite knife. Can't one thing go right today?

Not able to part with her beloved weapon, Calli pulled the blade out before making her way to where the others were. Turns out she arrived just in time too, as a bunch of droids were closing in on them. Calli immediately sprang into action, throwing the blade in her right hand at a nearby droid, sparks flying as it went down. She then chucked the handle at another, and with her enhanced strength the force was enough to knock the head off the droid and render that one useless also.

Now Calli had the attention of a few other droids and those she swiftly took down with her DC-17's while the rest were taken out by the others. There was a brief period for everyone to catch their breath and Calli got a better look of where they were at. The door where Echo supposedly was beyond that was in an arched alcove like thing adjacent to the hall and at the back of it were large double doors. Calli became hopeful that they'd find Echo, after all these doors were locked while the others weren't and that's only necessary when you're guarding something, in this case a prisoner of war.

More blaster shots forced everyone to hide behind each end of the alcove where there was a small wall that would shield them.

"Tech, open that door for Rex!" Anakin shouted over the blaster fire.

"Yes, sir!" Tech responded before hurrying over to the circular control panel next to the doors and getting to work. Calli followed to provide cover while he worked, Rex joining her a second later. Calli had seen Hunter say something to him beforehand, and wished she'd been able to hear because her curiosity was burning. She did however get an order to go with the pair once the doors were opened and Calli didn't protest, wanting to see first-hand if this whole mission had been worth it or not.

The doors led them to a small room with another set of doors at the end of it, and past that was a large circular room. Rex and Calli walked ahead of Tech with their blasters raised, taking slow, careful steps down a ramp, the rest of the metal floor having wires and lights intertwined, and with the large gaps in the metal they would likely get stuck.

The ramp ended and they stood before a large chamber of sorts, and even with all her armor on Calli could feel the coldness radiating from it.

"I don't like the look of this." Rex stated unsurely, and Calli found herself nodding in agreement while Tech got to work on the circular console in front of the chamber to try and get it open. Calli holstered her weapons and a heavy weight settled on her chest as she gazed upon the machinery that began making hissing noises and emitting clouds of smoke as Tech began the unlocking sequence, and from the way he swiftly typed in commands and pushed a series of buttons and levers, you'd think he had dealt with this type of technology before.

"I'm definitely picking up a life-form in there." Tech informed while he worked and that spark of hope was back, "It seems to be a stasis chamber. I think I can get it open. Calli, pull those two levers down slowly when I tell you to." Calli went to where Tech pointed and grasped the two levers, looking at Tech expectantly while her heart pounded at what might lay beyond the frosted doors of the chamber.

After pressing a couple more buttons he gave her a nod and Calli had to take a deep breath before gently pulling the levers downwards and she heard more whirring of machinery and from her peripherals to the left she saw the doors to the chamber swing open and a wave of frigid air made a chill go down her spine, only for it to happen again when a body fell out of the chamber. Even though Calli had her suspicions about what was inside the machine, nothing could prepare her for seeing a sickly pale, lifeless form to fall out of there, only it only made it about a foot out as it was attached to several hoses that prevented it from fully dropping to the floor, and somehow the fact it hung out like that made it even more terrifying. Calli let out a yelp and jumped back in fright, accidently bumping into Tech though truth be told she was tempted to grab onto his arm like a small child for comfort after that heart-skipping scare that probably took a couple years off her life.

Rex's horrified expression was hidden beneath his helmet, which he was thankful for. "Echo." There was sorrow in Rex's tone as he took in his vod's state. His skin color was no longer a warm tan color like the rest of the clones', and his entire lower body was now made up of cybernetic components, along with the lower half of his right hand, which was now replaced with a scomp link like most droids possessed. Echo's eyes were open, yet unfocused, and moved as if he was reading something.

The sadness was temporarily pushed aside, and Rex jumped onto the console to grab his vod and free him from the chamber. "Tech. We gotta get him out of here. Figure out how to unplug him from this mess." Rex gently wrapped his arms around Echo's waist and took off one of the hoses but found that the others wouldn't budge, they did however have some length, so Rex was able to pull Echo the rest of the way out of the chamber and place Echo on the ground with his back against the console.

Once Echo was settled, Rex took off his helmet so he could look at Echo more closely, and the despair and shock was clear as day on his features.

"What have they done to you?" Calli, having recovered from her mini freak out, crouched down on the other side of Echo and began spouting off her observations, not realizing that Rex wasn't really looking for an answer at this time.

"It looks like his lower torso, legs, and right arm were replaced with cybernetic implants and these tubes and stuff were probably there to keep him alive while in the stasis chamber-" Calli finally glanced at Rex and saw the "what the heck" look Rex was giving her and pressed her lips together briefly in embarrassment, "Oh, that was a rhetorical question wasn't it?"

Their attention was brought back to Echo when he began stirring and some of the cloudiness left his eyes. He jumped, then began speaking, his voice hoarse from not being used for who knows how long.

"We-We have to get to the shuttle to escape the Citadel." He mumbled out, then his face became panicked, and he held his human hand up, "No! I'll go first." Calli deduced he must be reliving his final moments before being knocked out or whatever. Rex said his name in an attempt to get his attention, but Echo continued to talk as if the rest of them weren't there. "No! No. No."

"Echo, it's Rex." The captain said, a little louder this time, "I'm here." He assured. Echo said 'no' one more time before slumping back against the console. He remained silent for a moment, and Calli saw his eyes clear up entirely and he became aware of his surroundings, specifically the ARC Trooper kneeling in front of him.

"Rex?" He said weakly, "You, you came back for me?" It was as if Calli was looking into a mirror, flashes of her saying almost the exact same thing to the Bad Batch. She couldn't describe the feeling it gave her as she watched the two brothers interact.

Rex nodded sadly, with regret in his eyes. "Yes." He said in a soft voice, "Yes, I did." It took Echo a second to process this, still being very much out of it. Eventually more questions spilled from his mouth.

"What... What happened?" he asked, his eyes glancing around at the unfamiliar surroundings, "Where am I?" Rex reached out and gently grasped Echo's human hand in his own, ignoring that it felt like an ice cube.

"It's okay, Echo. You're safe now." Rex assured in a soothing tone, and he placed his free hand on Echo's shoulder. "Just sit tight, trooper. You're going home."

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

AHHHHHH, I'M SO HAPPY THAT ECHO'S FINALLY HERE!! I'M SO EXCITED TO WRITE THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN HIM AND CALLI!! THEY'RE GONNA BE CYBORG SIBLINGS!!!

I hope you liked this chapter!!

~B.C.

#star wars the bad batch #star wars #star wars bad batch #star wars tbb #star wars clone wars #crosshair tbb #hunter tbb #tech tbb #wrecker tbb #tbb fanfiction #the bad batch #the clone wars #clone wars #tcw #sw tcw #captain rex #star wars the clone wars #calli tbb #arc trooper calli #arc trooper oc #arc trooper echo #echo the clone wars #anakin skywalker #jace channing #jedi oc #star wars oc #star wars fanfiction

[thealmightyemprex]

7.Helped out on a production of Sweeney Todd

I want to hear all about this

OK so Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite musicals ,so when I found out my local playhouse was doing it , I auditioned.Unfortunately I was told I just wasnt trained enough to sing Sondheim BUT I had worked with the director on a production of South Pacific (There I played a sailor ) and he thought I was a likeable presence and knew I was a hard worker so asked if I would be willing to be a stagehand ,and to just work on Sweeney Todd would be a thrill for me I said yes

We had pretty elaborate for comunity theater set pieces ,notably the cube whech represented the barber shop/lovetts shop/patlor/bakehouse ,which also had a working trap door

My job was working on stage left,and my dutie included :

Furniture for the Judges house moving

Helping in the moving the Judges House which was a VERY heavy thing on wheels,one side the interior,the other side the exterior

I was in charge of the props for the God Thats Good scene ,meaning I gave everyone a prop meat pie and some coins

My main job was being in charge of the gun.In the play Sweeney gives Antony a gun,which Joanna later uses to kill the Asylum keeper Mr Fogg .Now we had two guns:One was a water pistol that was covered in black tape and the other a real working prop gun with blanks .Basically Sweeney would hand Antony the Water pistol,hed run down the stairs to stage left,where I would hand him the Prop Gun and hed hand me the water pistol ,I would then run to stage right ,and hand them the water pistol,and then meet with Joanna after she shoots Fogg ,get the prop gun and put it up .WE always made sure prop gun was safe before the show

Highlights

So 99% of the cast was lovely,I have worked with many of them several times since this and a few I knew outside of the play and they also played their roles really well ,especially Mrs Lovett....And thank god for the rest of the cast cause.....Our Sweeney was kind of a jerk and its the only show he ever did at our playhouse.Always be nice to your fellow cast my friends

Funny enough our Judge was one of the sweetest people ever,he helped build the sets,and I had worked with him before on South Pacific .It was funny cause in South Pacific he was the romantic lead in South Pacific while here he was a really detestable villain..He reallly did a good job cause the audience booed him at curtain call (Which he was so thrilled with ) and always CHEERED When he got killed by Sweeney

So we had a lot of fog effects (Gothic horror tale,ya need fog )and umm....the fire department came twice DURING the show and the audience never knew it .They quickly realized everything was fine both times

CRew were actually in costume ,cause we would be onstage doing our stuff while actors were on stage and the director wanted us to fit in .Also rare for e theater,crew came out for the curtain call

My favorite memory is what I call the "By the Sea dance party".So meand a bunch of actors were back stage,just waiting for the scene to end ....And I just started dancing to the song By the Sea ,and other people joined in .This HAPPENED EVERYTIME THAT SONG WAS SUNG AT EVERY PERFORMANCE,so while the audinence were listening to Mrs Lovett sing this song ,me and a group of actors were just dancing to the song

Show went really well (BEst audience reactions ever was second night,full house ,everyone in audience a lil tipsy ,audience cheered and applauded,they loved it ) and its the only musical I worked on where I never got sick of the music

Oh and after we wrapped.....I went down the trap door

@themousefromfantasyland

@ariel-seagull-wings @amalthea9 @princesssarisa @the-blue-fairie @goodanswerfoxmonster @theancientvaleofsoulmaking @filmcityworld1 @angelixgutz

[catgoesboom]

as someone who's not even in the fandom, or have much of an opinion on huntlow outside of 'aw that's cute', the huntlow hate is soooo obviously rooted in fatphobia, and this weird notion fandoms have cultivated, that f/m ships are Bad™

people are trying so hard to cover themselves, saying it's because 'oh, it wouldn't work!' like. it's a cartoon. it's not going to be that deep, and people know that, but because it's Willow, a fat character, it's suddenly absolutely because of that, and not like. fatphobia

and the same thing happened with glimbow! like, i never shipped that myself, always preferred glimadora, but it's so weird that people had this whole Thing about it, when it was so obviously being set up as canon

and it's just. it's so obvious. like when the ship is queer, people can tolerate it. but the moment it's f/m, it's suddenly this Thing, and i'm not saying heterophobia is real or whatever, but fandom has this weird thing with f/m ships, and when you combine that with the fact that like, 99% of fandom is fatphobic, even if not actively, even if not purposefully, it's just. a really bad look man

Outside the fatphobia point (cause it really is that obvious when you see the same pattern with other queer focused shows, there is no discussion that people that hate willow is cause she's fat), is really hard to talk about how there IS at best a weird contempt towards f/m ships in (specially white) queer fandom spaces. Its not heterophobia, cause not only that doesn't exist, in general fandom spaces you can see that people do still tend towards f/m ships even when there is obvious queer undertones between two same-sex characters, but there is an obvious prejudice and dislike towards anything they deem as "straight", even if it isn't, and a an overwhelming protection of same sex ships even if they're just meh. Saving another really REALLY long post of general multiphobia and the usual path of when you become a young activist, about how you're really insecure about everything so you try to double down in your still wrongfully black and white, developing mindset, specially in now a more reactive society and social medias: They just want to be like the oppressors. They just want to be like the oppressors! The only thing they ever have some protection of is same sex ships over everything else, so once a ship isn't same sex, they have no issue in letting out their biphobia, fatphobia, (most of the time internalized) transphobia, ableism and racism out, but when its same sex, they use us as an extra selling point, like other minorities are only important if its convenient to them. And I think this is a problem that is happening all around online, not only the toh fandom, but any fandom.

[kafian]

Hi,dude! I wanna ask you about your perfect work (fanfic) about Tommy and Ken.:)

(

Series this work belongs to:

Part 1 of Love & Tommy Vercetti: How the oxymoron found relief)

When we can see the 2 part??? 😭❤️

I really love your works. It’s one of the best fanfics I have ever read. Really.

Have a good day ❤️✌️

See you later 👋

Hi! Thank you so much for the nice words about my work :D And for being my reader! ♥

Tbh it's kind of hard to tell an exact date for it. I started and finished writing the first part of the series when I was still in highschool. Now I'm sadly a full grown adult with silly little adult responsibilites :< I have other priorities and fanfic isn't first on my list (but I wish it could be). I have pre-written a few chapters of the 2nd part of the series but they're in polish. I've decided, some time ago ,that I'm going to stick to one language, (I don't have the time to write in two at once), and because I feel like 99% of my readers are english-speaking (or at least reading) folks, I'm gonna choose english. Buuut 'cause english isn't my first language, it's gonna take more time to write, edit, plus my Beta (thank merlin for her!) needs to read the whole thing and edit it too. At this moment I have 12 chapters planned out. I want the 2nd part of the series to be the longest, cause it takes years between the events from Vice City to San Andreas. You can be sure I'm gonna post it someday but when? I'm not sure how much time it would take me, maybe a year, two. I'd love it to be already done but life happens. Sorry for the long answer! Thank you for your patience and consideration, it means a lot to me as a writer <33 Have a great day/night! See ya!

#gta vice city #gta fanfiction #ask me stuff #ask me anything #kenommy

[goongiveusnothing]

do you think harry is redeemable?

That's a tough one.

I don't think he's the most evil worst man in the world. I just think he's an irritant who isn't talented with a massive ego.

He has some fundamental issues I just see as tough to reconcile.

He has a huge ego and need for adoration and fame and status. How would he get over that? How would he not try and see the fame and his ego being the most important thing for him in each situation? You can always see in 99% of his life how he has tried to work out the best way to behave and be seen in order to improve his status, even in his friendships and romances. He doesn't live his life to enjoy it or because he feels or is moved by it, but largely because of what status it can give him. If he gets humbled, will he accept that it was deserved or would he act bitter forever, the way we know he has it in him, and believe he was forever owed more?

If he wanted to genuinely improve his craft, where would he begin? I just don't think he's a creative person. I don't think he has any real innate musical gifts or talents. I don't even think he enjoys the process. So in order to be famous or successful, he will always have to rely on others creating stolen songs/templates for him and him acting like he woke up that morning writing them. He just doesn't have it in him to create on his own. We have never seen any creativity in him almost ever.

It's been years since he showed any real charity or generosity of spirit or interest in real altruism so I also struggle to see him humbled enough to really dig in in that sense too. I think that will always be a superficial thing to him. He's not capable of being someone like say a Fiona Apple quietly watching and attending court cases for minor crimes to try and protect random potential criminals in making sure all their rights are protected, for no money/fame/status/attention and through her own time and effort. I don't even think he has it in him to be like an Angelina Jolie, attending to refugees and platforming people that way. All these things require too much of his money and himself. He's not interested. He has simply never shown once in the last decade that any of the world genuinely moves him, despite the world being absolutely insane and there being so many problems. He still has no "cause" even after all these years.

I feel like these are fundamental aspects of who he is because they haven't changed in almost a decade. He would really have to be humbled and start all over again to really see things and life and himself differently. With the money and status he has now, I just doubt that will ever happen.

#harry styles

[bangtide]

don’t want to be so negative but i really did think this was the one time we’ll get the yoonmin subunit with the amount they were pushing for even more so in recent times, i know how they feel about each other but hard to believe if we’ll ever get it at this point :(

follow up and seeing so many yoonmin authors be so negative saying they knew it would never happen or that’s why they didn’t get their hopes up just seems so sad to me but also a little diminishing of the rest of yoongis album like we can be sad no yoonmin subunit of course but hopefully it’ll happen come on

last thing cause it collectively seems like every yoonminer I’ve seen give up and say they are content with no subunit at this point as they really have been talking about it so much the time was now, im somewhat inclined to agree but i don’t know it’s a little sad, maybe at best there’ll be a jimin prod suga if that

last last last thing i promise many seeming genuinely upset at being yoonmin baited lol just the concept is somewhat funny as baited

...what? people are actively upset and bitter that jimin didn't feature on yoongi's album? they don't think it will even happen??

"the time is now" my ass. that's not up to us to decide. it's their song??

not necessarily implicating you, anon, but the blatant disregard of everything yoongi & jimin have ever shared about this confounds me. they've maintained their interest in working on music with each other for longer than bangtan has been a band. they talked about it as recently as this month. it's yoongi we're talking about. they'll do it when they're ready???

do people not put together that these are independent projects? jimin said with his mouth that he was going to put yoongi on face, but decided it wasn't the right album for it?

not to mention how jimin was in a severe self-destructive spiral centering addiction behavior & is clearly still recovering & how that may affect yoongi's willingness to approach him, esp for even more work (given how toxic jm's r/s with work gets).

+ "ship baiting" lol. i saw a tweet by a popular acc expressing confusion abt why yoonmin have been doing so much lately if there's no song which just. gobsmacked me.

not like close friends....do stuff together & talk abt e/o or anything. or their albums are releasing in similar time frames, so they're taking advantage. ???????

anyw. i find all of this indescribably weird, as i do 99% of stan twt. hence my distance from it there. people only seem to care about this song's fandom/personal symbolism and not it's actual relevance to yoongi & jimin.

#obv i'm very excited for when it #eventually happens #but bc i think it's going to be a good ass song #& they sound amazing together #not just shippy reasons? #i especially am not disappointed by the tracklist for a WHOLE NEW ALBUM? #just bc it doesn't ft one of them?? #had the same reaction to the disappointment wrt face it #won't compute #i get being sad it's not there #esp if you're a newer fan #but like. nothing here suggests #it will never happen. tf #anons #asks #yoonmin #tag later #text #text wall

[snowddeong]

for the kpop ask game: le sserafim!!

ps, i sometimes see you in your posts’ tags saying you’re anxious about your writing, so i just wanted to let you know that i for one am a big huge fan of your writing, and i think you have such great vibrant portrayals of yeji & ryujin, and tbh your writing makes me want to write too, so thank you always for sharing your work and god-tier ryeji thoughts with us :’)

Not sure which category to put them in cause I'm familiar but also very barely hkasdh

I’ll listen to their top song on Spotify & tell you my thoughts - I'm going to assume that's antifragile? (In uganda we don't use spotify much so I can't tell if it's their top song adskhds I only have the acc for whenever I wanna support my faves and have enough internet)

Fun and catchy, it has aspects I REALLY like but there's also stuff I'm unfortunately not so into so I don't think I could listen to it on repeat but it's very much stuck in my head now sdakjh

I’ll look up photos & tell you who stands out to me - Yunjin I think??? Idk there's something about the vibes she's giving here especially that's knocking me tf out

Idk her really so I might be very mistaken but like HER EYES? There's a way that she seems to use them to really enhance her expressions??

I’ll tell you if I’d look into them more - I might if they release something I'm REALLY into. Or if I'm in a situation where I have to write something with one of their members that's actually how I got into Stray Kids lmao. I usually try my best to check out as many gg releases as I can cause finding new music is always a positive so it'll probably happen eventually since the little I've seen of them is always a serve

This is already long but I'm so touched by your ps 😭

Thank you so much for all this. I never really considered myself on the level to inspire anyone and it's actually a dream of mine to write stuff that has an effect on people so I'm kinda emotional over this ashdjsdh

Thank you for reading my works. I'll be sure to keep sharing my thoughts and random brainrots and hopefully keep writing stuff that you guys enjoy 🖤

And if the interest has gripped you I really do hope you give writing a shot anon. It can be very tough and frustrating and sometimes it feels like downright torture but if you love it enough it's the most fulfilling thing to have an idea in your head and express it with words. Even though I'm anxious like 99% of the time cause perfectionismTM and self esteemTM I always enjoy myself the most when I'm writing. I really love writing so I'm going to try to stfu and not start waxing poetic rn but imo everyone should give it a try at least once. Whether it be poetry or prose of even just journaling. There's something really beautiful about writing that you can only experience when you're really in it and I hope you find it as well. If you ever write anything feel free to send it to me through anon or even dms if you feel comfy with that I'd love to read it

#kpop ask game #not shy ask me (itzy) #again I apologise for how long this is like sadhk #maybe the real reason I love writing is cause I can never stfu 😭 #thank you so much for the ask I'm feeling feelings