#yes! we make fun of his funny hat! and drown out his name with other noise

[via-the-cryptid]

y’all wanna hear about my One Piece OCs? of course you do! in order of when I created them, meet the Via Originals, complete with tragic backstories and Emotional Issues!

1. first up: Coyo! her backstory is that she was isekai’d into the body of a slave who had just escaped, but was now drowning and also bleeding out from a stab wound (not optimal). unfortunately the other person’s consciousness was still in there, which means that it’s two OCs for the price of one! she ends up joining Luffy as the vice captain and strategist, and it’s discovered later that she has a devil fruit that allows her to create and manipulate ink. her fic is Inkstained Hands.

2. next, we have Edevane Tally! she’s a runaway noble that ended up with Buggy for a short while, and during her time at the circus she learned acrobatics, pickpocketing, and psychological manipulation. y’know, the basics. she later joins the Straw Hat Crew as their spymaster, though Luffy will insist that her role is ‘the acrobat’. she does not have a devil fruit at the start, but her dream is to solve the mysteries of the devil fruits (because they make no fucking sense and it bothers her), so I’m contemplating having her track down a specific fruit that allows her to do what’s essentially short-range teleportation. her fic is Hellraiser.

3. next on the list, we have Mayfire Copper! she’s half lantern shark fishmer (yes I know the image above is funny-looking, I made it as a reference for where her spots are), with her mother being a lantern shark mermaid named Jewel and her father being a Very Shitty Nobleman who essentially sells her into slavery because he expected his only child to be a pretty mermaid like her mother, not an ‘ugly shark thing’. Copper is also Sabo’s cousin through her father and Sabo’s mother, so that’s fun! Luffy meets Copper at Sabaody, where he promptly beats the shit out of the celestial dragon abusing her and then goes ‘oh hey! you look like my dead brother’s cousin! that means you must be my cousin!’ and honestly. who is Copper to refuse. her fic is Oxidate.

4. this one is a little strange, so she… doesn’t actually have a name? none that’s been revealed yet, at least, but she’s called the PR Officer and her primary role is to fulfill a very self indulgent au in which the Marines’ sole PR Officer shows up to Marineford abc promptly calls them out on every last bullshit they’ve committed in the last ~60 years. she also might’ve been genetically modified to stop aging? but that’s not her problem, she’s here to overthrow marines and possibly take over the world. her fic series is the PR Officer AU.

5. this one is my personal favorite: Cyrus Vivian! there are more images of her somewhere, these are just the most recent, and she is an isekai protagonist who gets picked up by the Akagami Pirates and then continues to catch the attention of Literally Fucking Everyone by saying a lot of shit that she doesn’t mean to say out loud. she’s also the most autistic of my OCs and the most similar to myself. her fic is Stained Glass Mirror.

oh and technically there’s a cat oc but I don’t feel like writing a bio for her, so just know she exists.

#one piece #one piece au #one piece oc #one piece art #oc lore #lore dump

[give-grian-rights]

HERMITCRAFT 8 LIVEBLOGGING

fifteen hermits worth of liveblogging. i am losing my mind. LONG POST AHEAD.

JOE HILLS (First HC8 Video)

Mumbo did the speech. he forgot everything he was supposed to say <3

Pearl and Gemini were just .in a pit . having stuff thrown onto them

Every Hermit is staying on the same continent !!

FIRST DEATHS VERY QUICKLY, Iron Golems took out Tango and Etho (maybe more?)

Joe seems to be the only one looting the chests

Evil Jevin !!

Evil Xisuma appearance on Jevin’s 60 second video!

Pearl has something planned for an “archeticual wonder” for a resupply area upon death?

Stress, Xisuma and Joe are capturing villagers and starting up a resupply debut.

Bdubs is killed by Cleo and is now OUT FOR BLOOD

First death counts- Etho, Tango, Bdubs, Cleo?

Cleo was killed by Keralis

Joe has now supplied Cleo with weapons and food . She left but not before saying “Time to kill BDubs again!”

Gemini was killed by Bdubs! They both died and are now at spawn.

Pearl was killed by Cleo

Pearl is planning a respawn inn !!

Cleo was killed by Iskall

Cleo was killed by Pearl

False, Stress, and Gemini team up??? AA!!! they brought a delivery of supplies to Joe <3

i wish i knew what was happening on that end .

APPARENTLY XISUMA IS ONTO MAKING THE SECOND VILLAGER BREEDER ALREADY ??

Iskall is the first with Diamonds??

Breathe in that ash !

WAIT IS TANGOS EYES LIKE THAT RN BECAUSE HES TEAMED WITH KERALIS AND BDUBS ???

KERALIS, BDUBS, AND TANGO TRIED TO DO A SHAKEDOWN ON JOE. HE TRIED TO DROP LAVA, GOT HIMSELF ONTO TWO HEARTS BECAUSE HE PLACED IT ON HIMSELF, AND IS NOW SWIMMING OUT INTO THE SWAMP

the big eyed trio are now off to shake down Gemini

Joe fell in Lava in the Nether

Joe Death To Lava Two: Electric Boogaloo

Joe drowned trying to kill a glowsquid

WATCH JOE’S VIDEO OH MY GOD SEAN HILLS RECAP RAP??? MY BELOVED????? i am gonna be streaming this unironically later LIKE OH MY GOD THIS SLAPS. ALSO THE CREDITS AT TEH END IS HILARIOUS

Zedaph Episode Recap

Zed gave us a recap of the continent every Hermit will be living on !!

Wouldn’t recommend Zedaph as the first video for the season, he skips the intro/speech but it’s Zedaph and hes making it fun!! Lots of nice editing :)

~SCIENCE TIME !~

Zedaph.. why is your starter base made out of concrete ?

There are no sheeps whatsoever on his mountain

Hes calling his lab an icecream sandwich..yeah i see it

Zed tried to make a portal underater...f

Scar died to a creeper </3

Zedaphs base is gonna be tracking how long hes there/someones loading the chunk!

XISUMA LIVE BLOGGING

A cool cinema scene of him becoming an axolotl!! <3

NOW I CAN SEE IT, GRIAN WAS THE FIRST DEATH!! Death by Iron Golem!!

XIsuma’s baseplans need over 45 THOUSAND BLOCKS TO BE PLACED

He’s also planning on making a shulkershell farm!!

i’m not gonna lie ! talking axolotl X is horrifying ! thanks !

Day one Villager Breeder... chaos.

Xisuma Derp! looked straight at a buncha wool and said how badly he needed beds and then walked away

THE GIRLS CAME OVER AND CONVINCED HIM HE NEEDS TO MOVE THE DESIGN OVER MY FIVE BLOCKS FOR SWAMP VILLAGERS..

THE GIRLS ARE JUST LAUGHING AT HIM AND HIS VILLAGER TROUBLES

day one and Xisuma has got his axolotl!!

Very pretty starterbase!!

XB’s

..I’m not gonna lie theres not much to say!! He’s very calm :) he says hes going into it without a plan, and htat last season was the only time he had any thought of what he was gonna do.

He made a real nice starter house and thats about it!

Cleo’s

Bdubs: “She ain’t gonna hurt me!! i’m invincible, babey!”

Cleo learnt that BDubs will never hurt her even if she deserves it . I am starting to realize why she kills him

SHE DECIDED SHES GONNA BE A PROPER CHAOS GREMLIN THIS SEASON...

AISDJASID CLEO GOT PAID TO KILL BDUBS?? HDUIAIHSI SCAR WHY

“Alright I found my mission for the season! Murder.”

Cleo, Mumbo, Grian, and Scar are all holed up in a cave together!

..Scar died from a skeleton !

Cleo has now split from Grian and Mumbo! Scar is missing in action

CLEO FOUND A GOAT

SHES KILLING THE GOAT???

she got a HORSE <3 and Joe gave her a saddle! I think her name is..Widget?

She LOVES the candles for shamboo n waterbottles and bits n bobs for her armorstands!!

Got her Armorstand stickgod book <3

Geminitay POV

NEW HERMIT NEW HERMIT NEW HERMIT!!

She has a LOVELY voice!!

The pov of her in a hole . being surrrounded . is kinda hilarious

It might’ve been Etho who was first death?? I GENUIENLY CANNOT TELL BECAUSE OF EDITING

All the murder was just for heads!

Seriously her voice is. wow

WE LOVE A QUEEN WHO KNOWS HOW TO CRAFT A SHIELD WITHOUT USING THE GUIDE <3

False, Gemini, and Stress are on the great journey for MOSS !

Gem just blew their minds with the moss.

TANGO KERALIS AND BDUBS ARE BACK Keralis: “Show the diamonds show the diamonds show the diamonds!” Gem: “Keralis. This is not how you make friends.”

The boys suecessfully recieved a diamond each

Etho n Iskall are travelling together!! You dont see those two together often

Etho got a glowsquid head!!

Gem: “Etho doesn’t share, is what i’m learning..?”

Etho hooked her with a fishing rod and said she has to do what he said .

In order to get the diamonds, Tango, Keralis, and BDubs placed down a sign saying “Gem is Great!” and Gem used a glow inksack on it.

Etho: “So..What is this? Do you have an ego, or this a motivational thing, or..?” He said, while laughing

Iskall: “I think its really funny that you have set your base up in the middle of a birch forest.” Gem: “I love birch forests! Do you not like my birch forest? Iskall: “I love it, yeah.” Gem: “This is the best biome in the game, Iskall.” Iskall: “Mmmm..” Etho: “I’m pretty sure I heard Iskall talking earlier that like, of all the biomes in the game, there was one he hated more than anything. Gem: “Oh really? And what was that one?” Iskall: “..Taiga.” Gem: “Taiga.. That’s true, thats a good one, thats a good one.” Iskall: “Don’t like Taiga.” Gem: “Mhm.” Etho: “Which one do you hate more than anyone?” Iskall: “..Diorite fields. Thats a bad one.” Etho: “Yeah thats a bad one.” Gem: “Didn’t know about that one. Well make sure to avoid’em. Birch forests are really good.” Iskall: “I’m a big fan of birch forests.” Gem: “Yeah, me too, me too. I’m glad we’re on the same page :) This is so beautiful! All the white and- and the like zebra stripes! is fantastic.” Iskall: “I..Um.. Yes.”

OH SHE’S CANADIAN,, ETHO HAS A FRIEND /j

She’s still in college :O SHE’S A SCIENTIST?? SHES WORKING AT A HOSPITAL?? POG!!

She accidentally found an enchanted golden apple in a mineshaft!! she thinks its the first she ever found in survival!!

She has a cow, sheep, and a few crop farms set up!! Her starter house has INTERRIOR!

SHE CHANGED HER SKIN AND ITS SO PRETTY AND HAS OVERALL AND I LOVE IT!!

shes doing a cottage core inspired base!

WOAHH!!! SHE MADE HTE MOST GOREGOUS CUSTOM TREE I’VE EVER SEEN ??

BDUBS IS HERE and he is so so so impressed by the tree ?!

also hes carrying a clock.. :(

He’s here with a present!

HE BROUGHT BAMBOO!

she thinks its so funny that he stops conversations to sleep AOIDHFEAUI\

SCARS

WE GOT A TRANSITION SCENE!! the canonical reason for the bed in his old village always being occupied is because underneath it, was his wizard portal!

Bdubs: “It’s a new season! You’re the little guy now!”

They are all very amused by that ^

they’re rubbing the fleece of bdubs jacket .

Bdubs: “Have a nice rub :)” PLEASEAHSIOJDIUASLDHIASDA

His starter base is gonna be a wagon and he wants the end game to be a bioshock esque skyscraper!

he confused a horse for a player . flashback to iskall thinking mumbo was a mob

PEOPLE THINK MUMBO DOESNT HAVE PANTS ON.... </3

Scar, Mumbo, and Grian.. have NO braincells. at all. THey just placed a crafting table with a boat on top with a bed on top with a boat on top .

this is what BROS FOR LIFE looks like.

BOATEM POLE !

SCAR IS STUCK UNDERGROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IRL AND HAS NO PICKAXE..

AND HE DIED TO A CREEPER .

it seems like Grian, Mumbo, and Scar are working together !!!! HOLY SHIT !!

THERES SO SO SO MANY FARMS???????

he died several times trying to catch a skeleton with a sword

FIRST CHEST MONSTER OF THE SEASON <3

SCAR JSUT TOLD BDUBS HE LOOKS LIKE OSCAR THE CROUCH... BDUBS CANNOT EVEN ARGUE

OH NO.... GRIAN WENT AFK IN A HOLE . WITHOUT A HELMET .

THEY PUT A  GLOWSQUID HEAD ON HIM

OH MY GOD MUMBO MADE A NOTEBLOCK SONG?? AJUDA

SCARS BUILTING IS SO SO SOOS GOREGOUS SERIOUSLY GO WATCH THE VIDEO OH MY GOD ITS HUGE

its a giant ass house boat wagon . its pulled by a llama . that killed him . so now its trapped, pulling hte agon, forever

Grian: “..Thats a very big house, for a very little hat.”

GRIANS SUPER SPECIAL EGG??

SCAR PUNCHED IT..

they really came out here . and killed the egg already.

Scar: “..I touched the thing”

TANGO POV

We see the three big eyed boys forming <3 they interrupted Tangos intro

THEY’RE BULLYING HIM ABOUT HAVING SMALL EYES AHIDUIASUHDWIS

HE TRIED TO CALL THE TRIO TEAM BUG EYE... THE OTHERS ARE VERY OFFENDED

they found an axolotl and Bdubs was TERRIFIED just screaming “WHAT IS THAT YELLOW THING?!”

BDUBS IS ATTACKING IT ???

okay nope Bdubs caught one and Tango lost it

Bdubs is naming his axolotl Idiot

AMAZING HOUSE. WHY IS TANGO SO GOOD AT BUILDING AND REDSTONE??

Impulse POV

MUMBO TRIED TO PLACE DOWN A BERRY BUSH TO HURT IMPULSE . HE FORGOT HOW BUSHES WORK..

I DIDNT EVEN NOTICE THAT IMPULSE WAS IN THE BOATEM POLE

so it looks like those four are hteo nes who grouped up together

PEARL BROKE THE CONSTITUION SHE GOT IN THE WRONG BOAT SMH

THIS IS SEASON EIGHT! FIVE BROS !

So its gonna be about five people in the same area!!

YOO!! Fantasy build for Impulse!!

G gave Impulse a spyglass, they had a fun moment of zooming in on eachothers face and complimenting eachother IHAUDIHAW

Grian and Impulse worked on an xp farm!

ASHDUIWAHISD GRIAN JUST LOGGED ON INFRONT OF HIM

a pillager stole his boat . not just any pillager . the one with a banner. </3

he has to live with Mumbo tuning a song .. </3 haha

Mumbo POV

it took fifteen seconds until Grian ran in during Mumbos intro

CONFIRMED? GRIAN WAS FIRST DEATH?

SECOND PERSON TO THINK MUMBOS PANTS ARE SKIN COLOR. GRIAN..

Grian: “Can you..Briefly explain why you’re just wearing a hawaiian shirt?” Mumbo: “Uh- what do you mean ‘just wearing a hawaiin shirt? I have shorts on as-well, dude”

FOLLOWED BY

Mumbo: “Can you explain why you’re wearing a red jumper?” Grian: “You know- you know i was born with this!”

MUMBO AND GRIAN STOLE THE BOAT LOOT FROM RENDOC

I THINK RENDOC JUST STOLE THE DIAMOND MUMBO THREW??

Grian: “Is that Scar?” Mumbo: “I can’t see past your giant waffle!”

DSFSDFJIOA they did an edit where they placed down a boat, both Mumbo and Grian got in, they made noises and then bopped up on top of the ravine they were in <3

THEY HAVE NO BRAINCELL THEY JUST PLACED DOWN A BENCH AND SAID “THIS IS THE MARK OF OUR VILLAGE!” and then placed a torch and a boat and a bed and aANOTHER BED..

..Mumbo is trying to be a pacifist this season!

Grian’s taunting him with beheaded things

And obviously part of being pacifist means he’s gonna be vegetarian in minecraft!

..he cannot use monster farms because pacifisim..

Mumbo was in the middle of reading the magical Timmy shack that Tango made (did i remember to mention that? who knows) and IN THE MIDDLE OF GETTING TO THE PART ABOUT IF YOU REMOVE STUFF FROM THE CHEST, NOTHING WILL BE ADDED IN IT AGAIN. Grian opened the chest . Mumbo SHOUTED HIAUDHUW Grian jumped man

They renamed it “Cave of Do Not Enter” HIAUEDUH

Mumbo and Scar BOTH did not know- at least Mumbo didn’t, Scar forgot,  that podzol spawns from two-by-two spruce..

him and his guitar song to be played underneath his house.. it goes with the aesthetic i suppose

MAN HE NEEDS SO MUCH HAYBALES I FORGOT THATS NEEDED FOR THE TUNE HE WANTS

Mumbo: “What.. On Earth.. Scar, it’s meant to be a starterbase, buddy! What is this? This is many things, many many things, a starterbase is NOT one of them!”

HE LITERALLY DIDNT KNOW THAT THE DRAGON EGG TELEPORTS... WHEN YOU TOUCH IT...

BDUBS

nothing special we havent seen yet!! just him screaming about axolotls.

He was working in the Mesa in his intro, skipping the “speech” from Mumbo

He released Idiot the Axolotl and lost it .

Him SCREAMING “Gemini” is HILARIOUS

While Gemini gave away those three diamonds, Keralis got so excited he won a bet with Tango and Bdubs, that he gave back . two of the diamonds . and none of htem released until well after they left

Bdubs: “That’s why i have my mwoss skin!” PLEASE I LOVE THE WAY HE SAYS IT.. make the moss hood.. REAL..

it took me a while to figure out what his base is but i LOVE IT so so much!!!

Nothing much new to add !!

Stress pov

please i love her . very good !! False seems to have joined her sheerly because Stress sounded like she knew what she was doing. she does not.

False felt peerpressured and asked Stress for permission to fight her because everyone was killing eachother .

It ended up with Stress following False. they found a village!

ISKALL only saw him one other time today!!

JEVIN APPEARS AGAIN !

XISUMA FELL INTO HTE BREEDER AND IT WAS SO FUNN IUAHHYIAUSD

Ren: “Ya look goregous, Stress!” Stress: “Thanks! Don’t murder my dog!”

She’s so proud of herself for caving!! (with False n Gem

Iskall blew up!

..Iskall fell from a high place

Stress has a LOVELY ravine base!!

False

False wants to become pirates with Stress <3

gatekeep gaslight girlboss

BIG OL MUSHROOM HOUSE !!

it looks like a mushroom church and i LOVE IT.

Nothing new we didn’t see from Gem. She does want to come up with a banner design for her base, though!

Grian

..Mumbo just thought Grian had a purpose so decided to follow him <3

ALSO HIS INTRO, AS HE JOKED ABOUT IN THE OTHERS VIDEO, WAS, IN FACT, THE BOATEM POLE

Grian is SO PROUD of the fact taht they got good loot from a treasure map. Ren and Doc are NOT IMPRESSED

Grian: “Lets go, potato boy!”

Mumbo: “I don’t have to replace everything I break! Peace Love and Plants- are these plants..?” He says, mining amethyst

pants

he who controls the egg, controls the server... Grian.. you’re doing great sir

...He decided.. his goal.. is to make his OWN..caves and cliffs update... HELLO..?

Grian was the first one to kill the enderdragon, MAN. Speedrunning career WHEN? /j

Grian: “And now [Mumbo] is flexing on my bed!”

he might not have a base. but he has an egg.

It is now 2am. i cannot do this anymore. This will be continued.. tomorrow!

#long post #SERIOUSLY I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW LONG I WENT #spoilers #hermitcraft 8 #hermitcraft 8 spoilers #hc 8 #hc 8 spoilers #mcyt #mcytblr #hermitblr #hermitcraft #mika-posts

[immaturityofthomasastruc]

(Accidental 150 Follower Special) IOTA’s Top 10 Best (and By That, I Mean Personal Favorite) Episodes of Miraculous Ladybug

Alright, I already covered what I considered to be the worst Miraculous Ladybug episodes in two parts, and now it’s time to talk about the what I consider to be the best Miraculous Ladybug episodes before I talk about... him...

I’m only putting one rule in place for this list. I'm going to try and list episodes with good qualities other than “cool-looking Akuma and awesome fight scenes”, and focus on other details like character moments and story.

Other than that, let’s get started.

These are the Top 10 Best Episodes of Miraculous Ladybug (in my personal opinion because your opinion is also valid)

#10: Mr. Pigeon

While Marinette works on sketching a design for a hat for a fashion contest where the winning design will be worn by Adrien (a rare example where the “Marinette does a thing to impress Adrien” plot actually works), a birdwatcher who loves feeding pigeons in the park is told off by the only police officer in Paris, causing him to get akumatized into the titular Mr. Pigeon, who has control over all of the pigeons in the city.

And by God, does this episode have fun with the concept.

In addition to constantly mimicking pigeon cries, Mr. Pigeon's movements are just so entertaining to watch, only aided by the creative ways he controls the flocks of pigeons.

I'm not kidding when at one point, Mr. Pigeon traps Ladybug and Cat Noir in a cage, and threatens to have his pigeons crap on them unless they hand over their Miraculous. Yeah.

This is one of the episodes that really set the standards for how outlandish the Akumas in Miraculous Ladybug could get. It kind of reminds me of an episode of the original Ultraman, where the SSSP has to find a way to move an incredibly heavy monster using increasingly abnormal strategies, like inflating it with air so it'll float like a balloon. It's clear it isn't taking itself too seriously, so the audience shouldn't either.

Admittedly, Cat Noir's feather allergy feels shoehorned in, and is only included to increase conflict, and you would think it would come up when Mayura, a bird-themed supervillain appears in the third season. But then again, that's just a minor nitpick.

It's just a really fun episode, and I wish we could see Ladybug and Cat Noir fight Mr. Pigeon again that isn't used for a cheap gag.

#9: The Puppeteer

After being told by her mom that she can't have a Ladybug doll made by Marinette, young Manon is Akumatized into the Puppeteer. But obviously, you can't have our heroes beating up a five-year-old, so instead, the Puppeteer has the power to exact control over past Akuma victims as long as she has the doll made by Marinette. So Ladybug and Cat Noir have to face off against Lady Wifi, the Evillustrator, and Rogercop, before the Puppeteer gets her hands on the dolls Marinette made of the two heroes and take control of them as well.

It's still kind of funny to think about the fact that of all the Akumas to become a huge threat to Ladybug and Cat Noir, it's a little girl throwing a temper tantrum. And like with “Mr. Pigeon”, the episode has a lot of fun with the concept, best reflected in the voice acting. You can tell that Carrie Keranen is having so much fun this episode with the stuff she says as Lady Wifi.

The fact that someone who was actually a major threat to the heroes with how she was able to easily outsmart them and also came really close to getting their Miraculous is now acting like a little kid using phrases like “super duper sorry” is even more hilarious.

I'm still a little confused as why of all the past villains, it's Evillustrator and Rogercop that get to come back, and I wish they had gotten more to say, but it's still a treat to see Ladybug and Cat Noir fighting four villains at once, especially since this was before “Heroes Day”.

#8: Sapotis

Hawkmoth akumatizes Alya's little sisters into Sapotis (supposedly based off a folktale, but I can't find anything about it online), who have the power to multiply and easily overwhelm Ladybug and Cat Noir, forcing Ladybug to recruit Alya to become a third hero, Rena Rouge.

I've been a little negative about Alya in the past, but this episode gives her some major character growth. One of the biggest problems I had with her character in Season 1 is how often she tried to figure out Ladybug's identity... despite claiming to be a huge superhero fan, who should know why superheroes keep their identities a secret. Thankfully, this episode mostly puts an end to this idea.

The episode opens with Marinette giving Alya some reasons why Ladybug would keep her identity a secret, and it actually plays into the episode.

Putting aside the stupid Rent-A-Miraculous system introduced in this episode, the idea of keeping secrets and how necessary they can be sometimes is reflected after the battle where Alya is hesitant at first to give up her Miraculous, but eventually concedes and keeps her identity a secret from Marinette (who ironically knows, but that's not important).

Even without that, this episode still has a lot of action with the three heroes fighting their way through an army of Sapotis, with plenty of banter during said action. Hell, at one point, Cat Noir says “gotta catch 'em all”. I don't have a joke here, that's just brilliant.

Out of all the introductory hero episodes, this one easily sticks out among most of them.

(Don’t worry, I’m going to talk about Rena Rouge’s character design in a later post.)

#7: Guitar Villain

I said before in an earlier post that Jagged Stone is one of my favorite characters in Miraculous Ladybug, so it's obvious that the episode where he gets akumatized would be on this list.

After a disagreement with his manager about trying to mimic the popular singer XY (who ironically lacks a Y chromosome), Jagged is akumatized into Guitar Villain, a rock star with a pet dragon who forces everyone to listen to his Awesome Solo (yes, he names his attacks too) to dance uncontrollably.

Honestly, there's not much I can really say about this episode. It's Ladybug and Cat Noir fighting a rock star who flies around on a goddamn dragon. That's one of the coolest things I've ever seen! Even the way they defeat him (which I won’t give away) is a fun jab at rock stars.

Admittedly, the episode does border on grouchy old man territory sometimes by complaining about how bad today's music is with the way they portray XY as a whiny and egotistical coward, but after watching “Silencer”, you'll be glad everyone hates him.

Overall, it's a rockingly awesome episode.

#6: The Dark Owl

Mr. Damocles, the principal of Marinette and Adrien's school, is akumatized into the Dark Owl, a corrupted version of his favorite comic book superhero (who would later turn out to be real in the New York special, but I don't want to acknowledge that), who uses his high-tech gadgets to trap Ladybug and Cat Noir, putting them in one of their toughest binds yet.

I'm a huge fan of the Adam West Batman show, so you could probably guess why it's on this list. This episode really feels like an episode of that show with how goofy and over the top everything is. Obviously, this episode has a few Batman references thrown in (even an Incredibles reference at one point), and they're all hilarious.

I just love how complex Dark Owl's traps for Ladybug and Cat Noir are, and the fact that he actually manages to outsmart them at one point. Like seriously, have you ever heard of a death trap that involves drowning someone in whipped cream? That’s totally something you’d see the Joker setting up.

I don't really want to give away the ending (which is why this part is so short), because I think it's a really clever resolution that you should check out for yourself.

#5: Gorizilla

Hawkmoth akumatizes Adrien's bodyguard into Gorizilla, whose sole purpose is to protect Adrien. His motivation? To see if Adrien is actually Cat Noir or not. So Adrien has to avoid this gigantic gorilla's wrath with Marinette, all while trying to catch a movie his late mother was in.

See this? This is Adrienette done right. This is the kind of interaction I like when it comes to romance. Marinette and Adrien spend a few scenes with each other avoiding Adrien's crazy fanbase, and Marinette doesn't stammer half of her words. Even when she interacts with Adrien as Ladybug, she still remains confident, and Adrien trusts her judgment when it looks like he might fall. I don't just want Marinette and Adrien to cuddle with each other or declare their love for each other when they get their memories wiped. I want them to interact like human beings before they actually start a relationship, and this episode is a good example of it.

Adrien also gets some good focus with the way he views his relationship with his parents, as does Gabriel with his relationship with his son. Granted, he's taking a pretty huge gamble trying to kill Adrien to see if he's Cat Noir or not as opposed to just... taking off his ring while he sleeps. Can we at least admit he's trying?

I feel they could have done more with the King Kong homage (guess who I'm talking about?), but I can understand there wasn't enough time to focus on that. It's still an important episode to watch for plot and character growth that will barely be acknowledged in later episodes.

#4: Sandboy

tHe SaNdBoY hAs ChEcKeD iN. nOw NiGhTmArEs CaN bEgIn.

Now that we got that obvious joke out of the way, let's talk about one of the most creative episodes of the show.

Tikki and Plagg, Marinette and Adrien's Kwamis (the magical beings that power their Miraculous) take part in a ritual with the other Kwamis inside Master Fu's Miracle Box to contact Nooroo, Hawkmoth's Kwami, on his birthday and get an idea of where he is. Unfortunately, Hawkmoth chooses to akumatize someone during the ritual, leaving Marinette and Adrien helpless to fight back against Sandboy, an Akuma with the power to make their worst fears come true.

I said before in my worst list when talking about “Ladybug” that there was too much going on for one episode, what with Marinette's expulsion, the attempted Scarletmoth attack, and the fake Ladybug plotlines generally being rushed through. This episode is basically the opposite of that (ironically, they're both the penultimate episodes of their respective seasons).

The Kwami ritual and the Akuma attack are perfectly staged together so one affects the other. Not only do the Kwamis have to risk aborting their ritual to reach Nooroo in order to fight the Akuma, but Marinette and Adrien have to deal without fighting off Sandboy's nightmares on their own. Both plots balance each other out into a well-crafted story.

This is also one of the only episodes in the show where the Akuma of the week isn't the man focus. Here, we don't even see what happens to get the kid akumatized into Sandboy, and instead, Gabriel senses someone with negative emotions and akumatizes the kid offscreen. This works, because it doesn't distract from the main plot too much.

Even Marinette and Adrien's worst fears beautifully contrast each other, with both managing to be unsettling in different ways, even if they both have different tones. While Adrien's worst fear is being imprisoned in his own room (the fear only made worse with Plagg's absence), Marinette's worst fear is... the real star of the episode. Ladies and Gentlemen, I think you all know who I'm talking about.

You can tell the animators had a field day with animating Nightmare Adrien. Just look at the way he moves around and the faces he makes. It manages to be terrifying and hilarious at the same time. Bryce Papenbrook's performance only makes it better, cementing this as the highlight of the episode.

This episode also does a good job at foreshadowing the main plot for Season 3 with Hawkmoth finding out about the other Kwamis and by extension, more Miraculous.

It's got plot, comedy, good action, and Nightmare Adrien, so how can you turn this episode down?

And no, I'm not talking about Nightmare Ladybug, mainly because I'm tired of all the evil doppelgangers from the worst list.

#3: Startrain

Yes, believe it or not, I managed to find a Season 3 episode that wasn't complete garbage, and spoiler alert, this isn't the only one.

Marinette and Adrien's class goes on a field trip to London by taking the train, until the driver is akumatized into Startrain, who wants to escape to the one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism... SPACE! So Ladybug and Cat Noir have to defeat Startrain while also finding a way to bring everyone on the train back home.

I like how this episode plays with the usual Akuma of the week formula. Unlike every other Akuma they've fought, Cat Noir points out that if they beat Startrain, everyone will die, so they have to be more strategic in their approach. They don't even fight Startrain for most of the episode, as they have to make their way to the front of the train to confront the Akuma. The action in this episode is very creative and really takes advantage of zero gravity, only aided by the design of the futuristic train the episode takes place in.

The new hero introduced, Pegasus (AKA Max, another student in Marinette and Adrien's class), is also really cool, being very intelligent and helping out the heroes progress through the train even before he gets the Horse Miraculous. It makes sense that his intelligence would be used rather than just his powers in this situation.

There are even some good character moments too. For once, Master Fu does something smart and loans the Horse Miraculous (which has the power of teleportation) to Marinette so she can still go on the class trip, trusting her and actually letting her have a life. It was also nice to see Alya stick up for Marinette by keeping Lila from interrupting her nap with Adrien.

This episode is basically like a refreshing glass of water to enjoy during the garbage fire that was Season 3.

(I’m going to talk about Pegasus’ character design later on too, don’t worry)

#2: Silencer

Lukanette shippers, ASSEMBLE!

Music producer Bob Roth and his son XY hold a contest for young artists to show off their skills, and Kitty Section, a band composed of several recurring characters, decides to enter, with Marinette helping to design their costumes. But as soon as they submit their video, they find out that XY copied their style, naturally pissing the band off.

Marinette and the lead guitarist of Kitty Section, Luka, confront Bob Roth and XY, who threaten to ruin their careers by claiming that they ripped off XY. Seeing Marinette getting threatened is more than enough for Hawkmoth to akumatize Luka into Silencer, who naturally has the power to silence and mimic the voices of others.

I talked about Luka and his relationship with Marinette in an earlier post (specifically the one where Astruc claimed that the fandom growing to like Luka counted as character development), and I said that this was one of the few good episodes this season because of their interactions. This episode basically made me realize how much Luka cares for Marinette, and the episode gives plenty of time to show the two spending time together and growing closer. It's basically everything “Oni-Chan” should have been about, giving some depth to Luka and not portraying him as a crazy person like they did with Kagami in that episode.

Silencer is also one of the more creatively designed villains this season, and has a really creative approach to achieving his goals. While the ability to steal and imitate someone's voice seems mundane compared to control over the weather, or making nightmares come to life, it's used very effectively. Silencer basically tricks the police into arresting Bob Roth while imitating the mayor's voice, and he threatens to make his life a living hell by using the connections to the voices he's stolen. Even with the hand puppet gesture, it's still unsettling to have Silencer speak in all these voices, and it would make for a really interesting horror movie.

Even Ladybug and Cat Noir's interactions are back to their Season 1 levels of enjoyment. Even though Silencer took her voice, Ladybug just makes so many expressions that do a great job at describing her feelings, which naturally plays off Cat Noir's motormouth tendencies. Whenever Cat Noir jokes about Ladybug's condition, he is rightfully called out on it and is reprimanded in some way, my favorite being when Ladybug uses her yo-yo to hit Cat Noir on the head to shut him up. Even putting aside that, they still work well together this episode and really feel like equals. I also love their silent fist bump when Bob Roth is exposed.

Again, the episode still takes the time to go on about how unoriginal today's musicians are, and how they lack artistic creativity and all that crap. Look, given how ham-fisted the writing in this show can get, are you surprised the commentary isn't subtle?

Even putting aside how much this episode made me appreciate Lukanette, it still has a lot of great moments that aren't even related to the ship itself, which is a real testament to how this show can perfectly balance romance and story when it's done right. Now if only the show could try this much with Adrienette, then people wouldn't hate the main pairing of the show this much.

#1: The Collector

Taking place immediately after the Season 1 finale, Marinette meets Master Fu and discusses the book she found depicting past Miraculous users. Marinette theorizes that since the book was in the Agreste mansion, Gabriel could be Hawkmoth. And to the surprise of absolutely no one, she's right, and in order to draw off suspicion, Gabriel akumatizes himself into the Collector.

This episode has several good writing decisions for both sides, and the choices the characters make feel natural. Gabriel akumatizing himself is such a smart move, and so is what Marinette and Master Fu do with the book at the end. This episode does a great job setting up future plot threads and establishes Master Fu's character and the mystery associated with him.

The Collector is a visually stunning villain, and his powers are really creative, leading to a great fight with Ladybug and Cat Noir, who use a great strategy to outsmart him. I also love how over the top he is in order to make the heroes believe that he's working for Hawkmoth, all with a devious smile on his face.

This was also the episode that really got me into Miraculous Ladybug as a whole. I checked out the first season on a whim after it was mentioned in a Pan Pizza video, but it was during the hiatus between seasons, and I hadn't really started using Tumblr yet, so it mostly stayed off my radar. When Season 2 started however, I really got invested in the story, and the way this episode turned out was a big reason why. I wondered what it would be like when Adrien finds out his own father is Hawkmoth, and how the story would play out after the reveal.

Despite what it led up to, I still consider “The Collector” to be my favorite episode of Miraculous Ladybug.

Well, now that I talked about that, not it's time to talk about what I consider to be the worst episode of Miraculous Ladybug, “Felix”. God help me...

#immaturity of thomas astruc #miraculous ladybug #miraculous ladybug sugar #marinette dupain cheng #ladybug #adrien agreste #cat noir #chat noir #alya cesaire #rena rouge #max kante #pegasus #gabriel agreste #hawk moth #hawkmoth #xavier ramier #manon chamack #jagged stone #xy #bob roth #principal damocles #mr damocles #nightmare adrien #luka couffaine #master fu #thomas astruc

[starlight-starwrites]

agent whiskey

character headcanons

note: did a rewatch of kingsman golden circle, so...how could i resist? i really started out with ‘this is fun!’ and then things got real. again, i like to think most of what is here is inspired straight from what we see in the movie, and some go a little beyond bc if we’re honest, those writers did our jack dirty.

- Has a known streak for being an asshole, but he doesn’t usually even realize it.

- He thinks he’s funny (he is, but only sometimes).

- The man loves the high life. Country livin’ is fine by him, but high country living. He was sent to work in New York for a reason.

- He is great at mixing his attitude and his manners. He’s usually always polite, but his impatience will get the better of him. He’ll be the one at the store giving lip to the manager, yet still saying please and thank you the whole time.

- Loves playing the seniority card. He’s good at what he does, no doubt there, but he still thinks he’s tough shit He gives himself more importance than he should. If someone he likes tells him off, he will drop down so many pegs, it is incredible. Will go quiet and embarrassed if scolded.

- Actually has pretty good taste in fashion. He pays attention. It’s a bit of a preening thing, a bit of a wanting to seem valid thing.

- He will giggle at a sex joke if he wasn’t expecting it (if he’s flirting, it’s a different story).

- He is great at hiding his nerves. Will overcompensate with the cockiness sometimes if he feels out of place, and definitely likes his liquid courage when talking to women.

- He feels like he has to have a pick up line. He has to impress. His track record of relationships (or lack thereof) isn’t something he likes to think about. Whether it’s because he’s hung up on his late wife, or they don’t like him beyond a quick lay, or he finds he can’t connect with them, he isn’t always sure. He’ll do it for work, or if he really, really wants to, but beyond that, he finds himself distracted by other things.

- Whiskey is his go-to drink. What came first—his preference or the code name? No one is sure, but he is definitely dedicated it. He may hate drugs, but he’s quick to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

- He can cook. Maybe he's not a gourmet chef, but everything turns out fairly decent, and he's even got a couple of special recipes that turn out incredible. His homemade chili is immaculate.

- He doesn’t have any close friends. When he was younger he had some, he knows what it’s like to have a friend. But when he goes out, sees just a group of guys who mess around, genuinely like each other, he feels like he’s missing something. It almost makes him uncomfortable at the thought of having such a support group.

- Despite his propensity to come off as a bit of an asshole, he pales in comparison to actual assholes. Does not tolerate them. If someone is harassing or being a general nuisance, he wont hesitate to step in if necessary.

- If it’s not necessary, he is shameless and will absolutely stay for the show. He finds the drama amusing, and if it comes to action, all the better.

- The man knows what he’s doing (most of the time). He’s a good agent. A good fighter. When things sometimes go south, something unexpected happens, part of him lives for the thrill of it, hoping for a time to shine. It keeps him on his feet. He’d rather focus on not dying during those times, then focus on trying to live when things are quiet.

- He likes working with other agents, it makes him feel less alone. But he is a stickler about who he works with. He’d, of course, prefer to be in charge, and he doesn’t like incompetence. Shit happens, but if you’re not good at back-up, Whiskey’s got no use for you.

- He trains and practices a lot. A lot, a lot. You can’t get that good with a whip, a lasso, and guns, without honing his skills. He likes to try out new moves too, but he won’t do it in front of people. He’s broken quite a few things in his own home practicing moves, but in the end, it really pays off.

- He’s fiercely protective of the people he cares about. If he loved someone, he would likely save the one at the cost of the world.

- Holds grudges like no other. Will seek revenge whenever the mood strikes him. And he has a knack for it too. Not always confrontational, but if you wrong him, and he feels its personal? He’ll make sure you’re ruined one way or another.

- He doesn’t always want to take the lead, but if there’s ever a pause, someone hesitates to do something, he automatically thinks ‘fine, I’ll do it myself’.

- He lives to be a showoff. He likes to be the center of attention. Its stems from his feeling of not being good enough, of not being able to do things right in the past. He doesn’t care what sort of attention he gathers, and if someone negatively reacts to his skills (with jealousy, criticism, any of the sort) he still counts it as a win. Afterall, why would someone be paying so much attention to him if he isn’t worth it?

- He’s a risk taker. Has been all his life. Some risks didn’t pay out and left him with insecurities he likes to pretend don’t exist. Some do pay off, and it’s the best high he feels.

- He’s gambled before and would again if the opportunity were to present itself. He’s tried to stop, but he knows he’ll go back. When he was young, he liked the idea of a high roller’s table. With his job and how much he makes, he’s closer to getting to that fantasy. He doesn’t talk about it, but his dream mission is at a casino, playing on the Statesman bill, with a finely dressed woman on his arm.

- Yes. His biggest fantasy is to be an American cowboy James Bond. Sorry. No I’m not.

- When he was young, he was seriously in love. It was that first love, the one you think you could never have again, yet somehow is still only a surface love. It felt deep at the time, but if he were to love again, really love, it would be a true love that he doesn’t even believe exists. It’s the knowing someone as much as you know yourself, the sort of support that is unbelievable yet impossible to live without, and being able to share the fears and doubts of past trauma and uncertain futures and be met with trust and loyalty that could only be found in fiction.

- He’s become a serial flirt to hide that desire for true love. He loved his late wife, but they hadn’t had the time, and they’d still been practically kids. He’s afraid to let any relationship go beyond that.

-He is a man of devotion. Devoted to his work, to his principles, to his wife. Sometimes the way he expresses it is extreme, but no one can deny he cares.

- He likes to have nice things. He’s got a nice apartment, filled with any comforts and random assortments that spark joy. If Marie Kondo went through his stuff, there would be very little he’d agree to let go. Everything seems to have a story behind it.

- “Now that hat? Been with me through too much. Couldn’t wear it til I was eighteen, tried to ride my first horse with that one, and I damn near lost it. See these bullet holes? Mission up North went South, and had I moved any slower, I’d’ve been brought back in a pretty wooden box and dropped six feet under.”

- He may try to support the Statesman brand but…his name is Jack Daniels. You can bet he’s got every brand of whiskey in his own personal collection.

- At his place in new York, he always keeps extra stuff ‘for company’. He very rarely ever gets a chance to use it.

- He loves gadgets, tech, the best vehicles. He tries to make sure he can do it all because it makes him feel like Bond, but he sticks to what he knows best. The whip and the lasso make him unique.

- The man is really kinky. He doesn’t let it out unless he is completely comfortable, but…he really is.

- This man is a mama’s boy. We all know it.

- He wants to have a family. He really does. Part of him refuses to believe he ever will, that he doesn’t deserve it. The other part thinks that it’s the only thing that will fill the hole in his heart.

#agent whiskey #jack daniels #agent whiskey headcanons #jack daniels headcanons #agent whiskey x reader #jack daniels x reader #kingsman the golden circle

[s-creations]

Return the Flames - Chapter 10

All at Dead Bird Studios knew of Amos' (The  Conductor's) ability. How the owl could suddenly erupt into flames if  angered enough. When the studio first opened, Dominic (DJ Grooves) was  told that Amos had his ability under control. Nothing to worry about. No  possible loss of anything from an open flame.

A few years later however, and that control seems to have lessened to a dangerous degree.

It should have just been a simple, week long drive to fix the problem. It really should have been.

Dominic should have asked a lot more questions and should have been prepared for a twist ending.

_________________

Fandom: A Hat in Time       Rating: General Audience       Relationships/Pairings: The ConductorXDJ Grooves     Warnings: Eventual depictions of violence, slow burn relationship, named characters, attempt of an accent, being hunted down, a race against time (sort of).

It was so painfully cold. The flame that had scared him for so long, he now begged for it to return. Something, anything to starve off this chill that he seemed to be drowning in. The voices were gone as well. The quiet was somehow worse than their constant chanting and teasing. There was nothing here but the cold and the quiet. And he hated it.

 No one was there to see him struggle. To see him try and claw his way back up. He was alone and it hurt.

 He just wanted this to end.

 Someone just end this please!

 “You’ll be okay. I promise you’ll be okay.”

 But he hurt so much.

 “I know. But you’ll be okay.”

 He was so tired. 

 “I know. But you’ll be okay.”

 How could you say that so easily?

 “Because you’re stubborn and I know you won’t let something like this take you down. Please remain. I need you.”

 When Amos woke again, he was far more aware of his surroundings than the first time. Meaning no wild and frantic outburst while threatening others with a chair. It may have also helped his peace of mind to find Dominic passed out in the chair next to him instead of missing from the action. Said penguin’s upper body was laying out on the bed. Amos looked down, surprised to find his hand trapped in Dominic’s grasp.

 Sitting up as best he could and keeping his hand connected to the penguin’s, Amos took in the decor of the hut. Or at least what was actually there. As it was rather basic in it’s set up. Shelves on the wall near the bed held small pots and clean rags. The pots held so potent herbs if Amos’ nose was anything to go by. A small table was placed near the bed with a wooden cup holding water resting on top. The bed Amos was resting on was the only one in the small hut, Dominic resting on one of the two offered chairs. The hut itself was small but not cramped, with the door being nothing more than an archway that was covered by a deep red cloth that was gently moving in the chilled wind. 

 It was all oddly relaxing. Normally, Amos was uncomfortable with the quiet and the calm. Wanting to just move and work on something. At this moment however, he just wanted to stay like this for a little while longer. Laying on a rather comfortable bed with no one hunting him down and Dominic sitting so close.

 “Amos…?” Said penguin grumbled weakly, slowly starting to wake. One hand still gripping onto Amos’ while the other wiped at his eyes.

 “Hi…”

 Dominic laughed softly. “Hello. How are you feeling?”

 “Better...more aware than I was before. Where are we?”

 “A small village near the base of the mountain.”

 “H-How far?”

 “About a day's walk, maybe two.”

 “Good...Good, then we can leave and get this done with.” Amos winced as he attempted to stand. Only to be held back down by Dominic.

 “Calm yourself. You’re still healing.”

 “But we need ta go.”

 “Amos, we’re safe here. We’re hidden away and they have patrols set up to make sure no agents get too close. Please give yourself a day to relax before we start moving again.”

 Amos frowned, reaching out to grip Dominic’s hand again. The penguin happily returned the gesture, both hands wrapping around Amos’ single. A thumb rubbed the back of the owl’s hand. It was such a soothing gesture that Amos had no reason to argue. 

 “...We’ll leave tomorrow?”

 Dominic smiled. “Tomorrow, I promise Sweetheart.”

 “Alright.”

 “Is the Child awake?” The birds turned towards the entrance as the Elder and two healers walked in. Dominic pulled away to allow Amos to be examined. The owl was upset at the loss of that comfort. But instead of focusing on that, he turned towards the Elder.

 “Child? I ain’t that much younger than yer grizzled self.”

 “Amos.” Dominic berated from the sidelines.

 The Elder merely chuckled. “So, you are also close to 600 years?”

 “...No.” The owl grumbled. 

 “Don’t fret. I only call you Child, not because of your age, but because of your heritage.”

 “Heritage… Ya mean the Phoenix side o’ me.”

 “Correct! You are the Child of the Pure Flame. A being who’s a direct descendant of the Celestial Phoenix.”

 “Yeah, great fun. Nothin’ like bein’ related to a deadbeat father.”

 “Fair point.” The Elder fell quiet when one of the healers spoke up. Nodding a few times before addressing the visiting birds again. “It seems as if the Child is going well.”

 “The ‘Child’ has a name.”

 “Ah, very well. While you’re doing well Amos, I would advise you take it slow today. It’s unclear if you have fully ‘flushed’ everything out of your system yet. It would be a great misstep if you started your journey again only to relapse.”

 “...Fine.”

 “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him.” Dominic smirked at the glare Amos sent his way.

 “Wonderful!” the Elder laughed, “I will find something for you to wear.”

 Amos’ feathers fluffed at that. “We have luggage…”

 “I’m well aware. Where do you think I’m getting your outfit from?”

 Dominic held in a laugh at the Elder’s mocking tone, said monk and the healers leaving the visiting birds alone. Amos laid back down, arms crossed and clearly pouting.

 “...Sassy goat.”

 Dominic couldn’t cover up his laughter at that.

 ___________________

 It was in the early afternoon when they emerged from the medical hut. The owl swearing up and down he was going to pull his feathers out if he stayed in that bed any longer. Amos put up a disgruntled facade when he realized he would have to lean against Dominic to keep himself upright. Hoping it was enough to pull attention away from his furiously beating heart as the penguin slipped an arm around Amos’ waist. 

 Being able to move, even if it was slow going at first, changed his attitude quickly. Instead of feeling confined, he was able to see where they’d tucked themselves away while hiding from the world. It was quaint and small. Something clearly not touched by anything outside in the modern world. A place Amos was actually happy they were able to stop at before this journey ended. 

 Although it was confusing as to why all in the village seemed to be running around.

 “What are all these nomads doin’?” Amos questioned as another group returned with baskets filled with fruit.

 “Setting up a feast for us.” Dominic replied simply.

 “Us?”

 “Well, more of a way to help us relax. But yes, us.”

 “Ah, of course…”

 “Are you uncomfortable with this?”

 The owl squirmed. “...Maybe.”

 Dominic merely laughed. “Rather strange to hear that coming from you.”

 “What are ya yammerin’ about?”

 “That you're not alright with all this attention. You. The bird who flaunts every 1st place trophy you’ve ever gotten.”

 “I earned the right ta flaunt them! Also, very funny comin’ from you. You with yer flashy outfits.”

 “How dare you.” Both attempted to hold their glares. Only to end up laughing the next second. “Good to know we both have our prideful hangups.”

 Amos waved his hand to easily push the conversation away. “Good ta hear yer happy. Now, let’s see if this village has somethin’ ta drink.”

 “You’d better be discussing water.”

 “Only if it’s fermented.”

 “That makes no sense!”

 Amos laughed as he broke away from Dominic’s grasp, limping slightly as he headed over to the  first collection of food. The penguin quickly followed. But the owl was already sniffing the nearest piles of fruit when Dominic joined his side again.

 “And how are you going to ask for a drink? I don’t think nomads even have alcohol.”

 “I wasn’t lyin’ about the fermentation. Here.”

 Dominic fumbled slightly as a lumpy skinned, purple fruit was tossed his way. He gave it a tentative sniff. Which he instantly regretted and he pulled away in disgust. “That’s horrible, it smells like brandy!”

 “Ya know it.” Amos confirmed, taking a large bite out of the one he held. “Oof, that’ll put feathers on yer tail.”

 Dominic frowned as the owl quickly polished off the fruit he had before going for another one. The penguin quickly grabbed the other’s wrist. Smiling sheepishly at the disgruntled look he received. “I’m sure this is your typical way to, uh, self medicate. But I would like you to try and take it easy.”

 Amos huffed. “Fine...one more and then I’ll wait for the festivities to properly begin.”

 Not really what Dominic was asking for. But he supposed that was the best he was going to get. Perhaps he could make another convincing argument later. 

 To keep themselves somewhat entertained, Dominic volunteered them to help set up the feast. With Amos responding to this by grumbling about wanting to just relax. And the nomads gestured to explain that they were guests and should just be enjoying themselves, not working. But the penguin was able to convince both parties to participate in some way. 

 It was a little touch and go as far as where the visiting birds would be able to help out. But they eventually found their comfort zones. Dominic primarily stayed with the cooks. Helping out with the multiple dishes that were being prepared and layout the table that would hold the mountain of food. Chatting with the cooks that could understand him and looking forward to recreating some of these dishes when he got home.

 Amos, however, stuck with the younger generation. Keeping the children of the village entertained by playing games and helping them carry the needed wood for the planned evening bonfire. Dominic saw that personality the owl’s grandchildren clamored for whenever they saw him. Amos even seemed younger than what his true age was. It was endearing to watch him chase the small forms around the large pile of firewood. 

 The owl was darting everywhere in that village, seeming to carry multiple children at a time. Dominic smiled whenever Amos would pass by the cooking area, happy to know the other was feeling better.

 “Amos seems to be doing well.” The Elder commented, the penguin unprepared for the other’s arrival. 

 “He is...He really is,” Dominic replied after his heart calmed down, “I’ve only heard him laugh a few times over our working years. But this trip, despite its hardships, has opened him up just a little bit more.”

 “You’ve done well with helping in that aspect. I hope he understands that.”

 The penguin became flustered, placing the knife down to address the elder better. “I...I think he does.”

 “Bonfires are a rather romantic setting.”

 “I- Why are you so interested in my love life? I don’t even know you!”

 “Hello, I’m the Elder of the Starlight Mountain village.”

 “You know what I mean.”

 “Dominic, I understand that flustered, nervous feeling. All too well actually. I know the situation is not what you would expect it to be. But...I’m worried that your window of opportunity is slowly closing.”

 “I know…” Dominic huffed as he chopped vegetables. A bit more violently than what he probably should have done. “I know. But this isn’t about me. It’s about keeping him happy and healthy...and hope that is enough to keep him here.”

 The Elder nodded slowly. “Believe me when I say, you make him happy.”

 The penguin was not pleased with how hot he’d become from that statement.

 As the sun began to set, the large bundle of collected wood was finally lit. Dominic was pleased with the numerous pieces of food he’d helped create. Even partaking in the fermented fruit before Amos ate it all. The owl clearly flushed, even with how early in the celebration they were. Music soon started being played, numerous nomads taking up places around the roaring fire. Dancing around it either alone or with a partner in hand. Dominic felt his foot tapping to the beat while Amos made some half-hearted comment about it being unnecessary. 

 The sky was completely dark when Dominic lost some inhibitions and allowed the loud music to take over. Joining the already dancing nomads surrounding the large fire, he moved from partner to partner, the music seeming to swell as he moved to it. He’d almost forgotten what it was like to let all just melt away and allowed himself to just move. Move without a care and let the music take control. 

 All of it came to a short pause when he felt a clawed hand grab one of his. Quickly being pulled flushed against Amos, whose face was very red. 

 Dominic was only allowed a moment's pause to look Amos over before he was pulled in to dance. The owl took the lead. A skilled dancer even in his drunken state. It was an absolute thrill. Dominic laughed as he pressed closer, Amos responding in kind, and the rest of the world seemed to just disappear. It was just the two of them, having a moment where they could just focus on themselves. Better than the fair as Amos initiated the contact. Even if he was drunk. But if that smile on his face was any indication, the owl was just as happy as Dominic was right now.

 The penguin was brought back when the cheers of the nomads became louder than the music. Dominic’s attention was pulled towards the fire. Which had become taller than what it was before. A spiral of different colors that reached out towards the sky as it twisted and turned. It was a spectacular light show that seemed to speed the penguin’s heart rate. 

 Amos let out a small chirp before nuzzling under Dominic’s beak. The penguin felt warmer suddenly and he gently nipped behind the owl’s ear. The roaring fire wasn’t the only source of warmth for that evening. 

#A Hat In Time #discotrain #the conductor #dj grooves #s-creations #fanfiction #ahit conductor #ahit dj grooves #Multi-Chapter

[ultraintrovertedgryffindor]

Just Like You - Kenny McCormick(South Park)

I wrote this a really long time ago when I was obsessed with South Park. I don’t know why lmao, but here it is. 

Warning: Also wrote this when I was an edgy teen™, so cringe and possible trigger warning.

~~~~~~~~~~

Welp, today’s the day...

New town. New house. New school.

My parents had gotten a better job offer here in this little town of South Park, much to my dismay. I love traveling, but moving from a large city in New York to a small mountain town in Colorado is a lot.

It should be interesting though, more opportunities that I’ve never gotten before. Although, I still have to go to school. The local South Park high school.

I put on my outfit for school and wear my black coat over it. It seems to always snow here, only on rare occasions it gets warm. I run downstairs and grab a piece of toast my mother made from the kitchen. I find a note on the counter.

Have a good first day of school, hon. Try to make some friends, and yes, that means being nice to people. Your father and I will not be back until tomorrow morning, so keep those memories of your first day in you head until we can hear about it. Love you!

My mother is a freak, I love her, but she’s a freak. I’m surprised my father has a job with all the day drinking he does. It helps him get work done, I guess.

I walk to school still eating my buttered toast. Approaching the school, I take in its features. It’s an ugly yellow color. Although, I think all bright colors are ugly. I walk in the school and all eyes are on me. I pretend not to notice. I get my class schedule and such from the receptionist and make my way towards my locker.

“You must be new. I think I would’ve recognized an ass that fine before.” A brunette says to me. I roll my eyes and huff.

“As a matter of fact, I am new. I was hoping for something better than a lame catcall on my first day, but at least you tried.” I said and patted him on the shoulder. He glared, tears filling in his eyes, and stomped off.

I bet he’s never been rejected in his entire life, poor soul.

I walk into my first class and immediately get called on. “Well, hello there! You must be the new student. Y/N right? Well, I’m Mr. Garrison and this here is my little friend Mr. Hat. Say hello Mr. Hat!”

Okay...already creeped the fuck out. Something about his southern accent and oh yeah, his fucking creepy ass puppet just rubs me the wrong way.

“Now, please, go take a seat. Wait...are you a troublemaker?” He asks.

“Oh no. Not at all, sir.” I lie. It’s easy to lie. I have a natural talent for it.

“Oh alright, I guess you can sit next to Kenny. That boy in the orange coat. You can keep him in check.”

Will do, you creepy old fuck.

I take my seat next to the blonde haired boy. He’s kinda cute actually. After class a group of boys came up to me, including that Kenny kid.

“Hi, new kid! Just thought we’d introduce ourselves. I’m Kyle. This here’s Stan, Cartman, and Kenny.” The redhead said.

“Holy shit, look at those tits!”

“Cartman!” Kyle scolded.

“Well, first off. It’s Y/N, not new kid. And nice to meet you too...I guess.” I said and walked off. 

Yeah, I don’t have great people skills. My harshness has pushed people away. I’m trying to work on it. But determined from what the fatass said I probably don’t wanna be friends with those dudes.

Off to lunch, finally. Hopefully the lunch here is better than the ones at my old school. I took my tray and looked around the lunchroom. Everyone in groups or pairs. I see one empty table. I head towards it and sit down.

The food isn’t that bad, but I’ll definitely be bringing my own from now on. While I was eating I noticed people staring at me. One, that Kenny kid, and two, that guy that used that lame catcall. I got uncomfortable real quick.

The rest of school was a bust. It was boring. Now, I want something fun to do. I heard that there’s a pond near here, that sounds like fun. I asked directions to where the pond was, which I found out was called Stark’s Pond, and headed there.

I approached and noticed no one was there. Perfect.

I looked around in my bookbag for some rope, and luckily I carry some around with me at all times. I look a heavy looking rock and tie it to the rope. I’m not that heavy so it should work.

I tie the other end of the rope around my ankle. I throw the boulder into the pond and it yanks me down, breaking my ankle. It drags me down until the rock rests at the bottom of the pond.

It’s dark and cold. I’m floating, suspended in time. I look up and see the sunlight breaking through the surface of the water, but it’s not enough to reach me. My hair flies around, loose and tangling each other. I reach up and run my fingers through my soft hair.

It starts...I try to gasp for breath but it isn’t there. My lungs start to burn with fire as no oxygen reaches them and they only fill with water as I struggle for air.

I always find this part of drowning so fascinating. Your survival instincts kick in and you try so desperately to fight to survive but come up short when your lungs fill completely with water and your body becomes stiff and frozen.

I black out.

*The Next Morning*

I gasp and bolt upright from my bed.

I sigh in relief to see that I’m back again, in my new home. Every time I die, there’s always a part of me that’s afraid I’ll never come back, and yet I always do.

The first time it happened, I was 10. I was at a birthday party. It was my friend’s party cake that killed me. Someone, while making the cake, accidentally put poison in it. I don’t know how in the hell someone “accidentally” puts poison in a cake, but it happened.

I started to feel hungry, it wasn’t time eat yet but the cake was on the kitchen table and I couldn’t help myself. I took a small piece of cake, it was delicious but it caused me to foam out the mouth and have a seizure. I died almost instantly. Good thing I died otherwise the rest of those kids would’ve had a bad day.

Then I woke up in my bed the next morning.

The hardest part was that no one remembered that I died, but I did. I remember the whole painful experience, and my parents didn’t even believe me. They took me to counseling after that, not that it helped.

One day, a few weeks after the first time I died, I tried crossing the road without my parents. I looked both ways and no cars were coming as far as I could tell. As soon as I almost crossed the, a car came out of no where and completely wrecked me. Again, I woke up in my bed like nothing happened.

The day after I built up the courage enough to test out the theory that I was unkillable. My dad had a 9 mil in his safe. I shot myself, and just like that, I woke up in my bed the next day.

At first, I was insanely afraid of myself and it wasn’t until last year that I realized it could be fun.

I’ve tested out so many ways of dying. Yesterday at the pond was my first time drowning, but I wanted to get over it cause I knew I’d drown soon even if I avoided it. Next on my list is falling to my death, but besides drowning heights is my biggest fear. Heights might be a good excuse to procrastinate getting that done.

I get up out of bed and take a quick shower. I wonder if I’ll ever stop being immortal? It’s probably a good thing I am since I’ve become so accident prone.

After my shower, I quickly got dressed and jogged down the stairs, almost falling in the process. I walked into the kitchen where I saw my parents.

“Y/N! Hello, sweetie!” My mom said and gave me a hug.

“Hey.” I said.

My mom was making waffles and my dad was just sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Dick never pays any attention to me.

“So, how was your first day of school? Did you make any friends?”

“Uh, not really. Some guys introduced themselves to me, but you know how I am with people. And school was fine, learned a lot, teachers are a freaky though.” I paused. “Oh, and I drowned myself at Stark’s Pond.” I said nonchalantly.

My mom sighed. “That’s nice dear.”

Ever since I’ve been experimenting with dying over and over, I’ve been telling my parents about it. They never believe me of course. Even when one time I purposely hurt myself and bled to death in front of them, but they never remember. My dad didn’t really give a shit though. Anyway...

“I’m going to school now. Later!” I said, walking out the door.

Hmm, maybe I should take the bus. I wait at the bus stop, cause I don’t feel like walking to school.

“Y/N!” I flinch when I heard my name being called out. I turn to see Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman walking up to me. “I didn’t know you took the bus.” Kyle went on to say.

“Didn’t really feel like walking to school today.” I said, looking down and kicking the ground beneath me absentmindedly.

The bus finally arrived and we all walked on, I sat in the very back by myself. Until Kenny decided to sit next to me.

“Mmph!” He said, well I don’t exactly know he said. His bright orange parka covering his face made his voice muffled. I’m just gonna assume he said hi.

“Hi.” I replied.

“Mmph mmph mmph mph mmmph mmph!”

“Uh...huh?”

He rolled his eyes and took off his hood, revealing a mop of messy dirty blonde hair. “I said, how are you liking school so far?” He said.

“Oh, um. It’s okay, I guess.” I smiled.

“You guess? Okay, so I take it you don’t really like it.”

“Well, it always sucks when you’re the new kid and you have no friends.” I sighed.

“No friends, huh? Well, I’ll be you friend. I’m sure Kyle and Stan will too!” He said, making me blush. Darn. “Aw, you’re blushing!”

“Shut up. I always blush.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Kenny smirked.

When we finally got to school Kenny walked me to class, which was nice. He’s actually really nice and funny, also really adorable.

*A Week Later*

School so far has been good. I’ve grown really close to Kenny, since he’s basically my only friend. 

Kenny invited me to sit with him at his table, I agreed. Stan and Kyle seemed to enjoy my company though, Cartman didn’t. Didn’t like me for some reason, although he could be just an asshole all the time.

As the talk started to slow down and lunch was almost over, I looked around the lunchroom to avoid small talk. I saw the guy with brown hair staring at me again, but looked away when I saw him. “Hey, Kenny?”

“Yeah?”

“Who is that guy over there?” I ask, discreetly pointing at him.

“Oh, that guy in the red coat is Clyde. Why?” Kenny asked.

“Oh, no reason. He was just staring at me my first day here and also today. He also kinda catcalled me that day too.”

Kenny noticeably frowned. “He has?”

“Yeah, but it’s probably nothing.” I stuttered a little. Kenny giggled. 

“You’re cute when you stutter.” He smiled, which made me blush. “Aw, you’re blushing again.” He poked my blushing cheeks.

“Ugh, stop.” I whined, and shoved his hand away.

The rest of school was okay. Kenny stayed by my side the whole day, I didn’t mind, but he seemed like he was in a clingy mood which was weird. “I’ll walk you home.” Kenny said.

“Oh, no, you don’t have to do that.” I said.

“Nah, I insist.” He said.

Well, who could say no to Kenny. We were almost to my house, we had to cross the street first. We both walked side by side, Kenny had his arm around my shoulders to which I giggled. I suddenly hear a loud horn, I tried to push Kenny out of harm’s way but it was too late.

We’d both been run over by a semi-truck. 

I gasp and bolt upright from my bed in a cold sweat.

Oh, god. Kenny. We both got hit. I tried to get Kenny out of the way, but I was too late. I let him get run over. He’s probably dead because of me.

I start to sob. He’s dead and it’s my fault. My fucking fault. God no. Why couldn’t it have just been me? I wouldn’t even care if I wasn’t able to come back, I just want Kenny to still be alive.

My alarm went off. I smashed it. I’m not going to school today. I can’t. Everyone probably knows Kenny’s dead and they’re mourning him school. I can’t be knowing it’s my fault.

My doorbell rings.

Ugh...I don’t feel answering the door. The person is now beating on the door, damn they’re persistent.

I get up to yell at the person who’s beating down my door. I mumble profanities as I answer it. My heart stops. Not literally but it feels like it. 

“K-Kenny?” I start sobbing as I take the blonde haired boy in my arms, holding tightly. “I thought you died!” I sob. I pull away. His face looks like he’s in shock, also confused.

“You...you remember?” He asks.

“Of course I do! I tried pushing you out of the way of that truck, I guess I succeeded.” I sigh in relief.

“But...how? I thought you died too.” He said, flabbergasted.

“What do you mean too? Wait, you remembered I died?” I ask, also so confused.

“Y/N, I died. You didn’t push me out of the way in time, but I didn’t save you either. We both died,” he paused, “and we both remember.”

Suddenly, Kenny grabs both my upper arms and pulls me close to him and gives me a passionate kiss. 

I pull away, shocked. “Woah....what was that for?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just...nobody has ever remembered me dying. No one, but you can.” Kenny explained.

“And you remember me dying?” I ask.

Kenny nods. “You’re the first person that remembers me dying too.” He says.

I don’t know what to say or do. This has never happened to me before. I think Kenny feels the same, since we’re both just stood awkwardly at my front door. I finally break the silence.

“Kenny, I thought you died, and I’ve never been more scared in my entire life.” I said, with still a few salty tears flowing down my red cheeks.

“I was too.” Kenny said. “Well, looks like we have more in common than I originally thought.” He giggled.

~~~~~~~~~~

#south park #south park fanfiction #kenny mccormick #kenny mccormick x reader

[5lazarus]

BTV OC Question Time - 2. Does your character have any fond family memories? If yes, tell me about one of them.

I had already gotten this question, so I decided to answer this as a story instead, and explore a character I don’t really care about--Hawke, who I always regarded as a way to explore Kirkwall and the other characters and the story at large, rather than a defined personalty by themselves. So here’s a story about Leandra and Hawke having a lot of fun at Hawke’s debut ball, and my take on Leandra--a woman who happily ran off with an apostate, who fought to keep her daughter from the Circle, and who saw her cousin Revka canonically devastated by losing all five of her children to the templars. Reading about the Amell family on the Wiki was a trip to be sure--hadn’t picked up on how Leandra’s father would’ve been Viscount if it weren’t for the discrimination against mages on my first playthrough! I posted on AO3 here, for the sake of convenience. But here’s the story!

“Oh hush,” Leandra scolds. “You look fine.” She stands behind her firstborn, watching them stare horrified at the mirror. They do not like their make-up, they do not like their hair, and they especially despise the doublet she picked out for them: too bad. Marrion inherited all of their father’s panache but not of his actual fashion sense. Luckily, Leandra is there to guide the way. She only wishes her mother were there to smooth over the connections, and Bethany teasing Carver with a falcon-feathered hat as they both complain they cannot come too. Hawke sees her face fall and sits up straighter in their chair. “I look like a peacock,” they complain. Leandra smiles, catching her own eye in the mirror, and fusses with the back of her child’s collar. Age has come to her too quickly. This is not how she imagined she would present her child at their first ball--but she has spent too much time Carver died drowning in that sea of regret. She still has Marrion. She forces a smile onto her face. “You look like the scion of the Amell family,” Leandra corrects. “If you want to look less like a peacock, don’t strut like one.” Mischievous, she produces a magnificent blue hat with a feather in its brim. She places it on Hawke’s head, and turns it to a jaunty angle. Hawke makes a horrified face. “Mother, no,” they say desperately. “You already put me into a turquoise doublet. I’m shiny. I won’t be able to turn without--blinding someone or whacking them in the face with that feather. And then they’re going to challenge me to a duel, and of course I’m going to win, but it’s embarrassing.” Leandra puts her hand on their shoulders. “Well, you wouldn’t wear the gown. The hat for that is smaller. You can hide a dagger in the brim, at least. As a hatpin! And if you hit them, well--challenge them to a duel! This is your debut, my love. You have to make a splash. A positive splash. Not a literal splash.” She remembers that the Viscount’s Gardens do have a duck pond--didn’t someone push Gamlen in, during her second cousin’s debut? She says repressively, “Please avoid the duck pond.” “I miss Lothering,” Hawke says. “I’ll take mucking out the stables over this.” Leandra rests her head against theirs, just for a moment, and closes her eyes. Hawke frowns at their reflection in the mirror. “Oh, Mother….” “I miss Lothering too,” Leandra says bracingly. Hawke reaches for her hand but Leandra pats them briskly on the shoulder. “No matter. It’s a shame Knight-Commander Meredith denied our request for Bethany to attend.” Hawke snorts. “If she even looked at it.” Leandra tenses. Templars have always unsettled her, ever since her cousin Amell was taken to the Circle, and Malcolm taught her to hate them. Meredith is the worst of that lot, strutting about on the backs of the nobility, bringing the worst fundamentalism back to the Marches. She tries to give her child as much distance as she needs, but she keeps finding that apostate’s manifesto in books about the house, and she finds herself agreeing. She can read between the lines of Bethany’s letters. The Circle must be destroyed--she wants her daughter back. She wasted so much time, running with Malcolm and her little girl--and poor cousin Revka and her five lost children. The Circle must be destroyed. “I wish your father were here,” she says foolishly. Malcolm had a dispensation, because of the deal he made with the Grey Wardens. The Wardens paraded him at the occasional ball, because he was as charming as their Marrion. He would have been able to charm even Meredith into letting Bethany out, she’s sure of it--or he would have broken her out, and they would have moved onto Rivain, or back to Weisshaupt. Hawke looks askance. “Did he ever go to parties with you?” Leandra laughs. “Once. Before the Wardens called him back. Not where I met him, of course. This was the fourth time.” She smiles at their reflection in the mirror. “By that point I had quite the crush. He was funny. And so much more grounded than the suitors my mother threw at me. I could actually see myself raising a family with him.” Grief rushes her, because they had it and lost and all that is left is Marrion, the last of the Hawkes, Carver is gone forever and Bethany is at the mercy of a madwoman and while she has Kirkwall, Kirkwall takes as much as it gives, and what more can she give away? She steels herself: Amells do not cry with make-up on. Neither do Hawkes, for that matter. Hawke gets up and pulls her into a hug. “And here we are,” they say. “My first ball.” Leandra sniffs and forces herself to laugh. Hawke looks like her, but with their father’s grandiose expressions. They have his smile and his way of waving his arms about, his sarcasm and sense of comedic timing. Sometimes Leandra feels like she is looking in the mirror. Then Marrion’s face will break into exactly the grin Malcolm makes when he knows he is saying something utterly absurd and is probably about to get punched, and it is as if he has entered the room and he isn’t dead, not really, when their child demands to be called by their name, when their child joyously lives his most chaotic impulses. “Yes, my love. We should send for the carriage--we want to be fashionably late, after all.” “But it’s a five minute walk,” Hawke says, puzzled. Leandra shakes her head fondly. “Ferelden. I should’ve taught you better. Let’s go.”

Leandra emerges from the carriage and smiles, drinking in the jasmine-scented night air. The du Parrys have always known how to throw a party. She steps aside to let Hawke out, who miraculously maintains an air of dignity as they step onto the ground. They look at her and she inclines her head. “Lead the way, love,” she murmurs, and threads her arm in theirs. Hawke wears turquoise, bringing out their sparkling blue eyes, while Leandra has dressed herself in something more sedate. She is a widow now, and has lost a child. Still, she won’t consign herself to black--Malcolm loved her peacock colors, and she does too, more confident in her violet and green and gold than Hawke is in their debut outfit. People pause, people stare, and she smirks as she hears the whispers behind the fans. She has always known how to make a splash. They are announced, and Leandra smirks at her title, Lady Hawke--she is proud to be an Amell and proud to be a Hawke, and even more proud how Marrion does not look back at her, but strides forward into the ballroom with perfect equanimity and grace. That, they inherited from her. She didn’t like to fight, but she could delay a bard, at the very least, and Marrion had proved an able student. Speaking of bards, the Viscount’s court is packed full of Orlesians, which is irritating. Her family had supported Perrin Threnhold, not just because of the magic that ran in their blood, but because they genuinely believed in the “free” part of the Free Marches. Worse than Orlesians, there is Grand Cleric Elthina, and Leandra curtseys at her, smiling curtly. Her father should have been Viscount, and would have, if it hadn’t been for the Divine intervening, if it hadn’t been for Meredith’s coup, if it hadn’t been for Elthina imprisoning poor old Perrin--but then, perhaps she would not have met Malcolm, perhaps she would not have adventured all over Ferelden, and had her children, and lost them too. Marrion whispers, “Is that a smile on your face, or a knife?” Leandra smiles thinly and says, “Hush your mouth. At least the Knight-Commander is not here.” She would have loved to debut Bethany, who is perhaps less of a peacock than Marrion but prettier. She hears a rustle and instinctively presses a hand to her bodice. She is wearing the amulet against poison her mother gave her, and she has a small blade. Cautiously, she turns, and her eyes widen, because it is her old friend DeLauncey, gray now, but still with that mischievous sparkle to her eyes. She blinks. DeLauncey is wearing an elaborate Orlesian-style mask, with antlers sticking out of the sides. “Messere Hawke, and your wonderful lady mother,” DeLauncey says, and flutters an Orlesian curtsey at them. Leandra mimics it. She had cut her dead after she left with Malcolm. She had not even answered her call when they moved to Hightown. She is too old to be disappointed, but still, it stings. Hawke bows extravagantly. Leandra rolls her eyes, and hides a laugh behind her fan as Marrion seizes DeLauncey’s hand. “Ah, to meet an old friend of my mother’s in the flesh!” they exclaim. “You’re even...more than the stories told. I do love your hat.” 

Leandra coughs a laugh into her hand. Perhaps they did listen to her etiquette lessons after all. Shame it was only the ones on how to insult people, but isn’t that what Hawkes do? Malcolm would be proud. “Charming,” DeLauncey says. I know, Leandra thinks proudly, I know. But DeLauncey recovers herself and eyes Leandra and prices out her finery. “And thank you for the compliment--it is the latest from Halamshiral, hunted straight from the Dales! The antlers come from those wild-elf deer, the halla, I believe they’re called. But!” She raps her hand with her own fan. “You must pay me a visit soon, Lady Amell.” “Hawke,” Leandra says. “My name is Leandra Hawke.” DeLauncey blinks. “Yes. I’ve heard many stories about your journey from the Blight. Perhaps you would be interested in speaking at my salon next week. We are fundraising for the Chantry’s project in Lowtown, and it would be lovely to hear your experiences.” Lovely, Leandra thinks sourly. She never saw the Chantry give out alms but for the missionaries at the Qunari compound, and most of the Fereldens were still stuck in Darktown. “I could put you in touch with someone,” she says instead. She does not want to be stuck as the refugee-made-good; she is Bethann Amell’s daughter after all, and her father was almost the Viscount. “Lirene, perhaps,” Hawke says blandly, and then shakes out a fan and flutters at their face. Leandra rolls her eyes.  She can imagine the sharp-tongued, no-nonsense unofficial almoner let loose amongst the Kirkwall aristocracy, particularly since Orlesian fashions and marriages are so in vogue. “Oh yes,” Leandra says. “We must introduce you.” She takes DeLauncey’s hand. “Come by the manse next week, and we’ll arrange things then.” DeLauncey looks at her sharply, but Leandra is already floating away, Hawke in tow, giggling behind their fans. “Mother,” Hawke says happily, “she’ll whip them. Maybe literally.” “I know,” Leandra giggles. “And she might bring that warden friend of yours, too.” “Maker,” Hawke snorts. “That’d go along as well as a house on fire.” “She does have an ugly house,” Leandra says happily. “An eyesore. It’ll be an excuse to remodel.” She pauses. “He won’t really burn the house down, will he? I know he glows, but he does have some self-control, yes?” Hawke shrugs and makes a noncommittal sound. Leandra feels her hair turn gray and decides that she will simply not think about it, not just yet. Then a Starkhaven burr calls out, and Leandra tenses as the Grand Cleric herself approaches in the wake of a knight in gleaming white armor. “Ah. Sebastian,” Hawke says. “Er. Nice to see you here, great party. Um. Maybe I introduce to you,” they flourish at Leandra, finally remembering their manners, “my lady mother, Lady Leandra Hawke, Lord Aristide Amell’s daughter. This is Sebastian Vale, Prince of Starkhaven.” They look at their mother significantly, and then cut their eyes down. Leandra follows Marrion’s gaze and coughs a laugh--the boy has Andraste’s face as a damn jockstrap. Free Marcher fashions certainly have changed. Quickly she looks back up and curtseys, though not too deeply--she knows the Vael family were pushed out, and her father had taught her to hedge her bets. She glances at the Grand Cleric and nods coolly. There is no need to be too subservient to the woman who allowed Perrin Threnhold to be poisoned in her custody. The Amell family has never been a friend of Orlais. The prince bows solemnly. “It is my greatest honor to meet the lady who has taught Hawke, who came to me in my hour of need. I promise you that will not be forgotten, when I am restored to my throne.” “Aren’t you charming,” Leandra says. Trumped by her own child: she always thought she was the most eccentric of the Amells, but Marrion has brought home a Lord of Fortune, a Dalish blood mage, an abomination, a deshyr of the Merchants’ Guild, an escaped Tevinter slave who glows in the dark, and now a lost prince. She does wonder what her parents would think of this, and then she stops herself, and smiles. Malcolm, at least, would be proud. “Marrion does make a lot of friends.” “Allies,” Marrion says. “Connections! Occasional enemies, true, but that’s just the Kirkwall spirit.” Leandra gives them a look and Marrion tosses their head, faux-bashly. They grin a tad viciously at Elthina. “And how are you, Grand Cleric? Did you get our letter?” “Pardon?” Elthina says. “Oh yes,” Hawke says. “I wrote you a petition. And Knight-Commander Meredith too, and Viscount Dumar.” Good old Marlowe, Leandra thinks sourly, always incapable of finding time, even for old friends--hadn’t Gamlen pushed him into a duck pond? “Sebastian, I thought you said you’d give it to her, ‘by your own hand’?” Hawke smiles dangerously. “You did say by your own hand.” The prince looks uncomfortable. Leandra taps Hawke’s hand with her fan discreetly, to tell them to knock it off. They are only recently returned to their name, after all, and one does not harass the Chantry lightly. Elthina looks beauteously concerned. “I do apologize, Messere Hawke. We get so many letters from the faithful, it is difficult to keep up. Dear Sebastian did give me your note, but then there was the services, the giving of alms--the days run on. But how charming  you look! It’s good to see the Amell family restored.” After all you did to destroy it, Leandra does not say, taking my cousin’s children away from her, threatening to take my husband away. And my daughter. My little Bethany. She knows intellectually that the Grand Cleric has done little to her personally but follow the orders of the Divine--that the Chantry ordered Lord Threnhold’s blockade destroyed, and that is is Chantry law that mages be taken from their families. But she remembers that sister in Lothering, who sang the Chant of Shartan so prettily, and talked about the plight of the mages with Bethany. She makes herself meet Elthina’s placid blue eyes. “Yes,” Leandra murmurs. “My oldest’s debut.” She smiles mechanically, and thinks about that night she ran away from the party, upset at something someone said about poor Revka,  and in the garden came upon a dashing young warden, sitting at the fountain and reading a book. She folds her arms and looks at her Hawke. “The belle of the ball.” Hawke flourishes again, mocking a curtsey at the Grand Cleric. “That’s me! Mother, do you hear the music? That’s the one song you taught me how to dance to! You know what that means?” “Oh Maker no,” Leandra says, but Marrion takes her by the hand and onto the dancefloor, and Leandra is amused and grateful and a bit tearful despite herself, because they are so clumsy, they are so egregious, they are such a Hawke, and as she tries to tame their flailing on the dancefloor, she has to laugh, because they’re funny, not taking this as seriously as an Amell should, but isn’t that the point? They’re not Amells anymore, and never were, and she is glad to laugh in the faces of the worst of the Kirkwall aristocracy, because she is proud of her choices and proud of her Hawke. “You’re trying to distract me,” Leandra says, taming them into a waltz. “Yeah,” Marrion says. “I know it’s hard for you, Mother, so isn’t it better to laugh?” They try to whirl Leandra around but step on her gown instead. “Marrion,” Leandra says, “you’re doing this on purpose. Making a fool of yourself.” “And you’re laughing,” Marrion returns. “Mother, you can’t take them seriously, can you? Like that woman’s so-called halla-hat. I know for a fact that Lady Elegant took those off a deer, not a hart, and painted them and sold them for thirty sovereigns. You have to laugh.” Leandra’s jaw drops. She grins incredulously. “Thirty sovereigns? Oh, I can’t want for the next DeLauncey salon.” Hawke grins. “Lirene’s the one who sold Elegant the deer. Have fun.”

#debutante #dragon age fanfic #fanfic #dragon age #da2 #leandra hawke #nonbinary hawke #marrion hawke #leandra & hawke #charlatron

[cinderella1181]

Battle Cries Chapter 1

TITLE: Battle Cries

CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 1 /?

AUTHOR: Cinderella1181

WHICH Henry/CHARACTER: AU Henry Cavill /Juniper Denholm

GENRE: Romance/Comedy

Previous Chapter: Prologue

FIC SUMMARY: Henry Cavill is the fourth son of the Lord and Lady of St. Helier. He is also now 37 still living at home and has no plans to move out. His father, recently retired, is forcing Henry to live on his own. Set up nicely, by his parents Henry has to find his place in the world and find real love for the first time with a girl he didn’t necessarily think he would even like. 

RATING: M (sex, language)

WARNINGS: So lets just say there is a blanket warning for language in this.....

AUTHORS NOTES: Thank you all so much for making my return so awesome! I am so glad to be here and am really feeling this. Leave me the love, I am a comment and reblog whore. 

Six Months Later

The bells tinkled over the door of the comic book shop. “Welcome in,” Henry called, hunched over the latest figure that he was painting. “Let me just…”

“You know I don’t pay you to paint WoW figures on the clock,” a voice said, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

“You’re right, you don’t pay me. Remember? I work here basically for my pull list and first shot at new collectables,” Henry replied, not even looking up from what he was doing. “And I will have you know, this is a War Hammer figure, not a World of Warcraft one. And you own a comic book store.”

“Hen, the fact of the matter is, someone could come in here and steal precious merchandise,” the voice countered. 

“Kal, show him why not…” Henry said quietly. 

Kal got up and trotted around, jumping on the dark haired man. He laughed. “Okay, fine, I get it. Security system and all.” 

Henry looked up at Joey as he scratched the dog, who in turn was trying to lick his face.  “Kal lets no person he does not know go without knowing who he is. You know that,” Henry replied. “You’re late, too.”

“Again, my store.” Joey replied and headed further in.  “I can be late if I want to be and, besides, Madeleine had her friend over, and they were having me paint bloody signs all morning.” He walked to the back of Dandy Lion Comics to lay his things down.  “They are going to some feminist rally or some sort. I don’t know. I tuned out when they started talking about the vagina hats.”

Henry looked at him and shook his head.  “Did they put them on?” 

“I don’t know, I finally got away,” Joey said, coming to sit on the stool next to him. With Henry sitting on the chair and Joey on the stool they were almost the same height. He shook his head.  “I love her, so much, so very much, but if I ever agree to date a feminist again…” 

Henry laughed.  “Let’s be real, you’ll never be in another relationship. She has you wrapped around her little finger and you know it.”

Joey put his hand on his friend's shoulder.  “You know it.” He sighed.  “Okay, go take your giant dog with you. I will see you tomorrow night for D and D, right?” 

Henry began to clean up his mess and nodded. “You will. Since it’s at my house this month. Please tell me you did not invite Duncan.”

“You know I had to. But I think I made it seem very un-fun.” Joey grinned. “So maybe he won’t clog your loo again?”

Henry put all of the parts away and stood up to his full height. “I hope not. It cost a ridiculous amount of money to get the loo fixed.” He shook his head.  “I’ll see you later, man.” He headed towards the front door.  “Send my love to Madeleine.”

“I will,” Joey said. 

Henry clipped the end of Kal’s leash to his harness and started out the door, walking down the block toward his house.

Henry had spent the last six months learning to live on his own. He had hated every moment of it in the beginning. He hated being alone and not knowing anyone. He had drowned his sorrows in the pub most nights. After a month, the singer from the pub band came up to him, threw an arm around him and told him he was going to be his friend because seeing him sit in the same corner night after night was depressing the fuck out of him. 

Little did he know, two days later he would be walking into the comic book shop with him and creating his pull list. Henry smiled at the thought of Joey and how he had met him.

Kal stopped to smell some flowers and hiked his leg to let everyone know he had been there. Henry rolled his eyes and continued to walk on. He finally got to the small mews house that his parents had purchased him. He opened the door, walked in, dropping Kal’s leash and headed up to get his jogging clothes on. 

London had been explored by the pounding of his feet on the pavement. He and Kal would go for miles and saw many new sights and places. Some, he had stopped to take in, mostly the parks, and others he had noted and returned later. His parents made sure that he had a comfortable existence and once he had told them he had a job and a friend, they had stopped calling him every day. 

He smiled to himself. He now realized that his parents had probably done the best thing they could for him. They had forced him to be independent when they thought that he couldn’t be. He was doing it, and thriving. Even if the circumstances were a little out of the ordinary.  He pulled his joggers on, his tank  and his trainers. He headed back down the stairs to find Kal sitting at the door, big fluffy tail wagging. “You ready boy? How about Buckingham today?” He took up his leash and headed back out the door, starting his day.

###

Juniper Imogene Denholm stood at the edge of the crowd. She held her sign high, yelling at the top of her lungs. She knew the crowd behind her had some force, but this is what she loved, what she lived for. 

Justice. 

She looked next to her at Madeleine, who was flipping off the men as they went into the building. “You’re afraid of vaginas!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. Juniper put her hand up and high fived her friend. 

“Keep your politics out of my pussy!!” Juniper screamed. The crowd behind her cheered. Yes, they were going to make change, she could just feel it. Even more so once the van from the BBC showed up. 

Almost immediately, the police showed up. Juniper looked at the officers who were starting to disperse the far end of the crowd. She looked at Madeleine.  “Isn’t this typical?” She shook her head. “Want to get arrested?”

Madeleine laughed.  “As tempting as that sounds, not today. Come on, let's get going, back to protest another day. I would much rather leave and come back tomorrow and do it all over again.”

Juniper sighed.  “I suppose you’re right.” She lowered her sign and she began to calmly walk away with the others, back towards where they had parked the car. “We were just starting to get into the feeling of it all.” 

Madeleine smiled.  “I know. But remember the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and tomorrow is another day.” She smiled.  “Do you want to come over tomorrow night and have girls night?”

“I can. Where is Joey going to be?” Juniper asked, pulling her hydro-flask from her shoulder bag and opening the lid.  “Some comic book thing?”

“It’s Dungeons and Dragons night with the mates.” She smiled.  “But they’re at Hen’s house this month, so our flat is open. Could be fun, like a good old fashioned sleepover. I can even send him with a bag and he can crash over there.”

She smiled and took a drink. “I think that is a good idea, but I am working the mid shift at the clinic, so I won’t be around until about seven.”

“That works perfectly,” Madeleine said.  “The boys don’t even start playing until half past seven, so Joey will be heading over earlier.” She grinned. “You should come the next time the boys play at the house. It’s quite funny.”

“Funny?” Juniper said. “How can a bunch of men playing a fantasy game be funny?”

“Because at least three of them are still virgins. I wear a low cut top and they just squirm and it’s great fun.” Madeleine smiled.  “They are great guys and take the teasing well. But two girls, and especially one they don’t know, my god, I could maybe get them out of my house before two am.”

Juniper laughed, unlocking the car once they were close.  “I will think about it.”  She opened the door, putting the signs in the back. She pulled her crocheted hat off her head, her brown hair tumbling down. She smiled and ran her hand through it. 

“Will you also think about what we spoke of earlier. Let me set you up with Hen,” Madeleine said as she got into the car. “Joey and I have to go to the banquet, and it would be fun to have some people about our own age there.” 

“You know I am not looking for anything right now,” Juniper said.  “I am still in my healing cycle.” 

“I know, just as friends. Nothing more. “ Madeleine smiled.  “Just think about it.” 

“I will, but I can’t promise.” She slid into the driver's seat.  “I am just not sure I am ready to even go out with someone as friends, let alone someone I have never met.” 

“I am sure you have seen Hen at the pub. He’s a large dark haired fellow,” Madeleine replied.  “He is at the pub most nights with us.”

“Does he stay late?” she asked. 

“Well, yes, and I suppose most nights he comes after the first set.” Madeline sighed.  “You may not have seen him actually then. I promise you, minus the fact that he looks intimidating, I promise you he is very, very sweet and nothing like Rivers.”

“Let me think. Come on, I hear a soy milk latte calling my name,” Juniper replied as she pulled the car away. 

#Fic:Battle Cries #Henry Cavill #henry cavill fic #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill au #cinderella1181

[dariaslore]

"Drunk In Love"

Hi guys, here I am back with another story. This story is set right after Griffin left the Coven. We are in an old pub in Whisperia, that I imagine to be the Three Ancient Witches' home planet. I have a few headcanons about this planet, so if you want to hear them let me know! Hope you like this story❤

Mostly empty, dirty as always, and meeting place for the aimless wanderers just like him. It was not his typical place, he had always hated the smell of alcohol and fried food, as well as drunks. Ruining your body and losing control of your mind just for a stupid vice was pointless to him. What could a simple drop of wine have so miraculous? The taste? The feeling of euphoria? It was easy: to forget. This prompted him to cross the doorstep of that old whisperian pub. He wanted to forget who he was, to cancel the abstraction of himself. Regret was devouring him, he regretted not so much his hideous actions as his being. Forced to be a monster, something he hated with the slightest bit of what was left of his true soul.

He sat down at the last table, careful not to be recognized in any way. Grey raincoat, dark sunglasses and hat lowered on the face. His eyes flickered over every little detail, the old and ruined posters, the many colored glass bottles, and the barman. Bald and not really fit, he was speaking theatrically with a client. Curiosity caught him, and he decided to listen.

"He came back in town this morning without her" said the barman.

''What? Really? '' Replied that client, bewildered.

''Sure. They saw him dead drunk in front of his house. He was shaking, crying and babbling. He looked destroyed, an empty absinthe bottle in one hand and a cigar in the other. ''

'' I'm still upset. I would not have ever expected this."

The topic of the day, of course they were talking about that. A perfect scandal, born to amaze and be on the mouth of every whisperian.

"Gossip is like bees to honey for common people, especially on the rich and famous. The fall of the ones who are almost seen as gods always brings hilarity. People feel a certain pleasure in their suffering, as if by expressing their opinion they can grasp a single pinch of their fame and their power, and feel better about themselves. Nobody really cares about their personal lives or their emotions, these are characteristics that make them normal, people are drawn by the glitz, they want to see what they will never have. '' He thought bitterly, with a grin that was drawn on his face. He was getting more and more curious, so he payed attention back to the conversation.

''They had been showing signs of collapse for a while now. He seemed increasingly distant, cold, almost like he was suffering from being with her. '' The barman exclaimed mockingly.

'' But breaking up after all these years is totally unexpected ''

'' Maybe it was all over, the passion was gone. So many years together it's normal for boredom to take over. ''

'' I don't think so, you know. I think the situation is more complex. In a nutshell they were a perfect couple, and he, let's face it, has always been a bit cold. But they loved each other, come on. There was a kind of energy between them I can't describe, to say that they loved each other would be an understatement. They were almost addicted to each other. ''

'' I think it was only a facade. They did not dare to leave themselves because of the fear of judgment, they did not want to cause scandal, but in one way or another they did it. ''

''I think something serious happened. Look, it's yesterday's newspaper: if they had been acting all night long, nobody could deny a prize to both."

''Something serious? They have a perfect life, they are not like us. They are both powerful, an ambitious witch of good family and the son of Belladonna, Lysslis and Tharma. Their only enemy is boredom''

''Trust me.''

''Someone seems interested in our conversation. Please, take a seat at the bar: would you like something to drink?''

Busted. He came close and ordered. The fun had just begun.

'' A whiskey, thanks.''

''I noticed you were paying attention.'' replied the barman handing him that drink.

He nodded.

''A man of few words. So, what's your opinion on the matter? You are free to speak up your mind, you are welcome."

''They were in love, trust me. If they fell apart there must be something serious behind."

''And what it may be? Someone rained on their parade? The two of you are so funny.''

''Behind an image there is much more than you think, you know? They broke up, you are convinced it's over and what if they still loved each other? Maybe with being together they would have been a danger to each other, and in the name of their love they decided to part their ways. There is a difference between true love and simple love. If it's love, you want that someone with you, always, all the time, you want to feel her body under your hands and that's it. If it is true love, you are ready for anything for her happiness and safety. You completely cancel yourself, and her needs become yours. You could also be on the verge of death, her joy would get you a smile out anyway. You do breathe for her, do everything according to that woman who stole your heart, the most beautiful thief you can ever meet. She could hurt you, trample you, shatter you into thousand pieces, if it is fine to her, it will be fine to you too. ''

'' Of course, but I'll stop you immediately. Between the two she is the only one capable of really loving, he is not. ''

"Why?''

'' He is just a womanizer, a narcissist stuffed with his ego to the core. He only loves himself, he is selfish, he was with her only because she made him feel great, powerful. He's always been just interested in power, he must've found a better fling out of the girls he used to sleep with. ''

"He never cheated on her."

"He used her for his purposes. He didn't love her, he loved what they could achieve together. He knew that she was intelligent and a great tactic, she had everything he lacked of, so they complemented each other. She is also beautiful and he took advantage of it by wooing her. The only thing he could use to keep her close was the attraction between the two of then. He couldn't fool her, that witch was never stupid. "

He felt his muscles stiffen and the flames flow in his veins. He clenched his fists and repressed the desire to make that bartender pay for it. He did not need another death or he would only confirm the fate that his mothers had chosen for him. They were raw, harsh words, but coming from an innocent man with no idea of what he was talking about. He did not know the most intimate details of their relationship, he did not know all the times when in the dead of the night she would wake up to wipe off his tears after one of his many nightmares. She did not ask any questions and accepted with open heart the unspeakable darkness inside him. He could see how she suffered from it, how day by day she seemed to carry an ever greater burden on her shoulders. He never complained, although she had her shadows too, so those times he was the one to soothe her. Their darkness would combine together and only inside of it they could finally find the light.

'' It wasn't just plain attraction. Trivial, but I would say there was a crazy chemistry. Only the two of them could create that specific formula, '' he said.

'' And now the reaction is over. '' added the barman.

''Fortunately.''

'' This does not change that he doesn't deserve someone like her. If he was the one to have left her he would be just a heartless fool. ''

''Are you sure?''

''Yup. She has too much heart to ditch someone, it's in her eyes. ''

"I see you have a wife."

'' Yes, that blonde babe in the picture is my wife. ''

''Do you love her, right? ''

''Obviously.''

'' Let's play a game. You love your wife. Something bad happens: she is in danger. What would you do? ''

'' I would defend her ''

''What if the only way to do it was to let her go? ''

The sunglasses had left room for an icy stare: unmistakable. He smiled bitterly, noticing the amazement of barman and the clients. Surely they would never have expected that the man, right in front of them, was the monster who had made her run away.

'' I love her, you know? And I keep on loving her. She left me. I made her go away, I saved her from my mothers' clutches and she doesn't even know. They would have killed her if she had stayed by my side, for them she was a distraction from my purposes. Theirs."

He took a sip of whiskey.

"In every battle I will have to look at her with eyes on fire and I will give her words of gall. I will see her go further and further, she will scream in terror at all my actions and she will consider me a monster. I will be a monster, I will never hurt her physically, but I will break her heart and she will regret having ever loved me, drowning in guilt. I will love to feed a fire that devours every trace of love and disseminates only hate. She will see in me the face of the one who killed her dreams and destroyed her life, I will be the indelible mistake of her existence and she will hate me, every night she will curse my name remembering my touch on her skin, while I will be in an ice prison. I will count every single second that flows, I will smile for every moment more that her heart beats and she is still able to smile. The image of her golden eyes will soothe my destiny and chant me into believing that I am in the arms of her white skin and not in Omega's eternal grip. Her salvation will be my nourishment and my hate her saving grace. She will hate me and only in this way I will be truly able to love her as long as nothing is left of me but ash. "

#valtor #winx griffin #winx valtor #fanfic #winx club #drunkinlove #griffin × valtor #covenshipping

[halfthealphabet]

Ten for Ten for Ten

Rules: Answer ten questions, come up with ten questions of your own, and tag ten people.

@misscrazyfangirl321 tagged me 

1. Which fictional character, if any, would you most want to marry?

Not really big on wanting to get married BUT I have always been in love with Ginny Weasley so I’m choosing her. 

2. If you could travel to visit anywhere in the known universe without danger, (no suffocating in outer space, no drowning under water, etc.) where would you go? One rule: It has to be a specific, known place. Not “as far into outer space as possible” or something.

Well since you mention underwater .. . my brain is now thinking of the ocean. How about the Great Barrier Reef? 

3. What is your happiest memory?

I had a really good one the other day but I can’t remember it now. One memory I love is when I was in the ensemble of 42nd Street and we started the show in a tap number and we started with the curtain partially lifted to see just our feet and the applause was deafening!!! It’s a very happy memory!! 

4. If you could make a permanent crossover between any two shows, and it was guaranteed to be good, which shows would you choose?

Oh BOY!!! I’ve been daydreaming about Criminal Minds coming to Haven but that could never be permanent cause too many people in Haven already die they don’t need more serial killers running around there.  

5. The star(s) from the last movie you watched and the star(s) of the last TV show you watched are cast in a new movie together. (Actors, not characters.) What kind of movie is it? Tell me about it.

Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin and Emily Rose and Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour.

Well, it would have to be comedic because Lily Tomlin and Better Midler are comedic geniuses and I really want to see Lucas Bryant be all out funny. But not a straight comedy, I don’t like those. Maybe a romcom. .  yeahhhhh. I want Emily Rose to play a matchmaker and her best friend is Lucas Bryant and she wants to set him up on dates but he is currently not getting along with his neighbor, Eric Balfour, who is a client of the matchmaking service and she is trying to set them up and FAILING and there is a lot of mix ups and miscommunications and Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin are like, the fun aunts who give advice to everyone....ohhhh oooo or like, they are narrating the whole thing!!! Yes... I want this. Thank you. 

6. What’s a hobby that you have outside of Tumblr/fandom? (Sewing, singing, juggling tacos, etc.)

I’m a theater nerd!! It’s been about a year now but I do a lot of community and college theater. I’ve been in over 30 productions. . . might be 40 now actually??? I haven’t done as many straight plays as I would like, but I like musicals and Shakespeare is growing on me. I’m not a great singer or dancer, but I’m good on stage and quite funny XD

7. If you could make just one change to Tumblr, and the change was absolutely permanent, what would it be?

A tag system that WORKS so I can find my crazy ex girlfriend and kingkiller chronicle meta!!!! (literally how i spent the last 20 minutes, I’m so mad, it was a good post) 

8. Your most recent OTP and your very first OTP meet. What happens? Do they get along? What do they talk about?

I want to agonize about who my most recent otp is but let’s just say Duke and Jennifer and my first would be Ron and Hermione. And if they met, that would be weird cause Haven has established the HP books exist there, but it is Haven and one guy can bring books to life by reading them soooo... . sounds liek a really good Troubled episode to me. Jennifer would get along with Ron and Hermione because she’s a total fangirl and Duke would be like, oh my god, more people, please stop, I can’t care about more people. But he would for Jennifer and it would be tons of fun. Jennifer would grill Hermione about the mechanics of magic and Ron about the traditions of the wizarding world and Hermione would be fascinated by the Troubles and contemplate if she actually existed or not. 

9. If you could have any kind of fictional creature as a pet EXCEPT a dragon or a unicorn, what would you pick?

Pegasus!! There’s a book about a princess and her best friend is a pegasus and I think about that book many many days 

10. What is your favorite article of clothing that you’re currently wearing? Is it a funky hat? A sparkly ring? A pair of boots?

I have an obsession with jewelry!! I always am wearing rings. I have this beautiful oval ring with pale blue stones in it and it makes me think of a fictional character cause her ring is described in a similar way. It’s delicate and distinctive and quite pretty. 

(bonus, from the previous round: if I could live in any fictional tv show for a day it would be avatar the last airbender) 

My questions: 

1. Do you listen to musical albums, like original Broadway or West End casts? Which ones do you listen to the most? 

2. What was your first OTP? Are they still one of your OTPs? 

3. Pick up the book nearest you. Have you read it? What’s the first line? Do you recommend it? 

4. Are you a messy or clean person? 

5. If you could teach a college level class, one of your design, what would it be and give a description of it, like in the course catalogs. (go wild, embrace your niche and teach people about it) 

6. What’s a book you reread for comfort? 

7. Tell me about your favorite pair of shoes. 

8. What was the last imdb you went to and why? 

9. What is your favorite fairy tale retelling? Doesn’t have to be a book, it can be any form of media. 

10. You have received a new pet as a gift. You love them with with all your heat. What is it and what are you naming it? 

tagging: @blvckwidow @logarithmicpanda @druggeddraccus @twostepsfromtemerant @sir-buh @writersarea @acelandonkirby @iamnotfromthisplanet @protectwoc @lawlessferalgay and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it!! 

#tag game #about me #completely optional my friends #just a fun thing

[doedreamss]

Fanfiction Trope FMK: Adam Hangman Page, Joey Janela and Jon Moxley. ;P

hahaha, I got this same three batch of men from our darling von last night, and try as I might, I can’t swap the answers around (although I still don’t think moxley and I would go from enemies to lovers, or even start off as enemies to begin with, but also, I don’t think I’d be enemies with hangman or joey so he just kind of gets… put there lmao poor mox).  but!!!  I was so inspired by the stuff you wrote for your answer, I decided to write a one-shot for one of mine!!  and it has my two favorite things: hangman adam page and horses.

That’s Our Deal

Ship: Hangman Adam Page x Glitter Sidesplitter (FOC)

Rating: General (there may be some foul language but there’s nothing super troubling I don’t think?)

Length: 2,886 words

“Howlong have you two been friends now?”

 “Idon’t know.  Year and a half?  Twoyears?”

 “Andyou haven’t made a move on him once?”

 “No! Remember?  I made the mistake of being a little extra flirty one time whenwe went out to ride Honey and Bandit and I swear he all but ignored me.  Ithink that was the only time Adam has ever been remotely rude to me and it wasmortifying.  So, no.  I will not risk us losing our friendshipbecause I can’t keep it in my pants.  I’m perfectly capable of just beinghis friend.”

 “Uh-huh,”her tag team partner, Neon (ring name, of course – Nihilistic Neon), peeredover her phone at her with an expression that said she wasn’t buying it. Beneath that look, Glitter (also a ring name – Glitter Sidesplitter) squirmed.

 “Neon,he doesn’t even like me like that.  That’s why he didn’t respond when Itried to cross the line and see if he’d take the bait.  We’refriends.  We’re good friends.  Hell, I’d say we’re best friends,even.  I can call him or text him any time of night just to talk and he’s there. It never feels awkward or forced when we’re together.  We spend almostevery afternoon together out at the ranch.  I don’t think I could handlelosing him if I finally fessed up and told him how I felt.  He’s becomesuch an important part of my life.”

 Neonhad set her phone down and was watching her.  She shook her head slowlyback and forth and sighed.

 “You’vegot it bad, girlfriend.”

 Glittergroaned, pressing her hands against her face and sinking down deep into thecouch.

 “WhenI came and asked you for advice on how to bury my feelings you weren’t supposedto expose them and make me realize I’m fucking in love with him.  It’snever going to happen, Neon.  I’m not the kind of girl Adam’s lookingfor.  We’re friends.  Sometimes life isn’t fair.  Sometimes youdon’t get the storybook ending.  The prince doesn’t get to theprincess.  That whole thing.”

 “Wow…”Neon’s shapely, sharp black brow lifted, and her green eyes steadied onGlitter, slouched in anguish.  “You do remember I’m supposed to be thedoom and gloom one in our little dynamic, right?”

 “Shutup.” Glitter muttered and smiled, shaking her head.

 “Glitz,”Neon sighed, setting her phone down and leaning forward on the couch acrossfrom the one Glitter was sitting on.  “Do you remember a couple monthsback when you had your singles match on Dark?”

 “Yeah?” Glitter frowned.

 “Well,I was in the back, watching the match on the monitors, right?”

 “Yeah…” Glitter didn’t understand where Neon was going with this.  They alwayssupported one another if ever they were in a match the other wasn’t wrestlingin.

 “Adamwas there too.  Watching you.  Remember?  He was right therewhen you came backstage, celebrating you and telling you about all the waysyou’ve improved since you started with the company, how you were selling it tothe crowd…”

 “Neon…that doesn’t mean anything.  He was just being a good friend.  Iasked him to help me train a bit after we first became friends, remember? He was just… congratulating me for all that hard work paying off.”

 “Aye,”a frustrated breath disturbed them both, and Neon and Glitter glanced to seetheir friend, Mariana had entered the room at some point during theconversation.  She waved the water bottle she was holding at Glitter andlooked at Neon.  “¡Ellanunca va a escuchar!” 

 “Hey!–” Glitter started, having enough grasp on Spanish to know Mariana had saidsomething about her not listening.  Before she could stick up for herself,Mariana shushed her.

 “Youcan tell her about how Adam gets distracted every time she enters a room. You can tell her about how Adam starts smiling that dumb smile we all make funof when she’s talking.  You can tell herabout how it’s so fucking clear to the rest of us that they’re madly in lovewith each other, but clearly she knows everything and therefore is not going tolisten.”

 Marianaflopped herself down on the couch beside Neon and lifted her boots, plantingthe heels on the little table in front of them. She gave Glitter a pointed look.

 “Okay,”Glitter shook her head, “if any of that were the least bit true, I’d havenoticed by now.”

 Flickersand flashes of memories came speeding at her, like the way Adam grinned themoment they crossed paths with a smile that lit up his face and made herstomach do somersaults.  But he smiled ateveryone, didn’t he?  He was a genuine,kindhearted soul.  She remembered the fewtimes they stood near one another in a room, Adam sometimes gently touched her,let his fingers brush her arm or her hand or even, once, her thigh.  But it could just be natural reflex, sheargued.  If he was trying to touch herintimately, she’d know.  Everyone wasjust reading too much into something and Glitter wasn’t interested in ruiningthe friendship she and Adam had.  Let therumors keep flying.  She’d learn to buryher feelings her own damn self.  Somehelp her friends were!

 Herphone buzzed in her pocket and, giving it a quick read, she leaped for thechance to escape this lunacy like she was drowning and had been thrown a lifepreserver.

 “Well,this has not been insightful at all.  Youguys are all fucking crazy.”  She flashedher characteristic ‘mad grin’ she was known for in-character.  “It’s time for me to go take care of Honey.”

 “Havefun with Adam!”  Neon called teasingly ather back just as the door swung closed.

* * ** * *

Glitterglanced askance at Adam, who sat astride his bay frame overo gelding, Bandit, notfor the first time that afternoon since they’d met up at the stables.  He was in his head, which left her plenty oftime to study his profile, handsome as a devil, and wonder if what Neon andMariana had said was true.  Did Adamreally light up when she entered a room? Was it because they were such good friends – she’d dare to say bestfriends – or was it because he felt something romantic for her too?  The only person who had the answers was Adam,but the only way to know them was to ask. If she asked flat-out if he had feelings for her and he said no, thefabric of their friendship would change.

 Sure,they were both grown adults and could laugh off the misunderstanding… but she’dalways be left aching, and he’d always know she cared for him in a way he didnot care for her.

 As ifhe felt her eyes on him, Adam turned and frowned when he caught her watchinghim.  He always had those soft, almostsad, worried eyes, but when his brows dipped a little more the emotion seemedto increase by about a tenfold. Sometimes it made her want to say nothing, just wrap him in her arms andpull him in close and hold him until he was smiling again.  Right now, however, she felt like she’d beencaught red-handed and blushed, glancing away quick.

 “Everythingalright, Glitz?”

 Glitteradjusted her seat in the saddle, the leather creaking gently with Honey’s gentlypaced walk.

 “Yeah,I’m alright.  You?”  She forced herself to look at him and triedfor a casual, inquisitive look.

 “Yeah…I’m alright.”  He was still frowning ather skeptically.  He hadn’t bought it.

 Adamreadjusted his seat and cheated his torso toward her.  His palm rested on the saddle horn and hisother hands loosely held Bandit’s reins. Today was just a pleasure ride, letting the horses stretch their legs alittle bit without working them hard in the arena, so they were currently beinggiven their head.  Neither Adam norGlitter needed to pay much mind.  Honeyand Bandit had been ridden miles throughout the farmland and forest surroundingthe ranch she and Adam boarded them at and were therefore familiar with theterrain.  They were more than happy tobehave, walking side-by-side through the orchard and flicking their ears tolisten to the human’s conversation as Adam and Glitter talked.

 “Areyou sure you’re alright?  You’ve beenacting kind of funny ever since you got here. Glitz,” he paused, tipping his cowboy hat back a little so the afternoonlight hit his face and those blue eyes showed an ache that immediately made herheart seize.  “Hey,” his country drawlwas soft, “you know you can tell me everything, right?”

 “Ofcourse, Adam.  You know I’d never hideanything from you.”  Guilt twisted herbelly and made her feel sick.  She’d toldhim so many of her deepest, darkest secrets over their hours and hours of conversation,never once hiding a single detail.

 “Wellalright,” he said with a fair amount of skepticism drenched across his tone.  “Just remember you can tell me anything.  That’s our deal, ain’t it?”

 “Yeah,”Glitter said, and forced the smile on her face. “That’s our deal.”

 Glitterfaced forward in the saddle and gathered Honey’s reins.  

 “Raceya to the creek?”  She asked, giving hima glance and then, before he could say yes or no, she squeezed with her knees,adding gentle pressure to Honey’s sides and cracked the reins against her thick,muscled neck.  “Yah!”  She shouted and Honey responded to her energy,gathering her legs under her and lurching forward.

 “Hey!”  Adam yelled at her back.  Glitters laugh was stolen on the wind, herhat nearly flying off her head if not for the string that held it around herneck.  Her black hair tumbled and tuggedback, and she leaned forward, squinting against the air blown past herface.  

 Honey’sstride ate up the ground in a blur, but the pounding of hooves close behinddidn’t take long.  Stretching out herneck, Honey threw more of her energy into the run, picking up her hooves and lurchingas far as her stride would take her. Glitter hollered and cheered her on, feeling the mare’s energy like astorm.  Honey was a young mare andsmaller than Adam’s paint horse gelding, Bandit.

 Thehuffs and puffs of Bandit’s breathing soon became louder than the poundinghooves, and Adam pulled him up alongside her, their horses’ nose-to-nose asthey ran.  Glitter and Adam looked at oneanother and he smiled that wild, happy smile he sometimes got when they didthings like this, free and away from the pressures becoming a weekly televisedwrestler gave them.  Just the pair ofthem, horse nerds at heart, out riding in the wide-open countryside.

 Thetilled farmlands fell away to hills that dipped into valleys just before theline of ponderosa pine trees and firs. The horses began to pull up their gait, careful of the uneven andunpredictable terrain.  Glitter knew thecreek was coming up as soon as they crossed a few lengths of forest and leanedforward, encouraging Honey with a hopeful shout.  Adam held the reins in one hand and snappedthem on Bandit’s neck, hollering, one hand holding his hat firm on his blondcurls that whipped back in the wind.

 Comeon!  Come on!  Come on! Glitter encouraged Honey, her little can-do ranch mare.  

 She’dfallen in love with her the second she saw an advertisement for her, the prettylittle palomino quarter horse with one sock on her back-left leg.  She’d asked Adam to go with her when shelooked at her, because she hadn’t ever owned her own horse, always just tooklessons on horses that weren’t hers. Adam had been so excited and so thrilled she’d asked him to be therewhen she looked Honey over.  He’d beenserious and ready to grill the owner on every question and really check herover to make sure she was perfectly sound and didn’t seem prone to anyweaknesses that’d be a problem later.

 Butthen he’d saw the way Glitter looked at her when he saw her and he’d smiled,elbowed her and said, “Why don’t you go say hi to her?”

 Nowtheir horses were racing neck and neck…

 Honeypulled her nose ahead right at the end, surging forward as if she’d seized anew burst of energy as the winding, babbling waters of the creek came into herline of sight.  Glitter laughed andleaned back in the saddle, pulling gently on the reins and guiding Honey toslow her gait to a walk.  She turned inher saddle to stick her tongue out at Adam once he’d pulled Bandit up.

 “Loser!”

 Adamgrinned and shook his head, whistling low under his breath as he arched a browat Honey.

 “Yougot yourself one hell of a mare there, Glitz.”

 “Iknow!”  Glitter said and turned backaround, patting Honey’s warm, damp neck lovingly.  “If I wasn’t so busy in wrestling, I’dseriously consider putting her in working cow horse competitions.”

 “She’dwin every blue ribbon there is to win, and every trophy too.”

 Theypulled the horses up at the creek and dropped their reins before sliding out ofthe saddle, letting them drink and rest after their unplanned burst ofenergetic fun.  As Honey drank, Glitter gentlyran her fingers through her mane and patted her neck while murmuring littleterms of endearment.  She didn’t noticeAdam watching her from over Bandit’s back, an adoring smile hung loose over hismouth.

 Adamwas already leaning against a tree that grew close to the creek’s edge, thick,muscular arms crossed over that equally built chest.  He’d readjusted his hat and fixed his curlsfrom where the wind had whipped them a little wild.  The brim was pushed back, and Glitter couldsee his handsome face beneath the dappled shade and sun.  Butterflies fluttered in a frenzy in herstomach and she breathed a low breath, desperate to steady herself and keepfrom revealing anything.

 “Hey,what did you want for your prize?”  

 “My prize?”  Glitter questioned, stepping away from Honeyand walking up the bank to where he was lounging upright against the treetrunk.

 “Yeah,for you and Honey winning the race.  Youcan ask me for anything, and I have to give it to you.”

 Wasshe imagining things or had Adam’s eyes dropped to her lips for a second therewhen he asked her that?  Why was herheart suddenly racing a thousand beats per second?  Why did it feel like she was walking on atilt-a-whirl instead of the steady ground?

 “Oh…I…”  She blinked.  Shit, she was staring at his lips.  Her tongue swept the break between hers andshe forced her eyes up to his.  He waswatching her intently and it made her stomach feel like it was doing those highsoaring moonsaults off the ring post that he did.  “I didn’t think there was going to be aprize.  I was just happy holding it overyour head that I was the winner.”  She saidweakly, trying for a casual, nonplussed shrug that probably didn’t come off ascollected and cool as she hoped it would.

 “That’stoo bad,” Adam said, and he looked at her, that strange, piercing look he’d wornfor a moment gone and, in its place, something hopeful and nervous.  His eyes dropped.  Glitter’s gaze followed and noticed he waswringing his hands.  He sniffed hard andforced his eyes back up while hers lifted with them.  “I was hoping you might ask me for a kiss.”

 Hadshe heard him correctly?

 Whileshe stood in front of him, stunned to absolute silence, Adam drew on some sortof courage she was impressed (and a little turned-on) to see he had inhim.  He moved toward her and reachedout, hands gently grasping her arms and pulling her close until they stood toe-to-toe.  She tilted her head up at him, hair tumblingdown her back and hat fallen too.  One ofhis hands slipped and wrapped around her back, encouraging her to press againsthim.  The other gently caught her chinbetween his fingers, turned her head a little and bent to catch his lipsperfectly, softly, sweetly against her own.

 Ittook her all but one second to catch up to the reality that was Adam leaningover her, kissing her deeply.  Shepressed back desperately into him, years of ache and waiting trapped insideher.  It unleashed like a storm, and hertongue slipped into his mouth, and her fingers flew to his plaid button-upshirt and curled tight into the fabric before yanking him close.  He groaned against her tongue as the lengthof her body was pushed against his.

 Theybroke apart only when their lungs were starved and stood, inches apart, warmbreaths shared.  

 “Iwish you would have done that like a year and a half ago,” she whispered onceshe finally felt like she could catch her breath.  

 Theymoved just back enough that their eyes could meet.  He smiled.

 “Metoo, Glitz.”  He leaned forward and theirforeheads gently pressed together.  “Metoo.”

#snarkandsarcasmwrites #hangman page #hangman adam page #adam page #aew #wrestling fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #wrestling fanfiction #ashjkjssfkldfsklsdf im so soft for hangman + horses #this is SUCH a horse girl's fic lmao #god i love it #and since i LIVE in an angst slowburn relationship i know how that shit FEELS #of course i know it deeper than these guys #ANYWAYS #oh another fun face glitter sidesplitter was an old mcr killjoy rp oc of mine lmao

[c-is-for-circinate]

There are three things I love about Nott’s Veth backstory, now that I’m finally here, and thing one is just that it’s good fucking backstory.  Good job Sam!  All of the emotions!  Well done on that!

Thing two is that Nott finally makes perfect sense, after 49 episodes on the edge of my seat for it.  Nott has always been the most confusing character of the group for me, to the point where, when I wrote the whole ten-episodes-in character breakdown post (here, for the curious), I couldn’t even really put a finger on what questions to ask.  She’s frightened and brave and motherly and childlike and naive and scared and ready to murder at the drop of a hat and I have known for dozens and dozens of episodes that Nott the Brave was a puzzle with all the center pieces missing.  I’ve known for some time that the center piece was named Veth, because nobody is immune to spoilers, but I barely even knew the what of Veth, let alone the why or the how.  And even with the vague spoilery notion that Nott hadn’t always been a goblin, there was something missing, something I hoped I’d finally get once I heard the backstory from Sam himself, some central pivot that was more nuance than fact and suddenly make everything hang together.

Unexpectedly?  It’s the fact that Veth was always a weirdo with a thing for collecting strange stuff and poor people skills.  As an ordinary halfling housewife who befell a terrible tragedy, Nott doesn’t make sense, not really, not in the subtleties and the angles, no matter how much PTSD you add on from drowning and months of captivity.  But as a woman who was always on the outskirts, already a mess of self-doubt and self-preservation, who was maybe already a little weird and impulsive and ready to play fun detective agency games that a woman of her age might not normally play--yes.  There we go.  That’s the center piece.  Nott’s lost herself more than a little bit in the past year and a half, is finding and building a new self with the M9, but she finally makes sense in the context of knowing who the self was that she lost.

Which brings us to the third thing that I love so much about Nott’s backstory, and it’s the way she fits in, now, to the thematic fabric of past and present and memory and identity that the whole group has been developing for fifty straight episodes so far.  I know a lot’s been made out of Caleb and Molly, the man who loathes his past and can’t get away from it but would give anything to change it vs the man who has no past, escaped it as completely as anyone ever could but still fears it, etc etc and I’m down for those character foils any day, sure.  I want to throw in Beau, pretending she never wanted her past and it doesn’t matter anyway so it doesn’t hurt to have lost it, and Jester and her homesickness and pretending her childhood was an endless string of joys so she doesn’t have to admit that it hurt at all; Yasha and her grief and sorrow; Fjord and the mysteries he just spent two months at sea trying to solve and still doesn’t have answers for because he isn’t even really sure what questions to ask.  Out of this entire intrepid group of adventurers, Nott is the only one who still has a home left to go to that she wants to go back to someday.  

One of my Really Important Moments for Nott, one of the puzzle pieces I’ve been puzzling over for ages, has always been her reaction to Molly’s backstory reveal lo those hundred-odd hours ago.  The group is doubtful or considering or ready to applaud second chances or concerned about Lucien’s old business coming after them, and Nott sits there and declares unilaterally that a person’s past matters, and makes them who they are, and that someday Molly will want to know about his and she’ll be there to support him in it.  It’s the kind of statement that’s got the strength of personal ‘I believe this for Reasons and possibly some of them relate more to me than to anyone else’ behind it, and with everything we knew about Nott, everything we’ve learned about her straight up until Felderwind, it never ever fit.  Nott the Goblin who hates goblins, who fled her tribe--there’s no reason for her to be so obsessed with pasts.  She isn’t even bound and bogged down with enough of the right kind of self-hate to mesh with that sort of worldview, not if her past, her so-important life-defining past, is just the goblin clans and caverns.

But it’s not.  Her past is Veth, and that has to be important, because it means that this life (this body, this constant fear) isn’t everything she’s ever been or will be.  Nott-Veth’s past is so important and so very far away that she can’t even look at it in the face, so big and so far that it doesn’t come out for forty-eight fucking episodes.  I wish to god Molly had been here for this, but just, the explosion of Nott and Caleb feelings and parallels and everythings.

Because Nott and Caleb.  Because Nott tells Caleb to go fuck himself for the first time ever, and means it for just that one brief moment, just before she runs up the street to see her other son for the first time in over a year.  Because their backstories are so tightly entwined now, the bits they’ve forged together themselves while the bits they thought they’d left behind (run from, had stripped from them so forcibly) found each other and tied themselves in knots too.  Because Caleb’s deepest wish is to go back to what was, to a little house in a little town with a mother and a father and a son just like nothing was ever different, and in that respect he and Nott are exactly the same except for all the things that’ve happened in the interim that leave them so utterly different.

Thirty or forty episodes, when I was thinking about what I wanted for each of these characters someday, when I still thought Nott was Caleb’s funny goblin sidekick who needed some agency of her own, I wanted to see the day they disagreed about something important.  I was definitely right that I needed to see it, I was just so wrong about how.

#critical role #driveby meta attack #THESE FUCKING CHARACTERS #HOW DID SAM RIEGEL HOLD THIS IN FOR FORTY-NINE FUCKING EPISODES

[jessiewre]

Day 56

Sat 29th Feb

🧅🧅🧅 Leap Year & Day before the Run 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️

The room was very, VERY hot. We were sleeping on single beds in different corners of the room and the ceiling rotating fan was only reaching the edges of our beds. I got up early to escape & headed to the roof terrace - and immediately spotted the main attraction! The clouds had cleared for a moment and there was a beautiful view of Kilimanjaro peak. So cool!

I ran down to tell Phil to get up immediately and come see it. He grunted and reluctantly agreed to, so I ran back up where I’d left my stuff...and saw that the cloud had covered it up again. Uh oh...

LUCKILY when Phil appeared 5 minutes later, it popped its lovely head out of the clouds again and Phil was suitably impressed. We sat on the rooftop and ordered breakfast enjoying the view as the sun rose, but there was a problem developing. The heat was increasing very fast and the rooftop was getting really hot. There was a large roof cover so we weren’t getting direct heat, but it felt like the roof was absorbing all the sun and heating up the area into some sort of giant oven. Phil began to sweat profusely and ended up having to leave to shower and cool down before he lost his cool completely. He came back 20 minutes later feeling much better, much cooler, but after 15 minutes he was sweating again.

I was ok though and felt quite happy chilling on the rooftop, so Phil said he’d go for a walk. He wanted to do something, so went to get some bottles of water (literally water and not beer this time wtf right) then came back.

Wasn’t enough to satisfy him though, and he decided to go to an ATM to get our cash sorted. Fine by me! We agreed that we’d go together for the run registration half hour later, once he’d returned, as I wanted to go together plus was going to potentially sign up for the 5km fun run. 
Well, half an hour came and went, and I began to wonder where he’d got to. I hoped he wasn’t stressed looking for a cash point.

Then, an hour later, a very sweaty flappy Phil burst into the room.

‘Am I in deep shit? Are you fuming?!? Oh my god, that was SO annoying!’

I felt sorry for him straight away, but then noticed - he had his race number in his hand.

‘Phil...have you been to register for the race? Why did you go and register without me??’

Phil huffed and puffed a bit before launching into it.

‘Jess, just listen, that was SO annoying cos I walked to find a cash point and then realised I was really close to registration, like 0.8km...’

At which point I interrupted to let him know that 0.8km is not ‘really close’.

‘Jess, shut up, you don’t understand, I tried to go there and there was loads of traffic...’

‘Traffic? So you had to get a tuc tuc there? Makes sense I suppose, considering it wasn’t very close’

‘Jess shut UP it was really stressful, I tried to get online to let you know where I was cos I thought you’d be fuming I’d taken so long, and I couldn’t get online and so rushed back here, and I didn’t even pick up my tshirt’.

I was baffled as to his decision making.

‘Phil. Firstly, WHY did you go to register after we agreed to go together and I specifically said I wanted to go with you to register?? Secondly, why are you talking to me like I’VE done something wrong??’

But by this point, he’d got himself in such a state that we were not able to have a sensible conversation about it. Phil’s way of dealing with how annoyed he was with himself for making shite decisions was to shout at me, a lot (at one point he actually said ‘All you want to do is your blog’ which was a low blow I thought).

So I retreated to the safety of the rooftop where I could hurl abuse of my own at him from a safe distance via WhatsApp. Ahh, you gotta love a whatsapp argument. Phil is typing... oh IS he now.

Well it worked a treat and Phil went all Gary Barlow on me, messaging me along the lines of Whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn’t mean it. After admitting he’d been a grade A twat, he skulked up to the rooftop to apologise and started to laugh (the audacity of it), and we agreed to try again and head to the registration TOGETHER. I showed him the definition of the word on dictionary.com to avoid any further confusion.

We walked the (long and not close by) distance to the Keys hotel and oh thank goodness, there were still places available, so I signed up for the 5km ‘fun’ run. I had prepared my happy speech in advance ‘Oh yay, there are spots left, fantastic news, I’m so relieved, I thought they might all be gone by now and that would have been terrible’.

Fun run eh? We’ll see. Other suitable names for it could be the ‘5km Why Try’ or the ‘5km Pain Train’. Look, I KNOW its only 5km but I hadn’t run for ages so felt a little unsure as to how it was going to go.

Phil walked me over to a counter where he had seen a running hat for sale on his first trip there and he wanted to try it on. I managed to convince him that this red monstrosity of a hat looked super duper cool, was not a crime against fashion on every level and was the PERFECT match to accompany his wonderful & sexy running waistcoat. I wasn’t the only one thinking it, the guy selling them couldn’t get rid them quick enough and practically gave it to Phil, offering a 5000Tsh discount for no apparent reason. I know the reason. We all know the reason.*

While Phil was chatting to this guy about running and other boring things to do with running, we were approached by a guy with a camera woman asking if he could do an interview with Phil. I think it was the hat that did it. They obviously thought Wow look at those gullible fools, they’ll do anything. And they were right of course. I lolled while Phil answered a few questions and told them something about London being cold. Then the tables turned and they asked me to answer some question too. I was like No no no, I’m only doing the 5km, I’m not a runner runner like.

But they didn’t seem bothered, asking me too to say my name, how far I was running and how I’d prepared. ‘Well I haven’t prepared’ I said ‘But I’m only doing the 5km so I think I’ll survive!’.

I then could not for the life of me get ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Estefan out of my head.

Enos the interviewer took our number and said he’d send us a link when it went live. Sure mate, course you will - I fully expected to never hear from him again.

We left to go find some lunch and asked our tuc tuc driver to take us to the Kilimanjaro Coffee Lounge. But he was utterly clueless and we pulled up outside a completely different cafe called Union Cafe. Handily though, it was really close to our hotel so we thought Screw it, Union cafe it is then. It was pretty good, had a nice bagel with cheese, tomato and avocado plus a Mediterranean platter - houmous, pitta and two minuscule bowls of other dips.

My ice coffee shake was like pure syrup though and despite the first sip tasting delicious, by the end of it, it was positively nauseating. It was all a bit expensive too.

Back to the hotel where we watched the Crown with a Safari beer (so many great beer names here) and tried to take it easy ahead of tomorrow’s race. Loads of last minute sponsors came flying it which was really nice and gave us a much appreciated boost of support. They’d probably heard the news about my 5km run and thought I was a legend.

Out of pure laziness, we wandered round the corner back to Union Cafe to grab a takeaway pizza but decided to sit there instead when we saw there were tables available. As we sat there, Phil suddenly looked behind me and said ‘Jess...is that...is that a cricket on that mans shoulder??’.

Sure enough a huge locust was just sat on this guys shoulder, like it was his pet, joining him for dinner. I was fairly certain it was not his pet and it looked hilarious sat there like his pal. I got the mans attention and said ‘Excuse me, you have a cricket on your shoulder’. He stared at me with confusion and when he eventually realised what I was saying, he started to do a shimmy shake with his shoulders leaning over his table in a panic to try and get his mate to flick the cricket off him 😂😂😂. His mate finally got it and the man tried to look all calm as he casually turned to us and said ‘Thank you’ through a forced smile.

We enjoyed this incident very much.

The chips and Greek salad were ok but the pizza was rubbisssshhhh. The pizza looked like it had been sat for ages, like it had been cooked twice. Being the feminist that I am (aren’t we all?) I used a ring of onion to mock propose to Phil (ITS A LEAP YEAR Y’ALL) and he said yes! But please, don’t get excited guys, it was a piece of onion yeah 🧅. We took the carbs and headed back our crazy hotttt room. We got all our running gear ready, though I had my doubts about wearing running leggings in the heat, then did a bit of bed shifting to catch the fan breeze a bit more. We’d learnt from the night before and both put ear plugs in to drown out the crazy loud road noises before attempting sleep.

*Look Phil, I was kidding about the hat. I thought it would be funny to diss it on the blog and I actually think its a wonderful and very fantastic practical addition to your running kit. Please wear it with pride and enjoy the shade it gives you. I certainly will.

[cinnbar-bun]

In a Blink of an Eye

(Phos x Human! Reader)

A/n: Angst...angst...angst...first thing that isn’t GBF and ITS SOME HNK ANGST IM SORRY. CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR HNK. Also, male pronouns for the gems. 

“Ne, (Y/n), look what I made!” 

“It’s so pretty! These flowers are more beautiful than the ones from my time.” 

“Dia taught me how to make them into a crown. For you, uh, if you want?” 

“Of course, how could I resist? You made it for me!” 

“Since we’ve got nothing better to do, why don’t we sit in the fields for a while?” 

“Let’s go. There’s so much we have to talk about!” 

I remember that time. That was when (Y/n) kept talking about home. They said they missed it, but being with me made it easier for them. How strange. It felt strange to be wanted by someone. 

“Phos! Slow down! I can’t keep up with you!” 

“Heh, maybe all those snails are starting to drag you down!” 

“Meanie. I thought you cared for me!” 

“Of course I do. But~” 

“Oh no.” 

“Tickle fight!” 

“Stop! Phos! Heh, s-s-stop! I don’t wanna hurt you!” 

“Huh? Why would you hurt me?” 

“I wouldn’t. You just uh...” 

“O-oh...yeah...shattering...it’s fine, Rutile will patch me up again.” 

“But I’d feel awful if you broke because of me.” 

“You worry too much. Seriously, this is Rutile’s job, he’ll do it.” 

“If you say so...” 

Right...this was after I lost my legs...I chased (Y/n) around all the time. They always tried to run by my side, even though they were no where near as fast as me. It was fun running through the fields with them. We’d catch butterflies and just talk. They cried once because they thought they broke me. Even if they did, I wouldn’t mind, it was just nice to be with them. 

“You’re up for the winter?” 

“Of course. Where else would I be?” 

“Uh...hibernating?” 

“Humans don’t do that Phos, only some animals.” 

“Huh...strange...then how do you live with low levels of sunlight?” 

“I dunno. We don’t need it that much, we get energy from other things. Don’t be surprised if I’m tired and mopey all the time though!” 

“So then, what do you do for winter?” 

“A lot. We can go ice-skating, or sledding, or make snowmen and snow angels. Tons of things!” 

“What are those things?” 

“I’ll show you okay? Wait, even better! We can celebrate Christmas together!” 

“Christmas?” 

“It’s a holiday where friends and family get together and exchange gifts. We sit next to a warm fire and have dinner together, and then in the morning, we open the gifts Santa left us from that night.” 

“S-Santa?” 

I still don’t understand what Christmas is. They gave me a red hat with cotton on the end and said it was a “Santa hat”. Still don’t know what that is either. My gift was a book about how much they loved and cared for me. They felt awful they couldn’t get me anything, but I loved it. I kept it in my room. They helped me when Antarcticite was taken. They helped me when my arms became gold. My brothers were scared of me, but (Y/n) never stopped loving me. I felt better knowing that I could be by their side. 

“Phosphophyllite, you do know the dangers you are putting yourself in by getting attached to them, right?” 

“What are you talking about, Sensei? They’ve helped me and I don’t think I could be where I am without them.” 

“It’s much more complicated than you’d ever understand. Tell me, what would happen if they suddenly left?” 

“I’d go find them.” 

“What if they were to wither and break slowly?” 

“Then I’d fix them, like they did for me.” 

“Phos...you have much to learn. They’re not pleasant things to learn. Humans are different from gems. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.” 

“But we can always put them back together! Rutile will fix them!” 

“No, Phos, you cannot put back together a human body and soul. Death is a foreign concept to all of you, but you will learn the painful truth about life. Not everything can be brought back, and not everything can last. Some things are gone in a blink of an eye.” 

I wanted to argue with him, I wanted to say how I’d never let (Y/n) get hurt. How I didn’t care how bad I was injured, I’d rather they lived. Words cannot describe how wonderful they’ve been to me. 

“S-sorry, Phos...my body isn’t as young as it once was.” 

“It’s fine. I’m sure a little nap will fix that.” 

“Maybe...let’s sit under the sun again...” 

I noticed they always were tired and slow. They were becoming weaker and couldn’t keep up with me as much. They complained their back and their knees were hurting, but that they were fine. “Growing pains” they laughed. If they weren’t seriously injured, then I didn’t mind. (Y/n) was strong. I know that.

Yet...it’s strange...sometimes I hear them saying my name...talking to me... I want to say something back, but my voice never leaves me. And then one day, it stopped. It must have been my imagination. 

“Phos. Phos. Phos.” 

The sensation is new. I don’t understand what happened. Cairn is in front of me, a bewildered expression on his face. 

“You’re finally awake.” 

“I guess so...” This isn’t my head. I can feel it. 

Lapis. 

I looked around the room before looking back at Cairngorm. 

“I feel like I was supposed to see someone. Their name is on the tip of my tongue...it’s...it’s...” 

“(Y/n).” 

“Ah, yes, that’s it! Where’s (Y/n)?” I want to see them again and ask more about Santa. I want to to sit in the sun once more. 

“Uh...about that...” Cairn doesn’t face me. 

“What’s wrong? Why are you so sad?” 

“P-Phos?” I turn around and assumed it was (Y/n), but it didn’t sound like them. Diamond and Bort were at the door, staring at me in surprise. 

“It’s been over a hundred years! We thought you’d never wake up.” Diamond says before he embraces me. 

“Heh, well, I’m here. Do you know where (Y/n) is?” Diamond and Bort nod before they make me follow them. 

I feel giddy all over at the thought of seeing them. One hundred years without them has been quite boring, but I’d wait more for them. 

“Hey, we’ve been walking for a while now. Where are you taking me?” I ask impatiently. 

Bort shakes his head before we stop in the open meadow. I don’t see (Y/n) anywhere.

“Are they going to surprise me again?” I didn’t understand what was going on. 

“No. They’re right here.” Bort stated, pointing at a stone on the ground. 

“So funny, Bort. Come on, where are they?” 

“Phos, they’re right here. They died. Years ago.” Dia states a bit too casually for my taste. It was almost like it was a joke to them. 

“W-what? Dead? But it’s only been a hundred years, I’m not understanding wha-” 

“Phos.” Sensei steps forward and places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Remember what we discussed a long time ago? Humans are much more different than you. They are gone quicker than you’ll ever realize.” 

“B-but...can’t we- can’t we put them back together?” I feel tears in my eyes. Why am I shaking so much? 

Sensei shakes his head. 

“Humans rot. They cannot be replaced. Their body does not exist anymore, all that’s left is bone.” 

“When did this...” I can hardly muster out the courage to ask. I’ve been gone for how long? How long had (Y/n) been dead while I was resting?

“Over eighty years ago. They barely reached one hundred years of life.” 

Barely a hundred? Was that even living? 

“So...so...they really are gone?” I huddle over the stone on the ground. This was the last remainder of (Y/n) I’d get. 

A horrid thought came into my mind. What if I forgot about (Y/n)? What if all our days together just disappeared? 

I can’t hear anything. I can’t feel anything. It’s just a horrible choking feeling, as if I was drowning. I don’t remember what happened next. Sensei had to pull me away from the stone and tried to hold me back. The other gems were screaming for me to stop. There’s some dirt on my hands and knees, but I can hardly even think about that. 

(Y/n) was gone. 

A hundred years is nothing. I remembered the phrase Sensei used to describe humans. 

“They’re gone in a blink of an eye.” 

#phosphophyllite #hnk phos #hnk spoilers #writing #Houseki no Kuni #houseki no kuni imagines #phos x reader

[rad-neto]

“Feels Like Drowning.”

@lawlu-events | FOR THE LAWLU BIG BANG 2018 | artwork by @ariririsu 

He was in love.

A simple conclusion brought together by a series of not exactly unfortunate events. He was quite simply in love and almost terrifyingly so.

Oh god.

He was in love.

It wasn’t as simple as he thought it was going to be, actually. In fact, he is rather terrified. He was in love and scared and he had never felt something as amazing as those two emotions smashed together like some disgusting sandwich.

At twenty-seven years old he fell in love for the very first time and it felt like drowning.

Trafalgar D. Water Law, P.h.D. in a lot of things that aren’t particularly important to this story. But he was a medical person, to be unspecific. He was medical and magical, like most folk were. Magical, that is, not medical. Although there were plenty of medical people out there, just to clarify. But Law was a wizard as well as a surgeon and it came in handy in tricky situations, he supposed. Like saving the life of a seventeen year old boy who had gotten himself impaled on a thing. Yes, a thing, just a thing because a surgery that happened two years ago was two years too long for him to bother remembering what exactly a person was impaled with because two years ago it didn’t really matter to him.

Two years later it did matter a lot more than he expected because two years later a lot of unexpected things began to occur in his life, that on any normal day he would question, but there was no normal day left for him to be allowed to ponder those thoughts. Two years later, he met a boy named Monkey D. Luffy, a wizard like him. A freakishly powerful wizard who could probably split mountains with a simple armament spell casted on his fist. Not only that, but Luffy had, like, a lot of insanely powerful wizard friends who scared Law a lot, not that he would ever admit that.

But he supposed it was his fault anyway for saving Luffy’s life two years ago.

It started in January. He received a knock on his door at five in the evening. It was a Saturday and it was his day off and he was just about to order some dinner from that Thai restaurant down the street when it happened. With a sigh, Law set down his cell phone and walked up to the door, opening it without checking the peep hole first. On the other side was two men. They were both the same height, roughly. One had wavy blonde hair and a burn that covered the left side of his face which would seem terrifying if it weren’t for the fact that his smile was gentle and kind and not at all psychotic like you would expect. The other had black hair and several freckles decorating his face. He didn’t look as friendly as the other man, but Law willed himself to be unbothered by it.

“Can I help you?” he asked, hoping he didn’t sound as impatient as he felt.

“Sorry for bothering you,” the blonde one said. “But we had just moved in next door and we kinda felt the need to introduce ourselves to the neighbors. My name is Sabo and this is my brother Ace and we also have a little brother named Luffy but he’s out with his friends right now so it’s just us at the moment. I made casserole as a gift.” He held up a foil covered container Law just now noticed and before he could say anything it was pushed into his hands.

From a crack in the foil, he could smell the dish and its savory, cheesy aroma had his stomach aching. “Thank you,” he said, almost unsurely. “I’m Dr. Trafalgar Law, it’s a pleasure meeting you.” Again, with the formalities. He was tired of speaking so politely after having to do so much of it at the hospital already.

The brothers left him with brief instructions of how to heat up the casserole if it gets too cold before returning to the apartment beside his. He really was grateful for the food, it saved him from wasting money on mediocre Thai food takeout. Law spent the next few hours preparing and eating dinner alone while watching reruns of Doctor Who on his box TV.

While being a surgeon does get him a lot of money, Law was more of the type to conserve his money rather than spend it recklessly on things that weren’t essential to him like a fancy house or car. Hell, he didn’t even drive to work, he took the bus just so he could save a couple dollars that he could use to pay rent and his bills.

He shoveled another bite of casserole into his mouth, chewing slowly as he watched the opening sequence of the Doctor Who episode began to play. One might think a life like this was lonely, but he didn’t mind it. Not at all. Not even a little bit. Not even when he wakes up alone in his bed, the sheets cold and the silence deafening. Not even when he eats dinner alone, watching television until he passes out on his couch. Not even when he unlocks the door to his apartment and walks into an empty home. He wasn’t lonely. He wasn’t lonely at all.

Suddenly, his door blasted open and he was sprayed with bits of wood and brick.

Of course he was surprised by this. Exploding doors was not a common occurrence. It wasn’t even mentioned in the advert when he found this vacant apartment a few years ago.

Law coughed up the smoke that had invaded the lungs, swiping at the dust in the air as he stood from his seat and approached his ruined doorway. On the floor of his apartment was a boy. A boy wearing a straw hat and sandals. The boy laid there for a few moments before slowly detaching himself from the ground, dust and debris covering every part of him. He coughed once.

“Hi,” the boy said cheerily, grinning at Law.

“You destroyed my door.”

Sabo and Ace suddenly appeared from what used to be his doorway, concern etched in their expressions. “Luffy!” Sabo exclaimed in surprise. It took him a moment to connect the dots and his pleasant surprise turned to disapproval. “Luffy, what did we say about using destructive spells indoors?”

“Not to?” the boy answered unsurely, looking up at his brother with an innocent and sheepish smile.

Ace grabbed Luffy by the collar and dragged him out into the hallway as Sabo repeatedly apologized for his brother’s behavior and that he would deal with the damage immediately. Law could do nothing except blink as the three of them disappeared, the door repairing itself after being hit with a quick spell from the blonde brother.

He believed those brothers were the most bizarre neighbors he had ever met in his entire life.

After tidying up his apartment with a series of cleaning spells, Law went to bed. He slept only briefly before waking and, well, getting on with his day. It was still the weekend so he intended to spend what was left of it relaxing, something he didn’t get to do often on any other day. He wore comfortable clothes: a pair of joggers and a plain t-shirt. He thought of all the things he needed to do and was glad that he didn’t need to leave his apartment at all unless he wanted to. And he didn’t want to. Not at all.

Law laid on his couch and read a book. And it wasn’t a medicine related book at all. It was a book with a real story, with characters and plot and it was the best thing he had ever read since before he became a surgeon. What was he even reading? Probably Neil Gaiman or something, he had a handful of his books. But it didn’t matter to him because he was actually reading a book because he wanted to not because he had to. And he liked that. Doing things for pleasure, not for work. And that was something he was not going to do today. Work.

A knock on his newly-repaired door interrupted his book reading and he grumbled as he doggy eared the page he was on and set the novel on his coffee table.

Who dares to interrupt my reading time? He thought in a very Mufasa sounding voice, which he immediately regretted and erased the memory of ever thinking in such a way. It was embarrassing to say the least.

Opening the door, he saw the straw hat boy from last night. Luffy, he believed. Law rose a brow at him, urging him to speak.

“Uh, well,” Luffy began, frowning in thought. “Sabo said I had to apologize for breaking your door last night. So, sorry, I guess.” He grinned brightly and it was almost blinding.

Despite his words, Luffy didn’t sound very apologetic at all. Law decided to ignore that and tell him he already forgave him so he can go back to his own apartment so that Law could be left alone, again. But then Luffy held up a pie dish.

“Sabo also made you this! As a gift. It’s really tasty, Sabo always makes tasty things, but not as much as Sanji does. Sanji’s my friend! He cooks in a real fancy restaurant downtown. But he’s also very good at kicking things and it’s fun when he and Zoro fight all the time. Oh, Zoro is my other friend, he has green hair and uses three swords to fight and it’s super cool! One time he fought a dragon can you believe that? Because I can, I saw it with my own two eyes,” Luffy rambled, pointing at his eyes for emphasis.

It was clear that he had more to say and Law wasn’t really interested in any of it, but he was trying not to be rude so he did something he wouldn’t have expected himself to do in a million years and invited the boy into his apartment. Luffy walked in cheerily and set the pie on the table, sitting on top of it as he continued to talk about his friends.

“Besides Zoro and Sanji, there’s also Nami, Robin, Chopper, Usopp, Franky, Brook, Jinbei,” he counted them off on his fingers as Law grabbed plates for the pie. “Nami is real mean sometimes, and stingy and greedy and other bad things. But she can be nice, too. She lives on a tangerine orchard with her big sister Nojiko. Nojiko is nicer than Nami but Nami is my friend because she’s mean. It’s a whole thing.” Law sliced the pie and scooped a piece for himself and Luffy. “Robin is super serious. Well, sometimes she makes a joke that I don’t really understand and she says weird stuff like “I hope we don’t die” or something like that. It’s weird but kinda funny too, especially when she scares Nami and Usopp. Speaking of Usopp, he has this real long nose, he looks kinda like Pinocchio and—yes, I’d like ice cream with my slice, thanks—and he’s a real wimp but he’s brave when he wants to be and that’s what’s great about him.” Law set the plate of pie beside Luffy and sat down in front of him with a bored expression. “Then there’s Chopper who’s a talking reindeer. He’s also a doctor and he’s super funny. Do you know any talking animal doctors?” He shoveled a portion of pie into his mouth, chewing obnoxiously.

Law had made himself tea and sipped from his mug before answering. “Yes, actually, I do. One of my colleagues is a polar bear mink,” he said, taking a bite of his own pie.

Luffy’s eyes lit up like light bulbs. “A talking polar bear?” he exclaimed excitedly, bits of crust and filling spraying from his mouth and Law had to grimace.

“Yes,” he confirmed, pulling out his cell phone and browsing through it to find a picture. Once he found one, he showed it to the boy. “His name is Bepo and he works as my assistant surgeon.”

Luffy grinned at that, teeth stained red from the cherry filling and crumbs were wedged between them. It was a hideous smile and yet Law found it strangely charming. Which he would never admit. Ever. He put his phone back in his pocket and focused his attention onto his pie. When he looked up, he saw that Luffy had practically inhaled his slice of pie and he was unsure if he should be impressed or horrified.

“Oh yeah,” Luffy burped. And I mean actually burped. Somehow he managed to create words from a disgusting noise. “I forgot to introduce myself. Sabo says that’s bad manners.” Obviously Luffy had been minding his manners throughout his entire visit. “My name’s Monkey D. Luffy! I’m gonna become King of the Wizards!”

It was a ridiculous ambition because becoming King of the Wizards was a myth and more of a children’s fairytale, but he decided not to say anything about that. “Dr. Trafalgar D. Water Law,” he introduced in turn. “I’m a surgeon at the hospital downtown.”

“‘S nice to meet you, Torao!” That wasn’t his name but okay, whatever, he was tired.

Luffy hopped down from his seat on the table and dusted the crumbs off his shorts. “Thanks for the pie. I’ll come again later to hang out! We’ll be the best of friends!” And then he waved. And then he left.

Law should be upset that Luffy had just invited himself over for whenever he felt like coming, but he was terrified to find that he was actually looking forward to his next visit. He was just too damn charming.

Luffy visited frequently. At first, he came only on the weekends, but then he started visiting in the middle of the week, and then he started bringing along some of his friends. The first time, he had showed up with his brother Ace. Now Law was fine with that because Ace was also his neighbor and he did his best to make them comfortable and to avoid the intimidating glare he would feel directed at the back of his head every time he turned around. Then Luffy began bringing others to his apartment.

He met Zoro on a Wednesday, after he had finished up at work and got home early that evening. He hadn’t even changed out of his clothes yet when there was a knock on his door. His heart leapt in his chest as he expected it to be Luffy on the other side (but again, he would never admit that his heart did any acrobatics in his chest at all) and he opened it to find, yes, it was Luffy! But also a tall green haired man standing right behind him.

“Heya, Torao! I brought Zoro with me this time! I told him you had a cool sword and he said he wanted to see it,” Luffy was already walking past Law and into the apartment, friend in tow. Law watched as they approached the nodachi displayed on his wall, a cursed sword that his uncle Doflamingo bought for him as a Christmas gift, but he wasn’t superstitious so he kept the sword because it looked like a cool decoration.

“Hey, Torao, what was your sword named again?” Luffy asked suddenly.

Law shut the door and joined them by the nodachi. “Kikoku,” he answered. “It’s supposed to be cursed.”

He would have found the way Luffy looked absolutely thrilled at the prospect of a cursed sword worrisome if it weren’t for the fact that his chest felt incredibly tight and his cheeks felt they were burning at four hundred and fifty one degrees Fahrenheit. But besides that, Zoro looked just as excited as Luffy, in his own way of course.

“A cursed blade, huh? Just like my Sandai Kitetsu,” he patted the hilt of one of his swords for emphasis. “You ever used it before?”

Law suddenly felt a bit suspicious. “Er, no, not really. I’ve only ever used it as a decoration,” he answered unsurely.

Zoro frowned. “Disappointing.”

It was then that Law realized that Zoro might have intended to challenge him to a duel had he been able to use Kikoku. He already didn’t like this. Luffy took control of the conversation from there, talking excitedly about his day and how he saw his friend Jinbei riding an actual whale shark in the ocean. And after sharing a dessert and some tea, Luffy and Zoro left and Law was left alone.

He was afraid that this would become a thing. Not the whole Luffy visiting situation, that was already a thing and a thing that he enjoyed, but he meant Luffy visiting with his other friends. From Zoro alone Law decided that meeting the rest of Luffy’s crew would be a stressful and possibly terrifying experience. He didn’t want it to happen again.

It happened again.

Luffy returned on a Saturday with not just one, but two friends accompanying him and Law had to refrain from groaning. He could refuse to let them in. He should refuse to let them in. But Luffy’s gleeful grin and the excitement that twinkled in his eyes, those things made it difficult for Law to do anything except for step aside and invite them into his apartment.

This time it was Usopp and Chopper who had entered his abode and they were surprisingly pleasant company. Usopp and Luffy shared a bowl of snacks on the floor while they played a game of Go Fish. Law actually managed to befriend Chopper as they exchanged medical advice and patient stories.

“Nami was actually my first patient,” the reindeer doctor had told him. “She had caught a really bad fever so Nojiko and everyone brought her to the nearest clinic. My mentor Doctrine was out when they came so I did my best to help and that’s how we all became friends.”

Law thought that those were strange circumstances to become friends under, but then he remembered how Cora-san had adopted him after Law had stabbed him with the intent to rob him of all his belongings, and the thought was dismissed.

He wasn’t surprised the next day when Luffy decided to show up with a cyborg of all things standing in the hallway.

Law was able to meet a majority of Luffy’s friends in about a week, and he sure had a lot of them. He met a fishman, a mermaid, a skeleton, and other interesting species. It was... a lot to take in, even if he was a wizard who could do things just as bizarre with a wave of his hand.

But he felt that he was barely anything at all when Luffy was far more powerful than he was, both magically and physically. That fact would have hurt his pride if he didn’t find it insanely attractive. And that was something new to him. Admitting that he found Luffy attractive. He had come to terms with his emotions after spending many sleepless nights having arguments with himself over whether or not he was completely infatuated with an idiot wearing a straw hat.

He cried himself to sleep after that realization.

When Luffy showed up on his doorstep on a Saturday, a bouquet of flowers in his hands and a wide grin on his face, Law was confused.

“What’s this for?” he asked, staring at the arrangement of carnations and daisies that had been pushed into his arms.

Luffy gave a short laugh. “Sabo said ‘If you’re gonna take Law to Sanji’s place, you gotta give him a gift first.’ So I asked Robin to make you something nice and she gave me those,” he said as though everything was explained perfectly. “Oh, right. I forgot to say that I was taking you to Sanji’s restaurant tonight! It’s real fancy but I don’t think he’ll care if we show up in regular clothes. I don’t have anything nicer than this anyway.”

Law was so confused.

Was this- Was this a date? Was Luffy taking him out to dinner? On a date? Was this really happening right now?

Before he could ask any one of those questions, Luffy took him by the hand and dragged him out the door. Law managed to shut and lock it as he was taken away and maybe his spotted jeans and black and yellow hoodie were too casual for a fancy restaurant, but he felt that he couldn’t care because this might be a real date with Luffy.

Oh god. This might be a real date with Luffy.

He tried not to think too hard about this entire scenario as he sat beside Luffy on the bus. He tried not to think too hard about their hands still clasped together as Luffy rambled about how delicious Sanji’s food was. He tried not to think in general.

The bus stopped a street away from a big, shiny restaurant that had people lined up outside in the chilly night as they waited for a seat to be open. Luffy ignored the line completely and a tough looking guy dressed in a kitchen apron and had a silver name tag that read “Patty” in bold text escorted them inside. Law had to keep his jaw from dropping because Luffy wasn’t exaggerating when he said this place was fancy.

It was a French-style restaurant. Its tables were all decorated the same, adorned with candles and flowers for the centerpieces. The tablecloths were a pristine white, not a single stain could be seen. The china was the finest porcelain he had ever seen, making his own traditional Japanese tea set look like a children’s play thing. There were three golden chandeliers that surrounded a large modern styled glass chandelier in the center. A spiral staircase sat off to the side that led to upper level and balcony seating. The ceiling had a gorgeous mural of some biblical painting that he didn’t know the name of.

Law had never felt more insecure than he did in that moment.

Patty lead them through the restaurant to a set of double doors in the back. They were brought through the kitchens that was a cacophony of clattering dishes and banging pots. But despite the noise, the food smelled amazing. His stomach growled as they passed and he tried to pass it off as background noise, ignoring the embarrassed flush that spread across his cheeks. There was another door at the back of the kitchens and when it was opened, he saw a corridor that lead to another door.

Just how big was this restaurant, anyway?

Naturally, they walked to the end of the hall and behind the other door was a private room. There was a table set up like all the other ones were. White tablecloth, flowers and candles, blue velvet seats. There were floor to ceiling windows on the other side that looked over the ocean. It smelled like roses.

A part of his brain nagged at him, telling him that this was disgustingly corny. He was about to voice that opinion, too, until he saw Luffy’s face, slightly dimmed by the lack of light but his always present smile was brightening it ten times better than any candle could. He realized that Luffy was smiling at him.

“Do you like it?” Luffy asked him, and it took him a moment to understand that he was talking about the room. Why was his brain functioning so slowly tonight?

“Yeah,” he said and his throat felt dry and he needed something to drink but all he did was sit down and watch as Luffy sat in front of him.

Patty poured them their waters and left the jug on the table before exiting the room. Law lifted his glass and took three large gulps, leaving only a quarter left. He has never felt so nervous before. Luffy was staring at him. Simply staring at him. Except it wasn’t that simple because Law felt extremely vulnerable under that gaze. He didn’t know what to do or say. It was incredible.

“Sanji is making us a special meal,” Luffy told him, breaking the silence finally. “I already told him that you don’t like bread so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Law was going to die.

He was going to die in this five star restaurant with a beautiful view of the ocean, sitting in a private room with this person who he was absolutely head over heels in love with and he was okay with that. But before he could actually pass on to the afterlife, the door opened and a blonde man with a cart of food entered the room.

“Sanji!” Luffy greeted excitedly, grinning at his friend.

The chef returned the smile and put out his cigarette on an empty tray that was sitting on top of his cart. “Alright, shitty customers. I have your first course, the entrée,” he removed the lid of one dish. “Vichyssoise, a thick soup made of boiled and puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock. Please enjoy.” Sanji set two bowls of the soup in front of them before leaving them alone once more.

Luffy immediately lifted the bowl of its plate and tipped its contents into his mouth hungrily. Law had lifted his spoon to his mouth but paused to watch him consume his soup in a messy manner. He blinked a moment before tasting his soup carefully. It was delicious.

Sanji returned a few moments later with wine. “Luffy can’t have this but you can if you want,” he had said but Law refused. He was hesitant about consuming alcohol when he was already drunk on his own emotions. If that even made sense.

Sanji shrugged and left again and by the time Law had finished his soup, he returned with another cart of food. “Voilà votre plat principal,” he said as he introduced them to their next dish and this routine continued all the way to their final course. They had ice cream sundaes for dessert and even though it was simple, with just ice cream with wafers and syrup, it was just as delicious as the rest of the meal had been.

When Law asked how much it all cost, Sanji had insisted that it was on the house. In his surprise, he looked to Luffy who happened to be looking right back at him with that grin on his face and he was falling in love all over again.

They left the restaurant, after thanking Sanji and everyone else for the pleasant evening, and Luffy was walking back to the apartment with him (I mean, of course he was, they were neighbors) and it was a long walk but not unpleasant. Somewhere along the way he had realized he had forgotten to bring his jacket and it was kinda chilly, but he didn’t want to say anything and he didn’t have to because Luffy just looked at him and cast a warming spell and suddenly he felt like he was wrapped in a soft blanket. Law felt like he was blushing and he hoped that it wasn’t obvious, but Luffy didn’t say anything about it as he held his hand again and talked about the stars and how maybe he should be an astronaut.

When they got to his apartment, Law paused by the door, one hand on the knob as he considered what to say. “Thank you,” he muttered, facing away for a moment before turning to look Luffy in the eye. “I had a nice night.”

Luffy grinned and their hands were still connected and Law was about to pull away when suddenly he was being kissed and even though it only lasted a second it sent sparks throughout his body and he could do nothing but stare as Luffy let go of his hand and escaped to his own apartment.

The next morning, Law couldn’t help but wonder if that was all a dream.

He got up like he always did but he was sort of in a daze. He still hadn’t been able to process everything that happened the previous night because Luffy had kissed him. And he was ninety percent sure that they had just went on a date.

He even thought that this was some sort of spell and did some extensive research on the possibility of last night being just a very realistic illusion but he knew in his gut that it had really happened.

Jesus Christ.

All of that really happened.

Law held his head in his hands as he leaned over his mug of coffee, sitting at his dining table in utter distress. This was not good for his heart. He was behaving like a twelve year-old girl with a crush and it was the worst. A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts and wiped at the bags under his eyes before answering. Luffy was standing there and he decided that this boy was going to be the death of him. He was going to die of exploding emotions. Or something like that.

“Torao!” Luffy greeted excitedly.

Law wondered how he could do that. Act so casual like he hadn’t kissed him last night. Then he remembered that Luffy doesn’t even know the word “shame.” He stepped aside to let him in and Luffy immediately jumped onto his sofa. He joined him silently.

They had to talk. Law needed to sort out his feelings and the only way he could do that was talk about them to Luffy of all people.

“Last night,” he began quietly as Luffy was surfing through his channels on the television. “When you, er, kissed me.”

“Oh, that? Sabo told me it’s what I’m supposed to do after walking you home. He said it’s “the nice thing to do,” Luffy commented as he stopped his browsing and settled for an old western playing on some obscure channel.

Oh.

“And the dinner?”

“An excuse to get you to meet Sanji and taste his food. He’s a real good cook, right?” he grinned at him.

Oh.

That made... sense. He supposed.

Law didn’t say anything for a long while. Luffy was expecting an answer from him and he gave a mumbled “yeah.” The boy returned his attention to the television then and he was left to his thoughts. Of course it was all just in his head. He couldn’t believe he thought that Luffy actually felt that way about him. Ah, he wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

“I have to get ready for work,” it was a lie. “I’m working overtime.” It was Sunday and it was his day off.

“Oh, okay,” Luffy said, surprised. “Guess I’ll just come back later. Have fun being an adult!”

And then he was gone.

And Law was alone.

Instead of trying to move on from his supposed unrequited feelings, he locked himself in his apartment, ignoring his door for the rest of the day and ate away his emotions. The next day he’s going to see that he’s gained half a pound and he’ll regret it then, but right now he’s going to eat everything in his refrigerator and watch Mamma Mia! until he passes out with a bucket of ice cream in his arms and a spoon in his mouth.

Law definitely wasn’t avoiding Luffy.

Waking up at an ungodly hour to get ready for work and leaving before anyone else should be awake is not avoiding. Staying late at the hospital until it’s practically midnight and then going home is most definitely not avoiding.

And it wasn’t like he was losing sleep over this, he slept plenty in his office during his breaks and he slept for four hours at home and he was a doctor, he knew that four hours was the absolute minimum to having a healthy rest.

He also ignored Luffy’s text messages.

Not that he would call it ignoring.

More like setting aside for later. If later meant never.

But everything was fine. He spent less time at home and worked more. He wasn’t stressed at all. He was eating protein bars for breakfast and bland hospital food for lunch so his diet was set. Dinner didn’t even happen. He was fine. Everything was fine. He’s got everything worked out and it’ll all blow over like the toupee on Donald Trump’s head.

So it didn’t “blow over” like he hoped it would.

The weekend came and he really couldn’t handle any more overtime so he stayed home. And of course there was a knock on his door. He wanted to ignore it. He was going to ignore it and hope that whoever was at the door would go away.

“Hey, Torao, it’s me.”

Damn. Why did the universe seem to hate him?

“Uh, I get that you’ve been busy and stuff, but you haven’t been answering my texts and stuff and it’s got me kinda worried. If you’re in trouble I can help you out, y’know. ‘Cause we’re friends and all.”

Law still didn’t answer. He remained seated on his sofa, wrapped in a warm blanket. Luffy didn’t say anything for awhile after that and for a moment he thought he left. But then he started talking again.

“If you don’t wanna talk to me, that’s okay. I’ll just talk to you. You don’t have to listen if you don’t wanna, but I’m gonna do it anyway.” And he did. Luffy was outside his door for hours, talking about what he did all week, describing a new dish Sanji made, telling him about some mini-venture he went on with his friends.

“The other day, I was talking to Sabo about you,” Law perked up at that. “I told him that I really liked hanging out with you and stuff and that you’re probably my most favorite person in the entire world, besides Ace and Sabo, of course. I told him that some day, Torao and I are gonna get married because that’s what you do when you want to be with someone forever, right? And I wanna be with you forever, Torao because you’re my bestest friend and I’m never gonna let you go.”

Law opened the door suddenly and Luffy was standing there, a surprised expression on his face.

“That was really corny,” Law said, frowning. “And bestest is a stupid word. And you can’t just decide to marry me out of the blue there has to be some sort of build-up.”

But Luffy just blinked at him and there was a plate of half eaten steak in his hands that he just noticed and suddenly Luffy was grinning like an idiot.

“I saved some of Sanji’s dish for you but I got hungry so I ate some.”

Law couldn’t believe that he was so in love that he let Luffy into his apartment to share half a lukewarm steak.

#one piece #op #lawlu #lulaw #fanfiction #lawlu big bang #lawlubb 2018-2019

[andrewuttaro]

New Look Sabres: 2019 Free Agency

The wise words of noted NHL insider Elliotte Friedman go “When you’re drowning in this league other teams don’t throw you a life jacket, they throw you an anchor.” In spite of a handful of decent to great players getting traded in the last few weeks for peanuts, generally speaking it’s very hard to pull off a trade that is a lopsided win for your team. Free Agency is worse. Free Agency is like opening a septic tank looking for a diamond ring and jumping in expecting not to get covered in shit. The last big Free Agency signing the Sabres pulled off was Kyle Okposo. All the off-ice stuff you want to say about the Sex Man aside: that contract sucks ass. It was bad the moment it was signed. That’s what most free agency signings are like. Jason Botterill approaches this offseason publicly saying he wants to focus more on the trade avenue. That’s smart. I’d prefer he not give out too much money in free agency like his predecessor did with Okposo. However we are a fanbase that has run out of patience eight years out of the playoffs. Significant roster moves are paramount right now. How we got here is actually pretty simple. The tank worked (let’s not relitigate it) and rebuild 1.0 was accelerated by Tim Murray with the Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane signings at the cost of a wave of prospects and picks. Rebuild 1.0 failed. That failed initial rebuild was what brought Kyle Okposo here as a free agent. He’s now our very own salary cap albatross circling in the skies above the nearly dead Buffalo Sabres that were so stripped down in the tank they’re aimless even with some talent on the roster. We’ve all run out of patience. Rebuild 2.0 under Jason Botterill has gone better but, and this is a big but, the second half collapse of last season was decisive. It ended Phil Housley’s coaching career in Buffalo, and it burned a lot of the fan goodwill Jason Botterill had held onto through the legendarily bad season that earned us Rasmus Dahlin. Another bad season probably costs Botterill his job. This is the situation that gave birth to the buzzword of Sabres twitter: “Roster Surgery”. Bill Schake analyzed it best. Chad DeDominicis’ right hand man essentially said roster surgery is a great way to put it because there is so few tradeable assets left on this team it will take some cunning, creative moves to make real change. It’s truly surgery of the roster because its hard. It’s going to be harder than it’s ever been in the Eichel Era this summer to make this team look competitive past Valentine’s Day. So what changes do we have to talk about as we enter the long, dull portion of the NHL hockey calendar?

Well… Rasmus Ristolainen was the one big tradeable asset I was alluding to… and this past weekend… the Sabres signed Marcus Johansson. Ok so, the trade we’ve been waiting for didn’t happen before the posting of this article. Lord knows it will after this goes up and I’ll have to wait until the Offseason Retrospective to write about it. But let’s not poo-poo a great signing just because it’s not a trade we want. In fact, this specific blog is called 2019 Free Agency so let’s talk about Free Agents for a bit. Marcus Johansson, apart from adding yet another Swede to one of the most swede-heavy rosters in the National Hockey League, adds much needed left-wing depth to the top six. He’s considered a veteran at 28 and has only gotten to twenty goals twice in his nine seasons in the NHL. Nonetheless he was kind of the best guy left to add to the wing for the Sabres once July 1st came and went with pretty much only AHL-level moves. Johansson is defensively responsible and gets those zone entries which is something this team needs guys not named Jack Eichel to do better. Also he is apparently known for his versatility. He hasn’t played at center in recent seasons but that is a trick in the hat knowing Casey Mittelstadt may still not be ready for that 2C slot. That is the topic of some Sabres twitter debate but it seems rather immaterial right now to me with so much offseason left to go. The natural next topic of conversation here feels like it should be Jimmy Vesey and Colin Miller. However, those are technically trades although they were so well extracted they almost feel like signings. As I said earlier, I’m all for not giving up too much money in free agency, particularly if the team isn’t exactly “going for it” right now.  So how about I rattle off the free agent signings Jason Botterill did make on July 1st in spite of most of them being long shots for the NHL roster: Goalie Andrew Hammond, Center Curtis Lazar, defenseman John Gilmour, Jean-Sebastien Dea and sorta Dalton Smith (Smith was an Amerk this past season and was resigning technically). Those first two guys are the ones you’re thinking of. Andrew Hammond was the “Hamburgler” in Ottawa a few seasons ago and Curtis Lazar was the guy who ate a hamburger off the ice during that same craze. Just like the Ottawa Senators both guys have not been all that good since. Hammond is the better of the two and is probably going to platoon it in net with Ukko Pekka-Lukkonen in Rochester this coming season. Lazar… is worth a shot I guess. John Gilmour was one of the better AHL defensemen for the Hartford Wolfpack last season and I’m told has the best chance of the group to make the big club. The other two guys I just don’t feel any need to talk about. That feeling is not because they’re minor league moves: you dipsticks complaining about the Front Office making moves mostly helping Rochester need to cool your jets and count your blessings! Take a good hard long look at that Okposo contract and then shut up!

I spent most of last year’s Free Agency article ranting about the Ryan O’Reilly trade. After how his season ended this year that whole conversation turned into a toxic waste dump a la your local minor league baseball franchise announcing a Pride Night on Facebook to absolutely terrible comments from the most bigoted boomers on the internet. I won’t be addressing O’Reilly because I feel we’ve done that to death. This is Buffalo Hockey though so of course there is another retread conversation fraught with potential toxicity to talk about: Jimmy Vesey. First things first, don’t hold three years ago against him. That move for his negotiating rights was the kind of stupid but exciting move that Tim Murray specialized in. That saga doesn’t matter now because Vesey is an established pro now and if we’re being totally real here the players don’t care. Jack Eichel is just happy to have another BU guy, I’m sure! Bury those bad takes next to your Leino jerseys. Nothing screams top line about Vesey’s game so don’t pencil him in right next to Eichel as if it’s a sure thing. I’ve heard him called a middle six acquisition which I think is a great way to put it. We’ll see what Training Camp holds for him. Colin Miller on the other hand you can definitely pencil in as a top four pairing defenseman. He isn’t clearly the best line mate for Rasmus Dahlin but he’s a strong candidate. His trade to Buffalo for a 2021 second round pick and a 2022 fifth round pick is Botts picking on a team in cap jail more than what you might call highway robbery. It’s kinda funny that team in cap jail is the Vegas Golden Knights but after the 2018-2019 St. Louis Blues happened I’m sure they’ll be back in the Final next year. On this team Miller is second only to Rasmus Dahlin on the defensive depth chart and top of the right-handed side of that chart. There are four right-handed defenseman who are NHL likely now beyond Miller: Brandon Montour, Zach Bogosian and Rasmus Ristolainen. The talk about a Ristolainen trade went up naturally after the Miller trade and yes, I’m still on the fence about it. I don’t need him gone, especially with a new coach coming in, but I don’t want 2022 to get here and everyone in the league know he’s ass and end up trading him for a couple of late round picks. If we’re going to get a king’s ransom for Ristolainen, it’s probably this summer or the 2020 trade deadline at the absolute latest. By the time you’re reading this the deal may already be done. Oh, I forgot to mention the Miller trade pissed off Leafs fans! I love pissing off Leafs fans. Fuck them, right?

So there it is: New Look Sabres 2019 Free Agency! Well… how about some fun signings not related to the Sabres? Even after the Leafs traded away Nazem Kadri for a decent to good defenseman there are still smart folks up there saying the Leafs are worse man-for-man compared to last year. Delicious! Robin Lehner openly declared his displeasure for how the Islanders let him go before signing with the Chicago Blackhawks. That’s interesting on two levels because the Isles probably aren’t done this offseason in a big way and Lehner now goes from a great defensive team on Long Island to a very porous defensive system in Chicago. We’ll see how it works out for him; I kinda want him to succeed still but one way or another we’ll see if last season was a fluke or not. Tyler Ennis singed with the Ottawa Senators. That maybe the one weirder jersey to see him in then Toronto. Finally Mike Smith goes from Flames to Oilers while Cam Talbot goes from Oilers to Flames. Should we call that Albertan Roulette? Bringing back home to Buffalo please like, share and comment on this blog. Get that hype going for the new season. I won’t be writing much on this blog until late August, but I think that’s okay because we all could use a break from Hockey. Also if you really want my Sabres takes you can always get them @UttaroSports on twitter. In the meantime, enjoy the summer! Let’s Go Buffalo!

Thanks for reading.

P.S. Linus Ullmark was among the Sabres who filed for salary arbitration. I could’ve used this PS to talk about Remi Elie electing for arbitration which is much more humorous but Ullmark is my boy, so I hope everything goes over well for him come these hearings in… August. Huh. Let the long summer begin!

#hockey #blog #nhl #buffalo sabres