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gothic-thoughts · 4 months

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Hey! Do you plan on doing an Exes2LoversAU with Zoro part 2 where they go though a similar situation three years ago, and reader fears the the same thing happens again where he’ll leave her, but this time, he doesn’t (the reader probably gained some kind of abandonment issues from last time)

Ouuu, I like that. I didn't even have an idea for a part two fr

For the those who don't know, Part 1 is Right Here

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(A/n): Thanks for the request and sorry it took so long, know that I saw it I just couldn't think of a scenario.

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No One Left Behind? (Part 2)

Roronoa Zoro x Black Fem Reader Angst (Fluff)

Exes2LoversAU, PirateAU

CW: Reader learning to trust Zoro again, robbery

TW: abandonment issues??

Word Count: 1050 (give or take)

Previously:

“I know you work alone, but just think about it.”

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Zoro was sitting in another bar after helping Nami save her town. The crew sailed for a while before stopping at this island where the ex-pirate hunter was now indulging himself with a bottle of wine, but he stood out more than he would've liked to. You walk into the same bar, but you recognize those three swords anywhere.

You continue walking casually, pulling out your new dagger while you walk up to his barstool from behind. Once you were close enough, you poke the blade into his lower back and rest your chin on his right shoulder. Zoro’s eyes look to your face, his body still motionless.

“Long time no see again, Roronoa.” You whisper in his ear.

“It seems you have a knack for showing up when I least expect it.”

“Well, I gotta keep the pirate hunter on his toes; you might lose your edge.”

“I've faced stronger opponents than you, and I'll continue to do so." Zoro says, with a smirk, taking another swig of his wine.

You chuckle as you tuck the blade into your boot before sitting on the barstool to his right.

“Guessing you're not in this town because you knew I was here.”

"I could say the same about you; why are you here? You following me now?"

“Tch, following you? You wish. I was on this island first; I saw your floating clubhouse pull in just yesterday.”

"Hm. You didn't answer my question." He raises an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"

“You know I go where the wind takes me. Literally. But I’m in this bar specifically for a lead.”

“Lead? You a detective now?”

“Relax, it’s for my own best interest.”

“Thank god, thought you might’ve been turned into some kind of saint.”

“Call it payback,” You say, taking a shot, “Some dickhead stole an entire pouch of berry from me in here yesterday. Was kinda hoping he’d come back.”

"And how'd you let that happen? You getting soft on me?"

“Go ahead, laugh.” You chuckle before taking another shot, “Not one of my proudest moments. The bastard lives in some big, fancy inn.”

“Inn, huh?” Zoro chuckles, sipping more wine, "You must be pretty desperate if you're going after someone who lives in an inn."

“Must you think so low of me, Roronoa? It's a luxury inn, meaning he's loaded; which is why I wanna know why he stole my shit.”

“I guess that means you're gonna have to find out." He asks, with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“Thanks, I hadn’t noticed. Though...”

“Though?”

“If you're not busy with your little pirate club, you could help me get it back.”

He chuckles, “You...need help?”

“It's high class, so it'll be crawling with security, I bet. And besides, we haven’t seen each other since last time I wanted to kill you, so it'll be a....bonding...exercise.”

Zoro raises an eyebrow at your comment, a small smile on his lips.

"When do you want to go?"

“Ten.” You stand from your seat, putting a dollar on the bar for the bartender, “Can I trust you to meet me outside the Inn at 10 pm? Or do I have to deal with another heartbreak and drag you from your pirate friends?"

He smirks, "Kicking and screaming?"

"I would hope so. I mean, if it's okay with your captain, of course.”

Zoro finishes off his bottle of wine and then gets up from his seat.

“You have my word.” He says, tossing some coins on the bar before making his way towards the exit.

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At 10pm, I was leaning on the wall outside the Inn, looking back and forth down the road, waiting for Zoro to round the corner. I groan in annoyance with myself before kicking a stray bottle near me, and when it breaks in the middle of the road, I swear under my breath for possibly alerting any guards inside as I start to pace back and forth, trying to console myself down.

"I knew it!" I chuckle in disbelief, "Just like when he left the first time. Ugh, can't believe I trusted him again!"

I punched the wall a couple times before kicking over a barrel, breaking and stepping into it with the heel of my boot.

"Fine." I pull my sword, squeezing the handle tightly. "I should've just handled it my-damn-self."

I take a deep breath, preparing to go through whatever happened inside, no matter how many guards there were between me and my stolen berry. I hear heavy boots stepping against the cobblestone, and I groan loudly, thinking it was passersby that didn't need to get in the way. But when I turn to the sound, I see Zoro approaching with one hand in his pocket and the other on one of his three swords. It was 10:10.

"Sorry, I'm late." He stops a couple inches from me, "You okay?"

"I...." My eyebrows furrow, and my brain fogs with confusion, "You....came?"

"I gave you my word."

"I don't know what your word is worth. We were enemies, remember?"

"Fair. Well, my word is my law—my promise."

"Then where the hell were you?"

"Well, coming out this late had me getting a lot of questions...."

"....Mm."

"And then I took a wrong turn when I got off the boat."

"I...." I stutter, looking away from him as the grip on my sword loosens, "Believe you."

"You sure you're okay? If you're not up to it, I could always get the money back while you wait here."

I snap out of it and look at him, "Don't you 'damsel-in-distress' me! I invited you, and I can handle myself. I just needed someone to watch my six."

"I know, cuz I wasn't going to. And look...I don't know if I said this when you found me at that bar," Zoro says, locking our eyes with a glance, "But I'm not leaving you again. Not if I can help it."

"...And if you can't help it?"

"I'll learn."

I stammer, not knowing how to respond as my heart races. I clear my throat and look at the Inn's front door, gesturing for Zoro to come closer. He gives a dark smirk as he moves, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.

"Shall we?"

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(A/n): dropping a part 3 cuz I can raaahhh

#zoro x reader #zoro fluff #zoro angst #black writers #x black reader #x black fem reader #black reader #opla zoro #zoro opla #one piece live action #zoro roronoa x reader #zoro x black reader #roronoa zoro x reader #roronoa zoro x black reader #one piece zoro #one piece

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jeffgerstmann · 9 days

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I’ve been having a rough time mentally lately so I’m listening to a bunch of music I haven’t listened to since high school which includes Midnight Brown’s complete discography. It’s still shockingly good and has me in some kind of feelings, which you might find weird. Any interest in ever making more music? Also, could you get Midnight Brown on streaming services (for my convenience) or is that hard? Anyway, thanks for making that music. It means a lot to me.

I really want to find some time to make some more music, but it's been hard with everything else I've got going on at the moment. I have a really dumb Patreon idea that involves me making some music.

Getting it up on streaming services is technically easy but a hassle on the backend. It wouldn't make any meaningful money, but I'd still have to more or less set up some kind of 50/50 arrangement with Chris to be fair about it. The process of setting all that up so that we can split 80 cents every two years is kinda daunting and a lot of work and annoying annual tax shit for pretty much nothing. Maybe I could just take the business end of it on myself and venmo Chris $5 every two years or something.

Also there's that one track with the Evel Knievel samples on it, which would probably wouldn't fly. On top of all that, I don't have ready access to lossless versions of the files, so to truly do it "right" I'd have probably have to set up my 2005-era FL Studio install in a virtual machine or something, since a lot of those old-and-definitely-legally-acquired VSTs struggle a bit on modern Windows.

It's something I was talking about with a friend just last week, and something I'd definitely do if I had infinite time, but it's kind of a chore. I think the more likely route is that I take what I have, which is a mix of mp3s and a smattering of rendered WAVs, and see what I can assemble easily. With some of these audio restoration tools getting astoundingly better these days, it might be enough to just feed it the MP3s and say "restore the fidelity lost by that compression" and use those.

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded answer, but it's been very much on my mind recently so that's kinda the full walkthrough of where my head is at on all of it. At this point it'd probably just be easier to write some new stuff!

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popatochisssp · 7 months

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I LOVE the new boys, i have SO many questions and thoughts about them, you have such amazing imagination, What would a relationship with them be like? Would they have the initiative or us? how would they do it?, You don't have to answer i'm kinda rambling sorry, your work always makes me smile

Thank you! I did have some thoughts about that!

Spectr (Transcendtale Sans): He plays hard to get… except he’s not really playing, he…he actually is hard to get. As much as he can see lots in you worthy of love and admiration, himself… Well. He’s complicated, you know? Emotionally and logistically, in more ways than one. You can certainly find someone better suited to appreciate you than him…but he has a hard time staying away, and if you chase after him, he probably won’t be able to find it in himself to run. He falls into a relationship with you like planets fall into orbit—a slow, synchronous dance as natural and irresistible as the tides.

PapAIrus (Transcendtale Papyrus): He’s absolutely taking the lead, the one to approach you and actively try to charm the pants off you possibly literally. He finds you interesting, fun, and how else is he supposed to find out if you’d like to play with him if he doesn’t ask? He’s bound to be a little light-hearted and flippant about your relationship at the start, maybe not taking it as seriously as you’d like. He’s got his head in the cloud, and all the data and information and free access to everyone and everything on the planet in there is a lot to compete with—but don’t doubt you’ll win out in the end. He’ll serious up as time goes by, but no matter how serious he gets about you, you’ll never stop being his favorite plaything.

Xanth (Ascendswap Sans): He’ll take the initiative but he might come on a little strong, or…weird…because he’s weird. He’s very genuine and open with why he’s interested in you so the straightforwardness could either be refreshing or uncomfortable, depending on how it lands with you. Mostly, he just wants to get to know you more so he’s fine with whatever pace you set from there, as long as he gets to be around your energy. In a relationship, he likes to go with your flow, just be and do and feel with you and see where the wind takes you both—wherever you end up, he’ll have had a great traveling companion for the road.

Piper (Ascendswap Piper): It could go either way with him. He’s certainly not too shy to approach someone he’s interested in, but neither does he dislike the ego-boost of getting someone to come to him. In both cases he’s a smooth operator, his ‘trick’ not required. In a relationship, he makes a point of being your Prince Charming, whether it’s your first date or your hundredth, and all the time in between, too. For all that he’s genial and pleasant from the start, he will take some time to really warm up and trust you—to introduce you to his family, to share his past, to let you see more than just the clean and polished parts of him—but once he does defrost, he’s all yours.

Carmine (Underfell Fruition Sans): If he’s interested, he’s letting you know immediately with…varying levels of respect (on the low end, ranging between a double-take and a maybe-not-meant-to-be-out-loud ‘goddamn’). He likes to flirt and talks a big game but… he’s actually pretty new to this kinda thing, and in a relationship, he probably wants to keep things casual for awhile, nothing too serious too fast. He just got out of lockup, he’s not really looking to settle down right away, y’know? But he’s perfectly willing to adhere to the rules of engagement, so if you don’t mind casual for awhile, he’s plenty of fun, a great plus-one for everything, guaranteed. And if you are willing to wait him out, the ‘not too serious’ thing isn’t forever, of course. What, like he’s gonna let The One get away over a bit of commitment? Pfft…

Tank (Underfell Fruition Papyrus): It’s gonna be down to you to make the first move, he has no idea what he’s doing and is still kind of figuring out what he’s allowed to do or ask for, even if he’s very smitten with you—and why wouldn’t he be? He definitely needs to be told that you’re open to having him in your space, as part of your life in that way, or he may not want to risk upsetting you. For the same reason, he needs patience in a relationship because he moves slowly and doesn’t really know how to talk about his feelings. A little grace as he navigates a new kind of relationship with way different rules than the other kinds goes a long way, and with it, he warms up quickly to some of the perks that non-platonic affection and intimacy allow him. He tends to speak more with his gestures and actions than what he says, so never mistake a lack of words for a lack of feeling—he feels a lot, and he just needs to figure out what do with it all!

Vi (Swapfell Fruition Sans): Most likely to make the first move, but… he has no charm whatsoever, and a very direct approach that might be a little off-putting. …Then again, ‘weird guy rizz’ alone might at least (somehow) score him a date, or two, or three, and you could go from there. He’s committed from the jump and puts as much thought and care and meticulous planning into your relationship as any high-profile political assassination he’s ever managed…which is probably something he shouldn’t say to you, another one of those awkward, off-putting things… He has his issues, of course—secrecy, insecurity, emotional constipation—but he always takes you very seriously and never wants to lose esteem in your eyes. You are someone he doesn’t want to lose.

Hunter (Swapfell Fruition Papyrus): Yeah, he’s taking the initiative and doing it well, he’s a good flirt, fun, and persistent, and he has a way of getting people to go home with him against their better judgment—hey, he doesn’t mind being a guilty pleasure and in fact, maybe he could be yours…? As far as a relationship goes, he doesn’t take too much seriously, so it’s bound to be pretty casual for awhile, like a game of tug-of-war played with a (poorly-behaved) dog, back and forth, give and take, just a fun game you both play. …However. At some point, a switch will flip in his head when he decides he’s your ride-or-die, full commitment and no more playing games about it. This could happen at basically any point, very early in your relationship or very late. He cannot tell you when it will flip, and nothing you do or don’t do will influence the flip, because neither he nor anyone else has any control over the switch. Such are the pitfalls of trying to romance a heavily-mindfucked former assassin, but you two will figure it out eventually.

Kohl (Descendtale Sans): It’s complicated. Honestly, he’s probably so deeply in denial that he’s into you that it’ll take a Category 5 Inciting Jealousy Incident to get his head out of his ass about it make him admit his feelings. He’s a bit of a pigtail-puller if he likes you, but he’s also a kind of a pigtail-puller if he doesn’t like you, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for the distinction of him seeking you out or spending time with you on purpose—he tends to remove himself from situations where humans are involved as soon as it’s feasible, so if he’s lingering around you, or coming to find you, or seeming to make a deliberate nuisance of himself as soon as someone else has your attention, he might be a little bit interested. If you’re not content to wait for him, you may need to do what he does and needle the hell out of him until you make him admit it but don’t do so lightly—he’s like a mousetrap, if you spring him, you’re stuck with him, he’s yours and good luck returning him without the receipt. In a relationship, he’ll keep up his hassling and assorted shithead behaviors, but there’s a softening towards you and he will actually be capable of some tender, intimate moments. …Some.

Bram (Descendtale Papyrus): Definitely making the first move and just enough of a gentleman to not come on too strong… At least not at first—it wouldn’t do to scare you away right off the bat! There might be some pitfalls a bit later on because he is probably going to want to move a little faster in the relationship than you do, even if you’re a fast mover yourself, but that’s just the abandonment issues talking. He’s very sweet and responds well to constructive criticism about his pacing issues, such as ‘It is too soon to talk about living together’ or ‘I’m not ready to get married until…’ Mostly his concern is that you are happy and comfortable and enjoy spending time with him! Because he enjoys spending time with you and he wants to be able to do that a lot! (You see? He said ‘a lot’ instead of ‘forever’ that time, he remembered when you said that sounded like ‘some horror movie shit’!) In any case, he’s very affectionate and accommodating in a relationship and with maybe some steps taken to mitigate the separation anxiety, he’s a loving and attentive partner for as long as you’ll have him.

#your-pumpkin-universe #headcanons #transcendtale #ascendswap #underfell fruition #swapfell fruition #descendtale

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rath00ker · 7 months

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Okay I swear I did a post like this but I think o deleted it for some reason but

How the Octavinelle students handle

Being in love

(I did one for Kalim and Jamil in an older post idk if anyone remembers but I might do one of these for each student idk tell me what y’all want)

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul handles being in love like any former victim of bullying handles being in love. Not saying anything out of a deep and intense fear of being rejected. That’s how he handles it no joke

He would rather just memorize everything about his crushes life than actually say anything. Sure he’s written up a few long and drawn out plans to court his crush but he never really goes through with them. The only way Azul would confess is for two reasons, A, the tweels find out and decide to play match marker or B, He is 100 percent sure he crush won’t say no (be it through a contract or overhearing that they have feelings for him as well.)

If those two things don’t happen Azul is happy (mostly) to be in love from afar even if the idea of a relationship slowly eats away at him from the inside.

Jade Leech

Jade is a very interesting critter. It’s very hard to tell if he actually likes someone or he’s just playing with them for some reason or another. Jade is smart, he knows he’s good with words and that he’s very handsome. I also don’t believe he’s above using flirting or charming people into doing/giving him something he wants. He’s very good at worming his way into other people’s lives and hearts.

However when he’s REALLY in love with someone, oh they aren’t going anywhere. Jade has probably fallen in love maybe twice in life? But now that he’s older and grown out of puppy love he’s all over his crush. Being that he’s so good at making a hole for himself in other people’s lives, he’ll just do that to get close to his crush.

Jade has no doubt that he could make his crush like him back, he has such a way with words after all! Soon the two of them will be married and living together happily next to a mountain or maybe the beach. Can’t you just tell how excited he is? Floyd will even start to notice that Jade is smiling a lot more than he used too

Floyd Leech

Look honestly Floyd is more of a situationship than a relationship guy. He gets crushes and gets over said crushes very quickly. Basically he has a boyfriend of the week (if any guy is interesting enough to be his boyfriend of the week). Since his mood swings are so bad his situationships can last a week or a few months maybe a whole year if you can be so lucky (and if Floyd actually enjoys sending time with the guy).

I can’t really imagine Floyd ever being in an actual closed monogamous relationship with anyone since he doesn’t like rules and goes wherever the wind flows. He’s just a situationship kinda dude.

Sorry if you wanna put a ring on it cause Floyd is NOT your guy

#Azul just like me fr #also Jade isn’t written with a yan headcannon in mind. bro is just a creep but he still loves you and would treat you well if you were in a #actually relationship with him #Floyd is just silly #also I DID write Floyd with an gay headcannon in mind #he kiss men #twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #floyd leech #azul ashengrotto #jade leech #twst octavinelle

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briarandhissecretgarden · 11 months

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Villager and Illager Thoughts - headcanon

Thinking about the way society works with my silly little MC world...

Villagers probably have large sections of the world where they populate it, some villages are bigger than others and are very valuable trading places, but all villages are far enough away from each other that you'd have to use a horse or minecart to reach them, and even then, it might take a day or two.

I imagine theres wandering traders that group together in caravans, but nothing too big. maybe if you pay them a few emeralds they'll drop you off by a town in a few days. They're nomadic people, hardly ever staying for than a week, if that. They're always happy to see people, any new traveler is a customer and friend. Super friendly. Some can be sleazy, but they'll never give you items you can live without. Important fellows to those that live far away from any exotic places. They most likely know all or many languages, both spoken and written. It's better for business. I think to think they even raid temples at times!!! Maybe going though Jungle or Desert Temples just to leave things behind or take items,,

I think Illagers make plans of the best areas to build their strong beautiful mansions, and look for stable ground to build their outposts. I would think they have a way of communicating with those in the Mansion, maybe the ones that live there are more important or higher ranking. It seems like Evokers have a high status among other Illagers. Pillagers being the bottom of course. I also want to include more Illagers like those that were included in MCDungeons. They seem like so much fun, and different forms of magic usage seems logical. I mean Iceologers, Geomancers, and Wind Callers are all super interesting and really important to magic lore in the MC universe as a whole.

I do not consider Witches, Illagers (and neither does minecraft iirc) They all kinda just vibe and feel like they have their own lives. Not exactly violent, but curious and mischievous in ways that Villager culture clashes with. They all live on their own, but some make deals with Illagers or Villages. Their magic and potions in exchange for protection or resources. I imagine every village that contains a Cleric, knows of at least one Witch they can learn from, even if its gotta be in secret. I agree almost wholeheartedly with RetroGamingNow's interpretation of the Witch, I think its clear and makes a lot of sense, it's what i assumed for a very long time anyways. I feel like Witches are a fairly new source of magic in the world, compared to Illager and Villagers. This leads to them being seen as lesser than and never fitting in with either group. They rally in the ways of excitement, curiosity and overall, being true to one's self and never feeling sorry for being different. Witches are one of the most diverse groups, many of which are highly skilled and dangerous, but wouldn't hurt a fly without reason. Super happy group, some are hybrids or weren't even born Witches. My idea is there are Witches that are born as just that, and are brought up in the culture. The others are folks who practice witchcraft and chose to align themselves with the philosophy. (they refer to themselves as Witches if they'd like, its not required)

I touched on it a fair bit earlier, but, I had the idea that Villagers were also a being capable of magic. I like to think that the Iron Golems they spawn are from magic. villagers can create and build things when absolutely necessary or for their work, but they do not partake in magic since it is a lost art in their culture. However, the summoning of an Iron Golem unlocks a very deep connection with their world, allowing them to create life from (seemingly) nothing. (it actually does consume materials, it just takes those materials directly from the world from random places) A village will usually construct one themselves the physical way, but if under enough stress and fear, one can be summoned. Depending on the threat, it can be a permanent form, or just disappear after the Villager is safe. Illagers cannot do this, their connection with the Golem was cut as soon as they decided their fates. Iron Golems will only ever protect Villagers as Illagers are capable of protecting themselves. Although a Ravager is close to a Golem, I don't know how to fully implement them, as they must be fairly new to their technology.

Those are all my thoughts right now, things are subject to change. But yeah :0)

#minecraft #minecraft theory #minecraft headcanons #minecraft villagers #minecraft illagers #loreofmyworld

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chaikachi · 7 months

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Hi, Chai! I've been following you for a bit, mostly for the RG content, and I've recently seen you talk about your other non-RWBY interests when I realized that I'm really curious on what other media do you like? (Be it shows, movies, music, games, books, etc.)

Oughh this is a very good question. I'll put them under a read more cause I have a feeling I took this question too literally and it might get just a little bit long because of that. 💦

I'm generally very passive with the media I consume and only draw as much RWBY as I do because RG has had me in a vice grip since V8E1 and isn't letting go anytime soon. 💀 But I do engage with lots of other stuff too! This isn't an exhaustive list, just ones I like lots or re-watch often enough.

Anime

I probably watch this stuff more than anything else. My favourite of all time is probably The Eccentric Family, both seasons. The art direction and the messages of the story just hit very hard for me and I re-watch it pretty much every year. My second favourite is Kekkai Sensen (i prefer the first over second season as they switch directors).

As for others enjoy:

Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

Silver Spoon

Yona of the Dawn

Snow White with the Red Hair

Kyousogiga (recommend if you liked Kekkai Sensen)

A Lull in the Sea

Chaika the Coffin Princess [Now why does that name sound so familiar 🤔]

Anohana

Been really enjoying this season's shows and am looking forward to the Winter 2024 lineup (Dungeon Meshi and Yubisaki to Renren at the same time!!)

Shows

Dragon Prince

The Owl House

Good Omens

Games

Nier (2010),

Transistor

Pyre

Zelda Series (Ocarina of Time & Spirit Tracks are my favourites)

Nier: Automata

Honorary mentions to Grand Chase (an old MMO i used to be obsessed with), Avalon Code (a niche DS game that I really liked), Fire Emblem Awakening (a classic) and Animal Crossing (that I played like it was my day job in 2020).

Movies

Can only think of two live actions and the rest are animated/anime 😭

Stardust

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Howl's Moving Castle

HTTYD (1 & 2)

Kubo and the Two Strings

The Wind Rises

From Up on Poppy Hill

Penguin Highway

Books

I don't read as much as I did when I was a kid, but my top three are probably Runemarks, Howl's Moving Castle, and Stardust (I like the last two a lot because I liked their movies).

Webcomics

Used to be really into these and wanted to write my own before Webtoon kinda... gentrified the entire industry. But hey, I can still talk about some of my favourites!

Shaderunners (queer heist in a roaring 20sish setting)

Witchy (queer south East Asian inspired fantasy adventure)

Kochab (sapphic story between a skier that gets lost and meets a fire spirit I think? It's final updates are going up this month!)

Lady of the Shard (all time favourite. queer polyam lovestory between a goddess and her acolyte. Complete. I reread it every year, I love it so much. The rest of the authors work is also great, you might know them from Cucumber Quest).

Then lastly...

Music

I mostly listen to indie/folk more than anything else, with a bit of jazz/R&B thrown in for flavour. Favourite artists are probably:

San Fermin

Flock of Dimes/Wye Oak

Of Monsters & Men

Maggie Rogers

Florence & the Machine

Paper Kites

Matthew and the Atlas

Halsey

This list obviously isn't exhaustive because I have the memory of a goldfish but those are the highlights that came to mind at least.

Sorry for the long list, but thank you for the question!! It was fun to put all these in one place.

#ask #asks #anon #anono #long post

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neptunite-stars · 1 year

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Dtgtghtggtgjteeg hi um I give you both Aira and Hiiro

Struggled with the hair

Didn't feel like line art but it probably would've been faster

Anyways demigod Aira was in my head after seeing you talk about it

Aira gets winged shoes and Hiiro gets a hat that makes him invisible

(Am recalling Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus where Annabeth has that hat)

And like when Aira and Hiiro encounter some kinda monster, Hiiro puts the hat on Aira and the winged shoes sense danger so they immediately fly Aira away

And Hiiro is left alone to fight the monster (Aira wanted to stay but Hiiro insisted he could fight alone)

As for the shoes, they originally just have a heart but as Aira meets the rest of Alkaloid, he sews patches of the symbols that represent them onto the shoes

Ok that's all. Giving you all the strength to complete your art project hiiai woo

im so sorry this took so long to answer i was sleeping and then i. i had to doodle for this. i cant stop thinking about it now. anyway this is going under a cut im going to. ramble. a lot now.

i think when aira first gets his winged shoes he immediately trips over himself- im not sure how hed get it, maybe he found them while cleaning out his closet or smth? they wouldnt have the wings then but after a couple of days BAM theyd have wings. these shoes be blessed by hermes! (or a god of travel / wind from different mythologies. im going greek just to make it easier on myself ajskdfkj) and then aira trips as the shoes try to fly off LMAO

i also think that. each shoe has one wing to make a pair of wings when together, so hed have to wear both shoes to be able to get the hang of it. idk i just always thought that itd be more interesting to have the shoes kinda imbalanced? idk what im getting at here. help

as for this au i think they wont necessarily be born demigods but more along the lines of "the gods blessed them and now they have slight powers / they have magical items that allow them to do things" so !! (this makes it easier on myself again)

okok!! hiiro time!! yes, the classic invis hat from percy jackson and the olympians <3 i love that book series so much... gahh!!! anyway i love the idea of him having an invis hat (i could not think of anything else ok. i am unoriginal) and hoenstly? he would be able to take a fight with a monster (hes canonically rly strong and im pretty sure he. also is in the karate(?) club with tetora) i dont think he'd use it much? i dunno. hmm does this mean he has been blessed by athena?

(i am extending this to alkaloid now) mayoi... he definitely has an item blessed (cursed?) by hades or smth. and he keeps it near / on him at all times which is partly why hes. so strange all the time. he doesnt want the effects of the item (maybe an amulet or some other small thing that he held sentimental value to?) to affect others. the other part of him being strange is. just his canon reasons. this au is literally just adding magic items to canon lmao btu STILL

tatsumi... i am thinking a pocketwatch. but imnot sure what magical properties it might have... i do NOT want it to be time related because at first tatsumi would think "i could use this to turn back time and everything would be reset and i wouldnt do the things i now regret" type of thing but when he realizes that its. not that. angst :) thats the only reason its a pocketwatch! im trying rly hard to coem up with a deity that would "fit" him but. its so hard... maybe hestia? goddess of the hearth, tatsumi being able to make a comfortable home for anyone in himself (METAPHORICALLY. PLEASE TELL ME THIS MAKES ANY SENSE AT ALL.) anyway hestia blessing would be so tatsumayo. tatsumi using pocketwatch power to at first get closer to mayoi, then feeling bad that he did that so tatsumi isolates himself from mayoi, but mayoi, not knowing what tatsumi did, is confused (but also he was also trying to push him away bc. hades blessing/curse) and now is worried that oh no, i did actually push him away this is bad!!! but its ok they reconcile with the help of hiiai!

anyway thanks for listening to me ramble too much heres some doodles as a reward <3 (i did the mayoi and tatsumi part just now so no doodles for them)

#ask #chocodaffodil #enstars #hiiro amagi #aira shiratori #enstars demigod au #rambles

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maxdreavus · 4 months

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Are they an oldest, middle, youngest or only child? (This one might be a me thing, because I LOVE writing/reading about family dynamics, but knowing what kinds of things were ‘normal’ for them growing up is important.)

// Max is the youngest, with 6 older siblings!!

You're about to get LORED ON since the prompt goes into family dynamics,,,, tw for implied abuse ->

Lemme start off with, she is only where she is because of them, because she needed to get the hell away from her family.

To put it plainly, she was an accident. Her parents banged like rabbits from their late teens-mid 20s and birthed all her siblings pretty close together, but then her mom was probably on the brink of menopause when Max happened. They didn't want her, but they were stupid and didn't believe in abortions or whatever, so they had Max anyway; and then they were too proud to give her up for adoption, so they kept her around.

She was heavily resented by her parents which led to all her siblings being the same, and she kinda became a punching bag for them (figuratively and literally). She hoped when they moved to Galar that she'd make friends as an escape of sorts, only to wind up moving to a huge farm on the border between Wedgehurst and Turffield with no nearby neighbors and only homeschooling to keep her lil brain developing. She left early - she had just turned 10 when she ran away and set up camp with a bunch of way older, also basically-homeless people in Spikemuth (I headcanon it being a much bigger city than in the game. This is almost like a trailer park, but it's mostly just tents) - so she didn't really know what families were supposed to be like, aside from what she had at home, and the weird, creepy, uncle-father-grandfather figures she wound up having nearby in Spikemuth.

Max knew her situation wasn't normal, but it wasn't until she met *cough* a certain set of prominent Spikemuth siblings *cough cough* that she learned how fucked up her upbringing was and how cool siblings can be if they actually love each other and aren't, y''know. Manipulated into hating you lol.

SORRY I DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD BE SO LONG I hope you (or anyone else who sees this) stayed interested enough to read all the way through :'D //

#//ooc #long post #ask game #tw abuse #pokemon roleplay #pokeblog #pokeblog rp #pokeblogging #pokemon irl #pokeblr #irl pokemon #unreality #rotomblr #Anon

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nichipi · 27 days

Text

Meet my ocs, I hope you enjoy wasting your time :)

(Loads of these stuff contain my opinions and perspective of the world around us.)

(BY THE WAY, MENTIONS OF DEATH)

Aura (Usually prefered to be called Breeze)

They/them

I usually associate them with death and peace.

Calm, patient, yet scary. Mysterious and unknown but familiar. The end and a new beginning? She is gets sad when people visit too soon.

Grian

They/them (They're okay with any pronouns really but prefer they/them)

I associate him with life and nature.

Also calm and patient but can also seem cruel and cold. In truth really he just wants the best for those who are alive. He enjoys giving the gift of life but is saddened when they throw it away or they're stolen.

Their younger sister is the character next.

Aine (Nickname: Pearl)

She/her

Lesbian! :D

I associate her with the moon, justice/law! She's lively and a cheerful person! Basically the sunshine character but with a twist ;). She loves Ciara with all her heart. (Ciara's name's C is kinda like the word sea. Yea know? Idk either, I suck at English)

Her older sibling is the character before.

Ciara (Sea-ara. Yeah I suck at these good luck lol)

She/her

Lesbian!

I associate her with the sun, war and politics. She's a serious person and not interested in small talk. That's what she likes to say but in reality she enjoys and appreciates the small things in life. She loves baking, animals, FIRE and Aine.

Vanessa (WIP)

She/her

I associate her with the wind, freedom, the sky and family.

The opposite of her younger sister Ciara, she's a pretty chilled out person. Or is she? She's actually somebody who holds grudges for a long time.

Bi!

Adores her younger sister Ciara

Alexander

He/him

I asassociate him with romance and love in general. A sweetheart, always trying to do his best. He tries to put up a tough front but who's he convincing?

Gay, gay, gay, gay wait- BI!

Ellen

She/her

I associate her with self-control, self-confidence, self-value, etc. You get the idea by now probably or I hope. Confident, sly and cunning, be careful around her. She knows what she's doing 49% of the time. But aside from that, she's a great friend and incredibly loyal.

Queer

Amaia

She/her

I associate her with creativity, imagination and the mind. You could consider her weird, insane etc but she's just simply unique. Her mind is always at work 24/7. A trailblazer.

Suri (I have a personal different name for this character that I am incredibly fond of, yes I have favorites/j)

She/her

I associate her with neutrality, grey/gray, etc. I have a lot of information on this character but...... You'll have to wait cause, I'm too lazy to put it in words that make sense and to type it all out. Basically she's the main focus!

Aroace

Alright that's all the incredibly important ocs out of the way. I might make another post like this with their faults. :)

I left out a lot of information but this is my very very bad attempt of summarizing my characters lore. Did I even share my perspective on the world? Welp there's always tomorrow and the day after.

So have a good day and I just wasted your time.

(I'm sorry)

#my ocs #Writing ig?#Hahaha writers block go brrrrrr #Too lazy to write #When you put all your problems on your ocs #What better way to waste your time

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msm-tsotmw · 1 year

Text

5/13/20XX

I have nothing to say except for the fact that it’s getting really windy out here, plus I’ve been trying to read this ONE book but the pages keep flipping. Wait…

(Sprigg spots a bunch of strange glyphs on a piece of aged paper tucked between two of the pages.)

What’s That ?

AGH! TOORIE!

Oh , Sorry , Heh Heh ! I Was Just Curious About That Piece Of …

Toorie, NO. Don’t touch it.

(It’s too late. Toorie’s already picked up the piece of paper, but her poor grip and the wind blows it away.)

FUCK-

OH . UH-

(Luckily, Mondo catches it. He tries to read it, but his cringefail simp brain cannot comprehend the glyphs.)

the fuck is this

Uh…

May I take a look ?

Oh. Sure. It’s just another page of glyphs.

(Mauna squints at the piece of paper. She tucks it in her bag.)

We should probably dock somewhere so that I can read this better . Sprigg , is there anywhere on the map that is located near us?

(Sprigg squints at the map on the boat deck.)

…Faerie Island, apparently. It’s a few days away from here.

I think I can handle waiting for that long . I should keep an eye on this paper , just in case !

Speaking Of The Paper , What’s It About ?

More glyphs .

Ooh ! Interesting !

nice

what do you think they mean

I … do not know yet . Let us just keep sailing , for now !

Okay !

alr

But the thing is, we’re gonna need someone here to tell us if we’ve reached Faerie yet. I don’t think ANY of us have been there before.

Hmm …

maybe I could help?

(Everyone on the boat looks up at the top of the mast to find Flitz sitting there, with a pair of goggles on top of her head, as well as a compass watch on her right talon.)

ey flitz

how did you get here

well, uh-

i… kinda figured you guys would need help on your trip! plus, I did help you guys find your way to some places before, if I recall correctly…

what I’m saying is, I just wanted to join! adventuring seems WAY more fun than just sitting at my screen posting pics of food all day, haha.

Well , You’re Welcome To Join The Team !! We Did Need A Navigator , Anyway , Haha .

So do you know where Faerie Island is? It’s a few days away from here, but I’m not sure which way we should be heading…

faerie island? wait, my friend Siku lives there! I think if you just go straight ahead, then steer left for a few days, then you’ll get there. the giant beanstalk on the beach is a tell-tale sign! Siku told me that-

Maybe try not to distract us from navigating.

ah. okay.

Nonono , you can tell us ! My partner Moperetta is good friends with Siku , too .

wait, you and Mops are dating?

Erm … yes ! We recently started dating , right before I joined you guys .

oh, that’s amazing!! Mops told me that it thinks you’re beautiful, smart, and graceful, and I’m glad you two finally got to be together.

Me too !

Aww ! It’s Wonderful How Moperetta Finally Got To Be With The Monster They’ve Always Dreamed Of Being With . Right , Mondo ?

oh uh

yeah

(Sprigg shoots a look at Mondo that looks like this.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

yeah uhhhhHHH

anyways, Flitz is here!! she’s pretty good at finding directions, also I think they’re gonna need a bigger boat for all these new members lol

might add a Faerie monster to the team idk-

-Mod Jimmy 🗣️

#msm #my singing monsters #msm au #my singing monsters au #furcorn #furcorn msm #pompom #pompom msm #mammott #mammott msm #kayna #kayna msm #tweedle #tweedle msm

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marsbotz · 1 year

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Hi Hi! I wanna hear your headcanons! No matter if you do one or five I still wanna hear it. I know you said that they can be hard to explain so take ur time if you decide to do this :) 🌴

OK. LETS GO. sorry ik this is gonna be so long already

1. lgbt hcs for the ninja since i did pix

lloyd: agender pan (they/them)

kai: transmasc bi (he/him)

jay: nonbinary gay (they/it/he…. lol <- projecting)

cole: transmasc gay (he/him)

zane: nonbinary bi (he/they)

nya: lesbian (she/her). theres probably some gender in there too but its not a solid hc for me

jay and cole are dating as of s5… ISH. and kai and zane are dating as of like s6… or s8. i ahvent worked it out. nya and pix r dating as of like s5 TECHNICALLY lol but s8 proper. cus shes Real now

2. elemental powers and stuff. lets get interesting

MY HC is that all the elements come from the original powers of creation. so the fsm created the original 4 elementals as like protectors of ninjago . and over time as the powers got passed down they mutated or diluted so u get stuff like smoke coming from fire and mind coming from ice (the future vision part). and as of seabound ig water and wind are completely separate but obviously at some point got similarly diluted so long ago even wu didnt realise they were smth separate

essentially this means that while each element still has connections to its dragon roots (see s4 elemental dragons) only the 4 creation elements can use dragon form.

the elements themselves manifest as dragons similarly to the end of s15 (think kai saying “is that… us?”) and the elements kind of …. ARE an elementals whole being.. almost like their soul. the dragons they can summon are a reflection of this (think like.. the titanium dragon for zane)

my approach to stuff in ninjago that is inconsistent or just silly is either to ignore it or warp it into smth that… kind of makes sense. so here my explanation for the powers inconsistencies in the first few seasons lol

the ninja needed the golden weapons to use their powers in the first few seasons despite it later being revealed they were inherent to them simply bc they were too young. powers usually start to manifest around 18 and without training they might not develop past like. accidentally giving ppl static shocks or smth. and this is bc of the dilution of powers over time and the general … lack of need for them in the modern day. but any power can still become massively powerful if trained! lloyd is a special case in that hes able to access his powers from very young due to being. directly descended from the fsm. and similarly the ninja can all use theirs fairly young as the creation elements… nya is able to access her powers at a younger age due to her … different lineage haha

the reason the ninja cant use their powers proper until lloyd donates their golden power is bc as lloyds protectors their power channels into lloyd. in a normal scenario they would have the golden weapons to channel their own powers similarly to how thors hammer worked in ragnarok. and they would also be older and more able to access their powers. but fate works in strange ways lol

i realise im kinda contrarian abt this lol but the ninja r like canonically resistant to their own element so i think they would not have scara from their own element. so like kai burning himself and stuff haha. its a really cool design trope tho .. but in my mind they wld be more likely to have scars from each other. so jay having burn scars and stuff! similarly kai would feel warm to everyone else due to his internal heat but would feel the cold so bad. kai is out there in like 20C/70F weather shivering teeth chattering. and the opposite is true for zane but he has cooling fans so its not as bad haha

umm… one last thing vaguely related to elements i was thinking abt yesterday. the human form taken by the fsm and like. all the elementals and whatever. its not their real form. the fsm is really more of a divine mix of oni and dragon but his power is like that thing where normal ppl kinda… cant comprehend it. so he takes a simpler form when travelling to ninjago and uses this as the basis for the people he created to populate the world. Yes sorry for putting religion in ninjago. the writers did it first

but it is technically still possible for wu garm and lloyd to access these forms. after his bite garmadon slowly starts to show physical traits of the oni.. and lloyd becomes a version of this original form when using their golden powers. both wu and garm technically have access to it as well but dont rlly ever… it doesnt rlly have a practical purpose other than flight lolol and i think wu is both too humble and too afraid to ever rlly tap into his oni side proper to access it. but wu was strangely good at flying in s15 huh… ^_^

ok actually that might do for now this is crazy long. id like to maybe talk more abt garmabros in another post cus i have lotttsss of thoughts abt them. thank u for askingggg!!!

#put it under a read more bc. jesus it got long #AUTISM LEVEL CATASTROPHIC #ninjago #farts #well. hopefully u guys understand how truly insnae i am now. LOL #hope this all makes sense too. like i said it all kinda wraps around to everything else #sso its hard to mke coherent #but if u read the whole thing thanks so much. so lovely

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eldritchazure · 1 year

Text

i have a surak-era oc who i’m gonna ramble about here from time to time.

he’s from t’paal because i’m Fascinated by that region for some reason. i really wish there was more info on it but alas. i’ll have to make shit up as i go. he was born in one of the enclaves but i’m thinking he was raised in a temple of akraana there.

(people don’t know what the goddess akraana presided over, only that she was the wife(?) of the war god khosarr, so i’m gonna make things up. i’m thinking she was some kind of goddess of magic, prophecy, and art because it’s convenient and also cool. also since one of the enclaves where her disciples lived is now an artists’ enclave so it works. her worshippers were kinda like a mystery cult, similar to the cult of despoina, hence why people don’t know what her deal was today. sorry for the info dump, i find this kind of thing REALLY interesting so i think about it A Lot.)

so this guy was a disciple of akraana and raised in one of her temples. the reason why he was sent there as a child was because he had these “visions” of the past and the future. the actual reason for the “visions” was that his mind was frequently temporally displaced. not permanently or constantly like spock’s was in disco, but it kind of came and went? like he’d be going about his day and then all of a sudden BAM there’s gonna be a horrible famine here At Some Point in the Near Future. or BAM someone was murdered horrifically at this spot A Very Long Time Ago. or someone was born at this spot and a lot of people were full of joy about it A Very Long Time Ago. he couldn’t tell when exactly things happened/would happen, only vague impressions. this is why he was dropped off at the temple by his parents. they didn’t know how to deal with the visions and figured the temple people might. is this logical or at all responsible parenting? definitely not. but i’m thinking the visions put great mental strain on him and by extension his parents through the familial bonds so maybe sending him to live with the people who specialized in that kind of thing would be able to take care of him better. whether or not that’s true remains to be seen.

i have no idea how the temporal displacement happened, or why it isn’t like how spock’s was. at this point it’s plot convenience. idk maybe it’s some weirdo space entity?? idk idk. anywho he mistook the weirdo space entity for akraana (or maybe it was akraana. who knows. ANYWAY.)

so yeah he gets these visions. maybe they slowly drive him a little mad? i don’t know!! i’ll figure it out, or maybe i won’t. but yeah he gets visions and then writes them down in a bunch of notebooks over his life. he doesn’t know what most modern things are so they’re written through a kind of fantastical/mythological lens. he predicts different wars with aliens but he doesn’t know they’re aliens so he calls them like, demons or spirits or whatever. even technology that could be found at that time he probably didn’t know about, because i’m imagining that the temple/area he was raised in was one of the ones that was generally against technology. so if he were to predict the radiation from the nuclear weapons being used at the time, people wouldn’t know what he meant until it was happening.

eventually the notebooks are found and now they’re in a museum somewhere displaying the history of the region. most historians dismiss his prophecies as the ramblings of a madman but those who look closely enough do admit it is somewhat eerie how they seem to mirror a lot of big historical events.

for example, a ship full of vengeful demons wearing the faces of vulcans emerging from a portal, who will consume t’khasi from the inside out.

anywho. at the moment his name is tova. this is subject to change. his story is pretty barebones at the moment and is little more than a concept that i’ve written out here in a very long winded post. i’ll probably flesh it out some more, add some much needed Drama and probably a healthy serving of Angst, as you do.

#pre-surak times #the time of surak #the timeline is a little wishy washy rn #he was alive at the same time as surak but was born before surak started his logic campaign #i’m thinking tova probably dies young. like twenties young.#either because of temporal displacement related reasons or civil war related reasons #or maybe he doesn’t!! maybe he gets old and grey #or there’s time travel shenanigans #i haven’t decided yet #anywho #sorry for the really long winded post full of me getting side tracked repeatedly #vulcan history #vulcans #star trek aos #star trek #tova

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crystalelemental · 11 months

Text

Cassette Beasts continues to be alright.

I encountered several situations where the record probability still only hits like 50% when you knock them out. It sucks. They don’t run, they just remain at 1HP, but it’s still super frustrating, just like with Pokemon. Kinda worse given that the resources for tapes is way rarer.

I’m starting to see a lot of type matchups now, and have a decent spread of options to choose from. But I’m both at the point where I’m trying to level my lower beasts, but enemies are not holding back, so it’s an outright rough time out here. Also it took an embarrassingly long time to remember how to fuse. I almost lost to the Archangel fight because of that, but the last second fusion with my Wooltergeist and I think it was Traffikrab? I think. I forget exactly. The fusion thing is kinda busted. I also attempted a fight against the first of the trial captains, who was level 21 and had a bunch of shit weak to Fire. This was right after I upgraded my fire dog and set him in the box to level other stuff. I had assumed that Wooltergeist and Decibelle would handle it. They did not, because Metal is good against Astra, and that went about as well as you might expect. Really need the Fire on this one. Which is interesting, in that...this implies it’s still very type matchup reliant.

I find the shield mechanic obnoxious. I’m sorry, but the fact they can throw up specific shields to just negate all damage for a few hits drives me crazy, especially when resisted hits increases the number of blocks. Effective moves will remove it in some cases, but I also had the Fire attack against a Plastic wall change it to a Poison one, so like...I dunno. I think I’m mostly just annoyed because the current quest is to find an apparently rare monster, and I keep having to deal with the plague doctor birds, and they put up a Wind shield, which is extra nasty because Fire is a good solution to Poison, but Wind Shields improve if hit with Fire moves, so they’re just annoying as sin. I think that’s an overall thing. Say what you will about Pokemon, but at least random encounters you fight are quickly removed. Random encounters in this game are both slow and kinda scary at times. Like, damage racks up quickly, and I feel like I’m stopping to heal more often than I’d like.

I think the decision to make playable characters be actual characters kinda backfired. Because it’s supposed to be a split cast, right? Like, I’m supposed to change up what I’m using? But I cannot do that for your partner. Kayleigh has Decibelle. That is her ace. I can’t shift that off of her. So it’s mostly just me switching things around.

As far as exploration goes, I think I hate this place. Capturing certain beasts lets you use overworld abilities, and I think the bullet ability will at least get me through the bullshit wind tunnels, but I’m talking more the block puzzles. I spent like 10 minutes trying to get two boxes to the right location so I could get one of them to the switch while using the other as a stepping stool. And after finally getting everything together, fixing the time I accidentally knocked the block off the ledge, I finally got it, went to jump, the game stuttered a bit and my ally suddenly warped into where the box was, sending it flying off-screen and out of my ability to find ever again. The decision to make these kinds of platforming puzzles, combined with the bullshit of a stamina meter, was really poor. I have never once played a game and gone boy. I sure wish there were a stamina bar in this. I sure wish my block pushing puzzles involved frustrating physics and partners that will actively impede my ability to solve the puzzle just by existing.

I also admit to having very little attachment to anything in the world right now. There hasn’t been anything in the region that’s all that interesting, and there haven’t been many designs that really grip me. I like the Bansheep/Wooltergeist line, and I do like Sirenade/Decibelle. Nevermort is cool. I kinda like the faucet thing. But nothing’s like...you know how sometimes I’ll see a Pokemon design and just lose my goddamn mind over it? Nothing like that yet.

I dunno. The game is good and I’ll keep playing. I think I’m just...not connecting as immediately as I expected to?

#cassette beasts

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lavynrose · 3 years

Note

- a oneshot for artem wing when he finally mustered up courage to ask out their s/o to hang out as friends (theme parks or just garden strolls, you can pick which type of place you want i won't mind!) to confess to them and when he confesses their s/o confesses at the same time too? and the s/o is kinda shy and awkward with him so he gets surprised and all flustered with them confessing at the same time?

(ackk this has been stuck in my head for a while, sorry if there are any grammar mistakes since english isn't my first language! i hope u have a great day!! :D <3)

- coomkie anon ♡

Artem Wing and his s/o confessing at the same time pt. 1

Title: Dedicated

Pairing/s: Artem Wing X Reader

Pronouns: Gender Neutral

Genre: Fluff

Warning/s: Grammatical errors probably

Notes: blushy artem is best artem, and we have celestine being the best wingwoman again

enjoy an amusement park date with Artem <3

Artem Wing is a dedicated man.

If it had been any other person, they would be home right now.

but not him.

Even now, as the looming hours of the night began to tick, he sits at his swivel chair, busied with the love of his life called paperwork.

"Aren't you overworking yourself?" He looked up from his papers to see Celestine waltzing inside his office with documents in hand.

The question should've made him stop and think to at least consider getting rest, but no, we're talking about Artem the workaholic here.

He has heard Celestine's question directed at him for the past few days, and from different people at that.

"Overworking means I have more time to double-check these documents," Artem said as he reached out for the folder that Celestine brought over, "Don't you think it's pretty convenient?"

"Artem," She started with concern in her blue-green eyes, "I know you're trying to distract yourself."

Artem was silent for a few moments before coughing, "Whatever do you mean? There's nothing I have to distract myself from." He said with complete calmness in his voice that he could even fool himself.

"You don't have to hide it, you know? I see the way you look at them," She smiled as she recalled the lingering stares and soft smiles setting display into Artem's face when he's around his colleague "The way you act around Y/N." she added with a hint of teasing.

The mention of your name seemed to short-circuit Artem's brain, Celestine took advantage of this with delight.

"Also... They've been getting friendly and close with that new employee.." She puts her hands on her chin, thinking.

Earlier today, she caught Artem's looks of distraught while his eyes were on you and the new guy. You were having a friendly conversation.

Too friendly.

After that, The youngest senior attorney even requested you to work with him at his desk, claiming that he, quote "needs to keep close tabs on the files that Y/N is handling." end quote.

but Celestine knew better.

Jealous is the only word that can describe how Artem was acting. She decided she will push his buttons tonight.

"Aren't you... threatened?" She beamed at him, waiting for his reaction.

"..."

"They've been on your mind lately, I reckon."

"..."

"They're getting closer with each other, don't you think?"

"..."

Hopeless. Celestine thought.

To say that she's frustrated with this whole situation surrounding the two of you is an understatement. Everyone in your circle clearly sees it - you and Artem like each other.

In the way he bought cake for the whole office that one afternoon the day after an episode of an office drama aired, or in the way that he went out of his way to take care of you in the hospital when you overworked yourself to sickness, or in the way you blushed around each other, the lingering touches, oh the lingering touches. It was all obvious.

The both of you spend your time together more than anyone else, everyone thinks your blooming affections were inevitable at this point. Solving controversial cases meant having the mental and emotional intimacy to get to know each other better compared to your average professional relationship.

You don't see each other as "working partners" anymore, it's clear that you guys want each other as a different kind of partner.

It was known to everyone except for the two of you, apparantly.

Celestine sighed before rummaging through the magazine shelf in the office, grinning when she found what she's looking for.

Artem shot her a look of suspicion. He has a bad feeling about this.

"There." She said with satisfaction before dropping the magazine into his desk.

The magazine lays there, with an eye-catching font and colorful cover page, Artem blushes as his eyes read, 100 cute date ideas...

Judging from the cover, the magazine might actually be useful when giving date suggestions. Under the big font however, there was a smaller text that read, Your significant other is waiting!

What is this...

"I'm sorry but I have work to finish." He tried his best to unsee what he just saw, and decided to turn his focus on the headache of workload in front of him instead.

Celestine raised her eyebrows at him with a frown, "Don't be stubborn now, I'm your boss, I'm giving you both a day-off tomorrow. I mean, you haven't used your day-off at all ever since you started working here. So please. " Her voice is laced with concern.

He looked away with a sentimental look in his eyes, "You don't have to do this for me. I'm fine with... Giving them affection without them realizing it."

Celestine just frowns deeper.

"Come on now Artem, doesn't it sound tempting to you?" She clasped her hands and continued a little too excitedly like a schoolgirl in love, "Having alone time with Y/N, finally asking them out on the date so the other guys threatening your future can back off."

It does sound tempting, Artem admits.

He looked away with reddened cheeks, "I'll think about it."

He doesn't need to look at Celestine to know she's sporting a big grin right now.

Later that night on his bed, his mind keeps flashing images of you. You, wearing a big, warm smile on your face. You, with your little mannerisms that he came to memorize from hours of being with you. Every little thing, every moment, as long as it's with you, he cherishes it.

Oops. The butterflies are starting.

He didn't mind.

You looked stunning today, but then again, he finds you stunning everyday.

When was I this cheesy? He thought to himself.

His thoughts kept racing with reveries about you when a new image interrupted every nice thought.

It was of you and the new employee laughing together.

He frowned and his stomach churns.

"Are they interested in each other?" He finds himself asking the wind. His mind was reeling.

He thinks about the time when he first heard you say that you were married to your work. Surely, you aren't interested in being in a relationship with some guy, right?

Right?

Groaning, he then realized that he needs to make a move now before it's too late.

To him, you're the loveliest person he's ever met, your kindness, your welcoming smile, the passion that you present when you're in the court, the way you always remain headstrong no matter how many people clash with you and try to break your principles.

The only one that occupies his heart, you.

Artem is sure he won't regret giving you his feelings, and eventually, reveal them.

He got up from his bed and sent a glare at the magazine that is now resting on the lamp table beside his bed, mocking him. He picked it up with less hesitation than before.

'What should I choose?' Artem asked himself before flipping the pages, a faint blush adorning his cheeks.

This is a big step for him, and he wants to make sure that he's going to do it right.

7:00am

You rubbed your eyes and stretched your limbs as the sunlight permeated through your bedroom window, the yellow glow giving you a peaceful feeling, a new day is about to start.

A new day without work at that.

You had been ecstatic when Celestine called you to inform you last night of your long awaited day-off, you smiled at the memory as you stand up to brush your teeth.

"You deserve it for all your hardwork!" Even through the phone, you heard the smile in her voice.

Soon, your thoughts drifted to a certain raven-haired man.

'How about Artem? I'm his assistant, does he get a day-off too?' You wondered as you finished washing your mouth, finally heading off to the kitchen to prepare for breakfast.

You were about to choose what to eat from the fridge when you hear a song play from your phone in your room.

You hurriedly went back as you recognized that ringtone - that ringtone you had set for a particular contact.

There on the screen, displays the name of the object of your affections.

Mr. Wing.

'Why is he calling this early? What could he possibly need?' you thought to yourself before pressing the green button.

"Good morning Artem, what is it?" you didn't even try to hide the happiness from your voice, Artem calling you this early doesn't happen often, after all.

"Good morning. Do you have plans for today?" His morning voice echoed through your ears. It was husky and rough, filling all of your senses.

Realizing that he just woke up, you can't help but blush at the thought of being the first person to talk to him today.

He thought of you first thing in the morning!

You tried to control the lingering heat in your face as you replied, "Uhm, yes uhh- none. I have no plans for today, Artem. I'll be thinking of what to do though. Why did you ask? " You hoped he didn't mind the sttuttering mess presented to him this early in the morning.

You wondered if there's an emergency case needed to be taken care of, he rarely ever calls outside of work.

Then again, you're always at work.

"That's good," the other line was silent for a bit. As your anticipation for his reply grew, he finally said, "A new amusement park is going be opened today. I heard they'll be having a fireworks display tonight to celebrate the opening."

You've heard about the said amusement park from your coworkers yesterday, you even heard that it was a project from PAX.

Marius' wealth truly knows no bounds, you thought.

Kiki even invited you to come with her this sunday, as it's the only freetime the both of you had before Celestine's sudden news of a day-off.

Is Artem coming there today? He doesn't seem like the type to go to amusement parks, but now you know that he likes them, or at least he didn't mind going, you added this info to your list of things about Artem that make you fall in love with him more and more. Because let's be honest, what's there not to like about the man?

He's handsome, sweet, a good cook, a senior attorney you can look up to, and he always makes sure to reassure you that you're doing well, that he's proud of you.

He cleared his throat, breaking you out of your thoughts, "Do you want to go there..." He paused, his nerves getting the better of him, unbeknownst to you, "With me? I have two tickets, and I wanted to invite a close friend. Is that alright with you? "

What?

'Is he asking me out on a date!?' you were practically screaming internally as you paced frantically in your room.

No. No way. This isn't a date. Not until he says so.

He said 'close friend' so you shouldn't overthink this. You were partners, after all!

At least you try to convince yourself.

"Of course Artem. I'm glad you invited me, I'm really happy." You weren't lying, his invite was the most unexpected thing that happened to you this week.

He hummed, "I'm happy, too. I'll be there at 2:30pm to fetch you, they'll open around 3pm. " He said in a gentle voice before hanging up.

You pumped your fist in the air. You have plenty of time to prepare.

2:30pm

Among all of the outfits that you could've worn today, you decided to wear a cute, beige, knitted sweater. A pair of faded ripped jeans, white sneakers, and a beanie to top it all off.

The amusement park being your destination, you decided to wear casual clothing since you'd be hopping on rides left and right.

You wouldn't want to wear a skirt just for it to blow on the wind while you're in the air, screaming for dear life.

Nope. You definitely don't want that.

You're now waiting outside your apartment after Artem sent you a text 5 minutes ago that he's on his way.

Your head is plagued with expectations on how this friendly date is going to go. You've never felt as giddy as this before.

It's understandable, right? The person you like asked you out to go with him to an amusement park - using his morning voice, nonetheless, so it wouldn't be strange for you to think that this is like an actual date.

You bonked yourself mentally.

You keep reminding yourself that it's just a friendly date. It's just a friendly date. You believe in the power of your mind, it's a friendly date. He even said so himself.

Artem's going to think you're weird. It's not like you're going to hold hands or anything...

Yet, you didn't even try to stop the daydream clouding your mind.

While you were busy indulging yourself in your fantasies, your eyes caught a familiar spot of black in the parking lot. Artem's car!

That's your cue. When his car stopped, you made your way over to him with a small smile on your face.

His black car opened, spilling out Artem clad in his casual clothing.

You scanned his appearance, taking in those breath-taking, familiar eyes. Taking in the beige, knitted sweater he's wearing, paired with slacks and black shoes.

Wait.

You did a double take- beige, knitted sweater?

You looked at his clothes, then looked down at your own, then back at his again.

Red and warmth crept up to your cheeks as realization hits you.

You kind of looked like a couple.

"What's wrong?" Artem inquired with concern as he stepped closer and reached out his hands to your flustered form.

He even placed his hand on your forehead to check your temperature.

Yes, you think you have a fever.

It's only when he got to take a good look at you when realization hits him the way it hit you.

He retreated his hand and looked away, face as warm as yours.

"Uhh..."

"..."

Why are you acting like a highschooler!? You're better than this, getting flustered just because you wore identical clothes.

With the person you like, you added.

The both of you stayed silent for a few seconds before you spoke up with a grin, thankful that the pink that dusted your cheeks is now cooling down a bit, "We should get going now."

You expected the ride to be as awkward as earlier, but to your relief, that wasn't the case at all.

Artem played the radio on your drive to the amusement park, and even asked you about how you're feeling lately and whatnot.

Honestly, with how he's always so concerned about your well-being, you're doomed to fall even harder.

"What are your favorite rides, Artem?" You decided to talk about something connected to where you're going to go.

"Hmm," as he hummed, you looked in front of the car to see the gates of the amusement park came into view. You can even see the familiar structure of a rollercoaster and a really grand ferris wheel turning slowly.

Majestic.

Is the motif for this amusement park golden!? The railings are shimmering with gold, some parts of the rides are adorned with gold, wherever you look, gold!

PAX outdid themselves with this one, definitely took "shining, shimmering, splendid" to a whole new level. Too much for the word grandeur, you think.

You can't even imagine how wide the place must be. You haven't even stepped foot inside, yet your eyes were oogling as some more rides were seen from outside the gates.

"We're here Artem! Look!" From your side, Artem turns to take a look from the road to the park, his eyes screaming nothing but amusement.

"It's beautiful," He breathed while you nodded furiously with agreement. He shot you a look, "I'm glad I get to spend my first time here with you." The softness is his eyes is blinding as you stared at him and processed his words.

"Me too..." you managed to choke out, turning away to hide your blush.

While you were taming your flushed cheeks, Artem had parked the car already.

He opened the doors for the both of you as he offered you his arm. Confusion takes over your features.

"So you wouldn't get lost, it's a big crowd out here, " He tilted his head to have a better look at your still sitting form inside the car, "Let's go?" He said with that gentle smile, as comforting as ever.

You stood up and linked your arm with his and suggested, "How about the bumpy car first?" excitement was evident in your voice.

He shook his head and chuckled, "Whatever you wish." He said as he locked the car doors with a click. You both headed to check in and do the formalities first. After all that, with a skip to your step, you pulled Artem to the bumpy car's ticket booth, and went inside.

You're elated.

"I can't believe the Artem Wing, the youngest senior attorney, is losing to me!" You sound hysterical as you bumped Artem's car with yours over and over, your bumpy car dominating his.

This is fun! Just minutes earlier, the atmosphere between you and Artem seemed a little tight because of the matching clothing incident. Just a little. However, the laughter of everyone playing in this space is infectious, it leaves you in a really good and playful mood.

It makes you feel like you were a kid again. You hope Artem feels the same.

Before playing, you made a bet with him earlier that whoever bumps the other the most, wins.

"Y/N. I think this car is defective." He said with a frown, his eyebrows furrowing as his hands tinker whatever there was in the steering wheel.

You looked over to him and replied, "We can switch cars, let me see." The two of you switched from each other's bumpy ride and you assessed the supposedly 'broken' car.

You realized he didn't push the right buttons to ride the bumper properly.

"Artem..." You looked at him blankly and said, "Have you ever been to bumpy cars before?"

He was silent before replying with darting eyes, "No, I haven't," He cleared his throat, "I have only been to the ferris wheel and escape rooms, I haven't been to bumpy rides before. Sorry."

You beamed at him.

"Don't be sorry!" You flail your arms to disagree, "There's nothing wrong with that. I'm actually happy that you allowed me to drag you here despite you not having played it before." You flashed him a thankful smile.

He looked a little surprised at first, but then that warm smile of his came back, "Thank you." You stared at each other's eyes for a few beats in time, his ocean eyes containing a sparkle you rarely see them hold. It looks so gentle, so welcoming.

So fond.

You stared at each other for a while, his deep eyes were enough to drown out the crowd. To drown out everything that existed but him.

Blinking, you snapped out of it to teach him how to drive the car.

The cars were booster types, different from the old models wherein you just turn the wheels and you'll be good. In this specific model, commands are needed to be performed in order for the car to execute it's special feature.

"You turn it like this..." Artem is a fast-learner, so the both you were back on track as soon as you guided him the directions.

In the end, you were tied, the bumper time limit resulting the draw.

"I'm definitely beating you next time!" you declared with a smug look, hands on your waist.

After the bumper, a receptionist from what seemed like a family raft ride made his way to invite the two of you.

"You guys look like you're having fun!" He then pointed at the paper he's holding and said with persuasion, "You're going to have even more fun here! The family raft ride is the only free ride we're offering in the park for it's first day, be sure not to miss out on this special bonus!" He then turned his heel to find more costumers.

You blinked, "Too bad we don't have extra clothes..." You hung your head low and you sighed as your mind thinks of a different ride to enjoy.

"Well, he did say it's a special bonus," Artem pondered, "They sell clothes here anyway, and there are restrooms we can change on," you wondered if this is going the way you think it's going, "I can see no harm in trying this free ride." He finished with the corners of his lips turned upwards.

Your eyes sparkled with so much joy that he's glad he suggested this.

"Then what are we waiting for!?" You squeal and jump from where you stand and Artem could only shake his head at you with an adoring look in his ocean eyes.

You both headed to the line of people waiting to get their tickets for the raft.

"That's a long line..." You're already mentally tired as you stared at the single file of people in front of you.

"There's still plenty of time before the fireworks at 7pm, I can go and buy us ice cream. Do you want some? "

You're face fell, remembering you were on a diet, "I appreciate the offer, but no thanks, I'm on a diet." An ice cream sounds really tempting right now, but you must resist.

"I heard they sell low-fat ice cream in here. How about that?" He proposed as his eyes glinted with satisfaction.

He knew this would do you in, sure enough, you gave him the biggest grin you could muster.

"You're the best, Artem! Any flavor is fine, by the way. " You beamed as he turned his heel to the ice cream stall, you just stared at his back the whole time he was away.

A minute later, the man wearing a cozy beige sweater that matches yours turned around and went over to you, two chocolate chip ice cream in hand. You reached out to take your ice cream, your fingers brushing.

You ignored the tingling feeling and the chills. He looked away.

While eating, you talked about how the line for the rollercoaster was two times longer than the raft's even though it's literally free.

"I believe they added a new feature to the coaster." Artem reasoned.

"You bet. The rides' golden theme is already impressive enough," You eyed the unbelievably long line from the coaster's ticket booth, "We can go back here some time to see that feature for ourselves." your face heated as you realized the implications in your words.

His eyes widened for a single moment and then looked at you with such intensity you can't bring yourself to look away, "I'd love that." a gentle look worms it's way in his features once again.

Comfortable silence dawns on your own, little world while you both busied yourselves in your ice cream.

The two of you were thrilled as it was your turn to ride the raft, ice cream long gone, replaced by the life-vest in your hands.

"Ah," you sighed, fumbling with the vest a little longer than you should have.

Artem, of course, noticed your movements. He was kind enough to help you adjust the vest.

Of course.

"Come here." He said as his arms finds it's way to your waist, pulling you towards his stature. His hot breath hitting your face while he circled his arms around you to wrap the vest securely.

This is not good for your heart...

He's so close, you could kiss him if you wanted...

He pulled away, his warmth lingering still.

Even when the both of you sat down on the raft. The ride is going to start in a few and here you are, lost in the feeling of Artem being near you.

"Y/N," You abruptly turned your head to him when he suddenly called you, "are you nervous?"

You blushed so hard you wanted to evaporate with the water, 'Yes. You make me nervous.' you're tempted to respond.

"Yes, but don't worry about me." was your reply instead, and you smiled awkwardly and stared at his blue eyes, blue eyes laced with concern.

He leaned closer, probably so that the other people within your raft wouldn't hear, "I care about you and I want you to feel as comfortable as possible," he whispered in your ear, sending chills to your spine.

This is definitely not comfortable, Mr. Wing.

Your heart is doing flips, this isn't normal!

"Please tell me if you need something." The gentleness in his voice took your breath away the way it did as the first time.

The fact that he's unaware of his effect on you angered you so much. You scanned his face for signs of teasing. Smirk, maybe a playful glint, anything.

Yet you found none.

The raft began to move, a perfect timing to change the subject!

You leaned on him, but not too close, and whispered, "It's starting."

Water began to splash, as the raft moved with the current.

The track was smooth at first, you getting small splashes here and there.

Until a bumpy track decided to present itself.

Like before, the raft went with the flow of the water, except that it bounced and rotated harshly that one particular splash of water was enough to wet you and your clothes completely.

"OH MY G-" you exclaimed when the raft hit a rough spot again, soaking everyone wet.

You were making a surprised pikachu face as the water seeped into your clothes.

You turned to look at Artem to see his state and you suppressed a giggle with how he's making the same face as you did earlier.

Never in your life you thought you'd see Artem with the surprised pikachu face.

You took pride in knowing that you're one of the very few people who gets to see this side of him.

"Artem!" you shouted through the noisy stream of water. "We look silly!" you laughed as the water rocked everyone in the raft as harsh as it possibly can. Round and round, back and forth.

"We do!" his laughed mingled with yours even when the water relentlessly kept soaking your already wet bodies.

You smiled once again, gazing at his form with profound fondness longer than just a friend would've done.

6:00pm

"That was really fun!" You shouted to the air while Artem scooted beside you, offering his arm like he did earlier, which you eagerly took.

The both of you went for another round on the raft after the first round, not caring about the long waiting line. The ride was worth it!

All you ever did was scream and laugh at each other's state, but it was the most enjoyment you've ever had in years.

You were completely dry now, changed into fresh clothes that were sold as the park's merchandise.

Even with the change of clothes, the clothes you were wearing right now still matched Artem's.

You weren't complaining.

The crowd continues to enjoy themselves, all while the sunset was making everything in the theme park look like a fairytale.

"Yes, it was. I enjoyed it very much." Artem flashed a smile so genuine, you wanted to see this sight a thousand times more. The orange glow of the sunset gives his raven hair a golden shade, light reflecting on his blue eyes, making him look so bewitching. So you carved it to your memory, not knowing how to elicit that same image from him once again.

Looking up at him, and looking back at the things that happened today, you realized something.

You couldn't take this silent pining anymore, you wanted to tell him how precious his smile is to you, to tell him you're glad he's spending his time with you, to tell him to make more memories with you.

To tell him he's the reason of the warmth flooding your whole being right now.

'I'm in love with you' is what you first thought of saying. No matter how cliche that may be, you wanted to let him know, that you're in love with him.

"Uhh, Artem, I-" You were about to spill your feelings then and there when a voice boomed the speakers of the park.

"Everyone! One hour more to go for the fireworks! Please look forward to it!"

Your confession's gonna have to wait for later.

part 2 here

#tears of themis #tears of themis x reader #artem x reader #artem wing #artem wing x reader #tears of themis imagines #tears of themis headcanons #zuo ran x reader #tot x reader #tears of themis oneshots #tears of themis artem #tot artem

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hermannsthumb · 3 years

Note

I have a fun prompt I've been thinking about I hope you have time for one day! When Newt and Hermann meet actually things go really really well and they even get together. It's just they bicker so much and have huge science-based arguments that everyone assumed they must have hated each other on sight.

sure thing! i had fun with this one

----

"So," Newt says. "I was talking to Tendo today."

Across the mess table, Hermann hums in feigned interest. Newt knows it's feigned 'cause Hermann doesn't stop either thing he's doing: using his left hand to wind noodles around a fork, and using his right hand to scribble away a series of lengthy equations on the back of a paper napkin. His full attention has been hopping between both for about ten minutes now—no room for Newt to slip in there. He's testing his limits enough as it. Half of the last equation ended up scratched into the tabletop, and the last time he lifted his fork to his mouth, it was empty. And then he swallowed anyway. Newt kinda loves the guy.

"Yeah," Newt says, deciding to continue like Hermann responded the way he was actually supposed to respond, which would've been something along the lines of what an utterly fascinating story, Newton, do tell me more. I love hearing you talk, Newton. How marvelously smart you are, Newton, and how melodic and breathtaking your voice is. Now watch me bite down on an empty fork again. "Kinda funny. He was asking how we met."

Hermann finally looks up at Newt suspiciously over the rims of his glasses, which are slipping slowly down his nose. He stills them with the tip of his index finger before they land in his dinner. "Why?"

"I don't know, man," Newt says. "He just was. It was like, small talk, you wouldn't get it. He dropped by the lab when you were out this morning to let me know that there was extra space if we wanted it. Like, lab space." Hermann resumes scratching an equation into the table absently. Newt rolls his eyes. "As in, we could have separate labs if we wanted now."

Hermann knits his eyebrows together. "Separate laboratories?"

When Newt and Hermann first started at the Hong Kong Shatterdome, the k-scientist team was pre-existing and significantly bigger, and anyone who joined on later—like, you know, them—basically got shoved in wherever they fit. For Newt and Hermann, that happened to be Laboratory Space D, Basement Level 1 (the only basement level), along with a former marine biologist who was killed on a research excursion a month later when a kaiju made unexpected landfall, like, right on top of their chosen shelter. Bad luck. Anyway, Newt's known about the existence of other Hong Kong Shatterdome lab spaces in the vague and absent sort of way that you would an urban legend, but (similarly so) he never thought he and Hermann would actually ever lay eyes on one. And then Tendo stopped by to dangle it in front of Newt on a stick.

"The other labs were being used as storage for ages after everyone else—" Newt searches for a word tasteful enough to encapsulate got stomped by a kaiju and wised up and decided to live out what are probably our last few days before the world ends with their families instead of alone in a military bunker. "—left. Anyway, Tendo told me they've been going through shit like crazy this month, I think to see if they can salvage any old tech, and that the other labs are basically totally emptied out now. We just have to ask and they're ours."

Hermann sets down both his pen and fork, twisting his mouth contemplatively. He finally loses the battle against gravity with his glasses, and they miss his plate by an inch, swinging back on their chain and bouncing harmlessly against his chest instead. Newt briefly wonders if getting a chain for his own glasses would save them from their frequent fatal falls into kaiju organ cavities and buckets of non-neutralized kaiju blood, but decides not even the money he'd save on replacement pairs would make a fashion faux pas like that worth it. "You know I don't much fancy the basement," Hermann says.

"Your joints," Newt agrees. The damp of the basement sets Hermann's joint pain off frequently, something Hermann talks about just as frequently. Newt's not really a fan of the basement either, though for different reasons—he would kill to get some windows and natural, non-fluorescent light in there. Sun lamps can only do so much. He's pretty sure he'd fucking glow if he stepped outside right now. Also, it's cold down here.

"And it might be nice to be closer to LOCCENT, in case of an emergency," Hermann continues. "And closer to—oh, hang on. What has this got to do with us?"

"Huh?"

"How we met," Hermann says. "You said, that Tendo asked—"

"Oh," Newt says. It's his turn to play coy. He stirs his chopsticks through his own dinner, accidentally flicking a piece of tofu to the table. It lands on top of Hermann's etched equations. Hermann scowls, because that's how their routine goes: Newt gets Hermann's stuff dirty, and Hermann gets mad. "Well. It was just that Tendo was like you can finally be out of each other's hair, how the hell did you guys get stuck together anyway when you obviously can't stand each other, that kind of stuff."

"Ah," Hermann says.

"And I said that it was because we knew each other before," Newt says, "and that we transferred here together. And that's when he asked."

"And what did you say?" Hermann says.

"That we used to correspond professionally," Newt says, "and met at a conference way back in 2017." He adds, with a grin, "Also professionally."

This was technically true. Newt and Hermann did write to each other, professionally, and they did meet at a conference, professionally, but what went down after a long and public shouting match in the events hall of a very nice hotel—in Hermann's room, five floors up in that very nice hotel—was not very professional. The events of the week that followed—spent, intermittently, between Hermann's hotel room, several coffee shops, a bench under a tree in Newt's favorite park, a rotation sushi restaurant, brushing knees shyly on the tram, and, finally, clasping hands on the staircase of Newt's apartment and gazing deeply into each other's eyes—weren't very professional, either, but Newt likes to think that they were very romantic. Rom-com level shit. Newt revealed none of this to Tendo, who referred to the 2017 conference as that Infamous Day for the rest of their conversation. "Well, it was professional," Hermann sniffs.

But he reaches across the table, and, very timidly, crosses his pinkie over top of Newt's. It's the most blatant form of PDA Hermann ever willingly engages Newt in. Newt thinks if he ever tried to touch two fingers at once in anywhere but the lab, or God forbid, hold his whole hand, Hermann's ears might start emitting steam like something out of a cartoon. "It might be nice," he says again.

Laboratory Space D, Basement Level 1, is unique—Newt knows—in that Newt and Hermann's quarters are connected to it directly. None of the other labs have that luxury (and Newt has a feeling it's because Lab Space D wasn't actually intended as a lab space). He remembers being told that when they were shoved into it. Yeah, you have the darkest and tiniest lab space on base, but your rooms are right there! When Newt wants to go to Hermann's room, or if he's in Hermann's room and needs a sweatshirt or something from his own, he just has to step the three feet between their two doors. Moving labs could throw a wrench in that—they might be asked to move quarters, too, and might be shuttled to opposite sides of the Shatterdome, and though they could just bite the bullet and request couple's quarters already, it's nice to have their own spaces when they need it. That would never work. And, well, besides—the lab, their lab, feels like home to them at this point. Newt shrugs.

"On the other hand," Hermann says, and he taps Newt's pinkie lightly, "I quite like how things are. I can live with the damp, really."

"We can get a dehumidifier," Newt offers.

Hermann nods, and he gives Newt the barest hint of a smile.

Their monthly delivery of lab supplies—whatever they can afford with their shoestring budget, which, these days, mostly means chalk, rubber gloves, and nice instant ramen—comes three weeks later. Newt wouldn't exactly call the Shatterdome delivery guy a friend, seeing as he has yet to divulge his name to Newt (and also Newt's pretty sure he has a thing for Hermann, since he always seems to wait until Hermann is in the lab to stroll by with his package trolley and always calls him Dr. Gottlieb with big stupid heart eyes, oh, Dr. Gottlieb, that new sweater looks soooo nice on you!, so anyway, that makes him Newt's rival by default), but he, at least, recognizes and acknowledges Newt at this point. That's more than Newt can say for most people on the base. After his usual greeting to the two of them (hey, Newt, oh, hellllooo, Dr. Gottlieb, did you do something new with your hair?), he starts to unload their packages, also like usual.

"I was surprised to see that you guys are still down here," he tells Newt, not like usual. "Tendo mentioned something about you getting your own labs."

"He did?" Newt says, meaning to frown, but grinning instead. It's kind of fun to be the subject of gossip. He pulls off his gloves and tosses them in the trash to help with their supplies—the dehumidifier he requested should be in there, and it's fancy and definitely on the bigger side.

"Yeah," their delivery guy continues. He hands Newt a fuckin' massive brick of a package. Hermann's stupid chalk. The amount that Hermann tears through in a month really is astounding: Newt has a private theory that Hermann is an undercover space alien from a planet where chalk constitutes all of the primary food groups, and he secretly sneaks out here and eats it in the dead of night when Newt is asleep. "Anyway, sorry I'm late," the delivery guy says, as Newt imagines Hermann crunching on a piece of chalk like a carrot stick, "I went to all the other labs first."

"No worries, dude," Newt says. "Sorry for the confusion."

He lugs the package over to Hermann's desk, and drops it down on the only spot not over-cluttered with papers and books. Hermann complains about Newt's messiness a lot for a guy who is just as bad, if not worse. "Need any now?" Newt asks Hermann.

Hermann, scribbling away at his chalkboard, grunts. Newt decides that's a no.

"Hard at work, Dr. Gottlieb?" the delivery guy says, practically fluttering his eyelashes.

Another grunt. Newt snorts.

"I thought you guys would've moved right away," the delivery guy (obviously disappointed at Hermann's lack of attention) tells Newt. "Tendo mentioned you've been stuck together for a while, ever since some sort of dramatic confrontation at a conference ten years ago." he adds eagerly, "Did you really get thrown out? I don't know how you haven't killed each other yet."

"It's taken a lot of hard work," Newt says. Yeah, the whole being-ejected-from-the-conference-and-barred-from-all-future-ones-forever thing is technically true too, but everyone there was too stuffy and serious for Newt's fun vibes anyway, so he thinks it's their loss. The most important part of the scientific breakthrough process, Newt frequently thinks, was having someone there to challenge you and push back at you. Sometimes loudly. And in public. In the conference hall of a very expensive hotel, in front of all of your scientific peers, some hotel security guards, and a poor graduate student who made the mistake of asking you and your penpal-colleague for your joint opinion on something and got caught in the crosshairs. Besides—out of everyone at that stupid conference, Newt and Hermann were the only ones snapped up by the PPDC, so it's doubly their loss. "And, yeah, we got thrown out. Me and Hermann fight a lot, but we always make up eventually. It's no big deal. It's, like, our thing."

"Make up?"

Newt waggles his eyebrows and doesn't elaborate. The making up part is the best part of arguing with Hermann, honestly, but he's not about to go giving private details about stuff like that to his rival.

By the time Hermann finally descends his ladder, three hours have passed, and Newt is frowning over an email he's just gotten from Shatterdome HR. Hermann will probably see it in a second when he checks his own email—it was sent to both of them, after all—but Newt waves him over to his desk anyway. "Look," he says.

He draws out the spare chair he keeps by his desk (for Hermann), and Hermann drops into it gratefully, propping his cane up against the arm. Then Hermann pushes his glasses up onto his nose and scans the email with a frown of his own. Newt reads it aloud for him anyway. "'Subject: Quarters Reassignment,'" he says. "Dear Drs. Geiszler and Gottlieb: It has recently come to our attention that you will be transferring to Laboratories A&B. Should you wish to transfer quarters as well, you will find the necessary paperwork..."

"By Jove," Hermann groans, and pulls his glasses off again, smudging a bit of chalk on his cheek, "can't they just leave us alone?"

Newt laughs. "I'll tell them we're not interested. Wait, listen to this bit at the end: Congratulations—this must be a relief! Guess they were getting your complaint forms after all, Hermann." Both Newt and Hermann had long-since assumed that any and all official complaint forms stamped with a k-sci lab return address are filed right into the garbage. It's never deterred Hermann from sending them in, though.

"Hmph," Hermann says.

Newt carefully rolls his shirtcuff back down to his wrist and uses it to rub off Hermann's chalk smudge. When it's gone, or at least, mostly gone, he brushes his fingers back through Hermann's short hair. Hermann's eyelids flutter shut, and as he leans into Newt's touch, his creased forehead smooths just a little. "Mm. You're lovely," he murmurs. "We really ought to tell them we're married. It's gone on long enough."

"I guess," Newt says. "But it's kind of funny, isn't it?"

#newmann #maria's fanfiction tag #Anonymous

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