#/assume connections. can be a wrong number even

[andante--andante]

ophelia: hey i made a ton of kimbap and i can't finish it. come over and grab some pls thx

[giantkillerjack]

My first time watching Glass Onion it was obvious that Miles' speeches were bullshit, but I still searched for any hidden meaning there might be.

The second time is a different experience though because every time my brain starts to search for meaning, I feel like Benoit Blanc discovering that no, there is absolutely no hidden meaning.

It's bullshit it's all nothing nothing nothing! It is just how you end up talking when everyone reacts to your self-aggrandizing word vomit like it is actually wisdom.

Also, legit, when Miles gave his stupid bullshit speech about what the word 'disruptor' means to him, I shit you not I was like holy shit am I back in business school right now?!

Miles must have given speeches like that at 100 business school graduations, goddamn.

Like, the motherfuckers really do sound like this. We didn't have any billionaires come, but we had a lot of millionaire guest speakers in my classes, and they fucking talk like that.

They all think they're rugged capitalists, but they're just glass onions!

[alphajocklover]

InstaJock: Going Viral

**Hey! This is my entry for @occamstfs Viral Transformation Challenge. Congrats on getting 2,000 followers, and thank you for beta reading this and helping me edit it. I hope I can get to 2,000 followers myself one day! For those who are new to my stories, this does connect to the plot established in my blog, but the concept is simple enough you should be able to follow along even if you don't usually read my stuff! I hope you all enjoy!**

When I talk about the InstaJock App Phenomenon – which I seem to do a lot. What is this, the 17th InstaJock related post? I need to diversify more – I usually talk about the transformation aspects and not the app itself. That’s partially because the transformation is the most interesting and hottest part, but it’s also because I haven’t been able to take a good look at the app. Even with all the protective spells and equipment I have, I can’t use a phone with InstaJock on it for very long without getting an urge to set up an account. 

Until now.

With some help from the devilishly handsome (and literally devilish) Nick, I’ve been able to get my hands on some better equipment and better explore the app. I was able to spend a couple hours on it before I needed to quit, and actually got some very interesting information, mainly about how the app works post-transformation. I had always assumed that once a user got transformed into a jock, they’d ignore the app from then on unless they wanted to change someone. I was very, very wrong, not just about that but about the purpose of the app itself. It’s not just for making people into jocks: it’s for finding the best ones.

The app generally works like any other social media app, with its members posting about their interests. It’s set up is a lot like Instagram, where pictures and videos are the main format used for posting, but what really makes it different from other social media apps is the content. You can probably guess what an app full of buff cocky jocks looks like, but I’ll confirm it for you: the app is a thirst trap paradise.

The entire app is stuffed with half naked –  and sometimes fully naked – photos of buff jocks, ones of all different kinds. If you can think up a jock related stereotype, they have a full hashtag dedicated to it. Just buff jocks playing sports, flexing and making out with other hot people, for as far. I know that doesn’t sound too different from normal social media apps, as most have a healthy NSFW side, but the posts have more in common then just showing jocks. Each and every post, every one that I saw, mentioned a Master. Some were talking about how they were getting pumped up at the gym for Master, some were talking about how they loved being jocks and were so glad Master had found them, and some were literally begging for Master to notice them, often wantonly describing how they’d debase themselves and be the sluttiest jock ever, all for him. Everyone on the app would post at least once a day about this mysterious Master. It doesn’t seem to matter if the jock is a dom, a sub, a top, a bottom, in a relationship, single, gay or even straight, all of them wanted this mysterious unnamed master – so much so they seemed to completely change personalities whenever he is mentioned. It seems instaJock has an additional side effect I didn’t know about till now: complete and utter devotion to their Master.

It took me a while, and some covert interviewing of a number of jocks in their DMs, but I think I figured out what's happening. The Jocks aren’t just posting for fun, they’re competing with each other. InstaJock isn’t really a social media app, it’s a sort of ranking app. Every day the jocks log on, post a picture of themselves with a caption somehow related to their Master, and leave likes on some of the other posts, usually the ones they find hot. If a jock’s post gets enough likes though, they get what every jock wants, what all of them are trying to get. They get to Go Viral.

Going Viral on IntsaJock isn’t like going viral on a regular app. It essentially means you’ve gotten enough likes, been reposted enough times, and have become popular enough on the site… that Master has noticed you. That's what the social media part of the app is really for. It’s just a way for Master’s jocks to organize themselves so only the hottest ones show up on his feed. If he really likes you, he’ll do more than just look too. Soon that Jock will disappear from his regular life, never to be seen again, whisked away to become a part of Master’s personal harem. This entire time the app has been about one thing: creating lovestruck sex slaves for the man who created InstaJock.

Like most actual social media apps, InstaJock jumps from one thing to another, and what's viral is always changing. But there are two tags that are always trending on InstaJock. The first, and most popular, is #JockMaster, which is only ever used by this mysterious Master when he makes a post. I’ve seen his account. He never shows his face on it, but from what little of his body that makes it into the photos, he’s… enchanting. As much as I hate to admit it, seeing just a bit of that creep almost made me drool. He usually only posts a couple times a week, as opposed to the jock who posts daily, but everything he posts goes viral on the app in moments. I’ll admit, there's something about his posts that is just… hypnotic. I almost set up an account after seeing one myself, and probably would have if Nick wasn’t there to stop me.

The other tag that's always trending is… more interesting, at least to me. It’s #MastersBoyfriend. It’s another tag used only by Master, and one he uses whenever he posts a picture of one particular member of his harem. 

Whenever he posts pictures… of my Uncle John.

I finally know who took my Uncle. I know who this Master is. I suspected it was him for a while, but now I’m sure. The man who made InstaJock and the man who turned my Uncle into a slutty buff himbo are one in the same. I finally have proof.

So now what?

**The identity of the person behind InstaJock AND the person behind my Uncle's transformation and kidnapping has finally been revealed! Been working up to this for a long time, and I'm glad to keep this story moving forward! Hope you liked it as much as I do! Thank you to @occamstfs once again for being absolutely awesome and inspiring!**

[mountttmase]

Number One Fan

Note - just a lil something I wrote yesterday based on a concept my love @saltyheartnightmare sent me 🤭 I hope you all enjoy and feedback would be appreciated 🩷

Pairing - Mason Mount × Reader

Word count - 2.2k

Warnings - angst and fluff

There was only one persons voice Mason wanted to hear right now, but he wasn’t sure if you wanted to hear his.

Looking back at everything that happened yesterday, he could see he was wrong and knew he needed to apologise but his mood had now plummeted even further and he felt more sorry for himself than ever.

The mood on the train wasn’t much better. The loss today had hurt and the only positive Mason was taking was that he’d got more minutes in the tank after such an unfortunate first season. He was just hoping the result today wasn’t something they would carry into the coming year.

Most of the boys were in their own worlds. Asleep or listening to music and whilst Mason would have loved to have been able to zone out and do the same, he couldn’t. His mind plagued with thoughts of you and the tearful look on your face as he shut the door behind him to leave yesterday. No I love you, no hug goodbye. Just a hushed ‘Fine, I’ll text you later’ before he was shutting the door behind him.

It didn’t happen often, only once before, but Mason hated leaving you when you’d had an argument. Especially when he wouldn’t be able to see you until the next day but he was on his way back to you and right now he was trying to rehearse what he wanted to.

I’m sorry

I didn’t mean it

Please forgive me

He missed your face, missed the way your smile would put him at ease and the way your eyes would tell him every emotion you were feeling. In the end he reached into his bag to find his phone so he could flick through his favourite photos of you like usual whenever he missed you but to his surprise, your name was right there on his Lock Screen. He hadn't had much access to his phone since the game had finished and he wasn’t expecting to hear from you but was quick to open his messages and see what you’d said.

The sense of relief overwhelmed him. After your argument Mason assumed you wouldn’t watch the game so you must have just checked the score before messaging. Those two words, love you, were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen and the need to hear your voice took over.

Could he call you now? It was maybe a bit risky as some of the boys could possibly overhear him but he didn’t care. He didn’t care if he wouldn’t be relentlessly teased for years about how whipped he was, speaking to you was more important. Hitting the call button straight away and after two rings your voice was filtering through into his headphones.

‘Hey Mase, you okay? where are you?’

‘On the train back, we’ve just left’ he told you quietly, looking around to see if anyone was taking any notice but thankfully they weren’t.

‘I’m sorry you didn’t win, baby’

‘That’s okay, these things happen’ he nodded. The sound of your voice already lifting him and he knew he had more to say to you but he wanted to look at you while he did it. ‘Can we FaceTime?’

‘If you want’ you whispered and he could hear you shuffling around as he hit the camera button. It took a few seconds to connect but soon enough your face filled his screen.

You were in bed, he could tell that much, your hair plopped on top of your head in a messy bun as you hated sleeping with it down and his heart jumped as he realised you were wearing one of his shirts. Suddenly feeling nervous at the sight of you as he still couldn’t get over the fact you were his sometimes and as soon as you sent him your signature smile, that overwhelming feeling of love for you consumed him.

You felt like home. And he couldn't wait to get back to you.

‘Hey beautiful’ he whispered, your smile only growing as you got comfy and it hurt him knowing he wasn’t there next to you. To hold you and to kiss you and to tell you just how sorry he was for ever making you as upset as he did yesterday.

‘Hey Mase, you alright?’

‘Yeah sorry, I just needed to see you’ he told you and you gave him an understanding nod. You’d needed to see him just as much as it broke your heart seeing how sad he was on your tv and it was like everything the pair of you had said to each other the day before vanished. ‘I'm sorry for yesterday, i didn’t mean it’

‘Thank you’ you whispered. Trying to keep your voice steady but Mason knew you and it was eating him up how dejected you sounded and knowing it was because of him made it all worse. Your eyes glossy before you looked away with a sniff and it felt like you were taking an axe to his chest right in front of him. ‘I’m sorry too, for how I spoke to you yesterday’

‘Hey no, you’ve got nothing to be sorry for okay? It was all me I was a right dick’ he told you. Your musical laughter ringing through his ears and he knew for a fact he’d never heard anything more beautiful.

He really had been a dick though. Ever since he’d come back from pre-season tour you’d been running around after him like his personal maid and whilst at first he told you to relax and that he wasn’t incapable of helping, he’d grown used to you picking up his slack.

It all came to a head just before he left yesterday though. He was late enough anyway and whilst packing his back he’d left all the stuff he didn’t want all over the floor. A trail of socks cascading across the bedroom and he threw all the fresh washing you’d spent an age folding in any direction he wanted and when you came up to see what all the noise was you were horrified at the sight before you.

‘Oh Mason, it took me ages to fold all that, I do hope you’re gonna tidy this up’

‘Are you joking? I’m late enough as it is already’

‘It’s not my job to pick up after you’ you scoffed, a little seriousness behind your lighthearted joke but he didn’t even seem to acknowledge you and his you were feeling.

‘Well I don’t see you doing much else’ he muttered under his breath and you couldn’t believe what he’d just said. All the breath in your lungs leaving at once but he just carried on as if he haddn’t said anything.

When the pair of you left London to move to Manchester you left everything you knew behind, including your job. Mason constantly told you he would support you with everything, even if that meant never getting a job again and whilst you’d enjoyed your ‘gap year’ as you’d called it, you were ready to get back on the bike and find something that gave your life a little bit more meaning again.

His words had cut through you like knives though. Was he just saying he was fine with you staying at home? It's not like you laid in bed all day wasting away as every day you made sure the house and Mason was properly taken care of and Mason told you that being there for him whilst he was injured had meant a lot to him but now you didn’t know if that was all lies.

You didn’t satisfy him with a response. Simply storming out of your shared bedroom and locking yourself in the main bathroom so he couldn’t get to you but you needn't have worried about that. He didn’t bother trying to find you until he was ready to go around fifteen minutes later and when he slammed his fist in the door a few times you ignored him completely.

‘I’m off, are you coming to say goodbye?’ He called and even though you knew you both hated leaving things on an argument, your pride was hurt and you refused to answer him without some form of apology. ‘Please, y/n. I’m gonna be late’ he tried again but still you sat there on the edge of the bath. Fighting to keep your tears in your eyes as you okayed with your fingers in your lap. ‘Fine, I’ll text you later’ he called out and when you heard the door slam downstairs you finally let your tears free.

He text you later that night as promised but it still wasn’t an apology and you were too hurt to respond so you left it unread. Hoping that it might hit Mason what a dick he’d been but it all went out the window when you’d watched his game earlier. Watching him walk down those stairs with the weight of the world on his shoulders broke you and all you wanted to was reassure him things were fine. Texting him as soon as you could but it had taken a few hours for him to be able to get in contact and now you could just about see him and hear his voice you just wanted to tell him to forget all of that but he was insistent on apologising.

‘I’m sorry I’ve not been pulling my weight lately, and I’m sorry for the mess I made yesterday. I’ll clear it up when I’m home’

‘It’s already away, Mase. You didn’t think I’d leave it did you?’ You laughed and the wink he sent you made your tummy flutter.

‘Well then go and mess it up again’ he smiled, making you laugh into the pillow and as much as he loved to see you laugh you knew he had the biggest apology to go. ‘I’m sorry for what I said about you working too. It was the heat of the moment and I was stressed but it’s not an excuse. I’m so sorry gorgeous, you know I don’t think that about you at all’

‘Are you sure?’ You asked. Your voice wobbling as his words had been playing on your mind but you could seen even though the screen how sorry he was.

‘Of course’ he sighed. ‘Please don’t get upset, okay? I’m just a big dumb idiot with no time management skills who can’t control his mouth when he’s in a rush’ he told you. ‘Just wait till I’m home okay? I’m gonna give you a big cuddle. And that’s not just because I need one too’

‘Sorry about the game, Mase’ you pouted. ‘For what it’s worth, I thought you played really well’

‘Wait what?’ He quizzed, his head tilting in confusion. ‘You watched the game?’

‘Of course I did, why wouldn’t I?’

‘I though you wouldn’t want to. Like I’d thought you’d be too annoyed at me’

‘Mase’ you sighed. ‘No matter what, I’m still gonna watch your games okay? Even if we are mad at each other I’m still your number one fan remember. I’m so proud of you and everything you do’

‘I love you’ he whispered tearily. Trying to half hide his face in his hand so you couldn’t see how emotional he was.

‘I love you too Mase’

I can’t wait to get of this fucking train’ he laughed, the frustration clear in his voice and you knew he wanted to be next to you as much as you wanted to be with him.

‘Shall I come meet you at the station? I can get in a cab and wait by your car’

‘No baby it’s okay, I don’t want you waiting out in the dark for me. I’ll be as quick as I can okay. Keep my side warm’

‘Always’ you smiled. ‘I tell you what, I’ve got everything in to make those chocolate covered peanut butter balls you like. I’ll go make you some, yeah? I’m probably draining all your data with this call’

‘I don’t care’ he chucked. Not ready to let you go but he knew he should. Some of the boys were waking up and he didn’t need them listening in so with a few kisses and a long goodbye you both hung up the phone but felling a lot lighter and happier on either end.

Mason heard Sancho turning in his seat before his face popped up above the head rest in front of him. A stupid grin on his face and Mason knew instantly he’d heard every word he’d said.

‘That was pure cinema my man. Made notes and everything’ he chuckled. ‘The art of apologising by Mason Mount’

‘Get fucked, bro’ Mason laughed. Not even caring that he’d been caught. He just wanted you be back in your arms.

[targaryenluvs]

SHADOW / EVAN BUCKLEY

PAIRINGS: Evan Buckley x Girlfriend!Reader

SUMMARY: Evan would go to great lengths to make sure his girlfriend never leaves.

WARNINGS: Stalking, baby trapping, sexual depictions, obsessive behaviour, invasion of privacy, babying, isolation

WORDCOUNT: 3.3K Words

A/N: Uhm, let’s not talk about this…

Evan was in love.

For the first time in his life he was truly, head over heels for someone. Even he himself couldn’t believe it. His friends all noticed the change in demeanour. The excessive happiness that he seemed to radiate at all time. They couldn’t find it in themselves to be anything but happy for him.

He’d had his fair share of relationships, but of course they didn’t last. Whether it was off on travels, untrustworthiness or a bad connection. They didn’t last. But with you, he knew you were the one. From the way you looked up at him, the way you smiled when he held your hand. You never judged him, dealt with his family issues as well as his own recklessness.

You were perfect, in every way. And Buck knew it. It’s why when he found out you were think about breaking up with him that he found himself spiralling.

He’d been using your phone to text Bobby, to tell him he wasn’t coming in the next day. You’d both planned to have a beach day, since the both of you had been busy lately. After texting Bobby, a text from your friend has caught his eye.

Just break up with him!

Evan could feel his heart racing, what the hell?

So he pressed on the conversation and found his worst nightmare. You’d been talking to her about how you found yourself with less time alone, almost always being dragged out to a restaurant or some other place by Buck. You felt smothered, but didn’t have the heart to tell him. If you’d told him he was being clingy he would’ve tried to dial it back. But speaking about him behind his back? To your bitch of a friend?

It wasn’t right of you. And it wasn’t right of her to encourage these thoughts. She’d met Evan before, multiple times. She always talked about how perfect the two of you were for each other. And here she was, trying to get you to leave him, your soulmate.

So he texted her, on your behalf.

I’m not breaking up with him, don’t text me. I don’t want to see you anymore.

Then he blocked her number.

“Evan?” His head rose from the pillow, looking down at you as you walked into the apartment. “Yeah babe? Everything okay?” He heard you jogging up the stairs, “Maya blocked me, I think. I tried to talk to her on Insta and she told me to screw myself. I don’t know what I did wrong.” Bucks heart hurt at the sight of you crying.

“Oh baby, you didn’t do anything. You shouldn’t be thinking about a friend who can be so rude with no explanation. C’mere.” He held his arms out for you as you settled into his arms, tears dampening his shirt. “I’ve got you, you’re okay.” He cradled your head against his chest. “I— I just don’t know what I did.”

“Shh, don’t waste your energy on her. Okay?” Your head lifted, “Okay…” He could sense your uncertainty, you’d been friends with Maya for a while, almost a year. He knew it’d be hard for you to get over it, but it was for the best. Evan knew what was best for you.

Your boyfriend was acting strangely, to say the least.

He’d been much more involved with your friends now. Always asking after them, what you guys were doing, whether or not Maya came back in touch. It felt as if you couldn’t breathe in their presence without a million texts from him.

Evan ❤️

Where are you right now?

Who’s with you?

When are you coming home?

Home. He always assumed you were coming to his place. As if you were already living together when you’d only been together for five months. Even when you brought it up to him, he’d brush his actions off.

“I mean we’re practically living together already no? What’s the point in you having your things somewhere else when you can have it here. Saves you a trip in the morning baby.” Evan murmured into your neck as you stood in the bathroom. “I… I have my own place Evan. I like having my own place. It’s not just my things that are there. It’s my place.” His arms briefly tightened around you at the sound of your protest.

“I know, but don’t you want to live with me? Be with me?” Buck retracted his face from your neck, his arms circling around your neck as your hands held on to his arms. “I do! I do want to be with you. I am with you baby.” His frown disappeared in a second, replaced with an unsettling smile. “That’s what I thought.” He kissed your cheek before walking out the door.

You stared into the mirror. What the hell does that mean? That’s what I thought? You shook your head in an attempt to collect your thoughts. Did you want to be in this relationship? Where you felt like you were being babysat? As if Buck was your parent, always asking where you were and who with. As if you couldn’t handle yourself, needing supervision.

It took you another month to realise this isn’t what you wanted in a relationship. You wanted to be equals, to rely on eachother and trust each other. The ability to go out and not give your exact location every ten minutes. To not feel as if you have an overwhelming pressure behind you, always looming. Like a shadow.

But it was a month too long. You’d given Evan even more access into your life. He’d sweet talked you into sharing your live location with you. Even your bank account was accessible to him, being able to overlook your transactions. He had keys to your apartment and even his face ID on your phone (not that you knew he had access to your phone).

You’d confided in your best friend. And she’d encouraged you the whole time. She herself hadn’t noticed Evan’s overbearing behaviour, he always handled himself properly in public. Not a single person would suspect him of being so controlling. He was to sweet for that. And even if they noticed his clinginess, they viewed it as a sweet trait.

He loves you so much he can’t breathe without you. Half of his personality had become you. His wallpaper was a photo of the two of you, his password was now your birthday. His pantry and fridge were filled with your favourite foods, even when you weren’t staying over.

It was all you. Evan finally had someone to love, to spoil and to hold with all his might. He’d be damned if someone tried to take you from him. So when he used your phone to call an Uber since you’d both walked to the restaurant, imagine his surprise and anger in finding another friend of yours against him.

Y/n: I think I’ll tell him tonight, at his place. Somewhere he feels comfortable and won’t be embarrassed.

Rebekah: Good idea, I hope he takes it well. I don’t think he means to cling in all honesty. Might just be a subconscious decision since he hasn’t had many long term relationships. Hopefully he finds someone for him.

Y/n: I know, me too. I just feel so bad, he’s had like two or three girlfriends before me and none of them worked out :(

Rebekah: I know babe, but don’t stay with him out of pity. That’s even worse for him.

Y/n: It’s not pity, I’m not still with him out of pity. I really do love him, but I can’t help feeling as if I have no space. He’s always asking for where I am, and with whom. It’s overbearing. And he seemingly can’t handle me being independent, as if I need him to do everything for me. I’m not a child.

Rebekah: You aren’t, no where near it. I get that you love him, but this isn’t healthy. You both deserve better. Some girls love a guy who cares so much. Wishing you all the best, I have a wine bottle waiting for us x

Y/n: Maybe I can wait to do it another night? I’m having a good time, reminds me why I love him :(

Rebekah: No!! If you keep going you’ll never get away.

Y/n: Pleaseeee??

Rebekah: Breakup sex isn’t a horrible idea. Might soften the blow lmao 🤣

Y/n: That’s not what I meant! I’m gonna go, and am NOT leaving to have sex.

Rebekah: Whatever you say, happy break up day xx 💋

Happy break up day? What a bitch.

If there was one aspect of your relationship that never suffered, it was in the bedroom. And Evan couldn’t help but notice when he was closing your open apps, your cycle tracking app. His thumb hovered over it, he looked around to make sure you weren’t returning from the bathroom. Only a few words stuck out for Evan.

High chance of getting pregnant.

You soaked in the ride back to Evans place. One more night with him, that’s all you were giving him. The idea of breaking up with sounded alright over text, but actually facing it? Your hands were sweating, heart racing. You didn’t want to let go, but you knew you had to.

Now or never.

Your eyes darted around Evans apartment, soaking it all up for your last time, when his hands came around your waist as he kissed your neck. “A bit eager aren’t we?” You joked as his hold tightened, “Mhm.” He grabbed you by the hips before turning you to face him, “You look amazing, and you smell so good.” You couldn’t help but blush at the compliments, Evan always knew how to make a girl blush.

“I do?” His hands cradled your face, kissing you on the forehead, “You do baby.” Evan’s hands travelled down to your butt, “Up.” He only needed one word, and so did you. He carried you up the stairs, then softly laying you down on the bed.

Evan was swift in taking your dress off, then his own outfit. “I love you.” He spoke as he thrust into you, your hands held on tightly to his hair, “Oh god Evan!” He couldn’t contain his smirk, he loved you like this. An absolute mess, all for him.

“Say it back.” His fingers dug into your hips.

“Ow! What?” Your brain was foggy, Evans words went in and out your ears.

“Say. It. Back.” His voice held no sweetness, it was purely demanding. His pace was brutal, and again it felt as if you couldn’t breathe. The pleasure was overwhelming, you felt so good. “I…” Your heart was racing again, it felt wrong to tell him you loved him.

His teeth bit down on your collarbone, “I love you!”

You shouldn’t have said it back. It was all that you could think about as his demeanour changed again, a lovesick grin on his face as he kissed you passionately. His hands felt heavy on your skin, burning into you. All you could feel was Evan. Your head was hazy as he carried you, bridal style. The water was warm, and so was he.

Evan slid in behind you in the bath, his arms were strong around you. He took his time in cleaning you off, savouring the moment. “You hungry?” He sounded so casual, as if he hadn’t literally bruised you moments before. “A little.” Your voice was quiet for some reason, you didn’t know why. “We’ll have anything you want.”

That night you spent with him was one of the weirdest of your life. You felt safe with him, more so than you felt with anyone else. But you couldn’t shake the memories of prior times. Him literally crashing a birthday party to make sure you were where you said you were. Evan dragging you back into bed when you needed to work. Him telling you to not reach for the top shelf, saying it was ‘too much for you’. Or him cutting up your food.

Everytime he looked at you, you felt conflicted.

Was this what love was? Uncertainty? Through the night you found yourself tired. Your brain was constantly filing through a million thoughts, about Evan, about yourself and your life. You loved him, but would it be wrong to stay with someone who seemingly infiltrated every aspect of your life? You didn’t know, all you knew was that the pizza was amazing and he was snuggly.

So you stayed the night. You’d fallen asleep in his arms halfway through ‘Me Before You’. You’d spent majority of the movie arguing over whether she should’ve stayed with him or left. And whether he should’ve lived to be with her. “It’s not right! He’s miserable! She should be understanding of him wanting to leave! Which she is in the end.” Evan shook his head as he tossed his slice into the box. “You’re so wrong.” You gasped.

“He should stayed for her. He knew she loved him and it was selfish of him to leave.”

“He was miserable Evan!”

“Would you leave me if I lost my ability to walk?”

Well that sentence shut you up quickly. “I—, I wouldn’t. I’d stay with you. But the movie is different, she meets him afterwards. He’s already miserable, and she makes it better, yes. But he knows he can’t give her the life she deserves. So he’s selfless in letting her go. And also, if you wanted to go, I’d support you. I’d be sad, yes, but you’re not happy. And I’d want you to be happy.”

“I’d never tell you to leave me. You’re too good to let go. Having you by my side is all I need.” You remained staring at the screen, unable to move. “Thank you.” Evan raised his eyebrows at your dismissal of his words.

“I love you Y/n.”

You turned to him with a small smile, “Love you too.” And within ten minutes, you were sleeping in his arms. Evan glanced down at you with a smile before pulling out his phone. He typed out the date of yesterday. It seemed like a date he’d need to remember. And it was lucky, in about nine months, he’d be holding a mini you in his arms.

You woke up with Evans arm draped over you, locking you in place. You slipped out slowly, grabbing a shirt and leggings of yours. You’d failed in breaking up with him, you knew you had. Last night had sucked you right back in to the storm that was Evan Buckley.

He looked at peace when he slept. Content. Maybe you could have a talk with him about boundaries. You weren’t ready to let go of him yet. And it was exactly what he was counting on, he’d wormed his way into your life. To the point where you weren’t sure what life was like without him.

Evan kept his eyes closed as you left. Letting you think you’d gotten away without him knowing. Last night was amazing in his opinion, and when you didn’t respond through out the day he surprisingly kept his cool. He had a good feeling about the night, and if he was lucky, you’d come crawling back either way.

The day had been quiet, you ran some errands, completed your laundry. And with only one text for Evan compared to the usual twenty.

Have a good day ❤️

You found yourself smiling at the text. Simple and sweet. Maybe he’d read your mind and was now reeling back? God you hoped he was adjusting his behaviour. And through the rest of the week, he didn’t show up. He didn’t randomly come to pick you up from work, or bombard you with calls and texts when you went out for drinks. You’d become so accustomed to telling him your location that he didn’t have to ask.

You called every day, barely over an hour. Just debriefing eachother about your days and gossiping. It felt as if you were both improving in your relationship. You were lowering your guard, and he was working his way in. He wasn’t being too pushy, and you weren’t being protective.

And it was a new chapter in your eyes. Since he’d stayed that way. You found yourself even happier than usual. Going out with him more willingly, especially to dinners with the 118. In two months, they saw more of Bucks girlfriend then they had in the previous 7-8 months.

And whilst you may not have noticed any changes of your own physically, Evan sure did. He felt them, your chest was heavier, and a slight bump was developing. You’d recently been an avid sushi lover when it came to eating out, and you’d been having cravings.

You’d confided in Evan about missing your period, and whilst he acted concerned, it was probably the best news he’d ever gotten. He’d come home the next day after his shift with about six different home pregnancy tests. And you’d been willing to take them.

His world stopped when each one came out positive. But first he had to gauge your reaction, the relief was unmatched when you turned to him with a smile. “We’re having a kid.” You whispered as he nodded, “A mini you, or me.” Tears fell down your face as you squealed before jumping onto him. He laughed as you buried your face into his shoulder before facing him, “You’re gonna be a daddy.” And he couldn’t help but cry himself.

You were going to be a family.

Evan was outstanding when it came to taking care of you. Anything you needed was in front of you within the hour. You’re tired? Here’s a pillow, blanket and soothing sounds to help you sleep. You’re hungry? Here’s every craving that he’s logged of yours, with delivery on the way. You’re sore? He’s got oil in his hands and eager look on his face, to which you tease him.

“Missed me that much huh?”

“You have no idea.” He whispered before kissing you.

It was a Friday dinner at Bobby and Athena’s when you announced the pregnancy to them. To which you were met with blank stares which eventually erupted into cheers and hugs.

“Oh god, Bucks having a kid before me.” Chimney shuddered as Evan slapped his bicep, “Evans going to be an amazing father.” You smiled as he grinned, “Why thank you Mrs Buckley.” He kissed you before you could react, is marriage around the corner for you?

“Well actually…” Maddie spoke out as you all turned, “Oh my god, are we pregnant at the same time?” Her small nod caused chaos to erupt amongst the home, “Two new additions to the family!” Bobby cheered. Chimneys mind was close to exploding as he hugged her.

“I’m so happy they all know.” You spoke happily as Evan sighed, “I can’t believe she’s pregnant.” You kissed his cheek before holding his hands, “Do we need to have the butterflies and bees talk?” He rolled his eyes as you pretended to pout, and he poked your cheek.

“Can’t believe we’re going to be a family. The three of us, forever.” Evan kissed the top of your head as Athena and Bobby smiled, “They’re going to be great parents.” Bobby nodded along, “Can’t believe Buck’s going to be a father. I remember his first day, and now he has a whole family.” He couldn’t help the slight tears in his eyes.

As Evan stood in the middle of the room he felt happier than ever. He had a family he loved and a family member on the way. He knew he finally had everything the could’ve ever wanted. Especially with the girl he loved in his arms, and he’d never let go.

[mothofmyth]

Steve Harrington is lost. He's trapped in the upside down. Alone. Because of fucking course he is. Why wouldn't he be? Still, at least it's not one of the kids or something.

Then again...

At least the kids know shit like morse code, and they're smart enough to figure out how to communicate topside. Steve's just sitting here, miserably staring at the vines with his plank (he misses his baseball bat, this rotting old timber was all he could find on short notice).

Sometimes he hears little bursts of voices from the real world. Hears fucking Munson and his godawful noise-music that gave Steve headaches BEFORE all of the head trauma. And actual trauma.

But all he can find in this dump is a walkman and a two-way radio. He's tried talking into the radio an embarrassing number of times, to no avail. He doesn't know if the damned thing even has batteries in it.

He can't communicate. He can't get back home. He's just... stuck.

He's just about given up on ever getting home; ever even seeing another living person again.

When he hears Munson again.

He's just talking to himself, muttering about his latest campaign or something. Steve doesn't really care, he's just grateful to hear someone's voice other than his own.

He tries recording it, so he can listen to human speech whenever he wants, but he grabs the radio by mistake.

Munson stops talking. The air becomes thicker, somehow tension seeps across the dimensions.

"Hello?" Munson sounds concerned - afraid, even.

Steve's eyes snap wide open.

"Hello?! Hey, Munson? Can you hear me?" He shouts into the musty air, careless of the monsters waiting outside the paper-thin walls of his hideout.

"Fucking losing it, Munson." Eddie mutters to himself, seemingly without hearing the call.

Steve tries the radio again, shouting into it, begging to be heard. No luck.

He sighs, assuming some miserable coincidence gave him a tiny crumb of false hope, and drops to the floor.

He grabs the walkman, resigning himself to listening to faint recordings of Eddie fucking Munson's voice for the rest of his short, sad life. He hits record and lays in silence, listening to Eddie until he falls silent.

Steve winds back the tape, listening for whatever he's captured. It's bad quality, but that's certainly Munson's voice, raving about dragons and other nerd shit. He'll take it.

Some time passes and Steve's got the tape playing aloud while he's toying with the radio again. This time, Eddie hears it.

He reacts with surprise and fear and confusion. He's hearing his own voice, distant and crackling, coming from nowhere in particular. Of course he's fucking terrified that's some mimic ass shit.

Some sort of monster, lurking in the dark, trying to lure him to it with his own voice.

Steve, of course, realises that for some fucked-up reason, the radio works to connect him to the other side, but it only hears the fucking walkman.

Steve spends weeks trying to communicate with Eddie by playing his own speech back to him, writing a full glossary of words he's got at his disposal with time stamps for where on the cassette he needs to play to express them.

He finally convinces Eddie to listen by playing "help" "me" "it's" "big" "boy" any time he hears Eddie's presence.

He sometimes catches snippets of Wayne, too, and throws some of his words into the mix as well.

Just the innate horror of being able to communicate but only through another's words, of hearing something strange and other speak to you with your own voice, cut and clipped and tonally all wrong for the context.

Something uncanny. Something familiar yet not. Something dark and serious and frightening.

The nature of danger and bravery and fear and innovation.

They muddle through together, and when Steve is finally, FINALLY rescued he ofc holds Eddie so tight the poor boy can't BREATHE but he doesn't care because it's over and they're both safe.

Eddie holding him in return because it's REAL and he thought he might be losing his mind for a hot minute there.

[ardbar]

I think the concept of personal space in parkour civilization is different compared to the regular world.

People here have at least one block distance from eachother and even bigger of other levels. Everyone stays on their own block and don't dare to jump on a block person occupying. Mostly because because you just risk to fall off ot with that person, but if you do happen to share this space with someone intentionally it meens something special.

Sharing an already small space with another person? Risking to fall on to the lower parkour lever or even straight into the abyss? That meens you trust them, know that they won't betray you and push you off the block, that they will be careful to not jump straight on you and not fall into your demise. And this person trusting you to give them enough space, that you will catch them if they tip over the edge.

But the highest form of showing trust and connection here is probably jumping together on one block in sync, especially if you're doing it fast and without much effort. When to people move like a man and their shadow, not hesitating in their jump and being able to change direction without any delay on anyone's part - that takes skill and time. Time that they spend together, skill that they grew together.

It wouldn't be surprising if Parkour God and His Champion would also to do that, considering how devoted they are to eachother and ready to risk everything just to be always by their side

Bro why are you wasting talent like on my inbox; you belong on ao3, stuff like this would do numbers there lol

As I tend to do I am going to analyze this and give my take; I am going to break this down point by point. First when we come to your idea of personal space being different in Parkour Civilization, I think that is a super fascinating idea. In their world one wrong jump at least if you are a pro or a noob spells death, before evbo took over. As you said this would explain people having a different idea of personal space, the more room you have from other people gives you a more controlled environment for making jumps. Also while not a directly violent society it is shown that people don't view death the same way; they will kill you in a parkour battle if they need to or you refuse to surrender. This idea then can very easily be grafted onto people wouldn't have many reservation of pushing you into the void if it means they get to live; kind of like when people are ice skating and they start to fall so they grab the people around them, stabilizing themselves but causing others to fall. All of these points would imply or at least lend credence to personal space being a much bigger deal in their world; however, there is one thing this argument is neglecting there are places in the world without parkour.

In this universe the outside world is a majority parkour, this is of course reflected in other parks of their society with things like transactions being parkour and in the architecture. However on the note of architecture while parkour is incorporated there are still large area's with zero jumps. This raises an interesting issue. While outside people want as much space as possible, so would this also be reflected while inside where jumps aren't as plentiful? Would people let down their barriers if they think they are safe, or does life harden them to never trust the people around them even when they don't pose a threat? Honestly I don't have an answer to this that satisfies me; I don't know enough about behaviors or habits and how they form to give a well informed answer. One would assume that when you are almost always in a situation of life or death a moment of peace wouldn't make you drop you walls, however the people in this world don't act normally.

Evbo for example loves parkour, everyone does, and death is seen as not really something that is important even back when it was permeant. So would these people view this as a life or death situation or just another day? I think a parallel to real life would be driving, by all measures it is very dangerous but a huge number of people do it everyday; every time someone steps behind the wheel of a car their chances of dying that day skyrocket but we don't care. This might also be the way people in their world view doing jumps. Of course its dangerous but its life and they don't know anything different than it. Of couse when we drive we follow rules, more or less. I could see this being the same as traveling with parkour there are rules you follow but once you get to solid ground then you can relax. This is all to say that while personal space is important outside, once inside it becomes more akin to how we view it. I feel like i've bled this point dry so I'll move onto another thing you brought up which was doing parkour simultaneously or on the same block.

Even if doing parkour is just a common task to these people I still think they would see doing it on the same blocks as someone a very personal thing. If I once again make a parallel to the real world and automobiles this might be something similar to riding on a motorcycle. It is a much more dangerous thing to do and requires close contact, if you have any sense you would need to have a huge amount of trust in the person you are doing it with because if either of you screw up it could mean certain death. As a certified Mavbo shipper I of course think this would translate into their relationship. However, I'm going to take it a step further.

I don't think EMF would fear doing any jumps. His best friend, his love, is the god of parkour. He is loved by the very concept, so would he ever be hurt by it? Would he believe that Evbo would never let his domain bring harm to him, even if he makes a mistake does he have complete faith in his god to make it okay? I would think so. I think this is especially true when we consider the type of person Evbo is. He is someone that does dangrous insane things knowing the risks but has faith that he will succeeded. Seeing this same philosophy being practiced by his most devote, I don't think he would let that trust in him, in his idea be misplaced.

While I do have more to say on this topic I have to return to doing work. My books on arbitration law wont read themselves, sadly. I hope this was an adequate response. Also I was being serious earlier assume you are the same person as all of the other askes your writing has a lot of emotion in it and is very compelling. I could def see it doing very well in fanfic spaces, but you do you.

[lxmelle]

Just some thoughts on 270

Yes the end is near.

Yes I almost threw up when I saw that unmistakable hairstyle...

Yes I was a bit disappointed that there were no visible satosugu crumbs - or are there? More on this later... and the it overall just felt a little bit 😔 empty 😪

Nevertheless, I want to just blab about a few things.

First, is it Geto/Kenjaku?

If we think about how Yuta’s copy CT works, Rika would need to consume a viable part of the sorcerer. The only part of Kenny left was his whole brain. He was the brain. The rest is Geto. We have not seen any evidence of Yuta having CSM, so it can be assumed that Yuta did not have Rika eat any part of Geto. Otherwise, it’s be Geto’s CT and not Kenjaku’s body-hopping technique.

Imho: The person with Takaba is not likely to be either Kenny or Geto. Geto cannot function without a brain, there was none “spare” either, so the theory of a spirit entering the body is going to make it alive again - no, it doesn’t. There is no other living sorcerer who can do that - Ui Ui maxed it out with the number of times and there is no other person to swap with. Just. Not. Possible.

And Kenny was seen to have told Mimiko and Nanako that he took Geto’s brains out to inhabit it.

So. My conclusion is that Gege is baiting. Just as he did with the “we have to help Yuta!” And the rude yelling that got so many of us wondering just who would speak to roughly to Yuta and what warranted it. We were all asking: who calls Yuta “Yuta” and not “Okkutsu-senpai” etc. I even thought it was Shoko, assuming that Maki was in the same hallway as the others, but the main culprit was of course the most obvious, Maki herself.

And that baiting thing with the clock theory about 2:21 pm linking with chapter 221 of Gojo’s unsealing - I theorised it’s about having presence (like how spiritualists, and in Shinto, believe that spirit is all around us) despite being dead and his soul with Geto.

And goodness know what other theories there are out there about time and Gojo revival. I’ve said before that I don’t buy into it, but it is interesting.

So is it Geto? Kenjaku? I 80% think not but... yeah, I am worried. To be completely transparent, I’m so scared that it is.

Because I’m in the camp of: please please Gege, please please please let Gojo and Geto be at peace in their eternal afterlife until they’re ready to be reborn and let them find each other over and over and over again.

So rationally, I doubt it is. But I’m worried. I’m worried for reasons like: why aren’t the bodies and resting places of Gojo & Geto still not mentioned?

Next thing to I have some thoughts on are about Itafushi. They’re really good friends and I think it’s also just one of those things Gege is doing because it’s JUMP and he doesn’t want to just pretend the Hana -> Megumi thing is forgotten. It also shows some character growth.

So overall, I’m rather neutral about the Megumi + Hana thing. They’re still kids, and Yuji + Megumi are compatible but they’re also not quite Satosugu, so their relationship will be undeniably different. Friends or otherwise.

It’s nice to see the Megumi is taking initiative and finding novel ways to make new meaning & connections. I wouldn’t read too deeply into it, especially since Hana obviously read too deeply into it and got it all wrong.

I will say that it feels cliche maybe. Again it’s maybe a JUMP serialisation thing shonen mangakas do, since a big portion of the fanbase are young boys too. Gege can’t be doing too much for lgbtq+ too obviously after all.

So it leaves me feeling it is a little reminiscent of the Sasuke and Sakura pairing in Naruto - as if it could become something seemingly out of convenience/settling/making do, but what do I know? Sometimes relationships in life are like that. I’d rather marry my best friend, but you know... different strokes for different folks. As they say.

Now it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t find a way to make it about satosugu. I’m imagining collective groans from people who may be reading this... so please skip if you’re bored of me now, lol. Or read on if you like to be in satosugu delulu brainrot like me.

One of the satosugu-related takeaways from this recent chapter is that it seems to reduce the possibility of interpreting Gojo not allowing Shoko to process Geto’s body as being out of consideration for her.

Her saying that the idiot should have let her process Geto’s body pretty much says Gojo took matters into his own hands. Not only was it protocol… but she also personally thought it would be a privilege. But Gojo did not let her.

We ofc don’t know the details.

So it leaves us with: He did it for his own reasons, or reasons at least relating to Geto. Kenjaku thought it was out of consideration. And Kenjaku is not a reliable narrator, nor was Geto... who tended to think he didn’t matter.

You know, as a person who can quietly just swallow vomit and shit rags without complaint. As a person who could practically transform the filth, negativity, evil, and darkness of the world into power that he could use for good - he was vessel of sacrifice.

Anyway, I digress.

It seems to indicate that Gojo kept his body to himself ... for his own reasons, breaking protocol.

And referring back to 270 again, for Shoko to talk about the afterlife right after preparing the body -> cremation is strange. Does preparing the body and cremating it have anything to do with the afterlife? 🤔 so somehow, prepare body -> cremate -> mourn/afterlife?

Interesting in that Gege is giving us yet another example of how everyone has a different reality / belief. If we believe what we saw in Gojo’s death, then there is one and Shoko will be proven wrong when her time comes like how Gojo was wrong about dying alone.

And it is also interesting in the sense that it’s familiar…

Something about how she said prior to Gojo’s unsealing, about “I couldn’t love either of you like you loved each other, but I was there too.” - am I reading too deeply? Probably. But it’s there for me to read.

Shoko prepared Tsumiki for cremation. She was made her beautiful for the afterlife - even if she was to be cremated, there was something about giving her something (dignity?) before she turned to ash. And those left behind can send them off into the afterlife feeling they did their best.

I think you’d need a certain level of trust for someone to hand your beloved over. Or at least feel like they would mourn the departed like you would. Or faith that your beloved would be happy with entrusting you with that decision. In some cultures, the family wash and swathe their dead in cloth with their own hands where possible.

So Shoko. Shoko could do it for Geto, for Gojo. She was there. She was willing. But. It was almost as if saying that Gojo 1. could not allow someone else to prepare Geto’s body, and neither did he seem to have mourned because 2. Geto was not cremated to be sent into the afterlife. As if he didn’t trust anyone. As if he could not let go.

Again, Rika kept Yuta’s body “alive” too. Parallels are paralleling.

I don’t know how Geto regenerated or if Kenny was responsible for it. Or if Gojo somehow did. But those are just unnecessary details at this point.

And again, Shoko was there but she could not be like what Gojo was to Geto and what Geto was to Gojo.

How complicated.

I’m reminded of that scene where he says to ichiji and Shoko: “There are just 3 of us remaining huh.”

In agreement to Shoko acknowledging that Geto’s body needed retrieving from Kenjaku, it was quite a pregnant pause from Gojo before he goes, “………yeah.”

He seemed surprised Shoko brought it up and decided to just gloss over it.

To me, it collectively implies that Gojo doesn’t let Geto be anyone else’s but his.

His friendship was his one and only. His loneliness was his. His dreams were his. His love was his. His life was his. His body was... his. And his soul was his too. As was his satisfaction.

I think Gege wants us to understand something here. By what he is showing and not showing us.

If I think about the exclusivity that they shared... the whole, “we are the strongest (together)” and “it wouldn’t be bad to be killed by you” or even “I’m jealous but if you were satisfied I’m glad for you.” and then “if you were there to pat me on the back I’d be satisfied.”

It’s a lot like... only YOU can be the one. And therefore I think Gojo kept Geto all to himself. Maybe thinking Geto would only want HIM to touch his body.

It was his exclusive right. And that was mutually shared... because Geto wasn’t really pleased with Gojo getting satisfaction from elsewhere (lol, you know, the “jealous” 妬けるね that got the fandom in a frenzy).

I’ve mentioned it in another post... link: https://www.tumblr.com/lxmelle/758015943938113536/i-love-the-idea-of-mutuality-that-is-deeply-rooted I really do like the idea of Gojo and Geto just teaching each other things. Like selfishness and love. Binding each other to the other. Selfishness and selflessness as part of being human.

Was this an act out of the side of Gojo that was “a little selfish, a little inhuman but a little too human”, and he wanted to keep Geto all to himself? Despite not giving his best friend a proper burial?

When I think about how he normally did what Geto approved of (you can dispute this if you wish) and I think back to how he might’ve really given Geto’s body back to his family- but what we saw in the manga seemed like they didn’t have much involvement either. Surely they’d have wanted Geto cremated?

So it leaves me with the idea that it was Gojo acting out his secret feelings.

Just Gege and how he shields Gojo’s privacy. Secret words. Secret thoughts. You know. Gege being Gege letting Gojo do Gojo things.

I think we might need to accept that Gojo and Geto just have this exclusive thing we aren’t privy to.

That’s all for now. Abrupt ending 🫡

Thanks for reading my rambling if you made it this far 🫶

Feel free to share your thoughts/comments/criticisms 😄

[localplaguenurse]

I am so in fucking love with the stairway to heaven animation and the only ways I can express that is to either say I am bricked the FUCK up, or I give in to the uber instincts of my uber autism and write an essay on what I THINK are some of the references/inspirations used in the animation. I chose the essay because I need people to know why I am "bricked up."

I am fully willing to accept if I am wrong/reaching for some of these but even then, I think it's cool that I can still connect certain moments with things I enjoy. With that out of the way, behold my analysis/breakdown of Stairway to Heaven!

Spoilers below the cut not just for the animation, but also minor spoilers for Kane Pixel's backrooms series, Liminal Land, Skinamarink, and Mandela Catalogue. Also just a warning for the incoherent ramblings of a guy who's abnormal about analog/indie horror. Please please please please PLEASE go watch the animation if you haven't.

First, "subject 087" is in reference to SCP-087, the never ending staircase SCP. I actually didn't even catch that the first time until I scrolled down to the comments lmao. In my defense, when SCP was blowing up in the mid 2010s I wasn't really old enough to appreciate it or find the format interesting (and honestly it is still hard for me to really get into it, but that's more of a me thing. Conceptually a clinical approach to horror like with SCPs or in All Tomorrows is fascinating, but it can be a bit of a slog for me), so I only knew the main three's numbers. (173, 096, and 682).

"Motion detected" has been used in just about every analog horror series now, but Mandela Catalogue is probably the main series that popularized the trope when analog horror first started getting popular.

The backrooms is, obviously, the backrooms. You can probably assume it's Kane Pixels' backrooms because his version really blew up but it feels more like early days backrooms before we got all those monsters and almond water stuff. (Which btw it's so funny we got "almond water" from whoever the first person to say the air smells like almonds was. For reference, almonds smell like cyanide. OP was trying to say the air smells toxic, not that almonds are the safest thing to consume in the backrooms.)

This shot just reminded me of The Oldest View, ALSO from Kane Pixels. Tbh that's probably just me but I thought it was neat.

Next up, the door. Aside from the obvious 333 angel numbers which also appear very prominently in Mandela Catalogue (this series is going to pop up a lot, I'm sorry), but for some reason it reminded me of the Silent Hill 4 door. Again, that's just the tism probably.

Skinamarink ahh shot, was honestly expecting the door to just poof, disappear.

Next, the shot with all the houses. While KP's Backrooms do have that creepy neighbourhood, this exact shot and set up feels closer to H.O.M.E. from Liminal Land.

And then our most darling biblically accurate horror icon Columbina would make False Gabriel proud, and just... she is so fucking cool and creepy in this and I love her so much.

This whole sequence was for one absolutely horrifying and beautiful, but what caught MY attention were the settings and locations shown. These are standard creepy liminal spaces and analog horror gore censorship, yes, but they also reminded me of the locations Trevor Henderson uses in his art pieces, so suffice to say I think Columbina looks RIGHT AT HOME regardless of how you wanna look at these shots. And the animation on her face opening up into wings and eyes is just an absolute chef's kiss moment. Props to the animators, man.

This trope, the whole main character monologue overlaying the screen moment, very common in analog horror but for me, again popularized by its use in the Mandela Catalogue.

The smudged picture is a reference to one of the ending shots in Skinamarink, where it pans over the childhood photos only for their heads and faces to now be missing, which most agree is the movie's way of saying these kids were trapped her for so long they eventually just stopped existing/faded into nothingness.

And finally, the classic ending scene of KP's first Backrooms video.

I know for a fact there are probably other references to liminal spaces/analog horror that I either missed or they're like general concepts/tropes used in analog horror. I did almost mention the mill in petscop because of Columbina's "two in the mill, one taken, one left" because that phrasing felt really specific, but it doesn't quite fit the vibes of all the other references. Also her only being seen in the camera is a trope used in all manner of horror media. My first thought was the forest scene in VHS (2012) where the murderer could only be seen in the film static.

I just wanted to get the especially cool/unique moments out there. I didn't even touch on the storyline but that's because it seems pretty straightforward. I'm also aware not many people are gonna read my red string corkboard ramblings, which I'm fine with. I just needed to get this out of my system, but I do appreciate those who did take the time to indulge my ramblings!

That's all for now, back to whatever the hell I had planned for today.

[cal-kestis]

HOW TO: Make a Pantone “Color of the Year” Gif

A few people have asked about my Pantone sets which use the “Color of the Year” swatch design. So, here’s a full tutorial with a downloadable template of my exact overlay! Disclaimer: This tutorial assumes you have a basic understanding of gif-making in Photoshop.

PHASE 1: PICKING A SCENE + PANTONE COLOR(S)

I’m starting with this because it’s crucial for planning your gifset as well as making sure the execution is smooth sailing. The steps in this phase won’t necessarily be literal steps but some tips for how I usually go about making a Pantone set:

1.1 – Picking a scene.  Scene selection is everything. To make things easy on yourself, I suggest choosing scenes where the background is mainly ONE color — for example, a scene where the subject has a clear blue sky behind them. To make things even easier, choose a color that isn’t the same color as the subject of your gif. Like, if your subject is a human, I’d avoid using a gif with a red or yellow background unless you want to do a lot more work to mask their skin. 

Rip me using a scene of green lil Grogu in green grass lmao. But I guess that goes to show you could really do this with any scene (I just did lots of masking and keyframe animations to perfect this green shade). BUT selecting your scenes wisely = a lot less work. 

1.2 – Picking Pantone colors.  People often ask me how I choose my colors and there are a few methods which I’ll go over below. 

But note that not all Pantone colors have a cute name, or any name (fun fact: only Pantone textiles have official names and they end with TCX, TPX, or TPG).

METHOD A: Google Search “Pantone [Color]” Source: Google Easy but not always fruitful, all you do for this method is open Google and type “Pantone [insert color here].” For example, when searching for teal colors, I searched several things including: Pantone Teal, Pantone Turquoise, Pantone Blue, Pantone Green, Pantone Blue Green, etc. Then, just sift through the Google results and click on whatever comes up from the official Pantone website! Since Pantone’s site blocks some info behind a paywall, you won’t be able to get a hex code from them. But you can just screenshot the swatch from their site, put it in Photoshop, and use the eyedropper tool to figure out the color.

METHOD B: Color-Name Site Source: https://www.color-name.com/ This handy website lets you search by colors using the upper navigation bar. Or you can just type something like "magenta" or "blue pantone" or even “frog” and see what comes up lol. Color-name can put together palettes too! I like that this site also tells you the hex code of a color, which is really helpful for getting the right code to put in my overlay. Note: Not every color on this site is a Pantone textile, so not all of these names are Pantone-official names. You can tell it’s official if, in the Pantone row of the Color Codes table on the middle of the page, it has a code that’s 2 numbers, a dash, 4 numbers, and either TCX, TPX, or TPG.

METHOD C: User-Made Pantone Colors Archive Source: https://margaret2.github.io/pantone-colors/ For my Wednesday characters as Pantone colors set, it was all about matching the color name to the character’s vibe. So, before looking at the actual colors themselves, I wanted to find the perfect color names. I stumbled upon this page. The pros = it lists pretty much all of the current official Pantone names. The cons = it’s not convenient since there’s no filtering tool. You can do Command+F and search for keywords, but that’s it. I literally scrolled through this whole page for my Wednesday set and read every single name, which... I think means... something’s wrong with me /lh /hj

METHOD D: Official Pantone Color Finder Source: https://www.pantone.com/pantone-connect This is last on my list because I don’t actually recommend it. Unless you already have access to this resource from your school or work or something, I would never pay for it and it is a paid feature only. Boooo 👎 But there is a free trial (which I’ve never used), so if you want to see what it’s about, you can definitely go for it.

PHASE 2: MAKING THE BASE GIF

Again, just some super quick tips for making a gif that, I think, looks best with this kind of set — but if you’re still learning how to gif, I do have a basic gif-making tutorial here for extra guidance!

2.1 – Uncheck “Delete Cropped Pixels” before cropping your gif. When you use the crop tool, this checkbox appears in the top toolbar. Unchecking it allows you to move the positioning of your gif later on, which is handy in this case when you want to choose which part of your gif will be underneath the Pantone swatch. You can read more about this tip in my basic gif-making tutorial (linked above; Step 1.5 – Tip B).

2.2 – Make your gif 540px width. My gifs for these sets are usually 540x540px but I think 540x500px will also look good. I think it’s more impactful though to make a big gif to show off your coloring.

PHASE 3: ADDING THE PANTONE OVERLAY

3.1 – Download my template I made this template myself, so all I ask is that you don’t claim it as your own and that you give me proper insp or template credit in your caption if you decide to use it! Get the PSD with the transparent background here!

3.2 – Download the font Helvetica Neue Bold The font I use (and I’m pretty sure it’s the same font Pantone uses) is Helvetica Neue Bold, with some very specific letter spacing (which I determined by studying Pantone’s official Color of the Year Very Peri design). It’s already set in my .psd but here are specs in case: color name spacing = -40, color code spacing = -75 (sometimes I’ll do -25 for the numbers after the dash if I don’t like how tightly they’re packed together). 

I uploaded Helvetica Neue Bold to my dropbox here!

3.3 – Import my overlay You can either drag the whole folder onto your gif from tab to tab or right-click the folder, select Duplicate Group, and select your gif as the destination document. Just make sure this overlay group is above your base gif!

3.4 – Fill the color swatch In my .psd, on the layer labeled “Pantone Swatch,” just grab the hex code of your chosen Pantone color and fill that layer using the Paint Bucket tool! I’ve already put a layer mask on the layer for you so it fits perfectly inside the square outline.

If you’re using my .psd, all the blend mode settings are already in place! I usually set the colored square behind the Pantone logo to the Color blend mode, but sometimes, I prefer the way Hue looks. It’s up to you! 

You can also adjust the drop shadow settings to make your text more visible as needed. The layers are arranged in this order so the drop shadows don’t interfere with the semi-transparent part of the colored swatch. 

3.5 – Insert the color name and code My .psd has two versions to choose from: (1) a color name that fits on one line and (2) a color name that requires two lines. Use the one that applies to your color name and simply type that and color code into the corresponding text layers! 

Note 1: Pantone doesn’t keep their font size uniform for every color of the year. They’ll sometimes shrink the text to fit longer names, but I like being consistent. So, I use this one font size for all my colors.

Note 2: My template has all the text left-justified and matching the starting point of the P in Pantone. BUT, sometimes the gif looks better if you nudge the text a bit so it looks more centered. Use your discretion when aligning the text!

Note 3: Btw, you definitely don’t have to use the TCX/TPG codes like me. (I’m a nut and there’s no way I’ll ever do a Pantone set and not use those types of codes to maintain uniformity across this series lol.) I’ve seen others do sets inspired by mine using different color codes or even just the hex code itself!

PHASE 4: COLORING THE BASE GIF

The key here is to make a majority of your gif feature your chosen Pantone swatch. If you’re really smart with your scene selections, this should be a breeze! If you’re stubborn like me and want to use specific scenes with the opposite color of your chosen Pantone swatch, there will be a bit more color manipulation involved... However, this isn’t a coloring tutorial, so again, I’m going to give some tips and resources that will hopefully help you out!

4.1 – Color matching. Now that you have the Pantone swatch on your gif, you should be able to reference that center square set to Color/Hue to match the rest of your gif to that color. Feel free to paint a little blob of your color onto another layer anywhere on your gif so you can refer to it closer over a specific part of your gif. For example, I put a little circle over Grogu’s head to see how closely I matched Pantone’s Peapod color, then I tweaked my adjustment layers a bit more until the colors matched near perfectly and I couldn’t tell where that blob begins or ends. The left is the solid color and the right is set to the blending mode Color (like the square):

4.2 – Moving the base gif. This isn’t really about coloring... but remember when I said to uncheck “Delete Cropped Pixels” in Step 2.1? Well, here’s your chance to adjust your canvas and move the gif around so the exact part you want under the color swatch is in the right position. I personally think these kinds of sets are more impactful when you put a differently colored part of your gif under the swatch so you can see through it and the difference is clearer. In my example, I put Grogu in the center so the green box would cover some of his brown potato sack robe.

4.3 – Color manipulation. Color manipulation is when you transform your media’s original color grading into a completely different color. The Grogu gif isn’t a great example because the original scene was already a green-yellow color:

I mean, the difference is still pretty drastic but that’s mostly because my file was HDR and washed out as a result.

So, here’s an example I made using a gif from my first Pantone set for ITSV (I’m not doing this demo to the Grogu gif because it’d be too much work to manipulate a green background with a green subject. This ITSV scene is perfect bc the majority of it is blue while the subjects are mostly red.)

For the “basic coloring,” I did everything as I normally would: mostly levels and selective color layers.

For color manipulation, my fav adjustment layer is Hue/Saturation (those are the screenshots that are on the gif above). When you’re smart with your scene selection, it’s pretty easy to manipulate colors with one Hue/Sat layer because you usually only need to tamper with 1-2 colors and, hopefully, they shouldn’t interfere with skin tones (obviously you’ll do other layers to further enhance your gif’s brightness, contrast, etc. — but I just mean the heavy lifting usually only takes me one layer with a good scene choice). 

All you have to do is figure out what color the majority of your gif is, toggle to that color’s channel, and fiddle with the hue slider. In the gif above, you can see that I played with both the Blue and Cyan channels. Here’s why:

If I only adjust the Blue hue slider, I get those speckles of cyan peaking through in the gif above. Unless you’re working with completely flat colors — like 2D animation with zero shading/highlights — a color is never just one, solid color. Blue isn’t just blue, it may have some cyan. Purple isn’t just purple, I often have to toggle the Blue channel too. So, yeah, be mindful of that!

I’ll sometimes go in with the brush tool and paint over some areas of my gif to really smooth out the color and make it uniform. When I do that, I just set that painted layer to the Color blend mode. Some of the resources below go into that technique a bit more!

4.4 – Coloring resources. While not all of these tutorials cover the same type of color manipulation I did in my gifs, I think the principles are similar and would be helpful to anyone who’s a beginner:  – color manipulation tutorial by usergif/me: I go a bit more in depth here (I think lol) – how to change the background of any gif by usergif/fionagallaqher: a great tutorial for using keyframes so you can manipulate the background of a gif with lots of motion – bea’s color isolation gif tutorial by nina-zcnik: this tutorial has more tips about hue/saturation layers as well as masking your subject – elio’s colouring tutorial by djarin: this tutorial shows a lot of examples of first manipulating the colors then brushing over the gif with a matching color for extra coverage

And just one last note on coloring, I always try to appreciate gifs with the mentality that “good” coloring is 100% subjective. One of the only things I would classify as “bad” coloring is when you whitewash or [color]wash someone’s skin tone. So, as long as you keep the integrity of your subjects’ natural skin — especially if they’re a POC — you should feel good about your coloring, because it’s yours and you worked hard! <3 

PHASE 4: EXPORT

That’s it!! If you work in Video Timeline like me, just convert from Timeline back to Frames, export your gif, and voila! 

Easy PEAsy. 🥁 

If you have specific questions about this tutorial, my ask box is open <3

Also, check out these other Pantone-inspired sets by my friends @nobodynocrime (Mulan set) and @wakandasforever (Ponyo set)! There are so many ways to use Pantone colors in your set, so I hope this inspires you to create something beautifully colorful <3

[potatoqueenpal]

Yall I'm SO SORRY for dipping on you I have no ideas and I'm still fighting to get my avior fic back.

Have filler till I think of more angst

I present to you: Shaw Pack and Mates: Incorrect quotes

Sam, filling out legal paperwork: Were you guys born AMAB or AFAB?

Sweetheart : Bold of you to assume I was born at all.

Baabe: I personally was created in a lab.

Angel: I just straight up spawned.

Sam: We call that a traumatic experience.

Sam, turning to Baabe: Not a "bruh moment".

Sam, turning to Angel: Not "sadge".

Sam, turning to Sweetheart : And DEFINITELY not an "oof LMAO".

Asher: Knock, knock.

Baabe: Who's there?

Asher: Boo!

Baabe: Boo who?

Asher: Why are you crying?

Baabe: I'm not crying.

Asher: Hello notcrying, I'm Asher.

Milo: Angel, you look deep in thought. What’s wrong?

Angel: Did you know you can look at any object and know what it’s like to lick it? Even if you’ve never touched it before?

Milo: I’m never asking you anything ever again.

David: There's nothing worse than people using big words they don't understand.

Milo: I photosynthesize with this.

Sweetheart: I’m this close to falling in love with Milo.

Asher: Your fingertips are touching.

Sweetheart: Exactly.

Asher, spraying a melted cutting board with a tiny water gun: We gotta cool this bitch down. Cool it down.

Sweetheart : I actually just put the cutting board in the oven...

Baabe, visibly confused: Okay, so they decided to put the cutting board in the oven?

Asher, spraying Sweetheart : You FUCKING DUMBASS!

Sweetheart : Dude, I forgot-

Asher: OH MY FUCKING GOD! We're trying to make Chicken Alfredo right now, and you fucking MELT the cutting board in the oven at 400 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT!?

Sam: *Watching in complete confusion while trying to process this whole situation.*

Asher: In your opinion, what is the height of stupidity?

David, turning to Darlin': How tall are you?

Angel: Sam said its my turn with the brain cell.

Asher: Square up.

Sam: And what do we say when someone refuses your offer?

Sweetheart : Suck it, boomer!

Sam: I don't know who "Boomer" is, but no.

Asher: *spits mouthful of blood onto floor* You’ve become far more powerful since we last crossed paths.

Dentist: Please stop, there’s literally a sink right next to you.

Baabe: I think my guardian angel drinks.

David: How did none of you hear what I just said?!

Milo: I've been zoned out for the past two and a half hours.

Asher: I got distracted halfway through.

Darlin': Ignoring you was a conscious decision.

Asher: Consider the fundraising over! Your hero has arrived!

Sam: Uhh… where did you get so much money from, Asher?

Asher: Well, you know, I’m pretty good at numbers. I just crunched them, I stretched them, I analyzed my accounts, I timed the market-

*police sirens start to wail in the background*

Sam: DID YOU ROB A BANK?!

Asher: Oh, come on, Sam, do you really think so little of me? *opens the bag as purple dye explodes on their face*

Sam:

Asher: …it was a credit union.

Angel: Tell them to eat shit, David.

David: Tell them yourself.

Angel: Eat shit, asshole. Fall of your horse.

Milo, gardening: Hey, can you bring me the hoe?

Darlin': Yeah, sure.

*A few minutes later*

Darlin': Here you go.

Milo:

Darlin':

Baabe: Why am I here?

Angel: Guess what I'm about to get!

David: On my nerves.

Sweetheart : That's a nice arguement, Milo Why don't you back it up with a source?

Milo: My source is that I made it the fuck up!

Sam: Aww, what's your cat's name?

Milo: Aggro.

Sam, yelling to Baabe: TRY AGGRO!

Baabe, on the computer: DIDN'T WORK!

Milo:

Sam: What's your favorite number?

Angel: I’m so jetlagged I can’t even regrender my chorf.

*Everyone stares at Angel*

Angel: I don’t even know what I was trying to say.

Angel: I've connected the two dots.

David: You didn't connect shit.

Angel: I've connected them.

And now, wholesome (amd flirty) ship incoreect quotes:

｡･ﾟﾟ･　　･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･　　･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･　　･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･

David : Do you want to explain the text you sent me last night?

Angel: It was autocorrect.

David : Autocorrect wrote "You're so hot. Please step on me."?

Angel: Yes.

Angel: You are the love of my life and I would do anything within reason to make you happy.

David : I would be happy if you ate, stayed hydrated and got a reasonable amount of sleep.

Angel: I said within reason, David . How about I murder that guy?

David : So murder is in reason but proper self care isn't?

Angel: Well, duh. What kind of question is that?

Angel: Hey, wanna take a shower with me?

David : I have a gun on that nightstand beside the bed. If I ever say no to that question, I want you to take it out and shoot me because I’ve obviously gone crazy.

Angel: There are 20 letters in the alphabet, right?

David : Nope, there's 26.

Angel: Ah, I must have forgotten U, R, A, Q, T.

David : Aww, that's cute, but you're still missing one.

Angel: So give me the D.

Angel: Hey, I’m getting in the shower. Wanna help me out?

David : ...Have you never taken a shower before?

David, sweating: Angel, there’s something I need to ask you-

Angel: Finally! You’re proposing!

David: How’d you know?

Angel: David, you’ve dropped the ring five times during dinner.

Angel: I even picked it up once.

David: I want to kiss you.

Angel, not paying attention: What?

David: I said if you die, I wont miss you.

Baabe: I’ve been dropping them the most insanely obvious hints for like a year now. No response.

Asher: Wow. They sound stupid.

Baabe: But they’re not. They’re really smart actually. Just dense.

Asher: Maybe you need to be more obvious? Like, I don’t know… “Hey! I love you!”

Baabe: I guess you’re right. Hey Asher, I love you.

Asher: See! Just say that!

Baabe: Holy fucking shit.

Asher: If that flies over their head then, sorry Baabe, but they're too dumb for you.

Baabe: Asher.

Baabe: You know my motto: carpe diem, carpe noctem, carpe coles.

Asher: Seize the day, seize the night, what’s the last one?

Baabe: Seize the dick.

Asher: We have a problem.

Baabe: No, YOU have a problem. I have an idiot who keeps making them.

Baabe: I'm trash.

Asher: As someone who's environmentally conscious, it's my duty to pick you up. Does 7 work for you?

Baabe:

Baabe: You smooth motherfucker.

Baabe: And yes it does.

Asher: Sorry I’m late, I was doing things.

Baabe: Hi, I’m ‘things’.

Asher: Valentine’s day is just a consumerist holiday that holds no real value other than drive people insane buying heart shaped chocolates for their significant others and pos-

Baabe: I wrote you a poem.

Asher, already crying: You did?

Milo: Being gay is a constant battle between "I wish to sit on a window bench with my lover, our legs tangling as we listen to the birds" and "Hey, let's go throw rocks at fascists" and I think that's very sexy of us.

Sweetheart : If the window's open and you time it right, you can do both.

Milo: I fell—

Sweetheart : From heaven?

Milo: No, I literally fell—

Sweetheart : In love with me the moment you saw me?

Milo: MY ARM IS BROKEN!

Sweetheart : Okay, but do you think I'm pretty? Be honest.

Milo: Okay, but what if we went to dinner not as friends this time?

Sweetheart : AS ENEMIES?!

Milo:

Milo walking into the kitchen and seeing all their limes peeled: Sweetheart , I love you but, what the h-e-double FUCK.

Sweetheart , sipping coffee happily: I love you too :)

Sweetheart : I don't know how to tell you this, but... I love you.

Milo: That's great, Sweetheart . Especially considering the fact we've been together for 6 fucking years.

Sweetheart : I’m in love with you.

Milo: We called off the prank war last night at midnight, dork.

Sweetheart : I know.

Milo: Ah. Okay. Um. Cool. Neat. Very cool. Cool. Cool. Coolcoolcool-

Sweetheart: I was going to suggest we do Marilyn Monroe and JFK roleplay, but I’d get way too into it.

Milo: What- how?

Sweetheart: You’d be like “come to bed … Mr. President” and I’d be like, “I need to increase the amount of American military advisors in South Vietnam by a factor of 18.”

Milo: Wait, what's going on? Are we all talking about how hot Sweetheart is? Because Sweetheart is a straight up sexual fox riding a red-hot nuclear bombshell right toward the yowza plaza in the heart of Babe City, Assachusetts, U S A. The last A just stands for more ass.

Sam: The stars are so beautiful...

Darlin': They're just giant balls of gas.

Sam: You know what, if you're just going to ruin this, then-

Darlin': And yet none of them are as huge as my love for you.

Sam: Oh...

Darlin': Wow, Sam, you want to hold my hand before marriage? How awfully lewd of you.

Sam: We literally slept together yesterday.

Darlin': That's NOTHING compared to the lewdness of holding hands.

Sam: I love you.

Darlin', not paying attention: What was that?

Sam: I said I’m selling you to the zOo-

Darlin': Well, Sam and I finally did it!

The rest of the squad: *gasps, shocked expressions, etc.*

Darlin': That's right... We kissed!

Darlin': What are you in the mood for?

Sam: World domination.

Darlin': That's a bit ambitious.

Sam: You are my world.

Darlin': Aww...

Sam:

Darlin':

Sam:

Darlin': OH.

Darlin': I have feelings for you.

Sam: Why? What's wrong with you? Are you sure you're okay?

Waiter: What would you like?

Darlin': Bring a milkshake with two straws.

Sam: *blushes*

Darlin': *puts both straws in their mouth* Watch how fast I can drink this!!

Darlin': You got a date yet Sam?

Sam: No...

Darlin': Well you do now! Get your ass up and hold my hand!

Darlin': Are we fighting or flirting?

Sam: I'm pinning you against a wall with my hand around your neck-

Darlin': Your point?

Darlin': I don't need to go to bed. I'm not tired, I'll be fine.

Sam: But, darling, I'll be so lonely without you. Come curl up in my arms so I can feel whole again.

Darlin': O-oh. Well. Are you trying to seduce me into healthy sleeping patterns??

Sam: Is it working?

Sam: We should get you to a doctor for a check up immediately. What if it happens again, and there isn’t anyone around to help you? What if it’s congenital? Oh my God! Was it me? Did I hurt you?

Darlin': …You realize any other person that made their partner pass out in bed would simply feel really proud of themselves, right?

Sam: Since we're in a relationship now, your clothes are my clothes too. Don't ask me why I have your shirt on, this is our shirt.

Darlin': Fine, but when I come strutting in with your fuzzy socks I don't want to hear shit.

Darlin': Come to dinner tonight. I can’t cook, but I’ll bring plenty of free wine.

Sam: Marry me.

Darlin': This date is boring!

Sam: This isn't a date. I said I was going to the store.

Darlin': Then why did you invite me?

Sam: I didnt, I specifically said "don't come with me," then you said, "fuck you Sam I'll do whatever I want!

(This is long as fuuuuck and took me a good hour, but it was fun)

[ask-sister-solaris]

Can I request a short fic of Egon Spengler x Fem reader who is also a doctor but works at a hospital as a surgeon or something similar. She could go to the ghostbusters reporting a patient that she got close with prior to their death had become attached to her and stays in her apartment, but this is extremely bothersome and uncomfortable for (reader). Egon could be fascinated by her intellect and he doesn’t want to lose contact with her after their work is done.

Oh hoho ofc you can!

“Call me?”

You were a doctor and the long hours and needy patients truly did test your patience sometimes. You took comfort in the fact you could get home and collapse while listening to your records and read Tolbins Spirit Guide.

Recently you had a patient you were close with pass away. At the time you didn’t realize his spirit had connected itself to you. There was no signs of any attachment. That night you were home alone when you heard noises in the kitchen. You opened your head in but nothing was wrong,you conclude you’re just tired and head to bed.

But even then you feel like someone slips under the covers with you. You eventually fall asleep, and when you wake up your apartment is a complete mess. Confusion crosses your mind until you find ectoplasmic residue on your kitchen counters. A quick flip through Tolbins tells you it’s a spirit that’s moved on, just by the colour of said residue.

Course you just assume that it’s a one off. That was until it became a daily thing. You felt uncomfortable showering, or even changing in your own bathroom or bedroom. You felt constantly watched, unless you were at work. And it went on for about two months before you caved and called them. The Ghostbusters. It was an interesting call to say the least, a deadpan secretary who was not helpful whatsoever, saying she should have called sooner and the ghostbusters would be there soon.

Back at the firehouse Janine pressed the alarm button, and as Ray rushed by she passed him the paper with the address on. 55 Central West. Again? The Shandor Building kept popping up in most of their ventures out. Ray didn’t say anything and hopped into the Ecto 1 with Egon. They didn’t need the whole team to investigate something that sounded so small.

You were pacing your living room when a knock at the door startled you. You calmed yourself before you opened the door and let them in.

“Thank you for coming. And not thinking I’m crazy.”

Ray nodded and gave a comforting smile as he looked around. You left them to it and sat in the living room, tired from all the activity this ghost seemed to cause. Egon followed suit and sat with you, he could see the mental effects said apparition was giving you, he pulled out his PKE meter and its little antennae shot up. It was pointed directly at you, and you were still in your nurses uniform.

“I think I found the object it’s anchored to..we will have to draw it out, You don’t mind taking it off do you?”

You shook your head and took your white coat off, throwing it to him. The beeping lowered when the device was pointed to you, so it was your doctors jacket! Now the pieces were falling together

“I think I know what’s going on. I had a patient die a few months ago, he was very attached to me. I think it’s his spirit that’s attached to that coat”

If there was one thing Egon wasn’t expecting was you to know how paranormal things worked or how they happened..and yet…you did? Egon hummed and motioned for her to stand clear of the coat as he and Ray blasted it. A bluey blobby apparition shot out and Ray managed to contain it as Egon rolled out the trap. An easy job for today..but even as you paid them for their service Egon couldn’t stop thinking about how smart you were, and how easy you read people like a book.

“Are you okay Dr Spengler? You looked lost in thought”

Egon looked at you and hummed before pulling something out of his pocket. It had his personal number on it, or that’s what you assumed…it certainly wasn’t the ghostbuster headquarters number. You looked back up at him and he had a little dumb grin on his face

“Call me?”

[weiward-gomi-blog]

TKDB EPISODE 10 SPOILERS

(my thoughts)

Man... I finished EP 10... After a long grinding..

Need to think long about it and don't start about the MC hates on the comments! I am her number one defender!!!

So what we gain from that is....

Mention of a name [Elias] which we all assuming is the janitor. He really fits right with Haru in his janitor gig lol. No wonder Haru was chatting him up casually before. Like yes more content of 4th years please! (Does that means Bentley a 4th year?)

I wonder what Romeo means by they already finished up the interview? Is it connected to the mermaid thing? Playing zookeeper??

Ed can read minds and will shamelessly blurted it out loud, damn boy have some delicacy 😭

Ed have classic vampire powers like seduction/hypnosis and only work on humans, which makes Lyca and Rui confirmed non-human.

And I assume from their behaviors, I don't think Ed and Rui is the murderer. Ed seems docile and take things slowly while Rui dislike harming people. But Towa tho... Let's see what he act like in EP 12 then I can judge. (So far my sus list is: Jiro, Towa)

Ed being flirty with Rui 👀 okay okay go off Bi King

This mission is very much traumatic for them 😭 MC got strangled, Lyca got hurt and betrayed, Rui accidentally kill again. And old man Ed just lounging 😭 God damn it bro act faster.

And I can't believe I got the culprit wrong, I thought the daughter is definitely it. If a little girl can summon monster does that mean we have a chance? Ehe 👉👈

I also understand why people upset with MC lack of confrontation, but guys... I think the devs just cutting budgets. And be fr here, if it's was you who got strangled, would you gather yourself so quickly to defend against the mob? She already speak up but the crowd doesn't listen. Come on y'all being too harsh. BUT I sense a plot hole, the ring doesn't activate even though her life was in danger (flashback to the ring guarding her from Romeo in EP 1)

Hello???? Sage ring wake up??? Don't tell me it become useless after forming into a ring... Since MC wishes to help the ghouls, the ring power change into that? BOO c'mon ring u can multitask -_-

[flamebringer0]

About Hivewings

My husband was posting WOF headcanons so I will try posting one too. Why are Hivewings so weird? Here is what I think.

“Yes, of course,” Lady Scarab snapped. “Maybe they weren’t called SilkWings back then. ShimmerWings or Flibbertigibbets or something in the old language, I don’t know. But Clearsight married one, and then another one when the first one died, and had an alarming number of dragonets with each one, and then their dragonets and their dragonets’ dragonets kept going, marrying Ye Olde SilkWings or what have you, until there was enough of them to be considered their own tribe. HiveWings. Stupid menacing name, if you ask me. It was only about five hundred years ago that we officially split into two separate tribes, you know. My charming great-great-grandmother was the queen who ordered no more mingling of the bloodlines. She was a nightmare.”

This is where Hivewings allegedly come from, but it doesn't really make any sense to assume this actually happened the way she describes it. Clearsight came to Pantala around the year 3000, and the Hivewings as a separate tribe apparently came into existence around the year 4500. That means there must have been ~1500 years in which the Beetlewings (the actual name of the "ye olde Silkwings") existed as a single breeding population with her genes in it. It hardly seems possible that by the year 4500 there could be one subset of the Beetlewing population that was descended from Clearsight and another that wasn't.

As you trace a subject's family tree back, the number of ancestors doubles in each generation: two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents, etc. Eventually you reach a point in time where the subject should apparently have more ancestors than the total number of living people. This discrepancy is explained by individual ancestors occupying more than one position in the subject's pedigree, which is known as pedigree collapse. This has some counterintuitive implications, like the fact that in the real world, every living human of European ancestry is descended from Charlemagne, and also from every other European who lived before the 10th century and has any modern descendants at all.

If we compare the situation with Clearsight to the situation with Charlemagne, most of the variables seem to point to this effect being even more pronounced in her case. Dragons have shorter generation times than humans (Fathom was a father at 11), she lived ~1500 years before the present as opposed to ~1300, and the population of Pantala seems to be much smaller than the population of Europe. So I find it highly unlikely that there are any Pantalans at all who aren't descended from Clearsight.

What seems more reasonable to me is that Clearsight made some small genetic contribution to every Beetlewing living in 4500, and the conception of the Hivewings specifically as her true heirs is just propaganda. What I imagine is that the Beetlewings of 4500 had developed the folk belief that dragons with more black in their scales had a closer connection to Clearsight, who was essentially deified at that point. This belief was completely wrong. Beetlewings had always come in many different colors and patterns, with and without black, and by 4500 essentially nobody was more or less related to Clearsight than anyone else. But if you have the ambition to found a tribe, none of that really matters; what matters is how well you can tell a story. It turned out that the first queen of the Hivewings told the "dragons with black scales are the true heirs of Clearsight" story well enough to split away from the Beetlewings and create a new tribe. It might also be that there was already an established tendency in 4500 for black Beetlewings to breed among themselves to try and conserve their imagined connection to Clearsight, which would only have made it easier to formally split the tribe.

Of course when the Hivewings and the Silkwings first became established as separate tribes, there wouldn't really have been any difference between them, genetically. But over the course of 500 years, Silkwings with black in their scales and Hivewings without would tend to leave the tribes they hatched in and settle down in the other. Over time, this had the effect that the two groups really did become differentiated by the presence or absence of black scales, and by the present it has become very rare for a Silkwing with black scales or a Hivewing without to hatch at all.

The other differences between the two tribes could perhaps be explained by genetic linkage, although i guess it might be a stretch to assume that real world genetics apply to WOF dragons to that degree. Most of what i've said so far, i feel like it follows naturally from things that are actually attested about the setting, but maybe it's silly to say "yeah dragons definitely have chromosomes and their genes are laid out linearly so black scales can be tied to apparently unrelated features like not having antennae". I'm just saying it's possible.

Another weird thing about Hivewings is that they seem to have way too many random powers. In most of the tribes there are only like one or two powers that only some individuals have, and they are rare. Mudwings have a few fireproof dragons, Skywings have a few firescales, Nightwings have a few psychics. But Hivewings have stingers in their tails, poison fangs, boiling acid attacks, and probably other things I don't even know about. And it seems like these features are relatively common in the population, but not universal. Why is the distribution so weird?

What I think is, hatching with random features like this is something that happens in every tribe, it's just usually very rare, and the tribes all react differently. If a Rainwing hatches with a sting in their tail, everyone says "oh, funny, you must have a Sandwing ancestor somewhere", and that's the end of it. If a Skywing hatches with a sting in their tail, their parents probably rip it off so they won't be ordered to kill their dragonet. And if a Hivewing hatches with a sting in their tail, they get black-bagged and sent off to a government breeding facility to try to increase the prevalence of tail stingers in the population.

Like the Hivewings practicing eugenics is more or less canon, right? They force Silkwings to breed at the whims of the queen to acquire more flamesilks, so it's not that hard for me to imagine they do it to their own tribe as well. Honestly when I was first reading arc 3 I felt like this one must be canon, because the strangeness of the Hivewings having so many more powers than every other tribe felt really significant to me. Nothing about it ever came up, and I'm left to assume that the canon explanation is really meant to be "no, they're just like that for some reason". But I think this makes sense and is in line with the nasty authoritarian nature of Hivewing society.

[enbyzutara]

Aang x Luke Skywalker Parallels: How Aang’s Hero’s Journey Wasn't Properly Finished

I read this post by @lovegrowsart and I couldn't get it out of my mind how Aang and Luke Skywalker's journeys have so much in common, yet only one of these arcs feels like it has come to a properly finished conclusion. Meanwhile, the other one feels like the character didn't learn what he was supposed to in order to fulfill his Hero's Journey arc. So, in this post, I want to expand more on why “Aang was supposed to be the Luke Skywalker of Avatar: The Last Airbender”, but the creators of A:TLA failed to properly finish his story.

Firstly, it’s important to point out that the Star Wars saga and universe are widely famous in pop and nerd culture, including Luke Skywalker, the Jedi protagonist, who himself is one of the most famous and beloved characters from the saga. So, it’s not really a reach to assume that the creators and writers of Avatar: The Last Airbender were - at some level - inspired by this famous universe and character. By doing a quick research, we can confirm this assumption, because Bryan Konietzko, one of the co-creators of A:TLA, said in a podcast that Dave Filoni helped to shape A:TLA and its story. Also, both creators said that Joseph Campbell’s writing about mythology helped them to create the Hero’s Journey and the other storylines for their show, and George Lucas was also heavily inspired by Campbell when he was writing Star Wars.

(I will refer to the Star Wars episodes of the original trilogy as one, two and three - even though, nowadays, they are the numbers four, five and six).

Bryke (Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, the co-creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender) and George Lucas share a lot of tropes and narratives in the stories that each one of them created. Both protagonists of the sagas are the '"chosen one" of their universe: both are the last of their kind (even though in the Star Wars universe, initially there were two more older Jedi) who have the weight of the world’s future on their shoulders. Aang needs to fight against the Fire Lord and Luke, initially, against Darth Vader. By doing this, they would bring balance to the world/galaxy.

It’s also important to emphasize how Luke Skywalker and Aang are not only the saviors of the story, they are also the last of their kind. In A:TLA and in Star Wars, we have populations that suffered genocide: the Airbenders were brutally exterminated by the Fire Nation during Sozin’s Comet, and initially, it was revealed in the original Star Wars trilogy that the Jedi were wiped out of the galaxy when Order 66 happened. So, Luke and Aang not only have the destiny of the world/galaxy on their shoulders, they also are the only ones who can continue the legacy, the culture, and the survival of their own kind.

Another parallel between Luke Skywalker and Aang is that both have a Mentor From Beyond. Luke Skywalker was able to seek knowledge from the Jedis who had passed away in the original trilogy. Firstly, it was Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was his first mentor; Luke was able to communicate with him, and Obi-Wan would give him advice and directions to follow. Later, Yoda also appeared to him. For Aang, due to the fact that he’s the Avatar (and to be the Avatar means that you are the reincarnation of someone who already died), he was able to contact the Avatars from his past incarnations. In the show, Roku is the past Avatar with whom Aang most often connects, but he also seeks knowledge from Kyoshi, Kuruk, and Yangchen.

In Book One: Water and A New Hope, both characters are presented as more naive, and the narrative is not as tense as in the later seasons/episodes. However, the sequel presents a "darker" version of its universe as both characters grow and face emotional dilemmas and more hardships. The Empire Strikes Back and Book Two: Earth explore, even more, the ongoing war in their respective universes, and by the end of these sequels, things go wrong for the heroes. And what I really want to discuss is the similarity between the second episode of Star Wars and the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

At some point in the second episode/season, Luke and Aang had to separate from their group of friends in order to learn more and to train. They had to seek knowledge of what they are and what they represent, because by doing this, they would be a step closer to fulfilling their duties and saving the galaxy/world. At this moment in the narrative, Luke and Aang have an older and wiser mentor who will try to help them achieve this: Yoda and Guru Pathik.

But neither Luke nor Aang finish these training sessions that they started, because during their training, they have a vision of people who are special to them currently in danger. So, even though Yoda and Guru Pathik advise them not to leave and to finish what they started, they leave. Luke goes to Cloud City to save his friends (Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and C3PO) and Aang goes to Ba Sing Se to save Katara. And as stated before, in this episode/season finale, things go wrong for the heroes, including to the protagonists who are supposed to be the saviors of both universes. Luke and Aang left their training even though they were advised otherwise, they went to fight without properly learning what they needed to learn. So when they faced the enemy, they lost. Both at the end were defeated: Aang quite literally dies and Luke has a metaphorical death when he learns about his parentage and loses one of his arms. He also "commits suicide" when he decides to jump instead of aligning himself with the Dark Side.

Now, something really important here is to talk about how Luke and Aang's attachments to people who are dear to them made them run away from what they should have been doing, instead of bringing them closer to their duties and destiny. It was understandable the reasons why they left their training, but it still was wrong in the sense that things went wrong and it ended tragically for both characters. And, it’s never portrayed in both sagas that loving someone is wrong, but being attached to someone is. Both of their Hero’s Journeys required them to learn the difference between what is love and what is attachment, because both concepts are different and one of them (attachment) is portrayed in both sagas as wrong, especially for the protagonists.

Although I’m not Buddhist, nor was I raised as one, it’s clear that Star Wars (1) (2) and Avatar: The Last Airbender (1) (2) both were inspired, to some extent, by this religion and its philosophy. (I tried searching for articles and videos made by Buddhist people, but, unfortunately, I couldn't really find many, so if anyone wants to link more content, please, feel free). And one thing that appears to be inspired by this religion and philosophy in both sagas was the concept of attachment in contrast to love (1) (2). Before delving into the topic of attachment in the show and movie, it’s ideal to understand what attachment means from a Buddhist perspective:

In Buddhism, attachment is called upādāna, which means grasping or clinging. It refers to the human tendency to cling to people, things, or ideas in the mistaken belief that they will bring us lasting happiness and fulfillment. Attachment arises from our desire to feel secure, comfortable, and control of our lives. (...) Attachment to people: Attachment to people can become a source of suffering, as we can become overly dependent on them for our happiness, identity, and sense of security. This attachment can take many forms, from romantic relationships to friendships and family bonds.

While searching for what would be the difference between love vs attachment in Buddhism, this quote also brought my attention (I'll definitely come back to this later): 

Any kind of relationship which imagines that we can fulfill ourselves through another is bound to be very tricky. Ideally people would come together already feeling fulfilled within themselves and just therefore appreciating that in the other, rather than expecting the other to supply that sense of well-being.

George Lucas seemed to understand this concept better than Bryke. In Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker a) trusts his group of friends way more than he did in The Empire Strikes Back, b) he was also able to let go of his anger for Darth Vader because he genuinely loved Anakin, his father. George Lucas was very vocal about how he wanted to portray attachment as a bad thing, and when it comes to this topic, he never intended to make the Jedi philosophy something wrong. Strict? Maybe, but not wrong. And in the end, as the episode’s title suggests, Luke "returns", as he also returns to Dagobah to contact his master, Yoda, one last time. (The title of this episode can also refer to Anakin returning to the Light Side, but art can be interpreted in different and many ways).

In contrast, Avatar: The Last Airbender presented Aang’s attachment to Katara in a bad light. The Guru episode shows that Aang's attachment to Katara, not his feelings, is what is making him fail to open his chakra and not being able to enter into the Avatar State. 

Pathik: The Thought Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment. Meditate on what attaches you to this world. [Images of Katara appear before Aang.] Now, let all of those attachments go. Let them flow down the river, forgotten.

It’s even more important to understand that what Aang feels for Katara is not genuine love, at least in this episode, it’s pretty much stated that he is attached to her in a way that he needs to learn to let go. To expand a little bit on this, it’s necessary to analyze two Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes and how they portray what Aang feels for Katara:

Firstly, 'The Fortuneteller' episode portrays Aang’s feelings for Katara as just a childish crush. There's nothing wrong with a childish crush in general, especially because Aang is, in fact, a child, so he's bound to be childish. But in this episode, what he feels for Katara is paralleled with what Meng feels for him: something that was one-sided and lacked "emotional maturity and self-awareness". Both Aang and Meng viewed their crushes in an overestimated and hyper-idealized way, which again was portrayed as silly and in a bad light.

Secondly, in 'The Guru' episode, it shows that yes, Aang does love Katara, but is it in the right way? The Air Nomads' genocide deeply affects Aang, and he still loves the people that he lost, obviously. But in the show, Guru Pathik states that the love that Aang felt for the Air Nomads was 'reborn' in a new love - his love for Katara. So, Aang is projecting his feelings of love for the people who were brutally exterminated onto the girl who, at this moment in the narrative, was only his dear friend who shows him support and fights alongside him. Aang needed to get closure and heal from this traumatic event; it’s a huge trauma that he should work through. But instead, he was coping by projecting his feelings onto something, or better, someone.

I personally think that Aang loves Katara to some extent, but he needed to work through his trauma first. This goes along with something already shown before, quoting: "people would come together [in a relationship] already feeling fulfilled within themselves and just therefore appreciating that in the other".

The chakra/Guru plotline in Avatar: The Last Airbender is not about Aang needing to stop loving Katara; that's a huge misunderstanding. It was about how Aang was attached to something (or someone, in his case) that he needed to learn to let go of, so he could progress, grow, and heal. After he fulfilled this arc about what's love vs attachment, two things could happen: a) maybe Aang would realize that his love for Katara was more platonic and that he was projecting a lot onto her because he sees her in an idealized way, or b) that he indeed loves her but he needs to realize that he's too much attached to the comfort that she gives and brings to him, so his feelings for her need to have more emotional maturity.

And in the end of season two, Aang actually let go of his attachment to Katara, and he was able to achieve the Avatar State. But unfortunately, after this, he was brutally attacked by Azula and had his chakra blocked.

But in Book Three: Fire, not only does he not return to see or contact Guru again, as Luke did (returned to see his older and wiser mentor, Yoda, in the third and final episode), but Aang also appears to still be attached to Katara in the same way that he already was, if not worse. In the Ember Island Players episode, he: 1) gets so mad and frustrated with the Players portraying his relationship with Katara in a non-romantic light that he says that he could go into the Avatar State over this, and 2) rushes things with Katara and kisses her without her consent, disrespecting her boundaries, after she just avoided his romantic questions and advances.

Point 1:

Aang: [Angered.] No, I'm not! I hate this play! [Yanks his hat off and throws it on the ground.]  Katara: I know it's upsetting, but it sounds like you're overreacting.  Aang: Overreacting? If I hadn't blocked my chakra, I'd probably be in the Avatar State right now!

Point 2: 

Aang: But it's true, isn't it? We kissed at the Invasion, and I thought we were gonna be together. But we're not. 

Katara: Aang, I don't know. 

Aang: Why don't you know?  Katara: Because, we're in the middle of a war, and, we have other things to worry about. This isn't the right time.

Aang: Well, when is the right time? 

Katara: Aang, I'm sorry, but right now I'm just a little confused.  [Aang tries to kiss Katara.]

Katara: I just said I was confused! I'm going inside. [Exits the balcony.]

All of this shows how he still lacked emotional maturity, and how he still was attached to Katara, in a way not much different from what was shown in Book Two: Earth. Overall, this shows how his feelings for her weren't properly developed and didn't grow from where they previously were – because it was still bound by an attachment that he needed to let go of in order to grow, heal, and learn.

Unfortunately, the Guru/Chakra plotline was completely brushed aside in Book Three: Fire; Aang doesn't even seek to see Guru again or continue his unfinished training. And in the end, when he was fighting the Fire Lord, what he was always meant to do, he managed to go into the Avatar State. Not because he trained or learned how to achieve this goal; actually, it was because a rock saved him by triggering the Avatar State. So, in the end, an entire plotline was ignored and forgotten. Aang didn't learn what he needed to learn with Guru, nor did he finish the training that he was meant to do, and he still was rewarded by the narrative with achieving the Avatar State and saving the world (and also, "getting the girl").

[(...) and Aang protects himself with an airbending shield but is pushed back by the force of the attack, crashing into a rock pillar. The scar on his back is hit with a point of the rock, causing him to flashback to when he was shot by lightning. (...) Aang jumps out, now in the Avatar State, and grabs Ozai by his goatee.]

And that's why Aang is the Luke Skywalker that we could’ve had. Luke finished his Hero's Journey; he learned what he needed to learn and because of it, he saved the galaxy and his father. Meanwhile, Aang didn't learn about love vs attachment, yet he still achieved what he needed to achieve from the beginning: the Avatar State and winning against the Fire Lord. And he only achieved that because the narrative chose to give him a final new solution to resolve all his problems instead of him directly dealing with and facing the problems, difficulties, and dilemmas that the narrative initially proposed to him.

(I don’t actually mean quite literally that Aang needs or should have been the Luke Skywalker from Avatar: The Last Airbender, because Aang is his own character who has his own story. What I mean is that: Luke Skywalker is a character who is similar in some ways to Aang, and he had his Hero’s Journey properly fulfilled. I believe that Aang also deserved the same treatment by the creators of ATLA).

[the-mandawhor1an]

Din and Maia's first anniversary! 🥳🥳

TLDR: Roleplay anniversary; Wolke being sappy; One shot/drabble in the end

Today marks the actual anniversary of @zaddymandalorian and I's Mando roleplay. I know I made a post 6 months ago but I feel like I should celebrate this actual milestone even more than the 6 months!

Also, yesterday was the 2,5 year anniversary of the 'Maia Prime' fanfic 👀

A whole year, it feels unreal, especially considering what our mousies have been through in this year 🥹 Family reunions, so many tears, both of joy and pain. Maia cries a lot anyway, we all know that. So many revelations (that are spoilers to the current state of the fic so I'm holding my breath)

What I can do however, because it's spoiler free, is give you a few statistics about the roleplay. For the number sluts.

Story-wise we're just now reaching the plot of BOBF, which means a lot of reunions are happening right now.

Sounds like we're slow, right?

WRONG

We're just yappers and live for filler content that sheds more light on their relationship and Maia's past rather than strictly following the canon plot.

We're now over THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND WORDS in, which, to put it into perspective, means, we've now written more than The Two Towers and The Return of the King COMBINED.

We're 1210 posts in, on average about 300 words per post

This means we average on 3.3 posts per day

(In the beginning we were at 9 per day)

but then again, back then we only had this one rp which isn't the case any more

Zaddy, I love you so much you have no idea 😭 As much as Maia loves her Di'kut, as much as Peachy kind of loves Grumpy (even if she refuses to acknowledge it right now) and as much as Aurelia will love Acacius. It feels kind of unreal that we've been friends for over 8 years now.

Another commission by @kenobiwanx is in the works, I can't wait to see what magic Gio will work this time around. It's Maia and Din but with a little twist.

What a year it has been in general. My Tumblr-versary is also coming up in a few weeks, and I have to say I'm so glad I ended up on here. There's so many people that I wouldn't have met otherwise. People I consider friends 🥹

@rivnedell @evolnoomym @guiltyasdave @djarins-cyare @djarins-wife

@immarocketman @roughdaysandart @penvisions @clawdee @notjustjavierpena

@jksprincess10 @toomanystoriessolittletime

(and probably a lot of people I'm forgetting right now)

And now, because I can't not sprinkle another fic in here, we're making Maia Prime have her little moment. I talked about her on Maia Monday, she is the first version of the character. The RP and also the Fic version of her (and Din, if we're being very particular) differ character-wise. You'll see what I mean.

Also, the narration is a little different, I was young and dumb okay.

So now, we're looking into how Maia Prime and Din Prime met.... (MDNI, blood and injury mentioned)

Anyone else would have left the planet by now. The bounty hunters became more thorough in their searches … and me? I was simply too stubborn to leave for a safer hiding spot. He would return, I was certain of it. If he didn't do it on his own volition, they would bait him, lead him back here. Ever since he escaped with the child, the Imperials had doubled their head count. This forced me to avoid the city center, stay in the outskirts where I was alone. Safe. 

Only rarely, as today was such an occasion, I went further inside the city. Information about the fight and the Mandalorian was sparse, but not enough to evade my curious ears. 

The presence of the Empire made me uneasy, but my task was greater than a little discomfort. 

Or great discomfort, as it would turn out. 

At this point my purpose was not clear, but I assumed it had to do with that little green thing. There was an undeniable connection I felt with this child, perhaps that also explained why I had found this Mandalorian all these years ago. He would lead me to my purpose.

The fight that had broken out last time the bounty hunter visited must've been because of the child. That had to mean it was somewhat valuable to the Empire. Perhaps it was a child of the force, like me. Of course the Empire would be interested in that. They could train and shape us according to their wishes, given they found us early enough. 

My fate mustn’t repeat. I knew I had to help them.

At the break of day Karga had left the city with two of his men, according to my slightly uncooperative source of information. Nothing a little convincing couldn't fix. 

Something was about to happen today. Maybe tomorrow. More and more Imps assembled in the city, positioning themselves in every nook they could conquer. Everything smelled of a trap and this meant danger for me as well. I should have left Nevarro behind a while ago; my stubbornness and curiosity getting the better of me, I stayed. And stayed. And hoped my persistence meant I would finally find the courage to cross paths with him properly. 

Troopers were scattered all across, causing me to transverse the city via the rooftops, sneaking past their watchful eyes. 

This setup meant trouble, but not for me if I played my cards right. I hid on a roof near the square in the city center, ducking behind a wall to get a more secure look at the scenery beneath me. The tension in the air was palpable, my heart pounded similarly to when the Mandalorians had ambushed the guild and I had stupidly made my presence known. But right now, no one cared to look for me. The guild knew someone was in the city. Who I was didn’t matter to them. 

Karga returned around mid-day. I watched his every move as he led the shackled Mandalorian into the bar that functioned as the guild’s headquarter. An unfamiliar woman followed them inside, as did a hovering capsule. At first I assumed the child to be in there, but I didn’t sense it in there. Maybe the capsule was insulated in some way. 

What was going on here? 

I could not see nor hear what happened in the building, but I had a perfect view of what was happening on the square in the front. Troopers gathered and took position, waiting for an order, perhaps. I just assumed inside they were making some kind of deal, perhaps the Mandalorian was dropped off for a bounty. He probably had quite the amount of credits on his head. Judging by his skills I had observed last time, however, I expected him to have a few tricks up his sleeve. A man like him wouldn’t not put up a fight. 

Not knowing what was going on inside caused a little ache to blossom in my head. I couldn’t just barge in there without knowing what I would run into. Ultimately, I could ruin a perfectly curated plan with my presence, or my interruption. As fate would decide, I didn’t have to think about this any further. The Troopers outside covered the building with blaster fire, destroying the windows, the transparisteel shattering into a million pieces. From every alley more approached, an ambush, just as I had suspected. 

The impact of this trap would soon reveal itself as a TIE-Fighter drew closer and landed on the small square. Dust kicked up as the fighter touched ground, a small cloud forming. Someone exited the vehicle. Someone I would never have expected. 

Moff Gideon appeared, his black high-gloss armor reflected as it had just been polished before this very appearance. I never understood what the Empire found in black high-reflective surfaces. It was so impractical and quite frankly, looked odd in most settings. 

This surprise guest made me wonder.

What interest could Gideon have in a Mandalorian, more specifically in this Mandalorian? 

My educated guess was the child. My intuition must’ve been right about it. »You have something I want.« His voice was so loud, I could hear him perfectly fine even from my somewhat elevated hideout. »In a few moments it will be mine.« It? Did he actually talk about the child?

Silence fell over the square, a deafening, choking silence that reminded me a lot of my room in the facility. The only sound that was heard at this moment were some noises that echoed from inside the bar. A handful of Troopers began setting up an E-Web turret. This could only end badly. The commotion inside got louder, blaster shots hitting metal. »Your astute panic suggests that you understand your situation. I would prefer to avoid any further violence, and encourage a moment of consideration,« Gideon calmly explained, eyeing his men setting up the turret. When it was finished and loading, he continued. »Members of my escort have completed assembly of an E-Web heavy repeating blaster. If you are unfamiliar with this weapon, I am sure that Republican Shock Trooper Carasynthia Dune of Alderaan will advise you that she has witnessed many of her ranks vaporize mid-descent facing the predecessor of this particular model.« A Republican soldier? »Or perhaps the decommissioned Mandalorian hunter, Din Djarin, has heard the songs of the Siege of Mandalore, when gunships outfitted with similar ordnance laid waste to fields of Mandalorian recruits in The Night of a Thousand Tears.« My heart stopped for a beat. Din Djarin. That was his name. »I advise disgraced Magistrate Greef Karga to search the wisdom of his years and urge you to lay down your arms and come outside. The structure you are trapped in will be razed in short order and your storied lives will come to an unceremonious end.« 

The voices from inside the hideout were too far away and pointed in the wrong direction for me to understand anything, but judging by Gideon’s responses, I could probably reconstruct what they were asking. »Reasonable negotiation.« Okay, so they wanted to make a deal. »If you're asking if you can trust me, you cannot. Just as you betrayed our business arrangement, I would gladly break any promise and watch you die at my hand. I will act in my own self-interest, which at this time involves your cooperation and benefit.« Gideon waited for a moment, until he turned in one swift motion. »I will give you until nightfall, and then I will have the E-Web cannon open fire.« He retreated from the E-Web, but didn’t leave the scene entirely. 

Someone of his caliber might know who I was and that meant trouble. If he recognized me, maybe his plan would change to instead capture me. 

I should have left while I still could. But I didn't, I never did.

From the outskirts of the city the roar of a speeder moved towards us, the sound of blaster fire following suit shortly thereafter. A droid approached the city from the desert. Slowly I felt the presence of the child, growing stronger with every meter the droid got nearer. Did it have the child? The troops on the square were distracted by the commotion and turned to face the stranger. 

Suddenly, Karga and Mando ambushed the Stormtroopers, spilling out of the bar door and opening fire instantly. I found myself watching the Mandalorian for a moment, taking down a Trooper in close combat, completely hypnotized by the sight. He made it look so easy. My eyes only moved from him when I heard the droid drop to its knees. 

The Mandalorian noticed at the same time and ripped the E-Web from its mount and sprayed blaster fire into the Imperials. The Rebel Shock Trooper joined the shootout. Finally I regained control over my body and moved across more rooftops to avoid getting hit in the crossfire. I wasn’t sure a saber could block that kind of projectile and I was not trying to find out the hard way. 

Gideon drew in closer to the commotion again, shooting at the Beskar helmet to grab the Mandalorian’s attention. Mando was about to whip around with the E-Web still in his hands, when Gideon fired a round into the transformer and the whole turret blew up. 

»No!« escaped my lips before I could stop it when I watched the Beskar armor fly through the air, only to make hard contact with a wall. Djarin slumped over, clearly unconscious, likely concussed, possibly dead. My scream didn’t go unnoticed, as Gideon turned my way while I watched Karga and the woman pull the completely limp body back into the bar. It was terrible to see. 

»Well, well, who do we have here?« he greeted me with a sly grin. I jumped down the roof, saber in my hand, ready to use it. »Leave the Mandalorian and child alone, Gideon,« I said rather than answering his question. As it would turn out, I didn’t have to introduce myself anyway. »Looks like I’ve found a runaway experiment. Are you ready to come home, sweetheart?« He was distracted from the three in the bar, which was enough for me at the moment. I could deal with him, they could deal with the Troopers. 

»If you’re so concerned about the child, I’ll make sure you get to witness me taking it from Djarin’s cold, dead hands. Have you heard the noise his helmet made when it hit the wall? I doubt he’s taking more than his last breaths right now. How about we capture both you and the child, I will find some use for you.« He turned his head towards the Troopers, ordering them to burn them out. 

A Trooper equipped with a flame thrower approached the bar. The blaster fire stopped and I used this little moment of silence to feel for life in there. The child was there, but beside it was a weak presence which I assumed would be Mando. He was in pain and barely there, like a flickering candle running out of oxygen. The doorway was opened with a few explosives, through which the Flame Trooper could now enter. Then, something happened that Gideon had not expected and neither had I: The Trooper was suddenly engulfed in his own flames, reaching all the way back to his fuel tank, resulting in the detonation and death of said Trooper. 

I took the chance to retreat in the chaos to not end up being caught. I force-threw Gideon to the ground just in case. The Troopers were distracted. I felt the child and companions had made it out of the bar, somehow. Not knowing where the underground system would otherwise lead, I ventured out to the lava fields, assuming they’d go there to get out of the city. Part of the troops was sent into the underground system while the rest re-grouped at the lava fields. I circled around the city in a different route to meet with them. I kept my head low, not interested in actually being captured and put ‘to use’, as Gideon had called it. 

I hid behind some rocks to wait at the end of the tunnel leading out into the open. I felt the child close, sure they would surface soon. 

About a dozen of Troopers waited out here. I would be able to take down about 3, maybe 4, if I played my cards right. I snuck closer when the IG-unit emerged from the tunnel and before I could register that its self-destruct timer was running out, it blew up, the detonation throwing me to the ground, shrapnel shooting through the air. Something hit my head, I didn’t know whether it was metal, rocks, or parts of a Trooper. I might have fainted for just a second, I was disoriented and dizzy. 

Slowly I rose to my feet and walked forwards, only to be incapacitated by a stabbing pain when my leg lost footing on a loose rock. I looked down to my disobeying leg to find a piece of metal lodged in my groin on the left side. Damn. While the pain was manageable if I didn’t lose balance, this was likely just adrenaline dulling the pain to hit me with the mass of a star destroyer later. 

I barely registered the TIE-Fighter that Mando had taken down, nor did I register him being awake and more specifically able to take down a star ship with just a few detonators. The group of people stood off to the side of the TIE’s wreckage, talking. I couldn’t make out the words at first, but when I came closer I heard the Mandalorian speak for the first time. »– do you know who the woman was back in the city?« I held the wound with my hand, trying to stop the bleeding, with my cape pulled over it to cover it up. »That would be me,« I quietly announced, unfortunately not really graceful in my introduction. Mando turned and eyed me up and down. »Are you a Jedi?« he asked. If only I could think straight. Everything was spinning around me. »Something similar,« I replied, Karga also joining the conversation. »She has to be, I saw her light saber.« »Listen,« I pressed forwards, touched my forehead with my free hand, feeling blood on my finger tips. How many wounds were on me that I wasn’t aware of? 

It was bad. »I’ll tell you everything you need to know, but I need your help first. I got injured.« He exchanged a look with his allies, then looked back to me. Judging by the position of his helmet, he eyed the gash on my hairline. 

Mando checked his vambrace and sighed with his whole body, shoulders drooping and back arching. »Are you afraid of heights?« »Not that I would know.« »I can fly us to my ship if you can’t walk. But I have to be sure you don’t pass out.« »I think I can manage.« 

I had expected more resistance, more hesitation to just help me, a complete stranger. 

He handed the child over, forcing me to remove my hand from my wound, inwardly apologizing to the small green thing for having to hold it in my dirty hands. all it did was look at me with its gigantic dark brown eyes. It seemed weaker now that I could sense it so clearly, what had happened? 

What also didn’t register was when Mando had picked me up onto his arms. I was hypnotized by the large dark orbs staring into my soul. »Are you ready?« his modulated voice tore me back to reality. I nodded carefully. »Are you sure you have enough fuel?« »Yes. Hold onto the child.« 

And we were off. 

_______________________________

Some time later we landed next to the Razor Crest, one of the side ramps lowering for us to enter. I could barely walk at this point but held it together to not let lt show. »The child has to sleep, put it in here,« the Mandalorian ordered while pointing into a little cot, a makeshift bed made out of a small med-bay, it seemed. I sat the child down onto the bed, he subsequently closed the bay door with a click on his vambrace. His helmet nodded in the direction of a small ladder. »I have a medkit up in the cockpit. Careful, you might have a concussion.« I had to use both hands to climb up, tried to distract myself from the pain by asking him »what about your head?« He waited for me to reach the top of the ladder until he replied. 

»IG-11 had bacta and used it on me.« He followed me up the ladder. »I’ve never heard of an IG unit that wasn’t a bounty hunter,« I said while I stumbled towards the cockpit, leaning against every wall I could reach. My vision was blurring as I slumped into the passenger chair, the impact sending sharp pain through my spine. My senses were blocked for a second, but his helmet shot into my direction, I must’ve moaned in pain just now. 

»He was a nannybot for the child. I am its protector, so I had to be saved,« his voice was low and a little softer now we were in such close proximity. He kneeled next to the seat and wiped over my forehead with a cloth. It felt nice to have something cold on my head. »Where’s your injury?« He was so close, I could hear his voice underneath the helmet. »It… should be under the cloth?« His scoff made me flinch despite not being able to feel the air he had expelled. »I mean the one that’s causing you to stumble around and smear blood everywhere on my ship.« I felt his gaze burning into me despite the helmet hiding his eyes from my view. My heart was pounding into my ears at this point, either due to the blood loss or his intense stare. My head rolled a little to the back when I pulled my cape back to reveal the metal that was stuck in my groin. His helmet dipped down and it felt like eternity passed before he had assessed the situation. »I’m… not sure I can fix this. But the child can,« he said and shot up, going to the ladder before I could even react. »Mando…« I called after him, my head rolling to the side along the head rest. I saw his shoulders tense for just a second when he halted and turned to me. »I can do that too. Give me some rest, we have to get away from here first. There’s too many Imps out there.« He looked at me, took two shallow breaths, then walked over to his seat and growled. »Don’t fall unconscious.« 

Despite wanting to stay awake, the forces on my body when the Razor Crest took off took me right out. When I awoke, we were somewhere in space, engulfed in darkness apart from the small lights on the cockpit. Mando had turned to me, two fingers on my neck to check for my pulse. »I told you not to do that,« he growled in frustration. All I could focus on, however, was the sensation of his naked fingers on my skin. They were scarily warm compared to my body. How much blood had I lost? 

»I have to pull the metal out, it poisons your blood. I doubt you or the child have any strength left to heal you. I don’t have any bacta. I don’t know if it even works on such deep wounds.« I might have been imagining this, but it felt like I could hear genuine desperation in his voice. I laughed softly. »Isn’t it ironic? The droid that saved your life is my downfall, injuring me lethally by self-destructing. If I had known I could’ve hid behind some rocks. Or a Trooper, at least.« He listened, despite me not saying anything helpful in this situation. 

I took a deeper breath. »There is another way, but you have to trust me.« »Tell me,« he replied instantly, leaning more towards me. »I’m not strong enough, you’ve said that, and we both know it. But you –« He interrupted me before I could even finish my sentence. »I’m not a Jedi, I don’t have your magic.« »The force connects every living being, even you. I can heal myself through you, it’s probably not comfortable for either of us and we’ll most likely pass out. There is no other way unfortunately, or I don’t see any other way. I know you don’t know me.« »You’re right, I don’t. Not even your name.« He leaned back, bringing more distance between us again. He laid his glove down on his thigh and sighed. Realistically, why should he trust me? I looked into the visor and spoke, »I won’t blame you if it’s too much of a risk, it’s okay. Perhaps I can deal with this until we reach the next space port and we leave the shrapnel in there for now.« 

Silence fell onto the cockpit. It was like I could hear his thoughts race, debating what to do next, until he fully turned towards me. »Tell me what to do.« I reached out both hands for him to help me up. My legs were numb at this point so I needed his support. I walked over to the wall and slowly slid down until I sat on the ground. »Sit with me. Fall’s shorter if we’re on the ground already.« Mando knelt beside me, taking his other glove off. »Don’t break my trust, Jedi,« he warned me, spitting out the last word like venom. As much as I despised needing his help, I had no other choice. This, or death. »Believe me, this is just as uncomfortable for me, Mandalorian. Pull the shrapnel out and then press your hands onto the wound. Hard. Trap as much blood in there as you can.« I closed my eyes and waited until I felt him hold onto the metal. I inhaled sharply, it felt like the metal was stuck inside my bone and every little vibration made my nerves go insane. »On the count of three,« Mando breathed. »One–« »Bastard!« As soon as the word had left his lips, he ripped the metal out with one strong pull. His hands were warm and pushed into my body hard, blood pooling in between his fingers and running down my skin. Tears ran down my cheeks, the pain was unbearable. I placed my hands on his and focused on my wound, feeling the energy that was flowing through his body. 

Why? Why did I have to put my nose in other people’s business? Why did I interfere and get myself almost killed? 

They were safe. They were unharmed for the most part. I felt the warmth of his body slowly transfer over to my cut, a sign it was working. »Maia,« I softly said. »What?« »You said you didn’t know my name. It’s Maia.« It wasn’t much, but I felt like it was a small gesture to suggest I had some trust in him. I was thankful for his help, that much was certain. The pain slowly subsided, dissolved into fatigue. Breathing became easier, my head didn’t feel as heavy, but my eyes refused to open. The last thing I heard was a »what the –« and the sound of metal crashing against metal. I lost consciousness not long thereafter to no one’s surprise. 

I awoke some time later, not sure how much had passed, but it couldn’t have been too long. My body felt a little better. Not entirely normal or well-rested, but I was alive. My vision was back to normal and I felt somewhat fine, not dizzy. Sleep would still be good, but I didn’t feel safe in here. As I slowly straightened my back, I felt a shoulder dig into my side and weight on my thigh. Looking down, I saw Mando slumped over, his head practically on my lap, inverted, his helmet dragged down just a bit by gravity. I knew he didn’t show his face, so the fact I could see the dark curls in the back of his neck meant I had to be careful, otherwise the helmet would just fall off entirely. 

Despite my sheer endless curiosity telling me to just take a peek, I grabbed the rim of the metal to pull it back up. He had to be a human, or a hybrid at least. My fingers grazed his skin for a split second. I lifted the helmet and his head inside it carefully until I could scoot away under him and place him down so he would not lose his bucket when waking up. 

The rag he had used to wipe over my forehead laid on the headrest of the passenger seat. I grabbed it and started wiping down all the blood-smears I had left on the ship on my ascent. 

A noise startled me when I had reached the bottom of the ladder, the child was awake and still locked away in the cot. It was fussing, understandably so, far away from the adults and probably in the dark. It took a moment for me to find the switch to open the door and then two gigantic brown eyes looked up at me. I sat down in front of the bay to be on its eye-level. It reached out its small hand and I offered one of my fingers for it to grab onto. 

Thankfully it could communicate non-verbally and could tell me a bit more. About him. He wondered where his protector was, who I was. I could feel a lot of pain, a repressed trauma, similar to how my past felt to me. He was a child, much younger than me, I assumed. I told him I wanted to protect him and the Mandalorian. Despite being a stranger, the little one could feel my intentions and seemed very relaxed with my presence. I owed the Mandalorian my life, why would I want to harm him or this precious child? »Maia?« I heard a voice behind me. »Step away from the child,« his voice had dropped an octave and sounded tense. I turned my head towards him and saw him brandish a blaster, pointed at me. 

The child let go of my finger, allowing me to get up slowly, my hands raised. Mando shut the cot again, locking the child in yet again. I kept my hands up, even when his blaster went back into its holster. »How long was I out?« he asked. »I can only guess, about an hour, maybe. I myself woke up maybe fifteen minutes ago. I just wiped away the blood and then I heard the child fussing in there.« 

Did my explanation matter? Did he care? 

»Up,« he ordered and nodded towards the ladder. I did as he told me, reluctantly so, and waited for him to do … something. I could hear his breathing underneath the helmet, he was furious. I heard him wash his hands before he followed me up into the cockpit. I just stood in the open space behind the seats, waiting for him to come up. It’s not like I could run anywhere, we were out in space. 

When he came to me, he closed the door behind him, leaving me and him locked into this small confined space, that now felt even smaller. He approached me, his body tense and broad, and all I could do was take a step back. And another, and another, until I felt the hull press into my back. What was his plan now? 

»Did you touch my helmet?« »No, – Yes, but not in the way you think.« I shook my head and looked into that black visor. Why? Why did I ask him for help and got myself trapped with him now? His hand leaned against the wall behind me above my shoulder when he asked »are you sure? I remember you pulling on it.« »I am. I pulled it back onto your head. You were slumped over, on my leg, and it was about to fall off. Neither did it look comfortable nor did I want to wait until you moved back and it would just fall off.« »And the first thing you do when I’m unconscious is go for the child, when I can’t stop you.« He came closer, his chest plate now slowly pushing against my chest. I could no longer walk backwards to avoid him. 

»Mando, please, just listen to me. Neither do I want to anger you, nor give you the feeling I would abuse your trust. I touched your helmet to keep it from just dropping. I did not see your face if that’s your concern. You just saved my life, do you think I would betray you right after that? Especially when I’m confined to a small space with you and no escape?« »I’ve seen you fight, don’t sell yourself short. I’m sure your sword and the magic can do a lot of harm.« »The force. Not magic.« »Whatever,« he growled and pressed me into the wall, pushing air out of my lungs, but not yet suffocating me. I saw my breath fog up his helmet for a second. I felt his breathing, I heard the air move underneath the helmet. I think I could even smell him, I was so close. 

»Promise you didn’t see my face?« »I promise.« »Good. Otherwise I would’ve killed you.« »Would that change anything?« »No. But it would grant me a bit of satisfaction.« He didn’t move, nor could I. I watched his helmet fog up a few times until I could muster up the courage to ask him »Mando?« »Yes?« »Why are you pinning me against the wall?«

Silence fell upon the Razor Crest, the only noise audible was the low hum of the engine and our shallow breaths. He was so close I could feel his heart beat against my chest. That or my own heart was pounding.»Do you trust me, Maia?« More silence. What was I supposed to say? I trusted him enough to ask for help and I hadn't been disappointed. But now, pinned against a wall, I was unsure what to make of it. He didn't move. »It doesn't feel like I have a choice but to say yes.«»You always have a choice.« I swallowed. »Will you give me some space to breathe if I do?« »Find out.«

I sighed. »Fine. I do trust you.«

»Close your eyes.«

That confused me. It took a moment for me to register what he said, another to process how he had said it. Reluctant but too curious for my own good, I closed my eyes, unsure what to expect. As soon as my vision turned black, my other senses heightened and I had a mental image form. His hand, still as warm as I had remembered, came to rest atop of my eyes, making sure I was completely blind. I heard a hiss and then some rustling until his chest pressed further into me.

»Call me Din,« he practically purred into my ear, his breath suddenly sensible on my skin, warm and close. His voice was unfiltered, deep and gravelly, the rumble in his chest sending shivers done my spine.

He had taken the helmet off.

What was he doing? Had he not threatened to kill me a few moments ago? To be fair, his hand covered my eyes completely, there was no way I would see his face unless he took his hand off. Still, what was he trying? I didn’t have to wait long for an answer. His weight shifted and I felt his beard scratching my face shortly before soft lips touched mine. 

Out of all the possibilities I had thought about – him killing me or even worse – I never expected him to kiss me so gently. To be honest, it was probably the only thing I was certain of not happening. 

And even more confusing was the fact that I liked it. 

My hand searched for something to hold onto in the darkness, finding his waist and gently squeezing him. I heard him gasp quietly. 

What was he doing? What was I doing? What were we doing? 

It couldn’t have been more than 5 seconds before he leaned back and our lips detached. He didn’t retreat much, I could still feel his heavy breathing on my skin. »Now we’re even,« he whispered as he leaned back further. I heard more rustling and a hiss before my eyes were uncovered. He moved away, finally giving me space to catch my breath. When I opened my eyes, he was back on his seat, looking into the vastness of space.