#<- i have never spent a cent on it to be clear

[menstits]

I agree that genshin kinda sucks for multiple reasons but also you can tell when someone is bitching about it without knowing how any of the game mechanics work especially the gacha element

[tenjikyu]

𝘋𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 - 𝘔𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘬𝘪 - 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘝

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ Finally, the finale! After wayyyyy too long , fluff, the ending idk how to feel about but you’re getting what you’re getting and I wanna be done with this series already + I need modivation to get back into writing , it gets pretty romantic with Freminet but nowhere near NSFW.

PART IV • GENSHIN M.LIST

Tag list - @fisbred @gimmealamp @lucianidealz @sleepdeprivedpotato @unemiart @camryn-ciel67 @aruaruru @danika-redgrave124 @bunbunboysworld @kaoyamamegami @aphxdea @red1sg0ne @sleepndacloud @squishyboo @ally674 @hoo-hoo @probablynoposts @junevtv @og-winnie @exrellian @f0th3rr @cb97s-laptop @moonjellyfishie

The familiar green bard before you took off his hat with a bow, sending a friendly wave towards the other three in the room, whom were sharing knowing glances. In the many times you recounted your story to them, the green bard remained consistent with each retelling. You spoke of him with the fondest eyes, and the siblings could almost feel the pure love the bard had for you even before meeting him themselves.

In a count of shock, you quietly excused the both of you to the fontainian siblings, before closing the door behind yourself.

The two of you went on an emotional and very much sentimental walk, reminding you of the days you would talk to Venti about your problems and your struggles. About how Diluc’s 180 change in personality once he came back from Snezhnaya was a scary turn of events. About how Kaeya’s icy attitude rivalled his vision, and how much it upset you. About how the knights and maids couldn’t seem to get off your ass, despite your best efforts at politely telling them to fuck off.

You reminisced about your time in Fontaine to the archon, and Venti only nod his head and gave you a smile as he walked alongside you, pretending that he hadn’t snuck into the nation countless times to check in on you. You spoke of your growing relationship with the Fatui member, and how the Hearth children had taken you in as one of their own. How Navia had taken you under her wing and you didn’t spend a cent whenever she was around. How you and the former Hydro Archon were each others comfort buddies whenever bad thoughts came to mind, and how you aided eachother into adapting to the new world around yourselves.

As you recited your amazing time spent in Fontaine, the more and more you realised to yourself that you really didn’t want to go home. In the moment, you wouldn’t have noticed it, but looking back on it, it was clear that was Venti’s intention the entire time. He knew you better than you knew yourself, and he could see the internal debate you had been having with yourself since the incident. And so, giving you the chance to clear your mind if the bad, you had come to the conclusion that you didn’t want to return to Mondstadt anytime soon.

“Mondstadt will always be the home of your birth, however it’s also the nation of Freedom. Freedom to fly wherever you want to go, and wherever you want to build your nest and settle down. No matter how long you stray from Mondstadt, it will always have a home waiting for you.”

Venti’s little speech had you in tears, and he opened up his arms just like all those years ago.

In a world full of uncertainty and the unknown, the arms of an angel would always be there to embrace you.

“At last, we’ve made it back to Fontaine!” Lyney practically combusts. Everyone around could see how dearly he was missing Fontaine, especially his twin sister who heard ALL about it.

“Hey (Y/N), wanna go for a dive later?” Freminet questions out of the blue, and you nod your head. You knew whenever he went into the ocean unexpectedly, in this case the second you got back from a LONG trip, that he had something private he wanted to discuss with you, and so you made sure to never decline.

As the day came to an end, you prepared your diving gear that freminet had ever so graciously bought you for your birthday (yk him being rich and all, fatui money goes hard) and met freminet at the rendezvous.

As he took your hand in his own, he guided into the water as he’d done dozens of times before. The oceans of Fontaine never seized to amaze you. Its gentle touch soothed your skin to the core, and as you descended into the depths of the ocean, Freminet never once let go of the grasp on his fingers.

The two of you enjoyed what the ocean had to offer you. Freminet tended to stick closer to the top of the water when you accompanied him, too paranoid to take you deeper as you weren’t as experienced as he was. Regardless, you continued admiring natures aquatic gifts. You found pearls, danced with domestic blubber beasts, picked flowers and located lost treasures. All the whole, Freminet was yet to let go of your hand, not because he was afraid of you running off, but because he simply refused to let go.

Freminet never wanted to let go of your hand.

Freminet never wanted to let go of you.

The skies soon turned dark, and signs of a storm were appearing, so Freminet was quick to escort you out of the water. What was originally subtle signs of a storm was now a full blown storm, and running back to the gates & all the way back to your home, all the while laughing your asses off, was having you fall further and further in love with every step you ran.

By the time you made it inside, the lighting was begging to strike & you immediately went to lighting a fire in order to help the both of you warm up. Freminet removed his cost he chucked over himself when collecting your left-behind gear, and it suddenly dawns on you how beautiful Freminet was on the outside. You always admired Freminet’s inner beauty, his charming and reserved nature, yet sticking up for himself and his own if needed, but you never really took the time to admire how gorgous he truly was. His hourglsss waist, his long golden hair, his long eyelashes, his slender thighs. His form captured your attention, and it didn’t take long for Freminet to catch your gaze.

“(Y/N), is there something on my face?” Freminet questions,

“Nah, come sit down by the fire, you just be freezing” you murmur out, patting the ground next to you.

The both of you sit in comforting silence, a common occurrence between the two of you. But for the first time, a bubbling urge rose from your stomach.

You wanted his lips.

You knew how he felt, and you had for awhile. Freminet kinda… sucked, at hiding his feelings for you, especially his ruined confession. And so, you decided to take the lead for once.

You slowly grabbed his chin, and his eyes widened in surprise. You slowly took his face in your hand, and tilted your head as you neared his face.

He didn’t take his eyes off you the entire ordeal, and as he closed his eyes, you took it as a sign to finally seal the deal.

You gently pecked his lips. It was somewhat quick and gentle, however when he leaned in and kissed you again, you couldn’t hold back any longer.

Freminet slowly moved into your lap, kissing you not with lust, but with passion. You grasped his slim waist and continued the assault of kisses on his face. The both of you continued your passionate yet loving make out session until you were both out of breath.

As you parted away from eachother, Freminet took your cheeks in his frigid hands and pecked your cheeks, before cuddling into your lap. Leaning against the couch, the both of you held eachother closley, absorbing eachother’s warmth.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to do that” Freminet giggles, before cuddling closer into your neck. You sighed gently to yourself, before shaking your head lightly.

The both of you fell asleep embracing eachother that night, and suffered the consequences of not properly washing up after being in the rain. (Lyney fussed over the both of you, cooing at how cute the both of you looked with bright red cheeks and blocked noses. Lynette, ever your saviour, made herbal tea to quench your aching throats.)

A knock was heard at the door of the Winery, and Diluc’s curiosity heightened. First, Kaeya had received a letter in scribbled handwriting to meet at the Dawn Winiry (with a cheeky drawing of a certain musician at the bottom of it), leading Diluc into letting him in. Then, the charming melody of a lyre enveloped the air, which seemingly had no bard tuning it.

Now, a knock at the door?

Kaeya and Diluc looked at eachother, and decided to open the door. After all, the person knocking is either someone else who received a letter or is the mastermind behind this little scandal.

And so, on the count of three, the opened the door.

Three…

Two…

One..

“Hey Diluc, Kaeya. Long time no see, huh?”

Thank you to my OG DWH series followers, I can’t thank you enough for the patience with me and this series. Hope this didn’t disappoint.

[kakerutori]

HEYYYY HANA! It's me olive/livy/ hey you/ that one person that always joins your lives I had a recent interaction with a more toxic mileven shipper but they said something that really did make me think so I want your thoughts in their words they said "mileven has been cannon for 8 years now why would they end it all at once" they had said this in the middle of a debate and it really got my thinking like would the duffers really end a relationship that has been built on for 8 years for byler? Plz lemme know what you think

OMG HI YOU 🤭 I’d be delighted to give my two cents, thanks for coming to me, Olive!!

Ah, yes. The age old argument of ‘why would the Duffers break up Mleven after building them up all this time?’ To which I say - what build up does one truly speak of? Yes, they’ve been canon romantic from season 1 since that kiss, technically, but their relationship only became truly canon since season 3. And yes, the show has been in production for about 8 years, but the show spans only about 3 years (1983-1986). Even then, to say that Mleven has been canon for that long just isn’t true. In total, they’ve only spent about 6 months together physically in canon (the fall, spring, and, summer of 1985 just before season 3 starts), and 6 months together long-distance (the summer, fall, and spring of 1986).

Point is, they’ve not been together as long as it seems. They’ve expressed interest from the start, but even then, on El’s side, it’s pretty debatable to me.

Take this scene where El literally asks Mike, “will you be like my brother?” I think I can just leave that there as it is.

Now, I do understand the notion that they’ve been in writing for 8 years. But guess who else have been? Mike and Will. Their relationship is just as if not more important to each other’s growths as characters, especially in season 4.

If you’re looking for canon relationships, look no further than Mike and Will’s friendship. If you need to see clear pictures of encouragement, understanding, and amendment, look no further than everything they’ve done for each other over the years.

All in all, I believe that just because you aren’t directly in a relationship with someone doesn’t mean that the current chemistry is void and only counts when you do get together.

Byler have chemistry, that’s why I think that they could easily get together. And by contrast, Mleven don’t. Throughout the seasons that Mike and El have been together, it’s been a struggle for them to connect. Whenever they do, it’s shallow. Take the reunion in season 4 - El is lying to Mike about being friends with Angela, and Mike is lying to El through his split focus on Will (when he complains about Will “rolling [his] eyes,” “moping,” “basically [sabotaging] the whole day”).

Mike is clearly affectionate to El, but he consistently dotes on her looks and never her character beyond her powers. El is clearly affectionate to Mike, too, but it’s clear to me that any time she reaches out to Mike, wrote to him, tried to talk to him in the void, anything, he just couldn’t seem to reach her in return.

Meanwhile, we have Byler promising to go “crazy together.” They sit and listen to each other. Meeting Will is “the best thing that [Mike has] ever done.” Mike thereafter in that scene talks about Will’s persistence. And we know that Will thinks of Mike as a leader, “guiding, inspiring.” Not only are they affectionate to each other, they’re comfortable expressing themselves around each other, highlighting each other’s positive traits, encouraging, supporting, connecting.

Need some people be reminded that filmwork is essential to TV, and so canonically Mike and Will also have many moments together. It’s not like their relationship isn’t known to us in canon (let alone blocked very specifically, too!).

So yeah, to that statement of “Mleven has been canon for 8 years now” so “why would they end it all at once” I say: it’s only been two years maximum in canon, and they’ve been founded on a deteriorating relationship with another much stronger one right in our faces, so no, yeah, Byler is very possible and wouldn’t be sudden in the slightest.

[endofthelinecaptain]

Ep 118 spoilers below! These are just my two cents on how things went down this episode, from a Bells Hells apologist’s POV 🫡

I totally get why people are upset with how things went this episode, and I’m also VERY worried for Bells Hells and how this is going to turn out. But I’m not at all surprised this is how it went, it honestly seemed like an inevitability that the story has been building towards for all of C3.

I’ve seen a lot of people saying that they wish Bells Hells had just let Predathos be, or set up a guard detail to watch the gate. But that just feels like such a bandaid solution to me. BH are rightfully worried that Ludinus had contingency plans, and his clone could very well be walking through the door any moment. Or if not him, there are plenty of other Ruidusborn still on the moon that Predathos could easily summon to him. At the moment, Bells Hells have no idea what’s happening with the other teams, and they’re in no shape for more prolonged fighting if Ludinus shows up with reinforcements. There are so many unknowns right now!

And that’s just in the short term. Long term, Predathos will never stop drawing Ruidusborn to free him. Even if BH had set up a permanent guard detail, or somehow improved the seals on the gate, that would just set us back to square one: waiting for Predathos to escape one day.

Throughout C3, Matt had made it very clear that Predathos is an oppressive force on the Ruidian people. He’s made a huge effort to humanize the Ruidians to Bells Hells, to show that all they want is to be on equal footing with Exandrians. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Predathos is the source of the desolation of Ruidus, and we know that he was partially responsible for the creation of the Weave Mind. And I do think that BH feel empathy for the Ruidians, and wouldn’t want that cycle to continue. Nothing will change if they leave Predathos alone: the Ruidians will still be oppressed, and Predathos will still be trying to escape.

I’ve also seen people say that it’s better to delay the inevitable than to give in to it (bury the bomb rather than detonate it), and that Bells Hells aren’t equipped to make this choice. And in real life I think that’s valid. But in this choice-based story they’re telling, that just sounds so boring to me. I can’t imagine a satisfying conclusion coming from BH just leaving this up to someone else, not after we’ve spent the last few real world months listening to them debate the decision. Not to mention that every time they’ve asked authority figures (Keyleth, the M9, Wildmother, Archheart, Raven Queen, etc) what they should do, the responsibility for the choice has been firmly placed on them. Even when the gods have tried to sway them one way or the other, it’s always been clear that the outcome will be up to whatever BH decide; the gods won’t force their hands. This has always been THEIR choice, and on a meta-level, it’s THEIR story. It would be so anticlimactic if they just waited for someone like the M9 to come in and clean this up for them.

My ultimate hope for the ending is that by taking Predathos in, Imogen will be able to find a way to destroy him or fully control him. Maybe this way, the Ruidians can finally be free, and the mortals may even gain some bargaining power with the gods to renegotiate the current status quo (as the Raven Queen hinted at). But even if this ends more tragically, it still makes for a way more interesting story, in my opinion. This might not have been be the “right” choice, but I do think it will end up being the most narratively interesting one.

[firelxdykatara]

Are you are still in the buffy mode? Do you have any cents on the idea that the narrative let's angel get off easier than spike for his Angelus crimes and its a cop out that angel and Angelus are considered separate people? Because I'm watching it for the first time and I wouldn't actually say that Angel gets off Scott free but there definitely is something weird about no soul angel and no soul spike (but he softens and is always in control) storylines being in the same series.

I am always in Buffy mode, anon!

And, surprising no one, I do in fact have Thoughts (TM) on this.

First off, I will say that I do think there are Doyalist reasons for the discrepancy here--that is, the writing was not always fully consistent and I do believe that plans changed as the later seasons unfolded (Spike was never meant to be a regular, for instance, and him being such a popular character lead to his relationship with Buffy going in directions that, according to everything I've heard, Whedon was not terribly happy about at least at the start)--so some of it is in the way the lore developed later on, rather than necessarily a commentary on the difference between these two vampires.

That said, it does also work pretty solidly with what we are shown--and I think it does make some amount of sense that things which seem fairly black and white early on merge into shades of grey later. We don't just wind up seeing a difference between unsouled vampires, but demons--Anya, just as an example, but there's also Clem, Lorne and Doyle (who are over on Angel's series, but there's a lot of dovetailing here), and others who are demons but not necessarily inherently evil, making it an open question of like... do demons have souls of their own? Vampires exist because a demon takes the place of the human soul, but also, humans can be evil soul or not (see: the Trio) and so I think that there's a lot to dig into here with respect to what having a soul really means.

And also, at the end of the day, Angelus is a clear outlier, even among vampires.

We know this from the moment we start learning about him. He is so notable for his extreme, excessive brutality that he makes it into Watcher lore on evil beings, even above and beyond the existence of the Fanged Four. We also know that Liam, the dude he was originally? Not that great a guy. Which has always brought up the question of like, how did that soul curse work?

Because here's the thing: it was designed to cause him an eternity of torment. What he did to the favorite daughter of that clan was so horrible that even death was not good enough--they cursed him with a soul, so that he might be plagued by his conscience, tormented by the lives of all those he brutally murdered over two centuries of carnage. And it worked. He was immediately plagued by the crimes he committed as Angelus and spent the better part of a century desperately trying to run from the guilt he felt, until the Watcher finally gave him a purpose and he fell in love with Buffy.

So, I think we first need to consider the fact that Angelus and Spike are two very different kinds of vampire. Angelus was brutality personified. Even and despite his relationship with Darla, he was not truly in love with her, I think because he did not have the capacity to be, to care. The very first thing he did as a vampire was slaughter an entire village and murder his little sister, and then his parents, for a shot of spiteful vengeance. The very first thing Spike did was to turn his mother, because even without a soul he loved her, and wanted an eternity with her. (And then he killed her, but only because without a soul, she had no love for him, only vicious mockery.)

Then, also, we need to consider the way they get their souls.

Spike is not cursed with a soul--he seeks his out on his own path to atonement, because even as a vampire he began to see and regret the monster he was. And the thing is, this is only possible because he was effectively defanged by the Initiative. That had to happen before he could truly start being 'domesticated' by the Scoobies--it is his inability to harm humans that leads to him needing to sate his lust for viciousness elsewhere and, the way he always has, Spike gets attached.

He was in love with Drusilla, after all, even at his most depraved, in a way that Angelus never was with Darla.

Angel and Angelus are treated as separate people, separate beings, because effectively, they are. This is set into the lore long before the prospect of vampires being able to change and grow is introduced via Spike, but also, I think it fits their differing natures as vampires. Angelus could not learn to control his demonic nature because when unleashed it consumes absolutely everything in its path and leaves room for nothing else. When he is possessed by a ghost and made to feel love and compassion in I Only Have Eyes for You, rather than attempt to kill Buffy who is in his arms and vulnerable--he runs. The feelings too much like having a soul for Angelus to handle.

Soulless Spike and Ensouled Spike are much closer to the same person, and I think it is largely because Spike's journey from one to the other begins well before he regains his soul. And I don't say this as like, an indictment on Angel, who is one of my favorite characters (as is Spike, to be clear! I'm one of those mythical unicorns who ships Bangel and Spuffy equally, with Bangel inching out just ahead if I'm forced to choose), it's just the way the storylines came about are very different--and, frankly, it would've been a disservice to Spike to ignore his on-screen development in favor of flipping a switch, whereas with Angel it is part of his core character and therefore it is his journey as Angel that is most important, with Angelus serving as an obstacle and a cautionary tale. There's a reason we aren't truly introduced to Angelus until halfway through the second season, when it would hurt the main cast most to lose someone they care about to a monster who is now trying to hurt them in unimaginable ways while wearing the face of a loved one.

Also, I don't think Angel gets off scott free, because we have like all of season 3 to show that he wasn't just welcomed back into the Scoobies good graces now that he had his soul back. He suffers quite a bit for Angelus' crimes, not just for the guilt he harbors about what he did but in the way no one except Buffy is ready to trust or forgive him. Understandably so, especially on the part of like Giles and Willow, Xander can eat my fucking shorts though he has no right, but that's another rant. Buffy never stopped loving him, even when he was hurting her so badly, and that's why the end of Becoming part 2 broke her, and why she kept him a secret all to herself when he came back in early season 3. Which she receives a whole lot of shit for herself, even though if anyone should fucking understand, but that's another rant.

(Ask me about Dead Man's Party some day, I will never shut up.)

Angel and Angelus are most considered totally separate entities by the fandom, more than the characters in the show itself. Apart from Buffy, the Scoobies are all basically waiting for him to become Angelus again, and it takes him leaving Sunnydale and embarking on his own journey towards true, ultimate redemption, for him to become a real Champion and be accepted as such. He will never be able to escape the guilt of what he did while he was Angelus, and that's part of why he is so willing to destroy himself to make things right in the present and future.

Also, in between seasons 2 and 3 he spends like two hundred years in a hell dimension because time passes differently in other planes of existence, and he has to deal with the fallout from that after he escapes, so I wouldn't even say that narratively there are no consequences for what Angelus did. It's just that Angelus cannot be punished in any way that matters--and Spike could.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Why do we have to keep getting COVID? - Published Aug 24, 2024

Nearly five years into life with COVID-19, I find myself selfishly wondering how many more times I – by which I mean, all of us – need to get it before we acknowledge that allowing multiple reinfections poses a very large problem? I thought my second bout of it (or was it my third?) in February, 2023, was tough – that one set me back a few months. But this nasty little bug, which is again surging here, there and everywhere, has bitten me once again, and has been a beast to overcome.

My latest infection – which began in June and is mild by medical standards – surprised me. I’m an active, healthy woman in her 40s. In addition to having been infected previously, I’ve gratefully received every single vaccine offered, including the booster shot only about 18 per cent of Canadians got last fall. I’m not sure I blame those who didn’t rush out in droves to get it. There was little public push to do so, and a general sense that infection after vaccination was okay so long as you’re “healthy.” Continued protection against a virus that makes swift and powerful adaptations is a hard sell when you don’t invest in the power of prevention, too.

Even so, after the fever passed, I spent a month largely confined to my bed, unable to do more than shuffle to my doctor’s office and back. I felt weak and nauseated in a way that made pregnancy queasiness seem quaint. My muscles felt tired or tingling or cold, or all three at once. I was regularly overcome by a sensation that I can only describe as a full-body panic attack, marked by a racing heart and rapid breathing. For weeks, I felt like my internal circuitry was on the fritz. Even my vision was blurred. It remains so.

That blurry-eyed bit has been the hardest postviral symptom to ignore. Nearly two months after my initial infection, I still can’t see clearly. This has proven to be a remarkably distressing and mildly terrifying postviral challenge to navigate.

I’ve written about COVID, so I knew that it was a vascular disease and that infection may have a range of effects on brains, hearts, immune systems and other organs. But it turns out COVID may also be associated with vision changes.

What I can read about this symptom online is far different from the help I can access. No one is quite sure how to deal with this side effect. My doctor recommended I see an optometrist, who was in turn compassionate and understanding but was unsure what to do about this either. I’m waiting for a referral to see an ophthalmologist.

In the meantime, I still need to work – I still want to work – and am figuring out ways to function without anxiety about what may or may not be going on.

I’m not the only one experiencing post-COVID complications in a health care climate that’s struggling to figure out what to do with people like me. About two million Canadians are reportedly experiencing long-term symptoms after an infection. Those numbers can only be expected to increase if we continue to behave as if there are no long-term implications inherent in allowing infections to surge twice yearly. There’s also evidence to suggest that long COVID afflicts more working-age people, i.e. the people who’ve been told it’s okay to work while you’re sick (and, by the way, you don’t have much of a choice).

This growing problem of people who don’t feel well for lengthy periods of time after COVID is also occurring as access to health care has never been more challenging. I feel immensely grateful to even have a family doctor – a privilege around 6.5 million people in Canada can’t claim for themselves.

Even with my compromised vision, it’s clear to me that with governments doing less and less in the face of a complex virus, the multiple knock-on effects of this approach are coming at a high human cost. But who’s counting that cost?

Despite mounting evidence that reinfection is equivalent to rolling the dice, we’ve yet to implement policies known to be effective at helping reduce transmission. I’m not talking about shutting things down. I’m talking about finally and decisively implementing the practical interventions that public-health advocates, epidemiologists, virologists and engineers have been advocating for since 2020: improving indoor air quality, which reduces airborne contaminants; granting workers paid sick leave so that they can rest and not infect others (even during the height of the pandemic, workers only got two paid sick days in Ontario); and instituting meaningful policies during rising periods of transmission.

Mask, stay home when sick, rest – this is the advice we’ve been getting for years. But these are not individual actions to take as much as privileges taken for granted. Kids in schools that operate without such policies or proper ventilation systems are, in Ontario, at the mercy of a Ministry of Education that once saw fit to float the notion that COVID doesn’t transmit in schools at all, and there is a persistent, convenient myth circulating among parents that infection is good for kids – preferable to vaccination, even. (For the record, all my infections came courtesy of my son’s school.)

Seniors in care homes can’t demand care workers be tested regularly for infection or be granted paid sick days or vet the air quality in their care homes. Workers aren’t entitled to paid time off and don’t dictate the terms of safe employment.

Public-health advice means little without policies in place to make it effective.

If the pandemic began with messages of solidarity, it rapidly devolved into reassurances that only the truly vulnerable would experience COVID’s greatest harms. In the shadow of that predatory view of human life, the population of the vulnerable has only expanded. Reinfection raises the risk of finding out how vulnerable you and those around you are, too.

As a new clever variant spreads, it feels wise to ask: How many times is enough to get a virus that – unlike our politicians – understands the power of rapid adaptation?

[evebestthinker]

Hi! since everyone is giving their two cents on the Rhaenys-Corlys dynamic, what do you think about It?

Hi! Thanks for the question.

My opinion on the portrayal of the relationship between Rhaenys and Corlys in the series is somewhat controversial, as I prefer their depiction in the book (despite the age gap). While there are tender moments that I found touching, I have several issues with the show's version, which doesn't capture the 'perfect match' seen in the book.

Breaking it down:

1- Many people praise Corlys as the only man who listens to his wife, but personally, I don't see it that way. He has rarely followed her advice, except for the decision to go to war, which I see more as a way to clear his conscience after abandoning her for six years.

2- Another statement is that Corlys is never physically violent or verbally aggressive with Rhaenys. However, this changed after the last episode, where he yelled and attacked her simply because she rightly pointed out his faults. Generally, I believe it's not in Corlys' nature to be aggressive (we only saw him act this way with the soldier after Laenor's death; otherwise, he asserts himself through his imposing presence and intimidating demeanor). Yet, I think the 'violence' Corlys inflicts on Rhaenys is different: he leaves every time he dislikes the topic, every time she wavers and suffers, he is never there.

3- The six years he spent away after their children's deaths is a change from the book that should have been avoided. In the book, it is clear that Rhaenys and Corlys mourn Laena and Laenor together, emphasizing their unity as a couple. The series erases this, which I believe is the worst blow Corlys deals to Rhaenys, even more so than any betrayal.

4- In the book, it is stated that Rhaenys is unaware of the fact that Corlys cheated on her, whereas in the series she is aware of it. On one hand, I appreciate that she knows because, honestly, she is too intelligent and observant not to notice an affair her husband had for at least three years. On the other hand, seeing how the matter was handled, I might have preferred it to remain that way rather than seeing the issue dismissed in 10 seconds.

5- Finally, it's undeniable that the characters in the show are very different from those in the book. Corlys is portrayed as a man of action rather than words, who sees things in black and white, whereas in the book it's clear that he is also a great politician. Meanwhile, Rhaenys is much more emotionally controlled and less impulsive in the show. I think stripping these aspects from the respective characters weakens the couple.

[parkminijiminie]

What is going on with Jimin, Jungkook and Jikook?

Warning: long post

I've been a BTS fan since early 2017. Back in the day, I ran this blog here, analyzing a lot of Jikook moments, but life sort of took over, and I stopped having the time for it. However, I never stopped being a fan and observing BTS and Jikook through the years. There's a lot said and written already about the supposed video of JK, but here are my two cents.

To me, the most logical explanation for that video is that this really is Jungkook. The layout of the apartment matches (yes, even the position of the security system, if you have ever watched JKs lives, you'd know that it actually is at his shoulder height, just like in the video), the dog looks like Bam, the couch is the same and this definitely looks like JK. There's also another video of the man in this apartment, alone, shirtless, and having a whole tattoo sleeve on his right arm just like JK. Obviously, we don't know for sure, but it looks like it's him. People say it was filmed in late Feb, early March, and I agree. JK had the same hair then, the outfits look warm, like winter clothes and not to forget, that when JK was stalked in his gym (late of February) there were a lot of fuss about a girl being there with him, so it all checks out in my book.

Now, what the video shows isn't that scandalous. A boy hugging a girl from behind and them playfighting/tickling each other or whatever. It isn't overly explicit. It could mean a lot of things, but it's clear the people are at the very least physically comfortable with each other. It's a short video. We don't know if they're even alone, but it looks like it. There are a number of possibilities for whom this person is to JK: a long-time girlfriend, a casual hook-up, a one night stand, or just a friend.

We'll probably never know for sure. What we do know is that this is an unacceptable invasion of privacy, and the person who took those videos should be sued for all they are worth. I hope we all agree on that, yes?

Now, if this girl is someone JK is dating/has dated/has slept with, where does that leave his and JM's relationship?

In my eyes, as someone who's observed them for literal years now, there's no way JM and JK have always had a strictly platonic relationship. Too much just doesn't add up. Sure, technically, they could be bestest friends with great chemistry, but as someone who is now 30 years old, I don't think I've seen this type of chemistry between people ever be just platonic. At times, it looked too much like sexual tension for it to easily be dubbed as "friendly".

My theory is this (keep in mind these are still just assumptions):

In 2017-2020, pre-Covid era, JM and JK spent A LOT of time together, basically all of it. BTS were super active, they didn't have any breaks. They were always working. Always on tour and doing smth else. JM and JK were pretty young back then (20-24) and this is typically the time when someone discovers their sexuality and starts experimenting, and I believe that at some point they did this together. They were best friends but also had this weird tension and air around them and I think they could've started a physical relationship back then. The members teasing them hear and there about being a couple, also kind of supports this, though of course, it doesn't prove anything.

Contrary to other people, I don't belive they only just fucked. It's very hard to have sex with someone who you are very close to otherwise, who you love and admire as a person, and not catch romantic feelings for them, so I think they did more than fucking. Whether they had a serious relationship or decided not to label it much, due to MS coming up, the group being in jeopardy or other reasons, I tend to think that other than sex, they also had feelings.

Side note: In any case, they were figuring thinks out about themselves as individuals, as well as a pair. I think maybe this is the time JM realized he is definitely bisexual (which he proudly expressed in his photobook of last year in my opinion). Idk what Jk figured out for himself, if anything.

Anyhow, by 2020‐2021 it seemed they had some sort of agreement about what/who they were to each other. At times they could have been on and off. There might have been other people/partners in-between, but I think they were mainly together by this point. It even looked like they lived together for some time. The fact they always took the same car and they were together on JKs birthday night when they first had number 1 on hot 100 sort of proves it. JM's birthday live in 2021 was also sus af (the way he was blushing while mentioning JK and their whole convos, very sus).

I think before Covid they had smth somewhat stable but then Covid hit. Their schedules changed, it was a tough period overall. Suddenly, they were not working and traveling so much, they were staying in SK. I think this was the time things started getting much more real and different. MS was also in the near horizon. Maybe one of them wanted a more committed relationship, and the other wasn't ready. Maybe they were both afraid. Maybe they tried and it didn't really work out. Maybe one finally realized his sexuality and the other had doubs. Whatever it was, the feelings of affection were still there. Chemistry as well. Proof: JM bday live in 2021 was just crazy, the way he blushed when JK was mentioned and the way the spoke to each other... man. Also, the way the were at PTD L.A. The way JK answered questions about JM etc.

So , all that connected them as people was still there, but I think their relationship come late 2021-early 2022 was definitely more unstable. Who knows what happened then. Personally, I don't believe in the theory that they opened their relationship, rather I believe by the second half of 2022, due to whatever reasons, things were simple mostly off between them. I believe they stayed this way all through the second half of the year and at least the first 4 months of 2023. They were friends, their families still loved and supported each other (JK's mom made seaweed soup for JM's bday, which one does for family) but that's about it. They weren't living together anymore, as well.

The beginning of 2023 we saw a very busy JM and a very not busy JK. Sure, they still commented on their welives but it seemed they didn't meet each other that often. Jm was working, JK was at home and occasionally with Tae. Yeah, JK watched a lot of JM content and often invited him over, but he also didn't know when his promotions will be over and it seemed they haven't seen each other for some time and JK was missing JM. I think if they truly were a serious couple back then, they would still have found the time to meet each other no matter how busy one or the other was, especially considering they live in the same city, and it wasnt the case. I don't think JK would have to resort to watching hours of JM's content just to satisfy his need-for-JM thirst, if they were a couple back then.

So, yeah, I think they were not more than friends by this point, for sure, which also ties up pretty well with the timing of the recent leaked video (February-March). To me it seems that JK and JM probably saw other people in that period, at least JK, JM was pretty damn busy then. Maybe they had some serious partners even, maybe just hook-ups here and there. Maybe this was JK's time to explore more of his heterosexual side, who knows. I don't think he stopped caring for JM in some capacity. In fact it kind of looked like he longed for his company but for one reason or another, they were simply not that much in each other's lives in the first quarter of 2023.

But then something weird happened around June-July. First JM is all scratched up from something (presumably Bam) indicating he saw JK and spent time with him. Then Seven came out and JM flew to NY. There they spend a long, fun weekend amid promotions. It wasn't a secret but they seemed to want to keep private and didn't really want to talk about it , judging by the way JK answered the question about JM being in NY as well. JM was practically silent. Then they returned and that welive happened. The one where they openly flirted, JM said he could handle JK naked, JK blushed like a school girl and tried everything in his power to get to JM but JM said "I'm not that easy". That welive. Idk about you, but that welive didn't seem platonic to me at all and if I had been JK's partner at the time, I would definitely be very angry with his behaviour. I don't think JK is disrespectful and a cheater, and neither is JM for that matter, so I believe there's no way any of them had a partner when that welive happened. I simply refuse to belive they are that type of people.

So, my conclusion is they were both single then and something definitely happend in July and NY. They returned somewhat different and they still kind of are. Jk posted pics of NY to Twitter for the first time. Jm shared a pic from then for JKs bday (shirtless, as we all know) and then recently another pic from a boat that could have been from back then, as well. The whole way they're acting offline and online strangely reminds me a lot of the time after their trip to Tokyo, actually. The way JM has been posting about JK very much give me nostalgia about the way he used to post Jikook often in 2017-2018 before he withdrew from social media. But maybe that's just me 🤷‍♀️

Anyway, to finish this long post I will say this. I don't know what Jikook were and are to each other and unless, it is explicitly denied the person in the video is JK, I will believe that it's him. But also, unless it is confirmed he currently has a girlfriend, I will have my doubts. The video is old and in any case, it doesn't prove much other than the fact JK is maybe into women (solely or also into them). This video though doesn't automatically negate everything I've seen between Jikook through the years. In some ways, it confirms what I've been thinking for a long time now. Unless JM and JK personally shut down any rumors about them and deny any romantic connection or confirm a relationship with someone else , I still believe that at some point in their lived their relationship crossed the platonic line.

Whether that was in the past or is currently true, I only can guess, but to me there's no way these two were always, all these years, just only friends.

For now, I will observe how JK, JM and Hybe are acting after the leaked videos and go from there. It will also be indicative.

Peace.

[bridgerton-bard]

Polin Angst Thoughts

Warning: Spoilers (Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Netflix Season 2)

I have been seeing the online discourse about how much angst people think should be included in the Polin storyline of season three, and I thought I would add my two cents.

Personally, I am a little excited to see the power dynamic in the relationship shift in Penelope's favor. She has spent years pining after this man who has never seriously entertained the idea that she would make a good partner. Maybe she should have moved on when it was clear that Colin didn't reciprocate her romantic feelings, but then we'd never have the Polin story.

I'm not saying I want Colin to suffer for the sake of suffering, but I do think some angst from him is going to be required, because he so thoroughly dismissed the idea of courting Penelope in season two. In real life, if someone dismissed Penelope (or anyone else) in this way, they would need to earn their way back into her heart, to prove that their affections were not part of a cruel joke. It would be unrealistic for Colin to dismiss Penelope as a prospect for courting in such a resounding, public fashion at the end of season two, and then win her back by simply saying "I missed you" at the start of the next social season less than a year later.

Even considering the social mores of the regency time period, I think Penelope unequivocally accepting Colin's "I missed you" as an apology and beginning to court Colin would be unrealistic. Julia Quinn stresses in several of the Bridgerton books that women in the regency period generally had little power in the courting process. Women had to wait for gentlemen to be introduced to them (never introducing themselves to gentlemen they were interested in), women had to accept offers from any man to dance unless their dance card was already full or they were betrothed, etc. In most of the courting process, regency women had to be passive and wait for their desired suitor to approach and court them. Accepting or not accepting offers to court and marriage proposals were the two significant points in the courting process where regency women actually held the upper hand in the dynamics. Penelope making it clear to Colin that she will not court him is simply her exercising what little power she does have in the social mores of the time.

I think one thing that gets glossed over about Colin's behavior towards Penelope in seasons one and two is that it is also the behavior of a rake, but in a different way than Anthony or Benedict's rake behavior. Anthony and Benedict's bachelor periods tend to show them both as rakes because they kept mistresses, visited brothels, or had a parade of women engaged in some sort of fling. Colin's behavior in seasons one and two is rake behavior because it should be clear to everyone, including Colin, that he is leading Penelope on. Without any intention to court her, Colin is impeding Penelope from moving on and finding a suitor who requites her feelings. This does get a little complicated because in the books, it is Violet Bridgerton who is encouraging Colin to dance with Penelope, and Penelope is aware of this or at least suspects it. However, I still argue that just because Colin is not in possession of a parade of flings, it doesn't counteract that some of his behavior towards Penelope is befitting of a rake.

So yes, I do think it's important that we see Colin fight a little for Penelope's affections. It's important for him to realize what he had once she's gone, and that she's worthy of more than always being the backup on call for when he's lonely or feeling misunderstood. I would like to see Colin realize his feelings for Penelope before another suitor proposes to Penelope. Otherwise, I think we get into territory where it just feels like he wants her because he can't have her.

[sserpente]

A/N: Requests from four anons and some of my own ideas. I thought in honour of Tom’s Jonathan Pine look making a comeback and the prospect of a Season 2, now is the perfect time for some spicy spy action! Enjoy, everyone!

Words: 2881 Warnings: smut

After Roper’s death, a lot in our own life changed. You moved away from Spain and back to the UK with a fresh start in your suitcase. Your new job in the publishing industry enabled you to meet the authors of the books you were passionate about and you could help discover new talents whose stories would enrich countless readers’ bookshelves.

It was peaceful now. Safer—for at no fault of your own, it hadn’t always been like that. You were young when you fled to sunny Spain to discover yourself, learned Spanish to the point of fluency and started a job at the local library that regularly held readings for both adults and children.

It all went well, for a while. Right until little Danny Roper stepped foot in the library for the first time, accompanied by two brooding bodyguards and a charming British gentleman you, for some reason, instantly mistrusted.

Richard Roper, a wealthy businessman with a mansion all to himself. Perhaps it was unfair to assume he had blood on his hands because of how heavy his wallet was but your instinct had never betrayed you before. Soon, little Danny Roper regularly came to visit the little library, took part in the readings and had you recommend new stories to him, always under the scrutinising eye of his bodyguards or his father.

On the night of Halloween, everything changed. The kids loved the spooky holiday. They were allowed to wear costumes for the themed reading that night and you spent the entire evening before long after the library had closed decorating for the occasion. The sweets you had bought for the kids to eat had come out of your budget but seeing their wide eyes upon entering the small library on the 31st had been worth every single penny—or cent, in this case—spent.

Danny Roper came too. Dressed in a mummy costume with a face full of paper-white make-up and armed with an orange pumpkin basket for his sweets, he was one of the first kids to make himself comfortable in the reading corner in the front row. But there was someone else with them that night. Someone you had never seen around before. He didn’t look like a new bodyguard but he was handsome. Blue eyes, a sharp jawline, high cheekbones, a five o’clock shadow, and dark-blond hair you instantly felt the urge to ruffle. Your heart skipped a beat when he locked eyes with you for the first time. You could practically feel his intrigued gaze burning through your skin when you read some child-friendly Halloween stories to the kids and from then on… he kept on coming back. Sometimes in the company of Danny and his bodyguards, sometimes alone. And each and every single time he asked you for recommendations for a new horror book, borrowed one, and returned the old one giving you detailed and positive feedback that he usually delivered with a charming, British smile.

You realised soon enough that his regular visits were but an excuse to see you again—but he remained distant, never made a move to ask for your number or a date. Perhaps it was for the best, you thought at the time. If he was with Roper then he was not to be messed with, a dangerous man to be around, and not the type of guy you should wish to be affiliated with.

“I’m glad Danny asked me to join him on Halloween. You have made this place truly special,” he had said one day. “Have you known them long? The Ropers?”

Alarm bells. Alarm bells loud and clear had rang in your head and almost drowned out the sound of your book scanner when he’d slid yet another horror novel towards you on the counter.

“Only for about a year. Danny has picked up so many children’s books I will need to restock to find new novels for him at this point. Richard Roper donated ten thousand euros to the library back in January.”

“Are you the owner of this library then?”

“Oh no, I only work here. But I am in charge of all the boring accounting paperwork.” Whatever had lit up in Jonathan’s blue eyes, was gone again before you’d had a chance to analyse it. But it had been suspicious enough for you to gather all of your courage, and look around briefly to ensure you were alone.

“I… can I give you some advice? Leave. As long as you still can. Something’s not right about this man. I don’t know what that poor kid is caught up in but my hands are tied,” you had told him with a lowered voice.

Jonathan had frowned at you, pressed his lips together to a thin line. Then, without another word, he had picked up his novel and left the store.

The following night, he’d appeared seemingly out of nowhere after you’d closed the library for the day and asked you out for dinner. One dirty martini afterward led to two and that very same night, you fell asleep in Jonathan Pine’s bed in a luxurious hotel room he was staying in for reasons he had not elaborated on much.

A couple of evenings and more passionate sex—the best sex you’d ever had—later, you had shown him the donation certification, complete with all the relevant bank details. Confidential data which could have gotten you into big trouble, both with the library and Richard Roper himself. A few more nights after that… Jonathan disappeared for a while and you realised that he had only used you—and your body—for information.

It had baffled you back then, when, almost a month after, he showed up on the doorstep of the library, beaten, bruised, and half-dead. No police, no hospital, he had murmured over and over and you, having fallen in love with the man unconditionally, had hidden him and nursed him back to health. For weeks on end, Jonathan Pine lay low in the cellar that acted as an inventory for the library, living off of takeaway food you smuggled down to him day after day. He told you everything. How he had been sneaked into Roper’s family as a spy to put an end to his schemes at long last, how Roper sold deadly weapons that killed hundreds of people, and how incredibly sorry he was for putting you in all this danger.

One night, while he was still recovering from his injuries and you stayed in the library with him to make sure he didn’t develop a fever, he whispered your name in his sleep, hands blindly attempting to reach you, touch you, explore you, and pull you close.

He confessed he was in love with you the morning after and a few weeks later, after Roper had finally been arrested, you moved back to the UK with him. Here you were now, climbing up the career ladder in the publishing industry.

Jonathan had left his spy days behind for now and accepted a job as the night manager in a lovely hotel in the heart of Switzerland over the winter. You’d be apart for a few months and it had broken your heart to hear of it even though you were more than happy for him and the opportunity he had been offered.

Two weeks after his departure, your boss had asked you to join her on a business trip to that very same hotel to meet with an internationally best-selling author whose next book series was going to be translated into thirteen languages.

Jonathan didn’t know you had just landed in Switzerland. He didn’t know you were coming to stay at his hotel. The name the rooms were booked under was your boss’ assistant who Jonathan had never met before. Needless to say, when you entered the lobby and the warm air enveloped you welcomingly, scaring away the Swiss winter air, his stunning blue eyes widened. You failed to suppress your smirk, knowing very well how much he was struggling with remaining polite and professional—after all, you were with your boss and her assistant.

“Good evening! Sorry, our flight was delayed a little. I’ve got three rooms booked under the name Elsa Higgins?” the latter greeted him.

“Ah, yes, Ms. Higgins! Good evening, ladies. Please, allow me to welcome you to the Meisters. My name is Jonathan Pine and I’m the night manager. May I offer you any refreshments?”

Your boss shook the snow off of her beret and began taking off her winter coat. Jonathan was by her side instantly, helping each and every one of you out of your winter gear—even though with you, his touch lingered for just a second too long, his fingertips brushing against the back of your neck. You shivered. Fuck, you had missed him so much.

“Thank you, Mr. Pine,” you mused, watching him struggle a bit with how you addressed him before he poured you all a glass of champagne. Then, he moved behind the counter to sort out your rooms and hand you your keys while the concierges busied themselves with your suitcases and disappeared out of sight quickly.

“Our concierges will be taking up your luggage at once, as you can see. Is there anything else I can do for you in the meantime? Have you had dinner yet?”

“We have, thank you. We’re just very tired from the flight. Could you show us to our rooms? This hotel is so big, I feel like I’m gonna get lost!”

“Of course, dar-, Miss. Please, follow me.” He caught himself before the word “darling” could escape his lips. Chuckling to yourself, you stared at his sexy back and entered the lift right after him.

“He is so hot!” your boss whispered to you. Heavens, he was. He looked so handsome in that navy blue suit and the white shirt… and that tie! You had to remember to get rid of those damp panties of yours later and sneak them into his pockets somehow—because the mere thought of him taking off that tie and using it to bind your wrists together got you so wet you had to clench your legs on the way up. If only your boss and her equally yearning assistant knew you regularly had the pleasure to fuck this man…

Jonathan was reluctant to leave you behind after letting you know about the breakfast times, the pool opening times, and that he was at your service for anything at all, at all times during the night. And oh, you might just take him up on that offer…

“Thank you, Mr. Pine. I’ll be sure to call if I need anything.” You excused yourself to the bathroom and when you came back, yours and the door of your boss were still wide open, denying you the privacy you craved. Besides, Mr. Jonathan Pine had to remain professional at work. You chuckled once more, making quick work of stuffing your spoiled panties into his suit jacket. He pretended not to be fazed by it but for a spy, he was pretty bad at hiding how much he was struggling with keeping his composure.

But that was only the beginning. You were feeling adventurous tonight. And so, after wishing your boss and her assistant a good night, you got ready for bed, making yourself comfortable on the soft mattress and the lavender-scented bed sheets completely naked, and then used the phone on the nightstand to call the reception. It was shortly past two am by now. Surely, the lobby was deserted.

You hummed contently when he picked up and purred your last name with a seductive ‘Miss’ in front of it into the speaker. “What can I do for you?”

“Oh, you see… I’m so lonely in this big suite, Mr. Pine. So very lonely. Is there a way you could keep me company? I am so tense from the journey,” you mused, dragging out your last “so” to the point you could hear him breathe heavily on the other end of the line.

Jonathan cleared his throat. There was absolutely no way he hadn’t discovered yet just what exactly you had shoved into his pocket. He was probably clutching at it with his free hand right now.

“Ah, well, I am afraid our masseuses don’t start their shift until seven am, Miss, but perhaps I can arrange some other… form of… relief for you.” His voice became raspier and darker the more words escaped his lips.

“Really? That would be quite wonderful. You see, Mr. Pine, the sheets are so soft and comfortable, I figured I don’t even need any sleepwear.”

Jonathan took a deep breath. A short moment of pregnant silence followed and then, “I’ll be right up, Miss.” With that, he hung up.

You giggled to yourself, counting the seconds. He must have taken the steps, for only forty-three strikes of the second hand on the clock above the massive sofa in the suite later, you heard a gentle knock on your door.

Rushing over on bare feet, you hid behind it as you opened it for him to conceal your nakedness from the bright lights in the hallway, the both of you drowning in comfortable darkness and only the pale moon shining through the massive windows illuminating both your features as soon as he’d closed the door again behind him.

“I have ten minutes,” he murmured out of breath before his lips came crashing down on yours. You laughed against his mouth, his feverish urgency instantly infecting you. Jonathan’s touch was like a fire ignited inside of you by the single stroke of a match. Step after step, he guided you back towards your bed without ever breaking the battle of tongues you fought out, his hands exploring your naked curves and kneading your butt cheeks thoroughly before pushing you down on the mattress.

Jonathan was above you within a fraction of a second, one of his knees keeping your legs apart, his hand snatching your wrists and pinning them down above your head. Finally, he released your lips to let you catch your breath for a moment.

“Naughty girl, slipping your used underwear into my pockets… you little tease…”

“Aw, I thought you’d appreciate my little gift,” you mocked—your chuckle soon turned into a moan, however, when he gently bit the underside of your left breast, followed by his tongue tasting your nipple.

Jonathan’s dark growl was unlike anything you had ever heard from him when his one free hand struggled to undo his belt and the buttons of his suit trousers. You were pretty certain he hadn’t even taken his shoes off but by the time he finally managed to push the fabric down to his upper thighs, he was as hard as a rock, his red tip leaking precum teasing your entrance.

There was no need for him to prepare you. You had been soaked and ready for him ever since your arrival at the hotel. Jonathan wasted no time. He positioned himself swiftly, pulling your legs apart even further, and then, sheathed himself inside of you with but one fluid movement.

The both of you moaned in unison, his forehead resting against yours. Jonathan kissed you again when he pulled out to thrust up into you, your hips bucking to meet him. His free hand remained where it was—right between your legs where your bodies were joined.

As he fucked you hungrily, his fingers quickly found a little toy to play with—and knowing Jonathan, he was a skilled lover. He had you on the brink of orgasm in no time, his rhythm relentless and his strokes hard.

You arched your back the closer you crept to the edge, breaking his kiss to gasp for air and throw your head back which he instantly took as an invitation to taste your neck and assault it with gentle licks, bites, and kisses.

It was the moment he released your wrists and placed one of your legs on his shoulder to rut into you even deeper, his tip brushing against all the right spots, that made you come undone underneath him. Clenching around his length, he fucked you through your climax until he too found release, only fuelling your arousal when you felt ropes of his seed coating your walls, his member jerking inside of you until eventually, he stilled and embraced you without ever pulling out of you.

“How are you even here?” he finally asked. “I’m so happy to see you, darling.”

“That I could tell.” You grinned, grinding against him and eliciting a little whimper from him in the process. “My boss is meeting a client here. She asked me to come with her, it was quite last minute. I could have called you but I wanted to make it a surprise.”

“You most certainly did surprise me, darling. You know… I think I quite enjoy you calling me ‘Mr. Pine’.”

Your grin grew even wider. “Lucky for you, we’ll be staying the whole weekend, Mr. Pine.”

Jonathan growled once more. He was on you again to stifle your laugh and had you cumming for him again long before his ten minutes were over.

-

A/N: Well that was fun to write! ;-)

[darkleysgarden]

Dream On (but don't imagine they'll all come true)

Characters: Freddy Freeman, Billy Batson

Ships: None.

Warnings: Talk of WW2, permanent injury/disability, lots of self-hatred

Word Count: 1,032

Sunmary: In the attack, Freddy didn't just lose his grandfather. He didn't just lose his ability to walk without a crutch. He lost what felt like pieces of himself, scattered in that dingy water to never be brought to shore again.

Note: I hope I did them justice. I love the older comics so much that I'm scared to mess them up. Title is from Vienna by Billy Joel. That song is Freddy coded to me. I'm trying to timeline this from around late 1941 to early 1942. A few months after Freddy became CMJ. Hope you enjoy!

☆

"Dr. Sivana taken down by Captain Marvel!" Freddy shouts, waving around a newspaper. "Read all about it!"

It was easier to talk about the local news than the war. Thinking of what the Nazis did to him was horrible, and to others even worse.

His stomach soured as he called out the latest news from overseas. A war that was moving in closer to consume America too.

A young businessman walked up to him. He switched the newspaper for the two cents he charged.

"Pleasure doing business with you, sir."

The man nodded kindly, stepping away to go on with his day.

He took a deep breath, leaning heavily onto his crutch. He wasn't sure if he was used to it yet, even if it had been months. Maybe he would never be used to it. It's not that he couldn't use the crutch, he adjusted to that pretty fast. The thought that this was now his forever never really sunk in.

Maybe it never sunk in fully because Freddy tried his best to distract himself from this reality he was living in.

Fawcett City did not have much crime when some super villain was not on the loose. Freddy wished he could spend more time as a hero. That way he wouldn't be dealing with his newfound disability. Yet, there was little need for him, especially as other Marvels were around.

He spent all his free time at his newsstand. It gave him extra money. Money he probably didn't need. But, it helped.

He hadn't slept in two days. He'd hardly eaten in that time. He spent his days at the newsstand and his nights patrolling.

It's not like he had a home to go back to. Mary's foster parents were kind enough to let him stay with them. It never felt permanent. He felt like he was just stuck in a really long sleepover with Billy. A mattress in the corner of Billy's room was meant for him.

The families kindness felt like pity.

The Bromfield's had only adopted one child, Mary, and it seemed those were their intentions. When her twin brother showed up, it was a clear choice to take him in as well.

But, Freddy? He wasn't related. They had no real reason to keep him. He kept repeating to himself that they were just being nice and he should probably find somewhere else to go. Where he would go, he had no clue. Yet, they fed him and let him sleep there whenever he showed up. They never treated him like an outsider.

A shiver went through his body. It was cold that day. He checked the time on his old watch. Before everything, he would have called it a day two hours earlier. It wasn't like before.

He sold another three papers, screaming out headlines until his throat hurt.

His crutch didn't feel like enough to hold up his weight anymore. His legs were permanently sore and hurting. Something kept him standing that wasn't his crutch. His stubborn nature? Maybe.

Freddy had been up and running for too long. He needed a break. He considered patrolling for a long while before deciding against it.

Somehow he ended up back on that mattress in Billy's room with the spare blankets covering him.

Billy was happy that he made it just in time for dinner. Despite his hunger, he ate little, terrified of overstepping. The family had offered him so much that even taking the food they gave him felt rude.

"How are you doing?" Billy's asked him from his own bed.

Even Billy's voice sounded sickenly sweet. Maybe it was because he knew who Billy was, or it was their shared powers. It could even be the fact that Freddy looked up to the boy, despite being older than him. But he could tell that Billy was pure of heart like the wizard said. Not in his kind words, but in the energy that surrounded him.

Freddy admired Billy so much, even if jealousy ran through his core. Freddy knew he could never be as good as Billy was. He felt rotten. He hadn't stopped feeling rotten.

"I'm not sure," Freddy admitted. He instantly wishes he kept his mouth shut. Billy was too kind to let it go.

"You can talk about what's bothering you, I don't mind."

Billy was his best friend, he was. Freddy hated how something akin to envy crackled under his skin.

The thought that Billy had it much worse and kept bouncing back kept playing in his head. He was still positive in a way Freddy never could be. Freddy hated how angry he's become lately. How tired and upset he is. He never feels in control anymore. He can't even control his leg.

He must of stayed quiet for too long.

"It's okay, you don't have to talk." His voice held zero disdain. "I'm always here for you."

Before he could process what he was saying, Freddy found himself blurting out, "How do you stay so positive? Despite everything. You stay so happy."

Billy considered the question. "I'm not always happy. I get down a lot. I just try and do good. Making others happy is what makes me happy."

Freddy didn't know what to say. It didn't seem possible that Billy was ever sad. He couldn't imagine it. He hated the image.

Maybe it was unfair to compare himself to Billy. Billy had the perfect heart. The purest.

It only makes him wonder what he was doing wrong. What made him not worthy of that title. He questioned it, despite understanding. He understands just how much envy and anger he held in. Those were two of the seven main things that held mankind back. He was defined by two of them. And part of him was sure he's demonstrated the rest.

"Sus scrofa domesticus," Billy suddenly said.

"Huh?" Freddy asked with confusion.

"That's pigs real name! Learned it at the zoo!"

Freddy let out a breathless chuckle. He was bone tired.

"Goodnight, Billy."

"Goodnight, Freddy. Sleep well."

He could hear the smile in Billy's voice. That always present, kind smile. It made him aware of the frown he held.

[dark-elf-writes]

“Naruto would also do so much for the red light district once he was in charge.”

Just absolutely love the thought of Granny Rin teaching Naruto how to use what little money he has and him taking it to heart as hokage. Him taking to heart all the love and care such a large part of Konoha (forgotten and ignored as it may be) gave him even when they had so little.

Him completely overhauling every financial system in place for the better. Correcting the money funneling for Root Danzo was probably doing, negotiating better trade deals with other villages, finding new trade routes, requiring careful documentation of how every dime is spent (suddenly undocumented spies are very rare), etc.

They don’t have to go with the cheapest “quality” goods anymore when Naruto can go straight to the source of the best and make negotiations himself. Shinobi get better gear, better pay, more benefits, better health care (therapy!!!), etc.

And when all that’s done with, turns out there’s actually hell of a lot of money left over without a Danzo shaped leach screwing with things. The academy gets more specialized teachers and more funding, the orphanage becomes habitable, and workers go through intensive screening before they’re allowed around the kids.

The red light district gets better housing options, the removal of dilapidated buildings that are more hazard than not, medical options, education options for the kids that don’t want to become shinobi, and the workers get full legal protections.

———

Maybe once it becomes clear that the changes to the academy lead to better/ more well rounded graduates, each one being better than or equal to past rookies of the year, they raise the graduation age. Give them time to learn more than the basics and put less stress on the Jonin taken away from their duties to train them in basically everything. Assign teams before they graduate to give them time to work with each other outside life or death situations and complete d ranks in the village for a year.

Fatality reports come in. Less genin dead than ever. They raise the graduation age again, diversify the lessons, call in experienced chunin to work with the older students, and incorporate specialization training with special Jonin. Again they’re better trained, more well rounded, more experienced. Every graduate comes out at least on mid chunin level. The majority makes special Jonin, Jonin, or ANBU within a few years.

The other villages take notice as they always do. They mimic Konoha’s success until there really are no kids on the battlefield. It’s a dream realized and finally made true. Even if it does take several hokage’s to get to Naruto.

I mean when you think about it ROOT would have been a massive suck on resources. Like even just keeping his little homegrown terrorist organization fed alone would have taken some serious cash much less training and outfitting each and every one of them. And for all the good Kakashi could do as Hokage, he has never had to think about money the way Naruto has.

How to make it stretch. How to barter for survival. How to ensure every last cent is accounted for because that could mean the difference between a meal and going hungry.

The finance department was shocked and a little horrified to see the Hokage himself, hat and formal robes abandoned for a messy bun and silken kimono, chewing on a senbon as he pours over every expense report in the last few decades and reworks the budget by hand.

It’s the most strict budget they have ever had.

It’s the best budget they’ve ever had.

He scribbles down a message on the back of a scrap paper they’re pretty sure is a receipt for his lunch and sends it off with a bird before anyone can stop him and gets a scrap of a puppet schematic with his answer written back. soon enough a trade contract is hammered out on scraps of paper and their relationship with sand has never been better.

He demands every teacher gets more stringent background checks and training for how to recognize abuse. In turn they see an upswing of kids who were thought To be sure washouts starting to thrive as they were taken out of bad environments. There is even a stretch where Naruto himself taught at the academy until more teachers could be found and trained. The kids why had him as a teacher end up as one of the best Shinobi Konoha has ever seen (if a bit unhinged in the same way he is)

He directs the budget into he poorest places in the village, starting with his home (because the red light district would always be his home) giving them the better world he promised them with a fanged smile.

Naruto fixing Konoha by learning the lessons the ‘lowest’ of the village taught him and through his skill of making alliances fixing the world and leading them all into a golden age.

[aspoonofsugar]

This is me trying to avoid the slaughterhouse for what I'm about to suggest (there's a good chance I'll get cooked alive anyway).

I'm not sure where you stand with Penny and Ruby's relationship, but I wanted to get your opinion on my interpretation (sorry to put you on the spot).

I interpreted Penny as the little sister Ruby never had. I think that CRWBY wanted to put Ruby in Yang's shoes during the Atlas Arc, since that was the main internal conflict within team RWBY.

Yang spent her childhood trying to protect and raise Ruby. She tried so hard to be the best big sister she could be so Ruby wouldn't ever have to suffer the same pain she felt... the pain she felt twice, with Summer disappearing and learning that Raven abandoned her. She gave up everything for her.

I saw Ruby as stepping into that role for Penny. There was that parallel, about friends. Ruby asking if Penny made any other friends, compared to when Yang asked Ruby to make some friends at Beacon.

Ruby always trying to comfort and protect Penny, even at the cost of her own safety (yes, any friend would do this, too).

I don't know, that's just how I saw it. The Atlas Arc very much was about changing perspectives, with them also being put into Oz's shoes after he left, needing to make the hard choices, prioritizing what to tell and what not to tell.

I thought since Yang and Ruby's rift was most prominent during that arc, that she was also being put into Yang's shoes with Penny. Just like Yang was put into Ruby's shoes and taking charge of her own team.

(That being said, I do see the appeal of a romantic relationship, but I was much more interested in the Potential of it, the symbolism and parallels, rather than it actually being canon.

Another statement that might get me slaughtered is that I wouldn't have liked if it became canon while Penny was alive because it felt like Penny contributed to the weight on Ruby's shoulders. She was extremely codependent on others (TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE and just like Ruby was with Yang at the start at Beacon) and if I was to like the ship in canon, then Penny would have had to stay alive and go to Vacuo while RWBY fell (guess Jaune wouldn't have a reason to fall anymore), and learn how to be independent.

Even then, I'd feel horrible for Penny because she hated being the Winter Maiden, and if she survived, she would no longer just be protecting Mantle and Atlas, she'd be protecting the entire world. Though... she wouldn't be doing it alone anymore. She'd have the rest of the world to back her up.

I dunno, sorry for the ramble, and sorry if you are offended (I get it, homophobes like to use the "they're just sisters argument with a lot of wlw ships, but I promise there's no malicious intent behind my interpretation. Plus, I just recently discovered and am exploring my own sapphic identity).

But yeah. I hope they don't come for me for this. I decided I'd rather talk with someone about it rather than post it as a statement. It feels like it'll come off differently as a civil conversation.

(it's greentea)

Hi!

Don't worry, it is fine for me to discuss anything, as long as people are polite!

So, this is a very interesting take and I agree on many things, while I interpret others differently. If you are interested, you find my 2 cents below.

PREMISE

So, let's make it clear where I stand on ships. I am not a multi-shipper, so I am really not that passionate about ships unless they are canon or I think they are becoming canon by the end (obviously I may always be wrong in this second case). When it comes to Ruby, I think Rosegarden is gonna be endgame, so I am mostly focused on this ship.

That said, I think that so far Ruby has shown no romantic interest in anybody:

Ozpin: Not enjoying yourself? Ruby: Oh, no, everything's fine! I'm just not much of a fancy pantsy… dancey girl. Ozpin: Well, you can't spend your whole life on the battlefield, even if you may want to. Ruby: Yeah, that lesson's been floating around a lot lately. Ozpin: If you think about it, fighting and dancing aren't so different. Two partners interlocked, although one wrong move on the ballroom merely leads to a swollen foot. Ruby: Or a twisted ankle.

In Atlas, she is uninterested in Renora's romantic conflict. In volume 9, she is the only one who doesn't get Weiss's crush on the Rusted Knight and Bumbleby's developing attraction. Basically, Ruby's focus is really not on romance and that is (imo) for 2 reasons:

She is focused on the mission and the macrochosm, rather than on her personal life

She is in a different development stage when compared to the others. In short, she is younger

Obviously, younger people fall in love too (I mean, puppy love is a thing) and everyone develops romantic feelings (if they even do) at different ages. However, RWBY is a story which makes use of metaphors and archetypes to describe the characters' inner journeys. This happens with Ruby, as well.

In particular, volume 9 has Ruby going from childhood:

To adolescence:

Little becomes Somewhat. Ruby becomes Someone. Neither Somewhat nor Ruby have figured themselves out. Still, they have grown and stepped into a new phase of their lives.

Well, I think that after this inner transformation Ruby will be more open to romantic relationships. In short, I think the Vacuo arc will focus on Ruby and Oscar's bond, which will grow to be romantic on both sides.

So, where does it leave Penny? I think Ruby and Penny's dynamic can be read in 2 ways:

A platonic friendship (my preference)

A bond, which could have developed into a romantic relationship with time once both Penny and Ruby grow

Ironically, I think the platonic interpretation is deeper and is better to explore Ruby and Penny's dynamic in canon. That said, there is nothing wrong about headcanoning a romantic attraction in a what if scenario.

In any case, it doesn't really matter because Penny is dead and personally I don't think she is coming back. Of course, there are people who feel differently and that is alright. I simply want to make clear the frame I am using.

That said, I don't think it is coincidental that so many people ship Penny and Ruby together. As a matter of fact Penny and Ruby's bond is very important and will be important for Ruby and Oscar's story, as well. After all, Penny and Oscar have been set up as foils since the very beginning:

Ruby: But at this pace, you'll be combat ready in no time! Suddenly, Ruby frowns upon mentioning her last phrase. Oscar notices this and tries to ask a question before Ruby interrupts him. Oscar: Uh…

In the dojo scene, Ruby unconsciously compares Oscar and Penny. This is also the first time Ruby indirectly brings up her friend before meeting her again in Atlas. In short, Oscar and Penny are linked when it comes to their arcs and what they mean to Ruby. So, Ruby's feelings over Penny's death are gonna be important for her dynamic with Oscar (and many other things, of course). Let's now focus on what Penny represents for Ruby.

PENNY AS RUBY'S INNER CHILD

I interpreted Penny as the little sister Ruby never had. I think that CRWBY wanted to put Ruby in Yang's shoes during the Atlas Arc, since that was the main internal conflict within team RWBY.

I like this take. I think it is interesting how you parallel Ruby and Yang's journeys in Atlas. Ruby becoming a big sister to Penny and Yang acting as a leader of her own faction.

That said, I think Penny's role in Ruby's arc is wider and it doesn't start in Atlas. Since the beginning, Penny represents Ruby's inner child:

A person's supposed original or true self and the part of the personality that still reacts and feels like a child.

Penny arrives at Beacon and is immediately presented as a Ruby up to eleven:

Penny: Sen-sational! We can paint our nails, and try on clothes, and talk about cute boys! Ruby: Oh, is this what it was like when you met me?

Just like Ruby, her initial objective is to make friends. Just like Ruby, she is sweet, innocent, hopeful and can wield lethal weapons:

Ruby grows close to Penny because of these similarities. At the same time, Ruby is immediately not only supportive of Penny:

Ruby: You're not like those things we saw back there. You've got a heart, and a soul; I can feel it!

But also protective in a way, which is uncharacteristically strong:

Penny: Ruby, are these people your friends? Ruby: Penny, get back! AAAAAH! Ruby: Penny, wait! Stop! Penny: Don't worry, Ruby. I'm combat ready!

Finally, Penny's death is what breaks the peace and happiness of Ruby's school days:

The fall of Beacon starts with Penny's dismemberment. That is the moment Ruby's world breaks and she crashes down in shock. However, she is fast to get back on her feet and immediately uses Penny's sword to fight a Nevermore:

The metaphor is clear. The Nevermore embodies grief (see Poe's The Raven) and Ruby deals with it with her inner faith, which is represented by Penny's sword.

Atlas is just the repetition of this story. Penny arrives like a ray of hope in the grim situation the heroes are. They have just discovered Salem can't be killed and Ozpin has left them. Still, a lost friend appears out of nowhere and brings new happiness to the characters:

Penny: It'll be just like Beacon again!

Thanks to Penny, Ruby is able to go back to her happy place. She is back at Beacon with her friends all working hard to become extraordinary Huntresses and Huntsmen. Sure, some things have changed, but Ruby can find solace in the things that haven't. This is why Ruby's line to Pietro is so telling:

Ruby: Even if the worst does happen, you can always reactivate her again, so maybe try not to worry so much.

Pietro is worried about Penny's well being and Ruby tells him not to because if push comes to shove Pietro can just revive Penny again. Ruby clearly sees Penny as an ideal existence that can defeat death. However, Pietro is quick to shoot down this belief. This is foreshadowing for Penny's eventual death and how Ruby will have to accept it. Penny's second death brings out all the negative feelings Ruby has been repressing:

The scenario is the same of the one at Beacon, but this time Ruby can't stand up and struggles to find Penny's sword again:

Jinxy: Enough hope to fill this jar.

She has not enough hope to wield her inner blade anymore.

It is deep down still there:

Ruby: I… I thought this was lost forever. How’d you have it? Blacksmith: Nothing. No one is ever truly lost.

However, Ruby can't see it.

In other words, Penny is symbolically linked to Ruby's hope. She is the embodyment of the inner child that shines within Ruby and brings light to others. Still, Ruby is growing up. The coping mechanisms that worked as a child are starting to lose their grip on her.

It is not by chance that in Atlas Ruby struggles to use her silver eyes. She finds an inner equilibrium in volume 6, but Salem's words in volume 7 are all it takes to throw Ruby off:

After that, Ruby manages to sucessfully use her eyes only when Penny is in danger:

So, symbolically Penny is the one keeping Ruby together. This is why she is undone the moment Penny dies. Penny's death marks the end of Ruby's childhood.

Volume 9 is really Ruby grieving her child self in Penny. This is made clear by Little, who is Ruby's innocent self and shares many similarities with Penny. They love hugs and friends and Ruby. They are hopeful and want to grow up and help others. They are both Ruby and Penny in a nutshell.

So, Ruby's final goodbye to Somewhat is really Ruby saying goodbye both to her child self and to Penny:

Ruby: Well, uh… To me, you seem like a friend. Blake: A guide. Weiss: A protector. Yang: A…dorable. Ruby: Do any of those sound close? Somewhat: Hmmm. Somewhat. Yeah. Somewhat. I’m not any one thing, I’m somewhat of a lot of things! Ruby: It is a true pleasure to meet you, Somewhat. Somewhat: It will be my honor to serve you. Ruby: You’ve already done more for us than you know. Somewhat: You do feel… familiar. Like a happy dream I can’t remember.

She is moving on towards adulthood and self-actualization. She is working through her grief for her friend's loss.

Of course, this process has just begun:

What survives After all the dust has gone? Were you there till the end (the end)? Were you at least called a friend?

My wish came true That day that you appeared And called me friend

Penny is absent from Ruby's final confrontation with the Blacksmith (my main complaint about volume 9 ending). Still, this is clearly because Ruby is going to symbolically face her later on.

It is the same with Jaune and Pyrrha:

No more Sudden movements Please So tired, I'm sleepless And haunted by you Falling Forever Was I always just A man out of time

Both fallen maidens indirectly appear in the climax of the volume, but neither is properly addressed. They will be in Vacuo. They must be because both Jaune and Ruby are still hung up on them.

RUBY IDEALIZES PENNY

Neo-Penny: Just like you were too late to save me at the Vytal Festival… I died in Atlas too, didn’t I? Can you imagine what that's like? To be completely and utterly failed… time and again… by someone who meant the world to you…

This is the Penny Ruby sees in her head. This is in no way the real Penny. In her final moments, Penny is not looking for someone to save her, but rather she is searching for ways to save others.

In short, Ruby idealizes Penny to an extent. She sees her as someone innocent and pure to protect, but Penny is much more. Penny is her own person and her arc is about reaching self-actualization. She isn't the Pinocchio who is created by the Blue Fairy. Rather, she is the Pinocchio who creates the Blue Fairy:

All of this to say, I disagree with this take:

She was extremely codependent on others (TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE and just like Ruby was with Yang at the start at Beacon) and if I was to like the ship in canon, then Penny would have had to stay alive and go to Vacuo while RWBY fell (guess Jaune wouldn't have a reason to fall anymore), and learn how to be independent.

Or to better say, I see things a little bit differently. It is true that Ruby and Penny's dynamic is one where Ruby is mostly the one supporting and Penny is the one supported. It is also true that Penny is unsure about herself because of how her life has been controlled by others. Still, the way this dynamic works is also because Ruby keeps on projecting on Penny a very frail and vulnerable part of herself.

I actually think your parallelism with Yang and Ruby's dynamic is pretty poignant. Yes, Ruby is initially dependent on Yang. Still, Yang too is clearly projecting on Ruby her guilt and belief that love is conditional. This is why Yang should let go of Ruby:

This doesn't mean for Yang to stop caring for Ruby. However, it is not Yang's fault Ruby drinks the tree tea. Similarly, it is not Yang the one who can save Ruby or decide who Ruby is gonna be. Only Ruby can do that. That is because Ruby is her own person outside of Yang.

The same goes for Ruby and Penny. Ruby is a wonderful friend to Penny. Still, it is not her fault Penny dies at Beacon and at Atlas. Finally, Penny has in herself the strength to grow up and become her own person. Something she does before dying.

If Nuts And Dolts were written to become canon, Penny should grow more self-assured, so that she could be there for Ruby. At the same time, Ruby should stop projecting her inner child on Penny.

THE CONFLICT THAT WASN'T THERE

I would like to highlight that volume 7 offers the perfect chance to change Ruby and Penny's dynamic.

As we know, Ruby's main internal conflict there is if to tell or not Ironwood about Salem's immortality. Well, if Penny were to have an arc intertwined with Ruby, so that they could grow together and end up as a couple, this conflict needed to be addressed between them.

After all, Ruby doesn't tell Penny about Salem. At least, we have no reason to think otherwise. Penny is close to Ironwood and Winter and trusts easily. So, it is to be expected that if she knew, she would insist to tell the Atlas higher ups. So, not only is Ruby hiding info from Ironwood, but also from her friend. She obviously does so not to put Penny in a thight spot.

However, if Penny were written to grow into Ruby's partner, I think she should have entered a minor conflict with Ruby over this. In volume 8, Ruby not telling her should have been mentioned and Penny should have called Ruby out. She should have demanded Ruby to trust her more.

So, why doesn't this happen? Simply because imo Penny and Ruby are not written to be endgame. Moreover, the ones who enter a conflict with Ruby over this are Yang and Oscar. In particular, Oscar gets the part of the conflict, which could have easily been Penny's. He is the one who grows the closest to Ironwood. He is the one General objectifies. He is the one who eventually reveals the truth. He is the one who faces Ironwood in a last desperate attempt to get through to him.

Obviously, there could have been many other ways to write Penny and Ruby as a ship. Still, Penny is right now dead and her arc is done. In general, Penny and Ruby's arcs are not even that intertwined structurally:

Penny's arc is about reaching personhood through making difficult and tragic choices. She explores the theme of humanity, duty vs want and faith. Finally, her destiny in the sense of final goal is linked to "friendship". Her final choice is to say goodbye to Winter and to solve their conflict. She also chooses her friends over her duties as a Maiden. The character at the centre of her arc is Winter and not Ruby.

Ruby's arc is about overcoming Summer's death. She is a wide-eyed child, who is confronted with the darkness of the world and has to resist it. She must keep her idealism in the face of the worst happening. The characters at the centre of her arc are honestly Summer and Cinder so far. Still, I think Oscar will be key, as well. I mean:

Foreshadowing is foreshadowing.

That said, Penny and Ruby are incredibly important for each other. They are linked to each other's best parts. Ruby is the first to recognize Penny's humanity. She is Penny's guide and inspiration to grow up. Penny reminds Ruby of her most innocent and hopeful side. She is an even more simple soul than Ruby herself.

So, I personally don't ship them, but I can understand why people are passionate about their relationship. As for me, I am more interested in their individual arcs and what they have to say. Thank you for the ask!

[twst-drabbles]

Azul 20

Summary: There's a horrid scent filling his restaurant. It's coming from this new friend of yours.

(Eldritch AU time! Been a while! Be sure to send me your thoughts and gushes when you can. I love reading them.)

There was a specific smell in the air. One that brings forth a memory of that overflowing trash right next to that seedy shop Azul trusted to hold all his magical needs, whether it be books or tools. For as dedicated as the shop owner was for their products, they never cared to clean the outside to make it more appealing.

It was the scent of half eaten meals, of tortoise shells with their insides picked out but left with only the unsavory organs. That thick, almost sweet-like smell that would clog Azul’s noise every time he would come by it. No shred of manners for public cleanliness.

Memory aside, this smell was threatening to permeate into his Mostro Lounge that he spent so much time perfecting. Who ever brought it here, he will not hesitate to throw out. It’s driving away all his customers and to lose even a single cent meant having to push back and rearrange his steady rhythm of renovations.

The scent was coming from that booth in the farthest corner. Right where you’re sitting at with someone else. All Azul could make of that person was their long strands of hair, both damaged by the sun and the salt of the sea.

���Excuse me,” Azul walked with as much authority as he could, but he couldn’t keep from covering his mouth to keep a gag at bay, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you two to—”

“Azul,” the unsaid command was present in your voice. Azul had to stop mid-step. “I’m talking with an old friend. It’s best you don’t come closer.”

You had your chin resting on your hands. The smile on your face was clear, with your eyes shining a sparkle that can only come with facing with the familiar. Are you really ignoring this disgusting scent? Friend or no friend, Azul does not care.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, dear customer,” Business comes first, coins come next, friendships comes afterwards, “You and your friend are disturbing this peaceful atmosphere with that horrid scent of your—”

“How…rude.” Your friend’s voice was slow, sluggish, as though their tongue was swollen and clogged their throat. “I don’t…smell a…thing…”

“Well, what you say doesn’t matter when nobody wishes to come in. So, as the owner, you will have to leave or I will have you thrown out.”

Often you give little to no signals of what goes on in your head. Any secrets he would wish to pry from just your gestures was an exercise in futility.

However, your disappointment was made clear to him when your face fell blank. You tilted your head to the side, and the sigh that you made had his stomach sinking through a pitfall.

The head of your friend snapped. They faced right at him, shoulders still in place, the skin of their neck, bloated and blue, threatened to rip right open. Where there should be eyes, there were millions and millions of tiny black tendrils writhing, caressing their swollen skin. Where there should be a nose was simply one big hole. Where there should be a mouth was a long slit cut vertically from nose all the way down their throat.

“Liars…should be…punished…” it pushed past its flap.

“Wha—!”

This creature leaped over the seat. Azul fumbled at grabbing his pen. Big hands, with fingers too long to really be called fingers, made to grasp his face.

The seams of your clothes fell apart at the chest. They didn’t rip so much as they just, fell open cleanly. All sound, the swishing of the sea, the gentle music playing, and even Azul’s own heartbeat, all of it was silenced.

The colors swirled, Azul unable to pinpoint the color of your clothes, your skin, your eyes. They were all lost to him. Something slipped out of your skin. Burst through. Like bone. Like muscle. Like warped light escaping a blackhole.

The lights flicked, but the ones nearest you burst in shards of dying light. You were lost to the dark.

“We’re not done talking.” You breathed out.

Light returned not a moment later after Azul fell. The silence faded, though the speakers were damaged with an underlying current of static and its disorientating skipping.

The creature was on the floor, its head crushed and split open, tissues soft like an old jellyfish. A complete and utter mess.

You, however, were clean. Your clothes were not out of place. No rips to be seen. You took a sip of your drink, as though there wasn’t a corpse on the ground near his feet. There was a smattering of black ooze stuck to his shoe.

“No need to worry,” you said, tilting your head towards the mess, “I’ll be sure to clean up as soon as I finish my drink. Be sure to look away while I do so. It’s embarrassing.”

[fabbyf1]

💥

💥 How do you feel about criticism?

bruhhhhhhh. This is a heavy one.

First and foremost, I'd like to make it very clear that I don't expect everyone to like my fics, or my writing style, or my sense of humor... or anything about the content I create.

I understand everyone has their preferences and what they look for/want out of a fic.

That being said... criticism on fics, especially in comments or through anon messages, seems a bit unnecessary. Like... you could just, idk, NOT read the fic.

You could hit the back button. You could go somewhere else. You could sit down. You could learn to bake bread. You could look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, "How would I feel if someone said this to me?"

If you're just commenting to be rude, hurtful, or anything that's not 100% kind... you're an asshole. Plain and simple. All you're doing is hurting someone who spent many hours working on something (FOR FREE) when you could just... not be a dick.

I'm also very iffy when it comes to constructive criticism as a whole.

Did the author ask for it? Is your "constructive criticism" necessary? Is the story a WIP? Because if it's completed and published... babe, please just don't bother. (There are exceptions to this rule. I think we all know what they are. If something could be seen as hurtful, problematic, hateful to a group of people... you could gently bring that up to the author. but that's not what we're discussing here, so let's move on.)

If you really feel you have to bring up your "constructive criticism" to the author, I'd suggest you dm them (NOT on anon. If you're criticizing on anon, you're a pussy. Don't be a pussy. The author doesn't get to be anon, you shouldn't get to hate on anon. Say what you want to say with your username attached if you actually think it's 100% necessary the author sees it.)

I don't think criticism of any kind, constructive or just plain douchebaggery, belongs in the public comment section. And that goes for any fic I read, not just mine. I fucking HATE when I come across somebody being a dick in Ao3 comments, and I will usually go full 32yo Angry Mom/Karen Mode and insert myself in their thread like "HELLO, DICKHEAD. I'M KATE. NICE TO MEET YOU. LET ME SAY WHAT THE AUTHOR WON'T."

Now, if the author ASKED for criticism... that is different. (Also fucking brave of them.) If they asked for it, I'd still advise you to 1. make sure it's actually necessary they hear it, and 2. say it fucking nicely.

Tell them everything you loved about their fic. Tell them how it made you feel. Tell them the lines that made you sob or laugh or smile. Then (and only then) VERY NICELY AND GENTLY, offer them your advice. And know that it's 100% not up to the author to acknowledge your criticism and/or respond to it.

Because again, babes, we do this for free.

Also? I'm fucking soft. I cry over literally everything. I put my whole kateussy into my fanfics, and if someone says something rude about them, I will cry actual tears. I'd really rather you just NOT read my fics, you know?

I've been reading and writing fanfics since I was 12 years old (that was 2002, children). I have read hundreds of fanfics I didn't think were great. I've read hundreds of fanfics that sucked. Not ONCE have I ever told the author that. And I never would. It's not my place in the world.

At the end of the day, anon, I think it's important to ask yourself: "Does this person need to hear what I'm about to say?" the answer is usually no. This can apply to so many situations in life.

Please be nice to each other. The world is a shitty, terrible place. Our little safe corner of the world (AO3/Tumblr) doesn't have to be terrible or shitty.

Let's just... be fucking nice to each other, please.

Just my two cents 🙂

Anyway, back to the PWP.................

[lexa-griffins]

can you tell us more about werewolf Clarke bitting Lexa and turning her into a werewolf? How did Lexa’s first full moon go?

The bite happens immediately on that first night when Clarke finds Lexa and they fuck. Lexa pretty much begs her to do it and in her state, Clarke barely considers the consequences of bitting this human girl she has "known" for the whole of two hours, 90 per cent of those spent buried inside of her. At the time is fucking magical, I mean, for Clarke it means a mate for life and Lexa well, she's a whole agglomeration of kinks and the bain from the bite feel delicious on her shoulder as Clarke thrusts into her from behind.

After that tho, when Clarke brings a sleepy Lexa back to cave and runs arojns trying to find any furs she collected over the years to lay her in, Clarke realizes she bite her and what that means for them. She can't even send her to a village away from the one who sacrificed her to the beast of the woods, not with such a bite and Clarke feels like she turned this girlbinto a fate worse than death: being like her. Lexa, however, wakes her sore - and not only from the bite - but rather content, looking around for Clarke, which she finds on the other end of the cave, now human, knees to her chest staring at her, already apologizing for bitting her and turning her into a monster like her. Lexa crawls her way to her, thanking her for doing it - the thought of going back to her village or any village and leaving a dreadful life as a housewife would have been her personal hell, so anything sounds better than that.

Now, because Lexa isn't a werwolf by blood but by bite, she doesn't fully transform intona werewolf like Clarke, but she does still look very wolf-woman and has the same urges. Its painful to turn, she learns. Not unbearably so, but it feels like her entire body is aching until she finally turns.

That is the only pain she finds in it.

Clarle thought Lexa would want to run and hide like Clarke does so much, trying her best to not be seen but the hunger she feels always drives her closer to villages where she can smell the cooked food. But Lexa, Lexa seems enamored by the full moon. Maybe is the fact Lexa was never allowed to run freely or be loud and uncaring about how the world sees her, but unlike Clarke, Lexa embraces her wolf side with happiness and joy in her freedom. Clarke has never had this much fun during a full moon, not since she was a small girl and she experienced her first few full moons with her dad before he died. They run, god Lexa loves to run and Clarke hadnt ran this much in so long, its freeing and so nice. They fuck so much. But in their werewolf form they have more stamina and can go on for hours. They hunt, and they eat more than Lexa could ever eat when human and then they fuck again.

They wake up the next morning back as humans, naked somewhere on a small clearing, with a wlecomed soreness and heaviness all over their bodies, but Lexa is happy to know turning isnt has horrid as she thought it would be and that its actually so very pleasent for her mind to turn more animalistic and seeing Clarke enjoying it made her look forward to the next many full moons theyll spend together :)